Hard Ball vs. Beach Ball and why diets DON'T work

I'm sorry people but contrary to what every weight-loss product/gimmick would have you believe, diets do NOT work, plain and simple.

The diet industry is a 54 billion dollar industry with a 95% fail rate

Now I ask you? What other business would succeed with those types of numbers? We must stop and think. We must stop being blatantly taken advantage of. Diets are a marketing scheme. They are commercials. They are not factual or scientifically backed.

Now before you decide to throw caution to the wind and eat the nearest pan of brownies, let me explain what I mean.

Low calorie, restricted diets encourage muscle loss.

Yes, if you greatly reduce your caloric intake you will see smaller numbers on the scale. The problem is that you are not losing fat. You are losing precious muscle mass. You are lowering your muscle mass and you are sabotaging your efforts. This is the epitomy of yo-yo dieting. The minute you go back to eating a "normal" diet you will gain all the weight back that you lost plus more because you have lowered your metabolism due to muscle loss. This will begin a vicious cycle of weight loss to weight gain and then a feeling of failure. You are NOT the failure. The diet is failing you.

A calorie, is a calorie, is a calorie. FALSE!

This is a lie promoted by the diet industry. You need to learn to eat a balanced diet that feeds your muscle, stokes your metabolism, burns fat, and prevents precious lean tissue loss. You will not get this by popping a pill or eating 1000 calories per day in the form of 3 brownies and a diet coke. Did you know there is such a thing as the cookie diet? Are you kidding me? The cookie diet!! I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried.

Muscle cell vs. fat cell.

At rest, a muscle cell burns anywhere from 40-60 calories per hour while a fat cell may burn only 1-2 calories per hour. This means, that someone with a leaner body mass (i.e more muscle) will burn more calories sitting on the couch than their friend with a higher percentage of body fat. This is why strength training is crucial for weight loss.

We are far too dependent on the numbers on the scale.

We can have two people who, on the scale, have the exact same numbers but when we visually look at them they are two different people. One of them wears a size 6 and the other wears a size 10. Why is that?

Body composition is what truly matters.

In short, body composition is your percentage of body fat. Let me give you an example, we have two women who both weigh 140 pounds. One of them is 18% body fat and the other is 40% body fat. The woman who is 18% body fat wears a size 8. The woman who is 40% body fat wears a size 12 or 14. The woman who is 18% body fat can eat 800 more calories per day than the woman who is 40% body fat because, at rest, her increased muscle burns more calories.

Hard ball vs. a beach ball. What does that mean?

You want to be the hard ball. Diets promote the beach ball. A 1 lb. hard ball or a 1 lb. beach ball. Which one is visually smaller? What type of body would you rather have?

The bottom line, low calorie diets do not work. Exercise without proper nutrition, does not work. You must pair a balanced diet with exercise in order to see results.

If you'd like to understand more about what it means to gain lean tissue, eat a healthy, balanced diet, that burns fat and improves metabolism please contact me at abby.kurtz@hcfit.com

A healthy recipe just in time for Thanksgiving

Every favorite at the Thanksgiving table can be modified in to a healthier version with just as much flavor and decadence. I tested this recipe last night on my husband and I. We liked it so much that we have decided it's a keeper for the meal on Thursday.

Garlicky Butternut Squash Bake

Ingredients:

1 large butternut squash, peeled and cut into to 1-inch cubes

2 Tbl. fresh parsley, chopped (or 2 tsp dried)

2 Tbl. fresh sage, chopped (or 2 tsp dried)

2 Tbl. Olive oil

2 cloves Garlic, minced

1 Tsp. sea salt

1/2 Tsp. Peppers

1/4 C. shredded parmesan cheese

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl (minus the parmesan). Place combined ingredients in a casserole dish and bake uncovered at 400 degrees for 45 minutes or until soft. Sprinkle Parmesan on top just as it's pulled out of the oven.

Enjoy!

