peanutbuttahealthnut:

There are so many “foods” out there today with health claims promising to lower your cholesterol, help you fit into that itsy bitsy teeny bikini, or allow you to eat a whole bag of chips for less than 140 calories.  All of that seems great.. until you learn what’s really in those foods.

However, almost all of these foods are not really food at all.  They’re unhealthy, processed junk full of chemical sweeteners and all kinds of crazy ingredients.  Here are some top offenders (in my opinion!)

1. Fiber One Bar

I put this on my list because I used to eat them every day in high school.  Wow, cool! It tastes like a candy bar .. and it’s only 90 to 140 calories!  However, there is a ton of sugar and sweeteners in these.  To lower the calorie count, artificial sweeteners are used, and we all know how bad those are for you.  Actually I singlehandedly blame them for a lot of my wants to binge on sugary foods.

However, I will admit… the fiber is awesome.  Like, really awesome.

Opt for : Luna bars, Lara bars, or make your own protein bars (the best option).  They’re higher in calories, so be careful and don’t make a habit of eating them!

2. Yoplait yogurt

Oh my. Where do I begin?  While I was on vacation just this year, I picked it up thinking it was a healthy option for breakfast.  Halfway through eating it, I couldn’t take another bite after glancing at the nutritional information.  14g of sugar in the light yogurt, and I won’t even go into the ingredients on that list!

Opt for: All-natural greek yogurt.  Try getting the plain kind and adding in honey & your own fruit if possible! I like Chobani the best.

3. Deli Meats

I do buy low sodium, antibiotic-free, hormone-free (that’s a mouthful!) turkey slices on occasion, but I make sure not to eat it on a daily basis.  There’s a lot of sodium in them and they are still a processed food, believe it or not!

Opt for: Whole chicken & turkey breasts.  It will taste more “real”, too :) You can still slice the chicken breast into deli-like slices!

4. Low Calorie Bread

Ugh, yuck.  These are NOT A FOOD.  For real, they taste horrible and just peak at that ingredients list!  Isn’t bread supposed to be simple and clean?  This is one “food” that is most definitely not clean or healthy… and it will not keep you full.

Opt for: Ezekiel bread

5. Light Salad Dressing

Nothing but sugar and chemicals.. and fat.

Opt for: salsa, hummus, basil pesto, olive oil, oil & vinegar, or make your own salad dressing! Get creative.

6. Diet Products

Anything that says “diet”… aka, diet coke, diet cookies, 100 calorie snack packs, etc.  Seriously, get rid of your diet pop obsession!  Once I stopped drinking 1-2 diet cokes a day, I also stopped wanting to binge and also stopped getting horrible headaches.  Coincidence? I think not. Splenda/artificial sweetners suck!

Opt for: water & lemon, seltzer w/ a splash of 100% juice, coffee, tea. 

7. Fat Free

Fat is not the enemy.. that is a complete diet falsehood that has been passed throughout our generation.  Fat does not make you fat.. processed junk food and excess food makes you fat!  Often fat free foods have added sugar and salt to make up for the lack of taste, so they may wind up being worse for you.  The only case where this is untrue is with fat free dairy products!

Opt for: You shouldn’t be eating processed food anyways.. so.. just opt for the real version!  In the case of things like peanut butter, get the full fat.  It has the same calories and tastes better.

8. Canned fruits in fruit juice

When buying canned fruits (which honestly, I think is kinda gross. I do like canned veggies sometimes though!), make sure you do not get the kind in heavy syrup.  There is so. much. sugar. in. that.

Opt for: Real, fresh fruit!  If that’s not available to you, just make sure there is only the fruit in there.  As for canned veggies, get no salt added or light salt. 

I hope this helped to clear up some myths about all the “food” we have out there!  Clean foods don’t need a label.  They are usually one ingredient and can all easily be pronounced.  I always think to myself, “If there is something in the label that I wouldn’t cook with in my own kitchen, why would I eat it?”  Definitely some food for thought ;)

Stay healthy & happy!

fuckyeahfitblr:

followmydiet:

Top 10 Healthy Snacks
Remember, it’s never about starving yourself; rather, it is about enjoying food in a more positive way.

