Pages

Minggu, 30 Juni 2013

Raw Food Diet & Polymyalgia

Polymyalgia is often mistaken with arthritis, since both involve inflammation of the body and systemic aches and pains. While living with polymyalgia is difficult at best, it can be made easier by sticking with a healthy raw food diet. A raw food diet can help lessen the pain of the condition brings by providing the body with the nutrients it needs to stave off disease.

Features of Polymyalgia

    Polymyalgia is a disorder characterized by muscular aches and tightness throughout your neck, shoulders, and legs. Most commonly, symptoms appear gradually and escalate in intensity, but symptoms have literally developed overnight in some cases. According to the doctors at the Mayo Clinic, the specific trigger of the disease is unknown, but it is suggested that genetics and age play some role in its development.

Treating Polymyalgia

    According to the Mayo Clinic, polymyalgia is a disease that normally resolves of its own accord. The bad news is that this resolution might not take place for several years. In many cases, anti-inflammatory medications are prescribed to lessen the pain. Unfortunately, these medications often cause side effects such as hypertension, osteoporosis, and cataracts. This is where diet comes into play. Eating a well-rounded raw food diet during your tenure with polymyalgia can help to minimize complications.

Specific Raw Food Recommendations

    According to Dr. Tom Cowan, a general practitioner operating out of San Francisco, the key to treating polymyalgia through diet is to incorporate raw, natural foods that provide the adrenal glands with vitamins A, B6, and C. Dr. Cowan recommends consumption of raw milk products to obtain both vitamins C and B6, and cod-liver oil or natural butter from grass-fed cows for vitamin A. Additionally, you will need to wholly eliminate your consumption of caffeine and nicotine. Dr. Cowan states that based on the fact that adrenal hormones such as prednisone are used in treatment, he believes impaired adrenal function somehow tied in to polymyalgia. Thus, in his experience bolstering your adrenals can help to mitigate some of the symptoms.

General Recommendations

    According to the Mayo Clinic, beyond the items listed above, you should strive to eat a diet that is rich in raw fruits and vegetables. Sushi is also a good choice while on a raw food diet, as seafood contains plenty of heart-healthy omega-3 fats. Additionally, incorporate plenty of whole grains into your meals to ensure you receive adequate amounts of fiber. Limit consumption of salt, sugar, processed foods, and white flour to the bare minimum.

Recommended Supplements

    The experts at the Mayo Clinic recommend supplementing your diet with calcium and vitamin D to ensure that your body has sufficient amounts of "bone-building" nutrients. Take at least 1,200mg of calcium each day, along with 800IUs of vitamin D. Dr. Cowan also recommends the use of ginseng and licorice root, two herbs that can help your body normalize its functions.

How to Eat a Healthy Low-Fiber Diet

With some health conditions, such as digestive surgeries or inflammatory bowel diseases, you are required to eat a low-fiber, low-residue diet at times. This type of diet lowers the amount of undigested material that passes through your intestines, helping control inflammation. It also lessens the size of the stool, helping control diarrhea. However, this type of diet removes most of the nutrients from your diet, such as fruits and vegetables, and leaves you with white flour. Finding ways to add nutrients to a low-fiber diet is important.

Instructions

    1

    Remove the skins and seeds found in fruits and vegetables, and cook them. The skin is where most of the fiber is stored, and the seeds are harder to digest. For example, dig the seeds out of tomatoes and cook them into a tomato paste or puree. Or, cut off an apple skin and cook it into applesauce.

    2

    Eat canned fruits and vegetables, which already have the skins and seeds removed, or drink strained fruit or vegetable juices without pulp. Choose canned options stored in water and not syrup or oil, and choose fruit juices that are 100 percent juice and low in sugar.

    3

    Eat hot cereals, such as cream of rice or cream of wheat, which both contain low-fiber content. These foods go down smoothly and offer a lot of iron, folic acid and other nutrients to keep your body healthy. Low-fiber dry cereals are nutritional options, too.

    4

    Add protein to the diet with scrambled eggs, creamy peanut butter and tender poultry. These are all options that are low in fiber, high in protein and contain healthy fats. The protein will help keep you full and prevent you from reaching for an unhealthy snack.

    5

    Eat foods with Omega-3 fatty acids, especially if you are recovering from an inflammatory issue. These foods help control inflammation, are easy to digest and provide lots of nutritional benefits. Options include salmon, tuna, herring and sardines.

    6

    Read the nutrition labels on white bread, pasta, crackers and rice. Choose all-natural options that don't contain any artificial preservatives or partially hydrogenated oils. These ingredients add no nutritional value and could add to your digestive problems.

Sabtu, 29 Juni 2013

How to Lose 10 to 17 Pounds a Week

How to Lose 10 to 17 Pounds a Week

Most doctors and nutritionists agree that fast weight loss is not the best solution for getting your weight under control. Losing 10 to 17 pounds in a week is possible, but sustaining your weight after a quick fix can be extremely difficult. As such, the Mayo Clinic suggests a weight-loss goal of 1 to 2 pounds per week, with an emphasis on making diet and lifestyle changes that you'll be able to embrace and maintain. However, if you're focused on losing more than 10 pounds in a week, it's important to undertake healthy methods that won't endanger your physical well-being.

Instructions

    1

    Make major dietary changes to shock your system, cutting out unhealthy, high-fat foods and replacing them with low-carbohydrate foods and lean sources of protein.

    2

    Omit most sugars from your diet, including sugary drinks such as soda and fruit juices, and replace them with water and tea. Water, in particular, is important during weight loss, since it can help stave off cravings and help flush toxins from your system.

    3

    Burn more calories than you consume each day, and you'll lose weight. This simple mathematical equation is the one key fact of weight loss. Avoid not eating altogether; depriving your body of the nutrients it needs will hinder your ability to work out, which is another key to rapid weight loss.

    4

    Exercise every day, focusing on cardiovascular activities such as running, swimming, bicycling, jogging and cross-country skiing. The goal is to work out for longer periods of time, so avoid trying to go all-out in terms of intensity. The objective is to prolong your workout and sustain your energy for 30 to 60 minutes per session.

What Are Filling Foods With Low Calories?

What Are Filling Foods With Low Calories?

Maintaining a healthy diet can be tricky, especially when vending machines filled with chips and candy and fast food restaurants lurk around every corner. Whether you are looking for a snack or planning out your next meal, try filling your menu with low-calorie foods that keep you feeling satisfied. In addition to fruits and vegetables, foods that are high in fiber and lean proteins--or a combination of the two--are choices that are nutritious, low in calories and hearty enough to hold you over until your next meal or snack.

Low-Density Foods

    This sounds complicated, but it just means that there are few calories per gram in a certain food, almost always because it is water rich. This is the category that puts people in mind of a diet--fruits and veggies. But this is just one kind of food that is filling and low in calories, and the good news is that this means you can eat a lot of these foods with a clear conscious. Low-density foods include broth-based soups, leafy green salads (the darker the better), fruits and non-starchy vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and winter squash. They make great meal starters and snacks.

Fiber

    You've probably heard a lot about fiber lately. According to the Mayo Clinic, a high-fiber diet may help reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes. Food manufacturers are adding it in to just about everything because of its health benefits. Fiber helps keep you feeling full by absorbing water and expanding in your stomach. Fiber-rich foods that are low in calories include whole grain pasta, whole grain breads, fruits (skin on, if applicable), oatmeal, salmon, air-popped popcorn, baked potato, sweet potato and black beans.

Lean protein

    Adding lean proteins to snacks and meals helps to keep you feeling full longer. Look for lean cuts of beef (sirloin, round steaks and roasts, flank steak) and pork. Remove skin from chicken and turkey (breasts are best) and look for low-fat lunch meats. Be sure not to add fat in the cooking process. Most beans and nuts are a good source of protein without being high in calories (keep portion size in mind). Dairy is another excellent source of lean protein. Go for non-fat or fat-free varieties.

Combination foods

    Try a combination of fiber and protein to keep you full long after meals or while snacking between meals--eggs and toast, turkey sandwich and tomato, chicken and rice, cheese and crackers. What gets us in trouble is choosing fatty cuts of meat and processed foods and eating out-of-control portion sizes. Make sure the toast, rice and crackers are whole grain, the proteins are lean with little added fat in preparation, and don't eat too much.

Low-Cal Filling Snacks

    Snacking can throw off the best laid meal plans. Here are some suggestions for healthy snacking that are nutritious and won't break the calorie bank: Whole-grain pita and hummus; ants on a log (celery stuffed with peanut butter and topped with raisins); Happy trails mix (combine 1 cup whole-grain toasted oat cereal, 1/4 cup chopped walnuts and 1/4 cup dried cranberries), string cheese, whole-grain crackers, yogurt with fresh fruit, frozen yogurt with fresh fruit and a hard-boiled egg. See the resources below for many snacks that will stick with you and that are low in calories.

What Causes an Arthritis Flare-Up in the Fingers?

What Causes an Arthritis Flare-Up in the Fingers?

According to ArthritisToday.org, an arthritis flare is "a worsening of the disease process." Flares are painful and can come on without warning, accompanied by fatigue and an overall feeling of being under the weather. Knowing the possible causes of flares can be helpful in avoiding them.

    There are numerous causes of arthritis flares in fingers.
    There are numerous causes of arthritis flares in fingers.

Autoimmune Arthritis

    Different types of arthritis can have different flare triggers. Be sure you understand what kind of arthritis you are suffering from. This will help you understand the triggers for symptoms in your fingers.

