LA Weight loss closing in Charlotte (from Jill)

I was sorry to read about the LA Weight Loss closings and the number of people that have now been left without their money's worth.
Weight loss is not only good for health and wellness, but its also an emotional process. When you spend the kind of money listed in the article for this type of service its because you are reaching out for help.

My company, Total Nutrition Technologies, specializes in weight loss, health management and sports performance. We do not sell food products, but instead work with clients to develop long-term health eating habits.

We would love to extend an offer to help people that have paid for an LA Weight Loss program with a center that is now closed. With proof of payment to LA Weight Loss for services not completed or rendered, we will offer no enrollment fee, a month’s worth of services for free and a free visual 3-D health assessment that provides internal health age, health risks and allows people to see a potential body transformation on a proper health and fitness program.

We have offices nine offices in the Charlotte area - Uptown, University City, Southpark, Ballantyne, Matthews, Pineville, Cornelius, Myers Park, Davidson and Mooresville. For clients that may not be able to have regular face-to-face meetings, we also offer telephone and e-mail interaction to keep people motivated and ensure clients reach their health goals.

We want to ensure that the people that paid for services to LA Weight Loss can still stay on track with their weight loss goals and are happy to help out.

You can reach me at (704) 549-9550.

4 year old burger and fries - like new! (from Jill)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IGtDPG4UfI
A woman named Julia Havey had written a book about overcoming food “vices” but what she has done that is REALLY interesting is that she carries around a fast food burger and fries in a regular lunchbox with no added preservatives or any special wrapping and you can see it by clicking on the link above. It has no mold, mildew or any visible signs of aging – YIKES!

Is Tilapia the new RED meat?!?!?! (from Jill)

You may have heard news reports saying that a popular fish, Tilapia, is now thought to be LESS heart healthy than a burger, so let us clear up these confusing media headlines. A study was done to analyze the amount of two types of polyunsaturated fats (specifically omega-3 and omega-6) in commonly eaten fish. What they found was that tilapia had similar amount of omega-6 fats to that of bacon and 80% lean hamburger which is possibly related to increased inflammation in the body. However, there is no definitive evidence that this is true. In addition, the media left out the part of the statement from the researchers that talked about “all other nutritional content” of the fish – such as lower calories, total fat and saturated fat – as compared to bacon and burgers. The final word from the American Dietetic Association is that “…Fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, including trout, salmon, tuna and mackerel, may offer better health benefits. However, because fish that are low in omega-3’s, such as tilapia, catfish, cod and mahi-mahi, are still low in total and saturated fat and high in protein, they can remain part of a healthy diet”.

New Vitamins D recommendations for Kids (from Jill)

A report came out monday of this week (so you may have read about it by now) that says that the nation's leading pediatricians group says children from newborns to teens should get double the usually recommended amount of vitamin D because of evidence that it may help prevent serious diseases. The new recommendation of 400 units daily will mean that millions of children will need to take daily vitamin D supplements.

Every age group seems to be effected from infants to teens. The only group that might be getting adequate Vit D are babies who take formula since most contain vitamin D. However, the academy recommends breast-feeding for at least the first year of life and breast milk is sometimes deficient. For older children who drink milk, most commercially available milk is fortified with vitamin D, but most children and teens don't drink enough of it since four cups daily would be needed to meet the new requirement. Besides milk and some other fortified foods like cereal, vitamin D is found in oily fish including tuna, mackerel and sardines. Given the limited sources, it's hard to get enough through diet; the best source is sunlight because the body makes vitamin D when sunshine hits the skin. While it is believed that 10 to 15 minutes in the sun without sunscreen a few times weekly is sufficient for many, people with dark skin and those in northern, less sunny climates need more. Because of sunlight's link with skin cancer, "vitamin D supplements during infancy, childhood and adolescence are necessary," the academy's report says.

The new advice is based on mounting research about potential benefits from vitamin D besides keeping bones strong, including suggestions that it might reduce risks for cancer, diabetes and heart disease. But - AND THIS IS IMPORTANT - the evidence isn't conclusive and there's no consensus on how much of the vitamin would be needed for disease prevention. As with all research, you may want to wait to see if future studies prove the same findings and, in the meantime, it would be appropriate to try to figure out your child's Vitamin D intake and/or discuss it with your pediatrician (especially if you child doesn't like dairy foods or fortified cereals)

Should I avoid High Fructose Corn Syrup (from Jill)

First of all, let's learn what this substnace is....High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is a manmade sweetener that’s found in a wide range of processed foods including things that don't even tast sweet. Things like ketchup, cereals, crackers and salad dressings. It also sweetens just about all of the (regular) soda Americans drink.

HFCS used in foods is between 50 to 55 percent fructose (a naturally occuring type of sugar in fruit) —so chemically, it’s virtually identical to table sugar (sucrose) becuase that is also 50 percent fructose. Metabolic studies suggest our bodies break down and use HFCS and sucrose the same way.

