Another Biggest Loser Scandal...

Hello everyone!


I try to keep my actual opinions on things to a minimum here, but there is one thing I have no problem telling people:


I HATE the television show "The Biggest Loser". Hate hate hate. For a wide variety of reasons. 

Aside from the other reasons I hate the show (the alleged abuse behind the camera, etc) now Jillian Michaels (one of the main trainers on the show) decided to play dirty and give her team caffeine supplements (and god knows what else) to try to win.

What makes this even worse is that she gave these people the supplements without a doctor's permission/guidance. All this to win and look good on TV. 

She did issue a statement, but with no apology: "I stand by my opinion: a caffeine supplement is significantly healthier than unlimited amounts of coffee," she said, sidestepping the actual breaking of the rule. "My only regret is that my team … they're the ones suffering the consequences of my professional opinion."

I had no idea caffeine supplements were healthy at all, while coffee does have some health benefits, but that's besides the point.

"Professional opinion"?  I had no idea she was a doctor or pharmacist. I didn't know personal trainers were trained in giving drugs to people (Yes, caffeine is a DRUG.)

What do you all think of this? Do you agree with Jillian's decision to give these people caffeine? 

For the source article, click here: http://tv.yahoo.com/blogs/tv-news/biggest-loser--shocker--jillian-michaels-did-a-bad--bad-thing-093656195.html

Falafel: Healthier Than I Thought!

Hello everyone!


I have been vegetarian for a week already and I'd like to start this entry off on a positive!

I weighed in this morning and I am officially down 5 pounds (2.25 kg) !!! No working out, (no time) but just diet change.

Speaking of my diet change, I have come to realize I have a favorite meat alternative: Falafel

So what is it?  It's made of ground up chickpeas and spices that is shaped into little balls like this, then fried.  Even though they're fried, they're still a healthy choice, especially compared to other fast food.

I found some info online about why falafel is a good alternative. 


"

1. Nutrition Bonus

Falafel is simply chickpeas that have been soaked, mashed and combined with other ingredients such as bread crumbs, onions, spices, and egg, shaped into small balls and fried in cooking oil. They are often served as part of a grand salad or in pita bread as a sandwich or shaped into patties as a hamburger substitute.

Eating falafel means you are consuming a vegetable that is known to be low in saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium. Further, you are eating a vegetable that is known to be a great source of fiber, protein, copper, folate and other nutrients.

2. Meatless Meat

Falafel is the star solution for choosing a meatless meat variation that goes beyond the usual soy-based packages of meatless patties and sausages. Because of its texture after frying, falafel has the dense heartiness of a meatball yet with a bonanza of extra nutrients.

In fact, restaurants are serving up falafel burgers and getting enthusiastic reviews. The ground chickpeas are shaped into patties and served with yogurt, spices, cucumber and lettuce on seeded buns.

 3. Calorie-Smart Options

One small ball is 50-60 calories. A meal-sized falafel sandwich with trimmings on a bun is about 350-450 calories (still less than a Big Mac). A falafel pita complete with creamy dressing is about 550 calories. The great news if you must watch your calories is that falafel is a versatile dish when making it at home. You can prepare falafel with a cooking oil or you can use a spray oil and still come up with a delicious meatless meal staple.

Some falafel cooks urge you to bake falafel if you are on a diet, but other falafel fans say that baking does not deliver the taste and crunch of fried falafel. Frying is not a real problem because there are ways you can fry falafel without risking an overload of calories. 

There are successful low-cal methods for making falafel. You will not have to look hard to find dozens of recipes in more detail. You will have fun choosing the ones that not only look great but have ingrendients that fit your calorie plan.

Here are some healthful ways to prepare falafel.

• Place balls of falafel in a pan. Use oils that are low in saturated fats and trans fats. Safflower oil, sunflower oil and canola oil are good choices. Fry quickly so that not much oil is absorbed.
• Using a nonstick skillet, apply cooking spray instead of oil. Cook some falafel patties until each side is browned. Then place them in an oven at low heat to keep them warm.
• Instead of frying, bake them. Just lightly brush falafel balls with olive oil. Then place them on a cookie sheet."

