This has been a question that has haunted me since I first got serious with the weight lifting and especially training. I have a mindset of all or nothing so in the early stages of my career I was an advocate of training to absolute failure on EVERY SET. In my mind that was the only way to grow and get results. The results came so I was set in my ways of failure training. 

In the past year however I have revisited the topic. I hold true to my principles and philosophies, but I always re-evaluate and try to evolve in my positions. Failure training I felt needed some evaluating. 

I then bumped into a study in the the Journal of Applied Physiology. The study indicated that training to muscular failure each set leads to reductions in anabolic hormones such as IGF-I and testosterone and caused larger increases in cortisol compared to lifters who don’t train to failure. These findings struck a cord with me as blood work I had gotten done indicated a lowering of my testosterone levels, and elevated cortisol levels. I was also feeling very tired and run down and would combat those feelings with added recovery days. 

It was after finding this study that I re-evaluated my approach. I have since made the decision to only train to failure on my Power Based workouts. These are the workouts that take place in the power rep ranges and are meant to hone in on strength. 5×5′s, MRR, Descending Rep Scheme, Core, and so on. All my other workouts, whether they be Standard, Intensity, or Volume based, would be taken 1-2 reps shy of absolute failure. I want to note this important point. This is not a pass to train soft. The lifting is still hard and intense, I just leave 1-2 reps left in the tank. 

After taking this approach for about 2 months the results are noticeable. I feel much more energized, I can cut down on recovery days and train more frequently, and I have gotten a sizable increase in my testosterone levels. So I have learned that the all or nothing, 130% or go home approach, isnt always the key. Only on power days. 

Scaling back on the failure training has allowed me to have more flexibility in terms of overall volume and frequency. These are two variables that you have to walk a tight rope with when having a “failure on every set” mindset. This new flexibility is exciting to me for my personal gains, as well as what I can implement now as a trainer. 

Added note – This position only applies to natural/natural state athletes. 

Details of the Study

The subjects in the study trained twice a week using a periodized weight training program.  One group trained to complete muscular failure for each set while the other group trained did not complete sets to muscular failure.  The researchers defined muscular failure when the subjects could not perform a full extension or the weight was paused for more than 1 second during a repetition.  At the end of the 16 week study, training to failure over the 16 week study resulted in reductions in circulating IGF-I concentrations and elevations in IGFBP-3 (IGF- Binding Protein 3).  In addition, the group that did not train to failure had reduced resting cortisol concentrations and an elevation in resting serum total testosterone concentration.  Additionally, the group that did not train to failure had similar increases in 1-repetition maximum strength gains in the bench press, parallel squat, and muscle power output of the arms and legs extensor muscles1.   The group that did train to failure did have increased muscular endurance at the end of the study so unless you are preparing for a bench press competition for reps, training to failure might be the way to go.  If you are trying to maximize size, than not training to failure may lead to enhanced testosterone and lower catabolic activity such as reduced cortisol.  The reduction in anabolic hormones (IGF-I and testosterone) from training to failure goes against decades of advice to train to failure for maximal muscle growth.    Training to failure each set may lead to overtraining and lowered testosterone and IGF-I levels.

Link to the study – http://www.jappl.org/content/100/5/1647.full

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I currently live on Long Island, New York. I was born and raised here. This is where I created Sci-Unison Fitness and it will always have a special place in my heart. However, I feel as if I have outgrown this town, this Island, and this state. I feel that is is time for a true change, a new chapter of my life. 

With that being said, I have my eyes set on Austin Texas as my new home. This will take a few years to happen as there are alot of moving parts in the transition, but my mind is made up. I took a trip to Austin September of 2012 and fell in love with the state. I will be returning in October of this year for another visit.

Here is a photo I took in front of the Capital Building. 

