4 Steps To STOP Eating Sugar.

4 Steps To STOP Eating Sugar.

What happens to your body when you eat sugar?

First the body goes into a "sugar shock" spiking insulin levels and creating a brief energy rush. After the body recovers from the shock, it starts working furiously to recover its internal balance by the raiding of vital nutrients in order to process sugar.
This can lead to our bodies becoming acidic. In other words... sugar can alter our entire blood chemistry research shows that just two teaspoons of sugar can throw off your chemical balance.




4 Steps To STOP Eating Sugar.

Step 1   You need to decide to what extent you want to remove sugar from your diet. If you remove all sugar it will, after a few days, stop the cravings. If you choose to keep eating some sugar like fruit juice and dried fruit you will still better your health because you’re eliminating refined sugar, but you will still have the cravings for sugar.

Step 2   Remove all sugar from your house, everything. Go to the store and buy meals enough for 3 days. Do not go back to the store once you have bought your weekend of groceries. You will want to go sugar free on the weekend because there will be no temptation around. It’s a good idea not to go anywhere where you will have the opportunity to buy any sugar. Stay away from the mall, friends houses etc…

Step 3   Day one might be easy. Day two will be anything but easy. You will find yourself going through all the cupboards looking for any kind of sweet that you can find. I hope you got rid of the hot chocolate, flavored yogurt and everything else, if not you WILL eat it. It is an addiction; you will not be able to control yourself.

Step 4  Day three will be easier but don’t think that you’re off the hook yet. One slip up and you’ll have to start all over. Keep eating healthy. Keep drinking lots of water. If you have trouble drinking lots of water then drink some green tea. You can drink a flavored tea but please don’t slip up and add sugar to it. If you have decided to completely stop eating all sugar you will notice that after a few weeks if you have a sip of fruit juice you will think it’s too sweet.


Refined sugar contains no fiber, no minerals, no proteins, no fats, no enzymes, only empty calories. What happens when you eat a refined carbohydrate like sugar? Your body must borrow vital nutrients from healthy cells to metabolize the incomplete food. Calcium, sodium, potassium and magnesium are taken from various parts of the body to make use of the sugar. Many times, so much calcium is used to neutralize the effects of sugar that the bones become osteoporotic due to the withdrawn calcium.

Likewise, the teeth are affected and they lose their components until decay occurs and you lose teeth!

...Refined sugar is void of all nutrients, consequently it causes the body to deplete its own stores of various vitamins, minerals and enzymes. If sugar consumption is continued, an over-acid condition results, and more minerals are needed from deep in the body to correct the imbalance. If the body is lacking the nutrients used to metabolize sugar, it will not be able to properly handle and rid itself of the poisonous residues.


Sugar feeds cancer. Cutting out sugar cuts food supply to the cancer cells.

Soda is a significant contributor to obesity.
Drinking a single can a day of sugary drinks translates to more than a pound of weight gain every month.

Diet soda is just as likely to cause weight gain as regular, or even more -- it may sound counter intuitive, but people who drink diet soft drinks actually don’t lose weight.

Artificial sweeteners induce a whole set of physiologic and hormonal responses that actually make you gain weight.

Are you using exercise as an excuse to eat more?

Are you using exercise as an excuse to eat more?

Unfortunately, exercise does not burn as many calories as we might think. What you may not realize is that thirty minutes on the elliptical, for example, cancels out only one Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup.

Key to weight loss is to EAT SMALLER PORTIONS at least 6 times a day!  Make an effort to control your desire for junk food by eliminating it entirely.

If you’re training for a sporting event, you may need to eat more to fuel your workouts—otherwise, consider regular exercise a keep-it-in-check tool, not a free pass to eat whatever you want.

Fuel your body with healthy eating.  The right combination of proteins, complex carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables—as well as adequate hydration with water—can also add a kick to your energy levels.

While cardio exercise won’t completely burn away a weekend binge, it does benefit health by increasing energy and lowering your risk for heart disease.

Stress Can Cause Weight Gain & Effect Your Health Here's How.

Stress Can Cause Weight Gain & Effect Your Health Here's How.

Today’s life is faster than ever, filled with constant change, uncertainty and stress.





Because of the constant demands placed on us at work, at home, or we may really be in danger, our bodies respond like we're about to be harmed and need to fight for our lives. Our bodies respond to this need with a burst of energy, shifts in our metabolism, blood flow, and other changes.

STRESS not only affects your weight, but your health.

The stress hormone called cortisol is one of the reasons. While under stress, the fight or flight response is triggered in our bodies, leading to the release of various hormones.

