If You're Gaining Weight, These Snack Photos Could Explain Why
https://ift.tt/2IWMU24 We feel you. Sometimes grabbing a couple of Oreos is quick and easy, and it satisfies your chocolate and cookie cravings. But if you're trying to lose weight, seeing these two snacks side by side offers a powerful visual of how snack choices can affect your goals. For about 100 calories, you can get two small cookies or 16 medium strawberries. The higher volume of food combined with the high fiber and high water content in the strawberries will not only be more filling in the moment, but this snack will also keep you fuller for a longer period of time. Strawberries will also provide you with more micronutrients, more energy, and fewer refined sugars and carbs. Oreos may briefly satisfy your sweet tooth, but they don't offer any nutrition and will likely leave you hungry and craving more sugar, so you'll end up eating more daily calories. Max Weber, a personal trainer who helps clients with fitness, nutrition, and weight management, said, "Keep these little things in mind on your fitness journey, and make the 'better' choice. Whatever that may be for you, given your goals, your cravings, and your values." If you're trying to slim down, picturing these comparison photos will help you make the right choice in order to make that happen. Health via POPSUGAR Fitness https://ift.tt/2mWxwLI March 27, 2018 at 10:58AM
0 Comments
Courtney Followed Beachbody's 21-Day Fix and Lost 135 Pounds!
https://ift.tt/2IQSe7n If you've been thinking about trying Beachbody's nutrition and fitness programs, these photos will inspire you ASAP! Courtney Ady tried tons of diets, but ultimately found weight-loss success by following the 21-Day Fix. She lost 135 pounds in two years! Keep reading to hear her amazing story. Courtney BeforeLike many who can relate, Courtney struggled with her weight. At 272 pounds, she shared with POPSUGAR, "I felt trapped in a fat suit that I couldn't take off and had zero self-esteem. I spent my days avoiding mirrors, and if someone tried to take my picture, I would hide myself by any means necessary. I wasn't really living; I was coasting through life, too scared to try anything new or put myself out there for fear that others would see me." "That was when I realized that the only person who could do anything to save my life was myself, and I had to fight not only for me, but for my fiancé, the kids I desperately wanted, and my family." Courtney's health and weight had her well on her way to early heart disease and diabetes. She honestly thought there was no saving herself from this fate, so she had just about given up. It wasn't until she met someone and got engaged that she felt inspired to begin her transformation journey. She was talking to her fiancé about where she saw their lives in five years, and Courtney mentioned having kids. She said her fiancé looked her in the eyes and said he didn't think it'd be safe for her to have children at her current weight and that they shouldn't have kids until she was healthier. He was scared that she wouldn't survive if something went wrong and she needed emergency surgery. Courtney shared, "That was like a knife to my chest, and I cried for days. That was when I actually stopped and looked at myself in the mirror and realized just how bad my weight was. It was right there when I decided that I was done living like this and that I wanted kids more than I could even explain. That was when I realized that the only person who could do anything to save my life was myself, and I had to fight not only for me, but for my fiancé, the kids I desperately wanted, and my family. I realized that I was worth saving." Junk food and portion sizes were an issue for Courtney, which is why the 21-Day Fix plan was a "total life changer." She tried tons of other fad diets but felt like they were all impossible to maintain long term. With the 21-Day Fix, meal planning was so easy. Courtney shared, "With your color containers and this app, all you need is to input your weight, height, and gender, and the app told me how many of each container (carbs, fruits, vegetables, protein, healthy fats, water, and seeds/dressings) I should be eating in a day." She didn't even have to count calories! Courtney also said that she learned the concept of moderation with Beachbody and that it was OK to have a little bit of something every once in a while, just not to go crazy on junk every single day. Here's an example of what Courtney eats in a day: Breakfast: 1 scoop Strawberry Shakeology, 1/2 banana, 1/2 purple container frozen strawberries, 1/2 cup almond milk, 1 cup water Courtney AfterThe Beachbody exercise programs also helped Courtney realize that she didn't need to spend hours in the gym - they are just 30 