Weight Loss Facts:

Low Fat Foods DON'T WORK.

You cannot lose weight using Low Fat Diets. Low fat foods have been popular for more than 15 years, but yet our society is getting more overweight as each year passes. This fact alone should tell you that eating a purely low fat menu is not the answer to losing weight.

Low Calorie Diets DON'T WORK.

You won't lose weight using a Low Calorie Dieting Plan either. In fact, eating low calories is the worst thing that you can do to your body, since that will only slow down your body's fat burning engine and ruin all chances of losing weight (low calorie diets may allow a few pounds of weight loss for the first few days, but then after that all weight loss comes to a halt --- known as a dieting plateau). You can never get slim by starving yourself.

Low Carb Plans DON'T WORK.

You'll probably find it extremely difficult to get slim using a Low Carb Dieting Plan. Low carb diets have recently become popular over the last couple years, but the problem with low carb menus is that they are too strict and TOO HARD TO FOLLOW for average people. Low carb menus tend to rob your body of too much energy (carbohydrates) and make it nearly impossible to remain on the program for very long. This is why so many dieters find it difficult to follow a strict low carbohydrate menu.

What about Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig Dieting Plans?

Weight loss programs such as Weight Watchers (and Jenny Craig) usually involve slower dieting progress over a longer period of time, since such programs generally promise only 2-3 pounds of weight loss per week. Also, programs such as Jenny Craig usually involve buying special meals and/or dietary supplements during the initial phases of the program. While some people may like these types of dietary programs, we prefer a dieting plan which focuses on faster weight loss, such as the Accelerated Fat Burning Program shown below...

Try our New ACCELERATED Fat Burning Diet right here

How Do You Maintain Weight Loss?

Get your head working and the middle will take care of itself!

The key to losing weight and keeping it off is to understand what really motivates you. Once you’ve felt the initial excitement of losing the first few pounds, you must find a way to turn that enthusiasm into the willpower to stick with your eating plan. You will encounter both ups and downs as you learn to maintain your weight. To help you through the downs, you need coping strategies. Think about what you really want to achieve. That desire will help you turn your eating and exercise strategies into a lifestyle that leads to lifelong weight control.

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Why Lose Weight?

The main reason to lose weight is for health, not appearance.

• Nearly 112,000 deaths per year may be attributable to obesity.
• The risk of death rises with increasing weight.
• Even moderate weight excess (10 to 20 pounds for a person of average height) increases the risk of death, particularly among adults ages 30 to 64.
• People who are obese (defined as having a body mass index [BMI] greater than 30) have a higher risk of excess death (they are more likely to die) from all causes, compared to people at a healthy weight.

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How Did Americans Get So Heavy?

Today, 65 percent of American adults over age 20 are overweight or obese.

That's a pretty scary statistic. Just look around and you’ll realize you’re not alone in needing to learn weight management. How did so many people get so heavy? The answer is simple: Most of us are eating more calories than we are burning.

The problem of an overweight population comes from a combination of factors:

• Increasing portion sizes,
• More processed foods with fewer nutrients and
• A more sedentary lifestyle.

We're eating more food. Portions have increased dramatically in the last 20 years. The average daily intake of adults rose by about 300 calories between 1985 and 2000. That means we have to work a lot harder to burn the extra calories that those larger portions add.

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Physical Activity

In this module you will learn about:

• All of the positive effects physical activity has on your heart
• How to fit fitness in your daily life in a cost-effective way
• Consulting with your health provider about beginning an exercise routine
• The different types of exercise: aerobic, flexibility and strength
• How to develop a fitness routine that you can maintain year-round

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Heart Disease, Stroke and African Americans

In this module you will learn:

• The basic information on heart disease and stroke, the risk factors and what you can do to reduce your own risk.
• The warning signs and what you should do if you or someone around you is displaying these symptoms.

Overview

About Heart Disease
There are different types of heart disease, but the kind you need to worry about most is coronary heart disease.

Your heart has arteries that bring blood to the heart muscle. These are your coronary arteries. Over time, fatty deposits called plaque can build up in the wall of these arteries, reducing the blood supply. In some people — but not everyone — this can cause chest pain called angina.

