How To Avoid The Holiday Weight Gain

Ok, so we already know that the average person gains 10 -15 additional pounds over the holidays beginning with halloween in October.  Ugggh!   I can't afford that weight gain.  Can you?

Let's face it, we all have eaten our kids candy after they've gone to bed following a night of trick or treating right?  What about the massive carb loading at Thanksgiving, or making way more cookies than Santa could ever eat in one night, only to leave us eating the remainder of them?  Sound familiar?

Well this holiday season I decided to create a plan starting at halloween to scare off those ugly pounds.  I mean after all, what comes after the holidays season?  You guessed it, swimsuit season (at least it does here in Texas). Yikes!

Halloween Candy Game Plan:

• Buy candy I don't like to ensure I will give it away rather than munch on it all night.
• Unlike some of you, I don't have a child living at home anymore, so eating their candy after bedtime won't be a temptation.  If you do have a child at home, put their candy up in their closet so you have to enter their room and chance waking them to steal a piece.  Haha, who wants to wake the kids for a midnight sugar craving?

Thanksgiving Game Plan:

• Look up healthy alternative recipes for typical Thanksgiving dishes and email them to my family and friends so that everyone can make healthier dishes this year.  
• Drink a lot!  No I don't mean alcohol, but water or green tea help to balance the body and keep me feeling full so that I don't overeat during our giant Thanksgiving meal.
• Take Ultimate Thermafit, which is a supplement from It Works! Global that not only boosts my metabolism daily to help burn more calories, but also has a mild appetite suppressant so that my brain will get the message when I am full.  It's safe, natural and effective.  

Christmas Game Plan:

• Hopefully, those recipes I sent out to friends and family will still be in their recipe boxes, but just in case I am going email them all reminders and tips for healthy cooking during the holidays.
• I will also be cooking myself at this holiday, so I can make sure that the recipes are as healthy as can be without sacrificing taste.
• I want to taste it all, so I am going to make sure to get small portions so that I avoid overindulging.
• No cookies for Santa this year.  Instead of making cookies with my nieces and nephews this year, I will be helping them to make Reindeer Feed, and if you have ever done this, you know that glitter and birdseed are not very appetizing.  
• I will be practicing my refusal skills throughout the holiday season, and because when I say I'm trying to stay slim their response is usually something like, "you're already thin, you need to eat," I will be using more health related responses.  Who is gonna argue with someone concerned about their health?
• Focus on the Reason for the Season.  Instead of making it about the food, I am going to try to focus on the reason we celebrate and the family and friends that I get to share it with.  This is truly more important than the food anyway.

Additional Plans:

• I have committed to an increased activity program during the holidays as well.  Instead of my normal exercise program, I am adding an additional 15 minutes of activity to my plan.  This way over a weeks time, I will be getting an extra hour and 15 minutes of exercise.  This will equate to one extra workout each week.
• I will be making sure to fill my day with healthy snacks in between meals so that I am not binging at meal times.  Ultimate Pro-Fit mixed with a healthy fruit to make a superfood smoothy or an It's Essential snack bar will be filling me with healthy calories and help me to keep from overeating when it's time for a meal.  Plus it will keep my body in fat burning mode by eating often throughout the day.
• I recruited an accountability partner too.  My husband and I both have worked very hard this year to get our weight and health under control, so we have committed to keep each other on track with our eating, exercise and supplementation, because we know that it takes control in all three areas to keep making progress.

Feel free to share your holiday game plan in the comment section below.  Until then, keep working on that health, happy life you deserve!

PRODUCT RECOMMENDATIONS:

Fire up your metabolism with this naturally based, thermogenic weight loss formula! Powered by the antioxidantsuperfood acai berry and the metabolism-boosting properties of Capsimax® (red hot pepper blend), UltimateThermoFit helps to:

• Thermogenic weight loss formula
• Antioxidant benefits of acai berry
• Promotes increased calorie burning
• Helps boost metabolic rate
• Reduces appetite
• Provides energy

---

Whether your goal is weight loss, athletic performance, or a simple way to eat healthy, Ultimate ProFIT SuperfoodNutrition Mix offers a superior blend of proteins, mood-elevating “superfoods,” and fiber that is proven to produceultimate results*. Use it in shakes or smoothies, bake with it, or even mix it with your food!

