Do you despise dieting? Is it hard for you to control your cravings day after day? If so, you may be a good candidate for the Alternate Day Diet, described by Dr. James Johnson in his 2008 book. On Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, you can indulge yourself in absolutely anything. But on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, you stick to a strict regime of low-fat yogurt, lettuce, fruits, and veggies.

The Alternate Day Diet is based on animal studies in which mice who were only fed every other day experienced incredible health benefits, including increased longevity. Since it would be difficult/dangerous for humans to do the same, instead of not eating, Dr. Johnson proposes that you ‘nibble.’ A typical M/W/F diet for him includes a protein shake, a salad, broth-based soup, and a piece of fruit – and that’s all you eat for one entire day. He takes in about 20% of his typical caloric intake on his dieting days. However, once you’re in the maintenance phase, you can eat about 30-50% of typical intake on your MWF dieting days.

By Bonnie Pfiester
Have you ever wondered what Sumo wrestlers eat to look the way they do? Recently, out of curiosity, I decided to do my own research and I was shocked at my findings. The Sumo diet looked a little too familiar.

First, Sumo wrestlers typically eat only two times a day, skipping breakfast to keep their metabolism low. This is also a common practice in America. Whether it’s a lack of time or appetite, many people skip breakfast. I don’t know about you, but the next time I’m tempted to skip breakfast I’ll picture myself as a Sumo wrestler.

The next rule for the overweight athlete is to nap after eating. Their secret to gaining weight is to sleep for at least 4 hours after each meal. Although most American’s don’t take 4-hour naps, we typically return to our office chair with little activity.

The easiest way to cheat on your diet starts out innocently enough. It’s a colleague’s birthday, an anniversary, or a night out with friends. You’re at a restaurant, and all of the dishes just look so good. How can you avoid the tantalizing pasta or sizzling sirloin and stick with a boring salad?

Don’t be miserable while your friends indulge. Order what you want, but avoid the hundreds of extra calories prepared foods will cost you. Order the HALF SIZE portion.

By Bonnie Pfiester

In 1621, the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast known as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations. I’ve often wondered what was on their menu back then. Something tells me it wasn’t high-calorie stuffing and pumpkin pie.

From what I understand, a person’s social standing determined the food they ate. The best food was placed closest to the most important people at the table. Instead of sampling everything, people just ate what was next to them.

Although the traditional Thanksgiving meal typically includes a big turkey or ham, we eat more side dishes than meat. The seventeenth century meal would have included a lot more protein from meats like deer and wild fowl.

Have you heard the new buzzword floating around the dieting world? It’s MUFA.
MUFA is short for monounsaturated fatty acid. Scientists already knew that they were associated with longevity, but new research demonstrates that they also can help you lose belly fat. Several new diets are cropping up centered all around MUFAs – you may hear them called ‘Flat Belly’ diets. Eating one serving at each meal can help control cravings and provide a mental and physical boost. Regardless of what your plan is, you can incorporate these delicious and nutritious foods into your diet.

We’ve talked before about how salads purchased in restaurants or at the drive through are rarely what they appear to be, but I was shocked when I saw the cold, hard numbers. In the latest Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine review of fast-food and sandwich chain salads, only TWO out of 34 sampled salads checked out and received full marks on a five-star nutritional scale for fiber content and low saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, and calorie levels.

Some dishes, like McDonald’s Crispy Chicken Bacon Ranch Salad, pack an even nastier nutritional punch. This salad actually has more fat and calories than a Big Mac. In fact, the results were so stark that researchers explained that consuming many of the salad offerings at fast food chains is equivalent to eating a burger without the bun, dipped in fatty salad dressing.

Did you know that if you throw up, become nauseous, or get sluggish during a workout you’ve lost that workout? To maximize the benefits of exercise, you need to prime your body for the workout and re-fuel when it’s over. As you’re adhering to these tips, remember to drink water before, during, and after workouts as well!

Best Pre-Workout Foods: Don’t overdo it. Eat something small that’s relatively high in carbs but low in fat. Ideas include a banana with yogurt, toasted whole grain or wheat bagel with a small serving of fruit or spread, or a small bowl of instant oatmeal.

Noticing more pink than usual? That’s because October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. In addition to self-checks and regular physician visits, you can do your part to help the cause by patronizing some of your favorite fitness companies. Here’s a list of some corporations partnering with non-profits in the race for the cure:

1. New Balance will donate $1 million from its new “Lace Up For the Cure” line, which consists of 24 footwear, clothing, and accessory items. Fifteen percent of pink top sales and bra sales will be donated as well.

You constantly hear about America’s notorious cholesterol problem, but did you know how prevalent it actually is? Many people are shocked to learn that a whopping 50% of Americans have high or borderline-high cholesterol levels, putting them at risk for a host of ailments, including heart disease. Although the situation is serious, it’s fortunately quite easy to fix – if you’re committed to a healthier lifestyle, just follow these five steps.

1. Eat heart-healthy foods: Try the Cheerios challenge to lower your cholesterol in just weeks. The soluble fiber found in Cheerios and other whole-grains, fruits, and vegetables has been linked to reductions in cholesterol in clinical studies.

