We’ve found an excellent infographic to share. So often I hear people say, “I’m exercising regularly but I can’t see anything changing!” Well, I’m sure on the inside, plenty of good things are happening, but if you can’t seem to lose the weight, then it could be your nutrition. Check out this infographic and get the skinny on workout nutrition!
Considering the food landscape within our modern society, most of the foods that we consume in the Western diet are highly processed. “Fast foods” especially are laden with highly refined carbohydrates, which are rapidly digested by the body, causing excessive peaks in our blood sugar levels after we eat. As a result, our bodies tend to release insulin to bring blood sugar back down again, creating chronic blood sugar level imbalances. With an imbalance, blood sugar levels erratically rise and fall, which may have led to the name “the blood sugar roller coaster.”
PGX Daily helps control and balance blood sugar levels by counteracting the effects of carbohydrate-heavy meals. How does PGX do this? By helping you feel fuller faster and satisfied longer due to its highly viscous fibre complex. When added to your meals, or consumed pre-meal, PGX can help slow down your digestion. PGX also slows the conversion of carbohydrates and other foods into sugar, resulting in a more gradual release of glucose into the bloodstream. This means that blood sugar levels are less likely to spike when using PGX. And when they don’t spike, blood sugar levels don’t tend to fall far enough to trigger excess production of insulin.
You may be surprised to learn that owning a pet is actually connected to better health! There are plenty of reasons why people have pets and now improved health can be one of them!
Studies have shown that people who own pets are less likely to have high blood pressure, high cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and feelings of loneliness. Depending on what kind of animal you keep, having pets can also increase your opportunity to get outdoors, exercise and socialize!
A study conducted in 2007 by Queen’s University Belfast found that dog owners especially are more likely to live a longer life and experience healthy weight maintenance, improved cardiovascular fitness and superior self esteem, as well as reduced blood pressure adn cholesterol!
According to the British Journal of Health Psychology, daily walks with your dog (a great way to get out and exercise) are only part of the equation. Dogs can be great stress “buffers” and have been a great source of companionship to people with injuries or disabilities. Incredibly, dogs have also been able to detect an oncoming seizure!
So even though walking is only a part of the healthy equation of pet ownership, the next time your dog comes to you with the leash in his mouth, lace up those sneakers and go for a walk!
Want to read more about the health benefits of pets? Check out these great articles…
Dog-owners ‘lead healthier lives’ BBC News
Live Like Royalty: The Many Health Benefits of Dogs, Man’s Best Friends, The Atlantic
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!
It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and fun of the summer but with longer days and more socializing there’s usually more BBQ’s and dining with friends. Often these social events can lead to eating foods that you usually wouldn’t even think about indulging in. Being caught up in the moment and not planning ahead can leave you with a couple extra pounds by the end of the summer.
Here are 5 helpful tips to keep you on track with your diet and some healthy recipes to bring with you to BBQ’s and dinners. Not only will the host love you for bringing along a dish but it will also be your sneaky way of staying fit and healthy.
?How do you avoid the Summer Weekend Weight Gain? Share your tips here in the comments or join the chat on Facebook and Twitter.
Here’s a breakfast recipe that I rely on that is super easy and requires NO cooking. Summer is here and I’m melting during the nights and the last thing I really want to do is cook when I get up. Thinking about even pulling out a frying pan makes me want to run for the pool. You can whip these ingredients all together the night before and it sets overnight. The crisp and cold oats are ready and waiting for you to eat in morning.
What is also great about this recipe is you can customize it in so many ways. Add in different fresh fruit each morning and it’s a whole different breakfast meal! I like to make it into a breakfast parfait. I layer the overnight oats with fresh fruit and honey drizzled on top. My favourite tip I’ve learned is to add PGX singles. This helps me feel full long into the morning. Make sure to add the PGX into the oats right before you are going to eat them. I’ve heard others are using the PGX Satisfast (Protein Powder) in the oats just like the PGX singles I added. This gives them an extra dose of protein in their meal. Perfect for building those strong muscles and keeping you full longer! I think I’m going to try the Chocolate PGX Satisfast in my next batch.
