Will I rebound when I finish my crash diet?

Your chances of rebounding are as high as a 90%.  Any crash or radical diet that forces you to eliminate carbs and calories on a drastic level will cause a rebound in weight when you resume your normal diet.  In many cases you end up weighing more than you did before you started the diet. Starvation or crash diets work, no doubt about that, but the secret to keeping your hard-earned weight loss result is the maintenance plan after the diet – the point where most of us screw up.

Maintenance program is the key

If you can put just as much education, effort and discipline into your maintenance program as you do with your diet, then you’ll have what we all want, which is to keep the weight off.  I always had intentions of going on a maintenance diet after my bodybuilding shows but always seemed to rebound with my weight.  In fact I would gain up to 10 pounds the day after my show … true story.  Case and point, to keep your skinny clothes on start thinking about the long haul or you’ll be back in your fat clothes before you know it. 

Inspire to Aspire,

Kristopher Simpson

www.bodiesbydesign.ca

What do all diets have in common?

A Health and Nutrition Tip from Kris Simpson

Question: What do all diets have in common?

1. Reduction of carbohydrates
2. Reduction of calories
3. Reduction of fat

Calories count at the end of the day and the reduction of calories is what all diets have in common. No matter if it’s pre-prepared /packaged low-fat diets like Jenny Craig, low-carb diets like Atkins and South Beach, balance diets like The Zone, and reduced calorie diets like Weight Watchers, they all have reduced calories as their common secret to weight loss.

Math First, Science Second™

Math First, Science Second™ is what we preach to our clients here at BODIES. Focus on reducing your calories first and then start working on the science behind dieting. The science is all the questions you’ll have such as: how many carbs should I consume? White or whole wheat pasta? When should I eat my last meal? How much protein do I need in my diet? Keep it simple – Math First, Science Second™.

Inspire to Aspire™,

Kristopher Simpson

www.bodiesbydesign.ca

Are fruit juices and fruit drinks healthy?

You may have been brought up to believe that orange, grapefruit or other juices are a healthy way to start the day. But consider this: drinking fruit juice – fruit without the important nutritional component of fiber – is the equivalent of dipping your spoon into a bag of sugar. One 12-ounce glass of orange juice contains a whopping 36 grams of sugar, which will send your blood sugar levels soaring, only to crash soon after. And what are labeled “fruit drinks” often have no real juice whatsoever, which means you may be drinking nothing more than sweetened, chemically altered water.

-Excerpt from fitness expert Tosca Reno’s book, Your Best Body Now

*To read a full interview between Tosca Reno and Kris Simpson, click here!

Which is the most fattening holiday drink?

Which is the most fattening holiday drink?

This Christmas season you could be ingesting hundreds of calories and fat grams without even taking a bite of food! Of these popular holiday drinks, which is the most fattening?

a) rum punch

b) egg nog

c) hot chocolate

d) chocolate martini

It’ll be helpful to know the answer to keep the weight off this month!

And the answer is: Chocolate martini!

A chocolate martini contains a whopping 438 calories and 20 grams of fat! All the cream and added sugar makes this drink one to avoid. Egg nog comes in second with 343 calories and 19 grams of fat, while rum punch places a close third with 340 calories. You might be surprised to know hot chocolate contains 330 calories and 17 grams of fat (and that’s without any alcohol). Here’s a healthy tip: when preparing drinks, try using low-fat or fat-free milk instead of cream and calorie-free sweeteners instead of sugar.


Inspire to Aspire

Kristopher Simpson

www.bodiesbydesign.ca

Do Vitamin B12 shots work for weight loss?

Unless you suffer from a vitamin B12 deficiency, there’s no reason you should receive the shots. The truth is that it’s rare to suffer from such a deficiency because the human body stores several years’ worth of vitamin B12. So where does the confusion come from? Simply, patients that received vitamin B12 shots for chronic fatigue reported another amazing effect of the shots … they lost weight! The word spread and as so often happens with weight loss fads, vitamin B12 was tagged “the next weight loss cure.” While many doctors prescribe it for weight loss, perhaps it’s the pseudo effect – if they tell you it’s going to help you lose weight, chances are you’ll believe them. But the truth is your weight loss is a result of the diet you’re following.

Inspire to Aspire

Kristopher Simpson

Which vegetable absorbs oil like a sponge when it’s fried?

Frying can add fat to otherwise healthy foods such as vegetables. One vegetable in particular absorbs oil like a sponge. Which of the following is it?

a) potatoes

b) eggplant

c) zucchini

d) bell pepper

You might be surprised by the answer!

And the answer is: Eggplant!

Eggplant absorbs more fat than any other vegetable. Researchers found that a serving of eggplant absorbed 83 grams of fat in 70 seconds. This was four times the amount of fat absorbed by an equal serving of potatoes. The eggplant soaked up 700 extra calories! Try steaming or baking eggplant instead of frying.


Inspire to Aspire

Kristopher Simpson

www.bodiesbydesign.ca

Which mini-chocolate bar contains the most calories?

It’s Halloween, which means plenty of mini-chocolate bars usually end up within your grasp. These bite-sized snacks can be addictive, so are you aware which one has the most calories?

a) Caramilk

b) Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup

c) KitKat

d) Oh Henry!

It’s close, but there is a clear winner!

And the answer is: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup!

A Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup has 80 calories per bar (as well as 9 grams of carbs and 4 grams of fat). Oh Henry! places a close second with 70 calories, KitKat has 60 and Caramilk has the least with 50 calories per bar.


Inspire to Aspire

Kristopher Simpson

www.bodiesbydesign.ca

Should I use artificial or real sugar in my coffee?

Most people choose artificial sweeteners because they are calorie-free, but what few people know is that a teaspoon of sugar only has 20 calories, therefore, my vote is with real sugar.  An even better choice would be to use natural choices like honey or a stevia.  The final verdict is still not in on the harmful effects of artificial sweeteners like aspartame, sucralose and acesuflame potassium, but there is evidence to show that they may could cause an array of health issues.  On a final note, remember when using real sugar to not free-pour!

Inspire to Aspire

Kristopher Simpson

www.bodiesbydesign.ca

What foods do you feel reduce stress?

The foods that are calming are: chamomile tea, potato, green sprout drinks, lentil soup, yams, sweet potato, protein is very grounding, and of course, water.   In retrospect, a sure sign that you’re experiencing stress is cravings for chocolate, coffee, ice cream, sugar and refined foods.

Inspire to Aspire,

Kristopher Simpson

www.bodiesbydesign.ca

How can I fight hunger pangs?

I would suggest the 20-minute rule strategy, as it takes 20 minutes for most people’s brains to tell them they are full. 

                Eat 1 portion (check your portion sizes)

                Wait 20 minutes

                Have a healthy snack

                Wait 20 minutes

                If you must, then have 2^nd helping

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