Instant Results?

I guess the answer depends on your opinion and what you were expecting to happen when you began exercising.

The truth is that you can expect to see instant results when you begin exercising. The right program can help you feel better the very first day after breaking a sweat. It's also not uncommon to lose weight your first week in to a diet and exercise program. After all, you are dedicating yourself to living a healthier lifestyle and with that pledge comes some sacrifice. It means having to cut out some of your favorite treats that you know are holding you back from losing weight. It also means increasing your activity level and expending more calories than you take in.

So, although your long-term results come from the cumulative effect of dieting and training, it's nice to know that you can lose weight and feel great your very first week.

Medications that May Intefere with Weight loss

Some medications can cause you to gain weight, or keep you from losing it, says Ken Fujioka, MD, medical director of the Scripps Clinic Nutrition and Metabolism Research Center in San Diego. The following specific medications may cause some real challenges with losing weight:

• Some medications used to treat type 2 diabetes 
• Antipsychotic or schizophrenia medications
• Beta-blockers (prescribed for high blood pressure, and some heart conditions)
• Antidepressants
• Hormone replacement therapy
• Birth control pills
• Corticosteroids 
• Antiepileptics taken to control seizures

You may have one of the above conditions but don't just abruptly decide to go off any medication on your own. Openly talk to your doctor first and discuss alternatives and impress upon him/her your desire to lose weight. In fact if you are trying to lose weight discuss this when you are first diagnosed with a condition before he/she prescribes the medication. Another option is to check with a pharmacist who knows medications.

Also make sure you are following your current diet to the letter before you decide it is actually the medication that may be interfering with your weight loss efforts. Use ND's Daily Needs Calculator to determine the amount of calories you should be consuming to lose weight. Then weigh and measure your food intake so it is truly accurate. Check my blog from April 30 to ensure you are following your plan adequately with the other weight loss essentials. You can't blame the medicines for not losing weight if you are not really following your plan.

Chinese Broccoli Makes a Great Low-Cal Side-Dish

Chinese Broccoli is an easy to make side dish that goes great with chicken, fish or meat. It can also be a vegetarian main dish if you add additional nuts or some tofu. If you can't find Chinese broccoli you can use Broccolini.

Not only is this dish low in calories, but is low in carbs and high in fiber as well. Additionally there are 6 grams of protein per serving which is equivalent to 1 ounce of animal protein. Per serving this dish has 159 calories, 10 grams of carbs and 4 grams of fiber. A nutritional profile of this recipe is available. Don't forget to save this recipe to your Nutrition Data Pantry.

Photo by: Marcus Nilsson

Core-Training: Diffuse Lower Back Pain

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between those with a healthy back and others who are  constantly suffering from back pain?

Core strength and proper alignment!

Since most every daily activity engages the muscles of the core, it is essential that they be in proper working order. This corset of muscles is meant to stabilize, accelerate, and decelerate the body while it is active.

That's why even the smallest movement is enough to drop a 250lb man to his knees in excruciating back pain if he is experiencing any type of nerve impingement or misalignment of his spine.

Many back problems can be cured with proper postural alignment and core strengthening. By realigning the spine and activating the deep muscles of the core, you can now move through life pain free and without worry of becoming reinjured.

Mistakes Happen

I hope you all got through the challenges of Mother's Day. My accolades to those of you that did! I know how taunting food can be in any social event.

For those of you that were not so successful please don't berate yourself. Just remember one of the most important things is how you react to a mistake.  I'm a firm believer that we should use any deviation as a learning experience.

If you continue to dwell on how bad the mistake is, does that make you feel any better? Of course it doesn’t. But if you use it as something that you can learn from it puts things in a perspective. Think of  slips as "dress rehearsals" for maintenance.

Do you have another event coming up soon? What were your mistakes this past weekend? Figure out exactly what they are and how they happened. Now determine how can you get through the next event without causing a lot of harm to your current eating plan. What can you do differently?

Readers, please share with us how you get through social events successfully.

Low-Carb Chicken Stir Fry

Preparation for Spicy Stir Fried Chicken and Greens with Peanuts can start in the morning with marinading the chicken. When you return home, from your day at work, all you have to do is get your skillet hot and get cooking. In 20 minutes you will have this meal on your table.

