4 Diet and Weight Loss Tips for Men

Here are four diet and weight loss tips designed especially for men to help you trim down, tone up, and increase your overall health.

  1. Count your calories. Because many diet websites focus on women, their recommended diet plans might not apply to men. Be sure to work out a healthy eating plan with your doctor to ensure that you get the right amount of calories for your body type.
  2. Think about your younger years. If you played football or frequently lifted weights in your teens and twenties, think back on your healthy habits from these days when planning a weight loss plan. You can even pull out an old photo of yourself at your fittest for some inspiration.
  3. Keep a log. Use your phone or a discreet notebook to record your meals and workouts and to ensure that you stay on track.
  4. Know the risks. Men generally store fat in the upper body (which often shows up as a “beer belly”). This area is easier to lose weight in, but it can also cause heart disease if you hold on to it. Be sure to lose the weight and practice slow, steady weight loss techniques in order to keep it off.

3 Weight Loss Tips for Men [Spark People]
Weight Loss for Men [Weight Loss Resources]
Top 10: Weight Loss Motivation Tips [Ask Men]

Happy Presidents Day

Today we take the time to honor our courageous leaders and how their visions have shaped our great country.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Wishing you a sweet day with your loved ones!

What’s Your Favorite Class at YogaOne Studios?

Along with yoga's rising popularity in recent years has come a proliferation of classes featuring different styles of yoga, and it can sometimes be hard to find a studio that offers your preferred yoga style. That's where YogaOne comes in: this yoga studio's Bellaire location offers just about everything, from bikram-style hot yoga and vinyasa flow to forrest yoga, so no matter what you're looking for, you can probably find it here.

What's more, since the folks at YogaOne understand how important it is to find an instructor you connect with and a class that fits your needs, newcomers to the studio can get a heavily discounted 30-day trial membership that allows you to try over 350 classes taught by several dozen instructors at any of YogaOne's five locations. Yelp reviewers say the Bellaire staff is especially friendly and motivational, so whether you're new to yoga or a seasoned yogi, you'll likely find yourself welcome here.

YogaOne Studio
5427 Bellaire Boulevard
Bellaire, TX 77401
(281) 888-7724
www.yogaonehouston.com
www.yelp.com/biz/yogaone-studios-bellaire

Ba Mien Bistro: Enjoy Authentic Vietnamese Pho at This Houston BYOB

Ba Mien Bistro’s authentic Vietnamese cuisine may come from three regions of Thailand, but you will only find the restaurant in one place: Houston. Along with rice plates, vermicelli bowls, and sandwiches, the restaurant serves pho, which is a traditional Vietnamese noodle soup consisting of a rich, savory broth that teems with noodles, herbs, and meat. The soup’s meat could include rare flank steak, seafood, or brisket. Diners who prefer meat-free plates can choose from Ba Mien Bistro’s vegetarian selection, which features tofu spring rolls, sandwiches, and rice plates. Bring your favorite drink to pair with your meal; Ba Mien is BYOB.

Inside the small restaurant, white plates and black and white photos hang on gray walls over silver tables and chairs and an industrial floor. The restaurant also has an outdoor patio for those hoping to dine al fresco.

Ba Mien Bistro
5102 FM 1960 Road West
Houston, TX 77069
(281) 781-8138
www.yelp.com/biz/ba-mien-bistro-houston

H-town Streats Food Truck: Don’t Miss the Shorty Mac Sandwich

The culinary trailblazers behind H-town Streats Food Truck aren't afraid to get creative in the kitchen. Their food truck's menu contains an eclectic mix of fare from near and far, but customers do say that a few of the creative eats stand out in the crowd.

The Shorty Mac grilled cheese is one of these exemplary creations. Instead of the typical slice of cheese and pat of butter, the Shorty Mac sports gooey mac and cheese tucked between two pieces of toast atop a layer of short rib beef. Yelp reviewers give it raves across the board and post photos to corroborate their stories. Regular patrons also love the fried avocado tacos, which are stuffed with uniquely crunchy deep-fried avocado. If neither of these items appeal to you, then perhaps H-town's Monte Cristo balls will. The fried spheres of ham and cheese also enjoy popularity among the food truck's customers.

H-town Streats Food Truck
Serving locations throughout Houston
www.facebook.com/Htownstreats
www.yelp.com/biz/h-town-streats-houston

How to Select Only the Freshest Veggies in the Produce Aisle

Fresh vegetables have a shorter lifespan than their frozen counterparts, so you likely want to make them last as long as possible when you purchase them. Use these expert tips to help you maintain a healthy diet and maximize the lifespan of your produce.

