I have a Food Addiction!

It has been awhile since I've been here. Still struggling to get that BMI down. I realized today have the only addiction I've ever had and it is food.

As long as am in control, I'm ok. But once the triggers hit, I have a hard time stopping. Typically I fast  a lot, because that is the only way I know how to control the addiction. The other downside, food just sticks to me. Even with all the exercising. I can't even imagine if I didn't exercise, I would be even bigger.

I'm not giving up and recognize the challenges, especially with the holidays coming. Other foodies don't understand why you don't want to indulge. I have willpower and not giving up.

See yo soon!

In the latest issue of Atlanta MultiSports Magazine!

Honored to be in the latest issue of Atlanta MultiSports Magazine. Digital copy out now and on newsstands.

Here's How Much Mouse Poop, Maggots, and Cigarette Butts Are Allowed in Your Food!

See for yourself in the link below!
Read it here

Great article on Vegan Meats and Meat Substitutes

When I decided to give up meat, it was an impulsive decision that was many years in the making. You see, for most of my life I talked about wanting to be a vegetarian (I had not yet learned the term “vegan”) but I loved meat too much. It was what I ate at every meal every day. Then one day I watched a film about the animals that became the meat on my plate and I never ate another bite of any meat. That doesn’t mean, however, that I stopped loving the taste of meat or that I don’t miss it because over six years later, I still do. That’s why I make vegan versions of all my favorite meaty dishes. Because if I can have all dishes I love in a cruelty-free way, why wouldn’t I?

I make lots of veggie-centric dishes too but when I get cravings for something meaty, I turn to vegan foods that I can turn into delicious meaty meat-free dishes. There are lots of packaged vegan meats and meat substitutes you can buy but this guide is about using less processed foods to substitute for meat. I’m proof that it is completely possible to go from being a big meat-eater to a satisfied, happy meatless vegan. Here is the ultimate guide to vegan meats and meat substitutes.
1. Tofu

Tofu is a great substitute for meats including pork, chicken, beef, and seafood in recipes. It’s made from soybeans and is high in protein and calcium. Tofu has been a staple of Asian cuisine for ages, but most people think of tofu when they hear the words “vegetarian” and “vegan.” Tofu gets a bad rap as being soft, spongy, bland, and tasteless, but that doesn’t have to be true. Buy extra-firm tofu and press the heck out of it. Or, freeze it and then press it. Tofu can be as firm and chewy as meat. It also has an amazing ability to absorb flavors through spices and marinades, so be liberal with seasoning before cooking it. Read more about 6 Tips that Will Make You Love Tofu, 7 Steps to Make the Perfect Tofu Dish and Tofu: How to Avoid 5 Common Cooking Mistakes and then try these recipes: Crispy Tofu Nuggets, Tofu Pot Pie Casserole, Tofu “Shrimp” Scampi, Grilled Buffalo Tofu Po’ Boy with Apple Slaw, Badass Vegan “Fish” Sandwich, Vegan Tofu “Scallops,” General Tso’s Tofu and even Vegan “Liverwurst.” You can also learn How to Make Epic Vegan BBQ Tofu Wings and 10 Ways to Cook Tofu with Global Flavors.

2. Tempeh

Tempeh is firmer than tofu and has a more grainy texture. It is made from fermented soybeans and has a nutty flavor. It’s packed with protein as well as fiber, calcium, and vitamins. One of the advantages to cooking with tempeh is that you don’t have to press it. Just slice it, dice it, or grind it up in a food processor. If you find tempeh to be a bit bitter, however, try steaming it for a few minutes before using it. I find tempeh to be the perfect texture to emulate fish in recipes. It also is a great substitute for ground beef in chilies and other dishes. For tips on cooking with tempeh, check out How to Use Tempeh and What it’s Best Paired With and 6 Amazing Ways to Eat Tempeh. Try tempeh in these recipes: Tempeh “Fish” and Chips, Tempeh “Crab” Cakes, Tempeh “Tuna” Salad, Tempeh Piccata, Buffalo Tempeh Meatballs, Vegan and Gluten-Free Tempeh Meatballs, Vegan Tempeh Gyros, Butternut Squash Tacos with Tempeh Chorizo, Balsamic BBQ Tempeh Ribs, Vegan Sloppy Joes, Vegan Tempeh Reuben Sandwiches, and Gingery Maple Glazed Tempeh on Baby Greens Salad. For more ideas, check out 25 Super-Rad Recipes Made with Tempeh.

