blog #110 Music for motivation

Last week DJ ChaChi posted "Fashion Indie Volume 1" as a free download on his website. I highly recommend listening to his mixtape while working out in order to finish your run/lift with an increased intensity.

I am also a huge fan of Girl Talk's "All Day" album which is also a free download. 

blog #109: Holiday Parties and LOW CALORIE OPTIONS

When going to a holiday party why not bring a vegetable dish? 

While interning with Keri Gans this past month she reminded clients: 

"Christmas Eve is one day" 

and 

"Christmas is only one day"

Eat and enjoy, but stay on track by remembering to balance your meals and drink lots of water. It is so easy to get carried away with food and beverages, but try to focus on the company (not the calories).

I brought this dish to a holiday party and it was a hit! The party was thrilled to see something both green and low calorie to offset the table filled with cheese, chocolate and wine. 

blog #108: Small Changes Diet by Keri Gans, MS, RD, CDN

Keri Gans is a Registered Dietitian in private practice in Manhattan. She holds a Master’s Degree in Clinical Nutrition from New York University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Ohio University. She   is a Spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association (ADA) and ADA Delegate for the New York State Dietetic Association (NYSDA.)

While attending an American Dietetic Association sponsored forum at which she spoke, I sought out the guidance of Keri Gans, an NYU graduate, who has become my mentor. I was immediately impressed by both her physical and digital presence. Unlike many traditional dietitians, Keri has found a way to relate with the younger generation through her use of digital media. As her intern, I help manage her Twitter profile, aggregating her past tweets into categories so they may be repackaged and referenced. I also participate in her client sessions by providing nutritional research, fitness knowledge, and administrative support. I have found observing her therapeutic approach profoundly inspiring; she identifies with a diverse clientele and helps them to fine-tune their objectives in a way I have never seen before. 

Keri's book will be available March 15th, 2011. Get involved and join her fan page! Until the release check out her daily tweets. Keri is both knowledge and inspirational, so stay tuned!

blog #107 Free download for motivation

Motivation is a HUGE component to fitness. Music really keeps me engaged in a workout, but others prefer no music or to watch tv on a treadmill.

I love Friday Mix tape which produces a weekly mix that is consistently upbeat.

My new favorite is "autumn 2010"

It's a free download so check it out and keep your workout at a HIGH intensity.

blog #106 Dietetic Internships and my future-The process to becoming a Registered Dietitian

The process to becoming a Registered Dietitian is lengthy. Here's my status:

I am excited to graduate in less then three months from Hunter College in New York City! Upon completion of my B.S. in Nutritional Science my next course of is applying for the Dietetic Internship to then become qualified as a licensed Registered Dietitian (R.D.)

Because I love learning SO MUCH I am first applying for my Masters In Clinical Nutrition At New York University. Upon acceptance to the Master Program the internship will be included in my studies (after another application and acceptance process.) Both the Dietetic Internship and Masters Program are highly, highly competitive.

What is a Dietetic Internship (DI)?

It is a CADE-accredited supervised practice program at a healthcare facility, community agency, or a foodservice corporation, or combined with undergraduate or graduate studies.

To apply to a DI, individuals must complete at least a bachelor's degree and CADE-approved coursework requirements (Didactic Program in Dietetics). A DI must provide at least 1200 hours of supervised practice and is usually completed in 6-24 months depending on the availability of a part-time schedule or requirement of graduate credit. Individuals completing the program who are verified by the program director are eligible to write the CDR registration examination for dietitians.

Appointments to DIs are awarded on a competitive basis and most use a national computer matching process. Programs not participating in computer matching accept applications only from individuals employed by the sponsoring organization. Prospective applicants must contact program directors for current information, including application deadline dates. Programs will provide application forms and detailed information on program requirements, tuition, and financial aid upon request.

How do I know which Dietetic Internship is right for me?

Location

Cost

Program Emphasis

Length of Program

Combined with graduate program

Start Date

List of accredited programs 

blog #105 come check out my new Fitness Class

Come check out my new fitness class Abs and Butt on Tuesdays and Sundays

where: Method Fitness
cost: $15 dollars tuesday's class (this months special), $25 dollars Sunday's class
location: 201 E. 67th st. 
schedule: 




Tuesday 6-6:55pm Abs and Butt
Sunday 10-10:55am Abs and Butt

blog #104: My workout motivation: music

Motivation is a HUGE component of health and wellness. 

