Diet Fads Come And Go.....

Cursed by dieters everywhere, and loved by children around the world, sugar is one those substances we 'love to hate' and 'hate to love'! It can make bland foods tasty and can make the dentist rich. Americans love sugar in all forms, from pure white granulated to liquid to fluffy cotton candy. As a nation, it's fair to say that we've developed a love affair with sugar!

But at what cost? Our ever-expanding waistlines are due, in part, to our sugar infatuation. Many of us try to eat healthier, only to be pushed into consuming even more sugar! Take for example the low-fat craze of the 1980's and '90's, pushed by the federal government's proclomation that FAT IS BAD. As soon as Americans started demanding low-fat products, the food manufacturers responded by flooding the market with low-fat, high-sugar foods.....and we loved it. Honestly, how many of us have chowed down an entire box of Hot Tamales candy and justified it because they're 'fat-free'? Cotton candy, that staple of the county fair, is also fat-free! Hard candy, jelly beans, licorice and oh so many more foods found their way into our mouths - all justified because of their fat-free status.

But at what cost? Common sense, reinforced by our expanding size, soon reminded us that it's EXCESS CALORIES THAT MAKE US FAT, and that SUGAR HAS CALORIES! It took us only a decade or so to figure out that just because a food is fat-free, doesn't mean that it's good for us!

Again, the food industry responded (and is still responding) by giving us loads and loads of sugar-free food. From ice cream to candy to soda, sugar-free is fast replacing fat-free as the new standard of 'healthy'.

Our scientists have created many different sugar substitutes for us to enjoy: DiabetiSweet, Splenda, Equal, Sucralose, Xylitol, Stevia, NutraSweet, aspartame, tagatose, saccharin, and many many more. Even the Pepsi Slushie, that icon from our youth, now has a sugar-free version!

But at what cost? Do we really know everything we need to know about the sugar replacements on the market today? Take saccharin for example. Saccharin has been used to sweeten foods and beverages without calories or carbohydrates for over a century. Its use was considerable during the sugar shortages of the two world wars, particularly in Europe.

Later, however, we find some experts debating the safety of saccharin: "In a joint letter, the scientists told the National Toxicology Program, a division of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, that declaring saccharin safe would 'result in greater exposure to this probable carcinogen in tens of millions of people, including children (indeed, fetuses). If saccharin is even a weak carcinogen, this unnecessary additive would pose an intolerable risk to the public.'". (Source: www.cspinet.org)

Now, citing new research, some scientists are claiming that sugar-free foods may not help us lose weight! As with many topics, the experts don't agree on this issue. What's important to note, however, is that some doctors believe that the sugar-free craze might be just a bad case of deja vu similar to the fat-free craze of decades past.

So, when the year 2030 rolls around, will we all be looking back in disbelief wondering how in the heck we ever believed in that sugar-free nonsense? Only time will tell. In the meantime, we need to know that BALANCE IS THE KEY to everything. Balance a healthy diet (eating foods in moderation) with a regular exercise program. Let the experts debate all day long about what to eat and what not to eat.....while they're trying to figure out the 'magic formula' for the perfect diet, we'll be maintaining a healthy weight through exercise!!

* Copyright 2005 Pick Up The Pace. Permission is not required for the distribution of Pick Up The Pace articles as long as they are used in their entirety, are properly credited to Pick Up The Pace, and are accompanied by our website link: www.letspickupthepace.com which must be maintained as a live link.

* The information in this article and on this site is for general reference purposes only and not intended to address specific medical conditions. This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice or a medical exam. Prior to participating in any exercise program or activity, you should seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health professional. No information in this article or on www.letspickupthepace.com should be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any medical condition.

* Tracie Johanson is the founder of Pick Up The Pace, a 30-minute exercise studio for women, focusing on fitness, health and nutrition for maximum weight loss. Please visit letspickupthepace.com for more information.

About the Author:
Tracie Johanson
Added: Mon Sep 19 2005
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The Obesity Solution Secret: How to Eat To Lose Fat

I used to interview elite bodybuilders on their training and eating for a living and did this for years and years. One reoccurring theme that kept popping up when talk turned to diet/nutrition was how much food top bodybuilders packed away on a daily basis. These men taught their bodies how to handle continually greater amounts of calories without becoming fat. Contrast this with the typical obese person who eats one meal a day and adds body fat at the drop of a hat. I am working with a crew of obese folks and having great success using modified bodybuilder eating tactics to help the obese lose body fat.

