One positive thought can set a whole new future in motion.
Here are just a few pointers from things I have read about nutrition:
1. Here are a couple of diet-related behaviours worthy of remembering..... keep a food journal, avoid skipping meals and eating out (especially at lunch).. hmmm why lunch you might ask...Eating out is challenging because the portions tend to be larger, there is so much hidden fat, sodium and calories and there are always extras like the side of fries, the bread on the table or the calorie-laden salad dressings. anyway, since I am going out to dinner tonight, I decided to stay home for lunch.
2. Good news, coffee lovers: We already know that it is an excellent source of disease-fighting antioxidants, but now a Harvard Medical School study reveals that adults who drank 3 cups of coffee with caffeine a day were 20% less likely to develop basal cell carcinoma.. They aren't sure why though. and this study was on more that 113,000 adults. So don't forget the sunscreen... and the coffee!
I have religiously already drank a couple of cups of it today.
3. Chocolate is slimming! Women who enjoy a 3 oz. serving of dark chocolate most days of the week tend to be slimmer that those who eat chocolate less often reports the Archives of Internal Medicine. I am being really good today! I have had my 3 oz. of chocolate :-)
4. Beat brain fog and boost your recall by sipping water. When I meet new people at a party, I never remember everyone's name. Oops! Maybe shouldn't have told you. Anyway, a new, surprising technique to supercharge your recall is to sip water. Why? Sipping water hydrates brain cells so they work at their very best. My water bottle is by my computer ... allowing new information to sink in.
5. Pick the freshest in the frozen food aisle. Frozen food can end up defrosting while being stocked in the grocery store freezer. The problem? Thawing leads to freezer burn and a change in flavour once you refreeze the items at home. Luckily, avoiding defrosted foods is easy: when you pick up a package from the freezer, shake it first. If you feel or hear ice crystals, the contents were probably thawed and refrozen. Who would have known? This is a new tip for me too!
Last but not least, I don't want you to go home empty-handed, here is a recipe for LORD OF THE ONION RINGS. An average order at a fast-food joint is 450 calories and 25 grams of fat. This recipe is only 153 calories and 1 tiny gram of fat. I love onion rings so I am going to go ahead and try it without feeling guilty.
LORD OF THE ONION RINGS (1 serving)
1 large onion
1/2 cup Fiber One
1/4 cup fat-free liquid egg substitute
dash of salt
your choice.... add salt, pepper, or oregano, garlic powder, onion powder if you like
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Coat baking sheet with cooking spray. Cut ends off of onion: remove outer layer. Cut onion in 1/2" wide slices and separate rings. Using a food processor, grind Fiber One to breadcrumb-like consistency. Mix in salt and optional spices. Fill a small bowl with egg substitute. One by one, coat each ring first in egg and then in Fiber One. Give each ring a shake after the egg bath. Evenly place rings on baking sheet. Bake 20-25 minutes, flipping rings over about halfway through using a pair of tongs.
Voila! Some inspirational thoughts for the day!
Sunday 22 July 2012
Friday 20 July 2012
MOMENT OF TRUTH
Grab an apple, sit down in your favourite chair outside the kitchen, put a pillow behind you and enjoy a good read. I hadn't done that for a while but it is inspirational. It isn't a bad idea to change it up once in a while. I spend far too much time at the kitchen table, whether it is eating, opening the mail or playing on my iPad.
Despite my best intentions, I sabotage my diet on a daily basis with that little sweet sugary treat that puts me into a non-stop snack binge. Then I try to negate the sugar with salty snacks. What is wrong with me? Like many people, it is not because I am not hard-working, smart and disciplined in other areas of my life, running the household, volunteering, multitasking, entertaining... but losing weight is perpetually difficult. It is the Oprah Paradox.
I go to Weight Watchers. I write it all down. I exercise and God knows I reward myself with a little retail therapy. I stock up on all the yummy low-cal snacks. I celebrate my successes, no matter how small. Like many people I am up a pound and down a pound. I am not losing but not gaining either. That may be another small success to celebrate... but I need to wait out my cravings. Apparently, they become less intense and less frequent if you don't give in. For me it is the first mini chocolate meringue that puts me over the top. Soon it becomes nine mini chocolate meringues... and then a couple of sour peach candies... and then I am so pissed off with my sweet tooth, I make myself a giant bowl of air-popped popcorn with no salt and the littlest of butter. In itself, each snack is okay. It is the over-indulgence that does me in. It sets off a chain reaction that leads to more belly fat.
