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Are Foods With Low-Fat Labels Really Weight Loss-Friendly? Try These Healthy Low-Fat Options – NDTV News
Choose healthy low fat foods to avoid weight gain
Weight loss has become one of the most discussed topics in the past decade. Everyone is looking for the quickest ways to lose weight. Several fad diets have claimed quick weight loss. When it comes to diet, several foods in the market claim to be low in fat. It can be very appealing for those who are trying to lose weight. The low-fat label on such foods also makes all the weight watchers but these foods. But are these foods really fat-free? If yes, then are these healthy? Several brands smartly use the fat-free label in various ways. Here are some things you must know about fat-free foods stuffed in the market.
Most foods with low-fat or fat-free labels are loaded with not-so-healthy ingredients. Most of these products often contain too much sugar. Along with sugar, there are several unhealthy ingredients that you don't want in your weight loss diet. This in result can cause weight gain instead of weight loss.
You need to make right choices to lose weight effectivelyPhoto Credit: iStock
Before buying any product you must carefully read the labels. It will help you understand what to buy and what not to. Reading labels will also help you know the details of the ingredients used.
Also read:Weight Loss Diet: Protein-Rich Snacks Under 100 Calories
If you want to choose low-fat foods, some whole foods are good options to choose from. You can choose some healthy options loaded with nutrients. Here are some healthy low-fat foods you can add to your weight loss diet.
Fruits are loaded with nutrients as well as contain low to no fat. Fruits can perfectly fit into your weight loss diet and provide you with essential nutrients.
Weight loss diet: Add more fruits to your dietPhoto Credit: iStock
Vegetables especially leafy greens are fat-free. These are loaded with fibre which keeps you full for longer. It is also advised to add green leafy vegetables to weight loss diets to receive all the essential nutrients.
Also read:Try These High Protein Breakfast Options Which Can Help You Lose Weight
Pulses are a part of almost every weight loss diet. Pulses are low in fat with no cholesterol. Pulses are also high in fiber which keeps you full for longer. Adding pulses to your diet will add several other nutrients to your diet.
Also read:Protein-Rich Pulses Can Help You Lose Weight, Here's How; Know Other Health Benefits
Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.
The One Hot Sauce Doctors Say You Should ALWAYS Cook With Your Eggs To Boost Your Metabolism and Lose Weight Fast – SheFinds
Its no secret that theres little to no time for making a healthy breakfast during busy mornings. Luckily, there are plenty of quick recipes to follow during any a.m. rush, and the best part is that theyre healthy too.
Experts say there are specific go-to foods you should eat for breakfast to benefit your metabolism and boost along weight loss. Eggs are a protein-packed food that are perfect to add to almost every morning meal. The best part is that eggs only take a few minutes to cook and will keep you feeling satisfied all morning long.
Protein is always ideal when it comes to giving you lots of energy in the morning and keeping any other peckish cravings at bay until lunchtime. Eggs also have other beneficial nutrients and vitamins apart from being protein-packed. Eggs contain vitamins like vitamin A, B5, B12, and B2. According to Healthline, eggs contain 77 calories, 6 grams of protein, and 5 grams of healthy fats.
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You can make eggs even healthier by adding a variety of toppings like sauces to it. Hot sauce is a very popular sauce to add to eggs. Hot sauces that contain cayenne pepper are actually good for both your metabolism and weight.
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An article on Dr. Josh Axes website by nutrition counselor Christine Ruggeri reports that research suggests that cayenne peppers boost your metabolism. These peppers also help with your digestive system and provide detox support. How amazing is that?!
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Eggs and hot sauce can be prepped and cooked in a variety of ways. For starters, you can simply add some hot sauce to scrambled eggs and pair it with fresh fruit on the side. To take it up a notch you can also easily make avocado toast, slide freshly cooked eggs onto it, and top it all off with a splash of cayenne pepper hot sauce for an extra kick.
