The WSJ published this article when the amount of people who resolve to lose weight is at its apex, the new years. But the principles are timeless and can be followed anytime for achievement of weight loss goals.

This is somewhat based on exchanging money for health but in a very effective manner. The money you put on line in this method is the MOST fairly used rather than investing in some new fad diet.

It works like this -

1. You set a goal e.g. lose 15 lbs in 30 days
2. You decide on a monetary amount that you’ll have to forfeit if you don’t lose the weight you’ve set as a goal. (Note: The money should  be enough to make you cringe ) e.g. $500
3.If you achieve the goal then congratulate yourself and if you don’t then bid good-bye to your hard-earned cash.

First of all this plan works because one of the most desirable element for us is MONEY. Yes, money drives the world! The thought of losing money can create intolerable pain and giving it away due to our mistakes (which could have been avoided) makes us even more mad. So pain to part with something (money) combined with desire of gaining something (weight) works like magic.

It can be fun in so many ways because the looming fear of losing the money can make us do things that we otherwise won’t. For e.g. not many people pay attention to their health when they know that they’ll have to pay thousands in medical bills but happily start losing weight when the amount on the line is as little as $100 (the relative gain in terms of healthy body is much much more!)

So try this out for yourself. Go make a bet with someone. It can be your weight-loss buddy, your friend or your spouse. Bet any amount you’re not comfortable giving away. Sign a contract in presence of a witness, maybe a common friend you have.

I “bet” this will be the best use of money for your weight loss.

As with anything health related, diet and exercise are the two crucial components. What you eat is critical to lowering your cholesterol levels, so that is what is included here.

One thing you should know is the difference between LDL and HDL cholesterol. Simply think of HDL as “healthy” and LDL as “lousy.” HDL can actually help carry cholesterol out of your blood vessels while LDL allows it to deposit inside your artery walls.

The good news is that you can change your cholesterol for the better. Here is how to do just that:

1. Have a nice sandwich on whole wheat bread or a pita with some lean turkey and lots of fresh veggies. Skip the hot dogs, bologna, and salami, and hold the Mayo. All of those are highly processed and filled with fat and cholesterol.

2. Fish, like salmon, is good. Look for wild red salmon varieties, which are very high in Omega-3 fatty acids (good fat.) Also, flax seed is a good source of Omega-3s.

3. Avoid Trans fats! Not only do they raise the lousy LDL cholesterol, they can also lower your HDL levels! Stay away from foods like margarine, shortening, and processed foods containing partially hydrogenated soybean oil.

4. Go ahead, go nuts! Look for walnuts mainly but also try almonds, macadamia nuts, cashews, and pecans. Nuts are high in fat, but it’s the good kind. (Also, use natural peanut butter instead of the normal kind which contains unhealthy Trans fats.)

5. Limit desserts and try to eat only the healthier ones like angel food cake, graham crackers, Jell-O, and fat-free frozen yogurt.

6. Eat foods that are high in fiber. Examples include whole wheat bread, oatmeal, fruits, vegetables, beans, and some cereals. (Look for the boxes that say “may help lower cholesterol.”)

7. Use the grill. If you’re going to have steak or burgers, grill them at home and use lean meat. This practice avoids the grease, is fun, and the meat tastes great.

8. Find a new salad dressing. Most of them are full of Trans fats and cholesterol. Olive oil is good, and maybe add vinegar or lemon juice. Also, skip the bacon bits, croutons, and egg yolks.

9. Go overboard on fruits and vegetables. They contain no cholesterol and they have lots of nutrients like antioxidants.

Here are some examples: green peas, broccoli, cauliflower, apples, oranges, mangos, papaya, pineapple, tomato, garlic, onions, spinach, water chestnuts, bananas, apricots, blueberries, and kiwi.

10. Avoid fast food like french fries and anything else from the deep fryer. Those foods will raise your cholesterol like crazy, so stay away from the burger joints if you can.

