6 Factors that kill your diet plans

 

So you have been dieting all this while and also keep a check on what you eat, still you feel you aren't losing much weight. Or does it come back after sometime? here are some solutions...

Don't give your food power:
It's all in your mind. Food can't make you eat it. Some people talk as if a chocolate bar holds them down, forcing them to eat it. You have the power to say No to food.

Good versus bad food:
So you think there are good and bad foods? Incorrect. Food is food; it could be fatty, salty, sweet, and low in fat, high in fibre, high in protein. You have to find the right balance and ensure that your body is not deprived of food.

Dieting can't go on forever:
You feel heavy today and you go on a diet plan. Once you lose the excess weight, you go off the diet. If you follow this pattern, you are most likely to regain all the weight. So eat well but eat right.

You can't lose weight without exercise:
So you think you can lose weight without exercising. It isn't impossible, but you would need to go on a controlled diet. But once you stop dieting, the weight will come back. It's very important to follow some kind of a fitness routine. It can even be a brisk walk, or any kind of increased activity.

All fats are not bad
Some fats are healthy. Nuts and seeds have good oils in them, so you should not avoid those oils. Also, you should keep alternating food oils. Do not stick to one kind of oil. The trans fat in fast food and packaged foods is bad for you.

Don't drink too many calories
If you are living in the misconception that soft drink is bad but juice and sports drink are good, think again. Juice has the same calories as soft drinks. And sports drinks are mostly full of sugar. It's best to eat your fruit than drinking it. And drink lots of water to keep your body hydrated.

Walnuts...!!!

 

Research has shown that having walnuts daily can reduce the risk of heart disease and can help in lowering bad cholesterol (LDL) and the C-Reactive Protein.

When you are having a meal that is high in saturated fats, having a handful of raw walnuts can limit the ability of the harmful fat to damage arteries.

Walnuts contain less than four grams of saturated fats per 50 grams. However, all nuts are high in calories, so, having them in moderation is essential.

Walnuts are rich in antioxidants, omega-3 fats and alpha linoleic acid.

Add it to your daily diet

- Begin the day in a healthy way with chopped walnuts in your breakfast cereal.

- Avoid meat in your salads and instead, sprinkle a handful of fresh walnuts on it.

- Give the sausages, eggs and processed meat a miss. Get your protein from roasted walnuts!

-Add some walnuts to ur cornflakes or oats mean in morning. 

Look for the fresh nut

- Shelled walnuts should be brittle. Avoid the rubbery ones. Opt for the ones with a darker skin.

Store them right

- No one likes a rancid walnut. So store them unshelled in the refrigerator for a couple of months.

 

Weightloss??? Here are some tips...

With fad diets and fitness routines round every corner, it is quite difficult to keep a tab on which weight loss tips really do work and which don't. Should you join that bhangra aerobics class, adopt that no-carb diet, or eat dinner at 6pm? Never mind all that loophole-ridden weight loss jargon, step over to the healthy side. Here are 5 tips for guaranteed weight loss that will set your weight straight, and help you adopt some really healthy, weight-friendly habits for life.

Weight loss tip 1: Stock your kitchen - Keep your house well-stocked with fruits, vegetables, healthy meats, grains, cereals, spices, and flavourers. Follow our tricks to healthy cooking, cooking vegetables for the week, and low-fat cooking posts to understand how best you can stock your kitchen with healthy and delicious ingredients. All of this will go into helping the next step - cooking healthy meals at home.

Weight loss tip 2: Eat healthy homecooked meals - Whether it's you who's cooking, a family member, or house help, ensure that every one practises healthy cooking methods, and ingredients. Ask any person who's lost weight the healthy way, and you will always hear about how healthy homecooked meals were a big reason behind it. Use less oil, low salt, fresh produce, and you'll start seeing results in no time.

Weight loss tip 3: Start a cardio workout - A healthy weight loss programme is incomplete without a good exercise routine cardio is the best way to lose weight. Of course, variations and forms exist, but any workout that stresses on muscle tone and increased heart rate will always help you lose weight and keep it off. You can either start a home workout today, or rely on gyms for fitness training.

