Showing posts with label diet tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label diet tips. Show all posts

Monday, November 26, 2012

Weight Loss Banquet Ideas

healthy food for parties

Any celebration calls for a feast. But if you are on a strict body fat loss diet, it would be hard to enjoy such occasions. People with food allergies might not enjoy such joyous events as well. So if you are planning to hold a feast that would truly be enjoyable for anybody, with health problems or not, try cooking (or ordering if you have a caterer) up a feast that would heartily and healthily enjoyed by your guests.

The most common allergy-causing food are fish, shellfish, nuts, and dairy. So here's a weight loss menu idea that subtracts all these.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Fun Body Fat Loss Lunch Sandwich Ideas

sandwich
Raspberry goat cheese sandwich

I've already shared how you can snack properly when dieting, how to grocery shop for healthy food, and how to control yourself when eating out. Now, I'm  here to aid you regarding eating lunch at work. Well, I'm actually here to aid you regarding preparing weight loss packed lunch for work. And nothing spells packed lunch better than s-a-n-d-w-i-c-h. After taking ideas from the healthy grocery shopping post, you might have stocked on a wide array of body fat loss healthy ingredients and healthy food. But how should you prepare it for your daily meals like a packed lunch sandwich?

sandwich
Balsamic veggie sandwich
 Sandwiches are the most common lunch fare in existence. It can become boring and blah. But if you put a little creativity and healthier options into it, your lunch sandwiches won't be so ordinary and fattening. Instead of the usual white bread, add variety by choosing whole wheat. Oat, rye, and buckwheat are available. The texture and subtle change in taste can add more oomph to your sandwiches. Maybe using whole wheat buns, bagels, and pita bread would be interesting and tastier! Here are tasty sandwiches that would attract your eyes and taste buds.
  • Raspberry goat cheese sandwich -This simple open-face sandwich is refreshingly tart and nutty at the same time. Plus, raspberries pack a whole lot of metabolism-aiding fiber. Just spread some goat cheese on your preferred bread and place raspberries on top. (c/o katheats.com)
  • Balsamic veggie sandwich - Healthy and surprisingly yummy, the variety of flavors and texture gives you a one of a kind sandwich experience. (c/o buttermilkandpinecones.blogspot.com)
  • Crab, Lemon, Parsley, and Caper salad with Ricotta on Crostini canapés - Who says canapés should only be served in parties? Have a party of one at work by trying out this guilt-free tasty canapés. (c/o thebiggestloser.com.au)
canape
Crab, Lemon, Parsley, and Caper salad with Ricotta on Crostini
  • Tofu bun -Tofu is the meat of vegans. But even non-vegans can enjoy it as substitute for meat when on a weight loss diet. Here's a mighty tasty take on tofu (c/o vegan.sheknows.com) Or how about really transforming tofu into a burger? (c/o chefinyou.com)
tofu bun
tofu bun
  • Guiltless health wrap - Like sandwiches, wraps can be filled with different ingredients depending on your prefence. Wrap some lettuce/romaine, low-sodium deli meat, cucumbers, tomatoes, red onions, olives, corn, cheddar cheese, mustard, plain yogurt and pepper into a whole wheat wrap and enjoy being on a flavor high! Another favorite version of mine is wrapping low-sodium deli ham, cheddar cheese, barbecue sauce, and banana peppers into a whole wheat pita bread.

food wrap
guiltless health wrap

The cut of sandwiches can make a difference as well. From whole wheat wraps, to great canapés, take your sandwiches to a whole new different level.

sandwich
sandwich cuts

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Ingredient In Focus: Flax Seeds


flax seeds
You may have heard about this weight loss ingredient which created a lot of buzz among the health and fitness community. Flax seeds come in brown and yellow varieties. Both have similar nutritional content and omega-3 fatty acids but a certain yellow type of flax seed called solin has a different oil profile and is very low on omega-3 fatty acids.

So how do these little seeds help in body fat loss? Are they tasty? How should they be used in dishes? First, flax seeds are rich in fiber and good fat. Fiber is filling yet low in calories. Fiber is absorbed by the body more slowly than other food compounds; thus, you will feel full longer when you eat it. Fiber also absorbs cholesterol and boosts metabolism. Then, the good fat like gamma-linolenic acid initiates thermogenesis (a fat-burning process that burns stored excess fat cells). Omega-3 fatty acids on the other hand help prevent chronic diseases including heart disease, arthritis, asthma, and diabetes.

flax seed
Ground flax seeds
 Regarding flavor, flax seeds are nutty similar to wheat germ. The yellow variety has a milder flavor compared to the brown variety which has a bitter flavor. Flax seeds are grounded and then added to dishes. There is no standard consumption for it but 1 tablespoon a day is adequate and more than 3 tablespoons may be excessive.

