I would like to become part of a cause to promote a good body image, and a healthy body weight.
Our world is too pressured by the media, to be skinny.
Does anyone know of any foundations or activities?

Dove has a great foundation for young girls.

http://www.campaignforrealbeauty.com/supports.asp?id=1747&length=short&section=campaign

Eating healthy – Why is that people are always asking the same question? I.e. why do I need to have a healthy diet? Well why not, that is if you want to lead a healthy life like keeping fit and in shape. If you are one of those people who choose to ignore to eat healthy, then think of your family – who may just want to.

Eating healthy has an added bonus – as well as keeping your body up to scratch so as to speak, it is the happy factor that sets in – knowing you are servicing your body in the best possible way.

Eating a healthy diet is one way of helping the human body in shedding the pounds. A healthy diet combined with some physical activity is a sure way in helping any person carrying excess weight – to lose it faster. If your eating habits are not controlled then you can run into big trouble in the form of obesity etc.

Being overweight or obese can be very dangerous because it can increase the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or even a stroke (paralysis) these are just a few to mention, respiratory organs can be affected leaving a person struggling for air i.e. breathing problems. Arthritis, gallbladder disease, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, and some cancers of which no one is exempt from contracting if overweight – so this is one good reason to follow a healthy eating diet.

If you are unsure as to whether you are at the limit where you would be classed as overweight or obese – then fret not – because there is a simple way to help you find out. This is done by figuring out your body mass index (BMI). Women with a BMI of 25 to 29.9 are normally considered overweight, whereas some females with a BMI of 30 or more are classed as obese. Every grown up over the age of eighteen who have a BMI of 25 or more – is more prone to the dangers pointed out earlier, for example premature death and disability are two major risks that can result from being fat. If BMI was permitted to rise then more chance these health risks increases.

A little research and careful planning can help you find a diet to fit your lifestyle and better still give you a more rewarding one – all because you chose to change your life for the better in following a healthy eating plan.

A sure way to replenish your body is with balanced nutrition – do this by eating a variety of nutrient-packed foods daily. Make sure you stay within your daily calorie intake.

Eat a variety of fruits – these can be fresh, frozen, canned or dried – rather than fruit cordial. A 2,000 calorie diet will insist your intake be 2 cups of fruit each day (for example, 1 small banana, 1 large orange, and 1/4 cup of dried apricots or peaches).

Mix your vegetables from time to time. Dark green veggies is an healthy eating option, such as broccoli, kale, and other dark leafy greens; orange vegetables, such as carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, and winter squash; remember to eat what it is that you will most enjoy – therefore making your diet more pleasing and appetizing. Other tasty options are peas, such as pinto beans, kidney beans, black beans, garbanzo beans, split peas and lentils.

This is your healthy eating diet so you get to choose.

Before taking up any diet always consult your doctor or dietician for advice. Guidance for the happy dieter info http://www.sheddingthepounds.com.

Who's sexier - Jennifer Lopez or Olive Oyl from the old Popeye cartoons? Most people would emphatically reply, "J-Lo!" Some of us are naturally endomorphs, and have difficulty losing weight. At the other end of the spectrum are ectomorphs, who are thin and actually have trouble gaining weight. Being skinny can be emotionally difficult. That may be hard to believe, especially for women, given our current "thin-is-in" culture of beauty. Others who may want to gain weight include body builders and those who are overcoming eating disorders.

The idea behind gaining weight is not to become obese of course - so fast food is definitely out of the question. That's because obesity is accompanied by serious health risks such as heart disease and diabetes. Rather, people who want to gain weight need healthy high-calorie foods for weight gain. The healthy way to gain weight naturally is with high-protein foods - which will also build attractive, lean muscle.

The three primary nutrients for the human body are protein, which supplies amino acids; fats, which supply fatty acids; and carbohydrates, which supply glucose. These three primary nutrients are also the foods to gain weight with! Here's a snapshot of how to optimize your diet with healthy high-calorie foods for weight gain.

