If you’re a JLC fan… let me explain before you get bent out of shape over the title.

You may have noticed the Activia (yogurt) commercials lately. Jamie Lee Curtis is the celebrity spokesperson for the company. During these commercials she’s explaining the “idea” behind eating yogurt and the benefits it “could” “possibly” have on your digestive system as well as overall health and well-being.

She continues by adding in order to see benefits from Activia, you… the consumer will need to eat a cup – 8oz. of it 3 times a day for 2 weeks.

So far nothing too out of the ordinary, right? I mean, by now, you may even be contemplating running right out and grabbing some. Before you do, put down the car keys and keep reading. I’m going to show and tell what the commercials fail to mention about their product.

Have you looked at the ingredients in Activia? Have you seen what’s in it?

There’s 37 grams of sugar for 8oz. only 8 grams of protein and 240 calories! What the heck?

LOOK CLOSE! How many grams of Sugar?

Looking further at the ingredients, there’s lots of “stuff” in here that makes it unhealthy too. Corn starch (which is mentioned 3 separate  times in the ingredients) is not a real good way to cleanse your digestive track. 

Here are a few other things to look at… under the active cultures they only list 3 active cultures in their yogurt. One of which isn’t highly found in the digestive track when looking at all the different bacteria together. And look at trade marked culture at the end “Bifidus Regularis” Yeah, that’s as real as a “net carb!” (for those of you who don’t know… net carbs aren’t real!)

The first set of ads I saw about 6 months to a year ago had JLC (Jamie Lee Curtis) walking, talking and promoting all on her own.

They claim Activia is clinically and scientifically better for you than other yogurt brands, but when looking at the ingredients, there’s nothing in it or left out that makes it better than any other yogurt. However, they do charge more than regular yogurt brands!

I'm smiling from all the money I make from these ads!

Lately, the ads feature groups of women hanging out with JLC. Have you taken a close look at the groups they’ve selected? Mature older women, right? There’s nothing wrong with this. As we age (as well as when we’re young) it’s important to keep the digestive system working properly.

Have you picked up on what the underlying messaging in the ads? First, in American society we tend to listen to mom when it comes to food choices. Most of those women look like they could be our mom’s. Subliminally we need to listen to what they say.

If you read last week’s post, you saw that plain Greek yogurt is a much better alternative than 99% of the junk food yogurt out there. I gave you a great yogurt recipe for a healthy snack too. Here’s the nutrition info for the Greek yogurt.

Start Strong, Finish Stronger!
Nathan

I have a great recipe for you today! We eat this pretty much every day. It’s really good and really healthy for you too.

Here it is…

First, start with Greek Yogurt. No, not the flavored kind. Plain nonfat yogurt. Remember, even the Greek yogurt with the fruit has way too much sugar. We want to burn fat not store it! The plain stuff has 24 grams of protein and only 7 grams of sugar per cup. That’s a pretty good ratio in my book.

Next, add a packet of Advocare’s “Peaches and Cream” Fiber Drink. This packs a whopping 10 grams of fiber per serving!

Now, this mixture can get pretty thick. If you like it thick then you could be ready to eat. If not, you can add a half cup of soy milk to make it a little smoother.

This makes a high protein, high fiber snack or meal.

You can also throw in some granola to add some healthy fats and carbohydrates. Remember to look at the ingredients for fillers and preservatives. We don’t want to take our healthy meal and turn it into crap!

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me or add a comment below! You can order the Advocare Fiber Drinks here.

Enjoy!

Start Strong, Finish Stronger!
Nathan

Are you ready to make 2012 your best year ever? Fill out our consult form and let’s get started today!

Many products on the shelves in the grocery store today are quick and easy to prepare. Our laziness has created this whole line of products that allow us to create a meal in 10 to 15 minutes simply by adding water or a few ingredients to a  mix. There is, however, a price we pay for this convenience, and I’m not referring to the price on the box. It’s the additives and other chemicals added to create cheap products fast that have a longer shelf life. Here are some examples of foods you think you are eating but have none of the ingredients they claim to have on the box.

