The concept of using cabbage soup for dieting is the same today as it was many years back; however, it has been modified in order to make the most out of this dieting concept. Today, you can have various cabbage soup dieting pills that are readily available in the market; all using the same concept.

If you are looking for an effective weight loss diet then most of the doctors would recommend you the use of cabbage soup diet since it is very effective but a bit restrictive as well. Most of the doctors today recommend cabbage soup for dieting, especially to those who have had a recent heart surgery or if someone wants to reduce weight without wasting months on ineffective exercises and diets.

What’s the reason of using Cabbage soup for dieting or how it works is a common question? Well, it is quite simple; the idea behind Cabbage soup for dieting is that since it is made up of lots of water and vegetables, it fills up your stomach and it helps in feeling you less hungry and the most important is that it helps in flushing the fat stored in your body; hence result in reducing weight.

Sample Days

Let’s discuss a sample five day cabbage soup diet plan for all those who want to reduce weight using the cabbage soup diet plan:

Day 1: take unlimited soup supplemented by various vegetables that you can get. Make sure that you don’t go for vegetables that are rich in starch like corn or peas etc.

Day 2: your second day should again include soup that can be supplemented by all types of fruits you like with the exception of mangoes and bananas.

Day 3: on the third day, you can continue your day 2 plan with the inclusion of some vegetables as well.

Day 4: for all banana lovers, you can have bananas and skimmed milk on the fourth day. Just make sure that you don’t have these bananas or mangoes on the second day of your cabbage soup diet plan.

Day 5: you would definitely like this day as you can have, in less proportion, some grilled meat along with some rice etc.

You must remember that if you are strictly following cabbage soup diet then you make sure that you have to say good bye to pop, tea and coffee. Exercise is another important and integral part of cabbage soup diet plan. So make sure that you spare a consistent amount of time for regular exercises daily. You are not required to spend hours and hours in gym; rather you are just required to spare 15-30 minutes for jogging or a walk, even around your home.

Maintenance Phase

When you go for a cabbage diet plan in order to reduce weight, you must keep in mind that cabbage soup diet is not recommended for longer periods of time. Most of the experts recommend that people should not be on this diet for a longer period of time since this diet can result in clearing your body from essential nutrients. You can try this diet for a week or two and it can bring satisfactory results as well.

One thing that is also important and worth mentioning here is that after seven days, even if you have decided not to go with the cabbage soup diet, make sure that you try to include soup in your daily meals.

A lot of people use stretching exercise before working out or walking and combining the two is a perfect way to practice flexibility fitness. Stretching your muscles is ideal before doing strength training and any other type of exercise. Just as with other kinds of physical activity, it’s best to start slowly and increase your efforts gradually.

Stretching before and after weight training, aerobic exercise or even walking can help you feel better before and after your workout. All it takes is 5 to 10 minutes before and after each workout or walk to stretch your muscles properly. Be sure to stretch the muscles you will be using when you exercise to get the maximum benefits.

Tips For Stretching

* Warm up your muscles slightly before stretching them. You may choose to walk slowly or perform some minor exercises for around 5 to 10 minutes, and then start your stretching.
* Feeling a stretch in the muscle is normal but you should never feel any pain.
* Exhale while doing the stretch and inhale while you are holding the stretch.
* Closing your eyes while stretching may help you to relax.
* You normally get a good feeling after a slow and correct stretch.
* Stretch slowly and remember not to push or bounce your stretch.

Here are a few of the best stretching exercises:

Hamstring Stretch

1. Sit on the floor and extend your right leg out straight while pointing your toe up. If your knee feels awkward, insert a small towel or rolled up washcloth under your knee to keep it slightly bent.
2. Bend your left leg and put your left foot next to the inside of your right thigh.
3. Lean forward from your hips, and reach for your right ankle without touching your forehead to your knee.
4. Hold each one of these stretches from 15 to 30 seconds and repeat 2 to 4 times for each leg.

