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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DESIGNER WHEY is challenging you to Get Healthy. Get Strong. And Get Results. For the next 90 days, we want you to set a few fitness goals for yourself and track them, posting your weekly results on our Facebook page. At the end of each month during the challenge, we’ll pick a few people who are on track with their goals to receive free products.

With a solid and well thought-out exercise and nutrition plan, you can achieve your fitness goals, no matter what they are. Whether you want to lose 5 or 100 lbs, to run a marathon, to lift more weight in the gym or to just have more energy, Designer Whey is with you every step of the way.

Let’s start with Goal Setting. Most everyone’s heard of S.M.A.R.T. Goals – Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely. Using the S.M.A.R.T. Goal Setting System will ensure you’re set up for success. Using the worksheet found on Facebook, write down your S.M.A.R.T. goals. Here’s an example:

Specific: I want to lose 20 pounds in 3 months and reduce my B.M.I from 33% to 24%. Replace my morning coffee with Green Tea; Eat 5 servings fruits & veggies daily; Get at least 75 grams of protein daily.

Measurable: I will write down my progress in a fitness journal everyday. I’ll evaluate my success at the end of every week so I can plan accordingly for next week.

Attainable: The goals I’ve set above are easily achievable. If anything, I will make sure I’m going over & above in my daily efforts so I am pleasantly surprised at the end of the 3 months.

Realistic: Losing 20lbs in 3months breaks down to 1.6 pounds every week. I can do this!!!!

Timely:  At the end of three months, I am going on a vacation to Hawaii with my family. That’s a REALLY nice reward when I reach my goals.

Once I achieve my short term goal, I’ll re-evaluate my goals to include a few long-term ones, like running a marathon or eliminating caffeine from my diet altogether.

Make a list of 10 things you can do right away to get on track. Here’s mine:

1)     I’m going to use a fitness journal to track my daily progress. I like fitbook – it’s the most comprehensive and user-friendly tool of its kind. It fits right in my purse or gym bag so I can take it anywhere. I also like the daily nutrition checklists. There’s even a multivitamin reminder! Research says: write down everything you eat and you can cut your intake by 500 to 1,000 calories a day. To learn more about fitbook, visit them at www.getfitbook.com

 2)     I tossed out all the junk food from my desk drawers and kitchen. I threw away Oreo’s, Diet Coke and lots of candy. I feel healthier already!

 3)     Every morning, I put 2 big bottles of water on my desk. I don’t leave at the end of the day until every drop is gone!   

 4)     I won’t eat or drink anything after 7pm except maybe a scoop of DW in 8 oz of skim milk to keep me satisfied until the morning.

 5)     I exercise BEFORE work so there’s no excuses after work (too tired, family obligations, etc).

 6)     I’ve stocked my kitchen with fresh fruits and veggies. I put fresh cut veggies in baggies so I can easily grab them every morning before work.

 7)     I won’t deprive myself of any treats, but I will eat CONSCIOUSLY, meaning no more mindless grazing in the afternoons and I will read labels.

 8)     I am going to eat 6 smaller meals everyday as opposed to 3 big meals. That way my energy will stay up all day long and I won’t cave in so easily to my cravings.

 9)     I’ve enlisted a couple of friends who also want to drop a few pounds and get healthier & stronger. We put together a workout schedule for the week that includes 3 yoga classes, 3 power walks and 2 weight-lifting sessions at the gym.

 10) Last but not least – I put pictures up at work and home of my upcoming trip to Hawaii: the resort pool, the beautiful beaches and a KILLER bikini that I’m going to buy for my trip. My motivation is always right in front of me.

 We’ll provide daily fitness & nutrition tips as well as LOTS of motivation & inspiration. Together, we can do this!

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Welcome to Designer Whey’s Protein Shakes 101. If you’re looking for a way to turn ordinary protein shakes into extraordinary, delicious and healthy shakes, you’ve come to the right place! 

By adding simple, easy to find ingredients, you can power up your protein shakes while adding fantastic flavor and lots of variety. Here are some great shake additions that will send the nutritional content of your protein shakes soaring.

Let’s start with the most basic shake addition: fruits. A good rule of thumb is to use fresh fruits that are in season. You’ll get better flavor and it’s more economical than using “off-season” fruits. Your best bet during summer months are berries.

Strawberries are probably the most common fruit added to protein shakes. Not only are they delicious, they are loaded with vitamins and minerals including B Vitamins, vitamin K, copper, and magnesium. Strawberries also contain omega fatty acids. All of this goodness is only 45 calories for about seven medium strawberries. And not only that, the fiber in 1/2 cup strawberries accounts for about 12% of your RDA per serving. The fiber helps your body absorb nutrients, inhibits the production of cholesterol in your liver, and helps stabilize your blood glucose.

