FitSugar

Is the Morning Banana Diet Bananas?

FitSugar — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 03:47:45 PST

A Japanese weight loss plan known as The Morning Banana Diet (also known as the Asa Banana Diet - asa means morning in Japanese) has been around for a while, which means many people are finding success with it. Before discussing if it works, here are the guidelines for the diet:

For breakfast, eat one banana, or a few.
For lunch and dinner, eat what you want. There are no strict rules about what to eat or portion sizes. Eat until you are satisfied, but not stuffed. Don't eat after 8 p.m. (6 p.m. is better).
For all meals, sip room temperature water.
A sweet snack of chocolate, cookies, or the like is allowed at 3 p.m.
Allow at least four hours between your last meal and bedtime.
Work out only if you want to, but don't force yourself if it stresses you out.
Keep a food journal to document your daily food intake.

Wow. Basically you're encouraged to eat bananas for breakfast, and whatever else you want the rest of the day, as long as you stop eating four hours before you hit the hay? And exercise is optional? It amazes me that people have been losing weight this way, and what's with the bananas? To find out

One theory as to why this diet works has to do with enzymes found in nanners. They supposedly speed up digestion and elimination, which results in rapid weight loss. Huh? In my experience, bananas are know for their binding properties. Another theory has to do with resistant starches found in bananas, a type of fiber that supposedly promotes fullness and increases fat burning, but a medium-sized banana only contains about three grams of fiber - not breaking the fiber bank.

This diet may be having positive results since being on a diet in general makes people aware of what they're eating. It has nothing to do with the bananas though, since this fruit doesn't have any special powers when it comes to weight loss. Any diet plan that promotes eating unhealthy treats and optional exercise doesn't seem like a healthy lifestyle you can maintain, so it's not a diet you should even consider trying. If weight loss is on your mind, don't fall for this banana scheme. Eat a healthy diet full of lean proteins, whole grains, and plenty of fruits and veggies, and get moving at least 30 minutes a day. That's the most effective way to lose weight and keep it off.

What's the Deal With the Morning Banana Diet?

FitSugar — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 03:30:00 PST

I've been hearing a lot about this new Morning Banana Diet that is taking Japan by storm, so I decided to do a little investigating on whether or not it's worth all the hype.

Basically, the rules behind the Morning Banana Diet (MBD) are relatively simple. Eat at least one banana for breakfast and anything you like for lunch and dinner, as long as you don't eat after 8 p.m. An afternoon snack is OK (even if it's unhealthy), but no desserts after meals and you're encouraged to drink only room temperature water. You'll need to go to bed by midnight and keep a food journal. Exercise is not necessary, and you shouldn't force yourself to do it if it stresses you out (WTF?).

If you remember the general rules of for spotting an unhealthy diet, you probably also remember that all diets should promote healthy eating and exercise. Clearly, the MBD does not, and therefore does not get a thumbs-up in my book - not to mention the fact that it's really not something you could do for the rest of your life (I don't care how much you love bananas). Yes, bananas are good for you, but so is exercise, as well as a lot of other fruits and veggies that you could incorporate into your breakfast.

When you read about a new diet and it seems too good to be true, chances are it is - a silver bullet does not yet exist, and we'll know if and when it does. Until then, the real key to keeping yourself healthy is to maintain healthy eating and keep moving.

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How to Drop Pounds When You Don't Live Alone

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 16:17:39 PST

Living on your own often makes having the discipline to eat a healthy diet and exercise much easier since roommates or a family can present interesting challenges to your weight-loss goals. Surrounded by high-calorie foods your roomie loves or saddled with household responsibilities that prevent workouts are all obstacles in the path of healthy living. If you share your home with others, here are tips to help navigate the relationship.

Do the grocery shopping: Being in charge of all the food shopping puts you in control of what foods make it into your fridge and pantry, because even when armed with a detailed list, your housemate might just pick up a pint of ice cream that tests your willpower beyond control.

Take charge of the cooking: If you're doing all the meal prep, you know that each plate is healthy, balanced, and doesn't contain hidden calories (my hubby is notorious for adding pats of butter to everything). Being in charge of the cooking also means ordering less (unhealthy) takeout. This doesn't mean you need to cook alone - get the house together to make meals. Have your hubby or your housemate work as your prep cook.

Continue reading for more weight-loss tips for those who don't live alone.

