Exercise Update
November 15, 2007 by Mohamed
Filed under Weight Loss
Hi Everyone,
Well last two days have been “duds” — haven’t been able to get to exercising BUT I did spend some time outside with my son! I bought him a RC 4×4 and we’ve been going out for short walks. It’s been pretty cool outside (we live in Vancouver, BC and eventhough we don’t get snow — it gets cold in the evenings! Chills the bones!) so we’ve only been able to go out for 15-30 minutes at a time.
Although this may not count as much as my 1.5 mile walks on the treadmill, I am getting outside and spending quality time with my son who just loves to chase around the RCV.
Take care friends!
Here is to Your Health,
Mohamed
Today is World Diabetes Day
November 14, 2007 by Mohamed
Filed under Weight Loss
Hi All,
Did you know that diabetes affects over 240 MILLION people worldwide? Here is some information from the website www.worlddiabetesday.org:
Celebrate the first United Nations observed World Diabetes Day
On December 20 2006, the General Assembly of the United Nations passed a landmark Resolution recognizing diabetes as a chronic, debilitating and costly disease. The Resolution designates World Diabetes Day as a United Nations Day to be observed every year starting in 2007.
The UN Resolution makes World Diabetes Day stronger than ever and provides the opportunity for a significant increase in the visibility of the campaign and an increase in government and media participation on or around November 14. The Resolution will ensure even greater reach for awareness-raising activities throughout the diabetes world.
Diabetes in Children and Adolescents
The theme of this year’s World Diabetes Day campaign is Diabetes in Children and Adolescents.Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood. It can strike children at any age, including pre-school children and even toddlers. Yet diabetes in children is often diagnosed late, when the child has diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), or it is misdiagnosed completely. In many parts of the world, insulin, the main life-saving medication that children with diabetes need to survive, is not available (or is available but remains inaccessible for reasons of economy, geography or constraints on supply). As a consequence, many children die of diabetes, particularly in low and middle-income countries. Those closest to the child – family, school staff, family doctor – may not be aware of the ominous signs. The World Diabetes Day 2007 and 2008 campaigns set out to challenge this and firmly establish the message that ‘no child should die of diabetes’.
Today, more than 240 million people worldwide are living with diabetes. Within 20 years, this number is expected to grow to 380 million. Children are not spared from this global epidemic, with its debilitating and life-threatening complications. Type 1 diabetes is growing by 3% per year in children and adolescents, and at an alarming 5% per year among pre-school children. It is estimated that 70,000 children under 15 develop type 1 diabetes each year (almost 200 children a day). Of the estimated 440,000 cases of type 1 diabetes in children worldwide, more than a quarter live in South-East Asia, and more than a fifth in Europe. Type 2 diabetes was once seen as a disease of adults. Today, this type of diabetes is growing at alarming rates in children and adolescents. In the US, it is estimated that type 2 diabetes represents between 8 and 45% of new-onset diabetes cases in children depending on geographic location. Over a 20-year period, type 2 diabetes has doubled in children in Japan, so that it is now more common than type 1. In native and aboriginal children in North America and Australia, the prevalence rate of type 2 diabetes ranges from 1.3 to 5.3%.
Diabetes is different for children
Diabetes has a unique impact on children and their families. The daily life of children is disrupted by the need to monitor blood glucose levels, take medication, and balance the effect of activity and food. Diabetes can interfere with the normal developmental tasks of childhood and adolescence, which include succeeding in school and transitioning to adulthood. To help the child and family cope, and to ensure the best possible physical and emotional health of the child, care should be delivered by a multidisciplinary team with good knowledge of paediatric issues. Support must also be given to caregivers and to school personnel. In this way, children with type 1 or type 2 diabetes can reach adulthood with as little adverse impact as possible on their well-being. For children with diabetes in developing countries the situation at present is bleak.
The campaign aims to raise awareness of the rising prevalence of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents. Early diagnosis and early education are crucial to reducing complications and saving lives. The healthcare community, educators, parents and guardians must join forces to help children living with diabetes, prevent the condition in those at risk, and avoid unnecessary death and disability.
Please visit the site www.worlddiabetesday.org to learn more about this disease and just why it is affecting 240 million people worldwide.
Here is to Your Health,
Mohamed
Exercise Update
November 13, 2007 by Mohamed
Filed under Weight Loss
Hi All:
Just a quick update – I’ll be posting these regularly to let everyone who follows the blog as to my exercise regime (for lack of a better word).
