Resolutions that Can Change Your New Year

Each year many of us set resolutions for the new year and don’t see much change.  If done correctly you can set Resolutions that Can Change Your New Year and have a dramatic ripple effect on your health, and happiness.

I personally use and love the Shining Business & Life workbooks from Leonie Dawson, they have totally changed how I do things each year and really help me get my goals and values in line...but here are some simple tips you can get started with right away (perhaps while you wait for them to show up in the mail ;) )

Smile More Often:

It’s a well known fact that the simple act of smiling can make you happier and healthier, even if your smile is forced. According to the facial feedback hypothesis, smiling activates the release of dopamine, endorphins and serotonin, neurotransmitters that help reduce stress and elicit positive emotions. Plus, smiling can be contagious. When you smile, you are more inviting, attractive, relaxed and sincere to others. Choose to Smile Often!

Have a Health and Fitness Regimen:

Regular physical exercise and a healthy nutritional diet cannot only help with weight management, but also can reduce stress, fight disease, improve your mood, and improve your energy levels and sleep. Regular exercise and eating healthier can also help you appear be a better leader.

Schedule Personal Time:

YES… Schedule personal time. With our busy lives most of us don’t personal time, so schedule it. Evidence suggests that the most productive people are not the busiest but the best at prioritizing their free time. So schedule time for personal passions, family, and other activities that are important to you.

Only Commit to Things You Can Do:

Many people want to say maybe to things, or yes, even when they know that they will cancel when it comes up anyhow. Don’t do this! If you can’t make it to dinner with your friend next week don’t say maybe in fear of disappointing them, just say you can’t. Not overextending yourself will save you time and consternation down the road. Plus, when you can actually commit, the person knows you mean it and it will mean something to them.

Use Your Calendar:

The best way to stay on top of your goals is to be relentless about your calendar. Managing things to do, things that are important to you, your deadlines, and more will keep you organized, and ensure that you prioritize your most important tasks. Remember that your schedule and calendar should include time with family and friends, reading, personal hobbies, workouts, and all the other things that are important to you and your health.

You will be amazed how these guidelines can be the Resolutions that Can Change Your New Year. When you create your personal to-do list and make it as important as your work to-do list, you begin to create balance. Those these are Resolutions that Can Change Your New Year, it is important to re-evaluate everything you are doing on a weekly and monthly basis. You may want to consider setting up reminders for re-evaluation as well. You can create change in your New Year.

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Day 23 Macro Meal Plan Update

This past week has been tough.

Between all the Thanksgiving dinners and the family vacation I just went on I KNOW I've had more 'cheat' meals than I was supposed to, simply because I was eating out and had little control over what was in the food.
Each time I actually tried to stay as close to what I was supposed to be eating for the day as possible, sticking with lean protein options and veggies, but it's hard to really know what you're getting.

I've been great about getting in exercise most scheduled days as I was already habituated to it.

Typically I've been doing a T25 video in the morning for cardio, and if it works out well, doing the lifts I'm supposed to do for the day during the video or right afterwards.

Some days I've taken my dog for a short run and then done the lifts later in the day, and I actually really like this way of doing things, as does my dog :). However I have a hard time pushing myself when I run as I've had issues with my lungs in the past where I end up coughing blood when I push myself too hard, with no explanation available from doctors, but it never seems to happen when I'm doing any other kind of intense cardio (like T25!), so I tend to stick to that, or when I am on a run I give myself permission to stop and start as often as I feel I need to.

I also came across the idea of Rest Based Training from the Metabolic Effect people and really love the style of training. The concept is basically to Push until you can't, Rest until you can, so it ends up creating a personalized interval training style of cardio.

They are also big proponents of walking for an hour or more a day, especially if you can do it right after a workout that is more 'metabolic' in nature as they say it helps to circulate and burn up any of the stored fat that you may have just mobilized. It's also helpful for reducing stress levels, which I know is personally a HUGE factor for me when it comes to where I hold my extra body fat....stress is weak point for sure.

Overall I LOVE being able to do some cardio in the AM and then doing some heavier lifting in the PM as I feel the best during both workouts when I do it this way. It's hard to have energy for both the weights and the cardio in the AM if I'm doing them fasted, I find I'm not as strong for lifts and that's always annoying when I know I can lift more than I am. But having the time to workout twice a day is not always possible for me, so I do the best I can and try not to stress about it (because more stress isn't obviously not good!)

I've found the MyFitnessPal app to be the BEST thing ever for helping me track what I'm eating because at almost no point in time have I actually followed one of my designed days that was created for me, but I have tried to stay within the guidelines (my macros) created but I wonder if I've been doing it right. I've for sure reached 140g or more of Protein each day as I've been very intentional to do that (and it's way more protein than I've ever eaten before!), and typically I'm somewhere around 140g of Carbs, but I since the MyFitnessPal app makes you choose your macro % in increments of 5 for the free version, I've been ending up somewhere around 60g of Fat each day (I put in that I'm supposed to be eating 1700 calories/day) and I wonder if I"m not eating the correct ratios of the macros.

I wish there was a way for you to see my food journals on the app each day!

My goal for this next week is to prep according to the meal plan you gave me and NOT go off-roading like I have been and see how it changes things for me.

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The Masters Hammer & Chisel Details

Have you heard about the new program The Masters Hammer & Chisel?

It's a new program created by the people who made 21 Day Fix and BodyBeast and it's got a lot of buzz already...probably becase of photos like these:

And you may be wondering if it's a program you should try, so I'm here to answer that for you!

What is The Master’s Hammer and Chisel™? 

For the very first time, trainers Sagi Kalev and Autumn Calabrese have teamed up to create an expert program designed to help you craft a powerful, perfectly defined body. The Master’s Hammer and Chisel is an innovative resistancetraining system that incorporates three muscle-sculpting phases—Stabilization, Strength, and Power—or SSP Training.

