Eat, Drink, and Stay Healthy Naturally!

Eat, Drink & Stay Healthy Naturally

'Tis the season of overdoing it, and that usually means we end up getting sick. We seem to be exhausted all the time, and that almost always means we gain weight.

If you want to avoid getting sick this year, and you're determined not to gain weight, I've got great news for you — it's possible! All you have to do is let Mother Nature lend a helping hand. Throw out those metabolism-slowing, immune-killing, quick fixes and turn to your natural medicine cabinet instead. Plus, natural remedies aren't as likely to damage your liver and kidneys.

From aches and pains to low energy to just giving your metabolism the boost it needs to help you keep off those holiday pounds, even when you're not perfect — remember, a healthier life is a happier life. And, prevention is the best cure.

If you were to come over to my house and complain of an ailment or your child got an injury while visiting, you might be surprised to see me open up my medicine cabinet and proceed to pull out various natural remedies. After all, it's no secret that I have a love affair for alternative, natural treatments, and have been studying them for the past 25+ years.

Recently, a friend was asking me what I do when I get aches and pains, among other things. I rattled off some suggestions and talked about the things I keep in my home and use on a regular basis. She was amazed to learn that everything we put into our bodies has either a negative or positive effect on us — especially when it comes to losing weight and boosting metabolism.

She was also shocked to learn that some of the things we do every day can impair healing, which isn't good for aches and pains in the long run or slow down our metabolism, often causing weight gain or making it difficult to lose weight.

In a short speech, any medicine that says "anti" on the label can slow our metabolism and even affect liver and kidney functions over time. 

If you have a problem, LynFit Nutrition has a solution. Safe (safety should always come first) all-natural vitamins, minerals, and other supplements, naturally inspired and perfected by LynFit Nutrition. We help fix what ails you.

Some people never seem to catch "it." And, chances are, those same people are ones who use natural ways to stay away from those pesky viruses that prey on our weaknesses (like eating too much sugar when we're tired).

Research has shown that healthy habits, naturally supporting the immune system, can dramatically reduce "catching a cold." And, should you happen to catch a "bug," these same strategies can help in reducing the severity of symptoms. 

DEFENSIVE DIET

Choosing a clean, metabolic boosting diet is the number one strategy for staying healthy, combatting the common cold, and alleviating aches and pains. Doing so will boost your immune system and reduce inflammation, helping you to recover more quickly.

A clean, metabolic boosting diet means eating only real, whole foods — the way nature intended. 

The priority when it comes to eating healthy is to Power Your Immunity with Protein. It's critical to have at least one LynFit Complete Whey Protein Shake per day to feed and nourish your body. Doing so will also keep weight gain away.

The high-quality whey LynFit Nutrition uses in its Complete Protein Shakes and Lean Bars is the purest that can be found. While it boosts your metabolism, it also helps to boost your immunity as well. LynFit Nutrition Whey Protein is an excellent source of calcium, and calcium helps to lower blood sugar levels while building healthier, stronger bones. 

Each time you eat a LynFit Lean Bar you're getting one-third of your daily protein and fiber from a prebiotic source that will help to keep you regular and your gut healthy. They taste delicious and come in handy for those moments when you need comfort food. There simply is no other protein bar like it!

My personal Lean Bar favorite is Chewy Chocolate. It tastes like a Tootsie Roll® without the sugar. Sometimes, I'll twist it together with peanut butter — "You got peanut butter on my chocolate........." Just sayin....

Choose fresh vegetables and some citrus fruits, being mindful to stay away from powdered veggie products, juices and juicing, and canned or processed options due to them causing a spike in blood sugar levels. These spikes are awful for aches and pains and cause weight gain. They also lower your resistance by weakening your immunity. 

When it comes to fruits and veggies, it's best to eat the real thing. Your body will burn more calories in the digestion process. If you're trying to lose weight, stick to 1–2 servings of fruit per day, max, even if you're sick.

These healthy habits below will also help to keep you feeling full, so you don't overeat on the wrong kinds of food when temptation is at its peak.

  • Add plenty of natural herbs and spices to your meals, such as garlic and thyme
  • Use a mixed blend of cold pressed herbs instead of butter and saturated fats
  • Include lean, fresh, metabolic boosting proteins/meats (in addition to your Protein Shakes and/or Lean Bars). Free-range and organic are best, and watch your portion sizes. A serving size should be the size of a small deck of cards. 

Stay away from processed foods (this includes processed store-bought protein bars and shakes — you'll always get what you pay for), sugars, and most carbs. They will spike blood sugar levels and switch the pain switch on. Most contain additives that weaken our immune system. The best rule of thumb is to follow my LynFit Nutrition Plans and Resources for the cleanest eating possible.

And don't forget that you can find over 100 delicious, thermogenic recipes in my book, The Metabolism Solution.

LEAN SLEEP

Getting enough rest is one of the most important things you can do for yourself. It will help your body heal, regulate your metabolism, and kill hunger and cravings. 

Instead of reaching for drugs to improve sleep, swap out the nighttime medicines that clog your liver and negatively affect your weight loss with LynFit Lean Sleep. You'll have the best night's sleep ever, and it won't harm your health or slow your metabolism. 

LynFit Lean Sleep contains the perfect amount of melatonin to help you sleep without feeling groggy when you wake up. Lean Sleep is a proven regulator of brown fat that helps you burn more calories all day long. So you'll melt off belly fat — even while you sleep. So don't go to bed without taking 1–2 LynFit Lean Sleep (if you're struggling, you can take up to three per night). 

