Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Staying Away from Fad Diets

With all the focus on weight in our society, it isn't surprising that millions of people fall prey to fad diets and bogus weight-loss products. Conflicting claims, testimonials and hype by so-called "experts" can confuse even the most informed consumers. The bottom line is simple: If a diet or product sounds too good to be true, it probably is. There are no foods or pills that magically burn fat. No super foods will alter your genetic code. No products will miraculously melt fat while you watch TV or sleep. Some ingredients in supplements and herbal products can be dangerous and even deadly for some people.

Steer clear of any diet plans, pills and products that make the following claims:

Rapid Weight Loss

Slow, steady weight loss is more likely to last than dramatic weight changes. Healthy plans aim for a loss of no more than ½ pound to 1 pound per week. If you lose weight quickly, you'll lose muscle, bone and water. You also will be more likely to regain the pounds quickly afterwards.

Quantities and Limitations

Ditch diets that allow unlimited quantities of any food, such as grapefruit and cabbage soup. It's boring to eat the same thing over and over and hard to stick with monotonous plans. Avoid any diet that eliminates or severely restricts entire food groups, such as carbohydrates. Even if you take a multivitamin, you'll still miss some critical nutrients.

Specific Food Combinations

There is no evidence that combining certain foods or eating foods at specific times of day will help with weight loss. Eating the "wrong" combinations of food doesn't cause them to turn to fat immediately or to produce toxins in your intestines, as some plans claim.

Rigid Menus

Life is already complicated enough. Limiting food choices or following rigid meal plans can be an overwhelming, distasteful task. With any new diet, always ask yourself: "Can I eat this way for the rest of my life?" If the answer is no, the plan is not for you.

No Need to Exercise

Regular physical activity is essential for good health and healthy weight management. The key to success is to find physical activities that you enjoy and then to aim for 30 to 60 minutes of activity on most days of the week.
If you want to maintain a healthy weight, build muscle and lose fat, the best path is a lifelong combination of eating smarter and moving more. For a personalized plan, tailored to your lifestyle and food preferences, consult a registered dietitian with expertise in weight management. A registered dietitian can help you find a realistic, flexible eating style that helps you feel and be your best.

Article from Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. www.eatright.org

Let our Medical Weight Management Program help you to lose weight the proper way and keep the weight off. Program starts week of January 20th. Space is limited! Call or email today!

Caruso Physical Therapy and Nutrition, LLC
1278 Yardville-Allentown Rd Suite 3
Allentown, NJ 08501
Phone: 609 738 3143
Fax: 609 738 3144
Email: ocaruso@carusoptrd.com

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

What a Regsitered Dietitian Nutritionist can do for you

What a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Can Do for You

By Karen Ansel, MS, RD
Between what you hear on TV and read in the news, eating right can seem like a real challenge. But it doesn't have to be. "Whether you want to slim down, lower your cholesterol or simply eat better, a registered dietitian [or registered dietitian nutritionist] can help you weed through the murky waters of nutrition misinformation and provide sound, easy-to-follow nutrition advice," says Jennifer McDaniel, MS, RDN, spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Here are just a few of the benefits of working with a registered dietitian or registered dietitian nutritionist.
The highest level of nutrition counseling. Anyone can call themself a nutritionist, but only a registered dietitian (RD) or registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) has completed multiple layers of education and training established by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. In addition to holding a bachelor's degree, an RD or RDN must fulfill a specially designed, accredited nutrition curriculum, pass a rigorous registration exam, and complete an extensive supervised program of practice at a health care facility, foodservice organization or community agency. What's more, roughly half of all RDs and RDNs hold graduate degrees and many have certifications in specialized fields, such as sports, pediatric, renal, oncology or gerontological nutrition.
Personally tailored advice. When you see an RD or RDN, the last thing you'll get is one-size-fits-all diet advice. "A dietitian is like an investigator seeking to learn about your current and desired state of health," says McDaniel. "At your initial visit, expect to do a lot of talking while the dietitian does a lot of listening." After learning about your health history, favorite foods, eating and exercise habits, an RD or RDN will help you set goals and prioritize. Follow-up visits will focus on maintenance and monitoring your progress.
Help managing chronic diseases. If you have high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes or cancer it can be hard to know what to eat. "An RD [or RDN] can review your lab results with you, help you understand your condition and provide education about the nutrients that affect it," says Angela Ginn, RDN, a spokesperson for the Academy. "Then, he or she will help you create an eating plan that includes all the important nutrients that can help you manage your condition."
Guidance navigating food allergies, sensitivities and intolerances. When you suffer from conditions such as celiac disease, food allergies or lactose intolerance, it's easy to be overwhelmed by what you think you can't eat. That can translate into a boring diet and may even lead to nutrient deficiencies. An RD or RDN can teach you how to read food labels so you’ll know which ingredients to avoid and a help you find substitutions to keep your diet balanced and tasty, too.
A weight loss program that really works. Fad diets may sound like the quick ticket to weight loss, but they rarely work for very long. A registered dietitian or registered dietitian nutritionist will partner with you to develop a safe, effective weight loss plan that you can stick with for the long haul. To guide and motivate you, an RD or RDN will use creative and out-of-the-box strategies to help with meal planning, grocery shopping, food journaling and mindful eating.
Now, that's a recipe for success.

Let our Medical Weight Management Program help you with your weight
goals. Our program includes a personal trainer, a registered dietitian, and a doctor of physical therapy. We are offering a one time introductory rate! Program will start the week of January 20th. Space is limited! Call or email today for more information.

Olivia Caruso MA, RDN, LDN
Caruso Physical Therapy and Nutrition, LLC
1278 Yardville-Allentown Road Suite 3
Allentown, NJ 08501
ocaruso@carusoptrd.com
Phone: 609 738 3143
Fax: 609 738 3144

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

What do you think the average weight gain is during the holiday season?

A study out this year from Texas Tech University followed 48 men and 100 women between the ages of 18 and 65 for the six weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. At the beginning and end of the study, researchers measured the subjects’ weights and body fat percentages. On average, the volunteers gained one and a half pounds (men about two pounds each, and about a pound for the women), far less than the 7 to 10 pounds often cited this time of year.
Gaining just a pound or two of fat may seem minuscule, but to put just one pound in perspective, think about tacking 16 ounces of shortening or four sticks of butter onto your frame. Plus, other studies show that most of us never lose that holiday padding, possibly because after abandoning New Year's resolutions, many people gain back all (or more) of the weight they lose. This “weight creep” is what leads to most Americans packing on about 10-20 pounds per decade.
Therefore it isn't the amount of weight we gain during the holiday season that is a problem. It's the fact that we never lose the weight we gain every holiday season, which adds up year after year.
Let Caruso Physical Therapy and Nutrition and Pure Fitness 24 help you this New Year to take off the weight you gained this holiday season and previous holiday seasons! Join our Medical Weight Management Program. We are offering a one time introductory rate. Space is limited- there are only 4 spots left at the special rate! Contact us today.

Caruso Physical Therapy and Nutrition, LLC
1278 Yardville-Allentown Road Suite 3
Allentown, NJ 08501
Phone: 609 738 3143
Fax: 609 738 3144
Email: ocaruso@carusoptrd.com