Pony Of Prey Blog

This article is about making long-term changes in the foods you choose and eat, WITHOUT sacrificing good taste.

Let’s take a look at protein. Did you know the large majority of your body is protein? That’s right. If all the water were removed from your body, 80% of what remained would be comprised of protein. Your hair and nails have protein in them, as do your brain, bones, heart, kidneys, even your skin. You must derive the adequate amount of protein from your diet or you will suffer from lowered energy, weakened immune response, high cholesterol, hormonal imbalances, liver toxicity, premature aging…The list goes on and on.

When there is not enough protein in your diet, your body actually uses protein from its own tissues, breaking down your hard-earned muscles, organs, ligaments, tendons, etc. This is catastrophic to anyone working hard to get more fit because muscle is needed to burn calories, make us strong, shapely and energetic. When you lose muscle, you loose the ability to burn calories, and dramatically slow down your metabolism, wrecking even the best diet efforts!

Now, what about fats? Contrary to belief, fats are not the enemy of dieters. In fact, although fat has twice as many calories as other some other food types, fat does not stimulate significant production of insulin, which is the body’s fat-making hormone, which is a major benefit when used in conjunction with a proper
diet like that described in the book Maximize Your Metabolism. Get more information now about this incredible book at: http://www.maximizeyourmetabolism.com/?ezine

Your body needs some fat. Eating fat-free foods is not the answer. Most fat-free food is laden with sugar or harmful chemicals.

Furthermore, unsaturated fats are essential for human survival. Fat helps the nervous system function. Fat holds the organs of the body in correct places. Fat insulates the body. Fat is performs a wide array of vital body functions.

There are many different sources of fat in the diet, making it nearly impossible to avoid fat, as at least a small amount is in nearly all foods. Foods such as oil, nuts, full fat cheeses, avocados, olives, certain cuts of meats, are considered high in fat. Foods such as fruits, vegetables, most grains, potatoes, and
others are very low in fat.

There are different types of fats, too. There are good fats and bad fats. Good fats, or unsaturated fats, are beneficial to the body in a number of ways, and should be implemented into your daily diet (but don’t go crazy here - I’m talking about only 2 - 3 tablespoons per day). These good fats are found in such foods as olives, avocados, extra-virgin olive oil, safflower oil, flax oil, nuts, etc. Bad fats, or saturated fats, are the kinds of fats that clog the arteries, make cholesterol levels rise, and raise blood pressure. Bad fats are found in meats, cheeses, butter, lard, and cream. Stay away from ALL saturated fats!

Now, for carbohydrates. Carbohydrate balance is critical to achieving weight loss. Carbohydrates should never be called carbohydrates. They are, in fact, SUGAR! No matter how complex, carbohydrates are broken down to their lowest common denominator, which is glucose. Glucose is sugar.

Regardless, carbohydrates are your body’s primary fuel source. Your brain requires carbohydrates every second of its life.

Carbohydrates, in the form of blood sugar, are pumping through your veins every minute of the day. And while they are essential to your survival, they can be your worst enemy.

Carbohydrates in the diet can be found in many places, including fruit, flour, bread, yams, potatoes, rice, pasta, oatmeal, beans, etc.

There are different types of carbohydrates, including simple, medium and complex carbohydrates. Simple carbohydrates are very easy for the body to break down and absorb, because their chemical structure is simple. But that does not make them good for you - in fact the simple carbohydrates are the worst kind to eat.

Medium-chain carbohydrates are slightly more detailed in their structure, and will take longer for the body to digest and absorb, leading to a longer-lasting release of energy. Complex carbohydrates take the longest to break down and to be utilized by the body, resulting in a longer-lasting release of energy.

Carbohydrates second only to fat in being the most fattening of all the food types because they have the highest potential to cause imbalances in the body’s sugar levels and the body’s hormones, stopping fat loss cold in it’s tracts! This is why regulation of carbohydrates, and eating the right carbohydrates, is essential to
getting healthy, and to losing any unwanted body fat.

Picking protein, fats and carbohydrates for weight-loss. In short, to see the quickest, most dramatic fat-loss results, you will need to add more protein to your diet, eat a few tablespoons of the right fats, and eliminate all of the wrong fats, as well as all white-flour carbohydrates and sugars from your diet.

