Do you want to know how Mama June lost 300 pounds on "From Not to Hot"? Personal trainer Kenya Crooks dished up some of his surprise weight-loss methods and food swaps. You can use these tasty tips whether you've had bariatric surgery like June Shannon, or not. Kenya's yummy recipes work if you need to lose weight, want to eat healthier or are trying to break a soda habit. Even Honey Boo Boo eats up these healthy food swaps!
Mama June's trainer retrained sweet tooth
Celebrity trainer Kenya Crooks had his work cut out for him reforming noted junk food addict Mama June Shannon.
The matriarch of "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo" branded an entire reality TV show around the family's atrocious eating habits. including "sketti" and deep-fried Twinkies and Oreos. The child star of "Toddlers & Tiaras," HBB Alana Thompson, is now 11 and has been warned by "The Doctors" of dangerous obesity. Shannon's other daughter "Pumpkin" Lauryn Shannon struggles with weight. Little Debbie snacks were June's treat of choice. She also had a raging soda pop addiction. Crooks had to teach the "From Not to Hot" family to rethink sugary snacks and his weapon is fruit.
Mama June gave up soda for what?
Kicking the pop habit is one of the most difficult challenges in treating obesity. Gastric bypass surgery specialist Dr.
Younan Nowzaradan of "My 600-lb Life" deals with this in almost every patient. TV physician Dr. Oz has warned folks off diet soda as it has similar diabetes-causing properties to sugared pop. So Crooks, following the "From Not to Hot" theme, rebranded "not" soda to "hot" (as in slimming) fruity drinks. He adds sliced fruit to pitchers of ice water and water bottles.
This food swap multitasks to add vitamin C and flavor water to make it more palatable (aim to drink half your body weight in ounces daily). Honey Boo Boo and family like strawberries and kiwi, but you can use blueberries, pineapple, lemons or any fruit you like.
Mama June, Honey Boo Boo trade off junk food
Mindless snacking is the bane of dieting.
But the "From Not to Hot" guru knows retraining eating requires replacing, not always removing. Crooks taught Shannon to swap Little Debbies for watermelon. It's almost all water and you can "pee it away," he says, whereas baked goods, not so much. Grapes and melon can be frozen for delicious ice cream swaps. The reality television show celebrities swap fruit for salty snacks. The problem here is that fruit won't hit the salty food craving but crudites (cut raw veggies) and hummus or salsa can. These healthier habits could help Honey Boo Boo when her junk-food pushing stepmom Jennifer Lamb trots the desserts out.
