Fat lose: 2011

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Lose Weight by Substituting Healthy Low Calorie Foods

Jan 2, 2011 Debby Mayne

Eat low calorie snacks to lose weight. - Alvimann on morguefile.com

Create healthy eating habits by substituting lower calorie foods in your regular recipes. It isn’t difficult if you make a list of what you can replace less healthy versions with. The key is to fill up on foods that pack the most nutrition per calorie possible.

From what you add when mixing ingredients to your method of cooking the recipe, you’ll want to be aware of every single thing that goes into the meal. Don’t be afraid to try something new. You may discover you enjoy the flavors of the healthier versions of your favorite foods.

High-Fat Dairy Substitutes

Many dairy products are loaded with fat. Always read the label to see how much fat is in each serving. Look for low-fat and fat-free versions. If you don’t care for the lower fat versions, you may try blending the full-fat and low-fat versions and gradually cut back on the fat over time.

Other ways to cut calories with dairy products:

Replace sour cream with plain low-fat or fat-free yogurt.
Instead of using full-fat whipping cream, whip chilled canned evaporated skim milk.
If you crave ice cream, try fat-free or low-fat versions or low-fat frozen yogurt.
Replace ice cream and creamy toppings with sorbet topped with diced fresh fruit.
Use fat free cottage cheese in place of ricotta cheese in recipes.

Cut the Fat in Meats

Instead of looking for marbled meats that are full of fat, choose lean meats that may require a different type of cooking. Since marbled meats are generally more tender than lean meat, use a slow cooker or marinate it in pineapple juice, apple juice or apple cider vinegar – all natural tenderizers that add nutrition and flavor to the meat.

More ways to cut back the fat in meat:

Use ground turkey in place of ground beef. If you must have beef, look for extra lean.
Instead of frying bacon, cook Canadian bacon.
Use lean turkey sausage rather than pork sausage.
Add more seafood meals to your weekly menus.

Condiment Alternatives

One of the ways many people add calories without realizing it is by using fattening condiments. There are plenty of alternatives that are just as tasty. Try different substitutes to see which you prefer.

Condiment substitute suggestions:

Replace full-fat mayonnaise with fat-free mayonnaise or salad dressing
Make your own salad dressing with olive oil, vinegar and seasonings.
Use soft margarine in place of butter.

Additional Low Calorie Substitutes

Look for more ways to swap out foods to keep your diet as healthy as possible without losing flavor. Know what foods are healthy and learn the fat content of the ingredients in your favorite recipes.

More suggestions to cut calories:

Use broth or tomato based soups rather than creamy soups.
Use cooking spray in place of butter or shortening to prevent foods from sticking.
If you like cream in your coffee, try half and half. Gradually work your way to whole milk and eventually skim milk.
Spread fruit-only jam on your bagel rather than full-fat cream cheese.
Eat a banana rather than a candy bar.
Snack on baked chips or unbuttered popcorn rather than potato chips.
When you crave cookies, try graham crackers. For even more nutrition and flavor, spread a thin layer of natural peanut butter or applesauce on them.

You don’t have to give up flavor to enjoy a lower calorie diet. If you cut back a few calories each day and focus on nutritional content, you’ll lose weight and be healthier in the long run.

Find this article helpful? If so, read Weight Loss Programs, Flat Belly Diet and Fast Weight Loss.

References:

“A Healthier You,” Health.gov, (accessed on January 2, 2011).

“Nutrition and Healthy Eating,” MayoClinic.com, (accessed on January 2, 2011).

Eat low calorie snacks to lose weight. - Alvimann on morguefile.com
Replace fat with other seasonings. - Beglib on morguefile.com
Seafood is healthy and low calorie. - Beglib on morguefile.com

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Best Weight Loss Diet - Top 3 Diets to Lose Weight Reviewed

Jan 2, 2011 DeAnna Grant

Happy woman showing off weight loss - Fotosearch

New Year, New Diet. The most common New Year resolution is weight loss. Every 1st January millions vow 'I'm going to stick to a diet,' or 'I'm definitely going to lose weight this year.' But there are so many diets to choose from, some good, some bad and some down right ugly! So to make it easier for you to choose we have reveiwed three popular diets that provide impressive weight loss results. Read the reviews below and choose the diet that suits you.

Jillian Michaels Free Weight Loss Plan

This is an impressive online weight loss program designed by the #1 fitness trainer from the popular TV shows Losing it with Jillian and The Biggest Loser. Jillian's approach to weight loss is three pronged, self, science and sweat. She believes that weight loss is both a mental and physical process. You need to change your mindset and start your weight loss journey by changing the way in which you view food. Next you have to eat right through a healthy diet that is based on the number of calories consumed and finally exercise well to boost your weight loss.

Jillian's weight loss plan is a proven and effective way to lose weight as has been seen on the program The Biggest Loser'. The program provides well planned customized exercise programs that are based on your own fitness level. Exercise is a core part of the program and is essential to boosting your metabolism and determining the amount of weight you will lose.

Learn the right type of foods that will fuel your weight loss. Jillian teaches you how to make the right food choices whether you are eating at home, at a restaurant, party, or barbecue. The food choices are from everyday foods you can buy at your local grocery store, and for those of you who are busy there is a meal delivery service of prepared diet meals There are no special foods to purchase.

In conclusion Jillian's weight loss program can be a harsh way to lose weight as there is tons of exercise and huge calorie restriction. It is definitely not for the feint hearted!

The Glycemic Impact Diet

The "Glycemic Impact Diet" is a low carbohydrate diet based on the glycemic index of foods. The Glycemic Index (GI) measures and categorizes carbohydrates based on their glycemic or sugar levels. Simple carbohydrates such as white sugar and flour are at the high end of the index and complex carbohydrates such as vegetables and whole grains are at the lower end. The basics of the diet are similar to the MetaBooster Fat Burning Diet, South Beach Diet and The Zone.

The basic principle is that simple carbohydrates make you excrete lots of insulin in order to deal with the rush of blood glucose. Insulin is known as the fat hormone and any excess will deposit in the body as fat. That is why eating a diet of simple carbohydrates results in you retaining fat.

The Glycemic Impact Diet and its recommendations to replace simple carbohydrates with complex ones is a great idea, and can help prevent the onset of illnesses like diabetes. However, it is probably best to slowly introduce complex carbs to replace simple carbs. This will help your own mental ability to sustain a lifestyle change.

The bottom line is that decreased caloric intake and increased daily exercise is the most sensible and sustainable weight loss strategy, and a change from simple carbohydrates to complex carbohydrates is healthy and can be done.

The Protein Power Weight Loss Plan

Protein Power was written by Dr. Michael and Dr. Mary Eades. They believe that the hormone Insulin, released by carbohydrates, causes health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, hypertension, fluid retention, and excessive weight. By keeping your carbohydrate intake low and protein intake high, your body will burn fat faster.

The Protein Power weight loss plan focuses on changing your body's insulin output, because insulin is what carries fat cells throughout your body and deposits them for future use. Therefore when you lower your insulin levels you naturally lower the amount of fat that is deposited in your body. .

Even though some nutritionists disagree with the high protein, low carbohydrate combination Protein Power is a very healthy way to lose weight. The plan is based on facts and goes into great detail on how the body's systems work and why eating this way can eliminate some major health concerns and help you to lose weight. It is similar to the MetaBooster Fat Burning Diet and to some extent the Atkins diet but it doesn't restrict the carbohydrate content to the same degree as Atkins.

It goes into great detail about how to plan your meals, protein essentials, carbohydrate quotas, which vitamins to take and what exercise to do.

All in all Protein Power is a good diet that promotes healthy eating not only for weight loss but also to prevent the onset of some of the deadliest illnesses affecting the western world. If you choose to follow Protein Power it is probably best to introduce the changes moderately. If you throw yourself straight into changing from one eating style to another you are most likely to fail because you will find it hard to maintain the change.