In the meantime, while I am still living in NY I will be trying to spread word of my business to the Texas area. As many know, my online based programs are very popular and effective. I have clients out of state and even out of the country. Over 85% of the transformations posted on my website are via online training and nutrition programs, not in gym training. This allows me to target my upcoming new home in regards to my online based services. This is being done by sending out direct mailers to the area and creating blog posts such as this one. 

Here is a copy of the direct mailers I am sending out…

Texas, I fell in love with you. Hope you have some love for a hard working, pro liberty, pro growth individual from NY, because Texas, I am coming !

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Cody W from Team SUF Natural Bodybuilding currently resides in North Carolina. He was able to take a trip up to New York this weekend which gave me a chance to check his progress and take some photos.  We are currently at the 16 week out mark as of this posting. I am glad to say that Cody is ahead of schedule and ready to rock and roll. In the past the number one problem was having to lose too much weight, in a short amount of time. The short and stressful diet is not a productive approach in my opinion. I would much rather have a longer, but much less stressful diet. This is exactly our approach this year. This year we are down for the crown, Cody is shooting hard for that pro card at the 2013 INBF Hercules. 

Here are some photos. He looks phenomenal at the 16 week out mark…

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I am a proud Libertarian and have been for a while, therefore it was inevitable before those principles found their way into how I conduct and maintain business. For those who are unfamiliar with Libertarianism…

Libertarianism is the group of political philosophies which advocate minimizing coercion and emphasize freedom, liberty, and voluntary association. Libertarians believe that each person owns his or her own life, body and property, and has the right to make their own choices as to how they live life – as long as they simply respects the same right of others to do the same. The Golden Rule is to Live, and Let Live.

These beliefs have allowed me to evolve in regards to my position on performance enhancing drugs (PEDs). For a very long time I have been very closed minded in terms of PEDs and looked at things with a very black and white approach. I have come to the conclusion that I was mistaken and it is my belief that there exists a clearly defined gray area. However, I will always be an advocate for a natural approach first. Natural Bodybuilding is my roots and something I will always support. 

The purpose of this writing is to officially lay out a Sci-Unison Fitness policy platform that covers PEDs. This policy statement does not disqualify anyone who doesn’t share the same beliefs from becoming a client. However, it doesn’t ensure that acceptance will ultimately be guaranteed. Everything will be dealt with on a case by case basis. 

1. New Terminology 

Over the years the most common term for steroids has become Performance Enhancing Drugs or PEDs. In my platform I seek to add another term; Performance and Health Enhancing Hormones or PHEHs.

Referring to a substance that occurs naturally in the body as a “Drug” is off base, unless it is abused like a drug. When a person abuses these hormones it can lead to health problems and eventually degrade ones quality of life. In this case the appropriate term would be PEDs. Elevated performance at the expense of good health is unwise  in the long run. 

In the quest for greater performance, good health should not be sacrificed. The goal should be to have performance increases and health levels rise in a near directly correlated manner. When these hormones are not abused they can have enormous benefits to ones health, performance, and quality of life. In this case the appropriate term would be PHEHs. As with most things, use is much different than abuse. 

Use = PHEHs    Abuse = PEDs

2. No Performance and Health Enhancing Hormones Before the Age of 30 

During your teens and 20′s is when one’s natural testosterone levels are at their highest. Once a male reaches the age of 30 there is a slow decline in testosterone levels. This is the time that would serve as the most reasonable and legitimate time to explore options in terms of PHEHs. It is proven that having low testosterone levels can be dangerous for ones health and comes with a long list of side effects. PHEHs can aid in solving that problem. 

3. At Least 5 Years of Consecutive Natural Training

Before turning to enhancement it is crucial for one to learn and understand the natural state of his/her body from a training and nutritional standpoint. It is also much better to go into enhancement with a real and natural muscular base. Building up a base over the course of years will provide a near permanent foundation from which the enhancement will improve upon. This is a much better choice than to use enhancement to gain all the desired muscle, because then once enhancement is over there will be little to nothing left. This can lead to abuse and dangerous dependence.

