Showing posts with label lifestyle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lifestyle. Show all posts

How To Use The Best Weight Loss Pills To Get Utmost Effect

By Knoxton Neil


It is a form of responsibility for everybody to keep his or her body fit. You should know that fats do not just get into the body. They get there because of some things you constantly do. Therefore, you need to figure out what those activities are and make effective plans to stop them. Looking for the best weight loss pills is not just okay. You also need to control your activities so that the drugs will work properly.

First, you need to have a working fat loss plan in place before placing yourself on medications. You should not expect drug to burn off all the fats in your body at an eye blink. The fact is that no drugs would work at such a high rate. Consequently, if you do not a plan in place, you should make one for yourself.

You need to have an understanding of the classification of the medications based on the functions they perform. There are the thermogenics, which works to improve the metabolism and the temperature of the body to ensure the burning of more calories. There are also the appetite suppressors and what they do is suppress hunger so that you do not eat in excess.

Another class of medications that reduces gain of weights is the fat blockers. As the name implies, what they do is limit fats that get to the blood stream. One other class of medications is the thyroid regulator. Their function is comparable to that of the thermogenics. What they do is ensure the regulation of the thyroid gland so that there is a constant rate of metabolism.

You may do more research to find out other classes of medications. Once you have known all the classes of medications that exists, the next that you need to do is do an in-depth research on the most appropriate class that would work for your body. The reason for which you need to do this research is that not all the classes of medicines will help you burn fats.

Once you get the drugs ensure that you do not rush them. Getting quick results do not match with drug rushing. The fact is that when you rush drugs, there is a chance that you will take an overdose. Overdose of drugs bring nothing but unfavorable reactions to your body. It is also vital that you keep to the intrusions printed on the label of the drug.

If the drugs are to work effectively, you need to eat the correct diet. Eating the correct diet means that you should point out the foods that cause you to gain fats to remove them from your diet. Another thing that you should not do is eat at abnormal hours of the day like eating late at night. Eating at night causes you to have more fats in your body system.

It will benefit you to consider making purchase of the drugs via the internet. An advantage of using the internet is that you will get enough resources that will help you stay fit. You will also get to know the best weight loss pills through forums and some dedicated websites.




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Type 2 Diabetic issues Symptoms as well as That Gets It

By Jerold Granieri


Let us experience it, diabetes symptoms has the opportunity to lead for a person to be blind, have nerve damage or kidney failure if the effect is currently over time. In which the type 2 problem creates serious complications of the health. That is likewise the cause why it really should be necessary for you to understand type 2 diabetes symptom. At the very least in that way you are able to still take preventive measures on how to slash the chance of ending up with ischemic heart disease also.

However first let us differentiate the type 2 diabetic issues to the additional types. Folks by having this diabetic issues are producing insulin. Their pancreas on the further hand does not produce quantity of the hormone insulin sufficient for the body to be used in adequately. This health and wellness problem is called insulin resistance and when that happens, the glucose or glucose are able to not get into the cell of your body. The process will continue that glucose set up in blood when in fact it really should be visitting the cells. So body cells are supposedly not visitting function well.

This is pretty much due to high blood pressure. Signs include first as human to experience increased thirst and cravings even if you have merely really ingested. You need dry mouth, recurring peeing, fatigue which practically you feel fed up, headaches even with primarily blurred vision paired, unexplained loss of weight though you are consuming a lot well. As well as although if ever before the ailment is rare, the type 2 diabetes symptom consists of those of dropping consciousness can easily be taken into account one.

Usually, type 2 indicators are not stated to have diagnosis till there might then be health and wellness complications. Other symptoms include skin itching generally around the groin or vaginal location, recurring infections of the yeasts, recent increase weight, decreased vision, impotency, tingling as well as tingling of the hands and feet as well as the endure one is acanthosis nigricans or having dark or velvety skin in the groin, neck and armpit.

Type 2 diabetes problems are linked by having glucose develop. When kidneys will certainly lose sugar through urine, large water amount will additionally be lost that will create dehydration. And likewise the opposite situation as high level of glucose will definitely weaken the eyes tiny vessels as well as nerves.

If you have been subjected to a blood sugar test and your physician gives you bad news, there are some steps that you may take in order to manage or even reverse your health condition. This is more specifically true with Type 2 diabetes, which is far more typical as compared with Type 1 diabetes.

Now, that gets this? It is shown that anybody is able to. Those nevertheless that are in greater danger are those that are at an unhealthy weight, through genetics implies from the household members as well as those women that had gestational diabetic issues. In reality diabetes has impacted for virtually 17million individuals just in the 8 percent of the population in the Us. Worst type of is that, regarding one 3rd of the population do not know that they have it.

After recognizing the type 2 diabetic issues indicators, you are able to self test by using a glucometer tool that checks out you blood sugar even if you do it yourself. It is able to provide the studying of your blood sugar by putting the strip to the tool then the outcome will certainly be readily available for 30 to 45 seconds. At least with this you triggered methods to monitor and avoid feasible complications.




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About Bollywood Movies

By Mee Butler


No one is missing as well as the globe has remained at our disposal. The repute and esteem enjoyed by superstars like Amitabh Bachchan, Salman khan, Shahrukh Khan, Aamir Khan, etc. Aamir Khan is well-known for his exceptional latest hindi movies.

Realizing the trends and habits of Indian folks in diverse seasons from the year is essential for every director and producer. Apiece Diwali brings with it high hopefulness for 5 life of joy and occasion as wellspring as couple of of the year's most eagerly awaited releases for Bollywood movies fans. One of such film is Sholay.

He has given the Bollywood market lot of hit films which have even made history of getting viewed record time. The cellular telephone developed havoc among the folks. DDLJ released in 1995 also marked an era in Indian cinema when it started to appear seriously 1 section of its viewer which was international Indian audience.

This indicates his potential that is beyond comparison. A great deal much more new comers are existing as of late. So it truly is the responsibility of the filmmakers not to create a fake dialect only for the publicity in the film.

You are able to just anticipate for no far more ruin of inspirations. The students get adequate time to tease their parents. Though in its life span of around 100 years it have produced countless super blockbuster, I will list here Top ten blockbuster of all times.

Its very frequent that people attending tea parties and meeting out close friends after a gap or any point of discussion touches the topics on the most recent Bollywood movie releases and activities of favored stars. This gives the movies a genuine feeling as well as the films watchers also find the stunts intriguing. It's definitely a Jodi that indicates a terrific success of the bollywood movies with priyanka chopra.

It truly is wonderful to have him as Indian. If you're yearning for a Hindi VHS or Hindi DVD, you might be in luck. If you are searching for the leading bollywood movies of 2011, you might have come for the correct location.

The Indian summer has verified to be the perfect time to for releasing Bollywood movies as college and school students have a lengthy layoff period from scientific studies as well as other activities owing to summer holidays. This film is still becoming known by his name for his acting efficiency. Negative analysis appears largely on account of floppy scripts with feeble direction in the film.

Hollywood musicals have also made their mark. Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara has an remarkable star cast with Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar, Abhay Deol, Katrina Kaif, Kalki Koechlin playing the lead roles. Saajan.

This helps them to watch bollywood movies that are ultimately advantageous for the bollywood globe from the economical point of view. By trying into the year from the films, you may be able to discover a trifle bit relating to them. The Indian folks have lost their conservatism in the advent of mobile phones, computers and net.

His followers are increasing by leaps and bounds. This is not to say that all Bollywood movies adhere to such conventions, but those that don't are usually regarded as "art house" films with little commercial appeal. Bollywood films have noticed legendary performances more than the years as well as the film stars and actors right now are deemed as Gods in India.




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Jennifer Lopez and Casper Smart Hot couple

Fajar.A

What do you think if 24 years old dancer dating with Jennifer Lopez? 42 years old. This hot topic couple for this time. Casper the name, but his birth name was Beau. He has ton of muscle, shaved head, few tattoos.

The relationship itself make a hot public spotlight. Who does not know Lopez, impossible! begin from a meeting eight month ago as dancers, is it possible to be happy ending?


