Nutritional Advice for Lowering BMI

Nutritional Advice for Lowering BMI

by | Sep 27, 2018 | All, Ask Our Dietitian, Home, Nutrition

Question:

Hello my name is Lateshia S., I am 5’6” and weigh 170 pounds. I was trying to figure out how many calories a day would I need to eat, and what foods should and shouldn’t eat in order to achieve my goal of becoming leaner. When I did my fitness assessment I believe my BMI was about 27% and so I’m trying to get down to about 20-22% and I already exercise for an hour, 3 days a week since starting my membership in late June. So as far as dieting goes what should I do to see a change?

– Lateshia S.

Answer:

As far as calories go, you can use the base of 1,800-2,100 calories per day for a 5’6”, 170 lb., 30-year-old woman with your activity level to lose weight and adjust by 70 calories for every decade your actual age differs from thirty.

Some people have success by shifting to smaller portions or lower-calorie options of what they currently eat. Others do better with a more drastic change by eliminating fried items, fast food, and pre-packaged meals while adopting fresh wholesome salads, grilled poultry, and home-cooked meals. Even shifting calories to earlier in the day by eating a bigger breakfast and foregoing anything after a certain hour (say, 8 PM) can help prevent excess calorie storage.

Generalities of “eat fewer calories”, “reduce fat” and “increase fruits and vegetables” can apply to the vast majority of people looking to become leaner. What you need to eat depends on what you are currently eating. Only you know what and how much you are consuming. If you don’t know – find out by recording your intake and examine a few days’ worth with a decent diet analysis program. You might identify areas in which you need to improve.

– Debbie J., MS, RD

This article should not replace any exercise program or restrictions, any dietary supplements or restrictions, or any other medical recommendations from your primary care physician. Before starting any exercise program or diet, make sure it is approved by your doctor.

Some questions have been edited for length and/or clarity.

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Mini Nutrition Hacks

Mini Nutrition Hacks

by | Sep 26, 2018 | All, Home, Nutrition

Cheats to save you time and money for the best of health. 

Frozen beverage cubes 

Fill an ice cube tray with leftover coffee, lemonade, tea or other non-carbonated drink so you can use them later to chill similar drinks without dilution for maximum energy and taste. 

DIY produce wash  

Rinsing isn’t enough to remove pesticide residue and waxes from fruits and vegetables. It’s easy to make your own wash with baking soda and water. We suggest the recipe we found here: https://www.healthline.com/health/mini-hack-diy-fruit-and-vegetable-wash 

Pureed vegetables 

Don’t want to chew on more rabbit food? Yep, blenderize leftover cooked veggies so the vitamin-rich puree can be used in soups, spreads, and sauces. Best if used up to a ratio of 1 part puree to 3 parts liquid/paste of similar color (red + green = brown). 

Diced crisp greens 

If you’re not into eating a pile of leaves, these savory little gems fit as garnish for everything from pasta, potatoes, and salads to soup. Tear well-dried kale leaves or dice Brussel sprouts, toss in extra virgin olive oil, sprinkle with salt and roast at 400 degrees F on sheet pans until crisp. Stir every few minutes and keep an eye on them so they don’t char. 

Grease & oil sopper–upper  

Use the inside of used paper grocery bags laid over newspaper as underlayment for just cooked meats, cookies, and fried foods to absorb extra grease and oils. Unlined paper plates (the lightweight matte ones) also work well but aren’t eco-conscious. 

Appetite dampener 

Before you grocery shop or head to that party, eat an entire raw apple and drink a cup of water to fill you up, thereby reducing impulse buys and unintended high-calorie nibbles. 

Portion tricks 

Fool your eyes into thinking you’re getting more than you actually are by using smaller cups, bowls, and plates. When you finish these smaller containers filled with food, you’ll feel more satisfied than eating from partially full larger ones that leave you wanting more. 

Double up 

Cook once but eat twice! Plan on using leftovers for a subsequent quick meal by preparing your first meal with double the quantity. Go even bigger by tripling and freezing a third full meal portion. 

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When Bulking Up Isn’t Working

When Bulking Up Isn’t Working

by | Sep 25, 2018 | All, Ask Our Dietitian, Home, Nutrition

Question:

I’m trying to bulk up, but I keep losing weight. I’m down to 142 lbs. I mostly eat turkey sandwiches and chicken breast.

