In past articles we spoke of the dangers of artificial sweeteners.  It seems as though finding low calorie or no calorie drinks is quite the hassle if you are trying to avoid the poison (known as aspartame).  The key to low calorie drinks is finding ones that contain stevia; the only true calorie free, non detrimental sweetener.  However, finding these products isn’t easy!  My local 7 Eleven had this drink with a cool bottle, along with some much needed caffeine for my crazy split shifts; all without the poison!

Activate Has Already Received Tons Of Positive Press

At first glance you are drawn to the interesting looking cap.  I had no idea what I was buying at the time, but this cool innovative drink spells it out for you on the lable.  With a simple twist of the cap a powder substance is released into the water. Here’s what it contains…

• Tea catechins
• EGCG
• Acai Extract
• Pomegranate extract
• Stevia
• Tea polyphenols
• Aloe Vera
• Bilberry Extract
• Coenzyme Q10

The bottle claims that over time vitamins lose their potency in water.  By releasing the ingredients right before you drink it you get 100% of the potency of the ingredients.  In just 30 days the tea catechins lose 53% potency.

The drink tastes excellent and it does give you that much needed boost of energy.  Try it out.  Visit their site to find locations selling it near you!  Go to www.activatedrinks.com

AKA

Traditional Super Bowl Foods weight you down, literally(see above)!  Here are some fun ideas for making your super bowl taste great without packing on the pounds!

Hummus and Veggies – Ditch the heavy dressing for dip and use hummus to complete your vegetable tray without all the saturated fat.

Chili - traditionally people have used the ever – easy pizza to feed the masses.  However, chili can be a healthy hearty feast without waiting for the delivery guy and paying out the nose for an oily entree.  Get the V-8 chili recipe here!

Macho Nachos - Our great nacho recipe can still be a great treat on Super Bowl Sunday without all the excess fat.  It’s fast and filling!  Check out the recipe here!

Home Made Fried Chicken Without The Fat! –  Not sure how to lighten up your chicken???  Simple, cut chicken into strips.  Next roll them in some egg substitute (egg bath), then dip them in crushed corn flakes with garlic, parsley, parmesan cheese, salt and possibly pepper.  Next Bake in the oven 20 minutes. For the exact recipe go see our article on “No Fried Chicken.”

Not sure what to drink??!!!  We have you covered!  Visit our low calorie drinks to get your buzz without the calorie debt! Low Calorie Alcoholic Drinks.

The gym will be packed tomorrow so if you can get in early you might miss the overflowing crowd

AKA

You know that spot on your stomach that you didn’t have as a kid but seems to be haunting you as an adult??  I’m talking about the lower abs of course!  This exercise targets that area that you just can’t seem to get rid of.  This video gives incremental steps for people who are beginning all the way up to intermediate.

Add this to your normal routine.  Beginners should do 10 – 12 reps.  Advanced should preform 15-20.  Do this 3 times at least 3 -4 times per week!

AKA

As a kid in high school I was definitely in love with my diet sodas and drinks.  To me, they were a guilty pleasure that I could omit from my daily calorie intake.  However, even during my childhood years I was warned of the dangers of artificial sweeteners.  My mom would say ” why are you drinking that nerve gas again, it’s bad for you!”  I would of course brush it off and continue to drink the sodas.  As an adult, more and more information arose talking about the dangers of these chemical sweeteners.  It wasn’t till the other day when I decided to google “nerve gas in soda” that I came across the fascinating history of saccharin; why it’s bad for you and the history that surrounded this chemical sweetener.   I realized my mom was right all along.

The History on the poisonous sweetener

Saccharin is a derivative of toluene.  This clear liquid comes from the process of making gasoline.  Toulene can also be found in paint thinner, fingernail polish, lacquers, adhesives, and rubber.  It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that this stuff can’t be good for you!  It was accidentally discovered years ago when it was spilled on the hands of it’s inventor and was found to have a sweet taste.

In, 1901 a company known for making pesticides was founded just to make saccharin for a well known cola company.  The company making this product (Monsanto) went on to prosper even further by making pesticides in genetic codes for many crops.  This led to the alteration of genes in food for over 60% of the US crops.  Regardless of these facts, the one that really stands out is that Monsanto was actually making all these products from left over NERVE GAS from World War I and II.

We will sum this up for you….

Saccharin was formulated from never gas and has the ability to alter your genes, much like the pesticides that alter plant life.  To consume these can have various side affects that are all negative (of course).

• Contribute to the toxicity of genes which alter communication
• have been found to cause various types of cancer
• neurotoxin, and endocrine disruptor
• Headaches
• Depression
• Mental retardation
• Seizures
• Visual disturbances
• Inverted Vision (the feeling of being flipped upside down)
• Fatigue
• Chest Pain
• Dizziness
• Burning Skin
• Nausea
• Infertility
• Lack of concentration
• Memory defects

So what is one to do if they can’t find something sweet to drink but you don’t want to have nerve gas with your daily beverage???  Stevia!  Stevia Plus is my favorite brand and it goes nicely with any beverage.  Not only that, it fights cavities and helps to ward off high blood pressure!  No one should be consuming chemicals in your foods that’s why god made stevia!

