The Busy Fitness Pro

Posts Tagged ‘Fast Food’

Many people that have been successful in the weight loss world will tell you about the importance of portion control. Here are 10 ways to control your portions whether eating at home or dining out.

1. Bigger isn’t Always Better

We all have seen the commercials and ads for the fast food places that are making their portions bigger and bigger for just a few more cents. Restaurants are serving giant portions sometimes large enough for four people. This is not right. Keep in mind that this is a bad thing. When eating at a fast food place, order a kids meal. You will get a small proper sized portion and you will not be able to over eat. When dining in a restaurant, ask to have your meal brought to you half on the plate and half in a take-home box. That will take away some of the temptation of eating the entire meal and regretting it later.

2. Divvy up Your Snacks

Instead of buying greasy potato chips, try buying mini rice cakes or low fat popcorn. Buy them in small single serve packages and limit yourself to just one bag. If individual bags aren’t available in the snack you like, buy the regular sized bag but right when you get home, separate the bag into about 12 mini bags, limiting yourself to one bag per serving.

3. Separate Your Leftovers

Just like the number 2 tip, the same goes for leftovers. Directly after a meal, separate your leftovers into a few small containers so you are not tempted to eat the entire leftover container full of food.

4. Say “No” To Seconds

Even is you still feel hungry, don’t let yourself go for a second serving. Know that you have already had the proper amount of food, and anything more would be adding more calories which is what you want to avoid. To make it easier on yourself, when dining at home, don’t let the pots or pans holding the extra food be in your view while you eat. This will have you constantly thinking about wanting more food. Instead, after eating one portion, be proud of yourself for not letting yourself go for seconds.

5. Mini Meals

I’m sure you have heard this one before, but it’s a fact. Eating smaller multiple healthy meals throughout the day will leave you more satisfied than eating three large meals everyday. By keeping these meals small, healthy and frequent, you will actually consume less calories than you do with three larger meals.

6. Eat Your Salad

Eating salad before a meal will make you partially satisfied making you not eat as much when the meal comes to the table. To make the salad more satisfying, add some raw vegetables to it making it extra healthy. Or add some chunks of meat like lean turkey cubes. Eating all of this together can be considered a full meal, so you may not even want to eat the meal that was supposed to follow.

7. Recognize Size

This one is important, because when dining out, you can’t really know how much you’re eating without knowing proper portion sizes. You can learn this by simply comparing ounces of meat to an object such as, 1oz of meat is about the size of a matchbook. One cup of potatoes or pasta is equal to the size of a tennis ball. Keep this portion sizes in mind the next time you have a big meal in front of you.

8. It’s Okay To Indulge

Everyone should be entitled to treat themselves to a “forbidden” food once in a while. This is fine as long as you pay attention to the four words, “once in a while.” Telling yourself that you can never enjoy a forbidden food ever again will leave you feeing deprived. Deprivation leads to overeating. So allow yourself to have a small treat once a week. You will always have something to look forward to. Just be sure to limit your consumption.

9. Stay Away From Buffets

As tempting and appetizing as a buffet might seem to you, they are a big no no for someone trying to loose some pounds. They cause over eating in just about everyone. With all that tasty high fat food nearby, it’s super easy to fill up your plate more than 3 or 4 times! This makes it impossible to control your portions. Instead of thinking of portion control you are thinking about what food you can try next. People tend to over eat so much at these “all you can eat” joints that they leave feeling sick. If you have experienced this feeling, remember this the next time you find yourself at a buffet. Personally though if you are dieting and or watching what you eat, then steer clear of all you can eat restaurants altogether.

10. Stick to Serving Sizes

Before eating anything that should be eaten in moderation, check the back of the package for the label indicating how much a serving size is. Most likely you will be very surprised and realize that you have been overeating without knowing it. Serving sizes are actually pretty small. When scooping ice cream into a bowl do you know that an ice cream serving size is only ½ a cup? Think back when was the last time you had just a ½ cup of ice cream? Without knowing this information, people are eating anywhere from 2-5 servings at a time. So get reading!