We've known for a long time that depression and chronic pain are closely related in many ways. Both conditions share some of the same underlying biochemistry (related to stress hormones such as cortisol and inflammatory compounds such as cytokines) and people with depression tend to experience more episodes of chronic pain (and vice versa). Indeed, physical pain can undoubtedly make psychological pain (depression) worse - likely due to the finding that inflammation is known to worsen and perhaps evencause depression in many people. You might find it interesting to know that cytokines (inflammatory hormone-like chemicals produced in the body)

Conventional wisdom would suggest that controlling depression might also help to control pain - and that reducing pain would help to alleviate depression. However, the research findings in the PNAS article suggest that painkiller drugs may actually interfere with the activity of antidepressant drugs - potentially making depression worse.

4 ways Chronic stress can raise cortisol levels which contribute to weight gain and effect your health are:

Metabolism -- Too much cortisol can slow your metabolism, causing more weight gain than you would normally experience. This also makes dieting more difficult.

Blood Sugar -- Prolonged stress can alter your blood sugar levels, causing mood swings, fatigue, and conditions like hyperglycemia. Too much stress has even been linked to metabolic syndrome, a cluster of health concerns that can lead to greater health problems, like heart attacks and diabetes.

Fat Storage -- Excessive stress even affects where we tend to store fat. Higher levels of stress are linked to greater levels of abdominal fat. Unfortunately, abdominal fat is not only aesthetically undesirable, it’s linked with greater health risks than fat stored in other areas of the body.

If you remain in the state of chronic stress for a long period of time your health becomes at risk. One being high blood pressure, a potentially dangerous health condition.
“Stress can actually cause weight gain, particularly around the tummy,” Why? Because physical and emotional stress activates the release of cortisol, a steroid that slows metabolism


When your body is under the stress response, your cortisol and insulin levels raise. These two hormones tend to track each other, and when your cortisol is consistently elevated under a chronic low-level stress response, you’ll likely notice that you have difficulty losing weight or building muscle.


Food Cravings -- People experiencing chronic stress tend to crave more fatty, salty and sugary foods. This includes sweets, processed food and other things that aren’t as good for you. These foods are typically less healthy and lead to increased weight gain.

Other Ways Stress and Weight Gain are connected.

Emotional Eating – Not only can increased levels of cortisol make you crave unhealthy food, but excess nervous energy can often cause you to eat more than you normally would. Have you ever found yourself scouring the kitchen for a snack, or absently munching on junk food when you’re stressed, but not really hungry?

Fast Food -- One of the big reasons we’re seeing more obesity in our society today is that people are too stressed and busy to make healthy dinners at home, often opting to get fast food a the nearest drive-thru instead.

Too Busy to Exercise -- With all the demands on your schedule, exercise may be one of the last things on your to-do list. If so, you’re not alone. Americans live a more sedentary lifestyle than we have in past generations, yet our minds seem to be racing from everything we have to do. Unfortunately, from sitting in traffic, clocking hours at our desks, and plopping in front of the TV in exhaustion at the end of the day, exercise often goes by the wayside.

Today’s so-called solutions including prescription drugs, energy drinks, coffee, etc. aren’t combating the problem, they’re compounding the problem.
Fortunately, there are things you can do to reverse the pattern of weight gain and actually reduce your stress level and waistline at the same time. I recommend you take a yoga class 3 times a week, meditation on a regular basis and lots of good deep breathing.

A natural solution without side effects, Eleviv is NOT A DRUG
Learn more about Eleviv click here.

Eleviv is a combination of 4 herbs that work synergistically together to bring your body back into balance. Not a false energy, like many energy drinks or stimulants Under Stress Your Cortisol and Insulin Levels Raise.

How Interval Training Can Help With Losing Body Fat & Weight Loss.

How Interval Training Can Help With Losing Body Fat & Weight Loss.

What is Interval Training?

Interval Training is defined as high-intensity intermittent exercise.


High Intensity Interval Training without question, is one of the most effective ways to lose body fat and improve your cardiovascular conditioning.  Not only do you stimulate your metabolism to a greater degree, but you burn many more calories than with lower intensity training, which can result in fat loss.


How to Perform High Intensity Interval Training:

Interval training is based on a very simple concept: go fast then go slow. Repeat. It sounds easy, but within this simple formula lies a tremendous number of possible variations and strategies you can use to take full advantage of the power available to you.

If you enjoy walking you can try this interval work, if you're in good shape, incorporate short bursts of jogging into your regular brisk walks. If you're less fit, you might alternate leisurely walking with periods of faster walking. For example, if you're walking outdoors, you could walk faster between certain mailboxes, trees or other landmarks.

