Healthy diet = healthy brains??

A new study found that obese people have 8 percent less brain tissue than normal weight individuals, and those who are classified as overweight have 4 percent less brain tissue.

Researchers called this "severe brain degeneration" and they found these brains were not only smaller, but that they had aged prematurely as well. The brains of the obese and overweight looked 16 and 8 years respectively beyond the brain age of normal weight individuals.

Bad diet and an increasing reliance on processed foods were cited as the primary cause of obesity. But, have you ever thought about why a bad diet is a bad diet? Largely, it's due to all of the man-made chemicals in it.

What is generally considered a healthy diet is comprised of lots of fresh fruits, veggies, hormone free meats, nuts, and whole grains, and it contains far fewer chemicals. Ideally, it contains none.

In truth, processed foods almost always contain man-made chemicals because they'd have an extremely limited shelf life without them. But chemicals in processed foods don't stop with just preservatives; they include chemicals for flavor and color, and even unlisted chemicals that fall under the artificial flavors label. Most processed foods also contain genetically altered materials these days, which just adds to the problem.

The act of processing, even if it starts with a natural food (which it doesn't always), alters the natural structure of the food and changes it from nature's design with which we're biologically compatible. This too causes problems. The natural enzymes in the food are destroyed and processed food is practically devoid of any enzymes. Enzymes are the sparks that start the essential chemical reactions our bodies need to live. They are necessary for digesting food, for stimulating the brain, for providing cellular energy, and for repairing all tissues, organs, and cells.

When you look at it this way, it makes you wonder...

Is the actual fat on obese bodies causing the brains to shrink? Or is it more likely caused by the lack of enzymes and all the chemicals in the food that these folks are consuming in abundance?

The clean plate club

The clean plate club is one of the worse invention there is. Eat slowly until you are full, chew properly, stop before you get "stuffed". If you are eating quality food, this will prevent you from gaining weight. Cleaning everything on your plate is the worse measure for what your body actually needs. Listen to your body!!

If you need to develop the habit, try eating with a blind fold... you may be surprise how much food you actually leave out. Of course try not to stab yourself in the hand in the process.

You could also start with half portion, wait a bit when you are done and refill if you are truly hungry.

Be smart, be healthy

Funniest Ways to Answer “Does This Make Me Look Fat?”

If you ever had one of these answer directed at you, it may be time to consider doing something about losing weight.


Question... "Does this make me look fat?"....

Answers:
“Hold on a second, there’s a fat chick blocking my view.”

“Nah, you just have really relaxed muscles.”

“No, the dress fabric must be really thick.”

“Uh, no hablo ingles”

“No, I just have my eyes set to widescreen mode.”

“You’re just festive!”

“No, but your mom is.”

“That depends… do I look stupid?”

“No! You’re glowing! When are you due?”

Work your core

Everyone wants flatter abs, and a lot of people try to “spot reduce” by doing ab exercises to try to get them. The problem is, you aren’t going to lose fat from your midsection by doing 1,000 crunches. It’s just not going to happen.
What I like to do instead is Core Exercises. You see, you need to achieve overall fat loss before you will see the results you want around your abs. In order to do this, you need more complete workouts. By doing core exercises, you will find that you are working more than just your abs, which are very small muscles compared to most others in your body. By working larger muscles, and muscle groups, you are far more likely to see the fat loss results you are aiming for.

7 Reasons Core Exercises are good for your personal training routine:
1.Core exercises improve your balance and stability
2.Core exercises don’t require specialized bulky equipment
3.Core exercises can help tone your abs
4.Stronger core muscles make it easier to do almost all other physical activities
5.Core exercises can be done at your own pace
6.Core exercises can be done from the comfort of your own home
7.Core exercises can help you reach plenty of your other fitness goals

Now it’s time for the workout. Perform the following as a giant set. A giant set means you go from one exercise to the next with no rest between exercises. After the last exercise (double crunch), rest 1-2 minutes and repeat. Perform 3 total giant sets for as many reps as possible on each exercise.
Breathe freely and deeply during each exercise. Focus on tightening your deepest abdominal muscle — the transversus abdominis — during each exercise. This is the muscle you feel contracting when you cough.

