What's Your Favorite Thing?

Please Check Out The NEW site at 

www.sweatlaughlive.com 

Who's She Calling A Loser!?!?

This is a guest post from my amazing friend Kristi Bush...who I might add is having a Birthday TOMORROW!  (Happy Birthday Kristi!!!)

Find out her thoughts on changing your body, The Biggest Loser and learning to love yourself.

Being in the fitness business for twenty years now people assume I must watch and love the show The Biggest Loser. Don’t watch it and don’t love it. Truth is… it’s a bit unrealistic. The trainers have a short, unrealistic amount of time to produce results in the contestants and they yell and scream at them (I think they yell and scream because they want to be the winning team trainer). In my line of work, most people would walk out if I said and acted that way. I can be tough if I need to be, but I still have to be respectful.

 I do like a few things about the show. It does give people hope that a new body is achievable. But the main reason contestants are losing weight is not because Jillian Anderson is yelling “one more, come on you can do it” in their faces but because they have made a complete shift in lifestyle. And that is the key to permanent weight loss and a healthy, fit body.  And since most of us will not be plucked out of everyday life and forced to instantly change our lifestyle in front millions of viewers, here is what we can do; change a few things by setting small, realistic and achievable goals for yourself. Positive results from those little changes spark more and more little changes until you wake up one day and realize you have a new body.  Making slow, permanent life style changes is the only way to completely turn your health around. The Biggest Loser gives us hope and shows us that it is possible to completely turn your life around. But only if you change your lifestyle! And remember this: the slower it takes for the weight to come off (about 1-3 pounds per week) the more permanent the change! Now that is realistic.

Take care of yourself and love, love, love your body! It’s the only one you’ve got!

Kristi

On Simplicity

I love simplicity... the more stuff and clutter around me the more agitated and distracted I become.  I find that in our world simplicity is often something that has to be worked hard for every day.  There is ALWAYS something new for us to buy, better for us to get, greater for us to have.  We are constantly bombarded with images and adverts telling us that even though we may already HAVE such-and-such product...it's now outdated, old, obsolete and makes us look foolish for not having the latest version.  I found an article my friend Eric Hamm wrote on his blog and I would like to share it with you...

"Let’s say you’re looking to buy a new office chair.  You’re standing in the store, staring at your two options.  Very similar in shape, size and color, these two chairs have much in common.  You sit down in the first one…fits like a glove!  You then peruse its options and find that it can change height, it swivels with ease and that’s about it.  You then look at the price tag and see that it can be had for less than a hundred dollars.  Now you sit down in the other chair.  Just as comfortable and with the same basic features.  Then you notice some buttons on the arm rest.  Wow, this baby has a built in massager and can be adjusted electronically.  Also, the back has heat capability and there’s even a flip up cup holder on the right side.  Excited by the bells and whistles, you check out the price tag and take a second to adjust to the fact that it’s more than double the cost of the first option.  Which one should you buy and how does simplicity play a role in making such a decision?"

Click Here to go to his article and continue reading.

Strong and Black AND Good For You?

As a lot of you may already know... I have always been very PRO-Coffee.  I enjoy a few cups in the morning to wake up and I tend to sip a cup of it all morning and will sometimes enjoy a French Press in the afternoon for a little pick me up.  Now, finally the scientific community has decided to back me up and prove that I'm right!  In a recent article in the L.A. Times... here's what they had to say.

"The heavenly brew, once deemed harmful to health, is turning out to be, if not quite a health food, at least a low-risk drink, and in many ways a beneficial one. It could protect against diabetes, liver cancer, cirrhosis and Parkinson's disease."

Before we get started let me just mention that the article does say that pregnant women and people with hard-to-control hypertension may want to stick to decaf, or at least limit their consumption of caffeine.  Here is a summary of how scientists believe coffee can be good for you...

"Diabetes: Twenty studies worldwide show that coffee, both regular and decaf, lowers the risk for Type 2 diabetes, in some studies by as much as 50%... 

Heart disease and stroke: Recent studies suggest that frequent coffee consumption does not increase the risk of either condition. In fact, coffee might -- repeat, might -- slightly reduce the risk of stroke...

Cancer: Coffee research has come up empty here -- with one big exception: liver cancer. Research consistently shows a drop in liver cancer risk with coffee consumption, and there is some, albeit weaker, evidence that it may lower colon cancer risk as well.

Cirrhosis: Coffee seems to protect the liver against cirrhosis, especially that caused by alcoholism. It's not clear, either for cancer or cirrhosis, whether it's coffee or caffeine that may be protective.

Parkinson's disease: With this progressive, neurological illness, it's the caffeine, not coffee, that carries the benefit. No one knows for sure why caffeine protects. Several studies show that coffee drinkers, men especially, appear to have half the risk of Parkinson's compared with nondrinkers....

Athletic performance: It's clear that caffeine, not coffee per se, delivers the big boost here, said Graham, the researcher from Ontario. In fact, caffeine was once deemed a controlled substance by the International Olympic Committee..."

To get a little more in-depth, go check out the article in the L.A. Times.  But before you go to your favorite coffee shop to grab a cup and read the article...  remember that we are talking about COFFEE here.  Coffee is NOT a venti-sugar-mocha-choco-cinna-dolce-frappe-covered in whip cream and powdered sugar-MESS.  It is a cup of coffee, ideally without sugar or cream....or, unfortunately, Baileys or Kahlua.

When We Know Better...Will We Do Better?

A bill has been introduced that would require fast-food and other chain restaurants to post information about their food on the menu boards and food display tags.  They would also have to post information about calories, carbohydrates, fats and salts.  

The hope is when faced with the actual nutritional information in the food they are about to get, informed consumers will be more likely to make healthier, more responsible choices.

"Consumers play an impossible guessing game trying to make healthier choices in restaurants," said Margo Wootan, nutrition policy director for the Center for Science in the Public Interest. "Who would guess that a large chocolate shake at McDonald's has more calories than two Big Macs or that a multigrain bagel at Dunkin' Donuts has 140 more calories than a jelly doughnut?" 

