We are now Yoli Ambassadors

 
  We are very proud to be ambassadors for Yoli- Better Body System. I would love to have the opportunity to share these products with you so contact me for a sample or two.

 Yoli's mission is to transform lives and so is mine. Everything we do is designed to empower you to take control of your health so you can look and feet your best every single day.

    That's why each Yoli product is created to give you the nutrients you need to optimize your health. From the whey protein in our shakes to the superfruit blends in our drinks, you can rest easy knowing that you're giving you body essential nutrients from the highest quality sources.

   Of course, while all Yoli products are great individually, they are even better when they work together. Our products are designed to work synergistically with a focus on weight management, pH balance, immune support, total nutrition, energy and sports performance. No matter what your health goals are, Yoli products will work together to help you reach them.

 So check out the website below to see these awesome products:

   Yoli products website

   

  

 Spartan Race this last February, so much fun! Let me help you train for your Spartan Race, Tough Mudder or other event!

Climb that wall!

Burpees and Atlas Stone

Be Ready to get wet!

 You get out of your body what you put into it. Eating right takes discipline, but the way you’ll feel mentally and physically is more than worth it so try to treat your body more like a temple and less like tent. There are five simple tenets to Spartan eating:

1. Avoid processed foods.
   Processed foods don’t resemble a living plant or animal and have gone through significant processes in a factory. Soda, candy, cookies, chips, hot dogs, sugary cereals—this is crap, plain and simple. These foods have less nutritional value and put a lot of unwanted chemicals in your body.

 2. Eat nothing sometimes.
  It’s not the end of the world to miss a meal. Plus, some evidence suggests that an occasional fast—something like 16- to 24-hours—is good for you. It’s probably no accident that so many cultural traditions around the world include some type of fasting.

3. Eat whole foods.
  Whole foods are fantastic, especially vegetables and some fruits. Whole foods are nutrient-rich edibles that haven’t undergone industrial processing like organic fruits, vegetables, meats and grains.

4. Eat only when you’re hungry.
 Your body knows when to eat. Don’t force feed it.

5. Adapt.
 No diet works perfectly for everyone and, unless you have a serious allergy, no single food is going to kill you. We humans can generally eat any natural food. Be flexible.



Written and posted by spartan.com

Low-Carb Diets May Beat Low-Fat Options for Weight Loss, Heart Health

A low-carbohydrate diet is better for losing weight and may also be better for lowering the risk of heart disease than a low-fat diet, according to a new study.

While low-carb diets have outperformed other diets when it comes to weight loss, some researchers feared they might be worse for heart health because they tend to be high in fat.

The new study shows that with proper nutritional counseling, people can lose more weight and lower their risk factors for heart disease on a low-carbohydrate diet, said the lead author, Dr. Lydia Bazzano of Tulane University in New Orleans.

"This study shows if you are overweight and have cardiovascular disease risk factors and haven’t had success on other diets, certainly a low-carbohydrate diet is worth a try," said Bazzano.

Carbohydrates are found in food and include sugar, fiber and starches that give the body energy. Some carbs - like those in whole grains and fruits - are healthier than others - like those in white bread and other processed foods.

Bazzano and her colleagues write in Annals of Internal Medicine that low-carb diets have become popular weight loss strategies in recent years. Studies on their effects on cardiovascular risk factors have produced mixed results, however.

For the new study, she and her colleagues recruited 148 obese men and women between the ages of 22 and 75. None of the participants had heart disease or diabetes.

Half were randomly assigned to follow a low-carbohydrate diet for a year, and the other half were assigned to a low-fat diet for a year. They were told to not change their physical activity throughout the trial.

All participants attended regular meetings where they learned about portion control, healthy eating and overall nutrition. They were also offered one meal-replacement bar or shake per day.

The only difference between the groups was the proportions of carbohydrate and fat in their diets.

Those in the low-carbohydrate group were told to eat at no more than 40 grams of digestible carbohydrates per day. (“Digestible carbs” equals total carbs minus total fiber.)

Those in the low-fat group were told not to get more than 30 percent of their daily energy from fat and no more than 55 percent of their daily energy from carbohydrates.

Overall, about four of every five participants were still following the diets 12 months later.

During that time, the researchers found, people on the low-carbohydrate diet lost more weight and more body fat than those on the low-fat diet.

The difference in lost weight between the two groups would represent about eight additional pounds.

Additionally, the researchers saw no increases in total cholesterol or “bad” LDL cholesterol between the two groups. Bazzano said that’s good news since some thought a low-carbohydrate diet would increase cholesterol levels.

Those in the low-carbohydrate group had lower levels of fat circulating in their blood and had lower scores on a measure often used to predict the risk of a heart attack or stroke within the next 10 years.

"I thought that was a very striking finding," Bazzano said. She added that the score that predicts risk of future heart attacks and strokes was computed after the study was finished and is less reliable than the other risk factors they measured.

