Apparently you will be relieved to hear that Gordon Brown has stopped eating KitKats! This is with a view to looking 'radiant' for the forthcoming General Election! The mind boggles!
He has in fact replaced them with nine bananas a day. My God! His stomach must be wondering what the hell happened. He's also apparently taken up jogging. Is this all admirable stuff or has the PM lost the plot?
Well stopping eating KitKats is a good thing, IF he was doing it to excess (processed, refined, full of sugar, and unhealthy fats leading to blood sugar spikes, cravings, weight gain, sugar dependency.......... ).
Eating nine bananas is not so good, as this (still) only counts as one portion of fruit a day (you have to be eating different fruit to get the numbers up), and as they are rather carbohydrate heavy and full of fibre they will most probably give him the most terrible stomach ache.
One banana a day is great as part of the five recommended portions of fruit and vegetables for the following reasons :
- they are full of potassium, which we are often lacking in due to the large amounts of sodium we consume (mainly through processed foods).
- they're high in iron to fight anaemia
- they contain fibre which helps keep the body regular
- they are a natural unprocessed food
-they contain vitamins and minerals, especially vitamin C
However, nine bananas - could anyone even contemplate eating this number? - is way too many! That's a heck of a lot of fibre for his digestive system to deal with. Likely to result in a very 'dodgy' tummy to say the least. Not sure I'd want to be sitting next to him for too long!
A better way to go would be to ask his staff to leave him a variety of fruit on his fruit bowl, a rainbow of colours/different types would count towards his five a day (some of these should be vegetables actually), and I'd say he'd be more likely to stick to this regime if he was eating a varied diet instead of a banana diet.
Fruit is best consumed with a small portion of protein to balance blood sugar, so maybe he could add nuts and seeds to his fruit snack. Fruit alone, depending on the type chosen can be converted quickly to sugar by the body, and lead to a spike in blood sugar and then a crash. This crash may leave him reaching for the Kitkats once again and he doesn't want to go there that's for sure!!
Think the moral of the story is BALANCE - we all need to eat a wide variety of foods in moderation. Apparently we tend to rely on a list as small as twelve foods as our staple diet. No wonder the body gets bored and doesn't react in the way we wish it would. Time to shake things up and provide a bit of creativity!
Come to me for some cookery sessions and take a look at the fabulously healthy and tasty food options we can create.
The fact that Gordon Brown has taken up jogging is good news, as long as he's building it up gradually - diet goes a long way to making us healthy but exercise as well,really gets things moving along.
I wish him luck, and hope that someone close to him soon recommends that the banana thing should cease. Wonder who came up with the idea in the first place?
RX
Tuesday, 9 February 2010
Thursday, 28 January 2010
Buttocks!
We are a nation of people who sit too much, whether it's in front of the TV, in our cars, behind our desks, in the pub etc. etc. and the bits of us that suffer the most when we do this for long periods are our gluteal muscles and our backs.
Our bottoms are part of the back ex tensor chain, as are our hamstrings, and so it follows that if we have weak butts our backs are more than likely going to be weak too.
How many people do you know who have bad backs? And how many sick days do we lose each year through back ache alone?
So how can we strengthen our glutes, and ultimately help our backs?
The best way to work your posterior is to move it! Surprise, surprise! With walking being up there as the number one movement for overall fitness for anyone, without risk of injury. Walking uphill will work it even harder. If we all hit the 10,000 steps it is recommended we do each day, our backsides and our backs would suffer less.
Fitflops/MBTs and Sketchers are all footwear that can help us whilst walking. They support the foot arch and have negative heel technology that helps posture, and so bottoms and backs - they also encourage glute activation. When you wear them for the first time you'll know about it the next day! They are also supposed to allow you to burn more calories!!
Superb exercises for the glute muscles are squats, and lots of them. Focus fully on the glutes as you come up to standing, and you'll feel it right where you're meant to.
