Posts Tagged ‘Nutrition’
Wednesday, February 17th, 2010
Day two is officially in! Have you been logging your food? If not, I bet if you opened a blank document on your computer screen you could remember everything you ate today (unless you really want to forget-in which case, you need to write it down as a reality check.) You don’t actually think that just because no one saw or it’s not on paper, that it doesn’t count, do you? Just do it already and get the ball rolling on positive changes.
For those of you already over the first mission-starting a food journal, we’re moving on. What did you have for breakfast today? I had 1% low fat cottage cheese, apple and organic peanut butter. I have to take my breakfast on the go by 5:30 every morning so that works for me. BUT I have other options ready to go for mornings I’m not in a rush and an option for when I’m in oops-I-hit-snooze-4-times mode, so that I never risk skipping the most important meal of the day. Just look how happy it makes this fella!
Eating a well balanced healthy breakfast is essential to firing up your metabolism, balancing your blood sugar and assisting you in much better decision making at your next meal or snack. You simply cannot afford to slack off on meal one not only for the above reasons but also for the mental aspect. If you feel like you screwed things up first thing, and tell yourself “you’re off” or you’re a failure at your new program, well then, you’ll most likely live out that self-defeating mantra. So shape up and get ready for…whatever the morning throws your way.
What do some simple, well rounded Meal #1s look like?
- 1 omega egg with 5 whites and veggies, 1/2 cup oats & 3 fish oil
- 1 cup 1% cottage cheese w/ large apple & Tbs Organic Nut Butter (try slicing the apple into the cottage cheese and adding cinnamon)
- (better than a skipped meal)-Protein shake in water, almonds and any piece of fruit I can grab
When it comes down to it there is no such thing as a good excuse. Keep your shopping list tailoring to the reality that rough days happen, oversleeping happens and you need to have the basic supplies to keep up with life.
Please feel free to post your fave breakfast solutions! You may just help someone find a new fave or find one yourself!
*scroll over the word “comments” below for a link to post*
Tags: boost your mood, build a metabolism, building healthy habits, diet, eating clean, marlboro personal trainer, meal ideas, Nutrition, personal trainer, weight loss
Posted in Fitness, Nutrition | 15 Comments »
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009
I bet many of you are already thinking it…it seems to be the time of year when you move past making wish lists for your loved ones and start scratching up a wish list for yourself in the New Year. With the blur of glitter, tinsel and candle light fading fast you find the time to evaluate yourself and your life over the past year. Do you remember what you vowed to do last year? Well? Dare I ask? There is no shame in not being able to achieve all your fitness or weight loss goals all by yourself. There IS shame in knowing you need guidance and the proper tools to succeed but do nothing to seek out a solution.
Health and a great body are not as ridiculously expensive or out of reach as the media would have you believe. You do not need personal chefs, a trainer 7 days a week for two workouts per day and a closet full of ipod-ready, climate proof training apparel dangling neatly over a slew of top of the line fitness shoes and those lame booty lifter sandals in every shade available. Would it help? Probably not even. Because everyone’s results start upstairs. No, I’m not talking about the level 2 cardio deck at your local gym. You’re results start in your mind-your attitude, motivation, effort to seek out quality knowledge and strategies that will once and for all help you achieve that elusive fit body.
So step 1. Resolve to STOP crash dieting and overtraining for a month before you feel like crap and quit. If that cliche’ worked, everyone in the world would be fit and fabulous by spring. So why not try something new? Something that has potential to change your life and leave your resolutions for something more profound than losing weight.
Step 2. Write down your goals and collect your measurement tools. For example, if you want to fit into your size 5 jeans comfortably enough to not have to do squats to stretch them out before a night on the town 
then pull those jeans out of the drawer and keep them accessible to gauge your progress. You can also pull out a favorite bathing suit and take pictures-front back and side. NOBODY wants to but its motivating and you’ll be glad you have them to compare to new ones later. Lastly, notice I didn’t say lose 40 pounds. Forget the scale and go for the “look” you’ve always wanted, not some random number.
