7 Ways to Faster Fitness Results

Trainer Holly Perkins on how to rev your routine to strengthen muscles, lose fat and improve athleticism.

Just because summer is wrapping up doesn’t mean you have to stash your fitness routine with your bikini. In fact, if you’ve been exercising moderately for at least four weeks (meaning some yoga classes, walking on the beach or sessions on the elliptical trainer at the gym), there’s no better time to start ramping up your workouts. According to ExerciseTV trainer Holly Perkins, increasing the intensity of your fitness regimen is surprisingly easy, not to mention the fastest way to bust a plateau and see serious results. Here, Perkins outlines some tricks to rev your routine so you can strengthen your muscles, lose more fat and improve your athleticism. And of course, still look hot in your teeny bikini, should you decide to break it out for a swim.

Add one intense workout to your weekly routine for three weeks. “It will build the base toward working harder," Perkins says.

After that, include two per week. What does intense mean? “It depends on the individual,” Perkins says. “Moderate exercise generally means a workout is tough, but you can get through it. Jogging might be considered moderate exercise for some, whereas for others, it’s intense.” Generally speaking, for a workout to be intense, you’ll need to feel like the last few minutes are extremely tough and you'll have to really push yourself to finish. Pain, of course, is not the goal. Intensity is the point you hit before pain.

To start, perform an intense workout video each week, like Perkins' Celebrity Shred (watch it free on ExerciseTV). It’s a 20-minute total-body circuit that will have your heart rate speeding the whole time. Free on MSN, you can also try Patrick Murphy's intense Zero Excuses, Whole Body, or Perkins’ Final Frontier workout.

Be sure to rest at least a few days in between intense workouts. For example, if you bust your butt on Monday, take it easy until Thursday. “Intense workouts with several days of rest in between are actually more effective than exercising hard every day,” Perkins says. “You actually get fit while you’re recovering. The point of working out is to exhaust your muscles, and then as they repair and ‘knit,’ that’s when they strengthen.” In other words, your body literally tones up while you sleep.

Re-fuel immediately following your workouts. “You should eat as soon as you finish—within 30 minutes of your workout,” Perkins says. “That’s when your muscles need the nutrients most, and your metabolism is still elevated from the recent exercise.” Perkins suggests combining protein and fruit. “Real food is best, meaning lean meat, dairy, eggs or soy. Protein shakes are OK, too,” Perkins says.

Stay active on your easy days. Increasing the intensity of your overall fitness plan doesn’t mean you give up your regular moderate gigs. Continue to do yoga, walk or jog in between the tough workouts. “Light movement helps muscles ‘repair’ by increasing the body’s temperature and circulation,” Perkins says. “It also helps flush negative byproducts (like lactic acid), which can cause soreness.”

Remember to challenge yourself. If your ‘intense’ workouts start feeling easy, go faster or add jumps. “Quite simply, sprinting and jumping boost intensity because you’re working harder against gravity,” Perkins says. Skipping rope is one way to boost your heart rate.

Take a break … sometimes. If you’ve been exercising intensely for several weeks and sense you’re hitting a plateau, it’s a good idea to take a week off. “Further increasing intensity is one way to keep progressing, but sometimes the body plateaus when it needs rest,” Perkins says. “A week off with ‘active rest’ like cycling or walking can recharge your muscles.” Try Stephanie Vitorino's free Flexibility workout for another muscular recharge.

11 Foods to Increase Libido

What's the one thing that you and your girlfriend like to do besides have sex? Well, the two of you might like to ingest some sustenance to supply your bodies with the energy required for an all-night "love-a-thon." Now, what if you could eat food that would also serve to increase libido and result in awesome sex? Well, you can.



Here are 11 foods that will provide the essential fuel to spark your sexual appetite and increase libido.

1- Celery

While celery may not be the first food that comes to mind when you're thinking sex, it can be a fantastic source food for sexual stimulation. This is because it contains androsterone, an odorless hormone released through male perspiration and turns women on.

How to enjoy this libido food: Celery is best eaten raw. Wash and cut some, and munch away.

2- Raw Oysters

This is one of the classic aphrodisiacs. Oysters are high in zinc, which raises sperm and testosterone production. Oysters also contain dopamine, a hormone known to increase libido. Also, the experience of shucking a raw oyster is erotic. Try incorporating it into your foreplay — feed her and have her feed you. The slippery taste sensation and the mere act of shucking should get you both in the mood.

