Fat and Furious! Don’t call me a MUFA!

Fat and Furious! Not all fats are created equal! This is one of my favorite topics as it really gets you thinking about what you know and what you think you know about fat intake and the foods that “make you fat”.

Just by coincidence, a reader commented on a previous article and wanted more information on what I call “the good fats”.  Although many people are waking up to the fact that not all fats are “bad”, there is still a lot of bad information out there on this subject.

I used to sit and eat lunch with my workmates, several of whom were considerably overweight, and they would often comment on my lunch “choices” which usually contained one or several foods which they considered to be “untouchable” if you were trying to lose weight with a “low-fat” diet.

To say that they would “comment” on my lunch items is being a bit too generous… the fact is, that they would often become furious when I tried to gently coax them into understanding that “not all fats are bad”, and in fact, some are actually quite good for you!

What makes me “furious” is the amount of disinformation out there regarding fat intake, and what a disservice this is for those who are trying to include healthy foods into their diet, and lose weight without starving themselves as I’ve mentioned in previous posts.

Rather than preach to my co-workers about their lunch choices, I often brought enough of my “good fat foods” to share, and if the subject came up, I would usually just ask them to do a google search on the subject… using “mufa”, or if you like tongue twisters… “mono-unsaturated-fatty-acids”, why listen to skinny old me when you have “the google” to fall back on? (probably another blog post here! : )

So for the uninitiated, here is a list of MUFA’s that -initially- so infuriated a few of my lunch mates for your perusal.  If you are already aware of these “super fats”, then here is a reminder to try to include at least one of them with all of your meals, or as a snack between meals, if you aren’t already.

  1. Dark Chocolate. Choose a high-quality chocolate with as few ingredients as possible… up to 1/4 cup a day!  I don’t think I need to tell you how to eat chocolate : )
  2. Avocado. 1-2 a day, guacamole, salads, and great on its own with a little salt and pepper and lemon juice!  Also great in savory smoothies, and as a salad dressing.
  3. Nuts, Nut Butters, and Seeds up to 1/4 cup a day. No, not that stuff with the cartoon fairy guy on the label!  Look for raw almonds or walnuts, natural peanut spreads, lightly toasted sesame or flax seeds for salads, but freshness is crucial, so refrigerate, and eat promptly.
  4. Olives, up to 10 per serving depending on size. Black, green, pitted or not, stuffed, packed in brine (watch sodium), or in oil with garlic, hot peppers, or herbs, great as a snack, or on salads and in recipes, preferably a high-quality brand, or from the “olive bar” at your local grocer.
  5. Oils, 2-4 tablespoons a day. Choose high quality olive, flax-seed, or walnut oils for dressings, or olive oil for low-temp sauteing.  Oils are tricky, because when heated above certain temperatures, they degrade, not so healthy when deep-frying (which isn’t healthy anyway, but you knew that : ), but ok for quickly sauteing, and of course, salad dressings.
  6. Coconut Oil.  Not sure if this is a MUFA but… If you just cannot resist high-temp stir-frying or deep frying, a high quality organic coconut oil can withstand the higher temps, and adds a nutty flavor.  No, it doesn’t taste like sun-tan lotion, but it helps if you like coconuts!
  7. Pesto 1/4 to 1/2 cup a day. Whether you prefer a traditional pesto with fresh basil, olive oil, pine-nuts, Parmesan and salt and pepper, or something more exotic, pesto is basically a “paste” made with ground nuts, herbs, oils, and (sometimes) cheese, and traditionally served on pasta, but great on cooked vegetables, and also as a dip.
  8. Hummus, 1/4 to 1/2 cup per serving. Made with tahini (ground sesame seed seed paste), with ground chick peas, garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil, great with raw vegetables, or as a condiment in sandwiches, it can also be watered down and used as a dressing for salads.

Someday, I will post some of my favorite recipes using MUFA’s, but for now, just keep in mind, that including 1 0r 2 of the above with your meals or as snacks, will help you to not only lose weight, but possibly earn you some stares in the company lunch room!