3. Seitan

If gluten is not an issue for you, turn to seitan for the most meat-like texture. Seitan is processed wheat gluten and it is a great source of protein. Depending on how you flavor it, seitan can be similar to chicken, beef, or pork. Seitan has a dense, chewy texture that can hold up to grilling, frying, braising, or anything else you want to do with it. You can buy it in stores, but don’t be intimidated. It’s not as hard to make seitan as you might think. Read How to Make Perfect Seitan and then try these delicious dishes made with seitan: Seitan Steak with Beurre Blanc Sauce, Seitan Pot Roast, Balsamic BBQ Seitan Ribs, Homemade Seitan Hot Dogs, Homemade Vegan Italian Sausage, Seitan Kebabs with Sangria Tomato Salad, Seitan Portobello Stew, Seitan and Mushroom Bourguignon, Seitan Wellington with Creamy Spinach Sauce, and “Chicken” Green Chili with Hominy Posole.

4. TVP

TVP or texturized vegetable protein is an inexpensive, easy to use ingredient. It’s dehydrated soy, and once you rehydrate it, you can do just about anything with it. It comes in granules or chunks. You can use it for ground beef dishes, to make cutlets, or delicious burgers and meatloaves. It is also listed sometimes as TSP or texturized soy protein. Get The Low-down on Textured Vegetable Protein (with Product Picks and Recipes!). Try this delicious vegan Irish “Lamb” Stew, this lovely Chik’n Salad with Cranberries and Pistachios, Tacos Sin Carne and Mini BBQ Soy Curl Taco Bowls with Pickled Onions.

5. Gluten-Free, Vegan Meat

When I became gluten-free, I really missed seitan. I searched the web for gluten-free seitan recipes, tried them all and was thoroughly disappointed. So I set out to make my own gluten-free version of seitan. That’s how my baby, V-Meat, was born along with its siblings, V-Chicken, V-Turkey, and V-Sausage. The recipe uses several different flours and proteins to make a vegan meat that has a texture similar to seitan and can be flavored multiple ways for versatility. It can be sliced, rolled, made into cutlets, chunks or links and can be used in lots of recipes. I have used it to make French Dip Sandwiches, vegan “chicken” and “turkey” cutlets, and even Thanksgiving dinner. Read Finally! A Gluten-Free, Plant-based Meat Recipe to learn how to make V-Meat and then check out the recipes for Gluten-Free Vegan Chicken and Gluten-Free Vegan Turkey.

6. Jackfruit

Yes, I said a fruit. Jackfruit may be a healthy tropical fruit, but its texture and mild taste make it a wonderful stand-in for meat. If you want the jackfruit to be chewier, just roast it on a baking sheet for 15 minutes. Other than a slight sweet taste, almost like pineapple, the jackfruit is pretty much a blank canvas, so you can use whatever spice and flavor panels you like best – Indian, Mexican, Chinese, etc. It can be used to make pulled “pork” or BBQ jackfruit. Learn all about it in Have You Tried Cooking with Jackfruit Yet? Get Started with These Recipes including my recipes for Jackfruit Philly Cheesesteak Sandwiches and Jackfruit Ropa Vieja.

