What is a negative calorie food? It sounds like a dieter's dream, doesn't it?
Well, actually- it is! Negative calorie foods are foods that burn more calories during digestion then they actually contain. Pretty sweet, right?
So you may ask yourself, 'What are these foods and why don't people only eat negative calorie foods to lose weight'?!?! While negative calorie foods are generally high in fiber, they are not what the average person is going to be able to consist on. In theory, you could eat negative calorie foods alone and lose weight, but in reality you are probably going to crave some pasta, protein, or sweets along the way. And also, you need a wide variety of foods to make up a nutritious diet. Since negative calorie foods are fruits and veggies, you would not be getting any protein, enough iron, and no whole grains.
The fruits that are considered to be negative calorie are: apples, cranberries, grapefruit, honeydew, lemons, limes, mangos, oranges, pineapple, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, tomato, turnip, papaya, Peach, watermelon, tangerines, Cucumber (yes cumcumber is a fruit) and hot peppers (which surprise, surprise are fruits too).
The vegetables that are negative calorie are : lettuce, onion, broccoli, garlic, green beans, cauliflower, radish, carrots, cabbage, spinach, turnip, zucchini, chicory, garden cress and asparagus.
Now some people think the whole idea of negative calorie foods is hooey. I personally, think that its true. In my personal experience, I always become hungry again much fast after consuming an apple or some carrots, than I would after eating some toast. This would lead me to believe, that this is happening because of the negative calorie effect of the apple or carrots. And in the case that it is not true, these fruits and vegetables are so nutritious and vital to a healthy diet- that it doesn't make too much of a difference. Either way, you are going to lose more weight eating fruits and vegetables, rather than if you were carbo-loading like a mad woman.
I hope I answered that question of what a negative calorie food is. If you are new to the concept, that it is just another great reason to load up on fruits and veggies! Tasty, nutritious, AND a negative calorie food- doesn't get much better.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Saturday, February 6, 2010
What to Eat to Lose Weight and Be Healthier: Food Combinations
What should you eat to lose weight and be healthier? Well, conventional wisdom tells us that the less calories we eat, the more weight we will lose. But is that really all there is to it?
Studies are showing that there may actually be more to losing weight than just counting calories. For instance, did you know that the combinations of food you eat may actually slow weight loss? That's right.
Certain foods are not only easier on the digestive system, but in combination will prove beneficial towards your weight loss efforts. Since our bodies were actually made to eat only natural foods, they are also used to certain combinations that would have been prominent in nature. The more efficient we digest food and metabolize food as energy, the less we store our calories as fat. So lets go over the most energy efficient food combinations:
First, lets discuss protein. It is actually best to eat protein by itself for best digestion and metabolization. But vegetables can be eaten in combination with protein, because they are the easiest source or energy for our bodies and the easiest to digest. Many say that vegetables are the easiest to digest because they were the most prominent food source thousands of years ago- and our bodies are still best equipped to digest vegetables today.
Next, lets talk about starches. Starches are best eaten alone. They cause drastic spikes in blood sugar and take a lot of energy just to stabilize your body. But if you must eat another food with your starch, opt for vegetables. I know it is tempting to add protein to your pasta or baked potato, but this is actually a bad choice. Proteins require an alkaline environment for digestion and starches require an acidic environment. So to combine the two- will only make you feel sluggish (because your body is using most of its energy to digest your food), and your weight loss efforts will suffer.
Fruits seem like they would be an obvious choice as an addition to almost any meal. But actually, fruit is extremely acidic and best eaten alone. Do not add fruit to your meals as a 'side'. As a matter of fact, allow about half an hour after eating fruit, to consume anything else.
Let us move on to another surprising combination that should be avoided: proteins and fats. Sorry Atkins diet, consuming a large amount of fat and protein at the same time is no good. Fat requires hours for digestion- which is great for feeling full.. but terrible for digesting other foods at the same time.
Honestly, it is really best to eat one food type at a time. It is easiest on your body- both for digestion and weight loss purposes. But if you must combine food- protein and vegetables, and starches and vegetables are the easiest and vest for your body. Keep these tips in mind to help you lose some extra weight or just to boost your energy levels.
There of course, are many factors when it comes to - but starting with beneficial food combinationslosing weight and being healthier is a great way to learn what is best for your body. Weight loss will only occur in optimal conditions- so starting out with the healthiest food combinations is the perfect step for anyone!
Studies are showing that there may actually be more to losing weight than just counting calories. For instance, did you know that the combinations of food you eat may actually slow weight loss? That's right.
Certain foods are not only easier on the digestive system, but in combination will prove beneficial towards your weight loss efforts. Since our bodies were actually made to eat only natural foods, they are also used to certain combinations that would have been prominent in nature. The more efficient we digest food and metabolize food as energy, the less we store our calories as fat. So lets go over the most energy efficient food combinations:
First, lets discuss protein. It is actually best to eat protein by itself for best digestion and metabolization. But vegetables can be eaten in combination with protein, because they are the easiest source or energy for our bodies and the easiest to digest. Many say that vegetables are the easiest to digest because they were the most prominent food source thousands of years ago- and our bodies are still best equipped to digest vegetables today.
