All tagged Weight

Full-Fat Dairy vs. Low-Fat Dairy…Is One Better than the Other? Which Should You Choose?

When shopping for cheese, milk, and yogurt, which is better for you?

Full-fat dairy?

Or low-fat or non-fat dairy?

These are questions I get from my clients, who often feel totally overwhelmed with making the “best” choices when they’re at the grocery store.

If you haven’t read my article, “Is Dairy Healthy? And Should You Switch to a Plant-Based Milk?” then read that first and then come back here. It will give you a thorough understanding of the science behind why you should (or shoudn’t?) be consuming dairy…

But once you decide to have milk, cheese, and yogurt, which type do you choose?

Fat-free? Skim?

1%? 2%?

4 %? Whole milk?

And why?

Let’s take a look at what the research is currently showing so that you can make the best decision for you 😊

Is Bread the Enemy? Do Carbs Make You Fat?

“Bread is the enemy…and carbs make you fat!”

Have you ever thought the same thing?

Are you limiting bread (or pasta or rice or other grains) because you fear they’ll make you gain weight?

You’re not alone.

But is bread *really* the enemy?

Do carbs *actually* make you fat?

BALANCE and How to Enjoy a Sustainable Way of Eating

You hear the word “balance” all the time:

  • Work-life balance

  • Balanced eating

  • “How do I balance all of this?”

  • “I just want balance!”

  • “It’s all about balance”

And it got me thinking…how do I define balance? And how can my definition of balance help YOU enjoy a sustainable way of eating?

To me, balance has FIVE distinct meanings, and these meanings can help you enjoy a sustainable way of eating that is realistic, doable, and leads to lasting results.

11 Ways to Avoid Weight Gain this Holiday Season

Holiday season- the time of year when healthy eating flies out the window.

After all, food (especially the kind loaded with fat and sugar) is the centerpiece of every office party, cocktail party, and family dinner. 

Perhaps you’re feeling anxious about all the impending overindulging…

And you’re dreading the inevitable holiday weight gain…

You’re overwhelmed by the sheer amount of food you have to face…

And you’d like to avoid the stress of a laundry list of New Year’s resolutions (that disappear halfway through January anyway)…

Well, I have the solution!

I’d like to provide you with a solid strategy (11 actually!) to avoid weight gain this holiday season.

These 11 strategies will help you to both fully enjoy the holidays and be healthy:

A Must-Have Secret to Living like the World’s Healthiest People

Do you ever wonder how the healthiest people in the world live?

How are they so healthy? 

How do they live to 100 years and longer?

How is their quality of life so good?

The Blue Zones, the communities of the world’s healthiest people, have many habits and daily practices in common.

And one of those common habits is to put “loved ones first.”

My parents are in town from Virginia this week, which reminds me of one of the key secrets to living a long, healthy life.

The Blue Zones people never eat alone.

They sit down to a long meal with family and close friends.

They put loved ones first.

Two nights ago, Matt and my parents and I went out for dinner in our Historic Third Ward. 

We sat outside, good food, great company, on a warm summer evening for 2 ½ hours!

Now that’s a lot longer than I usually take to eat my meals 😉

And while that’s not doable every night of the week, the lesson is clear:

“How you eat can be as important as what you eat.”- Dan Buettner

Eating slowly, having great conversation with loved ones, creating stronger relationships all have a massive impact on our health.

The benefits of sitting down to dinner with family, close friends, and eating slowly are numerous:

  • Better digestion

  • Better food metabolism

  • Less risk of obesity

  • Less risk of being overweight

  • Less risk of overeating

  • Stronger relationships

Health is more than what we eat. 

It’s how we eat.  It’s how we spend our time.  And it’s who we spend our time with.  

What we eat is a small part of the picture of health.

The secret to living like the healthiest people in the world?

How they live.

The Secret to Losing Weight...While You Sleep | + FREE Checklist on the Top 10 Tips for Better Sleep Tonight |

Have you noticed that you’ve gained a few pounds lately?

But you’re not sure why?

