There is a better way.

Try this.  It’s easy.  It’s my prescription to you, not that I am a doctor but it has helped me.

Just start walking.  Only 15 minutes per day, but start.  Do it for a few days, maybe a few weeks.  After about a month you will be bored and will want to go farther.  Then try 30 minutes.  Do it for a few days, maybe a few weeks.  Eventually you will be tired of even that.  Then step up.  Try 60 minutes.

Seriously step by step, you’ll end up losing weight.  Sure it will take time, but combine that with healthy eating and you will reach your goals.

Things you should STOP eating right now:

• ANY and ALL junk food.  This means chips, chocolate bars – the stuff that is empty calories.  You’ll eat the whole bag and an hour later will be hungry again.
• STOP DRINKING SODA POP.  Seriously – this will make the BIGGEST change to your body.
• STOP drinking juices.  Did you know that in most (not ALL) juice the first ingredient is usually sugar?  Don’t believe me, check the label.

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Best Treadmill – Sole F80

Pros

• Assembly can be challenging
• Built-in fans are weak

Product Features

• Folding treadmill with 3.0-horsepower continuous-duty motor
• Vibrant 7.5-inch LCD display with integrated speakers and audio cable
• 6 standard workouts, 2 custom workouts, and 2 HR-controlled workouts
• Easy Assist folding deck design; Cushion Flex shock-absorption system
• 350-pound capacity; measures 33 x 80 inches (W x D); weighs 250 pounds

Product Description

The Sole F80 treadmill has earned a  reputation as one of the highest-quality treadmills in its price range, with an  unbeatable combination of high-quality components and user-friendliness. Sole
took the F80 to the next level in 2011, however, adding a longer deck, a better  display, and a fresh new look. The changes make the treadmill a great choice for  moderate to athletic runners who don’t want to spend several thousands of  dollars but still want a powerful, tough machine. All Sole treadmills are  outfitted with powder-coated, all-steel welded frames and heavy-duty, stable inclines. The F80 also includes an industrial-quality 3.0-horsepower continuous-duty motor and all-steel zinc-coated balanced flywheel, creating a secure, quiet, vibration-free running/walking surface. The flywheel is much heavier than most other brands, giving runners the fluid motion they’re accustomed to at the gym. To accommodate runners with balky joints, Sole added its low-impact, whisper-quiet Cushion Flex deck. The Cushion Flex system greatly reduces the impact to your feet, ankles, knees, hips, and spine, making it comfortable for frequent runners or for users with running- and walking-related injuries. In a recent study, researchers concluded that the Cushion Flex deck reduced impact up to 40 percent as compared to running on asphalt.

The F80′s console includes a vibrant 7.5-inch LCD display and an integrated sound system.

The F80 makes it easy to track your workout progress via the vibrant 7.5-inch LCD display, which includes windows for speed, incline, time, distance traveled, calories, pulse, and pace.  The console also sports a 1/4-mile track and a peak-and-valley graph for different programs, along with an integrated sound system for listening to your iPod or MP3 player (the system includes built-in speakers and a sound cord that
plugs into your player’s headphone jack). Perhaps the handiest feature is the integrated message board, which offers scrolling messages that walk you through the treadmill’s features or the workout itself. The message board will also recap your entire routine after you’re finished, so you can see your progress from workout to workout.

The F80 comes complete with two heart-rate-controlled workout options, so you can customize the workout specifically to your needs. Throughout your HR workout, the treadmill will display a heart rate zone graph on the console while adjusting the incline to keep you in your target zone (the treadmill includes a wireless chest strap that touts a 99.9 percent accuracy rating). The remainder of the time, you can challenge yourself with the six automatic programs or two customizable programs.

And to reduce space, the F80 boasts an Easy Assist folding deck design. This unique feature allows you to release the deck, step back, and watch the deck unfold itself. When you’re done with your workout, simply fold it back up and store it out of the way. Other features include cooling fans, a large stop switch, armrest speed and incline controls, a 20-by-60-inch running bet, and a low-profile running hood.

The treadmill’s Easy Assist folding deck helps save space in crowded homes.

Specifications:

• Motor: 3.0 horsepower continuous duty, DC type
• Speed: 0.5 to 11 miles per hour
• Incline: 15 percent maximum, rack-and-pinion gear design
• Deck design: Cushion Flex shock absorption, whisper quiet
• Running surface: 20 by 60 inches
• Belt: Double-woven 2 ply
• Rollers: 2-3/4 inches
• Folding: Yes, with Easy Assist folding feature
• Heart rate control: Yes, with wireless chest strap
• Hand pulse grips: Yes, with armrest speed/incline controls
• Display: Backlit blue LCD, 7.5 inches
• Message window: Yes, scrolling info
• Standard programs: 6
• User-defined programs: 2
• Heart rate programs: 2
• Cooling fans: Yes
• Capacity: 350 pounds
• Dimensions: 33 by 80 inches (W x D)
• Weight: 250 pounds
• Warranties: Lifetime on motor, deck, and frame; 5 years on electronics,
  belt, rollers, and other wear components; 2 years on labor

 Amazon Reviews

66 Customer reviews rate this a 4-star product.

Shop for more treadmills on Amazon.

