8 Ways to Train Your Brain to Hate Junk Food

8 Ways to Train Your Brain to Hate Junk Food

 

While on vacation, I came across this article in the Barbados Advocate written by Alex D'Souza. I thought with golf season upon us the temptation to eat junk food is very real!

You can eat healthy, by staying away from processed foods and eating as many whole foods as possible.
1. Practice the 5 Ingredient Rule
If there are more than 5 ingredients on a food label - this is a red flag for food processing- do not buy it!
2. Aim for 3 Colours
A 2012 Cornell study found that people prefer 3 food items and 3 different types colors on their plates, compared with more or less of either category.
3. Break Your Routine
It only takes a few weeks - about 3 - to break your routine - to form a habit. If you associate 3pm with a trip to the vending machine, start a tradition to walk around the block for 5 minutes instead. This will likley kick your craving altogether.
4. Make Healthy Food Your Treat
One of my favourite desserts? Red Grapes I stash in the freezer, which let me cap off my dinner with something sweet without kick-starting sugar cravings.
5. And Keep It Handy
Store healthy foods you want to eat more front and centre in your fridge and out on your countertops. Snack foods are so easy to dig into!
6. Know Your Trigger Foods
Chocolate covered anything? By knowing the foods that send you down the spiral of junk food binging, you have already accomplished half of the battle.  Keep them out of the house.
7. Gross Yourself Out
One surefire way to consume less processed food is to learn more about what you're really eating.
8. Chew More Than You Need
Adam Melonas, renowned chef and Founder of UNREAL candy shared this smart tip, "If you can make people chew more, they'll eat less." The next time you sneak in a treat, chew slowly and conscioulsy. Wait until you finish one bite to take the next.

I hope you are playing some golf in spite of the irratic weather we are experiencing in the GTA this year.

New Beginnings

Another season is upon us and like every spring in Canada golfers are filled with a sense of renewal and optimism. Every golfer is at a different stage in their development but we can all have the sense that this will be the year. I recently came across a video made by Arnold Palmer that hopefully will change your perspective on how you can reach your goals this summer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkX6xQM_QE8

This video by the King reminded me of a question I often pose to my students. If you had the choice to choose between a perfectly repeatable swing and a random swing that can adapt to different situations. Which would you choose?

I would say that close to 80 percent of golfers would choose the repeatable swing. I mean isn’t that what were all looking for? The apparent holy grail of golf is to have that perfect swing with perfect angles that looks the same every time. Unfortunately golf doesn’t work that way. Golf is a sport where the field of play is always changing. We are never in the same place in relation to the target more then once, and we will never make the exact same golf swing twice. Personally, I want the swing that can adapt to any situation. A swing, as Arnold says is “perfect in its imperfections.” This summer I would encourage you to practice different shots instead of positions. I would encourage you to gain an intimate knowledge of your swing instead of trying to copy some pro you saw on television. Learn how to hit a draw and a fade, learn how to hit it high and low, learn a new short game shot, and learn how to putt with your imagination instead of a checklist. When you approach your game in this way you start to own your swing in only a way that YOU can. I think you just might start to enjoy it too!


Eric Frederickson
Head Teaching Professional
Bushwood Golf Club
(647) 213-3733
eric@bushwood.ca

And the 2013 season is fast approaching!

With the start up April upon us, the 2013 golf season is fast approaching! It's hard to believe that after months of 'Old Man Winter' we are finally seeing the signs of spring! Though some snow remains on the ground, with a little bit of sun and warm temperatures, the green grass is sure to appear shortly!

Are you ready for the season? There are a few things you'll need to ensure you are prepared for the upcoming year. Namely...

1. A set of clubs! Sometimes we forget that we lost a club in the last season, or that one of our irons needs a new grip. Or maybe you need a new set altogether because your set circa 1990 just isn't cutting it anymore! Did you know that spring can be one of the best times to buy golf clubs? The casual golfer typically doesn't think about golf equipment until the weather begins to warm up. This time of year you will see the new models of most clubs arriving on store shelves, which means that last year's models can be found for less!

2. A pair of golf shoes. While a pair of good golf shoes aren't a necessity for the occasional golfer, they can help improve your game by keeping your feet better grounded during your club swing, resulting in a more stable full body movement. Golf shoes are available at numerous retailers from all kinds of different manufacturers. It is important to note that the top of the line pair may not be for you and a more affordable option can still suit your golfing needs. Check out golf supply stores for last year's models, as they often reduce their prices when the new line of shoes arrives for the season.

3. A golfing buddy. No one wants to golf alone. Ok.. maybe some people do enjoy a solo round to enjoy the nature, solitude and peace that a game of golf can offer. But who doesn't like a little healthy competition?! If your spouse doesn't golf or if your coworkers are too busy, why not try to meet new people who share your common interest: golf. There is a site I've come across: meetup.com - it's fantastic! The way it works is you create a profile and account, and then can search and join various groups in your area. You specify what city and what kind of activity you are looking for, and voila! If there isn't a group out there, you can create your own. Why not create a meetup group for golfers looking to get out monthly, weekly or even more frequently? It's a great way to meet new people who share the same love for golf and want to get out for a round or two.

