Weight Loss 101

Welcome back from a gorgeous Memorial Day weekend. How was it to get into that bikini or bathing suit again? I know for some of us it was a bit tougher than others. But not to worry, if you start now, by July 4th, you can be looking hotter than the city on a steamy August day.

For the next week or so, I will be posting weight loss tips including diet and exercise suggestions. I may even follow a case study. Any volunteers?

To get you ready for the next month of kicking yourself into high gear start with this:

1.Go back and read 2 Days to Detox.

2. Start drinking more water. Adults should be drinking from 2 to 3 liters per day depending on your weight and activity level.

3. Get a journal.

See you tomorrow!

Summer BBQ 101

If you are concerned about sticking to somewhat of a healthy diet this summer while going to bbq's and summer parties. Here is a quick guide to staying on track, sort of.

1. Stay away from the mayo salads (potato, macaroni, etc.). Mayonnaise can pack on the calories. Use olive oil instead and avoid the creamy, non-healthy fats.

2. B.Y.O.F: Bring your own fish. Typical BBQ staple are usually burgers, hot dogs (frankendogs, steak, etc. You will be cutting down on saturated fat as well as added Omega 3's to your meal if you use fish instead.

3. Charring is bad. Burnt meat is highly carcinogenic (cancer-causing). Grill but don't overdo it.

4. By cutting down on the above extra saturated fat and calories you don't have to feel so guilty when you have a beer or two, or three.....

Have fun!!!

Fat Woman on the Mountain

I have had the pleasure of meeting this woman who shares her really amazing weight loss story on her website www.fatwomanonthemountain.com.

It is a truly inspiring story of stepping up (literally) and taking control of your life and health.

Find out how Kara lost half of herself (in weight) by setting out to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa!

I love success stories like this. It puts things into perspective for the rest of us. If you have ten, twenty, or even 50 pounds to lose, you don't have to move mountains to do it. But it is achievable when you put your mind to it!

Paging Dr. Gupta

Did anybody see CNN's special on Food Safety in the U.S.?

Last year, more than 350 people got sick or died eating tainted spinach and lettuce. Others got ill after consuming peanut butter contaminated with salmonella. A recent pet food scare, which killed and sickened many animals, has many consumers worried if it could drastically affect human health.

I thought it would be appropriate to watch considering all of my posts from last week on eating organically or locally. Geez, this show was depressing. Forget organic or local, they basically say that no produce is safe. They did say that the safest way to get rid of harmful poisons in food is irradiation. Great! So we have to kill all of our food before we eat it.

I think certain things we have to just choose to block out. We can do our best at trying to get the freshest foods we can and at some point stop worrying about what could happen. Right?

The Amateur Gourmet

Check out this blog if you need restaurant recommendations in NYC. They are definitely NOT healthy recommendations but until I start a healthy restaurant review section, this guy does a great job at pointing you in the right direction.

Women's Health Mag May Issue

On page 103 you can find an energizing martial arts workout that I have designed for the magazine. You can do it anymore at anytime, no equipment or experience needed.

Excerpt:
Why it works:
As you slide into that midafternoon slump, you need a mental pick-me-up as much as a physical one. "Martial arts give you energy because they increase focus," says Jennifer Cassetta, a second degree black belt instructor at World Martial Arts Center in New York City. "You're challenging yourself to remember these new moves and combinations."

The Dirty Dozen

When buying produce you might also keep the Environmental Working Group's "Dirty Dozen" in mind.

After 43,000 tests run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the FDA, these are the 12 fruits and vegetables that tested highest in levels of pesticides: (in order from worst to least contaminated) peaches, apples, sweet bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, pears, imported grapes, spinach, lettuce and potatoes.

If these items are on your list you may want to go organic.

If it Moos, then go ORGANIC

I think it is most important to go organic when buying your meat and dairy products. All of your creamy treats like cheese, yogurt, ice cream, and of course milk should come from hormone and antibiotic free cows. And of course the cows themselves, as well as all other animals should also be free of these contaminants.

Why? Well here's what I found:

1. American dairy farmers inject rBGH to dairy cows to increase milk production. While European nations and Canada have banned rBGH to protect citizens from these hazards.

(Taken from www.babyorganic.com)
Scientific research confirms that antibiotics fed to farm animals are creating antibiotic pathogens that are passed on to those who eat the animal products.

In 1994, the FDA approved the sale of genetically engineered recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH). When injected into dairy cows, rBGH forces cows to produce more milk. Cows injected with rBGH produce milk with significantly higher levels of a potent chemical hormone called IGF-1. Scientists warn that elevated levels of IGF-1 could pose serious hazards for humans, including breast, prostate, and colon cancer.

Yikes! That's enough to scare me off of non-organic meat and dairy.

Pros to Eating Organic Foods

The most obvious reason to why we should buy organic foods is to avoid pesticides, antibiotics and hormones that have been sprayed on or pumped into our food system. But what's the big deal? Our bodies can handle a few measley chemicals, can't they? Well, it depends on where you stand on long term illness. If it is something you never think about, then think about this. It can take up to thirty years for diseases like cancer to manifest into a diagnosable form from its beginning stages. To date there are no studies that will link pesticides to disease (says the article in the March issue of Time Magazine written by John Cloud). However, it is no secret that these chemicals cause damage on a cellular level. It also is known that after many years of this kind of damage all sorts of malfunctions can occur.

So to do our best in avoiding as much damage to our bodies that we can control, then eating organically is a step in the right direction!

Cons to Eating Locally

Your address will dictate what your diet is like.

I was just in San Francisco and shopped at the local farmers' market. The produce there was diverse, fresh and delicious. However, on the East Coast your options will be quite limited especially in winter months when crops cannot grow. Summertime in NY does lend itself to lots of fresh goodies that you can take advantage of like corn, apples, tomatoes, green leafies, and of course fresh fish caught right offshore.

Farmers' markets are also harder to come by. In the city there are a few, Union Square being the largest and most popular, but even it is not open everyday. If you haven't been there I highly suggest it during this time of year.

Pros to Eating Locally Grown Food

Eating from your local friendly farmer has its advantages. For one, your food has less mileage on it, decreasing the time between the apple being picked and it hitting your lips. This keeps your apple fresher and most likely tastier too.

From a more global perspective, it also benefits the ozone. Less fuel is used to ship it from across the country or globe, which leads to a decrease in greenhouse gases. Wow, that's deep. You are also supporting your local farmers which is a nice feeling.

There are different opinions on what constitutes "local". Often people use the measurement of a day's leisurely drive. That could mean anything from 2 to 5 hours. Living in NYC I would say a reasonable radius for locally grown produce can be anything from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania.

Eat Organic, Eat Local, I'm so Confused......

Do you ever look down at your plate and wonder where your food actually comes from? My guess is that most of us don't. Perpetual dieters may be guessing how many points, calories, or grams of fat there are on their plate. Those "foodies" out there may be wondering how the chef prepared the meal and which wine goes best with it. I even have a friend who is concerned if the cow she is eating was killed in a "humane" way or not. Is that even possible? Then of course there are those of us who gobble down our food without a second thought of its origin before bursting the buttons on our jeans.

By now, everyone pretty much knows that organically grown foods are becoming more and more popular. Even Wal-Mart is jumping on the bandwagon and has begun offering them in stores. If you aren't yet aware however, there is a debate going on whether we should buy organic or local foods.

For the next couple of weeks I will do my best to shed some light on this debate and how we can all make better choices for ourselves and for the planet. I also invite you to add your questions and comments to make for a more exciting debate.