Beach body countdown: how to get in shape for summer

With holiday season upon us, we've enlisted the experts to help you achieve your summer body goals...

 

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© Micah Camara, http://bit.ly/ZhVqjk, CC BY-NC-ND

According to the experts at The Dukan Diet HQ, today - 23rd May - is the day people finally get serious about their beach body countdown, as it's exactly two months until most people head off on their summer holiday.

Worried that there isn’t enough time to shed pounds and develop a lean, gorgeous physique worthy of even the skimpiest bikini? Fear not.

With hard work and determination, it can be done - or so say the experts. All that’s needed is a few adjustments to your diet and workout programme. We asked a group of leading nutritionists and personal trainers for their indispensable rules on getting fit for summer – you'll find their top tips below.

Let the beach body countdown commence...

Eat fat-burning foods

The more muscle you have on your body, the faster your metabolism. Most of us are aware of this rule, but did you also know that the foods you eat also give your metabolic rate a kick?

Nutrition Consultant Claire Harper (thenutritionguide.co.uk), says: “Foods to burn fat are those that raise metabolism, such as seaweed and kelp which contain iodine, an important mineral for the thyroid gland, which controls our metabolic rate.

"Also, eat foods that open blood vessels, delivering energy and nutrients to the cells; green tea, chilli and ginger. "Lean meat is also helpful for two reasons: it takes more energy to digest meat than carbs and also meat helps us build muscle, meaning you burn more calories at rest.”

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Raise the intensity

Slow, boring runs round your favourite running track may keep your fitness ticking over, but it will do little to help you shred fat and fit into your bikini. To really tone up, you need to do faster, more intense sessions.

Personal trainer Jacob Nadav says: “Focus on high tension resistance exercise (either heavy weights or slow bodyweight exercises), followed by High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) and then by 15 minutes of steady cardio. HIIT is very effective for two reasons: the rapid increase and heart rate and blood pressure forces the body to work anaerobically for short bursts of time and can help break down fat and prepare it to be burned. Secondly, the heart rate slows down faster than blood pressure after every sprint, forcing a situation where the heart pushes a lot of blood with less contractions, effectively making the heart muscle stronger.”

Cut down on the carbs

In fact, refined carbs (white pasta, bread, rice) should go completely. Nadav puts it in simple terms: “Any diet with too many carbs will make it harder to lose weight.” Next!

Roberta R via Flickr

© Roberta R, http://bit.ly/123tp0K, CC BY-NC-ND

Don’t think you don’t have enough time

Summer is just around the corner, but don’t let that be your excuse for not trying.

Trainer and fat loss expert Gavin Walsh (walshthefataway.com) says: “For someone who is committed to the cause, two months is certainly plenty of time. Although, it really depends on what sort of shape and weight loss we’re talking about to be beach ready.

"I’ve trained people who have lose over 20 pounds in four weeks just with body weight exercises and a diet that avoids processed food, wheat, refined sugar, dairy, caffeine and alcohol. It’s not easy, but if someone is really serious about making a change, then they have plenty of time.”

Don’t obsess over calories...

Instead of getting your calculator out, instead consider whether you are eating the right kind of fuel.
Nadav says: “I’m not a firm believer in the calories in, calories out theory – our body is slightly more complex than that. The general diet advice would be more to focus on a good diet of unprocessed foods with a high ratio of protein and fats.”

...and don't fret about how often you hit the gym

It’s quality, not quantity, after all. And never overlook the fact that, regardless of how hard you train, you won’t shift any pounds unless your diet is in good shape.

Walsh says: “How often you train all depends on what shape you are or how much weight you want to lose. If someone only has seven pounds or so to lose then they would be able to get away with training just a few times a week.

"However, if a person has a stone or more to lose then I’d recommend 4-5 times a week, three tough sessions and two lighter recovery sessions.

" I do have to point out that training more won’t help necessarily if you haven’t changed your diet. To get the best results possible you’ve got to do both and, in all honesty, what you eat is more important than how many times you train.”

