Sunday, October 4, 2015

Choose Your Hard

Choose Your Hard


I know why you've been reluctant to jump on the fitness bandwagon, and I'm not blaming you for it.
Because fitness is hard.
Want to know just how hard? Here's a glimpse into the Fit Life:
Fit Life Truth #1: Exercise Counts
Lace up your shoes and hit the gym instead of getting extra sleep, watching TV or doing whatever else it is that you'd rather be doing. Do this 3-5 times each for 30-60 minutes.
Fit Life Truth #2: Nutrition Counts
Choose your meals based on the nutritional makeup rather than following your taste buds. Limit your intake of simple carbohydrates and get lots of protein and fiber in each meal.
Fit Life Truth #3: No Room For Junk
Turn down your favorite junk foods –even when you really, really want it. Cut simple sugars and harmful, processed fats out of your diet completely.
Fit Life Truth #4: Push Harder
Push your body to be stronger, faster and better during each workout. Don't simply go through the motions in your routine – consistently challenge your muscles to do more each day.
Fit Life Truth #5: Calories Count
Limit your total calories to within an appropriate range for your size and goals. Remember, even healthy calories can add up to weight gain when you're not careful.
That's just the basics on what it takes to enjoy a fit and healthy body. Pretty hard, right? Now let's take a look at with the NOT-Fit life looks like...
NOT-Fit Life Truth #1: Be Sedentary
Spend your spare time being as sedentary as possible. The less that you use your muscles, the more aches, pains and mobility limitations you'll experience. Oh, and if you're consuming more calories than your natural metabolism burns then you'll steadily gain weight.
NOT-Fit Life Truth #2: Eat For Taste
Eat whatever sounds and tastes good. The human palate is naturally drawn to items that are high in sugar, salt and fat. Your eat-whatever-diet will be filled with these fattening foods and will be lacking in protein and fiber. You'll find your weight increases, and your energy levels plummet, accordingly.
NOT-Fit Life Truth #3: Just Say Yes
To your favorite junk food, that is. As I mentioned above, your favorite foods are likely high in sugar, salt and fat. Or, more likely, your faves are high in all three! Your indulgent eating is going to raise the number on your scale higher, and higher, and higher.
NOT-Fit Life Truth #4: Get Comfortable
Your goal is to be comfy. This means use as little muscular strength as you can on a daily basis. When you don't use your muscles they begin to atrophy (shrink!), leaving you with less lean tissue. Since lean tissue raises your metabolism, a drop in lean tissue means you'll be burning fewer calories at rest than ever before.
NOT-Fit Life Truth #5: More Is Better
There's no limit on how much you eat – in fact more is better. As a result you often feel sluggish from your overloaded digestive system. And your motivation to exercise and turn your NOT-Fit Life into a Fit Life gets dimmer and dimmer.
So which life is harder? The Fit Life? Or the NOT-Fit Life?
The truth is that both of these lifestyles are hard. Just depends on which hard you'd rather deal with.
The Fit Life's hard has to do with discipline, motivation and determination. It's about doing the right thing rather than the easy thing. Most of all, the Fit-Life is about constantly striving forward.
The NOT-Fit Life's hard has to do with excess fat, aches, pains and physical limitations. It's about avoiding doing the hard thing now and ending up with a body that's just plain hard to live in. Most of all, the NOT-Fit Life is about NOT taking action.
Which hard do you choose?
If you'd like the Fit Life then take action now by calling or emailing me today to get started on a fitness program that's going to be hard.
The best kind of hard.

