The Death Race...What is Really Killing Us?

Ephedra’s popular because it works, because it helps people with their losing battle against fat. You know what kills people? Being fat. But, fat makes money...fat is cheap on the front end and expensive on the back end. The dollar menu is cheap, easy and tasty; a heart attack is costly and makes a lot of people money...talk about job security for the pharmaceutical and medical companies!!

Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer in the world! According to the National Center for Health Statistics, roughly two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obsess. This life threatening epidemic is spreading through teenagers and children.

The most recent final year count for number of heart disease related deaths is 2006. The number of deaths: 631,636. That is well over half a million people, in a single year, who died. The leading cause to heart disease: obesity.

Everyone is looking to be in better shape, to lose fat. Sometimes, diet and exercise alone are not enough. People have looked to medication and supplements to help their battle and save their life and they found ephedra.

Ephedra is a supplement that is proven to help reduce fat, to help reduce the plague of the number one killer. Critics of ephedra point out the few deaths that have been associated with the use of ephedrine (the root of the plant) and have successfully had it banned. All the while, millions of people have used ephedrine on a regular basis, lost a lot of weight and experienced no known health problems.

The people who did not like what they felt while taking ephedra products simply stopped using them. Problem solved.

Ironically, no one is talking about the number of people who died from prescription medication. No one talks about how many people die from taking any other OTC medicine. Seems to me it is jaded and slighted. Is it really about ephedra? Or is ephedra taking away from someone else’s pocket?

What diseases are directly associated with being overweight or obese?

Type 2 diabetes
Coronary heart disease
High LDL (bad cholesterol)
Stroke
Hypertension
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Gallbladder disease
Osteoarthritis
Sleep apnea
Certain cancers – breast, colorectal, endometrial, kidney
Complications of pregnancy (including gestational diabetes)
Menstrual irregularities

Tight Curves Brownies

Too many times this recipe has saved my contest prep to not share it!! But know that you HAVE to use Tight Curves Protein. I have tried it with other brands and it ALWAYS turns out horrible!! Also use a small pan or they will turn out more like crepes...ohhhh and if you use an electric mixer it will make the 'batter' more fluffy and your brownies thicker :)

Tight Curves Chocolate Brownies

Makes 12 Brownies
Cook Time: 10 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 packets of Tight Curves Chocolate Protein
• 3/4 cub egg whites
• 1 whole egg
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Mix chocolate protein, egg whites and whole egg together
2. Spray pan with cooking spray (for best results use a 8" x 8" pan)
3. Sprinkle walnuts into mixture before baking
4. Bake at 350° for approximately 10 minutes

(Approximately 30 or so calories per brownie)

Had to try it!!

I have been waiting ALL week, well some of last week so it feels like a long time, for the new iSatori Flash Point (the world's first sublingual fat burner) to come in, and FINALLY the wait is over! The box was sitting on my desk as I came into work. Nearly losing my mind, I opened the box, which in my opinion is quite excessive however impressive, and paraded my new find!

Now, I was already warned on the iSatori website that the taste was not ideal or especially delicious. The directions say to take three tabs, but I took two and placed them under my tongue and waited for the magic to happen. As the tabs dissolved, the undesirable taste was confirmed, but the effects did begin to take place! My hands tingled and my energy level began to climb steadily.

I am going to have to go ahead and vote FOR this product right now and time will tell if this product will stay on my love it list or fade to the 'ehh' category. 

I Pitty The Fool

When Mr. T and SupplementsToGo.com get together, here are the top 5 sayings:

1. "I Pity the Fool who don’t take Chain’d Out!" 
2. "Don't Gimme No Back Talk, Sucka, SupplementsToGo.com is the Discount Supplement Superstore!"
3. "Quit Your Jibba Jabba and train!"
4. "Dont Make Me Mad (groan) you can’t flex fat!"
5. "First Name Mista, Middle Name Period, Last Name T, but it’s all Jack3d!" 
6. "Shut Up, Fool and take your supplements!"

Burning Muscle in Your Sleep? Try This Recipe

During the night your body is 'starved' of protein and can cause catabolism (break down of muscle tissue). You can fight this by adding Casein at night. 

My Favorite Casein Recipe:
1.5 scoops Optimum Casein (vanilla)
¼ cup Frozen Berries
¼ cup Whole Oats
½ t Cinnamon
2 packets of Splenda (or your favorite sweetener)
Water

In a bowl, mix casein, berries, cinnamon, and sweetener with enough water to make a thick batter. Top with oats and freeze for approximately 15 minutes or until solid. Be careful not to freeze too long. The consistency should be like ice cream.

Motivation: Where is it?

Lack of motivation is a killer of success, and fear of failure (or success for that matter) is the single most deadly component to any dream. It doesn't matter if other people think you can or can not achieve something if you don't.