SourcesEditor Supremo. "The Best Weight Loss Diet to Lose Holiday Fat Permanently." hubpages.com

Did We Lose Weight? "Is This Really A Brutal Way To Lose Weight. didweloseweight.com.

Chase Freedom Diet Reviews. "Protein Power". chasefreedom.com

Chase Freedom DIet Reviews. "Glycemic Impact Diet Review." chasefreedom.com

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Sainz wins opening Dakar stage

Defending champion Carlos Sainz kicked off his Dakar title defence in perfect fashion on Sunday after winning the opening timed stage.

The Volkswagen driver, who scored his maiden Dakar win last year, finished the 222-km special 1:31 minutes ahead of Dakar legend Stephane Peterhansel, second today in the X-Raid BMW.

Sainz dominated the stage from Victoria to Cordoba, setting the quickest time in all the control points before crossing the finish line with a time two hours and 18 minutes.

“For about 20 km, we had a lot of rain,” said Sainz. “At times, we just could not see anything. Moreover, I had issues with the wipers that had stopped working. I am really happy the day is over. It was a bit like the Rally of Great Britain. Apart from now, the car went fine.”

Volkswagen team-mate Nasser Al-Attiyah was third quickest in the gravel stage – which was hit by rain – with American Mark Miller fourth in the third Touareg from the German car maker.

Former Dakar winner Giniel de Villiers made it four VWs in the top five, the South African crossing the finish line behind Miller.

“Today we experienced a superb performance of our drivers and co-drivers,” said VW motorsport boss Kris Nissen. “The cars are perfectly prepared.

“I’m happy to see all of our team members working with absolute concentration at the start of the rally and not allowing themselves to get distracted by the huge crowd nor by the pressure caused by the expectations of the journalists.

“The conditions on the first leg were very difficult due to the large amount of water on the track. It’s hard to judge who was most heavily affected by this. With four cars among the top five Volkswagen experienced a tremendous start.

“Obviously, we’re going to continue our work on Monday and on the following legs highly motivated in order to master the upcoming tasks.”

Frenchman Guerlain Chicherit, fifth last year, already saw his chances of a strong result disappear after losing nearly an hour due a mechanical problem with his Mini.

“It’s hard. It’s very hard,” he said. “After 3 km we already had an alarm due to bad cooling. We managed up to 30 km before the end, then the brake discs gave in, splintered into the rim and blocked everything.

“I tried to unblock and go on like that but it was impossible. It’s hard. One year of work to get to this… it sure was a bad start. There is a lot of expectations on the car. A bad start indeed.

“Trouble is that tomorrow we will pay for today’s problems because it will be a long stretch and it will be very hard to pass other cars.”

American Robby Gordon lost 11 minutes as he struggled with his two-wheel-drive Hummer in the tricky conditions.

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Darland Bumps Off Stanbrough

Dave Darland (right) inches under Jon Stanbrough en route to victory Saturday night in Ft. Wayne, Ind. (Kevin Lillard photo).

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — Car owner Rick Daugherty saw a probable 1-2 finish vanish just five laps from the checkered flag, but that couldn’t burst his bubble.

“This is a contact sport,” a grinning Daugherty said after Dave Darland banged his way past teammate Jon Stanbrough to capture Saturday’s midget race that capped the final night of the 13th annual Rumble in Fort Wayne.

“That’s what I love about indoor racing. It’s kind of exciting.”

After hounding his teammate for several laps, Darland got a run coming off turn two, then bolted to the inside as they reached turn three on the racy sixth-mile concrete track in the Memorial Coliseum Expo Center.

Darland nosed ahead and the cars touched, with Stanbrough spinning to a halt and Darland speeding away.

Darland held off fast qualifier David Gough by 2 ? car lengths following the restart, giving him his second career Fort Wayne victory and 10th top-three finish in 17 career starts.

Derek Bischak settled for third after leading nearly half of the 60 laps. Adam Wilsdon, a 15-year-old who’s headed back to high school, and Jim Anderson, who won here on Friday, rounded out the top five.

In the pit area afterward, Darland greeted a long line of well wishers as Stanbrough stewed a few feet away.

“My car was just real good, and his car was just too tight,” the 44-year-old Darland said. “I got into him. I gave him as much room as I could. He just came down into me.

“It’s bad when that happens with teammates. Indoor racing has a lot of contact. I’m sure there are a lot of people not happy with me tonight.”

Stanbrough couldn’t hide his disappointment but minced his words.

“My car was starting to pick up a push a little bit,” he admitted. “I just didn’t get it through the corner as good as I was earlier in the race.

“I don’t know,” he said, pausing. “What is it to say? It’s disappointing the way it happened. That’s two nights in a row (that an accident took him out).”

Daugherty, who operates a Peterbilt dealership in Findlay, Ohio, called it “just a racin’ deal” after collecting his third Rumble Series victory as an owner — and first at history-steeped Fort Wayne.

Ryan Smith won the accompanying winged outlaw modified feature, leading all 40 laps in beating John Ivy and Larry Joe Sroufe for his second victory here in two years.

Brett Bieber won the slingshot feature.

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5 Diet Plan Boosters! Enhance Your Weight Loss Effectively

Jan 2, 2011 Meg Liu

eating right is essential to any diet - Meg Liu

It is now time to put a lock on that box of brownies, left over pieces of pie, and tray of heavily glazed cookies. It seems to take forever trimming off the few pounds you’ve gained during just a few days. It is always hard, after days of feasting, to be restrained to a diet plan for the New Year. It takes one strong mind, lots of self discipline, and several adjustments and strategies in your everyday life.

No matter what kind of diet plans you might have in mind for this New Year, there are 5 very important things you have to do before you start. They will definitely help you to boost up that diet plan of your choice.

One: Eat to Lose Weight!

It might seem impossible but it is true: Eating is Essential to Weight Loss.

If you have experience being on a diet plan, you will understand that we all find ourselves most vulnerable to food when we are hungry.

Many inexperienced dieters mistakenly believe that starving is the key to losing weight.

When the human body feels threatened by not being provided with enough energy to function, the brain will send out signals creating all kinds of drama to urge you to eat. The reality is that you will have to eat eventually, and at this point you will most likely overeat. The body would turn more energy into fat for storing, and the metabolism starts to slow down, which means it is even harder to trim off the excess fat.

It might surprise you but the first important thing you have to do for your diet plan is to eat!

Eating regularly and appropriately will actually boost up your weight loss. This does not give you the right to eat whatever you want. However, satisfying yourself with good food items is an important part of your diet plan. Eating small, sensible meals frequently instead of one huge meal is often recommended for people who want to lose weight. Never allow yourself to be on an empty stomach. People fail their diet plans mostly when being edgy because of hunger.

Two: Restock Your Entire Pantry for Your Diet Plan

You might be alert and aware of your food choices during the day, yet the real challenge begins when you take off the tightly-fit morning outfit, and put on that comfy sweatshirt.

The place where most people make bad food choices is in their own homes. The coziness of the comfortable environment often encourages people to eat without thinking about consequences.

Restock your entire pantry with healthy, sensible food items before starting your diet plan. Give all the fattening snacks and chips to your enviable skinny colleagues, family members, and friends. Clear the perimeter of your living space so there will be no temptation waiting for you. Instead, make sure there are always sensible snacks at your finger tips. This will definitely help you sticking to that diet plan much longer.

Three: Always Bring Your Own... for Your Diet

Don’t rely on others to provide what you need for your diet. Make it a habit to bring your own bottle of water, lunch, snacks, diet drinks, and sugar substitutes. The key is not to go out there unprepared putting yourself vulnerably under the temptation.

Four: Choose a Diet Plan You Would Enjoy

Remember, no diet plan will work overnight.

You have to see the diet plans as making changes to eating habits and life styles. Don’t jump onto a diet plan just because it worked for someone else. Carefully evaluate all possible plans which you might consider before deciding what will work for your lifestyle. Try to focus on things that are allowed to be indulged, but not those which are prohibited. Pay attention to any medical conditions you might have, and pick out a plan that will allow you to eat the food you like and have access to.

