USE YOUR IPOD TO GET IN SHAPE

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NUTRITION LABELS REVEALED

Eat smart with these 7 pointers

If you are like most people then you probably glance at the Nutrition Facts label on foods once in a while. Maybe you check for the number of calories or fat grams that an item contains, or maybe you are watching something specific - like your sodium intake.

Whatever the case, it has been proven that those who pay attention to the Nutrition Facts label end up eating healthier.The more familiar you are with the Nutritional Facts label, the more likely you will be fit and healthy.Each Nutritional Facts label has been designed to quickly and efficiently give you all of the important facts about a food item. You just need to know what you are looking for. Read on as we break down the Nutritional Facts label into 7 important facts.


Fact #1: Serving Size This small detail skews the entire label if you don't read it closely. An item may seem like it is only one serving, but the Nutritional Facts label will consider it to be 2 or 3 servings. If the label says 100 calories, but there are actually 3 servings, then you are getting a total of 300 calories. Pay close attention to what makes a serving.

Fact #2: Calories Most people don't have the time to count every calorie that they put in their mouth - this is understandable. However, you probably have a pretty good idea about the amount of food that you eat each day. When you approach a new item, read the calorie totals on the Nutritional Facts label, and factor the new calories into your daily intake. Steer clear of high calorie items - especially in the form of snack foods.

Fact #3: Fat By now you have undoubtedly heard that all fats were not created equal. Here is a quick 1-2-3 breakdown.
Limit your intake of Saturated Fats - this deadly fat contributes to heart disease.
Avoid Trans Fats at all costs - not only does it contribute to heart disease, it also raises LDL cholesterol (the bad one).
Focus on eating monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats - these don't raise LDL cholesterol and can even help lower blood cholesterol.
As you decide what food to include in your diet, keep your eye on the type and amount of fat included in each item. Remember, all fats were not created equal.

Fact #4: Carbohydrate Though zero carb diets are losing their momentum, you may have been influenced by the idea that all carbohydrates will make you fat. That is simply not true. It is true, however that some carbohydrates are healthier than others. In fact, medical experts think that excess consumption of refined carbohydrates (such as soda pop, white rice, and white flour) are one of the reasons behind the rise of obesity we see today.Choose fibrous, complex carbohydrates over sugary, simple carbohydrates.

Fact #5: Protein The fact stands that most of us are getting plenty of protein in our diet. The problem arises when we examine the source of this protein. Meats and dairy products that are high full of fat may be filled with protein, but they aren't the healthiest form of protein. Choose protein from lean meats, dry beans, poultry, and low fat/fat free dairy products.

Fact #6: The Good Stuff Directly beneath the protein count on the Nutritional Facts label you will see the percent daily value of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Calcium and Iron that the food item contains. These numbers are easily overlooked, but hold great importance to your overall health. The more nutrient-rich food items provide you with the greatest benefit per calorie. Compare food brands and choose the most nutrient-rich option.

Fact #7: Evaluate Your Lifestyle Now that you understand the Nutritional Facts label on your food, you may still have questions about how to change your fitness level. Eating right is just one part of the equation in your quest for a healthy, fit body. Exercise is vastly important as well, and happens to be my specialty. If you have questions about how you can get into the best shape of your life, please contact me today.


Call or email me today to get started on an exercise program that will greatly improve the way you look and feel.

Fast Food Tip

Thanksgiving is a time when we gather to give thanks and to pass the gravy. Here's a fun way to make that gravy a little less fattening: Place an ice cube in the gravy and watch as excess fat sticks to it. Now throw out the fat laden ice and enjoy your lightened gravy!

QUICK 2 WEEK SLASH-THE-FAT SESSION

LOOSE THE WEIGHT BEFORE YOU EVEN GAIN IT

If you ever thought about joining the class and decided 4 weeks was too much of a commitment...then this is the program for you. If you ever wished there was a way to loose the weight before you gained it at Thanksgiving/Christmas/
Hanukkah time...then this is the program for you. If you cant find the motivation to go to the gym alone and stay for longer then 20 minutes...then this is the program for you.

Just like our world famous 4 week boot camp, this short 2 week session is jam packed with a new approach to exercise....FUN. In an all female atmosphere you will run obstacles, perform relays, play fun games, perform resistance exercises, do yoga/pilates and much more.

And YES, you can drop one dress size in 2 weeks! Jump start your fall weight loss routine today. MORE INFO>>>>>

How not to Gain the 10lbs Between Thanksgiving and X-Mass/Hanukkah

We all know about this time of year. First Comes Halloween then before you know it you are sucked into the time warp that is the FATTEST TIME OF THE YEAR (Thanksgiving to X-Mas/Hanukkah).

