http://www.beachbody.com/ Beachbody - Health and Fitness Copyright 2008, Product Partners Health and Fitness http://www.beachbody.com/ http://images.beachbody.com/email_newsletter_images_2008/beachbody_44x44.png 44 44 mailbag@beachbody.com http://www.beachbody.com/category/fitness_programs/best_sellers.do?code=NEWS_333_OFFER_FP http://www.beachbody.com/category/fitness_programs/best_sellers.do?code=NEWS_333_OFFER_FP Wed, 19 November 2008 16:00:00 GMT Fitness Programs
Supplements
Gear
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Steve Edwards) http://www.beachbody.com/product/333.do#article http://www.beachbody.com/product/333.do#article Wed, 19 November 2008 15:00:00 GMT We at Beachbody® are at war against the most formidable opponent the United States has ever faced: obesity. It's killing more people a month than our two other more high-profile combatants—terror and drugs—have killed this decade. Obesity is the Darth Vader of all the dangers we'll face in our lifetimes. Smoking once ruled our universe, but a new master has taken over the dark side. In the final installment of our latest trilogy on obesity, we offer a three-point plan for getting the force back on our side.
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Joe Wilkes) http://www.beachbody.com/product/333.do#article2 http://www.beachbody.com/product/333.do#article2 Wed, 19 November 2008 14:00:00 GMT Can you turn fat into muscle? Is the morning the best time to exercise? Will you get cramps if you drink too much water when you exercise? Can those ab machines on TV get rid of your potbelly? Spend time surfing the Internet for fitness information and, pretty soon, your head will explode from reading all the contradictions and misinformation about the best strategies to get fit.
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Joe Wilkes) http://www.beachbody.com/product/333.do#article3 http://www.beachbody.com/product/333.do#article3 Wed, 19 November 2008 13:00:00 GMT


True or False?
1. Raw lima beans are poisonous.
2. Swimming too soon after eating causes cramps.
3. Honey does not spoil.
4. Cashew shells are dangerous.
5. Swallowed chewing gum takes years to pass through the body.

]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Joe Wilkes) http://www.beachbody.com/product/332.do#article http://www.beachbody.com/product/332.do#article Wed, 12 November 2008 15:00:00 GMT We always talk about how we want to lose weight. But that's not really what we mean. When we talk about losing weight, we're really talking about losing fat. It's about more than getting ready for swimsuit season or squeezing back into your "skinny" jeans, though. After all, our bodies need some fat to function. Learn about body fat percentage, and how to calculate that number and what's considered healthy. And find out how muscle can help you burn fat.
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Jude Buglewicz) http://www.beachbody.com/product/332.do#article2 http://www.beachbody.com/product/332.do#article2 Wed, 12 November 2008 14:00:00 GMT We've all heard the saying, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." It explains why someone might fall in love and marry a person whom someone else would never even notice. And yet, there are markers of physical attractiveness that are said to be universal, not only across cultures but throughout time. Turns out, one in particular is also a pretty accurate indicator of the shape you're in.
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Joe Wilkes) http://www.beachbody.com/product/332.do#article3 http://www.beachbody.com/product/332.do#article3 Wed, 12 November 2008 13:00:00 GMT


True or False?
1. Your metabolism slows drastically as you age.
2. Your metabolism is genetically fast or slow.
3. Heavier people have slower metabolisms.
4. Men metabolize alcohol better than women.
5. Eating certain foods can speed up your metabolism.

