Tag Archives: skinny

Bread’s Lying Labels Can Make You Gain Weight and be UNhealthy

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Multi-Grain and Wheat Breads

Terms like multi-grain, 7-grain, and wheat sound healthy, but they may  NOT actually contain heart-healthy whole grains.

Many breads labeled “multi-grain” and “wheat” are typically made with refined grains, so you’re not getting the full nutritional benefit of the whole grain.

Read nutrition labels carefully. If the first flour in the ingredient list is refined (it will typically say “bleached” or “unbleached enriched wheat flour”), then you are not getting a 100% whole-grain bread.

Regardless, breads have high carb numbers.  On my plan, you can have one slice of toast per week in place of a fruit–instead of the two small fruit servings per day.  However, when I eat wheat, I tend to either get bloated, stuck in my weight or gain weight.  Read this book to find out wheat is making you fat.  http://www.amazon.com/Wheat-Belly-Lose-Weight-Health/dp/1609611543

wheatbellybook

 

Wheat Can Cause Illnesses and Disease

 

“–Accumumulation of inflammatory visceral fat (a “wheat belly”),
–Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), insulin resistance, pre-diabetes, diabetes
–Gastrointestinal disruption–acid reflux/heart burn, esophagitis, esophageal stricture, bowel urgency/irritable bowel syndrome, worsening of inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease)
–Neurological impairment–from mind “fog” and behavior outbursts in children with autistic spectrum disorder and ADHD, to paranoia and hallucinations in schizophrenia, to food obsessions in those prone to bulimia and binge eating disorder, to triggering of mania in bipolar illness, to depression in the depression-prone. Also add cerebellar ataxia, peripheral neuropathy, and dementia to the list (“gluten encephalopathy”).
–Joint pain and arthritis–Including both “wear-and-tear” osteoarthritis as well as inflammatory forms like rheumatoid.
–Autoimmune diseases–The peculiar potential for the gliadin protein of wheat to “unlock” the normal intestinal barriers, allowing foreign antigens access into the bloodstream, is the first step in autoimmunity, the immune system’s misguided effort to eliminate the “intruder,” such as your thyroid gland, colon, small intestine, synovial lining of your joints, skin, thymus, liver, pancreas, even brain.
–Skin disorders–Skin rashes and damage from wheat are as varied as they are ubiquitous. There is hardly a skin condition that is not caused by wheat. (Not to say that all skin conditions are caused by wheat–they are not, but that, of all the myriad skin conditions experienced by humans, virtually all have been associated with wheat consumption.) This ranges from the level of nuisance, such as acne, to the level of life-threatening, such as leg gangrene.”

taken from:  http://www.wheatbellyblog.com/2013/02/celiac-is-not-a-disease/

 

My Advice on Eating Wheat

Don’t do it or make alternative choices and do it minimally.

I had a wheat belly and I had people always asking me when my baby was due.  (Never had a baby in there!).  I gave up wheat and no one asks anymore.

belly

I know it is hard and you can get used to it.  Wheat products are designed to cause your brain to be addicted to them.  This is especially true of cereal products.  There is just enough designed ingredients to go to the pleasure center of your brain to cause that addiction, making it hard to get clean from its use.  It is like heroin, but cheaper and easier to get–and legal too.

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There are alternatives that I like.

These 3 alternatives might not be healthy, but you can remain on your diet

1.  Find a low carb bread like Ezekiel, Sara Lee’s 90 calorie bread choices, etc.  If a slice of bread is more than 15g of net carbs, you might not want to eat it.  Imagine.  Eating a sandwich that has over 30g of carbs and you don’t want to get more than 50g to 100g of carbs per day to lose weight or maintain.  Then, you have to be super careful and picky in your choices the rest of the day.

2.  Western Bagel Perfect 10 bagel has only 10g net carbs and is perfect for a make-shift sandwich.  I love them, but I limit them.  Wheat can bloat you and if you read the Wheat Belly book, you will understand why that is a fact.

3.  Low-Carb Tortillas.  My favorite ones are at Costco and Trader Joes.  Around 4g net carbs.  I make a pan-fried turkey tomato, low-fat sour cream and low-fat cheese tortilla and it is delish.  Takes only minutes and under 10g of carbs for the whole delicious thing.

I have written blogs on these items in the past and showed recipes and my creations.  Any questions, please write.

 

Juice Drinks: Healthy and Diet Friendly?

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I thought that I was eating so healthy when I was gaining weight and when I was about 40 pounds heavier and dying to lose weight. I had my facts all messed up. I guarantee that you have the facts wrong too. Let’s look at some “healthy” foods, which are not so healthy and how they also are making you fat.

