A former champion bodybuilder, Rich Barretta has helped sculpt the bodies of celebs like Naomi Watts, Pierce Brosnan and Naomi Campbell. At Rich Barretta Private Training New York City, he offers personalized programs, including target-training methods and nutritional guidance. Barretta shares the four healthy-eating rules his clients swear by, which you can easily adopt.
1. Cut back on booze
If drinking is a big part of your social life, your waistline may
suffer. Not only is alcohol loaded with carbs and empty calories,
but people tend to make bad food choices when they're buzzed. A
couple sugary cocktails can easily add up to a thousand calories
(half of the average person's daily need), so Barretta advises
avoiding alcohol altogether. If you are going to indulge, opt for a
glass of wine or slim down your drink with
smart swaps like trading tonic for club soda.
2. Just say "no" to fried food
"Grill it, bake it, broil it, steam it, just don't fry
it," says Barretta. Frying something perfectly healthy, such
as chicken, takes away nutrients, while adding fat and calories.
Plus, by eating fried foods at restaurants that still use trans fats, you run the risk of raising
artery-clogging bad cholesterol and lowering fat-clearing good
cholesterol.
3. Avoid carbs at night
There's no need to deprive yourself of carbs, but you should be conscious of when you eat
them. By consuming high-carb foods (potatoes, rice, pastas and
breads) early in the day, you have more time to burn them off. At
night, carbs are more likely to go unused and be stored as fat.
Barretta's rule of thumb: Stick to lean protein and veggies
after 6pm.
4. Pass up processed foods
We all know that fresh foods are better for us, but often reach for
processed products out of convenience. While it's challenging
to cut out processed foods entirely, there are certain ingredients
Barretta suggests you steer clear of, including high-fructose corn
syrup, MSG, white flour and processed sugar. Your best bet is to
shop around the perimeter of the grocery store, where you'll
find fresh meats and produce.
-Alla Byrne
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