While this sounds like a challenge, you will quickly find it is not. And, by making these easy, highly-beneficial changes, you will see dramatic results quickly, looking and feeling better within the first week. To help you plan your diet, refer to the lists below:

Protein

• Egg whites
• Chicken breast, turkey breast (without skin)
• Beef
• Soy Protein
• Fish
• Shellfish
• Veal
• Lamb
• Pork
• Venison
• Buffalo
• Nonfat cottage cheese
• Egg substitute
• Protein powders, bars

Fat

• Olive oil
• Olives
• Nuts
• Seeds

Carbohydrates

• All vegetables

Beverages

• Water, water, water (this is #1 and really should be the only
drink you consume other than some decaf herbal tea’s)
• Diet sodas (avoid phosphoric acid)
• Crystal Light
• Diet flavored waters
• Herbal teas
• Iced tea (sugar free, decaf)
• Cut out all fruit juices as they are high in sugar

For a ton of f.ree, valuable tips, tricks, and secrets visit: http://www.MaximizeYourMetabolism.com

© 2002-2005 Wisdom Books, LLC & Christopher Guerriero WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this blurb with it: Christopher Guerriero, is the founder of the National Metabolic & Longevity Research Center and a best-selling author, speaker, and coach to millions. He is creator of the award-winning ‘Maximize Your Metabolism’ system. To learn more about this step-by-step program, and to sign up for FR*EE how-to articles and F.REE teleseminars, visit http://www.MaximizeYourMetabolism.com

Through the simple process of touch, Reflexology is so effective in the healing process. In the hi-tech world that we live in, touch has taken second place to machines.

Physiotherapists are now using machines instead of their hands. Doctors use machines to scan bodies and no longer rely on their hands for diagnosis. People have forgotten how to hug one another. They now shake hands. They walk past one another in the streets and do not even greet each other.

Electric blankets are used to keep warm in bed - human arms have become redundant. Healing takes place through an exchange of human energies and not through an exchange of electricity.

There is sufficient evidence that over-exposure to electricity increases the risk of cancer. Even living near high voltage pylons is reputed to deplete the immune system.

Research was done in an orphanage in London where the mortality rate of babies was very high. People were paid to come into the orphanage and to play with an experimental group of babies. The mortality rate remained the same for the babies in the control group but the experimental group babies who were played with every day showed a higher survival rate.

When you are feeling down in the dumps and someone hugs you, you immediately feel better. This occurs because of the exchange of human energies and since positive energy can be used to destroy negative energy, you change the energy field of the person and they will immediately feel better.

All of us have the gift of healing in our hands. You instinctively use your hands to heal. When you bang your knee, you automatically put your hand on it. When a child bangs his head against something, you put your hand on his head. You are transmitting healing energy without even knowing it.

Reflexology, which is an ancient form of healing which stimulates energy points in the feet, hands and body, is one modality that effectively transmits healing energy.

To learn more about Reflexology, including free charts and articles as well as reflex tools and crystals, please visit AkobiAromas.com.

Dee is a Certified Aromatherapist, Certified Reflexologist, and Reiki Master. Her site is AkobiAromas.com - a source of quality aromatherapy, herbal and reflexology information and products.

Obesity surgery is a serious decision to make if you are obese and wish to lead a healthier life. There are many complications that can occur in addition to the benefits. For example, if you have stomach stapling done you may pop a staple at some future point after the surgery. If you get a band it could slip. Either way you’ll need corrective surgery.

Beneficially your stomach will be much smaller in size and unable to hold as much food, which in turn should allow you dramatic weight loss. Just because your stomach is smaller doesn’t necessarily mean that your appetite will be smaller after you recover. Some people find that initially their appetite is dramatically reduced but after their bodies heal from the surgery old habits return. This can be especially difficult if you are used to eating quickly and ordering large amounts of food.

You should write a personal note to yourself or several copies of the same note that say something to the effect of ‘Remember to chew slowly and pay attention to how much food you are eating.’ After an obesity surgery you will fill up very quickly and can inadvertently make yourself sick.

It is possible to find ways to cheat on your new weight loss plan and thus regain your weight. One of these is simply to ‘graze’ all day. Even if you can only eat small amounts at a time you can still gain weight if you constantly eat tiny portions of high calorie foods during the day. This is unfortunent and a common occurrence in patients with whom the obesity surgery doesn’t take.

