Ask Amy

Q.: Hi Amy,

Amy, I had a question for you. Do you know of any great snacks or foods that can supply me with lots of energy? I have been working out pretty hard with the spre bands and now the 180 workout and I have noticed that I am a little sluggish during my workouts. I just wanna know if you have any suggestions that I could use to boost my energy. I don't want to get to the point where I quit because I am too exhausted. I love the spre bands because we as a family are getting fit together and it is more successful than working out alone. We can support each other and push one another to go that extra mile. Your book has many great meal suggestions and energy boosting ideas but right now my sister has my copy and I miss it. I love how your book has all the answers and it is like my bible to stay healthy as a family. Thanks Amy!

Jennifer Baldini

A.: Great energy snacks usually involve a small serving of a protein + a healthy carb - so try:
1-handful of nuts plus a piece of fruit
2-yogurt OR piece of string cheese (both low fat or fat free) + fruit
3-apple with 1 tbsp peanut butter
4-banana and cup of skim milk
5- 3 baked crackers (small) + 1 tbsp peanut butter
6- 1/2 cup edamame beans (not shelled yet)
7- 1/4 cup hi protein cereal (Kashi Go Lean for example) + 10 nuts
- Also remember that you should be hydrating before -during-after your workout - if you are dehydrated you won't get the full benefits and you may feel "more huungry"
**And get that book back OR photo copy important pages OR let her splurge and buy a book - it'll be a great reference for her!!

Q.: I saw you this morning on Good Morning America, a show that I generally do not watch. I am a 37 year old female. I am slightly overweight, mostly all in the abdominal area. I have been thin all my life and have been able to eat anything. Now,,however,that has changed. I desperately need help to get control of my life, health, and weight again. I was diagnosed in 2004 with Hogkins Lymphoma, and received chemo and radiation. It is very important to reagin my health, but I have no idea how to begin. I am also the mother of 5 children, ranging from 17 to 2. I am worried about the fact that I am not teaching healthful habits. We do eat fast food quite a bit during the week. My husband gains and loses weight easily. My biggest fear is not being healthly..or my diet causing my cancer to return. Is there any help you can offer, it all seems an overwhelming task.

Tiffany Combs

A.: Please do get hold of my book because it was written to help you organize and address your own personal goals but by changing the whole nature of your home environement and family lifestyle. I'm sure you don't want your kids to embrace that same 'abdominal fat" down the road - even if they are all slim right now. We all hand off our habits and the way we manage our household to our kids. Hearing about your health history also makes it clear that really shifting your food choices to more fruits, veggies, lean proteins and plant based proteins and being aware of the healthiest fats to eat - will all help your health profile and support you through this journey post Hogkins treatment. I think you'll be able to even include your kids substantially in the process of shifting habits - so everyone supports each other. Present it to your kids that YOU want to eat healthfully to help you heal from your ordeal - but you also want to help them get healthier since this may be a part of their family health history. If you do get the book - please read it, try to implement it and then write about your experiences on the website under "HFL Stories." I know others will learn from your experiences and share their own. Please send me any questions as you "work the 4 Ps." I'll keep you in my thoughts!!

Q.: Amy I saw you on CBN talking about your book. I couldn't take my eyes off your beautiful blue and white dress and blue sweater. Could you tell me where you bought them?
Thank you and God Bless you for what you do. Phyllis
P.S. It says the answer will be posted with "Amys' answers" what is that...how will I know when you have responded????

Phyllis Patrick

A.: I actually shop little boutiques and stores when i go to NY but I got the sweater on sale at Anne Taylor - hope you are getting the book too!!

Q.: Amy - you are scheduled to be a guest on the www.theweekendworkout.com radio show this Sunday between 5 and 6pm, we need the number to call you (board op) for the show.

Douglas Kalman

A.: Hopefully you enjoyed the interview as much as I did - I truly appreciated the fact that you made it a point to acknowledge the limited impact genetics/biology has for most people.

Thanks again for hosting me

Q.: I have a problem where I get inspired by diets - nothing drastic and nothing with a cute-Hollywood'y name - just average, eat healthy and portion control diets that focus on specific foods. But I fall off the wagon quickly. How can I remedy this?

Brooke Taylor

A.: Diets are inspirational - after all, they promise fabulous weight loss - fabulous bodies - fabulous results and as a "quick/fast/easy" remedy - all you have to do is....deprive yourself for awhile - and sure - that's usually possible because you are so motivated!!! But then reality sets in and you begin to miss foods, and tastes and eating with some kind of normalcy and whammo - you not only lose interest and motivation - you also tend to lose control in general and rather than eating with a sense of normalacy - you eat with gusto-abandon- even willfully...as if to daunt the diet you just did. A diet that "focuses on specific foods" may be causing you to shun certain food groups that your body needs and that may be the "downfall aspect.'

The reality is that until you realize that it is a slow and steady shifting of habits that you need to embrace, so that you begin to follow an eating program that is sensible and maybe that is a bit tailored to your specific needs, amount of physical activity you do and one that addresses all of your hungers - only then will you be able to lose weight and maintain that weight loss.

Try to embrace the "yes - no- maybe so food guidelines" along with the portion parameters my book offers and use the menu plans to guide you initially. I think you'll find the program sensible - easy to follow and to personalize. good luck!!

Q.: Amy, I can't wait to purchase your book. My son Matthew and daughter inlaw Jennifer are doing so well working with you! Matt, has so much more energy not only is he looking better, he seems so much happier. I too am looking forward to learning a much healthier lifestyle. If my son can do it so can I! What is making me a "believer" is the kids do not seem like they want to go on a "binge" this is not a "diet" this is a new lifestyle for them, learning how to eat healthier. It has so totally amazed me how well they are doing, it's not a rush to see how much weight they can loose but how to become healthy and stay healthy!
Thank you!

Nancy Baldini

A.: Dear Nancy,
It has been a joy working with your family and seeing the health and weight picture changing. They are clearly committed to working the HFL program and keeping up these habits so that they and Drew can enjoy a healthier lifestyle. I hope other family members climb on board the "HFL" journey and join them!!