Foods to Keep Away From for better Weight Loss Results

May 17th, 2011 by Chris

Definitely, there are foods that help lose weight however there are also foods that must be avoided although it does not necessarily mean they are unhealthy or junk foods. Our body still needs these foods yet; we must avoid them when we are aiming to lose weight. Let us take a closer look to some of these foods as well as its effects on our health and weight.

First on the list, the saturated fats, they must be avoided at all times. It is because they can clog arteries and raise cholesterol level. Excessive saturated fats may lead to hypertension, heart enlargement, corollary disease, stroke, and cancer. These fats are usually found on red meat, butter, whole-fat cheese, milk, other dairy products and coconut and palm oils.

Second is the âTransâ fat or products with hydrogenated vegetable oils. Similar to saturated fats, they can also clog arteries and raise cholesterol level. These fats are present in margarine stick, cakes, pies, frostings and fried foods such as French fries and fried chicken.

Third on our list is the high-sodium food that must be removed from the grocery list for it brings no good to our health. We are only allowed of limit of 2,400 mg sodium per day as too much sodium increases the risk of osteoporosis, high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke. As much as possible, refrain from processed foods such as hotdogs, cheese, tomato sauce, canned and dried soup, frozen pizza, potato, pasta mixes and frozen dinners. These foods contain too much sodium that is usually found on salt and other preservatives. Instead, opt for natural and home cooked foods with no preservatives added.

Next, it is highly advisable to reduce sugar intake, too. Sugar contains lots of calories that would not be used by the body. Unless youâve done a strenuous activity, sugar turns into starches if unused which eventually increases the chances of gaining weight. It can be found on ice creams, cakes, brownies, and cookies. These foods contain lots of sugar with few or no nutrients at all.

Another food to be avoided are chips. These are commonly called junk foods because it contains fats and sodium only with no nutrients at all. It would only add calorie count which increases the weight. Likewise, it increases the risk of kidney stone and other ailments.

Moreover, drinking sodas and alcohol also increase risk of gaining weight. Sodas and alcohol are purely concentrated sugar. An eight ounce of soda is in fact equal to twelve tablespoons of sugar. It would only make you gain more weight in no time especially when thereâs plenty of calories stored already. Same thing with salt, sugar retains water weight which makes anybody fatter.

These foods canât be avoided at all cost. The only way to solve this is to reduce intake accompanied with proper eating and exercise habits. Not only these foods increase weight, it would also make the body prone to different diseases. Hence, there is no better way other than choosing nutritious and natural foods like fruits, vegetables and lean meat.

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Developing a Beautiful Body with Yoga

May 17th, 2011 by Chris

The mysteries of the east have always been a fascination to western civilizations. Everything in the east seems to be strange, exotic and seductive. The geishas, samurais and Shaolin monks, represent only a small part of the culture of the east.

Through modernity of our age, the gap between the east and the west has begun to shrink. Western ideas, invention and philosophy have been integrated to the lives of the people of the east. The once bizarre practices of the east are now being put into practice by westerners. This fact is especially true nowadays, where anything that comes from the ancient practice of the east are considered cool. One such practice is Yoga.

Yoga is a traditional mental and physical discipline which was created in India. The primary goal in practicing of Yoga is improving ones health. Practicing Yoga would create a huge difference in a person. A personâs health, physical and mental constitution would dramatically improve by using yoga.

Due to its overall benefits, it is of no surprise why many celebrities practice yoga. Different celebrities such as, Meg Ryan, Jennifer Anniston, and Madonna have all admitted that they are practicing Yoga. Most of them are saying that by practicing Yoga, they have improved their strength, their concentration, it tones their bodies and most of all it calms their minds. These claims have not gone unnoticed by the public that is why Yoga is becoming more and more popular to the general populace.

As popular as it is, it does not mean that it is just a fad. Yoga does have great benefits, not only to the body but also to the mind and soul of the person practicing yoga. The physique of a person would change by practicing Yoga, as Yoga sculpts the body. The poses used in yoga are designed to tone the muscles making it firm. It also increases the flexibility of the body, which is often overlooked.

