Happy Halloween

Q: Why didn’t the skeleton go to the ball? 

A: Because he had no BODY to go with. 

Happy Halloween - could not help adding the cheesy joke :)

7 Things To Not Put In Your Salad If You Are Trying To Lose Weight.

Think salads are a foolproof lunch plan if you’re on a diet? Not so fast. Just because it’s green does not mean it’s healthy. While salads are a great way to get more essential vitamins and nutrients that most of us don’t eat often enough, it’s easy to load up on ingredients that make a good salad go bad. Here are seven things you shouldn’t even think about putting in your salad if you’re trying to lose weight.

CRISPY CHICKEN, SHRIMP, OR TOFU

Crispy chicken, coconut shrimp, fried tofu, or any other coated protein that add unnecessary calories and, often, a dose of sugar—making your salad not so diet-friendly. “But you always want to add a lean source of protein to your salad to help satisfy and fill you up,” says New York City-based nutritionist Brigitte Zeitlin, R.D. Instead, opt for grilled chicken, shrimp, salmon, canned tuna (minus the mayo), hard-boiled eggs, steamed tofu, or edamame.

CRUNCHY NOODLES, WONTONS, AND TORTILLA STRIPS

“Crunchy noodles are like eating chips,” says Bonnie Taub-Dix, R.D.N., creator of BetterThanDieting.com and author of Read It Before You Eat It. All they add to your salad are calories (around 120 per half cup) and fat (half of those calories, at around 60 grams). Same goes for tortilla strips or wontons. Instead, toss in half a cup of dried chickpeas for crunch: Part of the superfood bean family, they have protein to fill you up as well as soluble fiber, which may lower cholesterol levels. Zeitlin suggests adding one to two tablespoons almonds, walnuts, pistachios, hemp seeds, or pumpkin seeds. “These guys add heart-healthy fats that help fill you up so that you feel satisfied and don’t look for unnecessary snacks between meals,” she says.

Related: Can Eating Avocados Help You Lose Weight?

How Much Honey Is Too Much?

Many people swear by honey as a healthy sweetener, an alternative to sugar or non-caloric chemical sweeteners. But can you go overboard on this tasty treat and is it really as good for you as you think?

Angela Lemond, a registered dietitian nutritionist in Texas, warns that sometimes since honey is natural, it isn’t automatically filed away in our minds as sugar, but, she says, “it is considered an added sugar when you eat it.” Womp womp.

“It can be easy to go overboard on honey, especially when you’re adding it directly to smoothies, oatmeal, or other recipes and not measuring it out beforehand,” says Torey Armul, R.D., an Ohio-based dietitian. “It’s difficult to gauge portions when using it straight from the bottle, and the sugar content adds up quickly.” Armul says too much honey consumption is linked to weight gain, diabetes, and tooth decay. Additionally, “there is a significant amount of fructose in honey," says Sonya Angelone, R.D.N, a California nutritionist, who recommends against eating honey in general. Fructose is known to cause gas and bloating, and Angelone says people can develop those types of GI problems when eating honey.

 Related: How To Kill Your Sugar Addiction Naturally

This is not to say you should go cold-turkey with your honey. It has its own benefits, from making food taste better to soothing sore throats. Raw, unfiltered honey in particular is rich in probiotics and antioxidants that you won't find in regular sugar. 

Can You Eat Pizza Every Day And Still Lose Weight?

If you were stuck on a desert island and could only eat one food the rest of your life, pizza wouldn’t be a bad way to go. But if you're trying to lose weight, it's definitely not the obvious choice.

However, according to the New York Post, one New York City chef (and Naples, Italy native) dropped nearly 100 pounds by, among other changes, eating a pizza for lunch every day. Which begs the question: Can eating a slice a day really help you shed pounds? 

“Monotony has its advantages when it comes to weight loss,” says Jennifer McDaniel, R.D. She says some research has also found that eating the same thing day after day can lead you to want to eat less of it, while variety can spark appetite even when you're full. A limited menu, therefore, can be less tempting and simpler to plan—at least for a while.

“If weight loss is your goal, sometimes repetition can be helpful,” agrees Brigitte Zeitlin, R.D. “Some studies have shown that consistency can help when it comes to changing habits. For example, if you are trying to lose weight and never eat breakfast, then eating the same thing every day for breakfast can make the new morning routine easier to get accustomed to instead of trying to think of seven different breakfasts for the week.”

Actors Give Advice on Diet & Exercise

             


Really interesting video. Its about how actors deal with getting to the right weight for movies. The motivation remains the same whichever size you want to be. It all takes hard work.

Let me know what you think?

5 Side Effects Of Paleo Diet You Need To Know

If you haven’t heard about the paleo diet by now, you must be living in a cave—ironically, the very place this prehistoric meal plan supposedly originated. “The idea is based on eating like your ancestors ate,” says Lisa Young, R.D. author of The Portion Teller Plan. “Very often, you’re going high protein, lower carb, and cutting out dairy and sugar.” In other words, eat like a caveman.

Paleo isn’t without its pros: You’re cutting out a ton of processed foods and the higher protein-to-carb ratio can leave you satisfied with smaller portions, helping with weight loss. But, says Young, “it’s totally not sustainable. Whenever you cut out entire food groups, you’re not going to be able to live with it for a long time.” Plus, she points out, paleo advocates also restrict a lot of healthy plant-based proteins including beans and legumes, some whole grains, and low-fat dairy—all foods that have been shown to help with weight loss.

Ultimately, Young says, paleo dieting can be a good way to jumpstart a more whole-foods approach to your diet and eliminate processed junk food and sugar. Just don’t go caveman crazy. It’s okay—more than that, good for you—to have beans, legumes, whole grains, starches, and some low-fat dairy in your diet.


Related: 6 Things That Happen When You Give Up Carbs

But even paleo devotees who do achieve the loincloth-ready bodies of their dreams may have other side effects to contend with. For instance:

This May Be The Reason You Are Not Losing Weight.

When designing a weight-loss meal plan, it might be time to look further down the label than the calorie count and start focusing on upping your protein intake. If you're having a hard time incorporating adequate protein into your diet, here's why it's time to start.

It keeps you satisfied: According to Esther Blum, clinical and holistic dietitian and the author of Cavewomen Don't Get Fat, high-protein foods regulate your appetite since they take more work to "digest, metabolise, and use, which means you burn more calories processing them." With Esther's clients, she's found that many start to shed pounds with more ease once they start to eat more protein.


Related: How Much Protein Should You Eat To Lose Weight

It repairs muscle tissue: A recent study shows that in addition to a regular exercise routine, doubling your protein intake may be the key to losing fat pounds without dropping muscle mass. According to Tim Rich, a fitness manager at Crunch Gym, anyone doing endurance or strength training needs at least 10 grams of protein right after an intense workout to make sure the body receives the proper nutrients to aid in muscle repair and recovery. This is important to keep in mind as you're choosing the perfect post-workout snack.