Diet on Hold

Alright guys, skip McDonalds, forget about Burger King, we are approaching summer and we need a recipe for the perfect burger. Put your diet on hold for just a day and try one of these!

Ingredients

• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1/2 cup fine dry bread crumbs

Please Comment to tell me how they come out!!!

The New Healthcare Bill

Coverage:

• Would expand coverage to 32 million Americans who are currently uninsured.

Health Insurance Exchanges:

• The uninsured and self-employed would be able to purchase insurance through state-based exchanges with subsidies available to individuals and families with income between the 133 percent and 400 percent of poverty level.
• Separate exchanges would be created for small businesses to purchase coverage -- effective 2014.
• Funding available to states to establish exchanges within one year of enactment and until January 1, 2015.

Subsidies:

• Individuals and families who make between 100 percent - 400 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) and want to purchase their own health insurance on an exchange are eligible for subsidies. They cannot be eligible for Medicare, Medicaid and cannot be covered by an employer. Eligible buyers receive premium credits and there is a cap for how much they have to contribute to their premiums on a sliding scale.

Paying for the Plan:

• Medicare Payroll tax on investment income -- Starting in 2012, the Medicare Payroll Tax will be expanded to include unearned income. That will be a 3.8 percent tax on investment income for families making more than $250,000 per year ($200,000 for individuals).
• Excise Tax -- Beginning in 2018, insurance companies will pay a 40 percent excise tax on so-called "Cadillac" high-end insurance plans worth over $27,500 for families ($10,200 for individuals). Dental and vision plans are exempt and will not be counted in the total cost of a family's plan.
• Tanning Tax -- 10 percent excise tax on indoor tanning services.

Medicare:

• Closes the Medicare prescription drug "donut hole" by 2020. Seniors who hit the donut hole by 2010 will receive a $250 rebate.
  
• Beginning in 2011, seniors in the gap will receive a 50 percent discount on brand name drugs. The bill also includes $500 billion in Medicare cuts over the next decade.

Medicaid:

• Expands Medicaid to include 133 percent of federal poverty level which is $29,327 for a family of four.
  
• Requires states to expand Medicaid to include childless adults starting in 2014.
  
• Federal Government pays 100 percent of costs for covering newly eligible individuals through 2016.
  
• Illegal immigrants are not eligible for Medicaid.

Insurance Reforms:

• Six months after enactment, insurance companies could no longer denying children coverage based on a preexisting condition.
  
• Starting in 2014, insurance companies cannot deny coverage to anyone with preexisting conditions.
  
• Insurance companies must allow children to stay on their parent's insurance plans until age 26th.

Abortion:

• The bill segregates private insurance premium funds from taxpayer funds. Individuals would have to pay for abortion coverage by making two separate payments, private funds would have to be kept in a separate account from federal and taxpayer funds.
• No health care plan would be required to offer abortion coverage. States could pass legislation choosing to opt out of offering abortion coverage through the exchange.

Individual Mandate:

• In 2014, everyone must purchase health insurance or face a $695 annual fine. There are some exceptions for low-income people.

Employer Mandate:

• Technically, there is no employer mandate. Employers with more than 50 employees must provide health insurance or pay a fine of $2000 per worker each year if any worker receives federal subsidies to purchase health insurance. Fines applied to entire number of employees minus some allowances.

Immigration:

• Illegal immigrants will not be allowed to buy health insurance in the exchanges -- even if they pay completely with their own money.

The Truth About Cholesterol

An estimated 102.2 million adults in the United States have total blood cholesterol values of 200 mg/dL and higher, and of these about 35.7 million American adults have levels of 240 or above. In adults, total cholesterol levels of 240 mg/dL or higher are considered high risk. Levels from 200 to 239 mg/dL are considered borderline-high risk.

• Among non-Hispanic whites age 20 and older, the age-adjusted prevalence of total blood cholesterol levels over 200 mg/dL is 45.0 percent of men and 48.7 percent of women; 15.3 percent of men and 18.1 percent of women have blood cholesterol levels of 240 mg/dL or higher.*
  
  
• Among non-Hispanic blacks age 20 and older, the age-adjusted prevalence of total blood cholesterol levels over 200 mg/dL is 40.2 percent of men and 41.8 percent of women; 10.9 percent of men and 13.1 percent of women have blood cholesterol levels of 240 mg/dL or higher.*
  
  
• Among Mexican Americans age 20 and older, the age-adjusted prevalence of total blood cholesterol levels over 200 mg/dL is 51.1 percent of men and 49.0 percent of women; 16.8 percent of men and 14.3 percent of women have blood cholesterol levels of 240 mg/dL or higher.*
  
  
• The age-adjusted prevalence of U.S. adults age 20 and older with LDL cholesterol levels of 130 mg/dL or higher, which is associated with a higher risk of coronary heart disease, is...*
  • For non-Hispanic whites, 31.5 percent of men and 33.8 percent of women.
  • For non-Hispanic blacks, 34.4 percent of men and 28.6 percent of women.
  • For Mexican Americans, 42.7 percent of men and 30.4 percent of women.
  
  
• The age-adjusted prevalence of U.S. adults age 20 and older with HDL cholesterol of less than 40 mg/dL (HDL cholesterol levels below 40 mg/dL are associated with a higher risk of CHD) is...*
  • For non-Hispanic whites, 25.4 percent of men and 7.9 percent of women.
  • For non-Hispanic blacks, 14.7 percent of men and 6.5 percent of women.
  • For Mexican Americans, 29.3 percent of men and 11.7 percent of women.

* National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 2003–06, National Center for Health Statistics and the NHLBI.

