Are you consuming these potential poisons on a regular basis?
Well, first things first. Before we get into today’s topic, I just wanted to say:
Wow.“Thank You” for all the comments on the last post!
Even though I was trying to inspire you…your comments actually inspired me.
I was reluctant to share this, but my eyes welled up with tears I was so moved by everybody’s comments.
It looks like I’m officially the new inspirational spokesperson for GL-12. I’m lovin’ it!
(B.T.W. Shaun does inspire me to share this information. I just want to give him a “little” credit since he does encourage me. He’s also very proud of my work. Stay tuned because I have all kinds of new inspiring and motivating material coming your way over the next few months. He’s pumped. I’m excited. )
Before I give you some more motivation and inspiration, I have a few questions for you.
Do you use artificial sweeteners?
Are you aware of the artificial sweeteners in the foods you consume?
If so, this will be an eye-opening article.
Many of our private members have heard us talk about getting rid of all the Crystal Lite mix in our meal plans.
There’s a reason we’re doing this, so please keep reading.
You probably should be consuming all artificial sweeteners in strict moderation or even ridding them from your plan altogether, if possible.
Shaun and I have always wondered about artificial sweeteners and we’ve noticed that there’s a lot of confusion and misconceptions about these non-caloric sweeteners.
We both used to think that this stuff can’t be that bad for you, but we’ve learned to go “all natural” whenever possible.
There have been some eye-opening studies about these potential poisons.
Plus, Shaun has been fortunate enough to rub elbows with some of the smartest minds on earth in the nutrition field. We’ve learned that it’s really all about the big food companies making money and not our health.
Artificial sweeteners and the huge list of products sweetened with them are marketed to us relentlessly as “healthy foods” or “healthier” than sugar or corn syrup sweetened products.
But are they really?
Just to clarify, some of the most popular artificial sweeteners on the market today are:
Splenda (sucralose)
Aspartame
Saccharine
Acesulfame Potassium (aka – acesulfame K)
These artificial sweeteners are used in abundance in almost every “diet” drink, “lite” yogurts, puddings, ice creams, most “low-carb” products and almost all “reduced-sugar” products.
Even most protein powders are loaded with artificial sweeteners too (just look on the ingredients and you’ll usually see one of them).
Splenda is probably one of the worst offenders of claiming to be “healthy” as they say that it’s made from real sugar. Don’t be misled.
It’s still an artificial substance. What they don’t tell you is that Splenda is actually a chemically modified substance.
Chlorine is added to the chemical structure, making it more similar to a bunch of little, tiny chlorinated pesticides that we should not be eating or drinking.
Side Note: Remember that Splenda was created because all the other artificial sweeteners were getting bad press. We won’t even go into the negative effects of Aspartame and Saccharine. Just remember to avoid them whenever possible.
The truth is that artificial sweeteners are really not even close to being healthy. They can potentially be just as bad, if not worse, than sugar or corn syrup.
Most people think that they are doing something good for themselves by choosing the “diet” drinks or other diet foods compared to the sugar-laden versions.
The problem is that you’re exposing yourself to a whole new set of problems with the artificially sweetened drinks and foods.
I know you’re probably frustrated by all of the contradicting messages you hear each day about which foods are good for you and which are bad. I know I am.
Everyday we’re bombarded with some clever ad or commercial screaming about the health benefits of a food product that is loaded with artificial sweeteners.
It’s probably impossible to avoid them altogether, but at least we can get educated and limit them as much as possible.
I’ll also give you some ideas for great alternatives to artificial sweeteners, as well as alternatives to sugar or corn syrup sweeteners.
Artificial sweeteners save you calories, but there’s growing evidence that they can increase your appetite for sweets and other carbohydrates causing you to eat more later in the day.
Therefore, you don’t really save any calories at all.
Also, studies have shown that artificial sweeteners can stimulate high insulin levels in your body which promotes and accelerates fat storage dramatically.
All of the 4 artificial sweeteners listed above are nasty chemicals that the human body is simply not meant to ingest.