Next, lets talk about starches. Starches are best eaten alone. They cause drastic spikes in blood sugar and take a lot of energy just to stabilize your body. But if you must eat another food with your starch, opt for vegetables. I know it is tempting to add protein to your pasta or baked potato, but this is actually a bad choice. Proteins require an alkaline environment for digestion and starches require an acidic environment. So to combine the two- will only make you feel sluggish (because your body is using most of its energy to digest your food), and your weight loss efforts will suffer.
Fruits seem like they would be an obvious choice as an addition to almost any meal. But actually, fruit is extremely acidic and best eaten alone. Do not add fruit to your meals as a 'side'. As a matter of fact, allow about half an hour after eating fruit, to consume anything else.
Let us move on to another surprising combination that should be avoided: proteins and fats. Sorry Atkins diet, consuming a large amount of fat and protein at the same time is no good. Fat requires hours for digestion- which is great for feeling full.. but terrible for digesting other foods at the same time.
Honestly, it is really best to eat one food type at a time. It is easiest on your body- both for digestion and weight loss purposes. But if you must combine food- protein and vegetables, and starches and vegetables are the easiest and vest for your body. Keep these tips in mind to help you lose some extra weight or just to boost your energy levels.
There of course, are many factors when it comes to - but starting with beneficial food combinationslosing weight and being healthier is a great way to learn what is best for your body. Weight loss will only occur in optimal conditions- so starting out with the healthiest food combinations is the perfect step for anyone!
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
What to eat to Lose Weight and be Healthier
If I told you exactly what to eat to lose weight and be healthier, would you follow my advice? If I seriously took the time to sit down and figure out exactly what you should eat and how much of it- for you to lose weight- would you not only listen to me, but DO what I told you?
You can look in the mirror and wish those 30 pounds away.. or you can COMMIT to a diet and STICK to it. A diet is not going to work if you don't follow it- practically perfectly. I know, that sounds dramatic. But imagine that you want to lose a pound of body fat a week- that is a decently reasonable expectation. You wouldn't have to starve yourself, but you wouldn't be able to totally indulge yourself either. But anyway, we are aiming for a pound a week here and on Saturday we really want some ice cream, since we have been so good and followed our diet perfectly all week. So we go to Dairy Queen and we get some ice cream, the really good stuff too- like a blizzard or something. Well, you easily just ate 800+ calories, and that is almost 1/4 of your weight loss for the week! If you treat yourself like that once a week, you will lose a pound less a month. And if you decided to treat yourself with chips, queso, and a margarita (which are pretty much my favorite things in the world), you have just set yourself back even more.
Now, I don't think you should restrict yourself from all of the best foods- but when you are dieting- you either have to factor in your treats and plan accordingly, or not treat yourself at all. Yes, that sucks. And that is precisely why so many diets fail- willpower. You NEED to commit to a diet plan and STICK to it. Even if I or someone else were to give you the magic formula to lose weight and told you exactly what to eat- it would be of no use unless you stuck to the plan. If you would really commit to a good eating plan that was reasonable, both calorie-wise and nutritionally (no grapefruit diets), you would be successful. Simple as that.
But if you ever have questions about what to eat to lose weight and be healthier you can always drop me a comment or e-mail and I'd be happy to hear from you :) Losing weight is tough but there are so many weight loss benefits- that is it also very worth it.
You can look in the mirror and wish those 30 pounds away.. or you can COMMIT to a diet and STICK to it. A diet is not going to work if you don't follow it- practically perfectly. I know, that sounds dramatic. But imagine that you want to lose a pound of body fat a week- that is a decently reasonable expectation. You wouldn't have to starve yourself, but you wouldn't be able to totally indulge yourself either. But anyway, we are aiming for a pound a week here and on Saturday we really want some ice cream, since we have been so good and followed our diet perfectly all week. So we go to Dairy Queen and we get some ice cream, the really good stuff too- like a blizzard or something. Well, you easily just ate 800+ calories, and that is almost 1/4 of your weight loss for the week! If you treat yourself like that once a week, you will lose a pound less a month. And if you decided to treat yourself with chips, queso, and a margarita (which are pretty much my favorite things in the world), you have just set yourself back even more.
Now, I don't think you should restrict yourself from all of the best foods- but when you are dieting- you either have to factor in your treats and plan accordingly, or not treat yourself at all. Yes, that sucks. And that is precisely why so many diets fail- willpower. You NEED to commit to a diet plan and STICK to it. Even if I or someone else were to give you the magic formula to lose weight and told you exactly what to eat- it would be of no use unless you stuck to the plan. If you would really commit to a good eating plan that was reasonable, both calorie-wise and nutritionally (no grapefruit diets), you would be successful. Simple as that.
But if you ever have questions about what to eat to lose weight and be healthier you can always drop me a comment or e-mail and I'd be happy to hear from you :) Losing weight is tough but there are so many weight loss benefits- that is it also very worth it.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Weight Loss Benefits
While I believe that results are the best motivation- I also believe that knowing the benefits of said results are also decent motivation. Because of that, I am going to outline the main weight loss benefits.
First off, lets try not to think of weight loss as 'dieting' or restricting yourself from everything good and lovely and eating only carrots for the rest of your life. Let's try to think of weight loss as restoring your health to the best it can be and ensuring a long and energetic life with few sniffles.