I have even been snaffling a few of those sugar-free drinks. I know they aren't good for you and they are just a bunch of chemicals. I haven't checked Coke Zero but many of them are now sweetened with Truvia. Truvia's main ingredient is actually erythritol, a sugar alcohol that triggers digestive issues like bloat and cramping. Okay, so why am I allowing myself to get pulled into something that isn't good for you. It is a good question why I have let myself get sucked into my cravings.
Apparently, 75% of women with excess pounds have fat buildup in the liver. It is the chicken and egg syndrome. The original theory was that excess liver fat was the result of weight gain but maybe the opposite is true: Fatty liver is a key cause of weight struggles. The modern-day diet high in sugar and starchy carbohydrates, nutrient-poor and sugar-rich foods are a recipe for liver fat.
This is sick but true! Think of the yummy foie gras that is served at fancy restaurants. It is basically fat-laden duck liver. They take the ducks and they force-feed them starch, which turns into sugar. It's sugar that causes the liver to become inflamed and fatty. The same thing that happens to ducks happens to human livers.
Once the liver is fatty and inflamed, the body's ability to regulate weight is severely compromised.
The good news is fatty liver is totally possible to repair and heal. So how do you know if you have fatty liver?
Here are some of the symptoms... If two or more of these symptoms apply to you, you may want to clean up your diet and cut down on your starches and sugars.
Excess weight, especially in the belly area. 75% of overweight people and 85% to 100% of obese people have fatty liver.
Persistent fatigue. 73% of people with fatty liver report feeling generally run-down and 44% suffer from extreme daytime sleepiness.
Light-headiness, dizziness and weakness. 56% experience symptoms of dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system which regulates unconscious body movements.
Problems with memory and concentration. 50% have mild cognitive symptoms. 46% experience moderate to severe cognitive impairments.
Abdominal pain. 48% report a feeling of fullness or tenderness in the centre of upper-right part of the abdomen.
Skin discolouration. 12% have hyperpigmentation of the skin, with marks usually appearing on the neck, knuckles, elbows and knees.
The good news is you can repair and heal a fatty liver within four to eight weeks. People immediately feel better. They're less tired, they don't have cravings, their blood pressure goes down, their blood sugar goes down, their cholesterol goes down ...
Today I faced my moment of truth and I am going forward with liver-healing strategies. I have inspired myself and hopefully I am inspiring others as well.
Despite my best intentions, I sabotage my diet on a daily basis with that little sweet sugary treat that puts me into a non-stop snack binge. Then I try to negate the sugar with salty snacks. What is wrong with me? Like many people, it is not because I am not hard-working, smart and disciplined in other areas of my life, running the household, volunteering, multitasking, entertaining... but losing weight is perpetually difficult. It is the Oprah Paradox.
I go to Weight Watchers. I write it all down. I exercise and God knows I reward myself with a little retail therapy. I stock up on all the yummy low-cal snacks. I celebrate my successes, no matter how small. Like many people I am up a pound and down a pound. I am not losing but not gaining either. That may be another small success to celebrate... but I need to wait out my cravings. Apparently, they become less intense and less frequent if you don't give in. For me it is the first mini chocolate meringue that puts me over the top. Soon it becomes nine mini chocolate meringues... and then a couple of sour peach candies... and then I am so pissed off with my sweet tooth, I make myself a giant bowl of air-popped popcorn with no salt and the littlest of butter. In itself, each snack is okay. It is the over-indulgence that does me in. It sets off a chain reaction that leads to more belly fat.
I have even been snaffling a few of those sugar-free drinks. I know they aren't good for you and they are just a bunch of chemicals. I haven't checked Coke Zero but many of them are now sweetened with Truvia. Truvia's main ingredient is actually erythritol, a sugar alcohol that triggers digestive issues like bloat and cramping. Okay, so why am I allowing myself to get pulled into something that isn't good for you. It is a good question why I have let myself get sucked into my cravings.
