Should You Count Calories?

You’ve seen the statistics. Americans are more overweight than ever and the trend is expected to continue. The lifespan of our children will likely be shorter than ours for the first time in the history of mankind, due to chronic diseases related to obesity. In this day and age, weight loss doesn’t happen by accident, but weight gain does. Why? Consider the following:

• The majority of Americans do not get the minimum physical activity needed
• The average American takes approximately 3,000-5,000 steps per day, which means they’re sitting most of the day
• Portion sizes are significantly larger than before
• Food is available in endless quantities, anytime of day, and high-calorie foods are often cheaper

The bottom line is our environment encourages sitting and eating 24/7. Sitting while commuting to work, sitting at a desk to make a living, sitting for entertainment (phones, movies, video games, TV), and of course sitting while eating. To make matters worse, humans are programmed to eat and take the path of least resistance -- a survival mechanism that helped our hunting and gathering ancestors survive, but is now killing us. Literally.

Here are more facts to ponder:

• 1 out of 10 people do not know how many calories they need to maintain their weight
• Most people think they eat less than they actually do (20-50 percent less on average)

Translation -- we’re not very good at consuming the right amount of food and beverages to maintain a healthy body weight.

If you want to change something, like your clothing size, body fat percentage, or the number on the scale, the first step is to become aware of your body’s needs and the choices you’re making. In other words, awareness opens the door to change. Otherwise, you’re clueless and you don’t even know it. You end up becoming a victim of creeping obesity -- that 1-3 pounds the average American gains during adulthood because they’re not paying attention.

Perhaps you are paying attention, maybe even counting calories, and you’re wondering, is it worth it? Here’s what the research shows:

• People who track what they eat at least 5 days a week lose twice as much weight as those who don’t
• People who track what they eat regularly maintain weight loss better
• People who use a body sensing device that tracks activity and calories burned lose 2-3 times more weight than those who don’t

This makes sense. After all, how do you manage something, whether it’s your checkbook, your blood pressure or your waistline, if you’re not tracking it? Well…you don’t. You end up with bounced checks, uncontrolled blood pressure and having to buy bigger clothes.

What you don’t know does hurt you. Especially when it comes to your health.

When you pay attention and discover that your morning coffee drink and muffin is nearly 1,000 calories AND you know your body burns about 1,800 calories a day, you are empowered to make a smarter choice. When you use measuring tools to find out that your morning bowl of cereal is five times more than it should be, you can make an adjustment. When you read the nutritional guide in a restaurant and see your favorite salad is over 1,200 calories, you can choose something else.

Counting every single calorie to the point of obsession is probably not healthy, as most obsessions aren’t, but getting and staying informed about your body, your activity level and your food choices is 100 percent empowering. In my opinion, tracking is not a chore but a choice. A choice to pay attention and stay in control of my body and my health. I had to learn to eat fresh and forget about the foods I like and change to those foods that were god for me.

Do You Need a Detox Diet?

Everyone asks this question. This article will tell you the truth about detox diets.

By Katherine Brooking, MS, RD

Thinking about a “detox diet?” As a dietitian, I get questions all the time about the potential benefits of “detoxing” or “cleansing” or “fasting.”  We often hear of mega-watt celebs — everyone from Beyonce to Gwyneth — crediting liquid diets for their fabulous figures.

And with the rise in popularity of the BluePrintCleanse and similar plans, I’m seeing more and more people turn to so-called detoxification programs to lose weight, shed belly fat, clear acne, and even increase fertility… just to name a few! But before you forsake your fork, know the myths and facts about juice cleansing.

What is a juice cleanse?

Juice detox or cleanses have different regimens, but the basic requirement for most is a diet consisting of only fruit or vegetable juice (some include nut milk) for a period of one day to several weeks. Daily total calories also vary from plan to plan, but most are very low (as little as 800) to up to 1800 daily. Many of the weight loss plans are 1600 calories per day or below.

Cleansing and weight loss 

Most experts (this one included) do not recommend juice fasting as a way to lose weight. If you’re itching to shed pounds, a drastic cut in calories may seem like the fastest way to see instant results.  However, when you eat less food for a prolonged period of time, your metabolism slows down to conserve energy. Then, when you go back to your usual diet, your lowered metabolism may cause you to store more energy, so you will likely gain back the weight you lost and possibly even put on more weight when eating the same calories you did before the fast.

On the plus side, some people successfully use juice cleanses to help banish bad eating habits. If you’re struggling with too many sweets, fast food or packaged foods, a day or two of drinking juice can be a way to “jumpstart” a new pattern of eating.  However this does not work for everyone. Some people end up feeling more hungry and grumpy with juice alone, and then go into eating overdrive as soon as the fast is over. What’s the long-term solution for weight loss? Regular exercise combined with a calorie-controlled diet of fruit, vegetables, whole grain, lean protein, and healthy fats.