The first example is the Aunt Jemima’s Frozen Blueberry waffles. Did you know that they don’t contain any blueberries at all?! The bluish bits you see in the waffle are dried apple parts treated with food dye.

Fake Blueberry's!

What about the Quaker Instant Oatmeal Fruit and Cream Variety? There are packages that come in strawberry and blueberry flavors, but the strawberry packets don’t contain any strawberries, and the blueberry version doesn’t contain any blueberries. With all the sugar that’s added to get the fruit taste, you’d be better off adding fresh fruit to regular slow-cooked oatmeal.

Use slow cook oatmeal for lowering Cholesterol

Have you ever bought a cake mix from a box? How about the Betty Crocker Stir & Bake Carrot Cake? There isn’t a single shred of carrot in that entire mix. Looks like we’re going to have to get out the aprons and dust off the mixing bowls.

Where are the carrots?

And, what really is a “serving size”? There’s no regulation on the size of a serving, and that’s why you can go to the store, buy a box of those really good looking cookies that claim to be 1 gram of fat, take them home, look at the back of the box, and realize you’re only allowed to eat a quarter of that cookie. The bad part is that the given “serving size” is not even close to what we actually use in real life.

Serving Size: "1/3 of a second"

Make sure you read and use common sense when shopping. It’s up to use as consumers to educate ourselves, not the responsibility of the product manufacturers. Besides, they’re in it for the quick buck, they don’t really have our best interest in mind.

Start Strong, Finish Stronger!
Nathan

Are you looking to lose weight? Are you frustrated with your results? Can’t seem to find a supplement that works for you? It’s okay, it’s not you. All the supplements that were made in the past were designed for men. Now, there are supplements that are made specifically for a woman.

Same formula as the rest... Costs more because it's for the ladies!

I thought this might get your attention, but please tell me you’re not falling for this. While there are physical differences in men and women, as well as differences in hormones, our bodies are the same. Triceps on men are located in the same place as on a woman. The digestive system, as well as the cardiovascular system, works just the same. And just in case you didn’t know, a woman’s body loses fat the same way a man’s body loses fat.

The only thing getting slender is your wallet!

Unfortunately, there is no quick fix. Please don’t fall for this misleading advertising. It’s another attempt to get you to spend money on another flawed technology. The only system that works is supportive nutrition, moderate aerobic exercise, and a challenge for muscle. Anything less will fail!

Do you need a little convincing?

Check out Levette's testimonial

Try a class on us. Experience Trinity Pass.

We are 12 Weeks away from Bikini Season! Are you ready? Trinity’s 6 week Bikini Body Program will get you into that bikini and turning heads fast! Check it out here. Trinity’s Bikini Body Program. You can also pick up a FREE copy of Trinity’s “Secrets to a Bikini Body Before the End of Summer!” Don’t let another bikini season pass you by!

Start Strong, Finish Stronger!
Nathan

What I mean is these folks can lift heavy and have a strong core but have fat around their midsection. They are the runners that can run miles and miles and still want more, but if you see them in street clothes, you might think, “man, get to the gym.”

These are fit – fat people.

Another example is exercise enthusiasts that have taken something to an extreme and are good at it, but don’t have the other parts of the program in balance.

Marathon runners with excess fat

Most of the time it’s the supportive nutrition that’s lacking from their program. Regardless of how many times a week you lift weights or run 5 to 10 miles a session, you will still look fat and be frustrated with your appearance if you don’t eat supportively.

We’ve talked for years about supportive nutrition and what it means. Here’s a little recap.

We instruct clients and gym members to eat what is known around Trinity as the “Rule of 3.”

The “Rule of 3” means you eat a lean protein, starchy carbohydrate and a fibrous carbohydrate with every meal.

