Diet and Nutrition

College Spring Break Fitness and Diet Tips

The winter months are coming to an end, and for most high school and college students this is what’s next… spring break! So after months of comfort foods, partying, and maybe not working out like one should, spring break is the start to what’s coming. After spring break, you know that Memorial Day is soon on the way, and then summer time! So how do you get your body in the shape that you’d want it?

First of all, watch what you eat. It’s time to clean up your diet. Get rid of all junk foods, fried foods, fatty foods, sodas, and alcohol. Incorporate healthy fat in to your diet; in example, small portions of olive oil or avocado. Eat 5-6 small meals a day to help increase your metabolism and also help you avoid cravings by keeping you full throughout the day. Also, drink plenty of water to help flush out any toxins in your body. (more…)

Posted on February 24, 2024 by Amanda

The Safety and Dangers of HCG Diet Clinics

hCG therapy is a highly controversial practice for those who want to lose weight. While many have found success with shedding pounds by receiving hCG injections, the FDA has only authorized their use for infertility and reproductive issues.

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a hormone that supports the normal development of an egg in a woman’s ovary, during ovulation. When hCG is injected into the body, it literally tricks the body into thinking it’s pregnant, thereby mobilizing certain hormones and fat stores, using glycogen, fat, and protein in the process for fuel.

But the FDA has not approved the use of hCG for weight loss treatment, obesity therapy or determined that the use of hCG contributes to an individual’s loss of body fat.

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Posted on February 23, 2024 by heather

3 Ways to Find Weight Loss Motivation

Those who are very familiar with me and my work know that I have lots of cooking tips and tricks up my sleeve, along with some pretty unique recipes. They also know that I have a deep love for the decadent. Recently, I sent out a “Call for Questions” as part of my monthly newsletter (sign up for free at DevinAlexander.com if you haven’t already)—I wanted my readers to tell me what questions they wanted to me to answer and/or write about in upcoming newsletters and blogs. While I was open to any and all cooking questions, inquiries about my 55-pound weight loss and maintenance, and even questions about my personal tastes, etc., what I did not expect was to receive literally thousands of emails from people asking, “How do you stay motivated?”. I kid you not, though I’m most known for cooking, over 80% of the questions were about motivation.

Since motivation has been on my mind almost non-stop this week and so many people seek “answers,” it seems obvious that this should be the topic of this week’s blog.

I’ve found motivation in tons of places over the years. Being a busy person, like so many of you, I admit that it truly is easy to lose. And I know that motivation is a very personal thing. What motivates one person just might not motivate another. But there are definitely a few key actions that have helped me over the years. Here are the top three: (more…)

Posted on February 23, 2024 by GuestBlogger

Tune In: Kirstie Alley on The Oprah Show

Tune in this Thursday, February 25 to The Oprah Show when Kirstie Alley pulls up a seat next to Oprah to discuss her new television reality series, Kirstie Alley’s Big Life.

Last year, Kirstie discussed her 75-pound weight regain on Oprah and also hinted at her new weight loss product company, which was still in the works.

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Posted on February 22, 2024 by heather

DASH Your Way to a Healthier Heart

February is American Heart Month. It’s a time to bring awareness to heart disease and stroke, the number one killer in the United States, so you and the people you love don’t become a statistic.

Many people are not aware of the DASH Diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), recommended by the National Institutes of Health.

In recent DASH studies, adding fruits, vegetables and dairy products lowered blood pressure readings – even when the sodium was as high as 3000 mg per day! Every millimeter the blood pressure falls reduces the risk of heart attack and strokes for people with high blood pressure. So believe it, small changes will get you big results. Your everyday decisions matter. (more…)

Posted on February 22, 2024 by Rebecca

Five Essential Nutrients for a Great Workout and Recovery

Guest blogger Yishane Lee is the author of “The Athlete’s Palate: Renowned Chefs, Delicious Dishes, and the Art of Fueling Up While Eating Well” (Rodale), a cookbook for the gourmet endurance athlete.

Most athletes know that carbohydrates and protein are critical to fuel a workout and aid recovery after exercise. But beyond those nutrients, there are five essential nutrients to incorporate into your diet in order to make sure your body operates at its peak.

