Archive for August, 2009

Use AdvoCare Catalyst in Between Meals!

Are you…

• Someone who needs to preserve muscle, especially when you’ve restricted your caloric intake
• Someone wanting to improve your fitness regimen by enhancing strength and endurance
• Someone needing an added boost to your current weight-loss program
• Someone who wants to tone, define and preserve your lean body mass

AdvoCare Catalyst™ Amino Acid Supplement is a blend of essential branched-chain amino acids and L-glutamine that supplies your body with muscle-building components and sustains your muscles during exercise and reduced calorie intake.* Whether you’re trying to lose weight or gain muscle, Catalyst helps repair and protect muscles.* While it works great when used in conjunction with other AdvoCare® products like Spark™ Energy Drink and one of the Metabolic Nutrition Systems (MNS®), it is an excellent stand alone supplement that provides essential protein in portable, pill form. Other amino acids in Catalyst like L-arginine, taurine and betaine help fuel and maintain your muscles to support endurance and strength.* Combined with a healthy diet and exercise, Catalyst helps you retain muscle and reduce fat for a more toned and better defined look.* Order Catalyst Now!

Ronnie & Sandra Hilton said, “Using Herbal Cleanse, Metabolic Nutrition System, Meal Replacement Shakes, ThermoPlus™, SPARK, and CATALYST, we have lost more than 206 pounds!” Read More!

Slim, Trim Waistline for Summer ( Or Any Other Time)

Are you a little more self-conscious about your belly during the summer than the rest of the year? If so, no worries! We’re going to give you 10 Summer Slimming tips that everyone can use, irrelevant of your current level of fitness (or lack thereof)! Quite often, bloating, not fat is a reason behind the puffy midsection. More often that not, this is due to a slow or temperamental digestive system, which, by the way, is common among women over the age 40. Make the most of these Summer Slimming tips and in before you know it,  you will be flatter, sexier, and fitting more comfortably into your clothes!

Tip #1: Cleanse Your System

As we’ve discussed in previous posts, cleansing your system is an absolute necessity and should be done about every 90 days. Herbal cleansing is no longer what it used to be and the visions most of us had of a cleanse can all but be forgotten now. Most herbal cleanse products available today are much softer than they were jsut a few years ago. Little to no lifestyle adjustments are required during a cleanse, assuming you are using a good product manufactured by a reputable company.

Cleansing your system periodically is important to rid your body of toxins and waste, thus making your body immediately healthier and more efficient. There are many health challenges that are related to organism infection, improper digestion of food and inadequate care of the bowels. Fortunately, the body has a complete system of checks and balances to determine which substances are useful and which are not. This system works miracles, especially considering the intricacies of our makeup. However, the environment and our present lifestyles have compromised, and in many cases, damaged, the quality of this system to do an adequate job of protecting us from illness and disease.

Many people who are affected with various health problems have found that cleansing could help their body rejuvenate naturally. Many health challenges are caused by a toxic colon. In the human body, the organism challenge is the most unrecognized endemic problem. They cannot be seen and rarely show as immediate symptoms, they remain invisible and cause or contribute a serious disorder. The recent study has shown that an estimated 85% of the American adult population has at least one form of organism living in his/her body.

Herbal cleansing helps decrease the risks of developing a number of health problems. Additionally, many people who are affected by various health conditions have found that cleansing and nutritional supplementation can help their body rejuvenate itself naturally.

The herbal cleanse we recommend to all of our clients is manufactured by AdvoCare®. Their system is designed and backed by a one-of-a-kind Science/Medical Board and includes a very unique blend of ingredients. Using a systematic approach, this 10-day system guides you day by day through the steps for thorough internal cleansing and improved digestion. The Herbal Cleanse supports the body’s metabolic systems and general health during the detoxification process by helping to keep energy levels up, aiding in removing impurities and supporting the immune system. An additional note, many people who use Herbal Cleanse for the first time experience an encouraging weight reduction and/or reduction in inches when they pair the system with the recommended diet and exercise.

Take advantage of the AdvoCare Herbal Cleanse or find another proven system ASAP! Your overall health and wellness, as well as, your bloated belly will thank you!

Tip #2: Add Fiber

Starting the day with a balanced healthy meal that is high in fiber can be very beneficial to overcoming the belly distention so many of us dread. The increased fiber intake kick-starts the digestive system. Based on a recent study of breakfast cereals, University of Toronto researchers say that consuming two kinds of fiber at once is most effective. The scientists found that participants had an easier time staying regular with a cereal that contained both insoluble fiber (from bran) and gel-like soluble fiber (from psyllium). The two types work together to pull water into your colon and speed up elimination, explains Joanne Slavin, PhD, a professor of food science and nutrition at the University of Minnesota.

