Weight Loss vs. Fat Loss

Why is the scale your worst enemy?

When it comes to losing weight, the fastest way (and least safe) is to dehydrate yourself to lose water weight. But this is pointless, because you need water for all of life’s functions.

People spend too much time weighing themselves. There are body builders who look fantastic to me, but they still want to gain just 10 more pounds — just 10 more pounds. Another person I know wants to lose 15 pounds, they have made progress but recently it slowed down. The scale is messing with their minds.

Burn body fat, lose the right kind of weight.

Excess body fat, especially around the midsection, is unhealthy and uncomfortable. We want to lose body fat — and the best way to do it is by preserving everything else on your body.

Preserve your lean mass:

  • Lean muscle is essential for strength and energy
  • Lean muscle also looks GREAT!
  • Bone density, strong bones reduce risk of osteoporosis.
  • Organs, tissues, ligaments, and more..

Imagine losing half of your muscle, and very little fat. Not only will you look worse, but you would feel worse too.

Focus on fat loss

To really target fat specifically for weight loss, we need a balanced diet with exercise, rest, and social support.

What is the point of weighing yourself then?

Take pictures of your body for progress.

Listen to your body — how do you feel now? How do you feel when you eat a certain food? How much stronger are you now?

Heck with the scale.

Weight loss itself isn’t valuable unless the weight you lose is body fat.

Let’s burn fat with healthy nutrition and lifestyle.

Nutrition, Immunity, and Digestion

Why is Fruit Sexy?

Antioxidant-rich fruits make skin glow, boost attractiveness.

I bet you’ve never had a pimple in your entire life, huh?” says my co-worker, Michelle. Of course — I have — but truthfully, I don’t remember the last time.

Just Delightful!

If you’ve ever had a zit, if your skin has been too pale to party, or if you’ve ever wondered the secret to good skin — it has nothing to do with sun from tropical beaches.

Could it be that the orange colored carotenes found in fruits boost your physical attractiveness?

Researchers say Yes: Participants rated the rosiest colored faces as healthiest and most attractive.

The preference for more golden or ‘yellow-toned’ skin as healthier might be explained by the ‘carotenoid pigments‘ that we get from the fruit and vegetables in our diet.

Carotenoids:

  • Orange, yellow, and red pigments found in fruits and vegetables
  • Powerful antioxidants
  • Soak up dangerous compounds in body
  • Awesome immunity boosters
  • Help your skin…G-L-O-W!

It’s about what you eat, not how much you eat

So enjoy the fruits of your labor, for rosy skin and a happy whim.

And did I mention that Grapefruits are in season?

Nutrition, Immunity, and Digestion

How Much Protein?

Latest research says excess protein may be wasted.

This guy eats more than 20 grams of protein at a time

This guy eats more than 20 grams protein per meal

Recent studies indicate that 20 grams of protein at a time is all you need for optimal muscle synthesis.

But…this doesn’t tell the whole story.

Why More than 30 Grams Protein at a time is a Good Thing:

  1. Protein requires more energy for the body to digest — therefore protein is more Fat-Burning!
  2. If you don’t get those extra calories from protein, then you have to make up for it in carbs or fats. Either way, high protein diets build leaner bodies.
  3. More benefits including metabolism, growth hormone, cardiovascular health, increased performance, and lean body composition.

For more, check out John Berardi’s excellent protein article at Precision Nutrition.

Nutrition, Immunity, and Digestion

Daily Food Shopping: Food Be My Ally!

Making good choices starts here: stores and markets.

Walking into Fred Meyer, I realize that 85% of the store is simply irrelevant to my life — because highly processed food is NOT nutrition. But, the other 15% of the store holds many of the answers to health, healing, and weight loss.

The produce section is vibrant, with the colors of fruits and vegetables glistening from the light above. My eye for deals seeks out quality and fair-priced products.

I ask myself….What fruits/vegetables have I NOT had recently? These are the ones that need to be cycled back into my diet.

I pick up some fresh apples, a couple pears, avocados and two English cucumbers (I only have one left now). Next, it’s off to the bulk food section…

Careful to avoid any internal conflict, I simply avert my eyes from any of the chocolate, sugary treats. Instead, I see that oatmeal is on sale for a mere 76 cents per pound. I filled up my bag with six large scoops of oatmeal, which rang up at $1.75. In terms of nutrition, that gives me hundreds of grams of fiber, slow carbs, protein, and weeks of hot breakfeasts.

Next, I had a desire for lentils, but I already ate many lentils last week. Instead, I opt for the green split peas, which brings back happy childhood memories. Maybe I’ll make a soup with this green, slow carb, high fiber, high protein food.

Very low glycemic index

Very low glycemic index

Now it’s on to the refrigerated section of the health aisle. I pick up two bulk Nancy’s low-fat yogurt at about $10 total, which should last me two weeks. Actually, Yogurt is a fantastic addition to smoothies and protein shakes. The amount of sugars listed on the label does not reflect how it works in your body. In fact, since yogurt is a fermented food, much of the sugar has been altered by the living cultures — meaning that there is actually LESS real sugar than what you see on the label. Eat up, my friends.

As I returned home tonight, I ate an entire cucumber — if not for the nutrition, then for the fact that it fills me up due to high water content. Before I go to bed, I will drink more Kefir to get the healthy probiotics, vitamins, minerals, and protein so that when I wake up in the morning, I will be my balanced, optimistic, and handsome self.

Food is my friend

…and I intend to keep it that way. Be a part of the movement, and find yourself in the OUTER aisles of the grocery store — that is where the TRUE nutrition resides.

Nutrition, Immunity, and Digestion Weightloss Now