Today we will start with one Not So Healthy Food, JUICE DRINKS

Have you ever looked at the labels on your fruit drinks?

Bottles mention serving size at the top of their nutrition label. You might think that the whole bottle is a serving size, but actually if there are two or three servings in one bottle, then you have to multiply the label information by the amount of servings in it–if you plan to drink the whole bottle (as many of us do).

I know someone who thinks that Odwalla and Naked Juice is good for their diet. In those drinks, the fruit is genetically modified and that is a whole other health issue.

Fruit is not the only ingredient in those bottles, and many of the other ingredients are not good for you. The amount of carbs and sugar in one serving is usually staggering. I believe that in my example’s one serving, there was about 50 or more grams of carbs–and he drank more than one serving (the whole bottle). There was the equivalent of about 11 whole sugar cubes in his drink. Would you willingly eat 11 sugar cubes?

Naked juice was in the news recently for getting in trouble for labeling their product as “all natural,” when it isn’t. These products are not honest. Now, they have to remove that from their label.

Jamba Juice is another scary choice. Between too much fruit (fructose sugar), sherbet or ice cream, and milk—a serving can be about 100g of carbs. The lighter versions, “Fit and Fruitful” have about 50g. And to rub salt I to the wound, there is usually only one gram of protein. Yes, you can add protein to your smoothie, but you are still drinking a lot of carbs. You could have had a cheeseburger on a bun for less carbs and you are choosing a smoothie instead?

If you want to maintain your weight or lose weight, you should consider between 50g and 100g per day. You wind up blowing most of your day’s carbs on this one drink and it will also cause a massive sugar mood roller coaster ride. You will be really tired later, when the roller coaster comes down and you are now craving more hair of the dog that bit you–sugar. And if you don’t follow the rules of 6 proteins every 3 to 4 hours, two servings of fruit a day and four servings of vegetables (no starches) per day, then your weight loss will be questionable. You need protein to lose weight, gain muscle and to fend off hunger cravings. These smoothies will not do the job.

For those of you who argue that fruit is healthy, yes to is, but not squeezed from large quantities and without pulp and especially not if the fruit is genetically modified.

INSTEAD: Eat two small cup-sized servings of organic fruit a day. Berries and citrus are the lowest in carbs. Have one earlier in the day with your protein and one later in the day with a protein. Or make your own smoothie with the right amount of fruit, protein powder, some almond milk and lots of ice. Heck, throw some spinach in too. It is all blended and tastes great. You can even throw in a little Splenda, Truvia or Stevia.

Walking to Skinny–Convert Your Day to Walking!

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So, you think you don’t have time to walk, even just 15 minutes a day!  Well, thanks to Purdue University, there is a converter of every day activities and sports that can be converted from time alloted to the activities into steps.  Remember, that if you do more than 10,000 to 12,000 steps a day, you are doing great and on your way to skinny (as long as you eat a healthy balanced diet, based on the “rules.”  If you are eating starches, sugar, more than 6 fist-sized, low-fat proteins a day, more than 4 smalls servings of veggies and 2 small servings of fruit a day and going over the 50 to 100g of carbs per day limit–then you will have to step a lot more to lose that weight.

Here is the list:

CONVERT ACTIVITY INTO STEPS

Use this chart to convert activities that are not easily measured by a pedometer. Multiply the number of minutes you participated in the activity by the number indicated in the chart.  Use only the timed, converted steps for your step count. Do not also include the pedometer steps if you were wearing your pedometer while performing the activity.