Protein should be the building block of every meal and snack. Protein builds lean muscle. This does not mean fast-food burgers! Be sure that your protein sources are lean: chicken, fish, or vegetarian alternatives such as beans and tofu. Red meat and dairy products are not generally recommended because they're high in saturated fat. However, there are healthy ways to eat red meat and dairy products, which we'll discuss shortly. Your serving of protein should be the largest portion on your plate. Lean protein snacks include hummus, nuts, low-fat cheese and yogurt.

Enjoy hearty whole-grain carbohydrates. This does not mean white, highly processed carbs such as potato chips, white bread and bagels! Think brown. Whole-grain carbs include items such as multi-grain crackers, whole wheat bread and basmati rice. People who are watching their weight avoid highly processed carbs and reduce their intake of whole-grain carbs to one or two servings per day. Since your goal is to gain weight, feel free to eat whole-grain carbohydrates with every meal. Seven-grain crackers dipped in hummus makes a hearty snack!

Eat at least five servings of fresh fruits and vegetables every day. You can boost your serving intake by also drinking 100 percent natural fruit juices. Also, be sure to add a fruit or vegetable to every meal. We could change that old saying "An apple a day keeps the doctor away" to "Five servings a day keeps sickness at bay!"

Enjoy healthy fats. Fats encourage nutrient absorption, facilitate nerve transmission, and maintain cell integrity. This does not mean eating greasy french fries! Not all fats are created equal. There are good fats and bad fats. The good guys are monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Monounsaturated fats lower LDL, or bad, cholesterol and they also increase HDL, or good cholesterol. Tasty examples are nut, canola and olive oils. Polyunsaturated fats lower LDL and total cholesterol, too. Those healthy omega 3 fatty acids that you're always hearing about are polyunsaturated fats. Salmon, fish oil, and corn, soy, safflower and sunflower oils are high in polyunsaturated fats. Dip your whole-grain bread from a local baker in gourmet olive oil! Make a big, creamy batch of guacamole from hearty avocados–throw in some chunks of tomato and onion. These are delicious, healthy, high-calorie foods for weight gain! Avoid bad fats, as they instigate heart disease and certain types of cancer. The bad guys are saturated fats and trans fats. Saturated fats raise LDL and total cholesterol; they're found primarily in animal products, including meat, dairy and eggs. Trans fats come from hydrogenated oils. Scientists whip hydrogen into any type of oil, even originally healthy oils, to give processed foods a longer shelf life and a creamier "mouth feel." French fries and buns, stick margarine, vegetable shortening and countless packaged foods contain partially hydrogenated oils. Read the labels, and avoid them.

If you're going to eat animal products occasionally, protect your health by doing it the right way. If you want to enjoy some red meat and dairy products as part of your healthy plan to gain weight, here are some tricks to keep bad fats in check. Opt for meat and dairy products that come from grass-fed animals, preferably from local small family farmers in your area. Now, organic and grass-fed meat is available at most supermarkets. Not only are these products vastly superior in flavor, but also contain more good fats, especially omega 3 fatty acids, than bad fats. They also have conjugated lineolic acid, and are high in beta-carotene. These nutrients plummet in ordinary mass-produced meat and dairy products, because the animals are fed corn, which is less expensive and makes animals larger. You might also be shocked to learn that the animals are often fed truckloads of stale or ruined junk food such as snack cakes from bakery outlets because it's so cheap.

Another method you can use to supplement healthy foods to gain weight is by focusing on anaerobic exercise rather than aerobic exercise. Aerobic exercise is moderate activity performed over an extended period of time, such as running and bicycling. Aerobic exercise burns fat. However, if you're trying to gain weight, retain a little fat to sculpt into lean, attractive muscle, and turn to anaerobic exercise. Anaerobic exercise is high-intensity with short bursts of action, such as weight lifting, sprinting and jumping. Weight lifting is the perfect anaerobic exercise for someone who's trying to gain weight. Body builders use this type of anaerobic exercise to build muscle mass, and non-endurance sports athletes use it to build power. Weightlifting creates a hard body for men that women love, and it sculpts those curves on women that men appreciate! Once you attain your desired weight, you can supplement anaerobic exercise with aerobic exercise for overall cardiovascular health.

