Blog Posts by DietsInReview

By Brandi Koskie - DietsInReview.com

We've bid farewell to summer and warmly welcomed college football season. That means it's far from time to pack up our grills. If anything, it's all the more reason to fire them up! If you're one of the many who spend your Saturdays tailgating or throwing football parties at home, you know all too well how easy it is to create a buffet of food that is about as healthy as what they're serving in the stadium. And if you're also one of the many who is trying to get in shape before the holiday season, then you know you can't afford to spend the next 12 or so Saturdays eating like a linebacker.

With that in mind, we have some ideas to make healthy tailgating enjoyable, delicious and just as satisfying. It's entirely possible that the guys won't even notice or mind!

As you grocery shop for snacks and cookout grub, consider some of these healthy tailgating recipes and food swaps. Odds are, they'll taste better and no one will recognize the difference as

By Matt Johnson - DietsInReview.com

No matter where you go to the gym there always seems to be that one guy or girl who becomes the center of attention. From grunting while lifting weights to talking endlessly when you're already pressed for time, they just don't seem to get it. As a personal trainer I am in the gym all day and have witnessed each and every act of poor gym etiquette. Is it really that hard to wear headphones, do your workout, and then shower without causing a scene? Well, for some people, it is.

So in the interest of helping everyone mind their manners at the gym, here are the top gym dos and don'ts!

Gym Don'ts

1. No grunting: If the weight is really that heavy, you should use less weight before you hurt yourself or someone else.
2. No cell phones: Most people go to the gym to exercise and get away from reality for a while. No one wants to hear an annoying cell phone ring or someone on the next machine yapping on the phone.
3. No children: This is a disaster

By Jason Knapfel - DietsInReview.com

Our bodies naturally produce cholesterol. The amount you produce is dependent on genetics. It's not inherently bad as you need cholesterol for various bodily functions. However, too much cholesterol can be unhealthy. The American Heart Association established a range for daily cholesterol consumption:

• Less than 200 mg/dL is considered healthy.

• 200 to 239 mg/dL is borderline high cholesterol.

• 240 mg/dL and above is an unhealthy cholesterol level.

Many of our favorite foods also contribute to high cholesterol. But there are some foods that can lower these levels. Here are the top five foods to lower cholesterol:

By Carmen Staicer - DietsInReview.com

Many people work incredibly hard to lose weight. They diet, exercise, struggle and sacrifice all in the name of becoming a more fit and healthier individual. They might use a support team, a popular diet like Weight Watchers, or invent their own method. However, they often find that once they've lost weight their spouse or significant other has negative feelings- they might be mad, upset or incredibly enough, jealous. They might make unkind comments, sabotage with former indulgences, and even accuse of infidelity or betrayal.

It's no laughing matter - it happens more often than you might think. So if you find yourself in this unfortunate situation, where weight loss equals love lost, how can you handle it at a time when you really want to feel supported and encouraged?

Remember, you lost the weight for you. Or you should have. Losing weight for someone else rarely works and can even backfire. While your successful weight loss can put you over

By Heather Ashare - DietsInReview.com

This week's Time magazine piqued our interest. The cover headline reads "The Myth About Exercise: Of course it's good for you, but it won't make you lose weight. Why it's what you eat that really counts." Of course, we wanted to know more about the reasons why exercise fuels hunger, not weight loss.

New research about the benefits of exercise is running counter to the conventional health wisdom we have been taught. We know exercise burns calories, which is necessary for weight loss, but it also makes us hungry. And what do we do when we are hungry? We eat. If we've just clocked a few miles on the treadmill, what do we do? We give ourselves license to eat whatever we like. The problem is not that we're eating, but rather the hunger that comes from exercise may be leading us to consume more calories than what we just burned off. Therefore negating our good intentions of creating a calorie deficit in order to lose weight.

Leaving health researchers

By Brooke Randolph, LMHC - DietsInReview.com

There is research suggesting that Omega-3 fatty acids are the number one nutritional suggestion for treating PPD, or Postpartum Depression. While eating fish or seafood during pregnancy is often discouraged, and there are those who simply don't enjoy that fare, there are other options for preventing and overcoming Postparum Depression.

Exercise - Physical activity can play a major role in mental health and self-esteem. After pregnancy and childbirth, you may find it difficult to recognize your own body and may not like what you see. Exercise will help you lose the baby weight and feel more connected and in charge of your body. If you do not have someone to watch the baby while you are working out, find a gym with child care, workout at home during nap time, or take walks or runs with a stroller. It's suggested to wait six weeks after childbirth before re-introducing exercise, and eight weeks if you had a C-section. For those breastfeeding,

By Brandi Koskie - DietsInReview.com

Last week at DietsInReview.com the focus was on healthy pregnancies. We invited a number of moms, health experts and even dads to share their personal experiences and insights on ways to manage your health before, during and after a pregnancy. One of those experts was Jillian Michaels, and her tips were just too good to keep to ourselves.

We've seen Jillian's no-nonsense approach to weight loss in the gym on NBC's Biggest Loser. Now we see that even for moms-to-be, she's still got that same sensible way of breaking down what needs to happen to stay healthy for baby.

Pregnancy Fitness

1. Talk to your doctor. Before embarking on any kind of exercise program, it's always advised to check with your doctor first. This ensures that he is aware of the kinds of activities you intend to do and he can provide guidance and even make suggestions.

2. Stretching is critical. Although proper diet and exercise can go a long way toward keeping you healthy and

By Brandi Koskie and Kinsey Lowrey - DietsInReview.com

It's back to school season and that means moms, teachers and kids alike are preparing to wrap-up summer and launch another school year. With all the preparing you have to do, we want to make sure you don't forget about lunch.

Behind breakfast, this is the most important meal of the day for your child. It's a mid-day boost that will help them sail through reading, math and even gym class. An unfortunate truth is that the lunches in school cafeterias are extremely lagging in terms of providing healthy, nutritious meals. Even more upsetting is the fact that little can be done, or is being done, to improve these meals. Simply put, it comes down to budgets and money.

Packing your child's lunch can help guarantee your child is receiving a healthy meal that will help them stay focused and be motivated at school. Not only that, but it puts the nutritional control in your hands. Really, the same rules apply for packing your