Diet Myths-Busted

Ok I get some fun articles sent to me and this one I really loved. Its from Spark people. Debunking Diet myths. The first one really caught my attention. 1. Do you have to eat less to lose weight? This is not true. No starving! No deprivation! and No Tiny Portions! Fill your plates with lots of healthy food, feeding both your eyes and your stomach. Making you feel more satisfied. You can eat water rich food, foods high in fiber, and plenty of healthy fats while staying in your calorie range 2. Plain vegetables are better.Fat free dressing may not be the way to go. Small amounts of healthy fat are important in helping you feel fuller faster plus is needed to help metabolize certain vitamins and antixodiants. Good option is to ditch the fat free dressing and dip your fork into an olive oil based dressing. 3. Low-Fat Low-Salt meals are flavorless. This is where your spice rack comes in handy guys. You can add plenty of flavor without having to add the extra calories. Make sure you check your labels. A lot of pre-made spices you get from the store are full of sodium so do a double check or mix and match your own flavors instead of opting for one that is pre mixed. 4. Fat free foods are the best choice. This sounds good in theory but when they remove the fat you have to think about what they ad. Most the time it is sugar or salt. To avoid this a good ideal is to try reduced fat instead of fat free. 5. Baking and Steaming are only healthy ways to cook. Not at all true. Grilling, sauteeing, sweating and broiling are a few other alternative ways to cook. These are a few other options for you to cook with and give your food some great taste. If you would like to read more from the article go to http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/slideshow.asp?show=93
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My Update

I need to upload them to my computer since I have a older camera that does not automatically share to Facebook or YouTube but I have video taped myself weighing in and later tonight I am going to video tape myself taking my measurements with my sons help.

I have been doing very well doing my two shakes a day and feel amazing. I usually use fruit but think next week I am going to try a few of the vegetable recipes as well. Good way to sneak more vegetables in my diet. If I like them they will be my lunch and keep the yummy fruit ones for my breakfast. Well update and post which ones I try next week.

I am sorry it has been so long between my updates. My husband is in the Coast Guard and he left for a week came home for a week and than left for three weeks. Heard to get your schedule down when it is constantly changing.

Anyways tomorrow I am going to be brave and post the videos.

Are all fats created equal?

So I was eating my yummy treats from Hawaii that my best friends sends me every year for Christmas and my birthday. So its a goodie box from Hawaii so you know there are going to be Macadamias nuts. I have not been very rigorous on my workouts during the holiday season and except for sticking to my two shakes a day (Body By Vi I love them) and despite munching on my goodies I still broke through this little plateau I was stuck in and lost a pound. So while snacking on a handful nuts I looked over the calorie and nutrition of my yummy nuts and WOW in a 1/4 cup these little guys have 230 calories. Most of which are of course fat 24 grams of fat, 4 grams of carbs and 2 grabs protein. The fat grams are broken down Saturated fat 3.5 grams, Trans fat 0, Polyunsaturated fat 0, and last but not least Monosaturated fat 20 grams. So how with stats like this did I still loose a pound while eating a few (I grab a handful and munch I don't eat a whole bag in one sitting just to clarify) of these covered in chocolate. 

First things first even sliding a bit on my diet replacing my breakfast and lunch with my Visuals shake kept my calorie intake down. The fact that I only maybe had two handfuls a day I am sure helped but to be honest that is not something I would normally have so I was having a hard time believing that replacing my granola bar (90 calorie) snack with this one that was full a fat still feels like I should have gained, right?

So are all fats created equal? Lets break it down a little each gram of fat has 9 calories, for a reference carbs and protein each have 4 calories a gram and alcohol has 7. Fats are essential in absorbing fat soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K and help provide energy. I have also read that it also helps you feel full longer and faster. 

Now lets see the differences between the different kinds of fat:

Saturated Fat: This type of fat is solid at room temperature. Typical found in animal foods, milk, cheese, and meat, and tropical oils for example coconut oil and palm oil. Saturated fat raises your cholesterol.

Trans Fat: This is the one most of my friends check for. This type of fat is found in processed foods to give them a longer shelf life and is also known for raising cholesterol. This is one that seems to be most stressed about and every where you look you are being told to stay away from it.

Unsaturated Fat: This type of fat is usually a liquid at room temperature. Unlike saturated fats may cause your cholesterol to go down. This type of fat is broken down to Polyunsaturated and Monounsaturated.

Polyunsaturated fat: Is found a lot in vegetable oils (ex. Sesame, soybean, and corn) and main fat in seafood. Eating Polyunsaturated fat is thought to help lower LDL Cholesterol. Two types of this fat are Omega-3 and Omega-6. From previous post you guys know knows omegas are very healthy.

Monounsaturated Fat: Mainly found in vegetable oils (ex canola, olive and peanut oils). This type of fat is though to lower the Bad LDL while raising the good HDL cholesterol levels, but only if you cut back on your saturated fat. NO eating both and hoping for results.

I am hoping with me eating my healthier Vi Shakes and eating a handful of these nuts that besides loosing weight and feeling better (oh and lets not forget my pants are getting loose so I am going to say looking better too) that I have helped lower cholesterol. I am not sure if that would have helped with my weight loss but I am sure it didnt hurt. 

