The Healthy Food Review (TM)

Bodybugg®: Weight Loss Secret Weapon

2011-11-04T06:42:26-07:00

Think you're accurate about the number of calories you're burning every single day? Sure you may know approximately how many calories in general someone burns walking or cycling. But what about what YOU personally burn for that activity based on your own individual effort and metabolism?

And what about all the calories you're burning (or not burning), throughout the day? How do you count the number of calories burned walking around a giant big box retailer like Costco for awhile? What about chasing after your kid or pet? Activities like those also are burning calories, but are tough to quantify.

For example, I've been helping my Mom pack up to move to a new place. On those days I haven't been doing an official workout, but I know I'm working really, really hard. Yet what was I burning calorie-wise?

Well if you have a bodybugg ® like I've owned for the last four+ years, you know!

You've seen it on The Biggest Loser, and inevitably, every Zumba® Fitness class that I teach has someone asking me the question "what's the black thing on your arm?" It's a bodybugg ®--an incredible health and fitness tool that is your must-have, secret weapon weight loss and weight maintenance.

I was intrigued with it because while you may know that a particular exercise activity burns a certain number of calories, the bodybugg learns your personal calories burn for the activity--which can vary significantly from a "standard" calorie burning activity due to factors such as metabolism, individual effort and fitness level. And also ANY movement is tracked by bodybugg.

So if you know your true calories burned for everything you do (or don't do every day)? How does it help with weight loss and weight maintenance?

To lose a pound, you need to burn 3,500 calories. So if you had a bodybugg and it told you that you burned 2400 calories in a day, if you had that calorie burn every day and ate 1,900 calories, you would have a deficit of 500 calories a day, times 7 days would equal the 3,500 calories needed to burn that pound. If you were trying to maintain weight, you'd go for an equal intake of calories and calories burned. And the online program that lets you enter your food consumed everyday makes it wasy to see exactly what you deficit is each day while attempting to lose weight.

It's also very helpful to see how many calories you're burning, because you may be surprised to find on a given day that you're a lot more sloth than triathelete, and can then adjust your food, movement or both accordingly.

See why bodybugg is your weight loss secret weapon? To put bodybugg to work for you in your weight loss or weight maintenance program, CLICK HERE.

Get a FREE 3-chapter book excerpt from Have Your Cheeseburger And Keep Your Health Too! and never miss another blog post by joining my list CLICK HERE Have you given The Healthy Food Review Facebook Page A Like? CLICK HERE

--Melanie R. Jordan, Author of Have Your Cheeseburger And Keep Your Health Too! Available 24/7 at http://www.HealthyEatingCoach.com

"Healthy eating with favorite comfort foods...it's deliciously possible!"

Don't miss a post--subscribe to The Healthy Food Review feed.

Melanie Jordan is an ACE Group Fitness Certified and licensed Zumba Instructor, ZIN Member and IDEA Member currently teaching Zumba in the Tampa, FL area. She is also formalizing her decade+ of layman's knowledge by working towards her ACE Lifestyle and Weight Management and Wellness Coaching certifications. Melanie is the author of Have Your Cheeseburger And Keep Your Health Too! and blogs at The Healthy Food Review. When she's not teaching Zumba, Melanie heads up SunLoverPublishing.com, her media properties, publishing and marketing coaching/consulting company.

Check out Melanie's other Blogs and Podcasts:

What You Know Is Worth More Than You Know(TM) - The Podcast

What You Know Is Worth More Than You Know - The Blog For Infopreneurs

Vegas Inside Scoop

Zumba For Health

My company, SunLover Publishing LLC is an affiliate for Amazon, and will make a commission if you buy any of the products I've linked from their site mentioned in this article. However, I only recommend products I personally use myself or am sufficiently in the know about their quality, and your support of this blog will help keep great content coming your way.

The views expressed are my opinion only and you should decide, along with your healthcare professionals, on the appropriateness for your personal use.

Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition TV Show Review

2011-06-15T11:31:35-07:00

So as a fan of the show Biggest Loser, I naturally had to check out ABC's new show Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition and see how it compared.

In the first three episodes (of eight total to come in season one), highly likeable trainer Chris Powell (who is a Bob Harper-style trainer), worked to successfully transform three different "super obese" people--those who have more than 200 pounds to lose, Sounds like Biggest Loser, but how is it different?

Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition doesn't have competition between participants, and takes a longer-term view. Each episode focuses on just one individual's weight loss journey over the course of a year.

Chris Powell starts each episode with a bootcamp and immersion in healthy lifestyle tactics for a week at a California health institute, and then moves in with the story subject for the first three months to make sure that healthy habits take hold. This explains why there are only eight episodes of the show, but it has already been picked up for a second season, where I imagine Chris will have to move in for a shorter period of time to make the show work--maybe more like a week like Jillian Michaels did in Losing' It With Jillian (which I wish had another season).

Over the course of the one-hour episode, there are three, 3-month phases, goals and non-food rewards for weight loss, and then the final portion of the show is the great reveal--where we see how the person looks after the full year and how much weight they've lost.

The show's strongest points are:

1. Chris Powell

He's motivational, caring and very obviously gets emotionally involved with his "transformations" as he calls them. It also doesn't hurt that he's easy on the eyes, and in great shape himself.

2. No Politics, No "Too Little Weight Loss"

Since each story is about an individual's weight loss journey, no one gets voted off over politics, and no one gets sent home because they lost weight, but just not enough compared to their peers that week. Which to me, was always the biggest weakness of Biggest Loser's competition element--how can you ever be a loser when you're succeeding at losing any amount of weight? Never was that point clearer than when two of Biggest Loser Season 11's favorites who really needed to be there as they had very large amounts of weight to lose--Courtney and Arthur--were voted off early.

3. They Don't Sidestep The "Where Does All The Skin Go?" Issue

From the very first episode, phase 3's reward for meeting the weight loss goal was skin removal surgery, because once the right level is achieved they can be candidates for it. The first two episodes--which featured Rachel and Alex, respectively, both shared how after losing a lot of weight, they were frustrated with all the hanging skin that was interfering with their workouts. Both hit their goals and were able to have the skin removal surgery, and the episodes included the doctor's office consultation and the hospital stay.

Hmm? How come The Biggest Loser doesn't mention this at all? Is it because they don't want to admit that their contestants have this surgery too, and it's not just diet and exercise alone that makes the contestants look great? According to the two, highly-qualified personal trainers I know, generally if someone goes beyond 100 pounds of weight to lose, the skin can't be tightened up through exercise alone--there's too much skin to snap back.

To me, it's no big deal if someone has skin removal surgery, and that was the final step in helping them look awesome after losing 100, 200 pounds or more. But I credit Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition for not sidestepping the issue, so that when someone who is super obese at home gets inspired to lose their weight, they'll know that while weight loss will improve their health and quality of life, there could be this issue,and it's normal.

4. The Emotional/Mental Aspects Of Weight Loss Get Emphasis

Like on The Biggest Loser, Chris Powell also takes time to address the mental and emotional issues that are behind why the person gained so much weight, so that they can deal with it, and never gain it back. Often, it has to be dealt with multiple times, when the participant isn't losing as much weight as they should be. In the third episode, Dana, in particular, had big emotional issues to deal with that even had him sneak eating while on Chris' training program.

So, Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition, gets high marks in my opinion, and is a nice complement to the weight loss reality genre along with The Biggest Loser. If you're overweight, or have ever been overweight and need to stay on track, to me they are required viewing for inspiration, motivation and the exercise and healthy eating tips you pick up along the way.

What do you think about Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition? Please comment on the blog below or on the NEW The Healthy Food Review Facebook Page (and give us a like while you're there please).

--Melanie R. Jordan, Author of Have Your Cheeseburger And Keep Your Health Too! Available 24/7 at http://www.HealthyEatingCoach.com

"Healthy eating with favorite comfort foods...it's deliciously possible!"

Don't miss a post--subscribe to The Healthy Food Review feed.

Check out more of Melanie's empowering publications including her new book on the hot, knowledge-based field of infopreneuring What You Know Is Worth More Than You Know(TM) - Achieving The Life You Were Meant To Have By Making Money From What YOU Know! on work-at-home lifestyles, foreclosure investing and learn about her Marketing and Infopreneur Consulting and Coaching Services at http://www.SunLoverPublishing.com

Check out Melanie's other Blogs and Podcasts:

Melanie's podcast on infopreneuring--What You Know Is Worth More Than You Know(TM) at http://www.WhatYouKnowIsWorthMorePodcast.com

What You Know Is Worth More Than You Know - The Blog For Infopreneurs at http://www.WhatYouKnowIsWorthMore.com

Vegas Inside Scoop

Zumba For Health

Please note that I do not have an affiliation with the show. The views expressed are my opinion only and you should decide, along with your healthcare professionals, on the appropriateness for your personal use.