Try it in rich chocolate or creamy vanilla today, and start seeing results like these:

• Experience quicker post-workout recovery
• Build lean muscle mass with fewer calories
• Maintain healthy cholesterol levels
• Get feel-good, mood-elevating energy with maca and cacao powder
• Promote healthy digestion with seven different soluble and insoluble fibers

Ultimate ProFIT is powered by:

• Sustain-It™, a smarter protein blend for maximum bioavailability in every gram
• FITzyme™, a cutting-edge blend of enzymes, helps maximize your body’s ability to absorb Sustain-It™.
• FITboost™, an antioxidant blend of mood-elevating “superfoods” for immune system health.*
• Non-hormonal and non-GMO whey and soy proteins
• Natural, whole-food ingredients with only 100 calories per serving!

Directions: Add one level scoop to an 8 oz. glass of water, milk, juice, or blend in favorite foods. When mixing, add liquid first, then blend, stirring briskly until completely dissolved.

---

The new It's Essential weight loss energy bar pairs delicious flavor with powerful ancient grains to supercharge your weight loss results! Its dark chocolate raspberry taste is truly a flavor to crave, and the addition of a new, cutting-edge ingredient, SolaGrain, packs It's Essential with dietary fiber to promote digestive health.

Includes 10 weight loss energy bars.

One Week To A Slimmer You!

No need to starve yourself or run until you collapse.  The fat cells are not going to shrink super quickly anyway.  If you didn't put the weight on in one week you will likely not lose it in a week either, however, you can reduce your stress which causes inflammation and you can also reduce your fluid retention with just a few small changes in lifestyle.

It's important to realize that we all struggle with day to day stress that causes excess fat cell inflammation and I have learned a few ways to reduce that in order to minimize those effects.  I have struggled for years with problem areas like belly fat that, even though I exercise and eat right, I could never seem to get toned and tightened.  Frustrating to say the least, but I have discovered that a few minor changes can really supercharge your efforts.

Don't Stress About It...

One of the biggest enemies we have in the weight loss realm is the stress hormone cortisol.  The more we stress over things like weight loss, work and overall life issues, the more cortisol our body produces.  This actually causes weight gain, especially around our belly.  If you find you stress over the small stuff, then take a time out for meditation or a massage to help reduce that stress.  Take regular time outs throughout your day to do some deep breathing that will help calm your mind and body and keep that pesky cortisol under control.  

Remember How Our Bodies Respond To Food...

As humans, we were created to be gatherers and hunters.  That means when we don't supply our body with food regularly, our brain tells our body we are starving and that it should store everything it can.  It  goes into survival mode and therefore shuts down our metabolism (our bodies ability to burn fat).  This means that if you only eat one or two large meals a day, skip breakfast or take in too few calories then you're actually sabotaging your bodies ability to burn fat and causing extra weight gain and fat storage.  

Eat 5 to 6 smalls meals throughout the day so that your body knows that you have the ability to "gather" the necessary food to survive.  That way your brain never gets to a point where it feels the need to send the signal to shut down your fat burning cycle.  Even though it may seem like you are eating all the time, you will actually be increasing your body's ability to burn fat.

Drink Water And Lots Of It...

By increasing your water intake on a daily basis, your body is able to flush out toxins and impurities in the blood much better, and it will also help to keep the digestive track clear.  By consuming 6-8 glasses of water daily, you will improve the oxygen flow in your blood and get the necessary nutrients to the skin and organs so that your body can stay balanced and function at it's peak.

Reduce Your Sodium...

Yes, this means lay off the salt when you are cooking.  If you eat pre-packaged foods like TV dinners, frozen weight loss dinners, or canned soups and veggies then you are getting large amounts of sodium which can make you feel bloated.  If you really can't live without the flavor of the salt, then try a dry rub of garlic and pepper instead.  The garlic helps with immune health and the pepper increases your metabolism slightly so you can get the best of both worlds: flavor and fat burn!

Don't Forget Your Tea...

Green tea actually helps to boost the body's metabolism.  Additionally, green tea's antioxidants, called catechins, scavenge for free radicals that can damage DNA and contribute to cancer, blood clots, and atherosclerosis.  It only makes sense to utilize the benefits of green tea for both the health and weight loss.

Eat Your Veggies...

Be sure to eat fruits and vegetables high in Vitamin C.  A recent study at Arizona State University found a correlation between the amount of Vitamin C in the blood and the body's ability to burn fat.  Blood that was higher in Vitamin C tends to have a better ability to utilize fat molecules.  Bell peppers are the food that has the highest concentration of Vitamin C, so by adding those to your salad or sandwich you will do well for increasing your Vitamin C levels.  