If you make a diet plan that is enjoyable, it is easier to continue.

Five: Set Mini Goals, Reward Yourself

Once again, losing weight is about being consistent. Do not start your diet plan with an unachievable goal. The weight that is shed quickly will most likely be gained back quickly as well. Set up mini goals, and make sure to indulge sensibly when goals are reached. Do not isolate yourself to be on diet. Pick one day in the week not to worry about the diet, and to have a nice meal with friends and families. It wouldn’t hurt to get the support you need during the process from others, or even just to show off the result of your efforts. This will help you to rewind and start fresh again. It will also help you to stick to the plan more easily and longer.

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Monday, January 3, 2011

Latvala feels ready for title fight

Jari-Matti Latvala says he is ready to challenge for next year’s World Rally Championship after spending this season as Ford’s number two driver.

The Finn, who consistently out-scored his senior team-mate Mikko Hirvonen, enjoyed his most successful season to date, finishing second in the end of year standings after scoring two victories.

Ford team principal Malcolm Wilson declined to comment on the precise nature of the tactics he would deploy for his team in 2011, but it is reckoned Latvala and Hirvonen will share joint number one status.

“It’s been good for me this year,” said Latvala. “The way we have driven [as number two] has helped me to find the consistency. I have definitely improved as a driver, but I’m not about to say that I’m ready to be world champion. I feel I am ready to fight for the championship, though.”

Asked whether he thought number one status was the best way forward for him and Hirvonen next season, Latvala replied: “We have to remember the manufacturers’ championship, this is something which is very important to the team.

“Maybe I have developed this year and maybe it’s not necessary [for me to be number two], that’s for Malcolm to decide. This has been a tough year for Ford and it’s nice to get through it and start to focus on next season, which is going to be really exciting with the Fiesta.”

Wilson said: “I haven’t decided what we will do yet [next season], but it’s clear that our strategy for this year has worked well for Jari [-Matti Latvala].”

Latvala added that he had no doubt Hirvonen would return to the kind of form which took him to just one point of winning the title in 2009.

“Mikko will definitely be back,” said Latvala. “It was tough for him this season and I know what that’s like, I’ve been there. His accident in Finland was very big, but he has been setting good times on most rallies. He will be back.”

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How To Lose Weight Fast and Still Eat Like a King - 2

Dec 23, 2010 M. Cord Ray

salad at a party - Amanda Howard of Snapshotz Photography

How To Lose Weight Fast and Still Eat Like a King 2

Learn secret tricks to change your life so you can eat real, delicious, food, eat and live better than ever, and still lose weight fast.

Want to Eat Well and Still Lose Weight?

If you read “How to Lose Weight Fast and Eat Like a King” Article 1 You learned the first two tricks towards eating like royalty 1. Spice Up Your Life and 2. Eat Real Fat. We’ll review these in more detail again and again throughout this series but for now let’s just say if you want to eat like a king you need the healing powers of a wide variety of spices and the healing powers of good fats. These things taste great, they make life more interesting, they will help you get healthy, mentally as well as physically. They help you eat like a king.

Want to Know How to Eat More and Still Lose Weight? Be as Colorful as a Queen

Kings and Queens do not eat small portions (unless they’re French). But they do have an abundant plate filled with a wide array of colors of the season. Make your plate beautiful by arranging vegetables in a beautiful way and making an effort to get a least three different vegetable colors on the plate. By making the veggies the base for the palate you are giving yourself a huge boost towards living better and losing weight faster.

Get Thinner with Music - Experience the King’s Joy

Traditionally royalty always had entertainers. If you picture the royal courts there are poets, jokers, thespians, strolling mandolin players and many, many quartets and small orchestras. While it may not be feasible to have the philharmonic come live to your house everyday you can choose music that will help you lose weight and live like a king. Scientific studies have shown that people who watch TV while eating eat more and are fatter than people who don’t.

Think about it. You open a bag of chips while watching a sitcom. The hand to mouth syndrome becomes mindless eating until the bag is gone or you are way over full. As a rule, royalty doesn’t watch “Two and Half Men” or “Everybody Hates Chris” during dinner.

If you want to lose weight and still eat wonderfully try listening to soothing music you like. They don’t have a football game on at a restaurant that charges $70 a plate. Why is that? Because you can’t pay attention to the food to know its worth or enjoy it. But they do have music on. Not Nine Inch Nails either.

Make a Commitment to Think Well, Live Well, and Eat Well

We need to treat ourselves like kings and queens. That means avoiding depravation and focusing on wonderful healthy meals and lives.

Our four concrete tips so far are: Add spice, good fat, vibrant color, and beautiful music to your meal. But it is the less concrete secrets that need our focus. Kings and queens know many secrets we forget. They are always coming from a place of wealth, abundance, and entitlement. So we are entitled to good health by doing what is healthy, real, and good. Go on! Bring the attitude of the crown.

It is easy to hear or read great things to do. Take what you can to put even a small step into practice today to steal the joy of eating delicious abundant food in a lavish way from people who know what it is like to enjoy the finer things in life. Take the satiation factor from a meal well eaten and bring that feeling of goodness into other areas. Eat well, live well.

Happy weight loss.

M. Cord Ray specializes in writing on health, entertainment, travel and self-improvement articles for national newspapers and magazines. She has a bachelor’s degree in language education, is a certified personal trainer, yoga instructor, and has maintained a 65lb. weight loss for over 10 years.

Want faster weight loss? Read – How to steal motivation from others http://www.suite101.com/content/daily-motivation-for-weight-loss----1-a322949

Want more motivation? Read - Find a Deeper Reason for Your Weight Loss

http://www.suite101.com/content/daily-motivation-for-weight-loss-and-thoughts-for-life--2-a323446

Want to know specific tricks to target your tummy? Read -

How to Lose Belly Fat

http://www.suite101.com/content/how-to-lose-belly-fat-a322205

Want more motivation? Read – Motivate Yourself by Getting Happy

http://www.suite101.com/content/daily-motivation-for-weight-loss-and-thoughts-for-life--3--a323447

Want a new weight loss trick? Read - Let your imagination help you get thin.

http://www.suite101.com/content/mcs-daily-motivation-for-weight-loss--5---imagine-yourself-a324096

Want to lose weight faster and easier? Read – Getting Support

http://www.suite101.com/content/mcs-daily-motivation-for-weight-loss--4---support-groups-a324065

Helpful Weight Related Links:

Overeaters Anonymous

www.oa.org

Free support group - Overeaters Anonymous is open to anyone who wants to stop eating compulsively.

www.tops.org

Take Off Pounds Sensibly - support group with wonderful success stories on-line. Truly motivational !!!!!

www.sparkpeople.com - another nuts and bolts approach, sparkpeople has free recipes, diet plans, a motivational section, menus, a calorie counter and more.

http://www.livestrong.com the website started by Lance Armstrong which has a weight loss challenge section

National Center for Physical Activity and Disability

www.ncpad.org/

National Weight Control Registry

www.nwcr.ws/

Obesity Action Coalition

www.obesityaction.org/

The Obesity Society

www.obesity.org/

Shape Up America!

www.shapeup.org

Shaping America's Youth

www.shapingamericasyouth.org

Small Plate Movement

smallplatemovement.org/

USDA Food and Nutrition Information

fnic.nal.usda.gov/nal_display

USDA National Nutrient Databank

www.ars.usda.gov/ba/bhnrc/ndl

Ways to Enhance Children's Activity & Nutrition

www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/wecan/

Weight-Control Information Networkwww.niddk.nih.gov/health/nutrit/nutrit.htm

Wheat Foods Council

www.wheatfoods.org

Whole Grains Council

www.wholegrainscouncil.org

Womenheart: the National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease

www.womenheart.org

Your Weight Matters

www.yourweightmatters.org

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More Trouble For NASCAR Hall Of Fame

Fans and dignitaries crowd NASCAR Plaza in Charlotte, N.C., during the NASCAR Hall of Fame Opening Ceremony in May. (Getty Images Photo)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – With attendance figures drastically lower than what had been projected for its first year of operation, officials from the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority overseeing the NASCAR Hall of Fame have recommended slicing the facility’s operating budget by nearly a third.