Step 3. Clean up your diet. Ditch meals in wrappers or boxes like snack bars, cereals, frozen meals and other processed foods. Opt for natural sources of food like lean proteins, veggies, fruits and nuts. Sound too simple? Well, if your hooked on junk food it can be a challenge but it’s only hard if you make it hard. What do I mean by that? Calling your boyfriend is easy, calling him when you want to dump him? Seems hard. But its still just a phone call. It’s all in how you perceive it. So when you go to grab a snickers or bagel with cream cheese and you remember you should be eating natural foods… you decide either stick to your goals and find something healthy you like, or you eat it anyway. Not a hard choice. Just a choice.
I know that this can be YOUR YEAR. Because I’ve seen many finally have “their year” and make it happen for themselves. It’s doable. But first things first, don’t do what you did last year and start on step one!
Tags: diet, fat loss, Fitness, marlboro personal trainer, morganville personal trainer, Nutrition, personal trainer, weight loss
Posted in Fitness, Nutrition | No Comments »
Tuesday, September 15th, 2009
1. STARTING SMART: It can be a bit overwhelming to build all new healthy habits in order to sculpt the body you really want. Where you need to start completely depends on where you are right now and what your habits are on a regular basis. The only way to prioritize which eating and activity habits you need to change first, is to see what your doing on paper. That’s right. The simple act of journaling what you eat and what, if any, activity you did that day, will show you where you really need the most work and pronto! Some big no no’s to watch out for are:
- Skipping breakfast
- Eating fried or processed food (they ruin your skin anyway)
- Not drinking enough water (shoot for 8 glasses to start)
- Drinking your calories (soda, juice & calorie bomb coffee drinks) and…
- SUGAR! Yes, even the “fat free” kind. Sugar is sugar period.
What about your activity levels? If you weren’t active today-drop and give me 20! Well…maybe that’s a bit much. If you don’t have much experience in exercising, it would be best to get your first workout by hiking to your local trainer for some professional help. You’ll get a big return on the investment in your figure. If you’re on a very limited budget, bodyweight exercises in your own home is a great place to start.
2. EMOTIONAL EXTREMES: This is a BIG one. Food is not the solution to your problem. A sleeve of cookies won’t fix your relationship, eggplant parmesan won’t help you nail that interview and no- sucking down fancy cocktails doesn’t give you a body like Sarah Jessica Parker on Sex In The City. The real solution? Start journaling. Clear your mind. If you’re not sure what’s wrong or why your self- sabotaging your fitness goals, you need to find out ASAP. The only way to do that is by doing a bit of soul searching. So get out of the danger zone (aka back away from the fridge) and find a quiet spot to vent on paper. Instead of eating everything, you’re much more likely to find out what’s eating you.
3. FAT FAUX PAS: Gasp! The “F bomb”! If Fat is a dirty word in your diet lingo, you’ve got it all wrong. Healthy fats keep your hair shiny, eyes bright, skin smooth and waistline trim. Grandma was right when she said all things in moderation. Either way, too much junk fat like saturated fats in pizza, or too little fats like the blubber blasting omegas in salmon, and you’re slowing your results. How do you know what you’re eating? You got it. A journal. One day you might eat NO fat and another day you might eat way too much of the wrong kind. Start journaling what you put in your mouth and ask a professional. If you’re afraid of eating fat, it’s likely because you’ve been misinformed for some time now. How can you start small? Take 2 omega 3 fish oil caps at breakfast, lunch and dinner.
