Probiotic Yogurt Doesn't Deliver!

I've long since told my friends that Probiotic print on items in the supermarket is simply a means for food manufacturers to push their products.  Touted Probiotics in most all these foods aren't what they are cracked up to be.  A recent article by the New York Times highlights this very issue...

New York Times article, Probioitics - Looking Underneath your Yogurt Label

The outcome of a recent legal case may help. Dannon, one of the biggest sellers of probiotic yogurts, settled a class-action lawsuit this month over its Activia yogurts and DanActive yogurt drinks, which claimed to help regulate digestion and stimulate the immune system. As part of the $35 million settlement, Dannon agreed to reimburse dissatisfied consumers and make labeling changes, among them adding the scientific names of probiotic strains it uses.

It isn't a bad article.  Although I don't completely concur.  Probiotics are a vital part of the life function.  They seem to downplay the significance of good bacteria aka Probiotics in our digestive process and immune response.  The takeaway from this article though is to realize that what you're purchasing in the grocery store isn't necessarily all it's cracked up to be.  

A big trouble with Probiotics is they have to survive the strong acid in your stomach before they can reach your digestive tract.  This means virtually all advertised Probiotics have absolutely no effect on your digestion because none of the bacterial cultures ever reach your digestive tract.  Additionally, when we take antibiotics these can negatively influence these good bacterial cultures working in harmony with our body.  A healthy balance of good bacteria is essential for healthy life function. 

I am working on a bacterial food book as we speak to provide you with the complete picture and to uncover many of these issues with modern probiotic craze.  So stay tuned! 

In the mean time make sure to check out some of our healthy recipes at Fitlish.com

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Thanks Tim!

Hey Everybody:

I want to give a big shout out for Tim's new book the Four Hour Body.  Not only has Tim been a great inspriation in my work as an entrepenour.  He has similar passions to myself and us in that he's obsessed with personal physical performance.  He was interested in one of the recipes we had posted and so I shared it with him to celebrate the release of his new book, the Four Hour Body.  Make sure to check out the book!  I'm going to post a review once I've completed reading it.

In the mean time checkout the rocking promotional video they made!!!  If you're interested in picking up a copy of the book, make sure to get it from this link Purchase The Four Hour Body, it's cheaper, and will help support our Kiva fund which assists entrepreneurs in third world countries.

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Tasty Shrimp Soup

Hey:

Sorry I've been so bad lately about keeping you guys up to date with cool wall posts.  I've been working many days 20+ hours at my day job.  It's a lot but should only be for the short term.  Then I can get back to give you more of the Fitlish Low down!

Here's a really cool recipe I recently stumbled onto.  It's a Seafood Soup.  Looks very tasty.  I think I'll try it this weekend.  Apparently you can get everything from Trader Joes making this a one stop shop !

http://everydaypaleo.com/2010/11/28/caribbean-seafood-stew/

If you're interested in other Fitlish recipes checkout mine at:

http://www.fitlish.com/healthydietfoods

See you there!!!

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Rice Good, Wheat Public Enemy Number 1?

Hey Everybody,

Sorry for my recent absence.  Things have been hectic in my life and as a result my posts on Fitlish have tapered off.  But I see you guys are continuing to visit the site which is greatly appreciated.  I will be returning to school in the Spring to learn more about web development and push things to the next level so stay tuned!

As you all well know I've spent the past several months evaluating the Paleo Diet Plan.  I was a bit skeptical of what the results might be, even after performing the diet for 3 months and religiously avoiding grains.  It wasn't until this last week that I tried them again.  Wheat was difficult to avoid as I was at the traditional seasonal Christmas parties we're all accustomed to.

Upon trying some pastries among several wheat based dishes (friend wanted to share their cooking with me) I got fairly sick.  These pastries were Wheat based of course.  When I tried them they just didn't seem to have the flavor I'm accustomed to with my Paleo friendly foods.  Instead they tasted flavorless and made my stomach turn knots.  The next day I felt a sick and drained.

I had a similar experience eating Peanuts which are actually not nuts at all they are Legumes one of the most anti-nutrient dense foods on the planet!  They made me quite sick.  I immediately broke out with nasty allergies, got light headed, and had no energy.  To say the least I felt like crap.  Keep in mind prior to the diet I had a hard time noticing the adverse effects of these foods.  It was because I had nothing to compare them to as they had always been a part of my regular diet.  It wasn't until I tried omitting anti-nutrient dense foods that I realized the adverse effects they have on all of us including myself!

Interestingly though, not all grains are culprit!  Rice seemed to be OK in my diet and corn (corn nuts to be specific) seemed to have little effect on how I felt.  Now they aren't the best nutrients but in my experience I found eating them in moderation had no adverse effect on how I feel.  Mark's Daily Apple has an interesting post about Rice as pertains to Paleo in general which you can view here, Is Rice Unhealthy?:

It's a great article, here's a snippet, I recommend checking out the whole thing :)

The cereal grain family prides itself on its powerful, expansive arsenal of lectins, phytates, gluten, and other antinutrients. A single seed of its patriarch, wheat, can punch holes in gut linings with ease, and cousin oat has managed to obtain official recognition as being good for the heart even as it doses you with gluten. As healthy whole grains, they hide their armaments in plain sight; they cloak their puny bodies in the very poisons for which they are lauded and applauded. We Primals have got a heated feud going with the family as a whole, but should we paint all its members with the same brush?

Additionally, if you're interested in learning about my Paleo Diet Results checkout this link here, http://www.fitlish.com/mediterraneandietplan

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Good Old F&V from the Old School to the New School

So exhausted been working 20+ hour days again.  Sorry I'm not more upbeat lol.  But I stumbled onto this article recently.  It's rather interesting talk about where some common foods originated from.  Check it out...

