Nutrition Post #1

Since starting The Fitness Buddy the message has been eating smarter and exercise is the only lifetime way in loosing the weight and living fitter and healthier. I have been pretty cool on the fitness side of things creating The Fitness Buddy Free Weights program and having a number of others coming soon, but the eating side has lagged a bit. It is ironic because this is exactly the way my fitness journey started. I use to workout and just because of this I thought I could eat anything I wanted. It was not until I put the two together eating right and working out smarter did this journey really take off.

Ok that being said I am going to give away the secret to losing weight. Grab a pen or pencil and write this down because it is pretty complicated. Go ahead I will wait…………………..

Here is it…Calories in, Calories out…You can put your pen or pencil down. What did you think it was more? I mean you see all these complicated weight loss programs, fancy workouts, miracle pills and fantastic workout machines, there has to be more to it! Nope it is calories in and calories out. Burn more than what you take in and guess what will happen…the weight will come off.

If it is so simple why are there so many of us overweight and obese? OK in practice it is not that simple. We live in a country where food is everywhere! Next time you go to the grocery store count how many places there are where you can stop and purchase something to eat. Now Kim and I go to a grocery store 1.3 miles away from our house (according to google map.) Here is my list (its long)

1. White Castle (good start)
2. Burger King
3. TGI Fridays
4. Famous Daves
5. Chipolte
6. Olive Garden
7. Panda Express
8. Buffalo Wild Wings
9. Pepe’s Mexican
10. Culver’s
11. Portillos
12. Subway
13. Chili’s
14. IHop
15. Quiznos
16. Pandera
17. Red Robin
18. Giordano Pizza
19. McDonald’s
20. 3 Starbucks!!!!!!!!!!

I might have missed one or two, not to mention the countless gas stations that serve up their healthy assortments, plus I didn’t mention the Wal Mart, Meijer and Target! We wonder why we Americans struggle with our weight? We don’t have a chance! OK now that I have that out of my system, what can be done. I fairly certain you face the same obstacles in your neighborhood. Start with these.

1. Do your best to eat more meals at home.
2. When eating out skip the soda (yes even the diet soda) drink water.
3. Eat more often, smaller meals/snack throughout the day.
4. When at one of these wonder restaurants chose wisely, half what you normally get (remember calories in and calories out)
5. Don’t order anything that uses the words

• Super size
• Biggie
• Large
• Double Stack
• gooey/cheesy

well you get the picture…

More to come…