Apparently, 75% of women with excess pounds have fat buildup in the liver. It is the chicken and egg syndrome. The original theory was that excess liver fat was the result of weight gain but maybe the opposite is true: Fatty liver is a key cause of weight struggles. The modern-day diet high in sugar and starchy carbohydrates, nutrient-poor and sugar-rich foods are a recipe for liver fat.
This is sick but true! Think of the yummy foie gras that is served at fancy restaurants. It is basically fat-laden duck liver. They take the ducks and they force-feed them starch, which turns into sugar. It's sugar that causes the liver to become inflamed and fatty. The same thing that happens to ducks happens to human livers.
Once the liver is fatty and inflamed, the body's ability to regulate weight is severely compromised.
The good news is fatty liver is totally possible to repair and heal. So how do you know if you have fatty liver?
Here are some of the symptoms... If two or more of these symptoms apply to you, you may want to clean up your diet and cut down on your starches and sugars.
Excess weight, especially in the belly area. 75% of overweight people and 85% to 100% of obese people have fatty liver.
Persistent fatigue. 73% of people with fatty liver report feeling generally run-down and 44% suffer from extreme daytime sleepiness.
Light-headiness, dizziness and weakness. 56% experience symptoms of dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system which regulates unconscious body movements.
Problems with memory and concentration. 50% have mild cognitive symptoms. 46% experience moderate to severe cognitive impairments.
Abdominal pain. 48% report a feeling of fullness or tenderness in the centre of upper-right part of the abdomen.
Skin discolouration. 12% have hyperpigmentation of the skin, with marks usually appearing on the neck, knuckles, elbows and knees.
The good news is you can repair and heal a fatty liver within four to eight weeks. People immediately feel better. They're less tired, they don't have cravings, their blood pressure goes down, their blood sugar goes down, their cholesterol goes down ...
Today I faced my moment of truth and I am going forward with liver-healing strategies. I have inspired myself and hopefully I am inspiring others as well.
Wednesday 18 July 2012
KEEN WOW?
I think quinoa is one of the most mispronounced words I have ever heard. People don't know what it is, how to cook it or if they would like it. But it is making a huge comeback in North America. "QUINOA" is actually pronounced "Keen-Wha". It is a South American ancient grain. Actually it is a seed of the goosefoot plant, a relative of leafy green vegetables like spinach and Swiss card. Once considered "the gold of the Incas", Aztec warriors used quinoa to increase their stamina.
It is a nutritional powerhouse. It has twice the protein of brown rice and contains all nine essential amino acids which are the nutritional building blocks that help form proteins and muscle and other tissue. So if you were stranded on a desert island, the one food you could live on is quinoa. I read recently that 9% of Canadians are vegetarian and this should really win a popularity contest amongst them.
All that protein plus tons of fibre make it a waist-watcher's dream, a diabetic's dream, and a cholesterol-lowering dream. It also contains a lot of magnesium that can help prevent high blood pressure and osteoporosis. As an added bonus, quinoa is gluten-free, ideal for those with Celiac disease or other grain sensitivities.
As I mentioned before Quinoa must be rinsed before using to remove the bitter outer coating. You can buy it prewashed or prerinsed but I would still put it in a mesh strainer or sieve and run cold water over it for about a minute.
Okay, so now I have made a Moroccan Quinoa Salad which I plan to serve tonight at a meeting at my house and will let you know the verdict. I tasted it and to me and my housekeeper, Edna is was tasty and perfect.
MOROCCAN QUINOA SALAD
designed for 6 but I think that would be a main course.
231 calories a serving or 6 points in Weight Watchers
1 cup uncooked quinoa well-rinsed
2 cups vegetable broth
1/4 cup dried blueberries (or currants if available)
1 tsp curry powder
1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp liquid honey
1/2 tsp salt
1 small can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup each finely chopped red bell pepper, grated carrots and diced cucumber
1/3 cup chopped green onions
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 tbsp minced fresh mint leaves
pepper if desired
Combine quinoa, broth, dried blueberries, curry, cumin, coriander, honey and salt in a medium pot. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for about 20-30 minutes or until quinoa has absorbed all the liquid and the seeds look like they popped. Remove from heat. Fluff with a fork and let cool in a mixing bowl. Stir in all remaining ingredients. Mix well and refrigerate for at least and hour or two.