How to enjoy this libido food: Scrub the shells thoroughly to get any dirt or bacteria off. Pry them open and place them on a bed of ice, squeeze some fresh lemon onto them if you like, and then start shucking away.

3- Bananas

Bananas contain the bromelain enzyme, which is believed to increase libido and reverse impotence in men. Additionally, they are good sources of potassium and B vitamins like riboflavin, which increase the body's overall energy levels.

How to enjoy this libido food: Place them on a dish in various states of "undress" and have your lady slowly eat some for you. Then gobble yours down and get to work.

4- Avocado

The Aztecs called the avocado tree ahuacatl or "testicle tree." While avocados can indeed look like that body part, they contain high levels of folic acid, which helps metabolize proteins, thus giving you more energy. They also contain vitamin B6 (a nutrient that increases male hormone production) and potassium (which helps regulate a woman's thyroid gland), two elements that help increase libido in both men and women.

How to enjoy this libido food: Cut one in half, scoop out the insides with your fingers, and then get your woman to lick it off.

5- Almonds (or nuts in general)

Almonds are a prime source of essential fatty acids. These are vital as they provide the raw material for a man's healthy production of hormones. Additionally, the smell of almonds is purported to arouse passion in females. Try lighting some almond-scented candles to encourage her mood and snack on some (but not too many) yourself to store up energy for your performance.

How to enjoy this libido food: Eat them raw (with no added salt or sweetness). Or, crush some fresh almonds and sprinkle them on your salad to get the energy you need.

6- Mangoes, Peaches and Strawberries

What can be more fun than sinking your teeth into a drippy, sticky-sweet fruit? Probably doing that as a prelude to (or during) sex. All of the above fruits and their shapes, textures and succulence are erotically suggestive and can be fun to use amid foreplay. Try dribbling the juices over your bodies and licking up the residue as an erotic game. It makes for a great (and tasty) way to discover each other's bodies.

How to enjoy this libido food: Peel the mango, cut the peach and slice up some strawberries, and feed your woman.

7- Eggs

Although not the most sensual of foods, eggs are high in vitamins B6 and B5. These help balance hormone levels and fight stress, two things that are crucial to a healthy libido. Eggs are also a symbol of fertility and rebirth. Some people will eat raw chicken eggs just prior to sex to increase libido and maximize energy levels. But all bird and fish eggs contain B6 and B5.

How to enjoy this libido food: Have some caviar and (a bit of) champagne during your fun or gobble down some hard-boiled eggs beforehand.

8- Liver

A good source of glutamine — a cellular fuel for your immune system — liver may indeed increase a slowed-down libido. Granted, it's not the sexiest of foods, but if you add it to your basic diet, your body — and your lady — will thank you for it.

How to enjoy this libido food: Try frying liver up in a pan with some onions, spices and olive oil to make the taste more agreeable.

9- Figs

These are high in amino acids, which are believed to increase libido. They can also improve sexual stamina. Furthermore, the shape of a fresh fig and the sweet, juicy taste are two tangible aspects that are highly pleasurable to the human senses.

How to enjoy this libido food: Feed her some fresh figs and let the juices run all wild while you're both getting revved up

10- Garlic

Yes, you might need to stock up on some extra breath mints, but it'll be worth it. Garlic contains allicin, an ingredient that increases blood flow to the sexual organs. As such, it's a highly effective herb to help increase libido. If the odor just won't work for you — or you can't stand garlic — you and your lady can always take garlic capsules instead.

How to enjoy this libido food: Well, chances are you can't enjoy garlic and sex simultaneously, so take some capsules and get it over with.

11- Chocolate

Chocolate contains theobromine — an alkaloid — which is very similar to caffeine. It also contains phenylethylamine, a chemical believed to produce the feeling of "being in love." So, when your woman talks about how good chocolate makes her feel, there is some science behind it. In addition, dark chocolate has a massive amount of anti-oxidants, which are great for the body in general, as they help maintain the immune system.

How to enjoy this libido food: From chocolate bars to chocolate fondue, as long as it's chocolate, you and your woman will be in for a tasty session.