Before bedtime, be sure to:

  • Avoid foods and drinks containing caffeine
  • Avoid alcohol in the evenings
  • Eat dinner earlier in the evening to allow for optimal digestion
  • Turn off the television and anything that has bright lights before bedtime to help you relax (this includes tablets and phones)
  • Avoid stress at all costs
  • Do your workouts earlier in the day vs. later. You'll sleep better and burn more fat.

BOOST YOUR THYROID

Your thyroid produces hormones which regulate your body's metabolic rate as well as heart and digestive function, muscle control, brain development, and bone maintenance. It's imperative that we keep it in optimal functioning condition. LynFit Nutrition to the rescue with LynFit Thyro-Boost.

Thyro-Boost is a sophisticated blend loaded with more than a dozen adaptogenic herbs and natural ingredients. Adding herbs and natural supplements are a simple yet powerful way to boost the immune system, helping us to avoid colds, decrease inflammation (underlying cause of pain), and reduce hot flashes.

What is an adaptogenic herb? Herbs that are known as adaptogens are a unique group of ingredients used to improve the health of the adrenal system — the system in charge of managing your body's hormonal response to stress. This includes the thyroid, which is highly sensitive to stress. That's why when you're stressed it's harder to lose weight and more prone to getting sick.

Think your thyroid is fine and you don't need a little support? Think again. When it comes to your health, everyone needs this support in their personal medicine cabinet. You can read an in-depth summary of the benefits of LynFit Thyro-Boost here, and I'm sure you'll agree that it's a much-needed support that everyone needs.

YOUR DAILY VITAMIN D REQUIREMENT

During the winter months, it is very common to become deficient in Vitamin D, regardless of where you live. Taking the time to go out into the sun regularly will help the body create this essential nutrient naturally if your system is working correctly. 

If it isn't, or you aren't spending enough time outdoors (I say even if you are), it's important to take LynFit Vitamin D3 Boost, a high-quality vitamin D supplement that will help you get the vitamin D your body needs, along with an extra dose of immune health boosting blends. 

By taking two (2) LynFit Vitamin D3 Boost daily, you'll not only keep your bones strong, but you'll also help fight off the common cold or at a minimum, shorten the duration of it. 

THE WAY NATURE INTENDED

Sure, Tylenol® and other over-the-counter drugs might seem like a good idea, but what you don't know may hurt your health and make the pain last longer. These types of drugs may inhibit your body's healing process vs. helping it. Go natural instead, the way nature intended.

So, what's in that natural medicine cabinet I'd open if you came to my home and you had aches, pains, and ailments? You'd find LynFit Complete Shakes, Lean Bars, Lean Sleep, Thyro-Boost, and Vitamin D3 Boost. Simply put, you'd find your answer for how to eat, drink, and stay healthy!

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I always want to hear about your success stories. Please feel free to share them with me at Support@LynFit.com, complete with your before and after photos. And don't forget to share your LynFit experience on our social media platforms, @LisaLynnFitness. We live for your success, so Believe. Begin. Become. today!

The Great Diet Debate


The only topic that’s debated more than the current presidential election is weight loss and workouts. It seems everyone has something to say on these topics. Despite there being a diet for every minute of the day and a new workout popping up by the second, Americans are gaining weight and becoming less fit. Have you ever wondered which diet provides the best weight loss, and do they all help you burn off fat?

Most of us get overwhelmed at the mere thought of which one to pick. From Paleo to Pilates, there is misleading information, all of which stops us from losing weight and getting into shape. All the while increasing our stress levels and sending us into a downward spiral, which is never productive when it comes to making the decision to improve our health. How are we supposed to sort through all of this misinformation so we can lose weight and get into shape?

Keep It Simple And Stick To Science

Dr. Frederick HatfieldI've been where you are, so I know firsthand how depressing it feels to try every workout and diet you read about, only to end up gaining weight, leaving you feeling even more hopeless after starving yourself and practically living in the gym. I over-exercised, lived in the gym, drank vegan shakes non-stop, yet was 40 pounds overweight.  

My 360° turnaround occurred when I worked at the WWF (World Wrestling Federation) as an apprentice alongside Dr. Fred Hatfield. Dr. Hatfield was doing research to test bodybuilding programs that included diet, exercise, and supplements to see what did and didn't work.

The results were shocking. Most of what I was doing to try to lose weight was all wrong. I worked out way too hard ,and for too long (a CrossFit kind of workout) — yes, that’s possible, and I ate too much healthy food — yes, that's possible as well.

The Top Mistakes I Made

I drank the wrong kind of protein shakes (I used to drink vegan), and like any gym rat, I drank a lot of them. I didn't realize that it wasn’t the right kind of protein for losing weight and boosting my sluggish metabolism. Besides, they tasted disgusting.

Vegan shakes are not a complete protein, meaning they lack the essential amino acids to be called complete and therefore will not have the metabolic boosting benefits of a high-quality Complete Whey Protein.

I lived on cereal bars. Like most moms, I need portable good-for-you food that I can eat on-the-go. What I didn’t realize was how little protein these tiny little bars contained, or how many carbohydrates and sugars they were filled with. To make a long story short, my health habits were killing my weight loss.

Combined with working out too long and too hard, I was ravenously hungry which sent me straight to my health halo foods. They only served to jack-up my sugar and stop my weight loss. In the end, it was an all day struggle with food.

I had my aha moment of what I was doing and got where I was when I was 40 pounds overweight (that’s a lot on my little frame). I needed to start doing things differently if I wanted to transform my body. This was how the Metabolic Boosting Weight Loss System was created. I needed a simple system that helped me to lose weight and develop healthier habits.