Over time, a plaque can rupture, and a piece could lodge in an artery or a blood clot could form. This can block blood flow to the heart muscle, causing part of it to start to die. This is a heart attack, and it is an emergency — get to the hospital right awayI The quicker you get treatment, the more of your heart muscle might be saved.

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American Heart Association No-Fad Diet: A Personal Plan for Healthy Weight Loss

Our friendly, no-nonsense approach to weight control will show you how to personalize your weight-loss plan to fit your lifestyle and your needs.

• Think Smart! Analyze your current eating and activity habits to find the approach that will work best for you.
• Eat Well! Tailor your eating plan for success. We’ve included two weeks’ worth of menus to get you started — and more than 190 waist-friendly recipes to tempt your taste buds.
• Move More! Learn how to add activity to your daily routine to keep the pounds off for good.

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Obesity and Overweight

AHA Scientific Position

Obesity is defined simply as too much body fat. Your body is made up of water, fat, protein, carbohydrate and various vitamins and minerals. If you have too much fat — especially in your waist area — you're at higher risk for health problems, including high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

Obesity is now recognized as a major risk factor for coronary heart disease, which can lead to heart attack. Some reasons for this higher risk are known, but others are not. For example, obesity

• raises blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
• lowers HDL "good" cholesterol. HDL cholesterol is linked with lower heart disease and stroke risk, so reducing it tends to raise the risk.
• raises blood pressure levels.
• can induce diabetes. In some people, diabetes makes these other risk factors much worse. The danger of heart attack is especially high for these people.

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How Healthy is Your Diet ?

Healthy Diet Checker?

Take This Easy Test to See if You Have a Healthy Diet

This healthy diet screening quiz is designed to help you grade your diet on a daily basis. The healthy diet quiz works best if you answer the questions based on what you ate during one day.

If you are taking this quiz early in the day, think about what you ate yesterday. If you take this quiz late enough in the day, you can answer the questions based on what you ate today.

You can also estimate the servings of the foods you eat on a typical day, if you generally eat similar foods in similar amounts every day.

Simple Ways to Move Your Body

You can start the process of weight loss now by adding a little more activity to your life. If you're not ready for a structured program, start small. Every little bit counts and it all adds up to burning more calories.

• Turn off the TV. Once a week, turn off the TV and do something a little more physical with your family. Play games, take a walk...almost anything will be more active than sitting on the couch.
• Walk more. Look for small ways to walk more. When you get the mail, take a walk around the block, take the dog for an extra outing each day or walk on your treadmill for 5 minutes before getting ready for work.
• Do some chores. Shoveling snow, working in the garden, raking leaves, sweeping the floor...these kinds of activities may not be 'vigorous' exercise, but they can keep you moving while getting your house in order.
• Pace while you talk. When you're on the phone, pace around or even do some cleaning while gabbing. This is a great way to stay moving while doing something you enjoy.
• Be aware. Make a list of all the physical activities you do on a typical day. If you find that the bulk of your time is spent sitting, make another list of all the ways you could move more--getting up each hour to stretch or walk, walk the stairs at work, etc.

Learn about more ways to fit in exercise.

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CHANGING YOUR HEALTHY FAMILIES

How do I report a change of address?

To report a change, call 1-866-848-9166. You can call between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Monday through Friday, and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Or write to:

Healthy Families Program
Attn: Address Change
P.O. Box 138005
Sacramento, CA 95813-8005

Make sure that Healthy Families has your correct billing address and the correct address of your children enrolled in the program. You must notify the Healthy Families Program within 30 days if you have a change of address, because your children may need to transfer to a different health plan.

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Exercise & Fitness

Swimming, cycling, jogging, skiing, dancing, walking and dozens of other activities can help your heart. Whether it is included in a structured exercise program or just part of your daily routine, all physical activity adds up to a healthier heart. more

Managing Your Weight

We can help you manage your lifestyle to better manage your weight and reduce your risk for heart attack. more

You Are What You Eat

Better food habits can help you reduce your risk for heart attack. A healthful eating plan means choosing the right foods to eat and preparing foods in a healthy way. more

Healthy Lifesyle Cartoons

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Being a Healthy Person

Take every opportunity to improve your own health, the health of your loved ones, and the health of your community.

