K–JO 105.5 is going for thirds with Pound Plunge!
Transcription
K–JO 105.5 is going for thirds with Pound Plunge!
Some of the information in this booklet has been revised for the 2008 Pound Plunge. Other information from the previous year is still relevant. We l c o m e Here it goes again ... Welcome K–JO 105.5 is going for thirds with Pound Plunge! Last year’s 12–week challenge was such a rousing success that we couldn’t miss out on the fun and prizes this year! Our 2007 event called out 1,500 people to compete in this weight–loss challenge, and collectively we lost an astounding 11,878 pounds! We’re thrilled you are joining us this year for an event that is not only about losing weight, but also about improving your health. In this booklet you will find the “Your Healthy Weight Handbook” to help you understand how eating habits and exercise impact your life and your weight. We’ve also included 12 weeks of Journal Pages so you can log your daily eating habits and workouts along the way. We hope you will take this information and this experience and learn to live the Plunge beyond this event. It’s about changing habits and learning new methods that will help you work toward changing your lifestyle and eventually your quality of life. Your participation is important to building a healthier St. Joe. You have our support and cheers as you Take the Plunge! Gregg & BJ, K–JO 105.5 Lowell Kruse, Heartland Health Linda Bahrke, Community Health Plan Alice Deatherage, AEC Family Fitness Kim McManus, Heartland Wellness Connections Dr. Francisco Lammoglia, Heartland Cardiovascular Consultants Dr. Jane Schwabe, Heartland Cardiothoractic Surgery Going for thirds! Kit Contents What’s included in your Pound Plunge Kit: List of Prizes 12–week Calendar Locations Weigh–in Times Activities AEC Exercise Schedule 12–week Workout Schedule Personality Bios Your Healthy Weight Handbook Weekly Journal Pages Resources from AEC Family Fitness Smoke the competition! Prizes Your reward for 12 weeks of hard work: Grand Prize (overall team with the highest percentage of weight lost) $1,000 from Community Health Plan 4 treadmills from Sam’s Club 4, one–year memberships to Alice’s Energy Connection Top Female Prize (individual female with the highest percentage of weight lost) $500 from Heartland Health $50 gift certificate for workout clothes One–year membership to Alice’s Energy Connection Top Male Prize (individual male with the highest percentage of weight lost) $500 from Heartland Health $50 gift certificate for workout clothes One–year membership to Alice’s Energy Connection Calendar 12 weeks to a healthier you! January S M February T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 S M T W T F S 1 2 WEEK 3 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 14 15 16 21 22 23 28 29 WEEK 4 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 10 11 12 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 17 18 19 WEEK 2 27 28 29 30 31 24 25 26 T April W T F S S 1 WEEK 7 2 3 4 27 WEEK 7 March M 20 WEEK 6 WEEK 3 S 13 WEEK 5 WEEK 1 5 M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 WEEK 12 6 7 8 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 27 28 29 30 WEEK 8 9 10 11 12 WEEK 9 16 17 18 19 WEEK 10 23 24 25 26 WEEK 11 30 31 WEEK 12 Locations Location Address Wellness Connections Heartland Regional Medical Center, 802 N. Riverside Rd., Plaza 1, Suite 290 (park in the parking garage and access Plaza 1 through the walkway, Wellness Connections will be on your left) East Hills Shopping Center 3702 Frederick Ave, St. Joseph Bartlett Park 31st and Duncan, St. Joseph AEC Family Fitness 2808 Pembroke Lane, St. Joseph Sam’s Club North Shoppes at 5201 N. Belt Highway, St. Joseph Weigh–in Times Week Day Date Time Location Week 2 TUES January 22 5 – 7 p.m. East Hills Shopping Center WED January 23 7 – 9 a.m. Heartland Health’s Wellness Connections TUES January 29 5 – 7 p.m. East Hills Shopping Center WED January 30 7 – 9 a.m. Heartland Health’s Wellness Connections TUES February 5 5 – 7 p.m. East Hills Shopping Center WED February 6 7 – 9 a.m. Heartland Health’s Wellness Connections TUES February 12 5 – 7 p.m. East Hills Shopping Center WED February 13 7 – 9 a.m. Heartland Health’s Wellness Connections TUES February 19 5 – 7 p.m. East Hills Shopping Center WED February 20 7 – 9 a.m. Heartland Health’s Wellness Connections TUES February 26 5 – 7 p.m. East Hills Shopping Center WED February 27 7 – 9 a.m. Heartland Health’s Wellness Connections TUES March 4 5 – 7 p.m. East Hills Shopping Center WED March 5 7 – 9 a.m. Heartland Health’s Wellness Connections TUES March 11 5 – 7 p.m. East Hills Shopping Center WED March 12 7 – 9 a.m. Heartland Health’s Wellness Connections TUES March 18 5 – 7 p.m. East Hills Shopping Center WED March 19 7 – 9 a.m. Heartland Health’s Wellness Connections TUES March 25 5 – 7 p.m. East Hills Shopping Center WED March 26 7 – 9 a.m. Heartland Health’s Wellness Connections TUES April 1 (last weigh in) 5 – 7 p.m. East Hills Shopping Center Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9 Week 10 Week 11 Week 12 Platte City Pound Plungers will weigh in every Thursday at the Heartland Clinic of Platte City, 2603 Running Horse Road, Platte City, Mo. If you live in the Platte City area, you must have your initial weigh-in at Sam’s Club in St. Joseph at the kickoff event on Tuesday, January 15 between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. or 5:30 and 8 p.m. Throughout the 12-week competition, you can weigh-in at Heartland Clinic of Platte City, 2603 Running Horse Road. Your final weigh-in must be at East Hills Shopping Center, 3702 Frederick Ave. in St. Joseph on April 1, 2008, between 5 and 7 p.m. to be eligible for prizes. Bid farewell to your fanny! Give your exercise routine a boost with these Pound Plunge activities! Activities Week Day Date Time Activity Location Week 1 TUES January 15 10 a.m. or 5:30 p.m. Kick–Off! Sam’s Club Week 1 THUR January 17 5:30 p.m. Volleyball AEC Family Fitness Week 2 THUR January 24 5:30 p.m. Kickball AEC Family Fitness Week 3 THUR January 31 5:30 p.m. Dodgeball AEC Family Fitness Week 4 THUR February 7 5:30 p.m. Line Dancing AEC Family Fitness Week 5 THUR February 14 Week 6 THUR February 21 5:30 p.m. Volleyball AEC Family Fitness Week 7 THUR February 28 5:30 p.m. Kickball AEC Family Fitness Week 8 THUR March 6 Week 8 SAT March 8 Week 9 THUR March 13 Week 9 SAT March 15 11:30 a.m. arrive Noon, walk Walk in St. Patrick’s Day Parade Noyes & Frederick Week 10 THUR March 20 5:30 p.m. Riverfront Trail Walk Riverwalk - start on Casino side Week 11 THUR March 27 5:30 p.m. Ashland Trail Walk Ashland & Noyes Week 12 TUES April 1 7 p.m. Finale Celebration East Hills Shopping Center No Activity No Activity 9 a.m. Walk/Run in Happy Camper Scamper Bartlett Park No Activity AEC exercise schedule* Week Day Date Time Location Activity Week 2 SUN January 20 5:30 p.m. AEC Family Fitness Intro to Group Fitness Heart rates, stretches, & form Week 3 SUN January 27 5:30 p.m. AEC Family Fitness Aerobics Week 4 SUN February 3 5:30 p.m. AEC Family Fitness Intro to Pilates: Ultimate body sculpting and flexibility Week 5 SUN February 10 5:30 p.m. AEC Family Fitness Intro to Kickboxing Week 6 SUN February 17 5:30 p.m. AEC Family Fitness Intro to Strength Training (bring small weights or full water bottles) Week 7 SUN February 24 5:30 p.m. AEC Family Fitness Tone & Tighten: T.N.T. Aerobics + body sculpting Week 8 SUN March 2 5:30 p.m. AEC Family Fitness Awesome Abs Week 9 SUN March 9 5:30 p.m. AEC Family Fitness Pilates on the Ball Week 10 SUN March 16 5:30 p.m. AEC Family Fitness Kickboxing Week 12 SUN March 30 5:30 p.m. AEC Family Fitness Weights & Bands POUND PLUNGE Guidelines *AEC Family Fitness is happy to provide education and motivation in 11 free workouts at AEC. The workouts are Sundays at 5:30 p.m. for each of the 12 weeks of the Pound Plunge. The workouts will be in the main gym area. Please be aware that the following club amenities are for members only during regular club hours: Child Care, Shower, Spas & Saunas, Basketball & Racquetball, Free Weights & Nautilus, PACE Circuit Room. Questions? If you have questions or concerns at any time during the 12-week Pound Plunge, please feel free to contact any AEC staff member during the workout times, call us at (816) 364-5311, or e-mail us at [email protected]. We want your visits to AEC to be a great experience! Contact AEC Family Fitness at (816) 364-5311 or visit www.aecfamilyfitness.com 12–week workout schedule Week MON TUES WED THURS FRI SAT SUN Week 1 Cardio 8 - 30 min. Weights Upper body Cardio 8 - 30 min. Weights Lower body/abs Cardio 8 - 30 min. Weights Upper body Rest day Week 2 Cardio 10 - 30 min. Weights Upper body Cardio 10 - 30 min. Weights Lower body/abs Cardio 10 - 30 min. Weights Upper body Rest day Week 3 Cardio 12 - 30 min. Weights Upper body Cardio 12 - 30 min. Weights Lower body/abs Cardio 12 - 30 min. Weights Upper body Rest day Week 4 Cardio 14 - 30 min. Weights Upper body Cardio 14 - 30 min. Weights Lower body/abs Cardio 14 - 30 min. Weights Upper body Rest day Week 5 Cardio 16 - 30 min. Weights Upper body Cardio 16 - 30 min. Weights Lower body/abs Cardio 16 - 30 min. Weights Upper body Rest day Week 6 Cardio 18 - 30 min. Weights Upper body Cardio 18 - 30 min. Weights Lower body/abs Cardio 18 - 30 min. Weights Upper body Rest day Week 7 Cardio 20 - 30 min. Weights Upper body Cardio 20 - 30 min. Weights Lower body/abs Cardio 20 - 30 min. Weights Upper body Rest day Week 8 Cardio 22 - 30 min. Weights Upper body Cardio 22 - 30 min. Weights Lower body/abs Cardio 22 - 30 min. Weights Upper body Rest day Week 9 Cardio 24 - 30 min. Weights Upper body Cardio 24 - 30 min. Weights Lower body/abs Cardio 24 - 30 min. Weights Upper body Rest day Week 10 Cardio 26 - 30 min. Weights Upper body Cardio 26 - 30 min. Weights Lower body/abs Cardio 26 - 30 min. Weights Upper body Rest day Week 11 Cardio 28 - 30 min. Weights Upper body Cardio 28 - 30 min. Weights Lower body/abs Cardio 28 - 30 min. Weights Upper body Rest day Week 12 Cardio 30 min. Weights Upper body Cardio 30 min. Weights Lower body/abs Cardio 30 min. Weights Upper body Rest day “You can use this schedule as it is, or modify it to fit your needs. Any day (not just Sunday) can be your free day. If exercising six times a week seems overwhelming, then start with four ... but since weight loss is your goal, the more times you exercise the faster you will reach that prize! And always remember to put a rest day between your weight training workouts.” The 12–week Exersize Schedule is brought to you by AEC Family Fitness. aecfamilyfitness.com (816) 364-5311 “Those who think they have no time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness.” - Edward Stanley M e s s a g e f r o m A l i c e D e a t h e ra g e o f A E C Fa m i l y F i t n e s s There 1. 2. 3. 3. 4. are five essential components of any good exercise program. Cardiovascular/respiratory (heart, blood system and lung) Muscle strength Muscle endurance Flexibility Balance You should always check with your doctor before you start any kind of exercise program. Exercise sessions do not have to be lengthy, but they do need to be regular. In other words, you’re better off to exercise 15 minutes five to six days a week than you are to exercise one to two hours one to two times per week. I have provided a workout schedule for you in the following pages. Please use common sense and modify the workouts for your particular body and health challenges. Check with your doctor before you start any kind of exercise program ... especially if you are age 40 and older or have any type of health issues. Here is an overview of your workout program: • Cardio ... any planned activity that raises your heart rate for a sustained period of time (see the Heart Rate Training Zone page at the back of this Kit) at least three to five times per week. If you have been very sedentary, start with the shorter time listed on the schedule. Your goal is to be doing at least 30 minutes sustained cardio by the end of the 12 weeks. Cardio includes things like walking, biking, treadmill, elliptical trainer, group fitness (aerobics, kickboxing etc.). • Lift weights two or three times per week for at least 30 minutes at a time. Alternate training the major muscles of the upper and lower body. • On weight–training days, do two exercises for each major muscle group. On days you train your upper body, include chest, shoulders, back, triceps and biceps. On lower body days, train your quadriceps, hamstrings, calves and abs. (See the definition of terms to follow.) • Three sets of each exercise. Start with a weight that you can do three sets of 10. For each muscle group, rest one minute between each set and two minutes before starting the next muscle group. Each time you get comfortable with a certain amount of weight (in other words, it’s no longer an effort), you need to increase your weight, by a pound or two. • Perform both cardio and weight training at the highest level of intensity that is comfortable for you. Your goal is to increase the intensity as your fitness level increases. Get an assessment from a fitness expert to make sure you’re exercising at a safe and appropriate level for you. • Do some kind of breathing, flexibility and balance exercises, such as Pilates, Yoga or Tai Chi. • Warm up and stretch before both cardio and strength training. Cool down and stretch afterwards. You need to workout at an intensity that challenges you but that you can comfortably manage for the length of your workout. If you’ve received a clean bill of health from you doctor, go ahead and workout at a moderate level of intensity, or roughly two to four miles per hour for around 20 minutes. On the RPE scale, you’ll be slightly out of breath but still able to carry on a conversation. In a strength training workout ... you should be sweating! As a rule, men tend to push too hard and women not hard enough. Pay attention to what your body is telling you. Don’t push too hard, but try not to let yourself get off too easily. Don’t try high–intensity workouts without a trainer assistant. Remember the FITT principle. You can increase your workouts in any one of the following ways: 1. Frequency ... Work out more often than you have been. 2. Intensity ... Increase the speed or amount of resistance you use. 3. Time ... Increase your exercise time from 15 to 20 minutes, etc. 4. Type ... Change up your routine. Add some Pilates or Yoga for flexibility and muscle balance. Let me encourage you to buy a pedometer. Program it according to the directions that come with it and wear it for three days straight (one day should be a weekend day). Keep track of the number of steps you’ve taken for those three days. Add them together and divide by three to get an average. Your goal now is to add 50 to 100 steps per day until you are walking 10,000 steps a day. This will make you very aware of your daily activity (or lack of activity). This works. Try it and see. My wish is that you stay with your dreams this year and make 2007 your best year ever! Alice Deatherage CPFT, AEC Family Fitness Definition of terms Sets, reps, and weight: A set is a group of successive repetitions performed without resting. A rep or repetition is the number of times your repeat the move in each set. The weight is how much the particular piece of equipment you are lifting weighs. If your instructions were to do three sets of 12 with five pounds (3 x 12) biceps curls, you would lift the five pound weight 12 times in a row to complete the first set. Then you’d put the weight down, rest a moment and do 12 more in a row to complete the second set ... and so on. Full range of motion: This is an important component of proper form. Each exercise should be taken through the complete range of joint movement in a slow controlled manner, with emphasis placed on the completely contracted position. If the weight is so heavy that you have to jerk, bounce or swing to get it to the top of the movement, it’s too heavy. Recovery: Your muscles don’t improve while you’re working out. They improve after your workout is over. Tiny infinitesimal muscle fibers are torn when we put stress on them. They heal back stronger, firmer and more toned. They need at least 48 hours to recovery properly. That’s why you should not work a particular muscle group more often than every other day. Cardio Interval: As your fitness increases, try incorporating intervals into your cardio routine. Intervals are short bursts of intense exercise that are followed by periods of low–intensity activity. Most treadmills, steppers, elliptical machines etc. will have an interval setting on them. Or you can simply change your speed or resistance manually. Ask a trainer at your fitness center. DOMS: DOMS or delayed onset muscle soreness is caused by those tiny muscle tears that I mentioned in recovery. You will be stiff and a little sore for the first few weeks. Just plan on it! This will, however, be moderate discomfort. Don’t increase the amount of weight you’re lifting until the soreness subsides. DOMS peaks at about two days after a workout and dissipates on its own within a week. DON’T IGNORE SEVERE PAIN. MUSCLE, JOINT OR LIGAMENT INJURIES ARE MORE PAINFUL THAN DOMS AND LAST LONGER THAN A WEEK. IF THE PAIN IS SHARP AND SEVERE, OR DOESN’T FADE WITHIN A WEEK, SEE YOUR DOCTOR! Major muscle groups and exercises for each Quadriceps: The group of muscles that make up the front of the thigh. Exercises: Squats, lunges, leg extension machine and leg press machine. Hamstrings: The muscles that make up the back of the thigh. Exercises: Squats, lunges, leg press machine and leg curl machine. Gluteus: The big muscles that cover the buttocks. Exercises: Squats, lunges, leg press machine. Tall box step–ups and plyometric jumps. Biceps: The front of the upper arm. Exercises: Bicep curls done with a barbell, dumbbell or machine. Chin–ups and upright rows. Triceps: The back of the upper arm Exercises: Pushing movements like push-ups, dips, triceps extensions, triceps kick–back and overhead (French) presses. Bench press and military