About HCG to Lose Weight

HCG stands for human chorionic gonadotropin. It's a hormone that's produced in the placenta and is most commonly found in the urine of pregnant women. Its purpose is to "regulate embryo development and influence the levels of other hormones" during pregnancy, according Dr. David L. Katz in his article "Are HCG Injections a Good Way to Lose Weight?" published on O, The Oprah magazine's website. Many doctors and other weight-loss specialists have suggested that taking HCG injections will curb your appetite and help you stay on a low-calorie diet.

History

HCG injections were first used as a treatment for obesity by a British physician named Dr. A. T. W. Simeons. Simeons spent years studying obesity and weight loss. He noticed that after giving his patients HCG injections, they lacked the "symptoms one would expect from a patient on a very low-calorie diet. For example, his patients had "no headaches, hunger pains, weakness or irritability." Simeons published a report detailing these findings in 1954.

Function

Simeons observed that, during pregnancy, obese woman were able to lower the amount of calories in their diet without becoming hungry or irritable. Simeons posited that due to the increased levels of HCG produced by the body during pregnancy , a woman's "diencephalic banking capacity seems to be unlimited, and abnormal fixed deposits are never formed," according to Hcgdietinfo.com. For this reason, Simeons believed that taking HCG injections would help to curb a person's appetite.

Considerations

Despite these claims, HCG injections are probably not the best weight-loss aid. A study conducted in 1990 by the Department of Medical Physiology and Biochemistry at the University of Stellenbosch in Stellenbosch, South Africa found that patients receiving HCG injections did not lose any more weight than those on placebo, according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. According to the Mayo Clinic, many other medical researches have studied the effectiveness of HCG injections on weight loss. The results of these studies "weren't promising."

Warning

Manipulating the amount of HCG in your body by taking HCG injections could cause health problems. HCG is designed to stimulate the ovaries. It causes the amount of estrogen and progesterone in your body to fluctuate. Supplementing your natural level of HCG with an injection could lead to the formation of ovarian cysts according Dr. Katz in his article on the O, The Oprah magazine's website.

Expert Insight

Because of these concerns, you'll probably be better off trying to lose weight the old-fashioned way. The only surefire way to lose weight is to live a healthy lifestyle. According to the Mayo Clinic, you should "take an honest look at your eating habits and daily routine." The best thing to do is to eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly.

What to Feed a Dog to Help Him Gain Weight

Weight loss is not uncommon in dogs, especially after they have suffered an illness or an injury. Many times food intake needs to be increased or a change needs to be made to help the dog gain weight. In some instances, supplements or help from the vet may be required to get the dog to maintain a healthy weight for its size and breed.

Finding the Right Food

In many cases of weight loss, a dog is simply not being fed the right type of food. The problem is that really cheap dog food doesn't contain what the dog needs most, which is nutrients and calories from the right sources. To help your dog gain weight, be sure that you are feeding a high-quality food. You can determine whether a food is high quality, experts at Dogtime.com say, if it has a meat or meat meal listed as the first ingredient. Grains as a first ingredient means it's a lesser-quality food because these are simply fillers. Sometimes simply feeding a higher-quality food will help a dog gain back any weight he lost while on the lower-quality food.
A lot of dogs around the 1 year age mark experience a drop-off in weight due to a change in food. This is because many owners assume that they can do away with the puppy food, when, according to veterinarian and author Carol Osborne, many breeds, especially the larger ones, need to continue to eat puppy food until the dog is 18 to 24 months old. Be sure to check on breed information for your dog, and talk to your vet if you are not sure.

Feeding Appropriate Amounts of Food

A dog that has lost weight and continues to keep losing may not be getting enough food. The best place to start with ascertaining the right amount of food is the food itself. On every bag of quality dog food you will find feeding guidelines. Make sure that you read these closely and feed based on that. Some dogs may require a bit more or a bit less. If your dog still seems hungry after eating the recommended amounts of food, try feeding a bit more.

Offering Calorie Supplements

There are calorie supplements on the market for dogs that you can try if nothing else is working. Your veterinarian is your best resource for finding an appropriate calorie supplement for your dog.
Another option is to feed your dog of the amount of dog food and of the recommended amount of puppy chow. Puppy food is higher in fats and calories, and these are often the things that are lacking in an underweight dog. If you do this for a couple of weeks you should start to see the weight coming back on.
If the dog is not able to gain or is not able to maintain weight that has been gained, it is time to see a vet to check for health problems because weight loss that is not temporary can be a sign of a more severe medical condition that needs professional treatment.

How to Lose a Pound a Day With Diet

Long term weight loss requires you to alter your lifestyle by changing your diet and increasing your exercise. If you want to lose weight and keep it off, you should expect to lose about one to two pounds per week. If you are trying to lose weight for an imminent special occasion such as a wedding or reunion, however, it is possible to lose weight much faster. These types of goals can be great motivators, but you need to make sure that you are not starving yourself.

Instructions

1

Eat at least 1,050 and 1,200 calories per day. According to Dr. Michael Dansinger, this is the minimum you can eat without forcing your body to go into starvation mode. If you try to eat less than this, you will actually trick your body into storing more fat because your body is reacting to famine and preserving calories in order to keep you alive.

2

Perform one hour of cardiovascular exercise per day. Cardiovascular exercise burns calories quickly and will also help to tighten and firm your muscles. Under normal circumstances, you need to give your body days off to recover from your exercise routine. If you have a specific event you are trying to lose weight for, however, you can increase your exercise without doing your body harm.

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Reduce your intake of sodium and starches. This will reduce your fluids and fluid retention or bloating. Eliminating sodium from your diet can cause you to lose up to five pounds when you first start your diet. This water loss is perfect for dieters trying to meet a close goal.

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Eat fresh fruits, vegetables, egg whites, soy products, skinless chicken breasts, fish, shellfish, nonfat dairy and 95 percent lean meat. Eliminating sugars, starches and animal fats from your diet but keeping the protein will allow you to burn fat while not burning muscle, according to Dr. Dawn Jackson Blatner.

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Drink eight glasses of water per day. You need to stay hydrated and drinking plenty of water will prevent you from confusing thirst for hunger.

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Throw out all of your unhealthy foods. This will prevent you from being tempted to break your diet. You can also write down everything you eat, which could make you feel more accountable for your diet.

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Nibble on fennel seeds, ginger, parsley, peppermint, pineapple and yogurt with honey. According to Dr. Blatner, these foods will make you feel less bloated and will make your stomach look smaller, even if you didn't actually lose as much weight as you were hoping.

Diet for Goiter

A goiter is a swelling in the thyroid gland in the neck. This can lead to a noticeable swelling in the throat that looks like a growth. It is painful and unsightly. Goiter is caused by a lack of iodine in the diet. Following a proper diet is important to both avoid and treat a goiter.

Foods to Avoid

If you have developed a goiter, or fear developing one, there are some foods to avoid. These foods actually promote the growth of goiters. They won't promote goiters if eaten in small amounts, but they will if they are eaten at the expense of foods that help prevent goiters. To cut the risk of goiters, avoid white flour products, white sugar, foods from flesh, fried foods, greasy foods, preserves, condiments, tea, coffee and alcohol. You will also want to avoid sodas or anything with caffeine.

