Posted by Natalie Deangelo on Fri, Sep 03, 2010 @ 07:14 AM
Good morning, Fighters! Happy Friday!
When the Full Life staff came upon the below article from Men's Health, "The Scariest New Restaurant Foods", we knew this would be one for the Friday Fight. It seems that everyday, restaurants are competing for our attention with the biggest and "best" new offerings, and they're doing it the most destructive way: by making meals even fatter and even more fried. The bread on KFC's fried chicken sandwich is being replaced by more fried chicken. Burgers are being served on donuts instead of buns. Sound Crazy? Check out more examples from the article below:
Denny’s Fried Cheese Melt with wavy fries and marinara
1,260 calories
63 g fat (21 g saturated, 1 g trans)
3,010 mg sodium
CALORIE EQUIVALENT: 18 T.G.I. Friday’s Frozen Cheddar & Bacon Potato Skins. Apparently, Denny’s deemed the classic grilled cheese too boring for our novelty seeking taste buds, so they fixed it by driving four deep-fried cheese sticks into the core of the sandwich.
IHOP New York Cheesecake Pancakes
1,270 calories
CALORIE EQUIVALENT: 28 McDonald's Chicken McNuggets
Further blurring the line between dessert and breakfast, IHOP has infused their fluffy flapjacks with gooey hunks of cheesecake. Next thing you know they’ll be serving breakfast with big scoops of ice cream and chocolate syrup.
Friendly’s Grilled Cheese BurgerMelt1,500 calories97 g fat (38 g saturated)2,090 mg sodiumCALORIE EQUIVALENT: 15 Snickers Kudos Granola Bars. Is this a joke? Because it should be. Where a normal hamburger has buns, this one has grilled cheese sandwiches
Full Life's thoughts? Don't buy in! If Americans stop taking an interest in these crazy calorie creations, marketers will stop making a point to WOW us with more fat. Let's take an interest in fruits and vegetables instead. Let's take an interest in physical activity. Wouldn't it be great if Fast Food restaurants were banished completely? Well, I might be living in a dream world on that one. But if you banish them from your life, that's one less person marketers can effect with calorie destructions!
Posted by Alicia Leeds on Tue, Aug 17, 2010 @ 04:45 PM
Most personal trainers recommend a protein blast within a half an hour after a workout. Here are the top ten reasons I choose HMR 800 as my perfect post workout shake!
1- 16 grams of high quality protein
2- It tastes great
3- It's portable
4- Mixes right in your water bottle
5- Cost less than $2 per shake
6- You can leave packets in your gym bag
7- 2 delicious flavors
8- Part of your "in the box" weight loss strategy
9- Refreshing
10- Fast and easy
Posted by Alicia Leeds on Mon, Apr 05, 2010 @ 09:55 AM
Here's one that's light and refreshing...
You will need:
2 Scoops HMR 120 Vanilla
1- 1 1/2 Cup Lemon Lime Diet Soda
1/2 t Fat Free Sugar Free Lime Jello Mix
Fresh Lime
Ice
Pour diet soda in blender, add shake mix, lime jello mix, squeeze of lime and blend. Add ice to desired consistency.
Bon Apetit!
Posted by Monica Bautista on Thu, Apr 01, 2010 @ 10:20 PM
Happy Friday to all! I hope you have had a great week full of healthy eating and lots of moving!
Today, I want to share some personal insights about working with an expert to achieve your health and fitness goals. As many of you may know from a previous post, I am currently training for my first sprint triathlon with the hopes of completing longer distance triathlons and, maybe someday, working up to an Ironman. That's off in the distance...a long-term goal!
My passion is physical fitness. I am always reading and trying to learn as much as I can about improving physical fitness and reaching new levels of performance. This passion led me to complete a Personal Training Certification a few months ago and, although I feel like I have a good base of knowledge in the field, I have come to realize that I need an expert to really help guide me to the next level with my training. I need someone to plan my workouts and then hold me accountable to them. I need an expert to tell me what to do and how to do it so that I can achieve my goals of being a better swimmer, faster runner, more efficient cyclist and, ultimately, complete long distance endurance events.
As I was going through this process, I was thinking that it is exactly the same thing that we encourage our clients to do when it comes to achieving their goals of making better choices, increasing physical activity, and, ultimately, living a healthier lifestyle...work with an expert. It's not simply of question of knowing the "right" things to do ~ eating more fruits and vegetables, creating variety with HMR meal replacements, and getting more exercise. Many of us know the "right" things to do. What becomes difficult is holding ourselves accountable, addressing challenging situations, and building the momentum to create a healthier lifestyle. Those are just some of the things that the Full Life Personal Coaches will help you do...they are truly experts in the field of weight management and healthy living.
I made the call today and will be working with a triathlon coach by this weekend. I encourage you to make the call, too...download our FREE Weight Loss Planning Guide and receive a complimentary 15 minute coaching session...see how our experts can help you.
Don't forget to download our April calendar full of healthy tips and ideas!
Posted by Alicia Leeds on Mon, Feb 22, 2010 @ 11:39 AM
Spring is just around the corner - but you may be feeling like a little spring break in February - so... Whip up this yummy Pina Colada, garnish with a maraschino cherry or a fancy paper umbrella and grab your sun block!
