If you would like more information about Shakeology, please contact me HERE.

Adaptogens were classified by the ancient Chinese as the most effective plants to increase physical and mental capacity, reduce fatigue, improve resistance to diseases, and extend lifespan.  In particular, adaptogens help the body deal with stressful situations, whether those are mental or physical.  The reason for naming these herbs “Adaptogens” resulted from the scientific discovery, which proved their effectiveness in helping the human body to “adapt” or to “adjust” to strains and changes of daily living. By adapting to changes in the environment, mankind has survived. Scientific studies have shown that both humans and other organisms that are able to adapt best survive longer. In fact, these herbs have managed to survive harsh environments for centuries due to their unique composition of biologically active substances.

The two primary adaptogens in Shakeology are Cordyceps and Ashwagandha.  Cordyceps is a fungi that includes about 300 species and is found in Shakeology’s proprietary Super-Fruit Blend.  Ashwagandha root is the ‘ginseng’ of Ayurvedic medicine, the traditional medicine of India and improves physical energy and athletic ability, increases immunity to colds and infections and increase sexual capacity and fertility.  Ashwagandha is part of Shakeology’s propriatary Enzyme Blend.

In her presentation earlier this year in Kauai, Hawaii, Isabelle Daikeler explained the role of adaptogens as going into the system and clawing out bad things.  Basically the adaptogens are able to help the body remove toxins and by doing so overcome stressful situations.  We are all under stress in our daily lives.  Much of this stress is mental stress, which causes a variety of biologic functions in the body, including the release of cortisol.  But we also place our bodies under physical stress.  If you are doing a vigerous exercise program like P90X or Insanity, your body needs the essential nutrients contained in a product like Shakeology to deal with that stress.

Adaptogens are only one way that Shakeology heals your body.  The antioxidents and phytonutrients in Shakeology also help:

• Get rid of harmful free radicals
• Help decrease inflammation
• Help boost your immune system
• Potentially decrease the risk of degenerative diseases
• May even increase longevity

These are essential functions and it is important to make sure that your body is working at an optimum level if you want to get the most out of it.  Doing a program like P90X while eating pizza is like pouring low-grade gas into a Ferrari and expecting top performance.  It just isn’t going to happen.  Addressing your body’s essential functions is the key to any sound nutritional program.  If you want more information about Shakeology, or a free sample, please CLICK HERE.

Dave

In March Beachbody offered new subscribers to the One on One series their first DVD for one cent.  That promotion is over, but the hits keep coming.  From April 5th through May 3rd, both new and existing subscribers will receive a special Shakeology gift package with their April shipment of One on One, which includes:

• Shakeology Chocolate packet
• Shakeology recipe card (yum!)
• Shakeology “Breakthrough” DVD

So, get One on One and you’ll get a sample of Shakeology.  You can find more information about Shakeology HERE and you can order the One on One Series by clicking HERE and then clicking the Shop button and finding One on One under the Trainer section.  Subscribe today to this excellent monthly series.

Dave

Here is the text I’m discussing in the video.  Eat well everyone.

A lot of people ask me for my thoughts on nutrition and whether I have any helpful tips. Here are what I believe are the foundations of a healthy diet. These are just my thoughts based on my experiences and my experiments with several different nutrition plans (not “diets”), beginning with the P90X Nutrition Guide.

1. Whole Foods – Avoid processed junk. Look past the nutrition facts and read the ingredients. The more ingredients, the lower the likelihood it is going in my mouth. A strawberry has ONE ingredient. So does an egg, or a chicken breast, or broccoli. Take a look at the ingredients in the foods you are eating. If you have trouble pronouncing them…keep moving. If you can get your foods from a local supplier that is preferable. Foods that are organic do make a huge difference. They are lower in toxic pesticides and generally higher in micronutrients. See if you have a local “CSA” (Community Supported Agriculture) program in your area. We pay $25 a week for a huge bag of organic seasonal veggies and fresh eggs that are raised in a real “cage free” environment and not fed corn and antibiotics. These types of eggs are much higher in Omega-3 fatty acids and generally much more nutritious. Check out www.localharvest.org.

2. Supplements – I take a multi-vitamin (super important), Shakeology (www.shakeology.com/azfitclub) whey protein, Omega-3 fatty acids and on occasion the recovery formula (sugar is an issue, but it has its place). The goal here is to give my body what it needs to process the basics. At the minimum you need a good multi-vitamin. You have to focus first on making sure your body’s basic functions are addressed. It isn’t going to do you any good to take an expensive supplement if you can’t digest it and process the ingredients. Address your base nutrition first and foremost.

