tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50518258143715402842024-03-28T02:18:17.353-07:00ThinStickCrave Less, NaturallyCathryn Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04746039301052321410noreply@blogger.comBlogger223125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051825814371540284.post-9964399036500089032011-07-12T15:00:00.000-07:002011-07-12T15:00:06.151-07:007 Simple Strategies to Help You Stick With Your Plan<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #64add0;"><span><b>by JJ Virgin</b></span></span></span><br />
Hey let’s face it, a weight loss plan only works…if you work it. And there are a lot of challenges along the way that can throw you off if you let them. Here are some of my top “stick” strategies to help you stay on the plan long enough so that it becomes your new way of living. After all, if you live, think and feel like a healthy lean person you will become one over time. <br />
<ol><li>Get a clear picture of the result you are going for by taking a picture of your favorite celeb body out there and pasting your head on it. Put a copy of these everywhere – keep on in your purse, put one on the frig, etc. You have to see it to believe it! </li>
<li>Make lateral shifts – trade your peanut butter for almond butter, your wheat pasta for rice pasta, your milk for coconut milk (unsweetened of course), your morning whey smoothie for a pea-rice blend, your butter for olive oil. </li>
<li>Add before you take away – add more veggies, your morning smoothie, iced green tea between meals and you will crowd out the foods you shouldn’t be having.</li>
<center><img height="162" hspace="10" src="http://www.jjvirgin.com/leanzine/772011/April-25-2009-Certified-Farmers-Market-Palm-Springs-33.jpg" vspace="15" width="216" />
</center>
<li>Focus on what you can have and experiment with new foods in this category. The best place to do this is at your local farmer’s market – check out arugula, mache, pomegranate, kale, cashew butter, coconut milk kefir, quinoa pasta….you’ll forget all about the foods you are eliminating.</li>
<li>Focus on how much better you feel. Take an initial assessment of your overall wellness: gas & bloating, fatigue, excess fat, skin issues, focus & mental clarity, pain & inflammation, sleep quality, cravings and mood. Reassess weekly to check your progress. Quite often we forget how rotten we felt when we start to feel better! </li>
<li>Create negative associations to help you break free from unhealthy food choices. I know what happens when I eat foods that I react to and that has created a major negative association for me. I just don’t look at cheesecake or sourdough bread as favorably anymore as I know I will pay for it later and it just isn’t worth it. </li>
<li> Build in rewards to celebrate your success along the way. Plan to treat <img align="right" height="145" hspace="10" src="http://www.jjvirgin.com/leanzine/772011/Pedicure_210-small.jpg" vspace="10" width="160" />yourself to something special when you hit your short and long term goals. Be sure these are NOT food rewards! Some great ideas are a mani-pedi, a massage, a new journal etc. </li>
</ol><hr align="center" noshade="noshade" size="3" width="93%" /> <h2><span style="color: #ffad40;">JJ Recommends</span></h2><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #64add0;"><span><b>Walnut Lentil</b></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #64add0;"><span><b> Salad</b><br />
</span></span></span><br />
As you may know, I am a Paleo Gal - I believe we should eat clean lean animal protein along with healthy fats, non starchy veggies and a small amount of “slow, low” carbs. While I don’t subscribe to Veganism, there are some great recipes we can grab from the Vegan world that help deliciously increase our veggie intake. I hope you enjoy this one from my new pal, the vegan expert, Alex Jamieson, CHHC, AADP. <i>Author of <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/nutritionforempoweredwomen-20" target="_blank">Vegan Cooking For Dummies</a>, <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/nutritionforempoweredwomen-20/detail/0470522143" target="_blank">Living Vegan For Dummies</a> & </i> <i><a href="http://astore.amazon.com/nutritionforempoweredwomen-20" target="_blank">The Great American Detox Diet</a></i><br />
<b><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #64add0;"><span><b><b><img align="right" height="148" src="http://www.jjvirgin.com/leanzine/772011/walnuts-small.jpg" width="150" /></b></b></span></span></span></span>Walnut Lentil Salad</b><br />
1 ½ cups cooked brown lentils, cooled and drained<br />
¼ cup sliced green onions, green part only<br />
1 cup packed thinly sliced baby spinach<br />
½ cup halved cherry tomatoes<br />
8 kalamata olives, pitted and roughly chopped<br />
¼ cup chopped walnuts<br />
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil<br />
1 tablespoon balsamic or umeboshi vinegar<br />
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard<br />
1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary<br />
1 clove garlic, crushed<br />
½ teaspoon sea salt<br />
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper<br />
<ol><li>In a large mixing bowl, combine the lentils, green onions, spinach, tomatoes, olives, and walnuts. Mix well with a wooden spoon and set aside.</li>
<li>In a small mixing bowl, combine the oil, vinegar, mustard, rosemary, garlic, salt, and pepper and whisk together. Pour over the lentil salad and mix well.</li>
<li>Allow the salad to set at room temperature for at least 20 minutes, stirring a few times before serving. Alternatively, refrigerate in an airtight container for at least and hour hours before serving. </li>
</ol>*Refrigerates for up to 3 days for picnics and lunch leftovers!<br />
<div align="center"> By Alexandra Jamieson, Plant-Based Wellness Expert<br />
<a href="http://www.deliciousvitality.com/" target="_blank">www.DeliciousVitality.com</a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">©2011 JJ Virgin & Associates, Inc. Nutrition and Fitness Expert JJ Virgin is a the author of <i>Six Weeks to Sleeveless and Sexy</i> and the co-star of TLC’s <i>Freaky Eaters</i> reality series. Visit her at <a href="http://www.jjvirgin.com/" target="_blank">http://www.jjvirgin.com</a> to grab her free audio: <i>Top Ten Hottest Tips to Get Slim and Sexy Fast</i></span> </div>Cathryn Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04746039301052321410noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051825814371540284.post-52074822467754379312011-07-05T16:19:00.000-07:002011-07-05T16:19:19.967-07:00Easy Grilled Vegetable MarinadeIt's BBQ time! One thing I particularly love to do is grill vegetables. Here is an easy "go-to" marinade that can be used on all sorts of vegetables including: asparagus, broccoli, zucchini, mushrooms, peppers, onions etc...<br />
<br />
Ingredients:<br />
1/2 cup soy sauce<br />
1/2 water<br />
2 tbsp toasted sesame oil <br />
1 tsp black pepper<br />
1 tsp garlic powder (or 1 clove grated fresh garlic)<br />
1 tsp ginger powder (or 1 tbsp fresh grated ginger)<br />
<br />
Directions:<br />
