Hi ya Gorgeous,
I've been doing Weight Watchers for 2 months now and so far so good. Except the past two weeks I have plateaued and it's a bummer. I feel a bit burnt out on constantly tracking or watching what I eat! The points system is simple to follow and I do like it - though I think this past week with all of it's busy and stress I have gone over my points every day!
So today I am sharing a guest blog post for helping you keep a trim shape during these busy days leading up to holiday!
Enjoy!
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When planning for a fun
get-together with friends everything goes through your mind, from your wardrobe
to jewelry and make-up. What many of us don’t plan for, however, is our meals. Eating
the wrong foods before an event can sabotage your beauty plan. Certain foods
can give your gut an instant bloat that looks and feels awful. However, there
is a solution to this dilemma. Instead of skipping dinner to squeeze into your
LBD or grabbing bagels for a quick morning bite, there are belly bloat busters.
Dr. Christopher Calapai, D.O. is an
Osteopathic Physician board certified in family medicine and anti-aging
medicine. Here are some of his suggestions:
For a girl’s night out: Don’t be afraid to have a large meal
beforehand (large meaning more than just a PB&J). If you are planning for
an active night, whether dancing, bowling or party hopping, you will need the
fuel. Dr. Calapai has created the perfect meal for this
situation:
- 1 grilled chicken breast
(approx 4 oz)
- 1/2 cup cooked brown rice and
lentils
- 1 cup steamed string beans
This combo will fill you
up without weighing you down, and will give you the energy you need to dance
the night away!
For a dinner-
date: You’re wearing a
stunning new BCBG dress that already had to be zipped up by your roommate. When
you’re at the restaurant with your guy refrain from ordering a salad to make
it look like you’re being healthy. All the veggies in the
salad will actually cause your stomach to bloat more. Dr. Calapai advises
that a fish dish with one side of grilled veggies is the way to go! “Wild
Salmon is jam-packed with heart healthy vitamins and omega 3 fatty acids. If
Salmon is not an option, mackerel, sea bass and lemon sole are all good options
as well. As for the veggies, try to steer clear of cruciferous veggies (such as
cauliflower, broccoli) that can cause bloating. Instead opt for grilled
zucchini, asparagus, or carrots - which will keep your tummy tamed!”
For a day at the beach: It’s finally getting warm out and you can take
that bathing suit out of hiding. If you’re going to the beach you need a
healthy, energizing meal to get you through the morning but you don’t want it
to show in your stomach. You’re probably thinking that the easiest thing
to eat before you head out is some Special K with skim milk. It’s low in
calories after all, right? It doesn’t matter how low-cal it is, the dairy and
multi-grains will expand in your intestines, causing your gut to stick out.
Instead of cereal, Dr. Calapai has an awesome recipe for oatmeal pancakes. Take
1/2 cup raw oats, 3 egg whites, 1/2 apple, and a dash of cinnamon and throw in
a blender to create the pancake mix. This high fiber non-fat breakfast choice
offers whole grain fiber plus additional fiber from the apple, and protein from
the egg whites. It's a great filling way to start the day, and will not create
any abdominal gas or bloating, so you can go bikini-bare with ease!
For an afternoon
luncheon: Eating a well-balanced
lunch is essential for boosting energy and productivity; giving you power over
that mid-day slump and keeping your metabolism active. A lot of times
people want to skip lunch in hopes of losing weight and grab an energy drink to
keep them going. This is so bad! The carbonation from an energy drink will make
you more bloated then a light lunch. Dr. Calapai says, “For a mid-day luncheon,
your best bet is a salad chock-full of fresh veggies and greens, and topped
with a piece of grilled fish, low-fat tuna salad, or fresh turkey breast
slices. Throw a few walnuts or almonds on top and dress with a low fat/low
sugar dressing, to finish off your delicious salad creation!”
Before Sex: Luckily, you can eat your dinner or dessert (or both, on good
dates) and enjoy sex too. Just lay off the foods that can trigger digestive
issues, a real problem if you have a sensitive stomach or suffer from
date-related anxieties, which can amplify digestive issues, according to Dr.
Calapai. An 8-ounce piece of meat could trigger gas that's particularly
foul-smelling. "Gas associated with red meat is more odorous because of
chemicals it produces in the colon," Dr. Calapai explains. That's because
when you overeat protein, it goes straight to the colon for fermentation where
it creates some seriously offensive byproducts.
A safer bet is salad greens, cucumbers, tomatoes, bell peppers,
mushrooms. Instead of a Margarita drink: Tequila straight up, or wine (a safer
bet). This way, you're only up against naturally occurring sugars.
For traveling
days: These days airports are
getting bigger and so are the food courts. It’s tempting to give in to the
convenience of fast travel food, but the combination of a high-sodium
smorgasbord and air travel equals a very bloated body from head
to toe. You absolutely must resist because there are better options. Eat before
you leave for the airport. Dr. Calapai suggests packing your carry-on
with fruits, veggies, and granola bars. Believe it or not these are available
at kiosks. Also, avoid the beverage service on board. Stick to water, you will
have a happier flight and feel revived upon arriving at your destination!
Dr. Christopher Calapai D.O.
Anti-Aging Physician and
"The Stem Cell Guru
Dr.
Christopher Calapai, D.O. is an Osteopathic Physician board certified in family
medicine, anti-aging medicine and chelation therapy. Proclaimed as the
"The Stem Cell Guru" by the New York Daily News, Dr. Calapai is a
leader in the field of stem cell therapy in the U.S.
His
stem cell treatments have achieved remarkable results in clinical trials on
patients with conditions as varied as Alzheimer's, arthritis, erectile
dysfunction, frailty syndrome, heart, kidney and liver failure, lupus, MS and
Parkinson's.
Dr.
Calapai started his practice in New York City in 1986 and for over 25 years he
has hosted nationally syndicated radio shows, including his two weekly call-in
shows on WABC 770-AM, where he offers health and medical advice. He has a show
on Saturday morning 8-9am and Sunday evening from 6-7pm. He has consulted with
numerous high-profile individuals including Mike Tyson, Mickey Rourke,
Steven Seagal, and Fox series Gotham's, Donal Logue and worked as a medical consultant for the New York Rangers hockey team as well as
various modeling agencies.
Dr.
Calapai received his medical degree from New York College of Osteopathic
Medicine and he consults in Manhattan with practices on Long Island, in East
Meadow and Plainview. He has appeared on News12
and in the pages of 25A Magazine and Social Life Magazine.
He
is the author of E-books Heavy Metals and
Chronic Disease, Reverse Diabetes Forever! Seven Steps to Healthy Blood Sugar,
Top Ten Supplements You Can't Live Without, and Glorious Glutathione. Learn more about Dr. Calapai on his website, www.drcal.net.
Remember: you are beautiful!
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