PLEASE NOTE: Conversions are estimates; your actual steps may vary

Activities Steps/Minute* Activities Steps/Minute*
Aerobic dancing class 127 Mowing lawn 120
Aerobic fitness class 181 Painting (a room) 78
Aerobics, low impact 125 Pilates 91
Aerobics, step 153 Punching bag 180
Backpacking 181 Raking lawn/leaves 121
Badminton, casual 131 Racquetball, casual 181
Badminton, competitive 203 Racquetball, competitive 254
Ballet dancing 120 Rock climbing 244
Baseball 130 Rollerblading 156
Basketball, game 145 Rowing 147
Basketball, recreational 130 Rowing machine 212
Bicycling, easy pace 130 Rugby 303
Bicycling, moderate pace 170 Running, 12 – minute mile 178
Bicycling, vigorous pace 200 Running, 10 – minute mile 222
Billiards/pool 76 Running, 8 – minute mile 278
Bowling 71 Sailing, boat and board 91
Bowling on the Wii 61 Scrubbing floors 71
Boxing, non-competitive 131 Scuba Diving 203
Boxing, competitive 222 Shopping 70
Calisthenics 106 Shoveling snow 145
Canoeing 91 Skateboarding 102
Cheerleading 100 Skeeball 52
Children’s playground game 136 Skiing, light/moderate 109
Circuit training 199 Skiing, cross-country 114
Climbing, rock/mountain 270 Sledding 158
Cooking 61 Snowboarding 182
Croquet 76 Snowmobiling 106
Dancing, class 109 Snowshoeing 181
Dancing, salsa/country/swing 109 Soccer, recreational 181
Dancing, party 109 Soccer, competitive 145
Drill team 153 Softball 152
Electronic sports, Wii/PS3 91 Spinning 200
Elliptical trainer 203 Squash 348
Fencing 182 Stair climbing, machine 200
Firewood-carrying/chopping 60 Stair climbing, down stairs 71
Fishing 91 Stair climbing, up stairs 181
Football 199 Stretching 15
Frisbee 91 Surfing 91
Gardening 80 Swimming, backstroke 181
Golf, carrying clubs 109 Swimming, butterfly 272
Golf, powered cart 80 Swimming, freestyle 181
Grocery shopping 67 Swimming, leisure 174
Gymnastics 121 Swimming, treading water 116
Handball 348 Table tennis 120
Hiking 172 Tae Bo 250
Hiking, orienteering 232 Tae Kwon Do 290
Hockey, field and ice 240 Tai Chi 40
Home/auto repair 91 Tennis 200
Horseback riding 90 Trampoline 90
Horseshoes 71 Vacuuming 94
Housework, light 72 Volleyball 91
Ice skating, general 84 Walking, stroll 61
Ice skating, moderate 122 Walking, average 84
In-line skating 190 Washing a car 71
Jogging 181 Water aerobics 116
Judo & Karate 236 Water polo 303
Jumping rope, fast 300 Water skiing 145
Jumping rope, moderate 250 Waxing a car 80
Kayaking 152 Weight lifting 67
Kickball 212 Wrestling 145
Kickboxing 290 Yard work 89
Lacrosse 242 Yoga 45
Miniature golf 91
Mopping 60

* Steps/Minute equals steps per minute.

Use a pedometer to measure steps if you desire.

http://www.purdue.edu/walktothemoon/activities.html

What a great excuse to enjoy cleaning your house now!

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Short Walks to Weight Loss

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Exercise Doesn’t Have to Be Intense or Long

I have met a lot of people who say that they have NO time to exercise.  They get up really early for work, work hard all day and then by the time they get home (with their long commute), then it is dark out, their kids need help with HW, they need to make dinner, etc.

But, here are my thoughts.  If you don’t exercise at all, you will wear down your immune system, metabolism, your mood, your libido and eventually–this will all affect your relationships with family, spouse and friendships.  You will be out of shape and have medical issues and this will also lead to mental health issues.

If you want to feel happy, feel good, you need to exercise to help with the production of serotonin, but you also have to eat right in order for serotonin to be produced properly.  If you eat bad foods and have a bacterial imbalance in your gut, then your serotonin will be off too!  I have noticed that people who don’t exercise, get sick more often, as well.

According to Livestrong, “Approximately 75 percent of this chemical is located in cells of the gut, where it regulates intestinal movements. The rest is synthesized in neurons of the brain; it’s here that serotonin influences mood. High levels are associated with an elevated mood while low levels are associated with depression. Though many neurotransmitters work in harmony to influence mood, serotonin is one of the most important. Its levels are influenced by external factors, such as sunlight, diet and exercise.”  http://www.livestrong.com/article/22590-effects-exercise-serotonin-levels/

So, if you want to control your intestinal issues, mental health, your heart, blood pressure and more–and live longer and be there for your family (the ones you are killing yourself for), you have to find time, 5 days a week for at LEAST 15 minutes a day.  You don’t have 15 minutes?

walkingbenefits

Walk For 15 Minutes a Day

Some think to get the full benefit of a good workout, you need to be sweating for a full 30 minutes — or longer. But with so many people struggling to find a spare 30 minutes, researchers have begun to investigate if a shorter sweat session could be just as good.

A 2011 study found when compared to sedentary people, 15 minutes a day of activity, like brisk walking can add 3 years to life expectancy, according to Reuters.

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Kick It Up a Notch

Intense aerobic activity may double the years of life expectancy added by moderate exercise, according to a 2005 study.   Five days a week of walking for 30 minutes led to 1.3 to 1.5 additional years, The Washington Post reported, but intense exercise, like running half an hour five days a week, resulted in almost 4 extra years. 

So, instead of eating at your desk or out with people, WALK somewhere.   You can even walk to get your food or coffee, but walk.  If you can’t find this time at all when you are at home, then minimally, take 15 minutes a day for a brisk walk.  Do it at lunch or one of your breaks at work.

