Yearly Archives: 2011

Three of our favorite weight loss tricks

Written by - Posted on

Looking for some new ammo to help shed those pounds to fit into that itty-bitty bikini by the end of the summer? Check out these three easy tips.

Ban clear food containers from your kitchen.

In this case, that old saying ?out of sight, out of mind? may be true.  Cornell University researchers found that people ate 70 percent fewer sweets when the food was stored in jars that they couldn?t see through versus clear plastic or glass. So instead of keeping that clear candy dish on your desk or coffee table, store your goodies in a solid container where you can?t see them.

Exercise before work.

After an exhausting day at the office, usually the last thing you want to do is spend a couple hours in a hot gym. Studies have shown that the brainpower we use during the workday makes us lose the will to do much of anything else afterwards. Another incentive to working out in the morning is that you will free up your afternoon for any last-minute errands or appointments.

Crank up the air conditioning.

This trick should be very easy to do these hot summer days. According to research reported on the New York Times, turning down the heat can actually help you shed pounds. That?s because when we are exposed to chilly temperatures, our bodies go through something called non-shivering thermogenesis. The process may cause us to burn an extra 100 to 200 calories a day.

While these tricks can give you that extra little boost to help you slim down, remember that a healthy diet is still key in any weight loss journey. Adding PGX to your meals can also help by making you feel fuller while eating less.

VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)

Stop eating your feelings

Written by - Posted on

Do you find yourself yanking open the freezer door for that box of rocky road ice cream after a bad day at work or fight with your best friend? Whether it?s stress, sadness or boredom, emotional eating can sabotage your diet. That?s because you probably aren?t looking for healthy foods like fruits or veggies, but instead are seeking out high-calorie, high-fat snacks like cookies, chips and ice cream.

Here are some tips to help keep the pounds down even when your emotions are running high:

Identify your hunger triggers.

Keep a food journal, and write down when and what you eat. Also write down what you were doing or feeling before you ate. This will help you find patterns in your eating habits, and determine if you are eating because you are actually hungry or if you are reacting to an emotion.

Tame your stress.

When your kids are screaming in the next room and a tight work deadline has you ready to climb up the wall, it?s important to learn healthy strategies for dealing with stress. Try taking a walk to blow off steam, or soaking in a warm bubble bath. Remember that stress can be worsened if you aren?t getting enough sleep at night, so shoot for 7-8 hours of sleep each night.

Beat boredom.

Do you often find yourself digging through the kitchen because you have nothing else to do? Next time try heading out for a bike ride to explore the homes in your neighborhood. Has it been awhile since you read a good paperback? Head to your local library and stock up on free books.

Take away temptation.

You can?t gobble down a whole sleeve of cookies if you don?t have them in the first place. Rid your kitchen of extra unhealthy snacks. Nibble instead on healthy foods like fruits, yogurt, or carrot sticks. It is OK to splurge on a treat every now and then, but there?s a difference between keeping a small bag of dark chocolates and having an entire shelf devoted to junk food.

Surprisingly, emotional eating doesn’t have to be a problem. Everyone eats for emotional reasons every now and then. It?s when eating becomes the only strategy someone uses to manages emotions that a problem arises. Learning to make smart food choices and eating in moderation is key to keeping your weight on track.

VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)

Spring clean your diet

Written by - Posted on

The days of heavy, winter-weather comfort foods are over! Warmer temperatures are finally here, and that means we?re no longer craving that hot pot of chili, but instead are reaching for fresh melons and a cool crisp salad. Spring is a great opportunity to clean up our diets, and get rid of those bad eating habits we adopted over the long winter. Here are some tips to help give your diet a good spring cleaning:

Make an inventory of your meals.

We like to think that we can remember everything we eat each day, but you might be surprised at what you are forgetting. Keeping a log of what you eat after each meal is a good way to track any bad habits, and take notice of important food groups that may be lacking on your plate, such as fruits and vegetables.

De-clutter the kitchen.

This means more than just wiping up spills and removing mystery leftovers from the refrigerator. It?s time to get rid of those high-calorie salad dressings, dips and condiments.  Also say goodbye to processed meats such as sausage and hot dogs, as well as juice, sodas and other sugary drinks.

Organize.