As for celeb tabloid In Touch's report that Smart could be headed to jail? Well, E! News has confirmed he was arrested and charged with taking part in a highway speed contest, aka a drag race. He is currently out on $26,000 bail. After pleading no contest to the charge in March, he was ordered to do 10 days of community service by his next court date, Jan. 5. He faces up to 90 days in the slammer and a $500 fine if he doesn't finish in time.




Be a smart boy. gotcha..

How to Book a $1700 Vacation for $700 by Volunteering

By Thorin Klosowski

How to Book a $1700 Vacation for $700 by VolunteeringNo matter how good you are at rolling the dice on airplane tickets, vacations are an expensive undertaking. Sure, with careful planning, saving, and budgeting, you may eventually make your way to the beaches of Hawaii and smell the scent of 1,000 pounds of suntan lotion. Or, if you don't feel like spending every cent you can scrape together, you take a volunteer vacation now, and save a bucket of cash in the process.
Photo remixed with staminaplus100 and lovestoned786.
The idea—dubbed "volunteer vacation" by someone who likely watches too much Oprah—is that you work for a non-profit while you're on vacation. Yes, it sounds a bit like work when you're supposed to relax, but the benefits include a considerably lower price tag, tax write-offs, and the nice feeling of helping others out. (I know because I've done it.) Plus, you can still enjoy the relaxing elements of an actual vacation. Let's start with a quick overview of what a volunteer vacation entails, how much it saves, and then walk through how to plan and organize your own volunteer vacation.

Why Would I Spend My Vacation Working?

How to Book a $1700 Vacation for $700 by VolunteeringThe idea of working on vacation isn't a popular one for obvious reasons, but take a second and think back to your last vacation. What did you do? How closely did you stick to your itinerary? Did the vacation feel like a vacation? How much more money did you spend then you planned? Often, we look back at a vacation and realize we didn't do anything but shuffle around from one tourist trap to another, and we spend a silly amount of money on (often overpriced) food and drinks because we're on vacation and that's what your do. A volunteer vacation can cut through those headaches while providing you with a more authentic view of the place you're visiting.
Photo by KOMUnews.

You Can Save a Ton of Money

I've never left the country on a volunteer vacation, but I have been on shorter trips in the continental United States. Since I grew up in a small mountain town, mountains themselves have never really appealed to me as a destination on their own, but I like the idea of protecting them. Volunteering with the National Park Service can cut a (admittedly already cheap) $400 vacation cost to zero if you plan it correctly. The last time I ventured into Utah I contacted Utah State Parks and picked up a campground host spot for the week. This saved me about $350 by getting me free camping, park entry, and the ability to write off transportation cost. Not exactly the most gripping tale, but I'm not known as an exciting vacation person. I have known several people who taught English overseas through Global Volunteers and assisted on scientific research through Earthwatch. They all reported back with positive experiences.

You Can Participate in Activities You Wouldn't Normally Consider

It might seem a bit altruistic (heaven forbid!). If you're picturing yourself taking two weeks off from work and travelling across the globe to build houses in third world countries, stop. While that's certainly an option, it's not the only one. You can take any number of volunteer vacations, and you can donate your time in a variety of ways. For instance:
  • You can take care of animals in Ecuador and get your room, in-country travel, food, and more covered.
  • Teach English in Russia for 15 hours a week and get all of your boarding and food costs covered.
  • Cruise in a riverboat down the Amazon surveying pink dolphins to get your food, boarding, and airport pickup covered.
  • Photo by ollie harridge.

    You Can Practice Your Skills or Learn New Ones

    If you have a specialized skill set, a volunteer vacation can be a good way to put your skills to use in another country. For instance, if you're a doctor you can volunteer your skills to a vaccination shelter. If you're a teacher, you can teach. You don't always need special skills though. If you've always wanted to learn more about carpentry, for example, you can build a house on your volunteer vacation. If you're a student, volunteering on a scientific exhibition can add flavor to your resume and experience in the field.

    You Can Write Off What You Do Spend

    How to Book a $1700 Vacation for $700 by VolunteeringOf course, one of the biggest factors in choosing a vacation is cost. Some volunteer vacations will still require a hefty up-front charge to participate and don't include airfare. Others are totally free while you're participating. The price difference is directly related to the work your doing, the insurance required, and the materials needed. Teaching English to a farmer in Poland isn't all that dangerous, but diving into the sea to film turtles hatching is.
    That said, any money you do pay can be written off as a charitable contribution on your taxes. As a general rule, you can write off any expenses you pay to the organization as long as they're a non-profit. Any non-profit you enroll in will have a 501(c) designation somewhere on the website. You can also search the government's registry to make sure the organization qualifies as tax-deductible. Your airfare, Visa, and travel-related expenses are also tax-deductible if you volunteer an average of eight hours a day.
    If you've decided a volunteer vacation might be a good idea for your next trip, it's time to get to research. Let's look at a few of the sites you can use to find opportunities and verify you're volunteering for an organization you're comfortable at.
    Photo by KOMUnews.

    How to Find a Volunteer Job That's Right for You

    How to Book a $1700 Vacation for $700 by VolunteeringPlanning volunteer vacations can require a bit more work than you may be used to, depending on how you normally plan your vacations. You won't find a bunch of deal aggregation sites that filter everything for you in a neat pattern. Instead, your best bet is to go directly through the non-profit. Here are a few places to get you started on your search:
    • American Hiking Society: As far as I'm concerned, if you're going to wander off into the American wilderness and go hiking, you might as well improve on the trails and area as you go along. From my own experience, volunteering with the American Hiking Society is a blast for a number of reasons. If you're a beginner camper, it sticks you with people who know what they're doing so you can learn the ropes. The work itself is as simple as constructing steps or transporting vegetation. You pay a $245 membership fee, but everything is free, including meals, boarding, and park fees.
    • World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms: This one is simple: work on a farm and get free boarding and food for your stay. You can do this around the world and for the most part, you know exactly what to expect. It's not easy work, but it might be worth it for the savings.
    • Habitat for Humanity: Remember when we mentioned building houses earlier? Right, this is where you volunteer to do it. Experience isn't as necessary but you should be physically capable.
    • Global Volunteer: This site isn't exactly the cutting edge of travel booking, but it gets you the information you need. As the name suggests, Global Volunteer is best for global trips and is at its best at providing information about volunteering in Africa and Asia. The work ranges from teaching English to building homes.
    • Sierra Club: If you're the type of person to spend your vacations outdoors, the Sierra Club's offering might be appealing. They usually cover the rooms, food, and materials you need, but they can get pretty costly. The benefit? On top of volunteering you also get to surf in the oceans off New Zealand or service trails in Hawaii.
    • Idealist: Idealist is a massive database of volunteer opportunities from around the globe. It's not geared directly toward volunteer vacations, but as a search engine, it's a good place to start and find the non-profits working in the country you're interested in visiting. You can find temporary volunteer opportunities that offer housing and food.
    • VAOPS: The site is not pretty, but what it does, it does well. Instead of concentrating on the middleman (and adding cost), VAOPS gives you links directly to the charities so you can plan through them. This means you can find zero cost trips easily. Transitions Abroad is a similar service.
    • STA Travel: If you're a student or teacher, you can use the already cheap STA Travel to find and book a volunteer vacation. These are typically on the pricier side, but include more "adventure" style vacations where you're chasing down sharks for rescuing turtles for a week.
    If you're using one of the above search engines, keep in mind it's possible to use them as a suggestion as opposed to a booking agent. If you find a cause you're interested in and a location you'd like to go, try visiting the non-profit itself to see if you can schedule directly through them.
    If you are planning on leaving the country, don't forget that aside from a Visa, you also might need vaccinations. The CDC provides a list of what you need. You should also do a little research into the non-profit to make sure it's legit. Charity Navigator, GuideStar, and The Better Business Bureau are good places to research before making plans.
    Now that we have an outline of the resources available, let's go ahead and plan a sample trip and see how much money we can save in the process.