What exactly does this mean to you? You will look and feel lighter! Really! Within just a couple of days of following this tip, you will see a noticeable difference in the way you look and feel.

As always, you can add a Fiber Drink or Fruit & Fiber Bar to your daily routine for quick, healthy nutrition.

Tip #3: Cut the Salt

Please step away from the shaker! Back, back, further away….you don’t need it!

Folks, salt is not a necessity for cooking and eating! Sodium makes you retain water, especially if you aren’t drinking enough of it! Most of us eat more than twice as much sodium as we should–topping 3,400 mg a day, rather than the recommended 1,500, according to the CDC. Do your best to stop salting your food at the table and check the sodium content on the labels of the foods you buy.

Some Quick Salt Notes to Remember

• Salt cannot be digested, assimilated, or utilized by the body and has absolutely no nutritional value!
• Salt can cause problems in the kidneys, bladder, heart, arteries, veins, and blood vessels.
• Salt can be poisonous to the heart.
• Salt can  cause irritability of the nervous system.
• Salt can interfere with the normal digestion of food.

Just a few things to keep in mind! This is really a simple tip so please don’t overlook it. You can use salt sparingly if the prepackaged foods you buy are not loaded with it, but again, sparingly. Keep the levels below those noted above.

Denny’s restaurants sued over salt in meals

Tip #4: Add: Foods High in Potassium

Consistently consuming foods such as bananas, potatoes, papayas, tomato sauce, spinach, and oranges will  help your body get rid of the excess water it might be holding. This extra fluid is usually present due to an imbalance in the amounts of potassium and sodium in your body. As noted in Tip#3, when your sodium levels are high, your body retains water. Restoring your body’s balance can be achieved by increasing your potassium intake to an optimum 4,700 mg per day. To do so, you need to eat about 4 1/2 cups of produce daily, including the especially rich sources mentioned above.

Refrain from using potassium supplementation as they can lead to a build of potassium within the body. Some researchers believe that issues such as abnormal heart rhythms and even heart attack, especially in people with kidney or heart problems, can arise with greater than necessary potassim build-up.

Tip #5: Minimize Sugar Alcohols

Be very weary of labels that lists sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, and lacitol. These are known as sugar alcohols. Part of their chemical structure resembles sugar, and part of it resembles alcohol, hence the confusing name. Just like everything else, the key to ingesting these sugar alcohols is moderation.

They are similar to sugar in some ways, but they are not completely absorbed by the body. Because of this, the blood sugar impact of sugar alcohols is less and they provide fewer calories per gram. Additionally, sugar alcohols don’t promote tooth decay as sugars do, so are often used to sweeten chewing gum. One, xylitol, actually inhibits bacterial growth in the mouth.

But, because these low-calorie sweeteners are not completely digested,  bacteria in the large intestine can ferment them, causing gas and even diarrhea. Pay close attention as they are typically found in flavored waters and low-carb, diabetic, and sugar-free foods. Be certain you are not consuming large amounts throughout the day to ensure decreased bloating and distention.

Tip #6: Add More Fluids

This may be the easiest tip of all, drink more fluids throughout the day, preferably as much water as possible. As odd as this may seem to some, the more liquids you drink, the less bloated your midsection will be. Drinking enough liquid appears to support the other ways you’re trying to flatten your tummy. For example, when there’s enough fluid present in your system, the dual-fiber cereal you have eaten is better able to pull liquid into your lower intestine and ease constipation.

How much fluid do you need? Getting rid of bloat means being well hydrated, so aim for a minimum of 8 glasses of liquid each day, plus plenty of fluid-rich foods, such as fruits and vegetables. While you can meet your quota with any liquid, including water, milk, juice, and tea, minimize your alcohol and coffee as much as possible, as it has a dehydrating effect on your system.

Remember, water is always your best choice because it has no calories, salt, sugar, or additives. And it’s free!

Tip #7: Cut the Candy

Avoid or at the very least minimize candy, soda, gum, etc. These belly bloaters can be minimized with only a little foresight and determination! They provide nothing positive. Once air from any source reaches your digestive system, you experience it as gas and a distended belly. Such things as eating or drinking quickly, sipping through a straw, sucking on hard candy, and chewing gum can make you swallow air.

Another good tip: Chew slowly with your mouth closed! Cut carbonated drinks for things such as water, juice, and tea.

Tip #8: Add Probiotics

Published research reveals that an imbalance of bacteria in your gut can cause your digestive system to slow down and your belly to puff up. However, yogurts that contain live bacteria, otherwise known as probiotics, can help. Though researchers don’t fully understand the mechanism, a study in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association found that the bacteria seem to tame tummy bloat by causing an improvement in intestinal mobility, thereby relieving constipation.

