Diet | Health & Wellness

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Giveaway: Dukan Diet Giveaway Bundle

Dukan book 300x113 Giveaway: Dukan Diet Giveaway Bundle Rumor has it many of your New Year’s resolutions have already gone the way of previous years.

No matter what those goals were, remember, just because the calendar is changing, there’s still no reason for you to get remotivated.

For many of us, that goal is weight loss and healthier eating. The Dukan Diet (www.dukandiet.com) is a high protein, low fat, low carb diet designed for healthy eating and lifelong weight management.

The reason I was attracted to the Dukan Diet method is that it is all about simplicity – 100 foods that you can eat as much as you want – - 72 proteins, 28 vegetables. It offers a well-rounded weight loss coaching program created by Dr. Pierre Dukan, a French medical doctor who has spent 35 years helping people to lose weight. This 4 Phase diet gives you 2 steps to lose the weight and 2 steps to keep it off forever! This is healthy eating where you eat “as much as you like” – no starvation, no frustration.

And to get one of you started, I’ve teamed with Dukan Diet to give away one “starter kit”:

· The Dukan Diet Book – This will be signed copy

· Dukan Diet Organic Oat Bran

· Dukan Diet Oat Bran Chocolate Muffin Mix

· Dukan Diet Organic Cocoa Powder

· Dukan Diet Appetite and Fat Control Supplement

All of these products are available for purchase on ShopDukanDiet.com. The Dukan Diet also stresses the importance of their Dukan Diet Coaching. The only truly personalized daily interactive coaching program, Dukan Diet Coaching gives dieters Dr. Dukan’s daily personal attention, community support through forums and chat, and tools to help them successfully follow the plan.

To enter to win this great bundle, please do all the following:

1. Follow @Dukancoaching and @alywalansky on Twitter, or “like” Dukan Diet at: https://www.facebook.com/TheDukanDiet

2 – Tell us (either in a tweet or a comment below) – YOUR reason for a healthy eating commitment.

Deadline to enter is February 1. Good luck!

Gloss How-To: Shed Those Holiday Pounds

scale 300x200 Gloss How To: Shed Those Holiday Pounds So, we’re a few days into the New Year and maybe also indulged a bit too much over the holidays and have a few extra pounds you’d like to shed.

We talked to celebrity fitness trainer Valerie Waters — she’s helped Jennifer Garner, Jessica Biel, Cindy Crawford and others maintain their fab figures — and got her best tips & tricks on how to recover from holiday weight gain and achieve your best body in 2011:

How To Shed Those Holiday Pounds…and Keep Them Off!

SET A DEADLINE

It’s easy for me to get clients in shape because usually, when they call me, they have a hard fast deadline to meet. It may be the Golden Globes, a bikini photo shoot, or a sexy scene in a movie that has lit a fire under them, but the bottom line is: everyone does better with a deadline! Even if you don’t have your own Red Carpet moment coming up, you can still pick a date – ideally about 6 weeks out – and circle it on the calendar. Plan a photo shoot or a special night out for that date, and then commit to doing your very best between now and then. You will be amazed at how much you can accomplish.

MOTIVATION FOLLOWS ACTION – SO TAKE ACTION

You think you lack motivation to start an exercise program, but it’s hard to get motivated while sitting on the couch. Sign up for a 6-week bootcamp, get a friend to meet you for a spin or yoga class, or join a new gym. The point is to take some action and then build on that. Once you start to see results, your motivation will soar.

STRENGTH CIRCUITS RULE

If you want to lose weight, shape your body, tone your arms and/or get stronger, you need to strength train. If you do it in a circuit, not only will you burn tons of calories, you will be in and out of the gym in no time flat! I like big circuits. My most popular Red Carpet Ready Workouts typically have 3 circuits that you complete 2 to 3 times.

EXAMPLE OF A RED CARPET READY CIRCUIT:

- Sumo Squat 15 x 15 lbs

- 2 Arm Row 15 x 5-8 lbs

- Valslide Reverse Lunge 12-15 each leg

- Dumbbell Chest Press 12 x 12 lbs

- Straight Leg Cross & Touch 20 each

- Valslide 1 Arm Slide 10 each

LEARN TO COOK AND CONTROL THE SOURCE

You can lose weight and eat healthy if you don’t cook but it is so much easier if you learn to cook a few simple things. Even if you try really hard to order healthy while eating out, restaurant portions are often too big and have lots of added fat or sugar. By learning a few simple recipes, you eat healthy but delicious meals! You will also have a greater sense of how much fat, sugar and salt you are consuming. My Red Carpet Ready program comes with a bunch of healthy, easy to prepare recipes, but you can also find some for free on my blog at www.ValerieWaters.com

Also check out: www.livewell360.com , www.thehealthytippingpoint.com , www.ohsheglows.com for amazing, healthy recipes.

