Monthly Archives: December 2012

I ate at The Counter and had a fantastic burger and gained no weight–how come?

Posted on by

0

I had a large delicious burger.  It was so good!  You don’t have to starve on a diet.  When you aren’t on maintenance like I am, you might have to eat 2/3 of what I ate, but you can still eat it.  That is the cool part!

So, here is a picture of my burger.

burger

 

So, let’s look at the carbs of my choices.  I gave up eating 40g of carbs by having my burger as a salad and not in a bun!

 

–My burger had NO carbs, and had a lot of protein.

–cheese had less than 1 carb.

–My couple of slices of tomatoes had maybe 1 g of carbs.

— My pickles had about 1 g of carbs.

–The lettuce had about 2g per cup and I had about 2 cups.  So, lettuce=4g of carbs.

Here is the hairy part.  

–You have to be so careful what you get.  I ordered sautéed onions.  This could be a problem.  If you look online at thecounterburger.com and look up their nutritional information, you will see that the whole plate worth is about 9g of carbs.  But, I only ate half.  So, 4.5 for me!

–I had the Dijon balsamic vinaigrette, but I only had half, so instead of 15,  I had maybe 10g of carbs.

I ate this whole thing and only had about 21g of carbs, which is really good for a larger meal.  I had to think carefully when ordering.  I tasted someone’s cookie and probably had another carb, but I did not have a dessert there.  I waited until later for Carbolite as my last protein of the day out of 6 and consumed 15g of carbs with that.  As long as I am between 50 and 100g of carbs a day (the closer to 50, the better), I am ok.

So you can have good food on a diet, just select carefully.  If I had the honey mustard  or ranch dressing, I could have sliced off another 5g of carbs.

So, eat, but choose wisely.

 

New Years Drink and Being on a Diet

Posted on by

1

I haven’t blogged in a couple of days due to the holiday schedule.  It is important that I talk about drinking since it is almost New Years Eve.

Image

DRINKING and STAYING THIN DOESN’T GO TOGETHER

People tend to think that they can drink on a diet if they are careful, but not only does alcohol give you carbs to deal with, it slows your ability to burn calories.

Robert Atkins of the Atkins Diet has stated that the problem with all alcoholic beverages, and the reason he recommends refraining from alcohol consumption on a diet because when you first take it in, it is the first fuel to burn. So, while that’s going on, your body will not burn fat. This does not stop the weight loss, it simply postpones it, since the alcohol does not store as glycogen, you immediately go back into ketosis/lipolysis after the alcohol is used up.  You could consume less food, but this is not healthy for your body, as is over-exercise.

If you must drink alcohol, wine is an acceptable.  Watch the amount.  The table I list here has a small glass. If wine does not suit your taste, straight liquor such as scotch, rye, vodka, and gin would be appropriate, as long as the mixer is sugarless; this means no juice, tonic water; or non-diet soda. Seltzer and diet soda are appropriate.”

Distilled spirits (vodka, rum, whiskey, etc.) do not have anything left but the alcohol, so might be zero carb. However, mixers in many cases are sugary, so watch out for this. Just two ounces (1/4 cup) of “sweet and sour mix,” often employed for whiskey sours, daiquiris and margaritas, has 17 grams of carbohydrate. As a substitute, you can ask for lime or lemon juice, and add your personal sweetener.

While losing my 40 pounds, I didn’t drink at all.  I had one small drink since then and it is rare for me to drink because I want to maintain my weight.  If I do have a drink, I make sure I exercised earlier in the day and had lower carbs that day.  You have to plan every day if you want to be skinny and stay skinny.

A margarita has anywhere from 7 to 15g of carbs per glass.  There are low cal versions.  Here is one at 5g of carbs:  http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/beverages/r/locarbmargarita.htm

Try to be aware of what you are drinking, how much and how often.

FROM A HEALTH PERSPECTIVE:

It is best not to consume alcohol at all. Alcohol is a by-product of yeast digestion (the yeast equivalent of urine) and is known to damage the stomach, kidneys, and liver. Alcohol adds fat principally by producing cravings for both itself and other carbohydrates, and even other addictive substances. It is almost impossible to drink alcohol and follow the hunter-gatherer lifestyle. If you must drink, do so only on special occasions (once or twice a year) and stick to alcohols derived from fruit (wine and champagne.)

