“This study suggests that when people are trying to lose weight, they should try to get the right amount of sleep and reduce their stress. Some people may just need to cut back on their schedules and get to bed earlier. Others may find that exercise can reduce stress and help them sleep. For some people, mind/body techniques such as meditation also might be helpful.”

– Charles Elder, MD, MPH, an investigator with the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research [via ScienceDaily].

Even if you’re not trying to lose weight, getting plenty of sleep and doing what you can to reduce your stress level is an essential part of good health.

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These are seven things you CAN control to reduce your risk for developing heart disease. The Simple 7 is brought to you by the American Heart Association.

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I wonder how many people actually make it to the back panel:

Uh-oh. 150 calories for every 7 fish? That’s about 750 calories for the package, and not a very big one, either.

If you missed Nutrition 101, when you eat more calories than your body uses, you gain weight. If you don’t check nutrition facts, you may want to start.

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Our finding that living a physically active lifestyle is associated with a 40% reduction in the genetic predisposition to common obesity is an important observation for public health.

Promoting physical activity, particularly in those who are genetically predisposed, may be an important approach to controlling the current increasing obesity epidemic.

–PloS Medicine: Physical Activity Attenuates the Genetic Predisposition to Obesity in 20,000 Men and Women from EPIC-Norfolk Prospective Population Study

Your genes are your genes. Deal with it. You still need physical activity in your life.

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“We are presenting results of the first randomized controlled intervention trial demonstrating that increased water consumption is an effective weight loss strategy.”

“People should drink more water and less sugary, high-calorie drinks. It’s a simple way to facilitate weight management.”

– Brenda Davy, senior author of this study.

I guess it turns out that water is good for you and can help you lose weight.

Read the full article from Science Daily.

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[Source: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: CDC Vital Signs: Adult Obesity; August 2010].

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According to this CNN.com article, Drew Carey eliminated most carbohydrates** from his diet and did cardio exercise on a regular basis. 

Congrats to him for making changes and getting healthier.  Hopefully people can take note that changes are possible.  I suppose the excuse can be made that he as all the money and time in the world to do make it happen.  Don’t make that excuse.  You can make it happen too. 

**Side Note**

It bugs me when people say they eliminated “carbs”  when they’re still eating fruits and vegetables.  Fruits and vegetables have carbohydrates and are good for you.  All carbs are not the enemy; all carbohydrates are not created equal. 

Good sources of carbohydrates, like fruits and vegetables, should be part of a healthy weight-loss eating plan.

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Higher morbidity in association with overweight and obesity has been observed for hypertension, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea and respiratory problems and some types of cancer (endometrial, breast, prostate, and colon). 

Obesity is also associated with complications of pregnancy, menstrual irregularities, hirsutism, stress incontinence, and psychological disorders (depression).

[Source: National Institutes of Health: Clinical Guidelines on the Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults: The Evidence Report.  Emphasis added].

Maybe it’s time to take a little better care of ourselves.

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I even saw a billboard along the freeway last Sunday that claimed HCG is “the healthy way to lose weight.” 

I still get comments on my old HCG post about how HCG is the best thing that ever happened to the commenter.  I always respond or think the same thing… I never said it doesn’t work (how could it not help you lose weight, you only eat 500 calories/day), I said IT IS NOT A HEALTHY WAY TO LOSE WEIGHT.

You didn’t wake up one morning 20, 40 or 100 pounds overweight so why do you expect a miracle injection or pill to help you lose the weight almost overnight?

But what do I know.  Here’s what other experts say:

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) for Fat Loss: “Fallacy and Hazard” – By Travis Saunders at Obesity Panacea

HCG Worthless as Weight-Loss Aid – Dr. Stephen Barrett at Diet Scam Watch

$5 Million Fine for Bogus Weight Loss Claims – By Dr. Yoni Freedhoff at Weighty Matters

Here’s another link to my post on HCG that has links to other studies and expert opinions.

Sadly, no one really cares about health anymore.  For consumers, it’s all about the “quick fix.”  For marketers, it’s all about pushing the “hot” product that sells.

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The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns consumers to be smart about diet products.  Here’s some of what it had to say:

“Achieving a healthy weight takes work. Take a pass on any product that promises miraculous results without the effort.”

“Even if you’re successful in taking the weight off, permanent weight loss requires permanent lifestyle changes. Don’t trust any product that promises once-and-for-all results without ongoing maintenance.”

Check out more from the FTC: Facts for Consumers: Weighing the Evidence in Diet Ads

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