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News flash – YOU CAN’T.

When you’re trying to lose weight you first need to set realistic goals for yourself.  For example if you plan on starting exercise, setting a goal that you’ll run 5km (or miles) every day is just not feasible if you’re overweight as your body will not cooperate.  Your heart may not keep up, and you may stress your body to the point of getting very ill.  So first step is to ALWAYS talk to your doctor before you start any diet program to ensure that the stress on your body (your heart, in particular and your blood pressure) won’t kill you or severely injure you.

Once you’re given the OK from your doctor.  Start slow and work your way up.

My doctor initially prescribed me to start walking 15-minutes per day.  That’s it.  I went from 15-minutes per day for the first few weeks to 30-minutes and eventually to over 60-minutes per day.  I’m probably not at the most I can do but right now my body tells me at the 60-minute mark – “that’s it”.

The same goes for dieting.  If you have lose 10 pounds, or lose 20 pounds or lose 30 pounds to get into that suit/dress by Christmas and it’s now early December, I have to break the bad news – you probably will not get into that suit/dress.  Trying to lose so much weight so quickly also puts stress onto your body, why do you think that people can die from starvation?  Your organs start to shut down when they don’t get proper nutrition.

Pace yourself and set realistic goals.  Perhaps it’s 5 pounds each month for the next 6 months.  Also write this down and put it somewhere visible — the fridge or pantry is a good place since you will be reminded of it everytime you open either one.

If you set realistic goals to lose weight, I am certain that you will be able to meet those goals.

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This is a stuffed tomato recipe that is popular with the low carb crowd due to the lack of any added bread crumbs, rice, or packaged stuffing mix.  Plum tomatoes are the ideal choice for this recipe due to the fact they are less watery than other tomatoes which makes the pulp you scoop out firmer. The tomato itself has a more concentrated flavor than many varieties.  That’s why sauces are often made from plum tomatoes.

• 4 plum tomatoes
• 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 2 Tbsp grated fresh Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, torn small
• 1 garlic clove, minced or grated
• salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Cut the plum tomatoes in half lengthwise and scoop the insides out onto a work surface, setting the tomato shells on a baking sheet, cut side up.

Chop up the insides that you scooped out and put in a bowl.

Add the remaining ingredients to the bowl and mix together until well blended.

Spoon this mixture into the tomato shells on the baking sheet.  Top with more Parmesan cheese if desired.

Put in oven and bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and starting to brown.

Remove and let cool slightly. Serve warm.

Makes 4 servings.

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Though you shouldn’t if you want a little more taste, you could make a nice fat-friendly sauce as well to drizzle over the fish or simply opt for some butter/margarine (not too much or look for the low fat varieties) on the veggies with pepper.

• 4 salmon fillets
• 1 cup balsamic vinegar
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1 tsp fresh squeezed lime juice
• salt and pepper to taste

Heat oven to 450 degrees.

Evenly season salmon, both sides, with salt and pepper and put in baking dish.

Bake in preheated oven, uncovered, about 10 to 15 minutes.  Salmon should be solid color throughout.

As fish is cooking, take out a small saucepan and pour balsamic vinegar in. Place saucepan over medium-high heat and cook, stirring frequently until liquid reduces by about a third.  This should take about 10 minutes.  The more it reduces, the thicker and sweeter it will get.

Remove the saucepan from the heat when it is reduced and add the oil, whisking as you add, then add the lime juice, and continue whisking until color gets lighter.  Taste and add salt and pepper if desired.

Spoon the balsamic reduction sauce over the salmon when it comes out of the oven.  Serve salmon while still warm.

This is a great way to get a sweet and savory glaze for salmon without adding any brown sugar, honey, maple syrup, or other sugary ingredient.  Use a good balsamic vinegar and be sure to check the label.  Most good ones will have very limited sugars and carbs.

Salmon is considered a powerhouse of nutrients.  The trick in most diets is finding ways to serve salmon with sauces and glazes that fit a healthy diet.

