The Encore Fitness Blog Resources and information from top Las Vegas personal trainers, fitness and dietary experts. Carol Strom.

April 15, 2011

7 Breakfast Foods to Swap In, Not Out

Is breakfast really the “most important” meal of the day? Maybe, at least that’s what they told us in health class.

So if breakfast is the first meal of the day and you’re trying to lose weight, it’s probably a smart idea to make your first meal a good one.

And since most dieters judge food by two simple factors: fat and calories. Here are seven foods you should ditch and seven foods you should switch to if you’re looking for a better breakfast.

English Muffin or Bagel?

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Sorry, but a bagel with a schmear of cream cheese just isn’t Kosher – at least not for dieting. You’re better off switching to toasted nooks and crannies dripping with melted butter.

*English Muffin, with butter
5.8g total fat
189 calories

Bagel, with cream cheese
8g total fat
436 calories

Apple or Banana?

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Let’s face it, both apples and bananas are awesome – probably the healthiest foods on this list – but, if you’re looking to cut calories, go with the apple.

*Apple
0.17g total fat
50 calories

Banana
0.33g total fat
100 calories

Blueberry Yogurt or Oatmeal?

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Even without the “probiotics,” eating a light yogurt is smarter than a bowl of old fashioned oatmeal.

*Dannon Light’n Fit Blueberry Yogurt (6oz)
0g total fat
80 calories

Old Fashioned Quaker Oats, with water (1/2 cup)
3g total fat
150 calories

Coffee with Skim Milk or 2% Milk?

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For most people, missing their morning coffee is grounds for murder. So please, drink up! But make sure you stick with non-fat milk, not 2%

*Starbucks Coffee, with non-fat milk (short)
0g total fat
35 calories

Starbucks Coffee, with 2% milk (short)
2g total fat
50 calories

Wheaties or Raisin Bran?

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One cereal uses professional athletes to push product. Another is peddled by the sun. The sports stars win, go with a bowl of Wheaties.

*Wheaties (1 cup)
1g total fat
110 calories

Raisin Bran (1 cup)
1.3g total fat
190 calories

Turkey Bacon or Pork?

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It isn’t real bacon – it might not even taste like it – but the fat and calories don’t lie. Spare a pig, eat a turkey!

*Butterball Bacon-Style Turkey (1 slice, 18g)
3g total fat
40 calories

Pork Bacon (3 slices, 19g)
7.9g total fat
103 calories

Grapefruit Juice or Orange Juice?

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Grapefruit juice might not taste as sweet, but choke it down. It’s better than orange juice. And when you drink grapefruit juice, it’s less likely to squirt in your eye.

*Tropicana Grapefruit Juice (8 fl oz)
0g total fat
90 calories

Tropicana Orange Juice (8 fl oz)
0g total fat
110 calories

March 29, 2011

Sleep patterns affect weight loss

Is shedding weight harder while stressed or missing sleep?

Managing sleep and stress levels can help in the battle against obesity, according to scientists in the US.

People getting too little or too much sleep were less likely to lose weight in a six month study of 472 obese people.

Their report in the International Journal of Obesity showed that lower stress levels also predicted greater weight loss.

A UK sleep expert said people need to “eat less, move more and sleep well”.

Approximately a quarter of adults in the UK are thought to be clinically obese, which means they have a Body Mass Index greater than 30.

Nearly 500 obese patients were recruited for the first part of a clinical trial by the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research in the US.

For six months they had to eat 500 fewer calories per day, exercise most days and attend group sessions.

Weight loss

The authors report that “sleep time predicted success in the weight loss programme”.

People with lower stress levels at the start also lost more weight.

The researchers added: “These results suggest that early evaluation of sleep and stress levels in long-term weight management studies could potentially identify which participants might benefit from additional counselling.”

Dr Neil Stanley, from the British Sleep Society, said the sleep community had been aware of this for a while, but was glad that obesity experts were taking notice.

“We’ve always had the eat less move more mantra. But there is a growing body of evidence that we also need to sleep well”, he said.

“It’s also true that if you’re stressed, then you’re less likely to behave, you’ll sit at home feeling sorry for yourself, probably eating a chocolate bar.”

Dr David Haslam, chair of the National Obesity Forum, said: “It’s a great idea to find predictors of who will respond to therapy, if this is a genuine one.”

Original artwork and article courtesy from: BBC News

October 15, 2010

Choosing a Safe Weight-Loss Program

The not-so-secret secret to weight loss is to burn more calories than you eat. This can be done safely and effectively by eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly, according to the Weight-Control Information Network, part of the National Institute ofDiabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

safety first

Although many people can lose weight on their own, others believe they’ll be more successful if they enroll in a weight-loss program that provides support, information and diet and exercise guidelines.

Keep the following suggestions in mind when checking in to weight-loss programs.

Essential elements

All weight-loss programs should encourage healthy behaviors that help you lose weight and maintain the weight loss over time.

They should include:

  • Eating plans that reduce calories
  • Guidelines for regular physical activity and/or exercise
  • Tips on how to make healthy behavioral changes
  • Slow and steady weight loss of about 1 to 2 pounds a week
  • Medical care if you’ll be following a very low-calorie diet
  • Plans to help you keep the weight off after you have lost it

Questions to ask

Gather as much information as you can before deciding to join a program, and seek answers to the following questions.

What does the weight-loss program consist of?

  • Does the program offer individual counseling and/or group classes?
  • Do I have to follow a specific meal plan or keep food records?
  • Do I have to purchase special food, drugs or supplements?
  • Does the program encourage me to be physically active?
  • Does the program help me make healthful behavioral changes?

What are the staff qualifications?

  • What types of weight-management training, experience, education and certifications does the staff have?
  • Does the product or program carry any risks?
  • Are there risks related to using recommended drugs or supplements?
  • Does a medical professional oversee the program?

How much does the program cost?

  • Are there recurring costs, such as weekly attendance fees, or costs of food and supplement purchases?
  • Are there additional fees for a follow-up program or to reenter the program for follow-up after you lose weight?

What results do participants typically have?

  • How much weight have average participants lost and how long have they kept it off?

Losing weight with the help of a program can be expensive but may be more effective than trying to do it on your own. Having answers to your questions can help you decide the best way for you to reach a healthy weight.

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