Quick tip: Eat a daily 4-ounce container of low-fat or fat-free yogurt containing live, active cultures and supplement your daily diet with Probiotic Boost, Probiotic Restore and Digest Ease.

Tip #9: Minimize Raw Produce

While we know that fresh fruits and vegetables are healthy, they’re also high-volume foods that can take up a great deal of room in your stomach, thus distending it. Spread your fresh produce consumption throughout the day, so at any sitting you’re not eating more than one-third of the recommended daily total. You can also shrink produce by cooking it, creating a more compact serving.

Tip #10: Add Slim to Your Daily Diet (Not a Shameless Plug, Proven Product)

AdvoCare Slim is perfect for anyone looking for a healthy weight-loss system that’s portable and convenient, needs an extra boost of “natural, healthy” energy or those looking for appetite control. Combining appetite suppression, energy and metabolic enhancers, this 2 oz. liquid serving not only helps you control your cravings but also promotes fat reduction and an improvement in your body composition.* Altogether, Slim has a synergistic effect, helping you manage your diet and maintain energy while changing your body from within.* It really is a system in a bottle!

Success is Relative

Success for me does not necessailry mean the same to you. Success is relative to your goals, to your personal goals. As it relates to your overall health and wellness, sure, it would be great if you could train for a week and see magical results, but that’s not how getting in shape and improving your health works. Just like falling out of shape does not happen in one day, you will not see results immediately when you start any type of fitness training program, irrelevant of what program or diet you follow.

Be realistic! Be prepared! Set short, medium and long term goals. Well focused, detailed goals. Write them down, reivew them each and every day. Place them on your desk, mirror, anywhere you will have to look at them daily. Make it a point to read them each night before going to bed.

When you make your fitness goals realistic and attainable you will ensure a greater success and more than likely have created a new happier, healthier lifestyle at the same time.

If you want to ensure that your goal setting and approach to your fitness or lifestyle plan is on track and created for success, remember, you can always get assistance from our fitness coaching or life coaching programs.

Hi, this is your friendly eFitness for Life life coach checking in on you.  When it comes to our health and fitness, making a change can be a challenge.  I’m here to give you a pearl of wisdom about getting up off the couch and get you moving.  The pearl of wisdom is this: You need one part commitment, one part plan and one part a system.  The three parts is equal to MOTIVATION.  We all want it.  Now you can have it whenever you want.  Here is how the three parts work:

Commitment – First, you need to check in with yourself and really work on what you are committed to.  I hear people talk at a high level about “taking care of their health” for the sake of their family.  Let me put it to you this way for a real eye opener:  if you knew that in 20 years you would be losing body parts, replacing body parts or suffering from disease, would you change your life style to avoid it?  A bit more jolting isn’t it?  Sorry to be so blunt, but most people don’t just keel over and die, they die from a thousand small cuts (to coin a phrase).  You will pay the price sooner or later.  So, what are you really committed to? Do you want to remain vibrant and participate in life?  Do you want to look your best?  Do you want to avoid being a burden on others due to your health?

Have a plan – You can’t just talk about doing something without taking it down to a plan of action and goals.  You want to be specific and have time boundaries.  If you want to weight X, when do you want to do that by?  If you want to be stronger and have more endurance for activities, then what are those activities and how will you know you have “arrived”?  If you currently have some health issues, check in with your doctor and identify some goals and actions to get there.  Also, when you have achieved those goals and plans, time for a new plan.   There is an adage: Those who fail to plan, plan to fail.

Have a system – As a society, we are all cowboys.  We think we have to do everything on our own or we’re wimps.  I can tell you right now that only 20% of those cowboys are capable of making any kind of change without help or support.  When I talk about a system, I’m talking about a system of support and accountability.  Most of us NEED to have a support system to help us with executing our plan.  You can hire a trainer or coach.  You can engage a series of friends or relatives or even those from the social networking sites.  You need people to brain storm solutions to issues that arise.  You need people to hold you accountable to yourself and your action plan.  You need someone to celebrate your successes.  Your system needs to be defined in your plan to ensure the plan is given life.  Don’t be bashful about asking for help, we all love to think we can help each other.

Motivation is not a magical thing that happens to just the lucky few.  You can develop motivation to do anything you chose.  Go ahead, try it and see how the world of opportunities opens up for you!

Author: Dorothy Tannahill-Moran, Our eFitness for Life Life Coach and Change Agent expert.