    Book a Trip to Hawaii and Save $1,000

    While I've done smaller jaunts in North America, I've never gone for the full-force two-three week volunteer vacation across the globe. Personally, I've always had a desire to visit and work at the Chernobyl disaster site in Ukraine, but since I imagine most people don't share that desire, let's go with something a bit more exciting: Let's plan a volunteer vacation to Hawaii.

    Step 1: Find a Volunteer Opportunity in Hawaii

    How to Book a $1700 Vacation for $700 by VolunteeringLet's start with some quick numbers. An average price for a hotel on one of the islands of Hawaii is around $100 a night (though you could easily find a more expensive hotel). A flight will cost about $850-$900 from the U.S. during most times of the year. So for a trip to Hawaii for one person and not included meal expenses we're looking at around $1,450.
    Searching the sites above, I came up with two appealing options:
    • Sierra Club's hiking and service in Kauai ($945 + airfare): This trip requires moderate work on trails in a national park across a seven-day period and includes meals, in country transportation, and boarding. The work takes about eight hours a day and involves picking up trash, moving rocks for trail posts, and removing exotic plants. Three of the days are devoted heavily to work, while the rest of your time can be spent however you see fit. It's more expensive than the cost of a hotel, but gets you to the outdoors with people who know what they're doing.
    • American Hiking's Iao Valley State Park vacation ($245 + airfare): This trip also requires some moderate work on trails in a state park. You will be doing the same type of work as the Sierra Club for about eight hours each day. The price includes meals, permits, and boarding. As the cheaper option, this is the most appealing. A shared cabin isn't a hotel, but if you're in Hawaii, you shouldn't be spending too much time indoors anyway.
    Deciding on the location and volunteer work is just the first step. Unlike a regular vacation, volunteer work requires you to apply to make sure you're capable of doing the work. This application process typically takes a week and can be submitted online. These aren't hard hitting questions. They typically cover your experience, physical condition, and volunteer history. Not having experience doesn't immediately bar you from participating, but the application process works to vet people who might be in over their head. Make no mistake about it, this will be work no matter what type of volunteering you do.
    Before you settle on your plan, request an information packet and itinerary for your visit. This will help you make your final decision and guarantee no surprises will ruin your trip.
    Once you hear back from the non-profit and are accepted, you can book your flight through any channel of your choosing. If you're getting picked up at the airport by the volunteer service they'll give you a time slot to shoot for. The same goes for the returning flight. Check out ultimate travel hacking guide for a few useful tricks to get cheap tickets.

    Step 2: Figure Out What You Need

    How to Book a $1700 Vacation for $700 by VolunteeringWorking in a foreign place is difficult enough as it is, but doing it without the proper gear is going to make your life miserable. You will receive a packing list from the volunteer organization of everything you need. Follow this as closely as possible. In addition to normal vacation items like clothes and a toothbrush, we'll need: a sleeping bag, rain jacket, hiking boots, mosquito repellent, and a day pack for this trip.
    Photo by Nestor Lacle.

    Step 3: What To Do When You Arrive

    For many of these vacations, you get picked up at the airport with a group of other participants on the first day. They take you to the volunteer site and let you unwind before giving you an orientation on the program. Depending on where you are and what type of work you're doing, this will vary from a primer on cultural customs to a brief walk around the work site.
    In our American Hiking Society example, we're not getting picked up at the airport. According to Google Maps, no good bus system gets us from the airport to the volunteer site, so we'll take a cab. At $3 a mile, a cab will cost about $24.
    Once we arrive, we get checked in and go to the cabin to meet the rest of the volunteers. For the next week, we'll be cleaning up trails, taking hikes, and enjoying the wilderness of Hawaii. Meals are provided by our host, as is a plan for every day of the week. Sure, a big chunk of our day is work, but at least we're in a great location.

    The Final Cost Breakdown

    Before we break down the cost, we need to add a meals to the regular vacation. For three meals at an estimate of $10 a meal, we can add an additional $200 to the minimum cost. Every trip is going to net different results, but it's a fair starting point.
    But we're not done yet. We volunteered for the full duration of our stay in Hawaii so the entire trip is tax deductible.
    Donations to the American Hiking Society are completely tax deductible. This includes the plane fare, cab, and any additional fees incurred. For a full list of what you can deduct from your volunteer vacation, check out the IRS Publication 526 or get in touch with a tax professional. Your tax situation is different from mine, but for someone like me, a $1,100 tax deduction can add an estimated $400 to my rebate. This drops our basic cost to $700. Not bad for a week long trip to Hawaii.

    Volunteer Vacation: $700

    Regular Vacation: $1,650


    Volunteering on your vacation isn't for everyone. Nor is it for every trip you take. It is a good way to explore a part of the world you would not otherwise see or be able to afford. If you're a student, it's a great way to get experience in the field by volunteering on a science expedition. Even as a working adult, these experiences are worth your resume. Personally, I see it as a way means to go on a trip and interact directly with a culture or landscape without the need for rental cars, bus schedules, or complicated itineraries. Plus, if worked right, it's a heck of a lot cheaper.

Disco Cairo 2011 New Year Party

Posted by : Fajar.A





so, what's your doing on New year night?nothing??that's not cool!!c'mon lets get the party started here :











Peach Drop 2012 - New Year's Eve Countdown
Saturday, December 31, 2011 11:00AM to 4:00AM


Underground Atlanta
50 Upper Alabama St.
Atlanta, GA
4045232311



Join us as we ring in the New Year with a full day of family fun and an evening of top-notch entertainment! Underground Atlanta will buzz with activities for the entire family! Festivities begin at 11:00am with family-friendly games and activities as well as music on the Budding Peach and Kenny's Alley stages! As 2012 nears, the main stage will light up with live performances and the 800 pound Peach will begin its decent just before the clock strikes midnight. Those looking to keep the party going can celebrate into the night, as the bars, restaurants and nightclubs of Kenny's Alley are open until 4:00am! Packed full of excitement, the Peach Drop is Atlanta's favorite way of ringing in the New Year!


http://www.peachdrop.com

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New Year's Eve Dance Party Gwinnett Dec 31st
Saturday, December 31, 2011 8:00PM


Thirsty's Bar and Grill
3907 Burns Road
Lilburn, Ga
678.304.7343




Are you looking for a place to bring in the New year near the Gwinnett area? Don't drive all the way to Atlanta this New Year's Eve and deal with all the traffic and crazy Atlanta crowd. Come join us at Thirsty's Bar and Grill in Lilburn, we will have a fun friendly crowd. We will be playing your favorite Old School Salsa, Bachata and Merengue hits, but we will also mix in some of the good old fashion dance hits from across the decade. A little electric slide, or Michael Jackson, an Elvis hits here and there. It's going to be a fun New Year's Eve party so bring some friends and come out and join us!
-- Champayne Toast and New Year's countdown at midnight and we will be following the Peach drop in Atlanta on the TV.
-- Appetizer buffet available and included with the cover charge from 8pm - 10:30pm so arrive early.
$15/person -- All Night
Like us on Facebook and rsvp for this event by Dec 30th and get in for $10/person


http://www.meetup.com/dancing4fun/events/40053752/

http://www.facebook.com/Latindancinggwinnett

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Cavalia: Odysseo
Saturday, December 31, 2011 3:00PM


Under the White Big Top - Atlantic Station ®
Spring Street and 8th Street
Atlanta, GA
1-866-999-8111



Cavalia returns to Atlanta to premiere an all-new equestrian adventure, Odysseo, a new tribute to horses and the relationship humans have shared with them for thousands of years. Odysseo is an invitation to dream, to travel beyond the boundaries of time and space and to journey toward the mystery of new horizons and cultures. The show opens December 7 and performances are scheduled through to January 8, 2012. Ticket prices begin at $69.50 (+ applicable fees) with additional packages offered that can be customized for an extended experience, including a Horse Lovers Package that lets patrons tour the Cavalia stables after the show. Please visit www.cavalia.net or call or 1.866.999.8111 for more information, as show dates and times vary.


http://www.cavalia.net


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New Year's Eve hosted by Sheer Atlanta
Saturday, December 31, 2011 8:00PM to 3:00AM


Shout at Colony Square
1197 Peachtree St NE
Atlanta, GA
404-846-2000



11th Annual Sheer Atlanta Social Events New Year's Eve party. Join 100's of young professionals to ring in the new year in style. Hosted by Jonathan "Jona" Sheer - the "Kevin Bacon" of Atlanta! Friends and friends of friends all all welcome (New friends too).

