Nothing like the ole scale to give you a reality check! I had my monthly weigh in and knew I was up cause I could tell my my clothes... yep it was true, but fortunately not as bad as I thought... up 3.6 lbs. I have been back to my regimn for about 2 weeks and I'll keep going and try not to fall so far off track around the holidays! So if you are like me, get back to it!
28 Small Changes...
Hey, slow down! Weight loss is no sprint, it's a marathon. So abruptly and drastically changing your routine is only going to leave you breathless and worn out. A more realistic approach to weight loss is to take it one step at a time, one day at a time. Little by little, it'll make a big difference.
Do Sweat the Small Stuff
"Making small changes one at a time is a great strategy," agrees Howard Rankin, PhD, a South Carolina psychologist. "It's not overwhelming, and it results in a slower, steadier weight loss." Think of it this way, maybe cutting the cream out of your coffee seems like a small feat to you. But once you've got that down you can add another small feat, then another.
So, we asked people just like you what small steps they've taken in order to make their way toward their weight goals. Here's what they had to say:
… About Small Eating Changes
- Water, water, water, water. (Your skin will look great, too!)
- Order half portions at restaurants, or share a full portion with somebody. Or ask for a "to-go" container when you order your food, and pack up half the portion before you even start eating.
- Cut back on butter and mayo.
- Limit fried foods to once or twice per week.
- Use less or no sugar in your coffee or tea.
- Replace ground beef with "Boca" products or ground turkey.
- Try at least one new food every week. If you're bored with what you're eating, you're more likely to give up.
- Eat fresh, raw veggies with sandwiches instead of chips.
- Measure your portions until you're sure you know what a cup, a half-cup, and a tablespoon look like. This will help you practice portion control, an essential key to weight-loss success.
- Try not to drink high-calorie beverages.
- Dip your fork in a side of salad dressing before each bite, instead of pouring it directly on your salad. You'll find that you are satisfied with much less than you usually put on.
- Find healthy alternatives to all your favorite foods.
- If you don't really love it, don't eat it. So true!
- Never eat out of a bag or box. Take out a measured/counted quantity of food and put it in a bowl. This way, you know exactly how much you're having.
- Always eat something for breakfast.
- Read food labels. Check serving sizes.
- Add vegetables to everything, even sandwiches, like baby spinach leaves.
- Plan meals in advance; use that information to make out a complete shopping list.
- Give food to guests to take home.
- Write down everything you eat and drink, without fail.
- Plan ahead for special occasions by accounting for higher-calorie foods before you eat them.
… About Small Exercise Changes
- Take the stairs every single time they're an option. No more elevators or escalators.
- Make exercise a priority, not an inconvenience.
- Park far from your destination, so you're forced to walk — this works at the supermarket, the mall, wherever. (This also helps you waste less time looking for a parking space!)
- View tiring chores (shoveling snow, cleaning the house, weeding the garden, taking the garbage out, grocery shopping) as a chance to get in some activity.
- Take the grocery cart back to the store when you're done loading your bags into your car.
- If you take public transportation, get off one stop early.
- Work out with a buddy.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
4 Keys To A Smart Nutrition Plan
D.I.E.T.
Think of the word "diet," and what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Visions of joyless eating, piles of pale lettuce, bored taste buds, more pale lettuce, meals that would starve a mouse, and mounds of food labeled "Off Limits" and locked away, never to be tasted again. Oh, and lettuce. In other words:
D on’t
I magine
E ating
T his
Boooring!
Deprivation diets, fad diets and taboo-food diets send the wrong message. Your body is not an enemy that needs to be beaten and starved into submission. Building healthy habits can – and should – be fun! This is a positive thing you’re doing, making yourself healthy and happy at the same time.
Food was created for a reason. Each food has specific benefits and potential drawbacks. Even chocolate, in certain forms, is said to protect against high blood pressure and heart disease. On the other hand, if you eat nothing but grapefruits, you'll be loading up on certain vitamins, but missing out on a lot of other very important nutrients. The key is balance. Too much of anything can hurt. But not enough of everything can hurt even more.
How far do you think your car would go on watered down gas or without any oil? About 20 miles, probably. You’re no different. Deprive your body of what it needs and it’ll break down. The secret is to be conscious of the grades of "oil" and "gas" that you use. Some are more powerful than others, and help you run longer on less fuel.
To fuel your body for optimal performance while losing weight, we strongly suggests 4 strategies to use when starting a weight loss program:
* Control your food portions. Who really needs "Biggie" anything? Use our easy guide to portion control.
* Make smart substitutions. Why not try mustard (11 calories) instead of mayonnaise (99 calories) on that deli sandwich? Who knows, you might even like it better. Compare calories in your favorite foods using this handy chart, and learn more ways to cut calories without deprivation.
* Focus on "power foods." High protein, high fiber, healthy fats and good carbs give you the most punch for your lunch. Here are over 100 foods that fit the bill.
* Watch your eating habits. Mindless munching, emotional binging, and twice-a-day trough feedings are sneaky habits that steal momentum and leave pounds. Overcome emotional eating with our 10-step action plan.
-- By Mike Kramer, Staff Writer, SparkPeople
Think of the word "diet," and what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Visions of joyless eating, piles of pale lettuce, bored taste buds, more pale lettuce, meals that would starve a mouse, and mounds of food labeled "Off Limits" and locked away, never to be tasted again. Oh, and lettuce. In other words:
D on’t
I magine
E ating
T his
Boooring!
Deprivation diets, fad diets and taboo-food diets send the wrong message. Your body is not an enemy that needs to be beaten and starved into submission. Building healthy habits can – and should – be fun! This is a positive thing you’re doing, making yourself healthy and happy at the same time.
Food was created for a reason. Each food has specific benefits and potential drawbacks. Even chocolate, in certain forms, is said to protect against high blood pressure and heart disease. On the other hand, if you eat nothing but grapefruits, you'll be loading up on certain vitamins, but missing out on a lot of other very important nutrients. The key is balance. Too much of anything can hurt. But not enough of everything can hurt even more.
How far do you think your car would go on watered down gas or without any oil? About 20 miles, probably. You’re no different. Deprive your body of what it needs and it’ll break down. The secret is to be conscious of the grades of "oil" and "gas" that you use. Some are more powerful than others, and help you run longer on less fuel.
To fuel your body for optimal performance while losing weight, we strongly suggests 4 strategies to use when starting a weight loss program:
* Control your food portions. Who really needs "Biggie" anything? Use our easy guide to portion control.
* Make smart substitutions. Why not try mustard (11 calories) instead of mayonnaise (99 calories) on that deli sandwich? Who knows, you might even like it better. Compare calories in your favorite foods using this handy chart, and learn more ways to cut calories without deprivation.
* Focus on "power foods." High protein, high fiber, healthy fats and good carbs give you the most punch for your lunch. Here are over 100 foods that fit the bill.
* Watch your eating habits. Mindless munching, emotional binging, and twice-a-day trough feedings are sneaky habits that steal momentum and leave pounds. Overcome emotional eating with our 10-step action plan.
-- By Mike Kramer, Staff Writer, SparkPeople
Thursday, January 27, 2011
14 Tips for Starting and Sticking with a Workout Routine
Stop Failure Before it Starts
For some of us out there, if we could just convince ourselves that there is enough time in the day to exercise, we could be on track to a great fitness program. For others, we get started but quickly lose momentum and give up. To help get started and stay on track, here are a few tips:
1. Throw away the bathing suit you wore in high school… and the memory too. It’s normal to have a mental image of yourself when you last exercised like a fiend. But if that image is from high school, you could be in big trouble. Even if it’s from last year, forget it. Remember as little as possible of what you used to look like. Starting today, make new memories.
2. Prepare. We already know you don’t have the time, so write it down like an appointment every day. You wouldn’t cancel an appointment, why would you cancel on yourself? Aren’t you important too?
3. Start slowly. Do much less than what you’re capable of. Take a 20-minute walk if you’re returning to exercise. You might feel like it’s not enough, but it’s a good start.
4. Get the family involved. Run while your daughter rides her bike. Go to a local track and let the kids play their own games. Run with your spouse. Sign up for a local 10K. Walk with your son. Celebrate with a little something special after every activity.
5. Where are your friends? Four words, four reasons – motivation, inspiration, determination, conversation. Surround yourself with friends who think positive and live large.
6. Put the pain in perspective. When the going gets tough, remember that you have survived 600 carpools, 540 loads of laundry (this month), 41 baseball games, 230 dinners and one family vacation. What’s the big deal?
7. Allow yourself to slow down. You’re driving this bus! For the first time today, you are in control.
8. Sign up for a race. It’s a goal to strive for and adds a little meaning to your everyday workout.
9. Run/walk in public. Be proud of your accomplishment. Take in all the sites and be an inspiration to others.
10. Just show up. Go to the gym, class, or the park. Once you’re there, it’s hard to say no. 98% of life is showing up.
11. Eat. Follow a healthy eating pattern. If you limit your calorie intake, you will not have enough energy to work out and your metabolism will slow down.
12. Understand your energy cycle. There are peaks during our days. Even during the week. Try to complete your workout when you feel good about yourself.
13. Wallow in your greatness. You can exercise to become a better exerciser, or you can exercise to become a better mother, a better father, doctor, teacher, or a better friend – or you can exercise to become BETTER. Be proud of that accomplishment.
14. Have fun. Where’s your childlike spirit? When you can make workouts "playouts," you’ve got it made.
Don’t give up on yourself. After all, it’s never too late to be that healthy person you might have been.
By Julie Isphording, former Olympian, SparkPeople
For some of us out there, if we could just convince ourselves that there is enough time in the day to exercise, we could be on track to a great fitness program. For others, we get started but quickly lose momentum and give up. To help get started and stay on track, here are a few tips:
1. Throw away the bathing suit you wore in high school… and the memory too. It’s normal to have a mental image of yourself when you last exercised like a fiend. But if that image is from high school, you could be in big trouble. Even if it’s from last year, forget it. Remember as little as possible of what you used to look like. Starting today, make new memories.
2. Prepare. We already know you don’t have the time, so write it down like an appointment every day. You wouldn’t cancel an appointment, why would you cancel on yourself? Aren’t you important too?
3. Start slowly. Do much less than what you’re capable of. Take a 20-minute walk if you’re returning to exercise. You might feel like it’s not enough, but it’s a good start.
4. Get the family involved. Run while your daughter rides her bike. Go to a local track and let the kids play their own games. Run with your spouse. Sign up for a local 10K. Walk with your son. Celebrate with a little something special after every activity.
5. Where are your friends? Four words, four reasons – motivation, inspiration, determination, conversation. Surround yourself with friends who think positive and live large.
6. Put the pain in perspective. When the going gets tough, remember that you have survived 600 carpools, 540 loads of laundry (this month), 41 baseball games, 230 dinners and one family vacation. What’s the big deal?
7. Allow yourself to slow down. You’re driving this bus! For the first time today, you are in control.
8. Sign up for a race. It’s a goal to strive for and adds a little meaning to your everyday workout.
9. Run/walk in public. Be proud of your accomplishment. Take in all the sites and be an inspiration to others.
10. Just show up. Go to the gym, class, or the park. Once you’re there, it’s hard to say no. 98% of life is showing up.
11. Eat. Follow a healthy eating pattern. If you limit your calorie intake, you will not have enough energy to work out and your metabolism will slow down.
12. Understand your energy cycle. There are peaks during our days. Even during the week. Try to complete your workout when you feel good about yourself.
13. Wallow in your greatness. You can exercise to become a better exerciser, or you can exercise to become a better mother, a better father, doctor, teacher, or a better friend – or you can exercise to become BETTER. Be proud of that accomplishment.
14. Have fun. Where’s your childlike spirit? When you can make workouts "playouts," you’ve got it made.
Don’t give up on yourself. After all, it’s never too late to be that healthy person you might have been.
By Julie Isphording, former Olympian, SparkPeople
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Get the Most out of What You Eat
Feeling satisfied may be your ticket to successful weight management.
What is satiety? It’s that lasting feeling of fullness at a meal's end, the feeling that you're no longer hungry or deprived. It can be a hard feeling to achieve with some diets. But satiety isn’t a luxury when it comes to weight loss — in fact, it may be your ticket to successful weight management.
"To get more satisfaction out of food, the idea is to fill up on foods that give you a lot of volume for relatively few calories," says Karen Miller-Kovach, MS, RD, chief scientist at Weight Watchers International. For example, 1/4 cup of raisins and 1 2/3 cups of grapes have the same number of calories, but with the grapes, you obviously get to eat much more, and you're apt to feel more satisfied when you're through.
Besides fresh fruit like grapes, other satiating high-volume foods include complex carbohydrates that are high in water, air and/or fiber, such as air-popped popcorn, vegetables and whole-grains like brown rice, says Miller-Kovach. But lean protein-rich foods, such as a skinless chicken breast, low-fat or nonfat yogurt or skim milk can also contribute to satiety, she adds. That's why, for maximum satisfaction, you might want to make sure your meals also contain some lean protein, says Miller-Kovach.
Super-satisfying temptation tamers
Other mealtime tricks for pumping up the volume in your food to maximize your satisfaction on fewer calories:
Start meals with a first course of broth-based soup, vegetable juice or a salad with reduced fat or low-fat dressing. One caveat: "Make sure that first course isn't more than 100 calories," says Barbara Rolls, PhD, Guthrie chair of nutrition at Pennsylvania State University. Otherwise, you could end up eating too many calories at that particular meal.
According to Rolls' research, which has been published in her book Volumetrics (Harper Collins, 2000), subjects who began their meals with a high-volume, low-calorie starter like soup or salad ate 100 fewer calories over the course of the entire meal compared to those who started their meal with the entrée.
Eat more vegetables, such as leafy greens, lettuce, tomatoes, green beans, summer squash and onions. In fact, stash them in stews, soups, pasta sauces, pizza and meat loaf. They're high-volume, high-satisfaction, low-calorie superstars because they're loaded with water and fiber, Rolls says, two top filler-uppers.
Limit very dry foods, such as pretzels, crackers and chips. Dry foods lack water and thus are low in volume. "Dry foods pack a lot of calories into a small portion and are easy to overeat," says Rolls.
You can also make it second nature to gravitate toward healthy foods that fill you up. When you follow the Weight Watchers food plan, we can help you learn to naturally seek out these foods, while still being able to enjoy the treats you love.
Eventually you might find yourself gravitating towards these more satisfying, less caloric choices, making your healthy eating habits a way of life, not a chore.
Article By: Leslie Fink, MS, RD, Weight Watchers
What is satiety? It’s that lasting feeling of fullness at a meal's end, the feeling that you're no longer hungry or deprived. It can be a hard feeling to achieve with some diets. But satiety isn’t a luxury when it comes to weight loss — in fact, it may be your ticket to successful weight management.
"To get more satisfaction out of food, the idea is to fill up on foods that give you a lot of volume for relatively few calories," says Karen Miller-Kovach, MS, RD, chief scientist at Weight Watchers International. For example, 1/4 cup of raisins and 1 2/3 cups of grapes have the same number of calories, but with the grapes, you obviously get to eat much more, and you're apt to feel more satisfied when you're through.
Besides fresh fruit like grapes, other satiating high-volume foods include complex carbohydrates that are high in water, air and/or fiber, such as air-popped popcorn, vegetables and whole-grains like brown rice, says Miller-Kovach. But lean protein-rich foods, such as a skinless chicken breast, low-fat or nonfat yogurt or skim milk can also contribute to satiety, she adds. That's why, for maximum satisfaction, you might want to make sure your meals also contain some lean protein, says Miller-Kovach.