Dr. David Jenkins, who wasn’t involved in the study, told Reuters Health, “This doesn’t look to me to say ‘eat all the meats you want to lower your carbohydrates.’ That’s just one way to do it.”

Instead, Jenkins said, people in this study appeared to improve their overall diets. For example, they were eating foods with healthier fats, such as nuts and beans.

He also said they seemed to eat more fiber and cut down on processed foods with more carbohydrates.

"I think it’s another testament to what one can do with a more plant-based diet using the right macronutrient profile," said Jenkins of the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Toronto and the Keenan Research Centre at St. Michael’s Hospital.

Bazzano agreed that the overall diets improved among the participants and they were encouraged to eat healthier forms of protein like chicken, fish, nuts and beans.

She also said her team is not sure why people on the low-carbohydrate diets lost more weight and had lower risk factors for heart disease after one year. It’s not clear, she added,if there would still be a difference after a longer period.

SOURCE: http://bit.ly/1qjI8OG Annals of Internal Medicine, online September 1, 2014.

Soles4Souls

The Reebok outlet store in the Tanger Outlet mall next to Phoenix Stadium has a great opportunity to make a difference in someones life and save some money while getting some great products. All you have to do is bring in some used shoes and get you get a discount on any item in the store.

So here is how it works. Bring in one pair and get $5 off, bring in two pair and get $10 off.

I went in 3 different times in the last week, saved some money, got some new shoes, shirt and water bottle. And also knowing that my old shoes are going to a great cause is awesome.

For more information about Soles4Souls you can check out there website at:
soles4souls.org

Not sure how long Reebok will be doing this and I am not part of this promotion in any way just wanted to pass along some information so if you have any questions please contact the Reebok store.

Diet ,Health and Fitness Products with Untrue Claims

In an effort to stay fit, lose weight, dodge diseases and limit medical costs, Americans spend billions of dollars on health-and-wellness products each year. Sadly, many of the claims companies make to boost sales turn out to be completely false or not substantiated by research. The Federal Trade Commission works against deceptive marketing, shining a light on false claims and charging those companies that make them. For ensured safety and effectiveness, seek guidance from your doctor before using wellness products, particularly if they’re relatively new or make grandiose or miraculous claims.

1. HCG Diet Dangers

The HCG Diet involves taking hormones women produce during pregnancy while severely restricting their caloric intake. Company claims that the hormones stimulate weight loss are unsubstantiated, and in 2013 the Federal Trade Commission sent seven warning letters to different marketers of the product. The FTC has since brought charges against HCG Platinum and HCG Diet Direct, calling HCG “an unproven human hormone that has been touted by hucksters for more than half a century as a weight-loss treatment.” According to the Food and Drug Administration, the diet is associated with an increased risk of gallstones and potentially life-threatening conditions, including heart arrhythmias and electrolyte imbalances.

2. Sensa Salts: Senseless?

If you’ve been adding Sensa, a powder containing maltodextrin, tricalcium phosphate and silica, to your food in hopes of slimming down sans dieting or exercising as advertisements promised, you could be in for a disappointment. These supposedly clinically-proven claims were found to be unsubstantiated by the Federal Trade Commission in January 2014. “You should be skeptical of any supplement that calls itself revolutionary or makes claims such as ‘lose weight without changing your diet,’” said Dr. Charlie Seltzer, a physician and obesity specialist. “No such thing exists. Working with a knowledgeable health professional,” he adds, “such as a physician or dietitian well-versed in weight-loss science, is a better bet for safe, effective results.”

3. Acai for Weight Loss

Acai, a purple Brazilian berry with a natural chocolaty flavor, is rich in antioxidants, fiber and healthy fats -- a rare attribute for fruit. Acai-containing supplements have been touted as weight-loss aids without any supportive evidence, said the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC stopped Beony International and nine other companies from making these unsubstantiated claims -- including that the acai supplement could facilitate 25 pounds of weight loss per month -- on fake news websites they created. So while it may not be proven to whittle your waist, the berry is still good for you. “There are no apparent risks with the acai itself,” said Dr. Charlie Seltzer, a physician and obesity specialist in Philadelphia. To reap its nutritional benefits, consume acai berries, pulp or pure juice blends containing the pulp routinely. The effects of acai supplements remain largely unknown.

4. Hoodia

African Bushmen historically relied on hoodia, a cactus-like plant, to curb thirst and hunger during lengthy hunting trips. In recent years, the plant has appeared in weight-loss supplements. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, there is no reliable scientific evidence supporting hoodia as a weight-loss supplement and appetite suppressant. In 2009, the Federal Trade Commission reported Nutraceuticals International and Stella Labs for making false claims about hoodia as an obesity treatment. Even if the claims were true, the supplements wouldn’t have worked: They were found to not actually contain any actual hoodia. “Due to the lack of regulation, there is a potential risk of toxins or impurities in any supplement,” said Philadelphia-based physician Dr. Charlie Seltzer regarding the hoodia claims.

