Mar
18
2012
Here we go again, the age old question that continues to make headlines: to lose weight, should we limit the total amount of calories, carbohydrates or the fat grams that we eat? Or should we eat endless amounts of fat and protein and just limit the starchy foods? Or should we eat whole grains, proteins and low fat? Or maybe just liquid protein, or rice or cabbage or grapefruit? What is the answer? Well, it seems that we are slowly getting directed to the answer my friends. A research projected headed by Andrew D. Calvin, M.D., MPH from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn, and presented at the American Heart Association’s Epidemiology and Prevention/Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism (EPI/NPAM) meeting in San Diego, suggests that not getting enough sleep will increase the amount of calories that are consumed. In fact, as sleep time decreases, calories intake rises. So it seems that the longer we remain awake, the more we tend to eat. I think this makes a lot of sense. I know from a personal stand point, if I am up late, reading or reviewing the literature, I tend to visit the kitchen quite often. And I can tell by the scale in the morning (besides my pants getting tighter), that I have gained weight because of my nocturnal eating patterns. I bet each and every one of you reading ...
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Jul
11
2011
Hello my fans and yes, we are getting fatter. A report released this past Thursday, July 7th, 2011
F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America's Future*, reveals that the obesity rates across America are increasing. That’s right, there are more obese individuals in 16 states than in 2010. And there was no state in the United States, that reported a decline in obesity rates. Yes, we are all getting fatting-well most of us!
Here are the percentage of obese adults in all 50 states-see it for yourself**:
|
State
|
%
|
|
State
|
%
|
|
Mississippi
|
34.4
|
|
Maine
|
26.5
|
|
Alabama
|
32.3
|
|
Washington
|
26.4
|
|
West Virginia
|
32.2
|
|
Florida
|
26.1
|
|
Tennessee
|
31.9
|
|
Alaska
|
25.9
|
|
Louisiana
|
31.6
|
|
Virginia
|
25.9
|
|
Kentucky
|
31.5
|
|
Idaho
|
25.7
|
|
Oklahoma
|
31.4
|
|
New Hampshire
|
25.6
|
|
South Carolina
|
30.9
|
|
New Mexico
|
25.6
|
|
Arkansas
|
30.6
|
|
Arizona
|
25.4
|
|
Michigan
|
30.5
|
|
Oregon
|
25.4
|
|
Missouri
|
30.3
|
|
Wyoming
|
25.4
|
|
Texas
|
30.1
|
|
Minnesota
|
25.3
|
|
Ohio
|
|
...
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Jun
27
2011
Hello my fans and let’s get right to the new research. Yes, the Best Diet in the Universe (BDITU)*** is on target. A new study by lead scientist Dr. Barbara Gower*, Professor of Nutrition Sciences at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, presented at the 93rd Annual Meeting of the Endocrine Society held in Boston, documents that cutting down on the intake of carbohydrates (i.e. starches, pasta, bread, sugar, etc.) will reduce the amount of “deep belly fat.” And, these reductions in deep fat may come with even little to no weight loss. How do you like that! As you have read here in my blog, the Best Diet in the Universe*** is exactly what the doctor ordered. The BDITU reduces the load of carbohydrate and introduces the body to a healthy stream of fruits, poly and monounsaturated fats, vegetable proteins and low fat dairy. According to Dr. Gower and her team, the loss of the deeper fat occurred mostly in non African Americans.
The low carbohydrate diet used by Dr. Gower and her associates consisted of the following breakdown of calories:
43 percent from carbohydrates
39 percent from fat
18 percent from protein
Using the above method, dieters on the restricted carb diet had 11 percent less deep fat than the subjects on the “standard” low fat diet. In addition, most dieters on the carb restricted plan had a 4 percent greater loss of ...
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May
24
2011
Hello my diet fans and welcome to Day 7 of your Best Diet in the Universe diet plan, brought to you by me, your diet guru, Graehm Gray. Yes, I have accepted your mandate. I am there for you! Investigating the hundreds of diet plans out there and formulating my original plan just for you, my loyal followers. Its actually not so dramatic, but I like to write that way! My plan incorporates the essentials of a good Mediterranean style meal plan with a special concern on calorie intake. Its really not a “diet” plan per se, but more like a way of life. Yes, a life style!
So fellow dieter, you have reached the end of the week: week number one-and we are about to climb further up the mountain. By this time, after six diet days, your body is going through changes. Your body is recognizing that it is not getting the usual amount of food that it has received before. In fact, besides seeing a lower quantity, it is seeing a much healthier assortment of calories. Your body is now being called upon to burn fat and carbs more efficiently. It is adding protein to your muscles and burning internal fat. And with the Best Diet in the Universe daily exercise program, your conditioning is improving not to mention the efficiency of your metabolism. Your ability ...
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May
10
2011
Hello my fans. Welcome to Day 6 of the Best Diet in the Universe. Day 5 was certainly a leaner day with less food available but with continued exercise. Your body is learning to adjust to the lower amounts of calories. You are getting into the fat burning stages of this diet plan which will result in weight loss. That’s a good thing!
We will follow Day 5 with a detox* day. This will help lower your body fat and get your metabolism to gear up to a steady state of fat and calorie burning.
Let’s begin:
Breakfast: start with a mixture of 2 ounces of "POM"-brand name blueberry/pomegranate juice and 2 ounces of water, followed by 2 scrambled eggs, 2 slices of tomato (1/4 inch thick), 1/2 of a grapefruit sprinkled with cinnamon, coffee/tea, 1 glass of water with lemon (6oz). Calorie goal: 200.