In addition to these diet tips, you can supplement your healthy diet with protein supplements. It is often difficult to eat enough protein each day, so supplementing with a soy or whey protein shake can help increase overall intake. Everyone who is too skinny wants to gain weight, look great, and build strength. Take the next step today, and enjoy the benefits of a fit, healthy body.

Is there a reliable website, or a tool that can help me to know the right weight that will make my body perfect and healthy? I don't need to know the way, I just need a number. Thanx

www.myvitaminguide.com
This site determines correct body weight by assessing BMI!

There are many conflicting theories as to what the experts consider to be healthy. There are multiple different approaches to living a healthy lifestyle. However, all healthy people do have one thing in common. They have formed positive habits that result in their optimum health level. Let's look at some of these habits a little closer.

Habit 1: Probably the most important habit that highly healthy people have developed is regular exercise. There are many different schools of thought on this subject as well. How much is enough? As a basic rule, any amount of exercise is better than none. Therefore, if you aren't currently exercising, start out lightly. Don't try to run the Boston Marathon tomorrow after reading this. No one wants to go to the gym for a grueling, four hour workout. Anyone can fit 20 minutes of exercise in, though. If you exercise for 20 minutes, at least 3-5 times per week, you'll be healthier than most of the population. If you can eventually bump that up to an hour per day you'll be doing great.

What type of exercise should you engage in? There are countless exercises that you can engage in that will greatly benefit you. Probably the most convenient forms are walking and jogging. You can do these two pretty much anywhere. Even if you don't have a treadmill, just go outside. Besides aerobic exercise, a weight training routine is ideal. Developing muscle helps boost your metabolism and keeps everything running smoothly.

Habit 2: Another factor to a healthy lifestyle is drinking water. This may seem simple, but it is so important. The benefits of drinking water have been proven time and time again. It keeps everything working properly and it actually makes you feel better. After you start exercising, you'll probably want to drink even more water. If you feel sluggish and tired all of the time, there's a good chance that you're dehydrated. Drinking six, eight-ounce glasses per day is great. These two habits are obvious, but two of the most important.

Habit 3: Eating right is a very important part of a healthy lifestyle. Now according to many of today's marketing ploys, you could be eating anything and it's considered 'healthy'. Low-fat, low-carb, no-carb - what's the best. Well, I think if you just use common sense, you'll know what a healthy diet is. If you can, shop at the natural food store, as this is usually the healthiest food. Stick to the food guide pyramid and get some variety.

One of the biggest factors is how often you eat. All of our lives we've been taught to eat three big meals. However, recent studies have shown that this isn't necessarily best for us. If you can, try eating 4-6 smaller meals throughout the day. This keeps your metabolism working constantly and will burn more calories. This approach is pretty obvious when you think about it.

When you only eat big portions a few times per day, your body thinks it will be awhile until it gets food again. Therefore, it stores some of the food away for a rainy day. If you eat more frequently, your body thinks more food will be coming soon. Less fat is stored as a result of this. So in summary, eat your meat, dairy, grains, fruits and vegetables and eat them frequently.

Habit 4: Another habit that healthy people perform is taking supplements. Vitamins can give you that extra boost that you don't get through your diet. Chances are, even if you're trying to eat healthy, you miss something that you need. A good multivitamin will solve that.

Habit 5: Healthy people generally get a good amount of sleep every night. Your body was designed to rest every night. It will work better for you if you let it. Six to eight hours is optimal. When you go to sleep, clear your mind of everything else. A busy mind will keep you awake and not let you sleep as deeply. Just try to forget the day and rest. You'll feel much better.

