Posts Tagged ‘Sugar’

Ok the summer is around the corner with Memorial Day at the end of the month.  There’s no denying it – the dreaded (for many) bathing suit is upon us!!

Here’s my down and dirty on how to use the next 30 days to shape up….

BREAK THESE EATING HABITS…………

1)  BAN THE BOOZE – lose the alcohol and banish the tire around your middle.  Whether its excessive drinking or one drink a day it adds up to belly fat.

2)  SKIP IT & YOU GAIN – whatever you do DON’T skip a meal, otherwise the body will hold onto your body fat. Why?? Because fat is our greatest source of energy and the body will not be caught short.

3)  LOSE THE WHITE - I know, I know, you’ve heard it all before BUT the fact remains the white flour and sugar has got to go!! It encourages insulin resistance and belly fat.

4)  TIMING IS EVERYTHING – never go 4 hours  tops without eating.  Be a fat burning machine and stoke the fire.  Studies indicate that those who eat more frequently throughout the day have a lower body fat percentage.

5) LEAVE THE CAMEL IN THE DESERT -Water, water, water; consume 1/2 your body weight in ounces.   Water helps reduce cravings and keeps you out of the junk food drawer.

ARE YOU IN?????

If food labels said “Sugar” it would be a cinch to figure out what foods to eliminate. That’s why the burden lies with us………………………. and Knowledge is Power!!!!

CODE WORDS FOR SUGAR

This list is just a Start and by no means inclusive!!

FRUCTOSE
AGAVE
DEXTROSE
CANE JUICE CRYSTALS, EXTRACT
CANE SUGAR
MOLASSES
FRUIT JUICE CONCENTRATE
FRUIT JUICE
SORBITOL
TURBINADO SUGAR
DEHYDRATED CANE JUICE
CORN SYRUP (OR HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP)
SUGAR
INVERT SUGAR
LACTOSE
MALTODEXTRIN
HONEY
MALTOSE
GLUCOSE
SUCANAT
BARLEY MALT

Regardless of how they spell it – ALL of the above are SUGAR!!!!

Sugar is a common ingredient in most processed foods, even if it doesn’t taste sweet. That’s why you need to check out the food label and be a “Label Detective”. Salad dressings, ketchup spaghetti sauce and peanut butter often contain some form of sugar. Despite the sugar not being listed in the top ingredients, it might have 2-4 different types of sugars included:☹

Don’t’get schnookered by the healthy packaging and how it screams out to you – instead do some sleuthing and check out the food label and ingredients as they always tell a different story.

Remember you are now “Armed and Dangerous” and ready to select the healthiest and best tasting food for you and your loved ones!!!

I almost flew off the treadmill today!!! I saw 3 commercials in a row that made me CRAZY!!! Yes I’m as mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore……..

1) The Kashi Commercial that claims their cereal has more protein than an egg!
2) Corn Growers stating that “Corn Sugar” (which is code for high fructose corn syrup) is equivalent to sugar
3) Splenda who advertises that their product now has fiber and therefore its healthy

I find it quite upsetting that these commercials are allowed to air. Consumers need to be armed with the truth!!!!

1) If you are looking for a healthy protein to consume for breakfast nothing beats an egg. Kashi uses soy protein in its cereal. Who knows if they use genetically modified soybeans as it doesn’t say GMO free on the box! Kashi cereal is not equivalent to an egg!!!! Lose the cereal and have some egg whites with spinach.

2) The Corn Refiners Association is hoping that consumers will be sweet on their new name for High Fructose Corn Sugar – Corn Sugar!!! What nerve!! Did you know the use of high fructose corn syrup has been linked to an increased risk of overweight and obesity, among other things. Stop hiding behind a new name and call it what it is. Where is the integrity??

3) Splenda – newsflash: Splenda isn’t so splendid afterall!! Splenda is a chlorinated artificial sweetener – a chemical substance. It is not natural. When I’m looking for fiber I am soo not looking at Splenda as a resource. If you want a natural sweetener try Stevia.

Knowledge is power – the choice is in your hands – you decide for yourself!!!

The Grapefruit Diet, Cabbage Diet, Soup Diet, Starvation Diet……….Diets come and go!!!!!! But the fact remains: the extra weight prevails. More importantly, these fad diets can be dangerous.

Here’s a quick snapshot of some trends that many believe are the real deal:

1) Meat is BAD for You

This fact remains an issue for women. We find that most women don’t consume enough protein! Here’s a reality check: if you don’t get your protein from your diet, your body will take it from your lean muscle mass!!!! And that my “Protein Fearing Friends” is a big PROBLEM!!!!!  We need our lean muscle mass to burn fat. Women are under the misnomer that having too much muscle mass means you will look like the Hulk! NOT TRUE!!  The reality is lean muscle mass will make you look lean and toned.  Think fitness model:)

If that doesn’t work for you how about this: for every pound of muscle you gain, your body will burn an extra 50 calories per week. Lean muscle burns more calories that fat does.  How would you like to burn calories while resting or sleeping??  Increase your lean muscle mass!!!!

