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Sugar: Are You Poisoning your Kids?

I know this is a strong question and I was talking about this with a friend of mine, Samantha Taylor, who is known as a Sugar Addiction Specialist.  Samantha has found that sugar does act like a poison in our bodies and says, “Sugar really can poison children’s bodies, in excess, not the occasional treat here and there.  And many studies show that in this society, most children do eat way too much sugar in the form of cereal, fruit drinks, soda, candy, chocolate, cookies, ice cream, processed foods and any other sugar- filled food that they consume.”

Samantha really got me thinking about this when she said, “The definition of a poison is a substance that tends to destroy life or impair health or is something harmful.”  She finds that the result of this excess sugar in children is showing up in obesity; children getting sick more often including the ‘common cold’ that is not so common in children that don’t eat sugar; childhood diabetes, ADD/ADHD, poor teeth and gums and the volume of broken bones children who indulge in excess sugar have compared to those who don’t eat as much sugar.

Even though mothers love their children and would do anything for them, many don’t realize what kind of damage can be done to a child’s body by the excess of this white substance especially since it’s so socially acceptable and just tastes so good!  Samantha, as well as many other health professionals, believes that excess sugar in children is a huge cause of many of the problems listed above that we are seeing in our society today.

Children can get just as addicted to sugar as adults can and you can see it in their behavior.  They tend to be much more hyperactive, moodier, don’t listen to instruction as well, have a harder time settling down and beg for sugar.  It has also shown up as ADD or ADHD -type symptoms, attributed to not being able to concentrate as well.  Many mothers have noticed when they actually removed excess sugar from their child’s diet they saw the child’s ADD-like symptoms diminish greatly or even totally disappear.

Samantha said she even had one lady she helped get off sugar who had 3 boys that were very hyper. Hey, they were ‘just being boys’!  However, when she removed sugar from their diet she was shocked at how much more attentive they were, easier to discipline, they didn’t fight her as much and she didn’t have to tell them things three times before getting results. This mom said it made raising them so much easier and enjoyable – she liked being a mom much more when her kids were off sugar!

One other challenge with children eating too much sugar, especially under the age of 12, is that their livers are not fully developed. Excess sugar can wreak havoc on a child’s liver which is another contributor to why some young kids are starting to develop fatty liver disease at a young age.   Sugar has absolutely no nutrients, so in order for the body to metabolize it, the body has to extract minerals from itself to even process it – which means the body is slowly becoming malnourished.

Samantha says that the goal is really paying attention to the excess amount of sugar.  Here are some tips to keep in mind:

1)     Get away from the habit of letting your children have sugar everyday as a treat.  It really should only be a couple-times-a-month thing, if even that.  Shoot for no more than once a week.  However, you have to really watch out for all the sugar in the processed foods they are eating; this can really add up. Continue Reading →

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How to Keep Your New Years Resolutions

 

 

 

Click on the image to get more info about the book that contains the information that Carrie followed to achieve her results

In order to make sure that you keep your resolutions you need to figure out what your big why is.  Why is it important for you to lose weight, or get healthy?  If you say it is to look good in your daughter’s wedding, I can promise you that any weight you lose, you will put right back on after the wedding.  You need to find the deeper meaning, the deeper reason you want to be healthy.

In my book Fit Moms For Life, I spend most of a chapter helping you figure out your goals and why they are important to you.  If you are one of the few who still haven’t received a copy of the book, click here now or click on the book image to learn more.

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Top 10 Blog posts of 2011 Part 1

I wanted to take a minute break from finishing my 2012 goal setting, to look back at the past year and find 10 blog posts that I believe will have a profound impact on your lives and bodies moving into the new year. Before I share those with you I just want to take a moment to thank you.  Thank you for helping me make 2011 an amazing year.  I don’t take it for granted.
Thanks for…
Here are some of my favorite blog posts of 2011…
-Discover this one technique that will virtually guarantee
success in any area of your life.  This was my favorite
-If you are looking for ways to help others and build up
story and how it changed her life.
-My challenge to you.  This blog post was 24 hours after
the death of my grandma who was the third most influential
-Looking to make 2012 your healthiest year ever, but not
quite sure where to get started?  Click here to check out 
-Want to know the secret to clients of mine who have lost
50 or more lbs?  Click here to find out.
-Are you looking to hire a trainer?  Click here for a guide
-Most of the challenge of living a healthy life resides inside
-Want to make your life happier?  Click here and take this
Hmm… I have a problem.  That was my favorite 10 but those
came in just the first 3 months of 2011.  I might have to put
together a couple more lists of some more of my favorites.
Happy New Year!
Keep moving,
Dustin Maher
PS Thanks so much for those of you who forward these emails
onto friends and family and repost on Facebook and Twitter.  I
receive many emails saying how this newsletter has changed lives
because their friends have thought enough to pass it on.  So thanks
for passing it on!

