Tag / Weight loss tips

by tessbrennan

Jawbone – Tips to help us all Lose & Maintain our Weight

Jawbone recently released data they have accumulated from what their users are reporting and this gives us some really good insight into what works and what doesn’t!

Here are a few of the key points Jawbone found from the data:

  • Those who lost weight logged 75% more meals per week than those who didn’t lose weight. There has been debate about whether eating more well-balanced, small meals actually helps your metabolism. Some experts say yes and others say no, but Jawbone’s data supports the former.

  • UP users who lost weight logged 60% more workouts per week.

  • Jawbone wearers who lost weight also had 11% more teammates than those who didn’t.

    Those who lost weight got 8% more sleep, too.

  • UP users who lost weight also logged foods that had 25% more fiber, 13% less fat, 13% fewer calories, and 12% less sugar per meal.

  • They also ate breakfast 30% more often and drank 33% more water than those who didn’t lose weight.

via Weight-Loss Habits, According To Jawbone – Business Insider.

These are tips I frequently use in coaching, it is nice to see them confirmed, once again!

by tessbrennan

8 Tips to Keep the Turkey off your Hips!

Thanksgiving is a week away.  Many will spend hours in the car traveling to or between family gatherings, only to arrive at their destination and have mounds of food placed in front of them.

What is one to do? Working diligently to maintain healthy choices, avoid junk foods, and keep moving on a regular basis could be all for not after this one day??? NOT!  RELAX…

Our health and well being is the culmination of what we do on a daily, weekly, monthly, and annual basis.  Its really about the choices we make every day, so each day we make good choices, contributes to better health.  This is 1 day, (or maybe a week depending on how much you actually cook) and not the whole year.

So, with that, and all the Holiday parties to follow in the next month and a half… Here are some tips to keep that turkey off your hips!

  • If you are on vacation, this is the perfect time to practice that routine you would like to institute when you go back.  Take the time to walk or do a few squats between commercials.
  • Eat a healthy snack before you go, so you aren’t ravished and ready to eat a whole cow (or garden for our vegetarian friends) when you arrive.
  • Drink a BIG glass of water 20 minutes before you eat. (or 10 minutes or 5 minutes or right before you eat… just drink it!)
  • TAKE. YOUR. TIME. eating.  Allow your body to register what is in the belly and to tell you when it is full.
  • Remember the difference between “I don’t” (preferred) vs. “I can’t.” (to be avoided at all costs)  The difference between these two phrases can be success or failure!
  • Moderation is key – you can have a sliver of pie, just not the WHOLE pie.  Smile Pick a small piece of the desert that “completes” the meal for you.
  • Don’t forget the veggies.  At least half of your plate should be veggies. (NOT just green bean casserole – fresh veggies, whole veggies, even plain veggies)
  • Opt for whole foods you recognize as the source and just try a taste of things you know are refined, if you must.
  • BONUS: At half-time take everyone outside to play a game of pick-up football, a family 5K, or just wrestle with the young-ins… movement is what it is about!

Tis the season to remember all the things we are thankful for.  (I like to do this on a daily basis, but its nice to have a reminder day for it…)

Here are a few photos of our past Holiday gatherings. Smile

IMG-20111124-00413IMG-20111124-00415IMG-20111124-00417IMG-20111123-00406IMG-20111123-00408Bonita Springs-20111124-00427

First 3 photos are of the 5,000 meals campaign at Lamb of God church.  We delivered meals for the church to people out in the Buckingham area who needed meals to help celebrate the holiday.  Then my daughter and I work on a holiday treat for our friends who hosted us for Thanksgiving, the Ballo’s.  

 

by tessbrennan

What makes a snack healthy?

Okay, all this talk about snacks this month is making me hungry.  Winking smile  Not really, I keep my hunger number between 2 & 4. 

As I began working to improve my health, and thus reduce my waist line, healthy food choices and portion sizes became really important.  I used to crave sodas, breads and pastas, and sweets A LOT! I was certain there was no way to overcome them. 