– Donald M.

Answer:

First and foremost, Donald, please visit your healthcare provider as unexplained weight loss could be the result of an underlying medical condition. If you have any GI problems or trouble chewing, there are interventions to assist with breaking down your food.

That said, here are my tips for bulking up…  Eating more volume is an obvious plan. Adding calories to what you already eat is important. Your turkey sandwiches need to be laden with avocado, full-fat mayonnaise, pesto or cheese to maximize calories. Chicken breast can be breaded, fried, or served with sauces and creams to increase energy density.

Get the most out of every bite by making sure starches are dressed with heavier condiments – baked potato with butter and cream cheese, pasta with alfredo or pesto, risotto with cream sauce, etc. Opt for the densest version of food items like dried fruit vs fresh, granola vs cereal, and tortillas vs bread. Choose energy-rich produce (e.g. bananas, cherries, peas, sweet potato) over watery varieties. Use nut butters on crackers, rolls and in shakes.

Power-pack your beverages by adding a couple spoonsful of the concentrated version to your fluid. For example, pour some evaporated milk into your glass of milk or thawed juice concentrate into your OJ. Use leftover drinks to make ice cubes to use later instead of regular ice (water has no calories).

– Debbie J., MS, RD

This article should not replace any exercise program or restrictions, any dietary supplements or restrictions, or any other medical recommendations from your primary care physician. Before starting any exercise program or diet, make sure it is approved by your doctor.

Some questions have been edited for length and/or clarity.

Ask our Dietitian

Have a nutrition question? Our registered dietitian is ready to help!

Email nutrition@lafitness.com or submit your question below and it may be featured in an upcoming article!

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AAT: Ep. 30 – How to Improve Leg and Hip Strength and Increase Stamina

AAT: Ep. 30 – How to Improve Leg and Hip Strength and Increase Stamina

by | Sep 21, 2018 | All, Ask A Trainer, Fitness, Home, Workouts

Ask A Trainer: Featured Question of the Week

LA Fitness Pro Results® Master Trainer, Stone T., gives his expert advice on increasing stamina and improving leg and hip strength – it’s a double question, bringing double the amount of advice.

Do you have a fitness question? Ask one of our certified Pro Results® trainers here! Your question may be featured in an upcoming Ask Our Trainer video.**

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**Selected submissions will be featured on the LA Fitness blog and possibly other LA Fitness digital media entities & websites. By making a submission, you hereby grant LA Fitness a non-exclusive, perpetual, worldwide, irrevocable license to use and make copies of the contents of such submission for any purpose and in any medium whatsoever, and you hereby waive and relinquish any copyright or other intellectual property right you may have in the contents of such submission and your right to pursue any claim for LA Fitness’s violation of those intellectual property rights.

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To Wash or Not Wash Organic Fruit?

To Wash or Not Wash Organic Fruit?

by | Sep 20, 2018 | All, Ask Our Dietitian, Home, Nutrition

Question:

If you buy organic fruit, do you have to peel the skin (e.g., from apple)? Do you have to still wash the fruit thoroughly?

– Michael J.

Answer:

Dashing out the door, I’ll admit that sometimes if my fruit is organic I won’t take time to wash it. But I should! Though organic produce is not treated with pesticides or herbicides, there is the chance for contamination from the spraying of nearby fields, handling, and processing. Cold germs can even get on your fruit at the grocery store from other shoppers. In a review of over 200 studies, researchers found that organic produce was equally likely to be infected with E. coli compared with conventional produce*. Yes, wash your fruit thoroughly! No need to peel it.

For further reading see our July 2018 article What No One Tells You About Organic Produce

* Are Organic Foods Safer or Healthier than Conventional Alternatives?: A Systematic Review. C Smith-Spangler, et al. Annual of Internal Medicine. Sept 2012; 157(5): 348-366.

– Debbie J., MS, RD

This article should not replace any exercise program or restrictions, any dietary supplements or restrictions, or any other medical recommendations from your primary care physician. Before starting any exercise program or diet, make sure it is approved by your doctor.

Some questions have been edited for length and/or clarity.

Ask our Dietitian

Have a nutrition question? Our registered dietitian is ready to help!

Email nutrition@lafitness.com or submit your question below and it may be featured in an upcoming article!

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