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- Not all "health foods" are actually healthy. Just because
a product says it's "diet" or "light", doesn't
mean you should automatically throw it in your cart. And it DEFINITELY
doesn't mean you can eat however much you want of it!
Processed food is processed food; no matter how you
look at it, it's not really a health food if it's processed. If
it's labeled as fat free, chances are it's loaded with sugar to
replace the flavor. And if it says it's sugar free, it either higher
in fat or it's artifically sweetened. Light yogurt is a good example
- some of these yogurts have 20 grams of sugar, which is nearly
as much as a can of soda, or it's loaded with artificial sweeteners.
Read labels, limit diet foods, and eat in moderation!
Sleep to lose weight! While this may sound like nonsense, studies
have linked sleep deprivation to weight gain. Why? There are two
hormones effected by sleep - ghrelin and leptin - and both influence
your appetite. If you don't get enough sleep, leptin levels decrease
and ghrelin levels increase. What does all this mean? Basically,
your appetite is stimulated so you want more food, and you don't
feel as satisfied after you eat. Yikes! So how much sleep is enough?
Try to get 8 hours of sleep to keep those hormone levels in check!
- There's no better time than the end of summer to head out on
a road trip! But too often good friends plus long car rides equals
fast food and lots of snacking. Here's a few tips to make sure you
still fit in those daisy dukes when you get back: 1.Be prepared
- pack a small cooler with water, fruit, and sandwiches. Granola
bars, baked chips and pretzels are also good snacks to pack. 2.Stick
to individual-sized snacks at convenience stores (it's too easy
to eat a whole bag of chips on a road trip). 3. Skip the burger
and fries at the drive-thru, and opt for something from PCM's
Fast Food Picks instead! 4. Avoid sugary drinks - don't waste
your calories on drinks that will make you crash...your body or
the car!
- So many of us are fooled into thinking a salad is the best choice
when we go out to eat. Unfortunately, just because it contains veggies
doesn't make it the healthiest choice. In fact, some salads
contain up to 100 g of fat and over 1000 calories! How do you know
which ones are healthy and which ones aren't? Stay away from anything
containing fried or breaded chicken, pastas, bacon, or chicken/tuna
salad which are loaded with mayo. Ask for cheese and dressing on
the side, and use sparingly! For more on salads read this!
- Add flaxseed to your diet! This tiny seed is full of omega-3
fatty acids (the good fat), fiber and lignans - all of which can
help promote weight loss. Flaxseed also has antioxidant properties,
which we all need more of! Recent studies have shown that flaxseeds
may help reduce your risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes and
stroke. There are many products on the market now that contain flaxseed,
but your best bet is to buy ground flaxseed and mix it in your favorite
foods like yogurt, cereal or even casseroles!
- Sleep to lose weight! While this may sound like nonsense,
studies have linked sleep deprivation to weight gain. Why? There
are two hormones effected by sleep - ghrelin and leptin - and both
influence your appetite. If you don't get enough sleep, leptin levels
decrease and ghrelin levels increase. What does all this mean? Basically,
your appetite is stimulated so you want more food, and you don't
feel as satisfied after you eat. Yikes! So how much sleep is enough?
Try to get 8 hours of sleep to keep those hormone levels in check!
- Don't starve yourself if you are trying to lose weight. While
it is important to cut calories in order to lose weight, if you
cut too many calories from your diet you are sabotaging your weightloss
goals. Cutting below 1200 calories can cause your body to go into
starvation mode - holding on to fat instead of burning it. This
also slows down your metabolism, which can eventually really hurt
it. Instead, eat small meals every 4 hours to keep your metabolism
high and burn off those calories!
- Eat breakfast! It's the most important meal of the day, and
delicious too! Whether you have the time to cook yourself a healthy
meal or if you only have time to grab something to go, it's crucial
for weight loss and maintenance. Breakfast gives us energy, revs
up our metabolism, and keeps us from binging later in the day. Try
to eat within an hour or two of waking, and incorporate fiber, protein
and complex carbohydrates to give you energy and keep you full until
lunch. Greek yogurt with fruit and whole wheat toast is a great
way to start your morning!
- Drink more water! Our body is made up of about 60% water - our
body needs it! Water helps suppress appetite and increase metabolism.
Feeling tired and sluggish? Sometimes all you need is a glass of
water. It flushes out toxins and build-up in our body. Studies show
that people often mistake thirst for hunger, causing us to eat more
than we should. So pour yourself a glass of water and drink up!
- Eat more fiber! Fiber is your friend when it comes to weight
loss. It helps fill you up and clean you out! Aim for 25 grams a
day from fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains. There are 15
grams of fiber in one cup of lentils, 8 grams in a cup of raspberries,
and up to 4 grams in some whole-wheat bread. It's an easy step in
the right direction to a more healthy you!
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