In the 1st post I did on this, my RealAge was down from 29.1 to 24.8 which is a HUGE improvement in 4 months!
Well, I’m extremely happy to say that as of: Today, May 23, 2007, my RealAge is 23.6!
A whole year younger than my previous one!!! 
~ Vilma
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This is mostly in response to the thread(s) started on the WAHM.com fitness boards:
http://www.wahm.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=342694
http://www.wahm.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=345052
I’ve found some interesting articles on the topic of weight fluctuations throughout the day. I know it happens to me… I’ll be 3-5 pounds heavier during the night time hours & when I wake up the next morning i’m back down 5 pounds less. So…. why does this happen?
Scales don’t always give you the whole story about your body or your weight loss progress. For that reason, scales (when used alone) are not a good method of tracking weight loss. The problem with body weight scales is that they measure everything–fat, muscle, bones, organs and even that sip of water you just had. The scale can’t tell you what you’ve lost or gained, which is important information if you’re trying to lose weight…and by weight, what we really mean is fat.
Here are just a few things that can increase your weight, causing it to fluctuate as much as 10 lbs in one day:
Water. Because the body is about 60% water, fluctuations in your hydration levels can change the number on a scale. If you’re dehydrated or have eaten too much salt, your body may actually retain water, which can cause scale weight to creep up. Similarly, many women retain water during menstrual cycles, which is another thing that can make that number change.
Food. Weighing yourself after a meal isn’t the best idea simply because food adds weight. When you eat it, your body will add that weight as well. It doesn’t mean you’ve gained weight, it simply means that you’ve added something to your body (something that will be eliminated through digestion over the next several hours).
Muscle. Muscle is more dense than fat and it takes up less space, so adding muscle could increase your scale weight, even though you’re slimming down.
That doesn’t mean the scale is useless. In fact, it’s a good tool when you combine it with your body fat percentage. Knowing both of these numbers will tell you whether you’re losing the right kind of weight…fat. Simply multiply your weight by your body fat percentage. For example, ME 
, who weighs 193 lbs with a current 32.3% body fat has 31 lbs of fat and 118 lbs of lean tissue (193 x .323 = 62.33 lbs of fat, 150 - 62.33 = 130.67 lean tissue/muscle).
Keeping track of these numbers on a weekly or monthly basis (not daily) will help you see what you’re losing and/or what you’re gaining.
Here are some articles that explain it in greater detail:
Many factors can cause daily weight swings - no matter what you eat
Weight fluctuations: are you losing body fat or water?
Inches, the TRUE measure of how our bodies are changing
To your health,
~ Vilma
How to Burn Belly Fat FAST in time for summer!!!!
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Monday email(s) that I receive to start my week off on a good note… very interesting & thought I would share!
Today’s topic: about the high price of “weightloss”
One key point that resonated with me: diets don’t work…. over 10,000 diet plans have been published in the last 30 years!!! And, the sad thing is, 95% of Americans who lose weight on a these diet plans regain all or more of it back. YIKES!!! (This is what happened to me) - but this time around, I’m looking to change that by making a life change not something temporary.
3:36 minutes to start off your day.
http://www.startstrongmonday.com/vol012
Keep this in mind… weight-loss is NOT fat-loss!
To your health,
CLICK HERE to subscribe to this nifty little thing!
P.S. Just to clear things up - I am NOT a big fan of supplements 
— Shawn Phillips’ “miracle” shake included among many other things. The only exeption are few basics like a good multi vitamin, whey protein, and an essential fatty acid supplement rich in Omega 3’s & 6’s, get these & you should be good to go.
I posted this link because I thought Shawn Phillips’ idea, of sending out a motivational email to get people to start their week off right, was pretty cool & a GREAT motivational tool for those that are interested. I have NOT tried or endorse his shakes & the links that are on that website are exactly what they are… His - not mine.
Hope that clears things up. 
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FTC Recovers $25 Million to Settle Allegations of Deceptive Marketing for Xenadrine EFX, CortiSlim, TrimSpa, and One-A-Day WeightSmart
The FTC has filed complaints in four separate cases alleging that weight-loss and weight-control claims were not supported by competent and reliable scientific evidence. Marketers of the four products –Xenadrine EFX, CortiSlim, TrimSpa, and One-A-Day WeightSmart – have settled with the FTC, surrendered cash and other assets worth at least $25 million, and agreed to limit their future advertising claims.
“You won’t find weight loss in a bottle of pills that claims it has the latest scientific breakthrough or miracle ingredient,” said FTC Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras. “Paying for fad science is a good way to lose cash, not pounds.”
Here is the rest of the article:
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2007/01/weightloss.shtm
To your health!
