As I prepared for the finale of NBC’s the Biggest Loser I used The Biggest Loser Protein by Designer Whey. I wanted to get the absolute most out of every workout. Designer Whey products gave me the edge that I needed to be the Biggest Loser. Clearly I worked very hard and for several hours. By caring for my body and making good choices I was able to keep up an incredible workout schedule. Designer Whey has a ratio of protein to total calories that fit well within my “calorie budget”. I was very precise in every workout and meal while I was on the Biggest Loser. And I am very precise as I am now trying to marathon train and build muscle. I have a very specific routine I follow for diet and exercise. As I prepare for the Yuma Territorial Marathon, the Phoenix Marathon and the LA Marathon I will be using Designer Whey products to help fuel my workouts.

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Goal:  To weigh 165 lbs. which will add up to a total weight loss of 80 lbs.  Continue to make healthy eating choices daily and encourage others to do the same.

Bio: Married for 12 years to Christina Pelletier (Designer Whey Blogger). Father of three beautiful children with a fourth child expected to arrive July 2012. Graduated from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA with a BS in Kinesiology with a concentration in teaching. Currently, teaching inner city youth in Sacramento, CA at a local continuation high school. I started and coach an after school fitness/boxing program at the school. Teach students a healthy lifestyle through fitness and nutritional health. Pursuing a Master’s Degree in Education and considering pursuing a Doctorate degree in Education. Fitness activities I like to do: boxing, running, and swimming.  I am 37 years old.

The journey to fitness and health starts at different times and weights for everyone. No one plans on becoming obese but daily we make compromising food choices which we know will add up over the years. Current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) statistics reveal that nearly 24% of American adults are obese. Children emulate their adult parents/guardians and CDC discloses 17% of children are obese in the United States. Sadly, I am part of the adult statistic of obese adults. Three years ago I weighed 245 lbs. which is an unfortunate weight when you are vertically challenged standing only 5’8”. When you start to resemble one of the Oompa Loompas in the Charlie Chocolate Factory it is time to make a change. 

My wife and I joined an MMA/Boxing gym which literally knocked some of the pounds off of my body. I learned at the age of 37 years old I could not eat the things I use to at the age of 17. Besides increasing my fitness, I started to change my eating habits. Lowering my caloric intake and eating more low-calorie snacks throughout the day. I have learned that the most important meal each day is breakfast. Each morning I drink a couple glasses of water, my coffee, and grab a nutritional breakfast. The mornings I find my three kids clamoring for my attention, ignoring my parental direction, and preventing me from crafting my morning fuel, forces me to go to my alternate breakfast plan. This former fat guy never leaves the house without some morning nutrition so I will grab one of the Designer Whey protein bars which are made in three delicious flavors.   Each bar has about 160 calories which contains about 10 grams of protein. The bar will hold off my hunger for the next few hours before I get to my next healthy snack attack. 

Currently, I weigh 205 lbs. and have dropped from a size 44 waistline to a size 36 waistline. I never want to go back to being 245 lbs. and asking my wife, “Do I look fat in these jeans?” When I am not dodging my wife punching me in the boxing gym, which is a great way to let the wife blow off some steam and save on marital counseling service invoices, I am combating my weight loss through healthy nutritional choices. Join me on my journey to a healthy Body Mass Index (BMI) which for an Oompa Loompa my size I need to get down to 165 lbs. Stay tuned as I keep giving you some golden nuggets of fitness/health wisdom on my way down to skinny town.

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“Let food be thy medicine, and let thy medicine be thy food.” Hippocrates

Doctors and nutrition experts all agree – eating healthy foods, known as “super foods” can help you live a healthier life, even warding off diseases and lowering your cholesterol.

It’s comforting to know that adding some super foods to your daily diet can put you on the fast track toward better health. Imagine having enough energy to sail through even the most hectic of days.  Who wouldn’t want to be in a better mood, enjoy a better night’s sleep and even have an increased libido? Maybe the best part about eating super foods is that you don’t need a prescription. They’re available at your local supermarket. When possible, try to eat organic, the way Mother Nature intended.  