I have had times when EVERYONE around me believed in me, but I had doubt, and I failed. I have had times when everyone around me told me I was foolish to have certain dreams, but my heart didn't know how to stop, and in the end, my belief brought success.

What separates most people who have 'made it' from those who haven't is an unwavering belief in their own success. It is not genetics, tho they play a part. How many times have I seen someone who had all the talent but none of the drive and ended up 'wasting' their ability. Genetics and talent mean nothing if you don't believe in their existence. And often talent can be developed and honed in on.

If you don't know my story, I am a girl who was never supposed to become an IFBB fitness pro or any other pro athlete. I have average genetics, average. I have zero back ground in gymnastics, dance or anything that would lend to a fitness routine or career. At 20-years-old, a dream was born. A fire burned that many tried to put out...repeatedly.

Had I listened to them, I would have quit. But I didn't, I took a year of yoga before a year of gymnastics (with 8-year-olds) before I began to put together a routine and think about a competition. I didn't do well my first show, or my second, but I progressed. Inch-by-inch I qualified for nationals. I was the girl who shouldn't even have made it that far. I struggled with my physique and my routine, but I loved it and the work and time and energy was worth it. I believed that I would be deserving of the title IFBB Pro. I believed if I worked hard enough I would make up for my genetics and lack of background. And that is exactly what I did.

I would have been easier to believe I couldn't do it, much easier. I think that is what kills people's motivation; it is easier to keep where you are instead of work for where you want to be. It is easier to give up than to go for it. It is easier to not try than to chance failure.

You may not succeed at every one of your dreams, but the only thing holding you back from a better life is yourself. The reason we love movies like Rudy, Mighty Ducks, Miracle, and Remember the Titans, is because somewhere in all of us is a dream that should have come true.

No "Nonsense," No Hype Required

In an era where supplement companies and athletes are being attacked for using illegal substances, it is hard to know where to turn to find a legitimate product that works and isn't going to turn up on the FDA's banned list tomorrow. Beverly International has been an advocate for drug-free athletes since their commencement, and SupplementsToGo.com has been an advocate for Beverly International.

Beverly International has been making and defending their title as “Protein Kings” since 1967. You may have not heard much about the company because advertising is minimal; they don’t use sexy models on glossy pages to push ‘hope in a bottle’.

Beverly International allows their products speak, their craftsmanship sell and their results bring customers back time and time again. I first saw Beverly International at a regional NPC show in North Carolina. I spoke with the booth representative, who was actually knowledgeable in the product, the company and the fitness industry. I tried their products and new this was indeed a ‘no nonsense’ company.

Three different laboratories are involved in the manufacturing of Beverly’s product to ensure the supplements are not only the most effective on the market, but the safest and healthiest formulas available.

In addition, they employ two additional independent laboratories to analyze and test their finished products. These laboratories jobs are to make certain that each Beverly supplement meets or exceeds its label claim before the Beverly International label is placed on the bottle.

Beverly International provides tried and tested products that meet any fitness goals: from fat loss, to weight gain; from contest prep to off-season transformations. Their products are designed for men and women looking to take their physique to the next level, drug-free.

Protein and Biological Value

Biological Value (BV) is a common term used with protein, but not many people know what it means or why it is important. 

Biological Value is one of the standards of measure for over-all protein quality. It measures the amount of protein deposited in to the muscle tissue per gram of protein absorbed from foods and supplements. However, not every gram of protein you intake is absorbed by the body. If there is not 100% biological value then your body can not use that source alone or fully to provide your muscles with the full grams of protein available. For example, tuna has a BV of 83% that means that 17% of the protein digested is not able to be processed because it is missing key protein particles (amino acids).

Biological Value for top proteins:

Whey Isolate: 159

Whey Concentrate: 104

Whole Egg: 100

Egg Whites: 88

Tuna: 83

Lean Beef: 80

Chicken Breast: 79

Casine: 77

Soy: 74

Insulin Potentiator Complex

Sometimes, hard work and diet are not enough. You need a little extra boost to go that extra mile to build full, mind-blowing muscularity

For many years insulin has been associated with increased endurance and strength in athletes. Insulin is a naturally forming in the body, like testosterone. But like testosterone, some athletes have been known to supplement with this prescription drug. However, supplementing with insulin, when it is not medically needed or supervised can be very dangerous. LG Sciences has recognized this desired result and has formulated a safe product to help mimic the use of insulin: SLIN.

Insulin works by increasing the volume of glycogen and which leads to an increase in muscle bulk. Additionally it prevents the breakdown of muscle protein. This means more muscle is made than destroyed, thereby increasing the size of muscles.

SLIN is an advanced insulin potentiator designed to create an insulin effect in the body when taken correctly. LG Sciences has combined their Insulin Potentiator Complex with ALA. ALA stands for alpha lipoic acid. Basically, ALA helps collect energy and nutrients from the food we eat. The body needs ALA to produce energy.

Combining these two ingredients allows your body to utilize the calories you consume to be directly used in your muscles, generating incredible gains.