Up Your Fiber...

While high fiber foods tend to cause gas in the short term, they are great for flushing out the digestive tract of fat particles that want to hang around.  High fiber diets also help to normalize the bowels so it tends to offer some relief for irritable bowel syndrome as well.  Additionally, high fiber foods tend to require more chewing time so it gives the body the time to register when you are no longer hungry, so you are less likely to overeat.  Because fiber tends to be released absorbed slower into the blood stream, it helps to keep blood sugar levels balanced and will help to avoid the sudden sluggishness you can get after a high fat, high carbohydrate meal.  

So while you aren't going to see a significant weight loss in one week, you can make some very simple changes to get rid of the bloating and inflammation that you have, and also significantly make changes to your body's ability to burn fat.  These changes can make a huge impact on your weight loss efforts over time, and you will see a significant difference in your energy levels and overall health.  

Until next time, keep reaching for that healthy, happy life you deserve!

Recommended Products:

Looking for a healthy meal replacement?  Both of these products can be used for one or two of your increased meals daily so that reaching that 5-6 meals won't seem so difficult.  Especially if you have a busy life and don't have time for cooking several times each day.

Whether your goal is weight loss, athletic performance, or a simple way to eat healthy, Ultimate ProFIT SuperfoodNutrition Mix offers a superior blend of proteins, mood-elevating “superfoods,” and fiber that is proven to produceultimate results*. Use it in shakes or smoothies, bake with it, or even mix it with your food!

Ultimate ProFIT is powered by:

• Sustain-It™, a smarter protein blend for maximum bioavailability in every gram
• FITzyme™, a cutting-edge blend of enzymes, helps maximize your body’s ability to absorb Sustain-It™.
• FITboost™, an antioxidant blend of mood-elevating “superfoods” for immune system health.*
• Non-hormonal and non-GMO whey and soy proteins
• Natural, whole-food ingredients with only 100 calories per serving!

The new It's Essential weight loss energy bar pairs delicious flavor with powerful ancient grains to supercharge your weight loss results! Its dark chocolate raspberry taste is truly a flavor to crave, and the addition of a new, cutting-edge ingredient, SolaGrain, packs It's Essential with dietary fiber to promote digestive health.

Discover The Secrets To Changing Your Body By First Changing Your Mind

Ok, so you've begun and lifestyle change plan, but your finding it hard to stay motivated.  Let's face it, most people quit an exercise program and healthy eating plan because they just aren't seeing results fast enough to keep them moving forward right?  I mean think about it, you walk into a restaurant and, even though you plan to make a healthy menu choice, you begin to think about how good that unhealthy, high fat meal smells or looks, and you just can't muster the willpower to order the healthier choice.  Of course, the moment you finish you want to kick yourself for not choosing better.  Sound familiar?  How about sitting on the couch and trying to justify watching TV by promising yourself you will go to the gym tomorrow without excuse?  These scenarios and many more are easy for most of us to relate to.  Don't get too discouraged because there is hope.  We simply have to change our minds.

Think back to the moment you decided to make a change.  You may have been having a conversation with a friend, you may have seen a Weight Watchers commercial on TV, or you may have had a good look in the mirror.  Whenever that moment was, your decision to change came out of a need or want to change.  That desire sparked a visualization in you of where you want to be.  That visual picture became your motivation to start making changes.  You, even if for just one moment, you stopped focusing on how your life was and how your health was, and started focusing on what it could be.  That moment began a positive mind-body connection that sparked you to action.

Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation discovered that a muscle can be strengthened just by thinking about it.  What's more, brain scans taken after the study showed greater and more focused activity in the prefrontal cortex than before. The researchers said strength gains were due to improvements in the brain's ability to signal muscle (The Franklin Institute).  Now no one is going to make a huge difference in their body by simply thinking about it, but it does show that along with a sound exercise program and balanced nutrition and supplement plan, a positive mental visualization plan is just as important.  

So how do overcome the overwhelming desire to quit making continued healthy choices?  We stop and visualize the goal, just like we did the moment we made the conscious decision to begin to change in the first place.  In order to truly be successful in a continued wellness program, we must follow three important steps.  

Step One: Prepare your attitude.

Decide to make the change and be prepared in advance to face the obstacles you will encounter with the right attitude.  There is not a single person that begins a healthy lifestyle that doesn't expect to face temptation.  Going into a program knowing this gives us the ability to prepare our minds in advance for those times when we face a choice of healthy vs. unhealthy.  Practice your responses to your temptations ahead of time so that when you are actually in the moment your already prepared with an answer.  This one step will greatly diminish your chance of failure in your efforts for change.