7. Mushrooms

When you want that savory, meaty taste, that umami, mushrooms are the way to go. Their flavor is rich, earthy, and meaty, especially cremini or Portobello mushrooms. They are healthy and filling and can replace meat in any recipe. They can stand in for meat to make Mushroom and Walnut Chopped “Liver” Pate or for sliced meat to make a Mushroom Philly Cheesesteak. Try mushrooms in this Mushroom Stroganoff or as a vegan “Lamb” Burger. You won’t miss the meat in these Portobello Mushroom Burgers, Portobello Wellington, Shitake Bacon, Garlic Portobello Meatless Balls, Mushroom Mutter Masala, and Portobello Mushroom Steaks. For more recipes, see 10 Delicious Ways to Cook with Mushrooms.

8. Lentils

Lentils have always been a stand-in for meat since the beginning of veganism. Lentils are hearty and can replace ground beef easily. Lentils come in a variety of colors such as green, red, brown, and black. They cook up quickly, are inexpensive, and a small amount goes a long way. Read 10 Delicious Ways to Eat Lentils and then try Red Lentil Burgers with Kale Pesto, Lentil Meatballs, Double Decker Lentil Tacos, Hearty Lentil and Brown Rice Burgers, BBQ Lentil Meatball Sandwich, Lentil Tacos, Lentil and Mushroom Shepherd’s Pie and South Indian Lentil Stew.

9. Beans and Legumes

Beans and legumes are inexpensive, healthy, filling, and there are so many to choose from: black beans, kidney beans, pinto beans, aduki beans, navy beans, chickpeas, split peas, peanuts and black-eyed peas, to name just a few. Beans make hearty soups, stews, and chilis that will taste meaty without the meat. Read 10 Ways to Cook Beans with Global Flavors and then try Hearty Hoppin’ John Sliders with Lemon Aioli Sauce and Sauteed Greens, Hoisin Black Bean Burgers, Black-Eyed Pea Italian Sausages, Chickpea “Tuna” Salad, Three Bean and Sweet Potato Chili, Black Bean, Corn and Walnut Vegan Burger, Vegan Spicy Italian Sausage, and Kidney Bean Walnut Burgers with Mississippi Comeback Sauce.

10. Other Foods

Other foods that can substitute for meat include eggplant, cauliflower, potatoes, beets and coconut. Eggplant has a rich, meaty taste and it’s very versatile. If you think you’re not a fan of eggplant, read 10 Ways to Cook with Eggplant and then try it in these Eggplant Crunchburgers, Vegan Mozzarella-Stuffed Eggplant Meatballs, crispy Eggplant Fries with Marinara Dipping Sauce, and spiralized Eggplant Noodles. Cauliflower is highly underrated even as a vegetable but amazingly, it can also stand-in for meat. Read Do You Really Know How to Cook Cauliflower? Here are 10 Ways and then try Orange Cauliflower, Sweet and Sour Cauliflower, Roasted Buffalo Cauliflower Bites, and Cauliflower Piccata. Beets are nature’s candy. They are sweet and delicious and perfect for salads, but they have another side to them. Beets are also earthy and work well in savory dishes that usually have meat. Amaze your guests with a beautiful platter of Beet Carpaccio and then treat them to Roasted Beet Burgers with Cumin-Scented Ketchup. For more recipes, see 10 Ways to Cook with Beets. Potatoes are hearty, satisfying and versatile. You can mash them, fry them, boil them, bake them, or roast them. Turn them into burgers like this Spicy Potato Cauliflower Burger, Sweet Potato and Kale Patties and this Moussaka Burger with Béchamel Cheese Sauce. For more ideas, see 10 Global Ways to Cook with Potatoes and Got Sweet Potatoes? Here are 10 Ways to Cook with Them.

It is totally possible for meat-lovers to eat satisfying, meaty foods without giving up their healthy, compassionate plant-based diet. For even more tips and ideas, see 5 Tips to Make Meatless Food Taste Meaty, 10 Vegetables that Can Substitute for Meat, and 10 Vegetables You Can Make Burgers With. And when someone inevitably asks you why you’re vegan if you want to eat meaty foods, tell them it’s because you can be both compassionate and satisfied at the same time and that’s a win-win.

