Month: January 2013

We’ve all seen those fad diets which claim to help you drop the pounds fast, but only leave you starving and overindulging later on. Try out these diet secrets that can help you lose the weight and keep it off.

Clean out the kitchen
Dr. Oz suggested cleaning out your fridge and pantry of foods that will only ruin your diet and serve as temptation late at night. Taking away all the junk food and fatty snacks will eliminate the chance that you’ll indulge and ruin your diet progress you have worked so hard to maintain. But what exactly is unhealthy? Toss foods high in trans fat and sugar. Be careful about labels that claim a product is “100 percent whole grain.” Don’t trust the packaging; look to the nutrition facts for the real lowdown on grain count. If the product is made with refined flour, it will be digested faster, leaving you hungry for more.

Switch out your beverages
Some don’t realize how many calories they consume just in pure liquids. In fact, according to Shape magazine, the average American receives 22 percent of daily calories from drinks.

“You could burn 200 calories exercising for 30 minutes and then put them right back into your body by sipping a sports drink or a sugar-filled latte,” explained Bob Harper, a trainer on NBC’s, “The Biggest Loser.”

Instead of sugary juices and sodas, swap out your beverages for healthier alternatives. Dr. Oz suggested cranberry juice instead of orange juice because it’s lower in sugar.

Eat good fats
Many people who are trying to eat healthy work to avoid fats, when they’re actually essential to a balanced diet. However, it’s important to make sure you’re eating the right types of fats. According to Shape Fit, fats improve our hair, skin and nails and actually regulate our appetites through leptin response. Monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats are known as the good fats, because they are full of benefits for your heart, cholesterol and your overall health. For a diet full of healthy fats, try eating peanut butter, olive oil, avocados and nuts. Stay away from reduced fat peanut butter, as it’s packed with sugar. On the other hand, avoid saturated fats found in whole milk, butter, cheese and ice cream.

When you’re not eating healthy, make sure you fit some cardio into your day to help you stay slim and trim. TRUE Fitness has a line of home exercise bikes, ellipticals and treadmills to help you get on your way to reaching your fitness goals faster. TRUE’s product line gives you a smooth, durable and comfortable workout for maximum level performance.

If you’re hosting a Super Bowl party, guests will be expecting a hearty and delicious array of foods. After all, what’s Super Bowl Sunday without the food? Typically there’s greasy wings, pizza and chips to be served up for kickoff which are loaded with fat and sodium. However delicious these menu items may be, they certainly don’t fall under the category of ‘health foods.’ In fact, according to Health magazine, the average football fan consumes about a day’s worth of calories during the game. Luckily, there are foods you can offer up your guests that will be healthy and leave your guests and their palettes pleased. Here are a few Super Bowl inspired ideas:

Lemon drop chicken wings
Of course you can’t have a proper Super Bowl party without wings. Luckily, you can still satisfy your guests without all of the fat and grease that often comes with this popular dish. These crowd-pleasers have a tangy lemon taste and are baked rather than fried. With five simple ingredients of vodka, lemon juice, sugar, olive oil and chicken wings, this recipe is a triple-threat: easy, delicious and healthy!

Bean dip
Dips are a game-day essential. But they don’t have to be packed with calories! Eating Well suggested a southwestern bean dip that’s low in fat and calories by including reduced-fat sour cream and black beans, salsa and fresh vegetables. According to The Huffington Post, beans are packed with protein, vitamins, antioxidants and no cholesterol. You could also opt for avocados in your dip for a creamy taste, good fats and fiber to keep you full.

Chocolate-covered cereal mix
Cover pretzels, almonds and wheat cereal (something like Chex works well) in chocolate for a sweet and salty snack that everyone is sure to enjoy. And according to OrganicFacts.net, almonds are good for the brain, lower cholesterol, reduce the risk of heart disease and even help care for your skin! Opt for dipping this delicious snack in dark chocolate rather than milk chocolate. Just like almonds, dark chocolate has been shown to be good for your heart by lowering blood pressure. The sweet stuff is also packed full of antioxidants, which fights cancer and aging.

If time allows before the big game, jump on a recumbent exercise bike or elliptical machine to get in a quick workout and help you burn those calories. Turn to TRUE Fitness for a wide array of bikes, treadmills and ellipticals that will give you the effective workout you’re looking for. TRUE delivers the best fitness equipment with preset programs to help you reach your exercise goals and keep comfortable at the same time.

Many people rely on their home fitness equipment to lose weight. Breaking a sweat on a treadmill or elliptical can be a great way to get your heart pumping and burn calories fast. If you’re looking for home gym equipment, look no further than TRUE Fitness. Our line of treadmills, ellipticals and bikes make working out both effective and comfortable. With all of our products facing systematic life testing, your equipment is sure to last for many years and give you the best workout possible. 

But if you’re still waiting to see results after making a New Year’s resolution to shed some pounds, your diet may be what’s dragging you down. Here are some superfoods to incorporate into your diet regimen to help you slim down:

Oats
According to Health magazine, oats are a great source of fiber and just a half a cup has almost five grams of healthy carbs that boost your metabolism. Instead of a calorie-packed pastry in the morning, start off your day with oatmeal, which has the fiber to keep you full all morning. But be careful to stay away from oatmeal that is artificially flavored and packed with sugar. Instead opt for plain oatmeal and add some fruit on top for extra flavoring and antioxidants.