    For example, rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system attacks and destroys the joints. Mayoclinic.com reports that RA tends to attack the hands and fingers first. Some causes of flares in RA include viruses and stress.
    Rheumatology.org describes psoriatic arthritis as an autoimmune disease. Affected fingers can become extremely swollen when in a flare, making it difficult to bend them.

Osteoarthritis

    Osteoarthritis is the damaging of the joints over time due to use. Triggers for this type of arthritis include an injury or stress to the joints in the fingers.

Smoking

    Arthritis patients who are also smokers should stop the habit immediately. MayoClinic.com warns that there are toxins contained in tobacco products that cause stress on connective tissues that can trigger flares.

Sports

    MayoClinic.com tells readers that certain activities cause damage to the joints and bring on a flare. For example, repetitive movements, like playing tennis, can cause painful flares. Inactivity can cause flares to the fingers as well. It is important to find the balance between overusing and underusing your fingers. When your fingers are red or swollen, rest them as much as possible to try to stop the onset of a major flare.

Stress

    Arthritis sufferers should avoid stress and learn to manage it. Being stressed out causes the body to release chemicals that can cause flares to occur.

    Stress as a trigger is often difficult for arthritis patients to control, since simply having the disease causes stress. However, finding helpful ways to control the stress, such as through yoga and walking, will be very beneficial.

Preventing Flares

    Depending upon the kind of arthritis you have, there are numerous medications that can help prevent flares in your fingers. The anti-malarial drug Plaquinil is commonly used in patients with autoimmune types of arthritis, as are drugs like Enbrel, Remicade and Humira. Corticosteroid shots are also helpful and can be used to give relief to people with all kinds of arthritis.

Kamis, 27 Juni 2013

Low Protein Diet Menu

Low Protein Diet Menu

The Atkins diet popularized the trend of the high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet that has swept the nation. Breakfasts of steak, eggs and bacon with no toast have invaded kitchens around the United States. Protein, however, is not the easiest substance for the body to process in large amounts. In fact, there are certain health conditions that require the body take in less protein in order to help the body to continue to function properly.

Why a Low Protein Diet?

    A low-protein diet is typically prescribed if you have kidney disease or if your kidneys are not functioning properly for any reason. This is not to say that there should be no protein. Protein is quite important for the body as it regulates upkeep, repair and growth of every part of your body. It is important to have sources of protein in any diet. When the protein is digested, a waste product called urea results. When a kidney is not functioning properly, urea builds up in the blood stream which can lead to a loss of appetite and fatigue. According to the National Kidney Foundation, with a low-protein diet, you can reduce the workload on the kidneys allowing the healthy part of the kidney to not have to work overtime.

What Should You Eat?

    The goal here is to consume the amount of calories you need while eating less protein (40 grams or less usually) than you usually do. The main portions of your meals should consist of fruits and vegetables, followed by nuts, grains and beans, followed in a distant third by meat and dairy. It is difficult but not impossible to get a full day's recommended amount of calories (2,000 calories) with mostly fruit and vegetables, but it will take a very large amount of these items to do it. This is why one of your greatest assets in the process will be healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. While nuts still have some protein and some like walnuts, almonds and cashews are a great source of calories and healthy fat, vegetable oils are very low in protein and have the ability to add a great deal of protein-free calories to your diet. While the National Kidney Foundation recommends adding more candy, sweeteners and canned fruits to your diet, this seems a bit of a cop out. A little bit more effort could replace those calories with fresh salads and natural fruit smoothies. Make sure to measure all milk products you take in, using the protein calculator in the Resources below. Also, slice the meat that you eat very thinly so that it will seem like there is more protein in the sandwiches that you eat, a sort of mental trick to get you through the diet. There are also low-protein foods manufactured with the companies Dietary Specialties, Med-Diet, Inc., and Ener-G Foods that can help you lower the protein in the products that you love the most.

What Should You Stay Away From?

    Meat and dairy are the highest protein foods you can eat. Make sure to lower your portions of chicken, beef, fish, eggs, milk, yogurt and cheese. Peanut butter is also high in protein, and as a spreadable product, it can often be overused. Be careful of these foods so as to be kind to your kidney as it tries to recover, recommends Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology.

Fat Burning Low Carb Foods

A low carbohydrate diet is effective for weight loss and can become even more effective by including foods that are "fat burning." Fat-burning foods may help increase your metabolism to help make weight loss faster. Which low-carb foods can help boost weight loss efforts by being great fat-burners as well? Read on to make your low-carb diet the most effective by choosing the foods that help with fat burning.

Background

    Your body uses energy in food for fuel. If you use more energy than you take in, your body burns stores of fat for fuel and you lose weight. A low-carbohydrate diet results in weight loss because it cuts back on sugars, decreases insulin production and directs the body to burn fat. "Fat-burning" foods are those that require more energy to process than they bring into the body. The result of eating low-carb, fat-burning food may be increased or faster weight loss when on a low-carbohydrate diet. Fat-burning foods may be fruits, vegetables, protein or dairy products; though not all are low in carbohydrates, some are and can become part of your low-carb diet.

Fiber and Fat Burning

    When the amount of fiber is greater than or equal to the usable carbohydrates in a food, it can help burn fat. High-fiber foods require more energy to process than other foods and can be an excellent addition to a low-carb diet. These include foods such as flaxseeds, wheat bran, unsweetened coconut flour and coconut. Each of these foods provides more fiber--in the case of wheat bran, twice as much--than carbohydrate. These foods can help your body burn more fat, whether it is at rest or when exercising.

Low-Carb, Fat-Burning Vegetables

    Some of the best fat burners for a low-carb diet are vegetables, because they are relatively low in carbs and high in fiber. Vegetables with the highest fiber/carb ratio include greens, such as collard greens, kale, mustard greens, chard, chicory, spinach and endive. (These vegetables also have high water content, which can help with weight loss.) Other high-fiber, low-sugar vegetables that are fat burners for a low-carb diet include broccoli and cauliflower, along with asparagus and celery.

Fat-Burning Fruits

    Because most fruits are high in sugar, many types are not suggested for low-carb diets. But some fruits are effective fat burners and low in carbohydrates. Strawberries, raspberries and blackberries are helpful for fat-burning and are winners for being the fruits lowest in carbohydrates and high in fiber. Rhubarb and unsweetened cranberries are also low in sugar and carbs and offer fat-burning qualities.

Fat-Burning Protein

    Eating lean protein while on a low-carbohydrate diet may help burn fat. Cod, flounder and salmon are all good fish choices. Nuts that are low in carbohydates, high in protein and good for burning fat include pecans, almonds, macadamia nuts and walnuts. Tofu and eggs--especially egg whites, which are high in protein and do not contain carbohydrates--may help with fat burning as well.

Considerations

    Foods that burn fat tend to be low in fat themselves. Low-carbohydrate diets tend to be low in sugars and higher in fat than other diets. To help the fat-burning qualities of low-carb foods, avoid meats and dairy products that are high in fat, even if they are low in carbohydrates. They will lessen the effect of eating low-carb, fat-burning foods, and may slow weight loss. However, the low-fat, low-carb options are many, and as fat burners can actually have "negative" intake effect, helping you to lose weight faster.

Delicious High Fiber Foods for Diabetics

Delicious High Fiber Foods for Diabetics

A diabetic is limited to the amount of carbohydrates he can eat during the day, so it is crucial that he choose foods that are high in fiber and low in carbohydrates, or at least contain resistant starches. While "delicious" is a subjective term, fresh fruits, beans, nuts and vegetables are a healthy choice. According to the Mayo Clinic, "the recommended fiber amounts for women is 21 to 25 grams a day and for men is 30 to 38 grams a day."

Diabetic Friendly Fruits

    Berries are a safe fruit for most diabetics. This is because berries such as raspberries, blueberries and strawberries are low in both sugar and carbohydrates.

    Raspberries have 8 grams of fiber per one cup serving. A one cup size serving of blueberries has 3.5 grams of fiber. Strawberries have 3.3 grams of fiber per one cup serving.

Bread

    While most breads are limited, German pumpernickel bread and rye bread are healthy options for many diabetics. These breads are also good sources of fiber. German pumpernickel bread has 1.2 grams of fiber per slice, and rye bread has 1.9 grams of fiber per slice.

    The good thing about traditional German pumpernickel and rye bread is that they are both resistant starches, so they are digested in the colon instead of the stomach. This means that they are much better at keeping blood sugar levels stable.

Beans and Nuts

    Doctors recommend a diet rich in protein for diabetics. Beans and nuts are an excellent source of both protein and fiber. High fiber beans include split peas, lentils, black beans and lima beans. A one cup serving of split peas contains 16.3 grams of fiber, lentils contain 15.6 grams of fiber, black beans contain 15 grams of fiber, and lima beans have 13.2 grams of fiber.

    Many nuts have a generous amount of fiber. In a -cup serving of hulled sunflower seeds, there are 3.6 grams of fiber. Almonds, in a 1-ounce serving, which is about 22 nuts, offer 3.3 grams of fiber. Pistachio nuts have 2.9 grams of fiber in a 1-ounce serving, about 49 nuts. And pecans have 2.7 grams of fiber in a 1-ounce serving, or 19 halves.

Vegetables

    Vegetables are good source of vitamins and fiber. High fiber diabetic-friendly vegetables include artichokes, broccoli, turnip greens, brussel sprouts, and carrots.

    One medium artichoke has 10.3 grams of fiber. Broccoli when boiled has 5.1 grams of fiber per cup. Turnip greens, for one cup, have 5 grams of fiber. One raw medium carrot provides 1.7 grams of fiber.

