Circuit training seems to be the latest trendy workout routine... and for good reason. Everyone is either trying to lose body fat or to build muscle or cardiovascular endurance.Unfortunately, some of the workouts I've seen belong in Cirque du Soleil rather than a gym floor.What's worse, some of these people are under the guidance of a McTrainer -- run of the mill "fitness pros" you can find everywhere. Because they're more affordable than the average experienced trainer, consumers end up getting these trainers off the dollar menu.In the long run, it's the consumer who ends up getting supersized with some...

Can you believe the CDC recently reported that the life expectancy in the U.S. is up? So much for an obesity crisis!What about data suggesting that we will be the first generation to outlive our kids? Or facts proclaiming that childhood diabetes is approaching epidemic proportions?It's all B.S. according to the CDC, which is actually based on research -- instead of hysteria and discrimination against people of size.U.S. life expectancy has risen to a new high: 80.4 years for females and 75.3 years for males!Fewer deaths were reported from almost all leading causes of death, and for every race...

Special for DiettoGo.comby Cheryl Tallmanwww.FreshBaby.comYou may have heard people comment that lettuce is just empty calories. This is just not true. While iceberg lettuce is not a nutritional powerhouse, other salad greens are nutritional champions. As a general rule, the darker the leaves, the more nutritious the salad green. Just as an example, romaine and watercress have seven times as much beta-carotene, two to four times as much calcium and twice the amount of potassium as iceberg lettuce. By simply choosing a variety of salad greens you use in your salads, you can enhance the nutritional content and enjoy new...

It's the most wonderful time of the year -- football season is about to get into full swing. Man, there's nothing like this time of year, especially for a northern boy like me. The days are getting shorter, the air is finally starting to chill, and I have season tickets to Penn State football!If you're like me, you'll soon be celebrating the wins -- and mourning the losses -- with food and drink. It's called tailgating... even when it's done in my TV room, where the only tail belongs to my dog Scruffy.And it's something that usually leaves us feeling...

Special for DiettoGo.com by Linda Miner RNC, CHN, CMTAA few weeks ago my best friend's mother died suddenly at the age of 83. She got up in the middle of the night, seemingly to use the washroom, and dropped dead of a heart attack. There was no warning, no obvious signs and no history of heart disease and, luckily, no pain.After the initial shock of her mother's death wore off, my friend suddenly realized that perhaps she too was at risk of developing heart disease. Based on current statistics, she has reason to be concerned.Here are some thoughts to consider...

Slow and steady wins the race. It's a very true and important phrase... especially in the wellness arena.I know there are many grandiose advertisements out there -- catchy come-ons that promise you will "get healthy, lose weight, and drop 5 sizes in 30 days!" The reality is that in order to achieve such a drastic change a drastic change has to be made by you.For example, if you have never exercised before and commit to 2 hours in the gym every day for 30 days, you will see big differences. However, once the novelty wears off (and it typically...

They say the pen is mightier than the sword. For dieters, it now appears the pen can be mightier than pills or surgery to help you lose twice the weight!No, you don't eat the pen. You use it to journal every last bite you eat during a given day.It's called food journaling and it doesn't take a doctor's prescription or a major life-changing commitment from you.A study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine shows that keeping a "food diary" can double your weight loss. Researchers from Kaiser Permanente's Center for Health Research kept tabs on 1,685 overweight and...

Expectations often lead to disappointments. This is true of having expectations of other people in our lives. It's also true about having expectations of ourselves.When it comes to dieting people often have unreasonable expectations, and this leads to negative feelings, and the negative feelings lead to overeating.How do you protect yourself from the disappointment of unreasonable expectations?Give your expectations a reality check in four simple steps: 1. Identify Your ExpectationsEveryone has expectations. It's normal to have them but do you know what they are? What do you expect from yourself and from others? What are your expectations of yourself...

Special for Diet-to-Goby Bob Livingstone LCSWwww.boblivingstone.comThere are many articles written in the mainstream press stressing the importance of forgiveness. Forgiveness is one of the steps one takes in order to let go of emotional baggage and pain. It is also a means to release anger, hatred and self-sabotage. Forgiveness is a way to let go of grudges, resentments and thoughts of "getting back" at someone who you firmly believed hurt you.Usually this wound involves the betrayal of a once dear friend who you implicitly trusted. The hurt often comes out of the blue and without warning. This causes...

We know that being overweight puts us at risk of health issues like diabetes and heart disease. But a mind-boggling new study indicates that obesity also affects your brain in two scary ways -- it shrinks and prematurely ages it! According to a story that appeared on LiveScience.com just two days ago, "A new study finds obese people have 8 percent less brain tissue than normal-weight individuals. Their brains look 16 years older than the brains of lean individuals..."The study also found that men and women classified as "overweight" have 4 percent less brain tissue and their brains appear to...

