Category Archives: Lose Weight Fast

Fudge is an indulgent sweet treat, and can be found around the world in various forms. The delicious sugar-based sweet originated in the United States in the late 18th century, and has evolved to include a wealth of toppings, flavours and recipes today.

To make fudge, you only need four ingredients - milk, caster sugar, unsalted butter and vanilla extract.

The crystallisation process when these ingredients are heated is what creates the buttery and crumbly texture of the fudge we know and love.

You can add chocolate, mint, peanut butter and more to create your own variation of the achingly sweet dessert.

For those wanting to have a go, below is an easy recipe which takes just four ingredients.

Read More:Food recall: Stores issue recalls amid salmonella and allergy fears

Ingredients

Method

First, line an 18cm square tin with greaseproof paper.

Then put the milk, sugar and butter in a heavy-based saucepan. Heat slowly, stirring all the time, until the sugar has dissolved and the butter has melted.

Bring to the boil for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring all the time.

When the mixture rises dramatically take it off the heat, stirring all the time until the mixture goes back down.

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When the mixture reaches the soft-ball stage (this is 115C on a temperature probe) remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Leave to cool for five minutes.

Beat the mixture with a spoon for a few minutes until it starts to thicken and the gloss disappears.

Pour the mixture immediately into the tin and leave to set at room temperature.

Once set, cut the fudge into small pieces and store in a sealed container.

For a fun alternative, you can give this chocolate variation a go below.

Ingredients

Method

First, line an 18cm square tin with greaseproof paper.

Put the milk, sugar and butter in a heavy-based saucepan. Heat gently, stirring continuously with a wooden spoon, until the sugar has dissolved and the butter has melted.

Bring to the boil for 15 to 20 mins, still stirring all the time.

The mixture will bubble up when it does, take it off the heat and keep stirring it until it sinks back down. Then return it to the heat.

Start to take the temperature after about 15 mins (continuing to stir or it will burn on the bottom). The time it takes to come up to temperature may vary, particularly in a cold kitchen.

Once it reaches 115C on a temperature probe, remove it from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract and a good pinch of sea salt. Leave to cool for five mins.

Stir in the chopped chocolate and the mixture and keep stirring until the chocolate has melted.

Quickly pour the mixture into your prepared tin and leave to set at room temperature.

Before the fudge has completely set, you can add rows of different toppings like nuts, toffees or mini chocolate buttons just scatter them over the surface and gently press into the fudge until they stick.

Make sure the fudge is only slightly warm when you do this if its too hot the toppings can melt.

Once set, cut the fudge into small pieces and store in a sealed container.

Go here to read the rest:
How to make fudge with just 4 ingredients - Express

The jurys still deliberating on that question, but the more we study intermittent fasting, the more we learn it doesnt just impact weight

The word fact has been more than a little abused in recent history, but for those who respect the power of the fact, their consistency and dependability can be a balm, a warm hug of stiff impenetrability, a wall against those who would attack you.

Or, they can sit on your chest like a gorilla.

These weight loss facts are the latter. Terribly sorry to have to do this to you, gentle readers, but we better just rip the Band-Aid off. If it helps, these come directly from Jeffrey Gagnon, associate professor and chair of the Biology Department at Laurentian University, whose field of study is medical endocrinology (during an interview that was followed directly by the interviewer taking a very long, very brisk walk).

That is to say that successful weight-loss mechanisms, diets really, are measured not by the amount of weight a person loses, but by how long they lose it for. If you are able to maintain that weight loss, it is sustainable for you, then that is a successful diet. What Gagnons quote reveals is that if you are 200 pounds and you lose 20 per cent (or 40 pounds) you are now 160 pounds. If, in five years, you weigh 190 pounds (ten pounds from your old weight, but still five per cent below) you are considered a great weight loss success story.

And of course, many people have stories about neighbours and friends who have lost weight and kept it off because there are always outliers but that could be more about the stories we choose to tell, versus the ones we do not. A classic case of remembering the hits and forgetting the misses.

So now is talk of another diet, one known as intermittent fasting (IF). With all the above caveats in place, it is time to talk about scientific studies, weight loss, glucose metabolism, and how stressful eating can be.