Per serving there are 379 calories, 10 grams of carbs, and 4 grams of fiber. A nutritional profile of this recipe is available. To decrease the amount of fat in this dish you can reduce the amount of oil or you can use nuts that were not roasted. Don't forget to save this recipe to your Nutrition Data Pantry.

Mother's Day Express Workout

Today's post is dedicated to all those busy moms out there.

I know you put your children and your family first and that's why I want you to take 20 minutes a day to focus on yourself. So in between picking the kids up from school, sports practice, music lessons, or preparing dinner I want you to sneak in a quick workout.

This workout will boost your energy levels and leave you feeling great about the work you just put into keeping your body the way you want it to look.

Here's a quick and easy body weight workout you can do right at home:

Warm-up: Jumping Jacks
Complete 3 sets of 30 jumping jacks before moving on to your exercises.

Exercise #1: Couch Push-ups
Place both hands slightly wider than shoulder width apart on the edge of the couch. Lower your body down slowly to right before your chest touches, then push back up to the starting push-up position. Repeat as many repetitions as you can with good form.

Exercise #2: Prisoner Squats
This exercise is great because it forces you to work on your posture as you burn calories. Begin this exercise standing in front of a chair. Clasp both hands behind your head. Slowly squat backwards with your hips as you sit down towards the chair. Work to keep your elbows back and your head and chest up as you squat. As you feel your hips touch the chair, push back up to a standing position. Repeat 15-20x.

Try to complete exercises #1 and #2 without any rest in between sets. After you complete both, rest 1 minute and then repeat 1-2 additional rounds.

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day

As a mother you probably put your children first in many areas of your life. But please remember this, don’t do it at the expense of your own health, weight, and personal happiness.

You know when you are flying in a plane and the flight attendant gives a demo of what to do if the plane will crash? If you have a child with you they tell you to give the oxygen mask first to yourself and then to the child. Why? If something happens to you what will happen to your child?

The same should hold true in life. If you give too much to your children at the expense of your health, weight and own happiness you will have your own kind of "crash." Your health goes downhill, you look older than your years, and you have become overweight and unhappy about how you look, feel, and think. You may even become resentful. What kind of a mother are you then?

It's all about balance. Remember the kids will grow up one day and you will only have yourself (and your husband). When your whole life is about just the kids, what will you have left after they are gone? Older moms share this wisdom with your daughters and sons.

Your children are important but you are as important as your children, so take care of yourself too!

Happy Mother's Day to mothers everywhere! Whatever you are doing today I hope it is filled with love and happiness and that you are fondly remembering the day you first became a mother.

A Delicious Mother's Day Dinner

Celebrate Mother''s Day with a fantastic, low-carb dinner that everyone will enjoy. Steak with Olives, will be ready, from start to finish, in 30 minutes.

Depending on the meal plan you are following you can add a variety of sides to this dish: a mixed green salad, steamed or roasted vegetables, sweet potatoes or wild rice. As to not ruin your weight loss efforts have fresh fruit or sorbet ready for dessert.

A  nutritional profile of this recipe is available. Don't forget to save this recipe to your Nutrition Data Pantry.

Photo by Romulo Yanes

Mother's Day Eating Challenges

Are you going out for Mother's Day brunch or is family making you a special meal?
Here are some suggestions to get you through the day. These strategies can work for brunch, dinner, or just about anywhere.

• Moms, this day is supposed to be about what you want. Be lovingly assertive about your needs.

• Have a plan. Which restaurant will give you the best healthy, but enjoyable choices? (Go online and check out some menu options.) Ask for what you really need from family members.  How will you manage portion control? Etc.
• Think: How do you want to feel at the end of the day? Watch for the holiday mentality of, "Well it's my day I'll eat whatever I want..." or "I'll get back on track on Monday."
• Prior to the main event consume a light snack without fats and carbs. You will get plenty of those later. By eating light before the big meal you won't be starving and tempted to overeat.
• Choose to balance your food choices from all the food groups rather than just  consuming all the heavy carb and fatty items. Or take tiny amounts of the things you only enjoy and make that your meal. Make a commitment to write down everything you have eaten to keep yourself accountable.
• When you are hungry later in the day, figure out what food groups you haven’t had and make that your meal.  When out, most people do not load up on lean protein, vegetables, yogurt, milk, or even fruit. Those should be the choices for a meal later.
  

Check my old blogs from December for additional ideas around holiday eating.