Why I'm Not Pissed Off At Ronald McDonald

2011-06-01T10:00:48-07:00

Ronald McDonald is the subject of a lot of controversy these days. How did a clown get himself in the middle of such a mess?

On the one hand, Ronald McDonald is being blamed pretty much single-handledly for the rise in children's obesity, and there are organizations calling for his resignation. On the other, Ronald McDonald is also the symbol of the good works of McDonald's like Ronald McDonald House.

Here's my two cents on the matter. No individual with a brain ever really thought McDonald's food overall was health food, although they certainly have made efforts to have some healthy choices--yogurt parfaits, fruit smoothies, oatmeal, grilled chicken, apple slices, side salads. So if a child wants McDonald's, it doesn't necessarily mean that it has to be unhealthy food.

And who is supposed to be deciding for a child between the healthy food McDonald's offers on its menu and the less than stellar choices? YES! The parent or guardian.

When I was a kid, my Mom and Dad didn't just let me have whatever I wanted to eat just because I thought a clown was cool. And they also were in charge of what I ate at every meal.

I sympathize with parents overall. When I'm out and about, there's always some kid throwing a fit down a store aisle because they want some kiddie-oriented food that Mom or Dad doesn't want to buy. And how did the kid come to want that junk item? Was it the Saturday morning cartoon character, Disney character, or you name the kid's latest marketing character on the package?

Have you seen Dairy Queen's Deeq's online food game? It features characters that have heads shaped like swirled ice cream cones and they play a game with various mostly junky food items (two out of nine items featured are okay--a side salad and a grilled chicken wrap), while mini blizzards are prominently featured. So technically you could also make healthy choices there too, but the emphasis is on less than healthy food.

So let me see then, McDonald's is not the only one that has kids as a target market. Dairy Queen is just as obviously going after the kids market, so why is it that no one is complaining about the other kids food marketing like this, or the characters on the packaging of junky kid foods in the supermarket? Let's face it, those Keebler elves on cookies are not aimed at adults! I'm sure they've had absolutely nothing to do with kid obesity--yeah, right.

I'm sorry, but to me this comes down to parents needing to be parents, and it comes down to making choices. There are lots of unhealthy food offerings out there in the world, and you want to know why they exist? It's because we're voting for them with our wallets. They exist because we buy them. If we don't buy the junk, they'll sell us healthier stuff. Food companies and restaurants are there to make a profit, and if they'll make the same or greater profit with healthy food, they'll do it.

When you go into a supermarket, there is both healthy food and junk food. You can buy an apple or you can buy a fattening, chemical-filled apple pastry. It's up to every individual, and every parent or guardian for those who are too young to make their own choices, to decide what they buy. And it's no different at McDonald's.

You can let a child have their regular food once in awhile as a treat if you really want to, but you don't have to let them have it every day. You also can teach a child to buy the healthy food at McDonald's and with smart choices, the kid could have McDonald's more often. The healthy food is there, and Ronald McDonald is okay with you buying it too.

What say you about the whole Ronald McDonald media storm? Please comment on the blog below or on the NEW The Healthy Food Review Facebook Page (and give us a like while you're there please).

--Melanie R. Jordan, Author of Have Your Cheeseburger And Keep Your Health Too! Available 24/7 at http://www.HealthyEatingCoach.com

"Healthy eating with favorite comfort foods...it's deliciously possible!"

Don't miss a post--subscribe to The Healthy Food Review feed.

Check out Melanie's other Blogs and Podcasts:

Melanie's podcast on infopreneuring--What You Know Is Worth More Than You Know(TM) at http://www.WhatYouKnowIsWorthMorePodcast.com

What You Know Is Worth More Than You Know - The Blog For Infopreneurs at http://www.WhatYouKnowIsWorthMore.com

Vegas Inside Scoop

Zumba For Health

Have Your Cheeseburger And Keep Your Health Too In Woman's World Magazine

2011-05-23T06:36:57-07:00

For the second time this year, I've been mentioned in Woman's World magazine! This time it's in the 5/30 issue that's now on the newsstands in a round-up piece for You Deserve The Best, where I gave my opinion on a good healthy hot dog--my personal favorite--Jennie-O. My contribution is the one all the way on the right-hand side.

