Diet Guide Info - Diet and Health Blog

Lose 26 Pounds Eating at Home

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 06:10:13 +0000

Does this sound like you? “I am so frustrated with my ability to lose weight. I exercise 5 days per week, and still can’t seem to lose weight. I make all the right choices when eating out, too.” Think about how many times you eat out. As simple as it seems, eating half (or more) of your meals at restaurants can make it extremely difficult to lose weight even if you “make the right choice”. We often lose track of how many meals we are eating out, and then seem mystified as to why we can’t see the pounds drop. Cut Calories in Half Restaurants sneak in extra oils, butters, and mystery sauces creating high calorie foods. By cutting 2 tablespoons of butter or oil, you can save 200 to 300 calories. That equals half a pound of weight loss every week! Serve Your Own Portions At restaurants, you don’t have as much control over the portion that is on your plate. When at home, you can easily follow the half plate vegetable rule. However, the restaurants will serve up double or triple what you need to eat for a meal, and likely, not enough vegetables. You can also use smaller plates at home. Plan, Plan, Plan Make sure to plan out your grocery shopping list and the meals that you will have for the week. When we fail to plan, it is easy to resort to take-out food. The extra 10 minutes is worth it—for your health and wallet! You will be trimming your waistline and your budget. The key to succeeding is to be committed. Stick to the rule of eating from home, and your health will improve. Here are a few of my favorite healthy recipe websites for home cooking: Skinny Taste Spark Recipes Eating Well Do you have any tricks for eating at home more?

Go here to read the rest:
Lose 26 Pounds Eating at Home

Why Alternate Day Dieting is Disastrous

admin — Tue, 15 May 2012 06:00:28 +0000

Try eating over 2000 calories one day, and then depriving yourself to 1000 calories the next day. This is another form of yo-yo dieting. Some are saying that alternate day dieting will help to keep you satisfied, but ultimately result in a calorie deficit and weight loss. After all, Dr. Oz uses this technique for himself, so it must be effective, right ? Don’t Mess with Metabolism The big problem here is that you are playing with the metabolism . You would put your body in starvation mode one day, and then at a more normal calorie diet the next day. This could set you up for overeating and defeat the purpose of the diet plan. Plus, studies have shown that long term yo-yo dieting over the years can slow the metabolism . The creators of this diet thought that by never staying consistently low with the calories, one would be able to avoid the “starvation mode” metabolic slow-down. You would be able to eat low calorie one day, and then the next day, rev the metabolism. This is a great idea, but the metabolism is not that sensitive. It takes years of following a specific calorie level to change the metabolism. Instead, Find Your Perfect Calorie Level If your goal is weight loss, finding the perfect calorie level is the key. It is tricky, but if you create a calorie deficit that is not too low, you can trick the brain into thinking you are not dieting. You will not get as hungry, will still stay satisfied, and keep the metabolism revved. This type of calorie level usually results in .5 to 2 pounds of weight loss per week. The One Positive Following the alternate day diet can actually keep you satisfied with your food intake. Knowing that you can have a normal calorie level some days and only have to deprive yourself a few days is a relief for many. However, the positive does not outweigh the negatives. Have you ever tried this high calorie, low calorie diet?

View post:
Why Alternate Day Dieting is Disastrous

Should You Give Into the Coconut Water Fad?

