Not All Fruits are Equal (in Carbs)

A client of mine wanted to lose weight and he is doing what he can.  He went out and bought yogurt and fruit for breakfast.  I have no idea what his other daily choices are, but if they are like his  breakfast choices, he will NOT lose weight.

Here is why….. His Yogurt was a sugary Yoplait Lite and a banana. This blog will tend to discuss more about fruit because I have done a blog about yogurt.  My favorite is the low carb choices of Greek yogurt, like Dannon Light and Fit GREEK yogurt (8g).).  Some like Chiobani are high in carbs (20g).  My blog on that:  http://wp.me/p2I06z-8s

A banana is high on the gylcemic index for sugar in the fruit category.  The size banana he ate was a medium one and that was about 25g carbs.  you add that to the 16g of the yogurt, he had 41g carbs.  My Dannon Lite and Fit and the cup of strawberries I put in it was about less than half of what he ate.  If you eat 40 in just ONE protein meal and you have 6 more to go, and you should only have 50-100 g of carbs a day to lose weight, you can see why he isn’t losing weight.

When you eat, it is about reading labels and choosing correctly.  We both eat yogurt and fruit, but we pick different kinds and I lose weight because I am eating fewer carbs.

If you want to go lower on that sugar index for fruit, you need to go with citrus fruits or berries. Here is the list on the best fruits in order from lowest in sugar to highest.

Fruit Platter 004

Fruits Lowest in Sugar

Lemon, Lime, Rhubarb, Rasberries,  Blackberries, Cranberries.

Fruits Low to Medium in Sugar

Strawberries, Casaba Melon, Papaya, Watermelon, Peaches, Nectarines, Blueberries, Cantelope, Honeydew Melon, Apples, Guava, Apricots, Grapefruit

Fruits Fairly High in Sugar

Plums, Oranges, Kiwifruit, Pears, Pineapple.

Fruits Very High in Sugar

Tangerines, Cherries, Grapes, Pomegranates, Mangos, Figs, Bananas.  Dried Fruits like Raisins, Dates, Dried Apricots, Prunes.

Easy Way to Remember sugary fruits……..

1. Berries – Berries are, in general, the fruits lowest in sugar — and also among the highest in antioxidants and other nutrients.

2. Summer Fruits –Melons, peaches, nectarines, and apricots are next in sugar-order.

3. Winter Fruits – Apples, pears, and citrus fruit are moderate in sugars.

4. Tropical Fruits – Pineapple, pomegranates, mangoes, bananas, and fresh figs are high in sugar (guava and papaya are lower than the others).

5. Dried Fruit – Dates, raisins, apricots, prunes, figs, and most other dried fruits are extremely high in sugar. Dried cranberries and blueberries would be lower, except that a lot of sugar is usually added to combat the tartness.

Dehydrated or freeze-dried berries and summer fruits, when you can find them, are a good alternative to dried.

Not All Fruits Are Created Equal in Weight Loss

A client of mine wanted to lose weight and he is doing what he can.  He went out and bought yogurt and fruit for breakfast.  I have no idea what his other daily choices are, but if they are like his  breakfast choices, he will NOT lose weight.  Here is why…..

His Yogurt was a sugary Yoplait Lite and a banana.

This blog will tend to discuss more about fruit because I have done a blog about yogurt.  My favorite is the low carb choices of Greek yogurt, like Dannon Light and Fit GREEK yogurt (8g).).  Some like Chiobani are high in carbs (20g).  My blog on that:  http://wp.me/p2I06z-8s

A banana is high on the gylcemic index for sugar in the fruit category.  If you want to go lower on that sugar index, you need to go with citrus fruits or berries.

Here is the list on the best fruits in order from lowest in sugar to highest.  (I usually have a limited amount of berries in a day as my fruit, I put them in my Greek Yogurt)

Fruits Lowest in Sugar

Lemon, Lime, Rhubarb, Raspeberries and berries in general, Blackberries, Cranberries.

Fruits Low to Medium in Sugar

Strawberries, Casaba Melon, Cataloupe, Papaya, Watermelon, Peaches, Nectarines, Blueberries, Honeydoo melon, Apple, Guava, Apricot, Grapefruit.

Fruits Fairly High in Sugar

Plums, Oranges, Kiwifruit, Pears, Pineapple.

Fruits Very High in Sugar

Tangerines, Cherries, Grapes, Pomegranates, Mangos, Figs, Bananas.

