Calories and fast weight loss

Calories are everything that we eat. Its amount varies on what kind of food we actually take in. The heavier the content of the food is in terms of carbohydrate, protein, and fat content, the
larger the amount of calories it contains. The amount of calories that a person needs everyday varies, this depends on your age, weight, height, and the activities you do. When you over eat and your calorie count is surging way too high than what you need, weight gain occurs.

How many calories to lose weight?


Counting may be too much a task to some people especially those who have really busy schedules. But if counting would mean losing some of those extra pounds fast then it may be worth a try. This technique had been proven to be very safe and effective especially if you really watch how much you eat every meal.
The first step to calorie counting is to know how much calories you need to consume in a day. You may use online calorie calculators to do so or manually compute it using the Harris-Benedict Equation.
When you have already established your daily calorie requirement, the next step is to learn how much calories your food contain. Learning caloric contents of your food is easy. You can make use of the nutrition guide which is usually found at the back of each food container that details the amount of calories each food serving contains. This is not hard to find because almost all food have this label because it is being mandated by the law. This is to ensure that consumers are aware of they are eating.
Then there’s what we call calorie burning. Walking, jogging, swimming, and any other activities help burn the calories we have consumed. Cardio exercises are the top pick for people who wish to lose weight fast because energy expenditure is quite high when doing activities that increase your vital signs.
Now let’s do the math:
Subtract the amount of calories you want to spare everyday from your daily calorie requirement to get your weight loss caloric count. Do remember that the calorie-pound ratio is 3500:1. This mean, losing 500 calories a day can make you lose one pound in a week.  Burning another 500 will make you lose two pounds in one week. Burning or cutting your calorie intake by 500 to 1000 calories a day is generally considered safe; going beyond that may need medical supervision.
But then again, it is advisable to seek medical advice before undergoing any weight loss plan. Your doctor is the best person to tell you which is the best and safest method for you. This goes especially true to people who are morbidly obese because rapid weight loss could be very dangerous.
Overall, eating less and exercising more is still the best way to lose weight. In addition to that, counting the amount of calories you take in daily will help keep you on tract.
Calorie counting is simple don’t you think?
article source http://www.howtoloseweighthealthy.com/

School's Back! Lunch Box Ideas

Children need to eat a variety of foods everyday to stay healthy and help them concentrate and learn at school. However, packing a lunch box and trying to keep it delicious, healthy and interesting can be quite a task for many of us - but it doesn’t have to be if you follow a few simple steps:

A lunch box should always include:

• Fruit (fresh is best, but tinned and dried are also suitable)
• Vegetables or salad ingredients
• A meat or protein food such as lean meat, hardboiled egg, fish or nuts
• Dairy foods such as a cheese slice or stick, milk or yoghurt
• Starchy food such as high fibre bread rolls, pita or flat bread, fruit bread or grain crackers
• Water (frozen water can be used as a freezer brick to keep foods cold)

Suggestions for lunch box meals and snacks include:

• Cold pasta spirals mixed with salad vegetables and lean meat e.g. ham, pastrami 
• Rice with vegetables mixed in it with lean meat e.g. ham, pastrami
• Mini pizza with cheese and pineapple
• Avocado and lemon with salad on a wholemeal wrap
• Bagel with vegemite and low fat cheese
• Corn or rice cakes with peanut butter
• Grainy crackers with slices of cheese
• Plain popcorn as a snack
• Yoghurt, low fat milk or low fat custard (freeze overnight to ensure it stays cool)
• Small packets of dried fruit and nuts as snacks
• Include extra celery and carrot sticks
• Fruit

Foods should be simple and easy to prepare, ready to eat and appetising after several hours in the lunch box. Keeping food stored in an insulated lunch box or one with a freezer pack will keep food fresher for longer - particularly important for those hot summer days.

As well as keeping lunch simple, try to encourage children to help choose and prepare their own lunch. Praise children when they choose healthy foods for their lunch box. They may even want to have a Masterchef lunch box competition between siblings for some fun and variety.

