Month: August 2018

“But Steve, people will give me funny looks for not eating birthday cake at the office, and I’ll get made fun for not eating the bun on my burger and replacing french fries with a salad.” A strong majority of this country is overweight, out of shape, in debt, and unhappy…do you really care what they think about you?  Do what you need to do to only eat the foods on your approved list.  Staci told everyone at her office that she developed a food allergy to avoid all of the unhealthy temptations at work.  While lying sucks, they never asked again, and it made it super easy to bring in whatever she wanted without getting weird looks.
If knowing that your body is thanking you for making healthier choices isn’t enough (and that’s ok!), treat yourself — but don’t tie these “rewards” to food. For instance, if you worked out five days each week for the entire month, splurge on that new tennis racquet you’ve been wanting or indulge in a manicure or pedicure. You’ve earned it!
Although it is certainly possible to get great results going through a program by yourself, you’ll probably lose more pounds and inches if you team up with a friend or several friends. You and your friend should try to shop together, exercise together, walk together, and share each other’s problems. Studies show that people who exercise together tend to stick with programs longer and achieve greater results because they motivate each other. 
Cramps (and more specifically leg cramps) are a pretty common thing when starting a ketogenic diet. It’s usually occurring in the morning or at night, but it’s a pretty minor issue overall. It’s a sign that there’s a lack of minerals, specifically magnesium, in the body.
Pencil workouts into your daily planner the same way you do dinner with friends or that important business meeting. This will help hold you accountable. It’ll also force you to choose a specific time to get your sweat on, making it more likely you’ll stick to it.
“I quit smoking, and right away joined a gym and started working out with a personal trainer. There was no way I could exercise and feel healthy if I kept lighting up. I’ve already dropped 37 pounds in three months!” —Leila Fathi, Memphis, TN
To lose weight properly, exercise should be incorporated, otherwise you may end up losing muscle mass in addition to fat. Loss of muscle mass slows your metabolism, so it’s counterproductive. Incorporating at least some amount of even light exercise such as brisk walking or biking will be very helpful to your health cause.
Does this situation sound familiar? You have the best of intentions to fill the grocery cart with lots of produce and healthy protein. But halfway through your shopping trip, your stomach starts growling and all of a sudden those potato chips are looking a lot more appealing than normal. Well, it’s happened to us all.
Sometimes there’s issues or problems that aren’t covered in this guide. There are many other articles on the site, so make sure to search. If you’re having trouble with a specific question, we have a very helpful community on the website too!
Choose workouts that require your entire body to exert an effort. This way, you work every muscle group and burn calories with more muscles at one time, like multi-tasking with your exercise. For instance, combine a form of resistance training (try raising small dumbbells overhead as you work) with your arms while you jog or cycle with your legs.[4]Rest at least 24 to 48 hours between strength training sessions on the same muscle group.
The reason we’re suggesting 45 minutes instead of the typical 30 as one of the ways to lose weight is that a Duke University study found that while 30 minutes of daily walking is enough to prevent weight gain in most relatively sedentary people, exercise beyond 30 minutes results in weight and fat loss. Burning an additional 300 calories a day with three miles of brisk walking (45 minutes should do it) could help you lose 30 pounds in a year without even changing how much you’re eating. If you need motivation, try these secrets of women who work out every day.
A quick start guide to the raw food diet so you can begin reaching your goals today. Including shopping lists, conversion charts and easy to follow STEP-BY-STEP instructions. Delicious and quick recipes as well as reviews of the best raw food appliances. » Read More
Lunch can be another challenging meal for anyone. If you are at school or work all day long, this makes it difficult to make sure you eat a healthy lunch. Don’t worry, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich isn’t the only choice you have.
Drink water and supplement electrolytes. Most common problems come from dehydration or lack of electrolytes. When you start keto (and even in the long run), make sure that you drink plenty of water, salt your foods, and take a multivitamin. If you’re still experiencing issues, you can order electrolyte supplements individually.