High Protein Diet

The high protein diet has become one of the most popular diets around these days. The idea behind it is simple, no matter what your goals are, everyone can benefit from eating a high protein diet and eating high protein foods. Whether your goal is to increase muscle, gain weight and get big, lose weight and lose fat, get and/or stay lean, this type of diet is right for you. There are many reasons why it is one of the only types of diets around that can be effective for so many different people with so many different goals and bodies. However, depending on exactly what your goal is, little changes will have to be made to it. First, lets look at why this type of diet is so effective.

For building muscle.

Your body needs protein, and lots of it. It is the building block of muscle, which is why eating a high protein diet with high protein foods is EXTREMELY important for anyone looking to increase muscle, gain weight/get big, or anyone just looking to build or maintain muscle. Without enough protein in the body, muscle mass will not increase. During your weightlifting and strength training workout, your muscles are getting broken down. In order to rebuild and repair your muscles, your body needs protein. It is as simple as that.

For losing fat.

Aside from allowing you to maintain your muscle (or build some more), you are probably wondering how a high protein diet can be effective for someone trying to lose weight and lose fat. Well, it's just as simple. Most high protein foods are extremely low in calories, carbs and saturated/trans fat (which are the fats you DON'T want to eat). Therefore, by eating a high protein diet loaded with high protein foods, you end up eating a lot of healthy, filling, lower calorie foods. And if you didn't already know, in order to lose weight and lose fat, eating slightly less calories is the key.

Some high protein foods are:

chicken
turkey
lean meats and beef
fish (every fish is high in protein, from tuna fish, to salmon, to shrimp)
egg whites
beans
nuts

There are other high protein foods, but these are the basics.

How much should I eat per day?

The next question you probably have is how much protein should there be in a high protein diet. 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight is probably the most common recommendation for healthy adults. So, if you weigh 175lbs, eat about 175 grams of protein everyday, whether you worked out that day or not. I personally eat a little over 1 gram of protein per pound, and most people with the primary goal of building muscle and gaining weight can possibly benefit from a slightly higher intake like this. People only looking to lose weight (or just maintain their weight) can shoot for 0.7 - 1 gram per pound.

Now some people might be thinking: "Eating a high protein diet at 1 gram per pound of body weight sounds impossible, how the hell am I supposed to eat that much protein every day?" Well, a lot of people have this problem. Not many people have time to make high protein foods like chicken breasts all day long or carry tuna fish around with them all day. This is where protein supplements come in handy.

What about supplements? Which are the best?

Protein shakes (which are just the powder mixed with any liquid you want) and bars are the perfect solution. Drinking your average shake with 2 scoops of protein powder will give you 30+ grams of protein, and it only takes a minute to make and drink. Most bars contain about 30 grams as well and are the size of your average candy bar (which makes them easy to carry around with you). Supplements are quick, convenient, useful and in most cases very low in calories.

The most important times of the day to eat protein.

The last very important thing you need to know about high protein foods is that there are certain times during the day when it is extra beneficial to eat them.

These times are with breakfast (since you haven't eaten for hours), at night before bed (so you have some protein in you over night when your body is repairing/recovering), and most important of all: directly after your workout.

In the end, the key to eating a high protein diet is reaching the right total amount of protein at the end of the day. It may be both helpful and beneficial to eat some with every meal because it will keep you fuller longer, and ensure that your body always has what it needs throughout the day.

Skin Health

For most men, skin care is a mere afterthought. Beyond the world of shaving our hairy faces, it is rare for us to devote time to our, especially the skin on our face. However, proper skin care is essential for the present and the future. Skin is the body's first line of defense against sickness, germs, and diseases! Listen up gentlemen!!!

Additionally, as we age, our skin loses its elastic nature. Thus, we develop wrinkles and facial lines. For these reasons alone, proper skin care is important. These tips will help you keep your skin in shape without making you spend hundreds of dollars on products that promise "miracle cures."

The Basic 4-Step Skincare Regimen Step 1: Cleansing

Simple is key here. You need to find a good cleanser that your skin responds well to, and stick with it.

You can find a good cleanser at the drugstore. There's no need to spend $40 on a fancy wash. Avoid bar soaps as they tend to dry out the skin. Choose a creamy cleanser if you have dry skin or a clear cleanser if you have oily skin.

Be careful not to cleanse too often. Washing at night should do you. Use warm water to loosen dirt and clogged pores. Use a dime-sized bit of cleanser, then rinse with cool or lukewarm water.

In the morning, a splash of lukewarm water is all you need (we find it's great for removing excess oils from your nightly moisturizing). Never wash your face with hot or cold water (both can cause broken capillaries). Also be careful about overcleansing skin.

Step 2: Exfoliate

Exfoliation is the step most people skip in their weekly skincare routine. But trust me, if you start properly exfoliating your skin, you will notice an almost immediate difference. According to Berg, one of the reasons men's skin looks more youthful than women's is because men tend to exfoliate daily when they shave. That's right guys, keep it up!

Scrubs work by removing the top layer of dead skin cells that tend to dull your complexion. We find exfoliating skin once a week with a microdermabrasion kit keeps skin glowing year-round. Make sure you use a gentle scrub with tiny grains. Big grains in cheap scrubs can tear skin and cause more harm than good.

Step 3: Moisturize

While I know of at least one famous beauty editor who swore skin doesn't need moisturizer, basically everyone else I've read disagrees and is an adamant believer in it. A basic law of beauty is that everyone, no matter her skin type, man or woman, should moisturize. Be careful not to overmoisturize -- this can clog pores.

Step 4: Apply Sunscreen

The number-1 cause of wrinkles is sun damage, so it's important to use sunscreen from your early years on even in winter and on cloudy days.