Here are some of our favorite super foods you need to start enjoying today: 

Whey Protein - helps build and maintain lean muscles. Also helps muscles recover faster after exercise

Blueberries – high in immune-boosting antioxidants

Yogurt – contains probiotics to aid digestion

Pumpkin – a rich source of dietary fiber, anti-oxidants, minerals,  & vitamins A, C, & E

Spinach – an excellent source of vitamin K, vitamin A, magnesium, folate, manganese, iron, calcium, vitamins  C, E, B2 & B6, and potassium. It’s a very good source of protein, zinc, and copper. Plus, it’s a good source of selenium, niacin, and omega-3 fatty acids

Flax Seed or Flax Oil – contains heart healthy omega-3 fatty acids & fiber

Broccoli – contains dozens of nutrients including calcium to support strong bones

Oats – fiber & protein pack a 1-2 nutritional punch

Oranges – an excellent source of vitamin C.  One orange (130 grams) supplies nearly 100 percent of the recommended daily dietary intake of vitamin C

Salmon – a delicious way to get your protein & Omega-3 fatty acids, which helps boost brain power

Tea (green or black) – rich in antioxidants to help protect the body against cell-damaging free radicals

Tomatoes contain high level of lycopene - an anti-oxidant that helps prevent cancerous cell growth

Walnuts – these tasty nuts, which are great for snacking, help lower LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol)

Beans – a rich source of protein & fiber (and a great meat substitute for vegetarians!)

The easiest way to start reaping the benefit of super foods is to treat yourself to a healthy Designer Whey shake every morning. Toss in a handful of frozen organic blueberries, a ½ cup of non-fat or low-fat yogurt & some flax oil. Check out some of our shake recipes that include spinach and pumpkin! They’re delicious…we promise! And you’ll love the way you feel. Here’s to a healthy 2012!

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Grazing Tips for Christmas and New Year’s…or…Food and More Food All Around Me!

1. Eat six small meals a day.

When confronted with a potluck, a holiday meal, or a work party our tendency is to go for the gusto and pig out!  Sound familiar?  Instead try to stick to a small meal even at these times.  For me, these small meals are about three hundred calories each.  Web search for “online calorie calculator” to help determine how many calories to consume to maintain your current weight, or lose weight.

2. Make an extra plate for later.

Want to go back for seconds?  Aunt Martha’s banana-cream-puff pie only come around once a year?  I know the feeling.  I had the most delicious chili rellenos at my Women’s Study Group Potluck.  They were to die for, or to live for another day for, and eat in the morning for breakfast!  The thought dawned on me, “I could make an extra plate for later!”  Next time I will try this.  Leave a comment if you try this, or have tried this, and let me know how it works!  Knowing I can have some more stuffing later entices me to exercise self-control, without stuffing myself until I feel ill.  Know the feeling?  Stuffed Christina is not on the holiday wish list this year.

To keep the caloric intake down, I decided to scrape most of the cheese off and eat mostly the chili portion, which worked out quite fine and kept my calorie intake for the meal lower.  Part of the problem with potlucks is you really do not know how many calories are in each dish.  Note to self: “decision” is the key word here.  It is your decision what to put on your plate and how much.  Most importantly do not kid yourself into thinking the calories do not count or just continuing to dive in.  The extra calories have to go somewhere.

3. Skip any and all caloric drinks!

Need a quick Soda fix?  Then take a sip and go back to water!  Do you have any idea how much sugar is in one can of soda? There are ten packets of sugar in one can of soda!  Juice, sparkling cider, wine, beer, tequila, etcetera, they all turn to sugar in your body.  Want to avoid the four pounds that most people gain each holiday season?  Then kick the cola habit and go with water.  Add a little lemon.  Add a little Designer Whey Protein packet and get ten grams of protein and a tasty treat without added sugar or low quality sugar substitutes.

4. Drink plenty of water.

Our bodies are made up of 75% water when we are born and down to as low as 45% water if we are obese.  Average range of water for men is 60% and 55% for women.  Lean muscle mass holds more water than fat.  Whether you want to lose weight or gain weight (Yes, some people have a gaining weight problem.  Shocking!  I know) you need water to survive and it will help fill up your tummy during those feasts of fat and frolicking French fries at the drive through on your long trip to Aunt Mildred and Uncle Frank’s house.  So skip the fries, ask for a protein style wrap (hamburger wrapped in lettuce), and ask for an extra-large water!  Your body will thank you for it.  I know mine will. :)  Better yet…

5. Pack healthy snacks for long road trips.

My husband, Jason, thought of bringing sliced cucumbers and boiled eggs on our trip to Grandma and Grandpa’s house this year.  What a great idea!  Thanks honey!

6. Take a few bites of a sinfully delicious desert or entrée to get the taste but not all the calories.

I have heard it said more than once that the first couple of bites are the best.  Your taste buds are primed for variety and flavor and they soak up those first few nibbles.  Close your eyes.  Feel the texture on your tongue.  Sense all the different flavors in the bite.  Then, throw the rest away!  This takes willpower, but it is worth the effort, and your bottom line will thank you for it!

Have a Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, and Happy New Year!  And happy thoughtful healthy eating!