Juice Fast

Start a juice fast. Goiters are caused by a lack of iodine, but they can also be caused by too much iodine or too much of the wrong kinds of food. For the first few days of your new diet, you will fast on only juices. These juices will help purge your body of any of the chemicals that cause goiters. After a couple of days, these chemicals will have been purged, and your body will be healthy and clean.

Foods to Eat

Begin introducing foods rich in iron and iodine into your diet. Foods like guavas, strawberries, citrus fruits, eggs, seafood, whole grain rice, tomatoes, oats, onion, garlic, carrots and lettuce are high in iron. Foods that are high in iodine include iodized salt, seafood, seaweed, sushi, shrimp, shellfish, cow's milk, yogurt, and locally grown fruits and vegetables. These foods, along with goiter treatment medicine from your doctor, will help treat your goiter in a short period of time.

How to Lose weight by drinking cold water( The Cold Water Diet Plan)

Losing weight by drinking cold water is super easy and the cheapest diet plan out there. Your body will work really hard at trying to keep you warm. This will work off all those excess calories. How EASY is that?!!! Just call it the Cold Water DIET plan!

Instructions

1

Just how do you lose weight by drinking cold water? By drinking enough cold water your body will work to stay warm. This means you are burning off calories as your body works really hard to turn up the heat. Your inner thermostat will be trying to adjust and get rid of excess weight.

2

Drink a lot of cold water every day for a week or two and you will lose unwanted weight. You will be peeing a lot, but the pounds just melt off.

3

Drinking numerous glasses of water every day for several weeks can be major boredom! Spice it up by adding some lemon or lime to the water. Don't add sugar because then you ill be adding more calories and defeating your DIET.

4

Think of it this way---You will be losing weight by running back and forth to the bathroom all day. You'll be getting a great healthy workout, when adding running up and down the stairs to get to the bathroom.

5

Keep eating healthy foods during the cold water DIET. You will lose weight faster by not eating. But then you may pass out behind the wheel of your vehicle due to a lack of food. Eat healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables, and low calorie, non-sugar containing cereal for an added boost.

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The lemon in the cold water will add to your weight loss. Enough lemon and it will act as a diuretic to clear out excess fluid from your body.

How to Break a Weight Loss Plateau

Have you hit the dreaded weight loss plateau?

Are you frustrated because the weight loss has just stopped?

Here are 4 simple ways to break through a weight loss plateau.

Instructions

1

The first thing you need to do is make sure that you are following your diet program. We frequently lie to ourselves in order to justify cheating on our diets. If you haven't been fully following your diet plan then you need to start there before reading on.

2

Before we move on to the steps to break a weight loss plateau, we must understand why it happens. Your body desires to be in a state of homeostasis, it does not like change. When change occurs it has to work harder. That's why changing your routine is so important in order to continue your weight loss.

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Tip 1 - Increase your calories. The first tip to break a plateau is by increasing your calorie consumption by 500 calories per day for 7-10 days. That doesn't mean go off your diet. You just need to give your body a little nudge to get it going in the right direction.

Increase your carbohydrate intake to give your body a break from carb restrictions. After the 7-10 days cut your calories back to where they were. This will help give your body a nice little shock that can you get back on track.

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Tip 2 - Your intensity level. When trying to drop those last few pounds it is often an issue of intensity that is causing your weight loss plateau. In these situations you need to crank up the dieting and exercising for a few weeks to help you blast through it.

Exercising a little harder or being a little stricter on your diet can give you that extra little boost that you need.

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Tip 3 - Change your exercise routine. The way you exercise can play a vital role in how you burn fat. Doing the same routine for too long allows your body to adapt and work more efficiently. If you have been using the same workout routine for more than 4-6 weeks it's time for a change.

A Simple solution to this problem is to change how you workout. For example, add weight training to your program or increase your sets and reps or change how many days a week you workout. Do this every 4-6 weeks to keep your body from adapting.

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Tip 4 - Reduce your carbohydrates. Yes this is the opposite from the first tip but it can work really well to help you break through your weight loss plateau. By lowering your carb intake down to a ketogenic level it forces your body into a fat burning mode. This works best if you aren't already on a low carb diet (less than 100g/day).

Try lowering your carb intake to 20-40g/day for 2 weeks whenever you hit a plateau. This is the most difficult of all of the tips but also the most shocking to your body.

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As frustrating as weight loss plateaus are, they are a normal physiological occurrence. That's why it is always important to change up your routine in order to keep your body from adapting. By using one of the strategies listed above you will be able to break through your plateaus and continue to lose weight.

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While you are here please take a moment to check out the resources area below for more tips and information. For other how to tips don't forget to check my profile and to take a look at other articles on ehow.

Hypothyroid Weight Loss Diet

Hypothyroidism is another way of saying you have an under-active thyroid. According to AnneCollins.com, it is 10 times more likely to affect women than men and is most common between the ages of 40 and 50. Thyroid disease can be treated by dieting, exercising and destressing your body. Some doctors may also treat patients with a thyroid hormone. Doing nothing about hypothyroidism can lead to heart disease, cancer, diabetes, fibromyalgia or infertility, just to name a few complications. Getting serious about weight loss can dramatically improve your condition.

The Do's

Despite medical treatment, people with thyroid issues often have difficulty losing weight. It's important for patients to focus on a diet that is high in fiber, low calorie and contains low-glycemic carbohydrates. Carbs that have a high glycemic rating are high in refined sugar, so they cause cravings and fluctuations in your energy levels. Eat spinach, asparagus, olive oil, apricots, sunflower seeds, avocados, whole grain cereals and oily fish to boost thyroid function. It may also help to increase the amount of selenium in your diet by eating tuna, whole wheat bran, onions, tomatoes and Brazil nuts. Meals should be spaced out and timed every few hours so they impact your hormones as much as they can. Exercise is also essential to any hypothyroid weight loss diet. It speeds up your metabolism and increases weight loss. Try to do 30 minutes of exercise every day.

The Don'ts

There are thyroid-damaging foods to avoid or limit. Eat less of the foods that can interfere with iodine uptake. This includes broccoli, cabbage, kale, kohlrabi, linseed, mustard, sweet potatoes, lima beans, peanuts and products made of soy. Avoid caffeine-laden drinks such as soda and coffee because it is a stimulant that affects your thyroid. Alcohol and smoking will also affect the gland's functioning.

Supplements

There are helpful herbs and supplements when you're on a hypothyroid weight loss diet. A diet low in iodine is usually associated with an under-active thyroid. You get the most iodine from sea salt and sea weed. There are also iodine supplements. The American Food & Drug Administration limits iodine in supplement form to 0.15mg. Some patients have had good results from taking 4mg of iodine and 600 units of vitamin E. A diet rich in zinc has also been shown to improve thyroid function. Consult with your doctor before buying or taking any supplements, as each case is different.

Grapefruit & Egg Diet

Grapefruit diets are not new. Grapefruits are a thermogenic food believed to increase weight loss. Thermogenic foods require more calories to digest than they contain. Eggs are high in protein and help you feel full longer. While the grapefruit and egg diet does result in weight loss, experts question its safety. The diet severely restricts calories and may be hard for many people to stick to because of its restricted menu.

3-Day Diet

The 3-day grapefruit and egg diet features the same meals over three days. The plan allows for protein options during the evening meal. A minimum of 8 glasses of water must be consumed during the day.