Start Eating & Munching

Now that you know what your body needs to perform at its peak, head down to your local supermarket or corner store, and fill your shopping cart with all the ingredients you need to make sex that much better.

Source:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,553862,00.html

Not Such a Myth: Male Menopause

He’s feeling hot flashes -- and they have nothing to do with desire. Like a woman, his body is letting him know it’s going through “male menopause.” Far from being a myth, this hotly debated experience really does exist. Yet few people know about the condition more formally known as andropause.

Even fewer people know that, like female menopause, male menopause can affect every part of a man's life, including his sex life. With all men experiencing a decline in their testosterone levels with age, what’s going on when it comes to andropause?

It’s perfectly normal for men to experience a decrease in testosterone beginning around age 30, with your average Joe’s testosterone lessening about 10 percent every decade. While these hormonal changes occur over years, by around age 70, a male’s testosterone level could be at half the level he had in his late teens/early 20s.

As if this weren’t enough, for an estimated 25 million American males, ages 40-55, it involves a whole lot more.

So what’s going on? As a man’s testosterone declines, his levels of sex-hormone-binding-globulin (SHBG) increase. This “traps” a great deal of the remaining testosterone, making it inaccessible to his body’s cells. With both of these experiences, an estimated 20-30 percent of men experience the dramatic change of andropause, typically by their 50s.

Hence andropause, also known as testosterone deficiency, androgen deficiency of the aging male, and late-onset hypogonadism, often makes a difficult time in a man’s life even harder. With testosterone impacting almost every bodily process, andropause can impact his feelings, health, and mood.

When it comes to his sexual functioning, changes include:

Add to this the lethargy, increased irritability, memory problems, depression, bone and muscle mass loss, less beard growth, sleep disturbances, hair loss, and/or increased fat a male can experience, and he can feel like a mess.

Ultimately, he feels less motivated and confident when it comes to sex. This, in itself, can increase experiences like decreased energy levels and depression. In some cases, a man might plummet into what’s been coined his “midlife crisis.”

During this time, everything about him is affected – the hormonal, psychological, spiritual, interpersonal, social, and sexual. It’s no wonder that divorce after 20-30 years of marriage actually appears to be connected with andropause, with Brazil reporting such in the International Encyclopedia of Sexuality.

Whether you suspect andropause or are experiencing any symptoms, get examined by your physician, and ask for a blood test to check your hormone levels. Even if you don’t have andropause, another medical condition, like thyroid problems could be affecting your health and require treatment.

At the same time, make sure that your doctor isn’t treating you for the symptoms of a medical condition you may not have, for example, Viagra for erectile dysfunction, and is treating andropause if it’s the culprit. Despite the first andropause study having been published in the Journal of the American Medical Association back in the 1940s, only recently has the medical community in the U.S. started to take it seriously.

If you do have low testosterone levels, your situation may possibly be helped with testosterone replacement therapy. Just be sure to weigh the costs versus benefits with your doctor, especially in light of your age.

While you can’t treat low testosterone on your own, be sure to maintain a healthy lifestyle and to get psychological help if you’re feeling down. Equally important, nurture your sexual relationship in ways that aren’t reliant upon your sexual functioning or performance. After all, there’s a lot more to your sexuality – and to expressing it – than what testosterone should determine.

7 Things You Didn't Know About Fat

Fat is a word that most of us do not want to hear on a regular basis, especially when it relates to our own bodies. We associate fat with growing beer guts, tighter pants, and less-than-ideal sex and social lives.

However, fat plays a critical role in many of the processes our bodies go through each and every day, and it has both positive and negative sides.

This three-letter-word has more secrets than you know...

1. Fat cells can swell to as much as six times their minimum size

When you consume more calories than you burn off, fat cells in the body swell to as much as six times their minimum size, and they begin to multiply — from 40 billion in an average adult up to 100 billion. Everyone has fat cells; they begin to form and take shape before birth. Around the age of 16, the body's fat cells are mature, and then lifestyle and genes play a role in gaining or losing weight as you age.

Fat cells are critical for survival and help assist the body's "store and management" energy system. Simply put, fat that is not used for fuel immediately is stored for later use. To that end, if you're eating high-calorie meals every day and not burning very many calories, your fat cells swell and multiply, resulting in weight gain.

