Too Many Calories

How many calories do you need? Well, that depends on a lot of things. Your age, sex, type of work,physical activity, all comes into play. There is no one answer for this type of thing. I have to warn you, I don't believe the general ideas on how many calories a person should have. If you have a 2,000 calorie

diet, you are starving yourself. I know that some people live and die by this number, but I just throw it to the wind. Why don't I pay attention to a number such as 2,000? Only because it is stupid. Yes, you heard me right, stupid. How is a person who is very active going to live off of 2,000 calories? I mean, you  would end up looking like those dying skinny kids in the 3rd world countries. I think you get the drift though. I think those numbers are put in place by people who are so focused on health, that they are blinded by it. I mean, if you have 3,000 calories in one day, it won't kill you. Though, they might want to make you believe that it will. 

     I'm not saying that you should throw all of this stuff to the wind. That would be foolish. What I am saying is, you should take it with a grain of salt. There is no reason why you should get bent out of shape if you go a few hundred or even a thousand over this limit. I mean, if you are going over by 5,000 then  you should be worried. Some people do need to be concerned with such a thing. For example, people who are on a diet because of heart problems. You should be very focused on your diet. Also people with sugar problems would fall into this category as well. 

    

  If you don't have some sort of health problem, I wouldn't get too bent out of shape. Though, if you are eating from the drive through lane every day, then you might have a problem. What am I saying? Use common sense. Understand where your calories are coming from. If you are eating 3,500 calories and  they are mostly from things that are good for you, don't go ape shit on yourself. If on the other hand if it is all from candy and deep fried foods, I would be concerned.  

      You should be more concerned about where the calories are coming from. Ahhh, now I think you seewhat I mean. If you are eating 1,500 calories alone of fruits and veggies, that is better than eating that in fat. Isn't it all the same? Not really. I would say that it isn't the same. I know that some of you will argue with that. It isn't the same because the calories are coming from a good source. They are coming from things that are good for you. The fruits and veggies will help you out in many ways. They will also help you fight off cancer and heart disease. This isn't true if you are over eating on fats and sweets. 

           What to do? Well, all I know is what I have stated above. If you are eating over 2,000 calories and you are eating things that are good for you, I wouldn't be too concerned. As always, you should talk to your doctor. That is the best advice I can give you. You should always talk to him before you go and do  something new. You might have a health condition that will require you to go on a diet that he tells you to go on.

 

             If you are healthy, base most of your diet on raw fruits and veggies. That is where the action is. That is where you will get the most bang for your calorie. Happy eating! Recommended Weight Loss and Diet.

The Many Benefits of Weight Lifting

Most people, especially women, discard weight lifting as a good form of exercise because they think that weight lifting will actually make their bodies look like a man.  

             If you are one of those people, then you might be surprised to know that this is not true.  The hormones of man and woman are not the same.  The hormone testosterone plays a major role in muscular development. Because women have very little of this hormone, they tend not to "bulk-up" with weight training.    

          Researches also demonstrate that resistance exercise, also called strength training, like weight training and weight lifting, has profound effects on the musculoskeletal system, contributes to the maintenance
of functional abilities, and prevents osteoporosis, sarcopenia (loss of body mass), lower-back pain, and
other disabilities.   

         Weight lifting also contributes to muscle conditioning.  Muscle conditioning is important for the overall stability and strength of the body. It is beneficial until the end of life if well maintained.  Muscle conditioning is good for the bones because bones grow stronger and denser with stresses put on the muscles around them. 

     Moreover, weight lifting makes the muscles, connective tissues and tendons stronger. 

        The way you sit and stand are influenced by the health of a network of neck, shoulder, back, hip and abdominal muscles.  Stronger muscles can help you stand and sit straighter and more comfortably.  You may notice improved balance and stability. As you begin to notice the positive physical changes in your body and develop a regular exercise routine, your ability to handle stress effectively will improve. Weight training allows you to sleep better, i.e., fall asleep quicker and sleep deeper.  Clinical studies have shown regular exercise to be one of the three best tools for effective stress management.

         Weight lifting, like most forms of exercise also raises metabolism thus causing the body to burn more calories.  This helps in the maintenance of our desirable weight. Boosted metabolism (which means burning more calories when at rest) with reduced body fat.  Your overall weight may not change, but
you will gain muscle and lose fat. Over time you should notice decreases in waist measurements and body fat measurement.  

     Remember the adage “something is better than nothing.”  Start improving your health.  A little start like  lifting those grocery bags and rocking your baby to sleep may mean a decrease on your risk of muscle loss on later years. 

       Consult with your doctor if you want to make weight lifting a daily part of your fitness regimen.

Power Drinks

We all see ads for power drinks and energy bars. How many times have you seen a coach get some
Gatorade poured over his head? I've seen it so many times it makes me sick. I don't even watch football
that often! So, should you consume such things? It depends on who you are really. That is what will tell
you the answer. The types of things that you like to do. Are you the average Joe? You want to eat
healthy so you feel great and look great. You don't work out often or at all. You go on walks at night
time with your woman. Some of that might be for the exercise and some of it might be so you have an
excuse to get in the shower with her when you get home. Do you need power drinks and energy bars?
No. I'm not sure if that is surprising or not. I used to work at a gas station many years ago. I used to see
people getting these drinks all the time. Most of them were fat guys who were also getting a hot dog to
eat while they nuke their hamburger. We all know about some of those second rates food items at the
gas station. 

I'd say that 95% percent of people buying these drinks were men who were overweight. I'm not sure
why that is really. I think it has something to do with them seeing sports stars drink it on television.
Certainly, they aren't drinking it to lose weight or to be more active. I'd say the same is true if you want
to eat the energy bars. I mean, if you aren't going to use them for energy to work out with, it is all a
waste. You should spend the money on more important things. 

