Food Addicts

6 Ways To Ease Food Addiction


By Daryn Eller, Prevention
How to break free from the power food has over you

I found this great article on my msn today and thought it could help out many people

Don't let the word addiction scare you: Experts agree that food addiction is not nearly as strong as alcohol and drug addictions. While it might not feel like it at times, you have the power to control what you eat.

Here are six ways you can loosen the stranglehold a food addiction may have on you.

Smaller plates = smaller portions.
People with food addiction often overeat because the signals that traditionally tell the body to stop eating don't sound off. But according to Mark Gold, MD, chief of addiction medicine at the University of Florida College of Medicine, you can actually retrain your brain to feel full on less food. Begin by using smaller plates and bowls, which will force you to dish out smaller portions.

Over time (it may take a few weeks), your brain will begin to get used to the reduced portion sizes and you'll feel less compelled to keep eating. Once you've mastered that, try reducing your portions even further by leaving a little space on your plate; again, your brain will slowly but surely adapt.

Lower the "sweet" volume.
If sugar is your weakness, start by removing it from areas of your diet where you're less likely to notice. Target sauces, dressings, breads, crackers, and other "nonsweet" foods that contain hidden sweeteners (look not only for sugar but high fructose syrup and corn syrup on ingredient lists). After a while, your taste buds will become more sensitive to sugar, making the foods you really want to avoid—cookies, cakes, candy—a little less appealing.

Keep your hunger in check.
People with food addiction often get tripped up by resisting food to the point of being ravenous, then overeating as a result. Rate your hunger on a scale of zero to ten, zero being starving and ten being overstuffed, then try to stay somewhere in the middle.

Work it out by working out.
Exercise can actually change the body's biochemistry, helping to make up for some of the physiological imbalances that can lead to food addiction. Also, time spent working out is time that you won't be eating.

Don't return to the scene of the crime.
Drug addicts get into trouble when they go back into the neighborhood where they used to buy drugs. Similarly, returning to the same patterns can trip you up. So shake up your routine. If tortilla chips are your weakness, don't go to Mexican restaurants. If the sight of a certain donut shop weakens your resolve, walk another route. If you always have ice cream while watching TV at night, read a book instead (or knit as you watch the tube so your hands will be occupied).

Safe Weight Loss Alternative

For some people the struggle to maintain a healthy weight is a never ending road of failures. When you have tried all the diet and exercise options and still are not having the success you want you can look into other alternatives. A very successful alternative is lap-band surgeon, this type of surgery is the only weight control surgery of it's kind that is totally adjustable or reversible for life. LapBand stands for laproscopic adjustable gastric banding and is being performed by qualified doctors all over the country. Before you can have this surgery you need to consult with a qualified doctor to see if the proceedure is right for you and your situation. Once you qualify you can attend a free seminar in your area to find out more about the proceedure and it's life altering effects it can have on your life. When it's time to make the change you want and you can't do it on your own take a look at this safe alternative to finding that thinner, healthier person you know is buried inside.

A Family Getaway

With our kids starting to get a little older we have started considering an exciting family vacation for all of us to enjoy. It seems like such an exciting and strange idea for us as we haven't really done any travelling in the last 12 years as the kids were growing up. We all love the beach and are looking for an adventure to a warm location like the Karisma Hotels that offer many great packages to choose from that allows you to simply enjoy time away. At the Azul there is so much to do and including exclusive meals in a warm and freindly environment. They even offer an event planner that will co-ordinate your family events, golf outings, cooking lessons and many other events while you stay. Check out the website for all the exciting options for your family and friends vacation.

March Break Madness

It is time, only one more day of work before I take a week off work and spend some time off with the kids and of course my wife whom I barely see lately as we have opposite schedules to make things work at home. We are both taking a few days off and going to vist with relatives. It will be fun to spend some time as a family with no agenda but to have some fun.

Real estate Investment

I have been considering purchasing some real estate as an investment and retirement plan. Normally real estate is considered a fairly safe investment with a good return on investment. I recently went to look at an apartment complex that has 8 units and would be a great starter for me. Right now I don't feel like I could manage this business so I would also be looking for a Real Property Management company to look after the day to day operations of my real estate. These companies are designed to make property management much easier as they look after all the daily things. They will look after tenant placement, credit and criminal checks on the perspective clients. They look after all the financial end of things from rent collection to financial reporting to the owner. They will even look after the eviction end of things if that is necessary. By using this type of service it can make the process that much easier to get started on and gives you some confidence that you can do what you want with your investment.

Consolidating Debts

I have been searching for alternatives to lower our family debt levels and save us some money. In these tougher economic times it is important for all of us to be as aware of our credit and debt information as possible. When looking for visa credit card application it's important for you to get the right one for your current situation. You need to know what it is you want in a credit card before you apply. There are sites that can help you sort through all the information to find out your best options. If you are looking to consolidate debt from higher interest rate cards you may want to look into a o% APR Balance Transfer . If you are planning on using your card for daily activities and paying it off regularily you might want to look into a card that has a rewards points program attached with it. If you are thinking you might carry a balance perhaps a card that offers a low interest rate would be better for your needs. The best advise I can offer for anyone is to do your homework first before you get into applying for cards.

