Nutrition and Calorie Tips

‘One Medium Avocado…’

‘One Medium Avocado…’ 🥑

If you like them then avocados make a great addition to your meals. They’re full of unsaturated fats, high in fibre and vitamins C, E and K. They’re also high in magnesium and folate.

However, if you are trying to lose fat/weight and watching those cals then it’s worth just being aware that avocados can pack a punch when it comes to calories and they also vary significantly. If you’re using a calorie tracking app you’ll often find entries like ‘one medium avocado’ or ‘half a medium avocado ’ with the associated calories. You’d probably just enter that and assume you were pretty much right. But what exactly is ‘medium’? Medium to me may be small to someone else and the calorie differences are pretty significant!

The difference between these two avocados is nearly 100g and both are sold as ‘medium avocados’ – not small or large. So if you were regularly eating the larger one you’d be taking in almost 160 extra calories every time. That may not sound like much but over the course of a week or month that will add up. I’m not suggesting you stop having avocados if you like them – they’re fab! But just have a go at weighing your portion the next time you have some
avocado you have and see exactly how many calories it does contain.

Knowledge is power right? And if you’re trying to lower that bodyfat then every calorie counts! The more aware you are of what goes in to your mouth the better!
Enjoy 🤗
Xx

Tuesday Tip

Tuesday Tip: Dance to health

Tuesday Tip: Dance to health 💃

Many people don’t think of dance as ‘proper’ exercise but not only is it a fun way to burn calories, improve fitness and get steps in research suggests dance may be doing something even more powerful.

Dance helps to keep our brains healthy as we age.

Unlike many forms of exercise, dance combines movement, coordination, balance, memory, rhythm and social interaction all at once. Your brain is constantly learning patterns, remembering steps, reacting to music and adjusting your movements. That combination appears to give it a unique advantage.

A recent study found that regular dancing was associated with a significantly lower risk of developing dementia. Interestingly, dance was the only physical activity in the study linked with this reduced risk. Other studies have found that dance-based exercise classes and traditional forms of dance can improve memory, attention, balance and executive function in older adults. Researchers believe this is because dance challenges both the body and the brain at the same time, while also providing social connection and enjoyment.

The good news is you don’t need to be a professional dancer. DanceFit classes, Sh’bam, Zumba, ballroom, salsa, line dancing, tap or simply dancing around the kitchen all count. The key is moving regularly and challenging your brain with new patterns and movements.

So if you’re looking after your future health, don’t just think muscles and calories. Think brain health too. Exercise that makes you smile, think, learn and connect with others may be one of the best investments you can make for healthy ageing. Dancing isn’t just great for fitness, balance and mood, it also helps keep your brain sharper for longer.

Happy Dancing 🤗Xx

Nutrition and Calorie Tips

Ice creams / Lollies for 100 cals or less …

Ice creams / Lollies for 100 cals or less … 🍦

The weather has finally been warm lately so Ice creams and lollies have certainly formed a large part of mine and my client’s diets! There’s a perception that ice creams / lollies are ‘bad’ and something that is a bit ‘naughty’ so if you’re trying to lose weight you might deny yourself these cooling treats believing them to be ‘bad’ (aka high calorie). However, there’s no reason you have to give up ice creams and ice lollies to lose weight as it ultimately comes down to whether you’re in a calorie deficit.

Obviously there are many frozen desserts out there which are high calorie and some can be 300 cals or more. So if they’re on top of your main meals then you might end up racking up unwanted calories. However in this weather everyone needs a cold snack or dessert right? So if you do fancy an ice cream or lolly, but want to stay within your calories then here are a selection of lower calorie options at 100 cals or less. This list is by no means exhaustive – but it’s just a range of the options out there.

Oppo Salted Caramel balls 22 cals each
Mini milk 32 cals
Rocket lolly 39 cals
Mini twister lolly 39 cals
Fruit pastille lolly 57 cals
Little moons mochi balls 70 cals each
Fab lolly 75 cals
Regular twister lolly 76 cals
Jude mini ice cream tubes 70
Jude mini ice creams 94 cals
Exotic Solero lolly 98 cals
Calipo Lolly 100 cals

So you can fill up on ice lollies to stay cool this summer without worrying it’s going to derail your progress!
Enjoy 🤗
Xx

Tuesday Tip

Tuesday Tip: Are you Dehydrated?

Tuesday Tip: Are you Dehydrated? 💧

Obviously the hot topic at the moment is the heat wave so it seemed wise to discuss hydration this week. Our body contains 5 litres of water and we can lose 2 in a single workout. Dehydration is a risk, and once you’re thirsty you’ve probably already been dehydrated for a while. So what should you watch for?

#1 Dry skin

Skin is 80% water so if you’re not drinking enough your skin will show it; dull, peeling, dry skin can mean you’re dehydrated.

#2 Fewer loo trips

Kidneys use water to remove waste from blood. When dehydrated they don’t function as well and you’ll need fewer loo trips. So if you’re pee-ing less than normal, drink more!

#3 Dark pee

Generally the darker your urine the more dehydrated you are (some foods also colour your pee). You want straw coloured pee!

#4 Cramps

Muscles are 75% water. If you’re dehydrated the body will divert water and blood from muscles to essential organs so you’ll get cramps.

#5 Blood pressure changes

As you dehydrate your blood becomes thicker as the water-containing plasma becomes more concentrated. With less blood volume to pump blood pressure can drop making you dizzy or light headed.

#6 Headache

The brain is sensitive to the chemical changes lack of water causes, resulting in a headache, often in the back of the head and may get worse when you bend over. A sports drink or rehydration sachet will help.

#7 Constipation

Dehydration causes the intestinal cells to extract more water from food waste in the intestines, causing the waste to become hard, leading to constipation.

#8 Joint pain

Dehydration causes cartilage in joints to rub; weakening and wearing over time. Lack of water delays repair to these damaged joints, causing pain.

#9 Bad breath

If you don’t have enough water then you won’t have enough saliva, so you’ll get a dry mouth and bad breath.

#10 Fatigue

The brain is 85% water. Water deficiency can result in a reduction of the brain’s energy supply, which leads to fatigue, lethargy, and even depression.

Never drink the 2-3 litre daily water quota in one sitting, instead drink regularly, and eat hydrating foods e.g. melon, cucumber, grapes, celery etc.

Get Sipping!

Happy Tuesday!🤗

xx

Nutrition and Calorie Tips

‘It’s only a couple of biscuits a day’…

‘It’s only a couple of biscuits a day’…

A couple of biscuits with coffee or tea are a common staple of many homes and workplaces.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with it, biscuits on their own don’t make you fat, but if you’re having them by default, out of habit, on top of a diet which is already providing you with enough calories then you will gain fat (or fail to lose fat).

The issue with biscuits is that they’re so easy to munch through without even realising you’re doing it, it’s a quick few hundred cals you won’t even notice you’re having. You only need a deficit of 2-300 cals a day to see fat loss so that’s your potential deficit gone right there. Over the course of a month it’s a whopping 9,688 cals!

So, if you’re goal is fat loss, perhaps it’s worth just being a bit more mindful about those biscuits with your tea/coffee, or if you’re having them then log and count the calories and include them within your daily calorie goal! And if you are trying to cut calories then maybe those biscuits are an ‘easy’ cut to make.. just going for half the amount would save you over 4,500 cals…

Simple! Enjoy those biccies 🍪