Diet and Nutrition

Inspiring Reddit Weight Loss Stories Include Josh Bennett Who Lost 120 Pounds

Techies and news junkies alike have been flocking to Reddit, the social website that’s been labeled the “front page of the internet” for its forum-style discussion on everything from current headlines to celebrity gossip.

Nestled in amongst the community’s news lovers is a growing number of health fanatics. The two most popular forums for health-conscious members are Reddit loseit and Reddit Fitness, where users share their fitness tips, diet struggles, weight loss triumphs and everything in between.

A quick scour of Reddit loseit led us to several inspiring weight loss stories, one from Josh Bennet who’d lost more than 100 pounds and successfully “unearthed” his dimples.

We reached out to Josh and two other Reddit users for an interview regarding their health transformations. Among other things, we were curious why they chose to share their stories on Reddit.

Josh, 20, of Snohomish, Washington, became somewhat of a Reddit sensation when he shared his before and after photos of his more than 100 pound weight loss. (more…)

Posted on February 13, 2024 by Dana

Gisele Bundchen Credits Kung Fu and Simple Diet Rules for Post Baby Body

Nine weeks ago supermodel Gisele Bundchen gave birth to her daughter, Vivian Lake Brady. The gorgeous model debuted her post-baby body in a black bikini on a recent vacation to Hawaii, as reported by People Magazine. Gisele has given birth to two children, yet she remains in tip top shape even within weeks of giving birth.gisele postpartum

How does the Brazilian model get her body back in shape post baby? According to Shape, the supermodel is loyal to a strict kung fu workout routine. Gisele has been completing 90 minutes of kung fu three times a week for the past four years.

Yao Li, Gisele’s kung fu instructor, explained that, “Practicing kung fu improves muscle tone and flexibility in the lower body. Blocking drills and hand techniques do the same for the upper body, especially the shoulders and arms.” (more…)

Posted on February 12, 2024 by Samantha

Pepsi’s New Mountain Dew Kickstart is Not a Healthy Breakfast Choice

Just when you thought you’d seen it all, Pepsi tries to sell us on Mountain Dew for breakfast.

PepsiCo announced Monday it will be releasing a new “breakfast” drink. Mountain Dew Kickstart is a Mountain Dew-flavored fruit juice drink that will be available in two flavors: Energizing Orange Citrus and Fruit Punch, according to USA Today.

  • Mountain Dew’s vice president of marketing, Greg Lyons, explained Kickstart was born out of consumer demand. “Our consumers told us they are looking for an alternative to traditional morning beverages – one that tastes great, includes real fruit juice and has just the right amount of kick to help them start their days.” (more…)
Posted on February 12, 2024 by Dana

Why the Master Cleanse is a Horrible Idea

By Dan Kamys for FitandFabLiving.com

Recently, a diet known as the Master Cleanse has been coming into the spotlight. Celebrities such as Beyoncé have been known to practice this in order to supposedly cleanse their bodies. We think this is not only one of the worst weight-loss ideas ever, it’s downright dangerous. Keep reading to find out why.

The Master Cleanse is actually quite simple in practice. In place of solid food and other drinks, the “cleanser” mixes lemon juice, maple syrup, cayenne pepper, and water and drinks that six or more times per day for anywhere between four and fourteen days. They then slowly ease themselves into solid food and off of the cleanse.

While the dieter will most certainly lose weight by only following a liquid diet, there are many risks with such a choice. First and foremost, they will not be getting nearly enough calories while on the fast. In order to lose weight, you have to cut calories, but such an intense decrease in calories is dangerous. As a result, most of the weight lost is actually muscle and water weight rather than fat. (more…)

Posted on February 12, 2024 by Fit and Fab Living

Food Blogger Spotlight: Sara Forte of Sprouted Kitchen

I love food, so I find myself naturally drawn to other people who think like me, cook like me and eat like me. Oftentimes, though, I find people who eat drastically different than me and inspire me to eat better, healthier. One of those people is Sara Forte, author of the blog Sprouted Kitchen.

