Tag Archives: healthy

Look at the SKIN of SKINNY!

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There are foods that are not only bad for your waistline, but also for your SKIN!  The first three are not that bad for weight loss, but 4 through 7 are really bad!

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1.  Salt.   It will leave you puffy around the eyes and keep water retention and a bloated look.  It also is terrible for hypertension.  Try to cut down on salt.

2.  Shellfish.    Shrimp, crab, lobster — and also certain leafy greens like seaweed and spinach — are naturally high in iodine, and a diet with too much of this element can lead to acne.   Ok, this one is not high in carbs and you can maintain weight loss, but you could get acne.

3.  Milk.  There is a correlation with Milk and acne and rosacea, specifically skimmed milk.  Now, milk is a protein and you must have it in small quantities over the day.  Not bad on carbs, but it can cause skin issues.

4.  High Glycemic Foods (starches like white breads, pastas and cakes, and even corn syrup) are best avoided for good skin and for weight loss.  Foods that are considered high glycemic can cause rapid spikes in blood sugar.  You also may find yourself breaking out after eating something like French fries, it may be due to the starchy insides of the fries.

5.  Sugar.  If starchy foods that break down quickly into sugar are an issue, it’s no surprise that straight sugar can be problematic for the skin in much the same way.  High blood sugar can , weaken the skin by affecting tissues like collagen,  and leave you more vulnerable to lines and wrinkles.  It also causes a surge of carbs in your diet.

6.  Alcohol.  Not only does it trigger rosacea, but Alcohol is a diuretic, which means the more you drink, the more dehydrated you become. It saps the natural moisture from your skin as well, which can make those wrinkles and fine lines look worse.  Plus, alcohol has carbs and is terrible for weight loss.  You also don’t burn fat when your body is busy burning off the alcohol.

 

Can Vegans and Vegetarians Stay Skinny?

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It is easy to do a low-carb diet if you eat meat, but not so much if you are a vegetarian, and especially a vegan (no milk or eggs)–especially if you want to stay skinny.

So, if you want to be a non-meat eater, there are things you can eat that are high in protein and you NEED protein to maintain energy and keep your metabolism balanced–and still stay skinny.

You can eat certain berries, vegetables leafs that contain protein.  It  is your job to research online about how much protein you are getting.  I meet so many non-meat eaters who just eat whatever and never consider what they are eating and if it is enough to satisfy their body’s requirements.  You have to do some extra work if you decide to eat no dairy, eggs or meat.

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Keep in mind that you can eat beans and nuts too, but they are higher in carbs, so be careful and keep a check on how many carbs you are getting in a day.  You can’t just eat Beans and Nuts and lose weight.  You will have to eat a lot of grasses, lettuce, kale, etc.  And avocado is great, but high in carbs, so monitor yourself.

Spinach, for example, varies on the variety and if it is fresh or canned.  Some can be 1g of protein per cup and some can be 7g of protein.  Being a vegetarian requires homework!

Pasta has little protein, so don’t think you can be a vegan and eat pasta all day and stay thin.  It ain’t gonna happen!  You have to eat a lot of low carb vegetables and you can have fruit, but not a lot!  And watch Jamba Juice type smoothies.  LOADED in carbs.  Fruit, sherbet, milk–carbs!  You want fruit, eat one!  It is better for you, lighter in carbs and takes longer and lets you get satiated so you don’t eat a lot.  Have you ever eaten an apple and thought, “I want another!”  No!  But, you could drink 6 apples in a smoothie, no problem!!

So, be careful non-meat eaters!

Want to lose weight? DRINK WATER!

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Easy diet tip!  DRINK ENOUGH WATER everyday!

Water is an important part of all body functions and processes, including digestion and elimination. When you’re on a diet and in maintenance,  water also acts as a weight loss aid because it can help you eat less.   Drinking water also helps flush wastes from the body, which is especially important during times of fat metabolism and weight loss.”

Water can boost your diet.