Juice fasting to “detoxify” the body

Most juice cleanses include a “detox” phase during which dieters are instructed to drink only water, juice or herbal teas to help rid the body of toxins. But there is scant scientific evidence showing that fasting will detox or cleanse your body. The truth is our liver, kidneys and digestive system are well designed to rid the body of waste – there is no need to ‘cleanse’ our body through juice or other types of fasts. In some people, severe calorie restriction can produce feelings of happiness or even euphoria. But beyond a few days, fasting isn’t actually doing a body good as nutritional deficiencies may result.

If you’re considering any type of fast, it is important that you check with your doctor first. For most people juice fasting for a few days is harmless, but for others, it can be dangerous. Cleanses are not advised for pregnant and breastfeeding women, the elderly, and individuals with certain health conditions like diabetes.

The Bottom Line

Though detox diets may not live up to all the claims, for most healthy people, a day or several days of juice cleansing will not cause harm. But for lasting, long-term weight loss, hold on to your fork and keep eating healthy meals and snacks.

How to Eat 5 Small Meals a Day

I understand the concept: Five small meals a day takes the edge off your appetite, evens out blood sugar levels, and keeps your energy steady. But I confess: I don’t always eat this way.

Although my fitness trainer encourages me to eat healthy food every few hours, my meals usually look like this: coffee, a bit more coffee, lunch at 3 p.m., dinner at 9 p.m. I start over again the next morning.

When I decided to change this habit, I found that doing these five things helped:

1. Plan ahead. Five meals a day equals breakfast, lunch, dinner, and two snacks. To do this right, you need to plan what you’ll eat every day for each “meal.” And you need to schedule eating every 2 to 3 hours.
2. Stock up. Face it: You’re going to grab whatever food is closest. So stock up on veggies, fruit, healthy carbs, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy products such as milk, yogurt, and cottage cheese.
3. Go for taste. Choose snack foods that will sustain you and taste good. Remember, healthy food can be satisfying.
4. Whip up a smoothie. Blend fruit, milk, yogurt, and a little honey for a sweet, filling snack packed with vitamins, fiber, protein, and calcium.
5. Combine carbs and protein to stay full longer. Try whole wheat toast with peanut butter or a hard-boiled egg; whole-grain pasta with olive oil and cheese; or oatmeal with fruit, milk, and honey. Or make yourself a big pot of soup (like my Tuscan chicken soup) to heat up for lunches or snacks.

By Domenica Catelli
WebMD Magazine - Feature

Reviewed by Melinda Ratini, DO, MS

This is a great article and I copied it so you can see that I'm not the only one that promotes the 'several small meals" concept. I prefer to even out the meals and avoid snacks. Actually I think that 6 small meals a day works best. And I try to keep each meal the same amount of calories (300 to 400). Bigger people, say 200 pounds or more, will have to stay closer to 400 each meal, at the beginning and then over time your appetite will diminish     and you'll be happy with 300 calories. That's 1800 a day, the proper amount of daily calories to lose weight. 

The Health Benefits Of Losing Weight

I’ve talked before about the health benefits of losing weight, but that was a couple of months ago in a post you probably didn’t read anyway. So I’ve written something again that’s completely different about the same subject.

Losing weight can improve your health in many ways. Just losing 10% of your current weight can make a difference in the way you feel on a daily basis. Here are some other ways losing weight will benefit your health.

First you’ll have increased energy and Improve mobility
Lower cholesterol levels and improve your breathing
Reduced blood pressure and it'll help you sleep better
Reduce aches and pains and prevent angina (chest pain)
Decrease risk for heart attack or stroke and prevent Type 2 diabetes
Improve blood sugar levels

Science knows more about what causes obesity and diabetes today than just a few years ago. So what you learned from your doctor 10 years ago might need to be updated.

Myth: High fructose corn syrup is to blame for obesity and diabetes.

Reality: There is no scientific evidence to suggest that high fructose corn syrup is uniquely responsible for people becoming obese. Obesity results from an imbalance of calories consumed and calories burned. U.S. Department of Agriculture data shows that per capita consumption of high fructose corn syrup is actually on the decline, yet obesity and diabetes rates continue to rise. In fact, obesity rates are rising around the world, including Mexico, Australia and Europe, even though the use of high fructose corn syrup outside the United States is limited. Around the world, high fructose corn syrup accounts for about 8% of calorie sweeteners consumed.

I put that last paragraph in this post because it wasn’t too many years ago, probably 20 or so, that the FDA allowed the food manufacturers, the makers of processed foods, the right to substitute sugar with high fructose corn syrup. And now that the overweight problem has exploded across America, I imagine they have been taking some heat over that decision.