Dried fruit, such as dates, raisins, dried apricots and prunes.

 

Tomorrow:  More on fruits!

Superbowl and Other TV Snacks

I think one of the biggest issues is needing to have snacks to watch TV.  I have had issues with this in the past too.  I wish I had blogged about it for Superbowl Sunday, but I didn’t remember because I don’t watch the Superbowl…but I do watch TV.  So 10 ways that are the best way to deal with snacking.

saladsnack

1. Eat your protein-based meal before your show and you won’t be so hungry.   Lean protein not only curbs hunger, it also allows you to maintain muscle mass and keep your metabolism revved while losing weight. Eating lean protein throughout the day also helps keep blood sugar levels steady, which helps keep cravings in check.

2.  Exercise earlier in the day to decrease  your appetite and burn off what you do eat.  Exercise keeps your metabolism burning for the rest of the day and into the next.

3.  Get the kind of chips for yourself that are pre-packaged, pre-measured, high protein, low carb.  Go to a website like Carbesstentials.net or Netrition.com, or even Lindora for their chips.  Use it as a meal replacement for your sixth meal of the day (not in addition to your six protein meals)  http://store.lindora.com/index.php/tasty-treats/barbeque-crunch-o-s.html or http://store.lindora.com/index.php/tasty-treats/cheddar-cheese-double-bites.html, among other choices on their site.  Anyone can buy.  You don’t have to be a member.  Also, nuts are good, just count out what you want and put only that amount out.

4.  Try any of the protein choices I mentioned in this blog.  https://skinny-rules.com/2013/01/26/high-protein-snacks/ (rolled up turkey and cheese slices are good!)  Also, try this:  Make low-carb deviled eggs.  https://skinny-rules.com/2013/02/05/deviled-eggs-that-taste-good-but-have-less-devilish-carbs/  YOU CAN EVEN MAKE SOME DELISH GRILLED SEASONED CHICKEN INSTEAD OF FRIED CHICKEN or a delish salad with grilled chicken.  Use your imagination.

5. Drink a lot of sugar-free fluids.  I drink coffee, it is hot, tasty and filling.  There is also hot tea, etc.

6.  I have a higher protein, low carb ice cream replacement (like Carbolite) as my last protein of the day during the show.

7.  Try to stay away from alcohol if you want to lose weight.  Reminder on those rules.  https://skinny-rules.com/2012/12/30/new-years-drink-and-being-on-a-diet/

8.  Try to stay away from the crappy high carb junk that others are eating and put the good stuff in front of you.

9.  Put out a tray of good veggies and a low carb dip.  Dip sparingly.

10.  Just find time to prepare and do something and don’t whine the next day that you didn’t lose weight or you had gained weight.

Learn The Right Way to Approach Losing Weight

Crash, restricted diets don’t work.  Don’t even try them!  Here’s why:

When people let their calorie levels drop too low, their body’s survival mechanism kicks in, lowering their metabolic set point (or basal metabolic rate). When they go off that crash diet and begin to eat normally again, they gain back any weight lost and then the yo-yo dieting begins.

However, the cycle can be reversed with time, consistency, and patience. You have to slowly and patiently shock your metabolism by eating a consistent diet and letting your body time adapt to a new metabolic set point over time.

Losing Weight Rules of Thumb:

1.  Food intake number:  First, set your daily caloric intake at 12 calories per pound of body weight. (For example, my weight is 116; 117 x 12 = 1,392 calories a day.) Then you have to stick to that calorie allowance for at least one to two months, depending on your metabolism. This will allow your body time to readjust your metabolic set point accordingly.

2.  Exercise:  The absolute best way to pump up your metabolism is to EXERCISE. You’ll be burning calories not only during your workout but also up to 48 hours after — all the while increasing lean muscle tissue, which speeds the metabolism over time. Aim for 3-5 hours a week.

When I started with my high protein, low carb diet, I followed the calorific intake and low carb intake and did pilates 2 times a week (eventually 4) , yoga once a week and I tried to get in elliptical work 2-4 times a week.  That is a lot, but it helped burn it off faster.

IT IS ALL ABOUT EFFORT!

effort

Also, once you reach goal, it takes a year of CONSISTENCY of staying on a maintenance schedule of calories and low carb intake to get your body to be fully adjusted to the goal number–with a variance of 5 pounds.  I monitor constantly, and if I am creeping up to the upper 5 limit, I start lowering my intake a bit and exercise more to maintain the right number.  It is consistency and fortitude to stay on a diet.  Crash diets will only screw your metabolism and your weight up.