I was on the treadmill for about 45 minutes and managed to walk just over 1.5 miles. As you know I am working my way up to walking 2-3 miles per day atleast 3x per week.
I do a mix of slow and steady walking, then faster walking and some jogging/running at a moderate pace.
What are the results? Well, too soon to tell. I’ll let you know next Monday how effective my exercising has been!
Take care – here is to Your Health!
Regards,
Mohamed
25 Biggest Weight Loss Mistakes
November 12, 2007 by Mohamed
Filed under Weight Loss
25 Biggest Weight-Loss Mistakes
By Julia Havey
eDiets Contributor
OK, you are reading this, so it is safe to assume you want to lose weight. I bet you are anxiously looking for tips “to do” and a diet to “go on,” which are essential to successful weight loss, but those aren’t the only things that you need to know.
Why? Many women have spent an average of 20 years “dieting,” so another safe assumption is that we know a lot about what to do right. However, little attention is usually given on what not to do. Apply this list of things NOT to do to your healthful regimen, and spare yourself many of the pitfalls that derail most dieters.
1. Having a negative defeatist attitude. If you think there is no way that you are going to succeed this time, lose the weight and keep it off, then you will be right! However, if you think positively and believe that change is at hand, you will empower your journey, and you will reach your goals!
2. Going on any diet that is NOT a manner of eating that you can adhere to for the rest of your life. Be careful when deciding what nutritional plan you want to follow, as it should be a manner of eating that matches your tastes, budget and lifestyle. You should model all of your future nutritional plans closely after how you lost the weight to keep that weight lost for good!
3. Believing that you will eat cabbage soup — or any other low-cal, monotonous fare everyday for the rest of your life. If a particular odd “diet” is something that you can barely stomach, it isn’t realistic to think you will eat that way for the entire time it takes to lose all the weight. It certainly won’t teach you much about how to live healthfully for the long-term. Just say NO, to cabbage soup and other such funky diets!
4. Weighing in too frequently, letting the scale rule your mood and actions. Up to this point, have you been fixated on the scale? Well, if so, it hasn’t really helped you lose weight, has it? Otherwise, you wouldn’t be here, looking for yet another “diet.” So do us both a favor, and pack the scale up, put a big red bow around it, and unwrap it after six months of consistent healthful living. It might actually show you something you want to see!
5. Not drinking enough water. You MUST drink at least 64 ounces of water everyday, and for the overachievers, drinking up to ½ your body weight in fluid ounces a day is recommended! Early man packed up all his belongings when his water supply dried up, moved and relocated to another area where water was plentiful. They knew they couldn’t live without it. Yet, we modern men have water in our kitchen faucet, and ignore it all day. The difference is that they didn’t have soft drinks, coffee, sugar-filled drinks and diet soda. YUCK! Water is all that you need to drink, and you MUST drink at least 64 ounces of it a day!
6. Drinking sugar-laden drinks — including “fruit” drinks — Fruitopia is neither a fruit nor a Utopia! Try putting your favorite nonwater beverage in your pet’s bowl, and see if they will drink it.
7. Consuming processed foods more often than fresh foods. Again, think how Early Man lived and what he ate. Eating as close to natural is the best way to ensure that your body is as healthy as possible.
8. Not having a plan. Leaving your actions up to chance in life is never a good idea. “We never plan to fail, we fail to plan.” Get a plan and stick with it, but make sure each step is realistic and change is gradual!
9. Not being aware of the nutritional benefits or detriments of what you consume. Lettuce is a great choice to eat, but spinach and other darker leaves have more nutritional benefit than the iceberg variety. If you are going to eat, get the most bang for your buck!
10. Finishing every last bite of a meal, even after you are full. Mother was wrong! Don’t clean your plate, let the dishwasher do that!
11. Going back for seconds at meals. Does the word “glutton” sound like something you want to describe you? There is no reason ever to have seconds! If you like it that much, have it as a leftover the next day! Too much of even a good thing is no longer a good thing!
12. Skipping breakfast. Mother was right on this one. It is the most important meal of the day!
13. Starving all day. When you finally get around to eating, it is usually something unhealthy (because you “can”), and it gets stored as energy later, rather than burned as energy now! You totally mess up your metabolism if you do this!
