7 Ways To Crave Less Sugar

If I were to award a single food item with the title of‘Fastest Way To Pack On The Pounds', hands down the winner would be refined sugar.

We have been eating more and more sugar over the past 200 years, which has led to rising obesity numbers. Back in 1822 the average person ate only 6.3 lbs of sugar per year, compared to 130 lbs of sugar in 2012. That's more than 20 times as much sugar in our modern diet! No wonder we are bigger than ever…

One of the reasons that your diet is filled with so much sugar is that some form of refined sugar is included in virtually every single processed food. This is yet another reason that it's important to cut those processed and packaged convenience foods out of your diet.

Cutting sugar from your diet is easier said than done. Once it is a part of your daily diet, cravings strike, causing you to eat it even more frequently. But there is hope.

Here are 7 Ways To Crave Less of that Sugar that you're eating that's killing your results and keeping you from attaining your goal weight:

1) Eat More Protein
A diet rich in protein keeps you full, satisfied and less likely to crave sweets. A great way to make sure that you are getting enough is to plan each meal and snack around a protein. Plan breakfast around eggs, lunch and dinner around baked chicken breast, and make snacks hard boiled eggs or baked meatballs.

2) Avoid Artificial Sweeteners
One of the biggest fitness myths out there is the idea that calorie-free, artificially sweetened beverages don't impact your fat loss results. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but the truth is that the diet soda you're sipping is making it harder for you to reach your goal weight. While the diet soda itself doesn't contain calories, it has been proven to cause cravings for sugary foods. Put down the diet soda and instead pick up a refreshing bottle of spring water.

3) Steer Clear Of Saboteurs
The sad truth is that people in your life will try to sabotage your low sugar diet. You'll run into that pushy person at the office who insists that you eat a donut, the well-meaning family member who dishes you up a bowl of ice cream, and the friend who comes over with a plate of her home-baked cookies. The best avoidance strategy is to sincerely thank the sugar-pusher for their gift, tell them you wish you could eat it, and then blame me – your trainer – as the bad guy who says that you need to cut back on sugar.

4) Try Dark Chocolate
For those moments when your sweet tooth is relentlessly badgering you for something sweet, ditch the super-sugary candies and stick with a small square of very dark chocolate. Chocolate that is 70% or higher in cocoa content should be the only candy that you keep on hand. The benefit of the cocoa, in addition to the lowered sugar content, makes dark chocolate an occasionally justifiable treat.

5) Stick With Fruit
What's sweet, colorful and comes in hundreds of flavors? Organic, seasonal, fresh fruit, of course! As you remove refined sugar from your life, feel free to add in some natural sugar by way of fresh, local fruit. It's amazing how satisfyingly sweet fruit is – it's truly nature's candy.

6) Change Your Palate
As you begin to limit your intake of refined sugars, you'll find that your tolerance for sugar decreases. This means that something that didn't taste sweet before – say a green apple – now has uncanny depths of sweetness. What's happening is that your sweet receptors are becoming more finely tuned, now that you're not overwhelming your palate with sickly-sweet refined sugar.

7) Workout Like You Mean It
A regular, challenging exercise routine will not only get you into amazing shape, it also reduces your cravings for sugar. The endorphin rush brought on by vigorous exercise is an even more powerful feel-good-feeling than the pleasure gotten by indulging in sugary foods.

Make challenging, consistent exercise a part of your life.

Call today for your free consultation 219-405-7559

Email- ianbowen25@gmail.com

Phone- 219-405-7559

From the Desk of John Hall Studios

The Secret To Great Abs

A toned, lean stomach is the ultimate sign of a fitness plan that's working.

It's also one of the hardest things to achieve.

Maybe you've given up on your abs after doing thousands of crunches only to see zero results.

It's time that you forget everything you've heard about how to sculpt your abs. The truth is that crunches simply won't give you a six-pack. Ever.

Doing crunches with the hope that it will turn your midsection into a washboard is to operate under the most widely held fitness myth. You know, that spot reducing myth. Here's the truth: training one area of your body will not specifically burn fat from that area.

Even those who have heard that spot reducing is a myth often still train as if it is true. So here's the hard truth that you need to face: Doing crunches will not magically make your tummy shrink, it will not cause your muffin top to melt away, and it will not give you washboard abs.

Only a reduction in body fat will do that for you.

So want the secret to great abs? The secret to great abs is a combination of fat burning cardio, resistance training, and clean eating.

Weight loss is not reserved only for the people you see on the Biggest Loser or on exercise equipment infomercials. You can do it too.

So is your current routine getting you closer to that six-pack, or have you simply been burning time? Answer the following two questions to find out...

How many times per week do you exercise? If you answered with anything less than 4 times a week then that's the first thing getting between you and streamline abs. What is a fat burning workout? A routine that incorporates intense cardiovascular training with challenging resistance training. Does this describe what you do?

