Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Boot Camp in North Vancouver Shares Tips for Lasting Fat Loss Success


See below for our upcoming 30 Day Body Transformation Challenge. 



 

You are invited to our FREE Information Session for our upcoming
30-Day Body Transformation Challenge. Join with 2 friends and
receive $150! Already enjoying Isagenix? Perfect! Join in or refer
2 friends even if you can't join and receive $150 as well!

INFO NIGHT: Tuesday June 12th, 6:30 PM
START DATE: week of June 18, 2012
CONTACT INFO:
Tyron Piteau at 604-626-2342 or
by email at Tyron@MakersBody.com.

30-Day Challenge begins the week of June 18th (not obligatory, come
get the info, then decide to start when works for you!)

Begin taking control of your health and wellness through
nutritional cleansing, exercise, healthy eating and group support.
Health changes made with support are 30% more successful!


The 30-Day Challenge Includes:

- 1-week for $1 tryout at The Maker's Body Boot Camp (only for
new participants to the boot camp. All current boot campers will
receive 25% off for each person they refer that join the challenge
and 50% off for each one that joins boot camp after their tryout week.)
- Personal coaching and support with Kinesiologists and

Personal Trainers

- Personal Health Assessment

- Before-and-after weight and measurements

- 30 day money back guarantee

- Guidance to easily maintain your results and renewed health

after the 30 day challenge!

About the Program:
Our program will help you to easily reach your ideal weight and
health goals by using a complete nutritional support system with
superior quality nutrients that cleanse the body of impurities
while replenishing nutrients for optimum health in
combination with a supervised exercise program designed by
registered trainers. And the most important feature -- support!
Health changes implemented within a supportive community are
generally more successful than efforts that are made alone.

This meet-up is great for men too! Bring your favourite man and
receive a discount on the program while you work together towards
better health and well-being!

*Note: If you do not live locally within the Vancouver area, no problem!
THIS PROGRAM IS OFFERED VIRTUALLY AS WELL!

To reserve your seat, or for more information, please contact
Tyron Piteau at 604-626-2342 or by email at Tyron@MakersBody.com.

Helping you reach your health and fitness goals in 2012,

Tyron

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Thursday, May 10, 2012

North Vancouver Boot Camp Shares 50 Fat Loss Tips

1.    Train using the most “bang for your buck,” multi-joint lifts like squats, deadlifts, bench press, chin-ups, and Olympic lifts as we do at our bootcamp in north vancouver called The Maker's Body Boot Camp.

2.    Use very short rest periods (10 to 60 seconds) to trigger the greatest growth hormone response (another strategy we implement at boot camp). See point below why increasing growth hormone is so important for fat loss.
3.     Vary the tempo of lifting phases and rest periods to provide new stimulus for the body to adapt.

4.    To get lean fast, use a rep range between 8 to 12 reps over multiple sets/cycles with a load that limits you to between 8 to 12 reps maximum.

5.    Train to create an anabolic response. Increasing growth hormone is the priority because of its significant lipolytic (fat burning) effects.

6.    Perform circuit training with little rest between sets for maximal growth hormone response.

7.    For gradual fat loss over a longer period, include strength cycles that favor testosterone release with heavier loads (up to 95 percent 1RM), slightly longer rest (2 to 3 minutes), and lots of sets.

8.    Work harder. If you’re not getting results, you’re not working hard enough. I knew you would love that one ;)

9.    Give priority to training the anaerobic energy system over the aerobic system when strength training and conditioning. This is the metabolic conditioning workouts we do in our north vancouver boot camp where we combine strength, cardio and core training all in one workout for the ultimate 3-in-1 workout.

10.    Do high-intensity sprint intervals for conditioning, i.e. Peak 8 sprints. Peak 8 sprints are where you go all-out for 30 seconds either on a stationary bike, elliptical machine, rower, treadmill or outdoors on a hill and then rest 90 seconds, then repeat. Start with two sprints and add one sprint per week until you reach 8. I encourage clients to perform these on off boot camp days.

11.    Be as active as possible in daily life. Move more: Take regular brisk walks during the day, always take the stairs, park far away in any parking lot, or do your own yard work.

12.    Do relaxing physical activity instead of sitting in front of a screen: stretching, foam rolling, martial arts, or walking.

13.    Eliminate all processed foods from your diet—don’t eat them ever.

14.    Eliminate all trans-fats from your diet such as margarine and shortening—they MUST be removed from the diet.

15.    Don’t avoid fat. Research shows that people with diets with 30 to 50 percent coming from smart fats have higher androgens (fat burning hormones) and lower body fat. Yes you read that right: fats are good to help you lose fat :). See list below.

Good Fats (only use these in your diet)
Fish Oil/Krill Oil
Avocadoes
Extra-virgin olive oil (excellent oil but DO NOT use for cooking, use it raw on salads and after a meal is cooked)
Virgin coconut oil (also use for cooking and frying)
Butter (also use for cooking and frying, preferably organic and raw if you can find it)
Nuts (and nut butters) and seeds (except peanuts)
Egg yolks (from organic, free-range, omega-3 eggs)
Cream (preferably from organic, grass-fed sources)

Bad Fats (avoid all these in your diet)
All vegetable oils (corn, canola, safflower, sunflower, soy, etc.)
All trans fat

16.     Eat smart fat, favoring the omega-3 fats that come from fish, krill oil and wild meats.

17.    Take fish oil to boost omega-3 fat intake and ensure your omega-3 to omega-6 fat intake is balanced.

18.    Eat a diet with high-quality protein—organic meats will provide the largest “bang for your buck” protein. For high-quality, undenatured whey protein made from grass-fed cows without hormones, antibiotics or pesticides use Isagenix supplements such as: IsaPro (vanilla protein powder), IsaLean Shakes and/or Bars (meal replacement shakes and bars) and IsaLean Pro (meal replacement shake similar to the IsaLean Shake but with more protein).

Good Proteins (only use these in your diet)
Beef (ground or steak)
Bison (Buffalo)
Cheese (cottage cheese, cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, etc.)
Deer/Venison
Egg (fresh organic, free-range, omega-3, DO NOT use processed, dried egg powders)
Beef Jerky (read the label as some contain high carbs and preservatives such as nitrites and nitrates)
Pork Tenderloin
Fish (salmon, sardines, mackerel, shrimp, tuna, halibut, cod, sea bass, flounder, lobster, crab)
Protein Powder (preferably from a source where the cows have been grass-fed and where no pesticides, herbicides or hormones have been used as in Isagenix IsaPro)
Chicken Breast or Thigh
Turkey Breast or Thigh
Yogurt (preferably organic and non-homogenized)
Tofu (important: must be from fermented soybeans)

19. Be consistent each and every week. Don't do the "flash in the pan" approach to weight loss. Find the right program and be committed and stick with it.