Super-satisfying temptation tamers
Other mealtime tricks for pumping up the volume in your food to maximize your satisfaction on fewer calories:
Start meals with a first course of broth-based soup, vegetable juice or a salad with reduced fat or low-fat dressing. One caveat: "Make sure that first course isn't more than 100 calories," says Barbara Rolls, PhD, Guthrie chair of nutrition at Pennsylvania State University. Otherwise, you could end up eating too many calories at that particular meal.
According to Rolls' research, which has been published in her book Volumetrics (Harper Collins, 2000), subjects who began their meals with a high-volume, low-calorie starter like soup or salad ate 100 fewer calories over the course of the entire meal compared to those who started their meal with the entrée.
Eat more vegetables, such as leafy greens, lettuce, tomatoes, green beans, summer squash and onions. In fact, stash them in stews, soups, pasta sauces, pizza and meat loaf. They're high-volume, high-satisfaction, low-calorie superstars because they're loaded with water and fiber, Rolls says, two top filler-uppers.
Limit very dry foods, such as pretzels, crackers and chips. Dry foods lack water and thus are low in volume. "Dry foods pack a lot of calories into a small portion and are easy to overeat," says Rolls.
You can also make it second nature to gravitate toward healthy foods that fill you up. When you follow the Weight Watchers food plan, we can help you learn to naturally seek out these foods, while still being able to enjoy the treats you love.
Eventually you might find yourself gravitating towards these more satisfying, less caloric choices, making your healthy eating habits a way of life, not a chore.
Article By: Leslie Fink, MS, RD, Weight Watchers
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Lose Twice the Weight by Tracking Your Food
Weight Loss News Flash
You hear all the time that to lose weight, you should track what you eat. Well, a 2008 study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine shows that keeping a "food diary" may double your weight loss efforts.
Researchers from Kaiser Permanente's Center for Health Research kept tabs on 1,685 overweight and obese adults (men and women), whose average weight was 212 pounds. The researchers encouraged participants to adhere to a reduced-calorie, DASH eating plan and asked them record their daily food intake and exercise minutes.
After 20 weeks, the average weight loss was 13 pounds per person. But researchers discovered something else; the more participants recorded what they ate, the more weight they lost in the end. Participants who did not keep a food diary lost about 9 pounds over the course of the study, while those who recorded their food intake six or more days per week lost 18 pounds—twice as much as those who didn't track any food!
Action: If you've ever doubted that using personalized Nutrition Tracker would help you lose weight, think again! At, we've always encouraged daily food and fitness tracking for people who want to lose weight, and this new study supports what we've been encouraging for years. By tracking your food, you become more accountable: If you know you're going to have to record that candy bar on your food tracker, you might think twice before eating it. Plus, detailed food tracker shows you exactly what you're putting into your mouth so you can make better, more informed choices.
Robin's note: journaling has helped me in sooooo many ways. It really does make you accountable for every morsel that passes your lips. It may be a pain to keep up with at first, but then it becomes habit. Make it your goal this week to journal and just see exactly what your eating!
By Nicole Nichols, Health Educator, SparkPeople's
You hear all the time that to lose weight, you should track what you eat. Well, a 2008 study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine shows that keeping a "food diary" may double your weight loss efforts.
Researchers from Kaiser Permanente's Center for Health Research kept tabs on 1,685 overweight and obese adults (men and women), whose average weight was 212 pounds. The researchers encouraged participants to adhere to a reduced-calorie, DASH eating plan and asked them record their daily food intake and exercise minutes.
After 20 weeks, the average weight loss was 13 pounds per person. But researchers discovered something else; the more participants recorded what they ate, the more weight they lost in the end. Participants who did not keep a food diary lost about 9 pounds over the course of the study, while those who recorded their food intake six or more days per week lost 18 pounds—twice as much as those who didn't track any food!
Action: If you've ever doubted that using personalized Nutrition Tracker would help you lose weight, think again! At, we've always encouraged daily food and fitness tracking for people who want to lose weight, and this new study supports what we've been encouraging for years. By tracking your food, you become more accountable: If you know you're going to have to record that candy bar on your food tracker, you might think twice before eating it. Plus, detailed food tracker shows you exactly what you're putting into your mouth so you can make better, more informed choices.
Robin's note: journaling has helped me in sooooo many ways. It really does make you accountable for every morsel that passes your lips. It may be a pain to keep up with at first, but then it becomes habit. Make it your goal this week to journal and just see exactly what your eating!
By Nicole Nichols, Health Educator, SparkPeople's
Monday, January 24, 2011
Common Fitness Blunders - Part 4
Have you ever started a workout routine, thinking you’re doing everything right, only to find out there were some important things you missed? Here are some common workout mistakes that most of us have made from time to time, and what you can do to prevent them from happening to you.
Blunder #7: You think you are working hard, but you can talk to the person on the treadmill next to you without discomfort. Intensity is one of the hardest things for many exercisers to understand. You don’t want to work so hard that you become exhausted early in your workout, but you also don’t want to take it so easy that you don’t break a sweat.
There are a few simple ways to determine your intensity and help you decide if you need to step it up a bit:
At the height of your workout, you should be sweating and breathing hard. Use the "Talk Test" to measure your intensity. You should be able to answer a question, but not comfortably carry on a conversation. If you can walk on the treadmill and easily tell your friend all about your day, you are not working hard enough, so step it up!
Another great way to measure your intensity is with a heart rate monitor or by checking your heart rate periodically. There is an easy formula to calculate your Target Heart Rate, which will tell you if you are working at the right intensity. Working at a high intensity will help you burn the most calories in the shortest amount of time, making your workout as efficient as possible.
Blunder #8: Since you exercise, you figure you can eat whatever you want.
The key to weight loss is a healthy diet and regular exercise program. It is very difficult to lose weight through exercise alone. Those extra calories add up quickly and might take longer than you think to burn off by working out.
For example, you decide to treat yourself to a medium popcorn (with butter, of course) at the movies. You did a 45-minute workout on the treadmill this morning, so you deserve it, right? Well, you might want to think before you eat. You probably burned about 400 calories on the treadmill, but that tub of popcorn contains almost 1200 calories!! So you would have to do an extra 90-minute workout just to burn off your movie treat. When you think about it that way, a better option might be to skip the popcorn and bring a granola bar or other healthy snack.
One thing you can do to prevent mistakes from happening to you, is to ask questions!
Blunder #7: You think you are working hard, but you can talk to the person on the treadmill next to you without discomfort. Intensity is one of the hardest things for many exercisers to understand. You don’t want to work so hard that you become exhausted early in your workout, but you also don’t want to take it so easy that you don’t break a sweat.
There are a few simple ways to determine your intensity and help you decide if you need to step it up a bit:
At the height of your workout, you should be sweating and breathing hard. Use the "Talk Test" to measure your intensity. You should be able to answer a question, but not comfortably carry on a conversation. If you can walk on the treadmill and easily tell your friend all about your day, you are not working hard enough, so step it up!
Another great way to measure your intensity is with a heart rate monitor or by checking your heart rate periodically. There is an easy formula to calculate your Target Heart Rate, which will tell you if you are working at the right intensity. Working at a high intensity will help you burn the most calories in the shortest amount of time, making your workout as efficient as possible.
Blunder #8: Since you exercise, you figure you can eat whatever you want.
The key to weight loss is a healthy diet and regular exercise program. It is very difficult to lose weight through exercise alone. Those extra calories add up quickly and might take longer than you think to burn off by working out.
For example, you decide to treat yourself to a medium popcorn (with butter, of course) at the movies. You did a 45-minute workout on the treadmill this morning, so you deserve it, right? Well, you might want to think before you eat. You probably burned about 400 calories on the treadmill, but that tub of popcorn contains almost 1200 calories!! So you would have to do an extra 90-minute workout just to burn off your movie treat. When you think about it that way, a better option might be to skip the popcorn and bring a granola bar or other healthy snack.
One thing you can do to prevent mistakes from happening to you, is to ask questions!
Friday, January 21, 2011
Common Fitness Blunders - Part 3
Even Experienced Exercisers Can Be Guilty of These
Have you ever started a workout routine, thinking you’re doing everything right, only to find out there were some important things you missed? Here are some common workout mistakes that most of us have made from time to time, and what you can do to prevent them from happening to you.
Blunder #5: You’ve done the same cardio and strength training workout for the past six months. When you first start a new activity, your body responds more readily, and you begin to see results. Maybe you lose a little weight, begin to see muscle definition, or notice you are getting stronger. But over time, your workouts aren’t as challenging. After a month or two, you stop losing weight and can’t figure out why you’re stuck.
After about 6 weeks, your body starts getting used to the activity you have been doing. It’s no longer challenged when that activity becomes a normal part of the routine. If you want to start seeing results again (or just continue the progress you’ve made), you have to change something about your routine. If it’s cardio, add a variety of activities to your workout. Try a new class or machine, or take up a new sport.
If you love what you’re doing now, you don’t have to give it up. You can stick to your favorite activities—just try to increase your intensity and duration. If you walk, add some speed work, increase your distance, add hills to your route—anything that makes it different will keep your body guessing.
For strength training, be sure to change your exercises every 4-6 weeks for the same reasons.
You can change your workout by:
* increasing or decreasing your weight, reps, or sets
* moving from machines to free weights; trying new equipment like tubing or bands
* experimenting with more body weight exercises for variety
* adding balance elements (stability balls, standing on one leg, BOSU, etc.)
* reversing the order of your exercises
* trying a new exercise for each muscle group (such as chest flys instead of a chest press, or front raises instead of lateral raises)
Blunder #6: You start a new program and are disappointed when you don’t see results in the first week. Everyone is different. So even though you start an exercise program, it might take a few weeks for the number on the scale to budge. The important thing is not to get discouraged. Even if you don’t lose weight right away, there are many other important changes you’ll notice in the first week or two. Regular exercise helps you sleep better, increases your energy, reduces stress, and helps you feel better overall. Don’t overlook these benefits!
If you do lose weight quickly in the first week or two, don’t get discouraged if it slows down a little after that. You should expect to lose an average of 1-2 lbs per week if you stick to a program of regular exercise and eating right.
-->By Jen Mueller, Certified Personal Trainer, Sparkpeople
Have you ever started a workout routine, thinking you’re doing everything right, only to find out there were some important things you missed? Here are some common workout mistakes that most of us have made from time to time, and what you can do to prevent them from happening to you.
Blunder #5: You’ve done the same cardio and strength training workout for the past six months. When you first start a new activity, your body responds more readily, and you begin to see results. Maybe you lose a little weight, begin to see muscle definition, or notice you are getting stronger. But over time, your workouts aren’t as challenging. After a month or two, you stop losing weight and can’t figure out why you’re stuck.
After about 6 weeks, your body starts getting used to the activity you have been doing. It’s no longer challenged when that activity becomes a normal part of the routine. If you want to start seeing results again (or just continue the progress you’ve made), you have to change something about your routine. If it’s cardio, add a variety of activities to your workout. Try a new class or machine, or take up a new sport.
If you love what you’re doing now, you don’t have to give it up. You can stick to your favorite activities—just try to increase your intensity and duration. If you walk, add some speed work, increase your distance, add hills to your route—anything that makes it different will keep your body guessing.
For strength training, be sure to change your exercises every 4-6 weeks for the same reasons.
You can change your workout by:
* increasing or decreasing your weight, reps, or sets
* moving from machines to free weights; trying new equipment like tubing or bands
* experimenting with more body weight exercises for variety
* adding balance elements (stability balls, standing on one leg, BOSU, etc.)
* reversing the order of your exercises
* trying a new exercise for each muscle group (such as chest flys instead of a chest press, or front raises instead of lateral raises)
Blunder #6: You start a new program and are disappointed when you don’t see results in the first week. Everyone is different. So even though you start an exercise program, it might take a few weeks for the number on the scale to budge. The important thing is not to get discouraged. Even if you don’t lose weight right away, there are many other important changes you’ll notice in the first week or two. Regular exercise helps you sleep better, increases your energy, reduces stress, and helps you feel better overall. Don’t overlook these benefits!
If you do lose weight quickly in the first week or two, don’t get discouraged if it slows down a little after that. You should expect to lose an average of 1-2 lbs per week if you stick to a program of regular exercise and eating right.
-->By Jen Mueller, Certified Personal Trainer, Sparkpeople
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Common Fitness Blunders - Part 2
Even Experienced Exercisers Can Be Guilty of These
Blunder #3: Believing the Myths
There are too many to count. Fitness myths are created for many reasons, but are mainly the result of people unknowingly spreading inaccurate information. Sometimes they are blatant sales approaches to try to get you to buy the latest book, training sessions, or exercise contraption.
There is no miracle solution. The great thing about exercise, just like life, is that there are many different ways to success. Figure out a way that works for you, but don’t fall into the trap and believe these myths.
* Myth #1: You will burn more fat if you exercise at a slower intensity. I’m not sure how this started. Maybe the theory behind it believes that exercising at a slow intensity will help you sustain your exercise and create consistency-- which, again, is very important. The problem is you will only condition yourself at a very low level, which won’t help you burn the necessary calories you need to lose weight. Yes, it’s good to start out with this theory in mind so you don’t burn yourself out. But it’s paramount that you increase your intensity over time.
* Myth #2: Use light weight to tone your muscles. This always seems to imply that you shouldn’t lift more than what you consider "light". Maybe it’s 5, 10, or even 15 pounds, but you shouldn’t necessarily put a limit on what you should lift. Instead you should put a minimum and maximum on how many times you perform an exercise. Weight should always be relative to how many repetitions you can do. If you can only do 4-6 reps with proper form, the weight is too heavy. If you can do 15-20 reps and feel like you could easily do more, even if you are lifting 100 lbs, you are using a weight that is too light. This doesn’t mean you have to push yourself so hard that you don’t want to ever exercise again. But you should push yourself to the point where you couldn’t do another rep without breaking form the majority of the time if you want to achieve a toned body. Of course, beginners are recommended to work your way up to this point.
* Myth #3: Abdominal exercises will help get rid of the fat around your belly. The key to lowering your body fat is burning calories. The best way to torch calories is through cardio. The core muscles are very important to strengthen but unfortunately you don’t burn many calories by working them. Therefore, spending most of your exercise time each workout on abdominal exercises doesn’t make sense. You will burn many more calories and lose overall body fat in all areas of your body by working your larger muscle groups… quadriceps, upper back, chest, shoulders and hamstring/buttocks. Riding a bike, running on a treadmill, or doing the elliptical works all of these large muscle groups, but it’s also important to add a bit more resistance with strength training exercises.
* Myth #4: You have to be an athlete to exercise. Exercise has always been linked directly with athletes because it helps them condition themselves to improve their performance. Unfortunately, exercise hasn’t been linked with the improvement of everyday life as much as it should. Every person benefits from exercise. There are hundreds, if not thousands of different ways to exercise… find the right training that links to your lifestyle.
Blunder #4: Not Being Consistent
One of the biggest blunders of an exercise program is the lack of consistency. It’s very similar to climbing a mountain. There may be all sorts of reasons why you want to climb your "mountain"— to lose weight, to gain energy, to improve health, or to fit into your favorite jeans.
