Calories | How Big Is Your BUT? Blog - Dr. Susan Mitchell

January 19, 2011

How Big is Your ‘BUT’?

Is life getting in the way of what you want to accomplish? Do you have dreams and goals that you want to come true but your ‘but’ gets in the way. No, not that ‘butt’ although you might be feeling that your bum or backside is a little larger than it was in 2010.

I’m talking about the ‘but’ that keeps you stuck in your rut and prevents you from moving ahead and reaching your goals. You know the ‘but’…you would like to take that spinning class ‘but’ your schedule is already jammed or you feel exhausted and need to get more sleep ‘but’ it never seems to happen.

Let 2011 be the year you have a mental boot camp with yourself and kick the ‘but’ out of your life. A mental boot camp is an up close and personal inventory. Take a hard look at your day-to-day life and decide what must be addressed, changed, adapted, deleted, whatever…so that you and your family find more contentment.

During your mental boot camp, ask yourself some of these questions:

* Do you stress-eat? If so, get rid of the foods that call your name. Clean the pantry or fridge so you have to work harder to get those stress foods. Don’t completely give up these foods because then you will want them even more. Instead, buy the smallest size of the best item, such as high quality chocolate, and truly enjoy it.

* Are you drinking your calories? Notice where your calories are coming from …lattes, smoothies, sweetened tea and sodas, energy drinks…and pay attention to the size of the container. Remember…bigge size = bigge thighs.

* Did you have a fight with someone you care about and turn to that bag of chips in the pantry for comfort? Time to deal with these emotions and find healthier (calorie free) options for comfort. Have a plan…call a friend, go for a walk, watch a funny show…defuse the situation and stay away from the food. I realize that some issues are way bigger than this…that’s why it’s important to go thru a mental boot camp so you know if counseling or help of some type is needed.

Instead of a focus on weight loss or exercise, review your life and the contentment you feel or don’t feel. Why? Your contentment level and attitude affect your weight. When you are overwhelmed and stressed, it’s impossible to find the time to eat well, shop and prep food, exercise or do anything else for yourself…and you feel guilty when you do.

Stress eating and binge eating are often tied to tough and emotionally stressful events in life and how you cope with them. Food is an outlet and is available ever direction you turn. It’s legal and calls your name when you’re mad, hurt, sad and stressed…you known what I mean.

When I was writing books, I realized I truly was the author of those books, which meant it was up to me to write and complete them. The same is true for you. You are the author of your book…your life. As the author, you have the ability to change the chapter in 2011 if it’s not working for you.

Listen to this week’s podcast below.

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January 12, 2011

Game On: Smart Weight Loss Moves that Work

Before we talk about smart weight loss moves, last week we chatted on food and culinary trends for this year and small pies were one of the highlighted items. Laura emailed to tell me about the website ourbestbites.com and their recipe for a single serving pie in a short and squatty half-pint jar. You’ve got to check this out. Laura makes these small blackberry pies and keeps them in the freezer ready to bake at any moment.

Ok, are you feeling frustrated with your weight? Tried a lot of diets only to lose and regain the same pounds, maybe in different locations on your body?

Joining me on this week’s podcast to discuss rewriting the rules is my regular guest Margit Ragland, Health Director at Family Circle magazine. The February issue of Family Circle magazine has an informative article, 6 Biggest Diet Myths, that addresses rewriting the old weight loss rules.

Consider these old rules.

Old rule: focus on total calories only regardless of where they come from…such as the 100-calorie packs of refined cookies and snacks…low in calories but that’s it nutritionally speaking.

New rule: where the calories come from does matter and the body handles the calories differently. For example, it’s better to have your carbs come from high fiber, real food rather than processed carbs.

Old rule: stay off the scale and don’t focus on numbers…but instead, zero in on how you feel and how your clothes fit.

Break the old rule: According to data from the National Weight Control Registry (NWCR), weighing regularly is actually linked to better weight loss results. Researchers say that weighing regularly helps you stay on track and catch a slipup before it turns into a major weight gain.

New Rule: Weigh first thing every morning. Let the scale be your guide as to how you are doing from a weight standpoint NOT how you feel about yourself.

Need an easy recipe for your Super Bowl Party?

Try these Two-Way Nachos

I like the fact that you can use baked chips, reduced or no sodium beans, and a reduced-fat blend of cheese without affecting the flavor. Combined together, you never miss all the sodium or fat but your backside will.

Listen to this week’s podcast below.

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December 1, 2010

Party On…Without the Extra Pounds

Rev up your forks and spoons…the holiday eat feast is about to begin. I love the holiday season but what I don’t like is any additional fat on my backside or my belly after they are over. How about you?

I grew up in the south and have wonderful memories of baking in the kitchen with my Mom. My mixer and oven work overtime during November and December as my friend Petra and I choose favorite recipes and bake together (ok and eat too).