Rabu, 26 Juni 2013

Arthritis Prevention in the Hands

Arthritis Prevention in the Hands

If you don't have arthritis, you don't want to get it, although that may be out of your control. Rheumatoid arthritis is one of those conditions that may, unfortunately, be handed down to you by your predecessors. Osteoarthritis, on the other hand, occurs as we age and is the result of wear and tear on our joints. Here are some techniques to use to prevent arthritis and to alleviate arthritis pain if you already have it.

Position Yourself Correctly

    According to the Mayo Clinic, use good body mechanics, which a lot of us don't do, and then we pay the price. If you are sitting for long hours, typing away at the keyboard, make sure that your work surface is at the proper height, which should be 2 inches below your bent elbow. Sit so that your feet and back are supported as well as your forearms. If the chair that you sit in while typing doesn't have arm rests, consider purchasing forearm and wrist supports.

Don't Pinch and Clutch

    Instead of carrying a clutch, get yourself a shoulder bag. You need to avoid pinching items, such as a clutch purse, in between your fingers and thumb. If you are holding onto a mug, hold it in the palm or palms of your hand instead of gripping the handle on the mug.

Use Ergonomically Correct Tools

    If you use tools frequently, purchase those that are ergonomically correct. If your hand is balled up into a fist for hours at a time while you work, this will aggravate existing arthritis and may lead to it if you don't already have it.

Exercise Your Hands

    Exercise your hands and fingers just like you do (or should be) the rest of your body. Hold up your hands and splay your fingers. Give them a good stretch. Pull back gently on your fingers. Clench and then unclench your fists. Massage your hands and fingers. If your hands are really hurting, apply a soothing and warm topical arthritic cream to them or heat up a pair of cotton gloves in the microwave, put them on, and let your aching hands absorb the heat.

Move Your Hands and Fingers Correctly

    If at all possible, try to avoid doing things that require prolonged pinching or gripping or forceful gestures. The Mayo Clinic advises that finger motions should always be done in the direction of the thumb whenever possible. In other words, think of ways to modify your hand and finger movements that will eliminate stress on them.

Pay Attention to What You're Doing

    In general, be cognizant of how you are using your hands. According to the Mayo Clinic, we use our hands and figures all of the time in our normal daily activities and that can't be avoided. However, if you are putting extreme and repeated stress on your joints this may result in pain. Think about better and more accommodating ways to do the tasks that you routinely do, and which involve the hands, that may be kinder and gentler to your fingers and hands. Repeated overuse of the hands and fingers can result in deformity. The joints can only take so much.

Take Daily Supplements and Keep Moving

    Arthritis.ygoy.com advises that you drink a lot of water daily so that your joints remain lubricated. Take a daily supplement that contains chondroitin sulfate, MSM, vitamins C and D, glucosamine and boron because this will strengthen your joints. Work some exercise into your daily routine because this will strengthen your tendons, ligaments and muscles, which are associated with joints and enable you to build denser bones.

How to Lose 2 Pounds a Week

Weight loss is a simple equation; you need to burn more calories than you take in. It is possible to make modest changes in your diet and activity and lose an easy two pounds a week. While this may not seem like much, this equates up to nearly ten pounds every month. Using this method, the pounds you lose will be pounds of fat, as opposed to water weight.

Instructions

    1

    Do the math and understand the weight loss equation; one pound is equal to 3,500 calories. This means a caloric deficiency of 3,500 calories results in one lost pound. Here is an example of the math of losing 2 pounds a week:

    To create a 1,000 calorie/day deficiency:
    Subtract 500 calories from your daily food intake.
    Burn 500 calories through exercise

    This leaves you with a shortage of 1,000 calories per day. Doing this 7 days a week sums up to a deficit of 7,000 calories which equals 2 lost pounds each week.

    2

    Burn those calories. 500 calories may sound like spending an eternity in the gym, but it can actually easily be done in under an hour, IF you push yourself. Not having a gym membership is not an excuse to be inactive. Go for a walk. Download a home workout from your computer. Clean the house, chase the kids, run up and down your stairs, just get moving!

    3

    Cut out 500 calories. Keep a food journal for 3 days and take a good look at the food that you are using to fuel your body. Find the source of excess calories, and identify your empty calories (foods that are nutritionally null and void). Now remove them from your diet. If willpower is an issue, empty your cupboards of your junk food and restock them with fresh, wholesome foods. You don't have to starve yourself to create a calorie deficit; you can actually eat a larger quantity of food, it just needs to be healthy.

    4

    Work to build muscle. Women tend to shy away from this when they are trying to slim down to a smaller size, but adding muscle to your frame actually helps your body to burn fat more efficiently, even when it is resting. It also shapes and tones the body for a better appearance after a drop in weight.

    5

    Drink lots of water. Water not only gives you a slight bump in caloric burn, it also helps you eat less and it curbs your cravings. Staying properly hydrated will also give you more energy to complete those daily workouts.

Selasa, 25 Juni 2013

How to Lose Three Pounds a Week

It's generally recommended that a person lose weight at a pace of no more than three pounds per week. At this rate, it's quite likely that the weight loss results from fat reduction. Weight loss at that rate requires dedication to an active lifestyle, regular aerobic exercise and resistance training, and a healthy diet that creates a calorie deficit.

Instructions

Calculating Your Daily Calorie Allowance

    1

    Determine your body fat percentage by using a body fat scale or the Skinfold Measurement Procedure and Calculator resources at the end of this article.

    2

    Calculate how many pounds of your weight are attributable to fat: Multiply your total weight in pounds by your body fat percentage (expressed in decimal form) to get fat pounds.

    3

    Determine your body's lean mass by subtracting your fat pounds from your total weight.

    4

    Convert your lean mass from pounds to kilos by dividing the pounds figure by 2.2.

    5

    Calculate your basal metabolic rate (BMR) using the Katch-McArdle formula:
    370 + (21.6 X lean mass in kilos) = BMR

    6

    Estimate your total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) by multiplying your BMR with the appropriate activity multiplier:
    Sedentary = BMR X 1.2 (little or no exercise)
    Lightly Active = BMR X 1.375 (light exercise 1 to 3 days per week)
    Moderately Active = BMR X 1.55 (moderate exercise 3 to 5 days per week)
    Very Active = BMR X 1.725 (hard exercise 6 to 7 days per week)
    Extremely Active = BMR X 1.9 (hard daily exercise and a very physical job)
    The result is your Daily Calorie Allowance for maintaining your present weight at your current activity level.

Creating a Calorie Deficit/Reducing Body Fat

    7

    Subtract 500 from your Daily Calorie Allowance to calculate your new Daily Calorie Allowance for weight loss. Use your food scale to monitor your caloric intake. Do not skip meals. Simply eat larger quantities of foods which offer high satiety for relatively few calories such as whole grain foods, lean meats and fiber-rich foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables.

    8

    Modify your lifestyle to increase your general activity level. Take every opportunity you can to walk, climb stairs, play a sport, etc.

    9

    Engage in 50 to 60 minutes of high calorie-burning daily aerobic exercise. Options include swimming, cross-country skiing, dancing, stair climbing, boxing or martial arts training, basketball and running. It may help to split your workout into two sessions, 30 minutes in the morning and 20 to 30 minutes in the evening.

    10

    Perform 20 minutes of resistance training every other day to maintain or increase muscle mass.

What Is the Difference Between Arthritis & Arthrosis?

Arthritis and arthrosis can be confused at times, and treatment depends on which ailment you suffer from. Here's an explanation of both to help you distinguish between them.

What Is Arthritis?

    Arthritis is an inflammation of joints. It is often accompanied by pain, swelling, stiffness, and warmth in the affected joint. Arthritis can be caused by a number of things, including injury, infection, metabolic disorders, an overactive immune system, and weight issues.

Types of Arthritis

    There are over 100 types of arthritis. The most common are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout. Any type of joint inflammation is considered a form of arthritis.

What Is Arthrosis?

    Arthrosis is another term for osteoarthritis, a non-inflammatory disease of the joint in which the cartilage in the joint breaks down. This degenerative disease occurs as a result of injury, aging, and long-term wear and tear of cartilage in the joints. It causes pain and stiffness. Arthrosis can affect any joint but most commonly affects the knees, spine, and hips.

Diagnosis

    If you are experiencing joint pain, you should see your doctor for a proper diagnosis. It's important to have a doctor fully evaluate your situation.

Treatment

    Treatment for arthritis may include anti-inflammatory medicines, exercise, and physical therapy. You and your doctor can discuss the progression of your arthritis and the proper course of action to help you minimize your pain and live a normal life.

Senin, 24 Juni 2013

3 Day Cleansing Diet Recipe

3 Day Cleansing Diet Recipe

Frustrated with your weight loss regime? Feeling sluggish and tired? Jump-start your weight loss program or simply enhance your health with a 3-day cleanse that will put you on the fast track to feeling your best. Utilize this simple and effective cleansing recipe three to four times a year to detoxify and rejuvenate your body.

3-Day Cleanse Ingredients

    Gather the following ingredients for this 3-day cleansing regimen:

    100 percent whole leaf aloe vera juice
    Prune juice (not from concentrate)
    Apple juice (not from concentrate)
    Fresh lemons
    Flax seed oil
    Fresh ginger
    Distilled water
    Raw apples (optional)
    Dr. Christopher's Lower Bowel Formula (optional)
    Senna tea (optional)
    Psyllium husk powder (optional)

Procedure

    First thing in the morning, drink 14 to 16 oz. of prune juice to stimulate the intestinal tract and draw toxic waste out of your body to be eliminated. When possible, choose organic juice, and avoid any juice that has been reconstituted or artificially sweetened. Only 100 percent juice is beneficial for a cleanse.