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Reflecting back on 2011

I am writing this between the days of Christmas and New Years.  The end of the year gives us a good opportunity to reflect on our own lives and the lives of those around us.  I don’t know what kind of year 2011 was for you; for me it was, at times the best year of my life, and at other times very challenging.  Seeing my business continue to explode and building my team of trainers and support team to 13 people has been a great learning experience.  Releasing my book, Fit Moms For Life, has been nothing short of amazing.  Starting my own radio show is both exciting and challenging.  Traveling over 15 times this past year to cool places continues to open my eyes up to the world and the awesome people that live in it.  In my personal life, I have had to overcome quite a few challenges. Both of my grandmas died this year, as well as my adopted neighbor grandma, Lenore.  I also had a 4 year relationship to an amazing girl end.

For me, I believe I have learned more this year then any other year. I have traveled extensively and met some of the smartest, highly motivated, and successful people in the world.  From my observations of those around me, from the 30 plus books I read this year, from the hundreds of hours of audio programs I have listened to, and from the interactions with thousands of people this year, I will share with you some of my life lesson takeaways.  I write these for two reasons:  the first is for my own clarity and reflection and the second is for you to maybe learn something about your own life, as well as challenge you to do this same exercise regarding your life in 2011.

1.  You become like those with whom you spend the most time.  Alright, this one isn’t new to you.  I have been talking about this so much.  But it keeps coming up.  If you want to be more fit, spend time with people who are fitter then you.  If you want to speak better Spanish, hang around Spanish speaking people.  If you want to learn how to cook, spend time in cooking classes or around people who love to cook.  If you want a better relationship with your spouse, find happy, together couples and ask to interview them.  If you want to make more money, spend time around people who make more money then you.  If you feel spiritually empty, find someone who seems like they are spiritually strong and ask them what they believe.  If you want to make a bigger difference in the world, find people that are making a big difference and ask them how you can help them help others.  Success leaves trails, and most people who are where you want to be in a certain area are more then willing to help you, if you just ask.  One of my mentors said, “Everyone is a genius in a certain area of life; don’t think you are better then anyone and don’t think you are less then anyone.”

2.  Those who succeed in any area are the ones who STOP making EXCUSES and start taking ACTION.  I have worked with enough clients and coached enough trainers to know that there are very few legitimate reasons why you can’t succeed at your goals, whether that is to get stronger, lose fat, build a business, or improve a relationship.  It comes down to making it a priority.  When it becomes a priority, you will find time to do it.  This year I have tried very hard to stop using the phrase, “I didn’t have time,” and instead be honest with myself and whomever I am talking with and change it to, “It wasn’t high enough on my priority list.”  Check out this video below.  I have shared this once before.  I really like his breathing analogy a couple minutes into the video.  This video pumps me up and if your kids are old enough, I recommend having them watch it with you.  FYI, I don’t agree with skipping sleep; sure, once in awhile it is fine, but sleep deprivation can bring with it lots of bad side affects.

3.  The goal of working out and eating right is less about having an amazing body that turns heads, but more about a body that will take you where you want to go and function at a high level for the rest of your life.  Maybe it is that I am now 28, but the vanity goals of my college years just aren’t quite as strong.  :)   Sure, I still want to have a great looking body that guys want to have and girls want to be with, but that is no longer what consumes me.  I want to see how fit and healthy my body can be, so I can go hike volcanoes in Hawaii, so I can play basketball with college guys, so I can eventually outplay my teenage kids, and so I can be a cool, fit grandpa someday that can keep up with his grandkids.  I want to be able to live life to its fullest and not have to worry about whether my body will be able to come along for the ride.  So the things I am doing now have much longer term consequences rather than just the short term results.  We all know people who have died too young or have struggled with their health because they weren’t good stewards of their body.