Yet, after HFCS began to be widely introduced into the food supply 30-odd years ago, obesity rates skyrocketed. And because the sweetener is so ubiquitous, many blame HFCS for playing a major role in our national obesity epidemic. As a result, some shoppers equate HFCS with “toxic waste” when they see it on a food label. But when it comes right down to it, a sugar is a sugar is a sugar. A can of soda contains around nine teaspoons of sugar in the form of HFCS—but, from a biochemical standpoint, drinking that soda is no worse for you than sipping home-brewed iced tea that you’ve doctored with nine teaspoons of table sugar or an equivalent amount of honey.

A nutrition professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, barry Popkin, Ph.D., who previously suggested, in an influential 2004 paper, a possible HFCS-obesity link, stresses that the real obesity problem doesn’t lie just with HFCS. Rather, it’s the fact that sugars from all sources have become so prevalent in our food supply, especially in our beverages. People think that “natural” sweeteners sometimes added to upscale processed foods and many "organic" foods are safer but, if a sugar is a sugar, then what we really want to be looking for are lower sugar foods - on the whole - not just the source of sugar in the product. Some of the other sugars you may find on a label is honey, brown sugar, rice syrup, brown rice syrup, concentrated fruit juice and other types of "syrups" but, what you want to remember is that they all have the same caloric effects as sugar.

You should also remember that not all of the sugar in a product is an added sugar (one of those listed above). Some foods - fruit, whole grain starches and dairy - have naturally occuring sugar. A good "rule of thumb" is to look for products with less than 5 grams of sugar. Some leeway can be given to allow up to 10 g sugar IF that sugar is coming from some of those natually occuring sugar in the product. How can you tell? Read the ingredients and, if there are no added sugar sources listed in the first 3 ingredients, you can assume that most of the grams of sugar listed on the label are coming from whole foods and not added sugars

Could a Little Temptation Be a Good Thing? (from Jill)

When trying to lose weight, many people will often keep any tempting foods from their kitchens to prevent overeating them. However, a new study suggests that keeping some sweet treats around might be a good way to build willpower.
In three tests that presented female college students with tempting foods, researchers found that the women exerted greater self-control when they had previously been confronted with a sweet treat they had access to — rather than just pictures or smells. This is very different from the old way of thinking about ways to overcome overeating and the implication, say the researchers, is that challenging yourself to resist temptation may be more effective than banning all sweets and snack foods from the house for both short-term and long-term success. As with all research, there should still be more studies to determine if this is truly accurate or not but it's something to think about.....

Another reason to avoid trans fat (from Jill)

In the past few years, there had been many reports abot the dangers of trans fats and where these types of fats occur in our diets. Many people have made a concious effort to limit the amount of saturated fat in their diet to the recommended 1% of calorie intake. A new study from the Jewish Hospital Cholesterol Center in Cincinnati, OH has found a link that will be of great importance to one population of people, in particular - pregnany women. Their study found a link between women who had a higher percentage of calories from trans fat (4.7% of calories compared to 2.2% of calroies) and the rate of fetal mortality - 52% among the women with the higher intake compared to 30% among the women with lower intake. While more studies need to be done to confirm this link, it is certainly another thing to consider when choosing foods during preganacy. If you are concerned about the foods you are choosing while pregnany, or what to learn more about trans fats, make an appointment with your local TNT Health Educator, today.

Nut Allergies - from Jill

Peanut Free Diet Information- As many kids head back to school and many schools are not allowing peanut-containing foods onto school grounds, there are many quesitons parents have about what to send to school.

1) What IS considered “peanut free”?
Any of the following ingredients would be considered “peanuts” and so should not be part of any of the products you send to school with your child:
Peanuts
Peanut Butter
Peanut flour
Beer nuts
Cold-pressed Peanut oil (and heat-pressed should also be avoided)
Ground nuts
Mixed nuts
Nu-Nuts flavored nuts
Hydrolyzed plant protein
Hydrolyzed vegetable protein
Goober peas or nuts

2) What types of products may contain these ingredients?
Candy
Cookies
Pastries
Crackers
Chocolate
Cereal
Granola
Ice Cream
Spaghetti Sauce
Soup
Chili
Ethnic dishes such as African, Chinese, Indonesian, Thai and Vietnamese
Marzipan
nougat
3) Are ANY nuts allowed? While peanuts and treenuts (i.e., almonds, cashews, pecans, walnuts, etc) are not related foods, the potential for cross-contamination is high. This means that where treenuts are found, peanuts are also commonly found. It is a good idea to avoid all nuts if you are peanut allergic! If the manufacturer has gone to the trouble of printing a warning such as “may contain trace amounts of …” or “processed in plant that contains nuts”, then that means that it is usually significant enough to cause an allergic reaction and should be avoided.

