| Sunday, March 23, 2008 |
| Lose Weight with Carbs - Resistant Starch |
A new research has proved that carbs *can* actually make you lose weight if you know how to cook them and eat them. Great news, I would say. According to Leslie Bonci, author of the American Dietetic Association's Guide to Better Digestion, "Resistant starch has the potential to become the next hot nutrition trend."
 Many diets have already qualified potatoes, rice, beans, grains, corn as bad for those who want to lose weight. This new 'discovery' proves that one can lose weight as long as you eat these veggies cold. We are already knew that each of the above reduces your hunger and fills you up quicker than other foods. But the latest news is that it also helps you burn fat faster. This food is rich in fiber and it keep you blood sugar under control - two factors extremely important if you want to lose weight.
You also lose weight because this resistant starch forces your body to stop using the carbs for fuel and, instead, it burns the fat in your body.
How can you obtain this starch? Easy. Cool your food in the fridge before eating it, and eat it cold. Do not rewarm the food because you lose the resistant starch. In other words - salads made from the foods above is the solution.
Since I have lived in Turkey for 3 years, I have also learn to replace flour with starch whenever needed.
One such meal a day should help you burn fat - given that you do not increase the quantity of food intake during the day but only replace a meal with such a dish.
So, let's make a list of foods that, while eaten cold, can help you lose that extra weight:
* corn
* rice and brown rice
* yams
* slightly green bananas
* potatoes
* beans
* starchLabels: carbs, loss, potatoes, rice, starch, weight |
posted by Andreea @ 1:44 PM  |
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| Tuesday, August 21, 2007 |
| That Extra Something That Helped Me Lose Weight |
Exercise. I know many dread what the word implies. There's a catch though: having fun.
Well, I've been walking a lot lately. I've been climbing stairs at work instead of taking the elevator. And last weekend I went out with a few friends to play some volleyball. Started as volleyball for one hour and ended with soccer, for another 30 minutes. I like volleyball but I love soccer. And it's extremely good exercise for your legs if you play lots of high balls. It's almost like running hurdles.
I got home with my muscles sore but feeling great! I've been also doing some exercise for my legs. Stretchings, mostly. Also, my back is a bit sore from a lot of seating and work and then driving, so I needed other exercises - out of which many involve the legs again - to rid myself of my back pains.
Oh - for the past two weeks I did not have crazy sugar cravings, even though I had my period. However, I am a huge fan of forest fruits - wild berries mostly, so I went to the market place and bought half a kilo of them. And I had every night, when I wanted something. I replaced sweets of any kind with this. I've fallen in love again with peaches so I have one every night. Before, I needed some kind of food two hours after dinner. Now I simply have a peach or some berries and I feel great.
I've also returned to an old habit of drinking plenty of yogurt - more than 4 glasses a day. One - it fills you up; two - it's dairy so it helps you shed off those extra pounds.
I feel great. I even feel motivated.
Now I need to reach 110-112 by the end of September and I think it is possible. That little extra exercise, the fruits and the yogurt saved me. And for extra energy - a multivitamin pill or spirulina (with the multivitamins you have to be careful because they increase your appetite).Labels: exercise, fruits, weight, yogurt |
| posted by Andreea @ 9:47 PM |
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| Tuesday, July 17, 2007 |
| Sweets When on a Diet |
If you are not on a strict diet, and you are only planning to reduce the number of calories, and you are allowed or you allow yourself to have sweets now and then, you have to know that some sweets are better than others.
Chocolate is a definite 'no'. Even if it based on artificial sweetner, the cocoa found in it is very rich in calories. Also, since it stimulates endorphins, and maybe due to other factors as well, it is addictive. How do you explain that the brain craves most chocolate and not other sweets?
The safest sweets are ice-cream and sweets based on fruits.
Ice-cream is rich in Calcium so, to the negative side, we do have a positive one as well: rich in Calcium, mineral that improves metabolism. What it actually does is it helps transform the fat deposits into energy. If you try the light ice-cream (for example Magnum Light), even better.
Let's talk about the fruits now. There are plenty of sweets that you can create based on fruits, and in many cases you don't even need to add any kind of sugar. For example, you can always bake an apple or cherry strudel. Peaches and apricots are also naturally sweet, and if the dough is thin you can have many for less calories. Any fruits almost can make wonderful tarts or pies or strudels.
Labels: fruits, sweets, weight |
| posted by Andreea @ 8:57 PM |
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| Monday, July 16, 2007 |
| Feels Good to Lose Weight |
Yuppers... I've seen two friends that I haven't seen in a while and individually they've told me that I had lost weight.
Obviously, that makes me feel good. Because You cannot always tell, you know? So when people tell you that you feel better. :)
I've started jogging (like stepping in a way) in the house for about 20-30 mins. It makes you lose that extra water. Then I usually have 2 cups of hot tea - usually one cup of green tea and then one of Earl Grey (both without sugar because I never have my tea or coffee with any kind of sugar - in my view, sugar ruins the taste of tea and coffee). The next morning the scale went down one pound, even though I am right before my period and I retain water like crazy, and even though I ate.
Oh, unfortunately I couldn't follow very strictly my diet, but I have used some elements of it now and then. So even though I haven't lost as much as I wanted - since I did not follow the guidelines - I have lost about 2-3 pounds again. Maybe more, but since like I have said I am before my period, I cannot tell. At the moment I am a bit swollen and I will be even more. But I will get to see what really happened after my period is over.Labels: diet, weight |
| posted by Andreea @ 10:50 PM |
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| Friday, July 13, 2007 |
| Birth Control Pills, Weight Gain, and Water Retention |
Yes. Birth control pills can cause you to gain weight and have trouble losing it.