11. Bonus tip: Use spices like pepper and oregano to add flavor to your dishes. They are a healthy alternative to other toppings like Mayo.

That was easy, wasn’t it? Just make some of these changes and get plenty of exercise like walking, jogging, swimming, or playing basketball. You will have lower cholesterol in no time!

You see this term tossed around quite a bit these days. You might wonder – ” What in the world is Resting Energy Expenditure” or REE ?

You may have studied it in high school that our body works even when we sleep. Our heart doesn’t stop pounding. The kidney purifies the blood constantly. The lungs expand and contract continously. The food is digested even when we rest and some of us use our brains too and yes that requires energy too! Now you know why your head pains when you tired and you cannot concentrate properly when you’re hungry.

The energy that the body uses to do all the stuff above is known as Resting Energy Expenditure. 

The REE is also sometimes known Basal Metabolic Rate.

The Resting Energy Expenditure surprisingly consumes about 60% to 70% of all the energy requirements.

So, the total amount of energy consumes is the total of energy consumed while you rest + energy consumed during physical acitivity.

So does that mean you’ll lose more weight by sleeping? Well no because due to the absence of physical activity your body accumulates fat which makes you lazy and lethargic.

Kelloggs has recalled its Keebler and Austin brands nationwide

A recall was issued by a bulk supplier of peanut butter. The vendor supplies peanut butter in bulk to institutions. The recall was issued on Wednesday as 2 more deaths were associted with the peanut butter cracker recall.

The vendor known as Peanut Corp. of America has Kellogg on its client list. Peanut Corp. of America is based in Lynchburg and has recalled 21 units of butter which were produced from 1st July at its plant in Blakely, Georgia due to salmonella contamination.

After receiving several complaints from the consumers, Kellogg has asked stores nationwide to stop the distribution of its peanut butter cracker sold under Austin and Keebler brands.

The salmonella outbreak has sickened more than 430 people in several states and officials also suspect that some deaths may have been due to the peanut butter.

People, one more reason to stop eating so much of peanut butter. I think this will, for some time, help people in their weight loss efforts.

Does Thyroid cause weight gain? I have Thyroid – is that the reason I am losing weight? Does my weight gain have to do anything with my Thyroid? These questions get popped up all the time. But few have the right answers.

But whats the real relation between weight loss/gain and thyroid? Well, there’s a complex relationship beween thyroid, your weight and metabolism. If you don’t know, Oprah has gained 40 pounds and she blames it to her thyroid problem and this post was inspired by her.

Metabolism as defined by Wikipedia -

Metabolism is the set of chemical reactions that occur in living organisms in order to maintain life.

The metabolism is regulated by the Thyroid gland. When Metabolism is measured at rest it is known as BMR which stands for Basal Metabolic Rate. It was once used as the primary indication of thyroid status for detecting overactive or underactive thyroid hormones but nowadays it isn’t used because it is complex and is easily influenced by other factors other than the thyroid.

Now there are 2 types of Thyroid

• Hyperthyroid
• Hypothyroid

For time being just keep this in mind -

HyperThyroid = Weight Loss

HypoThyroid = Weight Gain

HyperThyroid

HyperThyroid patients experience weight loss. HyperThyroid is overactive state in which the thyroid glands secret more hormones than they would in a normal course. In very simple terms, it consumes more calories which ultimately results into weight loss. The person suffering from HyperThyroid will maintain his or her weight if the amount of calories taken is equal to that consumed by hyperthyroid. Hyperthyroidism is said to increase hunger and some people may actually increase weight if their intake of calories is more than the consumption.

Why do I gain weight when hyperthyroidism is treated?

You also gain weight when HyperThyroidism is treated because now the hormones don’t consume more calories they they do in normal course of action. This leads to increase in the calories present inside the body and thus the weight is gained. So if you were thinking of taking thyroid medicines for weight loss then it wouldn’t be of much help!

HypoThyroid

HypoThyroid leads to weight gain. This is attributed to the low BMR. The intensity of the Hypothyroidism is directly proportional to the weight gain. In simple terms, the more intense Hypothyroid you have the more likely you’re to gain weight.

