Eggs are probably one of the most misunderstood foods around. Everyone and their brother has an opinion about eggs. Too much fat, one might say… bad for your cholesterol, someone else might offer. And then there is the question about how many eggs a week are “safe” for you to eat? Rubbish, Rubbish, Rubbish!
[For the record, the cholesterol in the eggs will NOT contribute to any increase in the cholesterol in your body. That is a different matter altogether!]
So few people are aware that eggs are probably one of the most complete foods in the world. Actually the protein and the fats in the egg complement each other to make it a whole food. Yes, that’s right… that Incredible, Edible Egg.
Eggs are truly one of nature’s “miracle foods” with each large egg sporting only 70 calories. Eggs are all-natural and jam-packed with so many nutrients. One egg has 13 essential vitamins and minerals ~ including Vitamin D, loads of the B vitamins, Vitamin E as well as Omega 3 fatty acids. Eggs also offer plenty of high-quality protein, unsaturated fats and antioxidants. WHEW! Is that enough good stuff for you all wrapped up in one small package?
Do yourself a favor and enjoy a hard-boiled egg or two when you are in the mood for a snack. Not only will it supply you with a great healthy snack, the protein and fat will allow you to feel satisfied and will “stay with you” much longer than any carbohydrate ever will. Then when it comes time for your actual meal, you won’t feel ravenous, actually eating only what you want instead of everything in sight. Sounds to me like a good start to keeping your weight loss moving in the right direction!
Eggs! The Miracle Food ♥
Continue reading Weight Loss Tip #9 ~ EGGS!… Good?… Bad?… Indifferent? »
This might be a bit strange, but have you ever eaten a
store bought baked good and just didn’t like it… that it tasted way too much like cardboard? All too often I’m afraid. Gone are the days when the “good stuff” that you buy in the store actually tastes like homemade. Ever wonder why? Very simple. If you look at the ingredients in the so-called cupcake or donut or whatever type if pastry you are wanting to eat, just how many of them are you able to read, pronounce and understand? Not too many I’m sure.
Yes, as I have mentioned numerous times previously, food additives are a
Continue reading Weight Loss Tip #8 ~ Are Baked Goods & Cardboard The Same? »
Do you eat with your eyes? Now that might seem very much like a silly question, but if you really think about it, how often have you walked by a bakery looking at and salivating over the delicious looking pastries. Not to mention the absolutely phenomenal smells that emanate from the bakery as well. When you go to a nice restaurant, is the food pleasingly arranged on your plate? To be honest, you really DO eat first with your eyes. If the food that has been served to you just doesn’t look good, do you really think you would enjoy it as much? I think not!
No matter what kind of meal you are planning on eating, whether it is in a restaurant or more importantly eating at home, get double the pleasure out of each meal. First of all make sure the food is cooked properly to retain as much nutrients as possible. Arrange the food pleasingly on your plate and appreciate the beauty of the perfectly made food. (As well as enjoying the amount of time and effort and all the love you put into the meal.) Enjoying it ahead of time by “eating with your eyes” will enhance the flavor even more than you could ever imagine. And of course, when you take your time to eat slowly, the whole eating experience becomes a total enjoyment all around!
Continue reading Weight Loss Tip #7 ~ Do You Eat With Your Eyes? »
How many times have you gone grocery shopping before you had the chance to eat any food? For too many of us, that is a very common thing that happens. When you go to the grocery store, do you find that your cart somehow has groceries that have magically appeared, and worse, you don’t even remember putting them in there?
Oh yes, everything you pick up looks good. Whether you want to or not, you can just taste it. Well guess what… there is a solution! Believe it or not though, the solution is not to eat just before you leave the house. By doing that, you will find that you will barely pick up the foods you truly do need. Feels like a double-edged sword, right?
The best time to shop is about an hour to 1 1/2 hours after you have eaten. This way you are not ravenous and buy everything that is not nailed down. At that point in your digestion, you are still comfortable with the food you have eaten, yet not too full. Almost feels like a very fine line that’s right for shopping… but by paying attention to your stomach, you will recognize the best time for you to shop and get just what you need.
