Medifast

We recommend the Medifast meal plan Take Shape for Life for those seeking to lose weight who would like (or need) an eating plan that is balanced and healthy. Medifast helps those who want to take the guess work out of what foods to buy, how to prepare them, and in what combinations to eat them. Medifast makes choosing the foods you like easier for your weight loss goal.

When people like Star Jone make the news for their dramatic weight loss and fool people for so long about how they did it, it can be a real let down for those who are trying to lose weight the healthy way. When public figures say one thing about their weight loss but have really done something else, many people will get the wrong impression and even false hope that weight loss is easier than it really is.

While Star Jones doesn't need to be criticized for her weight loss or deception - afterall, she did 'come clean' - the real problem is the attention given to gastric bypass as a solution for obesity or being overweight. It is important to know that gastric bypass may get the weight off, but it doesn't magically make you healthy. You still have to change your diet, otherwise you could put yourself at risk of serious health problems. So why not just change your diet without going through gastric bypass?

Here's more on Star Jones appearance on Oprah and her 'confession' --

The former The View co-host left the daytime chatfest in 2006 amid a storm of controversy (some might even say a ball of flames) following a nasty public debate with Barbara Walters as her ABC contract term came to an end.  On Wednesday, however, Jones' goal was not to clear the air about her time on The View, but instead to set the record straight with the one woman who understands almost better than anyone the burden of a public battle with weight.

Winfrey was gracious and welcoming as she greeted Star, offering an affectionate "Hey Lil Bit" to her guest as though they were old girlfriends.  This, even though Star, who is not known to be a part of Oprah's Montecito inner circle, was making her first visit to daytime's #1 show.

In the interview, Star spoke with a simple sincerity about having gastric bypass surgery and why she went to such great lengths to hide it, admitting she instructed her staff to not even talk about it or they would all be fired.

"I was an addict for all practical purposes, that I had never stuck to a real diet, that I'd never stuck to a real exercise program," the lawyer-turned-TV-personality told O.

"The doctor said, 'If you don't make changes, you will die.' I had no choice," Jones continued admitting simultaneously that some days she still feels 300 pounds in her head. read more...

Comments: The bottom line is that a healthy diet and healthy actions is what you should strive for, in order that you have a healthy lifestyle. This will lead to a healthy weight. Focus on what you're doing, what you need to do, and those things that you need to avoid to be healthy, and your weight will take care of itself. The real goal should be good health. Medifast is a meal plan that can help you meet that goal.

If you are interested in a meal plan to assist with your weight loss and health, Medifast provides a diet that makes it easy to plan the foods and meals you will eat. Click here - Medifast Coupons - to try the Medifast diet meal plan to help you get started losing weight. Medifast is physician-developed.

The Medifast meal plan Take Shape For Life is recommended for those who need to lose weight and improve their health. Medifast may be a better alternative to red meat for a source of protein, since red meat has been shown to increase the risk of dying sooner. Here' more from CNN --

Burger lovers beware: People who eat red meat every day have a higher risk of dying over a 10-year period -- mostly because of cardiovascular disease or cancer --than their peers who eat less red or processed meat, according to a new study of about half a million people.

People who ate the most red meat had about a 30 percent greater risk of dying than those who ate the least.

"This is the biggest and highest quality study like this," says Barry M. Popkin, Ph.D., from the University of North Carolina, who wrote an editorial accompanying the study, which was published Monday in Archives of Internal Medicine. "They collected the diet data very carefully, and it's saying to people, 'You don't have to eat red meat every day."

In the study, a research team led by Rashmi Sinha, Ph.D., from the National Cancer Institute in Rockville, Maryland, looked at more than 500,000 people who were aged 50 to 71 when they enrolled in the National Institutes of Health-AARP Diet and Health study.

Over a 10-year period, people who ate the most red meat every day (about 62.5 grams per 1,000 calories per day, equivalent to a quarter-pound burger or small steak per day) had about a 30 percent greater risk of dying compared with those who consumed the least amount of red meat (a median of 9.8 grams per 1,000 calories per day). The excess mortality was mostly the result of cardiovascular disease and cancer. Read more...

Comments: It is one of the biggest contributors to the overweight and obesity problem in the US, and we need to cut back drastically. Fast food restaurants are everywhere, and most of them serve burgers that are high in fat and obviously unhealthy. This stuff may make you feel full but it's doing your body more harm than...well its not doing any good at all actually. Get rid of the red meat sources in favor of chicken breasts, fish, beans, and such.

If you want a good source of protein while balancing your diet so you can achieve a healthy weight, consider the Medifast Take Shape For Life meal plan. It's easy, affordable, and tastes great. Otherwise, just cut out the fast food crap for better health.

If you are interested in a meal plan to assist with your Medifast diet plan and weight loss, Medifast provides a diet that makes it easy to plan the foods and meals you will eat. Click here - Medifast Diet Plan - to try the Medifast diet meal plan to help you get started losing weight. Medifast is physician-developed.

Losing 100 pounds or more is not considered an easy task. Well, it's not considered a task at all for the person doing it, but a life-changing or life-altering experience. Medifast has made it possible for more people to realize their weight loss goals and realize a new life. Here's some inspirational Medifast Program success stories and the people who did it using the Medifast meal plan Take Shape For Life --

Medifast Success Stories

Mary Jane Medlock

Medifast is so easy - just shake and drink!

I gained a lot of weight while pregnant with my first daughter.

I was placed on bed rest and gained 70 pounds during the pregnancy, which put me up to 330 pounds.

Three months post-delivery, I decided to do something about my weight.

I had seen an ad about Medifast and I decided to give it a try, boy I’m glad I did.

In 9 months, I lost a total of 170 pounds. My energy went way up and I was never hungry.

Then, about 3 years later, I became pregnant again. Although I was nervous about gaining weight, I knew that Medifast would help me take it off again, and that's exactly what happened.

Within a few months, I lost 35 pounds and am now within 10 pounds of my pre-baby weight.

Medifast really tastes great, too. My favorite flavors are Orange-Pineapple and Strawberry Creme. I like to mix it and leave it in the freezer for about 30 minutes then I eat it with a spoon.

To think that I had even considered Gastric Bypass is scary. I am so glad I never went that route.

Medifast is so easy to follow just shake and drink: no measuring, no counting. I would recommend this to anyone who has been battling with his or her weight. Look at my before and after pictures and judge for yourself.

Jennifer has lost over 100 pounds with Medifast!

My Medifast Journey began in January 2005. I was having some health problems with digestion & acid reflux. No matter what I was eating, it just wasn’t agreeing with me. That’s when I decided to research the Medifast program. The website was very informative. I decided to give this a shot and I ordered my first 2 weeks. I was on my way! At this time my weight was around 250 lbs.

The first 3 weeks on the program was like a detox from food. What I liked the most about Medifast was the fact that it was rather restrictive. There was no option for me to cheat. I had to put forth 100% effort if I was really going to succeed this time. I once had a personal trainer tell me that losing weight was 100% mental. The physical part was just a result. I could not believe her statement, until now.

I was forced to deal with a lot of emotional issues that I have always pacified, whether it was with food, shopping, or another destructive habit. I’ve learned a lot about myself during this journey.

Over the next 5 months, I became so comfortable with the program. There was no stress about what I was going to eat, or what special groceries I had to buy. Everything was right in front of me, delivered to my door every two weeks!

A few interesting things have happened to me during this weight loss journey. I was writing back & forth with some of the other Medifast users from the discussion board. I had several women write to me and tell me that I was their inspiration. Me? How could I be someone’s inspiration? That gave me so much hope and encouragement to keep going on this journey. I continued to write and spread my encouraging words. For the first time in over 10 years, I actually felt good about myself.

Another interesting thing was that I still saw myself as 250 lbs., although I was now under 200 lbs. I went to a close friend’s baby shower and we took a group pictures, as we do at every event. The only difference this time was that I didn’t hide in the back behind someone. When the picture came back, I had to do a double take. I was always the “fat friend.” Looking at this picture, I actually looked “normal.” I didn’t look like the fat girl anymore. That’s when my mind slowly started to catch up with the rest of me. The same thing happened with the pictures from vacation. I couldn’t believe I was wearing a skirt! I haven’t worn a skirt in nearly 15 years. And, I didn’t look half bad in it.