You?ve cleaned the junk out the cupboards and refrigerator shelves, now it?s time to organize. Stock the pantry with some healthy staples including whole-grain cereals and breads, oats, fat-free popcorn, fat-free refried beans, and diced tomatoes. In the freezer, load up on frozen veggies. Many people don?t realize that frozen vegetables are often more nutritious than fresh produce found in the grocery stores. They?re cheaper too.

Freshen up your taste buds:

More and more local farmer?s markets are opening every weekend. This is a great opportunity to stock up on in-season produce. Chefs and nutrition experts agree, foods taste better and more nutritious when you get them in season. There are many websites out there that can help you find out which fruits and vegetables are ripe for picking near where you live.

A smart diet is important to a healthy lifestyle, but don?t forget about exercise! Many of us are jumping to get outside after spending months cooped up on the couch. Now is the time to dust off those sneakers and get outside for a run, or pull out some gloves and start digging in the garden. Winter hibernation is over, and it?s time to get moving!

VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)

The Latest in Running Gear: Toe Shoes

Written by - Posted on

PGX checks out the hot new trend for runners: running barefoot!

Runner or not, you’ll be intrigued: the latest running gear for those who enjoy almost barefoot running!

The no-shoes fitness trend is seems to be the “in” thing for runners. It’s a running style that’s grown in popularity thanks to evidence that it can reduce injuries and strengthen your feet. I know what you’re thinking: “Reduce injuries? If I run barefoot, I’ll probably cut my feet!” Good point. That’s exactly what I thought and that’s exactly what certain running shoe companies were thinking when they created the “minimalist” running shoe.

Hardcore “barefooters” will turn their noses up at the latest running gear trend: toe shoes. Remember those crazy toe socks where each toe had it’s own little sleeve? Well now you can get yourself some toe shoes! These shoes are the absolute bare minimum and act as more of a protective sleeve for your foot.Their essential feature is a tactile and flat bottom, lacking the elevated heel cushion typically found on running shoes. Now, people who like the idea of running barefoot but aren’t too keen on cutting their soles on a rock can wear these toe shoes!

Curious to know more or want a pair of these practically barefoot running shoes?  L.A. Times writer, Roy Wallack has got the details on the toe shoes out there.

Happy running everyone!

VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)

Try something new for dinner tonight!

Written by - Posted on

Here?s a new idea to impress your family or dinner guests tonight.  Try my delicious Pork Tenderloin with Ziti from my book The Vice Busting Diet.The long list of ingredients may look complicated, but it?s very simple to make! Pork Tenderloin with Ziti (Serves two)

  • 8 ounces pork tenderloin
  • ? cup fat-free Italian dressing
  • ? cup fat-free mayonnaise
  • ? cup fat-free sour cream
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
  • ? cup chopped scallions
  • ? cup roasted red peppers
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons sweet relish
  • 10 ounces cooked ziti

Marinate the pork in the dressing for 30 minutes. Combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, dill, scallions, peppers, mustard, and relish, and mix gently with the pasta. Slice the pork into medallions and charbroil until done to taste. Serve with the cooked ziti. Serve hot.

VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)

Find the Spa in Your Refrigerator: Easy Face Mask Recipe

Written by - Posted on

Want to make your skin glow? We’ve found an easy homemade mask you can try.

Steven and Chris and Peggy Kotsopoulos share an easy, skin rejuvenating recipe for a homemade face mask.

Happy Monday afternoon folks! With the change of weather and the stress of work or school, our skin takes a pretty good beating now and then. I’ve found a super easy recipe for a homemade face mask that will help your skin feel fresh and rejuvenated again. There’s no artificial colours or ingredients that you can’t pronounce the name of in this mask! Just open your refrigerator and you’ve got a spa treatment waiting to be made!

Here’s a recipe that will make you as happy as this young lady and her avocado, and as green as the Wicked Witch of the West (in a good way though)!

Check out this video to see how it’s made.

Skin Rejuvenating Face Mask Recipe

Ingredients:

1/2 banana

1/2 avocado 1 kiwi, peeled

1/4 cup buttermilk

Mix in your blender and apply to the face. Let sit for 10 to 15 minutes and rinse.

Beauty bonus: Follow up the mask by moisturizing with extra-virgin olive oil.

 

VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)

How to Feel Full On Fewer Calories

Written by - Posted on

When it comes to weight loss, there is one point that everyone can agree on: if you want to lose weight, you need to eat less. On some diet plans, it?s just plain less food. On others, it?s less of certain kinds of foods. But inevitably, something about your dietary intake has to give.