]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Steve Edwards) http://www.beachbody.com/product/331.do#article http://www.beachbody.com/product/3301.do#article Wed, 5 November 2008 15:00:00 GMT Most of us know we're experiencing an obesity epidemic. And while we're always reminded, the problem continues growing. As the statistical leader of the growing trend, what does that say about the U.S.? Obesity rates, nationwide, range between 17 and 30 percent—some demographics exceed 40 percent. Estimated health care costs range in the billions. But we can't change what we don't understand, so let's examine the major questions and concerns we have about obesity.
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Joe Wilkes) http://www.beachbody.com/product/331.do#article2 http://www.beachbody.com/product/331.do#article2 Wed, 5 November 2008 14:00:00 GMT You've heard it before. "No snacking between meals," or "you'll spoil your dinner." But the opposite is true. It's recommended that we eat five or six smaller meals instead of the traditional three pig-outs. This is especially true for children, whose metabolisms can quickly use up what they consume, which means they're going to have to refuel before the next meal rolls around. So snacking is a good thing—but not all snacks are good.
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Monica Gomez) http://www.beachbody.com/product/331.do#article3 http://www.beachbody.com/product/331.do#article3 Wed, 5 November 2008 13:00:00 GMT
November is National Child Safety and Protection Month. Test your knowledge on keeping kids safe, and healthy.

True or False?
1. In a bicycle-related accident, wearing a bicycle helmet reduces the risk of brain injury and head injury by as much as 85 to 88 percent.
2. Children from birth to 6 months only should ride in rear-facing car seats.
3. By 8 years old, approximately 52 percent of children have experienced tooth decay.
4. Children under 15 years old accounted for 42 percent of fireworks-related injuries in 2007.
5. Twenty-four percent of children 8 to 11 years old say that bullying and teasing happen at their school.

]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Cecilia H. Lee) http://www.beachbody.com/product/330.do#article http://www.beachbody.com/product/330.do#article Wed, 30 October 2008 15:00:00 GMT Just in time for Halloween, we've rounded up a bunch of foods that frighten us. Some retro foods look monstrous, while some of the latest culinary concoctions just sound plain ghastly, and still others make you turn away in disgust. From fruit salads drowned in mayonnaise to animal parts in jars to frankenfoods, these foods are not for the faint of heart.
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Denis Faye) http://www.beachbody.com/product/330.do#article2 http://www.beachbody.com/product/330.do#article2 Wed, 30 October 2008 14:00:00 GMT Halloween sneaks up on you, doesn't it? Suddenly, it's late at night on October 31st, you're dressed as a giant M&M, and you're going through your kid's trick-or-treat booty. They're just little Snickers—you can eat three or four guilt-free, right? Wrong. You may be putting your fitness results at risk if you keep indulging in that hard-to-resist booty. Oh, the shame. So what's a giant M&M to do?
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Joe Wilkes) http://www.beachbody.com/product/330.do#article3 http://www.beachbody.com/product/330.do#article3 Wed, 30 October 2008 13:00:00 GMT
They sting, they bite, and, well, they just creep a lot of us out! But sometimes, insects and other critters can be beneficial to our health and lives, and even fashion (after all, we'd have no silk without silkworms). Test your wits on these helpful creepy-crawlies in medicine.
1. What larvae have been found to be helpful in removing gangrene?
2. What insect's sting is being studied for purportedly relieving symptoms of arthritis and multiple sclerosis?
3. Which parasitic creature, once used quite popularly, is still being used in medicine?
4. What creature's venom is being tested for possibly slowing the growth of cancerous tumors?
5. Which insect is one of the most commonly used "model organisms"?
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Denis Faye) http://www.beachbody.com/product/329.do#article2 http://www.beachbody.com/product/329.do#article2 Wed, 22 October 2008 14:00:00 GMT There's a lot of confusion out there about how people with diabetes should deal with carbohydrates. The flawed popular logic is that carbs need to be avoided. In fact, this couldn't be further from the truth. The American Diabetes Association suggests that 50 to 60 percent of a diabetic's diet should be made up of carbs! Furthermore, those uninformed, unfortunate souls who feel that going all Atkins is the answer are in a world of hurt.
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (Team Leads Kathy Smith and Carl Daikeler) http://www.beachbody.com/product/329.do#article3 http://www.beachbody.com/product/329.do#article3 Wed, 22 October 2008 13:00:00 GMT
This Sunday, October 26, Kathy Smith and Carl Daikeler will be leading Team Beachbody™ on the American Diabetes Association's annual Step Out: Walk to Fight Diabetes. If you will be in the Los Angeles area, we'd love for you to come walk with us.
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Joe Wilkes) http://www.beachbody.com/product/329.do#article4 http://www.beachbody.com/product/329.do#article4 Wed, 22 October 2008 13:00:00 GMT

