10 Tips For Shopping For Weight Loss


 by: Donovan Baldwin

Everybody is different. What works for your friend might not work for you, or might work better for you. Therefore, these suggestions for shopping for weight loss are presented as helps, and I hope you will find something of use to you. With just a little thought and creativity, you should be able to come up with several more tips yourself.

1. Always use a list when you shop, and stick to it. Almost any other food item you put in the buggy will be something that does NOT fit in to your weight loss plan.

2. Plan ahead. Decide what your meals are going to be, and what ingredients you will need. Include portion sizes in this planning. If you just buy a pack of steaks, you will probably cook all those steaks at once and there is a chance they may be eaten all at once. Planning your meals will help you prepare your shopping list. Plan also for meals such as lunches you carry to work.

3. Take someone with you who you can trust to be on your side. By "on your side", I mean, of course, someone who understands and supports your weight loss goals. While this person should be aware of what you are trying to accomplish, YOU must understand that they ARE trying to help you, and YOU must give them permission to express their honest thoughts about purchases you are making...especially if you are deviating from your list.

4. Have this trusted friend or family member HELP you draw up your shopping list.

5. Always eat before shopping. It is a fact that shopping when hungry increases your tendency to put extra items in your shopping cart.

6. Learn to read the labels. Almost every food you buy has a label outlining nutritional content and levels. Knowledge of nutritional needs is important, but does not need to be daunting. Basic information is easy to obtain.

7. Avoid convenience foods. Most have additional calories, fats, or carbohydrates. Although they may taste great, this is often a direct result of those very attributes.

8. Plan PREPARED meals. Cook from scratch. Not only will you probably enjoy the meals more, but having to prepare a meal helps prevent you from indulging yourself with a quick and easy snack or meal.

9. Avoid buying "empty" foods. These are foods such as chips, cookies, or candy. An apple may have as many calories as a piece of candy, but it contains a much higher level of nutrition, and provides factors such as fiber, for example.

10. Buy foods you really like. Eating in a healthy manner does NOT have to be a boring or unrewarding experience. Types of meals enjoyed in Japan, for example, can be tasty and a different and inviting experience, but they can also be very good for you. Again, be aware of portion sizes. Just because it is "good for you" doesn't mean you ought to go back for seconds or thirds.

There you are, 10 hints for shopping for weight loss. Since portion sizes was mentioned twice, let me leave you with this thought. Most Americans eat portions much larger than recommended sizes. A discussion of portion size is more than can be incorporated into this small article. However, people in France tend to eat very rich foods yet do not have the obesity problems found in America. People in Japan who eat a traditional Japanese diet tend not to have an obesity problem such as is found in America. As diverse as these two cultures and their diet are, a common factor is portion size. They typically eat much smaller portions than Americans.

Copyright 2006 Donovan Baldwin

About The Author

Donovan Baldwin's interest in fitness and health began in 1970 when he first read Dr. Kenneth Cooper's "Aerobics". Find more weight loss tips at http://nodiet4me.com. You can find additional articles on fitness, health, and weight loss at http://nodiet4me.blogspot.com.


Get A Credit Card That Works For You

Get A Credit Card That Works For You


 by: Ron King

For most of us, hardly a week goes by without getting a credit card offer. If you are thinking of getting a new one, there are several key issues in choosing which is best for you.

They all advertise benefits. Which mix of benefits best fits your needs? That is the key. Let's discuss a few of the things you should be aware of before you do any applying.

What Will You Use The Card For?

This is the most important question to ask yourself. Your answer will help you decide just what type of card and what incentives will work best for your needs.

For example, if it is for business use, look for a card that offers cash back for business purchases or a membership to a discount buying club. Most companies offer a low introductory rate for a specified amount of time -- you need to know what the rate jumps to when that time has expired. It might work better for your business if you...

Get A Credit Card That Works For You
Candy > Get A Credit Card That Works For You

Great Appetizers for Baby Showers and Other Parties

Great Appetizers for Baby Showers and Other Parties


 by: Criss White

One of the biggest challenges for planning a baby shower or any other party is picking the right food. Appetizers and snacks are great for all types of parties, big and small. Here are some delicious appetizer ideas that you can make yourself or buy for your party:

1) Stuffed Mushrooms - Stuffed mushrooms are a tasty treat for any party. Larger mushroom caps of course are better and you can be creative with your stuffing choices. Some popular ingredient choices are cheese, bacon, and breadcrumbs.

