Hi There,

Weather is the state of the atmosphere, to the degree that it is hot or cold, wet or dry, calm or stormy, clear or cloudy. Weather refers, generally, to day-to-day temperature and precipitation activity, whereas climate is the term for the average atmospheric conditions over longer periods of time.

So, for me! weather is a "must have" App. Its a matter of knowing how comfortably we are when traveling or just playing outside the house, and when to make a perfect plan for whether it is a business trip, field trip, out of town, out of the country, etc...

Here are the most reviewed weather app from BBAppWorld:

AccuWeather for BlackBerry 
By AccuWeather International 
3 stars  4835 reviews 
Rated: Teen 

AccuWeather makes it possible for you to access the most accurate and current weather information available – all at just the reach of your fingertips on the BlackBerry! With AccuWeather for BlackBerry®, your location is pinpointed from anywhere in the world using the latest in GPS technology (on supported devices). From there, you have the most detailed, reliable, and up-to-date weather news and information that you need to plan your life – including severe weather alerts automatically pushed to your phone! 
Read full description 

Download  AccuWeather for BlackBerry 

WeatherTrax - Accurate - Unlimited Cities - BBM Your Weather 
By The Jared Company 
4 1/2 stars  4400 reviews 
Rated: General 

Everyone talks about the weather but nobody does anything about it – except JaredCo. Now you can find out which way the wind blows anywhere in the world. Now with BBM™ Integration, send your weather forecast to your BBM™ contacts with the new BBM™ Integration (requires BBM™ 6.0) 
Read full description

Download WeatherTrax

Weather Plus 3.1.4 - Push Weather to Home Screen n Voice Forecast 
By MMMOOO 
3 1/2 stars  3654 reviews 
Rated: General 

Weather Plus will offer the accurate weather forecast and enable you to push weather info to home screen. 
FREE for a limited time, Write us an email to unlock it, INCLUDE YOUR PIN and Weather Plus in tittle. We welcome your encouraging comments to help us improve this GREAT app. 

Weather Plus is ***The Regional Selections Winners of 2010 BlackBerry Super Apps Challenge***, the Creator & Founder of Push weather info to home screen, with more polished icon, deluxe homescreen badge and inner Pages Layout, steady & smooth connection with accurate weather forecast, and the ★★Worldwide Initiative★★ DIY home screen display mode!! 
Read full description

Download Weather Plus 3.1.4

The Weather Channel 
ByThe Weather Channel 
3 stars 4602 reviews 
Rated: General

It’s The Weather Channel® when and where you need it the most. Get detailed conditions and forecasts, radar maps, local and national severe weather alerts, airport delays and more. You can even access the weather from your calendar or address book, and forward alerts to friends and family. 
Read full description

Download The Weather Channel

BeWeather Free 
By Bellshare GmbH
4 stars 1567 reviews 
Rated: General

BeWeather is a visually stunning weather application for your BlackBerry® smartphone.

Voted #1 News/Weather App 2010 by CrackBerry.com! 
Voted #1 BlackBerry® App Developer of the Year 2010 by CrackBerry.com!

Get instant access to current conditions plus detailed 7-day and 24-hour forecasts for locations worldwide.

Keep up to 3 locations at the same time and switch between them with a flick of the trackpad or a swipe on your touchscreen!

Read full description 

Download BeWeather Free

WeatherBug
By Earth Networks 
3 1/2 stars 4386 reviews 
Rated: General

Stay informed and prepared with live local weather, severe weather alerts, in-depth forecasts, camera views, detailed radar maps and international weather. The features of the WeatherBug application for the BlackBerry® Storm™ include:

Download WeatherBug

WeatherEye
ByThe Weather Network 
2 1/2 stars 8887 reviews 
Rated: General 

IMPORTANT NOTE: PLEASE UNINSTALL BEFORE INSTALLING THE NEW VERSION

The Weather Network application is the reliable source to plan your day and beyond. Get detailed weather conditions, forecast and severe weather alerts for your location, without having to select a city or province/state.

