Hungry For Change
'Food, Inc.' Documentary Film Review
Why spend precious dollars on grocery shopping and fixing your own meal when you can have a meal at Mcdonalds or any fast food joint for less than S$5?
Why spend extra money on organic food when you can buy the same product for more than 3 times cheaper?
Do you realize that more than 50% of the products including BATTERIES contain high-fructose corn syrup?
Why should you avoid foods containing high-fructose corn syrup?
Do you know that instead of GRASS, cows are fed with CORN which has led to the mutation of new strains of the deadly E.coli bacteria?
Do you know what kind of environment the chicken you are eating was 'farmed' in?
Granted not all of us can afford to switch to organic food, but that does not mean we should have fast food as a part of a regular diet. You deserve to know where your meat come from. You deserve to know what you are feeding your body.
This movie is a real eye-opener. Don't miss it.
(This is not a paid review. I watched 'Food Inc.' at Cinema Europa, Golden Village @ Vivo City.)
Food, Inc. reveals surprising—and often shocking truths—about what we eat, how it's produced, who we have become as a nation and where we are going from here.We have bigger-breasted chickens, the perfect pork chop, herbicide-resistant soybean seeds, even tomatoes that won't go bad, but we also have new strains of E. coli—the harmful bacteria that causes illness for an estimated 73,000 Americans annually. We are riddled with widespread obesity, particularly among children, and an epidemic level of diabetes among adults.
"After you see what IBP is doing to cattle, what Tyson is doing to chickens, what farmers are doing for us and what Monsanto is doing to farmers in the new documentary Food, Inc., you may never eat again." - Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel
Watch the trailer below
Quick Tip: Lindsay Lohan
"Spoil your food."
Once you are finished eating, add lots of salt, pepper or sauce to your food. Lindsay Lohan admits to pouring water over her leftovers to avoid post-meal picking.
Favorite Quote: Sasha Pivovarova
Health & beauty is the same for me. If I'm not healthy, I'm not beautiful.
- Sasha Pivovarova
#1 Tip To Losing Weight
One of the most frequently asked question I receive from my readers is - "What is the #1 tip to start losing weight?" My answer is always "low-carb or no-carb". For some, the idea of giving up foods containing carbohydrates is far-fetched (especially in Asia; where rice is the staple food or America/Europe; where bread and pasta play an imperative part of their daily diet) while others simply ask "Ok, other than that."
If you've been working out hard and reducing your food intake but still not seeing any results, chances are, you have not been eating the right food. Ever wondered why sometimes you feel tired and sluggish after a "good meal"? That is the effect of SIMPLE carbohydrates on your body.
Sure, you'll feel a quick energy surge but more significantly, you should also be familiar with the inevitable exhaustion afterwards. Simple carbs such as white bread, white rice, pasta made with white flour, fruit juice, table sugar, soda drinks and most packaged cereals are digested rapidly and give your body an energy surge but you will feel hungrier much faster after eating SIMPLE carbs than you do after eating protein or COMPLEX carbs.
Complex carbohydrate foods such as fruits, grains, legumes, vegetables, oats and brown rice are comprised of starchy and fiber-rich foods. They are processed by your digestive system much more slowly than simple carbs thus it helps you feel more satiated (you feel fuller longer) and less likely to reach out for a snack.
You decide.
Here are some examples of healthy foods containing complex carbs:
| Spinach | Whole Barley | Grapefruit |
| Turnip Greens | Buckwheat | Apples |
| Lettuce | Buckwheat bread | Prunes |
| Water Cress | Oat bran bread | Apricots, Dried |
| Zucchini | Oatmeal | Pears |
| Asparagus | Oat bran cereal | Plums |
| Artichokes | Muesli | Strawberries |
| Okra | Wild rice | Oranges |
| Cabbage | Brown rice | Yams |
| Celery | Multi-Grain bread | Carrots |
| Cucumbers | Pinto beans | Potatoes |
| Dill Pickles | Yogurt, low fat | Soybeans |
| Radishes | Skim milk | Lentils |
| Broccoli | Navy beans | Garbanzo beans |
| Brussels Sprouts | Cauliflower | Kidney beans |
| Eggplant | Soy milk | Lentils |
| Onions | Tomatoes | Brown rice |
Here are some examples of foods containing simple carbs:
| Table sugar |
| Corn syrup |
| Fruit juice |
| Candy |
| Cake |
| Bread made with white flour |
| Pasta made with white flour |
| Soda drinks |
| Candy |
| All baked goods made with white flour |
| Most packaged cereals |
The difference? Simple. Simple carbs does not do your body any good.