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Crunches aren’t the answer!

Jessica Alba has been flashing off her washboard abs a lot lately, and naturally you’ll need to do endless crunches and sit-ups to get your own set, right? Wrong!

Walsh explains: “It’s a common misconception that doing sit-ups will cut through belly fat to reveal a finely-tuned six-pack.

"Unfortunately, losing belly fat doesn’t work this way. If you’ve still got a large layer of fat over the top you won’t see them.

"To really take a step forward you need to do some form of resistance training, whether that is in the gym or at home with dumbbells or barbells. Interval training also works well in terms of burning extra calories and elevating your metabolism for several hours after a workout.”

Eat clean for a month

‘Clean’ eating is the new thing – but don’t mistake it for a fad.

Walsh explains: “I recommend cutting out wheat, processed foods, alcohol, caffeine and dairy for four weeks and then accessing the results so far. This is known as clean eating and gives your body a detox that allows your hormones to get back on track.

"Think of it as resetting your hormones, so that they can help you find your natural bodyweight and shape. If your goal is to drop a considerable amount of weight it’s worthwhile calculating your calories maintenance level and reducing this by 20-30%. As you lose weight each week, this will need to be re-calculated as the maintenance level will drop with the weight loss.”

Do this workout...

Don’t forget, someone somewhere who is far busier than you is out working up a sweat, so don’t use time as an excuse. But if you’re really pushed, try incorporating the Tabata principle into your programme a few times a week.

Walsh says: “One of the easiest and most effective methods is to use Tabata. This involves exercising hard for 20 seconds followed up by a 10 second rest for a period of 4 minutes.

"You can change the exercises as and when you wish to but a good full body workout would look something like this: jumping jacks, squats, desk/table press-ups, lunges, plank and burpees.
"Rest one minute after each exercise and do as many reps as you can in each 20 second period. Trust me, it’s harder than it sounds.”

Source: http://style.uk.msn.com/health/beach-body-countdown-how-to-get-in-shape-for-summer

5 Exercises To Reduce Cellulite And Burn Fat Off Your Thighs And Butt

Several factors that contribute to the development of cellulite include gender, genetics, hormonal imbalances, fluid retention, diet choices, and the natural elasticity of the skin. Cellulite is the unsightly dimply appearance of the skin that is caused by deposits of fat cells accumulated in the connective tissue. Unlike other fat deposits within the body, cellulite tends to dimple and pucker the skin because it is just below the surface. Men rarely develop cellulite, yet it is thought that approximately 90% of women experience it to some degree. So what can we do, how can we get rid of cellulite?

Investing in expensive creams that claim to cure cellulite, or spending a ton of money for liposuction procedures are not the answers for getting rid of cellulite. There are several measures you can take to improve the appearance of cellulite or even banish it. The key factors that really work to improve cellulite are getting your hormones in balance by keeping estrogen levels down, improving blood circulation, reducing fluid retention, eliminating certain foods that contribute to cellulite, and eating the right foods that help to eliminate it. Exercise can also play an important role in helping to achieve a firmer, smoother look that will also improve the appearance of cellulite trouble spots. Here we discuss some helpful exercises to get rid of cellulite.

These exercises can be done in just 20 minutes per day , and are recommended three times per week. The targeted ares to work on include the stomach, hips, and thighs. Begin with a cardiovascular warm up for two minutes to get the blood pumping. This can include moderate paced walking stair climbing, or cycling either on an indoor machine or outdoors. Gradually pick up the pace and work at an increased intensity for approximately eight minutes, gradually slowing things downs for a two minute cool down.

Next, work on a little strength training by doing one set of repetitions with a weight that is not too heavy, but heavy enough to give the muscles a workout. Do each of the following exercises for ten to fifteen repetitions: the Dumbbell Squat, lunges, advanced step-up, Scissors Press, and the inner thigh squeeze. As your strength begins to increase over time, challenge yourself by holding the repetitions for a longer period of time.