The possibilities are endless when it comes to adding it to dishes. From flavorful chutneys to simple oatmeal, ground flax seeds are healthy without packing too much flavor punch into your dishes. You can add it to almost any dish you want. So why not try adding it to your salads, soups, and sauces? Nutritionists, personal trainers, fitness gurus, and health buffs encourage it!

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Exercising Your Way To Slimmer Thighs

Not feeling too happy about your thighs? It's okay to not feel happy about it but it's not okay when you don't try to do something about it. You won't feel fully satisfied with yourself if you leave unhappy things as they are. Ask your personal trainer for thigh-minimizing routines. Or DIY with these personal training exercises you may want to try for thigh weight loss:

1. Squat - Claimed to be the most effective and quickest way to toned thighs, squatting burns a lot of calories because of the large muscle groups needed for it. Add this to your exercise routine and you'll get toned thighs plus toned legs and butt at the same time.



With feet apart and dumbbells on both hands, squat by bending your knees with your back straightened. Do this 16 times with a normal pace.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Snacking Right When On A Weight Loss Diet

There will come a time when you can't help but crave to snack even when you are on a strict weight loss diet. You are determined to control what you eat and yet you give in. Well, you don't have to feel guilty when you snack! Long as you snack right, you won't have to feel like you betrayed yourself and your personal trainer.

Hide the junk - Stash away those tempting sweet treats. You might find it hard to resist reaching for some of that Skittles or jelly beans when they're in sight. When visiting someone or when at the office, learn to say "no" when someone offers you a treat or two.

portioned diced fruitsPlan it, prepare it - If you know you can't resist snacking often, then create a snack plan which you can reach for whenever cravings kick in. Prepare healthy snacks which you think you may crave. If you think you'll crave for something a bit salty, portion your favorite nuts into 100-calorie portions. If you think you'll crave for something sweet and tart, stock on a few packs of yogurt and your favorite fruits. Dice fruits like apples, pears, and such so you can easily portion.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Simple Tricks For Quicker Body Fat Loss

Aside from the usual healthy meal plans and personal training exercises, in what more ways can you aid yourself for a quicker way to weight loss? Here are a few simple tips that you could consider trying.

Don't eat while in your pajamas -Eating in very comfortable loose clothes might give you the illusion of being slimmer. Thus, it may lead you to eat more. When you wear more fitted clothes (not necessarily uncomfortable ones), it could help you become more aware about your body and help you watch what you eat.
fitted clothes

Smell some citrus, peppermint, or vanilla - According to some researches, the scent of citrus (oranges, lemons, or limes) can help suppress appetite. It helps signal the brain when you're already full (very helpful during binges or emotional eating). Peppermint also helps suppress appetite for it promotes the feeling of fullness. Finally, vanilla helps suppress sweet cravings and drinks.

vanilla peppermint citrus

Sunday, September 16, 2012

A Dieter's Guide To Eating Out



Dieting can be quite a bit of struggle already by itself (especially if you are a foodie); what more when you have to eat outside? It is easy to plan a weight loss diet at home but how about when eating at a restaurant? Sometimes, you can't help it. Friends, family, work, etc. requires you to go out and eat with them once in a while. It is not a daily thing and yet it could disrupt your well-maintained personal training diet. Do not fret! Here are some tips so that you won't get carried away and lose all that body fat loss diet you went through.

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Fiber-rich Food: Eating Your Way To Weight Loss

Calorie-counting when on a diet is a good way to watch your weight. But considering the amount of fiber in the food you take is also a great way to help you on your weight loss goals. Aim to take at least 18 grams of fiber a day. Here are some of the fiber-rich food (loaded with other healthy benefits aside from fiber) you might want to include on your personal training diet
.

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Speed Up Weight Loss By Boosting Metabolism


Weight gain can be caused by a variety of things. The usual reasons behind weight gain are overeating, calorie-rich food intake, and lack of physical activity. A change in lifestyle is a good resolution but we often wonder why others seem to barely gain weight even if they indulge themselves in food and laziness. These people are usually gifted with a faster metabolic rate. In order to speed up one's way to body fat loss, boosting one's metabolism can be helpful.

The body burns calories all the time -- whether its walking, sleeping, breathing, thinking, or even when eating as well. But consuming more calories than burning it will really add up the pounds so for a sluggish metabolism, a brisk 30-minute walk could help rev it up. It is okay to exercise any time of the day whenever one has the most energy. It will still help increase metabolism for several hours. The duration depends on the intensity of the work out. Consulting a personal trainer regarding metabolic boosting exercises can be more helpful, too.