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The Curse of the Fast Food Franchise

October 11, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

Every single day millions of people adventure through the drive thru’s and doors of their local fast food franchise, allowing themselves to consume excess amounts of calories, saturated fats, carbohydrates, sodium and protein. Have you ever wondered how bad these locations can be for you, even though they try making us believe they aren’t? Trust me, we have! All those meals you think aren’t going to have any affect on your health, well time to live in reality people.

When a meal takes less time to make then it does for you to pay, it has to have something wrong with it. One fast food franchise millions of people go to throughout the entire world is McDonald’s. The overly popular franchise that seems to have gotten away with providing the public with unhealthy, fattening and quick meal options for too many years. Sure, it tastes good, but it doesn’t do you any good.fast food franchise

In amongst some well deserved research, we came across some information on how bad McDonald’s truly is for you. Now, everything has been broken down individually so that you can see exactly what you are consuming, and how much you are consuming. If you enjoy McDonald’s and don’t want to know, then I would not continue reading, but we feel you should.

Food Description: Big Xtra! with Cheese
Servings: 1 each
Calories: 810
Fat (gms): 55
Carbs (gms): 52
Protein (gms): 29

Food Description: French Fries
Servings: Small , Medium, Large, Super
Calories: 210, 450, 540, 610
Fat (gms): 10, 22, 26, 29
Carbs (gms): 26, 57, 68, 77
Protein (gms): 3, 6, 8, 9

Food Description: Coca-Cola Classic
Servings: Child, Small , Medium, Large, Super
Calories: 110, 150, 210, 310, 460
Fat (gms): 0, 0, 0, 0, 0
Carbs (gms): 29, 40, 58, 86, (doesn’t list for Super)
Protein (gms): 0, 0, 0, 0, 0

Now for a person that orders a Large Big Xtra! with Cheese Meal they will be consuming the following amounts:

  • Calories: 810+540+310 = 1660
  • Fat (gms): 55+26+0= 81
  • Carbs (gms): 52+68+58= 178
  • Protein (gms): 29+8+0= 37

So that means you will be consuming a total of 1660 calories, 81 grams of fat, 178 grams of carbohydrates and 37 grams of protein all in one sitting. This is a very common meal that many order regularly, and the average person generally requires 2000 calories a day. This means, with one meal from McDonald’s, you are consuming almost an entire days worth of calories.

If you are someone that does this on a regular basis, your health is going to greatly minimize. The amount of energy you have to get through your days will rapidly decrease, your metabolism will diminish and your ability to burn calories will drop. This will in turn increase your chances at gaining excessive amounts of weight and make it much more difficult to burn off those calories.

Instead of eating from your local fast food franchise every time you are in a rush and unable to make a healthy meal, consider becoming apart of the Medifast Diet. This diet is a meal replacement diet that has quick, easy meals for you. You can instead eat a healthy, delicious meal that is good for you and make it in the same amount of time it would take you to go through a drive thru window for fast food. Put an end to your bad eating habits now!

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Can You Use Supplements for Fast Weight Loss?

October 11, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

Have you ever had an occasion  to be concerned with easy and fast weight loss? Most people can imagine a time when they’ve been concerned with their weight and have wanted a quick fix.The temptation to use over-the-counter weight-loss pills to lose weight fast is strong. Are these products safe and effective?Whatever the reason for wanting fast weight loss, turning to supplements has long been a temptation for many.  Can they really help you to shed pounds quickly  and safely?

What Are They?

Typically when it comes to fast weight loss, there are two types of weight loss supplements – those that raise metabolism and those which suppress the appetite. Both of these may contribute to fast weight loss, but is it healthy? Your metabolism of course is the rate at which you burn calories; a faster metabolism means that you’re burning calories more even when you’re at rest contributing to regular weight loss. When you exercise your body has demands put upon it and it works after your activity is over to meet those demands. In other words, it continues to work even after you stop exercising to help repair muscles and feed itself.

Raising the metabolism can work for fast weight loss and some supplements do just that. To what degree is unknown. Green tea and chromium are thought to help raise metabolism, although cannot be proven that they are completely safe. There are many supplements on the market  but how can companies sell potentially unsafe products? Dietary supplements and weight-loss aids aren’t subject to the same rigorous standards as are prescription drugs. Thus, they can be sold with limited proof of effectiveness or safety. Once a product is on the market, however, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) monitors its safety and can take action to ban or recall dangerous products. Protein is also used to help build muscle and in turn this can help with fast weight loss.