Breakfast each day consists of coffee, black tea or green tea with no milk or sugar, one slice of wheat toast, grapefruit and one egg. Lunch consists of grapefruit, your choice of steamed vegetables or mixed salad, 1 tbsp. of flaxseed or olive oil with lemon juice and a cup of black tea, green tea or coffee. Seasonings that do not contain salt can be used on vegetables and salad.
Dinner consists of grapefruit, a mixed green salad with lemon juice, steamed or raw vegetables (no portion limit) and 4 oz. of broiled or baked meat, poultry or fish.

Two snacks per day are allowed. The morning snack consists of 1 slice of whole wheat toast and 2 egg whites. The afternoon snack is more substantial: 1 apple, 2 egg whites, 1 piece of skim cheese and 1 cup of coffee, black tea or green tea.

12-Day Diet

The 12-day grapefruit and egg diet is an extended version of the 3-day plan. It restricts calories to between 800 and 1,000 a day. The 12-day plan allows dieters to add two slices of bacon to the breakfast menu. At lunch, two eggs are added. Butter is allowed to season vegetables. However, the extended plan allows only one snack, which is a glass of tomato juice or skim milk before bedtime. Dieters are encouraged to eat as many vegetables as they like. As on the 3-day plan, individuals must consume a minimum of 8 glasses a water each day.

Diet Restrictions

The grapefruit and egg diet does not allow for any diet sodas or sugar substitutes. In addition, salt, products that contain salt, milk and sugar are all banned. Only one cup of coffee, black tea or green tea is permitted per meal. Between meals, water is the only drink allowed.

Precautions

Grapefruit juice may interfere with prescription and over-the-counter medications. Dieters should not take medications within 1 hour of the meal.

The diet severely restricts calories, which may result in a slower metabolism. When calories are restricted, the body will make adjustments in the metabolism rate in an effort to restore balance. Eating too few calories for long periods makes it more difficult to lose weight.

Effectiveness

The grapefruit and egg diet does result in weight loss of about 2 to 4 pounds over a 3-day period. However, this result may be due to calorie restrictions and not the combination of foods in the diet.

How to Do The Belly Fat Cure Diet

The belly fat cure diet has taken storm from Oprah to the internet, the belly fat cure diet is defininately showing tons of promise. Basically the diet relies on losing belly fat as way to cut down on sugars and starches, as well as filling the body up with "good carbs" to help eliminate the body of trapped waste-the other contributor of belly fat.

But its important to note that the belly fat cure diet isn't JUST about losing belly fat for cosemetic reasons so that you can look good in your jeans. Of course thats a great benefit. But there are some dangerous propositions with having a larger middle. For women belly fat can cause the over production of estrogen and extra fat stored in the breasts. There are also links to belly fat and the liver. And even with the reproduction organs and the cause of cancer-in the breasts as well.

With men, an increase in belly fat also causes a lower libido. An increase in estrogen and man boobs. And of course a higher incidence of a fatty liver and diabetes.

Instructions

1

Leave the sugars alone. This may sound like a no brainer, but generally the body stores sugar as fat. And sugar is first stored as fat and at a higher rate around the mid section. So stay away from processed sugars to successfully do the belly fat cure diet.

2

Do the carb swap. The biggest part of the belly fat diet is swapping good carbs for bad carbs. Of course, bad carbs are the white flours and pastas. The belly fat cure diet relies on the substitution. In fact the good carbs actually help release toxins and extra waste that the bad carbs have caused.

3

Sweeten the things you must have like coffee or tea with Truvia, Stevia or Xylosweet. The no sugar thing is heavily throughout the belly fat cure diet.

4

Eat protein in the morning like scrambled eggs or an omlet. If you are a vegan, try a scrambled tofu. Your morning should be started with protein. Remeber no sugar.

5

Bread isn't completely out in the belly fat cure diet, so for lunch you can have things with wheat. A chicken sandwich is fine. Remember no condiments with sugar. pickles on the sandwich is fine. And softdrinks like Zevia have NO sugars and are healthy for you-made with Stevia from South America.

Quick Ways to Lose Weight With Shake Diets

A shake diet is one of the quickest ways to drop weight safely and effectively. A variety of shakes are currently on the market, but two of the most popular types are meal replacement and protein shakes. Used to supplement a healthy lifestyle, these liquids can keep energy levels up and cravings down, all while maintaining the appropriate level of nutrients.
As with any diet, water is key to losing weight, but it is especially important when on a shake diet.

Meal Replacement Shakes

Meal replacement shakes have been on the market for decades, and one of the best-known brands is SlimFast. Meal replacement shakes help fill you up while restricting calories and providing necessary nutrients. By replacing two meals a day with a shake and eating one sensible standard meal, you can expect to lose 1 to 2 pounds per week. Typically, dieters have a shake each for breakfast and lunch and eat a healthy dinner, but any combination will work.
Meal replacement shakes can be found in the diet and nutrition section of your local supermarket. Most shakes can be purchased in pre-packaged single servings or in powder form in a large canister.

Protein Shakes

Protein shakes can promote weight loss by boosting metabolism and providing long-lasting energy. They also help increase muscle mass. Since protein shakes can sometimes be higher in calories, they are best used as meal replacement shakes to guarantee weight loss.
Protein powder is manufactured by many brands and can be found at any health food specialty store. Protein shakes are usually sold in powder form and packaged in large canisters. To make a protein shake at home, mix two scoops of powder with 8 oz. of water. (Check instructions on the packaging to be sure that the ratio is correct, as shakes may vary.) Using a blender yields the best results, creating a smooth, creamy shake free of lumps.

Supplementing Shakes With Water

As with all diets, consuming eight 8-oz. glasses of water a day is recommended. This is especially important when using shakes to lose weight, as water helps the body absorb nutrients in the shake. This helps you feel fuller longer and delivers essential vitamins to your body. Water also flushes the system of toxins and fluids, resulting in less water retention and a greater and faster rate of weight loss.
Before starting any diet or nutrition program, talk to you doctor to make sure the plan is right for you.

How to Train the Jillian Michaels Way for Maximum Fat Loss

Biggest Loser star trainer Jillian Michaels is now famous for her ripped abs, muscular arms and a training style that is part drill Sargent and part counselor. The key to this training style is sticking to a low calorie clean eating plan and mixing up your work-outs daily. To achieve maximum weight loss follow these steps on how to train the Jillian Michaels way.

Instructions

1




Eat clean, healthy meals. The key to maximum fat loss and seeing all that muscle you have been training is through proper nutrition. The best work out in the world is not going to do you any good if you are not eating right. Choose to eat raw fruits and vegetables, lean proteins and complex carbohydrates daily. Avoid simple carbohydrates like white pasta, bread, cookies and pastries instead opt for brown rice, whole grains and gluten free pastas. Keep your fat burning at its maximum by eating five to six low calorie meals a day.

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Work out daily. To lose maximum fat you need to burn off extra calories every day. If you have ever watched the Biggest Loser TV show you know Jillian Michaels trains her clients hard. The key is to mix up your work-outs, to keep your muscles in shock. Muscle has memory, and if you do the same exercises over and over every day you will not get the most benefits. You should do a combination of cardiovascular exercises, strength training and stretching. Set at least one hour aside a day to move your body and stick to it!