Things I learned from a 60-day challenge

Well it's finally here. The day I've anticipated for 60 days, is finally here. This Friday will mark 60 days since I have consumed sugar, caffeine or alcohol. I started this cleanse 58 days ago in an effort to remove items that I felt were addictive and toxic from my diet. I am extremely excited to indulge in a glass of wine with my meal on friday night and yet I'm approaching this ending with some amount of apprehension. I'm almost fearful of going back to my "old ways". I know myself and I know that I'm not good with moderation. I tend to fall toward the extremes of things. I like to workout overly hard, compete with a vengance, binge on unhealthy foods, make myself cup after cup of home-brewed espresso, and drink to excess. It's a little embarrassing to admit this since I am supposed to be an example of health and wellness for my clients, but the fact of the matter is that we are all human and we all have our flaws. Sometimes I think it's good for my clients to see my transparency and realize that I too have struggles with food. Living a healthy lifestyle is a journey, one in which you have to make the choice each day to treat your body with love and respect.

And now a time of reflection as I look back on the things I've learned about myself from my 60-day cleanse....................................

1. I have a lot more self-control then I ever thought I did

2. Sugar is terrible for you. It causes stomach problems and bloating and generally makes you feel like crap.

3. Energy should come from whole foods, not caffeine buzzes (although buzzes are kind of fun)

4. I have a hard time with moderation. I'm an all or nothing type of girl.

5. I can have plenty of fun without alcohol in my life and I feel a hell-of-alot better the next morning.

6. I am extremely competitive in nature. Once the word was out that I was doing this there was no stopping me.

7. People are supportive of my efforts. There wasn't one person in my life who spoke negatively about my efforts.

And before I end this blog I have to give a shout out to one of my HCF clients who has taken up the challenge for herself and has committed to her own 60-day program (over the holiday season no less). Jessica, we salute you and support your efforts.

Split Pea and Root Vegetable Soup

I made this fabulous soup for dinner tonight. It seemed a fitting choice for a chilly fall day. I made it earlier in the day and let it simmer in the pot for a couple of hours. This really made the flavor come alive and softened up the peas to a more soup-like consistency. For simplicity sake, I didn't include the turkey, although, I'm sure that would have been delicious. This was really easy to prepare and well worth the wait. Another rave review from my hubby.

INGREDIENTS:

6 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

3 Med. carrots, chopped

2 Lrg. parsnips, peeled and chopped

2 Med. leeks, white and lightest green parts only, well washed and chopped

1/2 C. fresh parsley (I used dried, probably about 3 tsp.)

2 1/2 tsp. dried thyme

2 tsp. dried marjoram

3 bay leaves

11 C. low-fat, low-sodium chicken stock (I did about 9 cups because I like a thicker soup)

3 C. dried split peas

1 1/2 roasted turkey breast, bone in

PREPARATION:

1. Heat olive oil in heavy stockpot over low heat. Add root vegetables and herbs. Cover and cook until vegetables are soft, about 20 minutes.

2. Add all the chicken stock, peas and roasted meat. Bring to a simmer, cover partially and cook until peas are tender and the soup begins to thicken a little. This takes about 45 minutes.

3. Remove turkey and cut meat into one-inch cubes. Discard the bone. Remove bay leaves. Return meat to soup and serve.

*Again, I didn't put any turkey in my soup and it was fantastic without it. We didn't even miss it.

**I recommend Trader Joe's brand low-fat, low-sodium chicken broth

NUTRITIONAL VALUE PER SERVING:

Calories:405/ Calories from fat:8g/ Protien:35g/ Carbs:45.5g/ Fiber:17g/ Sugars:6g/ Fat:9g/ Sodium:390mg

SERVINGS: 10

Your Holiday Survival Action Plan

Yup, it's that time of year again. The time of year when we are surrounded by office treats, cocktail parties, family gatherings, grandma's pecan pie, and if we're not careful, an ever expanding waist line. How do we cope when there is unhealthy, tempting food everywhere we turn? The answer is by making a plan. You must have a plan for how you will cope with mom pressuring you to eat one more serving, how you'll fend off well intentioned friends pushing yet another Christmas cookie in your face. To go in to the holidays without a master plan is a recipe for disaster.