But the weight gained is not so significant which many people account it for. It is generally within 10 pounds in most of the cases.

As always you should always consult the doctor before coming to any conclusions or taking medicines.

Useful Articles on Thyroid:

• Thyroid and Weight[ Thyroid.org ]
• Weight Gain: Thyroid Gland to Blame? [ WebMD ]
• Fatigue, Weight Gain and Thyroid [ Thyroid.ca ]
  

Cover of The Oprah Magazine featuring Oprah's weight gain

Oprah Gains Weight!

Oprah, who devotes majority of the time to weight loss and health advise has once again crossed the 200 pounds mark. She blames her Thyroid problem and her hectic schedule for her weight gain. The Oprah magazine will feature the article named “How did I let this happen?” to showcase her weight-gain.

Just 2 years before Oprah was 40 pounds thinner than she is now. This is the best example of how you can gain substantial  weight slowly over a period of time.

At the same time you can workout daily – little by little you will lose a lot of weight soon.

Today, teens are the most prone population to weight gain and obesity. Many parents are worried about the health of their children who are in their teens and don’t seem to get their weight down.

Statistics show that the percentage of teen obesity has nearly tripled in 20 years. One of the main reason for the growth in weight among kids and teens is the sedentary lifestyle they lead today. Watching the TV for long hours, spending time on social networks like MySpace and Facebook and eating junk food with little to no physical activity are the leading causes of teenage obesity.

Then how in the world are you going to lose weight? Is there any way of losing weight so that when you grow up you can wear your favorite clothes? Yes, there are a lot of simple steps that can deter further increase in weight. But you need to keep one thing in mind that is you have to work out sufficiently if you want to lose weight.

Here are the simple steps you need to take -

1. Eat Breakfast in the Morning : Research from Dianne Neumark-Sztainer, PhD, of the University of Minnesota has shown that kids and teens who eat early in the morning feel less hungry and eat less than they would without eating the breakfast.

Eating breakfast can also help in adolescent growth and maintaining the BMI ( Body Mass Index , calculate your BMI), the primary tool to calculate your overall health. It is a ratio of your body weight to height.

2. Go for a Little Run :  Going for a 15 minute run. It will not only give you the energy that is needed to get going for the day ahead but also burns a lot of calories. Running also helps in keeping your physique in shape and its also good for increasing your height.

3. Avoid Eating Fast Food : One of the biggest reason of gaining weight fast is eating fast food or what is commonly known as junk food. Fast food are like an addiction – the more you eat it the more you want it! Besides fast food doesn’t satiate your hunger.

4. Eat Green Vegetables : Green vegetables help you in more ways than one specially when you want to lose weight. It can help reduce the intake of calories and by filling your stomach with life-nourishing nutrients. They not only stop you from gaining but if you take the right vegetables and foods you can actually lose weight by eating them. You can also try Acai for weight loss as it is recommended by Oprah.

5. Take Part in Activities : Taking part in extra-curricular activities can divert your mind from eating and thereby gaining a lot of weight too quickly. Not only will you develop your personality but also you physique! And you thought that extra-curriculars looked good only on your resume, huh?

6. Join a Support Group : Support groups are great when you’re feeling low on weight loss. Networking with like-minded people will not only prevent you from leaving your weight loss plan but also inspire you from their successes! There’s one everywhere you just have to find it or make one.

Getting started is the most difficult part of a weight loss plan. Once you get started your achievements and milestones will be enough to keep you inspired and keep going. Don’t forget to post your success in the comments box below!

1. Walk an extra mile – Try walking as much as you can. May be those extra 15 mins during your lunch break. Use the staircase instead of the elevator, climbing the stairs can help you lose 20% more calories and help boost the cardiac rate. Take the whole family out for a walk after those meals. Arrange games for the whole family which need a lot of body movements, some outdoor games may be.

