The 10 Biggest Food Label Lies
Pick up an innocent box of granola bars or a bottle of iced tea and you're hit with health claims—from less fat to made with real sugar. In fact, a USDA study showed that 43% of products introduced in 2010 splashed nutrition ads on their packaging. But despite their promises, you could be eating more fat, calories, salt and sugar than you think. Get the facts on the most deceptive claims so they never mislead you again.
Posted 6/17/2013 12:00:00 PM By: : 22 comments 23,494 views
Aim to 'Lose Your Love Handles'
Love handles, the spare tire, the middle age spread: Call it what you will, but nobody likes having excess flab around the waistline (not even when we name it cute things like "muffin" top). And while you can target the oblique muscles located on the sides of your waist by doing specific toning exercises, doing tons of abs moves alone isn’t enough to shrink your waistline. Your best love handle melting strategy involves the same principles for losing weight anywhere on the body: eating better foods (and less in general), and performing both fat-burning cardio along with muscle-toning strength training.
But like any exercise program, you should cater your exercises to your specific goals. And if whittling your waistline is one of your goals, you should be doing exercises to help you reach it.
I designed this workout circuit to help you target your waistline in a smart way: by keeping your heart rate elevated to burn more calories than you would simply lying on the floor and doing crunches. You’ll alternate a cardio move that also targets your core with a traditional oblique toner for maximum benefit.
Posted 6/12/2013 12:00:00 PM By: : 164 comments 1,997,403 views
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Surprising Ways to Lose Weight and Feel Great
Hormones have a bad reputation. Feeling bloated? Cranky? Craving carbs? Blame it on that time of the month. But hormones provide a host of health benefits and can help you lose weight, sleep better and stay sharp. Click through to learn five ways they can help you be your best—and how to harness their positive power.
Posted 6/10/2013 6:00:00 AM By: : 30 comments 50,911 views
Success Story: 'It Was a Really Dark Place for Me'*
Chrissy Kellems-Silvas (CHRISSY-50)
Weight Lost: 55 pounds
Hometown: Blaine, WA
Occupation: Human Resources/ Workforce Planning Specialist
How did you gain the weight?
I am an emotional eater. During my 30s, I lost my father to hepatitis C and got married to a person that was emotionally and physically abusive to both my daughter and me. My daughter subsequently got involved with drugs, dropped out of school and left home by the time she was 17. In 2008, I left all my possessions and my ex-husband behind and moved 2,000 miles across the country for a fresh start near my biological mother, who had also been diagnosed with Hepatitis C.
My daughter, who was 16 at the time, further rebelled once we moved and spiraled out of control. Subsequently, my biological mother ended our relationship. In that stress-filled year, I put on at least 25 pounds. At my highest weight, everything felt uncomfortable, including my own skin. I had never weighed that much in my whole life. I hated myself and what I had become. It was really a dark place for me.
What was the main motivation behind your weight loss?
My biggest motivation to lose weight was to heal. I just wanted to be a happy, healthy person again. I quit smoking, took a firm stand with my daughter and took responsibility for my actions. I had a lot of guilt for what my daughter was going through because I allowed her to be exposed to someone as awful as my ex-husband. I hated myself for what she was doing to herself. I had to start loving myself again. I had to show her by my actions that a healthy, happy life is a choice, not some random thing.
Posted 6/9/2013 6:00:00 AM By: : 123 comments 34,160 views
8 Easy Fitness Trade-Ups That Boost Results
Ditch and Switch
You’ve found an exercise plan that works for you (no small feat!), so why change it? Over time, your body adapts to the same routine, decreasing your calorie burn as your muscles get better at doing those same moves over and over. Instead of plateauing, try these simple upgrades to kick things up a notch—and keep getting results.
Posted 6/3/2013 6:00:00 PM By: : 6 comments 12,219 views
Your Excuse-Proof Workout Plan
Hey, we're all busy. But that’s no reason to let your workouts get away from you. Next time you feel like skimping on exercise to watch TV or meet your friends for Happy Hour remember this: It doesn't take much to get a great workout.
That's why I designed this excuse-proof workout. You can do this simple, 6-minute circuit anytime (it's whisper quiet), anywhere (no gym required) and without any equipment. All that and it'll sculpt your body from head to toe, too.
