Being a full-time personal trainer with 16 years of experience, I’ve focused on helping clients in person and online. Whether it is through One-on-One sessions, Small Group workouts, or Virginia Bootcamp fitness, I’ve witnessed many success stories. Also, I am a speaker and writer on subject matter including weight loss, obesity, motivation techniques, strength and conditioning for all ages, nutritional planning, and many other fitness-related topics. I contribute to some of the largest health and fitness magazines, websites, and supplement companies. I have written two books, How I Lost 100 Pounds! and The Healthiest Weight Loss Solution Personal Training Manual. My latest endeavor is producing exercise and nutritional aids to help my clients and others.
I am giving you a quick resume only to say that in all these years and with the thousands of people I have trained and advised and the millions who have read my articles, I have never tried to mislead or lie to anyone. Never have I written about a product, food, or exercise I have not personally tried or experienced myself or with a client. I do not get paid to lie to my clients and customers. If I did I would not be in business for as long as I have.
Please listen to me when I say to avoid the following foods if you are trying to eat healthy!
– Most doughnuts, muffins, non-whole wheat crackers, potato chips, white flour tortillas, cheese crackers, fat-free crackers, fat-free chips, white pastas, white potatoes, white pita bread, white sandwich bread, white rice cakes, white rice, pre-packaged meals/snacks made with white flours and processed junk or preservatives, sugary sweet cereals, popcorn, fried foods, greasy burgers, high-fat red meat, heavily buttered vegetables, and canned or dried fruit
– Diet soda, soda, sugar-free juices, juices, expensive sweet coffee, sugar-free, syrup-filled coffee or tea, sweet tea, sugary sports drinks, sugar-free sports drinks, high-fat milk, high-fat cheeses, high-fat cottage cheese, high-fat/high-sugar yogurts, and margarine
– Avoid high calorie creamy dressings and creamy sauces
You can however eat the following foods in moderation!
– Healthy Complex Carbs & Lean Proteins: oatmeal, whole grain cereals, rolled oats, whole grain breads, whole wheat pastas, veggie pastas, whole wheat crackers, sweet potatoes, yams, brown rice, wild rice, almonds (unsalted or raw), walnuts (unsalted or raw), peanuts (unsalted or raw), pecans (unsalted or raw), low-fat cheese, low-fat cottage cheese, low- sugar and low-fat yogurt, eggs (preferably the whites), chicken breast, turkey breast, turkey burger, chicken burger, salmon, halibut, flounder, tuna, shrimp, tofu, soy milk, quinoa, peanut butter, and almond butter
– Fruits: apples, pears, blueberries, strawberries, cherries, blackberries, apricots, papaya, mango, oranges, grapefruit (Not with Lipitor), tangerines, plums, bananas, and kiwi
– Vegetables: broccoli, asparagus, kale, turnip greens, spinach cold or cooked, romaine lettuce, lettuce, celery, black beans, green beans, kidney beans, soy beans, navy beans, black eye peas, lima beans, corn, lentils, radishes, tomatoes, olives
– Water, coffee or black or green tea (preferably unsweetened), real fresh squeezed homemade orange or apple juice, other veggie or fruits juiced with a home juicer, skim or low fat milk
– Dressings such as olive oil or canola oil and balsamic or apple cider vinegar and broth based no-cream sauces
The above is a quick punch list of foods to avoid and foods you can eat. Please remember I am not perfect with my food all the time, but I try to be good during the week, then cheat a little on the weekends to help keep sanity and to sort of reward myself for being good during the week. You will not be perfect, but if you try really hard to eat the healthy stuff and avoid the junk, you will lose weight, feel better about yourself, sleep better, have fewer illnesses, and function more appropriately. Always check with your doctor before eating any of these foods if you are on any medications or are diabetic or allergic to any of the foods mentioned. Also eat in moderation and do not stuff yourself!
If you are really serious about getting into great shape and saving your life, then stay away from the above bad foods first mentioned! Even if they are fat-free or sugar-free they may still be full of sodium, sugars, or fake trans fats! Your health is too important to eat this crap! Would you rather eat some junk to satisfy an impulsive craving, only to get sick and die early in life? Or can you resist the junk food urges to save your life and extend your years here on this earth to spend more time with your family and friends? Junky muffins and white flour carbs are not nutritious! They are sometimes better than a greasy cheeseburger, but they are still not helping you eat for better daily functioning and living. You want to eat for a better quality of life, not just to eat low calorie and NON-Nutritious foods only to help you survive day-to-day!