Why do fat guys eat this stuff? Ahhh, the power of marketing. I really think that is all that it boils down
to. They respond to the marketing that they see. They see people that they look up to eating and
drinking these things, so they feel if they consume them they will be just like their favorite sports hero.
Now, if on the other hand you do work out, these can be a great tool for you use. Did you know that you
shouldn't eat for up to two hours before you work out? Did you know that it takes at least 30 minutes to
one hour for a snack to digest? This is where the energy bars come in handy. They are something small
that your body can digest and you won't even notice your body doing any of the work. Eat one an hour
before you go into the gym. You will notice how you don't get hungry while you are working out. 

For about every half hour you plan on working out, drink about 16 oz of sports drink. That is a good rule
of thumb. It takes about 40 minutes to absorb this, so drink it before you work out. If you are the
average Joe who doesn't work out but use these for energy, let me tell you something. You are
wasting your money. That is all that you are doing. You aren't getting any real benefit from these
things. Sure you might be getting some energy here and there, but it is all a waste of money. You can
gain the same amount of energy with a good diet. Take all of that money you are spending on this stuff
and put it to good use. Save it up for a month and take your woman out to eat or someplace fun. You
will get more out of it that way than if you spent it on this junk. 


Why am I talking about these things in such a negative manner? Because I hate to see people fall to the
hype of marketing. That is why. You don't need this stuff. You need this stuff as much as you need a star
named after you. Did you know that you can name a star after yourself for 40 dollars? You will never get
to go there or even get a piece of the rock that makes it, but you can have it named after you. It is all a
waste of money. Give that money to some charity that feeds the needy. They need the food more than
you need an energy bar. I mean, why do you really need the energy anyway? Because you have filled up
on sweets and burnt yourself out? 

Instead you should focus on a healthy diet. That includes snacks of fresh fruit and veggies. That will
give you energy and won't rob your wallet. Make sure that you are eating right and you are getting
enough rest at night. There is no need to waste money on snake oil.  

Planning Your Diet

We have plans for everything these days. That is how we can fit 100 different things into each day.
While to an extent this seems a bit over doing it, some things do need to be planned. I don't know why
we don't plan our diets. I mean, we plan everything else. Some people even plan on when they will have
sex. Hence, the birth of hump day. Why not spend a few minutes and plan out what you will eat? If you
are reading this, you have the time so. So sit back and follow these seven easy steps. Don't blink, if you
do it will be over. It is really that simple. 
1. Mini meals are great. 
They tell people with certain disease that they should eat several small meals each day. They say that a
person should eat something every two hours. Well, that isn't too impossible to do. I would suggest that
you start out every four hours. Keep it like you normally would any of your other meals. Make sure you
have your protein and your fiber. Have some veggies and some fruit to balance everything out. Don't
make your mini meal a bucket of fried chicken. I know that since it is a mini meal, the temptation
doesn't seem as great. I mean, if you only slip up in a mini meal, who is watching? 
These are a great way to avoid hunger and improper snacking throughout the day. Just make your mini
meals up and eat them every time that you have planned. If you plan on eating every two hours, every
two hours it is. It doesn't take a road map to figure this out. 
2. Don't go overboard. 
This is easier said than done. You need to have a specific amount that you are trying to reduce. If you are
trying to reduce your meals by 10%, then you should stick to that. I'm not suggesting that you break out
the calculator and count up every meal that you have. If you have been on a diet for very long, you
already have a good idea how many calories things have. Don't eat with your eyes, eat with your mind.
That will help you cut down on the amount of food that you eat. 
3. Eat good tasting food. 
From time to time let yourself go. Eat something that you know you shouldn't. If you get it out of your
system, it will be easier to maintain your diet. If on the other hand you don't allow yourself to eat things
you shouldn't from time to time, all you will do is hurt yourself in the long run. You are going to nibble
each day on those things instead of just eating them occasionally. 
4. Eat your calories, don't drink them. 
Don't fill up on sodas and other drinks. You can get all your calories for one day in these if you do it too
much. A few sodas here. A few cups of hot chocolate there. A few beers here. You get the point. That
will put on the pounds easily.  

5. Exercise. 
You need to do this to keep fit. Not only will it keep you fit, but it will keep you mentally sharp as well.
That can go a long way in helping you stick to a diet. If you are depressed, chances are you will end up
eating fatty foods that will make you fat. When you consume all of that fat, it will make you more
depressed. It is a bad cycle to start. 
6. Make your meals last. 
Chew your damn food son! I bet you heard that one as a kid. Well, it is true. Don't swallow your food.
Instead, eat it slowly and enjoy the taste of it. If you do this, it will make you feel like you have actually
eaten something. If you swallow it down, you won't get the same benefit. You will continue to feel a
void. 
7. Discover your food triggers. 
We all have these. When was the last time you went grocery shopping and you looked at a bag of
cookies and realized that you had to have them? I do this sort of thing all the time. You need to
understand what foods trigger your response system. If you can do this, you can avoid situations that
will make you eat things that you shouldn't eat. 

Well, that wasn't so bad was it? There is no need to flip out when it comes to a diet plan. It is simple and
easy. Just like anything in life, you should have a plan before you begin to do whatever it is that you are
doing. The same is true with your diet.  