2) Fat Free is the way to Go

Heck no!!! Fat free is code for Sugar laden and calorie packed.  Think about it – if they are removing the fat what are the replacing it with?  HELLO!!!  Many take the liberty of eating more when the food is “Fat Free”.  Remember when Snack Well Cookies first came out? I remember the Chocolate Chip Cookies – they were really small and people were eating the entire box in one seating.  Why not its fat free!!

Not only is a fat-free diet not healthy its also not filling.  Fat has an important place in your diet and its critical for body function even while watching your weight.  Our bodies require monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.

3) Run From All Carbs

All carbohydrates are not created equal!!  Run from refined carbs such as white bread and soda.  The staple for many Americans.  Choose healthier carbs like whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.  Yes veggies are a carb!!!  If every plate was filled with a rainbow of veggies everyday life would be good:)  We need to compliment our proteins and fats with an assortment of vegetables.  The alkaline rich vegetables balance the acidic based protein!! When was the last time you had a piece of fruit?  How about quinoa?  There are many whole grains to choose from.

4) Cut Calories and Weight Loss is Ensured

We are talking quality versus quantity here.   Choose foods, be it protein, carbs, veggie, fats that are as close to their natural state as possible.  The more the food has been modified or altered the less nutritional value it has.  Fish=go for wild, meat=look for grain fed beef, chicken=cage free.  Think: what would your grandparents eat?  Now all of my grandparents hailed from Ireland and they had no clue as to a Whooper or a Big Mac. They didn’t have much raising their large families but my parents always said they were never hungry. Believe it or not I have found although I might pay alittle more for quality the taste is 100% better and the health benefits are PRICELESS. I eat my veggies and fruits according to the seasons – ensuring that they are fresh and priced accordingly.

5) All Brown Grains are Best

All things brown are not created equal!  There are alot of poseurs out there, don’t be fooled. Your best bet is to choose Whole Grain and Whole Wheat when checking your labels.

Its the extra fiber in whole grains that is paramount.  First and foremost: You feel full and you eat less:)  In addition, it helps regulate the insulin that’s produced with every meal you consume.

How’s that for a reality check?

Ice Cream is the Hot Treat of the Summer Season and I wanted to give you the 411.

I love gelato – there I said it!!! I experienced Italian gelato while on vacation in Italy during the summer of 2006. And I was thrilled to discover that the delicious, creamy treat has significantly less calories, fat, and sugar than ice cream. Plus it tastes sooo much better than ice cream☺

I’d like to share with you the cold hard facts about ice cream………..remember knowledge is power!!! Life is about making choices – so here it is…………..

GELATO VS ICE CREAM

Chocolate per 100 gram

Did you know that when you eat is just as important as what you eat? Ideally you should eat breakfast within 2 hours of waking up. You should be fueling your body every 3-4 hours during the day.

Keep stoking your metabolism by having 2 snacks in between your 3 main meals. This will keep your blood sugar levels up!

Apple with Natural Organic Peanut Butter
Carrots/Celery with Humus
Plain Greek Yogurt with Crushed Walnuts (or almonds) and Berries of your choice
Baked Rome Apple topped with Cinnamon, Walnuts and a dash of Light Olive Oil
Organic Free Range Eggs – hardboiled, or make an omelette

On the go and need a quick snack? Here are some snacks that act like mini energy boosters:

Walnuts
Sunflower Seeds
Pumpkin Seeds
Sesame Seeds

The good news is that these snacks can be found in most convenience stores and airport shops.

Skip on the Sweets – Ok you are drained and you just need alitttle somethin’. Typically we are looking for the “Sugar “Rush”. But the truth is: sugar gives a temporary lift and with all things that go up you will come down and Crash. The bottom line is you feel worse than when you started. Add to that the never-ending sense of guilt!!!!

TIP: Never eat anything labeled “Fat Free” – that’s code for the fat has been removed and replaced with sugar.

CHALLENGE: Avoid sugar like the plague for 24 hours. Note how much your energy level increases.

Share with us how your 24 swearing off sugar goes.

Coca Cola

12 oz (355 ml) Can

Sugars, total: 39g<NOBR>

Calories, total: 140Calories from sugar: 140

20 oz (590 ml) Bottle

Sugars, total: 65g

Calories, total: 240

Calories from sugar: 240

1 Liter (34 oz) Bottle

Sugars, total: 108g

Calories, total: 400

Calories from sugar: 400

THE SUGAR KEEPS STACKING UP Read the rest of this entry »