More Nutrition

Why has it become so difficult for us as a society to keep our weight under control? The answer is very simple."TIME". With everyone working such long hours, we are just too busy to eat healthy! Working out is something we should all do, but sometimes when we are crunched for time we just have to put it on the back burner, but eating is something we must do everyday! We have become creatures of convenience. Anytime you turn on the television there is a fast food restaurant claiming to have the best tasting processed food that you can buy without ever leaving the seat of your car, but is that what you REALLY want to fuel your body? Do people really feel good from eating this way? It's time to make a change.Get control of your body! It's time to start making time for you! Here are a few tips to get you started: „P Plan ahead by preparing tomorrows meals today. Schedule a time to cook a few meals for the upcoming week. This will save so much of that valuable time during the week. Pre-packaged meals are easy, but loaded with sodium and preservatives. „P Make whole foods and lean proteins a priority for each meal. „P Choose better foods. 1. Fresh Lean Meats (chicken, turkey, eggs, fish, lean beef or pork). NO lunch meat, bacon or sausage. 2. Whole Grains (oats, brown rice, whole grain breads and pastas) 3. Low Glycemic Fruits (apple, orange, grapes, berries, cherries, pears) 4. Nuts (be careful with portion size here - 1 ounce) 5. Protein Shakes / Cottage Cheese / Greek Yogurt 6. Water, Water, Water! (very important for fat loss - the standard to shoot for is 8 cups/day) „P Start understanding nutrition labels. Just because something has the brand "Healthy Choice" or "Lean Cuisine" doesn't make it healthy. Pay attention to the macronutrients (proteins, carbohydrates and fats). „P Remember that all carbohydrates are not created equal. Avoid simple sugars (cookies/cakes/candy/soda/sugar filled cereals). Choose Natures Candy ... FRUIT! When a person has too many simple carbohydrates (sugar), the body's glucose levels are over stimulated which causes a big release of insulin in order to counteract the extra carbohydrates - (sugar rush for a very short period of time). This will result in a blood sugar crash and makes a person crave more sugar a short time after the sugar rush. This is a vicious cycle that people get into the habit of doing. „P Avoid foods packed with sodium (canned soups and processed meats) - shoot to consume LESS THAN 1500 mg of sodium each day. The average American will consume 3436 mg of sodium each day. Eating clean is not a punishment, it's a reward. You will feel better, have more energy and you might even shed a few pounds of fat.