Health and Nutrition That Is AboveNBeyond

Fruits and vegetables are packed with nutrients and can also help with weight loss by reducing energy density.  This is according to an article I recently read:

A recent study from the Department of Nutritional Sciences at Pennsylvania State University studied the relationship of energy density to dietary outcome. They found that lowering the energy density by increasing the volume without changing nutrient content can enhance s

It’s very hard to gain weight with vegetables unless you are eating potatoes or yams. Vegetables are not packed with a lot of calories. You can eat more fruits and vegetables and less of other foods that are higher in calories to make loosing weight easier. Thus, replacing foods that are higher in energy density with foods that are lower in energy density (fruits and vegetables) may help with weight loss.

Vegetables are a good source for Dietary Fiber and can provide extra energy.  The high fiber content helps us fill our stomach faster, thus putting a limit on the amount of food consumed.   Because of this, vegetables can help us control our weight.

At the risk of my sounding like I’m recommending your becoming a vegetarian, the more vegetables and fruits you can eat the better.  Forget the old 5 a day saying and think “More is Better” according to the CDC and Produce for Better Health Foundation.

A bonus with fruits and vegetables and the Weight Watchers point system, check these out:

Corn: 1 cup = 2 points
Peas: (Green) 1 cup = 2 points
Beans: (Green) 1 cup = 0 or FREE
Beets: 1 cup = 0 or FREE
Carrots: 1 cup = 1 point cooked, 0 or FREE uncooked
Banana: 1 (7-9″ long) = 2 points
Apples: 1 small (2 1/2′ diameter) = 1 point
Apples: 1 large (3 1/4′ diameter) = 2 points

See also:
1. Weight Watchers
2. Fruitsandveggiesmatter

Being stuck in a rut, can happen to anyone. I’ve been there too…..

Have you considered intervals? Intervals can be a way to spice up your workouts to get you motivated and get you in shape. It’s a good way to burn calories, increase endurance and strengthen your heart.
Men and women can vary their workouts with intervals and you don’t have to be a runner to do this. Weight Lifting or Strength Training is another way. By making use of intervals, you are challenging your body and mind to push harder. Workouts will become easier until you up the ante on your goals.

One way I found myself running faster was by using intervals. I would run, then walk a little, than run more and faster. Eventually, I found myself building speed.

Work out or run with a friend, or change scenery while running are other ways to make fitness fun. Fitness does not have to be boring. If you are a runner, consider getting involved in local 5k and 10k races. That will get you going.

Ok, if you are thinking “Tim, I’m not into running!” Well, whether it be weight lifting, yoga, aerobics, whatever, how about joining a local gym. You can meet people, make friends etc. I was a member of a local gym for 9 years and found it to be rewarding.

Think of Fitness as Fun Intense Times Nurturing Energy Smashing Stress. Oh, yeah, some would argue this. But, you get the point. It’s a good way to make sense if Fitness.

There are many forms of addiction, and some are not that bad. In fact, there is one addiction that is actually really good for you. The addiction that I’m talking about is the one that comes from “Getting Active”. Here is a true example and this one is about me:

In 1995, I joined a local gym because of being depressed and needed to get out. It did help a little, but, it wasn’t until I discovered running that the real cure came. I can’t promise that this works for everyone, but, it sure did for me. Running for me had such an effect that it became addictive. In 1997, I started to race in local 5k and 10k races as the addiction grew. Talk about the feeling of being revitalized. Now, over 14 years later, I’m still running and racing and have no intentions of stopping anytime soon.

By getting active, and not necessarily with running, you actually find that your lifestyle starts to change. After a while, I stopped drinking beer and eating all the food that goes along with that sort of thing. With being active and making specific changes, your overall perspective, health, weight starts to change for the better. Now, I am not indicating that you give up all the foods that you like. Now and then I still eat pizza, I just don’t live off it With some foods, like Pizza, you need to start thinking about them as though it’s a treat to have now and then and not all the time. Some really like candy, but, can’t get enough of it. Candy isn’t meant to have every single day, for, it’s a treat to have. I love chocolate, and even consider myself to be a choco-holic, but I don’t have it all the time despite my love for it.