Apples
An apple a day can keep the doctor away … and the pounds! Snacking on an apple before a meal can help curb your hunger and prevent you from eating more portions than you realize. Self said the fiber in apples, about four to five grams, is what helps fill you up. Try an apple plain or pair it with peanut butter for a delicious, protein-packed snack.

Avocados
Some people are afraid of avocados because they’re filled with fat. But what some may not know, is that avocados contain good fat that your body needs. In fact, Health magazine said that this superfood is packed with monounsaturated fats that can actually tame your hunger. This versatile food can be incorporated into almost any meal. Add some slices of avocado for flavorful and healthy tacos, sandwiches and wraps.

Coffee
Good news for coffee addicts, a cup of joe has the caffeine to raise your resting metabolic rate by about 15 percent, according to Self magazine. This ends up being about 30 to 50 calories lost per day. Believe us – those numbers can add up!

Salmon
This lean fish is a superfood when it comes to losing weight. It’s full of omega-3s and extremely low in fat. Pair some salmon with brown rice and vegetables and you’ve got a quick, healthy meal to chow down on. According to Health magazine, it’s a leaner choice than red meat!

Getting up the energy and motivation to workout can be difficult. However, once you actually do exercise, you’ll likely feel energized and you’ll be on your way to the physique of your dreams. But many feel that because they exercised, they have an excuse to eat whatever they please. Avoid setting back your workout and stay away from these post-workout foods:

Worst

Energy bars
These after-workout snacks may seem harmless, but they’re actually loaded with sugar. When you indulge in one of these, the sugar decreases your metabolism and gets you right back to where you started, according to Fit Day.

Pizza
Even though it’s delicious, downing a greasy piece of pizza after a workout won’t be doing your body any favors. Even veggie pizza isn’t good for you, with all of the extra cheese and oil-soaked tomatoes that often come on top of it. Munching on pizza will surely satisfy your taste buds, but eating it will reverse the exercise you just worked so hard to accomplish. Instead of adding to the amount of fat your body stores, you’ll want to restore glycogen levels.

Raw veggies
Wait, aren’t vegetables good for you? Yes, but you shouldn’t eat them directly following a workout. The reason why is that they’re not enough to fill you up! They may work as a quick mid-day snack but after exercise, your body needs something more substantial to restore energy and keep up an increased metabolic rate.

Best

Yogurt
Packed with protein, this dairy treat will help build muscle and maintain your energy levels. Opt for topping it off with fruit for even more antioxidants and fiber. Greek yogurt is best when you’re looking for protein and a great source of calcium and has much less sugar than yogurts deemed to be low in fat.

Pita and hummus
Fitness Magazine suggested this as a perfect post-workout snack. Make sure that you opt for whole wheat for the pita for good carbs and energy. Hummus, made from pureed chickpeas, is a great source of protein.

Whole grain cereal
Cereal doesn’t have to be a morning-only food.But make sure to avoid the sugary ones. Opt for whole grain cereals instead which are filled with carbohydrates and protein to keep you going for the rest of your day. There’s also fiber in these cereals which help you to feel full so you don’t fill up on unhealthy or large portions of something later on.

For your workouts, TRUE Fitness can help you achieve a high-performance workout through a durable line of cardio fitness equipment.

With a busy schedule and not enough time to burn off calories on your home gym equipment before your big date, there’s often little you can do to drop a few pounds last minute. However, there are a few diet tricks to try out to help tighten you up without depriving yourself of food or taking part in crazy cleanses. Here are a few easy ways to feel better about your body instantly:

Fill up on fruits and veggies
Nobody is ever excited to slip into their swimsuit after eating a big meal or not exercising for a few days in a row – especially if you’re feeling a bit bloated. Luckily, eating the right foods can reduce this bloating so you look ready for beach season. Women’s Health magazine suggested filling up on broccoli, cabbage or cauliflower. If you’re not a vegetable fan, opt for fruits like watermelon, pineapples, strawberries and blueberries. These food will keep you safe from bloating, which is often caused by salt and fat.

Opt for spicy
Adding a bit of spice to your meals can actually help jumpstart your metabolism. Studies have shown that having a bit of a kick in your food can give your metabolism a temporary rise – about 8 percent greater than the normal metabolic rate, according to Fit Day. Capsaicin, found in jalapenos, cayenne and habaneros has a slimming effect and works as an anti-inflammatory. So if you have a hot date later, grab the hot sauce!

Snack
Turns out, reaching for a small snack before a meal can help you to eat less later on. If you sit down for a meal absolutely famished, you’re probably going to eat a lot more than you originally planned. By eating snacks, you’ll be less likely to overindulge. According to CNN Health, snacking can help keep your blood sugar and your metabolism up. Reach for healthier snacks like a handful of grapes, apples and peanut butter or string cheese and crackers.

Eat earlier
If you start your day a bit earlier than usual and eat the most food early in the day, you may be less likely to eat more later.

“Many dieters try to trim calories from their breakfast and lunch and then get hungry,” explained Elisabetta Politi, nutrition manager at Duke Diet and Fitness Center. “Research shows the calories you eat earlier in the day help you eat less at night.”

This method is perfect if you know you have a date that night or somewhere to be the next day where you don’t want to feel fatigued and bloated.

Exercise
Of course, doing a bit of cardio may help tighten up those muscles and leave you feeling a bit more refreshed as well. TRUE Fitness has created a line of award-winning cardio equipment that works to keep you comfortable and motivated throughout your workout with orthopedic-friendly machines and virtual trainers.