As more and more people are eating out on a regular basis, this kind of information is absolutely critical in my opinion.  Restaurants and fast-food chains spend lots of big money marketing their food to people who really have no idea what is healthy and what is not.  They put healthy sounding words in the name of the product, maybe even show a picture of some thin, gorgeous people enjoying it or whatever it takes to make someone buy it, but in reality it is usually HORRIBLE for you.  I am sure there will be flaws in whatever eventually gets rolled out but I do think it's a great start.  Also, as usual, at the end of the day it still comes down to personal choices...but it's a lot easier to make choices when we have more information.  

Grab Your Sneaks And Ditch The Scams!

Let's be honest for a moment. You've seen the advertisements for weight loss pills-you know the ones with those amazing before and after pictures-and you've wondered to yourself...do they work? 

Diet pills are everywhere, they tempt from store shelves, from infomercials and from glossy magazine pages. You probably know someone who is dabbling with diet pills or maybe you've tried them yourself. Have you ever wondered how they work? 

Weight loss pills can be broken down into 3 basic categories:

1. Appetite Suppressants: These work just like it sounds. The appetite-regulating region of your brain (the hypothalamus) is tricked by blockage of the re-uptake of serotonin and norepinephrine. As a result you feel like you've just eaten a big meal, so you're less likely to overeat.
2. Stimulants: These types of weight loss pills used to contain a combination of ephedra and caffeine to raise energy expenditure (thermogenesis) while also reducing appetite. You're probably aware that these pills were proven in some cases to be deadly, so ephedra was taken off the market. Stimulant pills now contain other ephedra-like substances, vitamins and caffeine. The idea is to increase energy and boost metabolism.
3. Fat Blockers: These pills inhibit the action of the enzyme lipase, which is responsible for breaking down fat during the digestion process. The goal is to prevent a percentage of the fat you've eaten from being absorbed into your system.

So we return to our burning question. Do the pills work? Here's what the diet pill companies say:

• "You'll lose 30lbs in 30 days"
• "Achieve rapid weight loss results"
• "Burn calories and fat 24 hours a day"
• "Fights fat and delivers rapid weight loss"

Those claims are amazing...too bad they are just that-claims. It's so tempting to imagine that those benefits could be gained just by swallowing a pill. Tempting enough to make diet pills a multibillion dollar a year industry. Hmmm, makes you wonder that if that many diet pills have been taken then why don't we all look like swim suit models yet? 

While diet pills showcase a few star subjects, none of whom live on your block, the world is full of real people who have lost weight and improved their lives with exercise and healthy eating. Check out these proven benefits of exercise:

Increased Weight Loss Strengthens Heart and Lungs Improved Sleep Pattern Increased Strength Improved Coordination

Raised Self Esteem Renewed Confidence Feel Good Endorphins Feel Younger Than Ever Improved Mood

A pill may slightly increase your metabolic rate for a time or may suppress your appetite, and you may lose a few pounds. However, a pill alone cannot produce serious or permanent weight loss. A pill cannot deliver the same results as healthy nutrition and regular exercise. 

And weight loss pills have been known to give the following side effects:

• Raised blood pressure
• Increased risk of heart attack
• Cramping, gas and diarrhea
• Constipation
• Headaches
• Dry Mouth
• Insomnia

The bottom line is that true weight loss can't be achieved by a pill. 

If you really want to lose weight, if you're looking for long term health benefits then look no farther than your sneakers. That's right, lace them up and go for a jog.

What's Making You Hungry?

As I'm sure we all know one of the keys to successful weight loss is controlling how MUCH we eat.  Sure, that sounds good on paper doesn't it?  But to put that concept to practical use in the real world can be, well, about as tricky as the paparazzi getting a picture of most young Hollywood starlets today wearing panties.  So, what is it that makes us WANT to eat?  What mysterious power in the universe compels us to keep putting food in our mouths when we're not really even hungry to begin with?  Is it the same mysterious power that makes white people line dance...AND think they look good doing it? 

If you've ever found yourself eating and really didn't know why... check out Time's What Makes You Eat More Food.  The article takes a look at "7 ways our bodies tell us we're hungry, even when we're not"  

The following is a quick rundown of the reasons we tend to want to eat.  Some may surprise you and some will probably seem pretty obvious.  Successful weight loss is really just like anything else... it takes commitment and perseverance.  If getting your diet under control is one of your big stumbling blocks towards that goal... maybe this  will help to identify some of triggers that tend to make you want to eat or to eat more and you will be a little more equipped to handle them.

1.  Time Of Day

2.  Sight

3.  Variety

4.  Smell

5.  Alcohol

6.  Temperature

7.  Refined Carbs

Go check out the article for a little more in-depth analysis as to why these 7 reasons could be contributing to you not being able to walk away from that box of Krispy Kremes.  

While you do that... I'm still going to try and figure out that whole line-dancing thing... ewww.

 

I'm Sick Of Just Words Words Words, Talk Talk Talk!

So, I am currently sitting in an undisclosed location (Borders, 21st and Lewis) observing the habits of overweight, prematurely aged people.  The main characteristics among this particular subset are Denial and Complaining.  Now, I enjoy denial as much as the next person... but I use it to make my world a better place... I like to deny things like the naysayers who contend that Britney Spears is a no-talent trainwreck or that Paris Hilton is a waste of perfectly good internal organs that would be better suited in someone else.

The people I am sitting next to are eating cinnamon rolls and drinking giant cups of frothy, creamy, sugar based coffee drinks that contain more calories than they should consume in one day and in between bites and slurps are trying their hardest to convince themselves and the other enablers at the table that, 

" I always eat pretty good, I mean once in a while I have a special treat but overall my diet is good I don't know why I can't seem to lose weight."  

A special treat huh....  Ummm it's 4:30 p.m. on a wednesday and you're at a bookstore.  I suppose if that is your idea of a "special treat" then by all MEANS continue eating and drinking with that reckless abandon that makes me worry how close I am to actually watching someone bite off their own finger!