Benefits of Salmon

Healthy Diet

Fish is a low-fat high quality protein. Fish is filled with omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins such as D and B2 (riboflavin). Fish is rich in calcium and phosphorus and a great source of minerals, such as iron, zinc, iodine, magnesium, and potassium. See how to properly cook fish and try our healthy fish recipes.

Healthy Heart and Brain

Eating fish is an important source of omega-3 fatty acids. These essential nutrients keep our heart and brain healthy. Two omega-3 fatty acids found in fish are EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). Our bodies don’t produce omega-3 fatty acids so we must get them through the food we eat. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in every kind of fish, but are especially high in fatty fish. Some good choices are salmon, trout, sardines, herring, canned mackerel, canned light tuna, and oysters.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

• Help maintain a healthy heart by lowering blood pressure and reducing the risk of sudden death, heart attack, abnormal heart rhythms, and strokes.
• Aid healthy brain function and infant development of vision and nerves during pregnancy.
• May decrease the risk of depression, ADHD, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and diabetes.
• May prevent inflammation and reduce the risk of arthritis.

Additional Resources

• http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/other/ktb_recipebk/ktb_recipebk.pdf
• http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press-releases/2006-releases/press10172006.html
• http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/omega-3/HB00087

More Fish Recipes

• http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/oehas/fish/fishrecipes.htm

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The Scientific Benefits of Breakfast

People who eat breakfast on a daily basis tend to lose weight easier. The National Weight Control Registry performed a study that showed people who eat breakfast have a better chance of maintaining a 30 pound, or more, weight loss for at least a year. Studies in The Journal of the American Dietetic Association showed similar results.

Another research group analyzed government data on over 4,000 adults and found those who ate a regular breakfast tended to take in fewer calories during the day and had a lower fat intake. They also noted that regular breakfast eaters were more likely to engage in routine exercise.

Eating breakfast also jump-starts your metabolism, says Elisabetta Politi, RD, MPH, nutrition manager for the Duke Diet and Fitness Center at Duke University Medical School.  She states; “When you don’t eat breakfast, you’re actually fasting for 15 to 20 hours, so you’re not producing the enzymes needed to metabolize fat to lose weight.” In fact, sumo wrestlers don’t eat until late in the day for the sole purpose of gaining weight.  If you don’t eat breakfast, you are actually following the sumo wrestler diet.  Now, that is a scary thought.

Keep Your Metabolism Going All Day

With the right mechanisms in place, your body will naturally burn fat.  But, what are the right mechanisms?  That’s your job;  to find your body’s balance between energy consumed and energy burned.  Metabolism is the name of the game.  When you eat healthy small meals, starting early in the morning, your metabolism is set in full swing, mobilizing and converting fat stores into energy.

When you eat breakfast along with regular snacks and small meals throughout the day, your body gets the nutrition it needs and goes to work, breaking down your food into energy.  If you wait until you’re starving before you eat anything, that gnawing feeling in your stomach is telling you something. Your body will start by robbing your muscle tissue of anything it needs first, like protein, then it will store fat because it thinks it’s in famine mode. By eating early and often, not only are you protecting the muscle that supports your frame and allows you to walk, sit, and stand, but you are also keeping your metabolism going so it works all day to give you energy.

Simple Weight Loss Tips to Get You Started

• Eat slowly. It takes twenty minutes for your stomach to tell your brain you are full.  Don’t eat and run.  You’ll be looking for your next meal way before you need it.
• Pick out foods you need to chew. Try apples, whole grain hearty breads, celery, and other raw vegetables. These foods will slow down your eating and satisfy your chewing instinct. Raw nuts are another option. Just be sure to monitor the serving sizes as you snack.
• Drink 6 to 8 glasses of cold water per day. This helps to feel full and as your body works to raise the temperature of the water, you are burning calories.  Keep bottles of water filled in the refrigerator and sip, sip, sip.
• Eating oranges is much more satisfying than just drinking the juice. Keep this thought when choosing other fruits and vegetables.  Whole is usually better.
• Have a healthy snack before you start cooking dinner. This will help with overeating while preparing the meal, and after.  Munching on celery is the perfect way to keep you satisfied while cooking.

If you need a sweet treat, just remember that frozen yogurt, angel food cake, and sherbet are all low fat.  Low carb diets are low sugar diets, which often forbid fruit.  In this case, one tiny piece of dark chocolate may be an option.  This may leave you satisfied without all the sugar or carbs.  You have to experiment to find the right treat for your sweet tooth that fits your diet.

The less you eat, the more your body protects itself and begins to go into starvation mode, holding on to more food, storing it as fat and robbing your muscles of nutrients. Make sure you eat a good breakfast to start your day right. Then, keep your metabolism working throughout the day with small meals and healthy snacks.