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Whats your go-to condiment thats secretly loaded with a ton of health benefits? Will you add cayenne pepper hot sauce to your eggs the next time you cook breakfast? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
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The One Hot Sauce Doctors Say You Should ALWAYS Cook With Your Eggs To Boost Your Metabolism and Lose Weight Fast - SheFinds
Kate Hudson on why it took longer to lose weight after her third child – Yahoo Style
From Harper's BAZAAR
Kate Hudson has revealed how she has experienced difficulty losing weight after giving birth to her third child, Rani Rose.
In a new interview with Women's Health, Hudson explained that it took longer to lose weight after the birth of her daughter, compared to her two previous sons.
Taking 12 months, in contrast to the six months it took previously, Hudson said the difference was due to her lack of time.
"Unlike with the other two, I didnt really have time to work out," she said. "It took a different kind of discipline."
With fewer hours to sweat, Hudson relied on stricter eating habits, a byproduct of her partnership with Weight Watchers.
The 40-year-old took to Instagram to credit WW for helping her achieve her weight loss goal "without stressing on food or working out like crazy".
Photo credit: David Crotty - Getty Images
Hudson did however reveal exactly how she managed to squeeze the occasional workouts into her busy schedule.
The mum of three aims to exercise three-to-four times a week, alternating between home classes, spinning, pole dancing and Pilates - the latter being her go-to workout to build strength. "I know I'm at my strongest when I'm doing Pilates," she explained. "I love how flexible I get and what it does to the shape of my body."
Speaking of her weight loss, Hudson says: "I feel good, energetic and strong. I feel like myself again."
As a designer, actress, parent and an entrepreneur, Hudson spins multiple plates every day while being mindful to balance her life between work and home.
"If I come in nine-to-five, do all my work and shut off my phone, I can have a balanced life. I try not to let work spill into time with the kids, dinner and bedtime," she said.
She does however recognise that achieving the perfect balance between working and parenting is not always easy, confessing: "I make mistakes all the time; Ive yelled at my kids too much, and Ive also cursed in front of them, and I also havent shown up for things because I was out of town."
"But at the same time, I have days where Im like, Im a fucking super-mum; Im cooking, cleaning, doing homework, changing diapers and I worked out. What Ive learned and what Im learning is that Im doing the best I can."
While putting tons of effort into parenting her children as well as trying to look after business and body, Hudson insists it's just as important to dedicate some time for self-care. One of her favourite ways to balance out the mayhem of her busy schedule is to take some time off and get away.
Hudson told Women's Health: "I do check out. I go away with them [her kids], usually to our ranch in Colorado. I sit and look out at the mountains."
"I try to be open about where Im at and go through it instead of avoiding it. Life is going to unfold the way its going to unfold," she said.
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Kate Hudson on why it took longer to lose weight after her third child - Yahoo Style
Kim K’s Trainer Shared Her Diet and Fitness Approach After Gaining Weight – msnNOW
Presley Ann/Stringer/Getty Images Instead of focusing on one extreme measure, Melissa Alcantara is incorporating several bite-sized fitness and nutrition tweaks.
Weight fluctuation happens to everyone, even Melissa Alcantara, trainer to Kim Kardashian West and overall inspiring person. In a recent Instagram post, Alcantara revealed that she gained 10 pounds over the last month, and she shared how she plans to approach diet and fitness in the upcoming weeks. (Related: Melissa Alcantara Shares Her 5 Commandments for Making a Fitness Transformation)
For one thing, Alcantara's weight-loss plan doesn't include panicking or trying a crash diet. Instead, one thing she's focusing on is "not lifting too much" because her "old a*s knees hurt," she wrote in her post (#relatable).
Going all-out without regarding the body's needs is actually a common mistake people make when setting fitness goals, and it can backfire in the end. "Simply put: When you fight against your body, it's going to fight back," Jen Widerstrom, all-star trainer and Shape contributing fitness director, previously told us. "Cravings, fatigue, and a scale that won't budge are all signs of your body rebelling," she added. (Here are some other warnings that you're pushing yourself too hard in the gymplus how to find balance in your workout routine.)
Next, Alcantara plans on "not eating bullsh*t (specifically not going into the granola bag 75 times a day acting like it's the last time)," she wrote (#alsorelatable).
