Week 2

This week’s theme: “Savor the Flavor of EVERY Bite”

What is your motivator? Can’t just be the scale … the Go Red Challenge is designed to provide a healthier you, not a diet.  If you are only committed to the scale, the question you have to consider is: what are you going to fall back on when going gets rough?  Be committed to eating healthy and getting in shape…make a lifetime choice.

You don’t have to change everything at once: Change one or two things with exercise/food … but be consistent.  It takes time to learn new habits, and that is what we are doing, retraining our mind and body and creating healthy habits.

This next week, be observant on what you are eating, why you are choosing to eat it, etc

Some suggestions on how to be aware of what you are eating:

  • Don’t eat in front of the TV
  • Don’t be distracted…be mindful of your eating
  • Sit at table with family

The members of the group had questions that many of you might also be asking:

Q: How do we know how many calories to eat?

You shouldn’t be losing more than 2 lbs a week … 5 lbs in beginning if you are very heavy

Menus – the ladies in the Go Red Challenge were told to follow a 1500 calorie diet.  If you work on your feet all day, then an 1800 calorie diet can be appropriate.

Q: What do we do if we LOVE pasta?

Pasta is an easy thing to overeat.  Whole wheat pasta has the same calories as regular pasta.  To make it more filling, mix in vegetables or a protein (chicken breast) into your past.  On spaghetti night, do half pasta lettuce, carrots, etc and half plate pasta.

Q: Cooked vs Fresh – what is the difference?

If you can’t find fresh, frozen is best.  Make sure you rinse canned vegetables.

Q: What to eat before and after a workout?

Yogurt is a good post-work out item.  Water with Protein Shake afterwards.  What if you don’t like yogurt? Try a smoothie! Buy protein and put it in

Q: What do you think about Hummus?

Beans are VERY high carb … so be careful on those portion sizes.  Remember, its not usually food that is bad, its the serving size.

Q: What do you suggest as far as how many carbs?

Do not advocate Atkins diet or other low carb diets.  As soon as you start eating, it will all come back.
100-150 grams carbs a day, Under 50 grams fat a day, Less than 20 grams saturated fat a day (saturated fat is not your friend)