2. Fat cells secrete extra estrogen

Carrying a few extra pounds may also wreak havoc on your hormonal balance, leading to a variety of illnesses and health risks. Estrogen, the classified "female hormone," is a fat-storing hormone that is also naturally present in small amounts in men. But when you gain weight, estrogen levels rise and other health problems ensue.

Although estrogen is necessary in men, as it regulates a healthy libido, improves brain function (especially memory) and protects the heart, when the levels are too high, testosterone levels are reduced, and many men experience fatigue, muscle tone loss, decreased sexual function, and in some cases, enlarged prostates. In other words, there are no good side effects to increased estrogen levels in men.

3. If you lose a lot of weight, your fat cells shrink, but they do not disappear

Having 100 billion fat cells in your body from weight gain may sound scary. The good news is that you can still lose weight after your fat cells swell and multiply; in fact, when you lose weight, your fat cells shrink. Although their total number only decreases slightly (if at all), the cells become less metabolically active and remain in your body, waiting for you to pick up a bag of pork rinds so they can expand again.

This means that it's better to try to maintain a normal weight than to gain and lose weight on fast, "quick fix" types of diets. Someone who has maintained a normal weight (i.e. has been relatively thin) all their life will have an easier time staying at that weight than someone whose fat cells have swelled and multiplied.

4. Fat tissue attracts cells that promote inflammation

Aside from the lousy way you feel when you're packing a few extra pounds, there are also internal complications that result from excess fat.

Fat tissue attracts immune system cells called macrophages that promote inflammation in the body. So, if you are carrying any extra fat, your body begins to produce an immune response similar to the reaction your body exhibits when you develop the flu or have an injury.

Inflammation's intended purpose in the body is to fight infection. Therefore, your body sees the extra fat calories that you consume from fried calamari and greasy pizza as an invasion in the body.

But don't worry: You don't have to give up your favorite foods just yet. Studies show that decreasing your total body weight by as little as 10% (if you're overweight) can improve your health and limit the immune response that your body exhibits from the extra weight.

5. Fat cells behave differently in different parts of the body

Men typically carry excess weight in the midsection; thus, if you gain weight (whether you drink beer or not), most of it will go directly to your gut first.

Belly fat increases the likelihood of bad cholesterol (LDL), triggers extra fat in the bloodstream, and raises blood pressure and blood sugar levels. Furthermore, abdominal fat tends to be deeper inside the body, as opposed to hip or thigh fat, which is stored directly under the skin.

Fat cells within the abdomen are metabolically more active than fat cells located in other areas of the body. They release more fatty acids, which can lead to diabetes, coronary artery disease, stroke, and certain cancers. Abdominal fat cells may also affect the healthy functioning of the liver.

Unfortunately, there is no way to target weight loss in one specific area of the body (i.e. your abs). So, in order to lose your spare tire, you must exercise your entire body. The good news is that excess weight in the midsection is usually the fastest to come off during regular exercise.

6. If you consume no fat at all, you will short-circuit your body

If you avoid consuming any fat, you will short-circuit your body's natural system for transporting vitamins through the body and regulating cholesterol levels.

As noted above, fats are critical for maintaining your body's natural processes, such as vitamin absorption and energy production. Without these particular fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K), the body cannot suitably absorb calcium, hormone production may be negatively affected, and blood may have difficulty forming and/or clotting properly.

A lack of fat-soluble vitamins can lead to serious health problems, including night blindness, rickets, anemia, and internal bleeding. Furthermore, when the body cannot absorb calcium, bones can become weak and brittle.

Fat — the unsaturated type — can also play a role in regulating cholesterol by lowering your "bad" (LDL) cholesterol levels.

7. Fat calories should only be 30 percent of your total daily calories

Despite all of its secrets, fat is not the enemy. A certain amount of fat is needed to maintain the normal functioning of your body's internal processes. Fats aid in the absorption of certain vitamins, and above all, they provide your body with the energy it needs to function every day.

A healthy diet should take approximately 30% of its total calories from fat. However, keep in mind that fat contains twice the number of calories of a carbohydrate or protein, and that different fats are considered "healthier" than others.

Saturated fat, which is derived from red meat and dairy products, tends to raise bad (LDL) cholesterol levels more than other types of fat, such as monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats found in nuts, olive oil and fatty fish.

