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Showing posts with label healthy snack. Show all posts
Showing posts with label healthy snack. Show all posts

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Wanna Know My Weight Loss Secret?



Of course I have little tricks I use to keep the weight off! And they work! Without killing you or making you sick.... VERY important, by the way! ;)





......oh, now you're wondering, aren't you? Well, here is one thing that's been keeping weight off of me without me having to even try that hard. Wanna try to guess?
Okay, I'll stop toyin' with ya....here it is.....





Eating a good amount of fruit. Yep! What did you think it was going to be? Lipo?? Well, sorry if it doesn't seem so exciting or revolutionary, but I've found that eating several servings of fruit a day has helped to keep me happy, full, satisfied and also well supplied with the vital nutrients that my body needs to function at a high level, which is important, since I'm a very active person.


Now, there's a way to go about it that makes all the difference. It's not about popping oranges and cherries all day long. I eat a variety of fruits, and eat the more fibery ones early on in the day, and save my more fleshy selections like watermelon and bananas for midday and on into the evening.
In the morning; apples, pears, fresh peaches (firm ones), oranges, grapefruit
Midday and evening; watermelon, cherries, bananas, cantaloupe, red grapes.

I don't eat all of the above daily, but you will find at least 4 these on my menu every single day. And I'm gonna tell you, since I love fruit so much, it's something that requires little or no effort on my part.


In between, I eat my regular meals, but with all the fruit I consume, I have to tell you, I'm finding that I don't have much of an appetite usually, and actually have to remind myself to eat full meals on some days!! Now, I gotta tell you also, NEVER in my life's history has that EVER happened!! I have spent my entire life being hungry ALL THE TIME, but just doing this one thing has made a world of difference in how often I snack and eat. Getting a handle on your snacking is key, because snacking in between meals accounts for more of your excess calories than you realize.
When I do eat, my meals tend to be well balanced, with protein, veggies and some type of grain. However, I will still have fries, a milkshake or a cheeseburger on occasion. I'm finding also that I don't have to deny myself anything. Every now and then I get a craving, and if I decide to, I'll just go ahead and have it. Hello, Haagen Dazs!


Hell, the other day I had grits, bacon and eggs for breakfast (with some peaches on the side, ha!), which doesn't sound that bad at first, but the calorie content in that type of breakfast is kind of high. But, the thing is, I feel firmly in control. I can have it or not have it, whatever it is. And I never feel deprived or starved, either way.
I get my veggies in, too, but for me, the fruit is the thing.
I know that I could actually subsist on a diet of nothing but fruit, fish and a little grain at this point, but I'm not quite gonna go there....yet! ;)


In the meantime, try adding some more fruit selections to your daily diet, and see if this makes a difference for you. All I know is that I've been waking up every morning for the past few months looking svelte as hell, and one thing that has changed in my routine is that I'm eating more fruit. Works for me, and it might work for you too! :)


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Wednesday, February 18, 2009

What's Your Favorite Low Cal /Healthy Snack?


I love snacking! Back in the day, it was Twinkies, Yodels, cheese fries and candy bars that kept me in trouble. I could do Snickers and 3 Musketeer bars all day long! Well, now that I no longer have the metabolism of a 14 year old, I just had to let those goodies go! (and tearfully, I might add!)

That doesn't mean I gave up snacking altogether, though. I'm just reaching for smarter, healthier, low cal items to shove down my throat with abandon.
Since I can't give up chocolate completely, one thing I've found that still scratches my chocolate itch is those low calorie, sugarless fudgesicles.


Me and these little babies get along just fine, and at a mere 40 calories a pop, I don't ruin my diet if I decide to have two. (Which I usually do)



Another thing I've always loved is a good, salty, sour pickle. We used to buy the big ones out of the deli when I was a kid and suck on them all day. I buy the New York Deli Style ones at the supermarket now. High in sodium, sure, but it's not like I'm going to eat a ton of them. On the label, it says 0 calories a serving. I don't know how the heck that's possible, but, I'll take it! ;)



You've also heard me talk about how much I love edamame, and although it's a little higher in calories (100 or so cals per cup), the health benefits of eating soy make them well worth it. Even at 2 cups, you're not going too far overboard, really.
I buy mine with the husk still on them so I can't eat them so fast.



