what you need to know about how to be healthier and lose weight

http://crave-health.blogspot.com/2010/03/missing-piece.html

Butter vs. Margarine

I found this nutrition specialists opinion very interesting check out why she says to choose butter over margarine:

http://crave-health.blogspot.com/2011/02/butter-vs-margarine.html

Is living a Gluten Free - Sugar Free lifestyle the secret to keeping weight off FOREVER??

SO I have been doing  alot of research lately about living gluten and sugar free and I am so intrigued.  Now I know what you are thinking gluten free?  So I have to cut out all flours, pasta, etc. and replace them with things like brown rice pasta and flour, sorghum flour, buckwheat flour, quinoa, etc.  Well like I said to my mom and sister if we keep doing the same things we have always done we are going to keep getting the results we have always gotten.  So the other day I came across this blog featuring this unique lifestyle and I am so impressed with the Blog Author Amy.  Her story is inspiring and I am no doctor but I can totally see how she felt and how this could work.  She says whenever she ate sugar or gluten she wanted more and more.  This same thing happens to me too.  This has made me think a lot about this Gluten Free - Sugar Free Lifestyle.  I think its genius.  Now me being the picky eater-  cautious to try new things- am a little worried about the Gluten Free part since gluten is in practically everything.  But I really think at least cutting out the sugar and trying to lead my family towards a mostly gluten  free diet will be good for all of us.  I am not going to be fanatic about it  especially since we can't always control if there is gluten or sugar in recipes for example when we are on vacation or eating at a friends house.  However I am going to start to try gluten free baking/cooking and incorporate the recipes more into my families life and eventually switch over all together if I am seeing a positive change in our bodies and overall selfs.  I plan on starting with Almond Flour that doesn't sound too strange to me, like the recipes found in:  EAT FREE: No Sugar. No Gluten. No Guilt.   From what I can tell Rhiannon the author uses Almond Flour in her recipes.  Then after that I plan on branching out and trying other gluten free flours like Amy uses in her new cookbook:  Simply Sugar and Gluten Free.  I want this one too!!! 

Here is the link to her blog, if you struggle with maintaining your weight I definitely recommend you to read her story, very inspiring.  Simply Sugar and Gluten Free

(note:  I haven't tried any recipes yet, I need to get all the hard to find ingredients and stock up my pantry first, however I will let you know how they are as soon as I do.  The ingredients sound a little weird but they look yummy!)

Gotta SEE THIS: "Super Size Me" Movie

My husband and I watched this the other day on NetFlix.  It was quite disturbing what we learned and I am so glad that I watched it lets just say I am not into my family eating "FAST FOOD" anymore.  I definitely recommend you watching this!!! Tell me what you think about it!

What Parents Can do to Help Prevent Childhood Obesity

5 Things Parents Need to KNOW by Jamie Oliver -FOOD REVOLUTION

(I love Jamie Oliver and what he is doing to help children here in the US, it is sick some of the stuff they are feeding our kids in schools.  Lets be aware parents and know what it is our kids are eating at school and in our homes.  He has really opened my eyes to what things are actually made of like: "chicken" nuggets or the 80-85% lean ground beef - NASTY!! )  

link to Jamie Oliver video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kN0N5Z3pafY 

(This is an excerpt from a paper I wrote for my parenting class discussion about Childhood Obesity)

What things can parents do to prevent childhood obesity?

*Reexamine: Family dynamics including family rules, emotional support, encouragement, reinforcement from other family members, and family member participation (because they are important determinants of the family’s health-behavior patterns (cdc)

Tips for Preventing obesity and helping children with obesity:

*Eating dinner together as a family has been associated with healthy weight and consumption of healthy foods. ( Intake patterns among children and older adolescents when eating dinner with their parents resulted in consumption of more fruits and vegetables, less fried food and soda, and less saturated and trans fat; lower glycemic loads; and more fiber and more micronutrients from food.) (cdc)

*Start making healthy changes at a young age (research does suggest that some food preferences developed in early childhood persist into adulthood, not to mention how much harder it is to make changes in our behavior when in adulthood. CDC)

*Be a good example! Getting the entire family involved with the healthy changes not just the obese child (it is clear that the family environment plays a critical role in both the development and reduction of obesity. Positive eating behavior changes last longer if interventions are aimed at family rather than individuals’ attitudes and habits (CDC))

*Watch less than 2 hours of television/day (AAP reports: Children who watch four or more hours of television per day are also more likely to be obese than children who watch less than 2 hours a day.)cdc

*Keep the television/video games/computer out of the bedroom

*Encourage physical activity - through example, doing it together, cutting back on tv and other deterrents.