Stop starving yourself so your body can relax and start to lose that weight.  Adding foods instead of subtracting foods?  It’s so crazy it might just work.

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However you also need to be cautious and read ingredients as I find that Canadian products seem to contain better health information, not that the counterpart product in the US doesn’t.  Companies that are conscious about their products and wanting to combat or at least help consumers make better decisions when buying groceries to help do their part in combating the staggering obesity rates in the US will boldly extute their products do or do not contain certain items.

One such item is high fructose corn syrup.

If you look at groceries and specifically merchant branded items such as Kroger or Fred Meyer brands you find that several products (for example, ketchup) contain high fructose corn syrup.  However other brands will boldly acknowledge that their products DO NOT contain high fructose corn syrup.

So what’s the big deal with high fructose corn syrup?  Although a lot of research has been done, and more is being done it is being blamed for many ills:

1. Potential link to Type 2 Diabetes
2. Cardiovascular disease (i.e., heart disease, stroke etc.,)
3. Metabolic Syndrome
4. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

There are several other sites that also talk about high fructose corn syrup health risks:

• http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/high-fructose-corn-syrup/AN01588
• http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/2008/11/19/f-fructosecornsyrup.html
• http://www.princeton.edu/main/news/archive/S26/91/22K07/
• http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=486
• http://www.westonaprice.org/modern-foods/double-danger-of-high-fructose-corn-syrup
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_effects_of_High_Fructose_Corn_Syrup

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1. Improve the body’s circulatory system.
2. A daily glass of cranberry juice will treat diseases like cystitis.
3. Provide relief for asthma patients.
4. Condensed tannins in cranberries can inhibit the oxidation of bad cholesterol and as a result protects body against atheroscelrosis.
5. Tannins are also considered an important contributor to a healthy heart.
6. Acts as bactericide and affects the acidity of the urine. In effect, it disrupts the development of kidney stone formation.

Read more to learn about the health benefits of cranberries.

Cranberries Corner The Market On Creative Nutrition

Many of us recognize cranberries around Thanksgiving time as that sweet-tart relish we enjoy alongside our turkey.  Or maybe we slide prepared cranberry sauce out of a can or stir them into a quick bread for a tasty treat.  This versatile fruit, or berry, has many healthy advantages as well as delicious options for serving.  Let’s take a look at what cranberries have to offer us.

What is it?

Cranberries grow on creeping shrubs or bushes in the Northern Hemisphere, particular in cooler climates. You’ll see this abundant crop often grown in bog conditions in areas of Canada and the Northern United States. The berries are most often cultivated for sauces, juice, and dried fruit for consumers, as well as fresh. Cranberries are currently enjoying super-food status due to awareness of the healthy qualities they possess.

Growing cranberries in bogs, and flooding those bogs for harvest, has several advantages.  At first, it was believed only that the harvesting was easier when the cranberries floated on the water, but more research has shown that cranberries floating in bogs receive more sunlight than in other methods, and the antioxidants in the berries are boosted by the additional sunshine.

History

Early American settlers made reference to natives using the berries as food and medicine as early as the mid16th century. Settlers soon adopted a taste for cranberries and used them in recipes at the time, including the traditional Autumn harvest meal or Thanksgiving. Cool weather berries were a blessing, and a life saver, offering much needed nutrition for the early settlers, and cranberries fit the bill perfectly.

Cranberries have been so important in the development of an agricultural base in the northern states that Wisconsin, which leads the nation in the production of cranberries, has named the cranberry the official state fruit. 

Health Benefits

The most widely published health benefits of cranberries is the treatment for urinary tract infections in women. Specifically, the proanthocyanidins appear to provide a barrier against bacteria that causes the infection. Other studies are applying this concept to see whether the berries can also destroy bacteria that cause stomach ulcers.

Anthocyanins are powerful antioxidants that give the berries their deep red color.  These antioxidants help reduce inflammation in the body as well as preventing damage from free-radicals. Cranberries are also being studied for cancer-preventing qualities.

Additionally, cranberries supply manganese, fiber, vitamin C, as well as other essential nutrients. One cautionary note is that both cranberries and blueberries contain oxalate, which is a chemical that can add to the risk for kidney stones for those with a proclivity or history.

Fun Facts

Cranberries were named by Early American settlers who held that the blossoms appeared to resemble the sandhill crane. Hence, they initially called them “crane berries.” In New England, residents sometimes referred to them a “bear berries” since they often saw bears enjoying the fruit.