Interval training can be performed on almost any cardiovascular machine (including the treadmill, stair machine, stationary bike, elliptical trainer, etc.) as well as almost any type of cardiovascular exercise (such as cycling, swimming, running, etc.).

Maximal High-Intensity Intervals
Maximal Intervals are much shorter than Aerobic Intervals. Generally, the longest you'll be able to perform a maximal effort is around 30 seconds so all the work intervals are 30 seconds or less.

Here are some examples of a number of different intervals you can use in your training:

Example 1

Steady Pace       Maximal effort
2 min.                  30 sec.
3 min.                   1 min.
3 min.                  45 sec.
2 min.                   1 min.
5 min.                  30 sec.

Example 2

Steady Pace       Maximal effort
2 min.                   30 sec.
3 min.                   45 sec.

4 min.                     1 min..
3 min.                   30 sec.
5 min.                     1 min.

One of my favorite Interval workouts is to jog 4 minutes thensprint all out 30 to 45 seconds and repeat 6 times.. 

Repeat this 6 times for a great workout.

Change Your Life, Just 20 Minutes of Exercise a Day,

Change Your Life, Just 20 Minutes of Exercise a Day,

Just 20 minutes of regular exercise every single day can have a profound effect on your life, your health and your lifestyle.

With just 20 minutes a day, you can promote weight loss.
With 20 minutes a day, you can decrease how much stress you experience.
With 20 minutes a day, you can achieve the goals you set out for yourself.

Changing Your Life

Making a change in your life is about exerting a form of control over your life and your choices. 20 minutes a day is one of those changes that you can make and it's one that most of us - even at our busiest can find 20 minutes for.

"Our health always seems much more valuable after we lose it." -Unknown Author
5 Ways to get motivated to walk!

1. Get a Walking Buddy

Keep each other motivated no matter what the weather or other excuses is imperative. The conversation and protein smoothie after are great ways to make even a boring walk a lot of fun.

2. Get New Gear
Nothing is more motivating then getting some brand new walking shoes, a great outfit, that new ipod to make the time go quickly. Pedometers, speed and heart rate monitors can also get you moving because we all want to know how far we walked, what our target heart rate is and how many calories we burned. Walking gadgets can make walking a little more fun and give you a reason to get out the door to achieve your next goal.

3. Get committed!
Register for a Charity Walk or sign up for a fun run (no one says you need to run, you can walk instead) so that you have a goal and a commitment. By telling others you will ten be more likely to stay the path and will be more motivated towards your goal knowing that you must train to endure the event.

4. Keep a Walking Journal
Keep track of your walking minutes, steps, or mileage in a journal. Total up each week to see how you are progressing. Set yourself a reasonable goal and you will find that attaining that goal will motivate you enough to maintain your walking schedule. There is even various software applications available to do all the calculations for you.

5. Choose the Right Time and Have Fun!
What is the best time to walk? Many people find that if they commit to early morning walks, there are fewer distractions as may commonly pop up in the afternoon or evening. But if you hate mornings and feel most energetic later in the day - that should be your walking time. To stay motivated, analyze your habits and choose the time that will work best for you. Keep it realistic and most of all fun, and you'll find walking the best route to good physical fitness and health well into your elder years.

Why Starvation and Yo Yo Dieting Doesn't Work!

Why Starvation and Yo Yo Dieting Doesn't Work!

STOP STARVATION AND YO YO DIETING

Here's why:
The body reacts to weight loss as if it were starving, in response, slows our metabolism.
When your metabolism slows, you burn fewer calories -- even at rest. So it makes it almost impossible to lose weight.


If you continue to take in fewer calories, you will either stop losing weight as quickly as you have been, or you'll stop losing weight altogether.


After starvation diets, eating under 1400 calorie per day diets, when you increase your calorie consumption, you may actually gain weight more quickly than you have in the past.  The most devastating effect of a very low calorie diet is the loss of muscle tissue. Once the starvation alarm is triggered, your body begins looking for ways to conserve energy. Muscle is metabolically active tissue. Getting rid of it is the body's way of decreasing energy expenditure.

The solution is to increase your physical activity and eat 5 small nutritious meals a day. (Skip sugar, white flour and empty calories that don't fuel your body)


Doing so will counteract the metabolic slow down caused by reducing calories. A regular schedule of exercise raises not only your energy expenditure while you are exercising but also your resting energy expenditure -- the rate at which you burn calories even when the workout is over and you are resting.


With each repeated bout of dieting, your metabolism becomes less and less efficient and you can actually become progressively fatter while eating less food.