What's responsible for it? Mostly estrogen. Estrogen is the primary female sex hormones. The more estrogen a pill has, the higher of chance to put on weight and retain fluid.
Estrogen increases the insulin level. That means, as Ihave already explained in previous posts, resistance to weight loss.
My best friend started putting on weight the moment she started taking the pills. Well, sometimes it is necessary to take them (regulates periods and other problems women might have), but sometimes it is better not to. If you care about your health and birth control, try the normal condom.
Some people are even allergic to pills: strong headaches, crazy appetite, nausea, dizziness, constipation. The list can go on. The good part is supposed to be related to some cancers.
Now lots of studies show that women do not put on weight because of the birth control pills. However, the case studies on real people among ourselves show the opposite. Besides, the negative aspects of estrogen are always there, and as long as the pills contain estrogen, I don't see how they cannot cause weight gain.Labels: pills, water_retention, weight |
| posted by Andreea @ 7:22 PM |
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| Wednesday, July 4, 2007 |
| Questions and Answers |
I am going to reply to some of the questions that I have seen.
Does afternoon nap make you fatter?
It depends. If you eat a lot and then you sleep, yes it does. If you sleep right away or have some fruits before the nap - no, it doesn't. Actually, afternoon nap will keep you looking young. It will also help you lose weight because a fast metabvolism can happen only when you are not 'exhausted'.
How can I lose weight without giving up chocolate?
Well, you don't have to give up chocolate entirely. I suppose you can buy chocolate which uses artificial sweetner, not sugar. Anyway, be careful because: one, artifical sweetner is not healthy; two, chocolate has a lot of calories also due to the high content of cocoa. Cocoa does have a lot of calories.
Can you lose weight without eating any wheat, dairy, or sugar?
I would suggest for a healthy diet less sugar, oil, and wheat. Keep the dairies in. They can actually contribute to weight loss.
Is it bad drinking Dr Pepper when you starve yourself?
Yes, yes, yes!!! I cannot stress that enough. It's bad for your stomach; it's bad because in increases your appetite because of the sugar and the caffeine. One can of Dr Pepper has 160 calories. What is worse? In USA they use high fructose corn syrup, not sugar.Labels: chocolate, sugar, weight |
| posted by Andreea @ 7:31 PM |
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| Saturday, June 30, 2007 |
| Losing Weight - The Process |
For most women, the losing weight proces follows the same steps, at least at the beginning.
During a diet, the first two days hardly something happens on the scale. On the third day, the fat will lose 'density' and becomes softer. Now, depending on how much fat you have on and how 'dense' the fat is when you grab it (see difference between fat on belly and fat on legs and butt to understand what I mean), you will spend a few days on this 'dernsity'.
Next step is when you barely start losing something. You don't see it but you might feel it a little when you put on your pants. Your breasts will stop spilling out of your push-up bra and your tummy (especially that annoying little bit right under your navel) will seem only to decrease in size. Actually you don't understand how much you are losing now because the body tends to lose equally from the upper part so the proportion remains pretty much the same. However, this annoying little fatty part under your navel might look more proeminent because the rest of the fat is melting. Best way to evaluate this is to look in the mirror from the side.
Your waist gains contour.
Your legs and your butt have lost very little by now. They are the last ones to 'shrink'. The best way, and sometimes the only way, to keep them shrinking is through exercise. And you usually lose on your thighs and you start losing from your knees up. You can see the knees becoming bonier.
When there isn't much to lose your body will be able to focus better on your 'problem' areas.Labels: steps, weight |
| posted by Andreea @ 8:05 PM |
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| Friday, June 29, 2007 |
| I've Lost 3 Pounds in Ten Days |
Yeah, I'm on the roll, baby... By the end of the next week I have to lose another two or three. It takes longer at the beginning - about 2-3 days - until your body starts losing weight. No matter what diet you are on, it always happens like this.
What did I do to lose weight? Very little exercise (one hour daily walk though) but I gave up meat and chicken. I have started this about two weeks ago. I am not starving myself in any way. I am having enough food and I am still drinking plenty of water.
I never eat white bread - once a month maybe, when I cannot find rye bread in a place and I need bread, that is the only moment when I have white bread. I haven't had chocolate really, but I did have lots of cereal bars with chocolate from Nestle Fitness. One bar has about 95 calories and it's delicious.
I had lots of fruits - cherries and mango and apples. I have not calculated calories. I ate at 9pm but nothing heavy. I even had one hot chocolate a day.
But not eating meat or chicken helped my digestion.Labels: diet, fish, loss, vegetarian, weight |
| posted by Andreea @ 6:24 PM |
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| Thursday, June 28, 2007 |
| Can't Lose More Weight? |
So your diet has been giving great results. You've worked your ass out every single day. You have 1,000 calories a day. But all of a sudden your body refuses to lose weight anymore.
This is the tricky moment. Your body has built a defence wall around this weight and, no matter what, it will not let you lose those pounds. I kow it because a few years ago my weight was at 108-110 pounds and there was no way whatsoever in which I could get rid of that weight. I was slim but not skinny (between you and me my muscles would never allow me to be skinny, but that's something else).
For me 108 pounds is thr lowest and no matter how slim I get and even though I look slimmer than the previous week when I was still 108, I am still at 108! Obviously.
I had another blockage at 114 or something that I had managed to pass afew times. How do you deblock your system? Gracefully. Carefully. Reducing calories is not the solution. And if you are working out like I was, half the day or even more, then you cannot increase exercise either.
