One of the first things you need to do before starting any new fitness or weight loss program is go to the kitchen and get rid of the junk.  If there is no junk in your kitchen then you will not be tempted to eat those chips and dip at midnight.

Whether you are starting P90X, Insanity or any other fitness program make sure you have a nutrition plan in place. All of the Beachbody workouts come with some sort of nutrition guide so if you are doing one then you have that part covered.  If you are not doing a Beachbody workout then make sure you do your homework and plan your meals so that they will help you reach your goals.  You could always get a Club Membership at Team Beachbody and use there meal planner which will lay out your meals for you.  Just make sure you do something.  Without a proper nutrition plan you will be setting yourself up for failure.

Below is a video that will get you started on cleaning out your kitchen.

Here is a link to foods you can enjoy and food you should avoid.

I was reading an interesting article about lettuce today and then I checked out a recent consumer report article on lettuce and cringed after. Why? Because if you use bagged lettuce, (which we do) then there might be some not so clean things inside. According to the consumer report’s, 39% of the bagged lettuce tested exceeded the acceptable level for coliforms and 23% for enterococcus.

Now I don’t know about you but since I have been following the P90X nutrition plan and the Insanity nutrition plan, I have been eating a lot more chicken salads.  Yes, there is bagged lettuce in my salad and the thought of that bacteria doesn’t sit to well with me now.  Guess we will have to start buying a whole head of lettuce or rinse the heck out of the begged lettuce. I don’t even want to imagine how this bacteria gets into a bag of lettuce but I’m sure it’s not pretty. Would it be to early for a Xmas wish in February? All I want for Xmas is “bacteria free” lettuce.  Is that too much to ask?

So you keep hearing all of these good thing about Shakeology and you are wondering where to get it. Well you are in luck because you can get it right from this site or just go to buy Shakeology and watch a video that will tell you what Shakeology is all about. Shakeology is only offered through Beachbody coaches and can not be found in stores or anywhere else and it just so happens that I loved P90X so much that I decided to become a Beachbody coach.

Shakeolgy comes in 3 different flavors. Chocolate, Vegan Tropical Straberry and Greenberry.  I must say that I like them both but I am partial to the Chocolate flavor.  Not sure why, it is just really different tasting.  If you are a chocolate person then just go with the chocolate as it is really good as well.  I mix mine with rice milk and have tried it with water but I definitely prefer it with the rice milk.

Best part is if you purchase Shakeology on home direct you will get free shipping and a link to the Shakeology workout videos

There are over 70 ingredients in Shakeology and it also has either 15 or 17 grams of protein per serving.  To try and piece this drink together would cost you a fortune.  If you use this shake instead if eating lunch you will definitely cut your calories, save money and lose weight.  If you stick with the Shakeology workouts this will speed up your weight loss and get you in better shape.

I don’t want to bore you with typing out all of the ingredients and trying to sell you on it so if you want to take a look at the ingredients just go to Shakeology and watch the video.  Click on buy Shakeology and you will be taken to a page where you will be able to see the list of ingredients.

Any questions about Shakeology just leave a comment or send me an email. Be sure to check out “What is Shakeology?”

If you are doing P90X and you are wondering if you should follow the P90X nutrition plan I can give you a quick answer, YES.  If you don’t have the help of a nutritionist and you want to see the best results then follow the P90X nutrition guide.  For some it might take some getting used to and some might already be following it and not even know it.  Is the P90X a nutrition plan a cure all for everyone?  Well it is a great nutrition guide to help you on your way but everyone is different.  That is what is so good about this plan, it can grow and change with you.  The P90X nutrition plan is designed to help you recognize how your body reacts to carbohydrates.  Since each individual will have a different intensity level your carb intake could be lower or higher.  This will be determined in the first phase of the P90X nutrition plan which is the fat shredder phase.  Someone who already has a low body fat percentage will not stay in this phase too long as you will need more carbs to give you the energy you need to complete your P90X work outs. Phase 1 consists of 50% protein, 30% carbs and 20% fat.  You will follow phase 1 of the P90X nutrition plan for 30 days unless you feel like you need more energy.  If you are already fit you might only be in this phase for a week or two.  If you are trying to burn more fat then this phase can be extended if you feel you have enough energy to push hard during your work outs.

From here you will move on to phase 2 of the P90X nutrition plan which consists of 40% protein, 40% carbs and 20% fat.  This is a more well rounded plan that you can use as long as you like as long as you have ample energy and you are feeling great. You will be adding 1 or 2 more carbs into your menu depending on which level you are at so you will be able to judge how you feel, did you gain any weight etc.  If anything changes you can always adjust accordingly.