"If you fail to plan, you plan to fail."

Here are some examples of what your plan may look like:

1. Before going to any party drink a large glass of water, eat an apple, and a handful of nuts.

2. Never go to a party hungry. Never go into a holiday meal without having eaten the entire day. This will only encourage you to binge.

3. Before choosing options from the buffet table, scan the entire menu, choose items that are healthier such as; cut up veggies and hummus, shrimp cocktail, fruit plates. Forgo fried items.

4. If you know you will be attending a party where all the food will be unhealthy offer to bring a dish that you know is healthy.

5. If mom has a way of guilting you in to eating more, remember that you are an adult with the ability to make your own decisions, and kindly refuse her offerings.

6. Plan to allow yourself some grace. There will be certain treats this time of year that you just can't resist, eat them, but do so in moderation. You can eat a small piece of pie but choose pumpkin over pecan.

7. Stay away from alcohol. Alcohol is a real diet and self-control buster. The added unnecessary calories and the effect that alcohol has on your body make it a very bad choice. If you really must have alcohol, drink it in moderation or make your glass of wine a spritzer. You'll feel like you're having a treat but you'll be cutting the calories.

8. Before you fill your plate with food, look at the food choices, mentally decide which foods you can't live without and which you can. Take a modest portion of each option and ONLY FILL YOUR PLATE ONCE.

9. If you are hosting the meal take the time to look up healthier alternatives to all your favorites. There are droves of cookbooks and websites dedicated to this option and the lighter fares taste just as good, if not better, than the originals. (I'll site my Eat-Clean Diet Cookbook again. There is an entire chapter dedicated to a healthy holiday meal plan)

10. Now is the time to stick to your regular program of exercise. If you will be away from home or rushed for time, think of alternatives to your regular program. Pack resistance bands in your bag, bring your sneakers wherever you go so you can pop them on to go for a walk or a run. Keep exercise in the forefront of your mind and make it a priority now more than ever.

11. Gather the family together for a Thanksgiving morning Turkey Trot. These "races" are usually a 5k-10k in distance. They are laid back so even the novice can walk and not feel uncomfortable. Here's the turkey trot that I'll be running with my family http://www.kalamazooarearunners.com/2009TurkeyTrot.html

12. Plan to play a game of touch football after the meal.

13. Plan to take a family walk after the meal.

14. Plan out which holidays and parties are special. Choose only a couple of occasions in which you will "splurge". Allow yourself one really special treat at each occasion and then get back on the healthy eating and exercise wagon the very next day.

The bottom line is, you can make it through the holiday season without weight gain. With proper planning and a realistic attitude you will have the tools to make it through the holidays. Allow yourself your treats here and there but don't spend the next 3 months gorging yourself at every turn. If you can create and follow your plan, come new years day you'll already be ahead of the resolution game.

As always, I'd love to hear your ideas. If you have have some of your own strategies for making it through the holidays, please share them with us.

Increasing your exercise is as easy as taking the stairs

You say you don't have time to exercise? I beg to differ. Read on for simple strategies on how you can get your 30 minutes per day.

30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise on most days of the week (think 5) is the minimum amount of exercise needed to achieve cardiovascular and health-related benefits. (Remember: more is needed if weight loss is the goal) The good news for people who are time crunched is that you can accumulate this 30 minutes throughout your day. You can break it up in to three manageable 10 minute periods.