I actually had some falafel for dinner today- in a wrap with lettuce, tomato, and tahini sauce.  

Do you like falafel?  Do you include it as part of your diet?  

Cold water and weight loss?

Hello everyone!


I heard from a friend that had seen something on TV about cold water helping with weight loss.  By that I mean not drinking cold water (that helps too) but also soaking your body, or parts of it in ice cold water. 

I of course thought it was bullshit.  Sounds weird, and I also don't hear of many people doing it.

However, after a little research it's more common than I thought.

The logic behind this has to do with brown body fat.  We have two types of fat in our body, brown and white.  The brown is the good fat that keeps us warm and healthy and the white is the extra flab that we don't want. 

The idea behind the cold soaks and showers is that it activates this brown fat to keep us warm, which in turn raises our metabolism and helps burn off some of the white fat.

Has anyone seen results from it? Sure.  Some people have lost as much as 30 pounds in 6 weeks from doing a cold soak.

Is it safe? Well, that is a question for the doctor because extreme cold can also cause problems for some people.

I tried doing a cold foot soak and I honestly didn't like how it felt.  I am sensitive to cold and sometimes it felt like my feet were burning. 

Also, if you are new to cold therapy, don't jump into a bathtub of ice right from the beginning.  Start slow, with feet, etc and slowly build up.

It's also important to know that you should not do this for more than 10 minutes at a time.

It's Here! Dance + Cardio Review!

Hello everyone!!



I did receive my Dance + Cardio DVD and as promised, here's the review!

My arsenal for getting back to exercise!

The DVD is broken down into two workouts, each 30 minutes long.   Both workouts have a warm-up in the beginning, about 5 minutes to get you ready.

Combo 1:  This is where you want to start, especially if you are injured or severely out of shape (like me!)  I was floored when I watched this part, in a good way.

There is almost NO jumping in this portion of the DVD.  There is the odd jumping jack, or a little jumping move here and there but few and far between.  It's like this combination is starting to ease you gently into the jumping part of the cardio.   

Combo 2: This combination is more jumpy, without a doubt.  However, if you are familiar with Metamorphosis cardio, it's not THAT jumpy.  

It's more like a balance of the first combination and this. A really good transition, in my opinion.

All in all, I am exceedingly pleased with this DVD. It is exactly what I was hoping it would be, as it suits my needs very well.  As an obese, out of shape person, I give this DVD two thumbs up.  It may also be suitable for those who are pregnant and still want to get your groove on.  (I am not a doctor, it's just an idea.)

Would I recommend this to a seasoned TAMer or someone who's really fit already? Probably not, unless you were looking for something for a low-energy day, or in the chance you got injured or not feeling well and would rather do something than nothing. 

I will do another updated review when I actually try the DVD (which will happen very soon) to see if it REALLY is what I needed. (I have a feeling it will be).

If you want to get a copy for yourself, click here: http://amzn.to/JksXmL

Pork is Actually Good for You?

Hello everyone!



I  have often heard people tell me that pork is not healthy, that I shouldn't eat it for a variety of reasons (weight gain, risk of getting worms in my stomach, the fat isn't good for you, etc), but according to some Koreans, pork meat- namely the pork belly meat- is actually a health food in a way.

This is actually good for you. 

Pork belly meat (Or Samgyeopsal - meaning 3 layer meat in Korean) is basically bacon before they have done anything to it. No curing, no seasoning, just plain meat.  In Korea, it is often cooked on a griddle and the excess fat drips out of that, or they use a charcoal grill. 

What are the benefits of eating this?  

(A list of the benefits at a Korean restaurant)

For starters, pork meat has much more vitamin B1 than red meat and is rich in many other minerals such as phosphorous and iron. (Which I can imagine does help with the skin health)   I also read somewhere about how the fat in pork belly meat helps to clean out heavy metals in the blood. I'm not sure if it's true or not.