ICYDK, Alcantara has told us in the past that she's not one to obsess over calorie count, nor does she believe in drastically cutting carbs for weight loss. In general, Alcantara has said she tries to stick with less processed foods. If you're curious what that's looked like lately, yesterday the trainer shared a video on her Instagram Story of a shake she made with frozen bananas, honey roasted peanut butter, blueberries, spinach, nutmeg, cinnamon, unsweetened almond milk, and oats. (If that sounds delish, these 13 healthy smoothies taste like milkshakes but are actually good for you.)
Another part of Alcantara's weight-loss plan involves simply "drinking water," she wrote in her post. It's a straightforward strategy, but potentially a smart one since how much water you drink can play a role in your weight: One study found that people who drank water before meals consumed fewer calories at each meal. Beyond that, staying hydrated helps balance the body's electrolyte levels, which is especially important if you're ramping up your workouts in pursuit of a weight-loss goal. (Here's how sports drinks can help you maintain healthy electrolyte levels, too.)
Finally, Alcantara said she'll be adding more cardio to her routine, but not an "overwhelming" amount"more like 4 [cardio workouts] a week instead of once every 2 weeks," she wrote, adding that she'll also be following her Built At Home program on the Fitplan app.
Video: Is it actually harder to lose weight when you're short? (Provided by Shape)
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Alcantara's approach to cardio touches on one of the most common myths surrounding weight loss: that sticking to only cardio is the best way to lose weight. But in reality, adopting an all-cardio routine can mean burning fewer calories overall than following a routine that incorporates strength training, since building muscle means burning more calories on a day-to-day basis. With that in mind, Alcantara's approach of increasing cardio without adopting a "more is more" mentality makes total sense.
Feeling inspired by Alcantara? Here's our 40-day plan to help you crush any goal.
Slideshow: 10 women share the most important thing that helped them lose weight (Courtesy: Shape)
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Kim K's Trainer Shared Her Diet and Fitness Approach After Gaining Weight - msnNOW
Planning to Shed Kilos? 8 Healthy & Herbal Juices That Aid Weight Loss – The Better India
Gaining or losing weight needs to be a sustained, well-rounded effort. With these healthy herbal juices, you can do it the right way!
Losing weight is tough, but what works for me might not work for you, simply because everybody is different. Lifestyle, body type, genetics, medical issues, and even age all play a role in our ability to achieve results.
If you struggle with low or slow metabolism, herbal juices can help. They are known to catalyse metabolism and help your body digest food faster.
Here are eight such amazing juices that you can add to your diet to kickstart the process!
It is a well-known fact that amla (or the Indian Gooseberry) have a high Vitamin C content, which boosts the ability of your immune system to fight off toxins. Amla is also known to reduce bloating, and its hypolipidemic agents beat symptoms associated with fatty liver and high cholesterol.
Mix 2-3 tablespoons of amla syrup with warm water and have this juice early in the morning on an empty stomach for the best results.
Bugs Bunny loves carrots, and so do we. Carrots are low in calories and very high on the fibre, and glassful of this juice should keep you active until lunchtime. Fresh carrot juice aids in bile secretion, thus helping burn fat and ultimately result in weight loss.
For best results, make fresh carrot juice in the morning (you can add apple, oranges etc. for added flavour) and drink it along with the pulp. Dont add processed sugaryou can enjoy this as is!
If you begin your morning with a glass of orange juicebravo! This juice has a negative calorie countwhich means contains fewer calories than what the body requires to burn it and is rich in vitamin C which keeps the immune system up and running.
Tasty, healthy and a great agent of weight loss, orange juice can really help to rev up your metabolic rate. Orange you glad?
A versatile plant that benefits your skin, hair, and the digestive system, aloe vera is a must-have in your kitchen and bathroom cabinets. If you are looking to lose weight naturally, try including aloe vera juice in your diet. Its gel contains Vitamin B that catalyses metabolism and prevents fat from building up. It can also treat acid refluxes and stomach ulcers, easing your digestion further.
Drink a glass of aloe vera juice regularly to keep your digestive system running smooth and your metabolism running fine. Click here to get a bottle of preservative-free juice now.
Pomegranate seeds are a delight to munch on in any case. But if your goal is to lose weight, try having them regularly, in the form of juice.