This is How Your Hot Dogs are Made [Video]

Prep for Colonoscopy

I'm typing as I seat! Just started the prep for my first Colonoscopy. Looking forward to getting it done. The plan afterwards is to try to eat as clean as possible.

Another year past!

Here we are 3 years later and still looking for the ABS! I'm still working hard and not giving up, they will appear in time!

 

 

 



Eating Tilapia is Worse Than Eating Bacon

I’ve written before about the dangers of farmed fish. Most people agree that eating fish is a healthier option for us. And the truth is, it really is! Fish is a low fat, high protein food that has a range of health benefits. However, given what we know of fish and its sources today, I need to clarify the myth that all fish is healthy.

Fish may not always be good for you. Fish can either be incredibly healthy or detrimental to our health, depending on where it’s sourced. There’s a world of difference between fish caught in the wild, and farm bred or farm-raised fish.

The most common types of farm-raised fish are
Salmon
Carp
Tilapia
Sea bass
Catfish
Cod
Why is Farm Raised Fish So Bad for You?

1. Can Cause Inflammation

Farm raised Tilapia has always been a popular source for fish, not only because it’s widely available in the US, but it’s also very inexpensive. It’s known in the food business as “aquatic chicken” because it breeds easily and tastes bland. Tilapia is the perfect factory fish; it happily eats pellets made largely of corn and soy and gains weight rapidly, easily converting a diet that resembles cheap chicken feed into low-cost seafood. Recent studies have concluded that eating

Tilapia may worsen inflammation which can lead to heart disease, arthritis, asthma and a world of other serious health problems. People who have started eating more fish as a way to get their dose of omega-3-fatty-acids and lessen their risk of heart attacks should avoid Tilapia. In fact, scientists have found that the inflammatory potential of Tilapia is greater than that of a hamburger or pork bacon!


2. Contains Cancer Causing Pollutants

Farm bred fish may have at least 10 times the cancer causing pollutants compared to the wild variety. This can most likely be attributed to the feeds used on farm-raised fish. Chicken feces is one of the main ingredients in farm fish feed. Not only that, the transfer of pig and duck waste to fish farms is also a very common practice.

3. Contains Antibiotics and Pesticides

Where do farm bred fish get their antibiotics? The crowded conditions of fish farms cause the fish to be more susceptible to disease. To keep them alive, farm owners give antibiotics to the fish to stave off disease. Farm bred fish are also treated with pesticides to combat sea lice. The pesticides used to treat these fish are so deadly that they have been found to kill wild salmon that are accidentally exposed to them. These pesticides are also eventually released in the ocean where they get into the bodies and systems of other marine life.

4. Low Levels of Nutrients

Many of us consume fish, hoping to reap the omega-3 fatty acid benefits that come with it. However, did you know that the omega-3-acids found in farm raised fish are less usable to our bodies compared to wild bred fish, and they also have a lower protein content. Not only that, because farm raised fish are kept in cages, they have the tendency to contain more fat, and can have a higher concentration of omega-6 acids. The problem with getting too much omega 3 and omega 6 acids is that they may cause inflammation to the body

5. Contains Toxic Chemicals

Dibutylin levels (toxic chemical used in PVC plastics) is said to be 6 times higher in farm raised mussels compared to wild ones. Dibutylin is toxic and can impair immune system function while also contributing to inflammation. Dibutylin may be the reason why we’ve seen a rise in asthma, obesity, allergies and other metabolic disorders in the recent years.

6. Contains Even MORE Toxic Chemicals

Dioxin levels (toxic chemical) are 11 times higher in farm bred salmon compared to wild salmon. Dioxin is actually a very toxic chemical that can contribute to cancer and other complications. The problem with dioxin is that once it enters our system, it can take a very long time until it is let out. The half life of dioxin is about 7 to 11 years.