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/ancient-vs-modern-fruits-and-vegetables/

Let me know what you guys think.  More articles?  Post up some comments and I'll make sure to get back with you.

Enjoy!

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Grains? Who Needs Em!

I've got some pretty amazing results by omiting grains from my diet.  Many people think I'm going to keel over dead though.  They incist that grains are a vital part of your nutitional intake.  I beg to differ, they provide no nutrient which cannot be found elsewhere and even in better quality.  Grains are completely unnecessary.

 

I was excited to see another excellent article by Mark's Daily Apple entitled, Why Grains Are Unhealthy speaking to exactly this.  He talks about many of the misconceptions surrounding grains and our nutritional requirements.  If you are a nasayer and feel animately that grains are required in your daily diet take a look at his article.

 

Apart from maintaining social conventions in certain situations and obtaining cheap sugar calories, there is absolutely no reason to eat grains. Believe me – I’ve searched far and wide and asked everyone I can for just one good reason to eat cereal grains, but no one can do it. They may have answers, but they just aren’t good enough...

 

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Feel the Burn Baby Burn...

Turns out Latic Acid is not quite what you think it is.  Latic Acid is actually a fuel source. It steps in to take over when there's no more oxygen to burn glucose.  Many many years ago Otto Meyerhof performed a study and actually pointed to Lactic Acid as a villain.  As a result popular belief is bad things occur as a result of lactic acid buildup.  This phobia has led to many restrictions on training, etc.

An interesting study by Dr. Brooks found otherwise.  In a recent New Your Times, article they speak to the true function of Lactic Acid, you can check it out here, Lactic Acid Is Not Muscles' Foe, It's Fuel

Coaches and personal trainers tell athletes and exercisers that they have to learn to work out at just below their "lactic threshold," that point of diminishing returns when lactic acid starts to accumulate. Some athletes even have blood tests to find their personal lactic thresholds.  But that, it turns out, is all wrong.

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Avoid the Poison Cocktail!

I find this hilariously comical yet disturbingly scarey.  As a college student I always wasn't the safest, best nourished, student.  Many times bars would offer drink specials.  Most every time the special was some concoction of an energy drink (Monster, Red Bull, etc.) combined with hard alcohol.

Most every time I got sick as a dog after drinking these things.  My body never knew if it wanted to bounce off the walls, go into a perpetual sleep mode, or just simply seize to function all toegether.  The next day I would always have the worst hangover of my life.  Furthermore I heard rumors of people having heart attacks, falling into comas, you know all the common college urban legends that float around.

Apparently there was some merit to the urban legends!  After my college years these drinks gained some traction and alcohol distributors started bundling them and selling them as alcoholic energy drinks (Sparks, Four Loco, etc.).  The FDA is now recalling all these energy drinks!

Here's an excerpt from the CNN article, FDA Calls 7 Caffeine-Alcohol Drinks Unsafe

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration told the manufacturers of seven caffeinated alcoholic beverages Wednesday that their drinks are a "public health concern" and can't stay on the market in their current form.

Personally, I'd recommend staying away from these poison cocktails all together.  I'd actually recommend staying away from drinks which combine refined sugars and caffeine all together.  Let alone alcoholic drinks with these two!  Caffeine only serves to amplify the negative effects of the underlying ingredients as it increases your circulation delivering the nutrients to more nooks and crannies in your body.

But hey it's your body and your health.  So enjoy!

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Brocolli Will Rock You Joints Off! Or not...

I recently learned that Dr. Weil lives in Tucson and also heard he teaches at the University of Arizona now.  That being true I'd love to take one of his classes.  He's an expert in health and nutrition and has written many books about more proactive medicine via healthy nutrition.  Very interesting guy.

 

I stumbled onto an interesting post on his blog.  It was about Broccoli that little green vegtable most of us didn't like as kids.  Although I did, so does that make me weird???  Anyways, as a body builder I ate TONS of Broccoli so I was excited to learn a little bit more out about it.

 

Apparently it's also good for building healthy joints!!!  Dr. Weil writes about it in his post, Broccoli for Healthy Joints

 

...a compound in broccoli, helps deter the arthritic process and provides long-term benefits for joint health.

 

Enjoy!

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Happy Cows Make Happy Healthy Butter!!!

I thought this article was interesting.  I've been hearing a lot of good things about butter recently.  However, proteins contained in dairy products (casein and other protease inhibitors) have a tendency counteract / block digestive enzymes in our digestive tract.  FYI... This is a bad thing.

Butter actually has some exceptionally healthy fat and antioxidant properties not to mention it tastes damn good.  Through a simple process called clarification (http://allrecipes.com//HowTo/clarifying-butter/Detail.aspx) you can easily keep all the flavor & healthy nutrients, while stripping the butter of the protease inhibitors.  This is the process of butter clarification which you can read about here,

Just make sure to purchase good quality butter from healthy happy dairy cows because you are what you eat!  I recommend reading this article so you know how to shop for butter http://whole9life.com/2010/11/butter/

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Yet Another Reason to Avoid Fast Food...

Diet Blog brings up a good point.  The people who serve your food are actually encouraged to work sick!  They have absolutely no incentive to stay home when they feel ill.  For the most part they don't even get health insurance let alone sick days!  Plus I hate to imagine their levels of health if they are eating their own products!  Could you live on a big mac and fries as your staple diet?

According to Diet Blog post, People Who Handle Your Food Work Sick and a recent Survey of workers,

In the report, a lady working in the food service for 30 years talks about being really sick one day. She had a bad cold with all the trimmings: runny nose, sneezing, cough, and a fever. But she couldn't call out, she needed the money.

 
This just reafirms a conversation I recently had with a buddy of mine.  He worked through college in the restaurant business.  He told me the movie Waiting a comedy staring Ryan Rynalds about waiters in a local restaurant, isn't a far cry from the truth.  He said just about everything he saw in the movie he saw at one point working in the restaurant business!  Scarey thought!  But funny movie :)

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Dumbfounded by the Twinkie Diet?

