Freezers are where many a fitness goal has gone to crash and burn into a container of ice cream.

Dump those high-fat, high-sugar ice creams and instead stock your freezer with:

• Frozen grapes
• Fruit-only popsicles
• Frozen bananas for smoothies and blended protein shakes

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Want faster weight loss?

Then do a self-guided kitchen raid.

If your kitchen is stocked with the makings for healthy meals and snacks you’ll easily stay on track, even when those late-night cravings strike.

So what should you keep on hand and what should be banned?

Use this self-guided kitchen raid to help you sort out the good from the fattening.

Go ahead, grab a big box, print out the list below, and then head to the kitchen. When you’re done, take that box straight to the nearest food bank.

Your Refrigerator
Let’s start with the fridge, which is essentially the heart of your kitchen. If you find something in your fridge that is on the “Donate this” list, then you know what you have to do. Get that box ready.

• Donate this: Beverages with high fructose corn syrup or sugar. Drinking calories is one of the quickest ways to gain weight, so quickly rid your fridge of any beverage that lists HFCS or sugar on the ingredient list.Replace with: Water. It is a well-known fact that most people are partially dehydrated, a condition that is harmful to your health and wreaks havoc on your weight loss efforts. Keep plenty of cold water on hand for proper hydration.
• Donate this: Fatty meats. It is important that you be selective about the meats that you eat. I may tell you that chicken is a great source of protein, but if you take that as a license to eat fried chicken everyday then the benefit of the protein will be lost in all the extra fat calories.Replace with: Lean meats. Skinless chicken breast, lean ground turkey, white fish – there are numerous choices when it comes to lean meats.
• Donate this: Fruit-flavored yogurt.I hate to break this to you, but that cute individually packaged yogurt is going to do more harm to your waistline than you think. More than 50% of the calories in fruit-flavored yogurt come from sugar. Check out the ingredient list and you likely find both high fructose corn syrup AND sugar.Replace with: Plain low-fat yogurt, Greek yogurt, or low-fat cottage cheese. If you love yogurt, then get the low-fat plain version. You can even chop up some fresh fruit and stir it in. Another option is to have a scoop of low-fat cottage cheese with chopped fruit on top.

Your Pantry
This may be the most painful part of your kitchen raid, since most junk food ends up here. So take a moment to give yourself a pep talk before grabbing that garbage bag and opening your pantry.

• Donate this: Sugar-filled cereal.If sugar or high fructose corn syrup are listed as ingredients on your cereal box, it’s got to go. Sugar-filled cereal is basically another form of junk food, and will only add inches to your waist.Replace with: Whole Grain Oatmeal. There is a huge difference between instant, sugar-filled oatmeal and whole grain oatmeal.
• Donate this: Chips/Crackers. While refined chips and crackers are fun to munch on, the extra calories will quickly add up. Do yourself a favor by not allowing these into your pantry.Replace with: Almonds. The key to making this snack a winner is to practice portion control. Place a handful of almonds into individual bags for pre-portioned snacks.
• Donate this: Packaged Sweets.I don’t really have to explain this one, do I? Cookies and cakes and candies shouldn’t be a regular part of your diet, so keep them out of your house. It’s one thing to enjoy a dessert once in a while, it is quite another to routinely eat processed sweets at home.Replace with: Dried Fruit. When you want to munch on something sweet, turn to a bag of dried fruit. Make sure that you purchase dried fruit that does not contained added sugars.

Now march that box of off-limit foods to your nearest food bank and don’t look back.

It’s a great idea to raid your kitchen every couple of months as a way of keeping yourself on track.

Open up dialogue with your family members about the healthy changes that you’re making, and get everyone in on it.

The quickest and most permanent weight loss comes as a result of healthy eating and consistent, challenging workouts.

I’m here to help you meet your fitness and weight loss goals.

Call or email today to get started on a fitness program that will get you on the fast track to your best body ever.

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Use these quick tips to avoid overeating at your holiday party:

• A plate of appetizers is considered a meal. Don’t load up on appetizers and then sit down to a full meal.
• Survey all of your food options before beginning to eat. Choose a few of your favorites and then fill the rest of your plate with greens.
• Liquid calories count. Stick with only one calorie-filled drink and then switch to water.
• Eat a sensible meal before you arrive at the party. This will cut down on party food calories.

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Most of us think that there are only two ways to handle Holiday food temptations.
You could say “No” to everything and get the reputation of being a Grinch.
Or you could say “Yes” to everything and end up gaining 5 or 10 pounds.

Let’s explore the following 7 ways to politely turn down Holiday food that’s pushed on you by well meaning friends and family.

Food Push #1: “This is your favorite! Hand me your plate.”

Stalling Response: “I can’t wait to try some in a little bit.”

Why stalling works: By not directly turning the food pusher down, they feel that they’ve won and will drop the subject. Later you may decide that you want a small portion of the offered food, or you may decide to skip it.