Saturated fat has also been linked to abdominal obesity, as has trans fat, which is found in many processed foods.

Coexisting With Fat

Despite its ugly reputation, you can have a healthy relationship with fat and maintain a lean body. Here are some tips:

— Choose "healthy" fats (olive oil, nuts and fatty fish) and bypass the obvious "bad" fats (fried/fast food, baked goods and sugary soft drinks)

— Steer clear of processed foods and eat animal products (meat and dairy) in moderation

— Watch your abs — if you're belly has started to resemble the spare tire sitting in the trunk of your car, get to the gym!

Your Best Butt Ever!

There’s nothing more alluring than a firm, curvy butt. Thankfully, great buns are within reach. Step one: Tackle the flab with glute-specific exercises. Step two: Shape your rear view by adding extra calorie-burning moves.

Our butt-building workout targets your lower body with intense muscle sculpting. And you’ll carve curves with the high-intensity cardio intervals. You can feel firmer in as few as six to 10 workouts. But if you put in the paces, in just eight to 12 weeks, you’ll create a head-turning rear view!

HOW TO DO IT:

During moves that use weights, use a weight that is heavy enough to challenge your target muscles, but not so heavy that your back, hips or knees feel strained. Start with dumbbells that are at least 5 to 12 pounds in each hand, depending on your fitness level, and gradually work up to heavier weight, depending on the exercise.

Start by performing the cardio-sculpting circuit: one butt-burning cardio interval followed by one set of eight to 12 repetitions of each exercise. Progress through each pair all the way through the last exercise. Then repeat the circuit. Work up to doing three full circuits.

Do this workout three times a week, with a rest day in between.

Modify this workout to match your fitness level. Follow the recommended moves, or adapt them as needed by clicking on a similar exercise that is easier or more challenging.

Modify the butt-burning cardio moves to match your fitness level. March instead of jumping or jogging if needed. Wear sneakers during these intervals.

What you need: weights, a step and a resistance band.

Bed sharing 'bad for your health'

Couples should consider sleeping apart for the good of their health and relationship, say experts.

Sleep specialist Dr Neil Stanley told the British Science Festival how bed sharing can cause rows over snoring and duvet-hogging and robs precious sleep.

One study found that, on average, couples suffered 50% more sleep disturbances if they shared a bed.

Dr Stanley, who sleeps separately from his wife, points out that historically we were never meant to share our beds.

He said the modern tradition of the marital bed only began with the industrial revolution, when people moving to overcrowded towns and cities found themselves short of living space.

Before the Victorian era it was not uncommon for married couples to sleep apart. In ancient Rome, the marital bed was a place for sexual congress but not for sleeping.

Dr Stanley, who set up one of Britain's leading sleep laboratories at the University of Surrey, said the people of today should consider doing the same.

"It's about what makes you happy. If you've been sleeping together and you both sleep perfectly well, then don't change, but don't be afraid to do something different.

"We all know what it's like to have a cuddle and then say 'I'm going to sleep now' and go to the opposite side of the bed. So why not just toddle off down the landing?"

Tossing and turning

He said poor sleep was linked to depression, heart disease, strokes, lung disorders, traffic and industrial accidents, and divorce, yet sleep was largely ignored as an important aspect of health.

Dr Robert Meadows, a sociologist at the University of Surrey, said: "People actually feel that they sleep better when they are with a partner but the evidence suggests otherwise."

He carried out a study to compare how well couples slept when they shared a bed versus sleeping separately.

Based on 40 couples, he found that when couples share a bed and one of them moves in his or her sleep, there is a 50% chance that their slumbering partner will be disturbed as a result.

Despite this, couples are reluctant to sleep apart, with only 8% of those in their 40s and 50s sleeping in separate rooms, the British Science Festival heard.

Reference:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8245578.stm

Healthy Sex Life Habits

A great sex life involves more than having good technique. It is a lifestyle that expands beyond the bedroom and into the everyday.

What you do or don’t do for your heart, mind, and body affects your sexual health. If you are finding any difficulties during sex such as a lagging libido, waning stamina or erectile dysfunction, you may find that adopting certain painless lifestyle changes will boost your sex life and make you healthier and happier. It will also make her happier. And if she’s happy, you will certainly be getting some.