minutes long and work your entire body! "All the workouts had a 'modifier' option - a low-impact, less-intense version of the exercises - which really helped me get started." The workouts are designed to progress so they push you to get stronger and leaner and more confident in what you can do. Courtney said, "Autumn Calabrese is so motivating and upbeat and makes the workouts fun, even when you think your legs are shaking!" She also loved the other Beachbody workouts like P90X, Focus T25, Core De Force, and Beachbody On Demand. Aside from dropping 135 pounds - an entire person! - Courtney has more energy, more muscle definition, and more strength. She shared that she can now do push-ups! Fitting into smaller clothes is a huge win for her, and her feet and knees no longer hurt after a long day. "My health has improved dramatically, and I'm now in a place that my doctor agrees that I could bring children safely into the world when we decide to." Courtney is proud that she learned not to give up and to be consistent with her eating and fitness routine. "I have my confidence and self-esteem back. I'm finally back to my happy self, someone I thought I had lost a long time ago. I have the willingness to live again, to try new things, and participate, not just coast and hide anymore." The biggest piece of advice Courtney can share is not to give up. She said, "You will encounter setbacks and weight gains and bad cheat days/weeks, but the biggest thing is to own it, let it go, and keep moving forward." She reminded us to be accountable to ourselves. She did this by writing down everything she ate and every workout and by using the app. Consistency is the key. "If you push play every day, stick to your meal plan, and put in the time and effort, change will happen." She hopes that by sharing her story, it will inspire others to start their own journey. Health via POPSUGAR Fitness https://ift.tt/2mWxwLI March 26, 2018 at 06:18PM
This TRX Exercise Is the Move You Need to Build Up to Pull-Ups
https://ift.tt/2IRiv5o It's time to get on that goal of being able to do pull-ups. If you have access to a TRX or gymnastics rings, this is the exercise CrossFit coaches and athletes such as Brooke Ence (who had a role in the movie Wonder Woman) recommend to build upper body strength.
No TRX or rings? Use a low bar, like a barbell in a rack that you'd find at a gym. Or here's a video showing how you can do this move using a sturdy table at home. Health via POPSUGAR Fitness https://ift.tt/2mWxwLI March 26, 2018 at 05:20PM
Why Do Pre-Workout Supplements Make You Itchy and Tingly?
https://ift.tt/2GwDGLN If you've ever taken a pre-workout supplement to get you energized for a tough gym sesh, then you may know the uncomfortable feeling that often comes with sipping these concoctions: your face gets itchy and your hands and feet feel tingly. And while this is usually a harmless symptom that goes away as soon as you start pumping out reps, it's an odd enough bodily reaction that has us scratching our heads (literally). Pre-workout supplements, which can come in powdered or pill form, are supposed to help boost energy, strength, and endurance with a variety of vitamins and ingredients. They're usually made with caffeine and B12 (for energy), creatine (to increase strength and muscle size), and the amino acid tyrosine (to improve performance and focus). But they also usually contain two ingredients that can give you that uncomfortable itching side effect: beta-alanine and niacin.
Related:
The Best Snacks to Fuel Your Workout Beta-alanine is an amino acid that decreases muscle fatigue during high-intensity exercise by increasing carnosine in the muscle, explained Pamela S. Hinton, PhD, associate professor of nutrition and exercise physiology at the University of Missouri. When you work out with high intensity, acid builds up in the muscles and causes the muscle burn we are familiar with. However, the carnosine helps buffer this acid production, meaning you ideally won't feel this burn as quickly. But it can also cause unpleasant side effects. "Beta-alanine is a non-essential amino acid, meaning we can make it from other amino acids and do not need a dietary source," Dr. Hinton said. "Beta-alanine binds and activates specific type of receptors in certain skin neurons. Activation of these neurons causes the sensations of burning, itching, and tingling." Although beta-alanine is common in pre-workouts, another ingredient that's less prevalent but can still cause an unpleasant side effect is niacin. Niacin is a water-soluble B vitamin (B3) that is needed for energy metabolism, and higher doses of niacin have been used to treat high cholesterol, explained Dr. Hinton. But at higher doses, it can cause skin flushing and potentially tingling and itching.