All I have to say is Quinoa is Keen Wow!
It is a nutritional powerhouse. It has twice the protein of brown rice and contains all nine essential amino acids which are the nutritional building blocks that help form proteins and muscle and other tissue. So if you were stranded on a desert island, the one food you could live on is quinoa. I read recently that 9% of Canadians are vegetarian and this should really win a popularity contest amongst them.
All that protein plus tons of fibre make it a waist-watcher's dream, a diabetic's dream, and a cholesterol-lowering dream. It also contains a lot of magnesium that can help prevent high blood pressure and osteoporosis. As an added bonus, quinoa is gluten-free, ideal for those with Celiac disease or other grain sensitivities.
As I mentioned before Quinoa must be rinsed before using to remove the bitter outer coating. You can buy it prewashed or prerinsed but I would still put it in a mesh strainer or sieve and run cold water over it for about a minute.
Okay, so now I have made a Moroccan Quinoa Salad which I plan to serve tonight at a meeting at my house and will let you know the verdict. I tasted it and to me and my housekeeper, Edna is was tasty and perfect.
MOROCCAN QUINOA SALAD
designed for 6 but I think that would be a main course.
231 calories a serving or 6 points in Weight Watchers
1 cup uncooked quinoa well-rinsed
2 cups vegetable broth
1/4 cup dried blueberries (or currants if available)
1 tsp curry powder
1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp liquid honey
1/2 tsp salt
1 small can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup each finely chopped red bell pepper, grated carrots and diced cucumber
1/3 cup chopped green onions
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 tbsp minced fresh mint leaves
pepper if desired
Combine quinoa, broth, dried blueberries, curry, cumin, coriander, honey and salt in a medium pot. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for about 20-30 minutes or until quinoa has absorbed all the liquid and the seeds look like they popped. Remove from heat. Fluff with a fork and let cool in a mixing bowl. Stir in all remaining ingredients. Mix well and refrigerate for at least and hour or two.
All I have to say is Quinoa is Keen Wow!
Sunday 15 July 2012
BACK TO THE BASICS
There are some wonderful Canadian foods that are readily available but some people are afraid to cook them or just don't get them right.
So here we go. One thing I remember about travelling across Canada while I was a judge was the simplicity but great taste of the food. I remember travelling on a train to Sooke, B.C. where there are a lot of First Nations people. I was amazed at the log-rolling down the river... or is it up the river? It is hard to tell when you live in Toronto and used to city life. We were entertained in a way similar to the Olympics in Vancouver with the native peoples. But most of all I remember that a fire was built outside and a tepee type frame was built over the fire. Sides of salmon were pinned to the frame and cooked over the open fire. That was the best salmon I have ever eaten in my entire life and I wasn't sure why.
Now I know we can get that same flavour with Cedar Plank cooking, a tradition of the first nations of Canada for centuries. And who knows maybe it wasn't a cedar frame but cedar on the fire. I now know that when Natives settled in Canada the abundance of cedar wood caused them to use it in every aspect of daily life. Along Canada's coast the Natives found that as well as cedar, salmon was also an abundant resource; this resulted in a method of cooking that was so good it has lasted hundreds of years. Of course, there wasn't such a thing as farmed salmon so the Natives used wild salmon... which is still the best to use!
Here are the basics to Cedar Plank Wild Salmon. Soak you Cedar Plank and have your barbecue grill ready. Place salmon, skin side down on the Cedar Plank. Close lid and let smoke for 8-10 minutes until done. Glaze salmon with any remaining marinade and drizzle with lemon juice if desired.
There are are so many marinades you can use. I used vegetable oil, soy sauce, Bourbon, ginger and garlic, brown sugar and ground pepper. But you can use a bought sauce like sesame ginger.
I served it cold the next day and it still had the fresh, slightly smoky taste.
