Myth or reality: Breakfast is the most important meal of the day? Myth or reality: Breakfast jump starts your metabolism for the rest of the day? Well, according to this study released by Virginia Commonwealth University, breakfast is the most important meal of the day for weight loss. In fact, they showed that those who consumed a larger breakfast (half their daily intake of calories) lost 5 times as much weight as those who skipped it entirely. That’s a lot of extra pound loss! Onto the second myth or reality question. There are actually a few new studies out there that show the claim that breakfast jump-starts your metabolism, might be a little off-base. So, then why do people lose … Continue reading
Make The “Most” Out Of Breakfast
Myth or reality: Breakfast is the most important meal of the day? Myth or reality: Breakfast jump starts your metabolism for the rest of the day? Well, according to this study released by Virginia Commonwealth University, breakfast is the most important meal of the day for weight loss. In fact, they showed that those who consumed a larger breakfast (half their daily intake of calories) lost 5 times as much weight as those who skipped it entirely. That’s a lot of extra pound loss! Onto the second myth or reality question. There are actually a few new studies out there that show the claim that breakfast jump-starts your metabolism, might be a little off-base. So, then why do people lose … Continue reading
Focusing Like An Athlete
When professional tennis star Maria Sharapova needs to save a match, she gets into her “zone.” “I take it one point at a time and really focus,” she says. Penning an hour-long workout into your planner can seem laughable when you have a business to run, a house to clean, a family to organize. And if you exercised only once in the last two weeks, or you’re behind in your training for an athletic event, it might seem pointless to even lace up your trainers today. Before you dismiss your exercise goal as a pipedream, try Sharapova’s technique for turning a game around. Take your eye off your losing score, and fix it on the ball flying at you. Successful … Continue reading
Why Vacations Are Good For Your Fitness
Leap Year Day has me thinking about how powerful it can be to step outside the box, even for just a day. Suddenly people start thinking about the “possible.” We had an extra day, February 29. What could we do with it? My colleagues threw parties or went out to dinner with friends even though it was a weekday. In Ireland, Leap Year Day used to be the one day every 4 years that it was acceptable for a woman to propose marriage to a man. Sure, there are really 365.24 days in every year, but Leap Year Day feels like a free day. It’s exempt from the rules. I’ve had a few fitness experiences that got me thinking about … Continue reading
February Ship Shape Challenge Winner
Congratulations to Jamie Rae Del Giudice, she is our February Ship Shape Challenge winner! She has lost 52 lbs and looks terrific! Here's her story in her own words: After having a child and dealing with the ups and downs of weight loss, I started using IdealShape back in July of 2011. I originally had set a weight loss goal of 50 pounds by my 30th birthday in December. I started using IdealShape’s meal replacement program because I had grown tired of doing the Slim Fast program which seemed to have run its course. When I first heard of the program, I had no idea about it and researched more on it. After doing some research and comparing it to … Continue reading
Making the Most Out of the Hour Before Bed
I didn’t need Mayo Clinic to tell me I was sleep deprived. The crankiness, forgetfulness, public napping and new obsession with Clear Eyes were all the signs I needed. It’s been a long two months. Thankfully, the grisly work project that was keeping me up is over and I’m ready to sleep. Specifically, I’m ready to start claiming the same deep, rapturous Zzzz’s that I’ve been watching my cat Penelope enjoy. The Sleep in America poll for 2011 revealed that 43% of Americans rarely or never get a good night’s sleep on weeknights. 60% say they experience a sleep problem every night or almost every night (i.e., snoring, waking in the night, waking up too early, or feeling un-refreshed when … Continue reading
What Your Trainer Means By “Rest Day?”
We get it. Rest is just as important to fitness gains as the actual workout. I think the real question is: what exactly does ‘rest’ mean? You worked out yesterday, so tonight you’re obliged to slip into your pink bunny slippers and queue up Comcast on Demand? I used to think that. Gee, I sure would like to go for a bike ride around the park, but I’d reverse everything I did at the gym yesterday, I worried. I’ve since learned that letting your body ‘rest’ doesn’t mean playing dead. At least, it doesn’t have to. If you did a marathon of walking lunges and sumo squats yesterday, well, maybe you’ve earned the couch time. But you don’t have to … Continue reading
Cheating On Valentine’s Day? What?
First of all, no, we’re not talking about that kind of cheating. It’s Valentine’s Day and while many of us are thinking of flowers and chocolates and fancy dinners, there are those of us that are thinking money and calories and calories. It’s a difficult day for your diet, but that’s what cheat days are meant to be. Cheat days are great for your mental and, believe it or not, nutritional health. When you are in calorie restriction, eating less calories than your body needs for regular daily functions, you need to have at least one day a week where you increase your daily calorie intake by 300-500 calories. Doing this allows your body to maintain normal levels … Continue reading
How to ‘A-Salt’ Your High Blood Pressure
A big question we get when customers are looking into trying our products is “are these shakes okay to use when you have high blood pressure?” Which isn’t surprising when you see the latest studies released from the CDC shows that a whopping 90% of Americans are consuming too much salt. Sodium can be a major factor in high blood pressure, and that puts you at a much higher risk for heart disease or a stroke. First, as for the IdealShape shake; we always recommend speaking with your doctor before beginning our product if you have any doubts. However, the main nutrients that help regulate blood pressure are Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, Vitamin E, and Zinc. All of which are … Continue reading
A Good Cause Can Save Your Fitness Regimen
Last year, hordes of people paid thousands of dollars apiece on eBay for pairs of Nikes. Specifically limited-edition “BacktotheFuture” Nikes to benefit Michael J. Fox’s charity for Parkinson’s disease. While Nike didn’t get to keep the $4.7 million in profits, this benevolent act boosted its image too. Nike fans retweeted stories about the fundraiser and redoubled their fandom. The warm fuzzy probably drove some out to buy a pair of plain old Nikes to support the charitable company. You can see how causemarketing is powerful. By linking up with a good cause, companies create a passionate following and good deed stories go viral. Not only do people buy beneficent products even when purse strings are tight, but they’re often happy … Continue reading
5 Tips It’s Time To Get A Personal Trainer
We get it. You don’t need a babysitter at the gym. And yes, you’ve heard of YouTube. But sometimes, an hour with a personal trainer is worth 10 on Google. These are some of those times: You’re on deadline. The sooner you start training for that triathlon, bike race or other athletic event, the better. And before you start specializing, it’s good to build foundational skills, experts say. A few sessions with a fitness coach can get you started with a well-rounded routine to build your strength and endurance, which means you’ll get more out of your training without risk of injury. You’re piggybacking on someone else’s workout. Watching the big kids at the gym seems like a no-brainer, until: … Continue reading
