Showing posts with label weight loss program. Show all posts
Showing posts with label weight loss program. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 08, 2008

Health Spending Exceeded Record $2 Trillion in 2006

From The New York Times --

WASHINGTON — National health spending soared above $2 trillion for the first time in 2006 and has nearly doubled in the last decade, amounting to an average of $7,000 a person, the government reported on Monday. With the advent of a prescription drug benefit in 2006, Medicare spending grew at its fastest pace since 1981, the report said. Private health insurance spending grew at the slowest rate since 1997, and spending on Medicaid, which covers low-income people, declined for the first time since creation of the program in 1965. Over all, the report said, health spending increased 6.7 percent in 2006, slightly faster than in 2005, and now accounts for 16 percent of the total output of good and services, a slightly larger share than in 2005. Introducing the Medicare drug benefit for older Americans and people with disabilities caused changes that rippled through the entire health care sector. Health spending by businesses grew 5.7 percent in 2006, to $496.8 billion, the slowest rate of increase since 1997.

Aaron C. Catlin, an economist at the Health and Human Services Department, said the “deceleration in employer payments for private health insurance” resulted, in part, from the fact that Medicare now subsidized drug costs for many retirees. Employers lobbied for such subsidies when Congress created the benefit. Retail spending on prescription drugs shot up 8.5 percent in 2006, to $216.7 billion, in part because more prescriptions were filled by Medicare beneficiaries, especially those lacking drug coverage in the past. The increase was much greater than the 5.8 percent increase in 2005, but well below the average increase of 13.4 percent a year from 1995 to 2004. Other factors that drove up drug spending included the use of existing drugs for new purposes and the increased use of high-cost biotechnology products, the report said. National health spending first exceeded $1 trillion in 1995. Since then, even when adjusted for inflation, health spending has grown at a rapid clip, increasing 64 percent in 11 years. The data, published in the journal Health Affairs, showed that spending on hospitals, doctors and nursing homes grew more slowly in 2006 than in 2005. But administrative costs increased more than twice as fast.  read on...

Get medifast for weight loss, health, a healthy diet, and a diet plan. Medifast is a product that helps you lose weight. There are benefits to using Medifast in your diet, and can be used for weight loss. Phase 1 - 5 & 1 Program for Weight Loss 5 Medifast Meals per Day Over 50 meals to choose from - shakes, bars, drinks, oatmeals, chili, soups, pudding and more. 1 "Lean and Green" Meal per Day Lean Meat: 7 ounces of chicken, turkey of fish, or 5 ounces of lean beef, pork or lamb. Grill, bake or poach meats using non-stick spray. Salt, pepper, herbs and spices may be added if desired. You may also use 1 - 2 teaspoons of condiments such as ketchup, mustard or barbecue sauce. Salad or Vegetables: Either 2 cups of salad greens (any kind) and up to ½ cups raw vegetables, or up to 1 ½ cups cooked vegetables. You may also use 1 - 2 tablespoons of Media low-fat or non-fat dressing.Phase 2 - BeSlim™ Philosophy of Lifelong Weight Control Once you have reached your healthy weight, your Health Advisor will help transition you to the BeSlim™ philosophy of lifelong weight control. The BeSlim™ philosophy is a part of the Take Shape for Life program that incorporates key behaviors mastered by those who lost significant amounts of weight and kept their weight off for years. These key behaviors include: Breakfast (eating Breakfast every day) - High quality fuel, such as our delicious Medifast oatmeal, cappuccino, or chai latte, is essential to start your day the right way. Exercise - Continued exercise increases metabolism, provides strength, flexibility, and mental clarity. Support - Your Health Advisor is here to help you reach and maintain your goals, providing the coaching, tools, education, and caring support you will need along the way. Low-fat meals 5-6 times a day - Eating frequently, controlling portion and total calories, especially those from fat, are critical for success. Individual Plan - Create an individual plan to help you achieve an optimal healthy lifestyle and build the skills and strategies you need to cope with modern life. Monitor your weight - Weigh yourself on a regular basis to maintain optimal weight. Catch it before it becomes a challenge! Join the BeSlim™ Club today and set your life in motion! Introducing the New BeSlim Club & Rewards Program! Optimal Health is its own reward, but how about earning a bonus or two along the way? You’re on a journey to Optimal Health. You’ve made a commitment to lose weight and keep it off! You’ve earned the right to celebrate your success! The new Take Shape For Life BeSlim Club & Rewards Program is your ticket there. The BeSlim Club & Rewards Program is Take Shape For Life's progressive savings program, offering clients and Health Coaches an easy way to obtain their Medifast Meals at a savings, with exciting rewards you can earn along the way! The longer you are member of the BeSlim™ Club, the more significant your savings are and the more rewards points you’ll earn. When you join the Take Shape For Life BeSlim Club & Rewards Program, you: Enjoy your favorite Medifast Meals all month long, with orders conveniently shipped right to your door Save on your meal purchases and enjoy increased savings the longer you’re on the program Earn points towards exclusive rewards that promote healthy living Receive coupons for special savings. Enrich your life as you achieve Optimal Health Available to all, the BeSlim™ Club is a great way for individuals learning and practicing the BeSlim™ philosophy. Every time you order, you earn points towards healthful rewards. Here’s how: There’s no minimum purchase required. Redeem your reward points* for exclusive Take Shape For Life merchandise, including: Apparel, Exercise Equipment, Spa Trips, And more! Join the BeSlim Club today! Simplify Your Life -- — Receive automatic monthly shipments of your favorite Medifast Meals; Save Your Money — Enjoy savings that increase the longer you are a club member; Earn Just Rewards— Select from an array of rewards that promote healthy living and a healthy lifestyle

Comments: It wasn't that long ago that health care costs were around the 1 Trillion mark - in 1995. To double in 10 years means that, yes in fact, health care costs are ballooning out of control. This should be more of a reflection of the poor health that Americans are experiencing, and while that is true, it is not all that is going on. The advancement of equipment, drugs, and procedures that keep a patient alive longer has to be the brunt of the rise in costs. The unfortunate thing about our health care is that it is not health care at all, but sick care. If we can start with the upcoming generation and start teaching life's lessons at an early age, and instill the habits of healthy living in the early years, then we have a chance of reducing costs in the decades to come, on a per capita basis. In other words, assuming the population continues to grow at the current rate, costs will continue to rise, but can be reduced as a percentage of the total. Start with your own weight loss and diet plan and live healthy. Teach those in your family the importance of a healthy lifestyle for the survival of the generations to come.

The Health & Wellness Institute, DC PC

The #3 Diet Vice TV Should be Off During Family Meals

If you've been reading the last few blogs, you will see that the theme has been family, and the importance of a close family to the bringing up of a secure, healthy, happy, productive individual. One of the 3 biggest diet vices that have contributed to the overweight and obesity problem in this country and around the world is the television. A diet vice is broadly defined as anything that gets in the way of living at a healthy weight. Specifically, a diet vice can be a food or drink that is consumed on a regular basis that contributes the most calories to a diet and keeps the "dieter" from living at a healthy weight. The three biggest diet vices are soft drinks, fast food, and television - all based on statistics. The amount of soft drinks and fast food consumed per capita supports the conclusion that they are the 2 top diet vices. And, according to statistics, television is the third diet vice that contributes to the number of overweight and obese individuals. In this day, we can add anything that the TV can be used for - all computer games, specifically, not just television shows. The recommendation that The Health & Wellness Institute gives to those who seek to lose weight, is that no TV may be watched (or used for games; hey, even 40 year olds use PlayStation!) until at least 30 minutes of exercise is done. OR, exercise may be done while watching TV - like a treadmill or piece of cardio that may be in front of the TV, or an exercise video.  This puts healthy actions ahead of those that are sedentary, or let's face it, unhealthy considering the quality of so much of the programming these days (I'm not referring to the History Channel here!).  Here's some information given about the importance of turning the TV off during family meals. Without reading the article, you can ascertain that the TV will distract family members from the time that should be used for productive communication, the foundation for healthy relationship among all individuals. And the lessons learned during family meals far exceed any entertainment or history lesson that can be learned from TV. This article comes from Science Daily --

