tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17514938140751386472024-03-14T03:54:04.841-07:00FITNESS FLASH Fitness Expert, Diet Book Author, Champion Bodybuilder and Fitness Competitor, Former American Gladiator Contestant, Christine Lakatos, offers fitness posts –– dieting, food facts, nutrition, exercise, and more –– for those ready to lose fat and gain health. calfit32http://www.blogger.com/profile/00878040228371483663noreply@blogger.comBlogger94125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1751493814075138647.post-19102735466151321532016-09-04T16:38:00.001-07:002017-03-10T16:35:47.381-08:00Back to Healthy and Fit Grocery Shopping <br />
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Last weekend (Saturday, August 27), some of the La Quinta World Gym RockFit folks met me at <br />
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The Awesome RockFit Gang at Trader Joe's in La Quinta </td></tr>
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Trader Joe's in La Quinta, California to grasp a better understanding on how to grocery shop for health and fitness.<br />
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While we had an awesome time, there were many great questions, comments and concerns that arose –– even a few that I was unable to address.<br />
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So, in an effort to ensure that my "fitness class" always <i>gets the best</i>, I've decided to research, clarify, and/or expand upon some of them (<span style="color: red;"><b>TEN areas*</b></span>)<span style="color: red;"> </span>at the end of this blog post.<br />
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This is not only to show my gratitude for those that made this fitness class so much fun, but I'd like to share this valuable information with my fitness clients (past, present and future) here in the desert, as well as anyone interested in losing body fat and gaining health. <br />
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In the meantime, below is the "Healthy and Fit Grocery-Shopping Guide" that I had prepared for World Gym, which <span style="color: red;">will reflect</span> some minor adjustments.<br />
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<b>What should I eat?</b></div>
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One of the most common questions I get asked as a fitness expert is this: “What should I eat?” <br />
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While it is a great question, the answer is that cleaning up your calories are more important than decreasing them. It is the first and most important step you must take if you truly want to lose body fat and gain health. <br />
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So what does it mean to “clean up your calories?” Well, it basically means consuming <b>“GOOD FOODS”</b> that will are ensure your success, while eliminating those that are detrimental to health and fitness. <br />
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Even as the chart below will provide a good base, this "Healthy and Fit Grocery-Shopping Guide” will provide more details on how to choose quality foods. <br />
<ul>
<li>Clean and pure foods — natural, fresh, organic, and "animal friendly" </li>
<li>Lean, healthy, fibrous, and alive foods</li>
<li>Natural foods created for human consumption</li>
<li>Carefully chosen man-made or man-manipulated foods </li>
<li>Beware of packaged and processed foods items </li>
</ul>
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To be a little more specific, below (after the water break) you'll find a condensed version of what to eat (<b>“GOOD FOODS"</b>); however, everyone has different tastes. So the more you increase your health, fitness and nutritional knowledge, the more variety you’ll enjoy in your diet. Moreover, make sure you enlist your children into this adventure. The sooner our youth learn healthy and fit habits, the better!<br />
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If you are a vegan or vegetarian, just use the tips that apply to you.
Also know your food allergies. The most common are dairy products, eggs,
fish, shellfish, peanuts, strawberries, gluten, wheat, and soy. </div>
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As far as liquid consumption, it is critical to stay hydrated. So, DRINK WATER ALL DAY EVERY DAY! And, be cautious with the other beverages that you consume. <br />
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<span style="color: red;">WATER BREAK:</span><br />
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Another key question circulating ideal health and fitness this: How much water should I drink each day? <br />
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First, while most are aware that water is <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/water/art-20044256">vital to life</a> (it is an important as oxygen) it is also critical for health and fitness. In fact, the "<a href="http://water.usgs.gov/edu/propertyyou.html">human body is made up largely of water</a>" (50 to 70% of body weight) and "water serves a number of essential functions to keep us all going." <br />
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Keep in mind, "Every day you lose water through your breath, perspiration, urine and bowel movements. For your body to function properly, you must replenish its water supply by consuming beverages and foods that contain water," <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/water/art-20044256">notes</a> the Mayo Clinic. <br />
How much water, then? <b> </b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>The Institute of Medicine determined that an adequate intake (AI) for
men is roughly about 13 cups (3 liters) of total beverages a day. The AI
for women is about 9 cups (2.2 liters) of total beverages a day.</i></blockquote>
Other fitness gurus and experts such as Jillian Michaels <a href="http://www.jillianmichaels.com/fit/lose-weight/how-much-water?xid=nl_LosingItWithJillianMichaels_20160830">recommend this</a>: <br />
<blockquote>
<i>There is no real one-size-fits-all approach to water consumption. As a general rule of thumb, men should consume 128 ounces of water daily, and women should consume 88 ounces, but this doesn't mean you need to drink this amount of water every day. Other beverages, as well as the moisture content of foods, also count toward your water intake.</i></blockquote>
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Here at Bodybuilding.com you'll find a way simple way to "<a href="https://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/water_calculator.htm">Calculate Your Recommended Water Intake</a>!"<br />
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Keep in mind that environment and intense exercise will alter your water requirements. Also, you may need to consume more water if you take medications, consume alcohol, or are on an "extra-low carb" diet plan. <br />
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<span style="color: red;">END... </span><br />
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<b>GOOD FOODS Bullet Point Presentation: </b> <br />
<ul>
<li> Fresh-water fish (with fins and scales) </li>
<li>Organic free-range and grass-fed animal meats (beef, poultry, turkey) </li>
<li>Eggs from organic, free-range, vegetarian-fed hens </li>
<li>Organic low- to no-fat dairy products that are also low in sugar </li>
<li>Plant protein sources such as fresh or even canned legumes as well as raw and unsalted nuts and seeds <span style="color: red;"><span style="color: red;">*</span><i>The controversy surrounding eating raw almonds </i></span> </li>
<li>Plant protein products that are lean and pure </li>
<li>Organic whole grains </li>
<li>Grain products that are sprouted, stone ground (baked, never fried) </li>
<li>Organic (if possible) fresh fruits and vegetables </li>
<li>Fresh and untainted herbs and spices </li>
<li>Extra-virgin olive oil and other unrefined vegetable oils </li>
<li>All-natural, low-fat and healthy spreads, sauces, sweeteners, salad dressings, and dips </li>
<li>All-natural, low-fat and smart diet cheats (gluten-free is a good idea) </li>
</ul>
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<b>21 Tips to Healthy & Fit Grocery Shopping </b></div>
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#1. Try your BEST to choose your meats, eggs and dairy products from "animal friendly" sources (organic, <a href="http://www.homestead.org/ReginaAnneler/Chickens/FreeRangeChickens.htm">free range</a>, cage-free and <a href="http://www.mercola.com/beef/health_benefits.htm">grass-fed</a> animals), while your fruits and vegetables should be natural, fresh and <a href="http://www.eatingwell.com/food_news_origins/organic_natural/dirty_dozen_plus_14_foods_you_should_buy_organic">organic</a>.
This may mean that you spend a little more money and make more trips
to the grocery store, but it most likely will lead to fewer visits to the doctor’s
office.<br />
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#2. If possible, try shopping at a natural, healthy food store or a
health-conscious grocery store. This helps you pick healthy and fit
foods. Great places to shop are <a href="http://www.traderjoes.com/">Trader Joe's</a>, <a href="https://www.sprouts.com/">Sprouts Farmers Market</a>, and <a href="http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/">Whole Foods Market</a>; however, some of your basic supermarkets will work as well.<br />
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#3. Support your local organic farmer, of which, these days you can find their fresh produce at some major supermarkets.<br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: red;">*</span><i>A great point was made that it IS best to get fruits and vegetables that are in season</i></span><br />
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#4. Do not go to the grocery store when you are hungry. This might cause you to break down and buy everything –– even bad foods. <br />
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#5. In order to make grocery shopping easier and efficient, bring your lists, which should include the following: <br />
<ul>
<li>“GOOD FOODS” </li>
<li>Healthy and fit meal plans for the whole family </li>
<li>Healthy and fit recipes that even the kids can enjoy </li>
</ul>
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#6. Know that it is the outside aisles that store all the fresh produce as well as meats, dairy and other foods that require refrigeration. This is where most of your “GOOD FOODS” are located. <br />
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#7. Liquid consumption can make or break your diet when you are trying to shed those unwanted fat pounds. Obviously, whether diet or regular, sodas are a huge issue for your health. While there is nothing wrong with coffee or tea (in fact they have value), most man-made beverages today contain tons of sugar, high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, and other “poisonous” ingredients. So, be very selective when choosing what you drink. This includes flavored water, tea, juice (both veggie and fruit) as well as protein, energy, sports and health drinks. <span style="color: red;"><b> </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><i>*There were some questions surrounding the consumption of alcohol and its impact on fat-loss</i></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: red;">*</span><i>One person wanted a little more advice on making her own protein shake/smoothie </i></span><br />
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#8. Energy and food bars are another “trick” of the health and fitness trade. Considering that most (not all) are glorified candy bars, use caution when buying them. <br />
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#9. Fresh wild salmon, halibut, or snapper are great sources of protein. Poultry choices should be lean (skinless chicken breasts and lean ground turkey). <span style="color: red;">Due to its high fat content, even lean beef should be limited to once or twice per month</span>. <b><a href="http://motherhood.modernmom.com/many-calories-8ounce-filet-mignon-13232.html">NOTE</a>:</b> "From an 8-ounce serving of cooked filet mignon, you'll get 25 grams of fat, or 225 calories from fat. From this amount, you'll get 9.8 grams of saturated fat, 10 grams of monounsaturated fat and 0.9 grams of polyunsaturated fat." <br />
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#10. Skip the deli section unless you know what is in the pre-made dishes. Exceptions are rotisserie chickens, fresh turkey breast, <a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/deenashanker/meat-brands-that-are-actually-natural?utm_term=.tk0L5YEBYe#.dr1WgyDVy1">high-quality deli meats</a>, and some salads. <span style="color: red;">While there are <a href="http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20511295,00.html"><i>some</i></a> safe hot dogs, <a href="http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/09/01/eating-hot-dogs.aspx">ask yourself this question</a>: "Do You Really Want to Eat Hot Dogs After Knowing This?"</span> <br />
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#11. Be careful with dairy products that are high in fat such as butter and cheese. Skip those that are manipulated and made with too many ingredients. <span style="color: red;">Plain butter is better than man-made butter spreads such as <a href="http://www.ourheritageofhealth.com/the-history-of-margarine-and-why-butter-is-better/">Margarine</a>, which is an artificial product</span>. Choose other dairy products that are low in fat and have little or no sugar; such as milk, yogurt and cream cheese. <span style="color: red;"> And if you are <a href="http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/tc/lactose-intolerance-topic-overview">lactose intolerant</a>, prefer a vegan diet, there's soy, almond and rice milk as well as soy yogurts that you can get. </span><br />
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#12. As far as plant protein: You can include a variety of legumes, nuts, seeds, and some almond or nut butter as well as a few healthy plant protein products such as hummus. <span style="color: red;">Even though its a "good fat," moderation is key with some of these "GOOD FOODS." </span><br />
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#13. When selecting your carbohydrates, fruits and veggies are the best (even bananas and potatoes); however, a variety of whole grains, such as quinoa, rice, buckwheat, and oats are great as well. Just be careful with grain products. Most are processed and full of fat, sugar and tons of ingredients that are bad for health and fitness. Yet, there are many choices such as mochi, rice cakes, sprouted corn tortillas as well as <i>some</i> breads, pasta, and cereals that are safe.<br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: red;">*</span></span><i>The "eliminating all white food" diets were discussed </i></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: red;">*</span></span><i><span style="color: red;">Ezekiel Bread: Good or bad?</span> </i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;">*</span><span style="color: red;">What about pasta?</span></i><br />
<span style="color: red;"><i>*Speaking of fiber.... And, a <span style="color: red;">great find: high-fiber pasta </span></i></span><br />
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#14. Be careful when selecting salad dressing, sauces and condiments –– they are added calories from fat and sugar that will make you fat. If you buy salad dressing, make sure it’s low- fat, low-sodium, and sugar-free. Olive oil and Balsamic vinegar is even better. Lemon is great too. Also, salsa and marinara sauces are OK as well as mustard and horseradish, to name a few. BE SELECTIVE! <br />
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#15. When cooking healthy and fit meals, a little olive oil, soy sauce and some BBQ sauces are OK. However, it is in choosing a variety of <b>untainted </b><a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/quick-guide-to-every-herb-and-spice-in-the-cupboard-108770">herbs and spices</a> as well as fresh veggies and fruit that will add flavor and significantly increase the health value of your meals (and baking for that matter). For example, anise, basil, bell peppers, broccoli, cayenne pepper, chili peppers, chives, cilantro, cinnamon, cumin, eggplant, garlic, ginger, mushrooms, nutmeg, oregano, onions, parsley, pepper, rosemary, sage, shallots, spinach, turmeric, thyme. But make sure you SKIP the table salt, because most natural foods (meat, fish, poultry, dairy foods, eggs, as well as nuts, seeds, legumes, fruits and vegetables) contain the essential mineral, sodium. <span style="color: red;">NOTE: "Healthy and Fit Cooking Segment" in the works! </span><br />
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#16. Be sure that you are very selective when buying canned or frozen food items. Some exceptions are frozen fish and meats, as well as vegetables and fruits, providing there is nothing else in them. Also canned foods such as tuna in water, chickpeas, kidney beans and <i>some </i>soups are good choices. <br />
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#17. Know that the majority of those so-called <a href="http://www.nola.com/healthy-eating/2014/10/top_10_picks_for_healthy_froze.html">healthy frozen entrees</a> (Healthy Choice, Lean Cuisine, Weight Watchers Smart Ones, etc) are NOT fit to consume –– as they are jammed-packed with sodium and other unhealthy ingredients. In fact, BE very leery of ALL man-made products that claim to be healthy and fit. <br />
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#18. Always read labels when you are buying ANY packaged, processed food or man-made food items. And make sure that check the expiration dates on packaged foods. IMPORTANT NOTE: “How to Read Food Labels” guide below. <br />
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#19. Resist the junk food (donuts, cakes, candy and potato chips). But allow for “<span style="color: red;">planned diet cheat” <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">Finding Fun Foods!</span><b><span style="color: black;"> </span></b></span></td></tr>
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items</span> such as healthy pudding, light sorbet, <a href="http://www.eatthis.com/9-best-ice-creams-weight-loss">or even</a> "fit" frozen yogurt and ice cream. Consider Angel Food cake with fresh strawberries, or maybe baked chips and other crunchy snacks so that you won’t cheat on something you shouldn’t. While you should only consume these on occasion (more so during your fat-loss maintenance phase), your kids will enjoy these healthier choices. <br />
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#20. While table sugar is taboo, there are other healthy products that can sooth that sweet tooth, such as honey or <b><strike><span style="color: red;">Agave nectar</span></strike></b>, fruit spread, and sugar-free applesauce. There’s also dried fruit that, <span style="color: red;">while you're more likely to consume more calories than when you eat fresh fruit, it's still a <a href="https://thefastdiet.co.uk/forums/topic/is-dried-fruit-healthy-or-fattening/">good choice</a> –– as long as there are no other added ingredients.</span> <br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: red;">*</span><i>I stand corrected on recommending Agave Nectar</i></span><br />
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#21. If you shouldn’t eat it or can't pronounce it, DON’T buy it!<br />
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<b>Read Food Labels: Your health, wellness & fitness levels depend on it!</b></div>
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When it comes to grocery shopping, wholesome foods in their natural state are the best choices. But in today's society we are bombarded with man-made and man-manipulated foods as well as processed food products –– with MOST of them being unhealthy, unfit and even harmful. <br />
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Keep in mind that many of our foods (even wholesome foods) come in a package and we should take every measure to educate ourselves in what we are about to buy (eat and drink). <br />
<b><br />READ LABELS, READ LABELS, READ LABELS!</b><br />
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Below are some facts to consider about packaged foods that will shed <i>some</i> light on this topic. Later, I've provided some great tools to use when you are about to buy or consume packaged, processed and man-made food products.<br />
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<b>FOOD LABELING AND ITS CLAIMS</b><br />
<b></b><br />
First, take a peak at the entire food label, however, don’t believe everything you read –– as the food industry is in the money business, marketing their products with misconceptions and hype (at least what they can get away with). Things to be aware of are <a href="http://drinc.ucdavis.edu/dairyp/dairyp10_new.htm">Nutrient Content Descriptors</a>, health claims, 100% natural, organic assertions, food allergy alerts and so on.<br />
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<b>BACK LABEL: THE NUTRITION FACTS</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh20vNCAPy6_7J3vixz3l7y-gvWTiEJc9sLuIiRZSk8-6zurcZ4jIGaJnQcXjNHmvB2g0nGaufXVsttTvj0pl5p8zYT7cgyVDKWux77_d5Xgo67K2uEUkukiSITp4eTb-9tyzs-yfN4D7n_/s1600/ucm501515.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh20vNCAPy6_7J3vixz3l7y-gvWTiEJc9sLuIiRZSk8-6zurcZ4jIGaJnQcXjNHmvB2g0nGaufXVsttTvj0pl5p8zYT7cgyVDKWux77_d5Xgo67K2uEUkukiSITp4eTb-9tyzs-yfN4D7n_/s320/ucm501515.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Graphic <a href="http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/GuidanceDocumentsRegulatoryInformation/LabelingNutrition/ucm385663.htm">from the</a> FDA </td></tr>
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While most consumers are familiar with the “NUTRITION FACTS” found on the back of packaged food items, which includes both mandatory and voluntary information, in May 2016, it got a make-over (see RIGHT). <br />
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Here are some things to consider: <br />
<ul>
<li>“Servings Per Container,” and “Serving Size” just gives you an idea on just that: Servings. Keep in mind that quality is more important than quantity when it comes to healthy and fit food choices. </li>
<li>The “Amount per Serving” that includes “Total Calories” as well as additional nutrients, is key to knowing whether the product has any nutritional value at all (the QUALITY). </li>
<li> At the bottom of the label you will find the “Percent Daily Values (DV),” which is based on a 2000-calorie diet, and comes from the “Dietary Guidelines for Americans” that apparently was designed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in 1980 and is updated every five years. </li>
<li> Keep in mind that NOT all diets are based on 2000 calories per day as well as the fact that gaining muscle and losing fat may require a different percent daily value with some key nutrients such as protein, carbohydrates and fats. </li>
</ul>
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</b></span><b>LISTS OF INGREDIENTS </b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnMdcbC4SkdIRu8E5zzZ_GnNSBHU91IKyQDdfgcL3I148lDjmLgX_umh472_IaPlPueU12V3KQw2xg5VCykb-ktJaw5uswee2OuW9TZIqKzpPcNxzjSmJDgpvrrM2WhKdjHqv41LEjWLhN/s1600/Quaker-oatmeal-label-Neily.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnMdcbC4SkdIRu8E5zzZ_GnNSBHU91IKyQDdfgcL3I148lDjmLgX_umh472_IaPlPueU12V3KQw2xg5VCykb-ktJaw5uswee2OuW9TZIqKzpPcNxzjSmJDgpvrrM2WhKdjHqv41LEjWLhN/s200/Quaker-oatmeal-label-Neily.jpg" width="120" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One Ingredient: Rolled Oats </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn3DtKzNx0egOtP14HK_r7csiNlwQ__uAuXp2SzISvbj4wzrdTR696L-hC7xUfwx75z7imWBzamqIZX3B_tziNF4IqW8GcBT4fnmjKIBGZ7HtEMX37DaBE-LG5MSGZdKp8X3724jqzbvUv/s1600/cereals-oats-instant-fortified-maple-and-brown-sugar-dry-food.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn3DtKzNx0egOtP14HK_r7csiNlwQ__uAuXp2SzISvbj4wzrdTR696L-hC7xUfwx75z7imWBzamqIZX3B_tziNF4IqW8GcBT4fnmjKIBGZ7HtEMX37DaBE-LG5MSGZdKp8X3724jqzbvUv/s200/cereals-oats-instant-fortified-maple-and-brown-sugar-dry-food.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">10 Ingredient Oatmeal </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Foods with more than one ingredient must have an ingredient list on the
label, yet those with just one ingredient do this as well. The example
here is plain “Quaker Oats," which has ONE ingredient: “whole grain rolled
oats.” Yet, flavored Quaker Oats is a disaster (see graphics and
compare) with TEN ingredients. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
What’s key here is that ingredients, which can be found at different places on packaged foods, are listed in descending order by weight. Those in the largest amounts are listed first, and so on. This information is particularly helpful to individuals with food sensitivities, food allergies, and those that prefer a vegan or vegetarian diet. <br />
<br />
Taken together, the list of ingredients and the nutrition facts are absolutely invaluable for those that want to lose fat and gain health –– and even for those that are aiming to maintain what they have worked so hard to attain. It allows you (THE CONSUMER) to rate packaged foods and food products in order to make informed decisions on whether it is a quality product that can be place on your “GOOD FOODS” list –– one that has nutritional value with key nutrients as well as fiber, vitamins and minerals. Last but not least, this information makes it easier to limit saturated fats, trans fats, added sugars, sodium, and other food additives and preservatives –– especially those that are detrimental to health, wellness and fitness. <br />
<br />
What about food additives? <br />
<br />
That answer would require an entire book to explain, so let’s just say that when it comes to food additives, the long-term safety of most of them is still unknown. So ask yourself this question: do you really want to leave your future health to chance?"<br />
<br />
To really know what you are getting when you buy packaged, processed foods as well as man-made food products, DO YOUR HOMEWORK, because your health, wellness and fitness levels depend on it! <br />
<br />
For more detailed information on reading labels, check these out: </div>
<ul>
<li>“<a href="http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/GuidanceDocumentsRegulatoryInformation/LabelingNutrition/ucm385663.htm">Changes to the Nutrition Facts Label</a>” –– by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), May 20, 2016</li>
<li>“<a href="http://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/LabelingNutrition/ucm274593.htm">How to Understand and Use the Nutrition Facts Label</a>” –– by the –– by FDA</li>
<li> “<a href="http://www.eatright.org/resource/food/nutrition/nutrition-facts-and-food-labels/the-basics-of-the-nutrition-facts-panel">The Basics of the Nutrition Facts Panel</a>” –– by EatingRight.org, December 2015 </li>
<li> "<a href="http://www.webmd.boots.com/diet/guide/weight-loss-food-labels">Weight Loss: How to Read Food Labels</a>" –– WebMD Women's Health </li>
<li> “<a href="http://www.jillianmichaels.com/fit/lose-weight/ditch-processed-foods?xid=nl_LosingItWithJillianMichaels_20160820">Why You Need to Ditch Processed Foods Now</a>!” by Jillian Michaels, August 2016 </li>
<li><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null">List of food additives</a> – by Wikipedia</li>
<li><a href="http://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/FoodAdditivesIngredients/ucm091048.htm">Food Additive Status List</a> –– by the FDA</li>
</ul>
<b><br /></b>
<br />
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<br />
<b>Three Quick Quality Food Tests</b></div>
<br />
#1. <i>“GOOD FOODS”: Six-Question Test </i><br />
<br />
For now, below are some quick quality food tests that will help you on your “get fit” journey. First is a quick six-question test that you can perform when deciding what to eat and drink. This is where the quality and purity of calories are determined. When choosing a food and/or a food product, you must be able to answer, “yes” to three or more of the six questions listed below.<br />
<br />
Using this “GOOD FOOD” test will ensure that your food choices fit into a program that fosters maximum fat loss and ensures better health.<br />
<br />
#1 – is it LEAN? <br />
<ul>
<li> Low in all fats, especially “bad fat” such as saturated fats and trans fats </li>
</ul>
#2 – is it HEALTHY? <br />
<ul>
<li>Low in sugar </li>
<li>Low in sodium </li>
<li>Low in saturated fat and <span style="color: red;">watch the cholesterol </span></li>
<li>Free of empty and unnecessary calories </li>
<li>Free of trans fats </li>
<li>Full of nutritional value </li>
</ul>
#3 – Where’s the FIBER? (Exceptions are meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy)<br />
<br />
#4 – is it CLEAN? (What are the ingredients?) <br />
<ul>
<li>Is it processed? </li>
<li>Low or no preservatives and additives </li>
<li>Free of flavoring agents, coloring agents, etc. </li>
<li>Free of chemicals and other fake foods </li>
<li>Free of hidden fats, sugars, sodium, and white flour </li>
<li>If packaged, does it have less than 6 ingredients? </li>
</ul>
#5 – Is it PURE? <br />
<ul>
<li>Natural vs. processed </li>
<li>Fresh vs. man-manipulated </li>
<li>Organic vs. non-organic </li>
<li>Animal friendly meats vs. NOT </li>
<li>Real vs. genetically modified </li>
<li>If it is a packaged food, what are the ingredients listed and the order of those ingredients? </li>
</ul>
<i><span style="color: red;">*This extremely tuned-in August 2016 group mentioned Genetically Modified Foods (GMO) many times </span> </i><br />
<br />
#6 – Is it ALIVE? (With the exception of animal protein, of course as well as other <span style="color: red;">cautions that should be considered</span>) <br />
<ul>
<li>Sprouted grains and legumes </li>
<li>Raw nuts and seeds (be selective) </li>
<li>Raw fruits and vegetables</li>
</ul>
<i><br />#2. Packaged Food Analysis</i><br />
<br />
Choosing packaged foods and man-made food products is NOT always “black and white”. There will always be <b>Best – Moderate – Marginal – Worst</b>. However, there are seven main questions that you can ask when you are purchasing packaged food items, which will at least get you in the ballpark. <br />
<br />
#1. Who made it?<br />
#2. How was it made?<br />
#3. How many ingredients are in it?<br />
#4. What is in it (what are the ingredients)?<br />
<br />
You should also wonder:<br />
#5. Where was the product made?<br />
#6. What kind of factories and equipment were used?<br />
#7. What are the conditions and practices of the company that made, processed or packaged the product?<br />
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<i>#3. “Mini Guide to Deal with the Number of Ingredients Found in Packaged Foods and Man-Made Food Products”</i> that will help you determine how many are appropriate. <br />
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<br /></div>
Number of Ingredients Signals <br />
<ul>
<li>1 Ideal </li>
<li>3 Excellent </li>
<li>5 Probably OK </li>
<li>6-9 May need further analysis </li>
<li>10-19 Could be a problem </li>
<li>20-29 Caution </li>
<li>30 + Stay away! </li>
</ul>
There are a exceptions to this "mine guide," which are mainly when it comes to protein shake mixes, fortified energy, sports and health drinks, as well as energy and food bars that have added vitamins and minerals. There are also some man-made products that have more than 10 ingredients that are pure. Nevertheless, you must still choose those that meet a high quality food and liquid criteria. KNOW WHAT YOU ARE PUTTING INTO YOUR BODY! <br />
<br />
Prepared August 23, 2016 / Revised September 3, 2016 <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_UGjgTLfCrgU63KzM2F9TVSFXG77vNAi6qOsHI6-e-j0pTFwWI1DU3t63rwEDrHswNQQXQkH3nuRekw688dK64tpljeFniM3MIl-TXfolvWW0XbHduBrlGdQx6ybQaxGOscAeQVKGnD3n/s1600/IMG_5060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_UGjgTLfCrgU63KzM2F9TVSFXG77vNAi6qOsHI6-e-j0pTFwWI1DU3t63rwEDrHswNQQXQkH3nuRekw688dK64tpljeFniM3MIl-TXfolvWW0XbHduBrlGdQx6ybQaxGOscAeQVKGnD3n/s200/IMG_5060.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Terrific "good food" questions and comments! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Ten Terrific Questions, Comments and Concerns: August 2016 RockFit Class </b></div>
<i><br /></i>
<i>#1) The controversy surrounding eating raw almonds: </i><br />
<br />
Yep, nuts and seeds are a "<a href="http://www.chrisbeatcancer.com/health-nuts-seeds/">super healthy foods</a>!" Yet, don't include peanuts in that list, because they are in fact legumes. "Peanuts actually grow underground, as opposed to nuts like walnuts, almonds, etc. that grow on trees (and are sometimes referred to as "tree nuts")," <a href="http://www.peanut-institute.org/peanut-facts/">documents </a>The Peanut Institute. <br />
<br />
Nuts and seeds are great plant protein source that contain "<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-disease/in-depth/nuts/art-20046635">good fats</a>" (unsaturated fats and Omega-3 fatty acids) that have many health benefits. They are <a href="http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/10/19/best-nuts-seeds.aspx">jammed-packed</a> full of vitamins and minerals, fiber, antioxidants, plant sterols and the <a href="http://orthomolecular.org/nutrients/proteins.shtml">amino acid</a>, L-Arginine. <br />
<br />
While that's all good and dandy, keep in mind that nuts and seeds are high in calories and good fat. So, when you are trying to lose weight, be cautious on the amount you consume each day, because those daily fat grams add up. Moderation is key. </div>
<br />
Still, many in the nutrition world <a href="http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/10/19/best-nuts-seeds.aspx">advise</a> eating "Raw Nuts and Seeds," including <a href="http://www.tropicalfoods.com/5384/the-benefits-of-eating-raw-almonds/">almonds.</a> Yet, others claim, "The raw, 'organic,' almonds you find in your health
food store are toxic and could cause inflammatory conditions and cancer?"<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.livingwhole.org/why-you-should-think-twice-about-buying-raw-almonds-at-the-store/">According to</a> LivingWhole.org, here's the issue: <br />
<blockquote>
<i>A few years ago after a salmonella scare was traced back to raw almonds, the USDA decided that virtually all raw almonds had to be pasteurized. Instead of addressing the environment that caused contamination, they attacked the nut. Pasteurization would eliminate the risk of contamination and by utilizing a special fumigation process – they could still be labeled raw. People have been deceived into thinking this process is safe ever since. </i><br />
<br />
<i>The truth is, pasteurized, raw, “organic” almonds are not safe and they’re not raw. Raw foods are living organisms that contain enzymes, a high nutrient content, and have the ability to sprout. Pasteurized almonds are dead almonds. They have little to no enzyme activity, poor nutrient content, and cannot sprout.</i></blockquote>
They also note that, "In the United States you can only purchase un-pasteurized almonds from the farmer/grower via a roadside stand or legally online...<br />
<br />
<span id="ctl00_bcr_FormattedBody">Another perspective from March 2012 on "<a href="http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/03/29/raw-nuts-health-benefits.aspx">Eating Raw Nuts</a>" can be found at Mercola.com: </span><br />
<blockquote>
<i>Pasteurized almonds sold in North America can still be labeled "raw" even though they've been subjected to one of the treatment processes listed above. There are generally no truly "raw" almonds sold in North America, so don't be misled. It is possible to purchase raw almonds in the U.S., but it has to be done very carefully from vendors selling small quantities that have a waiver from the pasteurization requirement. The key is to find a company with the waiver that is NOT pasteurizing them. I personally enjoy raw almonds nearly every day, as it is an outstanding food. </i></blockquote>
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<br />
<i>#2) A great point was made that it IS best to get fruits and vegetables that are in season:</i><br />
<br />
Yes, there are <a href="http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-4807/10-Reasons-to-Eat-Whats-In-Season.html">many reasons</a> it is better to choose seasonal fruits and vegetables found locally and organic, as opposed to what's randomly placed in the produce section, which was shipped in from all over the world. <br />
<br />
The reasons not only include taste, creativity as well as environmental, economic and community value, but the nutritional value is key. The reality is that seasonal, locally harvested produce have significantly better taste and are a much higher quality food. For further evidence, check this piece out: "<a href="http://www.gaiam.com/discover/272/article/benefits-eating-whats-season/">Benefits of Eating What’s in Season</a>." <br />
<br />
<i><br />#3) There were some questions surrounding the consumption of alcohol and its impact on fat-loss:</i><br />
<br />
While there are numerous, dangerous effects that consuming excessive amounts of alcohol have on the <a href="https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/alcohols-effects-body">body</a> and mind, there are <a href="http://www.bodybuilding.com/content/5-ways-alcohol-hinders-fat-loss.html">many ways</a> that alcohol hinders fat loss.<br />