This is how Sagi and Autumn help you efficiently build, chisel, and refine a masterpiece physique in just 60 days.

About your Trainers 

Co-creators Sagi Kalev and Autumn Calabrese are experts when it comes to incredible physical transformations. Sagi has been crowned Mr. Israel— twice—and is a Master Professional Personal Trainer, IFBB Pro, member of the IFBB Propta Hall of Fame, Certified Nutrition Specialist, and Functional Diagnostic Nutritionist.

Autumn Calabrese is a celebrity trainer, best-selling author, and working mom who has held certifications from the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and the American Fitness Professionals & Associates (AFPA), and has competed at the national level in various bikini competitions.

What makes The Master’s Hammer and Chisel incredibly effective and unique?

The Master’s Hammer and Chisel is built on the three phases of SSP Training— Stabilization, Strength, and Power. Other workouts only focus on one or two phases, which might give you decent results. But The Master’s Hammer and Chisel program incorporates all three methods to help you relentlessly chip away fat and carve every muscle for a strong, visually stunning body in 60 days.

It has 12, 30- to 40-minute workouts that combine Sagi and Autumn’s proven techniques for 60 days of hardcore resistance training.

Sagi and Autumn make eating for your goals simple. That’s why they included their easy-to-follow and completely customizable nutrition plan, along with 7 portion-control containers that show you how to portion out the right amount of food to help you reach your unique fitness goals.

The flexible nutrition nutrition plan allows you to lean out, sculpt and maintain, or build muscle, you decide depending on your specific goals.

Includes options to adapt certain exercises if you have limited access to equipment. (Though you can get all the equipment you online pretty easily)

Includes a modifier who demonstrates some moves at a lower intensity.

Who is this program for?

Anyone looking for a comprehensive resistance-training or muscle-sculpting program, ideally you would have had some experience with weight training before, so if you're new to weights then something like the 21 Day Fix may be better for you.

Any who enjoyed Body Beast®, 21 Day Fix®, or 21 Day Fix EXTREME® will LOVE this program...I've done both 21 Day Fix and BodyBeast as well as gotten to preview some of the workouts in this program and they are awesome...this is my plan for January 2016.

Those who like the motivating styles and proven training methods of trainers Sagi Kalev and Autumn Calabrese...I personally love the way Autumn coaches in her videos, and Sagi is hilarious because I feel like I'm being coached by Arnold...which would be awesome!

If you crave a simple, flexible nutrition plan to reach your unique goals then this is definitely for you as they make it really easy to follow and stick to a plan.

What equipment do you need?

This program is designed for people who already have a weight lifting background, so either you have access to what you need at a gym, or you can start to build your home gym (this is what I do ;) )

For this program you'll need some weights or a set of bands (though I highly suggest you use dumbbells as you get a better workout...I have bands and use them for certain things and for travel), a bench or stability ball, and a chin-up bar (and maybe an assistance band for it) or resistance band with a door attachment kit.

1. Stability Ball
2. Red Resistance Band

3. Door Attachment
4. 8-lb. Medicine Ball - if you go with the Delux upgrade this comes with it!

What supplements will I need for this program?

NUTRITION IS EVERYTHING!

You can't get the physique you want and stay healthy for the long term unless you're fueling your body with the nutrients you need.

I have a whole post about the supplements I take on a daily basis and that I recommend for all my clients, however for this program you'll probably want an extra boost in order to get maximum results.

1. Shakeology - The Challenge Pack comes with your first month's supply of Shakeology, and this is the most cost effective way to get it...it's a total nutrition shake and so much more than just protein. The adaptogenic herbs alone are worth adding this in to your daily routine.
2. Performance boosters - this program is designed to build muscle and sculpt your body, so you really need to pay attention to what you give your body in terms of nutrition to do that. The following supplements are going to help you get maximum results, but they aren't 100% necessary (but definitely recommended)
1. Energize - Blast through your toughest workouts with a surge of energy! Take Energize before every workout to help sharpen your focus, push harder, and last longer—because every ounce of extra energy means better results. Energize contains key ingredients scientifically shown to buffer lactic acid buildup and delay exercise-induced muscle fatigue, improve performance, and help you push with maximum intensity
2. Hydrate - Boost hydration during your workouts for outstanding performance. Typical sports drinks have too much sugar and artificial ingredients that can actually dehydrate you. And water alone doesn't effectively hydrate during exercise or replace what you lose through sweat. Hydrate is specially formulated for all-out performance with an optimal balance of carbohydrates, electrolytes, and water that quickly replaces what's lost and improves endurance, so you can work out longer and feel better
3. Recover - Help combat exercise-induced muscle soreness and jump-start recovery so you can hit every workout with strength and intensity. Recover takes advantage of the critical post-workout window with the ideal combination of time-released proteins and phytonutrients to help facilitate muscle recovery while helping to reduce muscle breakdown. Take Recover after every workout to help combat exercise-induced muscle soreness, speed muscle recovery, support muscle growth, and restore your strength
4. Recharge - Support your body's recovery overnight with Recharge. It's specially formulated to help accelerate overnight recovery, combat exercise-induced muscle soreness, and promote muscle growth when your body is primed to accept it—while you sleep! Slow-release protein, amino acids, and powerful phytonutrients help reduce muscle breakdown, promote lean-muscle synthesis, and reduce delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS).
5. Creatine - Blast through high-intensity exercises and turn your last rep into the second or thirdlast rep. Creatine helps you get extra strength so you can push that much harder in every workout, for ultimate performance and quicker results. Creatine monohydrate is the purest, safest, and most effective form in the world—it's scientifically shown to help boost strength and power, improve high-intensity performance, and enhance the effects of resistance training
   You can also get them as a pack that saves you over $45, one with creatine and one without creatine...or try out a single serving of each before you decide if you want to go for the whole thing

What’s included?

