It happens every year. At the beginning of the New Year, people make resolutions to lose weight in the coming year. Wouldn’t it be great if you could stop making that resolution for once? There are ways to keep the pounds off this winter if you’re willing to make the effort.

What you eat greatly influences how much you weigh. That’s why most people think of going on a diet when they want to lose weight. Did you know your food and beverage choices can also help you keep weight off during colder months?

Colder months often mean there’s less to keep you busy. This means you’ll also be less active. If you snack, be sure your snack food of choice is healthy. Vegetable sticks and fruit slices are less likely to pack on the pounds than fudge, sugary cookies, or warm brownies. However, you don’t have to totally give up sweets. When you do crave something sweet you can cut up fruit and spoon it over angel food cake. You’ll have the sweet taste you desire without all the extra sugar and fat.

Make home-made soups and stews from scratch rather than choosing canned varieties. You’ll have more control over what goes into them. You can add fresh ingredients, as well as leave out the preservatives and chemicals which are often a part of processed foods. Freshly prepared foods are healthier for you and taste better, too.

Don’t forget to use your crock pot if you have one. There are so many dishes to make in a crock pot – breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert can all be made in one. And what could be better than putting the ingredients into the crock pot in the morning and having a hot, healthy meal ready to eat when you get home from your daily activities?

Use skim milk rather than whole or 2% milk. This will save both calories and fat which you really don’t need if you’re trying to keep the pounds at bay. Low-fat cheese is another food you can use to save calories. Also, trim the excess fat and remove the skin to save calories from the meats you eat.

When holiday get-togethers begin to fill your calendar, remember to eat something healthy before you leave. This will fill you up so you’re less tempted to reach for a second helping or the sweets that seem to grace the table during the winter months. You can also drink a full glass of water before eating so you won’t be as likely to overeat.

If you do find you’ve over-indulged, don’t berate yourself. Instead, find an outdoor activity you can enjoy which will get you moving and burning those extra calories. Cross country or mountain skiing, snowboarding, or snow shoeing are all options. You may also enjoy taking a walk in the brisk air and falling snow. You can even go running in colder weather if that’s your favorite exercise. Be sure to dress appropriately to reduce the possibility of frostbite or hypothermia.

If outdoor activities aren’t appealing, you can also find things to keep you active indoors. Join a gym, do aerobics with friends, buy a stationary bike or treadmill. The important thing is to keep moving.

There’s no way to guarantee you won’t gain weight, but using these ideas for ways to keep the pounds off this winter may give you a better shot at keeping the extra pounds away. Remember, every day you choose what you eat and how active you are.

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Of course, now that the health professions and dietitians have realized how harmful trans fats truly are, margarine has changed to meet the new guidelines. Does this mean margarine is the better choice compared with butter?

That may or may not be true. Manufacturers are in the process of creating margarines which are not hydrogenated; the results are softer margarines, but at least they’re not full of trans fatty acids. However, not all vegetable oils are created equal, and in some cases, there is still fat from dairy being put into certain margarines, especially the hybrid blended varieties. Moreover, the margarines that claim to be more health with plant sterols and stanols have actually been discovered to be more harmful than butter due to the way the body digests them

So, are there reasons to continue using butter rather than using margarine? The truth is there have been studies which have explained the importance of adding butter to healthy diets. Butter contains vitamins A, D, E, and K which are absent in margarine. It also helps to boost our immune system which margarine cannot claim.

The studies go on to explain how butter actually helps to produce hormones in the body. The fat in butter also supports our organs, bones, and our brain. Add all of the results of the studies together and you may decide to begin purchasing butter again.

Is there another reason to choose butter over margarine? Animal fats are more satisfying than vegetable fats, though they can tend to clog arteries more. If you’re eating something made with an animal fat, like butter, you’re likely to be more satisfied, will have to eat less to achieve that sense of satisfaction, and be less likely to eat snacks between meals. When you’re more satisfied and eating less, you can’t help but to lose weight.

Taste is another factor. If you feel more satisfied, you are less likely to overeat. It seems strange that after so many years of consuming so-called low fat foods, Americans are more obese than ever.

From a merely culinary standpoint, margarine can’t compare with butter. Butter can be heated to a much higher temperature, which means you can achieve the browning effect called for in many recipes.