Phase 3 of the P90X nutriton plan is the last phase and is 20% protein, 60% carbs and 20% fat.  If you are pushing your body to the limit then you will be able to stay in this phase. This is an athletic diet regiment.  If you are “Bringing It” then you will have no problem staying  in this  phase. Some people decide to stay in phase 2 because they are seeing awesome results but you have to try Phase 3 at some point.  Some people hesitated to move on to phase 3 because it is carb-heavy and because they thought they would gain weight but were surprised when they had even better results.  Athletes have to eat more carbs because their bodies are finely tuned fat burning machines.  You will determine which phase you should stay in but must give phase 3 a try.  It just might bring you to the next level.  You can always add and subtract carbs to fit what works best with your body.

The P90X nutrition plan also comes with 3 approaches and you will decide which approach is best for you. They are “The Portion Approach”, “The Meal Plan Approach” and “The Quick Option Approach”. So as you can see there is something for everyone.  Even if you need to run into Subway or Taco Bell for a quick lunch the P90X nutrition plan gives you that option.  Obviously you should not exceed one fast food meal per day but if you are on the go and need something quick you have the option.

One other thing I would recommend is signing up for a Club Membership from Beachbody.  Your membership will give you personalized meal plans, advice from Beachbody trainers like Shaun T, Chalene Johnson and Tony Horton, 10% off of anything Beachbody sells including any supplements, message boards for advice and community support, WOWY online gym to track your progress, plan your work outs and stay accountable, nutrition tips and recipes, VIP chatrooms for live discussions with members and other trainers, your own message center, weekly newsletter and much more.  The Club Membership cost $2.99 a week and is billed in advance for a 3 month period. You can try it “FREE” for 30 days and if you do not like it then you can cancel.  You also will get a free gift which is the “Thin Kitchen” cook book which is yours to keep even if you cancel.  Remember, you save 10% on everything.  This includes P90X Results and Recovery drink, P90X Protein bars, Pull up bar, Shakeology and everything else Beachbody has to offer.

Just as a caution I want to let you know that most used copies of P90X  and pirated copies do not come with the P90X nutrition plan or the P90X workout guide. You can sometimes buy a copy in pdf format off eBay but I don’t think that will last since it is copyrighted material.  So save yourself the time and a headache by trying to piece these things together and get P90X with the nutrition plan and work out guide straight from Beachbody with a money back guarantee.

Shakeology

Recipe: Cranberry Relish Surprise!

Forget that gelatinous can-shaped cranberry side dish, or the cranberries laced with enough sugar to put you into a coma for the rest of the evening. If you want to get your tart on this holiday season, try this healthy Shakeology holiday treat, fresh from the Beachbody® test kitchen.

• 1 scoop Greenberry Shakeology
• 2 cups cold cranberry juice
• 7 segments mandarin orange
• 1/4 cup cold water
• 1/2 cup ice (or to taste)

Orange zest twist for garnish (optional)

Blend till frothy and enjoy!

Nutritional Information:

• Calories: 315
• Protein: 17 g
• Carbs: 51 g
• Fiber: 4 g
• Fat: 1 g

Buy Shakeology today!  It is the healthiest meal of the day.

Shakeology

Time and time again research has shown that there are 13 different nutrient dense foods that tend to promote overall good health.  These “superfoods” are richer in vitamins and minerals, have fewer calories and have a ton of disease fighting antioxidants.

These “superfoods” consist of broccoli, green tea, berries, beans, nuts, oranges, salmon, soy, spinach, tomatoes, whole grains, turkey, and yogurt. These 13 foods will provide a solid base for a new healthy you and have also been known to help with Alzheimer’s, diabetes and hypertension.

It’s just not worth it to have an unbalanced diet.  You will feel lethargic, have low energy, mood swings, weight changes and always feel tired.  Nobody wants to feel like this.  Also an unbalanced diet can cause havoc on the bodies growth and development, body tissue, brain, nervous system and also cause problems with brain and muscle system.  You could also suffer from a weakened immune system which could lead to frequent colds or allergies.

We constantly need to keep feeding the body with these 13 “superfoods” as well as other nutrient dense foods. The body will be nourished and will thank you for it over the long haul.

Many of today’s diets consist of fast food, processed food, prepackaged food or foods that lack the proper vitamins and minerals. It is time to change all that. These 13 “superfoods” can be a great start to a new sound, healthy and nutritious new you.

Everyday add something new from this group to your diet. You will be surprised how fast you will start to notice changes that are not only visible in the mirror.

Don’t have time to put together all these fruits and veggies?  Get it all with Shakeology, the healthiest meal of the day.