Taco Bell Drive Thru Diet, weight loss help or hype?

Taco Bell has launched their new drive thru diet promoting their Fresco Menu. According to the commercial, "eating better just got easier." But does Taco Bell fast food really promote healthier eating or support weight loss? Let's take a look.

The Taco Bell drive thru diet commercial claims that one woman lost over 50 pounds eating Taco Bell Fresco Menu items as part of a healthy diet that averaged 1290 calories a day. Eating anything and staying below 1300 calories a day will likely cause weight loss. Even consuming 1300 calories a day of candy and soda pop a day would lead to weight loss, but that doesn't make them part of a healthy diet.

Taco Bell Fresco Menu items are a little less fattening than their regular menu items from a calorie and fat stand point. But just a little less.

Fresco Crunchy Taco has 150 calories and 7 grams of fat. A regular Taco Bell crunchy taco has 170 calories, and 10 grams of fat. Most nutritionists will tell you a 20 calories and 3 grams of fat difference is minimal. You might as well eat whichever of the two items you prefer. Apparently the Fresco taco sports more salsa and about a teaspoon less cheese when we compared the items side by side. Read mor5e and get a coupon for a free Taco Bell Fresco Taco.

Bench Press Tips How to Bench Press More

We bench press because, next to the squat, it’s the most fundamental weight-training movement there is. If you had only 15 minutes to train your upper body, you’d do the bench press and maybe some chin-ups. Trying to explain why we like to bench press is like trying to explain why we like sex. So, rather than waste time philosophizing, I decided to spend more time instructing.
First of all, there seems to be an endless debate about what the proper bench-press grip is. There’s a wide-grip school, a medium-grip school, and an in-between grip school. For our purposes here, I want you to try a little test that will help determine the best bench-press grip for you, not Tom, Dick, or Harry. Get on the floor, and without thinking about it, assume your natural push-up position. Have someone measure the distance between your two forefingers. That’s probably your optimum bench-press grip. Remember it, and use it during this program.
This may seem simple and unscientific, but the body will almost always assume the position that gives it the best mechanical advantage. Trust your body.
Here’s another bench press form tip: most people bench press straight up and down, like some flesh-and-blood piston. However, if you were to look at slow-motion films of just about every major powerlifter in the world, you’d notice that they don’t push the bar straight up and down. Instead, they push the bar up and slightly at an angle towards the head. This motion is called the J-lift. Use it.
And, my last suggestion regarding technique concerns arching the back--don’t do it. True, it will almost always improve your bench-press poundage, but the advantage is entirely artificial. When you arch your back, you reduce the distance between your chest and the bar. Doing it will not accelerate muscle growth or increase strength.
I should also mention, briefly, the importance of doing proper warm-ups before doing any of the workouts in this program. This workout involves using very heavy poundage's. In other words, it can be very intense, and if you’re not careful, it can cause injuries to muscles that haven’t been properly warmed up. Try warming up this way: start with the bar. Bench press it five or six times, using a slow, regular tempo. Get up right away, and throw some weight on it. Do about four or five more reps. Keep adding weight and doing low-rep warm-up sets of about four or five reps--doing a higher number of warm-up reps can produce lactic acid and fatigue you before you even start your regular work sets. You don’t need to wait long between warm-up sets, either. Just do another set in the time it takes you to get up, add more weight, and get back on the bench.
Do about four of these warm-up sets, and then rest about three minutes before starting your work sets.
My final piece of general advice regards failure. It seems self-explanatory, but there’s more to failure than just stopping when the weight feels too heavy. Complete failure comes only when you’ve tapped into your hidden reserve of will and strength, and it may come a rep or two after your muscles tell you it’s time to pack up and go home. A strong mind will always beat the body, no matter how strong the body is. Going to true, total failure is a great way to stimulate muscle growth.

Denise Austin Best Butt and Leg Shapers Review

Denise Austin packaged her best lower body workout exercises in Denise Austin Best Butt and Leg Shapers. This vibrant blonde bombshell of fitness has compiled a DVD you can literally bust you butt with. Okay, shape your not so fit butt. Denise is a popular fitness icon and many women depend on her for the best fitness advice. Sometimes, I wish she‘d quit calling me “Honey“ but I‘ll overlook this quirky habit to acquire her expertise.

