5
Beach Body Myths (and 3 Steps to Look Amazing)
There's a good chance that you'll find yourself in a bathing suit
sometime this month.
If you are like most people then that
realization will 1) bring a grimace to your face and 2) will
motivate you to lose some weight.
While I commend your
desire to slim down before baring it all, I'm here to warn you of
the 5 myths that most people fall for. Don't waste your time on
these:
Myth #1: Starve the pounds away.
Attempting to lose weight by starving yourself is
not only ineffective, it's also dangerous. It may seem that severe
calorie restriction would deliver the quickest weight loss, but your
body is complex and by doing so you'll disrupt your metabolism and
slow your results.
Tip: Don't starve
yourself - instead eat healthy small meals throughout the
day.
Myth #2: Take diet pills to boost your
effort.
It's so tempting! The commercials make
compelling claims about the power of diet pills, but don't fall for
it. The 'magic pill' has yet to be discovered (it has been
discovered - exercise. It's just not in pill form…). Diet pills are
more likely to damage your health and burn your pocketbook than to
slim you down.
Tip: Don't pop a pill -
instead burn calories with exercise.
Myth #3: Do
extra crunches to flatten your abs.
We all want our
midsection to look toned as we stroll down the beach, but excessive
crunches aren't the answer for tight abs. In order to achieve a lean
look you'll have to focus on burning off the layer of fat that is
covering up your abs.
Tip: Don't obsess
about crunches - instead focus on fat burning.
Myth
#4: Eat packaged diet foods for speedy results.
It
is amazing to see the kinds of foods that are packaged as 'diet' or
'weight loss' aids. More often than not these products are packed
with refined sugar and other artificial ingredients that your body
doesn't need.
Tip: Don't eat packaged diet
foods - instead stick with nutritious whole
foods.
Myth #5: Avoid all carbohydrates in order to
slim down.
Carbohydrates have been given a bad rap,
which is unfortunate because you can (and should) eat carbs while
losing weight. The key is to stick with whole grains, oatmeal and
brown rice while avoiding processed and refined flours and sugars.
Tip: Don't swear off all carbohydrates -
instead stick with wholesome carbs.
Now that you know what
not to do in order to look great this summer, it's time to go over
your beach ready game plan. Here's what you need to know in 3 simple
steps:
- Step One: Cut out the junk.
The best
way to do this is to start by purging your kitchen. Get rid of
sugary, processed and fat-filled foods. Once the junk has been
cleared out don't buy any more of it. Remember that your beach
ready abs depend on what you eat - don't eat junk!
- Step Two: Focus on whole
foods.
Replace the junk food in your life with
plenty of the following: cooked and raw vegetables, fresh fruits,
whole grains, moderate amounts of seeds and nuts, lean meats and
low fat dairy. Clean eating really is that simple.
- Step Three: Come train with me.
This
is the most obvious step. You're ready to get into great shape and
I'm in a unique position to make that happen for you. Call or
reply to this email to get started on an exercise plan that will
make you look great on the beach, and all year round.
Mediterranean
Lettuce Wrap
This
wrap is savory and refreshing, and is the perfect meal to get you
beach ready. I recommend roasting your own bell pepper, since most
store bought roasted bell peppers are packaged in oil. To do so
simply throw it on the grill until soft and then peel the skin after
it cools.
Servings: 1
Here's what you
need...
- 1 large leaf of lettuce
- 2 slices lean turkey
- 1 roasted red bell pepper, cut into 4 segments
- 2 tablespoons garlic hummus
- 1 tablespoon olive tapenade
- Lay the lettuce leaf flat and spread with 1 tablespoon of
hummus. Place the turkey slices on the lettuce and spread with
remaining hummus. Sprinkle the olive tapenade over the turkey and
top with the roasted bell pepper.
- Wrap the lettuce, use a tooth pick to hold it together.
Nutritional Analysis: One serving equals: 170
calories, 6g fat, 15g carbohydrate, 5g fiber, and 15g
protein.
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