Training and dieting as a natural for consecutive years prior to enhancement will teach you to respect and appreciate the power of enhancement, while knowing how to react once an enhancement cycle is over. 

4. Safe and Responsible Doses

Making the decision to use PHEHs in a safe manner can enhance performance, health, and standard of living. This can be achieved by using safe and responsible doses. Heavy doses and abuse will dramatically increase the probability of adverse side effects. Prolonged abuse can negatively impact health and ultimately reduce left expectancy. It is essential to consult with an expert in order to determine proper dosage protocols in order to both safe and responsible. 

5. Enhancement, Not a Short Cut

It it crucial for one to learn his/her body well enough in a natural state prior to turning to enhancement. If one never learns how to properly eat and train in a natural state, a dangerous dependence can develop. Enhancement can form a false sense of security and confidence in ones methods which may not be applicable to a natural or off cycle body. The truth is that diet and training become exponentially easier while taking PHEHs. 

When using PHEHs one can consume significantly more calories with far less fat accumulation. This allows for a much higher margin of error in terms of a nutrition approach. One can cheat more, be much less precise, and yet still achieve desirable results. Training is also much different as over training becomes far less likely due to the enhanced recovery abilities that PHEHs provide. There exists no real balancing act between training and over training. It is also highly possible for one to achieve desirable results with even the most elementary approaches. The problems start to arise when an uneducated person cycles off PHEHs and attempts to eat and train in the same manner. The pace is unsustainable and usually leads to drastic fat accumulation, muscle loss, and even complete abandonment of any productive training and nutrition regimen. 

Simply put, when a person is off cycle, they are in a natural state. So if no time or attention was ever given to learning and mastering a natural state they are essentially powerless, clueless, and useless without enhancement. This will lead to more hormones, in higher doses, for longer periods to compensate for lack of any off cycle/natural state knowledge. This is the definition of dependence, and the transition of PHEHs to PEDs . The hormones are needed in order to achieve results, then majority is lost while off cycle due to poor training and nutritional practices. Rented Muscles. 

PHEHs as a Short Cut – Up, Down, almost a zero sum game. 

PHEHs as an Enhancement - A Zig, Zag non linear path of progression

6. Stay In Your Appropriate Field

If you are enhanced and have not spent a considerable amount of time as a natural (at least 5-7 productive years straight), do not tell a natural athlete how to train or eat in any significant depth or detail. Doing so can ultimately confuse the natural lifter/athlete. Giving vague tips, pointers, and exercise ideas is harmless and acceptable; designing or discussing in depth programs in a realm that you yourself are unfamiliar with is both foolish and potentially dangerous. This works in the opposite direction as well, just not nearly as dangerous; a natural attempting to do the same for someone enhanced. 

In depth information sharing is only useful in the following situations:

A) A natural decides to enhance himself and turns to another enhanced lifter or athlete for advice and information. 

B) An enhanced lifter or athlete turns to a natural for advice for his off cycle/ natural state training and nutrition approach. 

7. Don’t Be a Cheat

While making the decision to turn to enhancement is a personal decision, ones actions still should be guided by a decent moral and ethical compass. 

If you are an enhanced lifter/athlete and attempt to avoid detection in order to compete in a tested, enhancement free sport, you are not only a fraud but also a disgrace. Play by the rules or dont play at all. Eventually the truth always comes to light. 

Again, from the standpoint of a libertarian, it is no one’s business what you do in regards to your personal life as long as you don’t hurt anyone in the process. So therefore one should not have to openly label themselves as enhanced if he/she chooses not to. But, do no dare use enhancements and then openly claim and boast to be natural. Leave it unspoken, do not openly lie. This can fool and convince others that you are more knowledgeable than you truly are. This can have a negative impact on those you advise and other people in the health/fitness industry. 

