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Different from other meal programs on the market, My Cuisine deLight follows the FDA and USDA guidelines for "Healthy" meals. We believe if you focus on your health the weight loss will occur naturally. Here is the composition of each one of our nutritious meals:

Men are genetically designed to have a higher percentage of muscle and less fat than women. The more muscle you have, the more calories you burn. That's why typically men have a higher BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate = amount of calories you burn at rest) than women. Men and women may increase their BMR by exercising and building muscle mass.

"Good" carbs are found in foods that have more complex carbohydrates (fibers and starches). Starches are chains of sugars that take longer than simple sugars to break down into glucose, raising blood concentration in glucose more slowly. Fibers are carbohydrates that are not digested, and appear to reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, diverticular disease, and constipation. Good carbohydrates are present in vegetables, fruits, and grain groups. "Bad" carbs are sugars added during the food manufacturing process, such as: brown or white sugar, corn syrup, glucose. Naturally occurring sugars such as sugars present in milk and fruits are not considered "bad carbs". Added sugars are present in sodas and other sweet drinks, candy, cakes, cookies, fruit drinks - other than 100% juices -, ice creams, sweetened yogurts and sweetened cereals. High in calories with little nutritional value, added sugars must be avoided in a healthy or weight-loss diet.

People who quit smoking often feel hungrier than usual during the first several weeks, they tend to eat food rich in fat and added sugars, and drink more alcohol. Smoking may help you burn more calories however it creates bad consequences for your health. When giving up smoking, your daily energy consumption will be lower. To avoid gaining weight during this period, regular physical activity and healthy diet are your two main allies.

When you exercise you build muscle and increase calorie burning. Exercising is an important factor in the weight loss process. It will also help you relieve stress in a healthy way. Here are some tips you can follow to achieve your goal:
. Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
. Take a walk during lunch time.
. Get off the bus one stop early.
. Sign up for yoga, dance, or fitness classes with friends for more fun, and try to go at least once a week.
. Schedule time during the weekend for fun family activities (row boating, volleyball, walk in the park or in the forest).

Results will vary according to your physical activity, gender, age, and other factors. You may expect a weight loss of 1lb to 3lbs a week if following our recommendations. Rapid weight loss is not recommended, as it might cause high fatigue and muscle loss. This is usually followed by a rapid gain of weight as soon as the diet is stopped.

As of now, five artificial sweeteners are approved by the Food and Drug Administration: aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame-K, neotame, and sucralose. Artificial sweeteners are regulated by the FDA as food additives, and must be approved as safe before they can be marketed. http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2006/406_sweeteners.html

My Cuisine deLight is not a medical diet. If you are under a restrained diet related to any health issues such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, etc., we strongly recommend that you check with your doctor to see if this program is right for you.

We recommend that you add to your My Cuisine deLight menu healthy snacks such as fruits, cereals and dairy. Check out  "Add to Your Healthy Menu" to find out what kind of snacks you can eat according to your gender and physical activity level.

In the morning your blood concentration of glucose is low because your body didn't receive any food for 10 to 12 hours. You need to get energy before starting your day. Having breakfast is very important in order to have better concentration and productivity throughout the morning. In addition, breakfast is essential to control your weight because it will help to avoid the consumption of non-healthy food until lunch time. A healthy breakfast should combine complex carbohydrates, low fat dairy, water and fruit in order to delay hunger symptoms. If you don't feel hungry just after waking up, you can try to have a glass of water to hydrate your body, and wait about 15 minutes before eating to stimulate your appetite. If you are short on time in the morning, plan ahead. Think about what you'll eat the night before and get up 10 minutes earlier to have breakfast. You can also take your breakfast to work.

You followed a healthy diet and managed to lose weight. When you reach the expected weight, it is time for weight stabilization, a phase where you keep eating healthy but can increase a little bit the fat and sugar amount in your diet (for example, a sweet dessert twice a week, a spoon of mayonnaise with your salad). You can maintain your healthy shape for good by following a less restrictive but well-balanced, healthy diet and of course, by regular physical activities. However if you start eating fatty and sweet products again, you'll gain back all the weight you worked hard to lose.

Reducing salt intake is a good way to lower high blood pressure as there is a direct relationship between salt intake and blood pressure. In addition, high blood pressure can increase the risk of stroke, heart disease, heart failure, and kidney disease.