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Raw Ingredients: The Food for Energized Fitness

Nutrients, you make me so.

If I were to compare life to having a vehicle, then a healthy vehicle will have battery power, gasoline, a competent driver, a reliable mechanic, and the blue avatar guy on my side.

In other words, nutrients are not just for energy. Nutrients are the power, but also the fuel, the nourishment, and support system for the entire body.

The key is Nutrient Density

$11 for healthy energy, nutrients, nice abs

The only reason healthy foods are “healthy” is because they contain a dense amount or variety of nutrients that can be used by the body in so many known and unknown ways.

Science is still behind when it comes to healthy eating — people ate healthier before modern scientific advances. We still don’t know exactly how many compounds in basic fruit and vegetables interact within the body. Nature got it right the first time.

Plan meals, make $$ MILLIONS $$!!!

Simple math here.

By not eating out constantly, I save $70 per week. That is about $3,300 per year. This $3,300 well invested in 2010 could triple by half a decade’s time. I’m no economist, but more value in my portfolio seems like a good thing.

But the real reason you make millions of dollars is that you save on medical costs down the line. While I am in no way qualified to make this statement: people who eat restaurant food every day are more likely to be struck by both chronic and acute disease. Medical bills can destroy families.

By eating healthy now, you save millions in medical costs and premiums.

Energized Fitness requires a variety of whole foods

Pears, grapefruits, peppers, lentils, onions, cabbage you name it. It was NEVER just about the calories. The value — the nutrient density — in food is far more important than the caloric amount.

Whole foods equal healthy metabolism. Period.

Nutrition, Immunity, and Digestion Physical Fitness by Dre Weightloss Now
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Ellison Fitness to BURN Excess Weight and Get Ripped for ’20-TEN!

New Years Resolutions raise a certain feeling.

There was a lot of food during the holidays. I felt like I could hold myself back, but once the warm freshly baked smell penetrated my senses… there was no going back. Let’s face it, when the food is even more plentiful than the eating team, feasting becomes festive.

STEP 1) Create realistic goals

I don’t care if you want to lose 30 pounds, it’s not going to happen until you get real with yourself.

My Realistic Goal: Eat very clean for the next 26 out of 30 days (1 relax day per week), enjoy a plethora of healthy home cooked meals, and BURN OFF PURE FAT STORES.

STEP 2) It isn’t about what you can’t eat, but that which you CAN eat.

Too many people focus on what they shouldn’t eat instead of  viking raiding the river of what you CAN eat. There are a lot of good foods out there!

My Eating Plan: Consume the following foods within a 30 day time period:

  • Seven apples
  • Two giant servings of Kale
  • Broccoli for three days
  • One salmon, prepared for a king.
  • Raw Sauerkraut OR Kim Chi for 15 out of 30 days
  • Fresh Kefir probiotic drink for 15 out of 30 days
  • Whey Protein after workouts
  • Leverage the power of spices to create my own lentil soup recipe
  • Two grapefruits
  • Quinoa 7 out of 30 days.
  • Seven cucumbers
  • Walnuts or almonds on 15 out of 30 days.
  • Be flexible, quality produce goes on sale regularly

STEP 3) Get Movin’

Even if exercise didn’t burn fat, and even if exercise didn’t boost metabolism, I would still do it for the mental health benefits. Exercise has been proven to help your body adapt to stress, reduce risk of depression, and keep you motivated to eat healthy.

Now we just have to get up and out.

My Workout:

Fitness Regime.

  1. Monday: Warm up with 10 minute treadmill, then Full Body Workout
  2. Thursday: Warm up with 10 minute dynamic drills, then Lower body workout, and flexibility
  3. Friday: Warm up with 10 minute treadmill, then Upper body workout, and flexibility

Wildcard: Add an additional FOUR days of cardio workouts, anytime in the next 30 days.

STEP 4) Track Progress, Adapt and Move Forward

Damn, I just ate a bucket of wild gooseberries with coconut ice cream and a bottle of gin. Can I forgive myself?

YES!

Recognize that we can’t be perfect. However, the ways in which we respond to “failures” can bring us closer to our goals than ever before.

Then, continue to hold yourself accountable by tracking progress.

