Stressful Eating Tips

Some people have a tendency to eat when they are anxious or feeling stressed. They look for control or comfort in their foods.

Here are just a few ways to help getting around those time when we eat out of stress:
Drink a glass of water - focus on finishing that glass of water can help. Plus it helps your brain, and everything else, function.
Know your weaknesses - don’t buy those “crutch” type foods. You know the ones you go to in that moment of weakness.
Get out of the kitchen - find something to do to relieve that stress that isn’t in the kitchen. Meditation, yoga, your favorite hobbies are the best way to distract yourself. And do them a a room farthest from the kitchen.
Avoid drinking caffeine. It will only make the stress feel more intense.
Try to eat 5 or 6 small meals a day. This helps to even out your blood sugar. You won’t have those “afternoon” carvings.


Happy eating.

Be sure to check out www.ironbellefitness.com for more great hints.

Great Way to Escape the Heat

Have you been hiding from the heat and not been getting in your workouts? A great way to beat the heat and still get your cardio in is to visit place with A/C. Most malls open earlier then their stores so you can walk inside and not worry about getting sidetracked by spending money. And if that is your cup of tea. Then look to Home Depot and Costco. You’ll fit right in with people looking for that missing item they can’t find. About 5 times through those isles is about 30 minutes believe it or not. And that doesn’t count stopping to look at the products. Try not bringing your wallets so you make sure you don’t spend all your money too. ☺

Happy walking.

Why is drinking water so important?

Someone everyday comments on how much water I drink. And sometimes they will ask why I drink that much. There are some many reasons to drink water over other beverages. Your body can function better at every level with more water in your system. Even your brain. You'll be able to think clearer. You will look better and younger. You feel fuller. And you don't consume other caloric foods and drinks you might be eating to quench that "hungry" feeling you can get from being actually thirsty. I always wonder how people don't drink more water.

Here are a few tips to help incorporate more water in to your daily routine:

1. Carry water with you everywhere. You'll drink it if it is there.
2. Add lemons, limes, and even cucumbers to change it up.
3. Keep it cool/cold. You'll burn more calories as you body tries to warm it up.
4. Alternate every other glass of what you typically drink with a glass of water.
5. Try cutting your fruit juices with water. You won't even notice the change.
6. Drink an entire glass of water before every meal. That I learned from my mother. Thank mom. :)

Happy training!

Fast Food - Healthy Choices

So I haven't been in a fast food place since forever as there isn't any place that has truly healthy food. Sure a few of them say they have "healthy" items until you look at the actually ingredients. I have to say, I am back to eating fast food again now that I have been to Extreme Pita . I was starving (and didn't have food with me - I know that is wrong an so unlike me) so I happened to remember that there was a new pita joint close by. I didn't know it was so "fast" food which made me a bit hesitate after walking in there. But once the guy behind the counter started telling me that they grill the mushroom, onions and green peppers in water instead of oil - I know I was going to be ok to try it. And I was too hungry to go anywhere else. And after getting my grilled chicken pita I saw on the wall that they posted the nutritional stats for every ingredient. I was able to read all of it from across the restaurant. So you know they are proud of it if the type was that big. And all the stats were great. You can really be able to eat well there.

Extreme Pita - TWO BIG THUMBS UP! And "I'll be back!" :)

Food Ingredients to Watch Out For

Clients ask all the time "How do I know if the food is good to eat"? And it really is simple if you watch out for four ingredients:

1. High Fructose Corn Syrup (A sweetener that doesn't trigger the feeling of fullness)

2. Partially Hydrogenated Oils

3. Enriched Flour - (Look for whole wheat as the first ingredient listed, not just enriched wheat either.)

4. Animal Fat

If you can try to avoid these ingredients, you'll be so much better off. Shopping at places like Trader Joe's or similar stores make it easier as many of their foods already have dropped these ingredient's.

Clean eating is the way to go. You'll feel better and it will show.

Happy training.

World's Healthiest Foods

Here is a great site listing world's healthiest food. Take a look but keep in mind which ones you should be buying that are organic. Typically, look for the organic fruits and vegetables that you would eat the outer skin of. Like grapes, peaches and broccoli. Bananas you peel, so they don't have to be organic like the others. Reference an earlier post for top foods to buy that are organic.

Happy eating.

Great Quick Reference for Clean Eating

Here is a great quick overview of the way that we all should be eating. Think of American diet and you'll easily see why it doesn't work. And we all know eating more frequently and "cleaner" helps on so many different levels. This article goes over many of the reasons. Just take a look.

Insulin and Your diet

Best Sports Bra

I have tried many different sports bras in the past and the one I keep coming back to is the Champion Action Shape. It comes in specific sizes and really withstands just any cardio training I do. Although, UnderArmor has a great look, you can only wear it to the gym to do some weight training. And Nike doesn't have any real support.

Champion Bra

Start! Walking at Work Day

Today is national Start! Walking at Work Day from the americanheart.org. Sounds great and I hope it works. What I did notice is that the people who have signed up at my work are the people who have already involved in walking. So I guess the question is how do we get people who aren't active moving?

americanheart.org/start for more info

My quote I live by.

With all of the recent fitness competitions, I have learn much more about life than I would have suspected. I am still working on it, but this is my new quote to for me to live by:

"Just when you are thinking of giving up on the goal, that is when the true challenge begins."

What is your quote you live by?

Daily Motivation

Make fitness your priority as you are the most important thing. Without your health no one else can benefit from you. - Anonymous

Water Bottles at the Gym

Have you seen the people carrying the gallon jugs of water at the gym. Being part of the bodybuilding community, I am tempted to carry one too. However, you tend to keep one of those jugs with you all day, don't you. Just think of all the germs that you'll be carrying with the rest of the day on the water bottle. Let's think about perhaps taking a smaller jugs of water to the gym. That way you get rid it and all the germs with it.

Just an observation of the day.

Iron Belle Fitness Shopping

My store is finally up and running. If you get a chance check it out for fashion, jewelery and a body care line. It is just getting started so be sure to check back often for the latest and greatest.

www.ironbellfitness.com

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