Oh yeah, and remember, moderation is the key here, so remember that these “super fats” are super healthy, but just like any other fat, they are high in calories, so use your common sense, and be creative in the kitchen!  Healthy eating and cooking should be fun, not a chore!

I’m done for now, but very soon, I will post some research on MUFA’s, and the science on eating MUFA’s, losing belly-fat? and losing weight in general.  Or, you can get on the “google machine” and do a little research on your own!

Go have some Dark Chocolate!

Here’s to YOUR health!

Kevin

 

 

I Recommend Brasil Body Cleanse and Acai Slim

Why Exercise Doesn’t Always Work… and what you can do about it!

Hey there, I wanted to share a bit of my story here, and hopefully, shed some light on why some people gain weight despite getting plenty of exercise. (No, that’s not me in the photo!)

When I was at my highest weight (read fattest for you non-politically correct readers :) , I was desperate to lose the weight I had gained -nearly 50 pounds- but stuck in an endless rut of a full load of college classes during the day starting at 8:00 am., followed by a full night of work at the bakery at around 5:00 pm. usually getting home at around midnight or later.

I was simply not able to take the time to eat properly, and make healthy choices, -or, at least that’s the way it felt- so I would usually get something out of the snack machines on campus for “lunch” followed by whatever was available from the bakery/commissary where I worked as the “head bread baker” for a local restaurant in the evenings.

Despite the “glamorous” way that being a chef is portrayed on TV, it really is very hard work, and you seldom have a chance to actually sit down and enjoy the fruits of your labor, -or in my case, the breads, pastry’s and desserts, so you grab something here and there, and continue working.

I Was Busting My Butt, but Still Gaining Weight!

As I said, baking is very hard work, and you never really stop moving, and there were nights where I would bake nearly a thousand baguettes, basically mixing, proofing, shaping, and baking the loaves over and over until I had reached that night’s number, usually finishing somewhere around midnight or 1:00 am.

There was never really time to sit down, so I would usually just grab something out of the walk-in and “eat and run”.

So, with all of that physical exercise, how did I manage to put on all of that extra weight?

Well, I was puzzled myself, and because I had so little time between classes and work, I soon turned to chemical based diet pills, powders, and potions looking for the “magic cure for weight loss” which never came.

Sure, I would lose 5 or 10 pounds here and there, but most of the chemical ingredients that were listed on the labels as it turned out, were a mystery, were quite often dangerous, and sometimes made me feel sick or dizzy after taking them.

Usually, I ended up throwing them in the trash before the bottle was empty… only to find another bottle in my mailbox a week or two later, along with another charge to my credit card, because I failed to notice the “auto-ship” fine print when I placed my order!

So, I WAS exercising, basically eating only once or twice a day, skipping breakfast, eating some junk out of the snack machines for lunch, and then grabbing what I could at the bakery if I had time.

As I began to become frustrated with the non-results of my diet pills and powders routine, I started to educate myself not only on nutrition, but also on how our metabolism plays such a huge role in weight gain, weight loss, energy levels, and overall well-being.

Blah, Blah, Blah, Kevin, get to the point!

Well, simply put, by skipping breakfast, eating an empty-calorie lunch, and then going another 8 or 9 hours before eating another meal, I was sending my body signals that I Was Starving Myself!

The result -as I learned- was that my metabolism was slowing down putting my body into “starvation mode”, and despite my rigorous work routine, my body began to store fat as a natural defense to what it “perceived” as a threat to my survival,

Once I figured this out, I began to make changes to my eating routine, and took the time for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, even if it meant getting home later from work, and I also began using natural herbal supplements to safely boost my metabolism, increase my energy levels, and burn fat.

Back then, there were very few “complete” dietary supplements, and I usually had to spend a lot of time online and asking questions in health-food stores researching the specific ingredients and the correct amounts I needed to take to get my metabolism back in balance, and it was expensive too!

But it was well worth it, I began to gradually lose the weight I had gained -losing weight too quickly can also trigger “starvation mode”- I looked and felt better too!  Since then, I have been able to keep it off successfully for almost 8 years now.