4. A few other fundamentals... Just a few miscellaneous items that we often forget about but that should be a staple in our golf bags: golf balls and tees (duh), a divot tool to repair any divots you might make during the course of play (and let's face it.. the first few rounds of the season, we're likely to be making a few of these!), a ball marker (or a quarter will work just fine!) and maybe some sunscreen and bug repellent depending on what time of the year you play. A bottle of water is also a must, especially on those hot summer days (and other 'refreshments' that the beverage cart might have to offer...)

Out with the Long putter, in with the cross handed grip

Cross handed vs conventional putting grip

Putting has become the controversy in the golf world especially with Ernie Els’ most recent win at the British Open using a belly putter. I am sure that it would have been worse if Adam Scott secured his first win using the long putter, however that debate can be delayed for one more tournament. Instead I want to look at the differences between cross handed putting and conventional putting. While both offers benefits I am slightly bias towards cross handed. Due to my previous putting woes I made the switch to cross handed putting about 3 years ago. I was encouraged by my instructor because the left hand low enabled my shoulders to be level. Before make the switch I could not make a 3 foot putt to save my life. With the conventional style and my left shoulder being slightly higher, I would block the short putts to the right. The cross handed mentally allowed me to keep the 3 footer online and hold my follow through towards the hole. I think the key to the last statement is MENTAL, that is ultimately what putting comes down to. You should use the grip that feels right in your hands. I am not a pro but recently in the media the debate on inclusion of the long handed and belly putter has sparked considerable controversy, that is why I decided to outline the benefits on cross handed. My last word on the cross handed grip is that Ricki Fowler, Jim  Furyk, Padraig Harrington and Stuart Appleby use it, that is not bad company to be in!

Lazy Sunday Afternoons!

While I am torn that it is the end of the weekend, a small consolation is watching golf on Sunday afternoons. Currently Marc Leishman is the leader in the clubhouse with 2 holes left to play, and I am relaxed on the couch urging on a relatively unknown in Roland Thatcher, and the winless Brian Davis to force a playoff. That is what us hackers hope for every Sunday, just a bit more golf that extends later into the day. Although we want to see guys like Tiger and Bubba coming down the stretch, ultimately it doesn’t matter who it is when there is a potential playoff looming, we just cheer for the chaser. Everyone loves to see the underdog making shots when it counts, it is crazy that the PGA never disappoints on Sunday and as I write this, Thatcher just made a birdie to get within 1 of the lead with one to play. This is what I am talking about, it seems the PGA has some magical touch that always provides excitement down the stretch. It has happened 88% of the time in 2012, which means, 22 out of 25 tournaments have been decided by 1 or 2 shots on Sunday. A golf fanatic like myself could not ask for anything more.

Masters 2012!!!

Easter Dinners Suspended Everywhere…as the Masters courtesy of Bubba Watson served up some serious excitement for golf fans on Sunday. For the first time in my life my family and I sacrificed the dinner table tradition for cushions in front of the television to witness a 2-hole playoff at the Masters between Bubba Watson and Louis Oosthuizen. The excitement overshadowed the fantastic fare as the whole fam was glued to the set, hoping Bubba would take home the green jacket. Although Bubba’s chances were looking bleak after Oosthuizen made a double eagle on 2, he did not give up, birdying 4 in a row at 13, 14, 15, and 16 to continue to a play-off. When Bubba was standing in the trees on the 10^th hole, I said to my family “out of all the golfers on tour who can hit this shot it’s Bubba”. He did not disappoint hooking it around the trees to 10 feet, ultimately tapping in for par.

Although Bubba is known for his ridiculous length of the tee he is also known for his ability as a shot maker. One of my favourite highlights is from the par 5, 18^th hole at Kapalua in 2011 where Bubba began with a 348 yard drive, then followed it up with a 305 driver off the deck. It was only about a 50 yard right angled cut from a downhill lie, where he then made a 10 footer for eagle. I mean c’mon man.  Bubba entertains on and off the golf course, from his golf boys video (if you haven’t seen it yet http://youtu.be/PM2NocuEihw) to the birthday present for Ellen Degeneres where he made a shot through the house, over the patio, over the pool, flying it into a red bucket! I am sure we have not seen the end of impressive shotmaking from Bubba Watson, but the wedge out of the trees will certainly make his career highlight reel, securing him a place in Master’s highlight history as well as a green jacket.

Woman Ask Me About Business on the Golf Course

Many women ask what they should do if they are going to play golf for business purposes. I usually recommend having a few golf lessons to learn about etiquette, dress code and the basic swing for short game and hitting off the tee and fairways.

It is important to realize your time on the golf course is primarliy for relationship building and demonstrating that you are a good sport. Typically you will be on the course with someone for 4 to 5 hours. This is not the time to start any in depth discussions or complicated debates since you could take the other persons concentration off their game and end up with someone frustrated at you instead of inspired by your critical thinking!

Remember your time on the golf course is best kept for relationship building!