GET SOMETHING NEW

There’s nothing like a new fitness tool or gadget to pump up your workouts again.

My favorites are:

VALSLIDE: This revolutionary new exercise tool creates mild instability, turning every exercise into a core exercise. The smooth, sliding motion makes exercises seem easier, while the continuous tension on the muscles makes each move more effective. To see Jennifer Garner demonstrate the Valslide on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, go HERE

GYMBOSS TIMER: This interval timer will give your workout the structure and discipline you need to go to the next level. Plus, it makes your workout fun!

VALBAND: This mini band looks innocent, but it will work your hips and glutes like nothing else – an absolute must for glute activation.

TRX: TRX is a type of training that uses your own body weight and gravity, to build strength, balance, coordination, flexibility, core and joint stability, all while preventing injuries.

KETTLEBELLS: kettlebells offer users a wider range of motion than dumbbells that sit in the palm of the hand, and they also better simulate the way we carry things in our daily lives. If you’ve been using dumbbells, kettlebells are a great way to switch things up and introduce a new tool into your workouts.

DRINK MORE WATER

If you are feeling bloated, chances are you’re not drinking enough water. Water is vital to your digestion, your organs and your metabolism. If you are consistently not drinking enough water, your body will hold on to water to protect itself. Drinking more water allows your body to release the bloat.

5 Tips to Avoid Thanksgiving Weight Gain

Holiday season is about to be in full swing and starting with Thanksgiving and through the New Year, we’ll be tempted with lots of food, desserts and cocktails. While we’re not recommending at all to begin a diet during this will-power challenging season, we have put together a few tips to help keep the holiday weight-gain at bay while still enjoying everything on the brunch, dinner and party buffet tables.

Tip #1: If you’re cooking, look for substitutes to lighten up family favorites. Trim the fat and calories from mashed potatoes by using low-fat cream cheese or buttermilk instead of lots of heavy cream and butter, opt for whole grain breads in your stuffing and in the bread basket, and include a fresh fruit salad on the dessert table.

Tip #2: Stick with white meat. Go for turkey breast on your plate — with less than a gram of fat per ounce compared to 3 grams of fat per ounce for dark meat. Also try to keep the fatty turkey skin away — the skin can add up to 5 additional grams of fat per ounce!

Tip #3: Load your plate up with greens. Fibrous, flavorful vegetables are satisfying, filling and low in calories and fat.

Tip #4: Don’t skip dessert! A slice of pie is the perfect way to end a holiday meal so we’re not suggesting you miss out on the sweet stuff — just don’t over indulge.

Tip #5: Stay away from empty calorie cocktails. Instead of indulging in heavy egg nog and other fruit and syrup blend cocktails, stick with a glass of wine or light beer. And make sure to drink plenty of water and stay hydrated!

Gloss How-To: Stop Yourself from Raiding Your Kids’ Halloween Loot!

halloween candy 199x300 Gloss How To: Stop Yourself from Raiding Your Kids Halloween Loot! Halloween candy showed up in August (as though we needed to get a jump on our holiday shopping!) and will still be on sale in November. What is the trick to eating what you love when it is everywhere?

Scaring Away the Cravings

Halloween can be a scary time of year for those trapped in an eat-repent-repeat cycle. You seem to be haunted by all that candy in the house, leading to a full-blown candy binge, chocolate hangover, and vows to do better tomorrow.

The tricky part is that labeling the foods you love as evil actually increases their power over you. When what you really crave is “bad,” you feel guilty for even wanting it and deprived because you can’t have it.

The result: You find yourself foraging treats from the pumpkin basket and burying the candy wrappers at the bottom of the garbage can so your kids won’t find out. And what does this say to your kids when they inevitably find out that you’ve been sneaking and stealing their candy? Talk about guilt!