The first order of business for the obese is to establish a multiple meal schedule. The obvious advantage to this strategy is it divides the daily calories in smaller chunks. I require the obese person to eat every three hours and this usually works out to five feedings a day. Secondly we insist they clean up the food selections. Some foods are easily converted into body fat (sugar foods, manmade foods and saturated fat) and some foods are near impossible for the body to convert into fat (lean protein, fibrous carbohydrates). The body’s metabolism kicks into high gear to digest protein and fiber – creates what is called the thermogenic effect of food. Body temperature actually increases when the digestive system is faced with the daunting task of breaking down hard to digest protein and fiber.

Multiple meals allow the body to deal with fewer calories at any one sitting and the repeated practice of eating 5-6 meals a day teaches the body to become adept at digesting and distributing food. Better to eat 3,000 “clean” calories a day divided into six five hundred-calorie daily meals than one 1,500 calorie mega-dirty fast-food meal.

The results are astounding when the obese buy into the approach. I have one male who has lost 40-pounds of bodyweight in 40 days while simultaneously adding 12-pounds of muscle. He started at 240 and yesterday he weighed 200. This is far more impressive because didn’t lose muscle in the process, he added muscle in the process. This was no ex-jock loaded with muscle memory; this is a 48-year old man with zero weight training experience.

Obese folks who slash calories end up losing as much fat as muscle and end up as miniaturized versions of the old fat selves. This modified bodybuilder approach melts fat while simultaneously adding muscle: the obese person eats more and as a direct result feels energized and vibrant during the process. Contrast this with the calorie-slasher who feels deprived, denied and continually on the verge of a binge. A person who eats wholesome foods every three hours is far less likely to binge and blow their diet than some poor obese person subsisting on 1200 calories a day. The calorie starved obese individual has set their caloric ceiling set so low that eating a candy bar or a bowl of ice cream causes them to add five pounds in 24-hours.

Adding functional muscle and building strength allows the obese person to become mobile and adept at climbing steps, getting out of a low chair and powering their bulk around. Compare this to the calorie-slasher who actually weakens their already weak body. Those who depend on deprivation to trigger bodyweight loss weaken the immune system and continually contract colds and sickness.

Those who live on 1000 to 1500 calories a day live in a stressful psychological world of denial. A person who has elevated their metabolism and consumes 3,000 calories a day can absorb an occasional binge far, far better than a person starving; I allow my folks a cheat meal once a week: this allows them to feel psychologically free. The interesting thing about the cheat meal (not cheat day – cheat meal) is that by “being good” the other 6 7/8’s of the time the sweets, fat and junk they crave and might eat are rejected by the body and classically results in diarrhea.

I train five obese folks I currently work with -- one man and four women -- and all are experiencing similarly spectacular results: all are losing unhealthy fat while building functional muscle and eating more food than they did before they commenced the process. This counterintuitive approach – eat more to lose fat – was torn right out of the playbook of champion bodybuilders and can be used to great effect by anyone interested in losing fat while adding muscle.

About the Author:
dave4
Coming soon! "The Obesity Solution" is designed to help overweight men and women physically transform themselves into healthier, thinner, more fit individuals. Designed by Marty Gallagher, a world champion coach and former www.washingtonpost.com fitness columnist, he will take you by the hand to help you achieve permanent fat loss.
For more information, visit www.purposefullyprimitive.com/article.html and get a FREE special report on how to stick to a diet the easy way!
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4 Steps to Preventing Childhood Obesity

In the past few years, information on childhood obesity seems to be everywhere. The reason for this is because of the frightening rate at which the number of obese children is growing. Society is consequently trying hard to react to a worsening problem that is spreading to almost epidemic proportions.

There are four main steps all parents must take in order to prevent childhood obesity in their children.

Abolish soft drinks from the diet

One of the biggest problems in children’s diets today is that of carbonated soft drinks. Because of the fact that there is absolutely no nutritional value in these drinks, it is crucial that they are eliminated from the diet. This is particularly recommended by physicians and nutritionists as an important factor in combating the epidemic of childhood obesity that has become a reality of the modern era.