Ideas for increasing your daily activity:

WALK ON YOUR LUNCH BREAK

PARK IN THE FARTHEST SPOT FROM THE STORE ENTRANCE

TAKE A WALK AFTER DINNER

WALK OR BIKE TO WORK

CLIMB THE STAIRS TO YOUR OFFICE INSTEAD OF TAKING THE ELEVATOR

ON YOUR 15 MINUTE BREAK, CLIMB THOSE STAIRS AGAIN

Here are a few random facts on stair climbing that I gathered from a recent article in the Intelligencer.

67% RISE IN STAIR USE AT A 10-STORY MIDDLE-INCOME HOUSING COMPLEX IN THE BRONX AFTER THE CITY STARTED POSTING "BURN CALORIES, NOT ELECTRICITY" SIGNS

33% DIFFERENCE, IN A HARVARD STUDY, IN MORTALITY RATES BETWEEN MEN WHO CLIMBED MORE THAN 55 FLIGHTS OF STAIRS A WEEK AND THOSE WHO DIDN'T

STAIR-CLIMBING IS A MORE EFFICIENT FORM OF EXERCISE THAN WALKING: TWO ADDITIONAL MINUTES OF STAIR-CLIMBING PER DAY (APPROXIMATELY 3 FLOORS) CAN BURN MORE THAN ENOUGH CALORIES TO ELIMINATE THE AVERAGE ADULT'S ANNUAL WEIGHT GAIN

People are discouraged by boredom and encouraged by novelty. What can you do to make exercise more appealing to you? How about making it more fun?

WORKOUT WITH A BUDDY, TAKE TURNS MAKING UP NEW EXERCISES

EXPERIMENT WITH A NEW CLASS

PICK UP A FITNESS MAGAZINE AND TRY SOME NEW EXERCISES

PURCHASE A NEW WORKOUT VIDEO SUCH AS TAW KWON DO OR HIP HOP

TRY A BOOTCAMP STYLE WORKOUT

GO ON A WALK/RUN WITH A FRIEND

RUN AROUND AND PLAY WITH YOUR CHILDREN IN THE YARD

Take a look at this video clip and see the measures that some folks in Sweden went to in order to encourage people to take the stairs.

See, making exercise fun really works! I love that clip. :)

Eat-Clean Hummus

I recently purchased a new cookbook called the Eat-Clean Diet Cookbook. So, far every recipe that I have tried has been delicious and easy to prepare. I feel like I must share some of these awesome recipes on my blog because they are just to good to keep all to myself. Personally, I LOVE hummus. It's the perfect snack with protein, carb, and healthy fat all rolled in to one tasty concoction. I love to dip whole wheat pita, carrots, celery, tomatoes, etc. in to my dip. I recommend trader joe's brand mini whole wheat pitas. They don't have high fructose corn syrup or sugar of any kind hidden in them and they are dirt cheap. I keep my freezer stocked at all times.

INGREDIENTS:

2 cloves of garlic

2 cups canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed well

1 tsp. sea salt

1/3 cup tahini (sesame seed paste you can find at the grocery)

juice of 2 fresh lemons

1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

*you may need to add warm water to your recipe to get it to your desired consistency

PREPARATION:

Place all ingredients in a food processor. Pulse for a few minutes until well combined but still a little coarse. Adjust seasonings as desired. Transfer to serving bowl and serve or cover in tupperware and keep in fridge. Keeps well.

Makes 32 one-tbsp servings

*I usually half the recipe because it makes quite a lot but my husband and I really like hummus so we go through it very quickly. I usually make a fresh batch every weekend.

*This is super easy to whip up and much better than the store bought versions

NUTRITIONAL VALUE PER 1 TABLESPOON SERVING:

Calories: 35/Calories from fat: 15/Protein: 1g/Carbs: 4g/Fiber: 0.7g/Fat: 1g/Sodium: 94mg

Your Do Anywhere Workout

Do you have a body?

Then you can do this workout!

It is perfect for anyone who travels, doesn't have any equipment, or is in a time crunch. This workout should be done as a circuit. That means you will move quickly from one exercise to the next with as little rest as possible. Take about 30 seconds of rest at the end of each round. This workout is challenging but can be modified. Look below for suggested modifications.