1. Anthocyanins

This antioxidant gives red, blue, and purple fruits and vegetables their color. It reduces inflammation and counteracts muscle damage that can be caused by working out and also improves cardiovascular function. Blueberries, strawberries, cherries, blood oranges, eggplant, and red grapes are all good sources of anthocyanins. Even the cocoa in dark chocolate contains this antioxidant.

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Posted on February 21, 2024 by GuestBlogger

Getting Back on the Wagon after a Diet Mistake

I fell off the wagon. It’s been one of those weeks. One of the weeks where everything hits all at once, when you can’t keep up, stress levels are high, you’re running on adrenaline, and I didn’t have any caffeine for a week. My mind is racing at full speed, but my body is tired. I have just been trying to keep up with e-mail and questions on social media, and hoping things slow down so I can get more work done.

It is probably a combination of comfort and necessity, making sure that I am able to eat in between appointments and rushing from one to the next across town, that instigated tonight’s stop at Arby’s. Before I had gotten halfway through my sandwich, I realized just how long it had been since I have eaten fast food. My body is not prepared for it any longer. I will likely feel ill as a result. Yes, even the experts that blog about health, run half marathons, and make weekly trips to the farmer’s market can fall of the wagon at times and be tested by the ease and comfort of fast food. (more…)

Posted on February 21, 2024 by Brooke Randolph

Announcing the Gluten-Free Series

I am excited to announce the kick-off of a new weekly series that will focus on all things gluten-free. I will cover topics from grains to everyday products that you may never had known gluten was hiding in. I will also provide a glossary to provide you guidance along with some great tools and resources that already exist both online and off.

Next week in the first of our gluten-free series I’ll be providing some great information in regards to what is gluten, what it means to suffer from celiac disease and review some grains to help clear up any confusion there might be around what you can and cannot eat. (more…)

Posted on February 20, 2024 by Amy

Is Your Spouse Making You Fat?

Guest bogger Amie Adcock is an ACE certified Group Fitness Instructor and Personal Trainer in Philadelphia. She is currently pursuing her Wellness Coaching certification and writes fitness and nutrition articles for several sites. You can read more about Amie on her website, The Life of an Exercise Nut. Amie is also one of two winners of DietsInReview.com’s FitBloggin’ contest.

They say opposites attract, however, this can sometimes lead to undesirable results. You may want to get up and go to the gym, but you stay on the couch because your partner wants you to watch another episode of your favorite TV show. When out to dinner, you know the grilled chicken and mixed veggies is a healthier option, but you are encouraged to order the pasta with cream sauce because you need to “live a little.”

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Posted on February 20, 2024 by GuestBlogger

Olympian Tanith Belbin Benefits from Weight Gain

I lost a lot of weight. Eighty pounds, to be precise. It took me a long time to accomplish, but when I was finally finished, the funniest thing happened. People told me that I was too thin. I scoffed. As if one could ever been too thin, I thought. Don’t they know how hard I’ve worked, and all I ever wanted was to be skinny? I continued to work out twice a day, often to the point of exhaustion, and it wasn’t until I fell asleep at a stop light on the way to martial arts that I realized that maybe, the naysayers might have had a point. Now that I’ve gained back a few pounds, I’ve noticed I run faster and longer, lift heavier weights, and in general, feel better.

Olympian Tanith Belbin has had a similar revelation. If you are a fan of ice dancing, you may have noticed that the skater has gained a little bit of weight – ten pounds, to be precise. A silver medal winner in the 2006 Olympics, Belbin switched coaches in 2024 and the first recommendation for the skater was to gain weight. She was not convinced, though, and realized that her hesitancy was rooted in problems with eating. She said, “I swear, I’m not eating anything and I’m exhausted and cranky and stressed and all of those things that make you gain weight even more.” (more…)

Posted on February 19, 2024 by Carmen

Diet Tips for a Busy Mom from Renee Ross

Having kids changes your life in profound ways. Your every moment becomes about your child – you no longer make decisions that affect you solely, and every choice that you make now has a deeper meaning. (You also no longer have privacy in the bathroom, but we won’t discuss this. It’s the part of Motherhood that has scarred me forever. Ahem.)

One common refrain from moms is, “I’m so busy! I can’t possibly fit in any exercise!” Renee Ross of Cutie Booty Cakes has taken that refrain and blown it out of the water. Listen as she shares her tips on using technology such as Wii Fit to get it done, no matter what.

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Posted on February 18, 2024 by Carmen

Diet and Nutrition

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