• 12 workouts on 6 DVDs that rapidly build, chisel, and refine your body using SSP Training. 
• A set of 7 portion-control containers and a Shakeology® shaker cup to help you master the art of nutrition— and sculpt your ultimate physique. 
• The Master’s Hammer and Chisel Program and Nutrition Guide, with your straightforward eating plan, easy-to- make recipes, and Sagi and Autumn’s expert tips for getting the most out of your workouts. 
• Quick-Start Guide lays out your 3-step blueprint for building the body you’ve always wanted.
• 60-Day Calendar that shows you which workout to do each day for efficient and effective training. 
• PLUS 2 FREE BONUS WORKOUTS 
• 10 Min Ab Hammer: Carve definition into your core while strengthening your entire ab complex.
• 10 Min Ab Chisel: This core-crusher will transform your midsection, without ever getting on the floor.
• Access to the program online from anywhere
• When you purchase The Master’s Hammer and Chisel and become a Premium Team Club member, you’ll get unlimited access to On Demand, where you can stream The Master’s Hammer and Chisel and hundreds of other proven workouts via any desktop, tablet, TV, or mobile device—wherever you have an internet connection.

The Base Kit

So what does it cost?

Always an important question...you have lots of options when it comes to this program, which means you can choose the best fit for your goals and budget

• Shakeology Challenge Pack - $160.00 full program with Shakeology, the nutrition guide, and portion containers
• Performance Challenge Pack - $160.00 full program with the Performance line instead of Shakeology, the nutrition guide, and portion containers
• Base Kit - $89.95 includes the full program, the nutrition guide, and portion containers
• Deluxe Kit - $179.70 includes everything in the base kit plus 4 advanced workouts, an 8lb medicine ball, and an extra set of containers
• Deluxe Upgrade - $89.85 would be good to add to either of the challenge packs or to get later on
• Deluxe DVD's only - $44.85 would be good to add to either of the challenge packs or to get later on if you don't need the medicine ball
• Basic Performance Pack - $109.95 adds on the Energize and Recover performance supplements and would be good to get along with any of the options above if you're interested in getting maximum results and don't want to do the full Performance line talked about above
• Full Performance Pack - $214.95 has the full line of performance supplements for ultimate results

Did I mention that if you sign up as a discount member with me you can get 25% off all of the programs and supplements? If this is interesting to you please reach out to me to talk about what this means (Hint: it's really easy to do!!)

Hopefully this answers all the questions you may have about the program! But if it doesn't please don't hesitate to reach out to me and ask, I'm always here for you!

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Thanksgiving Macro Counting (Day 11)

Super excited to check in today because even though yesterday was Thanksgiving I feel like I did really well staying on track. I got up in the morning, did some cardio and some lifting, then ate two small meals before leaving to go to the first dinner at 3pm.

The only things I could eat at the first dinner was the ham and the sauteed greens my sister had cooked, so it was easy enough to not over do it on all the different dishes. I had made my own dessert and put it in the MyFitnessPal app and calculated it out so I was able to keep pretty good track of what I was eating. I did end up have two glasses of some really good expensive scotch that my dad's friend had bought, so the no alcohol thing went down the tube, but it was totally worth it this day.

At the second dinner I was sad because there were literally no vegetables and it's the only thing I wanted at that point in time, so I ended up with potato chips and coffee...kinda the opposite but I was hungry!

Overall, because of the limited food choices I didn't really go crazy, but I do know that it was likely more fat than my current macros allow for but that's the way of things on Turky Day.

This morning I woke late after getting home at 1am and did not in anyway feel like doing a fasted workout, but I drank more coffee and got it in anyways since I knew it would make me feel better about my potato chip binge the day before.

Today's meals have been spot on and super easy because of the leftovers I got to take home.

I'm thinking I want to switch up my workout plan a bit and just do some fasted cardio in the morning and then do my lifting later on, doing both in the morning feels like it may be too much on an empty stomach...perhaps it's why I've been feeling so unmotivated to workout at all in the morning when I'm usually excited about it.

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Giving The Gift of Health and Fitness

Finding the perfect holiday gift for your friends, family, and loved ones is paramount. Giving the Gift of Health and Fitness can be popular since many people have self-imposed deadlines of January 1st as the unofficial day of fitness redemption. Whether the recipient is a diehard fitness enthusiast, a novice exerciser, or a weekend warrior, Giving the Gift of Health and Fitnesscan be exciting to see when gifts are exchanged.

Check out the suggestions below to help you with your search for the perfect fitness gift that will bring Joy to the recipient, but also you for Giving the Gift of Health and Fitness.

Workout Clothes

You can’t go wrong with fitness clothes, just make sure you get the size right. Fitness clothing has come a long way. There are hundreds of options offering their unique twist on comfort, technology, and convenience. A lot of the clothing also offers options for carrying phones, cash, and keys.

At Home Fitness Programs

Time is the biggest excuse as to why people don’t workout. Using at-home fitness programs can take away the time factor and make it possible. Especially if you are using high quality programs like P90X3, 21 Day Fix, Insanity Max30, 21 Day Fix Extreme and more. These programs provide workouts that can be completed in 30 minutes or less, and provide guaranteed results.

On-Demand Fitness Programming

Again going back to time. With on-demand programs you can work out anywhere and anytime. The best value for On-Demand Fitness is Beachbody On-Demand. For only $12 a month you get over $3,000 worth of fitness programing, nutrition plans, workout and nutrition tracking, and so much more. Plus, it gives the recipient the ability to save 10% on all other product that they decide to purchase.

