What are Carbohydrates?

We are always bombarded with so much information that we tend to say I don’t understand this so how can I start to eat more sensibly.

I believe that we all need small amounts of information given in easy to understand formulas.

Carbohydrates are the main source of energy for working your muscles. If you take in too many and do not expend your energy by being active you will store the excess as FAT!

There are two main sources of carbohydrates – starch such as cereals, pulses, rice, potatoes. Also there are sugars such as milk, fruits, jam, confectionary, table sugar and some soft drinks.

Starches account for almost 60% of total carbohydrates and sugars around 40% (average British Diet)

Why do we put on weight when we eat or drink too many carbohydrates?

An inactive person can only absorb calories at 2 per minute compared to an active person who can absorb between 3-8 calories per minute (these are only examples to aid comparison) We all burn fat even when we are sedentary, but, if we fill up on too many sugary drinks or sweet foods our body stops burning the fat and uses the energy in your consumed foods first. As there is a surplus of energy if your muscles and liver do not need it, the extra will be stored as fat.
So, too much energy in the diet with little or no exercise can lead to you becoming overweight irrespective of the type of food eaten.

The most important thing to remember is that if the amount of calories consumed are above the amount of calories needed to live and exercise on you will put on weight.

Sue Gardner

New Business

One the easiest things to do is to have an idea and think that it will work. One of the hardest things is taking on that idea and making it work!

Planning a new business venture is the key to success but also having knowledge and experience in the field is important too! It is almost without a doubt a very stressfull time even though you are full of anticipation and excitiment. Most always go over budget as the small incidentals like leaflets, bags, fittings and fixtures all seem vastley more expensive than you anticipated. But taking on the idea and commiting to it shows true spirit and commitment.

When many business open they neglet the importance of marketing and the cost that it will involve. How many times have you heard that an unsuccessfull shop closing down says that no-one came into the shop or a service business said they had few calls ect. Yes some can be down to location, lack of market research, but if your potential clients dont know where you are, or what your product/service is they are not going to call!

When starting a new business it is important to know that you can afford to stick at it and pay the bills for at least a year or so, because it takes time to bring in new business and build up a name for yourselves. You must though get help if at any time you are struggling and do not see that the business is going to work, people from the outside can usually see what is glaring obviuos to bring in more business or take away something that is not working. Remember is it better to have a bit of humility than to fail at what could be a potentially great idea.

Having just opened my Limited company business this is a new eara for me. I have been in the industry as a sole trader for 10 years and already have a good client base. also it is important to get advice from people who manage companies and are successfull in their own field. Join a netwroking group and a people in busness group, you will be amazed how much business will come from other business people as we all want to help each other.

Good luck if you are setting up a business and to those who are already running their own successful businessess, spare a thought for the new guys on the block! and if you had help give them a hand too. A few words of encouragement go a long way. To those who are setting up, listen to your peers not to those who are negative, take on any advice, but it is your choice whether to act on it or not.!

Good Luck
Sue Gardner
HND Business Management and Marketing