2. Drink a lot of water – Fill yourself with a lot of water all the time. Its the easiest thing to do. Cut down on a cup of coffee each day, chose diet soda instead. Saving on calories even in small ways can ultimately save you from putting on weight.

3. Eat in smaller plates – Studies have shown that if you chose a smaller plate, you dont fill up a lot of food in that and you eventually eat less than you would otherwise. It might sound funny, but getting a little farther away from the food table is a good way to stop yourself from over-eating. If you stand close to that table, you wont realize how much you snack on those desserts.

4. Dont force yourself into eating everything on the table, make a wise choice and think what you like and eat that well. Chose atleast one healthy item on your plate. No snacking between meals. Again, this is the time to celebrate, dont be too harsh on yourself.

5. Last but not the least – Exercise a little – Increase your activity level, thats easy – shopping, cleaning, cooking and yea opening those gifts Dont let the weather bog down your spirit, give yourself an extra boost to have a little workout, even 20 minutes is good enough.

Finally, its that time of the year that you need to just sit back and relax and enjoy every bit of it. Dont stress yourself a lot about the weight, if you dont put on after the holidays are over, consider your work done. But if you manage to lose weight, its a big achievement on your part. Have fun with family and friends. Happy Holidays!!

Everything changed that day. It was a day when Oprah disclosed a very long kept secret that the cosmetic industry feared would one day reach the masses. It was a nightmare. For these companies.

She released a list of top 10 natural foods for anti-aging. Oprah calls it her list of top 10 “superfoods” that will help you lead a fresh, new and a more content life!

I’ll be writing about all of these foods here on this weight loss website – one by one.

Today I’ll be discussing about Oprah’s number 1 superfood – the Acai.

What is Acai?

Acai ( pronounced as ah-sigh-ee ) is a berry which is harvested in the jungles of Amazon in Brazil. It is a berry of a special Brazilian palm tree and tastes like a blend of berries and chocolate. It’s pulp has a royal purple pigment color which is a store of nature’s perfect energy fruit.

Why is Acai berry beneficial?

There are numerous benefits of Acai. Research has been done on this berry long before Oprah mentioned it. And there are some amazing secrets that this little purple berry has in store for a lot of diseases.

Acai contains antioxidants. Now if you don’t know what antioxidants are then here a very short example of what it really is. When you cut an apple in 2 pieces the bare white parts of apple turn a little brownish after a few seconds, right? So what happens to the apple? It is oxidised.

Now if you cut another apple and apply a little lemon juice to one half piece and leave  the other one alone as it is, you’ll notice that the half part which was sprinkled with lemon doesn’t get oxidised! So what makes that apple to not get oxidized? The lemon. Lemon is an antioxidant and it prevents the apple from getting oxidized and keeps the apple fresh for a long time. It prevents the damage caused by exposure to oxygen.

What lemon does to the apple, the acai does for your skin, or body or energy! It protects your skin from antiaging! A pretty neat natural substitute to all the anti agin products and creams in the market.

This is what Dr Oz has to say about lemons and antioxidants
” While lemons do have some anti-aging benefits—similar to onions—Dr. Oz says there are several foods that are much more potent. ”

Some even boast Acai to have 10 times the antioxidant benefits of grapes and 2 times that of blueberries.

“It has twice the antioxidant content as a blueberry, so it’s a wonderful alternative” says Dr Oz.

Açaí pulp contains:

* A remarkable concentration of antioxidants that help combat premature aging, with 10 times more antioxidants than red grapes and 10 to 30 times the anthocyanins of red wine.
* A synergy of monounsaturated (healthy) fats, dietary fiber and phytosterols to help promote cardiovascular and digestive health.
* An almost perfect essential amino acid complex in conjunction with valuable trace minerals, vital to proper muscle contraction and regeneration.

The Acai also contains Oleic acid. Oleic acid is very important because it makes the cell membranes supple and flexible. This is an important trait of young age. So don’t delay reap the benefits of Acai - Get an Acai bottle for FREE