They also were kind enough this time to mention my book Have Your Cheeseburger And Keep Your Health Too! in the piece--last time they mentioned The Healthy Food Review.

Cool, huh? In case you missed the prior piece from January, it's about healthy soups. CLICK HERE.

Want to know how I got in Woman's World twice this year already? Check out this post I did for my other blog What You Know Is Worth More Than You Know!(TM).

Please comment on the blog below or on the NEW The Healthy Food Review Facebook Page (and give us a like while you're there please).

--Melanie R. Jordan, Author of Have Your Cheeseburger And Keep Your Health Too! Available 24/7 at http://www.HealthyEatingCoach.com

"Healthy eating with favorite comfort foods...it's deliciously possible!"

Don't miss a post--subscribe to The Healthy Food Review feed.

Check out Melanie's other Blogs and Podcasts:

Melanie's podcast on infopreneuring--What You Know Is Worth More Than You Know(TM) at http://www.WhatYouKnowIsWorthMorePodcast.com

What You Know Is Worth More Than You Know - The Blog For Infopreneurs at http://www.WhatYouKnowIsWorthMore.com

Vegas Inside Scoop

Zumba For Health

Please note that I do not have an affiliation with any of the companies featured in this post--they are simply products I am personally familiar with--no samples were supplied. The views expressed are my opinion only and you should decide, along with your healthcare professionals, on the appropriateness for your personal use.

Healthy Food Review: The Snack Factory Pretzel Crisps

2011-05-11T19:20:58-07:00

Most pretzels are pretty innocent snacks in terms of calories and fat content (unless they're dipped in chocolate or otherwise evily transformed). What you have to watch is the sodium as it relates to your overall diet, and also keep in mind that unless you're having whole wheat pretzels (which are not so easily found), it's a white flour, high glycemic product.

Now The Snack Factory Pretzel Crisps also are not whole wheat, but in terms of a low-fat, low-calorie snack food, the give you a lot of flavor and varities that will satisfy your snack cravings. Seriously, when you have plain pretzels, don't you feel like you really didn't eat anything, and you can easily overeat them if you don't count out a portion?

With Snack Factory Pretzel Crisps, the thin texture and great flavors, really make you feel like you're eating something. If I eat a portion of them (11 pretzel crisps, low fat or fat free, and just 110 calories), I'm happy and don't go looking for anything else. And since I love cheese, a flavor sensation like their Tuscan Three Cheese which will still only set me back 1.5 grams of fat, none of it saturated, same 110 calories, is a big help in keeping me slim.

My husband is a fan of the Snack Factory Buffalo Wing Pretzel Crisps, although he felt they could use

a little more flavor oomph (he always thinks things need more flavor), still has the same nutritional stats as the Tuscan Three Cheese. How else can you get the taste of Buffalo Wings in such a low-fat, low-calories way?

Also, Pretzel Crisps come in the bagel-like flavors of everything and sesame. So if you have a bagel craving, yon can save 200-300 calories opting for this snack instead of the bagel. That's a big difference!

While you have to watch how much you indulge in snack foods vs. real food, when you're craving crunch and flavor that won't damage your waistline, in my opinion, The Snack Factory Pretzel Chips with none delicious flavors to choose from are a good choice.

Have you tried The Snack Factory Pretzel Crisps? What's your favorite flavor? Please comment on the blog below or on the NEW The Healthy Food Review Facebook Page (and give us a like while you're there please).

--Melanie R. Jordan, Author of Have Your Cheeseburger And Keep Your Health Too! Available 24/7 at http://www.HealthyEatingCoach.com

"Healthy eating with favorite comfort foods...it's deliciously possible!"

Don't miss a post--subscribe to The Healthy Food Review feed.