8. A Message to Newly Enhanced Lifters/Athlete

If you were never asked for advice and never gave it while you were natural, don’t start doing so once you start enhancement. Curious and sometimes vulnerable people will be eager for you to share your secrets to success. The real secret is that all your new found results came out of a bottle. You do not have to make this fact public, but don’t dare act as if you know what you are doing on any professional level. If you were clueless as a natural, you are still clueless weeks into your first ever cycle. The only difference is that the enhancement is masking your lack of any true knowledge and the mirror is giving you a false sense of positive reinforcement. Do not use your newly enhanced look and new found confidence to start spreading fundamentally flawed principles. Humble yourself, or someone else will. 

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Disclaimer

The material contained on this web site (and on any sites linked from this site) is for general informational purposes ONLY and is not intended to promote, support, or legalize anabolic/androgenic steroids or other drugs.
 

The web site or its authors and owners do not encourage, advocate, or recommend the use of anabolic/androgenic steroids or other pharmaceuticals in any form, whatsoever. Steroid abuse can lead to health damage and side effects and we request our site visitors and all to avoid their improper and unsupervised use. We strenuously disapprove of steroid use by minors and those not authorized to receive them for legal purposes under the closed supervision and instructions of qualified and authorized medical practitioners doing their rightful duties under the law. 

The descriptions and opinions offered in this site are not medical suggestions or advice and are based on speculative and subjective values. The Website or its owners and everyone related to the site do not provide any type of medical counseling. Always consult your physician regarding the use of any drugs or medications. Anyone who reads this website hereby releases this service and any and all of its employees from any and all liability whatsoever associated with use of the information offered. We advise against the use, possession or sale of any controlled substances in violation of the law. Consult a doctor before taking any prescription drugs. By using our products and services, you agree to hold the owners, writers, sponsors, advertisers and employees of our company free from any and all civil or criminal liability.

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Special Thanks to Joe Wuebben of Muscle and Fitness Magazine for giving me such a great opportunity.

This is a Multi-Rep Range (MRR) Chest Routine. Rest times, rep ranges, and Tips by Ryan Sullivan are given for each exercise.  Found on page 106 of the December 2012 issue.

Workout Plan made the cover

Click to Enlarge

Click to enlarge

These images only represent a small portion of the 5 page routine. To see the entire write up and routine go grab a copy.

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Everyone is so busy focusing on pre and post workout supplementation that many neglect what they put in their body while the hard work is being done. I am a firm believer in the premise that Intra-Workout Supplementation is equally important as pre and post. 

I will start by stating that water and/or Gatorade simply is NOT enough for someone who trains at an advanced level. Therefore, I have created an Intra-Workout Supplementation protocol that I believe works extremely well. 

Here is a breakdown of the ingredients I use….

The 3 ingredients below I mix in a water bottle containing roughly 30-60 fl oz.

1. Extreme Nitric Stack - 1/2 serving - Although you may take similar ingredients or this exact supplement with your pre-workout supplementation this smaller serving will help prolong the effects of your pump. When you simply rely on pre-workout supplementation, by the end of the workout the pumps typically begin to fade. This is especially true when the workouts run past the hour mark. By sipping on an intra-workout drink that has nitric oxide boosting supplements you can increase the duration of your pump which enables better overall nutrient delivery.

2. BCAAs - 5-15 grams depending on body-weight – A major purpose for having a great pump (besides looking awesome) centers around nutrient delivery. The concept involves taking advantage of the increased blood flow to promote better nutrient delivery to the target/trained muscles. Branched Chain Amino acids are precisely what you want to deliver to blood saturated trained muscles. Therefore is it also smart to include these building blocks in your intra-workout cocktail. As you train and increase your pump you will be distributing BCAAs into your blood stream. You will in essence begin your recovery process while your train. 

3. Maltodextrin (Carbomax) - 5-20 grams depending on body weight and diet- Maltodextrin is used for quick and sustained energy. A small amount of this can provide added energy to keep you firing on all cylinders through your entire workout.