“Write down your workout and fitness class schedule before the week starts, and treat each workout like an important appointment. This will help you stick to a more consistent workout schedule, which can aid weight loss efforts. — Jim White RD, ACSM HFS, Owner of Jim White Fitness and Nutrition Studios
Conversely, the more food in front of you, the more you’ll eat—regardless of how hungry you are. So instead of using regular dinner plates that range these days from 10 to 14 inches (making them look empty if they’re not heaped with food), serve your main course on salad plates (about 7 to 9 inches wide). Instead of 16-ounce glasses and oversized coffee mugs, return to the old days of 8-ounce glasses and 6-ounce coffee cups. Try these other tricks for eating in moderation.
Studies find that people who eat cereal for breakfast every day are significantly less likely to be obese and have diabetes than those who don’t. They also consume more fiber and calcium—and less fat—than those who eat other breakfast foods. Make oatmeal, or pour out a high-fiber, low-sugar cereal like Total or Grape Nuts, and boost it up with these healthy cereal hacks.
Make things yourself. While it’s extremely convenient to buy most things pre-made or pre-cooked, it always adds to the price per pound on items. Try prepping veggies ahead of time instead of buying pre-cut ones. Try making your stew meat from a chuck roast. Or, simply try to make your mayo and salad dressings at home. The simplest of things can work to cut down on your overall grocery shopping.
There are numerous benefits that come with being on keto: from weight loss and increased energy levels to therapeutic medical applications. Most anyone can safely benefit from eating a low-carb, high-fat diet. Below, you’ll find a short list of the benefits you can receive from a ketogenic diet. For a more comprehensive list, you can also read our in-depth article here >
“Nuts are a superior weight loss food in my book. They offer plenty of protein, healthy fat, and fiber that can really take the edge off hunger at any meal or snack. Nuts are also so versatile and convenient. They can be mixed into oatmeal or yogurt at breakfast, paired with fruit as a snack, or tossed into a hearty salad for a little satisfying crunch at lunch. — Michelle Loy, MPH, MS, CSSD, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and owner of Go Wellness in Orange County, California
“When I wanted to fit into my skinny jeans again, I started running 20 minutes a day during my lunch hour. In two months, I’ve lost 20 pounds, have tons of energy, and just finished my first 5K. Those jeans? They’re too big now!” —Lauren Castor, Anniston, AL
Keep a water bottle with you at all times and aim for drinking eight-plus cups a day. Eliminate sugary beverages like soda, juice, or sweetened coffee or tea since they’re calorie bombs without much nutritional benefit. Throw in lemon slices or chopped fruit and herbs to your water to add flavor—it will encourage you to drink more!
“If weight loss is the goal, I recommend learning how to properly deadlift. Deadlifting recruits more muscle fiber at once than any other exercise. More muscle working equates to more blood flow, an increased heart rate, more metabolic demand and output. It’s compound, multi-joint and more bang for your buck, not to mention you’ll develop an excellent posterior from them.” — Victoria Viola, PN Certified Nutrition Coach, NSCA CPT, Co-Founder, Excelerate Wellness, LLC
“But Steve, my roommates still eat these things!” Ask them to keep these foods in their rooms or in a cabinet that’s not yours. Create a rule that says “I will not eat anything that I did not pay for.”
Many studies have been done on exercise. A study was done on trained cyclists who were on a ketogenic diet for four weeks. The results show that aerobic endurance was not compromised at all, and their muscle mass was the same as when they started.
“I try to fit in small bouts of exercise whenever possible, like doing jumping jacks or crunches during television commercials or dancing while washing dishes. This burns extra calories and keeps me from mindlessly munching in front of the TV. Now my clothes fit way better, and I’m more toned than ever.” —Megan Tiscareno, Hammond, IN

Work out in the morning.  Sleep with your running shoes next to your bed, and in your workout clothes.  When you wake up, there is NO thought involved.  You are going for a run/yoga/to the gym and that’s that.  If you wait until the afternoon, life is bound to get in the way and excuses are easier to sink in.
So, this is the most “difficulty increased” diet out there, but it can also produce the most drastic results and healthiest benefits.  If you need to lose a LOT of weight quickly, or if you are interested in getting down into extremely low body fat percentages, the Paleo Diet is your play – just make sure you have the ability to say NO to a lot of foods throughout the day.
