Posts filed under 'Body Image - Self Talk'
This morning as I stood half-asleep in the Starbucks line (frosted pastries and goodies teasing me through the glass) promising myself that tomorrow I will wake up with enough time to sit down with my breakfast of Fiber One cereal and fruit, I debated which grande burst of caffeine I would order today. Even though I enjoy a tall cup of the house blend with non-fat milk and Splenda (which is a lowly 5 calories), I always run into the mind games of “well, I only come to Starbucks once a week, so maybe I should splurge”. This may seem like a valid reason, however, if you are like myself, this one treat of whipped cream topped chocolate mocha bliss usually turns into an excuse to blow eating healthy the rest of the day (and a reason to return the next morning). After my mocha-choco latte, I will have a soda for lunch, fruit smoothie for an afternoon snack, sweet tea during dinner and possibly a cocktail with friends after. All of these drinks from my day can add to over 1500 calories!! This is just short of my daily calorie intake - and I haven’t even accounted for my meals!
Needless to say, had I known that I didn’t even have to eat anything to reach my caloric intake for the day, I would have made a few smarter beverage choices. Best bet - water. Not only is water calorie free, it also aids in weight loss keeping you hydrated and satiated. So next time, instead of heading to the vending machine for a cherry soda, I will turn to the water fountain for a refreshing treat.
See how my drinks add up:
Breakfast - White Chocolate Mocha, 470 Calories
Lunch - Coca Cola, 140 Calories
Afternoon Snack - Smoothie King MangoFest fruit smoothie, 285 Calories
Dinner - Sweet Tea, 100 Calories
After Dinner Cocktail - Margarita, 740 Calories
February 21st, 2008
Would you spend a week in jail or even trade 10 years of your life just to be an ideal weight? Surprisingly, out of 1000 women, 23% and 21% respectively answered yes to the former questions. 23% would shave their head, 22% would wear a bikini on TV and a whopping 85% would rather have an extra toe than 50 extra pounds.
Are you guilty of looking for a quick fix? Instead of going through crazy measures such as fad diets, weight loss pills or even spending a week in the slammer - why not try what works, eating healthy and exercise.
A few other interesting findings from the survey:
- 53% of the women say they have eaten an entire box of cookies, a bag of chips, a pizza, a cake or pie in one sitting
- When comparing actresses as role models, 51% would prefer Keira Knightly’s body over Queen Latifah’s
- 76% say they’d rather be known as a ‘friendly chubby girl’ than a ’skinny witch’
- 52% feel the most energetic at their thinnest, 32% feel more social
- Most of the women would like to lose 30 pounds, with a goal of weighing 131 to 145 pounds.
Source: Fitness magazine & USA Today
January 31st, 2008
“People are so worried about what they eat between Christmas and the New Year, but they really should be worried about what they eat between the New Year and Christmas.” ~Author Unknown
Now that the Holiday’s have come and gone, most of us are struggling to get back on track. You may have made a New Year’s Resolution that involves more exercise or eating healthier foods. Or you may have a goal to get back to your ’skinny’ jeans. Either way, we become so caught up on what we eat during those few weeks between Thanksgiving and the New Year that we don’t keep focus throughout the year. What if we placed the same importance and priority that these three to four weeks hold all year long? We might just stay on our routines to make our Resolutions last the whole New Year!
January 22nd, 2008
Get out of debt, eat better, exercise more, quit smoking…and the list goes on. Many of us started the year with resolutions to turn 2008 into a year of self improvement, with vows to change our unhealthy ways and start new. Unfortunately for most, we get sidetracked and tend to give into our old habits.
According to the American College of Sports Medicine, more than half of people who begin exercising at the start of the new year end up back on the couch within three to six months. So what’s the deal? Most likely they took the wrong approach, thinking of a quick fix or oversetting their goals, which ultimately sets you up for failure.
According to MSN.com, there are eight common mistakes people make when setting their New Year’s Resolutions (or any resolution, for that matter). Visit the whole article to see if any of these sound familiar to you!
January 7th, 2008
This time of the year is sure to bring stress; from Holiday traffic to having a baby to facing a whole new year! Although everyone responds to stress differently, major life changes - whether positive or negative - are some of the biggest causes of stress. Not only does stress cause you to feel tense and irritable, but long term (chronic) stress can cause major health problems such as high blood pressure, depression, heart disease and asthma. Chronic stress can also cause your immune system to weaken, which makes it hard to fight off disease.
Use this interactive quiz to find out your stress level based on your lifestyle changes in the past six months.
If you are super stressed, try these tips to relax and chill out!
- Take slow, deep breaths.
- Soak in a warm bath.
- Listen to soothing music.
- Take a walk or another outside activity.
- Meditate.
- Take a yoga class.
- Have a massage.
- Get plenty of sleep!
- Stay connected with friends and family.
- Get regular exercise.
- Don’t smoke or use tobacco.
- Don’t drink alcohol! It can cause sleep problems or depression.
Source: MSN.com Health and Fitness
December 24th, 2007
Don’t let the temptations of cookies, pies, and candies ruin your healthy habits! Here are the top holiday diet tips from WebMD:
Substitute: Cook up good taste with fewer calories this year with smart substitutions. Use fruit purees or yogurt instead of butter or other spreads. In place of one egg, use two egg whites. Cooking with cheese? Use a reduced-fat brand - you will cut the calories with the same great taste!
Eat! Skipping meals in preperation for holiday dining leaves you famished for all the wrong things. Try eating a little protein and fiber before the holiday parties. This can be as simple as an egg on toast or yogurt with a piece of fruit.
Enjoy it. Once all of the holiday festivities begin, be picky! Enjoy the foods you really crave - treats you only get to enjoy once or twice a year. If you can have it anytime - pass for those you can’t!
Balance your party plate. Don’t forget to slip protein and fiber rich foods like shrimp, whole-grain crackers, and fruit kabobs beside thin slices of your favorite desserts.
Walk away. Once you’ve served yourself party goodies, walk away from the buffet table and mingle with friends. You’ll not only catch up with friends, but you will also slow down your eating.
Drink up. Enjoy nonalcoholic drinks between those with alcohol. You’ll stay hydrated and will fend off the morning after misery!
Factor in fun. Celebrate with more than food during the holidays. Get everyone active with dancing or games. Or grab friends and family and take a walk–even if it is at the mall on sale day. Just get outside–and away from the TV!
Move. Your exercise routine isn’t on holiday - you are! Even if you can’t get to your usual workout, you can still make exercise a priority. Aim for at least 30 minutes most days by walking around the block, jogging up hotel stairs or visiting a local park. Burn those extra calories, don’t store them!
Try a few of these holiday diet tips and you can help keep that seasonal spread where it belongs — on the buffet table and off you!
Happy Holidays!!
Source: WebMD.com
December 21st, 2007
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