4.  Relationships are the foundation of life and they should be kept up towards the top of the priority list. Tim Ferriss said something this summer in Napa Valley that changed my life.  (BTW, Google ranked Tim as one of the 100 most influential people in the world; his picture is right next to Obama’s in the Google office)  He said, “My network is my net-worth.”  That hit me really hard.  When he referred to “net-worth” he wasn’t really referring to his bank statement (although that is part of it); he was referring to his happiness in life and the quality of his life because of the people he has in his life.  Since that meeting, I have been saying NO to so many things that could make me more money, but don’t align with my goals, or would take time away from spending it with people.  I have spent much more time with my family and my closest friends.  I have really tried hard to add as much value to people’s lives as I can, without even thinking about whether they can repay me in the future.  When I made this shift, it has been amazing how much more fun life becomes and how many amazing experiences can come from an attitude of pure giving.  For example, in early February I am going to take about a 2 week trip to go skiing in Park City, UT and then on to Maui .  I have a condo in Park City that was given to me for free as well as a 6,000 square foot villa in Maui that I also get to use.  I don’t think either of these things would have happened if I hadn’t shifted my attitude towards relationships and somehow been a blessing to these people who are now generously giving of their resources.

5.  The last point is one that I have also talked about before, and that is, overcoming fear.  It breaks my heart to see people not getting results in their physical bodies because they are embarrassed with what people might think if they come to one of my bootcamps, or they don’t want to tell their friends that they have started a new program because of fear of failing.  Let’s take, for example, someone who is VERY unhealthy, to the point where they will most likely die prematurely.  I would challenge this person to consider the following question:  “Would you rather feel inept in an exercise class, which will help you live longer and feel amazing, or would you rather leave behind devastated family and friends as they look at you in a casket 15-30 years before your time?”  I know this is a grim and in-your-face face example, but seriously, the lies we tell ourselves keep us from living the lives we deserve.  BTW, NOBODY will be judging you in a Fit Fun Bootcamp or MamaTone class.  That is one of the safest and most encouraging places you can be.  Besides, everyone else is too focused on making it through the workout to really care or notice how others are doing.

I hope that you have enjoyed this, now I challenge you to reflect back on the past year and see what your biggest lessons from the past year were.  I want to leave you with a beautiful video.  I love this song, but more importantly the message.  This video challenges me to look for opportunities to bring a smile to those we interact with on a daily bases.  Cheers to an amazing 2012!

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Healthy Pumpkin Granola Recipe

My mom and I are back with another recipe for you.  Click here if you missed our pumpkin black bean soup recipe.  It was delicious.

Granola is a very tasty snack or breakfast, but it does contain quite a bit of calories.  It is always better to make things from scratch.  Enjoy the video and then below the video will be the recipe and my moms commentary :)

PUMPKIN GRANOLA

3 c. organic oats Continue Reading →

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Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays Animated GreetingPosted by Roger,  a contributor to this blog.

It is that time of year again. For many of us this can be a difficult time as there are so many temptations. There is the temptation to skip workouts because we are just so busy and tired. There is the temptation to overeat because, dang it, everything looks and smells so good. What’s a guy to do? Continue Reading →

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A Husband’s Perspective – Before and After

Carrie Before

Here is a great story about a Fit Fun Bootcamper Carrie, who has transformed from the inside out.  It has been amazing her see her year long transformation.  I am so proud of her dedication and hard work.  This is a really great article from her husband’s perspective.  I will have Carrie back another time to share with you what she actually ate, but for now enjoy!

“Normally these words would be coming from my wife Carrie. However, we came up with a twist for this particular entry. We decided that it may be interesting — perhaps even helpful — to have her husband tell you the before and after story from an external viewpoint. Before I can accurately tell you about the before, I have to take you back before “the before.”

Carrie and I met on the job just outside Chicago. From the initial introduction, we both knew we’d found someone special. (Ask her about it sometime). It wasn’t long before I found myself smitten.  :-)  Carrie was this confident and beautiful woman and I’d found myself feeling extremely lucky to have caught her attention. She worked her way to the top of our department in seemingly effortless fashion. She had this incredible drive and determination to go along with her afore mentioned confidence. Then…we moved to Madison.