4. THE STRESS EFFECT: It’s not just hype. Stress can do horrible things to your body. For one, it can cause your body to pump out hormones like cortisol. Cortisol regulates blood sugar, inflammation, your immune system and your energy levels. One of the results of elevated cortisol levels is the storage of extra body fat especially around your midriff. Bummer. How can you combat the onslaught of stored belly fat with fear, worry and stress on the job? Exercise! Breaking a good sweat, whether at home or at the gym can help relieve stress by pumping out feel good chemicals called endorphins. The science of endorphins is controversial because some pros believe the positive feeling you get is from meeting a physical challenge, not the exertion itself- BUT, whatever the direct cause of the endorphin pump, exercise has been proven to enhance mood! So journal down your start mood, get in a quickie workout and head back to your journal to record some new adjectives to describe your post workout mood. You’ll not only be pleasantly surprised by the immediate results but journaling will help remind you that it’s a really beneficial habit to keep.
5. CONSITENCY=SUCCESS: On the wagon, off the wagon, back on the wagon…only to fall off again. Can someone please show me where this dreaded colony- sized wagon is so I can burn the thing! Believe me when I tell you …RUN from the proverbial wagon because apparently everyone falls off this darn thing! Your best bet is not to set unrealistic goals that set you up for failure. If you try to workout 7 days a week, you not only risk injury but you set yourself up for big disappointment in yourself. Plan to begin exercising 3 days a week and go from there. Don’t set a consistent exercise goal of 4 days a week until you’ve accomplished the first goal of 3 days a week for at least a month or two. Similarly, don’t go overboard with a super strict diet. Start by following the guidelines above and don’t make it more complicated until you have those mastered.
If you take nothing else from this blog, please remember the small ,healthy changes you make really do count in the long haul. If you make a mistake, don’t blow the day, week or month. Just get up, dust the donut powder off, and log your journey to fitness success. Staying consistent with your nutrition and exercise is key, and keeping a journal for yourself is your only feedback you have for what’s working and what’s not. So, 5 diet and exercise disasters greatly improved with 1 smart solution- keep a journal and keep at it!
Post comments below and feel free to make blog requests!
Tags: body weight workout, boost your mood, coping with stress, depression, diet, diet pitfalls, diet planning, diet program, Eat right, exercise, fat loss, fat loss goals, fat loss results, Fitness, fitness goals, healthy life style, life style changes, Nutrition, personal trainer, training, weight loss
Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
Thursday, May 21st, 2009
It’s no secret that our children live in a different world than that of children raised even as short as 5 years ago. Internet, X Box, Game Boys, Wii, texting and super sized-super convenient meals out. Obviously no parent is responsible for the crime rate that keeps our children from riding bikes all over town or being tempted to order out all the time because both parents work crazy hours- But! There are some precautions to take immediately to ensure that your child doesn’t become a statistic in the battle of obesity now or later in life.
The secret? The smart start young! Even with all the technological distractions these days it’s imperative that you begin to instill healthy habits in your child or teen’s regular routine. You teach a child that they have to brush their teeth whether they like it or not from a young age, and sure enough, because they know its important to their health, they do it the rest of their life. Now if we only did that with exercise and balanced nutrition! Well, I would like to pose the question Why not? And why not start today?
Step One: It’s irrelevant whether your child or teen is currently at a healthy weight or not. They all need to learn about a balanced diet and the importance of physical activity (besides Guitar Hero). Most importantly, do not discriminate between your children if one is a different weight or size than the other. A healthy body image is instilled and doesn’t just magically appear. Teach health equally and foster only positive emotions towards fitness and proper nutrition.
Step Two: Breakfast is a must! No matter the age or the fuss they kick up about being picky or too busy to eat before catching the bus. Choose a breakfast with a healthy source of protein, carbohydrate and fat for a well balanced meal that will support your child or teens: brain function, mood, metabolism and focus in school. Ex. 1 whole omega egg with added whites (veggies are an added bonus) and either a piece of fruit on the go or throw those eggs over some whole grain toast. In a super rush? A scoop of dream protein blended for a minute with some frozen fruit and a small handful of almonds is fast and will have your child thinking they earned a smoothie treat.
Step Three: Prioritize your child’s busy schedule. Don’t keep health on that back burner for when social clubs, art class and other after school activities are over. Enroll your child in a fitness program where they will learn about strength, conditioning, healthy foods, discipline, team work, respect…and the list goes on and on. Check out our programs here and allow your child or teen to watch and try one for free with no obligation.