The recommendation, made earlier this week by the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, would cut $4.8 million – 31 percent – from the $15.3 million operating budget, a move that would help offset the $1.3 million shortfall predicted for the hall of fame’s first fiscal year, which ends June 30.

According to a report by the Charlotte Business Journal, the budgetary cuts will not involve job losses but will instead focus on revised spending along with reduced spending in marketing and promotions, contract services and lower royalty payments. Cuts will also not detract from visitors’ experiences at the hall of fame.

Opening in May, the NASCAR Hall of Fame has seen slower ticket sales than originally predicted. The visitors authority estimates 250,000 people will visit the hall in its first fiscal year, down from original projections of 575,000 visitors, resulting in a $2 million difference compared to the $793,000 profit listed in the hall’s original budget.

The full visitors authority board will vote on the proposed budget changes in January, and would take effect immediately.

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McAnally Tabs Champs For All-Star Showdown

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Championship-winning car owner Bill McAnally has increased his odds of seeing one of his drivers in victory lane in next month’s NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown as three 2010 NASCAR titlists will be racing out of the Bill McAnally Racing fold for the special event.

BMR’s Eric Holmes, a three-time NASCAR K&N Pro Series West champion, will be joined by D.J. Kennington, this year’s NASCAR Canadian Tire Series titlist, and German Quiroga, champion of the NASCAR Mexico Series. As 2010 NASCAR developmental series titlists, all three have secured starting spots for the all-star race Jan. 28-29 at Toyota Speedway @ Irwindale (Calif.), which brings together the top racers across North America and is highlighted by a 225-lap NASCAR K&N Pro Series race.

The trio of champs joins McAnally’s other full-time drivers, Paulie Harraka and Moses Smith.

“We are very excited about this opportunity for BMR to field entries for three NASCAR champions in the biggest event of the year,” said team President Bill McAnally. “These drivers represent NASCAR racing in three countries and the Showdown provides them a chance to showcase their talent on a major stage together.”

While Kennington and Quiroga will be making their first starts in the Showdown, Holmes has two top-10 finishes in four starts in the event and triumphed in the Elite portion of the 2004 program as a racer in the former NASCAR Southwest Tour.

The NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown pits the 2010 NASCAR developmental series champions and winners of 2010 K&N Pro Series races against each other in a 225-lap main event divided into two 100-lap segments and a 25-lap race to the finish. The weekend also includes a 75-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Super Late Model event and a 50-lap NASCAR Whelen All American Series Late Model race.

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After Bariatric Surgery: How to Celebrate the Holidays

Dec 23, 2010 Donna Owen

After Bariatric Surgery: How to Celebrate the Holidays

Christmas was always a special time of year for my family. It was a time to celebrate, share gifts and cheer but most of all to eat! The table was always lined with rich and festive goodies. Golden turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes with gravy, cranberry sauce with orange zest, Grandma’s famous Waldorf Salad heavy laden with luscious grapes, crisp apples, succulent bananas, hearty walnuts, and of course homemade whipped cream sweetened with lots of sugar! Large brown rolls glazed with butter, sugar cookies with a hard glossy glaze, pumpkin pie, mince meat pie, and warm apple pie ala mode. It is no wonder that I bloomed from a skinny kid into a full-bodied woman. I enjoyed cooking these high fat, high sugar content foods as much as I loved to eat them.

Being 5’7” tall, my highest weight was 250 pounds, making my BMI (Body Mass Index is a measure of body fat based on height and weight) a whopping 39.2, classifying me as morbidly obese. I made the decision, with the help of my physician, to undergo weight loss surgery a.k.a Roux-en-y gastric bypass. While this was a hard decision to make, after careful consideration and a lot of research and prayers, I committed myself to change my life for good.

After undergoing the most important surgery of my life, I now have a different relationship with food. Being a lover of the kitchen and a creator of culinary art (any time the oven isn’t smoking); I have experimented with all of my favorite “indulgent” recipes to fit the constraints of my new eating regimen. I have eradicated sugar from my diet as well as sodas, excessive sodium, and high-fat foods and replaced them with fresh fruit (in small doses), vegetables, and lean protein (70-90 grams per day) including eggs, legumes, and nuts. I have turned a blind eye to processed flour and opt for a more healthy self-ground almond flour to make breads, pancakes, or waffles. To taste the sweeter side of life, Splenda? does wonders for homemade yogurt, coffee, and desserts like peach cobbler and pumpkin pie! Splenda? can usually be used in place of sugar when listed in a recipe unless the sugar is used for browning purposes. I still love to cherish the taste of food and to let flavors mingle in my mouth, but now I eat more consciously, knowing that I can only eat about 1-1 ? cups of food at one time. I have learned to enjoy every morsel by slowing down and completely chewing my food.

Although my portions and the basic composition of my food have changed, I still cherish the holidays, even more so now. I am not gripped by food as it no longer has a hold on me or who I am. I control me and my feelings not the food that I consume. Holiday are for spending time with cherished love ones, a time for giving thanks for the wonderful blessings in our lives, and for giving and receiving the best gift one can ever receive-love.

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An Introduction to Ketosis, Weight Loss, and a Low-Carb Diet

Dec 23, 2010 Vickie Ewell

Weight-Loss Guide to Ketosis and Fat Loss - Photo by Colin Rose

A low-carbohydrate diet brings many misunderstandings. While dietary ketosis does correct metabolic imbalances and ushers in the blessed state of satiety (a great weight-loss aid), confusion exists regarding its place, safety, and role in diets for weight loss. Carbohydrate restriction is only one of many possible weight-loss solutions. It does not work for everyone. Often chosen due to its quick fat-loss claims, understanding ketosis, weight loss, and the myths that surround ketones is vital to the diet’s success.

Most Weight-Loss Solutions Focus on Normal Metabolism

Most weight-loss solutions focus on calories. For those with a normal metabolism, that diet for weight loss works well. The body uses four different types of fuel depending upon current metabolic needs: glucose, protein, fatty acids, and ketones. All diets (including low-carb diets) switch between these fuels depending on current energy requirements.

When glucose is available, it is burned first. What is not immediately needed gets shuttled off to the liver which converts it into glycogen, the body’s storage form of carbohydrates. Glucose is not turned into body fat unless glycogen stores are full. The idea that overweight comes from eating too much holds true. What the body cannot store in the liver and muscles converts into triglycerides and becomes body fat.

However, storing glucose is a normal metabolic function. Glucose only causes excess body fat when a person eats more than needed for energy purposes, body repair, and glycogen storage on a regular basis. Setting up a low-calorie diet for weight loss is a good weight-loss solution for those with a normal metabolism.

A Low-Carb Diet Focuses on Ketosis and Weight Loss

A low-carb diet focuses on the ketosis-metabolic pathway. The liver stores more than enough glycogen to keep the blood glucose level stable, but severe carbohydrate restriction uses up that safety net within a single day. Since triglycerides cannot be turned into glucose (only the glycerol molecule attached to the fatty acids), when supplies begin to run low, the liver hunts for protein it can break down into the type of amino acids needed. This process is called gluconeogenesis.

There is nothing unusual about using this pathway. Many low-calorie diets contain fewer carbohydrates than a typical American diet and work in a similar manner. The difference is that low-carb diets typically focus on the ketosis-metabolic angle exclusively. Unfortunately, many low-carb authors and dieters downplay the role of calories as a weight-loss aid. For some individuals, ignoring calories and overeating dietary fats has caused their low-carb diet plan to stop working.