New Snack Ideas

It might be hard for some people to believe, but snacking is actually good for us. Doctors tend to
recommend that we snack during the day. Snacking gives us that boost of energy that we need. The
problem is, most people snack with the wrong types of food. They will snack with potato chips or with
candy. While that is okay from time to time, I wouldn't make a big habit out of it. I would like to think
that the best approach to the bad things is this. Eat them one day of the week. Have the chips on
Saturday while you are watching the game. You will enjoy them more during the game than you would
at your desk. So, what should you eat for a snack? Don't run to the burger joints or to the vending
machine at work. Neither of those places have what you are looking for. First I would suggest that you
take a look at what your over all diet is. More importantly, how much coffee you are drinking. If you are
drinking too much coffee, I would suggest that you cut back and start to eat more fruit. 

I would never suggest to you that you eat the energy bars that they sell in the health food store. I
think if you are snacking during work or at home, you don't need such a thing. Maybe if you are hitting
the gym, but if you are hitting the keyboard at work, there is no need for them. All you are doing is
wasting your money. This is what I do. I cut up a variety of veggies and put them in plastic sandwich
bags. I might cut up celery, bell pepper, carrots, and so forth. Anything that you will eat is okay to put in
your snack pouches. That is what I call them, my snack pouches. I also keep a salt shaker in my desk. I
find that I am more likely to eat the veggies if I put a little salt on them. Try it, you will be amazed at how
good they taste. 

I try to keep some whole fruit on hand. What I mean by whole fruit is. Things such as peaches and
apples. I don't keep any canned fruit at work. Sometimes I will get those fruit cups and put those in my
desk. If you do that, make sure that you get the ones without the sugar added. By nature I am a tight
wad. So I don't buy the fruit cups very often. I find that I can make the same thing for much less money.
What I will do is make my own fruit cocktail. 

Here is how I do it. 

I take a few peaches and slice them. I take a handful of grapes and put them in. I don't chop them up,
but I do wash them. Then I cut up a few pears and throw them in. Then I peel and slice some banana. I
might throw in some kiwi or some apples. You can add whatever you like. I didn't give exact
measurements because you should put however much in as you like. Don't like bananas? Don't put any
in yours! 

If you have ever eaten the stuff in the stores, you know that there is a little fluid in the can. Sometimes
this is heavy syrup. Basically that is water and sugar. I am sure we all have seen this before. I find that
when I eat my own fruit cocktail I miss that liquid. What I do instead is, I add some orange juice to my
fruit cocktail. This gives me the wetness that I crave without having to add a bunch of calories by adding
sugar. Try it, you will be amazed. 

 Yogurt can also be a great snack to get you through the day. Try to get the low fat variety. Make sure
not to get the ones with the fruit on the bottom. Sometimes they add sugar and that is calories you
don't need. Get plain yogurt or get the vanilla kind. You can throw in whatever fruit that you like. I like
strawberries in mine. I would suggest that you think about getting a food dehydrator. You can use these
for all kinds of things. The nice thing is, you can dry fruit in them. I love to take a bunch of dried fruit and
throw it into my desk. It won't spoil for a long time. Your coworkers will make sure that it isn't around
long enough to spoil. They will keep asking you for some every time they see you. 

Another little treat that I like to do is bring some whole wheat crackers along with me. Make sure you
get the ones that aren't loaded with fat. Some of the snack crackers are. I drink a little orange juice with
my whole wheat crackers. That is one of my favorite snacks. 

Snacking is a bad thing. I recommend that all of you snack. Make sure though, that when you snack, you
are eating healthy. You will notice the difference in no time.  
 

More Myths

When it comes to myths, food and sex are the ones that have the most. I think this is because these are
two things that we have to do in life. We have to have sex or we don't reproduce. We have to eat or we
will die. There isn't much choice when it comes to food. Here we will discuss more of the food myths.
Bookmark this article, because you are bound to learn something new. Our food supply isn't as safe as it
used to be. All you need to do is pick up a newspaper and see that for yourself. It seems that
somewhere there is always someone getting sick from recoil or some other food borne illness. Are
preservatives bad for you? No, they aren't. If anything they are what keep you from getting sick. If it
weren't for these, many more people would get sick and die from the food they eat. 

Can coffee cure a hang over? 

No it can't. Caffeine can't cure a hangover. You get hung over because you are lacking water. The alcohol
took a big chunk of the water from your system. Caffeine actually makes you urinate. So really it has the
opposite effect. 

Is it okay to eat fast? 

The less that you chew your food that means the more your stomach will have to work to digest your
food. You have teeth with many different uses. Some are for cutting and some are for grinding. You
should make the most out of them. This is why it is important that you take good care of your teeth. 

Do beans cause gas? 

Yes they do. They are high in fiber. A lot of things that are high in fiber actually cause gas. Also, things
like corn and peppers also cause gas. Soaking beans before you cook them can take away some of the
gas, but it won't take all of it. 

Do carrots improve your eye sight? 

No, they don't. Do however, make your eyes healthy. That may sound like it contradicts its self, but it
doesn't. They don't improve your eyesight, but they do help you maintain your current ability to see. 

Can swallowing gum cause stomach problems? 

It can cause gas, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. If you are chewing gum that has sorbitol, that could be
causing problems too. Oddly enough, this is also found in semen. 

  Do cherries relieve pain? 

The answer is yes. People who eat at least 20 tart cherries a day have a reduction in pain from arthritis. 

Does parsley take away bad breath? 

Yes it does. So does other green leafy veggies that contain chlorophyll. 

Does an apple a day keep the doctor away? 

Yes it does. There are many good things about apples. They help reduce the risk of cancer. They also
help lower cholesterol. Who says that old sayings aren't true? As will all things, take myths with a grain
of salt. If you are curious about a myth, do some research on it. You will be surprised at how much
information you will learn.  