My Method of Tracking Progress:

  • Take full body pictures in two week intervals in order to track progress.
  • Weigh myself at same time as pictures.

Assess: How much weigh did I lose? More importantly, am I preserving muscle and how much pure fat did I burn?

STEP 5) Mission Accomplished

I learn a new lesson every time I work on goals like this. More importantly, I create healthy habits that are valuable — so valuable that people pay me for my time.

Health is all about Lifestyle

Even though revenue can be generated from fitness expertise, my motivation is purely intrinsic. That is, I am driven from the inside. This is an indispensable trait that can be cultivated through mind-body connection and whole foods.

Prepare yourselves for the after-pictures. There will be abdominals.

Blog & Personality Physical Fitness by Dre Power of the Mind Weightloss Now
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Whey Protein FAQ (Common questions and answers)

Whey Protein Frequently Asked Questions.

Whey protein is one of the densest sources of proteins available and can be a powerful tool in your physique toolbox. But there are still many misconceptions around, hopefully this post will clear some up.

1. Should I take protein before my workout?

Yes and no. Should you take some protein before your workout? Yes.

Should you take only protein before your workout? No.

The goal of consuming protein prior to your workout is simply to prevent excessive muscle loss. This helps boost recovery, which can promote good energy levels after your workout and benefit your lean muscle. But, you generally don’t need to consume very much protein to get this effect.

The ideal pre-workout will consist of 60%+ carbohydrates and 30% (or less) protein.

Food example: Yogurt + Banana

Supplement example: 2:1:1 Recovery mix (specialty supplement drink with two-to-one ratio of carbs:protein.)

Carbohydrates give your body the glucose energy to fuel your workout, while protein prevents breakdown of muscle tissue. All in all, this results in improved performance and more potential for fat loss. Good deal, mate.

2. Will Whey Protein make me fat if I don’t workout?

Will chicken make you fat if you don’t workout? Understand that Whey Protein, while a supplement (and not a whole food), should still be considered as a food. Whey, itself, will typically contain 75% or more protein, with a minor amount of carbohydrates and fat.

Since protein requires more energy for your body to digest, and since protein is the building block of muscle, the answer is that NO, whey protein will NOT make you fat.

Individual considerations…

If you already consume 100+ grams of protein per day, or if you consume more than 40+ grams of protein in one sitting, it is possible that some of the protein will be stored as fat. This is highly unlikely though. There is a much greater chance of carbohydrates being stored as body fat, than there is of whey protein.

For people who do not consume enough protein (less than 60 grams per day), then Whey Protein is a great way to boost up protein levels. Since your body needs a certain amount of protein each day, you will utilize the protein and not get fat from it.

On the other hand, if you DO workout, then the whey protein will boost muscle recovery and help you get lean and sculpted.

3. When is the best time to take Whey Protein?

Whey Protein should supplement a healthy, balanced diet.

But you can supercharge that healthy, balanced diet by taking whey protein at two key times:

a. Breakfeast

b. Immediately after your workout

Of course, some people consume Whey Protein all day long to meet protein requirements, and you may do so if you wish. However, I encourage you to consume more whole foods if you really want to reach physique goals.

Back to our key times…

Breakfast is a time in the morning in which your body is ready to uptake a glorious amount of nutrients. This is the time when you can fuel your body and prepare it for the rest of the day.

For example, Oatmeal + Whey Protein in the morning will pretty much guarantee that you’ll get closer to your physique goals (build muscle, burn fat).

As for taking protein after your workout, the idea is simple…

Following an intense workout, your muscles are highly responsive to amino acids (protein) in the diet. Therefore, you can attain a greater anabolic muscle growth stimulus. Remember, even if you are female, having a certain amount of muscle on your body will raise your metabolism — helping you burn more fat. Think: Jessica Biel booty.

4. Whats the difference between Whey Protein concentrate, Whey Protein Isolate?

The difference between Whey Protein (specifically called Whey Protein Concentrate) and Whey Protein Isolate has to do with the amount of protein compared to lactose and fat. Whey Protein Concentrate, the most popular protein supplement, will contain between 75-85% protein — the remainder will be carbohydrates (lactose) and fat.