Download WeatherEye

As promise, here now is the 2nd part of my "beatiful blackberry theme" compilation.
Again, all from Raypho

Available for : - 8350 (OS 4.6, 5.0) - 8500 (OS 4.6, 5.0) - 8900 (OS 4.6, 5.0) - 9000 (OS 4.6, 5.0) - 9100 (OS 5.0, 6.0) - 9300 (OS 5.0, 6.0) - 9500 (OS 4.7, 5.0) - 9600 (OS 4.7, 5.0, 6.0) - 9670 (OS 6.0) - 9700 (OS 5.0, 6.0) - 9780 (OS 6.0) - 9800 (OS 6.0)

All in one theme including complete Today items, fixed text icons, and user definable icons : 

- Fixed Today Plus (Calendar, Messages, SMS and MMS, Phone call log) 
- 6 user definable icons 
- Fixed text icons 
- Low File Size 
- OS 6 icons -
 Fast and no lag 
- Landscape support for Touch devices 

YOU CAN GET A UNIQUE OFFER WITH BIG DISCOUNT: 
Today 3 
 http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/55064?lang=en 

After download, you can find the theme at : 
OS 4.6 - OS 5.0 : Option, Theme 
OS 6.0 : Option, Display, Screen Display and Scroll Down

Available for : - 8350 (OS 4.6, 5.0) - 8500 (OS 4.6, 5.0) - 8900 (OS 4.6, 5.0) - 9000 (OS 4.6, 5.0) - 9100 (OS 5.0, 6.0) - 9300 (OS 5.0, 6.0) - 9500 (OS 4.7, 5.0) - 9600 (OS 4.7, 5.0, 6.0) - 9670 (OS 6.0) - 9700 (OS 5.0, 6.0) - 9780 (OS 6.0) - 9800 (OS 6.0)

A super simple theme with fixed today on homescreen : 
- Fixed today screen 
- User definable 6 icons (5 icons for 9100, 9800 devices) 
- OS 6 notification icons 
- OS 6 battery and signal meter 
- Customized focus icons and background 
- Glowing effect when focussing the icon on homescreen 
- Low file size 

* THE CALENDAR AT HOMESCREEN IS FIXED AND CAN NOT BE REMOVED

Available for : 
- Most devices running OS 4.6, OS 4.7, OS 5.0, OS 6.0 

Features : 
- Hideable top icon (alt+1, alt+2 for non touch, touch middle and the icon area for touch devices) 
- Hideable bottom icons (alt+3, alt+4, touch middle and icon area for touch devices) 
- Wallpaper friendly 
- Colorful

Available for : - 8300 (OS 4.5) - 8330 (OS 4.5, 5.0) - 8350 (OS 4.6, 5.0) - 8500 (OS 4.6, 5.0) - 8700 (OS 4.5) - 8800 (OS 4.5) - 8900 (OS 4.6, 4.7, 5.0) - 9000 (OS 4.6, 5.0) - 9100 (OS 5.0, 6.0) - 9300 (OS 5.0, 6.0) - 9500 (OS 4.7, 5.0) - 9600 (OS 4.7, 5.0, 6.0) - 9670 (OS 6.0) - 9700 (OS 5.0, 6.0) - 9780 (OS 6.0) - 9800 (OS 6.0)

Can't resists the beauty and technology of a single flower theme? Botanical flower is a beautiful botanical flower taken in a spring garden. What are we waiting for? A beautiful botanical flower is all we need to customize our phone with the beauty of nature. 

Here we go the flower is not only beautiful but also has the updated features of 6 icons, customized battery and signal meter, simple design

Download directly from BBAppWorld: Gramilos   Etheria   Destiny   Botanical Flower

This is my first compilation of beautiful blackberry themes..
All from Raypho

Available for : - 8350 (OS 4.6, 5.0) - 8500 (OS 4.6, 5.0) - 8900 (OS 4.6, 4.7, 5.0) - 9000 (OS 4.6, 5.0) - 9100 (OS 5.0, 6.0) - 9300 (OS 5.0, 6.0) - 9500 (OS 4.7, 5.0) - 9600 (OS 4.7, 5.0, 6.0) - 9670 (OS 6.0) - 9700 (OS 5.0, 6.0) - 9780 (OS 6.0) - 9800 (OS 6.0) 
 8 user definable icons 
Customized icons and backgrounds 
Storm & Torch landscape support

Compatible with : Most devices running OS 4.6, OS 4.7, OS 5.0, OS 6.0 Features : 
- User definable icons (non hideable) 
- OCD slot (non hideable) 
- 3 Fixed icons (non hideable) 
- Default focus icons on app screen 
- Default notification icon 
- Default Call screen 
 TO GET THE PREMIUM VERSION GO TO http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/50691?lang=en or YOU CAN GET IT AT THE LINK PROVIDED WITHIN THE THEME