14. Bingeing after “falling off the wagon,” and waiting until “tomorrow” to get back on track. Admit now that you will stumble on this journey. Make it your goal to lengthen the amount of time between stumbles, and shorten the time it takes to “get back on track.” This way, you may only blow it once a year, and will get back on track in five minutes! You get to that point, and there will be no problem!
15. Thinking you are genetically destined to be fat. The only fat gene is the one left hanging in your closet after you lose your weight! You may be predisposed to a condition, but HOW you live determines how great its effect on your life will be!
16. Treating “fat” as a personality trait. Fat is NOT a personality trait; it is a physical condition. Blond isn’t a trait, either; it is a hair color! Do not allow yourself to be branded by ANY physical attribute or determent! YOU are many things, but fat is not one of them. Identify some things you love about who you are, and focus on those. They will help you realize the body you want.
17. Not living each day to the fullest … thinking that it will come when you are thinner. BE, DO and then you will HAVE! BE a healthier person, DO the things a healthier person DOES and soon, you will HAVE a healthier life!
18. Thinking pills, powders or potions are more powerful than they really are for achieving weight loss. I bought diet pills after Anna Nicole Smith’s weight loss. I really thought they would work! $48 later, 30 days of pills swallowed and NOTHING! Not one pound of weight loss. If those things really worked, no one would be overweight!
19. Thinking of exercise as a chore instead of a way to improve your health and life. Not scheduling exercise as a vital part of your day and week. If today, you were in an accident, paralyzed and could never walk again, do you think you would long to be able to go for a walk? Exercise is a “GET TO”, not a “HAVE TO.” It is a joy to move your body and get your endorphins flowing. They truly are nature’s reward for demanding physical fitness of ourselves. PUSH yourself; you will be amazed at how it feels!
20. Indulging excessively in alcohol. Bottom line: When you drink, you suck down excess calories, alter your mind and let down your guard. Stupid things happen when we drink too much. Too many calories, too much food and too many regrets. Live in control and live freely!
21. Watching sports rather than participating in sports. Would it be more fun to watch the Super Bowl or be the MVP of the game? Is it more fun to watch an amazing homerun, or actually bring home the winning run for your softball team? It is more fun to watch spoiled millionaires dribble an orange ball, or run down the court trying to guard an old friend? Sunday football is a tradition, but playing a game of it in your own front yard will provide memories that will last long after the season is over!
22. Watching too much television. New rule: NO TV viewing unless you have walked for 30 minutes! My rule is that I get on my Octane Elliptical machine and stay on it until whatever show I want to watch is over! One night I made the mistake of watching a two-hour show! I did 90 minutes on the Elliptical before throwing in the towel! “Must-see TV,” means “want-to-see” body for me!
23. Thinking that “dieting” sprees — and not a total lifestyle change — will garner lasting weight loss results. If you aren’t changing your life, you aren’t making lasting changes! Add a lifestyle makeover to your eDiets.com plan. Visit www.lifechanger.us for more information.
24. Consuming fast foods on a regular basis. The fried, greasy and high-calorie fast food that dominates our society’s eating habits today is the leading cause of the obesity epidemic that we now face. If you have no choice other than fast food, please order a salad with grilled chicken, one packet of light dressing w/ lemon wedges, a bottle of water and extra chicken if you are hungry, but when they say “do you want fries with that?” Say, “Do you want me to be unhealthy and die young?” Hopefully, both answers will be no!
25. Waiting for tomorrow to “get started,” rather than RIGHT NOW! Right now, there are thousands of members logged on to eDiets.com, in the chat rooms, on the support boards, watching online anytime meetings and waiting to lend their support. There are teams of nutritionists to help you understand basic, healthy human nutritional needs. There is hope, and there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
YOU can do this! Or, I guess you can’t do these things! Whatever, but you know what I mean, you are going to succeed this time, and the entire eDiets.com team is here to educate, motivate and inspire you to your dreams and goals!
Looking for more inspiration? Join eDiets for interactive support! Support from other like-minded folks helps you keep a positive attitude and helps keep you on the road to success!
EDITOR’S NOTE: You’ve seen Julia on the QVC home shopping network and the Wayne Brady Show, in USA Today, The National Enquirer, Glamour, Bride’s and more! She’s been called “America’s weight-loss Cinderella, someone with the passion of Tony Robbins, enthusiasm of Richard Simmons and the humor of Jerry Seinfeld.” To get your copy of Julia’s blockbuster motivational book, Awaken the Diet Within, From Overweight to Looking Great — If I Can Do It, So Can You! click here. Email Julia with your comments at julia@juliahavey.com. You can also visit her website at www.JuliaHavey.com.