Fat-Burning Metabolism as Weight-Loss Aid for Quick Fat Loss Misunderstood

High levels of ketones are thought to exclusively create a fat-burning metabolism resulting in quick fat loss. Often low-carb dieters refer to this weight-loss aid as the body switching from a glucose-burning metabolism to a fat-burning one. This is a misunderstanding. The body uses whatever fuel source is available at the time; high levels of ketones in the blood do not change that.

When following a low-carb diet, the glucose produced from vegetables and other carbohydrate sources take precedence immediately after being eaten. Momentarily these sources of glucose turn the low-carb dieter temporarily back into a glucose-burning metabolism until those carbs are used.

What are Ketones? How is a Low-Carb Diet Fueled?

When glucose runs short, most of the body’s tissues can use fatty acids for fuel, including the liver, but not all of them. The brain, red blood cells, bone marrow, some muscle and kidney cells need glucose. According to Dr. Michael Eades, author of The Protein Power Lifeplan, in a blog post he wrote in May 2007, “Metabolism and Ketosis,” glucose needs amounts to about 200 grams of sugar per day. To fulfill this need, the liver uses protein sources.

With severe carbohydrate restriction, eating enough protein is essential. If a low-carb dieter ignores this important nutrient, the liver will take what it needs from the body’s protein stores: the muscles. However, there is a back-up system for needed glucose, though it takes time to implement. To get the caloric energy the liver needs to break down proteins, it uses stored triglycerides or dietary fats. When triglycerides are broken down into fatty acids for fuel, Ketones are a by-product that results.

Ketones are always produced when triglycerides are broken down, even on a low-calorie diet. Since most body tissues can use ketones for fuel, this initial state of ketone use is often held up by low carbers as being the ultimate magic that drives the quick fat loss seen on a low-carb diet. However, once the body adapts to using ketones, other body tissues switch to using fatty acids exclusively. This saves ketones for the brain’s needs and cuts the body’s overall glucose and ketone requirements tremendously.

Understanding Ketosis, Weight Loss, and a Low-Carb Diet Metabolism

Understanding the process of ketosis, weight loss, and what actually creates a low-carb diet metabolism is essential for quick fat loss, as well as viable weight loss solutions. For example, one of the most common misunderstandings regarding ketosis as a weight loss aid is dietary fats. Dietary fat has nothing to do with getting into the state of ketosis. Ketones are produced when glycogen stores get too low. At that point, the liver uses stored body fat, or dietary fats, to convert amino acids from available protein into glucose. Diets for weight loss always require an individual to eat less than their body needs; low-carb diets are no different.

For additional low-carb diet weight-loss information, How to Lose Weight Fast – Weight -Loss Diets that Work goes into more detail of what a low-carb diet is; and Low Carb Diet Mistakes that Ruin Ultimate Weight Loss explains several reasons why a low-carb dieter might be caught in a stall. If confused about which weight-loss diet is right for you, read How to Pick the Right Weight Loss Diet Program for a comparison between several weight-loss diet plans.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice.

Sources:

Atkins, Robert C., MD, Dr. Atkins’ New Diet Revolution, M. Evans and Company, Inc., 1992

Eades, Michael, R., MD and Eades, Mary Dan, MD, The Protein Power Lifeplan: A New Comprehensive Blueprint for Optimal Health, Warner Books, 2000

Eades, Michael, R., MD, “Metabolism and Ketosis” (accessed December 22, 2010)

McDonald, Lyle, The Ketogenic Diet: A Complete Guide for the Dieter and Practitioner, Lyle McDonald Publishing, 1998

Weight-Loss Guide to Ketosis and Fat Loss - Photo by Colin Rose
Weight Loss Solutions for Fat Loss Differ - Photo by admiller
Low-Carb Diet Meal Still Produces Glucose - Photo by Fotoos Van Robin
Dieter Needs Good Weight-Loss Information - Photo by Kim Navarre

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Sunday, January 2, 2011

Hamlin vows to improve for 2011

NASCAR Sprint Cup runner-up Denny Hamlin believes the 2010 season brought massive improvement to his team, but believes there’s plenty of areas where he still has to maximise his potential as he looks forward to challenging for the title again next year.

Hamlin led the championship entering the final race of the season, but an early incident with Roush Fenway’s Greg Biffle proved pivotal to his title hopes. Despite recovering later in the race, he was unable to prevent Jimmie Johnson from claiming a fifth consecutive series title.

Leaving aside the disappointment of losing a possible first NASCAR title, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver believes his team made huge strides during the 2010 season.

“I got better as a driver, but we got better overall as a team,” said Hamlin. “For me, all I can ask is to show up at a race track any given day and feel like I can win a race, and this year I did that at every track I went to. The flip side of it is to have a championship slip away so close.”

The 30-year-old believes his ability and speed to be on a par with Johnson, and reckons that mainly circumstances played into the final outcome of the title battle. At Phoenix, the penultimate race of the season, he seemed on course to his ninth with of the season before fuel strategy became a factor and hampered his chances of arriving at the season finale with a safer points cushion to Johnson.

“I don’t feel like we got out-driven,” Hamlin said. “I don’t feel like Jimmie was just a better driver and that’s how he won the championship. The strategy kept us from winning the championship. I did the best that I could, and that’s all I could do.

“Phoenix is his best race track and we dominated it until we had to pit. For me, we did a really great job of stepping up to the plate. It’s just, unfortunately, our ball hooked foul instead of going fair for a home run in the end.”

Hamlin says qualifying and short runs are two areas he has improve looking ahead to 2011, while he also sees plenty of room for improvement within his team on the technical side. As he looks back on his season he says his group can feel proud of what they achieved in their fifth full season together.

“There are several parts of our car and parts of our team that we can improve on, and that’s a good thing because of how competitive we are right now,” said Hamlin. “I know I need to get better in qualifying. I said that last year at this time. There’s lots of things that I could do to be better and there’s lots of things we can do as a team to be better. So my focus is what I need to do to execute all of those things.

“I’ve got to work on my outright speed on the short gos, on restarts,” Hamlin said. “Those are the things that I’ve got to get better at and as a team I’ll debrief with them and tell them the things that I feel like our cars need to be better at in the future. I can assure you we’re going to hang our heads high because we came close this year. We had a great year – it was just a little short at the end.”

Next year Hamlin will return behind the wheel of the #11 JGR Toyota Camry joinning Kyle Busch and Joey Logano in the youngest team line-up in the NASCAR Cup field.

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Wallace Joins Forces With RAB Racing

Kenny Wallace (HHP/Erik Perel Photo)

CONCORD, N.C. — NASCAR veteran Kenny Wallace will partner with RAB Racing to compete full-time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2011.

“I’ve been nervous since the final 2010 Nationwide Series race at Homestead trying to find the right fit for next year and now I can finally sleep at night,” said Wallace, a nine-time Nationwide winner. “My goal was to find a team with whom I could be competitive and I believe I have found that with RAB Racing. I’m ready to go for 2011.”

Wallace, a native of St. Louis, Mo., has competed in more than 800 events in NASCAR’s top-three divisions, including 488 starts in the Nationwide Series. He has nine triumphs, 63 top fives and 159 top 10s during his Nationwide career.

“I have known Robby [Benton, RAB Racing co-owner] and watched him grow his team for the past few years,” Wallace said. “The relationship with Toyota Racing Development is huge and will allow me to be able to work with at least three other Toyota teams, including my brother Rusty [Wallace] and gain valuable information that will help us with the Nationwide program at RAB Racing next year.”

The team currently has enough primary sponsorship for 16 events next year, but the team plans to enter all 34 events on the schedule. The University of Northwestern Ohio will sponsor the No. 09 Toyota at Daytona Int’l Speedway in February. Additional sponsors include Federated Auto Parts and Family Farmers, a coalition of corn and soybean farmers.

