What To Avoid For A Healthy 2018

After a year of unhealthy, high fat, low carb diets (like Ketogenic® and Paleo®) America's waistlines grew larger, diabetes and cholesterol numbers continue to rise, and sadly, we are less fit than ever before in history, despite the fact that there is a gym on every street corner. I can hear you know asking, "But why? How can this be?" We have lost sight of the science behind weight loss and fitness and just like politics, we are out of control and getting in our own way.

Thankfully, 2018 brings along with it new, smarter, and more intelligent trends and health habits that everyone should include in their new year. I prefer to call it a wish list and think of it as I get to, versus I have to.

Here's what's hot and what's not in 2018. This is the year of the Mind, Mouth, and Muscle!

THE MIND

What's Not: Negativity, feeling like a victim, or like we are powerless over our health.

What's Hot: Positivity! We must believe that we can do anything we set our minds to and believe that there are no victims, only volunteers for the lives we live.

We have more control over our health than we think, but we've gotta change our mind before anything else in our life will change.

THE MOUTH

What's Not: Gone are the days of low carb diets that allow high amounts of saturated fats. We are getting smarter, and we now know that saturated fats clog arteries and cause heart disease and increase the risk of cancer. 

What's Hot: The low, low approach. This is the best way to lose weight, slow the aging process, and boost brain power to ward off cognitive decline.

We also have learned, thanks to scientific research, that intermittent fasting is the best thing we can do for weight loss and improving overall health. The easiest way to live this type of lifestyle eating plan is to fast every night from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. This lowers blood sugar levels and prepares the body to burn fat faster and easier.

Break the fast immediately after your home workout with a cleaner, purer Whey Protein Shake that boosts metabolism 25 percent, blocks cortisol levels while providing the body with the protein it needs and preventing metabolic slowdown.

NOTE: Not all protein shakes have this ability. Pre-made store bought, Inferior quality protein, vegan shakes, or non-whey proteins will not provide these types of benefits. You get what you pay for, and in this case, it's worth getting the best quality. Your health and weight depend on it! Isn't your body worth $1.75 a serving?

Swap out that fattening creamer you put in your coffee each day and save calories and money. You'll also fit in your clothes better so you won't need to buy new ones.  

Recipe Tip: I froth my shake by blending it longer, and then I pour it right into my coffee... delicious! 

THE MUSCLE

What's Not: CrossFit®-style, kill yourself-style workouts. They damage joints, preventing you from being consistent with your workouts; therefore, defeating the purpose. It's consistency that’s paramount when it comes to lasting results.

Those workouts jack up hunger and cravings, so you eat more versus less, which is exactly what you don't want when trying to lose weight. While you may feel fitter, that doesn’t mean healthier.

The bottom line is it's the numbers that count most. Weight, body fat levels, blood pressure, cholesterol and cortisol (stress hormones) are the numbers to watch. They keep you alive and healthy.

What's Hot: Home-based, smart workouts that save time, money, and yield the best results! When it comes to losing weight and becoming healthier, it’s not how much you lift, how hard you train, or if you push yourself to the point of insanity that matters.

Weight loss is 90 percent diet and only 10 percent sweat equity, so the secret to becoming more fit and staying fit for life is to make it doable, so you can be consistent. The best way to do this is to workout at home.

Think of it this way; you would never think of going to the dentist every time you wanted to brush your teeth, would you? No way! It would it never work. You do it at home by yourself, and the sooner we all begin to view staying fit this way, the sooner we will all be fit and stay that way. It's not as hard as you think!

And to all the gym addicts and adrenaline junkies... You can still get your fix, (maybe even more often) because you won't be sidelined due to injuries. If you work out because its social, moderation is key here. Go a few days a week and get a hobby or join other types of healthier groups. Nothing done addictively is good for you.