To see Dorothy’s eFitness for Life coaching programs, click here now!

Parents Must Take Precautions

As schools around the country begin classes, the Swine Flu begins to wreak havoc. It didn’t take very long in some parts of the country. Vista del Lago High School in California were hit just a couple of hours into the first day back. On their second day of classes they had eight reported cases and by weeks end, there were 14 confirmed infections.

Obviously, this is not the news any parents wants to hear, but truth be told, we need to know just how serious this is and becomes each week. As millions of students and teachers head back to class this month and next, schools are preparing for the return of the new flu strain, which first appeared almost simultaneously last April in Mexico and the USA. But seasonal flu also is making its annual return this fall, a combination that is creating uncertainty and anxiety as medical personnel prepare for both strains.

As of right now, schools are waiting on the promised H1N1 vaccine, expected in mid-October. Some schools are preparing to turn their gyms and cafeterias into vaccination clinics, and trying to identify spaces that could serve as isolation rooms for the sick.

Some good news to report is the push within the school systems to control both the new strain and the seasonal flu with widespread and aggressive campaigns that urge students to wash and sanitize their hands throughout the day, cover their coughs and sneezes, limit unnecessary exposure to classmates and, by all means, stay home if they’re feeling the least bit ill.

Parents, please be sure to remind your children of this as well. The President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology that warned that up to half the U.S. population could be infected by swine flu so this is very much a situation that could affect your family.

The outbreak last spring accounted for 522 deaths and 7,963 hospitalizations in the USA, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The current position within the schools is to send those children with a fever and any one of a mix of mild symptoms such as a headache, sore throat, cough or muscle aches, home for a few days, at the very least.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said this month that only schools with “high numbers of high-risk students” who show flu symptoms should consider closing. She pointed out that shutting down a school, even temporarily, “causes a very significant ripple effect” in the community, forcing schools to reschedule classes and extracurricular activities, while parents must find child care and rearrange work schedules.

The new guidelines say ill students should be kept out of school for 24 hours after their fever subsides without medication.

When a vaccine becomes available, Duncan says, schools are natural locations for mass vaccinations: “It’s where our students are.”

Educators and public health officials also worry about H1N1 because, so far at least, it has targeted young, otherwise healthy people. Seasonal flu typically is most dangerous for infants, the elderly and those with other health problems. H1N1 also appears more contagious than seasonal flu, according to the World Health Organization, though most of the cases have been mild. But that could change, experts say.

Further, there’s concern the H1N1 virus may be more dangerous to obese children. The CDC stops short of calling obesity a risk factor but says obese people often have other underlying diseases, such as asthma, diabetes and heart disease, that put them at risk for flu complications.

Take necessary precautions, load up on hand sanitizers. Pack them in your child’s backpack, lunchbox, etc. Keep them in the car! And remember, while this post focuses on the school system and your children, this does not alleviate you from the concerned. Use good judgment and sanitary practices and let’s get past this epidemic as quickly as possible.

Stay healthy!

Weight Loss Should NOT Be Unhealthy

Apparently, as reported by the USA Today, the Food and Drug Administration is going to investigate possible ties to the weight loss drug alli and liver damage. alli, as you may know, is the only nonprescription weight loss drug approved by the agency, but that may very well change depending on the FDA findings.

Regulators have received more than 30 reports of liver damage in patients taking alli and Xenical, the prescription version of the drug. These reports, submitted between 1999 and October 2008, included 27 hospitalized patients, and six who suffered liver failure.

Obviously this does not bode well for alli or its parent company, British drugmaker, GlaxoSmithKline.

More importantly, in my opinion though, is the black-eye once again placed on nutritional supplementation on a whole by there findings. Weight loss should not be unhealthy! Weight management is not a magic pill. It should be a lifestyle.

While the FDA says it has not established a direct relationship, as of yet, between the weight loss treatments and liver injury, and continues to advise patients to continue using the drugs as directed, the mere concern of such possible side effects should cause concern for most.

The FDA says it’s reviewing additional details about the suspected cases of liver injury submitted by manufacturers. Until such time, please make sound decisions, backed by scientific evidence and reputable brands.

Our position has always been and will always be, nutritional supplementation is a necessity for almost everyone, but do your very best to look for supplements that provide natural solutions and “supplement” your daily healthy eating. The quicker we stop searching for the “quick fix” or “magic pill” the healthier we will become!

Just in case anyone out there is using alli or Xenical and has concerns, signs of liver damage include fatigue, fever, nausea and vomiting. Consult your physician immediately if you have any question at all!

