While reading my morning weight loss and fitness emails today I ran across a very crude and funny article.
The article is the about the fact that Pringles Light uses Olean (the brand name of Olestra) as a way to reduce the amount of bad fats they use to make their "light" chips and the side effects of eating them.
For you who do not know, Olestra has some pretty nasty side effets including loose stool, diarrhea, and abdominal cramping. Also Olestra inhibits absorption of certain vitamins and nutrients.
The FDA was also very hesitant to approve this product fearing consumers would eat more junk food with Olestra since it had less calories and would not make healthier choices in their food.
Well Olestra/Olean were approved by the FDA and are now in several varieties of chips. The writer of this article learned first hand about the after math of eating to many Olean chips. Readers beware, this article is graphic and kind of raunchy, but it has a point. Read at your own risk...
The Article: Pringles Light!
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Food TV Blues
I have a hard time watching cooking shows. They have this horrible side effect of making me think I am hungry.
However, I've learned it's better to watch my cooking shows after I have eaten. The food still looks amazing, but I'm not as tempted to eat.
Plus I get inspired to try and make the food I saw on the show or some healthier version.
We watched Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives tonight and they had a pretty good looking veggie burger, but now I want to make my own! I will try and find a recipe to share...
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Hydrate yourself
It's very important to properly hydrate yourself at all times. Drinking water is vital to keeping your body healthy.
Yes coffee and soda do count, but they also have ingredients that are not good for you and do not flush out your body like water does.
It's also very common to wean yourself off soda with water. Soda is a hard habit to break believe me I know first hand how hard.
Drinking water also combats water weight. It sounds silly, but your body won't retain and hold excess water if you are properly hydrated.
So drink your eight glasses today!!
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Homemade Pizza
Last night we made our own pizza at home and it was delicious. I picked up the Pillsbury Thin Crust Pizza Dough in a tube in the dairy section at Safeway yesterday for half price!
I already had sun dried tomatoes in the cupboard and crimini mushrooms from two nights ago. I grabbed some spinach from the produce section and bought some pre-cooked roasted chicken pieces. Another item I already had in my fridge is a tube of fresh Italian herbs, which I mixed into a little bit of oil.
We bake the pizza crust on a cookie sheet for 5 minutes before you add your toppings and bake for an additional 6-10 minutes. I smeared some of my herb oil on the crust and sprinkled on shredded mozzarella cheese, diced chicken, sun dried tomatoes, crimini mushrooms and onion.
When it came out of the oven I sprinkled it with a little Parmesan cheese. It was amazing. It was very light, but still was very filling. The only improvement I felt was the oil herb mixture needed more Italian herb mixture.
My significant other made his pizza his way. It consisted of sun dried tomatoes mixed into a Alfredo Marinara sauce we had in the fridge, with chicken, mushrooms, lots of onion and mozzarella cheese. I tried to only eat a bite, but I ended up eating a whole slice of his too.
Best part, I ate like 1/4 of the pizza and only put myself back 485 calories. A slice of pizza from the leading pizza chains can set you back anywhere from 300-600 calories PER slice, and we all know they don't use fresh ingredients.
Admittedly, my dough wasn't fresh and the chicken was precooked but I still think it's a step up from the fast food choice.
I already had sun dried tomatoes in the cupboard and crimini mushrooms from two nights ago. I grabbed some spinach from the produce section and bought some pre-cooked roasted chicken pieces. Another item I already had in my fridge is a tube of fresh Italian herbs, which I mixed into a little bit of oil.
We bake the pizza crust on a cookie sheet for 5 minutes before you add your toppings and bake for an additional 6-10 minutes. I smeared some of my herb oil on the crust and sprinkled on shredded mozzarella cheese, diced chicken, sun dried tomatoes, crimini mushrooms and onion.
When it came out of the oven I sprinkled it with a little Parmesan cheese. It was amazing. It was very light, but still was very filling. The only improvement I felt was the oil herb mixture needed more Italian herb mixture.
My significant other made his pizza his way. It consisted of sun dried tomatoes mixed into a Alfredo Marinara sauce we had in the fridge, with chicken, mushrooms, lots of onion and mozzarella cheese. I tried to only eat a bite, but I ended up eating a whole slice of his too.
Best part, I ate like 1/4 of the pizza and only put myself back 485 calories. A slice of pizza from the leading pizza chains can set you back anywhere from 300-600 calories PER slice, and we all know they don't use fresh ingredients.
Admittedly, my dough wasn't fresh and the chicken was precooked but I still think it's a step up from the fast food choice.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
You're getting sleepy
What's the connection between sleep and weight loss/gain? Well, there seems to be a whole lot of different opinions out there on the subject. However, they all seem to have a common thread.
Those who sleep between 7 and 9 hours a night, will have a much better chance of losing weight, and keeping it off. For those who sleep less then 7 hours a night, you have a 30% higher chance of obesity.
Scientists are still trying to track down the exact cause, but it seems that the lack of sleep affects two important hormones in your body. Ghrelin is the hormone in your body that tells you you are hungry, and Leptin is the hormone that tells your body you're full.
For those who sleep less, there is higher levels of Ghrelin and lower levels of Leptin. Therefore, your body is being told to eat more and told to stop less.
However, for those people suffering from sleep apnea this is not always the case, sometimes it's actually reversed and the person can have abnormally high levels of Leptin, but the brain doesn't seem to get the message. Once sleep apnea is treated in patients, it is common for patients to naturally lose weight once sleeping patterns are restored.
Your challenge, should you choose to accept it is to try and get 8 hours of sleep tonight and every night! You need it, and so do I! (Wish someone told that to the cops last night when they swarmed my apartment building at 1am to arrest my neighbor!)
