Hey All, I was just browsing on the net and came across this interesting article on msn.com called Diet Saboteurs. This article talks about top healthy food items that people typically over eat that are high in calories and what it would take to burn it off. I was shocked when I read this:

Top loading your diet with “health foods” such as yogurt and granola does not a flatter belly make, according to researchers at Cornell University. In a recent study, they discovered that people not only underestimate the number of calories in wholesome fare, but they also consume substantially larger portions of it. Here are eight of the healthiest high-calorie food bombs that can dismantle your diet.

Top Offender: 6-oz. bag of vegetable chips

Calories: 840

Low-Calorie Alternative: 16-oz. bag of baby carrots with ½ cup hummus (390 cal)

To burn off a 6-oz. bag of vegetable chips, a 180-pound man would have to:

* Run 55 min
* Swim 65 min
* Bike 70 min
* Row 70 min
* Lift weights 1 hour, 45 min
* Golf 2 hours, 20 min
* Shop 4 hours, 30 min
* Do desk work 7 hours

I was like wow!! You think your are eating healthy food, but even with healthy food you will have to watch your portions too. So, think about your next snack and watch your portions per serving so that you will not have to burn any more calories that you are already trying to burn to continue your successful weight loss. If you do decided to splurge just keep in mind of the additional work you will have to do. Check out the link above because they list a few more examples and give lower calorie alternatives too for those of us the need them.

Tags: weight loss, healthy living, nutrition, diet

Think about all of the plastic water bottles that we drink to keep our bodies hydrated throughout one week. I know that I for sure drink 64 ounces of water a day which equates to two 32oz bottles a day = 14 plastic bottles trashed per week. Now, for a month that equates to 56 bottles thrown away and for the year that’s 672 bottles. Holy cow!! What is that doing to our environment? Anyone have any clues?

Instead of picking up a bottle water I am looking to purchase a reusable bottle, however after reading shape mag and other articles I want one that is free of bisphenol A which is a chemical found in many plastic containers. What is Bisphenol A? Well according to, Toxic Nation, at evironmentaldefence.ca

Bisphenol A is primarily used to make polycarbonate plastic (recycling # 7) food and beverage containers, plastic food wrap, and epoxy resins that are used to line metal cans for foods, such as cans of soup. Bisphenol A can leach from these products as they age, to be subsequently ingested by people. Recent research has shown that this chemical is an estrogenic hormone disruptor that can cause reproductive damage and birth defects that may lead to prostate and breast cancer in adulthood.

I didn’t think nothing of it, but I have heard of cases like this more frequently, so now I more eager about getting a reusable bottle. One to help the environment and two for my health in the long run. The bottle that I came across was the CamelBak bottle that was featured in Shape magazine:

The features of this bottle are:

• Made of Eastman Tritan™ copolyester, the bottle is completely BPA-free and is dishwasher safe
• Tritan™ copolyester provides excellent impact resistance and is suitable for both warm and cold beverages
• Bypass the potential hazards of drinking from wide openings—CamelBak’s Big Bite valve eliminates awkward drips and spills
• Just bite and sip and the beverage flows through the valve—you don’t even need to tip the bottle to drink

This savvy bottles retails for $13, but if you are a shape reader, Shape is giving 50 shape readers the chance to win a CamelBak Better bottle. Click here to win. If you don’t win you can always got to rei.com to purchase this awesome bottle in any shade you hearts desire. Well I am off to try and win one of those bad boys and if I do I will post of pic.

Happy Earth day!!

Tags: earth day, camelbak better bottle, health nutrition, bispenol A

A diverticulitis diet is pretty easy to go by, and if you are aware of the items you should and should not have a person won’t have any issues at all.  It is a must for everyone that may be having problems or has suffered from this disease in the past.  The diverticulitis diet is designed to reduce the stress on the intestines and to help relieve the symptoms, that includes cramping and inflammation, that can happened during a diverticulitis attack.  A diverticulitis diet is key when diverticula, in your intestines, become infected or irritated.

Diverticulitis

A person with diverticulitis may get diverticulitis when waste material and bacteria get stuck in a pouch (diverticula).  It can be either painful and in some risky scenarios need an operation.  Diverticulitis is a common digestive disorder, which is summarized by the swelling of pouches called diverticula on the outside of the colon.  It is three times more likely to happened in the left area of the large intestine, and males are three times as likely as women to suffer from the disorder.

The excellent thing is that Diverticulitis can be prevented by sticking to a well balanced diet.  The basic idea behind the Diverticulitis Diet is to prevent the accumulation of new pouches by assisting the food passing efficiently through the colon.  Basically, this is a diet suited for people who may suffered from diverticulitis or are suffering from constipation.

Foods

Aging and genetics are big factors in the development of diverticulitis although diet also plays a role as eating a lot of low-fiber refined foods can greatly increase the risk.  The great news is that there is a better way to achieve your goals of an effective diverticulitis diet that includes a balance of healthy foods taking better supplements.