Source: http://www.ediets.com/news/article.cfm?code=22381&cmi=1958516
Not just for diabetics – but for anyone wanting help this holiday season
November 12, 2007 by Mohamed
Filed under Weight Loss
6 Holiday Survival Tips
By Christine Miller
eDiets Diabetes Expert
Holiday traditions nearly always include a central feature –food. For people living with diabetes, those needing to manage their weight, or both, gatherings, parties, and festivities are often met with a mix of anticipation and apprehension over how to manage when faced with so many tempting choices.
With Thanksgiving symbolizing the beginning of the season, now is the time to think about a new possibility — how living a healthy lifestyle and enjoying
the holidays can be synonymous with one another. We’ve put together 6 tips to help you do just that.
#1: Ask the magic question
That question is “what do you really want?” What are your goals for this holiday season with regards to your diabetes, exercise, and/or weight? The more specific and clearer you are on your goals, the greater the likelihood you will achieve them. Whatever your goal is, write it down and be sure to specify what specific steps you will take to achieve your planned goal.
Perhaps one of your goals may include keeping your glucose level in range at least 80% of the time throughout the holiday season. Some action steps to support this goal may include keeping a daily food journal, increasing your blood glucose checks to two or more times a day, and counting your carbohydrates.
#2: Eat every 3-4 hours
Nothing can undo weight loss efforts and the delicate balance of blood glucose quicker than a binge. During the holidays you may be even more susceptible to episodes of excessive hunger and/or overeating in response to stress, delayed meals, or missing out on nutritious, between-meal snacks.
Eating frequently is essential to maintaining your energy level and your focus. Eating frequently is especially critical if you take certain diabetes medications or insulin which can unexpectedly drop glucose levels too low. Keep quick, nourishing snacks such as measured portions of nuts or seeds, protein bars, and durable fruits such as apples, plums, or bananas handy and with you at the office, in your purse, or in your car. Finally, be sure to eat your snacks before you become ravenous.
** Even if you are NOT diabetic, this will help shed pounds. How? You’re eating healthier choices more often, so when lunch or dinner come around you’ve not starved yourself and you will not over eat!
#3: Be selective
Being selective is essential because trimming calories, fat and carbohydrate begins very simply with not eating too much. If you keep your choices to a small amount of those items you truly enjoy, rather than a large amount of everything, you will likely be more satisfied. If you find yourself eating food just because it is in front of you or because others are eating it, you may be missing out on better things to come. Fit in your favorites and forget the rest.
If your Thanksgiving offerings include a huge number of carbohydrate-rich items, such as rolls, mashed potatoes, stuffing, sweet potato casserole, egg nog, and pumpkin pie, plan on selecting two of your favorites and filling the rest of your plate with skinless turkey breast, salad, and non-starchy vegetables such as steamed green beans and broccoli. To help avoid feelings of deprivation, save other carbohydrates for upcoming snacks. This will help you avoid consuming too much at one time, a factor which can drive up your glucose levels and lead to post-meal fatigue.
#4: Plan ahead
The busier we get, the less we may be thinking forward and planning our meals and snacks. Planning ahead is always a key to successful diabetes and weight management. It is especially important during the holidays. If time is of the essence and you still need figure out a way to eat healthfully on the run, consider using a chef-prepared, fresh home meal delivery service, such as eDiets DeliciouslyYours.
#5: Move
When does exercise tend to get sent to the back-burner? During the hectic holiday season for sure. Decide now how often and how much time you will dedicate to exercise . Put these dedicated exercise appointments in your schedule at least one week in advance. Exercise will provide an added bonus of much needed stress relief and an energy boost too.
#6: Accept Feedback
Tools which provide feedback such as scales, blood glucose meters, food journals, and measuring devices are invaluable during the holidays. Using a food journal has been clinically proven to help dedicated journalists reach or maintain weight goals. Human nature also leads to an uncanny habit of underestimating what we really eat. Use measuring cups, spoons, and food scales to keep yourself fully aware.
Weighing yourself at least once a week will help you see if your weight is unexpectedly moving in the wrong direction. Finally, regularly checking your blood glucose will give you immediate feedback on how your diabetes management plan is working.
With a few focused strategies you can delight in the holiday season and stay healthy too!
Source: http://www.ediets.com/news/article.cfm?code=24712&cmi=2430388