Denise includes seven of her favorite workouts in this DVD, and no doubt, they are fan favorites as well. At ten minutes per section, you can build your own personalized workout to suit your tastes and time restraints. These workouts includes Lower Body High Intensity, Hit The Spot Pilates, Get Fit Fast Legs and Buns, Power Zone Ultimate Workout Lower Body, Hit The Spot Core, Hit The Spot 10 5 Minute Target Toners.

5 bad habits that can ruin your fitness goals.

As usual, Denise Austin designed this easy to use DVD to make resistance training fast and easy. Denise combines exercises that target common problem spots and allows you to maximize results in as little time as possible. You really can dramatically slim and sculpt your body with these targeted workouts.

Denise Austin fitness videos have a casual, friendly and fun atmosphere. She always offers a wide selection of exercises you can modify depending on your present fitness level. This video is a way to launch a first time fitness program by doing one section per day. Or you can use this DVD to design you own intense and demanding custom workout to get the results you want for a toned body that burns fat efficiently.

National chocolate covered anything day, best gourmet chocolate sources

It's national chocolate covered anything day. Here's are your best sources to buy the finest gourmet chocolates the world has to offer. Included are high end merchants and budget friendly sources to find delicious chocolate products to please everyone.

Chocolate in its purest form is inedible, but prepared with a little sugar it becomes a glorious, even divine food. Chocolate's health benefits go beyond merely being a mood elevator. Chocolate is rich in flavonoids, which have myriad health benefits including prevention of cardiovascular diseases like heart disease and stroke. Flavonoids also prevent high blood pressure and increase healthy blood flow.

When choosing chocolates, look for a cocoa content of at least 40% and as high as 70%. Avoid chocolates sweetened with high fructose corn syrup, and look out for food additives. Read more and check out the links to the best chocolate sources.

5 unique gourmet Christmas gift ideas for low carb dieters that everyone loves

Christmas is only a few weeks away and everyone needs unique and affordable gift ideas. Christmas gifts should be unique and the people on your list living a low carb lifestyle require special consideration. The usual gourmet gifts like Champagne and chocolates just won't do as they're high in carbohydrates. For more articles on living a low carbohydrate lifestyle click here.

Here are five unique Christmas gift ideas to please all the gourmets and foodies on your list including low carbers and non dieters alike. And you can give most of these gifts without ruining your budget. Click here to read more and view the video.

400 Calorie Fix diet fits well with holiday dining, here's how to start your fix now

The holiday season is full of opportunities to eat. The 400 Calorie Fix Diet can help you stay slim and even lose weight throughout the holidays. Below are easy meals and snacks to get you started today. It's time to eat your way thin and boost your metabolism with the right foods. This diet allows you to go low carb, low fat, or simply eat what you love as long as your meals are approximately 400 calories each.

Endorsed by Rachael Ray, this eating program allows you to lose as much as ten pounds in two weeks eating foods you'll enjoy. If anyone knows delicious foods are a must even when cooking and eating healthy, it's Rachael Ray. And one lady who testified to the effectiveness of the 400 Calorie Fix on The Rachael Ray show lost 6 pounds in her first two days. You can too eating by the 400 Calorie Fix rule. You can also jump start your 400 Calorie Fix with these delicious recipes. To read more on how to start your 400 Calorie Fix today, get recipes and meal examples, and see video click here.

Fast and easy vegetable side dish recipes to survive the holiday season

Vegetables dishes are a nutritious way to round out any holiday meal or family dinner. During this busy season, being able to prepare healthy meals fast is more than a convenience. We all need to budget our time as well as our finances. When you need fast and easy recipes for side dishes to please nearly every palate, try these gourmet recipes built for speed. Read more, get the recipes, view video.

Get fit fast, train like a boxer with a complete speed bag set

Getting fit and lean takes more than good nutrition. Exercise goes hand in hand with clean eating to achieve the buff body you want. One excellent way to incorporate both aerobics and resistance training into your workouts is boxing. Boxers stay super fit and you can enjoy the benefits of their training techniques in your own home.

