3 reasons shakes shouldn't replace healthy eating

I get a lot of questions about popular weight loss systems that recommend replacing your meals with shakes or smoothies. Most recently it was the Tropical Smoothie Diet and SlimFast.  While this is a convenient and easy way to control your calorie intake, I just don't think it leads to long-term success.

Here's why I don't like smoothies or shakes as meal replacements:

1. Its not normal. You can't sustain that as a lifestyle long-term. 
2. Usually there is a high sugar content, whether it comes from the actual shake mix, fruit or other recommended additives. 
3. You miss the thermic benefits of actually eating real food. Real food takes more calories to digest than emulsified shakes and smoothies. 

You can lose a lot of weight fast by drinking a 90 calorie shake for 2-3 meals per day, unfortunately, its most likely water weight and probably muscle too since your body will have to survive on something. Once you go back to solid food, its going to be hard on your digestive system, slowing the process and causing the weight to come right back.

Don't get me wrong, I think a healthy, low-glycemic shake can be a great meal enhancement, providing the necessary protein and nutrients your body needs and regulating your blood sugar, during a long-term weight loss program or just as part of a healthy lifestyle.  I love having a shake for breakfast in the mornings with an apple or some strawberries.  It's perfect for those of us who don't "feel like eating" that early in the morning.

For lunch and dinner, go for lean protein and thermic vegetables, limiting simple carb consumption.  You'll never feel hungry and you'll burn more calories and fat by eating solid food.

If you're ready for a healthy lifestyle transformation, check out the 90-Day Ultimate Body Challenge:

• Eat real food!
• Restore your energy!
• Burn fat!
• Lose the weight permanently!

This is how I lost 22 lbs over 3 years ago and have kept it off and created a healthy, fit lifestyle for me and my family!  

It may not be as easy as slurping all of your meals with a straw, but my daddy always said "nothing worthwhile ever comes easy"!

If you want to know more or have questions about popular diet programs out today, come over to my Facebook Page and let's chat!

Stop starving and start eating!

When people start thinking about how they are going to lose weight, the first thing they say is "well, I'll have to cut back and eat less".  Losing weight is almost always directly associated with being hungry. There is a popular weight loss program our right now that even says, "being hungry is normal"!

This is just HOGWASH and the first and possibly the worst mistake people make in weight loss.  You have to EAT MORE to WEIGH LESS!

No, you can't eat more pizza or more hamburgers to weigh less. What I'm talking about is eating more thermic vegetables, more lean protein, and some low-glycemic carbs.

Let's talk about each of these individually:

Thermic Vegetables

Some people call them negative calorie foods.  If you're familiar with Weight Watchers, these are what they call zero point vegetables. These are vegetables that actually burn more calories as the body digests them than they contain. If you're on a diet and feel hungry, go for thermic veggies to fill you up! Keep them thermic by having them raw, steamed or grilled.

Thermic vegetables from the Ultimate Body Challenge Menu

Lean Protein

Lean proteins also have a thermic effect, however, portions should be limited to 6-8 oz at each meal since the calorie count in these proteins is higher than that in the thermic vegetables.  Not only does lean protein help burn fat, it also helps satisfy your hunger for longer. The following meat proteins should be grilled, broiled or roasted and never fried.

Lean proteins from the Ultimate Body Challenge Menu

Low-glycemic Carbs

Low\no carb diets have been around for years. You're probably familiar with Atkins, South Beach, the Zone, these are low\no carb diets that have been popular over the years.  What you need to realize is that not all carbs are created equal.  You're body needs carbs for energy, but your goal should be to fuel it with low-glycemic carbs. These low-glycemic carbs are carbs that more slowly turn to sugar in the blood stream. Suprisingly to many, vegetables are a great source of low-glycemic carbs. For weight loss and optimal health only use whole grains, like whole grain bread, whole grain pasta and brown rice and limit your servings.  Stay away from the white stuff!

Breads and grains recommended on the Ultimate Body Challenge Menu

The more I work with my clients, more and more often, I find that they are stuck in that "starvation mentality".  More often than not, their lack of results or plateaus are from not eating enough rather than eating too much.

Stop starving and start eating!!