Halloween candy. Tons of it. It won’t be long before the constant battles and negotiations with your kids begins.
Are you dreading the hoard of candy that will end up in your house this Halloween? In addition to the kids’ supply, there’s always a pile of leftover treats that didn’t get passed out. And there’s also the battle with your own self-control. How often do you find yourself sneaking a hand into their candy jar?
Let’s face it. A few hundred empty calories a day isn’t what you or your child needs. Never mind about what all that ...

Did you really enjoy every bite of that big bucket of popcorn you had at the movies - the one that left you with a bellyache?
Do you even remember what you had for breakfast?
Whether plowing through a bag of cookies or wolfing down a sandwich at lunch, many of us are out of touch with our body’s sense of hunger and fullness. The pleasures of eating get lost as well when we don’t pay attention. This is known as "mindless eating."
Mindless eating can leave you feeling unsatisfied with your food, and more importantly, may lead to ...
Love your sweets? Most Americans do, even though we know that sugar causes tooth decay and contributes to diabetes and obesity. But evidence is mounting that a diet high in sugar may be linked to other chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure and heart disease.
In response, the American Heart Association (AHA) has updated its guidelines in a new scientific statement: Dietary Sugars Intake and Cardiovascular Health. Before, the AHA advised simply limiting sugar intake. Looking to be more proactive, the new guidelines state that:
Added sweeteners (sugars that aren\’t naturally part of the food we eat) should ...
A combination of diet and exercise is the best way to lose weight. But many people with this goal tend to focus on cardiovascular (aerobic) exercise and ignore weight or strength training. The fact is, though, that weight training can help you burn more fat than aerobic exercise alone.
Weight and aerobic conditioning may both yield equal amounts of weight loss. But weight training keeps the loss of your muscle mass to a minimum. This will help you perform better during aerobic activities. The resulting increase in muscle mass will also raise your basal metabolic rate (resting metabolism).
Getting ...
Sure, you’re fit. You take 30-minute walks every day, bike on the weekends and take the stairs instead of the elevator. Great job!
But hold on. How’s that diet of yours?
It might be time to take inventory:
Do you rely on the vending machine instead of packing a healthy snack?
What about that carb-phobic diet you’re on?
Do you skip breakfast?
Not fueling up with the right nutrients can affect how well your body performs and your overall fitness benefits. It can also be a stumbling block if you’re looking to lose weight. Here are some eating tips to make sure ...
How does exercise affect your weight? Learn the real truth behind some popular myths that confuse many people.
1. More exercise means more weight loss.
To lose body fat, you need to burn off more calories than you eat. But if you start exercising and expect your weight to drop easily, you may be disappointed. Exercise can increase appetite, causing you to eat more and thereby offset the calories burned. Rewarding yourself with food after a good workout just defeats the purpose. Nutrition and exercise go hand in hand if you want to lose weight.
Say you weigh 150 ...
Carl was looking to build muscle. His gym buddy told him to eat a high protein diet - eggs for breakfast, big portions of meat for lunch and dinner, and protein shakes and bars for snacks. But at 200 to 225 grams of protein a day - about 28 percent of his total 3,000 calories - would this really be the best training diet for Carl?
The myth of high protein
Many people don\’t realize that it\’s actually the resistance exercise, along with adequate protein and carbs, that builds and strengthens muscles - not excess protein. If you ...
It\’s little wonder that we have an obesity epidemic. Food is everywhere, from roadsides and vending machines to television and overstuffed supermarket shelves. That, coupled with a life of sitting - in cars, at desks, on couches - has set us on the road to an obesity epidemic.
Data from two major surveys show that since 1980, the rates of obesity have doubled for adults and tripled for children. In 2007, only one state (Colorado) had a prevalence of obesity less than 20 percent. Thirty states had obesity rates of 25 percent or more.
Though rising numbers seem to ...
Perhaps your daughter plays basketball or soccer. Or your son is an avid swimmer or baseball player. You probably make sure they have the right shin guards, gloves or cleats to help them perform their best. But what about the food that goes into their bodies?
Many parents put more time and effort into choosing equipment than thinking about what their kids are eating. But how do you help their game from the inside out?
Eating properly for activity is important, as it helps your child:
Prevent low blood sugar, which can cause fatigue, headache and lightheadedness. These can have ...
Flowers are blooming, birds are singing and mountain trails are calling. Warmer weather seems to invite outdoor trekking.
Staying properly fueled is an important part of any exercise, so don\’t leave without loading some snacks and drinks in your backpack. It\’s unlikely you will pass any supermarkets or convenience stores on your outdoor adventure.
Nutrition on the go
You\’ll want to pack foods that are light and won\’t take up much room in your pack. A soft, insulated lightweight lunch bag works well to keep cold foods cold.
Bring a variety of snacks that offer wholesome carbs, lean proteins and healthy ...