Some Quick Tips from Your Diet Coach

How many times have you starved yourself into either not losing weight or even gaining the weight back from your latest diet plan. Most diets and most people make a huge mistake and cut so many calories out of their meal plans that they put their bodies into what we call protection or starvation mode. Yes, your body is defending against you starving it. It is a natural occurrence in all people and it can be the biggest nutrition mistake you can make. Remember to EAT, but make sure that you are doing the following healthy meal plan tips.

• Reduce caloric intake no more than 500 from your maintenance levels.
• Eat more early and less later – Breakfast should be the biggest meal of the day.
• Eat 5-6 small meals daily
• Eat every 3 hours
• Make a concerted effort to minimize starchy carb intake later in the day, increasing both protein and fibrous carbohydrates as you get closer to bedtime.
• Balance is the key – Not too much protein, fat or carbs
• Eat high quality lean proteins – Fish, lean Poultry and very lean red meats
• Eat high quality Carbs – 100% Whole Grains, high in fiber
• Drink plenty of Water – Green Tea and Low or No calorie fluids
• Keep Sugar to a minimum – Use Splenda or Stevia as a sugar alternative
• Keep sodium in check – No extra salt added to your meal plan
• Eat foods from the most natural state possible – Processed foods tend to have lots of preservatives, sugar, salt, fat, and those things that make you gain weight.
• Supplement as necessary. Know what YOU need to get from nutritional supplementation.

Remember, we are happy to help you through the details on any of the above! Contact us NOW!

Don’t Take the Word Diet the Wrong Way

Most people are completely confused when the word diet or nutrition is used. Your body needs to have nutrients replaced, whether through foods being eaten or supplementation. Do you remember what you learned in elementary school about the four major food groups? As an adult, eating balanced healthy meals from these four food groups still applies. It is extremely important to remove the “junk food” from your meal plan and stick with healthy balanced foods. If you do not like certain things such as fruits and vegetables, be sure you are taking a supplement to get the nutrients you definitely need.

Your diet or daily meal plan should never be based on anything other than healthy eating. No “fads”! All three macro-nutrients are required for a balanced healthy diet! Don’t cut any one of them completely and STAY AWAY from any “diet” instructing you to do so.

Remember, our online dietitian, Kimberly Lummus, is here to help! Let her show you the right way to living a healthy lifestyle.

Protein Consumption is an Integral Part of a Balanced Healthy Diet

Do you make sure to include a protein source at each and every snack or meal? If not, you’re missing out big time. If you do, you are most certainly maximizing the time and energy you’re putting into your exercise routine. If you are not currently exercising, protein intake with each meal is that much more important.

The importance of a balanced healthy diet with carbohydrate-rich and protein-rich foods together cannot be understated. A meal with carbohydrates alone is problematic because glucose levels shoot up and then, come crashing down. This will almost always leave you feeling tired, hungry, and weak. In addition to these post meal feelings, it gives your body an easy opportunity to convert that meal to fat.

When protein is included in a meal however, you will not only stay full longer, but glucose levels will stay more consistent, your metabolism will work more efficiently, and you will feel energized for a longer period of time.

Protein and carbohydrates interact. Carbohydrates are digested in about two hours, but proteins take longer to digest. When the two are eaten together, proteins slow down the digestion of the carbohydrates, and energy from carbohydrates is released slower.

In addition, eating carbohydrates with protein means the carbohydrates will be used as energy, sparing the protein for use building and repairing muscle tissues – their primary function. This is the utopia you are looking for.

Make every effort to include a protein source with every meal you eat, not matter how large or how small. It makes a big difference!

Let Your Personal Fitness Trainer Help – RISK-FREE TRIAL!

A Handful of Nuts is an Excellent Snack

If you are like most people, you probably love nuts. Recent medical research suggests that Almonds, especially raw and skin on in their most natural state, not only make a nutritious snack, but can also help support a healthy heart by reducing the risk of heart attacks by up to 50%. Just remember, though that all nuts are very nutrient dense in calories, so a handful at a time PLEASE!

Cut Calories and/or Increase Activity to Lose Weight

To lose weight you will most likely need to create a deficit of 200-500 calories per day. There a number of ways or combinations of ways to accomplish this such as increased activity or decreased caloric intake. Of course a combination of these is the best scenario. Bump up your activity a little and shave off a few calories off here and there. Increase activity by adding any of the following: jog for 25 minutes (225 cal.), swim for 30 minutes (230 cal.) or bike for 45 minutes (233 cal.) To lose calories, cut out: 1 small order of French fries (210-290 cal.), 1 individual size bag of chips (304 cal.) or 1 medium (24 fl. oz.) soda (291 cal.) These calorie burning estimates are based on a 170 pound person so be sure to adjust accordingly.