Are you ready to get healthy this year? Dont put it off any longer. The only thing you have to loose is the weight  Click here to join the challange!

6 NEW Reasons to Take the Challenge in 2013

Almost everyone I know wants to get in better shape, loose weight, or just be more active. The Body By Vi Challenge helps with all that but if you need more reasons than your health to join let me give you the 6 new reasons to join the millions that have already joined.

1. 90 Day Money Back Guarantee. Insane 90 Day Challenge with a 90 Day money back guarantee. Dont get the results you want, start but dont stay with it....get your money back.

2. OVER 47 MILLION IN FREE PRODUCT AND PRIZES & VACATIONS!!!!!! That was how much was given away last year the goal to beat it this year. 

3. Project 10 Weekly Winners. Every week in 2013 they are giving away $10,000 to 10 people for loosing 10 pounds. Plus EVERYONE gets a "I lost it" T-shirt.

4. Monthy Challenge Finalist- Finalist will now receive a professional photo shoot and free Vi-Gear!

5. Ultimate Transformation Vacation. Your before and after party awaits. This comes complete a with a $5,000 Beverly Hills Wardrobe Shopping Spree!

6. Challenge Trainer. Get the resources you need on your personal challenge at challenge.com. Tools, apps expert tips and expert tips. 

For all these reasons dont forget the most important to join the challenge. YOU!! Feel better about yourself, take your confidence back and be the person you were meant to be. If you looked at these great rewards and you find yourself still thinking about it be honest with yourself, did you just come up with excuses because you are scared of change. That's ok we all do it but its time to get past your fear and live your life the way you want. Message me if you have any questions at leiworkfromhome@gmail.com. IF you are ready to start your challenge Pick a kit and lets get going http://lanischweitzer.myvi.net

Foods that help your immune system

Almost all my friends are sick. I think I have been doing pretty good this year and I am sure a part of it is because I started my 90 Day Challenge and getting Vitamins and Mineral I would be normally missing from my diet. I did not eat a bunch of junk food but I was still missing a lot. Remember to get plenty of sleep, drink lots of water, and colorful fruits and vegetables. You should try to eat a rainbow of colors I am told but beside those tips are parents have told us over the years, here are a few food that will help you boost your immunity as well.

1. Yogurt: We have all seen these commercials raving about probiotics. Probiotics area  healthy bacteria that helps keeps your gut and intestines clean. You can take these in pill form but research has found that 7 oz of yogurt to be just as effective.

2. Oates and Barley: These particular types of grain contain beta-glucan. This type of fiber with antimicrobial and antioxidant capabilities considered more potent than enchinea. In animals this fiber are less likely to get influenza, herpes and even athrax in humans it boost immunity, speeds up wound healing,  and is also thought to help antibiotics work better.

3. Garlic: Garlic contains allican. Allican fights infections and bacteria. In a study those who took garlic are 2/3 less likely to catch a cold.

4. Tea: People who drank four to five glasses of black tea for two weeks had ten times more virus fighting  interferon than those who just drank a hot placebo drink. The ingredient that helped with this is in green or black teas and also in decaf.

5. Chicken Soup: Mom was right, they did a test of 13 different brands and the only that didn't prove to be helpful was chicken flavored Ramen noodles. (I dont personally consider that chicken soup but interesting that they tried it) Chicken soup was found to block migration of inflamotory white cells. Which is good sense cells accumulate in the bronchial tubes.  The salty broth helps keeps mucus thin. Add some garlic and spices for added immunity boost.

6. Fish: Selenium which can be found plentiful in shellfish helps white blood cells produce cytokines. This protein helps clear flu virus from the system. Omega-3 is good for reducing inflammation and increasing air flow.

7. Beef: Zinc, this mineral found to be deficient in most adult diets espically for vegatarians. Zinc is important for white blood cells. White blood cells are what infections and help us heal so making sure you get enough zinc can greatly help boost your immune system.

8. Sweet potatoes: Your skin is your fist line of defense. To stay young and healthy it needs Vitamin A. Sweet potatoes are high in beta-carotene which your body turns into Vitamin A.

9. Mushrooms: This little fungus has proven to make white blood cells more aggressive. 

I hope this helps. I know lots are getting sick right now or are sick the article I got this from is http://www.organicgardening.com/living/9-foods-boost-immune-system

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New Year and my New Years Resolution

The holidays are over, everyone in my house is feeling better and I am ready to get back to my own challenge. So this first post will be about me and I will try and update once a week on my progress with Body By Vi and the 90 Day Challenge. So between my fun articles on ways to loose weight, fun foods, yummy recipes you will get a more personal look at me.

Yesterday I did 30 minutes on the eliptical trainer. Today I started Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred. Its great its just under 30 minutes and I will be able to do in the morning before I get ready for my kids to go to school. I have two boys, I was doing the Insanity workouts but when my schedule changed I needed a shorter workout. 

I hate taking pictures of me. When I was younger I used to love it, than I gained a little weight and had two very big boys. I love them to death but they were big boys and I carried them in front. I swear I looked like a giant egg. I still think I look pregnant but hopefully that will go away as the weight comes off. 

Here is Day 1, January 1, 2013:

Are you ready to start your challenge but have a few more questions? Ready to pick a kit and just get started on your own 90 Day Journey?  http://lanischweitzer.myvi.net