“Having our plans in place before the Christmas holiday is great for team morale and will provide us with ample time to prepare for what we need to do for the upcoming season,” said Benton. “We’ve made significant changes at RAB Racing over the last few months in an effort to elevate our program. Our alliance with Toyota, the relationship we have with TRD and now adding Kenny to the mix, will bring some depth to our program. It also helps tremendously having a driver with Kenny’s notoriety. People love him and hopefully we’ll be able to reinvigorate his fan base.”

Wallace, 46, spent the last three seasons driving the No. 28 Jay Robinson Racing Chevrolet with a best finish of third at Memphis (Tenn.) Motorsports Park in 2008.

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Measuring Weight Loss on Your Bathroom Scale

Dec 21, 2010 Vi Brown

Measuring Weight Loss - Vi Brown

When on a weight loss program, one of the means of measuring progress is, of course, by utilizing a scale. A weigh-in is done at the beginning of the program and at varying intervals throughout the process until the desired weight is reached.

At a gym or with a weight loss group, the scale that is generally utilized is quite precise and can accurately measure weight loss in increments of less than a pound. However, when weight loss is measured at home, a bathroom scale is usually the only option.

The Bathroom Scale

Bathroom scales have come a long way but there are still many scales in use that have only one function. Stand on it and it will indicate what you weigh. If you dismount and just move the scale a little and then get back on it, you generally weigh something different. Now, if you have been restricting your food intake for a couple of days, you certainly want to see what kind of impact that has had on your weight. So you stand on the scale and examine which number or increment of a pound that little line rests upon. Sometimes you have to bend down a bit to see if you can get a more precise reading. If you don't like what you see, you get off and move the scale and try again.

My Scale Experience

I wanted to get healthier so I placed myself on a home program of healthier eating and daily walks. I weighed myself at the start on a bathroom scale that I have had a number of years. I was about two weeks into my program and was getting somewhat frustrated with this scale. My weight varied depending on where I placed it and how I stood on it. Maybe I lost a pound or maybe I didn't. By this point, I was getting tired of playing this game every time I weighed myself.

I was serious about getting healthier so I decided to invest in a new bathroom scale and get accurate readings.

Shopping for a New Bathroom Scale

As I shopped around for a scale, I was amazed at all the options available. One scale kept records of the last 5 weigh-ins! I really didn't need to or even want to go back that far in my weight history, so I passed on that feature. Then I found a scale that measured fat! How can a scale measure fat? Apparently, there are strips on the scale that, in some fashion, indicate the fat level. I didn't understand it and didn't need my feet to tell me about 'fat' -- thank you very much! There were other scales which could track the weight of several people. I just needed a scale that accurately tracked mine.

Then I found one with a large digital display. That was good. No more bending over to verify. It could also display how much I lost (that was good) or gained (not so good) over the last weigh-in. It was black which fit nicely with my bathroom décor. It had a 5-year warranty. A good feature since staying healthy will be a lifetime endeavour. Best of all it was on sale.

I bought the scale, brought it home, unpacked it, read the instructions, put in the lithium battery and stepped on it.

New Scale and New Weight

I was completely shocked! I weighed 7 more pounds than on the old scale. When I started on the weight loss program, I actually weighed 7 more pounds than I had thought. The goal to lose 15 pounds was now a goal of 22 pounds. The really sad part was that after 2 weeks, I was where I thought I had been 2 weeks ago.

It was important to continue on the journey to better health. I continued towards my new goal. I placed my old scale in another bathroom so that when I needed to momentarily delude myself, I could go and stand on it!

Do not Switch Scales Mid Stream

When on weight loss program, always use the same scale. Try not to weigh yourself more than once a week or even less if you can manage it. Be consistent in your healthy eating and walking. Increase the pace and distance of your walk regularly.

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How to Mentally Prepare for Losing Weight

Dec 20, 2010 Sara Anastasia Ferrer

Weight loss is an investment for years to come. - Graur Razvan Ionut

Shedding excess weight is a worthwhile task, but perhaps you’re frustrated because you aren’t seeing results as quickly as you would like. However, stressing out about a lack of immediate payoff will only add to the tension of this already energy-consuming endeavor. While soldiering through your diet and exercise regimen, impatience can make your days drag, and your motivation and sanity along with it; at worst, it could completely derail your goals and intentions, causing you to prematurely throw your cares to the wind and revert back to an unhealthy lifestyle.

Whether acknowledged or not, a sound diet and exercise plan is going to take some time before you see some substantial progress. Period. Ironically, taking shortcuts will only impede your progress as you realize, through trial-and-error, that the longer albeit healthier way is the only way. So save yourself a lot of time and heartache and build a platform for success--do it the right way for the first time (or this time around).

Learning patience isn’t without difficulty. In this fast-paced culture it’s not only overlooked in favor of expediency as the means to an end, but even frowned upon as a form of passivity or indifference. The following tips will help ground your perspective and give you a leg up in a world of fad diets and gimmicky fitness gadgets.

Know the consequences of rapid weight loss.

That’s right--even more rapid weight gain, usually more than what you started out with. And because weight loss starts in the mind, even if you were to have your dream body instantaneously, it wouldn’t stay that way because it takes time and experience to reprogram your thoughts and habits to sustain your weight loss. Do not lose more than an average of 1.5 pounds a week, as your body and mind will need time to adjust. Lose anymore than that allotted amount and it will be muscle and water, which will slow down your metabolism.

Reframe your point of view.

Focus on what you’ve achieved so far instead of what you haven’t. Pat yourself on the back for those two pounds that you’ve lost so far; if you’re just starting out, give yourself kudos for having the courage to initiate what can oftentimes seem to be a scary enterprise. Remember the first part is always the hardest part. If you’re in it for the long run (which you should be, by the way) it does get easier if you keep chugging along persistently, making a series of small changes that will eventually unveil a permanently more thinner, healthier body.

Remember that patience is a muscle that strengthens with use.

Eventually you’ll experience a snowball effect; the more you use it, the stronger it gets and the more benefits you’ll receive from it. Use it often and thrive exponentially.

Fill in the time gaps with other self-reinventing activities.

Keep in mind that losing weight isn't a sprint to the finish line. As long as you are doing all the things you are supposed to do, let the time factor go. In the meantime, stave off mental brooding rampages and give momentum to your weight loss journey by engaging yourself in additional tasks that will also require time and patience for proficiency. The key is that it has to be enjoyable (as previously mentioned, weight loss is already a physically and emotionally-charged undertaking) and rewarding. Whether you want to learn something new, indulge in a hobby or master a talent, by the time you’ve reached your physical goal, you’ve grown all that much more as a person. By then, you might even be viewing your own body as the inconsequential by-product of a stronger, wiser and wholly transformed inner you.

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Andretti: Attracting Fans Is The Key

Mario Andretti (IndyCar Photo)

CONCORD, N.C. — Many in the auto racing industry realize the sport has a lot of older racing fans and attracting younger spectators is a priority.

Count 1978 World Driving Champion Mario Andretti among them.

“It’s cyclical. It’s life,” Andretti said recently. “There is a cycle of life for drivers. You’ve got drivers that obviously have been around a long time. Sooner or later they’re going to retire. They almost start all over. The same thing with fans.

“But I think the job of the organizing bodies, such as IndyCar, NASCAR, so forth, is to always try to find ways to connect the fans, such as making maybe the drivers more available to the fans, opening up sometimes the pit area to allow the fans to come closer to the race cars and visit,” he continued. “Anything to become fan-friendly, if you will. All these things have a way of really working in a positive way.”

Andretti has won the Indianapolis 500, Daytona 500 and World Driving Championship, but he still has fond memories of his childhood meeting with racing driver Eddie Sachs more than 50 years ago.

“I remember myself as a kid just one instant when I was able to get next to a driver, like Eddie Sachs in Trenton (N.J.),” Andretti remembered. “I was shaking in my boots. He actually talked to me. I asked him a question about how he enjoyed the race in Monza, in Italy, when they went there to run on the high banks. He actually answered it to me.”

Andretti believes it is part of the job of the drivers to attract new fans.