Step Four: The teeth brushing rule- It is your direct responsibility as a caretaker to help keep your child consistent. I don’t know any parent that purchases a tooth brush and doesn’t encourage and check that their child uses it regularly. Do the same with their breakfast, training and positive reinforcement for a healthy body image. They will thank you in the future with the same pearly smile.
Step Five: Start today! Not after the school year or after camp or…you catch my drift. Your child is growing NOW and learning NOW. We can’t put that on hold so let’s not wait. Take even the smallest step today by getting outside with your child or teen and going for a bike ride, walk ,or invite the neighborhood kids over for a back yard game of badminton. Learning a healthy lifestyle can be really fun if you let it!
Post your experiences of bringing your child to The Training Stud
Tags: active children, boost your mood, building healthy habits, children's fitness, children's fitness program, children's health, diet program, exercise, family fitness, family health, fat loss, Fit Families, fit kids, Fitness, healthy life style, keeping teens off the internet, kids texting, Nutrition, personal trainer, Quii, stop teen texting, teen training, training, weight loss, young athlete training, young athletes
Posted in Fitness, Strength Training | No Comments »
Monday, May 4th, 2009
While maintaining your body weight can be relatively painless, losing the last ten pounds or first 20 takes discipline and a positive attitude towards your new and improved lifestyle. But is it possible to go overboard? Just when you thought you had no will power at all…you could have gotten yourself into a groove for a major diet flop.
One of the most common mistakes we see on a regular basis is dieters eager for quick results want to crash diet and drop their calories to a sudden, all time low.
Unfortunately there is no such thing as overnight fat loss but there IS a such thing as wreaking havoc on your metabolism and fat loss efforts by not eating enough.
If you’re not consuming at least 1,200 calories per day (and even more if you’re active) your body thinks its starving and flips an emergency switch to start storing all your calories as fat, instead of burning them during the day. It’s a basic survival mechanism.
Research has shown that people who don’t eat consistent, regular meals tend to consume extra calories later to make up for the deficit. For example, skipping lunch and your mid afternoon snack will most likely lead to a large dinner of foods you might not have otherwise chosen if you weren’t so hungry. That pesky sweet tooth and munchie cravings will kick in too!
The biggest problem now, is that with this eating pattern, your metabolism will slow with an extra low calorie intake during the day. Not only that, but now your body is going to crave more heavy foods and then store that lump sum of calories right away as fat.
Ok, so skipping meals and snacks is more than bad, it’s totally counter productive to your goals. What now? Work on eating 4 smaller meals to 6 mini meals of whole foods like lean proteins, your favorite fruits and vegetables and small amounts of healthy fats at each meal.
Not sure how much your eating? Check out www.FitDay.com it’s a totally free online nutrition logging program that can help you stay on track with you dieting goals!
Tags: build a metabolism, calorie counting, crash diet, diet, eat more to lose weight, eating clean, eating disorder, effects of eating disorder, fat loss, fat loss goals, food cravings, free nutrition tips, metabolism, Nutrition, nutrition support, quick results, satisfy your cravings, slow metabolism solutions, sweet tooth cravings, weight loss
Posted in Nutrition | 1 Comment »
Monday, April 6th, 2009
One of the biggest myths and misconceptions in weight loss is telling yourself that your body is what’s holding you back from your fitness goals and your genetics are the blame. I’m sure you’ve all heard someone out of shape say “I just can’t lose weight, I have a slow metabolism!” Well, I have heard this many times and seen it proven wrong many times, so it’s my pleasure to break the good news to you…YOUR METABLOLISM IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT.
You might not be in the 1% of genetically gifted individuals that can eat whatever they want, but we average Joes’ just need to get over it. There will always be someone out there that genetically breaks the rules. For instance, that 98 year old neighbor that has smoked two packs of cigarettes a day and eaten junk food their whole life but has no health issues. Or that girl friend of yours that eats buttered bagels and cheesy tuna melts for lunch but never gains a pound. Well get off the pity pot because there is absolutely nothing wrong with having a normal or average metabolism.