1. In what country were potato chips invented?
2. What was the first recipe to be printed on a package of American food?
3. What is the official cookie of Massachusetts?
4. What comfort food was believed by the Jewish sage Maimonides to aid sufferers of hemorrhoids or leprosy?
5. What popular comfort food is made in New York or Montreal style?
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Steve Edwards) http://www.beachbody.com/product/328.do#article http://www.beachbody.com/product/328.do#article Wed, 15 October 2008 15:00:00 GMT When it comes to our well-being, not much catches our attention like the word miracle. But when referring to fitness, the word miracle is generally synonymous with the word scam—unless being motivated to exercise is a miracle. What we find, without fail, is that the only "miracles" are those that expand on what we already know—that only through exercise and diet will you improve your body and your health.
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Joe Wilkes) http://www.beachbody.com/product/328.do#article2 http://www.beachbody.com/product/328.do#article2 Wed, 15 October 2008 14:00:00 GMT There have always been rumors spread about food. Remember the one about the Kentucky Fried rat or Mikey, the kid from the Life cereal commercials, who allegedly died after washing down his Pop Rocks with a Coca-Cola? These, like so many, turned out to be apocryphal; but now, it seems like there's always some story making the rounds on the Internet about a grocery item that will poison you or a food that will miraculously cure you.
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Monica Gomez) http://www.beachbody.com/product/328.do#article3 http://www.beachbody.com/product/328.do#article3 Wed, 15 October 2008 13:00:00 GMT
Feeling a bit stressed lately? With words like "financial meltdown," "recession," and "mortgage crisis" being heard a lot in the media lately, it's natural to feel stressed and worried. How much do you know about this all-too-familiar, and sometimes debilitating, feeling?
1. What is eustress?
2. What are some effects of having high and prolonged levels of cortisol?
3. What are leading sources of high and significant stress in the U.S., according to a 2007 American Psychological Association survey?
4. What is PTSD?
5. What "feel-good" hormone is released during exercise?
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Cecilia H. Lee) http://www.beachbody.com/product/327.do#article http://www.beachbody.com/product/327.do#article Wed, 8 October 2008 15:00:00 GMT As the days get longer, kids are back in school and autumn leaves start to show their colorful foliage. The last rays of summer are leaving us, but there's still time to take advantage of healthy summer fruits before they leave the produce shelves. We've assembled a bunch of quick and easy desserts using these summer fruits that you can whip up in no time. While they'll satisfy your sweet tooth, these desserts are actually good for you!
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Aaron Lowe) http://www.beachbody.com/product/327.do#article2 http://www.beachbody.com/product/327.do#article2 Wed, 8 October 2008 14:00:00 GMT Let's talk about everyone's favorite topic: P90X. Well, maybe, everyone's second favorite topic: P90X Results and Recovery Formula. Before we dive into the meat of this article, let's clear up one major misconception about our P90X line of nutritional products: you don't have to be following our P90X training program to enjoy all the benefits they provide. For example, P90X Results and Recovery Formula can be used by anyone following a workout program, especially any of our programs; by individuals with physically demanding jobs; and even as a replacement for sports drinks.
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Joe Wilkes) http://www.beachbody.com/product/327.do#article3 http://www.beachbody.com/product/327.do#article3 Wed, 8 October 2008 13:00:00 GMT
We all like to splurge on a decadent dessert every now and again. But do you know how decadent you're actually being? See if you can guess how many calories are in these restaurant favorites and rank them from lowest to highest.
Apple Pie, Denny's (one slice)
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Blizzard, Dairy Queen (large)
Chocolate Mother Lode Cake, Claim Jumper (1 slice)
Original Cheesecake, The Cheesecake Factory (one slice)
Tiramisu, Au Bon Pain (one slice)
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Denis Faye) http://www.beachbody.com/product/326.do#article http://www.beachbody.com/product/326.do#article Wed, 1 October 2008 15:00:00 GMT If America could somehow harness the energy it puts into looking for excuses not to exercise into actually exercising, we'd be the fittest nation on earth. But instead, we're a country with a rapidly expanding waistline that takes any opportunity to sit on the couch, watching advertisements and news reports that only enforce our belief that working out is outdated. Exercise pills? Flat Belly Diet? Fat gene?
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Aaron Lowe) http://www.beachbody.com/product/326.do#article2 http://www.beachbody.com/product/326.do#article2 Wed, 1 October 2008 14:00:00 GMT Arguably, few other nutrients in the human diet are as well researched and accepted as being critical for good health—though so rarely consumed—as omega-3 fatty acids. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are as important to our health as they are difficult to pronounce. Without them, our cardiovascular health; fetal and newborn development; and lifelong brain and cognitive health may suffer. In fact, a deficiency in these special fats may lead to higher body fat levels!
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Joe Wilkes) http://www.beachbody.com/product/326.do#article3 http://www.beachbody.com/product/326.do#article3 Wed, 1 October 2008 14:00:00 GMT When I was asked to write an article for Oktoberfest about healthy German eating, I knew I had my work cut out for me. "Fry a package of bacon until crisp. Reserve drippings for later use." And this was from a recipe for potato salad! If this was a representative recipe of German food, I would think the average life expectancy would be about 45. But on average, Germans live a year longer than Americans. So they must be doing something right.
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Joe Wilkes) http://www.beachbody.com/product/326.do#article4 http://www.beachbody.com/product/326.do#article4 Wed, 1 October 2008 13:00:00 GMT
October is National Seafood Month. How well versed are you in these facts about our finny friends and food?
1. What is another name for mahimahi?
2. What is the most popular seafood in the U.S.?
3. What is surimi?
4. What fish is often referred to as "poor man's lobster"?
5. What red wine goes best with fish?
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Linda York) http://www.beachbody.com/product/325.do#article http://www.beachbody.com/product/325.do#article Wed, 24 September 2008 15:00:00 GMT Imagine being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Confusion, fear, and questions flood your mind. Among all that uncertainty, the one certainty is that your life will change. But this life-altering diagnosis is not without hope for change. Type 2 diabetes, closely associated with obesity, can be prevented, and even reversed, through simple diet and exercise changes. Beachbody recognized the need for change and has joined the fight against type 2 diabetes.
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Aaron Lowe) http://www.beachbody.com/product/325.do#article2 http://www.beachbody.com/product/325.do#article2 Wed, 24 September 2008 14:00:00 GMT Calcium helps your bones. But did you know that it could also help your waistline? A recent study suggests that dietary calcium intake is related to weight loss. Of the study participants, the group with the highest average daily intake of calcium was less likely to be overweight. Conversely, those with the lowest average intake had a 25 percent greater chance of being overweight. Other studies have shown similar weight loss benefits associated with dietary calcium intake.
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Joe Wilkes) http://www.beachbody.com/product/325.do#article3 http://www.beachbody.com/product/325.do#article3 Wed, 24 September 2008 14:00:00 GMT If you're like me, you may have sworn off soda and turned the candy bowl into an unsalted-almond bowl. No sugar, no problems. Except for this problem: The food industry has cleverly snuck its sugars and corn syrups into products we wouldn't think contain sugar. It's good for the manufacturer but bad for your weight loss goals. From spaghetti sauce to low-fat salad dressings, you have to read labels carefully to find the hidden sugary culprits that could derail your fitness goals.
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Carla Lord) http://www.beachbody.com/product/325.do#article4 http://www.beachbody.com/product/325.do#article4 Wed, 24 September 2008 13:00:00 GMT
Fall is here! Test your knowledge about some healthy fruits and veggies of the season.