Available for : - 8350 (OS 4.6, 5.0) - 8500 (OS 4.6, 5.0) - 8900 (OS 4.6, 5.0) - 9300 (OS 5.0, 6.0) - 9500 (OS 4.7, 5.0) - 9600 (OS 4.7, 5.0, 6.0) - 9700 (OS 5.0, 6.0) - 9780 (OS 6.0) - 9800 (OS 6.0) 
*Not compatible with : 9100, 9670 OS 6.0 * It is strongly recommended if you set the clock format to 24 hour by going into option, date/time for OS 5 and display, date/time for OS 6

Features : 
- Hideable weather slot (Non Touch : alt + 1, alt + 4, Touch : press under the clock area and Escape) 
- Hideable sliding 6-8 icons at homescreen (Non Touch : press alt + 2, alt + 4, Touch : press clock's left area and Escape) 
- Hideable today (Non Touch : alt + 3, alt + 4, Touch : press middle area and Escape) 
- Hideable banner (Non touch : alt + 5, alt + 6, Touch : press left area and right area at the bottom) 
- Customized clock 
- Customized fonts at homescreen 
- Customized icons 
- Customized battery meter 
- Customized notification icon 
- Wallpaper friendly 
- Dark Scheme

Available for : - 8350 (OS 4.6, 5.0) - 8500 (OS 4.6, 5.0) - 8900 (OS 4.6, 5.0) - 9000 (OS 4.6, 5.0) - 9300 (OS 5.0, 6.0) - 9500 (OS 4.7, 5.0) - 9600 (OS 4.7, 5.0, 6.0) - 9700 (OS 5.0, 6.0) - 9780 (OS 6.0) - 9800 (OS 6.0)

Features : 
================Non Touch================= 
- Hideable weather slot (press alt + 1, alt + 2) 
- Hideable user definable 6-7 icons (press alt + 3, alt + 4) 
- Hideable additional function banner of 3 fixed icons (alt + 5, alt + 6) 
- Hideable Today (z, Escape button) - Small profile icon at low banner 
- Semi transparent white silver banner at homescreen 
- Semi transparent pink focus icon 
- Wallpaper friendly 
================Touch================= 
- Hideable weather slot (Touch the area besides the icon to hide and touch the icon area to unhide) 
- Hideable user definable 7 icons (Touch top banner area above the clock to hide and touch the icons area to unhide) - Hideable additional function banner of 3 fixed icons (Escape to hide and touch the 3 icons area to unhide) 
- Hideable Today (Touch just above of today area to hide and touch today area to unhide) 
- Small profile icon at low banner 
- Semi transparent white silver banner at homescreen 
- Semi transparent pink focus icon 
- Wallpaper friendly  

* Gradient colors at menu only apply for OS 4.7 and up

Download directly from BBAppWorld: A-Reika   Altiaris(Free Trial)   Axel With Os 7 Icons   InSeven Pink

Note: Wait for the part 2 of this blog

Hi Etrewsian!
This message came from my BBM contacts, so instead of broadcasting this to my contacts, I think I should post it here...
Let's say it's 6.15pm and you're going home (alone of course), after an unusually hard day on the job. You're really tired, upset and frustrated. Suddenly you start experiencing severe pain in your chest that starts to drag out into your arm and up into your jaw. You are only about five miles from the hospital nearest your home.  Unfortunately you don't know if you'll be able to make it that far. You have been trained in CPR, but the guy that taught the course did not tell you how to perform it on yourself. 

HOW TO SURVIVE A HEART ATTACK WHEN ALONE 

Since many people are alone when they suffer a heart attack, without help, the person whose heart is beating improperly and who begins to feel faint, has only about 10 seconds left before losing consciousness. 

However, these victims can help themselves by coughing repeatedly and very vigorously. A deep breath should be taken before each cough, and the cough must be deep and prolonged, as when producing sputum from deep inside the chest. 
A breath and a cough must be repeated about every two seconds without let-up until help arrives, or until the heart is felt to be beating normally again. 
Deep breaths get oxygen into the lungs and coughing movements squeeze the heart and keep the blood circulating. 
The squeezing pressure on the heart also helps it regain normal rhythm. In this way, heart attack victims can get to a hospital. 

