Chipotle! So Good, but Healthy Too?

It's highly unlikely that you haven't fallen into the Chipotle bandwagon yourself or at least heard of it
anyways. I think this place is delicious and I eat there at least 2 times a week! Question is though, is it healthy? You can see all the signs inside the restaurant saying things like "naturally raised chicken, beef, pork... No anti biotics... no rBGH... Grass fed beef" and so on... So in that aspect of things, sure it is good quality food, it's made fresh, and brought up clean, so I'd say it is "healthy" for you. What about when we talk about dieting though, is it still considered healthy? The answer is yes and no; just because something is healthy doesn't mean that you can't still get fat off of it, and with a lot of the ingredients chipotle offers you have to weary of that. I put a link straight from the Chipotle website, it's a nutritional calculator which will tell you exactly all the nutrients and calories in whatever you get!

Just a couple of tips...
- Always go with the bowl, as the tortilla has 9grams of fat and a ton of sodium!
- Go with chicken as it has the least amount of fat and sodium compared to the other meats they offer.
- Try and hold off on the cheese and sour cream (this one is hard), if you have to get it, get one or the other not both; as they both combined have 18.5grams of fat!
- If you're going low carb, cut down on the beans and rice.


http://www.chipotle.com/en-us/menu/nutrition_calculator/nutrition_calculator.aspx

Sweaty Pits!

So with the weather getting warmer and all, you tend to sweat easier; I for one though began to have major armpit sweating issues! I've never been too much of "sweater" except for when I workout, but for about the past 2 weeks I've been having excessive armpit sweat even if I'm not doing anything! The only things I could think to attribute it to would be the warmer weather, and the low carb diet I started around exactly the same time all of the sweat came about... So whether or not it's due to the diet I'm not sure, but I'm looking into it. The reason I'm writing this blog is because I bought at least 5 different deodorant/antiperspirants and none of them worked; they smelled good, but they didn't stop the sweating! I was going to give up until I found these on Amazon and they had 5 out of 5 stars; Sweat Block Antiperspirant Wipes. You dab your pits with them before bed and they do some magic that causes you not to perspire under there for 7 days; I'm on day 4 and still dry! Now as for the health aspect, these things can't be good for you, so if you're unsure ask your doctor before using them...

A couple of other things, they smell very strong, and they made my armpits tingle and burn a little throughout the night. You can still shower and wash your armpits every day without effecting the antiperspirant, and I still put on deodorant just for the smell! If you're
having pit problems I would definitely give these a try!

Healthy Eats... 99% Lean Ground Turkey with Red Potatos, Low Fat Cheese and Salsa

Here's a pretty quick and easy food option for you to try! It's healthy and can be perfect for a low carb diet depending on how much potatoes you use. As for the cooking, 99% lean ground turkey can dry out and cook very easily so be weary of that; you don't want to cook it that fast... before I cook it I throw 1-2 table spoons of olive oil in the pan and break the 2 pounds of 99% lean ground turkey down as much as I can with the spatula; it's easier to do it when it's raw than cooked. When it's cooking you may have to throw some additional olive oil into the pan. Also feel free to throw in your favorite seasonings just keep in mind the sodium content.

Midway through cooking I threw in the red potatoes plain and simple; I cut them in quarters before hand, and that's it! Depending on how low carb you may be going be careful as to how much potatoes you use as they're very dense in carbs. Afterwards I threw on some low fat cheddar jack cheese and Herdez green salsa to help with the plain flavor and dryness. If you find that yours is still too dry to handle try throwing a little coconut oil into the mix as it will make a big difference and help a lot!

Trying to lose weight... what should I do, Cardio or weights?

I get this question a lot and the answer simply is both are great for burning calories and losing weight - to a certain degree that is... Just remember one important thing, the benefits and results you'll get from each form of exercise is greatly dependent on how hard you're working! You can't just expect to find something that's easy to do and yet it burns calories like crazy it doesn't work that way; remember nothing comes easy in any aspect of life so neither is a healthier, better looking you!