What I found was, when my body had the nutrition and components necessary for building a healthy body, the cravings melted away just like the inches on my waist.

Why or how could that be?  Lets look at a graphic to explain a bit of it.

How_food-affects_blood_sugar_image_only

What we eat as a snack is just as important as when and how much we eat.  When we grab a soda, or a donut, or a bowl of cereal as our answer to our hunger situation… we are really setting ourselves up to fail. 

This is why the coffee break became so important.  When you eat a bowl of cereal, a pop tart, or a donut for breakfast, as you can see in the chart, your blood sugar SPIKES quickly and drops off just as fast… leaving you in state of “starvation” via the mind tricks because of the sudden and drastic drop in blood sugar.

Otherwise, if your chosen food item is a good quality protein, then your blood sugar doesn’t spike, it stays stable and you don’t get those “I gotta eat a 10 pound donut” sensations 2 hours later.

When we eat was covered in my blog a week ago on how Snacking can make you skinny.

How much to eat depends on your personal caloric needs for the day, how much activity you’ve had during the day, and how long it will be until your next full meal.  I made some great snack suggestions earlier this month.

So, now you have the logistics of how it all works, suggestions of healthful snack option, and a hunger scale to use… all that’s left is a big glass of tasty water to keep things on an even keel.

Fruit_infused_water

Healthy snacking, and may the grumpies stay far, far away!

For more information on healthy alternatives and choices, please contact me.

 

by tessbrennan

Using a Pen to Lose Weight

No, writing with an ink pen will not burn exorbitant amounts of calories, but it CAN dramatically improve your weight loss efforts!   When we have a baseline to begin with and work from, goals can be set realistically.

‘Weight loss’ strategy: Remember The National Institute of Health’s food journal project?

The NIH assembled a group of 1600 obese people and asked them to write down everything they ate at least 1 day per week. Slowly, people began recording meals once a week and sometimes more often. Some even started a daily food log and it soon became a habit.

The regular food log group soon found themselves looking at their entries and began finding patterns. The 10am snackers began keeping apples and bananas at their desk and slowly began replacing junk food with healthy food in all their meals.

The researchers hadn’t suggested any of these behaviors but the simple act of food journaling led to folks who kept daily food journals lose twice as much weight as anyone else.
This week, let’s create a food journal for our own heath.

Source: The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
PS: Research has repeatedly revealed that sharing the weight loss journal with a close friend/member of family increases the effectiveness of the initiative even further!

 

So, put down your soda and pick up a pen!  Write down everything you eat & drink, raise your personal awareness, and watch what happens. It works and this is why I include it in my list of things to do when “Getting Started” toward a healthier life!

by tessbrennan

Size matters! What does your dinner plate look like?

Health begins with the foods we eat, how much, what and how often.

Tonight, I was especially hungry, so I filled my plate!

Feel Good Fast - Full Dinner Plate

Grilled chicken boob (still moist and juicy), a baked sweet potato with Greek yogurt and fresh cut chives (not shown), roasted Brussels sprouts in grape seed oil, and a few peas that hubby wouldn’t eat.

It was a lot of food packed with nutrition, and I am full.  But why do I bring this up?  I am reminded of an Ice Cream Study. (It is time for desert)

What this study showed was very interesting.  The size of the dish and the size of the spoon.

Ice_Cream_Study_Conclusion_-_Feel_Good_Fast

If we were to take anything away from this study it would simply be this:

If you tend to over eat and always clean your plate, try using a smaller plate.

Suggestions:

  • Buy a smaller plate. Not a dessert plate, a 10 inch plate rather than today’s standard 12 inch. Leave the same amount of space you normally would.
  • Make it a “pretty plate” something you would enjoy eating off of, perhaps a piece of Grandma’s China – make eating special, not mundane.
  • Load your veggies up first, then only take enough meat to fill the small portion left on your plate.  1 serving is 4 ounces NOT 16. Smile
  • Use a smaller utensil. When it takes you longer to get the food to your mouth, your stomach has time to catch up with what you are eating and allows your body to receive the signals BEFORE you’ve over eaten.
  • Think, think, think… Before, during and after each bite, and talk kindly to yourself.