My sister-in-law wears a pedometer and she counts her steps in a day.  It is said that in order to be healthy,  you need to step around 12,000 steps a day or more.  This can be counted from just walking to your car, to your desk, to the bathroom, going around your house picking up toys.  It doesn’t have to be counted all at one time, in one place.
Here is a link to a site that will show you how walking helps you lose weight and how to keep track of it for your personal goals.  http://www.pbs.org/americaswalking/health/health20percentboost.html

Keep walking!  In fact, I am ending todays’ blog and going right to my elliptical for an hour.  But, I have done less time on it…..the idea is to do something!

The 7 Habits of Fit People

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What do fit, strong people do as part of their lifestyle habits?

1.  They don’t “diet!”  They make their eating style their lifestyle.  I eat the same way daily and I mix up what I do eat. I eat every 3-4 hours.  I have some form of eggs for breakfast (scrambled, hard-boiled, omelette) and sometimes ham or bacon with it.  I have a healthy snack.  Then, lunch is some form of a healthy salad with a delish protein either in it or on the side.  I have fruit twice a day, veggies twice a day (sometimes with my lunch and dinner or I vary it).  I have another snack before dinner (can even be a low carb chocolate snake or protein bar), and dinner is similar to lunch, but I make it slightly different and tasty.  And my last snack could be anything, including low-carb ice cream or frozen yogurt.  I enjoy my food.  I pick tasty things, but I steer away from heavy carbs.  This is my life and I am skinny for two years now.

2.  Eat Breakfast.  See number one.  You set off your metabolism and your mood for the whole day with breakfast.  Start the day right.

3.  Enjoy your exercise.  I love going to my Pilates and yoga classes.  I enjoy the elliptical time I do because I use my IPAD and catch up on things.  Some people love meeting a friend and going for a hike or a bike ride.  Some people swim, play racquetball, Zumba, Salsa, belly dance, etc..  Find something you like to do and do it.

4.  Make  Fitness a Priority.  I make my plans every week in my planner on what times my classes are and what times I will go on the elliptical.  If you have a hectic schedule, you must find places in it for exercise.  If you don’t come first and you break down, then all of the things that you do won’t be done anymore because you are too sick to do it.  Trust me, I know what that is like and you don’t want it to happen to you.  Don’t take your health for granted.  You can break it down by NOT maintaining your machine (body).

5.  Don’t compare yourself or your body to others.  Everyone is different.  Look at the Williams’ sisters in tennis.  Their bodies are different from many other tennis players.  They are very strong and they are winners, but they are considered larger–but they are fit.  Everyone is different.  Just be the best  YOU that you can be.
best

6.  Find Support.  If your friends, peers, workmates or family try to sabotage your efforts, then find SOMEONE who can support your healthy eating habits and exercise.  Find a running buddy, a healthy lunch buddy, go to Overeaters Anonymous meetings, go to counseling–just don’t stick around people who are jealous of your efforts or just don’t get it!

offering cookies

7.  Learn to say NO!  It is ok to say no.  Someone knows you are on a diet or not, and offers you cookies that they made SPECIAL FOR YOU!  You say, “Thank you, so kind of you, but I am not eating cookies right now.  Please let me give them to someone.”  Your accepting cookies, which will call your name and make you want to eat them is not a good thing and you can’t be afraid to upset someone if it means you going off of your planned meal changes.  You should tell people up front that you can’t have sugar.  Sometimes it is easier to just blame your doctor.  You don’t have to tell people you are changing your diet.  You can just say, “Oh thank you.  My doctor told me that I can’t have sugar right now and it is doctor’s orders.”  It is hard to argue with your doctor.  If you say YOU want to diet, you have to be strong enough for people to argue and say, “One cookie won’t kill you,” “It is ok, you look fine, you can eat a cookie.”  ETC!  SO, sometimes it is easier to say your doctor said so and that is that.  Whatever you have to do, but do it.  Even my own mother used to try to shame me into splitting a desert with her and I would say, “NO!”  And she sulked, but who is being the child?  And interesting enough, she is the one who is pre-diabetic.  So, I have to be in control of my own destiny.  When I go out to restaurants and they want to bring bread to the table, I tell them up front NOT to bring the bread.  I have learned that it is no one’s business what I eat or why.  If someone wants to challenge me, I say, “This is my diet and that is the way it is and I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”  Seriously, it is NO one’s business!

