3-Course Meal Under 750 Calories!

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3-Course Meal Under 750 Calories!

Over the years, we've featured hundreds of recipes in our newsletter, so to supplement the first article in our "Just Eat This" series, we thought it'd be fitting to include three of the most popular, each with a Middle Eastern flair. Served together, they'd make a great theme meal, with a grand total of less than 750 calories! When you join Million Dollar Body diet club, you can get access to great recipes like these and hundreds more!

Appetizer: Classic Hummus

2 cups canned chickpeas, rinsed
2/3 cup tahini paste
4 Tbsp. olive oil
1/4 cup lemon juice
3 cloves garlic
Water
Salt and pepper to taste

Throw everything into a food processor. Grind it up. If the mix is too thick, add a little water. Feel free to experiment by adding different flavors. Extra garlic, chili peppers, grilled tomatoes, grilled veggies, or artichoke hearts all make interesting, not to mention healthy, twists. Makes three cups. Serving size is 1/3 cup.

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Nutritional Information: (per serving)

Calories 223	Protein 6 g	Fiber 4 g
Carbs 16 g	Fat 16 g	Saturated Fat 2 g

Salad: Basil, Chickpea, and Tomato Salad

1 15-oz. can chickpeas, rinsed
2 ripe tomatoes (or large, ripe tomato), chopped
3/4 cup fresh, chopped basil
1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
Pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients and refrigerate for 30 minutes or more. Serves 5.

Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Refrigeration Time: 30 minutes

Nutritional Information: (per serving)

Calories 150	Protein 5 g	Fiber 4 g
Carbs 25 g	Fat 4 g	Saturated Fat

Main Entree: Curried Chicken with Couscous

2 cups water
4 cups canned coconut milk, light
1-1/2 tsp. salt, divided
2 cups uncooked couscous
2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
2 Tbsp. curry powder
2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch thick strips
4 tsp. vegetable oil
2 cups julienned carrots
2/3 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Combine the water, 1/2 cup coconut milk, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt in medium saucepan. Bring to boil and gradually stir in couscous. Remove from heat; cover and let stand for 5 minutes. Remove cover and fluff with fork. Combine 1-1/4 teaspoons salt, flour, and curry powder. Add the chicken and toss gently to coat. Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken and stir-fry for 5 minutes. Stir in remaining coconut milk, carrots, and raisins; reduce heat and simmer for 7 to 10 minutes or until chicken is done, stirring occasionally. Serve 3/4 cup curry over 1/2 cup couscous per serving. Garnish with cilantro. Makes 8 servings.

Preparation Time: 25 to 30 minutes
Refrigeration Time: 15 to 20 minutes

Nutritional Information: (per serving)

Calories 370	Protein 33 g	Fiber 4 g
Carbs 49 g	Fat 4 g	Saturated Fat 1 g

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Just Eat This: 5 Rules for a Healthy Diet

Just Eat This: 5 Rules for a Healthy Diet
By Steve Edwards

"Can't you just tell me exactly what I'm supposed to eat?" is a question I'm often asked. Today, we'll look at the answer that, incidentally, is "no." It's a good thing that there isn't one perfect diet because we don't all like the same foods. The world would be a pretty boring place if we did. It also means that you have many choices when it comes to eating healthy, so why is it so hard?

Eating well, for most of us, requires eliminating junk from our diets. Therefore, it's easier to tell you what not to eat. But based on the questions I receive, that's leaving you too much leeway. Since I can't tell each of you exactly what you individually should eat, let's have a look at what I eat, why I eat this way, and how you can alter my diet to suit your personality and lifestyle.

There are a few rules to achieving a healthy diet. These will give you a far greater understanding of why I do what I do. So let's look at them first.


Rule 1: We should not all eat the same diet.


Humans are all different, even if it's only slightly. So when it comes to diet we cannot expect that foods will all work exactly the same for us. This is in contrast to what the myriad of diet books you can choose from will tell you. Most of those want us to think that there's only one way—theirs, incidentally—to transform and keep your body healthy. Of course, if this were true there'd only be one book to buy. So, just the fact that there have been hundreds of best-selling diet books is the best argument that there are many different healthy ways to eat.

There are many other scientific reasons for this as well. Some are proven, like allergies. Some are more speculative, like eating for your blood type, but all have some anecdotal evidence that they work, which is all the validation we need.