So then how to convince your body to let you get over that 'defence wall'? It's simple. You change the routine. You don't have a routine? You make one first then. Your body is already used to low calories and work-out.
Eat an extra something a day and work out every third day - intensive everyday work-out does NOT work. I swear it doesn't in the long run. I have myself and a few friends as witnesses.
About the eating habits, every third day - preferably the day you work out, skip a meal or replace it with something with less calories. The perfect way to shock your body is to change the routine - and that means that you should have one.Labels: eating_habits, exercise, tricks, weight |
| posted by Andreea @ 8:42 PM |
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| Coconut Oil and Losing Weight |
Ok, I have read this one also: coconut oil can help patients with thyroid problems solve them. I cannot say yes or not, obviously, and I cannot vouch for that.
But too much of anything can be bad in the end. Honestly, I might try this but not with coconut oil. I will simply buy a coconut and eat it like this. I mean the coconut oil comes from a coconut, right? And before you stuff yourself with coconut like a maniac, you should also know that coconuts are very rich in calories.
One cup of shredded coconut has about 280-300 calories. Labels: coconut, coconut_oil, weight |
| posted by Andreea @ 9:52 PM |
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| Cortisol and Adrenaline: Hormones Causing Weight Gain |
As long as you don't eat when you are stressed, you should be ok - from the weight gain point of view.
According to Dr Pamela Peeke, the bigger your tummy fat the more chances you have to get diabetes or a heart condition. Cortisol kicks in when you are stressed and you get a huge appetite for junk food, anything to calm you down instantly, like chocolate or bad-carbs. Adrenaline makes your body think that you worked out as a maniac, when all you had been doing was to sit down and bite your nails.
There are two ways that can help you here: one is eat only healthy food and follow a schedule and two, learn some relaxing techniques. If you can't control your stress level and you normally don't care, think about disease and weight gain. Probably that would calm you down instantly. You might as well drink less coffee... or Diet Coke or Pepsi Light. Or Dr Pepper. Or Mountain Dew. Should I continue or did you get the point?
Anyway, if your have some great collegues at work, make a few jokes and laugh. It wasn't said for nothing that laughter is great medication.Labels: adrenaline_rush, coffee, hormones, weight |
| posted by Andreea @ 9:38 PM |
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| The Pounds Are Not Everything |
Do you measure how fat you are based on your pounds? Don't do that. Bones can be heavier or lighter, muscles are heavier than fat; your breasts can be large or small. And that can make a difference of a few good pounds.
Instead, try to understand you body fat percentage. If you want a good place where to start, try here: http://www.healthcentral.com/cholesterol/home-body-fat-test-2774-143.html
For women, it is ideal to have about 13% body fat. For men the perfect body fat is about 5%.
If you want to look slim, you pretty much need to find yourself in the white area:
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| posted by Andreea @ 8:33 PM |
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| Tuesday, June 26, 2007 |
| Adrenaline Rush for Weight Loss |
Sounds weird, doesn't it? Well, it is true. Adrenaline can help you lose weight. But don't underestimate it, because too much of it can cause stomach problems. And not only.
The funny thing is that while my hubby is not an adrenaline junkie, he has no problem with weight. He never had and I doubt he will ever have. I am an adrenaline junkie - which means that 'stress' is my middle name. I wouldn't have realized it until I read the definition on Wikipedia:
"Adrenaline junkies enjoy engaging in activities that stimulate the adrenal glands, which are responsible for producing a broad spectrum of hormones which cause the stress response, also known as the fight-or-flight response. "
I always wondered why I am so appreciated at work and why I tend to quit so fast. Well, I am addited to adrenaline and I pump it into my blood until I waste myself. I love stress. I cannot live too long with it but I cannot live without it either. I love horror movies and books, and if my life is not spicy I spice it up.
While this can help you with your weight loss, the stress it causes can make you eat.
Do you know one of the enjoyable and not so dangerous ways to start this adrenaline rush? Shopping when you're out of time. Playing a game against the clock. Trust me, any of these are better than sitting on your butt all day long.Labels: adrenaline_rush, weight |
| posted by Andreea @ 8:54 PM |
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| Monday, June 25, 2007 |
| Stretch Mark Improver from The Body Shop |
When you put on too much weight or you lose it, after you give birth, or since each time you have your period your breasts are dubling in size, you get those evil looking stretch marks. Theoretically, once you get them, you cannot get rid of them anymore. Well, certain things can improve their appearance and reduce them considerably. Such an example is this cream from The Body Shop. It's cool because it is not sticky - don't you hate sticky creams, especially in summer, when it gets extra hot? In order to get good results, you should apply two times a day, in the morning and in the evening. Labels: cellulite, pregnancy, skincare, stretch_marks, weight |
| posted by Andreea @ 9:25 PM |
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| Losing Weight with Cereals - Nestle Fitness |
Nestle has this very active campaign - exercise and replace two of your meals with Nestle Fitness cereals and you will lose weight fast. Well, I think it makes sense. Honestly, if you have one 'portion' (as portion is defined by Nestle) for one meal and then don't abuse your last meal, you should lose weight for a very solid reason: low calorie intake. From the good point of view - cereals are very good for losing weight if you can eat as much as they suggest you should. Nothing more. They are high in fiber, high in B's; so yes, losing weight makes sense. If you have them with milk or yogurt - again, Calcium, which also helps lose weight. So if you haven't considered this diet yet, you should. ;) Labels: diet, food, weight |
| posted by Andreea @ 9:10 PM |
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| Sunday, June 24, 2007 |
| Lose Weight in Your Arms |
How are your muscles? Do you have flappy arms? Well, you can always change that. Losing weight on your upper arms and raising your breasts is a lot easier than losing fat off your bum or upper legs.