If you are having trouble conjuring the image I suggested, here are some known benefits of losing that pesky weight:
You will lower your blood pressure. I know, it's a little annoying when people tell you that, because high blood pressure doesn't really bother you until it actually causes a problem. But the kinds of problems it causes are strokes and heart disease. So obviously, these are problems you are going to want to avoid.
You can prevent Type 2 Diabetes. Folks, you don't want to get diabetes. While anyone can get type 2 diabetes, you are twice as likely to get it if you are overweight. Do whatever you can to PREVENT disease- I promise it is so much better than treating an existing disease and you will have such a higher quality of life and happiness.
You will reduce your risk of various cancers. Again, prevention is key here. I realize that is hard to think about- because if you take great care of yourself and live a long, healthy life- you will never know what you prevented. So there is no tangible benefit. But I promise you, that you ARE preventing diseases by maintaining a healthy weight and healthy body. And you surely don't want to find out the hard way exactly what you are preventing.
You will have more energy. And who doesn't want more energy?! Just losing 5 pounds of extra weight will give you more energy. Why? ..because its EXTRA weight, and you are carrying around needlessly and its slowing you down. But also because people at a healthier weight, get better sleep. Better sleep = more energy.
And as an added plus, you will feel better about yourself. Every single woman deserves to look in the mirror and LOVE what she sees. You should feel great about your body, you are the only you out there! That sounds cheesy, but I'm serious. I think you should love your body no matter how much extra weight you have- but I also think that you will have a ton more self confidence if you feel like you look your very best. And losing weight, not only builds confidence because it is a hard accomplishment to achieve- but because you will love the way you look. And you really deserve to!
Well ladies, Thank you for reading about the benefits to losing weight and happy dieting!
First off, lets try not to think of weight loss as 'dieting' or restricting yourself from everything good and lovely and eating only carrots for the rest of your life. Let's try to think of weight loss as restoring your health to the best it can be and ensuring a long and energetic life with few sniffles.
If you are having trouble conjuring the image I suggested, here are some known benefits of losing that pesky weight:
You will lower your blood pressure. I know, it's a little annoying when people tell you that, because high blood pressure doesn't really bother you until it actually causes a problem. But the kinds of problems it causes are strokes and heart disease. So obviously, these are problems you are going to want to avoid.
You can prevent Type 2 Diabetes. Folks, you don't want to get diabetes. While anyone can get type 2 diabetes, you are twice as likely to get it if you are overweight. Do whatever you can to PREVENT disease- I promise it is so much better than treating an existing disease and you will have such a higher quality of life and happiness.
You will reduce your risk of various cancers. Again, prevention is key here. I realize that is hard to think about- because if you take great care of yourself and live a long, healthy life- you will never know what you prevented. So there is no tangible benefit. But I promise you, that you ARE preventing diseases by maintaining a healthy weight and healthy body. And you surely don't want to find out the hard way exactly what you are preventing.
You will have more energy. And who doesn't want more energy?! Just losing 5 pounds of extra weight will give you more energy. Why? ..because its EXTRA weight, and you are carrying around needlessly and its slowing you down. But also because people at a healthier weight, get better sleep. Better sleep = more energy.
And as an added plus, you will feel better about yourself. Every single woman deserves to look in the mirror and LOVE what she sees. You should feel great about your body, you are the only you out there! That sounds cheesy, but I'm serious. I think you should love your body no matter how much extra weight you have- but I also think that you will have a ton more self confidence if you feel like you look your very best. And losing weight, not only builds confidence because it is a hard accomplishment to achieve- but because you will love the way you look. And you really deserve to!
Well ladies, Thank you for reading about the benefits to losing weight and happy dieting!
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Is a Low Carb Diet Really the Best Diet for Weightloss?
Is a Low-Carb diet really the easiest way to lose weight? Is it healthy?
A low-carb diet really is an easy way to lose weight. Easy in the sense that you WILL lose weight, and the results WILL be fast. A Low-carb diet is a diet that generally requires you to eat 20 or less carbohydrates per day. This is significantly less than your normal diet, if you are the regular sandwich and bagel eating American. You can actually kiss sandwiches and bagels good-bye if you decide to embark on this diet plan.. and cereal, yogurt, sweets, bread, pasta, fruits as well. Sound fun?
Well no, not really. But it does work. The reason that low-carb diets are so effective is because carbohydrates are the easiest source of energy for your body to break down and utilize. If you are not eating carbs, then your body will use protein and then fat as energy. The idea is that your body will end up using a lot more stored fat as energy, than if you were loading up on carbs. Simple enough, right?
But is it healthy? Well, you need to take your multivitamin since you will be eating little fruit, it at all. But since vegetables have few carbs (but a lot of fiber to help you feel full), you really should consume a great deal of them for your nutrition. I would not suggest that you eat bacon for breakfast everyday or a ton of cheeseburgers (bun-less, of course), just because they are low carb. Yes, you will be within your diet restrictions, but no, it is obviously not good for you. You can be healthy on a low carb diet if you still try to be nutritionally conscious. And I would also suggest that instead of trying to sneak in bread as your 20 carbs for the day, you eat fruit instead. Even if you take a multivitamin (and please, please do), whole foods are ALWAYS a better choice.