Don't be fooled by miracle weight loss, magic pill, etc. No Quick Fix to Weight Loss,

Don't be fooled by miracle weight loss, magic pill, etc. No Quick Fix to Weight Loss,

“There is no quick fix”.

Overeating brings fat and fat brings regret and makes us feel less about ourselves. Feeling this regret can then bring extra efforts and most possibly over training with all its consequences. It's a kind of a vicious circle.  Learn to control your food intake.

The most important thing you can do is to "believe in your self, believe in the process, stay the course, and you will look the best you ever looked before!"





8 important things you can do daily for your good health.

1. Drink plenty of water.

2. Don’t skip breakfast.

3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants, eat less food that is processed and manufactured.

4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy

5. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day

6. Sleep for 7 hours.

7. Take a 10-30 minutes’ walk daily.

8. Smile more!

Health Facts About Hormone Replacement

Health Facts About Hormone Replacement

FACTS ABOUT HORMONE REPLACEMENT

By Dr. Jeffrey Weiser

Low Testosterone levels in men is directly correlated with high body fat.  If you have type 2 diabetes, you are twice as likely to suffer from low testosterone as a man without diabetes.  If you have diabetes and your level of testosterone is very low, there's evidence testosterone replacement can help. The bonus is that you're also likely to see your libido improve.

Men with diabetes and low testosterone found that 80 per cent of those getting hormone treatment as well as the usual diabetes drugs managed to get their blood sugar levels, their body's resistance to insulin, and weight down to healthy levels.

Estrogen deficiency in aged females may trigger the development of high blood pressure and obesity.
Estrogen regulates the brain's energy metabolism in the same way as the hormone leptin, leading the way to a viable approach to tackling obesity in people resistant to leptin.   Estrogen Curbs Appetite In Same Way As The Hormone Leptin
Research suggests that the sex hormone estrogen may be for women what testosterone is for men: The fuel of power.

Previous research suggests that reduced levels of the hormone estrogen during menopause are responsible for the increased body weight and abdominal fat often experienced by postmenopausal women. However, while estrogen replacement therapies can reduce weight gain, they also have unwelcome side effects, prompting a search for alternative methods of treatment.

Researchers conclude that there is enough evidence to support giving estrogen therapy to women with diabetes because they can gain protection against cardiovascular disease. Estrogen therapy might also help prevent type 2 diabetes because it lowers the elevated insulin levels often seen in postmenopausal women. Further studies are being conducted based on evidence that postmenopausal women on estrogen therapy developed diabetes less often than those who were not.

Personally I prefer natural solutions over pharmaceuticals whenever possible.  I take Bone Health by Standard Process, a Whole Food Supplement without side effects Read More Here.

Dr. Weiser recommends:  Evista (Raloxifene) is in a class of medications called selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs).  Raloxifene decreases the risk of developing invasive breast cancer by blocking the effects of estrogen on breast tissue. This may stop the development of tumors that need estrogen to grow.  This applies to the uterus as well.  Raloxifene prevents and treats osteoporosis by mimicking the effects of estrogen (a female hormone produced by the body) to increase the density (thickness) of bone.  Important: if estrogen levels are too high, this medication may be suitable to block estrogen in the breast tissue and uterus, but still allow estrogen to reach the heart (overall positive effect).  You should eat and drink plenty of foods and drinks that are rich in calcium and vitamin D while you are taking Raloxifene.  

I recommend you do your research on both before deciding.

Dr. J Specializes in Strength Training; Weight Loss; Pilates!  

How to lose 5 to 10 pounds in less than 14 days.

How to lose 5 to 10 pounds in less than 14 days.

Are YOU ready to FEEL amazing!

Follow three simple rules and I promise you will feel great and lose those unwanted pounds.

1. Don't eat anything that is white.  White bread, pasta, sugar, white rice, tortilla's and most milk products. Healthy foods like cauliflower, chicken, turkey, fish are all exceptions.

2. Don't eat anything with the word wheat in the ingredients list. Even if it's whole wheat, absolutely no Wheat Products ZERO, ZIP! It's only 14 days you can do this.

3.  Only drink water, and herbal teas without sugar or dairy products added.You create a total imbalance in your body when you use these empty calories.

Saying “Sugar is bad for you” is an understatement.

Sugar is considered empty calories because it doesn't have any vitamins and minerals. It is no wonder you feel so sluggish and heavy all the time when this lifeless ingredient is found in so many of the foods you eat.

Sugar is rapidly converted in the blood to fat (triglycerides), which increase obesity, risk of heart disease, and diabetes. Sugar greatly increases the risk of dental decay. It is devoid of vitamins, minerals, or fibre; it is an empty food.

