Archive for Diets (Eating Lifestyle)

Move over Meatloaf – Salad’s Center Stage Tonight Part 2

Go ahead and add those veggies to your main course salad. Cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, onions and mushrooms are the perfect main course salad enhancers.

 

The more fresh veggies you can pack in the better. You can’t go wrong when it comes to vegetables, and if they taste good to you, throw them in.   

 

Lettuce and veggies aren’t enough to fill really hungry stomachs, however. For that you need protein, and a bit of fat. Chopped, sliced or diced meats such as pork, beef or chicken can be added to your salads to make them tastier and more filling as well.

 

Turkey, ham or seafood such as shrimp can also be a great addition. Additions such as meat and eggs will give your salad some added protein and will enhance the flavor as well.

 

Don’t forget those toppers. Nuts, seeds, bacon bits and croutons are always a hit when it comes to creating a salad. Your main course salad should be no exception. Add some cheese and sliced hard boiled eggs for even more substance to your salad.  Just remember that nut can pack on pounds if you are not careful.

 

Main course salads can be made with Mexican or Asian fixings as well. Add some chow mien noodles and more to give the salad an Oriental flare. Don’t forget your dressing. There are a vast amount of flavorful dressings available these days to top any great salad.

 

Salads don’t have to be what was once known as rabbit food anymore. Have fun creating your main course salads and remember to let your taste buds and health consciousness lead the way.

 

Medifast Diet Plan 2

Exercise is not pushed with this plan because the low caloric intake helps the body to lose weight through normal activity.  However, exercise would improve your cardiovascular health and eliminate some illnesses as the weight drops.
Increased activity also means that you will get hungry, and it may be harder to stay full and satisfied with the few calories that you are eating. On the other hand, it can burn more calories and force your body into giving up the calories stored as fat.
After you reach your weight loss goal, a phase called transition teaches dieters how to add foods back in that they have not been eating since they started the plan.
The phase emphasizes healthy whole grains, low fat milk and dairy products, and less fat.  Pretty soon you will be able to cook all of your meals for yourself instead of ordering the Medifast food.
This program is expensive.  You will pay for a month of food at a time which could run around $300 or more.  This is in addition to the regular grocery bill for the rest of the household, which can really add up if you are the only one eating Medifast but still having to cook for others.
The program stresses adhering to the eating plan for at least three months to see changes in your body and your eating habits.
The upside is that people do definitely lose weight if they stick to it, and it is certainly convenient for busy people. Look for preservatives in the food, and salt or sodium, which can make it less than heart healthy.
You should do the math, and see if it is worth it for convenience and weight loss depending on your lifestyle.  There are other programs like this that you can also try, for instance, Nutrisystem, and zone chefs.
Compare prices, menus and programs. All of them are based on limited portions and calories, and some try to emphasise whole grains and good carbs. Shop around and see which program is right for you.

Medifast Diet Plan 1

Medifast is a diet plan that offers great benefit to people that need to lose a lot of weight.
People with hundreds of pounds to shed have found success with this plan.
Medifast is a portion controlled plan that works best when monitored by a physician.
Medifast bases its plan on portion control.  Eating foods in the right amounts can lead to less hunger and weight loss.
It’s hard for busy people to measure all of their food and count each calorie.  Portion control is where most people get messed up.
Weight loss stops when we estimate wrong and eat more than the serving size.
Weight loss is faster with the Medifast diet program than other programs.
People using the Medifast diet lose anywhere from two to five pounds or more each week.  The daily caloric intake is much lower than most diets, which accounts for the higher weight loss. If you then combine it with exercise, you are bound to lose weight.
The food plan, called the “5 and 1 Plan”, uses Medifast pre-packaged meals and your own food to teach healthy eating habits.
Medifast meals are shipped to you when you join and order the plan.  You can choose your menu, or let them choose which meals to ship.  You get guidelines for fixing the one meal of your own that you prepare.
The Medifast diet is not a restrictive one.  All of the meals contain protein and carbohydrates in a balance for weight loss.
Since there is no restriction, the body is not deprived of any major food groups that it needs in order to function properly, as it is on diets like Atkins.

