Things to avoid while dieting…

Diet mistakes can keep you from getting to your goal weight. But you're not alone; many of us are guilty of one -- if not several -- of these dieting faux pas. Here is some simple advice on how to avoid common diet mistakes.

 

Gulping Down Extra Calories

Just say no to the following: sugar-sweetened sodas and other sweetened canned and bottled drinks; flavored and sweetened coffee beverages, such as frappes, lattes and frozen coffee; sweetened tea (hot or iced); and smoothies.

While juice is healthier than all these choices, whole fruit is preferable to a glass of juice; it has fewer calories and more fiber and is more filling. Water and herbal tea (without adding sugar) are ideal replacements for high-calorie beverages.

Depriving Yourself

Swearing off foods you enjoy is a surefire way to set yourself up for failure. It's like a form of torture: Everyone else can eat the things you love while you can't even taste them. How's that going to help you stick to your diet? It won't. Allow yourself a special treat every now and then. Keep your portion sizes in check and you can still have your favorite foods in moderation.

 

Believing Your Genes are to Blame

Genes do play a role in some cases of obesity. Often you will see family members who share the same body type. But for many of us, the most important factor in weight loss is calories in vs. calories out ... how many calories we eat and how much exercise we get. Even if family members are heavy, there are steps you can take so that you do not share their fate. Working out and strength-training will build muscle and give your metabolism a boost, both of which will help you head off the propensity for weight gain your genes might bring.

 

Don't Be a Skipper

Most meal-skippers forgo breakfast. It seems to be the easiest meal to do without. But in reality, breakfast may influence weight loss more than any other meal! If you aren't hungry first thing in the morning, have something small. Do you actually forget to eat in the a.m. hustle and bustle? Set an alarm to go off some time after you normally rise to remind you to stop, take a breath ... and eat.

 

Giving Up On Losing Weight Your Way

Only you know what works for you. So keep doing what works for you. There's no rule that says you have to tell friends or family that you're trying to lose weight. Weight is a personal issue. It's your prerogative to keep it that way.

Tips to Treat and Prevent Ulcers

Follow An Eastern Path To Healing

In Ayurveda, the traditional medical discipline of India, the presence of an ulcer indicates an imbalance of pitta. Pitta is one of three basic qualities, or doshas, that determine an individual's constitutional body type. It is recommended following a diet that pacifies pitta. That means cutting down on foods with salty, sour, or pungent tastes as well as foods that are fermented or fried.

Choose Ulcer-Friendly Fare

Certain foods can aggravate your symptoms. So until your ulcer has healed. If some food bothers you, avoid it. The usual suspects include spicy cuisine, coffee, and citrus juices. Also, forget about traditional ulcer remedies such as bland foods and milk. They were never really effective, and now they have fallen out of favor.

Say No To NSAIDs

Between 15 to 20 percent of people who regularly take NSAIDs have ulcers. That is about 20 times the rate in the general population. If you are taking an NSAID such as aspirin or ibuprofen, it is recommended sticking with the lowest possible dose at which the medication is still effective. Or ask your doctor or pharmacist to recommend a substitute.

Eat Earlier

Ulcer patients often wake up in the middle of the night with gnawing pain in their guts. What really happens is the secretion of stomach acid during the night can be reduced by eating dinner earlier in the evening. Less acid secretion should mean less ulcer pain overnight and perhaps faster healing.

Favor Fiber

Increasing your intake of dietary fiber with foods such as whole grains and vegetables may help prevent the recurrence of ulcers. There is no evidence that fiber can promote the healing of an existing ulcer.

Go Sour On Sweets

You may want to cut back on your consumption of sugar. The more refined sugar in your diet, the greater your risk of developing an ulcer, probably because sugar stimulates the secretion of stomach acid.