I recently stumbled across the Twinkie diet.  If you haven't read up on it you can do so here, Twinkie Diet Helps Nutrition Processor Loose 27 pounds.  This is a diet where a nutritional professor lost 27 lbs in two months eating junk food, primarily consisting of the little unsavory snack called Twinkies.  He wanted to prove a point that you can loose weight primarily by caloric deficit.  However, I would never advise such an approach and I feel this study is dangerously misleading.  Here's why:

According to Whole Health Source article to follow up on The Twinkie Diet for Fat Loss

There are many studies in which rodents are made obese using industrial high-fat diets made from refined ingredients [Matt:  Twinkies ring a bell here??]. The rats eat more calories (at least in the beginning), and gain fat rapidly. No big surprise there. But what may come as a surprise to the calorie counters is that rodents on these diets gain body fat even if their calorie intake is matched precisely to lean rodents eating a whole food diet. In fact, they sometimes gain almost as much fat as rodents who are allowed to eat all the industrial food they want. This has been demonstrated repeatedly.

The clear distinction to see here, and what most people do not realize is that, caloric counting does not take into account absorption and conversion of foods into energy!  The benchmark Calories in your food are measured against is the amount of energy required to heat water!  Water is a far cry from how much energy food supplies to your body and in turn how much excess energy is stored as fat or left unprocessed poised for exit from the body.

Eating primarily junk food leads to many health implications.  Despite the professor lost 27 pounds (by default makes you feel good) he still provided very little or suboptimal nutritional value in his diet.  In the long run this deficit of nutritional value will add up while low quality junk food ingredients accumulate in his body.  This leads to complex health related issues that we don't even want to explore.  So I ask why would you deprive your body of what it needs most to eat junk.  This doesn't sound like a solid approach to becoming healthier and loosing weight...

After all you are what you eat and do you want to be a cream puffed process Twinkie??

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How to Grow Taller, Sleep Deeper, and Feel Better!

Interesting article discussing necessity of proper posture in bed!  I'm surely going to give this one a shot first chance I get (tonight!).

Whether you’re in bed, on a cot, or on the floor, the key is to lengthen your spine. You touch ground with your sacrum, lay your palms on the ground, and slowly lower yourself back, taking care to actively lengthen your spine – vertebrae by vertebrae – by pushing through your hands. The result is an oddly awkward feeling; you really do feel longer than normal. It takes a few minutes to get used to it, but it’s an incredibly comfortable way to lie down. The first time I tried it, I fell asleep (inadvertently) in ten minutes. In fact, her method of “long lying” was my biggest takeaway from the book, simply because I wasn’t expecting to learn how to lie down. Posture? Yeah, I see how modern posture is dysfunctional, but I figured lying down was pretty basic stuff that no one could mess up. My sleep is better than ever since adopting her method of lying down. I no longer have to find the sweet spot to get my joints aligned and my spine supported. I am the sweet spot.

I believe what he's eluding to is to not curl up like a ball in bed but rather to stretch / elongate your body as much as possible.  You can read more on it here: 

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/sleep-posture/

He also wrote another article on various sleeping position options.  They all seemed rather uncomfortable but if you're so inclined feel free to check that article out too.

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/improve-sleep-posture/

At any rate I had a few simple sleeping tips on my site as well.  These are immediate and guaranteed to give your sleep a boost! 

http://www.fitlish.com/overcominginsomnia

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Paying with Cash Means Less Junk food!

Interesting article on how you better watch your money when you pay with cash!  Give it a look...  Paying With Cash

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Eggs... Are you getting what you think?

Chickens are raised in some of the most in humane manners.  This leads to unhealthy eggs and as you know you are what you eat!  Most all corporations whom raise and distribute eggs would have you believe otherwise by their fancy pants egg cartons.  Don't be fooled.  Educate yourself on what these labels truly mean.  After all it's your health!

Here's an excellent article on Whole nine blog going into detail of the various egg carton labels and how you should interpret them:
Whole 9 Life Egg - Carton Labels

[...] happy, healthy chickens = a healthier egg, which leads to a healthier YOU!  Don’t let the confusing factory farming system trick you into supporting something you’re not in favor of.  Vote with your dollar, and support those egg producers who truly care about the environment, animal welfare and your health.

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Hey checkout my trip photos

Hey Everybody:

Sorry in advance for the rather impersonal mass email.  Drop me a line after you get this, I'd love to catch up!

Recently things have been exceedingly stressful.  Despite working around the clock it's everything just to stay a head of my Mortgage.  Just last week I said the heck with all these worries.  Despite it wasn't the best time (suppose it never is), I dropped everything and traveled off into the expanse with a couple close friends. 

Together we visited four destinations Zion, Arches, Grand Canyon, and Sedona.  Between Andy and I we took nearly 1000 photos, hiked across some of the most treacherous trails in the US (some I had to sit out lol), and all round had a great time.  It was an awe inspiring trip that showed me all the hard work I've been putting in is well worth it.

Attached are my 6 favorite photo's out of the original 555 photos I took.  I hope you enjoy them!

Matt

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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Supporting Entrepreneurs!

Thanks everybody!!!

I made a little dough from your purchases through Fitlish.com a couple months back.  It's been really slow and very hard starting out but I figure what goes around comes around.  I took everything from the affiliate and supplement sales and poured it into a zero interest loan for Juanito Cabangon a farmer in the Philipeans.  He's trying to support his family by expanding his rice crop.  So I loaned him the money for free!

He paid us back so I've now moved onto helping a farmer in Ecuador.  She's a young lady aspiring to own her own home someday!  I can relate to that!  I'm actually struggling with my own home right now so I want to do what I can to help her out!  You can check out her profile here, Lida Johanna

Thanks again for supporting our cause.  Help us spread the word one healthy habit at a time!

