Friday Fitness Fun for Fall!

Discover the Top 10 Workouts for Fall!

Get out of the gym and into shape!

Autumn is here and with this season, comes colder weather; and with the colder weather often comes heartier appetites and occasions for comfort food. I know that I have to make even more of a conscious effort to eat well, exercise and not to become a winter couch critter! But does the chilly weather mean I have to go the gym?

Just because summer is over, doesn’t mean you have to workout indoors! It’s true that when the rain and cold weather comes, it’s not as appealing to go outside but I think these fun outdoor fitness activities might change your mind!

Fox News shares their Top 10 Fall Workouts that will help keep you in shape and having so much fun not matter how many layers you may need to put on!

My personal favourite on that list is Ultimate Frisbee. Although…I wouldn’t mind raking a huge pile of leaves and jumping in! Get outside and enjoy the fall colours and crisp air. Just remember to bundle up!

Have a fabulous weekend everyone!

 

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Workout Bloopers!

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!

 

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PGX & Red Carpet Fitness!

Want the secrets to looking red carpet ready?

Learn how you can get that red carpet glam from the celebrity fitness experts!

So did you watch the Oscars last week and think: how on earth do these celebrities get in such good shape that they look fabulous in those figure-hugging gowns and those svelte, slim-fit suits?! You’ll be happy to hear that their red carpet glam is not out of your reach. With a little perseverance, positivity and a place to start, you and I can definitely get that red carpet celebrity look!

So where to begin? Check out what celerities trainers are saying!

Allure Magazine talked to Harley Pasternak (trainer to stars such a Natalie Portman, Megan Fox and Orlando Bloom) and revealed his slim-down secrets.

Want more red carpet tips? Fitness expert Rick Miller dished out his top 5 tips and recommended exercises to get into Oscar shape!

Remember to supplement any exercise plan with good nutrition and keep up with your daily fiber!

 

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20-Minute Applesauce Cookies

Guilt-free, nutritious and tasty cookies for Tasty Tuesday!

Indulge your inner cookie monster with PGX and this healthy recipe!

Have you ever been hit with a serious cookie craving? Silly question. I’m sure at some point in our lives and at least once, we’ve all craved cookies or something along those lines of sugary goodness! Well I have big plans to indulge this particular craving in the healthiest way I possible! Shape Magazine has shared a quick and tasty recipe that won’t make your waist line grow!

This cookie recipe will let you enjoy delicious, sugar-free treats that are packed with healthy ingredients like flax! By adding PGX Daily Singles (try 2.5 to 5 grams of PGX granules= 1-2 sticks), you can give these cookies a kick of fibre!

20-Minute Applesauce Cookies!

Ingredients:

3 ripe bananas
2 c. rolled oats
1/3 c. applesauce
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tbsp. ground flax
1/2 c. dried cherries

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Using a fork, mash the bananas in a bowl. Stir in oats, applesauce, dried cherries, flax and vanilla extract. Mix batter well. Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto a lined cookie sheet. Bake for 20 minutes.

Makes 36 cookies

 

 

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Recipe: Creamy Chocolate Mid-Day Shake

Try this delicious Creamy Chocolate Mid-Day Shake with PGX SatisFast from nutritionist, Kristin Metvedt, RHN!

Figuring out the right ingredients to add to your protein shakes can be a tricky business. So, we went to our friend, nutritionist, Kristin Metvedt, to help us come up with some great PGX SatisFast smoothie recipes.

Our first recipe, includes our new Double Chocolate flavour. If you’ve only tried this new flavour with water, give it another shot with Kristin’s delicious recipe below!

Wise words from Krsitin: “Raw cacao bean powder provides minerals; magnesium, potassium and zinc. Raw agave nectar is sweeter than sugar and rates as low glycemic.”

Ingredients:

  • 375 ml cold water
  • 1 scoop PGX SatisFast Rich Chocolate
  • ? avocado
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon (or a pinch to taste)
  • 1 tbsp Cacao powder, unsweetened
  • 1 tsp Agave syrup to sweeten

Method:

Measure out liquid into a blender cup and blend all ingredients until smooth. Quick, simple and easy!

Be sure to drink an additional glass of water (375-500 ml) after taking PGX.

Nutritional Information:

  • 212 calories
  • 16 g fat
  • 20 g carbs (12g fibre, 5 g sugar)
  • 16 g protein
  • 227 mg sodium
  • 525 mg potassium

Have questions for Kristin? Ask her here!

Enjoy!

 

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At the Gym: Technique & Results

Welcome back to Weight-Wise Wednesday with a look at proper fitness technique at the gym!

PGX takes a look at how doing an exercise with the correct form could make all the difference to the outcome of your routine.

We’ve all been there. You’re eating well, you’re fitting in regular exercise sessions but for some reason, your workout routine is just not working for you. Chances are, a small mistake, such as not taking a long enough rest period, as explained by shape.com, is coming between all your hard work and the results you derserve! So, let’s master those moves!

