Mon 8 Feb 2010

Winning or loosing the battle of the bulge

Posted by Tim under energy, fitness, overweight, running, weight loss
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Ok, there is a huge number of those who are NOT active.  Oh yes, they’ll say, not active?  Hey, I work, I do chores around the house, help the wife/girl friend, I do this, I do that and so fourth.  Well, then why are they loosing the battle of the bulge?  Yes, Weight Watchers does count some of this activity towards your efforts to loosing or managing weight.  So, what’s the problem?  The problem can be attributed to a number of things.  Either one is consuming some of the wrong foods & drinks or the activity is not enough to burn off the calories being consumed or both.

I tell you the truth, if I did not run and exercise and only relied on nutrition and weight management, it would be much harder for me to control my weight.  Having an active life (in addition to your “other stuff”) really takes a bite out of your weight!  So, if you are not active and am having issues controlling your weight, you need to realize what you are doing or not doing about it. If you are active enough and are still having issues, then activity isn’t your problem.

If activity isn’t the problem, then it’s likely that portion control is. Unless you are the type that subscribes to the theory “oh, I don’t haven any problems controlling what I eat, I can eat anytime”. Then that’s the problem. Recently, I have posted more articles on portion control. This is a topic that has a great impact on weight management efforts. Portion control doesn’t only apply to your meals, but, also other items such as drinks, candies, cakes etc.

I’m sure that you seen this, people who seem like they never gain weight. It can drive one nuts to wonder why this is. Well, one issue is metabolism, everyone’s is different. Some suggest smoking as a factor, once they quit, they gain weight. I can’t comment on that but, that’s what I’ve heard. Weight management can be a balancing act to keep it where you want it.

We all usually get the right start in school with having access to a physicall education class, i.e: Gym class. After one gets out of school, fitness becomes less of a reality for some. This is unfortunate since by adding a fitness / active life can really be fun too in addition to it’s impact on ones overall health.

See other articles on – portion control

Tags: active lifestyle, diet, fitness, healthy alternatives, portion control, weight loss, weight management

 

Mon 8 Feb 2010

Beware of companies offering free samples

Posted by Tim under free stuff
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I don’t usually write about issues like this, but, in this case, I am making an exception.  My wife just had a bad experience with a company offering a free sample of a body  or colon detox.  The website in question is called http://usavitamin.us.  You see, she was miss led into believing that she was getting  a free sample.  She was later charged $89.71 for this free sample.  The company does not honor refunds.  This is a poor company practice for any business to follow.  What ever happened to the phrase “The Customer Is Always Right!”  My wife would have never agreed to the so called free sample if she was going to have to pay a hefty price like that.  This sets a poor example for companies offering free samples.  At least when I was selling Herbalife, I could be straight forward and honest with my potential customers and free samples.  This takes the cake in my opinion.   How are people suppose to trust companies when practices like this are followed?

YES! There are those companies out there practicing good business habits thus deserving the customers they get from good practices. Unfortunately, there are those out there that are not. What I don’t want to do is to start having a “Warning List” available on this site of those companies out there not conforming to good practices, however, perhaps that is a good idea. Time will tell.

Tags: free, free samples, gimics, trial offers

 

Fri 5 Feb 2010

Vegetables and Weight Loss

Posted by Tim under energy, nutrition, overweight, weight loss
No Comments

Fruits and vegetables are packed with nutrients and can also help with weight loss by reducing energy density.  This is according to an article I recently read:

A recent study from the Department of Nutritional Sciences at Pennsylvania State University studied the relationship of energy density to dietary outcome. They found that lowering the energy density by increasing the volume without changing nutrient content can enhance s

It’s very hard to gain weight with vegetables unless you are eating potatoes or yams. Vegetables are not packed with a lot of calories. You can eat more fruits and vegetables and less of other foods that are higher in calories to make loosing weight easier. Thus, replacing foods that are higher in energy density with foods that are lower in energy density (fruits and vegetables) may help with weight loss.

Vegetables are a good source for Dietary Fiber and can provide extra energy.  The high fiber content helps us fill our stomach faster, thus putting a limit on the amount of food consumed.   Because of this, vegetables can help us control our weight.

At the risk of my sounding like I’m recommending your becoming a vegetarian, the more vegetables and fruits you can eat the better.  Forget the old 5 a day saying and think “More is Better” according to the CDC and Produce for Better Health Foundation.