My problem with a really low carb diet is that it takes me from being happy and patient- into a super bitch. And I know I'm not the only one. Seriously, it does mess with your mood and energy levels. Since your body is having to work that much harder for your energy- it takes it's toll.
So if you need to lose a few pounds quickly or just want to jump start your weight loss. Then go ahead and try a really low carb diet for a week or two- then go back to eating a low fat, but nutritious diet. If you want, eat a low carb diet one week a month, just to give your diet a boost. I truly believe that results are the best motivation- and you will have positive results with a low carb diet. But I would not recommend keeping up a low carb diet for too long. It takes SO much will-power and it is highly restrictive. Highly restrictive diets end up not being very effective because generally people get sick of them and then go back to poor eating habits. Don't let that be you!
Thanks for reading and good luck with reaching your weight loss goals! I know you can do it!
A low-carb diet really is an easy way to lose weight. Easy in the sense that you WILL lose weight, and the results WILL be fast. A Low-carb diet is a diet that generally requires you to eat 20 or less carbohydrates per day. This is significantly less than your normal diet, if you are the regular sandwich and bagel eating American. You can actually kiss sandwiches and bagels good-bye if you decide to embark on this diet plan.. and cereal, yogurt, sweets, bread, pasta, fruits as well. Sound fun?
Well no, not really. But it does work. The reason that low-carb diets are so effective is because carbohydrates are the easiest source of energy for your body to break down and utilize. If you are not eating carbs, then your body will use protein and then fat as energy. The idea is that your body will end up using a lot more stored fat as energy, than if you were loading up on carbs. Simple enough, right?
But is it healthy? Well, you need to take your multivitamin since you will be eating little fruit, it at all. But since vegetables have few carbs (but a lot of fiber to help you feel full), you really should consume a great deal of them for your nutrition. I would not suggest that you eat bacon for breakfast everyday or a ton of cheeseburgers (bun-less, of course), just because they are low carb. Yes, you will be within your diet restrictions, but no, it is obviously not good for you. You can be healthy on a low carb diet if you still try to be nutritionally conscious. And I would also suggest that instead of trying to sneak in bread as your 20 carbs for the day, you eat fruit instead. Even if you take a multivitamin (and please, please do), whole foods are ALWAYS a better choice.
My problem with a really low carb diet is that it takes me from being happy and patient- into a super bitch. And I know I'm not the only one. Seriously, it does mess with your mood and energy levels. Since your body is having to work that much harder for your energy- it takes it's toll.
So if you need to lose a few pounds quickly or just want to jump start your weight loss. Then go ahead and try a really low carb diet for a week or two- then go back to eating a low fat, but nutritious diet. If you want, eat a low carb diet one week a month, just to give your diet a boost. I truly believe that results are the best motivation- and you will have positive results with a low carb diet. But I would not recommend keeping up a low carb diet for too long. It takes SO much will-power and it is highly restrictive. Highly restrictive diets end up not being very effective because generally people get sick of them and then go back to poor eating habits. Don't let that be you!
Thanks for reading and good luck with reaching your weight loss goals! I know you can do it!
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Walking for Weight Loss
You already know that exercise is key in losing weight- but what kind of exercise should you do for optimal results?
The most popular type of exercise for weight loss is walking. Walking can be very helpful to help you lose weight- not just to burn calories, but to burn FAT. Since walking is an aerobic exercise, you will actually be burning fat as your main fuel source after about 10-20 minutes. For this reason it is important to walk at a brisk pace for at least 30-60 minutes. The longer the better, but of course, any exercise is better than none at all.
Here are 3 tips to optimize your results:
1) Interval training. Switch it up! Warm up for about 5 minutes, and then do two-minute intervals at alternating different speeds. Jog for two minutes, then walk for two minutes. Don't like to jog? Well, then just walk quite a bit faster; or adjusting the incline can also vary the intensity. This will not only boost your metabolism, but it will help you to burn more fat. Interval training really helps you to get the most out of your time, and maximize your results. All we all know that results are by far the BEST motivation to keep you going!
2) Don't forget the incline. Assuming that you are doing your walking on a treadmill, up the incline a few points. I'm not saying to jack it all the way up (unless you like waking up to aching muscles- hope you live in a one-story :), but increase the incline enough that you can feel it. You will burn more calories and tone your legs, butt, and abs. You will actually burn more calories by walking at an incline at a slower pace, than walking at a faster pace on a flat surface.
3) Ok, this one is a bit weird, but true. You burn around 23% more calories if you walk with your arms straight at your sides. The momentum you build while swinging your arms makes it easier to walk, so when you don't move your arms, your legs have to do all the work. I realize that you will look a bit odd and statuesque... but for a 23% more calorie burn, who cares?
Keep these three tips in mind during your next workout, and remember to aim for about 3-6 workouts a week. Good luck in reaching your weight loss goals!
The most popular type of exercise for weight loss is walking. Walking can be very helpful to help you lose weight- not just to burn calories, but to burn FAT. Since walking is an aerobic exercise, you will actually be burning fat as your main fuel source after about 10-20 minutes. For this reason it is important to walk at a brisk pace for at least 30-60 minutes. The longer the better, but of course, any exercise is better than none at all.