Alcohol Item (serving size)
Carbs (g)
Beer, regular (12 fl oz)
13g
Beer, light (12 fl oz)
4.5g
Wine, red (3.5 fl oz)
1.75g
Wine, rose (3.5 fl oz)
1.5
Wine, white (3.5 fl oz)
1g
Cider, dry (1 pint)
15g
Gin, Rum, Vodka, Whisky (1 fl oz)
0g
Sherry (2 fl oz)
3g
Port (2 fl oz)
6g
Guinness (1/2 pint)
4g

Eight things that you do that might be putting weight on–accidentally!

Posted on by

0

There are 8 things you might be doing, not realizing that you are putting weight on your body doing them.  So, here they are!

hiddencarbs

1.  Gourmet Coffee Drinks

A cup of black coffee is only 10 calories and has health perks, including a lower risk of diabetes, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s.  However, once you start adding the flavors and milks, you are adding sugar, calories and carbs.  A Starbucks Frappucinos can pack major calories (we’re talking 450 or more and up to 63g of carbs), even a simple Iced Flavored Latte with two percent milk has 250 calories, 6 grams of fat, and 34 grams of sugar and up to 41g of carbs.

Order smarter: Watch your order size (the jumbo sizes can double the calories and fat over a small cup), ask for skim milk, and avoid options with sugary syrups.  I personally stick with an Americano with less than 3g of carbs and it is Espresso with water.  I add non-dairy creamer and Splenda.  Divine.

2.  Turkey Burgers

The weight-conscious person might choose a turkey burgers as a heart-healthy alternative to beef. But chain restaurant versions bring unwanted calories, fat, and sodium. Ruby Tuesday’s Turkey Burger, for example, has 699 calories, 39 grams of fat, and more than 2,400 milligrams of sodium–PLUS 48g of carbs.

Order smarter: Try cutting your burger portion by a third for a more realistic meal size. You can also eat half the bun to cut unwanted calories. I personally eat NO bun.  I wrap it in Lettuce or dip it liberally in a sauce.   You can order a small side salad with it and you will have less than 10g of carbs for everything.

3.   Chicken Salads

Chicken salad is always a great choice.  You get  your protein and your vegetables, while still being filling.  Beware of crispy add-ins and fatty dressings, which can quickly turn a healthy meal into a waistline train wreck. Burger King’s Tendercrisp Garden Salad, for example, has 410 calories, 22 grams of fat, and 1,060 milligrams of sodium. Measure for measure, you’re better off with a regular burger, at 260 calories, 10 grams of fat, and 490 milligrams of sodium. Another example: Applebee’s Oriental Chicken Salad with dressing, which contains a walloping 1,310 calories, 95 grams of fat, and 1,210 milligrams of sodium–with 42g of carbs.

Order smarter: Choose an option with dark greens, such as spinach, lots of raw, vibrant vegetables, grilled protein (avoid words like “crispy” and stay away from breaded anything), and have a vinegar type dressing on the side.  You might be looking at less than 10g of carbs for the salad.  I prefer the Chargrilled Chicken Salad at Chick Fil A at 11g of carbs.  Watch out for the dressings though.  Check the carbs on the bags.  The ranch is super low in carbs.

4.  Veggie Sandwiches

Surely a veggie sandwich must be healthier than one with sodium-, fat-, and preservative-filled deli meats. But even veggie sandwiches can be secret calorie, fat, or sodium when they’re loaded with cheese and oil. A foot-long Blimpie Veggie Supreme, for example, contains 1,106 calories, 56 grams of fat, 26 grams of saturated fat, and 2,330 milligrams of sodium (far more than the 1,500-milligram daily limit experts recommend).  A Veggie Delight 6 inch Subway sandwich is 3 grams of fat, 520g of sodium, 230 calories–not bad so far, but it still has 44g of carbs because of the bun.

Order smarter: Ask for mustard instead of mayo or oil-based dressings and stick to a sensible six-inch portion.  Honestly though, it is the bread.  You are better off having a salad with or without meat than a  veggie sandwich.

5.  Baked Potatoes

Boasting plenty of vitamin C, folate and other B vitamins, fiber, iron, and potassium, a plain-old baked potato is a pretty healthy side dish. But at Wendy’s, the Broccoli and Cheese Potato contains 330 calories — pretty high for something you’re probably eating along with a main meal — and 470 milligrams of sodium. To blame: the “cheese” sauce, which is actually a blend of more than 20 ingredients, including food starch, sugar, fillers, and colors.