You exercise for 2 weeks, then you have to work overtime, so you take a whole week off. You get back to the gym for another week, and you’re feeling great. A couple days later, you have to go to your son’s basketball game, and a few days later, your parents are in town for the weekend. Your exercise quickly falls low on the priority list. Does this sound familiar? You might get over the foothills of your mountain with this approach, but there’s no chance you’ll ever see that beautiful view you have in your mind.
Does that mean you have to exercise every day to be consistent? NO! It means that you need a plan that incorporates fitness into your weekly schedule. This way you continue to climb upwards. The key is not letting yourself tumble back down to the bottom, so even holding steady or just taking one step forward is enough.
Maybe your forward progress starts with 2 days of exercise for 20 minutes until you reach the foothills. Yes, it might take you longer to get over the foothills this way, as opposed to working out 6 days a week for an hour, but it’s a process that allows you to adapt and adjust your current lifestyle to incorporate change for the long haul. When you're ready to tackle that first small mountain, bump it up to 3 days of exercise for 25 minutes. You can actually enjoy the process because it doesn't take everything out of you to get this far, and you find yourself excited to add to your program. This excitement is the motivation that will eventually lead you as far as you want to go. A good view to shoot for is 5 days a week for at least 30 minutes.
At some point something will come up in life that knocks you back down a little bit. It’s only natural that your excitement level can plummet when this happens. But if you expect it and are prepared, you can limit the impact it has on your climb. All the successful climbers understand it’s part of the process. They LEARN from whatever knocks them back so it doesn’t hurt them again at another point along the journey.
Learning how to overcome a tumble, slowly building on your plan, and using excitement as motivation are keys to making exercise a part of your lifestyle. This lifestyle will help you climb that mountain and enjoy the view from the top. From there, it’s all about maintenance.
-- By Joe Downie, Certified Physical Fitness Instructor, sparkpeople
Blunder #3: Believing the Myths
There are too many to count. Fitness myths are created for many reasons, but are mainly the result of people unknowingly spreading inaccurate information. Sometimes they are blatant sales approaches to try to get you to buy the latest book, training sessions, or exercise contraption.
There is no miracle solution. The great thing about exercise, just like life, is that there are many different ways to success. Figure out a way that works for you, but don’t fall into the trap and believe these myths.
* Myth #1: You will burn more fat if you exercise at a slower intensity. I’m not sure how this started. Maybe the theory behind it believes that exercising at a slow intensity will help you sustain your exercise and create consistency-- which, again, is very important. The problem is you will only condition yourself at a very low level, which won’t help you burn the necessary calories you need to lose weight. Yes, it’s good to start out with this theory in mind so you don’t burn yourself out. But it’s paramount that you increase your intensity over time.
* Myth #2: Use light weight to tone your muscles. This always seems to imply that you shouldn’t lift more than what you consider "light". Maybe it’s 5, 10, or even 15 pounds, but you shouldn’t necessarily put a limit on what you should lift. Instead you should put a minimum and maximum on how many times you perform an exercise. Weight should always be relative to how many repetitions you can do. If you can only do 4-6 reps with proper form, the weight is too heavy. If you can do 15-20 reps and feel like you could easily do more, even if you are lifting 100 lbs, you are using a weight that is too light. This doesn’t mean you have to push yourself so hard that you don’t want to ever exercise again. But you should push yourself to the point where you couldn’t do another rep without breaking form the majority of the time if you want to achieve a toned body. Of course, beginners are recommended to work your way up to this point.
* Myth #3: Abdominal exercises will help get rid of the fat around your belly. The key to lowering your body fat is burning calories. The best way to torch calories is through cardio. The core muscles are very important to strengthen but unfortunately you don’t burn many calories by working them. Therefore, spending most of your exercise time each workout on abdominal exercises doesn’t make sense. You will burn many more calories and lose overall body fat in all areas of your body by working your larger muscle groups… quadriceps, upper back, chest, shoulders and hamstring/buttocks. Riding a bike, running on a treadmill, or doing the elliptical works all of these large muscle groups, but it’s also important to add a bit more resistance with strength training exercises.
* Myth #4: You have to be an athlete to exercise. Exercise has always been linked directly with athletes because it helps them condition themselves to improve their performance. Unfortunately, exercise hasn’t been linked with the improvement of everyday life as much as it should. Every person benefits from exercise. There are hundreds, if not thousands of different ways to exercise… find the right training that links to your lifestyle.
Blunder #4: Not Being Consistent
One of the biggest blunders of an exercise program is the lack of consistency. It’s very similar to climbing a mountain. There may be all sorts of reasons why you want to climb your "mountain"— to lose weight, to gain energy, to improve health, or to fit into your favorite jeans.
You exercise for 2 weeks, then you have to work overtime, so you take a whole week off. You get back to the gym for another week, and you’re feeling great. A couple days later, you have to go to your son’s basketball game, and a few days later, your parents are in town for the weekend. Your exercise quickly falls low on the priority list. Does this sound familiar? You might get over the foothills of your mountain with this approach, but there’s no chance you’ll ever see that beautiful view you have in your mind.
Does that mean you have to exercise every day to be consistent? NO! It means that you need a plan that incorporates fitness into your weekly schedule. This way you continue to climb upwards. The key is not letting yourself tumble back down to the bottom, so even holding steady or just taking one step forward is enough.
Maybe your forward progress starts with 2 days of exercise for 20 minutes until you reach the foothills. Yes, it might take you longer to get over the foothills this way, as opposed to working out 6 days a week for an hour, but it’s a process that allows you to adapt and adjust your current lifestyle to incorporate change for the long haul. When you're ready to tackle that first small mountain, bump it up to 3 days of exercise for 25 minutes. You can actually enjoy the process because it doesn't take everything out of you to get this far, and you find yourself excited to add to your program. This excitement is the motivation that will eventually lead you as far as you want to go. A good view to shoot for is 5 days a week for at least 30 minutes.
At some point something will come up in life that knocks you back down a little bit. It’s only natural that your excitement level can plummet when this happens. But if you expect it and are prepared, you can limit the impact it has on your climb. All the successful climbers understand it’s part of the process. They LEARN from whatever knocks them back so it doesn’t hurt them again at another point along the journey.
Learning how to overcome a tumble, slowly building on your plan, and using excitement as motivation are keys to making exercise a part of your lifestyle. This lifestyle will help you climb that mountain and enjoy the view from the top. From there, it’s all about maintenance.
-- By Joe Downie, Certified Physical Fitness Instructor, sparkpeople
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Common Fitness Blunders - Part 1
Even Experienced Exercisers Can Be Guilty of These
Both beginners and experienced exercises can be guilty of a few fitness blunders from time to time. Some may even become a regular part of your fitness routine, much like a bad habit. But, to get the best results from all your hard work, it’s important that you don’t find yourself creating a fitness routine filled with mistakes. This can set you up for injury, lack of results, boredom and plateaus. Analyze your fitness routine on a regular basis and ask yourself if you fall into any of these common blunders.
Blunder #1: Skipping the Warm Up, Cool Down, and Stretches
This is one of the most common bad habits of exercisers! You finally committed yourself to a fitness routine, and you don’t want to waste any time, so you jump right into your work out without warming up, cooling down, or stretching. After all, those low-intensity segments are meaningless and a waste of time, right?
NOT TRUE! Warming up, cooling down and stretching should be the foundation of your exercise program. They should be viewed as a transition into (and out of) exercise, allowing your body and mind to prepare for running, jumping, or strength training. Here is what you gain from proper warm-up, cool downs and stretching sessions:
* Your muscles and connective tissue loosen to prepare for the stress of exercise
* Oxygen and blood flow to your muscles and connective tissue increases, providing fuel for better muscular performance
* Tension in your body decreases
* Breathing patterns establish, helping relax the body during exercise
* Joints are lubricated to allow for better performance
* Muscle soreness is prevented and/or reduced during and after your workout
* Better body awareness
* Quicker reaction time
* Improved posture
* Improved coordination
* Quicker recovery
* Decreased muscle soreness
You’ve probably exercised without warming up properly, for example, and maybe nothing horrible happened. It may seem unnecessary, but consistently skipping it will limit your gains and put you at risk for injury. You could even be injured without even knowing it since you may not feel any pain right away.
Fix it Tip: Try to warm up with a low impact exercise for 5-10 minutes. A light sweat is a good indicator of your body temperature rising. Follow your workout with 5-10 minutes light exercise to cool down, and stretching, head to toe. Most of your flexibility benefits will come from your post-exercise stretch because your muscles will be so warm. To learn more about the differences between these workout components, read our Reference Guides to Warming Up, Cooling Down and Stretching.
Blunder #2: Looking For Instant Gratification
We are a culture of instant gratification seekers! Expecting fast results from a new diet and fitness plan is very common. Unfortunately it is one of the worst mindsets a beginner can create. You know about all the great benefits of exercise, like increased energy, weight loss, and better health. You exercise for a week straight, wake up the following Monday completely wiped out, a couple pounds heavier (because the exercise made you so hungry), and you have a cold. What gives?
Exercise definitely provides many great benefits, but the results are often seen weeks or even months after you begin. When you are consistent:
* Your metabolism speeds up to allow for weight loss
* Your body will adjust to the stress of exercise and you’ll feel more rejuvenated
* Your immune system improves to help prevent sickness
* Your strength and endurance improves, making exercise (and daily tasks) easier
* Your mood and energy levels stabilize throughout the day
* You sleep better at night
* You look and feel better!
Fix it Tips: Don’t throw up your hands if you don’t see what you are looking for. Analyze what you are doing and try to make adjustments. It’s worth it.
* Try to focus on other improvement besides weight loss--how you feel, how much you’ve learned, how you have more energy, etc.
* Keep in mind that progress may be slow in the beginning. It probably took you many years to gain the weight you are trying to lose. You can’t expect to take it off in a fraction of the time. Plus, slow and steady weight loss (about 1-2 pounds per week) is healthier--AND you’re more likely to keep it off when it happens at this rate.
* Get support and encouragement from a buddy, your friends and family, or on the message boards. Sometimes a kind word is all you need to stop you from giving up.
-- By Joe Downie, Certified Physical Fitness Instructor, sparkpeople
Both beginners and experienced exercises can be guilty of a few fitness blunders from time to time. Some may even become a regular part of your fitness routine, much like a bad habit. But, to get the best results from all your hard work, it’s important that you don’t find yourself creating a fitness routine filled with mistakes. This can set you up for injury, lack of results, boredom and plateaus. Analyze your fitness routine on a regular basis and ask yourself if you fall into any of these common blunders.
Blunder #1: Skipping the Warm Up, Cool Down, and Stretches
This is one of the most common bad habits of exercisers! You finally committed yourself to a fitness routine, and you don’t want to waste any time, so you jump right into your work out without warming up, cooling down, or stretching. After all, those low-intensity segments are meaningless and a waste of time, right?
NOT TRUE! Warming up, cooling down and stretching should be the foundation of your exercise program. They should be viewed as a transition into (and out of) exercise, allowing your body and mind to prepare for running, jumping, or strength training. Here is what you gain from proper warm-up, cool downs and stretching sessions:
* Your muscles and connective tissue loosen to prepare for the stress of exercise
* Oxygen and blood flow to your muscles and connective tissue increases, providing fuel for better muscular performance
* Tension in your body decreases
* Breathing patterns establish, helping relax the body during exercise
* Joints are lubricated to allow for better performance
* Muscle soreness is prevented and/or reduced during and after your workout
* Better body awareness
* Quicker reaction time
* Improved posture
* Improved coordination
* Quicker recovery
* Decreased muscle soreness
You’ve probably exercised without warming up properly, for example, and maybe nothing horrible happened. It may seem unnecessary, but consistently skipping it will limit your gains and put you at risk for injury. You could even be injured without even knowing it since you may not feel any pain right away.
Fix it Tip: Try to warm up with a low impact exercise for 5-10 minutes. A light sweat is a good indicator of your body temperature rising. Follow your workout with 5-10 minutes light exercise to cool down, and stretching, head to toe. Most of your flexibility benefits will come from your post-exercise stretch because your muscles will be so warm. To learn more about the differences between these workout components, read our Reference Guides to Warming Up, Cooling Down and Stretching.
Blunder #2: Looking For Instant Gratification
We are a culture of instant gratification seekers! Expecting fast results from a new diet and fitness plan is very common. Unfortunately it is one of the worst mindsets a beginner can create. You know about all the great benefits of exercise, like increased energy, weight loss, and better health. You exercise for a week straight, wake up the following Monday completely wiped out, a couple pounds heavier (because the exercise made you so hungry), and you have a cold. What gives?
Exercise definitely provides many great benefits, but the results are often seen weeks or even months after you begin. When you are consistent:
* Your metabolism speeds up to allow for weight loss
* Your body will adjust to the stress of exercise and you’ll feel more rejuvenated
* Your immune system improves to help prevent sickness
* Your strength and endurance improves, making exercise (and daily tasks) easier
* Your mood and energy levels stabilize throughout the day
* You sleep better at night
* You look and feel better!
Fix it Tips: Don’t throw up your hands if you don’t see what you are looking for. Analyze what you are doing and try to make adjustments. It’s worth it.
* Try to focus on other improvement besides weight loss--how you feel, how much you’ve learned, how you have more energy, etc.
* Keep in mind that progress may be slow in the beginning. It probably took you many years to gain the weight you are trying to lose. You can’t expect to take it off in a fraction of the time. Plus, slow and steady weight loss (about 1-2 pounds per week) is healthier--AND you’re more likely to keep it off when it happens at this rate.
* Get support and encouragement from a buddy, your friends and family, or on the message boards. Sometimes a kind word is all you need to stop you from giving up.
-- By Joe Downie, Certified Physical Fitness Instructor, sparkpeople
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Learn to Love Strength Training
Improve Your Health and Your Appearance
I’ll admit it—I’m vain. So when I put on my summer tank tops a few months ago and noticed the dreaded "batwings" growing on the back of my arms, I panicked. I was too young to have my arms jiggling when I moved! I had to do something, fast—something more productive than hiding behind long-sleeved shirts for the rest of my life. I had to tone up my arms.
An information junkie, I have read about so many strength training routines that I could give Charles Atlas a run for his money. Notice I said read about strength training, not done it. But it was time to face the facts—and time to put my knowledge to work and actually use the dumbbells that were gathering dust under my bed.
So, with my doctor’s approval, I set out to whip my arms (and legs) into shape. Being a real packrat, I also had piles of fitness magazines and printed web pages on the topic. Once I started reading about strength training in more detail, I was amazed at how beneficial a weight routine is to your body—and for your health. I took a few notes so I wouldn’t forget those facts, and posted them around the house to keep me motivated and remind me of my goals.
Whenever I was tempted to drop the weights and grab a cookie instead, this is what I reminded myself: The top 10 reasons everyone should strength train (and LOVE every minute of it):
1. Strength training preserves muscle mass during weight loss. According to a University of Michigan research study, at least 25% to 30% of weight lost by dieting alone is not fat but lean tissue, muscle, bone and water. However, strength training helps dieters preserve muscle mass while still losing weight.
2. Strength training elevates your metabolism. Starting in their twenties, most people (especially women) lose half a pound of muscle every year if they aren't strength training to preserve it. After age 60, this rate of loss doubles. But regular strength training can preserve muscle throughout the lifespan, and rebuild the muscle lost.
3. Strength training helps you lose weight more easily (or eat more without gaining weight). Since muscle is active tissue (unlike fat, which is inert), it requires energy to maintain. The more muscle you have, the more you can eat without gaining weight. Strength training can provide up to a 15% increase in metabolic rate, which is helpful for weight loss and long-term weight control.
