Thanksgiving dessert recipes

If you don't like the idea of reading those articles about how not to gain weight during the holidays, then you just need to remember one simple thing: eat in moderation. It is OK to eat almost everything as long as you keep the overall calorie consumption during the day unchanged. If you still want to eat more calories, you can burn the extra calories by exercising more than usual.

And as I said about Thanksgiving side dishes, here is a nice video to try a slightly different set of dessert recipes.

Importance of regular medical checkups

I have been lucky (and diligent) enough to be in fit (Related: How to be fit) by eating right (Related: How to eat right?) and working out regularly. Just to make Lorena happy, I also take over-the-counter mineral supplements and vitamins, since I am not convinced that they do any good and if we need them in the first place. That does not mean that I can avoid a visit to the doctor altogether. It appears that even if we look and feel good, it does not mean that everything is alright. Simple tests can uncover most complications. Read the news report below to find out how regular medical checkups are a must. If you haven't gone to the doctor please do; and if a loved one hasn't, please forward this article to him/her.

How to be fit?

Like me. Well, I don't want to brag, but I am pretty fit. My BMI is 21.6 (desirable range is 18.5 to 24.9) is and waist to hip ratio is 0.86 (desired number is less than 0.9). My good cholesterol (HDL) is too high and my bad cholesterol is too low (LDL). I have not had to see a doctor for an illness for about 10 years (I am so tempted to cancel my health insurance). So I recently emailed my younger brother how to be fit; his cholesterol level was not acceptable. Here is what my daily diet and exercise program looks like:

Morning

• Drink a big glass of water on waking up
• Coffee
• Minimum 30 minutes of exercise (I love running fast, not walking, on the treadmill and some stretch exercises)
• Steel-cut, organic oatmeal, cooked in skim-milk and eaten with maple syrup/honey, prunes, and almonds (soaked overnight)
• Vitamins and supplements

Mid morning snack

• If I am hungry, I eat a fruit

Lunch

• Brown rice
• Vegetables (here is one recipe and then another one for soba noodles)
  
• Beans (I am trying to cut down my meat consumption but you can try chicken, fish, etc. but stay away from red meat)

Afternoon snack

• Fruits, sometimes with cottage cheese or with walnuts/pistachio
• Or smoothie (fruits, skim milk, and no sugar)

Dinner

• Whole grain bread
• Vegetables
• Dessert: Only rarely do I eat dessert but some of my favorites are fat-free versions of yoghurt or sorbet or plain milk. Occasionally, I might eat a piece of cake or ice-cream

Other tips

• Use only extra-virgin olive oil.
• Try not to eat out more than once a week and eat fast-food only if you will starve to death (when I travel, I always bring energy bars for those situations when you can't find good food)