52 Healthy Habits: 25 Grams of Added Sugar Per Day

Welcome to the latest edition of 52 healthy habits where we tackle a new healthy habit in order to improve our lives. Why habits? Because habits are our backup plan when everything else falls apart. Habits don't require motivation or willpower. If we take the time to develop healthy habits, then a healthy lifestyle will emerge. Choose a healthy habit and work to cultivate it for a few weeks. Once it becomes second nature, work on a new habit. It's a sane and sustainable approach to living a healthy lifestyle. Each week we cover a new habit. You can follow along with my weekly habits, dig into the archives or make up one of your own. 

This week we are talking about a crazy controversial topic: Sugar! The ruiner of all good health. The root of all evil. The nefarious! But wait...

I don't believe that sugar is the single culprit of all our health and weight problems. Shocking, I know. Yes, eating too many processed foods filled with sugar is bad for your health. Sugar is highly palatable and easy to overeat. Have you ever dug your spoon into a pint of Ben & Jerry's with the self-promise to stop after one serving only to have it scrape the bottom before you knew what hit you? Yeah, me too. They do that shit on purpose. Processed foods are manufactured to be easy to overeat. When you eat more than your body needs, the excess is stored as fat. It's not necessarily the sugar itself, it's the excess. The sugar just makes it easier to eat too much.

The health industry will have you believe that sugar is as addicting as cocaine! While some people have trouble controlling themselves around sugar, no doubt, moderate amounts of sugar can be part of a healthy lifestyle. I am not arguing that we don't need to limit our sugar, we do. I'm just trying to bring some balance, common sense and rational thinking to a topic that is often sensationalized. 

Our bodies run on sugar. It's our brain's preferred energy source. From my friends at Precision Nutrition:

“Sugar is a fundamental molecule in biology.
Human bodies need sugar.
Sugar makes up the backbone of our DNA. Helps power our cells. Helps store energy for later. Plants convert sunlight into sugar. We convert sugar into fuel.
Molecules like glucose and fructose (just two of the many types of sugar) are so basic to our biological needs, even bacteria love them.
Indeed, sugar’s the breakfast of champions, chemically speaking.”

— Precision Nutrition

As part of my life long quest for balance and to stay away from the all-or-nothing mindset, I strive to not look at sugar as simply good or bad. It's not a choice of either eat-all-the-sugar-nom-nom-nom or never-ever have a gram of sugar ever! Most healthy people can have their sugar and eat it too. This week's healthy habit is to pay attention to food labels and limit added sugars to approximately 25 grams per day. 

NATURAL SUGARS

Some people go to the extreme and give up all sugars, including the natural sugar found in fruit and dairy. While of course you're free to do whatever feels best for your own body, cutting out fruit and dairy is not necessary for most healthy people, even those who are on a fat loss diet. Fruit provides nutrients, fiber, vitamins and minerals that keep the body healthy. Of course, we don't want to overeat fruit either, three bananas in one sitting is excess, but to enjoy a piece of fruit with lunch or as a snack is always a healthy choice. Fruit generally isn't making people fat. For most people looking to lose weight, there are often other food and lifestyle choices that can be improved that will have a bigger impact on fat loss than eliminating fruit.

PROCESSED FOODS

The sugar found in processed foods are often combined with fat and salt to make them extra delicious with little-to-no nutritional value. These are the sugars we want to limit because they are easy to overeat. We'd all do well to limit processed foods like ice cream, candy, snack cakes, pastries, soda and donuts. But we know all know that already that, right? 

READING THE LABEL

Here's where it gets tricky. There is sugar in almost all packaged foods, even the healthy(er) ones. You can read the nutrition label to see how many grams of sugar per serving, but how can you tell if those sugars are natural sugars or added sugars? If it is an added sugar it will be listed in the ingredients on the back of the package, but food manufacturers know you are looking for the word 'sugar'. Here are some examples of other names for sugar that are used on packaging labels. Pro tip: If it ends in -ose it is sugar. 

• Cane crystals
• Corn syrup
• Dextrose
• Evaporated cane juice
• Fructose
• Fruit juice concentrate
• Glucose
• High-fructose corn syrup
• Lactose
• Maltose
• Molasses
• Sucrose
• Syrup

Ingredients on the back of packages are listed in order of quantity. That means if sugar is the first ingredient, it has more sugar than any other ingredient in the package. 