Dairy products are the best example to illuminate this point. There is plenty of science showing both pros and cons to consuming them. But regardless of what science tells us, some people do well eating dairy and others do not. When a food allergy is suspected, eliminating dairy is the first step most nutritionists recommend trying. It often yields great results, but not always. This makes dairy a food group that some of us can eat and others cannot.

Similar examples can be found within any food group. What it comes down to is that, no matter how you want to eat, you're going to need to evaluate your diet and see how it's working for you. This requires some trial and error. While that probably sounds daunting, read on and you'll see that it's not. By cleaning up your diet and eating for what you are doing, it becomes fairly easy to identify foods that agree with you and those that don't.


Rule 2: Eat for what you are going to be doing.


You've probably heard this before, especially if you're a longtime Beachbody member. Similar to not putting gas in your car when it isn't going anywhere, your body doesn't have the same nutrient requirements when you're sitting as when you're moving. Since it's simple to understand that you burn more calories attempting an Ironman than watchingOprah, it shouldn't be a stretch to understand that you have different nutrient requirements on different days.

Furthermore, most of us have different periods in our life where we not only do things differently on a daily basis, but have different goals. Some common goals, where diet and lifestyle are concerned, are:

to lose weight
to gain fitness (regardless of weight)
to maintain weight
to train for an upcoming event
For each of those objectives you will want to eat differently. We will discuss all of them.


Rule 3: There are things you shouldn't eat.


Or, at a minimum, that should never be in your kitchen. These are items that, somehow, have made it onto our daily menus that we could easily live without and, at least, should be treated as desserts, anomalies, rewards, or emergency rations. For a more complete list, visit your local 7-Eleven. Let's look at the major offenders.

Soda. How soda has made it into our daily lives is a testament to marketing. It's a dessert, at best, and when consumed daily makes it nearly impossible to have a balanced diet. If you'd like more info, read The Worst Food on the Planet.

High fructose corn syrup. It's not just for dessert anymore. HFCS is now found in bread, salad dressing, and probably 80% of the stuff at most convenience stores. It's not just that it's bad for you; it's also an indication that a food item is made using the lowest-quality ingredients possible. A 15-second label check can protect you.

Trans fats. These man-made fats help foods sit on shelves longer but serve no nutritional purpose for you. They do, however, have a terrible downside. Fortunately, they're on the dangerous food radar and now much easier to detect.

Alcohol. Again, it's not so bad in moderation but as a daily accoutrement to your diet you're adding a lot of calories and very little food value. While I'll be the first to extol its merits as a reward, it has no true place in your daily diet. This will also help to understand which alcoholic beverages are better than others.

Splenda, aspartame, and Sweet n' Low. Calories aren't the only thing to worry about. These sweeteners have been proven safe enough to not kill you but have no place as a regular part of your diet. They also can lead to an enhanced sweet tooth, something that won't make your fitness goals easier to achieve. Here are a few options and why you'll want to avoid them.


Rule 4: You don't have to be perfect.

Or even close to it. In fact, there are times when you should relax and let yourself eat whatever you want. I can even come up with a scenario where junk food is what you want to be eating. But we'll get to that later.

Your body is very resilient. Your mind, however, can be the opposite. A constant client excuse is to quit a program due to some type of misstep that they've stigmatized as "I've blown it." That's not how it works. As long as the big picture is better than what it was before, you'll be making progress. One bad meal, day, week, even month doesn't matter. All that matters is that you're moving in the right direction. As long as you're doing better than you were before, you'll feel and look better than you did before. And the fitter you become, the more your body programs itself to toss out those bad days. Translation: the more fit you are the more you can cheat. It's one of the best examples of being rewarded for your work in the natural world.


Rule 5: If it's processed, don't eat it (well, sort of).


Your diet should consist of as much whole food as you can fit into it. This means vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, and meats that have been processed as little as possible. If your diet consists mainly of these foods then you're on the right track. Whole foods are also more regulating than processed foods. Eating them causes your body to respond in a natural way. It's pretty much exactly the opposite of what happens with soda and candy.


But you don't have to avoid all processed foods. As we learn to read ingredients and understand what types of nutrients our body needs we'll see that not all processed foods are evil. Look for processed foods with whole food ingredients. An easy guide to processing is the fiber content on the label. The more processed something is, the less fiber it usually contains. And fiber is your friend.