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Crossfit Made Me Unconscious!

My latest crossfit workout with Cash at Arrowhead Crossfit in Peoria, Arizona!  This stuff is legit.  I completely passed out after the 19 minute workout which included cleans superset with 400 meter dashes.

Then after supplementing with my Omega-3 fish oil and post workout recovery mix I was as good as new one hour later!!!

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Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream!

Man this Elana just rocks.  Wish I had access to my kitchen right now.  I'd mix this up in a jif!  It's healthy pumpkin pie ice cream!!!!  No dairy, no gluten, just wholesome goodness.  Check it out!

http://www.elanaspantry.com/vegan-pumpkin-pie-ice-cream/

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Make a Difference... Share a Healthy Tip!

Hey Everybody.  Interesting post by Seth Godin here.  It's about why people spread ideas.  Check it out below.

Seth Godin - I Spread Your Idea Because...

And of course spread your ideas as well as Fitlish's healthy habits because you can make help make a difference in somebody life.  It's as simple and sharing a healthy tip!

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Pumpkin Bars

These things look DARN good.  Boy how I miss my kitchen :(  I want to make a batch of them so bad!  They are grain free toooo!  So they don't infringe upon my or your Paleo diet :)

If anybody makes the post up how they taste!

http://www.elanaspantry.com/pumpkin-bars/

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Best Gluten Free Recipes on Earth!

I've been obsessing about this website since last Wednesday when a friend and I cooked some of the dishes.  Elana's Pantry has such good food you cannot even imagine!  My friend and I made a fantastic Coconut Almond Chicken dish from there.  I nearly ate the entire batch (about 5 chicken breasts) in one sitting!  Best news is all the dishes are fantastically healthy and Gluten Free!  This mean's they fit the bill for my latest article on the Caveman Diet Plan.  Go check it out for yourself and try a couple of the dishes.  I guarantee you'll enjoy them!  Here's the link again if you didn't catch it before, http://www.elanaspantry.com/

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Caveman Diet Plan for Healthy Teeth

I recently took an interest in the paleo diet plan aka caveman diet plan. On this plan grains are omitted from your diet. I'm especially interested in seeing my dentist after taking up this diet because they say cavemen had much heather teeth than their modern agricultural counterparts.

Part of the rational is the damages grains can do to the intestinal tract. This opens the door for countless parasites and bacteria to enter the blood stream. This can lead to any number of ailments including periodontal disease which I've recently been struggling with. I'll have to post up how things went after my next dental visit.

I've even been following the paleo diet for breakfast... Paleo Diet breakfast means no more captain crunch. Dang it! lol Na I seriously love cereal and milk both are forbidden. But the results so far have been profound. My skin is clearing up, and I'm getting lean and mean. Not like I wasn't before :) But now I just am that much leaner and healthier looking!

Happy Meal Experiment

I recently stumbled onto this interesting article.  It's about the non biodegradable Happy Meal from McDonald's.  Just think if we feed these to our kids perhaps they too will last forever?

"I told my friend about a schoolteacher who's kept a McDonald's burger for 12 years that hasn't changed at all, and he didn't believe me when I told him about it," Davies told us. "He thought I was crazy and said I shouldn't believe everything that I read, so I decided to try it myself."

I don't have much experience in saving food on my counter top lol.  However, I can say for the past 15 years or so I've only eaten fast food a couple times and only out of desperation.  Each time I have gotten sick in ways which I'm embarrassed to talk about.  Coincidence?  I think not!  Eat fast food at your own risk!

If you found this interesting you can read the rest of the Happy Meal Experiment at this link, McDonald's Happy Meal resists Decomposition .

For healthy recipes and diet advice visit, http://www.fitlish.com/healthydietfoods

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Word of the Day! Psychoneuroimmunology

Hey Fitlish fans!

Don't stress it!  Psychoneuroimmunology is the study of how our mental state effects our physical state in terms of nervous and immune systems.  In lahmens terms, how mental stress and anguish effects our bodies.

So don't sweat it!  Just be chill and you'll live longer, happier, lives :)

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I'm Going Nuts for Walnuts :)

Here's a Fitlish tidbit I'm sure you'll be happy to learn.  According to Diet Blog Walnuts and other items high in Omega-3 fatty acids can help reduce stress!

Researchers found that a diet rich in walnuts and walnut oil may help the body to deal better with stressful situations.

Eating a diet rich in Omega-3 Fatty acids as many positives.  You can read more here, Feeling Stressed?  Eat Walnuts...

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Who was the First to Drink Tang in Space??

Hey thought this was interesting! 

My co-worker and I were just talking about Tang.  It was originally rocketed (literally) into popularity when Astronauts form the Gemini Program took it into space back in 1962.  John Glen was the FIRST to drink Tang in space!  It was part of an experiment conducted on eating in Orbit / Zero gravity.  It later gained popularity with the astornauts as the Tang covered nasty taste of water on the spacecraft.

There was a particular component of the Gemini life support-system module which produced H₂O (water) among other things. This was a byproduct of a recurring chemical reaction of one of the mechanical devices on the life-support module. The astronauts would use this water to drink during their space flight. The problem was, the astronauts did not like the taste of the water because of some of the byproducts produced, which were not harmful of course. So, they added Tang to make the water taste better.

 
Hope you enjoyed this Fitlish tidbit :)  Keep in mind I don't endorse eating Tang.  At least not the modern formulation.  Kraft re-branded the drink after many years of not producing it.  It no longer (not sure if it ever did) contain any true nutritional value.

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Dynamic Stretching Saves the Day!

Hey Fitlish Fans!