Appetite suppressants are available in abundance and over the counter. The issue here is the unknown effect appetite suppressants can have on your body. Even though there are some that are “recognized”, this truly only means they are marketed more than the others. Herbal weight loss supplements offer the “natural way” to loose weight, when the combination of ingredients can leave you dehydrated.

Of course not all supplements that promise fast weight loss are safe and effective. Some just contain caffeine and other stimulants and these do nothing but raise the heart rate and increase blood pressure. These are very dangerous and damaging and can lead to long-term problems. Excess amounts of caffeine can leave you irritable, unable to sleep and extremely anxious.   If you’re considering trying weight-loss pills, be sure to talk with your doctor, especially if you have health problems or take prescription drugs. Why? For one thing, your doctor can provide support and advice on losing weight, and can monitor your progress.

There is no “magic bullet” quick fix to weight loss. No  products will miraculously solve your weight problems. Keep in mind that even if you take a weight-loss pill, you still have to eat fewer calories than your body uses in order to lose weight.  Even if these products help you lose weight initially, you will probably have to keep taking them to keep the weight off, which may not be practical or safe.

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Diets That Work Fast for Women

October 8, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

In today’s society so much emphazies  is put on women to loose weight that it is everywhere we look.   A weight loss journey for a women is an entirely different process for a women and should be treated as such. When we  see a magazine cover even though we know we won’t look like the model on the cover, we still want to and set out to try.For those that aspire to loose even a few pounds it can be difficult. As women set out to lose weight , it can be a frustering  journey.

Take into Consideration…

Does it always seem that when you want to shed a few pounds your struggling and your husband can lose the same five pounds by just mentioning it? That usually is how it appears anyway.There are a number of factors to digest before you begin to loose weight. Not taking them into consideration may be the difference between success and failure. First factoring in your age shouldn’t be something to hide but something to acknowledge. Your age can play a big part in the stage your body is at, and how it will receive the exercise and nutrition you introduce. You must always consult your health care practitioner before you embark on any new diet and exercise routine.

Yes, Diet and Exercise!

There are no quick fixes or miraculous remedies to weight loss. The time old tradition of diet and exercise will always work. Some women though, try as they might, don’t get the result they are after. Why is that? Basically when you apply diet and exercise a women’s body will need more. Diets that work for women also include vitamin and mineral supplements. Women, due to childbearing, menses and hormonal imbalances will often lack very important nutrients. Dieting women should consume, at minimum, a multivitamin and mineral supplement.

What Else Should I Know?

What should a woman consider when searching for the right diet? Diets that work for women are higher in protein, lower in carbohydrates and promote the usage of vitamin supplements. The reason for this is because of the hormone estrogen. Estrogen is a very tricky hormone. With three types of estrogen being produced in the body at any given time, a slight imbalance in it will cause weight gain or the inability to drop weight.

What Should You Eat?

Women should also realize that often, it is not the amount of foods that you consume, but the types. All too often foods believed to be good for you, such as fat free and sugar free, are in fact no good for you at all. Just read the label and you will see for yourself. Snack cakes are fat free, this does not mean you should consume them instead of fresh foods or in abundance. Diets that work the best for women seem to be high in protein. Protein enables the body to burn the sugar stored in your body more efficiently. This prevents fat build up and helps with preventing diabetes. Protein also encourages lean muscle mass and proper functioning of your hormones.

It is easy to become discouraged and give up. Instead of opting out early on, do the research to ensure success. This may mean setting up weight loss plan with a nutritionist or your doctor to make sure your on the right track. Think of it this way, your already closer to success by even starting.

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Diet Plans to Lose Weight Fast

October 1, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

When wanting to lose weight, many of us  want to do so fast. The idea of waiting months to see noticeable results can be painstaking. The option most people go to is  a diet plan to lose weight fast. What you may ask is the best way? Well that’s a question open to interpretation. Is there really a best way to lose weight fast? It could be a more accurate question to ask, what will work effectively? This will always be determined by your body. Some can follow a diet to the exact direction and still see no progress. Without the proper guidance of how your body works, and what different things you can try, you may be left in the dark.

To Cleanse or Not to Cleanse, That is The Question….

Many of us now have heard about using a “cleanse” to detox your body and purify it. This process will inevitably cause you to shed some pounds by the virtue of the process. It will ensure you loose some weight, but likely will only shed your water retention. Now the key with cleanses is how they are used. Most cleanses are in a tea form, but be careful. Reading ingredients is crucial. Most of these cleanses are designed to promote rapid bowel activity. The idea here is to “cleanse” the body, excreting all the bad toxins. This act alone cause weight loss.