WARM-UP:

20 high knee marches in place

30 jumping jacks

REPEAT 1 x more, no rest

WORKOUT:

20 bodyweight squats

60 seconds jump rope

15 pushups (can be modified on the knees)

60 seconds jump rope

20 each stationary lunges

60 seconds jump rope

30 ab bicycles

60 seconds jump rope

30-45 second forearm plank hold

60 seconds jump rope

rest 30 seconds

REPEAT 2 x more

Don't have a jump rope?

You don't really need one. Use an imaginary jump rope and perform the exercise just as if you were jumping a regular rope

Can't do a full 60 seconds of rope?

Start with 30 seconds and work your way up

Need more rest time?

Listen to your body. As you get stronger shorten your rest periods between exercises. Challenge yourself.

As always, if you have never exercised before, consult your physician to make sure that you are cleared for exercise. This workout may not be appropriate for everyone.

Enjoy!

Eat-Clean Tuna Burgers

I had these tuna burgers last night and they were a smashing success. If you don't like tuna, I don't see any reason why you couldn't substitute with Salmon. The recipe says it only makes 4 burgers but I only made a half batch and was able to make 3 HUGE tuna burgers. If you're only cooking for one or two people I definitely recommend cutting the recipe in half.

INGREDIENTS:

2 lbs fresh tuna steak - the flesh should be deeply colored and mild smelling

4 cloves garlic, passed through a garlic press

2 Tbsp. low sodium soy sauce

2 Tbsp. unsulfured molasses

3 green onions, finely chopped

1/2 sweet red pepper, finely chopped

1/2 sweet purple or vidalia onion, finely chopped

2 Tsp. sesame oil

sea salt and black pepper to taste

1 Tbsp mixed herbal seasoning of your choice

olive oil for coating the finished burgers and grill to prevent sticking

Ezekiel grain buns or other whole wheat/sugar-free buns (I find the Ezekiel buns to be VERY hearty and even a little over powering so I eat the burger open-faced without the top bun)

CONDIMENTS:

leaf lettuce or arugula leaves

sliced tomato

sliced purple onion

hummus

mango salsa or salsa of your choice (watch for hidden sugar)

PREPARATION:

1. Place tuna in a food processor and pulse until meat resembles texture of ground turkey or beef. In large mixing bowl combine, garlic, soy sauce, molasses, green onions, red pepper, vidalia onions, sesame oil, herbal seasoning, and salt and pepper to taste. Add tuna. With clean bare hands, mix all ingredients until uniformly distributed. Divide in to four parts and shape into flat patties. (my recipe made much more than this) Lightly brush the outside of the burgers with olive oil to prevent sticking.

2. Lightly coat the grill with olive oil. Place over medium heat. Place patties on grill, cook for 2 minutes and flip. Cook for another 2 minutes. This will make a rare burger. If you want your burger medium to well done, cook each side for 4 minutes.

*I would suggest putting the burgers on olive oil-coated aluminum foil to prevent sticking to the grill.

3. Meanwhile, toast buns lightly. Spread bottom half with hummus. Place lettuce greens of your choice on top and set burger on top of that. Add condiments of your choice and serve immediately.

NUTRITIONAL VALUE PER SERVING:

Calories:391/Calories from fat:41/Protien:28g/Carbs:61g/Dietary fiber:3g/Sugars:6g/Fat:0.4g/Sodium:768mg

Makes 4 servings (mine made more)

Current ACSM Guidelines for Exercise

The American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association have created a set of standards in regard to exercise frequency, intensity, and duration. These standards are outlined below but for more in depth information please visit the ACSM website at

http://www.acsm.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home_Page&TEMPLATE=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=7764

Guidelines for healthy adults under the age of 65 (if the goal is overall health)

DO moderately intense cardiovascular exercise for 30 minutes at least 5 x per week

DO vigorously intense cardiovascular exercise for 20 minutes 3 x per week

DO 8-10 strength training exercises, 8-12 repetitions of each exercise, at least 2 x per week

Moderate-intensity physical activity means working hard enough to raise your heart rate and break a sweat, yet still be able to talk. This can also be deemed the "talk test". The "talk test" means that you can talk but you are breathing with some amount of difficulty. Vigorous-intensity exercise is more difficult than moderate-intensity. You will only be able to say a word or two at a time when you are exercising at this level. This is hard work!