What keeps you motivated during a workout?

For me, music keeps me going. I like to listen to a strong beat during cardio and cross training, but I prefer no music during yoga. Some people like iPods or the radio during a workout session, where others prefer movies or TV in front of a treadmill.

This Labor Day weekend, I went on vacation and saw DJ Afrojack live. You can download his mixes for free and tune in while working out: 

Here are just a few music podcasts that I subscribe to:

Tiesto's Club Life 

Spinning Records Release podcast

DJ Chachi house mixes

Interface

Indie Spotlight

Drew32

If you don’t want to pay for a subscription, but you want to download free music to your media device, check out this link for Tiesto:

What is a podcast?

Podcasts (which are one of my favorite things in the whole world) are free to subscribe to. 

So, how can you subscribe to FREE podcasts?

Watch this tutorial...

...or read this:

Oh, and check this tutorial: 

Find anything worth sharing?

blog #103 tips from my guest speech

I was asked to be a guest speaker at John Jays "Topics in Health" course this evening. In addition to walking students through a couple workout routines I have composed a "tips sheet" for reference. 

Tips for how to do exercise anywhere

Section I: How to get started with an exercise routine

1.     Ease into it, small steps help you reach bigger goals.

2.     Exercising for 10 minutes twice a day is equivalent to the recommended 20-30 minute exercise session.  It is easy to work up to 30 or more minutes per session by splitting the sessions into three 10-minutes sessions per day.

3.     Set goals and objectives for what you want to achieve.

4.     Hold yourself accountable.

5.     Map out a plan.

6.     Make your nutrition and workout plan work together.

7.     Find a workout partner.

8.     You don’t need a gym to be fit; these quick workouts will show you how to do exercises anywhere at any time.

9.     Balance your routine. A complete, safe and effective fitness program must include aerobic exercise, muscular strength and endurance conditioning, and flexibility exercise.

Section II: How to stay motivated once winter hits

1. Be prepared by checking the weather.

2. Wear weather appropriate clothes.

3. Stay hydrated.

4. Make a plan and update it.

Section III: 10 exercises that can be performed anywhere

1. Triceps dip on a chair or bed

2. Squat onto a chair

3. Stair climbing uphill (stairs at home or outside)

4. Cleaning/scrubbing

5. Carrying heavy groceries

6. Walking briskly around the city

7. Wall squats (holding for 30-60 seconds)

8. Wall push ups

9. Wall stretches

10. Downward dog

Minimal equipment like a jump rope, a yoga mat, or a medicine ball can make a big difference in your routine. Without equipment you can still get a great workout by incorporating more advanced exercises such as:

pushups, squats, lunges, triceps dips and  pull ups

Summary of workouts taught in class:

With equipment:

1. Jumprope 
2. Medicine ball raises
3. Squats holding the medicine ball
4. Yoga with a yoga mat

Without equipment

1. Pushups (on knees first or on toes)
2. Squats with hands on hips or reaching forward (check your form out in the mirror)
3. Lunges alternating legs
4. Jump rope without a jump rope
5. Walking 
6. Yoga without a yoga mat

A note on stretching for flexibility…

·      Stretching should be incorporated into any fitness routine

·      As we work muscles, stretching is necessary for continued flexibility, growth and repair of those muscles.

·      Proper stretching involves holding a mild stretch for 15 to 30 seconds while you breathe normally.

·      Always warm up before you stretch. Like strength conditioning, flexibility exercises should include stretching for all of the major muscle groups.

Reasons to stretch every day

•               Stretching increases flexibility. Flexible muscles can improve your daily performance. Tasks such as lifting packages, bending to tie your shoes or hurrying to catch a bus become easier and less tiring.

•               Stretching improves range of motion of your joints. Good range of motion keeps you in better balance, which will help keep you mobile and less prone to falls — and the related injuries — especially as you age.

•               Stretching improves circulation. Stretching increases blood flow to your muscles. Improved circulation can speed recovery after muscle injuries.