5 Unbelievably Bad Fast-Food Breakfasts

Prevention — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 04:06:39 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Prevention here on FitSugar!

By Molly Raisch, Prevention

Mom always said, “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” And she was right. Morning meals are essential to revving your metabolism and kick-starting your calorie burn, but indulging in a fat- and calorie-laden breakfast from your favorite fast-food chain could easily send you into sugar shock and pack on the pounds. Research shows that people who ate a big morning meal consumed an extra 400 calories per day, setting themselves up for muffin tops and pancake bottoms. Here are six breakfast drive-through disasters and their Prevention-approved healthier, make-at-home options.

Fifty Simple Strategies to Lose 10 Pounds

Starbucks® Zucchini-Walnut Muffin
Muffins are calorie sinkholes - they pack in the calories but somehow still leave your stomach grumbling. This muffin from Starbucks® seems healthy enough, boasting both zucchini and walnuts, but don’t be fooled by its veggie-based name. This morning baked good has close to 500 calories and 28 grams of fat.

Try Instead: Zucchini-Raisin Muffin
These scrumptious zucchini muffins are half the calories and nearly a third of the fat as their coffeehouse counterparts. Tricks of the trade: Load up your bread batter with tons of zucchini shreds and add raisins for a touch of natural sweetness.

Ten Breakfasts For Glowing Skin

McDonald’s Big Breakfast® With Hotcakes
When your breakfast comes off a fast-food menu and has the word “big” in it, your waistline is headed in the same direction. This hearty breakfast has scrambled eggs, sausage, a buttermilk biscuit, hash browns, and two hotcakes piled onto a plate, making it no surprise that one order accounts for over half your day’s calories and over 55 grams of fat. The worst part? This lumberjack breakfast is sky-high in sodium: 2,150 milligrams.

Try Instead: Pancakes With Berries and Cinnamon
Satisfy your hotcake cravings with these light and fluffy low-cal flapjacks. The secret to cutting fat and calories without losing any buttery flavor: bake them in the oven. Top with berries and cinnamon, and you’ve got a mouthwatering, guilt-free pancake breakfast the whole family will love.

Keep reading for more healthy breakfast swaps after the break.

4 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Eating

Jenny Sugar — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 12:44:03 PST

Between meetings, appointments, work deadlines, errands, family obligations, and trips to the gym, our lives can be so busy that we fill our bellies with the quickest, easiest bites we can get our hands on. Whether your goal is to drop unwanted pounds or eat healthier, it's in your best interest to pause before you take your first bite and ask yourself these four important questions.

Am I hungry? Seems like a silly question, because you're eating, so you must be hungry, right? Many times we reach for food out of boredom, convenience (the bag of chips was open), depression (chocolate to drown your breakup sorrows), happiness (to celebrate a promotion), or desire (who could pass up the amazing brownies your co-worker brought in?). But if we recently ate, then we're not even hungry. Make sure you're due for a snack or meal before sitting down to eat one.

Is this food filling holes in my diet? We eat to live and that means the food we gobble down should offer our bodies the vitamins and nutrients it needs to function properly. Aside from being healthy, our daily diet should also be balanced. If you ate a high-protein breakfast of eggs and Greek yogurt topped with nuts, then for a morning snack, you probably want to eat something that offers your body something besides protein, such as fiber, potassium, or vitamin A. Think of each snack and meal as a piece of your daily diet puzzle; an opportunity to take in what your body is lacking.

Keep reading to find out the other two questions you should ask yourself before eating.

4 Surprising Things You Don't Know about Calories

Prevention — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 04:12:55 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Prevention here on FitSugar!

Only 12 percent of Americans can estimate the calories they eat in a day! Find out why we're so clueless and get easy ways to stop calorie confusion.
By Mara Betsch, Prevention

You know what calories are, and you probably know that if you eat too many, you’ll gain weight. But do you know how many are in your favorite deli sandwich? Or how many calories you should really eat each day? Most Americans don’t. Only 12% can accurately estimate the number of calories they should consume in a day someone their age, height, weight, and physical activity, according to a 2010 survey by the International Food Information Council Foundation. So what is it about calories that keeps us baffled? Here are 8 reasons you’re confused about calories and the simple steps that will help you do the math.