2) Cheese and Crackers - Cheese and crackers are a simple snack idea for any party. This snack is also great for health conscious people. For upscale occasions, cheese logs or gourmet cheese balls can be used.

3) Fruit Platter - Another healthy and simple idea is fruit salad or a fruit platter. These platters can contain canned fruits, fresh fruits, or a mix of both. Some...

Great Appetizers for Baby Showers and Other Parties
Candy > Great Appetizers for Baby Showers and Other Parties

Have Fun With Baby Halloween Clothes

Have Fun With Baby Halloween Clothes


 by: Kirsten Hawkins

There are lots of great things about being a new parent. For example, the joy of bringing a new life into the world, the thrill of shaping a young mind, the pride with each new stage of your baby's life. Few things are more exciting, however, than the license to be a kid again. What better way to celebrate your newfound childhood with your baby than by dressing up with them for Halloween?

There are a few basic rules of babies and Halloween. First, it is probably best to attach yourself to a group of friends with children who are a little bit older, otherwise it is obvious that you are just out getting candy and playing dress up. This is not vital, however, since many candy givers will be too distracted by how darned cute your baby is to care if you're the one who's going to eat the candy. The second is to be careful of the material of your baby's costume. A lot of store bought costumes...

Have Fun With Baby Halloween Clothes
Candy > Have Fun With Baby Halloween Clothes

Have Fun With Baby Halloween Clothes

Have Fun With Baby Halloween Clothes


 by: Kirsten Hawkins

There are lots of great things about being a new parent. For example, the joy of bringing a new life into the world, the thrill of shaping a young mind, the pride with each new stage of your baby's life. Few things are more exciting, however, than the license to be a kid again. What better way to celebrate your newfound childhood with your baby than by dressing up with them for Halloween?

There are a few basic rules of babies and Halloween. First, it is probably best to attach yourself to a group of friends with children who are a little bit older, otherwise it is obvious that you are just out getting candy and playing dress up. This is not vital, however, since many candy givers will be too distracted by how darned cute your baby is to care if you're the one who's going to eat the candy. The second is to be careful of the material of your baby's costume. A lot of store bought costumes...

Have Fun With Baby Halloween Clothes
Candy > Have Fun With Baby Halloween Clothes

Best Cookies: Chocolate Walnut Fantasies

Best Cookies: Chocolate Walnut Fantasies


 by: Donna Monday

There are a lot of great food fantasies. Now you can add these delicious cookies to your list. These taste sensations feature cream cheese, walnuts, coconut, and milk chocolate.

Chocolate Walnut Fantasies

Directions

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine butter, brown sugar, sugar and cream cheese in large bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until well mixed. Add eggs; continue beating until well mixed. Reduce speed to low; add flour and baking soda. Beat until well mixed. Stir in walnuts, coconut and...

Best Cookies: Chocolate Walnut Fantasies
Candy > Best Cookies: Chocolate Walnut Fantasies

Design Tips for a Great Kids Birthday Cake

Design Tips for a Great Kids Birthday Cake


 by: Stephen Houlihan

These days, you can probably buy just about any style of child?s birthday cake already made. But there is nothing like the sense of satisfaction from making that special cake just for your child ? after all, they have each birthday only once!

There?s also the benefit of being able to control what ingredients are actually used in making the cake. Apart from producing a healthier cake, you can also cater for any allergies that your child or his/her friends may have.

Once you have decided to make the cake yourself, here are some tips to help you:

1. Don?t worry if you failed Art 101 dismally. Remember that kids don?t expect you to turn out a design worthy of da Vinci. Often they are more interested in the number (and color) of pieces of candy on top of the cake than the actual design itself.

2. In selecting a design for the cake, there are two main options: a specific...

Design Tips for a Great Kids Birthday Cake
Candy > Design Tips for a Great Kids Birthday Cake