25 GRAMS OF ADDED SUGAR PER DAY

A good rule of thumb is to limit added sugars to 25 grams per day. I highlighted the word 'added' because I don't count natural sugars in this total. When I buy packaged foods like pasta sauce, yogurts (while dairy has natural sugar, most store bought flavored yogurts have a lot of added sugars) and salad dressing, I try to choose items with six grams of sugar or less per serving. It can be eye-opening to read the nutrition labels of the foods you buy. Just reading the labels, being aware of the sugar content in the foods and keeping in mind the 25 grams per day guideline, is a great habit to cultivate. Awareness is the first step.

Limiting added sugar to around 25 grams a day allows you to eat the fruit and dairy that is healthful, while having some sugar that is found in most foods, without going overboard. If you tried to cut out all sugar, there would likely be nothing left to eat. 25 grams of added sugar a day gives you a target that is realistic and sustainable. Music to my ears. 

For more information on the topic of sugar and my view on artifical sweeteners check out this post I wrote called 'A rant on sugar, cocaine and artificial sweeteners.' 

If you like what I have to say about nutrition you may be interested in learning more about my sane and sustainable nutrition program (no boring meal plans, strict diets, macro calculations or crazy eliminations)! A few slots still open for new clients at a reduced rate. If you're in it for the long haul and willing to put in the work for permanent changes, this may be the program for you. 

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5 WARNING SIGNS OF A WEIGHT LOSS SCAM

Last week we talked about the seven health and fitness myths that just won't die. I did my best to debunk them once and for all. Now if only the internet would pay attention. Over here internet! I'm talking! 

This week I wanted to go over the 5 warning signs of a weight loss scam. Some may think that this is common sense, but as hubby likes to say, common sense is actually not very common... especially in the fitness industry.

The same rule applies as it does to anything else (I can hear my Dad's voice saying it now) "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is." But I think as humans, we are always looking for the next quick fix, the undiscovered secret or the magic pill to solve all our problems. We may fall victim to believing the things that we want so desperately to be true. 

Pay attention to these common signs of a weight loss scam to avoid wasting your time and money. 

IT PROMISES RESULTS WITHOUT WORK

"Lose 30 pounds without changing your diet or exercise!"

Anything worth having takes work. If having the body of a fitness model could be achieved by taking a pill (and without Photo Shop), every single one of us would be walking around with six pack abs. Don't be fooled. Fat loss is hard work and lifestyles changes will be required for sustainable results. Anyone who tells you differently is likely trying to sell you something. 

IT PROMISES RESULTS IN A SHORT TIME PERIOD

"Lose 30 pounds in 3 weeks!"

Any plan that promises more than two to three pounds of weight loss per week should be examined closely. Any more than three pounds and you are likely losing water or worse, muscle. Muscle loss can hurt your metabolism, which makes it harder to keep weight off. Always aim for fat loss, not weight loss. Build muscle, lose fat, slowly over time. It's the only way.

IT REQUIRES THAT YOU PURCHASE BRANDED SHAKES OR SUPPLEMENTS

"Drink this fat loss super shake to lose 10 pounds quickly!"

It is always better to eat real foods than to take supplements. Some shakes may have better-sourced ingredients than others, but no shake is a magic weight loss shake. Shakes don't make you lose weight faster than real food. Shakes may help you consume less calories so that you create a calorie-deficit, which can lead to weight loss. Just remember it is the calorie deficit, not the shake. Shakes are great when real food is not available or convenient (I drink them all the time), but you don't need a shake to lose weight. 

Ever notice those fat burning pills always say "For best results use in conjunction with proper diet and exercise."? Save your money and focus on the diet and exercise part. 

IT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE OVER THE LONG TERM

"Drink two shakes a day followed by a sensible dinner for rapid weight loss"

"Do this extreme workout for an hour a day six days a week for 60 days"

Make sure any new diet or exercise plan passes the sustainability test. "Will I be able to do this long term?" A short term program delivers short term results. Once you go off the extreme diet or exercise plan any weight you lost will come back on. A better long term solution is to find a sane plan you can follow long term. If you are not going to drink shakes twice a day, eat cabbage soup or do insane workouts for the rest of your life then don't waste your time.

IT USES THE WORD DETOX

"For one week drink green juice followed by a shot of apple cider vinegar to detox."