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Take your vitamins. Dr. Andrew Weil recommends taking a nutritional vitamin and mineral supplement every day to help so gaps in the diet may be avoided. A quality vitamin supplement should have at least 100% of vitamin B's, C, D and E. Taking a complete mineral supplement is also recommended. Jillian Michaels now has her own line of supplements available at many drug stores.

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Stay positive. A healthy mental attitude will help you succeed in attaining your weight-loss and fat-loss goals. Focus on parts of your body that please you instead of the ones you do not like. Tell yourself daily that you are healthy and strong and have a great body. Keeping a positive state of mind will help you make better choices getting you to your ideal body faster.

How to Lose 10 Pounds in the Atkins Diet Induction Phase

Losing weight on the Atkins diet is actually much easier than other weight loss programs. You are less hungry, and can eat tons of fatty foods, and still lose weight. The induction phase of the Atkins diet is the first phase and usually lasts about 2 weeks. On this phase of the diet you eat certain foods and will usually lose the most amount of weight.

Instructions

1

Go to your local drugstore and purchase some lipolysis strips. They have them specifically for low carbohydrate diets now. These will tell you if your body is burning fat. You put them under a stream of urine. The darker they are, the more fat your body is burning.

2

Your carbohydrate content should stay under 20 grams per day. Most unprocessed meats and eggs contain no carbohydrates, so you can eat these in unlimited amounts.

3

Eat eggs and sausage or bacon for breakfast. Be sure that the sausage or bacon has the least amount of carbohydrates possible (usually about 1 gram per serving).

4

Eat 2 cups of salad daily and up to 3 ounces of cheese. You can add these to any foods.

5

Eat hamburger, chicken, steak and shrimp in any amount you please. You can eat lunchmeat as well, just check carbohydrate content.

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Do not eat any bread, pasta, cereals, potatos, cakes or anything else that is not meat, eggs, salad or cheese.

Diet Suitable for Underactive Thyroid

When the thyroid gland is not working properly, the metabolism can slow down, causing weight gain. This type of thyroid dysfunction, also called hypothyroidism, is controlled by taking a thyroid hormone replacement and following a diet plan to reduce weight while nurturing the thyroid gland. Knowing which foods to eat and which foods to avoid is important in order to lose weight while controlling hypothyroidism.

Adding Coconut Oil

Coconut oil has the potential to encourage healthy thyroid functioning, increase metabolism and regulate weight, according to physiologist Ray Peat. Although coconut oil contains saturated fat, its medium-chain fatty acids help speed up metabolism. Coconut oil for consumption should be extra-virgin, meaning that it is taken from the first pressing of the raw coconut meat. Coconut oil should be eaten raw, as heating it changes the properties in the oil. It can be spread on toast or used in a fruit smoothie.

Avoiding Processed Foods

Processed foods are highly refined and can contain saturated fats, sugars and artificial flavorings and colorings. Eating a lot of processed foods feeds the body empty calories, leading to weight gain. Eat foods high in fiber and vitamins. Include a variety of fruits and vegetables, lean proteins such as fish and chicken breast, whole grains such as oats and brown rice, nuts and seeds. Avoid heavy meats such as beef and pork, which contain heavy saturated fats.

Avoiding Refined Sugars

Refined sugars spike the blood sugar, then leave the blood stream quickly, which causes a blood-sugar crash. This cycle taxes the pancreas and throws the thyroid gland out of balance, exacerbating hypothyroidism. Avoid eating refined sugars that are typically in sodas, pastries, candies, cookies and crackers. If you have a sweet tooth, replace refined sugars with natural-sugar alternatives, such as stevia, agave nectar or blackstrap molasses. These natural sweeteners can be added to tea, coffee, baked goods and cereals to provide a sweet treat without spiking blood-sugar levels.

Type 2 Diabetic Diet Plan

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder, meaning that the condition effects how a person is able to break down the foods he eats. While a diabetic diet is similar to a diet recommended for most people aiming to achieve a healthy lifestyle, the diet also should focus on maintaining blood sugar levels.

Basic Principles

A person with type 2 diabetes has trouble producing enough insulin to convert glucose found in carbohydrates into energy. Carbohydrates are a body's source of energy, yet those with diabetes must consume them in regulated amounts in order to be able to break them down. For this reason, a diabetic diet should focus on controlling portion sizes and eliminating overeating. The recommended calorie count is typically 1,500 to 1,800 calories, although a physician should evaluate the best calorie count based on your age, weight and activity level.

You should aim for carbohydrates to make up 45 to 65 percent of daily calories, protein to provide 15 to 20 percent of daily calories and fats to provide 20 to 35 percent of daily calories.

An Exchange Plan

The Mayo Clinic recommends following an exchange system diet plan to regulate the amount of carbohydrates, fats, and protein. The exchange system groups food into categories, which are translated into portion sizes. For example, one small apple equals 15 grams of carbohydrates while 1/3 of a cup of cooked pasta has the same amount of carbohydrates. Both of these are referred to as "exchanges," meaning they have 15 grams of carbohydrates in them. A person on a 1,600 calorie diet should aim for about 13 carbohydrate exchanges per day, which translates into 800 calories a day from carbohydrates, according to endocrineweb.com.

Healthy sources of carbohydrates include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, lentils, and peas, and low-fat dairy products. Spread these carbohydrates across the span of your day (such as breakfast, 3 exchanges; a snack, 2 exchanges; lunch, 3 exchanges; a snack, 2 exchanges; and dinner, 3 exchanges).

Add in Fiber

Dietary fiber helps the body use carbohydrates to aid in digestion. Foods that contain fiber include vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole-wheat flour, wheat bran or bread, or nuts, according to the Mayo Clinic. Your total fiber intake should be 25 to 30 grams of fiber per day.

Reduce Saturated Fat Intake

The presence of diabetes can increase a person's risk for heart disease and stroke by hardening the arteries. For this reason, it's important for diabetics to highly regulate the amount of saturated fat in their diet to no more than 7 percent. Trans fat, which is present in many pre-packaged foods, should be eliminated completely. Butter, margarine, and shortening should be avoided while healthy fats, such as olive or canola oil should be included. Diabetics should also look for opportunities to swap unhealthy saturated fats, such as butter on a bagel for healthier choices, such as sugar-free fruit spread.

Healthy Protein Sources

Those with type 2 diabetes should aim to eliminate meats high in saturated fats, such as organ meats. Replace these with heart-healthy fish, such as cod, tuna, or halibut; lean cuts of chicken; turkey; and egg substitutes.

How to Gain Weight in the Breasts and Butt

In the world of fashion, the typical model has few or no curves, and many women strive to attain this appearance. But if you're trying to go the opposite direction and develop some curves by putting on weight in the breasts and butt, you might find that doing so can be surprisingly challenging.

Instructions

1

Understand your body. If you are a pre-adolescent girl trying to add weight to these regions, the best thing to do is wait a few years before attempting to sculpt yourself. During the teenage years, your body changes steadily, and trying to regulate those changes is often futile.

2

Know the risks. Once you start pushing your body in one direction, the results can be hard to control unless you have exceptional metabolic circumstances. Gaining weight presents health risks, so you should consult your doctor before you attempt it.