How doyou do it? Push-ups and crunches help. So does Winsor pilates or swimming. But if you want something very quick and painless, buy dumbbells. I prefer the neoprene dumbbells.
Here is an example found on FitnessGiant.com. I suggest 3 and 5 lb sets.
 How to do it?
1. Standing up, let your arms rest near your body, normally, then lift them horizontally, to your side, until they are a continuation of your shoulders. Do as many as you can, until your muscle hurts a bit.
Alternative: bend your torso forward while standing up, looking forward, until your chest is parallel with the ground. Your arms are hanging down holding the weight. Now lift your arms horizontally again, as if you were trying to hug someone.
2. Arms bent at your chest, holding the weights towards you, in front of you neck. Now simulate this: imagine you reach up for a branch and try pulling yourself up. With this image in mind, practice this move with the weights.
3. Punching an imaginary punchbag. Imagine you are a boxer and you are punching someone. Do the moves slowly, one hand at a time. Doing it fast is dangerous for your wrists and for the elbows.
4. Remember the classical move you see in movies when a guy is working out its biceps? Standing up, arm hanging down, the eight in your hand facing opposite of your body. Bend you arm from the elbow, so the weight reaches your shoulder. 15 for each arm is enough. This is good for your breasts as well.
5. Standing up, place your arms in front of you, straight, palms facing each other and holding the dumbbells. Now, imagine something is pushing your palms appart. Bring them slowly back until they become the continuation of your shoulders, horizontally.
5. Let's take care of the back of your arms, the flappy part. Standing up or bending forwards, arms next to your body, palsm with weights towards your body. Bend them completely and unbend them until straight. You should feel the back of you arms being worked out.
How often do I workout? Once every 2-3 days. It's enough.
If you want to keep your muscles and build any new ones, do some of the moves faster. But be extra careful about some of them.
Or try pushups. Fast ones. Or semi-pushups, where you push up only the upper part of your body, lower part remaining on the ground. 30 like this every 2 days should do the trick. However, these moves work out only a part of the muscles in your arms. They are good however for raising your breasts (if you lost the sustaing muscle there) and they are very good as well for your tummy, because it builds lean long mucle.Labels: arms, exercise, fitness, weight |
| posted by Andreea @ 4:39 PM |
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| Saturday, June 23, 2007 |
| Three Pounds in One Week |
I wish I had lost more, honestly. The things is that I want to lose faster since summer is here and I want to go to the seaside. On the other hand, I dislike any kind of diets. I like losing weight in my own way.
So I lost around three pounds, maybe a bit more, but also helped by my period that came and passed. First level in losing weight is losing weight from the tummy, a bit from the whole body and from the breasts, and the least from the legs and butt. Which sux... But, given that I work in front of a computer all day long at work, I am not suprised.
Anyway, I've changed my diet completely since last week - I gave up meat and chicken entirely. I do have fish now and then though, for the proteins. So if at work I had previously ordered mashed potatoes with salad and some chicken, I did not touch the chicken. I had though every day a small glass of milk with chocolate, because my energy was low, but the entire day the number of calories was low enough to cause me to lose weight.
That's the story...Labels: diet, vegetarian, weight |
| posted by Andreea @ 9:00 AM |
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| Thursday, June 21, 2007 |
| The Right Kind of Exercise to Lose Weight |
There are two kinds of exercises: the ones you do to build muscle, and the ones you do to strengthen muscles. The difference? The intensity of your work-out.
When you want to build muscle, you work out slowly and hard. If you want to lose weight and you don't have any muscle built, you should, in addition to the fast-paced one, consider slow exercising. Why? Because muscles burn fat faster and because a body looks better when it has a bit of muscle on.
If you have already built your muscles and you just want to tonify them, make them lean and strong, and also lose weight, then you need a very intense and fast-paced exercise. This also increases your cardio and according to studies, if you work fast, you continue to lose weight even after you have ceased your work-out.
However, any of the above is better and will help you lose weight faster than sitting in bed and being a couch-potato.
If you don't like working out, get yourself a bicycle for the inside and ride every 2-3 days, for 30mins. If you do it slowly, you also decrease the risk of breast cancer, studies show. Increse the pace now and then, paddle backwards, do funny stuff on a bike. Are you getting bored while paddling? Paddle at a slower rate for 30 mins and read a book or a magazine in the meantime. Or watch TV. It works.Labels: exercise, weight |
| posted by Andreea @ 8:17 PM |
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| Wednesday, June 20, 2007 |
| Diets, Losing Weight, and Stomach Aches |
My biggest problem with diets was (and is) vegetables and fruits.
Normally, if you experience stomach aches or you feel bloated or your burp after veggies or fruits, you will have a problem with most of the healthy diets.
I, personally, cannot have a salad without having stomach aches, unless I have something next to the salad.
The best thing to do - boil the veggies. You don't like them boiled? Bake them - they will taste even better.
When you have a salad - for vitamins, if not for other reasons - do not mix too many veggies together. Keep it simple, and use herbs for flavor. For example, I love tomato salads with white cheese and oregano, olive oil, and black olives. I like simple lettuce salads next to my dish, only with lime or lemon juice and olive oil. I like cucumber salads on their own. But be careful - problems can come not only from stomach but also from your gall bladder.