Latissimus Stretch

1. With your back straight stand with your feet shoulder-width apart or you can also do this stretch seated
2. Hold one hand with the other with your arms above your head.
3. While leaning straight over toward your right side pull upwards. You can feel the stretch down your left side.
4. Hold each of these stretches between 15 to 30 seconds, then switch sides and repeat at least 2 to 4 times for each side.

Quadriceps Stretch

1. Lie on your side and support your head with your hand.
2. Bend your upper leg back and grab hold of your ankle with your other hand.
3. Pull your foot toward your buttocks and slowly stretch your leg back. You will feel this stretch in the front part of your thigh. If you feel stress on your knees, do not do this stretch.
4. Hold each of these stretches for 15 to 30 seconds and repeat it 2 to 4 times for each leg.

Triceps Stretch

1. Stand with your back straight and your feet about shoulder-width apart or you can also do this stretch sitting down.
2. While bending your arm, bring your left elbow straight up.
3. Take hold of your left elbow with your right hand, and gently pull your left elbow toward your head with just light pressure. You will feel this stretch along the back side of your arm.
4. Hold each stretch 15 to 30 seconds, then switch elbows and repeat this 2 to 4 times for each arm.

Calf Stretch

1. Place your hands on a wall for balance or you can also do this with your hands on the back of a chair or even a counter top.
2. With your left leg step back keeping your leg straight, and lightly press your left heel into the floor.
3. Now move your hips forward and slightly bend your right leg. You will feel this stretch in your left calf.
4. Hold each stretch 15 to 30 seconds then repeat this for 2 to 4 times for each leg.

It’s really important to just breathe normally when you stretch and never hold your breath. If you like to time your breathing with your exercise, breathe out as you stretch, breathe normally in and out 2 or 3 times as you hold the stretch, and then relax.

Try to stretch all your major muscle groups including the muscles of your arms, back, hips, front and back of your thighs, and calves. A critical thing to remember when starting your stretching exercises is begin slowly and increase your stretching gradually as you become more flexible and more fit.

As many as 50 million Americans have thyroid conditions – and more than half of them are undiagnosed. Many thyroid sufferers experience metabolism that is slowed to levels that make dieting and weight loss seemingly impossible.

Mary Shomon, nationally known thyroid patient advocate, says that Oprah Winfrey, like millions of other American women struggling with thyroid and weight problems, does not need to face such an uphill battle. Shomon’s New York Times best-selling book “The Thyroid Diet: Manage Your Metabolism for Lasting Weight Loss,” is the only book to help many previously unsuccessful dieters finally overcome this major – but often overlooked — impediment to weight loss. Detailed information on “The Thyroid Diet,” available at Amazon.com website, Thyroid Diet — which also features a free downloadable Ebook from Shomon, titled “Is Your Thyroid Making You Fat?”

In “The Thyroid Diet,” millions of frustrated dieters will discover that diagnosis and proper thyroid treatment may be all that’s needed to successfully restore the metabolism to normal and begin to lose weight. “The Thyroid Diet” features a “Symptoms Checklist,” along with detailed guidelines on how to get diagnosed and properly treated.

Proper treatment can be far more complicated than patients are led to believe. Oprah Winfrey has, in fact, revealed that she has stopped taking thyroid medication because she didn’t feel better.

Says Shomon: “Oprah’s situation points out how tricky it can be to find the right medication, at the right dose, for the right amount of time, or order to start feeling the benefits. Many women are prescribed the popular thyroid drug, Synthroid, and if they don’t feel well a few weeks later, they think it’s not working, and give up. Instead of abandoning thyroid treatment, thyroid patients need to know their options, and how to navigate through the many treatment approaches to find what will work for them.”

Shomon has summarized some important points about Oprah’s thyroid and weight loss situation in an article “The Six Reasons Why Oprah Winfrey Doesn’t Have to Weigh 200 Pounds” — located at http://thyroid.about.com/b/a/257719.htm at the popular About.com thyroid site where she has been Guide since 1997.

Even with the best possible diagnosis and treatment, weight loss can still be more difficult for thyroid patients. Says Shomon: “In The Thyroid Diet, I’ve put together the best advice from practitioners around the country – and the patients who have successfully lost weight – on the thyroid treatments, foods, approaches, supplements, herbs, nutrients and exercise that can help even the playing field for thyroid patients trying to lose weight.”