I am so thankful that today, there is no need to mix and match the right combination of herbal supplements to achieve the healthy weight loss, energy boosting, and fat-loss results you are looking for, as all of the “heavy-lifting” has been done for you, by company’s like Divine Tropical with their line of super-pure, high-quality, all natural “Brasil Cleanse” products.

And just to let you know I’m not “perfect”, I do have my “slip-ups” from time to time, especially around the holidays, but as I’ve said before, achieving a healthy body weight, is not just a “destination” it’s also a “journey”, and I now have the knowledge and tools to keep my weight in check when it’s just “too hard to say no” to that second piece of pie at Thanksgiving!

So if you’re like I was… busting your butt and still gaining weight, there is an answer, and I am living proof that with just a few simple changes, you CAN achieve the weight loss goals you are looking for!

Here’s to YOUR health!

Kevin

PS. If you are interested in learning more about any of the Brasil Cleanse products I recommend, or have a question, simply hit the “contact us” button at the bottom of this page, and I will be more than happy to help you!

 

I Recommend Brasil Body Cleanse and Acai Slim ,

You Live in a Toxic World! The importance of Body Cleansing Revealed.

Hey everybody, although I would love to candy-coat this blog entry, I feel that it’s vitally important to keep you informed of the environmental toxins that you, me and our loved ones are exposed to. The truth is, we live in a Toxic World, and unfortunately, many of these poisons have dire effects and consequences on our health. so here’s the bad news.
Toxins are in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat, we can take precautions, but sadly, there is no way around it, that’s the bad news…

So you are probably wondering what’s in all of this stuff we are eating, breathing and drinking on a too regular basis?… Um, here’s a shortlist to get you started : )

Cigarette Smoke (benzene, lead, arsenic, acetone)

Auto Exhaust (benzene, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde)VOC’s or Volatile Organic Compounds (paints, strippers, adhesives, cleaning products)

  • Mercury – heavy metal, poison to your nervous system (fish, some vaccines,  pesticides on produce, emitted by coal plants, trash incinerators)
  • Cadmium (batteries, plastics, insecticides)
  • Lead (paint, dust, soil, water, old pipes, older homes built before 1978)
  • Aluminum (anti-perspirants, some cookware, antacids, skin creams, dandruff shampoo)
  • Excitotoxins (food additives that over-stimulate the brain,  Aspartame, saccharin,  hydrolyzed vegetable protein in processed foods/frozen dinners, MSG or  Mono-Sodium Glutamate)
  • Alcohol (overindulgence depletes protective glutathione and can lead to liver disease)
  • Pesticides and Herbicides (used in growing food and in yard care)
  • Carcinogens (Dioxin, radiation, asbestos, vinyl chloride to make plastics)
  • Formaldehyde (preservative, used in toners, paints, building materials)
  • Chlorine and Chloroform (released in a hot shower)
  • Acetaminophen (Non-Aspirin Pain reliever, reduces levels of protective antioxidant glutathione)
  • Household Cleaners (acetone, benzenes)
  • Radiation (microwave, X-Rays, Ultraviolet Radiation from sunlight)
  • EMF’s – Electro Magnetic Fields that damage nerve cells (cell phones, electric blankets, computers, TV screens)
  • Perc or Perchloro-ethane (used as a solvent in dry cleaning)
  • Acetone (automobile exhaust, industrial emissions)
  • Aflatoxin (from moldy nuts)
  • Aromatic hydrocarbons (fuel,solvents)
  • Nitrosamines (smoked and cured foods, hot dogs, bologna, etc.)
  • Benzopyrenes (fuel exhaust, barbecued foods)
  • PFC’s – Perfluorinated Chemicals (nonstick cookware, non-stain carpets)
  • Well, I’m tired of typing, and I’m quite sure you are tired of reading, so let’s just go straight to the good news shall we?  I can hear you now… Kevin, how can there be any good news in all of this? It looks to me like the safest place to be might be on the moon!

    That’s probably a title for another blog post, so here’s what you can do to detox yourself and your family:

    Incorporate a regular Body Cleanse and Detox regimen into your daily, weekly, monthly and yearly routine.  Make healthy diet and exercise routines a priority in your life.

