You’ve heard the tricks of portion control, right? Like…eating off of a smaller plate or piling on the veggies so that your meal looks bigger. It might seem like these are cute little ways to eat fewer calories, but would you believe that these tips, and a lot of others, can really make you feel more satisfied with your meal? Believe it!

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As the ever-trending diet and exercise world delves into Brazilian butt-lifting and special berry mixtures in the hopes of getting slim without effort, this news hits headlines:

Here is what MSNBC is reporting:

Nearly half of adult Brazilians are overweight and about 15 percent are obese, Brazil’s IBGE social statistics agency said on Friday, citing the results of a national study carried out with the Health Ministry.

Among 20- to 24-year-olds, the percentage of men who were overweight jumped to 50.1 percent from 18.5 percent in a survey carried out in 1974, while the percentage of overweight women rose to 48 percent from 28.7 percent.

Brazilian officials are blaming the country’s increased incidence of wealth as a major factor and are now considering the obesity problem in their country a “red alert,” although rates are far below those of Americans.

What is most interesting about this information is the fact that the more affluent the Brazilians have become, the more lax they have become about taking care of their bodies. It’s like being in the position to be able to buy a Rolls Royce and then driving it around like it’s a bumper car. In US and Canada, it seems to be the reverse. It’s typically the poor in the US who are, on average, more overweight or obese than the general population.

How would you explain this disparity?

LINK TO ORIGINAL STORY

Little movements really do add up!

Almost all of us know how important it is to schedule time to exercise each day. But, have you ever thought about how you can complement those efforts and build upon your planned routine?

Remember that every move your body makes is some form of exercise.

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In almost all American grocery stores, there is a section of ethnic foods separated by the country the items are usually associated with. By scanning the shelves, you certainly can get a sense about each country’s general eating habits, or at the very least, its most popular food staples. For instance, in the Swedish section, you’re almost sure to find lingonberry jam, the Thai section is a good place to pick up coconut milk and you’ll probably find water chestnuts and bean sprouts on the shelves devoted to Chinese cuisine.

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I bet that if I threw out the word “avocado,” your mind would immediately think of guacamole.

Most of us have a hard time resisting this wonderful dip and why should we? Even those of us following the Weight Watchers program can easily fit guacamole into our eating plan. (Read more for a Classic Guacamole recipe, courtesy of Weight Watchers.)

But avocados are so much more than a main ingredient for guacamole. As a stand-alone or in various recipes, the fruit can easily play a bigger role in our diet and possibly our overall health.

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As consumers, we’ve been hearing and seeing the word “organic” left and right. It’s on labels, menus, sign and on all sorts of advertisements.  I’ve taken an interest in finding out what I could about what foods are  authentically organic so let me share what I’ve learned. Maybe it will help to make the “organic” definition less confusing to you, too.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) stepped in not too long ago to help consumers understand what is, what possibly might be and what is not organic. Their National Organic program oversees and regulates any farm, wild crop harvester or handling operation that wants to sell and market its product(s) as organically produced. If a product fits their criteria, it can bear the “USDA Organic Seal” right on it.

Farmers, harvesters and food handlers opt into this program if they want to be certified. Many participate, but there are some who choose not to. If you don’t see a seal on a product, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the food is not organic.  But if you do see the seal, you know it has been certified by the USDA as such.

There a two different types of phrases that the USDA approves for organic foods, but what do they mean?

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(Self-Esteem and how it will help you lose weight)

We can really put ourselves down before and during the weight-loss process.  You’ve probably already learned to scrutinize every last perceived flaw when it comes to your body. Even as you make progress, you might still put yourself down. You may even think that losing weight will help your lack of self-esteem…and it might.  But, the truth of the matter is that it’s the other way around. Your self-esteem is going to drive your weight loss.

Do you think you don’t have any self-esteem? Well, think again. We all have a some level of self-esteem–something about us that we love and respect. It’s just up to each and every one of us to bring it to the surface.

I think it’s worth repeating: Your self-esteem, belief and love of yourself, is going to drive your weight loss.  That may sound strange because most of us think that willpower is the main force. But think about it, why did you decide to lose weight in the first place?

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