Blueberries are not only low in calories, they rank the highest of any fruit for antioxidants. and one cup delivers 14% of the recommended daily dose of fiber and nearly a quarter of the recommended daily intake of vitamin C.

Raspberries also contain strong antioxidants such as Vitamin C. Did you know that they can help you burn fat? Raspberries are packed with fiber and manganese. Fiber helps slow the digestive process so you feel full longer. Manganese is a trace mineral that helps keep your metabolic rate high. A higher metabolic rate helps burn fat.

During winter months, frozen fruits are a great alternative to fresh. Check your local club superstore for great buys on large bags of mixed “smoothie” fruit. This is the most economical way to pack off-season fruits into your protein shakes.

 One of the most popular nutritional trends right now are Green Smoothies. Add just a handful or two of spinach to your blender to get the amazing benefits of this superfood. If you’re not crazy about veggies, adding a few strawberries will not only mask the taste of the spinach, you’ll get even more fruits & veggies in your protein shake. 

There are so many health benefits to eating spinach, it’s almost impossible to know where to start! This leafy green is an excellent source of vitamin K, vitamin A, magnesium, folate, manganese, iron, calcium, vitamin C, vitamin B2, potassium, and vitamin B6. It’s a very good source of protein, phosphorus, vitamin E, zinc, dietary fiber, and copper. Plus, it’s a good source of selenium, niacin, and omega-3 fatty acids. So go for a green smoothie today…It’s an easy way to get to your recommended 5 a day of fruits and vegetables.

And speaking of Omega-3’s, if you’re not adding Flaxseed or Flax Oil to your shakes, stop everything right now and get to it! Flaxseed contains all sorts of heart healthy components, including

• Omega-3 essential fatty acids, “good” fats that have been shown to have heart-healthy effects.
• Lignans, which have antioxidant qualities. and
• Fiber. Flaxseed contains both the soluble and insoluble types

Last but not least – if you want a creamier shake and an extra protein boost, add non-fat greek or regular yogurt. Yogurt contains calcium, B Vitamins, potassium, and magnesium. But one of the benefits we’re hearing more and more about regarding yogurt is “probiotics.” Probiotics are “friendly bacteria” that aid digestion.

Check out Designer Whey on Facebook for new shakes recipes every week. Designer Whey….helping you Get Healthy, Get Strong and Get Results.

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In the beginning, life on the Ranch wasn’t easy, but being away from all my loved ones, food, problems, work and everyday stress was actually good. For the first time I found myself working hard, for me. Looking back, there were moments I wanted to leave the Ranch, even though deep down inside I didn’t want to leave and tried to stay on the Ranch as long as I could.

Then came the return home. It was completely different from being on the Ranch. I went through a great period of adjustment. This is where the Biggest Loser Protein products came into play. I used them at the Ranch but once I came home I implemented the Biggest Loser Protein products to my routine and continued writing in my journal. I knew I had to work harder at home so I used the protein shakes with fruit or milk before and after workouts. I drank my protein all day to replenish my muscles. Because I was working out 6 to 8 hours a day, I needed to stay strong. My desire was to reach my goal weight which I did. And I surpassed it!!  Now I am on my way to bodybuilding and sculpting. The Biggest Loser products will help me succeed, improve and show that we can turn a body around.

Now that the weight is off, toning and tightening my muscles is my next challenge. Thank you for all your attention and products. I couldn’t have achieved 22% BMI (the lowest of Season 9!!) without them. I now have beautiful toned legs and arms. It was definitely worth the hard work and sweat. Although I didn’t win the monetary prize, being the healthiest contestant at 22% BMI after surgery is the biggest and best prize of all.

Getting my life back internally, externally, physically, and emotionally is the biggest reward anyone can ask for. I am so grateful to The Biggest Loser, my trainer Desmond Thompson, my family and friends. Again, thank you. 

- MIGGY

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All too often we start feeling that our workouts are getting stale. When that happens it’s easy to become bored and fall off track. Or even worse, we hit a plateau and just don’t get the great results we once were. One way to make sure this doesn’t happen is to shake-up your routine by adding new exercise moves on a regular basis, or by varying ones you already do.

Take lunges for example. You can really only do so many before they start getting boring.  When this happens, try the “walking lunge”. It’s more active and will transform your workout from ho-hum to oh-so-fun. We love the walking lunge because it works the glutes, hamstrings and quads and in one move. Many bootcamp classes start out with 50 walking lunges just to warm-up!