    Set a good example for your friends and loved-ones by sharing (not preaching) what you are learning about the importance of detoxifying and cleansing our bodies to combat the negative effects of our Toxic World, and become proactive when it comes to the positive things you can do to improve your health!

    Tomorrow, I will share some ways you can begin incorporating healthy, all natural body cleanse supplements into your daily life, so that you can combat all of the toxins we are unwillingly exposed to.

    Here’s to YOUR health!

    Kevin

     

    I Recommend Brasil Body Cleanse and Acai Slim

    How the Tropical Weight Loss, Brasil Body Cleanse system works…

    How the Tropical Weight Loss, Brasil Body Cleanse system works… The term “Body Cleanse” often brings “fasting” to mind as well as other more “invasive” methods which are often incorporated into body cleansing techniques, so I wanted to explain exactly what is involved with the Tropical Weight Loss Brasil Body Cleanse system to eliminate confusion.

    The Brasil Body Cleanse system does not require fasting or any major changes to your daily routine as we have found that many people will not be able to complete the process if it’s too complicated.

    I want to make the entire body cleansing process as simple and effective as possible so that everyone can enjoy the benefits of body cleansing without the negative effects which are often associated with a traditional fast.

    Here is a video I put together to show you Just how simple the Brasil Body Cleanse system is…

     

    So, in order to enjoy maximum benefits from your Brasil Cleanse System, you should try to incorporate the following into your daily routine:

    1. Eat plenty of fiber, including brown rice and organically-grown  fresh fruits and vegetables. Beets, radishes, artichokes, cabbage,  broccoli are excellent detoxifying  foods.
    2. Cleanse and protect the liver by taking herbs such as dandelion root, burdock and milk thistle, and drinking green tea.
    3. Take vitamin C, which helps the body produce glutathione, a liver compound that drives away toxins.
    4. Drink at least two quarts of water daily.
    5. Breathe deeply to allow oxygen to circulate more completely through your system.
    6. Transform stress by emphasizing positive emotions.
    7. Sweat in a sauna so your body can eliminate wastes through perspiration.  (Ok, I’m pretty sure you don’t have a sauna, but a hot shower or bath will achieve nearly the same results.)

    The BrasilCleanse Complete 30 Day Full Body Cleanse includes 3 Powerful nutritionally perfected  formulas designed to help you lose weight. Our Special Formula works to cleanse and detox the body, lose unwanted pounds as well as replenish.

    Here is what actually happens during a 30 day cleansing routine:

    Week 1: Breakdown During this stage the body begins to get rid off toxins. In the  first week of the program the body is nourished with the proper balance  of nutrition so can prepare to breakdown the toxins in the body it must be able to fully capture and remove toxins from the body.

    Week 2: Eliminate During this stage we will begin to train the body to sequester  and remove incoming toxins in a more efficient manner through providing  critical nutrients that support the naturally occurring detoxification  and purification pathways the body has in place.

    Week 3: Rejuvenate During this stage the body will be accustomed to the  nourishment the program is providing and will begin digging deep for any  remaining toxins that have taken a strong hold in your system, and work  toward removing them.

    Week 4: Burn During this stage the body will be able to burn fat while the body cleanse process has taken place.

    Now that you have gotten your body back “in-sync”, you will notice that you have more energy, have fewer cravings, and lost weight, by continuing to incorporate healthy foods into your diet and exercise (even if it’s just walking more) on a regular basis, you should continue to lose body fat until you have reached your desired weight loss goals.

    If you feel like you need an extra boost after your first 30 days, or if you have not reached your target weight, you may continue taking the original Brasil Cleanse Acai-Slim until you have achieved your desired result. Brasil Cleanse Suave with Probiotics is gentle enough to take everyday to maintain your digestive health and support your immune system.

    Well, that’s it for today, tomorrow I will be talking about the importance of detoxing in a very Toxic World!

    Here’s to YOUR health!

    Kevin

    I Recommend Brasil Body Cleanse and Acai Slim

    Holiday Weight Loss Tips and Tricks… The Brasil Body Cleanse difference

    Holiday Weight Loss Tips and Tricks… The Brasil Body Cleanse difference.

