Free diet software

This week I have a couple of things to tell you about. I have found a couple of great diet related software programs and I have found and just wanted to let you know of a review that I did.

OK, first of all do you know what freeware is? Well freeware are programs that software developers have created and give away for anyone to use. I have found a couple of great pieces of freeware software for people looking to eat better.

The first one is for Weight Watchers members, or at least people that are following weight watchers. The program is called WW Points Calc and it is a Weight Watchers Points calculator. You install and then just plug in the calories, fat, and fiber and you can click on one button and it will tell you what your points are for that food.

The second program is a recipe manager that I have been using lately. Recipe Manager has a giant database of foods that tells you how much fat, carbs, protein, calories and nutrients are in those foods. This program will make it far easier to see how good or bad a food is for you.

One more thing that I want to tell you about this week is a review that I did for Vince DelMonte's Muscle building program. This is a program that is not for everyone.

In fact if you are dieting and trying to lose weight is may be a lot better to use Fat Loss for Idiots or Burn the Fat which I have also reviewed, Vince Delmontes program would definitely not be for you.

But the Muscle Building program is great for anyone struggling to gain muscle, especially for summer, then Vinces program is probably going to be great, check out the review that I did .

Fat Loss for Idiots

Has anyone tried this Fat Loss 4 idiots diet? I have been looking around because lots of people are talking about it and it is apparently the top diet on the internet.

I did find one review that has lots of comments, mostly positive, about fat loss for idiots.

Anyway, there are three keys to fat loss for idiots diet.

1. You eat multiple times a day. Small meals that you eat a couple of things in each meal. And you eat only until satisfied not until you are full.

2. Cycle the diet by eating the diet only for nine days and then be off the diet for 3 days to confuse your body and not let it think you are starving.

3. Exercising by walking for just a few minutes everyday. 30 minutes of exercise per day.

Anyway. This diet seems to work pretty well for lots of people. If you look at the comments in the post above you will see that there are lots of people doing this diet although the big failing is that the fat loss for idiots is not answerable to anyone else. With weight watchers we have a weekly weigh-in and you talk to someone about how the week went and get tips diring the meetings.

Good eating Habits

You probably know that you positively should cut down on the hard fats in your eating; you should also face the fact that, in essence, it means a new way of life.

If you don't enjoy healthy eating, you will never keep it up. You who have the weight problem are in the same boat. You have to learn to like low-calorie eating, or you cannot stay “reduced.” If you're trying to keep your figure, or get it back, you're faced with a lifetime of sensible eating, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. The same is true if you set out now to protect your heart.

There is only one way to go about any kind of keep-fit eating. Get away from negative thinking. Don't make your heartsaver eating an ”I can't eat this” proposition. Make your attitude a positive one. Make it a game, if you will, in which you set out to fight fats in every possible way. You can trim swarms of them from your meat-eating by cutting away visible fats.

Today, it is possible to buy margarines that are made from poly-rich oils; although these margarines are a little more expensive, and usually found only in drugstores. You can be sure that soon many other products with such qualities will be developed and, as the knowledge of their benefits becomes more widely known, will be distributed on a more general basis.

As nearly as we can determine, the majority of prepared mayonnaise brands now on the market are made with a goodly percentage of poly-rich oil. You can often use mayonnaise as a spread for bread, when preparing a sandwich.

Don't use butter on steaks or potatoes, when a fat-free gravy, or a seasoned soft oil will give you the lubrication you want. Never use butter for sautéing, basting, or frying. Again, use vegetable oils instead.

Above all things: Don't be penny-wise and health-pound-foolish. Don't save the bacon fat and meat fat drippings that accumulate from your cooking! All the money you save by using these “kitchen fats” will not begin to take care of the funeral costs or doctor's bills that can result from one coronary attack.