If you are looking for more infomation on healthy meals and snacks that are nut-free, contact your local TNT Health Educator and make an appointment today!

Disappointing ratings for charlotte (from Jill)

I read an article at the end of last week that listed Charlotte as the number FIVE consumer of junk food - IN THE COUNTRY! We were even ranked higher than New Orleans which is definitely not a health food destination! WOW! The rankings were based on a yearly grocery bill of products bought at major grocery chains throughout the country and counted the amount of "unhealthy" foods purchased. Anything from cookies, salty snacks, high fat condiments and higher fat frozen meals were included in the "unhealthy" category.
With all the media focused on healthy eating and other articles highlighting the plethora of walking paths, local farmer's markets and other opportunities for healthy lifestyles, this is a disappointing ranking and one that i KNOW we can do something about. If you are ready to improve your diet and lifestyle, please contact you local TNT Health Educator today :-)

good things DON'T always come in small packages - from Jill

100-calorie packs have been around for years but were mostly unnoticed until about 3 years ago. Now, you can find 100-calorie servings of everything from cookies to ice cream to soda to dried fruit... and so on. While many people have jumped onto this hot trend as a way to have quick portion control, new market research is finding that, in fact, these smaller packages are having the opposite effect on our weight. You see, many people ASSUME that something in 100 calorie package size is "health food" and therefore, people will often allow themselves to have more than one package at a time since it is perceived as healthy. These smaller packages seem to be more likely to fuel temptation to have "just a little bit" of an indulgence so, if you like the convenience of the 100 calorie packs, enjoy - but ONLY ONE.

Irradiated Greens? (from Jill)

In case you didn't know, irradiated meat and spices have been around for years. The purpose of doing this is to kill E.Coli. Now, given all the recent outbreaks over the last few years, the FDA is going to start irradiating greens like lettuce and spinach. The FDA says that "zapping" the food will kill E.Coli, listeria and salmonella while not effecting the nutrition or "crispness" of the vegetable. But certain food safety experts at the Centers for Science and the Public Interest, think that it is expensive and doesn't realy address the source of the problem (i.e. preventing contamination in the first place) nor does it kill viruses (only bacteria). So, while no other vegetbales will be irradiated at this time, it is important to know that the FDA says that no radiation transfers from the food to the consumers.

North Carolina Action for Healthy Kids (from Jill)

The North Carolina Board of Dietetics (the local branch of the American Dietetic Association that licenses all Registered Dietitians) is promoting a program called North Carolina Action for Healthy Kids. This group has declared September "Successful Students East Smart and Move More" month. This was done to help raise awareness that parents, teachers, administrators and the community at large need to understand for themselves and promote the importance of good nutrition and physical activity for children and adolescents. Check out the website www.NCActionForHealthyKids.org for resources you can use to educate yourself and the young people in your life. OR call your closest Health Educator and make an appointment today!

Exercise Pill (from Jill)

I'm sure there will be LOTS of inquiries in the next few weeks since the article came out yesterday about a new "exercise pill" so let's talk about it now before we get too far gone. First of all, this research was done in a small population of mice... there is NO way to tell if the pill will have the same effect in humans. Second, there are many other benefits to exercise besides just burning calories.... you increase your cardiovascular health, improve your mood, increase your stamina and build muscle mass - just to name a few. So, while it may seem like a "miracle cure" for any couch potatoes out there, remember the saying that "... if it's too good to be true, it probably is"

Eat, not drink, your fruit (from Jill)

Just wanted to bring to light the discrepency between what you THINK you get in a fruit smoothie and what you actually get. What many people think they get is good nutrition but what you actually get is alot of sugar and not alot of nutrition. Now, this is not always true across the board - especially if you make it at home. But, for the most part, if you order a smoothie at any of the popular chains, what you are getting are mostly fruit-flavored syrups and ice - and ALOT of it! A standard 20 ounce (the smallest option at most chains) provide you with ~ 400 calories, almost no fiber, no protein and alot of sugar. Yes, some of that MAY be natural fruit sugar (depending on what was real fruit and what was syrup) and yes, it will most likely be fat free, but slurping down 400 calories of mostly quick-absorbing carbohydrates as a "snack" isn't going to give you nearly the longer-term fullness factor that other 400 calorie items might and, most of use grab these as a snack but, for most of us 400 calories is way too much for a snack. So, again, be prepared when you leave the house and bring your own fresh fruit and water for a snack and, if you HAVE to stop off at a smoothie bar, get the smallest size possible, check to see if they add any fresh fruit to it and SPLIT it with a friend :-)

Happy 4th (from Jill)

