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The Venus Factor

LADIES: Experience a Customized Nutrition and Exercise Program Developed Specifically for You...

What is the Venus Factor?

The Venus Factor is a nutrition and exercise program designed specifically for women in order to safely and effectively lose weight, and maintain a feminine body shape. The Venus Factor program is designed to work with your body shape and size to produce custom guidelines that fit with your lifestyle and current fitness level. This includes custom nutrition software that gives you daily and weekly guidelines for food choices, calories, and macronutrients. The program also provides sample meal plans, and guidelines on customizing it to fit into your lifestyle. Along with the custom nutrition program and software the Venus Factor also includes a comprehensive full body workout program that provides both cardiovascular and muscle toning and strengthening benefits. Finally the Venus Factor also includes a custom mobile app that and private customer community where you can share your experiences and learn from other members and also track your progress and access the entire program from your mobile device wherever you are. The Venus Factor program, information, guidelines, and support community is designed to be at your fingertips whether you’re at home, in the gym, or on the road.

How it Works

Step 1 – Custom nutrition program and guidelines

The Venus Factor Nutrition Program is a combination of an instructional manual and custom nutrition software deigned to give nutrition guidelines and recommendations based on your height, age, weight , body shape and current fitness and activity level. This includes daily food choice recommendations, sample meal plans, daily and weekly calorie goals, as well as guidelines on macronutrients like protein carbohydrates and fats. A unique feature of the Venus Factor program is that your nutrition recommendations will change as your body changes throughout the program. The custom nutrition guideline software is designed for you to refer to it once per week to get your new nutrition guidelines and provide your body what it needs as you progress each week.

Step 2 – Structured Workout Program

The Venus Factor also includes a whole body workout program that is designed to work with the custom nutrition guidelines and your current fitness level. The workout is designed with multiple whole body workouts per week that will provide both a cardiovascular and muscle toning benefit. A full exercise video database with over 140 instructional videos is included for you to follow along with and learn the correct form and muscles targeted with each exercise. The exercise program is also designed to progress hand and hand with the nutrition program as you progress from week to week.

Step 3 – Community Support and Mobile Access

The Venus Factor also includes a custom mobile app that gives you access to the entire system of nutrition and exercise programs on your mobile device as well as access to a private community of Venus Factor members. The private community gives you access to other Venus Factor members where you can share your experiences and learn from other members. This private and secure community is a great source of motivation and support that many women find critical to their success on a nutrition and exercise program.

FOR MORE INFORMATION- CLICK HERE -

What if the workouts are too hard for me?

If you find the workouts too challenging there are lessons and information within the program to make modifications and substitutions to the workout program to match it to your current fitness level.

What if it doesn’t work for me?

If you’re not happy with the product for any reason whatsoever send us an email within 60 days of your purchase and you’ll be issued a 100% refund no questions asked.

FOR MORE INFORMATION- CLICK HERE -

The Venus Factor

LADIES: Experience a Customized Nutrition and Exercise Program Developed Specifically for You...

What is the Venus Factor?

How it Works

Step 1 – Custom nutrition program and guidelines

Step 2 – Structured Workout Program

Step 3 – Community Support and Mobile Access

FOR MORE INFORMATION- CLICK HERE -

What if the workouts are too hard for me?

If you find the workouts too challenging there are lessons and information within the program to make modifications and substitutions to the workout program to match it to your current fitness level.

What if it doesn’t work for me?

If you’re not happy with the product for any reason whatsoever send us an email within 60 days of your purchase and you’ll be issued a 100% refund no questions asked.

FOR MORE INFORMATION- CLICK HERE -

Magic Soup Recipes for Weight Lose

When you want to lose your weight then magic soup recipe for weight loses helps you in this manner. Soup is the combination of low calories vegetable recipes which helps you to burn body fats. Beside weight lose it will gives you great taste and healthy nutrition. If you become fed up with daily exercises or have short time then magic soup recipes are best choice for you.

Here are some soup recipes:

Cabbage bean soup:

Chicken broth
Tomato juice 2 cup
Onion 1
Garlic 2 cloves
Mushrooms 1 pack
Carrots 3
Zucchini 1
Squash 1
Beans 2 cup
Cabbage in cut form 3 to 4 cup
Salt and pepper

In a big pan pour a little oil add garlic, onion, carrot and mushrooms and cook for about 5 min. now in a container mix these with all other cut vegetables and spices. Cook for 3 to 4 hours in low fire so that all become a homogeneous cooked mixture. Now serve it and enjoy the taste.