Most importantly - don’t forget your own lunch! Set a good example as children learn from their parents more than you may think therefore prepare your lunch and snacks while the children are doing theirs. Make it a healthy family approach for all to benefit from.

Healthy & Happy New Year

Christmas is over...

...So where to from here?

Research from the United States has found that the average end of year holiday weight gain is 0.5kgs and this weight increase is not reversed over the following year. Regardless of whether your festive season went to plan or could have been better, the silly season for 2010 has passed and we are faced with a new year ahead.

The New Year presents a good opportunity to re-evaluate where we are at with our health plans to set those New Year’s Resolutions. Ask yourself - what would I like to achieve in 2011? Remember, a few parties don’t make you overweight; it’s what you do the other 350 odd days of the year that matters.

Here are a couple of recommendations for getting started:

• Make sure you have a healthy environment around you - This means throw away any of those Christmas leftovers – weight loss is hard enough without having fruit mince pies, rum balls, peanuts and boxes of chocolates laying in the house. If possible, give these away to guests, neighbours or even colleagues at work.
• Set goals for what you want to achieve in 2011 - what are the greatest advantages with being healthier in 2011? It could be more energy, feeling better, looking better or improved health. Think of your resolutions as new goals for the year. Set short term goals to accompany your longer term goals.

A good way to approach this is to include goals that encompass a variety of aspects of your life:

• External goals e.g. Eating habits, food choices, exercise, shopping, reading food labels, health outcomes, etc.
• Internal goals e.g. Managing comfort eating, stress management, self-esteem, negative thought patterns, assertiveness, etc.

Write down your goals and put them somewhere noticeable (eg. office, study, fridge, back of toilet door, etc) so that you are continuously aware of your target.

Guidelines for setting goals include:

• Keep it real - Make your plans realistic and achievable. Consider your lifestyle and how reasonable your resolutions are. This may also involve starting small, for example, if you are doing less physical activity, maybe set a goal to increase this by one extra session per week and build on it weekly.
• Be specific – Set specific goals so that you know exactly what you are aiming to achieve and so you are able to measure your progress. For example, if you want to drink alcohol, how many standard drinks will you have?
• Plan – Think ahead and be prepared. This definitely applies to food and exercise – know what events or activities are coming up and re-arrange your original plan accordingly. This could be returning to work or ensuring the kids are all prepared for school.
• Anticipate setbacks - Let’s say the Christmas / New Year break didn’t go exactly to plan. Don’t worry, it’s not the end of the world! We have a new year ahead of us remember! The important thing is to remain focused. Return to your normal routine with meals and exercise as quickly as possible and keep in mind that one meal or one day is not going to make a significant difference in the overall scheme of things.
• Dealing with setbacks is part of the behaviour change process. Don't get downhearted if you experience them; see them as an opportunity to learn about yourself instead. Avoid 'all or nothing' thinking and learn to accept your mistakes and then move on. Does a musician cease playing when an incorrect note is played? Does a tennis player pack up after they serve a fault? They learn from the mistake and grow in experience so that they improve for next time.
• Reward yourself - Develop a system of non-food related rewards for behaviours that support your goals. Don't wait until the very end - set milestones and reward yourself as you go. For example, get a massage, buy a new CD or book.

Overall remember your goals and resolutions are an ongoing process, not an overnight transformation.

We hope you had an enjoyable Christmas and Happy New Year, from the staff at WWMC!

References

Eating according to your body needs

 Food today is one of the world’s major concerns. Today more and more people are turning health conscious and joining up all sorts of courses and classes. But the truth is most of these classes and courses are not necessary for a person if he or she knows what they are doing in their daily life in concern with their food habits. Food habits are the most important aspect in a person’s health.
A person with proper and healthy food habits will avoid about 80% of the diseases in the world.
It is not only necessary to eat nutritious food that is good for the body but it is also necessary to eat according to the needs of your body. To eat according to the needs of your body obviously means not over eating and eating or eating too less. It is to eat to a quantity that is enough to satisfy the needs of your body and keep you content at the same time. To eat to this quantity is often difficult as food is one of the things in this world that people like to indulge themselves in. Also it is one of the most neglected aspects to some people in this world.