Tell as many other people as possible about this. It could save their lives!! A cardiologist says If everyone who gets this broadcast sends it to 10 people, you can bet that we'll save at least one life. 

Rather than sending jokes please.. contribute by broadcasting this which can save a person's life .

Source: My BBM Contact

Item Description

"Lose weight with MyFitnessPal, the fastest and easiest to use calorie counter for BlackBerry®. With the largest food database of any BlackBerry calorie counter (over 1,200,000 foods), and amazingly fast food and exercise entry, we’ll help you take those extra pounds off! There is no better diet app – period. 
▌PC Magazine Editor's Choice Selection 
▌Wired Magazine's Editor's Pick for Lifestyle Apps Featured in the NY Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Family Circle, Marie Claire, NBC, CNET, Shape, the Today Show and more. 
▌USER REVIEWS: 
■ “This app is the best as far as calorie counting goes! A must see! ...and download!” 
■ “The food database is HUGE! I’ve NEVER had a missing food.” 
■ “The first diet tool that has ever worked for me! I’ve lost 30 pounds!"" 
■ “This app takes seconds to use, it’s that simple."" 
■ ""Incredibly easy to use."" 
■ ""I can’t believe this app is free! I would have paid for this.” 
▌WHY WE’RE BETTER THAN OTHER APPS 
■ Largest food database of any BlackBerry® calorie counter – over 1,200,000 foods and growing daily. 
■ Easiest and fastest food entry – remembers your favorites, add multiple foods at once, save and add entire meals, and more. 
■ Fully syncs with the web, so you can log from your computer or your phone, which ever is more convenient. Plus your data is backed up online so you never lose it. 
■ Comprehensive feature set – create your own custom foods and exercises, track all major nutrients, progress reports, customized goals based on your diet profile, and more. 
■ Very stable - well-written app that is a pleasure to use with great customer support 
■ IT WORKS – the success of our users shows that we can help you lose weight 
▌FOOD 
■ 1,200,000+ food database, Updated daily. 
■ Track all major nutrients: calories, fat, protein, carbs, sugar, fiber, cholesterol, and more 
■ Frequently used foods automatically remembered for easy access 
■ Save and reuse entire meals 
■ Recipe calculator - Enter your own recipes and calculate their nutritional contents 
■ Add multiple items at once 
■ Create an unlimited number of custom foods 
▌EXERCISE 
■ Over 350 exercises 
■ Track both cardio and strength training, including sets, reps, and weight/rep 
■ Create an unlimited number of custom exercises 
■ Enter your own calorie amounts – great for HRM’s or exercise equipment with calorie reports 
▌GOALS 
■ Customized goals based on your specific diet profile – age, gender, activity level, etc. 
■ Enter your own goals if you’ve gotten specific recommendations from a doctor, nutritionist, etc. 
▌REPORTS 
■ Track your weight, measurements and more 
■ View charts of your progress over time for motivation 
■ Daily nutritional summary with all major nutrients 
■ View more detailed reports online at www.myfitnesspal.com 
▌ON THE WEB AT WWW.MYFITNESSPAL.COM 
■ Get support and motivation from our huge community of millions of dieters just like you 
■ Entries are automatically synced to the web and vice versa, so you can log online or on your phone, whichever is more convenient 
■ Automatically post your progress to Twitter and Facebook (optional) 

Note: a MyFitnessPal.com account is required to synchronize and safely backup your data. You can create your account for free within the app.

Download directly from BBAppWorld

Item Description

Gym Technik - 30 Day Free Trial! Voted Best Health/Fitness App For The BlackBerry® - CrackBerry.com Best of 2010 & 2009 "Best Training-Only 'Berry App" - Flex Magazine 
 
With Gym Technik you'll motivated and reach your fitness goals faster. Get workout guidance and track workouts, body stats, and schedule monthly workout routines with your BlackBerry® Smartphone. Your stats sync to www.gymtechnik.com where you can find workout plans, build routines, chart your progress and view workout summaries. 

Get access to our library of exercises with instructional images and videos. Need more exercises? Add your own to the library. 

