How to Break Bad Eating Habits

How To Break Bad Eating Habits:-

Bad habits are made to be broken. Learn easy tricks to help you eat better every day.

How to Break Bad Eating Habits

If You’re a Serious Snacker

The fallout: You may end up overeating. A healthy snack or two between meals is fine. Snacks can keep blood sugar steady as well as allow you to rack up more servings of fruits and vegetables. “It’s when you snack in place of eating real meals that you’re more likely to lose track of how much you’re eating,” says Tara Gidus, R.D., an Orlando, Florida–based spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. Of course, what you eat matters, too. Typical snack foods (chips, cookies, pretzels) aren’t that nutritious or satisfying, so it’s easy to overdo them.

The fix: To keep your energy up and hunger at bay, allow yourself two snacks a day of 100 to 300 calories each. “Rather than a cookie or a candy bar, opt for something that feels like real food―half of a small sandwich, whole-grain crackers with cheese, a handful of nuts, baby carrots with hummus, or yogurt sprinkled with cereal,” says Gidus. Click here for more low-calorie snacks.

If You’re a Mindless Muncher

The fallout: Television makes people particularly prone to spaced-out eating. In fact, “folks who eat while watching the tube take in 20 to 60 percent more than if they are focused on their food,” according to Brian Wansink, a professor of marketing at Cornell University and the author of Mindless Eating.

The fix: Figure out which situations trigger mindless eating for you, then consciously make an effort to eat only when you’re fully engaged. If you need a few snacks, set limits on what you’ll eat. Dole out a single serving before you sit down on the couch, or delay your snack until you can pay attention. Minimise damage by dipping into low-cal foods, such as cut vegetables, air-popped popcorn, rice crackers, and whole-grain cereal.

How to Break Bad Eating Habits

If You Eat Your Way Out of a Bad Mood

The fallout: It may be soothing in the moment, but feeding your fears and frustrations, instead of confronting them, can lead to a cycle of more bad moods as well as steady weight gain. Many people turn to carbohydrates, in particular, which produce tryptophan, a type of amino acid that is used by the brain to manufacture serotonin. “When the brain makes more serotonin, your mood improves, but only temporarily,” says Judith Wurtman, Ph.D., a coauthor of The Serotonin Power Diet.

The fix: Stop to think about what’s bothering you before reflexively open the cupboard. Then try a nonfood mood booster, such as taking a walk, seeing a movie, or calling a friend. “If nothing but carbs will do, get the serotonin boost without triggering a binge,” says Gidus. “Opt for a whole-grain treat so at least you get more fiber and less sugar.”

If You Eat Carefully All Week, Then Blow It on the Weekend

The fallout: It is possible to undo five days of good with regular weekend free-for-alls. In 2004, data from the National Weight Control Registry revealed that people who were consistent in their weekly eating habits, even if they weren’t perfect, were 1.5 times more likely to stay within five pounds of their weight over one year than were those who were vigilant on weekdays only.

The fix: Since much socializing around food takes place on weekends, it pays to strategize. “Have a mini meal before you go out to help you have more self-control, and offer to be the designated driver to limit alcohol intake,” says Gidus. (Alcohol has more calories than you probably think.) And don’t restrict yourself so severely Monday through Friday that the weekend feels like your only time for indulgence.

How to Break Bad Eating Habits

If All Your Meals Come in Cans, Bags, or Boxes

The fallout: Packaged foods, like soups, frozen meals, and rice mixes, can be sneaky sources of unhealthy fats, sugar, salt, and excess calories. Even a can of (otherwise virtuous) low-fat soup can contain more than half a day’s worth of sodium. 

The fix: Don’t feel guilty about relying on packaged foods; just be smart about which ones you choose. Frozen entrées―especially lower-calorie, lower-sodium versions―can provide a quick, portion-controlled meal. Compare labels to find the healthiest ones―that is, those that are higher in fiber and lower in salt and that have whole grains and nutrient-rich vegetables at the top of their ingredient lists. Frozen vegetables, cooked chicken, and a whole-grain rice mix can kick off a healthy almost-home-cooked meal, particularly when you serve them with fresh vegetables or a leafy green salad. Finish with a piece of fruit or low-fat yogurt for dessert.