Check out Melanie's other Blogs and Podcasts:

Melanie's podcast on infopreneuring--What You Know Is Worth More Than You Know(TM) at http://www.WhatYouKnowIsWorthMorePodcast.com

What You Know Is Worth More Than You Know - The Blog For Infopreneurs at http://www.WhatYouKnowIsWorthMore.com

Vegas Inside Scoop

Zumba For Health

Emotional Eating: How I Kicked The Ice Cream Habit

2011-04-27T13:27:34-07:00

There was a time when Baskin-Robbins, along with Ben and Jerry's were among my worst enemies.

And it wasn't even really their fault. When it came to ice cream, I had no self control. A scoop of ice cream was like a sample to me. My portion sizes, I'm sad to say, consisted of pints.

When the world got too complicated there was Pistachio Almond and Jamocha Almond Fudge from Baskin-Robbins. When I was lonely there was Pistachio Pistachio and Mint Chocolate Cookie from Ben And Jerry's.

I remember in the Billy Crystal - Debra Winger comedy movie Forget Paris, there are scenes where Debra Winger's character keeps eating ice cream every time she feels lonely when Billy Crystal's character was traveling as a basketball official, and she had given up her good job when they got married. In one scene Billy Crystal's character says "why don't you bring along your two best friends Ben and Jerry's." I could definitely relate. My husband traveled often for work too. Still does and that wasn't going to change, so I had to do something about this.

Some people might think it's strange that food can have that kind of grip on you, but if you've ever struggled with emotional eating like I have, it's not hard to understand at all.

I was lucky that I always did work out, so that I didn't turn into a total blimp from my ice cream emotional eating. But it sure wasn't healthy--physically or emotionally--and kept my weight above where it should have been. So how did I get out of using ice cream for comfort?

Step 1:

I made over my ice cream habit into healthier versions and more sensible portion sizes. I started having non-fat frozen yogurt from a place called Golden Spoon in California and Nevada that had outrageous flavors including at times, my beloved Pistachio. I also kept my freezer stocked with Weight Watchers and Skinny Cow ice cream concoctions.

I made a rule that I could have one every day if I wanted, so I didn't deny myself anything. Yet I didn't actually have it everyday--when the food category in its makeover version was no longer taboo, given free choice, I no longer needed that crutch constantly.

Step 2:

I also realized that it was just too much temptation to walk into Baskin-Robbins and get their frozen yogurt or sorbet, or buy Ben and Jerry's frozen yogurt over my old ice cream friends right there in the same grocery store refrigerator. The better choices were there, but when put side to side with my favorites, it was no contest, so I decided to avoid those situations completely while making the break.

Step 3:

I made sure I realized when I was particularly vulnerable. If I started having ice cream cravings, I first got to the root of why I was looking for it, and reminded myself of the just as tasty ice cream substitutes that were available to me. I also had a list of things to do as alternatives for any time I was stressed or lonely--often I would go to the gym and work out with weights, do kickboxing or Zumba®, or go for a walk--and if it was late at night, I'd do writing for my blogs or a book.

It wasn't easy at first to sever the connection between feelings and ice cream, because after all, when you're a child what do your parents tell you? If you're good, we'll go for ice cream. If you feel bad, we'll cheer you up by going for ice cream. The connection that ice cream is a reward and makes you feel better, gets made very early in our lives, and creating a disconnect is tough.

Years later, I don't have to completely avoid ice cream because the food no longer is a trigger for me. I have an ice cream treat out a handful of times a year, and don't feel the need to have it at home because of my ice cream substitutes. In fact, today is Baskin-Robbins' annual 31 cent scoop night, and I'm going for my treat as I have for the past couple of years. I can have a scoop of Pistachio Almond and a scoop of Jamocha Almond Fudge, savor it, but leave it at that. It also won't hurt that I'll be doing a Zumba® class twice today.

Baskin-Robbins is not coming home with me, and we'll say goodbye till next year's Scoop Night event. It's not deprivation because I eat my ice cream substitutes all the time, and ironically by eating ice cream all the time (in its healthier makeover version), I'm just about at my wedding day weight and I'm now teaching Zumba fitness classes.

Whether it's ice cream, candy, potato chips, pizza or any favorite food or foods that are exerting their power over you, the three steps I took to kick the hold ice cream had on me will work to free you of any food. But as I share in Have Your Cheeseburger And Keep Your Health Too! it's never about sacrifice, but it is all about finding the healthiest comfort food makeovers and never denying yourself anything.