DJ entertainment on both levels. Cash bar. Shout is entirely taken over for this private event, only Sheer Atlanta guests will be in attendance.

Singles and couples are welcomed. Dress to impress.


http://www.sheeratlanta.com

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sheer-Atlanta-Social-Events/130621457012338



More events in Midtown


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King's Ball: NYE 2012
Saturday, December 31, 2011 9:00PM


Westin Atlanta North
7 Concourse Parkway
Atlanta, GA




An all-inclusive homecoming event as
Spiral Entertainment's legendary New Year's Eve party
returns to the Westin Atlanta North!

-open Bars everywhere
-Gourmet buffets with carving stations for that perfect piece of meat
-Party hard and ring in the new year with Live Music from Moby Dick
-DJ Jazzy and DJ Wats
-Midnight Balls Drop (yes, two of them)
-Over a thousand hottys looking for smooch at stroke of 2012 -69,000 pounds of CONFETTI blowing you in the face at midnight
-3000 hats, tiaras, horns, glasses, beads, and flashy things
-Tasty midnight treats

Use code "atlantabuzz" for discount!


http://www.SpiralEntertainment.com

How to Drive Safely While Using Your Cellphone

By Adam Dachis

How to Drive Safely While Using Your CellphoneThe National Transportation Safety Board has voted to recommend that states ban the use of cellphones while driving. This controversial decision has some people upset and others pleased, believing that banning the use of cellphones will reduce the risk of accidents. We believe that cellphone use can absolutely pose a risk to safe driving, but that it doesn't have to. Through a mix of studies, statistics, and often-ignored common sense, we can help you drive safer without giving up the use of your cellphone. Here's how.
Illustration by hkannn (Shutterstock).
Important Safety Note: You are responsible for your own safety. This article is designed to help you drive more safely, but obviously isn't a guarantee that you'll never get in another accident again. While these tips should work well for most people, it's important to assess what is and isn't safe for you specifically. If talking on the phone while driving may cause a significant distraction for you, for example, you shouldn't do it. Others may not have that problem. Be honest with yourself about what is the safest course of action for you to take, even if it means you shouldn't use your cellphone at all.

What Studies and Statistics Believe to Be Dangerous While Driving

How to Drive Safely While Using Your CellphoneA Car and Driver study found that texting while driving can slow your reaction times more than alcohol. Another study from the University of Utah shows that talking on the phone will impair your driving ability just the same, whether you're using a hands-free headset or not. The problem isn't that your hands aren't on the wheel, but that your mind isn't on the road. The common argument against the dangers of talking on the phone while driving is that it's not believed to be unsafe to talk to passengers who are physically in the car, but there's a reason that's considered a much lower risk. Also in the study from the University of Utah, a passenger is believed to offer a second set of eyes to see what the driver might miss. This helps to somewhat negate the distraction of conversation:
[W]hen you take a look at the data, it turns out that a driver conversing with a passenger is not as impaired a driver talking on a cell phone," he says. "You see bigger lane deviations for someone talking on a cell phone compared with a driver talking to a passenger. You also find when there is a passenger in the car, almost everyone takes the exit. But half the people talking on the cell phone fail to take the exit."
Strangely, I've had the opposite experience. I've been driving for over a decade and have been in two accidents, both of which were caused because I was distracted by a passenger. (The same passenger, in fact.) On the other hand, I talk on my phone (using a headset) frequently and have never been in an accident for that reason. I actually have a much harder time paying attention to the conversation than I do to the road, so I've always been a little skeptical of the claims that everybody is impaired by conversation. For me, it's not much different than listening to music, an audiobook, or a podcast. When I'm on the phone I miss my exits and get lost less, whereas things get much worse with actual people. While I'm sure it's at least mildly safer to drive in silence with nothing but your mind on the road, that assumes that your thoughts won't wander and your passengers are essentially ghosts. We're always going to have distractions and, realistically, your cellphone is going to be one of them. You'll have to decide what you believe is the safest choice (as using your phone is believed to be unsafe for the large majority of people), but in the following sections we'll offer some tips to try to minimize distractions should you choose to use your phone while driving.

Configure Your Phone for Safer Driving

How to Drive Safely While Using Your CellphoneThe most important thing to remember is that your eyes need to be on the road whenever possible. Obviously you can't see everything behind you, in front of you, and to your sides at all times, you have to blink, check your current speed, and occasionally glance away from the road for a brief moment for a variety of reasons. That said, you're going to get yourself into trouble if you're adding additional distractions when operating a moving vehicle. Most of us know this, but we tend to neglect safety to answer a text message or call because it feels urgent. To avoid these distractions, it's best to set up your phone to make sure you don't even know they're happening.
Silence your phone while driving to avoid hearing text messages that will distract you. You want to answer a text or call because you're aware of it, so don't let yourself know. If you don't respond immediately, the world is not going to end.
How to Drive Safely While Using Your CellphoneDo everything on screen before you depart. If you feel it's safe enough for you to make a call on your cellphone (and it's legal where you're driving), start the call before you depart. If you're listening to music, set up and start your playlist before you leave. The same goes for your GPS, your audiobooks and podcasts, and anything else you plan to do to help you get to your destination or just avoid boredom in the car. If you set everything up ahead of time you won't need to look at your phone's screen which means you can keep your eyes on the road at all possible times.
Buy a headset or use remote control functionality to change the music on your phone and answer calls. Again, the key is to not look at the screen or interact with it in any way. If you have a little button hanging from your ear or integrated with your vehicle's dashboard or wheel you can change songs without the need to look around. Some cars even come with voice-activated systems so you can simply say what you want. Any of those options can keep you from interacting with your phone directly.
Put your phone in a case or sleeve so you can't see the screen. Don't make it easy to use your phone while driving. If it's difficult to get to, hopefully you won't bother. If you're the type of person who will go through the trouble, however, you might consider not using your phone in the car at all.
If you can minimize your distractions you should find it much easier to pay attention to the road and drive safely without ditching your cellphone. If you've got any other handy tips for keeping cellphone distractions to a minimum, share 'em in the comments.

Eat Nutritiously to Fight Holiday Depression

Eat Nutritiously to Fight Holiday Depression

by Leanne Ely, C.N.C

We are completely entrenched in the Christmas season and for so many, also completely entrenched in holiday depression. Having gone through holiday bouts of depression myself, I will never discount anyone's depression. I will tell you however, there are things you can do to fight the oppression of depression. Even if you don't "feel" like it, you can take action against it.

One of the most effective things in battling any sort of depression (and it is a FIGHT!) is feeding yourself right. Poor eating actually helps fuel depression. In the midst of all the scurrying around during the holidays, we end up shortchanging ourselves and eating poorly. We "save up" for the Big Feasts or parties and starve ourselves or eat fast food because we're too busy.

Having a plan really does make a difference. We have a great Christmas menu that gives you a menu for the big meal, recipes and the itemized grocery list to keep the panic level at bay. But even with lists and plans, there's still a lot to do that can cause stress, which only contributes to that downward spiral.

Add poor eating to that and you're going to be struggling big time to keep your chin above water.

To fend off bad eating, make yourself a big pot of soup (in your large Crock Pot) to keep yourself from "going there." You need something easy, delicious and nutritious to get you through.

Below is a recipe for a major Crock Pot full of phytochemically rich veggie soup that you can tweak here and there with the variations I have added to keep you from getting bored. Once the soup has been initially cooked, put it in the fridge and heat up what you need in a small saucepan. The soup is vegetarian and low-carb friendly, too.