admin — Thu, 10 May 2012 06:00:02 +0000

Some parts of the world are moving into the warmer months and the heat is on! This means more sweating and fluid loss if exercising outside. Instead of an unnatural sports drink like Powerade or Gatorade , why not try natural coconut water? Afterall, it’s everywhere and there’s good reason to give into the coconut water fad. Nutritional Benefits Excellent electrolyte source : Over 500 mg potassium per serving (more than a banana), and also contains sodium, magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus. 2000-3500 mg of potassium is recommended daily. No added sugar: Naturally occurring sugars Lower acidity Detoxifying Prevents dehydration Heart healthy: Due to the high levels of potassium Prevent or helps improve kidney stones Just because this beverage sounds like a natural health elixir doesn’t mean you should drink it all day long. More is not always better. Those with any kidney conditions or concerns should never consume high potassium drinks or foods without discussing with their doctor first. Watch the Calories Even though the beverage is labeled as a type of “water” this does not mean low calorie. One 8.5 oz. serving is about 45 calories, and 15 g carbohydrate (11 g sugar) . It is recommended to drink a “sports beverage” only after 60 minutes of exercise. Any duration that is shorter is considered not long enough to lose enough calories/fluid/electrolytes to consider a supplemental beverage. Coconut water is ideal for higher sweat activities like Bikram yoga, cycling, or high heat exercise. Brand to Buy Vita Coco sent me a few free samples of their coconut water to try. I like their brand because it is all natural and made with pure coconut water and some vitamin C to keep it fresh. They also have some flavors with some fruit puree added. This adds about 9 grams of sugar per serving. There are other brands out there like Zico or O.N.E. coconut water that are very similar. It just depends on your personal preference. Have you tried coconut water for your sport’s beverage?

Read the original here:
Should You Give Into the Coconut Water Fad?

Feeling Funky

admin — Thu, 03 May 2012 23:46:22 +0000

I’m in a funk. I’ve stopped myself from many times from going full on Debbie Downer here, and so far so good, but I can’t keep it in any longer. I can’t recall ever feeling like this, I feel like I’m not connecting, not fitting in, not understanding anything that’s coming my way. I feel like I’m trying to walk in very thick sand. I’ve lost the twinkle of hope, that passion for making things happen. That spark to stretch myself and try something new. All I want to do is retreat. And this has been going on for months. I’m hesitant to even put this out there because, really, does the world need more words about sadness? Loss of hope? And then I realized that I know it will come back and this too shall pass, but I feel an itch to share, regardless of how vulnerable it makes me feel. And you want to know the weirdest part about this funk? It has nothing to do with weight loss. I’m losing, and lately due to loss of appetite, rather rapidly (13 pounds in one week.) Normally I would jump for joy to see these numbers on the scale, but lately, I’m indifferent. I have a few ideas as to where these feelings are coming from. For starters, I’ve become scared to try something new. In the past four years I’ve tried a little bit of everything…design, catering, jewelry, clothing design, blogging, e-book writing, and a few more other things that I’ve forgotten along the way. Each time I start out with this hope of what I could become. I fall in love with the potential of a new business, a new idea, a smaller version of myself. I have great desire to “do big things”, but sadly, I’ve come to realize that I was more in love with the result rather than the process. And because I believe everything in life is connected and related, I know that deep down, what I do and how I make a living has a lot to do with how I feel and care about myself. And somewhere along the line I never figured out or changed my perspective enough on any given thing/business/idea/project to fall in love with the process (a line I’m stealing from The Biggest Loser.) And I want to get there. To be in the love with the process of taking care of myself rather than the result of being thin, or doing things because I love the action and not because its a defined direction or path. I find myself worrying so much about things I do and don’t have control over. My mom emailed a quote to me recently, “Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life, but define yourself.” – Harvey S. Firestone The last line is the one that hit me the most “accept no one’s definition of your life, but define yourself”. I’ve come to realize that I haven’t defined who I am or who I want to be. I’ve been waiting on other people to tell me who I am, or who they want me to be or who I can be. That path can be very unsteady. I’ve realized, that I’ve been relying on my past experiences to define who I am. These experiences from junior or high school where I never felt good enough…my clothes, hair, makeup, body, personality…always fell too short. In the days when opinion flowed out of mouths so freely, where everything on the outside was the measure of a worthwhile person, those days still linger too many years later. I want to give myself permission to define who I am, who I want to be, and unapologetically become that person. I want to move forward even when fear starts screaming in my head. Fear that my efforts are lost, that they won’t get me anywhere, or that it’s pointless to try. Recently, I’ve had strong desires to start painting and illustrating again, a skill that I picked up in college and loved. I let it go because I didn’t let myself get good enough. I feared the work that was involved in getting good, I worried that I would spend all this time and never arrive. That I could never feed myself off of it. That it wouldn’t matter. That I’d never be good enough. And the realization that I stopped doing something because I was both in love with and afraid of the result, rather than the process, knocks the wind out of me. And I understand deeply, where this trend pops up over and over again in my life. Silly little things and the big stuff too. I’ve put so much weight in these imaginary outcomes, that I’ve stopped myself from ever starting or even being in the process. What if I lose weight and I’m still ugly, or have a loose skin? What if people resent me? What if I get unwanted male attention? Why both lose weight? What if I start painting, but never sell a print? What if I never wrap my own canvas? What if I’m never taken seriously? Why bother painting? What if I never make a good living doing what I love? What if my businesses stop growing? What if I can’t keep up with the growth? What will I have to give up in order to make more income? What if I start marketing my design…what if I fall short? or make a mistake? or ruin my reputation? What if I’m never credible? What if I fall short or miss a deadline? Why bother design? And I do this with everything, cleaning, exercising, work, meeting new friends, staying in touch…on and on and on. I can play the “what if” game for so long that I wake up at 29 and realize that I stopped it all before it got good. Update: This post is good timing for the Things I’m Afraid to Tell You series of blog entries that are making their way around the blogosphere.