press. Trapezius: Upper portion of the back, sometimes called the “traps”. Exercises: Upright rows and shoulder shrugs with resistance. Deltoids: The cap of the shoulder. This muscle has three parts. Exercises: Anterior (front): push-ups, bench press and front dumbbell raises. Medial (middle): standing lateral (side) dumbbell raises. Posterior (back): rear dumbbell raises, seated or lying face down. Latisimus dorsi: Large muscle in the mid back. Also calls the “lats.” Exercises: Pull ups, chin ups, one arm bent rows, dips on parallel bars, and the lat pull down machine. Rhomboids: Muscles in the middle of the upper back. Exercises: Chin ups; dumbbell bent rows, and other moves that bring the shoulder blades together. Pectoralis major: Large fan shaped muscle that covers the front of the upper chest. Also called the “pecs”. Exercises: Push ups, pull ups, regular and incline bench press and the pec deck machine. Abdominals: The large flat muscle that runs the length of the abdominals and the external obliques which run down the sides and front of the abdomen. Exercises: Standard curls and crunches, reverse curls and crunches with rotation. Hip abductors: The outer thigh Hip adductors: The inner thigh Exercises: A variety of side-lying leg lifts, standing cable pulls and multi-hip machines. Gastrocnemius and the soleus: The back of the lower leg (calf). Exercises: Standing calf raises, seated or bent knee calf raises Erector spinae: Low back. Exercises: Back extension machine, prone back extension exercises, squat and dead lift. I recommend that anyone (especially those age 50 and older or who have never lifted weights) seek out an experienced trainer for guidance to reduce the risk of training–related injures. The price is reasonable and you may only need a few sessions to learn proper form and technique, followed by perhaps monthly check–ns to make sure you’re progressing well. Remember also, that you get a total body workout which works all of your muscles in concert in a Pilates class. Make sure the instructor knows that you are new to Pilates and choose a class to fit your level of fitness. aecfamilyfitness.com (816) 364-5311 Personality Bios K–JO 105.5 St. Joe’s Hit Music Station, K–JO 105.5 is proud to once again bring you the K–JO 105.5 Pound Plunge! At K–JO, we are committed to improving the quality of life of our listeners, whether by announcing school closings and traffic delays, or by helping you become fit and healthy. K–JO’s looking forward to an exciting, fun–filled 12–week journey — we’re all in it together! Gregg Lynn Gregg has been an on–air personality at K–JO for more than 10 years, the last six waking up St. Joe from 5 – 10 a.m. with The Adventures of Gregg and BJ. One of the advantages of being a morning disc jockey is FREE DONUTS! The donuts took their toll as Gregg’s weight topped out at more than 220 pounds! Gregg quit smoking, started exercising and by the end of last year’s Pound Plunge lost an astonishing 50 pounds. He now exercises daily and is an avid runner, having completed his first marathon in November 2005. Gregg has also completed two Ultra–Marathons, a 50 kilometer race (31 miles) and most recently a 50–mile race this past October. “Whether you think that you can, or you can’t, you are usually right.” — Henry Ford BJ Scott BJ Scott has been a part of K–JO 105.5 for nearly 18 years and has been waking you up for 15 of those years in the early morning. He has been married to his very patient wife, Kimberly, for 23 years, and they have three children and a new grandson. Along with radio, BJ is a successful and passionate entrepreneur. He is involved in his community and holds a special place in his heart for children and volunteers his time with organizations such as Camp Quality, a camp for kids with cancer, and the Noyes Home. BJ’s goal with the 2007 Pound Plunge is to adopt a healthy lifestyle by losing weight and gaining energy to help him keep up with his new grandson and to participate in a 5K Run with Gregg Lynn of K–JO 105.5. Personality Bios Francisco Lammoglia, MD The shy and reserved, Francisco Lammoglia, MD, a cardiologist with Heartland Cardiovascular Consultants, is a physician sponsor for this year’s Pound Plunge. “Over the last year, I dropped about 24 pounds by exercising more and changing the way I think about food. I want to share my enthusiasm for good health with this year’s participants!” Dr. Lammoglia works to make St. Joseph hearts healthier with partners Mohan Hindupur, MD, and Ricardo Ramos, MD, who will co–sponsor this year’s Heart Walk, Robert Grant, DO, Christine Rattin, DO and Arvind Sharma, MD. Dr. Lammoglia is a graduate of the University of Kansas School of Medicine (Go, Jayhawks!) and has practiced medicine in St. Joseph for nearly two decades. Dr. Lammoglia and his wife, Rosie, have four children. Jane Schwabe, MD Heart surgeon, Jane Schwabe, credits last year’s Pound Plunge for her success in losing 23 pounds. “My team was motivated and it kept me going!” This year, Dr. Schwabe will use her role as a physician sponsor of Pound Plunge Seconds to help others learn to live a healthy and productive life. “The small changes people make can significantly affect their health. The Pound Plunge is an excellent place to start on the road to wellness.” Dr. Schwabe is in practice at Heartland Cardiothoracic Surgery with Michael Nellestein, MD, sponsor of the St. Joseph Parkway Run/Walk, and Robert Zink, MD, who is new to St. Joseph. Dr. Schwabe is also the four–year physician sponsor for the annual Women’s Wellness Initiative. Dr. Schwabe a graduate of Creighton University Medical School; she and her husband, Dan, have six children. Personality Bios Alice Deatherage, AEC Family Fitness Alice Deatherage is well known in our community as a media personality and speaks locally and nationally on topics of fitness and health. She has been involved in fitness for more than 25 years and has owned health clubs in two states. She, along with her husband Paul Brewster, currently owns and operates AEC Family Fitness (Alice’s Energy Connection) in Saint Joseph, Mo. Alice holds several national fitness certifications. Her enthusiasm and energy has helped countless people reach and maintain their weight–loss and fitness goals and attain fuller, more exciting lives! Kim McManus, Wellness Team Leader Kim McManus began her Wellness journey as a nurse after earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Missouri Western State University. Joining the Heartland team in 1984, Kim spent 12 years as a Cardiac/Med/Surg nurse, five years in Case Management and has been with Wellness Connections for the past five years. She is also certified in lifestyle coaching by the Cooper Clinic. As the team leader for Wellness Connections, Kim develops, implements and evaluates all programs within the department. An active community member, Kim gives of her time to the United Way, the St. Joe Safety Council, Women’s Wellness Initiative, Corporate Challenge and American Heart Walk. “We are responsible for helping people have fun while becoming healthier!” Personality Bios Dean Mausolf, Wellness Specialist With a strong desire to work with people and have a positive impact on their overall health and well-being, Dean Mausolf began his wellness journey in Tulsa, Oklahoma, earning his Bachelor of Science in Health, Physical Education and Recreation at Oral Roberts University. From there, he went on to earn a Masters of Science in Exercise Science from the University of Rhode Island in Kingston. Dean has more than 20 years of experience in the wellness field. He has worked in cardiac rehabilitation, tobacco cessation, high-risk obesity, occupational medicine, fitness center management and corporate wellness. A Heartland team member since November 1996, Dean is dedicated to educating Heartland employees about overall health and helping them make positive lifestyle changes. “Daily healthy living is what it takes to be and remain healthy.” Laura De Kraai, Wellness Specialist Wanting a career where she could help people change their lives, Laura De Kraai focuses on improving people’s health through exercise and daily activity. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science at Missouri Western State University and has accrued nine years of experience in fitness and wellness programs. Five of those nine years have been with Heartland, helping employees improve their health. Laura offers education and insight into positive lifestyle changes and through Community Health Plan works with area companies to improve the health of the community. “We need to set examples for our children so they start on the right path toward a healthier tomorrow.” Personality Bios Jessica Hagey, Registered Dietitian Growing up as the oldest of five children, Jessica Hagey watched her mother make time for exercise even though she was very busy with her active children. Eating healthy was also a priority in her family. This spurred an interest in Jessica about how eating healthy and exercise can scientifically help the body. She went on to earn her Bachelor of Science in Food Science and Human Nutrition/Dietetics from the University of Missouri at Columbia, Missouri. Before accepting her current position as wellness dietitian for Wellness Connections, Jessica began her Heartland career as a clinical dietitian in 2001. Along with extensive education and experience in her field, she has earned her Certificate of Training in Adult Weight Management and Certificate of Training in Childhood and Adolescent Weight Management. “I consider it a gift to get to provide education and ignite the will in someone to do something for themselves to improve their health.” Sheri Caldwell, Registered Dietitian The connection between nutrition and health has long been a motivating factor for Sheri in her career. Her interests landed her a job at Heartland in September 2005. Sheri graduated from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, with a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics. Sheri has an extensive and varied background in nutrition and has earned her Certificate of Training in Adult Weight Management and the Certificate of Training in Childhood and Adolescent Weight Management. In her current position as a wellness dietitian, Sheri develops and presents nutrition curriculum for the promotion of health and wellness. She provides dietary and nutrition information as well as exercise education support . “Camaraderie and support are important for reaching a common goal.” Personality Bios Helen Caton, Fitness Specialist With more than 20 years in health and fitness, Helen Caton is a skilled fitness specialist and understands the barriers that people face when beginning a workout routine. Helen earned a Bachelor of Science degree at Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Mo. She has been an employee at Heartland since September 2005. As a fitness specialist, Helen instructs and supervises members on proper use of equipment, develops and teaches group exercise programs, helps with education and off–site classes, maintains a clean and safe environment, individualizes personal fitness training, develops retention programs, maintains records and reports and takes part in community events. “Exercise and eating right are not punishment for previous lifestyle choices … they are ways you are taking care of yourself.” Brian Hodge, Fitness Specialist Earning his Bachelor of Science in Corporate Fitness at Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg, Mo., Brian’s main goal is to help people improve their health by teaching them the importance of an active lifestyle. Brian began his career as an intern at Whiteman Air Force Base, where he gained valuable experience as a fitness specialist. He accepted the fitness specialist position at Heartland Health in August 2005. Orienting and assisting members in Heartland’s Wellness Center is only part of Brian’s job, he is also a personal trainer, runs database reports, teaches a variety of fitness classes and maintains the state-of-the-art equipment. “I see the community as a whole starting to take charge of their health and doing something about it.” Yo u r Healthy We i g h t Handbook Contents It’s a personal thing ... finding your healthy weight . . .1 Taking the Plunge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Determining your daily starting calorie level . . . . . . . .4 Eating in moderation — Learn the GO! method . . . . . . .8 Sample menus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Low–fat cooking ... changing your eating habits . . . . .23 Unhook yourself from food . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Making a change for the better . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 10 tips for eating out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Reading nutrition labels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 Your activity program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 It’s a personal thing … Finding your healthy weight. We all have a goal weight … that magic number in our minds that holds the key to good health and personal satisfaction. Finding your true healthy weight is important because it stops the guess work, and you may find that the magic number you’ve been holding onto isn’t your true healthy weight. There are three components that play into your personal healthy weight: 1. Body Mass Index (BMI) 2. Waist Measurement 3. Personal and Family Medical History 1. BMI BMI is a calculation that relates your body weight to your personal health risks associated with being overweight. (See the Body Mass Index Table on the next page to find your BMI.) 2. Waist Measurement Extra weight that settles around your waist puts you at increased risk of heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. For women … a waist measurement of more than 35 inches is associated with higher health risks. For men … a waist measurement of more than 40 inches is associated with higher health risks. Using your BMI measurement and your waist measurement as guides, you can assess your risk of obesity–related diseases. Is your health at risk? Your body mass index (BMI)* Obesity–related risk of disease Yo u r w a i s t m e a s u r e m e n t Women: 35 inches or less Women: More than 35 inches Men: 40 inches or less Men: More than 40 inches Overweight 25 to 29.9 Increased risk High risk Obese 30 to 34.9 35 to 39.9 High risk Very high risk Very high risk Very high risk Extreme obesity 40 or over Extremely high risk Extremely high risk If your BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9, your weight is not likely to have a major effect on your health. If your BMI is 25 or more, you’re at increased risk of serious health problems. 3. Personal and Family Medical History Take a look at your personal medical history and your family medical history. If you answer yes to any of these questions, shedding pounds may improve your health: • Do you have a weight–related medical problem, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, osteoarthritis, high blood cholesterol or high blood triglycerides? • Do you have a family history of these conditions? • Have you gained at least 10 pounds as an adult? Gaining 10 pounds or more puts you at increased risk of a heart attack and premature death. • Do you overeat, smoke cigarettes, have more than one alcoholic drink a day or live with uncontrolled stress? 1 Taking the Plunge ... You’ve calculated your BMI, measured your waist, and evaluated your personal and family medical history. If you’ve found that you need to lose weight, here are a few more points to keep in mind: Losing 10 percent of your current body weight may significantly improve your health. Studies of more than 200 severely obese people found that those who lost 10 – 20 percent of their body weight and kept it off for three years reduced their risk of some diseases by 25 – 75 percent. If your extra weight is all around your waist, think “2.” Taking 2 inches off your waist may lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk of many diseases. Focus on losing weight in 5–pound increments instead of in large increments. This will help you maintain your focus and positive attitude. Life during and after the Plunge! Here are the keys to having a healthy, effective Pound Plunge experience and to maintaining your success after Pound Plunge: Make a commitment. Increase your motivation by focusing on all the good things about losing weight, such as having more energy and improving your health. Then look at the negatives, like finding time to exercise, and come up with creative solutions. Build your self–confidence. Focus on what has worked for you in the past. Maybe you benefited from a weight–loss support group or found walking with a friend helps you stay motivated. Look at your previous successes and build on them. Set a realistic goal. Don’t set a weight goal that conforms to unrealistic social ideals for thinness. Accept that healthy weight loss is slow and steady. Aim to lose 1 to 2 pounds a week. Set weekly or monthly goals that allow you to check off successes. Talk to your doctor about how much weight is healthy for you to lose. Your doctor may refer you to a dietitian or someone who specializes in weight loss. Learn to enjoy healthier foods. Fad diets and special combinations of foods aren’t your answer to long–term weight control and better health. Instead, learn how to eat well. Cutting calories to less than 1,200 (if you’re a woman) or 1,400 (if you’re a man) doesn’t allow enough food to satisfy you in the long term. Eating fewer than 1,200 calories makes it difficult to get adequate amounts of certain nutrients, such as folic acid, magnesium and zinc. It also promotes temporary loss of fluids rather than permanent loss of fat. (See “Determining your starting calorie level” on Page 4.) Decreasing calories is easier if you focus on limiting fat to less than 30 percent of daily calories. Cutting back on calories from fat allows you to eat more nutrient–rich foods like whole grains, fruits and vegetables. (See the sample menus beginning on Page 12.) Get and stay active. Decreasing calories alone can help you lose weight. Cutting 250 calories from your daily diet can help you lose half a pound a week (3,500 calories = 1 pound of fat). But add a 30–minute brisk walk four days a week, and you can double your rate of weight loss. 3 Exercise also adds unique benefits. Physical activity promotes loss of body fat and development of muscle. Muscle burns more calories than fat does. So the more muscle mass your body has, the more calories it will burn, even when you’re at rest. The best way to lose body fat is through steady aerobic exercise. Aerobic activities increase your breathing and heart rate. Strive for 30 minutes or more a day of low to moderately intense aerobic activity. If your schedule doesn’t allow you to exercise every day, you can exercise for 1 hour 3 days a week or for 45 minutes 5 days a week and still reap the benefits. Exercise sensibly by starting out slowly then gradually increase duration and intensity. Brisk walking is an ideal choice. Other options for aerobic activities are swimming, bicycling, jogging and regular dancing. Decide, too, if you like to exercise alone or with someone. Often, a buddy helps you stick to your schedule. (See the Pound Plunge Activities list in this binder for exercise opportunities.) Even though regularly scheduled aerobic exercise is good for losing fat, any extra movement helps burn calories. Start to park at the far end of the lot, make several trips up and down the stairs, or get off the bus a few stops early. Change your lifestyle. It’s not enough to eat healthy foods and exercise for a few weeks or even several months. You have to incorporate these behaviors into your life. To do that, you have to change the behaviors that made you overweight in the first place. Lifestyle changes involve taking a good look at your eating habits and daily routine. Were you taught to clean your plate? If so, do you still feel compelled to eat everything, even when you’re full? Assess your eating style. Do you eat fast? Do you take big bites? When do you eat? While watching TV? All the time? Assess your shopping and cooking habits. Then try working out a strategy to gradually change the habits and attitudes that may have sabotaged your past efforts. Make a healthier lifestyle — not the number of pounds — your primary motivation. Simple steps to start Plunging! 