3

Gain weight healthfully. Use a workout regimen that focuses on exercises geared toward the breasts and hips. You will not actually be creating larger breasts, but instead building muscle underneath them to give that appearance. Build your chest muscles by increasing the weight load on bench presses. Build your butt muscles by increasing the weight load on leg extensions.

4

Eat more and let your body store the extra weight. By gaining a few pounds, women tend to naturally increase the size of their butt and bust.

Fruit Juice Diet for Weight Loss

A short-term fruit juice diet might kick-start a new diet, but to lose weight permanently, eating a well-rounded diet that includes whole vegetables, fruits, low-fat protein, whole grains and non-saturated fats is best.

Some well-known diets have a beginning phase of eating only certain low-sugar fruits. This is believed to increase weight loss. By consuming only fruit juice, you cleanse and detox, losing water weight. Fruit juice does not provide fiber, protein and other nutrients needed for long-term health.

Short-term Fruit Juice Diet

If you're going to juice to lose weight, it is best to juice fresh whole fruits. Avoid canned, frozen, or processed juices: they lack the vitamins and enzymes found in freshly extracted juice.

If you have no serious health issues, you could try a short juice diet by consuming five to six 8-oz. glasses of fruit juice and another six 8-oz. glasses of filtered water for two to four days. Consume at least 1200 to 1500 calories per day. To move your bowels, use Epsom salts (two tsp. in water, once only).

If you feel dizzy or weak, or are unable to function normally at work or at home, discontinue the juice-only diet and gradually add steamed vegetables, whole grains and low-fat proteins.

Health Hazards of Crash Dieting

Following a fresh-fruit juice diet for a few days should be okay, but do not undergo heavy physical exercise that would be counterproductive. If you consume less than 1,000 calories per day, for example, your metabolism--the rate at which your body burns calories--slows down.

If you eat too few calories, your body begins to metabolize its own muscle tissue. This is counterproductive to long-term health and permanent weight loss. To lose weight, build and preserve lean muscle tissue.

To do that requires eating lean protein and a balanced diet that does not eliminate any food groups: whole grains, vegetables, fruits, complex carbohydrates, low-fat dairy, low-fat proteins and non-saturated fats.

Fruit juicing for three to four days is generally safe for most people but once you return to eating solid food, the danger is overeating and gaining back more weight than where you started.

What Can I Eat to Lose Weight Quickly?

There are no safe, quick fixes to weight loss: it is a lifestyle change. Only under direct medical supervision is it safe to follow a fruit juice diet for more than four or five days.

Instead, consult reputable sources such as My Food Pyramid designed by a team of nutritionists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. They emphasize getting no more than 30 percent of your calories from fat and no more than 10 percent of that from saturated fats (fats that are solid at room temperature). They also have food pyramids for vegans, vegetarians, women in menopause and people over 55.

Fruit juicing for three to four days is generally safe for most people but, once you return to eating solid food, there is a danger of overeating and gaining back more weight than you lost.

How to Lose Water Weight Fast

Birth control pills, prescription steroids, and excess sodium - all of these contribute to water weight, which can add inches to your mid-section. Rather than accept the bulge, consider fast ways to lose water weight.

Instructions

1

Drink eight to ten glasses of water a day. Drinking water to lose water weight may sound contradictory. But this is one of the quickest and fastest ways to shed weight. Water stimulates the kidneys, and flushes excess fluids from the body.

2

Alter your prescription medication. Often times, birth control pills, anti-depressants and prescription steroids result in water retention or water weight. Tapering the dosage, or switching to a different type of medication can reduce fluid retention and help you lose excess water weight.

3

Eat less sodium. A high sodium diet increases water retention and swelling. If your medication causes water weight, decrease your sodium intake. Eat less than 2,500 mg a day. Pay attention to food labels and stay away from processed foods.

High Protein Low Glycemic Diet

When looking to lose weight, you are naturally interested in the most efficient ways to complete the task at hand. One popular dieting solution is the combination of a higher protein diet with consumption of low-glycemic index carbs. Through this combination, you can effectively regulate blood sugar and insulin levels without resorting to a full-blown low-carb diet. This method of dieting has the advantage of providing similar weight loss benefits to a low-carb diet without the psychological drawbacks of eating nothing but meat for weeks on end.

High Protein, Glycemic Index, and Dieting

Effective weight loss is largely about self-regulation of blood sugar, insulin levels and metabolism through dietary manipulations and exercise. A high-protein, low-GI diet will accomplish all of these goals. Insulin is the primary storage hormone in your body, released in proportion to the amount of sugar within the blood, or blood sugar level. Blood sugar is typically raised by consumption of carbohydrates, with faster-digesting carbs causing a higher spike in blood sugar. Insulin bonds with the sugar in the blood, carrying it into fat and muscle cells for storage or energy.

The Glycemic Index is a scale that ranks foods depending on how heavily they affect blood sugar levels--the higher the rating, the more blood sugar is raised, the more insulin is released and the greater chance that the energy will be stored as fat. Thus, by controlling blood sugar by confining yourself to low-GI carbs, you will minimize fat storage and more effectively carry out your dieting goals.

High protein helps in this equation by increasing the number of calories burned through the thermic effect of food, indirectly boosting your metabolism. The thermic effect of food states that your body burns calories while digesting food with protein having the highest "cost" of digestion. Therefore, eating additional protein forces your body to burn more calories throughout the day.

Rules of a High-Protein, Low-GI Diet

To follow a high-protein, low-GI diet, first you must decide how high your high-protein intake should be. Protein needs are based on your activity level--the more work you do during the day, the more protein your body needs to repair the damage. The American Dietetics Association recommends a protein intake of 0.4g per pound of body weight for individuals who perform no exercise at all, 0.65g per pound of body weight for endurance athletes, and 0.8g per pound of body weight for weightlifters. A high protein diet is a diet consisting of roughly 10 percent more protein than absolutely needed.

Now that you know your protein intake, you should aim to divide it equally across your planned meals. A goal of consuming five or six smaller meals during the day is a good plan when dieting, so if you need 180g of protein during the day (and are eating six meals), plan on consuming 30g of protein per meal. The best protein sources are lean protein sources--meat, chicken, fish, turkey and eggs. Protein powder is also acceptable in limited amounts, but the bulk of your diet should come from solid foods.

With protein intake covered, round out your meals by consuming a low-GI fruit and a low-GI vegetable with every meal. Sample low-GI fruits include cherries, grapefruits, apples, pears, strawberries, oranges and grapes. Sample low-GI vegetables include broccoli, lettuce, cabbage, mushrooms and red peppers. Consuming one fruit and one vegetable with every meal will ensure that you stay full while providing your body with plenty of essential vitamins.

Finally, round out your daily intake with healthy fats. Healthy fats include limited amounts of saturates (animal fats) and a larger amount of mono and polyunsaturates (olive oil, fish oil, coconuts, avocados, peanut oil, sesame oil and nuts). Consume at least some healthy fats with each meal to balance your daily intake of macronutrients.

How to Lose Weight with the Master Cleanse Lemonade Diet

The Master Cleanse, also known as the Lemonade Cleanse and Lemonade Diet, is a nutritional cleanse that aims to detoxify the body. One of the perks that attracts many people to The Master Cleanse is the side benefit of natural weight loss.

Instructions

1

Prepare for The Master Cleanse Lemonade Diet by following the "Ease-In Diet" for three days before you start The Master Cleanse. This part can be skipped if you want to go straight to the cleanse.

