Is snacking really that good for you?

I read an interesting post this week about a mom who has had it with constantly being asked to bring snacks for her kids' every event.  While it's true we typically advocate snacking, it made me wonder if it really is appropriate for everyone out there.  This lady writer had a point.  We never had the vending machines and food on every corner like we do today- and I distinctly remember my parents telling me not to eat too much in the afternoon or I would spoil my dinner. So I took a look into the research and found only 2 studied reasons that would have us closing our lips to those scrumptious snacks:

First, a recent study examined the impact of a snack consumed after a standard lunch but before the subjects became hungry. The researchers fed subjects a snack (400 kcal) at various times after a 1300-kcal lunch when they were not hungry. The snack neither reduced the amount of food consumed at the dinner meal nor increased the time before the subjects requested their dinner meal.  Therefore, snacking when you are aren't hungry may only add to your total caloric consumption without adequately changing our total daily input in the end.

Second, it would appear that we are less likely to need the smaller more frequent meals when we eat a lower glycemic loaded meal than a higher one.  A high glycemic meal would be anything that causes a sharp rise in insulin, so things like refined carbohydrates and sugar.  IN other words, when we make better choices with our meals by eating foods high in fiber, healthy fat, and protein, we automatically reduce our need for snacks because our body takes longer to digest these foods, and therefore doesn't need the frequent snacking to keep up it's metabolism.

That said, there are so many studies supporting the use of snacking for so many beneficial reasons, it seems ridiculous not to have a snack or 2 a day as long as you are aware of your total intake over the course of the day and adjust your portions accordingly.  Here's some of the many studied benefits to snacking a couple times a day:

• Weight maintenance: One study used NHANES data to determine associations between snacking frequency and overweight/abdominal obesity. The study found inverse relationships between snacking frequency and mean body weight, BMI, the percentile of BMI-for-age, and waist circumference among participating adolescents. In this same study, prevalence for over-weight/obesity and the occurrence of abdominal obesity decreased as snacking frequency and energy consumed from snacks increased.
• Weight Loss: Hunger is more intense before meals than before snacks. The satiety ratio was quantified and found to be higher for snacks than meals.
• Sustained energy: Eating a morning snack can help offset the effect of a small breakfast (although getting a big breakfast is preferred!)
• Improves diet quality: When we aren't starving we make better choices.
• Helps manage Diabetes
• Assists in raising healthy eaters
• Prevents pre-term deliveries in pregnancy

Overall the verdict is still out, but more often than not, eating small snacks is a good choice.  Especially when that choice includes veggies, fruits, and healthy fats.

Here's a list of 100 healthy snacks under 100 calories to get you packing those yummy snacks!

The secret to simplicity

Isn't it ridiculous that in this day and age when we have countless things to make our life simpler, we are found pulling our hair out at how complicated things have become?  There's always another app to download, another blog to read (thanks for reading this one!), another friend's facebook post to comment on, another book to read, another workout or recipe to try.  With the accessibility of so many resources and information, it's wonder we ever get anything done! What's missing is our ability to live simply.  It's just too darn easy to let life pile up and to try to do it all.  Our church has put out a challenge over the past couple of years to simplify with the goal in mind that we get back to what matters most:authentic relationships, both with ourselves, God and others.  Here's a peek at our Commit to Simplify action items.  See if you can find one this week to commit to and start to make changes.  Even if it means reaching out (and getting vulnerable) to get some help to make it happen:

1. Commit to making a real budget (You earn money, so spend it in ways that matter)
2. Commit to de-cluttering your life (Your mind, home, car, relationships, time...)
3. Commit to taking a time inventory (168 hrs/week.  Are you spending them wisely?)
4. Commit to nature (get out- find ways to be in nature daily)
5. Commit to developing a habit of giving things away (consider those in need and how you can help)
6. Commit to enjoying things without owning them (find freedom in the simple things- less is more)
7. Commit to the environment and God's creation (reduce, reuse, recycle every opportunity you get)
8. Commit to practicing delayed gratification (no impulse buying. is it needed? is there money?)
9. Commit to a spiritual time with God each day. (slow down enough to pray, worship, consider God)
10. Commit to increasing your compassion for others.  (find ways to serve those who have less)

If you are anything like me, meals are something that you have to plan in order to simplify your life, rather than scrambling at the last minute to figure out what's for dinner.  In order to meal plan consistently you have to be realistic about how much time you are willing to give to meal prep.  Many families choose to cook for a day and freeze bigger entree's for the month, others rely on providers like Back to Basics Kitchen in west Lafayette to have meals on hand without having to do much prep at all.  Whatever your solution, you must get into a routine, or it will never happen!

