Be Happy, Healthy, & Fit!

Struggle-Free Permanent Weight Loss

Top 10 New Years Resolutions for 2012

Posted by michellecaseyks on May 19th, 2012

It’s that time of year again! Only 15 days into the new year, it’s time to check how your New Year’s Resolutions are holding up! Here is a list of the top 10, most popular New Year’s Resolutions for the year 2012; along with recommendations to help with motivation and goals.

Resolution Number 10: Get Organized

Many people are now realizing the importance of organization when it come to the attainment of their goals. With the advent of smart phones, ipads, and other portable devices; becoming more organized is now easier than ever! But where to start? The following products will show you how to set and achieve your goals and resolutions.

Resolution Number 9: Contribute to Others’ Lives

Next on the list is helping others in a way that is significant and memorable. There are plenty of ways you can contribute to the well-being of others; many of which do not require financial contributions.

Check your cupboards for canned and boxed foods that aren’t a staple in your family’s diet and take them to the local food pantry or soup kitchen. Your closet may also be a rich source for donations. Any article of clothing that you haven’t worn or no longer fits can be donated toward local clothing drives supported by local churches.

Do you have a special skill or talent that can help others succeed? Make it available to others! Write a book, start a blog, or arrange a weekly workshop. Whatever your skill set, someone out there is in need of it!

Resolution Numer 8: Enjoy Life More

Ever feel like your life is just flying by and all you do is work, work, work? Many people have made a New Years Resolution to slow down a bit in order to actually enjoy their lives. There is more to life than working; find some time to play! Explore the world that is outside of your nine-to-five!

What’s the best way to find more time? Become more organized! Check out my recommendations for goal planning above (resolution #10).

Resolution Number 7: Learn a New Skill, Talent, or Trade

It is a fact that the most successful people in the world are successful because they make it a point to learn something new nearly every day. My own personal new years resolutions include learning how to be a successful sales woman, becoming fluent in Spanish, and getting a certification in both Personal Training and Nutrition!

If you want to in the top 3% of your career or field, then you have to stay on top of the game. You do so by keeping yourself educated and well-informed.

Resolution Number 6: Quit Drinking/Smoking

Being ever mindful of one’s health is always on the list somewhere in multiple forms. If drinking or smoking is an issue for you, there are many products available to help take the edge off.

Top 10 New Years Resolutions for 2012 (Cont’d) –>

Originally posted 2012-01-14 23:09:59. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Share and Enjoy

Xyngular Product Review-XYNG Fuel 4 Life

Posted by michellecaseyks on May 12th, 2012

Not too long ago, one of my FB friends started posting overly-zealous advertisments for Xyngular; she had been taking Xyngular for weight loss and she was now an official “distributor”. I myself had been involved in similar MLM-type home-based businesses where the product was always made to appear as if it did some amazing things that no other supplement out there could do. By the time Xyngular hit the market, my take on it was a sarcastic ”Yeah right, I’m sure it is”.

After reading many, many, many of her posts; and eventually posts of other FB friends that caught on to Xyngular products and the Xyngular “opportunity”, I decided to give the product a “blind” test (meaning I was going to try it even though I had nothing to gain financially from it). This is my review cataloging my ongoing Xyngular experience.

Xygular’s (Outrageous?) Claims and (Legit?) Client Reviews

There are many different Xyngular products available; I bought Fuel 4 Life. The package insert states that:

XYNG is a blend of all-natural ingredients designed to help you achieve your weight loss goals and feel incredible while you do it. A powerful blend of herbal ingredients, vitamins, and minerals that control you appetite, increase your energy and create a euphoric feeling of excitement and positive mental energy!

XYNG increases your energy and helps you be more alert and active in your life. Lack of energy is one of the major reasons we don’t exercise enough. The basics of losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight is to not only eat less, but to move more. XYNG provides the added boost to get you throughout your day with enough energy left to do the extras, such as exercise, that made us feel our best.

Many people feel listless, tired, are “stressed out”, and agree there is not enough time each day to complete what needs to be done, let alone find the time to prepare the nutritious meals that a healthy diet requires. Or they just grab fast food because they’re to hungry to cook. XYNG solvesboth of those problems.

And the natural energy lifts your mood so that, even if you diet, you feel amazing. XYNG, the all-natural ssolution to add vitality and FUEL 4 LIFE!