Sugar Makes You Fat and Does Other Bad Things To Your Body Too

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Excessive sugar in the diet is not the best idea when it comes to healthy living.  Many people are consuming sugar in higher than moderate amounts.  Worldwide, people we are consuming about 500 excess calories a day, just from sugar–which in turn, can cause you to gain a pound a week.

sugar-silent-killer

Sugar Also Can Do Damage in Other Ways:

1. Sugar can damage your heart
A 2013 study in the Journal of the American Heart Association displayed strong evidence that sugar can actually affect the pumping mechanism of your heart and could increase the risk for heart failure. The findings specifically pinpointed a molecule from sugar (as well as from starch) called glucose metabolite glucose 6-phosphate (G6P) that was responsible for the changes in the muscle protein of the heart. These changes could eventually lead to heart failure. Approximately half of the people that are diagnosed with heart failure die within five years.

2. Sugar specifically promotes belly fat
Adolescent obesity rates have tripled in the past 30 years and childhood obesity rates have doubled. . One factor that seems to inflict obese children is fat accumulation in the trunk area of the body. Why? One cause may be the increase in fructose-laden beverages– — setting the stage for a big belly and even bigger future risk for heart disease and diabetes.

sugar-deserves-a-societal-intervention

3. Sugar is the true silent killer
Move over salt and hypertension, you’ve got competition. Sugar, as it turns out, is just as much of a silent killer.  A 2008 study found that excess fructose consumption was linked to an increase in a condition called leptin resistance. Leptin is a hormone that tells you when you’ve had enough food. The problem is, we often ignore the signal our brain sends to us. For some people though, leptin simply does not want to work, leaving the person with no signal whatsoever that the body has enough food to function. This in turn can lead to over consumption of food and consequently, obesity. And this is a silent killer because it all happens without symptoms or warning bells. If you’ve gained weight in the past year and can’t quite figure out why, perhaps you should look at how much fructose you’re feeding your body.

4. Sugar may be linked to cancer production and may effect cancer survival 
In the world of nutrition, it’s hard to talk about sugar without talking about insulin. That’s because insulin is sugar’s little chaperone to the cells, and when too much of it is consumed, or our insulin does not work (probably because we’re eating too much sugar) and the body revolts. One connection that has been well documented in the literature is the link betweeninsulin resistance and cancer . A 2013 study found that sugars in the intestine triggered the formation of a hormone called GIP (controlled by a protein called β-catenin that is completely dependant on sugar levels), that in turn, increases insulin released by the pancreas. Researchers found that β-catenin may in fact affect the cells susceptibility to cancer formation.

5. Your sugar “addiction” may be genetic
If you’ve ever said, “I’m completely addicted to sugar,” you may actually be correct. A recent study of 579 individuals showed that those who had genetic changes in a hormone called ghrelin consumed more sugar (and alcohol) than those that had no gene variation. Ghrelin is a hormone that tells the brain you’re hungry. Researchers think that the genetic components that effect your ghrelin release may have a lot to do with whether or not you seek to enhance a neurological reward system through your sweet tooth. Findings with this study were similar to study conducted in 2012 as well.

6. Sugar and alcohol have similar toxic liver effects on the body
A 2012 paper in the journal Nature, brought forth the idea that limitations and warnings should be placed on sugar similar to warnings we see on alcohol. The authors showed evidence that fructose and glucose in excess can have a toxic effect on the liver as the metabolism of ethanol — the alcohol contained in alcoholic beverages had similarities to the metabolic pathways that fructose took. Further, sugar increased the risk for several of the same chronic conditions that alcohol was responsible for. Finally, if you think that your slim stature keeps you immune from fructose causing liver damage, think again. A 2013study found that liver damage could occur even without excess calories or weight gain.

7. Sugar may sap your brain power
Sugar may have accelerated the aging process. A 2009 study found a positive relationship between glucose consumption and the aging of our cells.  Aging of the cells consequently can be the cause of something as simple as wrinkles to something as dire as chronic disease. But there is other alarming evidence that sugar may affect the aging of your brain as well.  A 2012 study found that excess sugar consumption was linked to deficiencies in memory and overall cognitive health.

8. Sugar hides in many everyday “non-sugar” foods
While many of my patients strive to avoid the “normal” sugary culprits (candy, cookies, cake, etc.), they often are duped when they discover some of their favorite foods also contain lots of sugar. Examples include tomato sauce, fat-free dressing, tonic water, marinates, crackers and even bread.

9. An overload of sugar (specifically in beverages) may shorten your life
A 2013 study estimated that 180,000 deaths worldwide may be attributed to sweetened beverage consumption. The United States alone accounted for 25,000 deaths in 2010. The authors summarize that deaths occurred due to the association with sugar-sweetened beverages and chronic disease risk such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer.