Last night I completed yet another exciting Cross Fit routine at Arrowhead Crossfit in Peoria, Arizona near Phoenix.  The prior workout was strength / power movements with 400 m dashes.  To say the least I couldn't even move the next day.  This time I performed a very similar workout with simply 400 m dashes.  After the workout my body felt much the same as the previous workout, drained and extremely fatigued.  However, I never became soar as with the previous workout and the next day I feel good as new!

There was one minor change between the two workouts.  Cash, my Crossfit coach, told me to perform no static stretches.... EVER.  This goes against everything I've ever done.  However, I thought it was worth a try for at least one workout.  Despite to say the least there is definitely some merit to ditching the static stretches.  I will have to investigate this further but for the near future I'm dropping them all together as a result.

Here's an interesting article I found on the topic of Dynamic stretching as pertains to Crossfit.  You can see the full article at, Crossfit Oakland.  I encourage you to check it out.

Prevailing wisdom among coaches and kinesiology researches these days posits dynamic stretching as the superior way to prepare the body for rigorous athletic movement. The Scorpion, bear crawls, straight leg marches, and handwalks are a few of the dynamic stretches we use at CFO that send what researchers call excitatory message to the muscles in your body.

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Latest Minimalist Shoes

Hey Fitlish fans!

Recently I've been networking to put together a series of eBooks that go more in depth on your favorite topics.  I just met and had an interesting discussion with a move and shaker in the field of Minimalist (aka barefoot) shoes.  It seems I myself don't quite yet how to make the most out of my barefoot shoes and Andrew from Stem Footwear sought to help us out.  We are hoping to put together an ebook and or series of how to's that will help you all learn how to get back to the essentials and make the most out of your barefoot shoes! 

He mentioned also few interesting upcoming barefoot shoes as an alternative to the Vibram Five Fingers.  However, what is the most exciting is his upcoming shoe.  Stem Footwear is going to introduce a TRULY in every since of the word minimalist shoe.  It will provide just enough protection to keep your feet from getting cut up yet will allow you truly experience the Earth as your feet were meant to experience the Earth. 

You can read more about what a true minimalist shoes is here at, Stem Footwear  Make sure to stay tuned as we piece together some exciting information on barefoot footwear over the next few months!

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Eating Vegetables 101

I recently stumbled across the article while researching topics for Fitlish

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, have issued their behavioral study on America's fruit and vegetable consumption, and the results are pretty bleak.

Only 26 percent of American adults eat vegetables three, or more, times per day.

Read the rest of the article at Diet Blog

I've recently taken a special interest in eating more raw vegatables as a result of trying the Paleo diet.  It's actually not all that expensive, or difficult to add more vegatables to your diet.  I just get some small lunch containers and divvy up broccoli, carrots, radishes, etc.  Then take them to work and snack on them throughout the day.  I also eat berries in the same fashion.

It's simple as can be :)  So give it a try.

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How Goofy Can Keeps Engineers from Cutting Logs on the Job

Recently sleeping has become a vested interest of mine.  Especially since I'm going to be pulling nights here in a few weeks at my new job.  Not to mention I've been extremely sour from my new Crossfit routine making it more difficult to sleep!  Thanks to Cash my Crossfit trainer at Aerohead Crossfit here in Phoenix... Don't get me wrong Crossfit is GREAT Stuff, you should all give it a shot :)

To make a long story short I've been researching the topic of sleep for the latest article on Fitlish.  Just now I came across not only Goofy's advice but also some excellent sleeping tips I felt you could use right now.

1. Sleep in a quite place.  I typically buy ear plugs at the pharmacy to keep it extra quiet.

2. Draw all curtains and wear a black out cover on your eyes to make sure it's completely dark.

3. Avoid overstuffed pillows - they do not allow you to rest with your head in a neutral position.

4. Sleep on your side, with your knees slightly bent and with a pillow between your knees. This is the best way to maintain proper body posture when lying down. Avoid curling up with your knees to your chest. " If you must sleep on your back, place a pillow under your knees to support the normal curve of the lower back.

5. Avoid sleeping on your stomach, as this may aggravate back and neck pain.

6. Many mattress manufacturers promote extra firm surfaces, but it is possible for a mattress to be too firm. Similarly, some mattresses may be too soft, especially ones that come with extra soft feather tops. Neither situation allows your muscles to rest, as they must work through the night to find a comfortable position and maintain correct posture.

I can personally vouch for items 1 - 3 so make sure to jot those down!!!   As for 4 through 6 I haven't tried yet.  I know my new pillow top mattress literally felt like somebody beat me when I first got it but now it feels completely heavenly!  I think mattress stiffness may just be a personal preference but this will take some further research.

A high quality natural melatonin supplement such as Advocare ZZZ or Herbalife Sleep Now doesn't hurt either :)  Several of my friends (including myself) are taking such supplements and sleeping like babies despite the most stubborn sleeping difficulties.

For more on healthy living visit my blog at Fitlish.com

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3-Bean Chili Recipe

More fitlish tidbits

I'm definitely going to have to try Stephanie's chili recipe here this weekend!

OK, OK…yes I am still here. Things have been crazy in my life lately so cooking is one of the last things I feel like doing. But my waistline is starting to notice that difference, so I have started cooking again. And what better way to start back up with a 3 bean chili; you could also call this the pantry chili. I dug into my pantry and gathered as much stuff as I could to make a chili and it turned out AWESOME…spicy and yummy. Here is the recipe that I used.

You can get the full recipe at Stephanie Cooks.

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LOL Vegan Wolverine!

More Fitlish tidbits:

I just learned that Vegan is not any old fad!  It's growing steam and even Hugh Jackman is looking into beefing up (no pun intended) on the vegan diet for the next X-Men movie!

...it's been reported that Hugh Jackman is considering using a vegan diet to bulk up for his next movie X-Men Origins: Wolverine II. If a vegan diet almost "killed" Angelina will it produce a ripped, fierce, yet vegetarian wolverine?