Here's what happens when you eat sugar:  First the body goes into a "sugar shock" spiking insulin levels and creating a brief energy rush. After the body recovers from the shock, it starts working furiously to recover its internal balance by the raiding of vital nutrients in order to process sugar. This can lead to our bodies becoming acidic. In other words... sugar can alter our entire blood chemistry research shows that just two teaspoons of sugar can throw off your chemical balance.



You will be amazed at how fast you lose weight with these 3 simple Rules!
YOU CAN DO IT!



How to Lose Weight with "Portion Control & Exercise"

How to Lose Weight with "Portion Control & Exercise"

One of the key ways to lose weight and maintain a healthy weight is through portion control. Research has shown that Americans often underestimate how many calories they are consuming each day by as much as 25%.  You may have been one of the millions who have tried the “Low-carbohydrate (diet) which has come and gone, but portion control is here to stay.

Portion control is key to weight control.  By cutting back on how much of each food you eat at every meal, your calorie intake drops. Instead of being overwhelmed by the idea of a diet and swearing off your favorite foods, strive to control the serving sizes of the foods you already eat.

“It’s an approach you can live with your whole life".

Eating out presents problems because of the trend to supersize serving portions. What to do? Request a half order or plan to take half your serving home for the next day.

In the United States, about 650 people out of 1,000 are overweight or obese. Healthwise, this means they’re more likely to suffer from life-threatening illnesses such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.

Practice portion control, and exercise!

Portion Control For Weight Loss

What are the Energy Drink Dangers?

What are the Energy Drink Dangers?

Do You Know Anyone That Uses Energy Drinks, Caffeine or Other Stimulants to "GET GOING"?

The caffeine that is found in energy drinks is dangerous enough on its own. Not only is caffeine addictive, it acts as both a stimulant and a diuretic. As a stimulant, caffeine can make you have anxiety attacks, heart palpitations, and insomnia.

There are two things that must be kept in mind when we are talking about the side effects of the energy drinks.


Side effects are caused by the combination of the ingredients used for making the drink. The Monster energy drink is also made of a certain combination.

This combination consists of carbohydrates that can cause the body absorption of nutrients and food into the bloodstream to become more difficult. This means that the person drinking too much of the energy drink can encounter gastrointestinal issues.

Second, not only nutrients are harder to be absorbed in the body, but also the fluids. This means that hydration cannot be made at the optimal rate, also causing health problems. This hydration issue must concern especially athletes, whose bodies lose an important quantity of water during training. They should be careful about the intake of this energy drink, especially since it is designed for them.

The Monster energy drink is also rich in sugar. Once in the body, the product brings a lot of sugar, which is transferred into the bloodstream. When the effect of the energy drink wear off and the sugar level in the blood drops, this can be quite visible and the person consuming the product can feel it quite well. Also, some laxative effect can occur.

Other side effects of the Monster energy drink is strongly related to the caffeine it contains.

Red Bull Can Give You a Stroke This Report May Surprise You!

It Did Me! Just one can of the popular stimulant energy drink
Red Bull can increase your risk of heart attack or stroke.

The effect was seen even in young people. The caffeine-loaded beverage causes blood to become sticky, a pre-cursor to cardiovascular problems such as stroke.

One hour after drinking Red Bull, your blood system becomes abnormal,

as might be expected from a patient with cardiovascular disease.

Red Bull is banned in France,  Norway, Uruguay and Denmark because of health risks. Energy drinks have been popping up all over supermarket and convenience store shelves in recent years, and have overtaken bottled water as the fastest-growing category in the beverage business.

No less than 3.5 billion cans of Red Bull were sold last year in 143 countries. Yet questions regarding the safety of Red Bull, as well as other energy drinks, keep cropping up at regular intervals.

Science Daily Reports that:

A ten-year study showed that girls who drank soda at age five had diets that were less likely to meet nutritional standards for the duration of the study, which ended at age 15.  Girls who did not drink soda at age five did not meet certain nutritional requirements, but their diets were healthier. 
Read the full report here.

Make sure you change your fitness workouts! Add Variety To Your Fitness Routine.

Make sure you change your fitness workouts! Add Variety To Your Fitness Routine.

Do you find yourself doing the same work out without any variety?
It's Time To Change Up Your Routine.

Your body adapts to your workouts as it gets stronger. 

So, if you don't keep challenging it, you most likely won't be getting the results you want.

Make sure to add strength training 2-3 days per week to your fitness plan.

Add 20 minutes of interval training on the treadmill:  walk for two minutes, then sprint for 30 to 60 seconds as fast as you can. Repeat throughout your 20 to 30 minute workout. 