To known what your body wants is very essential. It is obvious that your body can’t talk in a verbal language but this does not mean that it does not communicate at all. At all times, all yearnings and longings of the body are felt by you. When you are in pain you can feel the discomfort, when you are sleepy, your body will be cuing you in with nods, yawns and sleepiness. This way whatever the needs of your body are they are communicated to you through the signs of your body. Similarly when you are hungry, your body communicates the same. But here hunger is a tricky subject. You should be able to differentiate between the hunger of the body and the hunger of the mind. It is not as simple as noticing your stomach growling. If your stomach is growling after seeing a strawberry short cake just after you have finished a heavy lunch, then it is probably not your stomach that is growling. Your body will be full but your mind will develop the craving towards the cake. Giving in to these cravings is how people tend to over eat and spoil any and all eating habits that they have.

Hunger is a discomfort and it is felt in the stomach. This signal is well known to the infants. When they are hungry they cry to signal it out. For them it is a signal that is directly from the body. Their mind in no part plays towards these cravings. This is the same in care of the animals that live in the wild. They are well in tune with the signals of their body. It is said that most activities of these animals in the wild are dominated by the signals that is given out by their bodies. The case with infants is also the same. When they feel that everything is good and fine they do not do anything but just sleep. But when they feel that certain discomfort in their little stomachs, they cry and let their mama known immediately what is wrong. This is an instinctive mechanism in the infants that let them in the best words fend for themselves. Infant are highly attuned to their body. They act directly according to their body needs without any interference from their minds.

Since the infants are highly in tune with their bodies they know instinctively when they should eat and when they should not. Apart from this they also instinctively seem to know when to stop eating. They don’t care how much milk is left in the bottle, they stop drinking it when they feel like they are done. This is something that we should try to attune ourselves to. Eating till we are done does not mean eating till we are full. If we are full then that would meant that we have eaten too much. Mostly people who are overweight have the habit of eating till they are full. This results in an uncomfortable feeling in the stomach. People mostly eat till they are full not because of the urges of the body but mostly due to peer pressure. One should eat till their hunger is satisfied and the stomach is comfortable. That is the proper definition of eating healthy. But finding the mark where the hunger is satisfied is another big problem. Most people decide to satisfy their hunger in accordance of their mind. This should actually be in accordance with their body or more significantly in accordance with their stomach.

To learn how to get closer to the instincts of the body in relation to hunger is one of the best ways to control your food habits. To eat according to your body’s needs is to eat healthily and also the best way to keep your health in control. Hunger is not bad but hunger of the mind is. Hunger should come from the body and so should satisfaction. The easiest way you can get in tune with your body is stop eating your regular meals. Eat only when your body feels the need to eat. You will be surprised at how you will be eating the same three meals a day but your body will be more satisfied than ever when you eat in accordance with the urges that come from your body. Identify the reactions of the body to hunger. See what changes happen, the feelings or the sounds. This will help you differentiate between real hunger of the body and temptation of the mind. Learning your own body signals is a remarkably powerful tool that will assist you in getting rid of the unnecessary urges that you have towards food. This will help you live happy healthy life content and satisfied with the food that you eat every day.

  atricle  source www.healthyweightlossfacts.com/

Antioxidants and Energy Production

Oxidation is a term used to describe energy-producing reactions within each cell of the human body. Technically speaking, it’s a transfer of hydrogen atoms or electrons from one molecule to another. The end products of oxidation are water, CO2 (carbon dioxide, which we breathe out) and energy which drives cell function. As our activity levels increase, we require more energy (oxidation reactions) and our breathing rates increase to remove the increasing CO2 levels. The types of food being eaten by an individual will also affect the level of oxidation in the body.

Oxidation also produces substances called ‘free radicals’ and our body can naturally cope with a certain amount of free radicals at any one time. However, once a threshold is reached, an overload of free radicals may cause cell damage and health problems leading to heart disease, macular degeneration, diabetes and cancer.

Free radical production is also accelerated by stress, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, sunlight and pollution. So our lifestyle choices can lead to added stress on our cells in the form of excessive free radicals.