It’s highly recommended that a person eat foods such as fresh fruits, whole grains, and vegetables due to their high fiber content.  Foods including nuts, popcorn, and sunflower, pumpkin, caraway, and sesame seeds should not be consumed.  Also avoid refined foods such as white flour, white rice, and other processed foods.  Foods containing fiber have a tendency to comprise nutrients like vitamins A, C, and E and selenium, useful in fighting cancer.  In both scenarios with or without diverticulitis, you may want to stick to a diet that includes an abundance of NATURAL fiber from whole foods.

To summarize this all, a diverticulitis diet is used by thousands of people all over the continent that suffer from this issue.  The Diverticulitis Diet is created to avoid diverticulitis from beginning, or re-occurring.  The diverticulitis diet is specifically designed to reduce the swelling by avoiding the intestine to not to have to work so hard during the time when it’s most sore and upset.  The Diverticulitis Diet is a diet made to reduce further attacks of diverticulitis, or alleviated the symptoms of this painful abdominal disorder.

Tags: diverticulitis diet, diets, weight loss, healthy living, nutrition

Are you getting with some of your low calorie recipes or menus and looking for something new, low calorie, but not bland in flavor? The other day I was searching for something new myself because sometimes I even get bored of the same old thing, right? So I was on food network and found this yummy crab cake recipe and I decided to make it and man were they yummy with a side of salad and brown rice.

My taste buds were happy and I want to share this one with you all the ingredients are as follows:

Nonstick cooking spray
1 egg, lightly beaten
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Dash hot sauce
1/2 teaspoon crab boil seasoning (recommended: Old Bay)
1/2 cup finely chopped red bell pepper
1 scallion, including green top, finely chopped
1 pound lump crab, picked over for cartilage
3/4 cup dry bread crumbs
1/4 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Smarter Tartar Sauce, recipe follows

Nutrition Information
Nutritional Analysis per Serving Calories: 254
Total Fat: 8 grams Saturated Fat: 1 gram
Protein: 26 grams Carbohydrates: 18 grams
Fiber: 1 gram

For cooking instructions click here. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!!

Tags: Weight loss, nutrition, diet, food network

Hey you!! Are in in weight loss mode or building lean muscle for the summer or your next fitness or figure competition? I was reading my February issue of Oxygen magazine and food this yummy protein shake recipe that I have to share with you all. I just tired it this morning and I loved it!! You have got to try it if you are in need of a new taste!

Ingredients:

1. 1 scoop of your favorite chocolate protein powder (Mine is the BSN Lean dessert)
2. 1 tbsp smooth, natural peanut butter
3. 1 cup or cold water
4. 1/2 cup of ice

instructions:

Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth. For a thicker consistency and more protein, use soy or skim milk instead of water. Add that is what I did just calc the additional calories from doing that. Give it a shot and tell me what you think? Enjoy!!

nutrients per serving;

calories:215, total fats 9g, saturated fat 2g, trans fat 0g, cholesterol 15mg, sodium 146mg, total carbohydrates 9g, dietary fiber 2g, sugars 4g, protein 25g.

tags: Protein Shakes, bodybuilding, nutrition

I am so excited my BSN Lean Dessert Protein Shake is here and I love it. I ended up ordering it from bodybuilding.com since my local GNC did not carry this item in stock. If you ever need some supplements and other fitness info got to bodybuilding.com. The ordering process so easy!! I ordered it on Friday and it came as fast as Tuesday!! Way cool. So if I need anything else I will definitely order from them again.

The shake I ordered was the chocolate fudge pudding and it is wonderful! To give it a more shake consistency I did add skim milk and 1/2 cup of ice. YUMMY!! I think I will like it much better than the muscle milk. Now don’t get me wrong the muscle milk taste great, however it was too many calories for me especially since I am trying to loss fat still and lean up. The nutrition for the BSN is:

Recommended Use for Females: As a dietary supplement, take 1 heaping scoop of BSN Lean Dessert Protein (equaling 20 grams of protein) with 4-5 oz. of cold water or any beverage or your choice. Vary the amount of liquid to achieve your desired consistency. Drink 2-4 servings daily, or as needed to satisfy your protein or muscle enhancing requirements. To increase your protein intake per serving and to achieve an amazing milk shake taste, use non-fat or low fat milk or your favorite soy beverage.