Some veggies with problems for gall bladder are:
- cucumbers
- green or red pepper
- cabbage (cooked or raw)
Yes, there are others too, but these are the ones can cause me trouble.Labels: diet, food, gall_bladder, stomach, weight |
| posted by Andreea @ 10:51 PM |
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| Meat in Summer is Not a Good Idea |
Digesting in summer, when it's very hot, is harder. I think you have realized also that eating consistent food makes you feel more bloated. Your stomach can hurt, you can have problems when digesting food, and so on.
So if you can eliminate meat and chicken and replace it with easier versions (like fish or soya meat) then do it without thinking twice.
According to studies, meat, on its own, can take even more than four hours to digest. If it's hot and and you have already added some bread or sugar on top of it, then that food will sit in your stomach and fermentate for hours. Fermentation ultimately means sugar in your blood, which means that it is harder to lose weight. You don't want to keep food in your stomach, waiting in line for the stomach to finish its work with the meat.
Summer is a season to cleanse your body. So do it. It also means helping you lose weight - just don't rush to the candy store for sweets to replace the meat!Labels: eating_habits, weight |
| posted by Andreea @ 10:38 PM |
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| Sunday, June 17, 2007 |
| Cellulite Treatments from The Body Shop |
I am still using Dove for cellulite and it is working, and I like the fragrance, but I hate the texture: it leaves not a greasy feeling, but it is sticky in a way.
 I have tried and am planning to buy as soon as I finish my Dove cream, Body Focus Cellulite Serum from The Body Shop. I love the way it feels on the skin, how fast it is absorbed and the fragrance. I am quite positive that it works because I have not had any TBS products that would not.
It is not really a cream but a gel, rich in caffeine and vitamins that decrease the orange peel appearance of the skin.
My second buy will be Body Focus Sculpting Body Mask.
I am sure that if I combine the two of them with hot and cold showers and some massage I will be able to go swimming this summer without problems. :)
 Labels: cellulite, cream, gel, loss, weight |
| posted by Andreea @ 4:06 PM |
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| Saturday, June 16, 2007 |
| Detoxification, Weight Loss and Food |
A few good good years ago I was reading this book about the benefits of plants and vegetables on your body.
 I remember I got stuck to three things that were of interest to me: pineapples, cherries, and watermelons.
They were recommended for obesity- not really my case at 105lbs, but an obsession to lose weight is an obsession for life. Especially in Romania, where 80% of the girls are slim and caring about their appearance.
Cherries - according to this book you can lose weight if once a week you reserve a day only for cherries - about 1-2 kilos. You can't eat much anyway: your stomach gets full fast. Besides, cherries are very rich in vitamins. We are in June, right? It's still the season for cherries...
 Watermelons - it's probably the fruit that swallows your tummy the fastest and has the least calories. It's mostly only water. Pick a sweet and fresh one and have watermelon for a day. It washes your toxins and your kidneys.
Pineapple - this is one of the fruits that was (maybe still is) considered best for losing weight, detoxing, and helping obese people or just people who want to lose weight. It is high in fiber. I am not crazy about the canned one and I would suggest, with all my heart, the fresh one. Two times a week only pineapple and I can assure you that you will lose weight. You can even try having pineapple instead of a meal, during the day. Anyway, I am a pineapple fan. Good that I remembered this tip, because I know what will be on my shopping list tomorrow. :)Labels: cherries, detoxification, pineapple, watermelon, weight |
| posted by Andreea @ 4:17 PM |
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| Friday, April 20, 2007 |
| Food Allergy and Intolerance: Weight Loss? |
Let's talk about food intollerance and allergies.
There are people who suffer from food allergies and this cannot be denied. Allergies to nuts, fish, shellfish, wheat, eggs, dairy, and soy are the most common ones. And from this list, fish and nuts are at the top. People with such allergies meet the adverse reaction in a matter of hours or minutes, and they can feel that something is wrong, and others can also see that. Some people can even die eating these foods if they are allergic to them.
However, this new trend of cutting out food just because some crazy dietician or website tells people that one is allergic to it, is wrong.
Go to a normal doctor, get an allergy test or a blood test to test for allergies and only then call yourself allergic to some foood.
Professor Tom Sanders, Department of Nutrition & Dietetics at King's College London says: "Many women believe they have a food allergy or intolerance but in reality numerous studies have shown that only 1-2% or the population suffer from a food intolerance and only 0.3% suffer from Coeliac disease. Cutting out wheat is almost always an extremely bad idea - at best it will lead to mental and physical underperformance but at its worst this type of fashionable fad will set women on the slippery slope towards an eating disorder. The quality of a diet is all about what you include not what you cut out." (The Flour Advisory Bureau) This new trend claims indirectly that everyone who is overweight has to suffer from some kind of food intolerance. Therefore, they advice their 'patients' to cut out wheat or fructose or sugar. Of course, the patients lose weight right away. You don't need to be a genius to understand that not eating any kind of bread and any kind of sugar will reduce your weight. But is it healthy? Their most common claim is that people feel bloated or get headaches after certain foods and this is why we should cut them off. It seems to me that these guys haven't heard of bloating from eating mixed foods. The stomach cannot digest properly if you throw inside everything all mixed - see my previous posts on separating food for better digestion and for losing weight. For me, no matter what I eat, if I mix them too much, I get a headache and I feel bloated. Is that supposed to mean that I am allergic to everything and that I should stop eating? I think it's supposed to mean that I should stop treating my stomach as if it were a trash bin.