Deviled Eggs That Taste Good But Have Less Devilish Carbs!

 LOW CARB DEVILED EGGS
deviledeggs
1 Protein per Serving – Makes 5 Servings5 Eggs Hard Boiled
1 tsp. Prepared Mustard
2 tbsp. Non-fat Yogurt
1 tsp. White Wine Vinegar
1 tbsp. Parsley Flakes
Salt and Pepper to Taste
Dash Paprika (put that on at the end)

Scoop out yolks of eggs and mix with all ingredients. (No paprika yet)

Blend well and refill egg halves with mixture.
Sprinkle with paprika.
EAT.

Barriers to Weight Loss

Complications can occur when you first try to lose weight and not much is happening. There are barriers to weight loss that cause complications.  But, if you know what they are and prepare for them, you can make it!

barrier

Barrier 1:  Not knowing what diet works for you.

People  need to learn a way of losing that works for them.  I have a client who swears that Weight Watchers works for her, but wasn’t working for her daughter.   reasons that was so was because:

1.  Her daughter was compulsively eating in times of emotional stress.

2.  Her daughter has an extreme sensitivity to sugar and wheat products and needed a Paleo diet.

Instead of being told this by Weight Watchers, the daughter continued to try their diet and felt like a failure.  I stepped in and pushed for the Paleo Diet and sure enough, it helps.  But, now the daughter is having to deal with the emotional issues behind the emotional eating through therapy and Overeaters Anonymous.  So her diet issues were two-fold.  Physical and emotional–mixed in with change of lifestyle choices.

I tried all diets, nothing worked until I went to Lindora and went on a carb-restricted diet.  But, by adding in my own restriction of wheat products, I managed to lose it all and keep it off for a year now.

You have to keep trying and not give up.  I will tell you though that if you followed the diet that I write about all of the time, you will lose, pretty much no matter who you are, unless you have the emotional barriers in the way.  I will write on that soon.

Keep motivated and re-read my blogs on the rules.  Here is a quick tip link.  https://skinny-rules.com/2013/02/02/eat-lunch-lose-weight-2/

Barrier 2:  You Need Some Basic and Easy Food to Prepare:

It is important to find recipes that work for you.  You need to not be lazy and prepare meals.  I always go shopping once a week minimally and have the ingredients to make easy quick meals.  If you don’t shop ahead of time, you are more likely to eat out, pick up junk food or eat something bad at home.  The lack of preparation is the number one killer of a diet.  I cook some things on Sunday night to prepare.

Barrier 3:  You Need a Weekly Basic Shopping List:

SHOPPING LIST:

shopping_list-07

1.  Salad mix and delish salad dressing that is low in carbs.

2.  Chicken–bagged and one whole organic bird to cook in the oven.  So easy.  Throw into a pan of water quarter of the way up, salt the outside with kosher salt, stick a sprig of rosemary inside and cook for 1. 20 hours at 450,  How hard is that?  It is delicious and smells so good.

3.  Cheese–shredded, Baby Bell, string and slices

4.  Cauliflower for my cauliflower-based pizza (basil for flavor) and veggies

5.  Turkey burgers (I pan fry with seasoning–buy some.  Emeril makes a good one.  Garlic salt is good too.

6.  Turkey slices.  Get the better thick good stuff and not the cheap nasty sandwich meat.

7. Ground turkey meat to make meatloaf

8.  Shiritaki noodles and spaghettis sauce http://www.amazon.com/Tofu-Shirataki-Noodles-Angel-Shape/dp/B003H26J5I/ref=sr_1_6?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1359834639&sr=1-6&keywords=noodle+shirataki

9.  Pizza sauce

10.  Eggs (to cook and to have hard-boiled)

11.  Low carb bread or the Perfect 10 bagel from Western Bagel (for something different now and then)

12.   Low carb tortillas and enchilada sauce–plus taco seasoning.   Cheese and turkey is already on the list.  Pan fry it all inside of the tortilla.  Great food for under 10g of carbs.

13.   Low Carb Greek Yogurt like Dannon Light and Fit and some fruit like strawberries to make yourself a yummy dessert.

14.  Low Carb Ice Cream for an immediate dessert satisfaction need.

Barrier 4:  Being a Lazy Butt and Not Preparing Your Food Choices the Night or Days Before:

You don’t prep, you might eat crap.  If you really want to lose the weight, then you have to do this, otherwise, you are setting yourself up for failure.  Don’t procrastinate.  I buy my stuff at Trader Joes and I am not there for longer than 20 minutes.

