The Body is a Wonderland...

Ok, so I keep hearing (and reading ) that these nutrients help you lose weight. I’m not a big fan of dairy as of late (although I adore cheese) but if it helps I would be willing to give it a shot…again. Come to think of it, when I ate more dairy (as well as peanut butter & Sushi) I was slimmer &…

If you’re eating tends to be pleasure-driven, you may be a hedonic eater. Eating for enjoyment or entertainment isn’t new. We often eat because food is available, it’s free, or we know it’s going to taste good, even if we’re not hungry. But researchers in Italy have identified a specific type of pleasure-driven eating they call hedonic eating. In a small study involving eight subjects scientists found that eating for gratification, rather than physiological hunger, triggers the release of hormones that up appetite, and therefore stimulate continued eating, even after satiety has been reached. In the study blood levels of hunger hormones surged after eating cakes, but not after eating bread, butter, and milk. While the connection isn’t completely understood, the hormonal reaction seems to occur with foods tied more closely with emotional, rather than physical, hunger.

I’m fascinated with this type of research because I devoted an entire chapter in MY NEWEST BOOK to emotional eating. In my years of working with clients I’ve seen that losing weight or eating healthfully isn’t simply about nutrition knowledge or having the right plan or recipes. We’re practically taught from birth to turn to food to feel good or at least feel better, whether it be for comfort, reward, escape, or celebration. In my opinion understanding that connection is the foundation of transforming your relationship with food and untangling eating from emotions. But it’s important to acknowledge that there is a physiological component.

Keep reading to find out if you are a Hedonic Eater. Are You a Hedonic Eater? - http://pulse.me/s/96HfH

beautifulpicturesofhealthyfood:

The recipe is two handfuls of baby spinach, 1 cup of chunk pineapple, 2 bananas, 1 cup of plain greek yogurt and 1 cup of filtered water. Blend well and enjoy

Top 10 Ways to Lose 10 Pounds Safely - http://pulse.me/s/4ID7s

Conventional wisdom tells us that losing 1 – 2 lbs per week is both safe and effective when it comes to keeping the pounds off longterm. But if you’ve ever actually lost a significant amount of weight, you know that a steady loss of 1 – 2 lbs at a time is not the reality. It’s more like a steep drop down, followed by a period of plateau, then hopefully steady decline.

While on one hand we have the the National Institute of Health telling us that we should aim for 1 – 2 lbs per week of weight loss, on the other hand we have weight loss reality shows demonstrating that we should do whatever it takes to get big weight loss numbers during weekly weigh-ins. On shows like The Biggest Loser and Celebrity Fit Club, the only thing that matters how many pounds were lost each week when you get up on the scale. Imagine how entertaining the show would be if each week, contestants battled it out to see whose cholesterol had moved closer to normal? Or imagine all of the contestants on a stage, getting their blood pressure taken, as America sits on the edge of their seats. None of this is likely to happen. People like the drama of seeing weight loss contestants slim down as fast as possible. We are a nation of quick-fixes. But I would argue that the reality of weight loss lies between these two extremes. For example, I had a family member who dropped 10 lbs in two weeks just from quitting her daily cola habit cold turkey.

The DailyBurn community also contains community members who have lost weight very quickly just from logging their foods regularly. The main benefit of keeping a food log is that it brings an awareness to your eating patterns. By recognizing the volume of processed foods, sugars, and grains that the average Americans eat, people can make informed decisions regarding eliminating these foods from their diet.

Here are healthy weight loss tactics that can accelerate your weight loss beyond the suggested 1 –2 lbs per week:

• Eliminate sugar. If you cut out all forms of added sugar, including soda, snacks, pastries, and processed foods, you will lose weight faster than if you increased your exercise volume but kept these foods in your diet. For example, a 12 oz can of Coca-Cola has 39g of sugar, which is 156 calories of sugar. If you have 3 servings a day each day, you are getting 3,276 calories of sugar per week thanks to soda alone. Since you need to cut 3,500 calories to lose a pound, then you would lose close to 1 pound per week if you just cut out soda.

• Eliminate grains. Many people struggle with gluten sensitivity without even knowing about it. Gluten is a protein in wheat that makes wheat flour sticky and pliable. The high fiber content of grains like oatmeal and whole wheat can actually aggravate the digestive tract, leading to gas and bloating. By eliminating grains, many people notice that they lose additional weight thanks due to undiagnosed digestive problems.

•  Decrease sodium. Elevated sodium levels on the body can result in water retention. Most Americans get way more than the recommended 1500 mg per day that the National Institute of Health has set as a recommended daily allowance. By decreasing the sodium in your diet, you’ll eliminate water weight, which will result in more weight lost.

• Sip on herbal tea. Teas like Green Tea Blueberry Slim Life from Yogi Tea contain herbs that are traditional appetite suppressants. Sipping on tea will also distract you if you tend to be a mindless eater. Include high intensity intervals in your workouts. Increasing the intensity of your workouts will help you lose weight faster. Increasing the duration of your workout won’t.

So if you are struggling with a plateau or just trying to find some techniques that will help you see some faster results to keep you motivated. Keep these in mind!

(Source: life.dailyburn.com)

Today is the first day of my Low-Carb, Paleo hybrid. I will not be eating any processed foods or grains (unless they happen to be in something I am eating already like…ooops, there are tortillas chip on my salad), I will be limiting dairy, salt and sugar (the latter of which I am trying to give up completely) for at least 10 days. Its gonna be hard to avoid dairy, salt and sugar because it is in everything that you buy. I am hoping that I wll be able to cook most of my meals BUT it is really hard with my current schedule. But if I do eat out, I am hoping that I keep the amounts minimal by being mindful. After that, I will be trying to go full Paleo for 10 days. At that point, NO processed foods (that aren’t marked Paleo of course), sugar, dairy or salt (well maybe a little for flavor but maybe not).We’ll see what happens the 10 days after that.

Well wish me luck cause here I go…AGAIN!

Has totally been my mindset lately. This is gonna change today!

(Source: obama-fix-this, via loodjiesworld)

This is sooooo me right now. So much has been going on lately and I have been eating so bad and for no good reason (besides adjusting to my new work schedule and going on vacation). It is a new month. Summer is literally almost here so I HAVE to get back on it and stick with it ASAP.

(Source: lifebeachpeace, via loodjiesworld)

health-heaven:

1. Lean Protein

Gram for gram, protein will help to keep you feeling fuller longer compared to carbohydrates and fat.

2. Whole Grains

To help you stay sharp and focused throughout the morning since they’re slower-burning carbs, plus you’ll get some essential vitamins and minerals.

3. Fruit (or Vegetables)

For more vitamins, minerals and feel-full fiber and to help you knock off at least one of your daily recommended produce servings.

(Source: muffintop-less, via skinny-before-summer)

Choose one

(via craving-tiny-deactivated2012112)

So true. This is usually The Boyf’s reaction to me hearing the cabinet doors closing or a cereal box opening not too long after dinner. LMAO

beautylifepainlast:

When you just had dinner and someone catches you in the fridge 20 minutes later getting more food and they say: “But you just ate dinner like 20 mi…..”

(via skinnytea-deactivated20120326)