Collaboration With Dr. Hatfield

Everything I thought I knew about weight loss was all wrong. As I mentioned earlier, I learned that while working alongside Dr. Hatfield. 

We tested all sorts of programs from the American Heart Association Diet and Exercise Plan to the program the WBF (a division of the WWF called World Body Building Federation) was about to launch that was then called thermogenics. We also tested all of them against each other. Did they cause weight loss the way they said they would?

One of the companies/programs we researched, and I learned a lot about, was called Cybergenics. They explained what to eat and why, and how much and how long to work out. They also provided education on the smart use of safe supplements that helped the bodybuilders muscle up. So I asked myself, "why don’t we have the same type of system to help make losing weight faster and easier?" 

With the aid of Dr. Hatfield, who helped bring these formulas to life with the purest ingredients from the highest quality sources, the LynFit Metabolic Boosting System was born.

Dr. Hatfield was meticulous about combining the right kind of diet, utilizing very specific foods such as lean proteins and fibrous carbohydrates (now called a thermogenic diet) with the smart use of safe supplements to help keep the body properly nourished. More specifically, to help teach the body to burn off stored fat for fuel and to help balance blood sugar levels so hunger cravings wouldn’t overtake the participants while they were trying to lose weight.

Combined with the thermogenic diet were very specific weight lifting circuits, three times weekly (now called metabolic boosting workouts). I was blown away by what I witnessed. In all of my years of working in the gym business, I had never before seen such dramatic results. These were not gym rats. These participants were not fit at all and had no gym or dieting experience. They transformed their bodies, and their lives, in less than a month!

It wasn’t the first time I had seen people achieve results using diet and exercise, but it was the first time I saw people transform their bodies so quickly without living in the gym or adhering to vegan or no-carb diets. And, they did it in less than a month.

While working with Dr. Hatfield, I had the opportunity to rub elbows with some pretty big names in the bodybuilding industry. I made sure I was around them as much as possible, so I could look, listen and learn from them. I can tell you this, the pros work very hard, but interestingly, they spend less time in the gym than amateurs I know who kill their bodies in the gym while paying the physical price of damaged joints and chronic injuries. In the end, they also damage their self-worth and relationships because of their addictive dedication.

I've learned that not all diets and workouts are created equal. It’s just not as simple as calories in and calories out, especially if you have belly fat or you've been overweight. You need to choose your diet based on your goal, not according to which plan allows you to keep eating what you want when you want.

Some workouts and diets work better for weight loss, and others are better for bulk. How do you know? Your results tell all. Success leaves evidence.

How All This Relates To You

Most of us are very emotional when it comes to losing weight and getting fit, and that’s where we fall.

We know that exercise is a must because it strengthens our body, and it’s the best way to reshape, tighten, and tone it. But, it’s your diet that plays the largest role in your weight loss. In fact, 90 percent of your weight loss success comes from what you eat. You can't simply exercise away a bad diet.

Now that we have exercise in proper perspective choose your method of exercise based on science vs. what you want to do for the fastest results.

The good news is that when you see your body transform in front of your eyes and feel the difference, you’ll be hooked immediately. This will make sticking to the plan much easier, and that’s the key to lasting results.

For flexibility — choose Pilates or yoga. or better yet, LynFit Recovery Stretch
For rapid relief from aches and pains LynFit Recovery Stretch
For sports performance — CrossFit or LynFit Fat Blaster or Metabolic Boosting Workouts
For stubborn weight loss and transformation — When it comes to weight loss, lifting weights is must. But, it's important that you do it in a specific way to elicit metabolic changes vs. bulking up and gaining weight.

NOTE: Weight lifting and certain types of workouts have been proven to make you hungrier and cause stress levels to rise in the body, which makes losing weight impossible. If you're serious about losing weight before Christmas, you'll want to start doing three metabolic boosting workouts weekly. You'll need the right tools, so grab the LynFit Lose 1 Pound Per Day Kit.

Start Here

We all know that dieting stinks, so here is how to do it right. Just about every diet plan agrees with these three simple steps.

  • Focus on the power of Complete Protein — Make it your priority
    Complete proteins contain all the essential amino acids your body needs. You also want to choose the complete proteins that have a high PER (protein efficiency ratio). When it comes to losing fat and boosting your metabolism, the kind of protein you choose matters most. Lean Protein will feed the lean muscle tissue and starve the fat, so it leaves. Lean proteins are the best way to build your metabolism and force your body to burn fat. For results you can count on, check out LynFit Complete Whey Protein Shakes and Lean Bars.

  • Track the numbers that matter — Protein and Fibrous Carbs
    Aim for at least one gram per pound of lean body weight per day. Example: If you weigh 150 pounds, but you have 25 pounds of fat, your lean body weight would be 125 pounds. Your goal is to consume 125 grams of lean protein every day. However, you can’t eat it all at once if you’re trying to lose weight and melt fat. You should divide that 125 grams over the span of five meals so you're only consuming the amount of protein that your body can utilize vs. storing it as fat.

    Now that you know how much, here is the when. Space meals three hours apart. Begin at 7 a.m. and end at 7 p.m. You can find a complete guide in the Advanced Metabolic Boosting Meal Plan. The best choices when it comes to weight loss and melting fat are:

    Whey protein — It helps reduce abdominal fat better than any other kind of protein source.
    White fish — The lighter and whiter the fish, the better for your metabolism. Fish is lower in calories and fat and contains iodine that fuels thyroid function, which fuels your weight loss. White fish is the lowest in fat.
    *NOTE: Salmon is not white fish
    Turkey Breast — Turkey breast is lower in calories. When it comes to the nitty gritty of weight loss, every gram counts.

