Have you been led to believe that you need to give up bread to lose weight?

You DO NOT!

Weight gain is caused from excess calories; it doesn’t matter if those calories come from protein, carbs, or fat.

If you are like me and LOVE bread, trying to restrict it will leave you feeling deprived.

And… 

Deprivation always leads to bingeing.

So eat the bread!

I’ve been doing this for 15 years, and have worked with thousands of people, and in all the success stories you see me post, every one of those women ate carbs at every meal, including bread!

Let’s put an end to the no carb/no bread thinking right now.

I eat carbs at every meal!

As we get into the warmer weather, don’t be afraid to eat sandwiches and lighten up on cooking.

Sandwiches are portable food, great when you are running errands or when you are at the beach. They are so full of fiber, and keep you full. They are a boost to serotonin levels – the ‘make you feel good’, happy hormones. Plus, they are good for the whole family.

Packing a sandwich when you are on the go means you are not at the mercy of whatever crap is available.

Control the meals that are not a moment.

I’m a big fan of the Club sandwich. 

Here’s a quick view of what’s in mine. Look how big it is and it’s only 330 calories!

Click here to download the recipe.

To get you started, here are a few of my favorite low-calorie breads that you can use in a number of ways.

Available in your local supermarkets:

Josephs Lavash and Pita

Schmitt’s 647 bread: bread 40 calories, English muffins 80, hamburgers buns 80 calories

Available online:

Carbonaut, Gluten-Free bread – White, Seeded, and Cinnamon Raisin 40-45 calories each

And our favorite bread, Royo Bread: has 30 calories each slice. 
Royo has big bagels too, that are only 70 calories each. I keep those in my freezer at all times.

So eat more bread to lose weight!

Yeah, I said it.

The post Eat bread to lose weight! appeared first on The Real Deal Weight Loss.

I love a good kitchen gadget. They make preparing your meals easier, faster and can support you in your weight loss goals. 

I am always on the lookout for new gadgets that save me time and effort in the kitchen. I have bought my fair share of gadgets that were flubs. It is so disappointing to buy something you think is going to be great and discover it’s a piece of crap. But the opposite is also true, when you buy a gadget that works, you want to shout about it from the mountain tops.

So today I’m sharing my 3 favorite kitchen gadgets for weight loss. Real Deal tested and approved.

1. We know carbs don’t cause weight gain and enjoy eating them at every meal. We especially love Fiber Gourmet Pasta. Fiber Gourmet Pasta has half the calories of regular pasta, tons of fiber, and all the taste. Fiber keeps you feeling full, longer. (Psst… Real Deal members, check the files in the group for the Fiber Gourmet discount code.) I cook my Fiber Gourmet in one of my favorite gadgets, the Fasta Pasta MICROWAVE Pasta Cooker. It’s the fast, easy, no-mess way of cooking perfect, al dente pasta. No pulling out the big pasta pan, No waiting for the water to boil, No big pan to clean after – the Fasta Pasta is even dishwasher safe!!! And because it’s so fast & easy, you can have pasta anytime! I had it for lunch the other day which I never do because making pasta is usually such a hassle. I will NEVER make pasta on the stove ever again.

2. I always say, “Add more vegetables to your meals.” One of my favorite ways is adding a BAS (Big A$$ Salad) to meals to make them more satisfying and more delicious! I like my salads chopped up small and these salad shears are amazing! They cut through everything – onions, tomatoes, cucumbers – so easily, making the perfect chopped salad. Did you know that all you have to do to make bagged lettuce/salads taste fresher is chop them up a bit? I buy lots of bagged salad because I hate to cook, particularly hating to chop, so these shears are a must. They are also great for making egg salad, chicken salad, ect. Trudeau Toss and Chop Salad Tongs. I bought them on Amazon. They go in and out of stock frequently. Search for the Trudeau brand.

3. And my last favorite gadget addresses one of the biggest problems I see in women trying to lose weight, they have no realization of how much oil they are using and how many calories they are actually eating.  When you give a splash or two of oil you are completely guessing. That is why I love this  Measure ’N Pour Oil Bottle.  Just squeeze up how much oil you need and pour. It makes measuring oil easy and ACCURATE! And no measuring spoons to clean up. On sale on Amazon right now for $7.39. Run and add this to your cart!

Preparing meals is a lifelong task, but with the right kitchen gadgets, you can cut out time, cut down on clean-up, and keep to your weight loss goals.

I use each one of these products regularly to eat pasta, even for lunch, add more vegetables to my meals, and get accurate on the oil I use.

If you want to make losing weight easier, make cooking easier. 

The post My 3 Favorite Kitchen Gadgets for Weight Loss appeared first on The Real Deal Weight Loss.

“I don’t have time to make dinners that support my weight loss.”

You don’t have time and then end up eating crap! I hear this all the time.

Let me tell you…
You do NOT need to be prepping all your meals for the week ahead of time.

You do NOT need to be spending tons of time in the kitchen every night making meals from scratch.

And you do NOT need to be making separate meals for you and your family. Who has time for that?

What you DO need is to always have an arsenal of products on hand that makes it EASY for you to throw together a great meal in minutes no matter how busy you are.