You’re eating healthy most of the time…

You’re working like a boss…

You’re even working out a few times per week…

So, what gives?

There might be an explanation to slow and steady weight gain that you’ll be surprised by:

You’re getting less than 7 hours per sleep.

Yeah, but who isn’t??

It turns out that poor sleep is a major contributor to weight gain.

Lack of adequate sleep (7-9 hours) puts you at a 55% greater risk of obesity!

That lack of sleep causes:

·        Your brain to crave high-calorie foods

·        A spike in cortisol (remember that stress hormone…link to article)

·        Your body to store fat

·        A decrease in your ability to process carbs (and therefore you store more fat)

·        Your metabolism to drop

·        An increase in cravings

Oh yes, that’s why you’re seriously craving sweets, and snacking like crazy after dinner!

And there’s fascinating research out there on this, like this one study, which followed 16 adults for 2 weeks in the inpatient setting, and deprived them of adequate sleep for 5 days.

You should know that “deprived” meant 5 hours of sleep per night for 5 days…

Sound like a typical work week to you?

In just those 5 days, the adults gained almost 2 lbs!

They ate more carbs, fat, and more calories in general after dinner.

When you’re tired, you simply eat more food.

And if that lack of sleep is chronic (hello, work like, family life, social life), the weight creeps on slowly and steadily.

Want better sleep?  And want it now?

I’ve created a checklist for you with my top tips that you can implement TODAY to get better sleep TONIGHT!

You can download your free checklist for the Top 10 Tips for Better Sleep Tonight here.

Do You Need Collagen Supplements?

Have you jumped on the collagen train yet?

The trend of adding collagen peptides to drinks and smoothies for glowing, elastic skin and sipping on bone broth for healthy joints, healthy gut, and weight loss is exploding.

In 2018 alone, we spent $46.6 MILLION on collagen supplements!

And why are collagen peptide supplements so popular?

The promises of younger looking skin, weight loss, and healthy joints are appealing to almost everyone.

But are these promises true?

And are collagen supplements worth their high price tag?

Let’s see…

Have you asked yourself what collagen is?

Collagen is a type of protein, often referred to as our body’s “scaffolding.”

Why “scaffolding?”

Because the tissues that hold out body together is made out of collagen.

Think bones, tendons, ligaments, skin, blood vessels, our organs…

Yes, our whole body is made largely out of collagen.

And as we age, our collagen production declines.

Hence the desire of many people to boost their collagen supply!

But are collagen supplements necessary for boosting our collagen supply?

The truth is, collagen supplements may not be necessary for you to see the benefits of younger skin, strong and gorgeous hair, weight loss, healthy joints, and improved gut health.

While researchers have studied the effects of collagen, the results are often limited or biased.

Does it seem right that the collagen supplement industries should fund the research on collagen?

If you answered “no,” you’re right.

Industry backing of their own products is sketchy at best.

The research studies are also small, and there hasn’t been research on the long-term effects of collagen.

And the scope and number of clinical trials are lacking.

So, more research on the effects and necessity of collagen supplementation are needed.

But while we wait on the researchers to do their thing, what should we do in the meantime?

You can buy collagen peptides for about $50 for a month’s supply. 

And yet, those collagen supplements come with some risks.

You might experience an allergic reaction, or suffer the side effects of nausea, heartburn, headaches, diarrhea, constipation, and skin reactions.

So, is there a better way to boost your collagen supply without a high price tag or side effects?

Consider this:

Collagen is a type of protein, which means it’s a chain of amino acids linked together.

Whenever we ingest protein, whether that’s from a piece of chicken, quinoa, beans, or collagen peptides, we break down that protein into amino acids.

Here’s the thing, you don’t get to choose where those amino acids go in your body go, or how they are used.

Instead, your body prioritizes those amino acids for whatever your body needs them for.

In other words, those expensive collagen peptides your adding to your morning coffee might not be used for collagen production at all!

Your body chooses where those amino acids will be best used.