More Myths

When it comes to myths, food and sex are the ones that have the most. I think this is because these are
two things that we have to do in life. We have to have sex or we don't reproduce. We have to eat or we
will die. There isn't much choice when it comes to food. Here we will discuss more of the food myths.
Bookmark this article, because you are bound to learn something new. Our food supply isn't as safe as it
used to be. All you need to do is pick up a newspaper and see that for yourself. It seems that
somewhere there is always someone getting sick from recoil or some other food borne illness. Are
preservatives bad for you? No, they aren't. If anything they are what keep you from getting sick. If it
weren't for these, many more people would get sick and die from the food they eat. 

Can coffee cure a hang over? 

No it can't. Caffeine can't cure a hangover. You get hung over because you are lacking water. The alcohol
took a big chunk of the water from your system. Caffeine actually makes you urinate. So really it has the
opposite effect. 

Is it okay to eat fast? 

The less that you chew your food that means the more your stomach will have to work to digest your
food. You have teeth with many different uses. Some are for cutting and some are for grinding. You
should make the most out of them. This is why it is important that you take good care of your teeth. 

Do beans cause gas? 

Yes they do. They are high in fiber. A lot of things that are high in fiber actually cause gas. Also, things
like corn and peppers also cause gas. Soaking beans before you cook them can take away some of the
gas, but it won't take all of it. 

Do carrots improve your eye sight? 

No, they don't. Do however, make your eyes healthy. That may sound like it contradicts its self, but it
doesn't. They don't improve your eyesight, but they do help you maintain your current ability to see. 

Can swallowing gum cause stomach problems? 

It can cause gas, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. If you are chewing gum that has sorbitol, that could be
causing problems too. Oddly enough, this is also found in semen. 

 Do cherries relieve pain? 

The answer is yes. People who eat at least 20 tart cherries a day have a reduction in pain from arthritis. 

Does parsley take away bad breath? 

Yes it does. So does other green leafy veggies that contain chlorophyll. 

Does an apple a day keep the doctor away? 

Yes it does. There are many good things about apples. They help reduce the risk of cancer. They also
help lower cholesterol. Who says that old sayings aren't true? As will all things, take myths with a grain
of salt. If you are curious about a myth, do some research on it. You will be surprised at how much
information you will learn.  

Mini Meals

Mini meals are a great way to lose weight. When we think of eating several smaller meals instead of
the normal three, we automatically think that it will make us gain weight. Hold onto your hat, because
you are about to learn something new. It is suggested that if you are trying to lose weight that you
should eat six mini meals per day. Why is this? Well, it is quite simple. When we go on a diet, we tend to
think we are depriving ourselves of something. We tend to think that we will be hungry and nervous all
day long. This doesn't have to be the case. Let me tell you how. If you eat six meals per day, you will end
up feeling fuller. The reason why this works is, you are tricking your stomach. You are making it feel like
there is always something being added. This is, because it is true. 

How do you achieve these mini meals? At first glance, a mini meal seems like something that would
tempt you to eat things that are bad for you. You need to avoid these urges as much as possible. When
you are eating this many meals, the urges will be great. You will think that you can sneak in things
because you are eating so often. 

What to do? First I would suggest that you buy some containers that you can put in your ice box. You
know those plastic things that you normally would store food in. Why do you need to get these? These
are a great way of making many small meals. All you have to do is put the amounts you want for a
certain meal in them and keep them in the ice box. Everything is ready to go, all you need is a fork. How
exactly should you do this? Well, you might find this to be very strange, but just listen to me. You don't
have to have a huge budget or be a top notch chef. 

What I would do is this. You should eat each meal twice per day. Have two breakfasts. Have two
lunches. This is where it can get interesting. Eat different things for each meal. Did you have eggs for
your first breakfast? Eat cereal for the second one. You must keep in mind that the amount of food you
would eat for a normal meal is now cut in half. 

Sandwiches are a great way to achieve this for lunch. You can eat half of a sandwich for your first lunch
and the other half with your other lunch. You can also mix and match the sandwiches. Do you make your
lunch the night before? Make two lunches the night before. Split the two sandwiches into four different
lunches. This way you will have two different sandwich halves each day. I love doing this. 

Does this mean that you also eat twice as many snacks? You need to get the idea out of your head that
you are actually eating twice the amount of food. You really aren't. All you are doing is eating more
often. You are doing that to avoid the hungry feeling that you tend to get when you diet. With that said,
you eat your snacks the way you normally would. There is no need to cut them out of your diet. After all,
you are eating the same amount of calories as you would if you were eating three meals per day. 

The reason why this diet is so successful is because you aren't going to jump for things you shouldn't
eat. If you are having a hard time with your diet, you probably notice your new found love of carbs. They
give you a shot of energy that you are craving. By eating six meals per day, you don't have that hungry
feeling that you normally would have between meals. That is the reason why you aren't reaching for the
carbs. As always, before starting a new diet contact your doctor. Tell him exactly what you plan on
doing. You need to do this in case you have any health problems that may be affected by this new diet
change. It sounds crazy, but sometimes things will happen when you change diets. 

All in all, this is just another approach to losing weight. That is how you should look at it. If you see it as
something that is anything more than that, you might put too much pressure on yourself.

Milk Shakes

If you are like me, you have enjoyed milkshakes since you were a kid. When I think of milkshakes, I
think of summer time. Drinking something cool and refreshing to cool off on a hot day. As you know,
protein is an important part of the diet. I like to make milkshakes that are not only refreshing, but good
for me as well. These are easy to make and are a great way of not only getting the things your body
needs, but a great snack. Here we will talk about a few of my favorite recipes. Take notes, I'm sure these
will soon be your favorites as well. First off you will need a blender. You really can't make any of these
without one. You can get one cheap and you will use it again and again. If you are serious about your
health, I would suggest you get one right away. None of these are meant to replace your diet. You
shouldn't start to drink these in place of meals. Not only will you end up feeling awful, you will end up
with the shits. Yes, that is what happens if you eat these all the time. 