Order smarter: Skip fast-food cheese and sour cream. If you’re making a baked potato at home, top it with a quarter-cup of nonfat Greek yogurt for a mere 80 calories and a healthy protein punch.  There are still about 27 to 63g of carbs in a single baked potato, depending on size.  So, I am not sure it is worth it and it has a high number on the glycemic index.  If you have to do a potato at all, consider sweet potatoes.  Better on the glycemic  scale and about 20g of net carbs in a medium-sized one.

6.  Fruit Smoothies

 Many Jamba Juice Original fruit smoothies contain 300 or more calories each; many creamy original smoothies pack around 500 or more — much higher than the 100- to 150-calorie-limit many nutrition experts recommend for snacks. They’re also loaded with extra sugar, up to 100 grams or more in some cases. A 16 ounce smoothie can have about 40g of carbs when made with Splenda and no ice cream, but some of them are almost 100g of carbs.

Order smarter: Avoid choices with “creamy” descriptions, which are less healthy than plain fruit. Ask if your smoothie can be made with low or nonfat yogurt, but greek yogurt is better and quite honestly, you are better off with some cut up strawberries in some greek yogurt to eat.  I gave up smoothies.  Fruit has a lot of carbs and there is a lot of fruit in a smoothie.

7.  Yogurt

A seemingly smart snack pick — with a healthy dose of protein and calcium —  a Strawberry and Blueberry Yogurt Parfait, a combo of vanilla yogurt, sweetened strawberries, and vanilla granola, contains 300 calories, 60 grams of carbs, and 39 grams of sugar. That’s almost like eating an oversized bagel.  Some yogurts, even low-fat have a lot of carbs.  Some are between 20 and 35g of carbs.

Order smarter: You’re best off stashing store-bought yogurt in your desk at work than ordering the fast food kind. A 6-ounce plain nonfat yogurt contains anywhere from 80 to 150 calories and 12 grams of sugar. If you do order yogurt in a restaurant, pick the smallest available portion and avoid the granola, which often has added sugar.  You are also better off with Greek Yogurt.  However, some have almost 30g of carbs and then there are some like Dannon Light and Fit, which has 8g of carbs.

8.  Oatmeal

In theory, oatmeal is an ideal breakfast— you can’t go wrong with whole grains and blood sugar-steadying fiber. But some super-sized fast food versions contain added sugar and excessive calories. McDonald’s Fruit and Maple version, for example, packs 290 calories and 32 grams of sugar, and up to about 40g of carbs.

Order smarter: Watch for high-calorie toppings. Skip the brown sugar to shave off empty calories, and stick with a few pieces of fruit and nuts.  Watch the portion size too.  Stick with a small cup.

Watch out for all of these so-called healthy fast foods, and you should do well.  Happy Holidays.

Christmas Eve and all of its Goodies

Posted on by

0

Tonight, my husband and I wanted a quiet dinner alone.  I made us a delicious cauliflower-based pizza (we shared a 10 inch pizza) and had some salad.  I made two, so there are leftovers.

pizzanightDinner was delish.  I have Carbolite for dessert (low carb, sugar-free ice cream).  My tummy is happy and I will have had low enough carbs NOT to gain weight.

I have friends who are having Chicken or Turkey dinners and that is great, as long as they stick to vegetables, salad and try to skip the pies.  You can have a bite, maybe two.  But, the sugar is not good for you and if you want to lose weight or MAINTAIN, unless you had no carbs all day, you can’t afford to have so many in one go.  A slice has about 40g of carbs and Costco pie has 47g (they are always more carbilicious).  There is 37g of sugar in a Costco pumpkin pie slice.  That is about 9 sugar cubes.  Apple pie has about 57g of carbs in a slice.

If you want to lose weight, you want close to 50g of carbs a day and up to 100g.  If you want to maintain, you don’t want to go over 100g of carbs.  If a slice of pie is HALF of your day’s carbs, what will happen if you eat your yams, potatoes, bread and other carbs too?  And have a small plate of food, but please don’t get seconds!

So, eat your proteins, fibers, veggies, fruit (to a limit) and watch those carbs.  You can do it.  And exercise if you mess up!  Go for a walk today or tomorrow–or both.

 

Happy Holidays from Skinny-Rules!

 

 

 

The Dieter’s Enemy: HUNGER!

Posted on by

0

Nothing works better to sabotage a diet than hunger when you’re trying to eat less and lose weight.  While waiting around for any lunch, dinner or even Christmas dinner, make sure to follow these rules before you wait too long and start to get so hungry, that you make bad choices and/or eat too much.

fiberproteins

Here’s how you can make food choices that will keep you feeling full and help prevent the hunger pangs that lead to diet-busting snacks or binges.