However, most of us are ingesting a lot of these chemicals on a daily basis. Aside from the problems I touched on so far, here are a few of the other health issues that have been related to artificial sweeteners in scientific studies:
negative effects on the liver, kidneys, and other organs
stimulating cravings
gastrointestinal problems
developmental problems in children and fetuses
potential cancer risk
headaches
and too many more issues to list
Also, if you do some research, you’ll find thousands of people that attribute the use of artificial sweeteners over the years with all sorts of illnesses in themselves or in family members.
Despite all of the health issues potentially associated with artificial sweeteners, the companies that sell the products will continue to claim that they are fully safe.
Don’t believe them. The bottom line is that the body was not designed to deal with foreign substances like artificial sweeteners.
In fact, there have been several studies conducted about why “diet sodas” have been one the major contributors to the obesity epidemic.
Ironically, as soon as the story broke, Coke and Pepsi immediately started a marketing campaign to use a Stevia-based sweetener.
Although this herb can be a safe and healthy alternative (we personally use it), most people don’t realize that if this herbal sweetener doesn’t come from a reliable source, it could possibly contain pesticides or other toxins.
Everything we’ve read and learned about Stevia has been positive, but you still need to make sure it’s from an organic source, if possible.
I was also really annoyed when I found out that even the touted, all-natural sweetener, Agave Nectar, is far from healthy. Agave is almost all fructose – highly processed sugar with great marketing.
Here’s just a quick snapshot of what Agave Nectar is really all about.
Agave syrup is not low calorie.
Agave syrup is about 16 calories per teaspoon, the same as table sugar.
Agave syrup may not have a low glycemic index.
Depending upon where the Agave comes from and the amount of heat used to process it, your Agave Syrup can be anywhere from 55 percent to 90 percent Fructose! (And, it’s likely you won’t be able to tell from the product label.)
This range of fructose content hardly makes agave syrup a logical choice if you’re hoping to avoid the high levels of fructose in HFCS (high fructose corn syrup).
And if you’re diabetic, you should know that the alleged benefit of agave for diabetics is purely speculative. Very few agave studies have been documented, and most involved rats. There have been no clinical studies done on its safety for diabetics.
Since most agave syrup has such a high percentage of fructose, your blood sugar will likely spike just as it would if you were consuming regular sugar or HFCS.
You could also run the risk of raising your triglyceride levels.
I’ve learned that there is a big difference in how your body handles normal sugar versus fructose. Things like glucose and other sugars are converted to blood glucose, but fructose is a relatively unregulated source of fuel that your liver converts to fat and cholesterol. Not good.
Our belief is that if you’re spending money on something, you deserve to know the truth about what it could be doing to your body.
Always try to use a healthy alternative like Organic Stevia. Another good choice for a sugar substitute is something called Organic Sucanat. You can learn more about it here:
The final analysis: We’re probably all going to consume some of these artificial sweeteners on a weekly basis in some way or another.
This goes back to my “take home” message from the last post.
Awareness.
By being consciously aware of these hidden poisons, you’ll automatically eliminate most of them from your plan. It’s a great prevention plan for your long-term health and fat loss.
We’re definitely not doctors or bio-medical scientists, but we have a passion for spreading the truth and raising people’s awareness. Shaun and I both learned so much about this stuff when I went through my cancer journey; we feel like we have an obligation to share it with everybody we can.
I guess the ole saying, “You are what you eat” will always stand the test of time.
Okay, now it’s time for some more inspiration.
In that last post I left off by talking about P.L.O.M. (Poor Little Ole’ Me) disease and maintaining a P.M.A. (Positive Mental Attitude).
The PROBLEM: It’s easy to talk about, but hard to do.
The SOLUTION: Scheduling time to make it happen.
Being a mother to four children and helping Shaun run GL-12 does not leave much time in my hectic schedule for “me” time. This is one of my biggest struggles and maybe it’s yours too!
That’s because 98% of women, wives and mothers don’t make time for themselves. I can tell you from experience: This is a BIG mistake.