3. Make carbohydrate intake correspond to activity level – Everyone has different fitness goals, and getting the right amount of carbs is key. Limiting carbs, in particular SUGAR, to the amount you need to support your goals is essential. As a triathlete training for a 1/2 Ironman, my carb intake is going to be a lot higher than someone that is doing P90X. The sugar has got to go. Watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNYlI…layer_embedded. Understanding the insulin response and limiting the presence of excess insulin in your body is essential to health and fitness.

4. Limit foods that make your blood acidic. Huh? Watch this: http://www.thefitclubnetwork.com/200…makes-you-fat/. Soda…get rid of it. It is poisoning your blood. Water…drink way more of it. It helps refresh your blood.

5. Limit dairy. Tony Horton said this weekend, “cheese is a spice”. Use it that way. A little Parmesan on your food is ok, but otherwise ditch the cheese. It is high in fats that don’t help your body. Many people feel that our bodies are not conditioned to process milk from other animals. We are the only species that drinks milk that doesn’t come exclusively from our own mothers. Try to cut milk out of your diet and see how it works. I feel a lot better since doing that. Some people don’t have any adverse reaction, but if you aren’t sure, cut it out for a month and see how you feel. That’s what I did and I only have it in my coffee now. Almond milk makes a great substitute for cow’s milk.

6. Healthy fats. You’ve got to get fat in your diet. Huh? Yes, fat is good for you. There is an ongoing debate about saturated fats and whether or not they are beneficial. The generally accepted principal is that they are not. After reading Mark Sisson’s The Primal Blueprint, in which he presents the theory that saturated fats are not to blame for our society’s weight problems, and increasing my own fat intake I believe he is correct (a large number of people in this community have had similar results). My fat intake is between 30 to 45% depending on where I’m at with my carb intake. When I’m endurance training I need more carbs, and take in less fats. When I’m not, I limit carbs to my activity level and that means increasing my fat intake. I’ve found it to be a remarkably good source of energy and fatty foods really fill you up, which means you don’t need to eat so much to feel satisfied. Regardless of that debate, you cannot go wrong with increasing your intake of fatty foods like avocados, nuts, and olive oil. Take the time to understand how fats work in your diet, because they are important.

7. Quality over quantity. What you eat is far more important than how much you eat. Spend more time focusing on what type of foods you eat and less worrying about how many calories you are taking in on a daily basis. Knowing your caloric range is important, but don’t get too caught up in that analysis. If you are hungry and have something healthy to eat, then eat it. If you are not hungry, don’t feel like you have to force food down to get to some predetermined caloric count. Just go with that feels right and eat healthy.

8. The 80/20 Rule. Try to make 80% of the foods you eat be healthy whole foods that meet all of the criteria above. If you can do that, then the other 20% won’t hurt you too much. If your diet isn’t particularly good at this time 80/20 will be a huge improvement. The 80/20 rule came straight from the Tony Horton Fitness Camp seminars. Tony follows a 90/10 rule, so apply this according to your personal goals.

Hope this helps. If you are reading this, and have questions, don’t hesitate to contact me by clicking HERE I’m happy to help.

Dave

It is quite easy to manage diabetes when you incorporate a program for exercise in your daily routine. Such exercises have been shown to have positive effects for people who are suffering from diabetes, especially those who have low glucose levels. One example is exercise being able to channel muscle energy, convert it into glucose and then using that glucose as fuel. At the start of it, the body will just use the glucose that has been converted into glycogen from one’s muscles. Glucose is also found in your bloodstream. If you maintain a long term exercise program, it is highly likely that the levels of your blood glucose will not dip. Also, glucagon and other hormones found in your body will also be released. These hormones and glucagon work together and break down all of the liver’s stored fat and then converting such stored fat into more glucose. It is best that you engage in exercise frequently, because your body will improve. It will develop a sensitivity to insulin, as well as help you gain better control of the body’s glycemic index.

Why is the effect of exercise on glucose levels important to those with type 2 diabetes?

As previously explained, the exercise will have a great effect on your glucose levels. This is actually quite important especially for patients of type 2 diabetes. There are a lot of studies that indicate a better control of one’s glycemic index in diabetes patients, but only if they engage in regular exercise. Those who fail to establish a regular routine for exercise have results which are not as good. Thanks to exercise, you get to improve on your insulin sensitivity. This means you need to use less medicines and attain adequate control over their blood sugar levels.

Should patients with type 2 diabetes exercise more often or differently than otherwise healthy people?