I'm not going to go into exact measurements. I can't tell what you like and what you don't like. Do you
love bananas? If so, just add some more. You don't need my permission. Take a few cups of milk. You
can use skim if you like. I prefer whole milk, but that is what I grew up on. Put one banana, I scoop of
protein powder, a drop or two of vanilla and some ice cream. You can use low fat ice cream. Blend this
and enjoy. 

I like the taste of the banana and the added punch of vanilla will be great. Don't add too much vanilla,
which will make it taste awful. Here is another one of my favorites. If you are looking to add mass
muscle, you will love this one. 

Take some skim milk. Add a handful of strawberries and a banana. Add some protein powder. Now, add
about four or five egg whites. Depending on how much weight you want to put on, add egg whites
accordingly. I also add some ice cream, I don't add as much as I would for the first one. If I am trying to
add mass muscle, I add more fruit than ice cream. I know that some people have different opinions
about this, but this is how I like it. 

I'm only going to tell you this once. So, make sure that you pay close attention. You are about to eat raw
eggs. Yes, you can get sick eating raw eggs. But, if you handle them properly, you won't have to worry.
Don't let the eggs sit out in the open for too long. Don't put them in front of the window and take a nap.
You want to crack the eggs and drink your shake as soon as possible. If you keep the eggs cold and drink
it right away, there isn't much of a chance of getting sick. Anything with raw eggs need to be kept cold! 

Here is another one that is fairly easy. 

I take one apple and dice it up before I put it in the blender. You don't have to chop it into mush, but just
enough to make the job easier on the blender. Let the blender do most of the work. Put in a cup of
blueberries. This might sound a little weird, but I also put a carrot in it. I do this to add some carbs to the
shake. I also add some skim milk. 

  This is might sound like the weird part, but hears me though. I don't add any ice cream to this one. What
I do is, I put some ice cubes in it instead of ice cream. This won't make the shake as creamy, but it will
still make it drinkable. You can do this to avoid extra calories. I do this from time to time depending on
how my diet is. There are also other things that you can add to your shakes that will make them taste
better. Keep in mind that you can change any of these to suit your needs. We all feel like something
different from time to time; don't worry about changing things slightly. 

You can use any fruit that you like. There really isn't much of a problem with that. All fruit is good for
you. I would suggest that you get whatever is in season. I would check to see if your area has a local
farmers market. This is a place where you buy fruit and veggies straight from the farmer. You can't get
much fresher than that. Also, you get to support farmers in your community and you get to know some
of them. Have a favorite fruit? Find out which farmer grows the type you prefer. If you get to know
them, over the years you might be able to get a discount or get a heads up when they are picked. 

You can use veggies in your shakes. If you have a juicer, I would suggest that you juice them and add
the juice. You can substitute some of the milk for the juice. You shouldn't juice something like garlic or
onions, but celery and carrots are two good choices. There are a lot of veggies that are great in nutrition
that will go well with your shakes. 

You can add things such as, maple syrup, chocolate syrup, honey, caffeine and so forth. You need to
keep in mind if you are adding something sweet such as honey that will be added calories. You might not
want to do that depending on your workout plans. Stimulants are something that you should be careful
with. You can use them, but use caution. I would suggest that you ask your doctor before using any of
these.  

Meat

Eating too much meat isn't good for us. We all know if we eat too much it will make us feel run down
and tired. Not only that, but there are health risks involved too. A diet in high fatty meats can lead to
heart disease and cancer. No one wants that. Some people choose not to eat meat for religious reasons,
they believe that it is wrong to kill an animal, or they may want a healthier diet. It is popular with the
young crowd. I have never understood it really. Though I suspect that after you get older and bust your
ass off for a living, you want to reward yourself with some nice juicy meat. This might come as a shocker,
but anyone who has read any of my articles knows that I don't hold back. I don't think the vegetarian
diet is healthier. I really don't.
 
The problem is most people that I know who don't eat meat load up on other things. They eat a lot of
dairy or eggs. I think they do this because all humans crave animal products. We crave the fat and the
flavor. Most of the vegetarians I have known have really done a number on themselves with the amount
of fat they eat. They lie to themselves because they think since they eat no meat, that their diet is
healthier. They think they can eat whatever they want, as long as it isn't meat. 

While I don't think that meat is the devil that some make it out to be, too much isn't good for you. Also,
too much of the wrong kind of meat isn't good for you as well. What do you do? You love meat, but not
sure what to eat? You should try cutting out a good percent of the red meat that you eat. This will mean
that you can't eat burgers and fries every other day, but you shouldn't be doing that anyway. There is
nothing wrong with eating some red meat from time to time as long as you aren't over doing it. 

I tend to eat poultry every day. I love meat, I can't do without it. So, I stick to chicken and turkey
whenever I can. I love these two meats anyway, so it’s not that hard. You need to find ways that you can
eat these and enjoy them. I know that some people cook poultry to the point that they are so dry you
almost choke on them. There is no need to do that. I know that it is important that you cook them well
done so you don't get sick. There is a difference between well done and over done. 

You should invest in a meat thermometer. This way you can take the guess work out of knowing if your
meat is done or not. Temperature is the important thing when cooking meat. You want it to be an
internal temp that is enough to cook it all the way through. If it comes up to temp, which means it is
done. Cooking it more won't make the meat any safer. 

Roasting, grilling, baking is a great way to cook poultry. You don't want to add fat to it because you don't
know how to cook it properly. You don't want to deep fry it to make it juicier. That makes the whole
effort of eating the lean meat worthless. 

Here are some ideas that you can use. 