True or False?
1. Johnny Appleseed introduced apples to North America.
2. Cranberry juice can reverse tooth decay.
3. Pumpkins are part of the squash family.
4. Sweet potatoes are the same as yams.
5. The word "grenade" comes from the name of a fall fruit.
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Steve Edwards) http://www.beachbody.com/product/324.do#article http://www.beachbody.com/product/324.do#article Wed, 17 September 2008 15:00:00 GMT In part two of this series, let's look at what to do when we're faced with an injury. It's common to see athletes return from being injured better than they were before they got hurt. When you're injured, you are forced to rebuild your body correctly. If you "rebuild" correctly, you can easily return from most injuries not only feeling fitter but better able to stave off injuries in the future.
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Aaron Lowe) http://www.beachbody.com/product/324.do#article2 http://www.beachbody.com/product/324.do#article2 Wed, 17 September 2008 14:00:00 GMT We've all been there: We've busted our tails with intense exercise and deprived ourselves of foods we love. We've even sacrificed our social lives in the name of fitness. But, even with all that hard work, we don't have the payoff we expected. The exercise routine is often the simple part of the equation. Getting the diet right is the complex part. What can really help you reach your goals are nutritional supplements.
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Monica Ciociola) http://www.beachbody.com/product/324.do#article3 http://www.beachbody.com/product/324.do#article3 Wed, 17 September 2008 14:00:00 GMT Lack of time is one of the main excuses people give for not exercising regularly. Even those of you who have discovered the wonders of in-home fitness still find it difficult to juggle work, family, and fitness. We hear you asking for help—we offer some excuse busters!
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By DeLane McDuffie) http://www.beachbody.com/product/324.do#article4 http://www.beachbody.com/product/324.do#article4 Wed, 17 September 2008 13:00:00 GMT
School's finally in session! Remember these words? "Class, take out your pencils. We're going to have a pop quiz." Any unprepared kid hearing that was likely to grab a hall pass and "make a run for it." My favorite hideout was the cafeteria. So, in the spirit of roll call, long lunch lines, lunch ladies, and kickball in P.E. class, here's a quiz about something that we all like—food!
1. True or False: The croissant is a French creation.
2. What drink is partly responsible for Thanksgiving and an early American settlement?
3. Who helped coffee expand into the West?
4. This medical doctor forever changed the way we eat breakfast. Who is this person?
5. What do a cherry pie and a UFO have in common?
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Steve Wilkes) http://www.beachbody.com/product/323.do#article http://www.beachbody.com/product/323.do#article Wed, 10 September 2008 15:00:00 GMT One of the most frustrating scenarios we face is when we finally make that commitment to our health, begin to work out, and then find ourselves sidelined due to an injury. When you're exercising to improve your health, physical setbacks are more frustrating than normal. On the flip side, if you don't exercise, your body will break down more quickly. Looking at the big picture can help motivate you to Push Play.
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Andrea Pesce) http://www.beachbody.com/product/323.do#article2 http://www.beachbody.com/product/323.do#article2 Wed, 10 September 2008 14:00:00 GMT Sitting at a desk for long periods of time can cause muscular tension. But you can prevent the buildup of stress in your muscles by taking a few minutes to stretch. From stretching your head and neck to your shoulders and back, you can reenergize and keep your muscles relaxed.
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Monica Gomez) http://www.beachbody.com/product/323.do#article3 http://www.beachbody.com/product/323.do#article3 Wed, 10 September 2008 13:00:00 GMT
1. How many varieties of mushrooms exist?
2. What has more potassium, a portobello mushroom or a banana?
3. What is the most ever paid for a truffle?
4. What is the largest mushroom on record?
5. What is Quorn?
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Joe Wilkes) http://www.beachbody.com/product/322.do#article http://www.beachbody.com/product/322.do#article Wed, 3 September 2008 15:00:00 GMT Fall is upon us: the new TV season has begun, baseball is heading into the postseason, football is starting up, and the weather's getting cooler. The couch will soon call for you to lay down in it with a warm blanket. While we'd prefer that you pop in a 10-Minute Trainer® video, we're all human. But just because you're relaxing on that couch doesn't mean you have to stuff yourself with bagged diet killers.
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Steve Edwards) http://www.beachbody.com/product/322.do#article2 http://www.beachbody.com/product/322.do#article2 Wed, 3 September 2008 14:00:00 GMT There's more you can do for your kids' education than lock them in bulletproof SUVs and wait in smog-choked lines of other SUVs to drop them off at school. Teaching proper eating habits and providing time for exercise will do more for your children's potential to excel than any other thing that you can do. Unfortunately, you may not get the support you need from schools or the government.
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Monica Gomez) http://www.beachbody.com/product/322.do#article3 http://www.beachbody.com/product/322.do#article3 Wed,3 September 2008 13:00:00 GMT
1. What vegetable burns more calories than it contains?
2. What common bagel topping can show up as an opiate in drug tests?
3. Which U.S. state eats more ice cream per capita than any other?
4. What are the food additives cochineal and carminic acid made from?
5. What do the letters in the canned meat product SPAM stand for?
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Suzy Buglewicz) http://www.beachbody.com/product/321.do#article http://www.beachbody.com/product/321.do#article Wed, 26 August 2008 15:00:00 GMT Get off to a healthy start this school year by packing nutritious lunches that your kids will actually want to eat. Think you're too busy? Relax. All it takes is a little planning and creativity. A healthy lunch gives kids the energy they need to finish the school day and be ready to tackle homework and after-school activities.
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Steve Edwards) http://www.beachbody.com/product/321.do#article2 http://www.beachbody.com/product/321.do#article2 Wed, 26 August 2008 14:00:00 GMT The "Freshman 15" doesn't just affect students. We all face these lifestyle adjustments every year. It's the time of year when everything changes. The days shorten, it cools off, we get really busy, and the holidays are looming around the corner. In short, it's the easiest time of the year to let your health slide. Fall is beautiful, but it's also the toughest season to transition through.
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Monica Gomez) http://www.beachbody.com/product/321.do#article3 http://www.beachbody.com/product/321.do#article3 Wed, 26 August 2008 13:00:00 GMT
It's that time of year when children are trekking their way back to school. Print and television advertisements are promoting this and that special on everything children will need. And parents are out in full force purchasing those advertised supplies, clothes, shoes, etc. Are you ready for back-to-school season?