Mayo Clinic Plan 2

People trying the Mayo Clinic plan can also eat foods like nuts, unsaturated oils, whole grains, fish, and lean meats.  Foods high in fat, like some fish and nuts, keep hunger at bay.
Pop a few nuts in your mouth as a mid-morning snack to keep from feeling hungry before lunch. Again, we are told that low fat is good for us, but there are some healthy fats, and also, fat helps you to feel full longer.
Exercising daily aids in weight loss.  The heart muscle also gets some much needed exercise when the rest of our body is active.
Increased cardiovascular health lowers blood pressure and increases oxygen to the brain for clearer thinking.  All of these are taken into consideration with the Mayo Clinic diet plan.
The plan also includes eating grapefruit to rev up the metabolism.  It’s the grapefruit that had this plan infamously linked to the Grapefruit Diet which is a fad diet.
Grapefruits are not a miracle fruit for weight loss but they do contain properties to get the fat burning process started, which is why they are a part of the Mayo Clinic diet.
But keep in mind the warnings we mentioned in the Grapefruit diet plan about grapefruit with medications.
This is not a comprehensive plan as compared with other diets, and the recipes are not great. On the whole it is a pale imitation of the Johns Hopkins publications on weight loss.  They work, and the Johns Hopkins guidelines don’t use fad diets, plus, the recipes taste great.

Mayo Clinic Plan 1

Hospitals and weight loss plans seem to go together.  We figure that if health professionals come up with a diet it must be good.
Unfortunately, this is not always the case.  However, here is one of the better hospital type diet plans, the Mayo Clinic plan.
The Mayo Clinic plan is designed to be an overall good health plan that incorporates eating and exercise.  Both food and physical activity are important to create a complete health plan for a lifetime.
The Mayo Clinic plan functions as an alternative to other diet plans that are more fad than lifestyle change.
Health needs to be the main goal of any weight loss plan, not just looking fashionably slim (and since 60% of Americans are overweight, this would no longer appear to be the fashion.) Etra weight on the body puts more stress on the joints and back.
The Mayo Clinic plan helps to lower cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and the risk of more serious illnesses like heart disease and Type II diabetes.
We could all use a plan like that.  The goal of the Mayo Clinic plan is for dieters to live longer and better quality lives.
The plan is lenient as far as what not to eat.  It limits no foods.  When you tell someone that a food is “off limits” they zero in on it like a magnet even if they don’t really want it.  The fact that you said that it was prohibited that makes them seem to want it more.
On the Mayo Clinic plan, participants can eat as many vegetables and fruits as they want.  Fruits provide natural sugars that can stop the craving for other sweet treats.
Unlimited amounts of these two foods is an opportunity to branch out and try more exotic fare like star fruit, pomegranates, bok choy, and water chestnuts just to name a few.

The low GI diet plan 2

A person following the low GI diet plan could eat a meal of low glycemic index foods and still come out worse for it according to the plan because other factors have not been taken into account.
For instance, fats in a meal slow down digestion, therefore possibly changing the effect on the body. They also help you to feel full.
There is more to research needed before this diet is proven to increase weight loss or make a difference in weight loss at all.
It is good to eat foods that provide stable energy all day, but an entire meal plan of them may not be what you are looking for.
Right now, there is too much variance in the numbers depending on who you ask.  A low fat plan would be easier to follow with better results.
The plan does emphasize foods with a lot of water in them, such as fruits and veggies. Look at the calories as well as the GI and you might be onto a sensible eating plan that will not spike your blood sugar, and thus your food cravings.

Low GI Diet Plan 1

The low GI (glycemic index) diet plan stresses eating foods that register a low number on the glycemic index scale.
The basis of this diet plan is that foods which have a low glycemic index number lead to a stable blood sugar and less weight gain.  Other diet plans also incorporate the glycemic index into their food choices for weight loss.
The glycemic index pertains to blood sugar levels.  Diabetics have trouble controlling their blood sugar, so eating the right foods is important to their health.  This index has been transferred into the mainstream to create a diet plan that anyone can use.
Foods that cause the blood sugar to spike increase our hunger.  For instance, eating a candy bar will give you a big burst of energy for about half an hour.  After that, you will feel tired and sluggish.  To keep going, you’ll eat more sugar.  Then, the vicious cycle starts over again.
On the other hand, a stable blood sugar level keeps us energized throughout the day, and we don’t feel hungry.  The diet leads to weight loss because of the food choices that are made.
When the glycemic index number is fifty or below, the food is considered to have a “low GI” score.  Anything over seventy is considered high, and between fifty and seventy is moderate.
The glycemic index is not an exact science.  According to the equation used to compute the number, there are candies that have a lower glycemic index than healthier foods like carrots.  Of course you can’t eat chocolate and processed sugar all day and expect to lose weight.  So, there is definitely a flaw in the plan.
Also, the glycemic index number is computed for foods eaten just by themselves.  Carrots taste better with ranch dressing.  Potatoes go with steak and onions.  Foods that are eaten together change the glycemic index, but whether it is for the good or the bad, no one knows for sure.