Related:
This Is What Gave Me the Energy to Make the Most of My Workouts - and Feel the Results After If you see a pre-workout supplement with niacin in it, you may be better skipping it altogether. This B vitamin may actually cause your muscles to burn through its glycogen stores faster. Glycogen, generated from the carbohydrates we eat, is what your muscles use for energy. But niacin could cause a premature depleting of glycogen in your muscles, which can impede performance. Overall, pre-workout supplements are generally harmless for the average healthy person when taken at the appropriate doses, says Patrick Saracino, CSCS, research assistant at the Institute of Sports Sciences and Medicine at Florida State University. Of course, you should always check with your doctor before starting a new supplement or workout regimen to be 100 percent sure. Regardless, the side effects of itching and tingling are nothing to be worried about - just make sure you read the package and don't exceed the recommended serving size. Health via POPSUGAR Fitness https://ift.tt/2mWxwLI March 26, 2018 at 04:58PM
Hoverboard Injuries Speeding U.S. Kids to the ER
https://ift.tt/2ulOtn3 MONDAY, March 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- Hoverboards may look cool, flashy and fun, but they're less safe than you might think. Nearly 27,000 kids landed in the emergency room from a hoverboard accident during the first two years the self-balancing, two-wheeled motorized scooters were sold in the United States, according to a new study. While it pales in comparison with the more than 121,000 skateboard injuries during the same period, the number shows kids need to be careful on hoverboards, said lead researcher Dr. Sean Bandzar. "Kids should wear protective gear, and parents should monitor their kids while they're using these toys," he said. Bandzar is an emergency physician at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia University Medical Center and Weill Cornell Medical Center, all in New York City. He and his colleagues decided to investigate hoverboard injuries after noticing an uptick in cases following the toy's 2015 introduction into the U.S. market. "When I was working in the children's emergency department, I noticed that there were a lot of kids who would come in with a variety of different injures from these hoverboards," Bandzar said. The highest number occurred among 12-year-old boys, the researchers discovered when they studied national injury data from 2015 and 2016. Kids most often suffered fractures (40 percent), bruises (17 percent) and strains or sprains (13 percent). Body parts most often injured were the wrist (19 percent), forearm (14 percent) and head (14 percent). Interestingly, only three burn-related injuries connected with hoverboards were reported. The potential that hoverboard batteries would malfunction and catch fire caused so much concern early on that some airlines banned them. But none of the burn injuries researchers discovered was related to battery fires. Two burns resulted from colliding with a pot of boiling water in the kitchen, and the other was a friction burn after a hoverboard ran over a child's finger. Bandzar couldn't say why there were so many more skateboard injuries during the study period, but he suspects it's because hoverboards are a new toy. Health via WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/ March 26, 2018 at 02:50PM
Anti-Vaccine Movement Affecting Kids With Autism
https://ift.tt/2pJjvAD MONDAY, March 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- Vaccine skeptics appear to be swaying many parents of children with autism to forgo critical childhood vaccines, a new study suggests. And the hesitation to fully immunize includes the children's younger siblings, the researchers added. This means that "children with autism spectrum disorder, and their siblings, may be at greater risk of vaccine-preventable diseases," said study author Ousseny Zerbo. He is a postdoctoral fellow with the Kaiser Permanente Vaccine Study Center at KP Northern California, in Oakland. But the greater risk doesn't stop there, thanks to a concept called herd immunity. "In order to disrupt the chains of infection in a population, a large portion of the population needs to be immune to the infection," Zerbo explained. "A higher vaccination rate can break those chains of infection. This is why it is important for a large proportion of the population to be vaccinated." And despite the fact that anti-vaxxers believe there is a link between childhood vaccinations and autism risk, Zerbo stressed that "we know through numerous scientific studies that there is no association between childhood vaccination and the incidence of autism spectrum disorders." Nevertheless, Zerbo said his team found "large disparities in vaccination rates between children with and without autism spectrum disorders, as well as between their siblings." The main subjects of the investigation were over 590,000 children born in California, Colorado, Oregon