Ok, so that is my salmon ditty. Now onto quinoa. People aren't all quite into it yet. It is an ancient grain and probably healthier than rice but it is cooked in the similar way. So here it is. I use 1/2 cup of any kind of raw quinoa to 2 1/4 cups of water. Place quinoa in a fine mesh strainer. Wash under cool water for a few minutes.... just like rice. Quinoa needs to be rinsed or it tastes dirty. In a medium saucepan place rinsed quinoa, water and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Place over medium heat and bring to a boil. Cover, decrease the heat, and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes. White rice I do a little less and brown rice I do a little more.
Last but not least, make your weekend mornings delicious by the addition of flavoured butters to warm scones or even toast. For Cinnamon-honey butter mix 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened, 2 tbsp. of wildflower honey or any honey you have, and 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon. In a small bowl, beat the ingredients until light and fluffy.
Now if you want something more savoury, try Hazelnut Butter. It would work well on your Cedar Planked salmon. So use 1/2 pound butter, 1/4 lb. hazelnuts and 2 tbsp. shallots. Toast hazelnuts, and remove the outer husks. Place in food processor and grind to a fine mince. Peel and chop shallots to a fine mince. Soften the butter to room temperature. Place in a mixing bowl and whip the butter until light and creamy. Add in the minced shallots and hazelnuts.
Butters can be made ahead and refrigerated for several days. When ready to use, soften to a creamy consistency.
These recipes are so simple and people will think you are a great chef.
So here we go. One thing I remember about travelling across Canada while I was a judge was the simplicity but great taste of the food. I remember travelling on a train to Sooke, B.C. where there are a lot of First Nations people. I was amazed at the log-rolling down the river... or is it up the river? It is hard to tell when you live in Toronto and used to city life. We were entertained in a way similar to the Olympics in Vancouver with the native peoples. But most of all I remember that a fire was built outside and a tepee type frame was built over the fire. Sides of salmon were pinned to the frame and cooked over the open fire. That was the best salmon I have ever eaten in my entire life and I wasn't sure why.
Now I know we can get that same flavour with Cedar Plank cooking, a tradition of the first nations of Canada for centuries. And who knows maybe it wasn't a cedar frame but cedar on the fire. I now know that when Natives settled in Canada the abundance of cedar wood caused them to use it in every aspect of daily life. Along Canada's coast the Natives found that as well as cedar, salmon was also an abundant resource; this resulted in a method of cooking that was so good it has lasted hundreds of years. Of course, there wasn't such a thing as farmed salmon so the Natives used wild salmon... which is still the best to use!
Here are the basics to Cedar Plank Wild Salmon. Soak you Cedar Plank and have your barbecue grill ready. Place salmon, skin side down on the Cedar Plank. Close lid and let smoke for 8-10 minutes until done. Glaze salmon with any remaining marinade and drizzle with lemon juice if desired.
There are are so many marinades you can use. I used vegetable oil, soy sauce, Bourbon, ginger and garlic, brown sugar and ground pepper. But you can use a bought sauce like sesame ginger.
I served it cold the next day and it still had the fresh, slightly smoky taste.
Ok, so that is my salmon ditty. Now onto quinoa. People aren't all quite into it yet. It is an ancient grain and probably healthier than rice but it is cooked in the similar way. So here it is. I use 1/2 cup of any kind of raw quinoa to 2 1/4 cups of water. Place quinoa in a fine mesh strainer. Wash under cool water for a few minutes.... just like rice. Quinoa needs to be rinsed or it tastes dirty. In a medium saucepan place rinsed quinoa, water and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Place over medium heat and bring to a boil. Cover, decrease the heat, and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes. White rice I do a little less and brown rice I do a little more.
Last but not least, make your weekend mornings delicious by the addition of flavoured butters to warm scones or even toast. For Cinnamon-honey butter mix 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened, 2 tbsp. of wildflower honey or any honey you have, and 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon. In a small bowl, beat the ingredients until light and fluffy.
Now if you want something more savoury, try Hazelnut Butter. It would work well on your Cedar Planked salmon. So use 1/2 pound butter, 1/4 lb. hazelnuts and 2 tbsp. shallots. Toast hazelnuts, and remove the outer husks. Place in food processor and grind to a fine mince. Peel and chop shallots to a fine mince. Soften the butter to room temperature. Place in a mixing bowl and whip the butter until light and creamy. Add in the minced shallots and hazelnuts.