One legged squats for the more advanced of you are even better, focusing more on glute activation than the traditional squat. I get first time clients to do this as part of the fitness assessment as it's a great indicator of glute strength. It's very unusual not to get some knee wobble!
The bridge exercise is also a good one, done lying on your back with bent knees, you lift your bottom in the air and squeeze. There are many variations, including pulsing and one legged bridges but focus your attention on your butt and you'll feel it.
The clam will assist particularly in the outer glute muscle. Lie on your side with knees bent and together. Open up the top leg as high as your knee will go without pulling hips out of line. You'll really feel this after a couple of sets if you're doing it correctly. (persevere if not it can take a while to get correct form on this one).
Power jumps on and off a step are fab butt strengtheners, and will get your heart going too. Use your arms for greater power and do several sets in one go, after warming up!
Start working your butt today and watch how quickly you can have lovely firm,pert cheeks! Try getting up from your desk for ten minutes every hour, and walking around, or do some body weight exercises that require no equipment and so can be done anywhere. Pedometers are cheap and will count your steps, giving you an idea of how many you're falling short and giving you a target to reach!
Go for it!
RX
Our bottoms are part of the back ex tensor chain, as are our hamstrings, and so it follows that if we have weak butts our backs are more than likely going to be weak too.
How many people do you know who have bad backs? And how many sick days do we lose each year through back ache alone?
So how can we strengthen our glutes, and ultimately help our backs?
The best way to work your posterior is to move it! Surprise, surprise! With walking being up there as the number one movement for overall fitness for anyone, without risk of injury. Walking uphill will work it even harder. If we all hit the 10,000 steps it is recommended we do each day, our backsides and our backs would suffer less.
Fitflops/MBTs and Sketchers are all footwear that can help us whilst walking. They support the foot arch and have negative heel technology that helps posture, and so bottoms and backs - they also encourage glute activation. When you wear them for the first time you'll know about it the next day! They are also supposed to allow you to burn more calories!!
Superb exercises for the glute muscles are squats, and lots of them. Focus fully on the glutes as you come up to standing, and you'll feel it right where you're meant to.
One legged squats for the more advanced of you are even better, focusing more on glute activation than the traditional squat. I get first time clients to do this as part of the fitness assessment as it's a great indicator of glute strength. It's very unusual not to get some knee wobble!
The bridge exercise is also a good one, done lying on your back with bent knees, you lift your bottom in the air and squeeze. There are many variations, including pulsing and one legged bridges but focus your attention on your butt and you'll feel it.
The clam will assist particularly in the outer glute muscle. Lie on your side with knees bent and together. Open up the top leg as high as your knee will go without pulling hips out of line. You'll really feel this after a couple of sets if you're doing it correctly. (persevere if not it can take a while to get correct form on this one).
Power jumps on and off a step are fab butt strengtheners, and will get your heart going too. Use your arms for greater power and do several sets in one go, after warming up!
Start working your butt today and watch how quickly you can have lovely firm,pert cheeks! Try getting up from your desk for ten minutes every hour, and walking around, or do some body weight exercises that require no equipment and so can be done anywhere. Pedometers are cheap and will count your steps, giving you an idea of how many you're falling short and giving you a target to reach!
Go for it!
RX
Wednesday, 20 January 2010
SALT
Too many of us are still consuming way too much salt and it can be detrimental to our health, causing high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease amongst other things. According to the Stroke Association, 150,000 people in the Uk suffer from a stroke - worth thinking about!
Our daily limit is advised at 6g - but many many people have no idea how much they are eating as it's hidden in many prepackaged foods from bread to biscuits (yes really).
Ways To Limit Your Salt Intake -
1. Buy fresh food.
Not only will you miss out on all those NON NUTRIENT nasty foods, but you'll gain on the antioxidants and vitamins and minerals contained in fresh, wholesome, unprocessed foods that do not contain added salt.