Continue reading Weight Loss Tip #1 ~ When Is The Best Time To Shop? »
Do you chew your food thoroughly before you swallow? Believe it or not, that is a critical component in healthy eating. Too many times people will chew their food perhaps only 2 or 3 times before they swallow. Can you imagine what that is doing to your stomach? Food needs to be pre-digested (or at least the start of it) with your saliva. When you chew your food to literally a mush, ptyalin is secreted and allows the food in your mouth to start to digest, making it much easier for your stomach to do its job properly.
The “recommended” amount of chewing each bite of food should be around 30 times BEFORE you swallow. The resultant mush in your mouth now has lots of pre-digestion enzymes (ptyalin) which in turn will allow the regular digestion in your stomach to do its job without pain and/or bloating. Try it, you will be surprised at how full you will feel as well. You will be eating so much less because you are now taking the time to slow down your eating. Two benefits in one!
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Continue reading Weight Loss Tip #6 ~ Do You Chew Your Food Thoroughly? »
When you are confronted with the dilemma of whether or not to use a sweetener, consider this… Stay away from the artificial sweeteners – all of them. Yes, they are designed to sweeten your food or drink, however they are also designed to increase your appetite and make you very hungry. Not a good thing when you are looking to lose weight!
Instead, try a natural sweetener called Stevia. In its liquid form, Stevia is 300 times sweeter than sugar. Another benefit of using Stevia is the fact that your blood sugar will not be raised by using it. A definite plus for anyone with diabetes.
There are other sweeteners available that could also be used, such as a raw honey, or agave syrup, or even barley malt syrup. Test them out and see which you prefer. And if all else fails, use a small amount of raw sugar. It is so much better than anything artificial.
Continue reading Weight Loss Tip #5 ~ What Sweetener Should I Use? »
When you go out to eat, here is a great tip to help you eat only the amount you choose to eat and stop overeating.
When ordering your food, always ask for a take-out box AS YOU ORDER! Then when the food arrives, (and hopefully the take-out box too – if not, remind them), BEFORE you even taste your meal, decide EXACTLY how much you wish to eat. If it is half, then immediately take the portion you DON’T want to eat and put it into the take-out box.
Now the biggest trick to that is to put it away. Don’t leave it on the table. You will be tempted to pick at it. Better yet, if you are with a companion, give it to them to hold onto with instructions that they are NOT to give in to you and offer it up for picking.
There is a logic to this. When you look at your plate with the smaller amount of food on it, you are less likely to just gobble it up without even enjoying it. Chances are you will eat slower and become just as full because you ate slowly. Listen to the signals.
The added benefit is that you now get to enjoy your delicious meal for another time.
Continue reading Weight Loss Tip #4 ~ How Do I Stop Overeating? »
Picture this… You have a great meal in front of you. You dig into it with gusto and are just about finished. However, as you get near to the end of your meal, you actually realize you are full. What do you do?
Your best bet is to STOP EATING! Even if you only have a couple of bites left. You are much better off leaving the food and walking away… or even asking for a take-out box. Of course I knew that. you might say. But do you???
Learn to recognize the signs – they are very evident. Especially if you are paying attention to your food. Listen to your stomach and don’t allow your head to take over. Yes, it tastes good, but it will also taste good as a leftover too. Think of it this way… you will get to enjoy your delicious food twice!
Continue reading Weight Loss Tip #3 ~ Do You Stop Eating When Full? »
It is very easy to get hung up in the “need” to see how well you are doing by weighing yourself every day or even more than once a day. The truth is, once a week is all you truly need to step on the scale. Of course recording your weight is a great way to see how well you are progressing, but limit your actual stepping on the scale to once a week.
Be consistent when you do weight yourself… same time, after you have gone to the bathroom, and totally naked. The results will be much more accurate and effective and you are less likely to “beat yourself up” because a daily weigh can easily fluctuate upwards of 5 pounds or more.
Continue reading Weight Loss Tip #2 ~ How Often Should I Weigh Myself? »