Gym Technik transforms your BlackBerry® into your workout partner: 
* Stream full motion video on each exercise 
* Track reps, weights, time for all exercise types: Free weights, machines, resistance bands, cables, body ball 
* Track time, speed, distance, and calories burned for cardio exercises 
* Use the built-in resting and recovery timer * See how you performed each set and exercise previously 
* Track body weight, body fat, and body size measurements 
* Upload progress photos 
* View and schedule workouts on a calendar 
* Sync and save all your data securely onto Gym Technik Online 
* Share progress with automatic Facebook/Twitter messages 
* Get personalized workouts pushed to your BlackBerry with PremiumPlus 

At www.gymtechnik.com you can 
* Access workout data anytime & anywhere 
* Graph workout & body stat progress 
* See before/after photos of yourself 

 Download and get a 30 day free trial of Premium. The app is available to premium accounts only. At the end of the trial, you will not be charged unless you choose to upgrade at www.gymtechnik.com/store

Download directly from BBAppWorld

Cher Lugossi 

"I just started using Gym Technik so far so good!!! By the way, I'm just using their free trial. And if it really works, I will continue using it"

The Department of Tourism (DOT) is launching a new brand campaign to attract visitors to the country with the line -  ‘It’s more fun in the Philippines.’

Focusing on the country’s core strength, the campaign singles out what no other destination can offer - and that is the Filipino people.

For example, the Lonely Planet guidebook calls Filipinos ‘among the most easygoing and ebullient people anywhere.’

“Our strategy is simple: while other countries invite you to observe, Filipinos can promise a more heartfelt and interesting experience. Wherever you go, whatever you do in the country, it’s the Filipinos that will complete your vacation and will make your holiday unforgettable,” says the new Tourism Secretary, Ramon Jimenez, Jr.

The Filipinos are already known around the world to be one of the happiest and warmest people on earth. The campaign hopes to enjoin the whole country in creating positive buzz of the tagline.


As the international campaign is underway, the DOT is also developing a national initiative under the line ‘#1FORFUN’ to rally the nation.

 “The national line is a goal, a constant reminder to ourselves why we can tell travellers it’s more fun here than anywhere else,” says the Secretary, “It needs everyone’s support for it to stay true—we need to make sure people’s experiences in our country are positive, enjoyable, and most of all, fun.”

The long-awaited idea was developed by advertising agency BBDO Guerrero, appointed in December after an exhaustive pitch overseen personally by Secretary Jimenez himself and approved by the President and members of the Cabinet.

Wherever you go in the Philippines, it's the Filipino that will make your holiday unforgetable> Just ask anyone who's been here


Find out for yourself why it’s more fun in the Philippines.
And make the most out of your next vacation.

This is just a preview of things to come.
Watch out for more fun. Soon.

Philippine National Football team member Phil Younghusbandadmits he thinks Kapamilya actress Angel Locsin is "the one" even though they don’t want to put a label on their relationship. 

“I can see Angel in my future,” he told members of the press during the launch of the United Football League (UFL) on January 11, at the Society Lounge in Makati City. “I think she’s the one.”

According to Phil, there’s nothing in particular about theirrelationship that made him feel this way. 

“(It's) just the way our relationship (goes),” he explained. “We just know. For me, we just know. You don’t need any evidence. When we’re together, we feel strongly about each other.”

The 24-year-old football player added, “Being with Angel is special. It feels different. I’m happier than I’ve ever been. And I just know that I want my future as happy as it is now. And I know that will be with Angel.”

Love without labels

Still, Phil says they don’t see the need to put any labels on their relationship. Although the two admit they're in love with each other, neither of has confirmed their relationship's real status.

“We don’t feel the status of our relationship is important. What we feel is important is what we feel for each other and we’re in love and happy and we want to be together,” he shares.

He adds that being in love and constant communication keep them close and their relationshipsecure.

“We talk a lot and we communicate which means we don’t fight,” Phil revealed. “I don’t think we’ve had a problem. We haven’t had a problem.”

That doesn’t mean, of course, that their relationship is boring despite the lack of tension. 

“We’re in love, we’re happy, and it’s not boring. Why would two people want to fight?” he said. “Whenever we have a problem with anything, we discuss it. We’re two very honest and trusting people. We communicate, and that’s how we get through.

Excited for UFL

Phil will play forward for the Loyola-Meralco Sparks in the UFL competitions, which will start this weekend. 

“I’m good. I’m happy. I’m excited for Saturday. I’m excited to play,” he says.