Carrot coriander soup:

Carrots 4 to 5
Onion 1
Olive oil 1 table spoon
Fish sauce 1 table spoon
2 cup chicken in cubes shape
Ginger and garlic 1 table spoon
Ground coriander 1 table spoon
Fresh coriander ½ bunch

Add olive oil in a pan and soften the onion by cooking it for 5 min. now add ground coriander and cook till aroma comes out. Now add garlic and ginger and cook for 2 min. then add carrots cut in small size, fish sauce and chicken add some water and cook for 20 to 30 min till ingredients become soft in medium fire. Now blend all to make smooth and enjoy it.

For using this soup you must keep in mind some points:

Use soup as your lunch and dinner and avoid taking heavy calories food.
If feel hungry can eat snack or brown bread
Drink a lot of water
Do exercise at least 30 min per day

Home made soup is always preferable in order to give you best result. It gives you fantastic taste and aroma. Avoid using ready made soup as it contain artificial flavors and spices which does not gives you any benefit rather it can cause stomach problems and extra weight gain n your body. The best way of eating vegetable in healthy way is making them soup. These soups give you and your family not only a healthy fat free diet also a great deal to celebrate your meal.

The truth about counting calories

http://aideng.VENUSIND.hop.clickbank.net

Counting calories is a quite complicated business, there are so many books and articles on internet about this but the truth is that “good” and “bad” fats, proteins, carbs and sweets created calories; so, the big query is knowing which is better than others or if maybe all are equal to our body.

There are so many ways to count calories to maintain your weight, and you could base your all food choices depending of the calorie content, but this is not the only criteria to ponder. Experts explain that there are a million of reasons to consider other important features in our food than just calorie content.

For example, if the food you are going to eat today contains fiber, like corn, avocado or kidney beans, it will keep you feeling full longer, and after eating maybe you would think that you ate so much, but the really is that it does not have so many calories. And when you feel full, it can prevent you from reaching extra calories when you try to eat something else, in order to fill yourself up.

Right choices

One of the many benefits of choosing fresh fruits, vegetables or another lower-fat food to your daily diet is that you get more foods (and healthier) for less money.

The really is that carbs and protein foods have about 4 calories per gram, but all kinds of fats have more than twice, about 9 calories per gram. And you maybe could think that you should eat according the calories. But it is not good eating higher-fat every day just because is a little bit.

Besides, if you want to lose weight counting calories, better choose carbs and proteins for the breakfast. For your lunch you can cook a delicious egg white omelet with vegetables like onions, carrots and lettuce, also mushrooms and low-fat cheese or grilled chicken.

With this kind of meal for your day, you will able to eat some snacks in the afternoon. But if you prefer to eating a lot of fat foods like fried chicken, French fries, bacon and full-fat cheese, you will consume most of the calorie portion recommended by the end of breakfast.

Calories means energy

You cannot avoid consume calories; this is not a logical thing. Everyone needs calories to make activities, like walking, working, and caring children. So if you are trying to feed you with low calorie foods and water just to feel your stomach full and do not gain weight, you will not have energy to do anything. You will feel tired and sleepy if you do not eat protein, carbs and fat.

Calories are the amount of energy that a food can provides you, and everyone should has a personal calorie limit. But the most important of this is that you should balance your energy in (foods you eat) and your energy out (calories you burn). The secret for eat what you want is making some physical activity every day to burn the calories you gain eating a delicious chocolate ice cream; so, take the stairs!

Mix it all

Although carbohydrates have less calories content than fat, you should not eat them with wild abandon. Everything is about balance; for that reason the best diet plan to you is about eating a healthy mix of all most known three energy sources. Nutritionists recommended that a good meal needs about 45-60 percent of calories and just a 15 percent should come from carbohydrates.

But like we said before, you need to eat protein (meat, fish, milk, eggs, and vegetables), carbohydrates (bread, rice) and fat (olive oil, nuts, cheese, cream, butter). Some foods produce good hormonal effects in the body, others build muscle and store good fat, and if you set a calorie limit but with different proportions of protein, fat and carbs, you will get good results about losing weight.

Then you need to mix all these types of energy source to create a balance diet for you.

Write a food diary

Most experts recommend having a food diary to keep track of the calories you eat every day (including a weekend). This should be the first step for getting a handle on how many calories you consume and how healthy you could be eating some foods.