Habit 6: Another habit that healthy people have in common is good hygiene. This may seem like a given, but it should not be ignored. Having good oral health contributes to your overall health as well. So listen to the dentist and brush at least twice a day. Don't forget to floss, either.

Habit 7: One habit that nearly all highly healthy people have in common is their attitude. Good mental health is synonymous with good physical health. You can't be depressed all the time and be healthy. Control your attitude and control your health. Try to put some of these habits into your routine. You'll be glad you did.

Howard Hunt, Ph.D. is an exercise physiologist and emeritus professor of UCSD's Physical Education Department. His discussion focuses on the principles of a well-balanced exercise program, the physical and emotional benefits that can be gained by staying fit, and techniques for evaluating the impact of one's personal exercise program on overall health. Series: "SIRA (Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging)" [3/2003] [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 6711]

Duration : 0:56:16

More on Exercise for a Healthy Body and Mind

All across America, harmful toxins including hair spray, lawn fertilizers, food preservatives, dry cleaning, and flea repellant are exposing us to more chemicals and toxins than ever before. They are present in the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the water that we drink. These products that we depend on daily expose us to literally tens of thousands of chemicals and contaminants each day, making the question clear, how do we detoxify? With the hundreds of detoxification products ranging from one simple supplement to complicated regimens, how do we choose the best product for us?

Detoxification, which is the elimination of poisons or toxins, includes a wide variety of treatments that aim at getting rid of the body's toxins and improve health. Although we have a natural detoxification system in our body such as our liver, lungs, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, and skin all work to eliminate the toxins we take in, the huge amount of contaminants and toxins in today's environment presents too challenging of our job for our body to handle on its own. This results in a dangerous accumulation of toxins in our body. When toxins are found in the food we eat and the water that we drink, sometimes they can not be destroyed by the digestive enzymes, detoxified by the liver, or eliminated by the immune system, causing them to build up and affect every part of our body, slowing our metabolism, taking our energy, reducing our immunity, possibly leading to serious chronic illness.

Since most detoxification supplements only focus on the liver and colon, the only way to make sure that detoxification is truly successful is to cleanse the whole body, which demands detoxification of the blood and lymph also. If toxins are present in the blood and lymph, this means that every organ, tissue, and cell will be exposed to these toxins, even if you are currently undergoing detoxification. The blood and lymph fluids need detoxification too, for your body to perform its best.

Many detoxification programs are complicated and hard to follow, even with instructions. If you can't understand what you need to do, the chances are that the detoxification program will not work very well. Be wary of which product you choose because some programs contain ingredients that are so ineffective and useless that they are a waste of money, while others contain products that are known to harm your health. Avoid programs that are based on senna and cascara, which are laxatives that often create bowel dependence, deplete vitamins, minerals, and enzymes, and leave you feeling drained and fatigued. Enemas and colonics place a large demand on bowel health and, although helpful, should not be used at home, but rather under the supervision of a healthcare practitioner.

When choosing a whole body cleansing program look for something that is based on safe, effective, all-natural herbs and nutrients. It should be a gradual and gentle program that works with your body's own detoxification ability and normal patterns of elimination. The two-week initial phase should scrub your intestines naturally, stirring up and freeing stored toxins, bind the freed toxins with fiber for excretion and elimination, restore power to the liver, purify the blood, and cleanse the lymph.

Magnesium hydroxide, which is one of the most effective yet gentle laxatives available, draws water into the intestines, which causes its contents to soften and swell. It then scrubs, loosens, and cleanses the intestinal walls. Herbs such as Slippery Elm Bark, Marshmallow Root, and Peppermint Leaf extract, coat irritated mucous membranes, draw out toxins, and soothe the lining of the intestinal wall, help white blood cells seek and destroy disease-causing germs, increase the bow of bile, relax intestinal muscles, and reduce cramps and gas that may occur during detoxification.