The positions used in yoga also optimizes the use of the joints, this would mean that the joints, ligaments and tendons are well lubricated. Because of this the body would be able to move more easily, and who knows maybe more gracefully. Aside from the things mentioned above, Yoga also serves an excellent exercise for detoxification. This would result in the giving a person more energy, more zest in life and probably make him look younger.

Admittedly, Yoga is not the best exercise for losing weight fast. It is an exercise that is gradual and not fast paced that is why calories are not burned that fast in Yoga. But as the saying goes, good things come to those who wait, Yoga may not be the answer for fast weight loss but it is the way to have a great health. Great health is not just feeling healthy it is also about looking healthy. Yoga is a great way to tone the muscles of the body, which makes the muscles which has become limp, saggy and weak to become strong and firm. This makes it the excellent choice for people who want to lose weight without its after effects, like excess and saggy skin or any total consumption of energy. Yoga exercises every aspect of a person, his physical, mental and spiritual being.

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Keep Off these Foods for a Better Weight Loss

May 16th, 2011 by Chris

Everyone definitely wants to lose fats most especially when itâs becoming more visually evident. This is the time when people get alarmed to the unwanted effects of their excessive eating. The frustration on losing fats arises when in the process of losing weight it seems that thereâs no effect at all. It also becomes a frustration to lose weight when the physical activities are exhausting and the diet becomes tasteless. This is not definitely the right way of losing weight. Itâs true that there are times that while in the process of weight loss the weight becomes stagnant but as long as you eat the right foods and youâre willing to embrace the changes in your life, youâll never go wrong. Avoiding unhealthy foods that has no good effect should always be kept in mind. Itâs necessary to know the culprits in having a healthy life and stop munching them. Here are the culprits of health which will not give you any reason in loving to eat them because even if theyâre delicious they will still produce more fats to the body and in time they will just cause you bigger problems in losing weight.

Foods that are sticky and are usually colored yellow called margarine are one of the unhealthiest foods that people love to eat. They use it as spread for breads. Itâs also used for cooking foods and as spread for pancakes. Indeed, they look and taste good but think again of the fats that it may give you. It will not give you the energy your body needs and it will only produce unwanted fats. It has trans-fat which can also be found in chips or any junk food. It will only give your body excess fats not needed by the system or organs of the body hence it will just result to fat deposits. It can even worsen cholesterol level to a high level which can cause heart diseases and even cancer.

Consumption of peanut butter is not bad at all. However, there are those who donât even think of the effects of eating too much of one food group. Itâs good to include peanut butter in your light snacks yet itâs also bad when excessive amount of butter is eaten. It will give the energy you need yet it also produces too much until the body canât afford to use those fats and will just deposit it to the body. You need to choose smartly the peanut butter to consume because most of the commercially available brands have excessive sugar and oils. The body needs just the right amount of fats especially those that could help in the circulatory system.

Dieters must avoid donuts as well. Make it just a kind of treat for you and eat them sparingly. A donut has no calories but itâs also rich in sugar and fats. This is one of the foods to be avoided by people who wanted to lose weight. Remember that the excess sugar when not broken down into useful energy is just the same with fats. Itâs not purely bad to take fats but only the good ones that can be used by the body. Fats are good for blood circulation and transportation of nutrients to the different body parts. However, the excess fats will only be deposited in the body which eventually form as unwanted bulks and curves.

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Grapefruit: Your Wonderful Way towards Losing Weight

May 16th, 2011 by Chris

To lose weight effectively, there are sacrifices that you have to make like giving up tasty food, greasy donuts and cheesy pizza slices. Itâs all part of the process of choosing to be healthy. With proper diet and regular exercise, losing weight will be effortless. Fruits and vegetables are natureâs gift to people who choose the right way or the healthy way to lose weight. One of these gifts is the grapefruit. You might cringe or make funny face when eating grapefruit because of its bitter taste but the benefits are truly astounding.