On the other hand, Whey Protein Isolate (WPI), has greater biological value in that it is usually 95% or greater protein — often it is completely lactose free. WPI is more absorbable and therefore more expensive as well. You pay for what you get, WPI is generally superior, but costs more.

5. How about Whey Protein versus Plant based protein?

Now, moving on to plant based proteins…the most common are Soy, pea, rice, hemp, and combinations. The key is to look at the amino acid ratios. Certain essential amino acids, including the Branched Chain Amino Acids, are more responsible for muscle growth and recovery. Athletes love whey protein because the amino acid profile is fantastic, whereas some plant based proteins may be lacking in the essential amino acids.

To solve the amino acid dilemma, some producers utilize special extraction techniques or combine Pea, Rice, and Hemp protein together to create a solid amino acid profile.

More thoughts to consider…

  • Whey protein tastes better than most plant based proteins
  • Soy Protein contains phyto-estrogens, which may or may not be good for men. (Note: General consensus is that Soy is good in moderation, but preferably from whole food sources, and not necessarily from supplement form)
  • Make sure your plant protein specifically states that it does NOT come from GMO source — if it is cheap, it might be GMO based.

6. How do you usually take your Whey Protein?

I appreciate that you value my physique accomplishments and am enthusiastic to share personal experiences. Truthfully, I would much rather consume whole foods than bombard my system with whey protein. While whey protein is a great source of amino acids, you should know by now that I am all about the most bang-for-the-buck.

My biggest success with Whey Protein have been from…

  • Oatmeal + Whey Protein. I must have consumed this combination hundreds of times. Great for energy levels, muscle growth, and fat loss. PS I love eggs, but they take longer to prepare
  • Whey protein immediately following my workout. This is a money period and I ensure my muscles are loaded with the building blocks required to gain strength.
  • In my smoothies. Mixed frozen berries + whey protein = delicious, nutritious smoothie.

Overall, whey protein is a good supplement, but you have to figure out how to make it work in your lifestyle.

Physical Fitness by Dre Weightloss Now
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High Fructose Corn Syrup STOPS Body’s Ability to Burn Fat

Not all calories are created equal.

Drink yourself fat? New York PSA with serious shock value

Are you drinking yourself fat?

If your product contains High Fructose Corn Syrup — watch out!

High fructose corn syrup imbalances the hormone called leptin, which regulates metabolism and fat burning.

The moment you consume high fructose corn syrup, your brain instantly communicates with leptin and stops burning fat. If you are in fat-burning mode, and then you drink Coca-cola, your body ceases all fat burning and induces fat storage.

Carbohydrates from high fructose corn syrup are always bad.

On the other hand, carbohydrates from natural foods still help you burn tons of body fat.

Not all calories are created equal.

Nutrition, Immunity, and Digestion Weightloss Now
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Kimchi: The mega Superfood for intestinal health, and so much more…

Korean women have beautiful skin, is this a fair stereotype?

"HI! 🙂 🙂 I eat Kimchi ^^"

According to the former Korean agricultural minister: YES!

Genetics may play a role, but diet is the real secret.

The thought of Kimchi may arouse senses of a pungent, spicy dish, which requires most Americans some getting used to. But along with the pungent odor, Kimchi has incredible health benefits inside and out.

Health Benefits of Korean Kimchi

$9.99 at the local Asian market, ridiculously healthy

Since Kimchi is a fermented food, it will contain live bacteria, also known as Probiotics. Consider Kimchi an ecosystem in itself, which can contribute positively to your own ecosystem.

  1. Healthy bacteria essential to immune system and digestion
  2. Strains of bacteria, such as Lactobacillus, break down indigestible food in your body and produce B-vitamins for your use.
  3. Cabbage is very low in calories and high in nutrients: Vitamins A and C in particular.
  4. Kimchi also contains garlic, a powerful immune booster
  5. This raw food contains active enzymes to help you digest food, and act as a catalyst for essential body functions.
  6. Kimchi keeps your intestines in good shape, reducing and healing ulcers, and possibly fighting cancer as well.
  7. Healthy vaginal health, including less bacterial vaginosis and yeast infections

Kimchi is a powerful health food, which promotes fat loss and reduces gas and bloating.

In other words, Kimchi boosts quality of life, and thats what I really care about.

Related: List of Top Probiotic Foods

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