After a long dark winter we could all use a little sunshine, and that make spring break the perfect time to get away on a vacation. You have worked hard all winter to get yourself beach ready, but are you at risk for ending up covering up before your vacation is over? Resort and cruise ships offer a never ending supply of buffets, snacks and alcoholic drink, a disaster for anyone who is trying to maintain their weight.
Vacation drinks are amongst the worst when it comes to calories and sugar. These tasty treats can add up fast, whether you are drinking them with alcohol or even without. Not only do they punch a ton of calories and sugar but they also cause a spike in your blood sugar levels making you hungry. The results may lead you right ot the buffet far before you are scheduled to eat. To make matters worse drinking in the hot sun can actually lead you to drink more than you normally would have, so stick to the water pool side and save your Margarita for meal time instead.
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Eating out too often can be seriously damaging to your weight loss efforts. Restaurant meals tend to have 30% more calories then if you cooked the same meal at home. However there are times when you have to eat out. Whether you are traveling for work or on vacation or simply can’t seem to pack a lunch each day eating out doesn’t have to stall your weight loss.
As you check out the menu at your favorite restaurant there are a few things you should be look for and several things you should beware of. Start out looking for vegetables, the more vegetables in a meal the lower in calories it probably is. Then check the meal for high fat ( and high calorie) sauces and sides. Anything that is fried should be avoided as well as any sauces that contain cheese, cream, butter, oil or mayonnaise. The next thing you should look for is whole grains, avoid white pasta, rice or bread and if the meal does include one of these items ask if you can get the whole wheat or whole grain counterpart. Finally you should choose a meal that contains a small amount of lean protein, avoid red meats when possible and go for the chicken or fish. Also watch for the amount of meat the meal contains, a huge steak with a small side of veggies actually contains more fat and calories than a sandwich with a small amount of chicken and a ton of veggies.
©2009 One80.com. All Rights Reserved.
Losing weight can be hard and if you have adopted the attitude that at times calories don’t count them you could be making the process even more difficult. What you eat, and more importantly how much you eat can counteract your efforts in the gym and even sabotage your efforts for the week before. Studies have shown that more than a quarter of people believe that calories don’t count in specific situations.
* 55% of people think calories don’t count during celebrations and holidays
* 39% of people think calories don’t count when traveling and on vacation
* 30% of people think that calories don’t count when eating out
* 27% of people think that calories don’t count when eating at a buffet
Remember that losing weight is the result on consistency and when you break the plan too often you are counteracting your efforts. Try to leave the attitude that calories don’t count behind and instead enjoy a single weekly treat.
©2009 One80.com. All Rights Reserved.
If you are undergoing an exercise program, then your body is in need of additional protein and you should make it available at every meal. Proteins supplements are easier to digest and provide a perfect balance of all the essential amino acids. They provide you with the necessary amino acids needed for improvement, but they will also satisfy your mid-meal hunger, and therefore speed up your metabolism naturally.
Specifically, you should be taking your protein supplement after a workout to help with recovery, speed up improvement, and maximize workout efficiency. You see, after exercise the recuperation process begins almost immediately and you should supply your body with the required replenishing nutrients as soon as possible with a protein supplement shake. Then, 2-3 hours later, you can have your lunch or dinner. That way, you are maximizing your recovery by first replenishing what has been lost and what is needed for repair, and then getting right back on track with the maintenance of nutrient intake.
©2009 One80.com. All Rights Reserved.
Eating out too often can be seriously damaging to your weight loss efforts. Restaurant meals tend to have 30% more calories then if you cooked the same meal at home. However there are times when you have to eat out. Whether you are traveling for work or on vacation or simply can’t seem to pack a lunch each day eating out doesn’t have to stall your weight loss.
Eating out and maintaining your weight loss comes down to your choice of restaurants. Restaurants that offer large portions are a definite no-no since these meals tend to contain up to 50% more calories than a meal of regular size. If you have no choice then share a singe entree with a friend or simply ask for only half the meal to be served to you, once it is on your plate it will be difficult to stop eating. Buffets are another type of restaurant to avoid, the temptation to over eat is overbearing for anyone. Also try to avoid any restaurant that serves fast food, the reason that the food is so fast is because most of it is cooked in a deep fryer and contains far or fat then anything else.
©2009 One80.com. All Rights Reserved.