Many of you might not remember, but 30 some years ago, it was the choice of the food manufactures and the government to keep the cost of food lower. Find ways to lower the cost of manufacturing processed foods and keep them more affordable for the public. At that time America was going through a period of inflation like I had never seen. Grocery prices were going up every day. Every time you’d go to the store the price of everything from milk to meat to fruit would be more than the day before. People were in a panic and no one know when it would stop. That’s why the decision was made. While Europe decided to just increase the cost of food staples and live with it. Today Europe doesn’t have the large amounts of processed foods like we do. More consumers buy their fruits and vegetables in open markets from farmers. Meats are sold in butcher stores and things are more expensive. Now they do have the superstores especially in France from what I remember, but there’s not that many.

I know this isn’t a popular idea, but I think we might have been better off by letting the prices go higher and keep the food more basic with a lot less processed foods. After all besides obesity, look at the rate of cancer and how the number of cancer patients have soared in the past 20 or 25 years. Cancer is a direct result of the food we eat, o.k. that’s not exactly true, some cancer is inherited, but largely food is a big part of the problem. Even fresh foods that aren’t processed are grown for mass market so they have to be grown faster and picked sooner than food that you would grow for yourself. That means that pesticides and growth stimulates had to be used to mature the food as quick as possible. Those people who live in farm country know the difference between the vegetables you buy from your neighbor and the ones you buy at the grocery store.

There’s a growing trend even in the big cities to grow fresh vegetables. On news programs you can see how New Yorkers have community gardens on top of apartments and in vacant lots. In Chicago, the same think, people are starting to realize that supermarket food maybe dangerous. These imported fruits and vegetables from South and Central America look great, but do those countries have the same restrictions on using pesticides and other chemicals?

Think about it, were is your food coming from and is it really good for you. Look closely at things you buy and ask yourself if this is really good for me. I’ve been putting more thought into what I buy in the grocery store and I read more labels, you might be surprised how much money you’ll save at the store next time.

How To Count Carbs

A great article, some people want to count carbs instead of calories and that's okay. I thing it's better to count calories but I was into counting carbs before I changed to counting calories. 

Some people prefer the high-protein diets and little carbs. You have to pick a diet that you can live with for the long-term. If your a workout fanatic then you want a high-protein diet to help your muscles rebound from the workouts. But most of us will do well on a well-balanced diet of fresh food  low in calories with plenty of vegetables and fruit with some fish and poultry, nuts, seeds and greek yogurt. Except for greek yogurt don't eat dairy. Read the article below, carbs are things you should understand. 

WebMD Feature

Reviewed by Michael Dansinger, MD

When you have diabetes, it’s important to balance your carbs with your medication. Have too many carbs and not enough medication and your blood sugar can soar. Too few carbs and too much medication and it can crash. Neither is good.

Counting the carbs you eat at each meal or snack can help you balance them with your medications and keep your blood sugar stable.

How Many Carbs Should You Eat in Each Meal?

Half of each meal. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends that you get between 45% and 65% of your calories from carbs. You could think of this as half your plate at each meal can be taken up by carbs.

Carbohydrates in grams. To be more precise, count the carbs. You can see how many grams of carbohydrates are in packaged foods by reading the nutrition facts labels. For non-packaged foods, you can look this information up online.

The Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for carbs is 130 grams per day. Per meal this comes to about:

• 60-75 grams of carbohydrates per meal for men
• 45-60 grams per meal for women

Carbohydrate choices. This can help you eyeball the number of carbs you’re going to eat once you know approximately how many carbs are in different foods. Using this method, you have a certain amount of “carb choices” you can have in a meal or snack.

• Men can have 4 to 5 carb choices per meal
• Women can have 3 to 4 carb choices per meal
• Whether you’re a man or woman, snacks should be 1 or 2 carb choices

So what is a "carb choice" or serving of carbs? A carb choice is an amount of food that has about 15 grams of carbs in it.

For example, 1 slice of bread is one carb choice. But 1/4 of a large baked potato is also one carb choice. So having a whole baked potato could blow your whole carb choice budget for one meal.

You can find lists of carb choices for different foods online. You can also ask a nutritionist or diabetes instructor.

In general, it may be easiest to keep the amount of carbs you eat at each meal somewhat consistent. That way you don’t have to adjust your medications too much.

However, these are just basic ranges for the number of carbs to eat, says Dawn Sherr, a registered dietitian and spokeswoman for the American Association of Diabetes Educators.

“It’s individual to your needs and depends on what your goals are. Are you trying to lose weight? Are you trying to manage your cholesterol? Are there other issues going on with your health?” she says. “Always talk to your doctor, diabetes educator, or dietitian because they can help you adjust your carbohydrates to meet your goals.”

