Shelf it! Do the Ultimate Reset

I'm doing the Ultimate Reset the first week of January. So is my family. This past weekend we've gone to three holiday parties. Last night Zane ate an entire row of fudge, Beaudy had two pieces of cheesecake, and I have to take a stand.  This morning they were an absolute wreck. Beaudy was so groggy, he left late for school. Zane could not leave the bathroom (he might still be there). I'm fixing it.  I'd love for you to join me.  Why? It helps with a few lil' things such as:

Mood/Patience

Before UR:

• Irritable because you’ve missed every traffic light this morning and are now running late because you hit the snooze one too many times;

• Impatient and unwilling to tolerate people who have a stack of coupons, gift cards that need to be redeemed, or want to count their coins as they pay for their groceries;

• Anxious that you are missing something, somewhere—something important—but you can’t put your finger on it;

• On-edge about the endless list of tasks you’ve built;

• Defensive when your smart phone corrects the word “are” into “ate,”

• Persnickity with your comment-making about people’s posts on Facebook.

 After UR: You will feel much more balanced. Not bubbly euphoria fake-happy balance, but true balance. At a four way stop, you will smile and wave for the person in the car kitty corner to you to go first, you won’t feel the urge to press snooze because you are SO eager to start your day, you will start tipping the cashier at Kroger because ringing the bell for service just won’t seem like enough. When you start to feel edgy about a pending project or frustrated about unreturned emails, you will bring yourself back to equilibrium. And you won’t feel the need to reach for food as a crutch.

We have two elves, they don't share a toilet.

 Digestion/Regularity

(Okay, well my boys really love passing all sorts of bodily gases. Even our elf on the shelf likes to pass gas)

Before UR: Frequent bloating, gassiness. Do you even KNOW if you are bloated? Or, are you walking around in a constant state of bloat and have become so used to it, you don’t even realize it?

After UR: Significant improvement, including much less bloating and better regularity than you could ever remember. If this is something you’ve never struggled with, be thankful. For those of you who have/do, you know what an achievement (and relief) it is to experience daily.

Join me, your tummy will thank you. www.myultimatereset.com/bodybybrig2

Looking for a Venti dose of energy with extra pep

Ultimate Reset and Energy

When people are feeling weighed down by stress, the chemical processes in our bodies result in fat storage and mental sludginess (not sure if that’s a word, but that’s what it feels like).  Our bodies are not able to digest food as well when we are harboring negative emotions; everything slows down inside of us and the fat accumulates.  Stress is high in my world right now.  Maybe it’s that the kids are getting older and need more of my direct attention; maybe I’m missing my dad, and won’t see him this Christmas; maybe I’ve signed on for one too many things; maybe I fear the “letdown” on the holiday season; maybe in my quest to help others, I’m pushing people away—and I’m internalizing.  For whatever reason, I know you are feeling it, too.  In the darkest dark of your night, I know you are ALSO stressed. Admit it. Stress is an energy thief.

BEFORE THE ULTIMATE RESET:  Zombie hood. You are tired by 4pm. You crave sugar. You are crabby, snappy, and irritable.  You've become snarky in your comment making. You skip workouts and flip on the TV rather than read to the kids because it’s “easier.” You decide to head to ______________ because you didn’t get that grocery shopping in yet, and now it’s cold and dark.  The grocery store will be busy; you don’t want to wait in line.  You justify your long day, and eat fast food. You feel exhausted, but know that when your head hits the pillow your list of things that “need to be finished” starts to tick through your brain. You eventually fall into a fitful sleep, waking up the next morning-- only to feel worse. You wait for Friday to catch up with your life.   You supplement all day long with your favorite form of caffeine, and maybe you supplement with your favorite form adult beverage at night. You tell yourself, “Caffeine is good for my metabolism,” and “The tannins in red wine help me relax.”

AFTER THE ULTIMATE RESET: You will no longer drag yourself through the day (don’t tell me you aren’t—you are not being honest with yourself)! You will have no problem hopping out of bed at 5:30am with sustainable energy. There is no mid-afternoon need to grab a Diet Coke or Snickers bar. You will have made it through “withdrawal” and won’t desire it. Yep, I said it: withdrawal.

Think…are you reading this post at a time in your life when you really need a change? Are the words hitting you where it hurts? Is it making your wonder about your life and choices? If it is—please join me on January 5, 2013 with the Ultimate Reset. You will be a different person at the end of the journey. www.myultimatereset.com/bodybybrig

Withdrawal from Addiction

The Ultimate Reset is one of the hardest things I’ve done. Basically, you put yourself though “withdrawal” much like a drug addicted person would.  Only, you DECIDE purposely to do this (and in my case, with my family).  You decide it because you have finally figured out that your health, your functioning, and your life needs to be at its peak level. 