Saturday, October 3, 2015

One Pot Chicken and Veggie Dinner

One Pot Chicken and Veggie Dinner

Cooking a healthy dinner at home does not have to be complicated or take lots of time. This simple recipe for chicken tenders and veggies will only take you about 30 minutes from start to finish. Meals that are rich in protein and fiber and low in carbs, like this one, will help you build muscle and stay lean. Servings: 5
Here's what you need:
2 cups butternut squash, cubed
2 Tablespoons coconut oil
1 pound organic chicken breast tenders
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon crushed rosemary plus a dash more
1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika plus a dash more
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme plus a dash more
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
dash of pepper
1/4 teaspoon celery seeds
1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
pinch of ground cumin
3 organic zucchini, cut into half moons
2 large heirloom tomatoes, chopped
1 yellow onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
In a large skillet heat 1 Tablespoon of coconut oil over medium heat. Add the cubed butternut squash and sauté, covered, for about five minutes, until tender. Transfer the squash to a bowl, then set the skillet back on medium heat.
Add the remaining 1 Tablespoon of coconut oil. Season the chicken with salt and pepper, add to the hot skillet. Sear for about 5 minutes, until browned on all sides.
Turn the heat down to medium-low. Sprinkle with all the seasonings. Add the remaining ingredients and cook, covered, for 15 minutes. Add the butternut squash back into the pot for the remaining 5 minutes.
Nutritional Analysis: 192 calories, 6g fat, 424mg sodium, 14g carbohydrate, 4g fiber, and 20g protein
Motivate your friends, family and co-workers! Health is much better with friends.

Can't Slim Down? Here's Why

Can't slim down? Here's why...

Wanting to lose fat, and failing at it, is one of the most frustrating experiences ever.
Read the following 7 Fat Loss Problems to discover what is standing in your way and how to quickly and easily begin reshaping it all.
Fat Loss Problem #1: Your Mind
Your mind is your number one ally when it comes to achieving your goals. However, until your mind has been programmed for success, it will do more to derail your efforts than to help you.
Take a few moments each day to visualize yourself at your ideal weight. Imagine how it feels to look the way you've always wanted.
Protect your mind from any negative self talk. If a negative thought comes to mind, immediately reject it.
You want to be thin and fit, and yet you think of yourself as out-of-shape and fat. Re-program your mind to think of yourself as fit and attractive, and you will be well on your way toward achieving your goal.
Give up the belief that you can't achieve the body you've always dreamed of. See it first in your mind, and then in the mirror.
Fat Loss Problem #2: Your Fear Change makes most of us nervous – even if it is a change in the right direction. You may not be consciously aware of the fear you have of getting into shape. Until you conquer this fear, your weight loss efforts will be blocked by self sabotage.
Professional speaker and author, Anthony Robbins, has outlined three specific beliefs that you must have in order to conquer your fear and instantly create a lasting change.
Believe that something MUST change. You can't be wishy-washy about it. You can't be considering it. You can't even be pretty sure about it. You've got to be rock solid.
Believe that YOU must change it. You can't pass the buck of responsibility and expect to lose weight. It's on your shoulders. Other people will prove to be great assets in your journey, but in the end you are the one who is going to make it happen. You have to want this weight loss enough to make it your personal mission.
Believe you CAN change it. You may have failed in the past, but that doesn't matter. When you put your mind to it, you're able to do amazing things. Do you believe that you are capable of losing weight? Once you own the belief that you can, you'll be unstoppable.
Fat Loss Problem #3: Your Excuses
Your excuses for being out-of-shape are getting old. An excuse takes less immediate effort than an action, but in the long run the action taker always has the advantage. Don't allow excuses to ruin your life any longer.
Don't skip out on your responsibilities with excuses, instead expect more from yourself.
Focus on the big reason why you are losing the weight. Make a list of the benefits you'll enjoy once you achieve your goal, and read them first thing each morning.
Remember that you can only have two things in life: excuses or results. Which do you want?
Fat Loss Problem #4: Your Commitment
How many times have you tried to lose weight, only to give up a week or two later? We live in a commitment-phobic world, so it's no wonder that you routinely abandon your goals. If you truly want to lose weight then your commitment to the process is a must.
The margin between success and failure is bridged by your commitment. Don't give up until your goal has been achieved.
Treat exercise with the same importance as a work meeting, and you'll never skip it at the last minute. Find three available 60-minute time slots in your schedule and mark them (in pen) on your calendar. Now stick to your schedule.
If you don't give up, then you'll never fail.
Fat Loss Problem #5: Your Diet
If you consistently eat the wrong food, then you're weight loss efforts will all be in vain.
To put it bluntly, you need to stop eating junk. Processed foods, refined sugar and high fructose corn syrup do not belong in your diet if you want to be in great shape. Cut these items out of your diet and replace them with real whole foods like lean meats, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and fruits.
Don't eat processed foods. Even though processed foods are accepted by our society, they contain tons of chemicals and empty calories that will make you sick and fat.
Fat contains twice the caloric density of protein and carbohydrates, so make sure to limit the amount that you consume. Eat lots of lean proteins and wholesome carbohydrates from plants and whole grains.
Vegetables, whole grains, fruits, nuts and seeds are filled with fiber and antioxidants which are vital for healthy weight loss. Snack on these instead of packaged treats.
Fat Loss Problem #6: Your PatienceIt takes time to transform your body from fat to fit, even though you want it to happen overnight. Remind yourself that it took time to put the weight on, so it will take time to take the weight off. When you find your patience wavering, or when you encounter a frustrating plateau, do the following:
Review your goal. Is it specific and measurable? Is it small and attainable, rather than monumental? Focus on your goal when the going gets tough.
Make each workout a new experience. Challenge your body with different resistance, new exercises and a varied pace.
Remember that anyone can have one great workout, but that won't get you the body you want. The only way to achieve your goal is by consistently exercising and eating right, plain and simple.
Fat Loss Problem #7: Your SupportPeople who exercise alone are less challenged, less accountable and are more likely to fail. It makes sense. Who would rush to the gym if no one is was waiting for them? Who would push themselves if no one was paying attention? Exercising alone is a recipe for disaster.
Find a workout partner who is in better shape than you, or better yet, work with me, your local fitness expert, to guarantee your results.
I am passionate about seeing you achieve results—don't waste your time, energy and effort on mistakes.
When you start a program with me, you suddenly have the upper hand on weight loss. I'll be in your corner, coaching you each step of the way, keeping you accountable to workouts and giving you that dose of encouragement when you need it most.
Get serious about your results and begin the last weight loss program that you'll ever do.
Call or email today to schedule your first workout.