The good news is that antioxidants that neutralize free radicals are found in certain foods. Antioxidant contained in nutrients include vitamins A, C, E, zinc and selenium. Other dietary food compounds, such as the phytochemicals in plants and zoochemicals from animal products, have an even greater antioxidant effect than vitamins or minerals. Phytochemicals include lycopenes in tomatoes and anthocyanins found in cranberries.

How do I achieve a good intake of antioxidants?

Antioxidants are found in abundance within grain products, fruit, vegetables and beans. Eating a range of vibrant colours in fruit and vegetables allows you to get in a variety of different antioxidants. It is always better to get antioxidants through food sources rather than through supplementation.

Foods and their Antioxidants

Carrots, squash, broccoli, sweet potato, tomatoes, rockmelon, peaches, apricot
Antioxidants - vitamin A and carotenoids

Oranges, lemon, lime, capsicum, broccoli, green leafy vegetables, strawberries and tomatoes
Antioxidant - vitamin C

Nuts and seeds, wholegrains, green leafy vegetables, vegetable oil and liver oil
Antioxidant - vitamin E

Fish, shellfish, red meat, chicken, eggs, grains and garlic
Antioxidant - selenium

Oysters, red meat, poultry, seafood, whole grains, fortified breakfast cereals, beans and nuts
Antioxidant – zinc

Common PhytochemicalsSoy, red wine, purple grapes, cranberries, tea and pomegranate
Antioxidants - flavonoids/polypenols

Tomato, tomato products, pink grapefruit and watermelon
Antioxidant - lycopene

Dark green vegetables, broccoli, brussel sprouts and spinach
Antioxidant - lutein

Flaxseed, oatmeal, barley and rye
Antioxidant - lignan

References

The Importance of Cooking with Weight Loss

Cooking – some people love it while others hate it! If you’re trying to lose weight or maintain a healthy lifestyle, you’ll quickly realise that cooking is central to your success.  Too often we are tempted to take the easy option and order take away or eat meals out which will make long term weight loss or weight maintenance very difficult.

So what is the answer? How do you make cooking less of a chore so that the excuses not to cook stop creeping in to your head?  The answer for most people who lead very busy lives is that it must be quick. But quick is not the only answer.  You must also find the motivation to get into a routine of cooking your meals each night and avoid the temptation of picking up a take away on the way home.  Finding the motivation to cook regular meals may not be easy but here are some things to think about which will help to make cooking easier:

• Make sure your meals taste good!
• Plan meals in advance so that you know what you’re making and don’t give yourself the option of having something else
• Be organised and have all the ingredients at home so that you don’t have to go to the shops on the way home
• If there are other people at home get them involved too. This will help to reduce the amount of time it takes to prepare and cook the meal
• Cook a large enough meal so that there are leftovers for lunch or dinner the next day
• Consider the health benefits. Who really knows how much or what type of fat is going into the Thai takeaway or pizza you’ve ordered
• Food portion sizes tend to be far larger when you order takeaway or eat out, which is not desirable for weight loss

Eating take-away or dining out regularly does not allow you to control your daily food intake.  You will find that your daily saturated fat, energy and salt intake will very quickly exceed your requirements which will of course lead to weight gain and other long term health problems such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure.  Like most things, eating take away and enjoying meals out is fine in moderation.  However when take away meals, which are high in calories and served in large portion sizes, become part of routine weight loss, weight maintenance and long term good health are very difficult to achieve.

Try these healthy, quick and delicious meal ideas to stop you pulling in for mid week takeaways!

Classic Chicken Stir Fry

1. Stir fry chicken breast seasoned with salt, pepper and garlic. Use a spray of canola oil for cooking.
2. Once cooked, add red capsicum, snow peas and broccoli. Add 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce and ½ tablespoon of soy sauce.
3. Remove from heat. Top with fresh basil leaves and bean shoots.

SAM: Steak, Avocado and Mushroom

1. Season steak with dried thyme salt and pepper and cook to your liking on the BBQ.
2. Spray a large field mushroom with cooking oil, cut a large red chilli in half and de- seed, then grill the vegetables on the BBQ. Trim green beans, boil the kettle and cover the beans with hot water.
3. Serve with a tablespoon of avocado, fresh coriander and a wedge of lime. 