Trigger Point Roller

Trigger Point Rollers are great therapy for people who work out frequently or are just starting out. It will help them to massage their muscles enabling them to move more freely and efficiently, while improving overall performance.

Performance Nutrition Supplements

Having performance nutrition products will aid in getting the best results from each workout, and a lot of times helps keep people going by reducing soreness. Using high quality performance nutrition can help people get through the toughest workouts and crush their goals. The Beachbody Performance Nutrition Line is taking the supplement industry by storm…and turning it on its head. If you want to give the very best performance nutrition this holiday season you will want to give Beachbody Performance Nutrition.

Wireless Bluetooth Headphones

This is a super cool gift for the novice to the experienced exerciser. No more wires running down your side or back as you are trying to be active. Plus, all wireless headphones sync to android and iPhones, as well as other mp3 devices. This is a great gift idea for all fitness levels.

Shakeology

Not everyone is ready to hit the New Year running with exercise. Some people you have on your list will want to start with just some simple nutrition changes. Shakeology is a total nutrition shake that has been clinically proven to aid in weight loss, lowering cholesterol, lowering blood sugar levels and more. It is not only for people who need to lose weight. This shake is everyone’s daily dose of dense nutrition. Give the gift of total nutrition with Shakeology, which comes in four flavors, and two vegan flavors.

Stocking Stuffer Ideas

Stocking Stuffer ideas can include athletic socks, water bottles, shaker cups, lip balm, headbands, yoga mats, sports bags, gift cards and so much more. Remember, little things mean a lot.

Giving the Gift of Health and Fitness is not only just about giving gifts, it is about giving what’s really the most important thing you could give… Health. Without our health we don’t have anything. Plus, you can always start a family and friends’ accountability group to keep everyone going all year long.

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Change is Afoot

Did you ever stop to think about the fact that the only thing that ever stays the same is that everything always changes

Never be afraid of change, learn how to embrace it, and in fact learn how to consciously seek it out.
If you keep intentionally working to change and improve yourself your life will only get better

Today I'm getting ready to start a brand new customized exercise and nutrition plan created just for me with the specific goal of changing my physique...not something I focus on as much with my clients

As a nutritionist who coaches people on what they eat, I know how to achieve health, and I've already come pretty far with my health and weight loss journey by doing things on my own, but even a coach needs a coach! I'm excited to shake things up and see what's possible!

I actually have to journal daily for my coach so I figured I would also post my daily thought's here! This is a blog after all...

MY THOUGHTS ON TODAY

Holy moly was today intense! I got back from vacation last night to a house mostly empty of food, so I couldn't follow the meals exactly, but I did download My Fitness Pal and have been keeping track of what I ate and am currently spot on for my macros with one meal left. (Hurray me!)

The workout today was great, though I'm not used to running and I could tell all day long that my body was burning fat (at least it feels like it). Doing a fasted cardio and then weight training also feels a bit backwards to me...I'd rather started with the weight portion then end with a cardio session so I"ll try that next time and see how it goes.

This is more carbs than I typically eat but I like it a lot...I know snacking on fatty foods like nuts is my weakness.

I did add coconut milk to my coffee...it wasn't part of the plan but I really missed it when I tried the coffee black so I calculated it in to my meals and ate less nuts at my snack...which I substituted in for Brazil nuts and fish oil anyways since I eat those daily for specific nutrient reasons.

I also use a vitamin C and a Magnesium supplement that both have carbs in them so I'll need to be mindful of that and add those in to my counts as well.

My fitness pal is awesome because it has so many foods! And the barcode scanner is the best invention ever (kind of like Shazam...favorite app in the world)
I have a small kitchen scale and it's been fun today to weigh and track all my foods precisely and have it work out well.

I have some grocery shopping and meal prep to do still this evening, which is a bit daunting to think about since I'm playing catch up with work from my vacation, so that's a bit overwhelming, but I'm super excited to get going with the plan and didn't want to wait until things were 'perfect' to start.

I can't wait to see how this all goes!

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Secrets of Very Fit People

Many people who want to get into shape are often looking for the Secrets of Very Fit People. The funny thing is… There are no real Secrets of Very Fit People, it’s just that very fit people make their health a priority and commit to significant, consistent actions to take care of their health.

So even though they are not secrets per se, understanding the secrets of very fit people and following what they do will help you to get in and stay in shape and achieve the results you desire.

Use these tips as a daily reminder to keep focused on your health.

1. Keep a water bottle with you at all times! Water should always be your drink of choice. The minimum of water daily requirement is 96 ounces (eight glasses) or more, depending on body size, the climate you live in, and how much physical activity you have each day. Remember you can add lemon, lime, cucumber, or a few berries to your water for flavor.

2. Look at exercise as a pleasure! The ability to exercise is a privilege, and should not be looked at as a burden or chore. Regular exercise will produce many positives effects in your life. Focus on the positive. Get excited about your next workout!

3. Eat balanced meals with proper portions! Excess calories will turn into excess weight. No matter what the latest fad diet says, extra or even too few calories equals extra weight!

4. Create and focus on short-term goals! Our first goal should be to focus on simply completing your daily exercise programs. From there you can establish further goals.

5. Keep a daily log of what you are eating! Whether on paper or electronically on your computer, tablet or smartphone, tracking what you eat is a must. Write it down or key or tap it in every time you put anything in your mouth. A handful of chips, or the crust of your kid’s sandwich, it all counts

6. Enjoy an occasional (once a week or every two weeks) “unhealthy” treat!  This should never become an unhealthy week or “I’m on vacation so I will just eat whatever”.

7. Have a partner or friend to exercise with! Accountability is important to staying on track. You can even create a real or virtual group if you want.