Consider this, which is found over at Bodybuilding.com:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Unlike macronutrients such as <a href="http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/bbinfo.php?page=Carbohydrates">carbohydrates</a>, <a href="http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/bbinfo.php?page=Protein">proteins</a> and <a href="http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/bbinfo.php?page=Fat">fats</a>, alcohol supplies what nutritionists often refer to as empty calories: calories without nutrition. To make matters worse, it is the first fuel to be used when combined with carbohydrates, fats and proteins, postponing the fat-burning process and contributing to greater fat storage. </i></blockquote>
<br />
They also quote diet guru Robert C Atkins, regarding alcohols
affect on fat storage:<br />
<blockquote>
<i>"Here's the problem with all alcoholic beverages, and the reason I recommend refraining from alcohol consumption on the diet. Alcohol, whenever taken in, is the first fuel to burn. While that's going on, your body will not burn fat. This does not stop the weight loss, it simply postpones it, since the alcohol does not store as glycogen, and you immediately go back into ketosis/lipolysis after the alcohol is used up.</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<i>If you must drink alcohol, wine is an acceptable addition to levels beyond the Induction diet. If wine does not suit your taste, straight liquor such as scotch, rye, vodka, and gin would be appropriate, as long as the mixer is sugarless; this means no juice, tonic water; or non-diet soda. Seltzer and diet soda are appropriate."</i></blockquote>
<br />
While Health.com gives some tips on "<a href="http://www.health.com/health/article/0,,20670897,00.html">How to Drink Without Gaining Weight</a>," it is my professional opinion that when it comes to alcohol consumption for those on a body fat-loss mission: LESS IS BEST. <br />
<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>#4) One person wanted a little more advice on making her own protein shake/smoothie: </i><br />
<br />
Due to <a href="http://acaai.org/allergies/types/food-allergies/types-food-allergy/egg-allergy">egg allergies</a>, one woman asked me about protein shakes. While she shared her own great recipes, we didn't have time to chat further. So, I decided to share some ideas here –– actually from Bodybuilding.com: "<a href="http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/proteinshakes.htm">48 Delicious Protein Shake Recipes.</a>"<br />
<br />
The trick is to find a quality protein powder that suits your dietary considerations. Also, many of these protein shakes are made with dairy that you can substitute with almond or rice milk, as well as water or fresh juice. <br />
<br />
<br />
<i>#5) The "eliminating all white food" diets were discussed: </i><br />
<br />
OK, another trendy diet is "The Eat Nothing White Diet," of which, <a href="http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/eat-nothing-white-diet-9371.html">as noted by</a> SF Gates Healthy Eating, "goes by a number of other names, including the "No White Foods" diet and the "No White at Night" diet. Either way, "All are based on the same principle -- the key to losing weight is to stop eating a specific list of white foods." <br />
<br />
According to SF Gate:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>This entails eliminating the following foods from your diet: <span style="background-color: yellow;"><b>white rice, white potatoes,
white beans</b></span>, white sugar and any product made with refined sugar and
white flour products like white bread or pasta.</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>No White Foods diet followers are also told to avoid using solid fats
that are white without artificial coloring added, such as cheddar cheese
or butter. The only exceptions to the no-white rule are cauliflower,
egg whites, parsnips, milk, white fish and white poultry meat. A dieter
should replace the restricted foods in his meals with brown rice,
whole-wheat pasta and bread and a wide variety of colorful fruits and
vegetables. </i></blockquote>
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeDi2-U1sefFP-UaduqkH2YNXl0dhsgNuBDV8yrfQRtjpiciwtxmKZveqMjWXJKeB6bj_q9b-hYo3siAvogeUb1VjIcAjUgGIa_96hGXNMrYjO41K4z6lk5BTyHmCryytu7T2YigPRKhSi/s1600/-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeDi2-U1sefFP-UaduqkH2YNXl0dhsgNuBDV8yrfQRtjpiciwtxmKZveqMjWXJKeB6bj_q9b-hYo3siAvogeUb1VjIcAjUgGIa_96hGXNMrYjO41K4z6lk5BTyHmCryytu7T2YigPRKhSi/s400/-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">--<a href="http://www.lowglycemiccertification.com/services/">Graphic from</a> LowGlycemicCertification.com</td></tr>
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While much of this is good advice, I've highlighted what I believe is NOT. However, there is nothing wrong with potatoes or white rice.<br />
And there is a place for <i>some</i> pasta and breads –– even on a fat-loss plan.<br />
<br />
Remember, just like "good fat grams" add up, so do "good carbs". Moderation is key... <br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
What the "NO White Diet" and other trendy diets use is the <a href="http://nutritiondata.self.com/topics/glycemic-index">Glycemic Index</a>, which "is a numerical Index that ranks carbohydrates based on
their rate of glycemic response (i.e. their conversion to glucose within
the human body), in order to scare people away from even natural foods such as potatoes, white rice, bananas and carrots.<br />
<br />
SEE <a href="http://www.lowglycemiccertification.com/services/">EXAMPLE</a> RIGHT <br />
<br />
While the Glycemic Index is <a href="http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/gi-levels-white-brown-rice-2164.html">great for those with diabetes</a> and other blood sugar issues, it is also great at analyzing man-made food items. However, it is not the only guide you should use when choosing a diet program that will help you lose fat and gain health. And, why would you want eliminate natural foods like fruits and vegetables of any kind.<br />
<br />
And what about that rice they want you to give up at the weight-loss altar? Well, "White rice has a GI rating of about 65, and brown rice has a slightly
lower rating of 55," according to the Harvard Medical School. So don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. <br />
<br />
Not to mention, "The Glycemic Index is not a perfect system for evaluating foods since it does not evaluate all of the foods within a meal," <a href="http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/gi-levels-white-brown-rice-2164.html">appropriately notes</a> SF Gate Healthy Eating.<br />
<br />
My professional recommendation would be to eliminate these instead: <br />
<ul>
<li>The Three BIG WHITES: White bread, white table salt, and white refined sugar</li>
<li>The Three Big F's: Fried, Fast and Fake Foods </li>
</ul>
<br />
<i>#6) Ezekiel Bread: Good or evil? </i><br />
<br />
Since bread and pasta are mane-made food items, choosing good ones is a little trickier. When it comes to bread, my recommendation is to choose whole grain breads such as Ezekiel Bread, because it is a healthier option over other breads. A<a href="https://draxe.com/ezekiel-bread/">ccording to Dr. Josh Axe</a>, "It has do with its preparation" –– "specifically that the grains used to make Ezekiel Bread have been sprouted." <br />
<br />
Dr. Axe goes on to list the benefits of sprouted grain breads compared to breads that are made with grains that haven’t been sprouted, which is worth a look. Yet, here's a hint: complete protein, better digestibility, more nutrient dense and better absorption of those nutrients, and higher in fiber. <br />
<br />
While most bread is dangerous, there are <a href="http://foodbabe.com/2014/02/24/healthiest-bread-on-the-market/">many healthy</a> gluten-free types of bread you can choose from. The other option I like to throw out there is Sourdough Bread. WholeLifestyleNutrition.com, documents Sourdough Bread "is bread which has been leavened with a sourdough starter. It may or may not be a sour bread, depending on the characteristics of the starter."<br />
<br />
The piece, "<a href="http://wholelifestylenutrition.com/health/a-healthy-bread-that-is-good-for-you/">A Healthy Bread that is Good For You!</a>" takes on the topic of "A True Sourdough Bread": <br />
<br />
<blockquote>
<i>Sourdough bread is bread that is baked without the use of modernized yeast. It is the traditional way bread was made thousands of years ago. The bread rises </i><br />
<br />
<i>The bread rises slowly allowing the bread to ferment for several days to up to a month. This helps to promote the growth of more probiotic organisms. Last month I took a course on grains from</i></blockquote>
The author then links to "10 Reasons to Eat Sourdough Bread!"<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">--Photo <a href="http://practical-stewardship.com/2012/04/18/sourdough-starter-and-basic-3-ingredient-sourdough-bread-recipe/">from</a> Practical-Stewardship.com</td></tr>
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However, again, you have to be selective. Try to find what I call "pure" sourdough bread that is made with "<a href="http://dontwastethecrumbs.com/2013/06/what-is-sourdough-benefits-of-sourdough-bread/">traditional sourdough recipes</a>," which <b>include only 3 ingredients</b>: sourdough starter (which consists of flour and water), salt and flour. "There is no yeast, no milk, no oils and no sweeteners. It’s about as
natural as you get when it comes to bread," <a href="http://dontwastethecrumbs.com/2013/06/what-is-sourdough-benefits-of-sourdough-bread/">notes</a> Tiffany at DontWasteTheCrumbs.com.<br />
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The good news is you can find a "pure" sourdough bread that has three or four ingredients –– or you <a href="http://practical-stewardship.com/2012/04/18/sourdough-starter-and-basic-3-ingredient-sourdough-bread-recipe/">can make</a> your own. <br />
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<i>#7) What about pasta? </i></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">---<a href="http://www.traderjoes.com/digin/post/organic-black-bean-rotini">Trader Joe’s Organic Black Bean Rotini</a></td></tr>
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As far as pasta goes: You can skip old regular <i>white pasta</i> and choose from made from whole wheat as well as a <a href="http://www.bonappetit.com/test-kitchen/ingredients/slideshow/best-gluten-free-pastas/#1">variety</a> of gluten-free pasta such as those made from corn, brown rice, and quinoa. These are much healthier than any products made with white flour, which <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/the-healthiest-pastas_us_56141c4de4b0368a1a615bb4">according to</a> nutrition experts, "is stripped down to remove the grain’s bran and germ, and with them, fiber, protein, iron and B vitamins." This goes for white pastas that are “enriched” with added fibers and vitamins. </div>
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Again: bread and pasta carry their fare share of carbs per serving –– so moderation is key when you are on a fat-loss program. <br />
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<i>#8) Speaking of fiber.... And, a <span style="color: red;">great find: high-fiber pasta: </span></i></div>
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It was fun to see that our youngest attendee from our "healthy and fit grocery-shopping" class found a great high-fiber pasta (<b>we all cheered!</b>): <a href="http://www.traderjoes.com/digin/post/organic-black-bean-rotini">Trader Joe’s Organic Black Bean Rotini</a>, which carries 14 grams of protein and 15 grams of fiber in every serving.<br />
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That brings us to an important issue: Due to the excessive amounts of processed foods and man-made food items found in the American diet, most Americans are not consuming enough <a href="http://www.everydayhealth.com/hs/guide-to-daily-fiber/too-much-fiber/">fiber</a> each day. <br />
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Dietary fiber — found mainly in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes — is not only <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/fiber/art-20043983">essential for a health</a> (intestinal health, lowering your risk of diabetes and heart disease, and more), it is beneficial for those <a href="http://www.eatingwell.com/nutrition_health/nutrition_news_information/boost_your_fiber_intake_to_lose_weight">seeking</a> excellent fitness levels.<br />
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In fact, when I discuss diet with my clients, I always ask them, "Show Me the Fiber!" And, I'm always amazed that they are either clueless when it comes to "fibrous foods" and/or they fall short of the daily fiber recommendations, of which according to the Institute of Medicine for adults <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/fiber/art-20043983?pg=2">are as</a> follows: <br />
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Age 50 or younger <br />
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<li>Men 38 grams</li>
<li> Women 25 grams </li>
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Age 51 or older <br />
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<li> Men 30 grams</li>
<li>Women 21 grams</li>
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So, skip the processed foods and <a href="http://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/063008p28.shtml">bulk up</a> on legumes, whole grains, fruits and veggies as well as <i>some</i> nuts and seeds. </div>
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<i>#9) I stand corrected on recommending Agave Nectar:</i><br />
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It turns out that Agave Nectar, which has been promoted as a great alternative sweetener (including by me), is NOT that great after all. According to Dr. Josh Axe and many <a href="http://blog.doctoroz.com/dr-oz-blog/agave-why-we-were-wrong">other</a> nutritionists, "Agave is not healthier than honey, sugar, high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), or any other type of sweetener.” You can read why <a href="https://draxe.com/agave-nectar/">HERE</a>. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Graphic from the Non GMO Project </td></tr>
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<i>#10) </i><i><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">This extremely tuned-in August 2016 group mentioned Genetically Modified Foods (GMO) many time: </span></span></i></div>
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The following key points are <a href="http://www.nongmoproject.org/gmo-facts/">documented</a> at The Non GMO Project: <br />
<blockquote>
<b>What is a GMO?</b><br />
A GMO, or genetically modified organism, is a plant, animal, microorganism or other organism whose genetic makeup has been modified using recombinant DNA methods (also called gene splicing), gene modification or transgenic technology. This relatively new science creates unstable combinations of plant, animal, bacterial and viral genes that do not occur in nature or through traditional crossbreeding methods. Visit the <a href="http://www.nongmoproject.org/gmo-facts/what-is-gmo">What is GMO</a> page for more information and a list of high-risk crops. <br />
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<b>Are GMOs safe?</b><br />
Most developed nations do not consider GMOs to be safe and have significant restrictions or outright bans on the production and sale of GMOs. The U.S. and Canadian governments, though, have approved GMOs based on studies conducted by the same corporations that created them and profit from their sale. <br />
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<b>Are GMOs labeled?</b><br />
Sixty-four countries around the world, including Australia, Japan, and all of the countries in the European Union, require genetically modified foods to be labeled <a href="http://www.nongmoproject.org/gmo-facts/#easy-footnote-bottom-1">1</a>. While a 2015 ABC News survey found that 93% of Americans believe genetically modified foods should be labeled, GMOs are not required to be labeled in the U.S. and Canada <a href="http://www.nongmoproject.org/gmo-facts/#easy-footnote-bottom-2">2</a>. In the absence of mandatory labeling, the Non-GMO Project was created to give consumers the informed choice they deserve. <br />
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<b>Which foods might contain GMOs?</b><br />
Most packaged foods contain ingredients derived from corn, soy, canola, and sugar beet — and the vast majority of those crops grown in North America are genetically modified <a href="http://www.nongmoproject.org/gmo-facts/#easy-footnote-bottom-3">3</a>. To see a list of high-risk crops, visit the <a href="http://www.nongmoproject.org/gmo-facts/what-is-gmo">What is GMO</a> page.</blockquote>
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Please take the time to educate yourself in this area...<br />
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Now that the kids are back in school, isn't it time that you get back to "Healthy and Fit Grocery Shopping" –– or take your first steps in that direction?<br />
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Signing off,<br />
-c<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIUnrIHOBiNOyvJQejs3tX4Lglcr1j2gS7P8zD7PaOuuKWpgj06I1bwUMMuFgb2r7RD1aFmWJUFJj1Lkwd5TJOFJP7zufTtshtJZGqwXW0pVSfl_GMRl0_z-Dr1wjaxun0CUSW0McrASzg/s1600/banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="77" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIUnrIHOBiNOyvJQejs3tX4Lglcr1j2gS7P8zD7PaOuuKWpgj06I1bwUMMuFgb2r7RD1aFmWJUFJj1Lkwd5TJOFJP7zufTtshtJZGqwXW0pVSfl_GMRl0_z-Dr1wjaxun0CUSW0McrASzg/s320/banner.jpg" width="320" /></a>Through <b>E.A.M.</b> (Education, Application & Motivation), we can make a difference in our own health, wellness and fitness as well as those of others. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBvLXXY_HY-H-BaUU0x1FoJL_HMloIw9zc17bJSibwaj9QfN7YjCeL2PcD8adNFqTUuvZ-yThXKSOoTL5OZNjuf_TSa0FYaaKWcyzsTg3-6rmWbu3NOH_dBTkfq9oZTgtNyJz3YWeWrZL9/s1600/new+photos+only.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBvLXXY_HY-H-BaUU0x1FoJL_HMloIw9zc17bJSibwaj9QfN7YjCeL2PcD8adNFqTUuvZ-yThXKSOoTL5OZNjuf_TSa0FYaaKWcyzsTg3-6rmWbu3NOH_dBTkfq9oZTgtNyJz3YWeWrZL9/s200/new+photos+only.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
By, Christine Lakatos, ACE Certified Fitness Trainer since 1995 –– with over 35 years experience in the heath and fitness industry<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Personal Training Services: </span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">World Gym La Quinta, CA </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">Private Fitness studio in Palm Desert, CA </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">"In Home" across the Coachella Valley </span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">For a Free Consultation contact me at World Gym, La Quinta or email me at calfit32@gmail.com </span><br />
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<ul>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhatNQXUsCCINO5lkYZ353vRC1b9rT5eNLMzt5CSsnMor-VRo19ltWnvsQRdRFPpZ_VHNAUNO-tcdF2KKxjLs3jwIy1MNusRg9u5iYAz1w4mXohbagNOlgev1Iqu70BdDUW1XDR0Xua-vxJ/s1600/ThumbnailImage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhatNQXUsCCINO5lkYZ353vRC1b9rT5eNLMzt5CSsnMor-VRo19ltWnvsQRdRFPpZ_VHNAUNO-tcdF2KKxjLs3jwIy1MNusRg9u5iYAz1w4mXohbagNOlgev1Iqu70BdDUW1XDR0Xua-vxJ/s200/ThumbnailImage.jpg" width="140" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi24cO9OhAp00isZg6IIrFzBY9gMLLpunRt0FPPy6oZcUEXY0_-_55UujBM04gXQ6VXya-XZjQBRYqQ9iA3ix_Mm3LfH3FeWFMyy1HF-ryN0HHQuF_5FcyORFyDjwMDiTDt0mMAjJv22HTs/s1600/Christine_Flex_Small.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi24cO9OhAp00isZg6IIrFzBY9gMLLpunRt0FPPy6oZcUEXY0_-_55UujBM04gXQ6VXya-XZjQBRYqQ9iA3ix_Mm3LfH3FeWFMyy1HF-ryN0HHQuF_5FcyORFyDjwMDiTDt0mMAjJv22HTs/s1600/Christine_Flex_Small.gif" /></a>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">Diet Book Author: (2008) <a href="http://mydivadiet.com/">MyDivaDiet.com </a></span> </li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>MY DIVA DIET: Compact Version: Sound Nutrition Made Practical!</i></span> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/MY-DIVA-DIET-Nutrition-Practical/dp/1449585191"><span style="font-size: x-small;">found at Amazon.com </span></a></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">Retired Champion Bodybuilder / Fitness Competitor (1989-1995) </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYWPPPFN_6I">American Gladiator Contestant</a> (1990) </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">And <a href="http://www.mydivadiet.com/OurTeam.htm">much more</a>.. </span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /><br /><b>DISCLAIMER: </b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOyTS1lRgzOUMmHWZHxXoRYZCaktjFHKOTU6Lm8Fxwq8eazP3j8n7zWaobRubadafguDUAiBp0RC5eNrllz0_mivT-fMlRjoXj5kU2gLTrr3-51TRu5uDms3hKtuAttSuoJidxZUSE4A3/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOyTS1lRgzOUMmHWZHxXoRYZCaktjFHKOTU6Lm8Fxwq8eazP3j8n7zWaobRubadafguDUAiBp0RC5eNrllz0_mivT-fMlRjoXj5kU2gLTrr3-51TRu5uDms3hKtuAttSuoJidxZUSE4A3/s400/image.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Please consult your physician or health care professional prior to starting any exercise program or a particular diet regimen. <br /><br />While this site offers health, fitness and nutritional information and tips backed by over 36 years experience in the health and fitness industry as well as American Council on Exercise (ACE) accreditation, which requires continuing education every two years, it is designed for educational purposes only. It is not recommended as a substitute for your doctor's advice or that of a "<a href="http://eatrightdc.org/dietitian-vs-nutritionist/">Registered Dietitian or Qualified Nutritionist</a>." </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The use of any information provided on this site is solely at your own risk. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Lastly, keep in mind that each FITNESS FLASH gives one big part of the fat-loss, improved health equation. There's more to come... </span></div>
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calfit32http://www.blogger.com/profile/00878040228371483663noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1751493814075138647.post-46473742564196409892011-06-23T08:24:00.000-07:002011-06-28T09:15:28.305-07:00Super Fit Kids Animated Series –– The Trailer: Launched on KICKSTARTER to Raise Funds in 30 Days!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGO2n0l0CcQNsZOfN4NYIVQ4nKAKX76EMWO4KlXL_3ZnbbzpsJ0Et6Lb4L8sjHN4e3l-XxrlPmWnWg_wwduqgGcdJxa5LjCNrqfD720_pGnxwyHk8n6lhecTYLVZDKFAl4pv_BKuq_ReQu/s1600/kickstarter.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 38px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGO2n0l0CcQNsZOfN4NYIVQ4nKAKX76EMWO4KlXL_3ZnbbzpsJ0Et6Lb4L8sjHN4e3l-XxrlPmWnWg_wwduqgGcdJxa5LjCNrqfD720_pGnxwyHk8n6lhecTYLVZDKFAl4pv_BKuq_ReQu/s320/kickstarter.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623304983873884962" /></a><br /><iframe src="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/superfitkidsusa/super-fits-kids-animated-series-the-trailer/widget/video.html" frameborder="0" height="410" width="480"></iframe><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />the idea</span><br /><br /><p>SUPER FIT KIDS: A Cartoon Campaign –– future animated TV series, video game, and more –– is designed to educate and motive our youth, in an entertaining manner, by creating excitement surrounding healthy diet choices and exercise. SUPER FIT KIDS will also promote enthusiasm in the arena of preserving and cleaning up our planet, including green technology and their <a href="http://www.ecohomemagazine.com/" target="_blank">related products</a> and services.<br /></p> <p>The SUPER FIT KIDS' goal is to move our country toward "a fit nation and a greener planet." The plan is to use an action adventure, superhero format. The "Fitness Superheroes" –– a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIdUbj1REFw&feature=player_embedded" target="_blank">Wonder Woman</a> and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_RggngL2eg&feature=player_embedded" target="_blank">Laura Croft</a> type leading the way –– along with her SUPER FIT TEAM, who will expose, attack, and defeat the "diet, exercise and eco-villains."<br /></p>While the SUPER FIT KIDS Animated Series will include the savvy, wit, and occasional humor (all age appropriate of course) of today's animation, and music that appeals to this generation, the educational aspect will be subliminal. Moreover, the focus of each episode will be on a particular "villain" or more –– like <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096895/" target="_blank">Batman vs. the Joker</a> (Batman had many <a href="http://www.listal.com/list/batman-villains" target="_blank">enemies</a>) –– and will conclude with a <i>real </i>message and <i>practical</i> application.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">where we're at...</span><br /><br /><p>At this point in time, two of the Fitness Superheroes and 18 "<a href="http://www.mydivadiet.com/TheDietVillains.htm" target="_blank">diet villains</a>" were designed by <a href="http://www.mydivadiet.com/OurTeam.htm" target="_blank">My Team</a> and are highlighted on the <a href="http://www.mydivadiet.com/" target="_blank">MY DIVA DIET</a> website, where you will meet the <b><i>heroine</i></b>, (the speaking) Super Fit Diva. The cartoon characters can also found in my diet book and <a href="http://s196.photobucket.com/albums/aa80/calfit32/?action=view&current=db28e03e.pbw" target="_blank">other</a> online social networking outlets including <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/MyDivaDiet" target="_blank">YouTube</a>.<br /></p><div class="template" href="http://s196.photobucket.com/albums/aa80/calfit32/?action=view&current=db28e03e.pbw"><br /></div><p>Wild Cow Productions and YOUR contribution:<br /></p><ul><li>The majority of the funds will go into taking this concept to a critical level –– <b>a 3-minute animated trailer</b> to present to TV networks and video game companies. We have an animation house ready to bring this vision to <i>life </i>–– <a href="http://www.twoanimators.com/2A_Page_Portfolio.htm" target="_blank">Two Animators</a>, and they ROCK! </li><li>We will begin character development on the rest of the Fitness Superheroes –– the SUPER FIT TEAM, which will include children from all walks of life and an array of sports and physical activity. We would also like to move forward on our long list of enemies –– the "exercise and eco-villains."<br /></li><li>We will design an action-adventure website to<i><b> aggressively</b></i> launch the SUPER FIT KIDS project and begin our mission –– "to wage war against the dark forces that plague our bodies and destroy our planet!"<br /></li></ul><div class="template" href="http://s196.photobucket.com/albums/aa80/calfit32/?action=view&current=db28e03e.pbw"><br /></div><p>Won't you consider being part of the solution? Together, through the entertainment industry (which could use a wholesome boost), we can make a profound and positive impact on our children, our country, and the world! </p><p><br /></p><p>to pledge, go our KICKSTARTER <a href="http://kck.st/k7lXdK">page</a>!<br /></p>calfit32http://www.blogger.com/profile/00878040228371483663noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1751493814075138647.post-2624654497029335622011-04-03T09:45:00.000-07:002011-04-03T11:26:25.550-07:00World Gym La Quinta, CA: 10-Week Body Shaping Boot Camp<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHtF8id-kM29RS_BwG4tQf_0dHaw6I6rCM1ttTDchTw_fvwc_R8aJI-_bZuB1Ul8Ok85RL8yb1rZU1M6xSoea-BfFV-DI18G7qjEWxp5DQ-d4VBLXaTwu6p5RbIvS2Rf-WFGZUJVuyNCBJ/s1600/WorldGym.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 178px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHtF8id-kM29RS_BwG4tQf_0dHaw6I6rCM1ttTDchTw_fvwc_R8aJI-_bZuB1Ul8Ok85RL8yb1rZU1M6xSoea-BfFV-DI18G7qjEWxp5DQ-d4VBLXaTwu6p5RbIvS2Rf-WFGZUJVuyNCBJ/s320/WorldGym.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591401032491216978" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">For Women Only...<br />10-Week Body Shaping Boot Camp<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" >WORK IT GIRL: WORK THE FAT OFF<br />AND THE FIRM ON…</span><br />Christine Lakatos ACE Certified Fitness Trainer<br />calfit32@hotmail.com<br /></div><br />Starting Friday, April 15, 2011 through Friday, June 24, 2011.<ul><li>Serious fitness training designed for those who truly want RESULTS!</li><li>3 days a week 1 hour workouts –– Mon, Wed, Fri</li><li>One boot camp in the AM and one in the PM<br /></li><li>Times to be determined; and slots limited to 5 max.</li><li>Lose Fat: Gain Health…</li><li>Prize available for the "biggest (fat and inches) loser."</li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">10-week Body Shaping Boot Camp includes: </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp85_KX6l3Gtxuwi5y4ZqVlVifQh1rfdvvJ2NY8WFeT0o_IdrQ9ITOkhzey4bwNWmKeWZPiXfpdoNxAA2jNL8HgIcV4YWV0UPcnzCIpTYc_ms2WMxsp_yNLmajmWjjfRq2rb5TVqnLTZat/s1600/Christine_Flex_Small.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 100px; height: 142px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp85_KX6l3Gtxuwi5y4ZqVlVifQh1rfdvvJ2NY8WFeT0o_IdrQ9ITOkhzey4bwNWmKeWZPiXfpdoNxAA2jNL8HgIcV4YWV0UPcnzCIpTYc_ms2WMxsp_yNLmajmWjjfRq2rb5TVqnLTZat/s200/Christine_Flex_Small.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591401874675241906" border="0" /></a><br /><ul><li>Complimentary Fitness Evaluation, body fat analysis, measurements, and goal setting </li><li>Complimentary Diet Workbook </li><li>Complimentary Diet Quiz with brief personalized Diet Analysis </li><li>10 weeks of intense group training.<br /></li><li>Learn the Six Components to an Effective Exercise Program</li><li>Program Design included at the end of the 10 weeks for maintenance or to go to the next level. </li></ul><ul><li>NOTE: A more thorough Personalized Diet Analysis and Meal Plans will be available for an extra fee. </li><li>Christine also offers personal training packages and more.<br />calfit32@hotmail.com<br /></li></ul>For more info, sign up at World Gym La Quinta ( 760-564-9822).<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlsTakXShBLtCP6SzY3xhoavRbgpqok_TKCqQ9R84dxcJcMOtiJlGGRB4m2y3T5DGW9xpTT40ypZFBJrCXApM01RbEX-x5AvjYR80Tne_6frvaDqAo3wCGQagT7r95qBNKnIISVPm4DbBR/s1600/with%25E2%2580%2593book_small.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 141px; height: 113px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlsTakXShBLtCP6SzY3xhoavRbgpqok_TKCqQ9R84dxcJcMOtiJlGGRB4m2y3T5DGW9xpTT40ypZFBJrCXApM01RbEX-x5AvjYR80Tne_6frvaDqAo3wCGQagT7r95qBNKnIISVPm4DbBR/s200/with%25E2%2580%2593book_small.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591402013473834242" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Brief About:</span><br />Christine is a first a mom of two terrific daughters. She is an entrepreneur at heart, but is a well respected fitness expert with close to 30 years experience in the fitness industry. She is also author of <span style="font-style: italic;">My Diva Diet: A Woman’s Last Diet Book</span> (sold on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/My-Diva-Diet-Womans-Last/dp/0615240879">Amazon.com</a> and other online venues) and has the sequel "<span style="font-style: italic;">Work it Girl: Work the Fat Off and the Firm On</span>," exercise book in the works, as well as other projects like <a href="http://superfitkids.blogspot.com/">SUPER FIT KIDS</a>: A Cartoon Campaign. Christine is a retired body builder, fitness competitor (clips can be found at <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/MyDivaDiet?feature=mhum">My Diva Diet YouTube</a>) and holds many titles and over the years has appeared on various promotional gigs; including a series on KESQ TV:3 Midday Show back in the 90's.<br /><br /><object height="255" width="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/XLFFn-nxwi8?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/XLFFn-nxwi8?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="255" width="300"></embed></object><br /><br />And Christine was a competitor on American Gladiators in 1990.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"></span><br /><br /><object height="255" width="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HYWPPPFN_6I?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HYWPPPFN_6I?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="255" width="300"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">A note from me:</span><br />As a retired competitor who never starved or took drugs to get to 6% body fat –– now close to 50, I strive to steer people, especially our youth, away from “QUICK-FIX” programs and products. I want them to realize that they don’t have to starve or deprive themselves in order to lose fat. And by the way, it’s not complicated either. I teach that fat loss and optimal health can be achieved the safe, effective and lifelong way –– through a lifestyle of proper diet and exercise.<br /><br />The My Diva Diet mission is to empower women and young girls so that they can get into great shape, to challenge them to be better women, and to ensure a legacy of good health for the next generation!<br /><br />E.C.L. Empower –– Challenge –– Legacy<br /><br />For more info check out my website at <a href="http://www.mydivadiet.com/">www.MyDivaDiet.com</a>, and my blog –– <a href="http://calfit32.blogspot.com/">Fitness Flash</a> here and on <a href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/feature/fitness-flash/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Blogcritics Magazine</span></a>.calfit32http://www.blogger.com/profile/00878040228371483663noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1751493814075138647.post-79901109919460793722011-03-05T06:27:00.000-08:002011-03-05T06:44:25.098-08:00My Diva Diet: Product Find by Robert Dave Johnston<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">My Diva Diet</span> presents a fun and entertaining way by using animated “fitness superheroes” and “diet villains”.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzasDAwJ4dLWi6NH3dxlSaTjZHw64AX76K_1NgevS-2jRJZS-D4dFmwOZSLVGgjjL1B5rfubaRWJYGDsYcMUKYKfuwesE0rl51Fx6zOPSrAYz2sthNRGpHRkCS00Lpc01cJaK3XXDUcAj-/s1600/BookCover_Thumb1_Trans-2.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 143px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzasDAwJ4dLWi6NH3dxlSaTjZHw64AX76K_1NgevS-2jRJZS-D4dFmwOZSLVGgjjL1B5rfubaRWJYGDsYcMUKYKfuwesE0rl51Fx6zOPSrAYz2sthNRGpHRkCS00Lpc01cJaK3XXDUcAj-/s200/BookCover_Thumb1_Trans-2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580605498236341106" border="0" /></a><br />Product Find by Robert Dave Johnston of <a href="http://weight-loss.fitnessthroughfasting.com/products/my-diva-diet.php">FitnessThroughFasting.com</a><br />August 13, 2010<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">My Diva Diet</span> is a book that markets itself as a woman’s last diet book. The book is written by Christine Lakatos, a former profession body builder, and Amber Garman.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">My Diva Diet</span> presents a fun and entertaining way by using animated “fitness superheroes” and “diet villains”. The fat loss diet book includes “Diva Quotes,” “Paw Guides” and “Special Superhero Designs” (e.g., food pyramids for fat reduction and maintenance) to add fun and clarity to your journey of a better body and healthier, happier life.<br /><br />It includes a diet quiz, worksheets, practical guides, special quotes tips and charts, as well as tasty, quick weight-loss meal plans and recipes, and much more.<br /><br />There are two different phases involved in <span style="font-style: italic;">My Diva Diet</span>. The first phase is Diva Reduction and is ten weeks long. The second phase is Diva Maintenance. This is the phase that you complete after you’ve reached your weight loss goals and are ready to transition into a healthy lifestyle.<br /><br />The <span style="font-style: italic;">My Diva Diet</span> mission is to empower women so that they can get into great shape, to challenge them to be better women, and to ensure a legacy of good health for the next generation! Here are some highlights:<br /><br /><ul><li>Eliminates restrictive and unbalanced dieting practices</li><li>Includes workbook so you can track your results</li><li>Factors in allowances for favorite foods</li><li>Written by fitness experts</li><li>Promotes a healthy rate of weight loss</li><li>Presents a fun way of looking at weight loss</li><li>Promotes a whole-foods diet</li><li>Doesn’t offer any new or novel information on how to lose weight</li><li>Target audience is limited to females</li></ul><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">My Diva Diet</span> consists of two different diet phases:<br /><br />The first phase is Diva Reduction and is ten weeks long. The important focus of phase one is portion control. Your calorie target in this phase is between 1,200 and 1,300 calories per day. The breakdown of those calories should include 35% protein, 45% carbs and 20% fat. Fiber is included in every meal and you eat four to five meals per day having one every three to four hours.