It's more than calories

Let's talk about calories.

• Calories don't always matter. 

WHY? 

If you pick up a snack that's 100 calories, great, but what's IN it? What ingredients does it contain? 

I mean, do you really think about how many calories you're consuming when you eat vegetables? How many calories does this carrot have? You know it's good for you right? So, there's not as much of a concern. 

Dark chocolate is good for you, at least 70 percent cocoa. Four squares of "Lindt Excellence 70% Cocoa" has 250 calories, and the ingredients are what actually should be in dark chocolate.

It's some of the best chocolate you can consume. Plus it's $3.85 online and around $3.25 at Walgreens.

Now, Haribo Gummy Bears, we've all had some fun with these since childhood, you can play with them, stack them, anything you want! Wonderful fun memories! 

But the ingredients. So, 17 pieces is 150 calories, but let's check out the ingredients. Corn syrup, sugar, gelatin artificial and natural flavors...

I'm not trying to say bad things, I'm just bringing to light the importance of what we are consuming, and how important it is to stay healthy and really think about what you choose to eat...or snack on. And, if you want to snack on gummy bears every now and then, go for it, but don't make it too often. 

The point is, calorie intake is not your main focus. Be mindful of what you choose to eat. 

Caution! Not all packages tell the truth!

Sometimes we think what our food says on the package is a good thing! But, really, consider what the packaging is telling you, what the product is and what the ingredients are.

Calorie counting might not be the smartest thing to focus completely on. Sugary foods don't always have a ton of calories, but they aren't the healthiest thing for you to eat. Look at the ingredients, consider what you want to really put in your body. Because it has less calories, doesn't mean you should eat it and it's healthy for you.

Some points to keep in mind while shopping:

1.) Sugar free: if you look at something that's sugar free, there most likely is a "sugar free" replacement inside, which might affect you worse than sugar would. Xylitol is something that can be a good substitute. It's naturally produced and is even found in our bodies! (xylitol.org). If you are concerned about cals, it does have 40 percent less calories than sugar.

2.) Wording: Just because something says "organic," doesn't mean it has less calories and that it's the healthiest thing for you.

3.) Low-fat: According to an article I read on Women's Health, (womenshealthmag.com) less fat makes it easier for people to consume more, because they are less guilty about eating that product. But! Remember, certain fats are good for you. Not all are bad fats.

Obesity in Hawai'i

Luckily for our lovely state, we're ranked #49 on the most obese states, at 21.8 percent of people being obese, which puts us behind Colorado, according to an article posted by the Huffington Post.

I guess what could help that is people are all out and about at the beach and running around outside, gotta keep that figure in shape right? Let's keep that up. Though there is a problem of obesity in the nation, we can all help by promoting healthy eating, as well as knowing why we should put and shouldn't put certain things in our bodies.

Easy ways to avoid bad eating habits:

1.) Don't drink your calories: We all love a coffee, smoothie or milkshake on occasion -- or everyday. That's where it adds up...especially the sugar. Too much sugar will make us fat.  Drinking our calories is like drinking more than our days intake of sugar. It's easy to drink up to 400 calories, as well as non nutritious ingredients. To be safe, make your own drinks, you'll know what's in it, and you can alter it without feeling like you're getting on a worker's nerves.

2.) Eat to refuel, not because you're bored: Another big thing, eating because you are bored, and it gives you something to do. Eating is fun! It just is, tasting and enjoying the flavors of different foods. But hey, make sure you're eating to refuel your body, not beacuse you're upset, sad or even happy and think you need a reward. To curb sugar cravings (sugar is like a drug), eat snacks throughout the day, like apples and peanut butter, but of course not a ton of peanut butter. Have several almonds. Make sure these snacks are candy bars, or a bag of Cheetos.

3.) Eat breakfast: Some of us may not be fans of breakfast, but try to grab something, even if it's small. It'll get your metabolism up and running in the morning and keep you from wanting to over eat at lunch. Don't pick something like a donut, or a scone, save that for another day. Eat something with substance. A breakfast burrito on a whole wheat tortilla with some eggs and spinach, or make a kale smoothie. Google some recipe's for some health breakfast ideas, and create a daily plan for what you'd like to eat in the morning, lunch and night. Or just plan breakfast if the rest is too much to think about.

Little things here and there will help you stay healthy, all it takes is the first step to research information and try it out.

Cutting out calories

Cutting out calories is easy. Eat a few less bites, get a smaller portion than you usually would. Either way, you'll lose some pounds, how easy is that? So you can still eat the things you love, but cut out some part of your daily diet.

Although, still eating a whole foods diet, full of vegetables, right amounts and combinations of fruits and proteins, will keep your weight in check, as well as your health.

If you're someone who likes drinks, Starbucks Frappuccino's, Jamba Juice Smoothies, or a green tea latte, try to alter the recipe a little bit. Get nonfat or coconut milk, and skip the whip cream and caramel drizzle. Those little treats like that can add 50 or more calories to your daily diet.

Be smart about what you eat and drink, be conscious about it and cut out things that are unnecessary and keep your diet healthy!

Find a goal, a solid one and work towards it.

walking or running?

So, as we know, walking and running both take different tolls on our bodies. Yet, do you ever wonder which burns more calories? The obvious answer would be to think, um running or jogging, of course. BUT! Just wait.

Yes, if a person walks faster than someone can jog, (which is true in some cases)then the walker can go longer and burn more calories. Funny right?

But in general, if a jogger runs faster than a walker and goes for a longer period of time, then yes, jogging will burn more calories.

Remember, it's mostly about the speed you maintain through out your workout.

(Save your knees too and stick to a treadmill or elliptical.)

Elliptical review

Ah, the trusty Elliptical, the one we try to get when we go to the gym...
The cool thing about the Elliptical's is that you almost feel like your flying and not working out that much, but later on you see that you've burned more calories than on a treadmill. Not only do you get a lower body work out, but with the handles you get an upper body work out too, even though it won't make you look like a bodybuilder, but multi-fuctional is always good. According to the Web site ellipticaltrainers.com studies have shown that the elliptical can train your body to think that you're not working as hard. In reality, you're still working your body.

Your heart rate climbs faster and you work your back, shoulders, chest, biceps and triceps too.
Just up the intensity level and get your work out in.