8. Invest in the right tools! Have good shoes and quality workout clothes. The more comfortable you are working out the better off you will be.

9. Make a goal of exercising 6 days a week. If your workout program is just 5 days a week, get a walk in on the other days.

10. Have an exercise schedule! Don’t leave it to chance or waiting to “find” the time. Have a schedule to know which workouts should be done on each day, and having a specified time will help keep you on track.

11. Move beyond the focus of weight loss! Measure success by the way your clothes fit and your energy level, not the number on a scale.

12. Get adequate sleep! 7-9 hours is important for muscle recovery.

13. Limit alcohol, caffeine, and sugar. All of these have negative effects on the body and its processes.

14. Supplement! Supplement your nutrition with a complete nutrition shake and other supplements to keep your body working hard through every workout.

As I said before these are not really secrets, but they are musts! Very fit people make all these things and more a part of their daily life. If you are not sure where to start, reach out to me so I can help you pick the right fitness program, nutrition plan (one that is simple, balanced, and teach proper portion sizes) and nutritional supplements that will help you get the results you want.

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Fitness Exercises For Men At Home with Busy Schedules

We all know that health and fitness should be a top priority in your life no matter what. After all, you only have one body and the better care you take of it now, the better off you‘ll be later in life. When it comes to working out, that’s often easier said than done. That is why, if you’re a guy, it’s important to find Fitness Exercises for Men at Home with Busy Schedules. Then there is no wasting time going to the gym and you can use the excuse “There are no good Fitness Exercises for Men that can be done at home”. Despite your best intentions to keep a consistent workout schedule, we all know there are many excuses such as, I am too busy, I am on vacation, and I am too sore, too tired, and unmotivated. 

Enough with the excuses because there is a way to incorporate Fitness Exercises for Men At Home with Busy Schedules.

1. Embrace shorter workouts:

You don’t need to spend hours working out to stay healthy and fit. If you use programs that incorporate high intensity interval training (HIIT), you can get stronger, more fit, and in the best shape ever in as little as 30 minutes. Checkout P90X3, Insanity Max30, 21 Day Fix or 21 Day Fix Extreme and you will see how that can happen. These At-Home workouts are short and sweet but still offer a great workout.

2. Create a ritual:

To create a habit you must create a ritual around the new habit. Staying with an exercise routine is no different.

Workout first thing in the morning before you go to work. Create a ritual where every morning you get up, eat a small breakfast while listening to your favorite music to get you pumped up, take the dog for a quick stroll around the block, then work out, make a nutrition shake or recovery shake, shower, and drive to work.

If you consistently make this a part of your morning routine, eventually you will not think twice about it. It will just come naturally to you.

3. Schedule it in your calendar:

Make your workout as important as you would any other appointment. If you use Beachbody Fitness Programs they all come with a Calendar so you know exactly what workout and what exercises you will be doing. You can simply transfer this schedule into your calendar each week.

4. Commit for 30 days:

Many people have a hard time with long term commitments when it comes to exercise. This is where you look at committing to 21 or 30 day programs. The best Fitness Exercises for Men At Home with Busy Schedules that fit into these time frames are 21 Day Fix or 21 Day Fix Extreme. If you want more than 21 days then you can commit other at home programs, but just focus on each 30 days as its own regimen.

The key is to commit to the habit and doing that habit consistently. 

5. Choose a Program that has Progressive Fitness Exercises

When you first start working out consistently, it is important that you have a high quality program that provides fitness exercises that are designed with the proper progression. This will keep you on track, improve your fitness levels, and help keep you from injury.

Start with the steps above and you will be more likely to succeed in the long run. Get rid of your excuses! There are many Fitness Exercises for Men at Home with Busy Schedules that will create great results. You just need to pick one and start.

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Are you obsessed with food?

Today I want to talk to those of you who have been struggling with food and weight for longer than you care to admit…

I know some of you worry you’ll never get “there” with food and weight — the place where you’ll finally feel comfortable in your skin, and free of all the “food noise.”

Maybe you always “do well” for a while until something manages to throw you off course…and into a jar of peanut butter at 3 o’clock in the morning.

Maybe you know you’re eating emotionally, but just can’t seem to stop…

Maybe body shame triggers you into the same old restrictive patterns that always seem to backfire (and usually backfire into a bag of M&M’s…)

I know it can feel like a lot — and it can be downright crazy-making!

At some point, the diet-binge cycle and constant food noise, becomes so intrusive, that the only thing we want more than weight loss, is getting our sanity back.

That’s why I’m so grateful for coaches like Isabel Foxen Duke, founder of Stop Fighting Food — the ultimate resource on “ending the crazy” around food and one of the most unique and talented emotional eating coaches I know.

Isabel’s running a free video training series this month that I’m SUPER pumped about. This training shares some of her most critical insights on emotional eating, binge-eating, diet-binge cycling, and “generally feeling crazy around food.”

Isabel won’t only address your emotional eating patterns — she’ll help you end all the crazy-making food and body thoughts that instigate those patterns to begin with. Ya know, so food stops tempting, taunting and tantalizing you…and starts just being food.

Knowing Isabel’s work myself, I can attest that this chick knows what she’s talking about and produces serious results in the emotional eating world — if these are issues you struggle with, I highly recommend that you take a look and sign up for this free video training series.

What's it all about?

The Stop Fighting Food Free Video Training Series will teach you the skills you need to “stop feeling crazy around food.” For most women (and men as well!), this means ending the diet-binge cycle, addressing their emotional eating patterns, and putting a stop to the obsessive thought patterns that are so often triggered by compulsive dieting and food restriction.

This program addresses the thinking that underlies compulsive eating and obsession with food.