Read more at Diet Blog

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The Paleo Diet isn't what T-Rex Ate

More Fitlish tidbits.

OK.  I feel a bit goofy but I've run down a rabbit hole.  I feel I know a lot about diet and nutrition but last night somebody mentioned he was on the Paleo Diet.  The first thing that popped into my mind was T-Rex.  Well I couldn't have been farther from the truth.  I'm still at a loss but it's a diet consisting of mainly nuts, meat, vegetables, and fruit.  No grains folks, absolutely none. 

In my endless search I on the Paleo Diet I stumbled onto this video here which I thought was completely fascinating and defiantly rang a bell.  This guy has taken the diet a step further and eats nothing BUT fruits and vegetables.  It makes since in my mind and I may have to give it a try.  The building blocks of protein are amino acids which he gets from the fruits and vegetables.  Cool stuff!  Although I do enjoy the taste of my protein :)

One thing is clear.  I'm behind the ball on this Paleo Diet thing.  I need to read more on it.  This is the book that seems to have pioneered it all.  I hear it's a quick read and I'll have to pick it up ASAP.  It's entitled, The Paleo Soloution: The Original Human Diet.

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What do Grains and Heroin have in Common?

More Fitlish tidbits.

I Like Bread and Pasta!

Yes, I like that stuff too, but they make me sick. I suspect it makes you sick, as well. Not only do grains make you sick by raising insulin levels, messing up your fatty acid ratios (n-3/n-6), and irritating your gut, but they are also addictive. Grains, particularly the gluten-containing grains, contain molecules that fit into the opiate receptors in our brain. You know, the same receptors that work with heroin, morphine, and Vicodin? Most people can take or leave stuff like corn tortillas and rice. Suggest that people should perhaps forgo bread and pasta for their health and they will bury a butter knife in your forehead before you can say “whole wheat!” Sorry folks, I don’t make these rules, I just have the lovely task of educating you about them.

By Tim Ferris.  Read more, on this topic on the Four Hour Blog

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The Truth About Dissatisfaction

Fitlish blog tidbits.

Great brands are built on dissatisfaction. After all, if you are satisfied with your Revlon makeup or your Nike sneakers or your iPad, why would you buy another one? Satisfied means done, finished, I don't need any more.

from Seth's Blog by Seth Godin

This couldn't be more true!  It's ingrained in us yet we need to root this dissatisfaction out and learn to accept ourselves for who we are.  Then realize and explore the incredible potential we have.  That's the ultimate key to attaining your wildest dreams in fitness and in life!

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Picture Perfect with Oral B Electric Toothbrush

People say a picture is worth a thousand words but honestly it’s only worth a thousand words if you show it. Electric tooth brushes are about giving you that picture perfect smile and in my opinion that’s worth even more than pictures can say!

I was recently introduced to electronic toothbrushes as a result of being diagnosed with periodontal disease. Previously I’d teetered back and forth on the benefit of owning an electric toothbrush. Looking back had I purchased the brush earlier I may have avoided periodontal disease or at least dramatically lessened it’s severity.

Undeniable evidence is showing that a quality electric toothbrush such as the Oral B Triumph is much more effective then manual brushing and dentists are quickly jumping on the bandwagon. Electric toothbrushes simply get to more places than a manual brushes can while maintaining a gentle yet effective agitation of the oral surfaces. This knocks loose more debris and plaque buildup than a manual brush ever could while never over brushing your teeth.

I’ve been extremely happy with my Oral B Triumph brush. It ensures I get ample coverage of my teeth by prompting me with a built in timer to brush in zones. It also has different modes so I can brush my gums, sides, and top of my teeth.

The results are undeniable. Each night I feel like I just had a professional teeth cleaning before I head to bed. Not to mention the brush was a tiny investment that has already paid itself back in full several times by saving me from complicated and costly dental procedures. Periodontal disease has been dramatically slowed, my gums are tight and healthy, and never any cavities!

So don’t hesitate, simply purchase an electronic toothbrush. I highly recommend the Oral B Triumph. If you'd like to read more about it checkout this article here, Jesus's Favorite Toothbrush, The Oral B Electric Toothbrush. I promise you’ll never look back except to take a picture of those newly discovered pearly whites!

Coffee & Fat Loss

Coffee & Fat Loss

via PAULA OWENS ~ Change Your Body. Transform Your Life. by ~ PAULA OWENS ~ on 8/21/10

Do you love your morning cup of coffee? If you're going to drink coffee, it's great before exercise (pre-training), however the worst thing you can ingest after exercise (post training) unless you want a “cortisol fest” and added belly fat. You want high cortisol when you train, NOT after. Add organic heavy cream & a pinch of cinnamon to slow down the insulin spike from the coffee. Need a sweetener? Stevia Plus is the optimal choice. Pass on the sweetened syrups which are loaded in calories, and definitely stay away from sugar-free syrups which are full of high-fructose corn syrup and artificial sweeteners.

Opt for organic coffee versus non-organic coffee due to the high pesticide content in non-organic coffee. Consumer Reports magazine cautioned readers last year about the potential negative health effects of pesticides. The nonprofit Environmental Working Group urges consumers "to minimize exposure to pesticides whenever possible."                        

 

One of my personal favorites is PowerCafe. PowerCafe® is the first coffee to combine organic dark roast Arabica coffee with the power of Yerba Mate. 

 

 

Technorati Tags: coffee,cortisol,stevia,powercafe,paulaowens.com

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Reasons to Practice Self Myofascial Release

Muscular tension and terrible pain are experienced these days by so many people. Causes for this can be hard to determine and treatment is yet even harder to find. Muscular strain and injury can also often be the cause. There is an effective solution that anyone can easily use to fix this dreadful situation. Self Myofascial Release can solve this problem if it is practiced regularly.

