Keeping Fast Food Under Control

Macro shot of the Jr. Deluxe Burger from Sonic...

Image via Wikipedia

The first thing that must be accepted is that as a general rule, fast foods have too many calories and a large number of fat grams. For example, those who buy a meal-deal at most of these chains are easily eating 1,200 calories in one sitting as well as 50+ grams of fat. That’s not to say you couldn’t eat the occasional fast food item and still keep your weight in check, but to do so keep in mind the high calories involved, for it requires self discipline and portion control.

If you’re determined to eat fast food, think small. Most of these food chains give you the option between sandwich and hamburger sizes that range between small and extra large. The smaller the size the better off your calorie intake will be. If you’re used to the larger sizes, going small could save you as much as 600 calories in a single order.

If you’re in the mood for a burger, order it as simple as possible. Don’t add bacon, cheese or chili. Leaving the additional toppings off can reduce the calories by several hundreds and scores of fat grams. If it’s a burrito you’re after, leave off the sour cream and go with salsa instead; skip the guacamole and cheese and ask for pico de gallo instead. And if you go with a fish sandwich ask for fresh lemon and forego the tartar sauce.

Whenever you are given the choice between grilled or fried, go grilled. If it’s between fried or baked, go baked. And order the option that skips any batter or breading. You may think you’re being healthier by ordering crispy chicken or breaded fish instead of a hamburger. Guess again. Both calories and fat in these choices sometimes exceed those of a hamburger.

Fortunately most fast foods now post the calories in most of their food choices. Check this information and you’ll be able to keep your calories under control.

Filed Under: Health, Medical Bills Tagged With: , , , ,

The Procrastination Problem, Part 2

If you want to procrastinate less or not at all – and make your life more meaningful – you need a plan.

Stephen Covey, author and motivational speaker, recommends using a “compass” approach to organizing your life. A compass is a device that shows you which direction you’re heading. If you don’t know where you’re going, any path will get you there. But if you develop a vision for your life, then you quickly see the road you should take.

Most people want to achieve balance in their lives – becoming a well-rounded person who is effective and respected at work, at home and spiritually. Covey’s compass method calls for spending time at the beginning of each week to plan actions and activities that accomplish meaningful and important things in our lives. You can use an actual Covey compass tool, or make use of a small planning book or digital device to keep track of appointments and activities. Help your child with his art project Monday evening. Schedule lunch with a friend or colleague Tuesday. Go to the PTA meeting Tuesday evening. Finish the big report by Wednesday. Go to the gym Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Volunteer with a canned food drive Thursday evening. Meet your running buddies for your 10-mile distance run Saturday morning.

In this way you’re making time for the most important people and activities. The little things can come and go – they’re not important. Create your plan weekly. After a while you’ll see you’re accomplishing much more and feeling better about your life balance.

If a big project seems overwhelming, break it into smaller parts. Look at the due date and work backwards. Mark down milestones along the way and when various components need to be done. Be realistic as to how long it will take to finish the work so you schedule plenty of time. Fight through the urge to procrastinate.

Filed Under: Medical Bills Tagged With:

Payday Loans for Medical Bills

Almost every person in the country has had trouble paying bills at some point in their lifetime. If this is true, then you have had trouble too. Not every person who has had trouble paying the bills will seek out a loan to rectify the situation. Those that do, however, typically use payday loans. Payday loans are such an important part of the economic world these days that borrowers will use them to pay for a variety of different things including car insurance payments, car repair bills, utility bills and even medical bills. Some people use these loans to help payoff school, textbook purchases, buying a car and even going on a vacation.

If you need help paying some of your medical bills, especially your psychiatric bills, a payday loan might be able to help you in paying those bills. A payday loan will come in handy at the end of every month, when your psychiatrist hands you that all important bill for services rendered. Most psychiatrists will charge by the hour, which can be upwards of $150 or more, and some patients will seek out the doctor more than once or twice per week. This will make for a major bill at the end of the month. A payday loan works just like all other types of loans. It allows you to pay the money back over a specified period of time, with interest earning on the account of course.

These loans keep you from bouncing checks, missing payments on bills, or sending in too little money on a large bill that will ruin your credit score and put you into debt. These loans are not for everyone so be sure to do some research before filling out the online application. Payday loans do help those who need the extra cash though.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: Medical Bills, Treatment Tagged With: , , ,

Eliminating Medical Bills Through Bill Consolidation

Having good health is a quality of life that many people are fortunate enough to enjoy. However, there are some situations where a person may not be so fortunate, whether it’s a brief illness or a long-term diagnoses, and their quality of life is slightly reduced. In addition to their life-altering situation, mounting medical bills may also plague them, making things even more difficult.

In situations where there are frequent health issues and trips to get medical care, medical bills can climb and become hard to manage. In addition to maintaining those medical payments responsibilities, families also have other financial obligations to consider including mortgages, car loans, college loans, insurance, etc. These recurring bills along with mounting medical bills can eventually become overwhelming. To alleviate some of the stress of mounting debt, family’s may consider bill consolidation to reduce and eliminate any medical bills, and any other expenses through debt reduction.

Medical bills are sometimes difficult to pay and people often have to find alternative means to repay their debt. Because medical bill payments can be stifling and laborious, very often people seek for other creative ways to pay off their debt and still maintain a good credit rating by avoiding any defaults. Debt consolidation has proven to be a very worthwhile method to get a persons expenses back on track, and it does so in a very methodical, paced way so that the person has time to adjust their lifestyle and the space to meet their responsibilities. Therefore, if any medical condition is temporary or long-term, the person has the flexibility to take care of their medical needs without the added burden of stress and unpaid bills looming over their heads. They can continue to pursue a happy, healthy life as they settle their debts and meet their financial and health goals at the same time.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: Medical Bills Tagged With: ,