Rethink Your Drink

The first thing I tell people who are interested in dropping fat and slimming down is to ditch the liquid calories. Check out the photo below to see the amount of sugar contained in various beverages.

We all know that beverages like soda are simply empty calories. They provide no nutritional value. However, even drinks that people think of as "healthy" like fruit juice is not a good option if you're trying to shed excess pounds.

Many of the nutrients found in fruit juice are added back in later because they are stripped out during processing. It's far better to eat a piece of fruit than to drink fruit juice. Besides the vitamins, you also get the fiber and phytonutrients that will be missing from juice.

So ditch the empty liquid calories and stick mostly to fresh, unprocessed foods if you're trying to trim down.

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100 Calorie Comparisons

The person who came up with the 100 calorie pack idea is an evil genius. Manufacturers charge you more money for less product and people pay it.

I’m not sure who came up with the “a calorie is a calorie” theory in the first place but it makes no sense. Different foods affect your body in different ways. Some foods are loaded with nutrients, fill you up more, energize you, and are more easily digested. Many processed foods are loaded with unpronounceable chemicals, increase your cravings, make you feel sluggish, and overload your system with insulin.

The bottom line? What you eat, not just how many calories it contains, contributes to whether your body burns fat or stores fat.

Here are some far healthier 100 calorie choices:

· 1 medium banana, apple, pear, or peach

· 14 almonds

· 25 baby carrots

· 1 large hardboiled egg

· 1 1/4 cup of watermelon, cantaloupe, or pineapple


· 4 oz. turkey breast

· 25 dry roasted, unsalted pistachios

· 28 grapes

· 1/2 baked potato w/ salsa (leave the skin on to get lots of important nutrients)

· 2 oz. of lean roast beef or boiled ham
 

· 1/4 cup of raisins                                

· 17 medium stalks of celery

· 2 kiwis or 2 plums

· 10 large steamed shrimp

· 1/2 apple w/ 2 tsp. of natural peanut butter 


· 1 medium ear of corn

· 3/4 oz. sharp cheddar

· 1 cup of blueberries

· 3 oz. of tuna packed in water



· 1 1/2 cup of strawberries or raspberries

· 4 cups of raw broccoli

· 2 1⁄2 oz. baked or broiled salmon

· 2 cups of sugar snap peas

· 1 slice turkey + reduced fat Swiss cheese rollup
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Diet vs. Exercise Episode 2

I haven't had time to blog lately so I'm really glad these guys have come out with another Diet vs. Exercise video.

This time Craig takes on the StepMill while John Alvino takes on a burger and fries (with some help from Brad Pilon).



Last time I was remiss in not including some info about Craig and Brad's programs. Craig Ballantyne is the creator of Turbulence Training and Brad Pilon is the author of Eat Stop Eat. I've used and recommend both programs.

Turbulence Training

Eat Stop Eat

Diet vs. Exercise

You really gotta watch this.

Diet vs. Exercise
A Craig Ballantyne - Brad Pilon Production