Sit in a quiet place. Think of your fitness goals. Now, close your eyes and imagine looking in the mirror and seeing a fit and younger looking you. Imagine feeling full of energy, free of illness, and more fun loving throughout the day.
“Certain over-the-counter medications, like antacids or NSAIDs (such as Advil) can disrupt your gut bacteria just the way antibiotics can. That can lead to inflammation and, over time, weight gain.” — Tasneem Bhatia, MD, author of  The 21-Day Belly Fix
If adding more fruits and vegetables sounds ominous, look to “finger food” versions that preschool kids love — carrot and celery sticks, cherry tomatoes, broccoli florets, grapes, berries, and dried fruits. All are nutritional powerhouses packed with antioxidants.
I’ll give you the same answer that I give people when they ask me “what’s the best workout plan?”  The one that you’ll actually stick with!  Us members of the Nerd Fitness Rebellion are in this for the long haul, so we pick diets that work for our particular body type and situation because we know that they’re diets that we can stick with.
Ego is a real thing. I will be honest, after being surrounded by the “best of the best” during two tours in Iraq and Afghanistan with Special Operations, I was my own worst enemy. When I started Crossfit, I was more concerned with the myth of me then the man. I convinced myself that after a lifetime of military service, I didn’t need to prove anything to anyone. I looked at my Crossfit Community as Them Vs. Me. My dedication flagged, I did not track my performance and every WOD was something to be endured. I didn’t like being paired up. I whined a lot, which is not in character for me and I was just not happy. What I realized one day was I had lost my sense of community, my team, my family. It forced me to pull off my comfort huggie and ask for help. I also researched and read about mental toughness. I laid out some goals and broke them down into sane, achievable blocks and I embraced the CFSA community. It is still a little uncomfortable, but honest and sometimes brutal self evaluation, a positive attitude and asking for “buddy checks” does wonders. I found it is not much different than my military experience in the universal truth is the team is always stronger than the individual. During Crossfit 2RM/ 5RM, I was going for PR way past my goal. Midway through the lift, as my body was about to quit, I heard someone yell “Get it” and I continued till I did. The voice outside my head telling me I could do it was much louder than the one inside my head telling me I couldn’t. You just have to know who to listen to. Eventually, through setting and achieving goals, the voice inside your head will be just as loud. There is nothing like success and achievement to have your inner monologue repeating, “Ah, I CAN do this”. They don’t even have to be huge goals, but you do have to set them. Then go after them. Even failure, when you get back up and try it again helps your achieve that resilience which is the foundation of mental toughness. Face it, there are going to be times of high stress and pressure when that is the only voice you will hear. You can harness it, rely on the muscle memory, stay focused, maintain attention to detail and use it to push you harder and farther than your body thinks possible…or ignore it and push on. But it can be done.
A: The short answer is yes. Aside from the broad guidelines stated above, there are no real “rules” so long as you’re low carb, moderate protein and getting the rest of your calories from fat. If it fits within your macros, then you’re fine.
Not all fat is created equal. The fats found in foods like avocados, nuts and dark chocolate are actually good for you — and they taste delicious! Enjoy them on a regular basis to reap their health benefits but don’t go overboard because they are calorie dense.
Identify your food triggers and plan accordingly. Food triggers are the activities we do that make us want to snack. For some people, it’s sitting down to watch a movie at night; for others, it’s studying late at night. If you know your food triggers, you can plan for them—fill your house with healthy snacks or have them on hand.
“Sweet potatoes are a great post-workout snack. They’re low on the glycemic index and rich in fiber which helps tame that out-of-control appetite many people have after they exercise.” — Shaun T, celebrity fitness trainer and creator of Insanity, Max:30 and Hip Hop Abs
If you’re out and ordering a sub, get the six-inch sandwich. Buy a small popcorn, a small salad, a small hamburger. Again, studies find we tend to eat what’s in front of us, even though we’d feel just as full on less. Try these portion-control tricks when you’re dishing your own food.
Eat every three hours – Passing on breakfast will send your body into starvation mode, meaning your body starts to store everything you’ve eaten as fat, and you’re midsection is the first to suffer the consequences