2. If you do buy 'processed' foods, always check the label. If the food in question contains more than 1.5g or .6g of sodium per 100g then its high in salt and should be avoided. Have a look next time you're shopping and you may well be horrified!
3. Pick a substitute.
If you do need to enhance the flavour of your food try natural sea salt or Himalayan salts which are unrefined and contain vital minerals for your body or use black pepper or herbs instead.
4. Break the habit
Many of us sprinkle salt on our food before we've even tasted it, and this is a habit more than likely learnt from our parents. Try leaving the salt in the cupboard rather than having it on the table. You may be pleasantly suprised to find your dinner tastes perfectly lovely without the white stuff!
Sea salt also makes a great addition to your bath, soak for 20 minutes in a warm bath with a tub of sea salt to aid the detox process, and ease muscles after a hard work out.
Hope this mini blog has been helpful.
RX
Our daily limit is advised at 6g - but many many people have no idea how much they are eating as it's hidden in many prepackaged foods from bread to biscuits (yes really).
Ways To Limit Your Salt Intake -
1. Buy fresh food.
Not only will you miss out on all those NON NUTRIENT nasty foods, but you'll gain on the antioxidants and vitamins and minerals contained in fresh, wholesome, unprocessed foods that do not contain added salt.
2. If you do buy 'processed' foods, always check the label. If the food in question contains more than 1.5g or .6g of sodium per 100g then its high in salt and should be avoided. Have a look next time you're shopping and you may well be horrified!
3. Pick a substitute.
If you do need to enhance the flavour of your food try natural sea salt or Himalayan salts which are unrefined and contain vital minerals for your body or use black pepper or herbs instead.
4. Break the habit
Many of us sprinkle salt on our food before we've even tasted it, and this is a habit more than likely learnt from our parents. Try leaving the salt in the cupboard rather than having it on the table. You may be pleasantly suprised to find your dinner tastes perfectly lovely without the white stuff!
Sea salt also makes a great addition to your bath, soak for 20 minutes in a warm bath with a tub of sea salt to aid the detox process, and ease muscles after a hard work out.
Hope this mini blog has been helpful.
RX
Boredom!
Well here we are into the third week of January already! And how many of you are sticking to your New Years Resolutions of eating less, drinking less and exercising more??!! My guess is that the weather hasn't helped at all. Who wants to be up and about and really active when its minus something outside? Actually, having kids helped me during the snow. They loved it and it renewed my zest for making snowballs/snowmen/igloos and sledging. We had a ball and burnt off a few calories at the same time.
Today's blog is really about watching what you put into your mouth and being conscious of it at all times. It's so easy to have a few snacks here and there and eat bigger portions than you should, without really paying much attention to it, or realising that when you add it all together your calorie consumption has far outweighed the amount of movement you have performed in any one day!
And as one of my gurus, Craig Ballantyne, says "you can't out train a bad diet". So even if you are exercising whilst eating too much of the wrong stuff you will not achieve the results you're after.
So, to begin with how about keeping a food diary. I know I've blogged about this before but it's where I start with ALL clients and we always get some results just through them becoming 'conscious eaters'.
It's a very interesting exercise and makes great reading a the end of the week. I can guarantee you'll be amazed at some of the foods that have passed your lips that you don't even remember eating. And most of that food will be non nutrient food such as biscuits/alcohol/crisps/sweets/chocolate/puddings/popcorn/fizzy,sugary drinks.
It's so easy whilst sitting watching TV to eat these foods, almost out of boredom. You're sitting comfortably, engrossed in your favourite programme and there's a packet of biscuits next to you. Without realising I bet some of us could put away most of the packet. Same goes for a bottle of wine, or a bar of chocolate, and it's quite often out of sheer boredom. Same goes for smoking!
Is there an option in your house to do something else whilst watching television? Could you iron, could you exercise? there are many activities that could be done, but perhaps the best way to stop eating and drinking out of boredom is not to have those non nutrient foods within reach at all. Or even in your house.
