Tag: vegetables

Weight Loss, One Pound at a Time

Follow the map to weight loss and health

Follow the map to weight loss and health

In order to achieve weight loss, we need to be fully committed. Sometimes the bathroom scale can actually play tricks on our mind. In order to create weight loss, we need to maintain a healthy diet and exercise daily. When we exercise, we are actually building muscle. Since muscle takes up less physical mass than fat, we can actually become fitter and trimmer without seeing the needle on the bathroom scale change very much, especially in the beginning.

Here are some simple tips for creating weight loss, one pound at a time.

  1. No matter wheat that bathroom scale says, remain fully committed. In the beginning, pay more attention to how your clothes are fitting than to your actual weight.
  2. Never skip breakfast. The reason that they call it “the most important meal of the day” is that eating breakfast helps us to curb our hunger throughout the day.
  3. Make sure to include protein in all of your meals, especially breakfast. Protein is a natural appetite suppressant and also builds muscle mass.
  4. Drink lots of water, up to eight glasses a day. This, too will curb your appetite because we often feel hungry when we become dehydrated.
  5. Get a workout buddy. There will definitely be days when you don’t feel like working out. A friend can help to keep you motivated. Choose an exercise program that you really like. You don’t have to pump iron” to lose weight. A brisk walk of 20 minutes per day will help to induce weight loss, one pound at a time.

Don’t get frustrated and remain fully committed. As time goes on, dieting and exercise become much easier. It usually takes the average person 90 days to develop a new habit. So keep your emotions in check. Too many of us self-sabotage and turn to food when we are feeling negative emotions.

 

 

Quick & Healthy Combos

 

 

238547500799ac7dd88effe7bd8b66bb (1)

The next time you want a quick healthy meal or snack, consider these combos. Each of these grab and go partners can be prepared in a flash.

Now is the time to start helping your entire family eat healthier. The combinations shown here are not only beneficial to your body, but most are easy enough for children to put together.

Some of the items are staple foods you may already have in your pantry.  Plan for success, start today, show your family that eating healthy is easy and tasty.

 

Goals – Write “Em Down

goals canstockHow will you ever get there if you don’t know where you are going?

Take some time to write down your goals. Sure, they will most likely change, but start somewhere. Here are a few good reasons to put your goals in writing:

Shows Intent & Fosters Commitment – with a written goal, you now have a plan. Just the simple act of writing it down shows intent, provides a constant reminder and fosters commitment to see it through.
Focus – When you write down your ideas you automatically focus your attention on them. Few if any of us can write one thought and think another at the same time. Thus a pencil and paper make excellent concentration tools. (quote -Michael Leboeuf)
Motivates & Makes it Vivid – If you take the time to continuously review your written goals, they stay vivid in your mind which in turn help motivate you to stick to the plan.
Enables you to see and celebrate your progress – seeing progress goes a long way to help keep you on track. Celebrating small successes is a perfect way to keep your eye on the prize.

Product Highlight: Nutribullet

NutriBullet: The Superfood Nutrition Extractor®. Turn ordinary food into superfood and add years to your life! Available at most major retailers.

Simply fill halfway with raw veggies and the other half raw fruits. Easy to use, makes delicious, nutritious smoothies.

In need of a brain-boosting breakfast to power your way through the day? For sustained energy and a nutritional boost, here are some superior choices in the breakfast bunch.
1. Blueberries
These bright blue beauties contain one of the highest antioxidant capacities of all fruits, making blueberries a no-brainer (…or shall I say a yes-brainer?) There is evidence that these superfruits can improve memory, as well as boost the immune system.  Blueberries, along with other members of the berry family are lower on the glycemic-index (GI). A low GI along with their high fiber content helps slowly release sugar into the bloodstream for sustained energy.
2. Walnuts
What do you think of when you see an unshelled walnut? Looks like a brain, right?  Well, that is no coincidence, my friend! Walnuts are high in omega-3 fatty acids shown to boost brain health and reduce inflammation. The healthy fats found in walnuts will help absorb fat-soluble vitamins and the protein will “stick to the ribs” to keep you satiated until lunch.
3. Spinach
Vitamin C found in the strawberries of our Berry Brain Boost NutriBlast (below) helps absorb the iron contained in spinach. Iron enhances oxygen distribution throughout the body, waking up the immune system, boosting energy, and enhancing brain activity. Spinach is also an abundant source of vitamin K (almost 200% of the daily value in one cup raw), a nutrient required to help build strong bones.
4. Rolled Oats
We’ve all heard oatmeal helps reduce cholesterol, but do you know how? Its high soluble fiber is key. It not only helps keep your  heart healthy, it will also slow down the rate at which the sugars from fruits are released into the bloodstream.  This prevents any drastic energy highs or lows, the foundation to keeping you awake and alert. Choose gluten-free to prevent any inflammation caused by potential allergies or intolerance.
5. Almond Milk  (or other dairy alternative)
With milk intolerance and dairy allergies on the rise, it is best to choose a dairy alternative fortified with calcium to meet the needs of growing bones. Fortunately, there are several options available that contain even more calcium than a glass of cow’s milk. Almond, rice, organic soy, oat, flax, and hemp milks are a few options you can find in your local market. This will also lend a creamier consistency to your NutriBlasts that your whole family will love.