<br /><br />The daily calories are divided into four food groups and the book includes recipes to help with this. It is recommended that you drink water all day throughout the day and all kinds of tea and plain coffee are allowed. Milk is to be kept to a minimum and fresh fruit or vegetable juice and meal replacement drinks are watched closely and very carefully selected. Drinks like alcohol, soda, packaged juice and sugary drinks are not allowed during this phase.<br /><br />You can choose your own foods on phase one or use the recipes that are included. The foods you choose would just need to meet the criteria outlined in the book and listed above.<br /><br />Phase two of the program is the Diva Maintenance phase. During this phase your daily caloric count is increased to 1,400 to 1,600 calories per day. You are still eating four to five times per day with meals being a little larger at this point. Your breakdown also offers more flexibility with 20-35% protein, 45-65% carbs and 20-30% fat. You get more leeway during phase two and you can also cheat a little more.<br /><br />Exercise is also a critical part of both phases of <span style="font-style: italic;">My Diva Die</span>t. Adding exercise to a diet program allows you to lose weight faster and you feel the benefits quickly.<br /><br />It is recommended that you add an efficient and effective exercise program to your eating plan. Some of the important factors to look for when choosing your exercises are makes sure it includes cardiovascular conditioning, strength and endurance training, flexibility training, core and balance training, functional training and corrective exercises.<br /><br />There are a ton of diets out there and many of them fall into the fad diet category. <span style="font-style: italic;">My Diva Diet </span>actually gives women the steps and guidance they need to lose weight once and for all. The program is solid and doesn’t involve any questionable practices and you’re not encouraged to complete eliminate groups of food. You actually get to eat carbs and protein and fat on this diet.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">My Diva Diet</span> offers a sensible and fun way to lose weight.<br /><br />To learn more, go to <a href="http://www.MyDivaDiet.com">www.MyDivaDiet.com</a>calfit32http://www.blogger.com/profile/00878040228371483663noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1751493814075138647.post-68502594903932237392011-01-16T07:00:00.000-08:002011-01-16T07:16:19.823-08:00MY DIVA DIET Review By Best Diet For Me<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWowWUGagPVdvkeNAohUSC8cQe-S1KFELycZbtXxdKRfX01QlX7RTqvvOgA_MX1mm_F0Z5U2IZ2aTtb9LMVCWrFmBbAbK5d3EsYrBMoEMcYrNRLTDScTQB0MtAbL0nsktfTaFX7GrjS_so/s1600/BDFMLogo298x115Trans.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 77px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWowWUGagPVdvkeNAohUSC8cQe-S1KFELycZbtXxdKRfX01QlX7RTqvvOgA_MX1mm_F0Z5U2IZ2aTtb9LMVCWrFmBbAbK5d3EsYrBMoEMcYrNRLTDScTQB0MtAbL0nsktfTaFX7GrjS_so/s200/BDFMLogo298x115Trans.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562802032847280722" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">My Diva Diet: A Woman's Last Diet Book</span> was released in 2008; and has received rave reviews. One of these <a href="http://www.bestdietforme.com/DietBooks/MyDivaDiet.htm">reviews</a> came from one of "America's most trusted weight-loss authority," who have been in business for 31 years –– <a href="http://www.bestdietforme.com/WhoAreWe.htm">BestDietForMe.com</a>.<br /><br />Here is the review...<br /><blockquote>My Diva Diet was developed by Christine Lakatos, an ACE Certified Fitness Trainer and former professional bodybuilder. Lakatos' experience in the fitness industry, and especially her one-on-one experience with clients as a fitness trainer led her to develop the program. In her introduction to the program, she also incorporates an explanation of how her health philosophy for the program is rooted in her belief in Judeo-Christian principles. Designed for women, My Diva Diet illustrates the reasons why women gain body fat by using "fitness superheroes," Ms. Diva and her dog, Paw, and a host of evil "diet villains," like "Tranny Granny", "Dr. Pill" "Mrs. Regret", "Vegg", and others, to illustrate who your true diet allies and <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqysmBGB8leFV761qTYzLAmqQ9u1h3FXEPkmK1FvNfs_VUTKaZfOiV6eLlCho-afnD0oakFoWUpjKdxd7aJ6nH2CRP59iM-kgYzewJ5bWgxzIxtwsBXmFdycZJUoY1REQzyUfWnp69whyd/s1600/BookCover_Thumb1_Trans-2.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 143px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqysmBGB8leFV761qTYzLAmqQ9u1h3FXEPkmK1FvNfs_VUTKaZfOiV6eLlCho-afnD0oakFoWUpjKdxd7aJ6nH2CRP59iM-kgYzewJ5bWgxzIxtwsBXmFdycZJUoY1REQzyUfWnp69whyd/s200/BookCover_Thumb1_Trans-2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562802691256412546" border="0" /></a>enemies are. The author uses "Diva Quotes" to emphasize important principles, and food pyramids to provide nutritional guidelines for fat reduction and weight loss maintenance. The cute superheroes add an element of fun and help to motivate you as you work your way through the book.<br /><br />Based on widely accepted, well-researched nutritional principles found in most of the well-respected, leading diet programs, the book does not offer the quick-fix solutions found in so-called "fad" diets. The emphasis is on attacking the root cause of excess weight and how to solve the problem on a long term basis. Emotional eating issues are given close attention. Lakatos emphasizes the importance of "clean eating" -- eliminating preservatives and artificial ingredients from your diet and instead choosing more natural, organic foods. The program consists of two phases: Phase One-Diva Reduction; and Phase Two-Diva Maintenance.<br /><br />In My Diva Diet, Lakatos details five reasons why she believes women gain body fat, which she calls "The Five Factors Affecting Body Fat and Health. The book explains how each factor can sabotage your weight loss efforts and specific changes you can make to avoid common diet traps. The book also suggests how positive changes can be implemented into your lifestyle to ensure lifelong success and better health overall.<br /><br />Factor #1: Liquid Consumption<br /><br />Factor #2: Quantity and Distribution of Calories<br /><br />Factor #3: Quality and Purity of Calories<br /><br />Factor #4: Restrictive and Unbalanced Dieting<br /><br />Factor #5: Exercise<br /><br />The book also refers to it's accompanying website, <a href="http://www.mydivadiet.com/index.htm">www.MyDivaDiet.com</a>, which provides worksheets, links to product and information sources, and a host of other useful tools.</blockquote><br />Click <a href="http://www.mydivadiet.com/ExpertReviews.html">here</a> to see more Expert Reviews...calfit32http://www.blogger.com/profile/00878040228371483663noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1751493814075138647.post-69503703353014656652010-12-30T07:02:00.000-08:002010-12-30T07:16:40.868-08:00What You Drink Impacts Your Diet, Part Ten: Alcohol<span style="font-weight: bold;">This final installment brings you the good, the bad, and the ugly in consuming alcohol. Add, "What you drink” </span><img style="border: 2px solid black; margin: 10px; float: left; font-weight: bold;" src="http://static.blogcritics.org/10/12/28/150721/ChampagnePOP-784298.jpg" alt="" height="204" width="212" /><span style="font-weight: bold;">to your 2011 New Year’s Resolution list.</span><br /><p>As we conclude 2010 and begin a new year, alcohol is usually part of the celebration. But before you pop that cork and "party on," let's stop and briefly take a look at the good, the bad, and the ugly surrounding this beverage. </p> <p><strong>The Ugly:</strong><br />Even though this is not the focus of our beverage expedition, the dark side of alcohol should be noted. Other than that nasty hangover after a night of drunkenness, this beverage choice causes poor judgment, behavioral problems, and for millions it leads to alcohol abuse, and even death. Sadly, MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving), who "serves a victim or survivor of drunk driving every 10 minutes," <a href="http://www.madd.org/statistics/" target="_blank">statistics</a> are grim: "every minute, one person is injured from an alcohol-related crash." And alarmingly, The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (<a href="http://www.nhtsa.gov/Impaired" target="_blank">NHTSA</a>) <a href="http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811385.pdf" target="_blank">reported</a> that "10,839 people were killed in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes in 2009 –– that's one every 50 minutes."</p> <p><strong>The Bad:</strong><br />As far as the fitness aspects, you should be aware that alcohol has short-term effects on health and body fat; its nutritional value is nil –– as in tons of empty calories, and those mixed drinks pack on more calories than you think. Drinking a lot of booze can also cause dehydration, create electrolyte imbalances, and <a href="http://www.weightlossforall.com/alcohol-lose-weight.htm" target="_blank">alcohol can indirectly make you fat</a> –– "while your body uses up all the alcohol circulating in the blood, the oxidation of fats, carbohydrates and protein becomes suppressed." Translation: these macronutrients are not used for their intended purpose and are "forced into storage."</p> <p><strong>The Good:</strong><br />Now, you may not be a heavy drinker, which is a good thing, but perhaps you are under the impression that "moderate drinking –– about one drink a day for women, about two for men –– is a central component of a healthy lifestyle." Are you are convinced by what some "experts" have been touting for years? That alcohol is <a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/3968.php" target="_blank">good for your health</a> –– reduces risk of heart disease, diabetes and dementia –– mainly. Not so fast my friends because the <em><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/16/health/16alco.html" target="_blank">New York Times</a> </em>shed "doubt" on the case in 2009; highlighting that some scientists take issue with these claims, and in reality "it may be that moderate drinking is just something healthy people tend to do, not something that makes people healthy." Furthermore, the <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/alcohol/SC00024" target="_blank">Mayo Clinic</a>, who lists some of the health benefits of moderate drinking, also points out that "the evidence about the possible health benefits of alcohol isn't certain, and alcohol may not benefit everyone who drinks." </p>Yes, you may snag some antioxidants and a "sense of relaxation" from that <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/red-wine/HB00089" target="_blank">red wine</a>, but then again, it's possible to benefit more from a glass of <a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/15553.php" target="_blank">grape juice</a>, a massage, and soothing music. Keep in mind too, that <a href="http://caloriecount.about.com/calories-wine-i14084" target="_blank">1 glass (3.5 fl oz) of wine</a> is 85 calories and if you consume a glass a day; that adds up to 595 calories per week. <a href="http://www.beer100.com/beercalories.htm" target="_blank">Beer</a> on the other hand, ranges from 95 to over 200 calories, while <a href="http://www.forbes.com/2005/08/10/cocktails-calories-lifestyle-cx_sy_0810feat_ls.html" target="_blank">cocktails</a> can top 700 calories for just one. And for those "watching their weight," calories <em>do</em> count.<div><div style="border: medium none ; overflow: hidden; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"> <p><strong>RECAP: </strong></p> <p><span>Before we complete our </span><span>beverage journey</span><span>, let's recap. First and foremost, <a href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/article/what-you-drink-impacts-your-diet/" target="_blank">water</a> is essential to life and critical for health, wellness, and weight loss. <a href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/article/what-you-drink-impacts-your-diet1/" target="_blank">Coffee</a> is good in moderation if you skip the cream and sugar and <a href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/article/what-you-drink-impacts-your-diet2/" target="_blank">tea</a> (without the sugar) offers countless health and wellness benefits, while green tea helps fight obesity and lower LDL (bad) cholesterol. <a href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/article/what-you-drink-impacts-your-diet3/" target="_blank">Milk</a> is highly overrated. Consuming too much <a href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/article/what-you-drink-impacts-your-diet4/" target="_blank">soda</a> has dire consequences to your overall health and fitness level. Some <a href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/article/what-you-drink-impacts-your-diet5/" target="_blank">sports drinks</a> as well as fruit and vegetable <a href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/article/what-you-drink-impacts-your-diet6/" target="_blank">juices</a> can be a good way to hydrate and catch a few vitamins and minerals while you're at it; however, sugar and other additives may be in the mix too. <a href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/article/what-you-drink-impacts-your-diet7/" target="_blank">Meal replacement drinks</a> have their place in our fast-paced society, providing you read labels or make your own.</span> <!-- @font-face { font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }table.MsoNormalTable { font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } --><span>Lastly, good news for our beloved abstainers, if you are <em>serious</em> about losing fat, alcohol must be off limits. However, alcohol (in moderation; as in a few a week, not a day) can be a beverage choice when you are on a maintenance plan. </span><span> </span></p><span></span><div><div style="border: medium none ; overflow: hidden; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><div class="article-adsense"> </div> <div id="article-body"> <p><!-- @font-face { font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }a:link, span.MsoHyperlink { color: blue; text-decoration: underline; }a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed { color: purple; text-decoration: underline; }p { margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times; }table.MsoNormalTable { font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } --></p> <p><img style="border: 2px solid black; margin: 10px; float: left;" src="http://static.blogcritics.org/10/12/28/150721/2011NewYear.jpg" alt="" height="185" width="264" /><br />In closing,<span> it's important to understand that "what you drink <strong>does</strong> impact your diet" –– good and bad –– when it comes to overall health and weight loss. An occasional detour from healthy and fit beverage choices will not harm your efforts, but staying on the wrong path for a long period of time will. </span></p> <p><span>Add this to your 2011 New Year's Resolution list: "<em>I will drink more water and clean up my other beverage choices.</em>" Place it on your frig and other places as a reminder and motivator. I guarantee you will feel and look much better. </span></p> <p><span>May you have a safe, healthy, and prosperous New Year! </span></p></div><span style="font-size:85%;">Article first published as <a href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/article/what-you-drink-impacts-your-diet8/">What You Drink Impacts Your Diet, Part Ten: Alcohol </a> on Blogcritics.<br /></span></div></div></div></div><span style="font-size:85%;">Author: Christine Lakatos — Published: Dec 29, 2010 at 12:29 pm</span>calfit32http://www.blogger.com/profile/00878040228371483663noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1751493814075138647.post-22639524033917654622010-12-22T07:23:00.000-08:002010-12-22T08:49:04.537-08:00What You Drink Impacts Your Diet, Part Nine: Meal Replacement Drinks<span style="font-weight: bold;">Beware: Just like meal replacement bars, meal replacement drinks are used to entice the consumer, via quick-fix scams and false promises.</span><p><img style="border: 2px solid black; margin: 10px; float: left;" src="http://static.blogcritics.org/10/12/20/150451/OT501418S.jpg" alt="" height="184" width="184" />In closing <a href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/article/what-you-drink-impacts-your-diet6/" target="_blank">Part Eight</a>, we discovered that veggie drinks are an excellent meal replacement choice, providing you choose <em>appropriately</em> or <a href="http://www.youtube.com/powerjuicers" target="_blank">build </a>your own. However, veggie drinks are not the only way to get health-on-the-go; we are saturated with hundreds of diet and protein shake options. Unfortunately, the billion-dollar fitness industry makes its money off quick-fix scams and false promises. Beware: just like <a href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/article/protein-energy-diet-and-nutrition-bars/" target="_blank">meal replacement bars</a>, meal replacement drinks are used to entice the consumer, using the aforementioned techniques.</p> <p>Next time you pick up a so-called “diet or protein shake" or vegetable drink, make sure you carefully examine the ingredients. This is because, like most commercial beverages, many of these pre-made drinks contain a lot of sugar and other sweeteners, fat, and an array of preservatives and additives.<!-- @font-face { font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }table.MsoNormalTable { font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } --> <span>In many diet and protein shakes, the "protein blend" used is questionable, as are the claims touted in their advertising and on their labels.<span> </span></span></p> For example, let's take a peek at <a href="http://www.slim-fast.com/products/shake/w/wiki/French-Vanilla-Shake.aspx?ProductID=3" target="_blank">Slim-Fast</a> diet shakes, with over 50 ingredients—the third of which happens to be sugar. While one can of this drink is low in calories (180), it still contains 23 grams of carbs, of which 18 grams comes from sugar. The number one ingredient is fat-free milk (a liquid choice covered in <a href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/article/what-you-drink-impacts-your-diet3/" target="_blank">Part </a><span><a href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/article/what-you-drink-impacts-your-diet3/" target="_blank">Five</a>)—</span><span>not necessarily</span><span> bad, except for those who are lactose intolerant. But considering that it is not organic milk, it's a red flag for those of us who care about cows. </span>Even though they have thrown in some vitamins and minerals, enhancing its nutritional value, <span>you only get 10 grams of protein out of the Slim-Fast can, </span>yet you'll consume 6 grams of fat (1.5 grams saturated),<span> which, at the end of the day, may not be worth it.<br /></span><span><br />After a brief analysis of the nutrition label, the next step is to dig deeper into the ingredients. For the sake of time, we'll just probe into the protein blend (the sixth ingredient) used in Slim-Fast. It is </span><span>Milk Protein Concentrate (known as MPC), a commonly used</span> additive in products like processed cheese (Kraft singles), coffee creamers, frozen dairy desserts, crackers, energy bars, and nutritional drinks. MPC's "are created when milk is ultra-filtered, a process that drains out the lactose and keeps the milk protein and other large molecules. The protein components are then dried and become a powder." <p><!-- @font-face { font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }table.MsoNormalTable { font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } --> <span>Apparently, in 2009, the dairy industry was (is) suffering a "crisis" which is neither my concern nor the focus of our "expedition." </span>According to <em><a href="http://www.ethicurean.com/2009/03/10/mpcs/" target="_blank">Ethecurian</a> </em>online magazine, this dairy crisis is not just a result of the recession; it also has to do with MPC. For the most part, MPC is imported, and from countries "with very poor food safety records (China, India, Poland, the Ukraine)." Moreover, ironically MPC is an ingredient "<a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/the-cheesemonger/get-your-glue-out-of-my-cheese-the-cheesemonger-078708" target="_blank">used to make glue</a>" and is <strong>not</strong> approved by the FDA, yet "it somehow manages to be included in the ingredient list of over $10 billion worth of food, primarily fast food and junk food." </p> <p>So, Slim-Fast may be "fast," but will it make you slim? Only in your head, because in reality, the bad outweighs the good it offers. Now, we could spend hours dissecting all of the bad pre-made meal replacement drinks on the market, but that would be a waste of time. More important is to become skilled in reading labels—setting you free to make "good" choices <em>all of the time</em>. </p> <p>While we addressed green drinks at out last stop, protein shakes and smoothies (the good ones) usually start with water, ice, real juice, organic milk, soymilk, sugar-free yogurt, frozen yogurt, and/or fresh fruit. Additionally, protein powders are sometimes included in the mix. Most commonly used are whey, casein, egg, soy, and rice, or a combination—each carrying their own "<a href="http://www.truestarhealth.com/members/cm_archives12ML3P1A8.html" target="_blank">pros and cons</a>." According to <a href="http://www.webmd.com/diet/protein-shakes" target="_blank">Web MD</a>, "protein is one of the body's main building blocks for muscle, bone, skin, and other tissues" and is essential to your daily diet for overall health and wellness. It is critical for athletes' endurance and strength, as well as for fitness enthusiasts and for those seeking to lose weight. This leads to a commonly asked question: how much protein?</p><p>Most nutritionists and those in the medical profession "recommend daily intake of protein for healthy adults [of] 0.75 g of protein per kilogram of body weight, or about 45 to 56 g of protein a day, while exercisers' range should be 1.4 to 2 g of protein per kilogram of body weight daily." For those trying to gain weight or increase lean body mass, you may consider siding with the higher figure, and it is better to "feed the muscle"—around 1 gram of protein per pound of lean body mass. </p> <p>Fortunately, most of us can obtain enough protein via our daily diet; meal replacement drinks could be your guarantee. Protein shakes and smoothies also offer an avenue for other "nutrients on the run" and a vehicle for providing energy throughout the day, especially if they are of superior quality. They are much better solutions than skipping a meal or resorting to fast food or junk food.</p> <p>What about meal replacement drinks for weight loss? Mayo Clinic nutritionist <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/protein-shakes/AN01332" target="_blank">Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.</a> reminds us that "protein shakes aren't a magic bullet"—there is none—but they may help you reduce your caloric intake, and as we know, "burning more calories than you consume is key to losing weight." That said, a balanced diet of natural, whole foods (not processed, man-made foods)—lean protein (animal and <a href="http://www.livestrong.com/article/264570-the-advantages-of-using-plant-sources-of-protein-in-your-diet/" target="_blank">plant-based</a> sources), fruits and vegetables, whole grains as well as foods that contain <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/omega-3-fatty-acids/HB00096" target="_blank">omega-3 fatty acids</a> (fish and plants)—is ideal for <em>all</em> health and fitness goals.</p> <p>Therefore if you are considering a pre-made protein shake or smoothie, either in a <em>can</em> (not ideal) or at your local fitness center or juice bar like <a href="http://www.jambajuice.com/" target="_blank">Jamba Juice</a>, make sure you know what is in it—ask questions. Or construct your own using pure and wholesome ingredients. Here are two ideas to get you started:</p> <p><img style="border: 2px solid black; margin: 10px; float: right;" src="http://static.blogcritics.org/10/12/20/150451/LivingProtein-Thumbnail.jpg" alt="" height="211" width="141" /><strong>Power Protein Shake </strong>(makes one)</p> <p>Ingredients:</p> <p>2 scoops of quality protein powder (<a href="http://www.livingfuel.com/Living-Protein.aspx" target="_blank">Living Fuel Living Protein</a> is one of the <strong>purest</strong> on the market, and they produce a number of other <a href="http://www.livingfuel.com/LivingFuel_Products.aspx" target="_blank">sound products</a> like Living Fuel Super Greens)<br />1/4 cup plain low-fat yogurt<br />1/2 banana<br />1/4 cup mixed berries (fresh)<br />1/4 cup water (or juice, but it will add more calories)</p><p>Preparation: Combine first 4 ingredients in a blender or Magic Bullet, add water and mix until well blended.<br />Nutritional Value: 334.5 calories; 24 g protein; 58 g carbs; 1.6 g fat; 10 g fiber; 170 mg sodium<br />Note: If you want to add more value to your shake, try 1 Tbsp. of flaxseeds: 48 calories; 2 g protein; 3.3 g carbs; 3.3 g fat; 2.7 g fiber; 3.4 mg sodium.</p> <p><strong>High-Fiber Vegan Smoothie</strong> (makes one)</p> <p>Ingredients:</p> <p>1 cup strawberries (fresh or frozen)<br />1 cup mixed berries (fresh or frozen)<br />1/2 cup soymilk<br />Ice if you are not using frozen (additive-free) fruit.</p> <p>Preparation: Mix all ingredients in a blender until smooth.<br />Nutritional Value<em>:</em> 175 calories; 5.4 g protein; 35.5 g carbs; 2.6 g fat; 13.4 g fiber; 61.4 mg sodium</p> <p>Drink to (for) your health, and "I'll be back" for the final installment of our beverage journey. Oddly enough, we are in the middle of the Holiday Season, where "'Tis the Season to be jolly"—marking our last STOP fitting: alcohol, the good, the bad, and the ugly. Nevertheless, I won't be a "party pooper" until after Christmas. In the meantime, "drink responsibly," and Merry Christmas!</p><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Article first published as <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/article/what-you-drink-impacts-your-diet7/"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1293026847_2">What You Drink Impacts Your Diet, Part Nine: Meal Replacement Drinks</span> </a> on Blogcritics. <strong>Author:</strong> <a href="http://blogcritics.org/writers/christine-lakatos/">Christine Lakatos</a> — <strong>Published:</strong> <a href="http://blogcritics.org/archive/2010/12/21/">Dec 21, 2010 at 1:19 pm</a></span> <span style="font-size:85%;">@ <a href="http://calfit32.blogspot.com/">MY DIVA DIET: Fitness Flash </a></span><br /><div><div style="border: medium none ; overflow: hidden; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><span><br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(0, 51, 153);" href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/#ixzz18r7F1Keo"></a></span></div></div>calfit32http://www.blogger.com/profile/00878040228371483663noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1751493814075138647.post-5697766017791660532010-12-14T07:06:00.000-08:002010-12-14T08:12:56.903-08:00What You Drink Impacts Your Diet, Part Eight: Juice (Fruit and Vegetable)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Qx0XRYlXAUOy86G6ebShQs_YoRMcjCwDoG2wc5x-8aupoOZfIuBDxPAER9Mosp5rOjJROMM1BodHN3Zht16Gw1BBahS70wt8SLbQxQvW0DUVTIW_00rTapRyjgjJJPBpP3ZXN6VlfYSH/s1600/fruits-veggies.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 198px; height: 178px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Qx0XRYlXAUOy86G6ebShQs_YoRMcjCwDoG2wc5x-8aupoOZfIuBDxPAER9Mosp5rOjJROMM1BodHN3Zht16Gw1BBahS70wt8SLbQxQvW0DUVTIW_00rTapRyjgjJJPBpP3ZXN6VlfYSH/s200/fruits-veggies.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550557031537663202" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Should I have a V8" or any commercial fruit juice or veggie drink? It all depends.</span><br /><br />Considering that <a href="http://www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov/benefits/index.html">fruits and vegetables</a> are high in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, fiber, and other nutrients and should be a large part of any sound diet –– for weight loss and protecting health, consuming juice (fruit and vegetable) seems like a "no-brainer." However, most "commercial juices" are high in calories and low in fiber –– the opposite of fruits and vegetables in their natural complete states. Worse, these beverages are high in sugar and contain very little of the fruit or vegetable they are supposedly derived from, which means that their nutritional value and purpose is suspect.<br /><br />The <span style="font-style: italic;">naturally</span> occurring sugar (<a href="http://www.fructose.org/">fructose</a>) found in fruit and some vegetables like carrots and beets is not at issue (excluding diabetics and those sensitive to sugar); it's the extra refined sugars, high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) as well as the preservatives and additives –– ingredients used in most commercial juice and vegetable drink recipes. And have you been down the juice aisle lately? Companies are making juice out of "everything but the kitchen sink." Consequently, at this juncture in our beverage expedition, we'll just analyze a few to make a larger point.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-yBKoNE4UOYhbpcmEr5AZd-foYH1Ffl5Fc1fhtItVOaJ4fTjpzNZ7U22iubi1z8QgtCJIIU4AHd6ZbKed0SIdM9NW_iAPxzMIgzi7iIZu3_inQjQh8g8ymwaigjTxygf9c5hWG9ftsyW_/s1600/Capri-Sun-Nat.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 170px; height: 170px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-yBKoNE4UOYhbpcmEr5AZd-foYH1Ffl5Fc1fhtItVOaJ4fTjpzNZ7U22iubi1z8QgtCJIIU4AHd6ZbKed0SIdM9NW_iAPxzMIgzi7iIZu3_inQjQh8g8ymwaigjTxygf9c5hWG9ftsyW_/s200/Capri-Sun-Nat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550557215008766018" border="0" /></a><br />Let's take for example the kid-pushed Capri Sun drink, which was labeled as "All Natural" when the <a href="http://www.foodfacts.com/food/Mixed%20Fruit%20Juice/Capri%20Sun%20All%20Natural%20Red%20Berry%20Fruit%20Juice%20Pouches%20-%2010%20Pack%20/72">ingredients</a> were (are) water, high-fructose corn syrup, small amount of juice, and <a href="http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/232164/artificial_and_natural_flavorings_avoid.html?cat=5">flavoring natural</a> –– an additive best avoided. That was until a <a href="http://www.cspinet.org/new/200701081.html">lawsuit erupted</a> in 2007, forcing them to rethink and withdraw their "All Natural" claim. Since, Capri Sun has undergone a makeover, embracing drinks without high-fructose corn syrup, but they still use refined sugar and other additives. To confuse the issue, <a href="http://brands.kraftfoods.com/caprisun/wholesome-varieties.aspx">Capri Sun</a>, owned by Kraft Foods, marketing strategy touts "25% less sugar" (6-ounce pouch equals 60 calories and 16 grams of sugar) and a deceptive slogan of "wholesome."<br /><br />On the other hand, in an 8-ounce cup of Minute Maid orange juice (Home Squeezed Style + Calcium and Vitamin D), the <a href="http://www.minutemaid.com/products/OrangeJuice_and_Blends/HomeStyleCalciumD.jsp">ingredient list</a> is much <span style="font-style: italic;">purer</span> (NO added sugar and the like); still you'll <span style="font-style: italic;">drink</span> 110 calories and 24 grams of sugar. Furthermore, even though there is no fat and a minimal amount of sodium in Minute Maid beverages, they do lack the <a href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/article/show-me-the-fiber/">fiber</a> found in fresh fruit, which is vital for a healthy diet and helps with fat loss. In contrast, a <a href="http://caloriecount.about.com/calories-oranges-i9200?size=2">large orange</a> has the advantage of 4.4 grams of fiber. The same can be said for apple juice –– and most commercial fruit juice for that matter. For the same amount of calories (around 100) you get 5 grams of fiber with a large apple vs. zero in a cup of apple juice.<br /><br />Commercial vegetable drinks (juices) are a little trickier to decipher, and there are decent choices on the market these days. Even though veggie drinks do contain vegetables, many add fruit, sugar, and additives to make it more palatable as well as preservatives to extend shelf life. Some like Bolthouse Farms contain <a href="http://www.naturalways.com/spirul1.htm"><span style="font-style: italic;">Spirulina</span></a> (a blue-green algae, offering "nutrients, amino acids, and health benefits," yet not without its "<a href="http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/news/20001211/pond-scum-makes-health-splash">skeptics and cautions to consider</a>") to their <a href="http://bolthouse.com/our-products/beverages/smoothies/green-goodness/detail">Green Goodness</a> –– AKA "green drink."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtwhVufOkjPkQo3soXNXN3biQlc9rJbyzOW49munaJV7hsI5urQ9ennV2a6K1wbT4RkiEY_nkqX41sL0qGDrnnkV7HzaOhDyiI5gLRZqUg9wSW_OUfIwCSvldp98mlgsj8Acz_isqjMvUX/s1600/vegjuice.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 95px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtwhVufOkjPkQo3soXNXN3biQlc9rJbyzOW49munaJV7hsI5urQ9ennV2a6K1wbT4RkiEY_nkqX41sL0qGDrnnkV7HzaOhDyiI5gLRZqUg9wSW_OUfIwCSvldp98mlgsj8Acz_isqjMvUX/s200/vegjuice.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550557030421588402" border="0" /></a>This brings us to the familiar V8 veggie drink, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V8_%28beverage%29">invented</a> back in the 1930's by W.G. Peacock, and acquired by Campbell Soup Company in 1948. Over the years, it became popular with its infamous marketing line, "I could've had a V8" –– still used today, even popping up on an <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5irqYRstXU&feature=related">episode</a> of Family Guy. V8 has evolved, adding many other so-called healthy beverages to their product line. While some of the V8 fruit juice blends <a href="http://www.vegfamily.com/vegan-cooking-tips/v8-vegetable-juice.htm">contain</a> high-fructose corn syrup, their 100% Vegetable Juice is not bad –– it's low in calories (50 for 8 oz.), yet high in sodium (420 mg in 8oz.). Maybe that is why they developed a <a href="http://www.v8juice.com/Products.aspx">low-sodium</a> version with 140 mg.<br /><br />So, when it comes to health and fitness, the real question must be <span style="font-style: italic;">preemptive</span> and without the "regret head bang" –– "Should I have a V8" or any commercial fruit juice or veggie drink? It all depends. Read labels; skip the ones with added sugar and sugar derivatives like HFCS, too much sodium, and carefully analyze preservatives and additives. Try to choose fruit and veggie drinks that are freshly made or better yet, "juice it" yourself. Here is a quick and simple veggie drink recipe: Take 1 beet, 2 carrots, and 1 cup broccoli, blend in your <a href="http://www.youtube.com/powerjuicers">Jack Lalanne's Power Juicer</a>, and enjoy! Nutritional Value: 200 calories, 8.8 grams protein, 39.6 grams carbs, 0.8 grams fat; 12 grams fiber, and 220 mg (natural) sodium.<br /><br />While natural and fresh juice, for the most part, serves as a thirst quencher or a beverage with a meal, they are also an immense aid when you are sick or fasting for health or spiritual reasons. But for those counting calories, beware, juice calories add up quickly. Even so, veggie drinks are a positive alternative to "fast food," an avenue for those lacking vegetables in their diet, an awesome way to boost nutrient intake, and a substitute for any meal of the day –– <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">only if</span> you choose the right one or make your own. And for those eager for more "meal replacement" ideas (protein shakes, smoothies, and green drinks), stay tuned –– it's our next STOP in our journey toward health, wellness and a fit physique.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Article first published as <a href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/article/what-you-drink-impacts-your-diet6/">What You Drink Impacts Your Diet, Part Eight: Juice (Fruit and Vegetable) </a> on Blogcritics. Author: Christine Lakatos — Published: Dec 13, 2010 at 2:04 pm / Part of <a href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/feature/fitness-flash/">Fitness Flash </a>and <a href="http://calfit32.blogspot.com/">My Diva Diet blog spot!</a><br /><blockquote>This is Part Eight of <a href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/article/weight-loss-what-you-drink-impacts1/">Weight Loss: What You Drink Impacts Your Diet 10-Part Series </a><br />This ten-part series, a "beverage expedition" of sorts, will uncover how liquid consumption affects your weight, health and wellness, for better or worse.</blockquote><blockquote></blockquote></span>calfit32http://www.blogger.com/profile/00878040228371483663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1751493814075138647.post-45494804511395128992010-12-08T08:22:00.000-08:002010-12-08T08:43:18.713-08:00"World of Diets" Interviews Me!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcqjdvnHgNGnZZZYgdfI_iM6RWNp8jjl4V-wjqmrOV8psqJ3u1S66fw38gZXxaGvl08-bh5tf-xFCjYK5prudxNl59GPK0kfUcsK60VPxExQHg2MWgOZXW5fzY5Jz4_K2CQum8aWOV69BP/s1600/world_of_diets_logo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 124px; height: 52px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcqjdvnHgNGnZZZYgdfI_iM6RWNp8jjl4V-wjqmrOV8psqJ3u1S66fw38gZXxaGvl08-bh5tf-xFCjYK5prudxNl59GPK0kfUcsK60VPxExQHg2MWgOZXW5fzY5Jz4_K2CQum8aWOV69BP/s400/world_of_diets_logo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548347880745717650" border="0" /></a><br />A while ago, World of Diets <a href="http://www.worldofdiets.com/christine-lakatos/">interviewed me</a> and recently it has been posted. World of Diets is not only a great place for "terrific interviews" from fitness experts as wells as diet reviews, but also has an array of articles ranging from diet, health, foods, exercise, fitness equipment and so much more...