Speed Circuit Try this for amazing results:
(use treadmill, bike, or elliptical).

Start with a 4 minute warm up (cardio machine) then immediately

3 minutes strength training: work two different muscle groups in this 3 minutes (1 1/2 minute) per strength machine or free weights. (different ideas for your 3 minutes of strength:  lunges, squats, abs, biceps, triceps, pull ups, chest press, lats try to work all major muscle groups throughout your workout)



then immediately go back to 3 minutes cardio (if you did treadmill for the warm up, you may want to switch to cycling, or elliptical  throughout your workout remember to add incline and speed to challenge yourself.

Repeat this 6 times!  Cool down and stretch.
If you get bored easily, do 10 minutes on the elliptical, 10 minutes running on the treadmill, followed by 10 minutes of biking.

Get a personal trainer. This is a great option if you need that extra push (and can afford it). Working one-on-one with someone will help keep you on track during each workout and evaluate your progress.

Top 5 Fitness Mistakes That Will Mess Up Your Workouts!

Top 5 Fitness Mistakes That Will Mess Up Your Workouts!

Top 5 Fitness mistakes to avoid!






1.  If you are reading on the treadmill:  STOP  just 10 minutes of vigorous workout equals 30 minutes of slow walking. 


2.  Stay hydrated during your workouts:  Don't drink cold water room temperature water is recommended. 


3.  Change up your workouts:  Your body will adapt to your workouts.  It's important to challenge yourself often by changing it up every 6 to 8 weeks.


4.  Don't skip workouts:  Even when you don't think you have time, you do. Even 10 minutes of exercise has an impact on the body,


5.  Don't Work Out Every Day:   Your body needs the rest and recovery time to rebuild and be at its best.   The rest period is for rebuilding muscle tears and easing muscle soreness. 

Remember you are never too old to exercise!

The most important time to stretch is after your workout, not before.

Too much estrogen can cause big problems including weight gain.

Too much estrogen can cause big problems including weight gain.

Is Your Shampoo and Conditioner Interfering With


Your Hormones and Making You Fat?

I just finished reading Dr. Mercola's article on this: To read the entire article visit here. The EPA has found synthetic hormone-disrupting chemicals in shampoo preservatives and many of them can be found in products that claim to be ‘natural’ and ‘organic.’ Check your products safety here.


The most disturbing of these is antimicrobial preservatives called parabens which have proven to disrupt your endocrine system.

So what is an endocrine disruptor and why should it concern you?

It all boils down to this: they mimic, disrupt or block the actions of your hormones and interfere with your body’s hormonal pathways.

And when you consider the fact the endocrine system regulates every function of your body and provides instructions to your body that tell your cells what to do, this can have disastrous consequences.

For instance, one messenger hormone, estrogen, is secreted by ovaries and plays a big part in regulation of fertility, pregnancy, menstruation and fat cell activity.

And too much estrogen can cause big problems including weight gain, fluid retention, and depression.

So what can you do to avoid these parabens?

Check your product labels for these terms:

• Propylparaben
• Parahydroxybenzoic acid
• Parahydroxybenzoate
• Methylparaben
• Ethylparaben
• Butylparaben
• Benzyl-parahydroxybenzoic acid
• Methyl-parahydroxybenzoic acid
• Ethyl-parahydroxybenzoic acid
• Propyl-parahydroxybenzoic acid
• Butyl-parahydroxybenzoic acid

A safe effective Shampoo and Conditioner you can trust Juni™ by XanGo purchase or learn more about Juni here.

Every ounce of Juni is enriched with an exclusive blend of mangosteen actives, saturating your skin, scalp and follicles with phytonutrient goodness. Combined with pure botanicals and fresh lavender—the signature essential oil blend—Juni calms, cleanses, purifies and hydrates your hair and body. When you use Juni Shampoo, Conditioner, Body Wash, Body Lotion and Body Bar, you’re giving your family the very best in its simplest, purest form.

5 Overrated and Underrated Foods

5 Overrated and Underrated Foods

Are You Someone Trying To Lose Weight, and Wonder Why You Can't?  Read this article!

5 Overrated and Underrated Foods 
Written by by Bonnie Liebman and Jayne Hurley, May 2010

Bonnie & Jayne I just read the information you posted in your article.  Great research and information to help people who are struggling to lose weight understand how many calories are hidden in the so called health food! 

Alert: Protein drinks What YOU Need To Know

Alert: Protein drinks What YOU Need To Know

Some protein drinks can even pose health risks, including exposure to potentially harmful heavy metals, if consumed frequently.