1. Calories. Identify a daily starting calorie level that’s right for you. For most women, a good starting goal is 1,200 calories, and for most men it’s 1,400. (See the chart below.) 2. Servings. Identify the number of servings you should eat each day from each food group. 3. Serving size. Become familiar with serving sizes for a wide variety of foods in the five key groups. Distribute the servings evenly throughout the day to best control your appetite. 4. Record keeping. Record your progress. Carefully note what you eat each day, using your personal Pound Plunge Journal. 5. Variety. Variety, taste and appearance are all essential when choosing healthy foods. Determining your daily starting calorie level* Weight in pounds Women Men 250 251 301 250 251 301 or to or or to or fewer 300 more fewer 300 more Starting calorie level 1,200 1,400 X X 1,600 1,800 2,000 X X X X *If you’re feeling exceptionally hungry despite eating a lot of fruits and vegetables, or you’re losing weight too quickly, move up to the next calorie level. 4 Helpful tips for getting started: Use herbs and spices. Creative seasoning is the best way to leave in taste while reducing the fat. Drink plenty of water every day. Water is calorie–free, convenient and inexpensive. It can help fill you up and slow down your eating. If you normally drink a lot of diet soda, limit yourself to two cans a day and drink water instead. Remember whenever you feel hungry or thirsty, drink water first. We’ve included a space on your Pound Plunge Journal to check off your daily water intake. Weigh yourself only once a week. As you lose weight, daily shifts in body water can show up as pounds on the scale. Too frequent weigh–ins won’t give you an accurate picture of your weight loss, and may leave you feeling frustrated. Follow the trend over a longer time instead of just week to week. Pound Plunge offers two times for your weekly weigh–ins … you can only miss two weigh–ins during the competition. (See the Weekly Weigh–in sheet for dates, times and locations.) Keeping it simple. Healthy meals don’t need to be complicated or time–consuming to make. But, we understand that not everything you eat is going to be in easy–to–figure serving sizes. But don’t choose based on calories alone. Read the nutrition label (see “Reading nutrition labels” on Page 25). Select varieties that have no more than 10 grams of fat per 300 calories. Several brands of healthy frozen entrées offer convenient versions of favorite foods, such as: Chicken chow mein with rice Salisbury steak Shrimp primavera Vegetarian chili Beef steak ranchero Chicken cacciatore Rice and potatoes are naturally low in fat. But to keep the convenient versions of these foods low in fat and calories, alter the basic recipe on the package. Substitute skim milk when the recipe calls for milk. Omit the margarine. On days when there’s no time to fix meals, remember that quick food can be low in fat and calories. Be selective about which convenience foods you choose by reading the nutrition labels, especially if you’re controlling sodium. You can make convenience foods work in your healthy weight plan. One day during the week, you can plan at least one meal around a convenience food, such as a frozen entrée or a side dish. Daily serving recommendations Food group 5 Starting calorie level 1,200 1,400 1,600 1,800 2,000 Fruits 3 or more 4 or more 5 or more 5 or more 5 or more Vegetables 4 or more 4 or more 5 or more 5 or more 5 or more Carbohydrates 4 5 6 7 8 Protein/dairy 3 4 5 6 7 Fats 3 3 3 4 5 Eating in moderation — Learn the GO! method Getting healthy One of the best ways to improve your health and lose weight is by knowing which foods to eat and which to avoid. Eating in moderation is also key to losing weight. To help you understand how to use this informaiton to change your diet, we’ve used the “stop light” approach. Each food group is broken down into sections based on red, yellow and green (see graphic below). This method will help you know which foods to choose most often, some of the time and rarely. Each food has a list for each section. We’ve also included sample menus for the 1,400; 1,600 and 1,800 calorie diet. The menus are color coated based on red, yellow, green and are broken down further based on food group. S TO P & T H I N K These foods contain minimal essential nutrients. You can eat these foods after you stop and consider how many other foods you have eaten from the red section that day. PROCEED with CAUTION GO! These foods contain some of the essential nutrients and are healthy foods that you can eat everyday. These foods contain all of the essential nutrients and are the healthiest foods from each food group that you can eat often everyday. Grains, Starches & Sugars (“S” on the sample menus) S TO P & T H I N K Sugar Sweetened cereal Soda Low-fat cookies Frozen yogurt Cookies Cake, no icing Ice cream Chocolate French Fries Snack chips 5 tsp, 1 starch 1/2 cup, 1 starch 12 oz., 2 starch 2, 1 starch 1/3 cup, 1 starch 2, 1 starch, 1 fat 1/12 cake, 2 starch, 2 fat 1/2 cup, 1 starch, 2 fat 1 oz. 1 starch, 1 1/2 fat 10, 1 starch, 1 fat 1 oz., 1 starch, 1 fat 6 Grains, Starches & Sugars (“S” on the sample menus) PROCEED wIth CAUTION Ready-to-eat cereal, unsweetened Pasta White rice White bread White bread, light Tortilla, 6-inch English muffin, roll, or bun Saltine-type crackers Rice cakes Frozen bagel Fresh bagel 3/4 cup 1/2 cup 1/3 cup 1 slice 2 slices 1 item 1/2 item 6 2 1/2 item 1/4 item Grains, Starches & Sugars (“S” on the sample menus) GO! Whole grain cereal, unsweetened Cooked Cereal Brown Rice Whole wheat pasta Beans, peas, lentils, lima beans Corn and sweet peas Whole wheat bread Whole wheat bread, light White potato Mashed potato, no fat Sweet potato 3/4 cup 1/2 cup 1/3 cup 1/2 cup 1/3 cup 1/2 cup 1 slice 2 slices 1 small (3 oz.) 1/2 cup 1/2 cup (3 oz.) Vegetables (“V” on the sample menus) S TO P & T H I N K Deep-fried vegetables variable Vegetables (“V” on the sample menus) PROCEED wIth CAUTION Vegetable juice Tomato sauce 1/2 cup 1/3 cup Vegetables (“V” on the sample menus) GO! All non-starchy vegetables (fresh or frozen) 7 1/2 cup Fruits (“Fr” on the sample menus) S TO P & T H I N K Fruit punch Fruit canned, in syrup 1/2 cup 1/3 cup Fruits (“Fr” on the sample menus) PROCEED wIth CAUTION Fruit juice Fruit cocktail, in water or juice Canned fruit, in water or juice 1/2 cup 1/2 cup 1/2 cup Fruits (“Fr” on the sample menus) GO! Cut up fruit Piece of fruit Dried fruit 3/4 cup 1 small to medium piece (size of a tennis ball) 2 Tbsp. – 1/4 cup Protein (“P” on the sample menus) S TO P & T H I N K Egg Beef, chuck Lamb, pork, other cuts Chicken/turkey with skin Ribs, sausage Luncheon meat Hot dog Regular Cheese 1, 1 protein, 1/2 fat 1 oz, 1 protein, 1/2 fat 1 oz, 1 protein, 1/2 fat 1 oz, 1 protein, 1 fat 1 oz, 1 protein, 2 fat 1 oz, 1 protein, 2 fat 1 oz, 1 protein, 2 fat 1 oz, 1 protein, 2 fat Protein (“P” on the sample menus) PROCEED wIth CAUTION Lean beef (eye round, sirloin) Lean veal (most cuts) Lean pork (tenderloin, center loin) Chicken/turkey no skin Low-fat cheese Fat-free cheese Low-fat cottage cheese Low-fat luncheon meat, 95-98% lean Grated parmesan cheese 1 oz 1 oz 1 oz 1 oz 1 oz 2 oz 1/4 cup 1 oz 2 Tbsp. 8 Protein (“P” on the sample menus) GO! Beans, lentils, split peas Tofu Peanut butter Fish, white Fish, fatty (salmon) Tuna fish Egg white Egg substitute 2/3 cup, 1 protein, 1 starch 3 oz, 1 protein 4 tsp, 1 protein, 1 fat 2 oz, 1 protein 1 oz, 1 protein 1/4 cup, 1 protein 3, 1 protein 1/4 cup, 1 protein Milk & Yogurt (“M” on the sample menus) S TO P & T H I N K 2% milk Whole milk Low-fat fruit yogurt Whole soy milk 1 1 1 1 cup, cup, cup, cup, 1 1 1 1 milk, milk, milk, milk, 1 1 1 1 fat 1/2 fat fruit, 1 starch fat Milk & Yogurt (“M” on the sample menus) PROCEED wIth CAUTION 1% milk Low-fat plain yogurt Soy milk (less than 18 grams sugar and less than 3 grams fat) 1 cup 1 cup 1 cup Milk & Yogurt (“M” on the sample menus) GO! Skim milk Yogurt, nonfat plain or “light” Dry nonfat milk Low-fat, low-sugar, soy milk 1 cup 1 cup 1/3 cup 1 cup Fat (“Fa” on the sample menus) S TO P & T H I N K Margarine, mayo Diet margarine/mayo Butter Cream cheese Sour cream 9 1 1 1 1 2 tsp. Tbsp. tsp. Tbsp. Tbsp. Fat (“Fa” on the sample menus) PROCEED wIth CAUTION Salad dressing, vinaigrette Diet salad dressing, vinaigrette Most vegetable oils 1 Tbsp. 2 Tbsp. 1 tsp. Fat (“Fa” on the sample menus) GO! Olive, canola, peanut oil Olive, green Peanut butter Nuts Seeds (pumpkin, sunflower, flax) 1 tsp. 10 2 tsp. 1 Tbsp. 1 Tbsp. Sample Menus We’ve included sample menus for the 1,400; 1,600 and 1,800 calorie diets. Each item on your daily menu will have a notation next to it that relates back to the stop light method. This makes the decision-making process simple for you. If you happen to not like one of the food items, just substitute that item with an item in the same category. For example, 2 slices of whole-wheat toast is 1S, which is one starch from the GO! foods; you can substitute this with 1/2 cup of oatmeal, which is also a 1S. Each food category is designated with red, yellow or red, here’s a quick reference guide for following the daily menus: S = Grain, Starch & Sugar Group V = Vegetable Group Fr = Fruit Group P = Protein Group M = Milk & Yogurt Group Fa = Fat Group S = Grain, Starch & Sugar Group V = Vegetable Group Fr = Fruit Group P = Protein Group M = Milk & Yogurt Group Fa = Fat Group S = Grain, Starch & Sugar Group V = Vegetable Group Fr = Fruit Group P = Protein Group M = Milk & Yogurt Group Fa = Fat Group Try adapting these menus to fit within your lifestyle, while staying within your calorie level. If you are at a 1,200 calorie level or 2,000 calorie level, you can adjust the menus provided. For 1,200 calories Use the 1,400 calorie menu, but: Eat 1 less fruit per day Eat 1 less carbohydrate per day Eat 1 less protein/dairy per day For 2,000 calories Use the 1,800 calorie menu, but: Eat 1 more carbohydrate per day Eat 1 more protein/dairy per day Eat 1 more fat per day 10 1,400 Calorie Sample Menu — Week 1 You can choose to use the menus below in a few different ways. You can simply follow this program as is to ensure that your daily caloric intake does not exceed 1,400 Calories, with about 30% Calories from fat. Or you may prefer to create your own program by using these menus. Next to each food item in the menus you will see a notation. The bracketed letter indicates the food group. The color of the letter represents the level that the food represents. Keep in mind that combination foods belong to two groups. Foods in the green section (GO! foods) are the healthiest. Foods in the yellow section provide many vitamins and minerals, but have less fiber and more sugar, sodium and/or unhealthy fats. Foods in the red section provide few vitamins and minerals, but lots of calories, sugar, sodium and/or unhealthy fats. Free foods contain few calories; you do not need to count them as anything. Add these foods to the menus to help satisfy your hunger and add flavor. Remember that servings refer to cooked amounts. The Food Group code: S = Grain, Starch & Sugar Group V = Vegetable Group Fr = Fruit Group P = Protein Group M = Milk & Yogurt Group Fa = Fat Group Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Breakfast Breakfast Breakfast Breakfast 2 slices light whole wheat toast (1S) 4 teaspoons natural peanut butter (1P, 1Fa) 1/2 banana (1 Fr) 8 oz. 1% milk (1M 1M) 1/2 cup oatmeal (1S) 1/2 cup fruit cocktail in juice (1Fr 1Fr) 1 cup plain, low-fat yogurt mixed with fruit (1M 1M) Black coffee or tea with lemon (Free) 2 whole grain low-fat waffles (2S) 3/4 cup blueberries (1Fr) 1 cup plain, low-fat yogurt (1M 1M) 2 tablespoons sour cream to mix with yogurt and fruit, and scoop on waffles (1Fa) Black coffee or tea with lemon (Free) 1 slice light whole wheat toast (1/2 S) 1 teaspoon butter (1Fa) 1/4 cup 2% cottage cheese (1P 1P) 1 cup fruit cocktail canned in juice (2Fr 2Fr) 8 oz. 1% milk (1M 1M) Lunch Lunch Lunch Lunch lettuce, radish, cucumber, celery (Free) 1/2 cup carrots (1V) 1 cup green pepper, diced (1V) 1/2 cup canned premium chunk white chicken (2P) 2 tablespoons nonfat ranch salad dressing (Free) 10 small green olives (1Fa) 6 low-fat whole wheat crackers (1S) 1 peach (1Fr) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) 2 slices light whole wheat bread (1S) 2 oz. turkey ham & 1 oz. lowfat cheese (3P 3P) 1/8 avocado, sliced (1Fa) alfalfa sprouts (Free) 1 teaspoon mayonnaise (1Fa) 1/2 cup baby carrots (1V) 2 tablespoons nonfat dressing for dipping carrots (Free) 1 apple (1Fr) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) 3 oz. low-fat ham (3P 3P) 1 oz. low-fat cheese (1P 1P) 1 teaspoon mayonnaise (1Fa) 2 large lettuce leaves (Free) Layer ham and cheese on lettuce leaves, spread with mayonnaise and roll 1 cup string beans, steamed (2V) Balsamic vinegar and garlic to marinade string beans the day before (Free) 10 grapes (1Fr) 6 saltine-type crackers (1S 1S) 4 teaspoons natural peanut butter (1P, 1Fa) sugar-free jelly (Free) 1 cup baby carrots (2V) 1 apple (1Fr) 8 oz. 1% milk (1M 1M) Dinner Dinner Dinner Dinner 5 oz. sirloin steak (5P 5P) 1/4 cup onions, cooked (1/2 V) 1/4 cup mushrooms, cooked (1/2 V) 1 teaspoon canola oil to sauté onions and mushrooms and put on top of steak (1Fa) 1/2 cup cooked spinach (1V) 1 medium baked sweet potato, 6 oz. (2S) 2 tablespoons sour cream (1Fa) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) 4 oz. chicken leg, no skin, baked (4P 4P) 1 cup whole wheat pasta (2S) 4 tablespoons low-fat vinaigrette, 2 for marinade for chicken & 2 to toss with pasta (add extra vinegar,lemon juice or water as necessary) (2F 2Fa a) 1 cup broccoli and 1 cup zucchini, steamed and tossed with pasta (3V) 8 oz. 1% milk (1M 1M) 8 oz. flounder or other white fish, baked (4P) 1 teaspoon olive oil to drizzle over fish (1Fa) lemon wedges squeezed over fish (Free) 1/2 cup onion (1V) 1 teaspoon olive oil, to sauté onions and cook with rice (1Fa) 2/3 cup brown rice (2S) 1/2 cup spinach (1V) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) 2/3 cup kidney beans (1P, 1S) 4 oz. ground turkey (4P 4P) 1/2 cup onion, chopped (1V) 1 cup green pepper, diced (1V) 2 teaspoons canola oil, to sauté onions, peppers and turkey (2Fa) salsa to mix with above (Free) 1/3 cup brown rice (2S) lettuce, cucumber, radish and celery (Free) 2 tablespoons nonfat creamy Italian dressing (Free) Snack Snack Snack Snack 8 oz. skim milk (1M) 1 1/4 cups strawberries (1Fr) Blend with ice for a shake. 1 cup cantaloupe melon, cubed (1Fr) 1/4 cup 1% cottage cheese (1P 1P) 8 oz. skim milk (1M) 1 peach (1Fr) Blend with ice for a shake. 