What kept me going was setting small goals for myself. My first goal was to buy a smaller size jean. I was wearing a 20-22 when I began. I bought a size 16 jeans. My second goal was to get below 200 lbs. I weighed myself at the gym and saw the scale at 198. I was ecstatic. I haven’t been below 200 lbs. in over 12 years.

I am now right around 180 lbs. and a size 14. I am continuing the Medifast program, but I am incorporating more food into it. I have significantly increased my exercise and weight lifting, so I had to add more calories. I am making healthy choices like chicken, salad, sweet potatoes, apples, etc.

I have tried nearly every diet under the sun during the last 10 years of being trapped in this 250-pound body. I am down over 100 lbs. from my heaviest weight of 292. Medifast, along with a strong willpower, has helped me succeed for the last time. I made a promise to myself. I will never, ever let the scale go above 200. There is no reward like being able to shop at a regular store. There are so many stores to choose from! I feel so much better about myself. I have even started running. I never imagined that would be something I could do. Since I have been on this diet, two friends have seen my success and started the program, too. Another co-worker called me and “heard about how great I looked” and asked me for the Medifast information. Not only does the program work, I have become a walking billboard!

I call my weight loss a “journey” because that’s what it is, one step at a time. There is always going to be temptation to get off the path, or take a short cut, but I know the road now like the back of my hand. I will continue on my journey for another 30-pound weight loss, one step at a time.

If you are interested in a meal plan to assist with your weight loss and health, Medifast provides a diet that makes it easy to plan the foods and meals you will eat. Click here - Medifast Diet - to try the Medifast diet meal plan to help you get started losing weight. Medifast is physician-developed.

Now, more than ever you need to be aware that a healthy diet can have an effect on your DNA. Even for those who use Medifast, your health and weight are not the only things to think about, but your DNA as well. Here's more --

While scientists have been identifying genetic markers for diseases for decades, the connections mostly make a difference only when a condition is caused by the malfunction of a single gene.

And there are more than 6,000 known single-gene disorders, including cystic fibrosis, sickle-cell anemia, Huntingdon's disease and hereditary hemachromatosis (excessive iron buildup in blood cells).

But with some exceptions in cancer care, researchers have had difficulty making discoveries linking multiple genes to a disease relevant to treatment, or preventive steps.

"For the vast majority of (genetic) risk assessments, the increased risk of an individual developing the disease in question is modest. ... And in few such conditions are there specific effective interventions to diminish the risk," said Dr. James Evans, professor of genetics and medicine at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine.

Most genetic studies simply didn't tell doctors much else about the people carrying the gene.

The National Human Genome Resource Institute last year announced a $31 million effort to start closing those knowledge gaps by matching about 300 genetic variants linked to common diseases with individuals' biological and physical characteristics.

So, if a person carries X gene variant, just what is his or her weight, cholesterol level, blood-sugar level or bone density? And how does lifestyle -- diet, smoking and drinking habits and exercise levels -- possibly interact with the gene to influence the onset or severity of disease?

After four years, the institute expects to have data from about 40,000 people, giving a solid base of how bodies and gene variants are arranged.

Many other research efforts are focused on how people with different gene variations respond to vitamins or medicines.

For instance, scientists at the University of California-Berkeley have been testing human gene variants transplanted into yeast cells to see how certain enzymes respond to vitamins.

"Our studies have convinced us that there is a lot of variation in the population in these enzymes," said researcher Nicholas Marini. "I wouldn't be surprised if everybody is going to require a different optimal dose of vitamins based on their genetic makeup" both to prevent disease and to optimize physical fitness in athletes or soldiers.

One of the more advanced projects to match genetics with dosing is reported this week in The New England Journal of Medicine, showing that the amount of the blood-thinner warfarin prescribed to a patient can be pinpointed with a formula that includes data on which version of two different genes he or she carries. Read more...

Note: If you are interested in a meal plan to assist with your weight loss and health, Medifast provides a diet that makes it easy to plan the foods and meals you will eat. Click here - Medifast Diet - to try the Medifast diet meal plan to help you get started losing weight. Medifast is physician-developed.

Here's the deal - while there are many scientists developing these 'futuristic foods' so that you can eat what your body needs, you will not and cannot go wrong with a healthy diet. Medifast may help you lose weight, and the Medifast Diet Plan is a good one. But a balanced lifestyle with exercise, plenty of water, avoiding fast food and soft drinks and tobacco - these are the things you must do while you wait for these so-called futuristic foods to be created. And by the way, I'm not sure they'll ever match the goodness that Mother Nature already provides with fruits and vegetables. Here's more --

CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) -- Wouldn't it be great if you knew which foods you should be eating based on your own personal health profile?

We know that certain foods are bad for people with particular conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes. Advising a generally healthy person on foods that will prevent future disease, on the other hand, is far more complicated, and represents one of the challenges for scientists working in food science.

In the future, people should be able to tailor their diets and supplements to their particular biochemistry, said experts presenting at the annual meeting of the American Association of the Advancement of Science this week.

Right now the food industry is centered on products, said J. Bruce German, professor and food chemist at the University of California, Davis. That means profits depend on lowering the cost of production and making things cheaper.

"No one's getting healthy in this model," he said. "It's clear we have to move toward a consumer-driven food supply."

In a consumer-driven food world, the industry would focus its goals on improving all aspects of the consumer's health, he said. People would receive dietary recommendations based on a very specific individualized health assessment, taking into account age, sex and medical history, he said.

Once scientists have a better understanding of the way metabolism works -- research that is well under way -- people will be able to better personalize their diets to meet their own health needs, German said.

Right now, the blanket recommendations are missing the mark. For example, look at omega-3 fatty acids, which may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. Although most people don't get the recommended intake of omega-3s, found mainly in fish oils, different healthy people react very differently to these acids, meaning some need them a lot more than others, German said.

Moreover, there's little hard evidence supporting the use of vitamin C and zinc supplements, although they're widespread in pharmacies, said Dr. M. Eric Gershwin, professor of medicine at the University of California, Davis.

As for herbal supplements like ginseng, Gershwin and colleagues found in a survey of products in Davis and Sacramento that half of the ginseng they bought actually contained no ginseng.

The immune system, "a complicated, multiorgan, chemical and genetic nightmare," evolved about 250,000 years ago, meaning it's unlikely that we can improve it much just by eating certain foods, Gershwin said.

What we do know is that being thin is good for the immune system, and that foods rich in antioxidants have the potential to reduce inflammation that occurs in the body, he said.

It's also important to recognize that the immune system slows down with age. When a baby gets hepatitis A, parents may not even know the child is sick, but older adults have a 25 percent chance of death from the disease, he said. In thinking about how to improve diets in the future, age is therefore a huge factor.

Educating the immune system at a young age is also key, and that means it's actually good that babies get exposed to some bacteria. Gershwin advises that if your child's pacifier falls on the floor, put it right back in his or her mouth.

If you are interested in a meal plan to assist with your weight loss and health, Medifast provides a diet that makes it easy to plan the foods and meals you will eat. Click here - Medifast Coupons - to try the Medifast diet meal plan to help you get started losing weight. Medifast is physician-developed.

Getting to a healthy weight is so important to the overall health and wellness of your body, and the Medifast Diet Program can help. Because the way in which you go about your weight loss is important. Weight loss should be a side effect of healthy eating and a healthy lifestyle. In fact, a healthy weight should be arrived at naturally, not some number that you set as a goal. You're body will stop losing weight when you've arrived at a healthy weight, but your habits shouldn't change. The problem most people run into is setting a goal weight, reaching it, then celebrating as if to be 'done' with their current way of living and eating. If you focus on develop a healthy lifestyle and healthy eating habits, then you just continue living that way long after you've reached a healthy weight. If you are interested in a meal plan to assist with your weight loss and health, Medifast provides a diet that makes it easy to plan the foods and meals you will eat.