Step Two:  Have confidence that you CAN do it.

Along with preparing in advance to face your temptation, you must also believe in yourself that you will be able to one day be the person you envisioned.  Have confidence in your program, your nutrition preparation and supplements and in your ability to follow through.  Remind yourself that failure is not an option and that there is no such thing as the impossible.  By believing in you can, you place a guard around your mind that protects you from the negative.

Step Three:  Visualize the new you.

Begin to see yourself in your mind as the person you intend to be.  When you look in the mirror, see yourself as who you are going to be, not who you are.  When you are training, imagine every moment of that treadmill run or elliptical workout getting you that much closer to where you are wanting to be.  During your meals, think about how the nutrition choices you are making are getting you to your goal.  With visualization and positive thinking you can achieve anything you put your mind to.  

By following the steps above, you will be dramatically improving your odds of success and when you feel like quitting you can fall back on these techniques to help you stay motivated and on track to reach your goals.  So the next time you catch yourself thinking you can't...change your mind.

Until next time, keep reaching for the healthy happy life you deserve.

RECOMMENDED PRODUCT:

Turn back the hands of time from the inside out with New You! This one-of-a-kind longevity formula is designed to stimulate and support the production and release of the body's own human growth hormone.

• Stimulates natural production and release of HGH (human growth hormone)
• Aids in building lean muscle mass
• Enhances exercise endurance
• Helps improve sleep quality and memory

New enhanced formula now includes natural polyphenols that help improve blood supply to the muscles and help to reduce the harmful effects of free radicals for better post-workout recovery.*

For more information on products I recommend please visit my website at http://coachellen.myitworks.com

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Any link or ads that take you to an outside party indicates that I likely have an affiliate relationship and benefit in some way either by reciprocal links or financially.  I make all product recommendations and affiliate ad choices based on what I feel will most benefit my readers, not how much my commission or benefit is from that affiliate.  

Eating Right for Cancer Recovery

Eating a healthy diet is one of the best things people do for themselves. Of course, most people are perfectly aware of this and yet they choose to eat foods that are bad for them. There is no reason why people cannot enjoy the foods they love the most, but people should enjoy the foods they love the most in moderation, which is the best way to enjoy treats and decadent foods. When a person eats healthy they are providing a great service to their body. Not only will they look better if they maintain a healthy diet, they will feel better. The fact is, eating right has a number of excellent benefits on everyone.

One of the best parts of eating healthy is that it can help people with cancer to overcome their diagnosis. Of course, eating a healthy diet won’t cure anyone of cancer if they were just diagnosed, undergoing cancer treatment, or in remission. However, eating right does make the treatment process easier and a person’s prognosis better. Alternative mesothelioma treatment options include eating right. Additionally, this goes for all forms of cancer.

How a Healthy Diet Helps Cancer Patients
It is not a secret that cancer treatments are very difficult on a person’s body. Those who have cancer must go through treatment such as radiation and/or chemotherapy, which can make them very sick as it fights their cancer. Some of the negative side effects of cancer treatment include vomiting, nausea, depression, and fatigue.  A healthy diet is recommended to all cancer patients by their doctors because it can help to alleviate the severity of most of these symptoms.

Eating right improves a person’s quality of life, which makes them feel less depressed, happier, healthier, and less stressed. All of this leads to an improved immune system, which makes people more likely to remain healthy while undergoing treatment for their cancer. 

Foods that Help With Cancer
Fatty foods are a great source of energy for people who are fighting cancer. Treatment takes a lot of energy out of people, which means they need more fat in their diet to help them maintain their level of energy while being treated. When people eat fatty foods, their bodies break down the fat in the food and store it. It is later used to produce energy. The more fatty foods people eat, the more energy they have.

Water is the most important nutrient for those who have cancer. The body is made up mostly of water, and the side effects of cancer treatment such as diarrhea and vomiting make people lose a lot more water than they can afford to lose. Doctors recommend people drink at least eight glasses filled with eight ounces of water each day, and some cancer patients may need more to prevent dehydration.

Carbohydrates are great for cancer patients because they help give patients’ energy and they help their bodies function properly. It is important that all cancer patients eat as many carbohydrates as they can to help their bodies maintain their overall health and their organs function to the best of their ability.