Dr Gargi Sharma, a weight management expert from Delhi, tells NDTV, Pomegranates are rich in antioxidants, polyphenols and conjugated linolenic acidall of which help you burn fat and boost your metabolism.
Beetroots are grossly underappreciated. Apart from regulating blood pressure and haemoglobin levels, this nutritious root vegetable also help maintains healthy bowel movements and are a great source of dietary fibre too (2-3 gm for every 100 gm). Moreover, beetroot is very low in calories (4 calories for 100 gm) so eat up!
Mix this powder with water to make a yummy organic beetroot juice. Every teaspoon of this is equal to having one average-sized beetroot!
Another miracle drink to improve metabolism and control weight gain, wheatgrass juice needs to be your breakfast drink, stat!
Wheatgrass stimulates the thyroid gland, which is responsible for metabolism and bowel movements (among other things).
Follow this link to get a 500ml bottle of wheatgrass juice and make your morning meals a healthy affair.
It is not easy to love Bitter gourd, and yet, it would be the best decision ever to include it in your diet consciously. The fruit (yes, fruit!) with a distinct exterior, is extremely low in calories (just 17 calories for every 100 gm) and it also stimulates the secretion of bile acids in your liver, keeping your digestive system healthy.
Have a glass of this juice every morning for a healthier, more glowing you. Click here to get a bottle of the preservative-free drink now!
You may also like: 5 Millet Recipes That Let You Enjoy Desserts Guilt-Free
(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)
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Planning to Shed Kilos? 8 Healthy & Herbal Juices That Aid Weight Loss - The Better India
Audrey named Slimming World Woman of the Year and given the all-clear from cancer – Daily Record
A super slimmer from Hamilton has told how she faced two tough battles in 2019.
Audrey Hainey shed more than two stone in weight with help from her Slimming World group, as well as battling breast cancer.
She experienced highs and lows last year when she was crowned The Barleycorn Slimming World groups Woman of the Year after losing 2st 3lbs, but was also diagnosed with the disease.
However, the 65-year-old from Silvertonhill slimmed from 16st 12.5lbs down to 14st 9.5lbs and has now been given the all-clear from cancer.
Audrey, who has dropped two dress sizes, explained: When I first joined the group, I never dreamt that I would be in the position I am now.
Losing weight has made such a big difference to my life. My health has improved, I have more energy, Im happier and I feel more comfortable in my own skin.
Audrey joined Slimming World in May 2016, after feeling unhappy about her size.
She said: I started to put on weight when I retired, and became a lady who lunches, dines out at night, and goes several holidays a year. I tried a number of different ways to lose weight but they usually left me feeling hungry or miserable or both, in fact. With Slimming World, its completely different.
My family and friends are all amazed by how much I can eat and lose weight. I still eat all my favourite meals, like cooked breakfasts, curries and roast dinners.
I just prepare and cook them differently now and they taste so much better. I never have to miss out and I dont have to get hung up on weighing and measuring everything I eat.
Ive picked up so many tips and healthy recipes from the other members at my Slimming World group, too, like how I can still go out for lunches and dinners with my friends,and lose weight a winning combination.
I know it can feel like a big step joining Slimming World because you dont know what to expect, but, right from the first moment I walked into my group I was made to feel at ease, and the support Ive received has been amazing, I look forward to going each week to catch up with all of my new friends I just love it.
Audrey says the friendship she has received from other members of the group has been invaluable.
She said: When I discovered that I had breast cancer, my whole Slimming World family were there for me.
Audrey lost 7lbs in her first few weeks and was blown away that the changes shed made had such a big impact so quickly.
Anita Kerr, who runs the Barleycorn group, said: Im so proud of Audrey. Shes a fantastic ambassador for Slimming World and what shes achieved is nothing short of incredible.
Shes a huge inspiration to everyone in our group and I hope she inspires other women and men in Hamilton to change their lives in the same way.
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Audrey named Slimming World Woman of the Year and given the all-clear from cancer - Daily Record
Know your risk and keep your heart healthy | LMH Health | Lawrence, KS – LMH Health
Allison Koonce, LMH Health
According to the Centers for Disease Control, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women, causing one in four deaths. Reduce your chance of developing heart disease by knowing your risk factors and modifying those you can.