Friday, October 2, 2015

No Bake Banana Chocolate Protein Bars

No Bake Banana Chocolate Protein Bars
Now you can quickly and easily make your own protein bars at home! This no bake recipe takes high quality protein powder and combines it with wholesome, real food ingredients to create a delicious protein bar to power your day. Store these in your freezer, then simply allow to defrost for a few minutes before enjoying. Serving: 10
Here's what you need...
1 cup vanilla protein powder
1/4 cup coconut flour
2 mashed bananas
1/2 cup coconut milk
1/4 cup water (and more if needed)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 Tablespoons mini chocolate chips
1 oz dark chocolate (70% cocoa or higher)
1 teaspoon coconut oil
In a medium bowl combine the protein powder and coconut flour.
In another medium bowl mash the bananas. Add the coconut milk, water and vanilla, mix until smooth. Add the dry ingredients and mix until fully combined. If the batter is dry then add a few more drops of water. Mix in the chocolate chips.
Line a freezer-safe plate with wax paper. Form the dough into 10 bars. Place on the wax paper and put in the freezer for 20 minutes.
In a double boiler over medium-low heat (make your own by placing a small saucepan directly in a skillet that has few Tablespoons of water) melt the dark chocolate and coconut oil.
Remove the bars from the freezer and drizzle or dip in the melted dark chocolate. Return to the freezer for 10 minutes until the chocolate has hardened.
Nutritional Analysis: One bar equals: 183 calories, 6g fat, 11g carbohydrate, 99mg sodium, 5g fiber, and 18g protein
Motivate your friends, family and co-workers! Health is much better with friends.