Intermittent fasting is a form of calorie restriction, but instead of a daily reduction in calories as in, you move from eating 2,000 calories per day to 1,500 per day this is a restriction in the time of each day, or each week, that you consume calories. It is a calorie-restricted diet in that you are limiting the hours in which you consume calories.

There are many fasting schedules you can try, but here are the four main ones: 1. Alternate day fasting (consuming no calories whatsoever, every other day, then eating as usual on the non-fasting days); 2. A modification of this wherein participants consume calories on the usual fasting days, but less than 25 per cent of what they normally would; 3. Time-restricted fasting (restricting calories intake to specific times during the day), and; 4. Periodic fasting, a fasting that takes place for one or two days at the participants discretion, often an occasional fast, or a weekly personalised version like five days of eating, two days of fasting.

Time-restricted fasting appears to be the most achievable, and most popular, type of fasting schedule. That said, according to a small and short-term study, there is not really a statistically superior fasting schedule.

And now, to the nitty gritty. While IF is still somewhat new in research circles, it has come to a point that a meta-analysis, published by the open access journal, the Journal of Clinical Medicine, has been created. A study or studies, if you will.

The meta-analysis examined the studies available on intermittent fasting on individuals who had no chronic diseases affecting glucose metabolism (like diabetes) and applied rigorous analysis to the quality of the studies performed so much so that out of the 2,814 studies they found in their search, only 12 studies made the cut.

As well, they add the additional issues that crop up with such studies: dietary studies are notoriously difficult to conduct, with the reliance on self-reporting and adherence to study from participants and often small groups of people over short periods. In fact, the current crop of studies only extended as far as four to 24 weeks.

But even with these challenges, there were remarkable findings. Not so much for weight loss, although there was that, but in the other effects that IF can have on the body.

Yes, studies are showing weight loss while fasting intermittently. Not that much, compared to other diets, and its most likely because participants are consuming fewer calories.

Per the meta-analysis: No significant weight loss was observed in studies that adjusted the fasting time while maintaining total calorie intake. Thus, the main pathophysiologic mechanism of weight loss through an Intermittent Fasting Diet is likely to be a reduction in calories.

As well, this should be considered in addition to the gorilla-sized facts from the beginning of this article.

But the interesting aspects of fasting come from our understanding of the endocrine system (a collection of glands producing hormones that regulate metabolism, growth and development, tissue function, sexual function, reproduction, sleep and mood), and the stress of consuming calories.

The meta-analysis found that there was an improvement in fasting blood glucose and insulin resistance through IF as compared with a non-fasting control group. To understand why that may be with heavy emphasis on the may we need to understand our stomach, the largest endocrine organ in the body.

The stomach produces our hunger hormone, called ghrelin, and our colon produces most of a hunger-supressing hormone called Glucagon-like Perptide-1 (GLP-1).

Ghrelin is a recent discovery (2000) and is the hormone responsible for your hunger pains, nausea and other you must eat indicators, like hangry.

But unlike sleep, which runs with circadian rhythms, ghrelin begins because that is the time you usually eat. We essentially train our system to tell us when to eat, based on when we ate before. And so, if you dont eat, your body insists upon it, very strongly, with rising levels of ghrelin that can actually be measured in the blood.

When someone restricts their eating periods refusing to listen to the insistent ghrelin, in effect then they can actually begin to blunt its effects, making it slightly easier to fast.

When you do eat, the ghrelin production crashes, and is immediately replaced by GLP-1, an appetite suppressant that shuts off the bodys processes to insist you eat.

Ghrelin was highly researched at first due to its potential for fighting obesity to shut off the hunger hormone. But it didnt work so well (somewhat like those older commercials that mentioned leakage (from a certain area). It is now being pursued as an appetite stimulant for treatment of wasting diseases and cancer.

GLP-1, however, is now a treatment for Type 2 diabetes, and for morbid obesity. And this is perhaps where the influence of intermittent fasting on glucose and insulin could be found. But again, the research is still unclear.

But the stress and no, not just choosing what is for dinner is another avenue of IF worthy of further study as it relates to the oxidization of the body. Free radicals, anyone?

When you ingest calories, particularly fats and energy-dense things like refined sugars and saturated fats, its like throwing a lot of fuel into the furnace, Gagnon said. The wood stove in this metaphor is going to be the mitochondria of your cell from a cell biology background thats like the main furnace in your cells ... thats the thing thats taking all of these fats and carbs and different things and making energy for your body.

