I was told that the reason I was getting psychologically abused for my body was because I was fat, and I was fat because I ate too much food. I started restricting in hopes that I could finally be liked, be accepted, and feel OK. I never ever would have called it an eating disorder (ED). I just thought I was trying to be pretty, normal, and healthy. Since culture contends that beauty, normalcy, and health are synonymous with thinness, I skipped meals often and waited for the day when I would emerge from the cocoon of my fatness and finally become the real thin me. At the age of 10 or 11, I started starving myself for the first time, while also doing two to three hours of exercise a day. This type of behavior continued for another decade. My ED was never detected because doctors rarely suspect fat people struggle with this illness and because emaciation (and whiteness, it seemed) was part of ED diagnostic criteria things I never was and never would be.

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As the Fat Daughter of Immigrants, Dieting was a Toxic Component of Assimilation - Refinery29

The restaurant known for baking great pizza and encouraging healthy lifestyles yes, the two can co-exist, they say is back open with shiny new digs in a new location. Tour de Pizza, which had previously operated in the Publix center on 38th Avenue North, has finally reopened, now serving up its fantastic pies next to the Racquet Club of St. Petersburg at 170 47th Avenue Northeast.

The stylish new spot features a sleek bar, a gorgeous courtyard, fireplace, and a combined seating capacity of 150 people. And while its the pizza that keeps people coming in, Tour de Pizza also offers garlic knots, cheese bread, wings, salads, subs, calzones and Stromboli. They even have desserts, along with a full bar of beer, wine and cocktails.

Their specialty and build-your-own pizzas are a draw, to be sure, but our favorites are the long list of breakfast pizzas, highlighted by the Honey Pie Breakfast Pizza. Its a delicious creation topped with scrambled eggs, Italian sausage, bacon, ham, cheddar, mozzarella, spinach, tomato and honey. The restaurant is open from 11 am 9 pm daily, with online ordering for carryout also available.

What makes Tour de Pizza stand out is the wild story of its owner and the restaurants dedication to using healthy ingredients and making pizza you can feel good about eating. Matt McClellan founded Tour de Pizza in 2008, and it was then that he invented what he called the pizza diet. McClellan has dedicated his life to changing the image of pizza from a junk food to a health food, and in 2009 he went on a 1,300-mile bike ride from Saint Pete to New York City to deliver his message that pizza can be both healthy and delicious.

Eventually, he went on to become a professional body-builder as a 41-year-old father of two on an all-pizza diet. In the years since, his stardom in the pizza world has only grown as hes gone on to host the worlds largest pizza party and founded the New York City Pizza Marathon.

At Tour de Pizza you get the chance to experience the same delicious, nutrition that made Matt a champion, a winner, and GQ magazine elite athlete of the world in April of 2016, the website says. If youre pumped for pizza and fitness, Tour De Pizza is the place to be. At Tour De Pizza we pride ourselves on making delicious, healthy food at an affordable price.

Follow Tour de Pizza on facebook for updates and more information.

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Tour de Pizza returns, bringing 'Pizza Diet' back to St. Pete - I Love the Burg

We have been constantly plagued with different diets to achieve weight loss: intermittent fasting, keto, juice cleanses, paleo, Weight Watchers and of course, the most common, CICO. While there are many benefits and evidence for such a diet, there are also some serious catches. But first, lets breakdown how this specific dietary plan work

What is the CICO diet?

The CICO diet is an abbreviation for the term calories in, calories out and is a regime that consists of consuming fewer calories than those you burn. It is perhaps one of the most common and popular gateways into the world of weight loss. The idea behind this dietary method is that as long as youre consuming enough for your bodys essential needs, you can eat whatever you want and lose weight since youre in a constant calorie deficit. And, for most, it seems to work.

Just one scroll through the CICO diet subreddit will boast hundreds of successful weight loss results, with individuals often using a calorie-tracking app to calculate their necessary caloric consumption. But while it may help you lose weight, that does not mean its a perfect method for healthy eating and living. It only works as an approach when people use the method the right way. Every dietary approach comes with a catch, here are four.

