"Thanks for making a product that really works."

Our Real Life PGX Success Stories were so popular last week that when we received this testimonial we just had to share it with you! Meet Edie from Mississauga, Ontario, a Mom of two, who accredits PGX with helping her lose almost 20 pouds in the past two months! Congratulations, Edie! And thank you so much for taking the time to contact us. We love hearing from you!

Read on to learn more about Edie's experience with PGX!

“I just wanted to say thanks for making a product that really works. I had two babies and the weight was not coming off. I tried SlimStyles with PGX and it worked. The weight is coming off. I don't feel hungry at all and I feel more energetic. I have been on it for 2 months and lost almost 20lbs. It's the best stuff around.

I drink your shake for breakfast, and dinner. My problem is eating at night. However, I noticed that at dinner time when I drink my shake and then work out I don't need to eat anything else. I have also tried other products that made my heart race and made me feel shaky but with SlimStyles I don't get any off that. Thanks again for making a product that works. Just to mention it, I got my friend on it and she loves it!!!”

-Edie A. from Mississauga, Ontario

Would you like to have your testimonial featured on our blog? Contact us on Facebook or in the comments below. We look forward to hearing from you. :)

Image source: www.blackwellking.com

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day but skipping it could be inadvertently packing on the pounds! Does your morning meal include a cup of coffee with side order cream and sugar? A slice of toast as you rush out the door? Having breakfast is not only a great way to ease into the day but it's great for your digestive system and metabolism.  

Here are the top 5 reasons you shouldn't skip breakfast:

1.  Rev Up Your Metabolism: Skipping meals can cause your metabolism to slow down. 

2. Energy Boost: Researchers found that people had more enegry throughout the  day when they ate a high-fiber breakfast compared with people who ate a high-fat breakfast. 

3. Memory Boost: According to a study high-energy foods for breakfast boosts short-term memory! 

4. Eat Less:  Those that ate breakfast were found to eat less later in the day according to researchers, compared with people who skip their morning meal.

5. Better Blood SugarLevels:  Breakfast-eaters are more likely to have good blood sugar levels and have less sugar highs and lows later on in the day.

Share your favorite healthy breakfast in the comments below!

Image source: MedicsIndex

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

Getting Weight-Wise with PGX and Flamenco Dancing!

How do flamenco dance and PGX combine for better health? Here's my story...

Having written for this blog for quite some time now, I decided it was time to share my journey to better fitness and health. We all have our ups and downs on the road to our reaching our personal fitness goals. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has felt like a yoyo at some point. But after years of trying different diet and exercise routines, I've finally discovered the key to my personal success: flamenco and PGX.

Dance has always been a passion, hobby, and, best of all, a fabulous way to exercise! Livestrong.com estimates that for some dances such as ballet, swing, tap, ballroom, line and flamenco dancing, one can burn up to 300 calories per hour. This number of course depends on many factors such as your weight and intensity, but it is still a sure sign that dance is a fun and effective way to get in shape!

I've tried many of these dances but none of them have helped me like flamenco. Flamenco is a full body workout that will get you moving practically every muscle in your body from your fingers, wrists, arms, shoulders, hips, legs, feet, abs, and even your facial muscles (have you seen the facial expressions?)! Its the type of dance that gets your heart pumping and your lungs working, giving your body a balanced aerobic workout. It encompasses fast and slow rhythms, having you alternate between low and high intensity movements that keep your muscles working and increasing your stamina.

How does PGX fit in with my routine? Over the weekend I had the chance to perform in a flamenco production of Peter Pan and after a flattering but incorrect alteration, I had a limited amount of time to squeeze into my mermaid costume. I started to take PGX Satisfast with Whey Protein prior to meals and before I knew it, the skirt fit!

Without PGX, flamenco did wonders for me. With PGX, I'm getting closer and closer to my personal health goals! If dance worked for me, it could work for you. If not flamenco, there are plenty of options (even dancing in the kitchen for an hour is great!). Find something you love and give it a swing, a tap and a whirl!

Image source: Karen Flamenco and for a cool sample of flamenco dancing, check out this video of Maria Juncal

Hey PGX'ers! We've got something delicious for you!

Try this simple pita pizza recipe!

Yield: 1 Serving

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Topping your own pizza is a fun way to get your family involved in helping and creating their own dinner. Choose foods that supply lots of colour for maximum nutrition. When you don’t have the time to make your own dough, use 100% whole wheat pitas. They’re low in fat and not as thick as store bought pizza breads. They’re less expensive too!

Ingredients

Pita bread, 100% whole wheat, low-fat. Choose ones that will hold your toppings nicely.

1 can organic pizza sauce

Olive oil

Pizza Topping Options

Cheese: Mozzerella, low fat shredded cheese, goats cheese slices, Asiago shredded cheeseVeggie options: Asparagus, fresh baby spinach leaves, fresh basil leaves, halved cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, small broccoli florets, kale (leaf only, discard stem), mushroom slices, green or black pitted olives, crushed garlic, onion and fresh or dried herbs like basil, oregano and chili flakes.

Meat Options: Cooked and chopped chicken breast, cooked shrimp, fresh Italian sausages. Healthiest choices are fresh, good-quality meat sources that are preservative and chemical free.

Dairy Options: Goat cheese, feta, low-fat mozzarella, asiago, blue cheese and other sharp cheeses.

Other ideas: choose just 3-4 ingredients that go together like: salsa, black beans, olives, cheese. Bake and top with fresh cilantro, 1 tbsp plain Balkan style yogurt and shredded lettuce with a squeeze of fresh lime. Or, add fruit like fresh pineapple chunks, thinly sliced peaches with milder cheese like goats cheese.

Directions

Brush the pita lightly with olive oil. Top with sauce. Sprinkle 1 stick of PGX Daily granules (if desired) onto sauce. Place a light layer of shredded cheese ontop of sauce. Top with your selected ingredients and finish the pizza by covering the top with more cheese.

Bake 350° C on a cookie sheet until cheese melts. Approximately 15 minutes, keep watch as oven temperatures vary.

Sprinkle PGX Daily on top or mix into organic pizza sauce

Voila! An easy peezy pita pizza! For more delicious recipes, check out the PGX Recipe page ! Bon appetit!