I’m not a huge fan of Gyms.  I would much rather be outside soaking in the beauty of mother earth.  I know that some people would prefer the gym over battling with bugs, animals, and the weather but that is just not me.   Although I don’t really like them, I do find myself joining the gym rats on their electronic wheels every now and then.   But when I have my choice I am the mountain lion conquering the world outside of the cages, taking on whatever nature can throw at me.  One of my secrets to staying energized and having fun while I’m out is having a snack with me to keep my body fueled.  The biggest loser protein products are so quick and easy, they are what I usually reach for as I’m running out the door to conquer the world.

Note:  Corey Pinkerton received free product in exchange for his blog.

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Note: Burgandy Keel has received free product in exchange for her blog.

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My favorite Biggest Loser Protein Product is the All Natural Protein Bar with Fiber. I love the Vanilla Almond Bars. They are so easy to grab quick, on the go, and throw into my gym bag to have after my workout. I am training now for my second marathon, The Boston Marathon, in April, and having energy to finish my long workouts is key to my success. The Biggest Loser Protein Bar really helps to curb my hunger in between meals, and give me that boost of energy to make it through the rest of the day. If there is one thing thats always in my gym bag, it the Biggest Loser Protein bar.

All Natural Biggest Loser protein bars

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I’m back on track with my early (5:00am) workout routine and I must say I love it and hate it. I love the feeling of  having accomplished so much by 7:00am; one hour of exercise, one healthy meal, 36oz water, one load of laundry and hopefully one blog. However, such early morning excellence comes with an annoying problem, being really chilled.

When I left Zumba I felt alive and invigorated, however as soon as I stepped outside I was hit with an arctic blast. Sweat and below freezing temperatures don’t mix!!

Then I had an epiphany…why not have my post workout protein hot instead of cold?? I think I just created healthy hot chocolate. Enjoy!

Recipe:
One scoop Chocolate Deluxe Biggest Loser Protein Powder
8oz 1% milk
Dash of Cinnamon
One drop almond extract

Note: Burgandy Keel received free products in exchange for her blog.

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New Year’s Eve is almost here, and with it comes the dreaded New Year’s Resolution.

Did you know? Only 20% of Americans actually stick to their resolutions. Most people go right back to their old habits and feel like failures. Tired of making the same resolutions year after year without success? We thought so…

Everyone, and we mean everyone can use a kick in the pants to get their fitness back on track after the holidays.

Here are the 10 surefire ways to stick to your resolutions:

1. Be specific. Don’t say: “I want to lose weight.” Instead, say: “I want to lose 5 pounds a month so that I look hot in my swimsuit by summer.”

2. Make realistic, measurable goals. Write them down.

3. Limit the number of resolutions you make. It’s better to do one thing well than several things poorly (or not at all).

4. Take action ASAP! Start on an exercise program immediately after the holidays. Start buying & eating healthy foods right away.  

5. Post your resolutions where you can see them everyday, all day. This will constantly remind you to keep your eye on the prize.

6. Be direct with your friends and family – ask for their support. Maybe they’ll have similar goals and you can work on your resolutions together.

7. Change your eating habits for the better. If you want to be healthy, get all the junk food out of your kitchen!

8. Set your goals in stages and reward yourself for each success. Here’s a great idea: if your goal is to lose weight reward yourself with a small splurge at each weight loss milestone. How about treating yourself to a sexy pair of jeans after each 5 or 10lb loss?

 9. Hire an expert to help you stick with your resolution. Everyone can benefit from the guidance of a coach, a personal trainer, a nutritionist, or an organizer.

 10. Last but not least, be kind to yourself. If you have one bad day, you always have tomorrow to get back on track.

Stick with Designer Whey throughout 2011 to live your healthiest life. It’s Your Body, Our Whey.

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1. Don’t kid yourself. If you’re looking to LOSE weight during the holidays, you could be in for a tough time. Instead try to maintain your current weight.

2. MOVE IT MOVE IT MOVE IT!! Exercise helps relieve holiday stress and prevent weight gain. A moderate and daily increase in exercise can help partially offset increased holiday eating. Try 10- or 15-minute brisk walks twice a day.

3. You’ve heard it before. Don’t skip meals. Eat 5-6 small meals everyday. If you’re going to a holiday party, eat a light snack like raw vegetables or a cup of low-fat cottage cheese to curb your appetite. You will be less tempted to over-indulge.

4. Survey party buffets before filling your plate. Look for lean meats, fruits and vegetables. Stay away from traditional fried stuff like chicken fingers. Avoid artery-clogging artichoke or crab dips that are typically made with mayonnaise, cheese, sour cream and cream cheese.

