Archive for: weight loss
21st Century Nutrition
When I was living in Texas, I toured the Johnson Space Center near Houston. It was remarkable to see that iconic image of the Mission Control Center, NASA’s command center for Gemini, Apollo and Space Shuttle missions. It is a surprisingly tiny room considering the magnitude of the accomplishments of both man and machine over the last 50+ years. Today, NASA, the US Military and other private organizations continue to innovate. The image here is an artist’s concept of an adaptive or “morphing” aerospace vehicle that can change their shape in flight to adapt to conditions and enhance flight performance. Wouldn’t it be cool if we could adapt on the fly as well? We can with the latest nutritional advancements for the 21st century. 
The Edge
My first encounter with the B2, or Stealth, Bomber was quite by accident at Holloman AFB, NM after a stained glass class of all things. I met a pilot who had stopped in to pick up his project and casually asked him what he flew. With a slight smile and not a word spoken, he pointed to the stained glass image of a sleek black wedge suspended in a crystal blue sky. At that time, the B2 was highly classified so I didn’t even know what I had seen until a few years later. While stealth technology gives the B2 an edge in combat, nutritional technology can give you an edge in personal performance.
Tick Tock, Tick Tock
I recently resurrected an antique clock that we’ve had sitting idly on a desk for years. My curiosity and propensity towards tinkering got me fiddling with it. The gears are in order and the chimes work but the hands on the clock face are frozen. It got me thinking that time passes whether we measure it or not. When do you want to know that what you’re doing isn’t working — now or 20 years from now when you can’t affect as much change?
Food for the Warrior
I grew up in northern Pennsylvania, where many of my high school friends went into the military. One of them, Tanya Kabes Lauro, was originally turned away by the Navy for being “overweight” by their standards. She took the Navy training program (with 4am wake up workouts) and lost 60 pounds. Now a Navy veteran, Tanya is pursuing a career in health and fitness. She recently wrote a book called “Food for the Warrior: Mission to cook healthy.” All proceeds from the digital book go to the Wounded Warrior project too!
I asked Tanya to share a healthy recipe from the book that you could have it for breakfast, lunch or dinner. This is great for those without time to make breakfast in the morning, because you can prepare it Sunday night and eat it for the rest of the week’s breakfasts. The secret to successful weight loss is being prepared.
Health Screening 101 (Part 3 of 3)
This is article 3 of the 3 part series of Health Screening 101. The first two articles in the series of Health Screening 101 are the following:
Health Screening 101 – part 2: Courses of Action to Follow: Diet, Exercise, Medications Recommended
In this article, we will discuss the changes in his Health Screening Test after four months of following a Low Carb / Paleo diet, an exercise program, and a statin drug.
Eater’s Digest
I’m not much of a magazine reader but I have flipped through a Reader’s Digest or two while visiting relatives. I go right for the clever short stories and jokes. I even submitted an inadvertent joke my nephew made about superheroes when he was four years old. He was describing all of their powers one evening to his uncle Mark. His favorite superhero is Spiderman (mine too, actually!). He shared every one of Spiderman’s powers in great detail. When Uncle Mark asked him about the next superhero on the list, Spider-woman, Lorenzo innocently quipped, “Oh, she’s just like Spiderman only more complicated.” It sure felt like a Reader’s Digest moment! In a world of information overload, condensing a lot of information into a little space to make things more digestible still works. What if you could do the same with your food choices?
Be Mine, Mine and Mine
Growing up the middle child in a family of four kids had its challenges. It seemed that I was always sharing everything except on Valentine’s Day. Every year, my dad brought home four heart-shaped boxes filled with decadent chocolate truffles, caramels and nougat. I coveted my box, plastering my name all over it and securing a secret hiding place. Despite all of my efforts, tragedy always ensued - from my hungry baby brother scarfing every last morsel until his cheeks looked like they were going to explode, to an equally ravenous Siberian husky bent on devouring chocolate, liner and cardboard box. Thankfully, as a grownup, I can fully enjoy what’s mine without sharing and knowing the health benefits of chocolate I can do it guilt-free.
Super Seeds
I love the peace and tranquility of the Maine woods, especially waking up on a crisp winter morning like today and discovering deer tracks all over our property. Up until this weekend, they’ve enjoyed a mild winter with plenty to eat including the endless mounds of acorns we raked up this fall. Then we got 30 inches of snow. Fortunately for the deer, we put out food blocks for them to gnaw on if they get really hungry. All that nutrition condensed in a big block is a convenient way to get extra nutrients. You can do the same thing this winter without trudging through three feet of snow. I promise that it will also come in a slightly smaller package.
Spice It Up
One of my favorite February traditions is to watch the movie, Groundhog Day. An abrasive & obnoxious weatherman, Phil Connors, played by Bill Murray, repeats February 2nd over and over again until he finds the true meaning of friendships, love and life. It took a while for Phil to embrace his predicament and make the best of it. Having grown up in the midwest, winters did seem endless or as Phil put it, “I’ll give you a winter prediction. It’s gonna be cold, it’s gonna be gray, and it’s gonna last you for the rest of your life.” If you feel like you’re in a winter weather rut maybe it’s time for a change of season…ing!
Eating Sugar to Build Muscle?
Not everyone agrees that you can get everything you need to build muscle before, during and after military training simply by eating regular food. But most people would think that you lost your mind if you suggested that sugar is a great way to build muscle.
But did you know that an early study revealed that sugar in its raw, natural state contains chromium?