How to stop raiding your kid’s trick-or-treat loot

Minimize your exposure. Wait until the last minute to buy Halloween candy then buy only what you really think you’ll need for the big night. Get the stuff kids love rather than bags and bags of your favorites.
Remember, it’s not your food. All too often we eat whatever shows up–Halloween candy, donuts in the break room, or samples in the grocery store. But you didn’t choose to put it there so stop mindlessly putting it in your mouth!
Get your own. You’ll be less tempted to get into the kid’s holiday candy if stop depriving yourself the rest of the year. Scary, I know.
Share! If you really want some candy, ask your child to share a few pieces with you. Through observation, they learn that it is possible to balance eating for nourishment with eating for enjoyment.
Eat what you love. Skip the sugary kid candy (unless that’s what you love) and instead choose a few that you really love. Set them aside to eat when you really want them (I like to keep mine in a plastic bag in the freezer).
Save room for dessert. If you’re going to eat Halloween candy (you know you are!), then adjust for it. After all, does it really make sense to eat all your dinner to earn dessert?
If you love it that much, act like it! Enjoy those M one at a time, mindfully without distractions.
Just right! The fun-sized treats are the perfect size for a few mindful bites of heaven. And those first few bites are always the best, so think before you dive in for more.
Eat fearlessly without guilt. We all know that guilt leads to more eating, not less, so let it go.
Don’t torture yourself with exercise. Being physically active feels good and provides numerous benefits for your health; don’t turn it into punishment for eating.
Pass it on. Halloween is a great time to teach your kids how to enjoy a little candy as part of a healthy and active lifestyle.

About the Author:

Michelle May, M.D., author of Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat: How to Break Your Eat-Repent-Repeat Cycle.

Celiac Disease: Eating Well While Avoiding Gluten

gluten free foods 300x200 Celiac Disease: Eating Well While Avoiding Gluten Though most of you probably didn’t know, Tuesday (September 13th) was Celiac Awareness Day — an effort shining a light on Celiac Disease, a growing issue facing a number of Americans.

What is Celiac Disease?

Celiac Disease is a digestive disease that damages the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food when a person affected consumes gluten (the protein found in wheat, barley and rye). When untreated, people with celiac disease can develop further complications such as other autoimmune diseases, osteoporosis, thyroid disease, and cancer.

As more Americans become aware of their gluten intolerance — symptoms of Celiac Disease range from gas and bloating to fatigue to tingling in the hands and feet — more products labeled “Gluten-Free” are hitting the shelves. We spoke with Alice Bast, Founder and President of The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness about Celiac Disease, how to detect and manage it and how to enjoy foods while staying healthy.

Lolita Carrico: I know many adults with Celiac disease – and the statistics suggest more than 3 million Americans suffer from it, but what about Celiac disease in children – what percentage of the 3 million are children?

Alice Bast: The 3 million figure takes into account children and the good news is that Celiac Disease is easiest to diagnose in childhood. However, of the 3 million Americans who have Celiac Disease, only 5% are aware of their condition. 95% of American’s are not diagnosed so we’re hoping to raise awareness so people that have the symptoms get tested.

Lolita Carrico: There are so many more gluten-free options available at the markets now, which is wonderful, but what about in restaurants – is it tricky for those that have Celiac disease to navigate menus since some ingredients in sauces, etc. can have gluten?

Alice Bast: That’s an important question — because so many people think that the absence of wheat means gluten-free, asking your waiter at a restaurant if a menu item is gluten-free isn’t always going to result in an accurate answer. The best advice is to call ahead to the restaurant and specifically ask what menu items are truly gluten-free before you go. Also, ethnic restaurants like Indian and Thai offer mostly gluten-free meals.

Lolita Carrico: What’s your best advice for someone newly diagnosed with Celiac Disease?

Alice Best: Focus on the positive! Think about all the foods you can eat — everything around the perimeter of the supermarket is usually gluten-free and think of all those foods! And as far as starches, potatoes and rice are always on the approved list.

Lolita Carrico: You’re working with Post Cereals and their Fruity Pebbles and Cocoa Pebbles brands because they’re great once-in-a-while treats that are gluten-free. We got some great recipe ideas from Post – like Cocoa Crunch bars (recipe below) which are great ideas for gluten-free treats for kids (and adults!). Are there other ideas you can offer?

Alice Bast: There are many recipes on the CeliacCentral.org site from desserts and treats to ethnic meals.

Cocoa Pebbles Crunch Bars

5 cups Cocoa Pebbles
2/3 cups snowflake coconut
½ cup nonfat milk powder
1 cup mini marshmallows
2 sticks butter, melted
¾ cup dulce de leche or other caramel sauce

DIRECTIONS

PREHEAT oven to 325F.
Mix cereal, coconut, marshmallows and butter.
Press firmly into a greased 6-inch square baking pan.

BAKE 25 minutes.
Hot out of the oven, drizzle caramel sauce over bars.
Cool completely.
Cut into 24 bars to serve.

*Makes two dozen bars.

TIPS & SUGGESTIONS
Use small molds –muffin pans or other shape –metal or silicone –to make individual Cocoa Pebbles Crunch Bars.Use Fruity Pebbles and sweetened condensed milk in place of Cocoa Pebbles and caramel sauce.Stud the caramel sauce with your favorite nuts.

