Just a tip (and a great recipe)

I am not a nutritionist, but there is a little trick that can be recommended to try.  People who have cut carbohydrates out after 3PM seem to see results in the fat cutting down.  Remember, food is a big part of how we lose, maintain, and gain weight.  This tip is something that some have tried and have found that works for them.  This is different from the Atkin's diet, but a different twist on playing with your carb intake before bed.  So, what on Earth do you serve with your meal?  The typical dinner consists of a protein (beef, chicken, pork, fish), a vegetable, and some form of carbohydrate (rice, potatoes, pasta).  The trick is to pick a healthy and hearty vegetable that can be seasoned right and cooked right so you fill up on your "greens" instead of the filler of the common carb.  When I say after 3PM, this is for a "normal" family that gets home and has dinner around 6-7PM.  When you hit the grocery store, skip the canned veggies. There's nothing left in those.  Do you wonder why the canned green beans have a greenish-brownish hue to them? They are WAY over cooked and processed so much leaving nothing "good" for you and your body.  It is now a filler.

Go to the fresh vegetable section.  Grab some green beans (remember to grab a bit more than you normally would because it is replacing the potatoes.)  Grab a bag of slivered almonds and your choice of butter or margarine.  I pick butter, but that's because I went to school for Culinary Arts and I can't bring myself to cook with something that needs food coloring to "look" like the real thing, however to each his own especially if it is recommended by your doctor.  In the end, it will taste the same.

Cut your green beans to your desired length and steam them for about 4-5 minutes.  Test them with a fork. You should be able to pierce them gently, but they should not be soft.  The point is to keep some of the crunch in the bean.  That means it has all the "good" stuff still in it for your body. Drain and set aside.
Take your slivered almonds and on a low heat in a saute pan, lightly toast the almonds (dry - no butter or oil in the pan).  Once they begin to turn a golden brown, toss in 2-3 Tablespoons of butter (or margarine) in the pan followed by the beans.  Sprinkle with a little salt (and pepper if desired) and make sure every bean and almond is covered in the butter.  This is called Green Beans Almondine.  It's SO good, you won't miss your Noodle Roni!

If you find that you get those evening munchies, have a can of roasted almonds.  They can fill you up, add fiber to your diet (which aids in weight loss) and they taste good.  Also WATER!!!

Remember, this is only a tip that others have found that work for them that I am passing on; the recipe is something that I like to prepare when we're getting ready for swim suit season.  It helps getting the trim to begin.

*Be sure to always speak to your physician before trying something different in case it interferes with health concerns your doctor might have.


* Results may vary

A Friendly Reminder

Okay, there are only so many signs we can post throughout the gym without it starting to look tacky, or worse...invisible over time.  You might notice them from time to time, but something in you says, "Nope. Not today. I just can't bring myself to do it."  What is it that I'm talking about, you ask?  It's the signs that read, "Please Re-Rack Your Weights".  There are quite a few new people that have joined our awesome club, and sometimes they just need a friendly reminder of gym etiquette.  (Sometimes the seasoned vets, too.)  The reason this is important for everyone to remember is for a few reasons:  A.  It's courteous to your fellow members to put your weights away so people have any easier time finding what they need.  B.  Dumbbells and Plates left on the ground (the ones not being used in a sort of circuit training) can be tripped over or people can stub their toes.  Both scenarios a tad unpleasant.  C.  Not everyone in the gym can lift a 45 pound weight off the Hammer Strength machines or leg presses, let alone 6 of them without potentially injuring themselves.  If you can bench or press that much, you are quite strong enough to put them back where you found them.  That makes it easier for some of us "smaller folk" to be able to put on our 10 - 25 pound weights.  Sigh.

Know that when you make that extra effort to pick up after yourself, the other members and the staff love it and recognize that you are someone who cares about the gym.  So please, if you've pushed yourself to your physical limit in your training, still do your best to contribute to keep the flow of the free weight area smooth.  And if you're completely spent, know there are some fantastic members that might be willing to give you a hand to do the right thing.  :)

Thanks everyone!

(And I thank you, because I'm one of the people who can't lift the heavy weights off without whining to someone to help me.)