Paolo Coelho says that if you want something hard enough, then the universe conspires to help you get it. The recent events in my life is the perfect example for this. When I started this blog, I only wanted to use it as a reflection of the things that I have learned. This blog reflected my journey in the health and wellness industry. Armed only with a passion for a healthy lifestyle and with a lot of motivation, I have built a blog that is a perfect representation of my passion and my personality.

However, despite this, blogging is not my main goal. What I really wanted was to learn enough in order to be able to get my dream job. I wanted to be a lifestyle coach. I want to help people deal with their health issues by providing them with the motivation and knowledge that they need. Every person that I help lose weight and live a healthy lifestyle is something that I believe will make me happy. This is the reason behind my passionate blogging for the past few months. Every new blog post signified something new that I have learned and every time I learn something new, I am doubly excited to actually learn more.

Anyway, a few weeks ago, I got a phone call that changed my life. It turns out there is a new weight loss clinic opening in my city and the owners happened to see my blog and offered me a job. I’m now part of the counseling team in this weight loss clinic. My job is to give advice to our patients on how to make their new lifestyle interesting especially during the first few weeks. I am to help customize an interesting diet and lifestyle program for all patients of the clinic. This definitely sounds a lot like my dream job of a lifestyle coach.

Thanks to this blog, I was able to get my job. Unfortunately, because of my new job, I can no longer continue blogging. I’ll be too busy with my clients. However, I do intend to return to blogging when I have enough free time.

They say that “health is wealth”. I should know since I’m a nutritionist. I always advise my clients to control their urge to binge eat or consume foods that are high on carbs and sugar. But they live file to the fullest. How you can do that since there certain food groups that one must avoid? This is what my client would always ask. But the truth is, you don’t have to avoid anything. It is still your God forsaken right to eat whatever you want in this world. The key there is moderation. You can eat sweets and high-carb foods once in awhile but you have to pay for it by working it out of your system.

Healthy living can’t be achieved in a night. It must come from within and must be done gradually in order not to shock the body from the sudden change. And while you shift your lifestyle to a healthier one, you may try these top 5 great sweets with less calories to make your transition a little less traumatic.

5: Baked Maple Custard

This one contains lesser than 200 calories per serving. The secret here is the non-fat milk used. Maple syrup gives natural sweetness, which is healthier.

 4: Caramel Popcorn

 It has 250 calories per serving, caramel popcorn is a delicious compromise between sweet and savory. Fun fact, popcorn is whole-grain thus you’ll feel more full and satisfied.

 3:  Banana “Ice Cream”

No dairy, no added sugar, no artificial sweeteners. All you need are bananas, a freezer and a blender. Fun fact, bananas provide you with vitamins and fiber. All you have to do is mash the bananas via the blender and freeze it. Simple.

 2: Vegan Chocolate Applesauce Cake

Take note that applesauce makes an excellent substitute for oil or eggs. Besides reducing fat, the applesauce makes the cake moisture.

1: Key Lime Pie

This one uses fat-free dairy and a butter substitute to reduce some of the fat. It’s a excellent dessert that will always make you think of summer.

They say its the carbs that causes much weight gain. Although we need carbs to fuel us and keep our bodies going, too much of it can be fatal. When your body doesn’t move at all and your body would only require less energy to cope with your activities, it would store excess sugar as stored fat making you bigger, wider, and heavier.

Today, a lot of health buffs have been choosing the no carb diet. Experts say that eliminating all carbs from your daily intake is a bit dangerous, but health buffs would disagree. On their side, they would claim that it has done wonders for them.

Some say that their eating plans can either prevent or improve fatal health conditions, such as metabolic syndrome, diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. Most, if not all, weight-loss diets have shown that it has improved blood cholesterol or blood sugar levels.

And, take note, that it may not only be how much carbs you consume but also the kinds of carbs. There are carbs that are important to our health and should not be eliminated. Whole grains, legumes, vegetables, fruits and low-fat dairy products, for instance, are healthier than are carbs from sweets and processed and refined grains.

Protein shakes are all the rage right now. For health buffs, this is their lifeline, for without it they will starve to death. It is healthy, makes you fell full and you don’t need to eat anything afterward. Basing from the recent years, it has been proven by many that drinking protein shakes makes you lose or gain weight. Many bodybuilding professional have been using this method and it has done wonders from them.