Sleep Deprived

For about the last 6 months I have not been getting enough sleep, I find myself falling asleep occasionally through the day, even at work and have had a hard time maintaining my wait. I found this very interesting artical about sleep deprivation and the effects it can have on one's body and mind. It's pretty scary, I will be going to bed at 11 all next week instead of staying up till 1 for my wife to get home. Checkout the artical from MSN news and see if you find yourself in this area.

Approximately 45 percent of people don't get enough sleep, according to a recent poll by the National Sleep Foundation. We often think it's a trade-off  -- more time for less sleep  -- but the quality of that time suffers when we are sleep-deprived. The benefits of getting adequate sleep far outweigh the thrill of watching one more hour of TV or surfing the Web. The hormones that regulate your appetite and blood sugar get out of whack when you are sleep-deprived. Getting a better night's sleep will help you lose or maintain your weight more effectively. You'll also feel more even-keeled emotionally and better able to handle the challenges of the day. Your cognitive performance will improve, including memory and creative problem-solving. Try these simple steps to improve your quality of sleep.

Take time to wind down
So many of us go-go-go until it's time for bed, but it's important to take time to wind down before sleeping. It signals to your body that it's time to slow down and rest. Establish a relaxing nighttime ritual, such as listening to soothing music, deep breathing or meditation. Avoid stimulating activities such as e-mail, talking on the phone and watching TV. Some guidelines: no e-mail after 8 p.m. and no TV or phone calls after 9.

Darker is better
Your body regulates your sleep cycle in response to the presence and absence of light, so dim the lights as evening approaches. Try getting ready for bed by candlelight. When you're ready to sleep, make sure your room is as dark as possible. Light can suppress the production of melatonin, a hormone that helps regulate sleep.

Put your thoughts to bed
We all need time to process our day, but bed is not the place to do it if you want to sleep well. At least two to three hours before bed, take 10 to 15 minutes to record your thoughts in a journal. This very effective technique will capture what's on your mind so you don't lie awake thinking about it. Tell yourself you're putting your thoughts to bed so that you can go to bed.

No sugar or alcohol before bed
These are stimulants that cause your adrenal glands to produce cortisol, which wakes you up. If you need a snack before bed, make it protein. Try some turkey or cheese.

Try to get more sleep
Try an experiment. Get an extra hour or two of sleep every night for a week and see how you feel. You'll notice the difference!

Bedroom Alterations

One of the most important parts of most peoples homes is the bedroom, we spend a lot of time in this room and it is important to have a comfortable room that you can feel good about going to get some rest. When looking to fix up the image of your bedroom you can look at simply doing up some minor changes like a paint job or some new accessories. We have been looking into getting new furniture for our room as we have had the same bedroom set for the last 10 years and it has survived (barely) 5 moves to different towns/cities. We are planning on staying in our current home for a while so it seemed like the right time. We are looking for a clean modern look to our bedroom and we are looking for a Contemporary bed that would give us beautiful modern lines. We especially love this modern bed which comes in a white or black finish. For us we are leaning towards the dark finish to match up with the other bedrrom furniture we want to buy for our new bedroom

Diabetic Supplies

Having a family with a history of Diabetis is very concerning for me as I try to keep focused on my dietary choices and physical fitness. I really am concerned about my Dad as he struggles with his health and I have been trying to help him finding better ways to manage his diabetic struggles. We have been looking for new blood glucose meters to help him keep his levels in check. We shopped around on the Internet for a good supplier of medical accessories and discovered one that could not only supply the diabetic supplies he needed but also a great assortment of daily living aids, exercise accessories and emergency preperation and childrens products to.

Protect your information

One interesting thing I have learnt about wireless internet is that it is somewhat insecure as your IP address is basically out there to be captured. You can help protect yourself by signing up for a proxy server account which will basically shadow your IP address by using this as a go between hiding your real IP and showing the Proxy Server IP address. It's just one way to protect your information while surfing.

March Break Time

We are taking the kids away for March Break next week and I can't wait. It has been a very hard 6 months with my wife working almost every night until 1am. It has certainly put a lot of pressure on me that I'm not used to, to make sure the house hold is running and our 4 kids are getting a good supper, homework, off to their activities while still keeping the house somewhat clean. It's also especially hard because I miss my wife being around in the evenings to spend time with. One good thing that has come out of this is that I appreciate my wife that much more. I look at her in a totally different way now, she is independent, has her own form of income which certainly eases the pressures of bills and providing for the whole family on my own. I definitely like her much more now and really look forward to spending time with her. I think about her and being with her all the time now, absence does make the heart grow fonder that's for sure, I can only hope that it is doing the same for her.