1 Nutrients are more important than calories

According to this method, if you maintain your specific caloric deficit, you can eat anything. So, technically, you could eat chocolate all day as long as you dont go over your total calories for the day. This concept has caused many to believe that all calories are created equal and that is simply not true. This can lead people to choose eating a packet of crisps over an avocado, because it may contain less calories, even though the nutrients and benefits of the avocado obviously far outweigh the irresistible crisps. Even if this way of eating successfully leads to weight loss, your body could suffer nutritionally.

Sports nutritionist and dietitian Robbie Clark explained to The Huffington Post that the way we metabolise and breakdown the energy from calories is not one-size-fits-allmany factors are at play and different calories (those from unhealthy foods and those from nutrient-dense foods) have different effects on the body.

Healthy, nutrient-dense foods will keep hunger at bay, help maintain stable blood glucose levels, reduce cravings, and allow your brain to signal to your stomach that its full, Clark said. Whereas, ironically, reaching for those unhealthy foods that may be lower in calories could not only cause obvious nutritional deficiencies, but also lead to weight gain. This is because that unhealthy food choice may not keep you satiated for long.

Nutrient-poor foods will [thus] have the opposite effect, causing hormonal dysfunction, spiking insulin levels, increasing cravings, suppressing satiety signals and encouraging overeating, he continued. Things that cant simply be replaced through supplements. Weight loss in this case doesnt equate to health. So, if youre gonna try this method (even though it does work in many ways), be sure to eat as nutritionally as possible within your means.

2 Calorie counting isnt always accurate

In order to partake in this regime, calorie counting is an essential element of it, and now, with a stream of fitness-tracking and calorie counting apps, it seems dead easy, right? Not quite. There are a number of factors that can throw off the accuracy of your daily count. Take the example of when youre eating at a restaurantcan you be certain of the calories in that meal? Have you factored in the effect exercising could also have on your calorie count?

Sometimes when working out over a certain threshold, your body can begin to limit the amount of calories used so that you dont starveits trying to help you. This is extremely difficult to accurately determine yourself but, perhaps the most common reason for inaccuracy can be the tendency to underestimate calorie consumption. One study found that often people forget what they ate or used in preparing a meal and also dont account for high-caloric drinks, hidden calories or mindless snacking during the day that may be ingestedthis can lead to underestimation of consumption and overestimation of exercise.

Something also to consider is the lack of available food options when filling out your diary on a calorie-tracking app. Often, foods and cuisines from different ethnicities and cultures are not accurately representedyour cultural food is not unhealthy just because an app says so. You do not have to limit yourself to plain chicken breast and broccoli.

3 CICO is not sustainable long-term

Speaking to The Express, Doctor Rupy Aujla expressed his concern on diets such as CICO, The cons surrounding diets usually boil down to sustainability. When you employ a strategy which reduces calories, a very common dietary method, your weight set-point changes. This means that when your caloric intake rapidly declines, you may go into whats known as starvation mode whereby your body holds on to as many calories as it can and thus, retains as much fat as it can.

This is why people tend to plateau, despite having a consistent calorie deficit for a long period of time, Aujla explained. This also leads to people falling off the wagon because they are less motivated, usually by the three-month mark, so they will regain the weight they rapidly lost. Not only are there physical reasons for this being unsustainable but mental ones too.

There is huge enjoyment to be had with food and it is definitely a big influence on your mental health. Living in such a restrictive way could severely impact your mental wellbeing. President of the International Society for Nutritional Psychiatry Research (ISNPR), Felice Jacka, stated that a healthy diet is protective and an unhealthy diet is a risk factor for depression and anxiety, and explained that there is huge scientific evidence that shows food is just as important mentally as it is physically.