It's All About Oxygen: Exercise

Your body gives what it gets. If your sloth-like performance in front of the television has you wondering why you can’t quite get it up, or when you do your arms give out before she reaches her peak, consider your activity levels. When was the last time you left the couch and went for a run or, instead of the elevator, took the stairs? Your heart pumps oxygenated blood into your body and into the “star” of your “coming attraction.”

You need regular exercise at least three times a week for 30 minutes to work your heart, pump your blood, and increase circulation. A proper cardiovascular workout is just what you need to improve your stamina and performance in bed. Fringe benefits include better appearance and overall self-esteem. Women are most attracted to a confident man. Arrogance and insecurity is only a thin veil that women see right through.

You won’t be just another act when you start feeling as good as you look. Ladies notice the difference between a poser and a real man. Include grooming in your routine and now you have a sex-worthy body anytime, anyplace. Get regular exercise, keep nails clean and trim, body hair shaven, waxed or tamed, and you will just know you look good. The best part is you’ll feel good too. What are you waiting for?

Working the Mind: Mental Acuity

You see them all over the place. Logic and crossword puzzles, Sudoku; people are trying to get their flabby minds toned and ready for a challenge. Why? Maybe some of them realize the advantage of an agile mind when it comes to life in the bedroom. Sex is both mental and physical. What you can do with your mind when you’re having sex is astounding. By using focus, you can sustain your erection and keep yourself from ejaculating so you can control her mind-blowing orgasms, one after another. If you lose your focus, you can lose your control and the game can be over within seconds.

Stamina is as much physical as it is mental. True mastery comes when you can tell your body what to do, not the other way around. Keeping your mind flexible also helps you get rid of any banalities in your sex life by keeping you creative. It helps you refrain from repetition and laziness, and steer clear of boring patterns in your approach and practice of great sex. Train your mind just as you train your body. It needs exercise and will allow you to reap priceless rewards.

A Way of Life: Not Another Diet

Life isn’t about eating your way through every menu and drinking your way to stupefying lows. Eating isn’t about excess gratification. Excesses, if any, should come in the form of scintillating sexual activities. Certain foods and large quantities can put a damper on your sex life by making you feel sluggish and by being detrimental to your vital health. Keep your body healthy by monitoring what you put in it.

Eating is simply a way for your body to have its nutritional needs met. Here are some tips on eating: You know your body, recognize the signs. If you have the tendency to overeat try this: slow down. Remember that your stomach doesn’t signal to your brain that it is full until about 20 minutes after you reach that trouser unbuckling, top button-relieving state. A good pre-coital game plan is to drink water and to avoid fatty, heavy foods, which will make you feel sluggish and tired.

Sugars give you a spike and high but they make you plummet just as quickly. Alcohol is a downer. Really, it is. You can have trouble getting/maintaining an erection, difficulty ejaculating, and a decreased sexual desire if you drink too much booze. It can also reduce your fertility levels by half. Ouch. Caffeine has the same effect.

There are certain foods that increase libido. For those in the baby game, Vitamin C and antioxidants can prevent sperm defects and promote sperm mobility. Daily doses of Calcium and Vitamin D can increase male fertility, and sufficient levels of Zinc will keep your testosterone and semen levels good to go.

Healthy Body, Healthy Sex

Health is important for life and sex. Without it, neither can exist. Sex is life and, certainly, life is a product of sex, but how good or bad it is depends entirely on you. By making slight changes to your lifestyle such as taking the stairs, joining a gym, getting off the couch and thinking about the quality of food you put in your system, you will finely tune your mind and body into sex-worthy shape. Maintain a healthy, active, focused life and your sex will improve immensely.

Weight Loss Drug Which Can Fight Diabetes

The drug, which they have dubbed fatostatin, stops the body from making fat, instead releasing the energy from food.




They hope it may lead to a pill that would fight obesity, diabetes and cholesterol, all at once. Writing in the journal Chemistry and Biology, Salih Wakil of Baylor College of Medicine in Texas, Motonari Uesugi of Kyoto University in Japan and colleagues said the drug interferes with a suite of genes turned on by overeating. "Here, we are tackling the basics," Wakil said in a telephone interview. "I think that is what excited us." Scientists are painfully aware that drugs that can make mice thin do nothing of the sort in humans.