20. Have someone coach/monitor you and your progress. Just like in sports, business, school, etc. we have coaches, mentors and teachers to help us along in reaching our goals, its the same with weight loss and your health and fitness goals.

21.    Eliminate wheat and avoid grains in favor of vegetables. See list below.

Good Starches/Carbs (only use these in your diet)
White rice
Quinoa
Tubers: white and sweet potatoes, yams

Starches/Carbs to Avoid (avoid all these in your diet)
All grains including wheat and wheat based products (i.e. bread, wheat flour, pastries, pies, biscuits, pasta, etc.), oats, spelt, kamut, granola, etc.
Beans and legumes

22.    Raise resting metabolic rate (the amount of calories the body burns at rest) by eating a higher protein diet with 15 to 25 percent of the diet coming from high-quality protein.

23.    Eliminate all high-glycemic carbs and eat only low-glycemic vegetables and berries.

24.    Eat an antioxidant-rich diet to prevent inflammation, which leads to fat gain. Try kale, broccoli, cauliflower, bok choy, berries, pomegranates, and cherries.

25.    Non-green veggies that help you lose fat are colored peppers, eggplant, garlic, onions, mushrooms, hearts of palm, spaghetti squash, and water chestnuts.

26.    Drink a lot of water (at LEAST 3 liters a day) to stay hydrated and help detox the body. Recommended water to drink is Kangen Water (8.5-9.5 pH). This is the water we use at boot camp. This water is ionized, alkalized and high in antioxidants for optimal health and wellness. If you would like a free 2 week supply to try it out to see the difference it makes in your body compared to regular acidic, chlorinated tap, filtered or bottled water, don't hesitate to let me know but please do let me know first, don't just take it. Important note: Cancer and disease thrive in an acidic environment so drinking high-quality Kangen alkalized water will optimize your health and help your body become more alkaline and an unsuitable environment for disease. For more info email me or call me at 604.626.2342.

27.    Avoid alcohol, juice, soda, and sports drinks. Stick to water, tea, and coffee.

28.    For a radical approach, eliminate all alcohol. If alcohol can’t be eliminated, Sardinian and Spanish red wines are the best worst option.

29.    Try acupuncture—studies have shown it can aid in treating obesity.

30.    Make sure your vitamin D level is over 40 ng/ml. Take vitamin D if not. Recommended dose is 8000 IU per day.

31.    Take a probiotic (Genestra Brand's HMF Intensive or Forte) to improve your gut health and your overall health for that matter. Also, add fermented foods to your diet as it's key for digestive and gut health. Have 2-3 servings per day. Ex. kefir, yogurt, sauerkraut (unpasteurized), kvass, kombucha tea, kimchi, miso, natto, tempeh, pickles, olives, etc. (these are important for improved digestion, gut health and a strong immune system). Start small (1-2 tsp. per day) and increase in amount as well as number of times per day over a few days/weeks as the good probiotic bacteria in fermented food will be killing off the pathegenic bacteria and yeasts but we want to do it slowly as if you kill them too fast you can experience the "die off" effect where you will feel worse as the bad bacteria and yeasts release toxins into your bloodstream when they die.

32.    Make sure your magnesium level is up to par. Scientists suggest 500 mg of magnesium a day.

33.    Take a liquid zinc test to see if you can taste zinc. If not, you are deficient and should take zinc to speed fat loss.

34.    Don’t buy cheap, poor quality supplements because they will do more harm than good if they are tainted with heavy metals or pollutants. For high-quality supplements free of artifical sweeteners, stimulants, etc. choose Isagenix. For more info click here: Isagenix.

35.    Take B vitamins, especially if you eat a high-protein diet or take BCAAs because the extra amino acids take away from the pool of available B vitamins needed for detox.

36.    Drink coffee or take caffeine before workouts to increase fat burning and work capacity—research shows we will self-select heavier loads if we take caffeine before training.

37.    Drink organic green tea to elevate fat burning and aid in detoxifying the body.

38.    Take carnitine to help the body use fat for fuel and increase time to exhaustion when training hard.

39.    Take the amino acid taurine because it lowers the stress hormone cortisol and helps the body digest fat.

40.    Take R-form alpha lipoic acid because it supports detox and recovery from training.

41.    Use the herb fenugreek with meals to improve insulin sensitivity and energy use.

43.    Limit fructose (especially high fructose corn syrup) in the diet because it gets in the way of losing belly fat.

44.    Never eat fructose before workouts because it blunts fat burning and lowers metabolic rate.

45.    Avoid milk before workouts because it is very “insulinotropic,” meaning it causes persistently high insulin levels that make you burn less energy.

46.    Don’t drink caffeine after workouts because it may raise cortisol at the point where you need to clear it for the best fat-burning and recovery effect.

47.    Eat high-quality protein for breakfast. Avoid cereal and all processed foods.

48.    Eliminate all sugar from your diet. It’s way more trouble than it’s worth if you want to lose fat.

49.    Make an effort to get enough sleep. An early-to-bed, early-to-rise sleep pattern has been shown to improve body composition.

50.    Know that you have complete control over what you put in your mouth. No one ever ate anything by accident.

Below is the interview with Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride. Please listen to it and if you can, I HIGHLY recommend implementing what she teaches. 



I hope that helped.

Tyron

PS. Thanks to fellow fitness professional below for what was shared in this blog.

Charles Poliquin is one of the most accomplished strength coaches in the world. He has designed workouts for Olympic medalists in 17 different sports, world record holders in 10 different sports, and professional athletes in the NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB, and UK Premier League. He has lectured or consulted for a variety of high-profile organizations such as the US Secret Service, Walt Disney Corporation and the World Swimming Congress. More info about him and the info shared in this blog post visit his website at http://www.charlespoliquin.com/Blog/tabid/130/EntryId/1174/Fifty-Fat-Loss-Tips.aspx.



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Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Boot Camp in North Vancouver Shares a Fat Loss Cardio Tip



Give that a try in your training program and you'll see much faster weight loss. For those in our boot camp or personal training programs, you would want to do this in between your sessions, i.e. if you are doing boot camp Monday, Wednesday and Friday or Saturday then you'd want to do this Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday or Sunday for a total of 6 workouts per week.

If you have any questions don't hesitate to let me know by emailing me or leaving a comment below.

Helping you get physically and financally fit,

Tyron

PS. If you live in North or West Vancouver, BC and want to experience the boot camp in North Vancouver that GUARANTEES you'll lose at least a clothing size in 28 days or your money back AND will help you get fast results like this girl in the video below who no longer has to take diabetes medication as her diabetes is gone and on top of that has so far lost 10 pounds, 3% body fat, 1-2 clothing sizes and 4 inches, then click the link below:

===>North Vancouver Boot Camp

===>Here's the video:






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Friday, April 6, 2012

North Vancouver Bootcamp Discusses Muscle Building and Protein



Below I've listed a protein powder and two meal replacements I use and that include the highest quality protein from cows that are grass-fed without pesticides or herbicies and are not given any antibiotics or hormones.
 