~ Vilma
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During January of this year (2007), I took a real age test & found out that my biological “real age” was 29.1 years old.
“I’m just turned 27!!!” I said.
“I can’t be 2 years older than what I really am!”
I had to do something… I knew that if I continued on the path that I was going, I would only age faster.
This test is actually pretty cool! You answer a series of questions from general health, medical history, medications, lifestyle & safety, stress & social support, nutrition & physical activities. After this, they calculate your “real age” by assessing over 100 different health factors (Click HERE to view their test resources & refrences), from lifestyle to genetics to medical history. They also provided a personalized report that gives you tips on how you can become younger in 90 days (3 months) called My RealAge plan.
I’m extremely happy to say that as of: Today, April 27, 2007, my RealAge is 24.8!
YAY!!!
~ Vilma
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I’m definitely going to implement this!
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Top 10 Foods for a Good Night’s Sleep
The secret to getting a solid 7 to 8 hours? About 90 minutes before you want to nod off, head for the kitchen and make yourself a sleepy-time snack. Keep it light (around 200 calories), so you don’t overload your digestive system. And include one or two foods from the list below. All help to relax tense muscles, quiet buzzing minds, and/or get calming, sleep-inducing hormones — serotonin and melatonin — flowing. Yawning yet? 
| 1. | Bananas — They’re practically a sleeping pill in a peel. In addition to a bit of soothing melatonin and serotonin, bananas contain magnesium, a muscle relaxant. |
| 2. | Chamomile tea — Chamomile is a staple of bedtime tea blends because of its mild sedating effect, which makes it the perfect natural antidote for restless minds and bodies. |
| 3. | Warm milk — It’s not a myth. Milk has some tryptophan, an amino acid that has a sedative-like effect, and calcium, which helps the brain use tryptophan. Plus, there’s the psychological throwback to infancy, when a warm bottle meant “relax, everything’s fine.” |
| 4. | Honey — Drizzle a little in your warm milk or herb tea. Lots of sugar is stimulating, but a little glucose tells your brain to turn off orexin, a recently discovered neurotransmitter that’s linked to alertness. |
| 5. | Potatoes — A small baked spud won’t overwhelm your gastrointestinal tract as it clears away acids that can interfere with yawn-inducing tryptophan. To up the soothing effect, mash the potato with warm milk. |
| 6. | Oatmeal — Oats are a rich source of sleep-inviting melatonin, and a small bowl of warm cereal with a splash of maple syrup is cozy — and if you’ve got the munchies, it’s filling, too. |
| 7. | Almonds — A handful of these heart-healthy nuts can send you snoozing because they contain both tryptophan and a nice dose of muscle-relaxing magnesium. |
| 8. | Flaxseeds — When life goes awry, and feeling down is keeping you up, try sprinkling 2 tablespoons of these healthy little seeds on your bedtime oatmeal. They’re rich in omega-3 fatty acids, a natural mood lifter. |
| 9. | Whole-wheat bread — A slice of toast with your tea and honey will release insulin, which helps tryptophan get to your brain, where it’s converted to serotonin and quietly murmurs “time to sleep.” |
| 10. | Turkey — It’s the best-known source of tryptophan, credited with all those Thanksgiving naps. But that’s actually modern folklore. Tryptophan works when your stomach’s basically empty rather than overstuffed and when there are some carbs around rather than tons of protein. But put a lean slice or two on some whole-wheat bread midevening and you’ve got one of the best sleep-inducers in your kitchen. |
What if none of these foods helps? Check out your sleep habits with this quick RealAge assessment to find out what’s keeping you up at night.
Lullaby Muffins
Between the bananas, the whole wheat, and the light touch of sweetness, these muffins are practically an edible lullaby.2 cups whole-wheat pastry flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 large, very ripe bananas
1/3 cup applesauce
1/4 cup honey
1/2 cup milk or soymilk Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, combine the flour (make sure it’s whole-wheat pastry flour or you’ll produce golf balls, not muffins), salt, and baking powder. In a blender, puree the bananas; add the applesauce, honey, and milk. Blend well. Pour the banana mixture into the dry ingredients and stir until just moistened. Line muffin tins with paper muffin cups and pour in batter. Bake 30 minutes or until tops are lightly brown and slightly springy. Makes 12 low-fat muffins.
Nutrition Facts
Per serving: 119 calories; 1g fat; 2.5g protein; 27g carbohydrate; 10g sugar; 133mg sodium; 3g fiber; 35mg magnesium
Medical Disclaimer: All information in this article is of a general nature and is furnished for your knowledge and understanding only. This information is not to be taken as medical or other health advice pertaining to specific health and medical conditions.
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