Get ideas for meal planning and cook ahead recipes: Once a Month Mom Once a month cooking world Real food for real people Free printable grocery lists Relish: Weekly menu plans

How to convince yourself to workout...and love it

My mom was here today watching my 5 month old twins (thank God for mom's) and she was on the fence about going to workout.  She had a couple legitimate excuses, 1) she had an allergy flare up and her nose was dripping, 2) it's nearly impossible to leave my two little angels...because they are so darn cute.  In the end, she ended up going to workout with the words "well I guess we will just see how it goes".  Not exactly the words of enthusiasm her workout crazed child would prefer, but the fact of the matter is that she DID go workout.  She didn't let her excuses get in the way of her intention. If you find yourself needing a little nudge to get your workout going and would be thrilled to love doing it- here's my 5 step how to guide:

1) Set your intentions.  If you know why you are going to workout, and you do it for a higher purpose (my mom is planning on staying 49 forever so she can live it up as long as possible), then you will be more likely to stick to it.

2) Tell someone else what you plan to do.  When you go public with your intentions you will be much more likely to follow through, because, lets face it, it's easier to let ourselves down than to let others down or to let them think with aren't keeping up.

3) Put on your workout clothes and commit to 10 minutes.  Even if you are feeling like working out is the last thing you want to do, if you simply get started, your energy will likely change, and after 10 minutes you will find you can easily do another 10 or 20.

4) Get a clear feeling or picture of how you will feel when the workout is over.  Or better yet, how awful it feels to skip the workout when your head hits the pillow at night.  It's amazing how doing something for yourself that is hard to do will lift your spirits and empower you to do even more when the workout is over.  I call this dropping your body baggage, or letting go of the negative feelings you have when you beat yourself up for not doing enough.  You won't have to even go there if you just get started!

5) If all else fails to commit to what you had planned, do something else.  Get creative.  Do a few runs up and down your stairs, pop out a few push-ups, read a magazine article while you do your plank, play your favorite dance tune and get jiggy with it...whatever it takes to just do something that makes you feel alive through movement.

Ultimately moving your body will release endorphins that will help you feel the love of the moment.  Don't believe me?  Watch a runner after a race who has reached a runners high, or a dancer after she or he as expressed themselves with their movement.  Don't worry about how long, how intense, or how precise your workout is...just move, and love yourself thought it.

Sidelining negative emotions with one technique

This past week I have pondered the question of whether it is possible to think yourself out an emotional response. This is important to me as I examine my reaction to so many different things in my life, but specifically to how I react to stress. I tent to get anxious, overwhelmed, fearful and then completely disabled when stress mounts. After a chat with my pastor, he suggested I take a look at Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as a means to change my self-talk and create a different response to my habitual negative one. I have been introduced to this type of therapy through the WellCoaches training I am taking right now, but when I thought about it on a more personal level, it occurred to me that this therapy could be used to help people overcome negative habits of any kind. Relationship expert, Dr Alice Boyes, Psychologist suggests we list our negative thoughts or reactions and when they come up again we replace the thought for ourselves with a third person. It would look something like this.. Rather that hearing "You are a failure", you would replace the statement with an observation..."Oh there goes Susie again, she things I am a failure, but I know I am (replace with whatever positive truth you would like)." In this way we take out the emotion and allow ourselves to replace it with a thought is more rational and purposeful.

Another approach to derail the automatic emotional response is to immediately begin to "distract" the pattern by walking through a familiar process that brings you peace. For example, let's say you hear yourself thinking about how you feel disgusted with your late night eating and you start to berate yourself for having no will power. The moment you hear that, say to yourself "My emotions are lying to me", and then start to walk yourself through a process of something you love. Imagine every detail of the process. For me, I like to think about putting on my running shoes and going starting a run. I have to think through every step of opening up the laces, getting on my sock, sliding my foot in, tightening up each level, tying the bow and then the double knot...and so on. Once you get about half-way into the process, you will likely notice your emotional response has waned, and you can begin to think differently or react more rationally to your situation.

This may not work every time, but with practice, it can help get you started with changing you negative emotions so you can be empowered to create positive change!

Bach Ache Relief Trouble Shooting Guide

Estimates vary, but approximately 60% to 80% of us will get at least mild back pain at some time in our lives.  The pain can range from a little achiness to severe pain from a fracture of the vertebra or a herniation of the disc between your vertebra that can cause radiating nerve pain known as sciatica.  In any case, prevention is the best medicine, but if you are in need, here's our guide to reducing your back pain: 1) Stretch.  This one seems obvious, but it is ridiculous how many people neglect simply stretching to be sure they aren't putting undue stress on their back. Here's some favorites:

Chest Stretches

Neck Stretches

Shoulder Stretches

Lower back Stretches

2) Strengthen your back: My three absolute favorite exercises for this are the prone cobra, bird dogs, and the more advanced movement-a deadlift.