1 slice light rye bread (1S) 2 oz. fat-free cheese (1P 1P) lettuce and mustard (Free) 1,400 Calorie Sample Menu — Week 1 The Food Group code: S = Grain, Starch & Sugar Group V = Vegetable Group Fr = Fruit Group P = Protein Group M = Milk & Yogurt Group Fa = Fat Group Thursday Friday Saturday Breakfast Breakfast Breakfast 3 egg-white omelet (1P) 1 oz. low-fat cheese (1P 1P) 1 oz. low-fat ham (1P 1P) 1/4 cup onion, chopped (1/2 V) 1/2 tomato, diced (1/2 V) 1 teaspoon canola oil, to sauté vegetables (1Fa) 8 oz. 1% milk (1M 1M) 1 cup nonfat light fruit yogurt (1M) 1/2 cup canned fruit cocktail, in juice (1Fr 1Fr) 3 tablespoons grapenuts (1S) 6 almonds, slivered (1Fa) Black coffee or tea with lemon (Free) 1 1/2 cups plain wheat flakes cereal (2S) 1 apple (1Fr) 4 teaspoons natural peanut butter, to spread on apple (1P, 1Fa) 8 oz. 1% milk (1M 1M) Lunch Lunch Lunch 2 slices light whole wheat bread (1S) 1/2 cup tuna fish packed in water (2P) 1 teaspoon mayonnaise (1Fa) mustard to mix with mayonnaise (Free) lettuce (Free) 1 tomato, diced (1V) 1/2 cucumber sliced (Free) 2 tablespoons nonfat dressing, for tomato-cucumber salad (Free) 1 medium baked potato, 6 oz. (2S) 1 cup broccoli, steamed or microwaved (2V) 2 cloves garlic (Free) 1 teaspoon canola oil, to sauté garlic and toss with broccoli (1Fa) 2 oz. low-fat cheese (2P 2P) salsa (Free) 1/2 mango (1Fr) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) Lettuce and cucumber for chef salad (Free) 1 oz. low-fat ham (1P 1P) 1 oz. turkey (1P 1P) 1 oz. low-fat cheese (1P 1P) 1/2 cup carrots, sliced (1V) 1 tomato, diced (1V) 1 tablespoon low-fat ranch salad dressing (1Fa) 10 small green olives (1Fa) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) Dinner Dinner Dinner 3 oz. chicken, no skin (3P 3P) 1/2 cup water chestnuts (1V) 1/2 cup pea pods (1V) Chinese cabbage and green onions (Free) 2 teaspoons peanut oil, to stir fry chicken and vegetables (2Fa) 3/4 cup canned mandarin oranges, add the last 3 min. of cooking (1Fr 1Fr) lite soy sauce (Free) 2/3 cup brown rice (2S) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) 6 oz. ground sirloin burger (6P 6P) bed of lettuce for burger (Free) 1 tablespoon ketchup (Free) 1 tomato, 1/2 sliced for burger and 1/2 diced for salad (1V) 1 cup sweet red pepper (1V) lettuce, cucumber, radish and celery (Free) 2 tablespoons low-fat creamy Italian salad dressing (2Fa) 1 corn on the cob (1S) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) 4 oz. center loin pork chop, grilled (4P 4P) 1/2 cup mashed potato, made with no fat (1S) 1/2 cup corn (1S) 1 tablespoon low-fat margarine, for potatoes and corn (1Fa) 1/2 cup applesauce, unsweetened (1Fr) 1/2 cup beets (1V) 1 cup cauliflower (1V) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) Snack Snack Snack 8 animal crackers (1S) 8 oz. skim milk (1M) 10 grapes (1Fr) 1/2 banana (1Fr) 8 oz. skim milk (1M) Blend with ice to make a shake. 1 cup nonfat, light fruit yogurt (1M) 1/2 mango (1Fr) 1,400 Calorie Sample Menu — Week 2 The Food Group code: S = Grain, Starch & Sugar Group V = Vegetable Group Fr = Fruit Group P = Protein Group M = Milk & Yogurt Group Fa = Fat Group Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Breakfast Breakfast Breakfast Breakfast 4, 4-inch low-fat frozen pancakes (2S 2S) 1 teaspoon butter (1Fa) 2 tablespoons sugar-free pancake syrup (Free) 3/4 cup blueberries (1Fr) 8 oz. 1% milk (1M 1M ) 2 slices light whole wheat toast (1S) 1 teaspoon butter (1Fa) sugar-free jelly (Free) 1/2 cup 2% cottage cheese (2P 2P) 1/2 cup canned pineapple in own juice, to mix with cottage cheese (1Fr 1Fr) 8 oz. 1% milk (1M 1M) 1 1/2 cups puffed rice cereal (1S 1S) 2 tablespoons raisins (1Fr) 1/2 banana (1Fr) 1 tablespoon sunflower seeds (1Fa) 8 oz. 1% milk (1M 1M) 2 slices light whole wheat bread for French toast (1S) 1 egg (1P, 1/2 Fa) 4 oz. 1% milk to mix with egg and dip bread (1/2 1/2 M) M cooking spray (Free) 1/2 tablespoon light margarine (1/2Fa) 2 tablespoons sugar-free syrup (Free) 4 oz. 1% milk to drink (1/2M 1/2M) Lunch Lunch Lunch Lunch 2 slices whole wheat light bread (1S) 4 teaspoons natural peanut butter (1P, 1Fa) sugar-free jelly (Free) 1/2 cup baby carrots (1V) 1/2 banana (1Fr) 8 oz. 1% milk (1M 1M) 1/2 a 6-inch whole wheat pita (1S) 2 oz. chicken leg, skinless, diced (2P 2P) 1 tablespoon light mayonnaise (1Fa) 1 scallion and 1 tablespoon celery, diced, to mix with chicken and mayonnaise (Free) 1/2 zucchini, sliced in spears (1V) 2 tablespoons nonfat creamy Italian salad dressing, to dip zucchini (Free) 1 1/4 cups watermelon, cubed (1Fr) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) 1 whole tomato, inside scooped out (1V) 1/2 cup chicken breast packed in water (2P) 1 teaspoon mayonnaise (1Fa) 1 teaspoon mustard (Free) 1 scallion and 1 tablespoon celery, diced, to mix with chicken, mayonnaise and mustard. Scoop inside tomato (Free) 1 green pepper, sliced in spears (1V) 2 tablespoons nonfat ranch dressing, to dip peppers (Free) 8 oz. 1% milk (1M 1M) 2 slices whole wheat light bread (1S) 2 oz. turkey (2P 2P) 1 oz. low-fat cheese (1P 1P) 1 teaspoon mayonnaise (1Fa) 1 banana (2Fr) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) Dinner Dinner Dinner Dinner 6 oz. chicken leg, skinless, cubed (6P 6P) 2 green onion (Free) 1 teaspoon olive oil, to sauté green onions and chicken (1Fa) 1/2 cup canned pineapple in own juices, add to chicken after searing (1Fr 1Fr) 1/2 cup water chestnuts, add to chicken after searing (1V) 6 almonds, slivered, to top chicken (1Fa) 1 cup snow peas (2V) Water or non-caloric beverage 4 oz. salmon, cubed (4P) 1/2 cup onions, sliced (1V) 1 teaspoon olive oil, to sauté onion and salmon (1Fa) 1/3 cup tomato sauce, dilute with 1/3 cup water. Add to salmon last few minutes of cooking (1V 1V) 10 small green olives, add with tomato sauce (1Fa) 1 cup spaghetti (2S) 1 cup cauliflower (1V) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) 6 oz. sirloin steak (6P 6P) 1 cup mashed potato, no fat added (2S) 1 cup frozen vegetable mix, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots (2V) 2 teaspoons butter, for potatoes and vegetables (2Fa) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) 4 oz. pork loin chops, sliced in strips (4P 4P) 1 cup green pepper diced (1V) 1/2 cup onion (1V) 2 teaspoons canola oil to sauté peppers, pork and onion (2Fa) 2/3 cup brown rice (2S) 1 cup spinach, cooked (2V) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) Snack Snack Snack Snack 6 saltine-type crackers (1S 1S) 2 oz. fat-free cheese (1P 1P) 1 cup nonfat, fruited light yogurt (1M) 1/2 cup fruit cocktail, canned in fruit juice (1Fr 1Fr) 1/3 cup nonfat frozen yogurt (1S) 1 1/4 cups strawberries, sliced (1Fr) 1 cup raspberries (1Fr) 8 oz. skim milk (1M) Blend with ice to make shake. 1,400 Calorie Sample Menu — Week 2 The Food Group code: S = Grain, Starch & Sugar Group V = Vegetable Group Fr = Fruit Group P = Protein Group M = Milk & Yogurt Group Fa = Fat Group Thursday Friday Saturday Breakfast Breakfast Breakfast 1 sunny-side up egg (1P, 1/2 Fa) cooking spray (Free) 2 slices light whole wheat bread (1S) 1/2 tablespoon light margarine (1/2 Fa) 1 orange (1Fr) 8 oz. 1% milk (1M 1M) 1/2 cup oatmeal (1S) 6 almonds, slivered (1Fa) 2 tablespoons raisins (1Fr) 8 oz. 1% milk (1M 1M) 2 slices light whole wheat bread (1S) 4 teaspoons natural peanut butter (1P, 1Fa) 1/2 banana, sliced over peanut butter (1Fr) 8 oz. 1% milk (1M 1M) Lunch Lunch Lunch Lettuce, cucumber and radish (Free) 1 cup sweet pepper, sliced (1V) 1/2 cup 2% cottage cheese (2P 2P) 1/2 cup canned premium chunk white chicken (2P) 1/8 avocado, sliced (1Fa) alfalfa sprouts (Free) 1 tablespoon low-fat ranch dressing (1F 1Fa a) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) 1 English muffin toasted (2S 2S) 1/3 cup tomato sauce, spread over two sides of muffin (1V 1V) 2 oz. light mozzarella, spread over two sides of muffin (2P 2P) 1/2 cup broccoli, steamed, topping mini-pizzas (1V) 2 cloves garlic (Free) 1 teaspoon olive oil, to sauté garlic and toss with broccoli (1Fa) 12 cherries (1Fr) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) 1/2 a 6-inch whole wheat pita (1S) 2 eggs, hard boiled for egg salad (2P, 1Fa) 1 tablespoon fat-free mayonnaise (Free) 1 scallion, chopped for egg salad (Free) 1/2 cup string beans, steamed or microwaved (1V) 12 cherries (1Fr) 8 oz. 1% milk (1M 1M) Dinner Dinner Dinner 1 cup whole wheat pasta (2S) 2/3 cup tomato sauce (2V 2V) 3 oz. ground sirloin, browned (3P 3P) 2 cloves garlic (Free) 1 teaspoon olive oil to sauté garlic and meat for meat sauce (1Fa) 1 cup cauliflower (1V) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) 6 oz. pork loin, broiled (6P 6P) 1/2 cup mashed potato, no fat added (1S) 1 cup mashed turnip, no fat added (1V) 1/2 cup cooked carrots (1V) 2 teaspoons butter, for potato and vegetables (2Fa) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) 8 oz. shrimp (4P) 2 cloves garlic (Free) 2 teaspoons olive oil, to sauté garlic and shrimp (2Fa) 1 cup canned crushed tomatoes, add to garlic and shrimp for marinara sauce (2V 2V) 1 cup cauliflower, steamed (1V) 1 cup linguini (2S) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) Snack Snack Snack 8 animal crackers (1S) 8 oz. skim milk (1M) 1 banana (2Fr) 8 oz. skim milk (1M) 1 peach (1Fr) Blend with ice to make a shake. 1/4 cup 1% cottage cheese (1P 1P) 1/2 cup canned fruit cocktail in juice (1Fr 1Fr) 1,600 Calorie Sample Menu — Week 1 You can choose to use the menus below in a few different ways. You can simply follow this program as is to ensure that your daily caloric intake does not exceed 1,600 Calories, with about 30% Calories from fat. Or you may prefer to create your own program by using these menus. Next to each food item in the menus you will see a notation. The bracketed letter indicates the food group. The color of the letter represents the level that the food represents. Keep in mind that combination foods belong to two groups. Foods in the green section (GO! foods) are the healthiest. Foods in the yellow section provide many vitamins and minerals, but have less fiber and more sugar, sodium and/or unhealthy fats. Foods in the red section provide few vitamins and minerals, but lots of calories, sugar, sodium and/or unhealthy fats. Free foods contain few calories; you do not need to count them as anything. Add these foods to the menus to help satisfy your hunger and add flavor. Remember that servings refer to cooked amounts. The Food Group code: S = Grain, Starch & Sugar Group V = Vegetable Group Fr = Fruit Group P = Protein Group M = Milk & Yogurt Group Fa = Fat Group Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Breakfast Breakfast Breakfast Breakfast 2 slices whole wheat toast (2S) 4 teaspoons natural peanut butter (1P, 1Fa) 1/2 banana (1Fr) 8 oz. 1% milk (1M 1M) 1 cup oatmeal (2S) 1/2 cup fruit cocktail in juice (1Fr 1Fr) 1 cup plain, low-fat yogurt mixed with fruit (1M 1M) Black coffee or tea with lemon (Free) 2 whole grain low-fat waffles (2S) 3/4 cup blueberries (1Fr) 1 cup plain, low-fat yogurt (1M 1M) 2 tablespoons sour cream to mix with yogurt and fruit, and scoop on waffles (1Fa) Black coffee or tea with lemon (Free) 2 slices light whole wheat toast (1S) 1 teaspoon butter (1Fa) 1/2 cup 2% cottage cheese (2P 2P) 1 cup fruit cocktail canned in juice (2Fr 2Fr) 8 oz. 1% milk (1M 1M) Lunch Lunch Lunch Lunch lettuce, radish and cucumber (Free) 1/2 cup carrots (1V) 1 cup green pepper, diced (1V) 3/4 cup canned premium chunk white chicken (3P) 2 tablespoons nonfat ranch salad dressing (Free) 10 small green olives (1Fa) 12 saltine-type crackers (2S 2S) 1 peach (1Fr) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) 2 slices whole wheat bread (2S) 2 oz. turkey-ham & 1 oz. low-fat cheese (3P 3P) 1/8 avocado, sliced (1Fa) alfalfa sprouts (Free) 1 teaspoon mayonnaise (1Fa) 1/2 cup baby carrots (1V) 2 tablespoons nonfat dressing for dipping carrots (Free) 1 apple (1Fr) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) 3 oz. low-fat ham (3P 3P) 2 oz. low-fat cheese (2P 2P) 1 teaspoon mayonnaise (1Fa) 2 large lettuce leaves (Free) 2 6-inch tortillas (2S 2S) Layer ham, cheese and lettuceleaves on tortillas, spread with mayonnaise and roll1 cup string beans, steamed (2V) Balsalmic vinegar and garlic to marinade string beans the day before (Free) 1 kiwi (1Fr) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) 6 saltine-type crackers (1S 1S) 4 teaspoons natural peanut butter (1P, 1Fa) sugar-free jelly (Free) 1/2 cup baby carrots (1V) 1/2 cup asparagus, cooked and chilled (1V) 1 apple (1Fr) 8 oz. 1% milk (1M) 1M) Dinner Dinner Dinner Dinner 5 oz. sirloin steak (5P 5P) 1/4 cup onions, cooked (1/2V) 1/4 cup mushrooms, cooked (1/2V) 1 teaspoon canola oil to sauté onions and mushrooms and put on top of steak (1Fa) 1/2 cup cooked spinach (1V) 1 medium baked sweet potato, 6 oz. (2S) 2 tablespoons sour cream (1Fa) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) 5 oz. chicken leg, no skin, baked (5P 5P) 1 cup whole wheat pasta (2S) 4 tablespoons low-fat vinaigrette, 2 for marinade for chicken & 2 to toss with pasta (add extra vinegar, lemon juice or water as necessary) (2F 2Fa a) 1 cup broccoli and 1 cup zucchini, steamed and tossed with pasta (3V) 8 oz. 1% milk (1M 1M) 8 oz. flounder or other white fish, baked (4P) 1 teaspoon olive oil to drizzle over fish (1Fa) lemon wedges squeezed over fish (Free) 1/2 cup onion (1V) 1 teaspoon olive oil, to sauté onions and cook with rice (1Fa) 2/3 cup brown rice (2S) 1/2 cup spinach (1V) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) 2/3 cup kidney beans (1P, 1S) 4 oz. ground turkey (4P 4P) 1/2 cup onion, chopped (1V) 1 cup green pepper, diced (1V) 2 teaspoons canola oil, to sauté onions, peppers and turkey (2Fa) salsa to mix with above (Free) 2/3 cup brown rice (2S) lettuce, cucumber, radish and celery (Free) 2 tablespoons nonfat creamy dressing (Free) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) Snack Snack Snack Snack 8 oz. skim milk (1M) 1 1/4 cups strawberries (1Fr) Blend with ice for a shake. 1 cup cantaloupe melon (1Fr) 1/4 cup 1% cottage cheese (1P 1P) 8 oz. skim milk (1M) 1 peach (1Fr) Blend with ice for a shake. 2 slices light rye bread (1S) 2 oz. fat-free cheese (1P 1P) lettuce and mustard (Free) 1,600 Calorie Sample Menu — Week 1 The Food Group code: S = Grain, Starch & Sugar Group V = Vegetable Group Fr = Fruit Group P = Protein Group M = Milk & Yogurt Group Fa = Fat Group Thursday Friday Saturday Breakfast Breakfast Breakfast 3 egg-white omelet (1P) 1 oz. low-fat cheese (1P 1P) 1 oz. low-fat ham (1P 1P) 1/4 cup onion, chopped (1/2V) 1/2 tomato, diced (1/2V) 1 teaspoon canola oil, to sauté vegetables (1Fa) 2 slices whole wheat toast (2S) 8 oz. 1% milk (1M 1M) 1 cup low-fat, plain yogurt (1M 1M) 1/2 cup canned fruit cocktail, in juice (1Fr 1Fr) 3 tablespoons grapenuts (1S) 6 almonds, slivered (1Fa) Black coffee or tea with lemon (Free) 1 1/2 cups plain wheat flakes cereal (2S) 1 apple (1Fr) 4 teaspoons natural peanut butter, to spread on apple (1P, 1Fa) 8 oz. 1% milk (1M 1M) Lunch Lunch Lunch 2 slices light whole wheat bread (1S) 1/2 cup tuna fish, packed in water (2P) 1 teaspoon mayonnaise (1Fa) mustard to mix with mayonnaise (Free) lettuce (Free) 1 tomato, diced (1V) 1/2 cucumber sliced (Free) 2 tablespoons nonfat dressing, for tomato-cucumber salad (Free) 12 cherries (1Fr) 1 medium baked potato, 6 oz. (2S) 1 cup broccoli, steamed or microwaved (2V) 2 cloves garlic (Free) 1 teaspoon canola oil, to sauté garlic and toss with broccoli (1Fa) 3 oz. low-fat cheese to melt on potato and broccoli (3P 3P) salsa (Free) 1 peach (1Fr) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) Lettuce and cucumber for chef salad (Free) 1 oz. low-fat ham (1P 1P) 1 oz. turkey (1P 1P) 1 oz. low-fat cheese (1P 1P) 1 cup zucchini, sliced (1V) 1 tomato, diced (1V) 1 tablespoon low-fat ranch salad dressing (1Fa) 10 small green olives (1Fa) 2, 4-inch bread sticks (1S 1S) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) Dinner Dinner Dinner 4 oz. chicken, no skin (4P 4P) 1/2 cup water chestnuts (1V) 1/2 cup pea pods (1V) Chinese cabbage and green onions (Free) 2 teaspoons peanut oil, to stir fry chicken and vegetables (2Fa) 3/4 cup canned mandarin oranges, add the last 3 min. of cooking (1Fr) lite soy sauce (Free) 2/3 cup brown rice (2S) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) 6 oz. ground sirloin burger (6P 6P) 1 hamburger bun (2S 2S) lettuce, for burger (Free) 1 tablespoon ketchup (Free) 1 tomato, 1/2 sliced for burger and 1/2 diced for salad (1V) 1/2 cup asparagus (1V) lettuce, cucumber and radish (Free) 2 tablespoons low-fat creamy Italian salad dressing (2Fa) 1 corn on the cob (1S) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) 5 oz. center loin pork chop, grilled (5P 5P) 1 cup mashed potato, made with no fat (2S) 1/2 cup corn (1S) 1 tablespoon low-fat margarine, for potatoes and corn (1Fa) 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce (1Fr) 1/2 cup beets (1V) 1 cup cauliflower (1V) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) Snack Snack Snack 8 animal crackers (1S) 8 oz. skim milk (1M) 10 grapes (1Fr) 1/2 banana (1Fr) 8 oz. skim milk (1M) Blend with ice to make a shake. 