Not eating a healthy diet can have several negative effects for cancer patients. Not only will it make the patient lose too much weight, it will make them sicker than the treatment is already making them. The usual nausea and vomiting that cancer patients experience as a result of their treatment is magnified. Additionally, those who do not eat well while undergoing cancer are more likely to experience constipation, weight loss, diarrhea, pain, and the inability to digest food.

Aside from helping people feel and look better, good nutrition goes along with cancer because it has plenty of other benefits. People who eat right lessen their risk of being diagnosed again later in life with the same form of cancer. Those who eat right also lower their risk of being diagnosed with different forms of cancer. They have less risk of heart disease and diabetes, and they have less chance of becoming obese, which can lead to a myriad of other negative health problems. Those who have cancer should make sure they eat the best possible diet, which plays a big role in a persons' recovery.          GUEST AUTHORED BY:  JILLIAN MCKEE



PRODUCT RECOMMENDATIONS FROM COACH ELLEN:

**Did you know that cancer cannot live in an alkaline environment?  Try GREENS Alkalizing Drink Powder by It Works! Global

Not eating your fruits and vegetables like you should? Get what you are missing with Greens, a delicious orange-flavored drink powder with the nutritional value of 8+ servings of fruits and vegetables in each serving.
Greens blends 38 herbs and nutrient-rich “superfoods” to provide vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, and enzymes in their naturally-occurring, bio-active, bio-available form. 

Greens helps to:

1. Detoxify
2. Alkalize the body
3. Balance the immune system

• For more information on products for health and happiness that I recommend or to purchase please visit my website at http://coachellen.myitworks.com
• 
  

DISCLAIMER

It Works! and its Independent Representatives Make No Curative Claims These Statements Have Not Been Evaluated by the FDA These Products are Not Intended to Diagnose, Treat, Cure, or Prevent Any Disease

Healthy Eating on the Run

So you're out and about and all of a sudden the hunger pangs begin.  The easiest and most convenient choice is your local fast food restaurant where you drive through and order the typical burger, fries and soda combo meal and scarf it down in your car.  Minutes later you begin to feel bloated, tired and worst of all -- guilty!  Sound familiar?  If so then you are one of the millions of Americans each day that fall victim to convenience eating that over the long run will effect your health.

The great news is that being "on the go" doesn't mean your health and diet have to suffer.  While racing from one place to another, keep these smart eating tips in mind.

Tip #1:  Always keep your water close.
If you don't like plain water then add some lemon juice or fruit slices to it for flavor, or choose some flavored vitamin water for added nutrients.

Tip #2:  Take breakfast on the run.
Grab a healthy breakfast bar or piece of fruit that is easy to take with you and eat in the car.  Foods like bagels, low-fat string cheese or yogurt are also good options for a healthy and quick "on the go" breakfast.

Tip #3:  Take your lunch with you in an insulated lunch box.
Carrots, walnuts, peanut butter on 100 percent whole wheat bread are all easy, quick foods that can be placed into your lunch box to keep you from being tempted to go through the fast food drive through.  You can also keep protein bars or snack bags of almonds or raisins in your purse or glove compartment in case you're caught by hunger pangs and haven't packed a lunch.  

Tip #4:  Opt for Kid size meals if you must go through the drive through.
If it's absolutely necessary for you to go through the drive through, then opt for kid's meals with fresh fruit or a side salad with low-fat dressing.  Most fast food chains are catching on the the fact that people want healthier options and have some type of salad or fruit menu items to appease the "health nuts" in the world.  Grilled chicken is always better than breaded or fried, and skip the mayo and other fatty spreads.

Tip #5:  Need a coffee break?
If you are like me and you crave that afternoon cup of coffee, opt for low-fat, sugar free versions of your favorite latte or frozen coffee, and skip the whipped cream and caramel drizzle.

So as you can see there are a few simple choices that we can make to prepare in advance for a long day of errands and shopping.  Remember, you deserve to be healthy, but it is up to you to make the right choices to feed your body the healthy food it craves.  Until next time, keep choosing the healthy, happy life you deserve.

Coach Ellen's Product Recommendations:

It's Essential weight loss energy bar pairs delicious flavor with powerful ancient grains to supercharge your weight loss results! Its dark chocolate raspberry taste is truly a flavor to crave, and the addition of a new, cutting-edge ingredient, SolaGrain, packs It's Essential with dietary fiber to promote digestive health.

For more products on healthy living and wellness supplements please visit my website at:  http://coachellen.myitworks.com

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.