·      Stretching can relieve stress. Stretching relaxes the tense muscles that often accompany stress.

blog #102 The significance of a food journal

Whether you are trying to lose weight or gain muscle mass, keeping a diet log is an imperative step toward reaching your goal(s).

"Did you know that the average person recalls only half of what he or she eats? Though you may remember what you had for breakfast, what about the extra nibbles you had while watching TV, snacking on the phone, cooking, or picking off your kids' plates?" 

Read about dietlogs: 

Keep a diet log:

• Update the diet log daily, ideally right after meals (the more frequently you update, the better)
• What type of tracking works for you? While a phone app may work for me (I prefer digital tracking), perhaps a small notebook works for you. Track your diet in a method that is conducive to your lifestyle. 

Check out some phone app info from NPR: 

At first, I don’t ask clients to change their diets. I only ask that they take notice. When we document our dietary patterns, we see habits forming and can draw conclusions. Once you keep accurate track of your consumption, then you can make adjustments accordingly.

Read the cell phone application post, in which I reviewed a couple of apps you could try.

According to Weight Watchers, here are nine solid reasons that food journaling helps. You can: 

1.       Control binge eating. You are less likely to go for that second helping if you know you have to write it down.

2.       Track progress. A food diary can serve as evidence of how far you have come in your journey. It also feels great to look back and see you are eating better today than you did weeks or months ago.

3.       Encourage conscious eating. Unconscious eating occurs when we eat without paying attention. You are more likely to avoid eating for unconscious reasons if you are writing it down.

4.       Connect eating to emotions. Many people include a column for "observations" or "emotions" in their diaries. In this way, journals can be used to examine certain feelings that may trigger overeating. Only once you identify the causes can you start to do something about them.

5.       Point out nutrition imbalances. As you jot down your meals and snacks, you may notice you lack fruits and vegetables on most days, or that you never eat a protein source until dinner. A food diary can give you clues, in black and white, as to what foods you have been neglecting and need to include in your diet.

6.       Monitor eating patterns. Until you keep a food journal, you may not realize that you have a seven-hour gap between your 11:30 lunch and your 6:30 dinner. Perhaps this is why you're at the vending machine every afternoon at 3 p.m., downing a bag or two of chips or cookies. Solution? Plan to bring or store a healthy snack for the mid-afternoon to ward off poor eating choices.

7.       Monitor calories. Journaling usually requires you to track your calorie intake - which can be eye-opening. Perhaps you were not aware your afternoon soda had 150 calories, or your "innocent" morning latte had 250. By forcing yourself to track portions and calories, you can begin to make adjustments.

8.       Create a tool for your nutritionist or doctor. A food diary is a clear source of information as to what, where and how much you eat. This ready-made tool can be viewed by a health professional, who can provide insight into what you can do to tweak and/or improve your habits.

9.       Show commitment. The effort and time it takes to keep a food journal is proof that you are committed to your health, and have a desire to take a proactive role in your weight loss.

What patterns do you start to see emerging as you keep a food journal?

blog #101 I recommend grocery-shoping by color to add variety to your diet

Consider: When grocery shopping in the produce section, stop fretting over which vegetables and fruits to purchase, just buy by color.

Think: green, blue, purple, red, orange, yellow, white. 

For example:

green: romaine, zucchinis, cucumbers, broccoli, asparagus, bell peppers

blue: blueberries

purple: eggplant, purple grapes, purple cabbage, purple onions

red: tomatoes, watermelons, beets, strawberries, apples, red grapes

orange: cantaloupe, oranges, peaches, carrots

yellow: yellow bell peppers, golden apples

white: bananas, mushrooms, cauliflower, scallions, onions

So, instead of trying to remember every vitamin, mineral, and “nutritional opportunity” of every piece of produce, opt for the color variety. Most likely, every nutritional goal will be met through this method. 

Do you tend to stick to one color? Why? What color is that?

For a detailed list of produce by color, plus what nutrients you’ll be getting by “eating a rainbow,” check this out

pick different colors in your salad:

blog #100: Nutritionist vs. Registered Dietitian: the title MATTERS

“Though the public at large often uses the words dietitian and nutritionist interchangeably, they are two distinct fields.” check this out

The American Dietetic Association (ADA) website explains: 

“A registered dietitian is a food and nutrition expert who has met the minimum academic and professional requirements to qualify for the credential ‘R.D.’ The majority of R.D.s work in the treatment and prevention of disease (administering medical nutrition therapy, often part of medical teams), in hospitals, HMOs, private practice or other health-care facilities. In addition, a large number of R.D.s work in community and public health settings and academia and research. A growing number of R.D.s work in the food and nutrition industry, in business, journalism, sports nutrition, and corporate wellness programs.”

