That cheese burger looks mighty tasty, doesn't it?Have you ever started a diet and then suddenly all you can think about is chocolate ice cream, crispy French fries, and cheesy, loaded nachos? Don't tell me you haven't. Well, guess what? You're not alone.
Research at the Oregon Research Institute has revealed that it's not just a matter of will-power; restricting your calorie intake actually makes your brain want them more. By depriving yourself of food, you're tricking your brain into thinking the reward for eating that food is greater, thus making it harder to stick to your diet. The amount of reward value you place on food goes up even more when it's high calorie, appetizing food. Pretty cruel, huh?
Related: The 5 WORST foods for weight loss
What this means for dieters is that skipping meals and restricting intake won't translate to long term success. Instead, focusing on small, nutrient dense foods spread throughout the day will yield greater results. I don't think this information will surprise anyone. Starving yourself
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Holy calorie avalanche! A new University of Toronto study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found the average sit-down restaurant meal contains almost 90 percent of a person's daily recommended allowance of fat and more than half of the USDA's recommended calorie count per day. Even the study authors themselves said that was "alarmingly high."
Read More »from Restaurant Meals Are 'Alarmingly' High in Fat: How to Eat Healthy when Eating Out
If that's the case for Canadian restaurants, we can only imagine the truckload of fat and calories that's in the giant portions at American eateries. There's nothing wrong with dining out at a restaurant, obviously, but there are a few Bethenny-approved steps to take to make sure you're not overdoing it.
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Recipe: Chickpea and Basil Salad
Your Face Can Reveal Your Diet and Exercise Vices - Really!We didn't know it would be so obvious if we OD'd on sugary foods once in a while! "The Daily Mail" reports that cardinal lifestyle sins, like not eating enough greens and forgoing the gym for the couch, can literally show up on your face.
Here's a glimpse into what a few of the docs in the piece said about how food and your activity level can affect how people (actually) see you.
For healthy recipe ideas, check out these delish dishes:
Recipe: Chickpea and Basil Salad
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Recipe: Bethenny's Whole-Grain French Toast
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Skin Secrets: Reduce Your Raccoon EyesRead More »from Your Face Can Reveal Your Diet and Exercise Vices — Really!New Yorkers Shocked to Find They're Subjects of Neighbor's Photo Exhibit
By Lylah M. Alphonse, Senior Editor, Yahoo! Shine | Healthy Living – Fri, May 17, 2013 4:05 PM EDTNew York photographer Arne Svenson found inspiration for his latest work right outside his windows. "The neighbors don't know they are being photographed," he explained in an essay that goes with the exhibit, currently on display at the Julie Saul Gallery in Chelsea. "I carefully shoot from the shadows of my home into theirs." But the subjects of his photos, who live in a luxury apartment across the street from Svenson, were furious to find out that they had been photographed in their own homes without their knowledge. "A grown man should not be able to photograph kids in their rooms with a telephoto lens," Clifford Finn told the New York Post. "You can argue artistic license all you want, but that's really the issue here. I'm sorry, but I'm really bothered by this." The artist disagrees. "They are performing behind a transparent scrim on a stage of their own creation with the curtain raised high," Svenson said in a statement. Take a look for yourself and weigh in: Are these images
Read More »from New Yorkers Shocked to Find They're Subjects of Neighbor's Photo ExhibitIn Defense of Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries
By Elise Solé, Shine Staff | Healthy Living – Fri, May 17, 2013 2:38 PM EDTIt's the apology heard 'round the world: Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries recently issued a global mea culpa addressing controversial statements he made in 2006 regarding his company's policy toward plus-size shoppers.
Read More »from In Defense of Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries
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Jeffries posted on A&F's Facebook page: "I want to address some of my comments that have been circulating from a 2006 interview. While I believe this 7-year-old, resurrected quote has been taken out of context, I sincerely regret that my choice of words was interpreted in a manner that has caused offense. A&F is an aspirational brand that, like most specialty apparel brands, targets its marketing at a particular segment of customers. However, we care about the broader communities in which we operate and are strongly committed to diversity and inclusion. We hire good people who share these values. We are completely opposed to any discrimination, bullying,Depression: A Warning Sign of Stroke for Women
By Lylah M. Alphonse, Senior Editor, Yahoo! Shine | Healthy Living – Fri, May 17, 2013 2:26 PM EDTMiddle-aged women battling depression may be twice as likely to have a stroke as women in the same age group who are not depressed, a new study finds.
Also on Shine: Recipe for Preventing a Stroke? 1 Coffee, 4 Green Teas a Day
"Although the absolute risk of stroke is low in mid-aged women, depression does appear to have a large adverse effect on stroke risk in this age group," lead researcher Caroline Jackson, an epidemiologist in the School of Population Health at the University of Queensland in Australia, said in a statement. "Our findings, however, suggest that depression may be a stronger risk factor for stroke in mid-aged women than was previously thought." The study focused on women aged 47 to 52.
