goodhealth

Roughly 8 out of 10 people suffer from back pain at one point or another. Here are five quick fixes: http://bit.ly/5QLTzA

eworkouts

If your cholesterol levels are normal, you can have seven eggs a week! Great protein and filling!

Real_Simple

Today’s Thought: “You have to have confidence in your ability, and then be tough enough to follow through.” Rosalynn Carter

DietsInReview

Eat an open-faced sandwich with only one slice of whole grain bread and slash carbs and calories.

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Overwhelmed by all of the “Follow Friday” recommendations on Twitter? Each week AOL Health’s Twitter alias Healthpop and That’s_Fit search the Twittersphere for the greatest diet and fitness Twitterers, and each week, we’ll highlight the best-of their best tweets (no Twits here). Got any great advice for our Fit Follow Friday post? Give us a shout on Twitter and let us know all about it!

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Sick of all those chocolate candies ruining your figure? Tired of your morning coffee making you pee a thousand times?

Well good news. Your answer has arrived!

Introducing “Le Whif,” a chocolate or coffee flavored treat you don’t eat, you inhale.

Sacrebleu!

Continue reading…

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They always say, it’s the little things — not the big things — that matter. According to AOL Health, that’s especially true when it comes to our daily habits.

Have you ever skipped flossing or procrastinated when it comes to getting things done? According to The American Academy of Periodontology, poor gum health has a direct link to an increased risk for heart disease — the number one killer of Americans — because bacteria from the mouth can enter the blood stream through the gums.

Procrastinators, on the other hand, suffer 20 percent more colds and flus than people who get things done. According to Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, people who put things off also suffer from headaches, sleep problems and stomach aches.

For more bad habits you should break, check out AOL Health.

That’s Fit shows you how to break bad habits that are making you fat.

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If your diet has you feeling down, try these tips for lifting yourself from a weight loss funk.

Celebrate Your Achievements

Right now, if youve been on a diet for any period of time, youve achieved a lot. Many people just like you havent even begun a diet because they were too afraid or they simply didnt have the motivation that you do. It will be helpful for you to write out all of the achievements youve made over time since you starting dieting. This will help you to see just how much progress you have made.

Ideally, you will have been tracking your weight and your measurements, so you can actually measure to see how far youve come. Close your eyes and think about the person you used to be before you lost weight. Chances are good youve changed a lot, which can show you just how successful you are and how continuing with your plans is going to bring you even closer to your goals. Keep a running list of your achievements and read it to yourself whenever you need a boost.

Keep Track of Your Behaviors

Keeping a weight loss journal of your eating and your exercise habits, either by hand or using an online diet tracker such as fitday.com, will help you to see what youre doing right and what you can be doing better. By being honest with yourself about how you might be more successful, you can create a new plan for success. For example, you may look through your journal and see that you have been doing the same exercise routine or menu plan for a while. This will show you that maybe youre feeling low because you havent changed things up in a while. Try changing things up to see how that makes you feel. Often, just a few minor changes will make you excited to lose weight again.

Not only will changing your routine up help you feel new inspiration for your weight loss program, but it will also help you overcome a weight loss plateau if you have been struggling to lose weight. Weight loss plateaus often occur because the body has adjusted to its new calorie intake and exercise demands. By changing up your diet, either with a few more or few less calories a day and by mixing up the types and intensity of your exercises your body will start to lose weight again.

Reward Yourself

When youve been working hard, you may find that seeing the scale move down just isnt enough of a reward for you. Or perhaps you are experiencing slight weight gain or stubborn weight loss even though youve been following your diet consistently and this has you feeling frustrated. In either case, you need to focus on your successes and celebrate them instead of focusing on the frustrations of losing weight.

To celebrate your success in a diet-friendly way, you will want to create certain weight loss goals for which you give yourself a non-food reward. For example, when you lose ten pounds, you might give yourself a new workout outfit or buy yourself a new diet cookbook. Come up with rewards that can inspire you and that help you feel like youre being celebrated for your achievements, but that dont involve food and eating.

No matter how committed you are to your weight loss program, everyone hits a low point at some time. Instead of letting it get you down, try boosting your motivation by recognizing your achievements, changing things up, and rewarding yourself. Using these techniques can help lift yourself out of a weight loss funk in no time and continue on your way to a healthier and thinner you.

Other Related Posts and Articles you May Find Interesting: Improving Weight Loss Motivation, Weight Loss Commitment, and Big Fat Excuses.

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Kirstie Alley has denied there is a link between her diet plan Organic Liaison and the Church of Scientology, the religion created by science-fiction author L. Ron Hubbard and followed by Alley and several other celebrities including Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes and John Travolta.

The former Jenny Craig spokesperson appeared on the “TODAY” show yesterday, and when a video clip that attempted to link her diet plan to her religion, she called it “bullshit.” However, critics have found enough links to raise questions.