But meanwhile... back here on earth... I can look at them and can tell that this is NOT a "special treat" but a daily habit.  I can see it in the way the waistband of their too-tight pants are BEGGING for them to have mercy and unbutton them.  I can also hear it in everything they are saying.  I listen to them saying how much they want to lose weight and I listen to them saying how they don't "feel good" and blah blah blah... but I HEAR them saying what they ate last night... how much they drank last night... how much they're GOING to drink toNIGHT because tonight is 

"FILL IN THE BLANK WITH WHATEVER IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THEIR HEALTH OR REACHING THEIR GOALS"

Honestly... ALL the TALK about wanting to change or WANTING to lose weight is absolutely WORTHLESS without taking some ACTION.  I wish it wasn't that way... I would LOVE for talking about something to be worth some sort of credit towards reaching a goal....but it's not.  If just TALKING about something made things happen I would be in a deeply intellectual and emotionally satisfying relationship with Juan Luz and Madonna would have turned to dust when she fell off her horse... but guess what... I'm sitting in Borders listening to people TALK about what they want to change while taking NO action towards it.  

What are YOU talking about wanting to change or do but not applying any action towards making it happen?

Today... We Laugh

Cha Cha Cha Changes...

How well are your excuses serving you?  I would ask if they were holding you back...but really that's a question that doesn't need to be asked does it?  Everyday I hear people saying how much they want to change something, whether it's their physical appearance, career, whatever.  Most everyone wants to change SOMEthing... the other thing that most people have in common is...they all have excuses as to why they won't change, can't change, aren't changing.

So they the stay...stuck. Stuck in the same body, the same job, the same unhappy relationship.  

Change can be a frightening prospect. It forces us out of our comfort zone... we don't like that!  We are afraid we might fail at whatever it is we would LIKE to do and that thought scares the hell out of us.  We're afraid of putting ourselves to the test and not getting that A+.   Chances are though, if we really took a hard look at the obstacles we think are standing in our way, they are most often self-imposed, internal limitations that have to basis in reality.  Just imaginary movies playing on a constant loop in our head.  Do you want to know what real failure is?  It's wanting to do something but being too afraid to do anything about it.  That's an automatic FAIL.

1)  I want you to get a sheet of paper and write down 3-5 REALLY important things that you have been WANTING to do but have been too afraid to do and have been avoiding.

2)   Now, take a look at what you've written down and start writing down the reasons why you have been avoiding doing them!

How many of the excuses/reasons that you've written down are truly legitimate and how many of them are imaginary?

Most likely they are only figments of your imagination that serve you NO PURPOSE in the here and now.   It's okay to LEARN from things we've done in the past....that's how we grow.  However, we can't let things we've done in the past paralyze us from trying to achieve things now.  You've probably at some point in your life burned the hell out of your mouth taking a bite of food that was too hot... have you let that stop you from eating now? NO!  See, we tried something... it didn't work the way we wanted it to so we modified, adapted and now we are successful at eating without burning ourselves. (well, MOSTLY...sometimes pizza STILL proves to be too tempting for me to wait to cool sufficiently.)

Now it's time to start to moving beyond those fears... going past those excuses and reasons you have for not going after what you want.

Just keep in mind... you also do not have to reach your goal immediately.  Again, to make another reference to pizza (can you tell I am writing this during dinner and that I'm hungry) you don't eat an entire pizza in one bite.  You break it down into several smaller, more manageable bites and you just keep after it. Same things for your goals... try to break them down into smaller, more manageable steps that don't leave you overwhelmed but individually add up to YOU achieving what it is you want to DO!  Pay attention to the journey along the way and have fun... you'll achieve your goals before you know it... if you just keep doing things that take you a little bit closer!

The Sweet Life...

For all of you who are still addicted to either your sugary drinks or your drinks that are sweetened with artificial sweeteners... HERE is a new one with some thoughts and concerns.

Maybe we should just drink more WATER and not worry about all of this stuff!?!?

THIS WAS ME!!!

Top 10 Reasons NOT To Exercise

10.  You see nothing wrong with taking up part of someone else's seat on an airplane... shoot, it's not like they PAID for it or anything!

9.  Apparently it's now TRENDY to be big... you wouldn't want to be thought of as unhip would you?

8.  If you're going to pay the same price for a piece of clothing you may as well get the one with the most fabric!  It only makes fiscal sense in this day and age.

7.  Toes? What toes?  If you Can't SEE 'em ya certainly don't need to TOUCH 'em!

6.  If you were busy exercising, how would you POSSIBLY be able to squeeze in enough time to sit in front of your TV?

5.  There's always liposuction... that's safe and easy right?

4.  You always eat healthy... even when you have the occasional fast food meal.

3.   You think gym people are CRAZY and you would much rather prefer being the fatty on the moving sidewalk than the crazy person on the treadmill thank you very much!

2.  Exercise hurts... you get sore and you sweat.  When your joints give out because they are not supposed to carry so much excess weight around, you can just get them replaced... like rotating the tires on your car!

1.  And the number ONE reason NOT to exercise is.... DAMN IT, i would TOTALLY finish this but my Pop Tarts are ready and American Idol is starting.... gotta run, well.. not run actually. You know what I mean!

Doctors Agree With Me

I know pills can be FUN to take, trust me... I like pills just as much as the junkie down the street.  Pills make great "rocks" for certain mixed drinks and can also be used as substitutes for some higher calorie ingredients in some of your favorite dishes.

And in the world we live in, it seems like there is a pill for EVERYthing.  We are obsessed with pharmaceuticals and their ability to magically cure whatever it is that is bothering us.

However... sometimes the solution to a problem, much like Dorothy discovered in the Wizard of Oz, has been with us the whole time.  It's the healing power of laughter! (The University Of Maryland Medical Center)

"Laughter, along with an active sense of humor, may help protect you against a heart attack, according to a new study by cardiologists at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. 

The researchers found that people with heart disease were 40 percent less likely to laugh in a variety of situations compared to people of the same age without heart disease."