If your body is choosing how the protein you consume is used, you’re likely better off eating real food instead.

The protein from nuts, seeds, quinoa, spirulina, salmon, chicken, and eggs can be consumed to boost your collagen supply.

When it comes to healthy skin, healthy weight, healthy joints, and a healthy gut, a balanced diet is king.

·        Vitamin C-rich and antioxidant-rich foods boost collagen formation and skin regeneration

o   Think oranges, peppers, strawberries, broccoli, and tomatoes

·        Vitamin E can also help protect your skin, since it’s a powerful antioxidant

o   Think nuts, seeds, and whole grains

·        Even turmeric has collagen-boosting benefits 

o   You can make curries and Golden Milk to see turmeric’s benefits

·        Zinc and sulfur both play roles in collagen formation as well

o   Think chicken, beans, nuts, seeds, whole grains, onions, garlic, and broccoli

·        And don’t forget that protein, as mention above

o   Think nuts, seeds, quinoa, spirulina, salmon, chicken, and eggs

You see, a whole foods, plant-based diet allows you to get the protein, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals you need for healthy collagen production.

And be aware of the choices that actively reduce collagen.

Sugar actually can cause irreversible damage to the collagen in your body! 

Sugar binds to collagen, which creates AGE’s (advanced glycation end products), which causes a loss in the strength of the collagen.

Which then leads to wrinkled, saggy skin.

Just another reason to limit added sugar, isn’t it?

And be sure to load up on SPF to protect your skin from damage!

All of these can lead to the damage of collagen:

·        Sun exposure

·        Pollution

·        Smoking

·        Alcohol

Final thoughts:

Don’t let yourself get swept up by the marketing tactics of products, like collagen.

Always come back to your eating and lifestyle choices when trying to make a healthy decision.

And when in doubt, experiment with what works best for you and your needs.

Knowing what you know now, would you spend the money on collagen peptides?

Need a few collagen-boosting recipes?

>>Strawberry Chia Seed Pudding Parfait

>>Easiest Vegan Chili

>>Foolproof Restaurant Quality Salmon

>>Tomatillo Chicken in a Pot

>>Raw Vegan Pad Thai

>>Red Lentil Stew

>>Anti-inflammatory Pasta Salad

>>Chewy Trail Mix Bars (Raw Vegan)

Want To Feel Healthier? This One Habit Could Change Everything

Want To Feel Healthier? This One Habit Could Change Everything

Happy Friday!

In less than 3 weeks, it will be January 2019!  Each year, most of us wake up on January 1 with some pretty hefty resolutions:

I’m going to eat healthy every single meal! And I’m going to workout for an hour every single day!

Then sometime mid January, we totally fall off the bandwagon. 

And when we stop eating healthy every single meal, and we miss a few workouts, we give up.  And feel guilty.  And sometimes feel like a failure.

But what if there was one small habit that could make other good habits fall into place?

Small wins lay the foundation for other, bigger wins. 

One healthy habit can lead to a better mood, more productivity, less stress, a healthier weight, better sleep, fewer junk food cravings, and more focus and clarity.

These habits that lead to other good habits and positive side effects are called “keystone habits.” 

A keystone habit is the first domino that makes all the other dominoes fall into place.  Here are a few examples:

  • Exercising for 20-30 minutes regularly

  • Practicing daily gratitude

  • Journaling daily

  • Reading for 30 minutes

  • Making the bed each day

  • Making a healthy breakfast

Let’s lay the groundwork for developing a single healthy habit NOW so that when 2019 arrives, we hit the ground running, feeling our best, with other healthy habits falling into place!

To learn my 3 tips for a healthy holiday season, and what my keystone habit is for the next 3 weeks, watch this video>>

And to track your keystone habit, download the free app, HabitBull.  It will be the key to making your keystone habit stick!

Action Step: What’s your keystone habit for the next 3 weeks?  Comment below and let's hold each other accountable with our keystone habits! 

I'll be posting daily on Instagram stories if I did my keystone habit, so come join me over there>>

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.
— Aristotle