"The Low Down on Low-Carb Diets"

aww.ninemsn.com.au

Low-carb diet. Its one of those phrases everyone seems to be tossing around these days. You hear the babes from the bollywood brigade swear by it. You listen to the fitness gurus talk about it. Heck, you even overhear the aunty on the treadmill next door to you showing off her “latest” knowledge to the aunty speed walking next to her!


So what exactly is the so called “low-carb diet” and is it really all that its been made out to be? Or are there some things about it which might not be all that great for you after all? Fear not boys and girls, for I am here to break it down for you. To begin with, the low-carb diet is just that. Exactly what it sounds like. It’s a diet that focuses on keeping the amount of carbohydrates consumed to a lower amount. And what do I mean by carbs? Rice, roti, pasta, noodles, bread, muffins, cake, cereals, upma, poha, idli, puris, dosa, pizza, and basically anything that has something of a thick (or thin) doughy consistency. Now there are different variations of this sort of diet. Some people will eat their carbs in the day time and choose not to touch any food containing carbs after 7pm (so that they can burn the carb calories during the day which is easier than during the night, when the body is generally at rest). Others will choose to avoid carbs entirely and design there meals around larger amounts of proteins (chicken, dals, soya) and veggies instead.

While it is a fact that changing ones diet to a low-carb diet for a temporary period of time does aid in weight loss, and has also been proven to lower blood pressure for people who suffer from high blood pressure, its important to understand that this diet should be followed only for short periods of time and not attempted on a permanent basis. I for one believe that there is nutritional value to be gained from all food groups, and banishing one from your diet forever could lead not only to a deficiency of some sort, but also to a host of physical problems. Instead, its most essential to keep a sense of balance in your diet. Even if you do decide you would like to cut down on your carb intake, consider perhaps switching to the whole wheat version of certain kinds of carbs, for instance brown rice, whole wheat pasta, even multi-grain bread, all of which contain healthy doses of fiber which promote good digestion and provide the body fuel. Also, last but not least, always talk to your doctor before you decide to make any drastic changes in your daily diet. You have just one body boys and girls, so do yourself a favor and respect it.

"How to Get into those Skinny Jeans!"

 everydaystyle.com

Every one of us has a pair. The ones that fit like a dream. The ones that make your butt look like it could give J-Lo a run for her money. The ones that you literally sweat and toil to get into for those super-sexy parties. The ones that you would never, ever want to break up with. Your favorite pair of jeans. 

Skinny. Boot-legged. Flare. Slim fit. Straight. They could be any style, but they are the one pair that makes you feel like a sexy chica worth about a gazillion bucks.

So it’s understandable that when there comes a day (and yes, ladies, that day will come) when those jeans just don’t seem to button up, you have a literal, actual, honest-to-god panic attack.

But don’t dial 911 just yet.  You call it panic. I call it opportunity.  Let those perfect, hip-hugging jeans be your motivation to do what it takes to get back into them and work it!

And all it takes are a couple of simple strategies. 

First and foremost, you need to recognize that nothing worth anything in life comes easy. It takes sweat. Leg-lifts, crunches, squats, and plank pose are all about to become your best friends. Trust me, a regular routine (say 3 to 5 times a week) of repetitions of these and other exercises that focus on toning the abdominal area and you are golden. Start this routine about two weeks prior to D-Day (also known as the party of the year) and you have a very high chance of slipping into those skinnies like you were born for it.

Second and also important, but not to be taken to extreme levels ladies, is your diet. You literally are what you eat and if you want to get those abs to look fat and fantastic in your jeans, you need to watch what you are putting into your mouths. Good guys: salads, vegetables of all kinds, chicken, fish, brown bread, whole wheat pasta, pulses, eggs, milk, fresh juices, fruits. Bad guys: deep-fried samosas, pakoras, cheese pizza, sugary desserts, colas, alcohol.

Last, but certainly not least, is the biggest secret: it’s the power of your mind. You have to really, truly, 100% believe that you are going to reach your goal (i.e. rock the house in those gorgeous denims) and then, and only then will you be able to works towards guaranteed success. It’s all about making your dreams a reality, bringing what you want into existence, in short going for the gold with no room for doubt!  Enjoy those jeans ladies...

"Liquids in your Diet"

dietmag.org

Alright so lets get one thing straight right away. I am the last person to recommend any kind of so called fad diets. None of that weird cabbage soup diet, or eating just carrots for a week thing for me, and not for you either my sweethearts. Truthfully, although these highly exclusive (usually they exclude food of most kinds!) can lead to weight loss, the effects are not very long-lasting (ie you bounce back to your size 10 or worse, to a size 12 within weeks of going back to normal eating) and they can often be downright bad for your health. So this is not a piece on liquid diets. This is about ensuring that you are getting the right liquids in your diet. The kind that lead to higher caloric burning and not a wider waist.