One problem that constantly plagues Americans is their weight. Numerous theories have been developed about why we gain weight, why we retain weight, and why we can’t get rid of it. The blame has been put on everything from cortisone to thyroid to carbohydrates, and yet, it seems that it is still a major problem with no solution! However, here’s a thought: perhaps it is diet. 

I know, I know that may sound like an easy solution… and quite frankly, it is! Imagine if you will a body that is devoid and deprived of nutrients. In order for that body to survive in “starvation mode” it must save as much fat as possible in order to have back up. How are our bodies in starvation mode with all this abundance of food? Simple, our bodies are starving for “nutrition” not “calories”.

If we eat a healthy, balanced diet full of whole grains and plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits we are much less likely to overeat, and we are also less likely to store fat! Whole foods are your best bet all the way around. Potatoes with the skin contain all the nutrition needed to digest and utilize the calories. Rice and other grains in their whole form provide vitamins and minerals needed to assimilate them. Another key point to make here is the importance of organically grown produce. Not only are they clean and devoid of pesticides, but they also contain more nutrition, and they taste better. Try incorporating these tips into your diet and see what happens… you will be amazed. Need a place to buy organic?

If you are interested in a meal plan to assist with your weight loss and health, Medifast provides a diet that makes it easy to plan the foods and meals you will eat. Click here - Medifast - to try the Medifast diet meal plan to help you get started losing weight. Medifast is physician-developed.

If you are interested in a meal plan to assist with your weight loss and health, Medifast provides a diet that makes it easy to plan the foods and meals you will eat. Click here - Medifast - to try the Medifast diet meal plan to help you get started losing weight. Medifast is physician-developed.

If restaurants are forced with putting more information on their menus about the calorie count, including info about fats, will this make any improvement to the number of people that are overweight? Probably not. When you go to a restaurant, you most often go because you want to 'let loose and enjoy' the items offered, not to eat healthier...unfortunately. But restaurants typically make items that appeal to the pallet, not the health of the customer, otherwise they wouldn't find raving reviews and repeat patrons. Here's more from MSNBC.com about the a "Nutrition Disclosure Bill" that may find it's way into more places around the country --

Indianapolis - Nutrition disclosure signs could become the rule at chain restaurants around Indiana.

A state health committee approved a bill requiring nutrition facts on signs, menus or fliers at chain restaurants. Some restaurants, including Subway downtown, already have such signs posted.

"Especially when I'm on a diet, I do read them," said another consumer. "I try to carefully pick and choose what I'm going to put in my mouth. You are what you eat."

Health professionals say that the signs are an important part of a healthy diet.

"I think it's incredibly important for someone who is poised to make a change in lifestyle and they're looking for things like that," said Richard Cotton with the American College of Sports Medicine.

Some Indiana lawmakers agree and the Health Committee passed a bill that would require restaurants with more than ten stores in Indiana to post their nutrition facts.

"There should be a standard procedure. Keep it simple. Facts about carbs, proteins, sodium...," Cotton said. Read more...

Comments: This author disagrees with the assessment that 'signs are an important part of a healthy diet' when it comes to those in restaurants. Unless the signs posted in most restaurants that say something to the effect, Drinking soft drinks will increase your chance of obesity and poor health, and/or Eating a diet consisting of plenty of fruits and vegetables will help prevent sickness and disease, and/or Processed foods are not healthy and may increase your chance of health problems....then, no, I would say they aren't going to help. And for the consumer who says "I do read them especially when I'm on a diet", this just typifies the mindset of all 'dieters'. There really shouldn't be the attitude of I'm on a diet, but one that teaches a healthy diet being the only diet that one should 'be on'. This is the only way we'll return to an age of health and fitness.

The Health & Wellness Institute

If you are interested in a meal plan to assist with your weight loss and health, Medifast provides a diet that makes it easy to plan the foods and meals you will eat. Click here - Medifast - to try the Medifast diet meal plan to help you get started losing weight. Medifast is physician-developed.

If you are interested in a meal plan to assist with your weight loss and health, Medifast provides a diet that makes it easy to plan the foods and meals you will eat. Click here - Medifast - to try the Medifast diet meal plan to help you get started losing weight. Medifast is physician-developed.

Dr. Gupta, the soon-to-be Surgeon General, is in favor of taxing items that are filled with the cheap, but calorie dense, corn-syrup. Those items would be soft drinks in most cases although juice items should be included, plus any others with too much sugar - all of which are contributing heavily to the obesity epidemic. Aaah, yes, the old-fashioned time-tested way of paying for a problem....taxes. While we hate the idea of any new taxes, it seems to be the only way out of a mess that too many people are screaming about for a solution - that is, the whole health care issue.  I mean, do we really want to allow lawmakers to impose more taxes? That seems to be the only way the new President and administration are going to be able to solve and accomplish these seemingly insurmountable goals.

Most voters, like this one, just don't like the idea of new taxes. But more and more people are missing the forest for the trees, or are just not thinking long-term. There are too many laws and too many taxes on the books right now, and that includes tax laws. Here's the story on the obesity tax proposal and how it may soon become a reality with the next Attorney General (although it may start in New York) --

New York Governor David Paterson wants to fight obesity by taxing certain, but not all, sweet drinks. Could an 'obesity tax' achieve much?

The idea for "A Tobacco-Style Tax on Fattening Drinks" came from BusinessWeek reader Charles Weber, a U.S. Navy veteran and retired electrical contractor in Hendersonville, N.C. Read more...

Can taxing junk food solve the obesity crisis? This controversial idea has never been given a real-world tryout, but the combination of a budget busting fiscal crisis and a citizenry that keeps getting fatter is causing legislators and executives around the world to give a so-called "obesity tax" serious consideration. New York Governor David Paterson is the most serious of all, proposing in his 2009 state budget that an 18% sales tax be levied on non-diet soda and sugary juice drinks. Such a tax, he says, would raise $404 million in the fiscal year starting in April, and $539 million in the year after that—all to be earmarked for obesity-fighting public health programs.

Comments: One way or another, we are going to get back to being healthier. It may take some painful changes, some overcome cravings and habits, but it will happen... and the country will feel a whole lot better!

The Health & Wellness Institute

If you are interested in a meal plan to assist with your weight loss and health, Medifast provides a diet that makes it easy to plan the foods and meals you will eat. Click here - Medifast - to try the Medifast diet meal plan to help you get started losing weight. Medifast is physician-developed.

If you are interested in a meal plan to assist with your weight loss and health, Medifast provides a diet that makes it easy to plan the foods and meals you will eat. Click here - Medifast - to try the Medifast diet meal plan to help you get started losing weight. Medifast is physician-developed.

'Medicare-for-all' cure for health woes
Single-payer system is best reform approach

By DANIEL P. WIRT, M.D. - Americans are increasingly afraid that they can't afford to get sick, and with good reason. About half of all personal bankruptcies are caused by medical expenses, and 76 percent of these individuals had health insurance when they got sick or injured. Those of us with insurance are paying a greater share of the premium and more deductibles and co-pays as well. Thus, not only do we have 46 million Americans without health insurance, but at least an equal number who are seriously underinsured. With the recent economic downturn, the ranks of those who are uninsured and underinsured are growing. Many are faced with choosing between paying for medicine and needed health care and paying for food and housing. A typical story is: get sick or injured, lose your job, lose your health insurance, go bankrupt.

A majority of physicians (59 percent) and an even higher proportion of Americans (at least 62 percent) support single payer national health insurance or "Medicare-for-All". In spite of this, virtually all we are hearing about today are mandate plans that would require everyone to buy the same private for-profit insurance that is already failing us. The for-profit insurance companies and their plethora of plans make for a terribly complex, fragmented, costly and inefficient system. Administrative overhead consumes about 31 percent of health care dollars in the United States, and the for-profit insurance companies are responsible for half of this, or 15 percent of $2.4 trillion. This money, more than $350 billion per year, provides no health care: it is consumed by enormous administrative costs, profits for investors and shareholders, and large salaries for managers of these for-profit insurance companies. read more...