Also you can include the physically activities that you do and you will compare if it is enough to balance the calories consumed or if you need to do something else. You can find on internet the amount of calories you burn with some common activities, like walk or cleaning the house; so write these kind of activities too.

But it is important being completely honest with yourself, the cake of your friend’s birthday, your mom’s cookies or the lunch you finished from your son’s plate.

If you do not write this you will think that everything is fine, and you really do not know why you cannot lose weight. Track every food you eat and you will be surprised about all sources of calories that you are eating.

I Try To Avoid Taking In Calories At Night, So How Will I Manage To Eat All Of My Medifast Meals?

Sometimes, when people want to begin the medifast diet, they already have some healthy habits in place. And they are wondering how to incorporate the diet into a plan that has already become a habit. One example is trying not to eat anything too late at night.

Someone might say: "for the last couple of months, I have made it a rule of mine not to eat after 7pm. I've heard people say that you should never eat after seven because at that time, most people aren't really active. They are getting ready for bed and for the next day. So there is really no way to burn off what you eat at night. I have seen some results from this. But not enough. So I'd like to try medifast.

However, I do have some concerns about fitting in all five meals plus my lean and green. The way that I figure it, that's breakfast and lunch plus three snacks or a dessert. It's going to be very hard not to eat after seven this way. I figure I can get in mid morning and mid afternoon snack. But then that last meal might be a night time snack, which would naturally occur after seven. I do not want to get into this habit. What can I do?"

There are many options here. I'll discuss them to see if any would work for you. First of all, you could have your lean and green meal for breakfast or lunch. Nothing says that it must be at dinner time. If you did this and still had your mid morning and mid afternoon snacks, then the only thing left would be dinner. And you could have a medifast meal for that - perhaps the ziti, the chili, the sloppy joe, or the macaroni and cheese.

Another option is to have one of the medifast drinks upon waking up. Maybe the hot chocolate or cappuccino. If you have this instead of your regular morning coffee and then you have a medifast breakfast, then you've already taken that last meal off of the table.

Another thing that people will do is to mix or combine the meals into one sitting. This isn't how the diet is designed, but the thinking behind this is that it's better to get in all your meals by combining them instead of skipping. So, perhaps you would have the diet pancakes with hot chocolate at breakfast - which makes for two meals. Or soup with one of the fruit drinks for lunch.
Finally, if there are times when you just can't swing it or are running late one day, keep in mind that the diet meals are very small. Most are right around 100 calories. I think what people who say they don't eat late really mean is that she doesn't eat large amounts after 7. But I think there are ways to arrange your meals so that you are completely done by 7. However, if there are times when this just doesn't work out logistically, then taking in an additional 100 calories probably won't be catastrophic.

Want to get more tips that might help you manage medifast?

FOR MORE INFORMATION- CLICK HERE -

4 Great Superfoods for Weight Loss!

You must have heard of those so-called "superfoods" for weight loss by now. Nutritionally-packed ingredients (normally fresh fruit and vegetables) that can boost the nutrient intake for your body, and bring with them a whole host of health benefits, one of which just so happens to be weight loss.
Are you intrigued? We bet you are! Take a look at some of this information that we have unearthed...

1 - Black Beans

These understated beans contain an astonishing amount of protein; almost as much as 15 grams per cup. There's no bad stuff either - no saturated fat for example, making it a perfect substitute for meat in foods like chilli con carne, and other mince-meat based dishes. Plus, that one cup only contains about 200 calories - less than what the same amount of meat would probably have.

Just adding beans to your diet won't help you to lose weight. The trick is to substitute one of the "bad" foods for the black beans in a bid to help you ingest fewer calories as well as increasing the amount of iron and antioxidants which means not only will these beans help you to lose weight, but you'll also be fighting back against the risks of certain conditions like heart disease and certain type of cancer.

2 - Oats

Another of the great superfood for weight loss, oats are perfect for someone who is feeling a little sluggish and this could be because they are holding onto too much waste product in their bowels. Did you know that you could be carrying upwards of ten pounds worth of actual junk in your body, and by eating more fibre, you are giving your digestive system a little helping hand, giving you more opportunity to lose weight than just exercise and changes to your diet alone. What's the point in making all those change if you aren't going to get rid of the excess waste first? You don't need to resort to drastic measures like colonic irrigation; there are foods (especially those high in fibre) that will help things along quite nicely.

Oats are the perfect way to start your day because not only will they help your digestive system, they contain a healthy starch called Resistant Starch which helps to burn off the fat content but speeding up the metabolism. There's a reason people have been eating oats for years!