5. Eat until you are satisfied, not stuffed. Savor your favorite holiday treats while eating small portions SLOOOOWLY.

6. Egg Nog Alert!!! This holiday tradition is an absolute gut-buster at 400 calories and 14g fat for just 6 oz!! Try limiting yourself to ONE ALCOHOLIC DRINK, then switch to sparkling club soda with fresh lime. Remember that alcohol contains almost as many calories per gram as fat. If you’re going to drink, choose your alcohol wisely. Here is a list of a few lighter choices:

Champagne – Ringing in the New Year with a traditional toast of bubbly won’t wreak havoc on your waistline. At 100 calories a flute, you can enjoy a glass or two without blowing your weight-loss resolution.

Wine Spritzer – Wine Spritzers are half wine and half club soda. With three ounces of wine and three ounces of club soda, wine spritzers top out at about 60 calories and zero grams of fat.

Red Wine – We’ve all heard about the benefits of drinking a glass of red wine. A glass of red wine offers a healthy dose of disease-fighting flavonols and age-defying reservatrol. A glass of wine typically weighs in at 100 calories.

Beer – A bottle of light beer is a much better option than most cocktails. The drink has a bad reputation associated with the “beer belly.” But the calories in beer versus a martini might shock you. Some light beers have as little as 70 calories.

7. If you overeat at one meal go light on the next. It takes 500 calories per day (or 3,500 calories per week) above your normal/maintenance consumption to gain one pound. It is impossible to gain weight from one piece of pie!

8. Take the focus off food. Turn candy and cookie making time into crafty projects like making wreaths or a gingerbread house. Plan group activities with family and friends that aren’t all about food. Try serving a holiday meal to the community, playing games or going on a walking tour of decorated homes.

9. Bring your own healthy dish to a holiday gathering. If asked to bring an appetizer, opt for a colorful veggie tray with low-fat dip.

10. Preparing favorite dishes that are lower in fat and calories will help you stay fit during the holidays. Incorporate some of these simple tips in traditional holiday recipes to make them healthier.

Gravy — Refrigerate the gravy to harden fat. Skim the fat off. This will save a whopping 56 grams of fat per cup.

Stuffing (Dressing) — Use a little less bread and add more onions, garlic, celery, and vegetables. Add fruits such as cranberries or apples. Moisten or flavor with low fat low sodium chicken or vegetable broth. Or better yet – skip the stuffing or you’ll have a tough time stuffing yourself into your jeans.

Turkey – Enjoy delicious, roasted turkey breast without the skin and you’ll save 11 grams of saturated fat per 3 oz serving.

Mashed Potatoes — Use skim milk, chicken broth, garlic or garlic powder, and Parmesan cheese instead of whole milk and butter.

Desserts — Make a crustless pumpkin pie. Substitute two egg whites for each whole egg in baked recipes. Replace heavy cream with evaporated skim milk in cheesecakes and cream pies. Top cakes with fresh fruit, fruit sauce, or a sprinkle of powdered sugar instead of fattening frosting.

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My name is Kelly Mazzante, and I am a professional women’s basketball player in the WNBA, and in European competition. I am from Montoursville, Pa, and went to college at Penn State University. I am currently rehabbing my first serious injury (acl) in my 7 year professional career, and working out extremely hard to do what it takes to get back on the court.

I was drafted by the Charlotte Sting in 2004, where I played 3 seasons, then was picked up by the Phoenix Mercury when the Sting folded. I played there 3 years as well, and was fortunate enough to be a part of 2 world championships, in 2007 and 2009! I have also competed internationally in countries such as Slovakia, Russia, and Hungary, and love that I get to play the sport I’m so passionate about professionally.

Competing at the highest level in basketball, I have understood the extreme importance of health and nutrition, and how vital that plays in competing and making sure my body is able to perform how it should. I make sure I am fueling my body with the right food, hydration level, and additional supplements, such as protein powders and shakes, to maintain my muscle strength, endurance, and power!

NOTE: Kelly Received Free Products for her blog.

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My story can pretty much be summed up as your general “the fat kid” kind of story. All of my life, from 2nd grade until recently, I was always the fat kid. As can be expected, I received more than my fair share of insults, crude jokes and awful treatment from mostly everyone. I had the typical attitude about all of it, pretending as though it didn’t bother me, convincing myself that I was OK with my weight and that if I wanted to change I could do so with out any problem. The reality of the situation, however, was that I wasn’t OK with my weight and I didn’t know how to change it. I would always mope around, internally disgusted with myself but never able to muster the will power to do anything about it. Well, that attitude finally changed one morning, when at the age of 24, at weight of nearly 300 lbs and with a 2-pack a day smoking habit, I decided that I no longer wanted to constantly wake up with back and knee pain, barely able to catch my breath.