Also on Shine: 9 Ways to Help Avoid a Stroke
A stroke occurs when damage to an artery deprives the brain of oxygenated blood, causing brain cells to die and allowing toxic chemicals to build up. Approximately 795,000 people in the United States suffer a stroke each year (75 percent of
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Read More »from The 10 Best Foods for Flat Abs
Laura Doss/Fitness MagazineBy Julie Meyer, RD
Try these ab-flattening foods to boost your abs routine's effectiveness, control belly bloat, and maintain a healthy metabolism. Here, the top 10 foods for flat abs.
Related: Get Wow Abs Now: The 2-Week Makeover
Almonds
These delicious and versatile nuts contain filling protein and fiber, not to mention vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant. They're also a good source of magnesium, a mineral your body must have in order to produce energy, build and maintain muscle tissue, and regulate blood sugar. "A stable blood-sugar level helps prevent cravings that can lead to overeating and weight gain," says David Katz, MD, a professor at the Yale University School of Medicine. But what makes almonds most interesting is their ability to block calories. Research indicates that the composition of their cell walls may help reduce the absorption of all of their fat, making them an extra-lean nut.
Try for: An ounce a day (about 23 almonds), with approximately 160 calories. An emptyHigh-Fat Foods that Are Great for Your Waistline (Really!)
By Refinery29 | Healthy Living – Fri, May 17, 2013 11:36 AM EDTBy Dr. Frank Lipman, Refinery29
Read More »from High-Fat Foods that Are Great for Your Waistline (Really!)
.Dr. Frank Lipman is an integrative and functional medicine physician and the founder of Eleven Eleven in NYC. In his monthly column for R29, he talks about the latest health and wellness news; his favorite stay-healthy tips and tricks; plus answers your questions on how to be your healthiest, best self, every day.
There's a myth that has been permeating our society for decades - that fat makes you fat. The concept is outdated and simply not true. It's the sugar, gluten, and chemicals in our food that are the real culprits. Don't assume that low-fat foods are going to help with weight loss - they are often higher in sugar and other chemicals that actually cause you to put on weight. Fats are not only essential for almost every aspect of health, but they can actually aid in weight loss.
RELATED: Why Are We Still Afraid Of The Word "Fat"?
Good fats are necessary for a strong immune system, absorbing vitamins and nutrients, and healthy cell function inThe Surprising Reason People Are Turning to Plastic Surgery
By SHAPE magazine | Healthy Living – Fri, May 17, 2013 11:34 AM EDTby Alanna Nuñez for SHAPE.com
Read More »from The Surprising Reason People Are Turning to Plastic Surgery
Would you go under the knife to look good on social media?The constant presence of social media in our lives certainly has its upsides, but more downsides keep emerging, including lower personal growth, Pinterest stress, and, now, an increase of plastic surgery, according to a poll from the American Academy of Facial Plastics and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS).
The survey asked 753 AAFPRS board-certified facial plastic surgeons to describe trends they were seeing in reconstructive and cosmetic surgery. One finding stuck out: Surgeons are seeing a 31-percent increase in plastic surgery requests as a result of how people want to present themselves on social media accounts.
"We live in a very visual world, and have come to expect that we will be 'Googled' or 'Facebooked' even before actually meeting someone socially or professionally," Sam Rizk, M.D., an AAFPRS member and director of Manhattan Facial Plastic Surgery in New York, told Time. "I see a lot of men and women who are executives or high-profile so they5 Easy Ways to Get in Touch with (And Love!) Yourself
By YouBeauty.com | Healthy Living – Fri, May 17, 2013 9:42 AM EDT
Getting in tune with your body is the best way to appreciate it.Listen to your heart may sound like just another cliché catchphrase, but researchers have discovered that taking it literally may actually boost your self-image.
A 2013 study from the Department of Psychology at the University of London found that women who were closely in tune with the beating of their hearts had a healthier body image than women who weren't as accurate.
QUIZ: How Healthy Is Your Body Image?
Researchers had 50 volunteers try to listen to and count their heartbeats for a set period of time while a data unit recorded the actual number of beats. Then, the volunteers completed questionnaires designed to determine the extent to which they objectify themselves (that is, value their bodies based on attractiveness), a tendency that reflects poor self-image. The researchers found that women who rated highly for self-objectification were the ones who least accurately estimated their heartbeats.
While more research is needed to determine how much inner body
Read More »from 5 Easy Ways to Get in Touch with (And Love!) Yourself
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