Self Myofascial Release is a form of therapeutic intervention that focuses on deep tissue so as to relax muscles, thereby improving circulation and stretches out a person’s overall range of motion. The sessions should not be prolonged at first and require only ten minutes to perform.

This is the way Self Myofascial Release is conducted on the area of the legs. Just position your legs over a foam roller. Then, roll your legs in a back and forth motion over the roller until the tight part of the area becomes looser. Also, the performance of Myofascial Release in the back area is easy. Put your back over the foam roller. Next, gently roll along the roller in a back and forth manner. Over time this body part will be looser and the muscles will become naturally elongated due to the therapy.

People certainly do feel the dreadful effect of mental and emotional anxiety in their bodies physically. The way Myofascial Release can be beneficial will make it fully worth the mastery of the easy techniques. In the first place, circulation quickly improves and circulation is a major healing factor. Secondly, there is also less pain that people feel in the formerly painful areas. At times, the pain altogether leaves. Because of decreased feelings of pain and also muscular elongation, people do begin to have a wider range of motion. This also means that the stiff and inflexible feeling leaves.

The above information is the reason for the relief that an individual can get through learning exactly how to do Myofascial Release. When this powerful practice is made a habitual portion of a person’s health regimen, disease can be prevented. Much of the discomfort and pain that is experienced by people is avoidable. The advantage of precise performance of Myofascial Release becomes obvious in the lessening of anxiety and overall advancement of athletic ability and better range of motion.

To learn more about Self Myofascial Release including exercise demonstrations and other similar healthy topics visit this link, Learn More About Self Myofascial Release.

Is Being a "Picky Eater" an Eating Disorder?

Is Being a "Picky Eater" an Eating Disorder?

via Diet Blog on 8/21/10

No it isn't. Science be damned! If you're an adult and you still won't eat vegetables because they're "gross," you're behaving like an infant, and you need to grow up.

But, odds are your parents did a lousy job of introducing you to new foods. So, if you were raised on a diet of potato chips, snack cakes, fast food, and cola, I guess its not totally you're fault.

But still, you're not seven anymore, eat some broccoli, it won't kill you!

New research by the University of Pathetic Excuses, suggests being a picky eater may not just be a childish mindset, but rather a medical condition. Oh boy...

Continue reading...

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Is Being a "Picky Eater" an Eating Disorder?

Is Being a "Picky Eater" an Eating Disorder?

via Diet Blog on 8/21/10

No it isn't. Science be damned! If you're an adult and you still won't eat vegetables because they're "gross," you're behaving like an infant, and you need to grow up.

But, odds are your parents did a lousy job of introducing you to new foods. So, if you were raised on a diet of potato chips, snack cakes, fast food, and cola, I guess its not totally you're fault.

But still, you're not seven anymore, eat some broccoli, it won't kill you!

New research by the University of Pathetic Excuses, suggests being a picky eater may not just be a childish mindset, but rather a medical condition. Oh boy...

Continue reading...

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My Dental Water Jet

Healthy habits are vital to maintaining good oral health. Eating fibrous foods such as carrots, apples, etc. helps to scrape the plaque off your teeth. Whilst regularly flossing and brushing keeps plaque buildup at a minimum. It’s when you’re teeth plaque starts to turn to calcium that the real problems rear their ugly face. Additionally swishing water between your teeth after a meal will help to remove food buildup away from your teeth.

There is no substitute for a Waterpik though. A Waterpik’s is a dental water jet similar to the one your dentist uses during your routine cleanings. However, this one is for home use. Numerous clinical studies have proven that regular use of a Waterpik is more effective than flossing. It simply gets places the floss cannot go.

If your dentist has not told you about the Waterpik yet then you are missing out. Using the Waterpik is not only easier than flossing but leaves your mouth feeling amazing. I use mine on a routine basis now and dread when I have to return to old school dental floss.
My dentist informed me of a way to supercharge the Waterpik. They simply said instead of gargling and swishing my antibacterial mouth rinse to run it through the Waterpik along with some water. This ensures the mouth wash can get into every little nook and cranny of your mouth dramatically improving it’s effectiveness.

All in all I don’t know how we lived before the Dental Water Jet was invented. If you are interested in reading more you can check out my website at http://www.fitlish.com/dental-water-jet where I talk about this and more interesting healthy topics.

Evolution of Modern Barefoot Shoes

Shoes are more of a recent happening. Modern society started wearing them as strictly ornamental. They presented a sign of power and status. But not we are going full circle with barefoot shoes!

There are of course risks to everything and going bear foot is no exception. However, the risks are light and can be managed! Of course there’s the danger of cuts, frostbite from the cold, and parasites.

The benefits are amazing though. The modern shoe restricts the flexibly of the foot and alters your stride increasing the impact force absorbed by your heels. When barefoot the body is allowed to move in it’s natural gait eliminating the hard heel strike and generating less collision forces in the foot and lower leg.

Many sports involve barefoot activity such as beach volleyball, gymnastics, martial arts, swimming, surfing, water polo. And many others can easily incorporate barefoot athletes such as water skiing and hiking.

Modern society encourages high-heels as a sexual prop. Heels dramatically alter posture putting unhealthy forces on ball of the foot. Over use can result in bunions, corns, and hammer toe. A survey by the American Pediatric Medical Association showed that 42% of women admitted that they would ear a shoe they liked even if it gave them discomfort.

Dangers of walking barefoot include cuts, abrasions and bruises of course. There’s also the danger of parasites such as hookworm and athletes foot.

Recent evidence has shown that adults with osteoarthritis may benefit from walking barefoot. Another study entitled “Shod Versus Unshod: The Emergence of Forefoot Pathology in Modern Humans?” compared 2000 year old skeletons to modern skeletons. This study saw the older skeletons without foot ware, had healthier feet than our modern skeletons with foot ware. With all of these it has been shown that people who regularly go without shoes have stronger feet, with better flexibility and mobility, and fewer deformities such as flat feet or toes that curve inwards.

