The problem is sugar.

You eat way too much of it, probably without even realizing it.

The great news is that as soon as you cut down on all that sugar the weight will fall off quickly and automatically.

To help you cut out the sugar once and for all, here are 5 sweets you should stop eating, and a healthy substitute for each.

1. Stop this Sweet: Candy

Nothing gets refined sugar circulating through your body quicker than a fistful of candy—and if you’re in the habit of eating candy daily then your body will crave it.

Candy has virtually no nutritional value, other than caloric energy, and will quickly end up stored on your body in the form of unwanted, annoying fat.

Do This: Swap candy out for a handful of unsalted nuts, a few pieces of unsweetened, dried fruit, or a small square of very dark chocolate (at least 72% cocoa content).

2. Stop this Sweet: Baked Goods

Cake, cookies, brownies, pastries, donuts, and pies are filled with sugar. While these may not taste as sweet as candy, the combination of refined sugar and white flour will spike your blood sugar just the same.

Very much like candy, regularly eating baked goods may become a habit. Break yourself of this and you’ll find the number on your scale going down rather than up.

Do This: Put down the cookie and reach for a piece of fresh, seasonal fruit. Fruit is nature’s candy and is every bit as blissful as a slice of cake. Serving a beautiful fruit platter to guests can be as delightful as any baked treat.

3. Stop this Sweet: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt

Nothing makes you feel as happy and carefree as a bowl of creamy ice cream…until that ice cream makes its permanent home on your waist. Very much like candy, ice cream has few nutritional benefits.

Do This: Mix unsweetened, nonfat Greek yogurt with a scoop of vanilla protein powder and mix in some chopped, fresh fruit. This creamy delight is much lower in sugar than ice cream and tastes amazing!

4. Stop this Sweet: Soft Drinks

A regular can of soda pop contains the equivalent of 10 packets of sugar. That’s more sugar than you should consume in a full week!

Soft drinks something that you get into the habit of drinking and then do without thinking. The good news is that a habit can be broken and then replaced with something healthier.

Do This: Take soda pop out of your diet. Period. There are plenty of other, healthier, beverages available to you. Try the recipes for Spa Water below.

5. Stop this Sweet: Blended Drinks

Smoothies, blended coffee drinks and milkshakes are all tempting treats, especially in hot summer months. Don’t give in to the temptation!

These items are even more deadly than most treats since they are consumed through a straw and don’t make you feel full. Let me assure you that even though you don’t feel full, like you would after a piece of cake, you’re still taking in a bunch of sugary calories.

Do This: Make your own healthy blended drinks at home by using natural sweeteners like stevia, or simply by using fruit. Blend a delicious protein shake with ice, milk and protein powder.

A great thing to remember is that once you’ve fallen out of the habit of eating sugar, your body will no longer crave it.

This means that each day spent in discipline will bring you closer to the day that sugar no longer has a hold over you. Imagine how much happier and healthier you will be!

Eating healthy is half of the battle when it comes to fitness and wellness. The other, equally important, side is maintaining a regular, challenging exercise program.

For an exercise program to be challenging it must always be changing. That’s why my workouts are never the same.

It’s my goal to get you into the best shape of your life. Call or email today to begin your transformation!

‍

Are you ready to reduce your body fat to flatten out your stomach?

It is fully possible for you to do this with an effective combination of fat burning cardio, resistance training and clean eating. My clients routinely drop fat and transform their bodies.

You can do it too!

Here’s how to make your tummy shrink…

1. Exercise a minimum of 4 times per week. It is important to dedicate yourself to working out a minimum of 4 times a week if you want shrink your stomach. Anything less than this won’t make a large enough impact on your progress.

2. Make sure your workouts are effective. What makes a workout effective? It includes intense cardiovascular training coupled with effective resistance training. Walking on the treadmill for 30 minutes isn’t a fat blasting routine. Neither is a leisurely 20 minutes on the elliptical machine. The truth is that you can dramatically increase your results while investing less time when your workouts are effective.

Cardio exercise is all about maintaining an effective level of intensity. This doesn’t mean that you should be out of breath or gasping for air, but it does mean that you need to push yourself.

Resistance training is the second key part of a fat burning workout. This means working your major muscle groups against resistance in a way that stimulates your metabolism. Again, the key here is to find the right intensity and to keep each muscle group guessing.