And while you're running around over the next few days finishing up your last-minute shopping, remember to drink your water. Water is a nutrient, not a beverage. Drink a lot of water and keep yourself hydrated.


Leanne's Basic Veggie Soup
Serves 12

1 tablespoon olive oil, or as needed
1 large onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, pressed
2 large carrots, chopped
2 small celery stalks, chopped
1 medium turnip, chopped
1/4 head cabbage, chopped
2 small russet potatoes, peeled and chopped
2 cups green beans, cut in 1-inch pieces
1/2 teaspoon thyme
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 (28-oz.) can diced tomatoes, undrained
6 cups low sodium chicken broth (or vegetable broth)

In a large soup pot, heat the one tablespoon of the olive oil over medium high heat. Add the onion and cook till nearly translucent, now add the garlic. Don't let the garlic brown and saute another couple of minutes.

Add the rest of the chopped veggies, sauteing for just a minute or two; use extra olive oil if you need it for the rest of the veggies. Remember-you're not cooking them- just sauteing them for the wonderful flavor this quick step will infuse in your soup. Add the thyme and salt and pepper while sauteing. Now put the veggies in the crock-pot, add the tomatoes and broth. Cook on low 7-9 hours (depending on your crock-pot) or high 4-6 hours. Just before serving, gently mash some of the potato chunks against the side of the crock-pot to thicken the soup, give it a stir and serve.

Nutrition Per Serving: 94 Calories; 3g Fat; 7g Protein; 12g Carbohydrate; 3g Dietary Fiber; 0mg Cholesterol; 286mg Sodium. Exchanges: 0 Grain(Starch); 1/2 Lean Meat; 2 Vegetable; 1/2 Fat. Points: 2

SERVING SUGGESTIONS: Grilled cheese sandwiches on whole grain bread and a spinach salad.

Quick Fixes for Variations on the Basic Veggie Soup

Now remember, don't do these to the whole pot of soup! Just the little bit you pull out to fix yourself for lunch, etc. so that you can do all the Quick Fixes.

Quick Fix #1: Tex Mex Veggie Soup. Add some (eyeball it-how much do you want?) black beans (drained and rinsed), a little bit of cumin and chopped cilantro. Top with some tortilla chips and cheese, or serve with a quesadilla.

Quick Fix #2: Tuscan Veggie Soup. Add some (eyeball it again) cannellini (white kidney beans) or white beans (drained and rinsed), a little bit of Italian seasoning and some chopped kale. Cook till heated through and the kale is tender.

Quick Fix #3: Minestrone Veggie Soup. Add some cooked pasta, a little dried basil and top with a fresh grating of Parmesan cheese.

Quick Fix #4: Autumn Veggie Soup. Add some diced acorn squash or butternut squash, a handful of cooked brown rice, a sprinkling of nutmeg and some chopped parsley.


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Cooking with Kids: Enchilasagna

by Leanne Ely, C.N.C.

http://www.savingdinner.tv/featured/cooking-with-kids-enchilasagna/ A cross between enchiladas and lasagna! This dish is sure to please. Be sure to check out our Kids Cooking Club for MORE great ideas!
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Save on all the things you love to do!
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Healthy Foods Resource

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Saving Dinner cookbook..... Everything that I have made so far my family liked and would eat it. It's super easy and My favorite so far is Mexican Lasagna. Thank you so much for all of your hard work that makes our lives better.  - Lori
Thanks, Lori! You know, the Saving Dinner cookbook would make a great gift... Have Amazon ship it directly to them and it wouldn't be too late :)
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Hip Tips

Do you have a nifty, healthy foods tip you'd like to share? Maybe a comment you want to share? Send it in with your name and state (or country) and we'll use it in a future Healthy-Foods issue!
Dear Valerie and Leeanne,

Thank you so much for this added bonus of Five Freezer Chicken meals! I have always wanted to try some of those freezer meals, but felt like it would be hard to get started. I looked the recipes over and I think that I was making it harder than it had to be.
Thanks for blessing us with these free freezer meals that are sure to please and come in handy on a busy day.
 

Gratefully, Deanie
You're welcome, Deanie!
Have YOU tried our freezer menus yet? They start at $5 and the peace of mind knowing there are healthy dinners waiting for you in the freezer is well worth it in our opinion. We include categorized shopping lists, assembly and cooking instructions, lots of tips, and even step-by-step preassembly so you can be ready to go faster! 

How to Live Without a Jailbreak in iOS 5

How to Live Without a Jailbreak in iOS 5

How to Live Without a Jailbreak in iOS 5iOS 5 has still yet to get an untethered jailbreak, and unfortunately, a tethered jailbreak is kind of a bummer. Although iPhone hackers are making progress, it still may be awhile before an official untethered jailbreak is available. In the meantime, here's how we're coping without it.
Jailbreak apps added a lot of lacking functionality to iOS 4, but since iOS 5's release, many of our must-have jailbreak features were integrated into iOS by default. The latest version of Apple's mobile operating system provides a notification drawer, lock screen alerts, cloud backup, and a number of other features that almost make jailbreaking pointless—almost. There are, however, still some things you can't do on a jailed iDevice, but here are a few ways you can tide yourself over while you wait.

Share Your iPhone's Data Connection

How to Live Without a Jailbreak in iOS 5Jailbreaking your iPhone or 3G iPad allows you to use our favorite data tethering app, PDANet, or its very worthy runner-up MyWi. Both will turn your device into a pocket Wi-Fi router so you can share its connection with a few other computers or devices. This is immensely helpful when you're without internet access, and also considerably cheaper than paying your carrier around $20 per month for the service.
For a very short time, the App Store carried previously mentioned app iTether which was a tethering app you could install without jailbreaking (for a one-time price of $15). If you jumped on that app when we posted it, it works like a charm. Unfortunately it was quickly pulled, and there's no other subscription-free means of tethering your device without jailbreaking.
While you might be adamantly opposed to paying your carrier more money to use a data connection they're already charging you for, you might want to suck it up and just do it if tethering is really important to you. If you remember that you'll only be coughing up your hard-earned dollars for a few months until an untethered jailbreak is available, it's not so bad. Just be sure that you'll be able to remove it from your plan in a few months when you won't need it anymore.
Alternatively, you can start making use of free Wi-Fi a little more often. Grab an app like Wi-Fi Finder from the iTunes App Store so you can easily locate free internet access wherever you go. It might not be as nice as flicking a switch and borrowing your phone's data plan, but at least the connection will be more reliable and a little bit faster.

Customize Your Home Screen

How to Live Without a Jailbreak in iOS 5When you're jailbroken, you can alter your iDevice's user interface in some amazing ways. For instance, you can even make it look almost identical to Mac OS X Lion. While that isn't in the cards for jailed devices, there is quite a bit of customization you can do nonetheless. The obvious place to start is choosing a beautiful lock and home screen wallpaper since that's functionality built right into iOS. But thanks to the very handy iExplorer, you can also change your app icons as well. It's a bit of work and certainly not as straightforward as just applying a great, pre-made theme, but it will let you almost fully customize the way your device looks without any jailbreaking necessary.

Utilize Text Expansion

How to Live Without a Jailbreak in iOS 5We love text expansion because it saves so much time typing. It's even more useful on a touchscreen mobile device where typing is quite a bit slower. Jailbreak utility Xpander was particularly exciting because it offers system-wide text expansion functionality, where TextExpander only works with apps that support it. In iOS 5, however, text expansion is built in. Apple just failed to mention it, perhaps thinking it wasn't that big of a deal. Now you can set up specific typing shortcuts with any triggers you want. It's almost identical to Xpandr's functionality, making the jailbreak utility pretty much irrelevant.