To continue the furnace analogy: And so if you jam in a ton of gas-soaked wood, its going to get really, really hot.

This overly-intense mitochondrial stress creates cellular stress, and that cellular stress causes the cells to oxidize. This is the cause of Reactive Oxygen Species: unstable molecules that easily react with other molecules in a cell. Too many of these in cells may cause damage to DNA, RNA, and proteins, and may cause cell death. Reactive oxygen species are perhaps more commonly known as free radicals.

If you reduce that stress with fewer energy-dense (but not necessarily nutrient dense) calories, what happens?

As you reduce oxidative stress in your body from eating, you start to get cell functionality back something like insulin resistance, Gagnon said. Thats a common thing that happens in Type 2 diabetes: you make insulin, but your cells are kind of like yeah, I know its here but I dont really care. Thats partly caused by oxidative stress. So if you take out the stress the reactive oxygen species out of the individual then you might start to get that insulin sensitivity back.

But for all the talk of potential health benefits, fasting isnt easy. It not only requires an overabundance of research, but also requires the faster to overcome a complex wave of redundant systems. Your body wants you to feed it and has multiple mechanism for getting that message across.

If one system in our body fails to stimulate hunger, theres redundancy, Gagnon said. There are many other hormones, there are other pathways that will take over and ensure that you are going to find food, and youre going to drive yourself to go and find food. Even if you block ghrelin, something else is going to pick up the slack.

Additionally, all of modern society, including family and celebratory events and even workplace

schedules, are built around prescribed eating at prescribed times.

But if you are able to overcome the ghrelin and other systems then there could be potential for health benefits in intermittent fasting that extend beyond any short-term weight loss. Do your research, follow the advice of trained professionals, and continue to track the research as it comes available.

But for right now, there isnt much.

There is research, however, into the importance of a holistic approach to the obesity crisis. New

guidelines released by Obesity Canada and the Canadian Association of Bariatric Physicians and Surgeons advises health care workers that any talk of weight loss needs to focus on root causes, not any pre-conceived notions of fat.

Working with people to understand their context and culture, integrating their root causes, which include biology, genetics, social determinants of health, trauma and mental health issues, are essential to developing personalized plans,said Dr. David Lau, co-lead author of the guidelines and professor at the University of Calgary.

From his point of view, and Gagnons, its about understanding yourself first, and learning to understand your body after.

Get yourself to a place where you feel good; youre healthy, and youre under control, Gagnon said. And if that means you still have a little bit of weight, thats awesome own it. You know that youre healthy, and eventually, the less we stigmatize, maybe society will come around.

And so, once again, the answer to a diet question is: simple, complex, and a good pinch of I dont know.

Jenny Lamothe is a freelance writerand voice actor in Greater Sudbury. Contact her through her website, JennyLamothe.com.

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Discover: Is intermittent fasting the weight-loss cure people think it is? - Sudbury.com

Eating disorders can lead to several issues and increase the risk of multiple chronic conditions. Many children experience eating disorders of different types. Here are some of these and their symptoms.

Eating disorders in children may affect their development

Eating disorders can affect a child's overall health. It can lead to deficiencies of several essential nutrients or lead weight gain in some cases. There is no fixed cause of eating disorder in children but biological, social and behavioural factors can contribute to this condition. Children or teens with eating disorders may experience distress, low self-esteem, fear of being overweight, weakness, fatigue and much more. If left uncontrolled for longer it can also cause anxiety, depression and other mental health issues. There are three types of eating disorders that can affect children. Here's everything you need to know about these and what can be done about these.

In this type, the person has the fear of gaining weight and become dangerously thin. People with this disorder eat less than requires on purpose. Some of the symptoms that can be experienced in this type are- less than normal weight, undernourished, low energy levels and negative body image.

Consumption of fewer calories than required can affect your child's weightPhoto Credit: iStock

In this condition, a person overeats followed by actions to make up for overeating. Usually, the person vomits willingly. Some also try fast weight loss pills or heavy exercises. This can significantly increase the risk of several chronic conditions.

In binge eating the person overeats in a large amount. It leads to overweight and a higher risk of serious health conditions. It often makes the person feel guilty after binge eating. You may notice the child getting indulged extra calorie consumption.