Also continuing a sedentary lifestyle will hinder your efforts. Its important to start and stay active. One way to stay active and a suggested way for obesity surgery patients is walking.

Read more obesity surgery articles and obesity surgery news or visit our obesity surgery site.

Many smoking cessation products claim to guarantee that the client or user will gain no weight when they undertake their method. Some products even claim that they will help you LOSE wight while quitting. Does this sound too good to be true.

It is.

Clients to my hypnotherapy practice often expect me to assure them that they will not gain any weight when they stop smoking. This is not the case. They should fully expect to gain weight, but no more than 2-4 pounds once they become a non-smoker.

It is a fact that smoking causes your cells to dehydrate. If you don’t believe me, take a look at the skin quality of a 40-year smoker compared to a non-smoker. When you become a non-smoker your body is going to naturally re-hydrate those cells. This is not fat. This is not even “water retention” It is simply going to be water that your cells really need.

Most people would rather be 2-4 pounds heavier and a non-smoker, than 2-4 pounds lighter and a smoker.

Some people worry that they are going to crave sweets or other “bad” foods once they stop smoking. Good hypnotherapy completely eliminates any notion of craving.

Of course you always have a choice to eat whatever you wish but you do not need to fear that you will automatically substitute “bad” foods for cigarettes, it simply will not happen.

My suggestion? Quit smoking first, then tackle any weight reduction issues. Smoking is by far the most immediate threat in most cases.

Matt Godson is the founder of http://www.freshstartmethod.com

The Internet Stop Smoking Solution

Stop smoking

The Atkins weight loss diet is based on one simple principle: Your body burns both carbohydrates and fat for calories. If you reduce the amounts of carbohydrates available, it will burn more fat and you will lose weight.

According to Atkins, calories are unimportant. The key to losing weight is to restrict the carbohydrates that you eat and force the body to turn to its stored fat as an energy source. As proof of this, proponents of the Atkins Diet point to the following facts derived from research:

* When the body doesn’t have enough carbohydrate, it will use ketenes derived from fat as energy.
* You can eat more food and lose more weight on a low carbohydrate diet than you can on a low fat diet.
* You crave less food when you eat fewer carbohydrates.
* By eating fewer carbohydrates, people tend to eat fewer calories without counting them.
* The greater the difference between fat and carbohydrate, the greater the weight loss.

In short, if you restrict your intake of carbohydrates, you will most likely also restrict your intake of calories. By lowering your carbohydrate intake, you will encourage your body to turn to fat for energy.

The Atkins diet has provoked storms of controversy since it was first published. The recommendation to eat a high-protein, low-carbohydrate flew in the face of all the dietary recommendations by established medical institutions. The diet was denounced as unsafe, particularly if used as a life-long weight maintenance plan. Over the past five to ten years, there have been numerous studies that come down on both sides of the equation, and Atkins last version of the diet included the admission that calories do matter, and the advice to ‘eat only enough to satisfy hunger’.

A typical menu for a meal on the Atkins Diet might include:

Portobello and Ricotta Crostini
Chicken Milanese over Spring Salad
Lemon Vinaigrette dressing
Warm Lentils and Celery
Raspberry Cheesecake in a Cup

The eating plan recommended by the Atkins diet contains very low portions of carbohydrates, deriving the majority of carbohydrates from vegetables high in fiber and low in carbs, and unrestricted portions of proteins, including high fat proteins like beef, pork and cheese.

Follow up research on people who have used the Atkins Diet to lose weight show a fast initial weight loss that eventually levels off. The Atkins Diet has four phases to account for it:

1. The Induction Phase, which restricts carbohydrates severely.

2. The OWL (Ongoing Weight Loss) Phase, in which you add in limited carbs and tailor the eating plan to your tastes

3. Pre-maintenance, with ten pounds or less to the target goal, deliberately slows weight loss to begin adjusting the body to after-weight-loss diet.

4. Lifetime Maintenance, a long-term eating plan that emphasizes low carbohydrates and healthy, long-term eating

Who should use the Atkins Diet?