It is important to note that the above recommendations are for health purposes only and more time, 60-90 minutes at a time, may be necessary for weight loss and weight maintenance. The 30 minute time recommendation is for healthy adults who wish to maintain a healthy lifestyle and prevent chronic disease.

If you don't have enough time in the day to complete a 30 minute chunk of exercise don't give up, research has shown that your moderate-intensity physical activity can be accumulated throughout the day and can be just as effective as exercising for a constant 30 minutes. Here are some helpful suggestions for accumulating your 30 minutes:

1. walk for 10 minutes on your lunch break

2. walk for 10 minutes around the soccer field and cheer on your kids as they play

3. Walk 10 minutes to the grocery store

Wahlah! There you have it. 30 minutes accumulated throughout your day. This is extremely useful when trying to fit physical activity in to an already busy schedule.

Are you getting your daily/weekly amount of recommended exercise? If not, what can you do today to start making exercise and physical activity a part of your every day routine? Any suggestions/comments on how you fit physical activity in to your busy lifestyle? I'd love to hear your ideas.

A tasty and healthy dessert

This recipe is from the "Eat Clean Diet Cookbook" by Tosca Reno. I highly recommend this cookbook. The recipes are very healthy and VERY delicious. My husband and I have tried several of the dinner recipes and this cookbook has yet to let us down. My husband gives all the recipes that we have tried a thumbs up.

Apple Crumble:

INGREDIENTS:

1.5 lbs of cooking apples

1/4 cup whole-wheat flour or gluten free flour

1/4 cup rolled oats

3 Tbsp canola oil (extra may be needed)

1/4 cup pitted dates, finely chopped

1/4 cup unsalted sunflower seeds

cinnamon to taste - I like a lot of cinnamon

cooking spray

PREPARATION:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Prepare an ovenproof 8 x8 dish by coating it with cooking spray

2. Core and slice the unpeeled apples. Place in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 5 minutes. Pour cooked fruit into baking dish.

3. In a separate bowl, mix the flour, cinnamon, and oats. Rub in the oil and stir until the mixture resembles crumbs. You may need to add more canola oil until desired texture is reached. Stir in dates and sunflower seeds. Sprinkle crumbly mixture over the fruit.

4. Bake in the oven for 25 minutes.

5. Apples are naturally very sweet on their own, especially once they are cooked. I suggest trying the dessert first before you add any sugar. I eat mine without any added sweetness but if you find you must have a bit more sweetness, drizzle your serving with some organic honey. This dessert tastes best served warm.

5. ENJOY!

NUTRITIONAL VALUE PER SERVING:

273 calories/calories from fat: 137/protien: 3g/carbs:35g/dietary fiber:7g/Fat:15g/Sodium:2mg

4 SERVINGS

Exercise is Medicine

In my experience doctors are more interested in treating symptoms then getting to the actual cause of the ailment. They are often quick to write prescriptions for pain, blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol. Now I realize that there are many cases in which a person does need to be put on pharmaceutical care but do the doctors ever talk to the patient about lifestyle modifications? Do they ever give real world advice on how to incorporate healthy nutrition and exercise into one's daily life? I wonder what it would be like if doctors always referred clients to registered dieticians and personal trainers. What if this was common protocol? What if medicine always worked cooperatively alongside lifestyle modifications to give the patient a better outcome.

Watch this utube video to see how you can start the conversation with your physician.

http://www.youtube.com/v/GYBLR7DhjVY&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6

"Whad'ya want a cookie?"