It's not too late to start a New Years Resolution! How about changing the way you shop? Take your time in the supermarket looking at labels, buying lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, whole grains and lean meats and fish. A top tip is to shop just AFTER you've eaten. This will guarantee that you'll buy less junk food, and if it's not in your house then you can't eat it. Simple really.
So two things to try from today's blog - keeping a food diary and conscious shopping and eating. Exercise is next but really you can make a massive difference with the eating and drinking thing before embarking on an exercise regime. Try one thing at a time and you're more likely to make it a long term habit!
How about posting your food intake up on face book or somewhere public, it really focuses the mind if you know someone else will see it!
Lots of luck. Any advice needed contact me.
RX
Today's blog is really about watching what you put into your mouth and being conscious of it at all times. It's so easy to have a few snacks here and there and eat bigger portions than you should, without really paying much attention to it, or realising that when you add it all together your calorie consumption has far outweighed the amount of movement you have performed in any one day!
And as one of my gurus, Craig Ballantyne, says "you can't out train a bad diet". So even if you are exercising whilst eating too much of the wrong stuff you will not achieve the results you're after.
So, to begin with how about keeping a food diary. I know I've blogged about this before but it's where I start with ALL clients and we always get some results just through them becoming 'conscious eaters'.
It's a very interesting exercise and makes great reading a the end of the week. I can guarantee you'll be amazed at some of the foods that have passed your lips that you don't even remember eating. And most of that food will be non nutrient food such as biscuits/alcohol/crisps/sweets/chocolate/puddings/popcorn/fizzy,sugary drinks.
It's so easy whilst sitting watching TV to eat these foods, almost out of boredom. You're sitting comfortably, engrossed in your favourite programme and there's a packet of biscuits next to you. Without realising I bet some of us could put away most of the packet. Same goes for a bottle of wine, or a bar of chocolate, and it's quite often out of sheer boredom. Same goes for smoking!
Is there an option in your house to do something else whilst watching television? Could you iron, could you exercise? there are many activities that could be done, but perhaps the best way to stop eating and drinking out of boredom is not to have those non nutrient foods within reach at all. Or even in your house.
It's not too late to start a New Years Resolution! How about changing the way you shop? Take your time in the supermarket looking at labels, buying lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, whole grains and lean meats and fish. A top tip is to shop just AFTER you've eaten. This will guarantee that you'll buy less junk food, and if it's not in your house then you can't eat it. Simple really.
So two things to try from today's blog - keeping a food diary and conscious shopping and eating. Exercise is next but really you can make a massive difference with the eating and drinking thing before embarking on an exercise regime. Try one thing at a time and you're more likely to make it a long term habit!
How about posting your food intake up on face book or somewhere public, it really focuses the mind if you know someone else will see it!
Lots of luck. Any advice needed contact me.
RX
Thursday, 31 December 2009
NEW YEAR!
I personally can't wait for 2010 to begin. 2009 hasn't been a particularly good year for me, but wow, have I learnt alot from it and in that way it's been so worth it. Looking forward though, this blogspot is a little light hearted with some great tips for New years resolutions, you have to make a few at least don't you? Come on, have some fun!
1. Listen to a favourite song EVERY day.
Music is capable of shifting moods, so pick a tune that you know will make you feel good for whatever reason. Why not make up a 'happy' play list on your Ipod, and the minute you start to feel anything but, blast it out wherever you are.
2. Eat good foods - that YOU like.
We all know (well you should do by now I've been banging on about it for long enough!Lol!) which foods are good for us, which are loaded with nutrients and which ones aren't but don't eat certain foods is you really don't like them. Eat foods that you really enjoy (80% healthy and 20% err... others) and you'll get more out of them. Life is too short to force foods down your throat that you don't like. Food should equal pleasure, and in turn equal energy.