While the Atkins Diet seems on the surface to be directly counter to what is recommended by most medical institutions, many of the principles are actually the same. Unless you are under the care of a physician for a chronic medical condition like diabetes, high blood pressure or coronary problems, you can use the Atkins Diet. Do pay attention to the portions recommended in the menus and plans at http://www.atkins.com, despite the reassurances that you can ‘eat all you want and still lose weight.’

Kirsten Hawkins is a nutrition and health expert from Nashville, TN. Visit www.popular-diets.com/ for more great nutrition, well-being, and vitamin tips as well as reviews and comments on popular diets.

The stress and anxiety that most brides experience as their wedding day approaches can be overwhelming for them. The amount of preparation involved and the countless number of details needing attention can make it very difficult to eat sensibly and maintain even a modest level of good nutrition. I can recall countless conversations with brides who are so stressed out in the month or so before their wedding that they abandon all good eating habits and either starve themselves or binge on junk food to handle the stress.

Many are genuinely terrified that they’ll be overweight and unattractive on their wedding day or even worse won’t be able to fit into their dream wedding gown.

I have been working with a personal trainer for the past 10 years who continually reminds me how just a few simple changes to your daily routine can make a huge difference. The four basic principles I outline below really do work. I’ve had personal success using these strategies and continue to follow them on a daily basis. Many of my clients who have requested my help and followed this advice have had remarkable results. Start this program at least 3-4 weeks before your wedding day and see for yourself.

1. Water, Water and more Water

Hydration is critical. While the benefits are countless this is one of the hardest things to implement into your daily routine. Whenever I would neglect this item my trainer would recite how water lowers body fat, flushes cellulite, improves digestion, gets rid of dark circles under the eyes, and makes you feel full. These are just a few of the benefits of drinking the required 2.5 litres of water per day.

This may seem like a lot but I found the easiest way to get into the habit is to break the amounts down into manageable amounts:

• Keep a bottle of water beside your bed. Before you go to sleep drink 1/2 the bottle and as soon as you wake up (before your feet touch the floor) drink the remaining 1/2 bottle

• Before each meal drink a half a bottle of water

• Carry water with you and sip it throughout the day

I can’t overemphasize how important this step is.

2. Go for a 10 minute Walk Every Day

Start with this…you can always increase later after it becomes routine. It’s enough to gently boost your metabolism and keep you active.

3. Eat Often but Only in Small Portions

Before I started this method of eating I would starve myself for a couple of days whenever I wanted to lose weight. It seemed logical to me at the time. When I started personal training I had to modify many of my bad eating habits. I had to start eating 6 meals a day. Don’t panic, it’s easier than it sounds. Every 3-4 hours from the time you wake up eat a little something. Your digestive system is far more efficient at handling a series of small meals than it is at tackling one large meal.

I usually eat at 7am, 10 am, 1pm, 4pm, 7pm and 10 pm

Your meal portions (meat, veggies, carbs) should be no larger than the palm of your hand and no thicker than the palm of your hand.

4. Eat Healthy

I could spend days offering suggestions on meal variations but there are many excellent books that have been written to give you ideas. I will share my recommendations in another upcoming article.

So to make it simple a typical meal should be a protein, a carbohydrate and a vegetable or fruit.

Here is a sample daily meal plan that I eat to get you started:

Meal one: Protein shake with 1% milk (I like whey protein drinks such as IsoPro)
Meal two: 1/2 an apple and cottage cheese or yogurt
Meal three: Piece of chicken (no skin) and a small salad
Meal four: Cheese and the balance of the apple
Meal five: Piece of lean meat, rice or potatoes, vegetables
Meal six: Low fat chocolate pudding mixed with protein powder

5. The Best Part - Reward Yourself!

Choose one day a week as your reward day and eat whatever you want and as much as you want. Whether you like pasta, cookies, ice cream or my personal favorite chocolate.
Enjoy!

Don’t worry, you won’t gain fat if you do this because for the past six days your body has been used to eating what I term ‘clean’ food. On the seventh day your body thinks you are going to do the same and when you don’t it gets fooled and eliminates the effects of the ‘junk’ food. In essence you are tricking your body that day but you must eat cleanly on the following day.

I have told many upcoming brides about this method of eating and almost all of them have emailed me back to let me know how thrilled they were at reaching their target goal of weight loss. I hope it works for you too.

As a final note of encouragement, my daughter used this method of eating and in 1 year she went from a size 18 to a size 2. This was four years ago and she has still maintained her weight to this day.