2

Do not eat while you are doing The Master Cleanse. Drink as much water as you need along with the lemonade.

3

Do a salt water flush each morning on an empty stomache to cleanse and detoxify your body naturally. Add two teaspoons of sea salt (non-iodized) to one liter of water and drink it all.

4

Drink The Master Cleanse lemonade concoction 6-12 times each day. The lemonade is a combination of 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, 2 tablespoons Grade B maple syrup, 1/10 teaspoon cayenne pepper and 8 ounces of water. Prepare the drink when you are ready to drink it, rather than making up several glasses ahead of time.

5

Consume an herbal laxative tea each night before bed to facilitate the cleansing process.

6

Follow this routine for 4-14 days. The length of time you choose to do the Lemonade Diet depends of you. Some people just do it one day and some do it for 30+ days. Most people follow The Master Cleanse diet for 10-14 days and lose 5-15 pounds.

7

Transition back to a healthy diet by following the "Ease-Out Diet" for three days after you finish The Master Cleanse. The Ease-Out Diet consists of eating fresh fruits and vegetables and should not be skipped.

How to Lose Weight on the Rice Diet

The rice diet is a low sodium and low fat diet that has helped people lose weight for years. Despite the name of the diet, you are not restricted to only rice on the rice diet. You actually have dozens of food options on a daily basis. After following a few steps, you'll be ready to lose weight on the rice diet.

Instructions

1

Read what the rice diet entails from the Riceway website (see Resources below). The website has an introduction to the rice diet and outlines the different phases of the diet.

2

Purchase the foods needed for the rice diet. To see what foods you will be eating, go to the Riceway website. Once on the homepage, click on the "Portions" link. Read what constitutes a portion, and pick the food items that interest you. The different categories of food items are dairy, protein, starch, vegetable, fruit, condiments, beverages and fats. You can also shop for the rice diet from the comfort of your own home at the Rice Diet Store website. At the Rice Diet Store website (see Resources below), you can find all the food you will need for the rice diet and have it delivered to your door.

3

Begin the rice diet by undergoing the detox phase of the rice diet. The detox phase is explained in great detail on the Riceway website. Click on the "Phases" link and you will get a detailed outline of what you are supposed to eat during the detox phase.

4

Advance to the second stage of the rice diet. While the first stage is usually meant to last only one week, the second step is to be stayed on while you lose the weight you want to lose. You can find what you are allowed to eat each day on the "Phases" link of the Riceway website.

5

Continue to the third and final stage when you have reached the maintenance portion of your diet. This should be at the point that you have lost all the weight you want to lose. As with phase one and two, you can find information for the third phase on the Riceway website.

How to Workout On a Treadmill for Fat and Weight Loss

You have finally determined it is time to lose weight. Great. Weight loss can be challenging and where to start poses its own dilemmas. You want to achieve fat loss, not just weight loss. A treadmill is the perfect solution for all your workout needs.

Instructions

1

To achieve weight loss on a treadmill and to be sure you are maximizing fat loss, you need to be in your ideal heart range. This is typically 50-70% of your maximum heart rate. (See my other article for determining this)

2

If you are starting out, be advised your heart will be extremely high and will be hard to stay in range. Your heart will usually adjust within a week of working out.

3

To maintain maximum fat loss, you should only take 1 - 2 days off per week from your treadmill workout. This will keep your weight loss steady during your workouts.

4

You can mix your schedule up on the treadmill, but ideally you should have 3 long walking days and 3 short walking days and 1 long easy day (I will explain later)

5

Staying within your target heart rate for fat loss, your short day should be 30 minutes on the treadmill. your long day should be 60 minutes. Both days you should warm up slow for 5 minutes and finish with a cool down followed by stretching. This workout will obtain high fat loss as you lose overall weight.

6

On your long easy day, walk for 30 minutes at your target heart rate, followed by a 60 minute easy stroll.

7

Take one day off. You deserve it. Your new workout will give you great weight loss and more importantly fat loss.

Ketogenic Diet for Weight Loss

While ketogenic diets have long been used to control epileptic seizures in children, they have also been used in recent years to achieve weight loss. The ketogenic diet emphasizes high fat intake in conjunction with moderate levels of protein and low amounts of carbohydrates. While studies have shown clear success in controlling epileptic seizures, fewer data are available regarding the diet's efficacy as a weight-loss plan, although some results show promise.

Ketogenic Weight Loss Theory

In a ketogenic diet, the ratio of fat intake to the combined intake of protein and carbohydrates is 4-to-1. This high fat intake increases ketosis, a process that converts fat into ketone bodies and fatty acids that the body can use as a source of energy instead of glucose. The theory is that with the increase of ketones and the reduction of carbohydrates, the body will soon begin to burn ketones, allowing the body to more efficiently tap the energy stored in fat.

Critics of these diets have called ketosis the body's emergency response to chronic starvation resulting from a shortage of carbohydrates. The general claim of these critics is that the body prefers glucose and that the process of ketosis is dangerous and even life-threatening.

One 2004 study in the Annals of Internal Medicine compared a low-carb ketogenic diet to a low-fat diet in treating obesity. The researchers found that over a period of 24 weeks, the participants who followed the low-carb diet lost more body weight and reduced higher quantities of fat than did those who followed a low-fat diet.

Meals

Breakfast foods in the typical ketogenic diet include bacon, eggs, ham and flourless crepes. Lunch and dinner may include tuna salad, cheeseburgers, shrimp, chicken, chili, tacos and grilled steak. Side dishes and snacks may include split pea soup, coleslaw, pecans, chicken salad and cheese sticks. Dessert choices may include cheesecake, peanut-butter cookies, and strawberry-banana trifle. The diet stresses alternative sweeteners over sugar, and ingredients such as coconut oil and flax oil are known to increase levels of ketones. The diet is fairly flexible, provided the 4-to-1 ratio of fat to protein and carbohydrate ratio is maintained.

Highest Calorie Foods for Weight Gain

With so many people trying to lose weight, it's easy to overlook that some are desperately trying to gain. Whether for health reasons, or due to high metabolism, some people have a challenging time gaining weight, which can be just as frustrating as dieting. Instead of heading out for some high fat and calorie-rich fast food, try some healthy options instead.

Meats and Salmon

Meat can be a healthy option to add extra weight onto your frame. By selecting the right cuts of meat and grilling or broiling, you can add extra calories but not necessarily the unhealthy fats.

Weightlossforall.com tells us that the highest calorie cuts of meats include bacon, fatback and lamb shoulders. One serving of bacon has about 500 calories, but about 45 grams of fat. Beef has an average of 275 calories per serving and 20 grams of fat. There is a misconception that fats are bad for you and should be removed from the diet. But there are both good and bad fats, and about 15 to 25 percent of your total calories should come from fats.

Salmon is a heart healthy option, packing in lots of Omega-3 fatty acids. Allwomenstalk.com finds salmon to be the richest dietary source of Omega-3 fatty acids and are rich in EPA and DHA fats, the two most important of the fatty acids. A 3-ounce serving of salmon has around 152 calories. Adding smoked salmon to a bagel for breakfast or having a serving of salmon for lunch could help add on some extra pounds.