Originally stored and shipped in wooden barrels weighing 100 pounds each, the “barrel” standard is still used today, although the wooden barrel has been replaced with lighter freight containers.  Regarding growing them in bogs, cranberries do not grow in the water, they float on the water, making them easier to harvest as well as exposing them to more sunlight as they ripen.
Cranberries are ingredients in more than a thousand food and beverage products, with only 5% of Wisconsin’s crop actually sold as fresh berries, although those bags of fresh cranberries serve as a reminder every fall to enjoy this nutritional powerhouse.

How to Eat

Fresh cranberries store well frozen whole for as long as two years. When ready to use, it works best to chop up the berries while still frozen, then added directly to recipes.

Most people get their fill of cranberries from juice or sauce, particularly during the holidays. As a healthy fruit, however, the usual line-up of cookies, bread, scones, and muffins are certainly good ways to enjoy them. Cranberry chutney and relish is also delicious, as well as jam and sweet salads with other fruits like pineapple, apples, and orange juice. Keeping a bag of frozen cranberries ready and waiting will give you all sorts of incentive to experiment.

Wine made from cranberries is a very popular treat. Cranberry juice is another beverage many people enjoy.  However, it’s important to look for brands that add the least amount of sugar possible when including cranberry juice in your healthy diet.  100% cranberry juice is available but can be very tart and often bitter.  That’s why you will normally find blends of cranberry-apple juice and similar blends.  Another very popular option for enjoying cranberries in your diet is the dried cranberry snack.  Add a sprinkling to salads or just grab a handful right out of the bag, much like you would raisins.

Cranberries have definitely earned the super-food label, just like other colorful berries.  It’s easy to find ways to enjoy the health benefits with a cool crisp glass of juice or as a sweet addition to a meal or snack. Cranberries are such a versatile fruit, you won’t have any trouble finding ways to incorporate them into your diet – far beyond the Thanksgiving table.

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Part 1 of 2 – The Berenstain Bears in Too Much Junk Food

Part 2 of 2 – The Berenstain Bears in Too Much Junk Food

Even cartoons can help steer kids in the right direction, you just don’t want to plant your kids in front of the TV/computer/iPad or whatever device for too long after all that would certainly not help your kids (or yourself) become more physically active.

Watch the show – you will enjoy it; then come back and tell us what you think!

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Corn Offers More Than A Summer Vegetable Staple

No other vegetable brings up the memory of summer and warm weather fun like corn. An ear of corn buttered and seasoned to your liking is just the right thing to get you in the mood for a picnic. But, there is more to corn than that summer favorite. Let’s take a closer look at some of corn’s better qualities and characteristics.

What is it?

Corn is the well-recognized product of stalks growing tall in vast fields that reach the horizon.  The layers of broad leaves are the germinating environment for the ears themselves, and as the corn grows inside this cocoon, male and female flowers mature and release pollen as the entire plant matures.

In the United States, corn is the leading field crop by a two-to-one margin.  We know what corn on the cob looks like. But, this summer picnic staple has a bigger audience than that. Corn is used to produce everything from fuel alcohol for a cleaner burning gasoline, to butters, cereals, soft drinks, and snack foods. It is also grown as feed for livestock.

History

Corn or “maize” has been grown since prehistoric times by some of the earliest civilizations in our world’s history. Mayan and Olmec cultures were among the first to cultivate corn in the southern part of Mexico, and the crop began to spread through the Americas by the year 1700 B.C. 

When Europeans began to travel to and settle in the Americas, they traded corn with their mother country, and corn began to be a well-known staple of diets around the world. Today, corn is produced on every continent in the world except Antarctica.

Health Benefits

Corn’s most significant contributions for our health is as a source of vitamins B1, B5, and C, as well as folate, manganese, phosphorus, and dietary fiber. Folate helps reduce the risk of birth defects, heart attack and colon cancer. The B vitamins support memory function which can reduce the onset of Alzheimer’s Disease.

A diet rich in whole grains, such as the grain processed from dried corn, (cornmeal and cereals, for instance) is also generally assumed to have phytonutrients to ward off disease to our organs and vital tissues. Research has also shown that eating sweet corn can support the growth of friendly bacteria in the large intestine which can help lower the risk of colon cancer.  Eating corn has been long believed to add much needed fiber to our diet.  That fiber can come from eating sweet corn or cornmeal.

Fun Facts

You can get creative with corn.  Of course, dried cornstalks are often bundled and used to decorate homes and businesses during the fall.  Also, a corncob can be treated and hollowed out to make pipes for smoking. Some farmers plant varieties of corn that grow very tall in order to create mazes for the sake of entertainment.

Scientifically speaking, the name for corn is “zea mays” which leads us to the word “maize,” the traditional name by which the Native Americans called this crop.  However, many cultures throughout the world have cultivated corn and called it by a variation of the word.  The colors of corn may surprise you. We normally see sweet corn on the table in shades of yellow, but corn is grown in a variety of colors which include red, purple, blue, and even pink.  Some of this corn is strictly ornamental, but some is edible, too.