    Drink your morning juice slowly, swishing each sip in your mouth for a few seconds in order to facilitate better digestion.

    Throughout the day, alternate 8-oz. glasses of apple juice and lemon ginger water (distilled water with fresh squeezed lemon and grated fresh ginger, as palatable).

    Do not drink the liquids too quickly. Doing so may cause nausea or disrupt the electrolyte balance of your body. Pace yourself. By the end of the day, you should consume approximately 64 oz. of apple juice, and the same portion in lemon ginger water. This amount may vary according to your body weight and size.

    During the day, consume 2 additional oz. of Aloe Vera juice for a total of 4 oz. per day. Aloe Vera supports bowel and intestinal health by preventing constipation and encouraging healthy digestion.

    Taking 1 tbsp. of flax oil twice daily will help to lubricate the bile ducts and facilitate the elimination of toxins.

Considerations

    If you are hungry throughout the day, you may eat fresh apples as often as desired. No other foods are advised during the course of the cleanse.

    Consult your doctor to determine whether a cleanse diet is appropriate for you.

    Cleansing symptoms may include diarrhea, constipation, headache, nausea and fatigue. Remember to always follow your body's cues, and consult a medical expert if you experience anything that concerns you during the course of your cleanse.

    If constipation arises during your cleanse, you may find additional support by taking a bowel remedy (such as Dr. Christopher's Lower Bowel Formula), or by consuming senna tea or psyllium husk powder, as directed on the packaging.

    Consider a visit to a colon hydrotherapist when you have finished your 3-day cleanse to magnify your results.

How to Diet to Lose Weight in 3 Days

If you have a big event coming up, such as a formal dance, wedding or date, you may try to lose a few pounds in an attempt to look and feel your best. This weight loss may not be apparent to others around you, but it may make you feel more comfortable and self-confident. If there are only a few days left until the big event, you won't have much time to shed a few pounds with exercise, but there are a few techniques you can use to flush out water weight in your system.

Instructions

    1

    Drink plenty of filtered or spring water that is free of salt. Drinking water may help speed up digestion and push your food through your stomach more quickly. It will also keep you hydrated and urinating, to prevent excess storage of water in your body. Not drinking enough water leads to your body "hoarding" water. Aim for at least eight 8-oz. glasses of water per day.

    2

    Avoid carbohydrates. If you can cut the carbs you eat for the next three days down to very few, you may lose a good deal of weight. This is because every pound of carbohydrates in your body contains 3 to 5 lbs. of water, and burning off those carbs helps get rid of excess water.

    3

    Cut your salt intake. Sodium in the body absorbs water, which can slow the process of your body expelling the water. It is difficult to completely avoid sodium in food, but try to limit it to about 1,500mg or less per day.

    4

    Take a jog or extended walk every day for the next three days. This isn't so much to burn calories as it is to rid your body of the excess carbohydrates and salt in your body. Walking and jogging will burn the extra carbohydrates, which in turn will remove the water weight. Sweating out the excess sodium will help reduce water retention as well.

Example of a High Fiber Diet

A diet rich in fiber offers numerous health benefits: lower blood cholesterol, improved blood sugar levels, lowered risk of digestive complications and prevention of constipation. A high intake of fiber can also help in weight loss efforts.

Types of Fiber

    Dietary fiber comes in two forms: soluble and insoluble. Soluble fiber dissolves in water and plays a role in lowering cholesterol and glucose. Soluble fiber is found naturally in oats, beans, peas, apples, citrus, carrots and psyllium. Insoluble fiber is instrumental in helping move food through the digestive system. Good sources of insoluble fiber include whole wheat, vegetables, nuts and whole bran.

Measuring Fiber

    Your recommended fiber intake is based on your gender and age. According to the Mayo Clinic, women age 50 and younger should take in 25 grams of fiber each day. Women older than 51 can reduce that number to 21 grams. Men age 50 and younger should take in 38 grams daily. Men age 51 and older can reduce that requirement to 30 grams per day.

Fruits

    Eating a variety of fiber-rich foods is the best bet toward meeting your daily fiber requirements. The following list of fruits and their fiber content is based on one cup of each, unless otherwise noted: raspberries (8 grams), medium pear with skin (5.1 grams), medium apple with skin (4.4 grams), two medium dried figs (3.7 grams), blueberries (3.5 grams), strawberries (3.3 grams), medium banana (3.1 grams), medium orange (3.1 grams), and 1.5-oz box of raisins (1.6 grams).

Fiber-Rich Vegetables

    Not all vegetables are equal in their fiber content. One cooked artichoke, for example, packs 10.3 grams of fiber, while one raw carrot delivers only 1.7 grams of fiber. Other vegetable sources of fiber (in one-cup servings, unless otherwise noted) include: cooked peas (8.8 grams), boiled broccoli (5.1 grams), boiled turnip greens (5 grams), cooked sweet corn (4.6 grams), cooked brussels sprouts (4.1 grams), medium baked potato with skin (4 grams), and 1/4 cup tomato paste (2.7 grams)

Grains (including cereals and pasta)

    When choosing whole-wheat products, like sandwich bread, check the nutritional information on the package. Each serving should have at least 2 grams of fiber for it to be a beneficial source of fiber. On the ingredients list, whole-grain flour should be listed among the first three ingredients, replacing white flour. The following foods are rich in whole grains and provide good sources of fiber (fiber measurements are based on one-cup servings, unless otherwise noted: cooked whole-wheat spaghetti (6.3 grams), cooked barley (6 grams), medium oat bran muffin (5.2 grams), 3/4 cup bran flakes (5.1 grams), cooked oatmeal (regular or instant, 4 grams), three cups of air-popped popcorn (3.6 grams), cooked brown rice (3.5 grams), one slice rye bread (1.9 grams), one slice whole-wheat or multi-grain bread (1.9 grams).

Nuts, Seeds, Legumes

    Beans, peas and nuts provide excellent sources of fiber (and protein) and can be easily combined with other foods to create main dishes. The following measurements are based on one-cup servings, unless otherwise noted: cooked split peas (16.3 grams), cooked lentils (15.6 grams), cooked black beans (15 grams), cooked lima beans (13.2 grams), vegetarian baked beans (10.4 grams), 1/4 cup hulled sunflower seeds (3.6 grams), one-oz. almonds (3.3 grams), one-oz. pistachio nuts (2.9 grams), one-oz. pecans (2.9 grams), pecans, 1 oz. (19 halves) 2.7 grams

Expert Insight

    The Mayo Clinic recommends that eating fruit at every meal can help ensure an adequate fiber intake. If you are increasing your fiber intake, however, add it gradually to your diet to prevent intestinal pain and bloating. As you add fiber, also add water. An increase in water consumption can help prevent constipation.

Low-Fiber Diet

According to HealthCastle.com, a low-fiber diet is often prescribed for treating certain gastrointestinal conditions such as Crohn's and colitis, as well as allowing for recovery from certain surgical procedures involves the colon. A low-fiber diet simply refers to the heavy restriction of both soluble and insoluble fiber in your diet, requiring that you avoid certain foods while making substitutions to lower the net amount of fiber that you are consuming per day.

Low-Fiber Advice

    According to the Mayo Clinic, you should strive to limit consumption of high-fiber foods such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains to no more than one or two servings per day. Foods to avoid include difficult to digest, fibrous items such as brown rice, dried fruits, beans, chunky peanut butter, nuts, seeds, popcorn and coconuts. Instead of these items, focus the majority of your diet around consumption of low-fiber substitutes such as refined (white) flour items--breads, pastas, rolls, noodles and cereals. Some fruit is perfectly acceptable to consume as long as it does not have skin on it or seeds. Dairy products are another staple item of a low-fiber diet, along with meats of all kind, eggs and white rice.

Low-Fiber Meal Planning

    Note that complying with a low-fiber diet does not mean you should neglect the goal of balanced nutrition. Regardless of your current dietary restrictions, you should still aim to consume as nutritious a diet as possible. To accomplish this, ensure that every meal you eat contains a source of lean protein (all types of meat), healthy fat (this will usually consist of oils, as many other sources of healthy fat are restricted by the nature of a low-fiber diet) and some type of fruit or vegetable--because you are allowed one to two servings per day, you can have a half serving with every meal to provide your body with some additional vitamins and nutrients. Finally, include the white flour item substitutes listed above, but try not to overeat--aim to restrict your servings of white flour items to no more than two per meal to prevent weight gain while on a low-fiber diet.

Minggu, 23 Juni 2013

How to Lose One Pound Per Week

How to Lose One Pound Per Week

To lose a pound a week, you have to create a 3500 calorie deficit by burning 500 calories a day more than you eat.

Instructions

    1

    First, you need to determine your daily calorie intake needed to lose 1 lb. per week. Get out a pad of paper and a pen to work it out using the steps below.

    2

    Add a zero to your body weight Example: 160 + 0= 1600
    Add 20% for extra daily activity + 300
    Daily Caloric rate = 1900

    3

    To lose 1 pound per week, Subtract 500 calories a day from your daily caloric rate. You can subtract calories by eating 500 calories less or by burning 500 calories through cardio exercise.

    example: 1900 - 500 = 1400

    4

    Of course, body type and fitness level are important factors to keep in mind. The more overweight you are, the bigger calorie deficit you should try to create, but don't go below 1200 calories a day.
    Very fit people may need more calories to fuel their extra muscle, perhaps by adding a little extra protein to each meal.