Grapefruit has been proven effective when it comes to weight loss. It is also good for people with diabetes. Researchers believe that the connection between weight loss and grapefruit is that it lowers insulin level that is used to metabolize sugar. Fat is less likely to be stored in the body when sugar is metabolized more efficiently. A decrease in insulin level simply means less hunger pangs and stimulates the brainâs hypothalamus region to initiate the feeling of hunger. Medically, it has been established that a decrease in weight also reduces the bodyâs resistance to insulin in diabetics. This is the reason why grapefruit is highly recommended for people who have diabetes. Pectin, a soluble fiber present in grapefruit slows down the progression of atherosclerosis in animals. Other health benefits that this fruit have are prevention of diseases like colon cancer, formation of kidney stones and boosting liver enzymes that prevents carcinogens.

Other benefits of grapefruit include rich source of Vitamin C which is a natural way to fight colds and a strong support to the immune system. It is also an antioxidant that chases free radicals in the body that can cause harmful effects such as inflammatory conditions like asthma, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Cholesterol is also oxidized by free radicals that consequently causes plaques which is a cause of myocardial infarction commonly known as âheart attackâ and also stroke. Therefore, Vitamin C promotes cardiovascular health, reduces risk of stroke and lessens risk of death. Grapefruit is also rich in lycopene that are also found in tomatoes and tomato-based products. It is also an antioxidant and an anti-tumor.

Grapefruit may be eaten by tossing chunks of it into salads, replacing a glass of fruit juice with it, dicing it into tiny pieces, making salsa for whole grain tortilla chips or dividing a fruit into halves and eating it as it is. Weight loss by means of grapefruit is said to be more effective when eating half before each meal three times a day. Another alternative would be drinking a glass of grapefruit juice every after meal. Studies show that by doing so, losing weight becomes more effective in three weeks time.

So the next time youâre in a supermarket, do not miss the chance of picking out a plump grapefruit at the fruit section. Whether for curiosity purposes, choosing to eat healthy or dieting, just include grapefruit to your diet. Or else you will miss out on all the health benefits of this amazing fruit!

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Good Eating Habits is the Key to a Sexier You

May 15th, 2011 by Chris

Bad eating habits since you are young are the reason of your unwanted figure. You are motivated to study when you have chocolate bars. A treat means eating out having the great tasting hamburgers or even the meaty and cheesy pizza. The great food for you is the one covered with foil crispy and salty. And now you are old but still you enjoy still eating them. There is one way of keeping the body on the go. The wrong thing is the practice of choosing the wrong food. And now the problem on your body figure bothers you. Looking at the mirror, the person right in front of you looks different. Huge and round and the bulks are everywhere. The challenge of losing weight now comes and you do not know where to start. This is definitely one of the biggest decisions you made but we appreciate that you are on the right track. The correct way of losing weight is hard to find because from those thousands of programs you do not know what will really work for you. Instead of looking for the right one, be sure to change your bad eating habits and change it into smart eating.

1. First, learn to forget the junk foods. They promise to give your taste bud with pleasure but they do no good for your body. Trans-fat is one of the centers of scientific studies and show that they are not good in any way. They are instant and available in all stores. Some are not in the form of crispy chips but in other form but still they are not good. Processed food is another form of this food. They seem healthy but find time to check the nutrients that it can give you especially the special note on its label.

2. Second, cut down sugars. This compound is important for the body to have energy. A breakfast with the right amount of sugar can give you enough energy to complete your day. Brown rice, cereals, oat meals and whole wheat bread is the good way to start your day with sufficient energy and adding some fruits will also be good. This will not just help you lose weight but in the long run, this will be part of your life and eating will no longer mean additional pounds.

3. Third, drink more fluids. It is very basic that you need 8 glasses of water every day. The help of other form of fluids like juices and teas will be great for the body. They help the digestive system to have an easier task in breaking down the food into simpler forms. It is refreshing and very healthy to add these beverages. You can treat your taste bud and at the same time have a healthier body. Making your own juice at home will be great because it will not be more nutritious with no other chemicals nor elements nor compounds will be added but pure juice of either the fruit and vegetable of your choice.

4. Lastly, get enough heat in your body. Doing everyday routines or it can be simple walking or jogging in place can produce extra heat in the body. This will help your body to burn more the fats which are already there for a long time. This is one of the ways to get them out of your body. And with 20 minutes or over 10 minutes in the morning, you will get the sexier look that you need.