It is important that after each type of strength training exercise, to then stretch out each muscle you just worked for a period of twenty seconds. Then, move onto the next strength training exercise. When you have completed each strength exercise, stretch out your body by doing the butterfly stretch when the entire exercise routine is completed.

Keep in mind that these exercises to get rid of cellulite will only go so far in helping to reduce the dimpled look of cellulite. Eating properly, maintaining a healthy weight, and working to improve circulation will all go a long way towards getting rid of cellulite. By learning more about how to get rid of cellulite, you can look forward to getting rid of that unwanted dimpling, and looking good and feeling good about yourself again. For more information, check out cellulitefactor.com.
                   

Breakfast: Your Secret Weapon

Start every day with a satisfying breakfast to help set you up and keep you feeling full until your next meal.

 

Eating breakfast could help you reduce snacking and avoid overeating later in the day. According to Professor G. Harvey Anderson, a specialist in Nutritional Sciences, there is evidence to suggest that breakfast eaters weigh less than people who skip breakfast.

Food is fuel

Eating breakfast is like filling up on an empty petrol tank. When you wake up in the morning, your body is low on fuel, like a car running on empty, explains diet expert Kathleen Zelman. The idea is to choose foods that will kick-start your engine by:

• Giving your body energy to run on.
  
• Possibly preventing you from overeating later in the day.

Not enough incentive? Try this food for thought: If you skip breakfast, you're often more inclined to make up for it the rest of the day, warns Zelman.

In fact, if you're a classic 'snacker', eating breakfast can help you avoid those impulse munchies. In fact, a 1992 study suggests that skipping breakfast can often result in eating more to 'make up for it' throughout the rest of the day.

"The ideal breakfast is based on carbohydrate and protein," says Anderson, who is currently researching the food combinations that make up the most satisfying meals. He believes that the most satisfying breakfasts work two ways, rapidly raising blood sugar levels for a quick burst of energy, followed by a longer term energy boost from high fibre, complex-carbohydrate, protein-containing foods that are more slowly digested.

Of course, if you love fresh fruit or sweet cereals, you can still include them in your breakfast. For example, you can mix a handful of your favourite cereal with a carton of low fat yogurt and some fruit, such as apricots or blackcurrants. If you have a blender, you can make delicious smoothies with fruit, such as bananas, and skimmed milk. Or how about:

• Grilled back bacon and tomato slices, on brown toast, half a bagel or a muffin.
  
• Delicious grilled kippers.
  
• Hard-boiled or scrambled eggs (or egg whites) with a couple of crispbreads.
  
• Low-fat yogurt.
  
• A banana and a small handful of peanuts or almonds.

No time for breakfast?

Excuse: I don't have time to make myself breakfast, so I have to eat croissants from the café or chocolate from the vending machine...

If you're in a rush in the morning, how about a packed breakfast? Try a hard boiled egg (make up a batch one evening while you're making dinner, cheese triangles or fresh fruit or those dinky little packets of raisins or dried apricots. And for those times when you really can't stop, keep a stash of Weight Watchers Snack Bars in your desk drawer or glove compartment.

Excuse: I just can't eat before 1pm.

You don't have to eat breakfast at the crack of dawn if you don't feel like it. As long as you eat within several hours of waking up you'll be fine and many people prefer 'elevenses' anyway. If you can't stomach much, try a few grapes, half a glass of fruit juice or a plain crispbread. After a few days, your body might naturally look forward to its morning wake-up call and you can try more substantial meals.

Excuse: I would like to eat breakfast but am afraid it will put my hunger into overdrive.

Don't worry about this - research suggests that the opposite is true. Many people experience less erratic eating patterns (like mid-afternoon and after-dinner munchies) when they eat several small snacks and meals throughout the day. There's more good news, according to Anderson. In addition to being slimmer, people who eat several small, nutritious meals are often healthier than those who eat one or two big meals per day.

Source: http://www.weightwatchers.co.uk/util/art/index_art.aspx?tabnum=1&art_id=4491&sc=3027

Top Tips For Eating Out!

