Can Avocado Help You Lose Weight?

Posted on August 22, 2020August 31, 2020 by Ayanwola Titilayo A

Technically a fruit, avocados are a nutrient-dense food that can help you lose weight. It is also a good source of heart healthy fats and fiber, both of which help you feel more full after a meal. This is because fat and fiber causes the slow release of food from your stomach. This lower transit time, means it takes longer to digest and keeps you satisfied for longer periods.⁠

Beyond weight loss, avocados are high in heart healthy fats, and can lower your risk of developing heart disease by decreasing inflammation in the body. Regular consumption of avocados can lead to improved blood sugar control, increased insulin sensitivity, and reducing levels of the bad cholesterol- LDL.⁠

Eating the right kinds and combinations of food will not only nourish your body, but will allow you to lose weight in a healthy way. I teach my clients how to choose meals that support their health and enhance their well being. ⁠

If you are confused about the kinds of food to eat to achieve healthy weight loss, and are struggling with creating a healthy balance with your food choices, let’s chat. Apply to work with me.

Stop Doing Old School Calorie Counting

Posted on August 22, 2020August 31, 2020 by Ayanwola Titilayo A

When it comes to losing weight, counting calories is so old school. Not only is it burdensome, and tedious, it can take your focus off the quality of food you’re eating and how you actually feel in favor of lower quality, lower calorie foods.

Foods that have the same quantity of calories can differ in nutrient quality and have different effects on your health. Example a 100 calorie pack of cookies versus 100 calories of fruit such as 2 cups of strawberries send different signals to your body. The cookies don’t offer much in terms of nutrient quality, will spike your blood glucose levels, is not filling and can trigger additional sugar cravings. On the other hand, the strawberries are nutrient dense, filling, and offers good blood glucose control.

Also, there are a lot of factors involved in how many calories your body needs on a day to day basis and even if you account for physical activity, you might still be way off in your calculations.

Calories do matter, but you don’t need to count them. Instead of counting calories, I teach my nutrition coaching clients how to focus on their emotions, hunger cues and identify their eating patterns. Combined with sound nutrition education, and a customized meal plan, they are able to change their eating patterns and are able to lose weight easily. The average weight lost in my program using this method is 12 pounds in 1 month.

If you’re ready to work with a Registered Dietitian who specializes in weight loss, and are tired of counting calories, and tracking macros, let’s chat. Apply today for nutrition coaching.

Easy Tips To Create A Balanced Nutritious Meal

Posted on August 16, 2020 by Ayanwola Titilayo A

It is incredibly easy to create a balanced meal that is delicious, nourishing, and healthy. To do so, include the following: ⁠

Carbohydrates: Carbohydrates fuel the body with much needed energy. However, not all carbs are created equal. Focus on eating mostly complex carbs which have more fiber, and are a great option for weight control, managing your blood glucose and cholesterol levels. Examples are bulgur, brown rice, beans, whole wheat pasta. ⁠
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High Quality Protein: Protein is essential for building muscle mass, repairing tissues, and supporting neurological function. It also helps to suppress your appetite. When choosing animal protein try to select antibiotic and hormone free options. Plant based protein options include: Tofu and Lentils. ⁠
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Healthy Fats: Healthy fats help to curb hunger and cravings, are involved in hormone regulation, support healthy brain function and improve your good cholesterol-which enhances your heart health. Examples are olive oil, avocado, nuts. ⁠
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Vegetables: Veggies are rich in antioxidants, help to boost your immune system, regulate digestion, and protect against diseases like heart disease and type 2 Diabetes. Aim to eat a variety of different colored vegetables, and at least 5 cups a day. ⁠
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Food is medicine, and in my nutrition coaching program I educate my clients on the types of foods to eat to supercharge their health. If you are confused about the kinds of food to eat to attain your health goals, let’s chat! Reserve your spot with me for a free dietary assessment call.

