Author Archives: Lisa P

Don’t Fool Yourself: Sweets are Sweets

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“I eat fruit all the time now that summer is here and hardly ever eat any sugary sweets but I’m not losing any weight. I don’t understand.” When we talk about sugar in the diet, most people assume we are discussing only sugar derived from sugar cane. The sugar that shows up in cereals, breads, cakes, frosting and candy. Sugar is not only the fine white crystals, dark raw crystals or dusty powdered sugar that we all know and love. Fruits and vegetables contain sugar too. Vegetables do not contain as much natural sugar as fruits. Obviously they aren’t as … Continue reading →

Getting the Belated Beach Body

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“My friends are planning trips to the beach this summer and I’m panicking. How can I get skinny fast so I don’t look like a whale in my bathing suit?” In my opinion, skinny in a bathing suit is not something we women should strive to be. Come to think of it, I’ve never thought a skinny guy in a bathing suit looked all that great either. The idea of getting skinny fast isn’t the healthiest option. What you should be doing is planning for a bathing suit body for next summer but I can appreciate your need to be … Continue reading →

Desperation Leads to Crazy Dieting

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“Hey! I am 17 and I hate the way that I look. I really want to lose about 15-20 pounds and I want to do it fast.” There are quite a few problems with this statement: First, there is the issue of self-esteem and negative self-talk. Hating the way you look can be a very dangerous thing. For years, I hated the way I looked and I’d say terrible things to myself in the mirror. “I hate you, I hate the way you look, you’re so fat!” These statements eventually program us to believe these things whether we are fat … Continue reading →

Getting More Protein Without the Cholesterol

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“I read your blogs about protein and how much I should eat. I have a problem with your advice though. How can we keep our protein levels high while keeping our cholesterol low?” A diet high in protein does not necessitate a diet high in fat or cholesterol. Following are some low-cholesterol options to add more protein to your diet: Egg whites: If you can’t stand the flavor of plain egg whites, mix in one egg yolk with them. It’ll make for good flavor and texture while keeping cholesterol low. Lean meats: Beef and pork tenderloin are low in fat … Continue reading →

Getting enough Potassium While Dieting

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“I cramp up after workouts so I normally blend 1 banana with my protein shake mix and 2 cups of soy milk. Do bananas convert to fructose like other fruits that are more juicy such as oranges, apples, berries, etc?” One banana has 200 calories, 51g carbohydrates, 6g fiber, 28g sugar and 2g protein. One orange has 85 calories, 21g carbohydrates, 4g fiber, 17g sugar and 1g protein. One apple has 65 calories, 17g carbohydrates, 3g fiber, 13g sugar and no protein. One cup of strawberries has 49 calories, 12g carbohydrates, 3g fiber, 7g sugar and 1g protein. The fructose … Continue reading →

More on Plateaus

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“I started a new diet. More like a lifestyle change because I think I can stick with it. I was doing great and losing lots of weight but now I’ve stopped losing and I can’t seem to get started again. What’s happening?” Plateaus happen for many reasons. We fail to continue to challenge our bodies to do more (or more intense) exercise. (Literally spinning our wheels.) Our metabolism adjusts to a lower calorie intake and learns to make due on a decreased caloric intake. (Run more efficiently on less food.) We reach what has been our set-point weight for years … Continue reading →

Men and Women Do Not Lose Weight Equally

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“My husband and I started a diet at the same time. He’s lost 20 pounds already and I’ve only lost 10. Can you tell me why?” Many factors are involved in weight loss. Every human being is different and no two bodies will respond in exactly the same way even though they may follow the exact same diet. Factors such as height, weight, bodyfat, resting metabolic rate, foods eaten, portions eaten and activity levels all contribute how quickly or slowly a person will lose weight. How tall are you compared to your husband? Are you the same height or is … Continue reading →

High Blood Pressure and Dieting

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“I have high blood pressure. What diet can I do so that I can lose weight safely?” First, let me say that I am not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV. (I did not stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night either.) I suggest you discuss this with your doctor before trying any weight loss program. Of course, many people with high blood pressure have it as a side effect of being overweight and any doctor treating you for high blood pressure would be thrilled to help you find a diet program that is right for … Continue reading →

Corn and Dieting Don’t Mix

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“I love corn but it doesn’t seem to be allowed on any diet. Why is that?” Corn is a favorite vegetable of many of us. Unfortunately, what few people understand is that corn, though it is a vegetable, is loaded with starch. 5 ounces of sweet yellow corn contains the following: 115 calories 1g Fat 1.5mg Sodium 27.4g Carbohydrates 3.4g Fiber 4.3g Sugar 3.6g Protein It is also high in Vitamins A and C. These numbers say a lot to anyone trying to lose weight. The calories in corn are significantly higher than the calories in most other vegetables. The … Continue reading →

When to Eat Carbohydrates

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“Why is it recommended to eat carbs after a workout vs. before? If simple carbs convert to sugars quickly for energy, wouldn’t eating something like oatmeal or a turkey sandwich on whole wheat “before” a workout be better than after?” Great question! This is something that so few who are trying to lose weight understand. Eating Carbohydrates Before a Workout If you are a long distance runner with very little bodyfat then carbohydrates before your workout are a must. The carbohydrates will be used for energy so that your body doesn’t have to break down your already low bodyfat for … Continue reading →