I’ve had the sincere pleasure of meeting and getting to know Chef Craig King. As a personal chef to the stars, his knowledge, depth and worldwide reputation on organic gardening, and delicious, healthy food preparation is enjoyed and devoured by thousands. We are lucky to have him here preparing amazing menus, and of course seeing his garden of health literally grow here on the N. shore of Maui at the beautiful property known as Lumeria Maui. Here his known “farm-to-table” practice is enjoyed by many guests.

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Besides seeing him prepare a feast for a special few or a few hundred, his kind ways and natural talents shine through in every bite.  I was overwhelmed with the first samplings one evening and to taste not only the freshness of the buffet he prepared,  but the blend of flavors that exploded from the simplest herbs and green selections were over the top.

Get to know Craig and watch these videos on how you too can eat for energy and I’m sure he will inspire you to not only grow your own fresh veggies but you’ll learn so much on how to sustain your own personal energy and vitality. Also scroll down to watch his “Here We Glow” video of his special cleanse. He is offering workshops on Maui on how you can do a “healthy” cleanse that leaves you feeling vibrant and strong. Contact and cleanse info below.

Chef Craig King:

Chef Craig King has been at the forefront of the healthy food revolution for more than 20 years. As the personal chef for some of the biggest names in the natural food business (Steve Demos, White Wave/Silk; John Mackey, Whole Foods; Michael Gilliland/Libby Cook, Wild Oats), as well as some notable Hollywood stars, Craig brings a deep understanding of food and its evolution to the show. He has a keen ability to create food that meets the client’s need in real time–– knowing how to balance what the client wants with what the client needs. He recently created and directed “Here We Grow”, a documentary film highlighting our troubled food system. His latest venture has been helping transform food in various institutional settings, including assisted and senior living centers. The installation of gardens in seven senior community centers helps highlight the beautification of the food transformation and demonstrate the practice of the farm-to-table philosophy. http://craigkingenterprises.com/

Here We Glow

Chef Craig King is offering his Glow Cleanse for you to enjoy. You can learn more here:

You may contact Craig direct at 820.281.2381  or e: ckcooking@hotmail.com to enjoy his company and receive a private consultation.

Feel free to share your comments.

Welcome to Maui Craig!  We’re all thrilled to have you as our neighbor and a part of our healthy ohana.

Yours,

Suzie Cooney, CPT  of Suzie Trains Maui Follow @SuzieTrainsMaui

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Maui, HI. December 20, 2011 : Listen & Learn About Ten Survival Tips For Holiday Parties on Suzie Cooney’s Radio Health & Fitness Segment with the Maui Breakfast Club, every Tuesday on Maui’s KNUI 900AM @ 7:30am

On air Suzie Cooney shares her 10 Survival Tips for the Holidays!

 CLICK HERE and  listen and learn how to manage those fabulous holiday parties. Save your waistline and those extra calories that may sneak up on you at the buffet line, pastry cart or holiday dinner.

It’s not easy to pass up a delicious dessert, or that yummy, oh so fat filled glass of eggnog. Don’t fret, make a plan and practice talking more and scan the buffet table or bar and make a plan NOT to lose it, but enjoy in moderation without regret or extra time on the treadmill.

Today, on this special holiday show I’ve listed 10 helpful tips to keep you smiling and not sweating too much at the gym. Enjoy your holidays and friends and just learning a few of these tips will see you through to the next party without gaining an ounce, well maybe a few.

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My top suggestion is to eat something prior to the party that combines protein and fiber to fill you up before you charge to front of the buffet line. Drink lots of water and leave the elastic pants or skirt at home!

Suzie Cooney of Suzie Trans Maui is a weekly guest on the Maui Breakfast Club with Tom Blackburn Rodriguez and Kellie Pali and shares every week, her healthy tips from how to train for big surf, to how to avoid weight gain at big buffets. For over 12 years she has helped hundreds of people get in the shape of their lives and live the life Maui offers. People come from all over to train and learn from her.

Tune in every week, Tuesday on Maui’s KNUI 900AM  at 7:30am or click here to catch the daily, live broadcast from anywhere in the world.

