Diet & Fitness Blog

Labels: exercise

Diabetes is growing in epidemic proportions in this country, and those numbers show no signs of slowing down. In fact, the U.S. Government reported recently that the number of Americans with diabetes has grown to 24 million -- a full 8 percent of the population.

According to a report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, those numbers represent an increase of 3 million people in just two years. As if these numbers aren't alarming enough, approximately 57 million Americans currently suffer from pre-diabetes.

“These numbers leave me speechless," says Tracey Ryan, eDiets Manager of Nutrition Support. "That 24 million Americans have diabetes is shocking enough, but what is more saddening is the thought that 57 million more are on the verge of developing diabetes if they don’t make changes, and quickly."

Fortunately, Tracey says there are some things you can do to lower your risk for diabetes.

"It is extremely important to be aware of your risk for diabetes, but being proactive is just as important, if not more,” Tracey says.

Perhaps the best way to decrease your risk for diabetes is to start exercising. Exercise can help control your blood glucose, lower your blood pressure, and improve your blood cholesterol. It also reduces your risk for heart disease and stroke, by strengthening your cardiovascular system. Perhaps most importantly for people with diabetes, participating in regular physical activity helps insulin work better, increases flexibility and improves blood circulation. Recent research shows that just about any type of exercise improves blood glucose control.

“If you are at risk of developing diabetes it is time that you made some changes to the way you eat and how much physical activity you do," Tracey says.

According to the American Diabetes Association, losing even a little bit of weight can help people with or at risk for diabetes by lowering insulin resistance and lowering blood glucose levels. Tracey suggests following a healthy meal plan similar to the Living With Diabetes plan on eDiets.

"Making sure you round out your diet with lean meats, fish, whole grains, fruits and vegetables in combination with a moderate amount of exercise should help you to lose some weight, and at the same time reduce your risk for diabetes,” Tracey says.

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-- Breaking News: Diet Found to Reduce Heart Attacks

Labels: diabetes, news, study

It's not a topic that people regularly talk about amongst friends. You can't just bring it up over a pint of beer after work or during a casual conversation about the weather -- it's somewhat personal.

So, when the subject does make it into my conversations once in a blue moon, I always get the same reaction from people: "You're uninsured? That sucks, man."

Yes, I am uninsured. And yes, it does suck.

Unfortunately, I am in good company. Last week, a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that about 54 million Americans were uninsured at one point during 2007. More than 30 million Americans reported being uninsured for at least a year prior to being surveyed by the CDC.

Sure, there are plenty of benefits to health insurance, such as peace of mind, but what is a person supposed to do when it can't be afforded? With rising gas and food prices eating up disposable income, even a low premium can prove devastating to a low-income individual or family. Eligibility requirements for Medicaid further complicate matters.

Case in point: My father died two years ago from a stroke. Medical expenses totaled about $31,000, and he was uninsured. Left to foot the bill, my mother and I had no means of paying the exorbitant costs. Luckily, though, charity care offset the charges, taking a weight off our shoulders.

Not everyone can be so lucky, though. If there's one lesson that experience taught me, it's that one's health shouldn’t be taken for granted. It's one thing to be poor, but it's a completely different (and unfortunate) situation to be poor and unhealthy. I still don't have health insurance for myself (I'm a contract worker), but consider getting insured if you can spare the money or talk to your employer about it. The peace of mind is worth it.

Labels: news, study

You are no doubt familiar with the summer of love, but how about the summer of slimming?

Well, personally, I intend to use these summer months to whip myself back into shape. Writing about health and fitness all day doesn’t do my body any good unless I decide to practice what I preach.

Not everyone who works for eDiets.com is a model of health and fitness, but I’ve certainly got plenty of competition here on the content team. One of my co-workers is a former college gymnast, who still looks like she could be a walk-on for the Olympics in August if the U.S. team needed her. As you may remember from reading her blog post, our Senior Copy Editor ran a full marathon in February, and plans to do another one soon. And even though you’ve seen videos of him stuffing his face full of bacon candy, our staff writer rarely ever misses his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu class after work. Then there’s me. I’m the one with the beer belly.