What foods have you struggled with? Please comment on the blog below or on the NEW The Healthy Food Review Facebook Page (and give us a like while you're there please).

--Melanie R. Jordan, Author of Have Your Cheeseburger And Keep Your Health Too! Available 24/7 at http://www.HealthyEatingCoach.com

"Healthy eating with favorite comfort foods...it's deliciously possible!"

Don't miss a post--subscribe to The Healthy Food Review feed.

Check out Melanie's other Blogs and Podcasts:

Melanie's podcast on infopreneuring--What You Know Is Worth More Than You Know(TM) at http://www.WhatYouKnowIsWorthMorePodcast.com

What You Know Is Worth More Than You Know - The Blog For Infopreneurs at http://www.WhatYouKnowIsWorthMore.com

Vegas Inside Scoop

Zumba For Health

Fitness Tips: How Not To Be Annoying When Working Out With Weights

2011-03-17T21:30:34-07:00

My prior post Fitness Tips: How Not To Be Annoying In Gym Class was very popular, so after some recent experiences in the weight room for the umpteenth time, I figured it was time for this sequel--Fitness Tips: How Not To be Annoying When Working Out With Weights.

1. There's No Need To Let The Entire Gym Know You Are Lifting A Weight

Sorry, but this one's definitely a guy thing. We know you're lifting weights. In fact, the whole gym is well aware that you're lifting weights. We know you're lifting a dumbbell, but there's no need to be one. Keep it to yourself. The grunting and groaning is SO unnecessary. Do you ever hear a woman make that much noise lifting weights? We know you exist, and we'd prefer you existed much more quietly.

2. It's Really Not Nice To Leave A Giant Sweat Spot On The Weight Bench When You Leave It

How many times have you finally spied a weight bench after a long wait (pun intended), and when you triumphantly went to rush over to capture it, found a big messy blob of sweat on the bench? Eeww, right? Obviously the person who used the bench before that person didn't leave it that way, or they wouldn't have used it. So what could someone possibly be thinking about when leaving the bench in that condition? "I hope they didn't see me?" "I'm leaving my sweat for posterity?"

Here's a memo for you. The gym requires you to bring a towel--use it! And those little paper towel stations with disinfectant spray are not a decoration either!

3. Don't Stand Right In Front Of Someone And Block The Mirror In Front Of Them

This seems to be a new act of rudeness that's getting quite popular. I'll be on a weight bench, doing an arm row or tricep kickback, trying to focus on my form in the mirror, and a guy will step immediately in front of the end of my bench, blocking the mirror and making it all about him.

Hello! Did you think the mirror was only put up for your viewing pleasure? Do you think I want to see your backside? Did you not notice that others work out here too, and you could step two feet to the side and we could all be happy?

4. Do Not Just Sit On A Piece Of Gym Equipment And Text Or Talk On Your Cell

Inevitably, this always happens when you get to the last piece of gym equipment that you need to complete your workout. Someone--yes, sorry, it's usually a guy--will be sitting on a popular piece of equipment like the pec-fly machine, and be texting away. Oh, did you not understand that the only viable reason for sitting on that equipment is to actually use it?

The only thing worse is having someone on the weight bench or machine having a conversation. If you're waiting for the item in question, it's an exercise in frustration (besides how come he gets a cell signal and you don't). If you're next door trying to focus on your workout, it's totally distracting and annoying.

I once got so ticked off when a guy was talking loudly on the phone near the stretching area where I was that's supposed to be peaceful, I actually made a comment out loud multiple times to the amusement of the people around me (who enjoyed the scene, but did not have my back as they made themselves scarce as they sensed a confrontation).

Eventually "cell guy" caught on and asked me what my (fill in the expletive) problem was. I got my NYC on, and even though he was a big guy, I advised him that he was the problem, and that it was much more courteous to take the call away from where people were working out. He muttered another expletive and then told the person on the phone that "apparently he was bothering someone" and kept talking, but at least moved away from me. After, some of my fellow gym attendees gave me an "atta girl." Here's hoping I come back in the next life as a 6'2" bruiser.

