My top 4 meal replacement bars

There are a lot of  meal replacement bars on the market. Many make claims such as "zero net carbs" and "perfect ratio" etc. but there are some I really like based on cost, ingredients and overall nutritional breakdown. A good meal replacement is useful for filling gaps between meals so you don't get into starvation mode and overeat during your next meal. They are easy to transport and use while you are out and about. 

Here are my top 4 that I recommend and why:

1.)USANA Peanut Butter Crunch Bar-I'm  a little biased here because I'm a USANA distributor I admit, but that is exactly the reason that I carry their products.  I feel they are top quality. The peanut butter tastes great, has low sodium(135mg), fiber, a good mix of carbs protein and fat (50% carb, 30% protein, 20% fat).  It is only 150 calories and contains no high fructose corn syrup unlike many other other bars that can spike your blood sugar. 

2.)Zone Perfect Bars-I used to be down on these guys but have recently changed my tune. These bars taste great and have a great ratio of carbs proteins and fats(40% carb, 30% protein, 30% fat). . They have lowered their sodium to 200 mg down from 250 mg. and have 2g of fiber as well.

They have low calories at 190 calories per bar and are also very cost effective; sometimes less than $1 a bar. In addition, there are a lot of flavors to choose from.

3.)Balance Bars-Very similar to the zone bars a little higher in calories at 210 per bar but a good ratio of carbs protein and fats(40-30-30). Low sodium at 140 mg per bar, no high fructose corn syrup and very cost effective. They also have a lot of flavors to choose from.

4.)Supreme protein bar-These taste great but are little more expensive. The protein content is a little higher in relation to the carbs

but this is okay for those trying to lose bodyfat and increase protein. They contain high quality whey protein and are low in sodium
(150 mg) for the small bar. The original is version is300 calories and 300 mg sodium for athletes and bodybuilders but the new carb conscious bar is only 150 calories.  It was voted "Protein Bar of the Year" in 2008.

So there you have it.  Four bars I feel are good choices for meal replacement bars. Try them all and rotate so you don't get bored with them. Each company keeps coming out with different flavors for variety. I don't believe that you should live on protein bars but they can be a great tool to keep you on track by adding them in for your 2-3 daily snacks along with 3 meals. This is much easier than carrying food with you all day. Give them a try!

Also you if you have a favorite please reply to this post and let us know what it is and why.

My Top 4 Eating Out Choices in the Area

Eating out can be game of food roulette. When you are trying to lose weight or stay lean it is always good to plan ahead, especially when it comes to eating out.  Here are my top 5 top choices in the area. Please feel free to share any of the good options that you find so others can benefit. I've included the restaurant and why I like each of these:

1.)Walnut Gorgonzola Salad-(Chianti Grill)-A tasty salad with a light dressing, good fats from the walnuts  fresh, chicken(protein). Overall good mix of nutrients!

2.)Cranberry Chicken Salad-(Doolittles)-Another yummy salad with good fats from almonds, light but delicious dressing,  good crunch to it as well.     Plenty of good protein from chicken.

3.)Chopped Chicken Salad-(Jakes)-This salad is one of my favorites. Jake's is awesome for watching a game and has awesome salads as well.  Good balance of vegetables and protein. A nice crunch with scallions , craisins, feta cheese and sweet poppyseed dressing to really give it some taste.




4.) The #3 Unwich Tuna Lettuce Wraps-Jimmy Johns- This is my favorite on the go meal. Unlike a lot of other fast food places the tuna here tastes great and there the ingredients fresh. Many clients have told me these have been lifesavers. Although I am not  a huge fan of fast food this one gets my thumbs up!

These are just a few of my favoirtes but please post any healthy choices you may have found so we can share it with others. Eating out definentely does not mean you have to blow your plan!

Prep the body properly!

For many people a warm up simply consists of 5 minutes on a cardio machine and just a few stretches. This is not always very efficient or effective. One warm up that we employ at Puravida Fitness was developed by Chuck Wolf,  a guru in the fitness field, called the "Flexibility Highways".  You are basically stretching every muscle in your body in every direction in 5 minutes!  Unlike static stretching which can actually shut the muscles down (not something that you want to happen before exercise) the "Flexibility Highways" warmup utilizes active stretching which prepares the body to move.  We made a short video detailing the 4 exercises involved in this warm up.  Check it by clicking the link below and go to the multimedia training center under videos to see this warm up. Give it a try before any exercise that you do.

http://www.puravidafitness.com/

kare11.com | Twin Cities, MN | Woman told she'd never walk again picks up the pace

kare11.com | Twin Cities, MN | Woman told she'd never walk again picks up the pace