Butters can be made ahead and refrigerated for several days. When ready to use, soften to a creamy consistency.
These recipes are so simple and people will think you are a great chef.
Saturday 14 July 2012
POSITIVE SELF-TALK
Sometimes it isn't about want we eat, it is about what we think or what we feel. Regardless of what we are told, support is just that. It is just support but ultimately we are in charge of ourselves. Nobody can care more about you that you. So you have to believe in yourself. We are the only ones that really sabotage our efforts. There is a definite benefit to positive self-talk.
The Olympics are about to start. Each athlete has to go through gruelling workouts both mentally and physically. The coach can only take them so far. The rest has to be within themselves. After all, they are seeking to be the best in the world not just good enough... or next week will be better. They have each made a commitment to themselves to make them the best that they can be.
That goes for each of us whether it is fear, worry, disappointment or any other negative thoughts.
Positive thoughts bring success to your mental well-being. You are your own best friend but you can also be your own worst enemy.
Make a commitment to be kind to yourself. Surround yourself with positive thinkers. We have all met toxic people that bring us down. Fortunately, I personally don't have any at this moment. It is all within oneself. Mind over matter as Roger Bannister, Olympian runner believed. He managed to keep his heart-rate down and overcome many obstacles. You are what you eat, as Adele Davis used to say but you are also what you think.
Today I was awarded a Bravo Sticker at Weight Watchers just for challenging the group and the leader. I am trying to seek more out of the meetings to help encourage me. You can get the inspiration and good wishes from others. That is why I joined Weight Watchers but ultimately it can only be your trip through life and you have to decide how well you ride the roller coaster.
The Olympics are about to start. Each athlete has to go through gruelling workouts both mentally and physically. The coach can only take them so far. The rest has to be within themselves. After all, they are seeking to be the best in the world not just good enough... or next week will be better. They have each made a commitment to themselves to make them the best that they can be.
That goes for each of us whether it is fear, worry, disappointment or any other negative thoughts.
Positive thoughts bring success to your mental well-being. You are your own best friend but you can also be your own worst enemy.
Make a commitment to be kind to yourself. Surround yourself with positive thinkers. We have all met toxic people that bring us down. Fortunately, I personally don't have any at this moment. It is all within oneself. Mind over matter as Roger Bannister, Olympian runner believed. He managed to keep his heart-rate down and overcome many obstacles. You are what you eat, as Adele Davis used to say but you are also what you think.
Today I was awarded a Bravo Sticker at Weight Watchers just for challenging the group and the leader. I am trying to seek more out of the meetings to help encourage me. You can get the inspiration and good wishes from others. That is why I joined Weight Watchers but ultimately it can only be your trip through life and you have to decide how well you ride the roller coaster.
Sunday 8 July 2012
Natural vs. Processed
Well, after a few weeks, I have returned to Weight Watchers. I am still at a standstill but was gratified to know the the Chief guy and CEO of Weight Watchers took years of on and off the roller coaster to get where he is today. He has just published a book called "Weight Loss Boss" by David Kirchoff which is definitely going to be on my reading list. As much as I feel that I should not be giving advice since I haven't got my weight under control, I am inspired by my colleagues in the same boat.
Over the year, I have kept off 20 lbs. or so. My clothes fit differently and my wardrobe is smaller since I have had to purge the ones that didn't fit even though I have shopped to replace some of them.
I am not there yet but I still feel the same about some of the adages I have proposed over the past year. One of them, if how I feel about fake foods. I zip my lip when I line up to get weighed in and other members are carrying armloads of supplies that are bought for treats. These light-weight boxes filled with air, fake sugar, puffed up snacks and fake flavouring are a boon to Weight Watchers bottom line but I am not sure that they are very good for you or doing anything for the line around your bottom. They even promote the sales of such fluff by walking around the line, offering up free tastes of their latest product. They are 90% packaging, 10% fluff and 0% nutrition but they aren't selling them to be nutritious. They are selling them to make money. I listen to the folks in the lineup, primarily women, talk about the fact that they are only 3 points for a package. Well if fruit and veggies are free and zero points, why would you waste your points on their stuff when you can do better.