Bake the chicken with some spices and herbs on the outside. This is a great way to make sure it is juicy
and has a lot of flavor. Grill chicken breasts. Throw them on the grill and let them cook away. Chicken
breasts are great for grilling. I think that is the only thing they are good for really. If you do much of
anything else with them, they will become dry and rubbery. 
 

Thighs are great when it comes to being juicy. These tend to have a little more fat on them, but they are
great. I love chicken thighs. There is so much you can do with them. Chicken wings are great in stir fries
or when baked. Don't make the mistake of deep frying these great things. Bake them on a cookie sheet
and load them up with hot sauce. You will have a great meal that will rival their deep fried cousins. 

Depending on what part of the world you live in, fish can be great too. If you are like me and live far
inland, getting fresh fish can be a problem. Sometimes if you live in a major city they will fly fresh fish in
for the supermarkets to sell. If you live in a small town, you will probably be forced to buy frozen or
whatever they can catch locally. There is no reason why you can't make it a weekend trip and go out
fishing. Fishing is a great way to relieve stress as well. If you know of a few good spots, a few big fish is
all that you need. You will have more fish than you know what to do with. 

If you are lucky enough to live near the ocean, you have probably grown up eating all kinds of fish. My
favorite way of eating fish is probably grilled. I like it to be grilled with a little seasoning and maybe a
hint of lemon. The lemon I think keeps the fish tasting fresh and alive. When you are buying fish, the fish
should never smell fishy. I know that sounds stupid, but that is the truth. If it smells fishy, then it is
probably old. You don't want to waste your money on bad fish. 

Fish should smell like the sea. Always buy fish with the head on it. If cleaning a fish bothers you, have
the person selling it to you chop it off. The eyes should look clear and not foggy. It should look like it was
just caught yesterday. With fish, freshness is the most important thing. 

Like I said, I don't believe that anyone should avoid eating meat. I think that it is good for you. The catch
is, you need to be careful what you eat. If you can do that, you have it made.  

Healthy Snacks

No matter if it is while we are watching television or a quick bite to and from picking the kids up at
school, we all love snacks. We can't get away from that fact. So why fight it? Our whole life we have
been told that snacking is bad for us. It will ruin our apatite, it will make us fat, and it will break us out in
pimples. Some of it is true, while on the other hand, it is nothing more than fiction. Snacking performs a
very important role in our lives. Sometimes we snack because we are bored. We eat because we are
bored. That 600 pound man didn't get that way because he was eating three square meals a day. He got
that way because he was eating too much food. Our bodies tell us when we are hungry. That doesn't
mean that it that all the time we are hungry we need food. But, if you have a good diet it does. There is
no reason to cut out snacking all together. Snacking is also a great way to avoid things that we do as a
pick me up some days. For example, we can eat a piece of fruit instead of going for that cola to get a jolt
of energy. 

The key thing to do is, to know what to eat and what not to eat. Here we will give you some snacking
ideas that will help you choose what is right. It doesn't require a genius to figure it out, but you might
be surprised at some of the suggestions. This might sound a bit strange, but I would suggest to you that
you get a food dehydrator. You can get one for next to nothing and they are easy to use. I know that
learning how to use something new isn't always as easy as it sounds, but believe me, these things are a
snap to use. 

You can dry all kinds of things in your dehydrator. The key thing to remember is to cut things thin. The
thinner the item is cut, the faster they will dry. Fruits are a great thing to dry. You can dry whatever is
one sale at the super market that you can find. You can also dry canned items. I would suggest that you
start out with a few easy things. Start out with strawberries. They are about as easy as you can get. 

Not only are strawberries easy, but when they are dried, they carry a punch of sweetness that only sugar
can match. The great thing is, these are sweet, but they don't have the calories of candy. You can also
dry veggies as well. Are you like me, do you love the instant soup mixes they sell at the store? Well, I
love them but hate all the added salt. If you dry your own veggies, you can make your own soup. What I
love is, I can control how much salt I add. 

Here is something that I love to do as a snack. I take a handful of banana chips, strawberry chips, and
about two apple chips. I take them and put them in some low fat yogurt. That makes for a snack that is
good for you and something that I love eating. It doesn't get any better than that. You can snack on the
dried food just plain. Grab some fruit chips instead of potato chips or candy. You really can't go wrong
with dried fruits. They will last a very long time if you keep them in a baggie as well. 

You can also make fish jerky, turkey jerky and beef jerky. I love making jerky because it saves me so
much money. I don't have to pay over ten dollars a pound for jerky. I can use whatever cut of meat that
is on sale at the store. You can always go with the same boring veggie platter for a snack. I do love my
veggies, but this can get a bit boring at times. That is why I love the dried fruits and veggies. 

A great veggie plate can be made up of any type of veggies. I would suggest that you make yours out of
whatever is in season. That will produce the best veggie plate that you can. Also try putting a little oil
and vinegar dressing on them. Don't use too much, but just enough to taste. Sprinkle salt to taste and
also put some pepper or some pepper flakes on them. I love using pepper flakes because it gives the
veggies a zing. You can also squeeze half a lemon over them for zing if you like. 

You need to make sure that you aren't eating a healthy diet and snacking on foods that aren't good
for you. I know tons of people who have a very good diet, but their problem is that they eat all kinds of
junk when they snack. This doesn't serve any purpose at all. I'm sure you know people like this as well.
Actually, I feel like yelling at them and calling them a moron. 

If you must have some carbs, don't do anything stupid. Don't go running for the potato chips. Instead,
eat some sliced potatoes and add some seasoning to them. I like to use Cajun seasoning myself. I think
that adds the kick that they are lacking since there isn't any fat. 