The Elite MMA speed bag set is high quality and easy to install in your home gym. Made of top quality materials, it's designed to hold up to daily use. Whether you're a beginner or an intermediate boxer, this boxing bag will meet your needs and expectations. This attractive set includes a 24 inch adjustable wooden drum for fast and smooth rebounds. You get the works, an 11" x 7" speed bag, a pair of vinyl bag gloves, hand wraps, and a nylon jump rope for aerobic conditioning.

Punch, jab, and upper cut moves work your upper body. Front kicks, side kicks, and donkey kicks work your legs and core. And jumping rope is a longtime standard training method of boxers. While many good exercise videos feature kickboxing and martial arts, to maximize results it's important to own a good speed bag set. And best of all, boxing relieves stress as well as getting you extremely fit fast.

Speed Bag Training

Please vote for Amy for the Good Mood Gig Talent Search

Good Mood Gig from SAM-e

My friend Amy Dungan is a great writer and gifted photographer. You may know her from her blog Healthy Low Carb Living, or her Examiner column as the St. Louis Low Carb Examiner. Amy is up for a writing gig for Sam-e and you can help. Please vote for her by clicking on this link or on the Good Mood Gig talent search badge. It will only take a moment. Thank you!

Tailgate recipes, football fans love this Cajun style crab dip recipe

This full bodied dip almost makes a meal in itself. If you're entertaining a large crowd, be sure to double or triple the recipe. Don't be afraid to add a cup of precooked salad shrimp, or feel free to substitute your favorite seafood in place of the crab. Lightly sauteed scallops go well in this recipe as well. To keep this treat low carb serve with vegetables instead of toast or crackers. Click here to get the recipe and see the video.

National Seafood Month recipes and seafood sources, celebrate by eating out or cooking in

October is National Seafood Month and many restaurants are offering new and original seafood dishes on their menus. McCormick & Schmick, an upscale chain in the pacific northwest, has menu specials of their most popular seafood dishes. Red Lobster also has menu specials to please most seafood lovers.

For adventurous home cooks, several online seafood vendors serve up delicious varieties of fish and seafood dishes.

Read more, get recipes, seafood links, and see demo videos.

Tailgate recipes, Beef Short Ribs with Red Sauce

This is a delicious and healthy recipe for any cold weather entertaining occasion. Whether you're serving up an elegant dinner party or a casual tailgate party, these beef short ribs are a crowd pleaser. Although the preparation time is a bit time consuming, this recipe is fairly easy.

Beef ribs are a typical barbecue food, but this recipe brings a touch of gourmet style to the table. Beef fits into a healthy lifestyle, and provides nutrients like iron, B vitamins, protein, zinc, and essential fatty acids. Read more, get recipes and watch the video.

Women's Health launches free 'Slim Down Shopping List' application for iPhone

Now, weight loss help is literally at your fingertips. Available for free from Apple's app store, you can turn your iPhone into a nutrition coach.

Women’s Health, a leading women’s lifestyle publication from Rodale Inc. announced the launch of its second application for the iPhone and iTouch, 'Your Slim-Down Shopping List.' From low fat diet staples like cereals & breads, to frozen diet meals, this free application provides information on about 250 of the most convenient supermarket finds. For each item, there is a detailed description of the product's attributes and nutritional information, including calories, fat, sodium, carbohydrates, and fiber. Read more.

Seafood recipes to kick off National Seafood Month

October is National Seafood Month. Seafood and fish offer a wide variety of flavors. The recipe below for Atlanta Skyline Crab Rangoon is literally so easy anyone can make it. Serve them as appetizers and your guests will rave. Even non-seafood lovers love this dish. And the Texas Coast Shrimp Cocktail is a tangy twist on a seafood classic.

Americans eat about 16 pounds of seafood every year, and we should eat more. Replacing one or two serving of red meat with seafood can lower calorie intake and boost consumption of healthy fats. Seafood and fish are healthy and delicious sources of protein, essential for tissue repair. Most seafood is also high in omega 3 fatty acids that protect against cancer, arthritis, and cardio vascular diseases like strokes and heart disease. Read more, get the recipes, and watch the video.