Before you know it, you can make new eating habits that are a positive step toward a healthier you!

If you would like more information on healthy choices, recipes, health based support groups, educational seminars, or personal in-home consultations to take your life in a healthier direction, just contact me.

by tessbrennan

Boost that Metabolism!

Wanting to boost that metabolism? 

Need metabolism boost.

Here is an article that I found that has some good tips.

5 Tips to Speed your metabolism

In addition, I would like to add that my sources say:

  • Your first 16 ounces of water should be consumed first thing in the morning, and should be room temperature. 
  • Always pick a protein before/with a carb.  This prevents the blood sugar from spiking and quickly dropping – prevents cravings of more carbs 2 hours later.
  • If you choose to use a Calcium supplement to up your calcium, look for one with a guarantee and that is lead free. (literally)
  • Many Fish Oil supplements have been shown to contain heavy metals. Choose a supplier with a reputable reputation.
  • Soda pop depletes the calcium stores in your body, if you are looking to boost your metabolism by adding calcium, perhaps cutting back on ALL the Soda could help double the impact.

Have a Great Day!  Contact me when you are ready to Feel Good Fast and we will help you get on track.

by tessbrennan

Want to get healthy, not sure where to start.

When I started trying to get healthier, I wasn’t sure where to start. I tried diets of all types and yo-yo’d for years, but without a road map of where I was going, it was a futile attempt.  Lose weight, pack it back on plus some more.

Today, I want to share some resources that could help.

1. Decide WHY you want to get healthier, why EXACTLY and WRITE
IT DOWN!

2. Journal what you eat and drink, EVERYTHING, for a week.

a. Keep a written journal of everything you put in your mouth.

b. Use an app like http://myfitnesspal.com I really like this one to use on my phone AND my laptop… whichever I choose. (I also use the Shaklee 180 app that comes with my maintenance program.)

c. The average American over-consumes 300 calories a day. It isn’t
until we begin to pay very close attention to what we consume that
we realize where our challenges lie. (Many times this is from Drinks) This does NOT mean to substitute with “sugar free” options. Artificial sweeteners add a whole new set of problems.

3. Begin to move – the options here are limitless.

a.  I did it with walking, lots of walking. Park and walk the whole
outdoor mall, walk around the block, walk a 5K event, walk if
you haven’t “moved” with purpose in ages, simply begin small
walk to the mailbox and back, do it twice if you can.

b.  Join a gym, a lot of my friends have done this, I prefer to spend
my dollars elsewhere.

c.  Hire a personal trainer.  Get specific advice that works for YOU.

d.  Pick a cause & work toward an event. (I have done 60 mile walks)

4. Choose healthier options that taste GREAT!

a.  Knock out all artificial sweeteners, colors, & flavors.

b.  Look for new recipes, or do what I do, make healthier substitutions
for some of the ingredients.

c. Pick 1 thing and do it till you’ve got it down, then pick something
else to master.

IMG-20111030-00286
Starting line for day 3 of the 2011 Tampa 3-day, 60-mile walk for Breast Cancer.

For more suggestions or a personal consultation to get you started on your own, personal map for improved health, contact me.

by tessbrennan

Finding Healthy Snacks

Hungry

I saw some really good advice the other day.  When someone offers you something not included in your diet, instead of saying I can’t have that, answer them with I don’t eat that.  (for my daughter that is corn products, for me that includes foods laden with tons or refined sugars)

The difference in those two words is immense. Can’t implies you are not allowed, you are prohibited, it is against the rules.  Don’t implies it is my choice and desire to nurture myself with this decision.  A simple, yet profound difference.