Granted, I am nearly a decade older than my three amigos on the content team, but I’m not going to use that as an excuse (especially since I am younger than our Senior Director of Merchandising, who is quite possibly the fittest person in the company right now). So, I asked her for advice on the best way to get back in shape and she suggested I try spinning.

Now, I've only been spinning for about a month, so I'm not going to claim to be an expert on the subject. But, to my surprise, spinning classes not only provide a great workout, but they are also a lot of fun. In case you've been hiding under a rock, spinning is an aerobic workout in which you use a specially designed stationary bicycle called (get ready for a shock here) a spinning bike. As you pedal away, motivating music blasts out of the loudspeakers while the instructor takes you through a sort of simulated outdoor cycling ride.

One of the great things about spinning is that you can control your own pace by adjusting the resistance knob on the bike. Also, since you are riding on a stationary bike, spinning provides less opportunity for embarrassment than other aerobic workouts. For instance, you don't have to worry about accidentally jumping to the left when everybody else in the class jumps to the right (believe me, I've done it).

And, perhaps best of all, you don't actually have to dress in those goofy-looking Spandex clothes that many bicycle enthusiasts wear. Some people choose to wear them, but you'll never see me coming to class in anything like that. It is bad enough that I had to wear a Speedo when I was on the swim team in high school.

Anyway, I have found spinning to be a great way to kick off my summer slimdown. In fact, this weekend, I am participating in a spinning fundraising event called "Spinning Nation." And I have to give a quick shout out to my gym, Michael's Body Scenes in Boca Raton, Fla. They've raised more money for this event than any other participating gym in the country, and I think that is really awesome.

Enough about me… What about you? What's your summer slimdown? Let us know by posting a comment below.

Labels: clothes, fun, weight-loss, workout

I like to wear flip-flops, and since I live in Florida, I can wear them almost the whole year round. They are my footwear of choice and I sport them daily. They are summer's official shoe.

However, a recently released study from Auburn University suggests that my favorite footwear may be hazardous to my health. The researchers found that flip-flops alter the walk of the wearer and the altered stride can lead to persistent foot and ankle pain.

Apparently, flop wearers take shorter steps which create greater stress on the body over the same distance of regular shoe wearers. Plus, the toes must pinch to hold the flip-flops in place, creating an imbalance in toe muscles. Not to mention the lack of arch and heel support -- especially for those who wear their flops until the tread is paper thin. Being overweight was another factor that contributed to worsening the ankle and foot pain.

However, before you hide your toes away and throw your flops away, there is a silver lining: Like most things we take pleasure in, you can enjoy flops in moderation according to those presenting the research.

I can't possibly part with my summer slides, but I will buy pairs with better support and replace them more frequently. It's hard to give up such a casual, yet functional footwear that illustrates my bohemian beliefs so simply. They are quick, comfortable and keep my feet from getting too smelly. I mean, I gave up smoking for my health, but I'm no saint -- I'm not giving up my flops.

Will you stand your ground on flip-flops or will you kick the habit?

Labels: clothes, study

Mine came out great (in fact, that's a picture of it up there)! Let me know how your pudding cake turns out by commenting below!

Labels: food, holidays, recipes

Labels: clothes, video

Labels: diet, exercise, motivation, testimonial, weight-loss

Labels: beauty, friday funnies, pets

Labels: nutrition, recipes

Though the meaning of the word should be painfully obvious, UrbanDictionary.com defines a "staycation" as a vacation spent at or close to home. They even use it in a sentence as follows: "With the price of gas soaring, a staycation is what most Americans will experience during the summer of 2008." Thanks for reminding us.

Since I will most likely be using my stimulus check from Uncle Sam to pay off my credit card debt, this is likely to be a staycation summer for me. Oh well. I guess I don't need to be so grumpy about it. After all, I do live in South Florida, which is already a tourist destination. There is plenty to do around here on my days off from work.

