Nutrition

One of the best lines I have read lately is: You can't out-train a bad diet! This is so true. Nutrition is so critical when trying to lose weight. It's so common for people to workout and then think that since they worked out, they can eat that burger :) The only thing is...a hard workout for a solid hour might burn 400-500 calories (if you're working pretty darn hard)....but the burger, fries and soda is well over 2,000 for just one meal. You see how that math just doesn't work when trying to lose unwanted pounds.

Choosing the right combination of foods will help keep your blood sugar in check and your cravings to a minimum. With each small meal, include some protein which will keep you feeling full. Healthy snack ideas include:

• Handful of raw, unsalted almonds with an apple
• Celery stalks with unsalted almond butter (1T)
• 1 Part-skim cheese stick
• Hard boiled Egg (or just the egg whites)
• 2 cups of 94% fat free popcorn with handful of peanuts
• Lettuce wrap with Bibb lettuce and deli turkey
• 1 cup lowfat yogurt
• 1 cup lowfat cottage cheese

Those are just a few snack ideas - I have a recipe that many of my clients (and their husbands) love, it's called "Twisted Tuna". It's a fantastic healthy spread that you can use on bread for a sandwhich, a whole wheat wrap (Thank you Gina for that idea :) or with stalks of celery. I like to make a big batch of it on Sundays - and it lasts all week.

• 8 cans of chunk light tuna packed in water - drained
• 1 cucumber seeded and chopped (use more if you love cucumber)
• 1/2 red onion (more or less depending on how much you like onion)
• 1 8oz container of weight watchers whipped cream cheese

Combine all tuna together (make sure you drain it)....then combine it w/ entire tub of whipped cream cheese. Stir in the cucumber and chopped onion and that's it! You're done! Super easy and oooooh soooo yummy :) VERY high in protein and low in calories. One serving is actually considered 1 can of tuna....so you can divide this up into 8 servings.

At the start of each week, I also boil 2 cartons of eggs (18 ct)....then pop them back into the crate and refrigerate. Hard boiled egg whites have about 20 calories in each...and you can eat up to 6 egg whites....and only have 120 calories! Tons of protein in these...and excellent for those afternoon hours when I get hungry before dinner. Just have one egg and I'm happy. My kids love them as a quick snack. If I'm having oatmeal for breakfast, I will eat a couple of egg whites w/ it to add the protein.

Water should be your new best friend if trying to lose weight. It's amazing how many times people confuse hunger for thirst. 4:00 for me is the time of day when I need to drink a big glass of water. If I don't - I find myself scrounging through the pantry for junk...even though I just ate 2 hrs ago, and really shouldn't be hungry. I find when I drink a big glass of water, I am typically not that hungry....just needed to hydrate. Obviously, there are times when my body for whatever reason really does need to eat...but most of the time I just need more water. I shoot for 3 liters a day of water. Especially if you are working out - and breaking a sweat - 90 oz is a good goal. The recommended 64 oz is just not enough if you're working out.

Food journaling is a fantastic way to track your calories and eating habits. It's good from several different standpoints...1) You re-think eating junk when you know you have to write it down (2) You are able to see what times you're hungry in a typical day (3) You can track what snacks/mini meals kept you full and satisfied until the next time to eat (4) You can make sure you are eating enough - and not dropping below the 1200 calorie mark (5) You can journal how you feel physically after eating.

It's amazing when you really start eating properly, how when you eat the junk, your body doesn't feel right. Your energy level isn't what it could be, and fatigue is constant. Set a goal for yourself, to change one bad habit a week...until you are where you want to be physically. For example - if lattes are your thing - try replacing that with hot tea....or not getting one every single day. Let that be your "cheat" for the weekend. If you do things right 90% of the time, you will be ok. I am all about moderation, and you may very well see me sometime getting Milk Duds at the movies....because you have to have your cheat times. Just not every day.

It helps me to think about food as simply fuel for my body, rather than looking at food as an event....So go and have a healthy day....or if today's almost over, set a goal for tomorrow! :)