After stirring up toxins and scrubbing them from intestinal walls, they must be grabbed onto with natural detoxification fibers. Upon entering the intestines, the fiber expands and soaks up the toxins and waste minerals, preparing them for elimination through the intestines. The safest fibers to use during detoxification are oat bran, pectin from citrus fruit, psyllium husk, and guar gum. However, even the best detox fibers can't cleanse the colon if they can't absorb and eliminate toxins. The most effective fibers are designed to be thoroughly dispersed throughout the entire colon.

With the use of milk thistle, the best known herb for the health of the liver, liver cells injured by toxins can be regenerated and toxins can be blocked from entering the liver in the first place. However, not all milk thistle products are the same. Only milk thistle that is standardized to contain 80% silymarin and formulated with phosphatidylcholine are capable of preventing liver damage in persons suffering from alcoholism or hepatitis and improving the way the liver works in people with cirrhosis of the liver. When milk thistle is combined with artichoke extract, licorice, and dandelion, the result is healthy bile production and a better flow of bile into the small intestine.

Because blood nourishes every organ as it flows through our body and transports oxygen from the lungs, nutrients from the small intestine, hormones from glands, and immune cells to fight infection and reduce inflammation. It also takes toxins to the liver and transports waste to the kidneys. However, if the liver is unable to detoxify as it should, the toxins will remain in the bloodstream, influencing every cell, tissue, and organ. Burdock, one of the most effective natural blood purifiers and cleansers, helps the kidneys filter impurities from the blood more quickly and helps to cleanse the respiratory, lymphatic, urinary, and circulatory systems also.

Since lymph is the fluid of health, the lymphatic system is the first to alert the body that there are toxins within it. One of the most effective herbs for lymph detoxification is red clover extract because it is able to keep harmful toxins out of the lymphatic system, while keeping the liver strong and stimulating bile production.

Although most people will have excellent results from the whole body cleansing program, there are additional nutritional supplements that help detoxification needs. Humifulvate, which reduces lead and cadmium levels in people who have been exposed to highly toxic metals, binds harmful metals in the intestinal tract, without draining the body of the healthy minerals it needs. Following a cleanse with a high potency pancreatic enzyme supplement will help to keep intestines parasite-free, while helping your body to produce digestive enzymes, immune secretions, and beneficial flora. Oregano, thyme, peppermint, and goldenseal are also important in keeping the body from growing bacteria, viruses, candida, and fungi after detoxification. An inulin and oligofructose supplement can help our immune system fight bacteria and viruses and improve the strength of our heart, while keeping our digestive tract healthy. Finally, a probiotic supplement can help to deliver helpful bacteria to the intestine, where the previous beneficial bacteria had been depleted due to retained intestinal toxins.

When deciding to use a detoxification program, one must know that it is safe for most people. However, pregnant or nursing women should not use any detoxification program, even if they are designed to be extremely gentle. It is also recommended that a person does not detox more than four times in the same year, unless it is recommended by a health care provider. While on a detoxification program, it is important to drink at least 64 ounces of water every day. With a good detoxification program, the whole body will be cleansed gently and gradually, while working with your body's own detoxification ability and patterns of elimination. All the above mentioned herbs and vitamins are available at your local vitamin store as well as internet vitamin stores.

I look at myself in the mirror everyday and I hate what I see…I'm a female,23 years old and my problem is my body. I'm too skinny… My height is about 5'1 and I weigh under 90 pounds..I've been struggling to gain weight a few years now and I'm still at the point where I started! I haven't been getting any results. It's like no matter what I try, nothing works..All I want is to have a healthy body and feel good about myself. I hate feeling as though people are staring at me all the time. It sucks… I'm not an anorexic. I jus have a problem gaining weight. It's so frustrating cuz I'm getting fed up of trying…. Is there anything anyone can share that might help?? I'd really appreciate it.

I have the same paroblem. I'm 29, 5'5" 100 lbs. People call me skinny, anorexic etc…. every day. It gets old. Plus, it's really hard to find clothes that fit.

Only recommendation I have is to visit a nutriicionist at your local hospital or gym They can put you on a specific diet.