When Skinny is Fat: Who Needs Muscle?

Are you Skinny Fat? You are finally a size four. You have given up meals and killed hours on the treadmill. Your clothes are hanging off your body, but still, something is not the way you pictured it. You still have cellulite and feel “squishy.” You don’t have that toned muscle look at all. Welcome to being “Skinny Fat.”

There are a few reasons celebrities and models look they way they do. Granted there are those who eat what they want and don’t have to work for it and have genetics to thank (and we hate them). Then there are those who are young and in their prime, when the years begin to add on, they will not have the same look (welcome to reality). For the most part, those looks are worked for, hard.

When most people think about muscle, they think about people like Arnold Swarchenegger. Looking into the weight room at most gyms, you see muscle bound guys, grunting and looking admirably in the mirror. It is little wonder why most women stick to the treadmill and spin classes.

Putting in time on cardio machines seems like a great way to lose weight, and it is. But, the bodies in the magazines (you are reading to pass the time) did not get that way from cardio alone. Cardio is a part of the equation, but it is not the whole answer.

Those sleek, lean bodies that grace the covers of top magazines, both fashion and fitness, are tight and tone because they work at it, on and off the treadmill. It does not matter how much weight you lose if what is under the fat is not what you want to show.

There are a couple rules to building sleek, sexy, toned muscles:

• If it isn’t burning, it isn’t working.
• If you don’t change your workout, you won’t change your body.
• If you don’t focus on your butt, no one else will (I can’t take credit for this one).

Building lean muscle does not mean you are a bodybuilder. Those men and women did not get that way from putting in a little time in with the weights. They got that way from relentlessly pouring their life into the gym, day in and day out. Their entire lives are built around building the fullest, largest possible muscles their body can hold.

The bodybuilding community makes up a VERY small percentage of the overall gym community. In fact, there are far more figure athletes alone than bodybuilders, we are talking probably 100:1 (the girls in popular magazines like Shape, Muscle & Fitness, Oxygen and Fitness Rx).

I can honestly tell you, their sleek toned bodies come from hours in the gym, split between resistance training and cardio training, and proper nutrition. Resistance training is not just weights; it encompasses any exercise that includes resistance (weights, machines, bands, bars and bodyweight). Cardio training is not limited to the “cardio vascular section” in the gym. Cardio is more than treadmills and bikes and stair-masters. Cardio extends to classes designed to keep your heart rate up, track workouts, trail running and more.

When I start talking about weight training and building muscle, many women say, “I don’t want to get ‘big,’” or, “I don’t want to look like a man.” That is just not the case. There is NO way you are going to get big muscles or start looking manly from getting into the weight room, unless, you change your ENTIRE life and start living only to reach that goal. It is not something that happens from training 4-5 days every week. However, if you find yourself starting to lift 2-3 times your body weight, you just might be the exception to the rule and should ease off!

Part of the problem is many women don’t know where to start or stop and don’t know how to start a muscle toning program. Even though the very magazines that keep you distracted on the treadmill have article after article about exercising, still many women are afraid or do such a minimal workout it ends up not doing anything.


How to Get Started:

The key to starting any program is to show up. Waiting until next month or next week will just give you opportunity to keep pushing back the start date. Start today! Most gyms have an orientation session where you can meet with a trainer and learn how to use the equipment, take advantage of it; just know that they will try to sell you more sessions. Generally, if you are not interested in having training, you can avoid some of the sales pitch by telling them up front that you are just interested in learning the machines.

Make a plan. Building muscle tone and having that tight, swim suit body, requires some planning. Figure out how much time and how many days each week you have to dedicate to the gym (aim for 3-5 days). Divide up your muscle groups (legs, back, chest, arms and shoulders) through out the days. Then stick to it. Make sure what ever you plan is, you are working the muscle. It should burn. It should be hard. You should sweat. Your muscles should get sore.

Make the Most of Your Time:

The only thing worse than not working out is wasting your time at the gym. Here are a few tips to help you stay on track:

• Do cardio after you train, not before.
• Don’t chit-chat, working your mouth won’t help your legs.
• Increase the weight; just because you are a girl doesn’t mean you are a baby.

Use Products that Help:

It is hard to get all the nutrients you need from food. It is equally hard to prepare all the food you need to make the most of your gym efforts. Eating 5-6 small meals a day is ideal, yet time consuming. To help properly feed your muscles using supplements is recommended.

• Muscle Recovery: Glutamine Select Plus-chalked full of vital amino acids that assist in recover and reduce muscle soreness.
• Protein Supplementation: Tight Curves-protein designed for the nutritional and hormonal needs of women.
• Multi-vitamin: Opti-Women-combines vitamins and essential minerals with Ostivone, Soy Isoflavones and more to create an all-inclusive female formula.

Find out your potential by getting off the treadmill and into the weight room. Turn skinny fat into fit and fabulous.