Tag: diet

Keto Diet and Why You Should Try It

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You may have heard celebrities rave about this diet, or maybe you have a friend who is trying it out. But what exactly does this diet consist of?

Basically, it’s a high fat, low carbohydrate diet. What are some of the benefits of this diet? Apart from being a healthy alternative, it also is linked with potential weight loss and fat loss.

A Keto diet is made up more or less of:

55-60% fats

30-35% protein

5-10% carbohydrates

But what do those percentages mean and how do they translate into a meal plan?

A basic Keto meal contains less than 50grams of carbs per day. The majority of calories in a Keto diet comes from fats, while a small portion comes from proteins.

Why is this diet effective?

Usually, the body relies on carbohydrates for energy, but when it can’t it will begin to burn fat for fuel. This is why a high-fat diet will help reduce fat mass, waist circumference, and overall weight.

Below is a 1-Week Meal Plan:

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Have you tried Keto Diet before or are you planning to in the New Year? Let me know in the comments below!

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How To Lose Weight Eating Like Marie Antoinette

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Kirsten Dunst indulges in the sweet life of Marie Antoinette.

You may recall Marie Antoinette from your history class as being the Queen of France who was beheaded during the French Revolution, or you may know her best for Sofia Coppola’s exaggerated interpretation of the late Queen’s life in her 2006 film headlined by Kirsten Dunst as the titular role of Marie Antoinette. Often, when you think of the last Queen of France you imagine her opulent gowns, pompous wigs, and tables upon tables of colourful desserts. This was a queen who lived for excess, and yet, she was capable of maintaining a very slim waist 58cm (23in), for the majority of her life. Despite being known for devouring cakes and hot chocolate for breakfast. So how exactly did she achieve this sort of sorcery?

Karen Wheeler, author of the diet book, The Marie Antoinette Diet: Eat Cake and Still Lose Weight, let’s us in on a little secret. It’s not simply portion control (although that too matters), but rather the time of day you consume said sweets.

The queen was known for consuming most of her sweets first thing in the morning. Sugars, when consumed early in the morning, are more likely to be turned by the body into energy since we do most of our daily activities during the morning and early afternoon. Consuming sugars later during the day and especially at night somehow triggers the body to instantly turn those sugars into fat since we’re least likely to be burning calories at that hour (most people are likely to be getting ready to go to bed after dinner).

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More sweets for the queen!

Karen Wheeler also stresses the importance of a light dinner, and how we should aim for 12-hr. Fast (meaning that you don’t eat past 8-pm and your next meal would be breakfast the following morning).

Although these claims may seem a bit off for some (especially for those who love to snack!). But it does make sense as to why this plan would actually work in losing weight or maintaining your ideal weight without having to actually diet (meaning cutting out the things we crave like carbs and sugars). Ideally, one’s digestive system should have a resting period 10-12 hours at night for it helps you sleep better and it allows your body to truly relax.

But one thing that Wheeler stresses most of all, is always to eat food at its natural state meaning no over-processed junk food, trans-fats, or vegetable or polyunsaturated oil. Another helpful tip? No drinking your weight in sugar (or alcohol).

So in conclusion, yes, you’re allowed to your cake and eat it took, but just know when to eat it and cut out all the other baddies. After all, we could all learn a beauty trick or two from one of history’s most fashionable monarch. Marie Antoinette knew how to party, but she also knew how to rock a stunning figure.

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One of the most famous portraits of the actual Marie Antoinette, last Queen of France.

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Avoid These Hidden Sugars to Lose Weight & Acne-Free Skin!

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Hidden sugars is one of the reasons why the average adult in the U.S. is culprit of consuming around 22 teaspoons of added sugars every day. Many times, these sugars are hidden in foods meant to be “healthy.” Normally, one should only be consuming around six teaspoons of sugars a day if you’re female (that’s around 100 calories) and nine teaspoons a day (around 150 calories) if you’re male.

Why is sugar such a huge no-no? Well, apart from sugar being one of the leading causes associated with diabetes, heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure, and cognitive disorders (such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease), sugar is now even linked to cancer.

Now, apart from all those scary diseases, sugar is also a huge culprit when it comes to teenage and adult acne and any other skin conditions (because sugar is known to cause inflammation).

But not all sugars are created equal. The issue isn’t with sugars found in fresh fruits or vegetables, but rather it’s the added sugars found in the majority of the meals we consume that are the so-called bad sugars.

So how are we to avoid such hidden sugars? How do we know where they’re lurking? Below is a list of ten most common “healthy foods” that in reality have more sugar hiding in them than junk food.