Combine all ingredients in a bowl and pour over vegetable of your choice. Make sure the veggies are cleaned and prepped before marinating. Allow to soak for about 30 minutes for optimal flavor absorption. Grill on bbq, make sure to rotate/flip the veggies as needed. When tender, remove from grill and enjoy!Cathryn Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04746039301052321410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051825814371540284.post-82066663522550778522011-07-01T16:03:00.000-07:002011-07-05T16:21:12.926-07:00Taco Salad Recipe<div class="ingredients" style="margin-top: 10px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieq4GY1iIer0G4AYqkJQCmqE-hrsRFMhK2IevQtee92Pxk1TQCLPuxQ59nODGV4RRBA_WJ2NcIH9rINeSHeE17B-7GOky2mE2LHxpevaaXBhv7bTqzJEsKHiBJjsVufxs_z_33hA4pApNC/s1600/642470.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieq4GY1iIer0G4AYqkJQCmqE-hrsRFMhK2IevQtee92Pxk1TQCLPuxQ59nODGV4RRBA_WJ2NcIH9rINeSHeE17B-7GOky2mE2LHxpevaaXBhv7bTqzJEsKHiBJjsVufxs_z_33hA4pApNC/s1600/642470.jpg" /></a></div><h3>Ingredients</h3><ul><li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient"> 1 pound lean ground beef</li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient"> 1 (1 ounce) package taco seasoning mix + water as directed</li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient"> 1/2 (14.5 ounce) package tortilla chips</li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient"> 2 cups shredded Pepper Jack cheese</li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient"> 1/2 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, drained</li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient"> 1/2 cup light Best Foods® Mayo</li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient">1 tsp Tabasco® Sauce</li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient"> chopped tomato</li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient"> chopped lettuce</li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient"> chopped green onion</li>
</ul></div><div style="border-top: 1px dotted rgb(204, 204, 204); margin-top: 20px; width: 300px;"></div><div class="directions" style="margin-top: 10px;"><h3>Directions</h3><ol><li><span class="plaincharacterwrap break"> Place ground beef in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring to crumble until well done; drain. Stir in taco seasoning mix, water and kidney beans. Set aside to cool. </span></li>
<li><span class="plaincharacterwrap break"> Place chips into a large bowl, and crush into bite-size pieces. Combine with seasoned meat, cheese, beans, tomatoes, lettuce, and green onions. Top with mayo and Tabasco, and toss to coat. (The Tabasco mayo makes a surprisingly flavorful dressing) Enjoy!</span></li>
</ol></div><div class="directions" style="margin-top: 10px;"><span class="plaincharacterwrap break"> </span> </div><div class="directions" style="margin-top: 10px;"><span class="plaincharacterwrap break"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://allrecipes.com/Cook/11170677/Photo.aspx?photoID=642470">Photo courtesy Allrecipes.com</a></span></span> </div>Cathryn Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04746039301052321410noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051825814371540284.post-4163518156264275532011-06-29T15:37:00.000-07:002011-07-05T15:38:12.637-07:00Are You Eating Propylene Glycol?<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #64add0;"><b>by JJ Virgin</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #64add0;"><b><br />
</b></span></span><br />
<img align="left" height="135" hspace="10" src="http://www.jjvirgin.com/leanzine/6-23-11/propylene%20glycol.jpg" vspace="5" width="169" />You eat organic food whenever possible, you drink filtered water, you use environmentally healthy cleaning products and you wash your hair and moisturize your body with …. Phthalates, parabens, gluten, hydrogenated oils and GMO’s? I hate to break it to you but even some of the most well known products out there claiming to be organic and safe may still contain harmful chemicals that can increase your body burden of toxins. Just the bottles alone are often doing the product in by adding harmful plasticizers and xenoestrogens into your product. <br />
Remember your skin is a sieve, if you are washing with it or slathering it on your skin, you are effectively eating it. When you think about it that way, it makes you really re-evaluate the products you are using! I did a fascinating interview with a toxicity expert, Michelle Naccarati-Chapkis* and she went into detail about what we are getting in our personal care products (and guess what, just because you spent a lot of money on those products doesn’t mean they are organic or safe). <br />
She recommended we all go check out the info on the environmental working group’s website (<a href="http://ewg.org/" target="_blank">http://ewg.org</a>) where they have compiled the list of products and their safety ratings. I was dismayed to find out that my favorite mascara didn’t make the grade (some of the top brands even had mercury in them) nor did my lipstick. <br />
Turns out many lipsticks and lip balms contain propylene glycol. And while toxicology reports show that this substance (used also as anti-freeze) poses no health risks (or so they say) at minute amounts, consider that over the course of a year you EAT (yep, eat) over 10 pounds of lipstick. Then combine this with the other chemicals you are getting in your shampoo, conditioner, Brazilian Blowout (I knew that was too good to be true- can you say silicone!), moisturizer, eye cream….etc.etc. and guess what, Houston, we could have a problem here because these chemicals all get absorbed into your skin and then your body has to handle them. And one of the top places to store these toxins is in your fat cells. Dr. Angelo Tremblay showed that rats with higher toxic burdens actually had 30% lower metabolisms! <br />
Hey, there’s no way around it, we live in an increasingly toxic world. So we have to control what we can control by reducing our toxic burden in every way possible while improving our daily detoxification. I realized recently after spending an enlightening evening with a skin care products expert, Jama Russano, that I was getting toxic exposure in places I wasn’t even thinking about! So you will start to see me talk more about this in the coming weeks AND I will also be giving you amazing skin & hair care alternatives that will support your quest for optimal health. For now I want you to become aware of what is in what you are currently using and make that decision to extend your healthy habits to your beauty regimen as well!<br />
Here are a few of the things that SHOULDN’T be in your personal care products or the containers that are transporting them: artificial colorings & fragrances, benzene, bisphenol A, dimethicone, EDTA, formaldehyde, gluten, GMO’s, hydrogenated oils, mineral oil, parabens, petrolatum, plastics, phthalates, PVC’s, PEG’s(1,4-dioxane), propylene glycol, silicates, silicones, sodium lauryl sulfates, wheat, triethanolamine. <br />
So just like we have you read the labels in the grocery store, start checking out the labels in the drug store and beauty counters and insist on organic, non toxic products just like you do for your food! <br />
*you can grab this enlightening (okay and a bit disturbing) interview free here:<b> </b> <a href="http://jjv.audioacrobat.com/download/michelle-nacarrati-chapkis.mp3" target="_blank">Michelle Naccarati-Chapkis</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">©2011 JJ Virgin & Associates, Inc. Nutrition and Fitness Expert JJ Virgin is a the author of <i>Six Weeks to Sleeveless and Sexy</i> and the co-star of TLC’s <i>Freaky Eaters</i> reality series. Visit her at <a href="http://www.jjvirgin.com/" target="_blank">http://www.jjvirgin.com</a> to grab her free audio: <i>Top Ten Hottest Tips to Get Slim and Sexy Fast</i> </span>Cathryn Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04746039301052321410noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051825814371540284.post-78991546395866079032011-06-21T10:17:00.000-07:002011-06-21T10:17:25.264-07:00Oh-So-Refreshing Blended Watermelon!<b>Ingredients:</b><br />
1-2 Cups Watermelon, seeded and chunked<br />
5 or 6 ice cubes<br />
1 Tablespoon sugar, or a sprinkle of Truvia<br />
Splash of fresh Lime Juice<br />
1 mint leaf (1 additional for garnish, if desired)<br />
1 Packet ThinStick™<br />
<br />
<b>Directions:</b><br />
Blend all ingredients in blender, adding ice to reach your desired consistency. Enjoy a satisfying, refreshing and hydrating beverage! :)Cathryn Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04746039301052321410noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051825814371540284.post-66964180139187126692011-06-18T08:49:00.000-07:002011-06-20T08:51:40.340-07:00Frozen Hot ChocolateNow, I know that this is not a "healthy treat". However, if you are going to splurge once in a while, might as well get filled up so that you don't need to snack on anything else! <br />