You may also want to have your thyroid checked. I had mine checked, nothing was wrong, but it put me at ease a little.

Panchendriya means the five sense organs. Dinacharya means daily lifestyle routine. Daily lifestyle routines have direct influence on our panchendriya or the five sense organs. The healthy functioning of all the five senses and clear thought processes is a sign of overall health.

Healthy dinacharya leads to healthy panchendriya and overall physical and mental health. Dinacharya is a set of rules for daily routines starting from the time of wake up, doing everyday chores to getting to bed after completing the karma for a day.

Most ideal time to wake up

According to Ayurveda it is well before sun rise, probably around 5 in the morning. Atmosphere is most purified during this time. It is also the time that fills your mind with all positive thoughts and ideas. Early morning is time for sattwa or positive mental traits. It is also the time of the day when cognitive and learning powers are highly illuminated.

Very young children, elderly and sick persons are free to break this rule.

Method of waking up

Don't jump off from your bed as soon as you wake up. Take a moment or two to mentally identify your position on the bed, the room and the thoughts running through your mind. Touch and feel your body for a while and take two or three deep breathes before you slowly get off.

Elimination â?? bowel movement and urination

Eliminate the wastes before the sun rise. However you don't have to force elimination. Early elimination is necessary to expel the toxic wastes from the body before your body is slowly put to toxicity. See the process as basic cleansing of your internal body.

Cleansing the Senses â?? Sense Organs or Panchendriya

Wash your eyes and ears as first steps of purifying your sense organs. Apply a drop of sesame or almond oil inside the ear. Thoroughly clean the tongue. Also clean your nose by pulling some water into your nose. This cleans the nose and sinuses.

One indriya not included in panchendriya is our mind. Ayurvedic dinacharya recommends inhaling the smoke of medicinally valuable herbs like turmeric cleanses the thought process and empowers for better cognitive powers and clear thought process. Morning Ayurvedic dhoom pana (inhalation of smoke) also helps in cleaning lungs.

Massage your body with simple coconut oil, almond oil or olive oil. You can also choose Ayurveda abhayanga oils. This promotes blood circulation in all parts of the body, helps getting more nourishment to tissues and prevents aging. Aging is basically the wearing off of bodily tissues because of insufficient nutrition. Abhayanga solves this problem.

Take a bath 30-90 minutes after self massage.

Exercise needs to be complete before taking a bath. The reason is obviously to remove sweat from the body.

Exercise and meditation should be there in your daily routine. Yoga, surya namaskar, pranayama etc are the things to follow.

Daily food

Break fast

Natural organic food is best for your health and body. Take only a light break fast before 7'o clock.

Lunch

The ideal time to take lunch is before 12.30, five to six hours after your light breakfast. You will be very hungry while at the time of lunch. The hunger is a healthy indication of strong digestive fire and receptiveness of the body for food. Eating too much too soon is the single highest reason for several diseases. Eat a healthy, highly nutritious lunch. This is the main meal of the day. Take a slow walk for no more than two minutes after lunch and take some rest. Don't avoid either the walk or rest. It is essential for proper digestion of the food.

Supper

Supper is best taken before 7 in the evening. Keep it lighter than lunch. 'athazham kazhinjal arakkatham' is a saying in Malayalam that suggests you should walk for a little while after supper.

Daily works and travel

Complete your works and travel before sundown. Spend the sundown and later hours with your family and kids, engaging in prayers or meditation.

Time after supper

This is time to relax. Don't try to bring in tiring thoughts. Instead keep this time of the day in the most relaxed mood. Listen to music, read good books etc.

Bedtime

Go to bed at around 10. Bed time is also time for physical union. Make sure you get a minimum of six-seven hours of sleep. You are going to wake up before 5 in the morning, right?

Most people look into the mirror and probably think that they could use to lose a little more weight. A little flab here and there could be eliminated and those extra pounds from that party should be lost ASAP. But how much should you lose?