Call our basic positive approach psychology, if you will; but, one fundamental heart-saving fact remains. You're going to be a very unhappy person, and fail in your endeavor, if you make any new way of eating solely a matter of self-denial. That attitude adds up to a daily punishment that will cause you to give up and forget.You can't keep your weight down or guard your heart by following a rigid diet for a couple of weeks, and then slipping right back to your old ways of eating. On the other hand, doing it the right way isn't nearly as “terrible” as you may think.

Because we have been doing it for fourteen years, we can assure you that the heartsaver way of eating is good eating—tasty, pleasant, and fun to follow. It may take some time and some doing for you to prove that fact, but your patience will be rewarded.

Always remember, too, that as far as heartsaver eating is concerned, there are some three hundred foods you can eat with perfect safety, and enjoy to your heart's content.

Keys to a successful weight loss plan

As America's obesity epidemic continues to spiral out of control, more and more people are looking for a successful weight loss plan. The problem begins with the fact that there are thousands of such plans claiming to help you lose weight. It can be a seemingly impossible task to determine which plans actually work. There are, however, some key aspects to successful plans. Here are five keys to a successful weight loss plan:

1. Above all else, a successful weight loss plan should have its foundation layed upon solid science. This doesn't mean that a successful plan has to necessarily be at the forefront of weight-loss science, but its fundamentals must be based upon proven results. This can be as simple as a proven strategy for cutting calories, an effective workout routine, or the incorporation of new weight loss medicine into your program.

2. With regards to diet, specifically, you should look for a plan that shows you how to follow a low calorie and high fiber diet. Obviously, you want to follow a low-calorie plan. But why high fiber? Recent studies have confirmed that a diet high in fiber tends to fill a person up quicker than a diet low in fiber. Therefore, when eating high fiber foods, you will become fuller quicker.

3. A successful weight loss plan must also incorporate a properly balanced exercise routine. Typical cardiovascular exercises, such as running, swimming, and bicycling, must be included to burn calories. But equally important, is that a strength training routine also be part of the weight-loss program. This is vital, because muscle burns calories at a much quicker rate than fat. If you can successfully add muscle mass to your frame, then you will be burning more calories by doing the same cardiovascular exercises. They are two sides of the same coin.

4. Another aspect of the successful weight loss plan should include firm planning. Without solid goals in mind, you are almost guaranteeing failure in trying to lose weight. Not only should goals be results oriented, such as losing a certain amount of weight in a certain amount of time, but also process oriented. For example, you would want one of your goals to focus on maintaining your planned diet for a certain amount of time.

5. A final key to a successful weight loss program is including proper motivation. While it is true that you are the only one who can properly motivate yourself to lose weight, there are certain tools you can be equipped with to achieve that motivation. Techniques like keeping a journal or losing weight with the group of friends can vastly improve the motivation you feel to lose weight.

Every successful weight loss plan is comprised of many different aspects. However, there are certain number of key components that you will find every successful plan uses. Relying upon a solid scientific background, incorporating proper diet and exercise, planning with firm goals in mind, and utilizing proper motivational techniques are five such key aspects of a successful weight loss plan.

How to Use the Weight Watchers Points System to Lose Weight

With so any available weight loss programs, it is often hard to decide which one will work for you and which won't. If you want to lose weight quick then it is imperative that you choose an ideal weight loss program that you like to follow. Believe it or not, following something you like is a lot easier than doing something that you don't like to do! One weight loss system that has worked time and again for many people is the Weight Watchers points system. In this article I will tell you more about this system.

There are many different kinds of diet programs in the market that would give you varied results but virtually all of them claim to help you with weight loss. There is one weight loss program which restricts your carb intake to a very low level. Others would recommend a diet that is low on cholesterol. Both diets are good. But the easiest one to follow is the Weight Watchers points system. Under this system, you can eat whatever you want and still lose weight. Sounds too good to be true? Well, it is the truth! The only catch is that when you eat you must not go beyond the points allotted to you!