For this first game this season, the Sparks will play against the Green Archers United this Saturday. Will Angel be able to watch the game?

“No. She’s busy shooting. She’s working every day at the moment so she won’t be there."

The UFL League will kick off this Saturday, January 14, 4pm, at the Rizal Memorial Stadium and will be aired live by AKTV on IBC13. 


Source: Yahoo Philippines OMG!

The latest instalment of the Jason Bourne Hollywood spy franchise began filming in the chaotic Philippine capital Tuesday amid heavy security with the city on alert over a feared terrorist attack. 

Police officers with bomb sniffing dogs scoured a warren of Manila alleyways where British actress Rachel Weisz and her co-star, Jeremy Renner, shot scenes for the much anticipated "Bourne Legacy" movie.

A 200-man crowd and traffic control team deployed by Manila authorities also blocked off a market road where the filming took place, while private security guards were in strategic places to thwart overzealous fans or strangers.

"We want to ensure that this film ends here without a hitch," said Ed Untalan, head of the local Task Force Bourne set up to coordinate security.

Filming began just three days after President Benigno Aquino placed Manila security forces on alert over what he said was plot to bomb a Catholic procession on Monday not far from where the Bourne film is set.

The attack never occurred but the national police chief said on Tuesday his forces would remain on full alert because up to nine suspected Islamic militants who had been planning the attack were still on the loose.

But the mood among locals on Wednesday was one of excitement with fans jostling each other to catch a glimpse of Weisz and Renner as they shot scenes in dark, crowded alleyways near a sprawling slum.

"This is the first time I've seen a Hollywood actor at arms' length and in person. My heart is still thumping hard," said Elmer Rufino, 43, a sailor who had returned home for a vacation.

"I've followed the Bourne movies, and now I can tell my shipmates this was shot in my neighbourhood."

Weisz plays opposite Renner, who takes the lead role from Matt Damon in the movie about the workings of a shadowy Central Intelligence Agency unit that trains super spies.

The filming in Manila will also take the cast to an old colonial Spanish fortress, a bustling fish port and a major thoroughfare infamous for its bumper-to-bumper traffic.

The Philippine production unit's head, Jun Juban, said the tourism industry would get a boost from publicity, with some of the final scenes in the 40-day shoot set to take place on the picturesque frontier island of Palawan.

"They chose us because they said they felt more welcome here," Juban said, adding that producers had initially looked at Indonesia and Vietnam as alternative sites.

Source: Yahoo Philippines! 

BY COACH JOSH 

1. The first thing that may strike you as strange in this photo is the Slim Fast drink mix. You may be wondering why this Slim Fast product is along with the other “bad snacks.” Well, if you look at the ingredients the very first ingredient in this product is sugar! In fact, this “weight loss drink” has 10g of sugar, just 2g of protein and is stuffed full of artificial sweeteners, artificial flavors and very questionable ingredients if you are interested in losing belly fat.
2. The next thing I would like to point out is the Weight Watchers chocolate chip soft cookies. Their first ingredient is enriched wheat flour, and the second ingredient is sugar, but this supposed “health product” also contains partially hydrogenated oils/trans fats which research has shown has all sorts of negative effects in the body, including increasing the risks for certain cancers.
3. Betty Crocker’s Fruit Roll-Up product is a hoot. Many parents across America are giving this product to their children thinking that because it has the word fruit in the name of the product it is healthy, but it’s not. This product contains 7g of sugar per roll, but even worse is that it contains partially hydrogenated oils, corn syrup and a lot of food dyes. You would be way better off providing fresh fruit to your child instead of one of these “belly fat bulgers.”
4. Hunt’s Sugar Free Gelatin may sound great because it is low in sugar, but it contains artificial sweeteners and hydrogenated oils (trans fats).
5. Ritz Crackers contain partially hydrogenated oil, high fructose corn syrup and enriched flour which make them a very unhealthy product. Doritos Cool Ranch potato chips contain MSG, which is definitely not at the top of my list of ingredients to get a slim belly.
6. Special K “candy bars” contain sugar and partially hydrogenated oil as their first two ingredients. And later on down the label, they throw in high fructose corn syrup as a kicker. Stay away from this bar for sure. Not to mention that it has 3.5g of saturated fat. What is ironic is that the Snickers candy bar has almost the same ingredient profile as the Special K protein meal bar.
7. The Atkins Advantage chocolate peanut butter bar has almost 6g of saturated fat and 12g of fat overall, plus they pack 240 calories in this little bar that won’t satisfy your hunger for long.
8. Rolo chewy caramel candy contains both high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated oils (trans fats).
9. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups contain a whopping 13g of fat and 20g of sugar per package.
10. Snicker’s Marathon Energy Bar contains high fructose corn syrup.
11. Cool Ranch Doritos are not cool because they have MSG and partially hydrogenated soybean oil (trans fat.)
12. Each bag of peanut M&M’s contains 25g of sugar! Like most candies, these are not a good choice.
13. The Snickers candy bar contains partially hydrogenated soybean oil (trans fat) and 20g sugar. 