“The Thyroid Diet” was published to acclaim, reaching the New York Times Best Seller List, the Amazon.com “Diet and Weight Loss” Bestsellers List, and was a Quills award semi-finalist. “The Thyroid Diet” also spent more than a month in the Amazon’s Top 100 Bestsellers list.

In “The Thyroid Diet” readers will learn…

• Why more than half of the almost 30 million Americans with thyroid problems haven’t been diagnosed
• The three physical signs that almost guarantee you have an undiagnosed thyroid problem
• Why your doctor isn’t likely to test you for this common diet saboteur, and what you can do
• Why frequent “mini-meals” may be the worst thing for your weight loss effort
• Herbal remedy from Africa that can dramatically cut appetite, without dangerous side effects
• The so-called “health food” that Oprah – and millions of women – eats that may be sabotaging her diet

“The Thyroid Diet” discusses optimal dietary changes, focusing on the “low-glycemic” diet — the healthier evolution of the low-carb craze. Readers also learn about optimal timing of meals for maximum hormonal impact, thyroid-damaging foods to avoid, helpful herbs and supplements, and more. The advice of numerous nationally-known doctors and practitioners is featured in the book.

The book contains several different eating plans, food lists, and a set of delicious and healthy recipes. Handy worksheets aid in weight loss tracking, and a special resource section features websites, books, and support groups.

Get The Thyroid Diet at Amazon.com

About The Author:
Mary Shomon has transformed her own health challenges into more than a decade as America’s leading thyroid patient advocate, founder/editor of a series of health newsletters, and founder/editor editor of www.thyroid-info.com her popular Thyroid-Info website, and guide to the About.com Thyroid Disease site since 1997. She is author of a series of best-selling books on thyroid disease and health, including “Thyroid Hormone Breakthrough,” “Living Well With Hypothyroidism,” “Living Well With Autoimmune Disease,” and “Living Well With Graves’ Disease and Hyperthyroidism,” among others. Mary Shomon is a member of the Endocrine Society, the Association of Health Care Journalists, and the American Academy on Communication in Healthcare.

ltamonte Springs, FL PRWEB December 8, 2008 — The nutrition beverage market is booming as people of all ages turn to nutrient enhanced drinks to help fuel a healthy lifestyle, but the benefits often may be more hyped than healthy. Health experts across the country are urging consumers to read the label and look out for hidden sugars, fat, and calories in these drinks.

Nutrient-rich beverages are gaining popularity among consumers as a convenient way to boost energy, endurance, and overall health. “Healthy people are taking heed of the recent scientific studies that recommend an increase in protein and a decrease in high carbohydrate and high sugar foods to support a healthy lifestyle,” says Harvard physician Dr. Marcus Elliott, MD, who works with world-class athletes from the NFL, NBA, and MLB. Dr. Elliott says most adults need to concentrate on getting more high quality protein in their daily diets.

“Because the body can’t store protein for future needs, as it does carbohydrates, it’s important to eat protein at regular intervals. High protein nutritional beverages can play an important role in managing a healthier lifestyle — whether you’re an elite athlete, or a casual exerciser trying to maintain your weight with smart eating and physical activity,” says Dr. Elliott. “The issue is that too many people aren’t aware that many of the nutritional drinks on the market are loaded with hidden sugars, fat, and calories.”

Dr. Elliott is part of a team of health & science professionals behind ZOIC, an advanced nutrition drink hitting store shelves across the country later this month. ZOIC — meaning “pertaining to life” — was created to satisfy increasing consumer demand for healthy and convenient nutritional products. ZOIC is different from most other nutritional beverages that are laden with high calories, high-fructose corn syrup, added sugars, or high fat content. ZOIC is specially formulated to provide an optimal mix of 21 grams of high-quality proteins, 26 vitamins and minerals, antioxidants, and healthy dietary fiber. Each serving of ZOIC has only 110 calories, 2 net grams of carbohydrates with no sugar added, and is 99 percent fat free. ZOIC’s nutrient composition makes it ideal for general nutrition, healthy weight management, and exercise and fitness regimens.