You see, by getting active, changes start happening. You start to get a picture of yourself going in a new direction and you start evolving that way. So, if you realize that you need to make some changes, how about start with getting active. You may just plant a seed that sprouts into something you can’t even imagine now.

Remember, first, you should never starve yourself regardless of what your health and fitness goals are. Activity should also be increased to burn off those calories. With that said, it seems at times that it is forgotten that loosing weight (weight management) is only part of the puzzle. You don’t want to just loose the weight and get on with life. In a perfect world, that would be great.

The other side of the dish is the nutrition factor. You also want to focus on how good your nutrition is. You’ve heard it before, and there is something to be said that “You are what you eat”! Getting proper nutrition can be accomplished in a number of ways. Eating right and taking dietary supplements will help you along the way. There are those who feel that supplements don’t work and are a waste of money. That is not true! Just because one doesn’t always feel some sort of super change by taking supplements doesn’t mean they are not doing there job. It’s the consistent use of them that makes the difference. When I was selling Herbalife, my favorite supplement was their Total Control. This supplement helps build energy, promotes weight loss and boosts metabolism all at the same time. But, again, consistent usage of supplements are where the results come from.

So, by eating right, and taking supplements, you will start laying a foundation of good health which will develop and strengthen your immune system. Not to long ago, my wife was having a conversation with a friend and she said during the time we’ve been married, my husband has only been really sick twice. This is because, of my being active, and taking supplements and eating right.

As stated in other posts, you should also consider changing your habits. I don’t smoke, drink, or do anything else that would be detrimental to my health. I am an avid runner and I work out on a regular basis. Despite your interests, sometimes an overhaul of what you are doing could be the answer.
Who knows, you may end up meeting the new you some day like I did.

So, in concluding, never starve yourself, get active, eat right and take supplements and you’ll start finding yourself going down a better path to a whole new you.

See also:
Do I Eat Today? (D.I.E.T) Part #1 ,
Avoid The Gimics, Change Habits

Whether you are just starting out to loosing weight, or you’ve been making progress, over the course of your efforts, you are learning new things about how to get you from where you were, to where you want to be. This is not always an easy road to tread. It doesn’t matter how overweight or underweight you are. Cutting back, controlling your portions and taking vitamins / supplements are only part of the solution.

Unless you are trying to gain weight, you should consider some way to increase your activity. Even if you are working on gaining weight, exercise at some level is always good. By increasing your activity, whether it be running (my favorite), walking, riding bike, or even joining a gym, you’ll be increasing the effort to burn those calories. So, by making this choice, here is what you are doing:

1. Eating right (portion control and watching the types of food you are eating)
2. Taking supplements / vitamins
3. Exercise / increased activity

You’ve now started a brand new way of living, thus, enter a new lifestyle of fitness which will bring about a whole new you. After a while, you’ll begin to look back and say good bye to the old you that you once new. Now the list above, is only the beginning or a good starting point. You can pick and choose later what works best for you as you learn your way in this new lifestyle. Remember, it is a lifestyle and not a “diet”.

No pain no gain

Now, if you are trying to gain weight, there are products/supplements available to help you in this direction. While portion control would not be an issue where, you would still want to be aware of how much you are taking in, especially when you start gaining weight so as not to over shoot your goals.

A brief on Portion Control:
Why is Portion Control so important? Well, for one thing, without it, all your other efforts would be a waist of time. You would be just spinning your wheels which will get you nowhere.

Everyone has goals when it comes to weight loss or weight management. You may not realize it, but, no matter where you stand you’ll fit into any one of these goals / categories:

1. Just surfing / gaining knowledge / socializing
2. Searching for answers for a solution
3. Want to loose weight NOW
4. Want to stay fit and get proper nutrition
5. Need energy
6. Have some other health / weight related issue

One of the above categories most likely comes close to where you are. Unfortunately, a lot of people get stuck in search mode and never really do anything about what they are looking for, even when the answers are right in front of you on the screen you are looking at. Hence the saying “You can lead a horse to water, but, you can’t make it drink”.

See also Which Way Are You Getting Fed?

