For those of us who struggle with PMS every month, it is helpful to know that there is an underlying benefit of having our hormones go wild - weight loss. That's right ladies, research has shown that pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS), a nuisance for many, can actually help you to lose weight faster at that time of the month than at any other time.

Pre-menstrual symptoms have provided the material for many a comedy routine and joke, such as the woman’s bumper sticker that reads “Back off - I have PMS and a gun”. But they are far from funny ‘ha ha’ to the three out of four women who suffer from the symptoms of Pre-Menstrual Syndrome (PMS) on a regular monthly basis nor is it for the people around them (just ask my husband ). PMS symptoms increase in severity with age until the onset of menopause, and the common indicators are: abdominal cramps, bloating (including hands and feet), sore and tender breasts, irritability, fatigue, headache, back pain, depression, crying spells, and difficulty sleeping.

PMS is a 28 day pattern of recurring moods, behaviors and physical symptoms that occur between ovulation and the end of the menstrual period. PMS is the result of cycle changes in ovarian hormones. This was proven because PMS disappears during pregnancy and menopause.

So with all the unpleasantness of PMS, it is a welcome relief to learn that it can also help with weight loss. During PMS, hormones are released by our body's cells and one of the ways they affect the body is by increasing metabolism. Metabolism is the rate at which our bodies convert food into energy. Two weeks prior to commencing the menstrual period, women’s production of estrogen and progesterone hormones step up to their highest levels, which speeds up metabolism and results in burning more fat. An Australian clinical trial showed that up to 30% more fat is burned off during this monthly period than the rest of the time. Just how much your metabolism rises or the...

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Here’s a nice little bedtime fable to tell the kids at night when you tuck them in. You can tell them that exercising first thing in the morning will burn more calories than the same workout done later in the day. Unfortunately there is about as much truth to this story as there is to the fairy tale Sleeping Beauty .

No, Nyet, Nay, Nien, and Non – exercising in the morning does not burn any more calories than the same exercise regime done at another time of day. In fact there is no scientific evidence to support the myth that morning exercise increases metabolism and fat loss.

There is however some data available showing that working out in the morning is overall more effective for weight loss. This is simply because people who do their personal workout programs first thing in the day tend to do so much more consistently. There are just less distractions or excuses at that time the day than there are at the end of a long work day.

Any and every workout will increase your metabolic rate and keep it elevated for hours regardless of the time of day you exercise. The higher your metabolic rate, the faster you will burn off calories. One of the misconceptions that drive this myth is the thinking that by doing your workout in the evenings you will miss the “afterburn” period because sleeping effectively lowers your metabolic rate, but this has not been found to be true.

Competitive body builders use a form of aerobic training done first thing upon rising and before eating anything. The logic behind this idea is that without fresh fuel to burn the demands on the body from the workout will cause it to use up stored fat for energy. Fact or fiction? Once again there is no agreement in the scientific community on the effectiveness of this style of training. Most fitness professionals will insist it is imperative to eat something at least a half an hour before any workout.

Here are the straight goods...

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Well actually, perhaps it should be weight loss with peanuts. I came across an interesting weight loss tip the other day that suggested that when hunger strikes a spoonful of peanut butter could make you feel full for hours. I've never heard of this weight loss tip before and was intrigued by it. Is there any truth to peanuts helping to curb hunger? So I set out to find the answer.

To my surprise there is some truth to this nutty weight loss tip. The International Journal of Obesity has published three clinical studies regarding the satiety effects of peanuts. What these studies found was that people who eat peanuts or peanut butter have their hunger curbed much faster than when eating other foods.

The theory behind why peanuts help to satiate hunger may lie with their high unsaturated fat content. These unsaturated fats, including mono and polyunsaturated fatty acids, reportedly have stronger satiety values than saturated fats and may help to control appetite and curb hunger. In people tested, peanuts and peanut butter produced more eating satisfaction and feelings of fullness than high-carbohydrate snacks.