“Other nutritional beverages may not offer the complete package of nutrients and high-quality protein that ZOIC provides,” adds Dr. Elliott. “ZOIC is an ideal solution for those looking to maintain healthy blood sugar levels and watch their glycemic index.” ZOIC is scientifically formulated with a complete performance protein that balances out the best nutritional benefits and is proven to boost energy, build lean muscle, speed recovery after exercise, and maintain a strong immune system.

“While the efficacy of our products is our paramount concern, we also recognize that it is critically important that they be affordable, especially in light of our current economy,” said John Serieka, Solis Brands’ President and Chief Marketing Officer. “Obviously everyone is being very discerning about where and how to spend their dollars, but no one wants to neglect their health and well being. ZOIC offers a complete and affordable option for everyone concerned about proper nutrition and healthy weight management. ZOIC contains only the finest and highest quality ingredients and is a terrific consumer value when compared to other competitive products.”

AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION CERTIFIES ZOIC

As an indicator of ZOIC’s nutritional quality, the American Heart Association (AHA) has certified the product. It displays the heart-check mark because it meets the organization’s criteria for saturated fat and cholesterol for healthy people over age 2. ZOIC is also qualified under the US FDA Heart Health Claim

“With all the messages in grocery stores, from sales fliers to promotions on food packages, consumers are bombarded with information. The simple heart-check mark from the American Heart Association makes it easy for them to cut through the clutter and reliably find the nutritious foods they’re looking for,” said American Heart Association spokesperson, Penny Kris-Etherton, R.D., Ph.D., professor of nutrition at Pennsylvania State University.

CONSUMERS DEMAND CREDIBLE NUTRITIONAL PRODUCTS

ZOIC was initially available only through hospitals and health institutions, but now is being distributed to grocery, drug, convenience and mass merchant stores across the country. ZOIC is USDA inspected as “true to content”, and is also Union Orthodox Kosher Certified — an independent verification of quality, integrity & purity.

ZOIC is available in French Vanilla and Belgian Chocolate flavors and is sold in 4-packs at an MSRP of $5.99 in the Adult Nutrition and/or Weight Management section of most major retailers nationwide.

For more information, please visit: Zoic

ZOIC is a trademarked brand of Solis Brands, Inc. Solis was founded in 2006 in response to the growing consumer demand for healthy and nutritious food and beverage products that are both functional and convenient. Solis is managed by two veterans of the food & beverage industry, John Serieka and Bruce Svetz, who collectively have more than 40 years of experience developing channels and brands for Fortune 50 companies, including: Pepsi, Gatorade, Kraft, and Nestle. Solis is headquartered in Altamonte Springs, FL.

ZOIC (zoh-ick) [adj.] pertaining to life

Napa Valley fat loss expert Jeff Larson, CPT, RKC II is the founder of Napa Boot Camp, Napa’s premier fitness boot camp for men and women. He has assisted numerous people prevent the holiday weight gain during this busy and stressful time of year.

Larson claims: “There are several clever damage control nutrition strategies that you should make use of to best prevent yourself from overdoing it at the holiday festivities this season.”

Use the following 9 nutrition tips below to allow yourself to stay social and to be able to indulge in moderation without splitting your pants before the New Year:

1.) Hydrate

Try to drink at least 1-2 glasses of water before you dig in to those holiday meals. You will have a hard time going for that second plate with a belly full of food and water.

2.) Just Say No to Empty Liquid Calories

Let’s do the math, if you consume 500 calories per day from liquid calories such as soda, alcohol or fruit juice for 7 days you have racked up 3,500 extra calories or 1 pound of extra fat just from your drinks!

3.) Do Not Famine before the Feast

You may think that refraining from food before your cheat meal is a good idea but actually it will just lead to overeating foods that are very high in sugar, fat or both.

4.) Don’t Overeat

You need to understand that the holidays are not a free pass to eat as much as you can before they close the buffet down. Enjoy your favorites in moderation and you will feel better about yourself and your eating habits.