Play Retro Video Games

How to Live Without a Jailbreak in iOS 5While sharing my iPhone's data connection is my number one reason for jailbreaking, playing old video games is a close second. The jailbreak community has created a wide variety of emulators that run on all iDevices and play most of your favorite classic games. Apple isn't too fond of emulators, likely because they present the possibility of copyright infringement by their users, but there are a few apps to tide you over while you wait for a jailbreak. Sega's released a few classics like Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, and Golden Axe. Square Enix has found a new home for Final Fantasy I, II, and III, as well as Secret of Mana and (most recently) Chrono Trigger. Although this is a tiny selection when compared to the vast catalogue available when emulating, it should be enough to keep you distracted until an untethered iOS 5 jailbreak is available.

There's Always the (Semi)Tethered Jailbreak

How to Live Without a Jailbreak in iOS 5If none of this solves the problem for you and you absolutely have to have iOS 5 and a jailbroken device right now, you can always semitether. This means performing a tethered jailbreak, or having to boot up by connecting your iDevice to your computer and using an application like redsn0w every time you turn it off and on (or it freezes and you're forced to restart). The upside, however, is that you'll still be able to boot your device into a special state where some apps will work and some won't. For example, none of your jailbreak apps will work until you do a tethered boot with your computer. A few of your standard apps won't work either (e.g. Safari). You will be able to send emails and make phone calls, however, which is really the more important functionality. If you're desperate for a jailbreak, this is currently your best option. If you're not sure, check out our pro and cons of (semi)tethered jailbreaking.

How to Make a Private Wish List So Your Friends and Family Can Get You What You Want Without You Knowing

By Adam Dachis

How to Make a Private Wish List So Your Friends and Family Can Get You What You Want Without You Knowing Wish lists are the obvious way to let people know what you want for the holidays and where to get it, but they come with a few problems. If you share a list via email, gift-givers have to constantly communicate who's getting what to avoid duplicating each other, and if you have a public wish list (like on Amazon), the recipient can see when someone has bought a gift, ruining the surprise. Here's how you can put together a wish list using Google Docs that your loved ones can use to track the gifts they get you, you can add new items to your wish list at any time, but you'll never see what people are getting you.
We'll walk through two methods using Google Docs. The first is the easy way. The second is the awesome way. (We prefer the awesome way.) If you'd rather watch than read, the video above will walk you through both options.

The Easy Way

How to Make a Private Wish List So Your Friends and Family Can Get You What You Want Without You KnowingThe easiest way to put together your super secret wish list is to simply create a spreadsheet in Google Docs. Just make one with the following fields:
  • The name of the item you want
  • A link to where you can purchase that item (if applicable)
  • The cost of the item
  • An empty field that your friends or family members can use to add their name if they decide to purchase the item
Once you've created this list and added everything you want, just share the spreadsheet with everyone who might want to know what to get you this holiday. Once you do, set someone else as the owner of the spreadsheet. This will allow you to remove yourself as the owner and have no access to your own document, keeping all activity a secret until you start unwrapping your presents.

The Awesome Way

How to Make a Private Wish List So Your Friends and Family Can Get You What You Want Without You KnowingThe above method is very simple, but there is a much more useful and awesome method you can employ without doing much more work. Instead of creating a spreadsheet, create a form in Google Docs. You can make the form with the same fields listed above and remove yourself as an owner in the same way. Here's how:
  1. Log into Google docs and click the create button. Choose "Form" from the drop-down menu.
  2. By default you'll have two text fields already created for you in the form. Create two more using the "Add Item" button.
  3. Now that you have four text fields, give them the names listed in the previous section (item name, link, price, and who bought it).
  4. Save the form and click the link at the bottom of the page to access it.
  5. Add all your items one at a time using the form.
  6. Go back to the form editing page and click on the "See responses" button. You'll have two options. You want to choose the one that lets you view as a spreadsheet, not as a summary.
  7. On the spreadsheet, click the "Share" button to share it with all your friends and family members.
  8. Set one person as the owner of the spreadsheet, then remove yourself so you don't have access.
What's great about this method is that even though you can no longer access the spreadsheet, you can still access the form. If you find a new item you want to add to your wish list, you can use the form to add it but won't see any of the activity from your friends and family on the actual results spreadsheet.
That's all there is to it. It'll take you just a few minutes and make it much easier for your family to buy you what you want this holiday.

7 shopping secrets retailers won't tell you

Today's retailers have uncovered the science behind shopping. Your favorite mall stores actually hire such retail researchers as Paco Underhill, author of "Why We Buy: The Science of Shopping."
Underhill has tracked hundreds of thousands of shoppers to study how they shop. "There is nothing random about how a store is arranged and designed. It is carefully calculated to appeal to you in every possible way," he says.
"The stores have a plan, so you should, too," says Dave Ramsey, best-selling author of "The Total Money Makeover" and host of a syndicated financial talk show on the radio.

 The 'magic' of the display
We can learn a lesson in Underhill's book from a story told by a retailer about a tempting display of T-shirts.
"We buy them in Sri Lanka for $3 each. Then we bring them over here and sew in washing instructions, which are in French and English. Notice we don't say the shirts are made in France. But you can infer that if you like. Then ... we fold them just right on a tasteful tabletop display, and on the wall behind it we hang a huge, gorgeous photograph of a beautiful woman in an exotic locale wearing the shirt."
Resist the urge: "Write a monthly mall shopping budget and stash cash in an envelope specifically for that purpose. When the envelope is empty, stop spending," says Ramsey. "A written budget makes you think twice when you are tempted by impulse buys."

When BOGO and 2-fer deals are good
BOGOs (buy one, get one), two-fers (two for the price of one) and bundled-item promotions successfully tempt you into shopping more often and spending more to raise the store's number of sales as well as ticket averages, or amount of each sale. They're not always a good deal for you if you're not familiar with the store merchandise and its regular prices. "You're not saving if you are actually spending more than you planned," says Underhill.
Resist the urge: "Know your favorite retailers, brands, regular prices, promotions and discounts -- and always check the clearance area first to find a similar item on sale to avoid buying two of anything and spending more," says family financial expert Ellie Kay, author of "The 60-Minute Money Workout."
"Ask yourself, 'Do I really need two sweaters or two of the same jeans?'"

Don't turn right when entering the store
"Retail shopping studies have found that most people turn right when they enter a store. That's because the majority of the population is right-handed and right-oriented," says Underhill.
Knowing this, stores highlight tempting new items and trends to the right of the entrance. You'll find that the music is louder and the displays are brighter to attract you where you will look and turn first. This is also where the most expensive items in the store are generally displayed.
Resist the urge: "Shop with blinders on," says Kay. "Stick to your list with the cash in your hand. Avoid credit card debt at all costs, and head straight to what you came for."
Why clearance items are in the back
The clearance racks are placed in the back of almost every mall store on purpose -- so you'll be tempted by everything else more expensive in your path.
You have to pass all the new trends and displays, all the sales and promotions. Retailers are betting that your hands may be full by the time you reach that clearance area, so you will not be able to stay there and search for the better deals, says Underhill in his book.
Resist the urge: "Head to the clearance area first to find the best deals," says Kay. "This way, you will have a frame of reference for comparing prices of similar items in other parts of the store and will be able to make smarter choices."

Why the clearance area is messy
"It's really hard to conquer the clearance area in some stores because it's actually designed to make you not want to spend time there," says Kay.
Retailers know shoppers want to easily find the size, price and item neatly displayed. So they purposely create the frustration of the poorly marked and poorly organized clearance area to tempt you toward the beautifully displayed and perfectly organized full-price merchandise.
Resist the urge: "Never shop when you are rushed for time," says Kay, "because this leads to making rash decisions." Instead, she advises setting aside time to shop, dig and search for what you truly want, need and can afford from the clearance section.

Beware the small stuff around the registers
Impulse items are tempting goodies such as jewelry, sunglasses, fragrances and magazines that you did not plan to buy. They are displayed purposely near the register. In retail jargon, these are called add-ons (in addition to your main purchase), and they can increase your credit card debt faster than you can say, "Oooooh, pretty!"
Resist the urge: Kay's shopping wisdom is, "Never enter a mall without a specific shopping list. Then, use my 'list test' to justify an off-list purchase with three valid reasons including: paying cash (not credit), a great discount and necessity of the item. Not only will this hassle slow you down until the impulse passes, but you can actually reprogram your mind and habits to shop this way automatically."
 