This is why I only eat Wild Caught fish like Wild Sockeye Salmon. Wild caught salmon is loaded with Omega-3 fats, EPA and DHA, and has incredible health benefits. Plus, Salmon contains astaxanthin (A metabolic building block) which has been shown to be 6,000 times more powerful than Vitamin D at absorbing free radicals.

To see all the fish I recommend, check out my free Healing Food Shopping List. If you’re not eating Salmon or another wild caught fish once daily, then I recommend taking a high quality fish oil that contains astaxanthin, like Oceans 3.


Where to Get Wild Caught Fish

1. Local Health Food Stores, Whole Foods. Be careful though, because “wild caught” can be a loosely used term, so ask. Kroger and Publix are starting to carry more organic and wild caught items.

2. Online. This works great for me because I know exactly where my fish is sourced from plus it shows up at my door. This is why I prefer to order wild caught fish online. I trust Vital Choice, it’s where I order my wild caught Salmon and other fish from.

NO SUGAR!

Been off meat for over a year, now it's time to eliminate sugar. Follow me and see how I do!

Meatless for one year!

Since Feb 2012, I haven't eaten no meat or chicken. I can't say I don't miss it and it's hard when I'm around it. But I'm sticking to it. Follow my journey!

Fight the Fire: Cool Ways to Manage Heartburn

Fight the Fire: Cool Ways to Manage Heartburn

50 days unitl I'm 50!

Well now the biggest challege starts, losing weight by my 50th birthday. Besides the goal to lose by a certain date it will fix a lot of my health problems, especially the blood pressure.

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE OVERVIEW

Hypertension (high blood pressure) is a common condition that can lead to serious complications if untreated. Making dietary changes and losing weight are effective treatments for reducing blood pressure.
Other lifestyle changes that can help to reduce blood pressure include stopping smoking, reducing stress, reducing alcohol consumption, and exercising regularly. These changes are effective when used alone, but often have the greatest benefit when used together.

Healthy Heart Habits May Also Guard Against Cancer

Good cholesterol, blood pressure levels and more appear to reduce tumor risk, study finds.

WEDNESDAY, Nov. 16, 2011 (HealthDay News) — People who are diligent about keeping their heart healthy have a good chance of staving off cancer as well, researchers report.

Individuals who don't smoke and who maintain a healthy body-mass index (BMI), normal blood pressure and two to four other "ideal" measures of heart health have a 38 percent lower risk of developing cancer, according to research scheduled for presentation Wednesday at the annual meeting of the American Heart Association in Orlando, Fla.

The study authors hope the score they've developed will help doctors drive home the message that prevention is key to bothcancer and heart disease.

"Physicians need motivation to really push the issue of prevention with patients," said lead author Laura J. Rasmussen-Torvik, an assistant professor of preventive medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.

Other experts agreed.

"If we give patients a double whammy [message], in the ideal world, we might be preventing two of these biggest killers. It might be a stronger message," said Dr. Tara Narula, a cardiologist with Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.

"People generally know that healthy behaviors prevent heart disease and cancer, but to [relate risk factors such as cholesterol] to cancer is novel," added Dr. Harmony Reynolds, associate director of the Cardiovascular Clinical Research Center at New York University Langone Medical Center in New York City. "It's very nice to have that crossover in practice. Sometimes I talk to patients about lowering their cholesterol and exercising, and they get very fatalistic saying that, in my family, cancer is the problem. It's very convenient to be able to say these things."

"Ideal" cardiovascular health is one of the American Heart Association's Strategic 2020 Goals, which aim to improve Americans' heart health by 20 percent and reduce deaths from heart disease and stroke by 20 percent.