A bonus with fruits and vegetables and the Weight Watchers point system, check these out:

Corn: 1 cup = 2 points
Peas: (Green) 1 cup = 2 points
Beans: (Green) 1 cup = 0 or FREE
Beets: 1 cup = 0 or FREE
Carrots: 1 cup = 1 point cooked, 0 or FREE uncooked
Banana: 1 (7-9″ long) = 2 points
Apples: 1 small (2 1/2′ diameter) = 1 point
Apples: 1 large (3 1/4′ diameter) = 2 points

See also:
1. Weight Watchers
2. Fruitsandveggiesmatter

Tags: dietary fiber, energy, fiber, vegetables, vegetables and weight loss, weight loss

 

Wed 3 Feb 2010

Find your focus and do it – Part #2

Posted by Tim under Uncategorized, attitude, energy, fitness, motivation, overweight, running, weight loss
No Comments

Adding an active life can be as simple or as advanced as you want. Start out small and grow from there. Just 20 minutes a day, 3 days a week is enough to get you started until you build yourself up. Get up 30 minutes earlier on the days you choose to “get active”. After a while, you’ll start to know the difference. Once you find your focus, you’ll open a door that will rock your world. As for me, you know, I’m a runner and cannot live without it! There is an activity out there for everyone, find it, do it and you’ll see the difference. For those who say “Well, Tim, I don’t have the time!” I say, “20 minutes, and a DVD player and you can have a workout. There are plenty of workout videos available on DVD out there now and that’s just for starters. If something is important to you, you’ll make the time for it. Don’t wait until you reach the point where you wish you did do something, do it now! Even if you have to do a series of exercises in the morning just to get started. What ever it takes for you to get started and explore the world of fitness. If you still feel you don’t have time, perhaps there are those things you are doing that you should replace with fitness? How much time do you spend just watching TV?

Check out our section called NEWU, it may be what can help you get started.

Tags: fitness, making fitness fun, motivation, nutrition, stress, weight loss

 

Mon 1 Feb 2010

Exciting changes to AboveNBeyond4u.com

Posted by Tim under notice
No Comments

Today, the 4U Forum tab at the top was renamed as 4U Online. This section is now home to two different online interaction sections for AboveNBeyond4u.com. They are 4U Forum and 4U Connections. The 4U Forum is a forum for both general discussions and anything health and fitness related. The new 4U Connections is basically the same format but in a community setting. Check it out today!

Tags: communities, forum, notice, sharing

 

Mon 1 Feb 2010

Weight Watchers and Portion Control Part #2

Posted by Tim under attitude, fitness, motivation, nutrition, overweight, weight loss
No Comments

A side benefit of using Weight Watchers to help with portion control is how it can improve your attitude on what you can eat. You end up realizing and saying “oh, I can have a yogurt now”. When one has been used to eating a certain way, eating another way can be a hard reality to swallow. No weight loss program in the world will work if your head isn’t in the game. Portion control is an important issue because, if you can’t control your portions, then you are just spinning your wheels. Yes, we all love to eat, but, when your eating habits get out of control, so does your weight. Think of it this way, lets say that your workouts are fantastic, you are getting the right amount of nutrition, but, your eating habits are though the roof. Well, because of that one issue, your efforts are stalemated. There is nothing wrong with splurging now and then, but not daily. With portion control you can afford splurging now and then because you realized that you went overboard that one day and you are following a routine and therefore the impact of one time isn’t going to crash your efforts.

I just love Dunkin Donuts Medium Hazelnut Ice’d Lattes and I have at least one whenever I get a chance. By using the Weight Watchers Point system, I know that a 24oz Iced Latte is worth 2 points and that is cheap for what you get. Compare that to a 4 point McDonalds Medium Hazelnut Iced coffee.

Sound like a lot of work? Not at all, once you understand how the point system works, it’s a breeze. So, instead of being hampered you are actually enabled and weight loss actually becomes easier since your portions are under control and you are not stifling your efforts.

If you feel like you don’t want to be a member of Weight Watchers to loose your weight, well, no one ever said you’d have to stay a member forever now did they? Get in, Get Informed, Get It Done!
NO and I mean NO, I am not advertising Weight Watchers here, but, it DOES work.

Tags: attitude, diet, fitness, motivation, portion control, weight loss, weight watchers

 

Fri 29 Jan 2010

Breakfast Secrets

Posted by Tim under breakfast, motivation, nutrition
No Comments

We all have them, mornings on the fly that is. Each morning can be like an international airport, people coming and going. That’s so true at our house. We all get up, get ready, eat and go. Who has time for breakfast right? Well, if we can, you can!

Here are some suggestions (using the Weight Watchers point system) that should get you fueled up and ready:

1. For those who left already, Herbalife Meal Replacement shakes: How does 2 minutes sound to you? That’s about how long it takes to make it (guesstimated) Just mix, blend and serve. Grab a to-go cup and head out the door. You can have a snack around 10:00am and be good until lunch. This is what I did to loose weight as well as having a shake for lunch too. For an 8oz glass this comes to 3 or 4 points depending on how much protein powder is used.

2. For those with a little more time: You can make yourself an omelet. Just use Eggbeaters (1/2 cup), 2 slices of fat free Turkey meat, 1 slice of fat free ham (Walmart) and 1 slice of light cheese. This will net you about 5 points using the Weight Watchers points system. This suggestion is based on one person / serving. Time to prepare 5 to 7 minutes (guesstimated).

3. Pancakes: You can have 3 pancakes for 3 points. You can use any of the following: Ant Jemima’s Whole Wheat or Buttermilk, or Fiber One pancake mix. Now, be careful on the size, you don’t want to go overboard. Bigger isn’t always better. See your nutrition label for more information.