8 Healthy Foods That Help Fight Disease

1. Portions Sizes Are Out of Control
You’ve all heard about the rapidly expanding serving sizes of restaurant and fast food portions, but just how bad are they? Portions sizes in restaurants may contain double or triple the calories of home-cooked meals, and studies show eating out is associated with a higher BMI. Unfortunately, those portions affect our waistlines. When there’s more food on the plate, people eat more-up to 30% more, according to an analysis of several studies.

Stop the confusion: Use this cheat sheet of portion sizes. We know it’s hard to look at your plate as decks of cards, tennis balls, and all the other, so start by measuring out your food servings at home and take a good look at what a half-cup of pasta looks like. Until the serving sizes are engrained in your brain, when dining out, aim to eat half of your meal, saving the leftovers for lunch the next day.

Comfort Food That’s Actually Good for You

2. Serving Sizes Are Deceiving
"There really aren’t standard serving sizes for packaged foods, which makes them confusing," explains Elisa Zied, RD, author Nutrition at Your Fingertips. She gives the example of cereal. A standard serving size of breakfast cereal is approximately 50 g, but depending on the cereal, that could mean a cup and a half of flakes or half a cup of heartier granola. Depending on the type of cereal you’re eating, just eyeing how much you put in the bowl, like most people do, can lead to inaccurate calorie counts.

Not only that, but larger-than-life snack foods may seem like single servings even though they often contain two to three servings per packet. Buy a 16-ounce bottled Coca-Cola, and the nutrition label reads 100 calories . . . for one of the two servings in the bottle. Drink the whole thing, as many people do, and you’re really getting 200 calories. Eat the whole bag of Austin Zoo Animal Crackers, commonly found in office vending machines, and you’re getting 230 calories, nearly two servings, instead of just one.

Keep reading to learn even more about calories!

Beat the Summer Slump With These 6 Tips

SavvySugar — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 05:00:09 PDT

The sweltering Summer heat can make it difficult to concentrate on work. If you're itching to get out of your cubicle to lounge by the poolside, we've got these suggestions for you to stay productive at work while making the most of Summer.

Decorate your desk: Personalize your desk with a Summer theme. Keep a potted plant or fresh flowers at your desk. Frame a few of your favorite Summer memories to perk up your mood.
Listen to a Summer-themed playlist: Create your own upbeat playlist, or check out Pandora Summer playlists. I'm loving Pandora's "Summer Hits From the 90s" that includes hits from Tag Team, Blues Traveler, and Vertical Horizon. There's nothing like nostalgic tunes from the Summers of your youth to bring back happy memories.

Read on for more tips on beating the Summer slump.

Get the Bod: Jessica Biel's Workout

FitSugar — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 14:30:00 PDT

When I think of fit celebs, Jessica Biel definitely comes to mind. Her toned tush and defined arms are the reason she's won the title of Fitsugar's Fittest Female Celeb two years in a row. If you want to know how she maintains such a strong and feminine physique, her personal trainer Jason Walsh told People magazine about her workouts. Here's what he said:

Stretch: Jessica warms up with walking lunges. Jason says, "This stretches the larger leg and glute muscles.”
Cardio: She hits the track and jogs for half a mile, then does two 200-meter, 150-meter, and 100-meter sprints. This type of cardio interval training "leans her out," Jason says.
Core: “Hanging leg raises don’t build a six-pack, but they flatten,” says Walsh. “Jessica hates them, but she powers through!”

To find out what else Jason Walsh had to say

Plyometrics: “These hurt,” says Walsh of stair jumping. “Even athletes hate them. After Jessica did these the first time, she would’ve punched me if she had the energy.”
Weight Training: Jason says, “We tend to use lighter weights and do more reps. We keep moving, so it becomes a cardio workout, too.”
Waist: Get ready for Seated Russian Twists. Jessica does them holding a five-pound medicine ball. Twist to each side 15 times, and do a total of three sets.
Shoulders and biceps: Stand with knees slightly bent. Hold 10-pound dumbbells in each hand. Do a bicep curl and then rotate your hands so your palms face outward, and do a Twisting Dumbbell Press. Then reverse the move until you're back to the starting position. Complete three sets of 10 to 12 reps.

As for her diet, Jessica eats complex carbohydrates such as oatmeal and whole wheat toast with one tablespoon of almond butter in the morning. For dinner she enjoys fish, veggies, and basmati rice. She snacks on fruits like bananas, apples, and strawberries. She doesn't deny herself the foods she craves, and likes to treat herself at the end of the day with something sweet like a piece of dark chocolate.

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