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Healthy Food is Equal to a Healthy Body

May 15th, 2011 by Chris

Health is wealth which makes health a very precious thing for it not to be taken cared off. Technology nowadays offers so many pleasures that most of us canât afford to resist. Most of the time, trying to depend your life on the latest technologies, inventions or gadgets makes you forget that we are living our life the sedentary way. People also tend to forget walking because of the availability of several private and public transports. People donât even take stairs to their offices because thereâs an elevator that will bring you to your destination in just seconds. Fresh fruits and vegetables are now ignored because of the birth of so many fast food chains in every corner of the street, too.

With all these culprit pleasures the problem now is how to make the body healthy. The number one solution is to go back in time and analyze what old people used to eat for them to maintain a healthy body. Daily consumption of fresh fruits and vegetable was their only way of keeping their body safe from different life threatening diseases. Now, do you still wonder why ancient people die at the age of 100? Here are some possible answers.

Healthy foods promote healthy body. Itâs important that a person must diversify the foods that they must eat. Since thereâs no single food group which provide all the nutrients and minerals the body needs for proper functioning, try to eat a variety of food from each food group. Just ensure that the meals you will be eating is balanced among all the food groups. Some of the foods which are healthy for consumption are those belonging to the group of fruits, vegetables, cereals or whole wheat products, dairy products, poultry and fish products. In order to ensure maximum effectiveness, these groups must be consumed in variety. It will be ineffective to consume just one food groups. Keep in mind to make your food balanced.

In cases of losing weight, there are plenty of natural and safer ways to do it. Of course, it involves the foods which are mentioned earlier. Weight lose is never difficult if youâre really strict in following the routine, the foods and everything else. The most important thing to remember when trying to lose weight is to never think of achieving a sexy body. That is already obsession and it is completely wrong! Instead, dream of a healthy body, with this perspective in life you will not pressure yourself in starving or changing eating habits to a more abnormal one. Plan everything about your decision towards a healthy body. If youâre successful in achieving such body then youâll certainly have a sexy body. I must add, a healthy body is a sexy body.

Apart from healthy food intake, physical activities are also needed for an effective weight loss. Make it a point that you do your exercise everyday for about 30 to 45 hours. You can accomplish it by simply brisk walking, jogging, running or swimming.

Itâs true; wealth is nothing if the body is unhealthy. So, always choose to maintain a healthy body and youâll definitely be better. A long term quality of life can only be improved with healthy foods and regular exercise.

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The Culprits of Weight Loss: How to Avoid them?

May 14th, 2011 by Chris

There are different ways to lose weight and it is available for everyone who really needs to eliminate those extra pounds. It can be a diet plan or an additional exercise every morning. Some resort to diet pills to burn the fats faster as well. It is also important to consider the foods that we eat. Changing the way things you usually do is quite hard especially when you enjoy them. It takes time to realize that you have already deposited fats in your body excessively. One of the reasons people forget about choosing the right foods is when they learn to eat out. Itâs not really unhealthy to eat out but some of the fast food chains offer foods that have excessive fats with empty calories. Itâs prone to obesity and illnesses such as health diseases, blood pressure and other dreadful health hazards. The formation of fat in the body may clog the streams of blood and hinders the work of the body system and organs. This is why fats must not form in any way in the body. The healthy eating habits are one way to ensure that the body gets the good and eliminates the unwanted fats in the body. In this way, the regular intake of healthy foods will eventually change the accumulation of fats in the body.

One of the unhealthy foods available in fast food chains is French fries. Potatoes are good and it is beneficial for the body. Mashed potatoes are even included to some diet plans because it has the nutrients needed by the body. It is also proven to lessen the fats in the body when included in your proper diet. But, processed potatoes called French fries alter the nutrients of potato. Itâs also deep-fried which means it accumulates more fat when cooked and itâs oilier when used oil utilized is from the fats of meats. This is the reason why it is included on the list of unhealthy foods. It simply gives the body more than the fats it needed. It gives the body more reason to be sick and wrapped with the dreadful condition called obesity. Hence, one needs to cut down the intake of French fries. It is usually included in the value meals with burgers, sandwiches and pastas. When you eat food, make sure to eat healthy ones so as to get the proper nourishment needed by your body. Again, itâs not bad to eat out but make sure you eat healthy foods. You eat more fruits and vegetables as often as you want with this your body will be free from fats easily. Be sure to eat the right way, too. The body really needs the proper nutrients to keep it healthy and active for the each dayâs activities. Choose healthy foods to make sure that you remove those unwanted nutrients and fats in your body.