So first things first. Know your liquids. Number one on the no-no list is always the aerated coke, pepsi, seven-up, fanta, Miranda nonsense which is loaded with sugary sweetness that does absolutely nothing good for your body! Even if you do switch the diet variety of these drinks, go easy and remember just because they contain fewer calories does not mean they are good for you. Another dangerously innocent looking liquid is the milkshake also known as the smoothie. Trust me, these guys are almost also filled with full-fat milk, whipped cream, sugar, ice-cream, not to mention the chocolate sauce! One of these is enough to finish your calorie requirement for the entire day. Approach with caution and have them once in a while as a special treat!

Other devils in disguise would include any “fresh juice” drink which contains added sugar (always ask the waiter and ask for 100% pure fruit juice and read all labels carefully) and cocktails (alcoholic more so than non-alcoholic) which taste great but usually contain way too much sugar syrup in them. Where are the heroes in this story of villainous liquids?
Here are some guaranteed good guys to get your fill of:


- Water: not only is it great for your skin and digestive system, it also works to improve your metabolism. Drinking 2 glasses before you eat also fills your stomach ensuring that you keep your meals lighter.

- Green tea: filled with free radical fighting antioxidants which protect your body against disease, this stuff also revs up your metabolic rate allowing you to burn calories faster – yay :)

- Vegetable juices: tomato juice not only contains about half the calories of a glass of orange juice, it also fills you up so that you can eat a light meal followed by it.

"Eating Out: Do it Right"

graphics8.nytimes.com

So you’ve been on the most awesome diet for the last two weeks. Combined with the balanced, mini-meals you have been dutifully feeding yourself, you have also on the most kick-ass workout regime. You tummy is flatter, thighs are workin it, you butt is fitting into those jeans just right, and your arms are looking to-die-for. All in all, life is good.


And then it happens. The phone rings and you hear those words which you’ve been avoiding all month long…"lets go out for dinner tonight!” And in the next five minutes you can literally visualize all those hours of blood, sweat, and tears going straight down……to your hips!

But don’t worry, there’s always hope girls and boys. I am here to give you some simple tips on eating out so that you can enjoy your meals in peace, without worrying about putting on any extra pounds and ensuring that you still have a fantastic social life!

Pre-Dinner Preps: Alright so this might sound a little strange, but trust me, it’s the answer to eating a sensible dinner out. Eat before you eat. Confused? Basically, you need to eat a little something before you head out to dinner. Think about it, most of the time, dinners out tend to be late. And between your lunch and maybe coffee break, your stomach has been empty.The result? You end up so ravenous by the time you get to the restaurant; you are ready to eat a horse. And so you end up overordering, and yup, that means overeating. An easy way to avoid this is to have a small bowl of salad, vegetables, or even some grilled chicken before you go out and you are all set.

Grill it, bake it,steam it, sauté it: Open up almost any menu and you are hit with choices, choices and more choices. Vegetarian, seafood, red meat and white, its all there. So how do you know what to pick? The key is to choose the dish which has been prepared in the healthiest method. So choose from grilled, baked, steamed, or even sautéed dishes and you are golden girls and boys. If you are watching the weighing scales and want to be safe, avoid the fried stuff entirely if possible.

Skip the sweet stuff: Finally, the meal is over and you are a rockstar who has had an amazing grilled fish with a side of sautéed mushrooms. Just right to fill you up after your pre-meal salad. So don’t spoil it all by ordering the gooey chocolate brownie with vanilla ice-cream and whipped cream! Be smart, skip the dessert and order some green tea instead.

"What NOT to do when you are Dieting"

rawfoodsdietplan.files.wordpress.com

Mistake 1: Crash diets.
Dying to lose 5 kgs? So you eat cabbage soup for all your meals for a week. The result? Gas and yes, weight loss. So you can finally wear that little black dress you’ve been eyeing for months. But the bad news? When you eat so few calories, you train your metabolism to slow down. Once the diet is over, you have a body that burns calories more slowly, and gains weight more quickly – than ever before.



Mistake 2: Skipping breakfast.
Studies show that people who eat a good breakfast tend to maintain a healthy weight as compared to those who ignore this oh-so-important meal. Why? Think about it. If you eat a say 9pm, then crash at midnight, then wake up at 7, and then march straight to work on an empty stomach, what do you think happens at 1:30 that afternoon? That’s right, you feel like you could eat a horse. And unfortunately, you tend to eat and eat and eat. Coz after starving your body for almost 15 hours, its bound to go a little overboard. Its called “break” “fast” for a reason…you are literally breaking a fast, so get some fruit/cereal/eggs and feel happier and fuller longer!