    NOTE: For more information on how much protein you need, and why fish is better, refer to "The Metabolism Solution".

  • Fill up on Fibrous Carbohydrates
    Fibrous carbs are the only food that can be considered unlimited. They burn more calories than they contain. When it comes to losing weight, it can be next to impossible to find foods that can help keep you on track. There are a few miracle foods however that are purported to be negative in calories. These foods essentially contain more water than they do calories and require more calories to utilize them than they hold. Thus, making these foods essentially calorie-free.

    Approximately 75 percent of a celery stick is water. The other 25 percent is fiber and other roughage. As a result, this tasty vegetable provides you with far fewer calories than it will take for your body to digest it. In addition to burning more calories than it contains, celery is an excellent source of fiber that can help to keep you feeling fuller for longer, helping you to reduce the urge to snack.

    The health benefits of celery don’t end at weight loss. Celery is full of nutrients such as Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and Vitamin K. Further, celery has antioxidant properties that may be able to improve cardiovascular health, reducing your chances of developing hardened arteries (and related heart problems like heart attacks and cardiovascular disease). As a bonus, the fiber content promotes regular bowel movements as well as boosting digestive health more generally. There is even some evidence suggesting that a diet high in celery can improve the appearance of your skin.

    You can enjoy celery sticks on their own, or try lightly seasoning them with Mrs. Dash® salt-free instead of salt. You can also dip celery in hot sauce to make a spicy snack, or chop it up for a salad.

If you're truly serious about your weight loss, here is my personal Three-Step Plan to losing weight and developing healthier habits:

  1. Be brutally honest with yourself and clearly identify your bad or not-so-healthy habits. Then, eliminate those as quickly as you can. Write them down now.
    Here's my example — I needed to stop working out compulsively and learn to feel my feelings instead of turn to food. There I said it; it's not so bad. In fact, it feels good to say it. I also needed to choose the right kinds of food that cause weight loss vs. weight gain.

  2. Find replacements for your not-so-healthy habits and define your new healthier habits. Write them down now. Then, imagine how much better you'll feel. List all the benefits and rewards of adopting these habits to help inspire change.
    Here's my example — I needed a new doable workout that worked for weight loss that didn’t overwork me and jack up my appetite. I needed to grab and apple or a real protein bar that was lower in carbs and sugar instead of handfuls of trail mix or cereal bars that worked against me. I will feel better and learn to like myself more, and I won’t need to overwork in the gym because I’m eating better. 

  3. Create your Weight Loss Action Plan, starting with just one habit (no more than three) that you really want to implement. Write them down now.
    Here's my example — I will work out on an empty stomach for 30 minutes every day before work. I will drink my shake without adding extra calories (no fruit or almond milk), and take my supplements after I work out. I will drink my coffee black from now on. This was simple and doable, and the rest is history!

If you're serious about transforming your body and your life, focus on these three steps and begin to put them into practice. And remember, nothing will change until you do!

We would love to hear your story. What will you be working on to transform your body and your life?

Faith, Hope, And Your Life's Purpose

Faith. Hope. Purpose

Two years ago seemed like the darkest hour of my life. I had no idea that a diagnosis would teach me how to live life to the fullest. I didn't, couldn't, realize at that time that I would opt for a fighter's mentality instead of a defeated one. I couldn't comprehend until I was actually in the trenches that my life WAS worth fighting for, if for no other reason than my family. I had yet to learn that no day should be taken for granted and each should be treated as a precious hand-delivered gift from God.

In 2014, at just 46-years old, my dreams were suddenly eclipsed by the cold, hard reality of three words: "You've got cancer." Thankfully, my melanoma was caught early, but try telling that to inner fear. Try rationalizing that during repeated visits to doctors, surgeons, and oncologists. After all, just like you, I'm human with human emotions, feelings, fears, and limitations. Facing my mortality, I developed a very personal relationship with my very own pity potty. All I wanted to do was shut it down and hide from the world.

Dragging myself to church was the beginning of my personal renewal of Faith, Hope, and Life's Purpose. My Pastor Rich delivered a sermon that hit me right in my self-pity heart. His words reminded me that I was on the verge of the biggest testimony in my life. I was on the threshold of a battle in the trenches of my emotions and feelings that would, in the end, produce a warrior of Faith, Hope, and Purpose. It was time for me to focus on living, receiving support where and when needed, and being that positive spirit to those around me that God called me many years ago to be.

Each and every day I CHOSE to work tirelessly on my physical, mental, and spiritual (PMS) health. My testimony is that today I am two years cancer-free! I refuse to say I'm a survivor. I am doing so much more than just surviving—I am thriving. So rather than say I'm a cancer survivor, I say I'm a cancer thriver, and grateful for it.

My Thriver Mechanisms

Power Prayer: God is my strength and my all in all. I get on my knees and pray every day. I thank Him for another day, and I count my blessings one by one. I pray that God keeps me alive and healthy, so that I may be an instrument of his peace. My goal is to help millions. 

I focus on Philippians 4:13 — "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." 

Positive Affirmations: I repeat my positive affirmations every day, all day. I don't allow negative thoughts to control my attitude and destiny. In other words, if I have to, I fake it until I make it. Affirmations such as:

    • "When you're at your lowest, look to the highest."
    • "Strength doesn't come from what you can do. It comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn't." — Rikki Rogers
    • "You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, and in the manner in which you live." — Stuart Scott

Eating Healthy and Exercising: You have to eat healthy and take control of your mind and body. For the first time in my life, my focus is on eating healthy to stay alive, versus gaining the perfect body. That changes everything. 