<br /><blockquote>"Choosing the right diet plan is probably the most important factor in determining whether or not you will lose weight and be able to keep it off for many years to come.<br /><br />Here on WorldofDiets.com, we provide hundreds of diet reviews, interviews with fitness and fat loss experts and a variety of articles and tips about how to eat right, burn body fat off quickly, and be healthy. Check out a variety of our reviews and posts at <a href="http://www.worldofdiets.com/">WorldofDiets.com</a>."<br /></blockquote><span style="font-weight: bold;">EXCERPT</span> From my interview with Jonathan:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Question:</span> I’m here today with Christine Lakatos, the author of the popular <span style="font-style: italic;">My Diva Diet</span>. Thanks for taking the time for this interview, Christine. What can you tell us about your background and qualifications in the fitness industry?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Answer:</span> Well, Jonathan, I’ve been in the fitness industry since 1980 when I became an aerobics instructor –– lol, with the leg warmers and all the crazy attire and back when you didn’t have to be certified. I was also an athlete growing up –– a track star mainly, running a 5:40 mile and great at all sports . Then in 1988 –– when I was about 26, I saw a photo of Rachel McClish (later I met her at Gold’s Gym Palm Desert, CA) and that inspired me to compete in bodybuilding. I won my first competition, Ms. San Luis Obispo 1989 (with 6.9% body fat) and placed in a few others. However, due to the fact that in the 90’s women in bodybuilding were getting bigger and were taking steroids I switched to fitness shows and I went on to place in the top-ten <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/MyDivaDiet?feature=mhum#p/a/u/0/pwdTDmICK5o">Ms. Fitness USA in 1990</a> and Ms. Fitness San Diego 1995 –– just to name a few. I was also a competitor on American Gladiators in 1990.<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HYWPPPFN_6I?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HYWPPPFN_6I?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />It was about that time that I decided to become and ACE Certified Fitness Trainer, training thousands of clients with a very, very high success rate. Ever since, I have continued my education in health and fitness with my main focus on nutrition as well as one of the most well-respected fitness organizations to date –– the C.H.E.K. Institute.<br /><br />As a woman in my late forties –– almost 50 –– I can say that even though I competed at 5 to 9% body fat, with a frame size of a teenager, I still maintain around 12 to 16% body fat year round and between size 2 and 3. And that is after having children –– two of the most wonderful daughters on the planet!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Question:</span> You refer to <span style="font-style: italic;">My Diva Diet</span> as the last diet book a woman would need. What makes this diet so special?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Answer:</span> First and foremost, <a href="http://www.mydivadiet.com/index.htm"><span style="font-style: italic;">My Diva Diet</span></a> is based on sound nutrition and IT WORKS! It is not like many of the other diet programs that offer quick-fix solutions to a problem that requires a lifestyle change of proper diet and exercise. It is also tailored JUST for women. Since wo<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcU1Nj5s_tvJ2bhPlsBFC7D0rfQCJdaoJZjUgBbEw-IQvx6rxwF2hoj1_l96Cit3De-mwCyZzZUQej7RTSw9egJ4zc_QJ4BYcooEGviFjq1Fi9lGayuVrb3RF3-riZ9nPQ89lVNqeVdTVB/s1600/BookCover_Thumb1_Trans-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 143px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcU1Nj5s_tvJ2bhPlsBFC7D0rfQCJdaoJZjUgBbEw-IQvx6rxwF2hoj1_l96Cit3De-mwCyZzZUQej7RTSw9egJ4zc_QJ4BYcooEGviFjq1Fi9lGayuVrb3RF3-riZ9nPQ89lVNqeVdTVB/s200/BookCover_Thumb1_Trans-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548352177339776658" border="0" /></a>men have different body types, goals, energy requirements, and health and weight-loss concerns than our male counterparts, MY DIVA DIET’S fat-loss diet book provides a precise method for women (of all ages) to reach their health and fitness goals. Also, it is jammed packed with tons of information (in a user friendly format) so that women have all the tools they need to lose fat the safe, healthy and lasting way –– including a diet quiz, complete directions, workbook, special guides, tips and charts, meal options and recipes, restaurant eating guide and grocery shopping tips, and information about foods, reading labels, nutrition, exercise, body fat, calories and more. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcU1Nj5s_tvJ2bhPlsBFC7D0rfQCJdaoJZjUgBbEw-IQvx6rxwF2hoj1_l96Cit3De-mwCyZzZUQej7RTSw9egJ4zc_QJ4BYcooEGviFjq1Fi9lGayuVrb3RF3-riZ9nPQ89lVNqeVdTVB/s1600/BookCover_Thumb1_Trans-2.jpg"></a><blockquote></blockquote>Click <a href="http://www.worldofdiets.com/christine-lakatos/">here to read the entire</a> interview and my thanks to World of Diets and Jonathan!calfit32http://www.blogger.com/profile/00878040228371483663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1751493814075138647.post-10944513323568279582010-11-28T09:56:00.000-08:002010-11-28T15:27:13.534-08:00What You Drink Impacts Your Diet, Part Seven: Sports Drinks and More<img style="border: 2px solid black; margin: 10px; float: left;" src="http://static.blogcritics.org/10/11/26/139665/images.jpg" alt="" height="186" width="271" /><p style="font-weight: bold;">With so many pre-made beverages (sports and other types of drinks) on the market today, what should a "concerned dieter" do? </p> <p class="meta"> Opinion by <a href="http://blogcritics.org/writers/christine-lakatos/">Christine Lakatos</a> — on Nov 27, 2010 </p>Article first published as <a href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/article/what-you-drink-impacts-your-diet5/">What You Drink Impacts Your Diet, Part Seven: Sports Drinks and More </a> on Blogcritics.<br /><br /><a onclick="pageTracker._trackEvent('Sci/Tech', 'Recent Features', '/scitech/feature/fitness-flash/');" class="thumbnail" href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/feature/fitness-flash/"><img src="http://static-l3.blogcritics.org/feature/fitness-flash/icon.jpg?1271102839" alt="Image for this feature" align="middle" height="32" width="32" /></a> <a onclick="pageTracker._trackEvent('Sci/Tech', 'Recent Features', '/scitech/feature/fitness-flash/');" class="feature-title" href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/feature/fitness-flash/"></a>Part of <a href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/feature/fitness-flash/">Fitness Flash</a> on <span style="font-style: italic;">Blogcritics Magazine</span><br /><div><div style="border: medium none ; overflow: hidden; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><p>Finally, we <a href="http://blogcritics.org/culture/article/wheres-bandit-a-missing-cat-and/" target="_blank">resume</a> our "beverage expedition," discovering how liquid consumption can have a major impact on your diet –– both good and bad –– and whether you are on a mission to lose body fat and/or manage your health.</p> <p>We have tackled a variety of liquids –– five to be exact, with four to go, first confirming that <a href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/article/what-you-drink-impacts-your-diet/" target="_blank">water</a> is essential to life and critical for health and weight loss. Later we uncovered that <a href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/article/what-you-drink-impacts-your-diet1/" target="_blank">coffee</a> is good in moderation if you skip the cream and sugar; <a href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/article/what-you-drink-impacts-your-diet2/" target="_blank">tea</a> (without the sugar) offers countless health and wellness benefits, while green tea helps fight obesity and lower LDL (bad) cholesterol; <a href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/article/what-you-drink-impacts-your-diet3/" target="_blank">milk</a> is highly overrated; and consuming too much <a href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/article/what-you-drink-impacts-your-diet4/" target="_blank">soda</a> has dire consequences to your overall health and fitness level. </p> <p><br />Now we take a brief look at sports and other drinks bombarding the fitness industry, like <a href="http://www.livestrong.com/article/53313-gatorade-ingredients/" target="_blank">Gatorade</a>, PowerAid, <a href="http://flavored-waters.com/Flavored_Waters/Glaceau_Vitamin_Water/index.asp" target="_blank">Glaceau Vitamin Water</a>, Snapple, and many more. Interestingly, most of these drinks are labeled as "healthful," but in fact contain sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, <a href="http://www.livestrong.com/article/177865-crystalline-fructose-vs-high-fructose-corn-syrup/" target="_blank">crystalline fructose</a>, and other sweeteners –– commonly used ingredients that we covered in <a href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/article/what-you-drink-impacts-your-diet4/" target="_blank">Part Six</a>, exposing their "perils." These drinks add empty calories to your diet and fat on your body; putting many on the fast track toward obesity. This includes powdered drinks like <img style="border: 2px solid black; margin: 10px; float: right;" src="http://static.blogcritics.org/10/11/26/139665/crystal-light-fruit-punch-flavoured-drink-mix-8qt-tub-3605-p.jpg" alt="" height="149" width="82" />Kool-Aid as well as those cute little juice boxes, which will be addressed next in our beverage series. On the other hand, Crystal Light and other “no calorie, sugar-free, diet" powered drinks use<!-- @font-face { font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }table.MsoNormalTable { font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } --> <span>artificial sweeteners </span> like aspartame, saccharin, or Splenda –– another red flag when consumed in excess. </p> With so many pre-made beverages (sports and other types of drinks) on the market today, what should a "concerned dieter" do? First and foremost, don't believe the <em>hype</em>, even if sports drinks are "celebrity endorsed." After all, "stars" get paid millions of dollars for their so-called stamp of approval and the companies producing them are motivated by their <em>bottom line</em> –– money. <p>While the "foundation" of sports and other drinks is water, and some include added vitamins, minerals and fruit juice, the extra calories, sugar and additives may not be worth it in the long run. In reality, they are not always the best liquid choice, especially if you are trying to lose weight. However, if you are an athlete, participating in sports, lacking certain nutrients, trying to gain weight, or need the flavor in order to get liquid in our body, then by all means "knock back" your favorite sports drink or vitamin water –– in moderation.</p> <p>The most important lesson at this juncture in our beverage expedition is that when it comes to pre-made beverages, make sure you read labels and educate yourself in the realm of "<a href="http://www.cspinet.org/reports/chemcuisine.htm" target="_blank">food and drink additives</a>." Bottom line though, there is no<!-- @font-face { font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }table.MsoNormalTable { font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } --> <em>legitimate </em>substitute for just plain H20! </p> <p>Our next stop will be juice –– both fruit and vegetable, with meal replacement drinks and alcohol to follow, where I will continue <a href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/article/weight-loss-what-you-drink-impacts1/" target="_blank">to guide</a> you off of the "fat path" and on to the "fit path."<br /></p></div></div>calfit32http://www.blogger.com/profile/00878040228371483663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1751493814075138647.post-75888683293360747852010-09-25T08:52:00.000-07:002010-09-25T10:38:00.534-07:00My Diva Diet: What the Experts are Saying!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR7U9uYFL275POLGdibfZHsDy_R7c8Fj87G6PfPxG1ZvWNi81etwem3IEKiuiWltk86FEFpSjuI7BifNeYbZTWU-1KDlb_TRkA7om52Db_QVgvL-ZO-pnJrJ5dx45j_zigtQR84kDAJ110/s1600/IMG_0356.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 194px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR7U9uYFL275POLGdibfZHsDy_R7c8Fj87G6PfPxG1ZvWNi81etwem3IEKiuiWltk86FEFpSjuI7BifNeYbZTWU-1KDlb_TRkA7om52Db_QVgvL-ZO-pnJrJ5dx45j_zigtQR84kDAJ110/s200/IMG_0356.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520898762826881282" border="0" /></a><br />Back in 2008 after we released <span style="font-style: italic;">My Diva Diet: A Woman's Last Diet Book and Workbook,</span> we have had the honor of experts reviewing our book. Even though we have a complete "<a href="http://www.mydivadiet.com/ExpertReviews.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">EXPERT REVIEW</span></a>" Section on our website, I wanted to share some of the highlights:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tammy and Lyssie Lakatos</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Nutrition Twins </span><br /><br />My Diva Diet is jammed packed with so much wonderful information. It actually answers any nutrition / diet quest<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9t7VLuf-XvcwDBLay7jpGfxGokxAhDByx8K37NB6rCoUDPAr4Zb7pINryobHzsX9viOs9W6cTH_3AM9FEvoR3GOHfDKzirWbDq2f9TPS_uUOj6kXEdALjANDuHtFs8mA0VXwbnwyMHG1i/s1600/Expert_Reviews_Button.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 152px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9t7VLuf-XvcwDBLay7jpGfxGokxAhDByx8K37NB6rCoUDPAr4Zb7pINryobHzsX9viOs9W6cTH_3AM9FEvoR3GOHfDKzirWbDq2f9TPS_uUOj6kXEdALjANDuHtFs8mA0VXwbnwyMHG1i/s200/Expert_Reviews_Button.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520898895155032786" border="0" /></a>ion you've ever had (and even those you never knew you had!). I loved all the fun tips, recipes, and the Diva Diet Quiz to help guide you in your own personal goals. I love that this works for each person's very own needs and there is even terrific advice for dining out and losing weight--something everyone needs!<br /><br />I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to lose weight, get healthy or who just wants sound nutritional advice--you will find all the answers to your questions here! You won't be disappointed--My Diva Diet is awesome!!!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ingo Logé</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Motivational Speaker, Author, Ocean Lover and Nutritional Life Coach </span><br /><br />This is a great book about diet, supplements, portions, what are good foods to eat and why, exercise and general health. This very real “how to do it guide book and field manual” Is the last book you’ll ever need girls. If you want to make changes to your life but aren't sure where to start out, this is definitely the book for you. If you want a solid explanation why you should change, followed up with research, this book is for you. Christina has taken information about diet, exercise, foods, ineffective habits, and mental and physical health from many different sources, including her own personal experiences, and compiled it into this book. The book is easy to read and is also an excellent starting point for anyone interested in improving his or her quality of life.<br /><br />I personally enjoyed the book and have recommended it to many of my female friends and clients. This book as something for everyone, especially the person looking for a starting point. If you are serious about making life style changes and want a solid explanation as to why you should or shouldn't change something in your life; get this book. The book is easy to read, but application of the topics will take time. Don't expect a magic band-aid. After all, this book it about life style changes and that takes time.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dr. Johnnie Ham, MD, OBGYN</span><br /><br />My Diva Diet has finally arrived! This is THE book for anyone truly interested in a healthy lifestyle and is looking for the tools to make it happen. Christine is sharing her secrets here, in a simple, easy-to-read, and just-plain-fun workbook, that if you follow, will be guaranteed to produce results. As an OBGYN, I am often asked about diet and exercise, and how to sort thru the plethora of diet-fad books and systems. This is the book that finally I am recommending to my patients, because she has been able to address physiology, nutrition, and lifelong habits that will work for every woman. And men, these secrets apply to us as well!! If you really want to impact your health, and the kind of future you want for yourself, this book is a must-read!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dr. Harold D. Segal, M.D.Dr. Harold D. Segal, M.D.</span><br /><br />The key to a healthy spine is good nutrition and exercise. MyDiva Diet presents an intelligent and easy way to lose weight and get your health back. I have found that many of spinal problems have their origin in poor posture, poor eating habits, and lack of proper body mechanics. My Diva Diet addresses these issues in a cogent and reasonable fashion. This book is in my waiting room and I highly recommend it to my patients and anyone interested in good health and fitness.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">2008</span><br /></span></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwmKhDtc3XHh3HP8IZS32NKEhda03A5xfIjBCQD2bWGHv4F32zfOEFGGzSso2zKGpYVae32UF2sZVbheAue8-zd_CpAKSGN3cKd_L-35KCzzhz0YDWLyF5wWvVbjawzu_UH6udtFb6TMBS/s1600/MidBookReview_White.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 136px; height: 142px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwmKhDtc3XHh3HP8IZS32NKEhda03A5xfIjBCQD2bWGHv4F32zfOEFGGzSso2zKGpYVae32UF2sZVbheAue8-zd_CpAKSGN3cKd_L-35KCzzhz0YDWLyF5wWvVbjawzu_UH6udtFb6TMBS/s200/MidBookReview_White.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520899567391388930" border="0" /></a><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.midwestbookreview.com/rbw/nov_08.htm#margaret">Midwest Book Review</a> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />November 2008</span><br /><br />Still another diet book? Well "My Diva Diet: A Women's Last Diet Book " is a diet book unlike you have ever seen before! Author and Certified Fitness Trainer Christine Lakatos, with the assistance of contributing author Amber Garman, along with help a team of folks that includes Brian Anderson, Scott Martin, Angelica Lakatos, Nicole Stuiber, Michelle Ahearn, Dan Port, Sean Troeger, and H. David Segal, M.D., bring to women a ground-breaking diet plan specifically designed to promote health, nutrition, weight loss, and a healthy lifestyle. This user-friendly, interactive instruction guide offers a workbook format providing quizzes, checklists, recipes, advice and tips -- but most importantly a plan designed for women of all ages for successfully losing and keeping off unwanted weight.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.midwestbookreview.com/rbw/nov_08.htm#margaret">Click here</a> to keep reading...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Best Diet For Me</span> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCUXCAO3WzjavxqNixSYMVlJvkhQiBoE631fJCawuVl0B9tUCfDMjYAie4BMr2wlX3zpHNTT7h-sR0VysHOrPa37V8oVOvTqKsfc0WxcVmPD6DSVElq3DqV38UprxryC3nbja3cY562aeI/s1600/BestDietForMe.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 76px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCUXCAO3WzjavxqNixSYMVlJvkhQiBoE631fJCawuVl0B9tUCfDMjYAie4BMr2wlX3zpHNTT7h-sR0VysHOrPa37V8oVOvTqKsfc0WxcVmPD6DSVElq3DqV38UprxryC3nbja3cY562aeI/s200/BestDietForMe.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520900024083627138" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.bestdietforme.com/DietBooks/DietBookReviews.aspx">BestDietForMe.com</a> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />November 2008</span><br /><br />My Diva Diet was developed by Christine Lakatos, an ACE Certified Fitness Trainer and former professional bodybuilder. Lakatos' experience in the fitness industry, and especially her one-on-one experience with clients as a fitness trainer led her to develop the program. In her introduction to the program, she also incorporates an explanation of how her health philosophy for the program is rooted in her belief in Judeo-Christian principles. Designed for women, My Diva Diet illustrates the reasons why women gain body fat by using "fitness superheroes," Super Fit Diva and her dog, Paw, and a host of evil "diet villains," like "Tranny Granny", "Dr. Pill" "Mrs. Regret", "Vegg", and others, to illustrate who your true diet allies and enemies are. The author uses "Diva Quotes" to emphasize important principles, and food pyramids to provide nutritional guidelines for fat reduction and weight loss maintenance. The cute superheroes add an element of fun and help to motivate you as you work your way through the book.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.bestdietforme.com/DietBooks/MyDivaDiet.htm">Click here</a> to continue...<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">2009</span></span><br /></div> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-50wA2djbUkA-lLEoEc0XtO_dWmCqh6D6f3E4MXInkFkFS2ooqPMZupCmDQrUERL8W0do0yanC80hoFMfrtOe72B5odpbu7suyyEeIqamn2-OP2qipHYo89GPIRk7ar7zG08edaK__5eE/s1600/HealthBolt.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 52px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-50wA2djbUkA-lLEoEc0XtO_dWmCqh6D6f3E4MXInkFkFS2ooqPMZupCmDQrUERL8W0do0yanC80hoFMfrtOe72B5odpbu7suyyEeIqamn2-OP2qipHYo89GPIRk7ar7zG08edaK__5eE/s400/HealthBolt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520900588962898386" border="0" /></a><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://blisstree.com/feel/healthbolt-book-review-my-diva-diet/?utm_source=blisstree&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=b5hubs_migration">Health Bolt Book Review</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> @ BlissTree.com</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">March 2009 By Liz Lewis</span><br /><br />There’s no getting around it - diet really is a four letter word. It’s a word that frequently conjours up feelings of frustration, impatience, disappointment, sadness, and even failure.<br /><br />Which is probably why Christine Lakatos describes her book My Diva Diet as "A Woman’s Last Diet Book". It’s a turn of phrase that’s guaranteed to attract those who are looking for an answer to all their dieting woes.<br /><br />And it’s very likely it might just do just that. A 413 page workbook, resource, and motivational guide, My Diva Diet got my attention from the get go with it’s innovative characters. There’s Ms Diva who highlights all useful tips and her sidekick Paws, who summarizes the how-to information. Superheroes and Diet Villains also make an appearance to emphasize who the true diet allies and enemies are. If you‘re starting to think this is all sounding juvenile and too TV cartoon-ish, trust me it‘s not. There is so much information packed into this book, that it could easily become the only diet book I’ll ever need.<br /><br /><a href="http://blisstree.com/feel/healthbolt-book-review-my-diva-diet/?utm_source=blisstree&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=b5hubs_migration">Click here</a> to continue...<br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://blogcritics.org/books/article/book-review-my-diva-diet-by/">Book Review: My Diva Diet</a> <span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7SFY8XgtgZfIzpkbaPCoR-DKTG47Dz6XmQgUfU_yELsuDhzuQo0BG2M_6-aGVoJsc_oGXGJgUcXcSirU0a2Gs0sQKxpOeA-842_tW6tp0WRedNFeGO7SU3v0wLZ0qz7NNvd-6ws-JhX1P/s1600/BC_Books.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 93px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7SFY8XgtgZfIzpkbaPCoR-DKTG47Dz6XmQgUfU_yELsuDhzuQo0BG2M_6-aGVoJsc_oGXGJgUcXcSirU0a2Gs0sQKxpOeA-842_tW6tp0WRedNFeGO7SU3v0wLZ0qz7NNvd-6ws-JhX1P/s320/BC_Books.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520900977311712210" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Blogcritics Magazine</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">March 2009 by Allie James</span><br /><br />There is a place for "thinking outside the box," especially when writing a diet book and trying to stand out from the thousands of competitive diet books available to the hungry market of "tired-of-dieting dieters." Christine Lakatos wrote My Diva Diet, and is such a thinker. She wants to get our attention, and she does so by using Diet Villains and Superheroes throughout her book. We have Super Fit Diva, who highlights for us some very useful tips, and it's her presence throughout the book that ties everything together. Her sidekick, Paws, makes a presence as well, and summarizes the howto information for us.<br /><br /><a href="http://blogcritics.org/books/article/book-review-my-diva-diet-by/">Click here</a> to continue...<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Book Review: </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://blogcritics.org/books/article/book-review-my-diva-diet-a/">My Diva Diet: A Woman's Last Diet Book</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> by Christine Lakatos</span> <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Blogcritics Magazine</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">April 2009 by Lynda Lippin</span><br /><br />Some readers of a certain age may remember body builder and author Christine Lakatos from the 1989 season of TV's American Gladiators. Now an author and personal trainer, Lakatos has produced an informative weight loss guide for women.<br /><br />My Diva Diet tries to grab the reader's attention from the cover, which resembles a bright pink comic book with the Dieting Superhero Ms. Diva in the center (yes, she even has a sidekick lioness, Paw) and lots of bright headlines ("Expose & Defeat Your Diet Villains," "Lose Fat, Gain Health," and "Not a quick fix..."). The book is written in a cute, female-oriented voice and is a workbook with tons of quizzes, checklists, and graphics. At base, the program consists of a food program and exercise program for a weight loss phase and a maintenance phase.<br /><br /><a href="http://blogcritics.org/books/article/book-review-my-diva-diet-a/">Click here</a> to continue...<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIxVo2FRsPKulL2R6BP_qqQ1brtHtVZaOdNI9JJGtrDk2orj2ML7YjCWiwRaeoT2ljEL7a2O3f4UKjHQJHPDmXrRRXCElIP1ojWhfD9FnOYeRDruoiI_1CZNxWQEcQ0SM68976ZKB-agfO/s1600/newlogo.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 74px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIxVo2FRsPKulL2R6BP_qqQ1brtHtVZaOdNI9JJGtrDk2orj2ML7YjCWiwRaeoT2ljEL7a2O3f4UKjHQJHPDmXrRRXCElIP1ojWhfD9FnOYeRDruoiI_1CZNxWQEcQ0SM68976ZKB-agfO/s200/newlogo.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520901484227055394" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Diet Blog...Eat Right. Get Healthy</span>.<br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.diet-blog.com/09/book_review_my_diva_diet.php">Book Review: My Diva Diet </a> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />July 2009 by Mike Howard</span><br /><p>I don't know if I'm the best person to review a book that is "for Women only" although in reality, the fairer sex is the prime target for marketing of diet books/products. </p> <p>Henceforth, I have toted this rather large pink-coloured book around with a certain degree of inconspicuousness - determined to unravel the secrets of "a women's last diet book". </p><p>Author Christine Lakatos takes the reader through a comprehensive plan to help <strike>us</strike> women achieve the health and body they want. And, when I say "comprehensive", I'm not spouting hyperbole. This book is enormous and chock full of guides, charts, worksheets, quizzes, recipes, and the like. </p><a href="http://www.diet-blog.com/09/book_review_my_diva_diet.php">Click here</a> to continue...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Diet Choices</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />DietChoices.com</span><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://dietchoices.com/diet-plans/my-diet-diva/">My Diva Diet Review</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> July 2009</span><br /><br />My Diva Diet is a very healthy diet for women designed by a former bodybuilder.<br /><br />Background<br /><br />Christine Lakatos' My Diva Diet: A Woman's Last Diet Book is a diet book from an ACE Certified Fitness Trainer who is also a retired body builder. Lakatos has won several titles including Ms. Fitness San Diego 1993. This diet is designed just for woman and focuses exclusively on their needs. For those looking for a little "hand holding" on their diet, the My Diva Diet might be a good diet to choose. The diet is designed to be executed in two phases with the first phase being a ten week plan, and the second phase being one that transitions dieters to a healthy lifestyle. The plan calls for dieters to consume 1,200 to 1,300 calories per day during phase one of the diet. These calories should be 35% protein, followed by 45% fiber and 20% fat respectively. Fiber is to be consumed at every meal, and dieters should consume between four and five meals a day.<br /><br /><a href="http://dietchoices.com/diet-plans/my-diet-diva/">Click here</a> to continue...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Weight Loss Institute</span> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfAXGUNA9OdqExHHytjtmeTwgnnYAlLkZdE9TjzLsgm3tKhhbIIuZZZWf2ezk9E23VDg4fzP_arzE34ShcW7WAMIQhQZPRS8DlPE71uSkciZTaC-ivzsoy3zd9cjtUwX3hw14SrnXmINJr/s1600/weightlosssupport.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 140px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfAXGUNA9OdqExHHytjtmeTwgnnYAlLkZdE9TjzLsgm3tKhhbIIuZZZWf2ezk9E23VDg4fzP_arzE34ShcW7WAMIQhQZPRS8DlPE71uSkciZTaC-ivzsoy3zd9cjtUwX3hw14SrnXmINJr/s200/weightlosssupport.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520902682991897874" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.hoodiagordoniipure.com/my_diva_diet.htm">My Diva Diet Review</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> by Susan Brown</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">November 2009 </span><br /><br />Searching for the right type of diet might be a hard thing to do for us, women. Mostly nowadays, when there are hundreds of diet pills, fat burners, appetite suppressants and diet plans all over the internet and deciding which one worth trying out is even harder than the whole weight loss procedure. Getting the needed help would be necessary, finding a site; a helping hand which can really help us would be useful. Mydivadiet.com might give you the needed help and even more, all this in the best, lightest atmosphere, the site is giving us.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.hoodiagordoniipure.com/my_diva_diet.htm">Click here</a> to continue...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKGbUP5dWHzdyKEQIupeEiHjIiH6AfCyRHBiHTVJno-q3lWSjZ9hKvTGNRr564Nv7l-Njzy09oIVZvkrsIcgh7eoaedbUj2RSaW5P0L-9KtHkWxEa_Pc5Xw0cwT0XMLbWntKZF4X4XCOA4/s1600/everydiet5.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 210px; height: 45px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKGbUP5dWHzdyKEQIupeEiHjIiH6AfCyRHBiHTVJno-q3lWSjZ9hKvTGNRr564Nv7l-Njzy09oIVZvkrsIcgh7eoaedbUj2RSaW5P0L-9KtHkWxEa_Pc5Xw0cwT0XMLbWntKZF4X4XCOA4/s320/everydiet5.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520902919291131202" border="0" /></a><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.everydiet.org/diet/diva-diet">EveryDiet.org</a> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />December 2009</span><br />Lakatos presents a lot of useful dietary information in a format that will be easy for most readers to absorb. Her program involves a clear system that is based on solid principles and is likely to produce successful results for most dieters.<br /># Pros Based on up to date scientific principles.<br /># Specifically meets the needs and goals of women.<br /># Focus is on a long-term solution rather than a quick fix approach.<br /># Illustrated format can help to maintain attention and highlight important points.<br /># Flexible approach with seven different ways to use the program.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.everydiet.org/diet/diva-diet">Click here</a> to continue...<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">2010</span></span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiio_yfbWdq8WAvxJMvpG0CRPEJlZa7ajQbdePdF-dy3ez6NIpiSkm6yEDjEQmzlQZXbnxFuWBpM4dXfxgpvLc2_Be6Pqgnhlka_gxC2vAie781FqEYaMJR_-OEAp7kzrns-23aivzSsMiS/s1600/nut_framework_01.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 59px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiio_yfbWdq8WAvxJMvpG0CRPEJlZa7ajQbdePdF-dy3ez6NIpiSkm6yEDjEQmzlQZXbnxFuWBpM4dXfxgpvLc2_Be6Pqgnhlka_gxC2vAie781FqEYaMJR_-OEAp7kzrns-23aivzSsMiS/s400/nut_framework_01.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520903248233407698" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Flex Belt Nutrition Center<br /></span> <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.theflexbelt.com/nutrition/m/MyDivaDiet.html#TOPUCOMMENT">My Diva Diet Review Summary</a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">May 2010</span><br /><br />My Diva Diet is self hailed as a woman’s last diet book. The reason is that it is written and designed by a woman to address the specific needs of the seemingly lifelong weight challenge women face. The book explains that in America, at least, there is an epidemic with lack of self confidence relating to image and weight. A small percentage of women are reportedly unlocking the key inside them that allows them to break through perceived inadequacies, gaining mastery over their fears. Once this is accomplished, life health and fitness can become a priority, according to the author. Eating right, exercise and mental clarity all reportedly contribute significantly to how women can finally be free, lose weight and change their lives forever.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.theflexbelt.com/nutrition/m/MyDivaDiet.html#TOPUCOMMENT">Click here</a> to continue...<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Diets In Review</span><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.dietsinreview.com/diets/my-diva-diet/#write_a_new_user_review">DietsInReview.com</a> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />August 2010</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYiqtX7x-v4rKnwgwlfjskuSBJDhad0vpgd349Ui1u_fu9FAkVPg-rCw9XlIbDxYqqsJSWUjoOxcK1Yt0oL6Y3uMr1B5RRhEBPyf97A3wtdZy0h3otwYXanb-kMFHAd1wOiOZcECRBJpy2/s1600/diets-in-review-logo.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 290px; height: 75px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYiqtX7x-v4rKnwgwlfjskuSBJDhad0vpgd349Ui1u_fu9FAkVPg-rCw9XlIbDxYqqsJSWUjoOxcK1Yt0oL6Y3uMr1B5RRhEBPyf97A3wtdZy0h3otwYXanb-kMFHAd1wOiOZcECRBJpy2/s400/diets-in-review-logo.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520903580388703330" border="0" /></a><br />My Diva Diet<br />A women-only diet plan that leads to success.<br /><br />My Diva Diet is a book that markets itself as a woman’s last diet book. The book is written by Christine Lakatos, a former profession body builder, and Amber Garman.<br /><br />My Diva Diet presents a fun and entertaining way by using animated “fitness superheroes” and “diet villains”. The fat loss diet book includes “Diva Quotes,” “Paw Guides” and “Special Superhero Designs” (e.g., food pyramids for fat reduction and maintenance) to add fun and clarity to your journey of a better body and healthier, happier life.<br /><br />It includes a diet quiz, worksheets, practical guides, special quotes tips and charts, as well as tasty, quick weight-loss meal plans and recipes, and much more.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.dietsinreview.com/diets/my-diva-diet/#write_a_new_user_review">Click here</a> to continue...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgq7bf1Yybuo233-5IXBATbN_BuZRTSYCHjCtEaInOeAXRrSEFrQFUFZNPUGlsy1nONcY9d3Jw0usiONtMNB9FzFWfC5pQ3S6j0zoLmkEUKU0MOf8o1FT4r6s-wJ_zy2CfKSpOFeCbv7uY/s1600/world_of_diets_logo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 124px; height: 52px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgq7bf1Yybuo233-5IXBATbN_BuZRTSYCHjCtEaInOeAXRrSEFrQFUFZNPUGlsy1nONcY9d3Jw0usiONtMNB9FzFWfC5pQ3S6j0zoLmkEUKU0MOf8o1FT4r6s-wJ_zy2CfKSpOFeCbv7uY/s400/world_of_diets_logo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520903919961928098" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">World of Diets</span><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.worldofdiets.com/my-diva-diet/">My Diva Diet Review </a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">August 2010</span><br /><br />The <span style="font-style: italic;">My Diva Diet</span> creates a lot of anticipation. A diet book written by a retired body builder with several prestigious titles including Ms Fitness San Diego 1993 is going to deliver a mighty punch! Has author Christine Lakatos lived up to her promise of delivering a ‘Woman’s Last Diet Book’? Read on to find out.