Tag Archives: skinny

EAT PIZZA, LOSE WEIGHT

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Pizza!

Yes, it is delish and you don’t want to miss out on eating it on a diet.  There are ways to eat pizza and stay skinny.  You have two choices:

1.  Exercise like crazy before and after you eat it.

2.  Be careful about your choices, where you buy it and how much you eat.

I exercise, but I will not exercise like a madwoman over pizza…so I am careful.

First thing you have to know, is WHAT ARE YOU EATING?

A slice of Costco Pizza is one of the worst.  70g of carbs.  Domino’s Thin Crust Cheese Only Pizza from a medium pizza is one of the best at 15g of carbs.

So, where you get your pizza from is important.  If you go to a ma and pa neighborhood pizza joint and eat pizza, you might not know what the contents are in that slice.

Remember, wheat is involved, so you have to be careful.  This should be a treat, not a regular food choice.

Second thing is that you find places you want to go to and ask for info on their nutritional content if you can’t find it or get it easily. I found a place nearby called Pizza Rev.  They have gluten-free pizza (which is getting more popular). I contacted the company because they don’t have their nutritional content available yet.  The company said that their gluten-free standard personal cheese pizza is 40g of carbs.  So, if I eat half of that and some salad, I am doing great.  So, I have been there now 4 times and I haven’t gained weight, in fact, I worked it in with my 50 to 100g of carbs a day and I actually went down a few ounces.  I only add certain veggies and meats, which are low in carbs.

Here is a site where they give a lot of the carb and calorie content:  http://www.calorieking.com/calories-in-pizza.html  So do your HW before you eat.  Losing weight and staying skinny is about not being lazy about food choices.

Here is an example of something that could fool someone.  California Pizza Kitchen.  The thin-crust Margherita pizza.  You would expect it to be low (not gluten-free).  The entire little pizza is 1038 calories, 98g of carbs.  Even if you only ate half–that is 519 calories and 48g of carbs all in one go.  You will not lose weight, you might even gain that day depending on what you eat the rest of the day.

Subway has a 6 inch pizza (who knew?).  It is 680 calories and 96g of carbs in that little pizza.    But, here, for the kids at Olive Garden, the Kid’s Pizza.  Should be light and not that bad, right?  No– it is 420 calories and 64g of whopping carbs for the kiddies.  No wonder why America is getting so large.  ONE slice at Chuck E Cheese is 169 calories and 24g of carbs.  That isn’t bad, but what kid only eats ONE slice?  How lean is a Lean Pocket pizza?  41g of carbs for the whole pizza sandwich.

So, you can eat out, but be careful where and what you eat.

And if you eat at home, you can make your own.  It isn’t hard and fairly easy. I have a recipe that I have used to make a pizza with Cauliflower crust.  It is really good.  http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2012/08/the-astonishing-cauliflower-pizza-crust-you-have-to-taste-it-to-believe-it.html

Here is one that is easier pizza crust and I want to try and will follow up on it soon.  http://www.genaw.com/lowcarb/thinandcrispy_pizza.html

Below was my caulfilower-based home-made Margherita pizza and salad that I shared with my husband.  Less than 5g of carbs per half of that 9 inch pizza.  Totally delish and low carb.  The base was delish and didn’t miss the pizza crust.  But, if you have to have pizza crust–go online and type in low carb pizza crust and up pop a lot of sites that sell them online.  Even try Amazon.com–they sell everything.

pizzanight

Bread! Carbilicious and Dangerous to the Waistline

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So, you want to lose weight.  But, are you aware how many carbs is in a slice of bread?  How about if you have a sandwich.  The average slice of bread has about 14g of carbs.  Now, if you have two slices in a sandwich, that means you are eating 28g of carbs–minimally.  If you want to have between 50 and 100g of carbs a day to lose weight…then bread can be a problem.

I pretty much gave up bread.  I only have it once in a blue moon and when I do, it is carefully selected.  I found that I am wheat sensitive and gluten sensitive, so with the way that wheat is made now (Google Frankenwheat or look at my blog on it  http://wp.me/p2I06z-a0), I try to avoid it.

bread

My top 5 choices of bread.

1.  Western Bagel’s Perfect 10 Bagel.  10 net grams of carbs vs. 45 of a regular bagel and about 30-35g of their alternative bagel.

2. Western Bagel alternative Pita and English muffins are lower in carbs, but I would not eat them often.

3.  Tortilla shells that are low carb in the 4-7 net grams of carb range.  Trader Joes and Costco does sell them.  Markets sell them.