And.... by the way, Americans are projected to spend about $70 million on weight-loss products this year.
You can eat fruits with natural sugar in it and they have zero points. However, if you eat a teaspoon of sugar that is 1 point... and then the crap they are selling for $8 a box are 3 points. Am I losing the concept or are they? My husband picked up a nectarine from the fruit bowl yesterday and said wasn't it loaded with sugar? I said that sugar in the nectarine was natural sugar as apposed to processed. He asked what was the difference. The difference is how our bodies process natural sugar. I don't think your body knows what to do with the chemical stuff. So here is some of the good stuff you can eat and be healthier too. These are affordable foods from the supermarket that are super-effective at fighting hunger, boosting your metabolism and helping you get slim!
BLUEBERRIES (0 points)
Apparently if you eat blueberries you will automatically eat 10% less without feeling deprived, the journal Food Chemistry reports. Researchers believe that anthocyanins... compounds that give the berry its natural purple pigment, actually trick your body into thinking you've eaten more than you have, so you feel fuller longer and are less likely to snack.
CHEESE
Now don't get your shirt in a knot because of the high fat content and calories in cheese. Women who ate a piece of full-fat cheese daily were less likely to gain weight than those who had stuck to the low-fat variety... and I am now quoting The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
APPLES (0 points)
There is some thought that if you eat an apple prior to a meal you may eat up to 200 fewer calories each day. I don't know if that is true but it is worth a try. The concept is due to the high water content and low calorie density so it fills you up without bulking you up. Plus, they are full of soluble fibre that takes your body longer to digest.
EGGS (2 points each)
I always thought of it as the perfect food... as well as milk. So here is a new thought. Dieters eating two eggs for breakfast lost 65% more weight than those eating a bagel breakfast! Credit goes to protein's ability to keep your blood sugar steady.
COFFEE (0 points... it is what you add to it that increases that)
Ahhhhh! Coffee... I love it. Said it before and will say it again. Coffee's supply of caffeine and unique antioxidant compounds stimulates your nervous system and increases your heart rate. What's more, sipping the brew makes you less likely to suffer from blue moods and less likely to develop depression... and the more upbeat you feel, the more likely you are to skip fattening comfort foods!
WATER (0 points)
My sons and daughters-in-law are wonderful about drinking the stuff. German researchers found that drinking 16 oz. of water bumps up your metabolic rate by 30% in an hour afterwards. That is huge.
GRASS-FED BEEF (2 points per ounce)
People in Argentina eat about 47 more pounds of beef per person a year than we do, yet they are less likely to be overweight. Why? The beef they eat is grass-fed. My friend, Shane, who has Paradise Farms will be pleased to hear that since his cattle are grass-fed. Grass-fed beef contains up to 33% less fat than the usual grain-fed beef that most North Americans consume according to the Journal of Animal Science. Plus it has fewer calories and more nutrients, such as Vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids, which keep your metabolism up.
OLIVE OIL (1 point per tsp.)
Don't worry about the high fat of olive oil. It is super-rich in oleic acid, a fatty acid that converts to a particular hormone in the intestine responsible for sending the "I'm full", signal to your brain. Other top sources of oleic acid include avocados, nuts, seeds, canola oil and grape seed oil. If you are going to chalk up points, they might as well work for you instead of empty calories.
LEAFY GREENS (0 points)
Lots of benefits to them... like revving your metabolism especially spinach and kale. Leafy greens counteract acidosis, a natural metabolic process that triggers muscle wasting as we age, by neutralizing acids formed by other foods.
Anyway, these are some of the ways that you can eat yourself thin in a healthier way than the junk food, Weight Watchers treats! Shhhh! Don't tell them they said it.
Over the year, I have kept off 20 lbs. or so. My clothes fit differently and my wardrobe is smaller since I have had to purge the ones that didn't fit even though I have shopped to replace some of them.