<br /><br />Lakatos’ book builds on what she has learnt training female clients for fitness and weight loss. In the beginning of the book, she explains her simple philosophy for the diet program. According to her, women take their fitness and weight loss cues from the wrong people. This prevents them from attaining their weight loss goals. She illustrates using characters like ‘fitness superheroes’, ‘diet villains’ and so on. All along, the author provides effective ‘Diva quotes’ to drive home important principles and nutritional guidelines.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.worldofdiets.com/my-diva-diet/">Click here</a> to continue...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Kosmix Community</span> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirlW80bnLjTZ1JzIH94FaM9t8eELoG8EC1sMYdAsEhODchRvICoFZfAuCPSYzFC_xre01v4RkMMi2AJtxMYuSogYXVkbytZFYNj7KK0pqdXvsa6i0sJS8Oer403jTj9282oBuV4eRAEhyphenhyphenp/s1600/23312_106095682453_4956_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 199px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirlW80bnLjTZ1JzIH94FaM9t8eELoG8EC1sMYdAsEhODchRvICoFZfAuCPSYzFC_xre01v4RkMMi2AJtxMYuSogYXVkbytZFYNj7KK0pqdXvsa6i0sJS8Oer403jTj9282oBuV4eRAEhyphenhyphenp/s200/23312_106095682453_4956_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520904180659944274" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.kosmix.com/topic/My+Diva+Diet?q=My+Diva+Diet&searchSubmit=Explore%C3%82%C2%A0%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%BA">Article about My Diva Diet </a> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />September 2010 by Michael</span><br /><br /><p>My Diva Diet: A Woman's Last Diet Book is a weight-loss book authored by Christine Lakatos and Amber Garman. The book was released in 2008 by Publisher Services. Christine Lakatos has been in the fitness industry for over 29 years. She is a former Miss San Diego, Miss Fitness USA, and even a competitor in the American Gladiators television show. </p>Although My Diva Diet is written specifically for women of all ages, younger readers will probably enjoy the book the most. The book is filled with positive advice and entertaining activities. This is where the book shines: the authors know how to communicate their positive message of healthy nutrition to female readers.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.kosmix.com/topic/My+Diva+Diet?q=My+Diva+Diet&searchSubmit=Explore%C3%82%C2%A0%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%BA">Click here</a> to continue...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3OIbaRWyABiHoritE_a4R85Uspy24S1jMwMbV2CnzA_7q45spfAmxqPNg6xkt9ORBH0wHkxyJEijBtvNIyOo5BQKhtRbTm9lAR5M8lF-Ph9QuZGF_MeDFjTThJiarLqai9Zpqvo-LJRAO/s1600/BookCover_Thumb1_Trans-2.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 143px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3OIbaRWyABiHoritE_a4R85Uspy24S1jMwMbV2CnzA_7q45spfAmxqPNg6xkt9ORBH0wHkxyJEijBtvNIyOo5BQKhtRbTm9lAR5M8lF-Ph9QuZGF_MeDFjTThJiarLqai9Zpqvo-LJRAO/s200/BookCover_Thumb1_Trans-2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520904719222637186" border="0" /></a>These are excerpts from our <a href="http://www.mydivadiet.com/ExpertReviews.html">Expert Review</a> page. And, make sure to check out <a href="http://www.mydivadiet.com/index.htm">www.MyDivaDiet.com</a> for our <a href="http://www.mydivadiet.com/DivaTestimonials.html">Real Life Diva Testimonials</a> and to learn more about the destructive <a href="http://www.mydivadiet.com/TheDietVillains.htm">diet villains</a> and much, much more.<br /><br />Lastly, don't forget in November 2009, we released the <span style="font-style: italic;">My Diva Diet: </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyjJwibL4pZZewP_2F9T0tAhWTixKXI5DwPidxuM1zGUm_xnkt4FgSxNqM-93RJTbTrGSFohgYi5CzMF036QZoA4m3h7zR3G2dekHhlf5xxWDnlh9o3HuakZrK2WZ0rLOGeB3erLnFbbJF/s1600/75%25.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 124px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyjJwibL4pZZewP_2F9T0tAhWTixKXI5DwPidxuM1zGUm_xnkt4FgSxNqM-93RJTbTrGSFohgYi5CzMF036QZoA4m3h7zR3G2dekHhlf5xxWDnlh9o3HuakZrK2WZ0rLOGeB3erLnFbbJF/s200/75%25.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520906174958278946" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Compact Version –– Sound Nutrition Made Practical</span> and we are working on the exercise book –– <span style="font-style: italic;">Work It, Girl: Work the Fat Off and the Firm On</span>! Plus, someday <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Super Fit Kids</span> will be released as an animated TV series and video to educate, entertain and engage our children toward health and wellness!<br /><br />STAY TUNED....calfit32http://www.blogger.com/profile/00878040228371483663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1751493814075138647.post-59954513061292943112010-09-18T08:16:00.000-07:002010-09-22T16:16:05.381-07:00Outblush "My Diva Diet Road Test" Response<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUWe3Clr4YKIP-xMUM8nQ8m1wUcsT_tTNxzmNq0flORmSCkueAdB_qRHghWE6hGRr0uld0dX9zikXdqSPARXbIQTqiXvUr4J809Yyqat8qR19mORDYXVn9xJ95_8ARShjvwUdENWgRFGAd/s1600/n120221555949_925.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 151px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUWe3Clr4YKIP-xMUM8nQ8m1wUcsT_tTNxzmNq0flORmSCkueAdB_qRHghWE6hGRr0uld0dX9zikXdqSPARXbIQTqiXvUr4J809Yyqat8qR19mORDYXVn9xJ95_8ARShjvwUdENWgRFGAd/s400/n120221555949_925.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518297090612399042" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Over the summer, I was honored to find out that the girls at <a href="http://www.outblush.com/">Outblush.com</a>, Trajano and Janetor, decided to test my diet book, <span style="font-style: italic;">My Diva Diet: A Woman's Last Diet Book and Workbook</span></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">.</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"> After all, Outblush is a cool place for Fashion –– Home –– Beauty –– Life!</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);" href="http://www.outblush.com/women/life/health-fitness/diet-road-test-my-diva-diet/">Diet Road Test: My Diva Diet</a><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-weight: bold;">July 2010 </span><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"></span><blockquote style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Well, we survived going gluten free for three weeks, and took a break so we could enjoy the 4th of July and all the delicious foods that holiday brings. It's time to dive back in, though, and for the next 3 weeks, Trajano and Janetor will be following Christine Lakatos' <span style="font-style: italic;">My Diva Diet: A Woman's Last Diet Book</span> ($16) as closely as possible.</span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">What is it?</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"> A former competitive bodybuilder and American Gladiator contestant, Christine Lakatos works as a fitness trainer in the San Diego, CA area. She advocates a diet based on sound nutritional principles - lean protein & dairy, complex carbs, whole fruits & veggies - and smaller meals throughout the day, totaling 1200-1300 calories daily. Her emphasis is on "pure" foods, i.e. natural, organic, and kosher-certified, in order to minimize exposure to toxins and environmental pollutants. And, yes, kosher means no pork products & no shellfish.</span></span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Does it work?</span> According to reviewers, yes. There are no strange supplements or drinks recommended, and certainly eating mostly lean fish, chicken & turkey, veggies, fruits, lean dairy and whole grains will contribute to your overall health. As one might expect from a bodybuilder, she is a strong advocate for exercise, as well.</span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">What's with the quizzes and cartoon characters?</span> The book is peppered with Christine's cartoon alter ego, Crystal, and her panther sidekick, Paw. They pop up regularly with tips & tricks, and "battle" some pretty corny Diet Villains, like Al and Cole (alcohol), Tranny Granny (trans fats), and the Junkster (junk food). To assess your eating & exercise habits, you take a 13-page quiz on everything from how often you work out to how many glasses of wine you consume each week. She also includes plenty of recipes and food tracking worksheets.</span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">What do we think, as non-fitness freaks?</span> Both of us work out regularly, so that won't be a hardship. Lakatos' recommendation to stick to kosher-certified organic meats is a little hard to swallow, though: We concede her point that kosher-raised animals are less likely to have been mistreated and have been fed a healthier diet, but not everyone has easy access (or the grocery budget) to a kosher butcher. We will, however, try to stick to organic products as much as possible. Consuming just 1200-1300 calories a day will be tough, as will giving up desserts and Janetor's personal weakness, Diet Coke. Lakatos does allow for "cheats," like Fudgsicles or dark chocolate, but only "once per week or less."</span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br /><br />Be sure to check back in with us for the next three weeks, as we'll be posting Tuesday updates on how we're doing with the Diet Road Test: My Diva Diet!</span></blockquote><br /><br /><object height="238" width="289"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HYWPPPFN_6I?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HYWPPPFN_6I?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" align="right" height="238" hspace="5" width="289"></embed></object><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />MY RESPONSE: </span> </span><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"> <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><br />In their intro,</span></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"> they had some nice things to say about my background, but I don't live in San Diego. Yes, I was a AG contestant –– see clip above. However, the wonderful girls at Outblush had already labeled my "Superhero Theme" as corny. Alrighty then! It appeals to some and some NOT, however, there is a method to my madness. The short-term strategy is this: love the idea or hate it, it is the only diet book with this type of format and one that will be remembered. According to another "reviewer" of my book, </span><a style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" href="http://blogcritics.org/books/article/book-review-my-diva-diet-by/">Alie James writer for Blogcritics Magazine</a><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">...</span><blockquote style="font-style: italic;">There is a place for "thinking outside the box," especially when writing a diet book and trying to stand out from the thousands of competitive diet books available to the hungry market of “tired-of-dieting dieters.” Christine Lakatos wrote My Diva Diet, and is such a thinker. She wants to get our attention, and she does so by using Diet Villains and Superheroes throughout her book. We have Ms. Diva, who highlights for us some very useful tips, and it's her presence throughout the book that ties everything together. Her sidekick, Paws, makes a presence as well, and summarizes the howto information for us. </blockquote><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Secondly, the long-term strategy is to turn my Superhero Theme into an animated TV series, video game, etc. –– in an effort to entertain, educate and engage children toward health and wellness. After all, childhood obesity is on the rise and </span><a style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" href="http://blogcritics.org/politics/article/playing-politics-with-childhood-obesity/page-3/">I wrote about a while ago</a><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">...</span><br /><br /><blockquote>Childhood obesity is real and unfortunately on the rise. According to the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, "childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years." What is even more alarming are the health consequences: "Obese youth are more likely to have risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure." They are also at greater risk of developing Type-2 diabetes, bone and joint problems, and other health issues. Let’s not kid ourselves; other areas are affected when children are overweight or obese; energy levels, mood, and yes, self esteem. Sadly, "obese youth are more likely than youth of normal weight to become overweight or obese adults."</blockquote> <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">But the format of the book can be subjective and I appreciate the girls at Outblush and their honesty. The other issue they had with my diet book makes much more sense because it had to do with the Kosher aspect. I must admit that I've had few reviewers question or comment my "sanity." </span><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">And if I had write it again, I would have been more thorough in my explanation. That is why I released the <span style="font-style: italic;">My Diva Diet: Compact Version</span>. Here is my </span><a style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix4uVf3_8TSjqS8NZDuV7VI7xWwOa11aBMXsS9XdNdWi7BwJbWlIdceyPg_OFxKpYq3s050cB2jamXBE0-L-Plqoln1durQBwSy9Okwo4-T-bdlMzhd__vFbGVUEpTtKeqYDLO1yrWIqIH/s1600/75%25.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 247px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix4uVf3_8TSjqS8NZDuV7VI7xWwOa11aBMXsS9XdNdWi7BwJbWlIdceyPg_OFxKpYq3s050cB2jamXBE0-L-Plqoln1durQBwSy9Okwo4-T-bdlMzhd__vFbGVUEpTtKeqYDLO1yrWIqIH/s320/75%25.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518297630688787634" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">responses the them..</span><br /><blockquote style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">As far as the Kosher meats, you are right, it is difficult to get at the grocery store, however, you can find it at Trader Joe's. At any rate, in the Compact Version, due to confusion and quite a bit of people calling me "crazy," I changed it to "animal friendly meat." It is all about how the animals are treated and most "authentic" organic meat producers do a pretty good job. </blockquote><br /><br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.outblush.com/women/life/health-fitness/diet-road-test-my-diva-diet-week-2/">Week Two of the girls at Oublush My Diva Diet Road Test</a><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"> is where they outline the good, the not so good, the ugly, and the beautiful. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Diet Road Test: My Diva Diet - Week 2</span><br /><blockquote style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Good:</span> My Diva Diet would be a great book for women who don't know much about nutrition and have never really needed to lose weight before - perhaps you're anxious about baby weight, or just finished college and your adolescent super-metabolism is starting to grow up and slow down. There is a wealth of useful, applicable nutritional knowledge in the book. We particularly liked a lot of her recipes - they encourage you to incorporate more beans and legumes into your diet, which are both tasty and great for you, as well as experiment with a wide (and delicious!) variety of herbs and spices.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Not So Good:</span> Going through the book can feel a bit choppy - there are pop-outs, tips, tricks, highlights, FYIs, notes, and reminders galore. There's no easy narrative to follow and the layout can be a bit confusing and off putting. The diet lacks a clear starting point - the book's cover boasts that there are 7 ways to use the program, but singling out the one that's right for you is no easy task. Perhaps the My Diva Diet Compact Version ($10) is a better option, neither Trajano nor Janetor have tried it out, but perhaps it's a more user-friendly guide to the Diva Diet.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Ugly:</span> There are two Phases in the book - Diva Reduction and Diva Maintenance. Diva Reduction suggests eating between 1200 and 1300 calories a day, which most nutritionists suggest is the required baseline caloric consumption for survival. If you've been eating 2000+ calories/day for years and in the course of a few days cut your intake almost in half it would cause quite a shock to your system and leave you feeling starving and deprived (which usually leads to 3:30 cookie binges). She does say that a woman who exercises vigorously may require up to 2,000 calories a day, but for all the useful diet info in the book, there's no chart or guide that factors in height, age, weight, and activity level to help you find a healthy caloric intake range for your body type. The nutritional needs of a 43 year-old woman who is 5'10" and wants to lose 15 pounds are very different from those of a 5'6" 19 year-old who needs to drop 50.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Beautiful:</span> It's clear that Lakatos wants My Diva Diet to be sustainable for women of all ages and walks of life. She is encouraging and enthusiastic in every possible way, and her belief that all woman can lose the weight they don't want and live healthier lives is indeed inspiring. The "Society Guide" towards the end of the book is a wonderful section that focuses on the different lives that women lead, from housewives and single moms to teens and college girls. Lakatos outlines ways to eat healthy and make time for physical fitness that are reasonable for each individual lifestyle. And you can't beat her overall message - there's no fast, easy way to lose weight, but the right way is well worth it.</blockquote><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">MY RESPONSE:<br />Again the user-friendliness, the overall format, and cartoon aspects can be subjective, however, the caloric intake is not. And there are not many women that are consuming 2000 calories a day. Kudos to them if they are eating 2000 cals a day and are fit as ever. I certainly don't, but did when I was competing. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Here are just a few notes on the subject. </span><br /><br /><ol style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"><li>On page 33 of the book, I give "Caloric Intake Guide" very specifically to deal with different women and their existing eating habits. </li></ol><ul style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"><li>If you are 2,000 cals per day you may only need to drop to 1400 to 1600. </li><li>If you are eating under 1000 cals per day, may need to slowly build your daily caloric intake up.<br /></li><li>If you exercise regularly or you are an athlete, you many need more than 1300 cals per day; even if you are trying to lose fat. </li></ul><ol style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><li style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Stated throughout the book is that 1300 is just a baseline to get women in the "caloric ballpark" and that they can adjust daily caloric intake at any time in the program. </li><li style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">I also state in the book that is better to "clean up your calories before you reduce them."<br /></li><li style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Outlined on page 32 is a guide telling the readers that they can move on the Phase 2 at any time, which calls for higher calories of 1400 to 1600 per day and more if applicable. </li><li style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Furthermore, if when prescribing 1300 calories per day, it is RARE that people will follow that number EXACTLY. In reality, most will eat a few hundred calories more than that. This is due to inaccurate measuring or not measuring at all, as wells as eating a late night snack and not counting "cheat calories." <br /></li><li style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Pages 97 through 140 is an entire section on the longest of the Five Factors Affecting Body Fat and Health –– Factor #4 Quantity and Distribution of Calories –– again laying out daily caloric intake from 1200 up to 3000 with many details. This should calculated according to BMR, lean body mass, age, activity level, and weight management goals (page 99). While other things should be considered like medical conditions, pregnancy, and youth. Moreover, whether or not a women is interested in losing fat, gaining muscle, or maintaining their current condition, should be calculated into the equation. Also, if a women is coming off of a restricted or starvation diet plan is critical because if she went right to the high caloric range, she would blow up like a balloon. </li><li><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">In fact there is an entire chapter devoted to calories, "Calories: Friends or Foes?" found in PART SEVEN pages 285 to 292.</span><br /></li></ol><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Bottom line on daily caloric intake: Maybe they missed those parts, but there is more. </span><a style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.outblush.com/women/life/health-fitness/diet-road-test-my-diva-diet-week-3/">Week Three of the My Diva Diet Road Test</a><span style="font-weight: bold;">: </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Diet Road Test: My Diva Diet, Week 3</span><br /><blockquote style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">We're rounding the bend into the final week of following Christine Lakatos' My Diva Diet ($16), (check out our intro and first week observations), and it's been an interesting road. Here are our thoughts and observations from our second full week of this Diet Road Test.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Layout:</span> While the information given is mostly nutritionally sound, i.e. lean proteins, veggies, and whole grains, the book's layout remains the most frustrating aspect for us both. Most diet books are split into introduction, methodology, how-to-follow instructions, tips, recipes, and encouragement. This one is all over the map, and doesn't reference many actual nutritional guidelines until the "References" section at the end.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />WHY Should I Eat This Way?:</span> We would have preferred more scientific reasons for the guidelines presented, i.e. why it's important to drink water all day or to avoid gluten. The "Because Paw Said So" attitude gets a little... scold-y and preachy after awhile, as do the cartoons. With all the "eat this, not that!" advertisements and books out there, we want to know the scientific reasons WHY soda is bad, or why shellfish and pork are verboten.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Seven Ways? Where? How?</span> The cover, as we mentioned before, claims that there are seven ways to use this diet, but they're not clearly outlined. a strongly defined starting point and plans for each of the seven ways to use My Diva Diet (as you'd get with, say, the South Beach Diet introduction book) would be very helpful.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1200-1300 Calories A Day? Seriously?</span> Again, the lack of scientific evidence behind this diet rears its head here. The American Heart Association's bare minimum for a 19-30 year old woman with a sedentary lifestyle to maintain their current weight is 2000, and for a woman 31-50, it's 1800. If you're active, that number goes up. Of course, if you're trying to lose weight, cutting calories and increasing activity is the way to go, but not to such drastic levels. We both tried to stick to the 1200-1300 calorie limits, which she recommends for moderately active women, and were both starving, which lead to evening dessert binges.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">However, It's Not All Bad:</span> As we mentioned before, we appreciate the paws-itive (ha) attitude of the My Diva Diet, which is a refreshing change from the doom-n-gloom tone of many other diet & nutrition books. Lakatos and her team truly want women to be healthy and happy for life, and emphasize that this should be the last "diet" you'll ever need, simply because it isn't a fad diet, but rather a lifestyle. Still, we'd like more science and less cartoons.</blockquote><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Hmm. Again, I appreciate the candor, however, since I already addressed the daily caloric intake, I will say this, I doubt the American Heart Association knows how to get women down to 10% body fat. And did these girls lose any weight? They never said.<br /><br />Additionally, the book is over 400 pages long and full of scientific data and 20-pages of references. In fact, PART FOUR dissects each of the Five Factors and the 32-subcategories to educate the reader. PART SEVEN –– Valuable Information –– includes an entire section called "Nutrition 101" and on page 313, why pork and shell fish are not all that healthy or fit, are addressed.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">I could go on and on....</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Click here to <a href="http://www.mydivadiet.com/Products.htm">see Table of Contents</a>. </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAXKGV5AB3qHDOsLUcy3r8QMtVyyxoHtMD-ZgJxY8bPhZQ3TdgY-t1KwPAAtuzqXOdTiIEWQFCQjGV1m5xK4IG8cCGPoN-CaUqHtJ3C7Afn-g1P9CDV88kMEI8uv5HCCAU6YLM6GWwPwjl/s1600/9-22-08_%236.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAXKGV5AB3qHDOsLUcy3r8QMtVyyxoHtMD-ZgJxY8bPhZQ3TdgY-t1KwPAAtuzqXOdTiIEWQFCQjGV1m5xK4IG8cCGPoN-CaUqHtJ3C7Afn-g1P9CDV88kMEI8uv5HCCAU6YLM6GWwPwjl/s200/9-22-08_%236.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518302670415607874" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153); font-weight: bold;">Seven Ways to Use My Diva Diet </span></span>-- <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.MyDivaDiet.com"><span style="font-weight: bold;">www.MyDivaDiet.com</span></a> <ol style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153); font-weight: bold;"><li>Follow the entire fat loss program strictly for 6 weeks or more for a major transformation in body fat and health.</li><li>Follow the entire fat loss program semi-strictly for just a few weeks to lose weight and improve your health.</li><li>Follow 50 to 70% of the entire fat loss program for any time frame to make progress with your body fat and health.</li><li>Fix just one of the Five Factors Affecting Body Fat and Health to lose weight and improve your health.</li><li>Read the through the workbook portion to learn better ways of eating, effective exercise, and much more.</li><li>Use the workbook as a guide to teach your children healthy ways of eating so they won’t fall victim to the deception of the Diet Villains.</li><li>Use any portion of My Diva Diet's fat loss diet book as a tool to prevent obesity and poor health.</li></ol>At the end of the "Outblush Road Test," IT'S ALL GOOD and I'm grateful –– my thanks to Outblush! For now, signing off as <a href="http://www.mydivadiet.com/TheDietVillains.htm">Super Fit Diva</a> and PAW --<br /><blockquote style="font-style: italic;">"We are in a battle for our fitness and health, and in any battle we should know our enemies! Together we can stop the confusion and expose, attack, and defeat the Diet Villains. You can help Paw and I conquer these malicious villains in your life and the lives of others!"</blockquote><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/yMyyt6OP2KA?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/yMyyt6OP2KA?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="480"></embed></object>calfit32http://www.blogger.com/profile/00878040228371483663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1751493814075138647.post-91951116295881712782010-09-15T06:00:00.000-07:002010-09-15T06:24:00.338-07:00The Kosmix Community Weighs in on MY DIVA DIET!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMHTbU0NmZGGpnUFfsw03e1JFpLjUTqhy6asRiHf5Bmylr8XDS5fcwhMzG5rx5lGU9gfftfdXTEhpNQCmd1yq6ZuEQ0k469kZOq3bnYAf6-kkJalMefHbT3RLGAEyF5UWyDgpyWib-jGQq/s1600/23312_106095682453_4956_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 199px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMHTbU0NmZGGpnUFfsw03e1JFpLjUTqhy6asRiHf5Bmylr8XDS5fcwhMzG5rx5lGU9gfftfdXTEhpNQCmd1yq6ZuEQ0k469kZOq3bnYAf6-kkJalMefHbT3RLGAEyF5UWyDgpyWib-jGQq/s200/23312_106095682453_4956_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517127061304548658" border="0" /></a><br />Kosmix Community, <a href="http://www.kosmix.com/topic/my_diva_diet/Opinions-and-Discussions"><span style="font-style: italic;">My Diva Diet</span> Overview </a><br />Author: Michael<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">My Diva Diet: A Woman's Last Diet Book</span> is a weight-loss book authored by Christine Lakatos and Amber Garman. The book was released in 2008 by Publisher Services. Christine Lakatos has been in the fitness industry for over 29 years. She is a former Miss San Diego, Miss Fitness USA, and even a competitor in the American Gladiators television show.<br /><br />Although <span style="font-style: italic;">My Diva Diet</span> is written specifically for women of all ages, younger readers will probably enjoy the book the most. The book is filled with positive advice and<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">My Diva Diet: A Woman's Last Diet Book</span> is a weight-loss book authored by Christine Lakatos and Amber Garman. The book was released in 2008 by Publisher Services. Christine Lakatos has been in the fitness industry for over 29 years. She is a former Miss San Diego, Miss Fitness USA, and even a competitor in the American Gladiators television show.<br /><br />Although <span style="font-style: italic;">My Diva Diet</span> is written specifically for women of all ages, younger readers will probably enjoy the book the most. The book is filled with positive advice and entertaining activities. This is where the book shines: the authors know how to communicate their positive message of healthy nutrition to female readers.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">My Diva Diet</span> advocates fiber intake in every meal. Protein and carbohydrates should be the main nutrients in every meal, but the caloric intake should not be above 1300 per day. In addition to healthy foods (mostly fruits and dark green vegetables), <span style="font-style: italic;">My Diva Diet</span> recommends drinking plenty of water and herbal teas.<br /><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_t9XKmcN0rhuK4e-dthldZPm2oY94mkPsUbfPqJe5SMgd2dWm2iw2RYc1vhx7oX5tTvPzdvwvWlYK65BzoSrG7KS5A2dqO7YsDEIqzaa_R4Iq3kPRDjDeFncfzZcs1rjSR1nt0Y7cYQ31/s1600/BookCover_Thumb1_Trans-2.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 89px; height: 125px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_t9XKmcN0rhuK4e-dthldZPm2oY94mkPsUbfPqJe5SMgd2dWm2iw2RYc1vhx7oX5tTvPzdvwvWlYK65BzoSrG7KS5A2dqO7YsDEIqzaa_R4Iq3kPRDjDeFncfzZcs1rjSR1nt0Y7cYQ31/s200/BookCover_Thumb1_Trans-2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517127330433585122" border="0" /></a><br />For some women, 1300 calories per day may seem low, but that's only at the beginning. As women lose weight, they can increase their caloric intake up to 2000 calories per day in later phases of the program. There is a strong focus to reducing body fat for healthy living in <span style="font-style: italic;">My</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Diva Diet</span>. To this extent, the plan stresses the benefits of light cardiovascular activities during both phases of the program; as the well as the introduction of strength training in the second phase.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHmy_SVzS5nx-0FN7DX_xni0F1rnUDlCFVgch-kkCPWZyjlfc-y2t-UMzyBb9SRgRDfEq9Ms5pl-oaN4-nyUb5haR2D1fzPk5QiD6t_FORKia8WxSnY-9nqvTrytIcYOuJ9Az67Gz7dMV0/s1600/PawBox4.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 157px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHmy_SVzS5nx-0FN7DX_xni0F1rnUDlCFVgch-kkCPWZyjlfc-y2t-UMzyBb9SRgRDfEq9Ms5pl-oaN4-nyUb5haR2D1fzPk5QiD6t_FORKia8WxSnY-9nqvTrytIcYOuJ9Az67Gz7dMV0/s320/PawBox4.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517129940588477650" border="0" /></a>One small correction: exercise is recommended in BOTH phases of <span style="font-style: italic;">My Diva Diet</span>. It is <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://calfit32.blogspot.com/2009/10/exercise-factor-5-of-my-diva-diet.html">Factor #5</a>: The Six Components to an Effective Exercise Program: <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />MY DIVA DIET –– The only diet book to bring you "Fitness Superheroes" and "diet villains"! <a href="http://www.mydivadiet.com/">www.MyDivaDiet.com</a><br /><br /><object height="238" width="289"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/yMyyt6OP2KA?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/yMyyt6OP2KA?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" align="right" height="238" hspace="5" width="289"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><br />Thanks for taking notice Michael @ Kosmix Community<br />Check out <a href="http://www.kosmix.com/corp/about">Kosmix Company Profile</a> here.calfit32http://www.blogger.com/profile/00878040228371483663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1751493814075138647.post-59028418570049333862010-08-26T06:32:00.000-07:002010-08-26T06:56:23.461-07:00World of Diets Weighs in on My Diva Diet!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0cyUFqf5rZTTnmPQqEVMWKHcROw0e5PIfntMfKJhyphenhyphenrzC167aafKyTIlHDWxtbmS_HFxd9cryV6YxyYTenPcjRf00LfRrmNIrfTh_WWWi72JH_J81goiobW6lNiOe5oYFCImbPmPUwNZWI/s1600/world_of_diets_logo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 124px; height: 52px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0cyUFqf5rZTTnmPQqEVMWKHcROw0e5PIfntMfKJhyphenhyphenrzC167aafKyTIlHDWxtbmS_HFxd9cryV6YxyYTenPcjRf00LfRrmNIrfTh_WWWi72JH_J81goiobW6lNiOe5oYFCImbPmPUwNZWI/s400/world_of_diets_logo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509711246274903474" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">world of diets</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">A Diet Review Encyclopedia</span><br /><br /><br />The <span style="font-style: italic;">My Diva Diet</span> creates a lot of anticipation. A diet book written by a retired body builder with several prestigious titles including Ms Fitness San Diego 1993 is going to deliver a mighty punch! Has author Christine Lakatos lived up to her promise of delivering a ‘Woman’s Last Diet Book’? Read on to find out.<br /><br />Lakatos’ book builds on what she has learnt training female clients for fitness and weight loss. In the beginning of the book, she explains her simple philosophy for the diet program. According to her, women take their fitness and weight loss cues from the wrong people. This prevents them from attaining their weight loss goals. She illustrates using characters like ‘fitness superheroes’, ‘diet villains’ and so on. All along, the author provides effective ‘Diva quotes’ to drive home important principles and nutritional guidelines.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">According to Lakatos</span>, women must follow these guidelines to lose weight and become healthy:<br /><ol><li>Adequate liquid consumption</li><li>Appropriate quantity and distribution of calories</li><li>High quality of calories to be taken in</li><li>Balanced food intake</li><li>Exercise</li></ol>The diet is divided into 2 phases. The first phase is the reduction phase which lasts for 3-10 weeks. At this time, dieters must consume between 1,200 to 1,300 calories a day. 35% of these calories must be derived from protein, 45% from carbohydrates and 20% fat. Fiber must be had with every meal. Desserts are to be avoided.<br /><br />The second phase is the maintenance phase, where dieters are allowed to consume 1400-1600 calories daily. Of these, 20-35% may be from protein, 45-65% from carbs and 20-30% from fat.<br /><br />In both phases, women who are highly active may adjust their calories upwards.<br /><br />Dieters may take in 5 small meals a day. All processed foods must be avoided. Natural and organic foods are recommended. The author also stipulates that all food taken in must be kosher.<br /><br />The <span style="font-style: italic;">My Diva Diet</span> plan allows a cheat meal after the first 2 weeks of phase 1. A cheat sheet mentions acceptable foods and serving sizes. In the maintenance phase too, cheating is allowed once a week although dieters may cheat once or twice every month in addition to this.<br /><br />Not surprisingly, exercise is an important part of the diet plan. Recommended exercises include cardiovascular conditioning, strength training, balance training, corrective exercises and functional training.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.worldofdiets.com/my-diva-diet/"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">My Diva Diet</span>: A Review</span></a><br /><br />This diet plan is exclusively for women. It is based on a number of healthy principles and the author asks followers to alter their lifestyle so that they can become healthy and slim.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pros:</span><br /><ul><li>Healthy eating based on scientific principles</li><li>Not a quick-fix approach</li><li>Contains a maintenance phase</li><li>7 different ways are suggested to follow the program</li><li>Provides clear guidelines for portion control</li><li>Includes recipes and menu plans</li><li>Also throws light on the psychological factors of weight loss</li><li>Comes straight from the mouth of an expert</li></ul><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cons:</span><br /><ul><li>Diet plan is for women only.</li><li>Fairly restrictive</li><li>Recommends the intake of foods that are kosher so it may not appeal to non-Jewish readers.