Fastest Way to Lose Weight in a Month

Fastest Way to Lose Weight in a Month

Losing weight in a month can be difficult. It can also be dangerous if you are taking diet pills or fasting. It is, however, to lose weight in a month using tried-and-true strategies that will ensure that you will both lose weight and keep it off.

Drink Plenty of Fluids

    Hydration is is vital for making sure your body's systems work properly. Make sure that you are drinking at least 64 ounces of water every day. If you are sweating more than usual, replace the lost fluids by drinking even more water. Purchase a water bottle that you can take with you everywhere. Water jump-starts the metabolism, thus increasing its calorie-burning power.

Eating the Right Foods for Weight Loss

    Losing weight in a month involves making sure that you are eating the right foods for weight loss. That means foods that are whole and as close to their natural state as possible, such as fresh vegetables and fruits, lean meats and whole grains, such as oat and rice. Avoid foods that are highly processed or foods that contain high levels of sugar and salt. These foods will promote weight gain, making fast weight loss in a month difficult. Eat whole, fresh foods whenever possible.

Exercising to Lose Weight Faster

    Exercise and body movement will not only aid in weight loss by burning extra calories, but it will also strengthen and tone the muscles. Since muscle mass uses up more calories than fat does, the more muscle mass you build up by exercising, the easier losing weight will be. Focus on exercising at least three times per week, around 30 minutes per session. Try to participate in exercises that will burn calories while building up muscle mass, such as walking, swimming and bicycling.

Safe Diet Plans

Safe diet plans should include items from every food group and provide at least 1,200 calories per day. Diets that forbid entire sections of the food pyramid or suggest very low calorie intake are dangerous and unhealthy, and will not help with long-term weight loss. Avoid any diet plan that makes miraculous claims about fast results, or that includes diet pills or meal replacements. The safest diets include real, healthy foods and focus on portion control and healthy calorie intake.

Keep Total Calories Low

    According to a study done by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health, low-calorie heart-healthy diets can help you lose weight and maintain weight loss, regardless of the proportion of calories that come from fat, carbohydrates or protein. This means you don't have to eliminate carbs or fat to eat a healthy diet, as long as you choose heart-healthy options and keep your total calories low. If you love pasta or beef, don't deprive yourself of your favorite foods. Instead, choose whole grain pastas and small portions of lean beef like tenderloin. Use heart-healthy fats like olive oil to prepare your food, and balance any high-calorie items with low-calorie side dishes.

Focus on Fruits and Vegetables

    Instead of focusing your meal on a large steak or heaping serving of pasta, incorporate foods like vegetables, which provide a lot of food for a few calories. Fruits and vegetables have high water and fiber content, which means they fill you up for fewer calories and they keep you feeling full for longer. Fill at least one-third of your plate with fruit or vegetables at every meal, and choose oranges or green peppers for mid-afternoon snacks instead of processed snack foods.

Practice Portion Control

    The key to keeping calories in check is portion control. Until you are familiar with proper portion sizes, use measuring cups or specific dishes to help gauge your portions. The USDA defines one serving of pasta as cup, or about one handful. A serving of meat is three oz., or about the size of a deck of cards. Most Americans consume three to four servings of meat and pasta without even realizing it, and those calories add up. Stick to one or two servings of protein and carbohydrates per meal, and fill the rest of your plate with steamed, grilled or fresh veggies.

Think Variety

    The American Heart Association emphasizes the importance of dietary variety for both nutritional benefit and to keep your diet interesting. Include foods from every food group, and vary the items you choose. Include proteins like fish, chicken, beef, beans and lentils on a rotating basis, and include carbohydrates like pasta, potatoes, brown rice and quinoa. Eat fresh produce when it is ripe and in season, and try new fruits and vegetables; you may discover new healthy foods you didn't even know about.

Sabtu, 22 Juni 2013

How to lose 3 pounds in one week

How to lose 3 pounds in one week

Here's a quick way to lose 3 pounds in one week. Use the following meals and snacks every day for 1 week.

Instructions

    1

    Breakfast- 1 bowl kellogs corn flakes with one cup skim milk

    2

    midmorning snack- 1 piece of fruit

    3

    Lunch- garden salad with one cup grilled chicken tossed in with fat free italan dressing.

    4

    afternoon snack- 2 pieces of fruit

    5

    Dinner-one serving of baked fish or grilled chicken with one cup of steamed vegetables and a small garden salad with fat free Italian dressing

Jumat, 21 Juni 2013

The Best Vegetables to Eat on a Low Carb Diet

The Best Vegetables to Eat on a Low Carb Diet

When you're looking to cut carbs, veggies are your best bet. High in fiber and flavor, low in carbs and fat, vegetables are also a natural way to improve your health while watching your carbohydrate intake.

Want to get the most out of your low-carb veggies? With a little knowledge and ingenuity, you can eat low-carb and have a tasty, varied diet too. Here's how:

Check the fiber

    Avocado is low-carb

    You may already know that you can subtract the fiber from your food's carbohydrate count. Unless you are sensitive to fiber, your body doesn't process it; if your food has more than 5 grams of fiber per serving, subtract the entire fiber content from the number of carbohydrates to find out what you're really getting.

    For example, if your food has 28 grams of carbohydrates and 6 grams of fiber per serving, you're only processing 22 fiber grams.

    Vegetables are famously high in fiber and low in carbs -- as long as you choose wisely. Avocado (technically a fruit) is your best choice, with 17 grams of carbs and 11 grams of fiber. Also try artichokes, beans, broccoli and leafy greens.

Get creative

    Miner's Lettuce

    When you're trying to lose weight, your options can sometimes seem limited. But lifetime veggie lovers know there are tons of interesting flavors in the vegetable realm.

    For example, miner's lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata), pictured here, is a native green in Western states. It's got more flavor than lettuce, and more nutrition -- plus, it dresses up any salad.

    Take your next chance to go to a farmer's market and talk to the growers about their crops. Ask them what tastes best, what's in season, and how they prepare it. You might pick up some new favorite foods and recipes.

    Try roasting your veggies with plenty of spices, making veggie kabobs, chopping up a slaw-style salad and mixing new flavors.

Low-carb veggie list

    Green Beans

    Here's a general list of vegetables that are low-carbohydrate (all the veggies listed have 10 net carbs or less) and high in fiber:
    Artichoke
    Arugula
    Asparagus
    Avocado
    Bell Peppers
    Bok Choy
    Broccoli/Broccoli Rabe
    Cabbage
    Cauliflower
    Celery
    Chard
    Corn
    Cucumber
    Daikon
    Edamame
    Eggplant
    Endive
    Fennel
    Green Beans
    Hearts of Palm
    Jicama
    Kale
    Lettuce
    Mushrooms (most varieties)
    Okra
    Onion
    Peas (Green, Snow, Sugar Snap)
    Pumpkin
    Radicchio
    Radishes
    Rhubarb
    Spinach
    Squash (some varieties)
    Tomatoes
    Turnips
    Zucchini

Rabu, 19 Juni 2013

Low-Fat High Fiber Diet for Gall Bladder Disease

Gallbladder disease disrupts the flow of bile from the liver through the gallbladder and into the small intestine for its role in the digestive process. Patients are encouraged to implement dietary changes to avoid the onset of gallbladder disease symptoms or progression of the condition. Adopting a no-cholesterol, low-fat, high-fiber diet is the first course of treatment to prevent and slow the development of gallbladder disease, as well as related complications. In addition, a low-fat, high-fiber diet will alleviate symptoms such as bloating, diarrhea, pain. nausea, vomiting and nutrient loss.

Gallbladder Function

    The gallbladder, a small, pear-shaped gland under the liver, serves an important role in the digestive process. After it is produced in the liver, bile is stored in the gallbladder until it is needed by the small intestine to digest food, particularly food high in fat. If bile is unable to travel to the small intestine, digestion of food and its nutrients is significantly impaired. A high-fiber, low-fat diet is a good tool to prevent the further development of gallbladder disease as the gallbladder does not have to work as hard to help in the digestive process. Reducing the amount of fatty foods also alleviates the inflammation and pain associated with the inability of bile to travel to the small intestine.

Low-Fat, High-Fiber Diet

    Reduce your dietary fat to less than 30 percent of your daily caloric intake. Limit the amount of fat in your protein sources. Opt for fish, poultry and lean meats. Grill or bake food instead of frying it. Replace high-fat cakes, processed foods and ice cream, simple sugars, whole dairy products and refined carbohydrates with healthier alternatives such as non-fat yogurt, skim milk, sherbet and angel food cake. Add both the water-soluble fibers from fruits and vegetables to help your digestive system function efficiently and the insoluble fibers in whole-grain breads, pastas and cereals. and brown rice. Stay away from grain products described on the packaging as "enriched."

Vitamins and Nutritional Supplements

    Consider supplementing your low-fat, high-fiber diet to be sure that you are absorbing sufficient vitamins and minerals. Anti-oxidant vitamins A, C, and E, and calcium may decrease the progression of gallbladder disease. Discuss adding supplements to your wellness routine with your attending physician.