#1 is definitely spot on. <3

healthlifelight:

lifts your bootie up no lie :) try it :D

nutrientnatalie:

d-o-m-i:

yogurt drops!

Spoon flavored yogurt into a plastic bag. Squeeze dots onto cookie sheet and place in freezer. They’ll be ready in about an hour! | Such a great healthy summertime snack.

only 70 calories per pan too!

BRILLIANT!

gettingtomygoalweightby2012:

healthyisclassy:

• The Healthy Elvis
• Tuna Pita Sandwich
• Egg Plant Pizza
• Taco Salad
• Tofu Fry
• Fuss-Free Frittata
• Chicken Wraps
• Salmon Burger
• Shrimp and Edamame Stir Fry
• Old School Lunch

I love this, more ideas to eat healthily w/o cracking my brain on how to eat healthy.

muffintop-less:

The Circuit

• Burpees (squat thrust) :  This power move works the entire body and improves power, speed, agility, and endurance. Complete 60-90 seconds of this exercise depending on your fitness level. 
• Squat Jumps:  With primary focus on the lower body, these moves are a great way to add fire and intensity to your workout. The jump increases your heart rate and your blood pumping. You can hold a pair of very light weighs if you want to incorporate upper body training. If you have trouble with your knees you might want to avoid jumping while doing this exercise. You can still get a great workout in with the squats alone.  Complete 60-90 seconds of this exercise depending on your fitness level. 
• Plyo-Jacks: Like all plyometric moves, plyo- jacks are quick to increase your heart rate and challenge your body. These are similar to a jumping jack but there is an added deep squat. Complete 60-90 seconds of this exercise depending on your fitness level. 
• Mountain Climbers: This workout also works most muscles in your body with a large focus on your legs and core. This is an intense exercise that can be modified to challenge every fitness level. If you are just starting out, complete these very slow and increase your speed over time. Complete 60 -90 seconds of this exercise depending on your fitness level.
• Frog Leaps: This silly exercise move is a great way to end the circuit. It increases power and agility while strengthening your lower body.  Your endurance will increase over time if you keep this move within your exercise regimen. Complete 60 -90 seconds of this exercise depending on your fitness level.

Active Recovery

In between each of these intense moves, complete Pushups with Side Plank for 30 seconds.  This is known as an Active Recovery since it allows you to recover from the crazy cardio move that you’ve just complete while incorporating strength training at the same time.  Active recovery is a technique that should be utilized no matter the length of your workout. It keeps your mind and body engaged and causes you to burn more calories.

Take a Break

After you have complete all five exercises with the active recovery move in between each, take a 2 minute break and repeat the entire workout two more times. This workout will have you sweating and feeling great in no time.

Good overview of some circuit training exercises! For the full article:
http://caloriecount.about.com/burn-maximum-calories-minimum-time 

muffintop-less:

GREAT video. Super simple and covers some of the basics of post workout nutrition which is SO IMPORTANT no matter what your goals are!

muffintop-less:

Ever since Pinterest gained popularity, I have noticed more and more creative mason jar ideas! I’m sure they existed before, but it wasn’t until I saw the pictures on that website that I decided to get creative! Here is a simple mason jar recipe that not only LOOKS adorable, but is healthy and tastes great too!

Ingredients:
Plain, Nonfat Greek Yogurt
Stevia
Berries (or fruit of choice)
Old-Fashioned Oats (or plain granola) 

Directions:
Mix Stevia and Greek yogurt (the amount of Stevia you use is up to you). Add a layer of greek yogurt, followed by a layer of oats, followed by a layer of fruit. Continue this pattern until you have a serving of each. You might want to use a small jar so it fills it to the top with only one serving of each! Make sure to refrigerate if you don’t plan on eating it right away! 

stayfitbuzz:

Butt moves

==> http://www.fitzspiration.com/stay-fit-buzz-no-nonsense-butt-building