Weight loss tip 4: Find a solution to combat stress - Stress is always detrimental to healthy weight loss in the long run. Find ways to combat stress and you'll soon realise that your diet and exercise aren't sabotaged anymore, and that you truly do see results. Look at yoga, meditation, deep breathing exercises, or simple hobbies like reading to fight stress.

Weight loss tip 5: Drink plenty of water - You've known that your body relies heavily on water for all important bodily functions, and yet you skimp on drinking adequate quantities of water every day. Well, it's time to stop that. Check out some exciting ways to make water interesting and you'll be packing it away in no time.

Get rid of puffy eyes!

Eyes are the indicators of our health condition. Puffy eyes usually make people look more tired and aged.

Causes
Lack of sleep, excessive crying, lots of sodium or salt intake, emotional or physical stress, build-up of toxins and wastes in the body, post-operation or surgical recovery, heredity or genetic predisposition, allergic reaction or dermatitis, excess consumption of alcoholic beverages, irritation from contact lenses, body fluid fluctuations due to hormones, sinus problems, vitamin deficiency.

Symptoms     
Swelling around or at the corners of the eyes. Puffiness of the eyelids, of the eyes. Difficulty or inability to open or close the eyes due to swelling.

Prevention
Sleep well
Give your eyes the muchneeded rest. Sleep deprivation makes them work overtime and causes bags underneath. This is because all the fats and fluids settle down and accumulate in the area. As the skin underneath the eyes is very thin and fragile, the extra fluid becomes more prominent.

Pamper your eyes
Apply cucumber slices or cool tea bags to your eyes on a regular basis. Tea bags contain tannin that reduces the swelling and discolouration of eye bags, while cucumber soothes the puffiness around the eyes. Keep cool cucumber slices or tea bags in the refrigerator overnight and the next day put them on your eyes for about 15 minutes.

Eat a balanced diet
Deficiency of Vitamin K or B12 is known to be a major cause of puffy eyes. Include lots of fruits and vegetables in your diet along with plenty of water to get all the vitamins and minerals. Decrease your salt intake.

Quit smoking Smoking is bad for your health and can also cause under eye circles and puffiness.

Avoid rubbing your eyes
Rubbing on the eyes and eye contours may break the tiny capillaries underneath the skin and lead to more dark circles and puffiness.

Take care of eyes while you sleep
Before going to bed, dampen a soft cotton cloth in cold water and squeeze it to remove excess water. Then put this cloth over your eyes as you sleep.

Take regular breaks
Learn to take regular breaks during work, especially if you are working on computers.

Visit a doctor
If the swelling around the eyelids is 2-3 times more than normal, you should visit a physician immediately.

Want to increase your blood circulation!!!

Here are a few tips...

Good blood circulation in the body is essential for improving one's memory and concentration, preventing toxin-formation in the body and keeping the joints of the body agile. 

Walking
Walking is the most simplest and easiest form of exercise. Walk for at least 20 minutes a day.

Swimming
If you hate working out in the gym and wish to do something fun, then swimming is a good option. Swimming is not only loads of fun but it also is a good form of physical activity. Do the butterfly stroke, back stroke, breast stroke, anything that catches your fancy.

 Cycling
Cycling provides the heart and blood vessels a good work out, fostering blood circulation. Cycling regularly tones the muscles of the legs and thighs. This is specially beneficial for those with a sedentary lifestyle accompanied by lack of exercise.

Belly Dancing
Dancing, especially belly dancing, is very effective when it comes to blood circulation. It promotes cardio-vascular health, strengthens the abdominal muscles and bowel movements. Besides physical fitness, you can learn to groove seductively and wins hearts too!

Five ways to be happy with yourself !!

1. Don't take others too seriously. Try to understand that no one is perfect. If you feel that someone is being overtly critical then be frank and point it out to that person.

2. Accept the fact that you are made a certain way. If you aren't happy with your weight or looks, try and improve on it. But don't put yourself down.

3. Don't try to blend in with others. Just because all the people in your group are wearing saris for a wedding, you don't have to do the same. Wear what you are comfortable in. If you are comfortable in your skin, you will exude a certain confidence that will make you attractive to others.

4. Don't put up with any kind of bullying. Whether it's in your college, work or home, make sure that you put forth your point of view firmly. It's great to adjust, but not at the cost of changing yourself drastically.