Some would say I am blessed. Others would say I am cursed. You decide when I tell you that I don't crave sweets. I can live without them most of the time. But every once in a while I will go on a binge, eating ice cream or some Twizzlers or something similar. The rest of the time I can walk by them without a problem.Certainly I am not the average person when it comes to sweets. Most people have a weakness when it comes to sweets of some sort. How could you not enjoy a...

Thin celebrities. They look soooo good, but are so sick. We not only admire and critique them, but often seek to emulate their thin appearance. How many of us have ever said, "OMG - did you see how much weight she gained?" Women are judged harsher than men on screen and in real life, and by comparison, the great majority of us come up short... and fat. Never mind the team of decorators who correct celebrity flaws through computer imaging, air-brushing, flashy clothes, knockout makeup, and other seductive manipulations. We want to be thinner, like them....

While researching monthly food holidays so I could assign features for the Diet-to-Go August newsletter, I found myself mentally backsliding to a long-ago time of innocence and excitement - a time of great joy over the simple pleasures derived from my favorite summertime foods. The research definitely fueled my look back to those hot summer days that never seemed to end and the cool treats that offered comfort from both the heat and life's little problems. Yes, problems were little back then - even if they seemed huge to a child who couldn't imagine what life had in store!But I...

Since you've eaten meat and animal products your whole life, you might ponder, why switch to a vegetarian diet now? After all, you've lived your whole life eating eggs, hamburgers, chicken and hot dogs so why change?Vegetarians are people who do not eat meat, poultry or fish. Some choose to eat this way because they are opposed to the slaughter and consumption of animals. Others choose this dietary strategy because they feel it is better for the environment. There could be many reasons to switch. Start by looking in the mirror. Are you at a healthy weight? Do you look...

When is enough enough? I have to ask myself that question because last night I overindulged on a mega portion of turkey, mashed potatoes and stuffing from my favorite local restaurant.My wife and I usually enjoy a sit-down meal at Sally Pursell's Country Inn. But last night we didn't feel like cleaning up for a night out so I made the run for takeout.Each of our styrofoam containers weighed at least 3 pounds. There was enough turkey and sides to feed a small family. Yet I proceded to munch my way through all of my food except a small scoop...

Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks? I was thinking about the phrase "dog days of summer" and like all things it got me thinking about weight loss and what lessons old Rover could teach us.You don't have to roll over or sit up and beg. Here are 12 dieting tips to find your motivation, train your mind, increase your willpower - and to get you best of show at the same time!In my book, Awaken the Diet Within, I dedicate an entire chapter to the benefits of rewarding yourself as you meet the goals that you...

It's common knowledge that exercising is a great way to boost your metabolism. But while virtually any type of physical activity will provide a metabolic lift, some routines are better than others in terms of ratcheting up your body's ability to burn fat.If you're interested in reducing body fat (and really, who isn't?), I'm going to make things easy for you. The actual workouts won't be easy, but the template for success certainly is.I've compiled three high-energy fitness routines guaranteed to stoke your fat-burning furnace-all you need to do is put in the necessary sweat and effort to achieve terrific...

As we age our metabolism unfortunately slows down. That's the plain ugly truth.But what is metabolism? Simply put, metabolism is the process of breaking down proteins, carbohydrates, and fats to yield the energy your body needs to maintain itself.The rate of your metabolism depends on the interaction between the number of calories you consume, the number of calories you burn while eating and exercising, and the calories you burn based on your individual genetic makeup.That being said we like to equate metabolism with weight loss. Although we can't turn back the clock -- and believe me I have tried --...

Carolyn Scott loves to travel. She also likes to eat healthy. Years ago Carolyn learned the two things are not always easy to merge while on the road to a healthier liffestyle. And that's why Carolyn has made it her life mission to help others avoid the roadside bombs just waiting to destroy your diet resolve.Carolyn is now The Healthy Voyager and she'll be blogging for Diet-to-Go. For her first blog, Carolyn is targeting the camping crowd.The next time you pitch a tent, pop a trailer or park an RV, do so armed with these great tips from Carolyn, The...

A healthy lifestyle is much more than a healthy diet and maybe a fitness program. It helps to have the right mindset and to KNOW that this time you are giving it your all -- that you are, in fact, creating a new life direction.Guest blogger Laura Berman Fortgang, author of Now What? 90 Days to a New Life Direction, is here to help you achieve that new life direction in just three months.In this DiettoGo.com exclusive, check out her 10 tips and get started on the life you want to live!Creating a New Life Direction1. Make a list of...