Incorporate these top 5 foods in a delicious, nutritious NutriBlast.  It’s the perfect start to the day!
Berry Brain Boost NutriBlast
25% spinach
½ banana
½ cup blueberries
¼ cup strawberries
¼ cup raw walnuts
3 Tbsp gluten-free rolled oats
Unsweetened almond milk to the MAX line
Blast for 45 seconds.

–Krista Haynes, R.D.
NutriBullet Nutrition Advisor

To Your Health!

Use Your FSA Health Benefits Dollars Before 12/31/13

Use it or lose it! 

If you participate in a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) through your employers “Cafeteria Plan” benefits program, time may be running out. Some plans require the money you contributed be used byDecember 31, or you risk losing it.

Check with your plan administrator to determine the specific guidelines for your plan.

In lieu of losing your benefits, consider purchasing a pre-paid savings certificate.FLEX

Exercise Is The Fountain of Youth

girl celebratingExercise can help people lose weight, increase energy and improve outlook. But, here’s added bonus: studies show that those who exercise also are physically younger. Who couldn’t appreciate that?

The fitness-age connection

Keeping fit can help your life expectancy in two ways, according to a study in the Archives of Internal Medicine. It can decrease your chances of developing diseases and conditions as you age. It also can affect the aging process itself, as shown by the impact on an individual’s chromosomes.

During the study, researchers learned that chromosomes can give clues on the effects of aging. The chromosomes of the most active people were similar to those of inactive people 10 years younger – a strong reason to get moving.

Another study by the Buck Institute for Age Research found that exercise – and weight training in particular – actually can revive muscle tissue. Active older men and women took part in six months of twice-weekly strength training. Then, their tissue samples were compared to those of younger men and women. Exercise brought the samples from the older group back to levels similar to those in the younger group.

Boost your brain power

Exercise can slow the aging process not only physically, but mentally, too. In another recent study of Canadian women older than age 65, a link was found between physical exercise and the brain. Those who did regular aerobic exercise had better blood flow to the brain, which helps its ability to process information. In fact, the women who exercised scored 10 percent higher in brain function tests.

Keeping your brain fit with mental workouts also can help increase memory. So, challenge your brain by trying a new hobby or tackling a crossword puzzle, suggests the American Psychological Association. Learning a new language or playing a new musical instrument may help, too.

Get your weekly dose

In order to reap the benefits of exercise you have to hit the pavement, not the couch. You can follow these guidelines from the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association. They suggest that healthy adults need at least:

  • 30 minutes of moderate activity on five days each week – such as brisk walking, yoga or dancing or
  • 20 minutes of intense activity on three days each week – such as jogging, swimming or aerobic dance and
  • 20 minutes of strength training twice a week

Along with a healthful diet, regular exercise can help you make your health a top priority. But, talk with your doctor before significantly increasing your exercise levels.

-United Healthcare, Source4Women

Side Note:  Most of us have had a goal that didn’t happen as quickly as we wanted it to. Yes, you worked at it, but it seemed every possible obstacle got in the way, and finally you gave up. If that desire to be a happier, healthier person has been laying dormant inside you for awhile… DON’T GIVE UP!

Remember, a little FAITH can go a long way, even in dieting. No challenge is to small or to petty for us to pray for strength. The things you’ve waited for in your life, God will bring to fulfillment. Faith is Fail Proof… we can give you the tools, and the rest is up to you.  You’ve Got This!

Defying Disease & Aging

 

Defy Disease & Aging With this…

Or Treat Disease & Aging With This…

The Choice Is Yours… What’s In Your Basket?  Take a hard look at the food you have eaten in the past week.  Would you say there is good nutritional value in it?  If you are like the typical American family, then it is quite likely that there was little to none.