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It has become more evident than ever, that the weekly jet setting business person is more apt to fall off the health and fitness regimen, when compared to non traveling business person. This can be extremely frustrating for them, as in most cases, the intention and desire to keep up with their fitness program is good, but the conscientious desires are often sabotaged by the last minute unexpected business meeting and late evening networking dinner.My company Somagenesis Health and Fitness has earned the reputation in the San Diego business community as the “business persons” personal training company of choice”. As president of Somagenesis, I personally manage the health and fitness lifestyles of 25 upper echelon businessmen and women. Approximately 50% of them travel weekly, and struggle with eating healthy, and/or getting in a simple maintenance workout. Here are some great and interesting solutions to these common problems.1. Nutrition: Stocking up of healthy pre-assembled meal entrees is an easy solution. Companies like Susan’s Healthy Gourmet, or Nutra-System can create tasty healthy foods based on your dietary and caloric needs. A small carry on refrigerator lunch box can easily store 3 full meals and several quality protein bars. These food items, can save you time, money and the frustration involved in trying to locate healthy eating establishments. I have personally checked with many of the local commuter airlines, and their are no restrictions to carrying on personal foods or snacks.2. Eating out: If you are in a situation where you must attend an important business dinner, be smart and make the right choices. Stick to red wines at 70 calories a glass versus the Apple Martini or Dewar’s Scotch on the rocks, which can easily amount to 450 calories. Alcohol carbohydrate calories are always converted to fat calories by the liver. Don’t drink yourself fat with alcohol calories. With meal entree’s always stick to roasted lean meats, fish and poultry entrees. Skinless chicken, roast beef, and halibut are always good low fat, low calorie choices. If in doubt about the healthiness of the food, always ask the waiter how the food is prepared. Don’t be reserved and shy, your associates will be impressed by your healthy mindset.As a precursor to your main entree’, always indulge in a healthy high fiber garden salad with low caloric, low fat dressing. The fiber will create a gastronomical sense of satiety before you get to your main entree. Always beware of the bread basket that sits before you. A single slice of French, Italian or Sourdough bread can cost you 200 non nutritious calories, and you know, it is impossible to eat just one! Just say no.3. Eating and drinking during boring conference room meetings: Keep your eyes and hands off the sugar glazed danish with the raspberry jelly in the center, bear claws and coffee cake. On average, eating one of these belly bombers will cost you 500 calories of junk, gut bloating calories. Ask any New York City Cop sitting in his squad car about the ramifications of just sitting and indulging in Dunkin Doughnuts. Just say no!Instead, bring some of your favorite energy bars, trail mix medley or snack on the fruit that is commonly available at most conferences. Both Medical and business conferences are notorious for monotone speakers and a head bobbing audience, so coffee, tea, orange juice and and water are always in abundance. Coffee, tea and water are always your best choices, especially if staying awake is a problem. These drink items are low in sugar, and caffeine can rev up your adrenal gland and your metabolism. Conversely, orange juice and other fruit juices only jack up your blood sugars, which result in a post hypoglycemic reaction and secondary drop in insulin level. The end result sleepiness and hunger pangs. Remember, the secondary function of insulin is abdominal fat storage.4. Getting in that workout: Be sure not to forget to pack your workout cloths and shoes. The good news is many hotels have a small workout center and/or a swimming pool. Hotels like Marriott and Double Tree now have a treadmill, Swiss ball and dumb bells in your personal hotel room. This is a plus for the time management challenged businessman. The best time to begin your workout is first thing in the morning. If you meeting is at 8:00AM , get to the gym by 6:00AM for a 1 hour workout. Split your workout into 30 minutes of cardio and 30 minutes of resistance training. You will feel more alive and alert for your meeting. Planning a post meeting workout is possible, but the chances of not getting in your workout, are seriously reduced. Too often unexpected business meetings and dinners sabotage the best intended plans.5. Motivation: Your attitude for success can make or break your ability to eat health and get in your workout. My mantra to all my clients is” if you put as much energy into your health and fitness as you have your career, you could easily be another Arnold Schwarzenegger. So get chronic with the program”In summary, the 21st century business persona lives a crazy unpredictable lifestyle that can be disastrous to overall health. I have numerous clients who had or currently live with morbid obesity, hypertension, diabetes, fatty liver disease, had strokes, chronic depression, anxiety disorders and have had heart attacks in their 40’s and 50’s. Why does this happen? There are numerous explanations, however the more common reasons are, lack of life-style balance, devotion to competition and the lure of the all mighty dollar. The remedy is so simple, but often overlooked. Exercise, proper nutrition and stress management. This has been proven over and over again, by the medical community as the most effective approach to improve health and longevity. The question is how bad do you want this, and are you willing to acquiesce and get help from the experts?Should you decide to take the first step to improve the quality of your life, consider consulting the health, fitness and lifestyle management experts at Somagenesis. Log into our award winning web site at www.somagenesis.com and peruse the testimonials of fellow San Diego businessmen who have made the life changing transition into health and fitness.

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Safe Weight Loss and a Healthy Diet

Are you carrying around a little more weight than you would like?

Possibly a lot more weight than you would like and you have to do something about it?

You are not without company.

The obesity epidemic in America is out of control.

Obesity is also a growing problem around the world as American fast-food franchises open in countries that have never had this problem on a large-scale.Being overweight can lead to severe health issues. Having too much extra weight can make you more prone to heart problems, diabetes, strokes, and some types of cancer.

You deserve to enjoy life, being unhealthy when you can do something about it is no way to live.