How to Eat

Choosing a fresh ear of corn means choosing ears that have green husks that are not dried out. You can check the freshness of individual kernels by pressing on them with a fingernail. The freshest corn will emit a milky, white fluid that indicates the corn is at its peak of sweetness and flavor. The husks protect the corn, so they should only be removed when you’re ready to eat the ears you’ve purchased.  I know many stores husk the corn, trim it, and wrap it in plastic.  If that’s your only option, that’s fine, but look for corn that is still in the husk for optimum freshness and sweetness.

The most common variety of corn is either the yellow sweet corn or the white and yellow combination colored sweet corn.  You may find a variety of colors in your region, including black, blue, and violet. These darker varieties generally contain more antioxidants and protein levels and less starch than lighter color specimens.  If you can’t find fresh ears of dark colored corn, check out the blue corn chips. These are increasingly popular and make a beautiful, and nutritious, snack.

Frozen whole kernel sweet corn is your next best choice after corn on the cob.  The corn is picked ripe, then quickly removed from the cob, blanched and flash frozen.  The quality may often surpass fresh corn toward the end of the season.  

There are a number of delicious cold salads you can make with corn. You’ll also find corn adds a wonderful filling taste and texture to many soups, chili, and casseroles. And don’t forget the corn products, like cornmeal, cornflour, cereals, and other dried corn ingredients we can cook with.

If you are a grilling fanatic, be sure to add corn to your menu.  Just remove the silk, keep the husks wrapped tightly and soak in cold water.  Remove and place on low grill on indirect heat until you can smell the sweet corn aroma.  Remove and baste with seasoned butter for even more savory goodness.

It’s no wonder corn is such a mainstay in our diet. With so much versatility, nutrition, and deliciousness, corn is going to be around for a long time.

Resources

Videos

1. http://www.imcooked.com/view_video.php?viewkey=bb2a95e79248486a5f6d
2. http://www.imcooked.com/view_video.php?viewkey=22145b3701b0184109ca

Recipe

Garden Corn Souffle

• 2 cups corn, fresh cut from cob
• 2 eggs
• 2 Tbsp butter, melted
• 2 cups milk, scalded
• 1 small red or green bell pepper, finely diced
• 2 Tbsp grated sweet onion
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1/8 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Method

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Lightly grease a 1 1/2 quart casserole dish.  Set a larger baking dish out (that the casserole will fit in).  You will be baking the casserole in a water bath in the larger dish.

With a sharp knife, cut corn kernels from cob (stand corn cob on its tip, holding by large stem end, and run knife blade from top to bottom, removing kernels.)
In a cold mixing bowl, beat eggs until frothy, then whisk in milk and melted butter until blended.

Put corn, bell pepper, onion, salt, and black pepper in bowl with egg mixture and stir to combine.

Pour the mixture into the casserole and set it in the larger baking dish and set in oven, then fill a pitcher with hot water from faucet and pour carefully into larger baking dish so casserole is sitting in a water bath inside the oven.  Slide all the way into the preheated oven and bake at 325 degrees for 55 to 65 minutes.

Test to see if done by inserting a thin knife blade into center; it should come out clean if the eggs are set.

Remove and let stand at room temperature for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

This will serve about 4 to 6 people as a side dish.

Cantaloupe Offers More Than Sweet Juicy Refreshment

Some say cantaloupe and some say muskmelon.  Whatever you call this pungent, juicy fruit, the fact is this is one healthy food!  Cantaloupe is the perfect snack for adults and kids, and adding this fruit to your diet has definite benefits, besides just being tasty.

What is it?

Cantaloupe is part of the melon family which includes squash, cucumber, gourds, and pumpkin. In America, we know cantaloupe by its rib-textured outer skin. When you slice a cantaloupe in half, you’ll find a pocket of seeds and soft threads.  Scoop this out and you’ll be ready to enjoy the sweet, juicy orange color flesh with its distinctive flavor and aroma.

Grown on vines, this fruit is ripe when the stem begins to separate easily from the cantaloupe itself.  Because the aroma of the cantaloupe is so distinctive, many people say it is quite simple to tell if the fruit is ripe.  If it smells ripe, it is ripe.

History

Christopher Columbus is credited with introducing cantaloupes to America during his second voyage to the continent in the late 15th Century. This North American cantaloupe with its familiar orange flesh is the variety we are most familiar with in America. This differs from the European cantaloupe, which has an outer rind of a gray-green color and is smooth instead of ribbed.