5. If you are happy with yourself, then you will be sure of your thoughts and beliefs. You may not follow the herd mentality, but at the same time, you won't end up being different just for the heck of it.

Walnuts..!!

Not only are walnuts delicious to eat but also good for your heart and your skin. 

They are one of the best plant sources of protein. Here are some health benefits of walnuts we bet you didn't know about:

- Walnuts are a rich source of omega-3 fats and alpha linoleic acid (ALA) that are known to improve artery function.

- They contain anti-oxidant properties that help in preventing cancer.

- It is believed that consumption of walnuts as a part of daily diet helps in prevention of gallstones.

- The monounsaturated fats present in walnuts helps in lowering bad cholesterol and lipoprotein, a compound that can cause atherosclerosis by increasing blood clotting.

- An essential amino acid called L-arginine, which is present in walnuts, gets converted to nitric oxide that helps in increasing the blood flow in the body. It also prevents arteries from narrowing and preventsthe accumulation of fatty deposits on the artery walls.

- Walnuts are often referred to as 'brain food'. That is because they are a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids which plays a major role in the optimum functioning of the brain cells, making you smarter.

- Melatonin, a compound found in walnuts is helpful in promoting good sleep therefore, reducing insomnia and other sleep disorders which are prevalent.

Skipping breakfast... A BIG NOOO..!!!

Don’t most of us just nibble on some toast or have a spoonful of porridge, down our daily dose of caffeine and rush off to work at least once a week (sometimes more)?  Skipping breakfast in a bid to reach work on time may not be the wisest thing you do. Not only will it leave you feeling irritable and restless all morning, it will make you gorge on more fatty foods through the day too. Read on to know why should not skip your first meal in the morning.

The benefits of breakfast
Breakfast is the first meal of the day that helps our body fuel itself after 6 to 10 hours of starving itself. It prepares our mind and body for the day we are about to face.

 “A good breakfast also replenishes our glucose reserves.”

“A nutritious breakfast is very important as it boosts our metabolism.” A healthy breakfast also improves our cognitive ability, our ability to pay attention and our memory. “Not only that, people who eat breakfast are also found to be more positive, have a better attitude at work, be more productive at work and concentrate on a task better.” So, have a yummy egg sandwich if you want to ace that presentation.

Why you shouldn’t miss breakfast
Skipping breakfast will leave you feeling tired and sleepy through the day. And since most of us do not tend to eat much till lunch, “it drops our metabolism.” So, it does not help to skip breakfast if you hope to lose weight.

Also since your body was denied proper nutrition first thing in the morning, “it will end up craving for more food through the day.” So that explains all those cravings for a chocolate dessert, or a burger or a packet of chips between meals. Fat from these unhealthy snacks only end up showing in parts you least desire them to!

“Not having breakfast will also leave you feeling irritable and restless through the morning.” Now you don’t want to pick a fight with your partner as soon as you start your day, do you? A good breakfast, rich in fibre and antioxidants and low in fat, sodium and sugar will not just help you lose weight but improve your immune system and lower your risk of contracting several diseases.

Here are some healthy breakfast ideas

1. A whole grain cereal or muesli with low fat or skimmed milk
2. Mixed sprouts salad with yogurt and a fruit
3. A whole grain/ wheat bread sandwich with a filling of tofu or paneer and bell peppers
4. Eggs with whole grain toast and a fruit
5. Whole grain chappati/roti stuffed with vegetables with curd or a glass of milk

Taking care of your beautiful eyes... Do Eyes Yoga!!!

  In alternative therapy vision care assumes that the muscles of the eyes, like the rest of those all over the body, must be exercised to remain healthy. We naturally did that as children when we played games, like ball games, running etc. These involved complex eye movements. However, these days, with even children confined to the desk, TV, or media (computer, electronic games) that involves only a confined strain by the eyes the muscles within the eye socket are not worked out. Reworking them, even with gentle movements, including peripheral ones, can help contain degenerating sight.

A few poses that may be safely practiced to help maintain eye sight:

Trataka (Yogic focusing exercise)
Hold your right hand in front of you. Extend the thumb, folding back other fingers lightly. Ensure hand is at eye level. Look at thumbnail. Then switch focus to nose tip. Back at right thumbnail, then switching focus to nose tip. This is one round. Rest your eyes. Do palming (see above). Do up to five rounds. Then switch hands, to do for left hand. Do palming after each round.