IsaPro Protein - available in vanilla
The highest-quality whey protein from dairy cows that are pasture-fed on small New Zealand family farms, milked according to season, and not treated with hormones or antibiotics.


Suggested Use: Add 1 scoop to water, milk or almond milk to make a protein shake/smoothie.

Available from us directly or at http://MakersBody.Isagenix.com/ca/en/isapro.dhtml

IsaLean Shakes (meal replacement) - 2 flavours include creamy vanilla and creamy chocolate – available in powder or individual packets

 Suggested Use: Mix 2 scoops in water in place of a meal.

Available from us directly or at http://MakersBody.Isagenix.com/ca/en/isaleanshake_new.dhtml

IsaLean Bars (meal replacement) - 4 flavours include chocolate peanut crunch, chocolate cream crisp, lemon passion crunch and chocolate decadence

Suggested Use: Take in place of a meal.

Available from us directly or at http://MakersBody.Isagenix.com/ca/en/isaleanbars.dhtml



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Wednesday, March 21, 2012

North Vancouver Boot Camp Talks Sleep, Lightheadedness and Muscle Soreness and Recovery

Why Don't I Sleep Well?
Many people find that as they get older (and busier!) their quality of sleep suffers. The two most common complaints that we hear all the time are:

1. I cannot get to sleep.
2. I can get to sleep but I wake up after a few hours and cannot get back to sleep.

Sleep problems like these are often due to a combination of higher than desirable cortisol (a hormone produced by your adrenal glands) and lower than desirable melatonin (a hormone produced by your pineal gland).

So what are we to do about this problem? Firstly, stop doing things that make the problem worse! Exercising after 6pm will often cause cortisol levels to rise...in some people this behaviour contributes directly to a sleep problem. Drinking coffee (or consuming things that contain caffeine) after 12 noon can also cause the same type of problem. Another common culprit is working late into the evening (I am guilty of this). This does two unhelpful things...it gets your brain going at a million miles per hour and the white light from the computer screen can contribute to the delayed release of melatonin i.e. that computer screen makes your body think the sun is still up!

Here are some other things you can do to help improve your sleep quality:

1. Eat protein and fat at dinner. It's a bad idea to eat a carbohydrate dominant meal in the evening e.g. soup and salad. This will result in elevated blood sugar then a rebound hypoglycemia a few hours later. The rebound hypoglycemia requires cortisol secretion to release glucose from the liver. This process is called gluconeogenesis and is a recipe for a bad night's sleep. Better dinner choices are fish with vegetables and avocado or steak with vegetables and cheese. These meals should result in stable blood sugar and thus nice low cortisol levels.

That's a good meal...and healthy too!

2. Exercise early in the morning within 60 minutes of rising. This will stimulate your adrenals to secrete cortisol. Cortisol makes you feel alert and alive...you want that feeling in the morning (but not at night!) Vigorous exercise every morning creates a level of physical fatigue that makes it much more likely that you will feel tired and sleepy by 10pm.

3. Taking a 30 minute Epsom salt bath around 8-9pm has a very sedating effect on the central nervous system. The sedating effect is due to magnesium. Through trial and error my friends Chris and Janet have found in their practice that 6lbs of Epsom salts is needed in order to get a noticeable effect. They have also tried shorter baths but it seems that a full 30 minutes is required in order to get the effect they are looking for.

Now doesn't she look relaxed and ready for a good night's sleep?


Try these ideas and get your sleep back on track. Think how much more productive you could be during the day if you slept like a baby every night...

Why Do I Get Lightheaded When I Stand Up?
This is quite common and in the abscence of any serious health problem is usually a sign of adrenal fatigue and depleted mineral status. The medical term for this condition is benign postural hypotension (BPH). If you exercise vigorously every day you are more likely to develop BPH because you lose lots of minerals in sweat. Competitive endurance athletes almost always suffer from BPH at some point each year, usually when they train harder or more frequently than normal. What can be done? BPH is merely your body telling you that you need to add minerals to your diet. Add sea salt liberally to all meals and start taking a good quality electrolyte capsule 3 times a day. Use Energenix from Isagenix to the water you drink throughout the day as well as in the water you drink while working out. Available from us directly at The Maker's Body Boot Camp or at http://MakersBody.Isagenix.com/ca/en/wantmoreenergy.dhtml). 


Reduce Muscle Soreness And Speed Recovery
Most of us get sore muscles from time to time. Anybody who lifts weights regularly expects to feel sore from time to time. Post workout soreness is your confirmation that you did something worthwhile. If you NEVER got sore from strength training it's probably time to make some changes to your routine as we do in boot camp on a regular basis such as increase the weights you are lifting, decrease the rest period or flat out push yourself harder ;). Making a radical change like this to your strength training routine will make you sore. What can be done to mitigate this and speed up the recovery process?

There are a number of supplements that can help. Try this combo: 1 scoop or 2 ounces of Ionix Supreme (http://MakersBody.Isagenix.com/ca/en/ionixsupreme.dhtml) before you workout and another 1 scoop or 2 ounces immediately afterward mixed with 1 scoop of IsaPro (http://MakersBody.Isagenix.com/ca/en/isapro.dhtml). IsaPro is the highest-quality whey protein from dairy cows that are pasture-fed on small New Zealand family farms, milked according to season, and not treated with hormones or antibiotics. Ionix Supreme is a nutrient-rich, rejuvenating drink that restores and protects the body and helps increase your ability to perform mentally and physically. One of the neat parts about it is it contains specialized adaptogens and over 100 specially sources ingredients that energize your cells and adapt your body to any form of stress. IsaPro and Ionix Supreme are available from us directly at The Maker's Body Boot Camp or at http://MakersBody.Isagenix.com/ca/en/isapro.dhtml and http://MakersBody.Isagenix.com/ca/en/ionixsupreme.dhtml.



You will NOT look like this guy...

However you may look like one of these.


If you want an added kick to your workouts, add 1-2 scoops or 1/2-1 stick of Energenix into the water you drink while working out. Energenix is a refreshing drink powder containing Vitamins A, C and B complex, electrolytes and nutrients that are lost during stress and exercise. It's natural fuel for the body, it gives you endurance and sustains your energy without caffeine or stimulants. Available from us directly at The Maker's Body Boot Camp or at http://MakersBody.Isagenix.com/ca/en/wantmoreenergy.dhtml).