1 cup nonfat, light fruit yogurt (1M) 1/2 mango (1Fr) 1,600 Calorie Sample Menu — Week 2 The Food Group code: S = Grain, Starch & Sugar Group V = Vegetable Group Fr = Fruit Group P = Protein Group M = Milk & Yogurt Group Fa = Fat Group Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Breakfast Breakfast Breakfast Breakfast 4, 4-inch low-fat frozen pancakes (2S 2S) 1 teaspoon butter (1Fa) 2 tablespoons sugar-free pancake syrup (Free) 3/4 cup blueberries (1Fr) 8 oz. 1% milk (1M 1M) 2 slices whole wheat toast (2S) 1 teaspoon butter (1Fa) sugar-free jelly (Free) 1/2 cup 2% cottage cheese (2P 2P) 1/2 cup canned pineapple in own juice, to mix with cottage cheese (1Fr 1Fr) 8 oz. 1% milk (1M 1M) 1 1/2 cups puffed rice cereal (1S 1S) 2 tablespoons raisins (1Fr) 1/2 banana (1Fr) 1 tablespoon sunflower seeds (1Fa) 8 oz. 1% milk (1M 1M) 2 slices whole wheat bread for French toast (2S) 1 egg (1P,1/2Fa) 4 oz. 1% milk to mix with egg and dip bread (1/2M 1/2M) cooking spray (Free) 1/2 tablespoon light margarine (1/2Fa) 2 tablespoons sugar-free syrup (Free) 4 oz. 1% milk to drink (1/2M 1/2M) Lunch Lunch Lunch Lunch 2 slices whole wheat light bread (1S) 4 teaspoons natural peanut butter (1P, 1Fa) sugar-free jelly (Free) 1/2 cup baby carrots (1V) 1/2 banana (1Fr) 8 oz. 1% milk (1M 1M) 1/2 a 6-inch whole wheat pita bread (1S) 3 oz. chicken, skinless, diced (3P 3P) 1 tablespoon light mayonnaise (1Fa) 1 scallion and 1 tablespoon celery, diced, to mix with chicken and mayonnaise (Free) 1/2 zucchini, sliced in spears (1V) 2 tablespoons nonfat creamy Italian salad dressing, to dip zucchini (Free) 1 1/4 cups watermelon, cubed (1Fr) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) 1 whole tomato, inside scooped out (1V) 3/4 cup tuna fish packed in water (3P) 1 teaspoon mayonnaise (1Fa) 1 teaspoon mustard (Free) 1 scallion and 1 tablespoon celery, diced, to mix with tuna fish, mayonnaise and mustard. Scoop inside tomato (Free) 1 green pepper, sliced in spears (1V) 2 tablespoons nonfat ranch dressing, to dip peppers (Free) 6 saltine-type crackers (1S) 8 oz. 1% milk (1M 1M) 2 slices whole wheat bread (2S) 2 oz. turkey ham (2P 2P) 1 oz. low-fat cheese (1P 1P) 1 teaspoon mayonnaise (1Fa) 1 banana (2Fr) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) Dinner Dinner Dinner Dinner 7 oz. chicken leg, skinless, cubed (7P 7P) 2 green onions (Free) 1 teaspoon olive oil, to sauté green onions and chicken (1Fa) 1/2 cup canned pineapple in own juices, add to chicken after searing (1Fr) 1/2 cup water chestnuts, add to chicken after searing (1V) 6 almonds, slivered, to top chicken (1Fa) 1 cup snow peas (1V) 2/3 cup brown rice (2S) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) 4 oz. salmon, cubed (4P) 1/2 cup onions, sliced (1V) 1 teaspoon olive oil, to sauté onion and salmon (1Fa) 1/3 cup tomato sauce, dilute with 1/3 cup water. Add to salmon last few minutes of cooking (1V 1V) 10 small green olives, add with tomato sauce (1Fa) 1 1/2 cups spaghetti (3S) 1 cup cauliflower (1V) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) 6 oz. sirloin steak (6P 6P) 1 cup mashed potato, no fat added (2S) 1 cup frozen vegetable mix, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots (2V) 2 teaspoons butter, for potatoes and vegetables (2Fa) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) 5 oz. pork loin chops, sliced in strips (5P 5P) 1 cup green pepper diced (1V) 1/2 cup onion (1V) 2 teaspoons canola oil to sauté peppers, veal and onion (2Fa) 2/3 cup brown rice (2S) 1/2 cup broccoli (1V) 1/2 cup carrots (1V) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) Snack Snack Snack Snack 6 saltine-type crackers (1S 1S) 2 oz. fat-free cheese (1P 1P) 1 cup nonfat, plain yogurt (1M) 1/2 cup fruit cocktail, canned in fruit juice (1Fr 1Fr) 2/3 cup nonfat frozen yogurt (2S) 1 1/4 cups strawberries, sliced (1Fr) 1 pear (1Fr) 8 oz. skim milk (1M) 1,600 Calorie Sample Menu — Week 2 The Food Group code: S = Grain, Starch & Sugar Group V = Vegetable Group Fr = Fruit Group P = Protein Group M = Milk & Yogurt Group Fa = Fat Group Thursday Friday Saturday Breakfast Breakfast Breakfast 1 sunny-side up egg (1P, 1/2 Fa) cooking spray (Free) 2 slices whole wheat bread (2S) 1/2 tablespoon light margarine (1/2 Fa) 1 orange (1Fr) 8 oz. 1% milk (1M 1M) 1 6 2 8 2 slices whole wheat bread (2S) 4 teaspoons natural peanut butter (1P, 1Fa) 1/2 banana, sliced over peanut butter (1Fr) 8 oz. 1% milk (1M 1M) Lunch Lunch Lunch Lettuce, cucumber and radish (Free) 1/2 cup carrots, sliced (1V) 1/2 cup 2% cottage cheese (2P 2P) 1/2 cup canned premium chunk white chicken (2P) 1/8 avocado, sliced (1Fa) alfalfa sprouts (Free) 1 tablespoon low-fat ranch dressing (1Fa) 2, 4-inch bread sticks (1S) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) 1 English muffin toasted (2S 2S) 1/3 cup tomato sauce, spread over two sides of muffin (1V 1V) 3 oz. light mozzarella, spread over two sides of muffin (3P 3P) 1/2 cup broccoli, steamed, topping mini-pizzas (1V) 2 cloves garlic (Free) 1 teaspoon olive oil, to sauté garlic and toss with broccoli (1Fa) 12 cherries (1Fr) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) 1/2 a 6-inch whole wheat pita (1S) 2 eggs, hard boiled for egg salad (2P, 1Fa) 1 tablespoon fat-free mayonnaise (Free) 1 scallion, chopped for egg salad (Free) 1/2 cup string beans, steamed or microwaved (1V) 12 cherries (1Fr) 8 oz. 1% milk (1M 1M) Dinner Dinner Dinner 1 cup whole wheat pasta (2S) 2/3 cup tomato sauce (2V 2V) 4 oz. ground sirloin, browned (4P 4P) 2 cloves garlic (Free) 1 teaspoon olive oil to sauté garlic and meat for meat sauce (1Fa) 1 cup cauliflower (1V) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) 6 oz. pork loin, broiled (6P 6P) 1 cup mashed potato, no fat added (2S) 1 cup mashed turnip, no fat added (1V) 1/2 cup cooked carrots (1V) 2 teaspoons butter, for potato and vegetables (2Fa) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) 8 oz. shrimp (4P) 2 cloves garlic (Free) 2 teaspoons olive oil, to sauté garlic and shrimp (2Fa) 1 cup canned crushed tomatoes, add to garlic and shrimp for marinara sauce (2V 2V) 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese (1P 1P) 1 cup cauliflower, steamed (1V) 1 cup linguini (2S 2S) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) Snack Snack Snack 8 animal crackers (1S) 8 oz. skim milk (1M) 1 banana (2Fr) 8 oz. skim milk (1M) 1 peach (1Fr) Blend with ice to make a shake. 1/4 cup 1% cottage cheese (1P 1P) 1/2 cup canned fruit cocktail in juice (1Fr 1Fr) 2 fat-free oatmeal cookies (1S) cup oatmeal (2S) almonds, slivered (1Fa) tablespoons raisins (1Fr) oz. 1% milk (1M 1M) 1,800 Calorie Sample Menu — Week 1 You can choose to use the menus below in a few different ways. You can simply follow this program as is to ensure that your daily caloric intake does not exceed 1,800 Calories, with about 30% Calories from fat. Or you may prefer to create your own program by using these menus. Next to each food item in the menus you will see a notation. The bracketed letter indicates the food group. The color of the letter represents the level that the food represents. Keep in mind that combination foods belong to two groups. Foods in the green section (GO! foods) are the healthiest. Foods in the yellow section provide many vitamins and minerals, but have less fiber and more sugar, sodium and/or unhealthy fats. Foods in the red section provide few vitamins and minerals, but lots of calories, sugar, sodium and/or unhealthy fats. Free foods contain few calories; you do not need to count them as anything. Add these foods to the menus to help satisfy your hunger and add flavor. Remember that servings refer to cooked amounts. The Food Group code: S = Grain, Starch & Sugar Group V = Vegetable Group Fr = Fruit Group P = Protein Group M = Milk & Yogurt Group Fa = Fat Group Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Breakfast Breakfast Breakfast Breakfast 2 slices whole wheat toast (2S) 4 teaspoons natural peanut butter (1P, 1Fa) 1 banana (2Fr) 8 oz. 1% milk (1M 1M) 1 cup oatmeal (2S) 1 cup fruit cocktail in juice (2Fr 2Fr) 1 cup plain, low-fat yogurt mixed with fruit (1M 1M) Black coffee or tea with lemon (Free) 2 whole grain low-fat waffles (2S) 3/4 cup blueberries (1Fr) 1 cup plain, low-fat yogurt (1M 1M) 2 tablespoons sour cream to mix with yogurt and fruit, and scoop on waffles (1Fa) Black coffee or tea with lemon (Free) 2 slices whole wheat toast (2S) 1 teaspoon butter (1Fa) 1/2 cup 2% cottage cheese (2P 2P) 1 cup fruit cocktail canned in juice (2Fr 2Fr) 8 oz. 1% milk (1M 1M) Lunch Lunch Lunch Lunch lettuce, radish and cucumber (Free) 1/2 cup carrots (1V) 1 cup green pepper, diced (1V) 3/4 cup canned premium chunk white chicken (3P) 1 tablespoon low-fat ranch salad dressing (1Fa) 10 small green olives (1Fa) 12 saltine-type crackers (2S 2S) 1 peach (1Fr) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) 2 slices whole wheat bread (2S) 2 oz. turkey ham & 1 oz. lowfat cheese (3P 3P) 1/4 avocado, sliced (2Fa) alfalfa sprouts (Free) 1 teaspoon mayonnaise (1Fa) 1/2 cup baby carrots (1V) 2 tablespoons nonfat dressing for dipping carrots (Free) 1 apple (1Fr) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) 3 oz. low-fat ham (3P 3P) 2 oz. low-fat cheese (2P 2P) 2 teaspoons mayonnaise (2Fa) 2 large lettuce leaves (Free) 2, 6-inch tortillas (2S 2S) Layer ham, cheese and lettuce leaves on tortillas, spread with mayonnaise and roll 1 cup string beans, steamed (2V) Balsalmic vinegar and garlic to marinade string beans the day before (Free) 2 kiwis (2Fr) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) 6 saltine-type crackers (1S 1S) 4 teaspoons natural peanut butter (1P, 1Fa) sugar-free jelly (Free) 1 cup asparagus, cooked and chilled (2V) 1 apple (1Fr) 8 oz. 1% milk (1M 1M) Dinner Dinner Dinner Dinner 5 oz. sirloin steak (5P 5P) 1/4 cup onions, cooked (1/2V) 1/4 cup mushrooms, cooked (1/2V) 1 teaspoon canola oil to sauté onions and mushrooms and put on top of steak (1Fa) 1/2 cup cooked spinach (1V) 1 large baked sweet potato, 9 oz. (3S) 2 tablespoons sour cream (1Fa) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) 5 oz. chicken leg, no skin, baked (5P 5P) 1 1/2 cups whole wheat pasta (3S) 4 tablespoons low-fat vinaigrette, 2 for marinade for chicken & 2 to toss with pasta (add extra vinegar, lemon juice or water as necessary) (2F 2Fa a) 1 cup broccoli and 1 cup zucchini, steamed and tossed with pasta (3V) 8 oz. 1% milk (1M 1M) 8 oz. flounder or other white fish, baked (4P) 1 teaspoon olive oil to drizzle over fish (1Fa) lemon wedges squeezed over fish (Free) 1/2 cup onion (1V) 1 teaspoon olive oil, to sauté onions and cook with rice (1Fa) 1 cup brown rice (3S) 1/2 cup spinach (1V) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) 2/3 cup kidney beans (1P, 1S) 4 oz. ground turkey (4P 4P) 1/2 cup onion, chopped (1V) 1 cup green pepper, diced (1V) 2 teaspoons canola oil, to sauté onions, peppers and turkey (2Fa) salsa to mix with above (Free) 2/3 cup brown rice (2S) lettuce, cucumber and radish (Free) 1 tablespoon low-fat creamy dressing (1Fa) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) Snack Snack Snack Snack 8 oz. skim milk (1M) 1 1/4 cups strawberries (1Fr) Blend with ice for a shake. 1 cup cantaloupe melon, cubed (1Fr) 1/4 cup 1% cottage cheese (1P 1P) 8 oz. skim milk (1M) 1 peach (1Fr) Blend with ice for a shake. 2 slices light rye bread (1S) 2 oz. fat-free cheese (1P 1P) lettuce and mustard (Free) 1 orange (1Fr) 1,800 Calorie Sample Menu — Week 1 The Food Group code: S = Grain, Starch & Sugar Group V = Vegetable Group Fr = Fruit Group P = Protein Group M = Milk & Yogurt Group Fa = Fat Group Thursday Friday Saturday Breakfast Breakfast Breakfast 3 egg-white omelet (1P) 1 oz. low-fat cheese (1P 1P) 1 oz. low-fat ham (1P 1P) 1/4 cup onion, chopped (1/2 V) 1/2 tomato, diced (1/2 V) 1 teaspoon canola oil, to sauté vegetables (1Fa) 2 slices whole wheat toast (2S) 8 oz. 1% milk (1M 1M) 1 cup low-fat, plain yogurt (1M 1M) 1 cup canned fruit cocktail, in juice (2Fr 2Fr) 6 tablespoons grapenuts (2S) 6 almonds, slivered (1Fa) Black coffee or tea with lemon (Free) 1 1/2 cups plain wheat flakes cereal (2S) 1 apple (1Fr) 4 teaspoons natural peanut butter, to spread on apple (1P, 1Fa) 8 oz. 1% milk (1M 1M) Lunch Lunch Lunch 2 slices light whole wheat bread (1S) 1/2 cup tuna fish, packed in water (2P) 1 teaspoon mayonnaise (1Fa) mustard to mix with mayonnaise (Free) lettuce (Free) 1 tomato, diced (1V) 1/2 cucumber sliced (Free) 1 tablespoon creamy low-fat dressing, for tomato-cucumber salad (1Fa) 1 orange (1Fr) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) 1 medium baked potato, 6 oz. (2S) 1 cup broccoli, steamed or microwaved (2V) 2 cloves garlic (Free) 2 teaspoons canola oil, to sauté garlic and toss with broccoli (2Fa) 3 oz. low-fat cheese to melt on potato and broccoli (3P 3P) salsa (Free) 1 peach (1Fr) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) Lettuce and cucumber for chef salad (Free) 1 oz. low-fat ham (1P 1P) 1 oz. turkey (1P 1P) 1 oz. low-fat cheese (1P 1P) 1 cup zucchini, sliced (1V) 1 tomato, diced (1V) 1 tablespoon low-fat ranch salad dressing (1Fa) 10 small green olives (1Fa) 4 4-inch bread sticks (2S 2S) 1 kiwi (1Fr) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) Dinner Dinner Dinner 4 oz. chicken, no skin (4P 4P) 1/2 cup water chestnuts (1V) 1/2 cup pea pods (1V) Chinese cabbage and green onions (Free) 2 teaspoons peanut oil, to stir fry chicken and vegetables (2Fa) 3/4 cup canned mandarine oranges, add the last 3 min. of cooking (1Fr) lite soy sauce (Free) 1 cup brown rice (3S) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) 6 oz. ground sirloin burger (6P 6P) 1 hamburger bun (2S 2S) lettuce, for burger (Free) 1 tablespoon ketchup (Free) 1 tomato, 1/2 sliced for burger and 1/2 diced for salad (1V) 1/2 cup asparagus (1V) lettuce, cucumber and radish (Free) 2 tablespoons low-fat creamy salad dressing (2 Fa) 1 corn on the cob (1S) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) 5 oz. center loin pork chop, grilled (5P) 1 cup mashed potato, made with no fat (2S) 1/2 cup corn (1S) 2 tablespoons low-fat margarine, for potatoes and corn (2Fa) 1/2 cup applesauce, unsweetened (1Fr) 1/2 cup beets (1V) 1 cup cauliflower (1V) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) Snack Snack Snack 8 animal crackers (1S) 8 oz. skim milk (1M) 20 grapes (2Fr) 1/2 banana (1Fr) 8 oz. skim milk (1M) Blend with ice to make a shake. 1 cup nonfat, light fruit yogurt (1M) 1/2 mango (1Fr) 1,800 Calorie Sample Menu — Week 2 The Food Group code: S = Grain, Starch & Sugar Group V = Vegetable Group Fr = Fruit Group P = Protein Group M = Milk & Yogurt Group Fa = Fat Group Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Breakfast Breakfast Breakfast Breakfast 4, 4-inch low-fat frozen pancakes (2S) 1 teaspoon butter (1Fa) 2 tablespoons sugar-free pancake syrup (Free) 3/4 cup blueberries (1Fr) 8 oz. 1% milk (1M 1M) 2 slices whole wheat toast (2S) 1 teaspoon butter (1Fa) sugar-free jelly (Free) 1/2 cup 2% cottage cheese (2P 2P) 1 cup canned pineapple in own juice, to mix with cottage cheese (2Fr) 8 oz. 1% milk (1M 1M) 1 1/2 cups puffed rice cereal (1S 1S) 2 tablespoons raisins (1Fr) 1 banana (2Fr) 1 tablespoon sunflower seeds (1Fa) 6 almonds, slivered (1Fa) 8 oz. 1% milk (1M 1M) 2 slices whole wheat bread for French toast (2S) 1 egg (1P, 1/2 Fa) 4 oz. 1% milk to mix with egg and dip bread (1/2 1/2 M) M cooking spray (Free) 1/2 tablespoon light margarine (1/2 Fa) 2 tablespoons sugar-free syrup (Free) 4 oz. 1% milk to drink (1/2 1/2 M) M Lunch Lunch Lunch Lunch 2 slices whole wheat bread (2S) 4 teaspoons natural peanut butter (1P, 1Fa) sugar-free jelly (Free) 1/2 cup baby carrots (1V) 1 banana (2Fr) 8 oz. 1% milk (1M 1M) 1/2 a 6-inch whole wheat pita bread (1S) 3 oz. chicken, skinless, diced (3P 3P) 1 teaspoon mayonnaise (1Fa) 1 scallion and 1 tablespoon celery, diced, to mix with chicken and mayonnaise (Free) 1 cup zucchini, sliced in spears (1V) 1 tablespoon low-fat creamy Italian salad dressing, to dip zucchini (1Fa) 1 1/4 cups watermelon, cubed (1Fr) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) 1 whole tomato, inside scooped out (1V) 3/4 cup tuna fish packed in water (3P) 1 teaspoon mayonnaise (1Fa) 1 teaspoon mustard (Free) 1 scallion and 1 tablespoon celery, diced, to mix with tuna fish, mustard and mayonnaise Scoop inside tomato (Free) 1 green pepper, sliced in spears (1V) 2 tablespoons nonfat ranch dressing, to dip peppers (Free) 12 saltine-type crackers (2S 2S) 8 oz. 1% milk (1M 1M) 2 slices whole wheat bread (2S) 3 oz. roast beef (3P 3P) 1 oz. low-fat cheese (1P 1P) 2 teaspoons mayonnaise (2Fa) 1 banana (2Fr) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) Dinner Dinner Dinner Dinner 7 oz. chicken, skinless, cubed (7P 7P) 2 green onions (Free) 2 teaspoons olive oil, to sauté greeen onions and chicken (2Fa) 1/2 cup canned pineapple in own juices, add to chicken after searing (1Fr 1Fr) 1/2 cup water chestnuts, add to chicken after searing (1V 1V) 6 almonds, slivered, to top chicken (1Fa) 1 cup snow peas (2V) 2/3 cup brown rice (2S) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) 4 oz. salmon, cubed (4P) 1/2 cup onions, sliced (1V) 1 teaspoon olive oil, to sauté onion and salmon (1Fa) 1/3 cup tomato sauce, dilute with 1/3 cup water. Add to salmon last few minutes of cooking (1V 1V) 10 small green olives, add with tomato sauce (1Fa) 1 1/2 cups spaghetti (3S 3S) 1 cup cauliflower (1V) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) 6 oz. sirloin steak (6P 6P) 1 cup mashed potato, no fat added (2S) 1 cup frozen vegetable mix, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots (2V) 2 teaspoons butter, for potatoes and vegetables (2Fa) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) 4 oz. pork loin chops, sliced in strips (4P 4P) 1 cup green pepper diced (1V) 1/2 cup onion (1V) 2 teaspoons canola oil to sauté peppers, pork and onion (2Fa) 1 cup brown rice (3S) 1 cup broccoli (2V) 1 apple (1Fr) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) Snack Snack Snack Snack 6 saltine-type crackers (1S 1S) 2 oz. fat-free cheese (1P 1P) 1 cup nonfat, light fruit yogurt (1M) 1/2 cup fruit cocktail, canned in fruit juice (1Fr 1Fr) 2 fat-free oatmeal cookies (1S) 2/3 cup nonfat frozen yogurt (2S) 1 1/4 cups strawberries, sliced (1Fr) 1 cup raspberries (1Fr) 8 oz. skim milk (1M) Blend wih ice to make shake. 1,800 Calorie Sample Menu — Week 2 The Food Group code: S = Grain, Starch & Sugar Group V = Vegetable Group Fr = Fruit Group P = Protein Group M = Milk & Yogurt Group Fa = Fat Group Thursday Friday Saturday Breakfast Breakfast Breakfast 1 sunny-side up egg (1P, 1/2 Fa) cooking spray (Free) 2 slices whole wheat bread (2S) 1/2 tablespoon light margarine (1/2 Fa) 1 orange (1Fr) 8 oz. 1% milk (1M 1M) 1 6 1 2 8 2 slices whole wheat bread (2S) 4 teaspoons natural peanut butter (1P, 1Fa) 1 banana, sliced over peanut butter (2Fr) 8 oz. 1% milk (1M 1M) Lunch Lunch Lunch Lettuce, cucumber, radish, celery (Free) 1/2 cup carrots, sliced (1V) 1/2 cup 2% cottage cheese (2P 2P) 1/2 cup canned premium chunk white chicken (2P) 1/8 avocado, sliced (1Fa) alfalfa sprouts (Free) 1 tablespoon low-fat ranch dressing (1Fa) 2, 4-inch bread sticks (1S 1S) 1/2 grapefruit (1Fr) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) 1 English muffin toasted (2S 2S) 1/3 cup tomato sauce, spread over two sides of muffin (1V 1V) 3 oz. light mozzarella, spread over two sides of muffin (3P 3P) 1/2 cup broccoli, steamed, topping mini-pizzas (1V) 2 cloves garlic (Free) 1 teaspoon olive oil, to sauté garlic and toss with broccoli (1Fa) 24 cherries (2 Fr) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) 1/2 a 6-inch whole wheat pita (1S) 2 eggs, hard boiled for egg salad (2P, 1Fa) 1 tablespoon low-fat mayonnaise (1Fa) 1 scallion, chopped for egg salad (Free) 1/2 cup string beans, steamed or microwaved (1V) 2 tangerines (1Fr) 8 oz. 1% milk (1M 1M) Dinner Dinner Dinner 1 1/2 cups whole wheat pasta (3S) 2/3 cup tomato sauce (2V) 4 oz. ground sirloin, browned (4P 4P) 2 cloves garlic (Free) 2 teaspoons olive oil to sauté garlic and meat for meat sauce (2Fa) 1 cup cauliflower (1V) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) 6 oz. pork loin, broiled (6P 6P) 1 1/2 cups mashed potato, no fat added (3S) 1 cup mashed turnip, no fat added (1V) 1/2 cup cooked carrots (1V) 2 teaspoons butter, for potato and vegetables (2Fa) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) 8 oz. shrimp (4P) 2 cloves garlic (Free) 2 teaspoons olive oil, to sauté garlic and shrimp (2Fa) 1 cup canned crushed tomatoes, add to garlic and shrimp for marinara sauce (2V 2V) 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese (1P 1P) 1 cup cauliflower, steamed (1V) 1 1/2 cups linguini (3S 3S) Water or non-caloric beverage (Free) Snack Snack Snack 8 animal crackers (1S) 8 oz. skim milk (1M) 1 banana (2Fr) 8 oz. skim milk (1M) 1 peach (1Fr) Blend with ice to make a shake. 