Elimination of these drinks from your child’s diet may be a difficult process, depending upon age and the amount of consumption. If the child is at an age where he or she does not yet make a choice in what is consumed, then the process is easy. This is where you simply stop giving these drinks to the child, replacing them with more healthy alternatives. Where children are old enough to help themselves, it is important to ensure that no soft drinks are available. Stock your refrigerator with low-fat milk, water, or fruit juices made from real fruit.

Remember that you are a role model for your child and therefore, it is important that you lead by example in your choice of nutritious drinks both at home and when dining out.

By creating a soft drink free environment at home and teaching your child about healthier alternatives, you can help to change the thought processes. This is only one step but that step can go a long way toward helping your child to achieve or to maintain a healthy weight.

Restrict fast food

For children who are already showing signs of obesity, it is best to completely eliminate things such as hamburgers, fried chicken, chips, milkshakes and other fattening products from fast food restaurants. However, if this has been part of the child’s routine, it may be difficult. Although scientific literature gives no specific recommendations, it is believed among nutritional experts that fast food is acceptable on a once per week basis.

It is not necessary to totally eliminate takeaway food from the diet but rather to help the child to make healthier choices. Many fast food restaurants are now listening to public opinion and providing a healthier range of food rather than just the traditional range that they are renowned for.

To totally eliminate fast food would be unrealistic as there is also a social connection, particularly in the older children. Often this is a meeting place for friends and it would be hard for the child to resist temptation. It is crucial therefore, that parents ensure their child understands how the traditional fast foods contribute to obesity.

Limit television viewing

It would be unrealistic to think of eliminating television from your child’s life not to mention deprivation. There are many programs on television these days that are beneficial to your child’s development. However, it is important to limit television viewing as well as other technology such as DVDs and internet.

Child rearing professionals advocate no television at all for children under two and no more that two hours per day for children over two. This also applies to other media technology though internet surfing for homework purposes could be exempt. Remember also that if your child is spending a lot of time on the internet, it is important to have internet security software for their protection.

Another way of restricting television viewing is to only have a television in the family room rather than allowing your child to have one in the bedroom.

Dinner time is for enjoying the meal and also for enjoying the company and closeness of family. Turn the television off to promote conversation.

Promote physical activity

One of the great regrets of our modern age is the lack of activity of our children. Imaginative play has been replaced by media technology which induces sedentary lifestyles. Our children should all be physically active every day. This can take the form of play, sport, physical education, walking to school or shops, community activities, or any other activity that requires a level of physical exertion.

Pre-school children should be engaging in a minimum of three sessions each week of physical activities that last more than twenty minutes at a time and that require moderate to vigorous levels of exertion. This should increase as the child gets older. As the child reaches school age, this activity should be reaching around 30 minutes to an hour of physical activity on all or most days of the week.

These recommendations will be difficult at first for the child who has been inactive so don’t expect results too quickly. Aim for fun activities with siblings or parents at first. Things such as playing a game of tag or going for a family walk in the park are better than doing nothing and will be beneficial to everyone. Gradually increase the activity during these outings. If done in a fun atmosphere, the child will look forward to these activities and it will become a natural way of life.

Looking to the Future

Unfortunately, obese children often grow up to be obese adults. They are then likely to suffer diseases attributable to this obesity and the economic costs to the community are substantial.

It is therefore in everybody’s interests for measures such as the abolition of soft drinks and fatty fried foods, sweets and chips and any other obesity producing foods to be banned from school tuck shops and in other areas where children frequently purchase foods. Advocating for our children’s health and for the future of this generation is of the utmost importance.

Anne Wolski has worked in the health and welfare industry for more than 30 years. She is a co-director of http://www.magnetic-health-online.com and http://www.betterhealthshoppe.com which are both information portals with many interesting medical articles. She is also an associate of http://www.timzbiz.com which features many articles on internet marketing and resources.

About the Author:
Anne Wolski has worked in the health and welfare industry for more than 30 years. She is a co-director of www.magnetic-health-online.com and www.betterhealthshoppe.com which are both information portals with many interesting medical articles. She is also an associate of www.timzbiz.com which features many articles on internet marketing and resources.
Article Source: http://www.articlesnetwork.com/

Excited about Weight Loss Diet Pill

Are you fade up of your over weight and now want to be in good shape. Weight loss diet pills used to suppress appetite and now being sold by a variety of companies. Weight loss diet pill helps to be in good shape and to be healthy.