5. Put Weights And Benches Back Where You Found Them, Put The Standard Attachment Back

Ever have the fun of stumbling upon a 100 lb dumbbell in the middle of the gym floor? Or weight plates that are way too heavy to move in the way around the floor of a bench? How about your favorite Hammer Strength sit-up chair left across the gym floor at a Smith machine? How about putting back the stuff where you found it. When the gym rules say "please rerack your weights," it doesn't say, "except for you."

And for goodness sake, if you put a funky attachment on a machine, or take the hand pull off a FreeMotion machine for example, it's not up to the next person to deal with it. Put it back the way you found it! Is that so darn hard?

Got your own pet peeve with your fellow gym attendees? Please comment on the blog below or on the NEW The Healthy Food Review Facebook Page (and give us a like while you're there please).

--Melanie R. Jordan, Author of Have Your Cheeseburger And Keep Your Health Too! Available 24/7 at http://www.HealthyEatingCoach.com

"Healthy eating with favorite comfort foods...it's deliciously possible!"

Don't miss a post--subscribe to The Healthy Food Review feed.

Check out Melanie's other Blogs and Podcasts:

Melanie's podcast on infopreneuring--What You Know Is Worth More Than You Know(TM) at http://www.WhatYouKnowIsWorthMorePodcast.com

What You Know Is Worth More Than You Know - The Blog For Infopreneurs at http://www.WhatYouKnowIsWorthMore.com

Vegas Inside Scoop

Florida Inside Scoop

Fitness Tips: What's Wrong With This Zumba Class Scene?

2011-02-09T20:53:04-08:00

Update: 2/12: I'm now an official Zumba Instructor, just completed training with master instructor Jani Roberts!

Recently I noticed a new class member in a couple of my Zumba(R) classes. Great, the more
the merrier. The class member was obviously overweight, but so what? I gave her mental kudos for making the effort to start doing some regular exercise.

The Zumba class member must not have a babysitter, because I've seen a little boy on the sidelines each class, and a little girl at times. That's not so much a problem in my book--when the kids stay on the sidelines that is--but here's what is. Each class, these children are sitting with a big bag of chips and a bottle of soda. And the kids are cute, but quite overweight. Hmm, I wonder how they got that way?

The parent is overweight. The children are overweight.

The parent is working out to try and improve. The children are inactive, eating and drinking fattening junk and going downhill.

I watch the parent and these little kids and wonder why if the parent is taking Zumba classes to lose weight and get fit, why sabotage the children? I was just itching to take away the junk, but it wasn't really my place. What's wrong with this Zumba class scene?

How about giving the kids some fruit and water? Or at least a less damaging snack choice at least like Pirate Booty which all kids love if given the chance to try it? Better yet, why not let the kids dance around a little on the sidelines and get some exercise too? The Zumba instructor won't mind and the children might lose some weight along with the parent.

Healthy parent, healthy children. What a concept!

What say you? Please comment on the blog or on the NEW The Healthy Food Review Facebook Page (and give us a like while you're there please).

--Melanie R. Jordan, Author of Have Your Cheeseburger And Keep Your Health Too! Available 24/7 at http://www.HealthyEatingCoach.com

"Healthy eating with favorite comfort foods...it's deliciously possible!"

Don't miss a post--subscribe to The Healthy Food Review feed.

Check out Melanie's other Blogs and Podcasts:

Melanie's podcast on infopreneuring--What You Know Is Worth More Than You Know(TM) at http://www.WhatYouKnowIsWorthMorePodcast.com

What You Know Is Worth More Than You Know - The Blog For Infopreneurs at http://www.WhatYouKnowIsWorthMore.com

Vegas Inside Scoop

Florida Inside Scoop

Eating Out Healthy: Starbucks Breakfast Sandwich Reduced Fat Turkey Bacon With Egg Whites

2011-01-27T18:42:43-08:00

The other day after dropping my husband off at the airport on one of those early morning runs that I dread (I am so NOT a morning person), I was at Starbucks to buy yet another Vivanno smoothie, when I realized I was craving something more substantial.

Starbucks' new Artisan Breakfast and English Muffin breakfast sandwiches had caught my eye the other day when I was in the store, as I noticed that some of them had reduced fat labels and egg whites. I decided to give the Reduced-Fat Turkey Bacon with Egg Whites on an English Muffin breakfast sandwich a try.