Busted! 5 Myths

Busted! 5 fitness myths

I'm here to warn you of the 5 myths that most people fall for. Don't waste your time on these:
Myth #1: Take diet pills to boost your effort.
It's so tempting! The commercials make compelling claims about the power of diet pills, but don't fall for it. The 'magic pill' has yet to be discovered (it has been discovered – exercise. It's just not in pill form...). Diet pills are more likely to damage your health and burn your pocketbook than to slim you down.
Tip: Don't pop a pill-instead burn calories with exercise.
Myth #2: Starve the pounds away.
Attempting to lose weight by starving yourself is not only ineffective, it's also dangerous. It may seem that severe calorie restriction would deliver the quickest weight loss, but your body is complex and by doing so you'll disrupt your metabolism and slow your results.
Tip: Don't starve yourself-instead eat healthy small meals throughout the day.
Myth #3: Do extra crunches to flatten your abs.
We all want our midsection to look toned as we stroll down the beach, but excessive crunches aren't the answer for tight abs. In order to achieve a lean look you'll have to focus on burning off the layer of fat that is covering up your abs.
Tip: Don't obsess about crunches-instead focus on fat burning.
Myth #4: Eat packaged diet foods for speedy results. It is amazing to see the kinds of foods that are packaged as 'diet' or 'weight loss' aids. More often than not these products are packed with refined sugar and other artificial ingredients that your body doesn't need.
Tip: Don't eat packaged diet foods-instead stick with nutritious whole foods.
Myth #5: Avoid all carbohydrates in order to slim down.
Carbohydrates have been given a bad rap, which is unfortunate because you can (and should) eat carbs while losing weight. The key is to stick with whole grains, oatmeal and brown rice while avoiding processed and refined flours and sugars.
Tip: Don't swear off all carbohydrates-instead stick with wholesome carbs.
Now that you know what not to do in order to look great this summer, it's time to go over your beach ready game plan. Here's what you need to know in 3 simple steps:
Step One: Cut out the junk.
The best way to do this is to start by purging your kitchen. Get rid of sugary, processed and fat-filled foods. Once the junk has been cleared out don't buy any more of it. Remember that your beach ready abs depend on what you eat – don't eat junk!
Step Two: Focus on whole foods.
Replace the junk food in your life with plenty of the following: cooked and raw vegetables, fresh fruits, whole grains, moderate amounts of seeds and nuts, lean meats and low fat dairy. Clean eating really is that simple.
Step Three: Come train with me.
This is the most obvious step. You're ready to get into great shape and I'm in a unique position to make that happen for you.
Call or reply to this email to get started on an exercise plan that will make you look great all year round.

Thursday, October 1, 2015

Bridging Mind and Body

Bridging Mind and Body
Jon Gabriel was stuck.
At nearly 410 pounds, he had tried every diet imaginable – with no luck.
No matter what approach he took to lose weight, his body would fight him, and he would inevitably end up heaver than before.
Then one day he had a light bulb-over-the-head "ah-hah" moment: His body wanted to be fat, and as long as it wanted to be fat, there was nothing he could do to lose weight.
If you've struggled for any length of time with weight loss, then you know the frustration that Gabriel felt in that moment. He was at war with his body.
In the two years following Gabriel's "ah-hah" moment, he lost over 220 pounds naturally, without surgery or counting calories. His incredible journey is recounted in his book The Gabriel Method.
One of the key components to his success was that he identified and addressed the mental and emotional reasons that his body felt safe being overweight. Once these issues were eliminated, the weight began to fall off.
The Real Reason You Can't Lose Weight
According to Gabriel, your body wants to be fat anytime it decides that being fat is the best way to keep you safe. Once your body understands that being thin is the best way to keep you safe, your body will want to be thin and the weight will fall off.
This all ties into our survival instincts to protect us from starvation, freezing to death or being eaten.
In our modern world you have different worries than being chased by a lion, but even modern stress about paying your bills create the exact same chemical signals that are produced when you are starving or freezing. This convinces your body that you need to be fat in order to be safe.
When you approach weight loss from the outside in, you overlook mental and emotional threats that can confuse your body into thinking that being fat can help keep you safe. Here are four such threats:
Fear of Scarcity: When you spend your time in fear that you don't have enough money then you send a message to your body that resources are limited. The only resource that your body recognizes is food – and storing fat is how your body saves up.
Emotional Obesity: At a subconscious level you may have the association that being fat makes you feel safer, or that it is serving another emotional need. In this case your body is simply trying to protect you; it is making you feel safer emotionally.
Mental Starvation: Though your body only recognizes physical starvation, you can also be suffering from emotional or mental starvation. This could be a desire for love, joy, fun, intimacy, or a deeper spiritual connection. Any mental or emotional longing can send the same chemical signals in your brain that physical starvation causes.
Dysfunctional Beliefs: If you believe that you were meant to be fat, or deserve to be fat, or if you view weight loss as impossible, then your body will obey by refusing to lose weight. Change your dysfunctional beliefs first and then weight loss will become simple.
Exercise was a big part of Gabriel's remarkable weight loss journey. Once he broke through the mental and emotional reasons for his obesity, his body craved activity.
Are you ready to begin your weight loss journey? I'm here to help.
Call or email today to get started on a program that will transform your life forever – just like Gabriel.