This question came up just this morning. As I am the go-to-guy for weight-loss and emergency-weight-loss the natural way, here is information that you shouldn’t be without.

What’s inside the bottle (Recoup flavor):

Reverse Osmosis water, less than 1% of: (rebiana (stevia extract) and crystalline fructose and erythritiol (natural sweeteners), magnesium lactate and calcium lactate and potassium phosphate (electrolyte sources), natural flavors, citric acid, vitamin C (ascorbic acid), vitamin B5 (calcium pantothenate), natural flavors, vitamin B3 (niacinamide), vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride), vitamin B12, beta-carotene (color).

Nutrition facts on the bottle:

Servings Per Container 2.5

Amount Per Serving

Calories 0

Total Fat 0g 0%

Sodium 0mg 0%

Potassium t

Total Carbohydrate 3g 1%

Sugar <1g

Protein 0g

Okay, but what does all this mean?  Here is a brief summary about some of the key ingredients:

Reverse Osmosis Water –That’s filtered tap water. Nope, you’re not getting some natural mineral water from a secret spring in an exotic-sounding island/mountain locale. On the other hand, osmosis does sound quite interesting, no?

Crystalline Fructose –a processed sweetener. It is derived from corn, just like High Fructose Corn Syrup, but is enriched with fructose. The fructose is crystallized, dried, and milled, then used as a sweetener in beverages. It doesn’t have the negative reputation that high fructose corn syrup does and less of it is required to create a sweet taste.

Erythritol –a natural sugar alcohol occurring naturally in fruits. However, it is much cheaper to produce it industrially from glucose by fermentation with a yeast with a scary name of Moniliella pollinis. Erythritol is only 60% as sweet as regular sugar. It is however almost calorie-free, with only 0.2 calories per gram vs. 4 calories for sugar (20 times less calories). An advantage Erythritol has over other sugar alcohols is that it is absorbed by the body and therefore does not cause cramps or bloating. It also has a cooling effect on the mouth.

Erythritol has 0 calories per gram for food labeling purposes in the United States, Europe and Japan. This 0 calorie value is based on Erythritol’s unique absorption and elimination process.

Rebiana (Stevia Extract) –Rebiana is the trade name for a stevia-derived sweetener developed jointly by the Coca Cola Company and Cargill. According to Cargill, Rebiana is “the best tasting part of the stevia leaf”. Personally, I like stevia over white sugar. Yet, don’t overlook the European study in early 2006 that showed effects in the male reproductive system. Female hamsters had fewer and smaller offspring, and some preliminary studies have linked it to cancer (white sugar and high fructose corn syrup as well).   For more information go to Truvia

On the bottle label, you will find that it has 0 calories but 3 grams of carbohydrates and sugar, less then 1gram. How does this work? Doesn’t 1 gram of carbohydrates contain 4 calories? Yes, it does. So, theoretically, there are 30 calories in each bottle. Not quite, however,  as Erythritol is almost non-caloric, with only 0.2 calories per gram vs. 4 calories for sugar (20 times fewer calories). Thus, Erythritol is uniquely qualified as a zero calorie bulk sweetener for formulating “reduced calorie” and “light” products which require a 25 percent or more calorie reduction from the standard formulation. Under U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) labeling requirements, it has a caloric value of 0.2 calories per gram. That’s why the Vitamin Water Zero can be labeled as zero calorie, although it doesn’t have really zero calories. (Look at the label again. 1 gram of sugar is listed. Sugar is a carbohydrate. And each gram of it has 4  calories.) There are 2.5 servings in 1 bottle. Hence, there are at least 8 calories in each bottle.

From a nutritional perspective, this drink seems to be better than competing vitamin waters that are laden with sugar, and are therefore doing more harm than good.

And for the vitamins? Well, it is always best to get your vitamins from food first as you might get benefits from other ingredients that have not been identified yet.