1. What are the top 5 reasons kids miss school?
2. Why aren't school buses equipped with seat belts?
3. It is recommended that children limit the amount of weight they carry in their backpacks. Children should not carry more than what percentage of their body weight?
4. How many ounces of fruit juice does the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend for children ages 1 to 6 years old? For kids ages 7 to 18 years old?
5. How much will the average family with school-aged children spend on back-to-school purchases this year?
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Joe Wilkes) http://www.beachbody.com/product/320.do#article http://www.beachbody.com/product/320.do#article Wed, 20 August 2008 15:00:00 GMT Breakfast. It seems like forever since we've been told it's the most important meal of the day, but a recent study shows that it's actually true and not just Mom having been a nag. Breakfast is a key component of weight management. So what's the big deal about breakfast? And what is a big breakfast anyway? It doesn't seem like the lumberjack special would do much to get the pounds off, so what should we be eating?
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Steve Edwards) http://www.beachbody.com/product/320.do#article2 http://www.beachbody.com/product/320.do#article2 Wed, 20 August 2008 14:00:00 GMT One of the worst times you can eat is at night. Yet, our society forces this upon you with "late-night happy hour" abandon. How many nighttime activities can you think of that don't include at least an offer for food and/or drink? However, this is the last thing your body needs before it shuts down for 8 hours of sleep.
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Monica Gomez) http://www.beachbody.com/product/320.do#article3 http://www.beachbody.com/product/320.do#article3 Wed, 20 August 2008 13:00:00 GMT
If you read Joe's article, you know that eating a big breakfast can actually be healthy for you by helping with weight control. But he also warns that a McDonald's big breakfast isn't exactly going to make the cut for improving your health. If all you make time for is a fast food "big breakfast," what exactly are you getting? Rank the following fast food breakfasts from highest to lowest calories.

