Nutrition
5 of My Favorite Mexican Restaurants in Costa MesaTuesday, December 20th, 2011
The following list is compiled of a few of my favorite Mexican joints in the Costa Mesa area. Being a trainer in the area, I often frequent these places for lunch and dinner. I recommend them not only for their amazing Mexican food, but also because of the healthy choices that they all offer. Eating out doesn’t have to be detrimental to your nutrition and diet. These places offer a variety of great tasting Mexican food that won’t impact the waistline too much. Remember, moderation is key to keeping off the lbs.
- Chipotle – Great Mexican food that is pretty healthy and not expensive at all. This place is habit forming and I get in a rut going here a lot because the food is so good – excellent burritos and tacos!
- Chronic Tacos – A great little Mexican joint with rustic atmosphere and awesome tacos. If tacos are your weakness, this is the place to go!
- Gabbi’s Mexican Kitchen – another great place with down to earth atmosphere, great authentic Mexican food at a great price. This is a great place to go for lunch or a casual dinner with friends.
- Taco Mesa – another great Mexican place with lots of choices on the menu and really tasty food. This is another place that can be habit forming if you are not careful.
- Mi Casa Mexican Restaurant – Good old fashion authentic Mexican food in a homey, down to earth setting. This is an old standby place to go for great Mexican food with a huge menu. They make fantastic fajitas!
Tuesday, December 13th, 2011
We all know we need to keep an eye on our blood cholesterol for a healthy cardiovascular system. But how can we reduce cholesterol from just diet? There are several things you can do to lower your cholesterol through diet:
1.) Reduce red meat consumption
2.) Cut back on foods high in fat, such as whole milk, cheese, ice cream, butter, lard, most meats, creams and palm kernel or coconut oil.
3.) Limit food high in cholesterol. This is mostly meats. Now this does not mean that you need to become a vegetarian, but eat meats in moderation. Remember that foods high in cholesterol are not the leading cause for high blood cholesterol. Rather it’s foods that are high in Trans fats and saturated fats that are the main problem. The best way to avoid these types of food is to check your food labels when shopping.
4.) The most effective types of food for lowering cholesterol are foods high in soluble fiber: oats, oatmeal, barley, beans, peas, strawberries, apples, rice, bran and citrus fruits. Nuts such as almonds and walnuts are also an excellent source of cholesterol-reducing fiber. But make sure you limit your intake of nuts to about a handful because they have a lot of calories.
5.) Plant sterols and stanols can also potentially reduce blood cholesterol. Plant sterols and stanols can be found most grains, vegetables, beans, nuts and fruits. Food manufactures also often add sterols and stanols to their foods, such as cereals, orange juice and margarines.
Remember that eating a healthy cholesterol-reducing diet can go a long way in keeping your body running smoothly, sometimes that is not enough. Genetics also play a big role in determining your blood cholesterol and you may need to see your doctor and be prescribed medications to keep it under control.
What’s the best way to lose weight and keep it off after overindulging over the holidays?Wednesday, December 7th, 2011
The holidays are notorious for making us all overindulge on the delicious foods that surround us. But instead of boasting in self-regret at the beginning of the New Year, why not lose that extra weight? Here are some great tips that can help you get that extra holiday weight off.
Motivate Yourself
The first step to accomplishing any goal is self-motivation. Chances are that you will make a New Year’s resolution to lose weight. While that’s a good goal, those resolutions have become more of a tradition than actual motivation. So write down your goal and post it somewhere that you will see it every day. Having a goal staring back at you every day is one of the best methods of motivation.
Exercise
The best way to lose weight after overindulging after the holidays is to increase your cardiovascular exercise – treadmill, running, cycling, stair climber, etc. and reducing your caloric intake in the weeks after the holidays. Going crazy for a few days will not make a huge difference in your permanent weight, but it certainly can add a few unwanted pounds. However, you must remember that it only took a few days (or a couple weeks perhaps) to gain that weight. This means that it won’t take you 6 months to work it off. As long as you are consistent with your workouts, particularly cardio, and you are back on track with eating sensibly, you should lose that holiday cheer within a few weeks.
Tags: Cardiovascular, exercise, food, holiday, lose weight, Motivate yourself, overindulge, workouts« Older Entries Newer Entries »
Copyright © Balanced Life Fitness. All rights reserved.
Design IguanaDesignStudio.com
Development BrandingPersonality.com