
The start of a new work week is here again, and I am pretty sure that many of you – if not most – are looking for a pick me upper. After all, the weekend is ALWAYS too short! If you want to try, take a look at these different kinds of food that may just help give you a boost.
Oatmeal. Tomorrow morning, load up on some oatmeal. If you do not normally eat breakfast, then it’s about time that you did. Your grandmother told you so. Your mom told you so. And now we’re telling you the same thing. Breakfast can give you a jumpstart and keep you going all day! By the way, stick with plain old oatmeal. Forget the instant or flavored ones for maximum ...
Tags: breakfast, energy, food, mood lifters

So we talked about cutting back on calories when you’re having a drinking session with your friends. Now how about when you’re going about your daily routine?
Let’s talk coffee. I have to have coffee to start my day and to keep me going. Otherwise, I’d be as dead as a log. If you need that fix too, then I suggest staying away from lattes and flavored coffee. If you can take it black, take it black. If not, then simply get brewed coffee and add Splenda or Equal and just use a little bit of cream. Of course, you’d have cravings for frappes every now and then. Go ahead, just skip the whipped cream!
Now on to dessert…my sweet tooth gets the best of me sometimes. Here’s a trick that I’ve ...
Tags: calorie counting, Weight Loss

Counting calories has been one effective way of losing unwanted weight. This is not a mere obsession but it is actually based on the simple principle of taking in less energy than you expend. The fewer calories you take in, the less energy you have to use.
What many of us may not be aware of is that we consume way too many calories within the day. If we are aware of our caloric intake, then we can cut back and hasten the process of losing weight. Here are some tips to help you.
When you’re on a night out with friends…
Did you know that beer packs a LOT of calories? If you’re a beer drinker, your diet might be all for nothing. Instead of drinking beer, why not drink wine instead? If you ...
Tags: calorie counting, Weight Loss

Losing weight is an ever popular topic, isn’t it? One thing I have noticed lately, though, is that weight issues are being faced by the younger generation more and more. Perhaps at their impressionable age, the weight issues they face are even more critical.
Just last month, during the holiday break, I noticed that my younger cousins – aged from 16 to 20 – were all dealing with weight issues. And when I read a
feature article on MSN about teenagers and weight loss, my interest was really aroused. Basically, the article says that a psychotherapy program may work better to help teenagers deal with weight issues and avoid obesity. This is in comparison with traditional health classes.
I agree with the idea of the program mentioned, which “focuses on improving interpersonal ...
Tags: News, teen weight loss, weight loss studies

How long does it take you to fall asleep? I know some people who start snoring the moment they lie down. Me, I usually spend at least 20 minutes staring at the ceiling (or the pillow). There are even times when I would waste an hour or more just trying to fall asleep. This year, I am determined to fix my sleeping habits – and that starts with falling asleep faster. Here are some things that I have been trying out, and they seem to be working.
Get thick and dark curtains for the bedroom. My curtains are light and airy. They’re perfect for the morning, but at night, the moonlight or the city lights shine through. That never really bothered me, but I thought I’d try sleeping in a dark ...
Tags: sleep patterns, sleep problems

Last weekend was crazy for me. Ever since the beginning of December, I haven’t had a decent weekend of rest. I suppose it is the same for everyone who celebrates Christmas. Parties are being held left and right practically every day. The weekends are the worst, when you might even have to go from one party to another just to accommodate your friends and family members.
While I am not complaining – it has been the most fun period of this year – I do realize how potentially hazardous all this can be to my health; and you should realize this as well! With less than 2 weeks left before the end of the year, I am sure that you still have a lot of activities and events to engage in – do take a look ...
Tags: Christmas, exercise, food, holidays, safety

Have you ever seen that movie with Billy Bob Thornton? He works as a mall Santa Claus and set up robberies. THAT was a really bad Santa. The bad Santa I am going to talk about in this post is of a different sort though.
Recently, an article about how Santa Claus is a negative model for children around the world spread like wildfire. Titled "Santa Claus: A Public Health Pariah?," the article was published in the leading health journal of the UK. It was written by Nathan Grills, an Australian epidemiologist. Here are some points raised in the article, courtesy of
Newsweek:
"Epidemiologically there is a correlation between countries that venerate Santa Claus and those that have high levels of childhood obesity." The researcher warns that the British tradition of leaving brandy along with ...
Tags: Christmas health, Santa Claus

If you had asked me this a month ago, I would probably have laughed and said “You think?” I have been experiencing some drastic changes in life, though, and about a month ago, I couldn’t focus and couldn’t even muster enough desire to eat. Of course, I did eat a little, and after a couple of weeks, I started eating “normally” again. However, at that point, it seemed that my stomach had gotten used to not eating much, so I was able to lessen my food intake.
I do fully understand what it feels like to want to keep on eating, especially if the food is good. For those of you who think they eat too much, here are some simple tips which can help you. I have tried them myself, and they work!
Have ...
Tags: appetite, diet, Nutrition, Weight Loss

If you are like the average person trying to lose weight, then you have probably asked this question many times over. We have to face it: weight loss is NOT easy. Those who have been blessed with fast metabolism do not have to worry about this issue, but there are countless people trying to shed pounds on a regular basis, only to face failure. Perhaps, if we look at some of the factors that contribute to the failure, we can make some changes and lose weight for real AND for good.
The feeling of deprivation is never good. Sadly, this is one common factor in a lot of weight loss programs. Individuals are restricted severely when it comes to food intake, resulting in the feeling of deprivation. Naturally, human instinct makes one want ...
Tags: Diets, exercise, healthy weight loss, Weight Loss

Soy is great for you. It can fight cancer. No, soy can be bad for you, especially if you’re a guy. It can lead to growth of breasts or lower testosterone levels. These are some of the conflicting statements about soy and its by products. But what is the low down on soy? Is it really good for you or not?
According to Karen Collins, M.S., R.D., C.D.:
A study of children fed soy protein formula for more than six months showed no hormonal effects. A study of men in their 50s and 60s found that the men who ate soy foods twice a day for three months showed no change in testosterone levels, but had a 14 percent drop in levels of PSA (an indicator of prostate growth used in screening for prostate cancer).
She ...
Tags: Cancer, prostate cancer, soy, soy beans, soy foods, soya