Precisely! I would LOVE a cookie right about not but alas, I'm on a 60 day challenge to forgo sugar, caffeine, and alcohol. That means cookies are off limits. These days it seems that everywhere I turn there is a cupcake or a bowl of ice cream taunting me with it's evil sugary goodness. I'm pretty sure I had a dream last night that a cookie sprouted legs and chased me down the aisles of the grocery store screaming, "eat me, eat me!".

All joking aside, It's really crazy how much of a hold sugar has on us, not only over our minds but also over our bodies. It really is an addiction. Now that I've got it out of my system I feel great. I won't lie that it hasn't been hard at times but the cravings have really started to die down and I feel great.

Today I'm writing this blog to commemorate the 30 day mark of my 60 day challenge. I'm still hanging in there and things are going relatively smoothly, just in case you actually cared.

If you'd like to know more about how to cut sugar from your diet, shoot me an email. I'd love to hear your thoughts and/or comments.

How to Make Your Own Cereal

Here is an easy recipe for making your very own, sugar-free, high-protien, complex-carb cereal. It's not an exact science. Just mix things together in the ratio that you prefer.

Old fashioned rolled oats

Ezekiel cereal https://www.foodforlife.com/index.html

slivered almonds or walnuts

dried fruit of your choice (make sure there is no sugar added)

cinnamon

Serve with unsweetened Almond Milk http://www.bluediamond.com/index.cfm?navid=53

Personally, I like vanilla unsweetened almond milk because the vanilla gives it a little sweetness but no added sugar.

Pour the almond milk over a cup of your cereal and heat in the microwave for 60 seconds.

Eat this with a scrambled egg and you've got yourself a meal.

Enjoy!

my 60 day challenge

I've recently decided that there were some bad habits in my life that I needed to cut out. For me, it's always been easier to go "cold turkey" rather than to try and use moderation. Of course I feel it's true "all things in moderation" but it's harder to put in to practice and I really felt like my body needed a jump start.

So, what have I decided to cut out for 60 days? Sugar, caffeine, and alcohol. Honestly, I thought the alcohol was going to be the hardest because I love a great glass of vino with a fine meal. However, it turns out, that sugar has been my hardest hurdle. Sugar is EVERYWHERE. It's in your breakfast cereal, it's in those supposedly "healthy" snacks that you find in the organic aisle at the grocery, it's in tomato paste, and many other unexpected places. I've discovered that you can have a diet that does not include hidden sugars. I'm making my own cereal and have stopped eating sugary granola bars. All of these measures have virtually eliminated my sugar intake.

The caffeine part has only been hard on occasion because I view it as a social thing that I like to do on the weekends. I do miss walking to the local coffee shop on a Saturday or Sunday morning for a cappuccino or making my own home brewed espresso. My husband was sipping a frothy cup the other morning and I'm pretty sure I was drooling.

The absence of alcohol speaks for itself. At 7 calories per gram it packs a pretty hefty calorie punch. In the end alcohol is really just a bunch of empty calories and it impairs your fat metabolism. This is obviously not a good thing.

I think people wonder why I'm doing this. It's mostly a personal health decision but it's also in the hopes that I'll break the addictions. Yes, sugar is an addiction. The first week I had extreme headaches and I couldn't figure out why but now I think it was from the lack of sugar. I'm on about day 25 right now and I feel great. I'm a lot less bloated and I'm much more satisfied in between meals because I'm not creating the huge glucose and insulin spikes followed by extreme hypoglycemia. I'm not doing this for some sort of crash dieting reason but I am hoping that my changes will develop into a habit and I'll find myself with a lot less cravings for these items as I slowly add them back in to my healthy diet.

Will you join me in my challenge? Can you do it for 60 days? How about 30? 2 weeks? Let me know if you're in on it and we can encourage one another along the way. Your body will thank you for it.