</li><li>Dieters may have difficulty eating out during Phase 1.</li></ul><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">In Conclusion</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">My Diva Diet</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> is an excellent diet plan that focuses on all the right things</span>. However, some parts of it may seem a little impractical, like eating organic foods. If dieters are willing to overlook these rather small issues, they can benefit from a great diet plan.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8MJZRgb0QbZJ3m2raK6iV3TljFK6vM-jtFFH7i1MYWqkOjl1uua94w7SyjutTf_0Z8cNSfmyT4kQjlbYUtXdrT-NMmCUvq_KYpHKgSY5tBLQC4sEUGmMXTJTriIQbsNvrHXBPNSoSr3uJ/s1600/Christine_Tread-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 118px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8MJZRgb0QbZJ3m2raK6iV3TljFK6vM-jtFFH7i1MYWqkOjl1uua94w7SyjutTf_0Z8cNSfmyT4kQjlbYUtXdrT-NMmCUvq_KYpHKgSY5tBLQC4sEUGmMXTJTriIQbsNvrHXBPNSoSr3uJ/s200/Christine_Tread-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509716466481370242" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">MY NOTES: </span><br /><blockquote>World of Diets does a great job of <a href="http://www.worldofdiets.com/my-diva-diet/">reviewing</a> my diet book and fits right in with our other <a href="http://www.mydivadiet.com/ExpertReviews.html">Expert Reviews</a>. Thanks to them and let me explain the "kosher" thing...<br /><br />I advocate "kosher meats" due to the fact that these animals are free of disease and are slaughtered more humanely –– thus it makes for a healthier food choice a<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ7BFIVIsl8MviGfViDLbTtNNeMOFAeAxT1gPKl_LMXFWLwAV2S7QuqQCSBvzhpB0r8g3eFaC9_XkQDLXm11VsJC1sTppFftGDUTyTJs2L3vaPsLysuGP5g4Jf9rXOPlsSykaSg1TM3Ygu/s1600/75%25.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 124px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ7BFIVIsl8MviGfViDLbTtNNeMOFAeAxT1gPKl_LMXFWLwAV2S7QuqQCSBvzhpB0r8g3eFaC9_XkQDLXm11VsJC1sTppFftGDUTyTJs2L3vaPsLysuGP5g4Jf9rXOPlsSykaSg1TM3Ygu/s200/75%25.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509716744845446818" border="0" /></a>nd a "fitter" <em>conscience</em>. Pork is not recommended due to it toxicity. And being selective with seafood is due to the fact that some pass pollutants to humans.<br /><br />For those of you who are not "hip" to the kosher part of my book, you may like the My Diva Diet: Compact Version, where I use the term "animal friendly." <a href="http://www.mydivadiet.com/Products.htm">www.MyDivaDiet.com</a><br /></blockquote>calfit32http://www.blogger.com/profile/00878040228371483663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1751493814075138647.post-40681816005687880822010-08-26T05:33:00.000-07:002010-08-26T06:18:52.944-07:00My Diva Diet: Another Rave Review by Diets in Review.com<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgampSKRygjI1Dvyeou6UMoOxmZeUowO6kH-Hhpm64kA656f62LP9t9b4Ahks9TVBg8l1j-b3K8Foj1ZiCa3SEPzKTr46t8giuOPS4KTjLWk7_Dx0IpGPFVY88Iyw8bwpHD7cRwT5v0VC-s/s1600/diets-in-review-logo.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 290px; height: 75px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgampSKRygjI1Dvyeou6UMoOxmZeUowO6kH-Hhpm64kA656f62LP9t9b4Ahks9TVBg8l1j-b3K8Foj1ZiCa3SEPzKTr46t8giuOPS4KTjLWk7_Dx0IpGPFVY88Iyw8bwpHD7cRwT5v0VC-s/s320/diets-in-review-logo.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509696669217979954" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >My Diva Diet</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >A women-only diet plan that leads to success.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" ><br />BACKGROUND</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >My Diva Diet</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> is a book that markets itself as a woman’s last diet book. The book is written by Christine Lakatos, a former professional bodybuilder, and Amber Garman.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >My Diva Diet</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> presents a fun and entertaining way by using animated “fitness superheroes” and “diet villains”. The fat loss diet book includes “Diva Quotes,” “Paw Guides” and “Special Superhero Designs” (e.g., food pyramids for fat reduction and maintenance) to add fun and clarity to your journey of a better body and healthier, happier life.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">It includes a diet quiz, worksheets, practical guides, special quotes tips and charts, as well as tasty, quick weight-loss meal plans and recipes, and much more.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">There are two different phases involved in </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >My Diva Diet</span><span style="font-family:arial;">. The first phase is Diva Reduction and is ten weeks long. The second phase is Diva Maintenance. This is the phase that you complete after you’ve reached your weight loss goals and are ready to transition into a healthy lifestyle.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >My Diva Diet</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> mission is to empower women so that they can get into great shape, to challenge them to be better women, and to ensure a legacy of good health for the next generation!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >PRO</span><br /></span><ul style="font-family:arial;"><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Eliminates restrictive and unbalanced dieting practices</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"> Includes workbook so you can track your results</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"> Factors in allowances for favorite foods</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"> Written by fitness experts</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"> Promotes a healthy rate of weight loss</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"> Presents a fun way of looking at weight loss</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"> Promotes a whole-foods diet</span></li></ul><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >CON</span><br /></span><ul style="font-family:arial;"><li><span style="font-size:100%;"> Doesn't offer any new or novel information on how to lose weight</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"> Target audience is limited to females</span></li></ul><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >DIET and NUTRITION</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >My Diva Diet</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> consists of two different diet phases.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The first phase is Diva Reduction and is ten weeks long. The important focus of phase one is portion control. Your calorie target in this phase is between 1,200 and 1,300 calories per day. The breakdown of those calories should include 35% protein, 45% carbs and 20% fat. Fiber is included in every meal and you eat four to five meals per day having one every three to four hours.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The daily calories are divided into four food groups and the book includes recipes to help with this. It is recommended that you drink water all day throughout the day and all kinds of tea and plain coffee are allowed. Milk is to be kept to a minimum and fresh fruit or vegetable juice and meal replacement drinks are watched closely and very carefully selected. Drinks like alcohol, soda, packaged juice and sugary drinks are not allowed during this phase.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">You can choose your own foods on phase one or use the recipes that are included. The foods you choose would just need to meet the criteria outlined in the book and listed above.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Phase two of the program is the Diva Maintenance phase. During this phase your daily caloric count is increased to 1,400 to 1,600 calories per day. You are still eating four to five times per day with meals being a little larger at this point. Your breakdown also offers more flexibility with 20-35% protein, 45-65% carbs and 20-30% fat. You get more leeway during phase two and you can also cheat a little more.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >EXERCISE</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Exercise is also a critical part of both phases of </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >My Diva Die</span><span style="font-family:arial;">t. Adding exercise to a diet program allows you to lose weight faster and you feel the benefits quickly.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">It is recommended that you add an efficient and effective exercise program to your eating plan. Some of the important factors to look for when choosing your exercises are makes sure it includes cardiovascular conditioning, strength and endurance training, flexibility training, core and balance training, functional training and corrective exercises.</span><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFPyQzsB71ehyphenhyphenAkzafzFlDuLBrJIR_jnlZ4UnMCM4XXfu4wh_uPz-3JJuJn3KpeLx80UGkN-jBr7WukQ5HJ41qGRWS5MRolbdTvIlDw_X4NbME8zS-cwNZyb3t9IzekhELpQsflH2DtJnN/s1600/LookInside.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 124px; height: 191px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFPyQzsB71ehyphenhyphenAkzafzFlDuLBrJIR_jnlZ4UnMCM4XXfu4wh_uPz-3JJuJn3KpeLx80UGkN-jBr7WukQ5HJ41qGRWS5MRolbdTvIlDw_X4NbME8zS-cwNZyb3t9IzekhELpQsflH2DtJnN/s320/LookInside.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509696502764503682" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >CONCLUSION</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">There are a ton of diets out there and many of them fall into the fad diet category. </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >My Diva Diet</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> actually gives women the steps and guidance they need to lose weight once and for all. The program is solid and doesn’t involve any questionable practices and you’re not encouraged to complete eliminate groups of food. You actually get to eat carbs and protein and fat on this diet.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >My Diva Diet</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> offers a sensible and fun way to lose weight.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >My Diva Diet</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> review by </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.dietsinreview.com/diets/my-diva-diet/#write_a_new_user_review">Diets in Review.com</a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"> Check out </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.dietsinreview.com/">more reviews and news</a><span style="font-family:arial;"> by Diets in Review.com</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">========================</span><br /></span> <blockquote style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0615240879/ref=nosim/theplanningsh-20"><span style="font-style: italic;">My Diva Diet: A Woman's Last Diet Book and Workbook</span></a><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/MY-DIVA-DIET-Nutrition-Practical/dp/1449585191/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1282826746&sr=1-2"><span style="font-style: italic;">My Diva Diet: Compact Version </span></a><br /><a href="http://www.mydivadiet.com/">www.MyDivaDiet.com</a><br /><br />To hear what others are saying, check out <a href="http://www.mydivadiet.com/ExpertReviews.html">My Diva Diet Expert Reviews</a><br /></span> </blockquote><div style="font-family: arial;" class="productDescriptionWrapper"><div class="emptyClear"> </div> </div> <h3 class="productDescriptionSource" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">About the Author</span></h3> <span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> Christine Lakatos, the creator of MY DIVA DIET, is an ACE Certified Fitness Trainer with over 29 years experience in the fitness industry. Christine has been an athlete since the young age of five and is a retired fitness and bodybuilding competitor including: Ms. Fitness San Diego 1993, Ms. Fitness USA finalist 1990, Ms. San Luis Obispo 1989, an American Gladiators contestant, and more. Now a woman in her late forties and the mother of two beautiful daughters, Christine strives to help women and young girls get fit-the safe, healthy, and lasting way! </span></span>calfit32http://www.blogger.com/profile/00878040228371483663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1751493814075138647.post-40599196252484159222010-06-26T07:54:00.000-07:002010-06-26T09:57:26.274-07:00What You Drink Impacts Your Diet, Part Six: Soda<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHEjVnh5sc0rv2MYAerC6yMS8ymvm6msWSStGz14xvSIjD4HD1Fhh-zZ6BzVkV3aDawJ6j6D6xMQREbu0y-G8Gw5Jqnm-cBHI0XVqZXqAaJv9rqLEGdzQClXskoSRoK2VsGIi6E5ZpzSFO/s1600/diet-sodas.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 174px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHEjVnh5sc0rv2MYAerC6yMS8ymvm6msWSStGz14xvSIjD4HD1Fhh-zZ6BzVkV3aDawJ6j6D6xMQREbu0y-G8Gw5Jqnm-cBHI0XVqZXqAaJv9rqLEGdzQClXskoSRoK2VsGIi6E5ZpzSFO/s200/diet-sodas.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487096698839681634" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Avoid weight gain, obesity, and certain health issues: eliminate or cut down on soda – regular and diet.</span><br /><br />At our <a href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/article/what-you-drink-impacts-your-diet3/">last stop</a> on this beverage expedition we took a rather long and disturbing detour, an inside look into the dairy industry –– the good, the bad, and the ugly. However, it was brought to my attention that I didn’t quite address whether or not <span style="font-style: italic;">drinking </span>milk is good or bad. The answer is, unless you are a baby or young child, in my opinion, milk is over-rated and should not be part of your daily liquid consumption in large quantities, especially if you consider the saturated fat and <a href="http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-lactose.htm">lactose</a> (a type of sugar) that is found in milk. Yet, using milk in your cereal, oatmeal, coffee, etc. in small amounts is fine, unless of course you are lactose-intolerant. Keep in mind there are also alternatives to dairy milk like soy, rice and almond milk.<br /><br />Today’s beverage stop is emotionally lighter, yet it could be heavier to your body. We will tackle one of the most popular liquid choices in America, soda –– a drink that does its fair share of damage to health and fitness. Drinking soda is one of America's biggest diet debacles and one that warrants a “diet villain” label –– both diet and regular. This is due to the fact that this is where your beverages get "real sticky" –– as in way too much sugar and artificial sweeteners, which are the main ingredients found in soda.<br /><br />Sugar and artificial sweeteners are relevant to number five, SODA, of the <a href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/article/weight-loss-what-you-drink-impacts1/">nine liquid categories </a>I've laid out to analyze and move you toward the "fit path" when it comes to your beverage choices. Although our journey has been quite pleasant (other than the "cow stop"), at this point you may need a little shove because sugar and artificial sweeteners are also pertinent to numbers six through eight –– other soft drinks, juices, and meal replacement drinks.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sugar and sugar derivatives:</span> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPJJCMCyOykj-0xiDuOJeszAUkmGtNrd4N7KjRj7dzUwJWlPkpWQBOgg-fleM_LF07JAXODz4xVHaUsDyoQMUVfqbi3Ij-gMOVwUM-R7GodN6WayQFeCCqTQd9Z7e7u-h2P8lhBgah6piP/s1600/Refined_Sugar.137163701.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPJJCMCyOykj-0xiDuOJeszAUkmGtNrd4N7KjRj7dzUwJWlPkpWQBOgg-fleM_LF07JAXODz4xVHaUsDyoQMUVfqbi3Ij-gMOVwUM-R7GodN6WayQFeCCqTQd9Z7e7u-h2P8lhBgah6piP/s200/Refined_Sugar.137163701.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487098090318983586" border="0" /></a><br />According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in a report by <a href="http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=56589">MedicineNet.com</a>, Americans consume "one hundred and fifty-six pounds of sugar each year on a per capita basis." Quite amazing! The reason is not just from adding "table sugar" to your food and drinks –– a common diet mistake –– but the fact that highly refined sugar is found in most packaged, processed, and man-made food items. And, it comes in many forms like; sucrose (table sugar), dextrose (corn sugar), high-fructose corn syrup, etc. Unfortunately, today sugar and sugar derivatives are not just found in cookies, candy and soda; it is <span style="font-style: italic;">everywhere</span> from your cereal, bread, crackers, dairy products, mayonnaise, peanut butter, ketchup, pasta sauce, to a plethora of frozen, canned foods, and so called "fat-free" products. The list is endless.<br /><br />Sugar has rightly drawn harsh criticism, and some nutrition experts are heralding "<a href="http://www.rheumatic.org/sugar.htm">dire consequences</a>" from suppressing the immune system to hyperactivity and hundreds of ways that it can ruin your health. While some of the "<a href="http://www.truestarhealth.com/members/archives.asp?content=14ml3p1a95">perils of sugar</a>" are true, others need more thorough evaluation. However, there is no disputing the fact that refined sugar is a source of empty calories (void of nutritional value), and consuming excessive amounts <a href="http://www.medicinenet.com/artificial_sweeteners/article.htm#role">has its cost</a>; it can <a href="http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2010/05/added-sugars-worsen-cholesterol-levels.html">worsen cholesterol levels</a>, can easily lead to weight gain, and is a factor in our <a href="http://www.webmd.com/cholesterol-management/obesity-health-risks">obesity</a> epidemic, which has plenty of its own health penalties.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Pn9Oqf6B-yTvi4GgLpLc8pys2DeiD_Yh08V7yibWZAQOPE9HmdArWBXJyp5UljP4YMNaWQD0RR9H-79z4CZyzOb0grHNwW1Wa3dEK_F6Wz1wwPRM6H1W7vPRoF62RiH8j5MER3ZLGlkp/s1600/sweeteners1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Pn9Oqf6B-yTvi4GgLpLc8pys2DeiD_Yh08V7yibWZAQOPE9HmdArWBXJyp5UljP4YMNaWQD0RR9H-79z4CZyzOb0grHNwW1Wa3dEK_F6Wz1wwPRM6H1W7vPRoF62RiH8j5MER3ZLGlkp/s200/sweeteners1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487098473603929106" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Artificial sweeteners:</span><br />To this day there is a great deal of controversy surrounding artificial sweeteners (Sweet'N Low, NutraSweet, Splenda, and others), and some nutritionists and fitness experts like <a href="http://products.mercola.com/sweet-deception/">Dr. Mercola</a> –– a very influential "health guru" and best-selling author –– deem them as "poison" when consumed in excess.<br /><br />Interestingly, <a href="http://www.medicinenet.com/artificial_sweeteners/page4.htm#nonnutritive">MedicineNet.com</a> states, "For every compelling positive argument in favor of using these sweeteners, there is an equally compelling negative argument opposing their use." Widely circulated reports have suggested that some sweeteners, such as aspartame and saccharin, carry serious health implications, including an increased risk of cancer. Yet, in 2008 the <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.org/news2008-mchi/4786.html">Mayo Clinic reported</a> that the "Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the American Dietetic Association, the National Cancer Institute, and others agree that no evidence supports these claims." However, they do warn that "that consuming foods with low-calorie sweeteners may result in an overall increase in calorie intake and weight gain."<br /><br />Keep in mind, some of these "fake" sugars have not been on the market long enough to confirm whether or not they are truly safe and at what levels. Despite any FDA approval, I am <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">very skeptical</span> and my advice is to error on the side of caution –– use artificial sweeteners rarely <span style="font-style: italic;">if</span> at all.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What else is found in soda and what are the possible damages?</span><br />If you've read one soda label, you've pretty much read them all. Coca-Cola (Classic) ingredients include carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup and/or sucrose, caramel color, phosphoric acid, natural flavors, and caffeine. On the other hand, Diet Coke contains carbonated water, caramel color, aspartame, phosphoric acid, potassium benzoate (to protect taste), natural flavors, citric acid, and caffeine. Other <a href="http://sci-toys.com/ingredients/soft_drinks.html">ingredients</a> found in soda are sodium citrate, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, ascorbic acid, and dyes like Red 40.<br /><br />In researching the dangers of soda, you will find <a href="http://www.emedexpert.com/tips/soft-drinks.shtml">an array of reasons <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">not</span> to drink it</a>, which include weight gain and obesity, diabetes, weakened bones and risk for osteoporosis, dental issues, kidney damage, increased blood pressure, contributor to heartburn, impaired digestion, dehydration, excessive caffeine intake, toxins from aspartame, and so on.<br /><br />In 2001, <a href="http://preventdisease.com/home/tips43.shtml">PreventDisease.com</a> took aim at four key "soda targets," in order to separate the fact from fiction, specifically in relation to our kids, who are guzzling soda at unprecedented rates.<br /><ol><li>Obesity: The report shows that "a team of Harvard researchers presented the first evidence linking soft drink consumption to childhood obesity." They found that "schoolchildren who drank soft drinks consumed almost 200 more calories per day than their counterparts who didn't down soft drinks." </li><li>Tooth decay: The report states, "numerous studies –– using children and adults –– have shown a direct link between tooth decay and soft drinks." They also noted "sugar isn't the only ingredient in soft drinks that causes tooth problems, "the acids in soda pop are also notorious for etching tooth enamel in ways that can lead to cavities." </li><li>Caffeine dependence: Apparently, "the stimulant properties and dependence potential of caffeine in soda are well documented, as are their effects on children."</li><li>Weakened bones and osteoporosis: PreventDisease.com notes that "rat studies point to clear and consistent bone loss with the use of cola beverages" and also shared a 1994 Harvard study, where "[14-year-old] girls who drank cola were about five times more likely to suffer bone fractures than girls who didn't consume soda pop." <a href="http://www.webmd.com/osteoporosis/features/soda-osteoporosis">Web MD confirms</a> the connection between soda and osteoporosis, citing research done by Tufts University. Researchers studied several thousand men and women, and found that women, who regularly drank three or more a day cola-based sodas, had almost 4% lower bone mineral density in the hip. According to the lead study author Katherine Tucker, PhD, "phosphoric acid, a major component in most sodas, may be to blame [for the lower bone mineral density)]." WebMD notes that, "phosphorus itself is an important bone mineral, but if you're getting a disproportionate amount of phosphorus compared to the amount of calcium you're getting, that could lead to bone loss." They also add, "another possible culprit is caffeine, which experts have long known can interfere with calcium absorption."</li></ol><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Is diet soda better than regular?</span><br />While you may save yourself around 200 calories a "pop," there are a multitude of drawbacks to consider when choosing diet soda over regular –– as presented in this article and by conducting your own investigation.<br /><br />Furthermore, <a href="http://www.cmbm.org/mind_body_medicine_ABOUT/faculty_bios/David_Ludwig_MD_PhD.php">David S. Ludwig, MD, PhD</a>, Harvard Professor, <a href="http://www.fooducate.com/blog/2010/01/03/three-reasons-to-rethink-that-diet-coke-youre-about-to-drink/">in his article</a> –– Artificially Sweetened Beverages Cause for Concern, which was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in December 2009, challenges the notion that artificial sweeteners are risk free and he makes three important points:<br /><ol><li>Our body gets confused by artificial sweeteners </li><li>We’re “Infantilizing” our taste sense </li><li>Long term effects unclear </li></ol>And, if you think that just because you drink "diet soda," you are immune from weight gain, think again. Surprisingly (not to those of us in the fitness industry), a 2005 study reported <a href="http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20050613/drink-more-diet-soda-gain-more-weight">by WebMD</a> declares, "people who drink diet soft drinks don't lose weight. In fact, they gain weight." Seemingly, diet soda may not be the <span style="font-style: italic;">direct cause</span> of weight gain and obesity, but it does give a false sense of "dieting" and a <span style="font-style: italic;">license</span> to splurge in other areas.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bottom line on soda: </span><br />What you drink <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">does</span> impact your diet –– positively and negatively, and the evidence is clear, drinking soda –– diet or regular –– is not good for your health or fitness level, especially if you are consuming <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/diet-soda/an01732">more than one a day</a> –– and warning for those "six-pack a day" people. But will having a soda from time to time "kill" you? I don't think so. How do I know this? Because one of my vices is Diet Coke and I'm still alive to write about it. That being said, as a 30-year veteran in the fitness industry and a retired fitness competitor, drinking soda –– diet or regular –– is not what I recommend on your "fit path," particularly if your goals involve weight loss and optimal health.<br /><br />If you abstain from soda altogether –– a wise choice –– there are other sugary drinks you may be consuming that deserve careful consideration. These include other soft drinks like Kool-aid and Crystal Light, sports drinks like Gatorade, and juice boxes, which will be our next STOP.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Article first published as <a href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/article/what-you-drink-impacts-your-diet4/">What You Drink Impacts Your Diet, Part Six: Soda </a> on Blogcritics. Author: Christine Lakatos — Published: Jun 26, 2010 at 6:46 am –– Part of <a href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/feature/fitness-flash/">Fitness Flash</a> on <span style="font-style: italic;">Blogcritics Magazine</span> Brought to you by Fitness Expert and author of <a href="http://www.mydivadiet.com/">MY DIVA DIET: A Woman's Last Diet Book</a> and the BLOG, <a href="http://calfit32.blogspot.com/">MY DIVA DIET: Fitness Flash</a> –– getting you OFF the "fat path" and onto the "FIT PATH". </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span>calfit32http://www.blogger.com/profile/00878040228371483663noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1751493814075138647.post-68127712709157911462010-06-14T05:28:00.000-07:002010-06-14T09:57:28.082-07:00BlogTalkRadio and Wess Murray of Essentially Fit<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4c3KXhLWPEnci9OZFlzbntevAi1-QGpzdpgJ32CEOSQ9Lb7bLxp7mFdQAV63ETzcHyqUN9wq7NsZFyXtXv_7ipqGbSUItHtgw6fnDZGwFwkAeSNhinznosN08iX-vBmHjCzcO7DizH7Po/s1600/27354_632528165_6598_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 154px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4c3KXhLWPEnci9OZFlzbntevAi1-QGpzdpgJ32CEOSQ9Lb7bLxp7mFdQAV63ETzcHyqUN9wq7NsZFyXtXv_7ipqGbSUItHtgw6fnDZGwFwkAeSNhinznosN08iX-vBmHjCzcO7DizH7Po/s200/27354_632528165_6598_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482605886294992466" border="0" /></a><br />This past weekend, –– <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/essentiallyfit/2010/06/13/christina-laka">Sunday, June 13, 2010</a> –– I had the privilege of being a guest on Wess Murray’s BlogTalkRadio Show, Essentially Fit.<br /><br /><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.adobe.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,0,0" name="86130" id="86130" height="105" width="210"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/btrplayer.swf?file=http://www.blogtalkradio.com%2Fessentiallyfit%2Fplay_list.xml&autostart=false&bufferlength=5&volume=80&corner=rounded&callback=http://www.blogtalkradio.com/flashplayercallback.aspx"> <param name="quality" value="high"> <param name="wmode" value="transparent"> <param name="menu" value="false"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/btrplayer.swf" flashvars="file=http://www.blogtalkradio.com%2fessentiallyfit%2fplay_list.xml&autostart=false&shuffle=false&callback=http://www.blogtalkradio.com/FlashPlayerCallback.aspx&width=210&height=105&volume=80&corner=rounded" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" quality="high" wmode="transparent" menu="false" name="86130" id="86130" allowscriptaccess="always" height="105" width="210"></embed></object><div style="font-size: 10px; text-align: center; width: 220px;">Listen to <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/">internet radio</a> with <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/essentiallyfit">Essentially Fit</a> on Blog Talk Radio</div><br /><br />Wess Murray is a personal trainer and wellness coach, whose guests include fitness professionals, wellness coaches, nutritionists and other health professionals to discuss all aspects of health and wellness. On his BlogTalkRadio show, Wess will also take your questions, and you might have the opportunity for live coaching right on the show!<br /><br />Wess –– "star host" on BlogTalkadio –– has interviewed many high-profile fitness gurus like JJ Virgin, Shawn Phillips, Tom Bilella, Belinda Benn, Sidney Wilson, and many more. He also highlights regular folks and their dramatic “wellness stories.”<br /><br />Last January, Wess interviewed my “friends in fitness,” <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/essentiallyfit/2010/01/10/eft-welcomes-the-nutrition-twins">The Nutrition Twins</a>! The Lakatos' approachable, common sense style has also earned them editorial success and tons of <a href="http://www.nutritiontwins.com/twins/index.cfm?fuseaction=media">media attention</a>. The Twins co-authored a revolutionary nutrition book, <span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://blogcritics.org/books/article/book-review-fire-up-your-metabolism/">Fire Up Your Metabolism</a>: 9 Proven Principles for Burning Fat and Losing Weight Forever</span>. Their second book, <span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://blogcritics.org/books/article/book-review-the-secret-to-skinny/">The Secret to Skinny</a>: How Salt Makes You Fat and the 4-Week Plan to Drop A Size & Get Healthier with Simple Low Sodium Swaps</span> was released in September of 2009.<br /><br />I have written about the Lakatos Twins many times and while we are not related, I have personally reviewed both of their books for <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://blogcritics.org/writers/christine-lakatos/">Blogcritics Magazine</a> [see links above] and Lyssie and Tammy were kind enough to be part of <a href="http://www.mydivadiet.com/ExpertReviews.html">MY DIVA DIET, Expert Reviews</a>.<br /><br />Wess, with a <a href="http://www.essentiallyfit.com/about.htm">wellness success story</a> of his own...<br /><blockquote>"I am not your stereotypical trainer. I was not a jock growing up, and I am not a trainer /actor /model. I moved into personal training from the Internet industry (graphic design). As a designer, I spent most of my days behind a computer - sometimes up to 18 hours a day. I eventually ballooned up to over 300lbs. I was overweight and unhappy with my life." Wess goes on, "Then, one day I made the DECISION to make a change in my life. I did the research, and went through a lot of trial and error. I tried just about every attempt that you could think of to lose weight. However, with experience and a lot of research, I discovered the right way to lose that unwanted fat and build precious muscle. Since then I've developed a passion for fitness and I now help other people make changes in their lives."<br /></blockquote><br />...is a certified personal trainer located in New York City. He has worked in the fitness industry for over four years. His specialty is in Natural and Functional Strength training. And Wess, who "knows what it's like to fight for better health," is on a mission to help others get started on the TRUE fitness path! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil5PSQBCLwUebloIhrRGW2KKj7JPDIzGnRKKa50SkeSbRlp5pqOevm-WZM5qpeeIzuxN6pYG4_WaNAogKWnaw4wricRGzsLRFpTXvIMNxjKrKYyNFn3CBUICC3AljE46AL7e8JYuuPPDCc/s1600/14561_185048989649_169044204649_2656725_3295823_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 114px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil5PSQBCLwUebloIhrRGW2KKj7JPDIzGnRKKa50SkeSbRlp5pqOevm-WZM5qpeeIzuxN6pYG4_WaNAogKWnaw4wricRGzsLRFpTXvIMNxjKrKYyNFn3CBUICC3AljE46AL7e8JYuuPPDCc/s200/14561_185048989649_169044204649_2656725_3295823_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482650274026317058" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I must say, Wess is looking fine as ever and he looks great in pink! Check out Wess on BlogTalkRadio, with some terrific shows as well as on his website, <a href="http://www.essentiallyfit.com/">EssentiallyFit.com</a>, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/essentiallyfit?ref=ts">Facebook</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/coachwess">Twitter</a>.<br /><br />Thanks, Wess, and keep up your great body and show! Big West Coast hug! Christinecalfit32http://www.blogger.com/profile/00878040228371483663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1751493814075138647.post-87905537025875893752010-06-10T06:07:00.000-07:002010-06-10T07:47:20.824-07:00What You Drink Impacts Your Diet, Part Five: Milk and the Dairy Industry<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMGMAG0CEvOPXB93SaFluBDGDf5dUEq4VJNONMi6Sa8Uk1uklQMKiLXoUKJjbkKNiUkAKbV52j89hR9akp-F7ukjBr8biBU-qnypD9zP7eXr9UrJq97esCYBO7lSwFFBGdH-MNmRl7G41Z/s1600/dairy-cows-pict-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 151px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMGMAG0CEvOPXB93SaFluBDGDf5dUEq4VJNONMi6Sa8Uk1uklQMKiLXoUKJjbkKNiUkAKbV52j89hR9akp-F7ukjBr8biBU-qnypD9zP7eXr9UrJq97esCYBO7lSwFFBGdH-MNmRl7G41Z/s200/dairy-cows-pict-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481140604115366690" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Our beverage expedition takes a rather disturbing detour, the abuses and future of our dairy cows and other livestock.</span><br /><br />Our last few stops on this beverage expedition have been quite pleasant: from <a href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/article/what-you-drink-impacts-your-diet/">water</a>, the "fountain of wellness," to the goats in Africa, exploring that <a href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/article/what-you-drink-impacts-your-diet1/">coffee</a>, in general is good, to the legend of the Emperor in China, who gave us <a href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/article/what-you-drink-impacts-your-diet2/">tea</a> and its countless health benefits. Now we take a look at a popular liquid choice, used to drink, in recipes, cereal and array of other ways –– milk. Dairy products also include yogurt, cheese, ice cream, butter, and so on. But does "milk do a body good"? More importantly, what about the dairy cows? Warning: this "stop and smell the pasture" detour is rather lengthy and disturbing.<br /><br />Considering I live on the Central Coast of California where cows graze and relax on ranches side by side with horses, only a quarter a mile away –– and all over our counties –– cows have become one of my favorite animals (my first is the Silverback gorilla) and that is one of the reasons I rarely eat beef. The other basis is that beef is high in <a href="http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=532">saturated fat</a> and there are much leaner types of meat to choose from.<br /><br />Ironically, as an animal lover and a fitness expert, I'm torn when it comes to consuming animal sources of protein altogether. <a href="http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/guide/benefits-protein">Protein</a> –– an important component of every cell in the body, is a "macronutrient" and along with carbohydrates and fats, is needed in relatively large amounts. Consuming protein daily is essential to a balanced diet and it can aid in <a href="http://www.webmd.com/diet/guide/high-protein-diet-weight-loss">weight loss</a>. Although you can get enough protein in your diet via plant sources like legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds, as well as small traces found in fruits and vegetables, you may end up "over-carbing" and missing out on the plusses <a href="http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/protein-full-story/index.html#introduction">that animal sources of protein</a> bring to the table, unless of course you are a well-educated and disciplined vegan.