Losing weight is not just a matter of making the fat and flab disappear when you want to. You're a human being, not just some clay statue to be scraped and molded. However, this is no excuse for not losing weight the healthy way. And as they say, there's no time like the present to begin.

For obese people or those whose weight is 20% more than the standard weight for their height and bone structure, it is imperative to start now. Even a decrease in 5-10% of one's current weight is said to lower the risks of heart ailments, respiratory diseases, high blood pressure, arthritis, diabetes and even cancer in obese people.

Obesity nowadays is not just a fashion or social faux pas anymore. It is just not good for the body. There's such a thing as malnourishment and big bone structure, too. Fat may be the main culprit behind obesity but it also involves an excess in the body weight regardless of the components.

According to the Body Mass Index, men should be within the range of 25- 29.9 while women should have numbers from 18.5- 24.9. Anyone above 30 should think twice before reaching out for that second serving.

Food diets and all sorts of other diets involving ingesting herbal pills or tonics have become quite popular nowadays. However, most of them are not clinically proven or nutritionally balanced. Safe to say, the only real way to lose those extra pounds is to leave the old life of eat- what- you- want and turn to a healthy lifestyle.

Changes in one's diet should not be abrupt, as this may make matters worse. As they always say, when in doubt about these kinds of things, consult your doctor or nutritionist. The diet is perhaps the most difficult thing to change but only if you make it that way. There are two rules when choosing a menu: first, control your calories through portions and quality; and second, don't eat what you can't stomach for long.

The rationale for these two rules is that healthy weight loss is a gradual process involving everything about you- physically, mentally, psychologically, etc. If you don't like the taste of certain "recommended" foodstuffs, don't force yourself. In the end, you'll just grow sick of it and give up altogether. Most dieters don't get it during their first try so don't be afraid to mix and match. Here are a couple of tips that may help:

Substitute low- fat varieties for your favorites or staples- the market is saturated with these products. Instead of whole milk, for example, use low fat milk or cream.

Have a diverse range of foods included in your menu. When you're raising a family too, involve them in your health program as to avoid tempting apparitions of brownies inside the refrigerator. Meat eaters should also know their veggies. Rewarding yourself is fine, just don't overdo it; better yet, eat "guiltless" goodies. After all, you're trying to be healthy.

Another way to remove those excess salts and fats from the meal is to remove the sources of additives when cooking. It wouldn't hurt to experiment with herbs instead of the usual salt, sugar and butter routine. Who knows, you could be the next master chef on the block.

If possible, condition your body to eat a certain amount at a specific time. It would be better to scatter eating portions around the clock over eating at one full go. Savor the little servings that you have instead of thinking about how full or hungry you are. This way, the intervals will allow the body to register that you have enough blood sugar in your system already. It will prevent feelings of deprivation and splurging.

Size and quantity does matter. That's why you want to lose weight, right? But being healthy does not equal to being thin. It's useless to eat a dozen low- calorie crackers at one sitting since those calories will only pile up. However, some foods especially those rich in fiber provide more bulk for their size, thus satisfying hunger cravings. These include fruits and vegetables.

Eating healthful food alone will not guarantee much weight loss. It takes a combination of physical exertion to utilize the nutrients and calories you have at hand. The body will adapt so there should be an effort to combat the efficient energy scheme your body will implement once the drop in calories start. The answer? Exercise.

If your reasoning goes along the lines of not having the time or energy left to exercise, you are not serious about being healthy. Forget about strenuous sports if you don't like them, exercise can be as simple as walking around while shopping, polishing floors or climbing the stairs. Strenuous exercise without proper supervision will only be stressful and result to over-eating. Simple aerobics can do wonders for the figure and the psyche. The endorphins released will make you happy and when you're happy, it's easier to stick with the program and avoid backtracking into the couch potato life before.

Losing weight is as hard as a block of granite. When done consistently and correctly, that block can be turned into the healthiest and sexiest sculpture around. Just don't forget that when you take care of your body, your body will take care of you.