My opinion: If eating pork belly helps you feel better and makes you look better, I say go for it.  Just try not to eat too much because it IS high in calories.

Tracy Anderson on XBOX One

Hello everyone!


I mentioned before in a previous post about Tracy Anderson being on the XBOX Fitness that's on the XBOB One, but at the time I did not know too much about it.

Now, people have been uploading videos of the workouts.  And I have to say I am impressed.

From what I can see, she has both Metamorphosis on the system and her own workouts that seem to be developed just for the system.

It seems to be set up in sequences (Transform 1 2 and 3 just like Metamorphosis) with 3 sub levels (Example: Transform 1, level 1, 2, 3)

Here are some of the videos I have seen (I can't list them all, there are a lot, and the purpose of this is to show examples)


Transform (Muscular Structure)






Cardio




As you can see, you do not need a lot of space for these workouts. I am not sure if you will be needing weights for them.

Another thing I have noticed: I would not recommend these for people who have knee problems as the cardio is VERY high impact with a lot of jumping.

I still do not own this, I do not have the means right now to get the XBOX One (I have a 360 with Kinect but college is expensive) 

Have any of you tried these?  Do you know anything about these that I have not mentioned? Any corrections? Please let me know in the comments!

The Nutrient Program

Hello everyone!


As I mentioned before, Tracy Anderson now has released a Nutrient Program.

What is it?  Vitamins and probiotics.

What it is is a 30 day supply of little packets of vitamins.  

AM PACKET

2 - Multi Vitamin & Mineral Supplement

1 - Added Mineral Support

1- Chline-Stabilized Othosilicic Acid

1 - Pure Cold Water Fish Oil

1 - Methylated Resveratrol

PM PACKET
2 - Multi Vitamin & Mineral Supplement
1 - Added Mineral Support
1 - Chline-Stabilized Othosilicic Acid
1 - Pure Cold Water Fish Oil

1 - Dairy Free Probiotic 30 billion

 There is also a PDF file describing in more detail what these pills are and what they do.  Please take a moment to read it here.

http://f.cl.ly/items/173g1e283t2W1j05023x/The%20Nutrient%20Program%20Info.pdf

Description on the site:

The Nutrient Program

Even those of us who take pains to construct a seemingly perfect diet can still miss out on essential micronutrients (vitamins and minerals). While it’s easy to imagine that poor food choices would be the sole culprits, that’s just not the case: Flawed food production and storage techniques, nutrient-depleting preparation methods, and even moderate to strenuous exercise, which results in the excretion of many important minerals can also undermine your system. Obviously, we want you to keep working out while ensuring that your body gets everything it needs, which was one of the primary motivations for creating THE NUTRIENT PROGRAM by TRACY ANDERSON. We have carefully constructed and formulated our supplement to ensure comprehensive micronutrient coverage, and harnessed its various components in their most bioavailable form, to create maximum absorption. 
THE NUTRIENT PROGRAM by TRACY ANDERSON includes choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid for increased hair, nail, and bone strength; pure, cold water fish oils for improved mental functioning and cardiovascular health; Methylated Resveratrol for supporting healthy cellular function; dairy free probiotics to encourage bowel regularity; Vitamin D3 for general health; and more. In short, we’ve left no stone unturned in our efforts to deliver everything you need to promote health, wellness and general detoxification.*
READ MORE ABOUT THE NUTRIENT PROGRAM
This high-quality, hypoallergenic, multivitamin/mineral blend includes activated vitamins; folate as a blend of Quatrefolic®† (5-MTHF) and folic acid for optimal utilization; and patented Albion® TRAACS® chelated mineral complexes in vegetable capsules. The comprehensive nutrient profile in The Nutrient Program™ supports foundational wellness; antioxidant activity with vitamins C and E, selenium, and beta-carotene; and phase I detoxification.*
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. 

They ship in 30 day supplies for $155.00 each, and they can be single shipped or autoshipped.


For purchasing and more info click here! http://tracyandersonmethod.com/interspire/products.php?product=The-Nutrient-Program