The word detox is one of the largest red flags of a weight loss scam. It is a marketing term that means nothing. Drinking juice doesn't cleanse you. Eating cabbage soup and drinking apple cider vinegar doesn't detoxify your body. Our liver does an excellent job of detoxifying our body. If your liver stops working, you'll need to see your doctor immediately. 

There is nothing inherently wrong with drinking green juices, eating cabbage soup or taking apple cider vinegar. Just balance them with whole foods from a variety of sources and be aware that you're not detoxing anything. 

It all boils down to this:

Listen to your Dad (or my Dad). If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Be wary of outrageous claims. If the product could really deliver those kinds of results everyone would be thin and fit. 

Avoid extremes. Everything in moderation, my friends. Short term extremes do not produce long term results.

Be skeptical about testimonials and before/after pictures on the internet. When possible, talk to people you know and trust about their real world results. 

The problem is that when we fall for weight loss scams they end up being distractions that take us further away from our goals. If we focus on the tried and true principles over the long haul, results will follow. Money back guarantee. 

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Fit to Run: Sprint Interval Pyramid Treadmill Workout

Welcome to the latest edition of Workout Wednesday! We are moving into month three of my Fit to Run strength for runners program. If you've missed any of it so far, you can dive into the archives or click here to download a PDF of all the workouts in month one and two including a 5 minute hip strength workout for when you don't have time for anything else. 

This post contains affiliate links. That means if you click on a link in this post and make a purchase I make a small percentage of the sale with no additional cost to you. No is getting rich, it just helps with the costs associated with running (pun intended) this blog. As always, your support is appreciated. 

Today we are doing a sprint interval pyramid running workout. This can be done on the treadmill or on the track or street with a timer. When I'm outside, I use the GymBoss to time my intervals.

I'm in Texas and it's freakin' hot and humid outside all hours of the day and night so I've been focusing on indoor workouts on the treadmill. When the weather cools down I'll be as fast as the wind from all this speed work. 

The great thing about these running workouts is that they are quick and efficient. You can get in and out of the gym with a focused speed workout. They are tough, but short. 

SPRINT INTERVAL PYRAMID TREADMILL WORKOUT

HOW FAST SHOULD I RUN?

You decide your paces based on your own fitness level. Please never follow some arbitrary pace because someone on the internet told you to. Your fitness level is your fitness level. What is a challenging interval pace for one person may be too easy for another. What is an easy pace for one person may push another person to injury. I am very hesitant about assigning paces in blog posts, even as examples. You need to determine your own work paces and recovery paces based on your fitness level. If you work with me as your running coach I can assign specific paces to you based on your fitness level and goals.

RATE OF PERCEIVED EXERTION CHART

A great way to determine an appropriate pace is by using the RPE or rate or perceived exertion chart, which I cover in more detail in this post. Do some experimenting. Decide what paces work best for you at each interval. If you ran the interval and feel like you could've pushed a little faster, increase the pace next time. If you went out too fast and couldn't complete the whole interval, then next time start out a little slower. 

The beauty is that when you repeat the workout over several weeks and months, you will find that your hard effort pace will get faster over time. 

THE WORKOUT

Warm up for three minutes by jogging at an easy pace
Increase your pace to run at a hard effort for 30 seconds
Recover for two minutes by jogging at an easy pace
Increase your pace and run at a hard effort for 45 seconds
Recover for two minutes by jogging at an easy pace
Increase your pace and run at a hard effort for 60 seconds
Recover for two minutes by jogging at an easy pace
Increase your pace and run at a hard effort for 60 seconds
Recover for two minutes by jogging at an easy pace
Increase your pace and run at a hard effort for 45 seconds
Recover for two minutes by jogging at an easy pace
Increase your pace to run at a hard effort for 30 seconds
Cool down as long as you need

RECOVERY

For most people intense workouts like this one should be limited to 1-3 times per week. Always allow rest and recovery days in between hard workouts. If you do this workout on a Monday, schedule your next intense workout on Wednesday or Thursday. The body adapts (gets stronger and faster) during rest, not during the actual workout, so always allow the body enough time for recovery for best results. 

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52 Healthy Habits: Healthy Habits for the Real World (aka Your Life)

Welcome to the latest edition of 52 Healthy habits when each week we tackle a new habit to improve our lives. I like to work on developing and cultivating habits because they are the building blocks of a healthy lifestyle. It's the not-so-secret secret that the industry doesn't talk much about, because it sounds boring compared "abs in 30 days or "lose 30 pounds in six weeks". Those promises are marketing messages designed to sell you something. Even when they do deliver on their promised result, it is usually not sustainable because it offers a short term fix rather than a long term solution. You have to change your behaviors (aka habits) over the long term to see lasting results.