Low Carb or No Carb?
The premise behind low carb diets is centered on how the body reacts to insulin. Carbs raise blood sugar levels, which initiates the release of insulin into the system. Insulin drives blood sugar into the cells, and stops the body from burning excess fat. The end result - it also stops you from losing weight.
If you are serious and ready to start a 'no-carb' diet, here's what you should do:
(Disclaimer: While this worked for me, it may not work for everyone and it is recommended that you seek medical advice before making major changes in your diet)
- Your weekly food intake should not consist of ANY carbs. Please refer to the list of SIMPLE carbohydrate foods to avoid.
- You are allowed to have 3 happy meals (basically, eat anything you want) per week. It is recommended that you do not indulge in 3 happy meals all in one day. Spread out your happy meals within the week.
- Eat quaker oats oatmeal every morning for breakfast. Oatmeal may help lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease. You may mix it up everyday by having it with sliced banana, frozen berries, raisins, chopped walnuts and/or almonds.
- Make sure you drink plenty of water.
- Eat fruits and salads. My personal favorite fruits are apples, pears, honeydew and green grapes. My choices for salad are grilled chicken, smoked salmon, seabass and shrimps.
- Do cardio workouts + light weight training. Without this, you may end up with excess body flab.
- No eating after 9pm. Brush your teeth to keep yourself in check.
- Stop drinking water at least 1 hour before bedtime to avoid water retention.
- Make sure you are in bed by midnight.
If at any point you start to feel that this is too extreme, take a step back and and take your time to proceed. Do not overexert yourself or you might end up binge eating and all the effort will go to waste. Portion control is key.
Remember - Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.
* * * * *
Alternatively, you may start with cutting down your carb intake rather than limiting it.
If you are interested in learning the benefits of a 'low-carb' diet yourself, here's what you could start with:
- Avoid simple carbohydrate foods by reading the food labels. If the label lists sugar, sucrose, fructose, corn syrup, white or "wheat" flour, they contain simple carbohydrates. If these ingredients are at the top of the list, they may contain mostly simple carbohydrates, and little else.
- Look for foods that have not been highly processed or refined. Choose a piece of fruit instead of fruit juice, which is very high in naturally occurring simple sugars.
- Choose whole grain breads instead of white bread.
- Choose whole grain oatmeal instead of packaged cereal.
Remember this quote: The closer you get to nature, the closer you get to health.
ALSO READ ABOUT A LOW G.I. DIET PLAN HERE
Kickstart Your Circuit Training
Have you ever found yourself bored and unsure of what to do next while working out?
Do you leave the gym telling yourself that you will workout harder the next day?
No wonder you are NOT seeing results.
YOU NEED to PLAN how you are going to spend your TIME in the gym.
Just like planning your meals, it is just as important to plan your workout schedule. While at the gym, always remember that you MUST stay focused, motivated, strong and know exactly what you are doing and what you are going to do next. If you are looking for results, try this 5-day circuit training schedule.
* * * * *
Day 1: 30 minutes of cardio + back and chest exercise
Day 2: 30 minutes of cardio + ab exercise
Day 3: 30 minutes of cardio + legs exercise
Day 4: 45 minutes of cardio
Day 5: 30 minutes of cardio + shoulders and arms exercise
(Important: Do 4 sets of 15-20 reps, using light to medium weight and never rest between exercises)
* * * * *
I recommend doing this from Monday to Friday as it is much easier to keep track of what day you are on and you will feel more energized and well-rested with a relaxed weekend to yourself. The workouts should not last more than an hour so if you are working, you may choose to either do it before or after work or during your lunch break.
Control your food proportion and remember to eat your breakfast and you are on your way!
( Key Points )
1. Stay focused
2. Motivated
3. Strong
4. Know exactly what you are doing
5. Know what you are going to do next
If you have any questions or qualms, feel free to comment on this post!
With Love, Fay Hokulani
Chasing the sun across the globe, starting from Singapore to California, Florida, and now Kuala Lumpur.
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