<div class="georgia24" style="font-size: 26px;"></div><div class="georgia24"><span style="font-size: large;">Ingredients</span></div><div style="line-height: 18px; margin-top: 12px;"><ul style="list-style-image: url("http://www.oprah.com/images/articles/Bullet_14pt_666e72_082510.png"); list-style-position: inside; margin: 3px 0px 15px 3px; padding: 0pt;"><li>3 oz. chocolate pieces ( I like Trader Joe's Belgium Dark Chocolate)</li>
<li>1 Tablespoon hot chocolate mix </li>
<li>1 Tablespoons sugar or 1 packet Truvia</li>
<li>1 1/2 cups milk, used in two parts (skim or almond, if you don't want to go too overboard!)</li>
</ul><ul style="list-style-image: url("http://www.oprah.com/images/articles/Bullet_14pt_666e72_082510.png"); list-style-position: inside; margin: 3px 0px 15px 3px; padding: 0pt;"><li>3 cups ice</li>
<li>1 packet ThinStick™ </li>
<li>Whipped cream (optional)</li>
</ul></div><div class="georgia18" style="margin-top: 30px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Directions </span></div>Break the chocolate pieces into smaller chunks and put in a microwave safe bowl. Heat in microwave in 20 second intervals, stirring in between, until melted. Once melted, add the hot chocolate mix and sugar. Stir until combined. Slowly add <b>½ cup </b>of milk until smooth. Cool to room temperature.<br />
<br />
In a blender, place the remaining cup of milk, the room-temperature chocolate mixture, ThinStick™ and the ice. Blend on high speed until smooth. Pour into a large glass and top with whipped cream (optional).Cathryn Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04746039301052321410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051825814371540284.post-16063809877007272642011-06-14T10:44:00.000-07:002011-06-14T10:44:34.390-07:00Cilantro Smoothie?... Really!!<strong>Why Cilantro?</strong><br />
Recent research shows that consumption of significant amounts of cilantro can accelerate the excretion of heavy metals like mercury, lead and aluminum from the body. Research performed by Dr Omura found that fresh cilantro removes these heavy metals from the body in less than two weeks. He also discovered that patients had fewer colds and flu symptoms after removing the heavy metals. It seems that viruses and bacteria like to accumulate in organs contaminated by heavy metals. <br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Ingredients:</strong><br />
<ul><li>1 cup milk (almond works well)</li>
<li>1 cup mango</li>
<li>1 cup cilantro</li>
<li>8-12 strawberries<a class="kLink" href="http://www.smoothieweb.com/category/crazy-smoothies/#" id="KonaLink0" style="font-family: inherit ! important; font-size: inherit ! important; font-weight: inherit ! important; position: static; text-decoration: underline ! important;"><span style="color: rgb(248, 148, 29) ! important; font-family: inherit ! important; font-size: inherit ! important; font-weight: inherit ! important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="color: rgb(248, 148, 29) ! important; font-family: inherit ! important; font-size: inherit ! important; font-weight: inherit ! important; position: relative;"></span></span></a></li>
<li>4 dates</li>
<li>1 packet ThinStick™</li>
<li>1 cup +/- Ice cubes </li>
</ul><br />
Source: http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/cilantro-chelation-therapy-heavy-metal-detox.htmlCathryn Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04746039301052321410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051825814371540284.post-53079648904743165512011-06-10T19:19:00.000-07:002011-06-10T19:19:08.897-07:00Reality Bites: Lessons from TLC’s Freaky Eaters<h2><span style="color: #ffad40;"><span><b><span style="font-size: small;">By JJ Virgin</span></b><b></b></span></span></h2>Not a day goes by where someone doesn’t share with me their food or drink “habit” and ask me if they are a “Freaky Eater”. By our show’s definition, a freaky eater is someone who has taken an eating habit to the extreme and it is damaging their health, their relationships and their finances. They are quite often in denial about it, they hide their habit and they are powerless to stop. While it is unlikely that your “habit” has reached that magnitude (if it has, we are casting for Season 3!) but I believe that nearly everyone has a bit of a freaky eating habit that could be keeping them from being their very best. <br />
Fortunately you can use the same format that we have created on the show to turn around the toughest of cases in a week or less. These are people who have been struggling for years, sometimes even decades and if they can do it, you definitely can….that is, if you want to.<br />
It all starts with acknowledgment. You need to come clean that there is a behavior/habit that you would like to change. By the way this can apply to staying up to late, skipping your workouts, etc. but for now we are going to focus on food. Let’s say that you have the bad habit of snacking at night. <br />
Start a food journal so you can capture exactly what and how much you are eating at night. By doing this you can really see the magnitude of what you are doing. If you are eating a few extra hundred calories each night, and most likely these are the worst type of calories – refined carb and sugar calories, this can undermine everything you are doing as it is telling your body to store fat all night long and those extra calories gotta go somewhere. Look at what this behavior is doing to your overall health - is it stopping you from being as lean, energetic and vibrant as you could be? Is it getting in the way of your relationship (how about quitting the snacking and spending some cuddle time with your spouse instead?) Are you wasting money on these treats? It all adds up and you need to take a hard look at what you are really doing to yourself. <br />
<img align="right" height="102" hspace="5" src="http://www.jjvirgin.com/leanzine/6-9-11/JJ%20at%20table.jpg" vspace="5" width="160" />Next set up a course of action. On the show there are two strategies we employ here. First we add before we take away. I would make sure that you are eating enough at your 3 meals so that you aren’t hungry at night. I would add a glass of water as it was shown in a University of Chicago study that an 8 ounce glass of water shut down 100% of midnight hunger pangs. Then we use lateral shifts. Quite often this means replacing a less healthy food with a healthier option like replacing ice cream with Greek-style yogurt topped with berries and sliced almonds. However it can also mean replacing a bad habit with an incompatible one. For example, instead of reaching for a snack, go relax in a hot bath with a great book. <br />
Figure out what will work for you here and lay out your action steps to make it happen. Start easy, don’t give yourself more than three things to do and make sure that they are things you can have success with. <br />
Get support while you are changing your habit. You need to accountable to someone. The going might get a little rough during the transition and if you can call a friend or a coach and get talked down it can help ensure your success. By the way, we have set up special one month coaching programs for this very reason (link here) so if you don’t have a friend you feel comfortable discussing this with, we are here to help. You will probably find that you not only have a friend who will help, he or she will probably want the favor returned so they can break their own “freaky food habit”.Cathryn Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04746039301052321410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051825814371540284.post-86168163715892917712011-06-06T19:21:00.000-07:002011-06-10T19:26:13.601-07:00What to do with that left-over broccoli?...<b>...Blend it in to your morning smoothie!!</b><br />
<br />
<b>Ingredients:</b><br />
<ul><li>1 cup of frozen blueberries</li>
<li>1/2 cup of steamed broccoli</li>
<li>1 cup of 100 percent cranberry juice</li>
<li>1/2 cup of low-fat plain yogurt</li>
<li>1 packet ThinStick™ or 2 scoops ThinStick Shake</li>
<li>ice cubes, as desired</li>
<li> For additional antioxidants, blend in some strawberries or other fresh berries you may have</li>