For this study, researchers followed more than 13,000 healthy individuals for 13 years, measuring seven "metrics" of heart health at the start and tracking any cancer that developed. Those seven factors are: not smoking, normal BMI (a calculation based on weight and height), physical activity, healthy diet, and safe cholesterol, blood pressure and fasting blood glucose levels.

Between 1987 and 2006, the participants developed more than 1,800 new cancers, namely prostate, breast, lung and colon. But, the more "ideal" factors people had, the less likely they were to develop cancer.

Compared to people who had none of the seven factors, having just one reduced the risk of cancer by 20 percent. Three factors lowered the risk of cancer by 22 percent, and five to seven pushed the risk down 38 percent.

"If you lower yourself by one point [risk factor], that's a significant decrease in cancer risk and a lower risk of heart disease," said Dr. Christopher Cove, assistant director of the cardiac catheterization lab at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York. "That's exciting."

When the researchers looked at the same participants but removed smoking from the measure, the association was no longer significant but the trend was still in the right direction.

"This says that, yes, smoking is really important but we still see the trend when smoking is taken out, so adhering to a healthy diet and having a low BMI are still important for cancer risk," said Rasmussen-Torvik.

The association might have been even clearer had the study had more participants and more cases of cancer, said Reynolds.

It's not clear why these associations exist, but Narula hypothesized they could relate to overall inflammation, which drives both heart disease and cancer.

The study authors said they hope to see more collaboration between the American Heart Association and cancer advocacy groups.

"I think the American public is very confused about conflicting health messages," said Rasmussen-Torvik. "If organizations like the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society and the American Diabetes Association could work together to emphasize some core prevention goals, that could be beneficial to all groups."

Research presented at meetings should be considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed medical journal.

Why the Modern Tomato is Flawed: Inside Tomatoland

First let's get one persistent canard out of the way. Yes, the tomato is technically a fruit, not a vegetable, but for purposes of economics the USDA classifies it as a vegetable, and as such it is the second most popular vegetable in the nation after that other burger staple, lettuce. This is surprising in only one respect: A vast majority of the tomatoes consumed in the U.S. every year ($5 billion worth), are devoid of the flavor and nutritive value they once had.

Sure, that plant your neighbor gave you that's just beginning to enjoy the summer heat will produce lots of delicious, succulent tomatoes come August or September. But in his new book, Tomatoland: How Modern Industrial Agriculture Destroyed our Most Alluring Fruit, two-time James Beard Award-winning journalist Barry Estabrook tells us why the modern factory-farmed tomato in most grocery stores is a poster child for nearly everything that is wrong with industrial agriculture. A recent USDA study, he points out, says that the average tomato of today, the kind on your Whopper or Taco Bell taco, has "30 percent less vitamin C, 30 percent less thiamin 19 percent less niacin, and 62 percent less calcium than it did in the 1960s. But that modern tomato does shame its 1960s counterpart in one respect: It contains 14 times as much sodium."

This is because the tomatoes grown in the fields in and around Immokalee, Florida, where nearly one third of the tomatoes consumed in the U.S. are grown, are bred for one thing and one thing only. And it's not flavor, and it's not nutrition. It's shipability, period. To qualify as grade A in that department, it needs to be a specific size, and a specific shape, and it needs to be picked while still green and rock hard. In fact, Estabrook relays a story of nearly losing control of his car as it was pelted with the tough green orbs bouncing off the back of a tractor-trailer on a Florida highway. The fruits hit the pavement at 60 mph and rolled to the gravel shoulder unscathed.

That truck was likely headed to one of the many enormous warehouses in the area, which "force-ripen" the fruit by smothering them with ethylene gas. This process does make them red, but it does not truly ripen them. Thus the sugars are nowhere near as developed as the ones in your back yard will be and the result is the mealy pink baseballs in your grocer's produce section right now.