How Do You Know How Many Carbs Are in What You’re Eating?

Be mindfuland check your portion sizes. Knowing how many carbs you’re eating can be tricky because it depends on serving size and how many servings you eat, says Toby Smithson, a registered dietitian and spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

“Nowadays we can get into the habit of eating our meals really fast and eating more than we think without even realizing it. We’re used to seeing larger portions in restaurants and packaging, and what we think is one serving may actually be two or three.”

Reading labels helps, but it’s best to experiment in your own kitchen, Smithson says. “Pour a serving into a measuring cup, and then pour it onto your plate or into your bowl to see how it looks. This will help you prepare for going out to restaurants or to your friends’ or relatives’ houses.”

Another strategy is to pour what you normally eat into your bowl first, then scoop it out with a measuring cup, Sherr says. “One person’s bowl of cereal is different from another’s. One person might be used to eating one serving of cereal for breakfast while another is used to eating two.”

Keep in mind that foods like fresh fruit can vary greatly by size, Smithson says. “An apple can be anywhere from 15 to 30 or even 45 grams of carbs depending on how big it is.”

There’s an app for that. Sherr encourages you to use technology. “Many restaurants have nutrition information on their web sites, and there are phone apps for common foods,” she says, adding that these can help you plan ahead when you’re going out to eat or doing your grocery shopping.

Keep Track

Different foods will affect your blood sugar in different ways. This depends not only on the kind and amount of carbohydrates you eat and the insulin or medications you take, but other things such as how active you are, Smithson says.

“I ask clients to keep a food journal once in a while. A day or two lets us match up patterns with blood glucose readings,” Smithson says.

She suggests writing down the foods and number of carbs you eat, the insulin or medications you take, whether you exercised or had other physical activity, and your blood sugar readings.

“Try things out on yourself,” she adds. “If you see that your blood glucose is higher after eating potatoes, then you can plan for that the next time you have them by either changing your portion size or your medications.”

Smithson says that it’s important not to beat yourself up if you make a mistake counting your carbs. “It can be confusing or overwhelming at first. Remember that managing your diabetes is about more than just the food. We look at carbs because they have the most direct effect on blood glucose, but it’s not the only thing.”

All Carbs Are Not the Same

Keep in mind that the type of carbs you eat can have different effects on your blood sugar. You should also know that your body uses two types of carbs for energy: simple and complex. They affect your body a little differently.

Simple carbs are sugars. Your body digests these very quickly, so they raise your blood sugar quickly too. These include sugars that are added to processed foods such as:

• Table sugar
• Molasses
• Honey
• High-fructose corn syrup
• Fruit juice concentrate

Fruit and milk contain simple carbohydrates naturally.

Complex carbs are starches. They take longer for your body to digest than simple carbs. So they take a little longer than simple carbs to affect your blood sugar. You’ll find them in:

• Bread
• Cereal
• Rice
• Pasta
• Tortillas
• Crackers
• Pretzels
• Beans
• Potatoes and yams
• Peas
• Corn
• Whole fruit

Fiber is also a carbohydrate, but your body doesn’t digest it, so it doesn’t affect your blood glucose.  

When you read a nutrition label, it will tell you the amount of total carbohydrates in a serving. Ask your doctor, diabetes educator, or dietitian whether it’s OK to subtract any of the fiber grams from the amount of total carbs. Some methods of carb-counting say it’s OK, while others say to go by total carbs.  

As you choose carbs, keep in mind that some are healthier than others, Sherr says. “The less processed the food is, the better. Whole grains will affect your body differently than sugary treats.” This is because processing the grains to make flour can strip away fiber and nutrients.  So for a slower increase in blood sugar, go for whole-grain foods, and whole foods like vegetables and fruits instead of processed foods or juices.

Reviewed by Michael Dansinger, MD 

SOURCES:

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign McKinley Health Center: “Macronutrients: the Importance of Carbohydrate, Protein, and Fat.”

CDC: “Carbohydrates.”

University of California, San Francisco: “Understanding Carbohydrates.”

Cleveland Clinic: “Carbohydrates and Blood Sugar Control for People with Diabetes.”

Dawn Sherr, MS, RD, CDE, spokesperson, American Association of Diabetes Educators.

Toby Smithson, MS, RDN, LDN, CDE, spokeswoman, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

University of California, Los Angeles: “Carbohydrates.”

Joslin Diabetes Center: “How Does Fiber Affect Blood Glucose Levels?” “Carbohydrate Counting 101.”