If You Eat on the Run

The fallout: Eating while on the go (driving, walking down the street, shopping) means you’re probably not paying much attention to what’s going into your mouth. Leslie Bonci, R.D., director of sports nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, says this “grab, gulp, and go mentality” can leave you dissatisfied and unsure of what you ate, and sometimes even give you an upset stomach. 

The fix: Build time to eat into your day. “If you have to, schedule it on your BlackBerry, just like you do everything else,” says Krieger. When you have no option but to dine while dashing, be prepared. Stock your purse, glove compartment, or office drawer with a few healthy choices, such as low-fat granola bars, nuts and dried fruit, and single-serving packages of crackers. “Even fast-food restaurants are offering healthier, satisfying choices, like salads and wraps with crunchy vegetables and lean meats,” says Bonci.

How to Break Bad Eating Habits

If You’re a Speed-Eater

The fallout: Gulping food may set you up for stomach troubles. “You take in excess air, which can lead to bloating,” says Bonci. You also might not be chewing well. “Saliva begins to break food down, and too little time in the mouth leaves more work for the rest of the digestive tract. This may contribute to indigestion,” says Krieger. Finally, speed-eating doesn’t give the brain time to catch up to the stomach; it needs at least 20 minutes to get the message that your stomach is full. A recent study found that women who ate a meal in 30 minutes ate 10 percent fewer calories compared with those who wolfed one down in barely 10.

The fix: Try to slow down. Avoid finger foods, and instead choose items you have to put on a plate and eat with utensils, such as stir-fries and salads. Pause often, and drink water throughout meals.



If You Skip Breakfast

The fallout: You’ll probably have a lousy morning, as well as a higher chance of overeating later on. “Blood sugar usually drops overnight, so your brain is running on empty until you eat in the morning,” says Krieger. Studies have shown that cognitive skills and memory improve once you’ve fueled your foggy morning brain. Recent research shows that breakfast skippers tend to eat more calories during the day than do people who don’t skip. Eating breakfast may actually help you achieve and maintain weight loss.

The fix: Breakfast doesn’t have to be a drawn-out affair, but try to eat about an hour or two after you get up. “Aim for 250 to 400 calories, and include at least one serving of whole grains, a source of protein, and one serving of fruit,” says Gidus. If you’re habitually short on time, stock the kitchen with easy-to-make breakfast foods, keep packets of oatmeal at the office, or place a standing order at a café so you can make a pickup on your way to work.

How to Break Bad Eating Habits

If You’re a Sugar Fiend

The fallout: A package of candy may give you a burst of energy, but then you’ll be smacked down by a post-sugar slump. What’s more, “a sugary snack is usually empty calories, providing few of the nutrients you need,” says Ellie Krieger, R.D., host of the Food Network’s Healthy Appetite. This, she says, may explain why it’s possible to be both obese and undernourished.

 The fix: You don’t have to go off the sweet stuff completely―just find some good substitutions now and then. Unsweetened dried fruit (like tart cherries or mangoes), peanut M&M’s (a little protein mixed with sugar can help fend off the energy dip), and even a handful of lightly sweetened whole-grain cereal are all good swaps for candy or cookies. And since added sugar sneaks its way into many foods―including bread, cereal, and yogurt―read labels and seek out versions of your favorites with less sugar. Buy unsweetened drinks and add your own sugar. (Presweetened iced tea can contain as much as 10 to 12 teaspoons per bottle.) Or opt for sugar-free.

How to Break Bad Eating Habits Video!

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Top Ten Celebrity Diets Unleashed!

Today more than ever the pressure is on for us to be thin and beautiful. With the combination of the abundance of unhealthful food options readily available and the pressure created by thin celebrities with perfect bodies, it can prove difficult for us to feel as though we fit in during the summer holiday.

What many of us fail to realise, however, is that these celebrities have to work hard to maintain their bodies utilising the best celebrity diets. Rather than being jealous that we don’t look like them, we should instead take measures to try to learn from them.

