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Just because you’re dieting it doesn’t have to mean that all your meals will be cottage cheese and celery. There are some really scrumptious weight loss recipes out there to help keep meals interesting.

Search the internet if you like and you will come up with a wealth of weight loss recipes. But in the meantime below is just one example of one of many yummy weight loss recipes.

Citrus Shrimp Salad
(makes 4 servings)
Calories 271 per serving

Ingredients:
1 clove garlic
3 tablespoons fresh-squeezed lemon juice
1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
1/8 teaspooon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1 pound medium peeled and deveined shrimp
1 cup watercress, chopped
1 medium head cabbage, shredded
1 carrot, peeled and grated
1/3 cup fresh-squeezed lime juice
2 tablespoons honey
Nonfat cooking spray
2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped (optional)
2 tablespoons roasted peanuts, chopped (optional)

Directions:
1. In a food processor, add the garlic, lemon juice, soy sauce, red pepper flakes and blend until smooth.
2. Pour lemon juice mixture into a medium sized bowl then add shrimp. Toss to coat evenly, cover with plastic wrap then marinate in refrigerator for 30 minutes.
3. In a large serving bowl, add the watercress, cabbage, and carrot and mix until combined.
4. In a small bowl, whisk together the lime juice and honey then pour over salad mix. Toss until well-coated.
5. Spray a small skillet with nonfat cooking spray. Pour shrimp with the marinade into the pan and cook over medium-high heat for about 3 minutes or until shrimp is completely pink in the center.
6. Place cooked shrimp in center of salad and garnish with optional basil and peanuts.

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Keeping a weight loss journal or any life journal has many advantages and benefits. Whether your entries are long or short you can track information that can be easily used for future reference. You can actually see what you were thinking because your thoughts and experiences are in your weight loss journal.

You will be able to write down your starting measurements and everything you have eaten for the day. You will also be able to write down all of the negatives that you were thinking and if they made you eat.

Keeping a weight loss journal has a proven benefit of reducing stress during your battle of the bulge. Writing your thoughts down in a weight loss journal is a release for what you feel for that day which reduces stress.

A weight loss journal creates more personal awareness, and therefore more focus on your weight loss. The routine and habit of creating a weight loss journal means making time for you. When you set aside time for yourself, you can feel the benefit and gain from doing something specifically for yourself.

A weight loss journal also allows you to set goals for what you want to accomplish for the day, the month, the year, or a lifetime, is an excellent tool to help you get those things done. You can create a personal checklist of “things to do.”

A weight loss journal can be a wonderful tool to help better understand yourself and the world that surrounds you during difficult times.

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Most people are aware of the most common signs of heart attack but there are some differences between men and women.

The most common symptom of a heart attack for both men and women is persistent chest pain or pressure that does not go away when you sit or rest. If you experience this seek immediate emergency help. Even if it is not a heart attack you don’t want to take the chance.

Other symptoms of a heart attack include pain that radiates through the shoulders, back, arms, or jaw. As well, less intense chest pain accompanied by shortness of breath, dizziness, or nausea should be taken seriously.

Women may experience other symptoms not normally associated with a heart attack. Women are more likely to experience the “milder” warning signs like shortness of breath, dizziness, anxiety, fatigue, and cold sweats. Women may also experience these signs days or weeks prior to an actual attack. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, make an appointment with your doctor.

Adults of all ages can experience heart attack. Risk factors for heart disease include tobacco use, high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol.

Lifestyle changes can be difficult, but many resources exist. Your doctor will have plenty of information on all the major risk factors. You can also find additional information from organizations such as the American Medical Association.

Remember getting help early could save your life.

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Soy and soybeans are making the news. The advantages of using soy products can’t be emphasized enough. Soy has been proven by the FDA to assist in combating heart disease.

The Food and Drug Administration acknowledged that using soy for a healthy heart helps lower cholesterol. They say that a small addition of the soy protein to ones diet, at least 25 grams, could reduce the risk of heart disease.

Protein is not the only reason for adding soy to your diet. Soybeans also supply a number of vital vitamins and nutrients such as calcium, iron, fiber, and even a few B-vitamins. There are also soy foods containing potassium and foliate. People who use soy for a healthy heart also have a lower risk for several forms of cancer.

Most soy-based products are naturally low in trans- and saturated fats and this also helps with heart health. The American Heart Association says that using soy for a healthy heart can naturally help your heart.

Soy flour, milk, soy grits, and even soy meats can be found in grocery stores. It’s easier than ever to use soy for a healthy heart and to substitute healthful soy products for more fatty foods. Many experts recommend simply replacing snack foods with those containing soy. Yogurt fans are encouraged to substitute soy yogurt to get the extra protein in their diet.

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Pineapple is one of those tropical fruits which tastes great no matter which way you eat them: fresh, frozen, canned or juiced. Its semi-sweet, tart flavor is always a refreshing treat, especially during one of those scorching days in summer.

Aside from all that tropical goodness, pineapples are also loaded with health benefits. The fruit is an excellent source of vitamins B1, B6 and C. It also contains manganese, copper and dietary fibers.

Manganese is a trace mineral which helps build strong bones. A cup of fresh pineapples provides you with 40% of the recommended daily value of vitamin C that your body needs.

Pineapple also helps boost the body’s immune system, improves digestive health, is anti-inflammatory, provides antioxidant protection and helps prevent macular degeneration. Finally, pineapple juice is an excellent, natural treatment for the common cold and cough due to its high vitamin C content.

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