According to WebMd we change physiologically when we laugh. We stretch muscles throughout our face, we increase our pulse and breathe faster which sends more oxygen to our tissues.  They even say that laughter can produce some of the benefits of a mild workout.  (NO, that DOESN'T mean you can skip your workout today if you watched an episode of The Office.)

"We could perhaps read something humorous or watch a funny video and try to find ways to take ourselves less seriously," Dr. Miller says. "The recommendation for a healthy heart may one day be -- exercise, eat right and laugh a few times a day."

Think about the last time you had a GOOD laugh either from reading something, watching something or hanging out with those friends of yours that you can't HELP but laugh with.  How did you feel?  Lighter? Happier?  A little less like the world was conspiring against you?  I know if I don't laugh regularly I feel stale and even a little sad... but after a couple of good laughing sessions, I start to find the humor in everything again and nothing seems so bad anymore.

There you have it... PROOF that all you really need to do is sweat. laugh. live.

Intro To The Paleolithic Diet

I have been trying to figure out the best way to introduce you all to the concept of the Paleolithic diet... well the wait is over.  

My friend Rusty Moore at Fitness Black Book has not only a great article that sums up the idea in an easy to understand format... he has also put together a GREAT VIDEO that, in 5 fun-filled minutes sums up what could take HOURS and HOURS of reading to really "get."

Why are you still here...go check it out. NOW!

Be The Change.

With the new administration in office now, I know there is a lot of talk and speculation going on about the current state our healthcare is in and what is going to be done about it.  I just read this great article in the Los Angeles Times that suggests that instead of us sitting around waiting for change to happen...we need to take on a little more responsibility for our own health...

"During Obama's campaign, the soon-to-be president spoke frequently of sacrifice and self-responsibility. When it comes to healthcare, however, he's failing to hold people accountable for their own unhealthful behaviors and the overwhelming financial effect they have. He needs to insist that everyone play a part in solving our national healthcare crisis."

This is not political, at the heart of this debate is Americans health and fitness and how 

that impacts our daily life.

The current health epidemics we are facing today are largely due to our 

bad habits 

such as smoking, overeating and the fact that we are so sedentary.... to most people, 

physical activity has become an anathema.

Below are some alarming statistics from the article...

"Overeating has practically become a national pastime, and the percentage of people who are overweight or obese has soared to more than 60%"

"We not only eat too much, we eat all the wrong things. Fewer than 25% of adults consume the recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables each day, and fewer than half of children get adequate amounts of calcium in their diet."

"Soda has emerged as our national drink; recent surveys estimate that roughly 40% of young children and more than 60% of adults drink soda each day. "

"We live sedentary lives. According to statistics maintained by the Department of Labor, men and women in the U.S. spend between two and three hours each day watching television and less than 20 minutes participating in sports and exercise." 

If you read those statistics and thought...SO!?!?! Take a look below as the article goes on to point out the effects those statistics have on government spending. Then it starts to become clear the impact it has on all of us.

"According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, medical expenditures associated with being overweight or obese may exceed $78 billion annually. For smoking, the numbers are thought to approach $75 billion each year."

"Inactivity is estimated to cost us an additional $24 billion, according to a Harvard University study published in 1999. Sexually transmitted diseases run more than $8 billion a year, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Drug-use costs roughly $15 billion, says the Office of National Drug Control Policy; and alcohol abuse $26 billion, says the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism."

The article goes on to say that for some people a change in behavior may be difficult and for some nearly impossible.  For a very small number of people that may be the case.  For the majority of people, I don't buy it.  There is no chemical addiction to soda, people need to reach for water or a glass of milk instead of reaching for a coke.  Same thing with our sedentary existence... there is no SOUND REASON why people are watching  2 to 3 hours of television EVERYDAY (which I think seems conservative) but "can't find time" to spend just TWENTY minutes doing some form of physical activity.

It is time that we ALL, collectively take on a little more personal responsibility for our health and managing the care of it.  Some of the choices that need to be made are NOT the easiest or they are sometimes NOT the most fun. That being said however, we owe it to ourselves, our loved ones and everyone else to take responsibility for our actions for the good of the whole.

Love It or Hate It...You're Gettin' Taxed Either Way!

I squeaked in under the wire and got my taxes FILED and PAID yesterday evening... beating tonight's midnight deadline by a few hours.  I was kind of bothered at first about having to send, what to ME, is a big chunk of money to the government.  I know I am not alone in this but I sure could have thought of a MILLION things I would have RATHER done with it...again, I HAVE mentioned to you all before my particular affinity for monkeys right?  ANYway, the point is, it really got me thinking about what I do for a living and THAT helped me put it all into a little perspective.  I know there is this sort of ABSTRACT way of looking at taxes by thinking about all the services that our provided etc, etc.  But at the end of the day I think we all basically look at the money we pay in and how it DIRECTLY impacts US.  Here is how the whole "putting it into perspective" thing worked out.

I ENJOY what I do for a living.  It's something I am PASSIONATE about, I get to HELP other people not only get physically stronger, but also emotionally stronger!

 I have had SOO many jobs in the past, some of which I would put in the "ok" category, others were just down-right MISERABLE... It got me to thinking about how I used to have to pay my taxes based off the earnings of HORRIBLE jobs that sucked the absolute SOUL out of my being and how GRATEFUL I am that THIS year I still have to pay taxes, but THIS time, I earned my salary doing something that I enjoyed doing and I can tell you THAT makes a HUGE difference!

What about you, are you paying taxes this year for spending 8-12 hours a day doing something that you ENJOY doing or something that you HATE doing?  If you are doing something you hate...what can you do to start changing that? What do you LOVE doing?  What are YOU passionate about?  How can you BEGIN taking steps towards turning that LOVE into your income?

Just something to think about...seriously.  What do YOU want YOUR story to be!?!?

cheers,

S.

You Want To Put WHAT WHERE!?!?

Did you know, that in the U.S. there are MORE than 3,000 different, perfectly legal substances that can be added to the food that WE EAT, to preserve it, color it...change its TEXTURE and increase flavors as well as some other things we won't even get into? Essentially, our FOOD abuses more substances than Amy Winehouse and Courtney Love...COMBINED!