It is important to find out your cholesterol numbers. High blood cholesterol itself does not cause symptoms, so many people are unaware that their cholesterol level is too high.
Lowering cholesterol levels lessens the risk of developing heart disease and reduces the chance of a heart attack. Knowing your numbers and improving your numbers for heart health is a good idea. Having that information allows you to make choices to improve or maintain your health.
A variety of factors can affect cholesterol levels. You cannot control your age, family history or previous history of heart attack or stroke, but you can control other factors. Take action to control your diet, weight and level of exercise. Eating a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol can help lower your cholesterol level.
Being overweight is another risk factor for heart disease and also tends to increase your cholesterol. Regular physical activity can help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and raise HDL (good) cholesterol levels. It also helps you lose weight. The American Heart Association recommends being physically active for 30 minutes on most, if not all, days of the week.
For more information on protecting yourself against heart disease, visit the America Heart Association website at heart.org.
Celebrate American Heart Month this February and focus on your heart health. Join us at the LMH Health Healthy Hearts Fair on Saturday, February 22 from 7:30-10 a.m.
The LMH Health Lab will offer cholesterol screenings and total lipid profiles for $25. Find the registration form in the Lawrence Journal-World, at lmh.org/heart-fair, or by contacting the LMH Health Lab at 785-505-2653. Fast from food and drink for 9 to 12 hours before your blood draw to receive accurate results. Results for HDL and LDL, triglycerides and cholesterol ratios will be mailed to you. You can share these results with your healthcare provider.
You can also participate in free blood pressure, body mass index and finger stick glucose screenings. LMH Health and community organizations will be on-site to answer your heart health questions. Staff members from LMH Health Cardiac Rehabilitation will also be available to discuss ways you can incorporate more physical activity into your day.
Allison Koonce is community outreach & engagement supervisor at LMH Health.
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Know your risk and keep your heart healthy | LMH Health | Lawrence, KS - LMH Health
Looking For an Effective Way to Lose Weight And Reduce Risk of Diabetes? Opt For Black Seed Oil – India.com
Prepared from the black cumin seeds, black seed oil is one of the most beneficial oils available. Belonging to the ranunculus family, black cumin plant is native to southwestern Asia. The black seed oil is being used as a herbal medicine from a very long time. From helping fight against cancer to combat cancer, and treating infections, black seed oil can help you in many ways. The oil is able to provide these many health benefits due to the presence of three chemicals in it. They include thymoquinone, thymohydroquinone, and thymol. Read further to know more reasons to use black seed oil.
According to a research published in the Journal of Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders, the use of black seed oil can increase your bodys metabolism and help in effective weight loss. It can lower your body mass index by regulating glucose levels in the blood. Notably, a high blood sugar level leads to increased cravings and overeating. Also, the oil contains an antioxidant named thymoquinone, which is known to reduce inflammation, a significant factor behind weight gain.
The liver is one of the most important parts of the human body. From detoxifying substances in the body to manufacturing cholesterol, and producing bile juice for digesting fats, the liver does many favours to you. It keeps your mind and body happy. In the case of poor liver function, you may experience itchy skin, chronic fatigue, swelling in legs, abdominal pain, and yellowish eyes. The use of black seed oil can keep the functions of the liver, optimum and prevent damage.
Black seed oil can help you deal with eczema, acne, and psoriasis effectively. It also acts as a skin moisturizer and can soften your skin if applied regularly. Even if you wish to hydrate your hair to prevent damage, you can use black seed oil.
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Looking For an Effective Way to Lose Weight And Reduce Risk of Diabetes? Opt For Black Seed Oil - India.com
Everything you need to know about carbs – 9Honey
Thirty years ago, fat was the main diet demon and carbs fuelled the day with toast or cereal the standard breakfast, a simple sandwich at lunchtime. Back then, dinner wasn't dinner unless a potato or some rice or pasta graced the plate.
Now there are few food groups as tainted as the humble carbohydrate, especially when it comes to weight loss. So while many an extreme diet bans carbs completely, are they really that bad for us? Are some better than others? And how can you strike the right balance for you?