Food Strategies For Losing Weight

If you want to feel full all day on less food, focus on these eating strategies:

  • Get enough lean protein and fiber:  Protein is the number one thing to help you feel full, and he second thing is fiber.  If you are eating protein and not enough fiber, there are supplements that you can eat or take with fiber in them.  Or simply eat more veggies.  Eat this a small portion (4 ounces) every 3-4 hours to stave off hunger.
  • Eat a rainbow of fruits and vegetables. People who eat the most fruits and veggies report the greatest weight loss and were less likely to say they felt hungry on any given day. This also helps when you go into maintenance.  Eat two portions of each a day, spread out to once earlier and once later in the day.  Salad twice a day too.
  • Sip soup. Adding two low-calorie soups to your diet every day could stave off hunger pangs and keep you satisfied longer. Choose soups that are broth-based, not cream-based, to reduce the calorie count; also look for soups that are low in sodium. Consider chunky, pureed vegetable soups, as they have been shown to produce the most lasting full feeling. Timing your soup so that you have it before a meal also reduces the amount you eat at that meal.
  • Eat whole grains. If you are going to eat any whole grains, keep in mind to minimize them due to their carb count, buy low carb versions and stick with whole grains, not bleached or other refined flour products.  One slice of bread INSTEAD of a fruit, twice a week max if you want to lose weight quickly.

Why Eggs are Eggscellent for a Diet

Posted on by

0

Eggs Are a Weight-Loss Superfood with Health Benefits

Hard-Boiled-Eggs

Eggs!  They can be eaten for breakfast, lunch or dinner–or as a snack.  They can be boiled, fried, poached, scrambled over easy or hard, deviled, etc.

They are low-calorie (80 per egg), low carb (less than 1g carb per egg) and high protein (6g per egg).   Eggs are an excellent snack or meal for anyone who wants to lose or manage their weight.  I hard-boil or buy hard-boiled ones and pop one or two in my mouth as I run out the door in the mornin. Add a handful of fresh spinach to an egg scramble, and you have a healthy breakfast that’s bursting with nutrients. Egg whites have only 15 calories per egg, no cholesterol, and no saturated fat, which makes them extremely diet-friendly.

In addition to helping with weight control, eggs supply many essential nutrients, including vitamin A, and the minerals iron, phosphorus, zinc, and DHA, which is a key to brain health. For vegetarians who still eat some animal products, eggs are an excellent nonmeat source of the vitamin B12, an essential nutrient that most humans get from meat, fish, and dairy.

How nutritious an egg is also largely depends on how it was produced. Some farmers now feed laying hens omega-3-rich diets that in turn produce eggs that are enriched with Omega-3 fatty acids,  which can boost heart and brain health.

Most of egg’s bad reputation is due to the yolk’s cholesterol. According to the American Heart Association, one large egg yolk has about 186 milligrams (mg) of cholesterol, and it’s recommended that the average person limit dietary cholesterol intake to 300 mg per day. The AHA recommends that people with normal cholesterol levels cap their egg consumption to four or fewer whole eggs per week, and suggests that people with heart disease eat two or fewer eggs per week or use cholesterol-free egg substitutes. Because egg whites contain no cholesterol, unlimited egg white consumption is perfectly heart-healthy.

The reputation of eggs has largely been restored because study after study has found that dietary cholesterol has a much smaller impact on cholesterol levels than was once believed. In fact, a 2001 study published in Circulation, the journal of the American Heart Association, found that lutein, a nutrient found in egg yolks, may even help reduce the risk of heart disease.

Egg Substitutes

eggbeaters

Most egg substitutes, such as Egg Beaters, are pasteurized egg whites that are supplemented with beta-carotene for color and additional vitamins. There are also animal-free egg substitutes on the market that are made from potato starch or yeast flakes, which when mixed with water, can resemble the consistency of beaten eggs.

Diet / Binging

Posted on by

0

Diet deprivation, especially in the beginning stages of weight loss can cause someone to crave the foods that you have cut out.

diettemptation

Binging simply means you have temporarily lost control over the amount and type of food you planned to eat.  I have seen this so many times.  You are doing fine and then someone brings in cupcakes, brownies, etc.  You break down and have some and before you know it, you do it more and more. Here’s what you can do to help protect your weight loss plan.

Even occasional binging adds unwanted calories to your diet. The key to weight-loss success is to be aware of your weaknesses and actually make room for them in your diet.