and Washington state between 1995 and 2010 who did not have autism, alongside more than 3,700 children who did. Investigators tracked vaccination histories among all of the children through 2015. Vaccination records among younger siblings (born between 1997 and 2014) were also reviewed. Family vaccination records were then stacked up against immunization recommendations for kids between the age of 1 month and 12 years old. Among children aged 4 to 6, the team found that children with autism were "significantly less likely" to receive the full range of recommended vaccines, compared with other children. Vaccination rates among siblings of children with autism were also "significantly lower" across all age groups. Health via WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/ March 26, 2018 at 02:50PM
9 Post-Workout Snacks to Grab at the Store When You're Feeling Hangry
https://ift.tt/2pI27eN Does this sound familiar? You just finished an intense workout and are so hangry that you'll eat whatever is put in front of you. Chips, candy, donuts? Sure, nothing is off-limits when it comes to satisfying a growling stomach. But here’s the thing—during that post-workout window, your body needs the right balance of carbs and protein to refuel your muscles. In other words, stuffing your face with junk is the opposite of what your body needs. Luckily, there are some pretty great packaged foods that help satisfy your hanger and aid in the recovery process so that you can crush tomorrow’s workout too. But first, it’s important to understand that your muscles need more than just protein after a sweat session. Replacing glycogen (a.k.a. the body’s stored carbs) should be one of your post-workout goals, especially between bouts of cardio. Of course, protein is also essential in the hour after a workout to help muscles recover and grow. Unsurprisingly, that means your post-workout food should be a mix of carbs and protein. These nine high-protein packaged foods will help when your hanger is so extreme that you can’t make it home without eating everything in sight. You could probably down a whole block of cheese after a solid sweat session, but Sargento’s Balanced Breaks helps keep your portions in line. This segmented snack of cheese, dried fruit, and nuts is a great combo of protein, omega-3s, and carbs. With fewer than 200 calories and 7 grams of protein, it will satisfy your craving for cheese without overdoing it. KIND has always been dedicated to making bars with ingredients you can see and pronounce, and its new line of “protein from real food” bars are no exception. Each bar has 12 grams of protein, as well as carbs and healthy fats from the nuts. In other words, this tasty bar is a whole bunch of post-workout goodness wrapped up in 250 calories. If you’re starving after an intense workout, the nuts in this bar will put your stomach at ease. These aren’t your average New York bagels. We love a good carb-fest as much as the next guy, but we also adore a bagel that offers more nutrition. Dave’s Killer Bread makes bagels with 12 grams of protein for around 250 calories. Basically, that’s your carbs and protein all rolled into one delicious bite. Need we say more? Let’s say you took it easy at the gym, but you still finished your workout with that ravenous feeling. Hello, avocado. The monounsaturated “good” fat found in avocado is extremely satiating. Rather than waiting for those avocados on your counter to ripen, try this pre-packaged Simply Avocado by Wholly Guacamole. True to its name, it’s just avocado and sea salt. For a complete snack, spread some on top of a piece of whole-wheat bread and top with a hard-boiled egg for protein, or just spoon it right out of the container. You do you. After an intense strength-training session, your recovery should focus on protein. Bone broth has become a trendy drink among Paleo-goers, and Pacific makes a single serve variety with 9 grams of protein in a handy 8-ounce container. If your workout consisted of more cardio, use the bone broth to cook up some quinoa or brown rice, both of which have the carbs your muscles need to replace glycogen stores. Listen, sometimes we’re lazy. Obviously, we know that you can combine your own fruit and greens to make a smoothie, but that just sounds like so much work sometimes. Dole has made life easy with these smoothie kits. Just add some sort of protein, like yogurt or vegan protein powder, and a liquid and blend. It’s sure to satisfy your sweet tooth and cold-food craving—and also feed your tired muscles. Chocolate milk isn’t just for kids anymore! It’s been well-established that eating a 3:1 carb-to-protein ratio after a workout is the best way to stimulate muscle synthesis. But not many foods fit that 3:1 bill all by themselves. That’s where chocolate milk comes in. Not only is it the perfect ratio of carbs to protein, but studies found that people who drank chocolate milk after a tough workout experienced less exercise-induced muscle damage than those who drank sports drinks. We'll take