10. Sugar is making us fat
The lack of other nutrients in sugar actually makes it much easier to eat gobs of it with no physical effects to warn us of the danger that lurks. Sugar will give you the calories, but not the feeling that you’ve had enough. That’s why you can have an entire king-size bag of licorice (with its sky high glycemic index) at the movies and come out afterwards ready to go for dinner.

Answer:  You have to cut down on the sugary snacks, beverages and foods (Honey Nut Cheerios) and you need to start eating more foods that focus on  better nutrients.  Foods rich in fiber, fat and protein  all have been associated with increased fullness.

Eat meat, fish, cheese, low-fat Greek Yogurt, vegetables, salad, and in moderation–beans, nuts and seeds, whole grains, and fruits.

Carbs Can Cause You Do Be Fat, Have Acne and Wrinkles!

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http://www.dailyglow.com/skin/are-carbs-bad-for-your-skin.html?pos=1&xid=nl_TodaysHighlightFromDailyGlow_20130729

According to dermatologist, Dr. Jessica Wu, carbohydrates are an important source of energy, but people eat too much of them and not enough protein.  This can lead to high blood sugar and insulin levels, which then can make your body store fat and can affect the appearance of your skin.

Problem:

Besides making you gain weight or have trouble losing weight, carbs can cause acne and wrinkles!

Carbs (such as bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, muffins, and other baked goods) can aggravate acne breakouts.A high carb diet can cause an increase of androgens (“male” hormones that stimulate oil glands and cause acne) after just one week.  Carbs are also broken down into glucose (blood sugar), which interacts with proteins in the skin, stimulating enzymes that break down collagen and elastic tissue and resulting in thinner skin that’s more likely to wrinkle.

acne

The solution:

Avoid refined grains, such as white toast, pastries, white rice, and white pasta.  Instead, choose whole-grain products, which are digested more slowly, thereby producing less dramatic blood sugar elevations. In fact, the most important key to keeping your blood sugar balanced is the composition of the carbs you eat. In other words, it’s good to add chicken to your pasta, or peanut butter to your toast, but it’s much more important that your pasta be made of whole wheat and that you choose brown instead of white rice, and whole-wheat bread instead of pastries or muffins.  AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, if you are going to eat grains, keep it at a minimum and count carbs because if you want to stay thin, then you should not be having more than 100g of carbs a day (50-100g).

goodcarbs

 

Breakfast Is The Most Important Meal of the Day For Concentration and Skinniness

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Eating a balanced breakfast sets you up to succeed in your healthy eating and your focus for the entire day. Studies support that you need to start your day off with a healthy breakfast because there are many benefits to eating it.

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The benefits of breakfast include:

IMPROVED MOOD:

Eating breakfast can lift your mood. People who don’t eat breakfast are more tired and irritable.

MORE ENERGY FOR THE DAY:

Before you eat in the morning, your body (like a car with little gas) is running on empty. You get energy from high-quality protein, carbohydrates, and fats.

BETTER CONCENTRATION:

Eating breakfast also improves your ability to problem solve. You will be more productive and better able to handle tasks that require memory. Going to work or sending your kids to school sets everyone up for a mismanaged workload and poorer performance than those who eat a healthy breakfast (pop tarts is not healthy!)

WEIGHT MANAGEMENT:

Studies show that if you eat breakfast, you’re more likely to be at a healthy weight than people who don’t eat breakfast.

VITAMINS AND MINERALS:

Having an egg or two, with some low fat cheese or turkey (I put vegetables and/or spinach in mine) and a piece of fruit will give you great protein, minerals and vitamins. If you are able to put in some flax, chi or other seeds into your eggs, then you are adding good carbs and fiber. For those who are able to fit in the carbs for the day count of 50 to 100, you can have a slice of whole grain bread or just a small measured portion of oatmeal (depending on the brand is oatmeal, a cup of oatmeal is about 30g of carbs), whole-grain cereal (not the high sugar Honey Nut Cheerios). Try a little almond butter instead of butter. 2 tablespoons of peanut or almond butter equals 6g of carbs. Another great breakfast option is Greek yogurt. Strawberries and blueberries are great in yogurt, cereal and oatmeal.

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Please pull out a measuring cup and become acquainted with how small a cup is vs. what you might thing a cup looks like in your mind.

Basics of a Quick and Balanced Breakfast

One of the most common excuses for not eating breakfast is being short on time to get to work or school. But breakfast doesn’t have to be fancy or time consuming. You can wake up just a little earlier to fit in a nutritious breakfast. The small investment in time in breakfast (and in you) pays off through the whole day.

If you really love cereal, then compromise and put a few for flavor and texture in your oatmeal or your yogurt.

