Author Archives: Patience Lister

5 Weight Loss Tips for Your New Year’s Resolution

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Does your New Year’s resolution involve losing a couple kilos, shrinking a few centimeters, or dropping a pant size? If so, you’re not alone. There are countless health benefits to losing excess body weight, but this resolution extends far beyond the New Year. Successful weight loss means losing it permanently.

Try these five tips to make 2015 the beginning of your thinner, healthier life.

  1. Slow and steady. If you want the weight to stay off, do not rush. People who lose weight slowly are more likely to keep it off.[1]
  2. Prioritize sleep. While this could be a resolution in its own, getting a good night sleep is a key part of maintaining a healthy weight.
  3. Keep active. On top of your scheduled workout, integrate physical activity into daily tasks. Walk your kids to school, take the stairs, or bike to the store.
  4. Eat! Weight loss does not equal hunger. Fill your plate with nourishing plant-based foods that are rich in vitamins, minerals, and fibre, but low in calories. Load up on fresh greens, mushrooms, berries, and tomatoes.
  5. Fibre, fibre, fibre! People who eat more fibre have lower body weight.[2] This is because fibre-rich foods are satisfying and filling. They help keep blood sugar steady and cravings curbed. Boost your intake of beans, seeds, and whole grains, or add PGX granules to your meals.*

What’s your weight loss tip?

 

*Drink additional water (8 fl. oz.) after ingesting PGX®. If you are taking medications, take one hour prior to or two hours after taking PGX®

 

References:

[1] Heart & Stroke Foundation. “Canadians Trapped on Weight-Loss Rollercoaster.” Heart & Stroke Foundation. 2014. Web. 28 December 2014.

[2] Korczak, Renee and Joanne L. Slavin. “Effects of Dietary Fiber on Body Mass Index: A Systematic Review of Cross-Sectional Studies, Prospective Cohort Studies and Randomized Controlled Trials.” The FASEB Journal 27 (2013): 1079.3. Print.

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PGX FitBit Flex Giveaway!

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There’s no falling away from your 2015 health and fitness goals when you have a FitBit® Flex tracking your progress throughout the day and night. Activity level, distance travelled, calories burned, sleep patterns, and goals are all monitored and synced to your smartphone or tablet where your stats are easy to see and hard to ignore.

Why track your goals?

Studies show that setting a fitness goal and then receiving feedback on how close you are to that goal makes you more likely to achieve it.[1]

Why track sleep patterns?

Lack of sleep is linked to weight gain. A recent study found that people who sleep fewer than 7 hours per night have a significantly higher body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference than people who sleep 7-9 hours per night.[2]

To make your 2015 health and fitness goals easier to meet (or exceed), we’re giving away over 100 FitBit Flex wristbands – one every day. You can enter daily to boost your odds of winning. Fill out your name and email address on the contest entry form for a chance to win.

Good luck!

 

References:

[1] Wack, S. R., Kimberly A. Crosland and Raymond G. Miltenberger. “Using Goal Setting and Feedback to Increase Weekly Running Distance.” Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis 47.1 (2014): 181-185. Web. 21 December 2014.
[2] Ford, E.S. et al. “Sleep Duration and Body Mass Index and Waist Circumference among US Adults.” Journal of Obesity 22.2 (2014): 598-607. Print.

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Don’t Hibernate: Stay Active This Winter

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PGX-USA-blog-Don-t-Hibernate-Stay-Active-20141211 The human body is designed to move. But what if it’s too cold and dark for your usual run or bike ride? Don’t stress, there are many superb options for staying active in this winter!

  • The Gym: No matter what your level of fitness is, the gym is a one-stop-shop for fitting your cardio, strength training, stretching, and abs workouts into one outing. The key is finding a gym with a comfortable, upbeat atmosphere that motivates you to keep coming back.
  • Indoor Pool: Freestyle swimming at a slow pace burns approximately 510 calories per hour.[1] But that’s not all you can do at the pool. Mix it up with aquatic aerobics classes, water jogging or fast-pace intervals using a kickboard. And once you’re done, treat yourself to a warm-up in the hot tub.
  • home_exercise_equipment-20141211Yoga: The poses and deep breathing exercises of yoga not only improve posture, flexibility and muscle tone, but can also boost your mood and mental focus.[2] On those extra cold winter days, try heating-up with a session hot yoga.
  • Home: When you’re too busy to get out, keep active at home. A few simple items, such as a jump rope, free weights, yoga mat, or exercise ball, can go a long way to keeping your heart rate up and muscles toned. Or get outside and build a snowman if you have snow on the ground!