Put punch into your weight loss results with the Body Opponent Bag

BOB, courtesy of Boxing Depot.

As a nutritionist, one of the most asked questions you receive is "how do I lose weight?" Everyone seems to be looking for the easiest way to drop pounds fast. A simple law of sustainable weight loss is that losing pounds slowly is the best approach. Weight lost fast usually returns just as fast.

And as a sports nutritionist in particular, it's also necessary to advise dieters and weight watchers of the importance of regular exercise. Exercise burns calories, and resistance training builds muscle, both of which make losing weight easier. Exercise is also key to staying healthy, and it has benefits beyond aiding in weight loss. Exercise relieves stress, improves mood, regulates blood sugar, prevents diseases like diabetes and metabolic syndrome, and strengthens bones and muscles including your heart.

To keep your workout routine fresh, incorporate variety on a regular basis. Boxing and martial arts are excellent ways to get fit and stay fit while having fun. Our favorite punching bag is the Body Opponent Bag, known by the moniker BOB. BOB is unique because he's designed with the proportions and shape of a real person. This makes BOB a much better tool than regular heavy bags when learning holds, body shots, or training in any form of self defense. His 'skin' is made from rugged plastisol with an inner cavity of urethane and has a lifelike consistency. The Body Opponent Bag has a wide, rounded base which adds stability and makes it easy to roll away when you're done using it. The BOB is adjustable in height from 5'10" to 6'2".

BOB's unique design includes:

* Skin is made of high strength plastisol and inner cavity is filled with durable urethane foam

* Adjustable from 5'10 to 6'2
* Base fills with sand or water and is rounded for easy roll relocation

* One year limited Manufacturer's warranty
* Weighs approximately 270 lbs. when filled

BOB is fun for the whole family, including young karate students, martial arts students, and would be boxers. BOB helps you get and stay fit while getting rid of stress. Come on, put some punch in your healthy lifestyle.

For more equipment check out The Boxing Depot.

Expert Michael Foley and a teenage girl demonstrate BOB

BOB Demonstration by a boxer

Adolfo explains how to throw a proper jab using a punching bag. 

Women Boxing Training at Muscle Beach Venice, CA

 

Easy and thrifty eggs serve up family friendly quiche recipes

In this economy, eggs are still a reasonably priced food almost everyone loves. With hundreds of ways to cook them, eggs come in handy on a hot Summer evening or a chilly Autumn morning.

Eggs are a versatile and affordable source of protein, omaga 3 fatty acids, vitamin A, calcium, and iron. Eggs are a perfect fit for a healthy lifestyle. Whether your goal is weight loss or muscle building, eggs offer you a high quality source of nutrition that won't break your budget.

Here's two delicious recipes for quiche that nearly any cook can prepare and be sure they'll please most palates. Enjoy eggs! Get recipes and watch the video.

Body Building: Don’t Get Ahead of Yourself

by Wayne M

All young and beginning rookie bodybuilders look at the Muscle and Fitness, Flex and Men's Health magazines and see all those big, tough muscular guys advertising bodybuilding supplements to reduce fat, make you stronger and to make you BIGGER.

This is all-good and gives you great motivation but young teens like myself once did think that the supplements make you big. Little do we know that those professional bodybuilders do a hell of a lot of hard work in the gym and most properly take a few things that they do not advertise.

You must realize that to get big and look good you must do the hard work- you must pay your dues first! Then you will reap the rewards so to speak.

What I am trying to say is if you're under 19 and haven't been serious about lifting weights before, but you are now, start weight training first for about 2 - 3 months before buying supplements.

People will say I am crazy--that's fair enough--but hear me out. If you have never lifted seriously before you will make gains, you will make gains in your size, fat loss and muscularity in the first 2- 3 months that even without supplements you will notice and so will all your peers. After the first 2 - 3 months you will steady out and struggle to put on the same gains as the first 3 months.

After paying your dues for the first 3 months, lifting heavy and safe doing all the compound exercises to put on the mass and lose the required fat, you should consider your basic supplements.