3 - Avocados

A lot of people shy away from things like avocado because of the high fat content but the thing you need to know about this humble superfood is that it contains lots of HEALTHY fats; not the unhealthy stuff. Monounsaturated fats, for example, have been shown in studies to actually suppress hunger pangs, and there's lots of protein and fibre in there too so you're killing a whole bunch of birds with just one stone.

Plus it's super easy to whack a bit of avocado in a smoothie and even if you're not that keen on the taste, you won't know it's there.

4 - Salmon

Aside from being completely delicious, salmon is one of the greatest superfoods for weight loss that you can get your hands on. The lean source of protein that salmon offers you is the kinda that makes you full after you eat it, and keep you feeling that full feeling for longer. This means that you are less likely to snack throughout the day because you're not experiencing those hunger pangs, plus a recent study showed that dieters that ate more salmon had faster and bigger weight loss.

There are quite a few superfoods for weight loss; more so than many people initially think. Blueberries are great for their anti-aging properties as well as being very low in calories, and broccoli (both cooked and raw) is perfect for the cancer-busting qualities plus being low in calories and high in fibre. There's also brown rice, pears and even wine... in moderation, of course!

Is it about time that you re-evaluated your diet? Think about it - all the exercise in the world won't make that much of a difference if you're still ingesting more calories than you burn off!

The Venus Factor

LADIES: Experience a Customized Nutrition and Exercise Program Developed Specifically for You...

What is the Venus Factor?

How it Works

Step 1 – Custom nutrition program and guidelines

Step 2 – Structured Workout Program

Step 3 – Community Support and Mobile Access

FOR MORE INFORMATION- CLICK HERE -

What if the workouts are too hard for me?

If you find the workouts too challenging there are lessons and information within the program to make modifications and substitutions to the workout program to match it to your current fitness level.

What if it doesn’t work for me?

If you’re not happy with the product for any reason whatsoever send us an email within 60 days of your purchase and you’ll be issued a 100% refund no questions asked.

FOR MORE INFORMATION- CLICK HERE -

Do You Gain Weight Really Quickly?

I was at the gym with a client to do squats the other morning. He told me how he was feeling a little "bloated and wobbly" around the tummy area and had put half a stone in a matter of days.

He lifted his shirt to prove it, and looked at me like water retention. However, this chapter is quite thin, so I knew that a diet is not what I needed. But as I said I wanted the water - BIG TIME - he was like a pregnant woman.

He knew why he had been a naughty boy with his power, he just wanted to help him get it just as quickly as it came. I'll try to explain a complicated process in simple English for you to try to understand how your body works, and one of the reasons why the two carbohydrates affect your weight.

Now we can hold water for many reasons, but the three main ones are:

1. Too many carbs / sugars

2. Not enough water

3. Too much salt

Most people do not know this, but for every gram of carbohydrate or sugar you eat, you will need to have 4 grams of water for treatment. Biochemistry is my favorite subject at least, but I've learned enough to know that each carbohydrate molecule has four water molecules attached to it.

So if you eat or 100g of rice, you need 400 grams of water to "do their job" in your body. 500g (100g + 400g rice water) is equivalent to about £ 1. Not fat (again), but the scale weight and inches in your body.

This is why some people who eat a diet rich in carbohydrates diet increase the weight as fast. We had to get rid of water retention and it was back on track.

This is what we did:

1. drank more water, more than two liters a day like this.

2. Reduce intake of carbs / sugar, which in this case was alcohol, bread and chocolate.

3. Cut out processed foods, it is high in all the wrong salts that make you retain water like a sponge.

So if you find that you have taken a lot of weight quickly (like during the Christmas holidays or drunk) this is what you must do to get rid of excess water in his hands.

The weight you put on is not big hydrates of carbon and water which swells like a balloon. If you are hydrated, in general, it is not strongly, you retain less water.

Your body stands on the water when there is so much about him, is a physiological response, it is one thing to protect the body is to take care of you.

In the future, among other things, that guy could drink more water and try to stay hydrated while he is having his drunkenness and would not affect you as much. So if you feel like this guy did now know what to do to get you back on track.

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There is also much easier to read articles and useful information that can inspire to reach your fitness goals faster and exercise!

Thank you for reading.

Using Tomatoes Inside and Out for Better Health All Around

Tomatoes are highly nutritious and versatile. You can use them for better health inside of your body and outside of it too. Knowing about all of the ways you can use them will help you see that you shouldn't be without tomatoes in your home.

