Tag Archives: nutrition

Sneaky Sugar

You + Sugar = Fat.

I’m sorry. There’s no other way around it. If you eat a lot of sweets, you’re not going to lose weight. You might maintain weight, and you definitely might gain weight, but you’re not going to lose weight. 

Okay, you probably know this. And you think you’re watching out for sugar. You eat yogurt, not cupcakes. You’ve switched to natural sweeteners like agave or stevia in lieu of the white stuff. 

But look again at that yogurt. Check out how much sugar it has. Chances are, if it tastes really good, it’s probably not all that good for you. I’m not saying that something has to taste bad to be healthy, but that sweet yogurt? It’s probably filled with sugar. I was foraging for a decent snack at my parents’ this weekend, when I found some yogurt my mom had bought. It was low-fat, and it had something like 23 grams of sugar. (And my dad has diabetes!) 

I showed my mom the nutrition facts and explained to her some stuff you might not know if you’re new to this healthy thing. (This applies to all food, not just yogurt.)

  • If it’s “low-fat”, especially if it proclaims so on the label, it’s probably making up for it elsewhere. It might have more sugar or more of something else.
  • Brown rice syrup or high fructose corn syrup (and really, anything that ends in -ose or “syrup”) are probably not ingredients you want to see on ingredient lists, or at least not in the first few ingredients.
  • If your fruit is in a cup, it probably has syrup in it. Syrup has sugar in it. 

Banishing Belly Fat

That’s my focus these days, as far as weight loss/toning up. (As far as fitness, it’s training for a marathon!)

Anyway, I’ve followed the awesome Sarah for awhile on Tumblr. Yesterday, I clicked through to her site. Um, check out those abs! So I asked her a question yesterday about how I could get abs like hers. Check out her answer below. It’s all pretty common-sense stuff, but it’s good to remember:

First, I’m so flattered you read my blog! I follow yours as well (since Tumblr first started doing the directory and I’ve loved it since!)

So in regards to my abs, I think part of it is good genes but I am not one of those naturally skinny people AT ALL.  I just gain and lose easiest in my tummy.  So it’s pretty noticeable to me when I need to let up on the dessert. 

I have always been a runner.  I think first and foremost that is what helps.  I run between 30-50 minutes 3-4 days a week (unless it rains for 5 days straight like this week). 

Also, I try to always do strength training moves that require stability from my core.  For example, rather than doing regular bicep curls, I stand on a bosu ball or on one leg.  For squats, I’ll put weights on my shoulders at a perpendicular angle (elbows pointing forward).  The forces your core to work hard to keep your chest and head up.   I do a lot of planks, and love pilates ab moves like the hundred. 

Lastly, I try to eat clean.  My idea of junk food is trail mix or an apple with peanut butter during the week.  Rarely do I eat pasta or bread and if I do, it’s under 100 calories in a single sitting.  I don’t drink soda, diet or regular.  I try not to drink beer.  I am of course a secret addict to sweets (which I reveal at times), but I know I’ve gotta work it off within the next day or two to make sure it doesn’t stick.  

Thanks again for the amazing compliment.  I honestly don’t focus exclusively on my abs during workouts except maybe one move, but I just try to always be using them during the day whether it’s sitting up straight or giving them squeeze while I run.