So let's get to my diet. I'm what is called a periodizational dieter. Meaning that I eat differently for what I'm doing throughout the year. Generally, I'm maintaining, but that changes as soon as I target an event to compete in, which is similar to you beginning a new Beachbody program. So over the next few months, I'll be providing examples of my daily diet for different sets of circumstances. Stay tuned!

8 Ways to Keep Your Weight Loss Resolutions By Debra Pivko

8 Ways to Keep Your Weight Loss Resolutions

By Debra Pivko

Each year, so many of us make New Year's resolutions to lose weight and get healthy. Now that the holiday treats have stopped miraculously showing up at our doors and desks, there's no excuse not to get in health mode to look and feel better. Wanting to lose weight is a start. But it's better to break this daunting task down into achievable behaviors that get the job done. Even if you can't leave your house to work out or dine out, you can still set yourself up for weight loss success by following these 8 simple tips.

1. Start each morning with something healthy. By starting off your day with a healthy breakfast, you're already ahead of the game each day. Pick out a cereal high in protein and fiber and low in calories and sugar such as Kashi^® Go Lean^® Crunch. This will keep you full on few calories so you don't eat the wrong foods at lunch. It's an easy way to start the day off healthy without the guesswork and get closer to your weight loss goals each day. Plus, if you take a daily vitamin such as ActiVit^® Multivitamins with your breakfast, you know you'll ensure you get the nutrients you need each day to fuel your body and your workouts without even thinking about it.
2. Look before you eat. Ordering in takeout or even visiting fast food restaurants doesn't mean you have to pack on the pounds. Look up the calorie count of meals at your favorite restaurants, and pick one that's under 500 calories. Check out dietfacts.com to look up the calorie count of foods at popular restaurants. You can even take a look at the nutrition guides that come with the Beachbody^® workout programs, as many of them include fast food guides to help you make healthy choices when in a rush or on a budget.
3. Preportion your snacks. I don't know about you but if I have a bag of Pirate's Booty^® or even chips with me in front of the TV, I'll chow through the whole thing by the end of the show. It's important not only to stock your house with healthy snacks but also to preportion them out into baggies when you buy them, so you stick to eating one serving whether you're in front of the TV or at work. Most foods are healthy in moderation, but overeating can make the pounds creep up. You can also prepare healthy foods such as sliced-up cucumbers or red peppers to munch on or dip in balsamic vinegar. You're more likely to reach for those—since they are ready—rather than high-calorie, easy-access foods, like chips or a quick frozen quesadilla or egg roll. P90X^® protein bars are a convenient preportioned meal replacement or snack to keep with you on the go.
4. Socialize health-consciously. Hanging out doesn't have to mean eating out. Instead of going out for dinner or drinks to catch up with friends, go on a hike or walk to catch up. It's a great way to get a workout in while catching up with friendly conversation. Plus, you save money and calories. Or host a health-conscious potluck, where everyone makes his or her favorite healthy treat and prints out the recipes so you get an arsenal of healthy treats to make in the future and enjoy. If you're feeling daring, try hosting an activity party where you pop in a Beachbody workout, play Nintendo Wii^®, or go ice skating so you know you'll burn off those extra calories.
5. Top your foods on the down-low. Of calories, that is. The calories in creamy sauces and dressings can really add up. Stock up on low- to no-calorie toppings like pico de gallo, hot sauce, mustard, pepper, 1-calorie-a-spray salad dressings from your local market, and even parmesan cheese in moderation. You'll be surprised at how quickly the weight will come off without sacrificing taste.
6. Commit to workout times. Whether you're doing Tony Horton's 10-Minute Trainer^® or an hour of P90X, make sure to set the times in your schedule to work out and stick to them. Plan other obligations around those times. Working out is important to your health and your life, and making it and yourself a priority will not only help you meet your weight loss goals but help you live a better life. Use a calendar from the workout programs or set up a time to work out with a friend—whatever it takes. I like to set the time in my phone calendar so an alarm beeps and says "Time for Slim in 6^® Ramp It Up." If that is my workout planned for that day and if I'm not doing it, I'm not gonna get slim in 6 weeks. It's my choice. You can even sign up for Beachbody's WOWY Supergym^® for free, where you can log in your workouts and get support from hundreds of people cheering each other on.
7. Lay out your workout clothes the night before. This can make a big difference not only in saving time but also making sure you commit to actually doing the workout. I like to get my workout clothes ready the night before for motivation but also so I can snooze through the extra time before working out. If you don't work out at home, then pack your gym bag the day before and always have it ready in your car or at work, so there's no excuse not to work out. My favorite new workout here is Brazil Butt Lift^®. Leandro Carvalho (known as the "Brazilian Butt Master") created such a fantastic workout, with booty-sculpting moves, cardio, and Brazilian dance beats, that I don't mind waking up a bit early to do it before work and starting my day with some fun.
8. Drink the healthiest meal of the day. Replacing one meal a day, even a snack, withShakeology^® is the simplest way to lose weight and get the nutrients you need for optimal health. By targeting nutrition, fullness, digestion, and detoxification, Shakeology provides a multifaceted approach to help you keep full, shed fat, reduce food cravings, improve digestion, lower cholesterol, and have more natural energy—all through a delicious 140-calorie shake. I've been drinking it every day as an afternoon snack or after working out. Everyone at work makes them a little differently to craft their favorite concoctions. Some of us use water; others use milk, or even add a teaspoon of peanut butter or mint. They're delicious!