<br /><br />Despite the fact that poultry, beef, eggs, milk, and seafood were never meant to be consumed in excess, our society has turned something good that was intended for life and nutrition into something horrific –– transforming our food industry into a "gluttony and greed machine," at the expense of our innocent animals. It is a travesty that is obvious to those "brave" enough to confront the reality of the on-gong <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.meat.org/index-1.asp?c=gwwoba0610">barbaric and disgusting</a> treatment of our animals in the name of food supply.<br /><br />Unfortunately, dairy cows are not immune from the cruelty our food industry imposes on our <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh11iuwOPyYDLE558mv1HXzb4DqdGSHCDxR9i3or-Svz8ek6VcgQzbDqugjv6YsCiE7vwNHMuHyJX9atpnheKt0BowVxpX9F4wMABWEL825xRqAOpkPoItzyPxVRdVNzYgTBi31dmViom5F/s1600/dairycows.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh11iuwOPyYDLE558mv1HXzb4DqdGSHCDxR9i3or-Svz8ek6VcgQzbDqugjv6YsCiE7vwNHMuHyJX9atpnheKt0BowVxpX9F4wMABWEL825xRqAOpkPoItzyPxVRdVNzYgTBi31dmViom5F/s200/dairycows.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481140720530704642" border="0" /></a>animals. According to <a href="http://www.vegforlife.org/animals_how.htm">VegforLife.org</a> (and tons of other advocacy groups, each carrying their own agenda), dairy cows are…<br /><ul><li> Forced to produce ten times more milk than they would in nature, most dairy cows endure an exhausting existence of continuous breeding and milk production. As a result, dairy cows frequently suffer from painful udder infections, lameness and other ailments.</li><li> In the name of increased milk production and profit, many dairy cows are injected with Bovine Growth Hormone (BGH), a genetically engineered hormone known to cause birth defects in calves. The drug, which was approved by the FDA, was banned in Europe and Canada.</li><li> Although they can live for more than 20 years in a healthy environment, dairy cows are sent to slaughter when their milk production declines at four or five years of age.</li><li> And so on...</li></ul><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6wcG4jCFtmF5DPd1ByqjLQ-IiBaG9VDShM3Mf1HS696ZoirkcWT07jh-boSUQKgr8EB1sRUAn_fbte8sq0gw9xOtX0cphjFwkuGrC-omfWBCUGsJVoN6M_zALetnhtWPfp3BtxbWAgNXT/s1600/Photo_Front_Thumb.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 125px; height: 156px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6wcG4jCFtmF5DPd1ByqjLQ-IiBaG9VDShM3Mf1HS696ZoirkcWT07jh-boSUQKgr8EB1sRUAn_fbte8sq0gw9xOtX0cphjFwkuGrC-omfWBCUGsJVoN6M_zALetnhtWPfp3BtxbWAgNXT/s200/Photo_Front_Thumb.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481141302198631394" border="0" /></a>As an author of a <a href="http://www.mydivadiet.com/HowItWorks.htm">diet book</a>, I do recommend consuming protein from lean meats, egg whites, and certain seafood. And dairy products have their place in a healthy and fit diet <a href="http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/benefits-of-yogurt">especially yogurt</a> (sugar-free of course). However, I do advise choosing “free-range” and "organic" –– poultry, eggs, beef, and dairy products, because, for the most part, these animals have better odds of being treated humanely and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_range">free-range</a> livestock are allowed to roam freely and feed at will.<br /><br />Sadly, just like most industries, come the liars. Even though the USDA has regulations for those that label themselves “all-natural,” “free-range,” “free-roaming,” or “organic," there is <a href="http://www.peta.org/mc/factsheet_display.asp?ID=96">no guarantee</a> that animals were treated any better than animals raised in conventional factory farms. Moreover, most “free-range” animals are still mutilated and forced to endure long trips to slaughterhouses without any food or water. And according to <a href="http://www.dawnwatch.com/dairy.htm">DawnWatch.com</a>, "Organic dairy cows are not pumped with hormones to increase milk production. However the picture of them leading natural lives is a fallacy. And dairy cows from organic farms have the same fate as other diary cows –– they eventually become organic hamburgers."<br /><br />On the positive front, and even if you don't "buy into" the claim that <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/organic-food/nu00255">organic is better</a> for your health, eating fewer animal products is <a href="http://www.care2.com/greenliving/why-buy-organic-dairy-meat.html#">better for the environment</a> as are organic farms. Furthermore, thanks to animal advocacy groups and watchdogs, it is refreshing to know that there are strides toward making <span style="font-style: italic;">organic dairy</span> a first step to cruelty-free dairy products. Under the United States National Organic Program (NOP), "<a href="http://www.ota.com/Organic/Dairy_Production.html">standards</a> for organic dairy production are designed to promote good health and limit stress for farmed animals." Unlike conventional farms, organic dairy farms have stricter requirements on their livestock (cows and goats), which include feed, health care practices, and living conditions.<br /><br />Back in October of 2008, the USDA proposed changes to the standards that govern organic dairy farms –– those seeking the "organic certification" were required to give their cows "access to pasture." According to <a href="http://www.ncga.coop/node/3681">Kathie Arnold</a>, (NY State organic dairy farmer and President of the Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance (NODPA), a <a href="http://www.nationalorganiccoalition.org/">NOC</a> member), “[the] draft rule provides specific language needed for enforcement of one of the central tenets of organically produced livestock—that organic livestock spend a considerable part of their lives in their natural pasture habitat and receive a significant portion of their food from fresh, green, growing pasture.”<br /><br />Over the years, some large dairy companies have chosen to either interpret loosely or "willfully violate tenets of federal organic regulations" altogether. Seemingly, the Obama administration (Tom Vilsack, Secretary of the USDA) has "taken the bull by the horn," including the organic program. Back in December of 2009, one of the largest organic cattle producers in the U.S., Promiseland Livestock (a multimillion dollar operation out of Nebraska), was <a href="http://www.cornucopia.org/2009/12/giant-organic-livestock-operation-decertified-by-usda/">"decertified" by the USDA</a> –– suspended from organic commerce for four years for their improprieties.<br /><br />This past February, the <a href="http://www.cornucopia.org/2010/02/new-usda-rules-establish-strong-organic-standards-for-pasture-and-livestock/">USDA released</a> stronger organic USDA rules –– "regulations that establish distinct benchmarks requiring the grazing and pasturing of dairy cows and other livestock," which was delayed by the Bush administration and is expected to go into effect around June 16, 2010. According to Mark Kastel, Senior Farm Policy Analyst at the Wisconsin-based Cornucopia Institute (one of the industry's most aggressive watchdogs), “The public controversies concerning <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/13/business/13organic.html">Aurora Dairy</a> (a $100+ million company based in Colorado, who produces a private-label, store brand milk for Wal-Mart, Costco and large grocery chains), and alleged improprieties by the largest milk processor in the country, Dean Foods (Horizon Organic), put increasing pressure on the USDA to rein-in the scofflaws in this industry.”<br /><br />Many of <span style="font-style: italic;">us</span>, including the smaller organic dairy farmers, are eager to see that these stricter regulations will put an end to the abuses (some criminal in my opinion) that have flooded the organic market by a handful of mega-dairies –– specifically the treatment of livestock –– and restore fairness and integrity to the organic dairy sector. Cornucopia, who has criticized the Bush administration and his arm of the USDA, has their <span style="font-style: italic;">hope</span> that the Obama administration will be "swift" to enforce and penalize any abuses.<br /><br />While <span style="font-style: italic;">organic livestock</span> are getting well-deserved attention, regrettably, conventional livestock still remain at the "mercy" of our dreadful food industry and it's quite nauseating –– a topic worthy of outrage and action by all of us. And I haven't even covered the atrocities committed at the slaughterhouses. That said, I am left wondering if our organic dairy cows (and other livestock) have a brighter future? Only, time will tell.<br /><br />So at the end of the pasture, "does dairy do a body good?" Dairy products like yogurt, cottage cheese, and milk (low-fat choices of course) offer some health benefits, however, drinking tons of milk, in my opinion, is overrated –– even when you are looking for calcium, which can be <a href="http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/calcium-and-milk/index.html">found in non-dairy sources</a>. There are alternatives to dairy, like soy products, but if you are not ready to give up your dairy just yet, there is one thing you can do: choose a “dairy brand” with high standards. <a href="http://www.cornucopia.org/">The Cornucopia Institute</a> has developed a way to enable consumers to identify the best dairy brands. They offer a report, “<a href="http://www.cornucopia.org/dairy_brand_ratings/">Maintaining Integrity of Organic,</a>” and rate 68<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6zqtcop8-FjMbulquSSr8b3zVxB1E8C-AvJmmkCcp_Fx4KcqjrHptnpKM0YHfQ9XLUmdjX7y3rKlAya8Z6FfZbdcMZvzUNym6W0WrwznwmB9PNHk6-42_p-VzmNu_wR4TSlkYT6ZEcZWA/s1600/53bcd01dae.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6zqtcop8-FjMbulquSSr8b3zVxB1E8C-AvJmmkCcp_Fx4KcqjrHptnpKM0YHfQ9XLUmdjX7y3rKlAya8Z6FfZbdcMZvzUNym6W0WrwznwmB9PNHk6-42_p-VzmNu_wR4TSlkYT6ZEcZWA/s200/53bcd01dae.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481150220930218114" border="0" /></a> different organic dairy brands against a set of criteria central to true organic standards; "<a href="http://cornucopia.org/dairysurvey/index.html">Organic Dairy Report/Ratings Arranged by Cow Star Ratings</a>."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Side Note:</span> It looks like the one I've been using –– <a href="http://cornucopia.org/dairysurvey/FarmID_94.html">Organic Valley Family Farms</a>, (not a milk drinker but I use it in my coffee and oatmeal) got <span style="font-weight: bold;">"4 Cows" </span>from The Cornucopia Institute. <a href="http://www.organicvalley.coop/">www.OrganicValley.coop</a><br /><br />Our next stop in our beverage journey will be much lighter; we will tackle one of the most popular liquid choices in America –– the "diet villain" soda, a drink that does its fair share of damage to the health and wellness of our bodies and that of our children.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/article/what-you-drink-impacts-your-diet3/">What You Drink Impacts Your Diet, Part Five: Milk and the Dairy Industry</a><br />Article first published on Blogcritcs Magazine: Opinion in Sci/Tech — by Christine Lakatos — on Jun 09, 2010<br /><a href="http://calfit32.blogspot.com/">MY DIVA DIET: Fitness Flash</a></span>calfit32http://www.blogger.com/profile/00878040228371483663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1751493814075138647.post-14395043598778054102010-06-02T16:04:00.000-07:002010-06-02T16:34:22.039-07:00What You Drink Impacts Your Diet, Part Four: Tea<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs6WPO8IubUQ9nzBkt6TYY-JqQCY4kHsCJpp-472HwKToLEnWpIobpqDihz21DiVcweraM8dI-KBs9D2GfUgT1Jj1buvHo0_RF6sNjKveud_XaVQ-0w_9ETxZg4yY3-DAKz_zwBhyphenhyphen1okLv/s1600/teaplfin.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 184px; height: 245px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs6WPO8IubUQ9nzBkt6TYY-JqQCY4kHsCJpp-472HwKToLEnWpIobpqDihz21DiVcweraM8dI-KBs9D2GfUgT1Jj1buvHo0_RF6sNjKveud_XaVQ-0w_9ETxZg4yY3-DAKz_zwBhyphenhyphen1okLv/s320/teaplfin.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478317665256558466" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">From a 5000-year-old Chinese legend, to a popular worldwide beverage that offers countless health and wellness benefits.</span><br /><br />As we discovered at our <a href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/article/what-you-drink-impacts-your-diet1/">last stop</a> in this beverage journey, coffee has its origin in Africa and began with the "curiosity" of some goats and an Ethiopian goat herder. Tea's origin: China, over 5,000 years ago, with the emperor, Shen Nung. <a href="http://66.213.198.67/facts.htm">According to legend</a>, Shen Nung had required that "all drinking water be boiled as a hygienic precaution." Then one summer day while visiting a distant region of his realm, he and the court stopped to rest and the servants began to boil water for the court to drink. Apparently, dried leaves from a nearby bush fell into the boiling water, and a brown liquid was infused into the water. The Emperor drank the new liquid and found it refreshing.<br /><br />After water, tea is the most commonly consumed beverage in the world, offering many health benefits, medicinal purposes as well as aiding in weight loss. For the most part, tea can be placed into <a href="http://www.teavana.com/tea-info/types-of-tea">ten types</a>; White, Green, Oolong, Black, Herbal Teas, Rooibos Tea, Mate Tea, Blooming Teas, and Tea Blends. They each offer their own characteristics including a different taste, differing <a href="http://www.teavana.com/tea-info/health-benefits-of-tea">health benefits</a>, and varying levels of caffeine. Most tea –– Black, Green, White or Oolong –– comes from <a href="http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/s2009/bell_patr/">a plant called <span style="font-style: italic;">Camellia sinensis</span></a>, while <a href="http://www.learn-about-tea.com/herbal-tea-benefits.html">herbal teas</a> are not really teas, but herbal infusions, also known as <span style="font-style: italic;">tisane</span>, which are made with herbs consisting of dried leaves, flowers, bark, fruit, roots and/or seeds.<br /><br />Green tea seems to be the craze lately, with claims that it is a "miracle" weight-loss ingredient. According to an array of experts and studies, <a href="http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/health-benefits-of-green-tea?page=2">as noted by Web MD</a>, "green tea and its extract have been shown to fight obesity and lower LDL "bad" cholesterol." Due to epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) –– a type of <a href="http://greentealovers.com/greenteahealthcatechin.htm">catechin</a> (a powerful, water-soluble polyphenol and antioxidant that is easily oxidized) –– that is abundant in green tea; green tea has been <a href="http://www.greenweightlosstea.com/green-tea-weight-loss.html">found to</a> "stimulate the metabolism and accelerate weight loss." However, studies are limited and there are other variables to consider. Keep in mind; there is no "quick fix" –– potion, pill, or tea –– to permanent weight loss (more importantly, fat loss); it is the <span style="font-style: italic;">totality</span> of your diet coupled with exercise that matters most!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Six Tea Tips: </span><br /><ol><li> Do drink a tea daily –– it will help boost your water intake and it offers countless health and wellness benefits. And for those interesting in losing weight, certain teas will assist you in that effort. </li><li> Tea is a great beverage replacement for those of you who tend to consume a lot of soda and other sugary-type drinks. </li><li> Don't drink grocery store bottled teas that aren't 100% tea. These teas usually contain sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and other sugar derivatives, all of which add empty calories to your diet that can lead to weight gain. </li><li> Some coffee bistros offer a variety of tea choices –– just make sure they are plain teas –– no sugar, cream, artificial sweeteners, etc.</li><li> If you need to add "sweet" to your tea, try honey or <a href="http://www.allaboutagave.com/">agave nectar</a>. </li><li> If you need to add "creamy" to you tea, you're better off with low-fat dairy milk or soymilk. </li></ol>As we continue to navigate through this <a href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/article/weight-loss-what-you-drink-impacts1/">"beverage expedition"</a> –– designed to shed light on the fact that your liquid choices can dramatically impact your weight, health, wellness, energy, mood, and more –– I will persist to ensure that you get off the "fat and unhealthy" trail and onto the "fit path."<br /><br />Our next stop will be a trip to the dairy farms, visiting one of my favorite animals –– cows, and uncovering details –– pros and cons –– surrounding milk.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span><span>Originally published in Blogcritics –– Sci/Tech Part of <a href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/feature/fitness-flash/">Fitness Flash</a><br /><a href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/article/what-you-drink-impacts-your-diet2/">What You Drink Impacts Your Diet, Part Four: Tea</a><br />Author: Christine Lakatos — Published: Jun 02, 2010 at 3:34 pm<br /><a href="http://calfit32.blogspot.com/">MY DIVA DIET: Fitness Flash </a></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><blockquote><blockquote><span><span><br /></span></span></blockquote><span style="font-size:85%;"><blockquote></blockquote></span></blockquote>calfit32http://www.blogger.com/profile/00878040228371483663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1751493814075138647.post-26924731434756492452010-05-19T04:44:00.000-07:002010-05-19T06:53:49.101-07:00What You Drink Impacts Your Diet, Part Three: Coffee<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1FyTfTD1MZKT8sVubbTqvxedoLUlwXEtGoH5Fr1AwxK3Np0MXEAuGi8zSRjVegUuXmaU_Dyd61mcVWYj3paSdAdApTZSJW7EzWifK74hKNdSJMs2Os2d3ey_VvmJ1pXUga7TPNBOtGHsk/s1600/coffee-tree.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1FyTfTD1MZKT8sVubbTqvxedoLUlwXEtGoH5Fr1AwxK3Np0MXEAuGi8zSRjVegUuXmaU_Dyd61mcVWYj3paSdAdApTZSJW7EzWifK74hKNdSJMs2Os2d3ey_VvmJ1pXUga7TPNBOtGHsk/s200/coffee-tree.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472956645039829746" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Our “beverage expedition” takes you as far back as 800 A.D. and brings us up to 21st century coffee — Starbucks.</span><br /><br />As you probably know, coffee beans come from the coffee tree, which is actually a beautiful tropical evergreen shrub. What makes coffee so interesting, other than its popularity and scrutiny, is its origin.<br /><br />Coffee dates as far back as 800 A.D. in Africa and <a href="http://www.nationalgeographic.com/coffee/ax/frame.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">National Geographic</span></a> tells the "goat coffee" story. It all started with an Ethiopian goat herder named Kaldi, who “noticed his herd dancing from one coffee shrub to another, grazing on the <span style="font-style: italic;">cherry-red berries</span> containing the beans. He copped a few himself and was soon frolicking with his flock.” It turns out that a monk “witnessed Kaldi’s goatly gambol,” so the monk plucked berries for his brothers and that night they were “uncannily alert to divine inspiration.”<br /><br />History tells us that coffee as we know it today kicked off in Arabia, where roasted beans were first brewed around A.D. 1000. By the 13th century Muslims were drinking coffee religiously. Seemingly, "the bean broth drove dervishes into orbit, kept worshippers awake, and splashed over into secular life."<br /><br />For years, coffee has been under scrutiny, propelling much confusion. Is coffee good or bad for you? A featured article by <a href="http://men.webmd.com/features/coffee-new-health-food">WebMD</a> says that coffee could lower your risk of diabetes, Parkinson's disease, and colon cancer. There's also some evidence that coffee may help manage asthma, stop a headache, boost mood, and prevent cavities. <a href="http://www.newsmaxhealth.com/headline_health/coffee_drink_to_health/2010/05/05/315021.html?s=al&promo_code=9D92-1">Newsmax Health</a> adds a few more “diseases coffee can benefit,” like dementia, liver disease, heart disease, gout as well as prostate and breast cancers.<br /><br />While researchers believe it's the antioxidants (polyphenols or flavonoids) and possibly the hundreds of other compounds found in coffee that are responsible for coffee's health benefits, scientists are cautionary, adding the usual "more research is needed" line. Tomas DePaulis PhD, research scientist at Vanderbilt University's Institute for Coffee Studies, which conducts its own medical research and tracks coffee studies from around the world, summarizes it this way: "Overall, the research shows that coffee is far more healthful than it is harmful," and "for most people, very little bad comes from drinking it, but a lot of good."<br /><br />Good news for <span style="font-style: italic;">us</span> coffee lovers! So, when does coffee become <span style="font-style: italic;">bad</span>? When it is your only beverage choice of the day, you don’t drink enough <a href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/article/what-you-drink-impacts-your-diet/">water</a>, and/or consume excessive amounts of caffeine. While coffee does contain caffeine, it is not the only place you will find it –– caffeine is in tea, soda, <a href="http://www.energyfiend.com/the-caffeine-database">energy drinks</a> (an 8 oz. Red Bull has 80 milligrams of caffeine), <a href="http://www.energyfiend.com/caffeine-in-candy">candy</a> and other food items as well as <a href="http://www.energyfiend.com/caffeine-in-pills-tablets-and-capsules">medications</a> and so-called <a href="http://www.scientificblogging.com/erin039s_spin/real_deal_behind_diet_pills">diet pills</a>, which contain anywhere from 200 to 414 milligrams of caffeine.<br /><br />As I stated in the <a href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/article/weight-loss-what-you-drink-impacts1/">intro</a> of this "beverage expedition," coffee is not the problem so much as consuming too much caffeine. But don't throw the baby out with the bathwater –– in this case the coffee out with the liquid consumption. Check to see what other sources may be contributing to your overall caffeine use. And caffeine is not all bad either; it actually has <a href="http://www.positivelycoffee.org/topic_exercise_statement.aspx">positive effects</a> on physical performance, including sports and exercise routines.<br /><br />Now that I have your attention, <a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002445.htm">caffeine</a> –– a central nervous system stimulant and diuretic –– exists naturally in the leaves, seeds, and fruits of more than 60 plants, including tea leaves, kola nuts, coffee, and cocoa beans. It can also be produced synthetically and used as an additive in food products. While research on the health effects of caffeine is ongoing, we do know that excessive caffeine intake can lead to a fast heart rate, excessive urination, nausea, vomiting, restlessness, anxiety, depression, tremors, and difficulty sleeping.<br /><br />Another way many of you turn your "cup of java" from good to bad is when you add sugar and <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXgxx9Q4eoXaghWeS5clO8zPbOPV8yoNqDo7PQdyTQMP93YROPSqf5v07r9V4Fvmszt9Apk9Oxe5yD2RYKCFxpZcKq3_lfiSwLVHGsZGs_gA2XXD-PqyOhgFvCuI9L3K3Om64w6F_vdWde/s1600/just_a_cup_of_coffee____by_MorkOrk.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 177px; height: 177px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXgxx9Q4eoXaghWeS5clO8zPbOPV8yoNqDo7PQdyTQMP93YROPSqf5v07r9V4Fvmszt9Apk9Oxe5yD2RYKCFxpZcKq3_lfiSwLVHGsZGs_gA2XXD-PqyOhgFvCuI9L3K3Om64w6F_vdWde/s200/just_a_cup_of_coffee____by_MorkOrk.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472956515074453586" border="0" /></a>cream or buy pre-made coffee drinks, which adds extra calories and fat to your diet and eventually unwanted weight to your body. The big tip here: before you take that trip to your local Starbucks or coffee shop and order everything on the beverage menu, take a look at the caloric content. That grande caffé mocha has 330 calories, 33 grams of sugar, a whopping 15 grams of fat, and 175 mg caffeine, while the same size <a href="http://www.starbucks.com/menu/drinks/espresso/caffe-latte?foodZone=9999">low-fat caffé latte</a> has 190 calories, 17 grams of sugar, 7 grams of fat, and 150 mg caffeine. On the other hand, a 16-oz plain cup of coffee has 5 calories, zero sugar, zero fat, and 330 mg of caffeine.<br /><br />For those of you who are not among the 54 percent of Americans who drink coffee –– not “your cup of tea” –– our next beverage stop is TEA, one of the most commonly consumed beverages in the world, offering many health and fitness benefits! Maybe we'll see some more goats –– they are so cute –– or off to another amazing part of the world grasping a tiny glimpse of another intriguing culture. China?<br /><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/article/what-you-drink-impacts-your-diet1/page-2/">What You Drink Impacts Your Diet, Part Three: Coffee</a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Author: Christine Lakatos — Published on Blogcritics, May 18, 2010 at 7:34 pm</span>calfit32http://www.blogger.com/profile/00878040228371483663noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1751493814075138647.post-67543415559822749582010-05-17T07:58:00.000-07:002010-05-17T08:27:29.295-07:00The Flex Belt Nutrition Center Reviews MY DIVA DIET<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRk0ai1lB6ueSJk2v69eSMzcUGj9qgNDb6Jg-BqBNaWgRudtl6w5BYlWp_0OBGthXaOaGHE0X468sQy8iRnzu1-xxdeTKI9SBPTydfdhg842qM3RQlgGXlCJmx6wh1k_V012MZ9s6vHsQN/s1600/nut_framework_01.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 59px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRk0ai1lB6ueSJk2v69eSMzcUGj9qgNDb6Jg-BqBNaWgRudtl6w5BYlWp_0OBGthXaOaGHE0X468sQy8iRnzu1-xxdeTKI9SBPTydfdhg842qM3RQlgGXlCJmx6wh1k_V012MZ9s6vHsQN/s400/nut_framework_01.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472255024235598866" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />The Flex Belt Nutrition Center: Our resources to help you achieve your fitness and weight-loss goals. <a href="http://www.theflexbelt.com/nutrition/m/MyDivaDiet.html#TOPUCOMMENT">Review</a> of <span style="font-style: italic;">MY DIVA DIET: A Woman's Last Diet Book </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Review Summary</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">My Diva Diet</span> is self hailed as a woman’s last diet book. The reason is that it is written and designed by a woman to address the specific needs of the seemingly lifelong weight challenge women face. The book explains that in America, at least, there is an epidemic with lack of self confidence relating to image and weight. A small percentage of women are reportedly unlocking the key inside them that allows them to break through perceived inadequacies, gaining mastery over their fears. Once this is accomplished, life health and fitness can become a priority, according to the author. Eating right, exercise and mental clarity all reportedly contribute significantly to how women can finally be free, lose weight and change their lives forever.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ingredients</span><br />First of all, <span style="font-style: italic;">My Diva Diet</span> is not billed as a diet at all, nor is it designed to be any kind of quick fix. It is written to address numerous reasons why women are overweight and to provide guided remedies that work to change expectations and behaviors. These are skills needed to successfully alter your life and future, ensuring weight loss and equipping you with confidence moving forward. The book includes an interactive workbook section, as well nutrition and meal planning tools. <span style="font-style: italic;">My Diva Diet</span> allows you to evaluate your weight and lean body mass in order to determine percentage of body fat. After this step, the book guides you along the healthy scheduled fat loss, as the book calls it. Total weight loss can range from 10 to 50 pounds with the plan, according to the author. Monitoring calories and other meal components on a daily basis, along with regular exercise, are vital parts of the program. Finally, <span style="font-style: italic;">My Diva Diet</span> is structured in two phases: the first phase of Diva Reduction (losing weight) and the second of Diva Maintenance.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Website</span><br />Online reviews of <span style="font-style: italic;">My Diva Diet</span> often mention that the website is fun and functional. Animation introduces the program and the cartoon Diva Host. A number of detail tabs explain different elements of the plan, products available and key players in the company.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Price</span><br />At the time of this review, <span style="font-style: italic;">My Diva Diet</span> is available in a number of online and retail stores for about $10.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Final Facts</span><br />According to many reports on <span style="font-style: italic;">My Diva Diet</span>, the book is specific about what is necessary to change your lifestyle for good. The best remedy for losing weight and achieving long term success is said to be learning new ways to eat and exercise. As many experts state, there are just no easy fixes to lasting weight reduction. This book and program take this into account and work to provide sound and reliable solutions to weight issues.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMRJAFfotut85Kzh1xQSlFQKdW3Ck31HhGgmAUICepYhejZApxDNJFRJD0OdODPY_7CQa8UoSAzweDK9zk29tkue9LXypgZs2Ki2j1kvwgvVSRrF8zG4rK-zUfHJnJ4-iF6zuo27Is0vc6/s1600/ThumbnailImage.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 140px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMRJAFfotut85Kzh1xQSlFQKdW3Ck31HhGgmAUICepYhejZApxDNJFRJD0OdODPY_7CQa8UoSAzweDK9zk29tkue9LXypgZs2Ki2j1kvwgvVSRrF8zG4rK-zUfHJnJ4-iF6zuo27Is0vc6/s200/ThumbnailImage.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472257153249035106" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQK4PzlohLjQkTIgwxi-1wirQwJ_uuSZtZ3Ujeg35Wvjo76ad5ctu9Tm_fp4DR3anuUh2vMoaQWK-0XPwhGY4jwWEHW-gT3zkWR4WViVKGsTgQLmi5rWVXtVTFhadVJaZjzHnJv8o6ZUlV/s1600/BookCover_Thumb1_Trans-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 143px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQK4PzlohLjQkTIgwxi-1wirQwJ_uuSZtZ3Ujeg35Wvjo76ad5ctu9Tm_fp4DR3anuUh2vMoaQWK-0XPwhGY4jwWEHW-gT3zkWR4WViVKGsTgQLmi5rWVXtVTFhadVJaZjzHnJv8o6ZUlV/s200/BookCover_Thumb1_Trans-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472257149982232114" border="0" /></a><br />Wow, my thanks to those at The Flex Belt! <br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">My Diva Diet </span>comes in two ways:<br />The 426-page <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0615240879/ref=nosim/theplanningsh-20"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Workbook Format </span></a><br />And the 236-page <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.amazon.com/MY-DIVA-DIET-Nutrition-Practical/dp/1449585191/ref=pd_sim_b_4">Compact Version </a><br /><br />For more details check out our website @ <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.mydivadiet.com/">www.MyDivaDiet.com </a><br /><br />Exercise book coming soon...calfit32http://www.blogger.com/profile/00878040228371483663noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1751493814075138647.post-31299540448238387782010-05-04T00:39:00.000-07:002010-05-04T07:22:48.035-07:00What You Drink Impacts Your Diet, Part Two: Water<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyZ3VMIA1WnOXn4OcDgaxIXJ8ZHGVKVijK_PRJUxUog8dAMnG3uyGhZvIbNExFaKXa0npzF3YnctmdV-nOXUDavobFj8d93v3MQf2I_W4JGc5V5l_jyuHrphFO8NlvJmBxcjulyj_HYk4B/s1600/natural-beauty-rana-adamchick.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyZ3VMIA1WnOXn4OcDgaxIXJ8ZHGVKVijK_PRJUxUog8dAMnG3uyGhZvIbNExFaKXa0npzF3YnctmdV-nOXUDavobFj8d93v3MQf2I_W4JGc5V5l_jyuHrphFO8NlvJmBxcjulyj_HYk4B/s200/natural-beauty-rana-adamchick.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467407133612461970" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Water, the "fountain of wellness," is our first STOP on this "beverage expedition!”</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitWsQcMP40L_VUCTMnzy9duzpsJOVvQLdDazd_hqp1QHa_iBnFzZ6KD11k3c3jEE-lSAafDVunUC_gF9PobRbII7A6S6-3QAuzekx-mned5TnDl8ESB30P3E8dCWR958wE-8aHRE8i9zx7/s1600/Fitness+Flash.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 48px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitWsQcMP40L_VUCTMnzy9duzpsJOVvQLdDazd_hqp1QHa_iBnFzZ6KD11k3c3jEE-lSAafDVunUC_gF9PobRbII7A6S6-3QAuzekx-mned5TnDl8ESB30P3E8dCWR958wE-8aHRE8i9zx7/s200/Fitness+Flash.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467406686318910306" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Are you thirsty?</span><br />If you’re thirsty, you’re probably already dehydrated. Thirst cannot always be relied on as the best indicator of water requirements. While most people won’t experience severe dehydration, which requires medical attention, many of you may be running on empty. Mild dehydration <a href="http://www.shapefit.com/water-benefits.html">signs and symptoms</a> include excessive thirst, fatigue, headache, dry mouth, muscle weakness, dizziness, lightheadedness as well as little or no urination.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What color is your urine?</span><br />One of the ways you can tell whether or not you are dehydrated is to monitor the frequency and take a "peek" at the color of your urine. In fact, changes in urine –– its color, odor, and consistency –– can provide important clues about the health status of your body. <a href="http://www.webmd.com/urinary-incontinence-oab/features/the-truth-about-urine">Web MD states</a>, "urine color normally varies from pale yellow to deep amber, depending on its concentration." Reduced urine output with a dark yellow color could mean you are dehydrated. Not the "bright neon yellow" color you'll see if you take supplements and observe your body excreting excess <a href="http://www.vitamins-nutrition.org/vitamins/water-soluble-vitamins.html">water-soluble vitamins</a> (the Vitamin B family in particular).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Health and Water</span><br />Water, the "fountain of life and wellness," is our first STOP on this "beverage expedition,” –– covering nine liquid categories –– and should be your <span style="font-style: italic;">number one</span> liquid choice each day, all day. As I mentioned in <a href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/article/weight-loss-what-you-drink-impacts1/">Part One</a>, water is your body's principal chemical component and makes up about 60 percent of your body weight. Water is critical to good health and according to the <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/medical/IM00594">Mayo Clinic</a>, "nearly all of your major systems in your body depend on water." Water...<br /><ul><li>Regulates body temperature</li><li>Moistens tissues</li><li>Lubricates joints</li><li>Protects body organs and tissues</li><li>Lessens the burden on the kidneys and liver by flushing out waste products </li><li>Helps prevent constipation</li><li>Helps dissolve minerals and other nutrients </li><li>Carries nutrients and oxygen to cells</li></ul><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Water Retention and Weight Gain </span><br />Water retention, aka <a href="http://www.nativeremedies.com/ailment/water-retention-causes.html">edema</a>, can be the result of high salt intake, medications, hormones, serious medical conditions, and more. Most of the time, lack of water intake, <a href="http://www.merck.com/pubs/mmanual_ha/sec3/ch18/ch18d.html">electrolyte imbalances</a> (sodium, potassium, calcium), or an increase in glycogen storage are the culprits and the reason you may feel and look bloated.<br /><br />You may be aware that there is a huge difference between weight loss and fat loss, and understanding how water retention plays into the overall picture is important, especially for those of you who are monitoring how much you weigh. In a given day as well as day to day, your weight can fluctuate anywhere between two and five-plus pounds. Don't despair; it may just be water weight. Fat pounds –– losing and gaining –– take <span style="font-style: italic;">much longer</span> than a day or two.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Low-Carb Weight Loss Deception</span><br />For those of you who have attempted a low- or no- carb diet plan, you'll initially lose weight all right, however, it wont be fat. This is due to the fact that carbs that are not used for immediate energy are <a href="http://www.weightlossforall.com/energy-stores-lose-weight.htm">stored</a> in the body in the form of glycogen (for later energy), mainly in the muscles and to a smaller degree in the liver. So, the weight loss is basically fluid lost through reduced glycogen stores. This is very deceptive and the reason why dieters lose so much weight within the first few days of a low carb diet –– only to regain the weight after this type of diet is discontinued, the fluid is simply replaced as glycogen stores are replenished.