Another good way to speed up your recovery from strenuous exercise is hot/cold contrast. Think Russian or Finnish sauna with a hole cut in the ice for the cold plunge. Most of us don't live in that kind of weather so a compromise has to be made. If you have access to a sauna then use it. Put water on the heater/coals to create steam and humidity...the goal is to SWEAT profusely. After a few minutes (or whenever you start to get a little too hot for comfort) get out of the sauna and get in the coldest water you can find. This might be the cold water in the shower or a cold bath or a large tub of icy water in your back garden. Spend 30s-60s in the cold water then go back into the heat and repeat the process. Go from hot to cold at least 3 times. Always start in the heat and finish in the cold. If you do this several times a week you will quickly build a tolerance for both the cold and the hot temperatures. You may in fact sleep like a baby after experiencing this! You're probably wondering what this does. There are 3 main benefits:

1. It causes rapid/massive vasodilation and vasoconstriction of blood vessels. This creates an effective pumping mechanism which removes metabolic waste from tight/ischemic tissue.

2. The profuse sweating in the sauna helps to get rid of toxins - that's why a dry sauna won't work well. You need significant thermal stress (i.e. humidity and heat) to cause profuse sweating. Your skin acts as an organ of elimination. Make it work for you by exercising daily and getting in a wet sauna regularly.

3. Most of us live in very tightly controlled environments. We have the temperature in our houses set just so, then we climb into our climate controlled cars and drive to work where the temperature is again maintained in a very narrow range by a computer. Our ancestors did not live like this...in the summer they got HOT and in the winter they got COLD. In the day time they were warmer than at night. It is not healthy or desirable to live in an environment that never goes below 15 Celsius or above 24 Celsius. Part of knowing you are alive is physical interaction with the outdoors. Hot/cold contrast will make you feel more alive than you have in a long time.

We're here to help you get healthy!

Tyron

PPS. Thanks to my friends Chris Maund and Janet Alexander for what was shared in this blog.
Janet Alexander
A 25-year veteran of the Health and Fitness Industry and commited endurance athlete, Janet draws her experience from a varied career base, including teaching, sales and marketing, advertising and design as well as working with clients requiring sports performance and orthopedic rehabilitation. Janet is one of the Senior Faculty at the C.H.E.K Institute, co-owner of The CHEK Studio, Inc. in Encinitas, CA where she works predominantly with golfing athletes and their coaches including PGA and LPGA professionals. https://www.chekconnect.com/Page/ConnectProfile?member=janetalexander1

Chris Maund
Chris Maund is a member of the C.H.E.K Faculty and has been teaching for the C.H.E.K Institute since 1998. Chris has a bachelor's degree in Physical Education and Sports Science from Loughborough University in England. He has written a thesis to satisfy part of the requirements for C.H.E.K Practitioner Program entitled "Sleep, Biological Rhythms and Electromagnetic Fields". Chris is a strong believer in the value of massage therapy and studied Paul St John's Neuro Muscular Therapy program. An experienced triathlete, he was a member of the British National Squad from 1989-1992 before emigrating to New Zealand in 1993. Chris has a wealth of experience working in a wide variety of rehabilitation and sports conditioning scenarios. https://www.chekconnect.com/Page/ConnectProfile?member=chrismaund
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Thursday, March 15, 2012

Boot Camp in North Vancouver Shares 10 Ways to Boost Your Immune System


1. Take 1000-2000 mg of vitamin C every hour until your bowels become loose that's when you know you are capped with vitamin C and have hit the saturation point.   C-Lyte: This formula contains three types of energizing Vitamin C that are gentle on the stomach while supporting antioxidant protection to keep your body in peak health. Available from us directly or at http://MakersBody.Isagenix.com/ca/en/clyte.dhtml

2. Drink warm water with 1/2 or a whole lemon squeezed into it as many times during the day as you want.

3. Drink LOTS of water.

4. Keep warm.

5. Take 5-10 drops of oil of oregano under your tongue every 2-3 hrs.

6. Take 8 capsules of vitamin D per day (usually 8 capsules but just check the serving size on your bottle). Vitamin D by Now brand. Available from us directly.

7. Take a high quality probiotic supplement for your gut flora to aid in digestion, boost your immune system and combat disease. Take either: HMF Forte (each capsule contains 10 billion CFU) or HMF Intensive (each capsule contains 25 billion CFU). Available from us directly.
Recommended use for HMF Forte: Take one capsule two times daily with meals.
Recommended use for HMF Intensive: Take one capsule daily with a meal.

Human MicroFlora (HMF) probiotic strains are research-driven and clinically proven in randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled human trials at 25 billion CFU. Proprietary non-pathogenic human-sourced microflora bacterial strains are utilized as they have strong epithelial adherence and a naturally high tolerance to stomach acid.

HMF Forte provides two strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium bifidum and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis, along with fructooligosaccharides to specifically assist in re-establishing and maintaining a normal intestinal microflora. Studies show that an overgrowth of opportunistic pathogens leads to a compromised immune system, resulting from immuno-suppressive and toxic influences such as impure water supply, antibiotics, processed foods, pesticides and stress. Stress upsets the delicate balance of the intestinal flora and imbalances of friendly bacteria, leading to autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. HMF Forte is a moderate-level maintenance probiotic formula indicated for individuals who use antibiotics, oral contraceptives, steroids and hormonal replacement therapy, and for extreme fatigue, allergies, yeast overgrowth, stress, hypercholesterolemia and indigestion.

HMF Intensive contains a highly concentrated amount of the two strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium bifidum and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis in a single daily-dose capsule, specifically formulated as a medium term immunomodulator to prevent opportunistic bacteria from proliferating the gastrointestinal tract. Many factors compromise the immune system’s defenses such as the overuse of antibiotics and prescription drugs, environmental pollutants, and stress, resulting in impaired healing ability and lowered defense against infection. Supplementation of Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria will crowd out unwanted bacteria by repopulating the gastro-intestinal tract. HMF Intensive is a high-level therapeutic formula indicated for acute or chronic allergies, dysbiosis, yeast infections, Irritable Bowel Syndrome and hyper-cholesterolemia. HMF Intensive is highly recommended after completion of the HMF Replete program. The capsules are 100% pure vegetable-sourced. Product ideal for vegetarians.

8. Eat a few raw garlic cloves per day. If you can't stomach it by itself, chop it up and combine it with a meal or add it to a shake/smoothie.

9. Berberis Formula by Genestra Brands. Adults: Take two capsules two times daily away from meals. Risk Information: If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, do not use. If you have a kidney disorder or blood pressure problems, consult your healthcare practitioner prior to use. Available from us directly.

10. Homeopathic remedies
Belladonna (homeopathic)
Used for inflammations, fever, congestion, headaches.
Take 5 pellets 3x/day if you feel like you're getting sick or are sick already.
Available from us directly.