</ul>Combine all ingredients in your blender and enjoy!Cathryn Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04746039301052321410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051825814371540284.post-57795215856331990522011-06-01T09:15:00.000-07:002011-06-01T09:15:23.673-07:00Put Your Fork Down!<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #64add0;"></span></span><span style="color: #64add0;"><b>Simple Strategies to Help You Eat Less Effortlessly</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #64add0;"><b> by JJ Virgin</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #64add0;"><b> </b></span><br />
Dashboard dining, TV dinners, movie munching – let’s face it, we are becoming a society of mindless eaters which can wreak havoc on our waistlines. The good news is that you can build simple eating behavior strategies into your lifestyle that can help you easily eat 20% without even noticing the loss (except on the scale that is). <br />
Remember too much healthy food is still unhealthy. Calories do count, of course where they come from counts most so while I am telling you to shrink your plate and slow it down, I am always going to emphasize loading up with non starchy veggies. <br />
<b><img align="right" height="144" hspace="5" src="http://www.jjvirgin.com/leanzine/052611/chipmunk.jpg" vspace="5" width="227" />Strategy #1:</b> Learn from the French Women: stop eating when you are no longer hungry RATHER than continuing to eat until you are full. And since it takes 20 minutes or more for us to register being full anyway it is easy to overeat if we are racing through our meals. <br />
<b>Strategy #2:</b> Dine with slowpokes and pace your eating to theirs. I am a notoriously fast eater and this strategy along with reminder myself to CHEW and put my fork down during bites has helped slow me down tremendously. <br />
<b><img align="left" height="139" hspace="5" src="http://www.jjvirgin.com/leanzine/052611/plate.jpg" vspace="5" width="143" />Strategy #3:</b> Shrink your plate. Turns out our dinner plates have been getting bigger (yep supersizing is happening on the home front too). So shift over to the salad plates and soup bowls. My only exception is for salad greens and steamed veggies – load up on these!<br />
<b>Strategy #4:</b> Serve the right amount of food (live by my balanced plate of clean lean protein, healthy fats, a rainbow of non starchy veggies and a small amount of high fiber, low glycemic starchy carbs) and then pack up the rest BEFORE you start eating. The only additional food that should be at the table are (you guessed it) non starchy veggies. <br />
<b>Strategy #5:</b> Drink up, between meals. Quite often we are mistaking hunger for thirst so crank up the pure spring water and green tea between meals. Carry a safe drinking bottle with you so you can track your amounts because what you measure you can improve. <br />
<b>Strategy #6:</b> Get the enemy out of the house, the glove box, the office….out of sight = out of mind. <br />
<b><img align="right" height="93" hspace="10" src="http://www.jjvirgin.com/leanzine/052611/latte.jpg" vspace="5" width="145" />Strategy #7:</b> Know your numbers. More and more restaurants are posting calories now but the studies still show people aren’t paying attention and tend to UNDERESTIMATE the calorie load of their meals on an average of 25% especially if they perceive the meal to be “healthy”. It’s easy for the calories to crank up with “secret sauces”, hidden sugars and damaged fats and these are the type of calories that make you better at storing fat and creating inflammation so read the labels and know what you are getting. <br />
Be proactive with your eating strategies, it’s much less painful than having to fix the damage that mindless eating can wreak after the fact.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">©2011 JJ Virgin & Associates, Inc. Nutrition and Fitness Expert JJ Virgin is a the author of <i>Six Weeks to Sleeveless and Sexy</i> and the co-star of TLC’s <i>Freaky Eaters</i> reality series. Visit her at <a href="http://www.jjvirgin.com/" target="_blank">http://www.jjvirgin.com</a> to grab her free audio: <i>Top Ten Hottest Tips to Get Slim and Sexy Fast</i></span>Cathryn Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04746039301052321410noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051825814371540284.post-1541652541631706632011-05-25T08:41:00.000-07:002011-05-25T08:41:49.874-07:00Easy Grilled Ginger-ale Chicken<b>Ingredients:</b><br />
1 cup Ginger Ale<br />
1/4 cup soy sauce<br />
1 tsp fresh grated ginger<br />
2 cloves garlic crushed or grated<br />
2 Chicken Breasts<br />
<br />
<b>Directions: </b><br />
Place chicken breasts in a sealable plastic bag. Pour remaining ingredients over top. Allow mixture to marinate for the day in the refrigerator. (Can be prepared as soon as two hours before grill time) Grill Chicken on your BBQ like normal, no extra sauces or spices needed during grilling. If you are cooking this chicken inside in a skillet or wok, you may want to slice the chicken into strips before you marinade. <br />
<br />
Serve with some fresh steamed or grilled vegetables and whole grain rice. I also like to include a serving of Sweet Chili Dipping Sauce for the chicken and vegetables. :)Cathryn Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04746039301052321410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051825814371540284.post-40228296218682715052011-05-21T08:05:00.000-07:002011-05-21T08:05:03.449-07:00Decadent Chocolate Recovery SmoothieThis smoothie is great to drink after an intense workout. The protein/sugar balance helps your muscles repair and recover faster. Enjoy! It's not only good for you, it tastes good and will keep you full for hours! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvcu2QYZobOjwHunm6R52lqssR1HyNSPzciTfvKmJjkk_E-yCCWU1WSm2Mr4vjjlBY0dK7iiYdrgkjp1mRRgVZSVf2Qvrnzyw33D7iWt0MQLYpRLE1o6MkyZti1CN_Jyqxr-duaxMFMUcm/s1600/hershey_chocolate-syrup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvcu2QYZobOjwHunm6R52lqssR1HyNSPzciTfvKmJjkk_E-yCCWU1WSm2Mr4vjjlBY0dK7iiYdrgkjp1mRRgVZSVf2Qvrnzyw33D7iWt0MQLYpRLE1o6MkyZti1CN_Jyqxr-duaxMFMUcm/s1600/hershey_chocolate-syrup.jpg" /></a></div><b>Ingredients: </b><br />
(Serves 2)<br />
<ul><li>2 cup of milk</li>
<li>2 tablespoons chocolate syrup</li>
<li>1/2 teaspoon dry chocolate pudding mix</li>
<li>1/4 cup peanut butter</li>
<li>1 banana</li>
<li>1 cups ice</li>
<li>2 scoops ThinStick Shake or 1 packet ThinStick</li>
</ul>Cathryn Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04746039301052321410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051825814371540284.post-32241831439678965972011-05-13T09:23:00.000-07:002011-05-15T21:24:20.258-07:00ThinStick Testimonial<div class="paragraph_style_6" style="padding-top: 0pt;"><span class="style_4" style="line-height: 16px;">"Thin stick is the best supplement I have used to decrease patient's hunger I have seen nothing work better to stop night-time snacking. For patients who snack, Thin Stick is the answer. It stops hunger, period. My patients have the hardest time after dinner, sitting in front of the TV, snacking on bad food in the house. Thin Stick STOPS these cravings. Diet and exercise must be used in any weight loss protocol, and Thin Stick must be used for anyone who has snack cravings. If you don't want to be hungry for 4 hours, take a Thin Stick!"</span><span class="style_5" style="line-height: 16px;"></span></div><div class="paragraph_style_6" style="padding-top: 0pt;"><span class="style_5" style="line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="paragraph_style_6" style="padding-top: 0pt;"><span class="style_7" style="line-height: 17px;">Dr Jared Skowron - </span><span class="style_8">Senior Naturopathic Physician</span></div>Cathryn Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04746039301052321410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051825814371540284.post-70284755950049081962011-05-06T07:49:00.000-07:002011-05-06T07:49:53.755-07:00Tart Cherry Smoothie<b>Ingredients:</b><br />
