Garbanzo beans, AKA chickpeas or ceci beans are very low in fat and calories. A terrific source of fiber and protein, just two cups of this hearty legume would satisfy the daily requirement for protein.

Now,  research suggests that eating garbanzo beans can actually help to control your appetite![1] Scientists have found that the fiber benefits of garbanzo beans may go well beyond the benefits of fiber in other foods

In a recent study, participants in two groups were given 28 grams of fiber per day, however the source of the fiber for each group was very different. One group’s dietary fiber came primarily from garbanzo beans, while the second group obtained dietary fiber from entirely different sources.

The garbanzo bean group had better blood fat regulation, including lower levels of LDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol and triglycerides. …read more of Garbanzo Beans Shown to Aid in Weight Loss! here

As the year winds down and the festivities pick up, celebrating, feasting and socializing have replaced our usual routines.

Tempting our taste buds, challenging our willpower and seeming to appear everywhere we look, high-caloric tasty treats and libations beckon us to indulge.

This time of year,, schedules filled to the brim, short days and cold weather create the perfect storm for putting exercise on hold.

For now, you may just enjoy yourself and go with the flow, but before you know it, 2013 will be here. And with the New Year comes the opportunity to make a fresh start and create healthy new habits. …read more of Resolve to Get Fit in Three Easy Steps here

The Holidays are upon us and once again food, drink and sweets will be plentiful.  The mere presence of these holiday treats in the office can challenge your willpower and lead to bloating, constipation, indigestion and heartburn.

Often this leads to the kitchen-sink mentality. You’ve already done it, so why not throw all vestiges of willpower out the window and continue to indulge, vanishing all hopes of that ‘bikini’ body with each tasty morsel.

Before you resign yourself to Holiday bloating, heartburn and a ten pound weight gain, try these simple tips to keep your taste buds pleased without feeling it in your waist.

1.  Eat first, not last.  When you’re going to holiday parties, never go hungry.  Don’t drink alcohol before you eat.  By eating small, healthy snacks like an apple, carrot sticks or hummus before the event, you will avoid being ravenous when you get there. …read more of 7 Tips to Beat the Holiday Bloat here

Binge Benefits

Lorraine, a forty-five year old accountant in Los Angeles had hit the big ‘4-0’ like a lead brick and her metabolism had crashed. “Gone are the days when I was svelte and soignée.”

“I used to be able to eat a bag of Doritos and ranch dip at any hour. Then all of a sudden I began to eat late at night, sometimes midnight, or even one or two in the morning. I couldn’t seem to control myself.”

Midnight Snack Attack or Psychological Warfare?

Night Eating Syndrome (NES) is a rarely recognized and a generally misunderstood disorder. Once delegated to the realm of general eating disorders, this very real problem is now commanding the consideration it deserves. …read more of Midnight Muncher – Is Night Eating Disorder Devouring You? here

Brace yourselves, it’s the holidays again and with all the parties and celebrations, there will be food, drinks and more food.  In fact, for Americans fully 51 percent of weight gain each year occurs during the six week holiday period.

It is thought that people gain five to ten pounds over the holidays and research suggests that if you are already overweight, the strikes are against you. …read more of Eight Steps to Avoid Holiday Weight Gain here