Healthy Eating Blog (Weight Concerns)

Trying to lose weight and changing dietary and exercise habits can be difficult, especially when you are doing it alone. Sometimes we “know” what we need to do to make changes but it’s just having the right support and motivation at the right time that makes the difference.

I don’t know how many times I’ve heard someone say to me “I know all this, it’s just doing it that’s hard, if only I could just have someone bring me all my meals” or “do you do meals as well, can’t you just come over and cook all my meals?”

There are a few companies around that do calorie controlled meals and deliver to the door, and some do help people in getting the results they need but as the most efficient method of weight loss, the “just bring me my meals all done” method isn’t necessarily the best.

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As part of my role as a British Dietetic Association spokesperson, I have been able to give a few quotes and comments to the media about food, nutrition and healthy eating. Today I am quoted in the Daily Mail.

Here is the article, a new “star sign” diet:

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You’ve probably gathered from the picture emblazoned across this website that I like strawberries. I love strawberries and they are at their best here where I am. The wonderful thing about strawberries is that they don’t just taste good, they are now also being called a “super food” because they are just so good for you too! Here are just a few of the benefits of the strawberry.

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I was really interested to read a study, published last month, which looked at the effects of dairy foods on cognitive performance. At the moment, there is lots of exciting research looking at diet and cognitive performance, cognitive decline and dementia. A lot of this looks at B vitamins, folate, omega 3 fats and fruit/vegetable intake but this latest one looks at the effects of a high intake of reduced fat dairy food on cognitive performance, particularly in overweight subjects.

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Snacks. Are they best avoided or do they help when trying to lose weight?
Some people find snacking useful as they can help take the edge off the appetite between meals, thus preventing overeating at meal times. Others find they are best off avoiding all together as the calories just add up when its difficult to control portions. Whichever way is the best for you is the best method to follow as, ultimately, its the total number of calories consumed in the day that counts.

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Are you off out to dinner tonight? Special occasion? Don’t panic, that special meal out shouldn’t mean the end of your healthy eating plan.

Special occasions and celebrations often revolve around eating out. It is important that these are still enjoyable, even though you are trying to eat more healthily. Here are some tips to keep you on the straight and narrow…..

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Ever come back from holidays and dread getting on the scales? Do you find that going on holidays sets your weight loss plan back quite a bit? Apparently this time of year is when the largest number of people in th UK book their holidays. Holidays can be a minefield for those trying to lose weight.

Many people who are trying to lose weight find they often “slip” or “lapse” during holidays. This is often due to over indulgence in food and/or alcohol and being less active than usual. Some people however, actually lose weight on holiday for example if they are much more active than usual.

Before you begin your holiday it is a good idea to think about whether you are likely to gain weight. If so, then it may help to plan ahead how you could minimise weight gain whilst still enjoying your holiday.

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You’ve probably heard people say “I cant lose weight because I have a slow metabolism”. There have been plenty of studies to show that people will lose weight when their calories are restricted but it is true that everyone will have a slightly different metabolic rate.

But is it inevitable that someone with a slow metabolism is destined to be stuck with it forever and find it perpetually difficult to lose weight?

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I love nuts, especially at Christmas. To me, it isnt quite Christmas if we dont have a lovely selection of nuts available as nibbles for guests who “pop in”. The thing is, they can be awfully tempting and can add a considerable amount of calories if amounts arent controlled. If you are a nut lover and are watching your weight,
there is a solution- make sure you buy nuts in their shells.

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November 14th is World Diabetes Day, and I thought it would be a good idea to blow some of the most popular myths about Type 2 Diabetes and Diet.

Diet is one of the most important features of the management of Diabetes and it has been shown that adhering to dietary recommendations can make an impact on glycaemic, or blood sugar, control. (DCCT, 1993). Diabetes is one of the areas in which Dietitians have some concrete proof that what we advise people to do can make a difference to their health and well being. It’s a great area to work in and is really rewarding for those of us who want to make a difference.

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You should avoid bread if you are trying to lose weight, right? It’s a seriously big bad guy when it comes to weight loss? Well bread has had a good result in a recent trial testing the effect of bread in a meal on hunger, satiety and amounts of food consumed.

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This time of year, a lot of people are turning their attention to preparing for the winter and the Christmas season. Out comes the winter wardrobe and even winter decor starts to appear. Lots of us like to include warm and inviting fragrances in the home to brighten up those dark and cold days. Scented candles, plug in fragrances and bath bombs and scents give that added appeal. There are cinnamon, clove, sweet orange, spicy floral and even chocolate scents to stimulate our senses. Problem is, the chocolate ones may actually also be stimulating our appetite.

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Have you noticed your weight creeping up since you started that new job? Do you have new responsibilities? Are you working overtime? Working could be contributing to your weight gain.

It’s not unheard of. A 2005 study of 9000 workers conducted in Helsinki demonstrated that 25 % of women and 19% of men gained weight over a single work year. Researchers found that weight gain was associated particularly with dissatisfaction with work/life balance, longer working hours and higher job demands, fatigue and levels of stress.

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Well, Jamie Oliver says “its a cop out” and opinions are strong with regards to the new UK government’s obesity strategy, “call to action on obesity”, released today.

But what are Dietitians and Nutritionists saying?

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Jamie Oliver thinks it's a "cop-out" but what do dietitians and nutritionists think about the government obesity strategy?

So you’ve made the choice. You want to stop smoking… But you’re afraid of weight gain? Ultimately stopping smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health. If you experience a small weight gain, you may have to “weigh up” the health risks between the effects of smoking or a small weight gain. A small weight gain may be the least of your worries. Weight gain when considering stopping smoking is, however, as barrier for a lot of people considering the change. So is weight gain inevitable and how can you avoid it?

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