Fitness Link Blog

Stress can make and keep you tired, fat and sick! Your hormones may be completely out of balance – and you could be suffering from Adrenal Fatigue. Find out if you are and what you can do about it.

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Every day people count the number of calories they are consuming. Their goal is usually to consume fewer and fewer calories, because they have been told that this equals weight loss. This approach, however, never has nor ever will be the key to true weight loss. In fact, lowering your calories can be one of the most dangerous things you do.

The discovery of the calorie did not occur until the late 1800s. And restricting them did not become a practice until around the 1930s. This discovery has been both a blessing and a curse. Calories make it easy to track food intake – making it a simple math equation. But to the body, not all calories are created equally.

The body counts Nutrients not calories

One of the biggest problems with calorie counting is that it takes the focus away from food and puts it on a number. This method leaves people more concerned about the numbers rather than what foods they eat. For example, an apple and a container of Jell-O might both be worth 85 calories. Or 3 eggs and a bag of potato chips are both worth 160 calories.

These foods are not created equally. Their nutrient values are completely different. Just because 2 foods have the same weight or volume does not mean they are interchangeable. They are so far apart, in fact, that your body will actually lose fat eating apples and eggs but gain fat with the others. It’s like trying to run your car on a gallon of Pepsi. Even though a gallon of gas and a gallon of Pepsi might weigh the same, the car obviously can’t run on soda. Don’t expect your body to!

Your body needs nutrient-dense foods. If you eat food that is deficient in nutrients, your body is forced to strip from its own inventory to allow digestion and utilization of that food. This leaves your body further depleted of nutrients and pushes it into starvation mode. Thinking that there’s a famine, your body quickly stores fat as a safety precaution and prays for you to eat more nutrient dense foods soon.

Thermodynamics

Poor quality food also does not produce the same amount of energy as high quality food. And with less energy being produced, the body’s natural reaction is to slow down its energy expenditure. Your body doesn’t have a slow metabolism because of your “bad” genes, or because it hates you. It’s simply trying to survive by working with the little resources it was given. No other machinery on earth is as adaptable and equipped with such self-preservation abilities as the human body.

The assumption that all calories (regardless of their origin) break down into energy the same way in all people, all over the world, and in all circumstances is simply ignorant and lazy. Metabolic reactions in each person can be as widely diverse as the languages we speak or the color of our skin. No two people look alike, and likewise, no two cells produce energy exactly the same way. This is yet another reason why our food choices should be based on our body’s need and not merely on the number of calories.

Other considerations

There are many other conditions that have a much greater effect on weight loss than counting calories. These can include:

• The digestive and excretory systems – their effect on immune function, energy levels, mood, toxicity and weight loss.
• Blood sugar levels
• Hormonal balance
• Thyroid function
• Stress and sleep

Conclusion

Focusing on calorie count for weight loss is as enlightening as reading book titles but not the pages. A book title tells you one thing, the content inside tells you another. And still your individual interpretation of the book leaves you with your personal result.

Counting calories may be an “easy” way for some people who are trying to eat healthy. But not only can it be dangerous, it’s insufficient at best. If you want true results, you must learn to feed your body plenty of what it needs.

Please note: Those consuming excessive calories (8000-10000 a day for example) would still benefit from lowering their caloric intake to a more reasonable level. In this case, tracking calories would be helpful until proper nutrition is reached. Any calorie restriction diet should be done under the care of a health professional.

3 Action steps YOU Can Take

1. Eat high quality, nutrient-dense foods.
2. Avoid processed and refined foods that are nutrient deficient.
3. Eat for your Metabolic Type

Do you eat less than 2000 calories a day?  Do you struggle with weight loss?

If you would like help determining how much food and specifically what food you should be eating – contact me!

First time consultations are free. Call or e-mail today:

Jmartin@TnFitnessLink.com

(615) 477-6502

Jonathan Martin

Dr. Josh Axe is hosting a Total Body Revolution Seminar on Saturday, February 20, 2010 from 10:30a-2:30PM at Christ Church’s Montelle Hall (15354 Old Hickory Blvd).   Registration will open at 10:00a.

He will be discussing how to finally shed those last ten pounds, naturally balance your hormones, detoxify your home & body, and manage stress.  We will have a booth set up to answer your questions and calculate your body fat percentage.

Tickets can be purchased from Exodus Health Center or 9 Fruits Smoothies in Cool Springs for $40*.

Call 615.445.7701 for more information or visit Dr. Josh Axe Live Events Page.

*Minimum donation requested.

Few things unite couples more than a common goal.

• Better health = A happier relationship
• Share your time with each other
• Common goals with personal achievements

Let this year be a time when you and your Valentine can share in building your health together.  Through February 15th, Fitness Link is offering a very special Partner’s Package:  2 for the price of 1

The Valentine’s Partner’s Package includes:

• A fitness evaluation and assessment
• 3 months personally designed exercise program
• Your personal Metabolic Typing diet programs for both
• 3 months Wellness Coaching

A value of over $1,250……….Now, until the 15th, is only $600.

Give yourselves the gift of health this Valentine’s day.  And experience the many benefits that come with your combined commitment to each other and to a healthier, happier life!