You know I have mentioned it several times before but I'm getting ready to do it again... Here we go...
having your diet consist mainly of FRESH, WHOLE foods, preferably from local farmers and producers is your best bet when it comes to avoiding overly processed foods and some of the most dangerous additives you should definitely steer clear of!

The following list is what many consider to be the 12 WORST additives, the ones that should NOT turn up on food labels of anything you consume!

Propyl Gallate

This preservative, used to prevent fats and oils from spoiling, might cause cancer. It's used in vegetable oil, meat products, potato sticks, chicken soup base and chewing gum, and is often used with BHA and BHT (see below).



BHA and BHT

Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) are used similarly to propyl gallate -- to keep fats and oils from going rancid. Used commonly in cereals, chewing gum, vegetable oil and potato chips (and also in some food packaging to preserve freshness), these additives have been found by some studies to cause cancer in rats. If a brand you commonly buy uses these additives, look for a different variety, as not all manufacturers use these preservatives.


Potassium Bromate
This additive is used in breads and rolls to increase the volume and produce a fine crumb structure. Although most bromate breaks down into bromide, which is harmless, the bromate that does remain causes cancer in animals. Bromate has been banned throughout the world, except for in the United States and Japan. In California, a cancer warning would likely be required if it were used, which is why it is rarely used in that state.

Monosodium glutamate (MSG)

MSG is used as a flavor enhancer in many packaged foods, including soups, salad dressings, sausages, hot dogs, canned tuna, potato chips and many more. According to Dr. Russell Blaylock, an author and neurosurgeon, there is a link between sudden cardiac death, particularly in athletes, and excitotoxic damage caused by food additives like MSG and artificial sweeteners. Excitotoxins are, according to Dr. Blaylock, "A group of excitatory amino acids that can cause sensitive neurons to die."

Many consumers have also personally experienced the ill effects of MSG, which leave them with a headache, nausea or vomiting after eating MSG-containing foods.

Aspartame (Equal, NutraSweet)

This artificial sweetener is found in Equal and NutraSweet, along with products that contain them (diet sodas and other low-cal and diet foods). This sweetener has been found to cause brain tumors in rats as far back as the 1970s, however a more recent study in 2005 found that even small doses increase the incidence of lymphomas and leukemia in rats, along with brain tumors.

People who are sensitive to aspartame may also suffer from headaches, dizziness and hallucinations after consuming it.

Acesulfame-K

Acesulfame-K is an artificial sweetener that's about 200 times sweeter than sugar. It's used in baked goods, chewing gum, gelatin desserts and soft drinks. Two rat studies have found that this substance may cause cancer, and other studies to reliably prove this additive's safety have not been conducted. Acesulfame-K also breaks down into acetoacetamide, which has been found to affect the thyroid in rats, rabbits and dogs.

Olestra

Olestra is a fat substitute used in crackers and potato chips, marketed under the brand name Olean. This synthetic fat is not absorbed by the body (instead it goes right through it), so it can cause diarrhea, loose stools, abdominal cramps and flatulence, along with other effects. Further, olestra reduces the body's ability to absorb beneficial fat-soluble nutrients, including lycopene, lutein and beta-carotene.

Sodium Nitrite (Sodium Nitrate)

Sodium nitrite (or sodium nitrate) is used as a preservative, coloring and flavoring in bacon, ham, hot dogs, luncheon meats, corned beef, smoked fish and other processed meats. These additives can lead to the formation of cancer-causing chemicals called nitrosamines.

Some studies have found a link between consuming cured meats and nitrite and cancer in humans.

Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil

The process used to make hydrogenated vegetable oil (or partially hydrogenated vegetable oil) creates trans fats, which promote heart disease and diabetes. The Institute of Medicine has advised that consumers should eat as little trans fat as possible. You should avoid anything with these ingredients on the label, which includes some margarine, vegetable shortening, crackers, cookies, baked goods, salad dressings, bread and more. It's used because it reduces cost and increases the shelf life and flavor stability of foods.

Blue 1 and Blue 2

Blue 1, used to color candy, beverages and baked goods, may cause cancer. Blue 2, found in pet food, candy and beverages, has caused brain tumors in mice.

Red 3

This food coloring is used in cherries (in fruit cocktails), baked goods and candy. It causes thyroid tumors in rats, and may cause them in humans as well.

Yellow 6

As the third most often used food coloring, yellow 6 is found in many products, including backed goods, candy, gelatin and sausages. It has been found to cause adrenal gland and kidney tumors, and contains small amounts of many carcinogens.

It's True!

i saw this today on postsecret.blogspot.com
i felt like it was pretty relevant.
cheers,
S.

Sweat? Check! Laugh? Check! Live? Check!

This little video has made my day... hopefully it will bring a lil smile to your face as well...

Cheers!

S.

More than 200 dancers were performing their version of "Do Re Mi", in the Central Station of Antwerp. with just 2 rehearsals they created this amazing stunt! Those 4 fantastic minutes started the 23 of march 2009, 08:00 AM. It is a promotion stunt for a Belgian television program, where they are looking for someone to play the leading role, in the musical of "The Sound of Music".

Can I Get Some Fries With That Shake Shake Booty?

I don't know if it's because I'm just not FEELING that well or what... but i'm in a REALLY cranky mood and this article in the NY Times just managed to piss me off a little bit more.  The article basically says that at fast food restaurants when given the choice between french fries or the more "healthy" option... a salad, most people choose the fries.  YA THINK!?!?!?   Let's just pretend for a bit that FIRST off... most people concerned with health aren't frequenting fast food places to BEGIN with, I mean I honestly can't remember the last time I worked out with someone and the first thing we did afterwards was meet up at McDonalds for some healthy eatin'.  So with that in mind let's look at what I feel is the main reason for the fries dominance in this completely stacked deck.  Have you SEEN the salads at these places?  

