Countdown to Fitness

While Simply Determined talked about why she chose Atkins, I want to make the distinction that I’m not doing Atkins but another type of eating plan: a high-protein, high-fiber, moderate-fat, moderate-carb diet. I want to stress that there is no one-style-fits-all eating plan. You need to find a healthy, satisfying, long-term eating plan that you can stick to and that fits your lifestyle.

Looking for a Life-Long, Logical Eating Plan
Unlike Simply Determined, I’ve not tried various diets to lose weight. First of all, I was homeschooling, so the focus was not on me, although I should have made myself more of a priority. Second, I don’t trust most diets. I’m a scientist, so I need research to show me that the diet is safe. However, it also has to be logical, which may sound strange, but some diets just aren’t logical for the long term, like the grapefruit diet. I was looking for a life-long eating plan. (more…)

I first heard of Lärabars when I heard Jillian Michaels speak.  She said these were all natural.  Being curious, I had to investigate this for myself.

Wow, I was totally amazed when I went to the Lärabars website! They are all natural with nutritious ingredients.  I then searched for some nutrition facts and found them at DietFacts.com. (more…)

This recipe is not only delicious, but it’s also very nutritious.  Make it even more nutritious by using different colored peppers — the variations represent different micronutrients.

Cooking Tip: Place steak in the freezer until partially frozen, but the tip of a sharp knife can still pierce it 3/8″ deep. This makes it easier to slice. (more…)

In my continuing series “Boost Your Metabolism,” I’m going to post multiple articles on food, not just the types to avoid and the types to eat, but also how to time your exercise with your eating to maximize your efforts.

Too Much Added Sugar
If you are like most Americans, according to the 2001–04 NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey), you will consume 22 teaspoons (355 calories) of added sugar today.  Most of that comes from soft drinks, sweetened beverages, and other processed foods. (more…)

Monday morning visit with the scale and I’m down another 3.6 lbs. Very pleased! Biggest hurdle this past week was drinking enough water. Fitness Hopeful and I have been watching our balance of carbs, proteins, and fats as well as our daily nutrients. It’s a challenge to keep things in a healthy balance. I encourage you all to find a tool (eg. FatSecret, FitDay, etc) to help (or if you’re a wiz with a spreadsheet, you could create your own).