Trinity's Rule of 3!

You should try to get a meal in every three to three and half hours.

Meals should be visually equal portion sizes, and you should eat until you’re full. That’s right, until you are full!

Things to remember…

Avoid hydrogenated oils
Limit saturated fats (fats that are solid at room temperature)

Limit/Avoid sugar (ALL SUGAR!)
REMEMBER! If fat loss is the goal, sugar is out!

Drink plenty of water

Stay away from any foods labeled enriched, processed, fortified or any other words that make the product sound great. This includes wheat products.

If you start making supportive nutrition a higher priority, you will not only see a difference in your fat loss, but you’ll also notice a difference in your performance levels too!

We have helped 100 of runners and other athletes in general with optimizing fat loss while strengthening their bodies to increase performance and reduce injuries.

from Fat to Fit... YOU can do it in 2012!

For more information call us at 404.966.KICK (5425) or a for a free consultation request more info. Fitness Consultation.

Start Strong, Finish Stronger in 2012!
Nathan

I know you’ve had to have seen the new television commercials promoting H.F.C.S. and the great benefits of having it in your diet.

Get the skinny on HFCS

This is one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever watched! Here’s a link to the youtube version of two moms discussing why its okay to give it to your kids. Just in case you haven’t seen yet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl9vZYj-aJ4

If you think for one minute that this has any substance to it you are in for a big surprise. High fructose corn syrup is one of the major leaders in the obesity epidemic we as American’s are experiencing throughout the U.S.

Add some to your diet and watch the transformation!

H.F.C.S. is to the sweetener world as hydrogenated oil is to oil. Food Companies take something good and make something bad to keep manufacturing costs low and profits high.

If you would like to completely destroy your body’s chances of burning fat and achieving the toned, fit, healthy body you are looking for, go to the local grocery store and find everything with the stuff in it. Eat and drink up! In addition to staying overweight and frustrated with your body’s appearance, you’ll experience the wonderful blood sugar crash and insulin levels running out of control like a roller coaster at Six Flags!

Sweeteners aren’t created equal as with other products we’ve talked about in the past. If you have to use something to sweeten a beverage or food, use something lower on the glycemic scale and a product the body can break down without a huge insulin spike or by product that can be dangerous to your body.

JUST SAY NO!

Start Strong, Finish Stronger in 2012!
Nathan

That’s what a recent Nutrisystem advertisement said. They claim you can eat lasagna, cheeseburgers, chocolate cake and lose weight.

About a month ago, I was asked by several random people about Nutrisystem food and the program, but at that time I didn’t really know much about it.

The next day I was in someone’s office and found an entire drawer full of Nutrisystem meals. I was curious to see what was in them and how they worked. As I read the back of the pre-packaged food, I was blown away.

Why are you eating packaged food?

First of all, the packages are small. Real small! Even the so-called main meals are small.

Second, they had the exact same calories of a regular home-cooked meal but with smaller portions.

So what are you giving up?

Sure, you’re eating less, but you’re consuming the same amount of calories.

What’s the point in that?

If you’re going to have calories, don’t you want to consume a good meal too?

The grocery store food isn't any better!

The last major point that stands out is the sodium. Some of these small packages had as much as seven hundred milligrams of sodium.

Got hypertension? If not now, you soon will, followed by high blood pressure.

One of the most shocking foods I saw was the pre-packaged oatmeal.

For those of you who have been on Trinity’s Super Market Tour, you know that one of the benefits of oatmeal is that it helps lower cholesterol. Yet, the Nutrisystem oatmeal won’t do that, nor will any instant oatmeal for that matter.

Eat this... not that!

Instant oatmeal may be quicker, but unfortunately all the vital nutrients that help lower cholesterol are stripped away. The only cholesterol lowering oatmeal out there will have the words “slow cook” on the package.