3. Orgasm ..often!
Yes really, I'm serious. Orgasms release hormones which make you feel good (Guess you know this!) but not only that they can help regulate the systems in the body. A satisfying sex life can actually, apparently, add years to your life.
4. Maximise vitamins, minerals and particularly antioxidants which help fight cancer and keep the body running smoothly and illness free. Vitamin D is a particularly important one involved in mood boosting chemicals -most of it we get from the sun, so all year round we need to get outside to maximise this. If sunshine is lacking, and isn't it always in this country, then take a supplement.
5.Go out with your mates once a week.
I always make time for my girlfriends. Whatever mood I'm in before we meet I can guarantee we'll have such a giggle and I feel great for the rest of the day. It doesn't even have to involve alcohol!
6. Watch your favourite TV show.
Whilst I'm not an advocate of lounging infront of the TV all day, a little of what you fancy can do you the world of good, again lifting moods and generally relaxing you and cheering you up.
7.Make time for you - every day.
Having some 'me' time every day is essential, our lives are so busy now it's important to 'chillax' (don't you hate that word?!) and take a breather doing something that relaxes you- whether it's bathing,walking in the fresh air, talking to friends, painting, cooking - make some time.You will be rewarded.
8. Exercise.
This had to be in the top 10 didn't it? Working out in whatever form you enjoy releases feel good chemicals throughout the body which will benefit you enormously. If you're new to exercise try a brisk walk every day, even for ten minutes and gradually build it up. If you get bored easily mix it up - swim/row/skip/cycle/box/aerobics/weights, the options are endless. Your body will quickly feel better and look better, and this is another thing that'll
help you live longer with less illnesses and disease.
9. Eat breakfast.
You need to 'break the fast' after a nights sleep and get your metabolism going again, so eating a good healthy big breakfast is THE very best way to do it. Skipping breakfast will only make you want to eat whatevers handy later on in the morning, so plan it the night before and go for a protein and carb mix to keep blood sugars stable. Poached eggs on toast and porridge with coconut milk and berries and seeds are two great options. Have a drink 20 minutes before, try hot water and a slice of lemon to really get things shifting.
10. Have a day of rest!
It doesn't have to be Sunday but make sure that one day a week you rest to rejuvenate your body and mind.
Have a very happy New Years Eve and here's wishing you a healthy, fun filled,content, dis-ease and illness free 2010.
Lots of love.
RuthX
1. Listen to a favourite song EVERY day.
Music is capable of shifting moods, so pick a tune that you know will make you feel good for whatever reason. Why not make up a 'happy' play list on your Ipod, and the minute you start to feel anything but, blast it out wherever you are.
2. Eat good foods - that YOU like.
We all know (well you should do by now I've been banging on about it for long enough!Lol!) which foods are good for us, which are loaded with nutrients and which ones aren't but don't eat certain foods is you really don't like them. Eat foods that you really enjoy (80% healthy and 20% err... others) and you'll get more out of them. Life is too short to force foods down your throat that you don't like. Food should equal pleasure, and in turn equal energy.
3. Orgasm ..often!
Yes really, I'm serious. Orgasms release hormones which make you feel good (Guess you know this!) but not only that they can help regulate the systems in the body. A satisfying sex life can actually, apparently, add years to your life.
4. Maximise vitamins, minerals and particularly antioxidants which help fight cancer and keep the body running smoothly and illness free. Vitamin D is a particularly important one involved in mood boosting chemicals -most of it we get from the sun, so all year round we need to get outside to maximise this. If sunshine is lacking, and isn't it always in this country, then take a supplement.
5.Go out with your mates once a week.
I always make time for my girlfriends. Whatever mood I'm in before we meet I can guarantee we'll have such a giggle and I feel great for the rest of the day. It doesn't even have to involve alcohol!
6. Watch your favourite TV show.
Whilst I'm not an advocate of lounging infront of the TV all day, a little of what you fancy can do you the world of good, again lifting moods and generally relaxing you and cheering you up.