When I put everybody else first in my life and push myself to the back of the line, resentment starts to build up inside me. Over time, if I’m not careful or “aware” this becomes extremely unhealthy.
That’s when P.L.O.M. disease sneaks in and gets the best of me and my P.M.A. disappears like food on my husband’s plate.
Can you relate? If so, I have some great news for you.
It’s a little ritual that we try to use at least 5 days a week to avoid P.L.O.M. disease and keep our P.M.A. “in-check”.
What is it? It’s finding 15 minutes or more on a daily basis to eliminate ALL distractions and ALL technology from your life.
Shaun calls it “Cultivation Time”. I call it “ME” time.
What do you do during this time? It depends on your personality and what you like to do for relaxation.
I block off time in my schedule and sit in our sunroom with a cup of coffee. No cell phone, technology OR distractions allowed.
Then I think about everything I’m grateful for in my life. This is also a great time to pray if you’re the spiritual kind.
You could also:
Breath deep or meditate
Do some yoga or stretching
Make a gratitude list (REMEMBER: Half the world hasn’t even turned on a light bulb! We ALL have more than we deserve.)
Read an empowering book
Make a list of positive words and read them over
My husband blocks off time and goes to the dry sauna with a business book or his leadership bible. We both believe that during this time, you’ll plant the positive seeds in your head so you can manage the stress of your day.
Shaun always says that he can more done in 4 hours than he normally would in 8 hours if he “cultivates” consistently. But when he skips his cultivation time, life gets hectic and he feels overwhelmed.
This little ritual can really change your life and impact your P.M.A.
By scheduling “me” time and putting myself higher on the priority list, I can give my husband, my children, my family and my loved ones my absolute best.
Don’t forget: This also applies to exercise and fat loss too. By investing the time to exercise and eat right, you’ll impact every area in a positive way. Give it a try!
I’ll end by quoting something Shaun always says:
“There are two types of people in this world. Those who brighten the room when they enter it, and those who brighten a room when they leave it.” (I think he got it from Zig Ziglar.)
So remember: “ME” time = P.M.A.
And…it’s not selfish.
I hope this helps you as much as it’s helped us over the years!
Now it’s time to help each other with this technique. How?
Leave a comment below and let everybody else know:
What location you’re going to use for your “me” time (avoiding distractions and the environment you pick means everything if you want this to work)
What activity you’re going to do during this time to maintain your P.M.A.
I look forward to hearing your responses below.
Have a great weekend!
Karen
P.S. Shaun wants me to start something here on the blog called: Karen’s Motivational Mondays.
That means if you leave a comment, I get to do this every Monday. Yahooooo!!!
Don’t forget to hit the Facebook “like” button below so we can spread the good news.
Never Count Calories or Weigh Your Food Again Using This Simple Way To Follow A Life-Long, Fat Burning Nutrition Plan On A Daily Basis.
After going through everybody’s comments and questions over the past 4 weeks, I’ve realized that over 10 years ago I was in the same exact place as most of you are.
I was actually a miserable and broke father desperately seeking a long-term solution on how I could follow a life-long, fat burning nutrition plan that had enough variety and flexibility to keep me from getting burned out or bored.
If you’re anything like me, you might be wondering the same thing!
I felt like I didn’t have the time, the motivation, or even the right approach to eat right forever. Think about it. It’s easy to follow a strict, fat burning nutrition plan for a week or two, but then we ALL fall off. Plus, things like the “traditional” food pyramid and other diets are so confusing.
The “Traditional” Food Pyramid
Here’s a great, life-long approach to your nutrition plan that I use when I’m not consistently macro-patterning. This will allow you to never count calories or grams ever again and teach you a simple approach to the secret food combinations and portion control necessary to keep your body in a fat-burning environment the entire day.
We call it the GL-12 Food Pyramid and we’ve taken the traditional food pyramid and turned it on its head!
No matter how much you exercise or perform GL-12 cardio or strength training, you’ll never see visible results in your stomach or anywhere else if you don’t understand;
The right timing
The right food combinations
The right portion control
This is the key to controlling blood sugar and programming your metabolism to be a long term fat burner. It will also nourish your body and mind at the same time.