Now resistance training of any form (bands, cables, weights, calisthenics) is said to burn up to 2 times the amount of calories as just regular steady state cardio. Now this can be true, but it's not going to be true if you're taking your sweet time in between sets, not using enough weight, not doing enough reps, and most importantly not pushing yourself to your limits. In that case the person doing cardio on the treadmill lets say will be burning more calories than you. As for cardio though you can easily burn 100's of calories in short amount of time, but you're not going to do it walking 3.5 mph with a 4 incline, if you're going to do that you're wasting your time in my opinion. In order to burn a ton of calories doing cardio you need to do HIIT, or high intensity interval training, which calls for short bursts of very high intensity actions followed by a longer rest period and then repeated over and over again. For example you walk on the treadmill at 3.5mph for 2 minutes, then once the 2 minutes is up you bump up the speed to as fast as you can go 8, 9, 10 mph for only 30 seconds. Once the 30 seconds is up drop it back down to a 3.5mph speed for another 2 min and repeat! HIIT is one of the best things for burning calories, and getting you in shape fast!

Both resistance training cardio have their unique benefits, but as for which one is better for getting skinnier, that's all dependent on you and how hard you push yourself! You should try and incorporate both types of training into your regimen though!

Counting Carbs? Keep in mind NET Carbs...

This seems to be a new thing I'm noticing these days with healthy foods, you'll see a lot of packaging on foods that says something along the lines of "Only 5 net carbs"... Well what is a net carb exactly and how does it help you? A net carb is when you take the total number of carbohydrates in serving of food and subtract the amount of fiber from it; what you're left with is a net carb. For example if I was eating some whole grain tortillas and on the nutrition label it said 10 grams of carbohydrate and 5 grams of fiber for one tortilla then technically you're left with 5 net carbs. This is because your body can only absorb 5 grams of carbs due to the amount of fiber.

So why is this a good thing to know? Because today lower carb diets seem to be the way to go for those looking to lose the pounds and fast, and by knowing how to calculate net carbs you'll save yourself a lot of trouble and actually be able to eat more then someone else who was counting carbs but didn't know how to calculate net carbs. Another example of this is lets say 2 people were only allowed to have 40g of carbs per day while dieting. The first person knows how to calculate net carbs eats a total of 70g of carbs, but all from sources with a lot of fiber which added up to 30g of fiber... leaving them at 40g of net carbs taken in for the day! Now lets say the second person didn't know about net carbs and just eats 40g of carbs, but in actuality they ate 20g of net carbs then they technically could be allowed to have more!

Whether you have some extreme weight to lose, or you're simply trying to tone up while retaining muscle mass, keeping net carbs in mind can help you out a lot when choosing the right foods!

THE ALMIGHTY SPARTACUS WORKOUT

If you're looking to get in shape and fast people may tell you that there is no way to do it fast and easy, getting in shape and looking good takes time; well they have never participated in the Spartacus workout! Although it's definitely no easy feat by any means, stick to it for a while and you'll definitely see some pretty nice results come on pretty fast. That's because this grueling high intensity circuit routine can get you burning as much as 731 calories in just 41 minutes! Whether you're new to working out, or you're a veteran the Spartacus workout will for surely give you a run for your money. I honestly believe that if you can complete the circuit exactly as instructed - 3 sets, 60 sec stations for each exercise, only 15 sec rest between exercises, and pumping out as many reps as you can - than you're in incredible shape!

I do this workout every now and then and sometimes I find myself barely making it through the third and final sweat... By then you'll be pouring sweat and ready to pass out. Don't get me wrong though you don't have to kill yourself for the Spartacus workout to be enjoyable, you can adjust each station time so it's less, you don't have to do all 3 sets, etc. I sometimes drop each station time from 60 seconds to 40-50 seconds and that makes all the difference. Although I see nothing wrong with sticking strictly to the Spartacus workout for a few weeks (3-6) it's always good to switch it up so that your body will keep progressing. So what are you waiting for, make an undefeated champion gladiator out of yourself, or at least your physique!

See the link for a better description, and directions for the workout and each exercise**
http://www.menshealth.com/fitness/spartacus-workout-1?onepage=1

Fast Food & Low Carb Dieting

OK - so yesterday I officially started the Metabolism Miracle Diet with my Husband.  We are trying to stay at or under 25 net carbs every day through phase one. As usual, I ran out the door yesterday morning with no plans for lunch and by 1:00 PM I was ready to chew off my own arm I was so hungry. I figured a half size Baja Salad from Wendy's would be a great low-carb choice.

