8. Strength training is for both male and female. Yes, women should be strength training right along with men. No, a woman won't wake up one morning looking like a man!! Women don't have hormones to pack on muscle like men do. Women who strength train will end up with shapely, sculpted bodies that look healthy and toned.

9. Strength training means your scale weight is irrelevant. Strength training adds muscle and reduces body fat. Muscle is denser than fat. Therefore, you will not need to pay attention to your weight on a scale if you're strength training. The scale may show you're weight increasing but it may be because you're adding muscle. Learn to judge by your appearance, how you feel and how your clothes are fitting.

10. Strength training is a method of self care that will get you many compliments!! Do this for yourself! Take care of your body now - it's never too late. Even senior citizens are strength training with amazing results. If you're shy about accepting compliments - you'll be learning how to accept them because many will come your way once you begin a strength training program.

© By Monique Rider 2001

Myth 4: It's hard for those who go "NMP" to fit in socially

Lots of people have special dietary needs and you shouldn't let "meat and poultry eaters' peer pressure" get in way of your "NMP" lifestyle. Many of my friends and family did not even know I had changed my eating habits until I told them, because I tended to order food out from favorites like Italian, Chinese and Mexican or salad bars anyway. Instead of ordering a dish with chicken, I would go meatless or order fish, and no one was wiser. If I went to a friend or family member's house where I knew that they might not have much for me to eat, I would bring along a healthy meatless dish like a pasta salad as an offering to host or hostess. This would ensure I wouldn't "starve" and usually meat and poultry eaters in attendance would enjoy it too.

Myth 5: I could never go "NMP"

Never say never! Even though I have been a healthy eater for nearly a decade after a "misspent youth", if someone would have told me years ago that I would adopt an "NMP" eating style and maintain it for nearly three years now, I would have thought they were crazy. Taking my healthy eating habits to a new level occurred when I witnessed first-hand heart disease and diabetes present in my family worsen. While that was strong motivation, it might not have been enough if I was forced to eat foods I did not enjoy and give heave-ho to all my favorites. If you find a way to get creative and still eat foods you love, you'll find that you can stick with it.

"Mythology" aside, decision on whether or not you should go "NMP" either full-time, or from time-to-time, is a personal one between you and your team of health care professionals. But consider that such a lifestyle change could help put you in best possible position to live a long and healthy life-both for your benefit, and that of your loved ones. And that's a fact.

(c) Copyright 2001 By Melanie R. Jordan E-Publishing

Author's By-line: "Have Your Cheeseburger And Keep Your Health Too!" by Melanie Jordan can be downloaded at following URL: http://www.infopost.com/ItemDescription.asp?navtyp=SRH&ItemI=80058