You see, most people are becoming fat from a “carb-overdose” OR a “carb-underdose”.
Every time you eat too many carbs in a given meal, blood sugar and insulin spike and this causes a downward spiral that completely sabotages your fat loss goals and robs you of energy and focus. First, you’re programming your body to store more fat and take your body completely out of its fat burning environment.
Second, you’re programming your body to rely on carbs so it will want to be a “carb-burner”, instead of a “fat-burner”.
Third, too many carbs consumed in one sitting will also slow down your metabolism and increase hunger cravings for more empty carbs.
Now, the opposite is also true. If you consume too little carbs or go “low-carb” for too long, your body will eventually fight back and want to store more fat.
What’s the solution? Use macro-patterning nutrition in synergy with GL-12 exercise cycling and then move to a life-long, fat burning nutrition maintenance plan to keep the weight off.
Use just enough carbs, protein, and friendly fats in each meal so that you’re never really full…AND you’re never ravishingly hungry either.
In other words, you should feel satisfied by giving your body just enough food and nutrients so that you’ll be hungry again in 2 or 3 hours. Treat your metabolism like a fire. If you don’t add a log every 2 or 3 hours, the fire (your metabolism) will burn out.
This strategic method is what stabilizes blood sugar and creates the fat-burning nutrition plan and body you’ve always wanted.
I go over the exact portion control and combination of food necessary for these benefits in today’s video.
In a nutshell here are they are. The visual cues necessary along with the proper combinations before 3pm are:
Carbs = Size of your clenched fist
Protein = Size of the palm of your hand
Friendly Fats = Size of the end of your thumb or about 1 tablespoon two or three times a day
Lastly and most important is to make sure you don’t consume sugars or starches after 3pm at least 5 days a week. In the video above, I explain exactly why this will make you fall victim to the dreaded “fat-spillover” even if it’s a healthy choice like fruit.
I also explain exactly what you should be eating and combining later in the day to make sure you stay in a fat-burning environment even while you sleep!
Don’t underestimate the power of this fat burning nutrition plan so you can stay on track forever!
This should be a staple in your life that will help you burn more fat on a daily basis while also having a dramatic impact on your long-term health. I know after working with thousands of people that building this habit is a lot easier said than done.
By learning how to plan ahead, making healthy choices, creating “on-the-go” fat burning snacks and using science driven supplementation you will be able to easily hit 5 or 6 small meals a day…AND save time.
That’s right. This will not take too much time, if you plan ahead. This should automatically create more time in your life because you won’t be chasing energy or a fast food line after you’ve planned ahead.
In fact, I can guarantee if you start to follow these GL12 principles, you’ll start being more productive and positive in every other area of your life. Personal, business, family…every area will be impacted in a positive way by following these methods.
Remember…Get Lean In 12 is a journey and a process, NOT an event.
Please leave your questions below and comment if you like this video and article. Thank you.
Don’t get lazy…get lean,
Shaun Hadsall
Co-Creator of Get Lean In 12
P.S. Anybody can follow this plan forever once they get to their goals. If you slip up or fall, who cares! Just look at how our other students and followers handle it:
“Crack The Fat Loss Code combined w/Get Lean In 12 have been a miracle in my life- especially around the holidays. I have lost over 15 pounds so far, and down 2 dress sizes. Fat is leaving my body in those “hard to get rid of it” places. This is very easy to follow but most importantly easy to stay on. Slip-ups are a part of life- and this plan. It’s also very easy to get back on the plan after you do slip-up. I am most appreciative to Wendy and Shaun for such powerful information. You are making a difference in my life and for that I am most grateful!”
P.P.S. Remember to learn from MY mistakes! I personally ignored this info for over 8 years and carried about 16% body fat, over-trained and almost burned out completely.
Once I implemented the GL-12 strategies discussed above, I was completely shocked when I went to 5% in only 12 weeks and I still use these habits over 10 years later! Even though I’m just a “hillbilly” from Birch Run, Michigan and my friends and family all laughed at me…I still proved that anybody could do it. You can too.