Tom, Suzie and Kellie photo by Simone Reddingious

Feel free to share your comments and tell us your  tips to help our audience enjoy the holidays without sabotaging one’s hard work to get in and stay in shape.Follow @SuzieTrainsMaui

If you’d like to join my confidential mailing list and keep  up to date with Suzie Trains Maui and other health related news, go here:

Sign up for your FREE Suzie Trains Maui Email Newsletter

TweetAh food, glorious food! You’ve heard of the jingle, and you’ve also heard of the book by now, “Eat This Not That” by David Zinczenko. He’s a great guy and it’s a good read but I want to give you a quick serving of what you may know, should know or simply choose to ignore. Yes, I’m pretty fed up with how unhealthy food is still king, drive-throughs are killing us,  and that we simply choose not to choose the right food. Okay, I’m breathing and I’ll calm down here, but please for your own health or someone else you know, pass this along. I want you healthy, I want your family healthy and I even the dog and cat. Like the Jerry McGuire movie and Cuba Gooding Jr., “help me help you.”

You can enjoy food but food is for feeding your organs, skin muscles and everything else to function at high levels. Eating for pleasure is okay, but tone it down a bit and think of my 90/10 rule.  Eat 90% for staying alive and 10% for pleasure. I may sound a bit sarcastic in this portion of information I’m sharing , but I’m very serious and very concerned about our nation’s health. Frankly, I’m embarrassed. I train people from all over the world and I constantly hear about how we ( Americans ) eat too much and eat terribly.  I wish I was from Australia, or New Zealand or even Iceland,  then I’d be too cold to eat, or to busy chasing kangaroos.

Soft Drinks

OMG or Oh my gosh. Help us all! I’m surprised anyone still has any teeth left and everyone is not one big, walking pimple. Sorry to be so graphic, but hello, is this America or what? Adult acne is a real problem caused by sugar. I’m happy to see more reaching for other drinks, but still be careful, soda is one of the leading sources of empty calories in America. Instead, have plain or flavored water, herbal iced tea or skim milk. If you crave a sweet drink, limit yourself to one glass of fruit juice a day—better yet, cut it with seltzer water. If you feel diet sodas help you lose weight, drink them—but try to get down to one a day or you’ll never lose your taste for super-sweet foods.  Heck the chemicals alone in diet soda should scare you to death and the sodium content alone causes bloating and water retention. People drink more because of the “0″ calorie factor, but keep in mind the sodium from the carbonated water will cause fluid retention and bloating which is very attractive. Chemicals alone don’t cause the harm, it’s the behaviors behind those who drink the “diet” sodas.

Alcohol

If I could show you all my abs right now I would. You want to see your abs again, put a cork in it. Want to lean out now? I suggest  change your party friends, change your scene and lifestyle and if you must, maybe once in a while, but drink less. I challenge my clients to stop cold turkey for 2-3 weeks and watch what happens. They come running in and lift up their shirts and say, “Suzie, you were right!”  Maybe it’s only a 4 pack for now but the 12 pack is coming! What a difference.

More people are drinking to soothe and comfort some of our most challenging days in this new world. Besides adding to depression, and being a depressant to slow down your metabolism, alcohol and weight loss don’t mix. It’s hard to make good eating habits  when the fog or buzz starts making decisions for you.

There’s lots of sugar in a chardonnay say vs a red cabernet. And that delicious margarita, look out and say adios. My point is obviously, alcohol can add a lot of extra calories to your diet, and it’s more caloric than other foods. Alcohol contains 7 calories per gram (carbohydrates and fat contain only 4 calories per gram; fat contains 9 calories per gram). But there are reasons besides the calories to skip sipping.

Hop on the wagon and hold your wheels tight. Do your best and recognize how great you’ll feel.

Foods Containing Trans Fat

Love the tasty tortillas, butter cookies and everything with trans fat is simply yummy. The biggest offenders are margarine and vegetable shortenings—although, there are trans fat-free versions of both now—and processed food such as frozen meals, crackers, ramen soups, cake mixes, chips and candy. To see if a product has trans fat, check the ingredients list for partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Don’t go by the nutrition facts panel: By law, a product can contain up to 0.49 (nearly half a gram) of trans fat per serving but still read “0 g” on the label   My favorite replacements are heart-healthy olive and canola oils.