If you come from an overweight family, or have hereditary thyroid issues, this just means that you may be predisposed to having to work harder at your fitness goals. It is by no means a lifelong sentence to be fat or out of shape. People with a family history of high blood pressure, may have high-ER blood pressure but through training and nutrition can keep it within normal range. This person isn’t destined to have a coronary if they take good care of their body.
On the other hand, I must tell you it is also common to take a normal metabolism and slow it down by yo-yo dieting, crash dieting, fasting methods and/or an unfit sedentary lifestyle. But again, the good news is that you can rebuild and make a better metabolism and well, the bad news is that you don’t have that excuse anymore. So, let’s stop finger pointing at the genetically elite. Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I looked at an Olympic Sprinter and complained to my friends that I couldn’t sprint to my mail box in 2.3 seconds. Catch my drift?
Please post comments and thoughts and stay tuned for tips on building a healthy, fat-burning metabolism!
Tags: boost your metabolism, fat loss, Fitness, fitness goals, lose weight, marlboro bootcamps, marlboro personal trainer, Nutrition, six pack, slow metabolism, training, weight loss
Posted in Fitness, Nutrition | 3 Comments »
Tuesday, September 2nd, 2008
Going away to college, whether an hour from home or across the country, is a big step in becoming independent. As if maintaining your course schedule wasn’t enough, you have to learn how to manage your health and fitness in a new environment with added distraction and even stress. Eating right and exercising will help your energy levels, focus, sleep patterns and immune defense against winter colds and flus. Whether your a first year student, a soon to be grad, or even a teacher…everyone can use a little support in getting adjusted to a new lifestyle. I put together a few basic but highly effective tips so that you can make the most of your year at school.
Tip #1 Never Skip Breakfast! -Grandma was right. Breakfast is hands down the most important meal of the day. Have options ready for regular mornings and days that you may wake up late and have to run out the door. Enjoy eggs and fruit or Old Fashioned Oatmeal with a scoop of vanilla protein powder. If your in a rush have a protein shake and grab an apple and some almonds to go!
Tip #2 Snack Attack- Don’t wait until your absolutely starving to eat something because your so much less likely to choose the right foods. Easy to pack snacks for long class schedules could be an apple and small handful of almonds & walnuts or a quality protein bar.
Tip #3 Walk It Off- Whether it’s that first accounting exam, an overwhelming course load or your roommates really annoying music taste….walk it off! Stress can lead to overeating for no other reason but distraction so take a hike! Throw on a hoodie and walk the campus. Chances are you’ll meet some new people, relax and be more healthy because it.
Tip #4 Put Yourself To Bed - Yeah, I’m sure you don’t want to hear it but the amount of sleep you get directly effects your TOTAL health. Sleep balances the hormones in your body that control a normal appetite. Lose too much sleep on a regular basis and you’ll be grabbing for junk foods that your body doesn’t really want or need. Sleep also will keep your immune system pumping to fight off classmate cooties AND if that isn’t enough, proper sleep also regulates your mood so your roommate doesn’t get the urge to dip your toothbrush in the toilet.
Tip #5 Easy On The Booze- Let’s face the obvious. You have new found personal freedom and there is no shortage of parties. Alchohol consumption leads to sloppy judgement calls in every area of your life. If your drunk or even just “buzzed” your putting yourself at risk. If your health and safety isn’t enough reason to avoid drinking, let it be know that alchohol is major contributer to that unfortunate “Freshman 15″.
Well off to school you go now! Take care of your body and your body will take care of you. Feel free to email me through my website with any questions or topics of interest that you would like me to blog about.