Food Push #2: “Try this new dessert I made, you’ll love it!”

I’m Stuffed Response: “I wish that I had saved some room, but I’m stuffed.”

Why being stuffed works: No one can refute your statement about being full. If your food pusher is persistent then let them know that having one more bite would make you uncomfortably full to the point of pain.

Food Push #3: “I made this dish especially for you. Eat up!”

Diet Restriction Response: “Oh man, that looks good! Too bad I can’t eat gluten.”

Why having a diet restriction works: Even the pushiest people are likely to back off when they hear you have a diet restriction. The key is to be consistent. If you say that you aren’t eating gluten then don’t reach for a bread roll.

Food Push #4: The food pusher puts something on your plate without permission.

Spread It Around Response: Take your fork and spread the unwanted item around your plate to make it look like you took a few bites.

Why spreading it around works: You’re not making a scene, and quite frankly, no one is going to notice. When food is put on your plate without your consent you are under no obligation to eat it. Spreading the food around is a simple way to defuse the situation without eating something you didn’t want.

Food Push #5: “You are too concerned with dieting.”

Thank You For Noticing Response: “Thank you for noticing the healthy changes I’ve been making. Your support means a lot.”

Why saying thank you works: Sure, the dieting comment was probably made passive aggressively, but nothing is stopping you from taking it as a compliment. Seeing you make healthier choices may be intimidating for friends and family, so approach the subject with understanding rather than defensiveness.

Food Push #6: “Here’s a bag of leftovers for you to take home!”

Take a Break from Cooking Response: “Thanks, but keep the food so that you can take a break from all the cooking you’ve been doing.”

Why saying they’ll get a break from cooking works: Every good host wants to send their guests home with something, but given the option they’d love to have leftovers for themselves as well. Compliment their cooking and let them know that you think they deserve a break over the next few days.

Food Push #7: “We only have this dish once a year – you HAVE to eat some!”

I Want to Live Long Response: “That looks amazing! I’m going to skip it this year so that I can live to see many more wonderful holidays with you.”

Why wanting to live long works: Said with good humor, this drives home a serious point. You are watching what you eat so that you will be around for many more holidays to come to enjoy with your loved ones. No one can deny the importance of this!

By warding off food pushers you’ll eat fewer calories and will avoid holiday weight gain to start the New Year off right!

Remember that exercise is a huge part of the equation when it comes to achieving weight loss.

Call or email me today and we will get you started on the exercise program that will reshape your body in the New Year.

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In order to make healthy eating choices a no-brainer, empty out your kitchen of any and all junk food items. Throw out the processed, sugar-filled and carbohydrate-rich junk food items that have been contributing to your weight gain.

Now replace all of the junk items with healthy replacements. Whole, fresh food items like fruit, vegetables, lean protein, eggs, seeds and nuts. The closer an item is to its natural state, the healthier it is for you. Stay clear of “health food” that come packaged and processed.

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You cannot control your weight.

Disagree with that statement?

Go stand on a scale and decide to lose 5 pounds.

Well, how’d that work for you? Did your weight drop on command, or did it not budge?

It didn’t budge.

And yet you spend your precious time obsessing about your weight as if you had control over it.

The good news is that you do have control over a couple of important things that influence your weight.

I’m talking about your choices regarding what you eat and if you exercise.

Your current weight is the sum result of your history with eating and exercise.

Close your eyes and think back over the last three years of your life. What kinds of foods did you eat most often? How intensely did you exercise, and how often?

Now open your eyes and look at yourself in a full-length mirror. You are looking at the result of your past choices.

If you like what you see then keep on eating and exercising the same. It’s working for you!

If you don’t like what you see, then it’s time to start making different choices about food and exercise. Here are some suggestions:

Choices about food…

• I choose to eat wholesome foods that nourish my body.
• I choose to only eat when I’m hungry and to stop eating when I’m full.
• I choose to not eat junk food, sugary drinks or sweets.
• I choose to eat a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables every day.

Choices about exercise…

• I choose to get up early in the morning, when I could be sleeping, to invest an hour of my time in exercise.
• I choose to be consistent with my workout schedule, giving exercise the same importance as a doctor’s appointment.
• I choose to change my workout routine often, to always keep my muscles guessing.
• I choose to push myself to new levels of intensity, in order to strengthen and tone my muscles.

There’s no reason to spend another minute obsessing about the number on your scale. You’re smarter than that.

Instead focus your energy on the choices you make regarding what you eat and how you exercise.

Remember, I’m here to help you meet your fitness and weight loss goals.

Call or email today to get started on a fitness program that will quickly bring you to your goal.

An excellent exercise choice to make is to start one of my fitness programs!

For more insightful health and nutrition articles, please subscribe to our newsletter. While you are there please refer a friend, or two.