The half sized portion (minus the tasty tortilla chips) is:

Reading Labels.
Low Carb is can be tricky
once you realize sugar is
in almost EVERYTHING!

370 calories
26g of fat
15g of protien
20g of carbs
6g of fiber.

Total Carbs – Fiber = Net Carbohydrate. So for this salad 20g (carb) minus 6g (fiber) = 14 grams of net carbs.  Oy vey! I am still learning... I wonder what had all the carbs? The 15 kidney beans in the salad perhaps?

It seems it is going to be quite the learning curve for us as sugar and carbs are in everything we eat!  But I really want to give this system the ole' college try!

If you want to learn more about the New York Times Best Selling Book, click here to read the hundreds of five star reviews on Amazon.com

Metabolism Miracle

Smart For Life Appetite Suppressing Concentrate Drops Review

As you know from my profile, I will try just about anything to suppress my appetite in hopes of losing weight.  

So when I saw that Costco.com had these for sale I grabbed a case of 8 and eagerly anticipated their arrival.  At the time I ordered these there were no reviews on them, but the other Smart For Life products on Costco.com had very high reviews from customers.

I admit I only tried these twice and never again because I felt HUNGRIER than normal about 15-20 minutes after drinking the mixture.

The directions say: Squirt and mix up 2 tsp. with 8 fl oz of water.  Let your taste buds be your guide. (Makes up to 18 servings)

The ingredients are:
Water, Glycerine, Digestion Resistant Maltodextrin (Fibersol), Citric Acid, Natural Flavor, Sucralose, Gum Acacia, Acesulfame Potassium, Glycerol Ester of Wood Rosin, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, Potassium Sorbate (preservative), Sodium Benzoate (preservative).

While these tasted quite nice,  I think the sucralose made me hungry. I have this problem with artificial sweeteners all the time... that is why I try to avoid them. This is the same reason I can't drink the Crystal Light On-The-Go packets.  Though I LOVE them, I just get ravenous after drinking them.

I did not experience
Any appetite suppression

All in all, this product was not a fit for me. Costco.com is no longer offering this product either.

As Jordan would say, "There are no short cuts, get your ass to the gym.". Sigh. Big sigh.

Garcina Cambogia Review - Does it really work?

I have seen the Dr. Oz show... and I am one of the millions that RUSH to my computer during his

show and order the latest and greatest products he touts for weight loss. When I hear the words, "Miracle weight loss pill" - I can't help but pull out my credit card and buy.  So I ordered 500 mg capsules from a company on Amazon.com.

Now, I followed the directions religiously and followed Dr. Oz's recommended dosage of  

For me, this was a
Useless little pill.

500mg of Garcinia Cambogia, two or three times a day - one dose before each meal.  

What is says it will do:
It is supposed to drastically reduce the amount of hunger you have helping you eat less at each meal.  It is supposed drop weight is by burning fats and suppressing hunger apart from helping your body instantly utilize carbohydrates instead of exchanging and storing them into fat cells.

What it did for me:
When taken 45-60 minutes before a meal I definitely noticed that it reduced the ravenous urgency I usually have before a meal.  In most cases I think it did help me eat less, but how much less is hard to say.  It obviously wasn't that much because the scale has not gone down.

The bottom line is, I have taken this product religiously for 2.5 months and I have not lost a single pound. If anything, it may have helped me stay at the same fat weight I am at... but I have not shed a single ounce, and that is not the result I was hoping for.

Jordan told me that he trains a gentleman who has lost over 75 pounds under Dr. Bo's Diet Plan.  He has been encouraging me to go to Dr. Bo's clinic as his client is continuing to lose weight at a steady pace and has only wonderful things to say about Dr Bo.  I know that Dr. Bo's program offers different types of plans including the HCG diet. Jordan said his client only did the straight diet without the HCG injections or drops. So I am going to see Dr. Bo on Tuesday.   

Updates to come!

CT Fletcher Motivation...WARNING Extreme Profanity!