The 2 ingredients below I take in capsule/pill form roughly 30 mins prior to weight training. This will ensure that they begin to absorb during the training session. 

4. Zinc - 30mgs - Zinc is added to the mix in an effort to suppress cortisol. Cortisol, which is released by the adrenal glands, is your body’s primary stress hormone. Cortisol levels begin to rise the longer a workout becomes. Studies now show that Zinc supplementation can play an important role in treating stress as well as suppressing cortisol levels. For men you will get the added benefit that Zinc can also promote better natural testosterone production. 

5. Vitamin C – 500mgs -1000mgs depending on body-weight – Vitamin C is another ingredient in the effort to suppress cortisol levels. This water-soluble vitamin cushions the negative effects of free radicals, compounds that are released with hardcore training. Free radicals target tissues such as muscles, weakening them and increasing inflammation and breakdown. Therefore vitamin C should not be ignored from a cortisol suppression and recovery perspective. 

Use Coupon Code SciFit2013 at checkout and save 13% on all the above products. 

For the record I have 4 more ingredient I ALWAYS use for Intra-Workout Supplementation, but I cant give away all my secrets. If you want to know, you will just have to become a client :)  - http://www.sci-unisonfitness.com/services/online-training_nutrition-programs/

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The 2012 Sci-Unison Fitness Thanksgiving Food Drive was a great success. We more than doubled our food donations from last year, and raised much more money. 

Food Drive Stats 2012:

Number of Food Bins Filled – 5

Money Raises Through Donations  - $500.00

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Food Drive Stats 2011:

Number of Food Bins Filled – 5 

Money Raises Through Donations  - $40.00

There were some very generous cash donations from individuals and local businesses that helped push things over the top. That money was used to purchase more food from the local super markets. This will be a key component to next years food drive as we will try to involve more local businesses and organizations in the effort. The plan would also include listing which businesses contributed to the effort so that their good deeds go noticed.

Our Lady of Grace Church was extremely pleased with our donation efforts. I told them that next year will be even bigger. So I would like to thank everyone who helped make this years food drive possible. Your food and cash donations helped to feed those less fortunate this holiday season. 

I hope everyone has a happy and safe Thanksgiving. 

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Sedentary lifestyle is a type of lifestyle with no or irregular physical activity. A person who lives a sedentary lifestyle may colloquially be known as a couch potato.

The following facts were found in my ISSA certification booklet. Found these to be very interesting so I wanted to share:

• Inactivity and poor nutrition results in at least 300,000 deaths per year in the United State. 

• Adults who have a sedentary lifestyle are at greater risk of dying of heart disease, and developing diabetes, colon cancer, and high blood pressure. 

• Greater than 60% of U.S. adults do not engage in the recommended amount of daily physical activity. 

• Approximately 40% U.S. adults aren’t active at all. 

These stats don’t look so good. The overall health and fitness levels of this country are deteriorating. Inactivity, obesity, depression, reliance on medications are all part of the same web. Once people start to compromise and make excuses a vicious cycle emerges. 

People also want the easy way out of things. This is especially true for injuries and health concerns. Quick fixes and pills are always sought after, but proper nutrition and adequate exercise can deliver astounding results. 

• Allergies – Exercise is one of the body’s most efficient ways to control nasal congestion. 

• Anxiety – Exercise triggers the release of mood-altering chemicals in the brain. 

• Arthritis – Exercise helps produce synovial fluid and distribute it over cartilage and throughout the joint space

• Back Pain – Exercises helps to strengthen abdominal, lower back, and hamstring muscles to help support the lower back. 

• Cholesterol – Exercise helps to raise good cholesterol (HDL) and lower bad cholesterol (LDL)

• Depression – Exercise helps speed up metabolism and deliver more oxygen to the brain. Improved oxygen and circulation tends to improve ones mood. 

• High Blood Pressure – Exercise reduces the level of stress-related chemicals in the bloodstream that constrict arteries and veins. 