Comments: I have to respectfully disagree with the conclusion that a single-party pay system is the solution to our health care woes, although that conclusion is not surprising coming from a medical doctor. Most medical doctors have no clue as to what it takes to be healthy. Most (not all!) think that all health problems are solved with drugs. The truth is that most health problems could be avoided through a healthy diet and regular exercise since most jobs don't require any physical labor. Now if 99% of the US had a healthy diet that included plenty of fruits and vegetables, and avoided all the things that are making us sick - fast foods, processed foods, soft drinks, tobacco - then we could accurately assess any solutions needed for health care. The single pay system could work then, because the small percentage of people who then had problems - cancers and genetic-induced conditions - could then be covered under one budget that was paid by tax payers. While this may not sound feasible - that is, to have every American living a healthy lifestyle - it isn't practical or fair to think that an entire nation will be covered under one pay system because the majority won't take responsibility for their own health. Health is a choice in most instances, and this is why the one-pay system is not or should not be a viable choice. All it will do is make health care even more difficult, and citizens less responsible. The government can't even manage to balance the budget or run the Medicare system as it is, why should we believe that they can successfully manage a one-pay system for the entire country? Some regulations for the private sector are ok, but less government involved in our lives is definitely a better road!

If you are not getting enough healthy nutrients in your diet, then you are shorting yourself on the very thing that will help prevent sickness and disease. Eat more fruits and vegetables for better health and less dependency on the 'health care system'. If you don't The Health & Wellness Institute recommends Medifast because it provides a diet that makes it easy to plan the foods and meals you will eat, with good nutrition.

The Health & Wellness Institute

While having an 'obesity tax' that will put taxes on those items that are contributing to the obesity epidemic may be one part of the solution, there needs to still be a fight for better health, fitness, and a good healthy meal plan - Medifast is one option. Punishing the bad (a tax on an unhealthy food or drink) is ok, but also reinforcing the good (a tax cut for those who are within a normal BMI range perhaps?) is also needed to properly stear the country's citizens in the right direction.

Raising the price of sugar-laden drinks and sodas so they’re not cheaper than a bottle of plain water is likely a very good strategy overall. But whether or not it will have the intended outcome of actually lowering obesity rates, who knows? And whether the tax money raised will actually be used for effective health-promoting programs also remains to be seen.

What is sure, however, is that soda greatly contributes to our ever-rising obesity rates, and is a major detriment to overall health. 

However, one important issue that is being overlooked is that of diet soda and other artificially sweetened drinks, which are not slated for additional taxes. These drinks have bee shown to contribute as well.

How Soda and Sugary Drinks Contribute to the Obesity Epidemic

As of 2005, white bread was dethroned as the number one source of calories in the American diet, being replaced by soft drinks. During the past half-century, the number of carbonated soft-drink drinkers rose more than 450 percent and jumped from 11 gallons in 1946 to 49 gallons in the year 2000. Currently, the average American drinks more than 60 gallons of soft drinks each year. During this time, obesity rates have skyrocketed. 

One independent, peer-reviewed study published in the British medical journal The Lancet demonstrated a strong link between soda consumption and childhood obesity. They found that 12-year-olds who drank soft drinks regularly were more likely to be overweight than those who didn't.

In fact, for each additional daily serving of sugar-sweetened soft drink consumed during the nearly two-year study, the risk of obesity jumped by 60 percent. Just one extra can of soda per day can add as much as 15 pounds to your weight over the course of a single year!

At that rate, it’s no wonder more than 65 percent of all American adults struggle with overweight and obesity.

How Soda Affects Your Body

First of all, just one can of Coke contains 10 teaspoons of sugar. This is 100 percent of your recommended daily intake (which is more than double my recommended daily allowance to begin with). Within 20 minutes of drinking that soda, your blood sugar spikes, and your liver responds to the resulting insulin burst by turning massive amounts of sugar into fat.

Within 40 minutes, your blood pressure rises due to your body having absorbed all the caffeine, and then your livers dumps even more sugar into your bloodstream. 

After about one hour, you’ll start to have a sugar crash, which oftentimes leads you into a vicious cycle  of consuming more stimulants, followed by crashes, throughout your day.

It is also a proven fact that sugar increases your insulin levels, which can lead to not only weight gain, but also high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes, premature aging and many more negative side effects.

Comments: A healthy lifestyle is all about the choices you make. These must be healthy habits that are done without the internal debate that goes on in our heads - maybe I'll go work out today; OR I probably shouldn't eat that; and so on. With a healthy meal plan, regular exercise, plenty of good nutrients, your internal voice is only reinforcing what you know you're going to do - can't wait to get to the gym; OR those red apples look good; OR many others. The bottom line - make your life about positive change, not about the negative happens with poor choices.

The Health & Wellness Institute

If you are interested in a meal plan to assist with your weight loss and health, Medifast provides a diet that makes it easy to plan the foods and meals you will eat. Click here - Medifast - to try the Medifast diet meal plan to help you get started losing weight. Medifast is physician-developed.

Before you try dangerous diet pills, consider a healthy meal plan like Medifast to help you lose weight.

It's the same old story every year: New Year's resolutions to lose weight and get fit, only to end in disapppointment, or at least a gradual return to the usual everyday habits that keep us overweight. Companies prey on human emotions during this time, offering the easy way to weight loss with diet pills, ones that are most often dangerous and offer not much more than false hope. You can't find a smile, energy, happiness, love, health, fitness, and a life that you might dream of... in a bottle. It comes with a little bit of dedication, consistency, and most of all...time. You've got to be patient. Don't fall for the diet pills that come and go every year. Here's more on the subject from The Daily Tribune --

Weight loss once again was among the top New Year's resolutions, but using diet pills to drop a few pounds could prove to be more harmful than helpful.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently released a report of more than 25 different weight-loss products that contain undeclared and active pharmaceutical ingredients that may be harmful to consumers' health.

Some of these products include 5x Imelda Perfect Slimming, 999 Fitness Essence and Venom Hyperdrive 3.0.

In some of the harmful weight-loss products — sold online and in retail stores — chemicals such as sibutramine, a controlled substance, and phenolphthalein, a suspected cancer-causing agent, were found, according to the FDA. The products have not been approved by the FDA, and are illegal.

"These tainted weight-loss products pose a great risk to public health because they contain undeclared ingredients and, in some cases, contain prescription drugs in amounts that greatly exceed their maximum recommended dosages," said Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research for the FDA, in a statement. Read more...

Comments: Don't risk your health by falling victim to products that claim to make weight loss easy. Weight loss doesn't have to be difficult, but we just seem to want it now, yesterday, as opposed to just making some simple changes. One at a time, some diet changes can make all the difference. If you are interested in a meal plan to assist with your weight loss and health, Medifast provides a diet that makes it easy to plan the foods and meals you will eat. Click here - Medifast - to try the Medifast diet meal plan to help you get started losing weight. Medifast is physician-developed.!

The Health & Wellness Institute

A diet plan like Medifast offers balanced nutrition at a reasonable cost when your budget may be tight in tougher economic times. A plan like Medifast not only can help you with weight loss, but also save you time and money when it comes to getting the foods you need to support a healthy diet. The following comes from the LAtimes.com --

Nutrition experts predict that most Americans may be slightly more concerned with the economy than, say, their antioxidant consumption in the months ahead.

If that's the case, the quest for a healthful and cost-conscious diet suggests Americans will be eating more meals cooked at home, upping their produce and whole-grain intake and eschewing sodium. "It's the back-to-basics bailout diet," says Shelley McGuire, professor of nutrition at Washington State University in Pullman.

Comments: Medifast is not the only way to lose weight through a healthy diet, but it is one option that The Health & Wellness Institute believes in from the numerous success stories and quality of the products. A healthy diet is difficult enough for most people, not only because of the many unhealthy consumables that are promoted through various mediums - TV, billboards, web pages, TV shows (i.e. American Idol?) - but because of the time to prepare healthy meals. This is another advantage of having a meal plan: the time to prepare, time to choose, and balance of nutrition are all within a manageable range for even the busiest of lifestyles. If you need a step by step approach to help you build healthy habits that will lead to a permanently healthy lifestyle, HWI recommends The Vice Busting Diet Plans. Learn more about why it's called The Vice Busting Plan for weight loss and healhty living!