Many people see a long holiday weekend as an impossible hurdle to sticking to a healthy living plan but you CAN celebrate the holiday and not throw all of your good habits out the window. If attending a barbeque or cookout, try to find out ahead of time what the menu will be. If possible, offer to bring something to the event (like chicken breast or veggie burgers so that you won't be stuck eating unhealthier fare like burgers and hotdogs). If you feel awkward bringing something or can't find out ahead of time, maybe consider eating a healthy meal before you go and spending your time mingling and socializing instead of eating. Or, if you feel like you will be "obligated" to eat sometime, at least have a snack before you go so that you won't be starving and can feel satisfied with just a few bites of a higher-fat food choice. Remember to also try to stay well-hydrated and don't stand near the buffet table or bowl of chips and other junk food. If all else fails, remember that you have all day friday, saturday and sunday to get in some good exercise to balance out any unhealthy food choices that may play into the celebration this weekend. Whatever you do, be safe, have fun and be sure to return to your healthy lifestyle as soon as possible. One weekend shouldn't, and doesn't have to, change your overall health.

Parents' Money (from Jill)

I read an interesting article lately that was both surprising and upsetting. It talked about a study showing that parents spend more on fast food for their children per year than on entertainment such as books, music, video games and movies combined! Now, that's not ALL food, but just fast food alone. Not to say that there aren't times when we are all too busy to cook and also not to say that there aren't healthy choices to be made at fast food restaurants, BUT, we all know that the choices kids make at fast food restaurants are generally full of saturated fat and "empty calories". So, again, I know there are times when we are running and the drive-thru might be a necessary evil but I thought this eye-opening statistic may help spur us to plan ahead a bit more and pack a sandwich when we think we'll be on the run. Not only is it healthier for the kids but will also help save us lots of money (and fat and calories) at the end of the year :-)

health for the whole family (by Jill)

This week, i read and interesting article that talked about ways parents can help their kids eat healthy and I wanted to share those ideas with you.

1) Don't Nag- being a “food cop” is only going to drive your child further away from our healthy intentions. Rather than watching over their shoulder and what they are eating, try bringing only healthy food choices into the house so that there is not question if what they are eating is healthy. 2) Lead by example. - If you eat right and exercise regularly, studies show that eventually they will, too. 3) Do it for the whole family. – no matter if one person or the whole family is overweight, eating healthy will benefit everyone and prevents you from “singling out” one child who may be overweight. 4) Make it easy- Keep sliced fruit in the refrigerator and other healthy choices at eye-level or out on the table. 5)Give them a say. – a great way to help the kids fell empowered is to teach them what healthy foods are and then let them pick which snacks they’d like to have (that are within the healthy guidelines) 6) Eat together.- show the kids that the “rules” are for everyone, not just them.
If you’d like to incorporate healthy eating but need some guidance, feel free to call and make an appointment with one of our health educators today 

200 decisions (from Jill)

I read a really interesting article this past week and I wanted to share the main point with you. People often lament how hard it is to eat healthy all the time and they say they feel like a "failure" if they can't "stick to a diet". First, let me say that you really want to look at eating as a healthy lifestyle, not a diet. But, beyond that, i thought this article was very interesting because it said that we are faced with, on average, about 200 decisions about food each day. You know you have decisions to make for meals and snacks but this article was also pointing out that every time we see a commercial, an ad in the newspaper or pass by a yummy-smelling bakery, we are constantly bombarded with food images and make split-second decisions right then and there if this is something we are going to eat or not - even if we aren't hungry. So, my point is that, yes it IS hard and you are NOT a failure if you can't "stick to it". What you need are the skills to help you make healthy decisions 200 times a day and working one-on-one with your own dietitian can do that for you :-)

Using common sense in restaurants (from Jill)

I think that it is really great that so many restaurants are trying to cater to consumers' health concerns by trying to provide "healthy" menu items, but, we still need to be savvy consumers and make sure that what they are advertising is what we are getting. Why? An independent research firm recently analyzed various "healthy" dishes from large chain sit-down restaurants that have "guiltless" and "skinny" meals and found that the calories and fat can be almost double what the menu says the content should be! Now, I am not saying that this is being done on purpose to mislead us and most likely is a variation based on the way it is prepared in the individual restaurant so, what do we do? Of course, these menu items are often a much better "jumping off" point when trying to decipher a menu BUT, you still need to be aware as a consumer, what the portion size should be and what the toppings should be (as described on the menu) and not just blindly eat whatever is served because it may be much more than you were expecting. You are making such a good effort to order "healthy" meals in restaurants so please make sure that you are getting what you asked for :-) Jill

Keep drinking that water (from Jill)

In the last week or so, there were several news stories talking about reports that maybe we really don't need as much water each day as previously recommended. While more research may still be needed to decide one way or the other, let's not forget all of the health benefits we get from keeping ourselves adequately hydrated. First of all, our bodies are 70% water and it plays a role in many vital body functions. Second, when we get dehydrated, our body gives off the same signals as hunger so staying well -hydrated can help us make sure we aren't eating for the wrong reasons and, therefore, help control weight. A third important function of water is to help energize our muscles. We know working out is important but if our muscles are fatigued from dehydration, we are not going to have the energy to get the most out of the time we spend in the gym. The last 3 reasons that water is important - it keeps our skin looking good, helps our kidneys function and keeps our bowels regular. So... no matter what the most recent news stories say, remember that getting enough fluids is important for many different reasons.