“I know how those things work,” he said. “Us as drivers, when we’re out there, I think we have to think in those terms. There could be a day that would impress somebody, and that person could become a fan for life. Those are all the things that are important to remember also to create the fan base.”

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Saturday, January 1, 2011

The Keys to Losing Weight Fast

Dec 20, 2010 Megan Thacker

Whether you want to lose weight fast for a New Years resolution, for an upcoming event, or as a personal health goal, there are a few key to success you must attain. Losing weight fast will, more than likely, be a long, hard battle. Arm yourself with the facts and tools you will need to succeed.

Healthy Attitude for Weight Loss

In order to lose weight fast, you must adapt a healthy attitude. This attitude may not develop easily, but it will eventually be the key to your success. A positive attitude will help you push through the tough moments. It will help you overcome the desire to skip a workout or indulge in an unhealthy treat.

Choosing a Gym

If you haven’t already, select a local gym to join. Weigh the pros and cons of each fitness center. Features such as a large variety of classes, swimming pools, or other desirable equipment, may be worth a higher monthly fee. If you have children, you may want to invest in a gym that offers childcare.

Beginning a Workout Routine

Whether you belong to a gym or not, begin your weight loss journey by picking up a cardio routine. While workout routines can vary, you should aim for at least 30 minutes of cardio, 20 minutes of weight lifting and ten minutes of stretching three times a week. Do not expect to lose weight without exercising.

Review Diet Plans

Choose a diet plan carefully. There are hundreds, if not thousands to choose from. Research the most popular ones, as you will find a large amount of feedback from other dieters. Popular diet plans include Weight Watchers, Atkins Diet, and Jenny Craig. You will want to consider how much each diet will cost. Some are very low cost, and just require you buy different foods at the grocery store. Others necessitate the purchase of special branded foods.

Consider a Mental Workout

Incorporating Yoga or Meditation into your workout routine can be surprisingly beneficial. Meditating before a workout can help you get into a fitness zone and help you concentrate on your impending routine. You will focus only on your desire to be fit and your inner strength. If you are struggling with your workout attitude, consider making Yoga or Meditation and integral part of your routine.

Sources:

USC: Department of Campus Recreation - Class Descriptions

What Are the Eight Most Popular Diets Today?

Forbes: What 10 Diet Plans Cost

Howard Community College: Wellness, Body, Mind and Spirit

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Wallace Joins Forces With RAB Racing

Kenny Wallace (HHP/Erik Perel Photo)

CONCORD, N.C. — NASCAR veteran Kenny Wallace will partner with RAB Racing to compete full-time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2011.

Wallace, 46, spent the last three seasons driving the No. 28 Jay Robinson Racing Chevrolet with a best finish of third at Memphis (Tenn.) Motorsports Park in 2008.

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Daily Motivation for Weight Loss # 1

Dec 19, 2010 M. Cord Ray

Woman measuring waistline - luigi diamanti

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If we want to experience a permanent new state of being – happy, joyous, and thin – we just have to do day after day, one day at a time, the actions that make us happy, joyous, and thin in the moment.

In other words, if we put together hundreds of good moments we end up having a good life.

Just For This Moment, Just For Today

This can be an encouraging thought or a discouraging thought depending on how you look at it. The model used in twelve step programs “one day at a time” works. Regarding weight loss it is not only one day at a time, but rather one meal, one snack, one bite, or more precisely, one thought at a time.

A New Motivation for Weight Loss

The two biggest motivations for weight loss are looking good and being healthier physically. But Dawn Waters, a certified personal trainer, and owner of Fun and Fitness Belly Dance and A Healthy Miracle Workout Studio, suggests that to sustain motivation it helps to dig deeper. “Everyone wants to look better and be healthier,” Waters says, “But those are not results you can see right away so they don’t weigh in heavy enough against instant gratification to sway you in the right direction when the going gets tough.”

What Can I Do to Keep Myself Motivated to Stick to My Diet Today?

Waters suggests that thinking of eating (or abstaining from eating certain foods) as a more spiritual pursuit will make you enjoy eating more. “When you enjoy eating more you become more motivated to keep doing what works,” Waters says. “And stringing together baby steps of what works is how you get to any goal.” You can stick to your diet better if you think of it as a spiritual practice like runners who run for the meditative qualities do.

Motivation Comes and Goes

Motivation is a bit like tumbleweed rolling down a hill. It’s fickle but it can be guided and it can pick up momentum. Motivation starts, always, with your thoughts. It is important to consistently feed yourself with thoughts that motivate you and actions that cause effects that make you feel motivated.

Thoughts are unruly – they will get negative and need to be replaced with positive ones consciously.

Change Your Focus

We focus so much on the physical aspects of weight loss, both the how to get there and the why we should, that it is easy to ignore the fact that your body is not independent of your spirit.

Believe it or Not Just Breathe

One way to do that is to try to target the spirit directly after talking to your thoughts. A good way to do that is to pause and take a deep calming breath before each meal. This will make the meal a more spiritual experience. This is a simple concept – easy to state but hard to put into practice consistently because so few of us are in the habit. Do it today. By focusing on taste, texture, and your thoughts and experiences during the meal, you enjoy the meal more.

When you enjoy the meal more you get instant gratification. That’s what we want when we think of a candy bar - the instant pleasure. That’s really our motivation. It’s stronger than the desire for the end result. Focus on the pleasure of the joy of eating spiritually and that will create a motivational loop that creates more motivation.

Being conscious will help you eat more slowly. This will help you get more results. Seeing the results and FOCUSING on just this small victory becomes its own reward.

Motivate Your Brain and Your Spirit

The best way too motivate yourself is to focus on spiritual pleasure and passing on that spiritual pleasure. What gives you spiritual pleasure is a personal preference that is up to you.

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Williams receives BBC award

Williams team boss Sir Frank Williams has been presented with the Helen Rollason Award during tonight’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year event.

The award is given for outstanding courage and achievement in the face of adversity. Williams has continued to run his team with great success since being paralysed in a car crash in 1986, with the squad’s tally currently standing at seven drivers’ titles and nine constructors’ championships.

“It’s [a journey] I would love to do again if I were younger,” said Williams as he received the award alongside team co-owner Patrick Head.

“I certainly wouldn’t try and do anything different – I’d try and avoid the accidents of course… But I would’ve taken it as it comes.”

Williams highlighted his team’s first grand prix win, Clay Regazzoni’s triumph in the 1979 British Grand Prix, as one of his most treasured memories.

“The first grand prix win was at Silverstone, with the home crowd, and it was a really strong demonstration run by a very superior car,” said Williams.

“But after that obviously in 1980 the first drivers’ world championship won by Alan Jones, and my fantastic partner Patrick Head, our chief designer. In those days he really made the world’s best racing cars.”

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Season Rewind: United States Auto Club

USAC AMSOIL NATIONAL SPRINT CAR SERIES & USAC SILVER CROWN SERIES CHAMPION: Levi Jones

Levi Jones drove to two USAC National championships during the 2010 racing season. (John DaDalt Photo)

Driving the No. 20 for Tony Stewart Racing, Levi Jones tied Steve Butler with his fourth-career USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car Series championship.

Jones led the sprint-car division with seven victories, 24 top fives and 29 top-10 finishes while beating Damion Gardner by 132 points.

Jones also drove for TSR in the USAC Silver Crown Series and won twice in 10 races to end Bud Kaeding’s reign as champion by a mere two points. It was the first Silver Crown championship for the Olney, Ill., driver, who also finished second in the USAC National Driver’s Championship.