Our enormous appetite for having pretty much any food available to us at anytime of year has led to a system where yes, you can have a tomato in February, but the cost is a lot more than the $1.25/lb you're likely to pay at your local Wal-Mart. It comes at the cost of enormous environmental damage and shocking worker abuse. It utilizes thousands of migrant workers, some of whom are undocumented, and many of whom live and work in literal slave conditions. And since the muggy lowlands of Florida are not native habitat, a tomato plant there can fall victim to as many as 27 separate insect species and 29 different diseases, necessitating a plethora of chemicals that are as hard on the workers and the land as they are on the pests. Then there's the 31 different fungicides in use. The list goes on.

Tomatoland is based on Estabrook's James Beard Award-winning 2010 article "The Price of Tomatoes," and is an in-depth investigation of what's wrong with the modern tomato (and by extension, modern agriculture). It is vital information that every conscientious eater-and parents of eaters-ought to know. Hopefully, as more people read the book, they will begin to look beyond price, and start considering cost.

Fast Weight Loss Tips: If You Miss Out On This 1 Thing, Then You Are Going To Get No Results!

Losing weight can be tough, but why make it harder than it has to be? Adding some fast weight loss tips to your current program can really accelerate your results! I know it is hard for you to keep going when you are seeing little results. My cousin Lucy who has battled with her weight all her life gave up many times. She'd cycle between getting motivated and then disheartened when nothing seemed to work. What was she doing wrong? Was she missing something out or didn't she fully understand what the diet plans she was following were telling her?

The real results came when she found a good diet program and stuck that one program alone! But to accelerate her results, she also added little fast weight loss tips she accumulated in her researching and added these to her diet program.

I will now share with you one of these fast weight loss tips that you can incorporate into ANY weight loss plan you are currently under or even if you aren't on a program at all!

You've got to eat! Don't skip meals! You're hunger will catch up with you eventually, even if it's a day or two later, and you will be more likely to 'pig out' and overeat! You must stick to your 3 main meals a day and 3 snacks a day all evenly spaced out. The body handles being 'drip fed' rather than taking a lot in all at once! Think of skipping a meal like forgetting to take medication. Ever been on a medication and forgotten to take a dose? The side effects can really knock you around. Skip a meal because you aren't hungry or too rushed will only lead to catching up for it later! So even if you're not hungry, make it a point to eat! Skipping meals will never lead to weight loss!

Also, you start skipping meals and your body will go into starvation mode and start STORING FAT as it thinks there is a food shortage. The body's starvation mode is why we are here today! It is how we survived as a species long before shopping centres and supermarkets. There were times in life when food would be in short supply in the wild for our ancestors, but our bodies were smart enough to adapt to these conditions. Unfortunately, our body's haven't had enough time to adjust to modern-day living.

Down 5 in 3 days!

Now BMI is 34.5!

Foods To Reduce Tummy Fat

Diet and exercise are essential when working to lose tummy fat. Making the proper food choices is often a large part of the process. Becoming informed or reminded of certain foods to reduce tummy fat can help you change your eating habits. Below are some foods which you should incorporate into your daily eating plan.




Try adding more fiber to your diet. Fiber is difficult to digest and passes through the digestive tract slowly. A slower digestion has been shown to balance sugar levels and reduce fatigue. It also makes you feel more full and for longer periods of time.



Good sources of fiber are legumes such as peas and beans, vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Eating oatmeal in the mornings is an excellent way to incorporate fiber into you diet. It helps lower cholesterol and makes you feel full until lunchtime. The complex carbohydrates it provides are slower to digest which are more beneficial than some of the refined sugars in many breakfast cereals. Also consider cooking oatmeal with skim milk instead water. Calcium has been shown to aid in weight loss thereby reducing tummy fat.



Increased levels of Vitamin C have been shown to help with fat oxidation and metabolism to help reduce tummy fat.. Unfortunately, the body has a difficult time storing this Vitamin but there are many foods you can incorporate into your diet.