1 cup Frozen Raspberries<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg09OXUXUPbwnsrsLOIPImyNIkkq8yEKg4bl4jTEn-eMQsVkonVCPuM7o58DTgOJjFbG0RWy21HZPimRfoBwef2SNtGZyuyOH1-Hrpd7409YqHqhHAt2znW6dJeWUVnchefUHGV1qmGV0Mb/s1600/418KAugvDWL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg09OXUXUPbwnsrsLOIPImyNIkkq8yEKg4bl4jTEn-eMQsVkonVCPuM7o58DTgOJjFbG0RWy21HZPimRfoBwef2SNtGZyuyOH1-Hrpd7409YqHqhHAt2znW6dJeWUVnchefUHGV1qmGV0Mb/s320/418KAugvDWL.jpg" width="176" /></a></div>1 cup Tart (unsweetened) Cherry Juice<br />
1 Banana<br />
2 scoops <a href="http://www.thinstick.com/">Thinstick Shake™</a> or 1 packet <a href="http://www.thinstickc.om/">ThinStick</a>™<br />
1 cup ice<br />
<br />
<b>Directions:</b><br />
Add to blenger in order listed above, blend on high power until smoothie churns over by itself or until smooth. Enjoy!<br />
<br />
*Note- we have no endorsement, but we have tried Lakewood's and it was really good! ;)Cathryn Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04746039301052321410noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051825814371540284.post-68603201475895504962011-04-28T13:30:00.000-07:002011-04-28T13:30:01.547-07:00Could Your Belly Be Making You Fat?<div style="color: #64add0; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">by JJ Virgin</span></span></div><img align="left" height="144" hspace="5" src="http://www.jjvirgin.com/leanzine/42811/bloat.jpg" vspace="5" width="117" />I bet you will agree that there is nothing worse than feeling gassy and bloated but what you might not realize is this could be a symptom of bigger things going down in your gastrointestinal tract that could be making you gain or hold onto fat, crave the very foods that are hurting you and zap your energy. If you are struggling with joint pain, fatigue, brain fog/mood swings, skin issues, constipation and/or diarrhea, congestion or gas/bloating, read on, I have some simple tips that could make all of the difference!<br />
<ol><li>Try eliminating the most common culprits – believe it or not, some of those “healthy foods” could be hurting you as they are higher in potential sensitivities AND these intolerances grow when you eat something on a regular basis. Try pulling dairy, soy, gluten, corn, peanuts, yeast and sugars/artificial sweeteners from your diet for 21 days and track your symptoms, you will be amazed! And yes, there is still plenty left to eat – think raw nuts & seeds, a rainbow of veggies, low glycemic fruits and clean, lean protein which is what your diet should focus on anyway, ahem. </li>
<li>Take time to digest well. Repeat after me, no more mindless eating, no more dashboard dining, no more_______ (fill in the blanks). Make time for your meals, slow down, put your fork down between bites and don’t overload the fluids (which dilutes your stomach enzymes) during the meal. I have found digestive enzymes to be a lifesaver here as well. </li>
<li>Search, find and destroy and kill….microbes, yeast and parasites. Gut bacterial overgrowth can extract more calories from the food you eat and store it as fat, yeast overgrowth can wipe out your energy and make you crave carbs like crazy and parasites can send you running to the bathroom. If you suspect this, work with your integrative health practitioner to clear things up. I also recommend a daily dose of garlic to keep things in check. I have been using Kyolic Aged Garlic Digestion Formula 102. </li>
<li>Build your defenses. Add a daily probiotic to help rebuild your gut flora and boost your gut immune system through high quality whey protein (if you aren’t dairy sensitive) and saccharomyces boulardii.</li>
<li>Cool things off. Help reduce your gut and overall inflammation by making an oil change and getting in wild fish 3-4 times a week and supplementing with a balanced essential fatty acid product that contains EPA, DHA and GLA. Freshly ground flaxseed meal mixed with applesauce is very gut soothing and healing and makes a wonderful afternoon snack.</li>
</ol>These tips are from my brand new 7 Step Gut Healing program to help you break through your weight loss resistance and claim the energy, vitality and body of your dreams! If you would like to be one of the first to experience this program, watch your inbox for how you can get this as a special bonus in May!<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">©2011 JJ Virgin & Associates, Inc. Nutrition and Fitness Expert JJ Virgin is a the author of <i>Six Weeks to Sleeveless and Sexy</i> and the co-star of TLC’s <i>Freaky Eaters</i> reality series. Visit her at <a href="http://www.jjvirgin.com/" target="_blank">http://www.jjvirgin.com</a> to grab her free audio: <i>Top Ten Hottest Tips to Get Slim and Sexy Fast</i></span>Cathryn Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04746039301052321410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051825814371540284.post-28206530943153711112011-04-26T10:14:00.000-07:002011-04-26T10:15:00.551-07:00Pineapple Pleasure<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbgJPVtkzj7l9rj4-u51XZVJnWwoeKMhn-mNzUHMH9WT4KEhdSc5zVeCvSfG-oLXcAYt13Js0DC6-XltYQW7-8kx7zpBsMCVkjrf4vOqKgmbyICObJTBPT5X5YNucYwRMRxhjb59KX32ei/s1600/pineapple_fresh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbgJPVtkzj7l9rj4-u51XZVJnWwoeKMhn-mNzUHMH9WT4KEhdSc5zVeCvSfG-oLXcAYt13Js0DC6-XltYQW7-8kx7zpBsMCVkjrf4vOqKgmbyICObJTBPT5X5YNucYwRMRxhjb59KX32ei/s320/pineapple_fresh.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">Pineapple is a great source of vitamin C, B1 and smaller amounts of B2, B3, B5 and B6. It is also an loaded with manganese, copper, magnesium, potassium, beta-carotene, folic acid, and dietary fiber.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">A unique feature of pineapple is it's Bromelain contents. Bromelain has the special ability to help our body balance and neutralize fluids so that it's neither too alkaline nor too acidic.</span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">Bromelain is a protein-digesting enzyme which also reduces inflammation and swelling. People who suffer from aches and pains, drink up! Drinking pineapple juice after a meaty meal helps your bodies digestion, as the protein-digesting enzymes help do the extra work of digesting for you.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">As pineapple juice has an anti-inflammatory effect, it can can be beneficial for people who suffer from Gout, arthritis, and recent injuries or surgeries. Drinking pineapple juice also reduces the soreness and redness in the throat.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><b>Eat it fresh: </b>A few hours before you plan to eat the pineapple, cut off the crown and then turn the fruit upside down on a plate and leave in the fridge. The sweeter juice at the bottom of the pineapple will be nicely distributed throughout the entire fruit when turned over!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><b>Pineapple Smoothie-</b> Combine the following ingredients:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">1 cup fresh pineapple (cubed) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">1 cup light coconut milk</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">2 scoops ThinStick™ Shake, or 1 packet ThinStick™</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">7+ ice cubes (to desired consistency)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">Blend until smooth, enjoy! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"> </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Pineapple fact information source: <a href="http://www.juicing-for-health.com/pineapple.html">Juicing-for-health.com</a></span>Cathryn Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04746039301052321410noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051825814371540284.post-42568838494516293362011-04-20T19:23:00.000-07:002011-04-22T08:06:21.294-07:00Have you checked out this Blog?<h2><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Here is an excerpt from one of our favorite bloggers. We thought this was very relevant to our customers so we wanted to share it. By the way, Elizabeth Somer also writes a <a href="http://www.nutrition-alert.com/">bi-weekly nutrition-alert</a> that is full of wonderful information. Please follow the link to see her full blog. </span></span></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://elizabethsomerblog.com/"><img border="0" height="60" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNSkdX9811kzXK0lOoelBS5p27xoaU-PBcH3UPXeYFAXUVzSv1DpksqE0YuzptKQEOl_WCpXl2GIXOx73tDVKGBLUaG9XmhLDB7duUSeyTMVAiOuoi7Qk4gCQ7vl80iwCj0McbYnO1hGfj/s320/Elizabeth_Somer.jpg" width="320" /><span id="goog_1839078922"></span></a><span id="goog_1839078923"></span></div><h2></h2><h2><a href="http://elizabethsomerblog.com/?p=203" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to I am trying to lose weight. Should I stick to 3 meals a day? Sally in Tacoma, WA">I am trying to lose weight. Should I stick to 3 meals a day? Sally in Tacoma, WA</a></h2><div class="entry">Probably not. In an effort to stem the tide, we often resort to the very eating habits that aggravate weight gain, such as limiting our food intake to two or three meals each day. Instead the research shows that we might be better off eating more often, not less.<br />