If done in conjunction with a balanced eating plan, and exercise regime you can expect to see long term results. This should be a package deal. Many find that because a cleanse can provide fast weight loss, they will continue to cleanse versus change their eating habit. This can cause seriouslong term effects. denying your body entirely of any food and nourishment will cause your body to start storing any intake into fat, in preparation for what the body deems as starvation.

Shake It?

Diet plans that use meal replacement shakes have generally shown results. Using shakes to replace breakfast and lunch, with intermittent snacking during two breaks in the day can prepare your bodies metabolism to kick into high gear. Eating a well balance supper  ensures you body is receiving three meals including all the recommended daily intakes of vitamins and proteins. Depending on your past eating habits, changing this alone will induce weight loss.  Metabolism slows as we age, which is alone difficult enough to combat. Couple that will lack of balanced meals and there you have. A weight gain recipe.

If you introduce proper nourishment, keep your appetite in check by providing your body snacks in between  meals, you should never over eat. A meal replacement shake is chalked full of the protein and fiber to make you feel full, thus never over eating your calories.

One, Two, Three….

Counting your calories. If you factor in your current weight and calorie intake, you can plan a diet to loose weight fast by cutting calories. Drastic weight loss can be achieve but simply slashing your calorie intake. Let’s say approximately you consume 3500 calories a day. Dividing that in half would severely curb your eating. Trying to consume only 1500 calories per day would provide a noticeable weight loss in ten days time.

There are many diet plans which offer fast weight loss. While there is the want to see fast results, the more important want should be to loose weight in a healthy manner. Diet plans which offer fast weight loss may use unhealthy means by which to do so. Read labels always, know what your putting into your body.

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Best Way to Lose Weight Fast

September 30, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

Is there really a best way to lose to weight? Some say that your body is predispositioned to genetics and therefore cannot be trained to loose weight. Losing weight is always  up to the individual  who sets out on this journey. To say there is one best way to loose weight can certainly be subjective. There is  one method that always seems to work when applied. Diet and exercise.

Most of us look for a quick fix when it comes to weight loss. We try to ignore the proven method for any number of reasons. It could be because the process doesn’t show results immediately. It could also be the lack of will power to eat healthy. The thought of daily exercise may be daunting to some, or  not appealing at all. Whatever the reason, failure is almost absolute if these methods are not adhere to. It may take some motivation and some routine to kick off the begining  of your journey, but giving it your all will gaurentee your success.

What Doctors Prescribe

Proper eating and a healthy lifestyle have been prescribed by doctors for decades.  Most rapid weight loss plans may in fact initially work. Usually once regular food is reintroduced you can expect to regain your weight. The reason diet and exercise is dubbed the “best way to loose weight” is because it not only tackles the weight loss issue, it also aides in weight management. Any avid dieter can tell you that once a few pounds are shed unless a drastic effort is made to change all the bad eating habits, the weight will come back. Adopting diet and exercise as a way of life instead of  a short term idea will allow you to loose the weight and keep it off.

Exploration of the term diet and exercise should be something that occurs once you decide to lose weight.  Many adaptations of diets are available almost everywhere. Instead of dieting, try researching healthy eating. Introducing fresh produce, legumes and various sources of protein. This can empower you to choose the meals that you prefer, and incorporate the snacks that are convenient to your life style. Eating three meals and day with two snacks is the the recommended daily food intake. Ensuring your body is always fueled allows it to burns calories instead of storing fat.

How Physical Activity Helps

Not all of us are marathon runners. Nor do we apsire to be. That is not the suggestion when asked to include physical activity into your everyday life. Something as simple as walking for thirty minutes three times a day can do the trick. Whether you prefer the great outdoors or are comfortable on a treadmill, excerise is the key. Once you progess is your weight loss, you can then get then find the workouts which will tone your muscles and increase your weight loss. Each persons preference  will be different. It may be based on your location, your lifestyle or simply what you enjoy more. Exercise should be a welcome addition to your life leaving your feeling refreshed and energized.

Whichever recipes you choose for your healthy eating, whichever exercise you choose for you outlet, be sure you enjoy yourself. Keeping your spirits high will  increase your chances of sticking to your new plan!