Tags: Back to school special, boost your mood, College fitness, college nutrition, coping with stress, Eat right, energy levels, exercise, family fitness, family health, First year fitness, First year student, focus, freshman 15, Freshman in College, health, healthy life style, healthy teens, immune defense, lack of sleep, life style changes, mood, Nutrition, sleep disorder, stress, total health, wellness
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Wednesday, June 25th, 2008
We all have big goals and visions of what we want our lives, bodies and fitness levels to be like; but more often than not people get stuck on the “ready, set…” and then never really get the “GO”. You can have really great pieces of information about smart eating and exercise but get no results because, well, it’s just not enough to know it. I hate to break the news but that overnight epiphany of “Today is the day I’ll follow the perfect program without fail, forever!”-will never come. There is no need to expect perfection from yourself in order to see great results from building healthy habits. You don’t need the perfect pair of sneakers to start taking walks around your neighborhood or have a personal chef to eat more lean proteins, vegetables and fruit. Need a really basic habit to start asap? Give up soda, juice, and calorie packed specialty drinks. Implement that as often as you can, every day! Need a more advanced tip? Have 3 healthy breakfast options posted” on the fridge. One for when you oversleep, one for when have some time but are kind of lazy that morning, and a third option that you can really sit down and enjoy. Breakfast sets the tone for the entire day so it’s super important to be prepared so that you start off on the right foot. Here are 3 possible breakfast options but feel free to be creative.
“The Oversleeper”: Protein shake, apple & small handful of nuts (totally portable and can even be left in your car or desk at work)
“The Lazy Day Special”: 1% cottage cheese with 1 cup fresh blueberries and raw almonds
“The Morning Person”: Omega 3 egg with added whites, 1/4 cup reduced fat shredded cheese with all your favorite veggies, slice whole grain toast and a clememtine
Now YOU try! Try my suggestions and/or write a menu for yourself. Keep all your habit goals on a list that you can see and read often. Keep adding to it as each goal becomes more of a daily habit. If you need help prioritizing your nutrition and fitness goals, do not hesitate to consult a respected professional.
Now Ready, set….GO already!
Tags: diet, diet planning, diet program, family health, fat loss, Fitness, goal setting, health, health habits, healthy habits, healthy life style, meal ideas, motivation, Nutrition, nutrition coach, nutrition tips, personal trainer, weight loss
Posted in Fitness, Nutrition | No Comments »
Thursday, May 29th, 2008
Let’s take a minute to look a little closer at the booming BILLION DOLLAR weight loss industry. Consider the infinite low cal snacks, low carb meal replacements, “fat blasting” smoothies and all natural granola goodies. Could all these processed delicatessens equal a shopping cart full of fat loss? It would be nice to believe that your success can be bought in fancy boxes and shiny wrappers. I bet you can see where I’m going with this. The truth is, the LESS products you have in your cart the BETTER. Whole, clean foods are the key to a naturally fit body. I’m talking about fresh vegetables, produce, lean meats and whole grains. Real fat loss cannot be bought through a product line of frozen meals, boxed cereals, or any other pre-made “diet” foods you might find down the isles.
In short, fat loss is the sum of all you fitness efforts. Meaning: your food selection, meal timing, daily activity and your attitude. The combination of these things can never be bought or sold. Yes that means your new green tea chewing gum should not be your weight loss staple. So when you’re strolling down those lanes, it would serve you best to remember that all those brightly colored boxes and cans are part of a billion dollar industry to trick you into believing you can actually buy your heath from a company. And though quality protein powders and top notch supplements have there place, the majority of your health food intake should come from natural sources.
How can you put this into practice asap? When you’re at your next barbeque…steer towards the shrimp cocktail, chicken kabobs, grilled veggies and fruit platters while limiting time spent next to the pretzels, baked chips, low fat cheese dips and mayo based foods.
Take care of your body cause you only get one!
Tags: diet, diet pitfalls, diet products, eat this not that, eating clean, fat loss, fat loss products, fat loss results, how to lose fat, how to lose weight, Nutrition, nutrition counseling, personal trainer, weight loss products
Posted in Nutrition | No Comments »