I learned the hard way that it is better to go slow and take your time for sustainable results.

WHY HEALTHY HABITS?

When you begin to make healthier decisions on auto-pilot (aka habits) everything changes. It is no longer about having motivation or willpower. You don't have to suffer and feel deprived, but it takes work. It seems bad habits are super easy to develop (amiright?) but healthy habits take a little time and dedication. But that hard work pays off.

If you focus on one new habit for several weeks, you begin to rewire your brain to accept it as normal behavior. Over time it becomes as natural as brushing your teeth or taking a shower. It's not easy but it's a simple concept. Once you master a habit, add another and another. It's a much more effective strategy than trying to change everything all at once. It takes longer, but it lasts longer. Any new habit you try to adopt should pass the sustainability test. "Will I be able to do this new habit over the long term?" If yes, it is worth developing. In other words don't bother trying to give up carbs unless you think you can do it forever. Don't bother going on three week soup or juice diet. Anything temporary will have temporary results. 

You can follow along with my healthy habits each week, go back through the archives to find one you want to work on or make up your own. The most important thing is that it is something that you are ready, willing and able to change.

MENTAL HABITS

The way you approach your healthy lifestyle mentally is just as important as the things you do. Your thoughts are habits too. You may have the habit of thinking negative thoughts or complaining. I know I do sometimes. You can break bad mental habits, just as you can learn to break bad physical habits. It's not just what you do, it is also what you think. 

I talk a lot in this blog about overcoming the all-or-nothing mindset because it is something I deal with a lot. All-or-nothing thinking is a bad habit. It is my natural tendency to think this way, so I have to be hyper-aware of my thoughts and behaviors to make sure I am not swinging the pendulum too far in either direction. I am just as likely to get obsessed with healthy food and exercise as I am with Ben & Jerry's and Netflix marathons. But now that I know my tendencies, I am more aware of them and am able to spot my mistakes and make corrections before I fall too deep into a hole.

I'LL START MONDAY MENTALITY

An ongoing challenge is overcoming the "I'll start Monday" mentality. It's a rationalization that gives you false permission to make bad decisions. When you are trying to live a healthy lifestyle and make better choices, it is always about what you can do today, not about being perfect in some fake future scenario. The perfect Monday is never coming. 

"It's a new week or a new month or a new year and this time, I'll learn to be perfect and do everything right."

That's the problem right there. It is never about being perfect and doing everything right. Don't even try. Don't waste your energy. 

A healthy lifestyle is doing the best you can with what you have in any given moment. The "I'll start Monday" mentality gives you permission to binge over the weekend, but that isn't bringing you any closer to your goals. A better idea to decide on what treats you want to enjoy (indulgences are absolutely ok and encouraged) over the weekend and eat them in proper portions and frequency. Maybe you decide to eat healthy meals, but enjoy the ice cream as dessert. Or have an indulgence meal but eat slowly and stop eating when you feel 80% full. Or eat the hamburger but skip the fries (or just steal three from hubby's plate). Or eat a healthier version of the treat you crave. The most important thing is you are paying attention and making an effort to make healthier decisions, even in the smallest way. Even the smallest healthy decisions add up over time. 

THERE'S NO PAUSE BUTTON on A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

There's no pause button on a healthy lifestyle. That doesn't mean you have to live perfectly all the time, no matter what is going on. Of course not. That would be impossible. It's just doing the best you can in any situation. You're not on or off the proverbial wagon. There is no wagon, you just keep moving forward, no matter what. That's a healthy lifestyle.

Life gets busy. Life gets stressful. People get married. People go on vacation. People hurt their shoulder (slowly raises hand with injured shoulder). The beauty of habits is that when you take the time and energy to build them, it makes it easier to make good decisions during stressful times because habits are on autopilot. It's just what you do. The goal is to never feel like you need to pause your healthy lifestyle.

Once I finish school, I'll hire a coach.
Once this deadline has passed at work, I'll get on a consistent workout schedule.
After my kids get older, I'll have time to meal plan.
After I get back from vacation, I'll eat healthier.

This is the difference between a diet and exercise program and a healthy lifestyle. Diet and exercise programs have start and end dates. Your healthy lifestyle is something that you do day-in and day-out forever. 