Researchers at the University of Michigan School of Public Health report that women who divided their food intakes into several little meals and snacks throughout the day were leaner with less body fat than were women who ate the same calories, but packed them into two or three big meals.<br />
The benefits of dividing your intake into several small meals and snacks each day extend beyond your waistline. Nibbling lowers blood cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and insulin levels, and improves insulin sensitivity. The trickle down effect on health is a lowered risk of diabetes, heart disease (the number one health concern for postmenopausal women), and possibly even cancers of the colon and breast.<br />
But giving the green light to snacking doesn’t mean a license to binge on junk. Snack on watermelon, berries, baby carrots, and other colorful fruits and vegetables. Or, open a bag of Fresh Express lettuce, add some dried fruit and red onions for a filling salad snack.<br />
Finally, eating breakfast and eating at consistent times each day also curbs hunger and prevents overeating later in the day. For example, researchers at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee found that women who ate breakfast had an easier time controlling cravings and consumed less fat throughout the day compared to breakfast skippers. Keep it simple: Have a Seneca Farms Oatmeal & Fruit Cup (takes 45 seconds in the microwave) along with a glass of Tropicana Orange Juice and tub of low-fat yogurt.<br />
<br />
Read more on her blog.... </div>Cathryn Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04746039301052321410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051825814371540284.post-9168396351274359672011-04-14T07:54:00.000-07:002011-04-14T07:54:31.450-07:00Blackberry Melon Smoothie<h3><b>Ingredients</b></h3><ul><li><b>1/2 cup <strong>watermelon</strong></b></li>
<li><b>1/2 cup <strong>honeydew melon</strong></b></li>
<li><b>1/2 <strong>cup cantaloupe</strong></b></li>
<li><b>1/2 cup <strong>blackberries</strong></b></li>
<li><b>2 handfuls of <strong>spinach</strong></b></li>
<li><b>1 <strong>banana</strong></b></li>
<li><b>1/2 cup <strong>water</strong></b></li>
<li><b>1 cup <strong>ice</strong></b></li>
<li><b><strong>2 scoops ThinStick™ Shake or 1 packet ThinStick™</strong></b></li>
</ul><br />
<b><strong>Summer is approaching and it's a perfect time to start fortifying your diet with much needed antioxidants and vitamins from fresh melons and berries. One reason we really like this smoothie is because you will have enough remaining fruit, if you chop your melons all up at once and store in refrigerator, for additional smoothies and to add as sides to meals. In essence, one morning of chopping and preparing will prepare you for many meals to follow!</strong></b><br />
<b><strong><br />
</strong></b><br />
<b><strong>Enjoy!</strong></b>Cathryn Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04746039301052321410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051825814371540284.post-89039287366444037942011-04-13T10:56:00.000-07:002011-04-13T10:56:42.086-07:00Obesity is Catching<a href="http://nutrition-alert.com%20/"><img border="0" height="66" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv5TimOyjhglEInohyphenhyphenRxSNJTPI1eFXykHgkiTcdHnWRcmOGzmS9PZMQ-1puJ-km44VgnExNJBrh1d2bPRHJmAXowmghA7KmHVs5ZxjTSeV12oWNSPs2I8Hskd_YGF4XL95JCPV9BFCnVjl/s320/Nutrition-alert.com.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
Obesity is infectious, you get it from your friends,<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">according to research from Harvard University. The<br />
researchers reported back in 2007 that if someone’s<br />
friend is overweight, that person’s chances of<br />
becoming obese increases by more than half. This<br />
might explain why the same researchers recently<br />
found that obesity, which now plagues a third of all<br />
Americans, will rise to 42% of the nation in the next<br />
few years. A mathematical model for four decades<br />
of data from the long-running Framingham Study<br />
was used to investigate the probability of becoming<br />
obese and its causes. Since 1971, a person’s<br />
contact with friends who are overweight or obese<br />
has increased dramatically. Using this model, the<br />
researchers found that an American adult has a<br />
2% chance of becoming obese in any given year<br />
and each obese social contact increases the risk of<br />
obesity by 0.5% per year. Unfortunately, befriending<br />
lean friends does not appear to have the opposite<br />
effect of helping a person lose weight. “You can’t<br />
really catch healthiness,” states Alison Hill, lead<br />
researcher on the study. But, it appears that excess<br />
body fat is very catching!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
In Perspective: As of January 2010,<br />
68% of Americans are overweight with BMIs of 25<br />
or more (the equivalent of being 5’5” and weighing<br />
150 pounds), according to U.S. Government<br />
researchers. That excess poundage increases a<br />
person’s risk for heart disease, diabetes, hypertension,<br />
cancer, vision loss, suppressed immune<br />
function, dementia, depression, infertility and sexual<br />
dysfunction, arthritis, shortened life expectancy, and<br />
much, much more.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Article from: Nutrition-Alert.com </div><a href="http://nutrition-alert.com/">Subscribe to their online newsletter </a>Cathryn Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04746039301052321410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051825814371540284.post-90788803507889156222011-04-07T08:27:00.000-07:002011-04-07T08:27:34.575-07:00Green Banana Smoothie<h3><b>Ingredients</b></h3><ul><li><b>2 <strong>bananas</strong></b></li>
<li><b>1 <strong>apple</strong></b></li>
<li><b>1/4 <strong>of a cucumber, peeled if not a seedless or "English cucumber"</strong></b></li>
<li><b>1 cup <strong>spinach</strong></b></li>
<li><b><strong><em>2 scoops ThinStick™ Shake or 1 packet Thinstick</em></strong><em><strong></strong></em></b></li>
<li><b>1/2 cup<strong><em></em><em></em></strong> peach puree or juice</b></li>
<li><b>1 cup <strong>water</strong></b></li>
<li><strong><b>6 or 7 ice cubes </b></strong></li>
</ul><strong><b>Blend all ingredients in a high power blender until smooth, enjoy! </b></strong>Cathryn Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04746039301052321410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051825814371540284.post-2221082361108398012011-04-05T14:16:00.000-07:002011-04-05T14:16:02.730-07:00Is the Recession Making You Fat?<i><b>Five Things You Can DO to Recession Proof Your Health Right Now!</b></i><br />
<i><b>by JJ Virgin</b></i><br />
<i><b> </b></i><br />