Processed food, fast food, sweet or salty snacks all have one thing in common, they are toxic to our systems, making us sick, fat and un-energetic.

When is the last time you ate fresh fruit and vegetables?  Here are some tips to help you incorporate better eating into your lifestyle.

  • Keep fresh fruits & veggies, washed, cut up & ready to eat, in a clear container in the fridge on an eye level shelf.
  •  When raw veggies are past prime to eat fresh, puree and freeze to later add to soups or smoothies.
  • Hide all kinds of vegetables as pureed in soup to ensure picky eaters or children get proper nutrition.
  • Eat by color!  Typically, the darker, deeper, richer colored vegetables pack the most nutrients.  Try to eat several different colors per day.
  • Try new Foods.
  • Buy organic when possible.
  • Pack your lunch for school/work; If you must eat out, try a veggie packed subway wrap or salad.
  • Be prepared and plan your meals.
  • Experiment with 1/2 Fruit, 1/2 Vegetable Smoothies.
  • Eat soup!  Soup is one dish that retains all the nutrition during cooking.

If you eat wrong, no doctor can fix you, but if you eat right, no doctor is needed.

ANDI Score – The Healthiest Foods

Now there is a way to calculate which fruits and veggies are the most nutrient dense.  ANDI stands for “Aggregate Nutrient Density Index.” An ANDI score shows the nutrient density of a food on a scale from 1 to 1000 based on nutrient content.  A value of 1000 being the most nutritious per calorie, and 1 being the least.  ANDI scores are calculated by evaluating an extensive range of micro-nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals and antioxidant capacities.

Start looking for ANDI scores at participating grocers.

Corporate Wellness Program – Good For Employer and Employee Alike

Did you know that we have a corporate wellness program that provides discounted rates for weight loss products & services?

A company of healthy people is a healthy company!

Healthy employees are happy employees, and happy employees are some of the most valuable assets a business can have. Happy employees work harder, skip work less, and pass on their positivity to your customers and clients. Healthy employees will use fewer sick days and cause fewer insurance costs, and a group of healthy, happy people can create an environment where you, your co-workers, employees, and your customers can all look forward to seeing one another.

This is why LetsLose provides corporate wellness opportunities to businesses who want to invest in employee health! LetsLose partners with individual offices as well as whole companies that are ready to make a change for the better. We make team weight loss simple by providing successful programs and an encouraging, expert staff of specialists and physicians committed to seeing your workforce become active, vibrant, and happy. This is a great opportunity to build team spirit at your office while investing in a better, healthier lifestyle.

The following are a few of the companies that participate in our corporate wellness program:

  • Hyundai
  • Rheem
  • BF Goodrich
  • Plastipak
  • International Paper
  • GKN Aerospace
  • Public Officials
  • U.S. Military
  • State of Alabama
  • Educators

Don’t see your place of employement listed?  We want to partner with you!  Call Anita Fitch, Director of Corporate Wellness (334) 285-6050 or email at afitch@letslose.com

Back to School – Back to Routine – Back to Weight Loss

Back To School – Back to Routine 

 

Whether you’re working, home with the kids, or both… finding the time to exercise can be a challenge. But before you grab that bag of cookies and convince yourself you have no time for exercise… Think AGAIN!!

The big obstacle for most of us is TIME… but by following this guide, you can identify the best time for exercise as well as setting realistic goals for yourself.

DECIDE ON A TYPE OF EXERCISE. You may want a gentle wake-up routine like Yoga, a more intense cardio fix like Zumba, or simply walking around the neighborhood. There is a type of exercise that suits your personal interests and ability.
SCHEDULE TIME TO EXERCISE. Even if you can only spare a half hour two times per week, identify the time slot and get moving. It could mean waking up early, taking 30 minutes on a lunch break, or even after the kids are in bed. There is TIME to exercise if you really make the effort.
SET REASONABLE GOALS. If you haven’t exercised since high school gym class, don’t think you have to start big. Your more likely to stick with a reasonable goal. Start out slow and build up to bigger challenges.
MAKE EXERCISING A PRIORITY. Inspire yourself to exercise. Think about the physical and emotional benefits you’re receiving. It’s sometimes helpful to reward yourself with new gym clothing or a fitness magazine for completing a good work-out, and sticking to it.
DON’T BE TOO HARD ON YOURSELF. We all know Life Happens, and sometimes it’s all right to miss a day of exercise. Just remember to stay dedicated, and get back to your routine as soon as you can.