• Make Healthy Choices
  Make better choices for yourself and your family when choosing doctors, health insurance, online health information, and a healthy lifestyle. Follow the links below to reliable health information from www.healthfinder.gov

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Sleep and Health

Sleep is critical to good health, but how many hours of sleep are enough?

More on sleep »

Weight Is Key to Protein Requirements

Study Shows Protein in Diet Should Be Based on Weight, Not Age

By Robynne Boyd
WebMD Health News

Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

Nov. 7, 2008 -- The amount of protein an adult needs to stay healthy is based on weight, not age.

That's according to a new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

As people age, their metabolism and physiology usually change. And these changes can influence a person's nutritional needs. Although many researchers believe that older adults require more protein than younger adults, it's not reflected in the current Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) and Estimated Average Requirement (EAR), which are the same for all healthy men and women aged 19 and older.

Read more...

www.webmd.com/food-recipes/news/20081107/weight-is-key-to-protein-requirements

No Magic Solution to Yo-Yo Dieting

Study Shows Dieters Regain Weight Regardless of Diet Specifics

By Caroline Wilbert
WebMD Health News

Reviewed by Kathleen M. Zelman, MPH, RD, LD

Nov. 7, 2008 -- As any so-called yo-yo dieter can tell you, it is often easier to lose weight than to keep it off. A new study shows that different diet compositions -- such as more fat or less fat, higher or lower glycemic index, and different levels of monounsaturated fatty acids -- don't affect a dieter's tendency to regain the weight.

The study included 154 adults from Denmark, all between the ages of 18 and 35. All were either overweight or obese and did not have diabetes.

Read more...

www.webmd.com/diet/news/20081107/yo-yo-dieting-no-magic-solution

Healthy Breakfast Foods

Author: Sharon Hopkins

It is always surrounded by silly excuse of lack of time. And still no one denies that fact that "breakfast" is the most important meal of the day.

Why such a hullabaloo about this early morning meal? Well, for starters, this meal comes after a break of 8 - 10 hours; hence your blood sugar level will be low. Since your body has gone with out food for such a long time, it needs nourishment to kick-start its day. Therefore "breakfast" is considered to be an important and essential meal of the day.

Breakfast benefits both, young and old. It is the key to jump start your muscles and your day. People who eat breakfast (healthy) daily are more likely to

• Consume more vitamins, minerals and less of fat and cholesterol.
• Increased strength and endurance.
• Better concentration and productivity all day long.
• Control over weight
• Low cholesterol = no risk or little risk of heart disease

Children who eat breakfast are likely to have better concentration, problem-solving skills and eye-hand coordination. They will be alert, creative, and less likely to miss days of school.

If you think skipping this meal, will help you lose weight, think again. By passing over this meal, your body will go in the starvation mode and make you crave for snacks especially sweets. Impulsive snacking on unhealthy foods can lead to weight gain. So you motive of losing weight by skipping breakfast stays unachieved.

Try to choose healthy foods from at least two food groups each morning

• Fruits and Vegetables
• Grains
• Dairy
• Proteins

A glass of pure fruit juice, bananas, yoghurt, low-calorie muesli with semi skimmed or skimmed milk, fresh fruit salad with few spoonfuls of low fat yoghurt, fresh and raw veggies mixed with flavoured yoghurt, a slice of toast or plain bread with eggs, boiled or poached are some of the options for breakfast. Kids can enjoy a Smoothie with their favourite fruits; add dash of yoghurt or honey to make it more delicious.

If you look forward to eating different kinds of healthy foods for breakfast, you are less like to skip this meal. If time is your hurdle, think about packing your breakfast or eating on the 'run', its better than skipping it altogether.

About the Author:

Sharon Hopkins has been managing a number of diet, nutrition and health websites that promote good health and unhealthy food habits leading to a diseased body. Healthy Food contain vital nutrients that aid our body’s metabolic function.