4.  Julianbakery.com has breads that are Smart Carb (in the 3 to 5 net gram area) and Paleo Bread that is Zero Carbs.  The zero carb ones are pretty bland, but are ok if you make french toast out of them or use them with cold cuts.  Toasted is really boring.  But, you can go gluten-free this way.  Whole Foods and specific low carb food places sell them.  Google them.  LoCarbsU.com sells them too.

5.  Sara Lee 45 Calorie Whole Wheat Bread.  Not gluten free, but only 7g of carbs per slice and it is tasty.

So, you can’t complain that you can’t find decent bread choices.  But, if you choose to continue to eat regular bread, you might never lose the weight.  Most people who I know who have weight isssues seem to continue to eat taco shells, burrito shells, toast, cereal, sandwiches.  Maybe they would lose it like I did if they remove it from their diet and only insert one of the above only once or twice a week?  It worked for me.

Eat Lunch, Lose Weight

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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

the KETOGENIC DIET: Turns out that a low-carb diet makes you thin AND delays the AGING PROCESS

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eggsbacon

Reducing calories and eating low-carb foods, something scientists at the Gladstone Institutes call the Ketogenic Diet, could delay the aging process. According to a study headed up by Gladstone Senior Investigator Eric Verdin, MD, the development of this anti-aging ketogenic diet could help to eventually combat age-related diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and certain forms of mental deterioration.

http://www.sciencemag.org/content/early/2012/12/05/science.1227166.abstract

lowcarbzone

“Over the years, studies have found that restricting calories slows aging and increases longevity—however the mechanism of this effect has remained elusive,” Verdin said in a statement. “Here, we find that βOHB—the body’s major source of energy during exercise or fasting—blocks a class of enzymes that would otherwise promote oxidative stress, thus protecting cells from aging.”
Read more: http://www.voxxi.com/ketogenic-diet-low-carb-low-calorie/#ixzz2EswKVfaQ

Inspirational Thoughts for the Week

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10 Ways to Boost Your Metabolism

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It is important to boost your metabolism if you want to keep thin.  The body will burn more calories with a quicker metabolism than one that is just at rest.

So, here are 10 ways to do it:

1. BUILD MUSCLE:

Our bodies constantly burn calories, even when we’re doing nothing. This resting metabolic rate is much higher in people with more muscle. Every pound of muscle uses about 6 calories a day just to sustain itself, while each pound of fat burns only 2 calories daily. That small difference can add up over time.

2.  STEP UP YOUR WORKOUT:

Aerobic exercise may not build big muscles, but it can rev up your metabolism in the hours after a workout. The key is to push yourself.  When you are walking, burst into fast walking here and there.  Push yourself.

3.  FUEL UP WITH WATER:

The body needs water to process calories. If you are even mildly dehydrated, your metabolism may slow down. In one study, adults who drank eight or more glasses of water a day burned more calories than those who drank four. To stay hydrated, drink a glass of water or other unsweetened beverage before every meal and snack. In addition, try munching on fresh fruits and vegetables, which are full of fluid, rather than pretzels or chips.

4.  ENERGY DRINKS: (low carb and low sugar!  Check the label!)

Some ingredients in energy drinks can give your metabolism a boost. They’re full of caffeine which increases the amount of energy your body uses. They sometimes have taurine, an amino acid. Taurine can speed up your metabolism and may help burn fat. But using these drinks can cause problems like high blood pressure, anxiety, and sleep issues for some people. The American Academy of Pediatrics doesn’t recommend them for kids and teens.

5.  SINLESS PROTEIN SNACKS BETWEEN MEALS:

Having a small protein meal or snack every 3 to 4 hours keeps your metabolism cranking, so you burn more calories over the course of a day. Several studies have also shown that people who snack regularly eat less at meal time.

6. SPICE UP YOUR MEALS:

Spicy foods contain chemical compounds that can kick the metabolism into a higher gear. Eating a tablespoon of chopped red or green chili pepper can boost your metabolic rate.  I sell Capio tablets that are made with the ingredients of spices and I take them every morning to spice up my metabolism.

7.  POWER UP WITH PROTEIN:

The body burns many more calories digesting protein as it uses for fat or carbohydrates. Although you want to eat a balanced diet, replacing some carbs with lean, protein-rich foods can boost the metabolism at mealtime. Healthy sources of protein include lean beef, turkey, fish, white meat chicken, tofu, nuts, beans, eggs, and low-fat dairy products. I, personally, do not like to eat beans unless I am going to work out.  They are high in carbs.  Nuts can be too, so you have to watch how much of them you eat.