Here are 3 tips to optimize your results:
1) Interval training. Switch it up! Warm up for about 5 minutes, and then do two-minute intervals at alternating different speeds. Jog for two minutes, then walk for two minutes. Don't like to jog? Well, then just walk quite a bit faster; or adjusting the incline can also vary the intensity. This will not only boost your metabolism, but it will help you to burn more fat. Interval training really helps you to get the most out of your time, and maximize your results. All we all know that results are by far the BEST motivation to keep you going!
2) Don't forget the incline. Assuming that you are doing your walking on a treadmill, up the incline a few points. I'm not saying to jack it all the way up (unless you like waking up to aching muscles- hope you live in a one-story :), but increase the incline enough that you can feel it. You will burn more calories and tone your legs, butt, and abs. You will actually burn more calories by walking at an incline at a slower pace, than walking at a faster pace on a flat surface.
3) Ok, this one is a bit weird, but true. You burn around 23% more calories if you walk with your arms straight at your sides. The momentum you build while swinging your arms makes it easier to walk, so when you don't move your arms, your legs have to do all the work. I realize that you will look a bit odd and statuesque... but for a 23% more calorie burn, who cares?
Keep these three tips in mind during your next workout, and remember to aim for about 3-6 workouts a week. Good luck in reaching your weight loss goals!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Finding it hard to lose Weight?
Have you tried everything to lose that extra weight? Have you tried every diet and gimmick that other women have had success with to no avail? Losing weight is just harder for some women than others, which is totally frustrating and unfair- But if you figure out WHY this is occurring, well, then you can fix it.
First of all, think about your habits and the foods you eat. Do you smoke, depend on caffeine, or go out drinking a few nights a week? Do you eat a lot of prepackaged foods, I'm even talking about those so called 'diet meals', that you can just pop in the microwave? Do you usually plan your meals around foods that have already been prepared (I'm talking soups, pizzas, cereal, chips, etc.)? Even if you pick the diet versions of all of these processed foods, it's not necessarily a whole lot better.
The problem with all of the above habits, are that they aren't NATURAL. You can't put all of these foreign, and even harmful substances in your body, and expect it to perform optimally. The nicotine, caffeine, alcohol, food preservatives, and additives are in no way shape or form good for us. AT ALL. Actually they are very damaging. Stop and think about how many people now-a-days live with or even die of disease? Medicine and science are advancing, yet people are getting unhealthier and unhealthier. It doesn't make any sense- until we take a look at the foods we eat. 90% of the average Americans diet is made up of processed foods. What is curious to me is how exactly the average person consuming all of this fake food is expecting their body to be efficient enough to lose weight successfully. If you are not correctly nourishing your machine and giving it natural and beneficial energy it can use, then don't be surprised when it isn't functioning at a 110%. Don't be surprised when you are fighting off the same cold ALL winter, or feeling sleepy after lunchtime, or grumpy for no reason and can't LOSE WEIGHT.
First let's address how assaulting your body with nicotine, alcohol, caffeine, and other substances is not exactly kind. Well, to put it simply, you are throwing off your natural balance and putting harmful chemicals into your body at the same time. For example, say you are going through a mid-day slump so you decide to drink a cup of coffee- all of a sudden you have thrown your body into overdrive.. just to crash and be overwhelmed with even worse fatigue. This roller coaster ride is not the best scenario when you are hoping to lose weight, all that stress will inhibit weight loss if anything. All of this is probably (hopefully) obvious to you, I know I am just preaching what people reeeaaally don't want to hear. Hell, I don't want to hear this stuff- it's like telling me I have to give up all my favorite hobbies. Okay, anyway..... :)
Moving on to- Preservatives and food additives. Oh yay, this is the part where I tell you that food producers have been pumping crap into all your favorite foods to make them taste better/last longer. I'm sorry, it's true- those guys suck.
So, what exactly is a Preservative? Basically, it is a chemical added to food products to keep them from rotting during transportation and keep them on your shelf longer. They kill bacteria, mold, and insects from growing on your food and even help retain some vitamins longer. That doesn't sound so bad. But alas, they are.. Generally these bad boys are toxic; they can cause cancer and other diseases, wreck havoc on your nervous system (feel bitchy after lunch?- could be why), lower your immune system, impact your reproductive system, and have a whole slew of side effects they don't exactly advertise. I hate to break it to ya- the rich old men up the corporate food chain aren't thinking of your health, they are thinking of their wallets- and selling food that doesn't rot is a money maker.
Now there are some natural food preservatives, which are: salt, vinegar, and sugar. For the most part, these are pretty safe. And definitely safer that the synthetic versions. The ones we need to look out for are Benzoates, Nitrites, Sulphites, and Sorbates.
Benzoates will be listed in the ingredients under sodium benzoate and benzoic acid. Generally they are added to soda and condiments.
Nitrites could be listed as sodium nitrite, and will be found in meat products.
Sulphites could be listed as sulphur dioxide and you'll find it in juices, dried fruits, and wine.
And lastly, Sorbates, which could be listed as sodium sorbate and potassium sorbate. These are added to cheese, bread, cakes, among other things.
There are also other preservatives or antioxidants added to food that you should look out for. Some examples of these would be Sodium Erythorbate, Sodium Diacetate, Sodium Succinate, and Grape Seed Extract. If something in the ingredient list sounds fishy, theres a good chance it is.