Mistake 3: Snack Attack.
So you are good about your morning breakfast. And very sensible with your soup & salad lunch. And practically an angel with your grilled chicken dinners. Then why the heck is it taking soooo long to show?? Umm…it could have something to do with your mid-morning packet of chips. Or the 5pm office samosas.Hmm, could it possibly be the cake from last weeks office party? Watch those snacks boys and girls, they really do add up.


Mistake 4: Skipping the snacks!
While it may not be the wisest idea to chomp down on the chips and cake during office hours, it’s an even bigger boo-boo to do just the opposite and keep the stomach empty for several hours at a time. People who eat more small meals and snacks in the day are more likely to lose their target weight and keep it off. Snacking on high protein foods like nuts will actually help you to boost your metabolic rate, while keeping the numbers on that weighing scale down.


Mistake 5: Low-fat Overdose.
 Remember Low-Fat DOES NOT mean Low-calorie. So just because something is called low-fat does not mean that you are allowed to have 3 helpings of the stuff. In fact sometimes 3 helpings of the low-fat food can actually come with a higher calorie count than one small helping of the real thing (think gooey chocolate cake). So be careful, controlled and aware.

"Eating to Lose Weight - Get your grocery list Right!"

healthandliving.com

You wouldn’t believe it, but rather than going nuts trying out diet after diet (Zone, Atkins, Blood Group, you name it, they’ve invented it!) you could actually find effective, and PROVEN ways to fight hunger, boost your metabolism, kick your candy habit, and lose those extra kilos right around the corner in your neighborhood grocery store.


Green Tea - switch to greening means your body burns more fat faster, while also increasing your metabolism. All from the antioxidants it contains. Oh, and it also lowers (bad) LDL cholesterol.

Salad – Kick start your meals with a nice, big bowl of leafy green stuff. Not only does it fill you up so you don’t go overboard with the other foods, you also get your daily intake of vitamins (c and e) and other disease fighting nutrients.

Eggs – protein power at its best..substitute it for your toast and feel fuller longer

Olive Oil - one of the best cooking options you can find. And best of all, because it’s a monosaturated oil, it helps you burn fat (esp Extra Virgin Olive Oil)

Cinnamon - one of the most effective ways to give you that extra lift during your afternoon snooze attack, this actually helps give you the energy you need without the extra calories! Just sprinkle a little pinch on multi-grain toast for your mid-afternoon snack.

Tofu - Although it may look deceptively light,this food actually contains an appitite reducing protein, ensuring that people who add it to their main meal, tend to be content eating smaller amounts.

Beans – good for fighting cholesterol, and keep blood sugar levels up warding off hunger pangs!

Soup – Again, this healthy (especially if you avoid adding cream to it) appetizer works to send the brain a signal saying that your tummy is full, ensuring that you eat moderate amounts of your main course.

Apples & Pears - these work GREAT for me as a mid-day snack when I’m kinda-sorta feeling a little puckish but don’t want to deal with the guilt of eating Khurkhure. Containing between 3 to 6 grams of fiber on average, both these fruits also fill you up and keep you going till your next meal.

So eat up, and enjoy!

"Yummy in my Tummy"

images.craveonline.com

They say “you are what you eat” and guess what guys? They might just be right!

According to the people who know (am talking researchers, scientists, doctors and others who have names followed by PD, MB, PhD) certain kinds of foods actually have the ability to do more than just satisfy that midnight craving , they can actually make you…wait for it….HAPPY J

Simple ways you can fight the blues and feel on top of the world Bottom of Form

Oatmeal - containing a lot of soluble fiber that lowers blood sugar levels and keep them down, effectively reducing irritability and hunger, oatmeal gives the body a great energy boost and keeps you going through your day without missing a beat (or a deadline!).

Salmon and Tuna – omega-3 fatty acids are the magic words here – and these fish have lots of it! These are also known as the “good fats” and are used by your brains to keep those brain cells needed for those good moods healthy and of course happy!

Chocolate - finally, a reason to eat this delectable food! Chocolate contains a substance called – are you ready for a word I bet you cant pronounce on the first try? Phenylethylamine. And this fantastic, lets call it P-mine, stimulates the brain to produce serotonin, which is closely linked with mood and is a naturally occurring chemical that acts like an antidepressant in the brain. Hmmm makes you wonder whether we could ever replace boyfriends for Snicker bars??

Spinach – not just coz Popeye ate the stuff and was always in a good mood! But because it contains large amounts of magnesium and folic acid (Vitamin B) both of which are associated with mood.

Salt -as long as you don’t go crazy with it, this natural mood enhancer is good for you in decent amounts.

Bananas - Doctors, Athletes, Trainers, all swear by it! Bananas are supposed to be one of the few complete foods – and the fact that it contains magnesium means its also likely to effect the mood –so what are you waiting for? Go bananas and feel great! J

Milk – it truly does the body good! the calcium it contains can help to reduce anxiety and stress levels in the body. And the tryptophan it contains helps the body to produce the feel good serotonin! So go ahead and drink up!