Well, the third paragraph really spoke to me since literally everything listed in that paragraph are obstacles toward my quest for living a healthier lifestyle. Especially the part about grabbing fast food because I’m just too hungry to cook (the creator of this leaflet read my blogs, I’m sure). I STILL deal with that obstacle from time to time.

As for client reviews (are they truthful? I don’t know, that’s why I’m doing the “blind” test), here is what some current ongoing users of Xyngular have to say:

This is the natural blend that is making me feel so good! Oh and I’m lozing weight at the same time! – Donna B.

I lost 21 pounds in 6 weeks using XYNG. The best part is, I lost my appetite for junk food. No more sugar cravings, I actually want to eat healthy foods now! – Karin Platt

I can feel myself getting stronger. On day one of this diet I did 10 minutes on the treadmill and was done for the day. My back hurt so bad I wanted to cry. I just finished 27 minutes and am even MORE ready to face the rest of the day. A shower and I’m ready to go go go! Thanks Xingular! We are on day four and I’m down almost 5 inches! -Christy G.

And my FB friend? She had been struggling with morbid obesity since the birth of her first child (14 years ago) and she SWEARS up and down that XYNG has helped her lose 57 pounds in 6 months. I’ve known her since we were in middle school and the both of us battled weight gain issues for years. Not to mention obesity is in our family genes.

BTW, I’m referring to her as my FB friend right now simply because she has NO idea I’m writing this review. I didn’t order Xyngular from her because I didn’t want anyone trying to persuade my output regarding the product.

Day One: Xyngular Arrives (New Years Eve 2011)

The package insert says that the “benefits” of Xyngular are usually felt 60-90 minutes after taking the first pill. I just took the first pill at 4pm. For the purposes of contrasting before and after effects in this review, at the time of taking Xyngular I was already feeling pretty energetic, as well and mentally and emotionally well. Exercise and goal planning can do that for you! I am anticipating the effects Xyngular will have on my voracious appetite for junk food and sugar.

2 Hours Later…

I can’t honestly say I feel any different than I did before taking XYNG. Like I said, I had exercised earlier in the morning, and I’d been doing some goal planning. As for food cravings, not really having any. That could be the effect of the XYNG; I won’t really know for sure until the controlled appetite stands the test of time, stress, too many dirty dishes to deal with, only 30 minutes to eat during lunch, and the sudden appearance of Queen Stomach demanding instant gratification, refusing to wait long enough for me to cook!

Tomorrow is another day to test. I’ll take Xyngular before I start to exercise and goal plan. BTW, tomorrow is the very first day of 2012! So Happy New Year everyone!

Day 3-Jan 2nd, 2012

I’ve been taking Xyngular for 3 days now, and don’t really notice too much of a difference. It’s effect on my energy isn’t much different than what an energy drink or caffeine pill would do (I know, I’ve tried many); although I should add that I haven’t noticed a caffeine crash now that it’s later in the day.

I also don’t notice too much of a difference regarding my mood. After a two-day weekend, I was hoping taking Xyngular would give me enough pep to exercise after a stressful day at work, but alas, I still was too tired!

As for my appetite, I suppose it works well with my physical hunger, but it doesn’t do much to help with cravings that are triggered by stress (which is what most people deal with in my humble opinion). I find that I’m still having to deal with those kinds of cravings in the same manner: redirecting my focus off of the stressful situation onto my desired outcome of optimal health and fitness.

So…no miracles to report today.

Day 4-Jan 3rd, 2012

Pretty impressed today! I took a XYNG this morning and then another one mid-afternoon, and I had energy ALL day! I was still tired when I came home and had to really push myself through my workout this evening, but that’ll happen after working in a stress-filled day job.

My appetite? Still having to deal with cravings triggered by stress, but they are not so strong to the point that I feel like I’m struggling. Those kinds of cravings require more than a pill to fix.

Day 9-Jan 8th, 2012

One amazing benefit I’ve noticed about Xygular is the amount of sustained energy it provides. Xyngular has also helped to supress my physical appetite. Notice I emphasized physical. As mentioned before in this post, I don’t have a problem with physical hunger. I can tell the difference between when my body is hungry and lacking fuel, and when my emotions are hungry and lacking fuel.