Just because you are on a low calorie diet does not mean you have to starve yourself or eat nothing but sprouts and brand. Understanding this can help you stay determined and take off some of that weight that is making you unhealthy. Some weight loss programs can make you weak and hungry.

The good news is you don’t have go through this to lose weight.

In fact it is much easer to loose weight if you eat enough of the right foods so you don’t get weak and hungry. If you eat healthy foods you will lose weight naturally and keep it off. It is better that you do not feel hungry. Our bodies tell us that we had better eat when we are hungry. It is a matter of self-preservation, the problem is then we eat foods we should not and we eat too much. It is better to eat smaller regular meals and keep from getting hungry and gorging on ding dongs.

If you eat a healthy diet long enough your body will not crave ding dongs.

A low calorie diet with foods you like will help you stick to a healthy eating plan and reach your weight loss goals.  Keeping yourself from getting hungry is a key to not overeating. It is also the key to keeping from being miserable. Don’t think of it as a diet, think of it as foods you like to eat that will not add fat.

How to Loose WeightEating more calories than you can burn will cause you to gain weight.

Take in less calories than you burn and you will lose weight. The best way to do it is to eat less calories, and increasing the number of calories you burn at the same time. Work out and eat better, notice I did not say, “eat less food”. Eating better is always preferable to eating less. You may find foods that you like that you can eat as much as you like, as long as you do not eat any more Twinkies and walk around the block.

It sounds simple and it is but this is the best safe weight loss plan.

Learn what foods you like that are low calorie and eat more of them. Each week add a new food and cut out a high calorie food. Quick weight loss diet plans work in the short run but if you want to keep it off for life you must eat fewer calories, and increasing the number of calories you burn. Your body will not like you and you will not feel good if you go back and forth between gaining weight and then doing the latest fast weight loss diet or taking weight loss pills to get it off for the next prom.

For some of us there is always the next prom or reunion we need to get ready for.

When it is over we go back to our normal way of eating. I understand this because I did this for years.  Another important point is that you are not eating a low calorie healthy diet to be skinny. Skinny for you may not be healthy; to me skinny people do not look right. It makes me want to buy them lunch or have them over for dinner. If you are not meant to be skinny than why make yourself miserable trying to get there. A healthy weight is different for everyone.

Even worse is believing you have to be skinny to be happy.

Be happy now, enjoy the body you have and eat healthy to get to a weight that a healthy weight for you. If you want to take 10 lbs off for the prom that is one thing but if you want to keep it off for your 10 year reunion that’s something all together different.

Fat Is Not Your Fault

Great Training Program

Strip The Fat From Your Life

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This morning I directed a “search” on the full term fat loss. “Fat Loss” and “Fat Loss Supplements”, being the most popular program, came up with a blended whopping 20128 searches that people had conducted. You think that’s mind-blowing? Get a load of this… I then typed in “fat loss” into a common search engine and – hold onto your hats – 22,500,000 results came up for that word! Told ya you’d be shocked! So why is it that fat loss, and cutting body fat, related information and products are so much in demand, yet obesity and being overweight are on the up and up – and are actually at the highest rank ever? With the health and fitness industry successful it seems absurd that this is happening. What the heck is happening, folks?

Quick Note: Fat Loss is not the same as Weight Loss
Please don’t get the two confused. Weight loss is “overall” loss of body weight where Fat Loss is based on cutting body fat.

Enticement and Obstacles Effecting Your Attempts at Fat Loss.

The fact is that dropping off body fat is not easy. We are tempted every day with fatty and sweetened foods with super deals of quick easy meals involving drive through access and home delivery. These fast food meals are “fast” and often “affordable” with meal deals for a family of four sometimes costing under $10 – $12. Who wouldn’t pass/take this up! Before you know it, it’s the end of the day, the family is hungry, dinner time is getting nigh and your beat. I/we can fully understand why people pick out this alternative when our lifestyles are so hectic.

The Alcohol “Social and Relaxation” Temptation

An odd heading for this paragraph, I/we know, but I/we needed to draw your attention to the fact that alcohol will not help your fat loss attempts. I/we know we hear the saying so much that “doctors say that it’s healthy to have one or two wines per day”, still this is in regards to the attributes of red wine assisting in the prevention of clogged arteries – not a fat loss miracle! If red wine is essential for healthful purposes and perscribed by a doctor then evidently your health comes first. However the topic here is fat loss…

Think about why it is you want to lose body fat. Make sure you genuinely want to put in 100% attempt.. You want to feel great about making this decision not obliged to do it. Losing body fat can help increase your self-esteem as well as furthering your health so giving it your best shot with a positive frame of mind is always the “way to go”.

Weight or resistance training is a huge plus when it comes to cutting back body fat. Did you know that the more lean muscle mass you have the more calories you burn? This means that your body can burn more calories day and night – that’s right – even while you’re sleeping! Check out fatloss4idiots fat loss 4 idiots

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