You can use dumbells for an even more challenging workout. If you decide to use dumbells, stand tall with dumbbells hanging down on either side. Step forward with your first leg, land on your heel then foot. Lower your body by flexing your knee and hip of your front leg until your knee of your back leg is almost in contact with floor. Stand on your forward leg, feeling the burn in your glutes and quads. Lunge forward with your opposite leg. Repeat by alternating lunge with opposite legs.

Here are a few helpful hints to maximize this move and to make sure you remain injury-free (Always consult a professional trainer or your physician before starting any new workout or exercise move).

1) Make sure you get a really good stretch in before AND after your workout. Flexible hip flexors are very important when lunging. Stretching helps reduce post-workout soreness and helps elongate the muscles.

2) Keep your torso upright during lunge. Your lead knee should point in the same direction as your foot throughout lunge.

3) A long lunge emphasizes the gluteus maximus; a short lunge emphasizes the quadriceps.

4) Do 2 sets of 15 reps, building up to 3 sets.

5) If at first it’s too hard to do with dumbbells, just place your hands on your waist instead. Eventually you’ll work up to using dumbbells.

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So yes, we hit the gym a few times a week, and we feel good.  We’re eating healthy also, and that makes us proud of ourselves.  The question on the mind is: can I do more to make this new healthy lifestyle more healthy? The answer is ABSOLUTELY! I like the workout outside the workout.  The things that you can do during your daily routine that will allow you to add just a bit more to your day, without the worries of changing into your gym clothes and ending up with a cold shower.  Things like taking the stairs instead of the elevator, parking further from your office and walking the distance, riding your bike to work instead of driving (my uncle rides his bike about 20 miles each way, every day) or walking to work.  For those of us lucky enough to live in Southern California, we are especially blessed that Spring is officially here and it’s a balmy 70+ degrees everyday.  So walk that extra bit from your car and enjoy a little sun and some fresh air!  If you only live a mile or so from work, that’s really only a 20-minute walk and you’ll feel better about yourself, not to mention the money you’ll save on gas.  Work on the 2nd floor but have a meeting on the 10th? Take the stairs.  Your co-workers might look at you funny, but you’ll have the last laugh come this summer when you’re in great shape for the beach or pool and they’re looking for extra-big towels to cover up with.  Have a pet? Race them when you take them for a walk.  They might be fast, but if you keep at it you’ll be able to challenge them soon enough.  And that’s great for them too.  Have a pool at your apartment or house, and want to cool off? Great, swim down and back a few times too.  Swimming is one of the greatest workouts there is, because it works just about everything.  Swim until you can’t anymore, then swim some more.  Stuck in the office at your cubicle all day, typing emails and reports and memos? Well, strap on a couple of 1-pound weights to your ankles, underneath your pants, and do leg lifts while at your desk.  That might not add huge, bulking muscle but it will tone very well, and it’s still burning calories.  Remember that the most important think you can do is to just do something.  Every little thing you do is a few more calories burnt.  My friend once told me that you burn 80 calories an hour just sleeping, so imagine what you can do if you put your mind to it.  The workout outside your workout is exactly what we all need.  Until next time, keep at it! YOU CAN DO IT!

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Hello Friends,

This week went by so fast! I was so busy that I did not get to watch my favorite show until Sunday. Oh the “Biggest Loser” show of course left us hanging to see the winners. Good thing I don’t have too many days to wait! Did you see the segment where Sugar Ray was on? I did and he said a cool quip. He said POWER means Prepare-Overcome-Win-Every-Round. How cool is that! Also Designer Whey had a nice promo too. I can’t help be get excited for Designer Whey when I see their promo…you guys rock! I tell all my friends about Designer Whey Products and how they have helped me on my journey to healthier me.

I picked up a “Biggest Loser” Weight management kit from Sam’s Club today. I heard that 55% of the Biggest Losers diet is protein. See, if you listen carefully you will get the tips and secrets to the contestant’s weight loss. Some contestants lost almost 90 pounds in 9 weeks! I sure wish I could be a contestant and have someone push me, train me, feed me and teach me like the contestants receive. I wish for a personal trainer and equipment but with our budget being so tight… for now I will have to rely on myself. I wish our dog was good on the leash I would love to go for walks with her but she is a stinker and jerks me and pulls I have not been able to break her of that.

Today I got really irked… I don’t even know if irked is a word but I will say irked to be nice… I shop at a discount grocery store to help save money and the person in line ahead of me had his groceries and 2 bottles of Bailey’s Cream…ok so far not so bad…but then he pulls out his bridge (food stamp) card and pays for his groceries then a 20 dollar bill to pay for the booze…I am like steaming… the man can’t pay for his groceries but has the money for booze….ugh!

Well friends its Monday and I always like Monday, it’s the beginning of a new week for new hopes.

Have a good one,

Camille

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