Crash Dieting verses Healthy Lifetime Eating

Millions of people's New Year's Resolution is to lose weight and feel great! However, after a couple of months on a restricted new eating plan, most fall off the wagon.

There are two different approaches to improvement:

1. The crash diet, where you could loose a bunch of weight in a short period of time (and then usually put it right back on, plus some).

2. Or, make a lifestyle change and commitment to eating healthy and getting physical exercise, which will cause the weight to come off more slowly but at a commitment level that you can maintain.

Foods that are Killing us Softly

Here are two videos that talk about foods that are killing us softly:

Supersize Me - McDonalds Fast Food Test
The Dangerous Truth About Our Food

My Favorite Exercise Video

Leslie Sansome is my favorite aerobic instructor. Her Walk-Away-the-Pounds fitness series can be used by all ages. Walking is so good for you and it doesn't require any special equipment (not to mention, it's fun!).

Check out the video below for a sample of Leslie's workout regiment.

Healthy Eating Magazines

The Vegeterian Times is a very health conscious magazine with many quick and inexpense recipes for healthy eating.

Vegeterian Times Magazine

Online Resources for Weight Management

These are some website links to sources to help you manage your weight.

Center for Disease Control
Cyberdiet
WIN Weight-control Information Network
National Institutes of Health
RightHealth

Weight Management - Extra weight may put you @higher risk for:

Having additional pounds can be a real health risk. Below are some serious issues that too much weight gain can cause.

• type 2 diabetes (high blood sugar)
• high blood pressure  
• coronary heart disease and stroke  
• some types of cancer  
• sleep apnea (when breathing stops for short periods during sleep)  
• osteoarthritis (wearing away of the joints)  
• gallbladder disease  
• irregular periods  
• problems with pregnancy, such as gestational diabetes (high blood sugar during pregnancy), high blood pressure, or increased risk for cesarean section (c-section)  
• - WIN (Weight-control Information Network)

Online Resources to a Balanced Diet

Here are some resources to help you construct a balanced diet. In particular, the mypyramid is really a good source.

http://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/
http://www.mypyramid.gov/
http://www.nutrition.gov/
http://www.medlineplus.com/

Key Recommendations for Eating a Balanced Diet

• Follow a balanced diet that is low in saturated and trans fats, cholesterol, added sugars, salt, and alcohol, such as the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Eating Plan.
• Balance your calorie intake with exercise. Slowly decrease the amount of calories you take in while increasing exercise to prevent gradual weight gain over time. Exercise regularly and reduce activities in which you sit (such as watching TV). 
• Eat 2 cups (4 servings) of fruit and 2 1/2 cups of vegetables (5 servings) per day for an average 2,000-calorie per day diet. 
• Eat 3 or more ounces of whole-grain products per day. 
• Consume 3 cups per day of fat-free or low-fat milk or milk products. 
• Get fewer than 10% of calories from saturated fatty acids.
• Avoid trans fatty acids. 
• Limit cholesterol intake to less than 300 mg/day. 
• Make total fat intake no more than 20 - 35% of calories. Choose "good" fats such as fish, nuts, and vegetable oils containing polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids. Lean, low-fat, or fat-free meats, poultry, dry beans, and milk or milk products are preferable. Total fat intake can approach 35% if most of the fats are "good" fats. 
• Stay away from added sugars. 
• Consume fewer than 2,300 mg (approximately one teaspoon of salt) of sodium daily, and limit added salt when you prepare food. 
• Do not consume more than 1 alcoholic drink per day for women, 2 per day for men. Certain people should not drink any alcohol.

Areas that Nutrition Play a Major Role

I think that nutrition is key in order to stay healthy.

• Eating a Balanced Diet
• Weight Management
• Heart Disease
• Diabetes
• High Blood Pressue
• Osteoporosis
• Cancer