Shape.com’s list includes:

  • Proper posture on cardio machines
  • How to correctly execute sit-ups on an exercise ball
  • Working on your core to improve your form in all areas of your workout
  • Proper kettleball technique

All it takes are a few tiny adjustments to your form. So, adjust, apply and get out there PGX’ers and show those exercises who’s boss!

 

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PGX and Colour Psychology

PGX Investigates Colour Psychology and Your Well Being

Can the colour of your home affect your efforts for healthy living?

You may be surprised to discover that the colours you surround yourself with may have an affect on your health and well being. Usually we pick the colours of our home based on personal preference, but now colour experts believe that hues of our homes can have an effect on our emotions.

So how does this relate to making healthy choices and keeping fit? Our emotions have a lot to do with the choices we make. If the colour of your kitchen or the gym walls can help you choose healthy snacks and run that extra mile, then why not give yourself that extra help?! Read on to get a taste of what colour can do for us!

Blue is a colour of calm, promoting physical and mental relaxation. What comes to mind when you think of blue? Blue skies and beach getaways? When you are stress free, your fitness efforts will always be more effective.

Yellow is a bright and cheerful hue that has often affected people in a positive way. It has been shown to help people with better decision-making and adopting a positive attitude. Positivity, however attained, goes a long way in helping us achieve our fitness and health goals. Like yellow, orange is considered to be one of those “happy” colours as well.

Red is a vibrant and stimulating hue associated with energy and activity. It can be a strong colour for your walls that is very well suited to spaces of movement like the stairwell, hallways or the exercise room! A splash of red might give you more of boost than you realize!

Green (my personal favourite) is the colour of nature, relaxation and wellness. Greens of various shades can be inspire calmness or in it’s lighter tones, create an atmosphere of lightness and joy! Whatever shade it is green can bring back a touch of nature and often has positive effect on your mood, which can mean the world of difference to your health.

Making healthy choices can be challenging at times. Positivity and inspiration can make or break a healthy lifestyle. You may not even notice how the colours around you affect your mood, but if yellow in a kitchen can inspire a rush of positivity or if that red exercise ball can get you pumped for your workout, why not surround yourself with mood-lifting colour?!

Want to know more about colour psychology? Visit Pittsburgh Paints’ Voice of Color.

 

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Workout Wednesday: Getting and Staying Motivated

We’ve all been there.

You might be trying to get motivated to go to the gym for the very first time, the first time this year, or just sitting there staring at your running shoes wondering if you should go or not. It really doesn’t matter what your fitness background is, we’ve all been there. Sometimes you just want to go home and forget all about it.

But the key to getting motivated is to visualize and have some strategies to combat those sluggish thoughts. Here are some tips to help you get and stay motivated.

Sluggish thoughts:  I just don’t have the time. 
Instead think:  A 30-minute workout is only 2% of my day! If I want to give up after 30 minutes that’s okay but let’s get going. Visualize how good you will feel after your workout.

Sluggish thoughts: I hate working out, running, the treadmill, etc.
Instead think:  I love my workout playlist! Distract yourself with something you do like and divert your thoughts while you’re working out. Are you working out for an upcoming vacation? Visualize your vacation and how much you’ll enjoy it. Are you working out because your health care provider recommends it? Picture yourself in their office with a healthier checkup. I visualize that I’m winning a race.

Sluggish thoughts: I should stop early – I have work to do! 
Instead think:  After my workout I’ll be much more productive and smarter! According to this article in Men’s Health , “one of the first studies to find that exercise improves brain performance was a 1986 investigation of 30 women at Purdue University. During the study, the women boosted their fitness levels by 17 percent and simultaneously netted a 12 to 68 percent improvement in their ability to process information and make sound decisions.” So let’s get fit and smart at the same time!

Change what you’re doing until it works. If you’re too busy, try shorter workouts. If you’re feeling tired and sore from too many workouts, scale it back and take a rest day 24 hours after a workout. Schedule time to fit your exercise program and don’t forget to reward yourself for all your hard work!

In 12 weeks time you could be ringing in 2013 in a new, fitter body! Let’s do it!

 

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Healthy Weekend Barbecue Recipe

Grilled Oyster Shooters 

The weekend is almost here, so we asked PGX staffers what they planned to do this weekend. A surprizing number were pulling out the BBQ for some summertime grilling.

We found this high rated recipe on AllRecipes and at only 32 calories per oyster this is a healthy, grilling treat. The oysters are cooked right in the shell and seasoned with lemon juice, hot sauce and  Worcestershire sauce. You could substitute hot sauce for salt and pepper if you like your spice on the mild side.

Always be careful when you shuck an oyster. Here are some great step-by-step instructions on how to shuck an oyster. Once you get the hang of it you’ll be enjoying oysters in no time!

Got a great recipe you’d like to share? Sound off in the comments or let us know on our Facebook page!

 

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Tasty Tuesday : Overnight Oats for Breakfast

When it’s hot and humid outside, who really wants to cook?

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

Classic Overnight Oats

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.

 

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