For every additional pound of muscle you gain, your body will burn about 50 more calories each day. A study by Wayne Westcott, Ph.D., from the South Shore YMCA in Quincy, Massachusetts, showed that a woman who strength trains two or three times a week for eight weeks gains 1.75 lbs of muscle and loses 3.5 lbs of fat.
And Johns Hopkins researchers found that while aerobic exercise burns more calories at the time you are exercising, your metabolism returns to normal about 30 minutes after you finish your workout. Individuals who perform strength training, however, elevate their metabolisms (burn more calories) for two hours after their workouts end.
4. Strength training increases bone density. A study conducted by Miriam E. Nelson, Ph.D. of Tufts University found that strength training increases both muscle mass and bone density. Dr. Nelson’s research showed that women who lifted weights did not lose any bone density throughout the study, and actually gained an average of 1% more bone mass in the hip and spine. Non-exercising women lost 2% to 2.5% of bone mass during the same period of time.
Another University of Arizona study showed a 3% increase in spine and hip bone mineral density after an 18-month strength training program among women, ages 28 to 39.
5. Strength training counteracts depression. In a study of 32 men and women who suffered from chronic depression, Nalin Singh, M.D. and Tufts University associates divided the individuals into two groups. They directed half to perform strength training while the other half received health information. After three months, 14 of the 16 members who lifted weights felt better and no longer met the criteria for depression.
A Harvard study also showed that 10 weeks of strength training reduced clinical depression symptoms more successfully than standard counseling alone.
6. Strength training reduces sleep difficulties. Ten people in Dr. Singh’s strength training group (see reason 5, above) also reported sleep difficulties at the start of the study. After 12 weeks, six of the 10 reported they no longer had trouble sleeping—they fell asleep more quickly, slept more deeply, awakened less often and slept longer.
7. Strength training reduces your risk of diabetes. Adult-onset (Type 2) diabetes is a growing problem, with over 14 million Americans suffering from the condition. Research shows that strength training can increase glucose utilization in the body by 23% in just four months. As muscles contract and relax during exercise, they use sugar for energy. To meet this energy need, your body uses sugar supplies in your blood, reducing your blood sugar levels.
8. Strength training lowers your blood pressure. The University of Arizona study (see reason 4, above) also showed resting blood pressure (RBP) levels were impacted by strength training. Strength training participants shifted from the high-normal RBP category to normal RBP levels. Regular exercise, including strength training, strengthens the heart, allowing it to pump more blood with less effort. The less your heart has to work, the less force (or pressure) is exerted on your arteries.
9. Strength training helps you age more gracefully. As you age, muscle mass decreases (if you're not working to preserve it), which can cause skin to sag in not-so-pretty ways. By strength training, you can fight age-related muscle loss and maintain a more youthful physique.
10. Strength training improves your quality of life. Building muscle allows you to get more out of life. Everyday activities, such as lifting children (or grandchildren), carrying groceries, and working in the yard are much easier when you’re not struggling with the effort. Being in shape also makes you more confident, helps you stand taller and makes you feel great about yourself. And what’s better than that?
-- By Leanne Beattie, Health & Fitness Writer, SparkPeople
I’ll admit it—I’m vain. So when I put on my summer tank tops a few months ago and noticed the dreaded "batwings" growing on the back of my arms, I panicked. I was too young to have my arms jiggling when I moved! I had to do something, fast—something more productive than hiding behind long-sleeved shirts for the rest of my life. I had to tone up my arms.
An information junkie, I have read about so many strength training routines that I could give Charles Atlas a run for his money. Notice I said read about strength training, not done it. But it was time to face the facts—and time to put my knowledge to work and actually use the dumbbells that were gathering dust under my bed.
So, with my doctor’s approval, I set out to whip my arms (and legs) into shape. Being a real packrat, I also had piles of fitness magazines and printed web pages on the topic. Once I started reading about strength training in more detail, I was amazed at how beneficial a weight routine is to your body—and for your health. I took a few notes so I wouldn’t forget those facts, and posted them around the house to keep me motivated and remind me of my goals.
Whenever I was tempted to drop the weights and grab a cookie instead, this is what I reminded myself: The top 10 reasons everyone should strength train (and LOVE every minute of it):
1. Strength training preserves muscle mass during weight loss. According to a University of Michigan research study, at least 25% to 30% of weight lost by dieting alone is not fat but lean tissue, muscle, bone and water. However, strength training helps dieters preserve muscle mass while still losing weight.
2. Strength training elevates your metabolism. Starting in their twenties, most people (especially women) lose half a pound of muscle every year if they aren't strength training to preserve it. After age 60, this rate of loss doubles. But regular strength training can preserve muscle throughout the lifespan, and rebuild the muscle lost.
3. Strength training helps you lose weight more easily (or eat more without gaining weight). Since muscle is active tissue (unlike fat, which is inert), it requires energy to maintain. The more muscle you have, the more you can eat without gaining weight. Strength training can provide up to a 15% increase in metabolic rate, which is helpful for weight loss and long-term weight control.
For every additional pound of muscle you gain, your body will burn about 50 more calories each day. A study by Wayne Westcott, Ph.D., from the South Shore YMCA in Quincy, Massachusetts, showed that a woman who strength trains two or three times a week for eight weeks gains 1.75 lbs of muscle and loses 3.5 lbs of fat.
And Johns Hopkins researchers found that while aerobic exercise burns more calories at the time you are exercising, your metabolism returns to normal about 30 minutes after you finish your workout. Individuals who perform strength training, however, elevate their metabolisms (burn more calories) for two hours after their workouts end.
4. Strength training increases bone density. A study conducted by Miriam E. Nelson, Ph.D. of Tufts University found that strength training increases both muscle mass and bone density. Dr. Nelson’s research showed that women who lifted weights did not lose any bone density throughout the study, and actually gained an average of 1% more bone mass in the hip and spine. Non-exercising women lost 2% to 2.5% of bone mass during the same period of time.
Another University of Arizona study showed a 3% increase in spine and hip bone mineral density after an 18-month strength training program among women, ages 28 to 39.
5. Strength training counteracts depression. In a study of 32 men and women who suffered from chronic depression, Nalin Singh, M.D. and Tufts University associates divided the individuals into two groups. They directed half to perform strength training while the other half received health information. After three months, 14 of the 16 members who lifted weights felt better and no longer met the criteria for depression.
A Harvard study also showed that 10 weeks of strength training reduced clinical depression symptoms more successfully than standard counseling alone.
6. Strength training reduces sleep difficulties. Ten people in Dr. Singh’s strength training group (see reason 5, above) also reported sleep difficulties at the start of the study. After 12 weeks, six of the 10 reported they no longer had trouble sleeping—they fell asleep more quickly, slept more deeply, awakened less often and slept longer.
7. Strength training reduces your risk of diabetes. Adult-onset (Type 2) diabetes is a growing problem, with over 14 million Americans suffering from the condition. Research shows that strength training can increase glucose utilization in the body by 23% in just four months. As muscles contract and relax during exercise, they use sugar for energy. To meet this energy need, your body uses sugar supplies in your blood, reducing your blood sugar levels.
8. Strength training lowers your blood pressure. The University of Arizona study (see reason 4, above) also showed resting blood pressure (RBP) levels were impacted by strength training. Strength training participants shifted from the high-normal RBP category to normal RBP levels. Regular exercise, including strength training, strengthens the heart, allowing it to pump more blood with less effort. The less your heart has to work, the less force (or pressure) is exerted on your arteries.
9. Strength training helps you age more gracefully. As you age, muscle mass decreases (if you're not working to preserve it), which can cause skin to sag in not-so-pretty ways. By strength training, you can fight age-related muscle loss and maintain a more youthful physique.
10. Strength training improves your quality of life. Building muscle allows you to get more out of life. Everyday activities, such as lifting children (or grandchildren), carrying groceries, and working in the yard are much easier when you’re not struggling with the effort. Being in shape also makes you more confident, helps you stand taller and makes you feel great about yourself. And what’s better than that?
-- By Leanne Beattie, Health & Fitness Writer, SparkPeople
Monday, January 17, 2011
20 Ways to Burn More Fat
Tips and tricks to lose those pounds for good
You've counted calories and walked and walked, but your skinny jeans still don't fit. What gives? We turned to the experts for tips on how to rev up your metabolism, increase lean muscle mass and avoid eating those extra calories that end up being stored as fat
Don’t make these mistakes:
Skimping on Protein
Women lose about 5 pounds of muscle every decade (and gain an average of 15 pounds of fat), says Wayne Westcott, PhD, coauthor of Get Stronger, Feel Younger. Protein helps you build lean muscle, so make sure you're getting enough: If you're in your 30s, aim for 50 to 56 grams daily; in your 40s, you need 56 to 62 grams daily. Good sources include tuna and chicken breast (6 oz of either will give you 45 grams of protein).
Skipping Strength Training
Want to burn calories and fat even when you're sitting still? Then you need to increase your resting metabolic rate, and strength training (such as with light weights or resistance bands) is the key. Strength-train three times a week and you'll reduce your body fat percentage in about 10 weeks, says Dr. Westcott.
Underestimating How Much You Eat (and Overestimating How Much You Move)
Women tend to underestimate their daily intake by about 800 calories, says Elizabeth Somer, RD, author of 10 Habits That Mess Up a Woman's Diet. And a University of Florida study found that 47 percent of exercisers claimed they were working out at a moderate intensity, yet only 15 percent of them actually were. Keep a food and exercise journal so you can track your eating and exercise habits precisely.
Thinking Little Nibbles Don’t Count – So true girls and guys!!!
Whether you are grabbing candy off a colleagues desk or finishing your kid’s fried, every bite averages about 25 calories. Have four extra bites a day and you’ll gain a pound a month, Somer says. Stop mindless munching by only eating when food is on a plate or in a single-serving container.
Consuming Too Few Calories
Yes, cutting calories is crucial to weight loss, but go too low and your body goes into starvation mode, which slows your metabolism, says Kathy McManus, RD, director of the department of nutrition at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. Never eat less than 1,200 calories a day. To figure out how many calories you need to maintain your current weight, go to caloriecontrol.org/calcalcs.html. If you want to lose a pound a week, subtract 500 calories.
Not Planning Ahead
Just saying you’re going to watch what you eat or start exercising more isn’t going to work unless you think about how those changes are going to fit into your day, says Libby Mills, RD, a lifestyle coach in PA. If you want to stick to an exercise plan, for example, write workout sessions in your planner and stash sneakers in your car. Or if you’re going out to dinner and know you want to splurge a little, cut back on snacks that day.
Not Working Out Hard Enough
To really torch fat and calories, you need to step up the intensity of your exercise. Turn your stroll into a power walk two to three times a week by alternating between 30 to 90 seconds of fast walking and 90 to 120 seconds of slower walking.
Doing the Same Workout All the Time
Mixing up your routine is key to burning the most fat and calories, says Brad Schoenfeld, a certified strength and conditioning specialist and author of Sculpting Her Body Perfect. Otherwise, your body adapts to the workout and goes on autopilot so you don't get as much out of it. So walk one day, do a DVD the next, then try a dance or aerobics class.
Feeding Your Emotions
When the line between physical and emotional hunger gets blurred, you can end up inhaling hundreds of extra calories. Think before you bite. Ask yourself, "Am I really hungry? Or am I just bored or upset?" If you're not sure, have a glass of water and wait at least 20 minutes. If you're still hungry, eat something healthy or a small amount of a food you're craving. "You're more likely to limit what you eat once you've waited it out," says Mills.
Buying Into Quick Fixes
No pill, drink or fad diet is going to magically peel off the pounds. To lose weight (and keep it off), you need to make changes to your overall diet and exercise habits—and be patient.
You've counted calories and walked and walked, but your skinny jeans still don't fit. What gives? We turned to the experts for tips on how to rev up your metabolism, increase lean muscle mass and avoid eating those extra calories that end up being stored as fat
Don’t make these mistakes:
Skimping on Protein
Women lose about 5 pounds of muscle every decade (and gain an average of 15 pounds of fat), says Wayne Westcott, PhD, coauthor of Get Stronger, Feel Younger. Protein helps you build lean muscle, so make sure you're getting enough: If you're in your 30s, aim for 50 to 56 grams daily; in your 40s, you need 56 to 62 grams daily. Good sources include tuna and chicken breast (6 oz of either will give you 45 grams of protein).
Skipping Strength Training
Want to burn calories and fat even when you're sitting still? Then you need to increase your resting metabolic rate, and strength training (such as with light weights or resistance bands) is the key. Strength-train three times a week and you'll reduce your body fat percentage in about 10 weeks, says Dr. Westcott.
Underestimating How Much You Eat (and Overestimating How Much You Move)
Women tend to underestimate their daily intake by about 800 calories, says Elizabeth Somer, RD, author of 10 Habits That Mess Up a Woman's Diet. And a University of Florida study found that 47 percent of exercisers claimed they were working out at a moderate intensity, yet only 15 percent of them actually were. Keep a food and exercise journal so you can track your eating and exercise habits precisely.
Thinking Little Nibbles Don’t Count – So true girls and guys!!!
Whether you are grabbing candy off a colleagues desk or finishing your kid’s fried, every bite averages about 25 calories. Have four extra bites a day and you’ll gain a pound a month, Somer says. Stop mindless munching by only eating when food is on a plate or in a single-serving container.
Consuming Too Few Calories
Yes, cutting calories is crucial to weight loss, but go too low and your body goes into starvation mode, which slows your metabolism, says Kathy McManus, RD, director of the department of nutrition at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. Never eat less than 1,200 calories a day. To figure out how many calories you need to maintain your current weight, go to caloriecontrol.org/calcalcs.html. If you want to lose a pound a week, subtract 500 calories.
Not Planning Ahead
Just saying you’re going to watch what you eat or start exercising more isn’t going to work unless you think about how those changes are going to fit into your day, says Libby Mills, RD, a lifestyle coach in PA. If you want to stick to an exercise plan, for example, write workout sessions in your planner and stash sneakers in your car. Or if you’re going out to dinner and know you want to splurge a little, cut back on snacks that day.
Not Working Out Hard Enough
To really torch fat and calories, you need to step up the intensity of your exercise. Turn your stroll into a power walk two to three times a week by alternating between 30 to 90 seconds of fast walking and 90 to 120 seconds of slower walking.
Doing the Same Workout All the Time
Mixing up your routine is key to burning the most fat and calories, says Brad Schoenfeld, a certified strength and conditioning specialist and author of Sculpting Her Body Perfect. Otherwise, your body adapts to the workout and goes on autopilot so you don't get as much out of it. So walk one day, do a DVD the next, then try a dance or aerobics class.
Feeding Your Emotions
When the line between physical and emotional hunger gets blurred, you can end up inhaling hundreds of extra calories. Think before you bite. Ask yourself, "Am I really hungry? Or am I just bored or upset?" If you're not sure, have a glass of water and wait at least 20 minutes. If you're still hungry, eat something healthy or a small amount of a food you're craving. "You're more likely to limit what you eat once you've waited it out," says Mills.
Buying Into Quick Fixes
No pill, drink or fad diet is going to magically peel off the pounds. To lose weight (and keep it off), you need to make changes to your overall diet and exercise habits—and be patient.
Friday, January 14, 2011
What it really means to burn more calories than you consume
Q: Can you explain the concept of "burning more calories than you consume" in order to lose weight?