Sometimes people are not even allergic to wheat or dairy: they are allergic to all those "E's" added to the food. This is why I am in favor of organic food.
There are people who are lactose intolerant or who suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (spastic colon).
If you think you have IBS because you are allergic, think again and look at what can cause (and therefore cure) IBS:
- stress
- medicines
- caffeine
- large meals
- lack of exercise
- wheat
- dairy
- alcohol
- chocolate
- too much sugar
- not enough veggies
Excess of any of the above can irritate the colon. I have a problem with some of them too so I eat carefully.
Easy exercise (walking, bike, etc) improves digestion. Alcohol and caffeine are known to irritate the colon. Large meals - obviously, since it's hard to digest. Milk and related - it's known to happen to the best of us. This is why they say that milk should be drunk by itself, separately from any other kind of food. Milk IS hard to digest.
Caffeine normally constipates but coffee on an empty stomach can cause diarrhea. Yogurt is good when you are constipated but on an empty stomach it works just like coffee. Bread is better when it's older, not when it's hot and fresh. And rye bread or whole cereals should be preffered to white puffy bread. Lots of sugar can also cause constipation. Haven't you ever had a chocolate bar or something sweet on an empty stomach? I get stomach ache on the spot when I do that.
The colon needs fiber so this is why everyone tells you that you should eat veggies and fruits. And in order to work properly, the colon also needs plenty of water - not coffee or sodas or other pops.
So stop getting paranoid about food intolerance and check your diet first.Labels: allergy, food, intolerance, loss, weight |
| posted by Andreea @ 4:36 PM |
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| Sunday, April 15, 2007 |
| Stop Water Retention and Lose That Extra Weight |
Usually heavier people retain more water than fit people.
Sometimes we retain water because we don't eat properly. But sometimes people just suffer from medical conditions and cannot eliminate the water. In case you have a severe case of water retention, consult your doctor. If nothing is found, you can start thinking about better eating habits, drinking more water, exercising, and maybe reflexology or acupuncture.
First thing you need to know is that water is retained many times if you don't drink enough water; the body cannot rid itself of toxins. And toxins - obviously - are bad for the body.
Second - Sodium is responsible also and mostly for water retention. You wouldn't believe if I told you how much Sodium processed food contained. If you have processed food every day, you are in trouble, because totalling that Sodium passes the normal amount the body can take in one day.
Don't live with the impression that only salty food contains Sodium - salt, called in a more familiar way. Sweets contain a lot too (biscuits). Other foods containing unexpected amounts of Sodium are bread, tomato sauce, or Chinese food (!!!).
Always read the labels! You can have at most 2.3 grams of Sodium a day.
My advice: stick to natural food. Use frozen veggies instead of cans. Eat fresh fruits and not the canned ones. Forget McDonals and any processed food for some time, at least.
Try NOT to take pills, unless prescribed. One of my collegues at work took one, lost about 6 (!) pounds in about 24 hours (!!!) , by peeing non-stop. She took half a pill again in the morning. That did it. What happened was that at work she felt so sick that we had to send her to ER. I am not kidding. Overdoing it can be worse than better.Labels: food, loss, retention, water, weight |
| posted by Andreea @ 8:27 PM |
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| Is it Easier to Lose Weight During Period (Menstruation)? |
What happens it is actually that you retain water and you bloat before your period. Personally, I put up to 3-4 pounds before my period, and I get rid of them after the 3rd or 4th day in my period.
After the second day you should not crave sweets anymore and you should feel already better. Your body has already eliminated most of the toxins so, yes, it looks easier to lose weight then. It works for me. But keep in mind that not feeding yourself properly during this time and cutting down all food can bring down your Calcium and Magnezium (and not only), can make you feel weak and sick, can make you feel sleepy and lacking energy. If this happens, you will most likely slow down your metabolism and your fat burning will also decrease.
So keep yourself hydrated and eat plenty of veggies and good calories. The days right after your period ends are the best, from all points of view, for losing weight and exercising.Labels: loss, menstruation, period, weight |
| posted by Andreea @ 8:17 PM |
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| Swimming to Help You Lose Weight |
Some say it doesn't work, some say it does. For me, swimming has always done miracles. Besides, I love swimming.
Now I can't wait for the outside Olympic Pool to open so I can go swimming.
According to some, you cannot lose weight when swimming if you are not already quite fit. I am quite fit but my resistence is not great: I have a problem completing the length of the pool, and I am a smoker. But one needs to build resistence and for some - like me - one of the most enjoyable ways to do it is by swimming.
When you swim - on your back and front - you use all the muscles in your body and you definetely feel the way swimming exercises your muscles when, after one hour of swimming, you get out and you realize your legs feel very funny. However, you will not feel the pain in the water; you will only feel that you get very tired.
Swimming is an incredible cardio as well.
If you have a problem with your resistence to exercise or are nervous about not being able to complete one length of the pool or are just scared of water or drowning, do what I used to do: always pick the lane close to the side. This way, when you are tired, you can stop and grab the side and then you can continue.
Another way to exercise your legs is by holding the side of the pool and kicking your legs, as if pretending to be swimming. It works.
When you are tired, just float on your back in order to rest.
For some reason, water helps you lose weight. I don't know exactly why, but it does.
If your weight is about 130 lbs, you might be burning around 350 calories in an hour, when swimming slowly, at your own pace. The fatter you are, the more calories you burn. You can reach 550 calories per hour. Backstroke makes you burn in between 470 calories - 700 calories in an hour.
