Slim Shopper Part 3

The best indication of a good cereal is one with 8 or fewer grams of sugar per serving.  It should also have at least 3 grams of fiber.

Slim Shopper Part 2

Soup:  Make sure the can of soup has less than 240 milligrams of sodium per 1 cup. 

I know a secret

Want to lose that flab in the middle?  Start running.  The flab you burn comes off the middle first.  You will lower your cholesterol and cut your risk for heart disease, both are linked to visceral fat, the kind that sits on your mid section.

Pump up the Volume

Of course you need to think about fat and calories when you are consuming food but you also need to think about a foods air and water content, or its volume.  100 calories of raisins or 1/4 cup is not as satisfying as 100 calories of grapes, 1 cup.  People who eat a salad piled with veggies fill up on higher density food then people who eat salads with high calorie/fat toppings.

I love to sleep do you?

Studies show that lack of sleep leads to higher BMI's.  A study that was done showed that people who lacked sleep especially children had higher BMI's due to a build up of cortisol a hormone.  So get comfy folks and have sweet dreams.

The Family Makeover

Here are three ways to kick start a family makeover.

1.  Be persistent-say your family doesn't like spinach.  Try try try sometimes all the trying takes 15 times to get them to catch on.

2.  Keep them moving-have plenty of family activities scheduled for your family.  This keeps them moving and creates an open dialogue for communication for years to come.

3.  Switch the game-have the kids switch out their video games to active video games like those for the wii or the kinect.

Shin splint bummer...

One of the biggest bummers for runners are shin splints.  Here are three steps to ease some of the pain:

1.  Just chill-when you notice discomfort cut back on your mileage or switch to non impact activity so your body can heal.

2.  Stretch your calves-stretching calves lessens the chances of developing the problem in the first place.

3.  Stabilize-look into orthotics for your arches to stabilize.

Teenage Waistland

40% of women went on their first diet when they were in middle school.  6% began dieting between the ages of 9 and 12.  This is so disturbing.  We need to teach our children how to have a healthy relationship with food and their own bodies early so this cycle stops.

Making food the Main Event

People spend more time distracted while eating today than ever before.  When you are distracted you are not aware of what you are consuming.  Put all the distractions away and focus on the plate at hand!!!

A new diabetes threat...

A recent study published in the journal of Diabetes Care show that people living in area with air quality that was slightly below the Environmental Protection Agency's limits were 20% more likely to develop the disease than those in less smoggy areas.  Researcher's were not sure why except that inhaling the fine particulates can lead to inflammation and insulin resistance.

Shoving fear out the door...

Every woman who acheived great things has had to step outside their comfort zone to do it.  Here are a few ways to challenge your mindset.  Embrace the unknown, some people stay in bad situations because the misery they feel is more comfortable than the unknown.  Believe in yourself, even the little goals you aim to achieve.  Face failure head-on, the worst that can happen is you don't succeed, try try again.

The upside of being down...

What doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.  People who experienced some form of hardship, like illness or death, reported more satisfaction with life than those with carefree lives.  These people have refined coping skills and a well developed social support network.  This makes them more resilient in the face of future challenges.

Breathe Easy...

Hopefully we wont need to debunk cold weather activity myths much longer but until then here you go.  You will not catch a cold by working out in the cold.  7 hours of running in the cold per week actually reduce your chances of an upper respiratory infection by 18%.  Healthy people without asthma and other upper respiratory problems were not likely to suffer wheezing or coughing from working out in cold weather.  Snow sports such as skiing or snowboarding can offer the benefit of improving oxygen capacity.

Zeus...

Zeus head:  noun, the guy at the gym who flexes, swaggers and gazes at his reflection in the mirror as if he were a Greek God!! hehe too funny