It's truly the little changes you make every day that add up to weight loss. And we're here to help. If you set yourself up for success with actionable steps, you will succeed! Best of luck and health on your weight loss journey this year and always.

From LOSING IT! With Jillian Michaels Thursday, February 11, 2010

From LOSING IT! With Jillian Michaels
Thursday, February 11, 2010

Pace Yourself

Believe it or not, your muscles do not get stronger during your workout; it's after the workout that they grow and develop. Intense strength training places huge demands on your muscles. To adapt to those demands, your muscles need adequate recovery time to rebuild and get stronger. As important as it is to stay the course and not get lazy, it's just as important to know when to cut yourself a break so you don't burn out, and your body has a chance to process all of the work you're doing.

Do not train a muscle group more than twice a week, and make sure it rests between training sessions. I want you to have at least two days in between training the same muscle groups. When you work a muscle, the muscle fibers tear. Given the proper rest and discovery, your muscle fibers will repair themselves and grow leaner and stronger. But if you train the muscle too soon and impede its recovery, you can damage the muscle and break it down.

Additionally, you should never exercise intensely for more than two hours at a time. When you hear some buff celebrity talking about how he trained six hours straight a day to get ready for his latest action movie, he's talking a load of embellished bull that makes the ordinary person feel totally inferior. We have lives, we can't possibly do that! However, spending that much time working out is not only impossible, it would be counterproductive, as it would throw the body into a state of overtraining and make it more prone to metabolize its own lean muscle tissue for energy.

gimme gimme couple good quotes

"Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out."--Robert Collier

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined."--Henry David Thoreau

The Biggest Loser Theme Song : "Proud"

The Biggest Loser Theme Song : "Proud"

by Heather Small

I look into the window of my mind
Reflections of the fears I know I've left behind
I step out of the ordinary
I can feel my soul ascending
I am on my way
Can't stop me now
And you can do the same

What have you done today to make you feel proud?
It's never too late to try
What have you done today to make you feel proud?
You could be so many people
If you make that break for freedom
What have you done today to make you feel proud?

Still so many answers I don't know
Realise that to question is how we grow
So I step out of the ordinary
I can feel my soul ascending
I am on my way
Can't stop me now
And you can do the same

What have you done today to make you feel proud?
It's never too late to try
What have you done today to make you feel proud?
You could be so many people
If you make that break for freedom
What have you done today to make you feel proud?

We need a change
Do it today
I can feel my spirit rising
We need a change
So do it today
'Cause I can see a clear horizon

What have you done today to make you feel proud?
So what have you done today to make you feel proud?
'Cause you could be so many people
If you make that break for freedom
So what have you done today to make you feel proud?
What have you done today to make you feel proud?
What have you done today
You could be so many people?
Just make that break for freedom
So what have you done today to make you feel proud?

quotalicious

“Whenever you're in conflict with someone, there is one factor that can make the difference between damaging your relationship and deepening it. That factor is attitude.”-- William James


“I know that you believe you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.” --Robert McCloskey

“Sometimes questions are more important than answers.” --Nancy Willard

“They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” --Carl W. Buechner