The Nutritional Benefits of Tomatoes

Tomatoes have a lot of lycopene in them, which can help prevent many cancers and other health conditions. The anti-oxidant properties in lycopene have helped women with osteoporosis as well as lowered cholesterol and blood pressure.

Tomatoes are also a good source of vitamins A and C. Vitamin A is great for the skin and eyes while vitamin C is a good immune system booster. This keeps your body functioning optimally.

Choline is another important nutrient in vitamins. It helps people sleep better, and keeps them moving, learning and remembering more. It can even reduce inflammation for people who chronically deal with it.

With all of the fiber in tomatoes, people with diabetes can benefit from it. Studies have shown that tomatoes can lower blood glucose levels.

Tomatoes for the Outside of the Body

While you're improving the way the inside of your body functions, you can help the outside of your body too. Many people use tomatoes in face masks. You can cut a tomato in half and rub it all over your face in circular motions, or you can mix it with honey to make the mask thicker and more moisturizing.

The face isn't the only way you can use tomatoes. You also can use them on your hands to keep them looking healthy and feeling soft. They can also help with skin tightening for those who have started to notice the skin on their hands becoming loose.

People also use tomatoes on ailments such as burns and boils. The alkalinity in the tomatoes helps take away the pain that comes along with a burn or a boil. With continued application, the blister can heal much faster.

Tomatoes can also be used in the hair during shampooing. Many people find that it adds shine to dull looking hair.

Now that you know how to use tomatoes for the inside and outside of your body, grab some tomatoes at your local grocery store. They will come in handy every single day if you remember all of their benefits. Before you know it, you'll be so impressed with the results of tomatoes that you'll be telling everyone about them.

Grab a Few Tasti-Lees!

What you put in your body and outside your body counts, so make sure you're getting the best grocery store tomatoes you can. Tasti-Lee tomatoes were developed with flavor & health in mind. Vine-ripened by Mother Nature, our tomatoes can give you all the nutrients your body needs.

Thanksgiving on a Diet

Every year, the same holidays come and go. We have our traditional foods for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. Some years I have struggled because I was on some kind of a special diet and couldn't ("shouldn't") eat some of those traditional things. I still *wanted* them, but some years I made do with substitutes.

When I was counting calories, I used low fat cream of mushroom soup in the green beans, made gravy without any fat drippings, ate only white meat, and didn't put butter in the stuffing. When I was low carbing, stuffing was completely off limits as were the sweet potatoes, pies, and dinner rolls. On Medifast, there were none of the traditional sides... but I could have turkey and plain green beans and mashed cauliflower. Going gluten-free means the stuffing, pies, and rolls would need substitutions, and on AIP there would be nothing in my traditional menu that I could eat except turkey, plain steamed green beans, and baked plain sweet potatoes.

As I was planning for Thanksgiving dinner this week, with the kids coming home and expecting their favorite dishes, I contemplated just what to do with my menu. Some of it is easy: roasted turkey is always great for everyone, and I can make the gravy gluten-free and low fat easily. I can mash potatoes and bake dinner rolls and pies for the kids and not eat any. But what about the rest? Green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, Snicker salad... all can be made healthier as I discovered my first year blogging. My big decision was whether to try and make those things gluten-free and/or AIP compliant. I still have not returned to the AIP elimination phase and I have not been all that careful about gluten this week either.

I decided to just make them healthier and enjoy smaller portions. It's not so much because I want those foods *so badly*. My favorite Thanksgiving food is stuffing. Everything else I can take or leave. I just don't care enough about those foods to do all the extra work to make them AIP/gluten free, when I am 1) the only here who cares and 2) the only one doing all the cooking and associated work. I am going to make this as easy and non-labor-intensive for myself as possible and enjoy the time with my family, along with some turkey, gravy, green beans, and stuffing. If I feel like having other things I'll have them in moderation. It's one day. I am not going to stress over it trying to be perfect when I am not perfect any other day anyway. I want the focus to be not on the food, but on family and gratitude. That is what will bring me joy... not the food.

I hope all of you will take time on Thanksgiving Day to reflect on what you are thankful for, enjoy the positive things and beloved people in your life. I am thankful for my family and my home, for my friends and for all of the wonderful people I have met blogging. You make the world a better place by your kindness! I thank you and truly believe you will be blessed for the way you have lifted me up in my times of difficulty, with your words, your thoughts, your prayers. I am so happy to be associated with so many people with good kind hearts and I hope I can somehow return the kindness to you, and I pray blessings on your families! Happy Thanksgiving!