So, once you decide you don’t want something as a snack, what are some healthy choices that will not knock you off your lead lap to regaining/maintaining the health you desire. 

Please enjoy this list of “free” produce snack ideas.  I gathered this information from the book, Why Do I Feel This Way? – Understanding Your Body…Discover Your Solutions ~Gaber, RHN & Day, RDC.  These colleagues of mine have spent a lifetime using nutrition to maintain and regain health.

If you would like more information on healthy snack options, contact me.

by tessbrennan

Attention to Prevention–Water and other Drinks

The beginning of a healthy lifestyle does NOT begin with a prescription or something man has invented… it begins with the simple, life-giving, pure water.

I talk a lot about water, but it is so important in our day to day lives let alone in our attempts to avoid the major degenerative diseases. It’s the starting point when beginning a weight loss program, or a lifestyle change toward better health!

Our daily goal should be to drink the appropriate amount of water.

(Your weight in pounds/2 = your daily goal in ounces of water)

Life giving Water

The goal of drinking fluids is to hydrate your body. (not dehydrate)

Water Does many, many things for our bodies.  It flushes toxins our bodies, assists with digestion and metabolism, keeps our kidneys healthy, and even enhances brain function.  Amazing cool clean water.

When choosing what to drink, here’s a helpful chart.

Hydrating (in order of value)               Dehydrating

Purified Water

 Coffee
Tap Water Caffeinated tea
Bottled Water Beer
Juice –fresh-squeezed better Wine
Herbal teas, non-caffeine All other alcoholic drinks
Milk & non-milk(soy,rice,almond) Carbonated soda w/ caffeine
Carbonated soda w/o caffeine  

(information from Treasures of Health Nutrition Manual by, Reeder & Dr. Couey)

For more information on ways water could assist you in improving your health, please contact me.

by tessbrennan

7 Tips to Healthy Weight Loss and Attaining Your Health Goals.

No matter what system you choose to use, there are 7 tips to attaining your health/weight loss goals.  They sound easy, they are easy, however, the trick is in maintaining all 7 tips at the same time for an extended period of time.

It can be done. I’ve done it, my friends have done it, and others are doing it too.

The tips I will mention here will be specific to the Shaklee180 Turnaround Plan, but are basically the same for other balanced systems.

7 Steps to Weight Loss

  1. Know your why. (Here are some examples from my clients.)
    — To fit on the roller coaster with my kids
    — To get healthy so I can play with/coach my kids in sports
    — To eliminate my type 2 diabetes
    — To get my “sexy” back
  2. Make a PUBLIC commitment. (When others support you, the challenge is easier to maintain.)
    — Tell your family
    — Tell your friends
    — Tell your co-workers
    — If you tell a friend & they don’t support/back you – FIND A NEW FRIEND!
  3. Get an accountability partner. (Its always fun to work with someone along side you.)
    — Someone to join you in the journey
    — Someone who also wants to improve their health/get sexy back
  4. Exercise 30 minutes each day. (The more you exercise, the more you can eat!)
    — Walk briskly
    — Train for a 5K or other event
    — Find a Yoga class
    — Find a High Intensity Interval Training Program (HIIT)
  5. Follow the plan as it is DESIGNED. (Shaklee180 Turnaround is designed to be complete and work as a system.)
    — Science backs the program
    — It is proven to work – when you work it
    — Complete nutrition is a must – the system provides it
  6. Keep a food journal. (Many times my clients find they eat more than they thought in a day.)
    — Everything you eat AND drink
    — Trouble shooting is easier when we know where to begin
    — Many times we find the lips are very busy during the day
  7. Don’t get complacent. Don’t Give up. Don’t be mean. (Attitude makes a difference.)
    — Set the goal – reach for the goal
    — If you have a set back, move on from there
    — Don’t beat yourself up for mistakes you make

For additional information on the Shaklee180 Turnaround or how we can work with you and coach you to reach your goals for your why, contact me.