Daily Diet Blog

March 29, 2007

Exercising to Help Quit Smoking

Filed under: Exercise Equipment, Health & Fitness Tips — EatingToLive @ 7:56 am

There are so many reasons to start exercising to benefit your overall health. Exercise promotes cardiovascular health, increases metabolism thus helping us control our weight as it tones our muscles. We look and feel better when we exercise.

Now, one more reason has been added to the rationale to exercise more. For smokers who are trying to break their addiction to nicotene, as little as five minutes of exercise curbs their craving for nicotene. A recent review of a dozen studies done on the subject found that even moderate exercise such as walking signifigantly reduced withdrawal symptoms.

At the University of Exeter in London, Dr. Adrian Taylor studied the decreasing effects of nicotene withdrawal as you increase physical exertion and exercise. The strength of the effect of exercise in reducing cravings was astonishing even to those conducting the study.

Researchers did say that the immediate effect of exercise was profound for craving reduction but were uncertain how long that effect would last. The theory as to what is physically occurring to produce this effect is that, during exercise, the mood elevating hormone, dopamine is increased in production.

For smoking cessation programs, this is a wonderful addition. Exercise whether your are working out on elliptical reviews or running around outside, together with other behavior modifications, can help you kick the habit for good. Also, the frequent concern of weight gain often associated with quitting smoking is addressed by exercising more.

March 25, 2007

Body Shapers

Filed under: Fat Reduction — EatingToLive @ 4:31 pm

In my childhood, I remember watching my poor mother when she was getting dressed up, struggling with the most uncomfortable devices to slim her figure. First, she had a long line bra made of stiff fabric that went to her waist. Next, she wore an ironclad girdle that she had to hold her breath and struggle to put on.

I told myself there was no way I was ever going to do that when I grew up. Today, you can get a sleeker look to your figure without the discomfort associated with the old fashioned girdles.

Due to technological advances in fabrics and fibers, there are a multitude of body shapers available to smooth all the unsightly bumps, lumps and panty lines while still allowing freedom of movement and comfort.

First, you have to identify your problem areas to figure out which product is right for you. If you feel your thighs are a problem area, Hanes makes a thigh slimmer to provide a smoother look for about $14.99.

For slimming the midriff area, Dillards has the TC fine camisole for $36.00. For tummy control and thigh slimming, there is the Spanx tight end reversible tights. The miracle suit high waist thigh slimmer is a transformation type of body slimmer.

There are many more types of body shapers on the market. When shopping for the shapers, ask for assistance from the sales staff. Try them on before purchasing. Shop for comfort and figure out what your goal is for the sleeker look. You can use one type of shaper alone or combine them for the look, fit and feel you desire.

March 22, 2007

Atkins Diet Exceeds Expectations in Long Term Weight Loss

Filed under: Diet Reviews — EatingToLive @ 8:55 am

I knew when I read this new study, it would immediately raise the hackles of some die hard anti-Atkins people who are adamant that the diet is too high in fact and makes people stay away from fruits and veggies, the pillars of health to most people. And I’d have to say, I agree with that sentiment for the most part, but I also believe that the Atkins low carb diet is probably the easiest to stick with for most people, simply because it takes the least amount of thought and preparation, and involves a lot of foods that can be eaten on the run, as well as a lot of higher fat foods so people tend to not feel they are depriving themselves, and can stay on the diet longer than any other diet if they need to.

The study, among other things, says that the Atkins diet tested best out of the other diets that are popularly followed today like the Zone diet, which is a carb conscious but not low carb diet plan, the Dean Ornish plan, which is a high carb, low fat diet plan, and the South Beach Diet I believe also which in my opinion is almost identical to the Zone diet.

Not only did the people who stuck to the Atkins diet lose more weight and keep it off than when on the other plans, but their cholesterol levels tested at better levels as well. Opponents of the Atkins plan argue that the study was poorly executed and too many other variables were not considered.

As always, I just stress that carbs should be limited, but not at the expense of eliminating things like bananas and carrots, just because they’re “high in natural sugars”.

How else are you not going to live in misery, not being regular, and binding up your digestive tract with all cheese and meat and no roughage?

March 18, 2007

Kids Gain More Weight on Summer Vacation Than in School?

Filed under: Diet and Weightloss News — EatingToLive @ 3:38 pm

It seems counterintuitive, at least to me, that school age kids would gain more weight in the off-school months when they would (you’d think) be running about outdoors, doing things like swimming and biking and other physical activities, and presumably eating more light foods that one craves in the summer like fruits and light dairies.

But that is not the case according to a sociological study recently completed. The studies show that, contrary to popular thought, school time may actually be of more benefit when it comes to controlling kid’s weight than summer vacation months.

Some of the thoughts on why this might be are that the school year contains more of a structured schedule, with scheduled eating, and even snack times, a schedule recess, gym time and physical activities, and other things to keep kids occupied and keep their minds off snacking and food.

Also, with the advent of the video game, and some parents letting their kids lounge and watch tv all day, the thought is that these kids are not getting physcial activity in the summer like the kids of yesteryear, because there are too many indoor activities that are available to kids today that do not involve movement and are highly addictive.

Hmm, maybe the solution is to get them interactive physical video games like Dance Dance Revolution?

March 14, 2007

Energy Drink Abuse?