Nuts and Fruits

Nuts are calorie dense and also a good source of protein and essential oils. Weightlossforall.com finds Brazil nuts to have the highest calorie count at 679 calories per serving, which has 68 grams of fat. Allwomenstalk.com suggests adding a couple tablespoons of peanut butter on a piece of bread to add nearly 200 calories to a meal.

Fruits and juices will help you gain weight and meet your vitamin C requirements. As a simple carbohydrate, fruits and juices are more concentrated and have less fiber. Many times fruit juices are more concentrated than the fruit themselves, sometimes doubling calories. A medium sized orange, for example, contains around 60 calories while a glass of orange juice contains up to 160 calories.

Complex Carbohydrates

Many people try to stay away from pasta because of the high carbohydrate count, but whole-wheat pasta is a heart healthy option and still adds extra calories to the diet. Gainweight.info finds that complex carbohydrates such as whole grains, pasta, cereals, beans, potatoes and rice have a high calorie content that will help with weight gain. A typical serving of pasta contains between 800 and 1,000 calories.

By having a dinner with complex carbohydrates, you will add extra weight and also get a good amount of fiber and starch. Serving it with a protein and fresh vegetables helps keep your diet balanced. Even when trying to gain weight, make sure to maintain a healthy exercise regime to stay fit.

How to Lose Weight by Fasting

Many people try fasting over short periods to help kick-start a diet or new health regimen. Others try fasting to lose a set amount of weight quickly. In most cases, fasting involves going without food entirely; but some forms of fasting require only that certain foods be restricted. A conservative fasting program under the supervision of a qualified health care professional may be an effective solution to losing weight. Follow these steps to learn more.

Instructions

Find Out If Fasting Is Right for You

1

Learn more about the various forms of fasting, like water fasting, juice fasting and fasts that only require the elimination of meat and dairy products. Visit Web sites like the one run by Dr. Ben Kim (see Resources below) for the details.

2

Experiment with several shorter fasts before beginning a long period of fasting to see how your body reacts to the process.

3

Consider doing a colon cleanse before fasting in order to reduce the gastric discomfort that can otherwise occur. Many colon cleansing supplements can be quite inexpensive, depending upon how long you'll be taking them.

4

Think about the practical side of fasting. Decide if your daily routine will be disrupted by a fast. Ask the people around you if they will be supportive and sensitive to your needs if you do go on a fast.

Fast to Lose Weight

5

Drink at least 7 to 10 glasses, each 8 oz., of distilled or purified water every day of your fast--even if you're just on a juice fast or are otherwise restricting your diet. Fasting proponents often advise against drinking tap water. They argue that it can reintroduce toxins and chemicals into your system and undermine the fasting process.

6

Alternate between fasting periods and eating periods. Many people find that they can lose more weight by fasting if they do it for 2 or 3 days at a time, instead of fasting for a long period.

7

Use caution when breaking a fast by not having a large first meal. Try a smaller meal first. Wait a few hours to make sure you body reacts well to the food, and then eat normally after that.

Worst Foods to Eat When Trying to Lose Weight

When you're trying to lose weight, what you eat is just as important as what you don't eat. We all know to avoid fast food and sweet treats when we're trying to shed a few pounds, but sometimes diet-busting foods aren't obvious. Making informed decisions about what you eat is necessary to achieve maximum weight loss.

Carbonated beverages

While soda isn't exactly a "food," you should avoid drinking it if you're trying to lose weight. On average, soda contains about 155 calories per can. To burn off one can of soda you would need to walk vigorously for about 23 minutes. If you're going to drink away your daily calorie limit, try having something nutritious like a glass of milk or a low-fat smoothie.

French Fries and Chips

French fries and chips are both foods you should avoid if you're trying to lose weight because they are usually high in calories and low in nutritional value. Both chips and fries are fried at high temperatures, which creates a known carcinogen called acrylamide. Chips and fries are also high in trans-fats, which can increase the chances of heart disease.

Canned Soup

When you think of the "must avoid" foods when dieting, canned soup probably isn't at the top of the list. Because of their extremely high salt content, however, canned soups should be avoided if you're trying to lose weight. Some canned soups contain MSG (monosodium glutamate), which is harmful in general. Instead of filling up on canned soups, try your hand at making homemade soups---they taste better and are much better for you!

Alcohol

Alcohol should also be avoided to achieve weight loss. Alcohol itself does not contain a lot of calories, but the beverages we mix it with do. Some frozen cocktails like margaritas can contain up to 800 calories! Three pina coladas later and you've reached your daily caloric intake. Alcohol also inhibits our ability to stick with a diet plan. While you might not be tempted to chow down on poutine, you might be more likely to do so after a few drinks.

Pasta and Bread

Pasta and bread contain large amounts of carbohydrates, both of which are difficult to burn off with exercise. Before the body can burn off fat, it must first burn off carbs. If you're going to have bread and pasta, try to choose a whole grain variety that has not been stripped of its nutritional value. Avoid white bread and buns, as they tend to be high on the glycemic index and, in terms of nutrition, are almost as bad for the body as sugar.

How to Lose 10 Pounds a Week by Diet & Excersise

Losing 10 pounds in body weight can be achieved in one week by using a combination of diet and exercise. The introduction of a diet that is low in fat, carbohydrate and calories will help you to quickly see weight loss results. Increasing the amount of exercise you do each day will mean that your body is burning extra calories. It is estimated that you need to burn around 3,500 calories to lose one pound of fat.

Instructions

1

Replace your usual lunch with soup. Soup helps to keep you feeling fuller for longer, and it's generally low in bad fats and carbohydrates.

2

Snack on fruits and vegetables. Replacing your usual snack foods--such as chips and cookies--with healthier options. These options may include raisins, fresh fruit and carrot sticks; they should significantly reduce your intake of calories.

3

Exercise three to five times per week. Swimming, jogging and cycling are all effective ways to burn extra calories. One hour of vigorous cycling can burn up to 590 calories.

4

Stop eating after 7 p.m. Eating late at night means your body has little opportunity to burn off the calories you have consumed; it is then more likely to absorb unhealthy fats.

5

Drink plenty of water. As well as helping to keep you feeling full, drinking six to eight glasses of water a day will flush out toxins.

What Is Blood Fungus?

What is sometimes termed blood fungus is actually a variety of cultures of living fungi that can exist in our bloodstream. Some of these blood fungi are non-pathogenic, or harmless, such as Penicillium, according to the Journal of Clinical Microbiology. Some, however, are disease-producing fungi, also known as pathogens.

Definition

Blood fungus, also known as fungal sepsis or a systemic fungal infection, according to the Anaesthetist website on fungal infections, is a fungal colonization that starts in the bloodstream, but can spread to other parts of the body. Pathogenic blood fungus is an increasing problem in hospitals worldwide, according to a Centers for Disease Control website.

Candida Albicans

One serious blood fungus pathogen is Candida albicans. According to the Centers for Disease Control website, Candidemiaa condition caused by Candida albicansmay be the fourth-biggest agent of overall bloodstream infections in the U.S.

Aspergillus

Pulmonary Aspergillosis is caused when the spores of Aspergillus fungi, another pathogen, are inhaled, according to the Anaesthetist website. This condition can also develop into Invasive Aspergillosis, which has a high fatality rate among at-risk patients.

