How do you get your loved ones to care about being healthy? You’ve tried discussing the health benefits. You’ve tried scaring them with the facts. You gave up dessert hoping they’d join you, and you lavished them with praise when they dusted off their bike. You gently explained that you were worried. Then you bitterly announced they looked 9 months pregnant. And after all this… it seems you’ve had no influence whatsoever. Mom’s still carting around large McFrappés. Your spouse insists that trekking up and down the stairs is plenty of exercise. And your kids, you suspect, are squandering their lunch money on Cheetos and Mountain Dew. Trying to influence healthy habits can seem like walking across a minefield. You … Continue reading
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Are You A Fitness Influencer? 4 Ways to Help Others Be Healthy
How do you get your loved ones to care about being healthy? You’ve tried discussing the health benefits. You’ve tried scaring them with the facts. You gave up dessert hoping they’d join you, and you lavished them with praise when they dusted off their bike. You gently explained that you were worried. Then you bitterly announced they looked 9 months pregnant. And after all this… it seems you’ve had no influence whatsoever. Mom’s still carting around large McFrappés. Your spouse insists that trekking up and down the stairs is plenty of exercise. And your kids, you suspect, are squandering their lunch money on Cheetos and Mountain Dew. Trying to influence healthy habits can seem like walking across a minefield. You … Continue reading
The Metabolism Myths: What You Should Know
Metabolism is a great word for companies trying to sell you something, and the claims are getting somewhat ridiculous. If you’ve ever seen something that claimed to “kick your metabolism into overdrive!” or talks about changing your body’s Base Metabolic Rate (BMR) then you’re likely being sold a bill of goods. So what are the things that everyone should know about their metabolism? Do you have a skinny friend that has the metabolism of a hummingbird while you feel like you’re severely limiting your caloric intake and not losing weight? It must be the metabolism thing, right? Actually, probably not. In fact, on average, skinnier people are shown to have a slower metabolism than most people. So how does that … Continue reading
Habit Zeroes and Why Teaching Kids to Eat Healthy is So Difficult
My uncle used to have a wooden spoon called “Mr. Smack.” My cousins got spanked with it when they were bad, and the rest of the time it scowled down at them from atop the fridge, a menacing warning. I was always surprised at how little it affected their behavior. A new exhibit at Disney’s Epcot Center sought a more positive approach to changing kids’ behavior: teaching by fun and example. The “Habit Heroes” exhibit was launched to help address the alarming weight gain among youngsters in the U.S. Michelle Obama says nearly one in three children in America is overweight or obese. Earlier this week, Randy wrote a candid post about the challenges of getting kids healthier and more … Continue reading
Make The “Most” Out Of Breakfast
Myth or reality: Breakfast is the most important meal of the day? Myth or reality: Breakfast jump starts your metabolism for the rest of the day? Well, according to this study released by Virginia Commonwealth University, breakfast is the most important meal of the day for weight loss. In fact, they showed that those who consumed a larger breakfast (half their daily intake of calories) lost 5 times as much weight as those who skipped it entirely. That’s a lot of extra pound loss! Onto the second myth or reality question. There are actually a few new studies out there that show the claim that breakfast jump-starts your metabolism, might be a little off-base. So, then why do people lose … Continue reading
Cheating On Valentine’s Day? What?
First of all, no, we’re not talking about that kind of cheating. It’s Valentine’s Day and while many of us are thinking of flowers and chocolates and fancy dinners, there are those of us that are thinking money and calories and calories. It’s a difficult day for your diet, but that’s what cheat days are meant to be. Cheat days are great for your mental and, believe it or not, nutritional health. When you are in calorie restriction, eating less calories than your body needs for regular daily functions, you need to have at least one day a week where you increase your daily calorie intake by 300-500 calories. Doing this allows your body to maintain normal levels … Continue reading
Are You Sabotaging Your Spouse’s Diet?
Your better half is committed to eating healthy in the New Year, and you’re behind ’em one hundred percent. Or are you? New research has found that when it comes to nutrition habits, we are who we’re hitched to. Which means that, despite your nagging about his dangerous three-bag-a-day Cheeto addiction/her habitual midnight Taquito fests, you could actually be the culprit. Gulp. The Marriage Diet A diet study published in November offered an inside look at this phenomenon. The research team, led by UC Berkeley’s Mark Pachuki, tracked the eating patterns of some 3,400 people—groups of spouses, friends, brothers and sisters—over a 10 year period. As the decade stretched on, they watched in awe (or neutral scientific observation) as the … Continue reading
The Power of Fiber in Weight Loss
A few weeks ago we briefly mentioned that studies showed that people eating 60 grams of fiber per day tended to pass 20% of their daily caloric intake without the calories being absorbed. Well, the big question there was "how do I get that much fiber on a daily basis?" 60 Grams of fiber is a LOT especially considering that the average American gets only 5 grams of fiber into their daily diet. 30 Grams is where you really want to be at. Fiber itself is any plant, sugar, or starch that resists digestive enzymes. Fiber's major benefit in weight loss is that increases food volume without increasing caloric content, providing satiety. It's why it's a very important ingredient in … Continue reading