Eating out may seem like a tricky proposition when you're trying to lose weight, but a night out doesn't have to mean a night off your plan.

 

Be prepared
If you're starving hungry when you get to the restaurant you're more likely to order an option that you may not otherwise. Have a bowl of zero ProPoints value soup to take the edge off your hunger before you head out.
If you're not familiar with the restaurant, look up their menu online before going out.
Remember you have your weekly ProPoints allowance of 49 for special occasions just like this!

Start off on the right foot
Order a bowl of soup before your meal — not a creamy soup, but a stock-based vegetable or French onion. It will be satisfying and can keep you from eating more than you planned.
Start with a side salad (minus bacon, cheese and croutons). Ask for low fat or fat free dressing or balsamic vinegar on the side; and be sure to dip your fork into the dressing, then into the salad.

Have it your way
Know what you want to eat before you get there and stick to that order.
Avoid anything fried.
Ask for dressings, sauces, butter and sour cream on the side, instead of on the dish itself.
Choose lighter fare like marinara sauce rather than Alfredo.
Order dishes containing plenty of Filling & Healthy foods. "Even if it's pizza, make it a slice loaded up with veggies," says one Community User. "Or a vegetable omelette instead of a cheese one, or fruit salad instead of pastry."
Adapt your order and ask for substitutions. "My favourite salad at my local cafe comes with fried chicken," says another Community User. "But I always request it with grilled chicken. I think it tastes better and it cuts down the ProPoints values."

Manage your size
If you're eating at a buffet, survey the food items before you put anything on your plate. Remind yourself that you're eating to be satisfied, not to get your money's worth.
If the portions are large, why not ask if you can get a smaller portion of the item you order. If not, ask for a takeaway box with the meal. Before you start to eat, put half the meal in the box.
Split your main course with the person you're with. If you have the impulse to finish everything on your plate, it's better to not have all that food in front of you.
If you know the portions are larger than you want to eat, order a starter as your main course. Source: http://www.weightwatchers.co.uk/util/art/index_art.aspx?tabnum=3&art_id=29341&sc=3030

Top 10 Cooking Basics

You don't have to be a domestic diva to be able to cook your own healthy, delicious meals. Follow our top 10 tips for kitchen success.

With our 10 basic tips for using the greatest kitchen techniques, you'll be well on your way to success.

Tip 1. Invest in a set of cookware that has a non-stick finish. This will enable you to prepare foods with little or no added fat. In addition, you'll want to pick up some cooking spray, so you can coat your cookware with it for even less sticking potential.

Tip 2. Prepare meat, poultry and fish using low fat cooking methods such as broiling, grilling and stir-frying. And remember that both fresh and frozen vegetables taste great either steamed or cooked in a microwave.

 

Tip 3. Marinate meat, poultry, and fish in low fat marinades such as salsa, teriyaki sauce, orange juice or Dijon mustard. Marinades add lots of flavour without the addition of fat.

Tip 4. Fresh or dried herbs are excellent substitutes for butter or oil; their addition only adds flavour to your recipes. Try adding dill to steamed carrots, saffron to brown rice, corriander to baked fish and ginger to stir-fried chicken.

Tip 5. Remove the skin from chicken or turkey before you cook it. This is a great way to ensure your choice of meat is lean and healthy.

Tip 6. Skim and discard fat from hot soups, stews, or chilies. Or chill the soup, stew, or chili and skim off the solid fat that forms at the top.

Tip 7. For most recipes, you can trim the amount of fat called for by 25 to 50 percent without affecting taste or quality. For example, substituting skimmed milk for whole milk in mashed potatoes still makes for creamy comfort food. You'll be surprised how delicious soups can be without cream, or how good your vegetable casserole tastes made with reduced fat cheese.

Tip 8. Add a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg instead of sugar to fruit cups or beverages to help increase the sweetness.

Tip 9. Replace one-quarter to one-half of the ground meat or poultry in a casserole with cooked brown rice, or cooked and chopped dried beans. You'll cut back on fat and boost fibre.