Walking on the treadmill for 30 minutes at a comfortable pace isn't a fat blasting routine. Neither is a leisurely, not-a-drop-of-sweat 20 minutes on the elliptical machine. The truth is that exercising smart allows you to dramatically increase your results while spending less time in the gym.

Cardio exercise is most beneficial when done at an effective level of intensity. This doesn't mean that you should be out gasping for air. It does mean that you need to dig down and push yourself. Every time.

Resistance training is the second vital part to a workout that burns fat. This means working your major muscle groups against resistance in a way that challenges you and stimulates your metabolism. The key here is to find the right intensity and to keep each muscle group guessing.

Do you eat clean? Diet is the number one reason that most people don't have great abs. If your diet is out of control then your abs will be too. To trim your waist, start by trimming the junk out of your diet, regardless of how hard you exercise.

• Don't eat too much. Do you know approximately how many calories you eat each day? The best way to find out is to record every single thing that you eat for a few days. Take those numbers and do an evaluation.
• Cut out the junk. While this may seem obvious, your definition of "junk food" may need to be updated. Start with anything that contains sugar. Refined sugar is one of the biggest ingredients in the junk food world—it is found in soft drinks, blended coffee drinks, cookies, cakes, packaged snacks, and other sinfully sweet treats. Processed fat is another monster to avoid. As a rule of thumb, view all processed or refined items as junk food, and kick them to the curb.
• Eat when hungry. You've been told to never let your metabolism "crash" by going hours without eating, but it turns out that all-day snacking may be counter-productive. Instead of trying to schedule meals and snacks for certain times throughout your day go with how your body feels. If you are hungry then have a small, protein-based snack. If you aren't hungry then don't force a snack on yourself in the name of fueling your metabolism.

Now you know why simply doing crunches will not get you the abs of your dreams. While it is important to exercise your abs a couple of times a week, don't expect fat to fall of that area after thousands of crunches.

If you seriously want to flatten and sculpt your waist in time for the holidays then all you have to do is decide that you really want it. Commit to yourself. You deserve it.

The truth is that lifestyle changes aren't easy to make and that change won't happen overnight. There's a good chance that you'll have occasional setbacks. But don't even think of giving up!

If you never give up then you won't fail.

Each day is a new chance to start over. Begin each day with the resolve to make your new healthy lifestyle a priority. Results will soon follow.

From the Desk of John Hall Studios

Belly Fat In Women Over 50 - Why It's There And How To Get Rid Of It

A common complaint among women over 50 is that it gets harder to lose weight and any weight gained tends to settle in the belly area. As you age your metabolism drops as much as 10% per decade. When you hit menopause your metabolism can take an additional 5 to 10% drop due to hormonal changes. Add to this the fact that these same hormonal changes make it easier for your body to deposit fat in the abdomen and you end up with a growing belly fat problem.


While this may make it seem as if there are a lot of hurdles to cross to get rid of belly fat, there are steps you can take to prevent or remove belly fat after the age of 50.

1. Exercise. If you never exercised in your life, now is the time to start. If you have been a regular workout enthusiast, then add a bit more to your weekly routine.

Part of the reason metabolism drops is because your body loses muscle with age. Muscle is what burns calories, even when you are at rest, and exercise is the best way to preserve muscle, and therefore your metabolism.

2. Eating. The way your body handles nutrients changes as you age. For example, carbohydrates were easily converted to energy when you were in your teens and twenties. However, now that you are in your fifties, more of the carbohydrate calories that you consume get converted to body fat.

To work around this issue you can reduce your carbohydrate intake by about 200 calories a day. To avoid hunger, you can replace those lost calories with the same amount of protein.

3. Triggers. Even though your body changes as you age, the basic mechanics still apply. In other words, if you feed your body only what it needs, then it will be able to utilize those calories for energy and general body repairs. However, if you overeat, especially if you eat too many carbohydrate calories at one time, these extra calories will "spill-over" and create belly fat.

To avoid this learn what your eating triggers are. What causes you to overeat?
Your trigger may be psychological. For instance, you may eat when you feel stressed. Or, you could be triggered to overeat by eating the wrong foods. Research shows that foods that contain fat, salt, and sugar are highly addictive. This would include a burger and fries, potato chips, and many other "trigger foods."

After the age of 50 women do have a tendency to gain belly fat. But by using the tips above to shift your eating habits, exercise routine, and identify your triggers, you can burn the belly fat and get the slim waistline you want.

Possibly the most important thing to keep in mind is that every successful fat loss story begins at the same place, with a compelling and motivating personal goal.

Article Source: Dr. Becky Gillaspy

For health and nutrition products that support weight loss got to http://valparaiso.herbalhub.com

How to cut fat but keep taste in your favorite recipes

Small changes to your recipes can lead to big calorie cuts.  A few ingredient swaps can make home-cooked dishes so much healthier.