Wedding flowers

From the males perspective there are many details that surround a wedding and we as men don't necessarily find or understand all the important parts of the wedding cermony, As the wedding plan is put together there are many activities to be planned out. It can certainly cost a lot to give your wife a great cermoney to remember for the rest of your life. It is hard to decide on everything and that is very impessive that you can order your entire flower need online and have itdelivered to your event in time for your cermoney. Their service doesn't apply to just frames so check the website to find the great assortment of wedding flowers and many other occasions as well

Grilled Chicken for a healthy menu

I can't wait for the grilled KFC chicken to get to my area, I think it is a fantastic idea to look at making their menu healthier for their customers. Good Job KFC

TORONTO, April 21 /CNW/ - KFC Canada is thrilled to announce that
beginning this summer, customers in select markets in Canada will have the
opportunity to try the latest finger lickin' good menu item - Kentucky Grilled
Chicken.
In a revolutionary step forward in menu options, KFC Canada is offering
the new product to give KFC customers a variety of selections that stay true
to the great taste and quality that made KFC Canada's Original Recipe(TM)
Chicken famous.
"The introduction of Kentucky Grilled Chicken marks a significant
evolution in KFC Canada's menu," said Jeff O'Neill, President and CEO of
Priszm Income Fund. "This new product was designed to satisfy customers'
evolving tastes and I have no doubt that our customers will relish the
Kentucky Grilled Chicken's savoury blend of secret herbs and spices, grilled
to juicy perfection in our specially-designed ovens."
The new menu item will be available in test markets in Ontario and Quebec
starting this summer and is expected to be rolled-out across Canada in 2009.
Customers can enjoy Kentucky Grilled Chicken in the very same tasty ways they
currently enjoy KFC's Original Recipe(TM) Chicken - on its own, with a tasty
side, in an individual meal or with family meals and buckets. They can even
try it with KFC's Original Recipe(TM) Chicken by including both choices in
individual or family meals.
"The Kentucky Grilled Chicken is another example of our ongoing
commitment to provide our customers with a variety of menu options that
maintain the great KFC taste," added O'Neill. "This is the only grilled
chicken recipe we have tried that passes the test of being finger lickin'
good. After one bite, we are sure Colonel Harland Sanders would agree that the
fresh, marinated and perfectly grilled Kentucky Grilled Chicken is starting a
new tradition of great taste."

Smiley Guy

cool red hart eyes smiliey

I just love those little smiley face guys that people ad to their messages. I think it is a hoot to open up a message from a friend to have the little smiley guy there. It's a very quick way to get the mood that they were in when they sent the message to you. These smiley guys share every emotion under the rainbow in just a second you know what to expect. Even better now because you can download the software and get Free Emoticons & Winks to use for your computer. This program is completely free and to make it safe is guaranteed to be free of adware, spyware and virus.

Planning out trips

I was searching for a great place to eat out, we found we were getting so bored with all the regular locations we ate out. I was able to find a website that allowed me to find different restaurants in my area. All I had to do to find the MealChase - Restaurant Deals was to enter my province and the city that I wanted to look at. Once I got a list of locations I was able to search for the deals they were offering at the time. I really enjoyed the site so much that I will be using this to help plan out our family trip in a couple of months. I will be able to map out our whole trip with great locations all along the way where we can get great meals.

Renovation heaven

I have been having a lot of fun working on renovations around the house, right now we are working on minor cosmetic things. We live in an older house and some of the doors are pretty antique so we are modernizing those right now. It also gives us the opportunity to replace the crappy old molding around them at the same time with some great thick molding we found at the depot. It makes such a differance with just a little work, we also took the chance to go a little bigger with the doors which also makes a differance. I will be working on a more difficult project soon we want to build some extra cabinets in our kitchen and have them match up to what we already have, it should be great challange.

Dream SUV

With the current economic conditions it can be a really great time to get a new vehical if you are financially stable and able to afford one. With all the vehical manufacturers facing uncertain sale numbers for the most part dealerships are very willing to negotiate to get your business and prices for the most part have never been lower. Now when it comes to shopping for an SUV there are SUV's and then there is the all new Mercedes GLK, this SUV has the quality that you would expect from Mercedes. This all new sleek and rugged design is very impressive but the real excitement comes from the interior which is designed with leather wrapped steering wheel and brushed aluminum accents throughout. The ride you will find great comfort with 19 or 20" alloy rims you are guaranteed a great ride. If you think you could see yourself in the new GLK, check out the website and customize your ride. While navigating you can customize your vehicle and get your price online. If you think you might be interested you can also book your test drive online to save you time while really getting out to see what your ride could be like.

Exhaustion setting in

I have to say after a few very busy months I am honestly starting to burn out. I realized this more than anything while I was on a converance call last week at the office and I decided to kick my feet up and lean back, well didn't I fall asleep while on the call. I found myself here tonight with toothpicks holding my eyes open so I can finish this post. The sad part I still have to clean up the supper dishes, do a few loads of laundry, make launches for the kids for tommorrow and tidy up from the hurricane the kids left from their day. I can't wait to get some ZZZZZZ's so I might have to skip my clean ups tonight.

My puppy's all grown up

Today we took our puppy to the new vet for a check up and needles. She wasn't overly impressed with getting her nails cut but other than that she did really good. She now gets to go back in a couple of weeks for her "no baby" surgery. She might even get to spend some kennel time there when we take our trip to our daughters dance competition for a few days. They will take good care of her and get her a couple of walks a day.