FOOD REALLY IS YOUR FRIEND!

Yes, it sounds silly but it is true.   Food is not your enemy!   You need to eat to survive and you need to eat to burn calories.   If you don't eat enough to support your bodies daily needs it will store everything you do eat instead of burning it for energy.   This will leave you feeling tired and run down.

So, here are some very simple ways to keep your metabolism going:

1:   Eat breakfast, you haven't eaten since last night!   If you skip this meal your metabolism will slow down.

2:   Eat healthy, lean proteins, fruits and veggies and avoid sugar and alcohol.

3:   Snack,  every 4-6 hours is good.   Have fruits and veggies or low fat cheese.

4:   Exercise, even if your mind resists.

5:   Lift weights, muscle burn up to 5 times more calories than fat.

6:   Keep a food diary, this will help you see what you are eating.

7:   Drink lots of water, staying hydrated will keep your energy up and your metabolism going.

8:   Drink green tea, before meals is best it will speed up your digestion.

9:   Get enough sleep, I won't tell you 8 hours because everyone is different.   Listen to your body.

10:  Eat according to your schedule, if you have a busy day eat well for breakfast and lunch and go light for dinner.    If you have a busy evening than switch that around.

I hope this helps anyone trying to maintain or lose weight or just wants to feel better.

Enjoy!

Jacqui Allen

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VIRTUAL WEIGHT LOSS CHALLENGE

I know this seems a little bit odd but, really who likes to go to weekly meetings and all that stuff?   I am offering you an opportunity to get help, support and a safe place to vent, confess or just get a little encouragement.   Announcing the VIRTUAL WEIGHT LOSS CHALLENGE!   Here are the rules:

1:   Commit.   This is very important!   Declare your commitment by posting a comment that you are in.

2:   Email me a before photo and your current weight and measurements ( be sure and measure chest, hips, waist and both thighs.  Start on the first day and  do this at the same time of day each week so your stats are consistent.) also, your weightloss goal.   If you do not send these you will not qualify.   Do not worry, I will not share with anyone, this is just between us and we will remain on a first name basis throughout the challenge.   Email to jacquiallen@ymail.com

3:   Subscribe via email to our blog so you don't miss out on important info to help you achieve your goal and to get healthy recipes to help you on the way.

4:   Email your weekly stats ( weights and measurements, remember to this at the same time of day each week) jacquiallen@ymail.com

5:   Share and support daily via comments, so that you can help each other through the challenge.

6:    Pick a program:   You can make up your own or choose a heatlthy diet and exercise program that works for you, Jenny craig http://www.jennycraig.com/ , weight watchers http://www.weightwatchers.com/  or herbalife http://www.reshape4good.com/ to name a few.

7:   Ask for help, if you are struggling and need help or support don't hesitate to ask.   I am here for you anytime.   Just shoot me an email or post a comment.   Email me at Jacquiallen@ymail.com

8:   Accept help.

9:   The winner will be determined by percentage of body weight lost (this is fair for both men and women) and a after picture must be emailed to qualify, along with your final weight and measurements

10:   The challenge will last for 2 months starting on April 1st. 2010 and ending May 31st. 2010 winner will be announced on June 1st. 2010, so be sure you email your final weights and measurements as well as send your after picture by midnight (est) on May 31st. 2010 to be eligible for prize. 

The prize for the winner is a $25 gift certificate for amazon.com All decisions of winner are final and made by me.

Hope to see you all happier and healthier!

Jacqui Allen

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WHY CAN'T I LOSE WEIGHT?

Do you dread getting on the scale? Are you tired of being overweight and tired?

Are you trying to lose weight, but it's not coming off? or worse you're putting more on?

This happens to alot of people and one of the biggest reasons is: They are not getting proper nutrition.

If your body is lacking in essential nutrients it will store everything you do eat and save it for when it is needed.   However, if you are consistently not getting enough nutrition, your body will consistently continue to store and turn it into fat.   This can be changed by following a few simple rules:

1:   Do not skip meals ( you can use nutritional meal replacement shakes for breakfast and/or lunch if that helps)

2: Make your calories count, this means don't fill up on empty calories that don't provide nutrition.

3:  Drink plenty of water, the average person needs half their body weight in ounces of water per day (this means if you weigh 200 lbs you need 100 ounces of water)

4:   Snack, yes I said snack.   The best way to boost your metabolism is to keep feeding it, eat something about every 3 to 4 hours.   Now this doesn't mean chowing down on chips and cookies, choose healthy snacks (yogurt, low fat cheeses and some fruits or veggies... you get the pic?)

5:   Choose low fat, low carb and high protein meals.  A trick I learned is to first eat the low fat protein then your veggies and last your carbs (by then you will be full and won't eat too many carbs) 

Well that's all for today! I look forward to sharing more tomorrow.

Enjoy!

Jacqui Allen 

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NUTRITION FACTS 101

If you are trying to lose weight or just remain healthy this is for you.   I will be blogging about nutrition and weightloss over the next few days and I wanted to start with some basic info.

According to the CDC there 5 things our body needs on daily basis:
1: water
2: protein
3: minerals
4: carbohydrates
5: vitamins
This info can be found at  http://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/everyone/basics/index.html

The top 3 causes of death in the US are
1: Heart disease
2: Cancer
3: Stroke
These are typically diet related.  http://198.246.98.21/nchs/fastats/lcod.htm

The #2 leading cause of death in the US is Obesity and the #1 cause of death in the US is Tobacco, however Obesity is fastly catching up http://www.doctorslounge.com/primary/articles/obesity_death/
and beating out tobacco.   Why? Well let me tell you a story.   When my youngest child was about 9 months old, she was considered underweight, the "healthcare" professional told me to put butter on everything she eats to "fatten her up".   What? I was speachless.   I thought, you want me to feed my child fat and cholestorel to meet your statistical calculations of what a child her age should weigh?  I was appauld and scared.   Speaking with other mothers over the past 5 years, I have found that 9 out of 10 of them have been given the same "advise", it's no wonder that childhood obesity has tripled in the last 30 years http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/obesity/ and quite frankly, if this is the belief you have grown up with, of course it will continue into adulthood.   We need to take control of our lives and our eating habits.

Find a program or trusted nutritionist to work with and individualize a program that fits your needs.   Please remember that it is your body and you have control of how to take care of it.

May this bring you health and wellness,

Jacqui Allen

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