Source: Belly Fat Free

Another year, another attempt to lose weight? Sounds like it’s time to ditch that old diet and try these top new fat-shifting tips instead 

Once upon a time, staying a healthy weight was easy. It could be summed up by the phrase “calories in equal calories out”. To lose weight you simply had to practise the reverse of home economics – spend more than you earned. Unfortunately for many, but perhaps not surprisingly, it turns out that people are rather more complicated than bank accounts.

A lot of research has gone into unravelling the intricacies of our personal fat accounts – driven by the dream of winning the billion-dollar prize of an effective fat pill. Some of the findings have been, to put it mildly, counter-intuitive. They also suggest whole new ways of dieting.

To stay a healthy weight, you need a hormone called leptin to work properly. It sends “I’m full” messages from the fat cells up to the brain, where they go, among other places, to the same pleasure centres that respond to sex and drugs like cocaine. Obese people produce plenty of leptin, but the brain doesn’t seem to respond to it properly. Last year, researchers at the Oregon Research Institute scanned the brains of overweight people and found their reward circuits were underactive. They were eating more to try to get the enjoyment they were missing. In other words, the study showed that fat people are actually the opposite of greedy – because they get less pleasure from eating than others do.

There’s a lot of evidence for the fact that most, if not all, of us have a set point around which our weight can vary by about seven to nine kilos, but anything beyond that is a real struggle. This goes for naturally thin people trying to gain weight as well. Making changes is hard, particularly if your body is working against you, because – as the leptin example shows – the whole weight control system is intimately interconnected with our pleasure centres.

So if your body is sabotaging your efforts to lose weight, why not ditch the traditional approaches and try some new methods, based on the latest research, that work with your body rather than against it . . .

The eat-every-other-day diet

Of course you can still follow the well trodden route of cutting calories, and by sticking to around 1500 a day you will lose weight. Other upsides are that the kilos will stay off and that you will become very healthy: the risk of all the big killers – heart disease, cancer, diabetes – will plummet, along with that of allergies, asthma and infectious diseases. The downside is that you will be constantly hungry and miserable. But what if you could get all those benefits without being in a permanent state of semi-starvation?

Well, maybe you can. The trick is to try an “alternate-day” diet. Several years ago researchers at the National Institute on Aging in Baltimore reported that when they gave rats very little food one day and allowed them to eat plenty the next, they showed virtually all the benefits of a permanent calorie restriction diet. The same goes for humans, according to Dr James Johnson who has set up a website with information on how to do it. (johnsonupdaydowndaydiet.com).

How does it work? Besides forcing the body to burn fat, it may also trigger hormonal changes, such as ramping up the activity of two anti-ageing genes called SIRT3 and SIRT4. Most people say that the diet takes a bit of getting used to, but is not as grinding as trying to cut back on an everyday basis.

Just-published research from the University of Illinois at Chicago of a ten-week trial on obese patients who followed a form of the alternate-day diet revealed a weight loss ranging from four to 13 kilograms, whereas the researchers expected an average of only two kilograms. Blood pressure, heart rate and cholesterol were also lowered.

Keep cool

Older dieters may remember some-thing called brown fat. Unlike the undesirable white stuff, this was a dieter’s dream. Instead of storing excess energy as fat, brown-fat tissue burned it off to keep you warm – at least in mice. Brown fat fell out of favour because researchers couldn’t find much in humans but now, thanks to the New England Journal of Medicine, it’s back in fashion. The idea is to expose people to cold temperatures. They then make more brown fat and their weight drops. Women kept at 22˚C used up 27 more grams of body fat a day than those at 27˚C. So turn on the air-con.