How To Be A Nutri-Ninja This Holiday Season

What is a Nutri-Ninja? Well, he/she is one who uses the way of the ninja and applies it to nutrition. A very simple concept, but when you master this you will make it through all the difficult holiday parties looking good, and feeling great about the choices you made.

How to be a Nutri-Ninja during the holiday season? First, 3 characteristics of a Nutri-Ninja:

1. A Nutri-Ninja sets goals.
Granted the holidays are upon us already, and most individuals have the all-or-none mentality when it comes to nutrition. We either are on a very strict diet and only eat cabbage or we swing the pendulum the complete other way and eat anything and everything saying, “I will start January 1st.”

A Nutri-Ninja takes goals seriously and knows what they want when it comes to nutrition. They write them down. For example: no sugary drinks, less fried food, more lean meat, more greens… you get the picture. Oddly enough, no one has seen a Nutri-Ninja diet, but when is the last time you’ve seen a ninja?

2. A Nutri-Ninja always has a plan.
Like any great warrior a Nutri-Ninja knows that goals are only as good as the execution of them. Every Nutri-Ninja has a plan of attack to achieve their goals and this plan must be on point when the holidays come around. Ninjas know how to party and have fun don’t get me wrong, so don’t think that because you are making smart choices you have to sacrifice taste. On the contrary, the execution of your plan will allow you to stay within those parameters that you have set before you get to the event. For example, I will allow myself to eat a slice of cake, or I will allow myself to have a drink. Yet you know before going in what you are planning on doing, and this will save you from overindulging.

3. A Nutri-Ninja is stealthy
The great thing about being a Nutri-Ninja is that people will never know that you actually have your nutrition under tight control. They’ll see you at events and office parties eating and drinking as things are normal. However, you know that because of goal setting and having a plan of execution your nutrition is in check. So it’s ok to eat that cookie, because the rest of your week has been incognito to everyone else as to how well you are doing with your nutrition.

Now, Nutri-Ninja’s actually are allowed to recruit other willing individuals to the cause of being healthy and fit.
PS. Ninjas wear black for a reason!

#3 Spinach and Other Green Vegetables

# 3 Spinach and Other Green Vegetables

Superpower: Neutralizes free radicals, which are molecules that accelerate the aging process.  
Secret Weapon: vitamins including A,C and K; folate; minerals including calcium and magnesium; fiber; beta-carotene.
Fights against: obesity, cancer, heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis  
Sidekicks: cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and brussels sprouts; green, yellow, red, and orange vegetables like asparagus, peppers, yellow beans and asparagus.

Impostors: None, as long as you don’t fry them o smother them in fatty cheeses.  


Just in case the 12 power foods slipped your mind, here they are again.
Almonds and other nuts
Beans and legumes

·         Spinach and other green vegetables

Dairy (fat-free or low-fat milk, yogurt, cheese)
Instant oatmeal (unsweetened, unflavored)
Eggs
Turkey and other lean meats
Peanut butter
Olive oil
Whole-grain breads and cereals
Extra-protein (whey) powder
Raspberries and other berries

# 2 The Abs Diet Beans and Legumes

Instagram: @_tobz_

Twitter: @tobygarza

Superpower: builds muscle, helps burn fat, regulates digestion

Secret Weapon: fiber, protein, iron,

Fights against: obesity, colon cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure

Sidekicks: peas, bean dip, hummus, edamame

Impostors: refried beans, which are high in saturated fats, baked beans, which are high in sugar.

Just incase the 12 power foods sliped your mind, here they are again.

Almonds and other nuts

• Beans and legumes

Spinach and other green vegetables

Dairy (fat-free or low-fat milk, yogurt, cheese)

Instant oatmeal (unsweetened, unflavored)

Eggs

Turkey and other lean meats

Peanut butter

Olive oil

Whole-grain breads and cereals

Extra-protein (whey) powder

Raspberries and other berries

The Abs Diet

Instagram: @_tobz_

Twitter: @tobygarza

I came across this book about a 4 years ago and still think it is very relevant today. I  would like to  share some of the great ideas from it. This book was written by the editor-in-Chief of Men’s Health.  This book is more than a diet, it is about making those subtle changes that we all can stick to.  The premise of the book/life style diet is to inform people about the importance of having less fat sorted in their bodies especially around the mid section.  

                The diet is very simple and structured for the working individual. It is built around a nifty acronym “ ABS DIET POWER” . Each of the letters representing a food group and or supplement, that when grouped together in this way are optimal for health, targeting muscle growth and kick starting your body’s natural fat burners.  Here is a cheat sheet.

Almonds and other nuts

Beans and legumes

Spinach and other green vegetables

Dairy (fat-free or low-fat milk, yogurt, cheese)

Instant oatmeal (unsweetened, unflavored)

Eggs

Turkey and other lean meats

Peanut butter

Olive oil

Whole-grain breads and cereals

Extra-protein (whey) powder

Raspberries and other berries

Dr. Zinczenko suggests,  “ most other diet plans are too complicated and invite failure in three major ways.”  Here is an overview of the tree ways that most fail.

1.       They reduce calories too severely.

2.       They restrict too many foods.

3.       They don’t take into account lifestyle.

The reason from this post is to help people on a right track with thanksgiving tomorrow, and Christmas and New Year’s coming right after.  With office parties and family gathering, food is something that is always associated with this time of year. Yet at the beginning of next year we associate more with extra weight and a lack of physical activity.

So what I will be doing is over viewing each of these power foods in the weeks to come, and letting you know why they are great for your health and your waist line. I have made it a goal of mine to make those subtle changes and I hope you all join me in trying to live a healthier and better performing life.

I recommend that you check out this book and actually read it, it has some amazing ideas.