Or see the Getting Started page to find your answers

Why do I use Herbalife products? First and to be short and simple “They work!” A lot of people argue that some of the products are expensive. Let me give you an analogy here.
We have many different landscaping companies in the area. One of them is quite more expensive than the others. Who is getting the most business? The one who is the most expensive! Why do you ask? As a customer of that landscaping company, I will tell you that it’s because of the quality of their product or work.

So, again, why do I use Herbalife Products? The first reason is of course, quality, but, here are more reasons why I use them:

1. I have had super severe sinus issues and since using Herbalifeline, those issues are GONE. This softgel is an anti-inflammatory which lead to helping my sinus / cardiovascular issues.

2. I’ve lost close to 20 pounds since this post and it’s due to a combination of using Formula 1 Meal Replacement Mix and exercise.

3. I have more energy due to a number of the products, such as Liftoff Energy Drink, Herbal Concentrate Tea and H30.

4. During the cold and flu season, I get sick far less often than I used to. This is thanks to better nutrition and using such products like Schizandra Plus, RoseOx.

These were just some of the reasons why I continue to use Herbalife products. If any of these sound good to you and you have the slightest interest, feel free to inquire anytime. Want to know more about Herbalife, check out the website. Contact me anytime for questions or to place an order.

Recapping, you’ve cut away the excuses, developed positive reasons and conquered some fear on your way to defeating YOU, your worst enemy. That’s a good foundation in moving you in the right direction in getting healthier and/or loosing weight.

Now, lets do it! Let’s finish the defeat of You! It’s hard work, yes, it’s hard work and it’s not easy to achieve what you are looking for. You simply just have to work at it day by day, month by month and so fourth. It’s not a DIET, but a LIFESTYLE change that you have to accept. So here are your steps:

1. Eliminate the excuses
2. Develop good reasons
3. Conquer the fear and be true to yourself
4. exercise 3 days a week (or work up to that)
5. get on a weight loss program (or management program)
6. join a weight loss challenge (for support and motivation)
7. realize that weight loss doesn’t happen over night
8. be patient
9. Understand that you WILL win!
10. Still having trouble, start over with item #1 above

Free consultation and BMI testing available, contact us anytime!

You can do this, and it starts and stop with you! It’s time for your worst enemy to loose and for You to Win!!!

If you’ve ever felt like saying OUCH while reading any of my posts, don’t feel bad, I too have said that when I learned something new. It’s just that when I post helpful articles, it’s for the purpose of educating and motivating people. I’m as truthful and factual as I can. It’s not for the purpose of hurting feelings or rubbing salt in wounds. I try to say it like it is based upon the information that comes across my desk. The end purpose of AboveNBeyond4u is to help YOU get what YOU need both in information and product.

I don’t hold back, I explain topics based upon both experience and product information/education. I have to think of it this way, “If you said Ouch, than I accomplished something”. — You’ve learned something!

There is nothing wrong with collecting Ouch Points as long as you know where to cash them in at.

With the fast paced world we live in, constantly being bombarded with Fast Food commercials and always being on the go. Who has time to stop and make a healthy meal?

If this is how you feel or what you think, start saying OUCH! You have more time than you think to prepare an easy healthy meal. Within a couple of minutes, you’ll have a very healthy meal replacement shake in your hands and gone in the next few minutes thus satisfying you until lunch or supper (dinner). If in the meantime you start feeling hungry, no problem, grab a protein snack, and you are good to go.

For a good many of us, we’ve gone through life developing or adapting habits that have lead to our current realities. Then when we realize what has happened, we go into panic mode or start feeling inadequate or down because of how we look. We’ve all been programmed to think we need a whole lot of food to be satisfied. Not any more! It’s time for a huge wake up call. By my making these changes, I’ve lost over 15 pounds in a little over 3 months. I have more energy, feel better, and loving every minute!

How about another OUCH? You have to be willing to start making changes in your life to change the direction of weight gain and turn it into weight loss. This can mean giving up some habits to achieve your new desired reality. Starvation is NOT one of the changes needed to get you on that new track. So, replace the word starvation with 2 words – “Portion Control”. You do have to eat to loose weight.

See also “Portion Control”