The Joy Of Eating

Going beyond pleasure

When my wife and I decided to have a vegetarian wedding, the reactions to this decision were quite interesting. As an answer to our announcement, we experienced the full range of human emotions - everything from complete disapproval all the way to joyful congratulations about what a great idea this would be. By now, I think I can understand every position, including complete disapproval.

Especially in a country like Germany where the consumption of meat is a deeply engrained habit, it is understandable that not everyone would agree with such a decision. Maybe some guests felt as if someone (me) was restricting their freedom of choice.

Until a year ago, I was still consuming meat myself. Now that I changed this aspect of my life, I don't consider myself to be a better person neither did I stop respecting people who eat meat. The important aspect about my decision to stop eating the flesh of other sentient beings is that it did not arise from the belief in a certain kind of ideology or religion. Rather, it was a result of turning my attention inwards, having a closer look at what's happening in my own mind. Holding still for a while led to a simple but deep reflection on the suffering which is created through the way we eat.

What surprises me, is that the majority of discussions I have with others about diet, are led from the viewpoint of "What's best for me?" I don't think there's anything particularly wrong with asking this question, as taking good care of our health is important. But can we really reduce health to physical health? What about our mental and emotional health? Can it really be best for us, if through the way we eat, we directly support an industry which greatly contributes to the suffering and inequality (not only for animals) in our global society? If we are convinced that meat is good for us, did we honestly come to this conclusion or did we simply not really think about the consequences of our actions?

How comes we are kind and loving to some animals, like our pets - and on the other hand we support unimaginable cruelty to others? At present, we live in a society which considers it to be normal to kill another living being who experiences fear and pain just as much as we do. However, it is possible that our grandchildren will compare the slaughtering of animals in modern factory farming to the holocaust in the Third Reich. If you find this comparison exaggerated, consider looking at the issue from the victim's perspective. In the dairy industry, it is a common practice to take away the baby calves from their mothers right after birth. They are seen as a kind of waste product and are only needed so the mother cow keeps producing milk. The animal rights activist Gary Yourofsky describes the crying of a mother cow during this procedure, as one of the worst screams he has ever witnessed.

As long as there are slaughter houses, there will always be battlefields.
- Leo Tolstoy

Part of our vegetarian wedding was the idea of donating some of the money we received to raise awareness for animal suffering. A few weeks after our celebration, we went to the animal sanctuary Tierhof am Hardtbach and handed over the results of our fundraising. Thank you again to everyone who supported our idea! A feeling of being connected came up as I saw Karin (the owner of the sanctuary) and her helpers wholeheartedly taking care of the rescued animals. These animals are probably treated by humans with respect and compassion for the first time in their lives. Luisa is the name of the pig on the image of this article and she made a lasting impression on me. As we approached her, the fear in her eyes was quite obvious to see. I ask Karin whether she's always that fearful and her answer is delivered with a rather dry undertone: "Only with humans."

Now, whenever the desire for the taste of meat comes up, it dies off with the awareness of the suffering which is created through the production and consumption of meat. Of course, this takes practice and changing a diet is no small thing, neither does it happen overnight - but step by step there will be lasting change if we keep making a conscious effort. If we really want to make a change, there are great resources available about how to eat healthy without relying on the exploitation of animals (and humans). A few sources of information, which I find helpful are the ProVegan Foundation by Dr. med. Henrich, the simple but delicious vegan recipes by Attila Hildmann or the information provided by the already mentioned Gary Yourofsky. I'm sure, there's much more out there.

Although I sometimes have to use these words due to a lack of alternative, labels like "vegetarian" or "vegan" don't mean much to me. I don't like thinking in these categories as they often lead to fruitless discussions. To me, eating consciously simply means freedom - the freedom of not being driven by the desire for a taste adventure, but rather by the intention to contribute to the well-being of other living beings. It's not about "getting it right" immediately, but rather about walking in the right direction. It's a process and I fail at times - but I don't stop making an effort. Having a wholesome intention can be a powerful source of inspiration. Eating more consciously contributes both to my physical as well as my emotional health. Going beyond pleasure, we can feel joy when we eat in such a way that compassion is nourished in our hearts.