The Health & Wellness Institute

If you are interested in a meal plan to assist with your weight loss and health, Medifast provides a diet that makes it easy to plan the foods and meals you will eat. Click here - Medifast - to try the Medifast diet meal plan to help you get started losing weight. Medifast is physician-developed.

Medifast is a healthy eating plan that is not trendy, but a sensible way to control your calories and portions for weight loss and weight management. Medifast, unlike other diets, teaches a healthy lifestyle, not just easy weight loss. Here is a report from ABC about the Top 10 Trendy Diets ---

"There are some very silly -- and even dangerous -- ways to lose weight," said Dr. David Katz, co-founder and director of the Yale Prevention Research Center. "The problem with gauging the utility of diets is that the wrong metrics are used; short-term weight loss is not a measure of true success."

Medifast

Get medifast for weight loss, health, a healthy diet, and a diet plan. Medifast is a product that helps you lose weight. There are benefits to using Medifast in your diet, and can be used for weight loss. Phase 1 - 5 & 1 Program for Weight Loss 5 Medifast Meals per Day Over 50 meals to choose from - shakes, bars, drinks, oatmeals, chili, soups, pudding and more. 1 "Lean and Green" Meal per Day Lean Meat: 7 ounces of chicken, turkey of fish, or 5 ounces of lean beef, pork or lamb. Grill, bake or poach meats using non-stick spray. Salt, pepper, herbs and spices may be added if desired. You may also use 1 - 2 teaspoons of condiments such as ketchup, mustard or barbecue sauce. Salad or Vegetables: Either 2 cups of salad greens (any kind) and up to ½ cups raw vegetables, or up to 1 ½ cups cooked vegetables.

Medifast Diet

You may also use 1 - 2 tablespoons of Media low-fat or non-fat dressing.Phase 2 - BeSlim™ Philosophy of Lifelong Weight Control Once you have reached your healthy weight, your Health Advisor will help transition you to the BeSlim™ philosophy of lifelong weight control. The BeSlim™ philosophy is a part of the Take Shape for Life program that incorporates key behaviors mastered by those who lost significant amounts of weight and kept their weight off for years. These key behaviors include: Breakfast (eating Breakfast every day) - High quality fuel, such as our delicious Medifast oatmeal, cappuccino, or chai latte, is essential to start your day the right way. Exercise - Continued exercise increases metabolism, provides strength, flexibility, and mental clarity.

Medifast Nutrition

Support - Your Health Advisor is here to help you reach and maintain your goals, providing the coaching, tools, education, and caring support you will need along the way. Low-fat meals 5-6 times a day - Eating frequently, controlling portion and total calories, especially those from fat, are critical for success. Individual Plan - Create an individual plan to help you achieve an optimal healthy lifestyle and build the skills and strategies you need to cope with modern life. Monitor your weight - Weigh yourself on a regular basis to maintain optimal weight. Catch it before it becomes a challenge! Join the BeSlim™ Club today and set your life in motion! Introducing the New BeSlim Club & Rewards Program! Optimal Health is its own reward, but how about earning a bonus or two along the way? You’re on a journey to Optimal Health. You’ve made a commitment to lose weight and keep it off! You’ve earned the right to celebrate your success! The new Take Shape For Life BeSlim Club & Rewards Program is your ticket there. The BeSlim Club & Rewards Program is Take Shape For Life's progressive savings program, offering clients and Health Coaches an easy way to obtain their Medifast Meals at a savings, with exciting rewards you can earn along the way! The longer you are member of the BeSlim™ Club, the more significant your savings are and the more rewards points you’ll earn. When you join the Take Shape For Life BeSlim Club & Rewards Program, you: Enjoy your favorite Medifast Meals all month long, with orders conveniently shipped right to your door Save on your meal purchases and enjoy increased savings the longer you’re on the program Earn points towards exclusive rewards that promote healthy living Receive coupons for special savings. Enrich your life as you achieve Optimal Health Available to all, the BeSlim™ Club is a great way for individuals learning and practicing the BeSlim™ philosophy. Every time you order, you earn points towards healthful rewards. Here’s how: There’s no minimum purchase required. Redeem your reward points* for exclusive Take Shape For Life merchandise, including: Apparel, Exercise Equipment, Spa Trips, And more! Join the BeSlim Club today! Simplify Your Life -- — Receive automatic monthly shipments of your favorite Medifast Meals; Save Your Money — Enjoy savings that increase the longer you are a club member; Earn Just Rewards— Select from an array of rewards that promote healthy living and a healthy lifestyle.

Other links: Medifast Blog
Meal Plan from Medifast
Medifast Ordering and Info
Medifast Blog
Medifast Success Stories
Official Medifast Site
Medifast Diet

Still, many may hold out hope that they can find a diet that will at least kick-start their efforts to a healthier 2009. ABCNews.com rounded up some of the most popular diets of the New Year, based on recent news and search-engine queries. We then subjected these diets to the scrutiny of nutrition experts Ikeda, Katz, and Keith-Thomas Ayoob, director of the nutrition clinic at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. The following pages feature each of these diets, as well as whether or not you can count on them to help you achieve a healthier weight. Read the full report...

Comments: A diet and meal plan is only going to be as good as the individual using it. If it's not something you can see yourself using for the long haul, it might not provide the results you're looking for. One thing we like about Medifast is the variety of foods that can be chosen. But as far as a healthy lifestyle goes, there are many other factors that come into play for not just weight loss, but long-term good health. Your daily habits being one, your overall mindset being another. Make sure when you embark on a diet, it is more about building a healthy lifestyle than anything else. By the way, Dr. Katz provides a nice endorsement for The Vice Busting Diet Plans from Julia Havey, whom lost 130 pounds by breaking those food vices that were contributing to her obesity... as 95% of overweight individuals have in their own diet!

The Health & Wellness Institute

If you are interested in a meal plan to assist with your weight loss and health, Medifast provides a diet that makes it easy to plan the foods and meals you will eat. Click here - Medifast - to try the Medifast diet meal plan to help you get started losing weight. Medifast is physician-developed.

Start 2009 with a healthy diet plan with the Medifast 'Take Shape For Life' Plan.

Medifast is a low calorie diet that will bring about rapid weight loss - in the region of 2-5 pounds per week. The diet is undertaken by purchasing meal replacement products from Medifast that will provide an optimal calorie and nutrient amount for both men and women.

The 5 and 1 Plan

This Medifast plan is made up of 5 meal replacements per day (generally shakes, but there are also bars, soups, oatmeal, and puddings). In addition to the meal replacements - 1 meal per day is a “lean and green” meal - a small portion of lean meat, and generally up to 2 cups of salad or vegetables. You eat every 2-3 hours, and must drink a minimum of 64oz of fluid (water) per day.

Caloric intake is between 800-1000 calories per day. Medifast recommend having supervision from a physician - however you can order the food without this.

While there are 70 different pre-packaged foods, the most popular items are the shakes - made up of differing proportions of protein. Medifast has optimized vitamins and minerals to ensure there will be no deficiencies while reducing calories.

Maintenance Plan

Once the desired weight is reached, the Medifast plan involves a gradual transition back to ‘normal’ meals over a period of about 16 days. Beyond this, Medifast recommend 1-3 Medifast meals daily and a moderately intense exercise routine (e.g. 30-45 minutes 5 days per week). This is essential to keep the weight off.

Successful Weight Loss?

Medifast is one of the more successful and balanced low-calorie diets - it has been trialled successfully at John Hopkins Weight Management Center, among other places.

There are numerous success stories from overweight people who have successfully used Medifast to drop their weight down to manageable levels.

This weight loss program is generally only used by the very overweight (BMI >= 30). It will only suit some people, and beware of slowing your metabolism leading to subsequent weight gain.

Get Started: Medifast Diet

Medifast Success Stories:

Sherryl Carter

I now have enough energy to keep up with my 6-year-old son!

I had given up hope of ever returning to a normal weight.

At the age of 35, after years of yo-yo dieting, I thought, “Face it, this is how it is going to be. Some people are thin and you are just you, so deal with it!”

I read about Medifast and wondered if it could actually work for me.

I visited the website daily to read the success stories and eventually a light bulb turned on in my head. I realized that if others could do it, I could too!

I was amazed how great the food tasted and how simple it was to follow the plan.