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Also read:Picky Eaters: Tips For Parents To Make Sure Kids Eat Healthy; 5 Interesting Lunch Ideas That Won't Fail

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.

DoctorNDTV is the one stop site for all your health needs providing the most credible health information, health news and tips with expert advice on healthy living, diet plans, informative videos etc. You can get the most relevant and accurate info you need about health problems like diabetes, cancer, pregnancy, HIV and AIDS, weight loss and many other lifestyle diseases. We have a panel of over 350 experts who help us develop content by giving their valuable inputs and bringing to us the latest in the world of healthcare.

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Eating Disorders In Children: Know Different Types And Their Symptoms - Doctor NDTV

A study has found that people whose weight reduced from indicating obesity to indicating overweight between early adulthood and midlife had a halved risk of dying during the follow-up period.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimate that the global prevalence of obesity has almost tripled since 1975. In 2016, more 650 million adults had obesity.

In the United States, the prevalence of obesity among adults increased from 30.5% to 42.4% of the population between 1999 and 2018, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Obesity is associated with an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and some types of cancer, making it a major cause of preventable premature death.

Estimates of the number of deaths that can be attributed to obesity vary widely, however, because of the complex interactions between body weight and factors such as age, smoking, diet, and physical exercise.

In addition, scientists are still unsure whether carrying excess weight in young adulthood causes harmful physiological changes that cannot be reversed by subsequent weight loss.

A team led by researchers at the Boston University School of Public Health, in Massachusetts, set out to discover whether losing weight after having obesity in early adulthood is associated with a reduction in mortality risk later in life.

The scientists recently published their findings in the journal JAMA Network Open.

Doctors often use a measure called body mass index (BMI) to determine whether a person has a healthy weight. To calculate this, the doctor divides the persons weight in kilograms by their height in meters squared.

Experts define a healthy BMI as 18.524.9, one indicating overweight as 25.029.9, and one indicating obesity as 30 or higher.

The researchers behind the present analysis analyzed data from 24,205 people in the U.S. who were part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

As part of this survey, scientists recorded the weights of the participants when they were between the ages of 40 and 74. They also asked the participants how heavy they had been 10 years earlier, which the researchers described as midlife, and at the age of 25, which they defined as early adulthood.

The team behind the current study looked at BMI changes from early adulthood to midlife and their effects on mortality, measured during the NHANES follow-up period. Then, they took into account other factors that affect mortality risk, such as sex, past and current smoking, and education level.

Over a mean follow-up period of 10.7 years, there were 5,846 deaths among the participants.

The team found that going from a BMI indicating obesity in young adulthood to one indicating overweight by midlife was associated with a 54% reduction in mortality risk, compared with maintaining a BMI of obesity over the same period.

Also, people who shifted from having obesity to overweight between young adulthood and midlife had much the same mortality risk as people who had overweight only during this period.

The results taken together suggest that the harmful effects of obesity can be reversed.

The scientists estimate that 3.2% of all the early deaths in the study would have been prevented if people with BMIs indicating obesity had reduced this measure to fall within the overweight range by midlife.

In addition, they calculate that 12.4% of all the early deaths could have been avoided if everyone with a BMI indicating overweight or obesity had reduced it to fall within the healthy range by middle age.

The results indicate an important opportunity to improve population health through primary and secondary prevention of obesity, particularly at younger ages, says senior study author Prof. Andrew Stokes.

Another study author, Dr. JoAnn Manson, chief of preventive medicine at Brigham and Womens Hospital, in Boston, refers to the link between obesity and a range of chronic illnesses:

Although this study focused on preventing premature deaths, maintaining a healthy weight will also reduce the burden of many chronic diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, and even cancer, she says.

Reflecting the public health challenge posed by overweight and obesity, however, the study found that weight loss was rare among the participants.

Only 1.3% of individuals with BMIs in the overweight range at 25 years of age had a healthy BMI 10 years before the NHANES interview, while 0.8% went from obesity to overweight by this measure, and 0.2% went from obesity to a healthy BMI.

And while losing weight in early adulthood was associated with a substantial reduction in mortality risk, the same was not true for those who lost weight later in life.

