A personal training & food journal. Read about our weight loss progress at Train With Ron in Chicago, our nutritional habits and the life changes we're making to get in shape and stay healthy!

The facts: Nuts are one of the best plant sources of protein. They are rich in fiber, phytonutrients and antioxidants such as Vitamin E and selenium. Nuts are also high in plant sterols and fat – but mostly monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats (omega 3 – the good fats) which have all been shown to lower LDL cholesterol. In 2003 the FDA approved the following for almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts & pecans:

“Scientific evidence suggests but does not prove that eating 1.5 oz per day of most nuts as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease.”

As with anything, moderation is the key. Nuts can be high in calories and fat. They are also very easy to sit and munch on for a long time. So don’t over do it. We keep a bowl of mixed nuts on the counter, but just enough for a snack or two. Our choice of nuts are peanut, almond, cashew and walnut. As we’ve found out our dog Brady likes them as well. Then we have to clean the bowl and add fresh nuts (of course!)

Important to note that the nuts we eat are not salted, roasted or seasoned. They are plain. We buy ours at Whole Foods where they have, what I like to refer to as, the “Wall of Nuts”. You can even make fresh penut butter in a grinder they provide. Very cool! The “Wall of Nuts” has seeds and nuts of all varieties and allows you to take as many or as little as you’d like. I find this helpful when I want to try a new nut or just mix it up.

That’s my speech on nuts and now for an update on my progress, which is going really well by the way. Other than the feeling great part, I have definetly lost size and feel much more toned. Yes, I have a ways to go and I know that, but with a little over a month under my belt, I am on my way. I’m not only on my way to weight loss but on my way to becoming a healthier person who will be able to eat nuts for a long long time.

Going to work out with Ron tonight.

Stay tuned