Forget the Fad Diets!!!

Fitness Spa has just begun the Biggest Loser Contest and we are looking for excited contestants. Proper nutrition paired with daily exercise is the perfect way to increase your chances of becoming the “Biggest Loser.” Here are some tips to help you achieve your weight loss goals during the contest:

Always remember that fad diets do not get the job done!

If you are counting calories, here is one way to calculate your calorie intake: Decide your ideal body weight then add a zero and that will be the minimum. Be sure you consume no less than 1200 calories.

Since you are exercising, it is important that you eat much more to give your body the nutrients it needs to give you energy and repair and build muscle.

Keep your diet balanced with plenty of protein, fats such as plant oils, and yes, carbohydrates (brain food and energy source.) Complement this plan with 5-10 bottles (16.9 fl oz) of water. Water is necessary to metabolize fat as well as other functions in your body so drink many glasses of pure water. Tea, coffee, diet soda, or other beverages do not count.

Grazing all day on healthy foods is a great way to level blood sugar and keep your metabolism high. Put an end to cravings! Eat small meals or snacks every 3 hours.

Serving size is important. For best results, follow these guidelines:

Protein – 10 grams* per serving

Carbohydrate – 15 grams per serving

Fat – 10 grams per serving

*This is equal to 3 oz. of white meat or fish. Red meat should be avoided for the 6 weeks of competition for best results.

Eat up to 4 servings of protein, up to 4 servings of fats, and up to 6 servings of carbohydrates. On this plan, all dairy is considered a fat, even non-fat products. Fill the rest of your daily diet with unlimited fruits and veggies (but try to eat more veggies than fruits.) Try to eat 4 servings of fruit (medium sized apple or ½ cup chopped) and 5 servings of veggies. Good nutrition is key to weight loss and health. Come by Fitness Spa and get measured for the Biggest Loser Contest

Toxins deter Weight loss

Can't seem to lose weight? Maybe it is the toxins that have invaded your body.

The average person living in the developed world is now contaminated with at least 500 industrial toxins. We live in a toxic world and carry many toxins within us.

According to Dr. Paula Baillie-Hamilton, who published her work in the 2002 Journal of Alternative and Complimentary Medicine, between the years of 1930 and 2000, the rise in the use of synthetic chemicals matched the rise in the number of overweight and obese adults in the U.S. The liver plays a major role in weight loss and in metabolism functions. When the liver is overloaded (toxic), weight loss efforts may be blocked.

"A liver overloaded with pollutants and toxins cannot efficiently burn body fat," says Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS. "A tired, toxic liver is the number one weight-loss stumbling block."

Everyday, we are exposed to numerous chemicals that can wreak havoc on our health. These chemicals are not only found in the air we breathe, but also in the food we eat, water we drink, homes we live in and in the personal and cosmetic products we use.

Traditionally, overweight and obesity are caused by a number of factors from super-sized portions to sedentary lifestyles. Nowadays, experts believe that one of the underlying reasons for being overweight is an overload of environmental toxins throughout our body. The fewer toxins the body has, the more weight that probably can be lost.

A great way to lose toxins is through a radiant heat sauna which will allow the body to sweat out the chemicals through your pores. At Fitness Spa, we had one girl lose 10 pounds in a week from simply sitting in the sauna for 30 minutes every day. Try our radiant heat sauna free to see if it helps you. Drinking lots of pure water will help flush out toxins while you are sitting in the sauna.