FITBALL CRUNCH
Start – From a seated position on the ball, walk your feet out until the ball is fully supporting your mid to lower back region. Cross your arms over your chest or place your finger tips lightly on the sides of your head.
Movement – Contracting the abdominals, raise your upper body about half way up until you feel a full contraction. Slowly return to the starting position.
Key points – Exhale while raising your body. Inhale while returning to the starting position. Be sure to keep your head and neck relaxed.
Caution – The ball should not roll forward and back – it should remain stationary. For added support spread your feet wide the first time you try the exercise.


REVERSE AB CURL
This exercise is for the lower abdominal region and is very challenging.
Place all your focus on the lower abdominal area contracting. It may be difficult to initially concentrate on the area, but once you master the movement with the correct mental concentration, you’ll really feel the area being worked
Start - Begin on your back on a mat with your back relaxed and your hands on the floor by your hips. Raise your legs into the air and focus on keeping your upper back pressed into the floor throughout the exercise.
Movement – Contracting your abs, raise your butt and gently roll your hips off the floor, stopping when you feel a full contraction of your abdominals and can no longer lift your hips. Slowly return to the starting position and repeat.
Key points – Exhale while lifting your hips. Inhale while returning to the starting position.
Caution – Do not swing your legs.


BICYCLE MANEUVER
Research consistently rates the Bicycle Maneuver as one of the most effective abdominal exercises.
Start – Lie on your back on a mat keeping your lower back in a comfortable position. Place your finger tips lightly on the sides of your head and lift your knees up to about a 45 degree angle.
Movement - Slowly go through a bicycle pedaling motion alternating your left elbow to your right knee, then your right elbow to your left knee.
Key points – Your legs and shoulders should remain elevated from the floor during this exercise and the lower to the ground that your legs bicycle the harder your abs have to work.
Caution – Do not pull on your head and neck during this exercise. Do not perform this activity if it puts any strain on your lower back.


DOUBLE CRUNCH
I like the double crunch exercise because if performed correctly, you can isolate the lower and upper region of the abdominals. Please note, contrary to popular belief, we do not have separate upper and lower abs.
Start – Lie on the floor face up. Bend your knees until your legs are at a 45 degree angle with both feet on the floor. Your back should be comfortably relaxed on the floor. Place your finger tips lightly on the sides of your head or have your hands crossed over your chest.
Movement - Contracting your abdominals, raise your head and legs off the floor toward one another. Slowly return to the starting position stopping just short of your shoulders and feet touching the floor.
Key points – Exhale while rising up. Inhale while returning to the starting position.
Caution – Keep your eyes on the ceiling to avoid pulling with your neck. Your hands should not be used to lift the head or assist in the movement.

Pain is relative

TIPS FOR HEALTHY EATING HABITS

1. Avoid processed foods. Of all the healthy eating tips, this is the most important! Processed foods are chock full of unhealthy things such as hydrogenated oils, trans fats, high fructose corn syrup and excessive amounts of sodium. By preparing fresh foods yourself you can control the amount of fat, sugar and sodium you take in.


2. Eat moderate portions. Serving sizes have gotten huge in recent years, to the point where you can get all your calories for one day in a single meal. Plates and cups are much larger, resulting in portion distortion. You think you're eating the same amount you always have, but it is actually another 50 to 150 calories more per meal that you are taking in, which can result in major weight gain. Don't ever “supersize” anything you order. Use smaller plates, it creates the illusion that you are eating more food


3. Eat slower. Taking time to savor a meal allows you to really taste and enjoy the food you're eating, allowing you to eat less. And since it takes about 20 minutes to feel full after eating, the slower you do it the less you'll end up overeating.

4. Don't eat when you're stressed. When under stress your digestion comes to a near standstill and it can trigger digestive upsets. If you are must eat under stress, make it something easily digestible such as fruits of vegetables.

5. Eat many small meals rather than three large ones. This avoids spiking your insulin levels, allowing your metabolism to stay more even throughout the day. It also will help keep you from stuffing yourself on unhealthy snacks or sweets since people have a habit to crave those things when they are “starving”.

Ignore the scale

Yes, it's important to keep up with your weight to know your progress, to avoid major weight gain.
But it's even more important to know your BMI, your body fat and visceral fat.

Weight loss is not just about losing pounds. You need to lose visceral fat and body fat to become healthier. And losing body fat will make you shrink into those skinny pants much faster.

Fins a good scale that will do those analysis for you. If you can't afford one, go to your local doctor or gym and ask if they can measure it for you.

Be smart, become healthy!!!