Posted 6/3/2013 6:00:00 AM By: : 132 comments 331,821 views
Success Story: 'I Wanted to Be a Better Role Model'*
Name: Roxanne Carrier (ROX5CAR)
Weight Lost: 69 pounds
Hometown: East Syracuse, NY
Occupation: Health Teacher
I gained my weight steadily starting in ninth grade. I was 14 going on 15 and remembered seeing 150 pounds on the scale. I gained weight because I just wasn't paying any attention to controlling it. My mom would encourage me to eat--she said I was thin. I had a lot of emotional issues going on in my life at the time. Exercise was never encouraged, but gaining weight was. Being thin was looked down upon in my family, so my weight continued a steady climb all through high school. When I graduated, I weighed 186 pounds, and by the time I got married about four years later, my weight was 189 pounds Soon after, I hit 195 pounds.
I couldn't blame my weight on having kids; I only gained 25 pounds with each pregnancy, and I lost all the weight with each one. I maintained 195 pounds for a few years until my second daughter was 4 years old. At that point, it seemed as though I started putting on weight for no reason.
I had pain every morning getting out of bed. I was only 30 years old when I first noticed that it was difficult to walk. It hurt to stand on my feet and I'd feel this awful pain every morning.
My biggest motivation and the biggest turning point in my life was when my doctor found a borderline cancerous ovarian tumor. On my medical record he wrote "morbidly obese."
I thought: How in the world did I come to that? I'm a health teacher, and morbidly obese is written on my record? What kind of an example is this? What am I teaching my students: eat healthy and exercise, but the teacher doesn't have to?
I decided I needed to be a better role model, not only for my students, but for my own children as well.
Posted 6/2/2013 6:00:00 AM By: : 117 comments 35,775 views
The Towel Workout Makes Toning Easy!
There’s no need for special equipment for a great workout! A good old beach towel can be just as effective at working your muscles as dumbbells, resistance bands or expensive machines. Want proof? Meet "The Towel Workout."
All of these moves can be done with just a towel, which is great because you’ll probably need it to wipe up your sweat after you are done.
Posted 5/31/2013 12:00:00 PM By: : 172 comments 259,589 views
6 Surprising Causes of Common Health Symptoms
When you notice something amiss—a cough that won’t quit, sudden dandruff—you may run right to the computer to look up what could be going on. A recent survey found that 35% of Americans have used the Internet to self-diagnose a medical issue. Before you panic, discuss the online info with your doctor. And remember that some easy-to-detect signs call your attention to bigger problems at hand so you can address them on your own. Here, six common symptoms, why they happen and what you should do about them.
Posted 5/27/2013 12:00:00 PM By: : 13 comments 14,425 views
Success Story: 'I Feel So Much Better Now!'*
Name: Michelle Howard (MOMMYOF2RN)
Weight Lost: 135 pounds
Hometown: Pelion, SC
Occupation: Registered Nurse
I gained weight through lack of exercise and an extremely poor diet with tons of soda and fast food. Before I had my first child in 1996, I weighed 144 pounds. After delivery, I weighed 220 pounds. I chalked it up to part of having a kid. Life went on, and I started the ups and downs of weight loss. I got back down to 180 pounds and was fairly happy with myself. In 2004, Baby #2 came along and I went right back to 220 pounds. By that time, I was involved with a very controlling spouse who feared that if I lost weight I would leave him, so I stayed very heavy through our whole relationship.
In 2010, that relationship ended and I toyed with the weight loss idea. I joined Curves and started watching my calories; I even tried the Atkins diet. Then on Thanksgiving 2010, I had a gallbladder attack and wound up needing surgery. My pre-op weight was 297 pounds! I was in shock.
I felt miserable. I always felt like less of a person because I was so large. In crowded areas, I always felt that someone was looking at me or making fun of me. That kept me from trying new things. Looking at my vacation pictures from the beach and Dollywood in 2011, I couldn’t believe that it was really me. The photos were horrible, but I just hid them instead of doing anything about them. Then, when my size 2X scrubs didn’t fit comfortably anymore and I had to buy a size 3X, I felt horrible.
My biggest “A-Ha moment” was Thanksgiving 2011, when we went hiking in the mountains.
Posted 5/26/2013 6:00:00 AM By: : 152 comments 55,901 views
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10 Easy Tricks to Avoid Vacation Weight Gain
Hello, vacation! You’re ready to kick back and relax, maybe sip a few margaritas by the pool. Heaven, right? Until you step on a scale and realize you’ve toted home more than just kitschy souvenirs. About two-thirds of frequent travelers say that exercising and eating healthy while on the road is stressful, according to a TripIt survey. So what’s a weight-conscious jetsetter to do? Follow these 10 simple strategies when you’re planning your next getaway.