Starting in the Summer of 2008, with the help of my wonderful wife (who also dieted with me and lost 60 lbs!), I stopped smoking and began a diet and exercise program that would finally rid me of the moniker of “the fat kid”. I started off with a sensible eating plan, generally sticking to the same foods on a daily basis. Wheaties and a Banana for breakfast, yogurt for a snack, turkey sandwich and apples for lunch, chicken breast and brown rice for dinner and another snack after an hour of walking. After I began noticing the weight dropping off, I added light weight training into my regimen, and this is where Designer Whey enters the story. I initially started using Designer Whey on the recommendation of my older brother, who had recently lost a good bit of weight with the help of Designer Whey and a weight training program. I purchased a container of the Chocolate flavor, skeptical of how good a protein powder could really taste, and was shocked to find it to be just as good as my brother had made it out to be! The taste alone was enough to get me to continue using it, but the results it helps me achieve are even better! From that day forward, I have always ended my workouts with 2 delicious scoops of Designer Whey mixed into 12 ounces of milk.

Two years have passed since I decided that I was going to make a change, and I am currently at 187 lbs. I have now shifted my weight training program towards the goal of adding muscle, and Designer Whey is a prime ingredient in helping me do so. I am currently one month into my new workout routine and have achieved noticeable muscle gain. I would recommend Designer Whey to anyone, whether your goal is to lose weight, maintain a healthy weight, or to increase muscle mass, Designer Whey protein powder is a wonderful choice to help you meet, and exceed, all of your expectations!  

Ryan M. McCallister

NOTE: The McCallisters were not compensated for sharing their Designer Whey story. They followed a diet and exercise progrm in order to achieve their results. Their results are unique to them and the program they followed. Your results may be different.

When Protein is incorporated into a reduced-calorie, healthy eating plan that is combined with regular exercise, individuals may experience changes in body weight and/or body fat.

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Q: When did you start getting into fitness & bodybuilding? What made you decide to get into it?

A: I used to watch WWF wrestling on TV all the time. I used to get all pumped up when Hulk Hogan would say ”train, say your prayers and eat your vitamins “. I  always dreamed of inspiring others and having that same effect on people all over the world. I started competing in fitness competitions back in 1996. I entered my first show, the Mr. Fitness contest and came in 3^rd place out of 30 guys. I went back the next year and won the competition. After that I started competing as a natural bodybuilder. The first show I entered was in 1998, the NPC New York State Natural, where I took first place. I live to inspire others, I feel that’s my gift in life. I have a “never give up” attitude in life. I feel we’re all here for a reason and I’m glad I found mine.

Q: What are the most important things you’ve learned since you started working out,  about yourself, about your training, nutrition?

A: I turn 40 years old at the end of this year and I’ve been training now for almost 25 years. WOW! That’s a long time! The most important thing I’ve learned is that we’re all different so what may work for someone else may not work for you. It depends upon your body structure, your shape, your metabolism, etc. I always tell my clients to have a balance in their training and nutrition. You should never lift too heavy or too light, your cardio should never be too extreme or too moderate and your diet should never be too strict or too sloppy. The bottom line is that it all comes down to balance and harmony. That’s the key to success in any field.

Q: As a Personal Trainer, what’s the single most important thing you tell your clients about nutrition?

A: Diet is so important when it comes down to looking good and feeling good. Too many people eat the wrong things and expect to have a six pack. I hear this everyday: “Tony, how do I get abs?” The truth about getting abs is simple, you have to get your body fat down so you can see your abs. We all have abdominal muscles. Yes, the more you work them the more dominant they will become but you’re not going to see them if they’re covered with body fat. I recommend a diet of 5 meals a day. In this diet, I also recommend that you have a Designer Whey Protein Shake 2x daily.  You also have to keep your calories low. I said it many times, just because something is good to eat doesn’t mean you should eat a truck load of it!  Portion size and moderation is key. A great diet would go something like this:

Breakfast: 3 egg whites 1 yolk, ½ cup of oats mixed with ½ cup of strawberries, 1 slice of toast with natural peanut butter

Snack: 1 to 2 scoops of Designer Whey Protein with cold water

Lunch: Grilled chicken on salad with balsamic dressing

Snack: 1 to 2 scoops of Designer Whey Protein with cold water

Dinner: 1 cup of pasta or a sweet potato with mixed steamed vegetables

Q: What do you feel are the biggest misconceptions about exercise and diet?

