Why is it that cravings for certain foods grab a hold of us and won’t let go till a run through the drive through has been completed? Last week I was craving a big juicy burger! I don’t mean a kids meal burger I mean one that you have to disconnect your jaw to bite into. This insatiable craving really shocked me because I’m not much of a red meat person. However, I’m happy to report that I didn’t give in, instead I thought about why I wanted something so out of the ordinary. Then it occurred to me that I must not be getting enough protein. I have been trying to eat less and move more and I think my body was screaming for tools to repair and build my muscles. I decided to try adding a scoop of Biggest Loser Protein first thing in the morning. I added 50 calories 17 g chocolate powder with a tbs of peanut butter to my oatmeal. After a few days I noticed I wasn’t drooling at the big burger commercials any more!

Food cravings are our bodies sometimes annoying way of helping us get the nutrients we need. If we listen carefully and don’t get distracted with the rush of giving into temptation we can still meet our fitness goals. Now I need to figure out what my body needs when I must eat a wonton

Have a wonderful week! 
Burgandy

Burgandy Keel received free product in exchange for her blog.

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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 have to say that I did pretty good over the trip I took to Utah. Now I did not stick to my plan completely but that has more to do with me having the kiddos almost 24/7 the entire time I was in Utah. Here are some of the things that I did to make it easier:

- I took a can of Designer Whey and my Nalgene bottle with me and made sure that was my breakfast everyday for sure. My folks only had 2% milk so I went with that even though I usually use skim

- The kids wanted to go to McDonalds all the time so I got the grilled chicken sandwhich with apple slices and refrained from sneaking fries from the kids…they are getting fast now so they are harder to steal from anyway

- I avoided sweets wherever I went…I did have a brief run in with some rum balls, but I was able to pull myself away after a few

- When there was something extra tempting and ridiculously yummy looking I took a photo of it and sent it to a good friend who is supporting me with a note, “look at what I am not eating!” Without that support I would have dove into the fries my mom ordered when we were all at the bowling alley (something we do each year on Christmas eve…the bowling, not the fries).

Now that I am back and moved into my new apartment I am getting back to work. I started tracking what I eat on LiveStrong and look forward to getting back in the gym.

Note: Jake received free products in exchange for his blog.

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The Holiday season is amongst us and with it comes many temptations.  Temptations are only an issue if we neglect to pin point what they might be and then find ourselves indulging in them without making a game plan to set ourselves up to win.  Winning for me during the holidays is to be able to enjoy the festivities with family and friends without letting them counter act my personal goals.  My current health goals are exactly that, to stay healthy.  Each holiday season it is said that many Americans gain on average 7 to 10 pounds.  In my world that would be devastating for me and as a result I would be very unhappy, which is the exact opposite of what the  holiday season is all about.

The following is my 12 days of Christmas, 12 tips I think about constantly to aid me in staying true to myself and personal goals:

1. Always bring a healthy dish to share at any party you might be invited to so that you can enjoy myself without overindulging.

2. Get moving everyday, if you know that you have a party to go to do something extra that day physically so that you counter act the calories before you partake, that makes 2 physical activities that day.

3. Make sure that you get at least 3 extra servings of protein a day!

4. Make sure that 4 times a week you do additional core strengthening to help you keep strong and balanced this season, it could be planks before you get into bed.

5. Every morning before you start your day give yourself 5 minutes just for you to do nothing!  Sit with yourself.

6. Pick 6 nights where you crank up your ipod and have a dance party at your house in your living room, bathroom, bedroom your choice but get your heart rate up and have fun!

7.  Give yourself the gift of sleep, 7 hours a day.

8. Always make sure you are drinking your water, 8 glasses a day!

9. When you brush your teeth take those 2 minutes to do 9 sets of leg lifts.

10. When you are doing your cardio every 10 minutes mix in a power burst, could be squat jumps, mountain climber, or burpees

11. Every week prepare 11 easy-to-grab snacks to have in your fridge. I like cut up carrots, celery, hummus, quinoa & black beans, fruit salad, chicken breast, what ever your heart desires.

12.  Think of 12 things every night that you are thankful for!

Enjoy trying my 12 tips or come up with twelve of your own and share them with me. After all this is the season of sharing!

Happy Holidays!

Ali xo

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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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Hi Designer Whey! My name is Maggie and I am 29 years old. I am happily married stay at home mother of two great children and this is my story…
 
My battle with weight began in 2002 when my son was born. I figured I was young and that my body would bounce back after I had him…boy was I wrong! The 75 pounds (yes, you read that correctly) that I gained during my pregnancy stayed and over time I gained even more! I dealt with some postpartum depression after the birth of my son and that made it all the more difficult for me to get motivated to get healthy again. If anything the depression made me want to eat more! I found myself in a vicious cycle and I could see no light at the end of the tunnel. In 2005 I became pregnant with my second child, a little girl. I gained the “normal” 25 pounds during that pregnancy and after her birth I was weighing almost DOUBLE what I did before I had children. At that point I think I was feeling comfortable in the life I was living. I wasn’t educated on healthy foods and the benefits of a proper diet and exercise. I was feeding my family processed garbage and exercise wasn’t even a part of my life. I had been ignoring warnings from my doctor about diabetes and I was getting used to the CPAP machine for my sleep apnea. I honestly figured I’d just be fat for the rest of my life and that there was no getting “me” back. I was stuck…
 