7.Make time for you - every day.
Having some 'me' time every day is essential, our lives are so busy now it's important to 'chillax' (don't you hate that word?!) and take a breather doing something that relaxes you- whether it's bathing,walking in the fresh air, talking to friends, painting, cooking - make some time.You will be rewarded.
8. Exercise.
This had to be in the top 10 didn't it? Working out in whatever form you enjoy releases feel good chemicals throughout the body which will benefit you enormously. If you're new to exercise try a brisk walk every day, even for ten minutes and gradually build it up. If you get bored easily mix it up - swim/row/skip/cycle/box/aerobics/weights, the options are endless. Your body will quickly feel better and look better, and this is another thing that'll
help you live longer with less illnesses and disease.
9. Eat breakfast.
You need to 'break the fast' after a nights sleep and get your metabolism going again, so eating a good healthy big breakfast is THE very best way to do it. Skipping breakfast will only make you want to eat whatevers handy later on in the morning, so plan it the night before and go for a protein and carb mix to keep blood sugars stable. Poached eggs on toast and porridge with coconut milk and berries and seeds are two great options. Have a drink 20 minutes before, try hot water and a slice of lemon to really get things shifting.
10. Have a day of rest!
It doesn't have to be Sunday but make sure that one day a week you rest to rejuvenate your body and mind.
Have a very happy New Years Eve and here's wishing you a healthy, fun filled,content, dis-ease and illness free 2010.
Lots of love.
RuthX
Wednesday, 9 December 2009
FESTIVITIES
Now I really don't want to come across as a party pooper with today's blog - but.............Christmas and New Year are really not an excuse to gorge on whatever you like and become a couch potato for a couple of weeks. Believe me if you do you WILL regret it come January 2010. (I shouldn't put people off because I'm usually stacked out work wise in Jan with people panicking to lose all the weight they piled on at Christmas!!)
Today's blog is just aimed at passing on a few simple tips, which you may or may not wish to take on board, to help you avoid having a wobbly tummy and a whole pile of lethargy and guilt come January.
Here goes :
Party time - don't stand near the nibbles! It's far more difficult to stuff your face if you're nowhere near the food.If you do wish to nibble try unsalted nuts, olives or satsumas and steer well clear of all those deep fried party packs that all the supermarkets are selling dirt cheap at the moment. The reason they're cheap is that they contain very FEW nutrients , and will leave you wanting more and more.
Never go to a party hungry!
Most people are going to sink a whole load more alcohol than they would normally, I think that's a given but if you can have a glass of water (yes, you read that correctly!) for every glass of alcohol a) you'll feel better the day after and b) you won't pile on so many pounds. Remember that any/all alcohol sits around the tummy area, and stops your body burning calories from other foods.
Watch your portion sizes. Just because it's Christmas doesn't mean that your stomach requires more to fill it, it really doesn't. Try drinking a glass of water 20 minutes before a meal, it'll fill you up a bit so you won't eat as much.
Christmas dinner itself doesn't have to be unhealthy. Turkey is a great lean meat full of goodness, as are all those wonderful winter veggies that go with it, sprouts especially. Eat these two foods first and then see if you have room for stuffing, roast potatoes, sausages wrapped in bacon and Yorkshire puddings etc!!
Little tip when making roast potatoes - make them larger! They absorb less fat.
Get outside - go for brisk walks, and take the whole family. It'll stop arguments over TV programmes, the kids can let off steam, and you'll work off some calories; killing lots of birds with one stone.
And last but not least if you are going to pig out, and most of us probably will - do it for just two DAYS and not two WEEKS!
Eat and drink consciously, and pace yourself.
ENJOY, have a fabulous time and I hope Santa is good to you. Thanks for reading my blog, there'll be more in the new year.
RX
Today's blog is just aimed at passing on a few simple tips, which you may or may not wish to take on board, to help you avoid having a wobbly tummy and a whole pile of lethargy and guilt come January.