Consult your dietician to know more about weight loss diet pills and which product is more suitable for your health. There are number of companies which make weight loss diet pills you just have to0 take precaution that which product is sale by its brand name and which is by more demand in the market. Find out the best weight loss diet pills and how they work and what are there side effects.

Number of people prefers to join gym. But many times it's not possible for people working in office and they start gaining unwanted weight which plays very important role in other health problems. Weight loss diet pills are the best thing to reduced your over weight without changing or disturbing your routine life.

Weight loss diet pills are available for people of every age group. They are companies which deals in variety of diet pills like herbal diet supplements and many other which can be found in the market without doctor prescription.

A very wide Varity of diet pills are available in the market and they can be purchased without doctor prescription. Before going for any product find out the side effects and the promises they live up to. The Diet pill market is growing rapidly as now people are become more health conscious. Numbers of weight loss diet pills are available in the market which does promises but they won't work as they assure the customers. It's always good to consult your dietician or doctor before buying any weight loss diet pill.

About the Author:
Anna Josephs is a freelance editor having experience of many years in writing articles and news releases on various topics. Currently, she is working on http://www.healthsupplementnet.info . To get more details on weight loss diet pills, please visit http://www.healthsupplementnet.info/phentermine-diet-pill.html. Please feel free to write feedback on this article.
Added: 22 Nov 2006
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Phendimetrazine Online Prescription: Quick in Quitting Fat

Online prescription of Phendimetrazine diet medication is one of easiest and reliable ways to put one’s fat under control. This pill is one among all other reputed medicines which cures obesity effectively.

Phendimetrazine online prescriptions are easiest to access, and utilize it in curing fat without any inconvenience. By going online, one can find many online agents which make this pill available within 24 hours at one’s doorstep. Many obese people would be shy of going to drug shops, and ask for diet pills. Thus, online prescription of this pill doesn’t only keep obese people off any embarrassment, but also it saves a lot of time.

Availing online prescription of Phendimetrazine diet pills can even befit people in making pills available to them at special discount rate. So, buying this pill online might alleviate one’s pocket by saving good amount of money. One must beware of several fake agents who tempt customers by offering them various lucrative deals. Besides, before buying this pill online, it must be remembered that this pill is a prescription based medicine, and must be taken after doctor’s prescription.

Online prescription of Phendimetrazine provides one all kind of information about the diet pill. One must be aware that this pill is an appetite suppressant, and there are various side effects which might occur during its usage. One has to know all precautions by getting all this information online.

Getting privilege of Phendimetrazine online prescription is just a click away. One requires just filling a small online form where desired form of pill has to be specified. Online agent vouchsafes customer to have pills at discount rate, and instantly. For people, who are suffering from obesity, and looking for an easier way to reduce their weight, online prescription of Phendimetrazine is a best tool to use.

About the Author:
Joseph Jones received training as a healthcare scientist.To find Phentermine, Buying phentermine, Phendimetrazine online prescriptions, weight loss, Phendimetrazine diet pillsvisit www.onlinephentermine.net
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Fat-Burning Exercises

Today, very few people are getting enough exercise. Sitting all day in front of a computer or any other job that confines people to an office does not give the body enough of a workout. If you have more fat on your body than you should have, how can you burn it?

Learn how to make the most of your body's ability to burn fat quickly and naturally. Burning fat is all about using up more calories than your body takes in. Otherwise, those extra calories will be stored away as body fat. Daily exercise, together with a healthy diet, is the best way to lose that fat and give you the results you are looking for.

First, make a few minor changes to your lifestyle. Eat breakfast! Eating breakfast revs up your metabolism and gives your body the energy it needs to get through the morning. When you eat your other meals throughout the day, eat smaller portions of food and eat them more often. This will keep your metabolism churning along.

Move! To burn calories, any kind of movement, whether it's walking, climbing stairs, dancing, or mowing the lawn, will help enhance your body's ability to burn fat and increase your metabolism. Increasing your metabolism will, in turn, help you lose weight faster.

