Make smart choices at meal times. Fill up on the good stuff!

How much space does 400 calories occupy in the stomach?

I truly dislike the thought of dieting. But with a looming deadline to fit into a costume that doesn't quite zip up all the way for a performance, I really have no choice but to make a conscious effort to change my eating habits.

What is it about diets that have people dreading them? Hunger? Cravings? Guess what?! You don't need to feel hungry when you are making the change for a healthier lifestyle. And if you aren't feeling hungry, you will most likely have fewer cravings as well! There is no need to fear healthy eating! All we need to do is learn how to make smart choices. If we look for low calorie but dense foods full of nutrients and fibre (think low-GI foods), we'll definitely be better off! Take a look at what 400 calories of various foods look like in the stomach!

Add PGX to your food and the fibre will help you feel full and you won't feel the "diet hunger and cravings." Right now you you can get a free BONUS pack of PGX Singles with purchase of PGX Daily in Canadian stores! Stay healthy everyone; make smart food choices and be sure to get your daily dose of fibre!

Original image source unknown.

Read on for our No. 1 Rule for Running!

It's Weight-Wise Wednesday and We're Talking About Running...

Sometimes I just don't feel like going to the gym and running on a treadmill. I definitely like the idea of going outside for run. But that's just it: I like the idea.

In the past, I've had a very brief stint with runnning. I woke up, for a grand total of three times in one week, to go running in the park at 7 am and not a single morning more. So why didn't I last longer? And if I'm not a morning person why didn't I change my running time to the afternoon (or just any other time than the early morning)? Looking back, I realize that the early wake up time was simply an excuse to avoid running.

No. 1 Running Rule: Run Like Nobody is Watching!

I realized that I didn't like to run outside because I was worried about what people would think! How ridiculous is that?! But as Pheobe Buffay says, "...don't care if people are staring because it's just for a second 'cause then you're gone!"

And I'll tell you another thing. I bet that if anyone glances at you running, they're wishing they had the drive to do the same. Check out our previous post, Get Into Running Form (Infographic), for tips on how to run safely.

Have a great day everyone! Get out there and run... and avoid running into any horses á la Rachel Green!

Image Source: Divine Disarray Blog 

It's PGX's Weight-wise Wednesday and we've got a quiz!

Take the quiz and spot the workout bloopers!

Quiz time! Don't worry it's not scary. Have you ever gone religiously to the gym, had what seemed like the perfect workout, and then got stuck on a weight loss plateau? You could be eating healthy food and exercising, but if you aren't seeing the results that you hoped for, you might be committing some workout bloopers!

When I took the quiz, I discovered the mistakes I was making in the gym and now that I have an answer to my plateau troubles, I feel more motivated to change things up! Take Fitness Magazine's Can You Spot Workout Bloopers? quiz and test your gym know-how!

Good luck and keep on moving!

Image source: SimplyFitnessGear.com

Age is just a number, but it's one that will feel less apparent to your body if you keep active.

This Weight-Wise Wednesday, as I was searching for something interesting to blog to you about, I came across a study on the CBC website. The results of which suggest that fit individuals experience a higher quality of life, healthwise, as they age; a fact that I thought was very worthy of sharing.

Learn more about the study here.

Summary of the Study:

"In summary, midlife fitness was associated with a lower risk of common chronic health conditions in men and women older than 65 years enrolled in Medicare."
-Authors of the study

Age, body mass index, blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking, blood glucose levels and alcohol were all also taken into account. Therefore, if cholesterol or blood sugar levels are things that you struggle with, learn how PGX can help.

Stay healthy and take care of yourselves, PGX'ers!

Image source: http://www.muscleprodigy.com/

Looking for inspiration? Music and movement is the key!

How I lost 50 pounds with exercise, good tunes and PGX!

Over the past several months I have managed to lose 50 pounds. My staff thought it would be a great idea if I shared with you a true story of a PGX user. They have pushed me for a few months now and I have thus caved in to their peer pressure. They all liked the idea of an employee of the company achieving success with PGX. They also wanted me to share the vital elements I needed to meet my dietary and good health goals.  

My diet and exercise plan over the past several months consisted of a steady amount of vitamins, reduced carbs and sugars, a bicycle (both stationary and road), and PGX (of course). By the way, never forget that water. The first piece of advice I will give you: drink plenty of water!

As you can imagine I have inspired my family and many of my friends. They like my new wardrobe and comment on the big smiles I seem to have as of late. Makes me wonder what I was like in the smiles department before! Truly, I could swear I was smiling as much as now.

Going forward, on this blog, I’d like to share my thoughts on how my diet and new way of life is going. Without a doubt, there will be some hurdles. We all have to deal with them. There will likely be days where I am lacking in inspiration. Don’t we all from time to time?

What I really hope to achieve by writing a weekly blog on this topic is to provide you with some of the inspiration behind my recent success.

The primary reason for my decision to lose weight was and is my family: my 2 sons (age 4 &7) and my darling wife. They are really the foundation behind all of this.

Late last year when I visited my doctor for a physical, she provided me with 2 options. The first option was a whole list of pills to, as my doctor put it, “solve the minor issues now!” The second option was exercise and a healthier diet. As you might have already guessed, I chose the latter. So here I am 50 pounds lighter. I’m happier than I’ve been for a very long time and I’ve even starred in a few more family photos than many of the years past.

Exercise & Music is Key

My daily exercise is primarily a stationary and road bicycle. The stationary bicycle has now become a favourite of mine. It has become a family affair as well. My sons listen to my music, make requests and tease/cheer me on once they see me start to lag! I wonder what incentive their mother has offered to them. I make these music selections via my iPod and my trusty Bose Soundlink.

So what music gets me pumped and cycling to the max? Well, my constant has been Kraftwerk. The albums that get me moving include Autobahn, Trans Europe Express and, my sons’ favorite, Computer World. These German Future-Retroists are responsible for some of the best synth-pop to come out of the 1970’s-1980’s. They’re inspiring too as they had an obsession with the past, the future and with cycling. For particular reference, check out Tour de France. This is sure to provide you with that extra push you will need after an hour on the bike. The track features cyclist grunts, bicycle chains, and more.

Till my next post, watch what you eat. Stay true to your goals and let us know what you do to achieve your healthier living goals!

Image source: iBike Blog