Why? It makes you a better parent, better spouse or significant other (or opens you up to this possibility), better worker, friend, sibling, member of the community, boss, employee, athlete. Breaking free of the unclean cycle of eating and drinking is life-changing.  Mind altering.  I’m not kidding.

The Ultimate Reset creators takes a holistic approach, provides exact guidance on what to eat, when to it, and how much to eat (no room for error or guess work). The UR enables you to address stress—even if you think you’ve got it all under control.  UR helps you focus on your breathing, sleep, relationships, how you handle situations, how you react to the world, and physical activities.

Doubters will condemn, “I’m not taking a bunch of powders and pills, that’s nonsense.”  Nay Sayers will refute, “There is nothing wrong with me, I feel fine,” People who spend tons on money on fast food will justify, “I can’t afford it." But, just how much are you spending in prescription drug care per month? Or, how much will you end up spending at the pharmacy for allergy medicines, Tylenol or Advil, migraine meds, eczema creams, eye drops, nose sprays, and other stuff?

The UR is much more than an expensive “diet.” The Ultimate Reset is an experiential lesson in self-care, cooking, slowing down and being present. If you commit, if you find it in your budget to purchase (no joke, its expensive—but most likely the best money you will ever spend because it changes you), and if you follow the program, you will be a different person at the end of the journey. 

I am starting the Ultimate Reset on January 5, 2013. Would be honored if you join me in the journey.

www.myultimatereset.com/bodybybrig

Need to lose 3 pounds by tonight's Christmas party

www.bodybybrig.com
I have a holiday party tonight. A holiday party for athletes. Last night, I ordered take out; this morning my face is almost swollen shut.  I need a flatter belly and looser jeans by 7:00pm. Should I go to one of those wrap places? Only drink water all day? Suck down a pot of coffee to up my metabolism? Who am I kidding? I should not have ordered the Chinese. Everytime I do, I tell myself, "This is the last time." Whatever.

Holiday Party pants

Losing 3 pounds today won’t be possible, but it  IS realistic to drop 3-5 pounds in five days—or at least drop  enough to make you feel better. Even more jolly, you don’t have to crash diet, swallow strange purple pills that are no longer legal in the United States, or feel like running to the gas station convenience store to get your cravings under control on the drive home from work.

I’ve got a few tips (besides foam rolling everyday) that will work. Staying adequately hydrated, exercising for a reasonable amount of time (have you watched my 10 minute quick workouts for December?), and breathing deeply – will help our bodies thrive in the midst of our stressful, chaotic, and emotionally exhausting lives (ironic how these little tidbits contribute to weight gain—and Chinese food ordering--in the first place).  Did I mention I’m doing the Ultimate Reset in January?

So put down that Sonic drink, and get a jump on sliding into those Rock and Republics by Monday. Here's one way how.

Get rid of the salt.  Who knew your favorite granola bar or canned tuna could double as a salt lick saltier than one you could buy at Bass Pro Shop? In a recent report published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about American sodium consumption, researchers found that approximately 75 percent of the sodium in the typical American diet doesn't come from the shaker -- it's added to commercial foods during processing.

Cut the added sodium and you'll lose water weight and bloat (there must be a ton of sodium in Chinese food). Even a lot of "healthy" foods—Whole Food grocery store and Market Street type of foods-- (think Kashi cereals, cottage cheeses, and even some frozen vegetable mixes!) are high in salt. So? These can easily be replaced with oatmeal, Greek yogurt, and fresh veggies.

One trick: The more potassium you consume, the more your body will get rid of sodium, says Reardon. Sweet potatoes, coconut water, apricots, bananas, cantaloupes, figs,  and  oranges are all sodium reducers. Sodium flushers, if you will.  So...I’m off to grab a banana and swig down some coconut water. Maybe I won’t need pliers to zip up my jeans tonight.

Shakeology versus Isogenix

Sure, I want you to SWITCH to Shakeology from whatever shake, drink, mix, pill, or infusion you are currently taking. Today, I'll talk about Isagenix.

Here is the comparison Isagenix, it is also a meal replacement shake that founders John Anderson and Jim and Kathy Coover have created to try and help the obesity problem around the United States. It comes in two main flavors: chocolate and vanilla.

The positives of Isagenix is that it contains 23 grams of protein per serving (compared to Shakeology’s 18 grams of protein per serving). Isagenix, like Shakeology also contains many naturally occurring ingredients which set them apart from other meal replacements. However, I have not found other components that set Isagenix apart from Shakeology. You should order some from me for Christmas!

On the negative side, Isagenix contains 1100% more fat than Shakeolgy(6 grams compared to less than half a gram). It also contains more cholesterol and sodium than is found in Shakeologyand contains 240 calories per serving when Shakeology only has 150 calories per serving.