Get medifast for weight loss, health, a healthy diet, and a diet plan. Medifast is a product that helps you lose weight. There are benefits to using Medifast in your diet, and can be used for weight loss. Phase 1 - 5 & 1 Program for Weight Loss 5 Medifast Meals per Day Over 50 meals to choose from - shakes, bars, drinks, oatmeals, chili, soups, pudding and more. 1 "Lean and Green" Meal per Day Lean Meat: 7 ounces of chicken, turkey of fish, or 5 ounces of lean beef, pork or lamb. Grill, bake or poach meats using non-stick spray. Salt, pepper, herbs and spices may be added if desired. You may also use 1 - 2 teaspoons of condiments such as ketchup, mustard or barbecue sauce. Salad or Vegetables: Either 2 cups of salad greens (any kind) and up to ½ cups raw vegetables, or up to 1 ½ cups cooked vegetables. You may also use 1 - 2 tablespoons of Media low-fat or non-fat dressing.Phase 2 - BeSlim™ Philosophy of Lifelong Weight Control Once you have reached your healthy weight, your Health Advisor will help transition you to the BeSlim™ philosophy of lifelong weight control. The BeSlim™ philosophy is a part of the Take Shape for Life program that incorporates key behaviors mastered by those who lost significant amounts of weight and kept their weight off for years. These key behaviors include: Breakfast (eating Breakfast every day) - High quality fuel, such as our delicious Medifast oatmeal, cappuccino, or chai latte, is essential to start your day the right way. Exercise - Continued exercise increases metabolism, provides strength, flexibility, and mental clarity. Support - Your Health Advisor is here to help you reach and maintain your goals, providing the coaching, tools, education, and caring support you will need along the way. Low-fat meals 5-6 times a day - Eating frequently, controlling portion and total calories, especially those from fat, are critical for success. Individual Plan - Create an individual plan to help you achieve an optimal healthy lifestyle and build the skills and strategies you need to cope with modern life. Monitor your weight - Weigh yourself on a regular basis to maintain optimal weight. Catch it before it becomes a challenge! Join the BeSlim™ Club today and set your life in motion! Introducing the New BeSlim Club & Rewards Program! Optimal Health is its own reward, but how about earning a bonus or two along the way? You’re on a journey to Optimal Health. You’ve made a commitment to lose weight and keep it off! You’ve earned the right to celebrate your success! The new Take Shape For Life BeSlim Club & Rewards Program is your ticket there. The BeSlim Club & Rewards Program is Take Shape For Life's progressive savings program, offering clients and Health Coaches an easy way to obtain their Medifast Meals at a savings, with exciting rewards you can earn along the way! The longer you are member of the BeSlim™ Club, the more significant your savings are and the more rewards points you’ll earn. When you join the Take Shape For Life BeSlim Club & Rewards Program, you: Enjoy your favorite Medifast Meals all month long, with orders conveniently shipped right to your door Save on your meal purchases and enjoy increased savings the longer you’re on the program Earn points towards exclusive rewards that promote healthy living Receive coupons for special savings. Enrich your life as you achieve Optimal Health Available to all, the BeSlim™ Club is a great way for individuals learning and practicing the BeSlim™ philosophy. Every time you order, you earn points towards healthful rewards. Here’s how: There’s no minimum purchase required. Redeem your reward points* for exclusive Take Shape For Life merchandise, including: Apparel, Exercise Equipment, Spa Trips, And more! Join the BeSlim Club today! Simplify Your Life -- — Receive automatic monthly shipments of your favorite Medifast Meals; Save Your Money — Enjoy savings that increase the longer you are a club member; Earn Just Rewards— Select from an array of rewards that promote healthy living and a healthy lifestyle

ScienceDaily — September and October mark the start of television’s new fall season as the premieres of new shows and old favorites hit the airwaves. But, University of Minnesota researchers found that watching television while eating family meals may have a negative impact on children’s diets.

School of Public Health Project EAT researchers found that children in families who watched TV while eating meals together had a lower-quality diet than the children of families who ate together, but turned the TV off. Boys watching TV while eating family meals consumed fewer vegetables and grains, and more soft drinks, than those who did not watch TV; girls watching TV ate significantly fewer dark vegetables and more fried food.

Dianne Neumark Sztainer, Ph.D., principal investigator of the Project EAT study, suggests more than one reason for why this occurred. “The television may be influencing the types of foods that adolescents choose to eat because of the advertisements they see. Alternatively, meal situations and foods served within homes where the television is on during meals may be different. Further research is needed to explore our findings,” she said. read on...

The Health & Wellness Institute, DC PC

Regular Family Meals Promote Healthy Eating Habits

It's time to get back to family values - a family that eats together, shares the day's struggles, successes, and questions; a time for family to discuss together what is important in life - what's needed to be healthy physically, mentally, spiritually; a time to emphasize the importance of education, goals, and character. And all is done while eating a well balanced meal.  The effects of regular meals as this puts the focus on goals that are bigger than any one individual, while instilling the habit of healthy actions to support the efforts of such goals. We have gotten away from the importance of health in all areas of life, and the discipline it takes to build that character, and it all starts at home, and the best time for life's lesson start at the breakfast and dinner table (assuming everyone's at school or work during lunch!). Not only do family meals promote healthy eating, but the ripple effect carries over into every other aspect of life. Here is an article that reveals one aspect of the importance of family meals from Science Daily --

Get medifast for weight loss, health, a healthy diet, and a diet plan. Medifast is a product that helps you lose weight. There are benefits to using Medifast in your diet, and can be used for weight loss. Phase 1 - 5 & 1 Program for Weight Loss 5 Medifast Meals per Day Over 50 meals to choose from - shakes, bars, drinks, oatmeals, chili, soups, pudding and more. 1 "Lean and Green" Meal per Day Lean Meat: 7 ounces of chicken, turkey of fish, or 5 ounces of lean beef, pork or lamb. Grill, bake or poach meats using non-stick spray. Salt, pepper, herbs and spices may be added if desired. You may also use 1 - 2 teaspoons of condiments such as ketchup, mustard or barbecue sauce. Salad or Vegetables: Either 2 cups of salad greens (any kind) and up to ½ cups raw vegetables, or up to 1 ½ cups cooked vegetables. You may also use 1 - 2 tablespoons of Media low-fat or non-fat dressing.Phase 2 - BeSlim™ Philosophy of Lifelong Weight Control Once you have reached your healthy weight, your Health Advisor will help transition you to the BeSlim™ philosophy of lifelong weight control. The BeSlim™ philosophy is a part of the Take Shape for Life program that incorporates key behaviors mastered by those who lost significant amounts of weight and kept their weight off for years. These key behaviors include: Breakfast (eating Breakfast every day) - High quality fuel, such as our delicious Medifast oatmeal, cappuccino, or chai latte, is essential to start your day the right way. Exercise - Continued exercise increases metabolism, provides strength, flexibility, and mental clarity. Support - Your Health Advisor is here to help you reach and maintain your goals, providing the coaching, tools, education, and caring support you will need along the way. Low-fat meals 5-6 times a day - Eating frequently, controlling portion and total calories, especially those from fat, are critical for success. Individual Plan - Create an individual plan to help you achieve an optimal healthy lifestyle and build the skills and strategies you need to cope with modern life. Monitor your weight - Weigh yourself on a regular basis to maintain optimal weight. Catch it before it becomes a challenge! Join the BeSlim™ Club today and set your life in motion! Introducing the New BeSlim Club & Rewards Program! Optimal Health is its own reward, but how about earning a bonus or two along the way? You’re on a journey to Optimal Health. You’ve made a commitment to lose weight and keep it off! You’ve earned the right to celebrate your success! The new Take Shape For Life BeSlim Club & Rewards Program is your ticket there. The BeSlim Club & Rewards Program is Take Shape For Life's progressive savings program, offering clients and Health Coaches an easy way to obtain their Medifast Meals at a savings, with exciting rewards you can earn along the way! The longer you are member of the BeSlim™ Club, the more significant your savings are and the more rewards points you’ll earn. When you join the Take Shape For Life BeSlim Club & Rewards Program, you: Enjoy your favorite Medifast Meals all month long, with orders conveniently shipped right to your door Save on your meal purchases and enjoy increased savings the longer you’re on the program Earn points towards exclusive rewards that promote healthy living Receive coupons for special savings. Enrich your life as you achieve Optimal Health Available to all, the BeSlim™ Club is a great way for individuals learning and practicing the BeSlim™ philosophy. Every time you order, you earn points towards healthful rewards. Here’s how: There’s no minimum purchase required. Redeem your reward points* for exclusive Take Shape For Life merchandise, including: Apparel, Exercise Equipment, Spa Trips, And more! Join the BeSlim Club today! Simplify Your Life -- — Receive automatic monthly shipments of your favorite Medifast Meals; Save Your Money — Enjoy savings that increase the longer you are a club member; Earn Just Rewards— Select from an array of rewards that promote healthy living and a healthy lifestyle

ScienceDaily — MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL -- It's not only the routine of sitting down to dinner as a family, but the importance, structure, and atmosphere of family meals that may help steer adolescent girls from eating disorders. University of Minnesota researchers found that girls who ate regular family meals in a structured and positive environment were less likely to exhibit extreme weight control behaviors such as diet pill use, vomiting, and chronic dieting. Their research was published in the November issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health.