For more information on this special offer, give us a call at (615) 477-6502!

What are YOU suppose to eat? Quit all the cookie cutter diets that don’t work!  No more guess work – eat for your Metabolic Type. And then be able to:

Lose weight naturally…

• Increase your energy levels
• Eliminate hunger, cravings and mood swings
• HEAL THE BODY!

Get started today:  Metabolic Typing

Wellness coaches are trained to help clients develop and implement personal wellness plans by:

• Accepting and meeting us where we are today
• Asking us to take charge
• Guiding us in doing the mindful thinking and doing work that builds confidence
• Helping us define a higher purpose for wellness and uncover our natural impulse to be well
• Helping us tap into our innate fighting spirit
• Addressing mental and physical health together
• Helping us draw a personal wellness blueprint
• Helping us set realistic goals; small victories lay the foundation for self-efficacy
• Harnessing the strengths we need to overcome our obstacles
• Helping us view obstacles as opportunities to learn and grow
• Helping us build a support team
• Inspiring and challenging us to go beyond what we would do alone  

Wellness coaches uses coaching psychology, which integrates more than fifteen other fields.  Coaching psychology, in part, is the relational vehicle for implementing the tenets of positive psychology, a field focused on the scientific study of happiness and well-being.

Cindy is currently working to become a Wellness Coach.  As part of her certification and growth process, she is working with practice clients.  As a practice client, you receive her services for free over the course of  three months. 

If you are excited about achieving health, fitness and wellness goals, then send an email by January 18th to  cposey@tnfitnesslink.com  or enter your interest in the comments below to be entered into a drawing for the Wellness Coaching Program.  There will be two winners from this blog entry. 

At Fitness Link, we are striving to provide services that answer to your complete well-being.   We believe that you will enjoy and flourish from this approach to unleash your vision and confidence by embracing this coaching philosophy/program.  Feel free to email questions or ask for further details.  

The Wellness Coaching Program 

Coaching sessions are free and conducted by phone.  We will determine a regular time that fits your schedule. Complete an online Well-Being Assessment prior to the first coaching session.  An initial coaching session for 75-90 minutes to develop your Wellness Vision, 3 month goals, and first set of weekly goals We will conduct 30-45 minute weekly sessions for three months

 Cindy Posey

Want to stay out of the doctor’s office this year? Build a stronger, healthier body! You need all 5 essential building blocks in order to do so:

1. Water
2. Macro nutrients (protein, carbohydrates, and fat)
3. Vitamins
4. Minerals
5. Enzymes

Take control of your nutrition this year!   Start eating better today.

GET HEALTHY!

What are YOU suppose to eat?  2 meats prepared in 5 minutes for dinner and leftovers.

1. Roast in the Crock Pot
2. Marinated Chicken in Pesto

Quit all the cookie cutter diets that don’t work! No more guess work – eat for your Metabolic Type. And then be able to:

Lose weight naturally…

• Increase your energy levels
• Eliminate hunger, cravings and mood swings
• HEAL THE BODY!

Get started today:  Metabolic Typing

The Holiday Survival Seminar was a great success.  We discussed the challenges of holiday planning, time management, and maintaining fitness and healthy choices.  The most common challenge for everyone is GOOD FOOD!  As part of the seminar, participants received our 25 page Holiday Survival Guide.  Here were the tips that will help you overcome the challenge of Good Food:

Food & Events:

• Enjoy bite size portions.
• On a day a large meal is planned, eat smaller and lighter portions for other meals. Maintain a balance in the meals and don’t skip eating to make up for the big one.
• Have healthy, high energy foods on hand for snacks (ex. hard boiled eggs, fruit, cheese, vegetables, cut meats).
• Schedule one day a week as a splurge day. Focus on healthy choices the rest of the week.
• For weeks that have multiple events, pick and choose your weaknesses selectively. For instance, Mary Jane has a fantastic sweet potato pie at the annual office party. Indulge with a slightly larger portion than the other bite size portions.
• Test new, healthier recipes two to three weeks prior to it’s debut.

The attachments included are the copy pages included in our Holiday Survival Guide.  These you can use over and over again to plan for any Holiday or Travel arrangements.

Holiday Survival Copy Pages

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Cindy

Enjoy pumpkin seeds as a delicious and healthy snack in a variety of ways.  Use the following ideas to roast yours today.

Note:  To preserve their healthy fat content, it’s important not to roast the seeds over 200 degrees.  150-180 is ideal.  roast them for an hour.  (more or less for desired crispiness.)

After removing the seeds from the pumpkin and drying them – mix/toss them with these or other fun flavors:

• Maple syrup, nutmeg, cinnamon, sea salt
• Worcestershire, garlic salt
• Honey, chili powder, cayenne pepper
• Olive oil, sea salt, black pepper
• Egg white, cinnamon, nutmeg
• Butter, curry powder
• Olive oil, diced granny smith apple, raisins
• Soy sauce, garlic powder, sea salt, ginger

Raw pumpkin seeds can also be ground or crushed and added to other foods to add nutrition.  Such as:

Oatmeal, trail mix, soups, salads, granola etc…

Enjoy!