A hormone called leptin can make rats and mice drop weight almost miraculously but does little or nothing for an obese person, for instance. But Wakil, whose team has patented the drug and is looking for a drug company to partner with, hopes this drug may be different. "I am very, very optimistic," he said. Fatostatin is a small molecule, meaning it has the potential to be absorbed in pill form. It works on so-called sterol regulatory element binding proteins or SREBPs, which are transcription factors that activate genes involved in making cholesterol and fatty acids.

"Fatostatin blocked increases in body weight, blood glucose, and hepatic (liver) fat accumulation in (genetically) obese mice, even under uncontrolled food intake," the researchers wrote. Genetic tests showed the drug affected 63 different genes. The idea of interfering with SREBP is not new. GlaxSmithKline has been working on a new-generation cholesterol drug that uses this pathway.

After four weeks, mice injected with fatostatin weighed 12 percent less and had 70 percent lower blood sugar levels, the researchers wrote. Now they plan to test rats and rabbits, Wakil said. The drug also had effects on prostate cancer cells they said -- something that may help explain links between prostate cancer and obesity.

Best & Worst Foods for Your Cholesterol

While nutritionists and researchers may disagree about how certain foods and fats affect our overall cholesterol levels, one universal truth that everyone can agree on is that trans fat is an ultimate evil lurking in our food chain, proven time and again to lower healthy HDL cholesterol, raise artery-clogging LDL cholesterol, and put us at increased risk for cardiovascular disease. In fact, this artificial fat is so hazardous to our bodies that in 2007 the New York City Department of Health banned its use in restaurants.

Which of course led to the destruction of all the city’s restaurants and caused New York to drop into the sea. Oh no, wait ... that didn’t happen. In fact, the effect on New York’s restaurants—including its fast-food joints—was pretty much zilch. That’s because there are plenty of suitable, and much healthier, options out there and plenty of industry titans are using them. But to this day, many chain restaurants and food manufacturers in most parts of the country are still clinging to hydrogenated oils and shortening, and putting you, the consumer, in danger as a result.

What’s so unfair about this ongoing disregard for our health is that many fats are actually good for us—having a positive impact on our cholesterol profiles while also helping us stay fuller longer. Monounsaturated fats, like those found in olive and canola oils and healthy foods like avocados and nuts, can be used to make most any food better for us.

Make it your mission to eat healthfully for every single meal. Check out the four worst—and four best—meals for your cholesterol. And for more great tips like these, order the latest, most up-to-date version of the best-selling weight-loss series: Eat This, Not That! The Best (& Worst!) Foods in America!

The worsts

Worst breakfast

Bob Evans Stacked & Stuffed Caramel Banana Pecan Hotcakes

• 9 g trans fat
• 1,543 calories
• 77 g fat (26 g saturated)
• 109 g sugars
• 2,259 mg sodium

These problematic pancakes keep popping up on our worst lists for a reason: They have more calories, sugar, carbs, sodium and fat than nearly any other breakfast in America. Add to that list 4½ days’ worth of trans fat and you begin to wonder why Bob Evans doesn’t make you sign a waiver before applying the syrup. When ordering from Bob’s breakfast menu, stick with items labeled “Fit from the Farm”—aside from scrambled eggs or a plain bowl of oatmeal, they’re the only healthy breakfast foods Bob Evans offers.

Worst lunch

Boston Market Classic Chicken Salad Sandwich

• 5 g trans fat
• 800 calories
• 41 g fat (7 g saturated)
• 1,900 mg sodium

Chicken and tuna salad sandwiches might not be the models of health some purport them to be, but even we were surprised to see how bad this Boston Market sandwich really is. Where do they possibly find the room to cram 2½ days’ worth of trans fat into chicken, mayonnaise, lettuce and bread? The answer lies somewhere in the murky ingredient list, which, as with too many of their dishes, runs at more than 40 items long. Boston Market has a swath of solid entrées—from rotisserie chicken to slices of sirloin—and healthy sides on their menu. Get a sandwich stacked with lean white meat, minus the trans fat, with Boston Market’s line of open-faced sandwiches.