But let’s face it, most of the shakes tastes awful. Some even doesn’t have any taste at all. It’s like drinking think, mushy, water. This recipe will make you taste buds dance to much that you’ll look forward to drinking every day. And let’s not forget exercise and proper diet help you improve your cholesterol and lose weight.

Ingredients:

Protein powder

Unsweetened almond or rice milk

3 tablespoons freshly ground flaxseeds

Frozen fruit

Green powder supplement

Blender

Instruction: 

1. Pour 1 to 1 1/2 cups of unsweetened almond milk or rice milk into the blender.

2. Add 1/2 to 1 cup of frozen fruit. Frozen fruit is added to make the shake cold, instead of adding ice.

3. Add about 3 tablespoons freshly ground flaxseed.

4. Add 1 or 1 1/2 scoops of  protein powder. Whey protein is casein free and is an excellent choice.

5. Puree all until smooth. Enjoy!

Aside from vegetables, we must have our serving of vegetables every day. To start living healthy one must learn to eat fruits. Take note that fruits are nature’s wonderful medicines full with vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants and many phyto-nutrients. They are absolute feast to our sight and body, not just because of how do they look and taste but help body keep fit and healthy!

1.Fruits are fast and simple to digest. They are low in calories and fat and has fiber, and vitamins, which are essential for optimizing our health.

2.Fruits are an excellent soluble dietary fiber, which helps clean of cholesterol and fats from the body not to mention a  relief from constipation.

3.Fruits is packed with anti-oxidants. These compounds, primarily, aids in protecting the body from oxidant stress, diseases, and cancers. Another reason is, it has the capacity to fight against these ailments by boosting our immunity level.

4.Anthocyanins are compounds found in some “blue fruits” like blue-black grapes, mulberries, acai berry, chokeberries, blueberries, blackberries. These amazing compounds have strong anti-oxidants that clean off free radicals from the body, and thus offering stronger protection against cancers.

5.Overall, fruits help the body prevent or at least prolong the natural changes of aging by protecting and rejuvenating cells, tissues and organs in the human body. Fruit nutrition benefits are infinite and beyond measure.

Fast food is great. It eliminates the need to shop, prepare and cook food yourself. All you have to do is stand in line, tell the cashier what you want and, voila, instant cooked food! But is it really great? Obesity has been a problem in this country since the boom of fast food chains everywhere. People got lazy enough to cook and instead bought food of the counter. Little did they know it isn’t all the good to consume fast food every day. Aside from that, there are things you must know when your are chowing fast food.

1. The Price of Convenience

Now a day people live a busy lifestyle, thus it’s tough to find time for nutrition. Opting for fast foods isn’t the solution. All consequences leads to obesity, even now that it has reached epidemic proportions and is of particular concern in children.

2. Up sizing isn’t worth it

Take note that the amount of calories in a super-sized meal is already consider a whole days meal compressed in one. The calories in it are largely made up of fat, sodium and carbs, you’ll find yourself hungry again.

3. Fast Food Obsession

Have you been obsessively craving fast food? Studies concludes that there are changes in the brain of those who regularly eat foods high in fat and sugar. Overall effect is that it becomes a dangerous cycle of eating high fat foods, craving more, then not being able to work it off because all that fat is making us tired.

4. Healthier options

Fortunately, there are healthier options. But don’t get confused “healthier” with “healthy.”

5. Moderation is the key

You can still eat fast food, but everything has to be in moderation. The secret there is being well-informed before you walk into a fast food restaurant and keeping other options open to alternative foods.

As a nutritionist, teaching about proper nutrition to children is hard at times, especially in a school environment. Today, most schools strictly regulate food stalls and canteens to keep them from offering unhealthy choices of drinks and snacks to their students, but still a lot of premises still don’t implement this rule. The tendency is children are often tempted to go for junk food from the stalls and kiosk.

One suggestion that we always makes is give them homemade snacks and lunches. Not only its a pocket saver, but more importantly, it allows parents to monitor their children’s meals and nutritional intake daily which is regarded as essential during the growing years.

I would like to share the basics about having a healthy living. It starts by knowing what category a certain food belongs to; Go, Grow or Glow.