The authors believe that this is because weight loss later in life may result from worsening health, rather than adopting a more healthful lifestyle.

They write:

The discrepancy likely reflects the different nature of weight loss at an earlier versus later life course. Weight loss at an older age is often unintentional, associated with underlying health conditions, and/or age-related loss of muscle mass, whereas weight loss earlier in life tends to capture changes in fat mass and is less likely to be affected by the onset of chronic diseases.

Transitioning from a healthy or overweight BMI in young adulthood to a BMI in the obesity range in midlife was associated with increases in mortality risks of 32% and 47%, respectively, compared with staying in the healthy range.

However, the researchers report that going from a healthy BMI to an overweight BMI was not associated with a significant change in mortality risk, compared with maintaining a healthy weight.

This is in keeping with other studies, which suggest that being in the overweight range does not necessarily shorten lives, though this remains controversial.

Rounding off their report, the scientists explain that their study had several limitations.

To assess weight change between early adulthood and midlife, the scientists had relied on the participants recollections of their weights 10 and 25 years earlier. In addition, the team was unable to account for physical activity or diet in early adulthood.

Finally, the proportion of participants who lost weight was small, which the scientists say limits the precision of their estimates.

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Weight loss in young adults with obesity may halve mortality risk - Medical News Today

If we are all being honest with each other, every one of us has flaws about our physical structure we would like to change. Maybe it is adding some muscle, possibly looking to get more defined or even just losing weight in general.

Well, if the latter is your main objective, maybe you should consider joining the official Pittsburgh Steelers weight loss club!

Entering the 2020 season, there are already a number of success stories. Benny Snell Jr. has lost 12 pounds on the teams plan, and wide receiver James Washington told media on Monday he has lost 13 pounds, down to 207 pounds, entering the 2020 season.

In all seriousness, there is a very strong trend going on throughout the Steelers offseason roster, and it is all about conditioning. You hear Mike Tomlin talk about it repeatedly, and the players are responding.

I feel a lot lighter out there running around, Washington said via a Zoom conference call. I feel more explosive coming off the ball. Just being able to jump is night and day different. I feel like an all-around new person. When you shed some weight like that and lean down a little bit more, its all paying off.

Tomlin speaks of players overall conditioning, and it is amazing to see how different the reality of the NFL is compared to what players think it is when they enter the league. So many feel bigger and stronger is the route they must take when they get drafted, but it couldnt be further from the truth. Youve seen big strides especially at running back with LeVeon Bell, James Conner and Snell all losing a significant amount of weight entering their sophomore seasons. All but Snell, which is to be determined, have had tremendous second years as a professional.

Will the conditioning pay off? In the early stages of the season it absolutely will pay off. Fans must remember there is no preseason, there were no Organized Team Activities (OTAs), there was no minicamp and there were not strength and conditioning coaches waiting for you at the team facility to get your body physically ready for the season.

It was all on the individual.

Teams who have players who took their job seriously this offseason will see their hard work pay off in the early stages of the season, while other teams still get acclimated and in game shape.

It doesnt seem as if the Steelers will be one of those teams, and that is a good thing.

Stay tuned to BTSC for the latest news and notes surrounding the black-and-gold as they roll through training camp and prepare for the 2020 regular season just three weeks away.

The rest is here:
James Washington joins the Steelers official weight loss club - Behind the Steel Curtain

If Mike Breeden wasnt a fighter, theres no question what hed be doing instead.

Breedens family is in the restaurant business. Growing up, all signs pointed to Breeden being the next member of the bloodline to follow suit.

(My family) is either running a restaurant or they own their own restaurant, Breeden recently told MMA Junkie. Id probably be doing that and Id still be pretty hefty.

During his youth, Breeden didnt have any interest in pursuing MMA greatness or any athletic greatness for that matter. He was content doing his own thing.

As a kid, I really didnt have any desire to become a fighter, Breeden said. I watched old kung fu movies and Id play around with my friends and stuff. I had no desire to become a fighter.

How hefty was Breeden? Breeden, who is currently listed as being 5-foot-11, estimates he weighed upward of 265 pounds around the time of his high school graduation.

Through his high school days, it seemed like Breeden would be going down that path until his uncle suggested he try martial arts. Breeden said he initially voiced his interest, but like many other potential hobbies he stumbled across, he didnt have the get-up-and-go to turn words into actions.