Carbohydrates are one of the three macro-nutrientsthat give the body energy (the other two are protein and fat). Carbs are primarily found in plant-based foods, including bread, rice, breakfast cereal, fruits, starchy vegetables and sugars and offer 17kJ (4 calories) of energy per gram.
The simplest form of carbohydrate is glucose, and carbohydrates range from mixes of simple sugars to hundreds of individual sugars that form more complex carbohydrates, such as breads and cereals.
Carbohydrates can also be grouped according to their glycaemic index. The glycaemic index refers to how quickly or how slowly a carbohydrate releases glucose into the bloodstream. Low GI foods such as wholegrains release the glucose relatively slowly, compared to higher GI foods such as white bread and rice.
Generally speaking, natural sources of carbohydrate, as found in whole, natural foods like fruit, starchy vegetables, and legumes, and wholegrains such as oats, barley and quinoa, are the best carbs to include in the diet on a daily basis.
When carbs are consumed as wholefoods, we get the added benefit other key nutrients, including fibre, vitamins and minerals. Wholegrain and low GI natural sources of carbohydrate are also far less likely to be overconsumed the way refined carbohydrates found in processed cereals, white breads, snack food, biscuits, juices and sugars are.
The amount of carb you need will depend largely on how active you are. If you spend all day on your feet and are already quite slim, you will need more than someone who sits all day does minimal exercise. And similarly, on days you train for an hour or more, you will need more than on a sedentary day when you barely leave the house.
Without shifting to a complete 'low carb' or keto approach, where carbs equate to less than 20 per cent of total calories or just 50-80g of total carbohydrates per day, the average adult will require 30-50 per cent of their daily calories from carbohydrates (you can see this is a wide range), equating to roughly 80-200g of carbohydrates each day, or 1-3 half cup serves at each meal.
As carbohydrate is the primary fuel for the muscles, it is a common belief that eating fewer carbs means that you automatically burn a greater amount of fat. While this is somewhat true, as the body prefers to burn carbs in the form of glucose as its primary energy source, if carbs are restricted to a great enough extent, even though the body will shift to burning fat it will also slow metabolic rate over time. This means that initially you will get good results from a strict low-carb approach, but over time metabolic rate will reduce and the body will begin burning fewer calories as a result. This effect can be observed in individuals who have great success initially using a low-carb diet but who find it difficult to maintain once they return to their usual carbohydrate intake.
The strongest sign that you're eating too much carbohydrate is if you're gaining weight, or not losing weight despite making a concerted effort to eat less and exercise. The easiest way to count your own carbs is to use an online monitoring app such as 'myfitnesspal'.
While extremely low-carb diets, or less than 50g of total carbs a day will support ketosis and rapid weight loss, for those not in keto, it is possible to eat too few carbs for the amount of activity you are doing.
Signs your carbs may be a little on the low side include constant sugar cravings and hunger and an inability to lose weight despite eating less and exercising more. This may suggest you need a little more carbs to successfully burn body fat. The minimum amount of carbs someone not in keto will require is roughly 80-100g plus another 20-30g for every hour of exercise.
Naturally every food that contains carbohydrates has a different amount and generally larger serves for example, larger slices of bread have more than smaller slices. As a general rule of thumb, cup of carbohydrate or one piece of fruit has about 20g of carbs per serve. For a more accurate analysis, simply check 'carbs per serve' on nutrition panels or use a monitoring program such as 'myfitnesspal'.
So carbs are not bad for us, rather it tends to be the types of carbs we commonly choose or are served. Large slices of sourdough or Turkish bread, the white rice in sushi and large serves of noodles and fries at night are when we get our carbs wrong.
On the other hand, fruit, vegetables and controlled portions of wholegrains have plenty to offer the key is to stick to natural, whole unprocessed carbs when you can. And if your goal is weight loss, keep a close eye on how much total carbohydrate you are consuming each day.
Susie Burrell is a leading Australian dietitian and nutritionist, founder of Shape Me, and prominent media spokesperson, with regular appearances in both print and television media commenting on all areas of diet, weight loss and nutrition.