How to Ditch Your Junk Food-Filled Pantry and Reboot Your Diet

By Alan Henry

How to Ditch Your Junk Food-Filled Pantry and Reboot Your Diet

How to Ditch Your Junk Food-Filled Pantry and Reboot Your Diet If your goal for the holidays or new year is a healthier you, those cabinets full of sugary snacks and salty, over-processed junk food are your first serious roadblock. It's time to throw out your junk food in a dramatic blaze of glory so you'll stick to your convictions. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you clean out the pantry once and for all, replace that junk food with healthy alternatives that will still fulfill your cravings, and jump start your path to a healthier diet you'll actually stick to.
Photo remixed from originals by gerry and Glory Foods.

Be Courageous: You're About to Make Some Difficult Choices

Before we get started, the first thing you'll need to do is summon as much courage as possible. To make change like this stick requires doing it in a dramatic way so you won't be tempted to just slip into your old habits, and educating yourself so you have healthy options that hit the same places on your palate that are served by the otherwise awful food you may have in your fridge or pantry.
To help with the process, we invited our favorite nutritionists to share their suggestions. Seattle-based nutritionist and Registered Dietitian Andy Bellatti, and Boston-based nutritionist and wellness counselor Alannah DiBona both have a lot of experience helping individuals get their diets on the right track for their individual health and well being, and offered their suggestions for this piece.
How to Ditch Your Junk Food-Filled Pantry and Reboot Your Diet

Out with the Bad: Throw Out the Junk, Over-Processed, Unhealthy Food That's Holding Your Health Hostage

The first thing we need to do is give you a fresh start. Head into the kitchen, and get a large trash bag. Open up all of the kitchen cabinets, and get ready to throw out (or donate, if the food is non-perishable and your local community pantry or soup kitchen is accepting donations!) your awful food. Here's your plan of attack.
Photo by Javier Aroche.

First Pass: Throw Out All of Your Obviously Terrible Food

Candy, chips, cookies, soda, sugar-laden fruit juice—all of it. Don't worry, we'll head to the grocery store in just a little while, so you won't have to live without snacks for too long.

Second Pass: Learn How To Read a Nutrition Label, and Use them to Decide What to Keep

If you don't often read the labels on the food you buy and eat, start now, and use them to help you decide what to keep and what to throw out. Take a look at the USDA's dietary guidelines and the FDA's recommended daily intake of calories, fats, vitamins, and sodium to find out how much of what you should be eating. Alannah DiBona has some specific tips on how to read nutrition labels:
  1. Read the ingredient listing: Ingredients are listed in order of decreasing volume. Whatever the product contains the most of will appear first on the list of ingredients, and so on in decreasing order. If you see fat, sugar or salt listed front and center, you can safely assume that the food in question isn't going to be among the healthier options for you!
  2. Refer to the nutrition facts:
    • First, check out the serving size. Note the size of a single serving and how many servings are in a package.
    • Then look into total calories per serving. Think about the serving size and how many servings you're actually consuming. If you double the servings you eat, you double the calories and nutrients, including the Percent Daily Value (% DV).
    • Limit everything listed between Total Fat and Sodium. Most people require no more than 56-78 grams of fat per day. This includes no more than 16 grams of saturated fat, less than two grams of trans fat,a nd less than 300 mg of cholesterol (for a 2,000 calorie diet – this is why knowing your personal set of numbers is important).
    • Get enough of everything listed between Dietary Fiber and vitamins. Make sure you get 100 percent of the fiber, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients you need each day.
    • Percent Daily Value: The %DV section tells you the percent of each nutrient in a single serving, in terms of the daily recommended amount. As a guide, if you want to consume less of a nutrient (such as saturated fat, cholesterol, or sodium), choose foods with a lower % DV (5% of less is low). If you want to consume more of a nutrient (such as fiber), seek foods with a higher %DV (20% or more is high).
  3. In general, as you think about the amount of calories in a food per serving, remember that for a 2,000-calorie diet:
    • 40 calories per serving is considered low;
    • 100 calories per serving is considered moderate; and
    • 400 calories or more per serving is considered high.
As you familiarize yourself with the nutrition labels, start tossing the foods that seem okay at first blush, but that you know aren't good for you based on their ingredients and nutrition facts. Those frozen "light" Jimmy Dean breakfast bowls? The sodium content in there—regardless of the "light" label—is out of control. The same applies to a lot of frozen foods, so keep an eye out. Approach the foods you used to think of as okay for you with a new eye, flip them over, and decide based on the label. Odds are you'll be surprised.
How to Ditch Your Junk Food-Filled Pantry and Reboot Your Diet

Third Pass: Decide on the Difficult Things

Now it's time to start thinking about everything that's left. This is where you consider the difficult foods that you really want to keep but you know probably aren't at all good for you. We're not there with you, so we can't force you to throw it out, but we will give you this advice: you'll be more likely to stick with the food choices you're about to make when you get to the grocery store if you don't have your old staples to fall back on.
Photo by Sean MacEntee.
It's easy to throw out chips, soda, and candy. It's difficult however to toss out the frozen pizzas you rely on for a quick snack when you're hungry in the afternoon, or those microwave burritos that aren't really bad for you, but they aren't good either. Don't try to convince yourself that you can keep bad food if you change your habits either, like keeping the jug of ranch dressing in your fridge if you promise yourself you really will only use a tablespoon per serving. We all know you won't—breaking habits isn't that easy.
When I tackled this job myself, I found myself with a large trash bag full of food that I probably should never have picked up anyway - a lot of it was pretty old, since I try to eat well anyway. Since I have a relatively small apartment and kitchen, there wasn't much to throw out. That said, that bag was pretty heavy. I enjoy salty and savory snacks, so I had to toss out two or three different varieties of salty snack mix, tortilla chips, cured meat in the fridge, corn-syrup laden dipping sauces and condiments, and frozen dinners that may be quick to microwave, but have incredible sodium and fat content. If you're about tackle this yourself, don't worry—my pantry was as empty as yours.
How to Ditch Your Junk Food-Filled Pantry and Reboot Your Diet