While I commend these purveyors of crap food for adding salads to their menus I can't help but think that it was something totally cooked up in the marketing boardroom...NOT the kitchen.  Healthy food can and SHOULD be FRESH and full of taste and flavors, these tired little nasty things that come out in their plastic containers with their see thru lids and packets of Newmans Own are to be blunt...SHIT.  

This is what they would like you to believe their salads look like...

 

HERE is what the ACTUAL salad that you GET when you order one...

Yeah.... I'd probably be inclined to get the fries TOO!

Thanks for letting me rant just a little bit... let me know your thoughts on this!

IMAGINE.. Me... A SUPERMODEL!

For those of you who have been religiously  checking back every few minutes with bated breath and sweaty palms... the Fake Fried Chicken experiment last night went amazingly well... I pulled it off without a hitch.  Well, there was ONE hitch I guess, kinda.  I got so caught up and concerned with whether or not I was going to be able to make the CHICKEN that I forgot about actually having ANYthing else to go with it.  So while I was eating my delicious low-fat fake fried chicken, I was IMAGINING what all it WOULD have been good with.  I had imaginary mashed potatoes last night with imaginary green beans and imaginary deviled eggs.  And really that was perfect because my imaginary Venezuelan boyfriend Juan Jesus kept telling me just HOW good everything was when he WASN'T busy trying to make out with me. All in all it was a good night.

AND I discovered this morning just how close I am to being a SUPERMODEL...or at least... an imaginary one!

If Kate can do it SO CAN I!  

Fire And Monkeys

Anyone who knows me knows I love two things

 1) Monkeys that wear clothes and accept tips

 2) Trying out new recipes

Ok, NOW anyone who knows me, knows I'm lying, not about the monkeys of course... about the cooking.

But the inevitable has finally happened, much like Lindsay Lohan has grown tired of her pseudo lesbian relationship... I too have grown tired of the same stirfry I make every Monday night.  Yep, tonight I'm gonna go to the store, buy a bunch of stuff that I will most likely ONLY use for this one particular recipe, and give it a whirl.  

I'm a little nervous about the whole thing actually.  The last time I cooked I ended up actually learning 

 A) I HAVE a fire extinguisher 

and  B)  HOW to USE said fire extinguisher

Tonight's lesson is going to involve how to use a food processor.  Not only do I not know HOW to use one... I have actually never even SEEN one.  I have seen a PICTURE of one before, because I actually have one in the cabinet that I have never taken out of the box... It was from an ex-boyfriend, just like MOST of my kitchen accessories are, and surprisingly most of my socks... kitchen accessories and socks  left over remnants of past loves that have crashed and burned.  Unfortunately, I still have not acquired a MONKEY though!

ANYway.... I am going to paste the recipe in here so you can learn along with me and even give it a shot if you like and we can compare notes while we relax on the veranda with our lemonade and watch the children catch fireflies in the gathering dusk.

Wish me luck!

Oven Fried Chicken
Eating Healthy in 2009. Copyright 2006, Ellie Krieger, All rights reserved.

Corn cereal crumbs and crushed crackers create a delicious coating. The yogurt tenderizes the chicken. A light spray of olive oil before baking guarantees lightly crispy results.

Prep Time:15 min Inactive Prep Time: hr minCook Time:45 min
Level:
Easy
Serves:
6 to 8 servings

Ingredients
1/2 sleeve (about 20) whole-grain salted crackers, pulsed in a food processor until fine (about 1/2 cup)
2 1/2 cups corn cereal flakes, pulsed in a food processor to fine crumbs (about 1/2 cup)
2 tablespoons sesame seeds
3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
2 egg whites
1 cup lowfat, plain yogurt
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
Olive oil cooking spray
4 medium sized skinless chicken breasts and 4 skinless chicken thighs, rinsed and patted dry (about 3 1/2 pounds chicken)
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly spray a baking sheet with olive oil.

Combine the crackers and corn cereal crumbs, sesame seeds, cayenne, and garlic powder in a shallow bowl. Reserve.

In a large bowl, combine egg whites, yogurt, Dijon mustard, and salt. Add the chicken pieces and coat thoroughly with the yogurt mixture.

One at a time, dip the chicken pieces in the cracker mixture, packing crumbs onto chicken. Arrange the chicken on a baking sheet and spray lightly with olive oil cooking spray.

Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until juices run clear when chicken is pierced with a knife.

Get Out Get Out Wherever You Are...

Get outside this weekend and do something physical.  Ride your bike, go for a walk or toilet paper the neighbors house.  Especially if your neighbor has a really loud Harley that he is obviously using to overcompensate for other shortcomings.  If you don't happen to have such a neighbor... contact me and I'll give you MY address, hell, i'll even throw in a couple rolls of Charmin just to add to the magic.

So, in closing, seriously... if you can move your body, first of all thank WHOMEVER you thank for the miracles in your life and then take it outside and let it get some fresh air and a little sunshine.

Take Care and We'll Talk Soon!

Cheers,

S.

Quick Six-Pack Abs!

Winter is coming to an end quicker than i can finish my 3rd Cosmo for breakfast. I'm just kidding about the Cosmos at breakfast...winter is not actually ending THAT fast! But the fact is winter IS almost over and as our thoughts turn to Spring and Summer and pool parties and swim suits... we quickly realize we are carrying around a little extra weight courtesy of staying indoors and watching The Golden Girls on DVD while eating Ben & Jerry's straight out of the container and enjoying Rose reminiscing about the good ol' days back in Minnesota. Or maybe that's just me.

Well, I am here to reveal TO YOU, RIGHT here, RIGHT now the secret to six-pack-abs and a slim, sexy summer ready body...

Introducing, for a limited time only.... The 50lb Fork and Knife!

Are you like millions of others and are tired of being able to eat your food too easily?  Do you often find yourself saying things like...If there was just a way to SLOW DOWN my food intake I could FINALLY get that modeling contract?

Well, look no further, we here at Sweat Laugh Live have searched high and low and are proud to offer you this exclusive offer!

All kidding aside...here is the REAL truth...

