Planning ahead and having a well stocked kitchen is essential in staying on track and eating healthy. Healthy ingredients will equal healthy food choices, so you want to set yourself up for success by stocking your kitchen with excellent foods right at the start. It's much easier to eat healthy meals when you have the right ingredients on hand. You'll be tossing together delicious, flavorful, and healthy meals in minutes once you get the hang of stocking your kitchen properly. What should you always have on hand? - Tortillas or pitas - Whole-grain pasta – wheat, rice, spelt, quinoa, couscous - Tomatoes - Fresh vegetables – cut them ahead of time - Salad … [Read more...]

The manner in which you cook your food really does make a difference when it comes to achieving and maintaining a healthy weight. Experiment with different methods of cooking and see if you don't appreciate the taste of your food even more once your taste buds adjust. - Pan-fry or stir-fry instead of deep-frying - Poach eggs instead of frying them in bacon grease - Steam the veggies instead of boiling - Grill meats and fish instead of drowning them in sauces - Bake potatoes - Make homemade fries in the oven – bake with drizzled olive oil and a little sea salt - Always trim the fat from meats before cooking Plan meals ahead of time whenever possible and … [Read more...]

Spice Up Your Life with Food! Flavorful and spicy foods are fantastic for curbing your appetite. Foods that pack a lot of flavor stimulate your taste buds and as a result, you will feel more satisfied while eating smaller portions. The tongue becomes accustomed to the taste of the fat in food over time and that's one of the reasons we crave foods that aren't the best for us. However, spices make the taste buds and tongue come alive, which means eventually we won’t crave the fat-laden foods we used to want so much. Spices are one of the easiest ways to make food taste amazing without adding unnecessary calories to the mix. Try adding: - Garlic - Cinnamon - … [Read more...]

Heavy calories are hiding in many of your food choices and you may not even realize it. Lower calorie substitutes are a great way to cut down on your overall calorie intake each day. Here are some easy ways to cut calories. Substitutes and Swaps - Low-fat yogurt instead of sour cream - Fruit purees instead of butter in baked goods - Evaporated skim milk in soups and sauces - Hazelnut or almond butter in place of cream cheese - Applesauce instead of shortening or oil in baked goods - Unsweetened cocoa powder instead of chocolate Another easy way to swap out empty calories for healthy ones is to add more veggies to your plate. Starchy items such as potatoes, … [Read more...]

Would you rather move a boulder in one day or carry that boulder in pieces over several days or weeks? Weight loss is much easier if you set mini-goals for yourself. Attaining mini goals are like mini victories on the way to the biggest victory, which is reaching your desired weight. Set yourself up for success by tracking your progress. Know where you started so you know how far you've come already. It's ok to note your beginning weight, but keep in mind that muscle weighs more than fat, so the number on the scale might not move quickly. Take measurements of your body so you know how many inches you've lost. This is a more accurate gauge of how you're doing with your weight loss. … [Read more...]

Remember what "going Dutch" means? Essentially it means to "split it". Going out to eat can be a brutal blow to our new eating habits and lifestyle if we let it get the best of us. Most restaurants you visit pile food on the plate to the point of excess. Have you ever seen the movie 'Supersize Me'? It discusses the method by which the fast food joints promote larger portions to the consumer so they can make more profits. But really, how many fries do you really need? All those extra calories translate into extra inches on your waist, hips, thighs, and abdomen, and no one wants that to happen. So, how do you solve this challenge of going out to eat? Split one dinner portion with … [Read more...]

When do you find yourself in the kitchen or the pantry looking for something to munch? It is no coincidence that when you are bored or do not have an activity on which to focus, this is the time that food becomes the focus and you eat more than you actually need. Watching television or reading magazines are both acceptable activities now and then during the day, but keep in mind that marketers know how to make you buy their food – they show it to you in the most appetizing way possible! Get up, get moving, and get away from the image of the juicy hamburger with all the toppings. What are you passionate about? What hobbies are you interested in outside of work? Losing weight can … [Read more...]

New foods are a fun way to bring renewed interest and excitement into the kitchen. Instead of thinking about the foods you have always eaten, consider trying different foods to add some spice and interesting flavors to your meals. Here are some ideas of new foods you might enjoy: - Tomatillos - Purple broccoli - Fiddleheads - Arracacha - Mangosteens - Papaya - Star fruits - Jackfruit - Passion fruit - Rambutans - Artichokes - Cherimoyas Take the time to browse through the fruits and vegetables with fresh eyes the next time you go to the store. Most grocery stores will have signs that describe the fruit or vegetable, tips on how to … [Read more...]

Dr. Ian Smith has become known as one of the fitness and diet experts with his own program "Celebrity Fit Club". In his expert opinion the overweight and obesity rates in America alone are not going to be resolved just by dieting. This is why his program includes mentoring on the psychological issues of weight loss. He also knows how easy it is to become bored on a diet. He's set up a plan that is simple to follow with seven phases that spans a 28 day period. Following this would allow you to lose 10 to 12 pounds. In this video Dr. Smith introduces you to the 4 Day Diet Plan. You can read the full review here. … [Read more...]

Change Your Mind About Exercise and You’ll Lose Weight What comes to mind when you think about exercise or working out? Most people envision lots of sweat and movements that will cause them to be sore later. Exercise doesn’t have to be a long, drawn out, boring routine. It should be fun! What excuse do you use so you don’t have to exercise? Do some of these look familiar? - No time - Too much work to do - To-do list is too long - My children need my time - The house needs cleaned Here is the solution to including exercise into your daily routine: find fun and interesting ways to include more movement in your daily activities. Seriously, don’t you love playing … [Read more...]