This week, I started Level Two (again) of the 30 Day Shred. Holy Wowzers...it is kicking my bootie. Still running, but kind of getting frustrated that I cannot go longer without getting winded or increasing my pace. I feel like I have hit a plateau. I will continue to keep at it though.
Eating has been doing okay. I do pretty good throughout the weekday and then at nights and over the weekends I seem to be on an eating rampage. I am sure it has to do with my food choices because I should be getting in more veggies.
In an effort to spruce things up, I thought I would share some info I received in a newsletter from the boot camp I used to attend before my wedding (oh how I miss thee). The newsletter included a section about 12 Foods Experts Don't Eat.
12 Foods Experts Don't Eat
(Taken straight from the 8/26/10 AlaVie Fitness Newsletter)
Healthy Eats polled both their staff and nationwide nutrition experts to see which foods they avoid.
- Bottled Salad Dressing
“They are loaded with preservatives and are a source of added sugar that most people don’t realize. It’s so easy (and tastes so much better) when you make your own .” – Dana White
I have found some pretty tasty bottled salad dressings that aren't supposed to be too bad, I am going to have to go home and check the ingredients. I do love when my mom makes her own salad dressings, but mine always seem so bland.
- Gum with “Layers”
“When I first chewed this new gum with layers, I loved the bursting fruity flavor. But after reading the ingredient list, I’ll never chew this gum, which contains gelatin (animal-based) and partially hydrogenated coconut oil (trans fat) – again. While both ingredients are so small they’re virtually insignificant, I don’t think they need to be in gum, so I will never chew it again!”– Janel Ovrut
Never tried this type of gum and I guess I won't start!
- Raw Sprouts
“Although, I love the fresh, crisp taste of raw alfafa sprouts, I avoid eating them because of outbreaks of E. coli infections associated with them. With only about 10 calories per cup and a good dose of vitamin K, folic acid and cholesterol-reducing compounds called saponins, these tiny sprouts are a good-for-you food. However, I choose to steer clear of them by substituting sliced cukes, diced carrots and julienned basil leaves in my salads, sandwiches and soups.”– Victoria Shanta Retelny, a registered dietitian and owner of a nutrition & culinary communications consulting practice, LivingWell Communications, in Chicago.High
I LOVE sprouts on veggie sandwiches (and no I am not a vegetarian)!! I don't eat them too often, but I don't think I could go without. I think the good outweigh the possibility of the bad. E. Coli infections can come from a number of food. (Knocking on wood that I don't get and E.Coli infection the next time I eat sprouts!!!)
-Mercury Fish
“My husband loves swordfish, but I rarely buy it for him because of the high mercury content. I prefer to serve smaller fish which are lower in mercury to my family, like shrimp, scallops, tilapia and salmon.”– Keri Gans, MS, RD, CDN, Spokesperson, American Dietetic Association
I love shrimp and scallops, but I also love tuna. According to my research, tuna is okay in moderation and canned light tuna is lower in mercury than white tuna.
- Fake Foods
“I steer clear of foods the glow in the dark or smell like something that you’d never find in nature. My food philosophy is that the further we stray from real ingredients from the earth, the less healthful the food will be for us — and the more problems it will ultimately create for our Earth. Artificially neon-colored soft drink powder packets are definitely too oddly unnatural and heavily processed to ever be found in my shopping basket. Though I like to consider myself a food lover, not hater, my basic bottom line is ‘If you don’t need it, why eat it?‘”– Jackie Newgent, RD, recreational culinary instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education and author of Big Green Cookbook (Wiley, 2009).
I know I need to work on getting these foods out of my diet, but gosh darn, they are convenient and usually tasty.
- Conventionally Raised Meat and Poultry
“Although our diet has a plant emphasis. when I purchase meat and poultry for my family, it’s always grass-fed and organic. I’ve been concerned about antibiotic resistance for two decades. With superbugs like MRSA invading our beaches, we want to make sure there are antibiotics that work against these bugs for our children and their next generation.”– Melissa Halas-Liang, MA RD CDE, founder of www.superkidsnutrition.com
Same response as used above under 'Fake Foods'. Something I need to work on!