• McDonald's Deluxe Breakfast (large-size biscuit; no syrup or margarine)
• Starbucks Venti Hot Chocolate (2% milk, with whip) and a Blueberry Scone
• IHOP Stuffed French Toast Combo
• Burger King Enormous Omelet Sandwich and Minute Maid® Orange Juice (12 oz.)
• Jack in the Box Hearty Breakfast Bowl and Orange Sunrise Smoothie (24 oz.)
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Denis Faye) http://www.beachbody.com/product/319.do#article http://www.beachbody.com/product/319.do#article Wed, 13 August 2008 15:00:00 GMT In your neck, under your larynx, you'll find a less-than-an-ounce gland that looks like a butterfly—a very ugly butterfly. This is your thyroid, and, believe it or not, this tiny lump of flesh regulates your entire metabolism. When it works, your metabolism works and life is fine. But when it doesn't work? Well, it's pretty amazing how one little butterfly can cause so many problems.
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Steve Edwards) http://www.beachbody.com/product/319.do#article2 http://www.beachbody.com/product/319.do#article2 Wed, 13 August 2008 14:00:00 GMT No matter how commercialism or politics try and interfere, the Olympics is still the bastion of good old fashioned sporting entertainment. Sure, there are a lot of high-profile athletes at the Games, but most of them have slaved away in obscurity for one chance to shine in the spotlight. By the time you get this the Olympics will be in full swing, but most of the story lines will still be developing.
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Joe Wilkes) http://www.beachbody.com/product/319.do#article3 http://www.beachbody.com/product/319.do#article3 Wed, 13 August 2008 13:00:00 GMT
Dark green leafy vegetables are great metabolism boosters. How much do you know about them?