The truth about abs is that you have a layer of fat between the skin and the muscle, and it doesn't matter how many crunches you do, if you don't cut down that layer of fat, you'll never see your abs. You have to do exercises that are high in caloric expenditures -- compound joint movements like squats, lunges, lower body exercises that recruit a lot of muscle fibers because they're incorporating more than one muscle group. The overall result is that you burn more calories.

Abs are made in the kitchen, not with gimmicky ab machines.  The truth is most people need to concentrate a little harder on getting rid of the "KEG" so they can get to the "SIX-PACK."

Work Hard, Eat Well.... and if you really want a 50 lb fork and knife, I will be more than happy to ship them to you for 4 installments of only $19.95

How seriously do you take YOUR self?

I know that sometimes we all have the tendency to take ourselves a little too seriously.  We get cocky because we're havin a good hair day or our clothes are looking particularly fresh, whatEVER it is we are ALL guilty at SOME point of thinkin' our shit don't stink... well, guess what, if you're human, it DOES. If you put your pants on one leg at a time... it does.  EVEN if you put them on backwards like one of my clients did the other day.  Point is... we need to keep ourselves in check just a little bit, because if we DON'T... the universe is ALWAYS there to come SMACK US DOWN and put us back in place.... 
CASE IN POINT...

Your Leader!

Can Ya Spot Me?

Cardio Is NOT The Answer!!!

I ran across this article the other day and thought it was very important to share with you. Excessive cardio is something I see ALL the time. I try and advise against it, but it is hard to convince a "junkie" that they need to give up their habit.
I think it would probably actually be easier for me to try and get Amy Winehouse off smack!
Below is a little bit of the article to get you started and then a link to take you to the rest of it... READ IT, LEARN IT, LIVE IT!

here are also downsides to being a “cardio” junkie…..remember more is not better in most cases….here’s a couple good points from Steve Maxwell on some of his top 10 reasons he doesn’t do aerobics:
Oxidative Stress - Which causes a breakdown of tissues. It also predisposes one to cancer and heart attack.

Elevated cortisol production - Which causes a breakdown of muscle tissue and increases fat storage or depot fat. People do aerobics to alleviate stress yet end up creating more stress.

Lowered testosterone and HGH levels For men, aerobics are a form of chemical castration. Low T-levels are associated with lowered libido, depression, anxiety, increased body fat and decreased muscle tissue. This contributes to muscle-wasting and lowers the basal metabolic rate.

Increased appetite and a tendency toward binge eating patterns Aerobic exercise makes people hungry!

Burns a relatively small amount of calories vs. the time spent One large meal completely offsets the pitiful amount of calories burned in an hour aerobics session. This is exacerbated by over-engineered running shoes which cushion the feet in such a way to create a neural amnesia.

Adrenal burnout A consequence of the “feel good” neurotransmitters which also stimulate the release of adrenaline. Adrenaline is the fight or flight hormone. Excessive adrenaline creates an addictive response and people going routinely for the so called “high” of running end up with adrenal burnout, e.g., chronic fatigue and depression.

Dr. Kenneth Cooper, the father of aerobic exercise (and the person who coined the term) completely recanted his assertions regarding aerobic exercise. After observing a disproportionate number of his aerobic-enthusiast friends die of cancer and heart disease, he reversed his ideas on the benefits of excessive aerobic exercise. He now claims anything in excess of 20 minutes has greatly diminishing returns. In fact, he’s now an advocate of scientific weight training.

Read On Cardio Junkies!!!

78 days in...

Today is the 78th day of the new year. How are those resolutions coming along? which ones have you kept and which ones have you thrown out and plan on starting NEXT year?
You need to remember WHY you made your resolutions...remember the MOTIVATION behind your decision.
Did you want to lose weight so you could look good at your reunion? Did you want to lose weight so that walking to your car to the store didn't leave you winded? Did you want to quit smoking so you could watch your kids grow up, graduate, get married etc? what is the REASON behind your resolutions? If you can remember that and repeat it every time you are faced with a choice that will either make or break your resolution... it WILL help!
Keep up the good work...

what's YOUR excuse?

I'm apparently on a soapbox this week about healthy eating... i guess after about a week of NOT eating healthy, it has jumped to the front of the line and I am fixated on the importance of it. The good news, at least I think, is that I'm not the only one!
Our First Lady, Michelle Obama and me are petting the same dog... she too is a a big advocate of a healthy diet and active lifestyle. And I think just by looking at her...that's pretty obvious.

here's an excerpt from the article the NY Times ran the other day.

"White House officials say the focus on healthy living will be a significant item on Mrs. Obama’s agenda, which already includes supporting working families and military spouses. As the nation battles an obesity epidemic and a hard-to-break taste for oversweetened and oversalted dishes, her message is clear: Fresh, nutritious foods are not delicacies to be savored by the wealthy, but critical components of the diets of ordinary and struggling families." CLICK HERE to continue reading the rest of the story.

High Octane.

So, just a little while back I wrote about how I started a new training program and how I felt like a total "newbie" to the world of working out again. How everyday was a learning curve, how hard I can be pushed, learning new limits to my endurance and learning again what it's like to be SORE...EVERYday! And just like I mentioned the other day... I think it has been VERY beneficial to me to have a new, fresh perspective on what it's like to be NEW to working out again.
Well, THIS weekend I discovered another NEW. I have been in a small town in the great state of New York for the past 4 or 5 days and found myself forced out of my normal patterns and habits. there WAS no Whole Foods market to go get my daily lunch salad from, there was no refrigerator in my hotel room in which to keep my usual stash of healthy foods. There wasn't even a coffee maker in the room to get my day started right, but that's not the point of this particular post... i'm just throwing that in there to try and garner a little sympathy from some of you.
No, the point of this entry is to let you know that I fell off the wagon...BIG time! I started out with the best of intentions, but it very quickly spiraled into an uncontrollable and apparently unstoppable quest to see HOW much I could eat in four days! So, not only was I eating food that I was not used to eating, I found myself eating large portions of it and very often! Here is what I learned from this experience. I DIDN'T FEEL GOOD! The WHOLE time I felt miserable. I felt heavy and sluggish and slow. I kept thinking about how some people eat like this...ALL the time. That THIS was NORMAL to some people. We really ARE what we eat. I KNOW there are folks out there that that are more concerned with what grade of gasoline they put in their car than they are about what they eat. Does that make ANY sense!?!?! The food you put in your body is the FUEL for your body. We are AMAZING machines and for us to try to operate them by fueling them with whatever kind of junk and crap we can find and get our hands on is doing us an enORmous injustice.
I think this has been an important lesson for me to stumble upon just a few days after writing about cleaning up your diet. I encourage you to not only clean up your diet and pay attention to what you are eating... I want you to ALSO start paying attention to how you FEEL when you eat certain things. How does your body react to eating a cleaner, less processed diet of lean proteins and fresh fruits and vegetables? How does it FEEL without greasy, fried food? I GUARANTEE you there is a HUGE difference. I just experienced a poor diet again and I can't tell you just HOW grateful I was to be having my salad for dinner last night...not to mention how much better I feel today as a result of it.
S.