4 Calorie counting can affect disordered eating

Counting your calories has long been associated with disordered eating and unhealthy behaviours surrounding food. Beata charity dedicated to aiding those with eating disorderstold the BBC as part of its investigation into this association that counting calories, especially aided by calorie-tracking apps, only exacerbate eating disorders and make recovery even more difficult. It also found many harmful entries by MyFitnessPal, Lose It! and Lifesum users that showcased dangerous evidence of binge eating, starvation and severe esteem and mental health decline.

4 reasons why the CICO diet is toxic both for your body and mind

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Bizzare 'diet cult' that lives without food and water caught its leader eating McDonald's - Screen Shot

With days getting longer and hotter, it is officially time to prepare for summers. And while your summer wardrobe is what you might be most excited to bring back, it is also important to prioritise your health during the scorching months. Some parts of India experience extreme summers which causes problems like dehydration, heat strokes, heat cramps, exhaustion, and more. Additionally, summer also leaves its marks on the skin if not taken extra care of.

While the basics of cleansing, toning, moisturising, and applying sunscreen are important for all seasons, there are some dietary changes you can make to help your skin feel and look healthy, hydrated, and acne-free. Its important to have the right diet or rather make some diet tweaks according to the season youre in. You need, for example, really high antioxidants and vitamins to get you through the summer, Dr Rashmi Shetty, founder of Sol Skin Group, told indianexpress.com.

Our body maintains its temperature according to the outside temperature, and for this acclimitisation, it manages the basal metabolic range (BMR) which varies as per season. To take care of proper acclimitisation, diet changes are very important, said Deepti Khatuja, Head Clinical Nutritionist, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon. The most common example is increased hydration during summer because the loss of fluid, along with micronutrients like sodium, can lead to fatigue and cramps, she added.

What should you add to your diet during summers?

Dr Shetty stressed on increasing the hydration levels during seasonal change, which can be aided with certain food items. She suggested mangoes, which are rich in Vitamin A and beta carotenes, along with melons of all kinds as they are not only packed with vitamins and antioxidants, but is also high in its water content.

Khatuja reminded that hydration should be taken care of, but not with packaged beverages and juices which are high in sugar and preservatives. Instead, she suggested having normal lemon water, ORS, lassi,coconut water, curd, buttermilk which are good for maintaining sodium, potassium levels that we lose during summers. These not only help keep the skin hydrated but also remove toxins.

She said that bel, or wood apple, too, is high in vitamin A and beta carotene, and provides coolness. It can be consumed in smoothies and sharbats which do not have added artificial sweeteners. Another easily available,desi food item is sattu which is widely consumed in India during the summers for its cooling effect. Khatuja said that the high protein content in sattuwhich takes care of collagen synthesis, which keeps the skin looking plump and youthful.

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Skincare: Why it is important to adjust diet as per season, and how to do so - The Indian Express

Poor food choices coupled with sedentary lifestyle can increase risk of type 2 diabetes significantly. Fried food, high-carb and sugar-laden food may please the taste buds, but contribute majorly to the risk of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Our current lifestyle puts us at great risk of getting diabetes mellitus, but we can reduce the chances of metabolic disorder by making the correct food choices and eating foods rich in fibre, protein, antioxidants which in fact could act as a protective barrier against diabetes, obesity and many such lifestyle diseases. (Also read: Simple Ayurveda tips you must follow to reverse prediabetes)

According to American Diabetes Association plant-based proteins such as beans, nuts, seeds, or tofu, fish and seafood, chicken and other poultry, eggs and low-fat dairy are some of the top foods for people with diabetes.

People with diabetes do not have to skip foods that they like altogether. Balancing portions and eating at regular gaps can be effective in maintaining blood glucose levels.

"Healthy foods and nutritionally balanced diet can help in improving blood sugar levels and also keeping them in the desired target range. Parm You need to look for options which are healthy and low in carbs," says Sujata Sharma, nutritionist and diabetes care coach, BeatO.

The nutritionist also suggests a list of foods which can help in improving your blood sugar levels.