May we keep our compassion alive by eating in such a way that reduces the suffering of living beings, stops contributing to climate change, and heals and preserves our precious planet.
- Thich Nhat Hanh, Contemplations Before Eating

Through curiosity and investigation into the nature of our direct experience as a human being, we can find a deeper meaning of freedom. Real freedom doesn't need a complex philosophy to be discovered and it is directly accessible to anyone who honestly aspires to reveal it. The key to this kind of understanding is our awareness. The decision for a conscious life is a decision for a free life.

http://www.freedom-and-awareness.com

Optimise Your Body Type

Our "body type" not only describes the way we look, it also tells us about hormonal traits, the system in our bodies that constricts blood vessels, raises blood pressure and accelerates heart rate as well as lets us know how each of us react to the food we eat.

Features of our body structure are linked to differences in our metabolism. Once you identify your body type, you can then fine-tune what you eat to maximize your physique and your ideal health objectives. Where your body stores fat is directly related to what you put on your plate. A diet that is comprised of particular foods earmarked for your body type will help you maintain an ideal weight and optimal health.

There are three basic body types: ectomorph, mesomorph, and endomorph. People are usually a mixture of these body type characteristics. It is rare that someone is a perfect match to only one of the three body type categories and years of exercise and a healthy diet can outwardly alter one's appearance.

Most people will find that their body type falls within one of these three categories.

Ectomorph

This is your typical "skinny guy." They have a slim build, small ankles and wrists with lean muscle tone. Ectomorph's usually have small, narrow shoulders with sinewy muscles on long thin arms and legs.

Long distance runners, basketball players and fashion models tend to have this body type. Now you might think that this sounds great but ectomorphs can have body concerns too. They can lack curves, look lanky, can spend hours working out on a regular basis, and might not see any change, which is exasperating.

Typical traits of an ectomorph:

Long
Skinny
Small "delicate" frame and bone structure
Flat chest
Small narrow shoulders
Thin
Lean muscle mass
Finds it hard to gain weight
Fast metabolism

It is very difficult for Ectomorphs to build a muscular physique or gain any weight. With their fast metabolism, calories are burned up quickly and easily. They require a huge number of calories to gain weight and their diet should include dietary supplements. When exercising at the gym they should concentrate on the big muscle groups, such as thighs and "glutes" in a short yet intense routine.
Ectomorphs should eat before bed to prevent muscle catabolism during the night.

Recommendations

Diet

Don't skip meals & eat often - every hour and a half - at least six meals a day
Eat up to 2g of protein daily per kg of body weight

Your diet should be comprised of:

40% Protein
40% Carbohydrates
20% Fat

Legumes
Whole grain breads
Avocado

Protein shakes
Pasta
Olive Oil

Nuts
Brown rice
Coconut Oil

Salmon

Potatoes

Nuts

Dried Fruits

Exercise

Focus on strength training large muscle groups. Things like dead lifts, squats, leg press and bench press work multiple groups. Increase your weights and lower the repetitions. Decrease cardio. Have a protein shake before or after your work out.

Mesomorph

A mesomorph has a large bone structure, large muscles broad shoulders, bold look and a naturally athletic physique. Mesomorphs are the best body type for bodybuilding. They find it quite easy to gain and lose weight. They are naturally strong which makes it easier for them to build muscle. They are naturally fit, however if there is any slacking with diet or workouts then they will gain weight.

Their large appetite can lead to large portions sizes and overeating.

Typical traits on a Mesomorph:

Athletic
Muscular
Fit
Generally hard body
Well defined muscles
Rectangular shaped body
Strong
Gains muscle easily
Gains fat more easily than ectomorphs

Football players and fitness models tend to have this body type. Even though mesomorphs seem to have the ideal body type and respond best to weight training, those with this body type there are traits they have to control. They can gain muscle very easily and can lose or gain fat quickly, too. Their weight tends to fluctuate if they aren't careful. They can bulk up too much with working out, look stalky, gain fat if are not paying attention to their ideal diet and can look thick because of their underlying muscle.Since mesomorphs can gain fat more easily than ectomorphs, they have to watch their calorie intake. A balance of weight training and cardio is optimal for mesomorphs.

Recommendations

Diet

Watch portion sizes
Eat balanced meals
Stop eating when 75% full to avoid overeating

Your diet should be comprised of:

40% Complex Carbohydrates
30 - 40% Lean Protein
20 - 30% Fat

Dried Fruits
Fish
Avocado

Oatmeal
Chicken
Olive Oil

Potatoes

Flax Oil

Yams

Nuts

Exercise

Focus on distance cardio, jogging, speed walking or use the elliptical at a moderate intensity to avoid bulking up. Avoid cardio activities that work the large muscle groups (sprinting and spin classes). Practice pilates or yoga.