Yes…chromium! I know that you’ve heard of the “magic” of chromium picolinate to build lean muscle mass. And while there is some evidence that it works, the question is whether or not you should be taking a dietary supplement that contains chromium to give you the best results when you’re training for a military sport, getting ready for bootcamp, or just want to stay fit.
The Beat Goes On
Did your parents make you take music lessons when you were a kid? I had to learn to play the piano. At the time, I considered it sheer torture. Especially since my piano lessons with Mrs. Mauthe included bicycling past the meanest dogs in the neighborhood. No matter how hard I pedaled, they always seemed to catch up, nipping at my heels and terrorizing me for a full block until I reached my teacher’s driveway. Then another form of torture ensued…piano lessons! In spite of my youth-filled drama, I decided to give it another go and I’m reteaching myself how to play minus the task-master teacher and the crazed canines. It’s a bit arduous, but there is something calming about a music filled house. Science seems to agree especially for those dealing with combat related challenges.
Quit Over Reacting!
As a middle child in a family of four kids, I figured out pretty quickly that the best way to get what I wanted was to get along. I left the melodrama, arguments, and fights to my sister and brothers. In a funny twist, I ended up acting in theater programs from elementary school into college. My favorite character was playing the lead in the Greek tragedy Electra. As in all Greek tragedies, Electra was a tormented soul bent on avenging her father’s murder. It was a monument to overacting and I loved every minute of it! While overacting may be the norm for ancient playwrights, your body may be over-reacting and causing you more grief than any greek tragedy may dish out.
Award-Winning Fitness Moves for Your Red Carpet Event
This one’s for the ladies…
It’s awards season, which means it’s the perfect time for a Red Carpet Workout!
As a former red-carpet publicist, I spent years prepping clients for big events. But what they really wanted to know about was my personal training secrets.
Working out for the Red Carpet, or for any big formal event, requires a lot of work, but you can cut that workout time in half if you focus on sculpting the six areas that see the spotlight the most in your dress: the triceps, biceps, shoulders, chest, upper back (for posture) and calves (for short dresses).
If you multi-task your toning moves and add some cardio to it, you get a 30-minute workout that slims while you sculpt these critical areas.
Cut Me Some Flax!
Living in the Maine woods, we have our share of wildlife. It’s fun to investigate all of the critter tracks especially after a fresh snowfall. We enjoy keeping the bird feeders filled for the Chickadees, Finches and the occasional crafty squirrel or two. But when it comes to eating nuts and seeds, are they just “for the birds?” Just recently I got on the flaxseed bandwagon and have enjoyed some impressive results. Let’s explore the powerful health benefits of flaxseed and how you can easily incorporate it into your daily routine.
One Giant Leap
I remember growing up always tinkering with things. I disassembled everything imaginable from phones to bicycles to radios, much to the dismay of my parents, I’m certain, as I often had parts left over! Oops. Discovery has always been a fascination which is probably why my ill-conceived hobbies turned into a mechanical engineering degree and career. Now, as I learn more about the inner and outer workings of our bodies, I find myself just as intrigued by these miraculous machines. So it is no surprise when I go crazy over new health discoveries: enter Lunasin & LunaRich X™.
Go the Distance
…whispered the voice to an inspired but equally confused Ray Kinsella (played by Kevin Costner), in the movie, Field of Dreams, as this bungling Iowa farmer plows under his crops to build a baseball field to the disbelief and dismay of most everyone around him. It is a great story of faith and trust, drive and determination against all odds. In my December Great Gadgets for Giving article I introduced you to ultra runner, Gary Allen, and his quest to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project, the American Cancer Society and Sandy Hook Elementary. I heard the “voice” last night after meeting up with Gary at mile 105 of a 700+ mile run from Maine to Washington, D.C. and I was inspired to give you an update on his progress and perhaps help you find your voice.
Workout Habits into the New Year
Here is an email from a veteran who has gotten out of Army shape after he retired a few years ago and now he wants to get back to where he used to be this year.
Stew, Love your work. I retired after 22 years in 2010 and have gained about 10 lbs a year since then. I need to get moving more but do not want to just jump back into what I used to do with this extra weight. What do you recommend as I want to be Army Strong in 2013! ~ John
John, your issue is not much different than many others. As we age, we continue to eat the same way we did in our 20’s and do much less activity. But you are right, start off easy and lay off the hard impact exercises like running and rucking until you drop these extra 20–30 lbs.
Fresh Start
My husband, Mark, loves visiting my family. There is always something to eat and the refrigerator is perpetually well-stocked with every imaginable food from exotic condiments to fresh cheeses and lots of delicious leftovers. Opening our fridge, on the other hand, is like peering into a cold, white abyss. The shelves are often bare and whatever items remain defy any semblance of edibility. I admit that keeping food in the house hasn’t always been one of my best practices. On the flip side, we don’t keep a lot of junk in there either. With a new year, perhaps it’s time for a fresh start for your fridge.
January Jump
You may have figured out by now that I love my Italian heritage and any time I can either quote The Godfather movies or tie something back to Roman history, I’m all in. Today is no exception, so here goes! Did you know that ancient Romans dedicated the first of January to their god, Janus? Janus was considered the god of gates and doors. Early Romans believed he could see both the past and the future at the same time which is often why he was depicted with two faces. With a new year upon us, it’s a great time to reflect on our past and look forward to new experiences. How often have you faced a new door in your life?
A Step Ahead
Congratulations! You’ve navigated the holiday parties, office cookie exchanges, cocktail toasts and Christmas roasts. Odds are you’ve indulged a bit and that’s okay. Rather than wait for your weight loss to begin with your New Year’s resolutions, why not get back on track today? Here are some simple steps you can take right now to whittle away at holiday weight gain.