AKA

Starbucks Recalls It’s Glass Wear.

Fitness Tips From Your Favorite Olympic Athletes

Love Snowboarding? Get in shape for the winter fun with this group exercise class!

Reduce Stress And Simplify Your Life!

The Biggest Selling Exercise Video Of All Time. See what makes this video so great!

Move Of The Day.  Learn how to do a proper lunge

If you thought Jillian was tough on the “Biggest Loser,” then get ready for her new   show “Losing It.”  This new show host by Jillian goes behind the doors of some of America’s most unhealthy families.  Jillian works together with the participants to change their unhealthy patterns in life to help them shed their weight, both inside and outside home.

“When your health is out of balance everything else suffers — finances, relationships, work and family dynamics,” Michaels says. “I’m moving in with families across the country, getting down and dirty and rooting out bad habits in every corner of their lives that are preventing them from health and happiness (source).”

I think the premise of this show is GREAT!  Being able to see Jillian in a different light with families that need her help could also give viewers an inside look at what a personal trainer REALLY does.  I hope this new show is an even bigger hit than the first one!  If you are interested in having Jillian knock on your door, go to NBC casting.com.

AKA

We’ve been warned about obesity, diabetes, heart disease, drugs, drinking, and smoking; but no one ever warned us of the affects of sitting! Preliminary research is now showing that sitting sends deadly signals to your body, shutting down genes that regulate body fat and glucose levels.

If you think your saved by your daily routine at the gym, think again!  This study claims that even people who workout regularly can still be at risk based on their sitting habits.  To counter act the sitting, professionals say that people who have seated occupations would actually benefit  more if they spread their physical activity through out the day.

This research was preformed in Canada on 17,000 people who all had sedentary occupations and the result their health over 12 years.

Figures from a U.S. survey in 2003-2004 found Americans spend more than half their time sitting, from working at their desks to sitting in cars (source).

To avoid weight gain and stop the modification of genes it’s best to avoid sitting for prolonged periods of time as much as possible!  There are always going to be those times when you aren’t able to leave  your chair, but knowledge that is derived from studies like these can keep you from gaining weight or help you lose weight.  Thus, changing the way your body perceives your activity.

AKA

It’s that time of year again… they are at every door you enter, every super market, every Home Depot, Mall, and corner…. The Girl Scouts!  These miniature elves reel you in with their cute smiles and pleading looks.  Before you know it, you have purchased 4 boxes of cookies so they can go camping in the woods for 3 days.  So how bad are these cookies for you???  If you don’t watch out, these once fun .. happy cookies.. can follow you around for the next three months!

THIN MINTS (4 cookies)

SAMOAS (2 Cookies)

TAGALONGS (2 Cookies)

SHORT BREAD (4 cookies)

Do-Si-Dos (3 cookies)

TREFOILS (4 cookies)

PEANUT BUTTER SANDWICH (3 cookies)

CARMEL DELIGHTS (2 Cookies)

LEMON COOLERS (5 cookies)

PEANUT BUTTER PATTIES (2 cookies)

LEMON PASTRY CREMES – REDUCED FAT (3 cookies)

ALL ABOUTS (2 cookies)

CARTWHEELS – REDUCED FAT (5 cookies)

THANKS- A- LOT (2 cookies)

CAFE COOKIES (5 cookies)

(Credit)

Save your money and keep your body intact.  If you can’t resist buying them .. then make sure you give them away!

Adria Ali

Everyone loves sushi but how many of us know how many calories we are consuming when they eat this healthy meal?  It’s one of my own personal favorites so I thought I would put together a calorie breakdown of some of my favorite choices.

California Roll

Salmon Roll

Avocado Roll

Vegetable Roll

So what can you do to save yourself some calories and lower the carbs in this high carb meal?

• Ask for brown rice instead of white rice.  This slow processing carb allows y our body to use the carbohydrates for energy instead of changing them into sugar lightening fast and storing them as fat more readily.
• Light rice please?  This will cut your carbs in half!  Not to mention lower the calorie count.  This allows you to eat more protein and get full faster.
• Low Sodium Soy Sauce.  Cut the water retention and the sodium while eating your favorite meal by choosing the soy sauce with the green top.  Green means go… red means stay FAR away
• Avoid hidden fat.  Cream cheese, sauces,  and fried rolls are all things you want to avoid.  Stick to the sushi that has high amounts of fish and low amounts of added fats.

Sushi can be a good treat to your usual “clean eating” routine.  However, you have to avoid things that could ruin your week or month of healthy eating.  Use these tips to keep you on track while still going out and having fun with your friends! For more calorie info like this go to www.calorieking.com.

Adria Ali