3) Strengthen your core: Here's a top 5 video of core stabilizers that would be a great start. (notice the bird dog is repeated here!)

4) Floss your nerves.  Sounds strange, but our nerves live within a sheath...sort of like a hose that holds water.  The nerve can glide within the sheath to allow for the movements our body makes.  When we injure a nerve or potentially have an adhesion due to injury or muscle tightness, we can trap or irritate the nerve which causes pain.  Here's a video assist with flossing the nerve that causes sciatica, and here is a video that addresses pain that could be coming from your hip flexors- Femoral nerve flossing.

5) Massage your knots.  Outside of hiring a massage therapist, consider purchasing a TheraCane or simply use a foam roller!

Of course, if you have pain that is persistent or extreme, or if any of these exercises make you worse, see your physician for further evaluation.

Rudimental- Feel the Love

Right now, my very favorite song to hike, run, lift weights, workout to is Rudimental- Feel the Love. It pumps me up and gets me going! It's amazing how music can have such an effect on you.  

Give it a listen. Hopefully you'll get pumped up too! I'd love to hear what songs make you smile and/or get you going!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oABEGc8Dus0

The Only One Who Can Beat Me Is Me

I ran across this picture on a friend's facebook page today and it really got me to stop and think. THIS HOLDS SO TRUE FOR ME! Can you guys' relate as well? It's incredible how we can truly be our worst enemy. We all need to remember to do our best to hold our heads up high and remember that we are worth it! We are worth making the time to plan our meals ahead of time, we are worth squeezing in a workout, we are worth patting ourselves on the back. Let's all take a moment to acknowledge how worthy we are of our own compassion!

THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN BEAT ME IS ME! 

Four Lessons to Succeed like an Olympian

Olympic hopefuls don't get to the games on accident.  Ride their wave of success with these four lessons: 1) “Discipline is remembering what you want” – David Campbell

Remember what you want: Too many times we talk ourselves out of things or allow the lull of the day to day to pull us away from working diligently toward what we really want. Figure out what you really want and don’t let the negative or your own laziness bring you down. Staying focused is one of the hardest things we can do in our age of distraction, busy-ness, and technology.

2) “There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.” - Edith Wharton

Surround yourself with winners: If you find it hard to stay focused on the positive, do everything you can to find others who can support you and who will remind you daily of why you are doing the tedious work to reach your goal. There are so many new ways to get involved, try MeetUp.com, join a local team, get training with a class, or find a buddy or coach to work with you. Give yourself a pep talk, watch an inspiring movie, or read an I-can-do-it quote or book. Even if it means you have to find a whole new group of friends or spend a little less time with family, it is worth it in the long run.

3) “Whatever happens, take responsibility.” -Tony Robbins

Take responsibility for your success or failure: Life can throw you curveballs, and I won’t even mention all the lemons we can be dealt. Our circumstances won’t always align to give us the perfect scenario for success, but by taking responsibility for our lives will always put us back in the driver seat and give us perspective to keep going.

4) “Practice is the best of all instructors” -Publilius Syrus

Learn who you are by applying yourself. The repetition of practice proves our character, helps build resilience, and will give us competitive fierceness beyond any other life lessons. We learn who we really are when the going gets tough, and we choose to get back up again!

So, here's the four questions you must ask yourself to apply what the Olympic mindset to your own life:

• What do you want?
• Who can you surround yourself with that wants it too?
• What successes and failures do you need to take more responsibility for?
• How can you applying yourself more regularly to access your greater potential?

Remember, “Champions aren’t made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them — a desire, a dream, a vision.” ~Muhammad Ali

What's a Strategic Health Plan?

When I say "strategic" things like accounting, business development, or college planning come to mind.  What doesn't come to mind is when I will work out, what I will do, and for how long will I commit to the workout.  Still, most of us plan our vacations better than we plan the day to day things that could have more meaning and add more fun to our daily existence.  Too often we drudge our way from one to do item to the next without stepping back and really thinking  about what will make our lives more exciting and meaningful.  We regress into a state of just getting by and letting life happen.  Unfortunately, entropy will only ensure that if we allow ourselves to constantly go with the flow, our health may just flow right out the window. Never in my life have I had to engage in so much planning to get anything done.  That includes my workouts, or even just a quick stroll with my 4 month old twins.  Last Friday I had the liberty of rejoining the morning Fitness Fire classes that we offer at Restoration Fitness.  All I could think the whole time I was there was, I feel so incredibly privileged to get to workout out, and OMG, am I gonna be sore!  It felt incredible to be back in a high energy atmosphere working out with people I love.  I was motivated, inspired, and energized.  I was also sore for 6 straight days.   It would be easy for me to complain about the soreness, the time it took, how out of shape I feel, how I would rather have had more sleep, but to tell you the truth- it doesn't even occur to me.  I showed up anxious to finally get to do something for MY body.  The hard part is committing to do it again and again when a schedule constantly changes and my energy ebbs and flows.