Let’s get to the kicker. Nutrisystem costs ten dollars a day, which means it costs $300 a month. For $300 dollars a month, you could have a lot more bang for your buck. We’ve partnered with a company that gives you real food! None of that prepackaged, dehydrated… just add water crap!

You can check it out here! The Meal Movement 

The best way to lose weight, feel great and see results fast is eating healthy food!

The best use of $300 would be to hire yourself a fitness professional and the proper guidance needed to assist you in losing the weight and keeping it off.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll keep saying it until everyone is fit. There are no pre-packaged meals, fat-incinerating pills, or stimulating gadgets that will help you lose weight. These will only lead to one thing being leaner, your pocket book! If you don
T like to cook or are too busy to cook, then try The Meal Movement NOW!

So, skip the pain of failing again or being frustrated with the lack of results. Learn how to get permanent weight loss fast with Trinity’s new and improved TAKE 21 program. We’ll discuss nutrition, as well as the other key components to a synergistic program that works for everyone, every time, guaranteed!

Start Strong, Finish Stronger in 2012!
Nathan

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

If you ate an additional 200 calories a day during the holiday season, that was enough to gain an extra 10 pounds over the course of a couple weeks. If your clothes are fitting a little tighter and you’re ready to get back on track with your nutrition, then here is a helpful tip to getting those pounds off fast!

This tip is actually a little known secret in the fitness and nutrition industry. In fact, the average personal trainer doesn’t know this secret and those that do will be upset that I’m offering this up to the masses. That’s tough for them!

Easy Come... Easy Go!

The “law” states that if you consume more calories than you burn you will gain weight. If you consume less calories than you burn, you will lose weight. It’s really that simple.

If you can’t afford to hire a professional to assist you with your weight loss/ fat loss goal and don’t have any medical conditions that would restrict this approach, start by taking your weight and adding a zero to the end.

This number represents how many calories you should consume in a day.

Divide the total calories over 5 to 6 meals and you have the amount of calories you should consume with each meal.

Remember, these calories should come from visually equal portion sizes of a starchy carbohydrate, fibrous carbohydrate, and lean protein.

A little math for you!

Here’s an example: You weigh 180 pounds. Add a zero. This gives you a total of 1800. Divide 1800 by 5 meals per day, and the answer is 360 calories per meal.

This alone will help you shed those unwanted pounds. But don’t forget that you also have to challenge muscle, get some aerobic exercise and rest for the effects to be beneficial and long lasting.

If you’re looking for a program that will give you the weight loss and healthy goals you’ve set for yourself, we can help. Check out our TAKE 21 – 21 Day Transformation Program.

Start Strong, Finish Stronger in 2012!
Nathan

I often hear people say they cannot enjoy themselves during a holiday meal because they are dieting. The holidays become a time to fear instead of a time to enjoy.

Don't FEAR the Holiday's!

There are a few things wrong with this situation. First, no one should pick the holidays as a time to diet. Secondly, if you eat healthy throughout the year, you wouldn’t have to worry about a holiday meal. What’s the big issue? Do you really eat that much more at a holiday meal? Do you sit at the table feasting for hours on end?

Holiday Party's!

If you eat a couple of holiday meals with the same healthy portion sizes you normally use, you shouldn’t gain 5 pounds during the holidays.

No weight gain here!

At the same time, I recognize that there are treats and great food everywhere around us during the holidays. So, for those who forget the basics to supportive nutrition, I suggest keeping in mind the following simple tips. Remember, maintaining your nutrition success throughout the holiday season is actually possible.

What to eat?!?!

First, make breakfast a priority and plan it. Breakfast is key if you want your body to burn fat all day long. This obviously is not a new idea, but when the season changes, people forget the basics when it comes to maintaining and continuing their fitness and nutrition plan. Breakfast should consist of the “Rule of 3,” a starchy carbohydrate, fibrous carbohydrate, and a lean protein. If you need assistance with this, pick up a copy of Trinity’s cook book,“Fit Eats!”