To date I have lost 73 pounds!
I am living proof that Medifast works, if you work it.
My life changed in so many ways.

I look different, people tell me I look younger and that I am glowing, my skin is clear, my outlook is optimistic, and I have enough energy to keep up with my 6-year-old son! More than the physical changes that have developed, I am different inside. I no longer use food as a problem-solver, or a coping mechanism. I am no longer under food’s control. I read labels, only drink water, eat vegetables, think before I eat, and exercise. In short, I am alive again!

I am now the person that I always knew that I could be. The way that I always thought of myself on the inside is what the world now sees when they look at me. It’s as if the clock of life has turned back 10 years, giving me a chance to do things differently and to make better choices when it comes to my health and well being.  Although thank you seems inadequate, I hope that it can begin to express my gratitude and appreciation for the Medifast program.

Thank you Medifast for helping me to achieve a life of quality rather than just a life.  

Jennifer Peterson

I am Jennifer--a confident wife and mother, no longer being controlled by my weight but instead empowered by my loss and all that I have gained in return!

I am so excited to share my Medifast success story. Medifast has changed my life and every day I wake up no longer dreading to get dressed!

As I think all weight-loss stories begin, I tried every "miracle" diet out there. I took the energy pills, tried the no carb, the more carb, the no food fad diets and nothing worked. It took me going on Medifast to realize that weight-loss doesn't come in a bottle and doesn't come without hard work but it can be done! And it can be so easy! One just needs to believe in his or herself.

I am a 32-year-old wife and mother of a beautiful 5-year-old girl, Kaitlyn. I have always had a weight problem, ever since I can remember and struggled daily with my self-image. I would blame my weight on stress, hormones you name it, but never on my poor eating habits. Although I would exercise daily, I would still wonder why I wouldn't lose the weight. But I was eating fast food, snacking on high carb/fat snacks, soft drinks, candy etc.

Last summer I hit my all-time low. Standing 5'3'', I had ballooned up to a size 14/16 and weighed nearly 185 pounds. I couldn't stand to get dressed in the morning. I didn't like how tired and sluggish I felt every day -- and I was only 31!! As the summer went on, I found myself taking my daughter to our neighborhood pool at 8 am, while it was empty, just so no one would see me. Like all 4-year-olds, Kaitlyn wanted to play with other kids in the water, but I couldn't stand myself being seen by others in a bathing suit. My husband would take her later in the afternoon. As a family, we would never go together. Not by their choice, but my own. I knew I wanted more for my family and myself. My weight was controlling our life.

Then, I saw an ad for Medifast in a magazine and thought I could do this.

On October 10th, 2005 I started the Medifast 5 and 1 plan. From day one, something clicked. My cravings, my need for "snacks" and fast/fatty food all went away. Medifast chose my foods for me. I was committed to this diet and to making a change. My mind set was simple; whatever I was craving would still be there when I reach my goal weight. Would that piece of pizza really make me feel better? The concept was simple and for some reason, it clicked in my mind with Medifast.

I enjoyed the shakes and oatmeal, would try new recipes with the chili. I loved the chicken noodle soup and of course the bars were a great treat! I would save my daily lean and green meal for dinner with my family. My husband kept the list of approved veggies and meats and would surprise me by making the meals for me, creating new sauces and adding variety. It was fun for us. And I really needed that support. Although I never felt hungry, it wasn't easy saying "no" to co-workers for lunch outings but I hung in there.

I also made it through my first Thanksgiving without bread or stuffing. By Christmas, I was down 30 pounds and feeling great! People started noticing--and I liked that. But even with the weight loss, I still felt self-conscious being in this new skin and was always second-guessing my willpower to get down to my goal weight of 140.

But on January 22nd, 2006, I achieved my goal weight and I thought I would pass out! None of my clothes fit anymore. I had some skirts and pants just falling off of me, which 4 months prior, fit snug and others barely buttoned. I would just stand there in the mirror wondering who this person was staring back. My daughter called me skinny. My husband, although always supportive, called me sexy and beautiful. But this time it was different because for the first time, I felt sexy and beautiful.

I decided to transition off of Medifast and started the transition/maintenance plan on February 10th. I was scared of piling back the pounds. But again, I just incorporated the ratio set forth in the Medifast Meals and went with it. And since I wasn't use to eating breads and fast foods any longer, my biggest vices, I knew I could do it. I also started back exercising every morning with a 45-minute walk. During Medifast, I was only walking 2-3 times a week.

Today, I am down another 5 pounds and am successfully holding my own at 135 and a size 6! For this first time, I am looking forward to bathing-suit season and going to the pool at high noon with my husband and daughter on weekends. I thank Medifast every day for giving me the courage and willpower to succeed with my weight loss. The message boards and website gave me the confidence in myself that it could be done. I still go on the boards from time to time and read other successes and have posted there as well in support to the "newbies".

Now, I stand in the full-length mirror and no longer wonder who the person is staring back at me. I am Jennifer--a confident wife and mother, no longer being controlled by my weight but instead empowered by my loss and all that I have gained in return!

Thanks Medifast!

If you are interested in a meal plan to assist with your weight loss, Medifast provides a diet that makes it easy to plan the foods and meals you will eat. Click here - Medifast - to try the Medifast diet meal plan to help you get started losing weight. Medifast is physician-developed.

The Health & Wellness Institute

One of the stranger stories of 2008 comes from California, where a doctor used fat from liposuction to power an SUV. While we suggest a diet and meal plan like Medifast for healthy weight loss, apparently those who get liposuction can contribute to the energy solution (although it's illegal, at least in California!). This may get more people thinking about the energy stores available in their fat cells if this is true. The doctor performing the liposuction was using the fat to power his girlfriend's SUV. Wow! All this time we've been walking around with the solution attached to us! Here's the story from The Washington Post --

L.A. Liposuction Doc Investigated for Alleged Use of Patients' Fat to Fuel SUV

A Beverly Hills doctor specializing in liposuction is under investigation by California officials who say he converted his patients' unwanted body fat into biodiesel to power his and his girlfriend's SUVs.

Dr. Alan Bittner, who had advertised nationally for patients to travel to Beverly Hills for liposuction, faces an investigation by the state's public health department because of several lawsuits that allege he allowed his assistant and his girlfriend to perform liposuction without a medical license, removing too much fat and leaving patients disfigured, Forbes reported Wednesday.

It's unclear when Bittner started and stopped making fat fuel or how he made it, but Forbes reported that the science was valid. Animal or vegetable fat contains triglycerides that can be extracted and turned into diesel. Some poultry companies are looking into powering their trucks on chicken schmaltz, and biofuel start-ups are mixing beef tallow and pig lard with other sources like soybean oil to brew biodiesel, Forbes reported. (Reference...)

Comments: First, I'd like to know who came up with the idea, because it couldn't possibly be something not considered, talked about, or even experimented with before. Secondly, who wrote a law in California that human medical waste is not to be used to power vehicles. If there's a law, chances are it originated in CA no matter how bizarre it may be. This technology sure could motivate a lot of people to go under the knife if they were going to get compensation for their fat. Not that we condone lipo for fat loss (unless it's just a reshaping procedure done for those last 1 or 2 pounds!), but how could a doctor who has access to so much of it resist? All kidding aside, this may be one of the stranger stories of 2008.

The Health & Wellness Institute

If you are interested in a meal plan to assist with your weight loss and health, Medifast provides a diet that makes it easy to plan the foods and meals you will eat. Click here - Medifast - to try the Medifast diet meal plan to help you get started losing weight. Medifast is physician-developed.

While children may be too young for the Medifast diet and meal plan, they can learn from adults to properly manage their weight through healthy meal choices. Medifast can be a solution for not just weight loss, but understanding the balance of nutrition in a healthy diet.

Here's an interesting report on how schools in Kentucky are taking action to improve the diets and health of students. This is where we need to start taking massive action because it will not only help the health of the kids, but their future as well. Story ---

Dec 22, 2008 (The Daily News - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- More than 1.7 million lunches were served in Warren County schools last year. A recent report card compiled by the district's food services department shows that those lunches, in addition to the more than 600,000 breakfasts served last year, are on target in providing less than 30 percent of calories from fat and less than 10 percent of calories from saturated fat.