Mercurius Solubilis (homeopathic)
Used for sore throats, tonsilitis, coughs.
Take 5 pellets 3x/day if you feel like you're getting sick or are sick already.
Available from us directly.

Drosera Plex Syrup (homeopathic)
Used for Coughs, Catarrh (inflammation of the mucous membranes in one of the airways or cavities of the body).
Take 1 tablespoon (15ml) 3 to 5 times daily.
Available from us directly.


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Thursday, February 16, 2012

Is Getting Your Cholesterol Tested Even Necessary?


See below for an article by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride on cholesterol testing and the negatives of doing it. Enjoy :)

Many people ask me this question:

WHEN I TEST MY BLOOD CHOLESTEROL, WHAT SHOULD IT BE?

My answer is:

DON'T TEST YOUR BLOOD CHOLESTEROL!

IT IS A POINTLESS EXERCISE AND A POTENTIALLY HARMFUL ONE!

I will explain, why.

Your blood levels of cholesterol are maintained by your liver: when we eat more cholesterol, the liver produces less; when we eat less cholesterol - the liver produces more. That is why low-fat and cholesterol-free diets have no effect on blood cholesterol: your liver will maintain a particular amount of cholesterol in your blood, depending on what your body is doing at the time.

Why does your body need cholesterol?
Our bodies are made out of cholesterol and fats to quite a large degree, and cholesterol is essential for many functions. Cholesterol is such an essential part of our human physiology that the body has very efficient mechanisms to keep blood cholesterol at a certain level at any given moment of your life. However, cholesterol - lowering drugs (statins) are a completely different matter! They interfere with the body's ability to produce cholesterol and hence they do reduce the amount of cholesterol available for the body to use. Let us see just how dangerous that is.

Human brain is hungry for cholesterol!
Every structure in the brain needs cholesterol and saturated fats not only to build itself but also to accomplish its many functions. If you start interfering with the body's ability to produce cholesterol you put the very structure of the brain and the rest of the nervous system under threat. Memory loss and cognitive decline are very common results of statin therapy. In fact it is possible that a considerable part of dementia epidemic in our ageing population is due to our ubiquitous statin prescriptions. Eating fresh eggs and butter daily has been shown to improve memory and cognitive ability in the elderly. Any person with memory loss or learning problems needs to have plenty of these foods every single day in order to recover.

More recently statins have been linked to development of Parkinson's disease. The leading researcher Dr Xuemei Huang from North Carolina University stated: "A surge in Parkinson's disease could be imminent because of the widespread use of statins."

There are people whose bodies are unable to produce enough cholesterol; these people do need to have plenty of foods rich in cholesterol in order to provide their organs with this essential-to-life substance. Low blood cholesterol has been routinely recorded in criminals who committed murder and other violent crimes, people with aggressive and violent personalities, people prone to suicide and people with aggressive social behaviour and low self-control. From the beginning of cholesterol-lowering drug trials increased numbers of deaths from violence and suicide have been recorded. The late Oxford Professor David Horrobin warned us: "reducing cholesterol in the population on a large scale could lead to a general shift to more violent patterns of behaviour. Most of this increased violence would not result in death but in more aggression at work and in the family, more child abuse, more wife-beating and generally more unhappiness." Indeed, one of the fist side effects of statins is the change in mood and personality towards being intolerant, aggressive and short-tempered - a warning sign that the brain is starving for cholesterol.

Cholesterol protects us from infections!
Cholesterol is essential for our immune system to function properly. People with low blood cholesterol are more prone to infections and when they get an infection they are more likely to die from it, compared to people with high cholesterol. Before the discovery of antibiotics mixture of raw egg yolks and cream, very rich in cholesterol, was used as a cure for tuberculosis and other infections for centuries.

Every steroid hormone in the body is made out of cholesterol!
After the brain, the organs which are very hungry for cholesterol are our endocrine glands: adrenals and sex glands. They produce steroid hormones, which accomplish a myriad of functions in the body. Without cholesterol we will not be able to cope with stress or to have children.

Cholesterol is essential for babies and children!
The proponents of the diet-heart hypothesis and the public policy makers tell us that our children from the age of two should follow a programme for reducing their blood cholesterol by avoiding natural fats and replacing them with margarine. The pharmaceutical giants are working hard on creating cholesterol-lowering drugs for children. These dangerous guidelines are given out "just in case", without any scientific data to support them. The consequences of this policy can be very serious indeed for our children: aggressive behaviour, learning difficulties, poor memory, poor immunity, poor physical health combined with the future risk of developing cancer, heart disease, stroke and infertility. Children's bodies are generally not able to produce enough cholesterol for growth and development, so eating cholesterol-rich foods is essential for children! That is why human breast milk is very rich in cholesterol!

Cholesterol is essential for the elderly!
Many studies have shown that old people with high cholesterol are healthier and live longer than people with low cholesterol. In fact it is dangerous to reduce cholesterol in old people. And yet that is exactly what our doctors are doing! The older the person is the more their low blood cholesterol poses a risk of stroke, while it has been clearly demonstrated that high blood cholesterol protects older people from strokes, heart disease, infections, cancer and many other health problems.

Vitamin D is made out of cholesterol in the body!
Our recent misguided fear of sun and avoidance of cholesterol have created an epidemic of vitamin D deficiency in the Western world leading to cancer, diabetes, heart disease, mental illness, autoimmune illness, obesity, bone and muscle disease, high blood pressure, chronic pain, poor immunity and susceptibility to infections. As many people are unable to produce enough of their own cholesterol, eating cholesterol-rich foods is essential for them to produce vitamin D.

Cholesterol and saturated fats are essential for healing!
No damage in the body, no wound or scratch can be healed without cholesterol and saturated fats. That is why large-scale studies have found that people who have low levels of cholesterol are prone to cancer, because their bodies cannot heal damaged tissues.

It is this function of healing that brings us back to the testing for cholesterol: all your blood level reflects is how much damage there is in your body at any particular moment, that has to be healed. If you had a cold, an infection, a dental treatment or a surgical procedure, then there is a lot of damage in your body to heal, so your blood cholesterol level will be high until the healing has taken place. If you are tired and under stress, your adrenals have a high demand for cholesterol, as they make their hormones from it. So, your liver has to produce more cholesterol than usual and send it to your adrenals, making blood levels of cholesterol high. In winter cholesterol goes high and in the summer it is generally lower, because cold weather and lack of the sunshine vitamin D places high demands on your immune system, which is very hungry for cholesterol. These are just a few scenarios when your blood cholesterol has to be high to serve your body's needs.