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Designer Whey^® would like to thank all of our loyal fans and show our appreciation with another protein bar giveaway! 100 lucky fans will win one of our delicious protein bars! Test your knowledge by taking the following quiz:

Think you know everything about your favorite Designer Whey^® protein products? Which of these statements is false:

1. Designer Whey’s delicious bars pack a 10 gram protein punch.
2. Designer Whey^® protein powders have only 3 grams of fat and sugar per serving.
3. Designer Whey’s satisfying bars have only 170 calories or less.
4. Our deliciously-healthy powders give you 18 grams of protein at only 100 calories per serving.

Need a hint? Get the scoop on our delicious protein bars here: www.designerwhey.com/designer-whey/products-bars.htm

And on our protein powders here: www.designerwhey.com/designer-whey/products-powders-original.htm

The first 100 respondents to email the correct answer to winner@designerwhey.com will win one of our delicious protein bars! Good luck!

HOW TO PLAY:

Simply email the number of the FALSE statement to winner@designerwhey.com by  Friday, December 2, 2011 at 3pm PST / 6pm EST. The first 100 correct responses will automatically win a Designer Whey^® protein bar. Be sure to include your name and mailing address with your answer. We will announce the 100 winners on our Designer Whey^® Facebook page on Monday, December 5th. If selected, your bar will automatically be shipped to you via USPS. Contest eligible to U.S. addresses only. One prize per household. Must be 18 or older by December 2, 2011 to enter. Giveaway void where prohibited by law, and is subject to federal, state and local regulations.

Posted in DESIGNER WHEY Healthy Minute | 1 Comment

Fall heralds the beginning of the baking season.  Pumpkins, corn-on-the-cob and squash of all shapes and sizes fill the produce department of your neighborhood grocer. Crisp, cool evenings and sun-filled days seem to beg for the warmth and homey-ness of spice scented goodies. I love Fall!

With Halloween right around the corner and the “baking bug” firmly taking root, I thought it might be time to set myself (and my family) up for success. After all, in only a few short days buckets of candy will be lurking around the house and holiday baked goods are short to follow. If I stand ANY chance of talking the kids out of their sugary treats (not for me  J ), then I need to have an acceptable substitute on hand.

 I love pumpkin bars, but they can be high in calories and fat. So I decided it was time to put a healthy spin on things. The result is a bar that is both cakey and moist. Perfectly spiced and full of pumpkin flavor, these bars work equally well as a coffee companion, after school snack or satisfying dessert. And with only a handful of ingredients, they’re easy to make too!

I hope your family enjoys them as much as mine did!

Andrea’s Fall-Spiced Pumpkin Bars

1 scoop Designer Whey Natural Protein Powder
1/2 c canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
1/4 c agave syrup (or honey)
1/4 c stevia-in-the-raw (or Splenda)
1/2 c egg substitute
1 c almond meal
1/4 tsp sea salt
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice (I used Trader Joe’s)
1/2 tsp baking soda

Pre-heat oven to 350*. Spray an 8×8 pan with cooking spray and set aside. Combine pumpkin, agave, stevia and eggs in bowl of mixer and whisk until smooth.(Hand mixer is fine) In a separate bowl combine almond meal, protein powder, sea salt, pumpkin pie spice and baking soda. Stir together with a fork. Add dry ingredients to wet and mix together at medium speed for one minute. Pour mixture into prepped 8×8 pan. (Mixture will be fairly thin) Bake at 350* for 20-25 mins, or until it begins to pull away from sides and center is set. (toothpick is clean) Do not overbake! Cut into 12 squares.

*This recipe doubles really well!

Nutritional Information:

Per Serving (1 square): 73 Calories, 5g Protein, 4g Fiber, 5g Fat, 3g Carbs, 2g Sugar

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Flashback to the middle of August…

I don’t know what got into me!  3 bags of Organic Pancake mix, 2 cups of Designer Whey protein powder, 3 zucchinis, tons of water, a couple apples, some stevia, cinnamon, canola oil, little sugar……4 pans…1 waffle maker!  1 spatula, 3 CHILDREN!  I CRAZY MOM! 

I didn’t count, but I’m guessing 40 pancakes and 12 waffles.  Frozen!  Frozen!  Frozen!  Done!  Done!  Done!  Breakfast!  Breakfast!  Breakfast!  For weeks! For weeks!  For weeks!