There are a variety of celebrity diet plans that have proven effective for the most beautiful people that we would love to emulate. Here’s the top ten for you to try.

The five factor diet consists of consuming five meals daily, and each meal consists of five ingredients. The target ingredients include protein, unsaturated fats, fibre, carbs and a drink containing no sugar. Furthermore, the dieter is required to work out for around a half an hour five days a week.

In order to make this diet realistic, participants are allowed one day a week to indulge in the foods they love. This gives them something to look forward to and actually increases their chances at success. Eva Mendez reportedly lost 15 pounds employing this little-known technique.

It may sound strange, but Beyoncé Knowles is said to have lost 19 pounds using the maple syrup diet. The diet is more of a fast in which, for a ten day time frame, nothing is consumed except for a concoction of maple syrup, cayenne pepper, lemon juice and water. This diet helps the body rid itself of toxins, and the cayenne pepper helps speed metabolism.

Celebrities such as Kate Moss are said to have found success in the holistic detox diet. The 38-year-old model allegedly lost eight pounds in 21 days eating only from a constricted list of foods including red meat, nuts and tea. One of the celebrity diet secrets of this particular method is to chew food 10 times prior to swallowing as this speeds digestion.

When analysing celebrity diets, the Hampton’s diet is worth mentioning as it is said to have helped actress Sarah Jessica Parker eradicate 15 pounds. This strategy works by the dieter eliminating processed foods. They instead eat foods found on the outer edges of the grocery store such as raw fruits and vegetables, nuts and fish. This diet is one that is healthful not just as a temporary lifestyle change but also as a way of life.

Those needing to trim a few pounds to fit into that cute new bathing suit can follow in the footsteps of Jessica Biel by participating in the three hour diet. The actress lost 10 pounds by eating six small meals every three hours throughout the day to minimise cravings.

Dieters are encouraged to compare their portions with objects. By associating portion sizes with familiar objects, they are more likely to remember the correct quantities of certain foods to stay on track with the diet plan.

Madonna is said to have lost 12 pounds employing a diet high in fibre to lose weight. Foods consumed include uncooked foods and soy products. While the macrobiotic diet is not ideal to pursue for the long-term, it has proven effective in weight loss.

Cooking fruits and vegetables causes them to lose key nutrients, and this diet helps promote health in addition to reaching the ideal weight. Actress Demi Moore reportedly lost 11 pounds by eating three quarters of her food uncooked on the raw food diet.

It can be unsafe to consume undercooked meats, so it is recommended for dieters considering this plan to limit their diet to raw fruits and vegetables, nuts, legumes and natural juices during the length of their diet.

Jennifer Aniston is said to have lost 9 pounds by utilising a simple mathematical ratio into her daily food consumption through the zone diet. This method involves calculating the proper ratio of carbs to fats to proteins. Participants such as Aniston have found success by employing a ration of 40:30:30.

This diet is effective in that it helps the body lose weight in a healthful manner without restricting it from the elements it needs that most diets avoid completely. By regulating this intake, the body can better adapt to the diet as well as keep the weight off for the long-term.

The blood type diet acclaimed by actress Elizabeth Hurley takes into consideration findings from studies that have associated the effects of food items in relation to blood types. For example, it was discovered that type A individuals are more likely to lose weight by consuming more fruits and vegetables while type O dieters should instead eat lots of red meat.

While some debate the findings of these studies, Hurley allegedly lost 12 pounds through the implementation of this plan.

The same scientists who conducted the studies for the blood type diet also did further studies comparing dieters’ genes in comparison to food consumption to determine correlations. They concluded that the six different gene types indeed make a difference in what type of diet will be effective for individuals.

Acclaimed talk show hostess Oprah Winfrey is said to have lost 19 pounds using the knowledge gained through these studies on the geno type diet.

This is anyones guess, it seems like a new one is coming out every month and hyped up by the media. The best thing to do would be to pick a diet from above that sounds good to you and see if it actually works.

http://vesperblack.com/blog/top-celebrity-diets-melt-away-the-pounds

Water....Are You Drinking Enough And Why You Should Be

WATER.....

Are You Drinking Enough? And Why You Should Be!