Stop, Think, and Plan Before You Go Re-Stock the Pantry

Now that the junk is in the trash and your cabinets are bare, it's time to think about alternatives. You might think to put the planning before tossing, but we put them in this order to force you to go to the grocery store with after coming up with healthy alternatives.
As you make your shopping list, replace the foods you normally would buy with healthy options you'll enjoy. Think about are the types of flavors that you like, and look for healthy alternatives that hit those notes. Like I mentioned, I tend to enjoy salty and savory snacks, so I was eager to find better foods that hit the same flavor profile. If you give up your beloved bag of potato chips for tortilla chips or popcorn, you're more likely to stick with your healthy diet change than if you toss out a bag of Cheetos and hope you'll learn to love dried apricots. Here are some suggestions to get your list started.
Photo by Ollie Crafoord.
  • Savory Foods: If snack mixes, beef jerky, and potato chips dominate your snack cabinet, Alannah has some suggestions:
    • Pick up some turkey jerky over beef jerky, or at least check out the sodium content on the beef jerky you're used to buying to see if there's anything a little healthier.
    • Mixed nuts are always a good snack if they're eaten in moderation. Try unroasted and unsalted, if you enjoy them.
    • Air-popped popcorn is always a great alternative to chips, and you can season and salt it yourself.
    • Tortilla chips and salsa or cut vegetables and hummus are also great savory alternatives to keep in the fridge or pantry.
    • If you love dipping sauces, Andy Bellatti also suggests hummus, but also reminds us that guacamole and pesto are also tasty, savory alternatives.
  • Sweet Foods: For those of us with a sweet tooth, getting rid of the candy, chocolates, or baked, processed sweets that you may have lying around your house can be difficult.
    • Trade in Little Debbie and Tastycake for Greek Yogurt with honey, berries, or bananas.
    • Try fruits that are naturally sweet, like figs, raisins, and dates, or develop a love for dark chocolate.
    • Andy Bellatti suggests that if soft serve is your weakness, this trick may be for you: "freeze a few cups of sliced bananas (after this trick, I think you'll have sliced bananas in your freezer all the time) and then process them in a food processor for a few minutes (you may need a small amount of water depending on how powerful your food processor is). The end result is soft-serve 'banana ice cream.' You can dress this up by adding cinnamon, cocoa powder, vanilla extract, and a spoonful of peanut or almond butter into the food processor before processing for a really great frozen treat."
    • Lifehacker's own Jason Chen suggests putting some seedless grapes in the freezer for a day, then break them out as a sweet snack that can satisfy your ice cream craving.
  • Sour and Bitter Foods: If sour treats tickle your palate, there's a really easy fix for you: citrus fruits and fruit juices.
    • Try some plain yogurt to get a little tangy bite into your mornings. Alannah suggests adding a side of citrus fruit like oranges or kiwis to round out a breakfast or snack.
    • Grapefruit is also a great option, and a favorite of dieters everywhere.
    • You can also try low-fat cheeses like feta or a nice brie with the rind on to hit the spot.
    • If bitter is more your style, make sure to add some dark chocolate to your shopping list (baking chocolate really hits the bitter notes well.)
    • Bitter food lovers can also munch on some raw zucchini, maybe with a yogurt based dip like tzatziki.
How to Ditch Your Junk Food-Filled Pantry and Reboot Your Diet As for broad alternatives, Andy Bellatti suggests that you try to get as many whole grains in your diet as possible, and make sure that those whole grains are the first ingredient on the label, or high-fiber breads that are 100% whole grains with 4 or 5 grams per slice, or whole wheat pasta. If you love toast and sandwiches, high-fiber bread is a great way to avoid white flour and bread laden with corn syrup as a major ingredient while you get fiber in your diet at the same time.
This is just the tip of the iceberg, but they're all great suggestions. The key here is to find healthier alternatives to foods that you already love and try them on for size. If some of the foods you have or had in your pantry have healthier options, check them out when you get to the store—just make sure to read the label to make sure they're actually healthy and not just marketed as such.
Photo by Lori Stone.
How to Ditch Your Junk Food-Filled Pantry and Reboot Your Diet

Find a Personal Motivator To Help You Commit

Andy Bellatti suggested that you tie your healthy eating goals to some personal motivator. For example, you're concerned about the environment or social good, he proposes: "Take on changes that are positive for your health and also socially conscious. For example – resolve to do more of your shopping at a farmers market. If you eat meat, look into purchasing meat that is raised in more sustainable ways, fed a healthier diet (i.e.: grass-fed beef vs. corn-fed beef, eggs from pasture-raised chickens), and treated more humanely. All of these changes provide benefits for human health as well as local economies, animal welfare, and the environmental landscape."
Alannah DiBona agrees, and also notes that if you've been on the diet roller coaster before, you should stop and consider your reasons before you go any further. "How many times have you done this before? What's different this time? Why do you want to make the change? These are important questions to consider, otherwise you may be setting yourself up for failure. This is an important commitment to your quality of life, so don't fear trying something new, or taking a new approach."
Alternatively, use something close and personal to motivate you, like a family member or friend who's ill, or the desire to spend more time with your family and friends. Personally, I'm going through a very similar experience, and not to diminish the causes of social good and environmental protection, I also rather selfishly want to minimize my risk factors for illnesses that run in my family. The key here is whatever you choose to do, make sure you have a motivating force behind it that makes you stick to your guns when the going gets rough and you're tempted to buy a box of Oatmeal Creme Pies from the convenience store.
Finally, share that motivator with friends and solicit their support. Recruit your family, friends, or colleagues to join in with you, or find online communities that will offer some support, like previously mentioned Daily Challenge or Fitocracy.
Photo by Amy.
How to Ditch Your Junk Food-Filled Pantry and Reboot Your Diet

Head to the Grocery Store Armed with Knowledge and Alternatives

Now you're ready to go shopping. First, relax. Up to this point we've put a lot of emphasis on making sure you have healthy options to turn to in favor of junk food, and that you have the knowledge to make smart decisions. Compose yourself and resist the urge to go off and make choices you'll regret when you get home. Don't go off, buy all the right things, come home with bags of kale chips (which are delicious, by the way), granola, and other healthy foods, only to discover the that after a week, the thrill has passed. Here are a couple of rules to follow while you're in the store:
Photo by Brianna.
  • Don't obsess over the small things. Be smart and use your judgement, sure, but don't pick up something you've clearly never heard of just because the label looks good. That's a quick path to buying food that you "have to be in the mood for," which is code for "sits at the back of the pantry until its expiration date."
  • Moderation is key. Don't deprive yourself too much. You won't be able to find super-healthy alternatives to some of the staples in your diet, and that's okay. Look for healthier options or versions, but don't buy something you'll hate just because it's better for you. You won't use it, and you'll eventually give up and go back to what you prefer. The same applies for foods that you know aren't great for you but you'd hate to give up. There's no faster way to make you want an unhealthy food than forcing yourself to give it up forever. Find an alternative, or buy smaller packages so you can treat yourself. Just make sure those occasions are really treats and not the norm.
  • Use technology to help you. Use a grocery planner app like previously mentioned GroceryIQ or another app we love ZipList to manage your grocery lists. Try a collaboration tool like Springpad or Evernote to keep your grocery list and share it with others in your household so they can see and help you shop. Finally, get familiar with a food tracking tool like Calorie Counter, another app we like, HotCal, or recently highlighted FoodTrackerPro to help you count calories, manage your food intake, and make sure you're sticking to your healthy eating goals.
If you catch yourself putting something in your cart because you "feel like you have to," take it back out and look for something that's a better fit for you, both for your taste buds and your health. Repeat the process until you feel good about what you're buying.
One great suggestion Andy made was to arm yourself with a cookbook and some new, healthy recipes you want to try. This accomplishes two tasks: First, it cultivates a love of healthy food that will stay with you and help you stick to your rebooted diet. Second, it gets you away from processed foods. You won't find food dyes, artificial sweeteners, and industrial cooking oils in most cookbooks, and the more you cook for yourself and try new, healthier ingredients and recipes, the less you'll rely on foods that come with those things cooked in.
How to Ditch Your Junk Food-Filled Pantry and Reboot Your Diet

Stick to Your Guns

Once you've stocked your kitchen and pantry shelves with healthy options, the hard part begins: making sure you don't let it all fall apart. First of all, you will make mistakes, and you will fall off the rails now and again. That's fine. Accept your mistakes, accept that you're allowed to reward yourself with empty calories now and again, or go out to eat and enjoy a big fancy meal, and move on. The real challenge will be to make sure those mistakes and rewards are infrequent.
Photo by v smoothe.
Alannah suggests talking to a dietitian or nutritionist (like herself and Andy) or even with your doctor when you start down this path. Even a short session can produce a lot of information about what's best for your lifestyle, preferences, and tastes. Best of all, many health insurance providers will cover a visit or two, just to help you get on the right track. Use your support network to help you as well. Share the healthy substitutions that have worked for you, and ask for their suggestions and opinions. Your family and friends can help—or at least present an audience you don't want to disappoint.
How to Ditch Your Junk Food-Filled Pantry and Reboot Your Diet Not everyone can afford to clean out their pantry and buy all new groceries, so if you're budget conscious, consider saving this until the next time your cabinets are looking a bit bare and you need to go to the grocery store to stock up anyway. If you're planning a healthier 2012, now is a great time to start thinking about these kinds of changes.
I've just started down this road myself. I'm in the process of finding healthy alternatives to the snacks that I love and discovering new recipes to try and snacks to enjoy. It's not a perfect science, and unlike those reality shows where someone swoops into your home, empties your kitchen, and takes you shopping to replace it all, you won't magically be a healthier person at the end of the episode. Even so, that doesn't mean you shouldn't give it a shot. You only have your health and well-being to gain.


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