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When to Eat Carbohydrates

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“Why is it recommended to eat carbs after a workout vs. before? If simple carbs convert to sugars quickly for energy, wouldn’t eating something like oatmeal or a turkey sandwich on whole wheat “before” a workout be better than after?” Great question! This is something that so few who are trying to lose weight understand. Eating Carbohydrates Before a Workout If you are a long distance runner with very little bodyfat then carbohydrates before your workout are a must. The carbohydrates will be used for energy so that your body doesn’t have to break down your already low bodyfat for … Continue reading →

Carbohydrates and Weight Loss

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Carbohydrates are a tricky subject. When you hear people talking about a low-carbohydrate diet, they are undoubtedly speaking of starchy carbohydrates. Even on the lowest carbohydrate diet, the Atkins Diet, you are still required to eat plenty of fibrous carbohydrates every day. That’s right. It isn’t all bacon and mayonnaise. With that being said, I’ll discuss the two types of carbohydrates, starchy and fibrous. Starchy carbohydrates are from grains such as oats, wheat and corn. Root vegetables like carrots and potatoes are also starchy carbohydrates. Oatmeal, flour and the bread made from it, corn and corn tortillas, as well as … Continue reading →

The Crazy Thing About Carbohydrates

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The crazy thing about carbohydrates is that every molecule of carbohydrate likes to grab on to two molecules of water. For instance, think about starchy carbohydrates like oatmeal or rice. They expand in water because they grab on to it and absorb it. Well, once they are cooked, they don’t stop looking for water to grab on to. They’ll do it in your system too. That is how seemingly light foods like starchy carbohydrates become the heaviest of all and that is how we gain weight at light speed after a fast like the Master Cleanse or a low carb … Continue reading →

Organic Whole Grain Einkorn Pasta

I love pasta. I used to say that pasta was worth an extra 5 to 10 pounds on my body. I know that sounds crazy but I love it that much. Besides that, my family enjoys pasta but dislikes potatoes. So the poor humble potato who I love is replaced by pastas and rice at the family meal. Pasta makes an appearance more often then rice. We all know pasta is not the best food to eat. It is full of carbs and you can a lot before you get full. That is not the best way to diet. So, … Continue reading →

Dieting and PMS: Blasted Hormones, Part II

Hormonal Imbalances Bring Out the Beast Unstable hormone levels are responsible for those awful symptoms that control PMS. Your estrogen levels go up along with your cortisol, or stress hormone. This little guy, cortisol, triggers a response that stimulates your appetite and you may become an eating machine. You desperately seek out what will satisfy this craving and this usually comes in the form of fat and carbs. Did someone say chocolate? How to Cope When you feel this uncontrollable urge, at the first sign, you need to eat something before it gets out of control. One good thing to … Continue reading →

Weight a Minute! Water Gain

“I lost two pounds!” she said, her eyes alight with excitement. “But it was probably just water weight.” Her happy expression disappears and a glum note crops up in her voice. Why is that? A loss of two pounds is great! Why did she become so sad all of a sudden? Because it’s just water weight. And she knows it will probably come back. That’s the amazing thing about weight loss – it fluctuates so much from day to day. As a larger woman, I’ve got a whole lot of fluctuating going on – the more you weigh, the more … Continue reading →

Fats and Weight Loss

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Impossible, you say? Poppycock! Yes, the crazy truth is that we actually need some fats in our diet in order to maintain good health. (Fats are especially needed for proper brain function.) We have to be a little selective about the fats we consume when trying to lose weight but we shouldn’t, by any means, cut out all fats. Small doses of monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fats are good. Trans fats and saturated fats are bad. For instance, cooking in butter isn’t the best idea but cooking in olive oil is a great idea. Obviously, we need to be mindful of … Continue reading →

Weight Loss Terms to Know

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We throw a lot of specific words around when we discuss weight loss issues. I thought it was high time we clarify them. Adipose Tissue: Body fat. Aerobic: The kind of exercise that get’s you breathing fast and heavy. Anaerobic: Exercise that uses muscles at high intensity and a high rate of work for a short period of time. Resistance training is a form of anaerobic exercise. Basal Metabolic Rate: (BMR) The number of calories your body needs to just exist, not move. Body Mass Index: (BMI) A number achieved through height & weight measurements. It is fairly inaccurate when … Continue reading →