Fried Foods

June 23, 2011 USA Today just published this article: “Potato Chip Worst Culprit for Weight Gain”   They open with, “Blame the potato chip. It’s the biggest demon behind that pound-a-year weight creep that plagues many of us, a major diet study found. Bigger than soda, candy and ice cream.”

You’ll notice that more chips are being bought these days  for they are not as expensive as other snacky food and it’s a comfort food conesuir first choice. Their glossy bags and bright colors yell, “eat me, you’ll feel better and I taste wonderful.”  That is no marketing mishap. 

The down and dirty: Don’t confuse foods made with trans fat with simple fried foods. There is a difference, but you should do your best to avoid both. Even when they don’t have trans fat, fried foods in restaurants are often cooked in oil that is reused. This can create by-products that have been linked to a variety of diseases. And fried foods are highly caloric. Frying causes a food to absorb more fat and calories.

One alternative you can try is oven-frying. Cut potatoes into strips, toss or spray with a little olive oil, salt, and pepper, and cook in a 400° oven until brown. And if you can’t live without potato chips, choose baked varieties made without trans fat. Crunch sparinglly please.

 White Bread

As a kid I used to love the Old Wonder Bread. I can see the color wrapper with the rainbow and what’s wrong with a good old fashion p & j sandwhich? Nothing, as long as you reach for a little more than just starch.

Don’t panic—you can still have your carbs,  ( you need carbs as fuel ) they just have to be whole grain. Compared with refined white flour, whole grains are not only more nutritious, they also have lots of fiber that will keep you fuller longer. To help you, “refined,” when referring to processed carbohydrates, means they have been stripped of their fiber and the many nutrients now known to be cancer-fighters, critical for heart health, helping to stabilize blood sugar and even enhance bone health.

To get truly “whole wheat” or “whole grain” bread, you need to be on your toes. Packaging can be misleading. Some brown “wheat” breads, for example, don’t even contain whole wheat! To make sure you’re getting a meaningful amount of whole grains, check that they show up at the beginning of the ingredients list. Bread should have at least two grams of fiber per slice.

This also goes for rice which we love in Hawaii. Brown rice is better. Although it takes longer to cook, it’s worth it in every bite. One scoop not two.

High-Fat Milk and Yogurt

Although milk and yogurt are excellent sources of calcium and protein, there is no reason to have the full-fat version when so many lower-fat versions are available. Again, be careful, look at the sugar content also.

More and more people are drinking alternatives to milk, such as almond milk and soy milk.  Keep in mind, a cup of whole milk has 7.9 grams of fat—4.5 grams of it saturated—and 24 milligrams of cholesterol. Compare that to a cup of nonfat skim milk’s 83 calories, 0.2 grams of fat, 0.125 grams of saturated fat and 5 milligrams of cholesterol. People complain of the taste but you’ll get used to it.

I recommends fat-free or one percent milk. As for cheese, opt for reduced-fat versions with no more than 5 grams of fat per ounce.  I’d really prefer you to avoid cheese if possible.

Keep it real, and keep it real food. I really love what I do and it’s important that you know I’m looking out for you. I’m not the kind of trainer or lifestyle coach that preaches, I live it, breathe it and eat well. I know it’s hard to be disciplined sometimes, but you have the power and the knowledge to make better choices. Everytime you eat, think of how your organs will feel, your muscles and your everything else if you feed it well. You’ll not only feel more energized you’ll notice that the world around you will be different. You’ll also be more aware of maybe some habits that need to go away for good.

Please do your best, walk tall and make each bite count.

See you on the water or maybe on the beach here in Maui one day.

Aloha, Suzie Cooney, CPT of Suzie Trains Maui

To learn more about Suzie go to:http://www.suzietrainsmaui.com/   

Although the Thanksgiving Holiday is a time of family and friends, giving thanks and maybe a football game or two, it’s also a time, for some, a food free for all that can quickly add unwanted inches to your waistline.