I changed my diet to a cancer-fighting diet by eating more fish and less chicken and red meat. I eat more colorful vegetables, actually transforming my body from a cancer-invitation waiting to happen into a cancer-fighting machine. I chose and choose, to honor God with my body, a temple, as it's His to begin with. 

I continue to win the fight in the trenches by supplementing and reinforcing my immune system with this routine:

P.M. — (1) LynFit Vitamin D3 Boost, (1) LynFit Pure Omega 3, (1) LynFit Lean Sleep
(NOTE: I also take the LynFit Fat Loss Trio, especially during highly emotional times.)

My Life Today

    • I LIVE every day to the fullest
    • I CHOOSE peace in every situation.
    • I FOCUS on what’s important and live a life of purpose
    • I TELL everyone I love them, even strangers
    • I HUG everyone I see
    • I TURN my pain into my purpose
    • I SING like no one's listening
    • I DANCE like no one's watching
    • NO REGRETS

I learned how important it is to be humble, and it's okay to feel vulnerable. It's not my favorite emotion, but it can bring out the best in me. There is nothing like the possibility of death to make you start living and to teach you what’s important.

Choose to live now, today. Don't wait, delay, or dawdle. Live each day with a sense of urgency to do what makes you happy and live with a passion to Win the Fight!

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May is Melanoma Awareness Month. Thanks to advances in cancer prevention, early detection, treatment, and follow-up care, more people than ever before are surviving the disease. In America alone, more than 14.5 million people are alive today after being diagnosed with cancer.

However, surviving cancer can leave a host of problems in its wake. Physical, emotional, and financial hardships often persist for years after diagnosis and treatment. Cancer survivors are also at greater risk for developing second cancers and other health conditions.

For more information on not only surviving, but thriving and winning the fight against cancer, I'd encourage you to read Win the Fight: Stomp Out Melanoma. It's also the perfect gift for family members or friends who may be in the trenches as I was.

Kill Cravings This Valentine's Day And Still Eat Chocolate

Kill Cravings this Valentine's Day and Still Eat Chocolate

Food cravings are the reason most diets fail. They are like pimples that pop out of nowhere. If you're like me, you'll stop at nothing to kill them off, stat!

What if I told you there’s a quicker, more effective way to kill your cravings and curb your monster appetite rather than giving into them or caving into the vending machine?

Follow these tips to instantly kill off those cravings. For more tips and tricks on how to boost your metabolism and melt belly fat, check out The Metabolism Solution, and the metabolic boosting Chocolate Diet linked below.

  • Feed it First: The #1 reason we crave is due to nutritional deficiencies, and the #1 nutrient deficiency among women is protein. Your body needs amino acids to regulate serotonin which helps boost mood. Drinking the Complete Protein Shake for breakfast is the best way to provide your body with the essential amino acids it needs to stay healthy and keep your mood balanced. Prevention is the cure when it comes to killing cravings so make it a LynFit Chocolate Protein Shake and kill two birds with one stone.
  • Brush the cravings right out of your mouth: In my 25+ years as a weight loss coach every person who does this trick says it works—Always keep a travel size toothbrush and toothpaste with you, and brush your teeth after meals and when cravings strike. The fresh minty taste makes eating less desirable and distracts you from obsessing about what to eat. Distraction is powerful when it comes to avoiding your cravings. Studies have shown that mint is a good appetite suppressant, and people who sniff (brushing counts too) mint throughout the day ate 3,000 fewer calories that week. That’s enough to move the dial on the scale. Just don’t be obsessive about brushing your teeth every hour, as excessive brushing wears down tooth enamel.
  • Drink mint flavored water: You’ve heard me say this a thousand times, but it's worth saying again—Most of the time when we crave it's really because we're thirsty. Drink mint flavored water to quench the crave. Buy a few fresh mint leaves and drop some in your water. You can drink the minted water hot or cold. It's very satisfying and will help tame your cravings.
    Note: Always buy mint flavored water to have on hand to guzzle when your cravings get the best of you.
  • Chew mint gum: Always have mint gum in your car, purse and desk to chew on when the urges get rough. Chewing gum does many things—It gives you something to chew when you really aren’t hungry but need to chew on something, and the repetitive motion sends signals to a part of your brain that controls appetite and satiety. If your brain thinks you're eating it will send signals that you're full. Unless, of course, your shut off valve has been damaged and broken (if you've gained more than 10 pounds your shut off valve is broken and damaged and will need to be retrained by sticking to your food plan). In this case, you’ll have to white knuckle it until things get better. The sweet taste also activates the release of the feel-good brain chemical called serotonin. Low serotonin levels cause cravings to pop up in the first place.
  • Stress less: Stress will cause your body to release the stress hormone cortisol, which tells your brain to seek out rewards or pleasure. This is why we always crave the wrong things. Enter fat and sugar loaded comfort foods that blunt cortisol and temporarily stop stress. What you’re really craving is to feel better. Find other ways to stimulate happiness that do not including eating to help curb high-calorie cravings. Take a walk break, even if it’s to go get a cup of green tea, or call a friend until the moment passes. The quick chat will trigger a stress reducing emotional release that food can never fill. When all else fails, I hit pause and pray. I say The Serenity Prayer and place my dog in my lap and wait until the craving passes. After all, I didn't get to be 40 pounds overweight by not overeating!

For all the chocolate lovers, here's another great way to still lose 1 pound per day, while eating chocolate. It's the Metabolic Boosting Chocolate Diet (click HERE for the diet).

Conquer Your Cravings For Comfort Food

Nothing makes you crave comfort food more than the long, dark, cold days of winter. Combined with stress, all you want to do is put on your warm pajamas and cozy up by the fire with your favorite comfort food in hand. One thing I’ve learned is to be careful, or you’ll quickly pack on the pounds and feel even worse than you did before you started eating.