Second, do not skip any meals. It is very easy to go all day shopping from store to store and realize you have not made time to eat. Your body’s nutrition needs do not change for the last two months of the year. If you have been diligent up to this point with your nutrition plan, one or two days of calorie depravation may not be the end of the world. However, if you undergo a week or two of caloric deficits, you could quickly see yourself back where you started. You worked really hard to establish good eating habits, so remember to make time for meals.

Pick healthier recipes and substitute ingredients!

Whether you are eating out at a restaurant or waiting to get home to have dinner, you have to make sure you get the nutrition your body needs to keep energy levels high and metabolism at an optimal level.

And finally, drink plenty of water. When you find yourself on the go, make sure you stay hydrated. Try drinking a glass or two before a party or big holiday dinner. This will help prevent you from overeating. Drink a glass of cold water, not ice cold, before bed. Your body will burn extra calories while trying to elevate the temperature of the water to match your body temperature.

Happy Holiday's!

Start Strong, Finish Stronger!
Nathan

As a fitness professional one of discussions I frequently have with clients members and seminar participants is better food choices; what’s considered healthy and what should be left alone. (at least kept in moderation)

Thanksgiving is over and everyone is getting back to some kind of normal schedule before we hit Christmas and the New Year.

The week after Thanksgiving I always get comments about eating too much “Turkey” for Thanksgiving and that is the cause of weight gain and fat.

Turkey is a healthy, lean protein

Now, for 364 days per year, I tell folks it’s okay to eat turkey. Turkey is a great source of protein and low in fat. But, I must have missed something. Because a lot, I mean a lot of people tell me that they ate too much of this secret fat gainer and that’s why their pants don’t fit right now.

I don’t want to cause you more pain by breaking this lie that seems to occur every year for many of you, but it’s not the turkey. It was everything else you ate in addition to the lean protein, low fat turkey… unless you covered and smothered it in thick gravy and breading.

Yum! Turkey... Watch out! It will make you FAT!

You know, the turkey isn’t alone in the bad wrap from Thanksgiving dinner. I hear well meaning; seemingly educated people throw around vegetables with such allegations too.

Sweet potatoes and corn for instance are a great starchy carbohydrates packed with vitamins and nutrients the body can use in a fight against weight gain.

Green beans, broccoli (how could you accuse broccoli) and other greens are also on the list of dinners, but are also to blame for weight and fat gain.

Why?

It’s not the foods that are fatting; it’s all the crap we cook with that make it fatting!

Duh!

How much butter, cream and hydrogenated oils can you use in one meal to screw up everything you put in your mouth?

Apparently lots!

Add stuffing, dinner rolls and any other processed wheat products and you’re off to “Holiday Weight Gain 2011!”

Wait, we haven’t even had a second or third helping.

Turkey leg... skin and all!

And desert is still to come.

Please don’t get me wrong, all the added butter and blah, blah, blah… (fill in the blank) makes everything taste great, but we can’t over do it if we’re to see long term goals reached.

We also can’t blame food for the reason we are getting fatter and fatter every year if “WE” are the ones cooking the food.

When we add in holiday parties, dinners and get togethers over the next 30 days, missing regularly scheduled workouts will add to the poundage.

In short, try alternatives for all the fatting additives. Replace butter, cream and shortening with steamed veggies.

Moderation = Long term HAPPINESS!

Rather than shoveling food onto your plate in a huge mound, use tablespoon sizes and if you want more, don’t go for another mound. (just another tablespoon or two)

I’ve put together a holiday report called, “How to Gain 10-15 Pounds Faster than You did Last Year!” Yeah, you read that right.

It’s a spoof on the traditional trainer/client, please don’t over eat and follow these tips to get you through, nonsense.

It’s a fun way to look at some of the behaviors and routine changes we have during the holidays.

You can grab a copy here.

Have a great holiday season!

Start Strong, Finish Stronger!
Nathan