To conclude: if you want to pick a sport and have fun and lose weight or just stay fit and eat more, go for swimming.Labels: exercise, loss, swimming, weight |
| posted by Andreea @ 7:07 PM |
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| Winsor Pilates |
We have already mentioned exercises, but we have never got into details.
My favorite is, by far, Winsor Pilates. A few years ago I had a problem with my knee and I am still not fully recovered. This is one reason why I like pilates so much. Besides, if you check some of the programs, you will see that you don't need any special equipment to lose weight. Use your floor or a bed which is not too soft. As for the results - they are instant.
Even if you are in a good physical condition, the 30-minutes work-out for the lower part of the body or for the abs is fantastic. There is pain - I like pain because I know I lose weight when I my muscle hurts.
Unlike some other exercises, Winsor Pilates helps you build lean supple muscles; you will look fit and good, keeping your 'girlish' look. It is also a perfect cardio.
I know I know... Tae Bo is also good and so is yoga. I like them both and it's only a question of preference. While I like Tae Bo because I used to do karate and I like contact sports, my knee cannot take it anymore.
I say give Pilates a try. If I am right, like in most women, your most problematic area should be from the waist down. So try their program for building a great butt and get rid of that disgusting cellulite once and for all.Labels: exercise, pilates, weight, winsor |
| posted by Andreea @ 6:52 PM |
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| Friday, March 2, 2007 |
| When to Start Dieting? |
This one is for women:
Never start a diet one week before your period. The hormonal imbalances will drive you nuts, will make you frustrated, and the water retained in your body will make appear as if you haven't shed a pound. Actually, you will look as if you took pounds. So spare yourself!
The best moment to start a diet is two days after your period has started, when your cravings subdue and your body starts eliminating the retained water.
It's better not only from a psychological point of view, but also from a physiological one.Labels: diet, period, weight |
| posted by Andreea @ 3:01 PM |
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| Reduce Food Cravings |
Mindell's theory was that we crave food because we lack certain nutritional elements. The other reasons include stress and hormonal factors.
What makes cravings a lot worse? Sugar and salt. Remeber I have told you before about the foods that increase your appetite - like some cereals in the morning and foods high in sugar and bad carbs? Well, keep that in mind.
Dieting is very bad for your body, especially if you are on a restrictive diet that cuts down proteins or carbs completely.
Caffeine is also a poor choice. And artificial sweetners found in Coke, or Pepsi, or Sprite, or any light drink or food are no better. I will write later on why they are so bad.
Have green tea or lemon tea if your stomach can stand it. Mine, for example, cannot handle lemon tea or any other fruit tea. I am ok, however, with tea coming from flowers, like chamomile or jasmine. Or from leaves.
Eat a few times a day and never miss breakfast! The more energy you consume before your first meal, the bigger the craving gets, the bigger the mistake when you buy your meal or the candy bar.
Also, never reduce your calories below 1,000. Honestly, 1,200-1,400 can be a very safe level is you exercise a little bit.
Eat more fiber and less processed food. Take out the white flour and replace it with whole grains and rye or oats. Try to have potatoes instead of bread, or basmati rice.
The key to keeping your weight under control and stopping the cravings is eating all day through, small portions. And try not to get bored and eat without paying attention, like popcorns when watching a movie.Labels: cravings, sugar, weight |
| posted by Andreea @ 2:39 PM |
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| Which Sugar is Better? |
There are two foods - let's say - that should be avoided at any cost: refined white sugar and white flour.
According to Phyllis A. Balch, author of "Prescription for Dietary Wellness, "One in twenty of the world's adult population now has some form of diabetes, a disease associated with obesity, poor eating habits and a sedentary lifestyle. More than half of American adults are overweight. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention relates that the incidence of Type 2 diabetes has risen by 33 percent in the past decade and three out of every 50 American adults currently have this diet-related condition. Complications related to diabetes are the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States."
According to Bruce Fife ND, "Diabetes is all about sugar".
If you must have sugar, then have at least brown sugar. However, the best sugar you can have is found in fruits and is called fructose. Nowadays, many products - especially the diet ones - replaced sugar with fructose. Look at the label before you buy. However, keep in mind that high levels of fructose can be as bad for the body as sugar. Even worse. If you have large quantities of fructose, you will get fat quite fast. The best thing is to normally reduce sweets of any kind. And stop eating the high-fructose corn-syrup (HFCS)!
According to a review by Alan R. Gaby, "HFCS is now used extensively in carbonated beverages and other sweetened drinks, baked goods, candies, canned fruits, jams, jellies, and dairy products. Processed-food manufacturers often prefer HFCS to sucrose because it is inexpensive to produce and mixes well in many foods." Be careful what you buy. And be careful how much you have of any kind of sugar.
Sugar will provide the body the energy it needs NOW, mostly. Fructose, on the other hand, being processed by the liver, will supply energy for a longer amount of time. Some people can be allergic to fructose, so you might want to find out that first. If you never had problems with fruits, you might be fine.
On the other hand, honey is another natural sweetner, containing anti-oxidants. It has been used for a very long time for medical purposes of any kind. It contains fructose.
Reference:
Fraser, J., July, 2005, Sugar, high-fructose corn syrup and type II diabetes, from http://www.newstarget.com/009333.html, retrieved March 2, 2007;
Gaby, A.R., December, 2005, Dietary Fructose - Adverse Effects of Dietary Fructose, in Alternative Medicine Review, Volume 10, Number 4, from http://www.thorne.com/altmedrev/.fulltext/10/4/294.pdf, retrieved March 2, 2007.Labels: diabetes, fructose, honey, sugar, weight |
| posted by Andreea @ 2:01 PM |
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| Finally Losing Weight |
Yes! Finally! My attempts so far have been ruined by Dr Pepper. It's frustrating to eat less, take pills, and put on weight. Or maybe it was just the water that started being retained before my period.