Sabtu, 01 Juni 2013

How to Get Rid of a Family of Skunks

Skunks are not only a nuisance, but they can carry rabies and fleas that can affect humans and pets. If you have a family of skunks living in your yard, you must use prevention and removal tactics to get rid of the family and keep them away. Although it sounds easy, it does take time to get rid of skunks humanely so that skunks don't have any reason to visit your yard. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

    1

    Mow lawns so that grass blades are no more than 2 inches tall. Shrubs and gardens should be weeded and cut down if overgrown. Skunks are known to choose daytime hiding areas where they are not seen by other wildlife and humans. A tidy yard is a deterrent for a family of skunks.

    2

    Lawns with grubs should be treated to kill the grub. Skunks will bring the entire family to feast upon the grubs just below the soil surface. If you notice 1/4-inch round holes being dug in your yard where you have brown or dying grass, check for grubs and treat as needed.

    3

    Place garbage in garbage receptacles with covers to prevent skunks from getting food. Purchase receptacles that are at least 4 to 5 feet high. If you take away the food source for skunks, they will need to move on and find other sources of food.

    4

    Move firewood away from the house and don't leave any gaps in between the stacks of wood. If the skunks can get in between the wood stacks, they can make a home. The best place for firewood is in a hard rubber shed or bin so that skunks cannot get at it.

    5

    Use rags soaked in ammonia to keep skunks from hiding under decks and in crawl spaces outdoors. Throw the soaked rag under the deck or in the crawl space to deter skunks, who will not go by the smell. Use plywood or any other wood to block entrances to garages and other outdoor structures where skunks can get into and live.

    6

    Keep pet food dishes indoors at night. This includes water dishes. Even if the dog food is in a kennel with the dog, the smell will attract the family of skunks.

    7

    Make compost piles in a compost bin that will keep the skunks out. Composts piles draw the skunks to the yard. The smell and the rotten food is what skunks are looking for at night. If you don't have a enclosed compost bin, remove the compost pile from the yard to keep skunks at bay.

How to Make Raw Milk Yogurt

How to Make Raw Milk Yogurt

Raw milk enthusiasts who would rather not pasteurize their milk often prefer raw milk yogurt. Raw milk yogurt is made much in the same way as traditional yogurt. However, the raw milk is not heated to as high a temperature to make raw milk yogurt. Raw milk yogurt is a nutritious meal or snack and simple to make. Here's a basic raw milk recipe.

Instructions

    1

    Obtain some raw milk, produced in a clean, healthy environment by healthy cows or goats. Ideally, the raw milk for raw milk yogurt should be as fresh as possible.

    2

    Heat one quart of raw milk to 110 degrees F as the first step to making raw milk yogurt. Remove from heat source after reaching 100 degrees.

    3

    Add 2 tbsp. of live culture organic yogurt for your starter. Stonyfield yogurt is a very good choice as a culture to make organic raw milk yogurt. Use a whisk to incorporate the yogurt into the heated milk.

    4

    Pour milk into a quart-size mason jar or other glass container. Cover the raw milk yogurt with lid.

    5

    Leave the raw milk yogurt in a warm (110 degrees F) place such as an oven or wrapped in heating pads in a cooler for eight hours.

    6

    Place raw milk yogurt in refrigerator to cool.

    7

    Enjoy your raw milk yogurt. Add chopped fruit, homemade fruit preserves or vanilla extract and maple syrup to the raw milk yogurt if desired.

Prevention of Periodontitis

Periodontitis is a severe form of gum disease that involves the deterioration of the soft tissue and bone that surrounds and supports your teeth. Advanced periodontitis often results in loss of teeth and can lead to more serious health conditions like increased risk of heart attack or stroke. There is no way to reverse periodontitis once it becomes advanced, but there are ways to prevent this severe gum disease.

Cleaning Your Teeth

    Practicing good dental hygiene is the first step in preventing periodontitis. The experts at the American Dental Association recommend brushing teeth at least twice a day to remove bacteria that builds up on the surface of the teeth. A soft-bristle toothbrush is the best tool for the job and most dentists recommend you replace your brush every three months or so. The Mayo Clinic also recommends an electric toothbrush for a more thorough cleaning. Use a toothpaste or mouth rinse that contains fluoride to keep teeth strong and prevent decay.

Flossing

    Flossing your teeth is another important method of preventing periodontitis. This process removes food debris and bacteria that gets between your teeth and cannot be removed with a toothbrush. The American Dental Association recommends flossing your teeth daily. The best time to floss is probably at night before bed, so you can remove all the food particles that have built up throughout the day.

Regular Checkups

    Regular dental checkups offer two benefits. First, your dentist will be able to pick up on the early stages of gum disease if you are regularly in his office. Early gum disease is treated and even reversible, advanced periodontitis is not. Regular checkups also provide a professional cleaning that will get rid of any bacteria or plaque that has built up since your last appointment. Most dentists want to see their patients every six months. However, your dentist will recommend the best schedule for you based on your specific needs.

Kicking the Smoking Habit

    Smoking increases the risk of periodontitis, according to the American Academy of Periodontology. Smokers tend to have more plaque buildup than nonsmokers. They also have a higher risk of deep pockets between the teeth and gums and loss of tissue and bone that supports the teeth. Smokers also do not respond as well to treatment in the early stages of periodontitis as nonsmokers do, making it difficult to treat and reverse gum disease before it becomes advanced.

Good Eating Habits

    A healthy diet also can help to prevent periodontitis. The American Dental Association advises everyone to stick with a diverse diet that includes all the major food groups. It is also important to limit snacking between meals, especially when those snacks are high in sugar content. If possible, brush your teeth after every meal or snack to avoid plaque buildup that can lead to gum disease.

How to Whiten Dentures Fast

How to Whiten Dentures Fast

Knowing how to whiten dentures fast can keep you smiling. Nothing is more embarrassing than stained or discolored teeth. Keep your smile bright by cleaning your dentures regularly and avoiding foods that stain them.

Instructions

    1

    SCRUB - Scrub your dentures with water and baking soda every day and then rinse them with hydrogen peroxide. This will keep them white on a daily basis. You can then brush them with your favorite toothpaste and give your tongue and gums a good brushing as well.

    2

    STUBBORN STAINS - Bleach your dentures if you have a stubborn stain. You should not need to bleach them on a regular basis, only if they have a stain that your daily routine does not remove. Place your dentures in a glass bowl with enough bleach to cover them. Leave them soaking for up to a half hour or until the stain is removed. Rinse them thoroughly for a couple of minutes and then brush them with your favorite toothpaste.

    3

    FOODS TO AVOID - Make sure that you avoid foods that cause stubborn stains on dentures such as coffee, tea, and dark berries or juices. It is easier to prevent the stain.

    4

    FOODS TO EAT - Eat foods that naturally help keep your dentures clean and your mouth fresh. Foods such as lemon, raisins and ginger keep your teeth naturally clean and whitened.

    You can whiten dentures fast when you need to.

The Training to Become a Nutritionist

The Training to Become a Nutritionist

A nutritionist is concerned with nutrients in food, how they are used in the human body, and the relationship between diet and health. A nutritionist is primarily concerned with manipulating diet to prevent disease and promote overall health, and works with people either as individuals or in groups. She may plan menus, evaluate current menus for efficacy and implement food-service strategies.

College

    A nutritionist requires a minimum of a bachelor's degree to practice. This typically involves four years at the undergraduate level in college. A candidate can major in any subject, although popular choices for a potential nutritionist are natural health, dietetics, food service management, physiology, and health and fitness. Students should also take courses in mathematics, English and computer studies.

License

    As of 2008, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 46 states had legislation regarding the licensing of nutritionists: 33 confer licensure, 12 require statutory certification and one necessitates registration. Candidates are usually expected to supply proof of their educational achievements and pass a written examination to obtain licensure.

Certification

    A nutritionist can apply for voluntary certification through the American Dietetic Association (ADA). This certification is not legally required but it validates the training a candidate has undertaken. Candidates must attend an ADA-approved training course and sit a written examination to gain certification. Employers look favorably on this certification as the ADA is considered a standard bearer for the profession. Membership will also enable nutritionists to access job boards and continued education materials and to network with fellow members.

Career

    Having completed her degree and obtained licensure, if required, a nutritionist may look for employment opportunities in a number of industry sectors. Hospitals, nursing care facilities, outpatient care centers and the private offices of physicians employ a large number of nutritionists. Opportunities may also arise in state and local government agencies, such as working in correctional facilities and health departments. Other options include private care services, such as educational institutions or services for the elderly, or food manufacturers and retailers. Academic research is another career path a nutritionist may consider.

Further Training

    At some point in his career, a nutritionist may wish to undertake further training. This could mean studying for a master's or doctoral degree, which would allow the chance to build up a body of knowledge concerning a specific area of study, such as sports nutrition, biotechnology or public health. A post-graduate degree is required if a nutritionist wishes to teach and undertake research within universities and colleges. He may also pursue training in a specific area of nutrition, such as pediatric nutrition or geriatric nutrition. The American Dietetic Association provides details of continued education courses and certification in specialities.

Personal Qualities

    Besides the educational and licensure requirements, a nutritionist should endeavor to enhance certain personal skills that will help her to perform her role. A nutritionist needs to have good verbal communication skills, as she will interact with patients and clients, as well as other health professionals including physicians, nurses and social workers. Much of a nutritionist's work requires documentation on computer, so computer skills are necessary. A nutritionist may also oversee food preparation and service, so managerial and organizational skills would also be helpful.

How to Identify Strengths & Weaknesses

Learning the positives and negatives about yourself requires that you look at yourself in an objective manner. Honesty is a requirement in the search to identify your strengths and weaknesses. Answering this riddle can help you move from a life mired by continuous struggle to a focused and successful one.