Gina Howard, director of food service and nutrition for the district, said the report card is compiled annually and returned to the state to show how schools are emphasizing not only good nutrition, but physical activity.

In the report, 54 percent of elementary schools are meeting the Center for Disease Control's target of providing 150 minutes of physical activity per week.

Medifast

Get medifast for weight loss, health, a healthy diet, and a diet plan. Medifast is a product that helps you lose weight. There are benefits to using Medifast in your diet, and can be used for weight loss. Phase 1 - 5 & 1 Program for Weight Loss 5 Medifast Meals per Day Over 50 meals to choose from - shakes, bars, drinks, oatmeals, chili, soups, pudding and more. 1 "Lean and Green" Meal per Day Lean Meat: 7 ounces of chicken, turkey of fish, or 5 ounces of lean beef, pork or lamb. Grill, bake or poach meats using non-stick spray. Salt, pepper, herbs and spices may be added if desired. You may also use 1 - 2 teaspoons of condiments such as ketchup, mustard or barbecue sauce. Salad or Vegetables: Either 2 cups of salad greens (any kind) and up to ½ cups raw vegetables, or up to 1 ½ cups cooked vegetables.

Medifast Diet

You may also use 1 - 2 tablespoons of Media low-fat or non-fat dressing.Phase 2 - BeSlim™ Philosophy of Lifelong Weight Control Once you have reached your healthy weight, your Health Advisor will help transition you to the BeSlim™ philosophy of lifelong weight control. The BeSlim™ philosophy is a part of the Take Shape for Life program that incorporates key behaviors mastered by those who lost significant amounts of weight and kept their weight off for years. These key behaviors include: Breakfast (eating Breakfast every day) - High quality fuel, such as our delicious Medifast oatmeal, cappuccino, or chai latte, is essential to start your day the right way. Exercise - Continued exercise increases metabolism, provides strength, flexibility, and mental clarity.

Medifast Nutrition

Support - Your Health Advisor is here to help you reach and maintain your goals, providing the coaching, tools, education, and caring support you will need along the way. Low-fat meals 5-6 times a day - Eating frequently, controlling portion and total calories, especially those from fat, are critical for success. Individual Plan - Create an individual plan to help you achieve an optimal healthy lifestyle and build the skills and strategies you need to cope with modern life. Monitor your weight - Weigh yourself on a regular basis to maintain optimal weight. Catch it before it becomes a challenge! Join the BeSlim™ Club today and set your life in motion! Introducing the New BeSlim Club & Rewards Program! Optimal Health is its own reward, but how about earning a bonus or two along the way? You’re on a journey to Optimal Health. You’ve made a commitment to lose weight and keep it off! You’ve earned the right to celebrate your success! The new Take Shape For Life BeSlim Club & Rewards Program is your ticket there. The BeSlim Club & Rewards Program is Take Shape For Life's progressive savings program, offering clients and Health Coaches an easy way to obtain their Medifast Meals at a savings, with exciting rewards you can earn along the way! The longer you are member of the BeSlim™ Club, the more significant your savings are and the more rewards points you’ll earn. When you join the Take Shape For Life BeSlim Club & Rewards Program, you: Enjoy your favorite Medifast Meals all month long, with orders conveniently shipped right to your door Save on your meal purchases and enjoy increased savings the longer you’re on the program Earn points towards exclusive rewards that promote healthy living Receive coupons for special savings. Enrich your life as you achieve Optimal Health Available to all, the BeSlim™ Club is a great way for individuals learning and practicing the BeSlim™ philosophy. Every time you order, you earn points towards healthful rewards. Here’s how: There’s no minimum purchase required. Redeem your reward points* for exclusive Take Shape For Life merchandise, including: Apparel, Exercise Equipment, Spa Trips, And more! Join the BeSlim Club today! Simplify Your Life -- — Receive automatic monthly shipments of your favorite Medifast Meals; Save Your Money — Enjoy savings that increase the longer you are a club member; Earn Just Rewards— Select from an array of rewards that promote healthy living and a healthy lifestyle.

Other links: Medifast Blog
Meal Plan from Medifast
Medifast Ordering and Info
Medifast Blog
Medifast Success Stories
Official Medifast Site
Medifast Diet

Howard said while that number is the same as last year's report, the schools not meeting the goal are in the 149-minute a week category, and are "just shy" of meeting the goal.

Some schools, such as Oakland and Natcher elementaries, have even started before and after school clubs for running and walking to encourage physical fitness, Howard said.

The report card breaks down the target number of calories, fats and nutrients verses the actual average served over the course of a week in the school's lunch menus.

According to the graphs in the 2009 report, Warren County aims to serve 664 calories a week, but is seeing a slight difference with 696 calories. Read the full report

Bottom line: The diets and meal plans that are provided for children at most schools falls well short of the proper nutrition they need. Too much emphasis is put on the calorie count, while the quality of the food being served is ignored. The most important part of the diet is the number of fruits and vegetables that any individual consumes, especially a growing child. Proper nutrition translates into healthy cells, tissues, muscles, even the brain, not to mention the grades and behavior as well. Feed yourself and your children a diet filled with good nutrition. The best step for school lunch? - pack it yourself, and be sure no soft drinks or sugary or fatty foods be included.

The Health & Wellness Institute

If you are interested in a meal plan to assist with your weight loss and health, Medifast provides a diet that makes it easy to plan the foods and meals you will eat. Click here - Medifast - to try the Medifast diet meal plan to help you get started losing weight. Medifast is physician-developed.

Medifast is a healthy diet and meal plan with the Take Shape For Life program.

A new study shows that will increased weight, obesity, the taste buds of those who suffer from the condition are numbed, causing them to eat sweeter foods or meals. This is one reason that a meal plan like Medifast works for weight loss and weight management. But is Medifast or any type of healthy meal plan too little and too late? Maybe. This is why such diet plans like The Vice Busting Diet Plan from Julia Havey has been very successful for those who have more than 50 pounds to lose - because it takes into account that change for those who are obese is much more difficult than for those who have 20 to 40 pounds to lose. Not that those people have it any easier all the time, but imagine gaining weight for 10 years, a LOT of weight, and then suddenly switch everything you've been consuming to an entirely different eating plan. It's next to impossible. For diet plans like The Vice Busting Diet, the 'dieter' is asked to make one simple change at a time - learning to crawl before running, if you will. Here's more on how your taste buds may be getting numb if you're gaining weight and your diet is filled with too many high-sugar items (from Mercola.com) --

According to neuroscientists, obesity gradually numbs the taste sensation of rats to sweet foods, and drives them to consume larger and sweeter meals. There is apparently a critical link between taste and body weight.

Previous studies have suggested that obese persons are less sensitive to sweet taste, but little is known about the specific differences in sense of taste between obese and lean individuals. Researchers investigated these differences by studying the taste responses of two strains of rats.

Medifast

Get medifast for weight loss, health, a healthy diet, and a diet plan. Medifast is a product that helps you lose weight. There are benefits to using Medifast in your diet, and can be used for weight loss. Phase 1 - 5 & 1 Program for Weight Loss 5 Medifast Meals per Day Over 50 meals to choose from - shakes, bars, drinks, oatmeals, chili, soups, pudding and more. 1 "Lean and Green" Meal per Day Lean Meat: 7 ounces of chicken, turkey of fish, or 5 ounces of lean beef, pork or lamb. Grill, bake or poach meats using non-stick spray. Salt, pepper, herbs and spices may be added if desired. You may also use 1 - 2 teaspoons of condiments such as ketchup, mustard or barbecue sauce. Salad or Vegetables: Either 2 cups of salad greens (any kind) and up to ½ cups raw vegetables, or up to 1 ½ cups cooked vegetables.