*GET UP AND MOVE RIGHT NOW!

TIPS for getting kids excited about exercise:

§  Physical activity is a great way for you to spend quality time with your children. Emphasize the fun of an activity rather than skill.

§  Build family activity into every day, perhaps taking an after-dinner walk or bike ride or dancing to fast music in the living room.

§  Plan active family outings, such as hikes, ice-skating, swimming or Frisbee. Try a family vacation that emphasizes canoeing, bicycling, camping or swimming.

§  On birthdays, give presents that encourage activity, such as a jump rope, pogo stick, bicycle, in-line skates, or a basketball.

§  Encourage physical activity during commercials

*MAKE HEALTHY EATING HABITS

TIPS FOR Eating Healthfully (Yale):

§  Use the Food Guide Pyramid as a guide for food choices. Serve fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans and lean meats and poultry. Use low-fat or nonfat milk products (except for children younger than 2 years old).

§  Keep healthy snack foods in the house and easily accessible , such as fresh fruit, vegetables, low salt and low-fat pretzels. Make Healthy Foods fun like- ants on a log (celery with pb and raisins), or whole grain pita pizza using veggies to make faces.

§  Do not purchase high fat, high sugar or high calories snacks. If they are not in the home you will not be tempted to eat them yourself or distribute them to your children.

§  Have your children start the day with a good breakfast, such as oatmeal or whole-grain cereal with fruit and low-fat milk, whole wheat toast, a fruit smoothie made with low-fat yogurt.

§  Involve kids in shopping for and preparing meals. Children like to eat what they've helped prepare. Don’t take them down the candy or snack food isles.

§  Don't keep unhealthy foods in the house. Teach your children about healthy foods that can be eaten every day.

§  Make informed decisions about the food you are eating and giving your children (what are those chicken nuggets really made of?)

§  Try to make a habit of eating only while sitting at the table (i.e no eating while watching tv, in the car, standing,etc.)

*Foster self-esteem

(When children feel good about themselves they are more likely to make changes that are healthy. Experts at BCM suggest to parents to help children find and point out their strengths, talents, and abilities. You can help them feel valuable by getting them involved with serving others some examples are: community volunteer work, visiting an elderly neighbor, helping Grandma with yard work, etc. As well as helping them to set, work at, and reach goals.) (Yale, 2010)

Sources:

 http://www.yalemedicalgroup.org/stw/Page.asp?PageID=STW000841

“How to Prevent Childhood Obesity” (Yale, 2011)

http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2009/jul/08_0191.htm?s_cid=pcd63a106_e

“Using the Family to Combat Childhood Obesity” (CDC, 2005-2010)

http://www.nature.com/oby/journal/v11/n10s/full/oby2003220a.html

“Combating Obesity Challenges and Choices” (by: John Peters) (Peters, 2003)

http://www.med.umich.edu/yourchild/topics/fightobesity.htm

“How Parents can Fight the Obesity Epidemic” (UMHS, 2003/updated 2009)

Gotta Try this: Dr OZ and his tips for combating CELLULITE

Oh Dr. Oz you are the BEST!!! I love watching the Dr. OZ show when I get a chance, I really trust his opinion and he has such great tips just the other day he shared some tips for getting rid of cellulite.  I want to try these well at least the first 3. ;) haha!

1. Kelp- (300 mg. a day)
2. Aminophylline Cream (use everyday) (fortify body with nutrients from vitamin C)
3. Retinol Cream
4. Non- Elastic Underwear

Link to video clip from Dr. OZ
http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/secret-weapons-fight-cellulite-pt-2

Of course a Healthy Diet and Exercise are a given!! ;)