Isagenix lacks to potency of the vitamins and minerals that Shakeology contains. Isagenix has only 40% of the daily recommended allowance of Vitamin C versus 300% in Shakeology.  It lacks significance of other vitamins contained in every Shakeology drink such as Vitamin B1, B2, and B3. You would actually have to drink 2-4 Isagneix shakes to get the same concentration of vitamins and minerals found in just 1 Shakeology shake.

I do feel that Isagenix is one of the better meal replacement shakes, but it just does not compare to Shakeology. Shakeology is a step above the rest.

Scooters and Sloths

This morning on the way to work I counted 14 kids riding an electric scooter to school. I passed a line of 23 cars long dropping off kids in the school safety zone. I watched as no less than 7 parents carried their children’s backpacks into the building. Hmmm…Over the last 25 years, caloric intake in toddlers and young kids has gone up three or four percent, but the level of physical activity has dropped nearly 20 percent to 25 percent," says Ken Reed, Director of the Center for the Advancement of Physical Education.

I attended an elementary school where we had two recess periods a day.  And, I realize as I type this that I sound all old and crotchety. I  don’t remember how long they were, but there were two of them; morning recess and after lunch recess. My memories include jumping rope, kick ball (I was horrible), a tisket a tasket (I dreaded getting the “basket”), monkey bars, and hopscotch.

"The situation isn't good and it's getting worse," says Reed. "Physical activity levels have dropped dramatically in the last 25 years and we believe there's a direct link there to childhood obesity, as well as a dramatic increase in type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and cholesterol levels in children.”

If you’ve been listening to the news, reading the papers (or paperless papers), and not simply trolling through the news feed on Facebook, you know that your kid has a lower life expectancy than you. How scary is that?

What can you do?
You as a parent are the primary person responsible for the health and wellness of your child. I’m not lecturing, I’m citing a fact. For one, make sure your child has plenty of opportunities to exercise. Kids need exercise and movement. They were not designed to be plopped in front of a TV screen or an X-Box game for hours at a time (believe me, I KNOW this keeps ‘em quiet and out of your way—but it is a slacker way to parent—I know it, I’ve done it :D).



The solution is for each one of us to keep trying.  Start packing lunches if you don’t already. One person can—and always has—made a difference. Because one turns into two, which turns into three, and pretty soon you have network of parents who are doing the same thing. If you are too busy to be “meal and fitness” organized for your children, you’d better rethink your “busy-ness”.  Start small, if not already doing it; try it one time a week. Little things make a difference. Little sacrifices (of time) have an impact. You can do it, I know you can.

Halloween Horrification

Trick or Treating last night lasted for about 2 hours.  Impressed by Zane, I watched as he carefully selected red-dye free candies from the multitude of cauldrons, bowls, and tubs full of Halloween “goodies.” At times, he would jerk away from a red sucker or other obviously red treat as if it were poison (well, it actually is…for him). We ended the trek around 8:45pm, trudged into the kitchen and dumped the candy onto the center island. It felt like midnight.  We’ve discuss label reading so much that both boys automatically began to sort candy into piles of “dye” and piles of “corn syrup.”  This only lasted for a few minutes as I realized that vampire and jester make-up needed to be washed off, so we left the candy out on the counter and each headed to the shower. The thought soaked in again. Sugar everywhere.  Sugar in Skittles, Blueberry Nerds, Pay Days, Tootsie Roll pops, Lemon Drops, Jaw Breakers and fruitless fruit snacks.

And this is post-Halloween sugar, probably more sugar than we normally have in the house.  At this point, the sugar is obvious. But what about the sugar that isn't?

The first step to slashing added sugars is to know where they lurk.

The CDC report found that children guzzle about 40% of added sugar as soda, energy drinks, sports drinks, and sugar-sweetened fruit concoctions, such as lemonade, sweet tea, Gatorade, and Powerade. However, while sugary soft drink intake is excessive (I blister when I see kids swigging a “sports” drink whose first ingredient is corn syrup), everyday foods, including baked goods, cereal, granola bars, breakfast bars, and cookies contribute the most added sugar – 60%–to kids’ diets.

Some sugar-laden sources are more obvious than others. Take the case of certain sweetened dried cranberries: One serving supplies as much added sugar as eight ounces of regular soda. Other dried fruits, including raisins, are naturally sweet and contain no added sweeteners. This morning as the boys got their lunches from the fridge, they each got to “add” one Halloween treat to the containers.  While we are not keeping all of the treats accumulated last night, we are keeping a few. Zane chose dehydrated apples. No prompting, no reminding, no nagging. He chose them.  What an amazing kid.

What to do? Pay attention to what you and your kids are eating. Small changes can have big impacts. I can help.