A general recommendation is to drink eight 8-ounce cups of water per day, for a total of 64 ounces. But, actual fluid needs are affected by diet, physical activity, body composition, and climate.”Recommendations from the Food and Nutrition Board are for women to get 91 ounces per day and men 125 ounces from all sources — water, other beverages, and foods with a high water content. This number goes up if you exercise, which is a key to successful weight loss — and even more so in hot weather.  You’ll want to drink water before, during, and after every workout.

Don’t wait to feel thirsty to start sipping — that’s a sign that dehydration has already started to occur. You want to drink water throughout the day, on a regular basis.  Also, sometimes when you are hungry, your body is actually thirsty.  So, people eat more food without realizing that they are in need of water–thereby eating more unnecessary calories.

Water: Four Tips for Getting Your Fill

Here are some easy tricks for getting enough water while dieting:

Track Your Water:  “A water tracker is merely a device which helps you keep track of how much water you drink.Such trackers are available online or can be easily replicated.  http://www.diyplanner.com/node/4497

Add water throughout your day.   Some carry a 64-ounce container of water and drink throughout the day, with the goal of drinking all the water before they go to bed. Those who spend time away from home may take a portable container with the amount of ounces known,  knowing that they need to fill and drink it four times throughout the day.  Some people make sure they drink with every activity they do, including walking the dogs.

Get water through food. “Fruits and vegetables can provide fluid to the diet  .Melons and citrus fruits also have a very high water content.  Like water, clear soups and broths help dieters feel full for very few calories, contributing to weight loss. However, beware of creamy soups.   Skim milk, and low-fat and no-added sugar yogurts and puddings also help hydration and nutrition without excessive calories, but keep in mind the calorie content and the carb content.

Flavor your water glass. Many people find that adding low- or non-caloric flavorings to water, such as a wedge of fruit or the flavored low sugar drops like Mio , helps satisfy their appetite cravings.  (I also like sparkling water)

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If you want your diet to work, you need to drink plenty of water.  Water can fill you up, decrease your appetite, and help your body get rid of waste from that fat you’re burning.  It is free and it is good for you.  So, drink your water!  And for those who need caffeine, go ahead and have your diet-soda, your Splenda-flavored coffee or tea, but you still need to drink your water.

Low Carb Chicken Parm

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I love Italian food. Mostly, I love sauce and cheese. But, one of my favorites is Chicken Parmesan. However, it is breaded and deep-fried. A plateful ends up being minimally about 50g of carbs, and count on more at places that serve up large portions.

So, I decided that I needed a compromise. And this only takes about 20 minutes or less to do.

My husband cooks an organic chicken every week (stick the bird in a cooking tray with some water, shake kosher salt on top of the bird, place a sprig of rosemary in the inside and cook for 1 1/2 hours at 450 degrees. Easy and done!

I took some of the breast (approximately 4 to 6 ounces) for each of us and placed the cooked chicken in a plate. I poured some pasta sauce on top, put on low-fat mozzarella shredded cheese and cooked each piece in the microwave for about 2 minutes. It was delicious, easy, and less than 5g of carbs–unless you go crazy on the sauce. Sauce has carbs.

You could also make the chicken parm from scratch.

INGREDIENTS

4 chicken, breast, boneless, skinless, (6 ounce)
1/2 cup(s) marinara sauce
1 cup(s) cheese, mozzarella, part-skim, shredded, (4 ounces)

PREPARATION

Preheat the broiler. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and coat with oil spray.
Grill the chicken breasts or sauté in a skillet coated oil spray over medium heat for 5 to 7 minutes per side, or until no longer pink in the center.

Transfer the chicken breasts to the prepared baking sheet.

Top each chicken breast with 2 tablespoons marinara sauce and ¼ cup cheese. Place under the broiler until the cheese is hot and bubbly (or microwave for 30 to 60 seconds to melt cheese).

Cook time is 20 minutes. Less than 5g of carbs and about 44g of protein. Much healthier than breaded and deep fried…,and tasty.

I was so hungry when I made this, I forgot to take a picture, but this is mostly what it looked like.

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I served it with salad. It was really good.