“I don’t think you should give up everything. That’s the key. You can budget in a sweet item every day or else I would really be crabby.  For me, having my Nature Valley Protein Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter bar, Power Crunch or my Carbolite helps get me through those moments.  They all have protein and low carbs vs. a plain chocolate bar or regular ice cream or frozen yogurt, laden in gobs of sugar and carbs and little protein.  I add the carbs in my choices into my 50 to 100g of carbs per day.

Smart dieters (way of life for me now through maintenance) find ways to adapt this strategy to their diet plan and achieve the right balance of calories. You can also have a end up having a sliver of what you are craving, and if you are dedicated during the week, then make it your one cheat day. The cheat day isn’t a binge, but more of a maintenance day — no calorie reduction, but no excess calories taken in either.

Another balancing option is to avoid temptation entirely when you’re at home, and have strategies for when you eat out. In other words, simply don’t buy food that will sabotage your weight-loss strategy.  Have healthy snack options at home.  I have protein bars, Greek yogurt, nuts, cheese, meet choices, veggies and fruit.

One approach is to  find “calorie bargains” that are similar to the treats you crave. Look for healthier alternatives or “light” versions of favorite snacks. But be sure to read food labels carefully — some reduced-fat treats have more added sugar and are not lower in calories.  Be careful though on carb counts.

Even though the occasional binge adds calories to your day and is a threat to your weight-loss goals, it isn’t usually unhealthy. However, when binging becomes a way of life, it may signal an eating disorder that requires professional help to overcome:

  • Binge-eating disorder is when you binge frequently and feel shame or embarrassment, but cannot stop doing it. People with this disorder are often overweight or obese. Because it is associated with anxiety and depression, it can be treated with some antidepressants.
  • Bulimia nervosa is when you binge and then try to “purge” or get rid of the calories by vomiting, taking laxatives, fasting, or exercising to an extreme. People with bulimia often appear to be of normal weight, but are obsessed with weight gain or loss, unhappy with their body, and ashamed of their binging and purging.

These eating disorders are more common in women, but can also be a problem for men and boys. If you are binging frequently and feel anxious or ashamed, seek help from your doctor.

For the occasional binger who wants to stop the overeating-dieting cycle, you should be able to avoid binging by budgeting calories/carbs to include the treats you love. When you find a way to balance these calorie-dense foods with better nutritional choices, you won’t be as tempted to overindulge.

Junk Food=Junk Brain (leads to anxiety/depression)

Posted on by

0

Eating junk food can actually change the brain, spurring symptoms of anxiety and depression if you stop consuming it, according to a new study in mice.

 

junk_food_1

Researchers from the University of Montreal found that mice fed diets high in sugar and fat had different chemical activity in their brains and exhibited more signs of withdrawal if they stopped eating it, compared with those fed more healthy foods.

“The chemicals changed by the diet are associated with depression,” study researcher Dr. Stephanie Fulton said in a statement. “A change of diet then causes withdrawal symptoms and a greater sensitivity to stressful situations, launching a vicious cycle of poor eating.”

They found that the mice fed the high-fat diet were more anxious at the end of the study, and also had higher levels of the CREB molecule, which is known to play a role in dopamine production (dopamine helps promote feelings of reward).  They also gained weight and the changes in the brain occured before obesity.

This is certainly not the first time junk food has been linked to negative effects in the brain. A Neurology study published last year showed a relationship between having high blood amounts of trans fats anddecreased performance on brain functioning tests, as well as decreased brain volume.

“It’s clear that trans fats are bad — both for your heart and now, we see, for your brain,” the researcher of that study, Dr. Gene Bowman, of Oregon Health & Science University, told HuffPost Food.

It is recommended that people stay away from all trans fats. If  there’s vegetable shortening, partially hydrogenated anything… just put it down.  You will have some withdrawal, but let it pass and eat healthy food and avoid future issues with messing with your brain chemistry.

donuts

 

 

 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/12/fat-food-brain-chemical-changes-depression-withdrawal_n_2287880.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003

 

Virtually no carbs for Carb Zero Cinnamon/French Toast Recipe

Posted on by

0

 carbfreetoast

Ingredients:

3 slices Carb Zero™ Cinnamon bread, at room temperature

2 eggs, local organic cage free, if possible

1/4 cup cream (or unsweetened almond or coconut milk)

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Dash nutmeg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 teaspoons Truvia (a blend of stevia and erythritol), optional

1 – 2 tablespoons grass fed butter or extra virgin coconut oil

 Directions:

In a medium sized shallow bowl, beat eggs, cream/almond or coconut milk, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla and optional sweetener (the sweetener is equivalent to approximately 3 teaspoons of sugar).   Heat a medium non-stick skillet or griddle to medium high and add butter or coconut oil.  While the pan is heating up, soak the Carb Zero Cinnamon breadslices one at a time in the egg mixture, turning over to coat and saturate well.  Once butter/oil is hot, carefully add the soaked bread slices one at a time and let cook a few minutes on each side until browned and cooked through (see tip below).