Although you can get some supplements, do not buy 3-4 supplements at once. You should start with the most used supplement PROTEIN POWDER. Buy some protein powder first and start using it. Take it 2 - 3 times a day. This will help rebuild the muscle and promote muscle growth, as well as help meet your daily protein requirements.

Then, after about 2 weeks to a month get some CREATINE. Creatine is produced naturally in the body, although in minimal amounts so taking creatine will give you greater energy in your workouts and your muscles will grow. Creatine has been researched and has shown the best results. The number of compliments it has received has won the world over. It is the most popular supplement going. Creatine does have a couple of drawbacks; however, creatine maximizes water intake by the muscles, thus meaning you have to drink more water (1-2 gallons per day (4-6 liters)). Also, you must load with Creatine. I have found you can load 2 ways with Creatine: 1. the way on the back of the pack (the directions) or 2. take 20 grams (week 1), 5 grams (week 2), 10 grams (week 3), and then 5 grams (week 4). After the forth week have a rest for a minimum of 1 week, but no more than 2 weeks and then start over.

Also buy some MULTIVITAMINS. These are crucial for bodybuilders and especially for teens. We are still growing and we need more to help us recover from activity. Get a good multivitamin idea from the forums. They have some good ones.

Those are the 3 main supplements for us teens to try and get our hands on. Remember, taking supplements aids weight training, weight training does not aid supplement intake. This means that supplements don't make muscles grow. The time and intensity in the gym does, along with proper food at home or school.

Hope this helped.

Article Source: http://www.articles-heaven.com/articles/?Body-Building%3A-Don%92t-Get-Ahead-of-Yourself&articleid=12622

How to cook the perfect steak

Whatever your nutrition goals, be it weight loss, muscle gain, a healthy balanced diet, or all three, beef can play an integral role. Beef in general is leaner than in years past and actually comparatively low in fat. (According to Fitday, 1 ounce of chicken has 67 calories and 3.8 grams of fat, while one ounce of top sirloin has 36 calories and 1.0 grams of fat.)

Steak is nutritious too, with vital nutrients like protein, stearic acid which is neutral and monounsaturated fatty acids, B vitamins, and iron. Also, less than half the fat in steak is saturated fat, in case you have a fear of sat fats and cholesterol. Read What is cholesterol? Not all cholesterol is bad cholesterol.

Many cuts of steak like round, sirloin and London broil are not only lean, but a relative cinch to prepare. Read more and get the recipes and links.

Healthy fast food, 'Thirty Minute Pasta: 100 Quick and Easy Recipes' book review with sample recipes

Pasta is one of the most versatile foods ever. Varieties number in the 100s and are as diverse as semolina, spinach, whole wheat, and low carbohydrate Dreamfields brand. Pasta fits into every diet, and every lifestyle, especially today's super busy ones.

Even more attractive is pasta's convenience and speed of preparation. Now, world-renowned Italian Chef, author, and cooking teacher, Giuliano Hazan has a fabulous cookbook out that takes even the most inexperienced of cooks on a journey of tantalizing Italian flavors. Giuliano Hazan's 'Thirty Minute Pasta: 100 Quick and Easy Recipes' is literally the cookbook every kitchen should have. Get sample recipes excerpted from the book and read more of the review.

Why We Need Government-Run Universal Socialized Health Insurance

A cartoon explanation of why we need a public health insurance option. If you agree that a public option should be part of the health care reform bill, make sure you let your representatives know!

Fat prejudice continues despite America's growing waistline

We often judge others by their waistlines alone.

A sad fact about our society is that fat prejudice continues to exist. More of us are overweight and obese, so we should be less inclined to treat fat people badly, right? Just one problem, according to J. Eric Oliver, author of 'Fat Politics' we aren't really getting all that fatter as a nation. See video below.

The US government policy on what makes for a healthy BMI (body mass index) just makes it seem that way. And BMI measures total body weight in relation to height. It doesn't take into account whether your body weight is mostly from body or mostly from muscle. This means athletes and bodybuilders are labeled as overweight and obese. This means very fit people like Brad Pitt and Gov. Arnold Swartzenegger or lumped into the obese category.

