Alicia, Getting Healthy for the New Year

For the new year, I started to pick healthier choices for food! Lots of celery, apples and Quest Bars for snacks instead of chips or candy... I know I own a nutrition store it doesn't mean I always eat clean. I am not eating as clean as my best friend, Megan Newland but I just want to eat healthier, not preparing for a competition! So any ways I have lost 3 pounds already, which I know you are thinking from where, but my mid section is a little more chunky than i like, you are starting to see abs again, and the back of my legs-where every woman seems to store it! I do not like that fat under your but! I love the core 3 kit, but as a store owner you have to try new products so that you know what works and you can bring it in, right, right! So I finally got this weight loss kit in that I have been wanting to try for a while now, no you are not getting names until I decide my opinion. It is a 3 step process like the core 3. It has a breakfast pill, a afternoon pill and a sleep pill. The sleep pill has some great combinations and for sure could sell it by itself with what is in it! Not sure I can try the sleep pill with my medications, so I will have to look into that. Will may have to try the sleep pill. But so far this kit is impressive, it has a meal plan and really easy directions inside the box! I start tomorrow on this kit! I have recorded my weight and when I started so I can keep track. I also should take measurements, just simple ones so I can see inches, you do not always see pounds. I suggest this to you too if you are starting a new plan. Yesterday, I talked to a man that was not losing weight I asked about what he eats, he said, "why aren't the pills supposed to fix that". No, weight loss pills aid you in weight loss not allow you to eat whatever and still drop pounds! We also have been getting away from processed foods, such as canned vegetables. I read labels and know that I have been getting Corn and only corn and no added salts, but still its just not the same as corn on the cobb. So last grocery trip I went to super one, they have the best fruits and veggies without the cost, and went around the outside of the grocery store; fruits, veggies, meats and dairy. I realized the other day when I opened a can of beans that I should change that to fresh too! Less cans more fresh! Its harder though to do that because then you have to eat it, it can not sit in the fridge. Well that was the point to eat more veggies and fruits so it helps in the long run! This has become long, so I will post in a few days to let you know how it is going! Alicia

Turkey, Desserts, Christmas ahhh!

Ok I know some are freaking out Thanksgiving is just around the corner and that means Desserts!  Yummy delicious desserts that you don't want to think about, because it will all go to my butt and it is the season to gain weight.

If you are the person I described above don't freak out you can actually start your weight loss plan now! Don't wait till after Thanksgiving or Christmas to diet start now so that when Thanksgiving turns around you can have a cheat day! Yep, I said it a cheat day!

 So here is what I suggest.  That you eat clean for 6 days and on the 7th day you go wild!  The first 6 days you concentrate on protein, greens and a few carbs.  For Breakfast cook up 3 egg whites and one whole egg ( you can scramble or over medium/easy works too) make sure you spray your pan with PAM, no butter!  You can even add a slice of lean sausage if you would like, glass of low fat milk even.  3 hours after that before lunch, a mid morning snack, have a piece of fruit or a greek yogurt.  Lunch time I like sandwiches but we have to do without the bread so how about a lettuce wrap/ or a whole wheat tortilla with some grilled chicken, lettuce, and a spritz or two of the spray dressing, no chips! Then 3 hours after lunch about 3pm when our body is starving,  I like a yummy Core Active Whey protein shake with a little PB2 (powder peanut butter) and you have a delicious sinful snack.  Dinner Grilled Fish, with green beans or peas, brown rice and if still hungry at bedtime enjoy another shake!  

Now the good part, Cheat Day!  Enjoy sausage, biscuits and bagels for breakfast(try to get some protein too), Enjoy those Christmas Desserts, basically eat what you want because you were good during the week-you reward yourself.  By doing this you will be tired and may need to take a nap because you have not had junk for awhile, but your body needs a break and you do too mentally!

Don't be one of those, "Oh my gosh look what I ate" at christmas time, enjoy the holidays because you started the week out healthy!

Alicia Burgin
Bikini Fit Competitor, Mother of two

You Mean Protein Can Actually Taste Good?

If you have tried more than 3 protein shakes, you have probably tried one that would rank as the worst tasting thing in the history of your life.  As a nutrition store owner, we get the "pleasure" of trying almost every protein mix on the market.  Sometimes I think it is a cruel joke the companies are pulling or I often expect a hidden camera crew to pop out saying I just drank a mud pie (in some cases a mud pie might taste better - i.e. Body Fortress vs. Mud Pie....Mud Pie wins!).

I will be the first to tell you that most protein tastes like chalk or worse and often has a terrible after taste.  Companies will spend millions in advertising to tell you how great their product is and how great it tastes (Muscletech).  The truth is very few companies put forward what is needed to actually make a product taste great. 

There are a few things you can look at on a label that will tell you if a product MIGHT taste great and I will make a few product recommendations that are available at PureBody Nutrition.
Look at these ingredients:
Cholesterol:  A high amount of cholesterol typically means a lower quality protein and thus a bad tasting product. 
Whey Protein Isolate:  This may not change the flavor much, but it makes a huge difference in quality. (you will absorb 99% of the amino acids in an isolate as opposed to a "concentrate" protein).  I typically like to have 50-80% Isolate and 20-50% concentrate in my proteins.  It is a good balance between the two proteins.  An absolute isolate actually tastes bad, but combining the two seems put a good balance on flavor.
Flavor: If it is a fruit flavor (especially tropical) it will more than likely taste bad or the protein quality is so low that you will not absorb any of the protein.  Another problem is that the sugar content maybe extremely high!  Fruit flavors that are occasionally really good Strawberry, Watermelon (I've found many to taste good, but they are high in sugar), peach, banana.

There are really only three products I recommend that are in our store that I am confident you will more than likely LOVE the taste.  Be sure and ask for a sample when in our store to make sure you like the flavor before you leave.  Also feel free to ask for samples of other proteins in the store. 

#1.  Core Whey Active (Chocolate or Vanilla)

#2 AfterGlow (Bazooka Fruit, Watermelon, CherryBomb)

#3 Protein Ultimate (Chocolate, Vanilla, Strawberry, Cookies and Creme)