Time is tight during the party season so let’s eat smart. Recently I was in Boston for the American Dietetic Association annual meeting. For breakfast I sampled Granola Bars made with California raisins, walnuts, oats, and mini chocolate chips.

Raisins are an easy way to add more fruit and fiber to your diet. Make these bars ahead for the grab and go busy weeks coming up. I doubled the recipe (added a few extra chocolate chips) and froze half of the bars for later in the month. The recipe is quick and easy.

Register to win a California raisin gift pack complete with:

Tote bag

Raisin plush character

Meal Makeover Mom cookbook

Snack pack of raisins

Water bottle

Hat

With some tweaks to your favorite recipes and simple swaps, you can enjoy the party season and not put on pounds.

Snack before you party: Eat a small snack with protein and fiber such as a piece of fruit and a handful of nuts before you head to the party. This smart move takes the edge off your hunger and keeps you from bellying up to the buffet and staying there.
Forget skipping meals on party days. Skipping meals all day to allow room for the big one sets you up to overeat. You’re hungry, tired and the body needs fuel. All you can think about is food and a lot of it.
Drink two glasses of water before the party. Studies show you’ll eat less. This is a good basic day-to-day strategy that works plus you stay hydrated.
For your holiday baking, use light cream cheese, light sour cream and skim evaporated milk as staples. I use skim evaporated milk in place of cream in my mashed potatoes and add roasted garlic.
Need a dish to take to a dinner? Try Family Circle’s Red Rice & Lentils. Ready in less than 30 minutes, the hazelnuts add holiday flair and flavor.

Want more information? Listen to this week’s podcast below.

Listen to this week’s podcast

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October 20, 2010

Tell-All: Nutrition News Now

Have you noticed all the chatter about weight loss these past few days? How’s this for a diet trick? A recent article in USA Today reported on research from Cornell University’s Food and Brand Lab headed up by Dr. Brian Wansink.

His lab found that people consumed less at meals after watching exercise-related commercials than they did after viewing other types of ads.

The 125 participants in this study were divided into two groups. One group watched ads for washing machines or car insurance while the other groups watched exercise-related ads including fitness centers and running shoes. Then both groups had a buffet lunch.

Guess what? The participants who watched the exercise-related ads consumed 22% fewer calories from the buffet than the other group. And, don’t miss this…the group viewing the messages about fitness and exercise reported that they felt more athletic, active and in better shape than those in the other group. The participants watching the exercise type ads also thought the buffet meal was healthier than the other group.

The researchers suggested that the exercise commercials may cause people to be more health and body conscious.

I better watch Dancing with the Stars and receive some of those messages. How about you? Perception for people is a big part of the weight loss puzzle. For example, Wansink has done other work where he found that people would eat more movie popcorn if the bowl was bigger….even if the popcorn was old and stale!

In another recent article from USA Today which reported on a Nutrisystem poll of 1001 people found that twenty-five percent of men said they would rather go without sex for a summer than gain 10 pounds. But get this…50% of the women responding would give up sex rather than gain weight.

Two thirds of the people said they would need to lose weight in order to feel sexier. How many pounds on average do you think it would take for this sexy feeling? To be a hottie? A loss of 23 pounds was the average in the poll. Weight and weight gain is definitely tied to self-image and people will go to great lengths to keep the weight off. Am I talking to you?

When I fly, I’ve been listening to the audio book Big Girl by Danielle Steel. Have any of you read it? Throughout the book, the author weaves the story of the power of self-image and body weight and how negative comments from family members can affect a young girl’s view of herself throughout life.

You clearly see the tie between food cravings and emotional hunger versus hunger. What do you think? Email me thru my website at susanmitchell.org and I’ll share your comments next week.

Don’t forget to register to win cases of isopure plus. Just go to WDBO.com and click on the Nutrition & Health Center.

For more information, listen to this week’s podcast below.

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February 17, 2010

Speed Demon: Try Interval Training for the Calorie Burn

Do you have days when exercise just isn’t happening? The mind is willing but your jammed schedule is not. I know I do. Then you’re going to like this research. The Harvard Alumni Health Study found that climbing stairs at a moderate pace burns calories faster than walking on level ground. This burst of exercise or what’s often referred to as interval training changes up the pace for a short amount of time. Think about it. Do you sit most of the day? A couple of months ago I started getting up from what I refer to as my ‘bubble-butt’ chair every hour or two. I climb the stairs close to my office a couple of times and go back to my desk. It helps clear my brain, gets me moving and burns some extra calories.

Another study from Heriot-Watt University in Scotland found that small amounts of what researchers referred to as HIT or high intensity interval training (we’re talking 6-30 second sprints or a total of 3 minutes on a stationary bike done twice a week) improved insulin resistance and glucose tolerance. Both are linked to the risk for type 2 diabetes. Now I can find time for short bursts of exercise. W hat about you?

