Monday, March 08, 2010

Food Chart

Food chart

Best Protein Sources

Food

Portion

Calories

Protein

Carbohydrates

Sugar

Fat

Sodium

BV

GI

Chicken breast*

6 oz

180

36gr

0gr

0gr

5gr

60mg

84

LOW

Turkey breast*

6 oz

185

38gr

0gr

0gr

3gr

240mg

LOW

7%Lean beef

6 oz

267

42gr

0gr

0gr

11gr

119mg

78

LOW

Egg whites*

6 egg

102

21gr

2gr

0gr

0gr

330mg

104

LOW

Venison*

6oz

210

45gr

0gr

0gr

2gr

85mg

78

LOW

Low fat yogurt

1 cup

250

11gr

47gr

46gr

3gr

143mg

72

LOW

Whey Protein*

2.6 oz

174

40gr

0gr

0gr

0gr

220mg

130

LOW

Soy milk

1 cup

79

7gr

4gr

4gr

5gr

25mg

74

LOW

Milk non fat

2 cups

200

19gr

27gr

27gr

1gr

289mg

72

LOW

Fish (white)*

6 oz

238

45gr

0gr

0gr

5gr

70mg

75

LOW

Beans

1 cup

225

15gr

40gr

6gr

1gr

3mg

45

LOW

Nuts

1 cup

786

21gr

45gr

5gr

63gr

22mg

40

LOW

Best Carbohydrate Sources

Yams*

1cup

158

2gr

38gr

1gr

0gr

11mg

MED

Sweet Potatoes*

1cup

206

3gr

48gr

6gr

0gr

20mg

MED

Rice* (Brown)

1cup

242

4gr

53gr

0gr

0gr

0mg

MED

Oats*

1cup

266

9gr

59gr

16gr

2gr

2mg

LOW

Beans*

1 cup

225

15gr

40gr

6gr

1gr

3mg

45

LOW

Breads

1slc

80

2gr

15gr

1gr

1gr

160mg

HI

Bagel

1 bgl

157

6gr

304gr

1gr

1gr

305mg

HI

Cauliflower

1 cup

28

2gr

5gr

2gr

0gr

18mg

LOW

Corn tortillas

1

58

2gr

12gr

1gr

1gr

42mg

MED

Flour tortillas

1

106

2gr

20gr

2gr

2gr

45mg

HI

Fruits (Apple)

1

81

0gr

21gr

17gr

0gr

0mg

MED

Melon

1

180

0gr

45gr

42gr

0gr

0mg

LOW

Pasta

1 cup

197

7gr

40gr

1gr

0gr

1mg

MED

Best Fat Sources

Safflower oil*

1 tbsp

120

0gr

0gr

0gr

14gr

LOW

Sunflower oil*

1 tbsp

120

0gr

0gr

0gr

14gr

LOW

Olive oil*

1 tbsp

120

0gr

0gr

0gr

14gr

LOW

Canola oil*

1 tbsp

119

0gr

0gr

0gr

14gr

LOW

Peanut oil*

1 tbsp

120

0gr

0gr

0gr

14gr

LOW

Tahini oil*

2 tbsp

121

0gr

0gr

0gr

14gr

LOW

Soybean oil*

3 tbsp

122

0gr

0gr

0gr

14gr

LOW

Nuts*

1 cup

786

21gr

45gr

5gr

63gr

22mg

40

LOW

Nut butters*

1 oz

174

7gr

0gr

0gr

16gr

LOW

Avocado*

1

306

4gr

12gr

2gr

30gr

21mg

LOW

Olives*

1 tbsp

119

0gr

0gr

0gr

14gr

0gr

LOW

BV= Biological Value - GI= Glycemic Index - *= best

Tuesday, March 02, 2010

Let’s Get It Straight!

Does Strength Training Turn Me Into a Hulk?

For over fifty years people have been strength training to aid in their sporting performance or otherwise. Although women first began strength training for sports in the 1950s to enhance their performance in track and field, they have traditionally participated in strength training less than men. Unfortunately, misconceptions about weight training haven’t grown old with time. By and large, it is women that shy away from such a valuable exercise because they are afraid of bulking up or getting “manly.” Even some men are still thinking that weight training can transform them into a ‘Hulk”.

Such exercise has not been considered feminine, and a lack of research and information regarding the effects of such training on women has made it a predominantly male activity. Since then, women's sports participation has grown rapidly, and strength training has grown in popularity among active women.

Let’s get the facts straight:

· Women who practice the same well-designed strength training programs as men benefit from bone and soft-tissue modeling, increased lean body mass, decreased fat, and enhanced self-confidence.

· No one is going to bulk up, plain and simple.

· No, big muscles will not develop over time; in fact, bodybuilders you see on television or in magazines, typically train for several hours a day while consuming enormous amount of calories over the course of several years.

· Strength training is now helping in various diseases and is a way to combat stress. We just might all it need it these days.