safe grilling (from Jill)

I haven't been feeling well these last 24 hours or so and I think I may have eaten some undercooked shellfish and so, while this post isn't exactly related to that, it just made me think to remind everyone to use safe grilling techniques as this season kicks into high gear. Remember not to put cooked meats back on the same plate that the raw meats came out on and remember to use a different set of tongs for transferring raw versus cooked meats. Also, do not pour marinades that you were using for the raw meat, back over the cooked meat when it is done. Cutting into the meat can release the tasty juices so, purchase a meat thermometer to make sure that your meats are cooked thoroughly (chicken breast - 165 degrees, pork chops - 145 degrees, strip steak or flank steak about 1 inch thick - 140 degrees for medium, hamburgers - 155 degrees) and, of course, make sure to wash your hand thoroughly after you handle raw food. Happy (and safe) grilling!

My "soap box" for this week (Jill)

Hi, Everyone,
I saw something in the last week or so on TV that really made me mad and I thought I'd share. It was a brief piece on a particular morning talk show that had an author (not a dietitian or a doctor) telling people the various salt content in some restaurant selections. Now, of course, I 100% agree that it is important to know the salt content of foods and try to minimize as much as possible. But, this person was using very poor comparisons and examples that, while may be lower in salt, certainly wouldn't be considered "healthy" food choices. For example, he showed one chain restaurant meal (something like a grilled chicken salad that we would assume is healthy) and showed how it had as much salt a 11 orders of fast-food onion rings. Shocking - yes! Does that mean you should choose onion rings instead - no! But that isn't the impression you'd get if you didn't know alot about nutrition or if you didn't read the other info (fat and calories). So... I am just saying this to bring attention to the fact that media stories about nutrition, while sometimes full of great and useful info, can also be misleading (unintentionally or not) so do take that info with a grain of salt (pun intended) and consult a nutrition professional if you are unsure about the quality of your food intake.

healthy restaurants (from Jill)

I have read, in several different places, a recent review of the top healthiest restaurants in the nation and, while I think this list is a good start, I still hope that people won't get carried away and assume that everything on the menu is a health food. If you've seen this list, please investigate and read the full article because the details will tell you why this restaurant was chosen (rankings included things like using natural or organic foods versus just having lower-fat or lower-calorie fare) and, most importantly, also list which dishes were found to be healthier choices and which dishes are still not a good idea. So, I think it is great that there are healthy menu options to be found in almost every restaurant but just be warned to PLEASE still read the menu carefully - look for how the dishes are prepared and what types of dressings and sauces they use - and remember that, in a restaurant, even a healthier dish may still be way to big of a portion. If you eat out often and need some more help in deciding what would be good menu options for you, feel free to make an appointment with one of our health educators to discuss your concerns and get some helpful hints to get you on your way to a healthier you!

website to check out

Happy spring! Isn't it great we are finally seeing 70 degree weather? It's a great time to get outside and enjoy...everything is so green!
I recently had a client that told me about a website that she has found helpful, it's called www.hungry-girl.com. It's got alot of healthy tips and ideas from calorie saving cooking tips to fabulous food finds (or horrors), as well as nutrition news. It's a fun website to check out!

Enjoy the week...

Kim

Happy Passover

To anyone out there celebrating Passover this upcoming week, I just wanted to remind you all to look out for one of the common pitfalls of the holiday - lack of fiber! Now, maybe you've never really paid attention to fiber before (and if not, then this is a great time to start) but matzo is notoriously low in fiber which can lead to alot of abdominal discomfort - in addition to the fact that many holiday foods are very high in fat (eggs and butter instead of flour in recipes) that can also contribute to a stalled digestion process. So, this may be just the time of year to really examine the fiber in your diet and look for it in other places. For the rest of the year, very-high-fiber breads and cereals are some of the major sources of fiber each day but, for this week, why not concentrate on fiber from fruits and vegetables - which likely means increasing your servings of fruits and vegetables (and not from potatoes), brown rice and legumes (depending on how you observe the holiday). Also, look for fiber in SMALL amounts of nuts and seeds and, even when you do go back to bread, make sure that you continue to strive for lots of fiber in your diet. If you're unsure of how much fiber to get or if you are getting enough, you can always contact a dietitian at Total Nutrition Technology for an appointment! Jill

