Odds Against Me is for real.  She’s honest, hilarious, and super serious about improving her health.  I think it is safe to say that we can all relate to the ups and downs that come with each and every attempt of weight loss.   Dee has started her journey to better health and is letting us follow her down this cross-country trip.   I think we will get to accompany her through the absolute highs of weight loss, I am thinking possibly equivalent to Disneyland and the inevitable lows, which I am sad to say is probably somewhere in the middle of Kansas.    I admire Dee for putting this experience out there for us to read.  And hopefully we can join her in this journey to better health.

It’s not what you think…I am not highlighting this blog because Dee has chosen yours truly to help guide her through the overwhelming world of weight loss, but because we are bombarded with nutrition misinformation and sabotage on a daily basis.  Maybe we can all come together to provide support for each other and walk side by side on this winding road….to Disneyland!

 Enjoy this blog! 

So, as I mentioned before, the plan was to start working with a dietitian.  Now, it is official…I have started a program that will teach me how my body uses food as well as gives me a solid understanding of how to make healthier choices.  As you know, my mission is to lose weight, but this time I’m looking for a real lifestyle change with long-term implications. I’ve failed many times before with gimmicks, pills, and offers like “read this book … Read More

via Odds Against Me

 For a fresh crunch!

•  Snack on cucumber and celery, both of these have <20 calories per serving (1/2 cucumber or 2 stalks of celery) and are full of fiber and water.  Both celery and cucumbers have been found to help lower your blood pressure.

 For a sweet treat!

• Try fruit for dessert or snacks!  Some delicious green fruits include melons, apples, grapes, and pears.   These fruits have ~1/3 the calories of the average dessert! 
• Add lime to foods for an extra sweet twist.  Limes are a great way to season foods without adding extra calories from fat. 

 It’s green on the inside!

• Kiwifruits are super sweet treats that are green on the inside!  Kiwi provides a great source of Vitamin C (95% of the daily value), the antioxidant that protects our body from cell damage, inflammation and cancer.  Kiwi also provides a good source of fiber useful in lowering cholesterol and keeping blood sugars under control.   Simply cut the kiwi in half and spoon out the insides. Be sure to eat the seeds for the extra fiber!
• Avocados are another green on the inside food that provides amazing nutrition benefits, including lowering your risk of cancer and promoting a healthy heart.  Add a slice of avocado to salads, soups, or sandwiches to enjoy these health benefits.

Super foods are a must!

• Broccoli and Spinach are great sources of iron, which help carry oxygen through your body to give you energy and calcium, essential for strengthening and protecting your bones!  Both are great sources of fiber containing ~4-5 grams fiber per cup, which is an excellent way to satisfy your appetite on less than 50 calories!  These two foods are super foods because they provide additional amazing health benefits with consumption, for example prevention of cancer, removal of toxins from our body, repair sun damaged skin, protect our heart from inflammation that may cause a heart attack or stroke, and enhance the immune system. 

By Emily Barr, MS, RD, CNSC