The Benefits of Eating Breakfast...
Brad is so busy he gets by on just a cup or two of coffee till noon.
Wendy skips breakfast to save calories.
Doug has no appetite before work but then finds himself at the vending machine mid-morning, often opting for a bag of chips or cookies.
If any of these scenarios sound like you, it\’s time to rethink breakfast.
According to research, breakfast eaters in general:
Have more physical and mental energy throughout the morning
When you eat breakfast, you are "breaking the fast" from the night before. Typically, there is an 8- to 12-hour gap between dinner and your morning ...
Did you know that the average person recalls only half of what they eat? Though you may remember what you had for breakfast, what about the extra nibbles you had while watching TV, snacking on the phone or picking off your kids\’ plates?
A food diary puts a stop to this lack of accountability. In fact, studies show that people who keep food journals lose more weight and keep more weight off in the long run.
The National Weight Control Registry (an ongoing research project that tracks successful weight loss habits) found that keeping a food journal is the ...
You’ve made up your mind to manage your weight. Crunched for time but determined to follow a meal plan, you find yourself parked in the middle of the frozen food aisle. But can frozen meals really give you the nutrients you need and help you lose weight?
If the alternative is eating high-fat choices from fast-food joints and vending machines, frozen foods can be an option.
But wait. Before you go out and buy your meals, keep these concerns in mind:
Portion size
Aside from convenience, one of the main benefits of "healthy" frozen meals is that the portions are ...
It’s holiday time! That means parties, celebrations and family gatherings from Thanksgiving to New Year’s. And what is the common denominator in all of the above?
Food, and plenty of it! But don’t abandon your health. Here’s help on how to manage your calories and get a handle on stress eating, plus healthy gift ideas and tips for making new years resolutions that will stick.
Minding Your Calories
10 Survival Tips for Holiday Eating
Thanksgiving Survival Guide: Calorie Cutting Strategies
Keep Your Heart Healthy and Waistline Trim at Holiday Meals
Beware: That Glass of Holiday Cheer Packs Calories
Thirty Ways to Trim 100 ...
Tom is about 30 pounds above his ideal body weight. An avid exerciser, he works out five days a week for at least an hour each day.
Jill has a normal body mass index. She appears trim and just has a little "pot belly." Jill has a desk job and does not exercise.
Which one is at a higher risk for heart disease, diabetes or other types of chronic disease?
Types of belly fat
To answer this question, it\’s important to understand the difference between the two types of body fat:
Subcutaneous fat is the type found just underneath the skin. ...
Do you find yourself standing in front of the fridge when you\’re bored?
Do doughnuts help calm you when you\’re stressed? Can you down an entire bag of chips when you feel angry?
If you consistently use food to deal with your changing moods, you may be an "emotional eater." Emotional eaters typically use food to block out or soothe negative emotions, such as:
Stress
Anger or irritability
Depression or sadness
Loneliness
Anxiety
Boredom
Guilt
Emptiness
The problem is that turning to food for comfort can cause unwanted weight gain. This can lead to numerous health issues - especially because many emotional eaters choose high-calorie, sweet, salty and/or ...
Struggling to lose weight? Don\’t exercise enough? You\’re not alone. According to the latest research, almost two out of three Americans are overweight or obese, and one half don\’t get enough exercise. And that puts them at greater risk of chronic disease.
In response, the government\’s Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee has revised its recommendations. It now places more emphasis on strategies to manage weight.
The national guidelines are generally for healthy people and are not for those on restricted or special diets. Here is a summary:
Physical activity
There is no doubt that exercise can help control weight and lower ...
It\’s been a stressful day, and a bag of potato chips and a TV show after work seem like just the escape you need. Or, on an idle afternoon, you find yourself scouring your kitchen cabinets in search of snacks. Does this sound familiar?
If you find yourself eating in situations like these, ask yourself, "Am I really hungry?"
Many people eat for reasons other than hunger - often without realizing it. Sometimes it\’s a way to cope with emotions or a response to certain situations. Such habits may lead to overeating, which could lead to unwanted weight gain ...
Let\’s be honest. Taking off five pounds can be pretty easy. But taking off 50 pounds? Not so much. In either case, keeping the weight off for good can be really hard.
There\’s no magic pill or secret potion that wins the battle of the bulge. It is the result of hard work and lifestyle changes. But many people find success with the support of sound commercial weight-loss programs, such as Weight Watchers, TOPS or smaller support groups, such as those in a health clinic or university.
Studies show that these programs have a slight edge over dieting alone. ...
Do you have a chronic health condition? Your doctor may or may not have discussed the possible benefits of exercise with you. Exercise is not just about losing weight, looking good in a bathing suit or preventing disease. It\’s also about getting healthy even if you already have a chronic illness.
The problem is that people who have a chronic disease often let physical activity slide due to pain, fatigue or depression. The motivation to move can take a blow from these common effects of chronic disease. But lack of activity can lead to reduced muscle mass and ...