But no matter where you live, there are some great things you can do close to home that are both fun and inexpensive. Here's a few ideas:

Be a tourist in your own town. When was the last time you visited a local museum, art gallery, planetarium, aquarium or zoo? Many times, when people live and work in a place, they don't take advantage of the fun things to do there.

Have a picnic. Pack a healthy picnic basket and head to the beach or park with your friends. Combating the rising costs of gas and airfares may be no picnic, but you can have one anytime you want. So, go ahead and pack that basket. Oh, and watch out for the ants.

Get a room. Gas prices are out of control, so road trips and plane fares are out of the question. Why not stay at a nearby hotel for a weekend -- just being away from home and having someone clean your room and change your sheets can be a relaxing break. Plus, without the travel cost, you're getaway is all that much cheaper!

Backyard pool party. OK, maybe you don't have a big, expensive pool in your backyard. If not, a few kiddie pools and lawn chairs will do the trick.

So, what about you? Will you be traveling this summer or taking a staycation? And, if you are going to be staying home, what are you going to do for fun?

Labels: lifestyle, money

I consider myself a pretty healthy eater. I know that I can't eat a burger and fries every day, and I know that if I do eat a burger, I shouldn’t have fries. I know that my plate shouldn't consist of a pile of carbs, and that I should have wheat toast with breakfast, not a giant everything bagel. I know that a bag of chips isn't a "snack," and that I shouldn't have a bowl of ice cream every night after dinner. I know that I should order a Skinny Vanilla Latte at Starbucks, not a Venti Caramel Macchiato, extra whip, extra caramel.

I also know that I seem to forget all this when I'm on vacation.

I just got back from a five-day trip to Chicago (my sister graduated from University of Chicago -- congrats!), and just like after every vacation, I feel like I gained five pounds of blubber eating stuff I wouldn't normally dream of ordering. It's like the rules don't apply if you're out of town.

When I'm at home and in my regular routine, I eat yogurt and a whole-wheat English muffin for breakfast, or a bowl of cereal and fruit. So why, while on vacation, would I feel the need to eat three pancakes doused in syrup, a side of bacon and possibly a stack of toast slathered with butter?

And why, for lunch, would I feel the need to cram in (almost) four slices of Chicago-style deep dish pizza and two beers?

And for the love of gosh, why would I a.) order a greasy cheeseburger and fries for dinner -- and clean the plate, and then b.) top off my tummy with something called a "Mess" from a place called Treats. (A "mess" is your choice of ice cream, blended ever so deliciously with heaps of whatever combination of toppings you choose. My Mess, just so you fully understand my overindulgence, was coffee ice cream with Oreo chunks and Reese's Peanut Butter Cup morsels. To my credit, I did manage to refrain from whipped cream.)

Mess, indeed. I feel like my whole diet's a mess after this trip and I can't wait to get back in the gym and back to my regular routine. My yogurt this morning was to die for, and my small sandwich and veggies were faaaabulous for lunch.

The secret to not letting a vacation feeding frenzy not totally wreck your diet (besides not over-stuffing your face in the first place, of course), is to get right back on the saddle when it's over. If nothing else, my gluttonous vacation renewed my sense of purpose and I'm back on the healthy eating train with a fierceness. Full steam ahead! Next stop: those darn abs I can't seem to get!

Can you relate? Share with us by commenting below!

Labels: diet, food, lifestyle

By Shawn McKee
Staff Writer

A couple of months ago, I wrote an April fool's gag about the government stepping in on the obesity epidemic in America and enacting an anti-obesity law. Some people realized it was a joke and thought it was funny. Others weren't so quick to catch on and were outraged. But my goal was to spark conversation on a touchy subject -- which I did.

To whit: Should the government step in?

Some said yes, some said no, but everyone held passionate views. So when I saw the New York Times article, "Japan, Seeking Trim Waists, Measures Millions," I was instantly curious. Had Japan done what some Americans believe was necessary to stop this growing problem? Did the Japanese even have an obesity problem? Would they have a catchy tune to help illustrate the issue and give the people something to dance to?