Warmer weather can pose new challenges

This week, with the weather getting warmer, I thought I'd write about what seems to be a common phenomenon here in Charlotte, and probably alot of other cities around the country. When it's nicer and sunny out after work, we don't feel the need or desire to rush home as much and that often means hanging around at an outdoor bar or restaurant whiling away the afternoon with a few drinks. Now, I'm not suggesting that ONE drink wouldn't fit into a healthy lifestyle, but often these scenarios involve more than one drink and often more than one night a week and that is where we can get into "trouble". Wine or beer may seem more "acceptable" on a healthy diet versus fried foods or sweets like cake but, after that one glass of wine, your body really isn't going to do anything with it but store it as fat (just like the fried foods or cake) so, just like you wouldn't attend a "happy hour of cake" EVERY day and expect to still be healthy, you'd want to view alcohol in the same way and recognize that adding this into your diet every day, in large quantities, is going to derail your healthy eating and lifestyle efforts just as much as those foods that you try so hard to avoid. Just some food (or drink) for thought this week :-) Jill

Top Foods To Eat

I recently read an article of the top foods to eat. Among the list was spinach, carrots, nuts, blueberries and black beans. Black beans are one of my favorite foods. Black beans are not only good for your heart but have antioxidants which help to boost brain power. A 1/2 cup serving has 7.5 grams of fiber and 8 grams of protein, as well as being low in fat and calories. Here is one of my favorite recipes using black beans. It's a great side with grilled fish tacos.

Corn & Black Bean Salad

Combine 1 (15oz) can black beans drained & rinsed with 1 (7oz) can of "Mexicorn" drained, 1/4 cup cider vinegar, 1 Tbsp sugar and 1/4 tsp cumin. Serve at room temperature.

Enjoy!

Kim

keep going....

Hi, Everyone,
Don't have much to say today other than this one interesting thing I heard on the radio yesterday.... these hosts were saying that this past wednesday was "fat wednesday" and this has nothing to do with Mardi Gras. They were saying that there has been some study that shows that this week is the middle of a 3-4 week period where MOST people who had made some kind of weight loss or exercise new years resolution begin to lose motivation or "back slide" and that this particular wednesday was a day when people would go way overboard and eat upwards of 4,000 calories in one day!!! So, the reason I am writing about this is to say "KEEP GOING with your resolutions" and also that it's not too late to start. If you are one of these people who has been trying this on your own and need some new motivation, guidance, structure or just someone who will focus solely on YOU to help you achieve your goals, contact us at TNT and let us help you keep your resolution and don't become a statistic in that VERY high percentage of people who give up on their new years resolution! Jill

Read those labels

I saw a quick video this week that talked about label reading and I thought it was a great "study" as they stopped random people on the street and asked them to read the Nutrition Facts on various foods - especially snack foods. What they found was that most people are still NOT looking at the NUMBER of servings in a bag of snacks and there is almost ALWAYS more than one serving in a bag! SO, i am "ranting" today because I feel like many people ARE trying to be healthier and picking out snacks that are claiming to be "trans fat free", "heart healthy", "whole grain" etc and maybe even looking at the "Nutrition Facts" panel to check the number of calories and/or fat but PLEASE PLEASE do yourself the EXTRA favor of checking out how many servings are in that package! There are plenty of people who are frustrated out there because they feel like they are eating all the "right" foods and still not achieveing their goals and this can be happening becuase of the "right " foods but still in the "wrong" portions! READ THOSE LABELS :-) Jill

Hope everyone had a great Easter! Isn't it great that it's springtime and warming up? When it finally gets warmer, it's hard to resist taking a walk outside, not only is it great exercise but it's a great way to de-stress. One of my favorite places lately to walk is the Little Sugarcreek Greenway trail to Freedom Park. This is a great trek that takes about 1 hr roundtrip. The easiest way to access it is to park behind the Michael's at Park Road Shopping Center (corner of Park Rd & Woodlawn) and walk the concrete bridge over the creek to access the trail.

Here's to a happy and healthy spring!

Kim

Easter tempations (from Jill)

Hi! This is Jill again and just thought I'd touch on the topic that I've been talking about alot this week, which is how to deal with the holiday this weekend. Most people are going to make the meal itself their "cheat meal" which is great but I think we all tend to overlook both the preparation AND the leftovers so... As you are cooking, try to set out a bowl of raw veggies to munch on (carrot sticks, celery sticks, cherry tomatoes, etc) AND a large cup of water so that, when you are tempted to "take a taste" of this or that, try to go to YOUR bowl and cup first. All those little bites and licks before hand can be a whole other cheat meal in itself :-)

As for the leftovers, send them packing! If you aren't having alot of people over, try to remember this as you are cooking and scale back on the recipe - buy a smaller ham, only make one type of starchy side and maybe try individual desserts instead of a whole cake. If you ARE having alot of people over, stock up on some tupperware beforehand so you can send people home with the leftovers. SOME leftovers, may be okay, like having a lean ham sandwich for the next day or two, but anything that was made with alot of butter, cream, oil, etc is NOT something you want staring back at your from the fridge for the next few days :-) Remember, ENJOY the meal and the time with family and friends but try to go right back to your healthy eating the next day! HAPPY EASTER!