Every day, depending on what your body is doing, your blood cholesterol levels go up and down quite a lot. A blood test for cholesterol will give you a snippet of this activity, completely out of context of your body's needs at the time. If this snippet happens to find it high, then two harmful things can happen to you:

1. You are likely to be put under pressure to start a statin therapy, depriving your body from one of the most essential nutrients;
2. You will have to live with a new anxiety - a fear of heart disease! And for no good reason at all, because cholesterol levels in your blood have nothing to do with heart disease.

If you really want to know about your risk of heart disease, then these are the tests to do:
1. C-reactive protein, which is a marker for inflammation in the body. Heart disease is an inflammatory condition.
2. Insulin levels in your blood. The insulin profile will show if you suffer from a metabolic syndrome, which is the underlying condition for heart disease.

To learn more about this whole issue (and see all the scientific references to back this up), please read her book "Put Your Heart In Your Mouth". You'll be happy you did :)

Helping you get healthy and lean in 2012,

Tyron




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Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Bootcamp in North Vancouver Discusses that Cholesterol is Good - Part 3






Yummm butter! And to think not only does it taste good, but it's good for you too!


Many of you have had blood tests but most of you probably don't really understand what these tests are telling you about your health. That's a shame because regular blood testing can be very helpful in determining what effects your diet and lifestyle is having on your physiology. In this post I'll go through cholesterol, HDL, LDL, lipoprotein (a) and triglycerides. In future posts I'll go through albumin, globulin, TSH, homocysteine, c reactive protein, creatine kinase, ferritin, white blood cell count, haemoglobin A1C and 25 hydroxy vitamin D.

Cholesterol measurements get all the headlines but really are not all that helpful. The results needs to be put in context with HDL, LDL, triglycerides and inflammatory markers like lipoprotein (a), homocysteine, c reactive protein (highly sensitive version). The other thing that needs to be understood is that the "normal" levels for cholesterol have been revised downwards over the years so that nowadays many healthy individuals are advised to start using statins if their total cholesterol is over 200mg/dL REGARDLESS of what their other test results look like. Much of this is due to the fact that many MDs get their ongoing education from drug company sales reps, which can lead to problems in and of itself. For a good review of this problem read "Good Calories, Bad Calories" by Gary Taubes, "The Cholesterol Myths" by Uffe Ravnskov and "Put Your Heart In Your Mouth" by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride. Three really good books that will definitely change the way you look at fats, oils and cholesterol and that they are not evil.



Another problem is that we are all led to believe that if we increase our consumption of eggs, bacon and red meat this will result in higher cholesterol levels. This is not necessarily the case. There are some individuals who experience a drop in cholesterol when they make such a dietary change and others who see no change at all. If you wish to try such an experiment on yourself, make sure you are eating high quality/"clean" eggs, bacon and read meat. If you load up on these foods from cheap, non-organic, non-free range, non-grass fed sources then you are prejudicing the results of your own experiment. The goal is not to see what effect the growth hormones, flavourings, preservatives and antibiotic residues have on your blood chemistry!

Do you feel this way?


HDL is a sub fraction of your total cholesterol and it's main function is to transport cholesterol to the liver, adrenals, testes and/or ovaries. It is actively involved in the removal of cholesterol from arterial walls. In this regard it is antagonistic to LDL (but that doesn't mean that LDL is bad as we've been led to believe). Cholesterol is an absolute necessity for the production of the following hormones:

Pregenenolone

Testosterone

DHEA

Aldosterone

Cortisol

Oestrogen

In other words, if you deliberately cut fat from your diet, or if you are taking a statin, it's just a matter of time before you develop a hormonal problem. You cannot possibly make optimal amounts of these hormones unless you eat fat. Could this be one of the reason why people aren't losing weight because they aren't producing adequate amounts of these fat burning hormones?  Could this also be one of the reasons that so many people have a hard time getting pregnant? What about all those males getting diagnosed with testosterone deficiencies? Generally speaking it is good to have high HDL. High HDL levels indicate that plenty of cholesterol is being transported to areas in the body where hormones are made. The ratio of total cholesterol to HDL can be useful in this regard. If this ratio is under 3.5 you are doing well and lower is even better.

LDL is also a subfraction of your total cholesterol. It has become increasingly obvious recently that the oxidized form of LDL is much more relevant in terms of cardiovascular health and in particular arterial wall health (that's what you want to stay away from oxidized LDL which comes in the form of damaged fats, i.e. powdered, processed eggs for instance). The problem is that this test is not readily available and many MDs do not know about it. For more information go to:

http://www.shiel.com/oxldl.htm

If you are able to get this test done, lower numbers are better.

Lipoprotein (a) is a sub fraction of LDL and is an inherited risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Lower numbers are better. High levels often go hand in hand with infections like h. pylori. H. pylori is a bacterial infection that causes damage to the parietal cells in your stomach, thus reducing the production of hydrochloric acid. This might sound like a good thing but it's not! You need hydrochloric acid to kill pathogens in the food you eat and to break down high protein foods especially red meat. If you have noticed that your ability to digest red meat has deteriorated as you got older, or if you seem to have less of an urge to eat red meat than when you were younger, you should get tested for h. pylori. It's a nasty infection that many of us have for years and do not know it. Left untreated it sets the stage for peptic ulcers and even stomach cancer. Barry Marshall and Robin Warren, two Australian researchers, received a Nobel Prize in 2005 for demonstrating the unpleasant effects of h. pylori in human beings. All of this is relatively new information so don't be surprised if your MD knows nothing about it. It's up to you to figure this stuff out - after all it's YOUR health.

Triglyceride levels generally reflect the amount of carbohydrate in your diet. The more carbohydrate you eat the higher your triglycerides are likely to be. Carbohydrate rich foods include grains, vegetables and fruits and anything made with grains, vegetables and fruits. Over consumption of carbohydrates is probably the single biggest mistake that most Westerners make. Most of us eat carbohydrates in the kind of quantities that competitive marathon runners require. Unless you are running 50+ miles a week you should not be eating like this! If your triglycerides are over 80mg/dL, forget about grains and fruit. Get your carbohydrates from fresh, locally produced, organic vegetables. Contrary to popular belief fruit is not good for everybody at all times. Most of the carbohydrate in fruit comes in the form of fructose (fruit sugar). The only major metabolic pathway for frucotose is conversion to triglycerides by the liver. This is one reason why anything containing fructose should be eliminated if you have high triglycerides. You should see major changes in your triglyceride count if you make these dietary changes AND exercise for at least one hour every day.

We know this is a lot of information but these are some health related issues that you ought to get familiar with.

Helping you get lean and healthy in 2012,
Tyron

PS. If you haven't had a chance to check out our new boot camp/training facility click the link below to see video of the class in action!

http://www.youtube.com/user/VancouverBootCamps/videos



PPS. Thanks to my friends Chris Maund and Janet Alexander for what was shared in this blog.