Long before North America was introduced to cantaloupe, Africans, Egyptians, Romans, and Greeks grew the fruit in their native lands. The varieties differed just as much as the regions, but it was all cantaloupe.

Health Benefits

Like many healthy fruits, cantaloupes are rich in vitamin C and contain antioxidants that help promote good cardiovascular health and better immunity. Cantaloupe also contains beta-carotene, a rich source of vitamin A which reduces the risk of cataracts and promotes eye health.

These vitamins also help limit the damage caused by free-radicals. We can’t forget about the cantaloupe’s healthy dose of B-complex vitamins which are known to help regulate blood sugar levels by processing carbs slowly, over a longer period of time.

Fun Facts

The name “cantaloupe” is derived from an Italian village called Cantalup, which was among the first places where the fruit was cultivated around the year 1700.  However, this is known by a few other names in different parts of the world.
 
Persians and Armenians know this fruit as part of a group of muskmelons that include honeydew, casaba, and crenshaw varieties.  South Africans refer to them as spanspeks.  Australians call cantaloupe  rockmelons.

How to Eat

Most people enjoy fresh cantaloupe raw, on its own, savoring the juicy, rich texture and flavor as a snack or dessert. However, because cantaloupe is so flavorful and appealing, many find it a fun food to experiment with in order to serve in new ways. One interesting serving suggestion is to wrap cantaloupe chunks in thinly cut prosciutto slices for a tasty and eye-pleasing appetizer.

Cantaloupe also goes well with yogurt and mixed with other fruits in sweet salads. You can even make a cold soup by blending other fruits like apples, peaches, and strawberries with cantaloupe together in a cold puree. Cantaloupe also makes a great sweet bread with just the right spices, nuts, and spices like ginger and cinnamon. Slushies and smoothies are another popular way to serve this tantalizing fruit.

Something to keep in mind is that cantaloupes have a short lifespan.  Since the surface of the outer rind is so rough, it can harbor bacteria, particularly Salmonella.  For this reason, it is important to wash cantaloupes well before cutting them open.  Try to eat your cantaloupe within three days of purchase to reduce this bacterial risk.

The unmistakably sweet taste of ripe cantaloupe make this one fruit that is easy to enjoy.  For those of us with a sense of culinary adventure, there’s a world of interesting recipes waiting for you to explore with this popular seasonal fruit.

NOTE – Cantaloupe has been in the news recently with the CDC raising alarms of a listeria outbreak, visit TIME (http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,2095653,00.html) for more details.

Also:

• http://healthland.time.com/2011/09/28/listeria-laced-cantaloupe-6-things-you-need-to-know/#ixzz1ZHhOnpOi

Here are a few things that you’ll see better as you lose weight (and perhaps somethings you will not see).

1. Won’t see that b-u-l-g-i-n-g stomach!
2. Won’t see that fat ass.
3. Won’t see man breasts.
4. Won’t see flabby arms, and thighs.
5. You just might be able to wear corduroy without that swish-swish sound of your legs rubbing together!
6. Will see your feet, probably for the first time in ages without the use of any fancy contraption!
7. Guys – your penis may look a whole lot bigger!
8. Guys – forget about it looking bigger, you just may notice it for the first time in ages!
9. Glasses may fit better since they won’t be resting on your chubby cheeks.
10. Lower BMI.
11. Lower blood pressure.
12. Better control over your blood sugars (if you are Type 2 diabetic).
13. Lowers your risk of heart disease.
14. Lowers your cholesterol.
15. Potentially improve sleep apnea and other sleep disorders.
16. Energy (and flexibility) to try out those wicked kama sutra moves that looked all but impossible before.

Got one to share?  Simply comment!

So let me ask you.  Have you kept your New Years Resolution to lose weight?  What?  I can’t hear you… I see a lot of smiles and hear a few giggles.  You didn’t, did you?  Not to worry, neither did the millions of Americans or Canadians that kept a New Years Resolution to lose weight.

But can I tell you a secret?  I kept a resolution to lose weight.  You know what else?  I was successful.

Those that have been following my other weight loss site (http://www.lose-weight-n-feel-great.com) know that my family and I moved out to BC several years ago.  At the time, I was a 48-waist and around 280lbs.  I spent some time at home, but over the years the weight crept up and in 6-years time I ended up gaining 30lbs.

Just before 2011 I promised myself that I will lose weight.  But I didn’t make any New Years Resolution, I resolved to myself that I must lose weight.  I didn’t make any promises to anyone — not even my wife or 7-year old (an only child, who loves soccer and expects that I will play with him).

I did it for me.  The side effect was that I had more energy to play with my son and do more around the house.  It was a win-win situation.

