Hey PGX'ers! Jump because it's the weekend!

Check out these fun and fascinating links from around the web!

Hello fabulous people! Last night I was watching Audrey Hepburn in the classic film, Funny Face, and I always enjoy the endearingly awkward but wonderful dance scene when she let's loose in a Parisian cafe. Well, I can tell you right now that as the Friday work day winds down and the freedom of the long weekend looms closer, I'm jumping around on the inside!

So instead of just one awesome topic for today's post, I've been combing through the internet to find you articles and tidbits that are fabulous, funny, interesting, informative, useful, edifiying... you get the idea! So, without further adjectives, here are the links to wind up your week!

Planning to start a vegetabe garden? Here are 6 Easy-to-grow Vegetables to get you started!

Want fresh orange juice? I'm pretty sure it doesn't get any fresher than with a Citra Sipper!

Ladies, do you want to go biking and get exercise without the helmet head? Here are 5 Bike-Friendly Hairstyles!

Here's the perfect fresh and healthy snack for summertime: Murray's Mango and Mozzarella! The photo is mouthwatering!

Do you have a bad habit (I can't resist Starbucks ginger molasses cookies!) that you want to break? New York Times writer, Charles Duhigg, shares a fun video about how to break habits!

Cheese-lovers! Culture Magazine can teach you how to Wholly Smoke: Use your backyard grill to make your own wood-smoked cheese!

Enjoying the summer sun? Don't forget your sunscreen! And here is a convincing photo of why it's an essential summer accessory.

Have a lovely weekend everyone!

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Image source: We Heart It

Let's check out how some of our coworkers did at Tough Mudder this past weekend in Whistler, BC!

Some of our tough coworkers made it through the mud (and everything that came with it!) at Tough Mudder - Here is their story!

As many of you have probably heard, (you may have even heard it here!) this past weekend was Tough Mudder up at Whistler Olympic Park, in Whistler, BC. A race that involves obstacle after obstacle, including live wires, glacier-fed waters and 15 foot walls, Tough Mudder is a 10-12 mile course designed by British Special Forces. Talk about an extreme sport experience!

However, though the course was tough, our coworkers came back to work Monday morning exhilarated, proud and pumped up to do it again! Below, are some of their photos from the big day. Stay tuned for more pictures of our courageous coworkers doing the course!

Any of you PGX’ers take part in the event? Share your photos or your thoughts about the race in the below or on our PGX Facebook page!

What do you do when you hit a weight loss plateau?

One of the most common frustrations in weight loss is when progress slows down and then eventually stops even though you are meticulously following your plan. There is a reason for plateaus. Your basal metabolic rate (BMR) - the energy you need to keep your vital functions going when the bdy is at reast consumes around 60 - 70% of the calories you burn. When you loose weight your body mass goes down and so does your BMR! Ah ha! 

Say you weigh 175 pounds and eat 1,900 calories  a day. To lose a pound a week, you restrict yourself to 1,400 a day. Over the course of the week you've cut out 3,500! (There are 3,500 calories in one pound of fat.) At first the weight comes off but then the scale refuses to move. This is because with your weight loss your BMR has also declined. Now that you weigh less, there is less of you to move around and you burn fewer calories. You're pretty much burning close to what you're consuming. So, now that you know what's happening, here's what you can do about it:

1. Shake things up! Surprize your body with something new. One of our Facebook fans, Sherry. J has this today, "Rethinking about what I could do to change things up.. Like increase my water if I have slacked off or eat more vegetables or more exercise or just change how I do the exercise (ride a bike rather than walk)." Great tip!
   
2. Remotivate! Recharge your engines and pat yourself on the back for how far you've come. Write down all the reasons you want to lose weight and post it where you can see it everyday. Or you could follow Facebook fan, Anne G.'s advice and try "Climbing a mountain!" Go Anne! Try doing something that you might not have been able to do before the weight loss. 
3. Hang in there, baby! Even though the scale isn't registering all your hard work you might still be losing weight - just not substantial amounts for the scale to register. 
4. Double-check your numbers. It's pretty easy to overestimate the number of calories you're consuming and the amount of calories you're burning. Write it all down and double-check the numbers. Are they adding up? 
5. Feel good about the skin you're in. Take this time to really assess how you feel and explore if further weight loss is needed. You might just be at a healthy weight for you.
   

For anyone currently going through a plateau, we've walked a mile in your pants - and know how frustrating it can be. If you've got some tips to share, please leave us a comment!

Image Source: Dynamic Chiropractic

Get your taste buds ready!

Here on the PGX blog we are starting a new series called "Tasty Tuesdays." This series will feature healthy recipes from across the community and some of our staff favourites. We will also demonstrate ways that you can incorporate PGX in the recipe to help keep you feeling full and manage your sugar levels.

To start us off we've found a healthy Black Bean, Quinoa and Citrus Salad that pairs perfectly with a hot summer day. Both quinoa and black beans contain fibre and protein which helps you stay full. Fibre and protein are also slowly digested and keeps you from the blood sugar roller coaster. Just like black beans and quinoa, grapefruit that is found in this salad helps lower cholestrol levels.

I made the Black Bean, Quinoa and Citrus Salad last night at home and brought it in to the PGX HQ for lunch today. Everyone dove right in and I'm pretty sure it was a massive hit. There was only a couple crumbs left - always a good sign. We decided to add PGX granules and mix it into the salad. I haven't caught anyone hunting down an afternoon sugar fix yet so I would say it worked great!

Recipe & Image Source: Eat, Live, Run

Black Bean, Quinoa and Citrus Salad

It's Monday and it is time to get motivated for the week ahead!

What obstacle, mountain or bump in the road have you come across lately?

When you are faced with any challenge in life, it is your reaction to it that has an immense effect on the outcome. Do you give up and walk away, or do you stand up and face it head on? The key is too not give up and strive to do your BEST.

Look at the challenge and see what you can learn from this one moutain in life. There may be an underlying lesson to be learned. One step at time and soon the whole challenge will be just a faint memory and you will have become stronger, smarter and gained experience.

I have a small challenge this week: I have a very busy schedule coming up and instead of just giving up on my exercise schedule because I'm busy, I'm going to take on this challenge and do my best to maintain my workouts. Wish me luck!

Do you have a challenge this week? How are you going to tackle it? Let us know in the comments below or find us on Facebook and leave us a comment about how you are going to tackle a challenge this week. Or how you have tackled one in the past.

img source: VN Printable Art