So the theory that prejudice against overweight and obesity should lessen because we're all in the same boat doesn't hold water. But the fact remains fat prejudice is simply wrong. No one should treat another human being poorly because of appearance, body size, or personal choices about health or diet. It's simply none of our business whether someone is overweight, or why they're overweight.

As Eric Oliver points out, being overweight has little to do with mortality. The highest death rates are seen in those who are the most underweight, and then from the heaviest people. The merely overweight are living the longest.

Perhaps the most destructive form of fat prejudice is that of physicians and other health care workers. See video below. These so-called professionals are often the reason why overweight and obese people avoid getting routine health care and often weight until a health crisis develops. Some health care workers have no qualms expressing their personal opinions on weight in what should be a professional setting. Read more, get the links, and watch the videos.

Best magazines for a sexy body, Women’s Health

Elisha Cuthbert on the cover of Women's Health.

The real path to true beauty is good health. Sex appeal is based on glowing skin, shiny hair, clear eyes, and a firm body. One of the premiere guides on women’s health today is Women’s Health Magazine.

Women’s Health magazine’s motto is “It’s good to be you.” Keys to achieving and maintaining a sexy body include a balanced lifestyle. Women’s Health shares expert advice on healthy lifestyle habits including good nutrition, exercise, adequate sleep, stress control, and much more.

Women’s Health magazine’s recent issue covers diverse topics important to today’s woman. Delicious and healthy eating is made easy for you in articles like “Eat This, Not That! Shed Pounds With Simple Food Swaps” and “25 Speedy Summer Meals, Delicious and Bikini Friendly.” Their weight loss special feature show you how to “Drop 1 Size in 2 Weeks” with by mastering portion control.

Women’s Health offers great workout advice in articles aimed at busy women including “Hot Body Secrets! Sculpt a Tight Butt and Flat Abs in Minutes a Day.” They know time is of the essence and cover this issue in “Ditch The Gym! An amazing workout you can do anywhere.”

The editors of Women’s Health also understand the current economic climate and offer money saving tips in articles like “18 Sizzling Beauty Steals.” They also address rising health care costs in “Manage Your Medical Bills: Inside intelligence on reducing sky high health insurance costs.”

In Women’s Health Magazine’s beauty & style section you can learn how to “Make Your Getaway Green with cool eco-friendly travel gear.” In their Sex & Relationships section you can “Find Your Soul Mate: Follow these research proven laws of attraction to make your love last forever.” And last but not least, heat up your love life with “Sex News You Can Use Tonight: Learn how to fire up your desire.”

Women’s Health Magazine should be on every savvy woman’s bedside table.

Can carbohydrates cause cancer?

According to some leading experts like Al Sears, MD, a specialist in integrative medicine, carbohydrates can cause cancer. Is this sensationalism or scientific fact? Let's take a look at the evidence.

On one end of the spectrum, the US government by way of the USDA has been recommending that nearly everyone should eat 5 to 11 servings of grains a day. (Recently, the USDA redesigned the food pyramid and many nutritionists are calling it nonsensical and useless. Registered dietician Lynn Smith called the pyramid's approach to discretionary calories "like intellectual gobbledygook.")

On the other hand, we have reliable scientific studies reinforcing Dr. Sears statement on dietary carbohydrates, "Sugar feeds cancer cells and makes them grow like wildfire. Cancer loves sugar. And carbs turn into sugar in your body." Cancer in fact uses sugar (glucose) from dietary carbohydrates to grow, but does this mean carbohydrates cause cancer? It appears more likely an excess of dietary carbohydrates supports cancer growth but may not actually cause cancer itself.The jury is still out on the latter. Read more, get links, and view the video.

Faulty study on low carbohydrate diet and heart disease risk exposed

The Metabolic Society has weighed in on the latest nonsense about the "dangers" of a low carbohydrate diet. Mice genetically engineered to be susceptible to heart disease were used in a small study to "prove" carbohydrate restricted diets may harm arteries. Low-Carb Lifestyle Examiner Jimmy Moore showed in a recent article how the study was faulty. Click below to get the link.