1/4 cup 1% cottage cheese (1P 1P) 1/2 cup canned fruit cocktail in juice (1Fr 1Fr) 2 fat-free oatmeal cookies (1S) cup oatmeal (2S) almonds, slivered (1Fa) tablespoon sunflower seeds (1Fa) tablespoons raisins (1Fr) oz. 1% milk (1M 1M) Low–fat cooking Changing your eating habits — really changing them — involves much more than following the healthy menus. A new way of eating to lose weight and maintain the loss may mean learning to enjoy different foods, and it may mean cooking familiar foods in different ways. The most important change you can make may be to learn to cook with less fat. Here are three ways to reduce the fat in your cooking: 1. Stock a low–fat pantry. Basic low–fat cooking calls for a ready supply of these items: onions, fresh garlic, other herbs and spices, Dijon mustard, fresh lemons and limes, flavored vinegar, sherry or other wines, evaporated skim milk, cornstarch, plain non–fat yogurt and vegetable cooking spray. 2. Trim your cooking technique. Expand or revamp your culinary habits to include these ideas: • Saute vegetables, such as onions, mushrooms or celery, in a small amount of water, broth or wine. • Use nonstick cookware for foods that require some fat, such as pancakes or browned meats. Or use vegetable cooking sprays (negligible fat per 1–second spray). • Trim visible fat from lean meats; then stir–fry or broil, roast or bake on a rack to allow fat to drip away. • Cook fish in packets with parchment paper or foil to seal in flavors and juices. • Poach fish or skinless poultry in broth, vegetable juice, flavored vinegar or dry wine. Season with herbs and spices. • Microwave or steam vegetables; then dress them up with flavored vinegars, herbs and spices. 3. Save with substitutions. To save fat and calories, substitute: • 1 cup fat–free sour cream for 1 cup regular sour cream. • 1 cup skim milk for 1 cup whole milk. • 1 tablespoon reduced–calorie salad dressing, oil–free salad dressing or any amount herb–flavored vinegar for 1 tablespoon regular salad dressing. • 1 cup evaporated skim milk for 1 cup light or heavy cream. Fats: the good and the bad Monounsaturated fats (“good fats”): Help lower total and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and are more resistant to oxidation. Oxidation promotes the absorption of fats and cholesterol into artery walls, speeding the buildup of artery–clogging plaques. Found mainly in: Olive, canola and peanut oil, as well as most nuts and avocados. Polyunsaturated fats: Help lower total and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. These fats also seem susceptible to oxidation. Found mainly in: Vegetable oils such as safflower, corn, sunflower, soy and cottonseed. Saturated fats: Raise total and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, increasing your risk of heart disease. Found mainly in: Red meats, most whole–fat dairy products (including butter), egg yolks, chocolate (cocoa butter), as well as coconut, palm and other tropical oils. Trans fats (also called hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated vegetable oil): Raise LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and lower HDL (“good”) cholesterol, increasing the risk of heart disease. Found mainly in: Stick margarine and shortening, which are often used in making cookies, pastry and other baked foods, as well as most crackers, many candies, commercially prepared snack foods and french fries. 23 Unhook yourself from food. Take time to think about not only what you eat, but why you eat. If you eat only when you feel hungry, chances are you’ll have less trouble controlling your weight. But eating is not simply a physical behavior. How you think and feel about food are powerful forces that shape your eating style. If thoughts and feelings about food stand in your way of learning healthy eating habits, here are six steps that can help. Step 1: Know your habits. To become aware of your eating behavior, ask yourself if you tend to eat when you’re bored, angry, tired, anxious, depressed or socially pressured. If you do, try these tips: • Before eating anything, ask yourself if you’re really hungry. • Learn to say no gracefully. • Do something to distract yourself from your desire to eat — telephone a friend or run an errand. • Direct emotional energy from stress or anger outward. This is a good time for a brisk, 30–minute walk or cleaning your closet. If you have trouble identifying emotional or environmental reasons for eating, try keeping a notebook. List what, when and why you eat. See if any relationships or patterns emerge. Step 2: Change gradually. When you’ve identified problem behaviors that you’d like to change, remember that gradual changes work best. Choose one area at a time and be specific about how you’re going to improve on that behavior. When you’ve successfully changed one habit, work on another. Continually practice new behaviors to turn them into habits. Step 3: Take charge. Take responsibility for your own behavior. Remember that ultimately only you can help yourself lose weight. But taking charge of your own behavior doesn’t mean you have to do everything alone. Ask for support from your spouse, family and friends. Step 4: Think positively. Don’t dwell on what you’re giving up to lose weight. Concentrate on what you’re gaining. Instead of thinking, “I really miss eating a doughnut at breakfast,” tell yourself, “I feel a lot better when I eat whole–wheat toast and cereal in the morning.” Step 5: Plan ahead. Your old habits may be so ingrained that you may do them instinctively. Mentally rehearsing new habits can help. Imagine yourself at a party. Envision yourself taking a small portion of a few items, leaving space between them on your plate, or taking only fresh fruits and vegetables. Mentally rehearse this plan until you’re more likely to remember it — and do it — the next time you need it most. Step 6: Maintain your progress. Don’t let occasional setbacks — and there will be some — weaken your commitment to lose weight. Use relapses of old habits to get back on track. Don’t expect to be perfect. You’re not on a timeline. You have as much time as you need to develop a healthier way to eat. 24 Make a change for the better Identify one eating behavior that’s sabotaging your efforts to lose weight. Then, using the six steps turn it into a helpful new habit. Plan a menu this week that solves one of your eating behavior challenges. If, for example, boring afternoons or hectic dinner preparations lead to snacking, plan a snack into your menu, using servings of food from lunch or dinner. Calories from beverages can add up To cut calories, switch to low–fat or fat–free milk and drink lower–calorie juices. You can dilute juices with plain or sparkling water to reduce calories, too. Add a twist of lemon or lime to perk up your water. Beverages Serving size Calories* Water 1 cup 0 Coffee or tea (plain) 1 cup 0 Milk, whole 1 cup 150 Milk, 2% 1 cup 120 Milk, fat–free 1 cup 90 Fruit juice, citrus or apple, unsweetened 6 ounces 80 Soda, regular 12 ounces 150 Soda, diet 12 ounces 0 Beer, regular 12 ounces 150 Beer, light 12 ounces 100 Wine, regular 5 ounces 100 Wine, light 5 ounces 80 * Average calories. Values for specific beverages may vary. Check the label. 10 tips for eating out When you eat out, don’t let large portions, unfamiliar menus and tempting desserts discourage you from your commitment to healthy eating. You can practice the principles of a healthy weight plan without giving up the pleasures of dining in restaurants. Here are 10 tips to help keep your plan on target when you dine out: 1. 25 Keep hunger under control (by eating!). • Don’t skip a meal on the day you’re going out to eat. • Consider eating a light snack an hour or so before the meal to avoid overeating at the restaurant. 2. Choose restaurants that offer variety. • Choose a restaurant that offers a variety of foods, with low–fat options. • Call the restaurant ahead of time (during nonpeak hours) to ask about healthy menu items. 3. Order more plant–based foods. • Try an exotic fruit — like kiwi or papaya — for variety. • Treat yourself to your favorite vegetables, but don’t smother them in high–fat dressings or rich creams. • Order items that include whole–grain foods to get your fiber. 4. Control fat. • Order baked, not fried; grilled, not greasy. • Ask for smaller portions of fatty foods — such as meats and fatty sauces — or ask for substitutions. 5. Cut out or cut back on condiments. • Taste your food before adding salt, butter, sauces and dressings. • Order sauces and dressings on the side — small amounts add up! • Substitute healthier condiments. For example, use mustard instead of mayonnaise, or pepper or lemon juice instead of salt. 6. Approach buffets with a plan. • Don’t be tempted to get more than your money’s worth by overfilling your plate. Instead, survey the entire table and choose healthier options. • Make salad your first course, with plenty of veggies and fruit, and fat–free or low–fat dressing. Then go back for the entrée — or just eat more salad. 7. Mind your manners — it’ll help you cut calories. • Eat slowly for better digestion. You’ll feel full faster. • Don’t gulp your food — chew thoroughly. • Order food that requires work and slows your eating, such as crab legs. • Share your meal with a companion. 8. Order beverages with few or no calories. • Order water, sparkling water or mineral water with a twist or lemon — it’s healthy, filling, and has no calories. • For a hot drink, try black decaf coffee or black or green tea, minus sugar or other extras. 9. Wait before ordering dessert. • Finish the main dish. By the time you’re done, you may not even want dessert. • If you do order dessert, consider splitting it with a friend or take half of it home. 10. Control portion size. • Leave food on your plate. • If you’re tempted to clean your plate, ask your server to remove it. • Take a doggie bag — it gives you two meals for the price of one. 26 Reading nutrition labels Nutrition labels are an important part of making healthy food choices. You can learn a lot about what you’re putting into your body by reading the nutrition label and understanding the different components that make up what you eat. Once you start reading nutrition labels, you may be surprised at what you find out about your favorite foods. The following guidelines will help you make sense of all those numbers: j Start with the serving size. All of the information on the label is based on the serving size. If the serving size is ½ cup and you eat 1 cup, simply multiply the numbers on the food label by two. Caution: sometimes the serving size listed is not what we typically eat/drink. For example, the information on the label for a 20 oz. bottle of Coke is based on a serving size of 8 oz. — not even half of the bottle. k Calories are listed next. Consider whether the calories are low or high. Compare the calories to your total calorie needs for the entire day. l How to use %Daily Value. A percent is listed to the side of each nutrient. Remember, this number is based on a person who needs a 2000–calorie diet. Use this simple rule: 5 percent or less is considered low — aim for this number for fat, cholesterol and sodium; 20 percent or more is considered high — aim for this number for vitamins, minerals and fiber. m Try to limit these three items to reduce risk for heart disease. Fats, cholesterol and sodium. The Total Fat number includes the individual fat numbers. Try especially hard to limit saturated and trans fats. Health experts recommend that you keep your intake of saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol as low as possible as part of a nutritionally balanced diet. n Try to get more of these items in your diet. Vitamins, minerals and fiber. Most of us get only half or less of the 25 – 35 grams of fiber recommended each day. o Additional nutrients listed: Total Carbohydrates. The Total Carbohydrate number includes the fiber and sugar gram numbers listed separately below it. This is especially important for people with diabetes: count the number of carbohydrate grams you can have at each meal to better control your blood sugar. Every diet should include healthy carbohydrate choices such as whole–grain breads and cereals, fruits, vegetables and milk. The minimum recommended dietary intake (RDI) for carbohydrates is 130 grams/day, but most people need at least 200 grams/day for optimal health. 27 Protein. Most people get more than enough protein in their diet. This is why there is not a %DV listed. It is better to choose leaner protein sources such as lean cuts of beef and pork, poultry, fish, eggs, low–fat dairy products, cheese, beans/legumes and peanut butter/nuts. q Check the ingredient list. Foods with more than one ingredient must have an ingredient list. Ingredients are listed in descending weight. Those used in the largest amount in the food product are listed first. This section is very helpful for those people who have food allergies. j Nutrition Facts Serving Size: 1 container Amount Per Serving k l m o n Calories 140 Calories from Fat 20 % Daily Value* 3% 5% Total Fat 2g Sat. Fat 1g Trans Fat 0g Cholesterol 10mg Sodium 160mg Total Carb. 24g Dietary Fiber 3g Sugars 11g Protein 6g 3% 7% 8% 12% Vitamin A 15% • Vitamin C 50% Calcium 2 % • Iron 8% *Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. p INGREDIENTS: WHOLE GRAIN ROLLED OATS, SUGAR, CANOLA OIL, CRISP RICE, SOY PROTEIN, HONEY. 28 Your activity program Walk your way to better health If you want to lose fat and increase your energy, walking is one of the best exercises out there. A walking program is an aerobic activity that’s easy and effective for burning calories from fat. Regular aerobic walking also conditions your muscles and cardiovascular system. But if you haven’t been exercising regularly, check with your doctor before starting this program. Start slow and steady Start a regular schedule of walking. Keep a moderately brisk pace — just enough to increase your breathing noticeably. Walk continuously for as long as you can at this comfortable pace, gradually working up to 30 minutes. Eventually you should feel mildly exhilarated, not exhausted, when you finish. If you’re just getting started, walk at least three times a week for the next month. After four weeks of walking regularly, you should be starting to notice a change in how you look and feel. You may notice that your breathing is more comfortable and that your muscles are developing more tone. If you still feel a little tired rather than invigorated after your 30–minute walk, that’s okay. It may take at least four to eight more weeks to develop a higher level of fitness and gradual weight loss. Stick with it If the first few minutes of walking seem to take the most effort, remember to warm up gradually. Ease into a faster pace after five to 10 minutes. This time allows your muscles to reach the temperature at which they use oxygen most efficiently. Also, your heart needs time to begin pumping enough blood. When your body has reached the right warm–up temperature, you should notice a hint of perspiration. Don’t let self–defeating thoughts, such as “I’m too tired to walk today,” affect your motivation. Instead, inspire yourself by thinking, “In just 30 minutes, I’ll have burned some calories and will feel energized.” If you can’t walk or find it boring, don’t use that as an excuse for avoiding exercise. Find out which activities you can do and choose ones that you enjoy. Exercise bikes, cross–country ski machines and low–impact aerobic dance are optional activities that burn a comparable number of calories. Exercising while watching TV or listening to music can help avoid boredom. Cover more ground As you progress with your walking program, remember that distance is more important than speed. The greater the distance you cover, the more calories you’ll burn. What’s more, most of those calories will be from fat. If you’re comfortable walking briskly for about 30 minutes three or four times a week, try increasing your distance. Your goal is eventually to walk at least 3 to 4 hours a week. You can do this in one of two ways: • Walk more frequently. Continue to walk for at least 30 minutes, but add 1 day at a time to your schedule until you’re walking 6 or 7 days a week. • Walk longer. Continue to walk three or four times a week, but extend each walk by 5 minutes, until you’re taking 45– to 60–minute walks. No matter which way you choose to cover more ground, build up to your goal gradually. Add five minutes a day to your schedule in the next two weeks. If you feel good, do it again before the end of the month. 