5. Dannon’s Activia Exaggerations

Some health claims rely on exaggerated facts, making them wrongful and potentially misleading. After the Federal Trade Commission charged Dannon with deceptive advertising in 2010, the company agreed to stop stating that consuming Activia yogurt daily relieves digestive irregularity and that the yogurt drink DanActive staves off colds and flu. Both products contain beneficial bacteria known as probiotics, but the FTC deemed the claim that these health benefits were “clinically proven” to be false. While studies are ongoing, current research suggests that probiotics may help improve digestive function, help with side effects of antibiotics and support immune function.

6. Reebok Toning Shoes

If only wearing a particular brand of workout apparel could strengthen and sculpt your legs and derriere! Reebok falsely claimed that its toning shoes could do just that, issuing $25 million in refunds to purchasers in 2011, according to the Federal Trade Commission. A TV ad stated that the shoes were proven to work your calf and hamstring muscles up to 11 percent harder and your butt up to 28 percent harder merely by walking, according to ABC News, yet lab tests didn’t support these claims. When buying workout gear, you should carefully evaluate advertising claims. Grandiose statements that promise rapid, effortless or miraculous results should be viewed with no small amount of skepticism.

7. Skechers’ Misstep

Reebok isn’t the only shoemaker to take a huge misstep when it comes to claims around “shaping up” shoes. In 2012, Skechers USA, Inc. agreed to pay a $40 million settlement as a result of making unsubstantiated and misleading claims regarding their Shape-ups shoes. Print and television ads, which included celebrity endorsements from Kim Kardashian and Brooke Burke claimed that their Shape-ups shoes would help consumers lose weight and strengthen and tone their legs, buttocks and abs – that they could “get in shape without stepping foot in a gym.” The FTC also reported that Skechers participated in deceptive marketing with their Resistance Runner, Toners and Tone-ups shoes and consumers would be available eligible for refunds.

(Article originally posted on livestrong.com)

4 Exercise Machines You Might Want to Avoid at the Gym

Fitness is all about muscle. Strength training builds muscle tissue, which in turn boosts metabolism, burns fat, and gives the body tone and definition. One of the most convenient strength training methods is using your own body weight as resistance - take your body anywhere and you're ready for a workout. But is it better to use free weights or machines?

Free weights are portable and a lot more versatile than machines. With just one pair of dumbbells you can do hundreds of exercises. Weights require you to use several different muscle groups to move, balance and steady the body as you lift and lower. With the addition of a Stability Ball or Bosu Ball the exercise options are unlimited.

There are hidden risks to some of those seemingly-innocent exercise machines at the gym. If you're going to use machines in your workout routine, here are a few that you may want to avoid since they put stress on your joints, which could lead to injury. Make sure and get proper instruction from a Certified Personal Trainer on how to use the machines in the safest and most effective manor.

1. Seated Leg Extension/Seated Leg Curl 

These machines train the quadriceps (front of the thigh) and the hamstrings (back of the thigh). Most trainers agree that they create a motion that your legs aren't designed to do, which can put undue strain on the ligaments and tendons surrounding the kneecaps.

The Step-up is a safer alternative to try. This is one of my favorite exercises because besides working your quads far better than any machine, step-ups also train your glutes, hamstrings, and calves. They strengthen your knees as opposed to wearing them down. You can use steps or Bosu Ball to step on, using body weight or Dumbbells for added resistance

2. Seated Hip Abductor/Adductor Machines
These machines are designed to train the outer and inner thighs. Not only can using them look awkward but because you're seated, these exercises train movement that has no functional use. When used with too much weight and/or bad form, they can put damaging pressure on the spine. These machines will work the abductors and adductors in isolation, which is bad because these muscles are actually meant to work in coordination with the rest of the body to stabilize the legs.

A better exercise to try is the side lunge. Side lunges allow a more effective way to work your hips, glutes and thighs by targeting the major muscles of the lower body, including the abductors and adductors.

3. Seated Chest Fly Machine
The chest fly machine is designed to train the chest and shoulders. However, it can put the shoulder in an unstable position and place excessive stress on the shoulder joint and its connective tissue.

Instead, try doing push-ups or Dumbbell chest fly's on a flat, inclined bench or Stability Ball.

4. Seated Crunch Machine/Rotation Machine
It may seem like adding weight to your crunches is the best way to six-pack abs but this isn't the most effective or safest way to develop the core. Think twisting on a machine will get rid of love handles? Think again! This exercise can put excessive twisting forces on the spine because your hips stay in place as you rotate your upper body.

You'll get a better workout using a stability ball for your crunches and rotational exercises. The secret to efficiency is to make sure you engage your abs (as if you're about to be punched in the gut) and hold them that way as you do the movement.

Please feel free to call me with any questions or if your ready to take your training to the next level with a Certified Personal Trainer.