The subject and information in this article may seem negative or depressing at first, but it’s very appropriate for this time of year.
Plus, we’ve been bombarded with questions regarding the subject of alcohol and fat loss, so we wanted to take the time to answer all these questions.
There’s actually a very positive long term take-away at the end of this article, so take this information seriously because it can really make the difference.
We give you a list of action steps that you can pro-actively start taking today. Whether you’re a beer lover or just a social drinker, these action steps will help you on your fitness journey.
Ok, time for the negative and depressing stuff first.
Aside from the fact that alcohol decreases reaction time, slows muscle contraction, digestion and thinking, people perceive it to be a stimulant.
That’s probably because it knocks down your inhibitions and makes you act like an idiot. Even though I do like to drink occasionally, my opinion is there’s very little to be said for the positive “benefits” of alcohol.
Although many of us have our “moments” where we celebrate a little too much, lets look at what it does to you nutritionally.
Alcohol is a carbohydrate, or a simple sugar, void of any vitamins or minerals. Since it is a carbohydrate, one ounce of alcohol provides 70 calories. The problem arises because these calories don’t have any vitamins or minerals so the alcoholic finds his hunger satisfied without ever getting proper nourishment leading to serious deficiencies.
One gram of alcohol yields approximately 7 calories, almost twice as much as protein and carbs. From a health standpoint, these calories are empty and useless.
Alcohol is such a simple sugar so it actually enters the bloodstream through the walls of the stomach as opposed to most nutrients, which are absorbed in the small intestine. This quick absorption explains why you may feel the effects of alcohol shortly after having just one or two shots.
It also goes directly to work on the central nervous system and starts to damage valuable brain cells. So far alcohol consumption doesn’t seem like the greatest idea in the world, does it?
But wait! There’s still more. Alcohol damages these brain cells by withdrawing water that is essential for cellular health. Next, it moves on to other cells in your body, which leads to dehydration. That’s the primary reason you’ll get the famous “hang-over-headache”.
We’ve already educated you on how simple sugars impact insulin and fat mobilization.
Alcohol is the equivalent of the most notorious simple sugar, carrying with it all of these other dastardly effects. It requires no digestion. It is a form of fuel, but in this case, that’s not necessarily a good thing. Your cells uptake it because it is so simple, your body will use it for fuel before using other carbs, proteins, or ingested fats. It is considered “nutrient sparing.” Since it becomes the quickest available food since, it spares all other nutrients that follow it.
When calories are prevented from being used as food, what do they likely become? You know the answer by now. Accumulated body fat stores!
If you’re trying to reduce body fat, you should also know that alcohol is very rapidly synthesized into triglycerides and stored as fat. It is also an appetite inducer! If anyone you know has ever gotten drunk (l would presume you might even have , the first thing they wanted to do when the excitement slowed was EAT!
So is alcohol really a stimulant? By now you should see that it isn’t, and in addition to all the effects listed above, it does a number on your motivation and sense of well-being. Of course, this is what we call the famous “hangover”.
Can you drink alcohol and still stay lean?
In the final analysis, this topic seems to be a common struggle I hear from a lot of people…they want to get lean and stay lean, but they don’t want to give up drinking alcohol.
Will a few beers during the football game destroy your fitness program? Probably not. It comes down to a matter of commitment. If you are totally committed to health and fitness, you will probably minimize your alcohol intake.
You’ve heard rumors of the positive cardiovascular effects a daily glass of wine might have because of the antioxidants. Just remember, you can get these antioxidants in many supplements and even from whole food sources without getting all the sugar from the red wine.
If you enjoy an occasional drink or two, that’s fine. Just be aware of the whole picture when alcohol enters your system.
First, I think the best thing anyone can do is live alcohol free until you reach your initial goals or a maintenance type of schedule and then add alcohol back in 1 or 2 times per week in moderation.
The second best option is to limit alcohol intake to once a week after the first 4 weeks of beginning any serious fat loss lifestyle.