Introduction

Hi Everyone!

Well I thought this week I would take Jill's lead and introduce myself as well...

I have been in Charlotte for several months now and enjoying it so far. Before moving to Charlotte, I lived in Phoenix, AZ for several years. While in Phoenix, I returned to school to study nutrition and I worked for awhile at a hospital. Though I enjoyed meeting the patients and providing them with info on a variety of diets, I knew that I wanted to be more involved with preventive care. That interest led me to Charlotte and TNT.

When I am not working, I love to cook; my favorite food being anything Asian. I also love to stay fit by walking my dog, Zoe and going for hikes.
Have a great week!

Kim

Jill's first post

Hi, Everyone,
I thought that, for my first blog, I would just introduce myself and tell you a bit about my background. I have always been interested in nutrition and was lucky to find this major as a freshman at Penn State University. My interest in nutrition stems from my years growing up as a dancer, gymnast and soccer player. I knew I needed fuel to get through my activities and I wanted to learn more about it. I also came to realize, through personal family experiences, what a role nutrition can play in health and disease-prevention. Becuase of the impact nutrition has had on MY life, i feel passionate about it as an important part of everyone's life.

After graduating, doing my intership and passing the boards for my license, I've had some really great jobs all over the Northeast and down here in Charlotte. I've worked in alot of rewarding settings both with in-patients and out-patients and both adults and pediatrics and coming to TNT has been the best experience of all.

I love getting to sit one-on-one with each client and help them work on improving their health. I think we both learn from each other - since each person is unique, they have their own unique outlook on the role foods plays in their life, how they approach various situations, what techniques work for them and what they deal with each day as it all relates to nutrition - I can treat each person differently and find out what works for THEM. Seeing a smile at the end of a session or just hearing that they really learned something new is what I strive for.

Anyway, you'll be hearing from me each week so I thought you might want to know a bit about the person who was writing :-) Have a great weekend! Jill

One week and counting

So I have one week to go before my child arrives. It is so exciting. Once again this pregnancy has been a beautiful journey and I have learned so much. Not too sound like a broken record but I really can not emphasize enough the importance of eating right and staying physically active... (Not just during pregnancy but for everyone at all stages of one's life). I am not sure where the concept of .. "I'm eating for two...so I'll eat what I want" came from. All we really need is an extra 300 calories a day while pregnant (500 while nursing). An extra 300 calories is not that much. Why would we want to add junk to our body if we are nourishing a life within us? The extra baby weight is tough enough to carry around while pregnant ..but too add unnecessary pounds makes it that much harder on our joints, energy level and overall health. We recently rolled out a new specialty program called "TNT mom's". I highly encourage all mom's "to be" or "trying to be" to take advantage of this program.. it will get you on track and keep you on track during this exciting time of your life. Do not feed into excuses while pregnant...If you are in your first trimester and have morning sickness..think baby steps.. some walking is better than none. Bargain with yourself and say you will do at least 15 minutes. You may be surprised that once you hit that mark you feel better and want to keep going. During your third trimester you my feel the same.. tired and worn down.. but I am a true believer that if you do a little of something it will make you feel so much better. Mentally and physically!
I'll end with this quote I recently ran across...
- "A person with health has many wishes... yet a person without their health has but one" anonymous
Have a super day
Until next week
ang

Eating healthy at work

Hi Everyone!



Haven't we all been in this circumstance? We decide to start eating more healthy so we'll look cute in that new spring dress. So the first area we try to clean up in is what we're eating at work. We make full intention to skip the lunch run to the pizza place around the corner and pack a healthy lunch instead. We bring healthy snacks to store in our desk; doesn't a bowl of fresh fruit look enticing sitting on one's desk? However, it never fails someone out there always brings in the cinnamon rolls made over the weekend or puts a big dish of chocolates on their desk for everyone to grab. When you stop by the breakroom to refill your water bottle, there's that plate of leftover cake on the counter, calling for you "eat me, eat me".



What's a person to do? A great idea is to get the whole office motivated to start a healthy eating campaign. Encourage fellow co-workers to start bringing healthy snacks in....do a healthy potluck lunch...start a friendly competition to see who can lose the most (healthy) weight in a month, provide non-food related gift cards as prizes...ask for healthier foods to be served in the cafeteria and/or at staff meetings.



The workplace doesn't have to be a scary place where all those tempting foods hang out. It'll make your life a whole lot easier when you work in a healthy environment...and more then likely many of your co-workers will be thankful for it as well.

Here's to a happy, healthy spring!