29 Losing fat but not pounds Strength, endurance, energy and muscle tone are several of the physical rewards you can expect from regular exercise. But if these changes haven’t translated into pounds lost on the scale, don’t worry. The muscle you’re building is denser than the fat you’re losing. That means you actually may not lose any weight for a while, even though you’re losing fat. Remember that how much you weight is less relevant than achieving physical fitness. One of the best ways to increase your muscle mass is by doing some type of resistance training. For example, weight training not only builds more muscle and helps you burn more calories, it also strengthens bones, helps protect your joints and improves balance, posture and coordination. Focus on your feelings You can control what you eat and how much you exercise. You can’t control the number on the scale. Instead of concentrating on pounds, focus on your feelings. Work on developing a sense of internal reward that comes from feelings of accomplishment, self–esteem and control of your own behavior. This type of internal reward can help you make a long–term commitment to exercise. External rewards such as a leisurely bath, new walking shoes or workout suit can help. Take two to five minutes after each walk to sit down and relax. Savor the good feeling that physical activity gives you. Think about what you’ve just accomplished. To help measure your progress, be sure to complete your Pound Plunge Journal each week. Average calories burned in 30 minutes* ACTIVITY YOUR WEIGHT 150 pounds 175 pounds 200 pounds Bicycling, outdoor (10 to 11 mph) 204 240 273 Bicycling, stationary (moderate effort) 238 280 319 Dancing, aerobic (low impact) 170 200 228 Dancing, ballroom (slow) 102 120 137 Jogging in place 272 320 364 Running, 5 mph (12 min/mile) 272 320 364 Skiing, cross–country (2.5 mph) 238 280 319 Swimming laps (light to moderate effort) 238 280 319 Swimming leisurely 204 240 273 Walking, 2 mph 85 100 114 Walking, 3 mph 112 132 150 Walking, 4 mph 170 200 228 * Calories burned are based on estimates of energy expended, using multiples of the resting metabolic rate (called METs) for each activity. The number of calories you burn depends on the intensity and duration of activity, as well as your body weight. 30 Weight: You’re a Rock Star! Log your daily nutrition and exercise : Week 1 Thursday fruits & vegetables fruits & vegetables water (8 oz.) water (8 oz.) exercise exercise Sunday minutes type of exercise type of exercise Monday minutes fruits & vegetables fruits & vegetables water (8 oz.) water (8 oz.) exercise exercise Friday minutes type of exercise minutes type of exercise Saturday fruits & vegetables fruits & vegetables water (8 oz.) water (8 oz.) minutes type of exercise Wednesday fruits & vegetables exercise water (8 oz.) minutes type of exercise exercise exercise Tuesday minutes type of exercise Weight: Move those muscles! Log your daily nutrition and exercise : Week 2 Thursday fruits & vegetables fruits & vegetables water (8 oz.) water (8 oz.) exercise exercise Sunday minutes type of exercise type of exercise Monday minutes fruits & vegetables fruits & vegetables water (8 oz.) water (8 oz.) exercise exercise Friday minutes type of exercise minutes type of exercise Saturday fruits & vegetables fruits & vegetables water (8 oz.) water (8 oz.) minutes type of exercise Wednesday fruits & vegetables exercise water (8 oz.) minutes type of exercise exercise exercise Tuesday minutes type of exercise Weight: Plunge into health! Log your daily nutrition and exercise : Week 3 Thursday fruits & vegetables fruits & vegetables water (8 oz.) water (8 oz.) exercise exercise Sunday minutes type of exercise type of exercise Monday minutes fruits & vegetables fruits & vegetables water (8 oz.) water (8 oz.) exercise exercise Friday minutes type of exercise minutes type of exercise Saturday fruits & vegetables fruits & vegetables water (8 oz.) water (8 oz.) minutes type of exercise Wednesday fruits & vegetables exercise water (8 oz.) minutes type of exercise exercise exercise Tuesday minutes type of exercise Weight: Find what works! Log your daily nutrition and exercise : Week 4 Thursday fruits & vegetables fruits & vegetables water (8 oz.) water (8 oz.) exercise exercise Sunday minutes type of exercise type of exercise Monday minutes fruits & vegetables water (8 oz.) water (8 oz.) exercise exercise Friday fruits & vegetables minutes type of exercise minutes type of exercise Saturday fruits & vegetables fruits & vegetables water (8 oz.) water (8 oz.) minutes type of exercise Wednesday fruits & vegetables exercise water (8 oz.) minutes type of exercise exercise exercise Tuesday minutes type of exercise Weight: Get fruits & veggies! Log your daily nutrition and exercise : Week 5 Thursday fruits & vegetables fruits & vegetables water (8 oz.) water (8 oz.) exercise exercise Sunday minutes type of exercise type of exercise Monday minutes fruits & vegetables fruits & vegetables water (8 oz.) water (8 oz.) exercise exercise Friday minutes type of exercise minutes type of exercise Saturday fruits & vegetables fruits & vegetables water (8 oz.) water (8 oz.) minutes type of exercise Wednesday fruits & vegetables exercise water (8 oz.) minutes type of exercise exercise exercise Tuesday minutes type of exercise Weight: Halfway there! Log your daily nutrition and exercise : Week 6 Thursday fruits & vegetables fruits & vegetables water (8 oz.) water (8 oz.) exercise exercise Sunday minutes type of exercise type of exercise Monday minutes fruits & vegetables water (8 oz.) water (8 oz.) exercise exercise Friday fruits & vegetables minutes type of exercise minutes type of exercise Saturday fruits & vegetables fruits & vegetables water (8 oz.) water (8 oz.) minutes type of exercise Wednesday fruits & vegetables exercise water (8 oz.) minutes type of exercise exercise exercise Tuesday minutes type of exercise Weight: Work it, baby, work it! Log your daily nutrition and exercise : Week 7 Thursday fruits & vegetables fruits & vegetables water (8 oz.) water (8 oz.) exercise exercise Sunday minutes type of exercise type of exercise Monday minutes fruits & vegetables water (8 oz.) water (8 oz.) exercise exercise Friday fruits & vegetables minutes type of exercise minutes type of exercise Saturday fruits & vegetables fruits & vegetables water (8 oz.) water (8 oz.) minutes type of exercise Wednesday fruits & vegetables exercise water (8 oz.) minutes type of exercise exercise exercise Tuesday minutes type of exercise Weight: Less of you to love! Log your daily nutrition and exercise : Week 8 Thursday fruits & vegetables fruits & vegetables water (8 oz.) water (8 oz.) exercise exercise Sunday minutes type of exercise type of exercise Monday minutes fruits & vegetables water (8 oz.) water (8 oz.) exercise exercise Friday fruits & vegetables minutes type of exercise minutes type of exercise Saturday fruits & vegetables fruits & vegetables water (8 oz.) water (8 oz.) minutes type of exercise Wednesday fruits & vegetables exercise water (8 oz.) minutes type of exercise exercise exercise Tuesday minutes type of exercise Weight: Keep going! Log your daily nutrition and exercise : Week 9 Thursday fruits & vegetables fruits & vegetables water (8 oz.) water (8 oz.) exercise exercise Sunday minutes type of exercise type of exercise Monday minutes fruits & vegetables water (8 oz.) water (8 oz.) exercise exercise Friday fruits & vegetables minutes type of exercise minutes type of exercise Saturday fruits & vegetables fruits & vegetables water (8 oz.) water (8 oz.) minutes type of exercise Wednesday fruits & vegetables exercise water (8 oz.) minutes type of exercise exercise exercise Tuesday minutes type of exercise Weight: Get health … Get life! Log your daily nutrition and exercise : Week 10 Thursday fruits & vegetables fruits & vegetables water (8 oz.) water (8 oz.) exercise exercise Sunday minutes type of exercise type of exercise Monday minutes fruits & vegetables water (8 oz.) water (8 oz.) exercise exercise Friday fruits & vegetables minutes type of exercise minutes type of exercise Saturday fruits & vegetables fruits & vegetables water (8 oz.) water (8 oz.) minutes type of exercise Wednesday fruits & vegetables exercise water (8 oz.) minutes type of exercise exercise exercise Tuesday minutes type of exercise Weight: Go beyond your goal! Log your daily nutrition and exercise : Week 11 Thursday fruits & vegetables fruits & vegetables water (8 oz.) water (8 oz.) exercise exercise Sunday minutes type of exercise type of exercise Monday minutes fruits & vegetables water (8 oz.) water (8 oz.) exercise exercise Friday fruits & vegetables minutes type of exercise minutes type of exercise Saturday fruits & vegetables fruits & vegetables water (8 oz.) water (8 oz.) minutes type of exercise Wednesday fruits & vegetables exercise water (8 oz.) minutes type of exercise exercise exercise Tuesday minutes type of exercise Weight: Live the Plunge! Log your daily nutrition and exercise : Week 12 Thursday fruits & vegetables fruits & vegetables water (8 oz.) water (8 oz.) exercise exercise Sunday minutes type of exercise type of exercise Monday minutes fruits & vegetables water (8 oz.) water (8 oz.) exercise exercise Friday fruits & vegetables minutes type of exercise minutes type of exercise Saturday fruits & vegetables fruits & vegetables water (8 oz.) water (8 oz.) minutes type of exercise Wednesday fruits & vegetables exercise water (8 oz.) minutes type of exercise exercise exercise Tuesday minutes type of exercise Make a commitment to yourself! Yo u r P e r s o n a l C o m m i t m e n t I will make exercise a priority because ___________________________________________________. For the next 12 weeks I will exercise _____________ times per week. I will exercise on _______________ at _______________. I will _______________________________. I will exercise on _______________ at _______________. I will _______________________________. I will exercise on _______________ at _______________. I will _______________________________. I will exercise on _______________ at _______________. I will _______________________________. I will exercise on _______________ at _______________. I will _______________________________. These are my goals, I'm doing this because I want to, not because anyone else wants me to. I will share my goals with ___________________________________________________. I will not share my goals with _______________________________________________. I am willing to give up _____________________________________________________. On ____________________, I will reward myself with the following reward if I feel I have done the best I could: ______________________________________________________________________________. “From this day forward I will not be denied any longer. This is the day in my life that I finally get the guts to do what I know must be done and quit taking the easy way out. I WILL PAY THE PRICE THAT IS NECESSARY TO REACH MY GOAL BECAUSE I KNOW THE PAIN OF NOT FULFILLING MYSELF IS GREATER THAN THE PAIN OF DOING ANY JOB, NO MATTER HOW HARD! As I sign this contract, I understand that my future is in my hands and that I can look to no one else for its fulfillment.” (Tom Hopkins) My Signature of Commitment: _____________________________________________________________________ Your Personal Commitment is brought to you by AEC Family Fitness. aecfamilyfitness.com (816) 364-5311 Your Personal Vision Exercise: 1. Promotes longer life. Compared with sedentary men and women, physically fit men are 53 percent less at risk of premature death; women are 98 percent less at risk. 2. Relieves arthritis. Keeps joints flexible, builds and preserves muscle strength. 3. Improves and strengthens the immune system. 4. Reduces stress, tension, and depression. 5. Helps relieve pain, especially tension headaches and lower back. 6. Helps in fighting substance abuse. 7. Reduces menstrual symptoms (PMS). 8. Increases good cholesterol (HDL), and lowers bad cholesterol (LDL) and triglycerides. 9. Regulates blood pressure and blood sugar levels. 10. Improves coordination and balance. 11. Improves sexual desire and performance. 12. Increases bone density. 13. Increases body's ability to ward off cancer. 14. Helps fight osteoporosis. 15. Increases mental alertness and IQ, and boosts creativity. 16. Enhances the ability to relax. 17. Heightens self esteem and self image. 18. Gives the energy to carry out daily life and improves overall quality of life. Complete your own Personal Fitness Vision below: Your WHY! Your Personal Vision is brought to you by AEC Family Fitness. aecfamilyfitness.com (816) 364-5311 Acheive Fitness Success! Te n w a y s t o g u a r a n t e e s u c c e s s w i t h y o u r f i t n e s s p r o g ra m ! 1. Set a fixed definite time and don’t be deterred. Pretend that your workout routine is your highest paying job. (Your body is your best asset). 2. Find an exercise buddy. You are 85 percent more likely to stick with any program if you have somebody to work out with. 3. Do something that you enjoy. Check out all the possibilities. 4. Join a health club or support group. I don’t say health clubs work because I own one — I own one because they work! 5. Don't overdo. You can’t undo in a week what it took you fifteen years to do. Start slow and easy. You won't get sore or discouraged. 6. Have concrete goals. You can't hit the bulls eye if you don't have a target. See it and you can be it! 7. Keep a written chart of your progress. Looking back from where you came will encourage you when progress seems slow. 8. Write out the benefits you will obtain. The “why” is actually more important than the “how.” If the dream is big enough, the details don’t matter. 9. Learn to think like a fit person. Henry Ford said, “If you think you can or if you think you can't . . . you’re right.” 10. Don't quit! You never fail until you stop trying. Don't quit! Don't quit! Don't quit! Don’t ask if it’s easy or if it’s hard — ask if it’s worth it! Ten Ways to Guarantee Success with Your Fitness Program is brought to you by AEC Family Fitness. aecfamilyfitness.com (816) 364-5311 Make time to take care of your body! No More Excuses! Are you too busy to exercise? If so, you're not alone. Studies show that 60 percent of American adults don't get the recommended amount of physical activity, and more than 25 percent of adults are not active at all. These statistics reflect the fact that many of us simply don't exercise. What’s your excuse? 10. You really hate to exercise. The key to happiness is doing things you enjoy. Find activities that match your personality. If you love the outdoors, go hiking or biking. If you like simplicity, stick with walking or circuit training. Try things before you decide you don’t like them. 9. You've tried to exercise but you keep quitting. People often quit because they schedule too many workouts, work too hard and/or don’t give themselves rest days. Do whatever you can — you have to start where you are, not where you want to be. Progress each week by adding a few more minutes to each workout. 8. You can't afford a gym membership. There’s no reason you have to join a gym to exercise. You can walk anytime, anywhere, and there are an incredible number of workout videos available for the home exerciser. 7. You're not seeing any changes in your body. Not losing weight fast enough? Once you start exercising, give your body time to react. It could take up to 12 weeks before you start seeing some real changes in your body. In the meantime, enjoy the other benefits of exercise. 6. You don't know how to exercise. Try one of the many exercise books, videos, or websites that cover everything from cardio to stretching exercises. Or, hire a trainer at your local gym. 5. You want to exercise, but you have to take care of your family. You don’t have to neglect your family to fit in exercise. Join a health club that has a daycare center, or do a video while they nap. If they’re old enough, have them participate in your routine by lifting very small weights or counting your repetitions, or take them with you on your daily walk. Show your family what it means to be healthy by being a good role model. 4. You can't seem to stay motivated to continue working out. Change your routine every 4 to 6 weeks by trying something new or changing your intensity or time. Remind yourself every day what your goals are and what you have to do to reach them. Reward yourself often (massages make great gifts). 3. Exercise hurts! You don’t have to hurt yourself to reap the benefits of exercise. When doing your cardiovascular exercise, make sure you’re in your target heart zone. You should be able to carry on a conversation, not huffing and puffing. When it comes to weight training, there should be effort involved since lean body tissue only grows when you challenge yourself. Using the heaviest weight you can handle for 12 – 16 reps will help you get the most out of your workouts. You should feel slight burning, but not teeth–gritting pain! 2. You can't make the commitment to stick to an exercise routine. When you look at exercise in the long term, it can be overwhelming. However, you don’t have to change your life overnight. Start with small goals, such as to be more active every day by taking the stairs and moving around more. Decide you’ll get up 10 minutes early to walk or lift weights. Over time, you can increase your workout time and try new things. 