11-29-09

Eating Right To Max Out Yoga

When committing to regular Yoga practice, or any rigorous, regular exercise program, be sure to commit equal energy (and pre-planning) to diet and nutrition. Just as Yoga is about balance,
flexibility and unity of the body, a balanced diet along with healthy snacking is fundamental to maxing out each and every workout.

So what to eat before and after your workout? As always, you want to strike a balance of not eating too much or too little. Before working out, a full meal could lead to cramps or a dip in energy (due to blood diverted to take care of digestion), while eating too little may trigger dizziness and imbalance because of low blood sugar.

The key is a light, but energizing meal about an hour before working out, centered around complex carbohydrates, such as a whole flatbread along with fresh vegetables and low fat protein, grilled chicken breast or low fat cottage or curd cheese. Be sure to be well-hydrated as well, drinking 1 to 2 glasses of filtered water along with your meal, allowing for proper absorption before hitting the gym.

Post workout, your body needs to recuperate and build muscle. Plan another light meal within two hours after exercising, similarly well balanced as your pre-workout—but with the addition of some healthy fats such as avocado, olives or almonds. And don’t forget another couple glasses of water—in addition to replenishing water lost during your workout, it’s essential to aiding digestion.

11-24-09

Snacking Is Healthy… But Beware!

Diet dogma has us believe that snacking leads to weight gain. Not so! Rose believes that healthy snacking keeps you energized, prevents blood sugar drops, and keeps you from being overly hungry by mealtime. But all snacks are not created equal, especially many processed and foodservice products, which often conceal fat, sugar and sodium under the guise of a healthy choice.

Take movie theatre popcorn, for instance. Last week the advocacy group, Center for Science in the public interest unleashed some heart-stopping findings. It revealed that on average a medium-sized popcorn and medium soda at several leading movie chains packed 1,200 calories, 60 grams of saturated fat, and 980 milligrams of sodium. That’s equal to three Quarter Pounders… plus an additional 12 pats of butter!

Making matters worse, some chains still use coconut oil, which is about 90% saturated fat. The next time you place your popcorn order be sure to ask the oil type used – an unsaturated oil like canola is best. At home, as we learned several years ago, the healthiest way to enjoy popcorn is using an air popper.

Just as popcorn can swing from lethal to healthy depending on fat and sodium levels, be on the look out for other empty calories lurking in the form of excessive sugar. The nutritional panel on food product packages provides fat, sodium and sugar content, and how it importantly further relates percentage-wise to daily healthy intake. You obviously always want to avoid getting anywhere close to 100% of any one of the above culprits in a couple fleeting bites.

Opt instead for naturally sweet, seasonal fruits to satisfy your sweet tooth – berries and grapes are particularly satisfying as they have ‘built-in’ portion control allowing you to enjoy them over time. Rose likes to also recommend keeping a little stash of treats always nearby – such as a baggie of baby carrots, walnuts, edamame, or rice crackers at your desk, in your coat pocket, or purse, which will get you through the afternoon (and away from the vending machines!) with a clearer mind and mood.

A final note: avoid portion distortion… while definitely healthy in moderation, the likes of too many almonds, rice crackers, even naturally sweet grapes, can escalate the calories very quickly.

11-12-09

It’s Not A Diet… It’s A Delicious Lifestyle

Whether our clients sign up to Rose Reisman’s Personal Gourmet for convenience or to reach their dream weight, we’re here to help individuals and families achieve healthy life balance by eating nutritious food that’s also delicious! But don’t just take our word for it… hundreds of satisfied clients write us about their progress and achievements. Read on and be inspired!

Doug H recently sent us a note both to let us know how much he’s enjoying the program, but that he’d found something strange nestled among a strawberry and blueberry salad… that something was a fresh lychee, and Rose Reisman called Doug personally to let him know! She also congratulated him on his success so far: since joining the program less than four weeks ago, he’s already lost 14 pounds. “The Personal Gourmet food has been wonderful… it’s also been a real treat not to have to worry about cooking,” Doug wrote us. Rhona H, too was eager to share her early success having lost 4 pounds and well on her way to achieving her goal of 10 more.

While there’s no question that both Dough and Rhona are on their way, over the past year Natasha B has lost an astonishing 50 pounds on her personalized program. “I am so grateful to Rose’s personal gourmet…it helps me hold myself accountable by presenting me with healthy meals and options to keep me satisfied through the tough days… so I do not feel like I am on a diet.”

While convenience is key in these time-starved times, the resounding theme among all of the messages we’re sent is not feeling deprived of great food. Dana L was able to get back to her pre-pregnancy weight in less than a month, and wrote us that “… the food was delicious and easy for a mom on the go.”

11-12-09

Enter Rose Reisman’s Personal Gourmet Meal-Away!

Rose Reisman’s Personal Gourmet is excited to announce the launch of its Facebook Fanpage and Twitter profile. With these two new Social Media outlets, we feel we’ll be able to communicate with you our loyal and new customers even better. We’d love to hear what you have to say about our food and our service offerings, and begin an open dialogue about your likes and dislikes so we’re even better able to offer you exactly what you want…when you want.

So to help us celebrate the launch of our new Social Media group, we’re excited to announce Rose Reisman’s Personal Gourmet Meal-Away.

Because proof is in the pudding (yes, we even offer great tasting snacks!), we’re offering the chance to experience Rose Reisman’s Personal Gourmet first hand by entering to win a sample of the wonderful and nutritious meal plans, freshly delivered to you daily!  Click here for all the details on how to enter…

11-11-09

Welcome to fresh, nutritious and delicious prepared meals, delivered to you daily!

We’re delighted to personally welcome you to the ultimate in convenience and extraordinary taste. Our philosophy here at Rose Reisman’s Personal Gourmet is simple… balance and moderation are winning life strategies! The percentage of Canadians who are overweight or obese has risen dramatically in recent years, and so too has child diabetes and heart disease. But living a sustainable healthy lifestyle takes a lot of effort, so our goal is to make it easy for everyone who wants to eat healthy, but as importantly… loves to eat!

Personal Gourmet is your DAILY, fresh meal solution designed for time-starved individuals who want to eat healthy but never miss out on great tasting food! We offer both weight-loss and healthy living plans. And with no start or end dates, or need for consecutive days, our programs deliver the flexibility to work with your lifestyle.

We invite you to choose from fully customizable plans, including truly delicious Weight-Loss Programs, comforting Family Style Menus, Diabetic & Seniors Programs and scrumptious Kids’ Menus… And please don’t hesitate to contact me personally or any of the Personal Gourmet team—we’re always here to help with any questions or comments.