Animal fat is also a good carrier of flavors, so your food will probably taste better, which goes back to the sense of satisfaction you’ll feel, leaving you less likely to overeat. And, simply put, fat makes food taste fab. There is a certain ‘mouth feel’ to butter that margarine can never come close to.

Butter and margarine have nearly the same calories, so there isn’t much difference between the two from that standpoint.

Even the prices are comparable these days. The only reason to not eat butter would be if you had kidney stones, for example, or another medical condition which required you to limit your fatty foods and those with calcium in them.

If you choose margarine over butter, be sure you find one of the brands which are not made with trans fats. If you choose butter, try to go for one with no salt. You can always add a dash to you food on your plate if you like.

Have you made a decision about which is better – butter or margarine? If you need more help, why not check with your doctor or a dietitian to see which one they recommend. Then you choose which one is right for you based on your own medical history.

Why Beans Can Help You Lose Weight 2
Fiber is a substance severely lacking in most people’s diets. Men need at least 30-38 grams each day and women 21-25 grams. Eat one cup of cooked beans, which has almost 12 grams, and you’ve come a long way towards meeting that need for the day. Meat doesn’t contain fiber, even though it does have other nutrients the body needs.

Fiber helps keep you regular, feel full, and promotes overall digestive health. It helps relieve constipation, which is believed to be a contributing factor in colon cancer. Fiber also helps regulate blood sugar, important for people concerned about diabetes.

Beans also contain the hormone cholecystokinin (CCK) which is necessary for the gastrointestinal system to work properly. It is needed to stimulate the system when digesting proteins and fats and is needed for the gall bladder and pancreas to function. Some reports state the CCK also acts as a hunger suppressant which would explain why beans make you feel full.

Recent studies have had groups of test subjects eat the same things, except for the addition of beans to one group’s diet. Scientists found the people who had eaten the beans weighed up to seven pounds less than those who didn’t eat them. They also noted the difference in the calories from the foods eaten. Because beans were added to their diets, those subjects were able to eat more calories and still maintain the benefits of lower weight and slimmer waists.

Which beans should you eat? The U.S. Department of Agriculture suggests eating small red beans and red kidney beans to get the most antioxidants. You may also want to add black beans, navy beans, and black-eyed peas so you’ll have a variety of beans to choose from.

Bananas may be called the “perfect” food, but it’s not the only one. Beans provide a great source of protein and fiber which are so important for people trying to lose weight. They also contain antioxidants and cholecystokinin which is why beans are good for losing weight and for good health. Finally, the fiber helps you feel regular and promotes good digestion. All the protein in beans is from a non-animal source, and is not genetically modified, and will be hormone free.

So pound for pound, beans are a great way to lose weight. Why not try a meatless chili or tex-mex meal today, and see how great you feel, and watch your weight go down at the same time.

Skiing is a great sport for the whole family too, young and old. You can do cross country-skiing at any age provided you have the right equipment.

Many families love taking a ski holiday together for the change of scenery and the beauty of nature. Even walking in the snow, or snowshoeing, can give your legs a great workout.

A trip to the mountains may be sounding terrific just about now, but you need to take precautions and plan before you go. If you normally live closer to sea level, you’ll want to be aware of the danger of developing ski sickness, also called altitude sickness, if you are planning a trip into the mountains or higher altitudes over 5000 feet.

Symptoms of altitude sickness include having headaches, being nauseated, fatigued, not having an appetite, not being able to sleep, and vomiting. It is caused by climbing to an elevation without giving your body the opportunity to adjust. The quicker you ascend a mountain, the worse the symptoms may be. It’s best to take your time reaching your skiing destination, particularly if you’re new to the sport.

In addition, high altitudes can dehydrate the body very quickly, so drink plenty of fluids (not alcohol) and check the color of your urine to be sure it is not too yellow or dark, a sure sign of dehydration.

It doesn’t matter if you’re skiing the slopes or cross country skiing. Both activities will get you out of doors and help tone your entire body.
People who have had prior knee injuries may want to give cross country, or Nordic, skiing a try first. This is non-jarring and less taxing on the knees. The important thing to remember is that if you’ve never skied before, neither activity is one to rush into.