The Stop Fighting Food Free Video Training Series is a three-part video series covering the principles of Isabel's work:

VIDEO 1

(Available September 15th) discusses why emotional eating and binge-eating are not issues of willpower, but are reactions to diet-mentality and specific beliefs and thought patterns we hold about food. (i.e. why using willpower to try to control yourself around food often backfires).

VIDEO 2

(Available September 20th) discusses the two primary reasons people eat outside of physical need — specifically eating we do to soothe our feelings (emotional eating) and eating we do in reaction to restriction or shame (binge-eating).

VIDEO 3

(Available September 24th) discusses the importance of healing our body image in healing our relationship with food, and why body image woes are so often the root of compulsive food behaviors.


If any of the information that will be shared in these free videos sounds like something you (or someone you know) could benefit from, then be sure to sign up to get access to them.

Who is this program for?

This program is for those who feel depleted and frustrated by countless weight loss attempts; and generally feel trapped in the diet-binge-cycle-from-hell. Most of them identify as “emotional eaters” and feel out of control in their behaviors around food — like every emotional whim might send them straight into a jar of Nutella. They often believe there’s something “wrong with them” that they can’t eat like “normal people.” Thoughts of food, dieting, and weight consume much of their lives, and they struggle tremendously with poor body image.

What problems will these videos address?

“Feeling crazy around food” i.e. obsessive thinking about food, dieting, “health,” etc. on a regular basis

Emotional Eating i.e. compulsive feelings around food, feeling out of control around food, using food as a coping mechanism, etc..

Binge-eating i.e. periods of eating large quantities of food, generally after a period of “being good”with food, or restricting food in some capacity.

Poor body image or low self-esteem related to body size and/or food behaviors.

Who is this program NOT for?

This program does NOT provide treatment for people who are clinically eating disordered (i.e. at physical risk to themselves). If you feel you may fall in to this category, you can absolutely sign up for the free videos, but we strongly recommend you also seek medical attention from a licensed therapist and/or physician.

This is NOT a weight loss program. The goal is to help people achieve a healthful and sane emotional relationship with food first and foremost.

Does any of the above sound like you? If it does then sign up for the free video series and get started on working towards a better relationship with food.

If it doesn't, then great!! This may not be the thing for you, but perhaps you know someone who you think could benefit, and if that's the case, be sure to send this email on to them.

Your mindset around food is crucial to your health.

I see this issue a lot with clients that I work with on weight loss issues, sometimes it comes down to a matter of how you think about food and your body image.

And while I'm very well trained in the nutrition side of things, the what to eat, why to eat it, how it affects your health and well being, addressing the emotional side of things get's a bit trickier, so I refer to other experts, like Isabel.

By now you've probably gotten a good sense of what this program is all about, so if you even have the slightest feeling that this information in these videos could be of some benefit for you, then sign up for them, they are free after all.

Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links, which means that if you click on them and then make a purchase, I receive a small commission from the company at no extra cost to you. Using my links helps to support me and my business so that I can continue to offer you the support you need on your path to health and wellness, so thank you.

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The truth about being a health coach

It was one of those sleepless nights for me.

It's been hot where I live, I spent the day out on the lake playing on a stand up paddle board, I got too much sun, didn't drink enough water, and didn't eat enough carbs before going to bed.

You see, it had been a long and fun-filled day, but I had gotten it in my head that I wanted to shoot for trying out nutritional ketosis, so instead of eating the bowl of oatmeal that I initially felt like I wanted when I got home, I ate an apple with a lot of almond butter, and then some more almond butter, and then some macadamia nuts.

You see, when aiming for ketosis, you want to keep your net carbs low (net carbs being total carbs minus fiber) and your fat high, so your body will utilize fat for energy instead of glucose. The way to do this is to eat more fat, but it takes a few days (sometimes a week or more) for your body to switch into ketosis, and it isn't usually pleasant, you feel lethargic, hungry, cranky, foggy, and all sorts of other unpleasant stuff when making the switch, especially if you've never done it before.

So why did I think I wanted to be in ketosis?

Well, the truth of the matter is, I'm a tinkerer, and a self-experimenter, and even though 90% of the time I have fabulous body-love, I'm still human and subject to all of the same insecurities and self-doubts that we're all subject too.

As a health coach I feel like this is particularly true. Many health people I know got in to it out of a desire to heal themselves, and when they started finding out what worked for them, they became passionate about it and wanted to start helping others feel as amazing as they do.
Most health coaches are also self-experimenters, mostly because if you don't know what something is like, how can you recommend it to someone else? So as a breed, I think we tend to be the kind of people who are always looking for the next best thing, the bio-hack to improve our health, because if we feel good, we can feel better right?

Maybe.

Recently the idea of nutritional ketosis had been showing up in my life in a few different ways, one in the form of another successful health coach who has an awesome 30-day guide all about it, and in the form of someone I know on social media talking about how amazing she is feeling being in ketosis and how lean it's getting her.

I'll admit, that the 'lean' part of both of their stories is what really prompted me to want to try it.

There are some know health benefits to being in ketosis, but for women there are also some known health issues, mostly when it comes to throwing off hormones, which will in turn affect EVERYTHING about a person's health. In (HEALTHFUL PURSUIT'S) book and blog she talks about the need for women to do carb-refeeds every 3-4 days in order to keep your hormones balanced, which means every few days you are intentionally taking yourself out of ketosis (after getting yourself in to it for 30 days).

Which begs the question, is it really a healthy and sustainable way to be?

For these two women it seems to be, which is awesome and a big party of the reason it appeals to me, that and the fact that they both talk about how sexy they feel and how their bodies are dropping fat left and right...who doesn't want that?

