How the foods are created and sold to people

How the foods are created and sold to people

Michael Moss of New York Times talked to more than 300 people in or formerly employed by the processed-food industry, from scientists to marketers to C.E.O.’s.

After over four years of research and reporting he found that it was a conscious effort — taking place in labs and marketing meetings and grocery-store aisles — to get people hooked on foods that are convenient and inexpensive.

Moss sheds light on how the foods are created and sold to people who appear to be extremely vulnerable to the intensity of the food industry’s formulations and selling campaigns.

A must read article The Extraordinary Science of Addictive Junk Food in February 20, 2013 New York Times.

Show your heart some love

February is Heart Health Month so show your heart some love.

Keeping your heart healthy starts with a healthy lifestyle.

People often don't realize that their diet and lifestyle contribute to their risk for developing heart disease.

Some risk factors that can be changed, such as lifestyle choices.

There are a number of lifestyle and diet changes that can help you reduce your risk for developing heart disease.

The main factors that contribute to heart disease are physical inactivity, obesity, smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and excessive alcohol intake.

You want to make changes in your life if you have one or more of these factors.

Having a healthy diet is essential to having a healthy heart because a balanced and nutritious diet reduces the risk heart disease.

What positive lifestyle changes have you made to improve your overall health and wellness?

What helps you live a healthy lifestyle?

I encourage you to begin a conversation with your doctor about your risk factors and ways to take action early on.

You should know and understand your numbers like cholesterol or blood sugar to be aware of and manage your risk for heart disease.

Can you really change your life?

For many people the New Year means a fresh start, and another New Year’s resolution. And while making the resolution to lose weight is easy, keeping it, can be a challenge.

It's easier to stay motivated and stick to your New Year's resolution when you see your progress. Weigh yourself every day to stay motivated.

It is critical to know what truly motivates you to lose the weight. Keeping in your mind a concrete reason will have a tremendous impact as you proceed with your weight loss efforts.

Your desire to change must be greater than your desire to stay the same. When you are convinced that losing weight is more important than what you are giving up, then you are ready for action and you will likely succeed.

Motivate yourself daily. Focus on the reasons why you must lose weight every day. Is it health, or is it fear? Some people, me included, require fear.

One way to stay motivated is to imagine what you will lose if you do not reach your goal.
Plan ahead. Plan a healthy menu and write a shopping list to take to the store. It’s easier to stick to your nutrition goals when you have a list while shopping.

Losing weight is a commitment to behavioral changes. A number of behavioral and eating strategies that have worked for me may also work for you. [more]

Sleeping Too Little?

Sleep deprivation makes you tired and cranky and less able to think clearly.

Sleeping too little promotes weight gain. Not getting a good night's sleep can lead people to pack on pounds over time. Lack of good sleep when it comes to both quality and quantity are the driving forces behind the negative health and body weight effects.

More than 28 per cent of Americans sleep fewer than six hours a night. Work-related stress, shift-work, prolonged light, and television or computer exposure are the most frequent lifestyle factors that contribute towards sleep deprivation.

What can you do?

In her book Take a Nap! Change Your Life, Sara Mednick, Ph.D., points out that 20 to 30-minute naps can be used during the week to recharge yourself mentally, and 90-minute naps should be used on your off days to help minimize your sleep debt. By taking 90 minutes to doze, you will go through all the stages of sleep, and some research shows that the benefits of this length nap are equivalent to that of getting eight hours of sleep during the night.

Read more:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/10/15/sleep-deprivation-fat-cells/1630289/

 

Do you believe overweight people should run?

Do you believe overweight people should run?

As always I would say do what is the best for you and your situation.

I tried running when I was obese. It was very hard. I didn’t know about walk/run method for beginners.  I pushed myself to run for a minute and got tired quickly.

Then I had surgery for a knee and had to wait almost a year to resume running. I also managed to lose significant amount of weight during the non-running period.

When I started again, it was so different; it felt like if I were another person.

I fell in love in running since then and it changed my life.

Traditional Holiday Eating

Holidays are the most challenging times when it comes to eating healthy.

It is hard to keep the weight off and your body healthy while still enjoying yourself this holiday season.

Being health-conscious doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t enjoy the holiday season, but

I’m afraid most of us give up our healthy eating habits to “indulge” during the holiday season.

When food is served during holiday family gatherings it is difficult to strike a balance between maintaining a healthy diet and joining in with the fun and festivities.

I don’t expect to lose weight during the holidays. I will try to remember that while it is extremely difficult to lose weight during the holidays, it is hard but manageable to keep and maintain my pre-holiday weight.

Knowledge is the first step to a successful weight loss

Knowledge is the first step to a successful weight loss journey. The more you know, the more likely you are to do the right thing.

Somebody smart said that knowledge is power. By arming yourself with the facts about healthy weight loss, you are more likely to build confidence in your abilities and achieve your weight loss goals.

I agree, but want to add that knowledge by itself is not power. It is the application of knowledge that yields sustained success. Knowledge is very important, but action is the key.

Losing weight isn’t rocket science. Once you understand your body, it’s simple.

Simply put, you must change your nutrition - permanently.