If you are one that doesn’t eat breakfast, then you are missing out on the most important meal of the day. The body needs food to loose weight and it also need food for fuel. Even on mornings that I am up late like around 9:30am I still have breakfast, though I don’t eat as much since lunch is around the corner.

Tags: breakfast, eating healthy, healthy alternatives

 

Wed 27 Jan 2010

Weight Watchers and portion control

Posted by Tim under nutrition, overweight, weight loss
No Comments

As I’ve said, I also used Weight Watchers in addition to Herbalife to help with controlling my portions. One of the really neat things about Weight Watchers is that by utilizing their point system, you can really eat anything you want as long as you can live with the impact of how you use the points each day and week. See this Weight Watchers Online commercial.

You don’t have to order anything to have on hand at home or office, you can buy locally and literally eat anything you like. It’s in my opinion a very flexible system and again as long as you can make use of their point system effectively. It’s a great way to conquer the issue of portion control. I really like it and use it as part of my weight management system. A key benefit of Weight Watchers is that even after you stop being a member, you still can make use of their foods and other products as well as their point system. Kind of like the gift that keeps on giving or something like that?

Some people have a problem with counting calories. In this case, you are counting points. For example, one Yoplait White Chocolate Strawberry is worth 2 points. That’s cheap in the point system. On Monday’s and Tuesdays, I am up early and look forward to my 10am snack which usually is some Yorgurt. I can eat it without feeling guilty knowing that lunch time is just around the corner. Let’s say that your daily point limit is 28, and you just had some yogurt. You now have 26 points left for the day. That’s how easy it is. Hey, it works for me……

Now, if anyone is still having an issue with counting points, think of it as a guide to help you with your portions. It’s not so much about counting the points, but, seeing how much of a portion you can eat and still get what you need. This is a whole lot easier than counting calories and it works.

Tags: diet, healthy alternatives, healthy eating, portion control, weight loss, weight watchers

 

Mon 25 Jan 2010

Acceptance of Denial

Posted by Tim under attitude, illnesses, motivation, weight loss
No Comments

You hear sayings (or say them) all the time.  Sayings like “Oh, I’m not that bad”, “you’ll have that anywhere” or “that won’t work”.  Unfortunately, it’s sayings like these that can also “trap” you into not taking any action for yourself.  Deep down inside, there is a small seed of care waiting to be nurtured.  For some, it never sees the light of day and doesn’t sprout into anything.  For others, it can mean the difference of night and day and wow, does it ever!  Accepting denial can apply to just about any issue such as weight loss, staying in the job you’ve had for years, addictions, illnesses, and so fourth.  It isn’t always easy to break away from this way of thinking especially if one is not good at change.  You have to reach the point where you stop listening to the hype around you and start listening to yourself.

How many years have to go by before one stops accepting denial and alters course to something more positive?  Yes, I said years, it can take a long time before one reaches the point where change happens (if any at all).  Accepting denial is a powerful negative that can hold one from making changes that would be beneficial.

Why do I call it Accepting Denial? It’s because one is accepting reasons for not making choices thus denying one self of a positive situation. One lives in denial of what could be instead of taking that first step.

One has to be careful and not be disillusioned by denial. In other words, the reasons you are accepting may seem real and really pertain to your situation, but, do they really apply? This is where you have to dig deep and I mean deep down inside yourself and get to the truth of the matter and ask that HARD question, “what do I want?”. This is not as easy as it seams and can really rock your world. How do I know this you ask? I’ve been there and decided that this would be a good subject to write about. So I ask you — Are you accepting denial? Think about it…….

Tags: attitude, denial, fear, motivation, negative beliefs, weight loss

 

Fri 22 Jan 2010

Weight Loss with Herbalife

Posted by Tim under bmi, nutrition, overweight, weight loss
No Comments

I had great success in using Herbalife with my weight loss efforts. The basic plan is to use 2 Meal Replacement Shakes a day, with taking supplements 3 times a day followed by one colorful meal for supper. Herbalife has quite a good variety of different flavors of meal replacement shakes. Herbalife works and tastes great too! For me, my problem wasn’t about the products, it was on portion control and I had to find ways to help me in this area. Herbalife does have a variety of different protein snacks available too. There are different Weight Loss programs available to help you depending upon your need and affordability. Following the directions with these products is key to it’s success in helping you with your goals.

For my experience you can check out My Testimony on my weight loss journey. Everybody’s situation is different and sometimes you have to make choices to get you to achieving your goals. By controlling your portions, following Herbalife’s weight loss program and getting active, you will loose weight.

You need to stay consistent with this when working on loosing weight. You can’t just have one shake one day and skip the next. This has to be a daily effort to make it work. Being consistent with it will get you to loose weight. In addition to the fact that Herbalife works, it is also very nutritious.

There is a video on Herbalife in our Video Vault for Weight Loss, check it out.

For more information about Herbalife, check out http://herbalife.com

Tags: herbalife, nutrition, weight loss, weight loss programs

 

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