Strategies To Reduce Stress To Avoid Weight Gain

Posted on August 15, 2020August 31, 2020 by Ayanwola Titilayo A

Not only can stress lead to poor eating habits, it can also impact your ability to maintain a healthy weight. Stress also causes hormonal changes, which can signal the body to gain weight.⁠

For example, when you are under stress, your body releases the stress hormone cortisol.⁠
Elevated levels of cortisol can lead you to crave sugar-laden food. Consuming too much sugar elevates your blood glucose and therefore your body stores this excess sugar as abdominal fat. Cortisol also slows down your metabolism, making it harder to lose weight.⁠
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When you’ve gained weight and your clothes no longer fit, it’s easy to become more stressed. This leads to a vicious cycle of eating more, gaining weight, and staying in a state of perpetual stress. ⁠

Although you can’t completely cut out stress from your life, there are a few strategies you can use to reduce your stress and better regulate your weight.⁠

1) Engage in mindfulness based practices like meditation & deep breathing exercises⁠
2) Keep a food journal so you can pay attention to your food habits⁠
3) Practice mindful eating by savoring your meal without any distractions⁠
4) Make mindful movement a priority such as taking a walk or trying yoga⁠
5) Don’t skimp on sleep – aim for at least 6 hours of quality, uninterrupted sleep⁠
6) Make room for your hobbies⁠
7) Be kind to yourself⁠
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If you’re struggling with weight gain and are ready to ditch those 10, 20, 30 + pesky pounds, I can help! Book your spot for a free dietary assessment call with me and let’s get you started to lose weight and keep it off for good.⁠

Snacks Won’t Harm You On Your Weight Loss Journey

Posted on August 13, 2020August 13, 2020 by Ayanwola Titilayo A

Does snacking fit into your weight loss plan? Some people think that snacking can sabotage your weight loss efforts and this may have some degree of truth ONLY if you choose snacks that are not supportive of your health and weight loss goals. I encourage my clients to snack between meals if their body calls for it.

This is because it has a ton of benefits:
1)Eating the right combination of snacks can actually help you lose weight
2)Consuming a healthy snack between meals can suppress your hunger
3)Snacking can prevent overeating at meals by controlling your appetite throughout the day
4)Snacking provides necessary fuel needed to prepare and recover from exercise
5)It can help you close nutritional gaps in your diet

To make the most out of your snacks, WITHOUT sabotaging your weight loss efforts, Choose snacks that satisfy your hunger, supply your body with energy, and are rich in nutrients. In order to ‘snack smart’ choose from the following food categories:

Fruits and Vegetables – These are nutrient dense and have low calories

Whole grains – Rich in fiber and complex carbohydrates for an efficient energy boost

Dairy– Great source of protein which helps to reduce your hunger hormones

Nuts and Seeds – Provide healthy fat for satiety.

Watching your portion sizes and planning ahead by having healthy choices on hand can make your weight loss or weight maintenance plan successful.

If you are confused about the kinds of food to eat to lose weight or achieve your health goals, let’s chat! Apply today to reserve your spot for my nutrition coaching program.

Say Goodbye To Binge Eating And Yoyo Dietiting

Posted on August 3, 2020August 4, 2020 by Ayanwola Titilayo A

My beautiful client ‘Anna’ (all my clients are beautiful by the way) had been dragging her feet to sign up for nutrition coaching with me. She wanted to lose 20 lbs, learn how to eat mindfully to maintain her health (goodbye binge eating and yoyo dieting), and feel confident in her skin again.

For over a year she had been following me on social but was a little hesitant to take the first step. She had seen my client testimonials and my content resonated with her but she felt
1) My client success stories seemed too good to be true
2) Yeah, I know ‘my stuff’ and have helped others but could it possibly work for her too?⁠

Well, at her Doctor’s appointment she found out she was pre-diabetic and knew she needed to do something ASAP. She signed up for my free dietary assessment call in which we talked about her health goals, and I gave her actionable tips which she could use right away. ⁠

See…I don’t pressure people to work with me. If we are not a right fit, I shoot it straight and let you know, and I simply do not offer what I am not able to help my clients achieve. ⁠She decided to sign up for my 6 month nutrition coaching program and in just 3 months she is down 18 lbs, (just 2lbs shy of her goal weight) and her A1c (blood glucose measure) is now in the normal range. She’s the happiest she has felt in a while, and wishes she had signed up with me sooner, before her health scare. ⁠

Don’t wait until you get a health scare to take control of your health. If you’re serious about making a change, apply today to reserve your spot for my nutrition coaching program.

weight loss dietitian