Tip 10. Instead of flour, cornstarch or cream, try thickening sauces, gravy and stews with puréed potatoes.

Source: http://www.weightwatchers.co.uk/util/art/index_art.aspx?tabnum=1&art_id=45251&sc=3017

Fried Scorpions On California Restaurant Menu

A Californian restaurant is serving up stir-fried crickets, ants, scorpions and silk worm larvae on its menu.

http://video.uk.msn.com/?mkt=en-gb&vid=15c160b2-7727-49bc-b14f-3bbb6c0df883&from=sharepermalink&src=v5:share:sharepermalink:uuids

Ruby Tuesday's Chicken Quesadillas

Ingredients:
5 oz. chicken breast
Italian Dressing
12 inch flour tortilla
margarine
1 cup shredded monterey jack/cheddar cheese
1 Tablespoon tomatoes, diced
1 Tablespoon jalapeno peppers, diced
Cajun Seasoning (to taste)
1/2 cup shredded lettuce
1/4 cup diced tomatoes
Sour Cream
Salsa

Place chicken breast in a bowl with enough Italian dressing to
coat; allow to marinate 30 minutes, refrigerated. Grill marinated
chicken until done in a lightly oiled pan. Cut into 3/4" pieces
and set aside.

Brush one side of tortilla with margarine and place in frying pan
over medium heat. On one half of tortilla, add cheese,
1 Tbls. tomatoes, peppers, and Cajun seasoning in that order. Make
sure to spread to the edge of the half. Top with diced chicken,
fold empty tortilla side on top, and flip over in pan so that
cheese is on top of chicken. Cook until very warm throughout.

Remove from pan to serving plate and cut into six equal wedges
on one side of plate. On the other side put lettuce, topped with
1/4 cup tomatoes, and then topped with sour cream. Serve your
favorite salsa in a small bowl on the side.
Source: http://www.recipesecrets.net/forums/recipe-exchange/7954-ruby-tuesdays-chicken-quesadillas.html

Can I Really Lose Weight With Subliminal MP3s?

Are you forever on a journey to lose weight? Perhaps you get on the scales and you haven't lost half as much weight as you wanted, or perhaps you cheat a little and have a meal you shouldn't. Before long you are on a slippery slope back to your old habits, and soon the cycle starts again.

Does this happen to you?

Many people fall into this pattern, but don't fully realize why, and sadly only a few ever stop the cycle and lose the weight. They tell themselves it was the diet's fault, or lie to themselves about it being their fault. However, the true reason lies with them - within their mind. In the ways of thinking and patterns of behavior they have conditioned into themselves into over the years..

If you are constantly struggling to lose weight and keep it off then you probably have long established beliefs and ways of thinking deep within your subconscious mind which are vastly different from people who seem to "naturally" stay slim. They will think in a different way about food, for example they don't desire as much high fat foods, or chocolate and cakes, they eat a regular balanced diet and they stop eating when they become full. Often they hold different beliefs towards exercise and fitness too - it is not a boring or painful activity for them, they love exercising, and it is just a regular part of their life.

Imagine the difference that having this belief system would make to your life - not only that but you would also easily keep the weight off and stay at a healthy weight level too.

Subliminal messaging is a safe and natural way of targeting the negative beliefs in your subconscious mind - beliefs which are holding you back in your ability to lose weight, and sabotaging your success. Subliminal messages are most commonly used in audio format. As the messages enter your subconscious mind (without you even noticing) they gradually replace these negative beliefs for positive ones - the same sort of beliefs which are shared by these people who are naturally slim and healthy; people who have healthy attitudes towards eating and exercise.

Are you ready to break free from your limiting beliefs today with the world's most powerful weight loss subliminal album.

How To Get Fit In Seven Simple Steps!

Getting in shape doesn’t have to be confusing. In fact, working exercise into your daily routine has never been simpler. Here are seven tips to get you moving.