Medifast Diet

You may also use 1 - 2 tablespoons of Media low-fat or non-fat dressing.Phase 2 - BeSlim™ Philosophy of Lifelong Weight Control Once you have reached your healthy weight, your Health Advisor will help transition you to the BeSlim™ philosophy of lifelong weight control. The BeSlim™ philosophy is a part of the Take Shape for Life program that incorporates key behaviors mastered by those who lost significant amounts of weight and kept their weight off for years. These key behaviors include: Breakfast (eating Breakfast every day) - High quality fuel, such as our delicious Medifast oatmeal, cappuccino, or chai latte, is essential to start your day the right way. Exercise - Continued exercise increases metabolism, provides strength, flexibility, and mental clarity.

Medifast Nutrition

Support - Your Health Advisor is here to help you reach and maintain your goals, providing the coaching, tools, education, and caring support you will need along the way. Low-fat meals 5-6 times a day - Eating frequently, controlling portion and total calories, especially those from fat, are critical for success. Individual Plan - Create an individual plan to help you achieve an optimal healthy lifestyle and build the skills and strategies you need to cope with modern life. Monitor your weight - Weigh yourself on a regular basis to maintain optimal weight. Catch it before it becomes a challenge! Join the BeSlim™ Club today and set your life in motion! Introducing the New BeSlim Club & Rewards Program! Optimal Health is its own reward, but how about earning a bonus or two along the way? You’re on a journey to Optimal Health. You’ve made a commitment to lose weight and keep it off! You’ve earned the right to celebrate your success! The new Take Shape For Life BeSlim Club & Rewards Program is your ticket there. The BeSlim Club & Rewards Program is Take Shape For Life's progressive savings program, offering clients and Health Coaches an easy way to obtain their Medifast Meals at a savings, with exciting rewards you can earn along the way! The longer you are member of the BeSlim™ Club, the more significant your savings are and the more rewards points you’ll earn. When you join the Take Shape For Life BeSlim Club & Rewards Program, you: Enjoy your favorite Medifast Meals all month long, with orders conveniently shipped right to your door Save on your meal purchases and enjoy increased savings the longer you’re on the program Earn points towards exclusive rewards that promote healthy living Receive coupons for special savings. Enrich your life as you achieve Optimal Health Available to all, the BeSlim™ Club is a great way for individuals learning and practicing the BeSlim™ philosophy. Every time you order, you earn points towards healthful rewards. Here’s how: There’s no minimum purchase required. Redeem your reward points* for exclusive Take Shape For Life merchandise, including: Apparel, Exercise Equipment, Spa Trips, And more! Join the BeSlim Club today! Simplify Your Life -- — Receive automatic monthly shipments of your favorite Medifast Meals; Save Your Money — Enjoy savings that increase the longer you are a club member; Earn Just Rewards— Select from an array of rewards that promote healthy living and a healthy lifestyle.

Other links: Medifast Blog
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Medifast Diet

Compared to the lean and healthy LETO rats, the taste responses in OLETF rats mirror those in obese humans. These rats tend to chronically overeat due to a missing satiety signal, and they become obese and develop diabetes. The obese rats also show an increased preference for sweet foods. Read more...Read more...

Bottom line: It is much easier to either prevent a problem from happening - i.e. eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly - and even turn a small problem around before it escalates to a major one, than it is to deal with a severely obese conditions, especially if the report above is true. Wherever you are in your weight or your overall health, it is important to take steps to be healthy, to be fit, so that you can get the full life out of your years and years out of your life!

The Health & Wellness Institute

If you aren't morbidly obese, you may find great benefit from using the Medifast meal plan that is referred to as Take Shape for Life. You can learn about Medifast here.

If you are interested in a meal plan to assist with your weight loss and health, Medifast provides a diet that makes it easy to plan the foods and meals you will eat. Click here - Medifast - to try the Medifast diet meal plan to help you get started losing weight. Medifast is physician-developed.

While studies continue about how a healthy diet and plenty of fruits and vegetables may or may not prevent or add some relief of certain conditions or diseases, we at The Health & Wellness Institute continue to spread the message that a balanced diet (like Medifaset) that includes plenty of nutrients from a variety of fruits and vegetables, is the foundation of good health. This new report has been released about the effect a healthy diet has on breast cancer specifically --

Washington (dbTechno) - According to a new study, a healthy diet full of fruits and vegetables can actually keep breast cancer from coming back. The study was carried out by Ellen Gold of the University of California Davis, and looked at breast cancer patients who have already beaten the disease. The findings were only effective for women who did not have hot flashes after their cancer therapy.

What they found was that those who eat more fruits and vegetables can actually cut their risk of breast cancer recurrence by one-third. It is believed that this result, which was based on 3,000 breast cancer patients, had a lot to do with estrogen in women. All of those who took part in the study were on average 53-years old, with half doubling how much fruits an dvegetables they consumed. Read more...

Comment: There is no substitute for good nutrition and a healthy diet. Vitamins supplements don't do it; nor does any combination of synthetic (man-made) pills or powders that claim to have the latest discovery of nutrition from a plant. You need whole food nutrition from a variety of plant sources. And if you're overweight, chances are you're consuming too much food, and probably a lot of it unhealthy. If you need to drop weight, you may want to consider Medifast, and specifically the Take Shape for Life plan. Make your choices wisely. Your health depends on it.

The Health & Wellness Institute

Medifast is an easy meal plan for weight loss that is great for adults who are dealing with weight issues. However, it is best to prevent the problem in children so that it doesn't become a burden to them as adults, as studies show there is an 80% chance they will be obese as adults if they're overweight as kids. This is why there are so many diets and meal plans, yes Medifast is one, that are offered to adults because the problem is almost as common as a headache. Here's more on how a ban on fast-food advertising could translate to an improvement in the overweight and obesity rate of children (Mercola.com) --

According to a new study, a ban on fast food advertisements in the United States could reduce the number of overweight children by as much as 18 percent. In addition, the study reports that eliminating the tax deductibility of television advertising would also result in a reduction of childhood obesity.

The study’s authors found that a ban on fast food television advertisements during children's programming would reduce the number of overweight children ages 3-11 by 18 percent, and would lower the number of overweight adolescents ages 12-18 by 14 percent.

Should the U.S. pursue this path, they would be following Sweden, Norway and Finland, which are thus far the only countries to have banned commercial sponsorship of children's programs.

Research indicates that there is an 80 percent chance an overweight adolescent will be an obese adult. Over 300,000 deaths can be attributed to obesity and weight in the United States every year. States Mercola - Did you know that each week, the typical American child takes in some 38 hours (yes, a full work week) of commercial media, with its endless ads and deceptions? This study, the largest of its kind, measured the number of hours of fast food messages were viewed by children on a weekly basis, and was able to directly tie childhood obesity to fast food advertising on American television.

They concluded that banning fast food TV ads during children's programming would reduce the number of overweight children ages:

3-11 by 18 percent
12-18 by 14 percent

Comments: This is what many authors and advocates have been preaching for years, especially with the problem getting worse over the past decade. The authors of The Vice Busting Diet specifically state that soft drinks and fast food are the two biggest contributors to obesity. And the third biggest 'diet vice' is television - too many hours sitting and watching the tv while doing nothing (except eating, typically). These are the three top diet vices responsible for 95% of the overweight and obesity problem.

When you get rid of just those first two things in your diet, such a major improvement occurs to the health of the individual that a healthy weight (and body) soon is within reach. Now if you make a rule to exercise before watching any tv each day - or, as the authors suggest can be done, exercise while watching - then you have the trifecta. There is no room for moderation for things that are unhealthy, have little to no nutritional benefit, and by many authorities are considered addictive! This is one reason why The Healthy & Wellness Institute recommends Medifast. If everyone would eat mostly a plant based diet, the problem would be solved (and so would many others, i.e. the environment, water shortages, etc... but we won't take that up here). However, Medifast is an excellent example of a healthy meal plan that provides a proper balance of nutrition.

Focus on eliminating those things that aren't good, and start loading up on good, healthy nutrition like fruits, vegetables, water, fiber. And add daily exercise. Your weight, body, mind, energy, passion for life... will all improve!

The Healthy & Wellness Institute

If you are interested in a meal plan to assist with your weight loss and health, Medifast provides a diet that makes it easy to plan the foods and meals you will eat. Click here - Medifast - to try the Medifast diet meal plan to help you get started losing weight. Medifast is physician-developed.

References for this Post -- The Journal of Law and Economics
Mercola.com