The meal itself provides an opportunity to model healthy eating habits to children, and it also gives parents the chance to check in with their children, said Dianne Neumark-Sztainer, Ph.D., M.P.H., R.D., professor of epidemiology and primary author of the article. She recommended parents keep the conversation positive and non-confrontational, especially if their children have issues surrounding food. "Since society has so much influence on adolescents because of the high prevalence of obesity and the pressure to be skinny, many girls are read on...

The Health & Wellness Institute, DC PC

Weight loss and diet plan starts with family meals

On a previous blog it was mentioned that a healthy lifestyle should be a family affair, with all members of the family participating in activities, exercise, and healthy eating - the latter of which is best done together in order to instill the habit of a healthy diet.  And now it seems that disordered eating is less common among teens when they are having meals with their family.  Looking back at my own family life, I can attest to this fact, having grown up in a home where dinner together was expected and prior approval for missing better have been cleared with the cook.  In other words, I didn't know anything else. And the six of us sat together and had dinnder more nights than not - meals with lean meats or fish, a vegetable, a carb, maybe some gravy to go with it, and milk or water, and sometimes (not that often that I can remember - maybe it was somebody's birthday only) a dessert. The psychological, emotional, habitual, familial, social benefits that ultimately resulted from years of eating together as a family far outweighed (by miles!) any other benefit that us kids as teens back then could ever have received from any of our own activities outside the home. Read this report from Science Daily about some of the eating behaviors of teens who eat meals with their families vs. those that don't --

Get medifast for weight loss, health, a healthy diet, and a diet plan. Medifast is a product that helps you lose weight. There are benefits to using Medifast in your diet, and can be used for weight loss. Phase 1 - 5 & 1 Program for Weight Loss 5 Medifast Meals per Day Over 50 meals to choose from - shakes, bars, drinks, oatmeals, chili, soups, pudding and more. 1 "Lean and Green" Meal per Day Lean Meat: 7 ounces of chicken, turkey of fish, or 5 ounces of lean beef, pork or lamb. Grill, bake or poach meats using non-stick spray. Salt, pepper, herbs and spices may be added if desired. You may also use 1 - 2 teaspoons of condiments such as ketchup, mustard or barbecue sauce. Salad or Vegetables: Either 2 cups of salad greens (any kind) and up to ½ cups raw vegetables, or up to 1 ½ cups cooked vegetables. You may also use 1 - 2 tablespoons of Media low-fat or non-fat dressing.Phase 2 - BeSlim™ Philosophy of Lifelong Weight Control Once you have reached your healthy weight, your Health Advisor will help transition you to the BeSlim™ philosophy of lifelong weight control. The BeSlim™ philosophy is a part of the Take Shape for Life program that incorporates key behaviors mastered by those who lost significant amounts of weight and kept their weight off for years. These key behaviors include: Breakfast (eating Breakfast every day) - High quality fuel, such as our delicious Medifast oatmeal, cappuccino, or chai latte, is essential to start your day the right way. Exercise - Continued exercise increases metabolism, provides strength, flexibility, and mental clarity. Support - Your Health Advisor is here to help you reach and maintain your goals, providing the coaching, tools, education, and caring support you will need along the way. Low-fat meals 5-6 times a day - Eating frequently, controlling portion and total calories, especially those from fat, are critical for success. Individual Plan - Create an individual plan to help you achieve an optimal healthy lifestyle and build the skills and strategies you need to cope with modern life. Monitor your weight - Weigh yourself on a regular basis to maintain optimal weight. Catch it before it becomes a challenge! Join the BeSlim™ Club today and set your life in motion! Introducing the New BeSlim Club & Rewards Program! Optimal Health is its own reward, but how about earning a bonus or two along the way? You’re on a journey to Optimal Health. You’ve made a commitment to lose weight and keep it off! You’ve earned the right to celebrate your success! The new Take Shape For Life BeSlim Club & Rewards Program is your ticket there. The BeSlim Club & Rewards Program is Take Shape For Life's progressive savings program, offering clients and Health Coaches an easy way to obtain their Medifast Meals at a savings, with exciting rewards you can earn along the way! The longer you are member of the BeSlim™ Club, the more significant your savings are and the more rewards points you’ll earn. When you join the Take Shape For Life BeSlim Club & Rewards Program, you: Enjoy your favorite Medifast Meals all month long, with orders conveniently shipped right to your door Save on your meal purchases and enjoy increased savings the longer you’re on the program Earn points towards exclusive rewards that promote healthy living Receive coupons for special savings. Enrich your life as you achieve Optimal Health Available to all, the BeSlim™ Club is a great way for individuals learning and practicing the BeSlim™ philosophy. Every time you order, you earn points towards healthful rewards. Here’s how: There’s no minimum purchase required. Redeem your reward points* for exclusive Take Shape For Life merchandise, including: Apparel, Exercise Equipment, Spa Trips, And more! Join the BeSlim Club today! Simplify Your Life -- — Receive automatic monthly shipments of your favorite Medifast Meals; Save Your Money — Enjoy savings that increase the longer you are a club member; Earn Just Rewards— Select from an array of rewards that promote healthy living and a healthy lifestyle

Science Daily — Adolescent girls who frequently eat meals with their families appear less likely to use diet pills, laxatives or other extreme measures to control their weight five years later, according to a new report.

As youth progress from adolescence into adulthood, disordered eating behaviors--including binge eating and self-induced vomiting--become more common, according to background information in the article. "Disordered eating behaviors are associated with a number of harmful behavioral, physical and psychological consequences, including poorer dietary quality, weight gain and obesity onset, depressive symptoms and the onset of eating disorders," the authors write. "Thus, it is important to identify strategies for the prevention of disordered eating behaviors."

Dianne Neumark-Sztainer, Ph.D., M.P.H., R.D., and colleagues at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, studied 2,516 adolescents at 31 Minnesota schools. Participants completed two surveys--an in-class survey in 1999 and a mailed survey in 2004--regarding how often they ate with their families as well as their body mass index, feelings of family connectedness and eating behaviors.

Among teen girls, those who ate five or more meals with their families each week in 1999 were significantly less likely to report using extreme measures (such as self-induced vomiting and diuretics) to control their weight in 2004, regardless of their sociodemographic characteristics, body mass index or family connectedness. However, among adolescent boys, regular family meals did not predict lower levels of disordered eating behaviors five years later. Read on...

The Health & Wellness Institute, DC PC

Girls Who Feel Unpopular May Gain Weight

From Associated Press --

CHICAGO (AP) — Where a teenage girl sees herself on her school's social ladder may sway her future weight, a study of more than 4,000 girls finds. Those who believed they were unpopular gained more weight over a two-year period than girls who viewed themselves as more popular. Researchers said the study showed how a girl's view of her social status has broader health consequences.