Now for Artificial food additives- these are sweeteners, dyes, flavor enhancers, thickeners, etc. Basically anything that is going to take the food out of it's natural state. They are harmful for the same reasons as preservatives- they are mostly all damaging in one way without being beneficial to your body. Beneficial to the presentation of the food, yes- but really, it's just not worth it. Some examples to stay away from are: Aspartame, Butylated Hydroxy-anisole, Calcium benzoate, Monosodium glutamate (MSG), and Sulphur dioxide.
Google any of those additives that I listed and your results will contain an absurd amount of scary things. Its frightening that we eat so much of the stuff. I know that looking for all of these ingredients on food labels is not exactly conducive to a happy shopping experience.. or you know, sanity. So just follow this rule of thumb: the ingredients list should be short and you should know what those ingredients are (and um, not because I told you to stay away from them here).
Mainly, try to get as much of your food in it's natural form. Opt for organic fruits and veggies over processed side dishes. 100% Whole wheat, meat that is free of nitrates, hormones, and antibiotics. Cut out as much processed food as you can, stay away from prepacked foods in boxes, cans, and the like. Be as kind to your body as you can. The healthier and more efficiently your body is running, the easier it will be for you to lose weight. And keep it off.
Hopefully this helped teach you a little bit about health, the foods you consume, and their correlation to weight loss!
First of all, think about your habits and the foods you eat. Do you smoke, depend on caffeine, or go out drinking a few nights a week? Do you eat a lot of prepackaged foods, I'm even talking about those so called 'diet meals', that you can just pop in the microwave? Do you usually plan your meals around foods that have already been prepared (I'm talking soups, pizzas, cereal, chips, etc.)? Even if you pick the diet versions of all of these processed foods, it's not necessarily a whole lot better.
The problem with all of the above habits, are that they aren't NATURAL. You can't put all of these foreign, and even harmful substances in your body, and expect it to perform optimally. The nicotine, caffeine, alcohol, food preservatives, and additives are in no way shape or form good for us. AT ALL. Actually they are very damaging. Stop and think about how many people now-a-days live with or even die of disease? Medicine and science are advancing, yet people are getting unhealthier and unhealthier. It doesn't make any sense- until we take a look at the foods we eat. 90% of the average Americans diet is made up of processed foods. What is curious to me is how exactly the average person consuming all of this fake food is expecting their body to be efficient enough to lose weight successfully. If you are not correctly nourishing your machine and giving it natural and beneficial energy it can use, then don't be surprised when it isn't functioning at a 110%. Don't be surprised when you are fighting off the same cold ALL winter, or feeling sleepy after lunchtime, or grumpy for no reason and can't LOSE WEIGHT.
First let's address how assaulting your body with nicotine, alcohol, caffeine, and other substances is not exactly kind. Well, to put it simply, you are throwing off your natural balance and putting harmful chemicals into your body at the same time. For example, say you are going through a mid-day slump so you decide to drink a cup of coffee- all of a sudden you have thrown your body into overdrive.. just to crash and be overwhelmed with even worse fatigue. This roller coaster ride is not the best scenario when you are hoping to lose weight, all that stress will inhibit weight loss if anything. All of this is probably (hopefully) obvious to you, I know I am just preaching what people reeeaaally don't want to hear. Hell, I don't want to hear this stuff- it's like telling me I have to give up all my favorite hobbies. Okay, anyway..... :)
Moving on to- Preservatives and food additives. Oh yay, this is the part where I tell you that food producers have been pumping crap into all your favorite foods to make them taste better/last longer. I'm sorry, it's true- those guys suck.
So, what exactly is a Preservative? Basically, it is a chemical added to food products to keep them from rotting during transportation and keep them on your shelf longer. They kill bacteria, mold, and insects from growing on your food and even help retain some vitamins longer. That doesn't sound so bad. But alas, they are.. Generally these bad boys are toxic; they can cause cancer and other diseases, wreck havoc on your nervous system (feel bitchy after lunch?- could be why), lower your immune system, impact your reproductive system, and have a whole slew of side effects they don't exactly advertise. I hate to break it to ya- the rich old men up the corporate food chain aren't thinking of your health, they are thinking of their wallets- and selling food that doesn't rot is a money maker.
Now there are some natural food preservatives, which are: salt, vinegar, and sugar. For the most part, these are pretty safe. And definitely safer that the synthetic versions. The ones we need to look out for are Benzoates, Nitrites, Sulphites, and Sorbates.
Benzoates will be listed in the ingredients under sodium benzoate and benzoic acid. Generally they are added to soda and condiments.
Nitrites could be listed as sodium nitrite, and will be found in meat products.
Sulphites could be listed as sulphur dioxide and you'll find it in juices, dried fruits, and wine.
And lastly, Sorbates, which could be listed as sodium sorbate and potassium sorbate. These are added to cheese, bread, cakes, among other things.
There are also other preservatives or antioxidants added to food that you should look out for. Some examples of these would be Sodium Erythorbate, Sodium Diacetate, Sodium Succinate, and Grape Seed Extract. If something in the ingredient list sounds fishy, theres a good chance it is.
