Energy Gap : A Useful Tool For Successful Weight Loss

The term energy gap is used to estimate the change in energy balance (intake and expenditure) behaviors required to achieve and sustain reduced body weight outcomes in individuals and population at large. Many people have achieved significant weight loss with intervention, but very little of this weight loss seems be maintained by most people over the long term. The energy gap can help estimate the degree of behavior change that must be maintained to maintain a given amount of weight loss for any individual.The two key factors related to the energy gap concept: prevention of excess weight gain and maintenance of achieved weight loss. It is estimated that the energy gap for prevention of weight gain among those who have lost weight is about...

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10 Bizarre Home Cures That Really Work

var s_account='msnportalhealth';s.charSet='UTF-8';s.linkInternalFilters='javascript:,health.msn.com';s.pageName='10 Bizarre Home Cures That Really WorkPrint';s.server='msn.com';s.prop1='US Health (msnportalhealth)';s.prop2='en-us';s.channel='MSN Health';s.prop22='False';s.prop25='05:09:1968';s.prop26='m';s.prop5='Slideshow';s.prop11='';s.prop37='';var s_code=s.t();if(s_code)document.write(s_code);=0)document.write(unescape('%3C')+'\!-'+'-')//--> s.prop6='Prevention'; var s_code=s.t();if(s_code)document.write(s_code); @import url("http://blstc.msn.com/br/chan/hlt/css/2/StaticSlideshow.css");10 Bizarre Home Cures That Really WorkEase pesky health issues with vodka, pencils and more.Compiled by...

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Posted in: Fitness,Health News

Aerobic exercise: Top 10 reasons to get physical

Need inspiration to work out? Consider the top 10 benefits of aerobic exercise.From MayoClinic.comAt least 30 minutes of daily aerobic activity — such as walking, bicycling or swimming — can help you live longer and healthier. See how aerobic exercise affects your heart, lungs and blood flow. Then get motivated to reap the rewards!How your body responds to aerobic exerciseDuring aerobic activity, you repeatedly move large muscles in your arms, legs and hips. You'll notice your body's responses quickly.You'll breathe faster and more deeply. This maximizes the amount of oxygen in your blood. Your heart will beat faster, which increases blood flow to your muscles and back to your lungs. Your small blood vessels (capillaries) will widen to deliver more oxygen to your muscles and carry away waste...

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Posted in: Exercise,Fitness

6 Sex Mistakes Women Make

The 6 biggest sex mistakes women make and reasons why women make them.Ladies, be honest: when your sex life becomes a little humdrum, out comes the mental catalogue of all the ways your partner isn’t quite measuring up. Guys tend to get a bad rap when it comes to understanding women’s bodies and what turns us on, making them easy targets in the blame game when sexual satisfaction starts to wane. And sure, they make their fair share of bedroom errors. But as the saying goes, it takes two to tango. As it turns out, top sex and relationship experts say that women make plenty of sex mistakes of their own. Here’s what they have to say about the six most common mistakes women make in the bedroom and what you can do to get the satisfaction you so rightly deserve.Sex Mistake #1: Not Initiating Sex...

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Skin care: 5 tips for healthy skin

Good skin care — including sun protection and gentle cleansing — can keep your skin healthy and glowing for years to come. Don't have time for intensive skin care? Pamper yourself with the basics. Good skin care and healthy lifestyle choices can help delay the natural aging process and prevent many skin problems. Get started with these five no-nonsense tips.1. Protect yourself from the sun.The most important way to take care of your skin is to protect it from the sun. A lifetime of sun exposure can cause wrinkles, freckles, age spots and rough, dry skin. Sun exposure can also cause more-serious problems, such as skin cancer. For the most complete sun protection:Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. This is when the sun's rays are the strongest.Wear protective clothing. Cover your skin with...

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5 Diet Tips To Improve Your Mood

Depression affects millions of Americans each year, with 2 to 3 times as many women as men diagnosed between the ages of 25 to 44. Although depression is common, treatment options vary, and many people may need medication and/or therapy. It is believed that either psychological or physiological factors can cause depression. The physiological factors of depression may be linked to the "monoamine hypothesis," which stems from the belief that imbalances of chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, epinephrine, and nor-epinephrine, may be to blame.Some vitamin and mineral deficiencies may not only worsen depression in certain people, but research shows they may be the sole cause in others. Although correcting dietary deficiencies...

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New Year's Weight Loss: 6 Tips

It is a time-honored tradition to make resolutions at this time of year. If your resolution is to lose weight - and keep it off, then keep reading! Here are six simple tips that will have you losing weight in a balanced and healthy way.Lose weight with water. Water is essential for everybody - it is also the key to losing weight. If you haven't been drinking enough water, your body has developed a pattern of storing water. This water retention equals extra unwanted weight. By drinking more water, you are not only flushing out toxins, you are also teaching your body that it no longer needs to store water. Drink at least 60 ounces of water (about 8 glasses) a day. Boil water and sliced lemons, and drink this throughout the day to help with fluid retention. If you are still not sold on the merits...