There’s no two ways about it – if you want to drop a few pounds or boost your general fitness, then you’re going to have to get active. But with so few hours in the day, you have to find and stick to that time in the day when fitting workouts work the best for you.

Step 1
For many of us, this is the last thing on our mind when we wake up in the morning, but fitness experts all agree that starting your day with a quick workout does wonders for your overall health and fitness. Whether it’s walking the dog, going for a run or doing a circuit at home, getting your exercise in early fires up your metabolism for the rest of the day and will even help you sleep better.
Jacob Nadav, personal trainer (neatbodies.com) says: “Start every morning with 10 push-ups and a one minute plank. Not only will you get fitter, you will feel more awake and sharper during the day.”

Step 2
And instead of standing there yawning away while the kettle boils, get your legs working. Stand against a wall with your feet a few inches apart, then lower yourself down to a 90-degree angle, and try to hold for as long as it takes the kettle to boil. If you’re really up for getting that blood pumping, add some jumping jacks into the mix before you hop in the shower.

Once you begin to feel fitter you can up the number of reps for all of these exercises, but it’s important to keep a note of what you’ve been doing so you can track your progress. The Excel Exercise Planner template in Office 365 is easy to download and allows you to enter your short and long term goals so you can keep tabs on your diet and activities using your smartphone, tablet or home computer, wherever you are.

Microsoft

Step 3
Even if you’re chained to your desk most of the day, there’s still hope! Nadav says: “Get out of your chair. Sitting is your greatest enemy when it comes to being fit. You could prevent so many problems down the line if you made an effort to stand.

“If you have to sit, try and see if you can replace your chair with a stability ball.” If you’re too self-conscious of the latter, or too scared of falling off, then just making sure you get up to take short walks to the loo or around your office building every half hour or so can really add up.

Step 4
Which leads us onto our next tip - for extra motivation, you can share literally thousands of photos of your progress with friends and family using Office 365’s SkyDrive. By making other people part of your mission to get in shape, you’ll find you have loads of friends and family offering up encouragement, plus you won’t want to let them down by slacking off.

Step 5
During lunch or on your way home, a few extra steps will go a long way. “Don’t look for the shortest route,” says Nadav. “Make an effort to go the extra mile when walking anywhere. New research shows that targeting more steps (rather than setting a time target) is going to get you fitter.”
Office 365’s OneNote is a particularly useful tool if you want to keep motivation close at hand – use it to keep a note of your favourite walking routes, as well as a new healthy restaurant you want to try and even inspirational fitness videos you’ve stumbled upon. That way, whatever device you’re using – smartphone, tablet or home computer – all your notes are easily accessible from anywhere.

Step 6
Once you’re back at your home, try a quick bout of Isometrics to strengthen your arms. Nadavs says: “Cross your hands and push them against each other as hard as you can. Isometrics (from iso/equal and metrics/length) is a form of exercise that can add strength like nothing else, perhaps even more than weightlifting.

“It’s done by maximizing tension in muscles and is completely static. It’s important to only do them for up to 12 seconds while breathing slowly out. Take your time to read and learn how to do them correctly as they do raise your blood pressure.”

Getty Images

Step 7
Or, instead of crashing on the sofa at the end of a hard day, strengthen your core by following this simple tip. Nadav explains: “For core and balance training, start washing your teeth, drinking water or tidying up your closet while standing on one leg. To spice things up even more, start bending the lifted leg back and move it in space to challenge your core.”

You should aim to exercise five times a week for around 30 minutes or more – so these tips are just the beginning. But by following them, you’ll feel like you’re getting started for a fitter, leaner you.
Source: http://lifestyle.uk.msn.com/advertorials/office-365/how-to-get-fit-in-seven-simple-steps-1

Dieter's dream... the pizza that's 'healthier than a salad' and contains all 47 of the nutrients we need!

If you thought you had to cut out pizza when it comes to a diet, think again.
This one claims to be better for you than a salad. Created by a professor of human nutrition, it is billed as the world’s healthiest pizza – and the only ready meal that is nutritionally balanced.