Consumer Reports Investigation including tests at an outside laboratory of 15 protein drinks, a review of government documents, and interviews with health and fitness experts and consumers, found most people already get enough protein, and there are far better and cheaper ways to add more if it's needed.



All drinks in our tests had at least one sample containing one or more of the following contaminants: arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury. Those metals can have toxic effects on several organs in the body.

READ the full article Consumer Reports Investigation scroll down to article on protein powder.

7 Tips How To Fit-Fitness Into Your Schedule Without Going To The Gym.

7 Tips How To Fit-Fitness Into Your Schedule Without Going To The Gym.

How important is exercise to you? And if it's not, why not?

Do you really lack the time to exercise is there some other reason you're not fitting in workouts?




Exercise is just like anything else but, unless it's important to you,

you're never going to make time for it.

People who exercise don't necessarily have more time than you, they've just determined that what they're getting out of exercise is worth more.  Without your health, it's tough to enjoy life.

7 Tips on staying fit without going to the gym!

1. Buy arm weights for your home.  Arm weights can be used while you're watching TV or talking on the phone. Start with 8-pound weights and do three sets of 15 bicep curls each day. After two months, graduate to 12- or 15-pound weights, and add another exercise to your repertoire.

2. Buy a fitness video. A 15-minute aerobic routine is an excellent, quick way to bring cardio into your life. Or if Pilates is more your style, invest in a Pilates video instead. Either way, whether your fitness style is high-impact aerobics or intense yoga, there are lots of great fitness videos that you can use in your own home.

3. Use your lunch hour wisely. A brisk 20-minute walk during your lunch hour is a great fitness solution, especially if you can do it three or four times each week.

4. Take 15 minutes in the morning. Wake up 15 minutes earlier and do arm weights or a quick aerobic video routine.

5. Take 15 at night. Do 50 sit-ups and 50 push-ups 30 Tricep Dips before you go to bed each night or while watching your favorite TV show.

6. Invest in a good pair of walking or running shoes. Having the right equipment means you have one less excuse to avoid working out. Plus, once you glide into those comfy, bouncy new shoes, you'll want to run or walk practically everywhere.

7. Take a walk in the evening. This is an excellent fitness activity to do with a loved one or a close friend. Leave your cell phone behind and it can become a time for bonding and connecting with one another!

5 Reasons To Maintain A Healthy DIET

5 Reasons To Maintain A Healthy DIET

Be pro-active in your health, Be unstoppable!  But not obsessed with fitness. Obsession is harmful in all facets of life. We exercise for a better life, we don't live to exercise.

Your FIRST step in changing your habits is to change your attitude!

Change how you look at food--Learn to control your food intake and have more energy! 

YOU need consistency!  YOU need a cause!  FIND a cause that will keep you motivated to change.

Here's 5 Reasons To Maintain a Healthy Diet:


1•  The way your body feels after a healthy meal will become more important to you than the instant pleasure of having something loaded with fat or sugar.

2•  Take it from someone who used to love diet coke and junk food, you can live without chips and Cokes and you'll gladly give those things up once you experience how great your body feels after healthier meals.

3•  By not indulging every time you want a treat, you'll enjoy it even more.

4•   Food becomes FUEL rather than something that controls your life.  If you exercise, you'll learn very quickly how food affects your workouts.  Eating a heavy, fatty meal makes you tired and your workouts suffer.  Want better workouts? Simply you MUST eat better.

5•  Being a good role model for your kids or co-workers is one way to teach them how to live healthy.

These changes come over time, sometimes weeks, months or years of slowly working on your habits and choices.  

10 Major Reasons Why People Do Not Lose Weight

10 Major Reasons Why People Do Not Lose Weight

1.  Eating too much. If you finish what’s on your plate and then the plates of others, or if you always have seconds, you’re in trouble. It takes about 20 minutes for your brain to receive the signal that your stomach is full, so stop eating before you’re full and wait at least 10 minutes before having seconds.

2.  Portion distortion. Maintaining a healthy weight means eating the right foods in the right amounts. You’ll save yourself a lot of calories and a few pounds.

3.  Drinking your calories. Beer, soda, and energy drinks have no nutritional value and can cause dehydration.

4.  Snacking on unhealthy foods. Food is fuel for your body. Treat your body like the amazing machine that it is.

5.  Eating late at night. Late night Hagen-Dazs binges are not going to help that expanding mid-section. If you must have a late night snack, consider healthy alternatives like almonds and fruit.

