Eat Out Eat Well

Chinese Food And Lots Of Calories Can Go Hand-In-Hand

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Takeout food box on white backgroundAre you going to have Chinese food?  Do you think you’re getting off easy because of all of the vegetables? Think again.

There are 466 calories in a cup and a half of beef and broccoli stir-fry (and about a day’s worth of sodium).  One cup of fried rice has 333 calories.  If you also have a vegetable spring roll to start for 63 calories and three fortune cookies to end for about 100 calories, your meal comes in at around 1000 calories.  You could share this meal and save 500 calories.

Another thing to think about – are you sure that you aren’t eating more than the portion sizes shown here? The amount of food that arrives on your plate or in a take-out box is often considerably larger than a standard portion.

You could be tallying many more calories than you think.  Next time you have Chinese take-out, haul out your measuring cup and measure how big the portion is that you just plopped on your plate. You might be horrified.

This is Tip #7 of “The Five”– lose 5 pounds in 5 weeks by decreasing calories, increasing activity, or a combination of the two.  Post your progress on Facebook.

Cutting Grass And Swimming Laps Will Help You Lose

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lawnmower-swimming-graphic-collage

Activity burns calories.  Try to squeeze in activity whenever you can.  All those calories you burn up doing chores and errands count, too.

Is your grass growing?  Try mowing with a push mower (walking).  That necessary chore burns 408 calories an hour.

If you live in an asphalt jungle with no lawn outside your door, head to a gym that has a pool and swim some laps. Swimming at a moderate speed for a little over an hour burns 504 calories.

This is tip #6 in The “Five” Challenge to lose five pounds in five weeks by decreasing your calories by 500 or increasing your activity for an additional 500 calorie burn (or any combination of the two).

Slim Down Your Sandwich The Easy Way

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half of a sandwichHere are some easy ways to slim down your sandwich and still have it taste great.

Substitute mustard for the mayo and save 100 calories.  Leave off the slice of Swiss cheese for another 133 calories.  Ditch the two slices of bacon for another 84 calories.  Put your turkey, ham, or roast beef along with lettuce, tomato and onions on a whole grain pita (74 calories) instead of between two slices of rye (180 calories) and you’ve saved a total of 423 calories.

Walk to and from the deli or around the block several times and you’ve easily saved yourself 500 calories.

Of course, you could always just eat half a sandwich — but a slimmed down, good tasting one is so much more satisfying, isn’t it?

This is tip #5 for the “Five” challenge.  How are you doing?  Join the challenge — you have nothing to lose except some pounds here and there.

Don’t Be Side Swipped By Smoothies

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mango smoothie with fresh fruit and sliced isolatedDay #4:  Lose Five Pounds In Five Days

Don’t be side swiped by smoothies.  They’re may have some fruit and vegetables, but far too frequently they’re loaded with sugar. Unless you have a protein boost added (a whey protein additive at Jamba Juice adds 45 calories and ten grams of protein) or your smoothie is made with yogurt or milk, they have hardly any protein.  Jamba Juice’s small (16 oz) “Ideal Meal Chunky Strawberry” has 570 calories, 17 grams of fat and 54 grams of sugar.  A small (16 oz) healthy sounding “Berry Topper” has 480 calories, 9 grams of fat, and 55 grams of sugar.

What will you today?  Post on Facebook and let us know!

Milkshake Or Strawberries? 650 calories or 50?

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http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-milkshake-vector-illustration-image27647380Day #3 of The Lose Five Pounds in 5 Weeks Challenge:  It’s springtime – and visions of milk shakes might be dancing in your head.  A thick chocolate milkshake can have around 750 calories for a large (22 ounce) shake.  A medium (22 ounce) Burger King strawberry shake has 630 calories with 15 grams of fat and 103 grams of sugar.  Have a bowl of strawberries instead – one cup of sliced strawberries has 53 calories with no fat, 13 grams of carbs, 3 grams of fiber, and 1 gram of protein.

How are you doing?  Have you decided to take action? Post your progress and you’re doing on Facebook and grab a buddy to do the challenge with you. There’s power in having an accountability partner — and you’ll both have fun by egging each other on.