Originally posted here:
Feeling Funky

5 Tricks to Prevent Late Night Snacking

admin — Thu, 03 May 2012 06:15:27 +0000

We know that eating close to bedtime is not good for our bodies or the waistline. The closer we eat to bedtime, the more likely we are to store those calories or eat in excess. It can be a tough challenge to overcome, but follow these doable steps to a new you. 5 Steps to Eat Less at Night Eat enough earlier in the day . Don’t let your body clock get confused and shift to eating too much later in the evening. Focus on eating more at lunch and breakfast. Making lunch your “biggest” meal can help some. This helps to make sure that in the evening you are not feeling excess hunger, and can prevent overeating. Eat a balanced dinner . Follow the rule of half a plate of vegetables , one quarter a protein source, and the other quarter a healthy carbohydrate source. By doing this, you will feel more satisfied. Allow yourself one post-dinner snack . The trick is to eat this snack or dessert right at the end of dinner. This acts as a signal to the brain that you are finished with your food intake. Move on with the night, and focus on other tasks or relaxation that does not involve food. Choose a new nighttime routine . If you would normally grab a snack at a certain hour, replace it with a new habit or behavior that does not involve food. Start a new hobby, craft, or relaxation technique. Try doing things with your hands like knitting, journaling, or a puzzle. Anything goes! Brush your teeth . As simple as it sounds, this can be one of the best techniques. When you are finished with dinner, brush your teeth about an hour after to prevent you from snacking on more food. Who wants to brush their teeth again ? Do you have any tricks you use to stop excess snacking?