WHO WON WHAT IN 2010: SPRINT CARS

Date	Track	Winner	Car
Feb. 8	East Bay Raceway Park (Fla.)	Damion Gardner	DG 71
Feb. 10	East Bay Raceway Park (Fla.)	Damion Gardner	DG 71
Feb. 19	USA Raceway (Ariz.)	Levi Jones	Stewart 20
Feb. 25	Las Vegas Motor Speedway	Damion Gardner	DG 71
Feb. 27	Perris Auto Speedway (Calif.)	Damion Gardner	DG 71
April 16	Gas City I-69 Speedway (Ind.)	Tracy Hines	Hines 4
April 17	Lawrenceburg Speedway (Ind.)	Jerry Coons, Jr.	Hoffman 69
April 18	Kokomo Speedway (Ind.)	Bryan Clauson	RWB 2b
May 12	Eldora Speedway (Ohio)	Robert Ballou	MPGH 81
May 22	Iowa Speedway	Bryan Clauson	RWB 2b
May 27	Terre Haute Action Track (Ind.)	Jerry Coons, Jr.	Hoffman 69
June 1	Grandview Speedway (Pa.)	Levi Jones	Stewart 20
June 2	Lincoln Speedway (Pa.)	Levi Jones	Stewart 20
June 3	New Egypt Speedway (N.J.)	Levi Jones	Stewart 20
June 4	Big Diamond Raceway (Pa.)	Chris Windom	Walker 11
June 10	O’Reilly Raceway Park (Ind.)	Shane Hmiel	RWB 17s
June 12	Berlin Raceway (Mich.)	Bryan Clauson	RWB 2b
June 26	34 Raceway (Iowa)	Levi Jones	Stewart 20
July 1	O’Reilly Raceway Park (Ind.)	Shane Hmiel	RWB 17s
July 2	Toledo Speedway (Ohio)	Henry Clarke	Kunz 67
July 9	Lawrenceburg Speedway (Ind.)	Dave Darland	Goodnight 39
July 10	Gas City I-69 Speedway (Ind.)	Jon Stanbrough	Foxco 53
July 11	Kokomo Speedway (Ind.)	Levi Jones	Stewart 20
July 14	Terre Haute Action Track (Ind.)	Jon Stanbrough	Foxco 53
July 15	Brownstown Speedway (Ind.)	Brady Short	Short 36
July 16	Bloomington Speedway (Ind.)	Jon Stanbrough	Foxco 53
July 17	Tri-State Speedway (Ind.)	Blake Fitzpatrick	Fitzpatrick 10f
July 24	Lincoln Park Speedway (Ind.)	Dickie Gaines	Roberts/Tate 21x
Aug. 8	Knoxville Raceway (Iowa)	Bud Kaeding	Kaeding 29
Aug. 10	Southern Iowa Speedway	Bud Kaeding	Kaeding 29
Aug. 14	Salem Speedway (Ind.)	Shane Hmiel	RWB 17s
Aug. 22	Winchester Speedway (ind.)	Shane Hmiel	RWB 17s
Sept. 10	Lincoln Park Speedway (Ind.)	Jon Stanbrough	Foxco 53
Sept. 11	Terre Haute Action Track (Ind.)	Jon Stanbrough	Foxco 53
Sept. 25	Eldora Speedway (Ohio)	Levi Jones	Stewart 20
Nov. 4	Perris Auto Speedway (Calif.)	Levi Jones	Stewart 20
Nov. 5	Perris Auto Speedway (Calif.)	Damion Gardner	DG 71
Nov. 6	Perris Auto Speedway (Calif.)	Chris Windom	Walker 11
Nov. 13	Thunderbowl Raceway (Calif.)	Bud Kaeding	Kaeding 29

USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car Series Top 10 In Points

Position	Driver	Points	Wins	Top 5	Top 10
1.	Levi Jones	2,094	8	24	29
2.	Damion Gardner	1,962	5	19	28
3.	Bryan Clauson	1,927	3	15	27
4.	Jerry Coons, Jr.	1,744	2	11	23
5.	Tracy Hines	1,733	1	13	23
6.	Chris Windom	1,707	2	13	22
7.	Dave Darland	1,313	1	11	20
8.	Henry Clarke	1,312	1	5	14
9.	Shane Hmiel	1,080	4	5	10
10.	Jon Stanbrough	1,065	5	11	15

WHO WON WHAT IN 2010: SILVER CROWN

Date	Track	Winner	Car
Feb. 21	USA Raceway (Ariz.)	Levi Jones	Stewart 10
May 22	Iowa Speedway	A.J. Fike	RFMS 3
May 28	Indiana State Fairgrounds	Shane Hmiel	RW 17
July 22	O’Reilly Raceway Park (Ind.)	Tracy Hines	Vance 25
Aug. 12	Berlin Raceway (Mich.)	Tanner Swanson	Team 6R/TK 23
Sept. 5	DuQuoin State Fairgrounds (Ill.)	Kody Swanson	Team 6R/TK 23
Sept. 25	Eldora Speedway (Ohio)	Bryan Clauson	Stewart 22
Oct. 9	Terre Haute Action Track (Ind.)	Levi Jones	Stewart 10
Oct. 16	Toledo Speedway (Ohio)	Jerry Coons, Jr.	RW 27

USAC Silver Crown Series Top 10 In Points

Position	Driver	Points	Wins	Top 5	Top 10
1.	Levi Jones	405	2	4	6
2.	Bud Kaeding	403	0	4	7
3.	Kody Swanson	394	1	6	6
4.	Bryan Clauson	366	1	4	4
5.	Jerry Coons, Jr.	354	1	4	6
6.	A.J. Fike	338	1	2	5
7.	Brian Tyler	327	0	0	7
8.	Bobby East	313	0	3	5
9.	Shane Hmiel	299	1	4	5
10.	Tracy Hines	256	1	2	3

View the original article here

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

High-Fat Dairy Substitutes

Cut the Fat in Meats

Condiment Alternatives

Additional Low Calorie Substitutes

Jillian Michaels Free Weight Loss Plan

The Glycemic Impact Diet

The Protein Power Weight Loss Plan

One: Eat to Lose Weight!

Two: Restock Your Entire Pantry for Your Diet Plan

Three: Always Bring Your Own... for Your Diet

Four: Choose a Diet Plan You Would Enjoy

Five: Set Mini Goals, Reward Yourself

Monday, January 3, 2011

How To Lose Weight Fast and Still Eat Like a King 2

Want to Eat Well and Still Lose Weight?

Want to Know How to Eat More and Still Lose Weight? Be as Colorful as a Queen

Make a Commitment to Think Well, Live Well, and Eat Well

Overeaters Anonymous

Action for Healthy Kids

American Council on Exercise?

American Diabetes Association

The American Dietetic Association

American Heart Association

Food and Drug Administration

Fruits and Veggies More Matters (CDC)

Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation

International Food Information Council

Is my child overweight?

National Weight Control Registry

Obesity Action Coalition

The Obesity Society

Shaping America's Youth

Small Plate Movement

Ways to Enhance Children's Activity & Nutrition

Wheat Foods Council

Whole Grains Council

Womenheart: the National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease

Your Weight Matters

Most Weight-Loss Solutions Focus on Normal Metabolism

Fat-Burning Metabolism as Weight-Loss Aid for Quick Fat Loss Misunderstood

What are Ketones? How is a Low-Carb Diet Fueled?

Understanding Ketosis, Weight Loss, and a Low-Carb Diet Metabolism

Sunday, January 2, 2011

The Bathroom Scale

My Scale Experience

Shopping for a New Bathroom Scale

New Scale and New Weight

Do not Switch Scales Mid Stream

Know the consequences of rapid weight loss.

Reframe your point of view.

Remember that patience is a muscle that strengthens with use.

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Healthy Attitude for Weight Loss

Choosing a Gym

Beginning a Workout Routine

Review Diet Plans

Consider a Mental Workout

Just For This Moment, Just For Today

A New Motivation for Weight Loss

What Can I Do to Keep Myself Motivated to Stick to My Diet Today?

Motivation Comes and Goes

Change Your Focus

Believe it or Not Just Breathe

Motivate Your Brain and Your Spirit

USAC AMSOIL NATIONAL SPRINT CAR SERIES & USAC SILVER CROWN SERIES CHAMPION: Levi Jones