Holiday parties, family gatherings, food gifts like chocolate cookies and cakes all have a way of making us pack on those pounds. WHAT IS THE SOLUTION?

Goodies in the office: when you receive a gift in the form of food, say thank you and as soon as that person has turned their back GIVE IT AWAY. Out of site out of mind. A recent study showed that a person ate 60% less chocolates if the box was placed 7 feet away from your desk vs. right on the desk. My advice get rid of it altogether so you wont even be tempted.

Family Dinners: The best thing you can do to prevent overeating is to decide before hand that you will choose healthy items. Do not go on an empty stomach and be sure to drink water (not soda or juice) the entire time. Eat the greens and veggies FIRST before putting other more fattening items on the plate.

Office Parties with Hors d'oeuvres: Drink at least 2 glasses of water and eat a healthy meal before you go the party. With a hydrated system and a full stomach you will be less likely to chomp down on those calorie laden snacks.

Keep up with a Regular Exercise Routine: All of our routines change during the holidays, that goes without saying. But one routine that must remain a constant is your exercise program. Adventure Boot Camp has the perfect answer for you: 2 week Pre-Holiday Boot Camp blast! This boot camp is half the time commitment of the regular boot camp and in addition half the price! Why not feel good about yourself before and during the eating marathon that is the holidays and JOIN BOOT CAMP. And yes, you can drop one dress size in 2 weeks!

Special 2 week Boot Camps begin 11/5 & 12/3, join today!

HOW to GET FAT Eating Subway Sandwiches

You've probably heard of Jared Fogle - he's the guy that lost over 200 pounds by only eating at Subway. His amazing story captured the attention of people all around the world. Here it is in a nutshell:

It all started March of 1998 when Jared was a college student with a problem. His weight had skyrocketed to 425 pounds. Now that's a lot of weight for anyone to handle, let alone a busy college student. So Jared made the decision to change his life.

He knew the weight would come off with the help of a healthy, lowfat diet. Luckily for him there was a Subway restaurant located near his apartment. His plan was brilliant in its simplicity. Everyday he ate the same thing:

Breakfast - coffee
Lunch - "I ate the 6-inch turkey, tons of vegetables, including hot peppers and a bit of spicy mustard." He left off the mayonnaise and cheese and had a bag of Baked Lays® potato chips and a diet soft drink
Dinner - Footlong veggie sub - again no mayonnaise or cheese.

I'm sure you know the rest of the story. The Subway diet, along with exercise, got Jared to shed the extra weight until he was a lean 190 pounds (the guy is 6'2"), and he became a spokesperson for Subway, sharing his story and inspiring millions of people.

Subway then became synonymous with healthy eating.

Ever look at a Subway napkin? It lists 7 of their sandwiches that have 6 grams of fat or less. Then at the bottom it shows you an alternative. The Big Mac and the Whopper, burgers that hold 31 and 40 grams of fat, respectively.

Wow, Subway is much healthier, right? Well, yes and no. First read the small print. The 7 sandwiches with 6 grams of fat or less are calculated with only bread, veggies and meat. So if you take your sandwich with cheese, mayonnaise, and oil (and really, other than Jared, who doesn't?) then you need to recalculate the numbers. Here, I'll do it for you, using a 6" Roasted Chicken Breast sandwich as an example.

FOOD ITEM
6" Sandwich (bread, veggies and meat): 6g fat, 342 calories

Cheddar Cheese (2 slices): 5, 60
1 Tbl Mayonnaise: 12, 110

1 Tbl Oil: 15, 135

Totals: 38g FAT 647 Calories

Lets not forget the tempting side items that are so often picked up in the Subway line:

FOOD ITEM

Wild Rice with Chicken Soup: 11g fat, 210 calories

1oz Bag of SunChips: 6, 140

Chocolate Chip Cookie: 10, 210

Totals: 27g FAT 560 Calories

And just like that your 'healthy' Subway sandwich grew into a meal with fat and calorie totals that rival a Big Mac meal. Now I know you probably don't get all of the extras when you visit Subway but, quite frankly, that isn't the point. The point is that there is danger in classifying any restaurant as 'healthy'.

The truth is that you could gain weight eating anywhere, just like you could lose weight eating anywhere. It all comes down to maintaining a balanced diet with a reasonable calorie and fat intake.

Jared lost weight by drastically cutting calories and fat from his diet and by starting an exercise program. You too could do this at Subway or any other restaurant. But eating at Subway does not mean that you will walk out leaner and healthier. It all comes down to choices. Everyday you make choices that directly affect your weight and your health. Should you get mayonnaise on your sandwich? What harm will one cookie do? Will skipping your workout today really make a difference? You get to decide.