     

    Well, it’s THAT time of year again! You know, when you throw out last year’s New Year’s resolution and eat everything in sight? That’s right, the holidays are here, so relax and enjoy yourself, and this season, keep the weight off with Divine Tropical’s all natural Brasil Cleanse weight loss formulas!

    Did you know that most adult Americans gain about a pound during the holidays?  Doesn’t sound like much right?  Well, the bad news is that we also tend to keep that extra pound and continue gaining additional holiday pounds over our lifetimes.

    “Most people don’t ever lose the pound of weight they put on during the holidays, according to a report in The New England Journal of Medicine. Since the average weight gain during adulthood is about one to two pounds a year, that means much of midlife weight gain can be explained by holiday eating.”

    So, over the course of 20 or 30 years, you guessed it! you will have gained an additional 20-30 pounds, not so good.  TropicalWeightLoss.com is dedicated to helping you maintain -or regain- a healthy body weight, lose body fat, with natural weight loss supplements, diet and exercise tips, and boosting your confidence with weight loss stories from people just like you!

    Water and weight loss… another secret weapon?     I recently read an article in Web MD which quotes a study in which adults who drank 2 8oz. glasses of water shortly before a full meal ate between 75 and 90 fewer calories during the meal.  “After 12 weeks, water drinkers lost about 15.5 pounds, compared to non-water-drinking dieters, who lost only 11 pounds.”

    So think about what you are drinking before and during your meals, is it water? or are you drinking sugary cola’s, sweet tea etc.?  Ok, you’re probably thinking “I drink no-calorie diet drinks with dinner, so I’ve got nothing to worry about”… Well, not so fast…

    “Diet Soda Linked To Weight Gain”

    UGH! Even so-called “diet” drinks have unhealthy consequences, according to a recent 9 year study quoted in the Huffington Post, those who drink non-sugar beverages as an alternative to regular cola’s… “Researchers found that the diet soda drinkers had waist circumference increases of 70 percent greater than those who non-diet soda drinkers. And people who drank diet soda… most frequently — at least two diet sodas a day — had waist circumference increases that were 500 percent greater than people who didn’t drink any diet soda, the study said.”

    The study also found that for those who are diabetic, the most common sugar alternative in diet drinks “aspartame”, also caused a noticible increase in blood-glucose levels immediately after consumption.

    Are you still with me?  NEWSFLASH! DON’T GIVE UP!

    Despite all of this, PLEASE DON’T GIVE UP!  You are NOT alone, it may seem daunting, but losing weight and/or keeping it off is really pretty simple, and here are a few holiday weight loss tips so you can enjoy the holidays, spend time with your family, and lose weight too!

    1. Drink 2 8oz glasses of water prior to meals.  This alone will help you lose -on average- of 15 pounds over the next 12 weeks.
    2. Skip the sugary drinks AND YES, the diet drinks too (drinks and desserts made with all natural stevia are ok).  You may have to cut back slowly, but it’s possible, and for the reasons I stated above, IT’S WORTH IT!
    3. ENJOY YOURSELF!  The holidays are a time of celebration, DON’T PUNISH YOURSELF if you slip up and eat or drink more than you should, just make a mental note and move on.
    4. Consider a 2-week or 30-day natural body cleanse, or if you just need to shed a few pounds, an Acai Berry supplement may do the trick, before, during, or after the holidays.

    Remember, there is no substitute, for eating healthier foods, implementing sensible diet and execise routines, drinking water throughout the day, and including pure, all natural dietary ingredients like the ones found in all of Divine Tropical’s “Brasil Cleanse” supplements, but losing weight is not just a destination, it’s a journey, so take it easy on yourself, you’ll lose the weight, and be glad you did!

    I’m always here at tropicalweightloss.com to answer your questions, and help you achieve your nutritional and weightloss goals in any way I can, so feel free to join my blog, add comments, ask me questions, and stay informed!

    Here’s to YOUR health!

    Kevin

    Click here to learn more about losing weight with Brasil Cleanse Acai Slim.

     

    I Recommend Brasil Body Cleanse and Acai Slim