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Seven Ways Water Can Help You Lose Weight and, More Importantly, FAT</span><br /><ol><li>Water <a href="http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/water-for-weight-loss-diet">boosts</a> your metabolism –– when you are dehydrated, your body does not operate at its full potential and that includes your metabolism.</li><li>Water, coupled with other <a href="http://www.nwhealth.edu/healthyU/stayHealthy/digest2.html">positive dietary habits</a>, improves digestion even when <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/digestion/an01776">consumed</a> during and after a meal. Digestion –– a <a href="http://www.revolutionhealth.com/conditions/digestive/digestive-health/health-basics/secret">topic</a> worthy of an entire article –– plays a key role in energy, immunity, and overall health. <a href="http://dietmotion.com/poor-digestion-can-make-you-fat.html">Poor digestion</a> can trigger a variety of annoying digestive problems like heartburn, indigestion, constipation, gas and bloating. In addition, if left unchecked, poor digestion can lead to plenty of debilitating, chronic conditions –– to name a few, fatigue, insomnia, and difficulty losing weight.</li><li>Many of you are retaining water due to lack of water intake. This is because of the body’s natural protective mechanism that will <a href="http://www.wisegeek.com/how-can-i-stop-water-retention.htm">conserve water</a> to keep you hydrated. By drinking enough water each day, you can avoid the bloat and improve your odds at a more consistent body weight.</li><li>Mistaking thirst for hunger is a common diet pitfall; knowing this may prompt you to think twice before you choose food over H2O.</li><li>Drinking water all day will keep you satisfied physically and emotionally. This means that you might eat less, and thus weigh less, more importantly; long-term fat loss could be the outcome. Throw in a <a href="http://www.mydivadiet.com/">proper diet</a> and regular exercise, and “could” will transform into “most definitely.”</li><li>Drinking water could mean less consumption of unhealthy liquids like soda and an array of others, which can add unwanted fat pounds to your body.</li><li>Water will keep your energy and mood levels up, so that you can function at your full potential and even exercise, which as you know, is one of the "master keys" if you are seeking fat loss.</li></ol><span style="font-weight: bold;">How much water should you drink each day?</span><br />For years, experts have been telling you to "drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water each day"; however, as noted by the <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/water/NU00283">Mayo Clinic</a>, "[this] approach really isn't supported by scientific evidence," although it is a good baseline. In reality, it is not a "one size fits all" formula and there are factors to consider when it comes to your water consumption –– age, gender, lean body mass, exercise, sweating, and environment. Plus, pregnant women and nursing moms need <a href="http://www.keidel.com/resource/wellness/h20.htm">additional fluids</a>. If you have a particular illness, are taking medications, diet pills, are on a low-carb diet, smoking, or consuming a lot of caffeine and alcohol, more water is recommended.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What if you don't like water?</span><br />Believe or not, over the years, I have had clients and friends tell me that they don't like water. What? Well, water is not the only place to get your fluids; you can count other liquids and even a diet rich in fruits and vegetables (due to their <a href="http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/924989/water_content_of_fruits_and_veggies.html?cat=51">water content</a>). Don’t get too excited because without drinking H2O, there is <span style="font-style: italic;">no way</span> that you will get all the requirements needed and experience the awesome benefits water has to offer, including <a href="http://www.healthguidance.org/entry/4299/1/The-Importance-of-Water-for-Your-Skin-and-Health.html">youthful skin</a>. This brings me to the new trend of "<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/vitamin-water/AN01734">vitamin waters</a>," that can be a decent liquid option, even those containing extra calories, sugar and additives. If you need the flavor, a much better approach would be to add some <a href="http://www.lifemojo.com/lifestyle/top-10-health-benefits-of-lemon-water-1422542">lemon to your water</a>, an inexpensive way to significantly enhance your die<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3MURi-WGWxCvRIBenRz7xmgip0dk8uyj0dypLcUAwm7ppLw11A5hKDHJS6JiZoS7jUzLyh5lAExp1iD52p3yQzCcuALI0-qKVL86Ov4MkI0OkRPpwB9TJ8ndQIoEWpMsHV4hD76Cmjvwi/s1600/31UILy+5c8L._SL500_SS100_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 100px; height: 100px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3MURi-WGWxCvRIBenRz7xmgip0dk8uyj0dypLcUAwm7ppLw11A5hKDHJS6JiZoS7jUzLyh5lAExp1iD52p3yQzCcuALI0-qKVL86Ov4MkI0OkRPpwB9TJ8ndQIoEWpMsHV4hD76Cmjvwi/s200/31UILy+5c8L._SL500_SS100_.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467403299176614754" border="0" /></a>t.<br /><br />So then, drink up and pack up your H2O to go (in a "<a href="http://www.kleankanteen.com/">green</a>" water bottle); this is a long "beverage expedition," taking you on the fit path toward better health and wellness. And if you need a jolt, our next STOP is coffee.<br /><br />Sci/Tech Blogcritics / <a href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/feature/fitness-flash/">Fitness Flash</a><br /><a href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/article/what-you-drink-impacts-your-diet/">What You Drink Impacts Your Diet, Part Two: Water</a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Author: Christine Lakatos — Published: May 03, 2010 at 8:46 pm</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">MY DIVA DIET </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://calfit32.blogspot.com/">"Tools For Success"</a>calfit32http://www.blogger.com/profile/00878040228371483663noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1751493814075138647.post-68690581855350417822010-04-21T07:03:00.000-07:002010-04-21T08:47:18.729-07:00Weight Loss vs. Weight Gain: What You Drink Impacts Your Diet, Part One<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjTmyc39sW-3uFAHfxCYeRpsHmQ-AgVoLW8Q6N4lIINChADonY4y6aAuSkYIevyNAZtv93I5sIhyphenhyphengCYoiHtTo4X01ORXsQ7znzIHFiK2JTmfHdUCaDZQLN3EtKCI35x7f1GLPubmL2spdh/s1600/WrongWaySign.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjTmyc39sW-3uFAHfxCYeRpsHmQ-AgVoLW8Q6N4lIINChADonY4y6aAuSkYIevyNAZtv93I5sIhyphenhyphengCYoiHtTo4X01ORXsQ7znzIHFiK2JTmfHdUCaDZQLN3EtKCI35x7f1GLPubmL2spdh/s200/WrongWaySign.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462593195675774018" border="0" /></a> by Christine Lakatos — <span style="font-weight: bold;">This ten-part series, a "beverage expedition" of sorts, will uncover how liquid consumption affects your weight, health and wellness, for better or worse.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu8i5arBHuXG5AV_9r8wK7IscnE9SgewrDh_RLjuToGixUayEML_xiKDH1ofbltUQlYGue-DpwFNMD7h38TWEW5iR1sfEzL5XOKG_hjdDcDerfHQ66EKhX55h_uVkox1Xcr7ylJG4Nsbk9/s1600/Fitness+Flash.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 48px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu8i5arBHuXG5AV_9r8wK7IscnE9SgewrDh_RLjuToGixUayEML_xiKDH1ofbltUQlYGue-DpwFNMD7h38TWEW5iR1sfEzL5XOKG_hjdDcDerfHQ66EKhX55h_uVkox1Xcr7ylJG4Nsbk9/s200/Fitness+Flash.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462593431622617890" border="0" /></a><br />Your liquid choices can dramatically impact your weight, health, wellness, energy, mood, and more. Unfortunately, what you are drinking can also <a href="http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/avoid-weight-gain-watch-what-you-drink">make you fat</a>! As I take you down this “beverage expedition,” I will briefly focus on nine liquid categories –– water, coffee, tea, milk, soda, other soft drinks, juice, meal replacement drinks, and alcohol. Each category deserves an entire article, but for the purpose of brevity, I will give you the <span style="font-weight: bold;">aerial view</span>.<br /><br />What you will discover during this beverage expedition is that when it comes to liquid consumption, many of you are going the "wrong way" or taking too many detours from a healthy and fit trail. Later in this ten-part series, I will “zoom in” on each category with more specific information and tips on how to make good liquid choices, guiding you off the “fat path" and onto the “fit path.”<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">#1. Water</span><br />Let's start this beverage outing with the most valuable (and neglected) liquid of all –– <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/water/nu00283">water</a>, which as you know, is essential to life. Water is your body's principal chemical component and makes up about 60 percent of your body weight. While water is critical to overall health, and drinking plenty each day stands alone as the best thing you can do for your body, it also plays a significant role in weight loss. The first thing to consider is that you may be retaining water because you don’t drink enough water. Bloated, yuck. You may also mistake thirst for hunger, so instead of swiggin’ down some H2O, you eat. Not good. Water will also help satisfy your desire to "feel full" so that you will eat less. Good. Lastly, if you are well hydrated you will reap the rewards of health, vitality, energy and so much more.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">#2. Coffee and other caffeinated drinks</span><br /><a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/coffee-and-health/AN01354">Coffee</a> itself is not the problem so much as is consuming too much caffeine, which is everywhere –– tea, soda, energy drinks, chocolate, candy, medications, and diet pills. Coffee can give you a boost when starting your day and prior to a workout, however, if you are adding cream and sugar, it will give your caloric intake a boost too, which is not good when you are watching your calories. This is especially true when it comes to that <a href="http://www.starbucks.com/menu/drinks/espresso/caffe-mocha?foodZone=9999">Grande Caffè Mocha</a> you may be addicted to (330 calories with 43 grams of carbs; 33 are sugar, and a whopping 15 grams of fat).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">#3. Tea</span><br />Next on the liquid list is tea (herbal as well as black, green, white and oolong), which has a tremendous amount of <a href="http://www.healthcastle.com/tea.shtml">health benefits</a> and can <a href="http://www.greenweightlosstea.com/green-tea-101.html">aid in weight loss</a> <a href="http://www.greenweightlosstea.com/green-tea-101.html"></a>–– as long as you don’t choose pre-made teas full of sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and other sugar derivatives –– or add your own.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">#4. Milk (dairy)</span><br />Even though dairy products could be placed in a food category, and <a href="http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/6-reasons-to-get-your-diary">some</a> have their place in a healthy diet, it is amazing how many adults still think, "Milk does a body good." Not necessarily, especially when you take into account the saturated fat and cholesterol found in whole milk. Not to mention the <a href="http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=25973">lactose</a>, which is a concern for those that are lactose intolerant. Moreover, consider the <a href="http://www.sustainabletable.org/issues/hormones/">hormones and antibiotics</a> prevalent in milk today (unless it is labeled "USDA-certified organic"), amongst other issues surrounding our food sources that come from animals, but I won't go there now.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">#5. Soda </span><br />One of the biggest diet debacles is that instead of drinking water, many are choosing other liquids like soda and other soft drinks. This is where it gets "real sticky" –– as in way too much sugar. Most are aware of the <a href="http://preventdisease.com/home/tips43.shtml">negative affects</a> of drinking carbonated soda –– it contributes to four major health issues: obesity, tooth decay, weakened bones, and caffeine dependence –– even so-called “diet” soda. Enough said.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">#6. Other soft drinks (sports drinks, powdered soft drinks, juice boxes, and </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2g7tbQOnKiJ8Q6HQqtQE7Rkm0_4aogQfqnNUewJfg2FRvVurFAzJjP7Yv_aBUR2LzBUlaJxee-mGrKKec4xP3YgZrhhnTT1SlOae5-ld-aLSN8ivC2qmKjbVB2Xm0BYiVRiJ81LJAkIPI/s1600/BEVERAGES2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 177px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2g7tbQOnKiJ8Q6HQqtQE7Rkm0_4aogQfqnNUewJfg2FRvVurFAzJjP7Yv_aBUR2LzBUlaJxee-mGrKKec4xP3YgZrhhnTT1SlOae5-ld-aLSN8ivC2qmKjbVB2Xm0BYiVRiJ81LJAkIPI/s200/BEVERAGES2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462593288794753506" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">others) </span><br />There are an array of <a href="http://www.health.harvard.edu/press_releases/sugar-and-obesity">high calorie drinks</a> labeled as "healthful," but in fact are high in sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, and other sweeteners. They are adding empty calories to your diet and fat on your body; putting many on the fast track to obesity. This includes sports drinks like Gatorade (although sports drinks do have a place when it comes to athletes and high intensity workouts), powdered soft drinks like Kool Aid, as well as those cute little juice boxes and flavored waters. Crystal Light and other “no calorie, sugar-free” powered drinks use aspartame, saccharin, or Splenda for sweetening –– <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/artificial-sweeteners/my00073">"caution sign"</a> when consumed in excess.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">#7. Juice (fruit and vegetable) </span><br />Most commercial juices contain sugar and very little of the fruit or vegetable they are supposedly derived from, which means that their nutritional value is suspect. They are high in calories and low in fiber — the opposite of most fruits and vegetables in their natural complete states. Even with no sugar added, <a href="http://www.hookedonjuice.com/">100 percent juice</a> is loaded with sugar (fructose; a more natural source and better option) and calories. So-called veggie drinks are a little more complicated and there are some decent choices on the market. Better yet, <a href="http://www.powerjuicer.com/">"juice it" yourself</a> –– a safe and effective way to add wholesome, healthy calories to your diet.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">#8. Meal replacement drinks (protein shakes, smoothies, and green drinks) </span><br />The billion-dollar fitness industry makes money off quick-fix scams and false promises and drinks are high on their list of schemes. Just like <a href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/article/protein-energy-diet-and-nutrition-bars/">meal replacement bars</a>, they can have a positive "force" toward weight loss and nutrition on the go; still, it is all about "what's in them." Next time you pick up a so-called “diet or protein shake," smoothies as well as those trendy green drinks, take a look at the ingredients. Most of these pre-made drinks contain a lot of sugar, fat, additives and preservatives. On the other hand, there are some good meal replacement and green drinks out there, as well as <a href="http://www.livingfuel.com/Default2.aspx">great products</a> and ways to make your own.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">#9. Alcohol</span><br />I hate to be a "party pooper," but if you are serious about losing weight (fat), alcohol should be off limits, though a few drinks here and there won’t hurt. The “dark side” of alcohol is well known, yet some studies show possible health benefits (moderation of course), however, <a href="http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/alcohol-full-story/index.html">“balancing risks and benefits”</a> is very complex.<br /><br />As far as the fitness aspects, you should be aware that alcohol has short-term effects on health and body fat; its nutritional value is nil, as in empty calories, and those mixed drinks pack on more calories than you think. Drinking a lot of booze can also cause dehydration, create electrolyte imbalances and alcohol can indirectly <a href="http://www.weightlossforall.com/alcohol-lose-weight.htm">make you fat</a> –– "while your body uses up all the alcohol circulating in the blood, the oxidation of fats, carbohydrates and protein becomes suppressed." Translation: these macronutrients are not used for their intended purpose and are "forced into storage."<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Bottom line:</span> what you are drinking can make or break your diet when it comes to weight loss and health. An occasional detour will not harm your efforts, but staying on the wrong path for a long period of time will. Dehydration has its dire consequences; alcohol may give you that occasional "fun buzz" and not so fun hangover, yet it has the potential of making you fat and unhealthy. Furthermore, your beverage choices may have you on a pathway of consuming excessive amounts of caffeine, calories, empty calories, sugar, sugar derivatives and artificial sweeteners, as well as fats and the <span style="font-style: italic;">possibility</span> of countless other <a href="http://www.cspinet.org/reports/chemcuisine.htm">food additives</a>.<br /><br />Knowing the impact that liquid consumption has on your “fitness trail” is the <span style="font-style: italic;">first step</span> in making better choices; ones that will move you faster toward your weight-loss goals as well as further down the road to health and wellness.<br /><br />Stay tuned, this beverage expedition will continue...<br /><br />Part of <a href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/feature/fitness-flash/">Fitness Flash on Blogcritics </a><br /><a href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/">Blogcritics Sci/Tech section</a> offering a wide range of interesting and valuable topics<br />Published April 20, 2010 <a href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/article/weight-loss-what-you-drink-impacts/">Weight Loss: What You Drink Impacts Your Diet –– Part One</a><br /><a href="http://calfit32.blogspot.com/"></a><a href="http://calfit32.blogspot.com/">MY DIVA DIET "Tools for Success"</a> Blogcalfit32http://www.blogger.com/profile/00878040228371483663noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1751493814075138647.post-30322215686332986252010-04-12T17:00:00.000-07:002010-04-14T10:40:39.074-07:00Protein, Energy, Diet, and Nutrition Bars: Fit or Fake?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwczZHxj9o6Ldt9ciHsBEKgLJ-oG8-JLJXPUp50cCE5_OTtGG7m7qbH_hDWSFgo8pIiVVIiBBt53EMKT2L1xahHcLKjvz5LCRjXWlFWZdmYrNEfh-8lVQ41AAJD3GfK7dRpJExhHnQRKWA/s1600/bars+pics.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwczZHxj9o6Ldt9ciHsBEKgLJ-oG8-JLJXPUp50cCE5_OTtGG7m7qbH_hDWSFgo8pIiVVIiBBt53EMKT2L1xahHcLKjvz5LCRjXWlFWZdmYrNEfh-8lVQ41AAJD3GfK7dRpJExhHnQRKWA/s200/bars+pics.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459995823349626034" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Fitness Flash....<br /><br />The answer is<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><span>both</span>; however, it all depends on what’s in your meal replacement bar –– the ingredients.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNv6O15v73xqkkt6XJKD-G_PgvTeZZObjUh2CQZ5TgS_1-jHgyb_awuwdCYSyUx2ppzrAAD_A8y1K7Tb_tv1D8q8HcrVgfFVe2pLXnNmeI2bu81iGk_pmcjp6HFXo9x1h5QsKsx0Ij_wIw/s1600/Fitness+Flash.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 48px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNv6O15v73xqkkt6XJKD-G_PgvTeZZObjUh2CQZ5TgS_1-jHgyb_awuwdCYSyUx2ppzrAAD_A8y1K7Tb_tv1D8q8HcrVgfFVe2pLXnNmeI2bu81iGk_pmcjp6HFXo9x1h5QsKsx0Ij_wIw/s200/Fitness+Flash.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459996088558751746" border="0" /></a><br />Okay, you are on a "quest" to get healthy and fit –– if not, you should be. That said, is your hectic schedule keeping you from eating fit and wholesome meals? Due to your time restraints, do you continually resort to junk food and fast food that only sabotages your chance of lasting success? Well, you are not alone. Finding "healthy and fit fast food” items can be quite a chore itself, even when it comes to sifting through the hundreds of protein, energy, diet, and nutrition bars –– AKA “meal replacement bars."<br /><br />The <a href="http://www.livestrong.com/article/89633-benefits-protein-bars/">positive sides</a> to meal replacement bars are their convenience and portability as well as providing a way to keep you from skipping meals and starving all day long, which in reality has many benefits when it comes to weight loss, energy, mood, and overall health and fitness. But are meal replacement bars fit or fake?<br /><br />The answer is <span style="font-style: italic;">both</span>; however, there definitely is a negative side to meal replacement bars –– they are man-made food products with <a href="http://www.promaxnutrition.com/products/promax-bars/nutrient-facts/#cookies-n-cream">too many ingredients</a>, including ones that are not conducive to health and fitness. Unlike nature, men and women have a tendency to mess things up, especially when it comes to creating food products. Moreover, meal replacement bars are packaged with “labeling hype” like healthy, diet, lean, lose weight, muscle building, and other misleading claims, yet, they fall short on many fronts. While I am sure these food-type products were designed with good intentions, the majority fail the most important trial of all, the “real and natural” purity food test. A good number of today’s meal replacement bars are "<span style="font-style: italic;">fake</span>" and many fitness experts categorize them as <a href="http://www.myoptumhealth.com/portal/Information/item/The+Truth+About+Energy+Bars?nicmp=Affiliates&nisrc=Worldnow&nigrp=Worldnow">"glorified candy bars"</a> –– kind of like Snickers or Kit Kat on steroids.<br /><br />Back in the early '90s when I was an avid bodybuilder, I promoted one of the first protein bars when it hit the market, the <a href="http://www.powerbar.com/Products/13/powerbar-proteinplus-protein-bar-cookies-and-cream.aspx">Power Bar</a> (average rating), and oh my, they were very chewy. Since then, I have watched meal replacement bars evolve, with everyone but Grandma getting in on the craze and "bars" popping up everywhere. In analyzing most of the protein, energy, diet, and nutrition bars, not all of them are created equal when it comes to taste and, more importantly, nutritional value. The good news: you can find meal replacement bars that are healthy, those using <span style="font-style: italic;">real</span> ingredients without all the added sugar, sodium, trans fats, and other unhealthy additives. Others also provide fiber and added vitamins and minerals to increase their value, and for those who are gluten intolerant you can find gluten-free meal replacement bars, which brings me to the “energy bar” winner, the <a href="http://www.larabar.com/food/gluten-free-info">Larabar</a>, with the <a href="http://www.clifbar.com/food/products/">Cliff Bars</a> scoring high points as well.<br /><br />There are a few more things you should consider before "chewing on" your favorite bar along with its colorful packaging and hype:<br /><ul><li>Most meal replacement bars are high in calories, contain added sugar (or high fructose corn syrup and other sweeteners), wheat and other flour sources, fat and hydrogenated oil, salt, milk products, nuts, cocoa and cocoa powder as well as other additives and preservatives. Some also contain caffeine and other stimulants like ginseng.</li><li>Most meal replacement bars are very high in sugar (25 plus grams), still others contain <a href="http://www.medicinenet.com/artificial_sweeteners/page4.htm">sugar alcohols and nonnutritive sweeteners</a>, which are intended to enhance flavor while lowing sugar and calorie content, however, in excess these ingredients can have certain side affects and some have the <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">potential </span>(depending on which argument –– for or against -- you subscribe to) of becoming harmful to your body; as in hazardous to your health.</li><li>So-called protein bars contain different types of protein blends like <a href="http://www.wheyoflife.org/faq.cfm#1">whey and casein (cow's milk)</a>, and soy, used in the <a href="http://www.genisoy.com/products/bars/#bars">Genisoy Bars</a> (average rating), but the majority of bars contain a combination of all three.</li></ul><br />Keep in mind that there are four main <a href="http://bodyshapingtips.com/protein/protein_bars_three_factors_to_consider_in_choosing_the_right_one/">factors</a> to consider when choosing the best meal replacement bars: nutrition, ingredients, taste, and purpose. The purpose of consuming a meal replacement bar can range from increasing your protein intake and energy requirement to a more complicated matter of losing weight. Other uses include gaining muscle mass and/or boosting strength and endurance for athletes. It could be as simple as providing yourself with a nutritious morning “fast food” breakfast, afternoon snack, or pre- or post- workout meal, or those times you may be craving something sweet.<br /><br />Considering the vast variety of brands, categories, and flavors when it comes to meal replacement bars, finding and choosing quality is complicated. Taking the guesswork out of the equation can be helpful when <a href="http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/bars.htm">seeking the "bar"</a> that is right for you and AskMen.com has laid out a very useful guide, “<a href="http://www.askmen.com/top_10/fitness/29_fitness_list.html">Top 10 Energy & Protein Bars</a>.” Interestingly, diet.com put some meal replacement bars to their own test, where they analyzed bars based on calories, calorie density, saturated fat, trans fats, protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals, and gave their “Top 5 Worst Meal Replacement Bars.”<br /><br /><object height="364" width="445"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/rtUBcCx-i2c&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/rtUBcCx-i2c&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="364" width="445"></embed></object><br /><br />What matters most is whether or not the protein, energy, diet, or nutrition bar you choose<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtvdJ_T1PhKk8SA25ZgF-iSI3bFZbw1L1BqwA9kfK3CbsxuDaCuDKx6NFlYOrNyvqO5Dqeqb7r-in77rnalYZ0vNz5OQdLTBFr9_QnsbcbZw8oofmPmFHFpyM3yg7TMKm7r3ubNZ8gcYrM/s1600/MET+Rx_label.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 165px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtvdJ_T1PhKk8SA25ZgF-iSI3bFZbw1L1BqwA9kfK3CbsxuDaCuDKx6NFlYOrNyvqO5Dqeqb7r-in77rnalYZ0vNz5OQdLTBFr9_QnsbcbZw8oofmPmFHFpyM3yg7TMKm7r3ubNZ8gcYrM/s200/MET+Rx_label.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459995542670741554" border="0" /></a> is healthy and fit, because at the end of the day, one “bar” is not going to make or break your diet; what counts is the totality of your diet program coupled with your activity level. Which brings me to the most important rule when selecting a meal replacement bar for yourself or your family. Just like with all man-made food products <a href="http://www.metrx.com/shop/parent.aspx?parentID=11&catID=1&xs=ca172c75fa2d459fb2b0b8b5fe339ce1">you must read labels</a> and <a href="http://www.webmd.com/video/nutrition-bar-best">according to WebMD</a>, “If you want a healthy nutrition bar you have to read past the label” and that means the ingredients panel.<br /><br /><br />My advice: go for the <span style="font-style: italic;">fit</span>, not fake meal replacement bars, those high in fiber (close to 5 grams or more); ones with fewer ingredients, low in sodium, no added sugars, artificial sweeteners, and other flavor enhancers, additives, and preservatives. Be leery and avoid those that have trans fat and are high in saturated fats, but don't be afraid of the "good fat" grams, except those that go over ten grams per bar. Better yet, unless you are an athlete, meal replacement bars are best used in an emergency situation, because you will be much happier and healthier than if you eat that dreaded Happy Meal.<br /><br />More paramount, get your calories from natural, fresh, and wholesome foods, even when you are looking for convenient and portable meal ideas –– like an apple, banana, a mixed green salad, some on-the-go carrots or celery, a cup of natural trail mix with almonds and raisins. Take advantage of the “pure fast foods” that nature offers in variety of flavors and colors –– raw fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. I promise, you won't regret it (food allergies aside, of course)!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNv6O15v73xqkkt6XJKD-G_PgvTeZZObjUh2CQZ5TgS_1-jHgyb_awuwdCYSyUx2ppzrAAD_A8y1K7Tb_tv1D8q8HcrVgfFVe2pLXnNmeI2bu81iGk_pmcjp6HFXo9x1h5QsKsx0Ij_wIw/s1600/Fitness+Flash.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 48px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNv6O15v73xqkkt6XJKD-G_PgvTeZZObjUh2CQZ5TgS_1-jHgyb_awuwdCYSyUx2ppzrAAD_A8y1K7Tb_tv1D8q8HcrVgfFVe2pLXnNmeI2bu81iGk_pmcjp6HFXo9x1h5QsKsx0Ij_wIw/s200/Fitness+Flash.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459996088558751746" border="0" /></a>Part of <a href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/feature/fitness-flash/">Fitness Flash on Blogcritics</a><br /><br /><a href="http://blogcritics.org/scitech/article/protein-energy-diet-and-nutrition-bars/">Protein, Energy, Diet, and Nutrition Bars: Fit or Fake?</a><br />Opinion by Christine Lakatos — on Apr 13, 2010<br /><br />NOTE: Due to the fact that there are too many meal replacement bars on the market today, I could not cover them all. Considering "new bars" are produced at a rapid pace, it is best to know how to analyze them appropriately –– that way you can make good choices no matter how many "news bars" show up on the health and fitness scene.<br /><br /><a href="http://calfit32.blogspot.com/">My Diva Diet "Tools for Success"</a>calfit32http://www.blogger.com/profile/00878040228371483663noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1751493814075138647.post-3134788661356947722010-04-03T05:49:00.000-07:002010-06-02T16:51:04.245-07:00Eggs for Easter and Year Round<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcvWaObtHE-K5RUq2OmTrlg_uMpfuwkMyTwl4l2sbYo9NVbHcGUipSKplnzpUK5LrQiQmFUoLWV5yImQDTNEeH2_K91imdU1CClYgCDfbMGzrna3jjHzxGNwy5kzDualOvsqS1wcGOArH5/s1600/easter_eggs_basket_1024x768.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcvWaObtHE-K5RUq2OmTrlg_uMpfuwkMyTwl4l2sbYo9NVbHcGUipSKplnzpUK5LrQiQmFUoLWV5yImQDTNEeH2_K91imdU1CClYgCDfbMGzrna3jjHzxGNwy5kzDualOvsqS1wcGOArH5/s200/easter_eggs_basket_1024x768.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455901795310245282" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >Fitness Flash...</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><br />Every year about this time, we find ourselves either participating in or thinking about the “Easter egg hunt.” While many of us may too old to participate in this yearly event, we are not too old to eat eggs -- they are good to eat year-round. </span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >That is unless you are a vegan.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><br />At any rate, this is a great opportunity to “crack” the shell and display the value of eggs. </span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >In an "egg shell"…</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><ul style="font-family:arial;"><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Eggs are one of the highest qualities of proteins.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Egg whites contain adequate amounts all essential amino acids and are used as the standard, which all protein is measured.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts/dairy-and-egg-products/111/2">One large whole egg</a> = 75 calories, 6 grams protein, 5grams of fat.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts/dairy-and-egg-products/112/2">One large egg white</a> = 17 calories, 3.6 grams protein, 0grams of fat.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Eggs whites have zero carbohydrates, zero fat, and zero cholesterol</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">The cholesterol is found in the egg yolk at depending on the size has about 185 to 213 mg.</span></li></ul><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >While there are a </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://whfoods.org/genpage.php?tname=foodtip&dbid=49">variety of eggs</a></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" > to choose from, –– organic, Omega-3 eggs, and brown eggs –– eggs are a good source of low-cost, high-quality protein. Dietary protein provides us with amino acids that we use to make our muscles, tissues, skin, immune system antibodies, nutrient-carrying transport proteins and many other compounds vital to physiological function!</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >Eggs also promote healthy thyroid function (iodine), brain health (choline), heart health, and eye health (carotenoid lutein). Eggs have additional health-promoting benefits. They contain nutrients that help with bone-building vitamin D, K and phosphorus, energy producing (vitamin B2 and B5), and more!</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >If you are worried about the </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cholesterol/HQ00608">cholesterol found in eggs</a></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >, then it is important to consider the recommended daily limits, which should be less than 300 mg. per day. If you already have "cardiovascular disease, diabetes or a high low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or "bad") blood cholesterol level, you should limit your dietary cholesterol intake to less than 200 mg a day." However, it is best to rid yourself of other high cholesterol foods like fried, fast, and junk food, before you throw the egg out of the pan. And, you can always skip the egg yolk and use the white only. </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ckIF9JiZjwe8cNAI2BWd7v1GdXYyeZxmcYXFaNJO9pGMS8v3rcGCKmCU-E6t91k9TLv9PqIW0AbDPBjDhnfEDKpuCKceVYQx9oO5xFlcayEsBXCqsTzxHe9dYbb_tnRlvbs-A0mU2c8K/s1600/images.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 120px; height: 120px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ckIF9JiZjwe8cNAI2BWd7v1GdXYyeZxmcYXFaNJO9pGMS8v3rcGCKmCU-E6t91k9TLv9PqIW0AbDPBjDhnfEDKpuCKceVYQx9oO5xFlcayEsBXCqsTzxHe9dYbb_tnRlvbs-A0mU2c8K/s200/images.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455904701202334546" border="0" /></a><br /></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >It is best to choose your eggs from cage-free hens that are fed a !00% vegetarian diet. And there are many things you can do with eggs and egg whites like making a wholesome omelet or frittata. Eggs and egg whites can also be scrambled, poached and hard-boiled –– they make a great "fast food" snack without all the garbage. You can also use them in a sandwich or salad.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidjZ3wsISRSSQW67zqmeZ6d3384fO9vQO1qghJ6WFU3X13NWMMYnlO6__iFdCt-k8Xvq1PhMN8Uu4iL9sGbSvcNGxfxFRj9UBjDwRudl2oHOWVq3-ZCUIPYLAD5ZjBUZUKtzNe1igACLdf/s1600/LookInside.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 124px; height: 191px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidjZ3wsISRSSQW67zqmeZ6d3384fO9vQO1qghJ6WFU3X13NWMMYnlO6__iFdCt-k8Xvq1PhMN8Uu4iL9sGbSvcNGxfxFRj9UBjDwRudl2oHOWVq3-ZCUIPYLAD5ZjBUZUKtzNe1igACLdf/s200/LookInside.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455906940878254162" border="0" /></a><br /></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >Here is a quick idea for a healthy, light, and low fat egg dish.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><a style="font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;" href="http://whfoods.org/genpage.php?tname=recipe&dbid=124">Summer Frittata</a></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" > from the "master health chef," George Mateljan</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >Found in the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/My-Diva-Diet-Womans-Last/dp/0615240879/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1270302529&sr=8-6">MY DIVA DIET</a> diet books; our very own </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;" href="http://superdivanotes.blogspot.com/2009/03/diva-frittatamy-diva-diet-fit-meals-in.html">Diva Frittata Recipe.</a><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >Fitness Flash: the new feature...</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">Fitness expert, diet book author, and retired bodybuilder and fitness competitor, <a href="http://www.mydivadiet.com/OurTeam.htm"><span style="font-style: italic;">Christine Lakatos</span></a>, offers concise fitness articles –– dieting, food facts, nutrition, and exercise –– for those interested in losing fat, getting fit, gaining health, increasing energy, as well as general wellness. Fitness Flash includes E.A.M.; Education, practical application, tips, motivation, and more. </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><br /></span>calfit32http://www.blogger.com/profile/00878040228371483663noreply@blogger.com0