Anyone can call him- or herself an expert in food science or nutrition. These are “nutritionists.” You don’t even need a bachelors degree to call yourself a nutritionist.

The American Dietetic Association posts these requirements: 

-Complete a minimum of a bachelor’s degree at a U.S. regionally accredited university or college and course work accredited or approved by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE) of the American Dietetic Association (ADA).

-Complete a CADE-accredited supervised practice program at a healthcare facility, community agency, or a foodservice corporation or combined with undergraduate or graduate studies. Typically, a practice program will run six to 12 months in length.

-Pass a national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). For more information regarding the examination, refer to CDR’s website at www.cdrnet.org. 

-Complete continuing professional educational requirements to maintain registration.

This doesn’t mean that advice from people who don’t have a registered dietitian license (R.D.) isn’t valid. What this means is that you should consider any advice carefully, and do your own research.

For example:

A person who likes working out, or is good at working out, isn’t a personal trainer. Maybe he or she is an expert in exercise, or think that s/he is, but without passing a certified test from an accredited institution like NASM or ACE, s/he isn’t licensed to be a personal trainer.

To be a personal trainer one must pass a test, be currently CPR-certified, and maintain the certification yearly by taking continuing education credits. If the trainer is an independent contractor (like I am), then that trainer needs liability insurance in addition to the other upkeep for their business.

Check your facts. Who are you dealing with?

I continually try and stress that labels on food matter just like credentials on your name matter. I will graduate from Hunter College this fall with my Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Science. I’m not a Registered Dietitian, or R.D. until I am accepted into a competitive hospital internship, and then I take and pass a state test. This process is long and difficult, but remember: a dietitian is different then a nutritionist.

Check out this video 

blog #99 Oatmeal: benefits and where you can get a cheap bowl before 10am

One serving of oats is 150 calories, with 25 calories coming from fat.

Oatmeal is a whole-grain cereal. 

Instant oatmeal and old-fashioned oatmeal are both whole grains (but the old fashioned version is a better option due to less processing.) 

Oats help aid weight control.

“Oatmeal has a high satiety value, which means it helps fill you up and keeps you full. Research shows that oatmeal is more filling than some other breakfast foods such as bread, eggs and yogurt.”

Whole Foods offers an amazing bowl of oatmeal before 10am for just $2.17.

The oatmeal bar is set up in a buffet style so you can select your topping (like a salad bar, but for oats). For just $2.17 you can pick unlimited toppings.

Tips:

-Choose real fruit, not dried

-Limit the granola or other cereal toppings, unless you pour less oatmeal into your bowl (because your carb count will increase rapidly)

-Limit the nuts topping option (some are good, too much adds excessive calories and fat)

-Just like when buying packaged foods, compare the labels. At Whole Foods, they offer plain oats or oats made with fruit, but there’s a catch! In the ingredients posted above the hot cereal, you’ll see half and half listed in the oats made with fruit. If you are trying to maintain/lose weight, chose the oats with fewer ingredients (and no fatty dairy!), and add fresh fruit for more flavor. 

blog #98 Healthier pesto recipes

I stumbled across an article that mentioned something that stuck with me:

“Adjust the ingredients to your taste”

I’m a huge fan of this philosophy and I make soups with no recipe at all — I like to throw in a little bit of this and a little bit of whatever from my refrigerator.

Pesto is a sauce made from basil. Basil extract has been reported to have antioxidant activity. 

Generally, pesto includes:

Basil

Salt

Olive oil

Pine nuts

Cheese (parmesean)

Garlic

Check out this typical recipe:

I liked this article that suggests altering pesto to your needs:

This recipe calls for:

2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan-Reggiano or Romano cheese

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

1/3 cup pine nuts or walnuts

3 medium sized garlic cloves, minced

Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

My recipe doesn’t include garlic or cheese, and instead of pine nuts I used almonds. Why not? It tastes just as good and I saved money on the nuts (pine nuts are pricy) and calories on the cheese.

