Jillian Michaels Tip of the Day!!

All About Nutrition Bars

People always ask me what I think about nutrition bars. The simple answer is, I don't think they're "nutritious." In fact, there is nothing nutritious about most of them. Usually, they're full of processed carbs and chemicals. They have as many calories as — if not more than — a candy bar. And they're loaded with trans fats and sugar alcohol.

Some bars are lower in calories, and some don't have trans fats, but unfortunately this cannot be said for most of them. Honestly, if this is your idea of a snack, you might as well just go have a candy bar and get it out of your system. Yep, it's that troubling.

If you really want some nutrition in your snacks, try having a cup of dry whole grain cereal, a piece of fruit, or a few raw or dry-roasted nuts or a couple of cups of air-popped popcorn. Just eat real food.

At the end of the day, as long as your snack calories fit into your overall daily allowance, the choice is up to you. There is no right or wrong answer on this, only different choices. But you can choose wisely.

JILLIAN'S TIP OF THE DAY
Calorie Counting

Here's how to keep a record of your calorie intake so that you'll know how to stay on target with your meals. You'll need a food journal, a kitchen scale and measuring cups, and a calorie-counter book that includes information on protein, fat, and carb contents. Record everything you eat (and how much of it) throughout your day. Measure and weigh all your food to determine how many calories it contains until guessing the calories accurately becomes second nature.

DANIELLE'S COMMENTS: At the end of the day, it all boils down to, calories in - calories out. You could have a BIG MAC and a large fry everyday, (approx. 1500) but, if you don't eat anything else and you do minimal exercise, YOU will lose weight.