  1. Choose firm veggies. Vegetables like cucumbers, peppers, and onions should be firm, even colored, and free of bruises or other signs of damage. Be sure to pick these vegetables up in your hands and feel for consistent texture all the way around.
  2. Know your leafy greens. Green vegetables like spinach, kale, and lettuce should be crisp and brightly colored, with no visible signs of wilting or rot. You can also give these leafy vegetables a good whiff before buying to make sure that they don’t smell moldy.
  3. Inspect your root vegetables. The best potatoes, carrots, garlic, and other root vegetables may be a bit trickier to identify, but these simple tips can help: Look for cracking along the surface of the vegetable (an indicator that it's too dry), and be sure to avoid root veggies that smell rotten or moldy.
  4. Know your farmers' market veggies. If you regularly buy your produce at a supermarket, keep in mind that these types of stores use different techniques to make veggies look perfect. While farmers' market vegetables may not look as pretty, they’re still just as tasty.

How to Select Fresh, Ripe Produce [Lifehacker]
How to Pick Fruits & Veggies [Good Housekeeping]
Raw Produce: Selecting and Serving it Safely [FDA]
Choosing Fresh Fruits and Vegetables [Family Circle]

Plan a Visit to These Must-See Parks Near Houston, Texas

There's more to Houston that just bright lights and a little Western flair. In fact, you'll find that many of Houston's attractions lie just outside the city. Case in point: These two must-visit parks near Houston. One park lies on the river, while the other is known for its vast biological diversity. Either way, both make for a memorable getaway.

Big Thicket National Preserve
Big Thicket National Preserve is located about two hours outside of Houston. Here, you can find species from very different habitats living among each other in a relatively small area. Take a hike on a variety of different trails, ranging from a brisk boardwalk stroll to an extreme 15 mile trek. The preserve is also a popular destination for birdwatching, as approximately 185 migratory bird species make Big Thicket their home between March and early May. Canoeing and kayaking enthusiasts travel to Big Thicket year-round to cruise the Neches River and Village Creek.

Stephen F. Austin State Park
You'll find Stephen F. Austin State Park just 30 minutes from the outskirts of Houston, so it makes a quick day trip for anyone looking to get outdoors. This scenic retreat offers traditional camping activities such as hiking and fishing, as well as the more modern geocaching. If you'd like to keep it simple, go fishing for catfish along the Brazos River. There are wide variety of campsites to accommodate your camping needs, whether they be a place to hook up your RV, a cabin for shelter, or just a little spot to put your tent.

Chow Down on a Real Philly Cheesesteak at Pappa Geno’s

Grilled onions, steak, and Cheese Whiz. Those are all the ingredients necessary to craft a truly authentic Philly cheesesteak. At Pappa Geno's, an establishment more than a thousand miles away from the City of Brotherly Love, chefs closely observe this Philadelphia culinary tradition. The "Philly style steak and cheese" is just one of their creations, though.

They also recreate the classic Philly cheesesteak with a few fresh additions. Try the Smothered Philly, which includes a layer of zesty brown gravy on top, or the Freaky Philly, served with all the fixings: Cheese Whiz, American cheese, grilled onion, brown gravy, and Italian hot oil peppers. You can also go for another East Coast eat: the hoagie. The Hot Italian hoagie is stuffed with ham, Genoa salami, and provolone in addition to veggies, mayo, and Italian oil. The veggie hoagie, on the other hand, forgoes meat in favor of plant-based ingredients.

Pappa Geno's
1801 Ella Boulevard
Houston, TX 77008
(713) 863-1222
pappagenos.com
www.yelp.com/biz/pappa-genos-houston

Blue Water Seafood: Try Crawfish Three Ways

Brad Aplin comes from a long line of anglers. He's a third-generation commercial fisherman, which means he's dipped a toe in virtually every type of fishing: shrimping, crabbing, and oystering, to name a few. Along with Ping Aplin, Brad puts his expertise to good use at Blue Water Seafood. The pair opened the Houston seafood restaurant in 1996 with the goal of serving fresh fish, much of it sourced from other active fishermen in the Aplin family.

Customers seem to agree that the crawfish dishes are some of the tastiest! You can try it boiled, in a po'boy, or as part of the etouffee—a traditional New Orleans eat. They also love the fresh oysters for a starter, but you can order anything from fried alligator to a Mexican shrimp cocktail. There are other dishes to explore …… try the Mariners platter, which comes with shrimp and scallops, shrimp and oysters. Whatever you decide upon… you will not be disappointed!!

Blue Water Seafood
12914 FM 1960 Road
Houston, TX 77065
(281) 894-9221
http://www.bluewaterseafoodonline.com/

http://www.yelp.com/biz/blue-water-seafood-houston

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