ArcaMax

The Glycemic Index is all the rage right now. I am a big fan, but I have a few hints that might vary from what you read in most places.

The Glycemic Index is a measure of a food’s ability to spike your blood sugar. The index goes from 0 to 100-plus. (Yes, a food can actually score higher than 100. And white sugar is 100 so you know that’s ...Read more

I planted an asparagus patch once. While doing my research I learned you should not harvest it the first year. I followed those directions and let it mature through the year. I looked forward to the day when I’d be able to pick and eat my own asparagus. Unfortunately, the next spring weeds began encroaching from the cornfield behind my house. ...Read more

I’ve never been that fond of the grill. I think I can trace it back to when I was about 20 years old. I bought a charcoal grill that came in a box. I had to put it together. Even with perfectly clear directions, it still took me five hours to get that thing ready to cook a hotdog. It wasn’t the most expensive grill so it didn’t last more ...Read more

Editor's Note: We think you will enjoy this previously published Zola classic!

Intermittent Fasting

In the last few years, there’s a buzz phrase in the dieting community that is getting lots of coverage. It’s called intermittent fasting.

Intermittent fasting is the concept of going 12 to 18 hours without food.

Some research...Read more

I worked for a woman named Marilyn Lewis in 1980. I only met her in person once, but she made a lifelong impression on me.

Marilyn and her husband Harry lived in LA. He was an actor. Actors are not always working constantly and some fall on harder times. Harry knew that and had experienced that himself.

Besides acting, Harry dreamed of opening...Read more

Enjoy this previously published Zola classic

When I was a young girl of 12, I became obsessed with weight. Twiggy was the super model at the time and she was rail thin. I thought I needed to be like that. I wasn’t obese by any means. Turns out I was a normal 12-year-old, but I was worried I was too fat to be in my sister’s wedding so...Read more

It was late afternoon. I was at the grocery store picking up a few items to make dinner.

I passed two women greeting each other. One of them had a young daughter in tow. The girl was maybe seven years old. The moms were maybe in their late 30s.

We were all in the dairy section; the area with the big refrigerators full of milk and cream. The ...Read more

How to 'Zolafy' a Dessert Recipe

I’m one of those lucky people who can read a recipe and taste it in my head. I hope you are one too, but if you’re not, with a few guiding steps you can learn how to do it.

When you look on the internet (the world’s largest cookbook) these days, you’ll figure out there are duplications of recipes...Read more

From the IDF Diabetes Atlas:

Today, there are over 537 million people living with diabetes. By 2045, IDF projections show that 1 in 8 adults, approximately 783 million, will be living with diabetes, an increase of 46 percent. Over 90 percent of people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes, which is driven by socio-economic, demographic, ...Read more

The football game is over. The score is in the record books. The bets are paid off.

Interesting fact: over $6 billion is bet on the Super Bowl worldwide. Most of that is illegal betting; the kind that happens in the office pool, the corner bar, or even between fantasy league players.

I can make a bet too, and have pretty good odds. I bet ...Read more

Pop Quiz: If you put a lump of margarine by an ant hole, the ants will:

A) Ignore it.
B) Bury it.
C) Close up shop and move away.

Answer: B or C.

Ants know the difference between butter and margarine. Do you? Our friends at the Pure Body Institute are here to tell you all about it...

homeandleisure/recipes/zola/s-3099307">Read more

When I was growing up, most people believed that losing weight was all about "calories-in, calories-out." Today, we know it's a lot more complicated than that. The key to successful weight loss is understanding that not all calories are equal. It's critical to understand what your body does with the calories it's given. That's what Plan Z is all...Read more

As a youngster, I attended a Catholic grade school. In those days we gathered for morning Mass every day. When I was in second grade I was allowed to receive Communion, but that meant I had to fast for 3 hours in advance. So no breakfast at home for me before I hopped on the bus. Instead, I took my breakfast to school with me. Just like ...Read more

Enjoy this previously published Zola classic...

Why NOT to Renew Your Gym Membership This Year

1. Exercise really doesn’t help you lose weight; unless you do a LOT of it.

You almost have to be a professional loser. One study showed that women over 40 years old who do moderate exercise 60 minutes a day, five days a week, will ...Read more

A Personal Appeal from Zola

It has come to my attention that a drug used to treat diabetes is now flying off the shelves as a weight loss drug. If you (or someone you know) are thinking about using that kind of drug to lose weight let me ask you to think twice. I can tell you stories.

Before I created Plan Z Diet, I tried just about ...Read more

Editor's Note: Enjoy this previously published column and recipe. Merry Christmas!

When I was a little girl, our Christmas was a bit different than what most families experience.

My mother would save having the big dinner for the weekend after Christmas. She was a generous woman; and when I tell you the story it will all make perfect ...Read more

Intermittent Fasting

There’s a new buzz phrase in the dieting community that is getting lots of coverage. It’s called intermittent fasting.

Intermittent fasting is the concept of going 12 to 18 hours without food.

Some research is showing it’s a great idea.

When I first developed Plan Z, I designed it as two full meals, or two ...Read more