Supplement Facts
Serving Size 1 Heaping scoop
Servings Per Container 18
Amount Per Serving % DV
Calories 130.00
Calories from Fat 25.00
Total Fat 3.00 g 5%
Saturated Fat 2.00 g 12%
Cholesterol 52.00 mg 17%
Sodium 100.00 mg 4%
Potassium 125.00 mg 4%
Total Carbohydrate 7.00 g 2%
Dietary Fiber 1.00 g 4%
Sugars 3.00 g
Protein 20.00 g 40%
Phosphorus 200.00 mg 20%
Magnesium 40.00 mg 10%
Calcium 320.00 mg 32%
ELG Stimulators (Energy Leaning and Growth Simulators*) 2.80 g **
Glutamine Peptides (Stimulates Muscle Growth and Recovery*) **
Canola Oil (A Source of Omerga Fatty Acids - AKA “Good Fats or Leaning Fats”*) **
MCTs (Medium Chain Triglycerides - As a Source of Energy*) **
Protein Utilization Enzymes (Promotes Optimum Protein Digestion and Absorption*) 70.00 mg **
Aminogen **
Papain **

I was literally getting too big (gaining more weight) and I don’t want to look too muscular like the women bodybuilders. I really just want to lean up like the professional figure pros you see in Oxygen magazine or at bodybuilding.com. So, I am going to give this a trial run for 4 weeks and see what results I get from using this product in addition to cardio, weight training, and healthy eating too. If you are looking for a new protein shake check this one out!

Tags: BSN Lean Dessert protein, bodybuilding, nutrition

I just had my snack today for the first time and it was a light Yoplait yogurt in the lemon creme pie flavor. It was so good!!! I had that and a half banana to get me through my ab workout and to last me until dinner. I swear I was eating a piece of pie and even my son wanted some and kept asking for more, lol. If you are just starting to work on the weight loss thing and are bored with your snacks try these. They are available in a lot of flavors:

Apple Turnover
Apricot Mango
Banana Cream Pie
Berries ‘N Cream
Blackberry
Blueberry Patch
Boston Cream Pie
Harvest Peach
Key Lime Pie
Lemon Cream Pie
Orange Crème
Red Raspberry
Strawberries ‘N Bananas
Strawberry
Strawberry Orange Sunrise
Very Cherry
Very Vanilla
White Chocolate Strawberry

My favorites so far are the White Chocolate Strawberry, strawberries and banana, lemon creme pie, and very vanilla.

Well, in a bit I will work out my chest and back with weights and before the biggest loser comes on I will does step aerobics with christi Taylor’s step sensational DVD.

Tags: nutrition, weight loss, yoplait yogurt

Okay, one more thing then I will get exercising. I know, I just had to share this nutrition tip with you especially for you newbies out there looking to lose weight now or in the new year. I was at foodnetwork.com and they gave great visual pictures of what a portion size of certain foods would be equivalent too. for example : A serving of chicken is equivalent to a deck of cards. See below. Here is the link to the site.

They will show this picture then underneath the will have a link to more examples of other food items for you to view. I just thought this was fabulous and it was also a great refresher for me too. Check this out and you will be on the right track for weight loss this holiday and into the new year.

Enjoy!!

Tags: weight loss, portion sizes, nutrition, food network, healthy eating

I just opened up an awesome e-mail from Calorie Count.com and I was look I have got to share this with you all that are losing weight and getting healthy. They say “Imagine you’re in a fast food restaurant and are forced into choosing a meal from a menu of terrible choices. Fear not! Just whip out your cell phone, enter ccm.about.com into the mobile browser, and you’ll have the entire food database of this site at your fingertips!” This new site is specifically designed to meet the requirements of almost all WAP or web-enabled phones sold in the United States. This includes MOTORAZRs, Qs, Blackberries, and hundreds of other handhelds.

Regardless of which phone you use, just open its browser and point it to ccm.about.com. Please share that link with your friends and family. The easiest way is to send them a text message mentioning http://ccm.about.com - when you append “http://”, most phones recognize this is a web address and will convert it to a clickable link inside of your text message.

Isn’t that cool/ No more fretting over how many calories your are eating when you are enjoy a night out with friends. You can make smart choices right from your cell phone. I am definitely going to use this for Christmas and New Years Eve Celebrating and you should too. Check this out!!!

Tags: calories counting, weight loss, cell phones

  I was finding myself browsing the other day in my oxygen magazine and online for some nutritional supplements or a multi-vitaman that I can take on a daily basis as recommend by my doctor. I came across this site called choice nutritionals as I was browsing today. I found that they are a retailer that offer quality vitamins, minerals, nutritional supplements & nutritional supplement from Garden of Life, Mt. Capra, Sovereign Silver and Natural Calm. This includes products for the Makers Diet; primal defense, goatein, omegazyme, perfect food, air filters and water filters. They also offer organic skin & personal care items from Miessence, and organic essential oils from Oshadhi as well as high quality blenders from Ktec and dehydrators from Excalibur.

I have never heard of this company until today and they seem to have very good pricing for their line of products that is not outrageously expensive. The website is very simple and basic, so in essence it is easy to navigate. The don’t the popular brands that I know of, but it is a start. Have any of you heard of this company? Also have you used any of the supplements or vitamins? If so what is your favorite?

Tags: health, vitamins, supplements, weight loss