Archive for April 27th, 2009
The Atkins Diet
Posted by: thefeeder in Uncategorized on April 27th, 2009
Today there are many diets out there to choose from, and if you want to lose weight, it can be a bit difficult to figure out which diet is for you. However, one of the top diet choices out there today is Atkins diet. Of course before you start any diet you probably want to know a bit more about it and how it works. So, let’s take a look at how the Atkins Diet got started, how it works, who it works best for, and more so you can make the right choice.
Overview of the Atkins Diet
The Atkins Diet is a popular diet that was developed by Dr. Atkins. The entire diet is based on the theory of this doctor is that the main problem for people who are overweight is that they eat too many carbohydrates and their body is extra sensitive to them. His idea is that the body and how it processes the carbs you take in each day is what makes you gain more weight. Basically Dr. Atkins feels that many people eat too many carbohydrates, which leads to insulin resistance. In order to remedy this problem, the diet is one that restricts the intake of carbs and focuses on eating a diet that is high in protein. You end up reducing the amount of carbs that you eat each day to make your body start burning off the fat on the body as its fuel.
People the Diet Works Best For
While this diet has been shown to be effective for many people, it seems to work the best for people who really do have an insulin resistance build up in their body. Also, people who are hypoglycemic can really benefit from this diet as well if they are trying to lose weight.
Pros and Cons
You will find that just like any other diet, there are definitely both pros and cons with the Atkins diet. Let’s take a look at a few of the pros and cons you’ll find if you try this diet.
- Pro #1 – It’s a Simple Diet – One of the main pros that so many people love is that it is a very simple diet to follow. Once you learn what foods you are supposed to be eating, those you should avoid, and learn to count carbs, it really is a diet that is easy to follow.
- Pro #2 – Finding Your Own Level of Carbs – Another great pro is that the diet does focus on finding the level of carbs that works best for you. Some people may be able to eat a bit more than others, but the focus is to figure out what works for you.
- Pro #3 – A Popular Diet – The Atkins Diet is a popular diet as well. This is a pro because it means that you can easily find information on the diet and support as you are trying to follow it as well.
- Con #1 – You Miss Out on Cancer Fighting Fruits and Vegetables – One of the main cons of this diet is that because of the big restriction on carbs, you actually miss out on some of the most important cancer fighting fruits and vegetables that you need. Add to this that you’re eating more red meat, which too much of can cause cancer, and you may create a dangerous situation.
- Con #2 – You Always Have to Count Carbs – Many people don’t like the fact that they are always having to keep track of the carbs they eat. This means that every single thing that goes in their mouth must be counted, which can get old after awhile.
- Con #3 – Miss Out on Necessary Nutrients – Probably one of big cons to this diet is the fact that you miss out on many necessary nutrients that your body needs, since you cannot eat many foods. While some minerals and vitamins can be taken in a supplement, some of the important phytonutrients that you need cannot be replaced by taking a supplement.
Foods You Can and Can’t Eat
There are several different phases of the Atkins diet and each phase affects the food that you can and cannot eat as well. When you are going through the first two weeks of the Atkins plan, you are only allowed to have 20 grams of carbs each day, and the carbs that you can eat include vegetables that are low in carbohydrates, such as tomatoes, lettuce, and broccoli. During this time you can’t even eat fruits, potatoes, breads, or yogurt, since they have too many carbs. You can’t take in caffeine or alcohol during this time either.
As you go into the second stage of this diet you are allowed to go up to 25 grams of carbs each day. After you get to the weight you want to be, then you can slowly introduce some good carbs into your diet once again, but you have to make sure that you don’t gain back the weight that you have lost. Some of the things that you can add to your diet include plenty of proteins, such as various meats, like red meat, bacon, and you can even add eggs.
The Opinion of the Medical Community
So, you may be wondering what the opinion of the medical community happens to be. Well, the medical community often criticizes the Atkins diet, feeling that there are many dangers to going on a diet that is so low on carbs and so high on protein. Since you cannot eat many fruits and vegetables, doctors fear that people don’t get the nutrients that their body really needs to be healthy. Also, all the fat that is taken in on this diet can be very dangerous. The American Heart Association definitely is concerned with the diet because of the high fat, and the American Dietetic Association is also concerned about it because of the lack of nutrition the diet offers.
Disclaimer: Always consult your doctor before starting any diet program.
What Are Forex Pips and Why Are They Important?
Posted by: thefeeder in Uncategorized on April 27th, 2009
One thing is sure, you can make money when you gain pips. In forex trading, a pip is the unit of measurement for the smallest change in the price of a currency or currency pair. With each price levels achieved, it should be fairly easy to mathematically determine the amount of movement in a particular currency as expressed in pips.
The currencies of the world are on a floating exchange rate and are always traded in pairs. Forex investors employ various analytical methods (both fundamental and technical) in an attempt to predict price movement. Thus, becoming well versed in predicting these movements allows investors to profit from well-timed transactions. An important thing to keep in mind when trading with automated forex trading systems when trading in this fashion is your transaction costs. In EUR/USD a movement from 1.0066 to 1.0067 is one PIP, so a PIP is .0001. In USD/JPY a movement from 120.45 to 120.46 is one PIP, so a PIP is .01.
Perhaps the easiest way to understand how to calculate pip values is to start by looking at currency pairs involving the US Dollar. Supposing the rate for GBP/USD is 1.9340. This means that 1 UK Pound is worth 1.9340 US Dollars. If the market now moves 1 pip so that GBP/USD is 1.9341 then 100,000 UK Pounds will now be worth 193,410 US Dollars – a rise of $10.
So what is more important to you is not a forex 2 pip spread but an honest small spread broker who will pay you the spread he quotes. Make sure there is no slippage or requites. The broker must be regulated and must have proof of past success rates.
Whatever Happened To The Stomach Vacuum?
Posted by: thefeeder in Uncategorized on April 27th, 2009
How about a stomach exercise you can do while watching TV or sitting in front of a computer at work. This is an exercise that will tighten your abs in a dramatic way in just a few short weeks. It’s not uncommon for people to lose 2 to 3 inches in that time. The stomach vacuum is just that exercise. It’s a long forgotten stomach flattening exercise that can be done just about at any time and anywhere.
The main muscle that is engaged by this exercise is the transverse abdominal muscle which runs horizontally underneath you oblique muscles. The transverse abdominis muscle is basically what holds everything in, so by doing this one simple exercise you are tightening the abs and shrinking the waistline at the same time. Another reason to strengthen the transverse ab muscle is that it helps to eliminate lower back pain by stabilizing the spine and pelvis areas.
So what is the stomach vacuum? It’s pretty much what it sounds like. If you have ever sucked your stomach in for any reason, then you were basically doing the stomach vacuum. Now to actually do this stomach exercise correctly you need to suck your tummy in and picture pulling your belly button up and to the back toward your spine. Try to pull it in just as far as you can go and remember to breathe. It doesn’t matter if your sitting, kneeling or standing on your head. The stomach vacuum can be done in any position.
To start with try and hold it for 15 seconds then relax for about a minute. Now repeat it 2 more times. Over time you will want to increase the length of time you hold the vacuum position and increase the number of sets you do as well. Another option with this particular tummy flattening exercise is just to do it through out the day. Since you are not noticeably moving around you can sneak a set or two in at any time.
Do these everyday over the next couple of weeks and you will be absolutely amazed by the results.