Want To Lose Weight? Work On Your Health

Concentrate on improving your health and the rest will work out. What do I mean?   Worrying about the problems in your life will cause you to forget about the big    picture. Worrying about money is the main contributor to obesity, but worrying by  itself can causes obesity. Worrying starts a spiral downward that you can’t stop.  Worrying starts by causing depression. You have a big problem that you have no     solution for. Maybe it’s about money or maybe something with your job or family.   Yes, these may seem like insurmountable problems. And these types of huge problems in your    life will cause you to forget what's important. You’re not thinking     about your health, you’re not making time for exercise or relationships, instead   you’re worrying. Worrying can consume your life. It will also ruin your life.

By taking care of your health, you'll see a big difference in your ability to work out life's problems.  I actually do my best thinking when I'm working out. When I'mrunning or biking and the whole world is quiet and there's no distractions, I can  think about my day and organize it. A long walk will give you that same tranquil   time to think. 

Part of living a healthy life is having a healthy diet. Eating the right foods and avoiding unhealthy food will give you more brain power. I know that sounds crazy   but certain fruits and vegetables will help you concentrate. Your diet can help youlearn, help you think clearly and avoiding some foods will help you to concentrate and think clearly, read faster, and understand more. 

Now, I probably don’t need to tell you that eating low cost food, is simply eating food with bulk and very little nourishment. Foods that are high in nourishment are costly. We all know that the grocery stores charge more for healthier foods. Buy organic fruits and vegetables at an open market and see the difference in price from your supermarket. There's a good reason. A supermarket has to buy produce in large quantities and usually ends up with spoilage and the price you pay will take spoilage into account. At a farmer's market you don't have to pay for spoilage. But they do charge more for popular items. 

I can’t help you with your family problems, but I can tell you that letting your problems affect your health is just insane. You’re only compounding your problems. By being a good example to others in your family, by being healthy and physically fit you will avoid a lot of those everyday problems. Getting nutrition from the food you eat makes all the difference. By setting a good example your family members will want to live up to your example. If you’re in your best health, then you’re better able to deal with your situation. Being in good health and good physical condition will help you think straight and solve those problems. Sometimes that means talking to someone else for advice, it takes a clear head to realize when you need help. 

Maybe you’re a student or adult it’s the same. You need a good diet to learn, or just to think straight and to concentrate. Research shows that students that eat a good breakfast are more alert in class. But to take that a little further, a student in better health and good physical condition will do better in school. Any change in your diet like skipping breakfast will have an immediate effect on your concentration. And the same thing will hold true if your not eating the right foods. The same thing holds true with the over 60 age group, if you’re in better shape, healthier you’re more alert, you’re vitals are better. You take less prescription drugs, spend less time in the doctor’s office and usually are happier and enjoy life more.

Don’t let the problems in your life control you. Once you lose your health, you can lose control of your life. Gaining too much weight will start a downward cycle that’s very hard to stop. Gaining weight is the first sign that you could be losing control. Get your health back, you’ll feel better, you’ll feel happier and your problems won’t seem so big. When you’re in the right frame of mind, you’ll find that dealing with life is a lot easier.

Researchers examined the responses of 476 working adults who were surveyed about their exercise behavior and their confidence in handling work-family conflicts. Those who exercised regularly seemed to experience an increased feeling of competence that carried over into work and home roles, the study authors said. "If, for example, you go for a two-mile jog or walk 10 flights of steps at work and feel good about yourself for doing that, it will translate and carry over into other areas of life," said study author Russell Clayton, an assistant professor of management at Saint Leo University in Florida. "We found that [participants] who exercised felt good about themselves, that they felt that they could accomplish tough tasks, and that carried over into work and family life," Clayton added. 

Volumes of research have shown that exercise lowers mental and physical stress levels.

While the study found a link between physical activity and reports of greater empowerment at home and at work, it did not prove a cause-and-effect relationship.

"But the associations between exercise and work-life balance are there, and they're very strong," Clayton said.

For those who don't exercise regularly, the idea of adding that regimen to a busy schedule to improve stress levels may seem counterintuitive, Clayton noted.

But he advocates the idea of "stolen moments" for exercise that add up, such as climbing the stairs for five minutes or doing jumping jacks in 30-second spurts.

I do 5 minutes of exercise each morning. It limbers me up and gets me going. I call it re-charging my batteries. It gets my blood pumping and gets all the cinches out of my back. After 5 minutes doing a combination of 5 different exercises I'm ready to get to work. 

"We hope our research can be a grain of sand in the beach of evidence we have to push corporations . . . to encourage employees to exercise," he added.

Dr. Natalie Digate Muth, spokesperson for the American Council on Exercise, said the study extends the evidence that physical activity offers benefits beyond the obvious.

"People should think of it as a kind of investment. If you put some time into physical activity," said Muth, "you may be active for 30 minutes a day, but the productivity and mental focus you're going to get out of it is going to far exceed what you put into it, from a work and family perspective."