So, girls, did you know that the body retains up to 1 liter of water before and during your period? Keep that in mind next time you are complaining that you cannot lose weight. Personally, I retain even more sometimes.
Anyway, I started this new way of eating. My friend lost 20 pounds almost following it in the US, and if she could do it there, I can do it here!
The basic principles are the ones I have mentioned already. 5-6 meals a day and two or three more substantial. Never eat until you are full, just until you are not hungry anymore. Take out sugar so your insulin is not high and stopping you from losing weight. My daily intake varies from 1,200 calories to 1,500 calories. I don't think that going under this is helpful or healthy.
In the morning I'm having a Diet Cereal Bar and half a glass of yogurt. Two-three hours later I have lunch (for example today I had three small pieces of chicken nuggets and 3 large spoons of eggplants and yogurt salad). Then I had one Diet (with fructose instead of sugar) fruit cheesy yogurt. Then I had dinner - other 3 pieces of nuggets, one egg, and lots of lettuce - and then one more fruity cheesy yogurt. I could have added more, but I feel ok. I am not hungry. I could use some fruits though.
Yesterday I had about 150 grams of chicken (4.5 oz.), 2 spoons Chinese vegetable mix, 3 diet fruit yogurts (300 calories in total), one cereal bar (90 calories), half of glass of yogurt, 2 spoons of eggplant and yogurt salad, and some diet shrimp stuff (90 calories).
Basically, the yogurt will help you lose weight faster because of the linoleic acid and the calcium - go back and read my previous post on the subject. The cereals are healthy, high in fiber, and carbs. And I had my proteins also, plus some vegetables and fruits.
When I reach 55 kilos, I have a feeling I will get stuck, so then I will start exercising. I won't exercise too much now - except for walking - because I want to keep an Ace up my sleeve for the bad days to follow.
Anyway, in two days I lost 400 grams or 1 pound. I think it's going good.
I'm also using the anti-cellulite cream and taking Scottish showers at least every two days.Labels: diet, weight, yogurt |
| posted by Andreea @ 1:09 AM |
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| Saturday, February 24, 2007 |
| Trying to Lose Weight |
I have reached my endurance limit in terms of weight. Being able to wear only one pair of pants is not fun. So I started taking action a few days ago, with not very good results, and that is mostly because I have been sitting on my butt from morning till night working on my dissertation.
The days I get to walk can be seen the next day on my pants. Every morning I wake up and make the plan for the day - today I WILL exercise. I don't. Or not enough, anyway. So yesterday I said "Enough of this shit. Let's start losing weight for good."
I sat my butt in front of the TV and for forty minutes I used the massage tool. Then I massaged some more using the anti-cellulite cream. I added all this to seven or eight hours of walking in the cold and a hot shower.
Today I will use the massage thing again and get back to pilates or yoga. One of them. I'm not sure which one I will do. Anyway, smoking is a big impediment. It makes you lazier.
My goal will be of at least one kilo in the following week. It's no big deal and it can be done.
I need to take out sweets completely - including Dr Pepper. And I will also take out bread for now, and have rice instead. For me it helps. I am sure I can do it. I just need to be patient.Labels: lose, weight |
| posted by Andreea @ 10:51 AM |
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| Monday, February 19, 2007 |
| Pills for Losing Weight |
I don't know about all the pills on the market, but I know about CaliVita.
I know two friends I had in highschool who lost 15-20 pounds with it.
These guys have three products I know of:
- Slim Formula
- Advanced Fat Burners
- Fat Absorber
Some of them tend to constipate you if you don't drink enough liquid, and some tend to give you a soft stool. One is taken if you tend to eat more proteins, the other if you tend to eat more bread, while Slim Formula is for everything. If you plan on buying, I suggest you talk to a sales rep first.
Here is the website for CaliVita, the Weight Control page. I think you can order online. If you are in Romania, you can find the Romanian site online as well.
I also got you an article (PDF file) about losing weight and more information on Slim Formula as well, the ingredients of the product, and how they help you.
I have bought Slim Formula and I plan on trying it starting today. I am sure it will work, combined with proper food and no sweets.Labels: CaliVita, pills, Slim, weight |
| posted by Andreea @ 11:50 AM |
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| Saturday, February 17, 2007 |
| Reflexology, Massage, and Weight Loss |
If you're out of ideas, you can try reflexology and massage for weight loss.
Reflexology can help with your pituitary glands and the thyroid. It can also help with water retention, by stimulating the kidneys. In any case, you will also need to control your diet during reflexology sessions.
My friend tried reflexology for three weeks. She said it kind of helped, but it wasn't an amazing help. She was also dieting. Probably you should find a very good reflexologist if you want it to work. Doing it by yourself is not the same. However, if you want to try your hand at it, buy this book I've gotten for myself: "Reflexology - A Step-by-Step Guide", by Nicola Hall. I bought it for 8 dollars a few years ago.
As for massage - it works pretty much the same as reflexology, but it has more advantages by rubbing your skin and helping your muscles. Honestly, I would opt for this choice. I have my own electrical massage tool, with different speeds, and I used it for two weeks at some point, 10 minutes on each leg. If you combine it with cellulite cream, after a shower, and before bed, it really works! You will wake up at night with sweaty legs. Trust me! I was changing pants two times till morning. | | | |
