Change your Diet, Change your Life

As a personal trainer, I often counsel people on nutrition to reach their goals. I remember when I was going through the necessary training for my certification and my jaw dropped when I learned that nutrition is 70% of weight loss. I was so disappointed when I heard this. Food had always been my downfall, but I just made up for it by being so active. When I heard that, it was a reality check.

Ugh. Ok, so I have to change it up with nutrition. So I did. I poured over books, magazines, scientific journals, blogs, and more to learn what I did. Now, if you've read my past blogs, you know that another motivator for my focus on nutrition was from my own battles with intestinal pain and I have to say, health for me is a much bigger motivator than dropping 10 lbs.

Now I am speaking from the perspective of someone who's refrigerator looks like an orchard. There's no way around it that if you want permanent health changes in your body and health, you need to make permanent healthy changes to your diet.
Who knows? You may start to crave vegetables instead of pizza. Your palate does change and when you feel the energy and difference in your body, you may become hooked. Who ever thought that fruits and vegetables could be addicting?

Feed your addiction below and Enjoy ^-^

Your Trainer,
Erin Is Awesome


Recipe of the week: Chipotle Garlic Kale Chips
June 22, 2011 By Reboot Nutritionist Stacy Kennedy
Chipotle Garlic Kale Chips

Makes 6 servings

Ingredients:
1 large bunch fresh kale (any variety)
1/4 teaspoon chipotle seasoning
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped or minced
1 Tbsp olive oil

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Wash kale well then rip off stems in large pieces
Mix olive oil, garlic and chipotle in a large bowl
Add kale to bowl and drench with oil spice mixture

Pour kale onto baking sheet

Bake for ~12 minutes. (note cooking times vary depending on oven. start checking at 10 minutes to prevent over cooking).

Kale chips are ready when crisp

Nutrition per serving:
Calories: 56 kcal
Protein: 2 g
Fiber: 1.5 g

Curb Appetite and Energize Your Body

Have you ever noticed that even if you don't want to workout and you force yourself to push through, you're always glad you did? Well, it could be more than just a sense of self accomplishment. Exercise causes your body to release endorphins. What are endorphins you say? "Endorphins are neurotransmitters produced in the brain that reduce pain," says Alan Hirsch, MD, neurological director of the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago. "They have also been known to induce euphoria."

Euphoria, eh? You may be saying, I know what that is, but running on a treadmill on incline is not my idea of Shangri La.

Well here's some good news for those of us who aren't into intense, sweat-dripping exercise: there's more than one path to paradise. Endorphins can be released from a variety of activities including yoga, meditation, walks on the beach, and of course, sex.

So why are endorphins so important? Besides reducing pain and making us feel good, endorphins also curb appetite and have been shown to regulate hormone production. These effects can last for up to 12 hours after the activity is over too! Wow! How's that for a natural high?

So if you're looking for a rush, reach for some endorphins. Your body will thank you ^-^