Besides following the Weight Watchers points system, you can also use diet supplements. One important thing to remember here is that you must avoid the chemical supplements and fad diet pills at all costs. They sell merely on hype and never really work! Herbal supplements, on the other hand, won't make big promises like those fad pills but would actually help you lose weight permanently!

Another thing to remember is that when it comes to weight loss, you must learn to be patient and give yourself ample time to lose weight. See, you gained those extra pounds not in one day but over several years! If is only logical to allot yourself a few years when you are trying to lose weight. Most people try long and hard to lose weight quick; however, they rarely succeed in their mission!

One more thing I would like to tell you is that truly speaking, you are trying to lose fat, NOT weight. As you lose fat with the help of exercises, you will also gain strong muscles side by side. So, ultimately, you might actually notice that your weight has increased because fat weighs less than muscles. Eventually, you will have a trimmed, strong belly instead of a balloon-like fat belly! Now if that isn't an incentive enough for you to lose weight, I don't know what is!

Baked Banana Split

I found this great recipe for a baked Banana Split and it looked so yummy that I just had to have it. I hope to make it this afternoon

POINTS Value: 4
Servings: 4
Preparation Time: 15 min
Cooking Time: 30 min
Level of Difficulty: Easy

This Core Plan version of a banana split is makes a special baked but healthy dessert. Change the flavor by substituting other extracts—such as almond, maple, rum or orange—for the vanilla.

Ingredients

• 1 sprays cooking spray
• 4 large banana(s), ripe, peeled
• 8 oz canned crushed pineapple in juice, drained
• 2 Tbsp McNeil Nutritionals SPLENDA No Calorie Sweetener, divided
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 cup fat-free ricotta cheese
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cups raspberries

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Coat a 9-inch baking pan with cooking spray. Place bananas in pan.
2. In a small bowl, combine pineapple, 1 tablespoon of Splenda and cinnamon; pour over bananas. Cover pan with foil and bake for 30 minutes. (Note: The canned pineapple is already sweet so omit the Splenda if you prefer.)
3. Meanwhile, in another small bowl, combine ricotta, remaining tablespoon of Splenda and vanilla; set aside.
4. Place one baked banana in each of four individual serving bowls and top each with about 2 tablespoons of pineapple sauce and 1/4 cup of ricotta mixture. Top each with 1/4 cup of raspberries. Serve immediately. Yields 1 banana split per serving.

Does this sound great? The picture is good enough as a great excuse to try this 4 point dessert.

4 Surefire Tips to help you lose weight

Research has proven that if we've a single objective as our goal, and if we direct all our energies and resources towards the achievement of that objective, we can't but win the goal. It is really true, and when it comes to weight loss, it is no different either! The very first thing you need to do is to make your weight loss goal your priority, and then enlist all the available resources and time towards achieving it. That is the only way you can lose weight.

I am not telling you to neglect things that are more important than weight loss, but I am pretty sure that the number of such 'very important things' is fewer than what you think, and I am also sure that you can, if you want, accommodate your weight loss program in this short list of 'very important things'.

You see, nothing is more important than your health. If your health goes for a downhill, everything else that you set as 'important tasks' will have to stop. Now, how does this relate to weight loss? Well, you might not be aware of the fact that obesity is the forerunner of several harmful diseases such as diabetes, heart related diseases, hypertension, etc. Therefore, the main reason why you should lose weight is not just to look and feel good, but to make sure you live a healthy and long life. There are some ways you can ensure that you always find time for your weight loss program:

1. Schedule your exercise: Most of the people who don't find time for their exercises are the ones who never really set any time for it. You see, unless you schedule a specific time for a task, you will never find time for it, and exercise is not anything different. Set at least half-an-hour per day for doing some kind of workouts. This doesn't mean that you will have to hit the gym everyday. For most people, hitting the gym is a far-fetched dream. If you are one of them, then try to do workouts at home. You can even exercise while watching your favorite TV program.