At some point we all reach a breaking point. For Jared it was hitting 425 pounds. For you it may be when you have to buy the next size up. Or when you find your body riddled with aches and pains. Or when you're shocked by the number on the scale. Sooner or later you will decide that you are worth it. You will decide that your health is important. You will decide that you deserve to look great. And you will do what it takes to achieve amazing results. I am are here to help you do just that.

Call or email me today to get started on an exercise program that will change your body and your life...just like Jared.

GIVE IT UP or SWITCH IT UP?

As women I think we have something in us that believes we should never give up on something. We are supposed to be the peacekeepers, the tone setters, we are to always "have it under control."

If a friend or co-worker is not that nice to us, we chalk it up to them having a bad day. If a relationship is not working out, we stay in it hoping that things will change for the better. If you are not loosing weight from your current program you persevere, and try to work a bit harder.

Why do we have such a hard time letting go of something that is obviously not working? All of the above mentioned situations share a common thread. The facts seem to be staring us in the face that the current situation is not the most optimal, but we stick with it anyway. So what do you do? ****At what point do we decide to GIVE IT UP or SWITCH IT UP??****

In these difficult situations, start by asking yourself what is the underlying reason that you put up with them: Is it out of a fear of rejection, an ego driven mind, fear of putting your needs first, or is it a fear of failure if trying something new?

Next ask yourself if you are receiving exactly what you want and need from this friend, lover or exercise routine? All relationships both with people and with your life situation are a two way street. I want you to take a deep look at these "relationships" before they start to go wrong. Are you really getting what YOU need?

Although I cannot answer your individual relationship issues, I can only guide you towards thinking about finding the underlying truth. This truth is usually not what you "THINK" but it is what you feel. This feeling is in your gut. It is the little voice that dictates what your heart (not your brain) knows. If you "FEEL" that things are not where you would like them to be then it is probably time to ****GIVE IT UP****. After some time, a bit of introspection and a deep breath you will be able to erase that persons number from your phone, delete the text messages and pictures that you have been saving and... move on.

The same process applies if you have been working out for a short while or an extended period of time and you are not seeing results. This time you must SWITCH IT UP ASAP (don't "give it up", please). The body is very simple machine. Put something in, get something out. If you are not loosing weight or seeing that muscle tone in your arms or abs then it is time to change a few variables so that you will see results. If you usually only do cardio in the gym, get outside and go for a run. If you only take spin class, add in some weight training. If you find it hard to get to the gym after work, switch to the am for guaranteed consistency.

Remember, any process of change in your life doesn't start with an action. Change starts with a well thought out examination of your underlying motivations and genuine gut feelings about the situation. Good luck, it takes a lot of work, but it will help you arrive at a the most appropriate decision.

10 Secrets Every Women Should Know

1.HOW TO DROP 30 POUNDS IN 1 YEAR EFFORTLESSLY
Millions of people drink an average of 2 regular soft drinks or juice drinks a day, which is a total of 300 calories. When you add up these extra 300 calories over a year, they result in over 30lbs of weight gain! Sooo, say no to soft drinks and say goodbye to your unwanted pounds.

2. PUMP SOME IRON
Did you know that 1 lb of muscle burns 30-50 calories per day, while 1 lb of fat only burns about 9 calories per day? The more muscle your body contains the more calories you burn each day. Resistance training has been called the fountain of youth – and it really is!

3. STAY FREE OF THE FAT-FREE
Fat free foods, when eaten in excess, will still be stored as fat! Fat free cookies and crackers are made up of a whole lot of SUGAR! Yep, the secret is out. Sugar is just as fattening of a substance as fat itself, when eaten in excess.

4. THE SCIENCE OF MORNING WORKOUTS
A great way to burn off excess fat is to walk or jog for as little as 15-20 minutes first thing in the morning. Performing a calorie burning activity right when you wake up is more effective since your body is depleted of calories, and is forced to pull energy from fat stores. A personal fitness trainer (like me) can help you identify your ideal target heart rate for maximum fat burn.

5. NO MUNCHIES NEAR BEADTIME
The easiest way to effortlessly lose weight is to not eat three hours before bed. It has been proven that not eating three hours before bed reduces fat storage throughout the night.

6. EL COROZON, BABY
Make sure that you are exercising in your “Fat Burn Zone“during cardiovascular workouts by checking to see if you can hold a conversation without breathlessness. Your body needs oxygen to aide in fat burn so make sure you are breathing deeply. If you can hold a conversation without choking on the words then you need to ramp it up a bit. Otherwise you are just going through the motions.

7. WHY BREAKFAST IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MEAL
Eating right when you wake up is vital to breaking the fast(get it? BreakFast?) your body goes into every night. 2- 3 hours after you eat your body shuts down your metabolism and acts as if it needs to store food. In order to communicate with your body that it is healthy, well fed, and not in need of extra fat storage you need to start your day off with a small meal and continue to eat small meals every 2-3 hours.

8. VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE
Your body needs a variety of nutrients to function at its peak and burn fat. Find new, healthy alternatives to your daily meals, and substitute them frequently. Bringing food to work pre-made ensures that you will eat the healthiest and allows you to avoid last minute fast food choices. Make sure that you are eating 5 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables every day, of different colors.

9. BORED at the GYM? GET OUTSIDE!
Losing patience with exercise? The key to weight loss and fitness gains is to consistently give your body new challenges. Mix up your workouts every few weeks, and don't be afraid to try something new! Look into program’s that can help you add new excitement to your fitness routine. Rollerblade, hike in Central Park, ride your bike, jog to a playground and use the jungle gym or a rock as your gym equipment. Exercise doesn’t have to be a drag!

10. SWITCH TO THE AM for CONSISTENCY
Consistency breads results. When you see results you become hooked. When you set a goal to go to the gym at night,although you may have the best intentions, things usually come up. Dinners, meetings, kids have practice, 1 day sale. Do you remember why your last quest to “loose weight” failed? I bet I can tell you…lack of consistency. Enter the AM workout! NOTHING, I mean nothing comes in the way of an AM workout, except for being a little sleepy. You finally want to make that change in your body you have been dreaming about? Then, become consistent by switching to the mornings. Your body will thank you. (PS - Adventure Boot Camp starts at 5:30 am!)

Central Park Boot Campers Flex Their Muscles

So, it is Friday at 6:30am. Temperature 80 and the sun is fully up by now. It takes real DEDICATION and real DEVOTION to drag yourself out of bed to go to work every day. Imagine what it is like to drag yourself to the park for a workout.

Well, if you have ever wondered then take a look at the faces of the 4 ladies in this picture. Red and sweaty you say. I know, that is a given though. I am asking you to look at how happy they are. Some of that glee is the fact that it is Friday and the week is over, no doubt. I can assure you that the other half is the fact that they have each burned about 800 calories before most people have even thought about which pants to wear today (let alone which exercises to do to make those pants look better). They have each taken one step closer to their weight loss and fitness goals.

These women are part of this months weight loss and fitness boot camp in Central Park. On this particular day the women have played ultimate frisbee, ran 1/2 a mile, performed yoga, used their dumbbells to tone and tighten their arms, and ran an obstacle course.

We design each day to be completely different from the last so that no one is ever board and no one knows what we will throw at them next. I know that most women share the common feeling that "pumping iron" in the gym is not only boring but fails to stimulate any desire to repeat the workout the next day. What is the point to that I ask you? We alleviate all of this by putting a unique spin on exercise....we make it FUN (a brand new concept in exercise ladies, I know:)

RELATIONSHIPS: How they effect your BODY and MIND

By now you know the rules of getting and staying in shape....Eat Right, Exercise, and Stay Positive. So why is it so hard keep that up while you are in a relationship? I am not talking about the "staying positive" part, but the rest. Why do relationships both romantic and platonic wreak so much havoc when it comes to our body?


You know the scenario. You are focused on your workouts, never skipping a day. You are bringing your healthy lunch to work without fail. Each night you get 8+ hours of sleep and drink alcohol only moderately. Then....BAM! Out of nowhere you meet someone. All of a sudden your world is turned up side down. You are gladly drinking during the weeknights, skipping morning workouts, eating buffalo wings and drinking Bloody Marys on Sunday morning.

What happens is that affairs of the heart can mess with our focus. In the beginning you don't mind skipping your health and wellness routine because in exchange you get to spend hours staring into the eyes of your new crush. But in the end the devotion of all of your free time to this person leads to neglect. I am talking about the neglect of your own personal needs both physical and most often emotional.

The lesson to be learned is two fold. No matter how great the other person makes you feel, no matter how far into the clouds your head may be, realize that in the beginning and in the end you always must be aware of the proverbial me, myself, and I. We tend to only try to "pull ourselves together" in the end when things start to go wrong.

Side note: Realize too that sometimes you can do all that you can to maintain your focus while in a relationship. But, despite your best efforts, things don't work out. You break up, your heart gets ripped out of your chest. A break up can be the quickest way to loose 5 lbs. (Yet, a most unhealthy method, emotionally draining, and therefore not endorsed by me OK? OK.)

Ladies, the summation of all of this is that we need to keep in mind that all we have is ourselves to make us happy. Momentary crushes, loves, best friends, new cloths, food etc. all have the potential to fill us up. Enjoy them, indulge them, experience them in the present with all of your consciousness. But please, just don't loose sight of one important fact. REAL, LASTING, emotional and internal happiness can be generated by only one thing in this world....YOU.