Filed under: Health News — EatingToLive @ 5:27 pm

I could easily see how these high powered, ultra caffeinated “energy drinks” are becoming more and more of a popular thing, and are admittedly addictive to many people, including myself, who went through a Diet Red Bull drink splurge for a while a couple years ago when the drink first came out.

The problem is, a lot of teens are drinking these energy drinks obsessively and excessively, to burn the midnight oil so to speak, and to stay awake when they have to during the day, some even say to curb their appetite they like to drink energy drinks in excess.

One Colorado high school has gone so far as to actually ban a particular highly caffeinated energy drink after it received student complaints that the drink was making them feel shaky and made their hearts seem to race. This certainly sounds anything but healthy, and it is commendable that the high school has taken the proper steps to protect the health of its students.

Many energy drinks like this that contain outrageous amounts of stimulants claim that their target market is not intended to be high school or middle school aged students, because of the high amounts of stimulants and potentially “not fun” side effects they can have on younger, more susceptible systems, but the fact is this is the exact age, along with college, that these types of products appeal to the most.

March 11, 2007

Dance Dance Revolution : Play and Burn Calories Too

Filed under: Exercise Equipment — EatingToLive @ 11:45 am

I’ve been hearing about this video game where you learn dance moves and burn calories at the same time, and I was dying to try it out, and I finally got my wish recently at some friend’s house this past weekend, where I danced the night away, at least cyberly speaking.

I was literally dripping with sweat by the time my turns were over, and I was more than a little frustrated that I couldn’t seem to get good scores (yes, I have two left feet, and yes I was playing with highly competitive people and also more coordinated people). This might be the best piece of horizon elliptical reviews you could buy, and it doesn’t even take up space…

Here’s how it works. You see a character on the screen, and above them you see arrows flashing on the screen, then going off into the top of the TV set.

You can do it two ways, you can get a better score by staying ahead of the characters moves by following the arrows moving to the side, up and back, or you can follow the character, which isn’t recommended because then your score will be lousy.

This game could definitely be addicting, and games like this are aiming to get kids off the couch and in action in an effort to curb the childhoos obesity rate. It is the pioneer in video games that strive to make kids move, and more than just their thumbs.

It also might be good for increasing coordination and endurance, which are two things I obviously need to work on!

March 8, 2007

Girl Scout Cookies Jump on Trans Fat Ban(d) Wagon

Filed under: Diet and Weightloss News, Fat Reduction — EatingToLive @ 4:17 pm

One of my favorite indulgences, Girl Scout cookies, those naughty little fattening cookies that the Girl Scouts of America sell every year, and that it seems you can eat a thousand of before being satisfied (I’m convinced they are made this way on purpose), is removing the trans fats from their cookies.

This comes in a move after many fast food companies have taken the trans fats out, which are artery clogging and heart unhealthy oils and fats which have received a lot of well deserved bad press as of late, in an effort to make healthier food for America.

My favorite cookie, the Samoa, the one with the caramel, coconut and chocolate on it, probably previously had a lot of transfats in them, since they were one of the tastier creations, and definitely tasted “naughty”.

Even kids cereals have these sort of unhealthy fats in them, and hopefully these will be on their way to being removed as well, because along with that “healthy fiber” content and vitamins and minerals, they are also serving up a lot of soybean oils and partially hydrogenated fats, which have the effect of increasing obesity and making us eat more in the end, because unlike healthy fats, they only fuel our appetite instead of help to curb it and make us stop eating when we naturally should, and are actually full.

 

March 5, 2007

Binge Eating?

Filed under: Diet and Weightloss News — EatingToLive @ 5:38 am

There are many types and categories of eating disorders, and yet when we hear the term “eating disorder”, we tend to think of it as something where the patient is one who tries to starve themselves or does not get enough nourishment, in the name of staying thin and looking a certain way.  But, there are also other eating disorders, where people over-eat, usually on an emotional level of some sort, and this is called binge eating. 

Many people turn to food as their comforting agent when times get rough, or when they happen to simply be experiencing more angst or anxiety over something.  The term “comfort food” comes from the idea that we try to emotionally comfort our mental state and our feelings by just over eating, because we think food will somehow fill the void we fell.  In fact, binge eating just tends to feed on itself, making the cravings to eat worse and worse, and this is how binge eaters tend to start to gain weight at a rapid pace when they are going through a food binge stage.

Experts are saying that binge eating has now become the largest eating diorder among women, who do tend to be more of emotional eaters than men, and that it has surpassed even the more commonly thought of eating disorders like bulimia and anorexia.  Over eating occasionally can very easily escalate into a problem with binge eating, and doctors say that the line is very thin between the two and one must watch themselves if they feel about to falter over that thin line.

I think in general, as a society, we have become so focused and dependent on food itself, that we’ve lost the true joys in life, like taking long walks in the park, waking up to a beautifully sunny day, gardening and other past times, that just make life wonderful without food.  My sister lives out in California, and she recently completed a week long fast. 

She said it really made her get in touch with who she really is, to reach a deeper level of self appreciation, and a deletion of appetite or cravings for foods.  She said it completely changed her relationship with food, and it’s probably the best thing she’s ever done.  Many people are also trying hypnotherapy for weight loss and seeing that this can also change their relationship with food and prevent useless binge eating as well. 

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