Another important thing to understand is that you should make your workout sessions fun-filled and interesting. Don't do the exercises that you don't want to do, otherwise you will soon feel bored and tired. Make a list of your favorite exercises, and then mix and match them and start your workout session. You don't need to exercise everyday. If you exercise just five days a week, you are good to go!

Most people never use the weekends for anything, other than watching their favorite movies. Why not use this time more productively by doing some jogging and aerobics? You see, if you exercise during the weekends, you will need to exercise for only three more days, so that you can take the two other days off!

2. Plan your Grocery: When we are on a diet, temptations are always around the corner, especially if there is nothing except junk food in the house. Therefore make sure you shop for the healthy foods from your local grocery store and keep a ready stock of fresh fruits and vegetables at your home, otherwise you will end up munching on junk foods which will make you fatter.

3. Resolve to be better next time: We are not perfect, and therefore we would not be able to follow a diet plan perfectly. Slip-ups will happen; sometimes you will break your resolutions, cheat and try to binge on the 'forbidden foods'. When this happens, stop ruing and get over it, and make a resolution not to do it next day. Do so every time you catch yourself cheating or breaking a weight loss resolution, and you will see that over time your diet will no longer seem to be a challenge for you!

4. Consistency is the key: The big difference between the people who lose weight successfully and those who don't is that of consistency. There are people who follow a particular weight loss program or diet plan and stick to it throughput their lifetime; those are the people who actually lose weight. People who run after one fad diet or another are never successful in their endeavors. Once you get a successful weight loss plan, stick to it while making adjustments along the way. Remember that a rolling stone gathers no moss!

How to choose a weight loss plan

Good weight loss plans are built on practical thinking. Before you create a weight loss plan, you need to decide why is it that you want to lose weight at all! Next you will need to decide what you expect to have from your weight loss program, and how you will approach it. There are many other tidbits that goes into the making a successful weight loss plan. In this article I will tell you everything about how to create a weight loss plan the 'easy' way!

1. Okay, first of all, ask yourself why you want to lose weight. There are many reasons why people want to lose weight. Some people would want to lose weight so that can fit into their old trousers or jeans; others do it to look and feel good; some others do it because they have heard about a lot of health issues associated with obesity. What about you? This is the first step towards the creation of a successful weight loss goal. Once you know why you want to achieve a goal, success becomes easier!

2. Create the goal: Now it is time for you to create the weight loss goal itself. Decide how much weight you want to lose each day! Do you want to shed sixty pounds in a month? Is that viable? Don't make unrealistic goals because you will never be able to achieve them. If in doubt, consult your friends and try to know about realistic weight loss goals.

3. Once you have created a goal, it is time to create a workable plan through which you intend to achieve your goal. If need be, don't hesitate to consult your doctor on this matter; even better, ask him to create the plan for you! How you want to achieve your goal is what your weight loss plan is all about. Below I give you three pointers that will help you here:

Pointer one - Losing weight by eating less: It is easier said than done, but if you have decided to lose weight this way, it is not impossible either! Decide on what you will need to achieve this end. For example, you will need appetite suppressants that will save you from hunger pangs resulting from reduction in food intake.

Pointer two Losing weight by eating healthier foods: Replacing the fatty foods with their low-calorie counterparts is the surefire way to lose weight. If you eat snacks every evening, why not replace it with fruits and vegetables? If you drink a large bowl of chocolate soup every night, it is time to stop that practice and eat carrots and other vegetables instead! These healthy substitutes would help you reach your weight loss goals faster!

Pointer three - Losing weight by exercises: While exercises entail a lot of hard work, it is actually easier to lose weight by doing exercise if you are disciplined enough! Exercise actually has a dual function: on one hand it helps you lose weight by burning your body fat; on the other, it helps you build muscles so that you can burn fat even when you are resting (because muscles increase a person's metabolic rate considerably).