1. What popular salad green is also known as rocket?
2. Which dark leafy green is considered the ancestor of most types of cabbage?
3. Which common garden weed has even more vitamins than broccoli?
4. What green comes in ruby, yellow, and rainbow varieties?
5. What city recently concluded the 2008 Collard Green Festival?
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Cecilia H. Lee) http://www.beachbody.com/product/318.do#article http://www.beachbody.com/product/318.do#article Wed, 6 August 2008 15:00:00 GMT There are no substitutes for eating healthy and regular exercise, but experts say that your attitude can make a huge difference to your weight loss success. We're talking about cutting out the "mental fat"—the negative thoughts keeping us from shedding the physical fat. Just as losing weight won't happen overnight, improving your thought process will also take time. Be patient with yourself and work at it a little at a time.
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Jude Buglewicz) http://www.beachbody.com/product/318.do#article2 http://www.beachbody.com/product/318.do#article2 Wed, 6 August 2008 14:00:00 GMT Do you have more trouble choosing a workout program or starting the one you just bought? Are you an early morning exerciser or do you Push Play whenever you can grab a few minutes of uninterrupted time? From the Program Collector to the Intellectual Benchwarmer to the Autopilot, your fitness personality may be interfering with or even sabotaging your fitness results.
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Joe Wilkes) http://www.beachbody.com/product/318.do#article3 http://www.beachbody.com/product/318.do#article3 Wed, 6 August 2008 13:00:00 GMT
August is National Watermelon Month! How much do you know about this picnic favorite?

1. Where was the first recorded watermelon harvest?
2. How much of the watermelon is actually water?
3. What was the biggest watermelon ever grown?
4. How are square watermelons made?
5. What two vitamins are watermelons highest in?
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Joe Wilkes) http://www.beachbody.com/product/317.do#article http://www.beachbody.com/product/317.do#article Wed, 30 July 2008 15:00:00 GMT Anyone who's read the latest studies about high-protein diets knows that we need to get a substantial amount of protein—about a third of a gram for every pound of body weight. One of the best and most readily available sources of protein comes from animals, but there are a lot of good reasons to think about cutting back or cutting out our consumption of meat to satisfy our protein needs.
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Steve Edwards) http://www.beachbody.com/product/317.do#article2 http://www.beachbody.com/product/317.do#article2 Wed, 30 July 2008 14:00:00 GMT Soy took another hit last week when a study was released showing that eating half a serving a day could lower a man's sperm count. The latest finding is just another in what seems to be an ever-growing list of health concerns surrounding soy. But we still regularly see headlines promoting soy as a miracle food, so it's hard to know whether or not it's healthy. We've analyzed the latest claims.
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Joe Wilkes) http://www.beachbody.com/product/317.do#article3 http://www.beachbody.com/product/317.do#article3 Wed, 30 July 2008 13:00:00 GMT
August is National Peach Month. How well do you know your peach facts?

