Every so often I see a news report about the "Negative Calorie Foods" diet. Basically, it suggests, certain foods take more calories to chew and digest than they provide. Celery is often given as an example. After eating a few sticks of celery – plain, of course, not slathered in mayonnaise or peanut butter or whatever else – you're thinner than you were before, or so the theory goes.
An article in yesterday's New York Times points on the variables that can determine how much fat you can lose through exercise. If I read it and didn't realize that the point of exercise has nothing to do with fat loss, I'd be kind of depressed.
When I was still stuck in the Fitness Matrix, I used to go to the gym in the smelly basement of the community center where my daughter was in nursery school. I'd drop her off with a quick kiss, because I had to beat all the mommies to the two working treadmills. If I was the first one in the gym, sometimes I could even sabotage the stereo so I wouldn't have to jog to 80-beats-per-minute Top 40.
Q: I know that coffee and soda and energy drinks can raise our stress levels. But what foods – aside from alcohol – can relax us?
A: Alcohol actually stimulates the nervous system – it's a toxin (as in "intoxicated") and when the body finds alcohol in the bloodstream, it starts pumping harder to clear it out. Keep Reading…
Q: I find myself eating too much. I eat when I'm celebrating, and I eat to make myself feel better on bad days. I've gained 20 pounds in two years. Any suggestions?
A: Let's get real about eating for mood alteration. Food addresses a physical need – hunger – produced by your body. Emotional discomfort is not a body need, it's a mind need. So no matter how much you eat, you're not going to find relief from what's ailing you. At best, you'll find distraction. Keep Reading…
Sometimes humility pays off…
On Monday night, I went to the first practice for the Carrboro, NC Fall Ultimate Frisbee league. After a grueling scrimmage against Team 9, we retreated to the sidelines to chat and play some cooldown toss. I was tossing with a guy I've played with before, but don't know particularly well (he had to remind me of his name before the practice), and Evie, our stalwart captain.
Evie asked me what's new, and I told her a little about FitFam and where it's going. Our throwing partner remarked, "I've done some work in nutrition." Keep Reading…
Do you find yourself overeating, or stress eating, or simply not enjoying meals? This short meditation can do wonders for your mood, your weight, and your health!
A friend of mine recently complained about his weight gain, and his poor food choices. "I know what I should eat, but I eat foods that aren't good for me anyway. Even when I'm full, I still want to eat more. Even when I'm uncomfortably full, I still want dessert."
I suggested that he was stress eating: using food not for body fuel but for emotional distraction. He immediately agreed, but noted that he was too busy to meditate. "Why not meditate on your food?" I asked.
So he's going to try it. And so you can try it too, I've written down a short, simple meditation you can print and read before your next meal. I guarantee if you eat mindfully, you'll eat less, and you'll eat foods that serve you more than not. To listen to this meditation, click here. Keep Reading…
Q: Most people know what they should and shouldn't be eating. Why do so many of us choose the wrong foods so much of the time? Keep Reading…
Q: What do you think of the South Beach Diet? Keep Reading…
Q: I eat tuna and veggies for lunch. 90 calories, 19g protein, 2g fat and 0 carbs in a 100g serving. What do you think? Keep Reading…