Remind yourself that although it’s cold outside, hydration still needs to be top of mind when walking or climbing stairs. Family Circle has a promotion going on where you have a chance to win a high-tech water bottle. Go to momster.com/fc/hydrate and share the ways you stay hydrated. If they choose your suggestion as one of their favorites, they will send you a high-tech water bottle from Innate ($16 value). Momster.com is their new social networking site for Moms of tweens and teens.

Margit Ragland, Health Director from Family Circle is my guest on the podcast this week and she shares a casserole with style. Check out the recipe for Chicken Curry & Brown Basmati Rice. A combination of curry powder, chickpeas, golden raisins, brown basmati rice and red peppers give this casserole a fresh flair that the entire family with like. From the nutrition viewpoint, what’s not to like about the prebiotic inulin found in raisins and the antioxidant content of curry powder (thus its golden yellow color from the turmeric). Give it a try and tell me what you think. It comes in under 300 calories per serving with 10 grams of protein and, 7 grams of fiber and 7 grams of fat (only 1 saturated).

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August 5, 2009

Where’s the Fat? You’ll be Shocked!

Hi everyone….I appreciate so much that you email me with your questions and comments. I did an interview earlier this week on snacking and looked at some of the nutrition numbers for various summertime treats. Long hot summer days just call for ice cream which I love. But with these numbers, a little on the lips can truly be forever on the hips. Did you know that according to wedmd.com, a Baskin- Robbins (one of my favorite ice creams) Reese’s® Peanut Butter Cup Sundae contains 1, 220 calories, 80 grams of fat and 92 grams of sugar? With four grams per teaspoon of sugar…that’s about 23 teaspoons of sugar. So ladies, if you’re trying to eat about 1500-1800 calories per day to lose a few pounds, this sundae alone is most of your days calories. Not to pick on Baskin-Robbins because a Cold Stone Creamery Dark Chocolate cone (large) has about 800 calories, 47 grams of fat and 68 grams of sugar.

And you know that corn dog and fries that you see at the summer fair? Count them…770 calories and 1600 milligrams of sodium. Yes, I totally get that sometimes you just must have them but I want you to understand why weight loss is such a problem. The portion sizes and thus total calories taken in require such an output in exercise that just never happens…the weight comes on and it’s tough to take off. Remember, you are in charge of yourself and your health so think about how you spend you calories. Can you split this splurge with a friend? Order a child’s portion? Choose a lower fat variety? Maybe switch to a frozen treat of 150 calories or less such as fruit bars or fudge bars, light ice creams, fruit and yogurt parfaits, or how about fresh berries dipped in dark chocolate? Trail mix with some M&Ms tossed in? There are a lot of great options.

Don’t forget to try this month’s recipe from Family Circle magazine: Black Bean Chili Burgers…perfect for these summer nights.

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April 1, 2009

Energy Boost: Four Tips to Fuel Your Active Lifestyle

Are you an active person who’s constantly on the go, a serious athlete, or maybe a weekend warrior? What you eat can help maximize your energy and optimize your performance. You’ll want to listen to this week’s podcast which is all about helping you get the energy boost you need to power your performance every day. My guest is sports nutritionist Dr. Jenna Bell-Wilson.

Dr. Bell-Wilson is co-author of the just released book Energy to Burn: The Ultimate Food and Nutrition Guide to Fuel your Active Lifestyle. She is a Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics, a registered dietitian and has provided nutrition seminars with professional athletes at major athletic events like the Boston Marathon and New York City Marathon.

Dr. Bell-Wilson works with many serious athletes and is one herself. From your emails, I know that many of you are trying to lose weight and are using exercise to help speed up the process. Dr. Bell-Wilson talks about how to tailor your diet to successfully lose weight, but also to have the energy to get through your everyday busy schedule and still have energy to burn for a workout.

She also discusses how you can ensure that you have the fuel needed to get through your workout if you head from work to a workout, rather than stopping at home first. You don’t want to miss her on-target advice.

Click player to listen to the podcast:

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March 4, 2009

Three Tips to Help Prevent Packing on the Pounds

I just read in the April 1^st issue of Family Circle magazine that if you give up one regular 20-ounce soda a day, you’ll save about 91,000 calories a year. Do the math at 3500 calories per pound and that’s equivalent to about 25 pounds you could lose. That’s huge! Sweetened beverages including juices can pack on the pounds but here are some usable tips to help prevent that gain.

Go for a 50-50 mix. Since juice can be a concentrated source of calories, dilute it with water, sparkling water or club soda. As you adjust to this mixture, try a little less juice and a little more water. Remember that sweetened beverages do not provide you with a feeling of satiety or fullness so you can consume a lot of calories and still be ravenous.

Heads up, many sports drinks and sodas actually contain more than once serving if you check the Nutrition Facts label. When you consume the entire bottle, you need to double or triple the calories depending on the servings in the container. Be a label sleuth.

Are you hungry after you workout? I am. If I’m not careful, I can easily consume more calories rehydrating than I just burned off. Be sure and check the calories of your favorite flavored waters and sports drinks. Some contain upwards of 300 calories.

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