Everyone seem's to carry bottled water everywhere they go these days. In fact, it has become the second most popular drink (behind soft drinks). But water lovers got a jolt recently when we heard that a new report had found that the benefits of drinking water may have been oversold. Apparently, the old suggestion to drink eight glasses a day was nothing more than a guideline, not based on scientific evidence.

But don't put your water bottle or glass down just yet. While we may not need eight glasses, there are plenty of reasons to drink water. In fact, drinking water (either plain or in the form of other fluids or foods) is essential to your health.

"Think of water as a nutrient your body needs that is present in liquids, plain water, and foods. All of these are essential daily to replace the large amounts of water lost each day," says Joan Koelemay, RD, dietitian for the Beverage Institute, an industry group.

Kaiser Permanente nephrologist Steven Guest, MD, agrees: "Fluid losses occur continuously, from skin evaporation, breathing, urine, and stool, and these losses must be replaced daily for good health," he says.

When your water intake does not equal your output, you can become dehydrated. Fluid losses are accentuated in warmer climates, during strenuous exercise, in high altitudes, and in older adults, whose sense of thirst may not be as sharp.

Here are six reasons to make sure you're drinking enough water or other fluids every day:

1. Drinking Water Helps Maintain the Balance of Body Fluids. Your body is composed of about 60% water. The functions of these bodily fluids include digestion, absorption, circulation, creation of saliva, transportation of nutrients, and maintenance of body temperature.

"Through the posterior pituitary gland, your brain communicates with your kidneys and tells it how much water to excrete as urine or hold onto for reserves," says Guest, who is also an adjunct professor of medicine at Stanford University.

When you're low on fluids, the brain triggers the body's thirst mechanism. And unless you are taking medications that make you thirsty, Guest says, you should listen to those cues and get yourself a drink of water, juice, milk, coffee -- anything but alcohol.

"Alcohol interferes with the brain and kidney communication and causes excess excretion of fluids which can then lead to dehydration," he says.

2. Water Can Help Control Calories. For years, dieters have been drinking lots of water as a weight loss strategy. While water doesn't have any magical effect on weight loss, substituting it for higher calorie beverages can certainly help.

"What works with weight loss is if you choose water or a non-caloric beverage over a caloric beverage and/or eat a diet higher in water-rich foods that are healthier, more filling, and help you trim calorie intake," says Penn State researcher Barbara Rolls, PhD, author of The Volumetric's Weight Control Plan.

http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/6-reasons-to-drink-water

Top 10 Benefits of Drinking Water: Don't Medicate, Hydrate!

1. Increases Energy & Relieves Fatigue – Since your brain is mostly water, drinking it helps you think, focus and concentrate better and be more alert. As an added bonus, your energy levels are also boosted!

2. Promotes Weight Loss – Removes by-products of fat, reduces eating intake (by filling up your tummy if consumed prior to meals), reduces hunger (hello natural appetite suppressant!), raises your metabolism and has zero calories!

3. Flushes Out Toxins – Gets rid of waste through sweat and urination which reduces the risk of kidney stones and UTI’s (urinary tract infections).

4. Improves Skin Complexion – Moisturizes your skin, keeps it fresh, soft, glowing and smooth. Gets rid of wrinkles. It’s the best anti-aging treatment around!

5. Maintains Regularity – Aids in digestion as water is essential to digest your food and prevents constipation.

6. Boosts Immune System – A water guzzler is less likely to get sick. And who wouldn’t rather feel healthy the majority of the time? Drinking plenty of water helps fight against flu, cancer and other ailments like heart attacks.

7. Natural Headache Remedy – Helps relieve and prevent headaches (migraines & back pains too!) which are commonly caused by dehydration.

8. Prevents Cramps & Sprains - Proper hydration helps keep joints lubricated and muscles more elastic so joint pain is less likely.

9. Puts You in a Good Mood – When the body is functioning at its best, you will feel great and be happy!

10. Save Money! - Water is FREE! Even if you choose bottled/filtered water, it’s STILL cheaper than that high sugar and fat-filled latte!

http://visual.ly/benefits-drinking-water