8.  BEST NEWS IS YOU SHOULD DRINK COFFEE!

Coffee drinkers are aware of  the increased energy and concentration that follows your morning ritual. Taken in moderation, one of coffee’s benefits may be a short-term increase in your metabolic rate.

9.  GREEN TEA CAN BOOST YOUR METABOLISM:

Drinking green tea or oolong tea offers the combined benefits of caffeine and catechins, substances shown to rev up the metabolism for a couple hours. Research suggests that drinking two to four cups of either tea may push the body to burn 17% more calories than normal during moderately intense exercise for a short period of time.

10. CRASH DIETS WILL MESS UP YOUR METABOLISM:

Crash diets — those involving eating fewer than 1,000 calories a day — are disastrous for anyone hoping to quicken their metabolism. Although these diets may help you drop pounds while consuming things that are NOT good nutrition,  a high percentage of the loss comes from muscle. The lower your muscle mass, the slower your metabolism. The final result is a body that burns fewer calories (and gains weight faster) than the one you had before the diet.

Here are the foods that help boost your metabolism.  Get them into your daily diet.

Delicious Substitutions for Thanksgiving Dinner

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According to Sugarstacks.com, there are a lot of sugar cubes in one traditional Thanksgiving dinner.  Do you really want to derail your diet or gain 5 pounds from one dinner, where you are eating things that are not necessarily absolute for a good Thanksgiving meal?  Did the Puritans really want you to eat these things?  Of course not!

Here is a picture of a traditional meal. This is the equivalent of almost 26 sugar cubes.

Traditional Thanksgiving Meal

Item Calories Sugar
Stuffing 160 2g
Turkey Breast, 4 oz. 142 0g
Gravy 25 1g
Sweet Potato Casserole 320 41g
Dinner Roll 110 4g
1/2 Tbsp Butter 50 0g
Cranberry Sauce (canned) 110 21g
Green Beans 30 2g
Mashed Potatoes 155 3g
Pumpkin Pie  w/ Whipped Cream 340 31g
Totals 1442 105g


(Calories from sugar:  420)

Sugarstacks breaks each item down with pictures.  http://sugarstacks.com/thanksgiving.htm

THE LOW CARB WAY TO DO THANKSGIVING:

TURKEY BREAST:  cooked instead of the whole bird or give the dark meat to the skinny guys, 4 ounces per portion

GRAVY:  A tablespoon or two of gravy won’t kill you.

LOW CARB BREAD STUFFING:  You could make stuffing with low carb bread like JulianBakery.com or even Sara Lee 45 Calorie Bread (and eat a small portion) or skip stuffing.  Do you really need it?

FRUIT:  Candied Cranberries are a bad idea.  Skip it.  Have sugar free jello instead or some delicious fresh fruit cut up and placed out in a bowl.  One serving could be about 11g of carbs.

VEGETABLES:  Go ahead, make your favorite veggies.  Don’t do the version where it is smothered in Cream of Mushroom soup.  If you absolutely must, here is a low carb recipe version of it:  http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/lowcarbsidedishes/r/greenbeancasser.htm  (6 g net carbs vs. 17g per serving)

MASHED POTATOES are not the best choice, make mashed cauliflower (see recipe below).  Tastes great:  (If you must eat mashed potatoes, only a small one or two tablespoons worth)

DINNER ROLL:  Not a great idea.  Skip this or have a slice of low-carb bread like mentioned above.

PIE:  VERY LARGE AMOUNT OF CARBS unless you do a low carb pie.   Get a dessert that is low cal like low-carb ice cream (Breyers has a delicious Smart Carb Vanilla) or get a recipe for low carb pie and make that (see below for four links to low carb pie recipes).  Greek yogurt with fresh strawberries in it is also very good.

SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE:  Gotta be the most stupid Thanksgiving creation ever.  FORGET IT!  So many carbs, I don’t even know what to say.  Even the low carb version is 20 g  versus 40g of carbs for traditional casserole.  That is a lot.  http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/lowcarbsidedishes/r/sweetpotatocass.htm

–HOWEVER:  This is a faux sweet potato casserole recipe and will be ok for your diet!  http://www.fabulousfoods.com/recipes/low-carb-faux-sweet-potato-casserole

–ALSO, I make a really nice salad with cheese in it and serve that instead of Sweet Potato Casserole.

