Calorie Count on Menus?

Recently, The Globe and Mail published an article about a handful of U.S. cities including New York; San Francisco; Seattle; Portland, Ore.; and Philadelphia having passed menu-labelling laws for chain restaurants in an effort to curb obesity.

This means that restaurants would have to disclose the number of calories in each dish they offer on their menu. The hope is that people will make healthier decisions while eating out.

When you eat at a restaurant, you don't know how many calories you are ingesting. Some salads have more calories and sodium in them than a regular sized cheeseburger. So even if you think you are making a healthy choice, this may not be the case.

Some people argue that this initiative is useless because most people go to restaurants to indulge or they simply don't care. But for the people who are trying to lose weight or become healthier, calorie counts on menu items can prove to be extremely helpful.

Whatever your opinion is on this matter, it will be interesting to watch if this law will be applied in Canada and if it will have an effect on the obesity problem in the U.S.

HOT Yoga

Over the summer, a co-worker introduced me to the world of hot yoga. Hot yoga according to Moksha Yoga Winnipeg is:

"a series of postures practiced in a heated room. The series works to stretch, strengthen and tone the muscles while detoxifying the body and calming the mind."

I was very nervous about trying hot yoga because I didn't know what to wear, or bring. The Moksha Yoga Winnipeg website is very helpful and informs new yoga practitioners on everything they need to know to get started. Some of the main tips include:

Classes In The Hot Studio
Come to class on an empty stomach, and avoid coffee before class. Try not to eat any heavy meals 2 - 3 hours before practicing, and arrive well hydrated!  

Please arrive 20-35 minutes prior to class time. Latecomers are not permitted.

• Yoga mat
• Beach-sized towel
• Re-usable water bottle [ our taps are filtered]
• Another towel if you would like to shower after class at the studio
• Wear minimal clothing, whatever you feel comfortable with [keep in mind that the room is heated and you will sweat).

Hot yoga is a great way to relieve stress and tone your body. This is also a great way to warm up during the cold winter months. Hot yoga is for people of all ages and is great for beginners too.

Christmas and Holiday Survival

The holidays are just around the corner and that means family dinners, Christmas parties, work parties, and friend luncheons. During the holidays many people overeat, consume a lot of alcohol, and stuff themselves with treats.  I am definitely guilty of over-indulging in all of these areas.  But, you don't have to diet or deprive yourself, what you can do is make healthier choices. 

Here are some healthy holiday tips you can use this holiday season:

• Don't go to a party hungry: Make sure to eat something before going out, so that don't overeat. When you are hungry you tend to eat more, faster.
• Watch your portions: Treat yourself to a drink and dessert, but watch your portions. Eating smaller portions allows you to sample more.
• Limit high fat items: Try to avoid fried, cream-based, cheese-filled, and processed foods as well as eggnog.
• Limit alcohol: Try to stay away from beer, cider, Bailey, and Kahula. Try dry wine, Bloody Mary's or spirits with diet soda.
• Drink Plenty of water: coffee and alcohol can dehydrate your body.
• Physical Activity: Take walks with loved-ones to burn off some of those calories.

These are also great tips to follow all year!