The rest is here:
5 Tricks to Prevent Late Night Snacking

Watch Out for Hidden Ingredients in Frozen Yogurt

admin — Tue, 01 May 2012 06:00:11 +0000

Frozen yogurt may be fat free or low fat, but that doesn’t mean sugar free or low calorie. Be aware of the amount of sugar that you may still be consuming at these popular frozen yogurt stores. The word “Yogurt” Doesn’t always equal “healthy”….. Frozen Yogurt Chains Pinkberry : ½ cup of chocolate frozen yogurt contains only 15 grams of sugar (some of this from the natural milk lactose), 120 calories, and 15% of your daily value for calcium. Yoforia : Uses only organic dairy from Stonyfield Farms and similar companies. ½ cup serving= 19 grams sugar Yogurtland : Has some flavors that contain no added sugar for 80 calories and 6 grams sugar per ½ cup. But, this means those are sweetened with aspartame and acesulfame potassium. TCBY : Also has some flavors with no sugar added, but uses Splenda and sugar alcohols instead of aspartame making this a slightly better choice. Other flavors are about 17 grams of sugar per ½ cup. Does contain some nasty additives like propylene glycol. Red Mango : A “cleaner” frozen yogurt that is all natural, gluten free, and uses no high fructose corn syrup. ½ cup is still about 20 grams sugar. Yogurt Mountain : Contains the most preservatives and additives like polysorbate 80, sodium benzoate, and food colorings. Tutti Frutti : Offers soy frozen yogurt for those with food sensitivities or allergies! What to Watch Out For High fructose corn syrup , and processed milk is often what you are paying for when you buy frozen yogurt. Look for more natural chains like Yoforia and Red Mango that are either all natural or use organic ingredients. Don’t forget about the toppings! Some may contain trans fat like the cookie dough bites, or other cookie and candy add-ons. Choose fruits instead to add an antioxidant (and fiber) punch! Don’t believe the probiotic claims. Many of the active cultures are killed in the yogurt processing. “Tart” yogurt does not mean less sugar. They have the same, or even more, grams of sugar. Moderation is Key Of course you can enjoy some frozen yogurt. It is often a lighter, lower calorie choice. The most important thing is to watch your serving size. Don’t fill up the giant bowl they give you. Use half a fist as a good visual for a ½ cup portion. Then, top with some fruit, and you have a nice and light treat! Do you enjoy frozen yogurt?

Hand Me a Tissue

admin — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 16:20:24 +0000

I don’t want to start this blog out by saying “I’ve been sick”, because that’s just not fun. It’s April and like clockwork, I’ve got a stuffy nose, itchy ears, piles of tissues everywhere and a cough to come. I haven’t tasted or smelled food in days. Many, many days. It takes the fun out of eating. Lately I just eat because I’m hungry and I have to. That’s a concept! Last week I started emailing my daily food and calories to my dear friend of a million years and it felt so refreshing to say to someone “guess what? I had two smoothies and a subway sandwich today” without a return comment about balance, or how I should be eating more of this or less of that. Sometimes that’s all I want, peace with imperfection and less justification. I know that for me, as soon as I start creating rules and rituals about what I should and should not eat, I get into obsessive eating trouble. Not that I don’t aim to have better eating habits, it’s just that so often I find that I create them more out of the approval of other people rather than my own belief system which is balance and moderation. And that’s that. Moving on. Edit: And of course, after writing this I go and read this wonderful post by Andie from Can You Stay For Dinner? Her post is so good, and so well written that I want to go to Seattle and give her a parade. Read: The Weight Loss Dilemma. My favorite line: “Please know that there is nothing wrong with eating as cleanly as one can. (If you do and if you strive to- I applaud you.) There is similarly nothing wrong with having Skinny Cow ice cream bars in your freezer beside organic frozen vegetables. (Tell me you have Cool Whip?) There’s nothing wrong with any of it and my bottom line remains: Judging others’ eating styles and deeming food choices as inherently ‘good’ or ‘bad’ only leaves us feeling and looking ignorant and unenlightened. The point of this post, as always, is to let you know that there’s middle ground. And also that I don’t want this blog to exclude anyone who’s hungry. My table serves Kit Kats and kale chips in varying amounts.” Thank you Andie!

Read the original here:
Hand Me a Tissue

Healthy Microwavable Brown Rice?

admin — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 06:02:11 +0000

By now we know that we should be choosing brown rice over white rice. But, is it important to slow cook brown rice for 50 minutes? Or, can we save time and buy microwavable brown rice and still get the same health benefits ? Almost Identical to Slow Cook Brown Rice The short is answer is yes, buying microwavable brown rice gets you similar (if not identical) nutrients to slow cook brown rice. There may be some extra health benefits from choosing parboiled brown rice (form that is found in microwavable rice). May increase the B vitamin content in the brown rice due to increased soaking of the grain. Improves the grain’s ability to act as a resistant starch . These resistant starches may help to improve satiety, decrease insulin response, improve fat metabolism, and improve digestive health. How Important is it to Eat Brown Rice? Brown rice still has the bran and germ intact making the vitamins, minerals, fiber, and phytochemicals still intact. White rice removes everything except the endosperm (starch) leaving it devoid of nutrients. Additionally, the white rice creates a greater insulin response , meaning diabetics and those sensitive to changing insulin levels should limit their white rice consumption. All brown rice contains 88% of your daily value for manganese (per 1 cup). Manganese helps to form superoxide dismutase—a scientific name for a potent antioxidant “helper”. So, brown rice can help us ward off free radicals! Brands to Buy Uncle Ben’s Microwavable Ready Rice Annie Chun’s Sprouted Brown Sticky Rice Minsley Cooked Organic Brown Rice Seeds of Change Organic Quinoa and Brown Rice Minute Ready to Serve Brown Rice Cups Hinode 90 Second Brown Rice You could always make the slow cook ahead of time, and keep it in the refrigerator for a few days. When you are ready to eat it, just microwave! Have you tried the microwavable brown rice?