A: There’s so much misleading information out there it could make your head spin. I found that the best advice comes from your own inner voice. Your body will always tell you what it needs, not what you think you needs. The body and mind must work in harmony together so this means creating a balance in ones self. Don’t get caught up reading magazine after magazine or searching the internet high and low. The truth about diet and exercise is that it’s hard work! You have to train on a daily basis. Your body eats everyday and will store calories as fat everyday unless you burn them off.

Q: What advice do you have for anyone who needs to lose a significant amount of weight?

A: Have patience.  You didn’t get out of shape overnight so why would you expect to get in shape overnight? You have to understand that you alone can get you into shape. Yes it’s great to have a motivator or a trainer to help you, but what happens when that trainer is gone? You have to be the one that keeps the fire burning, you’re the one who has to “Get Serious”.  My whole life I said to myself “I want to be the best, I want to be known as a Super Hero” when it comes to inspiring others to get into shape and live a healthier life. Our society is filled with too much food!  Everywhere you look there’s junk food and fast food. What does that says about us? We have to be the ones who take back our lives. We have to be the ones who say enough is enough!

Q: It’s easy for some people to stray from their fitness goals. What advice do you have to stay on track?

A: I always say “You can’t fly like an eagle if you hang around the chickens”. Try to surround yourself with dream builders, not dream breakers! Your environment is crucial to achieving your goals in life. Join a gym and make friends with people who are in shape. Keep on your plan. This doesn’t mean eating good and working out for 4 days in a row and then taking off for 4 days and then starting over. It has to be day in and day out. Just like when you get up in the morning and get dressed. The same goes for working out and dieting. Everyday must be the same, day in and day out.

If you need help please contact me.  I’m a never ending ball of motivation. You can also visit me on facebook where I post “Tony’s Tip of the Day” and much more inspirational messages and photos.

- Anthony Catanzaro

To learn more about Tony, please visit his website at www.anthonycatanzaro.com

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1,350 Calories. 90 grams of fat, 40 of which are saturated and 3.5 of which are trans.  2,780 mg of sodium.  That’s what’s in my go-to burger at Wendy’s, the 3/4 lb Baconator.  Add the large fries, large Coke along with it, and I’m looking at probably over 2,000 calories in all.  For 1 meal.  That costs me around $10.00.  What am I thinking? Well, specifically the fact that I don’t like to make food, especially complex meals like lasagna or meatloaf (both of which I love) because I’m a terrible cook and I’m lazy in general.  But what about thawing out some burgers and firing up the grill and making my own? Well, that requires at least some planning in advance, which as a bachelor I tend to not do very well (you can ask my BFF Jessi, she’ll tell you all about it).  So instead I walk over to Wendy’s every couple of days or so, and guiltily order up a serving of heart attack with a side of obesity.  Let’s be honest people, I’m about 75 pounds overweight right now, and I personally keep the fast food industry afloat.  That’s not good.  So, I’ve stopped.  At first I said I just wasn’t going to eat beef for a while.  Well….that didn’t work because my roommate kept firing up the grill and grilling burgers.  Which was great, because he’s a way better cook/grill person than me, and his burgers taste way better than mine.  So the whole “no beef” thing didn’t pan out.  Then I said, “I’ll just eat less fast food.”  Well, when one of your meals is over 2,000 Calories then less is still not enough, especially when you want to lose weight.  So for the last couple days I’ve eaten no fast food, and less in general, and my weight loss has picked up again.  So hurray for me!

Furthermore, the whole fast food thing is expensive. Over the past month or so, I’ve spent over $382 at fast food places.  That’s disgusting! That’s almost 2 months worth of food at the grocery store for my whole apartment, which has 4 people in it! What am I thinking?!? Well, it ends today.  I’m back on my no-fast-food diet in an effort to save money and lose weight.  I’ve also stumbled upon an article that says that fast food can actually become addictive, decreasing dopamine receptors or something, so that’s probably not good either.  Regardless, the amount of science and nutritional information and financial information is all overwelmingly against fast food, and my only justification is laziness.  Well, laziness never got anyone anywhere in this life, so I’m going to stop.  Time for me to turn the page over and start a new chapter in my life.  I mean, I just turned 28, what better time?  See you all later when I rant and rave some more about how I suck at dieting.

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