Now that the holidays are solidly behind us, the reality of those New Year’s promises we made to ourselves are starting to settle in.  Many of us start out the New Year with big plans for big changes…which is why all this month we’re focusing on the ‘little things’.  That’s because small steps – taken together – can add up to big results, and are often easier to handle than huge sweeping changes that can be unsettling. In the last post, I made some suggestions for small changes you can make at the grocery store – that is, after all, where the path to healthy eating begins.  But now that you’ve brought your healthy ingredients into the house, you want to make sure to keep them that way when it’s time to cook. And with just a few small changes, you can make every dish you prepare at home a little bit better for you.

Steps to a recipe makeover
When it comes to recipe makeovers, a good place to start is with your “go-to” foods – those dishes that you make over and over again.  If you transform a recipe for a dish that you eat every week, the calories you cut out can really make a difference in the long run.
The first step in the makeover is to look over the list of ingredients, and see if you can make some healthy swaps to reduce fat and calories, or to boost the nutritional value.  Would plain yogurt work in your dish instead of sour cream?  Would ground turkey work just as well as ground beef?  Could you add more fiber by using brown rice instead of white? Could you sneak some fruit into a salad or side dish?  Using substitute ingredients that provide nearly the same taste is an easy way to reduce a hefty calorie count.
Next, look at the amounts of some of the ingredients to see if you can change them to make the dish healthier.  If a recipe calls for frying, could you sauté or stir-fry instead to reduce the fat? Can you use less salt or sugar? Could you double the vegetables called for?  You’d be surprised at how many calories you can save with just a few changes.
Don’t “wrong a right”
One caution, though – don’t be fooled into thinking that by starting with very low calorie ingredients, it means you have extra calories to “play with” when you cook.  I run into this with my clients all the time.  They’ll start with healthy, low calorie ingredients like fish and veggies, and then rack up huge amounts of calories once they start cooking.  They’ll fry instead of grill, they’ll sauce instead of steam, and by the time they’re finished, they may as well have eaten a cheeseburger.
Ingredient swaps and tips for healthier dishes
Here are some of my best tips for cutting down on fat and calories when you cook, and also how you can make your dishes healthier by using more whole grains, or adding vegetables and fruits to your dishes.  I’ve also put together a table of swaps you can try for some common ingredients that can help you lighten up your favorite recipes.  Have fun experimenting, and don’t be surprised if you end up liking the healthier version even better!

• 
  Add diced vegetables to soups, chili, meat loaf, casseroles, tuna or chicken salad and pasta sauce to reduce overall calories and boost nutrition.


• 
  Season steamed vegetables with lemon, vinegar, herbs, garlic, onion and spices rather than relying on butter or sauces.


• 
  Add fruits to salad for a change.  Try fresh orange or tangerine sections, apples or kiwi.  Use deep green leafy vegetables instead of iceberg lettuce for more nutrition.


• 
  Frozen vegetables and fruits are just as nutritious and fresh, may be less expensive, and allow you to eat foods that might not be available all year.  For example, loose-leaf frozen spinach or chopped vegetables can easily be added to soups and stews.


• 
  You can thicken soups without added butter, flour or cream.  Place some of the broth and vegetables in the blender and then stir back into the soup.  Or, make your own ‘cream’ soups by cooking vegetables with broth, onions, garlic and seasoning – then puree it all in the blender with a little evaporated nonfat milk or soft tofu for a delicious creamy soup.


• 
  Try different mustards and vinegars for seasoning salads and veggies without fat.


• 
  Double the recipe for dishes that freeze well, such as soups, stews, and casseroles.  That way, when you’re tired and don’t want to cook, you can pull something healthy from the freezer rather than pulling into the drive-through.

Try these simple recipe swaps:

If the recipe calls for…		Use this substitute ingredient…
Ground beef		Ground turkey or chicken breast, plant-based substitutes like soy ground round			Spray pan with pan spray before browning;  drain any fat from pan after browning.Soy ground round is already cooked
Butter or margarine for baking		Applesauce; baby food prunes or carrots; mashed banana or avocado			You will need to experiment, but you can usually replace 1/2 or more of the fat in the recipe with one of the substitutions.  This cuts fat, and boosts nutrition!
Butter to sauté vegetables		Pan spray; broth, wine, vegetable juice			Spray pan with pan spray;  sauté in wine, broth or vegetable juice.  Cover pan to ‘sweat’ vegetables
Cheese		Reduced fat cheese			Use reduced fat cheese, and reduce the total amount in the recipe
Eggs in baking		Egg whites or egg substitutes			Egg substitutes are 99% egg white;  you can also use 2 egg whites to replace one whole egg in baking
Mayonnaise		Nonfat mayonnaise			Or use mustard, avocado or hummus instead
Nuts		Reduce by half			Toast lightly in a dry skillet to enhance flavor
White rice or regular pasta		Brown rice or whole grain pasta			Try other whole grains, too, like quinoa, millet, buckwheat
Sour cream, cream cheese, cottage cheese, cream		Use nonfat versions;  evaporated nonfat milk in place of cream			Plain nonfat yogurt is a great substitute for sour cream

Written by Susan Bowerman, MS, RD, CSSD.