You Will Need:
2 Scoops HMR 120 Vanilla Shake
1 Can Crushed Pineapple or 1 Cup Fresh Pineapple
Coconut Extract
Rum Extract
Water and Ice
Start by putting about 1/2 cup water in the blender and adding pineapple, shake mix and extracts (just a couple of drops at a time!). Blend until smooth. Add water and ice to desired flavor and consistency.
Make this shake whenever you need a touch of the tropics (it will help you get bikini ready, too!)
Bon Apetit!
Posted by Alicia Leeds on Mon, Feb 01, 2010 @ 09:44 AM
When I was a kid, bananas made their way into my diet as the most delicious banana bread you can imagine.
Now, while I would love to convince myself that banana bread (and cherry pie and blueberry muffins) offers my required serving of fruit - you know and I know that's a stretch of the imagination that's sure to bust any calorie budget.
Here's a recipe for a thick, rich HMR shake that has all the flavor of fresh baked banana bread AND is packed with protein to keep you going all morning long.
You will need:
16 oz. cold water
1 scoop HMR 120 Vanilla Shake
1 Packet HMR 70+ Chocolate
1 banana
1/2 tsp Cinnamon
Nutmeg
Ice, cubes or crushed
Directions:
Pour water in blender, add HMR 120 Vanilla Shake, HMR 70+ Chocolate Shake, banana, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, pinch nutmeg and blend. Add ice and continue to blend to desired consistency.
You can use any combination of HMR Chocolate and HMR Vanilla shakes for this one - but I think the V120 and C70+ has just the right amount of sweetness and richness to balance the full flavors of the banana and spices.
Bon Apetit!
Posted by Alicia Leeds on Sun, Nov 22, 2009 @ 10:48 PM
This week's recipe comes to us from a creative HMR shake fan. With the holidays fast approaching - trying new shake recipes is a must. The goodies will be tempting so don't try to fight them with the same ho hum. While everyone else is getting loaded with high calorie holiday cocktails, you can enjoy your own brand of fun and ring in the New Year without having to resolve to lose those same ten pounds again!
HMR Shake of the Week Recipe - Butter Rum Fun Shake
You will need:
1 Packet HMR 800 (or HMR 120, HMR 500 or HMR 70+) Vanilla Shake mix
6-8 oz water
1 1/2t Fat Free Sugar Free Butterscotch Jello Pudding Mix
1t Rum extract
ice cubes or crushed as desired
Put all ingredients in the blender (water first) and blend up! Sprinkle a little cinnamon on top to make things festive!
Make sure to check out Full Life's NEW Holiday Survival Guide with a calendar of daily tips to help you manage your weight this holiday season (also includes a healthy gift guide and more!)
For more great Holiday Recipes CLICK HERE
Here's to you - from all of us at Full Life - May you have a healthy and happy Thanksgiving and a great start to your holiday season!
Bon Apetit!
Posted by Alicia Leeds on Wed, Nov 11, 2009 @ 11:58 AM
One of Full Life's most successful clients (who is keeping off over 100 pounds since he lost it in 2002) came to speak to our BLITZ class this week. He said that staying connected to Full Life the past 7 years has been a deciding factor in his long term weight maintenance success.
Achieving Balance Tip #2 - STAY CONNECTED. Go to class no matter what kind of week you have had. Make the call to your Personal Coach or Health Educator. Enroll in the HMR at Home Program and stay in Maintenance. And if you have been out of the loop - RESTART!
Keep the people who support your healthy lifestyle in your life.
If you want to be different, you have to be different. You can do it!
Posted by Alicia Leeds on Tue, Sep 01, 2009 @ 09:21 PM
Nothing helps you stay on track like a new recipe - and HMR has been hard at work in the kitchen to bring you three new HMR Entrees you can mix and match with your favorite veggies.
Just in time for fall - these new entrees are sure to please. There's luscious HMR Beef Stroganoff - hearty chunks of beef with tender egg noodles in a rich and creamy sauce.
Looking for comfort food that won't bust your calorie budget? The new HMR Beef Pot Roast will do the trick.
And, if pasta is your thing, HMR Pasta Fagioli will deliver a taste sensation without the calories.
Try them all! We will be posting our ideas on the Recipe Pages - send us your recipes too!
Bon Appetite!
Posted by Alicia Leeds on Thu, Aug 20, 2009 @ 08:35 PM
One of the questions I get all the time when people are considering the HMR Program is "What is the Success Rate?" Well, as one referring physician said to me this week, "I have never seen anyone do the program as it is designed and not lose weight. "
HMR has always set the standard for excellence in the field and measurable outcomes have been the cornerstone of the HMR Program for more than 25 years.
This month, The Journal of the American Dietetic Association published a new study showing just how effective the HMR Program is. Patients who participated in the Healthy Solutions Program (HMR shakes, HMR entrees and fruits and vegetables, behavioral coaching and 2000 calories PA) lost an average of 37.5 pounds in 18 weeks. These data represent two to three times more weight loss, in less time, compared to published results of any other commercial diet program.
(The HMR at Home Program, the latest, most convenient diet option, uses the same HMR meal replacements and diet structure as HMR Healthy Solutions in a clinical setting.)
What is the success rate? Simply stated... portion and calorie-controlled meal replacements used in a structured weight-loss program are successful in facilitating medically significant weight loss.
Check out this link for more information. http://www.adajournal.org/home