Whole grains: They are rich in vitamins and minerals and great source of fiber too. They contain complex carbs and takes time in digestion leading to low sugar spikes. Some examples are black wheat, barley, Oats, Quinoa, Ragi.

Green leafy vegetables: They are rich in vitamins and minerals and have higher fiber content. Green leafy vegetables like spinach, lettuce, amaranth leaves are low in carbohydrates and calories. You can try incorporating them before meals as salads and soups.

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Nuts: Nuts are good source of healthy fats. Nuts like almonds and walnuts are rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Roasted fox nuts or handful of toasted nuts are good snacking options.

Fish, chicken, eggs: Fish are rich source of omega-3 fatty acids and essential oil. Chicken, eggs and fish are good source of protein and contain complex carbohydrates. Try baking or grilling to avoid extra calories. Protein helps in curbing your hunger pangs giving you feeling of fullness for longer hours.

Yoghurt and cottage cheese: They are a good source of protein, calcium and vitamin D. Try choosing options low in fat and carbs. Mint buttermilk and berries with low fat yogurt are good snacking options.

Fresh fruits like berries: Berries are considered to be superfood for diabetics. They are rich in vitamins and antioxidant. Fruits like apple, berries, and pear are rich in fiber and help to slow spike in sugar levels. You can have them as salads, in smoothies or fruit curds.

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Diet for diabetes: 6 healthy foods to control your blood sugar levels - Hindustan Times

Most of us love a bit of spice once in a while. Some enjoy the spicy ways for every meal. And with both of these types of spicy food eaters, sometimes it can get boring. Here are a few non-traditional ways to give that extra kick to your diet.

Hailing from the Iberian Peninsula, chorizo is a pork sausage that is spiced from the curing process. However, many regions have adopted this delightful fermented pork, and it is made differently all around the world.

In Mexico, chorizo is made with combinations of tomatillo, chili peppers, cilantro, and garlic. You can get chorizo at most grocery stores, and it is a great alternative meat for your dishes. Mix chorizo with rice or potatoes, and youll get a hearty meal with some added spice.

Chorizo is well paired with eggs too, so you can even have the spicy meat with your breakfast. Add it to your soups, your lasagne, and even on pizza or flat bread.

And if you have a plant-based diet, you can even get plant-based chorizo. Although it is not like the traditional meats explained above, it has all the same kind of spice.

Its a classic and underrated way to enjoy Spicers flavors of life. Like with a lot of foods, it comes down to the seasonings that make food spicy. Pepper jelly is made in many ways with different kinds of peppers to give it its pique taste.

Habanero jelly is one of these kinds of pepper jelly. Traditionally made pepper jelly is usually created with habanero, jalapeo, or serrano peppers. The jelly is made with sugar as well so that you get that wonderful spicy and sweet flavor with every bite.

One of the most classic ways to enjoy pepper jelly is with soft cheese. Brie, cream cheese, and goat cheese are popular choices to pour some pepper jelly over. Serve with your favorite crackers, naan, or pretzels, and you have yourself a spicy appetizer.

Pepper jelly is one of the less common ways of adding that kick into your diet.

You can use the jelly as a glaze as well and put it on chicken wings, pork tenderloins, or on your next grilled sandwich.

A popular Korean dish, kimchi is pickled or fermented cabbage. Kimchi doesnt necessarily need to be spicy, but the traditional versions of this delight are usually described as slightly sweet yet spicy. This classic dish is usually consumed by itself.

If this doesnt seem like your kind of snack, you can always add it to rice or have it with eggs. Additionally, kimchi is pretty easy to make on your own if youre looking for something new to make from scratch. Usually, it is made with Korean hot pepper flakes called Aleppo.

Aleppo is a little less spicy than traditional red pepper flakes made from cayenne peppers. However, the additional ingredients in kimchi add to the spicy taste of this delicious condiment. Kimchi usually incorporates ginger and garlic. During the fermentation process, the spicy factors intensify.

Kimchi is really good for your gut health.