All of the benefits of skiing aren’t physical, although they are some of the most compelling. What about the benefit of being outdoors instead of cooped up indoors? Not to mention the psychological benefits of a lovely outdoor setting in the winter.

There is no reason anyone should have to stay indoors when the temperatures dip, so long as they take the right precautions. Bundle up, get the skis ready, go outside and enjoy the crisp clean air. Then hit the slopes or the cross country ski trail and enjoy the beauty of nature as you ski to keep fit.

Eating disorders are still a major problem among teenagers and young adults.  When a family member is diagnosed with the disorder, the road to acceptance and recovery can be long.  Here are eight tips for helping them and the rest of your family to get through it.

Teenagers usually don’t communicate everything to their parents.  It is the nature of being young.  To bridge that gap it is up to parents to keep the lines open and spend quality time with their children.  That is one way to catch eating disorders before they get out of control.

1. Acceptance. A parent’s first reaction is that their child is sick because of something that they did or didn’t do.  That leads to denial of the real problem behind the eating disorder.  Without any reservations, believe what the doctor says and admit that your child, parent, sibling or spouse has an eating disorder.

2. Be willing to discuss their feelings. You may be thinking about how this is affecting you but the person with the eating disorder is the primary concern.  Listen to what they have to say even if it is negative.  If you need to, use a mediator such as a psychiatrist.

3. Don’t play the blame game. The last thing that your family member needs to hear is you arguing with other family members about who is responsible for this situation.  Eating disorders go far beyond simply eating or not eating.  There are other emotional issues that tie into it.  Sometimes, placing blame only drives the family member further into themselves and away from you.

4. Take advice from the professionals. They have dealt with eating disorders longer than you have.  Follow their recommendations for helping your family member to heal and get on the road to recovery.

5. Show them affection. There will be time for talk in therapy sessions.  Show that you care with hugs, kisses and a helping hand.  Give them room to move while they are recovering.

6. Remove junk food and comfort foods from the house. These are foods that they have previously binged on or are tempting to them.  Institute better eating habits for the entire family so your family member doesn’t feel singled out at meals.

7. Recognize that there will be tough roads ahead – Just like with alcoholism or drug abuse, the affected person won’t always want to get well.  And, they can relapse.

8. Learn to socialize without food. Spend time together as a family where food is not the focus.  Go to a movie, get a pedicure or simply take a walk in the park.

Eating disorders are hard on everyone but especially the person with it.  Learn to support them in every way that you can.

5. Steam your vegetables.
Sauteing or stir-frying requires that you add oil to your pan. Steaming seals in the flavor and the nutrients without the fat. You can use a saucepan or a special steamer for the job.

6. Eat lean cuts of meat.
Try to purchase meat with the fat already cut off. If you can’t, remove skin from chicken and the fat layer from around red meat and pork before eating.

7. Satisfy sweet cravings with a piece of fresh fruit instead of ice cream.
Full fat ice cream is loaded with calories from fat. Fruit has natural sweetness and fewer calories. If you must have ice cream, try fat-free frozen yogurt instead.

8. Cook more.
This eliminates the dependence on pre-packaged foods for meals that are filled with fat and preservatives. You and your family can experiment with new foods and expand your palate while avoiding fat traps with foods that are prepared by someone else.

Also, low fat in packaged foods can often mean a lot more carbohydrates in the form of high fructose corn syrup, and even a lot more sodium, in order to improve the taste of the food. Cook yourself, and watch the weight come off, even if it is just bloat and water weight.

With these simple steps you can shave excess calories off your diet, and off your waist and hips. Remember that 3500 calories lost is one whole pound lost, so every bit helps (as does increasing your activity level).

Reducing fat doesn’t mean you have to lose taste. Learn to flavor foods with seasonings. Use the above tips to get you started.

One way to manage or lose weight is to cut calories. The types of food associated with the most calories are fats. Here are eight tips to help you eat a lower-fat diet.

Before we proceed to the tips, here is some food for thought. Your body needs a certain amount of fat each day for cellular function. Fats are important for the production of a whole host of enzymes, chemicals and cellular needs. The problem is that we often eat the wrong types of fats and therefore gain weight.