3. Eat a clean diet. Diet is a big stumbling block for most people. If your diet is out of control, then your stomach will be too. You can’t trim your waist without trimming the junk out of your diet, regardless of how intensely you exercise.

Keep calories in check. Do you know how many calories you eat? The best way to find out is to record everything you eat for a few days. Tally the number of calories that you eat each day and do an evaluation—feel free to recruit me to help out with this part. Together we’ll chart improvements for your diet and adjust your calories for maximum results.

Just say “No” to junk food. While this may seem obvious, your definition of “junk food” may need an alteration. Refined sugar is one of the biggest culprits in the junk food world—it is found in soft drinks, blended coffee drinks, cookies, cakes, packaged snacks, and other sinfully sweet treats. Processed fat is another monster. As a rule of thumb you can safely view all processed or refined items as junk food.

Eat more frequently. The key here is to never let your metabolism “crash” by going hours without eating. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to skip breakfast—as this is the meal that ‘breaks the fast’ that your body goes into each night. Stick with eating small meals every few hours and always avoid stuffing yourself.

Do you want to flatten and shrink your tummy once and for all? Simply decide that you really want it. Commit to yourself—you deserve it.

See me for fat-blasting workouts that deliver results. Together we will get you on a program that will melt the fat off your abs, exposing shape and definition.

Call or email me today to get started. Let’s do this!

‍

What you eat will make or break your fitness results so if you aren’t happy with your current body then I’ll bet that your diet could use some improvement.

Case and point: how many of your meals are being delivered in a paper bag to your front door?

I realize that finding the time to cook and eat healthy meals is a challenge for many of my clients and so I’d like to introduce you to the Nourish Bowl.

What is a Nourish Bowl? It’s a simple meal that consists of greens, protein, healthy fat, veggies, healthy carbs and various flavor adds.

A Nourish Bowl could be enjoyed for any meal of the day, is quick to assemble, and is the perfect alternative to high calorie take-out meals.

Build Your Own Nourish Bowl

Below are the ingredient categories that make up a successful Nourish Bowl. Select one item from each category to customize your very own meal.

Start with Greens: A healthy serving of daily greens is essential for good health, and so our Nourish Bowl always begins here. Your greens may be cooked or raw, whichever you are in the mood for. Choose from:

Spinach
Kale
Collards
Arugula
Romaine
Micro Greens
Sprouts
Mustard Greens
Swiss Chard

Add Protein: Protein is important for supporting your fitness progress, in addition to providing you with usable energy to power your day. Be sure to vary the protein that you choose from time to time. Choose from:

Egg
Beans
Lentils
Fish
Chicken
Beef
Pork

Add Healthy Fat: It’s vital that your diet be rich in healthy fats so don’t skip this category! Healthy fats help to keep you satiated, a benefit that will pay off in fewer calories consumed over the long haul. No more energy crashes in the afternoon! Choose from:

Avocado
Nuts
Seeds
Olive oil
Olives

Add Veggies: Colorful, vibrant, organic, seasonal vegetables become the star of this meal. Take time to chop or dice your fresh veggies into a pleasing size before adding to your bowl. Choose from:

Zucchini
Bell peppers
Cucumber
Tomatoes
Cauliflower
Radish
Snap peas
Cabbage
Carrots
Parsnips
Any other veggie of your choice

Add Healthy Carbohydrates: Wholesome carbohydrates are important for maintaining that pep of energy in your step, so be sure to include a serving of one of the following in your bowl. Choose from:

Quinoa
Sweet Potato
Brown or Wild Rice
Beans
Corn
Peas

Finish with Flavor Add-Ons: Here’s where you could really let your creativity shine by adding your favorite fresh herbs or dressings to increase the flavor and enjoy-ability of the bowl. Choose from:

Chopped fresh herbs
Dried herbs
Homemade dressing
Homemade sauce
Vinegar
Hummus
Lemon juice

I’ve posted an example Nourish Bowl below for you to enjoy and to get your creative juices flowing as you begin to design and enjoy your Nourish Bowls of your own creation.

Don’t forget to get your fitness on by exercising 3-5 times each week. Remember that for your workout to be effective it must be challenging, progressive and consistent.

If you aren’t yet one of my amazing clients, but you’ve thought about it, reach out to me today. I’d love to hear from you and to get your fitness routine dialed in for maximum results!

‍