Posted 5/20/2013 6:00:00 PM By: : 16 comments 14,231 views
'At Age 68, I'm in the Best Shape of My Life!'*
Carol Reinhard (CAROLJEAN64)
Weight Lost: 57 pounds
Hometown: West Des Moines, IA
Occupation: Retired
I was in the midst of therapy for depression. I broke my leg, the complications from which left me inactive for several months. I gained weight as a shield as I dealt with complex and frightening issues in therapy. I had little energy. I did not feel attractive to my husband and felt like a grandmother to almost anyone more than 10 years younger than me. I didn't want to be old when I knew I wasn't. I somehow inherently knew that combining good eating and physical activity was what I needed to complete the road to good emotional, physical and mental health that I started in therapy.
I made some great progress in therapy and decided to give my husband my weight loss goals as a birthday gift with the goal of being at my wedding weight by our 38th wedding anniversary eight months later. I made it with one day to spare. My first week I lost six pounds, and I gained only one week. I lost about 1.75 pounds per week.
Keeping a food journal has been so important in maintaining my weight. For me, it was all about portion control, portion control, portion control.
Interestingly enough, I came to SparkPeople
Posted 5/19/2013 6:00:00 AM By: : 136 comments 44,016 views
6 Relaxation Techniques for Your Biggest Stress Triggers
Your son can't find his backpack (again) and your husband still hasn't fixed the leaky toilet (three weeks later). Stress is everywhere—and though you may not be able to control what causes it, you do have power over how you react to it. And keeping your cool is a key to safeguarding your heart.
"Stress sets off a surge of hormones, like adrenaline and cortisol, in your body," explains WD heart health expert Michelle Albert, MD. "Elevated levels of these hormones can harm your heart because they raise your blood pressure and cause inflammation." So it's important to develop ways to cope when life becomes tense. Keep clicking for six speedy strategies that'll calm you down.
Posted 5/13/2013 6:00:00 AM By: : 13 comments 16,796 views
The Top 5 Exercises You're Doing Wrong
For some people, safety and form during a workout is a huge priority. For others, it's an afterthought. If you work out without the careful eyes of a trainer or instructor watching your every move, it can be difficult to know if you are exercising with proper form—even when you're really trying to.
Learning how to move with correct alignment isn't just about looking good; it can mean the difference between muscle activation and joint strain—or even injury.
Here are five exercises that are common—and may even seem simple—but are most often performed incorrectly by people of all fitness levels.
Posted 5/13/2013 12:00:00 AM By: : 110 comments 338,594 views
Success Story: From 'Miserable' to a Full & Happy Life*
Brett Day (brett_day1981)
Weight Lost: 136 lbs
Hometown: Bridge Creek, OK
Occupation: Student
I completely destroyed two discs in my lower back after an accident at work. I had surgery to fix the problems and ended up having a spinal fusion at one level and an artificial disc at the level above the fusion. As a result of the surgery, I ended up with a condition called RSD (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy), which is a rare type of nerve damage. RSD is progressive and is incredibly painful in the afflicted limbs. I had a hard time moving around because of the pain in my back, and quickly became very unhappy. This led to comfort eating. I gained a lot of weight, and ended up weighing 334 pounds.
My life then was quite miserable. I faced so many challenges, not only because of my injuries, but because of the extra weight as well. I became incredibly self-conscious. I hated the way I looked and did not like going out very much, and I certainly did not like having my picture taken. Because of this, I missed out on many family outings and trips. I could not play with my children like a good parent should be able to do, and even going out and about to do daily chores was a struggle because I would get so out of breath.
After I had a spinal cord stimulator implanted to help control the pain of RSD, I knew I had been given a second chance to become the husband and father I knew I could be. My family was my biggest motivation. I knew that I had to change so that I could be around for my wife and for my children. I knew that if I did not change my ways, then I would not be around to see my children grow up. At the time I also suffered with alarmingly high blood pressure and was told that I was pre-diabetic. My dad passed away due to complications from diabetes, and I knew I did not want to go down that path.
My “A-Ha” moment came on October 23, 2011.
Posted 5/12/2013 6:00:00 AM By: : 126 comments 33,884 views
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