I recently started following videos of this guy named CT Fletcher on YouTube, and he cracks me up, but at the same time he's pretty damn motivating! I posted just a few of the videos that I have seen below; they're videos of him and some other buddies all training together. Now I know a lot of you probably don't care about lifting heavy weights, but even then you can still appreciate the motivation, intensity, and energy these guys have during their workouts, they give it 110%... They keep it going through their entire workout doing whatever they need to make it through each set; screaming, shouting, cursing. Now I'm not saying that you have to take it as far as to do these things when you train, but all too many times when I'm with a client it's almost like they're scared to make any noise whatsoever. I constantly have to tell some of them to breathe, and to really breathe, and in order to do that you need to be a little loud! Or instead of pushing through those last few reps or seconds of an exercise where they're struggling, instead of pushing through it, grunting, breathing loudly, whatever, they'll just stop because they're scared to standout. Those last few reps or seconds of an exercise where you really have to struggle and push yourself are the most important though. Whether you're trying to lose fat or gain muscle, stopping before you start to struggle will get you nowhere. Don't be self-conscious, remember you're in the gym for you, work your ass off, push yourself, and don't worry about what others are thinking, I guarantee you they aren't thinking about you! Let these videos motivate you, or show you how you can motivate and push yourself...

 WARNING to my readers, if you're sensitive to strong language don't watch these videos!

#1

#2 Motivational Words

#3

Sore Muscles, Sprains, Strains, an Arthritis Pain All Gone with Penetrex, Topical Pain Relieving Cream

Scentless Fix for
Aches & Pains

If you have ever used products like Icy Hot, for sore muscles or aches and pains you may find out that they never work, or at least that's how I feel... Think about it though hot and cold pain relieving creams don't actually physical change temperature, they just give the feeling of being hot and cold, so the end result is mostly placebo. After I heard about this I stopped using them all together as it made a lot of sense to me that they weren't doing crap.

The other day I hurt my ankle doing sprints and it had been bothering me and affecting the way I walked because it hurt. I was looking through the medicine cabinet when I came across this cream called Penetrex, read the label and decided to try it. Originally I thought it was just another crappy hot and cold cream, but it's not, it doesn't get hot and cold, but it works! Just after one time of applying it on my ankle the pain and swelling reduced by 50% and then was completely fine by the next day! 

Another big plus, no camphor smell... it does not smell at all!

Here's a couple of things I got from their website:

 "Penetrex was designed & is indicated as a topical application to address underlying inflammation of muscles, nerves, ligaments and tendons. The efficacy of the ingredients within Penetrex are enhanced by a topical system... Utilizing an innovative topical process, Penetrex delivers Vitamin B6, Arnica, Choline, MSM, Cetyl Myristoleate, Shea Butter & Boswellia Serrata deep into muscles, nerves, ligaments & tendons". 

Try it. If you use other topical pain relieving creams/gels I definitely recommend you try out Penetrex! Also, it doesn't smell weird at all, it's unscented; and it isn't greasy or oily! Here's their website for more info...

http://www.penetrex.com/
Also available on Amazon.com Prime: Penetrex

Ahhhhnold Motivation

Arnold Schwarzenegger, I love this guy, he's the reason why I initially started working out! His story is very inspirational and goes to show that no matter what your goals and dreams are, you can reach them as long as you're passionate, driven, and dedicated. Now days people that I see at the gym make so many excuses as to why they can't work out, or how they can't eat healthy, but these are all lame ass excuses! Nothing in life comes easy, you're never going to have a perfect schedule which allows you to work out when you want, you're not going to just have healthy meals readily available, no one's going to just come and spoon feed you opportunity after opportunity. These are all things that you have to aggressively go after and make time for, but if you're truly passionate about meeting your goals then these things won't be a problem... If you go into something and do a half-ass job don't expect to see full-ass results, if anything at all!

Take some time to watch this video, it'll go to show you that no matter what you think is getting in your way, you can overcome it!

What Is Your Ideal Weight???

I run into this question a lot, as it's a reasonable one to ask if someone is trying to lose weight. Here are a couple of links you can click on to get your ideal body weight calculation for free! It's very simple just enter your stats and vuela there you have it, a pretty good estimate of what your weight should be based on your: sex, height, and age... Note, you don't necessarily have to be at that weight to be healthy or look good!

http://www.halls.md/ideal-weight/body.htm

http://www.calculator.net/ideal-weight-calculator.html