In 2007 my mother had to undergo emergency brain surgery to clip an aneurysm. This was the scariest time of our lives. I had never been so close to losing a loved one and it really impacted me in a serious way. I knew that I had to start taking my health seriously and change my life…for myself and for my children. They didn’t deserve a mother who couldn’t run and play with them…a mother who lost her breath after a trip up the stairs. I knew I had a lot of weight to lose (over 100 pounds) and I wanted to So I started looking into gastric bypass surgery and after a year of educating myself on the risks and meeting with doctors etc. I underwent the surgery on August 17th of 2009 at 240 pounds. I am happy to report that I have lost 96 pounds and counting! I have completely changed how I eat and how I feed my family. I exercise every day and I’ve never felt so good mentally and physically! It’s amazing! I have my life back and it’s better than ever! The surgery was a huge tool in my weight loss and I know that unless I keep up with a proper diet and exercise that I will just gain it back. I am determined to not let that happen. I can’t imagine going back to that!
 
Your products have been a huge help in my weight loss journey. I have tried lots of protein products and nothing compares to Designer Whey! Thank you so much for making such great products!
 
Peace & Love,
Maggie St. Jean

NOTE: Maggie St. Jean was not compensated for sharing her Designer Whey story. She followed a specific program in order to achieve herresults. Maggie’s results are unique to her and the program she 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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Let’s face it. One of the best things about vacation is actually taking a break from everyday life. For most of us, everyday life includes watching what you eat and working out. If you truly enjoy a complete escape from your everyday existence,  you eat & drink anything and everything. The result: a blissful week full of fun memories and an extra 5-10 pounds to contend with upon returning home.

If you’re motivated to stay on track with your fitness goals despite going on vacation, it can be done!  If you make a few small changes while you’re away, you can actually return from your vacation leaner and healthier than when you left (or at least return home at the same weight). So pack your bags and have a blast on your vacation without busting your bikini.

Let’s start with the first potential gut buster: getting there. If you’re flying and experience a long layover, beware of those sugary, high-calorie foods comfort foods typically found at airport. A couple of hours in an airport terminal can easily turn into a couple of thousand extra calories. For example, nosh on a Cinnabon while you’re waiting at the gate and you’ve ingested 700 calories. A Starbucks blueberry crumb cake? Another 800 calories. Worst of all, high-sugar, high-carb foods just don’t cut it when it comes to reducing your hunger. What are they good for? Spiking blood levels of insulin, a hormone that stimulates fat storage. Ugh.

Travel Tip #1: Pack travel-friendly foods like snack packs of StarKist Tuna Salad, whole grain crackers, almonds, trail mix, and protein bars. Don’t forget your Designer Whey Protein 2Go packs – they are beyond perfect for travelling. Note: be selective when choosing your bars. Read labels people!! Watch out for high sugar, carbs or fat content. Look for a bar that provides a minimum of 20 grams of protein to keep you satisfied and fuller, longer.  

If you must eat airline food, pass on anything overly “carby” – pasta for example. Opt instead for a protein dish (chicken, beef, or fish) as your main entree; and request seconds of any fresh vegetables they serve.

When it comes to in-flight snacking ask for nuts or fruit instead of pretzels and chips. And choose 1 percent milk as your beverage of choice (other than water). Its perfect combination of protein (8 g), carbohydrates (11 g), and fat (2 g) will fill you up and keep you that way better than nearly any other snack. Better yet – mix a scoop of Designer Whey protein powder with your milk. Instant protein shake in the air!

Travel Tip #2: Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Water is your best friend during flights. Every traveler knows that airplane cabins use recycled air and have a very low humidity level. But most travelers don’t realize that breathing dry air can turn you into a blimp. Dehydration due to airline air is a major cause of fatigue, and fatigue, in turn, makes you want to eat.

What to do? Start drinking water long before your flight to keep a grip on your appetite. Drink at least 8 ounces of water before your flight. Bring one 16 ounce bottle of water for every 2 hours you’ll be in the air, and down it all before you land. 

Travel Tip #3: Plan to exercise or get at least 30 minutes of physical activity everyday to offset extra calories you’re sure to be eating and drinking.  Even while on vacation, you still have lots of options to stay physically active. Check out your hotel gym or any fitness classes being offered.  Most resorts offer state-of-the-art exercise facilities and fun group activities such as water aerobics, power walks, yoga, pilates, volleyball and more. If your hotel doesn’t have a gym (or the equipment is outdated), go for a swim in the hotel pool.  If the hotel pool isn’t big enough for laps, just tread water for 10-20 minutes – you can burn up to 200 calories. Last but never least, plan a leisurely walk to take in the sights. Ask your hotel concierge for their recommendations on what to see & where to go. Lace up your sneakers and get moving!

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