It’s really hard to estimate how many calories are in pesto you get at a restaurant because it depends what it’s made with and mostly how much oil is used. Since the oil content is unknown when dining out, perhaps opting out of pesto as a topping is a good option.

Less oil, elimination of cheese, and less nuts can yield a lower calorie sauce.

Remember a little pesto goes a long way. Enjoy.

What I like pesto on/in:

Eggs/omelet

Soups

Salads (instead of dressing)

Rice or whole grain noodles

Quinoa

Steamed veggies like broccoli or tomatoes

Because pesto is made from simple chopping or pureeing ingredients together, it is considered a “raw food.”

blog #97 Skinny girl Margarita

Who doesn’t love a margarita?

I know that I do. But I don’t prefer the calories that usually come with the decadent cocktail. Unless it’s a special occasion, I try to keep my cocktails and beverage consumption low-cal. Read my other cocktail post

I was at a food-writing workshop offered at CUNY’s school of journalism this week, and the professor talked about the beverage craze, and how being a connoisseur of wine or cocktails is a new trend. Mixology is on the rise.  After all look how popular drinks such as cosmos and martinis have become?

I saw an interview this week with the very popular Bethenny Frankel from the Real Housewives of NYC. She has a health and fitness section on her site as well as a book out. Here is a tip about choosing lower calorie wines:

Bethenny recommends: 

How To Switch Wines

"Like most women, I used to be a chardonnay person.  A great way to lighten things up is to switch to a pinot grigio or a sauvignon blanc.  These are lighter, less sweet wines that lend themselves to drinking more slowly; they’re less sugary and seem to lead to less of a hangover."

Although Bethenny offers a slew of low-calorie cocktail recipes (such as Lychee Martinis, Skinnygirl Big Apple, Skinnygirl American “Virgin,” Belmont Skinnygirl, Skinnygirl Gin Julep ), the Skinnygirl Margarita is really popular, and it has only 100 calories. 

Skinnygirl Margarita recipe:

2 oz of Clear Premium Tequila (count 1, 2 while you pour, no need for measuring)

Tiny splash of Orange Liquor

Juice of 4 Fresh Lime Wedges

To serve on the rocks, combine all ingredients over a glass of ice and garnish with a lime wedge.

blog #96 The breakdown of choosing a healthy, discount salad

Cafe Metro is offering salads with unlimited toppings for $6 this month when you order online. 

Because not all salads are healthy, I took a look at the options to give you my recommendations for a lunch that packs the most nutrition. In the metro cafe online selection process here are the choices:

"favorite greens"

Baby Spinach 

Crispy Romaine 

Organic Field Greens 

All options are good picks, but spinach provides a great deal of nutrients and vitamins such as vitamin A, C and iron. Spinach is very nutrient dense
(check out my nutrient density post.)

Choose A Free Main Ingredient:

Crispy, Thai and Buffalo chicken are loaded with extra calories because of the sauce (and crispy is a more gentle way of saying "FRIED.") If you choose tuna, make sure that there is no mayo. Choose the leanest meat with the least amount of sauce.

Choose Up To Two Additional Main Ingredients:

Unless you are opting out of meat, cheese is not the best option. Also, nuts contain healthy-for-you monounsaturated fats, but they also are loaded with calories. In this section, why not choose egg whites and mushrooms? Or artichoke hearts?

Here’s where the deal comes in...

Pick As Many Toppings As You Like:

I want to preface this section by stating that toppings high in water content like cucumbers and tomatoes will be lower in calories and higher in nutrient density. Choose real fruit and not dried fruit (for less sugar), beans instead of sesame noodles, and fresh veggies instead of something canned (if possible).

Last but not least, the potentially deadly salad dressing options.

Choose a Homemade Salad Dressing:

I will cover this more extensively in another post coming soon, but my favorite general tip is to order dressing on the side (for portion control). Metro does have this as an option. 

Choose wisely and enjoy!

Any readers have tips to share? What are your salad topping picks?

blog #95 Why I love the treadmill

Environment-

While I love running outside, the treadmill is in a consistent environment. You can’t make weather excuses for skipping a workout with the treadmill. And some treadmills even have TVs for entertainment distraction.