Do it for yourself and do it to teach your loved ones how to eat right and how to stay motivated and follow up on something important like your HEALTH!  You are more likely to eat the foods if that is all you are buying and you make them because they are all very tasty.

Every weekend, go to the market with your list.

Barrier 5:  Not moving and not exercising.

MOVE YOUR BODY.  Take the stairs, walk a block if you have to, but MOVE.  Excuses that you are tired are excuses.  I have Fibromyalgia, work out and eat carefully and sometimes I am pooped and I still go to Pilates class.  If you can’t during the week, then do SOMETHING before you join the family for the day and move!  Go for a hike, walk, do some exercise from a TV show.  Move 3 times a week, if you can.

Barrier 6:  TV with food and not liquid–mindlessly eating while watching TV instead of eating with purpose.

tveating

Eating in front of the TV, you might mindlessly eat.  Try eating with your family and talk.  Eat to eat, not to numb out.  Pay attention to what you are mindlessly eating and why you are doing it. Have fluids and keep drinking them instead of keep eating.

Buy some jars of things you like or put the right measured amount of something in a cup and only eat that.  I know people who eat peanut butter or other things like sauces from the jar–spoon after spoon, mindlessly, without counting the spoons.  If you are to have two tablespoons of peanut butter, then you need to COUNT.  Or you can buy the foods in small packs like what kids get in their lunch bags.  People who buy the big bag of chips (I never recommend chips), and not the small controllable bags are asking for a weight problem.  I have even seen little kids eat an entire large bag of Doritos because it was there to eat!

I buy a large thing of nuts from Costco and it would be so easy to mindlessly eat those all day long, but I pay attention the number of pieces I take and I only allow myself a certain amount in a day.  So, you have to pay attention.

Try all of these ideas for success!

BLOGGERS NOTE:  I am a hugely busy person.  I take care of a large house by myself, even the outside.  I have three needy dogs and one has diabetes, a busy therapy practice and I even clean my own office–and if I can find time to exercise 5 days a week, shop and prep my diet and still write this blog–and still get enough sleep…then what is your excuse if you can’t do any of this??

Measuring Food Tips

If you’re on a diet, the best tool to help you start a diet and learn portion control is a food scale. Why?  Many people normally eat servings that are much larger than recommended amounts.

Food Scale: How it Works

A food scale will show you that the portion you thought was four ounces may actually weigh eight ounces. That’s the kind of mistake that could derail your diet.  Meat portions should be around 4 ounces.  Once you use a scale for a while, you can pretty much eyeball food portions and know if it is about 4 ounces or not.

A food scale is only one of the measuring tools you will need; measuring cups and spoons are also essential diet implements. Food scales are best for meat, which should weigh in at 4 ounces per serving, and cheese, 1.5 ounces per serving. Cups are best for fruits and vegetables — a serving is 1/2 cup on most fruits and about a cup on most vegetables, twice a day.

food-portions-measuring-guide-small

Another Way to Eyeball Sizes:

–A serving of meat is about the size of a deck of cards

–A serving of pasta should fit in the palm of your hand, although I do not recommend pasta or rice on a low-carb diet.

Food Scale: Choosing the Best One

Food scales range from a small plastic cup on a small plastic base to old-fashioned metal scales with weights and measures to expensive, programmable digital scales that can give you the full nutritional information for each serving size. The best food scale for you:

  • Has numbers you can read easily
  • Has a cup or bowl large enough to hold the food you need to weigh
  • Is easy to clean and store

Eat Lunch, Lose Weight

out_to_lunch

Of course the nutritional and calorie content of meals clearly affects weight loss, but a new study shows that the timing of meals may also play an important role in weight loss.  In a study of a Mediterranean population, those eating lunch later in the day were more likely to be successful in losing weight.

 

Eating a good breakfast and not skipping it and eating a lunch before 3pm was key to losing more weight and maintaining a balanced metabolism.  Timing on lunch was the only meal that really made a difference on weight loss.

 

So, eat your lunch at lunchtime.  NO skipping lunch!

 

Here is the article about why lunch is key to weight loss!

 

http://www.elements4health.com/what-and-when-you-eat-affects-weight-loss.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+elements4health%2FmTrh+%28Elements4Health+%29