After I had lost 40 pounds by giving up my favorite foods, I realized that I missed them. I struggled to keep the unwanted pounds off because I couldn’t stay away from my favorites. I wasn’t willing to gain the weight back, so I needed to figure out a way to eat what I loved, and still lose weight. The solution? Follow the Leaner Lifestyle tips and tricks.

Plan for it and expect to indulge; it’s only a matter of time. If you plan ahead, you can offset the “not so good” calories not by starving yourself, which can slow the metabolism, but by boosting your metabolism instead. This simple little trick puts your body in a fat-burning mode so when cave into your cravings you’ll be able to control the food versus it controlling you. Prevention is the cure, and it’s also the best way not to gain weight.

How do you boost your metabolism safely, so you don’t gain weight when you aren’t eating so clean? It can be as easy as drinking a metabolic boosting whey protein shake, which is by far your best option, or having two egg whites for breakfast, so you start your day off on the right foot.

Why is protein so important when it comes to controlling our cravings?

  • Protein is the #1 nutrient that women don't eat enough of (it's also why you crave)
  • Protein contains essential amino acids that your body requires
  • Protein regulates serotonin, so you feel better fast when you drink the protein shake
  • Whey protein blocks cortisol (the stress hormone) that makes your cravings so intense that it makes you spiral out of control
  • Whey protein boosts metabolism by 25 percent and switches the weight gaining switch off

Now that we have the science of why we crave out of the way, we can talk about controlling what is on the other end of the fork when we do crave. Doing so will allow you to keep off the pounds and get into the best shape of your life. This is the very reason I wrote The Metabolism Solution and filled it with over 100 delicious thermogenic recipes that your family will love.

Every diet book tells you what not to eat, but they never tell you what you can eat—At least not the kind of foods you like. Let’s be honest, no one craves steamed tilapia and Brussel sprouts. But everyone loves meatloaf and potatoes. The good news is you can eat something hot and eat a lot.

THE DINNER TRICK: Make over your comfort food meal using thermogenic foods such as lean ground turkey instead of red meat. Swap out starchy mashed potatoes that spike insulin levels and cause rapid weight gain with mock mashed potatoes made with cauliflower instead. Replacing the usual high fat, high carb ingredients with thermogenic ingredients instead is a sneaky way of tricking your brain into speeding up your metabolism.  

CAN I HAVE DESSERT? Yes! You don't need to give up sweet tooth cravings with a diet. You just need to step outside the box and provide your body with the nutrients it needs (hint: whey protein) to give your metabolism a boost. 

Here is a low-fat, low-calorie apple crisp recipe that's sure to cure your sweet tooth craving.

For the base:
  • (3) apple slices
  • (½ cup) vanilla whey protein
For the top:
  • (1 cup) of oatmeal mixed with brown sugar Splenda and a tiny bit of Smart Balance
Cook at 350F for 25–35 minutes (dependent on your individual oven)

Replacing the usual high fat, high carb ingredients with thermogenic ingredients saves you hundreds of excess calories, fat, and carbs, so you can cheat more often.

More information on metabolic boosting exercise and thermogenic eating can be found in The Metabolism Solution.

 

Pain And Weight Gain

Pain affects more than your weight loss:

    • 15,000 people yearly die because of opioid use 
    • More people die from prescription pill use than in car accidents 
    • More than 100 million people in the U.S. have pain that won't go away
    • Over 95 percent of the world’s population has health problems with over a 1/3 having more than five ailments
    • A quarter of Americans (76.5 million) age 20 and over, report a pain problem that persists longer than 24 hours 
    • Adults with back pain are often in worse physical and mental health than those without pain
    • Pain sufferers are three times more likely to be in fair or poor health and four times more likely to experience psychological distress 
    • Pain is the top cause of disability in the U.S., costing society $560–635 billion dollars. An amount equal to $2,000 for each of us, and this does not include pain treatments.

Pain and Weight GainIf you struggle with any type pain, I don't have to tell you how it affects every aspect of your life. When you're in pain or not feeling well you crave (and eat) all of the wrong things, making matters worse. Your sleep is affected, which stops you from working out. The next thing you know you’re standing up in front of the refrigerator eating foods that you don't even like to numb that pain. We reach for the quick fix pain relief that slows our metabolism down to a screeching halt, setting our bodies up for the perfect weight gain storm that might take weeks to turn around.

Thanks to natural remedies this can all be helped. Using the right high-quality supplements in the proper amounts you can feel better fast, without slowing your metabolism down. It's also important to keep in mind that certain drugs and over-the-counter medications may give you quick relief, but they also cause the pain to rebound even worse than it was before. This sets us up for disaster as this chronic pain forces us into a negative feedback loop that causes weight gain and stops weight loss. Did you know that most chronic pain sufferers end up taking excessive amounts of medication, drinking too much alcohol and risk becoming addicted?

It doesn't matter if your pain is caused by PMS, injuries, fibromyalgia, arthritis or the kind of chronic pain the doctors can't determine the origin. What’s important is that you interrupt this pain cycle and interfere with its debilitating symptoms as fast as you can, naturally. The longer pain is allowed to continue the harder it is to stop. Most chronic pain sufferers will tell you that their pain not only gets worse; it also seems to spread and impacts every aspect of our lives. Physically it stops us from doing the very things that keep us healthy. Mentally it wreaks havoc making it tough to be cheerful. It then gets deeper, affecting our spirituality. We stop being grateful for what is working in our lives. I refer to this as PMS — the kind we all get from time to time.