This is the Press Release in which The Metabolic Society reported on this study:

Researchers use mutant mice genetically engineered to be susceptible to heart disease to 'prove' carbohydrate restricted diets may harm arteries.

Defects in ApoE -/- result in defects in processing blood cholesterol. As human studies continue to show the benefits of low carbohydrate diets and the general failure of low-fat diets, it is necessary for the nutritional establishment to find more and more obscure methods of attacking dietary carbohydrate restriction.

One method is to prepare mutant animal models, to use odd diet that humans would never consume, call them low carbohydrate diets and then show some deficit. Because mice are not generally susceptible to atherosclerosis, it was necessary for Foo and coworkers to use an ApoE-/- mutant and a ridiculously high protein diet to vilify low carbohydrate diets which have been a useful alternative for many people suffering from obesity, diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Read more and watch the video.

How many carbohydrates should I eat?

Can you eat too few carbohydrates? Can you eat too many carbohydrates? Ask different people and you get different answers. What are the facts on carbohydrates? Let's look at the science versus the cultural zeitgeist.

Low carbohydrate diets have been much maligned by the media and many people believe they're unhealthy. The misinformed will readily tell you low carb diets limit fruits and vegetables, lack fiber and vitamins, have too much fat, and that you'll only lose water weight. They warn of harmful side effects like the dangers of ketosis and weakened kidneys and bones. They'll tell you you'll lose only water weight, and you'll starve your brain. All of the above are myths. Read more.

Fitness For Fun

By Richard Moore

If you'd rather have teeth pulled than hop on an exercise bike, you're not alone.

Finding the motivation to squeeze your bottom into a pair of Lycra shorts is just too much to bear after a exhausting day at the office. So what's a weight conscious person to do?

You want to get more active, but you want it to be fun too. What's so unreasonable about that? Nothing. What's more, there are plenty of ways to feel the burn that means you don't have to go within a mile of that nasty, mean old gym instructor.

And while you may not get an aerobic workout with most of these activities, you can see how they will add up to affect your overall activity levels and help you tone up - as you have a bit of fun too!

Activity Boost Level: Mild


Kiss Me Pucker up with a loved one and your heart will start racing. Put a bit of oomph into it and you'll not only get flushed, you'll be working it that part harder too.

Laugh It Off Laughing is thought to improve your immune system and skin condition. Rent a good comedy or get together with a friend who really gets you giggling to feel the immediate benefits.

Make Love Boost your activity levels by making whoopee. And, if you feel in a frisky mood, a particularly vigorous session can give you a really good aerobic workout.

Scream for Your Team The last time you screamed for your local sports team you'll have felt your blood pumping. If you watched last year's Stanley Cup Final, even better!

The Write Stuff An hour spent furiously scribbling can really give you an energy boost, especially if you're concentrating hard.

Activity Boost Level: Moderate

Sing Hallelujah Believe it or not, a rousing sing song can give you a decent workout - just make sure you belt it out at full volume.

Have a Tinkle If you're musically minded, playing the piano is good for toning those muscles - choose something energetic like rag-time or a dramatic classical piece to really feel the benefits.

Do a Delia Have a dinner party for six people or more. All that furious cooking chopping and grating will really give you a rush! Have a look at our recipe section for inspiration.

Get Under the Hood If you're handy with a screwdriver, mending your car gives your day a bit of extra activity - especially if making heavy repairs.

Milk a Cow Milking by hand can really get your heart pumping. Slight snag - first find your cow.

Activity Boost Level: High

Do It Yourself Both woodwork and plumbing will give you a decent activity boost - now there's a handy way to lose weight and check things of your "to do" list too!

Child's Play Young kids never seem to sit still. Take a leaf out of their book and go play; it's not just great for family bonding, you'll also feel the burn after a bit! Try a half hour game of energetic soccer or some backyard gymnastics.

Disco Diva Put on your sparkly skirt and head for the dance floor - a good half hour boogie will tone your whole body.

Move House If the prospect of changing homes is getting you down, be cheered by the fact that shifting and carrying furniture is quite a strenuous workout. So get packing!
About the Author

Richard Moore is the Founder an President of Everything Health and Beauty! For Men and Women Our WebMall is quickly becoming one of the most trusted and easy to use collection of shopping stores to create a fun and relaxing online shopping experience...and we are constantly searching for other stores with quality products, great prices and top notch customer service.

http://www.everythinghealthandbeauty.9k.com

Joel Rush

What are the benefits of exercise?