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Weight Loss Food – Recommended Foods for Losing Weight Fast

March 8, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

When one is consumed with a goal of weight loss, the generally look first to the food they are eating.   They must cut back on high-calorie foods that are rich in fat and sugar.   No more late-night stops for pizza or ice cream.   There are sacrifices to be made in this venture. There is a group of foods- mainly comprised of fruits and vegetables- that are said to contain negative calories.   These foods are said to be good for dropping pounds, but that is more because of the low amount of energy in these foods.   Some of these foods include asparagus, broccoli, cucumber, berries and watermelon. Other weight loss-friendly food includes those high in fiber.   This is because those items fill us up on less calories, and often take longer to eat.   Fiber also fills the stomach up faster which is why we get full on it faster than other types of foods.   Obviously, low-fat items are a good idea to consume when counting calories.   Since fat contains more than twice the amount of energy of carbohydrates or protein, eating less fat is a natural way to lower caloric intake.   Foods high in vitamin B often produce the desire to exercise. Other weight loss food that are beneficial are those with a high-water content, and it’s also important to drink plenty of water everyday.   We are supposed to ingest half of our pound weight in ounces.   This benefits dieters because thirst can sometimes be mistaken for hunger.   If we drink the correct amount of water, we will be less likely to feel hungry.

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How to Lose Weight Fast

March 4, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment

Losing weight doesn’t have to be hard. The real problem is that it requires a lot of hard work as well as dedication. Busy schedules make it difficult to exercise and spend time planning a healthy weight loss diet; they also make those “magic” diet pills or acai berry shakes tempting.

The weight loss industry makes hundreds of millions of dollars every year from people looking for weight loss help that doesn’t require any work. These companies constantly release fitness equipment and new “proven-to-work” diet pills and then promise magical cures to the obesity problem.

Once a person has been ripped off once or twice, he/she becomes immune to these types of advertisements/products and starts to seek out alternative weight loss tips. But for every person that catches on to these weight loss scams, there are ten more to fill his/her shoes.

You don’t need thousands of dollars worth of gym machines and diet pills to lose weight. Change your eating habits: avoid processed foods and fast food restaurants; eat fresh fruits and vegetables for snacks.

The truth is, you don’t need to buy any weight loss books to achieve your goal, you simply need these three simple tips:

  1. Eat healthier, smaller portions;
  2. Exercise more;
  3. Repeat steps 1 & 2.

Yes, it really is that simple. Failure comes from within ourselves. Once you’re finished reading our advice on how to tone up below, you’ll see how easy the process really is.

Weight Loss Tips

Start Now – This is probably one of the best advice you’re ever going to get. Don’t tell yourself that you’ll start tomorrow; procrastination is too easy. Go outside for a twenty-minute walk as soon as you finish reading this sentence. Now. Go.

Drink Water – Drink one or two glasses of water before meals, this will make you feel fuller so you won’t eat as much. Drinking water helps your body burn fat more effectively.

Set Clear Goals - Don’t just say you’re going to “get skinny”; set clear and specific dates of when you need to achieve your goal, as well as short-term weight goals. Make a bet with a friend or family member that you will lose xx pounds by a certain date and that you will pay him $100 if you don’t. Building incentives gives you motivation to stick with the program.

Breakfast – Skipping breakfast will actually hurt your weight loss efforts. Eating an early meal gives your metabolism a jump start for the rest of the day. It starts your motor and keeps it running all day, making your body work to burn fat.

Ways to Lose Weight Fast

Exercise – Exercising regularly is one of the easiest methods mentioned so far. Don’t push yourself too hard though. Start off slowly (walking 20 minutes per day) then slowly increase the amount of exercise you do as you become more fit.

Diet – Going on a crash diet won’t help you much in the long run, but a healthy diet definitely will. Research the various weight loss diets available online and once you find one that you like stick to it.

Medifast Diet can help you lose weight fast because it is a nationwide proven diet plan. There are many people who have used and have been successful with this meal replacement diet. Meal replacement diets provide you with meals that are already portioned; this means no more calorie counting, weighing, measuring, or stress!

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Fast Weight Loss Tips

March 4, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment


www.neuro-vector.com Fast Weight Loss Tips Discover 6 simple tips that will help you in your weight loss journey.

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This great Information about Slim Fast & Weight Loss