Instructions

    1

    Think about what attracts you. Strengths are often more difficult to identify than weaknesses, and one of the first things that indicates a personal strength is your level of attraction. Things that you like to do will often be strengths simply because you will spend more time focusing on and practicing them.

    2

    Test out your abilities. Try different activities such as sports or school or work projects, giving your best effort each time. Personality graphing tests can also give you insight on your positive and negative abilities. The broader the spectrum of new activities you attempt, the more data you have on which to base a conclusion.

    3

    Graph your progress honestly. Without attaching to results or interpretations, take note of your aptitudes. Write down the things you enjoy doing and feel are strengths in yourself. Also note weaknesses. Draw from your personal experience, whether successes or failures. Pulling out some of your old accomplishments or awards will help lead you in a positive direction.

    4

    Analyze your findings. Asking yourself about specific tasks will yield more information. Sort out and categorize the information you've collected. Making a leap of improvement in a short amount of time or receiving accolades for your efforts would indicate strengths. If you have put consistent effort into something and haven't seen improvement or you notice that your desire to do something is lacking, consider these areas as weaknesses.

    5

    Obtain a second opinion. Seek the objective opinions of others on things you can improve on and things you excel at. Teachers and bosses are good places to start; these people have a bird's-eye view of your actions on a regular basis and can offer useful feedback.

Can You Lose Weight While Pregnant?

Pregnancy is not necessarily the right time to diet, though there are some occasions where losing weight during pregnancy could be useful. Most doctors will recommend waiting to diet until the child is born, unless the mother is very overweight or obese. The developing fetus inside a pregnant woman's body needs extra calories to grow and form, so a reduction in overall caloric intake can result in the child not getting the calories and nutrients it needs. If obesity is an issue, however, there are safe ways to diet and lose weight during pregnancy without risk to the developing fetus.

Weight Gain During Pregnancy

    Too much weight gain during a pregnancy can be just as bad for a mother and her growing baby as not gaining enough weight. While women who are underweight or of normal weight should gain up to 40 pounds during pregnancy, women who are already overweight should avoid gaining quite so much weight. Women who have a body mass index of 25 to 30 are considered overweight, and should gain between 15 and 25 pounds over the course of their pregnancy. Women who are heavier than this and who have a body mass index of more than 30 should only gain between 11 and 20 pounds. Women with a very high body mass index may actually be encouraged to lose weight over the course of their pregnancy to ensure their developing child's health.

Eat Smaller Meals More Often

    There are several benefits to eating small, frequent meals during pregnancy instead of eating large meals three times a day. By eating five or six small meals throughout the course of the day, a pregnant woman can increase her metabolism and give herself more energy while maintaining a healthy pregnancy weight. Smaller meals can help to maintain blood insulin levels, preventing low blood sugar and ensuring that the developing fetus has sufficient energy for growth. The eating of smaller meals also helps to make sure that there is not an excess of sugar and fats at any given point during the day that adds excess pounds, since the increased metabolism will burn through the sugars and calories of the meals more readily.

Dealing with Cravings

    When trying to maintain a healthy pregnancy weight or lose excess pounds during pregnancy, it is important to regulate and control cravings. Pregnancy cravings are the primary cause of excess weight gain during pregnancy, as many of these cravings tend to be for fatty or sweet foods. Learn to ignore cravings for sweets like ice cream and chocolate, instead focusing on healthier snacks such as carrot sticks, cucumber slices and fresh fruit to meet snack cravings.

Exercise

    While heavy aerobic and high-impact exercise is frowned upon by doctors and should be avoided during pregnancy, standard low-impact workouts such as walking or swimming are important for both the mother-to-be and her developing baby. These exercises can also be one of the keys to losing excess weight during pregnancy. Pregnant women should discuss any potential weight loss plan or exercise regimen with their doctor before they begin, and should also listen to their bodies while exercising. A mother-to-be should end her workout early when she begins to tire in order to avoid excessive fatigue and muscle strain, and putting undue stress on the developing fetus.

Keeping Track of Weight Loss

    If a woman wishes to lose weight while pregnant, she needs to keep a fairly accurate record of what she is eating, when she is exercising and how much she weighs on a weekly basis. Too much weight loss too quickly is dangerous for any woman; but for a woman who is pregnant, it is also dangerous for her developing baby. A pregnant woman attempting to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight during pregnancy should discuss with her doctor how much weight is healthy to lose in a given amount of time, carefully watching her weight gain or loss in order to avoid creating a dangerous situation for her child.

How to Lose Weight in Just 7 Days

Weight loss is a journey and it takes time to see results, but that doesn't meant you can't see some results in a short time. You can lose up to two pounds per week--even in your first week of exercising and dieting--if you are focused and determined. Anything more and you risk good health, according to the American Association of Family Physicians.

Instructions

    1

    Count calories. This is an essential element of weight loss because knowing how many calories are in foods is the first step to knowing how much food you can eat. One pound is equivalent to 3,500 calories, so to lose 2 lbs. in one week, you will need to burn 1,000 more calories than you consume each day, or 7,000 calories in the week. For weight loss, the consensus among specialists is to aim for consuming no fewer than 1,200 calories per day for women and 1,600 calories per day for men, according to the University of Illinois.

    2

    Burn calories. Every activity counts. Housework, gardening and yard work are exercises that can burn calories when done quickly enough to raise the heart rate. A person weighing 200 pounds can burn approximately 220 calories walking at 2 mph and 450 calories doing low-impact aerobics for an hour.

    3

    Eat good food. Be proactive when it comes to what you put in your body. Fruits and vegetables are healthy and have fewer calories than most processed foods. They also have very little, if any, fat. They have vitamins and nutrients necessary for your body. Grains are good because they have fiber. Eat lean meat and more fish. Avoid saturated and trans fats and fried foods. Use monounsaturated, or polyunsaturated (olive or canola) oil, fats instead. Nuts, avocados and omega-3 oils are good sources of thee kinds of fats. A 1,200-calorie menu for a day might include oatmeal (150 calories), 3 oz. of skinned light chicken breast with broccoli and a small baked potato (400 calories), an apple (100 calories), butternut squash salad (200 calories), 1 cup of beef soup (150 calories) and 6 oz. yogurt with 1 oz. of almonds (240 calories).

How to Lose Weight with the 5 Day Diet

How to Lose Weight with the 5 Day Diet

The 5 day diet, otherwise known as the 5 day miracle diet, is a diet that is designed to help individuals lose weight quickly. By focusing on low carbohydrate foods and exercise, the 5 day diet can help you lose weight quickly before an upcoming event such as a wedding, pool party or something similar. Below, you'll learn how to lose weight with the 5 day diet.

Instructions

    1

    Eat multiple meals a day.

    With the 5-day diet, individuals eat four meals a day plus a snack. The meals are smaller and there are certain times they must be eaten. The foods are designed to help the individual stay full while also speeding up the metabolism. By giving the body smaller amounts of food more often, the metabolism speeds up, helping the individual to burn more fat and get rid of the stored fat. To learn more about eating multiple meals on the 5 day miracle diet, visit Diets in review. See "Additional Resources" for link.

    2

    Eliminate Fat from the Diet.

    The 5-day diet shows individuals how to stop their dependency on sweet foods, processed foods and other foods that are high in fat and sugar. This alone is one of the benefits of the 5 day diet. On this diet, individuals will not be able to eat these kinds of food or consume carbonated beverages or other beverages high in fat. When the diet is over, many individuals feel averse to the high fat and sugar foods, because the body has weaned itself from these sorts of foods.

    3

    Seek Support.

    One thing that will help individuals who want to do the 5-day diet is support. Taking and interacting with others who are going through the same diet or who have experienced success with the diet are great ways to ensure success in your own efforts with the diet. There are many different ways to seek support, including support forums or in groups of others on the same kind of diet. Family and friends are also wonderful support groups.

    4

    Expect Short Term Weight Loss

    On fad diets like the 5-day miracle diet, many individuals lose weight quickly, only to gain it back as soon as they stop the diet. This is because a lot of the weight that is lost is water weight and will come back very quickly. However, through exercise and self-discipline, individuals can learn to keep the weight off. It's important to exercise on any diet, because this is the true key to losing weight and keeping it off.

    By using the tips and information above, individuals can learn to do the 5 day miracle diet and lose weight quickly. By researching ways to reinforce the diet with healthy exercise and diet adjustments, individuals can keep the weight off forever.

How Fast Can One Lose Weight?

How Fast Can One Lose Weight?

How fast a person loses weight depends on a number of factors. Some can be changed and some are based on science and genetics. As a general rule, fast weight loss is usually not permanent, as it results from a loss of muscle or water, rather than fat. Still, there are factors to consider when trying to determine how fast someone can lose weight.

The Science Behind Weight Loss

    A pound of body weight equals 3,500 calories. This means that to lose a pound, a person needs to eliminate the equivalent to 3,500 calories through exercise or a change in diet. At rest, the average 150-pound person burns an average of 1,200 calories just to stay alive. This takes into consideration the amount of calories the body needs to maintain the organs functioning and keep the brain active at any given time. By cutting down the amount of calories consumed to this number (or just above), you will lose weight because there are no additional calories being consumed to be stored as fat. Through this method, the average person will lose 1 to 3 pounds of body weight a week.

Your Starting Weight

    The more weight you have to lose, the faster you will lose it. Everybody has a set weight, which is the weight at which the body feels most comfortable. In people who are extremely overweight, this set weight is far from the actual number on the scale, making it easier to drop pounds with just a few changes. Also, people who are consuming large amounts of food or high-calorie drinks on a daily basis have more room to adjust their caloric intake than those who only have a few pounds to lose and are already eating a well-balanced diet.