And rounding out my favorites, the lovely, succulent watermelon. It's hard to get good, perfectly ripe watermelon all year round where I live (you can get it all year -just not top notch quality in the off seasons), but when I find a good one, I'm on it! At about 40 cals for 10 balls of melon, it's a good tasty choice that I really enjoy. And....I always eat just a bit more than that! Hey, it's watermelon...no worries! ;)



I also love sauteed mushrooms and grilled asparagus. I know some wouldn't call those snacks, but they work for me! Can eat a big bowl of both and be just as happy as you please!
So, what are your favorites? I'm always looking for good, low calorie, healthy snack ideas. Maybe you've got one I should check out!



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Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Did You Know.....?


...that eating an apple can help you in your weight loss efforts? An agent in apples called pectin limits how much fat your cells can absorb! Consumption of pectin has also been shown to reduce blood cholesterol levels. Now, how's that for a helping hand? And of course you know that apples are high in fiber, which is a must have dietary staple for anyone trying seriously trying to shed some pounds. For optimum results, try to eat at least 5 apples a week. So, what are you waiting for?
Be sure to put apples on your weight loss grocery list today!





Like what you've read so far?
Then, check out my other blogs:

Sex and Fitness ** The Trainer's Corner ** Martial Arts Junkie



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Sunday, August 3, 2008

My Tasty Little Secret




So, in my own efforts to stay fit and keep myself in shape, I find that food is my biggest nemesis, and fighting off cravings for the bad stuff can be a full time job. I LOVE to eat! Hell, who doesn't? I've been able to pack it away since way back. My brother and I used to race to clean our plates as fast as we could so we could be the first one to get second helpings, or the last piece of food. Not wanting to be one upped by the boys, I soon learned that I could eat a plate of food as big as my Dad's....and boy, THAT was a big, heaping plate!

Well, that's all fun and cute when you're a kid or a growing teenager, but when you start getting older, that little party is sooooo over!

Now, having learned to eat to my heart's content, anything and everything, it's hard to have to pull back. I do, though, but I still make sure my taste buds get the workout they deserve via healthier munchies. Which brings me to one of my favorite little secrets: Edamame (Eh-duh-mah-may). I can eat tons of edamame and not gain weight. What's more, is I can eat nothing but them and strawberries all day, if I'm so inclined. I don't do that often, but I have. In fact, those tasty little soybeans are my healthy snack of the week! Haven't had them before? You should go to your grocer (or a sushi restaurant) and get yourself some right NOW. They are the best, healthiest snack EVER!!




Edamame are soy beans still in the pod, and you can eat them straight out of the pod raw, or boil them slightly. I buy mine frozen and thaw them in the fridge, salt them, and then just sit back and suck those beans right out of their pods one by one til the bowl is empty! Yum!

What's great about them is all the great stuff in 'em! First of all, edamame is the only vegetable that is a complete protein, and it contains all 9 amino acids. They're also a good source for fiber, vitamin A and isoflavones, which can help lower cholesterol. Edamame contains Vitamin C, calcium, iron, and essential omega 3 polyunsaturated fat (the good fat) as well.

A ton of health benefits have been attributed to soy beans. For one, reducing and helping to prevent hypertension (high blood pressure), staving off certain cancers (including breast), halting the onset of osteoporosis and also helping prevent heart disease. Studies show that soy protein might also help reduce insulin resistance, kidney damage, and fatty liver in people with diabetes. It really is one power vegetable!

Not only that, they are low in calories. That 16 oz bag you see pictured is only 300 cals for the entire bag. I try to make it into 3 servings, but usually end up doing two. No worries, though. I could eat two bags and still be chillin' on the calorie tip!

So, while I'm busy stuffing my face with them, I can't help but to think of what good I'm also doing for my body. It's a win-win situation!
So there you have it...another alternative to unhealthy snack food. When it comes to the war against unhealthy eating, you have to have as many weapons as possible so you can win. Edamame is one of my favorites ones! Try it! You'll thank me later! ;)

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