Janet Alexander
A 25-year veteran of the Health and Fitness Industry and commited endurance athlete, Janet draws her experience from a varied career base, including teaching, sales and marketing, advertising and design as well as working with clients requiring sports performance and orthopedic rehabilitation. Janet is one of the Senior Faculty at the C.H.E.K Institute, co-owner of The CHEK Studio, Inc. in Encinitas, CA where she works predominantly with golfing athletes and their coaches including PGA and LPGA professionals. https://www.chekconnect.com/Page/ConnectProfile?member=janetalexander1

Chris Maund
Chris Maund is a member of the C.H.E.K Faculty and has been teaching for the C.H.E.K Institute since 1998. Chris has a bachelor's degree in Physical Education and Sports Science from Loughborough University in England. He has written a thesis to satisfy part of the requirements for C.H.E.K Practitioner Program entitled "Sleep, Biological Rhythms and Electromagnetic Fields". Chris is a strong believer in the value of massage therapy and studied Paul St John's Neuro Muscular Therapy program. An experienced triathlete, he was a member of the British National Squad from 1989-1992 before emigrating to New Zealand in 1993. Chris has a wealth of experience working in a wide variety of rehabilitation and sports conditioning scenarios. https://www.chekconnect.com/Page/ConnectProfile?member=chrismaund
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Thursday, January 26, 2012

Bootcamp in North Vancouver Discusses that Cholesterol is Good - Part 2

In my last blog post I shared about how important saturated fats and cholesterol are to your health and that the conventional wisdom of eating a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet to improve your heart health has led millions astray down a path that actually INCREASES heart disease. If you didn't get a chance to watch that video, click the link directly below. The content is shocking!

Watch part 1 by clicking the link below:

==>http://tyronpiteau.blogspot.com/2012/01/bootcamp-in-north-vancouver-discusses.html

Today what I want to share with you is part 2 of that video where I go into more detail about how important it is to consume fats and cholesterol in your diet and that cholesterol-lowering drugs are doing havoc on society and are actually making things WORSE! Watch part 2 below.


Helping you get lean and healthy in 2012,
Tyron Tweet This

Bootcamp in North Vancouver Discusses that Cholesterol is Good - Part 1

In today's blog post I share about how important saturated fats and cholesterol are to your health and that the conventional wisdom of eating a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet to improve your heart health has led millions astray down a path that actually INCREASES heart disease. See what I mean by watching the video below. The content is shocking!


Helping you get lean and healthy in 2012,
Tyron

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Thursday, January 12, 2012

North Vancouver Boot Camp: Will Fat Actually Help You Lose Fat?


Fat isn't our enemy so lets use it to our benefit as our body's were created to need it. Below are some interesting points to consider regarding fat.

• Michael DeBakey, a famous heart surgeon, did an experiment on 1,700 patients with hardening of the arteries and found no relationship between the levels of cholesterol in the blood and the incidence of atherosclerosis.

• Similarly, The Medical Research Council showed that men eating butter had half the risk of heart disease as those who ate margarine (a deadly trans fat butter substitute).

• Uffe Ravnskov reports, concerning saturated fats in the Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, that “the scientific evidence, honestly evaluated, does not support the assertion that ‘artery-clogging’ saturated fats cause heart disease. Actually, evaluation of the fat found in clogged arteries reveals that only about 26 percent is saturated. The rest is unsaturated, of which more than half is polyunsaturated.

• Sally Fallon and Mary Enig, Ph.D., state that heart disease should not be blamed on animal fats or cholesterol, but upon consumption of vegetable oils, hydrogenated fats (trans-fats), and refined carbohydrates; vitamin and mineral deficiencies; and the reduction or disappearance of antimicrobial fats from the food supply, i.e. animal fats and tropical oils.

Benefits of saturated fat:
1. Constitute at least 50 percent of all cell membranes.
2. At least 50 percent of all fat we consume should be saturated; otherwise calcium cannot be effectively incorporated into the skeletal system.
3. They lower Lp (a), a key substance in the blood that indicates proneness to heart disease.
4. Protect the liver from alcohol and other toxins, such as NSAIDs.
5. Enhance the immune system.
6. We cannot properly utilize essential fatty acids (omega 3s and 6s) without saturated fats.
7. Saturated 18-carbon stearic acid and 16-carbon palmitic acid provide the preferred fuel for the heart. The heart is mainly covered by saturated fats.
8. Short- and medium-chain fatty acids found in butter, coconut, and palm oil have important antimicrobial properties especially in the GI tract.

Benefits of cholesterol:
1. cholesterol in the cell membrane gives our cells necessary stiffness and stability.
2. cholesterol acts as a precursor to vital corticosteroids, hormones that help us deal with stress and protect the body against heart disease and cancer, and to sex hormones.
3. cholesterol is a precursor to vitamin D
4. bile salts are made from cholesterol, which are essential for fat digestion.
5. its an antioxidant. Protects us against free radical damage that leads to heart disease and cancer. This is a likely explanation for why cholesterol goes up with age.
6. Cholesterol is needed for proper function of serotonin receptors in the brain. Serotonin is the body’s natural “feel good” chemical. Low cholesterol has been linked to aggressive and violent behaviour, depression, and suicidal tendencies.
7. mother’s milk is rich in cholesterol which is essential for the proper development and growth of the child’s nervous system.
8. Dietary cholesterol plays an important role in maintaining the health of the intestinal wall. Low cholesterol diets can lead to leaky gut syndrome and other intestinal disorders.

Good sources of fats and oils:
• Fats to include: extra virgin olive oil, extra virgin coconut oil, raw, organic, grass-fed butter, ghee (clarified butter), organic, grass-fed animal fats, fish oil (EFA Icon), organic seeds (flax, sesame, sunflower, pumpkin), organic raw nuts (walnuts, pecans, macadamia, almonds), avocados, eggs (yolk).

• When buying fish oil supplements make sure the fish are from a region of low toxicity and make sure the product has been molecularly distilled in order that the toxins are at a low level. Consume 10 grams/day. For a good quality fish oil, check out EFA Icon at http://ProgradeNutritionals.com/essential-fatty-acid.html. Save 15% off on this order and the entire store. Just use coupon code NEW15 at checkout. It includes Krill Oil with Astaxanthin (a powerful antioxidant). Because of the way the EPA and DHA fatty acids are bound to phospholipids, its much more potent and bioavailable meaning you don't have to take as many capsules as a regular fish oil to get the same dosage and benefit, i.e. 2 capsules compared to taking 6-10 of fish oil.

• Fats to avoid include: trans-fatty acids, hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils, vegetable oils (i.e. corn, soy, canola, etc. oils), fats from conventionally-raised animal/fish.