• Knee Problems – Exercise strengthens the muscles that surround and support the knee. Bigger muscle means less work for the tendons, joints, and ligaments. 

• Menstrual Problems (PMS) – Exercise helps control hormone imbalances often associated with PMS by increasing the release of beta-endorphins. 

• Obesity – Exercise increases metabolic rate, burns fat, increases lean muscle and improves self-esteem. 

And the list goes on and on. There as so many benefits to exercise and not following a sedentary lifestyle. So in closing, if you want to life a long and healthy life, you need to exercise. If you have a health condition or injury, don’t just give up, find out how exercise can benefit you and your current situation. 

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I honestly don’t really care much about cycling or anything related to the sport. Just wanted to state that from the beginning. However, I am aware of the fame and iconic status that has been achieved by Lance Armstrong over the years. His dominance in his sport along with over coming cancer sure made for the perfect fairy tale story. Until now. 

Reports now claim that Lance Armstrong’s Team “ran the most sophisticated doping program ever.” A 1000 page report has come out that details how Lance not only used performance enhancing drugs, but also bullied his teammates into using them as well. The report further states how Armstrong paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for doping programmes. Nice work asshole.

More troubling is the fact that growing testimonies are corroborating this detailed report. The most damaging testimony came from Armstrong’s close friend and long-time team-mate George Hincapie, who is widely viewed as having no axe to grind. Hincapie states: “At a race in Spain in 2000 Lance indicated to me he had taken testosterone. Lance told me that he was feeling good and recovered, that he had just taken some ‘oil’. When I heard that drug testing officials were at the hotel, I texted Lance to warn him to avoid the place …”

Is this what the world of sports and competition has come to ? Cheaters everywhere you look ? It destroys the purity of any sport or game. Doping in sports creates pressure on everyone to resort to enhancing drugs just in hopes of keeping up with the cheaters. It is not fair for competitors, fans, and most importantly the youth that view these stars as role models. 

Through these elaborate doping schemes Lance had achieved a level of immortality. His fame has resulted in fortune, so some would argue it was worth it. I strongly disagree. Don’t get me wrong, I love money and the idea of financial freedom, but money isn’t shit without respect, pride, and dignity. This man now has to face his kids and look like worlds biggest con. And you think his kids and family wont get any blowback from this as well ? They will be hounded with this scandal for the rest of their lives. So in the end, was it worth it ?

These enhancing drugs are a real pain in the ass due to the unfair advantages they provide. Lance Armstrong is the perfect example. A few years back whenever you would think of cycling you would have to think of Lance Armstrong. He was the Michael Jordan of Cycling. But now we all realize that his “dominance” and his “gifts” were fluffed up and assisted by drugs. This is not to say that he wouldn’t of been great without the drugs, but he without a doubt wouldn’t of been as dominant. So the question becomes, who really did deserve his spotlight ? Who truly had the gift and the drive without the added support ?

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/the-most-sophisticated-doping-program-2012-10#ixzz291BgyArW

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I was so excited when Ryan asked that I do a guest post on his blog! After the excitement wore off, the reality hit me… ”what on Earth are you going to write about, Liz?” I have no shame in saying I pondered over that question for quite some time. When I finally decided on my topic, the ideas just flowed, but I was able to condense down the most annoying foods on the market to me to these three things (broad things.. I do admit). Check it out!

1) Soy based ANYTHING

How soy became a “health food” is beyond me.. Americans always go to extremes! Bigger houses, bigger cars, “O, you say soy is healthy? Let’s add it in EVERYTHING!” Back in the day, Japanese culture used FERMENATED SOY often and yes it was a healthful food. HOWEVER, most soy found in the USA today is GM (genetically modified…in case you didn’t know- which is a bad thing… think lab with chemicals..) and even MORE is unfermenated which means it hasn’t had all the anti-nutrients removed from it. Soy has an inherint ability to strip the body of minerals. It can lead to thyroid dysfunction, hormone disturbances, cardiovascular problems. But the food ol’ USA keeps pumping it out into over 6000 packaged foods and even promoting that it is good for you.