Here goes :
Party time - don't stand near the nibbles! It's far more difficult to stuff your face if you're nowhere near the food.If you do wish to nibble try unsalted nuts, olives or satsumas and steer well clear of all those deep fried party packs that all the supermarkets are selling dirt cheap at the moment. The reason they're cheap is that they contain very FEW nutrients , and will leave you wanting more and more.
Never go to a party hungry!
Most people are going to sink a whole load more alcohol than they would normally, I think that's a given but if you can have a glass of water (yes, you read that correctly!) for every glass of alcohol a) you'll feel better the day after and b) you won't pile on so many pounds. Remember that any/all alcohol sits around the tummy area, and stops your body burning calories from other foods.
Watch your portion sizes. Just because it's Christmas doesn't mean that your stomach requires more to fill it, it really doesn't. Try drinking a glass of water 20 minutes before a meal, it'll fill you up a bit so you won't eat as much.
Christmas dinner itself doesn't have to be unhealthy. Turkey is a great lean meat full of goodness, as are all those wonderful winter veggies that go with it, sprouts especially. Eat these two foods first and then see if you have room for stuffing, roast potatoes, sausages wrapped in bacon and Yorkshire puddings etc!!
Little tip when making roast potatoes - make them larger! They absorb less fat.
Get outside - go for brisk walks, and take the whole family. It'll stop arguments over TV programmes, the kids can let off steam, and you'll work off some calories; killing lots of birds with one stone.
And last but not least if you are going to pig out, and most of us probably will - do it for just two DAYS and not two WEEKS!
Eat and drink consciously, and pace yourself.
ENJOY, have a fabulous time and I hope Santa is good to you. Thanks for reading my blog, there'll be more in the new year.
RX
Wednesday, 18 November 2009
IT'S OK TO EAT MORE?
And so the Scientific Advisory Committee On Nutrition is suggesting that the current UK recommendations for daily calorie intakes needs increasing?! Hey, hey, great news; license to eat more .Isn't that just what we all need to hear?
At the minute we're 'allowed' 2000 calories for women and 2500 calories for men and the increase is suggested as 16% - 2320 for women and 2900 for men.
At a time when we already have rapidly rising obesity levels in this country it really doesn't seem wise to me for so called Nutritional experts to suggest we eat more. Are they crazy?
Do they assume the general public will eat these extra calories in healthy nutritious energy-giving foods that will serve their bodies well - or is it more likely people will think ,ok, so I can eat another couple of biscuits, have an extra slice of pizza, or swig down another pint in the pub. My guess would be the latter! Sorry if I'm doing any of you a disservice.
And anyway, surely the whole calorie thing should be relative to your body size, weight, frame and activity levels. There is a major difference in calorie requirements for a five foot nine women with a petite frame weighing 9 stone and exercising 6 days a week, and a five foot four female couch potato with a large frame weighing fourteen stone! Not difficult to work out that their needs from food are VERY different.
And this really is how we should view food, in terms of our bodily needs and not randomly eating whatever we choose which encourages cravings,obesity, and other health problems.
It's all about conscious awareness. It's so easy to eat your way through a packet of biscuits whilst watching your favourite TV show without thinking. Or drinking ten pints in the pub with your mates, or overdoing it with a large takeaway pizza. Does your body really NEED all of this food or could you quite easily live without it.
I advise clients to keep a food diary, to write down EVERY single morsel that passes their lips - this is a great exercise in conscious awareness. It's really scary to read through at the end of the week. You can bet your life you'd forgotten about a lot of it, and its usually the bad stuff, as mentioned above!
Our diets, however many calories we consume and it's not something I've ever been into or ever advise clients to do, should be made up of what I call 'clean food' i.e. fruit, vegetables (these two are top of the list), eggs, fish, oils, and lean meats, and complex carbohydrates. And yes, you're allowed a little of 'what you fancy' but make this 20% of your total food and not more.
