What does the term 'negative calories' mean?

I know it has something to do with eating foods that actually make you lose weight - even though these foods contain calories. The foods are healthy but this concept is counter intuitive to me. Some people swear by it, others say it holds no merit.

Any ideas? And does this concept really work?

So I'm looking to amp up my work out a bit and gain leaner muscle (not necessarily interested in dropping weight) and was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on protein shakes.

We've recently discussed weight loss programs and clinics. While some people have enjoyed a measure of success following a "clinic" plan, they have also regained the weight.

Joy Bauer would have you eat real food to lose 10 pounds in 5 weeks, before the holiday season begins. Here's how:

1. Lose the dressing on your salad, using basalmic vinegar or lemon juice, instead
2. Lose the whole fat milk for skim
3. Lose one slice of bread on your sandwich for open-faced

One of my exercise programs recommends I use a heart rate monitor. Naturally I want to boost my heart health but am not sure where to start in terms of which heart monitor to use. A friend suggested I try a 'ring' or 'finger' monitor, but it didn't fit correctly. I'm also looking for a reliable pedometer. Any suggestions?

What is heavier: a ton of feathers, or a ton of bricks?

They're both a ton, so they're both the same weight. Well, a pound of fat weighs the same as a pound of muscle. It's logical. A personal trainer dispels the gym myth about replacing lost fat with muscle and answers the question I hear so often as a marathon/half marathon walking coach:

Why Doesn’t Exercise Always Affect Body Weight?

I am wondering how many times I need to exercise for it to really count. I have read rather conflicting ideas.

One place said three times a week is fine, which is roughly every other day. Another said at least five times a week.

How often does one need to exercise and for how long? Currently I am exercising four days a week (mainly cardio) for 45 minutes each time. It's not likely that I can do much more, given my time constraints. I'm in fairly good shape and exercise to maintain my weight and fitness, rather than lose weight, although I am working on toning up more.

I would like to know why weight gain targets some people all over (the apple shape) or some people in their lower regions (the pear shape) and other people in the upper region (I have no fruit-comparison for that one!)?

What is it with our own bodies that causes weight to target one person all over,or another only their top or bottom half? Is this a genetic pre-disposition?

I was really shocked to read about how young kids are being put on cholesterol-lowering statin drugs, based on new guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The scary thing to me is how these drugs have barely been tested in kids. So far, five different statin drugs have been approved for use in children, and yet these kinds of drugs have only been tested for a period of two years in a small group of children who had a genetic defect that caused high cholesterol. There's absolutely no long-term data.

I'm wondering if anyone has ever done one of those body detox programs like the Master Cleanse? It's with lemon juice, maple syrup and cayenne pepper and water. Sounds horrible but apparently it works. You drink only that for at least 10 days to upwards of 30 days. 30 days seems too much to me but this 'cleanse' claims to rid the body of all it's toxins and rid the body of cravings for junk food, sweets and fats.