it. StarKist is taking canned fish up a notch. It now offers skinless, boneless, wild-caught salmon in extra virgin olive oil in a handy pouch. Here’s the best part. This little old packet has 190 calories, 14 grams of protein, and 15 grams of fat. That combo of protein and fat will help ease your hanger stat. If you did some heavy cardio, just make sure you pair it with some sort of carb—crackers, toast, or veggie sticks. ($35.35; amazon.com) If you’re thinking, “huh, dessert hummus?” you’re probably not alone. We admit that you could also eat regular old hummus here, but why would you when Delighted By offers hummus in a brownie batter flavor? Made with chickpeas and oil as the base, this snack not only tastes like a dessert, but it’s got all the nutrients your body needs after a workout. It’s a bit lower on the protein than the other items on the list (2 grams in a 1/4 cup), but it tastes like dessert and is way healthier than a cookie. Health via Greatist RSS https://greatist.com/ March 26, 2018 at 02:21PM
Sports 'Sponsorships' Hawk Junk Food to Kids
https://ift.tt/2IRiNZU The researchers then dug into the corporate sponsors for each organization, and found that almost one-fifth were food and beverage brands, marketed by 18 companies. They were second only to automotive sponsors. Bragg's team then analyzed 273 ads for those foods and beverages, including TV and YouTube commercials, and still images from websites. Overall, 76 percent of foods were deemed unhealthy, and over half of beverages were sugar-sweetened. The culprit foods ranged from fast-food giant McDonald's and Papa John's pizza, to an array of chips, candy, cookies and sugar-laden breakfast cereals. The NFL led the way, with the most young TV viewers and the most food and beverage sponsors. On YouTube, those sponsorship ads had been viewed more than 93 million times through 2016, the researchers said -- though it's not clear how many of those viewers were kids. The NFL did not respond to requests to comment on the study. According to Bragg, a wealth of research shows that ads do influence eating habits. So, she said, it's concerning that kids are seeing so many junk-food messages tied to the sports teams they watch and admire. The reality is, the next Super Bowl will not be sponsored by carrots, Bragg said. But the food giants involved in sponsorships make a slew of products. So, in theory, they could promote their healthier products, Bragg suggested. Connie Diekman, a sports dietetics specialist, agreed. "This study provides a good baseline of data for sports organizations and food companies to begin a conversation on how to change the balance of products promoted," said Diekman. She directs university nutrition at Washington University in St. Louis. Parents have an uphill battle countering the many junk-food messages in the media. But, Bragg added, they can agitate for change by "tweeting at" the companies, for example. "Companies do care about what consumers think," Bragg said. "When enough demand change, they often listen." According to Diekman, parents can also help by limiting kids' "screen time" -- TVs, computers and phones -- and demonstrating healthy eating habits. "I would encourage parents to make sure they model good food behavior when attending or watching a sporting event, so that kids see how to balance less-healthful choices with more-healthful options," Diekman said. Health via WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/ March 26, 2018 at 01:04PM
Dwayne Johnson's Late-Night Cheat Meal Is Enough to Feed a Family of 5
https://ift.tt/2IW5447 You hungry, bro? After a night of filming and winning two Kids' Choice Awards, Dwayne Johnson did what any person would do: he feasted on some late-night grub. But this wasn't your typical late-night slice of pizza or 2 a.m. diner run for a grilled cheese and fries. The Rock's "cheat meal" indulgence is enough to feed a family of five, complete with 32 pieces of sushi and a tall stack of eight banana chocolate-chip pancakes. Dinner? Breakfast? Dessert? We're not quite sure. We're just wondering how this all tastes together, and if he needs any help finishing those sushi rolls? "Hello sugar sweats by 2 a.m.," he wrote alongside the photo of his meal. As someone who consumes more than 5,000 calories per day, it makes perfect sense that The Rock's cheat meal would be so large. With a huge plate of banana chocolate chip pancakes frequently making an appearance on his Instagram feed on Sunday nights, it appears that he's found the cure to the Sunday scaries . . . all you have to do is add a little syrup. Health via POPSUGAR Fitness https://ift.tt/2mWxwLI March 26, 2018 at 11:59AM
Many Doctors Don't Push HPV Shots To Boys
https://ift.tt/2DWAK5I HPV is a sexually transmitted virus that can cause cervical, vulvar, vaginal, penile, anal, mouth and throat cancers. The HPV vaccine is recommended as a routine childhood vaccination. Health via WebMD Health https://www.webmd.com/ March 26, 2018 at 11:39AM |
Archives
October 2020
Categories |