Kim

I'm just about cooked

Hello Everyone and welcome to TNT's new blog site..I want to thank Erina, my marketing assistant for helping us set this up. Of course we will be using the blog section for nutrition and fitness updates as well as "what's new with TNT".. but I think it will also be a fun way for me to communicate with clients and friends and family regarding my progress with pregnancy and "what's new" with my pregnancy. As of today I am 2.5 weeks out. Other than not being able to sleep and running to the bathroom every 15 minutes I think I am doing pretty good. I feel good and am anxiously awaiting for my little one to arrive. Yes, I have still been working out. I think my workouts and healthy eating has a lot to do with having such a wonderful pregnancy. So for all of you females who are wanting to get pregnant.. this is all the more reason to be sure you are living a healthy lifestyle NOW. Trust me your body will thank you as well as your baby.
I'll be sure to send out a picture of my pregnant belly shortly.. I know most of you will get a kick out of this..but remember...this is the ONLY time you will see me with a belly..lol
Have a Super Day
ang

Charlotte Health & Fitness Magazine

Happy Friday!

Tim Long from CHF magazine came in to see Angela and experience the wonders of the metabolic machine himself. Click Here to read all about it on the CHF blog!

Not many of you know, but this TNT Marketing/PR wondergirl is based in the glorious New York City, yes, yes.. you know you're jealous. :) (Fun fact of the day numero uno.)
Well, the thing about living in the city is, at least for this week, is the fact that it is both Restaurant and Fashion Week. How two topics that are so far apart (models who don't eat and regular NYC folks who takes advantage of the 3-Course Prix-Fixe Dining) manage to exist on the same week blows my mind away.
Well, I digressed... my point is, aside from this little bubble that is this island, I fully realized that there are other exciting things happening all over the country this weekend. Such as the Superbowl weekend! I tried to get excited about this, but frankly I'm much more excited about the first show of the season inside those elusive tents.
So, Superbowl weekend, Yes, of course. We have a fantastic to-die-for recipe you must try! See below:


SUPER BOWL RECIPE
7 Layer Mexican Dip
2 cans fat-free refried beans
8 oz 1/3 less fat cream cheese
8 oz fat-free sour cream
1 pkg taco seasoning mix
4 cups shredded lettuce
½ cup chopped onion
6 sliced black olives
1 tomato (diced)
4 oz 2% milk cheddar cheese
½ cup salsa

Directions:

• Spread refried beans in bottom of 9x12 dish.
• Blend cream cheese, sour cream, and taco seasoning mix
  and spread over beans.
• Sprinkle with onions, then lettuce, olives, tomatoes, cheese and salsa.
• Serve with Baked Tostitos.

Serving size = ½ cup with 1 oz Baked Tostitos
250 calories, 35 g carbohydrates, 9 g protein, 3 g fat
2 starch, 1 vegetable, 1 meat, ½ fat


Let us know how you love it and have a fantastic football weekend!

-EP
http://www.tntgetfit.com

Get Inspired! Get Fit!

Welcome All!

Total Nutrition Technology (a.k.a. TNT) is officially live in the blogging sphere. We feel very cool and up-to-date, after all, we are finally and officially a certified teenager (a 15 year old one at that!)

We have numerous exciting new developments in our cozy TNT world, that we could hardly keep it to ourselves, so here they are:

First and foremost, we have a new website! We have finally outgrown our old one and decided that it is time to shake things up a bit. With the help and design expertise of the wonderful and talented Joel Lucibello at Agenity we finally got a sparkling wonderfulness that is the new tntgetfit.com. Joel did an amazing job and was so patient during the whole entire process dealing with Angela and I! We thank him already, but should you feel compelled to do the same, you can email him compliments and love at joel@agenity.com

We also got a brand new addition to our talented team of Health Educators, Kim Fagan. Kim will be taking over the South Park office, so please take a moment to say hello to her if you happen to be at the South Park Peak Fitness. Unfortunately, I have not had a chance to personally meet her, but I heard Kim is very sweet and would probably love to hear from you. Email her at kim@tntgetfit.com!

If you haven't notice, we are also in the process and nearing the end of our re-branding process. We have a new logo that we all feel best represent the current state of TNT as the leader of customized weight loss, health management, and sports performance leader in the Charlotte area. Along with the new logo, we have launched 3 additional programs to the TNT portfolio: TNT Youth, TNT Silver, and TNT Mom. Please ask your Health Educators about this and do share this wonderful news to your friends and family.

Last but not least, speaking of TNT Mom, we are about to have a new one ourselves! TNT's President & CEO Angela Gallo is practically glowing with gorgeousness and is the inspiration behind the new TNT Mom program. This is one good news that will continue to develop!

This blog will be updated weekly by the TNT team with news, updates, inspirations, recipes, basically anything that we feel will benefit you in some ways or forms. So, I ask you kindly to please add the Get Fit and Blog to your Google Reader or Favorite list. We love readers and we love comments even more. Let us know your aspirations, dreams, and thoughts... or just thoughts about our blogging.

I will leave you with this outstanding inspiration from CNN.com, for those days that you feel un-inspired or just lazy (because we all have those days!)

For now, take care and enjoy the new Get Fit & Blog!

-EP