One alternative to going bear foot is wearing barefoot shoes. One such excellent brand example is Vibram Five Finger Shoes. These provide substantial protection from abrasions, cuts, etc. yet allow for the foot to operate in it’s natural state. They are similar to a glove which conforms to the foot and allows for maximum flexibly.

Nike Free’s are another great alternative. They provide a cushion and as a result alter the strike of the foot. However, the allow for maximum flexibly of the foot as the shoe flexes and bends similar to the foot itself unlike other running shoes.

You can read more about barefoot shoes here at, Fitlish Healthy Habits Blog

Fitlish Weight Loss Challenge is Sweeping Across America

All across America people are holding weight loss challenges. Challenges are an excellent means to motivate us to improve. Truth is today weight loss and health are major challenges on a societal level. I hope that some of you out there might consider holding them in your community.

It's really rather quite simple to put them on and get on the road to helping people with a weight loss transformation. I charge for mine for a couple reasons. If people put money down their even more motivated to stick with it. And two I need to make a living :) But honestly the value you can get from a weight loss challenge is probably ten fold whatever I or you could charge.

Think about it. Two of the most common diseases and leading causes of death are coronary heart disease and diabetes. Both of these are preventable through a healthy diet. Sadly enough I just lost my aunt to diabetes. Now what could be worth more than your life? That's what I thought. A couple hundred dollars is nothing when compared to all the continued years you could spend with your friends and family. Plus to takes nothing for you or your friends to achieve fast easy weight loss. I have countless articles to get you on track at my blog, Fitlish Healthy Habits.

Honestly, weight loss challenges are a good cause. They strive to fight an epidemic lurking in the shadows that people seldom notice and they help individuals loose weight fast. Most importantly they are down right fun! My weight loss challenge forges friendships as I show individuals unique and exciting ways to stay healthy, loose weight, and save money!

I encourage you to take a look at my setup and consider starting your own weight loss challenge!

______________________________

About the Author - Matthew Jeschke is a fitness aficionado. He enjoys teaching others about healthy habits, the outdoors, and racing.

You can check out his weight loss challenge here: Fitlish Weight Loss Challenge
For more healthy habits and information visit here: Fitlish Healthy Habits

How to Lose 20 lbs. of Fat in 30 Days… Without Doing Any Exercise

How to Lose 20 lbs. of Fat in 30 Days… Without Doing Any Exercise

via The Blog of Author Tim Ferriss by Tim Ferriss on 4/6/07

It is possible to lose 20 lbs. of bodyfat in 30 days by optimizing any of three factors: exercise, diet, or drug/supplement regimen. I’ve seen the elite implementation of all three in working with professional athletes. In this post, we’ll explore a variation of the “slow carb” diet as used by Dean Karnazes, an ultramarathoner famed for completing 50 marathons on 50 consecutive days in 50 different states. The most impressive part of this, for me, is that he did so, not with the typical anemic marathoner build, but with a well-muscled mesomorph body.

In the last six weeks, I have cut from about 180 lbs. to 165 lbs., while adding about 10 lbs. of muscle, which means I’ve lost about 25 lbs. of fat. This is the only diet besides the rather extreme Cyclical Ketogenic Diet (CKD) that has produced veins across my abdomen, which is the last place I lose fat (damn you, Scandinavian genetics). Here are the four simple rules I followed… <a href="http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/04/06/how-to-lose-20-lbs-of-fat-in-30-days-without-doing-any-exercise/

Healthy Habits for Life: Sugar and Your Health

Couldn't agree more.  Refined sugar is really damaging a lot of lives!  It should be used in extreme moderation.

http://healthyhabitsforlife.blogspot.com/2010/03/sugar-and-your-health.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FzWNG+%28Healthy+Habits+for+Life%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

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Eating While Driving Clocks Up 4,000 Calories Per Week

Wowzers! I'm just going to drive while I drive now. lol :)

Eating While Driving Clocks Up 4,000 Calories Per Week

via Diet Blog on 7/1/10

A new report has found that UK motorists scoff almost 4,000 calories of junk food while at the wheel. To put that in perspective, an extra 3,500 calories would mean a 1lb weight gain.

Favorite foods were chocolate, candy and soda, with the average behind-the-wheel snack touting up to 410 calories.

Continue reading...

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Full Body Detox Diet

Herbal Cleansing is another method of full body detox which focuses on removing negative substances from the body and intestinal tract. Dietary fiber mixed with the right combination of herbs and minerals serves to purge the body of impacted feces, harmful bacteria, and toxic materials that have built up over time. The herbs and minerals serve to nourish the digestive tract as necessary strengthening and fortifying your bodies natural detoxification systems.

Here are is a list of some excellent herbal nutrients for full body detox.

Fiber - is an integral part in our bodies health. It binds waste / toxins physically pulling them out of the body as it travels unhindered through the intestinal tract. Here are a few high quality sources of fiber. Whole / raw organic fruits and vegetables bought at farmer's markets and or grown in your garden. Psyllium and Flax Seed nutritionally dense grains that are also excellent sources of fiber.

Herbs - are excellent natural source of flavoring that can be easily integrated into your diet. They provide LOTS of nutritional value for the buck and serve to nourish our entire body as well as detoxification system. Licorice Root is one excellent example. It promotes regular bowel function and mitigates stomach ulcers.

Part of a full body detox is integration of such healthy foods. However, it can be tricky to come up with the best full body detox diet. Despite all the hype out there about detox diets there are several sound products with scientific backing. I have tried and would personally recommend the Advocare Herbal Cleanse. Performing a cleanse every several months to maintain peak performance of your detoxification system along with a healthy diet rich in detoxification agents will go a long ways!

If you want to learn more about full body detox and other healthy habits visit this website here: Fitlish Healthy Habits