As you can tell, exercise plays a big role in lowering stress levels in your life and will help you to become a healthier, happier person. 

Lose Your Belly Fat

I don't often write about something that sounded to me to be an exercise program, but as I read more I realized the article was talking about the foods we ate and how some foods will actually reduce stomach fat.

More over a lot of foods in the grocery store will actually add belly fat quickly. Let me explain, a lot of foods we buy are ready to mix then heat and serve. Or frozen food that you just pop in the microwave, put it on a plate and serve. These foods are a combination of ingredients that the manufacturer puts in the packet or box. If you have to add anything it's just milk or water. The manufacturer wants you to like the product but they have to make a profit so they'll substitute ingredients with chemicals that taste like the real thing and it's those chemicals that make the product addictive and fattening. Always read the ingredients on the box. If you can't pronounce the name "beware".

There are some simple foods that will reduce your belly fat, but we should stop eating foods that are putting on the fat first. The best way is to stop buying foods that are ready to eat. Be careful what kinds of food you order at a restaurant and try and prepare your meals yourself.
The foods that worked for me are eggs, avocados, cinnamon and dark chocolate. Eat them everyday in small quantities. Real dark chocolate you find in the baking section this is not a candy and it's not milk chocolate. Buy the cinnamon in the spice isle and use it as a spice. I like it on breakfast cereal instead of sugar. You can cook with it and add it to coffee like you would sugar. Ofter I eat eggs for breakfast but they can be a snack when hard boiled. I like avocados on a sandwich or on a salad. Greek yogurt is another great source of protein. Look for the yogurt with  at least 10 gm of protein. Remember, no processed foods, or enriched flour, don't add sugar to anything, use spices like cinnamon. 

Try these tips and watch the weight come off.

Things that affect your weight

The big three in weight management

Genetic makeup can determine size and shape

 When we say "genetic makeup," we're talking about everything you inherited from your ancestors, from the color of your eyes or the shape of your toes to the way your brain works and the way your body stores fat.

Your genetic makeup has a very big effect on your weight. 

It affects: Your basal metabolic rate. That's the rate at which your body uses energy (calories) at rest. Some people are born with higher basic metabolic rates than others. These people naturally burn more calories than the rest of us. Regular physical activity can raise your metabolic rate. Very low-calorie diets will lower your metabolic rate. A lower metabolic rate makes it easier to gain weight, because you don't burn calories as fast. Your body signals, such as your appetite and feeling hungry or full. Some people have slim legs, some have heavy legs. You can't change where your body stores fat. Typically, men store fat in the abdomen while women store more in the hips and thighs. As women age, more fat is stored in the abdomen.

Nutrition—what and how you eat—also affects your weight

The average American meal contains too many calories. It also contains too much saturated fat, cholesterol, animal protein, salt, alcohol, and sugar.

It can be hard to make healthy food choices:

• Emotions and easy access to fast foods and snacks are among the many things that influence our food choices today.
• Lack of time leads many people to eat on an irregular schedule or skip meals. People who do that have more trouble staying at a healthy weight than people who eat regular meals.
• Sometimes a food that seems like a healthier choice may not be. A low-fat cookie may have less fat, but usually it is high in sugar and has the same number of calories as a regular cookie. Potato chips that are "cholesterol-free" may still be high in fat and calories.
• 
  

  Physical activity—how much you move—is the third factor that affects your weight

  Being physically active is an important part of staying at a healthy weight.

  • Regular activity helps you stay fit. When you're fit, you feel better and have more energy for work and for your family. When you're fit, you burn more calories, even when you're resting.
  • Even if you are overweight or obese, you will benefit from being more physically fit. Improving your fitness is good for your heart, lungs, bones, and joints. And it lowers your risk for heart attack, diabetes, high blood pressure, and some cancers. If you already have one or more of these problems, getting more fit may help you control other health problems and make you feel better.
  • Moderate activity is safe for most people, but it's always a good idea to talk to your doctor before you start an exercise program.

  
  
  
  

Winning the battle of the bulge

When it comes to winning the battle, you can make a big difference just by drinking water instead of soda. Yes I know water isn't very interesting and after a couple of bottles I'm ready for something else. Remember if your goal is to lose weight, then all those drinks you consume during the day all have calories. And if your drinking a no calorie drink or low calorie drink they all have chemicals added so adherence the flavor. Very few store bought drinks are really good for you. Manufacturers make these drinks to make money, not to make anything that might be good for you. 

The results from just drinking water can be dramatic; in fact, research shows that cutting beverage calories results in more weight loss than cutting food calories. It’s not just soda, fruit drinks and those Latte’s are all laden with sugar. Drinks like orange juice, apple juice or Gatorade along with the sodas and coffee drinks can account for as much as 2000 calories a day, especially in the hot months when you drink more. All can or bottled beverages except for water contain real sugar or some form of artificial sweetener and they all contain calories except water or tea or black coffee. And even the drinks that say they have 0 calories still have trace amounts. Fructose contained in drinks has also been found to boost fat storage and leads to hormone changes that increase overall food intake.