Worst snack

Pop-Secret Kettle Corn (4 cups popped)

• 6 g trans fat
• 180 calories
• 13 g fat (3 g saturated)
• 150 mg sodium

The only secret here is that the popcorn purveyor uses partially hydrogenated oil to pop their kernels, turning a reasonable snack into a nutritional nightmare of heart-wrenching proportions. This box has three bags of popcorn, which means every time you buy it, you’re bringing 54 grams of dangerous trans fat into your house. There’s not an easier—or more important—swap to make.

Worst dinner

Denny’s Double Cheeseburger

• 7 g trans fat
• 1,540 calories
• 116 g fat (52 g saturated)
• 3,880 mg sodium

There’s nothing redeeming about this atrocious cheeseburger—stacked between
two buns is nearly three times your daily limit of trans fat, three-quarters of the calories you should consume in one day, and the sodium equivalent of 118 saltine crackers. Oh, and did we mention the 59 bacon strips’ worth of saturated fat? Aside from the Fit Fare Boca, you’re not going to find a reasonable burger on the Denny’s menu, so it’s either this or a grilled chicken sandwich.

The bests

Best breakfast

Starbucks Perfect Oatmeal with Nut Medley

• 240 calories
• 11 g fat (1.5 g saturated)
• 0 mg sodium

Best lunch

Baja Fresh Grilled Mahi Mahi Tacos (2)

• 460 calories
• 18 g fat (3 g saturated)
• 600 mg sodium

Best snack

Wholly Guacamole Classic (2 Tbsp)

• 50 calories
• 4 g fat (0.5 g saturated)
• 75 mg sodium

Best dinner

Uno Chicago Grill Lemon Basil Salmon with Steamed Broccoli

• 510 calories
• 39 g fat (5 g saturated)
• 1,030 mg sodium

20-pound increase in the weight could make men infertile

Being overweight also increases the risk of many diseases and health conditions, including hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia (disruption in the amount of lipids in the blood), heart disease, gallbladder disease, sleep apnea (brief pauses in breathing) and respiratory problems and some cancers.

Now Markku Sallmen and other researchers at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), North Carolina, suggest that a 20-pound increase in men’s weight may also increase their chances of infertility by about 10 percent.

The data on infertility and body mass came from questionnaires that 1,468 farmers and their wives completed when they enrolled in the study, reported science portal EurekAlert.

The wives completed a family health questionnaire, which included information about the couple’s reproductive history. The men reported their weight and height on a questionnaire about their health.

The analysis was limited to couples with a pregnancy attempt during the four years before enrolment, and to women under the age of 40.

The researchers divided the couples into infertile and fertile groups. The infertile couples were those that tried for longer than a year to conceive, and the fertile couples were those that conceived within a year.

The majority of men and women were more than 30 years old. Twenty-eight percent of the couples had experienced infertility. Researchers found that obesity was an independent risk factor for infertility.

Three Steps to Strength and Stamina

Sets and reps get old. This routine from Jim Liston, C.S.C.S., founder of Catz Sports in Pasadena, Calif., builds muscle and endurance through pyramid repetitions.

After the warmup (No. 1), do one rep of exercise pair No. 2, then two reps, then three, then four, and then work back down to one rep. Repeat with exercise pair No. 3. Do as many rounds as you can in 15 minutes.

1. Boxer's Punch + Dumbbell Squat

With a 5-pound dumbbell in each hand, throw 32 punches, alternating lefts and rights. Then let your arms hang loosely at your sides and place your feet slightly wider than hip-width apart. Bend at the hips and knees to lower your body until your thighs are parallel to the floor, and then press back up. Complete 16 squats. Repeat the sequence once.

2. Push-Up + Prone Row

Push-up: Place two six-sided dumbbells on the floor and grip them while you do a full push-up. (Lower in two seconds, push up in one.)

Prone row: In the up position of the push-up (still holding onto the dumbbells), bring your right-hand weight up to your armpit and squeeze your shoulder blade back. Lower the weight and repeat the move with your left arm. (Take one second to raise the weight and two seconds to lower it.)

3. Jump Squat + Curl

Jump squat: Assume a squat position as you hold dumbbells at your sides, your feet slightly wider than hip-width apart. Press through your heels to explode up quickly. Then land softly on the balls of your feet and sink back onto your heels.

Curl: After landing, let the dumbbells hang at your sides. Without moving your upper arms, curl the weights up. (Take one second to raise them and two seconds to lower.)