But, if you have a game plan you can enjoy the day without adding the extra wobble!  Here are a few tips to keep your weight loss and fitness goals on track:

1. Don’t exercise as an excuse to indulge. You might say to yourself, “oh I’ll have a second serving of mash potatoes.” Well, that extra 300 calories you can eat in under 15 seconds, will take you at least 40 minutes or more of moderate cardio to burn that off.
2. Slow down. Allow your body to register the food you are putting in your mouth. For those fast gobblers, your body and brain can’t keep up with your mouth to know when it’s full.  So 20 minutes is a good target amount of time to eat. Also include a sip of water before each bite.
3. Cook with low-fat ingredients. There are many healthy substitutes for cooking a delicious meal. For example, try low fat, sodium free chicken broth, or low fat or fat free sour cream for the mash potatoes.  Also, sugar substitutes can save you hundreds of extra calories. And remember to cook the stuffing outside of the bird vs. inside. Reach for white meat vs. brown meat.
4. Holidays can be stressful times for many and is one of the main factors why people over eat during the holidays.  If there are too many relatives, kids or barking dogs all sitting around in one room, instead of reaching for 2 extra bread muffins, or another beer, take a break, get up and walk outside for some nice fresh air. If you’re the one who is so kindly cooking, plan ahead and have everyone bring a dish.
5. Watch out for pre dinner grazing. Sure, if you’re the cook, you can taste a little here and there. If you’re simply passing by the kitchen to “test” a few things before they are served, before you know it that could be an extra 500 calories.
6. Lastly, wear tighter fitting clothes! Leave the elastic pants in the drawer or use them to wash the car.

Here is a helpful link to help you prepare healthy, low-fat dishes this Thanksgiving. Brought you to by the Mayo Clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/thanksgiving-recipes/NU00643

I give thanks to all my friends and ohana on Maui.

Happy Thanksgiving

Suzie Cooney is a certified personal trainer on Maui. Learn more about her and her services at www.suzietrainsmaui.com/blog

She can also be reached e: Suzie@SuzieTrainsMaui.com

I’ve often suggested to people that if really can’t say no, to maybe change friends just for awhile until you can manage your eating habits so you won’t pack on the extra “social” pounds.  Don’t be afraid to say “no thank you, I’m full”. Or “you know I’m sure it’s delicious but I’m good for now, you enjoy.”  Also, if consuming more cocktails or other alcoholic beverages, you may become less uninhibited and could invite unwelcome additional calories.  Tip: Before you bite, take a drink of water, bite, water! Slow down and take your time. Or use chop sticks!

I hope you found this information helpful.  Call me if I can help you get your eating habits in shape!

Your fan,

Suzie Cooney, CPT  

Suzie Trains Maui,  808-283-2121

 Follow these tips to help uncover and correct those “bad” eating habits and why we eat:

Don’t eat while engaged in other activities; for example watching TV, reading. Eat only at the table, not at the fridge or while standing,

Slow down. Don’t eat so quickly. Chewing slowly allows time to register a feeling of fullness. Don’t’ use fingers, only utensils. Cut food into smaller pieces. Don’t load your fork until the previous mouthful is finished.  I usually plan 20 minutes to eat my meal.

Get all of the bad food, high calorie items out of the house NOW!!  Don’t shop while you are hungry or with friends or family who are not looking out for you. Eat before you shop and stick to your list.

Take the time to plan your meals in advance. Buy a few pieces of Tupperware, or those nifty food containers.  Watch your portions!

Plan a strategy to avoid uncontrolled eating and drinking at social events, or when your emotions urge you to binge.

Promise yourself that when you feel the urge to snack, you will engage in some activity that will distract you away from food ( go to the beach, do 10 push ups, call a friend)

Tell yourself exactly what you will do in such situations. Remind yourself several times each day that you are in charge of your actions and that you can be strong-willed.

If you notice you eat when you are bored, please, find some a sport to take up or interesting hobby.  I’m never bored because there are so many sports to do on Maui! If you want to learn a new sport, I’ll teach you!

Don’t’ blame your genes or your family! It’s your behavior!

Lastly, a food journal is the most powerful, PROVEN aid that helps my clients keep off the weight long term.  It’s amazing what you discover about yourself and the foods you choose if you do this. Remember to record the time of day, portions, and what you ate and why!  Those who consistently monitor their food consumption lose weight more steadily and keep it off more successfully than those who don’t. Countless people tell me how “good” they have been on their program until I see their diary.  Don’t cheat yourself!  The moment I see the data, I can instantly ascertain why they have not lost the weight. Numbers don’t lie.

“Keep up the good work, hold your course for life.”

Suzie