5.) Put the Healthy Stuff First

There are always healthy choices at holiday meals; there is a protein like turkey, prime rib or seafood, generally fruit and almost always a vegetable. Eat plenty of these items first and you will have just a little room left for holiday treats.

6.) Prepare Wisely for Your Holiday Events

You will decrease your cravings at the snack table if you consume a high protein, high fiber meal about an hour before your holiday event. My favorite strategy is to drink a protein shake with added fiber and healthy fats then I am satisfied before the holiday party.

7.) Get Back to Normal as Soon as You Can

I know that the holidays roll around once a year and you are going to want to indulge. So do it. Then get right back on the wagon for your next meal.

8.) Portion Control

Try to eat only half of all the servings of unhealthy food that you choose. Half of the portions equal half the calories!

9.) Claim Your Vigorous Workout Before/After Your Big Meal

Ideally you would want to work out before AND after a big meal, but if you can only do one, that will suffice. The best options will be 20 minutes of circuit resistance training or cardio interval training. If nothing else, get out and go for a walk after dinner.

According to Larson, “These small changes can literally save you hundreds, even thousands of calories, and more importantly will prevent your holiday feasts from creating the optimal fat-storing environment that will set you back from achieving your health and fitness goals.”

Jeff Larson Certified Fitness Trainer, Certified Nutrition Coach is a local Napa fitness boot camp instructor and real world fat loss expert. Larson is available for a complimentary fitness presentation “The Lies and Myths of Fitness and Fat Loss” at your local Napa company, club, or organization please contact him by phone at 707-479-0866. For a free 1-week trial to his Napa boot camp to experience the best personal training in the Napa Valley please visit http://www.napabootcamp.com

Those who combine walking with a weight loss program can see much faster weight loss results and are able to keep the weight off for longer periods of time. If you diet without physical exercise you will frequently gain your weight back because exercise is critical to maintaining proper body weight.

Walking increases your metabolism which helps you avoid this weight gain.  It also helps to sustain your muscle mass.  If you are walking to lose weight, it’s more crucial to walk longer than the speed you walk. Walking at a moderate pace most often yields longer walks with less muscle soreness.  This is especially important when you are just beginning your walking program.  Longer distances leads to more miles walked and that means you burn more calories and fat on a regular basis.

Here are a couple of simple ways to keep your weight under control.  You could lose four pounds of body fat annually just taking a three minute walk after every meal.  If you took two flights of stairs a day you could burn off one pound of body fat in a year.  How many of us could at least do that?  It doesn’t take a huge amount of effort just getting used to better habits.  It’s everyday habits like this that define your weight and body makeup.

If you want to get in even better shape, you could step up your walking with higher intensity.   You can do this by increasing your speed or by walking up inclines.  This will not only increase your metabolism faster but can also accelerate your weight loss.  Ideal weight loss is losing one pound per week.  Losing pounds at this rate is the best way to keep your weight off much longer.

If you are looking for a healthy way to take off unwanted pounds and keep your weight under control walking to lose weight may be the perfect solution for you.

A report published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association discovered the main difference between “normal-weight” adults and their overweight counterparts was the amount of fiber they took in in their day-to-day diet.  The two groups had the same amounts of sugar, bread, dairy products and vegetables. The difference was the normal-weight subjects ate 33 % more dietary fiber and 43 % more complex carbohydrates daily (per 1,000 calories) than those who were overweight.

Why high fiber foods work for weight loss

Most high fiber foods are frequently low in fat and calories and it just makes sense to eat these foods for any weight loss program.  Another reason it works so well is the body can’t break down fiber so it speeds through your digestive tract never having an opportunity to become body fat.  But the greatest advantage of foods high in fiber is it swells up in your stomach and actually makes you feel full.  Once you experience that full feeling, you’re less likely to eat or even snack.

High fiber food also helps stabilize blood sugar levels which prevents the high and low levels that can signal you are hungry.  Fiber also helps your digestive system and studies even show it helps to lower your cholesterol.   Another health benefit of fiber rich foods like fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains is they offer you a healthy amount of disease-fighting antioxidants.

Here is a list of high fiber foods that will help you get more fiber into your daily diet.