The Diet That Works….Really

I have never been a believer in diets. The Atdkins, South Beach, grapefruit, low fat, low carb, no carb, this pill, that pill. Find me the diet that is both effective and SAFE. Oh, and one that let’s me eat the food I want too…

Well, it appears the New England Journal of Medicine and Frank Sacks of the Harvard School of Public Health actually agree with me (that’s a joke in case it slipped by you).

The study led by Frank Sacks followed 800 overweight adults for two years. The group was placed on four different diets ranging from low-fat/high-carb to low-carb/high-fat diets. Regardless of which diet group members were placed into, they all lost the same amount of weight, which was 13 pounds the first year and 8 pounds the second year.

One could conclude from reading this study that the common sense approach of Consume Fewer Calories Than You Burn really works.

Just think of all the money that can be saved not to mention the self deprivation from foods truly enjoyed that we can still consume on a moderate basis.

To read more about common sense diet strategies that really work, click here.

One final bit of advice that is key to weight loss: don’t forget to exercise.

The Puppy Days of Spring

They call those really stagnant, hot days of August, The Dog Days of Summer.  You want to stay inside and if you have go out into the inferno, you don’t want to move, kind of like him.

So what do we call the early days of spring?  The Puppy Days?  Everything is young, playful and happy, just like a puppy. You just want to be outside running around and playing, kind of like this guy.

 OK maybe if you are me, you prefer to be  parked in a lawn chair with an ice cold water and a book  like the guy to our right.

 But puppy days they are, and today was one  great puppy day here in North Carolina, 83 sunny degrees. It was just beautiful and I did pull out my lawn chair and book and went on a regular mini vacation.

Just eight short days ago we had six inches of snow on the ground, no school for two days and my lawn chair, had it been outdoors would have looked like this.

Now for the really sad news. Tomorrow’s high is a balmy 44 degrees.  What do we call that besides u.g.l.y.?

Apple Cider Vinegar Testimonial

I am compelled to provide a left handed testimonial for Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV).  I have previously posted about the wonders of ACV and feel the need to do so again.

My daughters and I were having our hair done a couple of days ago.  The lady who takes care of us asked me if I knew any alternative ways to take care of acid reflux as she knows about my “natural” obsession.  She told me she has struggled with acid reflux for years with no good solution to correct the misery created by this chronic condition.  She has taken both over the counter as well as prescription medication.  While both would give her some relief after a period of time, she had to take the medication all the time to prevent occurrences and didn’t like the side effects of either medication.

I told her about ACV and she told me about a friend who sent her to the grocery store to buy some.  When she did, she told me the taste and resulting burn confirmed she would never try that again.  I explained the difference of organic versus the distilled, pasteurized grocery store variety.  The organic version is alkaline versus acidic with all the natural health miracle’s of the “mother” due to not being pasteurized.

She seemed skeptical so while she was attending to my daughter’s hair, I scurried to a nearby health food store and picked her up a bottle. Yes, I am that cool and thoughtful, but that’s another post.  

Today, two days later, I was near the salon so I dropped in and guess what?  Her acid reflux is gone, not a hint of it remains.  She hugged me and declared her amazement. 

It really feels good to help someone.  I hope this post reaches someone who is suffering from the same condition.  If you are that person, I too, was one who felt the burn of acid reflux as well as my husband and we can both tell you ACV definitely stops it in it’s tracks.

To read more about the wonders of ACV go here.

Or here.