Supplements Save Lives

Wish you could enjoy fantastic health without the work? Now you can. The key is getting enough of the nutrients proven to help protect every cell in your body from the damage that can lead to everything from weight gain to heart disease to cancer to premature aging. What’s more, you only need to pop four supplements to reap these benefits.

1. Halve your cancer risk with vitamin D. Few of us have enough spare time to bask in the sun sun long enough to make sufficient vitamin D in our skin. Consequently nearly 80% of Americans are deficient. Even if we’re getting the present RDA –--200 IU daily for women under 50 and 400 IU after that—--research suggests that’s less than half what’s needed for optimal health. Studies indicate that bumping up your daily dose to 800 IU could cut your risk of cancer and heart attack in half, slow the progression of arthritis by 67 % reduce bone fracture risk by 33%, and slow the aging process by up to five years. Amazing. Every cell in your body needs vitamin D to function at its peak and repair day-to-day damage.

2. Burn extra fat with fish oil. We’ve known for years that fish oil helps prevent blood clots, strokes, even depression. It can even lower total cholesterol by 19%. New data shows it also helps dieters lose up to twice as much body fat each week. Fish oil reduces cellular inflammation, one of the key triggers of body fat formation. It also shuts down your brain’s production of hunger promoting hormones fr up to six hours and activates your liver’s fat-burning genes. Who doesn't love the sound of that?

3. Halt heart disease with magnesium. This mineral keeps more than 300 health boosting enzymes in your cells functioning at their peek, according to the author of the Magnesium Miracle. “Yet due to depleted soils 80% of women are deficient.” Taking a magnesium supplement daily could decrease your heart disease risk by 76%. Recommended: 400-500 mg. Food sources; green veggies, whole grains, nuts and legumes.

4. Stop germs cold with green tea. Thanks to the brew’s polyphenols, people who drink green tea daily or pop a green tea extract fend off five time more dangerous viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Those same polyphenols also disarm dangerous free radicals, resulting in a 30% lower risk of certain cancers, a 65% lower risk of high blood pressure and stroke, better blood-sugar control and fewer wrinkles and sagging. Sipping several cups daily even slows brain aging by 54%, according to researchers. No wonder lovers of green tea tend to live 16% longer than average.

Check out these supplements and more at Blue Spring Wellness or by clicking the picture above or link to the right.

Food for thought--Food for success

I received an email yesterday from the P90x team at Spark People with these questions and comments. I believe that how we think about our weight loss and fitness journey determines our success or failure.

How can I lose fat and enjoy the process?
What can I do today that will help me get closer to my weight loss goal?
What can I eat right now at this meal that will help me lose body fat?
How great am I going to feel after I finish my workout today?
My metabolism is getting faster every day.
I am getting leaner every day.
I like the way I look.
I am 100% responsible for my results.
Whatever it takes, I’ll do it.
I like eating healthy foods.
I love working out.
Training early in the morning is exhilarating.
I have time for anything I am committed to.
I like myself.
I can do it.
I’ll do it.

Do you really believe you'll have success? Are you getting fit for the right reasons or to fulfill some unattainable goal perpetuated by media? Do you know that the little steps you're taking now will add up in your journey to fitness and wholeness?

If you need help along the way, Beachbody has all kinds of helps and aids to get you up and grooving and moving and sweating your way to success. Slim in 6 provides 3 easy to follow workouts for amazing body slimming results. Ramp it up and burn it up in as little as 6 weeks. Reshape your body in 6 weeks---Guaranteed.

Taking P90x to the real world

Wayne and I have been waylaid by sickness and a death in the family this month so we are only starting week 7 of P90x instead of Week 9 like we should. I try to stay active and fit in workouts whenever possible even when we are off schedule. Can't say the same for Wayne who almost relishes interruptions. But he's hanging in there and bringing it at least three times a week. My goal is to stay on schedule so we can finish our 90 days according to the program.

After about 50 days on P90x Wayne and I are seeing some impressive changes in our bodies and our endurance. On the latest episode of The Office, office manager Michael Scott challenged his employees to pump out 25 pushups. Only one employee accomplished the feat and was rewarded with a day off work. Just for kicks I dropped down to see if I could do 25 without stopping. Piece of cake, my friends.

I couldn't have done it a month ago.

I realize my boss will never give me a day off work for doing 25 pushups or 15 pull-ups. But the skills and strength I've gained in the last month does translate to more efficiency in the real world. When you have a strong core you have a strong back. Anyone over 40, 30 even, has experienced some degree of back pain. Our vertebrae compress over time. Nerves pinch. Calcium deposits occur putting pressure on the spinal column. While there is no way to avoid the aging process...well, there's one way, but we won't consider that option, working and strengthening our back and core can alleviate many of the problems an aging, overworked back presents.

If you haven't started P90x or another of the awesome, heart pumping Beachbody workouts, I highly recommend that you do. Your back will thank you. You won't have any problem keeping up with the kids or the dog.