Get medifast for weight loss, health, a healthy diet, and a diet plan. Medifast is a product that helps you lose weight. There are benefits to using Medifast in your diet, and can be used for weight loss. Phase 1 - 5 & 1 Program for Weight Loss 5 Medifast Meals per Day Over 50 meals to choose from - shakes, bars, drinks, oatmeals, chili, soups, pudding and more. 1 "Lean and Green" Meal per Day Lean Meat: 7 ounces of chicken, turkey of fish, or 5 ounces of lean beef, pork or lamb. Grill, bake or poach meats using non-stick spray. Salt, pepper, herbs and spices may be added if desired. You may also use 1 - 2 teaspoons of condiments such as ketchup, mustard or barbecue sauce. Salad or Vegetables: Either 2 cups of salad greens (any kind) and up to ½ cups raw vegetables, or up to 1 ½ cups cooked vegetables. You may also use 1 - 2 tablespoons of Media low-fat or non-fat dressing.Phase 2 - BeSlim™ Philosophy of Lifelong Weight Control Once you have reached your healthy weight, your Health Advisor will help transition you to the BeSlim™ philosophy of lifelong weight control. The BeSlim™ philosophy is a part of the Take Shape for Life program that incorporates key behaviors mastered by those who lost significant amounts of weight and kept their weight off for years. These key behaviors include: Breakfast (eating Breakfast every day) - High quality fuel, such as our delicious Medifast oatmeal, cappuccino, or chai latte, is essential to start your day the right way. Exercise - Continued exercise increases metabolism, provides strength, flexibility, and mental clarity. Support - Your Health Advisor is here to help you reach and maintain your goals, providing the coaching, tools, education, and caring support you will need along the way. Low-fat meals 5-6 times a day - Eating frequently, controlling portion and total calories, especially those from fat, are critical for success. Individual Plan - Create an individual plan to help you achieve an optimal healthy lifestyle and build the skills and strategies you need to cope with modern life. Monitor your weight - Weigh yourself on a regular basis to maintain optimal weight. Catch it before it becomes a challenge! Join the BeSlim™ Club today and set your life in motion! Introducing the New BeSlim Club & Rewards Program! Optimal Health is its own reward, but how about earning a bonus or two along the way? You’re on a journey to Optimal Health. You’ve made a commitment to lose weight and keep it off! You’ve earned the right to celebrate your success! The new Take Shape For Life BeSlim Club & Rewards Program is your ticket there. The BeSlim Club & Rewards Program is Take Shape For Life's progressive savings program, offering clients and Health Coaches an easy way to obtain their Medifast Meals at a savings, with exciting rewards you can earn along the way! The longer you are member of the BeSlim™ Club, the more significant your savings are and the more rewards points you’ll earn. When you join the Take Shape For Life BeSlim Club & Rewards Program, you: Enjoy your favorite Medifast Meals all month long, with orders conveniently shipped right to your door Save on your meal purchases and enjoy increased savings the longer you’re on the program Earn points towards exclusive rewards that promote healthy living Receive coupons for special savings. Enrich your life as you achieve Optimal Health Available to all, the BeSlim™ Club is a great way for individuals learning and practicing the BeSlim™ philosophy. Every time you order, you earn points towards healthful rewards. Here’s how: There’s no minimum purchase required. Redeem your reward points* for exclusive Take Shape For Life merchandise, including: Apparel, Exercise Equipment, Spa Trips, And more! Join the BeSlim Club today! Simplify Your Life -- — Receive automatic monthly shipments of your favorite Medifast Meals; Save Your Money — Enjoy savings that increase the longer you are a club member; Earn Just Rewards— Select from an array of rewards that promote healthy living and a healthy lifestyle

The girls in the study were still growing — their average age was 15 — and all of them gained some weight. However, those who rated themselves low in popularity were 69 percent more likely than other girls to increase their body mass index by two units, the equivalent of gaining about 11 excess pounds. (The body mass index, or BMI, is a calculation based on height and weight.)

Girls who put themselves on the higher rungs of popularity also gained some excess weight, but less — about 6 1/2 pounds.

Both groups, on average, fell within ranges considered normal. But a gain of two BMI units over two years is more than the typical weight gain for adolescent girls, the researchers said. Read on...

Comments: This is one of the most common occurences in young women - social unacceptance leading to poor dietary habits, or food being used as comfort. This is a very important stage in the development of any person - male or female. The habits that they are exposed to on a daily basis set the stage for what they will expect of themselves in their own life when out on their own. Then once they have really grown up and get wise, an understanding of the importance of health has a higher chance of setting in, to some degree. Otherwise, life will continue without much concern about weight, health, fitness...until the middle age years start exposing the body's weaknesses through regular sickness, other health problems with higher concern, or even disease.  This is not meant to be sound cynical. The opportunity for a healthy and fit lifestyle is there, and may afford so many more opportunities for happiness, productivity, adventure, and creativity.  The body functions much better and so does the mind, when the right nutrition, discipline, and exercise are adhered to on a daily basis. A good diet plan can make the difference in the early years. And certainly some parental recognition of such a potential problem, so to head off unhealthy decisions before they happen, will help in the long run. Make health a family affair so you can pass it on to the next generations.

The Health & Wellness Institute, DC PC

How Expensive Is Your Diet?

From ABC News --

There are fewer things more dreaded than the New Year's resolution.

For millions of Americans each year, that means deciding to drop a few--or tens --of pounds. It also means picking a diet from a number of confusing programs: low-fat, low-carb, high-protein, pre-made, points-counting, and so on. The options can be exhausting and once committed, it is hard to start over if the diet is less than compatible with your habits--and your bank account. That's why we evaluated the first-week costs of seven popular weight-loss programs. After all, the initial week often requires the greatest personal and financial investment.

We found that consumers on such diet programs as NutriSystem, the Zone, The Abs Diet, The 5-Factor Diet, South Beach, Weight Watchers and the Martha's Vineyard Diet Detox can expect to spend as little as $100 and as much as $385 during the first week.

Get medifast for weight loss, health, a healthy diet, and a diet plan. Medifast is a product that helps you lose weight. There are benefits to using Medifast in your diet, and can be used for weight loss. Phase 1 - 5 & 1 Program for Weight Loss 5 Medifast Meals per Day Over 50 meals to choose from - shakes, bars, drinks, oatmeals, chili, soups, pudding and more. 1 "Lean and Green" Meal per Day Lean Meat: 7 ounces of chicken, turkey of fish, or 5 ounces of lean beef, pork or lamb. Grill, bake or poach meats using non-stick spray. Salt, pepper, herbs and spices may be added if desired. You may also use 1 - 2 teaspoons of condiments such as ketchup, mustard or barbecue sauce. Salad or Vegetables: Either 2 cups of salad greens (any kind) and up to ½ cups raw vegetables, or up to 1 ½ cups cooked vegetables. You may also use 1 - 2 tablespoons of Media low-fat or non-fat dressing.Phase 2 - BeSlim™ Philosophy of Lifelong Weight Control Once you have reached your healthy weight, your Health Advisor will help transition you to the BeSlim™ philosophy of lifelong weight control. The BeSlim™ philosophy is a part of the Take Shape for Life program that incorporates key behaviors mastered by those who lost significant amounts of weight and kept their weight off for years. These key behaviors include: Breakfast (eating Breakfast every day) - High quality fuel, such as our delicious Medifast oatmeal, cappuccino, or chai latte, is essential to start your day the right way. Exercise - Continued exercise increases metabolism, provides strength, flexibility, and mental clarity. Support - Your Health Advisor is here to help you reach and maintain your goals, providing the coaching, tools, education, and caring support you will need along the way. Low-fat meals 5-6 times a day - Eating frequently, controlling portion and total calories, especially those from fat, are critical for success. Individual Plan - Create an individual plan to help you achieve an optimal healthy lifestyle and build the skills and strategies you need to cope with modern life. Monitor your weight - Weigh yourself on a regular basis to maintain optimal weight. Catch it before it becomes a challenge! Join the BeSlim™ Club today and set your life in motion! Introducing the New BeSlim Club & Rewards Program! Optimal Health is its own reward, but how about earning a bonus or two along the way? You’re on a journey to Optimal Health. You’ve made a commitment to lose weight and keep it off! You’ve earned the right to celebrate your success! The new Take Shape For Life BeSlim Club & Rewards Program is your ticket there. The BeSlim Club & Rewards Program is Take Shape For Life's progressive savings program, offering clients and Health Coaches an easy way to obtain their Medifast Meals at a savings, with exciting rewards you can earn along the way! The longer you are member of the BeSlim™ Club, the more significant your savings are and the more rewards points you’ll earn. When you join the Take Shape For Life BeSlim Club & Rewards Program, you: Enjoy your favorite Medifast Meals all month long, with orders conveniently shipped right to your door Save on your meal purchases and enjoy increased savings the longer you’re on the program Earn points towards exclusive rewards that promote healthy living Receive coupons for special savings. Enrich your life as you achieve Optimal Health Available to all, the BeSlim™ Club is a great way for individuals learning and practicing the BeSlim™ philosophy. Every time you order, you earn points towards healthful rewards. Here’s how: There’s no minimum purchase required. Redeem your reward points* for exclusive Take Shape For Life merchandise, including: Apparel, Exercise Equipment, Spa Trips, And more! Join the BeSlim Club today! Simplify Your Life -- — Receive automatic monthly shipments of your favorite Medifast Meals; Save Your Money — Enjoy savings that increase the longer you are a club member; Earn Just Rewards— Select from an array of rewards that promote healthy living and a healthy lifestyle

Surprisingly, the diet with the fewest menu choices--the Martha's Vineyard Diet Detox--costs as much as Weight Watchers: Both totaled about $385. The 5-Factor Diet, engineered by celebrity trainer Harley Pasternak, came in a close third at $380. The price of supplements and a juicer were included for the detox diet, while the cost of membership added to the bottom line of joining Weight Watchers. At $98, NutriSystem was the cheapest option, but included only pre-packaged foods and no fresh fruits or vegetables.