 Tip:  The trick to getting as much of the delicious egg mixture into the bread as possible is to use a teaspoon to drizzle extra egg mixture on the side facing up (while the other side is cooking) and cover the pan for a minute or so until it sets up just a little bit and doesn’t run off when flipped.  Repeat this process with the other side while cooking until both sides have been battered and cooked twice.  Basically you are re-soaking the bread using a teaspoon for the “second cooking”.  This helps the bread soak in as much of the flavor and egg mixture as possible, further boosting the protein content of each slice of French toast.

Note:  If desired, sprinkle the plated French toast with “cinnamon sugar” by mixing a little cinnamon with Truvia and dusting on top before serving.

 Carb Info:  Using coconut or almond milk in this recipe will yield the lowest total carb count (less than 1 carb added for 1/4 cup unsweetened almond or coconut milk, of which you will consume about half of due to only half the batter absorbing into the bread, yielding less than 1 carb per 3-slice serving).  Using cream in the recipe will provide slightly more carbs (about 2 carbs for 1/4 cup cream, of which you will consume about half of due to only half the batter absorbing into the bread, yielding approximately 1 carb per 3-slice serving).  Either way you decide to go, this recipe is a great way to have a virtually carb free, protein packed, as well as satisfying and flavorful breakfast or meal.

Benefits:

Each slice of Carb Zero Cinnamon bread boasts 9 grams of protein with zero net carbs (after subtracting the 9 grams of fiber) and zero grams of sugar making it a perfect addition to many different types of low carb and no carb programs.  This French toast recipe is versatile and can be used by both those that consume dairy products and those that don’t, simply by substituting coconut oil for butter, almond or coconut milk for cream, etc.  The use of a sweetener is also optional and can be modified by using the sweetener of your choice.  Eating 3 slices of this French toast provides you with 27 grams of protein from the bread and an additional approximate 6 grams of protein per egg used in the mixture (the 3 slices absorbed approximately 1/2 of the batter or 1 egg’s worth of protein).  That means a 3-slice serving packs a whopping 33 grams of protein total with almost zero carbs depending on the type of “milk” you use in the batter.  Either way you go, this recipe is a win/win.  Adding cinnamon to your diet is also reported to be an excellent way to help your body metabolize sugar and glucose.  What a great way to start your day or fuel you for a vigorous workout.  Buy Carb Zero™ Bread: http://www.JulianBakery.com/Carb-Zero

http://www.julianbakery.com/carb-zero-bread-cinnamon-gluten-free-french-toast/

Yo Yo Dieting is NOT Good for Your Body

Posted on by

0

christmas foodYes, it is holiday time again.  This does NOT mean you should lose all control and eat whatever you want and start “dieting” again on Jan. 2.  You can have a Cheat here and there, like maybe once a week–but the whole holiday time is not a wise idea.

I know someone who looks good most of the year and puts on the weight this time of year.  This is what we call “yo-yo” dieting.  Eating so carefully and depriving yourself  throughout the year and then going crazy and gaining it back during the holiday season–this is not good for your body or your mind.  Losing the weight again vs. maintaining weight is soooo much harder to do and it can be overwhelming.  You should have a set weight goal and stick to it with a five-pound window.  If you get past that point, it is time to do something about it immediately and make necessary changes.  If you follow a low-carb plan all year-long, you won’t have to go through so much torture each time you have to start over.

Consider a once a week cheat–not daily.  Yo-yo dieting is really not good for the body or maintaining weight.  Yo-Yo dieting can cause stress and it may be time for a new diet with permanent weight loss as its goal. Yo yo dieting often involves extreme caloric restriction and fewer nutrients, leading to fatigue and possible health issues. The pattern of yo yo dieting can leave you feeling depressed and deprived. It is also common for yo yo diets to result in decreased metabolism and increased muscle loss.  Those HCG and 600 calorie restrictive diets make you feel hungry depressed and you lose muscle, so don’t do them.

yo-yo-dieting

Here is an article about the dangers of yo-yo dieting:  http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/weight-loss/tips/diet-tips/end-the-yo-yo-diet-cycle