Now for Artificial food additives- these are sweeteners, dyes, flavor enhancers, thickeners, etc. Basically anything that is going to take the food out of it's natural state. They are harmful for the same reasons as preservatives- they are mostly all damaging in one way without being beneficial to your body. Beneficial to the presentation of the food, yes- but really, it's just not worth it. Some examples to stay away from are: Aspartame, Butylated Hydroxy-anisole, Calcium benzoate, Monosodium glutamate (MSG), and Sulphur dioxide.
Google any of those additives that I listed and your results will contain an absurd amount of scary things. Its frightening that we eat so much of the stuff. I know that looking for all of these ingredients on food labels is not exactly conducive to a happy shopping experience.. or you know, sanity. So just follow this rule of thumb: the ingredients list should be short and you should know what those ingredients are (and um, not because I told you to stay away from them here).
Mainly, try to get as much of your food in it's natural form. Opt for organic fruits and veggies over processed side dishes. 100% Whole wheat, meat that is free of nitrates, hormones, and antibiotics. Cut out as much processed food as you can, stay away from prepacked foods in boxes, cans, and the like. Be as kind to your body as you can. The healthier and more efficiently your body is running, the easier it will be for you to lose weight. And keep it off.
Hopefully this helped teach you a little bit about health, the foods you consume, and their correlation to weight loss!
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Liquids and Weightloss for Women
If you think you know exactly how the liquids you consume affect weight loss in women, you may be wrong. I'm sure you have heard the general 'drink 8 glasses of water a day' or to switch your daily soda with diet soda to save calories. But I have a little to add on these topics that will hopefully help you out with those weight loss goals.
First lets start with those 8 glasses of H2O that we all know we need. Drink those. Obviously. But don't gulp them down all at one time. Don't gulp them down with your meals. Of course, if you must do these two things, it's better than not getting your daily requirement. But what would be really effective to keep your metabolism working it's hardest is to get yourself a large jug and sip it throughout the day. Think of your body as a machine- if you oil that machine all at once, yeah, it will work. But won't it work better if you keep it going by slowly oiling it throughout the day? It sure will. And better yet, make sure your water is ice cold. It obviously will seem more refreshing, but your body will also burn a few extra calories just warming it up.
But whats a few extra calories, right? Well actually, say warming up that water burns up 20 extra calories a day- that actually comes out to losing 2.08 pounds a year. Just for drinking your water cold as can be.. simple. Maybe two pounds a year doesn't sounds like much to you- but I'm sure a 21 pound weightloss in a decade sounds nice. I surely don't want to GAIN 21 pounds in the next ten years. (I better not be jinxing myself here)
Also, it is actually best not to drink with your meals. This is obviously against most people's habits, but nonetheless aids with digestion. The liquid that you consume during meal time dillutes stomach acid, therefore making it harder for your body to digest your meal. To further aid digestion- chew your food as finely as you can, so it's really broken down into almost a liquid and much easier to digest. This correlates with weightloss, because the more efficiently your body works as a whole- the easier it will be for you to lose weight.
On to my next topic. Soda. Diet soda. It really bugs me when I browse a diet plan and I see you can drink one fruit juice a day, but 'as much diet soda as you'd like'. I really don't want to bore you with the ingredients of diet soda, but basically you are ingesting chemicals. I know I sound melodramtic, but there are studies linking Asparteme to cancer. Not only that, but soda will inhibit your absorbtion of calcium and also dehydrate you. (Dehydrated skin= bloated, older looking skin, ew). Another fun fact about Asparteme is that it will make you hungrier- your body get's all excited about the sugar that never comes, which will trigger cravings to satisfy that little tease you just pulled. Gee, just what we dieters need.. why is this considered a 'diet' drink again?
And let me clarify, I am not advocating for you to switch back to regular soda. You can take the paint off of a car with Coca Cola. I'm not about to put that in MY body, as I surely don't want you putting it in yours. If you really NEED to drink something soda-like you can get crafty and mix some 100% natural orange or cranberry juice with some soda water. Just make sure to take those calories into consideration once you hit the gym or tally up your calories for the day.
Or drink some tea. Studies have shown that drinking 3-4 cups of green tea a day can help burn up to 50 extra calories. Again, that doesn't sound like much, but it comes out to almost half a pound a month, and 6 pounds per year. And it's super easy... who doesn't like easy?
Some other teas I like are yerba mate, which has about 1/3 the amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee and Oolong Tea. Which is a Chinese tea and known for it's weightloss properties. Get organic if you can (ALWAYS get organic if you can, which I will discuss at a later date).
Alcoholic drinks are a whole other topic, which I will also discuss in detail in another post, but I'll just give a few facts for the sake of being thorough. As depressing as it is, alcoholic drinks are not a dieters friend. Mixed drinks have a ridiculous amount of calories.. basically, you are drinking your dessert (and then some). Which is obviously not condusive to weightloss. I really don't want to ruin your next boozing experience, but a regular margarita that you order in a restaurant can easily have up to 700 calories. Damn sweet and sour mix. So stick to light beer and wine- though the sweeter the wine, the higher the calories.
And a total fun-killing fact: After consuming two standard alcoholic drinks, you're body burns 73% less fat. The main energy source becomes the alcohol, so better lay off the chips and dip, and other various munchies. And no, you alchies- 3 shots each in your two rum-and-diets does not constitute as two standard drinks. But obviously you aren't drinking diet soda- you know better. :)
Thanks for reading my take on how the liquid calories that women consume affect weight loss!