Some of these options may not be what is best for you personally, but they are some really great additions to spice up your diet and bring new flavors to your dishes. Dont be afraid to branch out and try the spicy products in your own way.

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Foods That Give An Extra Kick To Your Diet - Longevity LIVE - Longevity LIVE

Soda isn't good for us, this is a sad diet truth that just about everyone knows by now. And while sales growth for regular sodas has been slowing dramatically in recent years, sales of 'zero sugar' soft drinksthe new go-to term, since the word 'diet' is now out of favorhas been growing, reports ABC12. That said, a number of diet sodas have been discontinued throughout the years and are not coming back, the popularity of the sugar- and calorie-free beverages notwithstanding. Some were iconic favorites that couldn't stand the test of time and others were unsurprising flops: We're looking at you Diet Jolt Cola. However, they were phased out, here are 9 discontinued diet sodas that you'll never see again. And whether you enjoy a diet soda from time to time or not, here are some healthy Eating Habits to Lose Abdominal Fat As You Age, According to Dietitians.

Perhaps the biggest loss in the eyes of many a diet soda aficionado, Coca-Cola's TaB diet soda refreshed its last in the year 2020, according to Beverage Daily. While a mainstay soft drink for many people for many years, having been introduced way back in the year 1963, TaB just wasn't selling well enough anymore for Coke to keep on making the stuff.

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Ah, what grand hopes there were from Crystal Clear Coke and Crystal Pepsi. And, of course, for Diet Crystal Pepsi, which came out in 1992. These Crystal sodas were the quintessential 90s drinks, but unlike neon-colored crop tops and statement earrings, Crystal Diet Pepsi is not making a comeback. Ever.

Tab Clear was created by Coca-Cola as an answer to Crystal Pepsi. In fact, according to this Mental Floss aritcle, Tab Clear was designed to fail and thus bring down Crystal Pepsi with it. Whatever its' purpose, Tab Clear went the way of Crystal Pepsi and both disappeared. Coca-Cola, however, considered their clear diet soda foray a success since it took them 2 months to create versus Pepsi's 18 months spent on Crystal Pepsi.

This saccharine-sweetened soda with a twist of lemon was introduced in 1975. Supposedly, the lemon flavor disguised the off-putting saccharine flavor. It was discontinued in the late 80s.

RELATED:We Tasted 9 Diet Sodas & This Is the Best

Diet Coke Plus, or Coca-Cola Light Plus in certain overseas markets, was positioned by the Coca-Cola Company as a healthy beverage thanks to its dose of vitamins and antioxidants and such, according to Scientific American. In reality, this stuff was no more healthy than the undoctored alternative and it flopped.6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e

You can probably imagine why a diet bubble gum-flavored soda failed to catch on. And for that matter, if you have ever had a sugar-filled bubble gum-flavored soda, you probably won't be surprised it too fizzled out. According to Parentology, Hubba Bubba sodas came out in sugary and diet form in the 1980s and were soon gone.

7UP Gold was a spicy, sugar-free soda with a hit of caffeine. This relic of the 1980s was even less of a success than the sugary version of 7UP Gold, which was comparable to an old-timey spiced ginger ale. Today, you can score a can of Diet 7UP Gold on an internet auction site for well over $200. And that's an empty can, FYI.

REALTED:15 Discontinued Sodas You'll Never See Again

Jolt Cola had a diehard following for decades. Boasting twice the caffeine of a standard cola, this liquid energy source was on shelves long before energy drinks were a thing. Want the caffeine without the sugar? Then Diet Jolt Cola was your best bet. That or coffee. And today, stick with coffee or an energy drink, because no form of Jolt is sold anymore, according to Brand Informers, and that's despite a brief return in 2017.

Diet Coke Lime was actually quite a tasty beverage according to many fans, but it just wasn't moving enough units. In order to minimize bad press, Coca-Cola discontinued the beverage without much in the way of comment, simply ceasing production and shipments in 2018, according to BuzzFeed. You can still create a Diet Coke Lime soda yourself, though, at soft drink machine kiosks found in some fast-food restaurants.