At Sprouted Kitchen Sara shares a “tastier take on whole foods,” and she delivers on that promise with every recipe she creates. After discovering her blog last fall I quickly snagged her Sprouted Kitchen Cookbook and haven’t put it down since. I find myself poring over it on weekends while meal planning, looking for snip-pits of healthy inspiration and meal ideas and I never come up short.

Sara’s husband Hugh captures all of the images for the blog, and each one in itself is a work of art. Go see for yourself. A delicata squash has never been so stunning.

We recently had the pleasure of picking Sara’s brain on her whole foods approach and her blog. Here’s what she had to say.  (more…)

Posted on February 10, 2024 by Dana

Try America’s Hottest (and Healthiest) Snack Food – Fresh Fruit!

By Bob Greene from TheBestLife.com

I’m a big fan of snacks—they can help keep your hunger in check when you’re trying to cut calories. But too many people reach for the wrong types of foods, such as chips, crackers and candy. If you choose wisely, your snack can help you make it to your next meal without overdoing it.

Wondering what the best snacks are when you’re watching your weight? It probably won’t come as a surprise that I often recommend fresh fruit. I love fruit-based bites, and a new survey suggests I’m not alone. Fresh fruit is the top snack food here in the United States, beating out chocolate and potato chips, according to The NPD Group. (Way to go, Americans!)

It turns out that fresh fruit meets the many needs of snackers who worry about health and weight. They want something that is convenient and will satisfy both their hunger and cravings, the survey reports. And fruit is a versatile choice: Eat it as is or use it to create one of the following recipes. (more…)

Posted on February 8, 2024 by BestLifeDiet

Boy Scouts Sell GMO-Free Popcorn for a Healthier Food Fundraiser

If you haven’t noticed, The Girl Scouts have hit the streets with their cookies this month. They’ve opted for a throwback twist this year as many girls are pulling wagons with cookies ready to deliver on the spot. It may become their biggest sales year yet. Cookies on demand, at your door? Pretty tough to say no to a Thin Mint when it’s literally in your face. Unless of course, you’ve been reading more about what’s actually in those cookies. That may scare you off of Carmel Delights for life.

But, what about the girls’ counterparts? The Boy Scouts sell popcorn every fall. Is their product any better? They are, after all, selling corn, the biggest genetically modified (GM) crop in this country. And the law states no one has to label whether or not a product contains genetically modified organisms (GMOs). And if you search a package of Boy Scout Popcorn, the Trails End Brand, you’ll see no mention of GMOs on the labels. Are our girls getting an unfair rap? Are the boys being just as irresponsible with what they’re selling to the public?

It appears not, at least on the GMO front. Elizabeth Weaver works with Weaver Popcorn Company, Inc. They are the distributor and producer of Trails End Popcorn, the exclusive Boy Scout brand. Weaver explained what’s in the popcorn and why the packages do not indicate that the snack is GMO free. (more…)

Posted on February 7, 2024 by Lacy

Candy-Free Valentine’s Day Treats Kids Will Fall in Love With

If you’re a parent, Valentine’s Day means your kid will be offered a tremendous amount of sugar right before he’s sent home from school. Valentine’s parties are tough. You want to send a great treat, but if you’re like me, you have a conscience and you can’t send sugar bombs to kids, it’s just not right.

Never fear, just because you choose not to send unhealthy treats to school, doesn’t mean you can’t be the star of the class party. I’ve had to get creative over the years, but I’ve seen first hand that most kids actually like a unique party favor or a savory healthy snack. Many choose it over the heap of candy being loaded into their Valentine mailbox.

Here are several candy-free ideas to keep you and your kid on track this Valentine’s Day.