A: It sounds like you're referring to a "calories in vs. calories out" type of equation. First you need to understand that one pound of fat is made up of roughly 3,500 extra calories. So in order to lose one pound of fat, you need to create a caloric deficit of 3,500 calories.
Basically, you can create a deficit of calories in three different ways:
1. Eat fewer calories than you burn each day. Keep in mind that your body burns calories all day long as part of your basal metabolic rate (BMR), because it takes energy (calories) for your body to perform basic physiological functions that are necessary for life—breathing, digesting, circulating, thinking and more. On top of that, physical activity (bathing, walking, typing and exercising) uses even more calories each day.
Example: If you eat 500 fewer calories each day for a week, you'll lose about one pound of fat (500 calories x 7 days = 3,500 calories).
2. Burn more calories than you consume by increasing your physical activity. If you eat enough calories to support your BMR, but exercise more, you'll create a caloric deficit simply by burning extra calories. This works only when you're not overeating to begin with.
Example: Regardless of your BMR, if you exercised to burn an extra 500 calories each day, you'll lose about one pound of fat in a week (500 calories x 7 days = 3,500 calories).
3. A combination of eating fewer calories and exercising to burn more calories. This is the most effective way to lose weight and keep it off. It's much easier to create a substantial calorie deficit when you combine dieting with exercise because you don't have to deprive yourself from food, and you don't have to exercise in crazy amounts.
Example: If you cut just 200 calories a day from your diet and burned just 300 calories a day by exercising, you'd lose about one pound per week. Compare that to the other examples above—you're losing weight at about the same rate without making major changes to your diet or exercise routine. Some people hate to cut calories, while others hate to exercise, so a combination approach allows you to do more of whatever comes easier for you.
As long as you are consistent, your calorie deficit will "add up" over time, and you’ll slim down. It's also important to note that although this math seems relatively simple, our bodies are very complicated and you might not always see the results you expect based on equations alone. Many other factors can affect your weight loss rate along the way.
Written by Nicole Nichols, B.S. Ed. and Certified Fitness Instructor
A: It sounds like you're referring to a "calories in vs. calories out" type of equation. First you need to understand that one pound of fat is made up of roughly 3,500 extra calories. So in order to lose one pound of fat, you need to create a caloric deficit of 3,500 calories.
Basically, you can create a deficit of calories in three different ways:
1. Eat fewer calories than you burn each day. Keep in mind that your body burns calories all day long as part of your basal metabolic rate (BMR), because it takes energy (calories) for your body to perform basic physiological functions that are necessary for life—breathing, digesting, circulating, thinking and more. On top of that, physical activity (bathing, walking, typing and exercising) uses even more calories each day.
Example: If you eat 500 fewer calories each day for a week, you'll lose about one pound of fat (500 calories x 7 days = 3,500 calories).
2. Burn more calories than you consume by increasing your physical activity. If you eat enough calories to support your BMR, but exercise more, you'll create a caloric deficit simply by burning extra calories. This works only when you're not overeating to begin with.
Example: Regardless of your BMR, if you exercised to burn an extra 500 calories each day, you'll lose about one pound of fat in a week (500 calories x 7 days = 3,500 calories).
3. A combination of eating fewer calories and exercising to burn more calories. This is the most effective way to lose weight and keep it off. It's much easier to create a substantial calorie deficit when you combine dieting with exercise because you don't have to deprive yourself from food, and you don't have to exercise in crazy amounts.
Example: If you cut just 200 calories a day from your diet and burned just 300 calories a day by exercising, you'd lose about one pound per week. Compare that to the other examples above—you're losing weight at about the same rate without making major changes to your diet or exercise routine. Some people hate to cut calories, while others hate to exercise, so a combination approach allows you to do more of whatever comes easier for you.
As long as you are consistent, your calorie deficit will "add up" over time, and you’ll slim down. It's also important to note that although this math seems relatively simple, our bodies are very complicated and you might not always see the results you expect based on equations alone. Many other factors can affect your weight loss rate along the way.
Written by Nicole Nichols, B.S. Ed. and Certified Fitness Instructor
Thursday, January 13, 2011
8 Tricks for Boosting Your Metabolism
Remember how, during your teens and 20s, you could eat practically anything and not gain a pound? Now that you're hovering around middle age, you've probably found that's just not the case anymore. Part of the problem is that your metabolism decreases as a result of other age-related factors, like decrease in muscle mass. However, there's no need to give in to a bigger pant size just yet! Read on for eight ways to rev up your metabolism and keep those unwanted pounds from your waistline.
Do Intervals
Mixing in fast-paced intervals raises your metabolic rate higher than doing a steady cardio workout, and will continue to do so up to an hour after you’re done, says Kristin McGee, a trainer and Pilates instructor whose client list includes Tina Fey and Bethenny Frankel. An Australian study also found that women who did intervals while they were biking lost three times as much fat as those who worked out at a steady pace. If you’re a walker, simply walk at your normal pace for 1 to 2 minutes, then speed-walk for 30 to 60 seconds. Repeat the sequence 10 to 15 times.
Opt for Caffeine
It’s time to hit Starbucks. A study published in the journal Physiology & Behavior shows that coffee drinkers have a 16 percent higher metabolic rate than those who abstain or drink decaf joe, because caffeine increases your heart rate and stimulates your central nervous system. Spread out the cups over your entire day to keep your metabolism running at a boosted rate—just be sure to have your last cup by early afternoon so you can hit the pillow with no problems later on.
Add Some Ice
Though the increase is modest, there is some evidence that drinking cold water can cause a slight surge in metabolic rate. Since your body maintains a core temperature around 98.6°F, cold water will be brought to that temperature after being consumed and calories are burned during the warming process. Discovery Health deduced that you can burn up to 70 extra calories a day if you follow the common rule of drinking eight 8-ounce glasses of cold water per day. Need another reason to up your water intake? Researchers at the University of Utah found that participants who drank half of the recommended amount of water per day (four 8-ounce glasses), not only showed signs of dehydration, they also experienced a 2% decrease in calories burned per day.
Eat a Big Breakfast
It’s time to nix the oatmeal with skim milk. Instead, start your day with a fatty breakfast, including eggs and even a piece of bacon, suggests Molly Bray, PhD, lead author of a recent study showing that a fat-filled morning meal will jumpstart your metabolism for the day faster than a lowfat, low-calorie breakfast. Another study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that people who eat 22 to 55 percent of their total calories at breakfast gain 1.7 pounds over four years. That’s not bad considering those who eat 0 to 11 percent of their calories in the morning gain nearly 3 pounds.
Drink Green Tea
Not only does green tea contain enough antioxidants to keep colds and the flu at bay, but it also does wonders for your metabolism, according to a study published in the journal Phytomedicine. Researchers found that people who drank the equivalent of three to five cups daily for three months shaved 5 percent off their body weight. Green tea contains ECGC, a plant compound that stimulates your metabolism, says Rania Batayneh, MPH, a nutritionist in private practice in San Francisco and Portland, Oregon, and founder of Essential Nutrition consulting.
Don't Skimp on Dairy
Calcium-rich foods and drinks, including milk, yogurt and cheese, increase the rate at which fat turns into waste, says a study by researchers at the University of Copenhagen published in the The Journal of Nutrition. It doesn’t matter what form of dairy product you’re consuming as long as the serving size is adequate (keep it lowfat!)—either a full glass of lowfat milk or 6 ounces of yogurt is perfect. Also, the study noted that you have to actually ingest the calcium in its natural form; supplements don’t work due to differences in the chemical makeup.
Build More Muscle
Gaining lean muscle mass boosts your metabolism and makes losing weight much easier, McGee says. If you add just 5 pounds of muscle to your body, you’ll burn up to 150 more calories per day without even working out those muscles. And, you can burn an average of 600 calories per hour during your cardio workout thanks to that extra muscle mass. “Muscle burns more calories than fat does, even at rest, so any strength-training activities to build lean muscle are excellent,” McGee says. The key is to challenge all your muscles and do a full-body strength-training workout, hitting your core, arms, legs, back and chest.
Pick Up Heavier Weights
By using heavy weights at a very slow rate—twice as slow as would feel natural—you break down your muscles (you’ll know the weights are heavy enough and the workout slow enough if you start to shake after just a few lifts or squats). Researchers at Wayne State University found that when your body repairs those overworked muscles, it causes your metabolism to increase for up to three days after the workout.
Original article appeared on WomansDay.com.
Do Intervals
Mixing in fast-paced intervals raises your metabolic rate higher than doing a steady cardio workout, and will continue to do so up to an hour after you’re done, says Kristin McGee, a trainer and Pilates instructor whose client list includes Tina Fey and Bethenny Frankel. An Australian study also found that women who did intervals while they were biking lost three times as much fat as those who worked out at a steady pace. If you’re a walker, simply walk at your normal pace for 1 to 2 minutes, then speed-walk for 30 to 60 seconds. Repeat the sequence 10 to 15 times.
Opt for Caffeine
It’s time to hit Starbucks. A study published in the journal Physiology & Behavior shows that coffee drinkers have a 16 percent higher metabolic rate than those who abstain or drink decaf joe, because caffeine increases your heart rate and stimulates your central nervous system. Spread out the cups over your entire day to keep your metabolism running at a boosted rate—just be sure to have your last cup by early afternoon so you can hit the pillow with no problems later on.
Add Some Ice
Though the increase is modest, there is some evidence that drinking cold water can cause a slight surge in metabolic rate. Since your body maintains a core temperature around 98.6°F, cold water will be brought to that temperature after being consumed and calories are burned during the warming process. Discovery Health deduced that you can burn up to 70 extra calories a day if you follow the common rule of drinking eight 8-ounce glasses of cold water per day. Need another reason to up your water intake? Researchers at the University of Utah found that participants who drank half of the recommended amount of water per day (four 8-ounce glasses), not only showed signs of dehydration, they also experienced a 2% decrease in calories burned per day.
Eat a Big Breakfast
It’s time to nix the oatmeal with skim milk. Instead, start your day with a fatty breakfast, including eggs and even a piece of bacon, suggests Molly Bray, PhD, lead author of a recent study showing that a fat-filled morning meal will jumpstart your metabolism for the day faster than a lowfat, low-calorie breakfast. Another study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that people who eat 22 to 55 percent of their total calories at breakfast gain 1.7 pounds over four years. That’s not bad considering those who eat 0 to 11 percent of their calories in the morning gain nearly 3 pounds.
Drink Green Tea
Not only does green tea contain enough antioxidants to keep colds and the flu at bay, but it also does wonders for your metabolism, according to a study published in the journal Phytomedicine. Researchers found that people who drank the equivalent of three to five cups daily for three months shaved 5 percent off their body weight. Green tea contains ECGC, a plant compound that stimulates your metabolism, says Rania Batayneh, MPH, a nutritionist in private practice in San Francisco and Portland, Oregon, and founder of Essential Nutrition consulting.
Don't Skimp on Dairy
Calcium-rich foods and drinks, including milk, yogurt and cheese, increase the rate at which fat turns into waste, says a study by researchers at the University of Copenhagen published in the The Journal of Nutrition. It doesn’t matter what form of dairy product you’re consuming as long as the serving size is adequate (keep it lowfat!)—either a full glass of lowfat milk or 6 ounces of yogurt is perfect. Also, the study noted that you have to actually ingest the calcium in its natural form; supplements don’t work due to differences in the chemical makeup.
Build More Muscle
Gaining lean muscle mass boosts your metabolism and makes losing weight much easier, McGee says. If you add just 5 pounds of muscle to your body, you’ll burn up to 150 more calories per day without even working out those muscles. And, you can burn an average of 600 calories per hour during your cardio workout thanks to that extra muscle mass. “Muscle burns more calories than fat does, even at rest, so any strength-training activities to build lean muscle are excellent,” McGee says. The key is to challenge all your muscles and do a full-body strength-training workout, hitting your core, arms, legs, back and chest.
Pick Up Heavier Weights
By using heavy weights at a very slow rate—twice as slow as would feel natural—you break down your muscles (you’ll know the weights are heavy enough and the workout slow enough if you start to shake after just a few lifts or squats). Researchers at Wayne State University found that when your body repairs those overworked muscles, it causes your metabolism to increase for up to three days after the workout.
Original article appeared on WomansDay.com.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
5 Reason's Your Always Starving
A foolproof plan to keep hunger from gnawing away at your weight-loss goals.
You’re driving along on your way to work, to the gym, or to pick up the kids and—bam—it hits you—that overwhelming gnawing hunger. The next thing you know, you’re pulling into a drive through and ordering up a storm.
Isn’t it fascinating (and frustrating) how the “I have to eat now!” feeling can hit even if you’ve been making good nutrition a top priority? Experts are discovering that when you eat, what your food tastes like, and even how much you drink can have a major impact on how often hunger pangs strike.
We asked leading nutritionists to share with us the five most common reasons you’re frequently famished, as well as their top tips for maximizing satisfaction and keeping hunger at bay.
1. You eat the right foods at the wrong times.
Eating at different times every day can make it difficult for you to tune in to your body’s hunger signals, says Cindy Moore, MS, RD, director of Nutrition Therapy at the Cleveland Clinic. Haphazard eating can hurt your metabolism as well. When British researchers asked women to eat meals at either the same time or at different times each day, those who followed a predictable pattern ate less and burned more calories than those who ate at a different time every day.
The Fix: Plan ahead.
If you’ve been journaling, review your food diary to zero in on when you’re most likely to fall prey to eating at erratic times. (If you haven’t been keeping a food diary, try doing so for a few days.) Then, says Moore, write out a schedule that focuses on eating within 2 hours of waking up and every 3 to 5 hours after that for the rest of the day. If you tend to lose track of time, set your watch or digital organizer to beep when you should eat.
2. You eat breakfast, just not the right kind.
Although any breakfast is better than none, the foods you choose can have a major impact on how satisfied you feel for the rest of the day. Take that convenient cereal bar: It might appear to be a healthy choice when you don’t have time for a sit-down meal, but its mega-dose of simple sugars may have you rummaging through the fridge well before lunch.
The Fix: Build a better mix of nutrients.
The key to making your breakfast hold your appetite at bay until lunch is building a morning meal that contains both protein and carbs. “It’s important to combine some protein along with some complex carbohydrates to provide sustained energy throughout the morning,” says Bonnie Taub-Dix, MA, RD, a Long Island–based dietitian in private practice. Opt for no-fuss choices like a slice of cheese on whole-wheat bread, egg whites on toast, whole-grain cereal with low-fat milk, even half a turkey sandwich .
3. Your diet is flawless but flavorless.
If ho-hum, diet-conscious standbys like grilled chicken and steamed veggies are staples on your dinner plate, you could be headed for trouble. “You’re going to get bored and eventually have difficulty sticking with your weight-loss plan,” says Lona Sandon, MEd, RD, assistant professor of clinical nutrition at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.
The Fix: Spice it up.
Getting creative in the kitchen will give your stand-by recipes new life—and keep you more satisfied in the long run. “Experiment with fresh, flavorful herbs, like basil, gingerroot, oregano, and mint,” suggests Moore. Also, adding acidity (a dash of lemon juice or balsamic vinegar) and sweetness (a teaspoon of honey or brown sugar) can make your staple dishes more complex in taste—and more satisfying. Texture is also key: Aim for combinations of creamy, crunchy, and chewy. Try tossing chopped nuts on your greens or mixing granola into your yogurt.
4. You stockpile your calories.
Do you often eat so sparingly during the day that by the time dinner rolls around you’re famished? That strategy can backfire, leading to uncontrollable overeating in the evening. “When you skip meals it’s harder to think straight, so you’re less concerned with the implications of what you eat,” says Taub-Dix.