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Gloss How-To: Curb Late-Night Snacking

latenightsnacking 300x240 Gloss How To: Curb Late Night Snacking Sometimes you just can’t help it — late at night, you creep out of bed and head to the kitchen for a snack. Unfortunately, studies have shown that snacking at night is a major contributor to unwanted pounds and is a sure-fire way to sabotage a diet. With daylight savings just around the corner, it’ll be getting darker sooner and we could find ourselves in ‘hibernation’ mode…making us even more likely to fall victim to late-night snack attacks!

We talked to Atkins Nutritionals nutritionist, Colette Heimowitz, for some quick tips on how to eat smart after dark:

1. Prevent Late-Night Eating Altogether: Eat low-carb meals throughout the day to keep blood sugar steady, thereby reducing cravings and the temptation to nosh on high-carb items like chips or cookies at night.

2. Crunch Away: If you must snack at night choose, crunchy, low-carb foods such as macadamia nuts or celery sticks filled with cream cheese or almond butter. The crunchiness gets your mouth moving, which helps make snacks more satisfying.

3. No Containers on the Couch: Don’t take the food container to the couch. Instead, place your portion on a small plate and bring it with you. That way you’ll eat less and can keep better track of what you’re ingesting.

4. Drink Up! Instead of eating, have something to drink. Hot beverages can help you cut your appetite. Try a mug of herbal tea sweetened with sucralose or stevia, low-carb hot cocoa or some chicken or beef broth. Or for something cool and creamy, have an Atkins Advantage shake.

5. Check the Time: Don’t snack within an hour of going to bed.

6. Keep Your Hands & Mind Busy: Instead of munching in front of the TV, keep your hands occupied and your mind sharp by picking up an engaging pastime, like knitting or making a scrapbook. You can even do the daily crossword puzzle during the ads.

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Need To Lower Your Cholesterol? Add These Foods To Your Diet

soy foods 199x300 Need To Lower Your Cholesterol? Add These Foods To Your Diet For those that need to lower their LDL (also referred to as “bad”) cholesterol, often doctors will prescribe a low-fat diet and exercise to get their levels down, however a new study finds that a diet focused on specific foods that are known to lower LDL levels is more effective than a low fat diet. In a study published this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association, patients who ate a diet filled with cholesterol-lowering foods saw a 13 percent reduction in their LDL cholesterol levels while those who followed a low-fat diet experienced a 3 percent decrease.

So, what foods lower cholesterol levels? Primarily plant-based proteins and fats such as soy products and nuts as well as fibrous foods like oats and barley. Examples of cholesterol-friendly foods and substitutes:

Edamame
Almonds
Almond or soy milk instead of cow’s milk
Plant-based margarine instead of traditional butter
Oatmeal fortified with ground flax seeds (the flax seeds will help your “good” cholesterol as well!)
Soy-based proteins like tofu instead of meat

Want Flat Abs? Add These Foods To Your Diet

tonedabs 300x199 Want Flat Abs? Add These Foods To Your Diet Hoping to tone your abs before you slip into your summer swimsuit?

In addition to regular cardio workouts and exercises that target the muscles in your mid-section, the foods you eat can help get your belly ready for summer too. Check out these six superfoods that are good for you on the inside and on the outside too — add them into your daily diet and you’ll be showing off a toned, flat tummy in no time:

Berries

Blueberries and blackberries are packed with antioxidants — which aren’t only essential for our health overall but they also deliver more oxygen to our muscles, which helps us workout longer and can make exercising easier. Easier, longer workouts = a fitter body!

Avocados

Avocados are packed with monounsaturated fat — the “good” fat. Monounsaturated fats level out blood sugar levels and keep your body from storing fat around you belly.

Green Tea

Another source of antioxidants, green teas also rev up your metabolism and make it easier for your body to burn fat. Drink three cups a day for optimal benefits.

Milk

Fat-free milk — and even better fat-free chocolate milk (yay! a treat too!) — has been shown to aid post-workout muscle recovery better than any sports drink. The super-combo of protein and carbs in low-fat chocolate milk is “just right for refueling weary muscles,” says William Lunn, PhD, an exercise scientist at the University of Connecticut.

Bulgur or Quinoa

Whole grains like bulgur and quinoa pack more fiber than refined grains, which keep sugar levels low, burn fat and actually shrink the fat cells you have.

Yogurt

We know that the probiotics in yogurt help digestion, which helps relieve bloat and fullness than can hide the six-pack underneath! Try to have a cup of yogurt each day to keep your belly full of the good bacteria that banishes the bad bacterias that promote icky bloat.