Fruit and Veggie Trays. Yeah, it doesn’t sound that amazing, but kids actually like most fruits and vegetables, they’re just not offered very often. I’ve watched a herd of third graders make quick work of a fruit tray and my heart smiled. If you want to add some extra holiday fun, try making your fruit heart shaped. Strawberries can easily be sliced into heart-shaped medallions or melons can be formed into the heart shape as well.

Kind Bars. Have you tried these yet?! You’re going to have a hard time sending them to school because they’re just that good. The KIND bars are mostly nut based and often have dried fruit with them. They are low in sugar and full of natural healthy ingredients. The best part is that kids will probably think they’re candy bars. Check out our KIND Bars giveaway now and win a case of 20! (more…)

Posted on February 7, 2024 by Lacy

Mobile Apps Help College Students Minimize Obesity

Have you heard college students joke about the “Freshman 15”? The 10-15 pounds on average that students can gain throughout their college years is no laughing matter. These students are the future of our country and obesity contributes to deadly, costly health problems later in life. To reach this technology-savvy generation, here are some tips on leveraging smartphones, tablets, and social media avenues to stop the “Freshman 15” before it starts.

There are countless free smartphone and tablet apps available to help students make healthier lifestyle choices. What all these apps have in common is that you can choose to receive daily or weekly notifications to ensure compliance and motivation. Here are a few places to start: (more…)

Posted on February 6, 2024 by GuestBlogger

The BluePrint Juice Cleanse is a Delicious Way to Kick Start Weight Loss

By Naomi Shapiro of SuperDumbSuperVillain.com

Juice cleanses are all the rage these days, with celebrities endorsing the detoxification benefits for beauty, health and, yes, even weight loss. The BluePrint Cleanse is one of the most popular and offers mail-order delivery, as well as a line of freshly made juices available at many retailers nationwide. Essentially, the idea is that you consume only raw, whole foods in liquid form for anywhere from three to ten days. The enzymes in these organic fruit and vegetable juices work to clean your body from the inside out, reducing intestinal bloat and inflammation by restoring your natural alkaline levels and metabolism.

I was curious about trying the BluePrint Cleanse because even though I try to eat healthy and exercise, I have been feeling lethargic this new year. I felt like the three-day juice cleanse might be a way to restart my system. And I was right.

What really surprised me the most about the BluePrint Cleanse was how I never felt hungry or deprived. Between drinking the juices and water, I was totally sated. The flavors were different enough to keep things interesting, too. (more…)

Posted on February 6, 2024 by GuestBlogger

Stomach Balloon May Aid in Weight Loss, but You Have to Go to Canada for It

As the amount of weight loss surgeries in the U.S. continue to rise, doctors are finding different and better ways to surgically treat obesity. One of the newest players in the game is called an intragastric balloon, and as it’s not approved for use in the United States, many patients have chosen to cross the border to Canada to do the procedure.

The intragastric balloon is less invasive than traditional bariatric surgery. It involves inserting a tube down the esophagus into the stomach, so there’s no surgical incision. A deflated balloon is then threaded down the tube, and once placed, blown up to the size of an orange and filled with sterile blue water. It can stay there for up to six months, at which point it is removed to prevent ruptures. This can be done multiple times if the patient continues to need the support the balloon provides. The balloon decreases the patient’s feelings of hunger, making them eat less and lose weight.

Although the average weight of Americans continues to bound upward, there are still very few bariatric surgeries performed annually. Less than one percent of individuals who meet the criteria for bariatric surgery actually have surgery, according to the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery. Each year, about 250,000 Americans choose to have some form of weight loss surgery, the most popular being gastric bypass, a gastric band, sleeve gastrectomy, or duodenal switch. These involve removing a portion of the stomach, restricting how much food can go into the stomach, rerouting the intestinal system, or a combination of these methods. The gastric sleeve is cheapest, costing around $10,000, while the others range from $17,000 to $35,000, according to the Consumer Guide to Bariatric Surgery. (more…)

Posted on February 6, 2024 by SarahS