Food Facts

The average American household spends $5,781 a year on food, not including alcohol and fast food items, according to the Census' latest Statistical Abstract, which surveyed 5,000 households of varying sizes. Assuming that purchasing habits remain relatively steady, a weekly household grocery bill likely averages about $111, though this may be significantly higher or lower given income and family size.

At any given time, millions of Americans are on a diet--and their dollars are in demand. The weight-loss market is fiercely competitive and reportedly exceeds $40 billion a year in revenue. As high-profile brands move away from identifying their plans as diets and instead as a lifestyle, companies will increasingly offer more options for personalization and taste preferences. In our roundup, there's room for everything from quesadillas to Canadian bacon to chocolate shakes. Read on...

Comments: There is no doubt that

Monday, December 31, 2007

Lose weight Effortlessly, the only diet that works!

Yahoo--The New Year can always be marked by the huge spike in gym memberships and diet programs after the holidays.

For many people, this time of year is a time for change, and often people want to change how they look and feel by losing weight. If this sounds like you, then now's the time to get clear on exactly how a person goes about losing weight so you don't find yourself making the same resolution year after year.

While there are many aspects of diet that you can focus on when trying to lose weight - you can keep track of fat, fiber, protein, or carbohydrates, for example - the key is always about whether you're eating and drinking fewer calories than you are burning.

To lose about one pound per week, you'll need to eat about 500 fewer calories per day from your current daily intake. Weight loss of one to two pounds each week is considered healthy weight loss, meaning that you are losing more fat than muscle.

Juice Plus+ is made by juicing 17 different fruits and vegetables into a vitamin supplement all in a capsule form. A cup of other vitamins and a tablespoon of apples, all for health. When you start with a juice from a fruit or vegetable, and then you add others, you get a healthy mix of nutrients with the water and sugars removed. But when you dry the mix, you are left with the nutrients and that is what goes into a Juice Plus+ Capsule. Like our weight loss plan that is a doctor approved diet plan, this is a healthy choice. A diet and weight loss plan that is endorsed by healthy dieters around the world, you can always lose weight, but are you doing it the healthy way? Oprah's Dr. Mehmet Oz knows that a diet is temporary but a healthy lifestyle with a healthy diet plan in place is for good. Even Juice plus+ is made from the juice from an orange, a lot of orange juice, that gives it a lot of nutrition when a cup of results and lemon is added. A Medifast diet with fountain water without some breville and juice fountain, although fruits and other juice is the convenient way to get nutrients but many convenient even if you have apple juice. When I can't have those healthy and fresh products, I use juice plus vitamin, and juice nsa plus is a way to get healthy with juice plus vitamin, so if you are a distributor juice plus, then the gummies juice plus is juice plus supplement. The juice plus scam that we see does not hold much credence, but it is a problem. You may have read a juice plus review that is similar to acai juice plus. If you are interested in any juice plus product and you want to learn if there are any benefits, then look at the juice plus research. Breville fountain juice plus is not one of the things that is available, but the complete juice plus line can be found at www.jpsupplement.com. If you have a complaint juice, then any distributor nsa plus can help you. Juice noni is not something you can find when you try to buy juice plus. All the nutrients plus some fiber from the fruits and veggies can be found in the capsules. Don't get it from ebay because the jp+ you find there is usually expired or you can be sure of the quality. You may use to find inc juice nsa plus for you diet, but don't expect to use a breville fountain. If you look for the capsules or the pills - don't be confused it's not a weight loss plan like Medifast that many people are familiar with. Be sure to consider thins, the vineyard, and even the gummy. If you are pregnant, take juice plus everyday as a perfect alternative to most vitamins on the market. There is a Juice Plus+ study - actually many - that validate the quality and effectiveness of the nutrition that is found in the product. Now we also recommend if you are having trouble getting your diet plan situated, and you need some structure provided by someone else, then you consider using Medifast for your meals and snacks. It is a healthy alternative meal plan, although we don't necessarily recommend that you count on making it a permanent fixture in your life. Fresh fruits and vegetables are a necessary part of a healthy diet and that's what will support your health, and that you won't get from Medifast diet. That is also why we recommend Juice Plus+, which is made by juicing 17 different fruits and vegetables, then with a cup of vitamins and a tablespoon of apples, you get a healthy start. When you start with a juice, and then you add another, you get a healthy combination. Juice plus is made with an orange, a lot of orange juice, that gives it a lot of nutrition when a cup of results and lemon is added. With this supplement, the sugar and water are removed through a drying process that leaves you with the healthy nutrients you need! Try Juice Plus today!

Start by looking at how many calories you are presently consuming. Use the food labels on products to give you an idea, not forgetting to first read the serving size at the top of the food label. (Many times, we eat what is in the entire package and that may actually be eating three servings, and thus tripling the total calories.) When you grocery shop, compare the labels on similar products and choose the one with the fewest calories.

Become a food label reader and start your weight-loss campaign by reducing the calories you consume. If you are cooking at home, many recipes now have the nutrition facts included. The key is still the serving size. If you have a recipe that you want to analyze, try looking up the ingredients at Calorie King

Even though calories are still calories, a healthy diet needs to come first. Don't plan to cut calories from fruits, vegetables and whole grains, try cutting calories from snack foods, sweets, fast foods, condiments, or drinks.   The best program that addresses this is The Vice Busting Diet, www.ViceBustingDiet.com The concept is based on elimating the biggest causes of Obesity; Fast food aka McDonalds, Soft drinks ala Coca-Cola and limiting TV time in favor of a bit more exercise!

Of course, I've said nothing about the importance of exercise in losing and keeping off the weight. That deserves its own entry.

Health Highlights

Washington Post ---

Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by editors ofHealthDay:

