Weight Loss Tax Deduction
According to KPHO Phoenix News, the IRS now considers obesity a disease, so there is a weight loss tax deduction. If you had to lose weight according to a recommendation from your doctor, you might be able to deduct the costs associated with losing weight on this year’s tax return. The deductible costs are doctor’s visits, weight loss program costs, membership fees, therapy - everything but food.
Not only those who are extremely obese qualify. If your doctor recommended dropping pounds to reduce high blood pressure or for other health reasons, you might be eligible too.
You would need all the receipts and doctor’s documentation in order to take the deduction.
Not everyone can deduct medical expenses from their taxes - it all depends on your particular type of tax return. You’ll need to check with your accountant. But don’t forget to mention the weight loss deduction to your accountant so he or she can check if you are eligible.
Best regards,
Melanie Mendelson
Lose Weight Fast
March 30, 2006
City People Are Thinner Than Suburban People
Having lived in both big city and suburbs, I always noticed when I go to the mall that people in the suburbs seem fatter. It was just my observation, but now I found that there is a study that backs it up.
According to a nationwide survey of over 200,000 people in 2003, people who live in the suburbs on average weigh more (6.3 additional lbs) and have higher blood pressure than those who live in the city.
People in big cities tend to walk more than those in the suburbs.
In the suburbs, the only way to get to places is by car, because everything is so spread out. There are almost no pedestrians, and there aren’t even that many sidewalks 
You take a couple of steps to your car, drive where you need to, then park as close as possible to your destination and take a couple of steps to get out of the car… talk about inactive!
However, in the city you see tons of walking people. Many people in big cities don’t even own a car because of the traffic jams and lack of street parking.
So if you live somewhere where there is nowhere to go by foot, make sure you find other ways to get moving.
Here’s to your success,
Melanie Mendelson
Author of Foolproof 30 Day Diet
March 4, 2006
Peer Support And Weight Loss Maintenance In Teenagers
According to a study by Bradley Hasbro Children’s Research Center (BHCRC) and The Miriam Hospital, published in the January 2005 issue of the International Journal of Obesity, peer support results in twice the rate of weight maintenance in teenagers.
Teenagers in the study were divided into 2 groups: one group on regular weight loss program with aerobic exercise, and the other group on “Adventure Therapy” program that involved group exercise activities and team-building games. “Adventure Therapy” program involved cooperative games, trust-building exercises, and problem solving challenges.
While initial weight loss was similar in both groups, there was a huge difference in 6 months. In the 6 month followup, twice as many teenagers in the “Adventure Therapy” program maintaned their weight loss.
We all know that weight loss support is very important, and this study proves that peer interaction and support are a very significant factor in weight maintenance.
To Your Success,
Melanie Mendelson
Foolproof 30 Day Diet
December 10, 2005
Fiber Helps You Lose Weight
According to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (82, 6:1185-94, 2005)., people who ate more fiber were much less likely to have high blood pressure and to be overweight. High fiber intake was also found a good protector against heart disease.
Fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and whole grains are good sources of fiber. Eat your fiber for health and weight loss.
To Your Success,
Melanie Mendelson
Easy Weight Loss Diet
December 9, 2005
Gene Determines Our Desire For Fatty Foods
Scientists discovered that there is a tongue receptor that can taste fat and make us crave it. It is controlled by the CD36 gene. According to the researcher Nada Abumrad, there is evidence that people have different amounts of that receptor, therefore some people tend to crave fatty foods more than others.
In the future, scientists might develop therapies that control the amounts and levels of the CD36 receptor, reducing the cravings for fat.
Best regards,
Melanie Mendelson
Lose Fat Fast
Abumrad NA. CD36 may determine our desire for dietary fats. Journal of Clinical Investigation, vol. 115:11, pp. 2965-2967, Nov. 1, 2005.
November 26, 2005
FDA Requires Including Trans Fats On Food Labels In 2006
Currently the food manufacturers are not required to reveal the amount of trans fats on the food labels (they only list the total fat and saturated fat. But it’s all going to change very soon. The Food And Drug Administration requires that starting January 1st 2006 the food labels must list the amount of trans fats. That’s great news, since those trans fats are really bad for your health!
There are 2 ways this new rule will benefit us:
1) You will now be informed and will have a choice to opt for products with fewer trans fats
2) Many food manufacturers will reduce or even eliminate trans fats in their foods to avoid the drop in sales
To Your Success,
Melanie Mendelson
Healthy Diet Plan
November 24, 2005
Mediterranean Diet Doesn’t Make You Lose Weight
As reported by Natural Products Industry Insider, mediterranean diet doesn’t make you lose weight. According to a study by American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, there was no correlation between eating a mediterranean diet and BMI (body mass index).
Mediterranian diet is the traditional way of eating in mediterranean countries such as Greece, Italy, Spain, etc. Mediterranian diet includes lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, grains, vegetable oils (such as olive oil). Meat and fish are used sparingly.
Best regards,
Melanie Mendelson
The Fastest Way To Lose Weight
November 12, 2005
Coffee Doesn’t Raise Blood Pressure, But Soda Does
It was long believed that caffeine causes high blood pressure. Not so, the new study says.
According to a new study , coffee doesn’t raise blood pressure, despite the caffeine content. The study ran for 12 years and included more than 150,000 women. According to the study, even those women who drank over 6 cups of coffee per day were not at an increased risk of high blood pressure.
However, those who drank caffeinated sodas (regular or diet) had much greater risk of blood pressure - up to 44% higher risk! It’s probably some other chemicals in the soft drinks that cause this effect.
So, here’s another reason to dump those soft drinks!
Best regards,
Melanie Mendelson
Fast Weight Loss Diet Plan
November 10, 2005
Waist-To-Hip Ratio Is Better Than BMI In Predicting Heart Attack Risk
As reported by Times Online, waist-to-hip ratio is more accurate in accessing heart attack risk than Body Mass Index (BMI).
BMI is the standard test for obesity. You can calculate your BMI using the BMI calculator.
Waist-to-hip ratio is measured with a tape - you simply measure the circumference of your waist and your hips. Just put the tape around your waist, note the number in inches. Do the same for your hips. Then divide the waist circumference by the hip circumference. The resulting number is the waist-to-hip ratio.
According to the study, if your waist-to-hip ratio is greater than 0.9 for men, or 0.85 for women, you are at the increased risk for heart disease.
Best regards,
Melanie Mendelson
Lose Fat Fast
November 7, 2005
Exercise Leads To Better Sleep At Night
Accoring to a study, better fitness leads to better sleep. 175 postmenopausal, overweight or obese, sedentary women were enrolled in a year-long exercise program - half of them in a moderate-intensity exercise, and the other half in low-intensity stretching.
An increase of 10% or greater in the fitness level (the Oxygen Consumption test) was associated with longer sleep duration and less use of sleep medication.
Stretchers were also less likely to use sleep medication and have trouble falling asleep than baseline. Basically, both groups of exercisers had better sleep at the end of the study.
Interestingly, the study also found that evening exercise can lead to troubles falling asleep, while morning exercisers were falling asleep more easily.
So for best sleep, exercise in the morning.
To Your Success,
Melanie Mendelson
Author of Foolproof 30 Day Diet
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