Go here to read the rest:
Healthy Microwavable Brown Rice?

Don’t Be Tricked by Whole and Multigrain Foods

admin — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 06:00:16 +0000

Whole grains have become popular for the health conscious, but make sure you know how to select your whole grains correctly. “20 grams of whole grains, 35% of your daily value of fiber , oat bran, nine grain, low fat blueberry”, don’t these terms sound healthy ? Unfortunately, you can’t believe everything you read…… Read Your Label Look for the first ingredient to say whole wheat, whole oat, or whole brown rice flour. This ensures that most of the product is made from true whole grains. Check the total amount of carbohydrates. Anything more than 30 grams of carbohydrates equals more than 2 grain servings. Check the grams of sugar. Anything more than 5 or 6 grams of sugar is starting to get high. Look for more than 2 grams of fiber. Scan the label for trans fat which is listed as “partially hydrogenated oils”. If you spot trans fat, don’t buy the product. Stay Away from These Fooling Grains Starbuck’s Apple Bran Muffin : 350 calories, 9 g fat, 520 mg sodium, 64 g carbohydrate, 7g fiber, 34 g sugar Dunkin’ Donuts Reduced Fat Blueberry Muffin : 410 calories, 10 g fat, 620 mg sodium, 75 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 40 g sugar Publix Apple Bran Muffin (similar to grocery store bakery muffins): 290 calories, 16 g fat, 36 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 23 g sugar Kellogg’s Low Fat Granola Original (without Raisins) Multi-Grain cerea l: 190 calories, 3 g fat, 40 g carbohydrate, 3 g fiber, 14 g sugar Nature Valley Strawberry Yogurt Bars : 140 calories, 4 g fat, 26 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 14 g sugar ZonePerfect Blueberry Pomegranate Protein Bar : 210 calories, 6 g fat, 230 mg sodium, 24 g carbohydrate, 3 g fiber, 16 g sugar Keebler Multigrain Club Crackers : ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMIN MONONITRATE [VITAMIN B1], RIBOFLAVIN [VITAMIN B2], FOLIC ACID), VEGETABLE OIL (COTTONSEED AND PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED SOYBEAN OIL WITH TBHQ FOR FRESHNESS), SUGAR, MODIFIED CORN STARCH, WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR , TOASTED DEFATTED WHEAT GERM, WHOLE WHEAT , CONTAINS TWO PERCENT OR LESS OF OAT BRAN , SALT, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, LEAVENING (BAKING SODA, SODIUM ACID PYROPHOSPHATE, MONOCALCIUM PHOSPHATE), CORN SYRUP, DEGERMINATED YELLOW CORN FLOUR, SODIUM SULFITE, SOY LECITHIN. These are just a few examples. What you will notice is that the sugars are most commonly high. The next most common problem is that there are just not enough high quality whole grains without having to add all of the extra processed ingredients. Solution to the Problem Who says you have to buy these foods? Try making a fruit oatmeal from home, or make your own muffins or bars with whole wheat flour or almond meal. A trick is to use some stevia in your baking to reduce the sugar content. Seek out new healthy ingredients, eat most foods from home, and practice moderation in your choices. Have you been fooled by whole or multigrain foods?