If you’re ready to stop allowing pain to rule your life it's going to take a three-prong approach, I call the PMS Cocktail. These simple steps will help alleviate pain without slowing your metabolism the way grocery store supplements can. They will boost your metabolism and improve your health. Not just physical health, but emotional health as well. I know what you’re thinking — "here we go with emotional health thing. It's not mental health that's the problem. I was fine until I was in pain." I've heard it all and have experienced it myself, but if you're honest with yourself, you'd admit that you get a bit anxious and cranky when you don't feel good. So we need to get you feeling better fast, so you want to get up and start moving again. Depression almost always equals more couch time and excess sleep that feeds pain. It's the movement that interrupts the pain, helping your body to shut it off. Doesn't that sound empowering?

Here are the three things you need to do to stop the pain cycle faster than you can say "I'm grateful"!

1.  Movement matters more than you think
Pain is your body screaming at you letting you know that something is wrong and needs to be addressed. No matter what ails you, there is some movement to help. See Win the Fight: Stomp Out Melanoma for a pain relief, immune-boosting stretching and exercise regime that's safe and gentle enough to be done even in a hospital bed.

2.  Sleep soundly for quick pain relief, with natural help
Sleep is miraculous, and the quality of your sleep counts more than you realize. Reach for effective natural remedies that promote sound sleep vs. prescription drugs that become part of your problem. Recent studies show that melatonin has a protective effect and dampens immune response without the unwanted side effects that over the counter pain medications have.

This is especially noteworthy for anyone with autoimmune issues such as arthritis. Even people with MS are getting relief taking melatonin. I suggest that my clients take melatonin along with (1) LynFit Pure Omega 3 for sleep help and pain relief. LynFit Pure Omega 3 is pharmaceutical grade and shuts off the pain signals by helping to reduce inflammation that accompanies pain.

*Note: See my info on sleep in The Metabolism Solution or Win the Fight: Stomp Out Melanoma for more sleep tricks. A well-rested person is a happier person.

3.  The spiritual aspect of pain reduction
Countless studies have shown that people who practice gratitude tend to have less pain. I can hear you growling at me so don't take my word for it — try it for yourself. One of the most profound things I've learned from fellow cancer survivors is no matter how much pain they were in; they had an attitude of gratitude. This didn't come easy for me, but I guarantee that no matter what you’re going through, gratitude can change everything, and fast.

One young cancer survivor said that when she couldn't sleep, and her body ached all over, she would lie in bed and count her blessings. She said she would thank the bed for proving warm comfort, and she even thanked the pain that gave her the feeling of being in control that empowered and motivated her to do what she had to to get through the long, painful days.

Every morning along with your LynFit Complete Protein Shake take:
(1) LynFit Pure Omega 3
(1) LynFit D3 Boost
Mid-day shut down
LynFit Recovery Agent as prescribed on the label, according to your weight
Evenings
(1) LynFit Lean Sleep
(1) LynFit Pure Omega 3

*Note: Not all supplements are created equal. Most grocery store and warehouse brands are of low quality. That may be the reason you’re not seeing and feeling results. When it comes to your health, quality counts more than quantity or amount of ingredient. Try LynFit's quality. You'll see and feel the difference right away.

TESTIMONIAL.....
"With my 11th prescription in hand and 12 surgeries behind me, I hit the internet. I could not bear the thought of Gastric Bypass and more limitations. Facebook sent me to a Dr. Oz clip with Lisa Lynn, and she ignited a spark of hope. Could this program work for me? The answer is YES! I needed the whole program to move my stuck metabolism, something no one had been talking about to me. I did not need Gastric Bypass, I needed someone who understood how metabolisms work, and Lisa Lynn got it. Since then I discovered, because the program is gluten free, I was intolerant, and a clean, healthy lifestyle is what I needed. My doctors have taken me off all drugs! No longer do I suffer from Sleep Apnea, GERT, Chronic Fatigue, High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol, and I have reversed Osteoporosis. I have had to relearn all knew about cooking. All the foods I thought were good for my family and me were not. Years of misinformation that Lisa’s book teaches. Not only did I get healthy but my whole family has benefited. We are a family focused on better eating and healthy living. Working out is a part of our daily routine, a true lifestyle change. Throw away the membership card, it’s expensive, and you’ll get a better workout with Lisa’s DVD."

Superfoods For Super Pain Relief From Rheumatoid Arthritis

Janine Rose refers to her days suffering from rheumatoid arthritis as her Dark, Depressed Days. She remembers not being able to walk to the mailbox or grab a steering wheel because the pain was too excruciating. Her hands became so swollen that she couldn’t do a thing except lie flat and wait for the pain to subside. The fatigue and exhaustion were like nothing she had ever experienced and it took over her life completely; or shall we say, killed any life that might have been.

She already knew the cause was rheumatoid arthritis, but that didn’t make it easier. The sheer amount of medications she had to take had its set of side-effects. Medications that many people don’t have access to because their outrageous cost is financially crippling without insurance. Though treatments for rheumatoid arthritis did bring some relief, it caused her weight to reach an all-time high of 211 lbs. The depression became so severe that all she wanted to do was eat and sleep (read Janine's story HERE). She admits that her horrific eating habits were also contributing to rheumatoid arthritis and also rendering the medications ineffective. The demand for more necessary medications continued, so the vicious cycle continued.

Janine Before and AfterNow it's 8 years later, and the 49-year-old mom has lost 88 lbs. and holding. Janine has managed to keep the weight off despite the fact that rheumatoid arthritis tends to come back to haunt every once in a while. Pain recurrence can set you back mentally and physically and cause your weight to skyrocket if you aren’t careful. Especially if you need to take medications that are known to increase blood sugar levels that cause extreme cravings and water retention. This shows up as excess pounds on the scale that can lead to even deeper depression.