<div align="justify"><img align="left" height="136" hspace="10" longdesc="http://www.jjvirgin.com/leanzine/3-31-2011/stresspic.jpg" src="http://www.jjvirgin.com/leanzine/3-31-2011/stresspic.jpg" width="192" />With the economic downturn showing no end in sight…the unemployment rates climbing… those who have jobs working more and earning less…a general feeling of lack of control…the one certainty is <b>higher stress levels</b> for all. You may be noticing that you are craving more sugar and carbs, you feel like you are on overdrive and you can’t turn it off at night so your sleep suffers (and your sex drive, forget about it!), you are "tired yet wired" and your overall fatigue means your workouts suffer if you manage to find time to workout at all and you are noticing your stress meter (read your waistline) is expanding even if you aren’t eating more (in fact you might even be eating less, so not fair).</div><b>If you are letting the recession stress you out, then that stress is making you fat!</b><br />
Yep, STRESS can make you fat, look and feel older than your years and lose your sex drive. Your adrenal glands produce two hormones, DHEA and cortisol. When you are under stress, your adrenal glands shift from producing optimal levels of DHEA to produce more cortisol to deal with the crisis. Over time , you can’t keep up with the demand and cortisol starts to decrease as well. Lower DHEA means that your body can’t burn fat as well and can lead to lower levels of testosterone, which reduces your ability to build muscle and impacts your sex drive. High cortisol raises blood sugar, increases sugar and carb cravings, makes you anxious, breaks down muscle and can cause you to lay down fat around your waistline and worst yet, raises the ‘setpoint’ at which you can burn off that fat. When you exhaust your adrenals from long term chronic stress, you can’t produce as much cortisol anymore. This lower cortisol sends your body goes &ld quo;famine physiology” where it lowers your metabolic rate and conserves energy making it darn near impossible to lose weight AND if you try to do so by drastically lowering your caloric intake and over-exercising (if you are even able to get moving at this point) you just get worse. <br />
<b>RECCESSION PROOF YOUR LIFE STYLE!</b><br />
Thankfully, I have some solutions that you can deploy NOW to start digging out of this metabolic black hole that are also fiscally sound as well! So no excuses, quit whining and get into action, the responsibility to turn things around begins with each of us! <br />
<b>Sleep!</b> Turn off your deluxe cable package, pare down to the basics to keep your phone and wireless working and skip the TV programs at night and go to bed earlier. The single biggest way to help your adrenals is by getting 7-9 hours of uninterrupted sleep each night. Can't sleep? Be sure you "power down" an hour before bed (yes, shut the computer off), get in a hot bath with some Epsom salts and baking soda and read a good (but not great) book.<br />
<b>Eat Real Food!</b> That processed, packaged chemical cuisine is not only not your best choice for your health but also more expensive. Get back to basics with real food-lots of nonstarchy veggies, chicken, etc and hit the local farmer’s market for great bargains on produce that is grown locally and is in season. <br />
<b>Toss the Water Bottles!</b> Repeat after me, reduce my carbon footprint, reduce my carbon footprint...so getting rid of those plastic water bottles helps the environment and can help lower your overall toxic burden. Travel with your safe stainless steel drinking bottle and you will save a fortune on bottled water too. (hint, the hotel gyms are a great place to fill up!)<br />
<b>Fit Fitness In!</b> Dump the gym and hit the park and grab some natural vitamin D (i.e. sunshine) along the way. Run the stairs, jump rope, do a parcourse, chase your kids, sprint with your dog, climb a mountain, the opportunities to move and challenge your body are endless, just walk outside! <br />
<b><img align="right" height="72" hspace="10" longdesc="http://jjvirgin.com/leanzine/3-31-2011/greentea.jpg" src="http://jjvirgin.com/leanzine/3-31-2011/greentea.jpg" width="82" />Lose the Latte and Go Green!</b> I tallied up my Starbucks bill and realized I could feed a family in a third world country with what I am spending there. While I am not willing to stop my Starbucks experience (I simply love them calling my name and handing over my venti cup of heaven), I have made the change to a green tea instead. My venti green tea costs less than half of what a deluxe coffee drink does AND It benefits your health as well. Green tea boosts your metabolism, supports healthy adrenals due to its theanine content and is rich in antioxidants. Plus I can fill it back up with hot water and get another whole cup!<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">©2011 JJ Virgin & Associates, Inc. Nutrition and Fitness Expert JJ Virgin is a the author of <i>Six Weeks to Sleeveless and Sexy</i> and the co-star of TLC’s <i>Freaky Eaters</i> reality series. Visit her at <a href="http://www.jjvirgin.com/" target="_blank">http://www.jjvirgin.com</a> to grab her free audio: <i>Top Ten Hottest Tips to Get Slim and Sexy Fast</i></span>Cathryn Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04746039301052321410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051825814371540284.post-54683648394932218282011-03-30T09:16:00.000-07:002011-03-30T09:16:11.783-07:00TIPS FOR EASY USE<div class="paragraph_style_2"><b><span class="style_1">Plan ThinStick into your day:</span> </b> What time of day do you normally get hungry? Is it mid-morning? Drink a beverage mixed with ThinStick about an hour before the clock strikes your hunger time. Put it on your calendar or in your Blackberry for the same time every day so you’re prepared. See how surprised you are when 1:30 p.m. rolls around and you not only did not get hungry mid-morning, but you’re not even ready for lunch!</div><div class="paragraph_style_2"><br />
</div><div class="paragraph_style_2"><b><span class="style_1">On the go:</span></b> Instead of wishing you’d brought some ThinStick along, put a week’s worth in your purse or backpack every Sunday night. You’ll be ready for a craving-free week!</div><div class="paragraph_style_2"><br />
</div><div class="paragraph_style_2"><b><span class="style_1">Frothy fun:</span></b> For the smoothest drink, use one of those little coffee frothers in your glass, or a cocktail shaker. Your ThinStick break will be frothier than ever.</div><div class="paragraph_style_2"><br />
</div><div class="paragraph_style_2" style="padding-bottom: 0pt;"><span class="style_1"><b>Sustained slimming:</b> </span>ThinStick works best when used twice a day. If you drink a Thinstick Shake with breakfast and before lunch, you’ll notice you’re free of the usual between-meal hunger and you’ll eat less at meals without feeling deprived.</div><div class="paragraph_style_2" style="padding-bottom: 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="paragraph_style_2" style="padding-bottom: 0pt;"><b>Learn more at thinstick.com</b></div><div class="paragraph_style_2" style="padding-bottom: 0pt;"> </div>Cathryn Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04746039301052321410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051825814371540284.post-50202076688516734352011-03-28T07:57:00.000-07:002011-03-28T07:57:35.268-07:00Cranberry Madness Smoothie<h3><b>Ingredients</b></h3><ul><li><b>1 cup of frozen <strong>cranberries</strong></b></li>
<li><b>1 <strong>pear</strong></b></li>
<li><b>1 <strong>cup spinach</strong></b></li>
<li><b>3-4 <strong>mint</strong> leaves</b></li>
<li><b>1 <strong>banana</strong></b></li>
<li><b>1 cup of <strong>coconut water</strong></b></li>
<li><b>1 cup of <strong>ice</strong></b></li>
<li><b><strong>2 scoops ThinStick™ Shake or one packet ThinStick™</strong></b></li>
</ul><strong>Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend til smooth. Fill up your thermos and enjoy your morning of antioxidant rich delightfulness!</strong><br />
<strong><br />
</strong><br />
<strong><br />
</strong>Cathryn Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04746039301052321410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051825814371540284.post-86849831020512871312011-03-17T16:57:00.001-07:002011-03-17T16:57:59.583-07:00Stress – Our New Epidemic<div style="font-size: 13pt;">by Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP</div><div style="font-size: 13pt;"><br />