Consider eating more berries such as strawberries, blueberries, goji and acai berries. They contain good levels of Vitamin C and as an added benefit they provide antioxidants which help reduce free radicals and promote increases in metabolism. Apples and grapefruits are also excellent choices because they contain less calories than other fruits while providing goods sources of Vitamin C. If you don't like these fruits then perhaps you may enjoy eating more tomatoes, which happens to be a fruit as well.



Stay clear and refrain from drinking fruit juices. They are often packed with sugar and many are not 100% juice. Fruits are excellent foods to reduce tummy fat because they also ensure you receive some added fiber in your diet.



Eating lean white meat such as chicken, turkey, and certain fish provide excellent sources of protein and help build lean muscle. Increased lean muscle mass helps maintain elevated metabolic levels. As we age, we begin to lose lean muscle and this becomes more especially important. Consider steaming, grilling, baking, or poaching instead of frying when cooking these foods.



Look up additional meals and recipes to incorporate these foods to reduce tummy fat. By making healthier foods choices you can increase your metabolism, stay healthy, and promote your weight loss goals.

My BMI

When I started fasting my BMI was 37.6. Today it's 34.9! I'm still OBESE, but closer to 29.9 which puts me at Overweight. The goal of course is to get to Normal 24.9. My goal is to get to 29.8 by 12/31/10. Follow me and see how well I do.

The Best Foods for Fat Loss

I went to a nutritionist in 2008. I was doing fine until I took a trip to Jamaica! Below is what I tweeted today.


It seems that so many of us are on the quest for the perfect diet. They one that will help to shed excess pounds and give us the lean physique we desire. But what is the best diet for fat loss?

It is actually hard to find the best diet for fat loss, since we all have different body types. A diet done by one person may have different results for another, and this is the reason why they think that certain diet programs are not working. Fortunately, there are several diet programs that are guaranteed to take several pounds off you if you will just stick to them faithfully.

The best diet for losing fat works depending on the how much willpower and determination a person has. This means that no matter how effective the diet program is if you don't take it seriously chances are that you will not achieve the body you want to have in the desired amount of time. If this sounds like you, these diet ideas will work, but they may take more time. Just adjust them to fit your lifestyle - but not too much or you won't really be dieting!

Here are some of the things that you can do if you want to have a healthier and trimmer body:

Drink lots of water

Drinking lots of water actually helps to burn fat. Usually, the reason why you weigh more than the average is that there is stored water in your body. This is called the water weight and it adds to the actual body weight. It sounds strange, but in order to reduce the amount of water weight you are carrying, you have to drink lots of water so that the body won't keep holding on to the body water.

Eat small meals

The best diet for fat loss includes the intake of at least 5 small portions of medium-sized meals. Instead of taking large portions which actually take a lot of time to digest, small portions are just enough so that you will feel full without actually feeling all bloated up. Your stomach will be able to adjust to the foods easily, so metabolism is enhanced.

Stay away from preserved foods

Only take minimal amounts of cooked or processed food. Most of these foods have additional fats and other preservatives that can significantly add weight to the body. It is healthier to eat raw vegetables so you'd lose fats easily. Remember, the more foods you eat in their natural state the better they are for your body.

Eat foods rich in protein


For the best diet for fat loss, the inclusion of foods rich in proteins is important. The best sources of proteins are poultry, fish, eggs, cottages, and cheese. Foods high in protein help to build and repair muscle. Muscle burns more calories than fat so you want to work toward building a lean muscle mass for optimum fat burning.

Basically what it all comes down to is eating sensibly. Keep the foods you eat healthy and as natural as possible. Avoid greasy and processed foods and drink plenty of water. By making these simple changes in your diet you will be well on your way to the fit body you desire!

Keeping an excercise journal helps.

I have kept a calendar of each time I exercised for years. It motivates me to have something on each day. I get mad at myself if my calendar is blank. Some people use online workout charts while others use electronic methods such as IPhones or laptops. Anyway that works for you is better than nothing.