Another great snack idea is the small fruit cups that they sell in the stores. Don't get the ones that are
in heavy syrup. Heavy syrup is a nice way of saying loaded with sugar. Also some of the pudding cups
aren't too bad either. They also have yogurt cups these days too. They are good, especially if you get the
ones with the fruit on the bottom. There you have it. The next time you feel guilty because you ate the
wrong snack food, come back and read this article again. This will help you curve those hunger cravings
and allow you to snack without the guilt. 

Fruits and Veggies

We have heard it once we have heard it a thousand times. 'Eat your veggies'. Most of us heard this
more than anything during our childhood. All you could think of as a child was when you get older you
will never eat another one again. Who needs those things anyway? I hate to break the news to you, but
fruits and veggies are a very important part of our diets. You can't live without them. Oh you can, but
you will either gain weight or feel like shit in the long run. Go a week without eating any; you will see
what I mean. I guess the problem is, we tend to overcook veggies. We cook them to the point that they
are either mush or they don't have the taste they once had. This is the worst thing that you can do to
them. When you over cook a veggie, you rob of it of everything that makes it good for you. This is very
foolish and a waste of money. A person should eat 5-10 servings of veggies per day. I know you have had
that pounded into your head while you were at school. It sucks to learn they were actually telling the
truth doesn't it? 

Before you get all bent out of shape, let’s talk about how big a serving really is. A medium sized fruit or
veggie is one serving. A medium sized apple, carrot or banana is one serving. 5-10 of those doesn't
sound too hard does it? 

There are easy ways of getting the amount of veggies that you need. One is by preparing them the
night before. Before you go to bed, peel and slice anything that you would want to eat the next day. This
won't take much time. You might want to invest in a peeler. They don't cost very much. You can buy
them at any shop that sells cookware. Also your grocery store might have one. If you can't find it, ask
one of the stock boys. They will know if they carry them. One easy way to consume more fruits and
veggies is to cut them up and put them in small sandwich baggies. Cut up a variety of things and store
them in the small bags. You might cut up an apple, some carrots and some celery. 

Keep these on hand at work. When you have a coffee break, eat these instead of rushing over to the
vending machine to get a bag of snack chips. Keep a salt shaker in your desk or in your locker at work. A
little salt will bring out the natural flavor of the veggie and make them more appealing. Think of these as
snacks to go. You can keep them on hand if you are going to take a long trip. You can keep them at work,
in the ice box for when you get the munchies, or if you want a late night snack. Soups are a great way to
get a serving of veggies. You need to watch though; some of the canned soups will have a lot of salt in
them. That is the downfall of buying soups that are already prepared. If you can make your own soup,
that is great. Also you will cut out any unneeded fat. 

A small salad is also one serving of veggies. When you go out to eat, order a salad. Make sure that you
don't load it up with bad salad dressing. Go for a oil and vinegar. If you are at a place that you can put on
how much oil and vinegar you want, that is even better. Just put enough oil on your salad to counter act
the acidity of the vinegar. 

You need to make sure that you are getting as many fresh fruits and veggies as possible. When they
are raw, they are the best for your body. Some times during the canning or freezing process, they might
cook them slightly. Eat a can of raw green beans straight from the can. Compare that to a raw green
bean, you will see what I mean. 
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I would suggest to you that you eat as way to f many raw veggies as possible. If you must cook them, blanch
them slightly. Just cook them long enough so that they starchy feeling of a raw veggie is gone. Certainly
don't cook them – iHealthiLiciousuntil they are limp and colorless. That robs them from anything that is worth eating.
You are eating these to be healthy, that is a choice you make. Cooking them to the point that they are
worthless might be an easierorce yourself to eat them, but your efforts are being wasted. 

Here are some ways to increase your fruit and veggie consumption. For breakfast put some fruit in
with your cereal. This is great, I love doing this. This gives your cereal a sweet zing without adding a
bunch of sugar. Also you can drink a glass of juice along with your breakfast. Juice is a great way of
'eating' your fruit. Make sure to get juice with the pulp in it, it is also good fiber. 

Lunch. Eat salads. Make sure not to load them with bad dressing. Have veggie sticks along with your
meal, this will also fill you up. For desert you can have a piece of fruit. This is a better desert than having
a ice cream or something you will regret. 

For dinner I would suggest that you try vegetarian pizza or meals based around veggies. Why not eat
some fish and a plate full of greens and corn? You can mix and match things however you like it. 

The key thing to understand is, you need to make fruits and veggies fun. If you keep it bland, you won't
want to eat them. So, get a cook book or a favorite cooking site and learn how to eat your fruits and
veggies. You will notice a big difference in how you feel.

Good Foods

We all know that what we eat can help us prevent certain illnesses. We see on television all the time
about people who are ill because of their diet. Well, maybe we should say lack of a diet. These people
tend to be at risk of disease because they don't have the right things to eat. When people think of health
and prevention, I think some of them think about pills and their doctor. To some people, they think
these are the only tools they have. That isn't true. In fact, there are more important tools for you to use.
Our diet is important not just for our appearance. A good diet will decrease your chance of getting
cancer and other diseases. I know that it is hard to believe that just what we eat can play such a big role,
but it does. 

Think of it like this. As the old saying goes, you are what you eat. That is true. Your body needs many
things to survive. Over the long term you realize that diet is more important than ever before. I probably
just like you have known many people who have had cancer. Also, we see on television all the time
famous people getting cancer. A lot of these people don't smoke. They don't do drugs, rarely drink
alcohol. 

Why are they getting cancer? I'm sure some of it has to do with genetics and some of it has to do with
pollution. While up to 1/3 of it, is due to diet. That's right, they get cancer because what they eat.
Perhaps it could be said better by saying, what they don't eat. Let's talk about some of the foods you
should eat to prevent cancer and other illness. This is an important article, so I would bookmark it and
come back when you have any questions. 