When I say my emotions are hungry, I don’t mean that they are hungry for food. Emotions can be hungry for many things, none of which are food. Emotions can be hungry for love, attention, comfort, excitement, security, etc. When emotions aren’t being fed, we tend to feed our emotions physical food which does work to temporarily pacify the emotion (hence the term “comfort food”). Unfortunately, Xyngular cannot pacify this kind of hunger.

My End Conclusion

Has XYNG helped me with weight loss? Honestly, no-it hasn’t. Although it has provided me with sustained energy throughout the day, it does not address my main concern and issue when it comes to weight loss and cleaning up my diet, and that is my emotional dependency on food.

Xyngular is a physical solution to a not-all physical problem. Can it work for weight loss? Certainly it can, and it has worked for many people. But if your problem runs deeper than just pacifying physical hunger, Xyngular will not provide long-term results. For many people, myself included, weight loss isn’t the problem; it is only a symptom of a deep-rooted issue. Take care of that issue, and the weight will take care of itself.

If you need help getting down to the root of the issue, sign up for the Psychology of Permanent Weight Loss newsletter. You will get the help and guidance you need to identify the root, and you will be given the step-by-step process of destroying the root. Questions? Contact me via the contact page. I’m always here to help!

Originally posted 2012-01-01 22:22:22. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Share and Enjoy

Tracy Anderson Metamorphosis Review

Posted by michellecaseyks on May 5th, 2012

Tracy Anderson Metamorphosis is a 90-day at-home exercise program which comes with 10 workouts on 4 DVDs (one cardio workout and 9 muscular structure workouts). With this program also comes a nutrition guide which has 14 weeks worth of meal plans to follow. Along with the DVDs and nutrition guide comes a workout tracker and a welcome booklet introducing you to Tracy Anderson and the Metamorphosis program.

When ordering the Tracy Anderson Metamorphosis program, you will have to choose between four options: Abcentric, Hipcentric, Glutecentric, or Omnicentric. Depending where fat is mostly stored on your body, the option you choose will be designed to target that specific area. Abcentric targets the abs, Hipcentric targets the hips, Glutecentric targets the glutes, and Omnicentric targets the entire body.

Tracy Anderson Metamorphosis-Pros

I must say that I’m a big fan of the nutrition guide and the meal plans that are included! Reviewing the meal plans, I found that processed foods are almost completely eliminated. The consumption of red meats, dairy, gluten, and “whole” grains are used in minimal amounts.

Some other reviewers have brought up concern that the meal plans aren’t yielding enough calories to adequately fuel the body during the day which could result in the body going into starvation mode. As you will see below, I’ve done my own research and analyzed the recipes myself, and can reassure you indefinitely that the meals will fuel the body adequately. For instance, during a Nutrient Boost week, one full day’s worth of meals plans will yield a little over 1400 calories.

An idea of the commitment it’s going to take to lose weight with the Tracy Anderson Metamorphosis program:

Another pro about the program are the moves that target the smaller muscle groups (“accessory muscles” as they are mentioned in the infomercial). Also, nothing larger than a 3-pound weight is used, which may be important for people who are worried about bulking up. I’ve been doing strength-training for years now, and none of the programs had me sweating as much as Tracy Anderson’s!

Tracy Anderson Metamorphosis-Cons

One thing I noticed is that there isn’t any cueing in any of the workouts; you basically have to do your best to follow along. In the muscular structure workouts, the absence of cueing hinders the workout because proper form is difficult to maintain when you’re constantly looking at the television to make sure you’re still on the same move. I’m having a hard time maintaining a neutral neck and back position while doing the mat work because I’m always checking the television to make sure Tracy is still on the same move.

There is only ONE cardio workout that is only 30-minutes long AND it’s nothing but constant bouncing on the balls of your feet which can put strain on your calf muscles and harm or even hurt your feet. The fact that there isn’t a warm up at the beginning is a BIG no-no. I’m a group fitness instructor, and one of the major guidelines for designing a fitness routine is to 1) include a warm up before EVERY routine, and 2) limit the amount of movements where participants are on the balls of their feet. No warm-up + excessive bouncing on the balls of your feet = calf and foot injuries.

While I am a big fan of the nutrition guide and the meal plans, I don’t like the fact that the meal plans don’t come with calorie counts or nutritional information. I need to know how many calories I’m consuming so that I can keep my body in balance. Not consuming enough calories is just as bad as consuming too many. Balance is key, and it’s hard to maintain balance when key information is missing.