Step 5

Replace Sugary Foods With Healthier Treats.

The next food group we are going to zero in is sugary foods. We're going to do the same thing here with the sugary foods that we did with the fatty, greasy foods... we're going to eliminate them one at a time with healthier options.

* Challenge: Here we go again with another 30-day challenge, this time it's for sweets. Can you go one whole month without them!?!? As I have been doing this whole time... I would encourage a gradual approach to this as well and just try to start having less every day.

* Cheat Day: This is one of my favorite days EVER and I suggest you add one in once a week for yourself! My cheat day is every SUNDAY and I LOVE IT! I get to eat what I want on that day, I can have a sugary dessert or two or some chips and salsa or whatever I'm craving. The goal here is not to GORGE and completely pig out but to enjoy some of the foods that you have cut out.

* Alternatives: Find alternatives to the sweets you are used to eating and stock up on them and then get RID of the sweets in your house so you're not tempted in a moment of weakness! If you usually have a candy bar for a snack... try having an apple or a banana with some peanut butter instead, or some veggies and hummus. A lot of times we eat, just to have something to munch on.

* Drinks: A lot of people for some reason seem to think that the things they DRINK don't count towards their caloric intake. This is a big mistake...HUGE! The best thing you can drink is WATER. Try to cut out all the sugary sodas and juices. Most every juice on the market is just a well disguised sugar water full of empty calories and artificial flavors and colors...really!?!?! NO GOOD!

Step 4

Start Intensifying Your Exercise Slowly.

*Duration: Here's the thing...for now, don't worry about making your workouts any HARDER than they already are, just start increasing the time spent doing it. Start by adding just 5 minutes to your workout and keep doing that for 2 or 3 workouts and then add another 5 minutes to that. The goal here is to gradually work your way up to 40-45 minutes!

*Intensity: Pretty soon these longer workouts will start to feel too easy for you! (can you believe it!?!?) After your body gets used to going LONGER, a couple of times a week you should make your workouts a little HARDER. When you do your harder workouts...do them a little bit shorter than your normal long ones. For example, instead of your usual 40 minutes at your normal pace, do 20 minutes. Second... go harder in intervals, by that I mean for 3-5 minutes, go at a faster pace, then slow it back down to your normal pace and keep alternating that every 3-5 minutes.

* Hard/Easy: As you begin to add harder and longer workouts, you'll probably want to follow those with an easier workout. Let's say you do a long workout of 45 minutes or so...try going only 20 or 25 minutes the following day. Interval workout one day...go shorter and easier the next day. Always try to alternate between the two to avoid the risk of an overuse injury... or burnout.

Step 3

Eat smaller meals, more frequently. As you start getting rid of all that nasty artery clogging, unhealthy greasy food and replacing it with fresh, healthy foods... you should probably begin eating smaller portions. We have gotten way out of control with the amounts of food we eat. Thanks to our portion distortion, we think that when we eat a plate of food at a restaurant that we have only had one meal, when in fact... a lot of times that amount of food could have fed about FOUR people!

*5-6 meals: The good news is you get to eat more often! The bad news is... well, sorry, I can't really think of any bad news about getting to eat more often. What I would like you to start working towards would be having a a good breakfast (that really should be your biggest meal of the day) then a mid-morning snack, a small early lunch, another small lunch a couple hours later, a small late-afternoon snack and then a small, light dinner. If that sounds to complicated to start with... stick with your three main meals but work on making them smaller and lighter and incorporating both the mid-morning and mid-afternoon snacks.

*Wait: When you have a meal... make sure it is a proper portion and just eat that! if you still THINK you're hungry, wait about 20 minutes before heading back for more. It takes a few minutes for the brain and stomach to get on the same page. A lot of times you'll find out that you're really not that hungry after all and the second helping...well, you just don't need it.

Step 2

Replace fatty and greasy foods with healthier foods.
I don't want you to think of yourself as "going on a diet" because you're NOT! You ARE going to take a look at WHAT you eat and try to start replacing some of the BAD FOR YOU foods with healthier options.

Examples: Let's just say hypothetically that you really like your fried chicken... try replacing that with baked instead. You can find recipes out there that are LIKE fried chicken but don't involve the actual frying part. Want a big juicy hamburger? I found that it isn't so much the BURGER I enjoy as the bread with the onions and pickles and mustard... try substituting a burger for a verggie burger or a portobello mushroom. Pizza junkie? No problem, make your own with a store-bought pizza crust and load it UP with veggies, olive oil, go easy on the cheese and you have a very great tasting, healthy alternative to your usual meat lovers combo.

Gradual Changes: Here's where I'm going to be nice to you...again! And some people say I'm a total hard ass (you know who you are) Don't try changing out all your foods overnight. After you complete the first 30-day exercise challenge from step 1... start a second 30-day food challenge by replacing just ONE fatty food a day with a healthier option. Then, after that...begin replacing more and more of your unhealthy choices with healthy ones!

* Exercise: In this second month, start tweaking your exercise program just a little bit too. You should be able at this point to start gradually increasing the length of your workouts