</div><img align="left" alt="Marcelle Pick" border="0" height="225" hspace="10" src="http://www.jjvirgin.com/leanzine/3-17-2011/marcelle.jpg" width="150" />In recent years, the word stress has taken on negative connotations, but from your body’s point of view, stress means any type of demand or challenge that requires the body to expend extra energy. Getting up out of your chair and moving across the room is a minor stressor because it requires more effort than remaining seated. Mobilizing energy and focusing on any given activity – getting dressed, playing with children or even preparing dinner causes your body to expend energy – and it’s an essential part of living. But our stress response was never meant to be a permanent condition.<br />
In today’s world women are just inundated with stress - stress that doesn’t let up. Careers, relationships, kids, parents, the constant flow of electronic information, environmental stressors, hormone shifts, chronic health issues and even changes in our diets all add up to a heavy stress load on our bodies and minds. We’re all familiar with what causes stress, but what we aren’t so familiar with is our body’s response to this stress and the ways in which the stress we face today ends up depleting our energy and affecting our health.<br />
<br />
Sometimes we are also acting out the effects of historical stress: reactions to present-day events that are made more difficult or intense because of our past experiences.<br />
<br />
Do you find yourself unable to slow down during the day<img align="right" alt="stress" height="192" hspace="10" src="http://www.jjvirgin.com/leanzine/3-17-2011/womantall.jpg" vspace="10" width="128" /> – feeling the need to keep up a pace which seemingly gets faster ever day? Do you lie awake at night physically exhausted but mind racing? Do you wake every morning feeling overwhelmed and exhausted? Do you struggle through your days feeling forgetful, depressed, tired and irritable? Do you reach for caffeine to jump start you at the beginning of your day or keep you going through the day? Do you crave sweets during the day? Are you losing muscle mass and gaining fat? Do you get frequent headaches?<br />
<br />
If you answered yes to some or all of these questions, you aren’t alone! Thousands of women experience these same feelings every day. And getting more sleep just isn’t the answer. You may be experiencing adrenal dysfunction.<br />
You may not think much about your adrenals, but they are crucial to your health, mood and well-being. Our adrenals are walnut-sized glands located on top of each kidney. These glands serve as important manufacturing centers for many of the body’s hormones. The innermost section of each gland produces <i>adrenaline</i> and <i>noradrenaline. </i> The layers outside the center, called the <i>adrenal cortex</i>, produce other hormones, including cortisol, DHEA, progesterone, estrogen and testosterone.<br />
Cortisol is a great hormone which converts fats and proteins into energy, calibrates our heartbeat, balances electrolytes, keeps us alert and counteracts inflammation.<br />
<br />
Under ordinary circumstances our adrenals are designed to give us bursts of strength from the little burst of energy that is needed to wake us up in the morning to the stimulating hormones that keep us alert, awake and focused throughout the day. Ideally as evening comes, our adrenal production is supposed to steadily decline and allow us to relax and eventually sleep.<br />
<br />
When we experience a stressful situation like an unexpected crisis at work, or a car accident, your adrenal glands pull all your body’s resources together into the ‘flight or fight’ mode by increasing the production of adrenaline and cortisol. These instantaneously increase your blood pressure and heart rate, sharpen your senses, release your energy stores for use, and shut down digestion and other secondary functions. This is exactly what your body should be doing. But it shouldn’t be doing it for very long. When chronic stress repeatedly forces our adrenal glands to continually produce high levels of cortisol, the adrenals slow down in their ability to regulate your other hormones. And the continual flood of cortisol may start to damage healthy tissue.<br />
<br />
Women with adrenal dysfunction often have trouble in a wide variety of ways: sex-hormone imbalances, thyroid abnormalities, blood sugar dysregulation, fibromyalgia anxiety, depression, cardiovascular issues, inability to concentrate, poor memory or poor immune function.<br />
<br />
Stress just isn't uncomfortable and unpleasant - it can actually be dangerous. Numerous studies have linked chronic stress to such life threatening conditions as heart disease, diabetes, as well as migraines, thyroid abnormalities, digestive disorders and backache. Stress has also been linked to a variety of autoimmune disorders (sometimes making them worse or sometimes setting them off) such as Crohn's disease, lupus, asthma, multiple sclerosis and Hashimoto's thyroiditis. It makes sense that stress is dangerous because none of our body's systems operate in isolation. There is a lot of cross talk between all our systems, including adrenals, sex-hormones, thyroid, gut and brain.<br />
<br />
Although men and women have the same basic biology, when it comes to adrenal function, I sometimes think that women carry an extra burden. Women often put other's needs before our own - both at home and at work. Women also may have more than their fair share of trouble saying 'no’, setting limits and taking time for themselves. This is something I always encourage my patients to be aware of - and to try to make changes accordingly. Mothers may also have an additional layer of stress. Child rearing has many demands that may not let up until your children are college age or even beyond! While caring for others is important, so is taking care of yourself!<br />
<br />
If you think you may have adrenal dysfunction the first step is to have a full physical exam to rule out any serious underlying conditions which may be causing your symptoms. The good news is that once you have identified adrenal dysfunction as your condition, you can address all your symptoms and heal the underlying problem that is causing them. You can change your diet, adjust your lifestyle, and reprogram the emotional patterns which are stressing you out.<br />
<br />
<i>Marcelle Pick, author of The Core Balance Diet, earned a B.S. in Nursing and a B.A. in Psychology from the University of New Hampshire and an M.S. in Nursing from Boston College–Harvard Medical School. Certified as nurse practitioner for both OB/GYN and pediatrics, Pick has served as medical advisor to Healthy Living Magazine. She also writes a bi-monthly newsletter for WomentoWomen.com. Her radio show, Core Balance for Women’s Health, airs weekly on Hay House Radio</i><i>. </i>Cathryn Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04746039301052321410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051825814371540284.post-53772867384130549262011-03-16T20:14:00.000-07:002011-03-16T20:14:21.357-07:00Apple RaspberryThe raspberry and apple balance the flavor of the calcium rich kale. This smoothie not only tastes good, it is super nutritious! <ul><li><b>1 <strong>apple</strong></b></li>
<li><b>1 cup of <strong>raspberries</strong></b></li>
<li><b><strong>Large slice of your favorite melon, skin removed</strong><strong></strong></b></li>
<li><b>1 big leaf of <strong>kale</strong> (stem removed)</b></li>
<li><b>1 handful of <strong>spinach</strong></b></li>
<li><b>Juice of 1 lemon (omit if using with Thinstick)™</b></li>
<li><b>1 <strong>banana</strong></b></li>
<li><b>3/4 cup of <strong>water</strong></b></li>
<li><b><strong>10 +/- large ice cubes</strong></b></li>
<li><b><strong>1 packet ThinStick™ or 2 Scoops ThinStick™ Shake </strong><strong></strong></b></li>
</ul>Cathryn Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04746039301052321410noreply@blogger.com0