Consistency-

Unlike outside where the terrain can be different, the treadmill is always a soft band that your shoes (and knees) are familiar with.

Control-

You set the pace (fast or slow) and incline (steep or just one percent). Outside you can do stadium runs up and down stairs (my favorite) or flat-land runs, but the treadmill allows you to manipulate a multi-faceted training approach all in one machine without scheduling a creative trail run.

Cross training-

The treadmill isn’t just for weight loss. If you utilize all functionalities of the treadmill, you can burn fat, but you can also preserve muscle (by walking/brisk jogging at an incline). One of my favorite ways to use the treadmill is with circuit training. I have some of my clients use the treadmill for a couple minutes then alternate to other exercises to keep heart rates up, which builds endurance.

Beginner plan for utilizing the treadmill in a circuit (an example):

•       Plank for 30 to 60 seconds
•       Slow squats with body weight for 1.5 minutes
•       Push ups on toes until body fails, then on knees for 1.5 minutes
•       2 minutes of brisk walking (3.8 to 4.0 MPH) on eight percent incline
•    1 minute of jogging on one-percent incline at 6.5 MPH

blog #94 trend on the rise: baby food diet for adults?!

check out this video

While doing some of my usual food/health and nutrition research, I came across this video and felt compelled to post about it. 

The baby food diet is said to be created by celebrity trainer Tracy Anderson. The diet involves eating 14
servings of baby food a day followed by a healthy adult dinner. "I developed a cleanse where you can still eat and it's a lot of puree foods. I was very careful about the foods I chose to put in it," Tracy told.

A 6 oz jar labeled 'Third-Stage Foods' contains:



Calories 110, 

Fat 0g, 

Total Carb 25g
, Fiber 2g, 
Sugars 15g

, Protein 1g

I have heard of ...

"The Baby Food Diet is likely to inspire some good chuckles and grimaces as its popularity grows. From a nutritional perspective, the diet is clearly packed with veggies and fruits and thereby full of vitamins and minerals; and it does have the portion control element going for it too. As for its long-term ability to keep off any lost pounds? That still remains to be seen."

Want more info?  check this out

So How do you reach your goals the right way?

Follow a healthy lifestyle and document what you eat. I know it’s a pain to keep track of, but it really makes you aware of what foods might be sabotaging your weight loss. I heard a dietitian say on the Tyra Banks show a few months back say: 

"If you bite it; write it."

I like that. Catchy. I recommend keeping a digital log. Why not try a smartphone application? Check out my blog post about smartphone apps that help you manage your calorie consumption.

blog #93 treadmill rules

1. ALWAYS walk/jog/run at a one-percent incline at least. 

2. NEVER hold on to the treadmill. Keep your arms moving (no hands on hips, NO HANDS ON TREADMILL)

3. Running or jogging for 30 minutes is equivalent to walking for an hour

4. A brisk walk or light jog at a high incline really focuses on the back of the legs (hamstrings).

5. It’s OK to take breaks and try intervals (which are great for fat loss), such as running at a one-percent incline and then brisk jogging at an eight-percent incline.

Why?

1. Moving on the treadmill with at least a one-percent incline is most similar to real life. Anything under that is more like walking at a decline.

(check out this abstract)

check out this article from runner's world: 

“Research has shown that when you set the treadmill at a 1-2% incline, it will simulate the "intensity" of outdoor running (make up for the lack of wind resistance in outdoor running). “

I recommend increasing the incline and manipulating your speed to optimize your workout.

2. You are not burning optimal calories if you are hanging onto the treadmill. Decrease the speed/incline, or stop and take a break, but DON’T HANG ON. 

You burn more calories when you move more body parts, so pump those arms! The faster your arms move, the faster your lower body moves too. Try it. (please read my former cardio post) 

3. Walking is great exercise and should not be discounted. However, you have to walk twice as long to reap equivalent benefits of running.

4. A lot of bodybuilders and athletes trying to preserve muscle do this high-incline running, because it strengthens the hamstrings (back of thighs), which tend to be less developed than the quadriceps (front of the thighs).

5. I’d rather my client take a break then hang onto the machine. Mix up your workout constantly and cross-train.