Here’s a few of my favorite Trader Joe’s ready-to-eat meal solutions for busy days or nights:

Ready to eat Fresh Stuffed Peppers from Trader Joe’s. They are by far my favorite  prepared TJ item. Ready in minutes! They’re stuffed with seasoned ground turkey, brown rice, mozzarella and Parmesan cheese in tomato sauce. DELICIOUS ! I serve mine with TJ frozen Rice Medley which is also delicious and ready in 3 minutes in your microwave.  Just 220 calories per pepper. This dinner comes together in minutes. Stuffed Peppers can be found in the refrigerated section. They freeze great too!

Trader Joe’s Grass Fed Beef  Sirloin Roast. It is a client & group fave.  FULLY COOKED AND SLICED!  Just microwave for 4-5 minutes (or bake in oven for 10-13 minutes). This is high quality grass fed meat with no crap added, just salt & pepper. It’s delicious! You can find this in the REFRIGERATED section at Trader Joe’s. Grab a few boxes and freeze !!! It doesn’t get easier or more delicious than this.

Trader Joe’s Chicken Asada is a FRESH (not frozen) prepared entree that can be ready in TWO MINUTES in your microwave. Juicy chicken cutlets with perfectly grilled peppers and onions.   Half the container; one big breast with half the veggies is only 220 calories. It’s a really nice sized portion. I just put it on a 60 calorie Joseph’s pita with some melted cheese, sour cream and some hot sauce. It’s great served over brown rice or cauliflower rice.  An excellent easy meal prep option for a warm lunch to pack up for work. Made with nice  ingredients. You totally don’t have to tell anyone you didn’t make it from scratch

These meals are winners. 
You may feel that you don’t have much time to cook but that’s not an excuse to get off track. With fast and delicious  solutions like these, you can whip up a satisfying meal in minutes.

The cart is open for the next Real Deal, starting January 19th. Spots are already filled!
We have added a special bonus to the pre-program this season as well.
Hop on over and check out the details.

The post My 3 Favorite Ready-to-Eat Meals appeared first on The Real Deal Weight Loss.

Asparagus or Mushroom Risotto

These creamy delicious risottos can be on your holiday table in just 5 minutes. Only 150 calories for a one cup serving for the asparagus and 160 for the mushroom.

Mirepoix

Mirepoix , mix of onions carrots and celery. Use as a starter for so many holiday dishes. Shaves so much time off prep!

Potato Pancakes

Everyone knows these are the hands down best latkes anywhere. I will never bother with the mess of  making my own or spend a fortune on getting them freshly made somewhere. They are a huge hit every single year and just 150 calories for a 2 latke serving. I serve them with reduced fat sour cream.

Spinach & Kale Greek Yogurt Dip

This is my all time fave!! This dip is so low-cal, you’ll be shocked at how yummy it is! Just 30 calories for a 2 tablespoon serving!! Pair this with veggies or crackers as an appetizer and you won’t go into the meal feeling “stuffed”!

Scallops Wrapped in UnCured Bacon with Brown Sugar Glaze

These satisfying and fancy looking appetizers couldn’t be easier to make and are just 60 calories each.

Creamy Spinach Artichoke Dip

Trader Joe’s most popular appetizer has only 45 calories for two creamy and delicious tablespoons!

One Potato Two Potato

This  hearty GRATIN  side dish will only set you back 150 calories for a one cup serving. Two types of potatoes, two types of mushrooms and two types of cheese will make this creamy, easy to heat up side dish a hit at your holiday table.

Broccoli and Cauliflower Gratin

This savory creamy side dish has only 130 calories per one-cup serving! it contains hearty broccoli and tender cauliflower (they make up 50% of the dish!) roasted and cocooned in a velvety, buttery sauce, then blanketed with a crust of Mozzarella & Grana Padano cheese. OMG!

Holiday Vegetable Hash

This has all the flavors of the season already cleaned and chopped up for you! Its got small dices of butternut squash, sweet potatoes, red onions, and celery, accompanied by a flavorful and fragrant herb-trio of parsley, sage, and rosemary. A beautiful, low calorie, fastened easy side or add to a holiday soup.

Colorful Carrot Coins

A beautiful array of colorful carrots that are perfectly seasoned. An excellent side to dish to your holiday meal. Ready in minutes and just 90 calories per cup!

Creamed Greens

Think of Trader Joe’s Creamed Greens as a twist on creamed spinach, with Brussels sprouts as the flavor focal point. Rich, creamy, hearty, and delicious, it’s fully cooked before being frozen, so it’s ready to heat and eat in minutes. For a holiday dinner-worthy presentation, plate it on your favorite serving dish and top with crunchy breadcrumbs and savory bacon. Just 130 calories for a generous 1 cup serving 

Mini Dark Chocolate Mint Stars

THINK Girl Scout Thin Mints with sprinkles. And you can have 13 of these adorable, insanely delicious cookies for just 130 calories!!! Consider getting a storage unit and stocking up as they are only available for a short time!!!

Mini Peppermint Meringues

These are amazing and you shouldn’t go through the season without having them! Just 80 calories for 11 meringues ..plenty to satisfy your holiday sweet tooth without breaking the calorie bank!

These products help me make my holidays easy and delicious! Some of these items are seasonal and only available for a limited time so hop on over to your local Trader Joe’s and try some of my favorites this holiday season.

The post My Favorite Trader Joe’s Holiday Products 2020 appeared first on The Real Deal Weight Loss.