Well not everyone will, but a lot of women do for sure, and I'm not immune to the idea either. Despite the fact that I truly do want to live a healthy and happy life, and that I have a loving partner who adores the way I look no matter what, I am still subject to the same vanity everyone else is. I still want to look killer in a bikini, and to not have to worry about how my clothes fit.

It's hard to say if this is a natural part of being human, or if it's a product of society's focus on physical attributes, but I know that for me, those thoughts are always present in the back of my head.

The good side to our culture's obsession with looks is that it can often be a powerful motivator for people to change their lifestyle to just be healthier, in fact I'll freely admit that I capitalize on this all the time, and I'm ok with that. If someone's main motivation for coming to talk to me about fitness and nutrition is because they want to loose weight, great, then do exactly what I tell you to do and I promise you will be healthier, and most likely, because you're healthier and your body is getting what it truly needs, then you'll stabilize at a happy weight for you.

The problems arise when someone is at a stable place (like me) and yet they still feel like they need to do more. This is partly human nature, (at least for me, I always feel like there is more to do, perks of being an entrepreneur I suppose) and partly the influence of society telling us what we should look like.

It is important to always be paying attention to what you're doing, fueling yourself well, exercising regularly, sleeping, you don't want to just stop doing all this once you've gotten started down the path towards better health, because it truly is a lifestyle, forever, not just something you do for 6 months then go back to what you did before.

It's a problem when you're body is healthy and you are feeling good, yet you seem to think you need to change things.

In the middle of the night when I wasn't sleeping, I was reading other health personalities stuff ('cause that's what I do) and I came across this quote, which isn't new, but it reminded me of a really important thing:

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Duh.

My problem is that I was reading these other women's stories and somehow thinking I needed to be like them and do what they do, even though I'm already healthy and already happy. I've already found my homeostasis point, and sure, I fluctuate a bit here and there (we ALL do), but for the most point I feel pretty damn good. I don't need to try anything else because I've already found my happy place.

Now, if I hadn't, then maybe it would be a good idea for me to give their way of doing things a try, partly because that's another really important thing I've learned while doing this:

If what you're doing isn't working for you, you owe it to yourself to try something different.

That's what I did when I stopped eating dairy, and then soy, and then gluten and eggs. Those things weren't working for me, so I stopped doing them.

The same could be said for the time I tried to be vegetarian. I lasted a whole week. I seriously could not stop thinking about chicken, and I figured that if my body wanted it that bad then I must need it, so as much as a love the idea of being a vegetarian, it's not for me, and that's ok, it works great for some people.

So why do I think my need for carbs is any different? All I could think about as I was eating the almond butter was how much I wanted to eat my oatmeal. The almond butter tasted good, but I could feel myself eating more than I probably needed because I was trying to make up for the lack of giving myself what I really needed...not exactly a healthy thing to do.

Many people may hear this and say "well that's exactly why you need to try ketosis, so you don't crave those carbs," but I'm not sure it is really a craving, I know what a craving is and it doesn't feel like that, it feels more like a deep seated, my body is telling me it needs this specific nourishment kind of thing, and I ignored it.

Bad health coach.

So this morning the first thing I did was make my usually smoothie for breakfast, and then sat and listened to my body, and guess what, I still wanted the oatmeal, so I ate it.

The reason I felt all of this was important to write was because I think as health coaches, we get it in our heads that we have to be perfect, but there is no such thing as perfect, there is simply being perfectly you, whatever that is.

Do I really think I'm a bad health coach? Of course not, I think I'm a pretty darn good one, mostly because I know first hand what it feels like to be healthy and still want to do something else simply for the vanity of it, because I'm human, and I understand what motivates us to do what we do.

So next time you're considering making a decision to improve your health, make sure you take an objective look at what your motivations are behind it, and decide if the consequences of achieving it are worth it, because they may not be.

And if the idea of being a health has ever appealed to you but you were afraid of taking the plunge because you think you need to be in 'perfect' health and have the 'perfect' body before you do, then stop thinking that and just start doing it already! No one is perfect, even us health coaches, but what we do have is a desire to be healthy and to help others be healthy too, and that's all that matters.

If you need help getting healthy or have questions about being a health coach, get in touch with me, I'm here for you.

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How often should I eat?

How Often Should I Eat? 

Let’s face it, since the dawn of man the rule for consumption of food was simply to eat to survive, however our modern society and lifestyle has changed that simple process and we no longer live and eat in a way that follows our body's natural rhythms and needs.

As a result, chronic diseases and obesity rates continue to grow and are expected to affect more than two-thirds of Americans in the next 5-10 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

We are no longer eating just to survive, we are eating because we can.

Through the years we have seen nutrition and diet science, and programs change their opinions about what foods best suit our needs as a society, (just look at how butter and eggs were bad for you and now they're good again...I don't think it's the eggs that changed) and while I have my own opinions on this subject that's not what I want to talk about today. The question that I also get is “How Often Should I Eat?”

The most popular approach to the question of How Often Should I Eat for general health and weight maintenance has been to spread calories throughout the day by consuming 5-6 smaller meals. The concept of doing this method is that you are most likely to feel less hungry at any particular time, and in turn you will not be apt to over indulge or eat in excess.

A study found in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, shows data on this approach. It states that people who were of their ideal weight and able to maintain their weight reported eating more often than individuals who were overweight and obese.

It was assumed that this would speed up the metabolism, help control the hormones insulin and cortisol, and help better manage the appetite. However, a recent review in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition suggests otherwise.

What this means is that as long as you eat the right foods in the right amounts, meal frequency is a matter of personal preference.

You can eat lots of small meals each day (i.e. every few hours). Or you can eat a few big meals each day (i.e. with bigger time gaps between them).

Now, my advice is: Listen to your own body and apply the “how’s that workin’ for ya?” test.