Benefits: This helps with the eye's ability to switch focus from distant to close viewing. Most problems, according to yogic occur when the eye muscles slacken and do not accommodate this important skill. Unlike with reading a book, staring at a computer screen reduces our vision skills, creating eye problems. This exercise rectifies this. Plus, when done regularly can boost mental focus. It is also advised for insomniacs.

Avoid: If having glaucoma or cataract.

Palming
Rub palms together. Place them gently on closed eye-lids so the cups of the hand cover the eye-lids. The palms should feel the eye socket. This would ensure that your holding the hand over the eye in a correct position. There should be no pressure. This is called palming and may be practiced several times during the day for a quick rest, not just for the eyes but for the mind too. If the duration of the final hold (of palm over eyelid) is lengthened and if palming is done several times during the day, it is believed that eye problems will be controlled.

Benefits: It soothes eyes strained by an effort to see. Also, keeping the eyes in a dark, soothing mode creates a healing impact by tweaking the master glands, like pineal gland, which reacts to excessive exposure to light or artificial lighting by hitting sleep etc. In yogic eye exercises palming is seen as the most important of healing exercises.

Be A Happier person...!!!

Life can get you down for a host of reasons, but it only becomes something you have to address if you have been discontent for a long time. All you need to do is change a few things around, organise your life a little better and make a commitment to becoming a happier person. Here are five things you can change to put a smile back on your face.

Find a hobby
If the corporate world is getting you down, try doing something you are passionate about. Most people live their entire lives wishing they did something they love. While it may be unrealistic to think of starting anew, you can always pick up a hobby. Start a collection of some sort and don’t be embarrassed by it. You could even pick up a new sport or devote your evenings to a good swim, the sky is the limit. Adding a sense of fulfilment other than your job, will go a long way in making your life a little happier.
Where do you start: Make a list of things you really love doing, even if it’s just watching movies. Start with two or three passions, and you’ll lose interest in the ones you aren’t zealous about.

Find a friend
Indians for centuries have had a strong support structure in the form of families. Unfortunately or fortunately, over the last couple of decades, nuclear families have become the norm. This has made the need for a support group even more. From work friends to college friends to chaddi buddies, people need others to share their ups and downs. Now, this does not mean adding more people on your Facebook page. Social scientists have found that meeting a core group of people that you know will stand by you add to your overall well-being.
Where do you start: If you find yourself too busy to meet any one, it is about time you started. Fit friends into your schedule rather than just talking to them over the phone. Engage in activities that will get your friends together, even if it means just having a cup of coffee on a Sunday afternoon.

Organise your future 
This doesn’t mean cleaning out your closet. Set yourself a few attainable goals in every area of your life. Whether it is financially, in your career or in your personal life, the idea of committing to something and watching it come to fruition can be a rewarding experience. Studies have shown that people who make short-term plans deal with life much better than others.
Where do you start: Make goals with different time frames. Start with the obvious daily ones, then have twoyear, five-year and 10-year plans. Write them down and knock them off ones you’ve completed them.

Make the job switch
Now, being absolutely content with your job might be too much to ask for, but it shouldn’t be a chore either. Most Indians spend more time at work than they do at home, so obviously it ranks high on your happiness index. The happier you are in your job, the happier you will be in life. So if you are stuck in a job you hate, maybe it is time for a change.
Where do you start: Don’t jump the gun, make a list of things that you don’t like about the job and the things that you love. You need to know whether it is your career that you are discontent with or your company. Get enough research done and also try and develop more skills so that you are prepared for any transition.

Feel healthy
Though pigging out on the juiciest burger might give you instant happiness, studies show that it is your overall lifestyle that actually matters. Exercise, a proper diet and avoiding things you know will harm you do more than just improve your physical well-being. The healthier you are the better you will feel about yourself and your life.
Where do you start: Remember that living healthy is difficult and requires a lot of work on your part. Make a commitment to eat healthy and stay fit through regular exercise. You might miss out on a few foods you crave, but remind yourself to focus on the bigger picture