I'm not suggesting you shouldn't enjoy yourself on vacation or eat convenient meals during busy or high-stress times, it's just that making slightly healthier choices is something that you can practice in every situation. Don't try to make perfect choices, just a little bit better. It's a mindset. 

HEALTHY HABITS FOR THE REAL WORLD

What I've learned is that it is more about learning to fit healthy behaviors into your current lifestyle than about changing your lifestyle to conform to healthy behaviors. In other words if you went off to a healthy-living retreat with a personal trainer, personal chef, mindset guru, with no job, family or kid responsibilities, surrounded by people doing the exact same thing it would be pretty easy to make healthy changes. Your lifestyle would be all about healthy living. But when you got home, things would change. You wouldn't have time to exercise three hours a day, your friends would start calling for happy hour and there probably isn't a personal chef at home to cook for you. It's the reason most of the Biggest Loser contestants gain the weight back (and sometimes more) once the show is over. That is not real life. In an artificial environment healthy living is easy. So the key is learn how to make healthy living work in the real world, in your crazy busy life. 

How do you do that? You plan ahead the best you can. Then you have a plan B for when plan A is so far out of sight you can't even see it anymore. Then maybe a plan C because life's a bitch sometimes. (Plan C might just be self compassion, forgiveness and a willingness to try to do better at the next opportunity)

IF THIS HAPPENS, I'LL DO THIS INSTEAD

• If I have to work late, I'll do a quick 15 (or even 5) minute workout in my living room before bed instead.
• If I have to miss my morning run because I set my alarm for 5:30PM instead of 5:30AM, I'll walk during my lunch break instead.
• If I forgot to grab my packed lunch out of the fridge in the morning I'll buy a prepared salad from the drive-through (and only use a little of the dressing) instead.
• If I am totally tempted by the donuts in my morning meeting, I'll offer to split one with a co-worker (or two).
• If I am exhausted from a long day and don't have the energy for my workout, I'll take a walk with my dog instead.

None of the above scenarios are perfect, but they are all better than nothing. 'Better than nothing' builds consistency. Consistency builds success. It's not perfect, but it's still forward progress. If you skipped every day when something went wrong, you would never get anywhere, but if you do the best you can in every scenario, you're already so far ahead of most people when it comes to healthy living.

It's expecting that life won't be perfect, because in my 42 3/4 years on this planet, it hasn't been perfect yet. Make the best choices you can in the moment. Expect things won't go as planned. Think "How can I make this just a little bit better or healthier?" or "What's my plan B" and act accordingly. 

I love writing about this topic because it helps me be more mindful and make better decisions. When hubby comes home with a carton (or three) of ice cream, I remember this post and think about how can I make the best decision possible while still enjoying my life and time with hubs. I'm not perfect. I don't always make the perfect choices, but I do the best I can in the moment and that is enough.

Progress not perfection. 

Do you like how this sounds but not sure where to start? Check out my online nutrition program built by experts to develop healthy habits from the ground up over the long term. 

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Healthy Protein Fudge Popsicles

Making healthier choices isn't about giving up all your favorite foods. Sometimes it is eating your favorite foods in smaller portions and/or in moderation. Other times it is making healthy substitutes. Healthy doesn't have to be boring, we can have sweet treats that are healthy, satisfying and delicious. 

This post contains affiliate links. That means if you click on a link in this post and make a purchase, I make a small percentage of the sale with no additional cost to you. No one is getting rich here, it just helps with the costs associated with the running (pun intended) of this blog. 

Last weekend I made these healthy protein fudge popsicles. They tasted delicious like the store-bought ones, but because of the added protein powder they have 30 grams (per scoop) of protein. I am a Premier Protein ambassador, so I used their chocolate protein powder which has only two grams of sugar and no artificial sweeteners, colors or flavors. They were a cool refreshing post-workout treat on a hot summer Texas day. 

With only four ingredients, they were easy to prepare and I had gobble them all down before they melted. 

PROTEIN FUDGE POPSICLES INGREDIENTS

1 scoop of chocolate protein powder
2 cups of chocolate almond milk (use any type of chocolate milk you like)
1 tsp of cocoa powder
1 tsp of vanilla extract

Mix up the ingredients in a blender and pour into popsicle molds. Freeze for three to four hours. When frozen run the molds under warm water to loosen the popsicles from the mold. Eat all as quickly as possible before they melt. :)

Shut up and eat popsicles with me.

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