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Everything you need to know about carbs - 9Honey
Mother of twins vows to get herself back with Strive to Thrive – Richland Source
MANSFIELD Stay-at-home mom Kara Franco has been overweight for most of her life, but she doesnt let it keep her from doing what she can to be a good mother, wife and having confidence in herself.
Im still pretty much physically fit and am able to do many things, but it (her weight) does still hold me back in a lot of ways, Franco said.
In 2010, Franco decided to get in shape for her wedding. She used a personal trainer, worked out with a friend and ran marathons. She ended up losing between 60-80 pounds.
Even with my wedding gown, I remember the lady was like, We probably should just buy you a new one, Franco recalled after losing so much weight.
Franco participated in many marathons, which aided her in losing over 60 pounds in 2010.
After their wedding, Franco and her husband decided they wanted to immediately try for kids, but they hit a roadblock when Franco discovered she was infertile.
They decided to go to Womens Care Inc. after trying to conceive for five years and received Intrauterine insemination treatment (IUI), a procedure in which sperm cells are directly placed into the uterus around the time ovulation occurs.
Julie Fogel, a licensed practice nurse at Womens Care Inc., loves making a difference in parents' lives.
What theyre doing here is great, Fogel said. Theres not a lot of facilities around here that do anything with infertility. We have one of the cheapest ones here because it is self-pay, we have the onsite lab here, so were able to run every lab that needs done and every ultrasound that needs done. Its all able to be done in one place thats here locally.
Womens Care Inc. has helped 50-100 women in the last 10 years with IUI and IVF treatments.
Franco and her husband went six times total for IUI treatments, but they unfortunately saw no results.
Every month youre like, Is this the month that Im pregnant? and then you take the test and its like, Nope! Didnt happen this month, Franco said. And then (I) would try to comfort (myself) with food, and so I did continue to gain weight.
Their next step was to try in vitro fertilization treatments (IVF), and although Womens Care Inc. doesnt do IVF treatments in Mansfield, they put Franco and her husband in touch with a fertility doctor at Ohio Reproductive Medicine.
Franco heard many stories about other women needing to lose weight in order to get pregnant, but her fertility doctor told her it wasnt an issue in her case.
It was not a factor to him, which was a blessing and a curse kind of because I didnt feel like I had to lose a bunch of weight in order to get pregnant, Franco said.
The first round of IVF for Franco and her husband was a success, but upon their six-week check up, they found out the fetus had no heartbeat.
It was extremely hard, especially because we tried so hard going through it, and then at the time I had a job where I was a manager to 20 something employees, Franco said.
The expense of the IVF treatments took a toll on the couple as well because they couldnt rely on insurance after the first round.
Each time you put a substantial amount of money down before you can even start the procedure, and then on top of that to pay for the drugs, Franco said.
After another unsuccessful attempt with IVF and making some choices, Franco and her husband decided to try one last time, and fortunately it worked.
Franco and her husband were in for an even bigger surprise, however. They discovered they were having twins.
After five years of unsuccessful attempts, Franco carried the twins to full-term in 2015 with no complications and delivered healthy a boy and girl: Zef and Zoey Franco.
Today, Franco still loves being a stay-at-home mom, but the combination of stress, medications she took while in treatment and giving birth led to her gaining back all of the weight she lost.
Kara Franco, 41, has grown up in Mansfield since she was 5 years old. She is a stay-at-home mom with twins and enjoys interior decorating. Most of the furniture at her home shes built herself.
Now that her kids are in school, Franco has a lot more time for herself and wants to use it responsibly by getting fit with challenges like Strive to Thrive. She hopes that with this weight loss journey she can also encourage her children to have a healthy relationship with food and fitness.
With my husband and I around, theyre predisposed to probably having those overweight traits, but I also dont want to stick that in their minds that they have to diet or workout, Franco said.
Im trying to let them see the healthy habits.
As her weight loss journey continues, Franco is determined to stay on track and continue to find herself outside of being a mom.
Ive typically always been a confident person, but even just getting my workouts in again and just the feeling I get from that has just been really nice, Franco said.
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Mother of twins vows to get herself back with Strive to Thrive - Richland Source