There are, of course, people who become at risk for hypoglycemia due to the combined effects of their diabetes and engaging in high stress exercise. This happens during exercise and after it, too. If you think about it though, people can also be at risk for hyperglycemia simply for having poor control over their diabetes. Therefore, the leaders in this field recommend engaging in moderate exercise for a minimum of 2 hours and 30 minutes, or 90 minutes if they want to do vigorous exercise.

What type of exercise is best for type 2 diabetes patients?

In light of this, the frequency of the routine is more important that the kinds of exercise one engages in. There are many researches wherein an abundance of benefits result from both weight training as well as aerobic activity.

When should patients be discouraged from exercising?

Some patients have a higher risk of developing injuries from the stress of an intense exercise program. Such patients include those with higher cardiovascular risk, those over the age of 35, and those leading sedentary lifestyles. These patients should be thoroughly evaluated before beginning a new exercise program. Patients with severely low blood sugar levels should wait until their condition improves.

About the Author – Su Rollins writes for http://www.hypoglycemicdiet.org best diet for hypoglycemia, her personal hobby blog focused on tips to prevent and cure hypoglycemia using the right diet and nutrition.

In this first video, Isabelle talks about how her personal journey to overcome illness and restore her own immune system lead her to create Shakeology.

Isabelle wasn’t just concerned about her own well being. As it turns out, Carl hates vegetables. Don’t ask me to explain it, but the man just won’t eat them. Shakeology was, in part, created to satisfy Carl’s daily nutritional requirements.

You may notice that Isabelle is pregnant in these videos. Isabelle and Carl were blessed with Danny, who is probably the cutest kid (next to mine) that I’ve ever seen. The Shakeology FAQ’s state that the product should only be taken with the advice and consent of a doctor, so please consult your physican if you are interested in taking Shakeology while pregnant or nursing.  If you are interested in a free sample of Shakeology, please contact me HERE.

Here some images that will give you an idea of the sugar content of some popular foods and beverages that we come across in our daily lives.  There are more below.  Now you may be thinking that you can just get the Diet version of these things and cure your sugar addiction.  Some diet drinks are actually more addictive than the regular drinks.  What’s more, they are filled with chemicals that can slow your metabolism and actually cause you to gain weight.  That’s right, diet soda makes you gain weight.  Here’s some more information on how that happens: http://www.thefitclubnetwork.com/2009/11/how-diet-soda-makes-you-fat/.

So, now that we know that the sugar content of the foods we eat commonly is very high, let’s figure out why sugar is such a problem. Watch this video that explains how your body responds to sugar by creating insulin. That metabolic process causes your body to store fat.

So you can get an idea of what I’m showing here.  A 12 oz coke has 39 grams of sugar.  Mountain Dew has 46 grams in the same 12 oz can.  Thinking about a Sprite or 7 up instead?  Try again, they have 38 and 39 grams of sugar respectively.  The Red Bull below has 27 grams of sugar in it.  That should give you an idea of what these pictures represent and also how many grams of sugar you are looking at when you check the Nutrition Facts.

MonaVie is probably the most popular product incorporating Acai Berries.  Here’s a little comparison of how Shakeology stacks up to MonaVie.  The point of this post is not to discredit MonaVie in anyway.  I’m sure it is a fine product and anything that furthers the health and wellness of this Country is good by me.  I do think the comparision is important because you get a lot more ban for your buck with Shakeology.  Shakeology is more than a shot full of valuable anti-oxident vitamins.  It is a 140 calorie (with water) meal replacement shake that has an evenly balanced blend of carbs and protein plus essential amino acids, phytonutrients, probiotics and digestive enzymes.

We are currently running a promotion offering free samples of Shakeology.  Click here for more information on that promotion.

Download PDF

]]> http://www.thefitclubnetwork.com/2010/03/shakeology-dissected-%e2%80%93-part-ii-acai-berries/feed/ 0 http://www.thefitclubnetwork.com/2010/02/community-supported-agriculture/ http://www.thefitclubnetwork.com/2010/02/community-supported-agriculture/#comments Thu, 18 Feb 2010 06:31:33 +0000 Dave http://www.thefitclubnetwork.com/?p=1403 [Continue Reading]]]> CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture.  Get to know this term, because it could change the way you eat, or at least I hope it does.  Here’s a video discussing the CSA concept and its benefits. Also, take the time to learn more about buying eggs with Mark Sisson here: http://www.marksdailyapple.com/egg-purchasing-guide/

Go to http://www.localharvest.org/ for more information on CSA programs in your area.

Stay healthy everyone!

Dave