Next time you’re racing against the clock, try these effortless and healthy breakfast ideas:

*You can make a quick smoothie with yogurt and fruit, with some ice cubes. Throw in some chi or flax seeds.
*Western Bagel and some low carb places sell low carb bagels. The Western Bagel Perfect 10 bagel is really good. Lots of fiber and protein and 10g net carbs. Get them at Westernbagel.com and refrigerate them.
*Have hard-boiled eggs available and ready to grab on the run. Places like some selected Costco and Trader Joes has them already hard-boiled and peeled, in bags, for those who really are super busy.
*Low carb shakes in a can (like Pure Protein) or low carb protein bars (like Power Crunch or Nature Valley Protein Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate).
*Low carb Greek yogurt in a small ready-to-go containers (like Dannon Greek Light and Fit)
**Come on, scrambled eggs don’t take that long.

7 Ways to Help Food Cravings On a Diet

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I had a lady tell me recently that she wanted to lose weight, but was not willing to make the kind of changes necessary to her diet because it is “too hard” to give up foods that she craves.

I have written about how certain foods have been created by companies, after their own scientists have experimented on combinations of sugar, salt and fat, to the point of what causes pleasure to the brain–therefore causing the brain to crave those food items later when the pleasure is needed. People want to increase those pleasurable points especially in times of stress or boredom. But, how different is this kind of need to any other common addiction?
And if you don’t care about yourself, think about your kids. If continue eating this way, and teaching your children to eat this way, you are preparing them for a possible life of disease and early death.

Yes, it is hard to get through the first week or two (stage one) of a lifestyle food change (diet) because you are fighting off physiological and psychological cravings. So, besides taking an appetite suppressant temporarily until your boys is used to the correctly sized portions and the correct healthy foods.

–-7 ways to help deal with cravings.

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1. Hunger can make you crave food, so eat every 3 to 4 hours

If you go longer than five hours without food, your blood sugar will drop and your cravings will begin, You need to eat every 3 to 4 hours. If it’s time for an allowed snack, choose food low in calories and fat.

2. Eat protein in every meal to fend off cravings.

You should include some source of lean protein, such as skinless chicken or turkey, fish, eggs, or low-fat cheese. Protein helps to control blood sugar patterns and can help prevent food cravings, Foods containing protein also help you feel fuller by stimulating production of cholecystokinin (CKK), a naturally occurring appetite suppressant.

**AND most IMPORTANTLY–always eat breakfast protein. Research shows that starting your day off with breakfast helps in burning fat and in cutting down cravings.

3. Drink your liquids.

Dehydration can cause some people to crave salty foods. The solution is simple: Drink more water. An 8-ounce glass of refreshing water can help you feel full and get your mind off your food cravings of the moment. In fact, what you think are food cravings may actually be thirst. Drink water and the food cravings should go away. Keep a water bottle handy throughout the day to make it easy to satisfy your fluid needs.

4. Keep busy.

When the craving is psychological, it is meeting a need different from hunger. Hunger caused by boredom, anxiety, or other emotions is by finding an activity that will take your mind off your craving without adding calories. Call a friend. Exercise. Tune into a ballgame. Listen to music. Read a mystery. Watch a movie. Find something to do.

5. Finding something you enjoy doing

Another way to beat food cravings when they are psychological is to replace eating with an activity you find pleasurable and emotionally satisfying, Do something you really enjoy that doesn’t involve an intake of calories: Take a bubble bath, read a fun magazine, do your nails, go have coffee with a friend.. Or look for options that burn calories, like taking a long walk with a special someone. It’s a way of being kind to yourself without sabotaging your weight-loss efforts.

6. Eat less refined foods and corn syrup and DO eat MORE FIBER

Research suggests that some people can become addicted to refined foods, such as white bread, white pasta, and white sugar. The more you eat, the more you want. Break the cycle. Eliminate refined foods from your diet and you could curb your food cravings. Go the extra step and refine your diet by replacing the refined foods with whole grains and fiber— eat more nuts, beans, legumes, fruits, vegetables, and whole-wheat foods. Remember that fiber makes you fuller and is great for your digestion.

**Fiber fill you up, makes you feel less hungry!

And when you’re scaling back on refined sugars, be sure to target high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). HFCS is used as a sweetener in many foods, from bread to frozen dinners, because it’s inexpensive and increases shelf life. New research shows that high fructose corn syrup can be a trigger food in animals — having even a tiny amount will make them want more. Scientists are studying whether HFCS may have the same effect in humans.

