Read it and weep my friends. It's sad but true. Most times when I give a client or friend this fact, their jaw drops, eyes glaze over and they suck in their breath. When they re-focus they just can't believe that 3500 calories only totals one pound. I like to drop this little dose of reality because of its shock value but also because, once you know this, you will start to think a lot more about what you put into your mouth. This is one of the reasons why journaling your food intake works so well - it's accountability. You're less likely to eat something questionable if you have to write it down and show it to the personal trainer you've been complaining to about weight loss...or lack thereof.
This past weekend I had the opportunity to spend a couple nights with my aunts at The Spa at Norwich Inn. At the restaurant there (Kensigntons) everything on the menu was listed with its nutritional value. I absolutely loved it! When you read that there's 25 grams of fat in the six ounce filet, it gives you pause...albeit a slight pause before you order it but hey, it was a pause nonetheless and now you know just what you're getting your body into. I realize that listing fat, calories and protein on menu items is an emerging trend (mostly in the big cities and my husband says at McDonald's but I wouldn't know) and I would like to see it everywhere! I'm sure the quality of the menu items would improve as well as maybe our abs.
With one quick Google search I found a great calorie counting web site. You can plug in almost any food item and it will give it a grade (A-F) along with a nutritional breakdown and how many calories, fats, proteins, etc. are in it! You may want to check out some of your favorite foods before your next meal just to keep you honest. And if you truly want to work on those abs, check out my latest Ab Strength video on YouTube.
Bon appetit!