I am not there yet but I still feel the same about some of the adages I have proposed over the past year. One of them, if how I feel about fake foods. I zip my lip when I line up to get weighed in and other members are carrying armloads of supplies that are bought for treats. These light-weight boxes filled with air, fake sugar, puffed up snacks and fake flavouring are a boon to Weight Watchers bottom line but I am not sure that they are very good for you or doing anything for the line around your bottom. They even promote the sales of such fluff by walking around the line, offering up free tastes of their latest product. They are 90% packaging, 10% fluff and 0% nutrition but they aren't selling them to be nutritious. They are selling them to make money. I listen to the folks in the lineup, primarily women, talk about the fact that they are only 3 points for a package. Well if fruit and veggies are free and zero points, why would you waste your points on their stuff when you can do better.
And.... by the way, Americans are projected to spend about $70 million on weight-loss products this year.
You can eat fruits with natural sugar in it and they have zero points. However, if you eat a teaspoon of sugar that is 1 point... and then the crap they are selling for $8 a box are 3 points. Am I losing the concept or are they? My husband picked up a nectarine from the fruit bowl yesterday and said wasn't it loaded with sugar? I said that sugar in the nectarine was natural sugar as apposed to processed. He asked what was the difference. The difference is how our bodies process natural sugar. I don't think your body knows what to do with the chemical stuff. So here is some of the good stuff you can eat and be healthier too. These are affordable foods from the supermarket that are super-effective at fighting hunger, boosting your metabolism and helping you get slim!
BLUEBERRIES (0 points)
Apparently if you eat blueberries you will automatically eat 10% less without feeling deprived, the journal Food Chemistry reports. Researchers believe that anthocyanins... compounds that give the berry its natural purple pigment, actually trick your body into thinking you've eaten more than you have, so you feel fuller longer and are less likely to snack.
CHEESE
Now don't get your shirt in a knot because of the high fat content and calories in cheese. Women who ate a piece of full-fat cheese daily were less likely to gain weight than those who had stuck to the low-fat variety... and I am now quoting The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
APPLES (0 points)
There is some thought that if you eat an apple prior to a meal you may eat up to 200 fewer calories each day. I don't know if that is true but it is worth a try. The concept is due to the high water content and low calorie density so it fills you up without bulking you up. Plus, they are full of soluble fibre that takes your body longer to digest.
EGGS (2 points each)
I always thought of it as the perfect food... as well as milk. So here is a new thought. Dieters eating two eggs for breakfast lost 65% more weight than those eating a bagel breakfast! Credit goes to protein's ability to keep your blood sugar steady.
COFFEE (0 points... it is what you add to it that increases that)
Ahhhhh! Coffee... I love it. Said it before and will say it again. Coffee's supply of caffeine and unique antioxidant compounds stimulates your nervous system and increases your heart rate. What's more, sipping the brew makes you less likely to suffer from blue moods and less likely to develop depression... and the more upbeat you feel, the more likely you are to skip fattening comfort foods!
WATER (0 points)
My sons and daughters-in-law are wonderful about drinking the stuff. German researchers found that drinking 16 oz. of water bumps up your metabolic rate by 30% in an hour afterwards. That is huge.
GRASS-FED BEEF (2 points per ounce)
People in Argentina eat about 47 more pounds of beef per person a year than we do, yet they are less likely to be overweight. Why? The beef they eat is grass-fed. My friend, Shane, who has Paradise Farms will be pleased to hear that since his cattle are grass-fed. Grass-fed beef contains up to 33% less fat than the usual grain-fed beef that most North Americans consume according to the Journal of Animal Science. Plus it has fewer calories and more nutrients, such as Vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids, which keep your metabolism up.
OLIVE OIL (1 point per tsp.)
Don't worry about the high fat of olive oil. It is super-rich in oleic acid, a fatty acid that converts to a particular hormone in the intestine responsible for sending the "I'm full", signal to your brain. Other top sources of oleic acid include avocados, nuts, seeds, canola oil and grape seed oil. If you are going to chalk up points, they might as well work for you instead of empty calories.
LEAFY GREENS (0 points)
Lots of benefits to them... like revving your metabolism especially spinach and kale. Leafy greens counteract acidosis, a natural metabolic process that triggers muscle wasting as we age, by neutralizing acids formed by other foods.
Anyway, these are some of the ways that you can eat yourself thin in a healthier way than the junk food, Weight Watchers treats! Shhhh! Don't tell them they said it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)