The Eat Balanced pizza, which comes in three flavours, incorporates vitamin and mineral-rich ingredients such as ground seaweed and red pepper into its flour base and tomato sauce.

Dieting alternative: The Eat Balanced pizza claims to be healthier than a salad

Hidden ingredients: The pizzas are so to contain all 47 nutrients that human body needs in the right amounts

The range was dreamt up by obesity expert Professor Mike Lean amid concerns that supermarket ready meals and pizzas fail to meet our body’s demands.

For instance, many pizzas are high in salt and fat but lack vital vitamins and minerals. Vitamin C, in particular, is likely to be low.
In contrast the frozen Eat Balanced pizzas, which went on sale in England and Wales this week, have been carefully created to contain each of the 47 nutrients essential for health – and in the right amounts.
 

 

Professor Lean, who spoke at the European Congress on Obesity in Liverpool, this week, said: ‘This is the only nutritionally-balanced ready meal anywhere. ‘Nobody has previously designed a meal which has got everything in the right proportions. I’m pretty proud of it.’

Shop-bought salads tend to be low in protein and high in carbohydrates and fat, while a range of key vitamins and minerals are missing all together. Professor Lean, of Glasgow University, said: ‘Find me a salad that matches up to the Eat Balanced pizza. I haven’t been able to find one yet.’

To turn a pizza into a perfect meal, the professor brainstormed with Donnie Maclean, an entrepreneur looking for new business ventures. Mr Maclean came up with the idea of using seaweed, collected from Hebridean beaches, to provide the vitamins and minerals missing from the average pizza.

 

 

The seaweed, which is ground up and added to the part-wholemeal flour base, is rich in iron, zinc, vitamin B 12 and iodine.

Its gritty taste also means that only a tiny amount of salt need be added to the mix. To make a pizza with vitamin C, the pair added a tiny amount of ground red pepper to the tomato sauce. Tomatoes are low in the vitamin but it is plentiful in red peppers. The cheese used is simply normal mozzarella and the calorie count is 600 – roughly a third of a person’s daily intake.

Each pizza also contains roughly a third of the recommended daily amount of each nutrient needed for health and tests have had positive results. Professor Lean said: ‘You are not sitting on the seats of Sorrento eating it. It is a frozen pizza but it tastes, smells and looks as good as any other frozen pizza.’ At around £3.50 it is, however, slightly more expensive than some other 9-inch pizzas.

The Eat Balanced range has been on sale in Scotland for several months and has just become available to English and Welsh shoppers, through Ocado.

Those who are tempted will be glad to know that they can eat three of the pizzas a day and be perfectly nutritionally balanced.

Dieters, however should limit themselves to two pizzas. Dr Maria Bryant, of the UK Association for the Study of Obesity, warned that seaweed is an acquired taste. She added: ‘I support the move towards improving existing foods that are very popular but I am not sure that eating two or three pizzas a day would be the best approach.’

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2325265/Dieters-dream--pizza-thats-healthier-salad-contains-47-nutrients-need.html

Coca-Cola Recipe Found? Cliff Kluge, Antiques Hunter, Claims To Have Landed On The Real Deal (VIDEO)

Cliff Kluge, a Georgia resident who loves finding and selling antiques, thinks he may have stumbled on a huge treasure: a copy of Coca-Cola's top secret recipe. Kluge and his wife, Arlene, purchased a set of papers from an recent estate. Among them, the soda recipe from 1943.
Kluge believes the recipe is from Coca-Cola because of several "clues" within the paper, such as direct references to Coke. Additionally, it is very similar to a recipe for Coca-Cola that the radio program "This American Life" discovered in 2011.
Kluge has posted the paper on eBay for a starting bid of five million dollars, or a "Buy Now" price of 15 million dollars. So far, there aren't any takers.
So is it the real thing? Coca-Cola hasn't directly responded to Kluge. Ted Ryan, the archivist for Coca-Cola told Atlanta's WXIA station that he believes the recipe is a formula for a "cola-type drink" but not Coca-Cola.


Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/13/coca-cola-recipe-found_n_3268844.html

Only One Pound!

Hello, do you know me? If you don't, you should. I'm a pound of fat, And I'm the HAPPIEST pound of fat that you would ever want to meet.

Want to know why? It's because no one ever wants to lose me; I'm ONLY ONE POUND, just a pound!

Everyone wants to lose three pounds, five pounds, or fifteen pounds, but never only one. So I just stick around and happily keep you fat. Then I add to myself, ever so slyly, so that you never seem to notice it.

That is, until I've grown to ten, twenty, thirty or even more pounds in weight. Yes, it's fun being ONLY ONE POUND OF FAT, left to do as I please.

So, when you weigh in, keep right on saying, "Oh, I only lost one pound." For you see, if you do this, you'll encourage others to keep me around because they'll think I'm not worth losing.

And, I love being around you - your arms, your legs, your chin, your hips and every part of you. Happy Days!!! After all, I'm ONLY ONE POUND OF FAT!!!

Don't Quit

When you've eaten too much and you can't write it down, And you feel like the biggest failure in town. When you want to give up just because you gave in, and forget all about being healthy and thin. So What! You went over your points a bit, It's your next move that counts...So don't you quit!

It's a moment of truth, it's an attitude change. It's learning the skills to get back in your range. It's telling yourself, "You've done great up till now.

You can take on this challenge and beat it somehow."It's part of your journey toward reaching your goal. You're still gonna make it, just stay in control.

To stumble and fall is not a disgrace, If you summon the will to get back in the race. But, often the struggler's, when loosing their grip, Just throw in the towel and continue to slip. And learn too late when the damage is done, that the race wasn't over...they still could have won.

Lifestyle change can be awkward and slow, but facing each challenge will help you grow. Success is failure turned inside out, the silver tint in a cloud of doubt.

When you're pushing to the brink, just refuse to submit, If you bite it, you write it....But don't you quit!

I HAVE A MOUNTAIN TO CLIMB

I tried to climb the mountain today. As I inched my way up the path, I felt out of breath and had to turn back. I tried to climb the mountain today. But, It was so hot outside, I thought I had better stay in my nice air-conditioned house and rest up for tomorrow's attempt.

I tried to climb the mountain today. On my journey, darkness started to fall and I was full of fear, so I had to return to a safe place. I was ready to climb the mountain today. But I had so may other things to do, so instead of climbing the mountain I took care of the much more important tasks; I washed my car, mowed the grass and watched the big game. Today the mountain will have to wait.

I was going to climb the mountain today. But as I stared at the mountain in all it's majestic beauty, I knew I had no chance of making it to the top, so I figured why even begin trying. I had forgotten about climbing the mountain today, until an old friend came by and asked what I was up to lately. I told him about all my plans to climb that mountain someday. I went on and on about how I was going to accomplish the task.

He stopped me and said, "I just got back from climbing that mountain. for the longest time I told myself I was going to try to climb it but never made any progress." "I almost let the dream of making it to the top die. I came up with every excuse of why I could not make it up the mountain, but never once did I give myself a reason why I could. One day as I stared at the mountain and pondered, I realized that if I didn't make an attempt at this dream all my dreams would eventually die."

"The next morning, I started my climb. It was not easy, and at times I wanted to quit. But no matter what I faced, I placed one foot in front of the other, keeping a steady pace. When the wind tried to blow me over the edge, I kept walking. When the voices inside my head screamed, stop! I focused on my goal, never letting it out of sight. I kept moving forward. I could not quit because I knew I had come too far to stop now. Time and time again, I reassured myself that I was going to finish this journey. I struggled mightily to make it to the top, but I CLIMBED THE MOUNTAIN."

"I have to be going," my friend said. "Tomorrow is a new day to accomplish more dreams. By the way what are you going to do tomorrow?" I looked at him, with intensity and confidence in my eyes, and said, "I HAVE A MOUNTAIN TO CLIMB.