Another con is the price of the Tracy Anderson Metamorphosis program: $89 plus $14.99 Shipping & Handling. Compared to many other at-home workout DVD programs, this is on the expensive side.

The refund process is also questionable. Here is the refund policy as explained on the tracyanderson.com website:

Refund Process
Once we received the item you want refunded a refund will be credited back to your original method of payment. Please allow three to five days after the date of processing. The items must be unopened and still in their plastic wrap. Refunds must be made with in 30 days of the purchase.

How would you know if you’re satisfied with the product unless you tried it out first (which means you would have had to take it out of the shrink wrap). Doesn’t seem right.

Tracy Anderson Metamorphosis Meal Plan-Calorie Counts

Because the actual meal plan that comes with the Tracy Anderson Metamorphosis program doesn’t have calorie counts listed, I decided to analze the recipes myself to obtain calorie counts. Below is a list of each meal’s calorie counts (more counts will be posted as I acquire the info):

Power Juice – 255 calories per 10 oz. serving
Blueberry Applesauce – 475 calories per 8 oz. serving
Sweet Potato Corn Pudding – 119 calories per 4 oz. serving
Carrot Parsnip Puree – 83 calories per 8 oz. serving
Gazpacho – 123 calories per 11 oz. serving
Veggie Protein Soup – 60 calories per 8 oz. serving
Chocolate Pudding – 372 calories per 4 oz. serving

In Summation

Should you purchase the Tracy Anderson Metamorphosis program? Initially I would say “Sure, why not?” The only drawback is the refund policy. If you have any doubt as to whether you might want to return the product or keep it, I’d advise you to call customer service first and ask about the policy and if items could still be returned when not in their original shrink wrap and if so, if a full refund can still be expected. Other than that, I’d say yes, try it out.

Just keep in mind that the workouts themselves aren’t huge calorie burners (I’ll post proof once I obtain it via my Bodybugg) so the meal plan must be followed in order to actually lose the excess fat. Keep focused on the goal and the results will surely come!

Originally posted 2011-07-17 12:24:39. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Share and Enjoy

Sugar Addiction: As Bad as Cocaine & Heroin?

Posted by michellecaseyks on April 28th, 2012

A study from Princeton University yielded results that show a striking similarity between sugar addiction and heroin and cocaine addiction! If you are having a problem with sugar addiction, then read on! You will find plenty of useful information and tips to help you break that sugar addiction for good!

Forget the Needle, Pass the Sugar!

I remember a two-week period of time where I ate fast food every morning before work. Every morning! I also remember sitting in my car before work one morning, not having stopped for fast food (lack of funds), and wondering just how I was going to get through the whole day without my sausage, egg, and cheese biscuit and vanilla ice coffee. I actually called my husband and begged him to bring me my fast food breakfast or my day just wasn’t going to start!

After I got what I wanted, and the day went on, I began to wonder just how did I end up a fast food breakfast junkie? Why was I reduced to calling my husband away from his daily routine in order to bring his wife fast food across the other side of town? I found the answer sometime later, and it has something to do with sugar addiction (really, it does!).

Fast forward a year later, where I had received some pretty interesting and enlightening information about the majority of fast food: over 70% of the foods served at many fast food restaurants are made up of high fructose corn syrup!

High fructose corn syrup is basically a cheaper form of sugar; but it is also a very nasty little animal that produces cravings for more sugar! Not only does high fructose corn syrup produce sugar cravings, it actually interferes with the hormone that tells you when you are full! Anything that contains high fructose corn syrup is a trap for overeating.

Get to Know Your Enemy Before the War

If you have an addiction to sweets, it is most likely because of the sugar content. Yes, it is an actual addiction. A study from Princeton University yielded results that show a striking similarity between sugar addiction and heroin and cocaine addiction! The research discovered that sugar causes an increase of dopamine levels in areas of the brain that are associated with addictive behaviors.

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, and is very similar to adrenaline chemically; it also affects brain processes that control movement, emotional response, and the ability to experience pleasure and pain. This explains why, when you’re having a rough day, you turn to a plate full of brownies! The sugar in those brownies acts as a regulator which produces “highs” that temporarily neutralize emotional lows!

Before you wage an all-out war against sugar, you must know your opposition! You must also know that sugar isn’t always labeled as sugar. If you have a physical addiction to sugar, the best thing to do is to first start reading labels. Anything that lists dextrose, fructose, glucose, lactose, maltose, or sucrose must be thrown out or at least removed from your reach. Also keep a look out for any ingredient lists with the word “syrup” in it. Those are all sugar.

