Xtreme Eating 2010...

Just saw this article online it highlights some of the worst restaurant food choices for high calorie, high sat. fat, and high sodium amts. This is not a to-do list, but has some interesting and eye opening totals. I like that part that says you would have to ride a bike for 3 hours to work off what you eat in one of these meals! Sorry Mike, our Five Guys Burger and Fries meal before the Mets game made this years list!! I am a horrible example!

http://media.bonnint.net/slc/2069/206961/20696186.pdf

Keep going guys...only 30 DAYS TILL WEIGH-IN!!!!

Tip#??- 7 habits of highly successful snackers

Sorry everyone these last couple of weeks have been busy...this one is just pirated off the internet! It's really good though!

1. Fix your own food

Even if you need to be tied to the mast of your shopping cart (or chained to your desk) to avoid the tempting call of those cellophane-wrapped, curlicue-topped cupcakes, you must resist.

Most ready-made snacks are low in vitamins, nutrients, and protein and high in calories, fat, sugar, and sodium, which can inhibit the body's retention of much needed calcium. (Sports and protein bars are a shining exception.)

2. Eat a balanced snack

A pear instead of Reese's Pieces? You think you're being so virtuous -- and you are, to some extent. That pear is largely carbohydrates, but the ideal slow-burn snack has carbohydrates, protein, and, of all things, fat.

Carbohydrates are metabolized first and deliver their calories fastest -- just ask anyone who has binged on a handful of Jolly Ranchers, felt a sudden and frantic spike of energy, and suffered an equally sudden crash.

Say, for example, you grab a quick snack of saltines, which contain refined-flour carbohydrates: As soon as they're in your mouth, the enzymes in your saliva go to work. In about 20 minutes, the carbohydrates are broken down into glucose, which peaks in your bloodstream, turning down your internal hunger alarm. Unfortunately, in about another 20 minutes, that glucose is completely burnt out or stored up, so the alarm starts ringing again.

Fruit, which has more fiber than crackers, will take slightly longer to metabolize. To prolong the satisfaction, you need to add in protein and fat (they often go hand in hand), which take longer to metabolize. So eat that pear with a chunk of cheddar or some low-fat yogurt and you'll be set for a few hours.

3. Snack to maintain weight

Snacks can keep you from getting fat. There it is, even though it's the opposite of what your mother spent years nagging you about.

According to a recent study in Scotland, eating snacks helps you control both your appetite and your weight, because when you don't arrive at the table famished, you're less likely to speed-eat, overeat, or just sit there emptying the bread basket into your gullet as fast as is humanly possible.

(Another theory is that eating more frequently burns calories, because digestion requires energy, at least briefly.)

Most women need about 2,000 calories a day, including snacks. Ideally, you would have five mini-meals of 400 calories, but that's not realistic. (Imagine riding roundup to get everyone to the table more often than you already do.)

What's recommended is the traditional "big three," only slightly down-sized, plus two well-balanced mini-meals.

4. Keep stress in check

You may recognize the symptoms of stress: fatigue, lack of concentration, short temper, or...a minivan floor littered with candy wrappers and sundae cups.

According to a study from the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at University College London, students ate more snack foods and fewer fruits and vegetables when they were under pressure.

What triggers a stress case's need to feed is the hormone cortisol, say researchers at the University of California at San Francisco. Cortisol is released during physical or emotional stress, and that increases one's appetite for carbohydrates, especially sweets.

5. Once a month, allow yourself more

Is it that time of the month? Women are most likely to binge or overeat in the two weeks prior to their periods if they've ovulated (most women on the Pill do not ovulate).

Menstrual flow is triggered by the secretion of progesterone, which is thermogenic, or calorie burning. Thus, without so much as lifting an extra three-pound weight -- or finger, for that matter -- your body burns more calories than it does during the rest of the month, and your hunger kicks in to compensate.

In a study at the University of British Columbia, women ate an average of 260 extra calories a day when they were ovulating.

6. Crave calcium and shun sodium

You need to start reaching for the right white stuff -- the milk bottle, not the salt shaker. In other words, calcium instead of sodium. The recommended daily allowance for calcium is 1,000 milligrams, and most women don't come close to getting enough. What's more, the more salt you eat, the less calcium your body retains.

For instance, one 3 1/2-ounce bag of cheese puffs contains 1,000 milligrams of sodium, which will cost you 20 milligrams of calcium, something an osteoporosis-prone woman should think twice about.

7. Drink lots of water

You've eaten lunch. You've already scarfed your snack. And all you want to do is curl up and take a nap.

When you find yourself lacking energy like this, make your way to the water bottle and down a glass. Studies have shown that fatigue is one of the first signs of dehydration, and when you're run-down, it's easy to confuse thirst for hunger.

Airplanes, cars, and office buildings are especially arid and climate controlled, so you may need to make a concerted effort to drink even more water than you usually do. Now, get chugging.