Juice Plus+ is made by juicing 17 different fruits and vegetables into a vitamin supplement all in a capsule form. A cup of other vitamins and a tablespoon of apples and many other fruits, all for health, is what goes into the Juice Plus capsules. When you are following a weight loss plan, it is important to add better nutrition to your diet. From the juice a variety of fruits and vegetables comes a healthy mix of phytonutrients and the water and sugars removed, plus they are put in a capsule for easy consumption. That is what goes into a Juice Plus+ Capsule. Juice Plus is made by removing the sugar and water through a drying process that leaves you with all the healthy nutrients. Do you know the juices from which the fruit juice plus blend is made? Apples, oranges, pineapples, cranberries, peaches, cherries, and papaya juice - and that's just the fruit juices! Add the vegetables with carrots, parsley, beets, kale, broccoli, cabbage, spinach, and tomato and you've got the vegetable juice plus product, that is a healthy weight loss plan and diet plan that supports your health! It helps you get nutrients you need. When I have fresh fruits and vegetables, I feel good, but I don't always get enough. I also recommend Medifast if you don't have the ability to organize your meals as you start your diet plan. But the one way to add more fruits and vegetables is to add more nutrition to your diet plan and weight loss plan. With this supplement, the sugar and water are removed through a drying process that leaves you with the healthy nutrients you need! Try Juice Plus today! Like our Weight loss plan that is a doctor approved diet plan, this is a healthy choice. A diet and weight loss plan that is endorsed by healthy dieters around the world, you can always lose weight, but are you doing it the healthy way? Oprah's Dr. Mehmet Oz knows that a diet is temporary but a healthy lifestyle with a healthy diet plan in place is for good. Even Juice plus+ is made from the juice of oranges, apples, cherries, and several other fruits and vegetables, and that gives it a lot of nutrition when a cup of lemon is added. Add fountain water without some breville and juice fountain, although the nutrients from fruits and other juice is the convenient way to get added nutrition and is convenient even if you have a good eating plan. When I can't have those healthy and fresh products, I use juice plus vitamin, and juice nsa plus is a way to get healthy. If you are a distributor juice plus, then you can save some money on your products. The juice plus scam sites that we see does not hold much credence - the argument doesn't hold water, that is. But it is a problem as it misleads the public. Of course, anything good will always have its detractors. You may have read a juice plus review that is similar to acai juice plus. If you are interested in any product and you want to learn if there are any benefits, then look at the research. Breville fountain juice is not one of the things that is available, but a healthy weight loss plan can be found at the Julia Havey website for motivation, education, and inspiration. There is another common product by Breville -it's a fountain of juice products that have health benefits. If you have a complaint with those who make the product, then any distributor for nsa can help you. Noni plus is not something you want to try in place of juice plus. Every single ingredient in juice plus has fiber and can be found in the capsules. Don't get ebay jp+ because you can't be sure of the quality. You may use it to find a weight loss plan for healthy eating for you diet, but don't expect to get a quality product. If you look for the capsules or the pills - don't be confused it's not a weight loss diet plan that is going to provide you with the necessary steps to lose weight the healthy way. B sure to also consider the Thins, the Vineyard blend, and even the Gummy. There is dog juice plus and cat juice plus, too and we have found it healthy for our pets - their skin problem cleared up. Use juice plus for any pregnancy as a perfect alternative to most vitamins on the market. There is a juice plus study, actually many that validate the quality and effectiveness of the nutrition. Juice Plus+ is made by juicing 17 different fruits and vegetables, then with a cup of vitamins and a tablespoon of apples, you get a healthy start. When you start with a juice, and then you add another, you get a healthy combination. Juice plus is made with an orange, a lot of orange juice, that gives it a lot of nutrition when a cup of results and lemon is added. Also, there are many weight loss plans out there, but the one that most people agree is the best is a weight loss diet plan, Dr Oz diet approved diet plan. If you have used a plan endorsed by doctors such as Dr Oz, then you know it's a weight loss plan that is healthy, and if followed will lead to a permanent healthy and fit lifestyle! When I have fresh fruits and vegetables in my diet plan, I know I'm going to be healthy, but sometimes we just don't get enough. And one sure way to add more nutrition to your diet

Bush Signs Extension of Child Health-Care Program Into Law

President Bush on Saturday signed legislation that would extend a controversial children's health insurance program, after twice denying attempts to expand its reach.

The extension of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) should provide states with funds to cover those enrolled through March 2009, theAssociated Pressreported. Bush and Republican legislators contend the program will cover families that currently fall into a coverage gap -- earning too much to qualify for Medicaid but too little to afford private insurance.

But Democrats, with the support of some Republican legislators, were pushing hard for an expansion of the program to cover an estimated four million more children, theAPsaid. Their proposal, which would have added $35 billion to SCHIP coffers, was to have been paid for by an increase in the tobacco tax. read on...

Comments: Your health is the most important thing to you. Good or bad, your level of health and fitness will dictate your potential in many ways - the mental, physical, or spiritual aspect. If you have the opportunity to be healthy, don't miss it.  Bad health can hit you like a freight train if you're not careful and taking care of yourself.  Let 2008 be a healthy year for all of us.

The Health & Wellness Institute, DC PC

Smoking Bans Around the World

From Reuters.com ---

(Reuters) - Strict new bans take effect on Tuesday in two of Western Europe's final bastions for smokers, Germany and France. Ireland imposed the world's first nationwide ban on smoking in the workplace in 2004. U.S. states, including Florida and California, have had similar bans since 2003.

In November 2004, Bhutan became the first country to ban tobacco sales entirely.  Here is a factbox on some other countries that have banned smoking in some form in 2007.

Juice Plus+ is made by juicing 17 different fruits and vegetables into a vitamin supplement all in a capsule form. A cup of other vitamins and a tablespoon of apples and many other fruits, all for health, is what goes into the Juice Plus capsules. When you are following a Medifast diet pan, it is important to add better nutrition to your diet. From the juice a variety of fruits and vegetables comes a healthy mix of phytonutrients and the water and sugars removed, plus they are put in a capsule for easy consumption. That is what goes into a Juice Plus+ Capsule. Juice Plus is made by removing the sugar and water through a drying process that leaves you with all the healthy nutrients. Do you know the juices from which the fruit juice plus blend is made? Apples, oranges, pineapples, cranberries, peaches, cherries, and papaya juice - and that's just the fruit juices! Add the vegetables with carrots, parsley, beets, kale, broccoli, cabbage, spinach, and tomato and you've got the vegetable juice plus product, that is a healthy weight loss plan and diet plan that supports your health! It helps you get nutrients you need. When I have fresh fruits and vegetables, I feel good, but I don't always get enough. I also recommend Medifast if you don't have the ability to organize your meals as you start your diet plan. But the one way to add more fruits and vegetables is to add more nutrition to your diet plan and weight loss plan. With this supplement, the sugar and water are removed through a drying process that leaves you with the healthy nutrients you need! Try Juice Plus today! Like our Weight loss plan that is a doctor approved diet plan, this is a healthy choice. A Medifast diet and weight loss plan that is endorsed by healthy dieters around the world, you can always lose weight, but are you doing it the healthy way? Oprah's Dr. Mehmet Oz knows that a diet is temporary but a healthy lifestyle with a healthy diet plan in place is for good. Even Juice plus+ is made from the juice of oranges, apples, cherries, and several other fruits and vegetables, and that gives it a lot of nutrition when a cup of lemon is added. Add fountain water without some breville and juice fountain, although the nutrients from fruits and other juice is the convenient way to get added nutrition and is convenient even if you have a good eating plan. When I can't have those healthy and fresh products, I use juice plus vitamin, and juice nsa plus is a way to get healthy. If you are a distributor juice plus, then you can save some money on your products. The juice plus scam sites that we see does not hold much credence - the argument doesn't hold water, that is. But it is a problem as it misleads the public. Of course, anything good will always have its detractors. You may have read a juice plus review that is similar to acai juice plus. If you are interested in any product and you want to learn if there are any benefits, then look at the research. Breville fountain juice is not one of the things that is available, but a healthy weight loss plan can be found at the Julia Havey website for motivation, education, and inspiration. There is another common product by Breville -it's a fountain of juice products that have health benefits. If you have a complaint with those who make the product, then any distributor for nsa can help you. Noni plus is not something you want to try in place of juice plus. Every single ingredient in juice plus has fiber and can be found in the capsules. Don't get ebay jp+ because you can't be sure of the quality. You may use it to find a weight loss plan for healthy eating for you diet, but don't expect to get a quality product. If you look for the capsules or the pills - don't be confused it's not a weight loss diet plan that is going to provide you with the necessary steps to lose weight the healthy way. B sure to also consider the Thins, the Vineyard blend, and even the Gummy. There is dog juice plus and cat juice plus, too and we have found it healthy for our pets - their skin problem cleared up. Use juice plus for any pregnancy as a perfect alternative to most vitamins on the market. There is a juice plus study, actually many that validate the quality and effectiveness of the nutrition. Juice Plus+ is made by juicing 17 different fruits and vegetables, then with a cup of vitamins and a tablespoon of apples, you get a healthy start. When you start with a juice, and then you add another, you get a healthy combination. Juice plus is made with an orange, a lot of orange juice, that gives it a lot of nutrition when a cup of results and lemon is added. Also, there are many weight loss plans out there, but the one that most people agree is the best is a weight loss diet plan, Dr Oz diet approved diet plan. If you have used a plan endorsed by doctors such as Dr Oz, then you know it's a weight loss plan that is healthy, and if followed will lead to a permanent healthy and fit lifestyle! When I have fresh fruits and vegetables in my diet plan, I know I'm going to be healthy, but sometimes we just don't get enough. And one sure way to add more nutrition to your diet

2007 JANUARY:

-- Hong Kong: Imposes a ban on smoking in all indoor workplaces, as well as restaurants, parks and beaches. However, bars, nightclubs and mahjong parlors are exempt until 2009.

