Lose Weight with Ruth: How to Avoid Gaining Weight on the Campaign Trail

Lose Weight with Ruth: How to Avoid Gaining Weight on the Campaign Trail: Hit the Campaign Trail Without Gaining Weight For presidential candidates, zigzagging across the country month after month can be...

How to Stay Healthy on the Campaign Trail

Hit the Campaign Trail Without Gaining Weight

For presidential candidates, zigzagging across the country month after month can be mentally, physically and emotionally draining. The last thing candidates need is to gain weight and increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes and cancer after the election.

Getting votes is a priority but preventing health problems should be a concern. Here are five helpful tips for candidates who want to look and feel their best and have loads of energy to bring in the votes.

1)      Avoid gaining weight, because it’s much harder to lose weight than to gain it. Who could resist the juicy, slow-cooked barbecue ribs in Memphis? Or a 12-layer dark chocolate cake in Seattle? It seems like there’s some type of deep-fried food offered in every city. Unfortunately, an extra 100 calories a day will add ten pounds in a year! Once the weight is gained, most people don’t lose it. Older adults need to eat less just to maintain their weight. To be consistent, bring along a small bathroom scale and weigh in 2-3 times a week. Steps should be taken immediately if extra weight starts creeping up.

2)      Stick to a routine with similar amounts of calories per meal. As an example, choose oatmeal, fruit and nuts for breakfast; a salad with some type of protein for lunch; dinner can include a small amount of protein and carbohydrate and fill half the plate with fruits and/or vegetables. Limit fried foods, creamy sauces or decedent desserts for a special splurge. When eating at restaurants, it’s common to consume too much sodium and saturated fat. Find ways to fill up on fruits and veggies!

3)      Watch the calories from alcohol. After a stressful day of speaking, relaxing with a few cocktails can quickly and easily add excess weight. To reduce the risk of cancer, moderation for women is no more than one drink a day and no more than two drinks a day for men. Keep in mind, alcohol is metabolized straight to fat.

4)      Balance a hectic schedule with exercise. It’s important to make time for exercise, which also helps reduce excess weight. If walking around town or working out in the hotel gym is not realistic, bring along resistance bands for strength training and a jump rope for cardio. A few stretches can be invigorating. Physical activity relieves stress, anxiety and improves sleep. There are no excuses for not exercising. Make physical activity part of the daily routine.

5)      Steer clear of emotional eating. “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.” Ha! Human hearts are not carved out of stone. Day after day of hurtful verbal assaults will inevitably take its toll on emotional well-being. It’s important to remember that food may be an escape but doesn’t solve problems. To avoid emotional eating, keep it REAL:

·         Recognize emotions and the triggers. “When I am exhausted, eating toasted sourdough bread with butter is comforting.”

·         Express emotions. “When people insult me and call me names, I feel angry.”

·         Accept the emotions. Accepting and acknowledging emotions relieves the pressure. “I am stressed and that’s okay. I can deal with this.”

·         Love yourself. Tell yourself what you want to hear. “I am a good person and doing a great job.”

Not many people can eat or drink whatever they want without accumulating unwanted weight. To prevent the extra bites from adding up, hit the campaign trail with moderation and a little discipline. The real winning candidate not only beats the opposition but also stays healthy.

Lose Weight with Ruth: US Olympics Triathlon Gold Metal Winner Gwen Jorge...

Lose Weight with Ruth: US Olympics Triathlon Gold Metal Winner Gwen Jorge...: Gwen Jorgensen, Triathlon Gold Metal Winner Here is a blog from almost two y ears ago.  Congratulations are in order ! Gwen won th...

US Olympics Triathlon Gold Metal Winner Gwen Jorgensen

Gwen Jorgensen, Triathlon Gold Metal Winner

Here is a blog from almost two years ago.  Congratulations are in order! Gwen won the GOLD! - First US triathlon gold metal! This could not have happened to a nicer athlete. Go Gwen Gold!

When I was lucky enough to chat with 2012 Olympic Triathlete and 2014 World Triathlon Series World Champion, Gwen Jorgensen, I was surprised to discover that we have something in common. We both like oatmeal and were born in Wisconsin!

It was truly inspiring to talk about food and nutrition with such an accomplished athlete. Gwen’s favorite food is oatmeal with dried fruit, bananas, coconut oil and topped with poached eggs. Her favorite physical activity is an easy 6K run.

If you like to eat lots of calories, then swim, ride and run in a Triathlon! Gwen needs to consume three filling meals a day plus snacks to have enough energy for her rigorous workout schedule. She likes trying new foods and enjoys fueling her body with healthy foods. I was very fortunate to meet Gwen and am very proud and happy for her many accomplishments. She just won her 10^th straight World Triathlon Series race.

Look out Rio 2016 Olympics. Go Gwen!

Lose Weight with Ruth: Meet Ian Keiner of Peep This Out

Lose Weight with Ruth: Meet Ian Keiner of Peep This Out: Ian Keiner - Peep This Out It was fun meeting YouTube Personality, Ian Keiner of Peep This Out.   We were invited to a ...

Meet Ian Keiner of Peep This Out

Ian Keiner - Peep This Out

It was fun meeting YouTube Personality, Ian Keiner of Peep This Out.

 

We were invited to a Sriracha Social, sponsored by McDonald's of Southern California and had the opportunity to sample the new signature crafted burgers and chicken menu.

McDonalds Sriracha Chicken Sandwich

After trying the sriracha chicken sandwich (spicy for sure), Ian told me and other bloggers about the food reviews that he does for Peep This Out. Check out his successful YouTube channel. Then we had a tour of the kitchen of the McDonald's in Gardena, CA. It was interesting to see how they cook both sides of the hamburger patties at the same time, which seals in the juices.

McDonald's is going through some exciting changes. They are removing artificial preservatives, colors and flavors from the chicken McNuggets. I always wondered why artificial colors and flavors are needed. Since the same foods are served all over the world, in general, artificial colors and flavors add consistency. A Big Mac will taste the same in Nebraska as it does in Paris. Among other changes, they took out the high fructose corn syrup out of the buns and now serve chicken not treated with antibiotics. This is all due to consumer demand.

Little known fact: Ian’s favorite food is New York style pizza, and his favorite physical activity is anything cardio, such as hiking and biking. Check out his successful YouTube channel. www.youtube.com/peepthisout