I believe most of us can drink in moderation, and still stay perfectly healthy and lean after some initial sacrifice to get to our goals, but there are a few tricks that can help you to not pack on the pounds.
Alcohol Intake Damage Control Plan
1.Get plenty of water to prevent the dehydration. If you decide to drink beer after working up a sweat, I suggest killing your thirst with a few large glasses of water first. Or if you pull a late-nighter, make sure you have damage control in place by drinking extra water before bed and having a water bottle by your nightstand.
2. If you know you’re going to consume more alcohol than you’re supposed to, it helps to make sure that dinner is based only around protein and vegetables.
Eating a good portion of appetite-satisfying protein along with nutrient-rich vegetables can help to control your appetite and give your body the nutrients it needs.
Just like we explained above, too many carbs + alcohol intake = “fat-spill-over”.
3.Make sure you stay away from syrupy, fruity drinks that are loaded with sugar…this has a two fold negative effect for your belly and butt fat. You’re not only getting all of the empty alcohol calories, but also loads of empty sugar calories. These drinks can have as much as 500-600 calories per serving!
The best thing to do is stick with a clear alcohol mixed with water or club soda. Vodka with fresh squeezed grapefruit or lemon juice is my favorite, but I make sure I add water too. Another option is vodka with club soda and extra lemon/lime. This is easier if you’re at a restaurant, bar, or nightclub.
Also, most people don’t realize this, but tonic water is loaded with almost as much sugar as regular pop and club soda has no calories at all.
If you’re a beer drinker, you’re better off choosing just 1 or 2 dark beers rather than 5 or 6 light beers. Although dark beers have more calories than light beers, they also have more B vitamins and antioxidants than light beers, so you actually get more nutrition from the dark beer. As long as you keep it to just 1 or 2 dark beers you’ll be ok, but if you go beyond that you should start counting calories and go with a low-calorie light beer option instead.
4.Try to get in a high intensity full body workout or some type of GL-12 or HIIT before your night out of drinking or socializing. This is always a great way get your metabolic rate cranking for some extra damage control.
Also make sure to get in some long duration cardio the morning after your night out along with extra water intake. Your energy will probably stink, that’s why you should stick with lower intensity and focus on sweating and rehydrating.
5.Avoid late night fast food or junk food after drinking. This will sabotage your fat loss efforts big-time! The worst thing for your body is loading up on burger, fries, pizza, ice cream, or other junk foods after consuming alcohol.
The best method is to plan ahead. Make sure you have an alternative healthy option planned ahead of time so when you get home you can heat it up and satisfy your late-night cravings.
There’s also been plenty of times late at night when I will prepare a whey protein shake with natural peanut butter to help “fill me up” because I didn’t have any other food planned ahead. It’s not the ideal situation, but it’s better than eating junk.
6. Make sure you consume extra water and nutrient rich vitamins, anti-oxidants, and food sources the following morning. Alcohol is very good at depleting your body of the vitamins and minerals we need to be healthy and feel normal, so it’s important to replenish these key compounds to help us recover.
Although ridding alcohol intake from our lives is definitely the BEST option, we also have to be realistic. Most people are going to consume some type of alcohol at least socially. If that’s you, why not do it the healthiest way possible and keep yourself on track by using the steps above. This is also a great way to possibly prevent a “hang-over”.
Please leave us a comment and let us know how you liked this article.
Happy New Year!
Shaun and The GL-12 Team
P.S. As far as smoking, how does lung cancer, high blood pressure, heart disease, pulmonary disease, emphysema, backing cough, nicotine breath, stained teeth, respiratory illness, throat cancer, and even death sound? Although I’m guilty of an occasional cigar, that’s all I have to say about smoking.
P.P.S. Before the end of this week I’m going to share an aggressive approach to lose 7 to 10 pounds the first 7 to 14 days of 2010. If you’re anything like us, your body and Leptin levels are “primed” to burn fat next week. You don’t want to miss out on this fat burning window.
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questions.
, the first thing they wanted to do when the excitement slowed was EAT!
up and satisfy your late-night cravings.