Now mind you, I was never a breakfast sandwich type. When I crave eggs beyond the usual egg white sandwiches and added protein in salads, I like to treat myself to a good omelet out every now and then. But today was the day to see if a sandwich-sized egg meal could be satisfying enough as well as healthy enough.

Fairly quickly after ordering, I was handed a hot paper bag that contained my Reduced-Fat Turkey Bacon with Egg Whites on an English Muffin breakfast sandwich. The heat held up while I drove

back to my home office even on a cooler morning. I took my first bite and immediately I was blown away by the delicious taste.

The white cheddar gave the egg whites some nice flavor (I love cheese with eggs in moderation anyway). I also adore turkey bacon, and really appreciated the fact it was used--it's hard to get turkey bacon when eating out. The only downside was that I suspected it wasn't as light as my Jennie-O Extra Lean Turkey Bacon I buy on my own. I also liked the multigrain english muffin used to house the breakfast sandwich.

All in all, the Starbucks Reduced-Fat Turkey Bacon with Egg Whites on an English Muffin breakfast sandwich is a a delicious, quick meal. But is it healthy?

According to Starbucks' website, I was relieved to discover that the sandwich is just 320 calories, and 7 grams of fat (just 2 saturated). The fiber is a little light at 3 grams, could be higher. The protein is a satisfying, stay-with-you-for-awhile 18 grams.

But be careful, all Starbucks breakfast sandwiches are not created equal when it comes to being a healthy option. There are two Artisan Breakfast sandwiches which are about the same in calories, but have a whopping 18 grams of fat apiece. Plus, the imitation Egg McMuffin sandwich is about 500 calories and even fattier at 28 grams. Pretty cool that my own taste buds helped me avoid these waistline busters and pick out the healthiest sandwich!

While it is a breakfast sandwich, my local Starbucks told me that as long as they didn't run out, you can order the Reduced-Fat Turkey Bacon with Egg Whites on an English Muffin breakfast sandwich any time of day--which is what I did again for lunch today. And at $2.95 each, it also won't dent your wallet!

Have you tried Starbucks' Reduced-Fat Turkey Bacon with Egg Whites on an English Muffin breakfast sandwich? What say you? Please comment on the blog or on the NEW The Healthy Food Review Facebook Page (and give us a like while you're there please).

--Melanie R. Jordan, Author of Have Your Cheeseburger And Keep Your Health Too! Available 24/7 at http://www.HealthyEatingCoach.com

"Healthy eating with favorite comfort foods...it's deliciously possible!"

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The Healthy Food Review In Woman's World Magazine

2011-01-17T09:51:32-08:00

Update: 5/23 We're featured again in another round-up piece on healthy hot dogs for "You Deserve The Best!"

The Healthy Food Review blog was included in a round-up piece for the You Deserve The Best column in the January 24th issue of popular weekly magazine Woman's World out now.

I was asked by the columnist for my opinions as author of Have Your Cheeseburger And Keep Your Health Too! and health blogger for this blog, The Healthy Food Review, on healthy soup choices and I'm so honored that I was included (I'm in the one for Progresso Lentil Soup--please see below).

Curious as to how I got this coverage in a major women's national magazine? Check out the story SEO: The Super Simple Thing That Got Me Media Coverage In A Major Women's Magazine in my other blog What You Know Is Worth More Than You Know(TM) or listen to the story as a podcast episode--How Super Simple SEO Got Me Media Coverage In A Major Women's Magazine--on What You Know Is Worth More Than You Know(TM) The Podcast.

Check out the NEW The Healthy Food Review Facebook Page (and give us a like while you're there please).

Get a FREE 3-chapter book excerpt from Have Your Cheeseburger And Keep Your Health Too! and never miss another blog post by joining my list CLICK HERE Have you given The Healthy Food Review Facebook Page A Like? CLICK HERE

--Melanie R. Jordan, Author of Have Your Cheeseburger And Keep Your Health Too! Available 24/7 at http://www.HealthyEatingCoach.com

"Healthy eating with favorite comfort foods...it's deliciously possible!"

Don't miss a post--subscribe to The Healthy Food Review feed.

Check out Melanie's other Blogs and Podcasts:

Melanie's podcast on infopreneuring--What You Know Is Worth More Than You Know(TM)

What You Know Is Worth More Than You Know - The Blog For Infopreneurs

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