5 Tips to Avoid Winter Weight Gain

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Is winter the downfall of your weight management strategy? The cold, damp, short days topped with the pressures of high-calorie party foods is enough to throw even the most disciplined health guru off her game. But with the right plan, you can eliminate the anxiety of weight gain this winter. Here are 5 tips to get you started:

1.     Load-up on fiber. Fiber keeps you full, blood sugar steady and cravings curbed. Include beans, seeds, fruits, and vegetables in your meals and add PGX® to your favorite healthy snacks to boost their fiber content.*

2.     Get your vitamin D. During the winter it may help reduce occasional winter blues, making it easier to stick to your goals – whether they are healthy eating, exercise or just getting off the couch.

3.     Partner-up. Recruit an energetic friend, family member or colleague for working out. They will boost your motivation, accountability and enjoyment.

4.     Get your ZZZs. According to research, sleep deprivation causes people to eat more and to crave high calorie foods[1].

5.     Treat yourself! Feeling deprived can lead to binge eating[2]. Treat yourself to high quality whole foods, such as coconut water, raw nuts, kale chips, roasted seaweed, and organic teas.

Stay tuned for more great tips!

Patience Lister

*Drink additional water (8 fl. oz.) after ingesting PGX. If you are taking medications, take one hour prior to or two hours after taking PGX.

References:

[1] Greer, Stephanie, Andrea Goldstein, and Matthew Walker. “The impact of sleep deprivation on food desire in the human brain.” Nature Communications 4 (2013): 2259.
[2] Michaels, Samantha. Overeating?: How to stop binge eating, overeating & get the natural slim body you deserve. Speedy Publishing LLC, 2013.

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Tasty Tuesday: Easy Fish Fillets

It’s Tasty Tuesday!

When it’s hot outside and you don’t feel like making a big complicated meal, try this easy fish fillet for dinner. Any white fish such as cod, halibut, haddock, or grouper will work well.

We found this great recipe that only calls for lime juice, some light mayo, onion powder, pepper, breadcrumbs, margarine and parsley.

You could add a squeeze of lemon if you’re not a fan of lime. Or combine lemon and lime for a zesty flavour! Approximately 1 1/2 pounds of white fish will yield 4 servings. Half the recipe and you’ve got a nice meal for date night!

Pair it up with some asparagus and rice for a light, healthy and tasty meal. Enjoy!

Check out our Pinterest board for even more tasty recipes!

 

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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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Changing the Clocks and Your Children’s Health

With the change of the clocks, daylight fades earlier in the winter months. What does this mean for your children?

It is such a gorgeous sunny day outside as I write this, it’s seems hard to believe that in just a few hours, the sun will have set! Now that the clocks have been put back, our evenings come much earlier. What does this mean for your kids?

A recent study from UK researchers suggests that not changing the clocks would keep your children active by allowing them more outdoor play. What do you think?

BBC Health News reports on this interesting idea.

 

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Get the TIFF Red Carpet Physique

TIFF is on and the celebrities are out in full force, looking lean and toned.

PGX looks at how you can get those lean and toned limbs, celebrity style.

With the Toronto International Film Festival, or any Hollywood to-do that rolls out a carpet for that matter, comes the parade of svelte physiques, waiting to get their photographs taken! True, some of the stars could use some more meat on their bones but there are healthy looking, toned figures on the red carpet that are the result of good nutrition and exercise. On Wednesday, eTalk featured celebrity trainer Brent Bishop and he shared three easy moves that you can do at home to get those long lean limbs, flat abs and toned muscles!

These classic but tweaked exercises will help you reach your fitness goals. It won’t be long before those photographers are taking your photo and asking, “Who are you wearing?!”

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The Latest in Running Gear: Toe Shoes

PGX checks out the hot new trend for runners: running barefoot!

Runner or not, you’ll be intrigued: the latest running gear for those who enjoy almost barefoot running!

The no-shoes fitness trend is seems to be the “in” thing for runners. It’s a running style that’s grown in popularity thanks to evidence that it can reduce injuries and strengthen your feet. I know what you’re thinking: “Reduce injuries? If I run barefoot, I’ll probably cut my feet!” Good point. That’s exactly what I thought and that’s exactly what certain running shoe companies were thinking when they created the “minimalist” running shoe.

Hardcore “barefooters” will turn their noses up at the latest running gear trend: toe shoes. Remember those crazy toe socks where each toe had it’s own little sleeve? Well now you can get yourself some toe shoes! These shoes are the absolute bare minimum and act as more of a protective sleeve for your foot.Their essential feature is a tactile and flat bottom, lacking the elevated heel cushion typically found on running shoes. Now, people who like the idea of running barefoot but aren’t too keen on cutting their soles on a rock can wear these toe shoes!

Curious to know more or want a pair of these practically barefoot running shoes?  L.A. Times writer, Roy Wallack has got the details on the toe shoes out there.

Happy running everyone!

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Best and worst condiments for weight loss

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!

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Most Important Meal of the Day?

Q: What is the most important meal of the day? I’ll give you a hint:

A: It’s breakfast!

If you answered brunch, lunch, snack time, dinner, supper or anything other than breakfast, I have to burst your bubble just a bit. It’s definitely breakfast and for good reason.

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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PGX and Your Immune System

Bad news? Flu season is here. Good news! Dr. Joyce Johnson shares how PGX can help!

Expert Dr. Joyce Johnson shares the details on how you can keep your engines running at full speed this flu season…

Pardon the poor vocabulary but yup! You read that title correctly: PGX and our healthy eating tips can assist you in your fight against the flu. Take two minutes of your day and watch this  News Canada video to learn more about what you can do to protect yourself and your family from coughs, scratchy throats, sneezes and running noses!

 

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David Joachim’s Crazy Chocolate Cake with PGX

David Joachim, food substitutions expert, shares his chocolate cake recipe with Steven and Chris. Now we want to share it with you!

Run out of certain ingredients mid recipe? David Joachim has the solution. Want to make that chocolate dessert healthier? PGX has some ideas for you!

Who doesn’t love chocolate cake? My mouth is watering after looking at so many pictures of the rich treat. You will be happy to know that it is possible to have a slightly healthier version of the classic, sugar-loaded cake. David Joachim is a food substitutions expert: the one to turn to when you realize you’re missing key ingredients midway through your kitchen endeavours! In his version of chocolate cake, he’s reduced the cholesterol levels by replacing the butter with a 1/2 cup of canola oil, along with a few other changes. We’ve got a few other suggestions that can make your chocolate cake… well, almost guilt free! Instead of sugar, you can use a substitute such as Splenda, a sucralose-based artificial sweetener derived from sugar. Or, if you prefer the all natural route, you can use Stevia, a plant-based alternative to sugar. Try using whole wheat flour to give your cake an extra nutritional kick! And, my best suggestion of them all, add some PGX and up the fiber content! You can use the the SlimStyles PGX Granules to add to your dry ingredients. So my friends, don’t completely deprive yourself of the sweet things. It is possible to eat healthy and enjoy your slice of cake once in a while!

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