At-Risk Patients

Those most at risk for a blood fungus infection are patients undergoing chemotherapy or who have had a bone marrow transplant, patients whose immune system is compromised and patients in intensive care units, according to the CDC website.

Other Pathogens

Other blood fungus pathogens include: Candida parapsilosis, Histoplasmosis, Blastomycosis, Cryptococcus neoformans and Coccidioidomycosis, according to the Anaesthetist website.

Diagnosis and Treatment

An accurate diagnosis is vital with blood fungus, in order to receive proper treatment; blood fungus does not respond to antibiotics and many types are also resistant to anti-fungal drugs. Anti-retrovirus therapy can help raise survival odds with blood fungus pathogens such as pulmonary Aspergillosis, according to the Anaesthetist website.

How to Calculate Your Total Daily Calorie Needs

We all need a minimum number of calories simply to survive, but we can also set a calorie limit to maintain a healthy weight. You can calculate the total number of calories you need for your type of lifestyle, then use this figure to decide on a range of calories to consume each day - it's not an absolute figure.

Instructions

1

Calculate the minimum number of calories you need by multiplying your current or desired weight in pounds by 10 if you're a woman, 11 if you're a man. This number represents your basic calorie needs.

2

Calculate the number of calories required for your activity level (see tips, below) by multiplying your basic calorie needs (the calculation from step 1) by your activity level - 20 percent or 0.2, 30 percent or 0.3, 40 percent or 0.4, or 50 percent or 0.5. The resulting number represents your activity-based calorie needs.

3

Calculate the number of calories your body needs for food digestion and absorption by adding your basic calorie needs and your activity-based calorie needs (the answers from steps 1 and 2) and multiplying this sum by 0.10. These are the calories you need for digestion.

4

Add the three calculations from steps 1, 2 and 3: This is your total daily calorie need to maintain your desired weight.

How Many Calories Does a Strawberry Contain?

People young and old like strawberries because they are just the right size and delicious. They are also full of many health benefits, low in calories, and you can find them year round, growing almost everywhere around the world. In the United States, for example, strawberries have been grown since 1860, and Americans are able to buy strawberries and enjoy them regularly.

Types

There are three types of strawberries: June-bearers, ever bearing, and day-neutral. June-bears are the most popular strawberries grown, and they ripen in June, thus the name. The ever-bearing variety is ready for picking in spring and throughout the growing season. According to Iowa State University, day-neutral strawberries grow best during the cooler months of the growing season. As long as weather conditions are ideal, this variety will bear fruit from June through September.

Identification

When you are looking for the best strawberries at your local grocer or farmer's market, there are a few things to consider. If you hand pick the berries, look for intense red ones with green leaves. If you are picking a package of strawberries, check carefully to make sure none of the berries are moldy. According to the University of Illinois Extension, if one berry is moldy, mold spores will be all through the package.

History

Strawberries have been growing for over two thousand years. Ancient Romans used strawberries for ailments such as gout, kidney stones, and fever. They also believed it prevented bad breath. According to Manzanita Berry Farms, the first European settlers in Virginia discovered strawberries in 1588. Since the early 1900s, strawberries have been grown in California. It is believed "strawberry" is derived from the original name "strewn berry" because the berries are strewn about on the plant as they grow.

Fact

According to the Cooper Institute, a cup of fresh strawberries has 43 calories. They are low in fat, high in vitamin C, fiber, folic acid, and potassium. Strawberries are the first fruit to ripen in spring, and the only fruit to have seeds on the outside with about 200 each. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, we eat over three pounds of strawberries each year---and over 90 percent of American households eat strawberries.

Geography

Strawberries grow around the world---except in New Zealand and the continents of Africa and Australia. They are grown in all the 50 U.S. states and every Canadian province. According to Manzanita Berry Farms, California grows about 80 percent of the strawberries found in the U. S., while Florida grows the second highest amount. California strawberries are available from January to November and peak between March and May. Florida strawberries are available December through May.

Benefits

Strawberries are high in vitamins and minerals, antioxidants, anti-aging, and disease-fighting properties. They get their red color from the high amount of antioxidants, which make them ideal for fighting cancer. Strawberries also decrease age-related loss of cognitive and motor skills. Due to the fighting diseases of strawberries, they are recommended for health problems such as high blood pressure and the flu. Strawberries are also good for removing tartar on your teeth and, consequently, increase gum health.

Homemade Cure for Yeast Infection in Dogs

Yeast is a naturally occurring bacterium in the body that is actually good for the body in moderation. When it over-produces, infections occur. For a dog, most yeast infections take place in the ears or on the skin, causing the dog itchiness and discomfort. Some dog owners might consider it a small problem, but it can result in sores if left untreated. Unfortunately, medications from the vet can be expensive. There is a home cure that can be tried before taking the dog to the vet.

Instructions

1

Feed the dog raw meats. Dogs are made to eat meat rather than vegetables for sustenance. The problem with dog food is that many dry foods and even wet foods are full of vegetables, especially corn, which is cheaper for the company. These can often cause the infections, so removing the dry dog food and feeding the dog raw meats instead will often be helpful.

2

Make a mixture of apple cider vinegar and water, in equal parts, in a glass. Make sure that the vinegar is free of added yeast. Some brands will add yeast, which can make the problem worse, but the brands that avoid yeast will help eliminate the yeast infection.

3

Using a dropper, drop a few drops of the water and vinegar solution into the dog's ear twice a day. This will slowly eliminate the yeast infection. For yeast infections on the skin, use the solution and gently pour it over the dog instead of using a dropper.

How to Diet to Lose Belly Fat

Whether you're tired of seeing a "muffin top" hanging over the waistband of your favorite jeans or are concerned about the health risks associated with excess belly fat, try to adopt eating habits designed to help you reduce the added pounds you're carrying around the middle. By adopting certain foods into your daily diet, you can increase the ability to lose stomach weight. Combine the dietary changes with exercise and you'll find success with your diet to lose belly fat.

Instructions

1

Diet to lose belly fat by eating more foods that are good sources of monounsaturated fatty acids, proven to be an effective way to lose stomach weight. Foods such as peanut butter, nuts (particularly macadamia nuts, sunflower seeds, walnuts and almonds) and green and black olives are touted for their ability to burn belly fat.

2

Include flaxseed oil into fruit juices or smoothies when you're trying to diet to lose belly fat. The Omega 3-rich ingredient is high in fiber to reduce constipation and water retention and has been shown to increase metabolism to help burn belly fat.

3

Ingest more of the right type of carbs that can help when losing belly fat. A diet considered the best way to lose belly fat includes equal amounts of fruits, vegetables and whole grains and a reduction of simple high-carb foods loaded with detrimental trans fats like fried foods, chips and cookies. It's recommended to increase carbohydrate consumption slowly, however, since a diet featuring more than seventy percent carbs can lead to bloating (and the look of more belly fat).

4

Increase your water intake to drink at least ten glasses of water each day. Often considered the best way to lose belly fat, the extra fluid can flush toxins and sodium out of your system and reduce constipation and water retention that can lead to bloating. While increasing water intake, avoid liquids with excessive sodium that can increase bloating like sodas or canned soups.

5

Eat smaller meals throughout the day to aid digestion and improve metabolism that can help when losing belly fat. Skew your meals so you're eating about seventy-five percent of your food before your evening meal so you'll have time to burn off excess calories before bed.