Breaking the Addiction

You must get your mind prepared, because your body may experience some symptoms of withdrawal. If your mind is set, then you will overcome your addiction to sugar. The length of time it takes to fully detox depends on each individual person. Most experts say that a body will lose its cravings for sugar after having been without sugar for 4 full days. Here are some tips to get you through this temporary rough patch:

Make sure to eat a sufficient amount of protein; maybe even more than usual. Detox is hard on the body, so it is important to keep your body nourished during the process.
Avoid breads that are enriched in any way, including enriched wheat breads. Stick to whole grain, whole wheat breads, cereals, and rice. As far as bread goes, it would be wise to temporarily use sprouted grain bread or rice spelt bread as they are “slow burners”, meaning they hold the blood sugar for longer periods of time.
Stock up on low glycemic foods such as dark green vegetables. Click here for a list of low glycemic food.
Clear your cupboards of all foods containing sugar and derivatives of sugar. Actually remove them from your house.
If you’re prone to headaches, stock up on some Tylenol or Ibuprofen. Also expect possible diarrhea, mood swings (possibly severe), fatigue, and general aches and pains.
Need something sweet? Stock up on fruit! Just because you are working on eliminating sugar from your diet does not mean that you have to deprive your sweet tooth!
Abstain from alcohol use.

Mentally and emotionally prepare yourself for at least four days of no sugar. It will seem painful, maybe even excruciating at first; but after just a few short days, your body will have kicked its addiction to sugar and you can go on with your life!

Should you choose to delight in sugar products after you successfully detox, be sure to only keep it at a minimum. Also, always keep an eye on the ingredient lists of the foods you buy to ensure that sugar addiction doesn’t sneak up on you again.

One last thought…

If you have a problem with sugar addiction, don’t just read this article; apply the information offered! Remember that knowledge by itself is not powerful; only when it is applied can it help transform you!

Originally posted 2011-07-17 12:46:15. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Share and Enjoy

Why Do We Overeat? How to Stop Compulsive Eating

Posted by michellecaseyks on April 21st, 2012

Every human being has basic emotional and intellectual needs. You are no exception. There are four needs that your mind strives to fulfill on a very consistent basis: certainty/security, significance, variety, and love/connection. Your mind views these needs as necessities; they are not optional. When a need goes unmet, an over eater’s mind uses food to compensate for that need. Read more »

Originally posted 2011-06-17 21:37:17. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Share and Enjoy

Does Xyngular Work?

Posted by michellecaseyks on April 17th, 2012

With so many nutritional supplements flooding the health and fitness industry, many of my clients are asking me “does xyngular work well for weight loss”. My answer is always a resounding yes, but with a condition… Read more »

Share and Enjoy

Buying P90X from Ebay or Amazon

Posted by michellecaseyks on April 14th, 2012

I hear and read it all the time: “I just bought P90X brandnew from Ebay/Amazon for $(insert cheap price here)!” Before you even THINK about doing the same thing, read this post first so you can make an educated decision. Read more »

Originally posted 2011-11-28 04:56:24. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Share and Enjoy

7 Simple Ways to Prevent Childhood Obesity

Posted by michellecaseyks on April 14th, 2012

You’ve accepted that your children are obese or overweight, and you know that you desperately need to make some changes when it comes to their eating habits. Where do you start? Here are tips that will help you to prevent childhood obesity from continuing on in your family. Read more »

Share and Enjoy

Childhood Obesity | Implanting Bad Eating Habits in Children

Posted by michellecaseyks on April 11th, 2012

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, seventeen percent (approximately 12.5 million) of children aged 2 to 19 years-of-age are obese; this number doesn’t include the amount of children who are overweight. As someone who used to be an obese child, I can tell you that those children are suffering. Read more »

Share and Enjoy

Turbo Fire Sneak Peek-Sample Clips!

Posted by michellecaseyks on April 7th, 2012

People always comment that they love Turbo Kick, but aren’t always able to make it to the gym for one of my live classes. Here is the alternative that I recommend! If Turbo Fire or Turbo Kick seems to be too intense for your level of activity at this time, check out Turbo Jam–Chalene Johnson calls it the on ramp to Turbo Kick and Turbo Fire Read more »