March 3, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment


The following article presents the very latest information on Slim Fast. If you have a particular interest in Slim Fast, then this informative article is required reading. See how much you can learn about Slim Fast when you take a little time to read a well-researched article? Don’t miss out on the rest of this great information. You may have seen one of the ever-present cans in the grocery store and been tempted to pick it up. Yet, you’re not sure whether Slim-Fast will be effective in helping you to lose weight. You should know that the Slim-Fast program is considered quite successful in the fight against fat—although not everyone is sold on the plan. Nearly thirty years ago, S. Daniel Abraham revolutionized weight loss programs with the Slim-Fast drink. According to the company website, Slim-Fast represents a sensible way to slim down. In fact, more than two dozen medical studies indicate that the diet program is a winning formula for losing weight. Slim-Fast is considered to be a nutritionally balanced plan, offering dieters proteins, carbohydrates, and a healthy amount of fat. One of the recommendations of the Slim Fast program is its convenience. You can drink on the run, enabling you to fit nutrition into your busy day. In addition, the program is considered far less expensive than other diet plans, particularly pre-packaged diet plans such as NutriSystem and Jenny Craig. Slim-Fast also now offers more variety. In addition to all the different flavors of shakes it offers, Slim-Fast also provides dieters with soup, pasta, and nutrition bars. In all, Slim-Fast now features more than a hundred different products. If you follow the Slim-Fast plan, you will need to eat three meals each day, along with three snacks made up of fruits and vegetables. Two of the meals and one snack must be made up of Slim-Fast products. Because of the frequency with which you’ll be eating, you shouldn’t suffer from hunger pains. One study actually showed that individuals who used Slim-Fast over a period of a decade were 33 pounds lighter than dieters were who did not use Slim-Fast products. Another advantage to the Slim-Fast program is that you don’t have to worry about counting calories, cooking meals, or figuring out portion sizes. Slim Fast has, in essence, done the work for you. Also, you can now choose between two different Slim-Fast programs: the Optima Diet and the Plan for a Low-Carb Lifestyle. The company’s website contends that the program is a proven weight loss tool. Dieters have had success in maintaining their weight over one to five years’ duration. A spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association has called the website “user-friendly. ” By visiting the site, you can be put in touch with registered dieticians who can answer your concerns. The website also offers a support group, which can be a critical factor in maintaining weight loss over the long term. Slim Fast goals as far as weight loss is concerned follow government guidelines. The idea is to lose ten percent of one’s weight over six months, meaning that one would shed no more than two pounds a week. Slim-Fast’s plan calls for only 30 minutes of exercise a day, which seems entirely doable. Dieters may also be inspired by the success stories posted on the company’s website. However, there are disadvantages to the Slim-Fast program. For instance, if you don’t like the taste of the shakes or food, you could find it difficult to continue with the meal plan. Also, some people report feeling hungry, despite eating the recommended portions of food. Slim-Fast, in essence, does the thinking for you, so, for the most part, you do not get the experience of shopping for wholesome food for yourself. You might also tire of the program quickly, causing you to gain back the weight you initially lost. While Slim Fast may be effective for the short-term, it is a difficult program to maintain for life. As a result, Slim-Fast gets mixed reviews even from members of the medical community. While some dieticians are fans of meal replacement programs, others see them as potentially harmful and nutritionally inadequate. Whether you can effectively lose weight with Slim-Fast depends upon whether you have the discipline and desire to remain with the program for the long-term. If you start to use Slim Fast for a while, then stop, you will likely gain back the weight you initially lost. However, for decades now, Slim-Fast has been winning the hearts of dieters and the company shows no signs of slowing down in the near future. Slim-Fast may be one way that you can drink yourself to optimum weight loss. I hope that reading the above information was both enjoyable and educational for you. Your learning process should be ongoing, the more you understand about any subject, the more you will be able to share with others.

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Understanding Fast Weight Loss: Exercise or Diet First?

March 2, 2010 By Karen Hiser Leave a Comment


If you’re looking for fast weight loss through exercise, you may not find it. While incorporating exercise into your lifestyle is a great way to lose weight and keep it off over the long term, it takes time for exercise to change your body in the ways that stimulate fat loss. Over time, exercise will increase your muscle mass and will speed up your metabolism-both ways to help you lose weight, but not immediate changes. Diet changes can actually cause the metabolism to change more rapidly. As a matter of instinct, the body usually reacts quickly to changes in the amount of food you consume, and changes your metabolism. This reaction was designed by evolution to insure that when our ancestors couldn’t find food, the body would conserve energy so that they didn’t starve. On the other hand, when we found food and ate it quickly, the body would start burning calories faster to give us more energy to go back out and hunt again!In modern times, most of us aren’t facing food shortage problems. But we can use this evolutionary mechanism to accelerate our weight loss faster than almost any other method. A scientifically designed technique called calorie cycling is the most effective way to do it, by varying the sizes of the meals you eat. You don’t have to restrict yourself to a bunch of foods you don’t like to accomplish it, either-for the most part, the same foods you eat every day can be incorporated into a calorie cycling diet. The best calorie cycling solution on the market is the FatLoss4Idiots diet. FatLoss4Idiots allows you to create custom meal plans based on the foods you like, and structures your meals around calorie cycling principles so that they cause you to lose weight. I recently posted a FatLoss4Idiots review to my dieting advice Web site and the response has been phenomenal. People are losing 9 pounds in 11 days as the program advertises, or more! FatLoss4Idiots is worth taking a look at for anyone whose goal is fast weight loss-exercise or no.

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