“No one asks ‘what religion is Jenny Craig?’” she quipped. “No one knows and no one cares! That I would need to clarify or defend the intentions or affiliations of my LLC business corporation in the year 2010 is indicative of the intolerances that we as a country still need to overcome.”

Critics say the weight-loss plan has aspects that are similar to a detox plan that is part of the introduction to Scientology. Hubbard’s plan combines exercise, dietary supplements and long stays in a sauna to help participants eliminate drugs or other toxins from their bodies.

Championing the use of supplements, the Organic Liaison line includes Rescue Me (a detox and appetite suppressant), Release Me (a relaxant) and Nightingale (a sleep aid). Despite the catchy titles, each are essentially multi-vitamins. Alley also encourages exercise and eating organic foods.

Others claim the pricing structure that Alley uses is largely based on the spend-money-to-achieve-success method employed by Scientology. Those who begin the diet will pay $10 per month, or $89 for a year with the price for supplements, $139, being tacked on to your bill. However, many diet plans, including Jenny Craig, have payment plans.

Alley’s company is based in Clearwater, Fla., the spiritual base for the World Institute of Scientology. She has told the press it is located there because that is where her accountant is located. Of the 25 people in the company, only four are Scientologists. However, one of those Scientologists — Michelle Seward — is on Organic Liaison’s advisory board. Alley was quick to explain that Thomas Lovejoy, another member of the advisory board, is not a Scientologist, despite rumor that he was.

Alley strongly denies a connection, telling reporters, “Organic Liaison LLC is not affiliated with the Church of Scientology or the world institute of Scientology. Here’s the deal: if I wanted this to be a Scientology company exclusively, I would have made it that way. And I would have told the world ‘This is the first-ever Scientology whatever!’ I have nothing against doing that.”

Learn about Kirstie Alley’s new reality show, A&E’s “Kirstie Alley’s Big Life.”

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Our friends at Lemondrop have the best women’s lifestyle news on the Web. They’re informed, irreverent and always funny. We’ll bring you our favorites stories from them once a week.

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Kirstie Alley is out to kill two birds with one stone. Actually, it’s more like four birds. The actress and tabloid magnet is launching her own A&E reality show, “Kirstie Alley’s Big Life” while attempting to lose the weight she regained after her stint as a Jenny Craig spokesperson. She’s also out to prove that reality TV can be entertaining without being catty and filled with dysfunction.

Oh, and she’s launching her own weight loss line, Organic Liaison.

Both moves were carefully calculated together. Alley said she started working on the show as the line went into production, and ads for the diet plan will air during “Big Life.” Alley, 59, has lost about 20 pounds so far, and with cameras following her around, it’s clear she’s doing it the hard way.

Alley works out about an hour a day with her trainer, J.R., and from the pool to the home gym, her sweat sessions are definitely featured on the show. But this is no “Biggest Loser.” The first episode of “Kirstie Alley’s Big Life,” which premieres on A&E this Sunday at 10 p.m., centers around her children, True and Lillie, planning a surprise birthday party for their mother. The family, compared to other reality TV shows, without the fighting and bickering that usually make for hallmark reality programming.

But it’s not all sugar and spice — Alley certainly has a mouth on her. You might want to cover the kids’ ears whenever she speaks, as she’s likely to drop a curse word, or two or three.

Alley doesn’t dwell on her weight issues in the show, but you can certainly tell that she’s working on them. She turns away cake at her own birthday party and tacks salsa lessons onto her daily workouts. When That’s Fit asked Alley about learning to love exercise again (she used to be an avid swimmer when she was younger), her face doesn’t light up until she talks about dance lessons.

“I love Bollywood dancing,” she told That’s Fit. “I love anything dancing!” But she admits her love of dance isn’t enough. She has also started hiking. She said her tall, strong frame is adept at exercise so she finds she needs to really push herself to see results. “I’m having to work at working harder,” she explained.

On “Big Life,” Alley can also be seen planning her weight loss program, which is touted as the first organic weight loss product. Organic Liaisons is honest about the fact that it is a diet, noting that any plan of eating is a diet. “I didn’t want it to feel fraught with deprivation,” she said of her diet.

The line includes organic weight loss supplements, including the cornerstone product, Rescue Me. This liquid supplement claims to help “curb appetite, reduce cravings, boost energy, support the metabolism of fat, and gently cleanse the body, taking the “toxic” out and putting the healthy in.”

It is essentially a multi-vitamin with antioxidants and fiber, to help you feel full. Alley points out that a lot of people lose out on vitamins and minerals while they’re dieting because they’re eating too few calories. Ironically, since her plan calls for eating mostly whole, organic foods, this is probably one where the dieter would be getting enough essentials through foods.