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Tips For Better Sleep

Like millions of other Americans, I often have trouble with insomnia — either I can't fall asleep, or I awake prematurely and am unable to get back to sleep. The following sleep tips, compiled from various sources, may prove helpful to some of my fellow insomniacs.Only use your bed for sleeping or having sex, not for reading, doing paperwork, watching TV, snacking, or making phone calls.If you've been lying in bed but are beginning to fear you're not going to drop off, try some of these techniques: Count sheep or count backwards from 100 (one of my favorites) to stop yourself from thinking about the problems of yesterday or tomorrow; breathe deeply for awhile; or visualize some peaceful place.If you can't get to sleep after lying in bed for...

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Cold Weather Walking

Winter can be the perfect time to walk off weight—even if you're not a snow bunny. Sticking with your usual exercise routine is one of the best ways to boost your chances of starting the new year a size smaller.If you've gotten used to walking outdoors all summer, switching to a different activity for winter can make your weight loss even more of a struggle, says John Jakicic, PhD, assistant professor in the weight control and diabetes research center at Brown University School of Medicine in Providence, RI.Finding a new activity may mean organizing your day differently or doing something that you're not as comfortable with—all during an already chaotic and stressful time.Research shows that people who lose weight and keep it off do so by exercising the equivalent of walking 3 to 4 miles a...

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Turkey, Stuffing and a Side of Weight Loss (Really!)

Turkey Day is on its way! Thanksgiving is one of my very favorite holidays—no pressure to find the perfect gifts, just a day of relaxing with family, being grateful for each other and all my blessings, and, of course, eating ridiculously scrumptious food. I love stuffing, turkey, veggies and pumpkin pie. I'm thankful for all of it, but I try to avoid what I would call "over" appreciation.Want to make your own holidays healthier? Try these easy tips from some of our favorite food bloggers Holiday Eating Handbook.Rather than view Thanksgiving as a marathon of eating, I make an effort to eat within my normal range, meaning a regular (not heaping) portion of all my favorite dishes, so I can enjoy the occasion rather than end the day with that guilty, overstuffed feeling and the sleepiness brought...

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Stress, depression and the holidays: 10 tips for coping

Stress and depression can ruin your holidays and hurt your health. Being realistic, planning ahead and seeking support can help ward off stress and depression. The holiday season, which begins for most Americans with Thanksgiving and continues through New Year's Day, often brings unwelcome guests — stress and depression. And it's no wonder. In an effort to pull off a perfect holiday, you might find yourself facing a dizzying array of demands — parties, shopping, baking, cleaning and entertaining, to name a few. So much for peace and joy, right? Actually, with some practical tips, you can minimize the stress and depression that often accompany the holidays. You may even end up enjoying the holidays more than you thought you would. Recognize holiday triggersLearn to recognize common holiday...

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Top 10 Reasons You're not Losing Weight

This article is keeping in mind constant questions raised by women as to why they are not able to lose weight.More and more women fail to understand that they have to work hard if they want to change the shape of their body. That means a balance of medium-high intensity cardio exercise along with challenging strength training workouts. 1. Exercise InputIn order to lose weight, you need to get workout for at least 5-6 days a week at 60-70% of heart rate for 30-45 min. Start slow and work your way up but, if you're in good condition and have no restrictions, challenging yourself with harder workouts is the best way to burn more calories. Introduce interval training in order to burn calories even after you've stopped exercising. In addition to...

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Psyllium Husk: Health Benefits

Psyllium fiber comes from the small reddish brown to black seeds of the Plantago Psyllium plant. Plantago grows as a weed in many places around the world and is commercially cultivated in Spain, France, India, Pakistan and other countries. Psyllium seeds are commonly dried and ground and sold in the form of powders, capsules or chewable tablets. Every 100 grams of psyllium provides 71 grams of soluble fiber; a similar amount of oat bran would contain only 5 grams of soluble fiber.It needs to be noted that a poor waste elimination promotes poisonous toxic buildup, the immune system becomes weakened and the body is vulnerable to diseases. A healthy colon that is clean provides a strong defense against the many pathogens that invade the body....

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A Walk a Day

The popularity of walking as a fitness activity is growing by leaps and bounds. Low risk and easy to start, walking has proved its health benefits in numerous studies. A classic eight-year study of 13,000 people conducted at the Institute for Aerobics Research under the direction of Dr. Steven Blair found that those who walked the equivalent of 30 minutes a day had a significantly lower risk of premature death than those who rarely exercised. A regular walking program can help:Reduce blood cholesterolLower blood pressureIncrease cardiovascular enduranceBoost bone strengthBurn calories and keep weight downGet ReadyA walking program is simple to start. All you need are comfortable clothes and shoes. It is a good idea to layer loose clothing,...

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8 Perfect Stay-Young Foods

By David Zinczenko, with Matt Goulding - isn't just about weight loss—the nutrients you take in can have a serious effect on how you think, feel, and look! Our bodies and our feelings are nothing more than reflections of the various chemicals flowing through our system on a daily basis. Make sure those chemicals are the healthy kind you get from the right mix of fruits and vegetables, proteins and fats, and you’ll feel healthier, more energetic, and happier than you have in years.In Eat This, Not That! 2010, we compiled a list of eight foods that can help keep you young. You’re only as young as you feel—so add these eight nutritious powerhouses to your daily diet, and start feeling (and acting and looking) years younger!EGGSBenefit: Weight...

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Posted in: Diet