I just really didnt enjoy working out, Breeden said. You couldnt get me to run. You couldnt get me to lift. You couldnt get me to do anything if it didnt have to do with food.

Seeing his nephews lack of action, Breedens uncle dragged him into the gym. The rest was history, to which Breeden says he owes his uncle a lot. From the time he signed up for classes, Breeden focused on physical wellbeing and self-improvement a rare occurrence at that point.

As Breeden grew as a fighter, he slimmed down in weight. After one year of training, Breeden estimates he lost about 100 pounds. The tremendous weight loss is unusual by pretty much every standard. Breeden thanks his coach, whose unorthodox methods tricked him into slimming down.

How (the weight) came off was that my coach kept tricking me, Breeden said. He was like, Hey, you want to fight? Im like, Sure, I think Ill be pretty good at it. At this point I was in the low 200s. OK, well go 185. Well schedule your first fight (at middleweight). I got to 185 and then after that, Im like, Lets do this. Lets start looking for another one. Hes like, We can get you down lower. Then, I got to 170. Hes like, Nope.

Then, I got to 155 and again, hes like, Nope. At this point, I was like, Nah, nah, nah, nah. Ive been at this for so long, I need something to reward myself for all the hard work. 155 is where I ended up starting my (pro) career. He just kind of tricked me into it, I guess.

It all seems to have happened so quickly. When Breeden, now a 155-pound fighter with an 8-2 pro record, takes a step back and reflects, hes blown away. Physically, mentally, and emotionally, Breeden is astounded by the improvements hes made.

I still cant believe it because of the mindset I had back then, Breeden said. I was just happy with being big. I found something I enjoyed doing and I fell in love with: the art of MMA. When you enjoy doing something, its pretty easy to get the weight off when you stay active doing your workouts.

Its so much better. Im just way healthier.

While hes winning his battle to maintain a healthy lifestyle, he hasnt won the war. Temptations to eat tasty foods still exist as does his loving family, who is always looking out for his tastebuds.

(Even now,) its still a struggle, Breeden said. Its tough. Everybody in my family is in the restaurant business. Any time Im around them, theyre trying to feed me, Oh, youre too skinny. Lets eat. Lets eat.

On Tuesday, Breeden will fight for a UFC contract when he takes on Anthony Romero (7-0) at DWCS 30 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Having endured the long journey up until this moment, Breeden understands the importance of capitalizing. His dream is one impressive win away.

It would mean everything all the hard work over the past 10 years is paying off, Breeden said. Im showing everyone that everything is possible if you stay on your grind day in and day out. You can accomplish anything.

Inspiring others isnt what Breeden set out to do when he got off the couch and into the gym over a decade ago. However, now that the platform is there, hes willing to be someone others look up to. Its all about finding what works for each individual.

With dedication, anything is possible, Breeden said. Weve just got to find whatever works for them. Not everybodys journey is the same. Some people can get up, head to the gym, and lift some weights. They get like a runners high. I just had to find what got me going and it was martial arts. It could be boxing (or) kickboxing even lifting weights.

Youve just got to find the one thing you truly enjoy doing that helps you relieve stress and makes you happy. Everything will take care of itself.

Excerpt from:
Losing weight, gaining dreams: How Mike Breedens weight loss transformation turned into an MMA career - MMA Junkie

A lot of women tend to struggle with weight loss, especially after childbirth. Anyone struggling through such a problem can easily find others to draw inspiration from, and Carrie Underwood is one such person.

Recently, Carrie Underwood had aninterviewwith Shape, where she spoke on her fitness routine. Despite having two children, the singer looks amazing, and she decided to let her fans in on the secret.

Underwood and her spouse, Mike Fisher, have two children 5-year-old Isaiah and one-year-old Jacob. Like every woman, she took on a lot of weight during childbirth. However, as she explained to Shape, she was able to turn things around.

Speaking to the fitness magazine, Underwood explained that she has always believed in workouts. Even though she and her husband have been swamped, she always finds the time to hit the gym.

The singer also explained that she was a bit lucky with her weight when she had her second child, Isaiah. In part, shesaid:

"After I had Isaiah... I was lucky: I gained only 30 pounds, which is the recommended amount, and I exercised throughout my pregnancy."