The Fix: Frontload those calories.
Eating earlier in the day is a must to head off disaster later on. Limit the size of your evening meal so that you wake up eager for breakfast. Even if you’re not hungry, be sure to eat something—even a small bite. “Treat yourself the way you’d treat your kids—you wouldn’t let them skip meals,” says Taub-Dix.
5. You drink your meals.
With the ever-increasing popularity of lattes for breakfast and smoothies for lunch, many of us are drinking our calories away. But drinking too many caloric beverages can ultimately leave you feeling unsatisfied. When researchers at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, gave study participants 450 extra calories daily in the form of either fluid or solid food, those who ate the extra solids ate less later in the day whereas those who drank the extra fluids did not. The reasoning: Chewing causes the release of hormones that signal fullness, and solid food is digested more slowly than liquids.
The Fix: Rethink convenience.
Slurping down a meal might seem fast and easy, but in the time it takes to drive to the coffee shop, stand on line, and pay for that latte, you could have had something just as quick—and far more satisfying. “Try a slice of toast with peanut butter or a cup of yogurt with some fruit,” says Lona Sandon. If it’s the comfort of a hot drink you crave, go ahead and have that latte—just order it with fat-free milk. And instead of sipping it solo, enjoy it with a few whole-grain crackers or a banana. In other words, focus on food combinations that will get you through to your next meal—no starving required.
Karen Ansel, M.S., R.D., Weight Watchers
You’re driving along on your way to work, to the gym, or to pick up the kids and—bam—it hits you—that overwhelming gnawing hunger. The next thing you know, you’re pulling into a drive through and ordering up a storm.
Isn’t it fascinating (and frustrating) how the “I have to eat now!” feeling can hit even if you’ve been making good nutrition a top priority? Experts are discovering that when you eat, what your food tastes like, and even how much you drink can have a major impact on how often hunger pangs strike.
We asked leading nutritionists to share with us the five most common reasons you’re frequently famished, as well as their top tips for maximizing satisfaction and keeping hunger at bay.
1. You eat the right foods at the wrong times.
Eating at different times every day can make it difficult for you to tune in to your body’s hunger signals, says Cindy Moore, MS, RD, director of Nutrition Therapy at the Cleveland Clinic. Haphazard eating can hurt your metabolism as well. When British researchers asked women to eat meals at either the same time or at different times each day, those who followed a predictable pattern ate less and burned more calories than those who ate at a different time every day.
The Fix: Plan ahead.
If you’ve been journaling, review your food diary to zero in on when you’re most likely to fall prey to eating at erratic times. (If you haven’t been keeping a food diary, try doing so for a few days.) Then, says Moore, write out a schedule that focuses on eating within 2 hours of waking up and every 3 to 5 hours after that for the rest of the day. If you tend to lose track of time, set your watch or digital organizer to beep when you should eat.
2. You eat breakfast, just not the right kind.
Although any breakfast is better than none, the foods you choose can have a major impact on how satisfied you feel for the rest of the day. Take that convenient cereal bar: It might appear to be a healthy choice when you don’t have time for a sit-down meal, but its mega-dose of simple sugars may have you rummaging through the fridge well before lunch.
The Fix: Build a better mix of nutrients.
The key to making your breakfast hold your appetite at bay until lunch is building a morning meal that contains both protein and carbs. “It’s important to combine some protein along with some complex carbohydrates to provide sustained energy throughout the morning,” says Bonnie Taub-Dix, MA, RD, a Long Island–based dietitian in private practice. Opt for no-fuss choices like a slice of cheese on whole-wheat bread, egg whites on toast, whole-grain cereal with low-fat milk, even half a turkey sandwich .
3. Your diet is flawless but flavorless.
If ho-hum, diet-conscious standbys like grilled chicken and steamed veggies are staples on your dinner plate, you could be headed for trouble. “You’re going to get bored and eventually have difficulty sticking with your weight-loss plan,” says Lona Sandon, MEd, RD, assistant professor of clinical nutrition at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.
The Fix: Spice it up.
Getting creative in the kitchen will give your stand-by recipes new life—and keep you more satisfied in the long run. “Experiment with fresh, flavorful herbs, like basil, gingerroot, oregano, and mint,” suggests Moore. Also, adding acidity (a dash of lemon juice or balsamic vinegar) and sweetness (a teaspoon of honey or brown sugar) can make your staple dishes more complex in taste—and more satisfying. Texture is also key: Aim for combinations of creamy, crunchy, and chewy. Try tossing chopped nuts on your greens or mixing granola into your yogurt.
4. You stockpile your calories.
Do you often eat so sparingly during the day that by the time dinner rolls around you’re famished? That strategy can backfire, leading to uncontrollable overeating in the evening. “When you skip meals it’s harder to think straight, so you’re less concerned with the implications of what you eat,” says Taub-Dix.
The Fix: Frontload those calories.
Eating earlier in the day is a must to head off disaster later on. Limit the size of your evening meal so that you wake up eager for breakfast. Even if you’re not hungry, be sure to eat something—even a small bite. “Treat yourself the way you’d treat your kids—you wouldn’t let them skip meals,” says Taub-Dix.
5. You drink your meals.
With the ever-increasing popularity of lattes for breakfast and smoothies for lunch, many of us are drinking our calories away. But drinking too many caloric beverages can ultimately leave you feeling unsatisfied. When researchers at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, gave study participants 450 extra calories daily in the form of either fluid or solid food, those who ate the extra solids ate less later in the day whereas those who drank the extra fluids did not. The reasoning: Chewing causes the release of hormones that signal fullness, and solid food is digested more slowly than liquids.
The Fix: Rethink convenience.
Slurping down a meal might seem fast and easy, but in the time it takes to drive to the coffee shop, stand on line, and pay for that latte, you could have had something just as quick—and far more satisfying. “Try a slice of toast with peanut butter or a cup of yogurt with some fruit,” says Lona Sandon. If it’s the comfort of a hot drink you crave, go ahead and have that latte—just order it with fat-free milk. And instead of sipping it solo, enjoy it with a few whole-grain crackers or a banana. In other words, focus on food combinations that will get you through to your next meal—no starving required.
Karen Ansel, M.S., R.D., Weight Watchers
Friday, January 7, 2011
6 Reasons Why We Don't Lose Weight...
By John Messmer, MD
Doctors hear this complaint often: “I’m dieting all the time, but I can’t lose any weight.” For many people, losing weight is a frustrating endeavor. No matter how hard they seem to be trying, nothing changes. What is going on? Identifying the problem is only part of the solution.
6 common reasons why we don’t lose weight
1. Many of our social interactions include food.
2. Restaurants portions have increased (particularly fast food).
3. We are less active than in the past.
4. We find it unacceptable to be hungry.
5. We misunderstand how weight is maintained.
6. We forget the extra food we eat everyday, or we think we ate less than we did.
It’s also important to remember that when we consume fewer calories, we have a tendency to be less active, which probably stems from our biological programming to preserve body weight for survival.
Simple truths about weight loss
Many people think weight loss is like emptying a bucket with a ladle. A scoop out of the bucket today, tomorrow, next week will eventually empty the bucket. Not so with our bodies. When we decrease our food intake, our bodies try to absorb and store more calories the next time we eat in excess of what our body needs. So, even though we are cutting down most of the time, we will not lose weight if we get extra calories part of the time.
The simple rule of weight loss is that you must consistently burn off more calories than you take in. Any type of weight loss diet can work as long as calorie intake is consistently reduced, every day. A diet that is balanced with small quantities of vegetables, fruit, grains and lean meat or fish is the healthiest. Exercise helps, but unless you are an athlete, you will have to cut calories, too. And remember, it’s OK to be hungry when losing weight. Once a goal is achieved, every day is for maintaining. If you go back to eating more and exercising less, the weight will go right back on.
Factoring exercise into your weight loss plan
You can exercise more to lose weight, but beware of this idea. Most people don’t realize how much exercise is needed to lose weight without cutting calories. Plus, exercise increases appetites. If a dieter can avoid eating any more than was consumed before the diet and can burn off an additional 500 calories every day, that person can lose a pound a week. One mile, walked or run, or five miles on a bike, burns 100 calories. If you can do five miles a day—every day—and not eat any more no matter where you are or what you are doing, you can lose a pound a week. Or, you can cut 250 calories per day and do two and a half miles to accomplish the same thing.
Everyone can lose weight. Not everyone can or should be skinny, but everyone can reach a normal, healthy weight. It requires an acceptance that we cannot eat all we want, whenever we want. We can enjoy food and the occasions in which food is served, but our food intake must be balanced with our activity to achieve and maintain a normal weight.
Doctors hear this complaint often: “I’m dieting all the time, but I can’t lose any weight.” For many people, losing weight is a frustrating endeavor. No matter how hard they seem to be trying, nothing changes. What is going on? Identifying the problem is only part of the solution.
6 common reasons why we don’t lose weight
1. Many of our social interactions include food.
2. Restaurants portions have increased (particularly fast food).
3. We are less active than in the past.
4. We find it unacceptable to be hungry.
5. We misunderstand how weight is maintained.
6. We forget the extra food we eat everyday, or we think we ate less than we did.
It’s also important to remember that when we consume fewer calories, we have a tendency to be less active, which probably stems from our biological programming to preserve body weight for survival.
Simple truths about weight loss
Many people think weight loss is like emptying a bucket with a ladle. A scoop out of the bucket today, tomorrow, next week will eventually empty the bucket. Not so with our bodies. When we decrease our food intake, our bodies try to absorb and store more calories the next time we eat in excess of what our body needs. So, even though we are cutting down most of the time, we will not lose weight if we get extra calories part of the time.
The simple rule of weight loss is that you must consistently burn off more calories than you take in. Any type of weight loss diet can work as long as calorie intake is consistently reduced, every day. A diet that is balanced with small quantities of vegetables, fruit, grains and lean meat or fish is the healthiest. Exercise helps, but unless you are an athlete, you will have to cut calories, too. And remember, it’s OK to be hungry when losing weight. Once a goal is achieved, every day is for maintaining. If you go back to eating more and exercising less, the weight will go right back on.
Factoring exercise into your weight loss plan
You can exercise more to lose weight, but beware of this idea. Most people don’t realize how much exercise is needed to lose weight without cutting calories. Plus, exercise increases appetites. If a dieter can avoid eating any more than was consumed before the diet and can burn off an additional 500 calories every day, that person can lose a pound a week. One mile, walked or run, or five miles on a bike, burns 100 calories. If you can do five miles a day—every day—and not eat any more no matter where you are or what you are doing, you can lose a pound a week. Or, you can cut 250 calories per day and do two and a half miles to accomplish the same thing.
Everyone can lose weight. Not everyone can or should be skinny, but everyone can reach a normal, healthy weight. It requires an acceptance that we cannot eat all we want, whenever we want. We can enjoy food and the occasions in which food is served, but our food intake must be balanced with our activity to achieve and maintain a normal weight.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
5-Minute Power Boosters for the Office
Keep Your Body Fit and Your Mind Alert
Office life. If you let it, it can suck the energy right out of you. Or, you can take advantage of your workspace to put pep in your step and become more productive than ever.
Your office—where you spend 30% to 50% of your waking hours—can work for you or against you, depending on how you use it.
"The workplace is the forgotten arena of the self-improvement battle," explains SparkPeople Coach, Joe Downie. "But it’s the place where people need help the most! Stress is a huge factor in how well you perform at work. It clouds your thinking and wears you down," continues Coach Joe. "Without that energy, you lose creativity, concentration and motivation." In return, he says, all you gain is irritability and tension.
Of course, the most effective way to fight low energy is with a heavy dose of thorough stretching, proper breathing, and good posture. "There are plenty of power boosters all around you. You don’t have to drop everything and run to the gym." In fact, there are dozens of ways you can reduce stress and increase energy—within 50 feet of the office. (No special equipment required.)
For starters, he suggests five minutes of mental or physical activity for every hour you spend at the computer. People who sit at desks and computers for hours on end are most prone to dwindling production from low energy.
Get Physical
* Go to the office staircase and step up and down the bottom step (like step aerobics).
* Massage your own head and shoulders. Find trigger points of tension in the shoulders, jaw, and base of the skull. Hold pressure for 6-10 seconds.
* Take two steps back from your desk and lean forward until you’re in an angled pushup position against the edge of your desk. (This will also work against a wall.) Do a couple quick sets of incline push-ups.
* Lift 1-3 packs of printer paper in each hand. Curl them like weights or lift them over your head.
* Close your door and shadow box for a few minutes. Try to imagine a stressor while you’re punching.
* Start a pick up game of trashcan basketball! Create trick shots, or play against a coworker. A little friendly competition can go a long way.
* Jumping jacks are a simple, quick way to pump you up. Try to increase your intensity (speed) and duration (minutes) to keep it challenging.
* Go for a short walk around the office or outside around the block.
* Stand up and stretch your muscles. Don’t forget your neck and wrists.
* Lastly, Joe’s favorite office exercise—using a stress ball. Squeezing a stress ball relieves stress while strengthening the forearms and wrists for typing.
Go Mental
* Do word puzzles. Crosswords, word finds—even a jigsaw puzzle.
* Fill out a Mad Lib with your co-workers. A little laughter can improve your mood and decrease stress instantly.
* Rearrange your office.
* Switch hands with whatever you’re doing.
* Draw something. Let your mind create.
* Stand perfectly still for two minutes. Just Regroup.
* Do some deep breathing exercises or quiet meditation.
* Make an inkblot with a folded piece of paper and liquid ink. Have fun with what you see in the blot.
Staying energized and stress-free at work isn’t difficult. The key is finding reasons to stay out of your chair:
* In the morning, take as long as possible before sitting down.
* Forget the boardroom. Hold walking meetings.
* Hand-deliver mail, memos and faxes.
* Chat face-to-face instead of by email or phone.
* Use a bathroom on the other side of the building or on another floor.
* Have a lot of phone time? Buy a cordless phone and move around while talking.
* Replace your chair with a stability ball. This helps you maintain good posture, and by balancing, you’re working your core muscles all day.
Taking care of yourself at the office is just one way fitness can help you in other parts of your life. All it takes is a few minutes at a time.
-- By Mike Kramer, SparkPeople Contributor
Office life. If you let it, it can suck the energy right out of you. Or, you can take advantage of your workspace to put pep in your step and become more productive than ever.
Your office—where you spend 30% to 50% of your waking hours—can work for you or against you, depending on how you use it.
"The workplace is the forgotten arena of the self-improvement battle," explains SparkPeople Coach, Joe Downie. "But it’s the place where people need help the most! Stress is a huge factor in how well you perform at work. It clouds your thinking and wears you down," continues Coach Joe. "Without that energy, you lose creativity, concentration and motivation." In return, he says, all you gain is irritability and tension.
Of course, the most effective way to fight low energy is with a heavy dose of thorough stretching, proper breathing, and good posture. "There are plenty of power boosters all around you. You don’t have to drop everything and run to the gym." In fact, there are dozens of ways you can reduce stress and increase energy—within 50 feet of the office. (No special equipment required.)
For starters, he suggests five minutes of mental or physical activity for every hour you spend at the computer. People who sit at desks and computers for hours on end are most prone to dwindling production from low energy.
Get Physical
* Go to the office staircase and step up and down the bottom step (like step aerobics).
* Massage your own head and shoulders. Find trigger points of tension in the shoulders, jaw, and base of the skull. Hold pressure for 6-10 seconds.