The answer to all of these questions seemed more mysterious than the origins of the ninja… But I was ready to find out.

The law, which took effect two months ago, breaks down like this: Companies and local governments must measure the waists of Japanese citizens between the ages of 40 and 74 (about 44 percent of the population of Japan, or 56 million people).

If people are over the prescribed waist size -- 33.5 inches for men, 35.4 for women -- then they are given dietary guidance first and "re-education" after six months if the dietary guidance isn't effective. (Re-education sounds a little too Clockwork Orange for me.) If companies fail to have their employees meet these new weight guidelines they could face huge fines.

Many complain these guidelines are too strict and that the government is simply trying to shift the cost of healthcare to the private sector -- most Japanese are covered by public healthcare or through their work.

However, proponents think this new law will help to stop the ballooning cost of healthcare for Japan's ever-increasing elderly population, as well as stop the spread of several weight-related diseases with the focus being on metabolic syndrome -- a precursor to diabetes and heart disease.

With such drastic measures to stop Japan's ballooning beltlines, they must be facing some serious weight woes. But how bad is it? According to Japanese statistics, the average waist size for a Japanese man is 32.8 inches and 28 inches for a woman. If you're wondering how we stack up here in the United States, the average waist size for men is 39 inches and 36.5 inches for women.

If you ask me, and I'm considered overweight by Japanese standards at a 34-inch waist, I think they need to lighten up in over there (not literally), but maybe we could learn a thing or two about coming together as a nation to stop this growing epidemic.

I'm not sure if it will work, but something needs to be done. So, I'll leave you with a few of the lyrics from Japan's anti-metabolic syndrome song that's sweeping the nation and got my toes tapping. I couldn't make this up if I wanted to:

Goodbye, metabolic. Let’s get our checkups together. Go! Go! Go!
Goodbye, metabolic. Don’t wait till you get sick. No! No! No!

Do you think the Japanese have the right idea? Would an approach like this work here in the States? Let us know what you think and comment below.

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Labels: news, weight

I get knocked down -- a lot. I think most people do. As a matter of fact, if you're not getting knocked down, you're probably not really trying. Life knocks you down and things very seldom work out the way they are planned. I am reminded of this nearly every day.

I've been injured for well over a week -- and it's driving me insane. I thought I could work through the pain, but after some research, consultation and some more pain, I realized I should take some time off. I strained my biceps. It's not the worst injury in the world, but it's ruining my routine.

I am a creature of habit. I follow a fairly rigid routine and it keeps me healthy, normal and sane. But when I fall out, I tend to fall way out. I let my daily diet go from 5 or 6 healthy meals to 3 fast-food runs, I abandon the gym and my training completely to reunite with my couch and the most mindless reality TV I can find (American Gladiators, anyone?).

For the first day or so, it's not that big of a deal. It's actually kind of a nice little vacation. But as the days wear on, I feel lethargic, listless. I can't get motivated for anything and I realize that starting back up will be a grueling task. I throw myself a pity party. I will start tomorrow, or, um, maybe Monday. That's a good day to start. Monday it is… Monday comes and goes -- I still haven't started.

I've lost my momentum. Inertia has set in and I am now experiencing "a feeling of unwillingness to do anything." It's physics: A body at rest remains at rest unless force is applied to it. I need to use The Force. So, I consult the Jedi Master of motivation, eDiets Fitness Pro Raphael Calzadilla for some sage advice.

"The key to recovering from a setback is focusing on one successful day. Don't worry about anything beyond one day of dietary and exercise consistency," Raphael recommends. "The next day, focus on how good you feel having completed that successful day -- then do it again. You'll find that you string together a bunch of successful days just by using this method."

So, I'll pick myself up off the floor, dust the dirt from my lapel and take returning to my routine one day at a time. It seems so simple, but sometimes it's hard to see the door when you're face down on the floor. The other realization I have about getting out of a slump is that you can't always do it alone -- sometimes you have to ask for help. So, now it's back to basics… I'll see you at the gym.