Who knows? You might even win a day off work sometime by pumping out 25 pushups. If you go to work in the fictional world of Michael Scott, that is.

If you forgot, I am also a Product Partners Affiliate.

Six weeks of Bringing it with P90x

Inspired by the 2010 5% body weight challenge on Spark People, Wayne and I finally buckled down and focused on eating better. We've been kicking it hard with P90x for the last 6 weeks, but haven't lost much weight. We can see a difference in definition--Wayne's love handles and belly and my arms and legs--but the scales haven't moved much.

Exercising hard will only shed so much weight if you don't combine it with sensible eating. So for the last week we've kicked our new healthier lifestyle into overdrive. No junk. No after dinner snacking. No skipped workouts. Today was Kenpo X of P90x. I love this workout. With almost every move I would say, "Oh, I love this one."

Near the end Wayne lost his patience and said, "You love every move."

Okay, so he has a point. But I love P90x. It is so fun and energetic. The hour flies by. I love how my shirt is dripping wet by the end. I love the buzz you can only get from a great workout. Most of all, I love the way my belly doesn't jiggle as much while jumping rope. I love feeling and looking narrower in the mirror. I love the way my husband's belly seems to shrink after nearly every workout.

If you haven't tried it yet, you really must give it a try. If two old fogies like Wayne and me can see results by doing it, anyone can. And don't give me the excuse that you're not in good enough shape for such an extreme routine. Wayne has never done this type of aerobic activity before. He's past 50 and had knee surgery in November. But he's there kicking it with me every morning.

If you want to see results, give P90x a try. You won't be sorry. If you are, at least you'll be sorry and ripped. Bring it.

In case you haven't figured it out I am a Product Partners LLC affiliate.

Cutting calories

Cutting enough calories to lose a pound of body fat is harder than you would think. I don't have much to lose, seven pounds, so it's harder than if I wanted to shed, say, 50 over the next year.

I had an extreme case of the munchies last night before bed. It wasn't just boredom grazing or watching TV and needed something to do with my hands. I was hungry. To lose 7 pounds in 8 weeks I must carve 500 calories from my daily intake. And late night snacking is my biggest problem. Especially when I stayed within my calorie range all day like a good girl.

Slim in 6 looks like a great program. I know I can't expect to lose all my weight in 6 weeks and then never worry again. Losing weight quickly is how most people get into trouble. We go at it like gangbusters in the beginning, shed a few pounds, maybe even fit into that bikini, and then fall off the wagon. We end up gaining back more than we lost in the first place.

Who wants to do that?

Slim in 6 trains you to reshape your body with fat-burning cardio exercise and light resistance to slim and sculpt. The key is to eat less and keep the weight off for good. That's what it's all about. This is a lifestyle change, not a quick fix to fit into a bikini.

Let me know how the journey goes. I'll be here, shedding those last 7 pounds.

Seven Pounds

I signed up for the Spring 5% Challenge on Spark People. Participants are challenged to lose 5% of their body weight in 8 weeks. That means I need to lose 7 pounds by the first of May while Wayne needs to shed 11.

A person must create a deficit of 3500 calories in order to lose one pound. To lose seven pounds in eight weeks I need to lessen my daily caloric intake by 500 calories. That equals one pound a week with a week thrown in for mistakes.

Since I know beyond the shadow of a doubt I am getting the proper exercise I need to make some big eating changes. This includes portion control, not feeding my body garbage, and controlled snacking. Slim in 6, the same people who bring you the other Beachbody programs featured on this blog, claims to reshape your body in 6 weeks. The secret is Debbie's exclusive Slim Training® technique, which combines fat-burning cardio with light resistance moves to help you slim and sculpt your body without bulking you up! You'll literally shrink your midsection and get slim, sexy thighs, hips, and arms—all in just 6 WEEKS.

Sounds perfect. Slim in 6 comes with revolutionary tools to track my progress. No guesswork. No wondering if I'm doing it right. There is even a money back guarantee if I'm not completely satisfied. What about you? Do you have 7 pounds to lose? Or 70? Do you want to get in shape for summer? Take a chance. What have you got to lose?

The answer for me is seven Pounds.

Survived Phase 1 of P90x

Have I complained before that guys have an easier time losing and toning up? Wayne and I started Phase 2 of P90x this morning. The differences in his 30 day shots are huge. Especially the side view. And so unfair. Except for the length of my hair, my Day 30 pics look really close to Day 1. To be fair, I don't have as much to lose. I already had some definition so it's hard to tell a difference.

Even though there's little justice in this world, I'm proud of my sweetheart for sticking with me the last 30 days. He wasn't exactly jumping up and down in anticipation when we started out. But I think his before and after shots have done the trick. He is kicking it.

Ladies, even if you take a little longer to see results, don't think this workout isn't for you. March came in like a lion today to remind us it's just a little longer before bikini weather. Get started on your bikini body now.

Bring it.