"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.

"Vacation Work Out"

vacationspot.com

It’s what you’ve been waiting for all year. Dreaming about the shopping. Fantasizing about the sun-kissed beaches. Salivating over the different kinds of yumminess you are going to get to eat. It’s literally been on your mind 24/7 for the last six months! And its almost here. Your annual long vacation.


So what could possibly be a dark cloud on this perfectly sunny dream holiday? Absolutely nothing. Except, perhaps, just maybe, an eensy weensy chance that after all those deliciously long, dessert filled days, you might come home with more than just overweight suitcases. Ummm, you might just come home with an oversized ass….et other than summer sale shopping.

Sorry girls and boys, don’t mean to be a drag, but the truth is that after all those weeks, scratch that, months, of working out to get into that perfect bathing suit, do you really want to throw it away on a few days of indulging? You know what? I am here to tell you that in this case, you can literally have your cake and eat it too. All you need to do is to be a little smart about it!

How? It’s simple, you just work out on your vacation.

Hahaha before you freak out, don’t. I am not here to tell you to pack your weights with you, or even ask you to join the local gym on that gorgeous Goa beach you are on. Just follow a few of these simple tricks and stay in shape no matter how many days you’ll be away!

Walk: while you shop, when you are going to that special dinner, when you want to go dancing, when you want to find a nice sunset spot, just walk wherever you can. And guess what? Chances are, you will get to see the prettiest places that way as well!

Mix it up: while walking will get your feet moving, it goes only so far to get your blood pumping. So while you are soaking up those rays why not do a little bit of dancing, swimming, beach volleyball, or even some snorkeling so you can watch the beautiful marine life while burning some of those extra calories. Whatever the activity, pick something you enjoy and it will be like your vacation, and not work!

Serving sizes: ok so don’t worry, I am not telling you to ban anything from your diet on your dream trip. It is your vacation after all, and just as important as it is to be disciplined during the rest of your year, holidays are made for some naughtiness, so go ahead and order those desserts. Just ask for a couple of extra spoons. Sharing is an amazingly easy way to get a taste of all those sugary delights, while eating smarter. :)

"What to Eat to Look Great!"

static.flickr.com

There are all kinds of lists in life. Laundry lists. Grocery lists. Lists of Things to Do (by 6pm this evening). Invitation Lists. Gift lists. Even wish lists. Some lists make you want to pound your head on the wall (think list of bills you need to pay) and some lists are somehow, well, just a little sweeter.


And those are my favorite’s girls and boys. So of course when I came across a very special list of foods which make you look gorgeous on the outside AND feel fantastic on the inside, I knew I just had to share the sweetness :)

Here’s a list of the special stuff:


Grapefruit: Loaded with antioxidants which help fight all kinds of disease and infections including cancer, this is also known as one of those “fat-burning” foods. Add it to your breakfast in the morning and get a little extra zing in your day.

Red Peppers: Called a “superfood for the skin” by some, this veggie contain generous doses of Vitamins A, C and E. Just chop it up and brighten up that boring old green salad.
Lemon Water: Boost the effects of your workout and diet by starting your mornings with a glass of lemon water. Pectin, an ingredient found in the peel of lemon, has been shown to aid in weight loss, so just squeeze a little into your water every day and lose those extra kilos faster.

Watermelon: Meant to be a natural way help protect against the harmful rays of the sun, this juicy fruit contains lots of lycopene (a powerful antioxidant) which works to boost your immunity while also keeping you hydrated!

Cherries: Researchers at the University of Michigan have found that the anthocyanins in dark cherries reduce belly fat and lower cholesterol and blood sugar so yayayayaya go grab a bowl of cherries for your breakfast tomorrow!
Prunes: These wrinkly little dried fruits are rich in vitamin K and a top source of the mineral boron, and you know what? Turns out, we need both for strong bones.

Dark Chocolate: Because it is a filled with something called flavonoids, dark chocolate is believed to improve the health of the heart “reducing platelet activation, affecting the relaxation capabilities of blood vessels”…. In other words, go get yourself a guilt free bar and munch away today :)

'Rinse and Repeat!"

collegecandy.files.wordpress.com

It’s definitely one of the worst things that can happen to you in an office. You’ve just finished your lunch break and gone into a meeting with a colleague when bang in the middle of your explanation of something, you lean in to emphasize a point, and thud. It hits you like a cannonball moving at full speed. The breath of garlic, onion, mustard topping on something giving your otherwise perfectly pleasant co-worker the exhaling powers of the devil himself. Powerful enough to wipe out a town. There’s only one thing worse than dealing with a friend with bad breath post a garlicky lunch. And that’s having the toxic breath yourself. So here I am folks, to help you save the day. Mouth wash. It’s the easiest, simplest way to prevent ever worrying about anyone in the office avoiding you for after-lunch meetings.


And besides the obvious help it will do for your social life (trust me, minty fresh-smelling breath is a big turn on for all types), here are some other reasons to enjoy a rinse after each meal.


Kills germs: Just like having bad breath can do some real damage to your social and office life, using a good mouthwash after you eat can help kill germs because it is able to reach the spots between your teeth and gums that your toothbrush cant.
Cleans out the mouth: Eating a pasta or any other sticky food? Rinsing your mouth after helps to loosen up any food caught between your teeth, which if not spat out or swallowed, can eventually create trouble of all kinds!

Helps to prevent cavities: Anything that prevents you having to sit in that “special chair” at the dentist faced with the sight (and sound!) of those terrifying drills must be a good thing right? Using mouthwash at leas once a day helps to prevent the build up of plaque in the mouth, which is what causes all those nasty, painful cavities.

So this time, say with me: rinse, rinse, and repeat!