There is also an optional cleanse product, a green tea extract and a product to help you sleep, since it has been shown the sleeping is key for hormone regulation and is thought to help with weight loss.

The supplements cost $89 for a one-year supply, and a membership also gets users access to a journal, calorie counter, recipes and a community to help you lose weight. Probably the coolest features are resources for organic restaurants and markets and something called a “chubby buddy.” Essentially you get a partner to challenge you (and you challenge them) to push each other towards your goal weights.

Alley is insistent that she wants people to think about eating healthier, and not just losing weight. So for that, the plan offers a $139 per month weight loss program, which includes customized meal planning.

Alley is passionate about organics, and thinks other people should be too. “I decided I wanted what is best for me and will help people the most,” she said. All the products are USDA-certified organic, and she is quick to fight any allegations that they are not. She points out that ingredients such as magnesium in the sleep product cannot be certified organic by the USDA, which is why they are not listed as organic.

As for the rumors it’s a front for Scientology, Alley dismissed the accusation after a recent private screening of “Big Life,” especially after the issue was recently raised on the “TODAY” show.

Click on the video below to Kirstie’s reaction on “TODAY.” Story continues below the video.

“No one asks ‘what religion is Jenny Craig,’” she quipped. But she was also methodical in denying the claim. “That I would need to clarify or defend the intentions or affiliations of my LLC business corporation in the year 2010 is indicative of the intolerances that we as a country still need to overcome.”

Alley went on to give the breakdown of everyone involved in the company, from the web team to her advisory board. Of some 25 people, four are Scientologists. “Organic Liaison LLC is not affiliated with the Church of Scientology or the world institute of Scientology,” she said. She also went on to point out if she had wanted to make it a Scientology diet, she would have done just that.

Click here for more information on the possible link between Organic Liaison and Scientology.

At the end of the day Alley seems sincere about her love of organics and wanting to share that with the world, as well as her intentions to lose the weight. Her goal on the show? “To let the camera shoot me from all angles!”

Kirstie Alley isn’t the only celebrity who tried to lose weight on Jenny Craig. Click on the gallery below to see which stars succeeded on the diet plan, which gained back what they lost.

Are you ready to lose weight? Check out our diet reviews and find out which weight loss plan is right for you.

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Bread pudding is a food that many people with diabetes feel is prohibited from their diets. Claudia writes from Lake Lure, NC with a request to rehab one of her favorite desserts. She loves bread pudding, but in order to keep her blood glucose from going sky high, she feels she can only ever eat one spoonful at a time. A typical serving of bread pudding has about 30 grams of carbohydrates and is low in both fiber and protein. Both of these nutrients are important to help slow the absorption of the carbohydrates in a meal and thus reduce the spike in blood glucose levels.

In order to make this recipe more diabetic-friendly, I will decrease the carbohydrates to 15 grams per serving by using Splenda instead of sugar. Splenda has zero grams of carbohydrates per serving and is a good choices for people who like a little sweetness, but are counting their carbohydrate intake. Additionally, I will reduce some of the fat calories by using non-fat milk and egg beaters and replacing the butter with shredded zucchini. Zucchini is very low in carbohydrates and works well in baked recipes. It helps to add bulk and moisture to this recipe without dramatically altering the taste. Finally, to add protein and fiber, I will substitute whole wheat bread and use finely chopped walnuts instead of the traditional white bread and raisins.

With this rehab, Claudia, you will be able to have a more satisfying portion size and not worry as much about your blood sugar levels.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup egg beaters
• 1.5 cups non-fat milk
• 1 cup shredded zucchini
• 1/2 cup Splenda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 4 cups whole wheat bread, cubed (about 6 slices)
• 1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Arrange bread cubes on a cookie sheet and place in the oven while it is preheating. Bake for 20 minutes turning once half-way through. Spray a 1.5 quart casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.

2. In a small bowl combine the egg beaters, milk, zucchini, Splenda, spices and vanilla. Stir in dried bread cubes.

3. Pour into prepared casserole dish and sprinkle with chopped walnuts. Bake for 50-55 minutes until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

Serves: 8

Nutritional Content (per serving):
117 calories, 3 g fat, 0 g saturated fat, 15 g carbohydrates, 2 g fiber, 7 g protein, 164 mg sodium, 120 mg calcium.

For other diabetic friendly desserts, try my Peanut Butter Cookies.

Readers, I would love to hear from you! Please send me your most favorite fattening recipes that need a RECIPE REHAB! Everything from your mom’s meatloaf to your kid’s favorite dessert — let me lighten it up.