If you’re covering all your bases when it comes to intake of healthy foods, proper macronutrient ratios, and including lots of variety, and your current meal frequency isn’t “workin’ for ya”, try switching it up. Experiment with fewer meals if you eat more frequently. And more meals if you eat less frequently.

There is a lot of talk lately about Intermittent Fasting as well, the concept of keeping your 'eating window' to a specific number of hours in a day. According to a study done by Circadian Biologist Ph.D. Amandine Chaix at the Salk Institute in La Jolla Those fed in the 9-12 hour window were leaner. “It highlights the temporal aspect of feeding more than the calorie content and shows it is important to eat during your active phase which is when your body is tuned to energy expenditure and not energy storage." 

So How Often Should I Eat?

The answer is, it depends. 

Of course this probably isn't the answer you wanted, but life isn't always what you want now is it.

If you are trying to lose weight, you need to create a plan that allows you enough energy to still go about your day and get in a good exercise session, as well as provides your body with all of the nutrients it needs to stay healthy. 

As cheese as it may be to say, if you fail to plan you plan to fail. If you're not happy where you are it's time to do something different.

If you need assistance in implementing a meal plan and exercise regimen that will keep you eating healthily and exercising appropriately, get in touch with me, I can help!

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How to Stay Fit and Healthy: What’s Your Mission?

People often get overwhelmed when thinking about “How to Stay Fit and Healthy”. Staying Fit and Healthy really doesn’t have to be a big process. It is the little things that you can choose to do each day that add up to being fit and healthy. 

There are many elements to a healthy lifestyle and choosing to make several small health-conscious changes can make all the difference. Use these tips as a guide to help you start your journey to getting on or staying on the path of being Fit and Healthy.

1. Kick Your Bad Habits!

Start with just a few and work your way up. You know what bad habits are, and you know that you are choosing to do them. Put your health first! Make a list of all things in your life that you know to be unhealthy (i.e. smoking, drugs, drinking, high fat foods, high sugar foods, and more). Categorize the worse ones in a category of “Quit” and the others in the category of “Can have in moderation”. If you want to Stay Fit and Healthy you need to create your lists. Things on the moderation list are doable, as long as the majority (85-90%) of your choices are mindful and healthful. If you need help with making mindful healthy choices, get in touch with me so that can I help you stay on track and stay motivated with the changes you are making.

2. Sleep

Sleep tremendously affects physical, emotional, and mental health. Many of us do not get enough. You really need a minimum of 6-8 hours of sleep per night. Lack of sleep adversely affects metabolism, mood, concentration, memory, motor skills, stress hormones, the immune system and cardiovascular system and health. Sleep allows the body to heal, repair and rejuvenate itself in a way it simply cannot when a person is awake.

3. Exercise

Movement and exercise is an important part of being and staying fit and healthy. We are meant to move and be active. Cardiovascular exercise helps to strengthen the heart and lungs. Strength/Resistance training helps to strengthen the muscles. Balance and Flexibility and Stretching helps aid in body mobility, recovery, and reduces the risk of injury. Exercise also improves circulation, body awareness, and can help in combating depression, as well as other diseases. Beachbody offers many amazing exercise programs that incorporate strength, cardiovascular, and stretching. These programs are set up to progress your fitness in a safe manner, and you can do them from the comfort of your home.

4. Eat Healthfully

Making fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains the main part of your overall diet can really help you Stay Fit and Healthy. You may also include lean sources of protein such as poultry, fish, tempeh, and beans. Eating balanced and portioned meals is what helps you balance a Fit and Healthy life. 

It is also good to stop eating before you feel very full. Give yourself a chance to digest your food and take in the nutrients. A healthy breakfast is needed to start your day off right. It sets you up and gives you the energy and fuel for optimal mental and physical performance. Eating breakfast will help you maintain blood sugar levels, healthy weight and you will be less likely to overindulge later in the day. When thinking about snacks, you want to eat whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts or a total nutrition shake like Shakeology. Avoid highly processed foods that contain artificial sweeteners or colors, hidden sugars or excessive fat.

5. Drink Water

The majority of our bodies are made of water. Most fresh fruits and vegetables contain water that will help to keep our bodies hydrated, but fresh, clean, plain water is still the best and healthiest beverage for maintaining a healthy hydrated body. It is the most natural cleanser for our organs and digestive system. Being hydrated is crucial for proper brain function, proper physical function, as well as for helping to flush toxins out through the skin (perspiration) and urine.

6. Reduce Stress

Stress can cause a myriad of problems, from heart trouble to digestive problems. Many people do not know how to manage their stress. The best forms of managing stress is regular exercise, healthy nutrition, meditation, doing things you enjoy, appropriate boundaries, spirituality, and being in nature. All of these things can help alleviate the harmful effects of stress on the body. It is also important to take breaks (vacations, mini-vacations, days off), and surround yourself with people who support you.

7. Express Yourself

It is not healthy to keep emotions bottled up inside. This can lead to mental and emotional stress, as well as physical symptoms. Unexpressed feelings and emotions have been known to be a cause to depression, sleep problems, eating disorders, and even physical pain. Learn to talk about your feelings and emotions, or express them through some sort of art. Another good tool is writing down thoughts and feelings. This is a good way to express things you may find hard to say.

8. Consistency and Moderation

In order to maintain a Fit and Healthy lifestyle, it is important to have consistency. Consistency will lead to the big picture results you want to obtain. Again, remember to make changes one at a time. Don’t make too many changes at once or you will risk relapsing into old habits. Making these choices and having them be a part of your daily life will help you to reach your health goals.

Now you know How to Stay Healthy and Fit. Implement these few suggestions and you will be on the road to success!

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