HuffPost Canada closed in 2021 and this site is maintained as an online
archive. If you have questions or concerns, please check our
FAQ or contact
support@huffpost.com.
Dain Wallis
For as long as I can remember, I've been told that it's paramount to load up on carbs before any kind of physical activity. As I've gotten older, wiser and tried things for myself, I've realized that this is complete overkill. In most cases, eating carbs before working out is like filling up a near-full gas tank and watching excess gas spill all over the ground.
As we all know, "you can't out-exercise a bad diet." For this reason, people first turn to dietary changes when seeking to lose weight, but many still fail to see results. With this in mind, here's a list of foods that will sabotage any attempt to improve body composition.
If you need to use a cleanse to get you out of bad habits and on track to a healthier lifestyle, it can surely have a place. If you feel the need for a mental break from making your daily food choices, take the break. But don't lean on cleansing as a crutch for an otherwise unhealthy lifestyle. There is no "Get Healthy Quick" scheme. Much like you can't get abs in seven days, you also can't eliminate health problems in a week. Any time you read about improving your health in a short period of time or through easy methods, you should immediately be skeptical.
Losing weight can be a daunting task. How often should I go to the gym? What should I do while I'm there? For how long? What should I eat? Am I eating enough? Oh, hi Netflix, of course I'll share my popcorn with you! Sound familiar? I've laid out five strategies that are sure to push you in the right direction.
Ah, organic foods. Mysterious and pretentious. Some people swear by organic foods to avoid the "hidden dangers" of conventional products, whereas others completely ignore anything organic, equating the term organic with expensive. But what does "organic" even mean, and is eating organic better for you?
Food labeling is extremely important for consumers, especially those of us who strive to maintain a healthy lifestyle. But what if labels aren't accurate? What if labels are ambiguous and misleading? What if most people don't fully understand how to read these labels? Unfortunately, these issues are all very real.
High-intensity cardio intervals (followed by extended steady-state cardio) almost surely burns the most calories/fat during the exercise -- although it's possible that weight training intervals, if done hard and long enough, can match or exceed the results of cardio.
I came across an interesting quote the other day and it really got me thinking: "If sugar were discovered today, it would unquestionably be listed as a controlled substance, and classified as a drug." I then came across this paper in my research, which essentially states my case.
Are you more out of breath after walking, or after sprinting? After lifting a 5 lb weight or a 50 lb weight? This is why intensity is important. The harder you push yourself, the more oxygen you require, the more calories you burn. If you're working out and you're not sweating, consider increasing the weight.
Eggs are not bad for your cholesterol, nor are they bad for your health. Feel free to take my word for it, or read on and hear why eggs are one of nature's greatest foods. Sometimes I eat up to six or eight whole eggs in a day. My current blood work is nearly perfect, according to my physician. Eggs are magnificent.