What’s your favorite way to exercise? Let us know.

 

References:

[1] CDC. “Physical Activity for a Healthy Weight.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2011. Web. 23 November 2014.

[2] Agarwal, Shashi. “Evidence Based Medical Benefits of Yoga.” Indian Journal of Science 2.3 (2013): 1-4. Print.

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5 Tips to Avoid Winter Weight Gain

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Is winter the downfall of your weight management strategy? The cold, damp, short days topped with the pressures of high-calorie party foods is enough to throw even the most disciplined health guru off her game. But with the right plan, you can eliminate the anxiety of weight gain this winter. Here are 5 tips to get you started:

1.     Load-up on fiber. Fiber keeps you full, blood sugar steady and cravings curbed. Include beans, seeds, fruits, and vegetables in your meals and add PGX® to your favorite healthy snacks to boost their fiber content.*

2.     Get your vitamin D. During the winter it may help reduce occasional winter blues, making it easier to stick to your goals – whether they are healthy eating, exercise or just getting off the couch.

3.     Partner-up. Recruit an energetic friend, family member or colleague for working out. They will boost your motivation, accountability and enjoyment.

4.     Get your ZZZs. According to research, sleep deprivation causes people to eat more and to crave high calorie foods[1].

5.     Treat yourself! Feeling deprived can lead to binge eating[2]. Treat yourself to high quality whole foods, such as coconut water, raw nuts, kale chips, roasted seaweed, and organic teas.

Stay tuned for more great tips!

Patience Lister

*Drink additional water (8 fl. oz.) after ingesting PGX. If you are taking medications, take one hour prior to or two hours after taking PGX.

References:

[1] Greer, Stephanie, Andrea Goldstein, and Matthew Walker. “The impact of sleep deprivation on food desire in the human brain.” Nature Communications 4 (2013): 2259.
[2] Michaels, Samantha. Overeating?: How to stop binge eating, overeating & get the natural slim body you deserve. Speedy Publishing LLC, 2013.

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6 Simple Solutions for Occasional Stress

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It’s easy to fall into the busy trap. We’re encouraged to believe we can “have it all”, but while we’re distracted with the pursuit of more, the important things – moments of connection and peace – can fall off the radar. Pretty soon, occasional exhaustion and everyday stress are in the drivers seat.

When it comes to stress relief, less really is more. These simple solutions will help you reclaim your life.

  1. Eat Mindfully – Devote an extra 5-10 minutes to each meal. Take small bites, and put your fork down between each to encourage a slower pace. Stress affects your digestive system, too, so slowing down at dinner can help you digest better – leaving you with more energy overall.
  2. Respect Routine – Establish a morning and evening routine to simplify your day. That way, you won’t be rushing out the door every day, or staying up too late and sacrificing sleep.
  3. Find Time for You – Make a list of the things that make you feel happy and fulfilled – like taking a bath, going for a run, or snuggling with your little one. Each day, carve out ten minutes (or more) for one of them. This valuable “you time” will help you recharge.
  4. Breathe – Breathing is an amazing way to stop the stress cycle. Slow, deep breaths calm your nervous system, so take 5 minutes when you first wake up to close your eyes and focus on your breathing. When you feel overwhelmed, a few deep breaths will quickly return you to a state of relaxation.
  5. Manage Mealtime – Healthy eating is the best way to set yourself up for overall health, but also the hardest to tackle during a busy day. Devote an hour a week to prepping a big dish or two – maybe soup or stew – that you can serve up all week long.
  6. Do Less – Prioritize what you need to do and what you really want to do – the rest of it? Not important. Allow yourself to let go of stress simply by simplifying your schedule.

How do you deal with stress?  We’d love to hear your tips!

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