“Go” foods, are those that provide energy, keeping the body active and on the go. These are carbohydrate-rich foods like sweet potatoes, rice, pasta, and bread.

“Grow” foods, are those that aid build and repair bones, strengthen muscles, and support mental functions. These food are rich in protein such as meat, eggs, fish, and  milk.

Last,, “Glow” foods aid strengthen the body’s immune system, giving protection against sickness and diseases. Vegetables and fruits that are full with vitamins A, C, E, B-6, zinc, and folic acid belong to this group.

From what’s it called you maybe expecting meat on a platter, right? Think again. This innovative South American dish gives vegans and other vegetarians a chance to eat meat. Spanish steak or Calabacitas is a meatless favorite which gives a unique flair to Zuccinni, Corn & Chopped Green Chile. You can add a little lean cubed or ground beef or diced lean pork and make it a main dish!

Ingredients

2 Med. size Zuccinni Squash

1 1/2 c. Frozen or canned Corn

1/2 c. Finely diced Vidalia Onion

4 cloves Crushed or finely diced garlic

1/2 c. Diced green chilies (Serrano Chile) Canned or fresh. Salsa or sauce may be used.

3/4 c. Diced fresh or canned

1tblsp. Olive Oil.

Salt to taste.

Procedure:

Cut the Zuccinni length-wise then slice quarters about 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick; prepare bite size triangle shapes.

Dice tomatoes a medium to course dice; almost the same size as Zuccinni.

In a huge skillet heat Olive Oil then add onion & green chili. Allow onion & chile to saute for 30 to 40 seconds in oil, then stir in the rest of the ingredients. Stir until all ingredients, cover skillet. Enable to simmer about 20 to 30 min until cooked tenderly.

Best served hot. This can accommodate 4-5 people.

I love mom’s cookies. They’re the best! Every time I visit home, I always beg mom to cook her tasty cookie for me. Every bite is a taste of heaven. It is a treat to the senses. Even my cousins beg mom to cook her cookies when they come over before. I remember when I was a kid mom would cook her cookies every Saturdays and after playing with my cousins, we would have mom’s cookies as snacks. I could say that I cherished my childhood well because of her cookies. When I eat it, I feel safe, secured, cheerful and happy. Mom’s recipe is simple. No special add on, no special ingredients, no secret stuff, just plain old cookies made out of love. To prove what I’m saying and with mom’s permission, here is her recipe.

 3/4 cup butter

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

2 tablespoons water

2 cups chocolate chips

2 eggs

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

 Directions

 1. In a saucepan over medium heat, mix the sugar, butter and water. Stir occasionally until melted and mixed well. Remove pan from the fire, stir in the chocolate chips until melted and cool for 10 minutes.

2. Transfer by pouring the mixture into a larger bowl, and crack, pour and beat in the eggs in, one at a time. Mix in the flour, baking soda and salt, stir into the mixture.

 3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease cookie sheets so in wont stick. Scoop a spoonful of the batter, place into the cookie sheet and form a little circle. After finishing the whole pan, place the cookies in the oven.

 4. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Take out the cookies and set them aside. Let it cool down for 3-4 minutes. Enjoy it with a glass of cold milk.

Have you ever heard about the South beach diet? This diet is clearly sweeping nation by storm. A lot of Hollywood celebrities and socialites are jumping on the band wagon and experiencing first hand the tremendous effects of this so-called wonder diet.

When going through this diet, one is required effort, persistence and determination. Not only it loses weight, but a lot of have been claiming that they have become much healthier since.

But what is this fad diet all about in the first place? What triggered the founder to formulate a system that would effectively lose weight not to mention, letting the client have a healthy lifestyle?

Agatston knew before that a low-fat diet can lower cholesterol and prevent heart disease. But later he discovered why people had a difficult time sticking to the diet. He gave attention to the effects of insulin in the blood stream.

Basically sugar enters the blood, the pancreas would secrete insulin that aids cells to absorb it. After years of having quick bursts of sugar would end up cells become resistant to insulin. Excess insulin leads the blood sugar below normal levels.  Thus excess sugar consumption leads to excess insulin which would cause low blood sugar. This results in hunger pangs making the client consume and crave more sugar.