My kids are going to get sick of these scrumptious creations!  And I need to find some low sugar syrup.  May make apple sauce syrup…or berry syrup.  Or just go to the store and buy some sugar-free syrup

September 8^th 2011

Okay!  So the pancakes were a hit!  I definitely recommend you try them.  Here’s the recipe if you want to give it a whirl:

½ cup Designer Whey Protein Powder (YOUR favorite flavor, mine’s Vanilla Almond right now)
3 cups organic pancake mix (add what the bag tells you to add.  Usually water/milk, egg, oil)
1 zucchini
2 apples
¼ cup sugar
4 droppers liquid Stevia
1 Tbsp Cinnamon

That should do it!  You may need to add a little more water/soy/almond milk if it’s still too dry.

Nutritions for a 2-Pancake serving: 141 Calories; 14g Protein; 4g Fiber; 2.5g Fat; 12g Carbs; 5g Sugar

EASY Strawberry Syrup:

I took our organic Strawberry Jelly and just added water!  It was so quick and easy!  And the kids loved it!  This is definitely going to be a staple in our household!

Posted in Christina | 5 Comments

There is a day that folks who are on a weight loss journey look forward to. It’s kinda like Christmas morning and your Birthday all wrapped up in one.

It’s the day you not only ‘get’ to but ‘have’ to downsize your clothing!

While my weight loss journey, which has been filled with lots of ups and downs, quite literally speaking! and is still is progress I have reached the point that many of my clothing items don’t fit because they are too big now!

So on this day I am going through what is truly a ‘right of passage’ for anyone on a weight loss journey. It’s important for me to really take a look at how each item fits so loosely and really take time to take in this transformation. It’s the best positive reinforcement and motivator ever! As I gaze into the full length mirror I can see how far I have come and also where I want to be. I see myself, my body, transforming like a butterfly…. it’s amazing, it’s surreal and I am grateful!

I was noticing my clothing choices as I sorted through them. Hmmm.. mostly all dark colors, mostly all black…. because that color is supposed be ‘slimming’ right? Where is anything bright and cheery colored?, guess those colors are just for folks who aren’t  ‘fluffy’ or ’round’…like me.  
 
Sure I had a few items that had color but always paired them with a little black jacket. always trying to hide my body, hide myself. Hoping nobody would notice what was obvious … my weight.

For the last few months, when I go clothing shopping, I look for items with color.. Items that are bright and cheery… like me! I learned something during my ‘right of passage’ day… I don’t want to hide behind dark colors anymore.. That’s not who I am and not who I ever was!

So the happy ending and moral to my story, at least so far since it’s not over yet, is this: Represent yourself everyday for who you truly are, don’t let society or fashion trends tell you who you are or should be. It doesn’t matter where you are in your weight loss journey… be who you are now…  turn up the color …. you are beautiful!
 
Staying in true form, I was morphed into my very colorful ‘cartoon self’ this month by my wonderful Biggest Loser friend Christa!  (she’s vying for a spot on BL13) …. my Avatar proudly drinks DesignerWhey/Biggest Loser Protein 2GO in what else but delicious Lemonade flavor! Hope you all are having the best summer ever! See you back here in September! 
 
Stephenie   

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Ever feel cranky?  You wake up in the morning and EVERYTHING goes wrong?  Sometimes I feel like I cannot pull myself out of my morning slump.  I open my eyes and sluggishness takes over.  A slug has taken over my eyelids. Yuck!  I step out of bed, drag myself to the kitchen, step in the dog’s bowl of water, and discover the house is a mess.  The counters are still dirty from the night before.  There are toys on the floor and a mountain of laundry to put away.  I am in a bad mood!  Grr!

So what CAN help me out of this bad mood?  One thing that helps me is proper nutrition.  Foods can increase our energy or deplete our energy.  One of the biggest energy suckers is sugar.  There are many negative side effects to sugar, including feeding cancer cells, increasing your risk for Alzheimer’s, contributing to hormone imbalance, and gaining weight and fat.  I don’t know about you, but I don’t want ANY of those side effects.  My daughter, Britney, wanted to let you know that sugar causes sugar bugs in your teeth!  And they probably do not exist, but cavities definitely do!

Do you think food does not have an effect on your brain chemistry?  Think again.  Everything we put into our bodies becomes a living part of us.  So choose wisely.  Today!  Every day! 

Ever cruised the aisles of the grocery store and wondered if the food is good for you?  I did not used to think about all of the bad stuff in our food.  Now when I go through the grocery store, I see aisles and aisles of stuff that will not help make my body healthy: crackers, chips, candy, cereals, prepackaged foods, and frozen meals.  Many of these foods have extra ingredients that are not really food. 

There is great stuff out there!  You just have to find it!  Even in the prepackaged, frozen foods, and chips and crackers departments!  Just do your research and read ALL the ingredients and know what they mean.  It takes time to get knowledgeable about nutrition.  I have heard from two friends of mine recently about a popular brand of chips with MSG, which is not listed on the label, causing them headaches.  MSG, food dyes, and other additives are not going to help us get healthy.