Did you have a setback that you thought you couldn't come back from? How did you recover? Post below, it may help you and someone who isn't quite ready to ask for help yet.

Labels: motivation, tips

By Jenn Kepler
Jr. Copy Editor

I have gotten into my car several times these past few weeks to find my car's temperature gauge announcing ridiculous temperatures… like 103 degrees Fahrenheit. I know this is Florida and all, but it's not even summer yet!

Summer doesn't officially start until Friday, June 20, a date that’s also called the "summer solstice." If you're wondering about the science behind it, this is what I understand: On June 20, the North Pole will be inclined toward the sun, resulting in the longest day of the year and, because of that, the day the Earth receives the most sunshine. Tada! The official start of summer.

Time to unfold that sunshade that's been sitting in my trunk for months. Other than keeping my car (and myself!) cool, I've also decided on a few fun ways to kick off my summer…

Blinded by the light? Protection from the sun's UV rays is first and foremost on my list. You can't enjoy the summer if you're squinting to see everything or if you've turned lobster-red after a few hours in the sun. Recently, I splurged on a pair of polarized sunglasses, a floppy straw hat and dermatologist-recommended sunscreen (no more breakouts!). You may feel guilty spending the money, but you can use protection as your justification.

Healthy fixin's: Biting into a juicy watermelon has "summer" written all over it. Some of my favorite fruits are at their juicy peak in the summertime -- like berries, cucumbers, nectarines, peaches and watermelon. With so many fresh choices at the grocery store, it won't be hard to get in my daily servings of fruit.

Get outside: I brought my old bike over to my apartment after it collected some dust and spider webs at my parents' house. Why run on the treadmill when you can bike to the beach or nearby park and get just as much exercise? Plus, it'll be a good way to stay in shape during the swimsuit season!

Kick back, relax and have some fun: The summer solstice calls for celebration in many different cultures. Why not get the grill going, invite some friends over and celebrate the start of the season?

What are you doing to kick-start your summer? Comment below and share with us!

Labels: tips

Let's talk about sex. No, I'm not talking about the fun activity that two (or more) individuals do together. I'm talking about sex: the biological distinction that defines you as either male or female. Your sex plays an integral role in your overall health, including your susceptibility to certain diseases and conditions.

You didn’t have a choice in the matter, but at least you have the following quiz to inform you of things to look out for (plus, I've also thrown in some fun facts to mention at your next cocktail party!).

1. Recent studies prove that in the span of a day, a woman speaks more words than a man.
a. True
b. False
c. I went over my minutes again.

2. Who's more prone to depression?
a. Men
b. Women
c. Both have an equal risk.

3. A couple walks into a bar. The man orders two cosmopolitans. The female orders two gin and tonics. Who's likelier to feel the effects of the alcohol sooner?
a. The man
b. The woman
c. Why is the man drinking cosmopolitans?

4. Men have a higher risk of developing autoimmune diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis and Rheumatoid Arthritis than women do (Autoimmune diseases pit the body's immune system against the body.).
a. True
b. False
c. This is a tough one.

5. This sex is four times as likely to die from suicide.
a. Men
b. Women

6. Research shows that breast cancer is the leading cause of death in American women.
a. True
b. False
c. The research is inconclusive.

7. What's one reason women tend to live longer than men?
a. Men are likelier to engage in impulsive activities such as popping wheelies on the highway without wearing a helmet.
b. Men are more likely to spend most of their time watching football rather than playing it and exercising.
c. That's life.

8. Both a man and a woman end up in the local hospital after having their first heart attacks. Who has the higher risk of having a second heart attack?
a. The man
b. The woman

Give me the answers already!

Let's see how you did. Click here to see the answers!

Labels: health, quiz

If you've already completed the quiz, the right answers are below. If you haven't, stop peeking and click here to take the quiz!

