Today, I have started counting calories again. While it is time consuming and a little bit annoying at times, I saw great results the last go round. Not only did I lose a significant amount of weight when I was counting calories (and exercising) but I learned a lot about portion sizes and about healthy and non healthy foods. I started actively comparing items I purchased based on the nutritional facts and making healthier choices.
Overall it gave me a much better sense of what I was putting in my body. The nutrition facts on products can be scary, and I have literally tossed products back on the shelf after reading them, thinking to myself, there is no way I am ever going to eat that. If this is your first attempt at counting calories beware it can be a little shocking at first!
Personally, I use the Calorie Counter app by MyFitnessPal on my android phone, however there are dozens of different apps and websites available for you to choose from. I like MyFitnessPal because you can track as little or as much as you like including weight, workouts, and more. It also has a neat little feature where the app tells you that if you do this good everyday you should be down to so many pounds in 2 weeks.
So here is back to reading nutrition facts and logging every sip and bite, may it be well worth the effort!
Showing posts with label healthy eating. Show all posts
Showing posts with label healthy eating. Show all posts
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Monday, March 21, 2011
Children and Healthy Habits
Growing up, I knew I was over weight. What I didn't know was how to change it. I was told to get out more often, eat better. No one taught me about calories, nutrition facts or aerobic exercise. I'm not angry about it, health and weight education was not as readily available as it is today.
When I was thirteen, my family and I talked to my doctor about my weight I was prescribed the diet drug combo knows as Phen-Fen, until I fell to the floor with chest pains and was told to quit immediately. Since then I have tried other diet pills and crash diets. No one taught me about lifestyle changes and healthy habits.
I am very thankful that now, when my kids are growing up, healthy choices are in the spotlight. People have gotten tired of being fed over sized, high calorie meals and are now pushing corporations to make changes. The government is also making steps towards changing how people think and feel about their food, and Kudos! to Michelle Obama for her "Let's Move" campaign and Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution for bringing that to our children.
I am proud to say that my children are aware that what they eat and exercise are important. They both know and understand what a nutrition label is and why I am reading them. (They even brought me home 2 of my favorite Naked Juices instead of cake for my birthday yesterday, because they know I am trying to lose weight and eat better.)
It's important for us to teach our children about making healthy choices. Talk to your kids when you are reading labels, tell them why the ingredients you are using are healthy, tell them why you are grabbing a diet instead of a regular soda. They listen and absorb more then you would think. Help your children make the choices that will lead to a healthier lifestyle as adults.
When I was thirteen, my family and I talked to my doctor about my weight I was prescribed the diet drug combo knows as Phen-Fen, until I fell to the floor with chest pains and was told to quit immediately. Since then I have tried other diet pills and crash diets. No one taught me about lifestyle changes and healthy habits.
I am very thankful that now, when my kids are growing up, healthy choices are in the spotlight. People have gotten tired of being fed over sized, high calorie meals and are now pushing corporations to make changes. The government is also making steps towards changing how people think and feel about their food, and Kudos! to Michelle Obama for her "Let's Move" campaign and Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution for bringing that to our children.
I am proud to say that my children are aware that what they eat and exercise are important. They both know and understand what a nutrition label is and why I am reading them. (They even brought me home 2 of my favorite Naked Juices instead of cake for my birthday yesterday, because they know I am trying to lose weight and eat better.)
It's important for us to teach our children about making healthy choices. Talk to your kids when you are reading labels, tell them why the ingredients you are using are healthy, tell them why you are grabbing a diet instead of a regular soda. They listen and absorb more then you would think. Help your children make the choices that will lead to a healthier lifestyle as adults.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Super Natural Food?
There is no such thing as super natural food right? By that logic everything is natural, from the blueberries picked off the bush to the rubber in your tires. That means that every thing you eat is technically "natural" by the meaning of the word.
I find it hilarious how many companies and products are labelling their food as healthy and all natural, like Pizza Hut when they came out with their "Natural Pizza," I wanted to laugh. There was nothing special about that pizza, nor the word natural.
The Federal Food and Drug Administration do not regulate the word natural, and there for everyone can slap the label natural on anything they like, even genetically modified foods can be given the term natural, and most people just accept it as a healthy choice.
Well Stop! Please remember that marketing comes up with these coined terms and ideas, to make you think things are healthier then they are. You have to try and remain objective, read labels and think for yourself!
If someone does find a super natural food though, please let me know! Can you just see ghostly bell peppers, or bread with ESP? I can just hear it now... "don't eat me!"
I find it hilarious how many companies and products are labelling their food as healthy and all natural, like Pizza Hut when they came out with their "Natural Pizza," I wanted to laugh. There was nothing special about that pizza, nor the word natural.
The Federal Food and Drug Administration do not regulate the word natural, and there for everyone can slap the label natural on anything they like, even genetically modified foods can be given the term natural, and most people just accept it as a healthy choice.
Well Stop! Please remember that marketing comes up with these coined terms and ideas, to make you think things are healthier then they are. You have to try and remain objective, read labels and think for yourself!
If someone does find a super natural food though, please let me know! Can you just see ghostly bell peppers, or bread with ESP? I can just hear it now... "don't eat me!"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)