Choose workouts that you can do at home, in front of your TV. Don't be too hard on yourself - start by doing exercises for one hour each day, and do your workouts every other day. It is stupid to think that you can workout everyday; you will pretty much get tired by your workout sessions that way! Give yourself a break, and you will see that exercises are not as hard as you used to think!

Visit your local library and browse books, manuals and CD-ROMs on different types of exercises. Listen to audio tapes. Consult with your doctor as well as a professional fitness trainer. This would help you in creating a solid exercise plan!

4. Imagine the plan: Now that you have created the weight loss plan, imagine how you vision yourself reaching your weight loss goal using the plan you have just created!

Lynn the writer featured on CNN

Lynn finally accepted her weight back in 2005 and decided to make the changes needed to lose weight and become healthy, look at the before and after in the picture to the left.

In the end Lynn lost 168 pounds and has kept it off in maintenance for over a year.

I'm often asked how I got started on my weight loss journey. I wish I had a simple, perky answer, but the truth is, I had a lot of internal housecleaning to do first.

Lynn Bering eats a mostly vegetarian diet and exercises five days a week to maintain her 168-pound weight loss.

I had so many feelings floating around in my head when I weighed 300 pounds -- inadequacy, anger, and overall helplessness. I vacillated for months between accepting my body as it was and choosing to lose weight. I journaled tough questions: How did I feel about my body? How much did I love myself? Was I worth changing for? It was difficult and often uncomfortable work, I won't lie, but once I was honest with myself and became better acquainted with the emotions that bothered me most, I was ready to lose weight.

Working through those issues, or at least confronting them, left me better prepared for the "tough love" it took to discipline that weak voice inside that said, "This is hard. I want chocolate (or fries or animal crackers or any other simple carb you can imagine). Feed me." I learned to say no to myself and I committed to learning new behaviors that helped me change "I can't" to "I will."

I still write down everything I eat. I still ask myself, "How will I feel five minutes after I eat this?" If the answer is anything other than, "I will feel good having made this food choice," then I don't eat it. Or at least most of the time I don't. Sometimes that whiny voice wins. But the point is, I think about it. Am I eating because I want to or because I need to? Am I feeding some emotion I'm afraid to examine?

I can't sugar-coat the truth. I can't even use Splenda to make it easier. Losing weight means changing everything -- how you think about food and how you think about yourself. But if you don't take shortcuts and you find your inner strength (and we all have that within ourselves), you'll be rewarded with not only more energy and better health, you'll be your own best friend.

Bering tracks her progress, fitness regimens and the pitfalls of losing weight on her blog, Lynn's Weight Loss Journey.

Shreddie Cereal Bar

I have had a bit of a sweet tooth the last few days as I try to detox from all the Christmas junk. I have been doing pretty good. My wife found the following recipe for a type of cereal bar, I really like cereal bars so I was looking forward to trying this one out.

This is still a really good only 2 or 3 point treat and is really explosive in taste so it does not take much to satisfy.

In the end I have been easily able to keep myself away from the chocolate and pop by having just a few morsels of this great cereal bar. The consistency of these things is really chewy like in the name and they are really sweet. I really recommend them.

Prep: 10 min. I Total: 1 hour 10 min. incl. refrigerating

Makes 20 servings, 1 bar each. Total points per square is 3

3/4 cup light corn syrup

3/4 cup Kraft Smooth Light Peanut Butter

3 cups Post Shreddies Cereal 1/2 cup chopped dried apricots

1/4 cup unsweetened flaked coconut 1/4 cup dried cranberries

SPRAY 8-inch square pan with cooking spray; set aside. Microwave corn syrup and peanut butter in large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 11/2 min. or until peanut butter is almost melted; stir until well blended.

ADD remaining ingredients; mix well. Press into prepared pan.

REFRIGERATE 1 hour or until firm.

Thanks to Fitness Tips for the recipe.