Celebrity dietitian and motivational life coach Tanya Zuckerbrot, author of www.ffactordiet.com and founder of www.skinnyandthecity.com, has helped thousands of people lose weight and keep it off with her program. Her philosophy? Tanya believes you should never sacrifice taste, even when you’re eating healthy foods. Have a recipe in need of rehab? Send us an e-mail at reciperehab [AT] thatsfit [DOT] com.

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by Melanie Haiken, Senior Editor, Caring.com

Don’t get sucked into the idea that food is your enemy when you’re trying to lose weight. In fact, it’s just the opposite: Befriend the right foods, and the pounds are much more likely to peel off than if you just try to cut calories across the board. Here, seven foods known to nutritionists to boost your body’s fat-burning potential.


1. Oats
Wait a minute; aren’t oats a carb? Yes and no. Oats are a whole grain, and they’re high on what nutritionists call the “satiety index,” meaning oats have tremendous power to make you feel full. Not only that, they’re also high in soluble fiber, so they cut cholesterol and blood fat. Oats digest slowly, so they don’t raise your blood sugar, and they keep you feeling filled up well into the late morning. Old-fashioned steel-cut and rolled oats, with up to 5 grams of fiber per serving, are best, but even instant oatmeal has 3 to 4 grams of fiber per serving.


2. Eggs
Nutritionists have been trying for some years to restore the reputation of the lowly egg. No longer thought to be a cholesterol-booster (eggs contain a different type of cholesterol than that in humans), eggs are a concentrated form of animal protein without the added fat that comes with meat. Dietary studies have repeatedly found that when people eat an egg every morning in addition to (or instead of) toast or cereal, they lose twice as much weight as those who eat a breakfast that’s dominated by carbs.



3. Skim Milk
Studies in reputable publications such as the Journal of Obesity (in addition to the controversial ones funded by the National Dairy Council) show that the combination of calcium, vitamin D, and low-fat protein in skim milk and nonfat yogurt trigger weight loss and help build and maintain lean muscle.


4. Apples
To keep the pounds at bay, eat an apple — or two — a day. Numerous studies have found that eating an apple a half hour to an hour before a meal has the result of cutting the calories of the meal. Why? The fiber in the apple makes you feel full, so you eat less. Recent research suggests eating apples has other benefits, too; the antioxidants in apples appear to prevent metabolic syndrome, the combination of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and prediabetes that tends to accompany thickening around the waist.

5. Red Meat
Not exactly what you think of as a diet food, right? But research in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition compared diet results for women who ate red meat and those who didn’t, and the meat-eaters lost more weight. Experts think the dense protein in lean red meat helps you maintain muscle mass — but of course this assumes you’re exercising to build that muscle.



6. Cinnamon
This simple spice appears to have the power to help your body metabolize sugar, according to surprising data that came out of a USDA study involving diabetics. Eating as little as 1/4 to 2 teaspoons of cinnamon a day was found to reduce blood sugar levels and cut cholesterol from 10 to 25 percent. So add cinnamon to smoothies, sprinkle it on your cereal, or flavor your coffee with it — particularly if you take your coffee with cream and sugar. The cinnamon will boost the health benefits of the coffee while helping your body rid itself of the added sugars.


7. Almonds and almond butter
Another counterintuitive choice; aren’t nuts and nut butters supposed to be incredibly fattening? Well, almonds are calorie-dense, but they also pack a huge nutritional punch — and they’re particularly effective in counteracting cholesterol and triglycerides. One study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that eating almonds was as effective as taking a statin. Spreading almond butter on your morning toast gives you a nice protein boost while preventing the carbs in the toast from spiking your blood sugar.

More from Caring.com
The #1 Reason You’re So Tired (It’s Not What You Think)
Weight Loss After 40: Why It’s So Hard — and What Works
5 Foods Every Woman Should Eat More Of

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Keep track of the latest in diet and fitness Twitter trends and opinions with this weekly post. Not only will AOL Health’s Twitter alias Healthpop and That’s_Fit ask fitness-related questions and share the best responses with you, we’ll scour the Twittersphere for the latest buzz on everything from good eats to exercise routines gone bad.

moniquesavin@HealthPop Inspired outdoor workouts begin with the SUN, then a fresh feel-good playlist, followed by slipping into a cute running outfit

wildfirefitness@Thats_Fit How do U get motivated 2 exercise outside?>Cloudy spring in OR: If sun out, we go out. Clients demand sun like moth to flame.

AprilDT Amazing day! In the spirit of warm weather, I hit the jogging trail for a workout. My pregnant belly provides natural weight training. Lol

LeahCDiaz This sun is giving me more motivation to workout – warm weather = bathing suit!! ahhh

MrTayPenn YO! That workout was hell but needed that…tryna keep my body right for the warm weather thats approaching! My trainer went HARD yall lol.

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Read any good Tweets? Give us a shout on Twitter and let us know all about it!

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