6.  Not eating breakfast. A quick and easy breakfast that is a combination of carbohydrates and protein is all you need. Oats, Whole Grains Steel Cut Oats, Egg whites (with 1 egg yoke) Cottage cheese, fruit, and a slice of whole wheat toast will keep your engine running until your mid-morning snack.

7.  Eating whatever you want.  As an adult, your body’s metabolism has changed significantly from that of the teenager you once were, so you must adjust your caloric intake accordingly. To compute your caloric needs, click here.

8.  Eating processed foods. Too many hotdogs, lunch meats, canned ravioli, and frozen dinners and neither should you. Instead, eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins.

9.  Not drinking enough water. Factors such a physical activity and climate increase your water needs.

10.  Not eating enough. Skipping meals or not eating enough at meals, leads to overeating later. Eating five to six small meals a day, spaced two to three hours apart is really the healthiest way to eat.

Don't Skip Breakfast- get better results! Are you getting enough Protein in your diet?

Don't Skip Breakfast- get better results! Are you getting enough Protein in your diet?

One of the most important things you can do to fuel your body is
"Eat a full breakfast".
Wake up early enough to eat a full breakfast.

When you eat and what you eat can affect your performance and the way you feel while you're exercising.

Don't workout hungry. If you start exercising in an energy deficit, your body is likely to preserve fat and perform poorly.

If you are going to have a tough workout, drink juice, fruit, whole grain bread or pasta to take in some calories.

To help your muscles recover and to replace their glycogen stores, eat a meal that contains both protein and carbohydrates within two hours of your exercise session if possible.

Avoid going for long periods of time without eating.
 
Here is a list of foods that are high in protein-
▪ Skinless Turkey Breast – 94% protein
▪ Shrimp – 90% protein
▪ Red snapper – 87% protein
▪ Crab – 86% protein
▪ Halibut – 80% protein
▪ Beef sweetbreads – 77% protein
▪ Steamed clams – 73% protein
▪ Lean pork tenderloin – 72% protein
▪ Beef heart – 69% protein
▪ Broiled tuna – 68% protein
▪ Veal steak – 68% protein
▪ Sirloin beef steak – 65% protein
▪ Chicken livers – 65% protein
▪ Skinless chicken breasts – 63% protein
▪ Beef liver – 63% protein
▪ Lean beef flank steak – 62% protein
▪ Lean pork chops – 62% protein
▪ Mussels – 58% protein

Healthy snack ideas.

Berries, especially blueberries, made the list of more experts than any other food. Berries are loaded with phytonutrients, antioxidants and fiber, and are low in sugar. Mix a bowl of berries with a piece of string cheese for the perfect pre-workout snack. The string cheese has 8 grams of protein, some fat to keep hunger at bay and only about 80 calories. And it's an excellent source of calcium.



Turkey and grapes. It's a perfect match of protein, carbs and low calories to take the edge off your hunger and prime your exercise pump. Four small slices of deli-packaged turkey contain only 87 calories but give you more than 14 grams of protein, plus some of the cancer-fighting mineral selenium to boot. A cup of grapes adds some carbs to the mix together with all the health-giving phytochemicals grapes are known for. Go for fresh turkey whenever possible as the packaged kind is high in sodium and go for red or purple grapes as they have more antioxidants.

This is one of my favorite snacks, period.  I take some hearts of celery and fill in the groove with some organic almond butter or peanut butter. This snack really travels well in Tupperware and makes a terrific pre-workout snack. Why? The celery has fiber and nutrients (including calcium and vitamin A) 6 calories per medium stalk. The nut butter has protein and fat. The overall calories are low, and this really fills you up without slowing you down, providing great "slow-release" energy for a terrific workout.

Put apple with almonds. The apple is the perfect food for a pre-exercise snack. The sugar load is moderate, it contains valuable pectin fiber which slows the entrance of that sugar into the bloodstream, and it's a nutritional powerhouse containing vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Combine it with about a dozen almonds, which add some fat and protein, to further slow the entrance of the sugar into the bloodstream for sustained energy, and keep hunger away.

Whey protein is my favorite kind of protein powder.  Not only is it extremely high-quality, bioavailable protein; it supports the immune system by providing the building blocks for glutathione, arguably the body's most important antioxidant. And studies indicate that whey protein may boost weight loss efforts. According to one French study, eating whey before exercise supports fat burning and may help with gaining or maintaining lean body mass. I suggest a whey protein shake made with either water alone or with frozen berries. The berries add fiber, nutrients and some extra carbohydrates, and make for a more delicious drink.

Try this awesome healthy snack, replace icecream with these healthier choices:
Freeze your grapes, blueberries, rasberries, sliced mango's they make a great healthy snack.