It's a mouthful just to say "Diet Dr. Pepper Berries & Cream" but apparently it was a pretty tasty mouthful of a sugar-free soda. That said, both the diet and sugary versions of this soda were nixed back in 2007. Knowing there were still some fans out there, however, Dr. Pepper brought the flavor back for some limited promotional giveaways just this year, via Elite Daily.

RELATED:Fans Are Petitioning to Bring Back This Discontinued Soda From Coca-Cola

Pepsi Jazz came in wild flavors like Jazz with Black Cherry and French Vanilla, Jazz with Strawberries and Cream, and Caramel Cream. To be clear, Black Cherry and French Vanilla is one flavor, all of those tastes, plus a classic Pepsi cola flavor, were supposed to come through together.

In 2010, Mountain Dew started a promotion called "FanDEWmonium" with a diet spin. 8 diet flavors with catchy names like Diet Super Nova, Diet Voltage, and Diet Crave were available to taste at specific tour locations. The fans then voted on the sodas. In the end, Diet Super Nova, a strawberry-melon flavor, won over Diet Voltage. It hit the shelves for 12 weeks but never quite caught on and was discontinued.

RELATED: 15 Discontinued Sodas You Never Knew Existed.

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12 Discontinued Diet Sodas You'll Never See Again Eat This Not That - Eat This, Not That

In 2014 the Journal of Nutrition studied four major dietary scoring systems that have all been associated with reductions in heart disease and cancer and extending lifespan. This study revealed they all share only four things in common: more fruit, more vegetables, more whole grains and more beans/nuts.

They are all built on a common core of a whole-foods, plant-based diet. But this underscores an element that is so simple but so often overlooked in our understanding of proper human nutrition: the structure of the food. Let me explain what I mean.

Most often in nutrition we concern ourselves with a foods nutrient quality, like the amount of vitamins and minerals it has, or the amount of protein, carbs, fat or calories. But in practical terms, the structural matrix of our food is often as important as any of these other things. This is what we mean by a whole food versus a more-processed form.

For example, take a wheat kernel: It is hard, brown and fibrous. If the kernel is ground into flour, its structural matrix changes: It is now in the form of powder. But even though, theoretically, the nutrients in ground flour are exactly the same as the whole kernel, the effects in the body are not the same.

The nutrients from the flour will be digested and absorbed more quickly, and will alter the bodys physiological and metabolic responses. In fact, if we remove the bran or outer shell and grind just the inner seed into refined or white flour the difference in bodily response is even more dramatic.

Indeed, some research recognizes an almost drug-like effect in the brain and body from eating white flour (or white sugar) compared to the effect from eating the original whole grain, beets or corn. In other words, to your brain and body the nutrients and calories from a whole food is not equal to that same food in a more-processed form.

This has proven itself to be a very big deal because when it comes to diet, Americans are moderate in all things except processed food. Literally, according to the U.S. Department of Agricultures economic research service, 63% of most peoples calories in this country come from just three processed food stuffs sugar, refined grains and oil and those provide virtually nothing but empty calories. We have actually built the majority of our diets on fractionated, processed food items rather than real, whole foods.

This is so significant because changing the matrix or physical form of food alters:

We have been experiencing an explosion in chronic disease rates around the world, and the biggest part is likely due to our alteration of the foods natural state to one that we think is better. You could say we have taken something that is good and made it too good. Much research indicates that the degradation and processing away of a foods original matrix is one of the key drivers of our excess calorie intake.

What about you? The research reveals that the more plant foods you eat in their whole form, the leaner and healthier you will be. Rather than olive oil, put whole olives on your salad. Rather than orange juice for breakfast, eat the whole orange.

By keeping the structure of your food more whole you will make attaining a healthy weight and life much easier and be able to eat to satiety as well.

Thomas Morrison is a fitness coordinator at the Bradley Wellness Center.

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Keeping Fit: The missing key element in a healthy diet - Daily Citizen