The search for healthy foods is strengthened with this research that tell the significant effects of this food to the body as well as to the process of weight loss. Itâs better to hold on the correct way of losing weight for long-term effects and helps further lie development. It is also one way to ensure that the life will be changed to the best of its quality. So, take the best measures in orde to avoid unwanted effects, now.

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Good Posture for Better Weight Loss Results

May 14th, 2011 by Chris

There are many simple things that we can do to improve our personality. We can fix ourselves like making our make-up and hair look great and buying nice clothes for us to wear in order to look good. These are just some of the things that we can do to make ourselves look good and be accepted. On the other hand, even if we have the most expensive clothes, the nicest hairdo, the most beautiful shoes or even the most famous make-ups that celebrities use but have a bad posture. Then all of these things are nothing but an ordinary thing. Have you ever seen a woman standing straight on a nice restaurant with her clothes so fit in her and walks just like swaying. Her posture is what makes her stand out from all the rest and makes her look so good. Thatâs how important is the posture to our body.

How we stand and how we hold ourselves does make a lot of difference in the way we look. Not only that it is also associated with a lot of health benefits for our body. Understanding on how our posture does to the body would be a good start to seek for a solution in improving our posture.

Good posture is often associated with a lot of benefits particularly emotionally and physically. Emotionally, it benefits us by giving us a good effect on our well-being. Take for example, standing up straight and holding yourself good despite the negative situation encountered. Posture is associated with our emotions because our emotions reflect through our body posture. It is usually seen that a depressed person tend to slouch and their heads are down all the time.

Physically, good posture has a lot of benefits as well. It will make the body stronger and more resistant to injury. More amazingly it will help us lose weight. However, having a bad posture often lead to a lot of problems in our body such as chronic backache. It is also associated to headaches and RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury). Good posture can also help in losing weight for the fact that the muscles are stretched. The act of muscle stretching is already a simple form of exercise and can already burn up calories. Walking with your body straight is the correct way of walking. It adds impact and intensity to walking when we make our body straight.

Standing straight will help the body to build muscles around the belly and the lower back. It also gives the benefit of improving the lower back pain and allows the lungs to expand more and breathe in more oxygen which helps in boosting the metabolism. Imagine when you are slumping you will see the exaggeration of your belly and if you stand straight you will see the belly is also stretched out and tucked in.

Doing exercise with correct posture will be more effective and efficient towards building those muscles. Person can achieve more flexibility with good posture, having more flexibility we can do exercise more efficiently and comfortably. This will also allow us to stay longer and burn more fats. Good posture sounds really amazing but most of us take this for granted. Hence, starting now stand up straight and hold your head high.

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Acai Berry: Your Powerful Berry

May 13th, 2011 by Chris

The first time I heard about Acai berry, I was doubtful but as I have researched and read about the testimonies of others, I’m quite convinced with this powerful berry. Let’s review why it is used for weight loss and how to use it in order to achieve a healthy body.

Acai berry belongs to Palm tree family. It is native and abundant in Central and South America where it’s a predominant part of the local peopleâs food consumption. Acai berry boomed in the market when it was featured in Oprah Winfreyâs show. It was considered a wonder berry because it offers several health benefits such as anti-aging, weight loss and is also effective for maintaining a healthy body. After its exposure in Oprahâs show, several acai berry products have already bombarded the health and fitness market.

One of its strongest property is that it offers a decent amount of anti-oxidants which are very useful in controlling and eliminating free radicals. These free radicals are dangerous to the body and are naturally produced when the body uses oxygen. Anti-oxidants are often called âfree radical scavengersâ because of obvious reasons that they eliminate and repair the damage done by free radicals making our body healthy.