1. What flower popular family is the peach a part of?
2. How many bushels of peaches does Georgia produce annually?
3. How did the cling peach get its name?
4. What vitamins are peaches particularly high in?
5. Who wrote James and the Giant Peach?
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Steve Edwards) http://www.beachbody.com/product/316.do#article http://www.beachbody.com/product/316.do#article Wed, 16 July 2008 15:00:00 GMT Is Atkins back? The oft-maligned high-protein diet won in a battle between some of the more popular weight loss diets. In an extensive 2-year study, participants who followed a high-protein diet lost more weight than those who followed a low-fat or a Mediterranean diet. But before you throw out your whole grains and stock your fridge with steak and butter, read on.
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Monica Ciociola) http://www.beachbody.com/product/316.do#article2 http://www.beachbody.com/product/316.do#article2 Wed, 23 July 2008 14:00:00 GMT Who do you blame when your best-laid diet plans go awry? There are obvious culprits, like the 36-billion-dollar-a-year food industry that pushes us to eat more, eat on the go, and try all sorts of pseudofoods probably unrecognizable to our grandparents. Then, there are the more elusive saboteurs, like feeling entitled and hitting your goal weight.
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Joe Wilkes) http://www.beachbody.com/product/316.do#article3 http://www.beachbody.com/product/316.do#article3 Wed, 23 July 2008 13:00:00 GMT
A while back, we tested your fast food saturated fat IQ, but do you know which of these favorites have the most saturated fat (the bad artery-clogging kind)? Rank them from lowest to highest sat fat content.

• One half of a rotisserie chicken
• One cup of vanilla Häagen-Dazs ice cream
• One 12-ounce porterhouse steak (fat trimmed)
• 4 strips of bacon and 3 eggs, fried
• Grilled cheese sandwich (2 slices of white bread, 2 slices of American cheese, grilled in 2 tablespoons of butter)
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Joe Wilkes) http://www.beachbody.com/product/315.do#article http://www.beachbody.com/product/315.do#article Wed, 16 July 2008 15:00:00 GMT How much fiber should we consume? If you believe the television commercials that run during the nightly news, we're not even coming close to getting what we need. Should we take pills or drinks or some other supplements to satisfy our fiber needs? At $12 for a small can of a national brand of fiber, there are likely better alternatives to satisfying your fiber needs than pills, drinks, and supplements, like the foods in your diet!
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Monica Ciociola) http://www.beachbody.com/product/315.do#article2 http://www.beachbody.com/product/315.do#article2 Wed, 16 July 2008 14:00:00 GMT We've compiled a list of 7 superfoods with the potential power to make you smarter and slimmer—at the same time! These foods are packed with fat-fighting fiber and brain-boosting antioxidants and nutrients…Plus, they taste great, too!
]]> mailbag@beachbody.com (By Joe Wilkes) http://www.beachbody.com/product/315.do#article3 http://www.beachbody.com/product/315.do#article3 Wed, 16 July 2008 13:00:00 GMT
As we discussed in "8 Fantastic Fibrous Foods," legumes are great sources of fiber, but did you know that they're also great sources of iron (about the same as red meat) and B vitamins, and are linked to reduced LDL ("bad") cholesterol?

1. What is the most widely consumed legume in the world?
2. What is the oldest cultivated legume?
3. What legume's protein contains all eight essential amino acids?
4. What two U.S. presidents were also peanut farmers?
5. Which legume-themed musical act has won three Grammys?
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