Mid morning snack: 3 handfuls of a combination of roasted unsalted almonds and dried cherries; coffee/tea, one glass water (6 ounce) with lemon. Calorie goal: 50-100.
Lunch: Start with a large salad with either iceberg or Romaine lettuce; add tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, onions, carrots, fresh or frozen broccoli, and a small piece (2 inches thick, by 2 inches wide by 5 inches long) of grilled salmon* (the salmon is grilled with garlic, lemon and olive oil). Dip and taste salad dressing of your choice. Coffee/tea, with 2 glasses ...
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May
01
2011
Hello my fans. Welcome to another day in the life of a dieter. Do you have more pounds to lose? That’s okay! You are in the right place and on the right track. Today's plan is part of the “quick weight loss” plan that is incorporated in the Best Diet in the Universe series. There will be less food today. Yes, less than the previous four days. Today, less is better than more! This will help trigger more fat burning and more calorie loss. If you are on the Best Diet in the Universe plan, you are eating nuts (if you are not allergic), fresh fruits and berries. You are eating less carbohydrates and this is boosting your fat burning. And today, you will eat even less! I know I just said that, but I want to emphasize the “less factor”. Many of you have written in that there is too much food on this plan. You are correct. There are extreme diet plans and less extreme. My plan will allow your body to adjust to the lower amounts of calories and changes in the composition without dramatically affecting your mood or hunger center. But today we will push you a bit! Remember today less is more.
Le Tour de Diet!!! Alez silvous plait. On to Day 5.
Bon Jour! So we have reached day number five of Le Tour de Diet! ...
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Apr
17
2011
Hello my fans and welcome to another installment of the Best Diet in the Universe series. As you can see, this series is composed of terrific diet plans, questions and answers of real life diet issues, recipes and information about foods, nutrition and fitness. It could be a great book. And all of you, my adoring fans, are getting the benefit of reading it here first, for free! Yes, soon it will be at your local book sellers, or online as an e-book. As a side note, I am still hoping that bookstores make a comeback! There is nothing like the feel of a book. Now mind you- I love my e-readers-I have a few types. But I still love the feel of books. I guess I am old fashion. But it seems that we are losing this precious art form. Anyway, back to the topic at hand.
I am still receiving lots of wonderful questions and came upon questions related to blueberries and walnuts. These are two wonderful plant based foods and a big part of the Best Diet in the Universe. Remember my fans, this diet plan incorporates the good carbohydrates that you should have in your daily diet plan. By eating more of a plant based diet, you will incorporate more of the "good" complex carbohydrates that have the fiber, vitamins, minerals and protein as well as many ...
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Apr
02
2011
Hello my fans. I am so happy that you have been following the Best Diet in The Universe and have completed four days of terrific foods, good size portions and great fitness activities. By the feedback comments I have been getting- most of you are feeling better, losing weight and having more energy! I am thrilled by all your emails. This column is devoted to a few of the great questions that I have been receiving.
FAQ:
A. Do you have a more extreme version of the Best Diet in the Universe? The answer is yes. There is a version that cuts back even further on the calorie intake. It’s meant for quick weight loss and I will bring that diet out in the future. For now, it’s a matter of re-educating your bodies to appreciate this new pattern of foods and activity. Just think of the tortoise and the hare-in the long run-you will be the winner.
B. I have been following your diet and I am not losing weight-why? This is a common question. Sometimes after losing a few pounds (starts with 10 pounds), your body’s metabolism changes. And as a result, you stop losing weight. Some dietologists refer to this as the “wall.” Anyone who has been on a diet knows exactly what I am talking about. You are going along fine, losing, losing, and losing. You are happy. Your clothes are ...
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Mar
20
2011
Hello my Best Diet in The Universe fans, are you ready to continue? We are at day four. Yes, you made it through three incredible days and you are almost finished with one week. How do you all feel? The feedback has been fantastic. Most of you have lost weight-the majority has lost over five pounds. Wow, just in three days. A few have lost over ten pounds! That’s amazing. Remember, on a diet like this, the weight loss is slow. This is a type of diet that can act as a maintenance program as well. Some people lose weight very quickly. While others lose slowly. It’s your metabolism ( that means how fast or slow your body burns energy) and how strict you are on this diet. Either way, this diet will make you healthy. Eating nuts, fruit, olive oil, yogurt, fish, vegetables-sounds very Mediterranean. And you are right. It is! The Mediterranean diets, in my opinion, are the healthiest diets in the world. Many studies* have shown beneficial effects of following the foods eaten in the Mediterranean countries. Helping heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and obesity are just some of the positive health benefits.
So welcome to another episode of Man (or woman) versus diet!! In the right corner here we have you-a wonderful son, father or husband; or daughter, mother, wife, ready to do battle for truth, justice and ...
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Feb
27
2011
Hello fans. I have just come back from a week long cruising adventure aboard one of Celebrity’s newest ships called ECLIPSE. In one word it was-amazing! I decided to experience a week on the ocean, in one of the latest mega ships to cruise in the Caribbean and write about it to you, my adoring fans. From the abundance of food, quality, and food choices to the excellent service, it was a great time away and I recommend the cruise highly! However, as a result of this review and of course tasting the delicious food offerings, I am now going to go on a post cruise diet. That’s right, I am going on a specially prepared diet-The Best Diet In The Universe-and you can follow it with me! I will give you the goal amount of calories for each meal-but since I believe in moderation, nothing will be specific. I think too many times, we focus on the numbers, when we should be focusing on the food and the exercise. Oh, did I forget to mention exercise. Yes, that’s right, along with the food details, there will be an exercise to follow as well.
Now I know that most of you are ready to take off a few unwanted pounds. You are tired of that extra bulge around your waist. You are tired of the pants ...
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