7. Find healthy great-tasting alternatives

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I have put up Jorge Cruz’ recipe for a small microwaved-made chocolate cake, which is low carb and delish. I have discussed cauliflower-based pizza, low carb tortillas and recipes using them. I have listed sites like Netrition.com, Carbessentials.net and Lindora.com, for example, which have food items for low carb cooking and baking. There are great tasting low carb alternatives for bagels (Western Bagel’s Perfect 10 bagel), low carb baking mixes, pancake mixes, pasta. I have put up different recipes and even mentioned low carb websites and cook/baking books.

I have discussed portion control and how you have to eat often and especially breakfast. I have discussed the importance of measuring g food and learning shortcuts for measurement (a portion of meat is the size of the palm of your hand or a deck of cards). I have also mentioned 4 small servings of veggies a day, two of fruit, which fruits are lower carb than others, etc.

If you insist on eating easy-to-buy and pre-made food items or fast food, (which are NOT diet friendly), despite your desire to lose weight or constant complaints about how you look or how tight your clothes look on you (and you think a little exercise is the only thing that will help–but for years now–it has not), then you are not going to lose weight.

You have to be willing to learn about new foods, look up carb counts, get out of your chair and stop being lazy. There are good alternatives out there, so get cracking at looking things up on Google and finally be skinny. Either use the tools or forever hold your peace. Find the time–you are worth it.

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Low Carb Chicken Tenders

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In Arizona, my husband and I, stopped by a store called, “My Fit Foods,” and we had choices of correctly portioned pre-prepared breakfasts, lunches and dinners. They were already prepared for the day and ready for the microwave there or to bring home to eat. We ate our meals there. One meal that was tasty were the Chicken Nuggets. However, they were not deep-fried in bread crumbs. They were cooked in almond meal and flax seed. They were delicious.

So, I looked up the recipe. Sure enough, Dr. Hyman, who wrote the Blood Sugar Solution, has a great recipe. I look forward to creating this soon.

Dr. Mark Hyman’s Almond-Flax Crusted Chicken

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Lower your blood sugar and fight diabetes and obesity with this comfort-food recipe from Dr. Mark Hyman’s book, The Blood Sugar Solution Cookbook. The nutty crust keeps the chicken moist and tender, and using almond meal lowers the glycemic load and adds flavor, fiber and protein to keep you satisfied. Bonus: Each chicken breast is just 350 calories!

Also, what is great is that the fiber is the same amount of grams as the carbs, so the met carbs are almost nil or nothing. One tablespoon of the almond butter is only 3G of carbs and that is for all of the chicken, so it is less than 1g of carb, per breast. Of this was made with bread crumbs, the carb count would be at least 14g of carbs and the wheat would spike your glycemic load or index count. Not good for maintaining diabetes, weight control, hunger issues, and mood. On the other hand, the almond meal and flax seed is great for the glycemic index.

Ingredients

Serves 4

4 (5-oz) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
3 tbsp ground flaxseed
1/2 cup almond meal
1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1 tbsp almond butter
1 tbsp finely chopped yellow onion
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp sea salt
Pinch of cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp paprika
1 tsp chopped fresh parsley
1 tsp chopped fresh thyme

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly oil a baking sheet and set it aside.

Place the chicken breasts between two sheets of plastic wrap or parchment paper and pound them with a kitchen mallet until the pieces are approximately 1/2-inch thick.

Pour the flax and almond meal into a small bowl and stir until evenly mixed.

In another small bowl, combine all of the remaining ingredients. Add the chicken breasts to this mixture and toss them until coated. (If time allows, marinate the chicken in the mixture for 10 to 15 minutes to further enhance flavor.)

Remove the chicken from the marinade and transfer them to the baking sheet. Sprinkle half of the almond/flax crust over the tops of the chicken breasts and gently press the crust into each piece until evenly coated. Carefully turn the chicken over and repeat the process with the remaining almond and flax mixture.

Put the baking sheet into the oven on the top rack and bake until the juices run clear, 20 to 30 minutes. Any leftover chicken can be refrigerated for up to 3 days.

And here is one other easy version that is very paleo…and a bit spicy (you can leave out the coriander and cumin, if you like).

Paleo Chicken Tenders

Ingredients

1 lb chicken tenders (or skinless chicken breast, cut into strips)
1 egg, beaten
½ cup Almond Meal
½ tsp Salt
¾ tsp Paprika
¼ tsp Ground Coriander Seed
¼ tsp Ground Cumin Seed

1. Preheat oven to 425F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Combine almond meal with spices on a plate or shallow dish. Place beaten egg in a separate shallow dish.
3. Dry chicken with paper towel. Dip in egg then dip in almond meal mixture, coating all sides. Place on baking sheet. Repeat until all chicken tenders are coated.
4. Bake for 16-18 minutes, turning once in the middle of baking, until completely cooked (interior temperature should read 180F).