SELF HEALTH + HEALING

"The weight-loss "industry" is full of myths.

People are being advised to do all sorts of crazy things, most of which have no evidence behind them.

Over the years, however, scientists have found numerous strategies that seem to be effective.

Here are 26 weight-loss tips that are actually based on evidence."

by Marcia Sirota, MD FRPC

"You probably know someone in your life who is really, really nice. (Maybe it’s you?) This person is so nice that no-one has ever seen them angry or even a little bit irritated. They’re always eager to please, and if a misunderstanding should arise between themselves and someone else, they try ever so hard to placate the other person, hoping to make the problem go away. You must have also seen people taking advantage of this person’s kindness, often treating them with disrespect or even contempt. The more they try to please, the less respect these nice folk seem to get."

"When stress levels are too high, it hinders the body's ability to burn fat. That's where yoga comes in — it's the perfect way to fight off stress, regardless of your level. These easy-to-follow poses do more than just relax; they stimulate the parts of the body responsible for metabolic function. Breathe deep as you try each asana, and start burning more calories and fat with your practice."

"Recent studies have found that it is not just how long we sleep that can affect our weight, but when we wake up. Should we all be jumping out of bed at dawn?"

Want to lose weight? Get a good night's sleep. Research increasingly suggests that chronic sleep deprivation can lead to weight gain. But last week a paper in the Public Library of Science's peer-reviewed resourcePLOS One said that it is not just how many hours of sleep you get each night that matters, but when you wake up too.

People who were exposed to bright light in the morning had lower body mass indexes (BMI) than those who were exposed to most of their light later in the day. The finding was independent of the amount of calories eaten. Dr Phyllis C Zee, a senior author of the paper said that even 20 to 30 minutes of outdoor light before midday could affect BMI.

Read on to learn how to get the most out of your day for weight loss - from meals to sleep and workouts.

The simple choices we make day in and day out—such as when to exercise or what time to hit the sack—can have a huge effect on how many calories we burn, and thus, how much weight we lose. Read on to learn how to get the most out of your day. 

Read more at http://www.dietsinreview.com/diet_column/08/your-dusk-to-dawn-guide-to-weight-loss/#4eYJMqVLtihfbSXd.99

"A new study finds breakfast, lunch, and dinner are not created equal"

.By Douglas Bair

Breakfast has long been touted as the most important meal of the day—even if some choose to skip it. And lately, it seems more and more research has jumped on the breakfast bandwagon with a recent study coming from Tel Aviv University and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

The 12-week study examined two groups of 93 obese women who were restricted to a daily 1,400-calorie diet consisting of a balance of carbohydrates and fats. Each group’s diet split those calories differently among three meals throughout the day: Some women were assigned to consume 700 calories at breakfast, 500 calories at lunch, and 200 calories at dinner, while the numbers were reversed for the other group (200 at breakfast, 500 at lunch, 700 at dinner).