Today I am 284.5 lbs – not quite 280, but I can no longer wear my size 54 pants.  In fact even my size 50′s are too loose and I have to get them ALL taken in!  I love it!

When you are wanting to lose weight, you cannot wait (or is that weight) for New Years Resolutions, promises to your wife, son/daughter, significant other or anyone.  You need to lose weight because YOU want to.  Yes you may be doing it for other reasons — and that’s not bad, but you should be doing it primarily for you.

Will you keep making resolutions to lose weight?  Or will you do it for you?

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Food. That’s what happened. It’s time to spring clean your fridge, pantry and wherever else you may be “hiding” goodies.

Seriously.  When you talk about spring cleaning, make sure FOOD is on the list of things to get rid of.

Listen, it’s easy to pile on the pounds but it takes a lot of guts (snicker – and we’ve ALL got that) to brave up, and toss out the cookies, candies and whatever else you may have brought into the house under the veil of darkness.

Toss out the brownies, and Twinkies.  Toss out the potato chips and chocolate chip cookies.  Toss out the double-churned Maple Walnut ice cream.

With the warm weather, it’s time to get outside and enjoy, play and have fun.  Time to work on getting your lifestyle changes back on track.

Forget about quick fixes and trying to lose 10 pounds in 3 days or some other nonsense – it ain’t happening unless you’re willing to starve yourself to lose weight!  And honestly, do you really need an overweight calculator to tell you you are overweight?

Come on – are you with me?  It’s easy.  If I can do it, so can you.

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Losing the weight is half the battle, the other half is maintaining that weight loss.

Others have gone to extreme methods such as bariatric surgery to lose weight, but typically doctors only recommend these to individuals that are considered severely obese with a very high BMI (body mass index).

These methods work, and individuals lose weight very quickly – however there can be severe side effects as well.  Also once you have lost the weight what to do with all that loose skin?  Most people end up having to go for some type of reduction surgery to remove excess hanging skin.

Then there is a third way to lose weight, and that is through weight loss pills.  There have been many advances in medications to control fat intake, or to stimulate your fat burning furnace.  Among these medications is one over-the-counter pill called Slim9.

Slim9 is made up of several different herbal extracts, like Green Tea, Acai Berry and Ginseng — all of which have been talked about in the media about their weight loss and anti-oxidant properties.  This pill puts the benefits of all three extracts into one pill.

Now you may be thinking that weight loss pills are a dime-a-dozen, and I won’t lie – they are, but Slim9 is different.  Few (if any) other weight loss pills include three powerful herbal extracts which are also powerful antioxidants that aim to improve your metabolism and help reducing calories.  

If you have lost weight through traditional weight loss methods, and now need to stick to a maintenance plan – Slim9 can help as it can also be used to manage your weight not just help you lose weight.  Slim9 offers benefits such as:

• Help reduce your calorie intake
• Give you more energy to do the things you love, and keep you active
• Increase your metabolism
• Help improve your digestive health

Most people that try to lose weight never succeed.  Why?  In order to lose weight you need to be in the right frame of mind, you need the will power to do it.  Lack of will power results in the overweight person feeling rejected, which puts them into the downward spiral of “I’ll start tomorrow” – but tomorrow doesn’t come.

Once you start losing weight, you gain energy which prompts you to take more action which helps fuel your body to lose even more weight because it feels good – and the cycle doesn’t stop.

But it’s that kickstart that most overweight people need and that is what Slim9 gives you.

The natural formula of Slim9 works by boosting your energy levels (which in turn forces you to get active).  It helps with digestions, and increases your metabolism.

As your metabolism increases and your energy levels peak you will find it easier to have the motivation to exercise and burn additional calories!  As your digestion gets better, and your body gets rid of waste more efficiently, you will need less calories to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle, which in turn gives your body the energy it needs to keep staying active.

It’s a cycle that will not stop!  You will start to lose weight.

How can Slim9 help you lose 3-5 pounds per week (which by the way in a healthy amount to lose)?  It is very simple.  The unique mix of caffeine and green tea provide a powerful energy boost that powers your body for hours.  Other natural ingredients found in Slim9 help raise alertness and mood, making it an ideal morning pill.  Add to this a nutritious breakfast and you’ve kick started your day.

If exercise has never been fun, because you feel exhausted too quickly the green tea in Slim9 will help keep your endurance up.  In fact studies have shown that green tea boosts exercise endurance by 8 – 24%.

Slim9 will help you reduce caloric intake, and speed up your metabolism.  With over one million sold, many overweight people have trusted Slim9 to help them lose weight.  Learn more about this weight loss pill by visiting Slim9 by clicking on the link.

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