Are Pilates and Yoga just as good as Strength Training?

In terms of measure, strength training is definitely the ultimate method for building muscular strength, promoting muscle ton and fat loss. While the benefits of Pilates and Yoga are wonderful and focus on very controlled movements, they should be considered as an enhancement rather than a replacement to strength training. In my experience of creating and managing fitness programs at Miraval for six years, guests were participating in equal ratios to Pilates, Yoga, Strength Training, Aerobics and Stretching classes, we also had a unique department for yoga and meditation. In fact an annual trend analysis is conducted by IDEA, the world largest fitness organization, on how often the activities were offered one or more times a week in major facilities in the US and here are the results:

· Strength Training 98%

· Low impact Aerobics 95%

· Stretching and Flexibility 95%

· Yoga 91%

· Personal Training 88%

· Pilates 76%

Monday, February 15, 2010

Eat slowly and stop when you are full

Another cause of overeating is mindless eating where we eat on autopilot. The problem with this type of eating is that we tend to keep eating until there is no food left, without any thought as to whether we had long since satisfied our hunger. The best counter to this is to eat mindfully - don't be distracted. .Eating food quickly is a guaranteed way to eat too much. A good way of slowing down your eating is to chew your food slowly and put your knife and fork down between mouthfuls

When you've got your chosen food in front of you, eat it slowly and put down your knife and fork between mouthfuls. Enjoy your food, take time to chew it, let it give you its full texture, test and pay attention to every sensation you are experiencing. When you pause between mouthfuls, ask yourself if you are still hungry. If you find you are full, stop eating - there is no need to clear your plate. It takes 20 minutes for the brain to signal the stomach that it is full, so eat slowly you will eat smartly. I know people who can finish a pizza in 20 minutes and know others who can barely finish a Caesar salad. Think about it!

Monday, January 25, 2010

Avoid the Top 5 Fitness Failures!


  1. Don't neglect strength training just because you're a cardio buff. More lean muscle mass gained from weight lifting burns more calories.
  1. Don't hold your breath when lifting weights. It could strain your heart. Inhale as you release weight and exhale as you push out.
  1. Don't worry about bulking up. Women don't produce enough testosterone to bulk up. Weight training will simply sculpt your body and boost your metabolism.
  1. Don't pig out just because you're exercising. Exercise can increase your appetite, but don't let it give you a false sense of being able to chow down.
  1. Don't hesitate to hydrate. Proper hydration can both increase your energy and help reduce your appetite. Don't mistake thirst for hunger!

Avoid the Top 5 Fitness Failures!


  1. Don't neglect strength training just because you're a cardio buff. More lean muscle mass gained from weight lifting burns more calories.
  1. Don't hold your breath when lifting weights. It could strain your heart. Inhale as you release weight and exhale as you push out.
  1. Don't worry about bulking up. Women don't produce enough testosterone to bulk up. Weight training will simply sculpt your body and boost your metabolism.
  1. Don't pig out just because you're exercising. Exercise can increase your appetite, but don't let it give you a false sense of being able to chow down.
  1. Don't hesitate to hydrate. Proper hydration can both increase your energy and help reduce your appetite. Don't mistake thirst for hunger!

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Lose FAT Not Muscles


Your overall body image and the way you feel about yourself, will improve dramatically as you firm up and tone up. Certainly, if you have lost 20 pounds you will feel pretty good about yourself. But, how do you feel about yourself when you see your body in the mirror? Maybe not as good as you had hoped. That’s because your skin is loose, your muscles aren’t toned, and you don’t have the body you had dreamed of even if you achieved the weight you wanted. Working out and toning up is the only way to achieve that smooth skin and tight muscles you dream of.

Many people diet and then find out that they still have not achieved their goal image even upon losing the weight and then are discouraged when they have to start an exercise program. Avoid this situation all together and include a healthy diet and workout plan in your new lifestyle. You will lose weight and tone up simultaneously giving you the body you had hoped for. And remember that losing weight does not necessarily means losing fat. Unavoidably, dieting without exercising can lead to muscle loss and decreased overall metabolism, making it worst for you to look and feel better.

Tone-up Now!

Monday, January 11, 2010

Bulk-up Your Willpower Muscles


If you are struggling with New Year resolution don’t be too hard on yourself, according to neuroscientists having willpower is not a character flaw and it could all be down to the physical make up of the brain. Because the part of the brain called prefrontal cortex is the same part of the brain that records our working memory and is in charge of willpower, Researchers showed that when the brain is overwhelmed with tasks willpower is very weak. The solution is, as I mention in my book, Mind Over Body: The Key To Lasting Weight Loss Is All In Your Brain, is not hammering people with new habits but helping them bulk-up their willpower muscles by making them consciously aware of certain changes that need to take place before any physical habits are set in motion. For the past ten years I have taught this process based on my own experience as a professional athlete and the experience of thousands of my clients. I am glad that researchers finally are catching up to what I’ve stumbled upon years ago.

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