The rest is here:
Don’t Be Tricked by Whole and Multigrain Foods

Plant Bliss

admin — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 17:45:20 +0000

I’m having these moments where ‘m realizing and truly understanding that I’m in control. Not everything that happens per say, but of how I react, what my days look like. I can choose my next move. It’s all up to me, not the day, not my location, not time, not money, not the weekend, not next month or next year or when I retire… Before moving to Floyd I had this vision of what my life would be here. I would work from home, spend my days being creative, creating a nice home, belonging to a community, going to the farmer’s market and green house, planting flowers and a garden. Creating my own little world. We knew our expenses would be minimal and could choose a different life for ourselves. A life that wouldn’t require a nine-to-five schedule, a gray office or a long commute. A life where most of our time was spent living rather than working for someone else. We didn’t want our best days to start at 5pm on Friday and end at 11pm on Sunday. And for the most part that is happening, yet, not totally. I haven’t given myself total permission yet (see my previous posts) to dive into the lifestyle that I was craving. The lifestyle that made me want to leave the metro and city behind. I’ve been so worried, scared and fearful of what bliss and control would look like that I’ve only skimmed the surface. I hear the familiar voices in my head saying… what will people think? they will think I’m having way too much fun, that I’m not miserable enough, the I’m not responsible, or serious, or deserving of such a relaxed life. That I’m not contributing. That I’m lazy. That no one will get it or respect me. That I’m not legitimate or professional. That just needs to stop. Sometimes I have to say out loud, SHUT UP, WHO CARES! And then I get in the car and drive to the local garden center because I can. Because I choose to stop making excuses and worrying about who thinks it’s self-indulgent to take a break in the middle of the day to go flower and plant shopping. Who cares if I’m a plant killer or I don’t really need plants to exist. But to live, I do. One of my favorite quotes is by Mother Teresa… People are often unreasonable, irrational and self-centered; Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies; Succeed anyway. If you are honest and sincere, people may deceive you; Be honest and sincere anyway. What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight; Create anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous; Be happy anyway. The good you do today, will often be forgotten; Do good anyway. Give the best you have, and it may never be enough; Give your best anyway. In the final analysis, it is between you and God; It was never between you and them anyway. I read this every single day. Because I want to be more like that. Do. It. Anyway. Other stuff that is contributing to my sanity, gratitude and happiness lately? Less social media . I don’t get on twitter throughout the day anymore. I just can’t. It’s too much mind-clutter and I find myself frustrated with all those thoughts. They aren’t adding anything to my life. Less facebook, it’s the same. I go on, tell anyone who cares that I made a blog posts and I immediately log off. I worried that my online relationships would suffer, and perhaps they will, but I can’t worry about that. Less email checking. I still check as soon as I wake up, but then I go away. I eat breakfast, alone, at the table or on the couch. No mouse in hand, not scrolling screens. Being present. I never really understood this until recently. When I realized that my head space was consumed with worry, fears, thoughts, planning, on and on and on. I was spending time running words through my head, thoughts, and just plan craziness. And then I just decide in that moment to be there. It helps me to make a mental note of what I’m touching or smelling or physically feeling to help me zero in with the present. And once I’m there, all the mind clutter fades out. More time outside. This morning I planted flowers, yesterday I mowed the lawn. The day before that I dug out a walkway. I need to be outside more than I ever thought. It clears my head and my heart. I want my mornings to be spent with sweet basil and dirt. And while a good chunk of my time is spent sitting in front of my laptop working, I like to know that I have these other foundations to keep me balanced. I believe that you can have your work, whatever it may be, and these pockets of bliss too. These moments when the TV, cellphone and computers are off and we do something just because it feels good. Because it makes us who we are. ***** Yesterday I finished my day of eating with couscous and a salad for lunch, shrimp and vegetables (with homemade salsa and guacamole) for dinner and a drumstick ice cream for a treat. I was around 1,800 calories for the day and I did 35 minutes of push mowing and 45 minutes of walking/jogging for 2 miles. I burned 700 calories. This morning I had a breakfast burrito with two scrambled eggs, salsa, and guacamole for 350 calories. Yum!

Read the rest here:
Plant Bliss