1. You don't have time! Physically inactive people have just as much free time as exercisers — everybody has the same 24 hours in a day! No More Excuses is brought to you by AEC Family Fitness. aecfamilyfitness.com (816) 364-5311 Too busy to exercise? Work out at work! It's a fact that time equals money . . . no doubt about that. However, time also equals health! What good if you have all the money in the world if poor health won't let you enjoy it? Health is a priceless commodity, and recent research suggests that exercise does not have to take up much of your day. Moderate activities done at intervals throughout the day can be very beneficial. It’s hard to find time to exercise, but now you don’t have that excuse anymore. You may think you don’t have time to work out at work, but there are opportunities everywhere if you pay attention. All it takes is a little planning and some inspiration to squeeze in the exercise all day long. The Basics You already know the drill about being more active at work. Take the stairs whenever you can, park further away from the door, etc. But, there are some other things you may not have considered. • Sit on an exercise ball instead of a chair. This will strengthen your abs and back and you’ll work on your posture without even trying. • Set an alarm to go off every hour to remind you to stand up and move around. Even if you just swing your arms or take a deep breath, you’ll feel more alert. • Use the restroom on another floor and take the stairs. • Use a pedometer and keep track of how many steps you take. Aim for 6,000 to 10,000 steps a day. • Leave something important in your car (your lunch, your briefcase, etc.) so you have to run out to get it (and take the stairs!). • Deliver documents or messages to co–workers in person rather than by e–mail. • Go to the mall for lunch and park on the opposite end of the food court. Don’t forget to buy something healthy. • Get a headset for your phone so you can move around while you talk. Be creative. Any movement is better than none, so don’t feel like you have to do sprints all day long. Adding short bouts of exercise throughout the day will help you burn more calories and will also reduce stress so you can easily smile at your boss when she piles more work on you. Exercise Equipment If you have your own office, consider keeping a resistance band, ankle weights, and even a couple of sets of dumbbells in your desk drawer. You can squeeze in some quick upper body exercises while you’re on the phone. If you work in a cubicle or don’t want people to see you exercising at your desk, all you really need is a chair and a couple of large, full water bottles you can use for any dumbbell exercise. Making Your Office Fitness Friendly Your boss may not have considered how much more productive his or her employees would be with a little exercise. If you can, encourage your boss to: • Work with local gyms to provide membership discounts for employees. • Work with local personal trainers to provide monthly seminars or free body fat testing for employees. Some trainers will even do this for free. • Set up daily or weekly walks during lunch or after work. • Give you extra breaks during the day to take quick walks. continued ... Work out at work! Be active. If the boss exercises, employees will take their own health more seriously. Even if your boss could care less about exercise, you can do a lot to get others involved in working out. Plan lunches where coworkers get together and talk about ways to exercise at work. Get a group together and join a local gym (and see if they’ll give you a group discount). Hire a personal trainer to come and work with you and your coworkers during lunch . . . many trainers also offer group discounts. There are any number of ways to encourage fitness in the workplace, so be creative! Office Workout — Exercises you can do at work Leg Extension: Sit in chair, abs in. Extend left leg until level with hip. Hold for 2 seconds, repeat other side. Hip Flexion: Sitting in chair, lift left foot off the floor a few inches, knee bent. Hold 2 seconds and repeat other side. Inner Thigh: Place full water bottle between knees and, keeping abs in, squeeze bottle gently. Repeat. Chair Squat: Periodically while sitting, lift butt off the seat and hover over chair for 2 – 3 seconds. Stand up and repeat. Dips: Make sure chair is stable and place hands next to hips. Move hips in front of chair and bend elbows, lowering body until elbows are at 90 degrees. Repeat. Standing Hip Flexion: Stand with abs in, spine straight. Lift leg up until level with hip. Hold for 2 seconds, repeat other side. Leg Lift: In same starting position as above, lift left leg straight out to the side a few inches off the floor. Hold for 2 seconds, repeat on other side. Front Raise: Sit in chair, abs in and spine straight. Hold water bottle in right hand and raise arm up to shoulder level. Hold 2 seconds and repeat other side. Overhead Press: Hold water bottle in right hand, elbow bent, and extend arm overhead. Repeat other side. Bicep Curl: Hold water bottle in right hand and, with abs in and spine straight, curl bottle towards shoulder. Repeat other side. Abs: Sit on the edge of chair, arms extending in front. Keeping back straight, contract the abs and slowly lower torso towards back of chair. Hold 2 – 3 seconds and repeat. Curls: Cross arms over chest and sit up straight. Contract abs and curl shoulder towards hips, pulling abs in. Hold for 2 seconds and repeat. Work out at work! is brought to you by AEC Family Fitness. aecfamilyfitness.com (816) 364-5311 Stretches are great stress busters! Easy Desk Stretches Prevent burn–out and injury, plus feel better at the end of the day. Do these stretches standing or sitting at your desk. Relieve Low Backache and Pressure — standing or sitting: While exhaling, slowly lean forward, bring your head toward your knees and let your hands drop to your ankles. Hold for 5 seconds. Inhale while you slowly unwind and return your head to its normal upright position. Do this five times. Relieve Upper Back and Shoulder Tension — standing or sitting: Lift your hands to your shoulders. Keep your elbows down and push your shoulders back. Hold for 15 seconds. Do this five times. Relieve Back, Neck and Shoulder Tension — standing or sitting: Inhale and raise your shoulders to touch your ears. While raised, push your shoulders back and exhale. Relax shoulders. Do this five times. Relieve Wrist Tension and Stiffness — standing or sitting: Place your palms together, chest high, as if in prayer. Slowly push your palms together while lifting your elbows slightly and hold for five seconds. Rotate your hands so the tips of your fingers point to the floor and press your palms together. Hold for 5 seconds and release. Do this five times. Relieve Neck and Shoulder Tension — standing or sitting: Inhale and slowly turn your head to the right until you feel your neck muscles pull. Hold for five seconds. Exhale and return your head to face straight ahead. Inhale and slowly turn your head to the left until you feel your neck muscles pull. Hold for five seconds. Exhale and return your head to face straight ahead. Do this five times. Relax Shoulder, Back and Hip Muscles — standing or sitting: Place your palms on your lower back. Stretch back your upper body. Hold this position for 5 seconds. Do this five times. Easy Desk Stretches is brought to you by AEC Family Fitness. aecfamilyfitness.com (816) 364-5311 Maximize your workout! H e a r t R a t e Tr a i n i n g Z o n e Heart Rate Training Zone Perceived Exertion Index Age Max Target Zone So tired I can’t go anymore 20 200 130 – 170 10 9 30 190 124 – 162 Really tired 40 180 117 – 153 8 7 50 170 111 – 145 Tired 60 160 104 – 136 6 5 70 150 99 – 129 4 3 A little tired 2 1 Not tired at all 1. Find your pulse (radial at wrist or carotid at neck). 2. Count beats for six seconds, add “zero.” (Or count for 10 seconds and multiply by six). 3. Find age on chart and locate your “target zone.” If you are under the lower limit of range, increase speed or range of motion. If you are near or above the upper limit, slow down or decrease range of motion. How to use RPE Perceived exertion is assessed by use of a 0–to–10 chart to rate the feelings caused by your exertion. For example, quietly sitting in a chair would have a rating of 0. Adding a gentle waving of your arms might increase the effort rating to 0.5. Walking at a pace that you feel is moderate would be given a rating of 3. Remember, the rating of your exertion should be completely independent of the pace you think you are walking; it is dependent solely on the feelings caused by the exertion. Increase the pace to a run and add a hill, and you could work your way up to a 10 on the scale. The recommended RPE range for most people is usually between 3 (moderate) and 5 (strong). Heart Rate Training Zone is brought to you by AEC Family Fitness. aecfamilyfitness.com (816) 364-5311 Train your body and mind to handle stress! Pilates Pilates can help you relax and aid in stress control. The mind–body exercise technique known as Pilates has exploded in popularity over the past 10 years. Long practiced by athletes and dancers, Pilates is now practiced by more than 5 million Americans at home and in the gym. In addition to physical conditioning, its advocates assert that Pilates can help train the mind to relax and to control stress. What is Pilates? Actually it's a “who.” The quirky moniker (pronounced puh-lah-teez) is the name of its inventor, Joseph Pilates. Pilates was a German–born circus performer and gymnast who lived from 1880 – 1968. His childhood illnesses, including asthma, rickets, and rheumatic fever, sparked a quest to overcome his physical limitations. Pilates brought his revolutionary method of physical and mental conditioning to the United States in the early 1920s. His studio in New York City caught the attention of the dance community, and for years was the well–kept secret of elite ballet dancers and the occasional well–to–do client. In early 2000, the copyrights were lifted and the Pilates method became available to the masses, and now people from all walks of life are discovering and choosing the Pilates technique. Many athletes from golfers to football players now incorporate Pilates into their training. Pilates bonds body and mind through two principal components: posture and breathing. It strengthens the muscles in the back, hips, and mid–section to support the spine. The method works the deepest layer of abdominal muscles. It lifts the belly and buttocks while it tones and strengthens all the other muscles. Pilates exercise actually strengthens the immune system, helps alleviate body aches and back pain, streamlines and lengthens the body, promotes strength and flexibility, strengthens the bone density, and improves coordination and balance. Joseph Pilates designed more than 500 specific exercises using five major pieces of unique apparatus to develop the body uniformly, however the most widely practiced forms of Pilates are variations of the Pilates Mat exercises. They are done as floor exercises on a yoga–type “sticky” mat, in a group setting or one–on–one with an instructor. Pilates is brought to you by AEC Family Fitness. aecfamilyfitness.com (816) 364-5311 Be nice to yourself! S e l f – Ta l k Negative self–talk “tapes” We often criticize ourselves during mental conversations, turning a minor fault or problem into a big one. These “tapes” replay themselves in our heads, reinforcing negative (and incorrect) beliefs. They can also add to our stress — it’s our self–talk that helps determine how we will respond to any situation. Recording a new tape Every time you hear a negative message play in your mind, erase it and record a new, positive one in its place. For example, instead of saying, “I’ll never be any good at making speeches,” try saying, “I’ll just keep practicing and do my best. No one expects me to be perfect.” Or, instead of saying, “I know I’ll probably be fired and never find another job,” when you’re stuck in traffic and late for work, try saying, “This happens to everyone. I’ll get there as soon as I can.” By learning to identify, challenge and change negative messages, you can reduce stress. Daily Self–Talk: Your Success Slogans for Fitness • Every day and in every way, I am becoming healthier and healthier. • I am now letting go of all habits that are unhealthy for me. • I am now training myself more and more each day to practice habits that build a healthy body and a joyous life. • Every day and in every way I am taking better care of my body. • Every day my need or desire for fattening foods becomes less and less. • In my mind, I distinguish between fat foods and fit foods and increasingly choose to eat only fit foods. • Every day and in every way, I am doing more and more of those things that make me feel better and better, stronger and stronger. • Every day and in every way, I am feeling better and better about myself and my life. • Every day I am consuming less and less of food and drinks that are not truly healthful for my mind and body. • Increasingly, every cell in my body desires only the very best of nourishment. • Every day I take more and more of the kind of exercise that is best for my whole body. • Every day I enjoy exercising more and more! Self–Talk is brought to you by AEC Family Fitness. aecfamilyfitness.com (816) 364-5311 It’s a Simple Equation with Big Rewards! 3 5 0 0 C a l o r i e s = O n e Po u n d You have two choices, either eat 3,500 calories less, or exercise off 3,500 calories more. Why not split the difference? • 175 less per day = handful of chips or two cookies or one Pepsi. • 175 burned off per day = 25 minutes on the treadmill or stepper or in the circuit room, or 37 minutes of moderate walking. You'll lose ONE POUND every 10 days. Doesn't that sound like a lot? That's 36–1/2 pounds per year! Not fast enough? • 350 less eaten per day = one piece of cake or one slice of pizza or two slices of cheese and a big glob of mayonnaise or two Cokes. • 175 burned off per day = 25 minutes on the treadmill or stepper or in the circuit room, or 37 minutes of moderate walking. You'll lose ONE POUND every 6–1/2 days. That's 56 pounds per year or 28 pounds in six months. Not fast enough? • 350 less eaten per day = one piece of cake or one slice of pizza or two slices of cheese and a big glob of mayonnaise or two Cokes. • 350 calories burned off per day = 45 minutes on the treadmill, stepper, or circuit room or one hour and 10 minutes of moderate walking. You'll lose ONE POUND EVERY FIVE DAYS. That's 73 pounds per year or 36–1/2 pounds in six months or 18–1/4 pounds in three months. When you add a little weight work (free weights, machine, or circuit for 20 minutes three times per week), you'll increase your muscle mass quicker. You may not lose more weight, but you definitely will lose more fat and lose it faster. sy or if it’s hard — ask if it’s worth it! 3500 Calories = One Pound is brought to you by AEC Family Fitness. aecfamilyfitness.com (816) 364-5311 The Wonders of Water! Wa t e r a n d E x e r c i s e Water is quite possibly the single most important catalyst in losing weight and keeping it off. In fact, water may be the only true “magic potion” for permanent weight loss. Studies have shown that a decrease in water intake will cause fat deposits to increase, while an increase in water intake can actually reduce fat deposits. The reason: the kidneys can’t function properly without enough water. When they don’t work to capacity, some of their load is dumped onto the liver. One of the liver’s primary functions is to metabolize stored fat into usable energy. If the liver has to do some of the kidneys’ work, it can’t operate effectively. So, it metabolizes less fat, and more fat remains stored in the body. Weight loss stops. The minute your body goes into a dehydration mode your metabolism starts to drop. Fluid Retention Drinking enough water is the best treatment for fluid retention. When the body gets less water, it perceives this as a threat to survival and begins to hold on to every drop. Water is stored in extra– cellular spaces (outside the cells). This shows up as swollen feet, legs and hands. Diuretics offer a temporary solution at best. They force out stored water along with some essential nutrients. Again, the body perceives a threat and will replace the lost water at the first opportunity. Thus, the condition quickly returns. The best way to overcome the problem of water retention is give your body what it needs — plenty of water. Only then will stored water be released. If you have a constant problem with water retention, excess salt may be to blame. Your body will tolerate sodium only in a certain concentration. Water helps rid the body of waste. During weight loss, the body has a lot more waste to get rid of — all that metabolized fat must be shed. Again, adequate water helps flush out the waste. Water can help relieve constipation. When the body gets too little water, it siphons what it needs from internal sources. The colon is one primary source. Result? Constipation. But when a person drinks enough water, normal bowel function usually returns. The average person should drink eight 8–ounce glasses every day — two quarts. The overweight person needs one extra glass for every 25 pounds of excess weight. You’ll need even more if you exercise vigorously or if the weather is hot and dry. Drink it cold! Cold water is absorbed into the system more quickly than warm water. And some evidence suggests that drinking cold water can actually help burn calories. Water and Exercise is brought to you by AEC Family Fitness. aecfamilyfitness.com (816) 364-5311 Stop Depression — Get up and get out! S u r g e o n G e n e r a l ’s R e p o r t o n P h y s i c a l Activity and Health Depression and Anxiety • Epidemiologic research among men and women suggests that physical activity is associated with reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety. • Many people, after a single session of physical activity, report improvements in transient moods such as reduced anxiety, and have temporary reductions in muscular tension. • Regular physical activity is required to experience this calming effect on an ongoing basis. • There is evidence that physical activity may protect against the development of depression. • In a follow-up study of 10,201 Harvard alumni, the risk of depression was 27 percent lower for men who reported playing three or more hours of sports each week than for men who played none. • Generally, those who are physically active have enhanced mood, higher self-esteem, greater confidence in performing physical tasks, and better cognitive functioning than more sedentary people. Depression Facts • Mental disorders cost $148 billion per year. (National Advisory Mental Health Council 1993) • The most frequently reported disorders are affective (mood) and anxiety disorders. • Women report a higher prevalence of mood and anxiety disorders than do men. • Only one in five people with a disorder during the previous year has received help from a health service provider. • More than one out of 10 adults suffers from a depressive disorder in any given year; between 13 and 17 percent suffer from an anxiety disorder. Surgeon General’s Report Facts: The Surgeon General has determined that lack of physical activity is detrimental to your health. Surgeon General’s Report on Physical Activity and Health is brought to you by AEC Family Fitness. aecfamilyfitness.com (816) 364-5311