HCF client completes 1st Chicago Marathon

House Call Fitness is proud of Julie Fisher for finishing her very first marathon in 3:51:20. For those of you who have never run a marathon this is a VERY respectable time. It’s about 8:30 per mile for 26.2 miles.

I’ve had the honor of watching Julie as she trained for over 6 months to achieve this goal. She was out there hitting the pavement when most of us were still in bed sleeping. She ran when it was raining. She ran when it was dark. She knocked out miles on a treadmill when it was too nasty to be outside. She ran through blisters. She never missed a long run. All of her hard work paid off with a sub 4 hour marathon.

I think the part that I find the most inspiring about her journey is that she completed all of her training while being the mother to two young boys. Read on for a short interview with Julie.

Abby: What was the hardest part about training for the marathon?

Julie: Choosing to do a training run instead of doing other things, like sleeping in, having a leisurely breakfast with my family, and getting together with friends.

Abby: What was the best part about training for the marathon?

Julie: The sense of accomplishment that I got from building my mileage each week. Seeing the muscle definition in my legs was an added perk.

Abby: Did anything funny or strange happen to you on race day or during the race?

Julie: The funniest/strangest thing was the urination situation. There were guys peeing up against trees, in gatorade bottles, wherever. A woman in my start corral was wearing a blanket around her. Another woman in my start corral asked the blanket woman to hold up her blanket so the other woman could sit down on the curb on Columbus Drive and pee. All the normal peeing rules went out the window.

There was also a “green man” running the race - a guy wearing a head-to-toe green lycra-type suit. You couldn’t see his face. I’m not sure if he could see or breathe.

Abby: What was it like to run the Chicago marathon?

Julie: It was harder than I could have imagined. I’m glad I did it, but man, was it hard.

The physical experience aside, the race itself was amazing. The crowds were so supportive, the course, particularly on the northside, has such great energy. The race is well-run, and the runners are generally a very friendly bunch.

Abby: How did you feel in those last few miles? What was going through your mind?

Julie: I wanted to stop. I felt sick and tired, literally. The nausea was overwhelming, and my legs were having a hard time moving. I was so uncomfortable. When the pace group behind the one I started with passed me, I tried to pick it up to join them, but I just couldn’t do it. And I was too tired to care. I just wanted to be done.

The things that helped me keep going were (1) my husband, who rode his bike to several spots in the marathon to cheer me along;I would count the blocks until I could see him again, (2) my kids and their sweet faces along the way, and (3) the other runners who gave words of encouragement as they passed me in those last rough miles.

Abby: What advice would you give to someone who is training for their first marathon?

Julie: I guess it would be, “listen to your body.” but then again, sometimes you have no choice but to listen.

A big thanks to Julie for taking the time to tell us about her marathon experience. Now she can get back to icing those sore muscles.

Alaska and Beyond

As many of you know, I recently took a trip to Alaska. It’s hard to believe that it’s been over a week since I came home. The trip was just what I needed. I think it’s good for the soul to leave the city behind and delve into nature. I’m convinced that hiking is a metaphor for life. You climb and climb and just when you think you can’t climb anymore, you reach the peak, only to find yourself surrounded by more mountains as far as the eye can see. Life presents us with many challenges but we can choose to keep pushing forward toward the next peak. There is always something higher, a greater challenge, a bigger goal. What’s your next goal? What’s one thing that you can do tomorrow that you couldn’t do today? What will you be able to do in a month? Six months? A year? Can you make it 5 more minutes on the treadmill? Can you lift 5 more pounds? Can you lose that 25 pounds once and for all? Can you train for your first race? I challenge you. Look up at that peak, put one foot in front of the other and go for it!

We are up and Blogging!

House Call Fitness is pleased to announce the start of it's adventures in blogging. Here you can check out all the latest in fitness and personal training. There will be equipment reviews, exercise demos, the latest scientific research on fitness related topics, nutrition tips, etc. Come back often and leave your questions and comments.