- Will chewing a whole bunch make you lose weight?
One tactic some dieters use to shed pounds is chewing. They chomp each bite as many as 50 times before swallowing. Is chewing a legitimate was to shed pounds? We’ll delve into this longtime dieting strategy.
Chew On This
A 2011 article published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition compared the chewing habits of obese verses lean men. Researchers found that after 40 chews, the men took about 12 percent fewer calories than after 15. Even though the obese men’s bites were smaller than the leaner men, the obese folks ate more calories overall. Although this study does show promise, we need to remember that there were only 30 total men tested (which isn’t very many).
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Could too many of these lead to weight gain? You shouldn’t be surprised that the answer is yes.
Most studies try to tell us what we should be eating or doing. A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine revealed top habits that rack up the pounds. See if the top “bad” habits are some of your own.
Understanding Bad Habits
The obesity epidemic is costing us our health and money. More than one-third of adults and close to one-fifth of kids in the U.S. are obese. These folks are at a much higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, liver disease, and certain forms of cancer. It’s estimated that it costs the U.S. nearly 10 percent of its medical spending to treat these diseases – that’s equivalent to $147 billion a year! Read more »
- Take a break to stretch and walk around once an hour while at work.
It’s not news that we’re having an obesity epidemic. Contributing factors include extra-large portions, too many processed foods and…our jobs? New research published in the journal PLOS One (Public Library of Science) shows that a drop in physical activity in the workplace also plays a role in our growing waistlines. Research also indicates that desk potatoes are 54 percent more likely to die of a heart attack! Here are 5 ways to make sure you move throughout your work day.
5 ways to stay active at the office »
I work with clients to establish safe and smart diet and exercise regimens. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of incorrect information out there! Here are the top 5 exercise faux pas I commonly come across.
5 exercise habits to avoid »
- The new MyPlate guide. Image courtesy ChooseMyPlate.gov.
In recent years, many have criticized the Food Guide Pyramid. Among the complaints: The guide is too confusing and doesn’t help Americans make better choices. On June 2nd, the USDA released its new shape for healthy eating, and it’s out with the pyramid and in with the plate. Take a peek at the new MyPlate design and get our take on what’s improved and what’s missing.
Get to know the new MyPlate food guide »
Consumer Reports recently released its latest diet ratings, with Jenny Craig topping the list. We dug deep to find out how they rated their diets — but based on findings, the real questions is should diet plans be rated at all?
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- If you want to indulge in that burger, here's how you can burn it off.
Calories in and calories out — the calories you eat from food are expended with physical activity. When eating outweighs what you’re burning, you can pack on the pounds. High-cal foods take more exercise to get rid of, and sometimes it makes it more real to visualize just how much moving you’d have to do to shed those decadent calories.
Burn off your favorite foods »
- Even healthy foods need portion control; an ideal serving of protein is 3 ounces, or about the size of a deck of cards.
A new study found that a only a measly 9 percent of Americans can accurately track daily calories. That’s a shame, since statistics show people who track calories lose twice as much weight as those who don’t.
That’s because if you don’t track calories, you’re likely eating more than you think. My clients are always saying, “I don’t eat very much, so why am I gaining weight?” After some digging and investigating, they often find the calories are actually stacking up. Here are some reasons why, and how to kick these nasty habits.
5 ways to cut calories »
The diet industry is always looking for the newest craze, and among the newcomers, there’s lots of chatter about weight loss shots. Some of these “magical injections” have been offered to weight loss clientele for years, but there’s also a new shot on the block with a mountain of potential dangers. Get the facts.
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We gave you the lowdown on the best nutritional bets for cardio workouts. Up next: How to eat when you’re hitting up the weight room.
The best foods for strength training »