Recipe Source: Oh She Glows
Ingredients (1 serving)
?1/3 cup regular oats
?1 cup almond milk, and more if needed
?1-2 tablespoons chia seeds
?1 ripe banana, peeled and smashed
?1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
Mix together all ingredients in a bowl and place in fridge overnight. In the morning, add your desired toppings and serve without heating!
Let us know how you create your breakfast meal with overnight oats in the comments below or on our Facebook Page.
Summer will be here before we know it, and if you?re looking to shed a few pounds and have a beach-ready body, here are a few tips to keep in mind:
To maintain even blood sugar levels, avoid high-glycemic index foods such as sugar, white flour, pop, juice and other sugary drinks. Eat regular meals (try to include protein, lots of fiber and a little fat in each one) and don?t skip breakfast! It sets the tone for your entire day. It may also help to take a soluble fiber complex such as PGX, which may help stabilize blood sugar and help you feel fuller.
You?re a smart cookie. So why can?t you outsmart the bag of double chocolate chip cookies calling to you from the kitchen? If you keep giving into your food cravings, you might never get into your skinny jeans! The problem may not be your weak willpower. You may be an unwitting passenger on the blood sugar roller coaster.
Frequent fluctuations in blood sugar, particularly when blood sugar rapidly drops in a short period of time, can result in serious food cravings even when your body has no real need for additional calories. If this happens several times a day, you are likely to give in and snack or drink sugary drinks, and those snacks and beverages will likely be loaded with calories.
Once you understand why you have food cravings, and how certain types of foods affect your body, you are well on your way to knowing how to fix the problem. Eliminating the blood sugar roller coaster is the first step to living hunger free forever.
Do you bathe certain foods in ketchup? Skip the butter but top your baked potato with a large dollop of sour cream? Certain condiments are diet-sabotagers in disguise. Learning to identify these calorie-filled culprits and replacing them with less-fattening toppers for your salads and sandwiches could save you from excess fat and calories.
Here are the worst condiments for a dieter:
Ketchup: One tablespoon of ketchup has a full teaspoon of sugar. Skip this one entirely if you?re watching your sugar intake.
Sour cream: This taco and baked potato-topper contains between 45-60 calories per tablespoon. To cut calories, go for guacamole (as long as it?s not made with mayo) or salsa instead. Salsa only contains between10-20 calories per serving.
Mayo: This staple in the American diet contains almost 200 calories and 20 grams of fat in just two tablespoons! To dress up your sandwich, use Dijon or honey mustard instead?they are much less fattening. If you?re not a fan of mustard, then swap out mayo for Miracle Whip. It contains about half the calories and no saturated fat.
Jellies and Jams: Most spreads list sugar as their main ingredient instead of real fruit. Look for sugar-free alternatives at the store (or check out this recipe we found for sugar-free strawberry jam). You could also top your toast with mashed up blueberries or raspberries instead.
Creamy salad dressings: Ranch, Thousand Island and Caesar are often hidden sources of mayo. Top your salads with red wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar and a dash of heart-healthy extra-virgin olive oil instead.
Chip and vegetable dips: Most popular party dips are loaded with fat and calories. Replace the queso, spinach dip and French onion dip with hummus. It?s high in fiber but low in calories.
Small changes such as substituting fattening condiments with healthier options are what the PGX Program is all about. Sign up now and be on your way to a slimmer, healthier, happier you!
For starters, don’t those breakfasts look incredibly delicious? Who wouldn’t want to eat tasty meals like that to start off the day. Or how about an omelette? Waffles? Yogourt and granola? Eggs Benny? There are tons of options for you! And if you are in a rush in the morning, grab a more portable breakfast, like toast or a hearty smoothie.
Studies have shown that eating breakfast is one of the keys to staying healthy and that people who begin their days with this meal are less likely to become obese, have blood sugar problems and overeat the rest of the day. When you wake up, feeding your body will boost your energy levels and you’ll be able to function much better for the rest of your day. Sounds pretty good doesn’t it? And it is quite possibly a very simple solution to your health and weight loss efforts. Give yourself time in the morning for a healthy breakfast. Add some PGX and you’re golden!
Read more about how important and awesome breakfast is in the BBC News.
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