LA Weight Loss Program 2

One drawback of the plan is the weigh-ins. Members are asked to weigh three times a week. That’s too much for the average person.
The scale is not always an accurate representation of how a weight loss program is improving your health, and weighing in that many times a week can actually be detrimental to self confidence, especially at the beginning of the diet. If you don’t see the scale budge, you can easily become discouraged.
There are a lot of reasons why the scale would go up and down from day to day, for instance, water retention, constipation, your time of the month, with accompanying bloating. It is far more realistic to weight yourself once a week.
Also, weight loss is a combination of calorie restriction and activity, which the plan does not really address.
LA Weight Loss programs ask you to meet with a counselor each week as well. Following the plan will equal a slimmer body, but it takes time, and the price is steep. There are other plans that offer counseling services for far less money, and many of them are online now, so you don’t have to go in person all the time.
LA Weight Loss also offers other weight loss options like Vitamin B12 shots. Vitamin B12 is thought to aid in weight loss. The shots are not free, however and they suggest that you get them on a regular basis for them to work. In general, most people are not deficient, and there are other vitamins and supplements you can take in pill form without needing injections.
The gimmicks that try to make the ‘diet’ unique are just that, gimmicks. Protein snack bars and shots are not necessary for weight loss. Eating lean cuts of meat, fruits, and vegetables in sensible portions reduces your calorie intake, and helps you lose weight.
The eating plan is set up for weight loss regardless of exercise, but adding exercise is always a good option, since it improves the health of the heart and other important parts of the body.
So in general, this plan is useful to kick start your weight loss, but the emphasis on their foods and supplements and the injections make it one that is going to be very expensive in the long run.
And at the end of the day, a diet should not be more expensive than eating well naturally.

LA Weight Loss Program 1

LA Weight Loss centers can be found all across the country.  This is a popular diet that shows members how to lose weight through a strict eating plan.
The plan is controversial because of all of the extras that they ask you to purchase to increase weight loss.
LA Weight Loss asks members to choose foods from certain foods groups each day.  A certain number of servings can be eaten from protein, starch, fruit, vegetable, fat, and snack categories.
If a person eats those foods and only those foods, they will lose weight.  I have known someone who tried the LA Weight Loss plan and she lost a lot of weight in a short time.
Using this plan requires discipline and a large checkbook.  A lot of the food on the list is expensive.  Choosing to eat crab, salmon, and swordfish on a daily basis, not to mention lean cuts of beef, pork, and steak can set you back on the monthly grocery bill.
If you have children at home, you might want to fix them something simpler for dinner that they won’t turn their nose up at.
The cost of the plan can run into the thousands, and that doesn’t include all of the snack bars that they suggest participants buy.  In fact, your choices for protein snack bars are basically the bars that they sell.
Eating two bars a day adds up to sixty bars a month.  The cost is doubled if you and your significant other are doing the plan together. There are a lot more healthy snacks than pre-packaged bars, and at a fraction of the cost.

Jenny Craig 2

Members can discuss their unique issues when it comes to exercise, and support people can then develop an exercise program to fit just about any schedule or lifestyle.
With Jenny Craig, you pay to be a member, which doesn’t include the cost of food, which can become expensive.  You meet with your nutritional consultant on a weekly basis to discuss your progress.
While this sounds great, many times the lack of funds can cause people to leave this program before they have reaped the full benefits of it. Or they get tired of the same foods all the time.
Yet a study of commerical weight loss programs shows that people who stuck with the program for a year lost a great deal more weight than people who tried to go it on their own.
If meal plan diets are more your speed, there are ones that are less expensive and offer online support.  This works for people who have busy schedules.
They can chat with the online community as they have time and find the support that they need – on their schedule.
Other meal plan diets deliver the food to your door for more convenience as well, so you could take a combined approach, but it can also add up too.
So if you want a program that does a bit of both, plus you can have meetings as well, this is probably a good choice.
The food education that is received from Jenny Craig prepares members to eat after the weight is lost.  Fixing meals on your own is important to maintaining weight loss for the rest of your life.
It is not cost effective to continue paying for Jenny Craig meals once you have learned to fix healthy meals yourself.
A personal counselor is an option that some people need to win the battle of the bulge.  The support at Jenny Craig is great and gives members the confidence they need to continue with the program.