If we've heard it once, we've heard it a hundred times; exercise is essential to health. So why does Time magazine disregard exercise as "not an effective health tool."

Scientific studies on many subjects including diet, carbohydrates, fat, weight control, and even the dangers of artificial sweeteners, are often conflicting. The results of one study often contradicts the results of a previous study. But when it comes to studies on exercise, it's rare to find one that contraindicates exercise.

So why does Time magazine think it's productive to run a piece about how exercise is useless because it won't make you thin? Is this responsible journalism or hype? Your opinion will certainly vary depending on whether you like to exercise and understand its merits, or whether you hate to exercise and don't give a fig if it has value. We may never know why Time decided to run such an article. Maybe they new it would be popular, in our present cultural climate, to make exercise seem unimportant. But Time magazine's stance on exercise is based on scant evidence that's literally overwhelmed by reams of evidence supporting the benefits of exercise. Read more, watch the video.

Healthy, diabetic and diet friendly Italian pasta recipes

Try Dreamfield's pasta for a healthy, hearty meal.

Pasta is an all time favorite, but it's high in carbohydrates and calories. So what's a dieter to do? Dreamfield's Foods has solved this dilemna with their delicious line of Dreamfield's pastas. Whether your weakness is spaghetti, liguine, or penne, now you can indulge your passion for pasta and still watch your waist line.

Pasta is a cook's dream. It's versatile, cooks fast and easy, and pairs well with vegetables, shell fish, meats, and cheeses as diverse as parmesan, Romano, mozzarella, and fontina. You can easily create a different dish every day of the week by combining a different pasta, sauce, cheese, and meat.

Served as an entree or a side dish, pasta pleases nearly every palate. Enjoy your favorite mouthwatering go-to recipe with a simple, great-tasting sauce and lunch or dinner are not only a snap to prepare, but also special and healthy. Read more, get the recipes, and see the video.

Brad Gatie

Summer treats, delicious dip recipes

August is as good a time as any to avoid the heat of the kitchen. Try these easy and delicious dip recipes for a light snack or a twist on lunch or dinner. If you're going low carb, switch out chips and bread for veggies. For heartier no-cook meals pair with your favorite sandwiches or barbecue. Click here to read more, get recipes.

Taiji Ishimori 2009 Central Japan Bodybuilding Championship

Taiji Ishimori challenged the Bodybuilding for the first timeHe got the second place.

Best magazines for a sexy body, Men's Health

Today, men are just as body conscious as women. Guys are seeking ways to look sexy, slim down, build muscle, get healthier, and attract the opposite sex. Men's Health magazine's subtitle says it all, "Tons Of Useful Stuff." The cover of the latest issue says it's packed with "2,143 Cool New Fitness, Health, Nutrition, Sex & Style Tips." You're bound to boost your fitness, health, lifestyle and sex life. This magazine is a great source of information on diet, nutrition, fitness, workouts, sports, health, and sex geared specifically for men. Ladies may also want to sneak a peek for insight on their guys.

In addition to expert advice, Men's Health magazine features sports specific articles like "Build A Hard-Court Body: Rule the tennis court by rocking the right racket and mastering the science of swat." Celebrity interviews give you a look inside the lives of stars like Josh Duhamel and his leading role in "Transformers.' You'll also find features like "Build A Body Like Beckham's" and other workouts from celebrities and professional athletes with buff bodies like Hugh Jackman, LeBron James, and David Wright. Read the stars' fit tips and watch their gym workouts online at the Men's Health website.

If your goals are fat loss and muscle building, nutrition advice abounds. Editor-In-Chief David Zinczenko is author of the popular bestselling book series "Eat This, Not That." In the nutrition section you'll find articles like "Guilt Free Pizza," "Beer, Made Better! and "The Healthiest Foods You're Not Eating." Get on the insiders track to building muscle mass fast with "10 Perfect Muscle Foods." Read more.