MGFS Breaking News: 11/01/2009

Thanksgiving Eating Tips to Keep Your Weight Loss on Track

Contributed by Kareem Turner
Mike George Fitness System

During the Thanksgiving holiday, you do not have to give up all hopes of keeping your diet on track. If you stay relaxed instead of tense around the dinner table you should be able to enjoy the festivities without feeling guilty during or afterward. Besides, by keeping stress levels down, your digestive system works better.

Here are a few time proven tips for having a fun and relatively guilt free Thanksgiving.

Eat for one, not two. The number one tip that will help you with your daily food regimen as well as those special occasions that traditionally involve consuming lots of delicious foods is to eat smaller portions. Many people can’t help heaping their plates with all of their annual favorites. This is the easiest way to sabotage your health goals. By serving yourself smaller portions of your favorite dishes, you will be able to enjoy your meal without feeling bloated or guilty.

Do not rush your food. By eating slowly, you can actually focus on the flavors and textures of the foods and you will enjoy every last fork full if you follow this bit of advice. You will also be satiated sooner with less overall food intake.

Just because it's Thanksgiving does not mean that you have to overeat. Do not automatically reach for seconds, instead take the time to talk to the other people at the table and allow the food you just ate to reach its destination. If you cannot resist the temptation of seconds, then consider preparing a plate of food and sliding it into the fridge to enjoy at a later time.

Live a little. Be sure not to tell yourself that certain foods on the holiday table are forbidden due to your diet. This strategy almost always backfires and makes you reach for the food anyway. The turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce
should not be 'off-limits'.

Instead of denying yourself your favorite foods, you should instead be a bit exploratory and try some of the less familiar dishes on the table. You may find a new food sensation that may not even be fattening!

Gourmet Gift Baskets for Weight Watchers

Contributed by Kevin Lloyd

With so many kinds of diet and weight loss techniques sprouting like mushrooms from everywhere, the choice of foods has become slimmer and slimmer. And along with the diet we try to religiously follow, comes the demanding task of sticking with the lean food choices available. And during this agonizing weight-loss days, it may seem ridiculous to give away gourmet gift baskets, especially if you and your friend are in the same boat trimming down your waistlines. But believe it or not, you can make gourmet gift baskets your actual diet plan!

Make your gourmet gift baskets "diet friendly" instead of "fat friendly" simply by changing the usual entrée. Personally take charge in choosing the foods that will be included in your package. And be pro-active in asking or even suggesting foods that will comprise your gourmet.

With Liquor-Wine-Beverage-and-Cheese-Crackers combo in your gourmet gift baskets, opt for the classic type of wine, like red or white wine. Stay away from mud shakes, or beverages that are cream-based. Because the red and the white wine have fewer calories in them, than those heavy shakes or cream drinks. On the other hand, with cheeses, choose the low fat type. There are a lot of cheeses now sold in the market that are diet friendly with fewer sodium and fat in them. And before adding them in your gourmet gift baskets, you can always check the nutritional contents listed at the back of the package. With crackers, choose the simplest one with no sugar or anything added in it. Remember you have the cheese for the taste, so you don't need another flavor!

With gourmet gift baskets containing cookies, make sure that these pastries can not ruin a weight loss regimen. If it is chocolate cookies, go for the dark chocolates. They are less fattening and have more health benefits. If it is fruit flavored cookies, make sure it's not heavy on sugar. They are made mostly from preserved fruit jams that have thick sugar sauces, which are big No-No's to dieters. There are already a lot of cookies that are low in calories and low in fat as well, find them and let them be the main element of your gourmet gift baskets.

If fruits are the main theme of your gourmet gift baskets, bear in mind that not all fruits are dieter's best friend. Some fruits are extra loaded with calories making them horrific to weight watchers. Look out for the sugar content. Ripe mangoes have higher sugar than cantaloupe. Avocados are loaded with good fat; and although it is good fat, it can still be bulky in calorie-content.

The lesson: Dieters should not fear gourmet gift baskets, or the foods in them. You just have to have wise and healthy choices of items that you are going to include in your package. And with so many innovations the latest technology is offering, we are lucky to have a wider array of diet-friendly foods available in our market today. We just need to be extra watchful in finding them. Remember that little efforts may contribute to large weight loss in the end.

--
Kevin Lloyd is the author of gourmet gift baskets articles for www.gourmet-gift-baskets.org

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Why We Don't Crossfit

Contributed by Roy Alfonso

Mike George Fitness System

America has always taken fitness to extremes. In the late 60s when we found out continuous movement burns fat and calories, we began having more running races. We took a 5k and added an 8 and a 10k. Then came half marathons, marathons, triathlons, eco challenge and more.

The latest fitness craze is cross fit which de-emphasizes form and proper technique. Proponents of these workouts have often stated, “The workouts can kill you”. Unfortunately, litigation has challenged the use of these movements.

While some within the industry seem to endorse and encourage the use of these techniques, we at Mike George Fitness System emphasize the use of proper form and technique. Consequently, we can not endorse any technique that de-emphasizes form.

Health is our primary concern. Our programs build you up, not beat you up. MGFS uses high intensity programs, once the client has mastered the basics. Form is still maintained, even in the more difficult exercises. It is not only prudent, it is a fundamental requirement to maintain safety.

We have many different programs including active rest, push and pull, structural integrity, learning, super slow, sport specific, conditioning, circuit, hypertrophy and speed/power/agility.

Crossfit takes risks. We don’t deal with risks. We at Mike George Fitness System deal with science.

Providing personal training in Chicago, Mike George Fitness System is a private facility where you can focus on your goals without worrying about anyone else. Our state-of-the-art, private facility and one-on-one personal training programs are tailored to improve your health, strength, tone, flexibility and endurance through the scientific application of progressive resistance. Call 312-943-6700 now to schedule your free consultation.