Before you start buying up peanut stock hoping it will be the next weight loss breakthrough you should know that it only takes a small handful of peanuts to satiate your hunger. When hunger pangs hit between meals it is recommended that you eat no more than 10 peanuts (dry-roasted, unsalted). Each peanut should be eaten slowly and accompanied with water or a warm beverage such as tea or coffee. After eating all of the peanuts, wait up to 10 minutes for your hunger to subside.

Wow, now this is a weight loss tip I'm going to try because I love peanuts. At 60 calories for 10 peanuts it won't ruin my daily calorie budget either. Although peanut butter has also been found to satiate hunger it is much higher in calories than peanuts (approx. 200 calories for 2 tablespoons) so I'll stick to the whole, dry-roasted...

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With the festive season quickly approaching it seems suiting to share with you the 10 best weight loss tips for Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is a social holiday when many families come together to share good food, good drink and good times. But for those of us watching our weight, Thanksgiving is often a time of anxiety and stress. How much will the famous turkey dinner with all the fixings really cost me? 2 pounds, 5 pounds, a 10 pound setback?

Here is a list of the 10 Best Weight Loss Tips for Thanksgiving that will help to keep your diet on track.

1. Eat plenty of turkey - Turkey is low-fat, high in protein and contains lots of Vitamin B. Choose meat from the breast and remove the skin for a low-fat, low-calorie Thanksgiving treat.
2. Substitute Mashed Potatoes with Mashed Cauliflower - Mashed or creamed cauliflower is very tasty and is an excellent substitute for mashed potatoes. Mash the cauliflower, add a little skim milk and voila. Cauliflower contains almost 75 percent fewer calories than potatoes per pound and is an excellent source of fiber.
3. Steam or Roast Vegetables - Steam and roast vegetables and avoid pan frying or baking in oils or fats, such as butter.
4. Omit Butter and Cream - Although it may not always be possible to omit these flab forming ingredients, try to choose recipes that omit butter and cream. At the dinner table use light margarine as a spread instead of butter.
5. Serve Vegetables as an Appetizer - Fresh vegetables served with fat-free sour cream and yogurt dressing is a healthy appetizer that will ease pre-dinner hunger.
6. Use Packaged Gravy - Gravy made from pan drippings is very high in fat. Instead, use instant gravy that is much lower in calories and fat.
7. Crustless Pumpkin Pie - Everyone loves pumpkin pie and most will agree that there is little need for a crust. Crustless pumpkin pie has all the yumminess of the real thing, but contains much less calories and fat.
8. Don't Oversalt Your Food - Salt

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This is my story about gaining 60 pounds, being diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), developing insulin resistance and celebrating my weight loss four years later.

About four years ago I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, which is the growth of small cysts in the ovaries. Because of these growths, my hormone levels were amuck with higher than normal levels of androgens (male hormones). This caused a number of unpleasant effects on my monthly cycle, my mood and how my body burned calories.

Prior to diagnosis I gained 60 pounds in one year without changing my diet. I had never been slim, but certainly not fat either. I ate well, for the most part. But because of PCOS my body began to store fat, particularly around my mid section. My unusual and rapid weight gain, combined with other health troubles prompted me to visit my doctor, who quickly diagnosed me with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.

My doctor prescribed medication for treating the PCOS and my hormonal levels began to go back to normal, however my weight stayed high and I couldn't lose. I would exercise and eat very little and my weight would just stay the same. I was very frustrated.

I went back to my doctor who ran a myriad of tests. As it turns out, due to my weight gain because of polycystic ovarian syndrome my insulin levels were always high and as a result I had developed Insulin Resistance.

Insulin resistance is a common condition, particularly in overweight and obese people. No matter how much you exercise or how little you eat you will not lose weight. In fact, someone with insulin resistance may have a lot of body fat, but be starving. Read this for more info about Insulin Resistance.

Once I was placed on medication for both PCOS and insulin resistance I finally started to lose weight. It took three years for me to lose the initial 60 to 70 pounds that I gained because of PCOS just with a...

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