-- Belgium: A law comes into effect banning smoking in restaurants and other places where food is served, but it is allowed in bars, cafes, etc. mainly serving drinks. These places must have ventilation installed as long as they are at least 50 sq meters in area. Belgium had banned smoking in the workplace. Read on...

Comments: How many years has it taken to actually ban smoking? And how many people are addicted to, and love to, smoke? It begs the question, when will some other consumables be banned? The time will come eventually, just like it did for smoking. The only problem is that the argument won't be the same for these items as it is for smoking, because 2nd hand smoke is harmful to others. Drinking high-fructose corn syrup filled drinks is not...unless you take it from the angle of being a burden on others financially because of the increase in health care costs that all of us must share. We'll see... All we can do is continue to spread the word and educate others about which products are the leading contributors to the obesity epidemic. Do you know which ones they are?  http://www.ViceBustingDiet.com

The Health & Wellness Institute, DC PC

Tuesday, May 01, 2007

American Idle

Musing of mine from 2005 and an update:
American Idle!
Juice Plus+ Capsule. Like our Dr Oz diet approved weight loss plan, this is a healthy choice. Oprah's Dr. Mehmet Oz knows that a diet is temporary but a healthy lifestyle is for good. Even Juice plus+ is made with an orange, a lot of orange juice, that gives it a lot of nutrition when a cup of results and lemon is added. Add fountain water without some breville and juice fountain, although fruits and other juice is the convenient way to get nutrients but many convenient even if you have apple juice. When I can't have healthy and fresh products, juice plus, and juice nsa plus is a way to get health with juice plus vitamin, so if you are a distributor juice plus, then the gummies juice plus is juice plus supplement. The juice plus scam that we see does not hold much credence, but it is a problem. You may have read a juice plus review that is similar to acai juice plus. If you are interested in any juice plus product and you want to learn if there are any benefits, then look at the juice plus research. Breville fountain juice plus is not one of the things that is available, but a complete juice plus line can be found at www.jpsupplement.com. If you have a complaint juice plus, then any distributor juice nsa plus can help you. Juice noni plus is not something you can find when you try to buy juice plus. Every single ingredient juice plus has fiber juice plus and can be found in the capsules. Don't get ebay juice plus because you can't be sure of the quality. You may use to find inc juice nsa plus for you diet, but don't expect to use a breville fountain. If you look for the capsules or the pills - don't be confused it's not a Dr Oz Diet, be sure to consider thins, the vineyard, and even the gummy. There is dog juice plus and gummy juice plus, too. Use juice plus for any pregnancy as a perfect alternative to most vitamins on the market. There is a juice plus study, actually many that validate the quality and effectiveness of the nutrition. Juice Plus+ is made by juicing 17 different fruits and vegetables, then with a cup of vitamins and a tablespoon of apples, you get a healthy start. When you start with a juice, and then you add another, you get a healthy combination. Juice plus is made with an orange, a lot of orange juice, that gives it a lot of nutrition when a cup of results and lemon is added. Also, there are many weight loss plans out there, but the one that most people agree is the best is a Dr Oz diet approved plan. If you have used a Dr Oz diet, then you know it's a weight loss plan that is healthy, and if followed will lead to a permanent healthy and fit lifestyle! When I have fresh and useful product, I get apple with my convenient and inexpensive meal, juice of one many way but only one way to add more fruits and vegetables to add more nutrition to your diet, and the sugar and water are removed through a drying process that leaves you with orange juice. Do you know the juices from which juice plus is made? Apples, oranges, pineapples, cranberries, peaches, cherries, and papaya juice - and that's just the fruit juices! Add fountain water without some breville and juice fountain, although fruits and other juice is the convenient way to get nutrients but many convenient even if you have apple juice. When I have fresh and useful product, I get apple with my convenient and inexpensive meal, juice of one many way but only one way to add more fruits and vegetables to add more nutrition to your Dr Oz diet, and the sugar and water are removed through a drying process that leaves you with the healthy nutrients you need!

I can't think of a diet plans that I hadn't tried during the many years that I spent living in an Obese body. To be honest, you have probably tried most of them too! Rarely do I meet an overweight person who hasn't been on one diet or another virtually their entire adult life--but regardless of that fact; they are overweight and still trying to solve the problem and lose the weight.

Last weekend, I braved a crowd of over 10,000 hopeful superstars here in St. Louis to allow my daughter, Taylor, have her shot at auditioning for the #1 TV show in the nation, American Idol. Singing is her thing, while weight loss is mine.

I kept looking at the people in amazement and closely watched their actions with awe. If you ever doubt that America has a weight problem just attend an event like this and you will be convinced. Not only were people of all degrees of talent (or lack thereof!) represented, there were people of all shapes and sizes.

First off, we camped out for roughly 12 hours just to stand in line hoping for a chance to audition. While my daughter may have been paying attention the voices of her competition, I was fixated on their eating habits! I can’t tell you how many soft drinks, pizza, fried chicken buckets and candy I saw consumed in the 12 hours! It is as though people forgot that they ate dinner and that breakfast wouldn’t be until at least 6 am, they ate all night, through the night. We brought a few bottles of water, a bag of grapes and two granola bars. I felt freakishly healthful!

Then, when the morning rolled around—it was off to the donut races. I can’t tell you how the Krispy Kremes got there, but I saw boxes of them seemingly magically appearing out of nowhere. As I ate my granola bar and drank some water, I began to wonder; is this behavior one that America should idolize?

Finally, the long line started to move and that is when things really got interesting! It was like being herded and stampeded at the same time. People really would have literally crushed you if they thought it would get them in front of Randy, Paula and Simon any more quickly. I remember thinking that if only there were some weight restrictions that the line would progress much better—and it wouldn’t be nearly as gross! I have never seen so much sweat outside of the gym before. I didn’t need to look far to reaffirm my conviction to get America healthier. The mere act of walking in line was causing some of these good people to sweat profusely and nearly faint. Within a few hours we finally got inside the Ram’s Football Dome.

Thank goodness, people were apparently really famished apparently—as the lines at the concession stand swelled the minute we walked in—and never really slowed. At all time throughout the next 2 days the concession stands were a hopping place! There was NOTHING healthy (other than water, which seemed to be a slow seller) on the menu. There were hotdogs, chili dogs, pretzels, nachos with cheese (is that stuff REALLY cheese?), chips, ice-cream, muffins, corndogs, oily popcorn and soft drinks galore. If any of these foods weren’t to your liking, the Domino’s stand offered pizza and cinnamon sticks with gooey icing.

Where was the salad bar? The carrot sticks? Or heck at that point I would have settled for a grilled chicken sandwich! But alas, nothing was available for the health conscious in the crowd.
People rolled out sleeping bags, aero mattresses, plugged in curling irons and turned on make-up mirrors. Everyone seemed really prepared. However, NOT once time did I see someone doing sit-ups, leg lifts or going out to jog!

I was the ONLY person out of 10,000 who I saw stretching and doing any crunches. I really do believe that everywhere YOU go, there YOU are! So regardless of if I am at home, on vacation or stuck in a crowd of 10,000 people for 2 days, I am going to hold fast to my resolves!

There were some great behind the scenes moments that you don’t get to see on the show; an inprompto prayer service, some of the best gospel music that I have ever heard in my life and witnessing people coming together to help out with someone’s hair, outfit or song choice.

Finally it was time to audition. I assure you there were the next Ruben, Fantasia and Kellys in attendance, as well as the next William Hungs, too! I guess the mix of characters is what makes the show such a hit, and it was a real hoot to see how it really works behind the scenes.

My daughter did great…I think that she would have made it all the way to Los Angeles and the show’s final 12, if not for the fact she is only 14 and you have to be at least 16 (ok, I lied about her age to get her in!). She has the right stuff—a fabulous voice and the ‘pop-star look’. She was pleased when the producers told her that and that she is terrific. So for her, the experience was a great success!

What I came away from this experience thinking is that while so many of these people have terrific talent, their Obesity is going to deprive them of realizing their true potential. Obesity damages our organs (that includes vocal cords!), it overworks our heart and our lungs (needed to sing!) and it shortens lives (Obesity is the leading cause of preventable death in our nation!). I challenge each and every would be star out there to go from American Idle to Idol! THAT will change their lives, I promise!