People who keep sipping those drinks while there dieting will find they can’t shed any weight and they don’t get it. But losing weight is about reducing your calories. Many people who don’t need to diet are still cutting calories, just because now research shows that reducing calories and living on the minimum amount of calories will extend your life. Remember that last sentence, it's the most important part of this post.

So, what’s the magic number of calories?  Well, the number is different for everybody. But one thing scientist know is that the number is less than 2000 calories a day for everyone. And the number is less for women than men. Naturally, the smaller person you are the less calories you need and smaller doesn’t mean shorter, smaller person is a term used to indicate how big you might be if you were the proper size for your skeleton.

This is really where your doctor comes in. He can tell you exactly how much you need to lose, and how many calories to eat to lose that weight. It doesn’t matter how old you are, you shouldn’t put off losing weight. Get down to the right size and you’ll be healthier, live longer and spend a lot less money in the doctor’s office.

Eating Habits Your Parents Got Wrong

I’ve outlined five myths about eating habits.

1. No snacking! You'll ruin your appetite!

Actually, snacking can be healthy, as long as you choose wisely. A healthy snack serves many purposes. I eat a little smaller breakfast because I know I’ll be eating again in 3 hours. I’m not as hungry at lunch because I ate three hours ago and I’ll be snacking again in about three hours. My dinner will be smaller because I’m not as hungry because I just ate something three hours before . If I’m going to be up more than four hours after dinner, I’ll snack again about three hours after dinner.

I know what you’re thinking, what about all those calories?, but it’s not that much, snacks can be healthy and not a lot of calories. My general rule is never go four hours without eating (something small) This keeps your Blood Sugars stable. Fluctuations in blood sugar will cause cravings. And eating more often will avoid that. When your hungry, you over eat and then your blood sugar spikes and when it drops or crashes you’re hungry again.

Tip: Try cutting back slightly on size of meals so you can have three daily snacks between 100 and 200 calories. Good choices include nuts, fruit, yogurt, and vegetables with dip. By snacking, you’ll avoid those big meals.

At first you might have to count calories. When you eat six times a day it’s easy to over-eat. (Consult your doctor for your correct calorie intake for your size.)

2. Finish everything on your plate.

It's fine to leave a little food, get in tune with your body to know when you've had enough. (if your worried about wasting food, save it for later, there's nothing wrong with leftovers) or simply do not fill your plate so full.

Tip: As you're eating, notice how you're feeling. Are you full? Are you eating just because there is still food on your plate? Be particularly careful when you're eating out -- the food is appealing, the plates are huge, and you may want to eat it all because you paid for it. If there are large portions, ask for half now and have them box the other half. Remember the dangers of spiking your blood sugar.

3. Don't eat before exercising -- you'll get a cramp.

You won't want to go running immediately after dinner, but eating a little bit 30 to 60 minutes before exercising can help you maximize your workout. (carbs before, protein after). You'll get a quick boost of energy that helps you optimize the exercise session.

Tip: Choose high-carbohydrate, low-fat, low-fiber snacks with moderate amounts of protein in the 100- to 300-calorie range, such as a glass of chocolate milk, a slice of toast with peanut butter, or a granola bar. Fruit is also fine, although it won't have much protein (add a few nuts for that). Personally, I like a plain yogurt cup and I add dried fruit.

4. Hurry up!

Did your parents rush your breakfast so you were on time for school? If you still eat in a hurry, you might miss your body's cues that you're full. It takes 20 minutes for the brain to register that you feel full. If you eat too quickly, you can scarf down a lot of food in a 20-minute period, and then you feel stuffed.

Tip: Slow down. Take mini-breaks by putting your food and utensils down between bites. I like to eat with other people, I spend more time talking and less time eating.

5. You deserve dessert today!

We never want to use food as a reward; it sends the brain a wrong message. The wires get crossed, and we no longer eat because we're hungry; we eat because we were good and we deserve something. This behavior starts at childhood.  It was a way parents got their kids to finish all their food.  Today we know to leave kids alone, there’ll eat when their hungry.

Tip: It's great to reward yourself, but not with food. How about a movie, a manicure, or time with friends? Soon, you'll realize that you shouldn't just eat because you think you deserve something.

Those five myths were drummed into my head as a child and I'm sure many other kids too. Today, most of us know better and we do thinks differently with our kids.

But the overweight problem is getting worse, not better. Americans' belt size continues to inch up, and women's waistlines are widening faster than men's, according to new government research.