Fish and Salsa

1. Cover fish with lemon, salt and pepper wrap in foil and bake in the oven.
2. Cut fresh basil, mint, large red chilli and spring onion and sprinkle over the fish once cooked.
3. Serve with broccolini and a side of salsa: diced tomato, cucumber, red onion + balsamic vinegar. 

Vietnamese Beef

1. In a food processor, mix one stalk of lemon grass, 2 garlic cloves, juice of 1 lime, 2 tablespoons of fish sauce and ½ tablespoon of peanut oil.
2. Thinly slice strips of beef and coat in the marinade you’ve just made.
3. Mix together shredded lettuce, grated carrot, thinly sliced cucumber, fresh mint and basil leaves.
4. Cook the marinated beef strips, serve on top of salad top with fresh bean sprouts. 

Lamb with Vegies

1. Choose lamb back strap or another cut of lamb with all the fat removed, sprinkle with equal amounts of sumac, sesame seeds and thyme.
2. Cut zucchini into quarters, sprinkle with salt and pepper and grill together with chunks of red capsicum.
3. Trim green beans, boil the kettle and cover the beans with hot water. Mix all vegetables together and sprinkle with 30g low fat feta cheese.
4. Serve as vegetables with the lamb.

A salad you won’t complain about!

1. Cook chicken breast seasoned with salt, pepper and garlic + ½ a bacon round per person all fat removed in non stick pan. 
2. On a plate place lettuce leaves, snow peas, thin slices of red onion. Top with cooked chicken and bacon pieces.
3. Sprinkle with low fat ricotta cheese and crushed walnuts (3 per person) dress with balsamic vinegar.

Mexican Beef Cups

1. Cook beef strips in a frying pan using spray oil.
2. Add small pieces of broccoli and capsicum and stir in burrito mix (adding water to make it saucey).
3. Serve in lettuce leave cups with a dollop of low fat sour cream and topped with freshly diced tomato.  

Bon Appétit, send us through your favourite healthy recipes!

Small Loss in Weight, Big Difference to Health

Although it is a widely communicated fact that being overweight increases your risk of developing a number of serious health conditions, what isn’t so well known is how even small a loss in weight can make a big difference to your overall health!

Recently, there have been a number of scientific studies published that reveal a small loss in weight (5-10% of initial weight) results in significant improvements in blood cholesterol blood pressure and blood sugar control. For example, those who are considered overweight at 80kgs, will be significantly healthier just 4 to 8kgs lighter. Also, these small reductions in weight reduce the risk of osteoarthritis and risk of contracting some cancers and other chronic diseases.

 

A recent study (involving 500 men and women at risk for type 2 diabetes) showed that the onset of diabetes in this group was avoided during the study when subjects achieved these 5 outcomes:

1. Weight loss of 5-10%
2. 30-45minutes of physical activity on 4 – 5 days a week
3. Low fat diet (<30% total calories)
4. Low saturated fat intake (<10% total calories)
5. 15g fibre per 1000 calories (for example 1 medium apple = 3g fibre, 1 slice of wholemeal = 2g fibre, ½ cup of mixed vegetables = 4g fibre and 2 tablespoons of muesli = 3g fibre)

While these 5 simple actions led to an avoidance of type 2 diabetes in this study, they may look like ominous changes to some (particularly those who may have attempted this sort of lifestyle change in the past). However, with diabetes being a key contributor to death and disability around the world the benefit of these changes far outweighs the challenge of implementing them.

While it’s clear that small amounts of weight loss results in many long term health benefits, taking the first step can be difficult. Before attempting to lose weight, exercise more, decrease fat and increase fibre in your diet, consult a dietitian. Their expert advice will help to ensure you’re your on the right track. Remember it only takes 5 – 10% of your initial weight to make some dramatic health improvements.

Adapted from: LaFontaine, TP. Roitman, JL.http://www.vhct.org/case2500/benefits.htm

References