Everyone has heard of Herbalife, Body By Vi, Reliv weight loss sca.., products. ALL soy based. They will tell you how it is isoflavone free or non-GMO (which are good things)..but just take a second and google “soy a health food?” or “Body by vi side effects”.. and call me in the morning.Do some research people.. don’t just listen to me and DO NOT just listen to some person on a video telling you why you should take something that you have no knowledge on..which means don’t just take my word for it either! RESEARCH.

Another point about soy that it is CHEAP. Cheap to grow, cheap to buy… so when you are paying for products that are soy based..really LOOK at what you are buying. There is a reason that packaged product is 2.00 instead of the 6.00 WHOLE food that you SHOULD be buying. You put in cheap gas, expect car trouble down the road.It isn’t rocket science….or maybe I AM a smart blonde.

2) Canola Oil

WHAT IS THIS STUFF? If you can tell me what ‘canola oil” is I will give you $5.00 bucks. Do you really know? Let me help you, It’s an oil made out of canola, right? Ha ha… nice answer. In reality, Canola oil is a hybrid of rapeseed oil which if you don’t know what that is, it’s an oil that contains high levels of erucic acid which is poisonous to the body. Alter that version and you get canola oil… i.e. Low Erucic Acid Rapeseed Oil. Most often GM (there’s those initials again..) and chemically treated to actually remove the oil and then treated AGAIN with more chemicals to make the color “pretty” and make it NOT smell like big foot’s butt… not to mention the pesticides used during growth.. Geez…this is making me so hungry…

Does this sound healthy to you? One Chemical process after another? No wonder our bodies are in chaos..

Good bet? Stick to something REAL. So hard to find something real in the world today.. but I am going to say it.. AHA (American Heart Assocation) be damned- Get some real butter, use a touch like intended and go on!

Better Bet?

Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Find one that has no other ingredient than Olive oil i.e. LOOK AT THE LABEL and expresses that the oil was “cold-pressed”. Be wary of oils that say “made from refined olive oil” or things of the sort… that just equals lesser quality oils chemically altered to be something they are not.

3) Sugar free/fat free baked or processed cakes/cookies

 
Talk about wolves in sheeps clothing… Watching your sugars? Check this out! We have this and that, it’s sugar free! Sound to good to be true? It usually is.

One thing you have to learn to look at is a NUTRITION LABEL… and don’t just focus on calories. If a product is sugar free… it is usually loaded with fat or sodium OR stomach trouble inducing sugar alcohol. Sugar alcohol on it’s own isn’t that bad of a thing… but eat large quanities of it and watch out… you will be running to the restroom too often for comfort. If a product is fat free… it is usually loaded with sugar or sodium.. or tastes like cardboard.

If you want a treat, there is nothing wrong with it OCCASIONALLY but you will do better to learn to make something yourself, while reducing the refined sugars in your daily diet through better choices.

The American public needs to stop expecting someone to spoon feed them proper nutrition. STOP trying to take shortcuts and start taking responsibility for OUR health. We ALL want an easy road.. we all want everything to be EASY. But LIFE ain’t easy and if every person doesn’t start taking responsibility for their actions, whether that be not shoving down an entire pizza OR not letting your children eat processed crap at every meal; the obesity rates could climb just like Ryan outlined for you in this post:

http://www.sci-unisonfitness.com/2012/10/fat-america-projected-obesity-rates-2030/

YOU are responsible for YOUR health, wake up and EDUCATE yourself.

Read more at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olive_oil
http://www.optimumchoices.com/Soy.htm

PEACE!

Liz Jackson
AFPA Nutrition and Wellness Consultant

http://www.facebook.com/liz.jackson.967

http://www.facebook.com/TheRackGym?fref=ts

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