Underwood highlighted that she faced a bit of a challenge due to her C-Section. This birthing method meant that she couldn't work out for six weeks after her delivery.

However, she didn't waste any time as soon as she got the clearance to exercise again. It was straight to the gym for her.Underwood's weight loss journey extends beyond just her pregnancy period.

According toreports, she once explained that she was at her heaviest while on reality TV competition "American Idol." At the time, Underwood had begun taking weight loss supplements, as she believed them to be the cure.

The singer pointed out that she wasn't eating well, as she didn't even know the right things to eat. Between the supplements and starving herself, it all became too much.

Underwood eventually stopped the supplements and went with a healthy exercise regimen. She also paired this with the right meals including a vegan diet.

Now, she feels great about her body and the changes that she has managed to make. As for heradviceto others, the singer claims that people should learn to eat well and exercise.

Underwood also counseled having some downtime to rest and ease off the stress of the day. According to her, just ten minutes a day would be nice.Concluding, she pointed out that people should learn to develop a positive body image.

More here:
Carrie Underwood's Weight Loss Journey Impressive Pics of Country Star Then & Now - AmoMama

Throughout her pregnancy, Ciara has stayed booked and busy. As a matter of fact, she shot her "Rooted" music video two days before giving birth.

"It's all #Rooted in me! 10 mos Preggo, In Studio, & Labor," she shared on Instagram. "From being in the 10th month of my pregnancy, in studio, & literally in labor working on this song, it was truly a memorable experience creating the Rooted song & video."

Aside fromher impressive work ethic,Ciara's catchy tune wasan anthem she made for the Black community.At the end of her music video, she left her fans with a powerful message.

"To all my young Rosa's and young Luther's, keep marching.Don't stop fighting for what you believe in," a statement read. "To all my Black queens and kings, continue to plant and spread seeds of love, hope and pride in your tribe.Everything you need to survive and thrive is rooted in you.Stay rooted."

See more here:
Ciara Reveals Her Weight Loss Goal After Giving Birth to Baby No. 3 - E! NEWS

Do not ignore post-workout hunger pangs and eat mindfully

When you workout, there are a number of things that you need to do over and above the workout. The food you eat before and after you exercise determines how you are going to perform during exercise and how you feel after your workout. For many people, completing a workout is often accompanied with hunger that needs to be satisfied as soon as possible. Well, this feeling of incessant hunger after workout can be because of improper nutrition before workout, says nutritionist Nmami Agarwal.

According to Agarwal, feeling excessively hungry before a workout can be because of improper fuelling before a workout, depletion of glycogen stores, or dehydration.

Also read: What Is Dehydration? Know How To Deal With It

"A decrease in the glycogen store indirectly stimulates the release of the hunger hormone called ghrelin, signalling your brain to ask for more fuel in order to recover. Simply put, post-workout hunger is your body's response to the calories you've just burnt," she tells DoctorNDTV.

The nutritionist goes on to add that these hunger cues must definitely not be ignored. Instead, you need to be more mindful of what you eat after a workout. Eating unhealthy junk food or comfort food can sabotage the hard work you put in exercising and following a healthy diet.

Avoid binging on comfort food after your workoutsPhoto Credit: iStock

"The recovery meal should comprise of protein, complex carbs, and healthy fats. You can have almond milk smoothie made with fresh fruits, nuts, and seeds," Agarwal recommends.

Also read:Ease PMS Symptoms With This Simple Morning Routine: Try It Today!

"Just make sure that you plan your post-workout meals in advance so that you can manage your hunger better and also manage to control the portion size," says Agarwal.

Also read:Weight Loss: This 30-Minute HICT Workout Can Make You Feel The Burn

(Nmami Agarwal is nutritionist at Nmami Life)

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You always hear about how to eat more plants. But when was the last time somebody talked to you about eating less meat? Granted, moving to a 100 percent whole-food plant-based diet is optimal for your health, and according to the work of Dr. Dean Ornish and other leading heart doctors, the only diet thats been shown to not only prevent but actually reverse heart disease is a whole-food plant-based diet.

Studies have linked the saturated fat in red meat to heart disease: The fat causes buildup of plaque in yourblood vessels which restricts oxygen and nutrients from getting from your heart to the rest of your bodyorgans, brain, lungswhich is the onset of heart disease.