But here lies a problem that almost everyone will run into: eating less can leave you feeling hungry and unsatisfied. This is why most diets tend to work only in the short term. People are willing to ride the draft of a New Year?s resolution, or tough it out for a special event over the span of a few weeks. But few people are willing to go a lifetime in a constant state of hunger. There is an easy way to fix this problem– learn how to fill up on fewer calories. This allows for satisfaction with both portion size, and dress size. How successful you are at doing this comes down to one word: satiety.

Satiety refers to achieving and maintaining a feeling of fullness. Satiety is generally what makes us decide we?ve had enough to eat. Foods with high fiber content help us fill up on fewer calories. So do foods with a high water content, and volume. Foods with simple flavors, foods that avoid excess amounts of sugar or salt, and foods that avoid combinations of sweet, salty, and savory also promote satiety. Also try foods with a low glycemic load, and high quality protein.

Mother Nature has a long list of foods where you can find most or all of these attributes: vegetables, fruits, beans, lentils, nuts, seeds, whole grains, fish, lean meats, eggs, and so on. Also try adding PGX to your meals and snacks to help you feel fuller faster. Filling up on fewer calories means portion control and satisfaction can coexist ? and that makes lasting weight control much more accessible. In fact, it?s pretty much having your cake, and eating it, too!

VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)

Best and worst condiments for weight loss

Written by - Posted on

Do you bathe certain foods in ketchup? Skip the butter but top your baked potato with a large dollop of sour cream? Certain condiments are diet-sabotagers in disguise. Learning to identify these calorie-filled culprits and replacing them with less-fattening toppers for your salads and sandwiches could save you from excess fat and calories.

Here are the worst condiments for a dieter:

Ketchup: One tablespoon of ketchup has a full teaspoon of sugar. Skip this one entirely if you?re watching your sugar intake.

Sour cream: This taco and baked potato-topper contains between 45-60 calories per tablespoon. To cut calories, go for guacamole (as long as it?s not made with mayo) or salsa instead. Salsa only contains between10-20 calories per serving.

Mayo: This staple in the American diet contains almost 200 calories and 20 grams of fat in just two tablespoons! To dress up your sandwich, use Dijon or honey mustard instead?they are much less fattening. If you?re not a fan of mustard, then swap out mayo for Miracle Whip. It contains about half the calories and no saturated fat.

Jellies and Jams: Most spreads list sugar as their main ingredient instead of real fruit. Look for sugar-free alternatives at the store (or check out this recipe we found for sugar-free strawberry jam). You could also top your toast with mashed up blueberries or raspberries instead.

Creamy salad dressings: Ranch, Thousand Island and Caesar are often hidden sources of mayo. Top your salads with red wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar and a dash of heart-healthy extra-virgin olive oil instead.

Chip and vegetable dips: Most popular party dips are loaded with fat and calories. Replace the queso, spinach dip and French onion dip with hummus. It?s high in fiber but low in calories.

Small changes such as substituting fattening condiments with healthier options are what the PGX Program is all about. Sign up now and be on your way to a slimmer, healthier, happier you!

VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)

Most Important Meal of the Day?

Written by - Posted on

Q: What is the most important meal of the day? I’ll give you a hint:

A: It’s breakfast!

If you answered brunch, lunch, snack time, dinner, supper or anything other than breakfast, I have to burst your bubble just a bit. It’s definitely breakfast and for good reason.

For starters, don’t those breakfasts look incredibly delicious? Who wouldn’t want to eat tasty meals like that to start off the day. Or how about an omelette? Waffles? Yogourt and granola? Eggs Benny? There are tons of options for you! And if you are in a rush in the morning, grab a more portable breakfast, like toast or a hearty smoothie.

Studies have shown that eating breakfast is one of the keys to staying healthy and that people who begin their days with this meal are less likely to become obese, have blood sugar problems and overeat the rest of the day. When you wake up, feeding your body will boost your energy levels and you’ll be able to function much better for the rest of your day. Sounds pretty good doesn’t it? And it is quite possibly a very simple solution to your health and weight loss efforts. Give yourself time in the morning for a healthy breakfast. Add some PGX and you’re golden!

Read more about how important and awesome breakfast is in the BBC News.

 

VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)