Remember, these answers only take sex into account – factors such as family history and size could skew the results. Anyway, enough with the disclaimer…

1. False: If you answered True, you're correct – if we were still living in 2006, when Dr. Louann Brizendine released her book The Female Brain. The book asserted that women spoke about 20,000 words daily while men spoke only 7,000. However, last year, a study published in Personality and Social Psychology Review challenged Brizendine's study, putting men slightly ahead overall. However, it is unclear whether the men's results included grunting and cheering.

2. Women: Women are twice as likely as men to experience depression, according to WebMD. One contributing factor is the hormonal changes that a woman experiences throughout her life, including pregnancy and menstruation.

3. The Woman: If a man and a female are at the bar looking for a good time, the woman's likelier to find it first, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reports. Because men typically weigh more than women, their bodies have more water to dilute the alcohol. Thus, women tend to be more affected by an alcoholic drink.

4. False: The National Women's Health Information Center says that most autoimmune diseases occur in women. Again, it appears that hormonal fluctuations play a role in increasing a woman's risk.

5. Men: Yes, men are four times as likely as women to die from suicide. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, women are three times likelier to attempt suicide.

6. False: Although breast cancer is a leading cause of death among American women, it isn't No. 1. The leading cause of death is actually heart disease. The American Heart Association Web site states that "nearly twice as many women in the United States die of heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases as from all forms of cancer, including breast cancer."

7. A: Men are likelier to engage in risk-taking situations, putting their lives at stake in the process. Sitting in front of the tube drinking beer instead of exercising doesn't help one's health, either.

8. The Woman: In the first six years after a heart attack, women are almost twice as likely to have a second heart attack, according to the Texas Heart Institute. For more information on maintaining a healthy heart, stop by next month for "The Heart of Summer," the eDiets July theme.

So how did you do? Let us know by leaving a comment below!

This weekend, the 108th U.S. Open will take place at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego. Aside from being the national championship, the final round of this prestigious event is contested on Father's Day. It's only appropriate that one of the most coveted titles in professional sports should be awarded on Father's Day.

Like a good golf pro, fathers guide us through each round of our lives. Only we can make the shots, but our fathers motivate us to play at our best. A good father teaches us to be humble in victory and gracious in defeat. When we get a bad lie, a father inspires us to make the best of it. When we hit our ball in the water, a good father inspires us to shrug it off and focus on our next shot.

Of course, my analogy will work with just about any sport. However, for me, no sport embodies the spirit of fatherhood better than the game of golf. In my relationship with my father, perhaps nothing brought us closer together than the game of golf. It provided me the opportunity to enter my father's world and allowed the two of us to really bond. The golf course always served as a sanctuary, on which to cultivate our relationship with one another.

Some of my earliest childhood memories involve going to the driving range with my father. He would hand me a 9 or a 7-iron and let me hit some of his range balls from the mat next to him. Eventually, I worked my way up to earning a few swings with his driver.

"That's the longest drive I've ever seen you hit," he seemed to remark on every subsequent trip to the range.

When my father played a round of golf on family vacations, I always rode in the cart with him. Somewhere around the middle of the round, he would let me drop a ball and play along for a few holes. Even in those days, my father made it a point to teach me the etiquette of the game.

When I was 10 years old, my father took me to see the 1980 U.S. Open Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, N.J. One of the best memories of my childhood was standing beside the 18th green as Jack Nicklaus rolled in his final putt at dusk on Sunday to win the tournament. Chants of "Jack is back!" erupted from the gallery. At 40, Nicklaus had become the first person ever to win four U.S. Open titles.

Years later at the Honda Classic in Coral Springs, Fla., my father and I saw Jack Nicklaus again -- walking right next to us in the gallery. He and his wife Barbara were following their own son, Gary. That tournament also allowed me to see my favorite player on the PGA TOUR, Davis Love III. Davis has been my favorite ever since I read his book, Every Shot I Take: Lessons Learned in Golf, Life and a Father's Love. The book is (you guessed it) a tribute to his dad!

My favorite round of golf with my father occurred when the two of us played on the same team in a scramble at Boca Dunes Country Club. I was the lead-off man for our team, and I remember my hands started to shake as I gripped the club and stepped up to hit my first drive. I hit i