Power walking, jogging, running, elliptical training, bicycling and swimming are excellent aerobic exercises that force your body to burn a higher percentage of calories from fat. These types of exercises, consisting of smooth and continuous movements, contribute many outstanding benefits to the human body without risking injury or stressing it.

+Improve Cardiovascular Fitness: Aerobic exercises get the heart beating faster to transport oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the muscles. The heart and lungs grow more efficient with a regular exercise regimen, reducing blood pressure and the resting heart rate. This type of exercise also facilitates recovery from many ailments, including heart attacks.

+Improve Blood Circulation: For people with poor circulation to the arms and legs, aerobic exercise can increase the size and improve the efficiency of the tiny vessels that supply blood for cellular respiration. Anyone diagnosed with poor circulation should see a doctor before beginning an exercise program.

+Improve Emotional Well-Being: Psychologically, aerobic exercise generates an overall feeling of well-being and can relieve depression, anxiety and stress by producing endorphins, the body's natural tranquillizer. A brisk 20-minute workout will relax you and stimulate your thinking.

+Lose Weight: The fundamental health benefits of aerobic exercise are many. Exercising helps control weight, blood sugar and cholesterol levels and enhances your body's ability to burn fat by increasing your metabolism. It is the perfect complement to a sensible, healthy diet to lose weight and keep it off.

If you are more than 40 years old and have any problems with weight, respiration, blood pressure, heart problems, pulse rate, or cholesterol, check with your doctor before beginning an exercise regimen. The same goes for diabetics, smokers, or people with pre-existing injuries or a family history of heart problems.

The most important thing to remember is the more muscle groups you use in your daily exercise routine, the more fat you will burn. Once you have trained your body to be an efficient fat-burner, your body will increase its muscle density. Since muscle cells burn calories faster than fat cells, your body will require more food. Believe it or not, this means you get to eat more food!

About the Author:
Chris Chenoweth, author of the DO-IT-YOURSELF HOME HEALTH & MONEY GUIDE, writes articles pertaining to nutrition, health issues, household budgeting tips, and cooking: http://mysiteinc.com/djtrevayne/guide.html
One of the best weight loss systems available, the BURN THE FAT program, reveals secrets that will show you how to convert your body into a fat burning machine: http://www.ezniche.com/data/article.php?l=18
Added: 15 Aug 2006
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Tuna and Water Diet

Ready for a hardcore diet to get lean in a matter of days? This diet is used by professional bodybuilders to prepare before the competition. It requires an iron willpower but guarantees 100% results.

Here is how it works:

* Normally this diet is followed for 3 days.
* Take in 6 equal tuna servings. Once each 2,5 - 3 hours.
* Drink as much water as possible. At least 3-4 liters. Water fills your stomach and helps you not to feel hungry. There is no limit. Drink as much as you can.
* Take at least twice a day some vitamins. This is crucial since you won't get much vitamins from tuna during this diet.
* You will need at least 1 to 1,5 grams of protein per pound of your weight (aroung 3 gram per kilogram). Tuna's marvelous as it contains 26 gram protein per 100 gram tuna. Here are two handy formulas to calculate your tuna serving size:

For kilogram calculation: (bodyweight * 3 * 100) / (6 * 26) = bodyweight * 300 / 156 = 1 tuna serving (in gram)
For pound calculation: bodyweight * 100 / 156 or bodyweight * 150 / 156 = 1 tuna serving (in gram)

Don't think it is an easy task, but the harder the task, the greater the payoff. For beginners I suggest to start the diet on friday evening after the work and keep it for two days. The reason is that you cannot control the regular food intake very well during a workday as you work normally 4 hours (or more) non stop and get only one break to eat. Moerover, two days diet is not as hardcore as 3 or 4 days diet. I recommend this for all beginners. If you can keep this diet for two days without problems, wonderful, you can keep it for one or two days more.

Stay strong and be aware of forbidden foods. Your energy levels may fall in the first 1,5 days. You may feel very weak as never before. This is teh time of your spirit to stay as hard as iron and keep the diet! Your body will soon adapt and the strenght will come back.

Personally, I am doing this diet at the weekend every 2-3 weeks. It helps to burn the extra fat I may have gained during that period. It is a wonderful way to stay lean 365 days a year!

About the author:
Witaly Semko
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