Footnote, Lakisha, this years amazingly talent woman, and recently voted off Chris, both are overweight and in today's weight obsessed society, they aren't doing them selves any favors--both in votes and in health!

Personal Trainer Wanted - TV

Apparently ABC is looking for a personal trainer for their weight loss show . A new weight loss show is on the hunt. The producers of the hit reality series SUPERNANNY are searching the country to find the new face and body of American fitness to train the heavy set cast of ABC's brand new transformational weight loss show. The new show combines physical and mental challenges with the opportunity for the cast members to win a large cash prize, while the fitness expert inspires them to transform.

Although it may make for great TV, the message sent of overhauling a diet and lifestyle in such a short time may not be a good one. We know from experience and from the feedback of thousands that a gradual approach that minimizes the "side-effects" is the surest way to succeed in the long-term.

Check out the Vice Busting Diet Program for more info. Read more about the weight loss show search.Learn how to get the nutrients from 17 different fruits, vegetables, and grains.

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Trigger Foods May Ruin Diet

At 290 pounds, Julia Havey was morbidly obese and desperate to lose weight. “I tried diet after diet and pill after pill,” she recalls. “But nothing worked.” Her turning point came after a cruel comment from a stranger while shopping. When she got home, she vowed to get serious about her health, and she knew that meant getting rid of the food most responsible for her weight gain – ice cream. Could a trigger food lurking in your home be keeping you from your goal weight, too?

“At my heaviest, I used to eat half a gallon of ice cream a night,” Havey admits. But she hasn’t had a bite of it since 1994. Now, 130 pounds lighter, Havey was the “Master Motivator” to 14 million readers at eDiets, has now joined the leader in online weight loss, SparkPeople.com, find her team at http://teams.sparkpeople.com/vicebusting and author of The Vice-Busting Diet (St. Martin’s, 2006). Let her experience help you overcome your own diet vice once and for all.

What is a Diet Vice?
According to Havey, a diet vice is any habitual action that keeps you from reaching a healthy weight. You may even have multiple vices. Maybe it’s a habit, like serving yourself huge portions or snacking after dinner. Or maybe it’s a single food, like chocolate or chips, that’s wreaking havoc on your waistline.

Fast food and soda are two major diet vices in America, in Havey’s opinion. But even if you’re a water-drinking, Big Mac-shunning, health-conscious consumer, you may not be in the clear. Diet vices are different for everyone, and not all are junk food. If you can you eat the whole jumbo-sized bag, carton or box of anything in one sitting, it qualifies as a trigger food.

Deprived and Depressed

Once you’ve identified your trigger food – be it potatoes, pie or root beer – how can you resist it? Give it up forever. “It’s easier to go without a food you can’t control than to try to have it in moderation,” says Havey.

If you think your life will be miserable without chocolate, crackers or fast food, ask yourself this: How miserable does this food make me now? Is it preventing me from looking good, having energy and feeling confident?

“Deprivation is not living without certain foods but living with them and being deprived of your true health and happiness,” Havey says. Trigger foods may make you happy temporarily, but if they make you sad in the long-term, it doesn’t make sense to keep them in your life.

Havey promises that if you eliminate your trigger food altogether – whether you implement other diet and exercise goals or not – you’ll lose weight. Not only will you curb calories, but you’ll avoid the binge the food usually inspires.

Painless Elimination
If you’re used to eating huge quantities of a certain food, living without it probably seems impossible. But, actually, giving up the food entirely will eventually make you crave it less. To help you along the way, follow these tips:

Make healthy substitutions
- If your vice is sweet and creamy, like ice cream, try a bowl of low-fat plain yogurt with fresh berries when your craving hits.

- If you love the crunchy texture and salty flavor of potato chips or crackers, swap them for popcorn sprinkled with a little garlic salt (hold the butter). Toasted whole-wheat pita chips also substitute well.

- If you love comfort food like baked lasagna or mashed potatoes with gravy, have a meal that’s just as hearty and filling, but that delivers fewer calories. Warm up with a bowl of steaming lentil soup sprinkled with mozzarella cheese.

Sometimes it’s not the food itself, but the act of eating that we crave. Havey found that snacking on baby carrots when a craving hit not only saved her calories, but reduced her appetite and left her with more energy at the end of the afternoon.

Find another way to have fun
“When you remove something from your life, especially a habit, you need to fill that space with something else,” explains Havey. One woman who took this advice to heart is Jayme, 52, a systems analyst in San Diego. Her afternoon cookie break used to be her favorite part of the day. “I was stressed out, and chowing down on cookies was how I relaxed,” she says.

But all that sugar and processed white flour left her tired and sluggish an hour later. One day, after she fell asleep at her desk, she vowed to make healthier choices. “I still look forward to my midday break,” she says, “but now I use the time to read my favorite magazine instead of eating junk.”

If you’re bored, lonely or in need of a treat, “replace the feeling of satisfaction that comes from eating with other things,” says Havey. Some suggestions from her book: Get your hair done, see a movie, buy a great pair of shoes, take a bubble bath, or call a friend.
Trading Up
Havey hasn’t had ice cream in 12 years. Doesn’t she miss it? “Absolutely not,” she says. The trick is she doesn’t consider the food “forbidden.”

“There’s nothing telling me I can’t have it,” she says. “I could get in the car right now and buy some at the grocery store if I wanted.” But she doesn’t. She knows that it won’t make her feel good or give her the satisfaction it once did. Besides, her readers are counting on her.

A bowl of ice cream can’t compare to having a body you love and a life filled with energy, happiness and confidence.
For more help on busting your diet vices, check out www.ViceBustingDiet.com.

Are You Addicted to Food?
There’s nothing wrong with giving into indulgences from time to time. But have you crossed the line from feeding your body to feeding a food addiction? Find out with this food addict quiz.

Sunday, January 07, 2007

Is There a Longevity Gene?

Is it a gene that determines our longevity? ...(story here). Some studies seem to suggest that a gene is responsible for how long we live. That would make sense at the time we're born, but given the amount of environmental influences - our water, our diet, and our air - it's hard to believe that the gene will have much bearing on how long we live. With a good diet and a healthy lifestyle along with having a particular gene present, the chances are definitely better of becoming a Centenarian. But figure the chances of dying from a gamut of accident-related causes, and the odds just went down a notch.

Why not forget about worrying what you can't control and do something about what you can control?... your diet, your health choices, the decision to exercise vs. watching tv. Even meditating or praying would be better for your health than most of the products offered.

While scientists are busy discovering the gene that controls longevity, we can be busy making sure the DNA we have now isn't damaged by eating fruits and vegetables and other antioxidant-rich foods... along with plenty of water.

Seize the diet today. Live healthy!
Carpe Diet!

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Fat Actress...again?

Kirstie AlleyTMZ.com---Kirstie Alley showed off a reduced figure on Oprah just a month ago, but this past weekend she was spotted looking as though she'd already packed on holiday pounds.

Kirstie was spotted getting a manicure with daughter Lillie before heading out for some shopping. The Jenny Craig spokeswoman might find herself looking for a new job in the new year -- if Alley continues adding to her fleshed-out frame.
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Kirstie, I feel for you! Being overweight and the struggles that we endure as a result is hard on anyone, but having to do it under the microscope of the paparazzi? I wouldn't wish that on anyone!

Obviously, Jenny Craig as been a very effective way for you to lose a great deal of weight to this point, but if you, like all of us, desire to keep it off, you need to now focus on the "inner work" necessary to make weight loss improvements last for the rest of and BEST of your life.

You need to take a long hard look at and identify those foods which you "love"--those foods when we are trying to stay "ON" a diet call to us, we crave and usually cave in and eat despite the fact they aren't on our eating plan and clearly outside of the realm of healthful eating---once you figure out those foods or "vices"--BUST them!

Forever! You need to live a life that is free of the control that they have over your eating habits and health. Embrace the fact that a life without a particular food is NOT a life of deprivation; rather eating it deprives you of realizing your goals and dreams!

You can do this, we all can! Anyone wanting help with busting their vices, check out http://www.vicebustingdiet.com/ I promise it is going to take up to 50 pounds OFF of your body for GOOD in 26 weeks!

Respectfully,
Julia