Parfait

Donkey: You know what else everybody likes? Parfaits. Have you ever met a person, you say, "Let's get some parfait," they say, "Hell no, I don't like no parfait"? Parfaits are delicious.

Shrek: NOOO!!! YOU DENSE, IRRITATING, MINIATURE BEAST OF BURDEN! OGRES ARE LIKE ONIONS! END OF STORY! BYE BYE! [whispers] See you later![pause]

Donkey: Parfaits may probably be the most delicious thing on the whole damn planet!


Donkey had it right: parfaits are delicious. My friend made them once at her house and I was hooked. And they are so easy to make. The yogurt part, I use just a regular little container of yogurt. If your going to make more or want to use more yogurt, you can easily buy stuff like Yoplait in bigger containers. Then I add frozen berries. I found great little bags at the grocery store, with a mix of raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries (YUM!). With the little containers of yogurt you can have some fun mixing up different flavors with the fruit. Strawberry or lemon have been my favorites so far.Then comes the granola part. I buy some of the health nut cereal, like Kosi Go Lean. My favorite is Honey and Oats, with a dash of cinnamon on the top.

What are you people eating?

Okay, so last week I took note of mom and Cindy's awesome losses and decided it was time to get down to business with this weight loss thing!  Up until this point, I have been half-hearted at best about this.  So, I watched what I ate and focused on whole grains, fruits, veggies, and lots of water.  I cut portion sizes, and I hit the gym all week.

And I GAINED TWO POUNDS!

What the heck?

It is beyond frustrating.  If I am going to gain I might was well be lazy and eat junk.

So, here is my question.  What, mom and Cindy, SPECIFICALLY, are you eating (or not eating) and doing to have had such good success?  I need more ideas!

50 Days to go!!

Well we are cruising through spring and before you know it, it will be BEACH TIME!!
I know I am excited!! I hope you are all too! This week for my tip I just wanted to recap on some of the ideas that have been suggested and make sure that we are not "falling off the wagon"
So here are your top 15 healthy weight loss tips!! {Off of WebMD...Alie should like that!!}

1: Drink plenty of water or other calorie-free beverages (thanks Cindy)

2: Think about what you can add to your diet, not what you should take away. (veggies, healthy food in general)

3: Consider whether you're really hungry

4: Be choosy about nighttime snacks

5: Enjoy your favorite foods (just moderate, buy a cookie not the box)

6: Enjoy your treats away from home

7: Eat several mini-meals during the day

8: Eat protein at every meal (not just beef- yogurt, cheese, nuts, or beans)

9: Spice it up (tricks you body into thinking its more full)

10: Stock your kitchen with healthy convenience foods

11: Order children's portions at restaurants

12: Eat foods in season

13: Swap a cup of pasta/bread for a cup of vegetables (200 calorie difference)

14: Use non-food alternatives to cope with stress

15: Be physically active (YEAH!! Do it and do it with the whole family!!)

Heres the link if you want more details!!
http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/15-best-diet-tips-ever

Keep going guys...So far the ladies seem to be killing the guys!!
Dave

Smoothies!

Taylor and I are really loving smoothies. The great thing is, he thinks it is cool to put vegetables in them. That is a huge step for him. We have really been focusing on eating more vegetables in our house and it is one way to use them quick and make them taste great. We have decided that smoothies popsicles are a healthier cold snack than ice cream and it works great for a breakfast (with some eggs or whole grain toast).

Here are two recipes (most of the time I just use whatever I have in the house)

Healthy Smoothie 1
1 1/2 c Juice (Orange/Tropical Blend v8 splash works great)
1/4 c Plain low-fat yogurt
1 Banana
2 Tbs Ground Flaxseed (optional)
2 c Fresh Spinach
Ice (however much you prefer)

Healthy Smoothie 2
1 c Mix Frozen Berries
1 Banana (frozen or fresh)
1 c Low-fat milk
1 Low-fat yogurt (we like strawberry or raspberry)
Carrot (I use one large carrot)

Any leftover smoothie goes into our popsicle maker and into the freezer for a great treat the next day. Enjoy!

Water, water everywhere, so let's all have a drink!

I know it sounds so basic and easy, but drinking water makes a big difference. You are supposed to drink 64 oz. (1/2 a gallon, or eight 8 oz. glasses) of water everyday to be healthy. Now, just as a warning, you will be making a few more potty breaks for the first couple days as your body is adjusting to all that water (the words "race horse" jump to mind). But after about the third day, you start to wonder how you ever did without all that wonderful liquid.

Now if your like me and like some flavor, there are so many options out there now. You've got Crystal Lite (Dad's staple of life), Vitamin waters, lemons/lime, etc. The best is now you can get individual little packs of drink mixes (and they have extra-healthy varieties too). You just mix one little back with a bottle of water (recycle and use tap water) and voila...tasty water where ever you go.