"Banish Binges"

i.ehow.com

It happens to the best of us. There you are behaving like a perfect angel, living a balanced life in which where are being careful about what you eat, getting the right (healthy) portions of all those carbs, proteins, fruits, veggies, and more on your plate at the right time of the day, and of course supplementing all this good behavior with regular visits to your gym, ensuring that you are getting a good 45 minutes on the treadmill or maybe even an hour at the new aerobics class. When suddenly it happens. Seemingly out of nowhere, the attack is a surprise. It’s unexpected, and catches you off guard.


And oh no, you didn’t see it coming. The big fat binge.

Before you know it, you are sitting at your desk surrounded by empty packets of chips, candy wrappers, and (god forbid!) multiple, now empty, boxes of pizza….And here comes the guilt.

Now you feel like kicking yourself. How did you let that happen? All those weeks of working out and healthy salads gone down the drain. You may as well give up right? Wrong.

Its time to take control people. I am here to tell you that not only can you have total power over those crazy cravings that have a habit of attacking when least expected, but you can avoid the moments of wanting to drown your sorrows in even more ice-cream entirely. I am talking about living a binge-free existence baby.

First things first, the worst thing you can do is to cut out everything sinful out of your life completely. We all have certain weakness, mine personally is chocolate. So what do I do? Allow myself to have those couple of pieces every couple of days…and you what? I ain’t obese. On the other hand, I can handle it when I come face to face with a ginormous Cookie Monster size cake. Plain and simple, if you love something, leave a little room for it in your life. That way you won’t go nuts every time your will power to fight it fades!

Second rule, avoid emotional eating. You just had a fight with your boyfriend. Your boss just yelled at you. Someone just called you “plump”. Do not, I repeat, do not take it out on all the junk food you can find. Stuffing your face full of high-fat, high-calorie food that’s poor in nutritive quality is not the answer girls and boys. Instead, give yourself a time out. Step outside for a couple of minutes if you can, trust me the fresh air can work wonders on a pissy mood. Drink a couple of glasses of water to quell the automatic need to eat something “bad”. In short, find a way to cool down. You’ll find the food choices you make to be dramatically different once you do so.

Finally, don’t fight it. No, I don’t mean load up on fried samosa the next time you feel the urge. I mean, stock up you desk drawer with a few healthy goodies (granola bars, unsalted nuts, baked snacks, digestive biscuits). The next time you get a need to binge, break out the baked stuff baby.

Eat and enjoy :)

"Live a Little"

junkfoodnews.net

Its wafting through the air and right up to you. As you close your eyes, you can literally picture that pizza in all its perfection…dripping with hot, melted mozzarella cheese, topped with garlic, chicken, mushrooms, and jalapenos. Delivered to your office desk in under 30 minutes or else your money back. And guess what? After being a diet and exercise nazi for a whole three months, you are totally, utterly and completely entitled to a little (ok big!) treat. Yummy, yummy,yummy, its time for a little Dominoes for your tummy.


You know what? It’s all good. Sometimes, it’s a good, no, it’s a great idea to break the rules with your “sensible eating” habits and go a little crazy. In fact, chances are if you don’t give in to your cravings every so often that you will either totally overboard when you do come face to face with that chocolate cake, else you will just turn into a person who is constantly in a bad mood. It’s true. Have you ever noticed how some of the skinniest people you meet tend to be the most ummm, shall we say sour-faced? I personally think they have taken the whole “size zero” thing so seriously they are always bitter and angry about the fact that everyone around them gets to eat the good stuff and they don’t!

No matter what, girls and boys, remember this. If you cant take a little time out from your regular “balanced life” to enjoy some of the delectable things in life (your mums gooey chocolate brownies, freshly made pesto pasta, a Spanish omelets made from country-grown farm eggs), then you aren’t living. And trust me, this stuff always, always tastes supremely mind-blowing when you make eating it on a special occasion. Once you are done, just go back to the good life of nutrition and exercise and smile knowing you have total control. Not just on your waist size, but much, much more. That’s what I call doing things in moderation :)

"Sink or Swim"

wallpaperbase.com

These days people are constantly talking about one of two things. Working out and eating right. Everywhere you go, all you hear are the names of the latest machines which can miraculously literally melt all of your body fat right off or the names of the latest diets which magically make you lose 10 kilos in 10 days (god, please don’t go anywhere near that one if you are smart girls and boys!). Its all about the newest gadgets and the latest scientifically proven research to show what foods combine to get you the maximum weight loss!


But how about going back to the classics? Something which has been tried and tested and always proven to show effective results giving you a fantastic body with curves in all the right places without even going near a machine of any kind? In fact, this form of exercise burns hundreds of calories without you feeling a moment of sweaty heat and ickiness! You’ve all seen it, and most of you have probably even done it a couple of hundred times in your lives. Swimming. One of the most effective ways to get a total body workout. How so? Simply because it forces ones to exert every single part of the body while practicing it. Besides the fact that swimming is great for increasing lung capacity as well as for the cardiovascular system as a whole, it also increases the flexibility and strength of the body as a whole (which is why it’s a great TOTAL body workout!).

Consequently, it protects the body from heart disease, stroke and diabetes while working to control blood pressure and cholesterol. In addition, regular swimming also means the body will benefit from a higher muscular stamina, which basically means you are able to work that much longer without muscle aches and pains. Swimming also helps when recovering from certain kinds of back injuries (even a slipped disc) because it works to strengthen the muscles around the spine in a safe and gentle manner.

So this spring don’t wait for the latest weight control fad to burn a hole in your wallet. Join your neighborhood swimming club instead and enjoy your water therapy coz trust me, it’s the coolest one :)