Weight Loss News

It’s easy to blame your weight and physique on your level of physical activity or even your genetics. As you page through the fitness magazines and see those rock hard bodies it’s a good bet that these super fit people were not born that way.

It is true that genetics will play a role in your weight loss program, but it’s not the key. 80 percent of your weight loss program should be focused on what you put into your mouth: Nutrition. Nutrition is far more responsible for creating your shape and your heath than you ever could have imagined.

According to Tosca Reno's Eat-Clean Diet, the healthy, beautiful body equation for lasting fat loss is 10 percent genetics, 10 percent training and 80 percent nutrition. No, there isn’t a typo in that formula. 80 percent nutrition is correct, and it’s logical if you take a moment, step back and really think about it how nutrition affects your entire system.

Fitness champion and nutrition expert, Reno has recharged her body using eat-clean techniques. At the core of her personal philosophy is the 10, 10, 80 formula for improved health and body image.

So what are you eating? Many diet and weight loss program articles and information are about food, nutrition and wellness through improved meal planning. Reno’s formula is good reason explaining why nutrition is so important to discuss. Food is literally the ingredient to shaping our bodies, and until you understand that you can’t improve your weight loss program.

For the first time researchers are wondering if our children will lead shorter lives than their parents because of obesity. This has become such a threatening issue that our First Lady, Michelle Obama recently unveiled the Childhood Obesity Action Plan. Deemed the blueprint for ending obesity within a generation, the Childhood Obesity Action Plan calls for more infant breastfeeding, building more sidewalks, curbing time with digital media and getting deep fryers out of schools. Never before have foods been so chemically-enhanced, fast food restaurants so convenient and accessible, and “super sizing” a well-known free upgrade for more food.

Changing your eating habits to reflect a healthier lifestyle, along with a balanced fitness program, this 10-10-80 formula shows you how this philosphy helps with weight loss programs. Here are some simple tips from Reno for eating better and moving forward with weight loss goals:

1. Eat Breakfast. Restart your body and your metabolism by eating breakfast within 1 hour of rising in the morning.
2. Eat lean protein with every meal.
3. Track what you eat by keeping a food diary and be aware of what you’re putting in your mouth.
4. Drink more water and cut back on the soft drinks!
5. Pay attention to your portion sizes.
6. Eat several smaller meals during your day and keep your metabolism running strong.

Looking for a healthy snack with lean protein and carbs for more afternoon energy?

Try this Sweet Potato Oat Bars recipe from the Eat-Clean Diet found on LiveStrong.com

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp canola / olive oil
• 5 medium sweet potatoes
• 4 cups quick cooking oats
• 3/4 cup SkimcMilk
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1/4 cup flax seed
• 1/2 cup sugar-free syrup W/Splenda
• 2 tbsp pumpkin pie spice
• 2 tbsp light butter
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup raw almonds

Directions
Preheat oven to 350. Perpare a 9x13 baking dish by coating lightly with olive oil.

Prick sweet potatoes all over. Place in oven and bake until tender. Remove from oven and let cool. When cool enough to handle, remove potato peels and place flesh in large mixing bowl.

Leave oven on and set heat to 400 degrees.

Add all remaining ingredients to sweet potatoes. Mix well.

Press into prepared baking pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until golden on top.

Remove from heat and let cool. Cut into squares.