I hope that helped :)

Also don't forget to let us know if you can join us for our celebration! On Saturday January 21, 2012 we'll be having our New Year/Grand Opening to celebrate our new facility as well as just another reason to party ;)

There will be live music, dancing (for those who want to) and food so if you can make it we'd love to have you. Please fill out the attached file indicating how many guests you'd like to bring (including yourself) as well as the food item you'd like to bring if you are able to (don't feel obligated) and then save it and email it back so we can prepare for the event and know the exact numbers.

Helping you get lean and healthy in 2012!

Tyron

PS. On February 20th, 2012 my friend Mich will attempt all 5 boot
camp classes to raise money and awareness of eating disorders. All
donations will be going to help support The Looking Glass
Foundation. Check out the flyer that's attached to learn more and how you can support.

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Thursday, January 5, 2012

Could This One Nutrient Be That Important To Your Health?



Now watch what Dr. Mercola has to say about vitamin D.


So if you have access to the sun or a safe, healthy tanning bed, obtain your vitamin D that way. If not then obtain vitamin D3 by taking 8000 IU per day.

For a good quality fish oil with astaxanthin in it, go with Krill Oil. Click this link http://ProgradeNutritionals.com/essential-fatty-acid.html and get 15% off at checkout by entering this code: NEW15.

Helping you get healthier in 2012,

Tyron

PS. If you live in North or West Vancouver, BC and want to experience the boot camp in North Vancouver that GUARANTEES you'll lose at least a clothing size in 28 days or your money back AND will help you get fast results then click the link below. Also check out a sample of our class in the video below.

===>North Vancouver Boot Camp

===>Here's the video:



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Friday, December 30, 2011

Dark Chocolate Macadamia Bark Sprinkled with Sea Salt

‘Tis the season of candy and sugary baked goods showing up everywhere you go. Plates of cookies, tins of caramel corn, strings of candy canes and leaden logs of fruitcake – why these things symbolize good cheer is hard to figure out. There’s no reason to be a complete Scrooge about holiday desserts, though, just as there’s no reason to deprive yourself entirely if you’re craving something festive. When your sweet tooth goes looking for the ultimate dessert indulgence this year, look no further. Dark Chocolate Macadamia Bark Sprinkled with Sea Salt (as shared by Mark Sisson from
http://www.marksdailyapple.com) tastes fully and completely like “real” dessert. Not only will you enjoy every bite, so will the family and friends that you gift it to (hint, hint, don’t eat it all yourself!)

This perfect dessert is loaded with flavonoids from the dark chocolate and has a positive fatty acid profile from the macadamias. But the very best part about this decadent treat is that you can whip it up in less than 30 minutes using only three ingredients.

The full recipe is below, but there’s not a whole lot more to it than melting chocolate, stirring in nuts, sprinkling with sea salt and refrigerating. So why is the result so amazing? First of all, it’s important to use good chocolate. The darker the better, both for health reasons and intensity of flavor. The macadamia nuts add a sweet, buttery component and the crucial sprinkle of sea salt on top is the flavor equivalent of an exclamation point.

The result is a dessert that’s the perfect thing to nibble on around a roaring fire, surrounded by those you love most. Or, at a holiday office party or New Year's event surrounded by those you love a little less dearly, but still love of course ;). Wherever the event, it will be a little bit merrier if Dark Chocolate Macadamia Bark Sprinkled with Sea Salt is your indulgence of choice.

Ingredients:

 
9-10 ounces dark chocolate (aim for 85 – 90% cacao), chopped into small pieces
1/2 cup macadamia nuts, roughly chopped
1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Instructions:

Heat 2/3 of the chocolate in the microwave or on the stove. If using a microwave, heat the chocolate in 30-second increments, stopping to stir vigorously each time. It should take 2 minutes or less to melt the chocolate. If using the stove, create a double boiler by filling a pot with a few inches of water then balance or hold a smaller pot filled with the chocolate just above the water line. As the water gently boils, the steam will melt the chocolate in the smaller pot without burning it. Stir occasionally, removing from heat as soon as the chocolate melts completely.

Remove the melted chocolate from the microwave or stove. Add the remaining hard chocolate to the hot melted chocolate, stirring vigorously until it melts as well.



Stir the macadamia nuts into the chocolate.


Line a rimmed dish of your choice with parchment paper or wax paper. The size of the dish will determine how thick the bark is. A 2-quart squarebaking dish makes thicker bark (like in the photos). A larger dish will obviously yield thinner bark.



Spread the chocolate evenly in the rimmed dish. Sprinkle with sea salt. Refrigerate for at least 10 minutes, longer if chocolate isn’t solid yet. Use a knife to cut the bark into squares or misshapen pieces. Store the bark at room temperature.




Dessert doesn't have to be all bad. This is one of those good ones. Enjoy!

Tyron

Mark Sisson is the author of a #1 bestselling health book on Amazon.com, The Primal Blueprint, as well as The Primal Blueprint Cookbook and the top-rated health and fitness blog MarksDailyApple.com. He is also the founder of Primal Nutrition, Inc., a company devoted to health education and designing state-of-the-art supplements that address the challenges of living in the modern world.

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Tuesday, December 20, 2011

North Vancouver Boot Camp Christmas Eating Tip


So enjoy all the good food (and cheesecake as I know I will ;) and time with family and friends just use the rich food and desserts to your advantage by incorporating a workout in that day. If you are coming to boot camp (http://MakersBody.com/SlimDown.html) we'll be open throughout the holidays at our regular times as detailed below. 

And the winner of The Maker's Body Complete Package is... (drumroll please)... Farideh Mansouri! Congratulations Farideh. The complete package includes a kitchen overhaul, a Whole Foods shopping tour, learning about different products, the do's and don'ts of eating, helpful tips, a monthly meal plan with recipes, a grocery list and our in-house chef Mich will cook and prepare a 7-day breakfast-lunch-dinner meal plan based on your dietary requirements! What better way to start January than with all your meals cooked for a week and a plan for the rest of the month :)

Boot Camp Calender
Monday


6:00-7:00 AM

11:30 AM-12:30 PM

5:00-6:00 PM

6:00-7:00 PM

7:00-8:00 PM

Wednesday


6:00-7:00 AM

11:30 AM-12:30 PM

5:00-6:00 PM

6:00-7:00 PM

7:00-8:00 PM 

Friday


6:00-7:00 AM

11:30 AM-12:30 PM

5:00-6:00 PM

6:00-7:00 PM

7:00-8:00 PM

Saturday


10:00-11:00 AM

Have a wonderful Christmas!

Your friend and 2012 fat loss solution,


Tyron 

P.S. How to Get Signed Up for the 14 Day Slim Down  
1.) Go to http://MakersBody.com/SlimDown.html. 

2.) Fill out the form on that page. 

3.) Fill out the registration form that will be emailed to you after following the steps above and email it back to us. Must be completed before attending.


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