Janine has found a way to do what may seem impossible when rheumatoid arthritis strikes that has kept her on the road to success. She has managed to keep her weight off and is learning to take better care of her health by staying on top of her care. People who are on top of their care tend to do better overall when it comes to keeping the weight off and managing symptoms. 

Janine’s doctor couldn’t be happier that she has managed to keep her weight off and that she has found a way to modify her metabolic boosting workouts, allowing her to continue to exercise. She says the training provides quite a mood boost — something we all know we need when we aren’t feeling well.

Here are some suggestions I gave Janine when her rheumatoid arthritis symptoms came back to haunt her recently. Management, metabolic boosting tips may help you as well if you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis or any pain-related illness.

Sometimes food becomes our only comfort when we are in pain. It’s important to stick to your plan now more than ever when symptoms flare up. Food is the problem, not the solution. Stay tight on your thermogenic eating plan available in The Metabolism Solution.  

Fall is full of superfoods that can do more than delight your taste buds. If you’re not careful, however, you might eat foods that cause weight gain that can trigger inflammation, leaving you feeling worse than you did before you ate the so-called superfoods. Here are some seasonal favorites that contain nutrients that may help lessen the pain associated with any type of arthritis. They also help boost metabolism, making weight loss easier. Try to incorporate these foods and nutrients into your diet to ease pain and keep your weight under control. Maintaining a healthy weight helps prevent additional stress on your joints and your mind. That is a critical step when it comes to managing any pain.

For starters, limit pumpkin and winter squashes. While they are healthy superfoods, they also spike blood sugar levels that can trigger a rheumatoid arthritis attack or increase pain. Don’t be fooled by the health halo claims. If you're trying to lose weight the rules are different when managing any pain, especially arthritis.

A is for Awesome Apples. You already know how much I love apples when it comes to boosting metabolism and melting fat. What you might not know is how good they are for pain relief. Apples are always associated with fall, which brings emotional pleasure. That bright, firm apple is also a healthy rheumatoid arthritis snack. Apples are high in fiber, meaning they fill you up and cut hunger, kill cravings and balance blood sugar — that is key. This makes it easier to maintain your weight or even drop a few pounds. One thing most experts agree on is apples are a great fruit, period.

Because of all the different varieties of apples, they are very versatile in terms of how you can cook with them. You can add them to savory dishes as well as enjoy them as dessert. Try my Apple Whey Crispalicous found in The Metabolism Solution for an irresistibly delicious dessert that helps with your aches and pains.

C is for Curry or Curcumin. Some spices, such as turmeric, are being investigated for potential health benefits. Turmeric is a mild spice that gives Indian curries their characteristic yellow color. In fact, it’s what makes mustard yellow. Curry can be added to fall soups and stews (see the Good for Your Chicken Stew recipe in The Metabolism Solution) to cook healthy foods for rheumatoid arthritis that deliver an anti-inflammatory boost.

Turmeric (Curry) has a mild anti-inflammatory effect. If you’re trying to reduce inflammation, the more ways you can help yourself the better you’ll feel. It's not yet clear how much of the spice is needed to get a measurable effect on rheumatoid arthritis. You need to like it to get enough. That being said, I suggest turmeric from LynFit Recovery Agent instead to ensure your body gets what it needs for pain relief. Using spices is always a healthy way to add flavor and variety to foods when managing pain or your weight. 

Anytime you can use spice for flavor rather than salt, it's a good for metabolic boosting.

G is for Go Nuts. But not all nuts are created equal. While most nuts are an excellent source of heart-healthy unsaturated fats, some nuts, such as walnuts, also contain Omega 3 fatty acids that can fight inflammation. That puts them in the rheumatoid arthritis superfoods category. I like them as a weight loss expert because no one ever overeats on walnuts, but I’ve seen many a woman polish off a bag of pistachios despite the cost. I find it amazing how we never seem to notice the expense of our cheats.

Nuts are also cholesterol-free, making them a healthy snack. Just don't overdo it. Nuts are calorie-dense, so watch your portion size. It's best to stick to a small handful — about an ounce.

The Apple Whey Crispalicious recipe in The Metabolism Solution includes walnuts, so you’ll be getting two superfoods in one snack.

K is for Kale. Kale has traditionally been a cool-weather green, although its nutritional powers make it a year-round favorite and celebrity recently, and for good reason. Like other leafy green vegetables, kale is rich in anti-inflammatory antioxidants and vitamins K and C. It's also high in fiber, making it a great rheumatoid arthritis super-food.

Kale can be cooked, eaten raw in a salad, or baked into crispy kale chips for a healthy on-the-go snack. Try my Kale Chips found in The Metabolism Solution. They are not only good for you; they taste great too. Don’t tell your kids it's kale, or that they are good for you, and they will devour them. That worked for me in my house.

S is for Salmon. If you're on my metabolic boosting programs, you know how I feel about salmon. Coldwater fish such as salmon, sardines, tuna, mackerel, and even anchovies, contain inflammation-fighting Omega 3 fatty acids. Try to have (2) or more 3–4 oz. portions each week. Check out the recipes in The Metabolism Solution. Try them over and over, adding your favorite spices until you find a way to enjoy them.

For fast relief, stick to your plan and drink your Complete Protein Shakes. They also help in healing, which is directly correlated with pain relief. Don’t allow pain to take you off your weight loss game. You shouldn’t suffer either. Try these superfoods, and as always, please keep me posted on your successes. I love to hear about them!