Those who sleep between 7 and 9 hours a night, will have a much better chance of losing weight, and keeping it off. For those who sleep less then 7 hours a night, you have a 30% higher chance of obesity.
Scientists are still trying to track down the exact cause, but it seems that the lack of sleep affects two important hormones in your body. Ghrelin is the hormone in your body that tells you you are hungry, and Leptin is the hormone that tells your body you're full.
For those who sleep less, there is higher levels of Ghrelin and lower levels of Leptin. Therefore, your body is being told to eat more and told to stop less.
However, for those people suffering from sleep apnea this is not always the case, sometimes it's actually reversed and the person can have abnormally high levels of Leptin, but the brain doesn't seem to get the message. Once sleep apnea is treated in patients, it is common for patients to naturally lose weight once sleeping patterns are restored.
Your challenge, should you choose to accept it is to try and get 8 hours of sleep tonight and every night! You need it, and so do I! (Wish someone told that to the cops last night when they swarmed my apartment building at 1am to arrest my neighbor!)
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
This Week's Progress
This week has been fairly good. I had hit a plateau for a week or two and the scale wasn't really moving. However, after downloading the My Fitness Pal app on my android phone and religiously counting calories, I am down 3 lbs! I still feel like I need to boost up the actual exercise though. Even when I work out 2-3 times a week, I feel like I should be doing more.
However, I am losing just the right amount every week or two weeks though, so I remind myself it took 18 years to get this heavy it's going to take at least that many months to lose it all. If I keep it up at this pace I should be right where I want to be by next summer! Look out swimsuit here I come!
So just remember, take it one day at a time. This will not happen over night and don't kill yourself trying to do that. Baby steps...
However, I am losing just the right amount every week or two weeks though, so I remind myself it took 18 years to get this heavy it's going to take at least that many months to lose it all. If I keep it up at this pace I should be right where I want to be by next summer! Look out swimsuit here I come!
So just remember, take it one day at a time. This will not happen over night and don't kill yourself trying to do that. Baby steps...
Sunday, April 24, 2011
What's your dream home gym?
Not everyone has the luxury of having a gym membership or a home gym set up. I am lucky and have the Wii Fit, but I am looking to expand and gradually build a home gym for the whole family to utilize.
Here's what I would like in my home gym:
1. Pro-Form XT 70 Treadmill - $400
I miss my treadmill, and wish I had been even half as dedicated when I had it, then now. Treadmills are great Aerobic exercise and with a treadmill you can workout in the comfort of your own home, and out of the weather.
2. Stamina CPS 1305 Indoor Upright Exercise Bike - $110
Another great aerobics work out. Also nice for when you'd like to work out and still have the option to sit down and read, or play on your phone.
3. Century Aerobic Waivemaster Punching Bag - $92
I would like to strengthen up my arms, but I live in an apartment, therefore I can't go hanging a heavy bag from the ceiling. So this free standing version would be a better (and cheaper) option.
4. Valeo Adjustable Wrist and Ankle Weights - $13
These are totally cool ankle/wrist weights that are adjustable. There are five pockets with one pound removable weights, letting you go from 1 to 5 pounds. Plus wearing wrist or ankle weights leaves your hands free. Buy 2 sets and you can wear them on your ankles and wrists at the same time for extra strength building.
5. Weider 65cm Stability Ball - $15
These exercise balls are great for core work outs and sit ups. One of these can help tone up your tummy. I had one when I was pregnant, it was great till either a cat or small child popped it later on :) I'm still not sure which it was...
6. Tone Fitness 5, 10 & 15 pound Vinly Cement Kettlebell Set - $35
These have become fairly popular in gyms and work outs I've seen advertised lately and would like to give them a try. I like that it comes with 3 different weights, so you can start out small and work your way up.
The grand total for my dream gym actually comes to a nice moderate price of $755 before tax and any shipping costs. Considering how many single machines I have seen out there for thousands of dollars, I was surprised with my grand total.
What would you put in your dream gym? Are you trying to bulk up or slim down? How much would your dream home gym cost you?
Here's what I would like in my home gym:
1. Pro-Form XT 70 Treadmill - $400
I miss my treadmill, and wish I had been even half as dedicated when I had it, then now. Treadmills are great Aerobic exercise and with a treadmill you can workout in the comfort of your own home, and out of the weather.
2. Stamina CPS 1305 Indoor Upright Exercise Bike - $110
Another great aerobics work out. Also nice for when you'd like to work out and still have the option to sit down and read, or play on your phone.
3. Century Aerobic Waivemaster Punching Bag - $92
I would like to strengthen up my arms, but I live in an apartment, therefore I can't go hanging a heavy bag from the ceiling. So this free standing version would be a better (and cheaper) option.
4. Valeo Adjustable Wrist and Ankle Weights - $13
These are totally cool ankle/wrist weights that are adjustable. There are five pockets with one pound removable weights, letting you go from 1 to 5 pounds. Plus wearing wrist or ankle weights leaves your hands free. Buy 2 sets and you can wear them on your ankles and wrists at the same time for extra strength building.
5. Weider 65cm Stability Ball - $15
These exercise balls are great for core work outs and sit ups. One of these can help tone up your tummy. I had one when I was pregnant, it was great till either a cat or small child popped it later on :) I'm still not sure which it was...
6. Tone Fitness 5, 10 & 15 pound Vinly Cement Kettlebell Set - $35
These have become fairly popular in gyms and work outs I've seen advertised lately and would like to give them a try. I like that it comes with 3 different weights, so you can start out small and work your way up.
The grand total for my dream gym actually comes to a nice moderate price of $755 before tax and any shipping costs. Considering how many single machines I have seen out there for thousands of dollars, I was surprised with my grand total.
What would you put in your dream gym? Are you trying to bulk up or slim down? How much would your dream home gym cost you?
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