Apples. It was once said, an apple a day will keep the doctor away. This is true. These are loaded with
vitamins A and C. They also help lower cholesterol and they lower your chance of getting cancer. 

Broccoli. Just because a former president didn't eat his, doesn't mean you should avoid yours. Actually,
this is one of my favorite veggies. One serving has 97% of your vitamin C for the day. Also, it is a good
source of calcium. 
 
Oranges. Not only do these babies taste good, but they are good for you as well. They do help in
preventing colds and flues. They also help prevent many forms of cancer. They are one of my favorite
fruits. 

Onions. Half an onion a day will lower your cholesterol. Also, if you ever notice how you tear up when
you cut an onion. They are good for people with asthma or other breathing problems. They open up the
head so to speak. Also they fight cancer such as stomach cancer. You might not know it, but onions were
once believed to be sent from god. They were believed to make people live longer and healthier. One
thing you might not know is, onions reduce your risk of heart attacks and strokes. Maybe there is some
truth to all of that god stuff after all. 

Carrots. Carrots have beta carotene which has been known for a long time to fight cancer. Remember
when you were a kid and were told to eat your carrots or you will go blind? Well, that isn't true, but they
are good for the eyes. 

Salmon. Out of all the fatty fish, this one is best for you. It contains omega-3 fat, which is very good for
your heart. People who eat salmon at least once per week are said to have a 50% lower chance of heart
attack. 

Beans. You know these little devils. I used to eat them the night before going to school so I could fart all
day long. Not only are these good for prostate cancer, but they also are a good source of fiber. 

Seaweed. No, I don't mean a joint that you smoke while at sea. I mean the stuff that comes from the
ocean. This is loaded with iodine and other things. It has calcium, magnesium, and iron. This is very good
for fighting cancer. 

Lemons. All you have to do is go to the supermarket and see how many lemon flavored cold remedies
there are to see the potential of this citrus fruit. Lemons are a great way to prevent a cold, the punch of
vitamin C will keep you healthy. It is also good for sore throats. 

Garlic. What doesn't this stuff do? Well, while it might not be a cure all like once believed. It does
prevent almost everything under the sun. From heart disease to cancer, this is great stuff. I suggest that
you study up on garlic so that you understand all of the good things it does. It would take an article the
length of a book to go into great detail. 

There you have it. Though I'm sure you are somewhat surprised, I'm sure that you will be able to absorb
all the info in this article. 

Food Labels

If you live in America, you know that all food must be labeled. The only food that doesn't have to be is
food that is in individual packages inside of a box or container. Even with that, the container that they
come in have to be labeled. Do you buy your food according to these labels? That makes you feel smart,
like a good consumer. What if I told you that those labels are nothing more than hog shit? Well, you
would probably get angry at me. For the most part that is true. Like most things in life, people want to
deceive you. Let's be honest, they want your money. They will do whatever they have to do to get it.
Why not lie? Is the new formula a break through? Chances are it isn't. Chances are it is just a slight
diversion from the old one. Why do they tell you it is? Because that will make you buy it. It really is that
simple. 

Is the product new and improved? Well, the packaging might be. If it is new and improved, wouldn't
that make it a whole different product? If not, then listen to this. If the product is new and improved,
then what were they selling you before? Were they selling you some shit that was worthless? If they
were selling you the best quality item before, how could they make it better? 

What does patented formula mean? It means nothing. Nothing that should concern any of us. It just
means that whatever is in the stuff is patented. That shouldn't be too alarming. I mean, do you really
think that Coke isn't patented? 

What are labels good for? You might be thinking that all of this negative stuff means that they aren't
good for nothing. That isn't true. What you have to determine is, what hype is and what is real. They are
going to try to do everything they can to sell you the product. Even if you don't need it. That is what
some may call hype. On the other hand, actual info on the food is what you are after. You just want the
facts, just the facts. On the back of the label, should tell you all that you need to know. Just turn the
container around and have a look see. 

What kind of information should you find back there? You should see what the ingredients are. It
should say in fairly simple terms what is in the product. If it has loads of big words that you don't know
what they are, I would move on to another product and see what it says. It should tell you what the
serving size is. It should also tell you how many servings are in the container. This is important when you
are shopping on a budget. You should always pay attention to how many servings are in the container.
Compare the price per serving with other brands of the same item. If you do this often, you can save
yourself a lot of money. 

Also the label should tell you the info on the food. How much fat, vitamins, minerals, cabs and so forth
that is in the food. That is important if you are on a diet. You need to know what you are putting in your
body. If at any time you feel that you don't have enough info on the product, you can always check to
see if they have a web site. If they do, there might be some info on it. If they don't, check to see if there
is a number that you can call. If there is a number, chances are there will be someone there who can
answer your question. 

Though they do label how much fat, they don't tell you what kind of fat is in it. This can cause some
problems if you are on a strict diet. Like I said before, you can try giving them a call for the info that you
are looking for.

Of course some foods won't have labels. Like foods found at the farmers market or stuff that is sold at
a bake sale. You can always ask the person at the bake sale what they put in the food item. If they say it
is a secret recipe, tell them it is a secret where your wallet is and walk away from them. There is no
reason why they at least can't tell you what is in the things. The farmers market really isn't that big of a
worry. I mean, you know what is in an onion. You might ask what type of chemicals they use on their
farm. They should have no problems telling you this. 

To summarize about food labels, don’t believe the hype. The front of the label is where they try to sell
the product to you. Instead, pay close attention the portion of the label that gives you the nutrition
information.