It just so happens I also just finished reading an exceptional business book by Chuck Blakeman about strategic planning.  It got me thinking-  What if we all strategically planned our workouts so they actually got done and we could really look forward to them?  One of the reasons I believe in fitness coaching and training so much is that it helps you do just that...just like a financial planner helps you with your financial assets, we help you with you health assets.

So, in a nutshell, I thought I would give you a little tutorial about how to strategically plan your workouts based on how we do things here:

1) Get a clear picture of WHY you are doing this.  You won't get far if the only reason is to fit into your jeans.  One of my underlying reasons is that I am simply a better person when I workout. Everything about me is better: my mood, energy, attitude, physical appearance, stamina, and much more. I can tell within days if I haven't worked out because I get crabby.  I am no fun to live with if I am crabby.  Just ask my husband (or my mom for that matter).

2) Choose some specific goals and put a date on when you will achieve them.  Nothing sets your body and mind in action than a deadline you can see in the not so distant future.

3) Get accountability.  This step is probably one of the most crucial.  Tell everyone about what you are doing.  Spread your excitement by talking to people, asking questions, blogging, logging your workouts and food (Get a free copy of our food and exercise log sheet here), workout with a friend, or get accountability with your trainer.  The regular conversations and opportunity to trouble shoot where you are and what is going on will help you in the day to day grind of making changes.

4) Get your workouts planned and on the calendar.  You can find workouts online, or you can make them up...but the preferred and easiest method is to simply have the experts write them for you.  We make sure you are doing balanced exercises that keep you pain free and progress your exercise so you don't have to go through the 6 days of soreness like I did (and I did it knowingly and willingly!)  Once you know what you are going to do between weight training, cardio, or yoga, put the specific times on  your calendar and treat them like a sacred appointment.  It's not just you whom you are letting down when you skip...you are letting down your accountability group as well!  Here is a sample of how we change up our sets and reps every 4-6 weeks to progress our clients and keep their muscles growing!

Month 1: 1-3 sets of 15 reps

Month 2: 2-4 sets of 10 reps

Month 3: 2-3 sets of 12 reps

Month 4: A combination of 2-4 sets of 10 reps and 1-2 sets of 20 reps for speed.

As for cardio: Consider doing intervals for 15-30 minutes starting with 1 minute hard. and 90s easy.  Then start reducing your rest time.  Once you get better at these, start reducing your effort to 45 or 30 seconds hard, and give yourself equal rest.  Remember to push yourself to a high intensity for maximum benefit!

5) Check in regularly for milestones along the way:  Re-time your mile, get your circumference measured every 4 weeks, see how many more push-ups you can do.  As long as you choose something that can be measured, it will help you see how far you are coming even if when you look in the mirror you are not seeing as much change as you thought you would.

Most of all, remember that your body is not to be taken for granted.  Keep yourself a a priority, and your health will reward you!

Fitness without excuses

I completed a quick workout yesterday while the boys were napping, and it was glorious. I video taped most of it, but included only the finisher here: Nicole in Home workout. (If the link doesn't work, I will keep working on it and repost soon) Needless to say, you are all my motivation as I get back on track with 2 little "excuses" taking up my time. I felt great after the workout and was even a little sore...especially my tummy! Here's what I did so you can try it at home too! Warm-up: Stair running x3 minutes Dynamic Stretches: Standing quad stretch x3ea; Lateral lunge groin stretch x3ea; Walking heel digs x3ea; Pec stretches x2ea; 15 speed squats. The Circuit: Stepping lateral lunge 2x10 Push-ups 2x10 (these were harder than I remember them being...) Standing bentover reverse fly 2x10 Step ups to the second step 2x10 Finisher: Front plank 30s followed by walking burpees (step back to push-up position, hop both feet to hands stand and jump, repeat) x10. I rested until I felt recovered and repeated this 1 more time.

I got in a good little sweat and felt so amazing to have done something for me! I can't wait to get back into my routine again. Let me know what you are doing these days to get into, and stick with, your routine!