Extreme Diets

    Extremely low-calorie diets, which include everything from cleanses to liquid diets to eating only a specific food group (such as greens), cause rapid weight loss. This happens for a number of reasons. First, the low number of calories consumed usually leads to dehydration and water loss, lowering the number on the scale but not necessarily leading to fat loss. In fact, extreme diets cause a loss of muscle mass, since the body eats away at the muscle to feed itself and make up for the lack of energy obtained from food. Because muscle is heavier than fat, the numbers on the scale tend to drop quickly with these diets. However, weight loss is mostly temporary, and most is regained as soon as you go back to your regular way of eating. Because muscle accelerates metabolism, a loss of muscle will eventually lead to an increase in weight, even if you go back to eating the same amount of food you did before. Extreme diets can cause a weight loss of up to six pounds a week, especially during the first two weeks of dieting, when water is being lost.

Exercise

    While diet is the main component in a weight-loss program, the amount of activity performed on a daily basis will also affect the speed. People who exercise regularly have more muscle mass, which speeds the metabolism and causes faster weight loss. Also, exercise burns calories and makes it easier to lose weight, especially when combined with a controlled-calorie diet. For best results, choose an activity that burns a high number of calories but also works the muscles effectively (rather than just elevating the heart rate). Examples of effective exercise for weight loss include hiking, climbing, swimming and kayaking.

Genetics

    Children of obese parents are more likely to be obese. This is due to a combination of genetics and environment. Those who grew up surrounded by obese people may be less likely to eat a balanced diet, exercise and maintain a healthy weight. A family history of depression or emotional eating can also affect a person's relationship with food and make it more difficult to lose weight at an appropriate pace.

Natural Herbs to Lose Weight

Many people want to lose weight and turn to many different things for help, including special diets, exercise, diet pills and herbs. The natural herbs one can use to help with weight loss are usually safer than some of the diet programs and pills offered on the market today.

Bitter Orange

    Bitter orange is a natural herb that works much like ephedra. Bitter orange and ephedra both contain antagonists that help in weight loss by increasing metabolism. This herb should not be used if you have high blood pressure or heart disease.

Hoodia Gordonii

    Hoodia gordonii is a medicinal herb that comes from the deserts of South Africa. It is useful as a natural appetite suppressant. It also helps in weight loss because it lowers blood sugar levels, which in turn lowers insulin circulating in the blood, which in turn then reduces fat storage.

Coleus

    This herb works by breaking down fat deposits. It can also stimulate the metabolism by increasing the function of the thyroid.

Garcina Cambogia

    Garcina cambogia can help with weight loss because it can make meals more filling. It is traditionally used in southeast Asia. It is a natural appetite suppressant and decreases the body's ability to form fatty tissue caused by overeating.

Green Tea

    Green tea can help burn calories and therefore help with weight loss. Green tea can be taken as an extract or liquid.

How to Lose Weight With 6 Small Meals

How to Lose Weight With 6 Small Meals

To reduce your weight you have to burn more calories than you take in on a daily basis. Burning calories can be done by incorporating cardiovascular training into your routine or taking up weight training. Your diet also plays an important part in your weight loss efforts. If you eat too many fattening, sugary foods, you won't lose weight, even if you exercise. Eating frequently keeps you satiated so you don't overeat or give into result-sabotaging cravings.

Instructions

    1

    Reduce your daily caloric intake by 500 to 1,000 calories to lose 1 to 2 lbs. per week. The MedlinePlus website states that losing more than 2 lbs. per week is weight loss from water and lean muscle; not from fat. Your body thinks it's starving, making if hold onto fat.

    2

    Eat a small meal every two to three hours to feed your body constant nutrition and keep your blood sugar levels stable. Prepare up to six meals ahead of time so you are less likely to fall off your diet. Purchase plastic containers so you can easily take meals with you.

    3

    Schedule the times when you eat and eat meals at the same time each day. Make meal time a daily routine because you will be less likely to forget to eat or skip meals.

    4

    Watch your portion size when eating frequently because losing weight by eating often only works if you eat small meals. Divide your breakfast, lunch and dinner in half to easily create six smaller meals. Ask for only half a meal in restaurants, take part of your meal to go or share a meal with a friend.

    5

    Take 30 to 60 minutes of each day to do cardiovascular exercise which will rev up your metabolism and burn fat. Add full body weight training to your exercise routine, two days of the week to sculpt and increase muscle tissue which keeps your body converting food into energy all day long, even when you are resting.

How do I Lose Weight With Lipitor?

How do I Lose Weight With Lipitor?

Lipitor is a prescription medication used to lower bad cholesterol and reduce the risks of heart attack, stroke and high blood pressure. Lipitor works by reducing the cholesterol and other fatty substances in your bloodstream that could cause blockages and lead to other health problems. Lipitor is used in conjunction with a low-fat diet to optimize results of the medication. While the main goal of Lipitor is not weight loss, it is a common, positive side effect of the new lifestyle choices patients are encouraged to live by when prescribed the medication.

Instructions

    1

    Eat a healthy diet. Avoid foods high in cholesterol or fat like butter and eggs to avoid making the medicine less effective. To lose weight, also eat foods that are lower in calories and higher in nutrients. Increase your intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and beans. These foods are low in cholesterol, high in nutrients and will help you drop excess, fatty weight with more ease.

    2

    Implement an exercise routine. Start with something simple and easy like walking or climbing stairs so you don't strain your heart and cause complications in conjunction with your high cholesterol. As your cholesterol lowers and you become more physically fit, increase the intensity of your exercise activity to things like jogging or swimming laps. Set goals for the number of calories you want to burn per day and make sure the amount you burn is less than the amount you take in.

    3

    Continue taking Lipitor. Lipitor can only work to keep your cholesterol low for as long as you take it and stick with the program. There is a 12-week guide for managing cholesterol for Lipitor users to help you stick to your plans.

How to Help a Teen Lose Weight By Exercising

How to Help a Teen Lose Weight By Exercising

An overweight teen that manages to lose weight has a better chance of keeping good habits throughout adulthood. Thus, helping a teen lose weight by exercising is a step forward in improving health and self-esteem. With the demands of homework and after-school activities, it can be challenging to squeeze in additional exercise. According to psychologist Bryan Alman, being positive, caring and respectful is the best way to help teens lose weight. You can also help a teen lose weight by encouraging an active lifestyle.

Instructions

    1

    Spend time talking with your teen about how he feels about his body. Don't ask pointed questions. Talk about his feelings and find out if he's satisfied with his fitness level. Discuss ways to become more physically active, how it may result in weight loss, and how he feels about getting into shape.

    2

    Make it a family affair. Doing so will make your teen feel less self-conscious about losing weight. Plan out family walks and activities such as hiking, trail walking biking, bowling and swimming.

    3

    Set a good example. As a parent, you should exercise on a regular basis to help establish a routine and inspire your teen to set weight loss goals -- and achieve them through exercise and proper diet.

    4

    Purchase beneficial workout DVDs. Your teen might be shy about working out in front of other people -- exercise DVDs allow her to work out in the privacy. Together, create an exercise program that enables her to watch the DVDs at least three times a week.

    5

    Nurture an activity or sport. Buy him a pass at a local pool if he enjoys swimming. If he likes group sports, sign him up for a class through a local community center. Playing sports is an effective, exciting and engaging way for your teen to exercise and lose weight.

How to Lose Weight Fast At No Cost

How to Lose Weight Fast At No Cost

It is important to keep your weight under control. Excess fat can increase your risk for diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and breast cancer. Although it is essential to be at a healthy weight, losing weight can be expensive. Gyms and pre-packaged diet foods can cost a lot of money. A balanced diet and exercises at home do not cost anything. Weight loss can be free if you follow the proper at-home steps.

Instructions

Diet

    1

    Eat low fat yogurt for breakfast. Top your yogurt with fresh fruit or try blending with fruit for a smoothie. The live and active cultures will keep your stomach less bloated.

    2

    Eat about ten almonds for a heart-healthy satisfying snack.

    3

    Enjoy a spinach salad topped with grilled chicken and chick peas and add 1 tsp. of oil and one tsp. of vinegar to top it off for lunch.

    4

    Eat an apple for an afternoon snack. This will keep you full due to its high fiber content.

    5

    Enjoy grilled salmon with a cup of homemade vegetable soup for dinner.

Exercise

    6

    Take a 30-minute walk if the weather permits. If the weather is not cooperative, go up and down the stairs of your home at least five times. If you don't have steps, walk around your home. Boost your workout by changing your walk to a jog or run.

    7

    Work your abdominal muscles by doing crunches. Lay flat on the floor, put your hands at the side of your head so that you are not pulling on your neck and pull your body off the floor just a few inches. If you are having a hard time keeping your feet down, slide your feet under your couch to keep them down.

    8

    Work your biceps by lifting weights. Instead of buying weights, try holding a canned vegetable in each hand. If you want heavier weights, try two same-sized bottles of detergent. Start by keeping your palms faced-out and slowly curling the weights up toward your shoulders. Slowly bring them back down. Repeat 12 times.

    9

    Work your upper and lower body simultaneously by doing squat thrusts. Squat down with your weight on your heels. Touch the ground and place hands on the floor in front of you. Jump your heels behind you so that you are in push-up position. Hold your body in place and jump and put your body back into squat position. Slowly roll up. Repeat eight times.