Endomorph

The endomorph is a solid and yet soft body type. Endomorphs find it very easy to gain fat. They generally have thick arms and legs on a shorter build. Because they have strong muscles, especially in the upper legs, Endomorphs are strong in leg exercises such as the squat.

Typical traits of an Endomorph:

Pear shaped
Soft and round body
Muscles not well defined
Gains muscle and fat very easily
Has hard time losing fat
Round physique
Slow metabolism
"Stocky" build
Generally short

This body type puts on fat easily and has difficulty losing it. Because of the natural layers of fat on this body type, their musculature is not well defined. This pear shaped body type tends to store their fat in the lower body, buttocks, hips and thighs. Women with this body have curvy, voluptuous shapes.When it comes to working out endomorphs gain weight easily and unluckily much of this weight tends to be fat not muscle. A combination of cardio and weight training will help to minimise fat gain. If a high protein diet is maintained, they can usually avoid the need for supplements.

Recommendations

Diet

Watch portion sizes
Avoid starch (breads, pasta, white rice) and sugar (desserts)
Stop eating when 75% full to avoid overeating

Your diet should be comprised of:

40% Complex Carbohydrates
40% Lean Protein
20% Fat

Fruits
Fish
Avocado

Vegetables
Chicken Breasts
Olive Oil

Grains, Beans, Pulses
Low Fat Yogurt
Flax Oil

Oatmeal

Nuts

Brown Rice

Sweet Potatoes

Exercise

You need to get moving! High intensity circuit training and heavy weight training is required in order to boost metabolism and burn calories and fat. Hit the treadmill or elliptical bike for an intense workout instead of walking, pilates or yoga.

Work out the upper body with weights. This will help to balance the lower body's pear shape and realise a striking hourglass figure when combined with the right diet.

Which body type are you?

No matter which body type or combination of body types you are, if you follow the kind of exercises that best enhance your physique and eat the foods specific for your body type you will discover your optimal healthy you.

-By Kathryn Broome

"If you look good, you feel good."

Everyone has heard this quote at least one time in their life, and no matter how simple or irrelevant that it may seem, I've found that it is absolutely true.

Three of my grandparents died of cancer and my father and grandmother have had cancer scares and both currently have diabetes and blood pressure issues, so it's clear that bad health issues runs in my family. Because of having to deal with watching this happen to my family members ever since a young age, I've made it a goal of mine to live as healthy of a lifestyle as I can.

When I was younger (before my dad was diagnosed with diabetes), my parents weren't too worried about us eating healthy or exercising, so I was used to having soda or candy around the house at all times. Once my dad was diagnosed with diabetes and had to greatly reduce his sugar intake, I decided that I would do the same.

I was used to being able to drink soda or eat food with a lot of sugar in it whenever I pleased, so stopping was extremely difficult at first. I started out small, (I'd go a day without it, then a week without it and so on) but eventually it became a lot easier. I've cut soda and candy completely out of my diet, (although I still have a sweet tea addiction and can't say no to chocolate) and recently I've been working on cutting out fast food and most processed food.

After cutting these out of my diet, I started seeing incredible results in my health and in the way that I looked. I decided to start running to lose more weight, which I greatly enjoyed and still enjoy, but my love for fitness really started once I signed up for a weightlifting class during my senior year of high school.

"No man has the right to be an amateur in the matter of physical training. It is a shame for a man to grow old without seeing the beauty and strength of which his body is capable." - Socrates

Since my senior year of high school, about four years ago, I haven't gone more than two days in a row without running or going to the gym, and when you combine that with eating healthy I'm becoming more and more confident with how I look and how I feel. "If you look good, you feel good."

My purpose for writing this article isn't to brag about my accomplishments. My purpose for writing this article is to try and urge everyone else to change the things in their life that they don't like about themselves. It would've been very easy for me to accept the fact that bad health was in my genetics, but I chose to change that about myself.

Even if getting healthy isn't important to you, this lesson can be applied to everything in life. If you want something, then go after it. When people say you can't do it, that's when you do everything you can to show them otherwise. As Kobe Bryant and Ray Lewis have said throughout their careers: "Use it as fuel to the fire."

You don't have to hit the game-winning shot during your first game, just start by hitting a free throw.

You don't have to change anything about yourself that you don't like right now, but why not start today?

- Deion Sanders