First lets start with those 8 glasses of H2O that we all know we need. Drink those. Obviously. But don't gulp them down all at one time. Don't gulp them down with your meals. Of course, if you must do these two things, it's better than not getting your daily requirement. But what would be really effective to keep your metabolism working it's hardest is to get yourself a large jug and sip it throughout the day. Think of your body as a machine- if you oil that machine all at once, yeah, it will work. But won't it work better if you keep it going by slowly oiling it throughout the day? It sure will. And better yet, make sure your water is ice cold. It obviously will seem more refreshing, but your body will also burn a few extra calories just warming it up.
But whats a few extra calories, right? Well actually, say warming up that water burns up 20 extra calories a day- that actually comes out to losing 2.08 pounds a year. Just for drinking your water cold as can be.. simple. Maybe two pounds a year doesn't sounds like much to you- but I'm sure a 21 pound weightloss in a decade sounds nice. I surely don't want to GAIN 21 pounds in the next ten years. (I better not be jinxing myself here)
Also, it is actually best not to drink with your meals. This is obviously against most people's habits, but nonetheless aids with digestion. The liquid that you consume during meal time dillutes stomach acid, therefore making it harder for your body to digest your meal. To further aid digestion- chew your food as finely as you can, so it's really broken down into almost a liquid and much easier to digest. This correlates with weightloss, because the more efficiently your body works as a whole- the easier it will be for you to lose weight.
On to my next topic. Soda. Diet soda. It really bugs me when I browse a diet plan and I see you can drink one fruit juice a day, but 'as much diet soda as you'd like'. I really don't want to bore you with the ingredients of diet soda, but basically you are ingesting chemicals. I know I sound melodramtic, but there are studies linking Asparteme to cancer. Not only that, but soda will inhibit your absorbtion of calcium and also dehydrate you. (Dehydrated skin= bloated, older looking skin, ew). Another fun fact about Asparteme is that it will make you hungrier- your body get's all excited about the sugar that never comes, which will trigger cravings to satisfy that little tease you just pulled. Gee, just what we dieters need.. why is this considered a 'diet' drink again?
And let me clarify, I am not advocating for you to switch back to regular soda. You can take the paint off of a car with Coca Cola. I'm not about to put that in MY body, as I surely don't want you putting it in yours. If you really NEED to drink something soda-like you can get crafty and mix some 100% natural orange or cranberry juice with some soda water. Just make sure to take those calories into consideration once you hit the gym or tally up your calories for the day.
Or drink some tea. Studies have shown that drinking 3-4 cups of green tea a day can help burn up to 50 extra calories. Again, that doesn't sound like much, but it comes out to almost half a pound a month, and 6 pounds per year. And it's super easy... who doesn't like easy?
Some other teas I like are yerba mate, which has about 1/3 the amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee and Oolong Tea. Which is a Chinese tea and known for it's weightloss properties. Get organic if you can (ALWAYS get organic if you can, which I will discuss at a later date).
Alcoholic drinks are a whole other topic, which I will also discuss in detail in another post, but I'll just give a few facts for the sake of being thorough. As depressing as it is, alcoholic drinks are not a dieters friend. Mixed drinks have a ridiculous amount of calories.. basically, you are drinking your dessert (and then some). Which is obviously not condusive to weightloss. I really don't want to ruin your next boozing experience, but a regular margarita that you order in a restaurant can easily have up to 700 calories. Damn sweet and sour mix. So stick to light beer and wine- though the sweeter the wine, the higher the calories.
And a total fun-killing fact: After consuming two standard alcoholic drinks, you're body burns 73% less fat. The main energy source becomes the alcohol, so better lay off the chips and dip, and other various munchies. And no, you alchies- 3 shots each in your two rum-and-diets does not constitute as two standard drinks. But obviously you aren't drinking diet soda- you know better. :)
Thanks for reading my take on how the liquid calories that women consume affect weight loss!
Welcome to the Weightloss Resource for Women
Thanks for checking out my new resource to help women lose that extra, unwanted weight. Whether you have a long way to go, or you are just looking to get rid of those last five pounds, losing weight can be a drag. Scratch that- it almost ALWAYS is. But getting healthy doesn't have to mean starving yourself or turning down cocktails with your girlfriends every weekend. Actually, to me, that sounds miserable. And last time I checked, misery definitely did not equal healthy.
I, for one, am sick of reading the same weightloss "tips"- that are more or less common sense. And I definitely do not want to shell out a bunch of cash to get some less-than-helpful, but more than enough crazy ebook. So I will be featuring tried, true, and sometimes surprising tricks that will reach your goals.
Grab some coffee (or better yet, green tea), and let's get learnin'! Until next time, Thanks for coming to my Weightloss Resource for Women.
I, for one, am sick of reading the same weightloss "tips"- that are more or less common sense. And I definitely do not want to shell out a bunch of cash to get some less-than-helpful, but more than enough crazy ebook. So I will be featuring tried, true, and sometimes surprising tricks that will reach your goals.
Grab some coffee (or better yet, green tea), and let's get learnin'! Until next time, Thanks for coming to my Weightloss Resource for Women.
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