The average waist size ballooned more than an inch -- from 37.6 inches to 38.8 inches -- between 1999 and 2012, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention researchers found.

Based on their waist circumference, 54 percent of Americans were abdominally obese in 2012, up from 46 percent 13 years earlier.

"Waists are still expanding in the U.S., and particularly so among women," said study researcher Dr. Earl Ford, a medical officer at the CDC.

While men's waists increased less than an inch -- about 0.8 of an inch on average -- women's midriffs grew about twice that, or 1.5 inches, Ford said.

Waistlines larger than 35 inches for women and more than 40 inches for men are considered abdominal obesity, a risk factor for heart disease and diabetes.
Waist circumference is a simple tool that reflects the amount of total body fat and intra-abdominal body fat. Like body mass index (BMI), which is a calculation based on height to weight, it is used to predict heart disease risk.

For the study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Ford and his colleagues used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) on nearly 33,000 men and women ages 20 and older. The finding that waist sizes are still increasing was surprising, Ford said, since the prevalence of obesity seems to have reached a plateau recently. Even so, more than one-third of U.S. adults are obese, according to the CDC.

Why women's waist sizes are enlarging more than men's isn't clear, Ford said.
As baby boomers age, the natural decrease in muscle mass and slowing metabolism leads to more body fat. In addition, given the size of the baby boomer generation, these aging changes will impact statistics. Inadequate activity is probably a factor, too, as it leads to body fat gain.

Getting at least five or six hours of sleep nightly may help regulate hunger and help prevent more weight gain. Also, current guidelines call for at least 150 minutes of physical activity a week, a figure few Americans achieve.

Children and teens in the United States may be faring better, according to another study published in July 2014. For that report, University of Minnesota researchers used the same NHANES data and found the proportion of children ages 2 to 18 classified as obese based on waist size held steady at nearly 18 percent from 2003 through 2012.

For the younger generation research is showing hope that the problem will get smaller in years to come, but in the short term, obesity is on the raise. Today 66% of adults are overweight and in 10 years the percentage will climb to 75%. It looks like the thirty something's and older will have to deal with the overweight problem and the next generation may get a pass. They maybe learning from us and hopefully won't make the same mistakes.

How Long Will It Take To Reach My Goal?

This is a frequently asked question. The answer is different for everyone. If you are only 20 pounds or so over your goal weight then a 200 pound man can expect to loss about 2 pounds a week. If you're a woman who weighs about 140 and wants to lose 20 pounds then 2 pounds every  week might be too much to expect. And it also depends on your age. For instance, a young woman who has had a baby recently will loss her 20 pounds faster than a woman in her late 40's who has carried the extra weight for a few years. If you have been over weight for sometime, it will take longer to lose it.

So several things being considered, 20 pounds may take 2 months for a new mom to lose, or it might take a man 200 pounds age 65, one years to drop the weight. This is what you need to consider; your weight and your age, what kind of physical shape am I in? The better the condition the more exercise you'll be able to do. How motivated am I? You have to stay with it. And don't forget the diet, you can't cheat, if your going to reach your goal.

That's a big problem "cheating". If your on a 2 pound a week weight lose program, it doesn't take much to stop losing and start gaining.  Yes, it will take time but if your going to be thin for the rest of your life, go slow and keep it up. Once you reach 10 pounds of lost weight, you'll start feeling better, but don't stop and don't start cheating. Even after you reach your goal, don't stop. That's how everyone else gains the weight back. And I did have to stop drinking alcohol until I reached my goal and then I could go back to a drink occasionally without gaining. You see, alcohol will mess with your metabolism and that stops the fat burning process. Now after you reach your goal your metabolism is back to normal and an occasional drink doesn't hurt.

I stopped smoking cold turkey back in the seventies and it's just as tough. But when you make up your mind that you must do it, then and only then will you loss weight. Remember it's a change of lifestyle and not about dieting for a few weeks.

How long it takes to lose weight is a question that's impossible to answer. Most people don't want to make a long-term commitment to a new way of living, even though that's what it's going to take.

If you follow this blog, in the archives, there's over 200 posts, all the posts are related to diet, exercise and losing weight. Most people fail at weight loss because they're not really serious, their clothes are starting to get tight and they don't want to buy a new wardrobe. O.K., that's a reason, but not a good reason. They will probably fail. Another popular reason for losing weight is someone is nagging you, maybe it's your spouse or your doctor. Those reason will carry a little more weight and your going to try harder but most people just end up on diet pills. They take the easy way out. And most of them won't keep the weight off.

I always tell people that they have to change their life. Make time to exercise and start eating the right food and quit eating the junk. Stop over-eating and only eat good snacks.

And I go through a list of do's and don't's and they have to stick to it and don't give up. That's why most people fail, they give-up.