Anti-oxidants not only provide healthy conditions for the skin but it also aids in the improvement of the resistance of the immune system making the body healthy and free from diseases.

Apart from anti oxidants, Acai berry also contains amino acids and proteins. Protein plays an important role in the everyday process of cell regeneration. It naturally repair the cells which are damaged due to external factors. With this repair the damage parts and cell regeneration will be accomplished because of the protein content of Acai berry.

In order to control heart diseases and other cardio related diseases, acai berry is also a good alternative. Since it contains omega fats, it also helps in the regulation of cholesterol. A healthy heart is ensured with acai berry.

Another important component of acai berry is its electrolytes. This component is known to aid loose bowel attacks. Not only that, it also aids in the regulation of electrical flows from one cell to another.

Acai berry is now considered as one of the most powerful tool of having healthy body. Many of us believe in the power of acai berry but others still have reservations. This is because researches about this wonder berry has not yet reached its maximum level of reporting the scientific benefits of its components. It’s still safe to have precautions when taking or eating it in any form, though.

Including it in your everyday food consumption may have good results in your overall body. Try some of the fresh acai berry because consuming those processed types can change the overall effectiveness of the product. It’s really important to stay cautious and know your limitations when it comes to food intake.

Exercise regularly and eat healthy and balanced diet so as to make your body safe from diseases as well as to boost yourself confidence to turn your social life to a better one.

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Orthorexia: Healthy Eating turned into a Disorder

May 9th, 2011 by Chris

Choosing what food to eat carefully is without a doubt an important factor in preventing malnutrition and avoiding complications. But as with everything that becomes excessive it can also be harmful especially if you are getting too much preoccupied with food.

Orthorexia is a condition not recognized by many as a disorder but only as a type of obsessive-compulsive disease. This is because it doesnât pose a serious danger to the afflicted person unlike anorexia or bulimia. The name orthorexia is from the Greek word that literally means âcorrect dietâ. It was first used in 1997 by Dr. Steven Bratman to describe people who have a completely healthy diet.

Some experts say itâs like a disorder disguised as a virtue. Cases of orthorexia can often start when a person begin a diet in order to lose weight or avoid unhealthy food for the purpose of preventing serious diseases. It is characterized by an obsession to eat only healthy foods. People who have this condition are not aware that they are orthorexics and that food is gradually taking over their life. It can be anything from noting calories and researching healthy food preparations to thinking how foods in restaurants are prepared. They donât feel that they need any professional help and itâs fine with them not to eat what most people consider as normal foods because those kinds of food are viewed by them as harmful. They are the ones who decide what right foods to eat and they feel superior over those who eat junk or processed foods.

Orthorexics may avoid eating foods considered as unhealthy like those with preservatives, food additives, fats and excessive sugar. Examples of foods often avoided by orthorexics are animal products and processed foods. They favor fresh or natural foods like vegetables and fruits. They also believe that their eating habits are healthy but they’re actually not. The body also needs the nutrients found in some of the foods deemed unhealthy by orthorexics. Long-term results of this condition can lead to malnutrition or deficiency in certain nutrients because of their strict and limited diet.

They allot a considerably big part of their time just thinking about food such as planning, buying and preparing meals. A lavish dinner may be prepared by them but they will not really enjoy the food. They employ a very strict discipline in their eating which can lead to too much thinking of a food’s consequence on their health. Surprisingly, this kind of eating condition is more often found in men than in women.

Furthermore, orthorexics tend to shy away from socializing with other people because of their preferred eating habits. Imagine, the most common way of socializing with people and forming a bond with friends is eating. People view eating as a form of celebration and of showing gratitude to others. This is where orthorexics get lost as they consider even the slightest violation of their healthy eating regime as a sin so they avoid such compromising situations. For them, building relationships is not as important as eating right, especially if being with others will just influence them to violate their diet. Even a single slip-up like joining a group in eating pizza for a celebration can result to their great depression and chastise.

So, even if orthorexics doesnât pose harm in the way other eating disorders do, it can damage the personality and overall quality of life by isolating the person afflicted.

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