These simple techniques will not only help you quickly, safely and effectively lose at least one dress size but they will also help you feel more energetic, vibrant and healthy. Not to mention the positive effect it will have on your skin texture and overall appearance.

Stay on track and you’ll be amazed at your results. Eat well, drink plenty of water and as you progress, simply imagine your groom seeing you for the first time in your wedding gown and watching his jaw drop in speechless silence.

Gail Young is a co-founder of The Bridal Chalet, an online bridal boutique selling designer style couture and traditional wedding gowns and bridal accessories. She has extensive background in fitness and nutrition as a former amateur body sculptor and combines this with her knowledge and passion for designing bridal fashion.

Visit her website at: http://www.bridalchalet.com

Gastric Bypass Surgery is growing in popularity. It is important that anyone who is considering this type of surgery to insure that they are ready for both the physical stresses of it as well as the mental challenge it presents. Gastric bypass surgery is a way for doctors to help treat morbid obesity. For those individuals who have serious health problems that are brought on or made worse by their weight, this surgery can be the difference in life and death. Here are some details and things to keep in mind when considering gastric bypass surgery.

First of all, it isn’t for everyone. In fact, you must be above 40 BMI in order to qualify. Some doctors will go as low as 35, though. BMI stands for Body Mass Index. This is a system that is used to compare and understand the effects of weight on human bodies as compared to their height. We know that a person with a BMI between 35 and 40 is considered morbidly obese, but that doesn’t mean someone should be very low either. There is a balance in which the body simply needs to have a certain level of fat. This is a controversial understanding in most cases. Nevertheless, this is an indicator that a person is a candidate for gastric bypass surgery.

In most cases, individuals who are candidates for gastric bypass are 100 pounds or more overweight. But, just being overweight by a certain amount is not the only thing that is considered. Individuals who would like to be considered for this weight loss will in fact need to go through a battery of mental testing. For those who eat because of emotions, gastric bypass is likely to fail. The first steps for these individuals is dealing with their specific eating disorder first. When they are successfully through them, they may then be considered a candidate. It is important to understand that once the surgery is complete, if a person can not commit to specific changes, they will not succeed at losing weight and can complicate the surgery’s outcome. Many times patients will be required to diet and exercise during a period of time prior to becoming a candidate. So, what does happen during this surgery?

During the procedure, the doctor will create a pouch out of the stomach. They will take the stomachs normal size and reduce it to mere 1-2 fluid ounces or between 30-60 mL. This is a drastically smaller size. They will lower the stomachs capacity by connecting the pouch to a point midway to the small intestine. The larger remaining pouch will be kept within the body and will be connected farther down the small intestine so that it can remain a producer of gastric juices that aid in digestion. Gastric bypass surgery does require an incision of six to eight inches. In some cases, several smaller incisions will be used instead.

What is the goal of gastric bypass surgery?

The whole point of this surgery is to limit the amount of food that a person can take in and to shorten the digestive track to allow for fewer calories to be absorbed within a person’s body. By limiting the amount of food a person can consume, they greatly reduce the amount of calories being consumed and therefore force the body to use stored fat instead. This surgery is called restrictive because it reduces your intake of foods and malabsorptive because it reduces the amount of food that can be absorbed into the body.

Most of the time, gastric bypass surgery is successful. In 2% of patients, though, it is fatal. One percent is due to complications during surgery. In many cases, the heart is already weakened from having to pump so vigorously to handle the extra weight or complications from other diseases may cause death as well during surgery. The other one percent will come within one month or so after the surgery is done. In these cases, it is often due to patients not restricting themselves properly. Patients who have this surgery will no longer be able to eat foods that are high in sugar or fat. The body can likely not handle these fast absorbing foods within their bodies.

If you would like to be considered for gastric bypass surgery, you will need to see your doctor and tell him about your situation. Not all insurance companies within the United States will actually cover this surgery unless there is medical evidence that your weight is attributing to your health. You will go through a battery of tests to determine your circumstances and to find out if you do indeed qualify. It is a life changing experience, but it is one that needs to be thoroughly thought out.

For more information about gastric bypass visit http://www.gastric-bypass-surgery-info.com/. You may freely reprint this article on your website or in your newsletter provided this courtesy notice, link and URL remain intact.