For anyone who IS interested in calorie counting here are some scary statistics! A pint of beer averages 200 calories,a small bar of Dairy Milk is 255 calories (God knows how many are in the giant bars!), Toffee Crisps are 220 calories, a snack sized Mars bar (which is just 32grams, so basically you could probably eat four) is 175 calories, and last but not least a slice of pizza is approx 300 calories - yes that's just one slice!! Scary - and not only that but you get a mouth full of saturated fat and/or sugars in most of these too. Oh our poor bodies!
My recommendation is to cut out the processed stuff in the main (which generally equates to the most calories anyway!) (80/20 rule) and take a look at your metabolic type. Metabolic Typing works based on questions on your dietary, physical and physiological traits and provides you with a food list to pick from, with no calorie counting, no portion control, and no traffic light systems. Simple to follow and effective in reducing cravings,assisting weight loss, improving digestion,raising energy levels and generally improving the way you feel.
Try it and judge for yourselves.And if you don't just EAT CLEAN. RX
At the minute we're 'allowed' 2000 calories for women and 2500 calories for men and the increase is suggested as 16% - 2320 for women and 2900 for men.
At a time when we already have rapidly rising obesity levels in this country it really doesn't seem wise to me for so called Nutritional experts to suggest we eat more. Are they crazy?
Do they assume the general public will eat these extra calories in healthy nutritious energy-giving foods that will serve their bodies well - or is it more likely people will think ,ok, so I can eat another couple of biscuits, have an extra slice of pizza, or swig down another pint in the pub. My guess would be the latter! Sorry if I'm doing any of you a disservice.
And anyway, surely the whole calorie thing should be relative to your body size, weight, frame and activity levels. There is a major difference in calorie requirements for a five foot nine women with a petite frame weighing 9 stone and exercising 6 days a week, and a five foot four female couch potato with a large frame weighing fourteen stone! Not difficult to work out that their needs from food are VERY different.
And this really is how we should view food, in terms of our bodily needs and not randomly eating whatever we choose which encourages cravings,obesity, and other health problems.
It's all about conscious awareness. It's so easy to eat your way through a packet of biscuits whilst watching your favourite TV show without thinking. Or drinking ten pints in the pub with your mates, or overdoing it with a large takeaway pizza. Does your body really NEED all of this food or could you quite easily live without it.
I advise clients to keep a food diary, to write down EVERY single morsel that passes their lips - this is a great exercise in conscious awareness. It's really scary to read through at the end of the week. You can bet your life you'd forgotten about a lot of it, and its usually the bad stuff, as mentioned above!
Our diets, however many calories we consume and it's not something I've ever been into or ever advise clients to do, should be made up of what I call 'clean food' i.e. fruit, vegetables (these two are top of the list), eggs, fish, oils, and lean meats, and complex carbohydrates. And yes, you're allowed a little of 'what you fancy' but make this 20% of your total food and not more.
For anyone who IS interested in calorie counting here are some scary statistics! A pint of beer averages 200 calories,a small bar of Dairy Milk is 255 calories (God knows how many are in the giant bars!), Toffee Crisps are 220 calories, a snack sized Mars bar (which is just 32grams, so basically you could probably eat four) is 175 calories, and last but not least a slice of pizza is approx 300 calories - yes that's just one slice!! Scary - and not only that but you get a mouth full of saturated fat and/or sugars in most of these too. Oh our poor bodies!
My recommendation is to cut out the processed stuff in the main (which generally equates to the most calories anyway!) (80/20 rule) and take a look at your metabolic type. Metabolic Typing works based on questions on your dietary, physical and physiological traits and provides you with a food list to pick from, with no calorie counting, no portion control, and no traffic light systems. Simple to follow and effective in reducing cravings,assisting weight loss, improving digestion,raising energy levels and generally improving the way you feel.
Try it and judge for yourselves.And if you don't just EAT CLEAN. RX
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