1. Start with dairy.
There is hidden fat is cheeses and milk. If you drink whole milk, slowly step down your milk fat until you can drink skim milk. Or, choose soy milk, which contains the protein and vitamins you need without the extra fat.

2. Exchange thick sauces and creams for broths.
You eat broth in your soup. Use it as a base for marinating and cooking other foods. Instead of water, use chicken broth to cook rice and noodles. The broth will flavor them so there is no need to add butter or margarine.

3. Try vinegar and oil on your salad tonight.
Creamy salad dressings add a ton of fat. Just look at the label. Use flavored vinegars and vegetable or olive oil to top your salad. Lemon also works but is more bitter.

4. Go without fried foods.
Frying makes the skin crispy and good but the skin is the part of the chicken we don’t need to eat. Opt for baked chicken that has been marinated or try oven fried chicken instead. Remove the skin before battering the chicken.

This diet plan is based on eating according to your blood type.  According to the originator of this plan, Peter DíAdamo, how you need to eat depends on what is inside your veins.  Here is how the Blood Type Diet works.

According to the book, “Eat Right 4 Your Type” by Peter DíAdamo, different blood types have different nutritional requirements.  Changing what you eat to fit that parameter will help you to lose weight and get healthy.

Here are the four blood type groups:

* Blood Type A – Anyone with this blood type needs to eat more vegetables and fish on a daily basis.  Eating red meat is not recommended and dairy should be ingested in moderation.  Your digestive system is sensitive.  Only light exercise is recommended for Type A people.

* Blood Type B – You have a strong immune system.  Unlike Type A blood, it is recommended that you eat red meat and dairy products.  Eating vegetables and fruits in quantity and a little fish is okay.  Stay away from the chicken with this blood type.

* Blood Type AB – Your immune system is somewhat strong and you have a creative mind.  For you, a combination of the foods to be eaten for Types A and B is acceptable.

* Blood Type O – You love to exercise and are most likely lactose intolerant.  Type O dieters eat a diet with plenty of protein and few carbohydrates and dairy products.  Avoid foods high in carbohydrates and dairy products.  Vigorous exercise will also do you well.

The diet describes how the blood can explain things that happen inside your body.  What foods you like, donít like, your allergies and what foods cause you to lose weight are all determined by your blood type.

The diet is strict in that dieters have to pay close attention to everything that they eat and drink.  In his book, Dr. DíAdamo lays out what types of foods are to be eaten for each blood type.  Your list of forbidden foods varies but can be long.  For those who are constantly on the go, fixing recipes can be time consuming.

The diet recommends exercise when your blood type is in favor of it.  Unless you have Type O, exercise will be light.  Also, the plan encourages taking vitamin supplements in addition to eating certain foods. Since most people are Type O, they will be sorry to hear that!

It has not been scientifically proven that those who use the Blood Type Diet lose weight because of their genetics or the fact that they are making healthier food choices. 

Eating a well-balanced diet that is full of the nutrients you need, will help the body repair itself, boost the immune system and help you to live a longer, stronger and healthier life.

Who says that exercise has to be grueling or boring?  More and more people are getting into the dance craze.  Dancing is a way to let loose and have fun while learning a new step or remembering steps that you knew a long time ago.

Dancing can be used to get regular physical activity into your daily routine.  Exercise keeps the body younger for longer.  Muscle mass increases and bone health improves.  Because you have to learn and remember the different steps of the dance, your brain is also getting a workout that builds new synaptic pathways and increases brain power.

Ballroom dancing is just one form of dance but it combines different dance techniques.  It features dances done by partners and can be slow or fast depending on the type of dance you are performing.  Modern ballroom dancing includes Latin dances, as well as American-style dancing that features a lot of dips, turns, and quick movements.

Dancing has many benefits for the body, mind and spirit.  First of all it is a low-impact form of exercise that provides a weight-bearing component.  You can strengthen your bones and muscles as you twirl.  The entire body gets a workout.  Doing many of the steps requires certain positions for the arms and legs which mean the abs are engaged the entire time.

Over time, you develop stamina as you get used to the movements and the time it takes to complete the dancing class.  Well-conditioned muscles are more flexible and give a slender look to the body.

So what are you waiting for?  Keep the mind young, the body firm and the spirit high with a little ballroom dancing.