 

****BUT INSTEAD OF THE STUPID CASSEROLE OR MASHED CAULIFLOWER OR POTATOES, how about just this intead??? Now this looks delish.  I can’t wait to try it….****

Cyndi’s “Twice Baked” Cauliflower

 http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=499677

Submitted by: CYNDIDAVISUSA

Introduction

I got this idea from twice baked potatoes. You can cut the calories more than this if you use fat free or low fat dairy products. So good I could eat it every day. Great way to cut the potatoes out of a meal if you need to…

Minutes to Prepare: 15
Minutes to Cook: 20
Number of Servings: 4

Ingredients

Cauliflower, frozen, cooked, 4 cup (1″ pieces)
Sour Cream, .25 cup
Chopped Chives, 1 tsp
Colby Cheese, .25 cup, shredded
Monterey Cheese, .25 cup, shredded
Hormel Bacon Bits, 2 tbsp
Butter, salted, 1 tbsp
Garlic powder, .5 tsp
Salt, 1 dash
Pepper, black, 1 dash

Directions

Cook cauliflower until tender [I use frozen and the microwave with NO water added for 10 minutes on high]. Preheat oven to 400F. Chop fine with pastry blender, potato masher or knife. Add all ingredients together in a medium bowl, fold until mixed. Use cooking spray on 4 seven ounce ramekins or other small oven safe dishes and spoon mixture into dishes. Place all small dishes on a cookie sheet for easier handling. Bake for 15 minutes on middle rack and then broil for a few minutes until top is golden brown. Makes 4 servings, but you may want to make extra, cuz…OMG this is good.

Number of Servings: 4

Recipe submitted by SparkPeople user CYNDIDAVISUSA.

IN CONCLUSION:

Below are the cauliflower and pie recipe information.

Please consider carefully before you subject yourself, your family or your guests to an unnecessarily high-calorie, high-carb Thanksgiving dinner.  Try the substitutions that I mentioned. Plan ahead and happy holidays!

Recipe for Surprise Mashed “Potatoes”


4 cups cauliflower florets

1 ounce I can’t believe it’s not butter

1 ounce Lake O’Lakes fat free half & half

Pinch of salt

Pinch of pepper

 

Steam or microwave the cauliflower until soft. Puree in food

Processor, adding the butter spray and the half and half to taste. Season with salt and pepper.

 

4 servings – 60 calories, 1 ½ g fat, 3 g protein,

11g carbohydrates

Recipes for Pies:  (Pumpkin, Chocolate, Key-Lime, Pecan)–also good for diabetics.

http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/desserts/r/pumpkinpie.htm

http://healthyindulgences.net/2009/04/healthy-low-carb-chocolate-pie/

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/key-lime-pie—low-carb-version/

Pecan Pie Recipe Perfect for Low Carb Atkins, South Beach, or Diabetics

Diet Motivation DAY!!

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I have had a couple of people talk to me about not wanting to be nagged about their diet or their spouse has told me that the reason that they don’t stick to healthy eating is because of a lack of “DISCIPLINE.”

What is discipline? Discipline means behaving according to what you have decided is best, regardless of how lazy you might be feeling. You have to have self-knowledge. You need to decide what behavior best reflects your goals and values. This process requires introspection and self-analysis, and is most effective when you have written your goal down. I highly recommend taking the time to write out your goals, dreams and ambitions. Even better, write out a personal mission statement. Dr. Covey has a site where you can do it on his site:

http://www.franklincovey.com/msb/

As you begin to build self-discipline, there will times where you will be undisciplined – such as avoiding the gym, eating a piece of cake or candy, etc. Developing self-discipline takes time, and the key here is to start to be aware of your undisciplined behavior. In time, this awareness will come earlier, and if you catch yourself being undisciplined before you are in the middle of the act, you will have the opportunity to make a decision that is in better alignment with your goals and values.

(Try not to make your food boring to help with your motivation. Look over my older blogs where I make suggestions for food choices that taste great and you will look forward to having. You don’t just have to eat boiled eggs and steamed veggies! I eat great things every day and I am happy. I don’t need a bunch of crap to be happy. I just got my shipment of Miracle Noodle Angel Hair pasta today. I have my low carb pasta. So, I am happy!)

Print a motivational saying and hang it up in plain site so you will remember/

Some good examples are:

Reveal

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October 7, will be my one year anniversary of starting with low carbs.  I am sharing a picture that I took before I started the journey and a picture that I took today.  (Those are my yoga pants, so no jokes about the groin fit!)

While on this diet, I added in walking (elliptical) 2 times a week min., 30-60 min. and pilates 2 times a week and yoga 1 time a week……but you can do any form of exercise, even at home.  Just move, even just  minutes!

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