- Brains
“I can only think of a couple of foods I’d rather not eat. The main one is brains. I just don’t like the idea of eating them, but concern about prion diseases (remember mad cow?) provides a convenient excuse.”—Marion Nestle, professor of nutrition, food studies, and public Health at NYU and author of Food Politics and What to Eat
Whew, don't eat brains so I am good here.
- Products That Claim Too Much
I recommend my clients stay away from sports nutrition products that promise unbelievable results…—Nancy Clark, author of Nancy Clark’s Sports Nutrition Guidebook and sports dietitian in the Boston-area
Not really an issue for me. Although I was thinking this morning that I should add protein powder to my smoothies. I eat a handful of raw almonds which seems to do the trick too.
- Artificial Sweeteners
“I avoid all foods with artificial sweeteners. I do not feed any foods with artificial sweeteners to my kids, and I also tell my clients to slash it out of their diet. First, I believe in fueling your body with real foods instead of chemicals, and also know there is mounting research suggesting artificial sweeteners can’t fool your brain and actually lead to sugar cravings, which is definitely not a good thing!”—Mitzi Dulan, RD, CSSD, Co-Author of The All-Pro Diet
Hmmmmm, I am very bad with this. Another thing I need to work on. I hear the benefits of not indulging in food with artificial sweeteners is huge!
- Well-Done Meat and Fish
“I avoid charred chicken or fish cooked to well-done at the barbecue. Although I love the flavor of the protein that’s become blackened or that is well-done, I don’t want to ingest the carcinogens, known as heterocyclic amines (HCAs) that form when the meats are cooked at a high temperature. So I stick to eating meats that are roasted or baked since the temperature isn’t as high and the dangerous carcinogens aren’t formed.”—Lyssie, Lakatos, RD, CDN, CFT, one of The Nutrition Twins and co-author of The Secret To Skinny
I don't like meat or fish well done. Love me some BBQ though.
- Non-Safe Plastics
“I do not microwave food in plastic, so I am careful to transfer foods to glass bowls, and check the number on the bottom of any plastics that we use in the kitchen, especially the kids plates and bowls.”—Elizabeth DeRobertis, MS, RD, CDN, CDE, Director of Nutrition Programs at Scarsdale Medical Group, New York and Founder of Westchester Nutrition Consultants.
I have heard this is bad, but I still do it. Another thing to work on.
- Farm-Raised Fish
“I feel strongly about purchasing and eating wild salmon as opposed to farm raised salmon. When I learned that fish “farmers” could select the color of their feed to match the color they wanted their salmon meat to most resemble, I was shocked. Eating wild caught Alaskan salmon may be a bit more expensive, but the in the long run, it provides more Vitamin D, less contaminates, less PCBs and a kinder environment for the fish. Cooking with high quality, natural ingredients also means a better-tasting meal, which results in a satisfied eater.”— Robin Plotkin, RD, LD a registered dietitian and Culinary & Nutrition Expert based in Dallas, Texas
We don't buy a lot of fish. Right now our freezer is full of Halibut that Mr. Pickle caught while he was in Alaska. I will keep this in mind though for if we ever start buying fish.
What are your thoughts??
Sunday was spent at some of our other friend's house in Alameda. They are renting a cute little home a block away from a bunch of shops, restaurants and bars. While we were on the "walking tour" of Alameda, us girls ended up at 
Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!!
Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sopie Kinsella - Loved the book, wasn't a huge fan of the movie (although I adore Isla Fisher). I have read one other in the Shopaholic series and enjoyed it as well.
Cocktails for Three by Madeleine Wickham - I read this a while ago, but recall not being able to put the book down. I literally didn't go to sleep until I finished it.
Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger - LOVED this book and the movie (although the book was better).
Everyone Worth Knowing by Lauren Weisberger - Dug this as much as I did Devil Wears Prada.