* Take two steps back from your desk and lean forward until you’re in an angled pushup position against the edge of your desk. (This will also work against a wall.) Do a couple quick sets of incline push-ups.
* Lift 1-3 packs of printer paper in each hand. Curl them like weights or lift them over your head.
* Close your door and shadow box for a few minutes. Try to imagine a stressor while you’re punching.
* Start a pick up game of trashcan basketball! Create trick shots, or play against a coworker. A little friendly competition can go a long way.
* Jumping jacks are a simple, quick way to pump you up. Try to increase your intensity (speed) and duration (minutes) to keep it challenging.
* Go for a short walk around the office or outside around the block.
* Stand up and stretch your muscles. Don’t forget your neck and wrists.
* Lastly, Joe’s favorite office exercise—using a stress ball. Squeezing a stress ball relieves stress while strengthening the forearms and wrists for typing.
Go Mental
* Do word puzzles. Crosswords, word finds—even a jigsaw puzzle.
* Fill out a Mad Lib with your co-workers. A little laughter can improve your mood and decrease stress instantly.
* Rearrange your office.
* Switch hands with whatever you’re doing.
* Draw something. Let your mind create.
* Stand perfectly still for two minutes. Just Regroup.
* Do some deep breathing exercises or quiet meditation.
* Make an inkblot with a folded piece of paper and liquid ink. Have fun with what you see in the blot.
Staying energized and stress-free at work isn’t difficult. The key is finding reasons to stay out of your chair:
* In the morning, take as long as possible before sitting down.
* Forget the boardroom. Hold walking meetings.
* Hand-deliver mail, memos and faxes.
* Chat face-to-face instead of by email or phone.
* Use a bathroom on the other side of the building or on another floor.
* Have a lot of phone time? Buy a cordless phone and move around while talking.
* Replace your chair with a stability ball. This helps you maintain good posture, and by balancing, you’re working your core muscles all day.
Taking care of yourself at the office is just one way fitness can help you in other parts of your life. All it takes is a few minutes at a time.
-- By Mike Kramer, SparkPeople Contributor
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
10 Worst Foods of 2010
If 2009 was the year of cutting back, 2010 was the year of adding on, at least when it came to food. The year's top catch phrase: More cheese, please!
On menus from Taco Bell to the Cheesecake Factory, cheese was piled on, in several varieties. Melted, fried, sandwiched, stuffed and slathered on anything and everything, it's safe to say that, if you're eating these foods, you're meeting your dairy quota.
We've rounded up the worst new foods of the year and compiled some fun fitness facts to help put these caloric monstrosities in perspective!
McDonald's McRib
500 calories
26 g fat
10 g saturated fat
980 mg sodium
They say: "Join the club. The club who loves the flavorful pork and tangy barbeque sauce of our favorite sandwich. We’re a discriminating group who don’t mind getting sticky." We say: It's baaaacccckkk (or at least it was)! After a 16-year hiatus, the much-loved pork patty made its grand return to menu. Thank goodness it was only for a brief time. Our bellies are cheering its departure! The damage: To undo one McRib, you* would have to spend 148 minutes McJumping around, professing your love for this processed pork sandwich!
KFC Double Down
540 calories
32 g fat 10 g saturated fat
1,380 mg sodium
They say: "The new KFC Double Down sandwich is real! This one-of-a-kind sandwich features two thick and juicy boneless white meat chicken filets (Original Recipe or Grilled), two pieces of bacon, two melted slices of Monterey Jack and pepper jack cheese and Colonel's Sauce. This product is so meaty, there’s no room for a bun!" We say: "The Double Down comes in two versions – Original Recipe or Grilled and the nutrition information is below." We call this the double don't. The low-carb trend is passé, so why ditch the bun for two chicken breasts? This seems like something that a child might create if left alone in the kitchen. We double dare you not to try it! The damage: 90 minutes of the Chicken Dance to undo one Double Down.
Taco Bell's XXL Chalupa
650 calories
39 g fat
9 g saturated fat
1,300 mg sodium
They say: "An XXL-sized crispy Chalupa shell packed with seasoned ground beef, crispy lettuce, fiesta salsa, a blend of three cheeses–cheddar, pepper jack and mozzarella–and nacho cheese sauce, red strips and topped with reduced-fat sour cream." We say: After reading the description of this oversized, deep-fried taco creation, we laughed. It's topped with "reduced-fat sour cream." Does anyone else find that last-ditch effort to save calories and fat humorous? The damage: a run from Nestor in San Diego to the actual border (about 6.5 miles at a 10-minute mile pace)!
Cheesecake Factory Cheese Crunch Burger
1,000+ estimated calories
They say: "American and Cheddar Cheese, Crunchy Potato Crisps, Lettuce, Tomato, Grilled Onions, Pickles and Secret Sauce." We say: The Cheesecake Factory's menu is thicker than many novels, and the restaurant does not disclose nutrition info. Portions are massive. Burgers are called "glamburgers" there, but the menu doesn't offer much info--and the sauce is a secret. Sometimes silence speaks louder than words. The damage: 220 minutes of belly dancing to keep this off your gut!
IHOP Cinna-Stack Pancakes
1,010 calories
51 g fat
15 g saturated fat
1,920 mg sodium
35 g sugar
They say: "A stack of four fluffy buttermilk pancakes layered with a luscious cinnamon roll filling, drizzled with rich cream cheese icing and topped with whipped topping." We say: The emphasis on "cake" with these pancakes--they're sweet enough to make Willy Wonka cringe! (There's about 2 1/2 tablespoons!) Plus, there's more than a tablespoon of salt! That's without any added breakfast meat, which can add on up to 180 calories, 16 g fat, 6 g saturated fat, and 290 mg sodium. This meal will leave your head spinning from the sugar high! The damage: burn off your sugar high by IHOP-ping for 85 minutes
Olive Garden Lasagna Fritta
1,030 calories
63 g fat
21 g saturated fat
1,590 mg sodium
They say: "Parmesan-breaded lasagna pieces, fried and served over alfredo sauce, topped with parmesan cheese and marinara sauce." We say: Fritta means fried. Lasagna is an already decadent dish, with layers of cheese, noodles and sauce. Now it's coated in more cheese, fried and smothered in Alfredo sauce. How much more can we do to this lasagna? (This is an appetizer, by the way!) The damage: 333 minutes of tending to your own garden!
Denny's Fried Cheese Melt Sandwich
1,260 calories
63 g fat
21 g saturated fat
3,010 mg sodium
They say: "Grilled cheese with a twist. Four fried mozzarella sticks and melted American cheese grilled between two slices of sourdough bread. Served with wavy-cut French fries and a side of marinara sauce." We say: "The Fried Cheese Melt Sandwich is on the $4 value menu, but we don't see much nutritional value in it. There's not a vegetable in sight aside from French fries and a side of marinara sauce, and it has more sodium and saturated fat than we should eat in a day." The damage: Get comfortable on the treadmill. You could be there for 6 1/2 hours! (Bet you wish you'd skipped the French fries now!)
Burger King Ultimate Breakfast Platter
1,310 calories
72 g fat
26 g saturated fat
2,490 mg sodium
They say: "The BK Ultimate Breakfast Platter lives up to its name with scrambled eggs, crispy hash browns, sizzling sausage, a warm, flaky biscuit, and three fluffy pancakes with syrup. Anything less, and it wouldn't deserve to be called the 'ultimate.' " We say: Good rule of thumb: Platters are for serving food to many people, not for one person to use as a plate. While this meal has all your breakfast cravings covered: sweet, salty, meaty, crispy, and fluffy, it also has enough calories to sustain someone for a day. It also has more than a day's worth of salt and saturated fat. The damage: You'll need to work an entire 8-hour shift at a busy restaurant serving up breakfast platters to burn this off!
Friendly's Grilled Cheese Burger Melt
1,500 calories
79 g fat
38g saturated fat
2,090 mg sodium
They say: "A Big Beef burger between two hot grilled cheese sandwiches, with lettuce, tomato and mayo. Tasting is believing." We say: A real triple threat… to your arteries! Essentially this is three sandwiches in one. And it's served with fries, which add 330 calories, 14 g fat, 160 mg sodium. The damage: Get friendly with the elliptical. You'll spend almost three hours on it!
Applebee’s Provolone-Stuffed Meatballs with Fettuccine
1,580 calories
98 g fat
46 g saturated fat
3,940 mg sodium
They say: Nothing. The name and photo says it all for this grand prize "winner." We say: This dish is on the 2 for $20 menu, which gets you one appetizer and two entrees for $20. All of the appetizers have at least one fried component, so you can add on another couple hundred calories to this meal. There's nothing green on the plate, but you'll get two days' worth of saturated fat, plus a day and a half's worth of salt. Some value! The damage: You and your dining companion should hit the courts after dinner if you can move. You'll be playing tennis for four hours! When you're away from home, it's not impossible to make healthy choices and still indulge yourself.
On menus from Taco Bell to the Cheesecake Factory, cheese was piled on, in several varieties. Melted, fried, sandwiched, stuffed and slathered on anything and everything, it's safe to say that, if you're eating these foods, you're meeting your dairy quota.
We've rounded up the worst new foods of the year and compiled some fun fitness facts to help put these caloric monstrosities in perspective!
McDonald's McRib
500 calories
26 g fat
10 g saturated fat
980 mg sodium
They say: "Join the club. The club who loves the flavorful pork and tangy barbeque sauce of our favorite sandwich. We’re a discriminating group who don’t mind getting sticky." We say: It's baaaacccckkk (or at least it was)! After a 16-year hiatus, the much-loved pork patty made its grand return to menu. Thank goodness it was only for a brief time. Our bellies are cheering its departure! The damage: To undo one McRib, you* would have to spend 148 minutes McJumping around, professing your love for this processed pork sandwich!
KFC Double Down
540 calories
32 g fat 10 g saturated fat
1,380 mg sodium
They say: "The new KFC Double Down sandwich is real! This one-of-a-kind sandwich features two thick and juicy boneless white meat chicken filets (Original Recipe or Grilled), two pieces of bacon, two melted slices of Monterey Jack and pepper jack cheese and Colonel's Sauce. This product is so meaty, there’s no room for a bun!" We say: "The Double Down comes in two versions – Original Recipe or Grilled and the nutrition information is below." We call this the double don't. The low-carb trend is passé, so why ditch the bun for two chicken breasts? This seems like something that a child might create if left alone in the kitchen. We double dare you not to try it! The damage: 90 minutes of the Chicken Dance to undo one Double Down.
Taco Bell's XXL Chalupa
650 calories
39 g fat
9 g saturated fat
1,300 mg sodium
They say: "An XXL-sized crispy Chalupa shell packed with seasoned ground beef, crispy lettuce, fiesta salsa, a blend of three cheeses–cheddar, pepper jack and mozzarella–and nacho cheese sauce, red strips and topped with reduced-fat sour cream." We say: After reading the description of this oversized, deep-fried taco creation, we laughed. It's topped with "reduced-fat sour cream." Does anyone else find that last-ditch effort to save calories and fat humorous? The damage: a run from Nestor in San Diego to the actual border (about 6.5 miles at a 10-minute mile pace)!
Cheesecake Factory Cheese Crunch Burger
1,000+ estimated calories
They say: "American and Cheddar Cheese, Crunchy Potato Crisps, Lettuce, Tomato, Grilled Onions, Pickles and Secret Sauce." We say: The Cheesecake Factory's menu is thicker than many novels, and the restaurant does not disclose nutrition info. Portions are massive. Burgers are called "glamburgers" there, but the menu doesn't offer much info--and the sauce is a secret. Sometimes silence speaks louder than words. The damage: 220 minutes of belly dancing to keep this off your gut!
IHOP Cinna-Stack Pancakes
1,010 calories
51 g fat
15 g saturated fat
1,920 mg sodium
35 g sugar
They say: "A stack of four fluffy buttermilk pancakes layered with a luscious cinnamon roll filling, drizzled with rich cream cheese icing and topped with whipped topping." We say: The emphasis on "cake" with these pancakes--they're sweet enough to make Willy Wonka cringe! (There's about 2 1/2 tablespoons!) Plus, there's more than a tablespoon of salt! That's without any added breakfast meat, which can add on up to 180 calories, 16 g fat, 6 g saturated fat, and 290 mg sodium. This meal will leave your head spinning from the sugar high! The damage: burn off your sugar high by IHOP-ping for 85 minutes
Olive Garden Lasagna Fritta
1,030 calories
63 g fat
21 g saturated fat
1,590 mg sodium
They say: "Parmesan-breaded lasagna pieces, fried and served over alfredo sauce, topped with parmesan cheese and marinara sauce." We say: Fritta means fried. Lasagna is an already decadent dish, with layers of cheese, noodles and sauce. Now it's coated in more cheese, fried and smothered in Alfredo sauce. How much more can we do to this lasagna? (This is an appetizer, by the way!) The damage: 333 minutes of tending to your own garden!
Denny's Fried Cheese Melt Sandwich
1,260 calories
63 g fat
21 g saturated fat
3,010 mg sodium
They say: "Grilled cheese with a twist. Four fried mozzarella sticks and melted American cheese grilled between two slices of sourdough bread. Served with wavy-cut French fries and a side of marinara sauce." We say: "The Fried Cheese Melt Sandwich is on the $4 value menu, but we don't see much nutritional value in it. There's not a vegetable in sight aside from French fries and a side of marinara sauce, and it has more sodium and saturated fat than we should eat in a day." The damage: Get comfortable on the treadmill. You could be there for 6 1/2 hours! (Bet you wish you'd skipped the French fries now!)
Burger King Ultimate Breakfast Platter
1,310 calories
72 g fat
26 g saturated fat
2,490 mg sodium
They say: "The BK Ultimate Breakfast Platter lives up to its name with scrambled eggs, crispy hash browns, sizzling sausage, a warm, flaky biscuit, and three fluffy pancakes with syrup. Anything less, and it wouldn't deserve to be called the 'ultimate.' " We say: Good rule of thumb: Platters are for serving food to many people, not for one person to use as a plate. While this meal has all your breakfast cravings covered: sweet, salty, meaty, crispy, and fluffy, it also has enough calories to sustain someone for a day. It also has more than a day's worth of salt and saturated fat. The damage: You'll need to work an entire 8-hour shift at a busy restaurant serving up breakfast platters to burn this off!
Friendly's Grilled Cheese Burger Melt
1,500 calories
79 g fat
38g saturated fat
2,090 mg sodium
They say: "A Big Beef burger between two hot grilled cheese sandwiches, with lettuce, tomato and mayo. Tasting is believing." We say: A real triple threat… to your arteries! Essentially this is three sandwiches in one. And it's served with fries, which add 330 calories, 14 g fat, 160 mg sodium. The damage: Get friendly with the elliptical. You'll spend almost three hours on it!
Applebee’s Provolone-Stuffed Meatballs with Fettuccine
1,580 calories
98 g fat
46 g saturated fat
3,940 mg sodium
They say: Nothing. The name and photo says it all for this grand prize "winner." We say: This dish is on the 2 for $20 menu, which gets you one appetizer and two entrees for $20. All of the appetizers have at least one fried component, so you can add on another couple hundred calories to this meal. There's nothing green on the plate, but you'll get two days' worth of saturated fat, plus a day and a half's worth of salt. Some value! The damage: You and your dining companion should hit the courts after dinner if you can move. You'll be playing tennis for four hours! When you're away from home, it's not impossible to make healthy choices and still indulge yourself.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Kick-Start Your Diet: 8-Step Plan
“It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare. It is because we do not dare that they are difficult.” –Seneca
Most of the time, my biggest struggle with people is getting them to be consistent. It’s not possible to lose fat at a steady pace if you’re constantly going on and off your diet or fitness plan. I’m not suggesting perfection, but there must be a level of consistency.