Shortly after moving to Madison, the stresses of living in a new place without friends or family nearby in combination with a job that literally kept us locked up at home for 6 months began to take a toll. As consultants, we’re constantly thrown into high-pressure, need-to-make-it-work situations and expected to be the end-all-be-all experts on whichever problem we may be thrown into at any given time. As you can imagine, that type of thing can really do a number on your confidence, both good and bad. Our employer at the time however kept selling Carrie as an expert in a particular technology that neither of us were very familiar with. I think that is where things started to change for her. You could see her dreading her job, and the pressure of always feeling as if she had to have the “right” answer. Slowly I think it chipped away at her.

As time went on, we’d talk about how down she felt and what she thought was causing the more negative feelings to show through. During these conversations, she’d tell me that she had always struggled with her weight — her whole life. It has always been hard for her to look in the mirror and see the beautiful woman that I see. The more she got down on herself, the worse she felt.

Carrie now with the help of Fit Fun Bootcamps

She knew all along that she had to make a change, but she was also smart enough to know that fad diets and Weight Watcher type programs were not going to work for her. She had tried several other programs that I’m sure many readers are familiar with. They just weren’t working. After trying yet another “work out at home” type of program, she was actually seeing some results, but along came our first child. Carrie had just gotten back down to her before baby weight and it wasn’t long before baby number two came along. By this point, she was not at all happy with her weight and I think it affected her even more than I ever understood. I felt awful because I could not relate very well as I’m someone who seems to lose five pounds simply by walking to the fridge from the couch — (don’t hate me, it really does suck, I swear)!

Again, her self image and self-talk had become very negative due to her weight. It was virtually impossible for her to accept a compliment from me. I’d tell her she was beautiful, and I’d get “You’re sick” or “Your’re crazy” as a response. It was impossible for me to help her out of “the funk.” She knew however what she needed to do, but it was finding that right program or social circle to do it with that was going to make it happen.

A little over a year ago, she found out about Dustin’s Fit Fun Bootcamps. We had a discussion about whether or not we could afford another monthly expense, but after her first couple of sessions, I already began to see a change in her, not a physical change, but a mental change. Time passed and she was losing weight and seeing that she could actually do this. We started eating differently as a family, paying more attention to what was going in our bodies. Eating more healthy foods, and much less sugar. I’m happy to say we’ve pretty much eliminated soda from our diet (thanks to our two week sugar flush which I believe Carrie actually blogged about) and have begun eating more and more organic foods, and while this post isn’t at all about me, I’ve managed to maintain a pretty steady weight after dropping from 170lbs to 160lbs.

Click on the image to get more info about the book that contains the information that Carrie followed to achieve her results

Continue Reading →

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Quick Healthy Breakfast

We all know that breakfast is very important for maintaining a healthy body weight, but for me right now in my life, I am more concerned about the energy that breakfast gives me.  I don’t want a breakfast that will give me quick energy that will have me crashing 30 minutes later.  I also don’t want to eat a breakfast that is so heavy and filling that I am stuffed and lethargic.

I also don’t want to make the time for a long drawn out prep time.  In this video I will share with you a very healthy well-balanced meal.  But more importantly, pay attention to the WHY and not the WHAT.  Once you know the WHY you will be able to create endless amounts of meal combinations that will keep your metabolism high, energy high, and your taste buds happy.

Please share with everyone your favorite well-balanced breakfast

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Who say’s it’s not possible to be “hot” at 50? – Part 2 of 2

In part one I told my transformation story. Now I am going to talk about how changing my eating habits helped me to get the resultsClick here to read part one…

Donna Before

One big lesson I have learned is that nutrition plays a large part in the results that you get. Eating 5 small meals a day works really well for me. Just when I start to feel hungry, it’s time to have another meal. I try to eat healthy 70% of the time.  I still have my treats…but only in moderation. Well, most of the time. :)

Steel cut oats are one of my favorite things for breakfast. I have come up with several different varieties. Some of my favorites are pumpkin/walnut, apples (or raisins)/cinnamon and Cocount. Or,  sometimes I just add ground flax seed. Another great breakfast  that I enjoy is this one that Dustin recommends. I also like toasted Ezekiel bread with natural peanut butter in addition to eggs.  Continue Reading →

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Fit Moms For Life Book Trailer

After many months of hard work, the official release of Fit Moms For Life the book will happen Monday Dec 5th.  In anticipation for this, here is the debut of the trailer for the book.  You can check out the book website at www.fitmomsforlife.com but DON’T order the book until Dec 5th, we won’t be shipping out before then and still have to make some changes on the site.

Enjoy!

 

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