So what is safe?  Designer Whey has a great healthy product, low in fat, high in healthy whey protein.   My personal favorite, French Vanilla, is sweetened with a natural sweetener called Stevia   Awesome!  I enjoy knowing that my kids get the taste of sugar without the side effects of weight gain and craziness that sugar can cause in kids.  Britney would also like to let you know too much sugar can make you wild!  Watch out for that!  We do not want any wild kids, grown-ups, or grown up children!

So, here is my soothing Cranky-Attitude Busting Smoothie: 

Strawberry Bliss

1 scoop French Vanilla Designer Whey Protein Powder
6 – 8 Strawberries
4 cubes ice
½ cup Coconut Milk, Organic Milk, or Organic Soy Milk
1 small piece ginger – less than 1 tsp
1/8 cup pistachios – Roasted and Salted is fine

Blend well and enjoy!

Posted in Christina | COMMENT ON THIS BLOG

I can’t believe it, it feels as if summer is almost over, which means NYC and Malibu Nautica Triathlons are right around the corner. It’s still never ceases to amaze me how time flies by. I’ve been in California filming my new TV show for the Live Well Network and have let the excitement and filming schedule affect my training. I know that an excuse is just that and training can be done regardless of the circumstances but I’ll tell you what I feel more exhausted after a day of filming with guests on my show than I did after a 12 hour day of training on The Biggest Loser ranch. The energy that I give and that is taken from guest often drains me completely and regardless of how early I try to go to bed the excitement of the journeys ahead of them keeps me up till all hours. I suppose I should perhaps start drinking some type of tea before bed and see if that helps.

The best part of my new show is realizing that I have started to get in a rut and I need to live bigger, go for more, and give more. I realized that I thrive when I know that my effort is making a difference, what ever that difference might be. I suppose the simplest of them would be staying consistent in training so that I don’t have to continually jump over the road blocks of starting a training program and letting my body build and be rewarded by it’s commitment. I am like everyone else though and I believe if I ever truly get it I probably won’t be here anymore!

In the meantime however I realized that not only is the summer almost over, that 2011 is almost over too. Particularly since 2012 brings a whole new concern of mine…… IronMan! I know, I know I’m suppose to live in the moment but I need to explain to you why it is that I MUST do the IronMan in 2012.

I first fell in love with the triathlon as the result  of an experience I had at an event I was at called “Do Something Healthy” shortly after I won. I was at the event as their keynote speaker but as I sat in the audience waiting to go on stage the emcee was showing a documentary he had been working on. He had recently completed the Kona triathlon and documented his experience.

As I sat there and watched the way he was able to capture such raw emotion and articulate the process, I knew that I had to experience it for myself. I had been at the time in such a surreal time of my life and processing every new moment took all that I had. I could not believe the life I was living and creating and had the honor of experiencing. I was being flown all over the country to be on one television show or another meeting people that I only knew from watching myself on tv and having them share with me how they watched my journey and cheered me on. I was on the cover of numerous magazines and in many different shoots. I had been interviewed on countless radio shows. My life was anything but typical from the life I left when I went to the Biggest Loser. At the time I was so connected to the entire experience but I also wondered what might happen when I felt less connected and as time went by, would I be able to continue to draw from an experience which was bound to be years away before I even realized it?

I knew as I sat there watching that although I will never be able to experience the trials and triumphs from the time in my life when I was on the Biggest Loser ever again. I might be able to experience a different journey in the same way, I felt as if he was taking the words right out of my mouth as he explained his journey during the Iron Man. I knew I had to do it.

In the time following and since when I would do different interviews I would recall this experience and of course they would ask when I was planning on doing an Iron Man, in a panic the first time the question was asked I said in 2012 if I’m not pregnant. Back in 2008/2009 that seemed so far away, I had no idea where exactly my life was heading and I thought for sure I would be pregnant. Well as it turns out 2012 wasn’t so far away after all and I am not about to go get pregnant because I’m scared of the commitment training for Iron Man takes.

The truth is I want to do an Iron Man more now then the day I sat in that audience watching the documentary on it. The truth is also that I am just as scared as I was when I first stood in line on August 11, 2007 for the Biggest Loser. I need to make sure that I am consistent so that I can continue to live the life I dream of, that means fueling my body to have energy, resting appropriately, and be open to support that this new journey is going to need. What big things to you want to do that you are scared of? Are you fueling your body? Resting? Accepting support? I hope so because I know you’ll need it just like me

xo,
Ali

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