This is very frustrating for individuals trying to shed fat. Although they want to succeed, they struggle with self-discipline. The end result is guilt and shame — two bad boys on the emotion list.
There’s an even more frustrating situation then this, however. What about the person who’s been on a specific diet and workout plan for a period of time but finds that nothing is happening? What then?
Breathe a sigh of relief because I’m here to tell you that there is a solution. Here is my eight-step plan for breaking through the dreaded weight-loss plateau:
1. First, there must be a plan for food intake — aka your diet. If you eat haphazardly throughout the day, then I honestly can’t help you. However, then you can easily determine the amount of calories you take in per day, as well as the ratios of protein, carbohydrates and fats.
This is vital because you need to know what you’re consuming in order to manipulate your program; you can’t make wild guesses.
2. You must have a workout plan that includes weight training, cardiovascular exercise and flexibility. The number of workouts need not exceed five days of cardio (no more than an hour) and three to four days of weight training, unless you’re a competitive athlete.
3. Make sure you know and record your scale weight and measurements. Contrary to popular belief, there’s nothing wrong with weighing yourself once per week. Even if you get a body composition test (also called body fat tests), you’ll still have to step on a scale.
4. Remain on the program for three weeks and don’t make any changes at all. If you start reducing food or increasing activity before the three-week point, you might sabotage your efforts. It’s important to have a clear starting point.
Some people stay on a specific program for months and never make a change — that’s insanity. After three weeks, there is absolutely no reason you shouldn’t have some degree of fat loss.
If you’re losing up to 1 to 2 pounds per week, you’re on the right track. Even a bit less is fine.
If you haven’t lost weight, it’s time to make a change.
5. At this point, I do not recommend adding more activity and manipulating calories. Do one or the other — not both. It’s vital to have an understanding of what’s working. The change in parameters needs to be tightly controlled. Reduce your daily caloric intake by 150 (assuming it does not fall below 1,200 calories).
Here comes the tricky part. In some cases, you might not be eating enough, so calories would need to actually increase. You can’t work out six days per week for 90 minutes and take in 1,200 calories per day. You most likely won’t lose fat — the body will rebel. We need that information to increase or decrease calories.
I realize you may be confused as to the lowering or increasing of calories, but that’s why we’re here.
6. If you haven’t lost weight in two weeks, I would then increase activity –but do not decrease or increase food intake. Again, exercise tight control — you want to know the formula that works for you.
7. Allow 10 days to pass. Most people are losing fat by now and have the formula for their personal success. It may sound like a hassle, but it’s actually not that many weeks when you consider your entire lifetime.
8. If you’re still at a plateau, it may be time to shift the ratios of protein, carbohydrates and fats. It’s possible that the food plan you’re using isn’t working efficiently with your biochemistry.
It may take 6-8 weeks to break the plateau (for some), but there is a solution. Yes, it takes some work and effort. However, once you have the formula, you’re home free. Always check with your doctor prior to beginning any exercise program.
By Raphael Calzadilla, eDiets Chief Fitness Pro
Most of the time, my biggest struggle with people is getting them to be consistent. It’s not possible to lose fat at a steady pace if you’re constantly going on and off your diet or fitness plan. I’m not suggesting perfection, but there must be a level of consistency.
This is very frustrating for individuals trying to shed fat. Although they want to succeed, they struggle with self-discipline. The end result is guilt and shame — two bad boys on the emotion list.
There’s an even more frustrating situation then this, however. What about the person who’s been on a specific diet and workout plan for a period of time but finds that nothing is happening? What then?
Breathe a sigh of relief because I’m here to tell you that there is a solution. Here is my eight-step plan for breaking through the dreaded weight-loss plateau:
1. First, there must be a plan for food intake — aka your diet. If you eat haphazardly throughout the day, then I honestly can’t help you. However, then you can easily determine the amount of calories you take in per day, as well as the ratios of protein, carbohydrates and fats.
This is vital because you need to know what you’re consuming in order to manipulate your program; you can’t make wild guesses.
2. You must have a workout plan that includes weight training, cardiovascular exercise and flexibility. The number of workouts need not exceed five days of cardio (no more than an hour) and three to four days of weight training, unless you’re a competitive athlete.
3. Make sure you know and record your scale weight and measurements. Contrary to popular belief, there’s nothing wrong with weighing yourself once per week. Even if you get a body composition test (also called body fat tests), you’ll still have to step on a scale.
4. Remain on the program for three weeks and don’t make any changes at all. If you start reducing food or increasing activity before the three-week point, you might sabotage your efforts. It’s important to have a clear starting point.
Some people stay on a specific program for months and never make a change — that’s insanity. After three weeks, there is absolutely no reason you shouldn’t have some degree of fat loss.
If you’re losing up to 1 to 2 pounds per week, you’re on the right track. Even a bit less is fine.
If you haven’t lost weight, it’s time to make a change.
5. At this point, I do not recommend adding more activity and manipulating calories. Do one or the other — not both. It’s vital to have an understanding of what’s working. The change in parameters needs to be tightly controlled. Reduce your daily caloric intake by 150 (assuming it does not fall below 1,200 calories).
Here comes the tricky part. In some cases, you might not be eating enough, so calories would need to actually increase. You can’t work out six days per week for 90 minutes and take in 1,200 calories per day. You most likely won’t lose fat — the body will rebel. We need that information to increase or decrease calories.
I realize you may be confused as to the lowering or increasing of calories, but that’s why we’re here.
6. If you haven’t lost weight in two weeks, I would then increase activity –but do not decrease or increase food intake. Again, exercise tight control — you want to know the formula that works for you.
7. Allow 10 days to pass. Most people are losing fat by now and have the formula for their personal success. It may sound like a hassle, but it’s actually not that many weeks when you consider your entire lifetime.
8. If you’re still at a plateau, it may be time to shift the ratios of protein, carbohydrates and fats. It’s possible that the food plan you’re using isn’t working efficiently with your biochemistry.
It may take 6-8 weeks to break the plateau (for some), but there is a solution. Yes, it takes some work and effort. However, once you have the formula, you’re home free. Always check with your doctor prior to beginning any exercise program.
By Raphael Calzadilla, eDiets Chief Fitness Pro
Monday, January 3, 2011
Stop Dieting and Start Living!
Have You Made the Change?
You’ve heard it so many times that you probably say it in your sleep. "Diets don’t work; if you want to lose weight and keep it off, you have to make a lifestyle change."
But what does a lifestyle change look or feel like, and how do you know when you’ve made one? The way some people talk about it, you’d think there’s some sort of mystical wisdom you get when you “make the change” that tells you when and what to eat, and how to stop worrying about the number on the scale. Does this mean you’ll finally stop craving chocolate and start liking tofu?
The basic difference between a diet mentality and a lifestyle mentality is simply a matter of perspective. Having the right perspective may not make tofu taste better than chocolate, but it can make all the difference in the world when it comes to achieving your goals, avoiding unnecessary suffering along the way, and hanging onto your achievements over the long haul.
Trust me on this. I’ve lost well over 350 pounds in my life—I know how to do that. But I also put 200 of those back on again, getting bigger each time. The 150 pounds I lost a few years ago is staying off, because I’ve changed my perspective.
Here are the main ways a diet differs from a lifestyle:
1. A diet is all about numbers—the number on the scale and the number of calories you eat and burn. Success is defined in terms of how well you stick to your numbers. A lifestyle change is all about you. It’s about lining up your eating and physical activity with your real goals and desires. Success is defined in terms of how these changes make you feel about yourself.
2. The diet mentality assumes that reaching a certain weight is the key to finding happiness and solving other problems. That’s why messing up the numbers on any given day can be so upsetting—it means you’ve messed up on just about everything that really matters. The lifestyle approach assumes that being overweight is usually the result of other problems, not the cause. Addressing these problems directly is the best way to solve both the problems themselves and your weight issues. This means focusing on many things, not just the numbers on the scale or the Nutrition Tracker. Numbers only tell a small part of the story, and “bad” numbers often provide good clues into areas that need attention.
3. Going on a diet involves an external and temporary change in eating technique. You start counting and measuring, and you stop eating some foods and substitute others, based on the rules of whatever diet plan you are using. Maybe you throw in some exercise to burn a few extra calories. You assume that it’s the technique that produces the results, not you. The results of a diet are external; if you’re lucky, you may change on the outside—but not on the inside. Once you reach your goal weight, you don’t need the technique anymore, and things gradually go back to “normal.” So does your weight—and then some. And, of course, all the problems you hoped the weight loss would solve are still there.
Making a lifestyle change involves an internal and permanent change in your relationship with food, eating, and physical activity. You recognize that the primary problem isn’t what you eat, or even how much you eat, but how and why you eat. Eating mindlessly and impulsively (without intention or awareness) and/or using food to manage your emotions and distract yourself from unpleasant thoughts—this is what really needs to change. Learning to take good care of yourself emotionally, physically, and spiritually—so that you don’t want to use eating to solve problems it really can’t—is a lifelong learning process that is constantly changing as your needs and circumstances change.
This doesn't mean the surface level things don't matter. Clearly, controlling how much and what you eat is vital, and caring how you look is a great motivator. The real issue here is where you fit into the picture. The key to both permanent weight loss and feeling satisfied and happy with yourself and your life is to take personal responsibility for what you can control, and let go of everything else.
Many factors that are out of your control—your genes, age, medical status and previous weight history— will affect your weight and appearance. These factors may determine how much weight you can lose, how quickly you’ll lose it, and how you’ll look and feel when you’ve gone as far as you can go. When you focus too narrowly on the numbers on the scale or what you see in the mirror, you are staking your happiness and satisfaction on things you really can’t control. That pretty much guarantees that you’ll be chronically worried, stressed, and uncomfortable—and more likely than ever to have problems with emotional eating.
And when you rely too much on external (diet) tools, techniques, and rules to determine your behavior, you are turning over your personal responsibility to the tools and techniques. If you find yourself frequently losing motivation or feeling powerless to control your own behavior, it’s probably because you’re counting on the tools to do your part of the work for you. You’re the only one who can decide what’s right for you; only you can change your attitude and perspective to match your personal reality.
There are many articles in the Resource Center and countless conversations on the Message Boards that offer good information and practical ideas for putting yourself in charge of your own lifestyle makeover. In fact, one of the best ways you can start the transition from a diet to a lifestyle is by taking on the responsibility to identify the problems you need to work on and gather the info you need. Whether it’s coming to terms with emotional eating, improving your body image, or finding a vision of the life you want to live—you’ll find that you aren’t alone and that plenty of support and help is available.
You just need to take that first step away from the diet mentality and closer to a new and improved life(style).
By Dean Anderson, Behavioral Psychology Expert, Sparkpeople
You’ve heard it so many times that you probably say it in your sleep. "Diets don’t work; if you want to lose weight and keep it off, you have to make a lifestyle change."
But what does a lifestyle change look or feel like, and how do you know when you’ve made one? The way some people talk about it, you’d think there’s some sort of mystical wisdom you get when you “make the change” that tells you when and what to eat, and how to stop worrying about the number on the scale. Does this mean you’ll finally stop craving chocolate and start liking tofu?
The basic difference between a diet mentality and a lifestyle mentality is simply a matter of perspective. Having the right perspective may not make tofu taste better than chocolate, but it can make all the difference in the world when it comes to achieving your goals, avoiding unnecessary suffering along the way, and hanging onto your achievements over the long haul.
Trust me on this. I’ve lost well over 350 pounds in my life—I know how to do that. But I also put 200 of those back on again, getting bigger each time. The 150 pounds I lost a few years ago is staying off, because I’ve changed my perspective.
Here are the main ways a diet differs from a lifestyle:
1. A diet is all about numbers—the number on the scale and the number of calories you eat and burn. Success is defined in terms of how well you stick to your numbers. A lifestyle change is all about you. It’s about lining up your eating and physical activity with your real goals and desires. Success is defined in terms of how these changes make you feel about yourself.
2. The diet mentality assumes that reaching a certain weight is the key to finding happiness and solving other problems. That’s why messing up the numbers on any given day can be so upsetting—it means you’ve messed up on just about everything that really matters. The lifestyle approach assumes that being overweight is usually the result of other problems, not the cause. Addressing these problems directly is the best way to solve both the problems themselves and your weight issues. This means focusing on many things, not just the numbers on the scale or the Nutrition Tracker. Numbers only tell a small part of the story, and “bad” numbers often provide good clues into areas that need attention.
3. Going on a diet involves an external and temporary change in eating technique. You start counting and measuring, and you stop eating some foods and substitute others, based on the rules of whatever diet plan you are using. Maybe you throw in some exercise to burn a few extra calories. You assume that it’s the technique that produces the results, not you. The results of a diet are external; if you’re lucky, you may change on the outside—but not on the inside. Once you reach your goal weight, you don’t need the technique anymore, and things gradually go back to “normal.” So does your weight—and then some. And, of course, all the problems you hoped the weight loss would solve are still there.
Making a lifestyle change involves an internal and permanent change in your relationship with food, eating, and physical activity. You recognize that the primary problem isn’t what you eat, or even how much you eat, but how and why you eat. Eating mindlessly and impulsively (without intention or awareness) and/or using food to manage your emotions and distract yourself from unpleasant thoughts—this is what really needs to change. Learning to take good care of yourself emotionally, physically, and spiritually—so that you don’t want to use eating to solve problems it really can’t—is a lifelong learning process that is constantly changing as your needs and circumstances change.
This doesn't mean the surface level things don't matter. Clearly, controlling how much and what you eat is vital, and caring how you look is a great motivator. The real issue here is where you fit into the picture. The key to both permanent weight loss and feeling satisfied and happy with yourself and your life is to take personal responsibility for what you can control, and let go of everything else.
Many factors that are out of your control—your genes, age, medical status and previous weight history— will affect your weight and appearance. These factors may determine how much weight you can lose, how quickly you’ll lose it, and how you’ll look and feel when you’ve gone as far as you can go. When you focus too narrowly on the numbers on the scale or what you see in the mirror, you are staking your happiness and satisfaction on things you really can’t control. That pretty much guarantees that you’ll be chronically worried, stressed, and uncomfortable—and more likely than ever to have problems with emotional eating.
And when you rely too much on external (diet) tools, techniques, and rules to determine your behavior, you are turning over your personal responsibility to the tools and techniques. If you find yourself frequently losing motivation or feeling powerless to control your own behavior, it’s probably because you’re counting on the tools to do your part of the work for you. You’re the only one who can decide what’s right for you; only you can change your attitude and perspective to match your personal reality.
There are many articles in the Resource Center and countless conversations on the Message Boards that offer good information and practical ideas for putting yourself in charge of your own lifestyle makeover. In fact, one of the best ways you can start the transition from a diet to a lifestyle is by taking on the responsibility to identify the problems you need to work on and gather the info you need. Whether it’s coming to terms with emotional eating, improving your body image, or finding a vision of the life you want to live—you’ll find that you aren’t alone and that plenty of support and help is available.
You just need to take that first step away from the diet mentality and closer to a new and improved life(style).
By Dean Anderson, Behavioral Psychology Expert, Sparkpeople
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)