When you look at Halle Berry today, it’s hard to imagine the beauty as anything other than 100% healthy. But back in 1989, Berry passed out and fell into a diabetic coma while working on the set of her first television show, Living Dolls. Berry remained in the coma for seven days, and when she woke up, she was told that she had been diagnosed with diabetes and was at serious risk for losing her eyesight or even her legs. Scared into action, Berry took a hard look at her lifestyle and made some serious changes.

Though her doctor wasn’t sure at the time, Berry had developed Type II diabetes. Type I diabetes is associated with the auto-immune system and can’t be impacted by dietary or fitness changes. Most Type I sufferers are diagnosed as children. Type II diabetes, on the other hand, typically affects overweight adults and can occasionally be controlled without insulin, by changing your diet and exercise habits.

Berry immediately put herself on a strict diet and took her health seriously, concerned about cardiovascular complications that plague many diabetics as well as dramatic health threats to her vision, kidneys, and legs. She cut out overly processed foods, red meats, and sugary carbohydrates. She started to eat tons of fresh vegetables and healthy pasta, grilled chicken, or fish. She cut back on fruits due to their high sugar content, and turned to honey or molasses to sweeten her meals. Berry also took charge of the lifestyle habits that could impact her condition.

In a new study out of the Harvard School of Public Health, researchers have found a link between soy consumption and sperm concentration. Although soy-based products such as tofu and energy drinks have become increasingly popular in recent years, there has not been a great deal of research on soy’s impact on the body. Preliminary research with women indicates there may be a link between soy and breast cancer in certain populations, so soy is not recommended as a staple of any diet.

In this study, the team surveyed the eating habits and tested the sperm concentration of 99 men who went to a fertility clinic between 2000 and 2006. The men reported the quantity and frequency in which they consumed products such as tofu, tempeh, soy or tofu meat products, soy-based dairy products, and soy energy bars, powders, and drinks. Then researchers divided the men into groups based on how often they ate soy products. The men in the highest group ate approximately 3-4 servings of soy per week, averaging half a serving per day.

Remember that book that came out a few years ago, “French Women Don’t Get Fat”? Say what you will about the French, but the fact remains that French women are typically very slender and healthy. One of the key points of the book was that French women still indulge in pastries and breads and delicacies – but they know their limits and apply other strategies and routines to retain their sleek physiques. This is all well and good – but how do you know exactly how much to indulge in? Where do you draw the line? If you have trouble figuring out exactly how much you can get away with, the three-bite rule may be the perfect fit for you.

It’s simple, easy, and guilt-free. You can eat your favorite foods, but the quantity will be so small that it won’t impact your waistline. It’s exactly how it sounds – just take three bites of that dessert or favorite dish that’s tempting you. There are a few other rules, of course – you won’t make much progress if you liberally apply the three-bite rule, taking three bites of everything on the table, or if you decide to take abnormally large bites. To make it work, just think about your eating actions before you take them. Do you really want another cookie, or would you feel better if you had celery sticks and low-fat peanut butter, a handful of air-popped popcorn, or a couple of grapes?

However, let’s say you’re at a wedding or family event. Do you really want to sacrifice a delicious taste of your Aunt Sue’s devil’s food cake, which you only get a crack at a couple times per year?

The days of Brenda and Brandon Walsh are decidedly over. No matter what your take on 90210 2.0 is, chances are you’ve noticed a few major differences between the ‘classic’ cast and 2008’s new crew. Though some changes are positive (The Wire’s Tristan Wilds adds some much-needed diversity) some are downright unhealthy, like the weight of two of the show’s leading ladies.

Shenae Grimes, 18, who plays Beverly newcomer Annie, and Jessica Stroup, 21, as returning character Kelly’s little sister, have recently come under tabloid attack for being too thin. Us Weekly ran an expose with shocking pictures of the gaunt beauties, and sources close to the show have told the press that some of the ladies’ male co-stars are planning an intervention.

By Jamie Yu

The majority of us are fully aware how detrimental over-training when exercising can be to us in body and in mind. The lack of recovery ,on top of the excessive physical stress we apply from us either lifting weights and/or engaging in cardiovascular activities, is the main cause we think of for hitting that ‘wall’ and in some cases actually regress in our progress to reaching that peak of physical excellence.

The usual suspect symptoms, to name but a few one might look for, would be : d

• Reduced strength and stamina
• Decreased appetite
• Chronic fatigue
• Lack of motivation and focus
• Insomnia
• Increased blood pressure and resting pulse rate

But current studies have shown that elements outside our training are also connected with the main causes of overtraining.

Cycling fans everywhere were in for a shock this week as the buzz surrounding cycling champion and cancer survivor and research advocate Lance Armstrong confirmed that he will be returning to professional cycling. The seven-time Tour de France winner has kept himself busy since retiring in 2005.

After three years working tirelessly to promote cancer research and advocacy through his LIVESTRONG foundation, traveling and speaking around the world, penning an autobiography, and spending time with his children and a string of celebrity women, Armstrong will join the Astana cycling team when he makes his comeback.Armstrong says that after his extensive work on cancer prevention, research, and outreach in the United States, he wants to use his return to the world of competitive cycling to promote his cause on the international stage.