Studies have also linked plant-based diets, which are higher in fiber,to lowering or controlling blood sugar, which leads to weight loss and the reversal of high blood sugar, as well as pre-diabetes and diabetes in patientswhoditch meat and add more fiber-filled vegetables, fruits, nuts and seedsto their diets.

One study foundthat people who cut out meat lost 4.5 pounds more than people who didnt, over an 18 week period.Dieters who go vegetarian not only lose weight more effectively than those on low-calorie diets but also improve their metabolism by reducing muscle fat, thestudy found.

However, if youve grown up thinking that eating animals isnt only normal but necessary, that kind of wholesale change to eating zero meat can be hard. Yet its possible, and with the strategies experts outline below, you can learn how to eat less meat.

Start by thinking of your favorite foods. Most of them will already have a meatless alternative, says Amy Longard, plant-based chef and registered holistic nutritionist in Ottawa, Ontario. For instance, if you like burritos, swap out the chicken for pinto or refried beans, and skip the sour cream or cheesebut add extra guacamole. Even if you like pizza and burgers, the same thing applies: All of these foods are now available in tasty vegetarian versions and are widely available at restaurants, fast food chains, and well-stocked grocery stores, she adds.

While not ideal for the long-term, these meat alternatives provide a great "bridge" as you transition to a more plant-centric diet. Although its best not to do this as a long-term strategy, theres nothing wrong with using these products as an initial step, says Leslie Elder, M.D., internal medicine physician in Portland, Ore. Fortunately, no matter where you shop or where you live, you can always find plant-based meat alternatives. Even grocery store chains like Kroger are rolling out their own versions.

Most Americans plate their meals with meat as the focus, which means theyre eating bigger portions of meat than even some organizations say is okay. As a result, you consume more saturated fat, cholesterol and other unhealthy things. Instead, to help make this transition easier, think of your meat as a side and not the entre. This can be as satisfying as having a larger amount of meat, Elder says. Plus, with less meat, youll have more room for other things like vegetables, fruit and legumes, and whole grains, or favorites like rice and beans.

When was the last time you pulled over and took a bite out of roadkill? Wouldnt ever consider doing it? Yet chew on this: That meat youre eating is little more than the flesh of a dead animal but because its been heavily seasoned and/or sauced, your tastebuds are turned on. As Elder says, Most people consider the ketchup or barbecue sauce to be more important than the burger. Think of bacon, for instance. If it were served to you as a slab of plain meat and not smoked or salted, you probably wouldnt like it. The upshot? Add spices and sauces to the plant-based foods youre trying, and you may be surprised how much you like them.

This global movement, which got its start in the United States during World War II, and then picked up by Sir Paul McCartney and given a cultural boost as "Meat Free Monday" in honor of his late wife, Linda, encourages people to go meatless every Monday. Try it. Who knows? You might feel so great as a result that you start moving to other days of the week. Have fun with Meatless Taco Tuesdays, trying Impossible versus Beyond or try Gardein versus Dr. Praeger's options, and do a blind taste test with the family. They may be surprised and ask, which one is the meat? You can answer, None of them!

If youre following the standard American diet, youre probably eating animal products with every meal: Eggs and sausage for breakfast, a chicken sandwich or salad for lunch, and a burger at night. Yet by limiting animal foods to lunch alone, youre a step closer to going meatless, and you gain a digestive edge. Meats are heavy foods, and your digestion is naturally strongest in the middle of the day, Elder says. In other words, if you are eating meat, youll do a better job of processing and assimilating it at noon. Of course, this doesnt negate the health consequences of eating meat but try this tactic and youll at least be eating less. This could even inspire you to take the meat out of lunches down the road.

If youre cooking meat-based dishes at home, replace half of the meat in your dish with mushrooms or beans, which in a pasta sauce or burger will add taste, fiber, and nutrients. Studies show that youll be just as satisfied as if you used 100 percent meat, and its yet another way to push the meat out of your diet.

The more plant-based foods you eat, the better for your heart, your weight, and your overall health. For more ways to add plants to your diet, for heart health, weight loss, and the environment, check out The Beet's hundreds of recipes here.

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7 Ways to Eat Less Meat to Lose Weight, Lower Heart Disease Risk - The Beet