TOP TEN HIDDEN SUGARS FOODS

  • Cereals and flavored oatmeals
  • Packaged breads (even those of the whole-grain variety)
  • Granola bars
  • “Lower calorie” drinks such as coffees, energy drinks, juices, and teas
  • Protein bars and meal replacements (think Slim-Fast)
  • Sweetened yogurts and other dairy products
  • Frozen waffles or pancakes
  • Bottled sauces, salad dressings, condiments, and marinades (think ketchup, relish, barbecue, or teriyaki)
  • Dried fruit and other fruit snacks (such as Fruit Roll-Ups)
  • Restaurant foods (sugar is found is almost anything cooked at a restaurant, it’s added in various sauces, desserts, and dressings)

So how are we to avoid hidden sugars? Basically, the issue is you must consume the majority of your foods in their natural state (such as fruits and vegetables). Once foods are processed or prepared in factories or restaurant chains, then that’s when unneeded sugars and sodium are added.

I’m not saying that you must avoid all of those foods on the list above ALL THE TIME, but try to consume them in moderation, that is the key to maintaining a happy and healthy lifestyle.

Need a healthy alternative for breakfast? Check out my recipes for GREEN SMOOTHIE and STRAWBERRY KIWI SMOOTHIE.

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How to Lose 10 Pounds in 1 Week!(Find out what Foods to Cut!)

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Summertime is when people begin to take notice that they’ve piled on some extra pounds over the winter months (ya know like you’ve eaten your weight in cookies and muffins). Trying to shed those pounds in time to strut a bikini at a beach or pool can prove to be taxing. But I’ve got you, girl, it doesn’t have to be that way!

You can easily shed up to 10 pounds (even more!) in ONE WEEK if you eliminate these two food groups from your diet completely:

SUGARS & STARCHES (CARBS)

If you dramatically cut these from your diet, I will guarantee that you WILL see results as fast as ONE WEEK. Why is that? Well, first of all, cutting back on sugars and starches will influence your hunger levels, dramatically lowering them, hence, contributing to the consumption of fewer calories.

But lowering your hunger levels isn’t the ONLY perk. Removing sugars and starches from your diet will also lower your insulin levels, allowing your kidneys to flush any extra water or sodium from your body, removing any bloating and unnecessary water weight.

Essentially, if you’re eating a low-carb low-sugar diet, you will be less hungry than your low-fat low-protein eaters. You will feel less hungry for longer, and in the long run, will have higher levels of energy. Basically, a win-win!

One of the biggest hurdles dieters worldwide encounter is the feeling of hunger that comes with any fad diet. But by removing sugars and starches from your diet, you will automatically reduce your appetite, allowing you to lose weight without the hunger pangs driving you mad!

Instead, opt for these low-carb veggies as snack options:

  • Broccoli
  • Cauliflower
  • Spinach
  • Tomatoes
  • Kale
  • Brussels Sprouts
  • Cabbage
  • Swiss Chard Lettuce
  • Cucumber

What’s great about these low-carb veggies is that you can fill up your plate and feel ultra-full without going over the 20-50 net carbs for a day!

Let me know if these tips help you in your weight-loss journey or if you have any to share of your own in the comments below!

Need more diet tips? Check out how to avoid empty calories!

By: Azzurra Nox

Get a Beach Body Stat By Cutting Empty Calories!

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It’s that time of year again when everyone is trying to drop pounds as quickly as they put them on back during the luscious Christmas holidays (ya know we were all guilty of packing away cakes, cookies, and chocolates and downing it all down with gallons of eggnog).

But have no fear! Here’s a quick and easy way to shed some pounds without going too overboard or fasting (never cool).

What causes most of us to gain weight is empty calories. Meaning, these are calories that hold no nutritional value to us, so eating them not only doesn’t apply to making us healthier or giving us energy for the day, but rather are very detrimental to our health. These calories are usually low in proteins and dietary fats, but high in carbs (simple sugars). But we’re all human, so cutting out ALL empty calories is unrealistic and would also be kind of sad (seriously who wants to bid farewell to sweets forever? Not this gal!).

So here’s a nifty chart for you to take advantage:

The USDA MyPlate Limits empty calories to the following:

Women/Ages 19-30: 260 calories

Women/Ages 31-50: 160 calories

Women/Over 50: 120 calories

What constitutes as empty calories?

The following foods contain empty calories:

Cake, cookies, pastries, sodas, cheese, pizza, sports drinks, ice cream, hot dogs, bacon, jam, chips, French fries, syrup, and donuts

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Try to fill up on fruits and vegetables instead, where you’ll end up feeling more full for a longer time with less calorie consumption, and limit your empty calorie intake to half a serving or one serving a day, and you’re bound to see some results in your waistline!

Let me know some of your tips and tricks for shedding pounds in the comments below!

By: Azzurra Nox