Ask me again if I recommend vitamin water when you are on a weight loss program? Definitely not, because the water tastes extremely sweet. If you taste sweet, then you want more sweet. When you are on a weight loss program, it is too easy to fall off the wagon and indulge in more sweets: chocolate, cake, ice cream, and others you can probably think of.

Water is the best hydration system on the planet. Period. But the decision is yours.

Stay focused.

Stefan

Your Weight Loss Coach

P.s: Sign up for your free weight loss updates and newsletter at www.stefanaschan.com

P.s.s.: For your free e book and to win you free Personal Training session in the next 7 days click this link …

Let me break it down for you:

Week 1:  David and I reach a decision to take our relationship up a notch, and actually RESIDE in the SAME STATE.  Then we figure out that we could probably live together, since we’ll be in the same state and all.  My lease is up at the end of June and we’d move into a larger house.

Week 2:  David starts tidying up business and doing closure in New Mexico.  I start planning for the Level 2 Coach Training in Montana.  My daughter decides I need to be in Montana by June 5, my grandson’s birthday.  I note that I have about 10 days.  I let David know.

Week 3:  David, just back from a spectacular mosey through the Gila Wilderness, makes a lot of noise about bailing on another wilderness trip, this one involving fish, just to make it to Montana in time for a 5 year old’s cake fest.  Somehow he works it out in his head and is not only polite but kind as I ramp up frenetic travel plans.  I set some things into motion to find a larger house to lease in CA.   He stores his household goods, moves out of his home in NM, and flies to CA, where we quickly pile 2 dogs and gear into my Honda CRV and spend the next 3 days driving to Montana.  I point out interesting fun places to get coffee on the way.  He thinks I should cut down on it.  I consider this but allow that travel time is not the right time for caffeine withdrawal.

Week 4: Arriving in Whitefish Montana,  we settle into a spacious 3 bdrm townhouse.   David meets my mother in Bigfork and attend Parker’s birthday smash (I made the grain-free, sugar-free train cake).  We hang on to the grandkidlets for a few days, and prep for the Level 2 training.  Also, we become involved in an elaborate plan wherein we agree to rescue a rottweiler in New Mexico.  We attend a flurry of ‘long term business planning’ meetings with the Team and Snowdog and we set up a photo shoot.

Week 5: Level 2 Coach Training.  A total blast.  We get word that the reality show is a ‘go’.  I promise Samantha I’ll be back up in Montana in August for the show gig.   After the training, we spend a day decompressing.  In this decompression, something vital happens.  I wake up in the morning with the strong and irrefutable realization that rather than haul our collective butts back to CA,  move into a larger home, then scoot back to MT for who knows how long and where else etc etc – that we could buy a large motorhome; embracing our already mobile lifestyle.   I lay this inspiration out to David.  He stares at me for awhile, and then says he thinks it’s best to go with it because he believes it would be somehow dangerous to get in the way.  Or something to that effect.  I collect RV books/magazines/websites and spend time doing research.  My ma and the grandkids come to hang out with us some more.  David’s got a glaze to his eyes but is still ambulatory and responding well with appropriate speech patterns.

Week 6: The Team has a fun and successful photo shoot out in Bigfork, thanks to photographer Noah Clayton.  David and I decide on a used 35-40 foot diesel pusher for our new home.  We collect our funds in one pile, continue researching brands and dealers, and decide to buy in Montana if at all possible.  David becomes a Montana resident by acquiring his MT driver’s license and starts whinging about a primal need to go fishing.  We send money to help out Mya, the rescue rottie.  We drive to Missoula and hook up with an affable salesman we like at Bretz RV.  Finding our perfect rig with all of our requirements (diesel, office, separate toilet, slides, inverter, generator, oven, large fridge, basement storage, etc) took less than 2 hours.  The paperwork took a day and a half.

Week 7: The proud owners of a lightly used 40 ft self contained 2001 Holiday Rambler Endeavor with a Cummins turbo diesel engine and towing the Honda CRV, we carefully work our way through MT, ID, UT and finally the mountains of the Roaring Fork Valley in CO to spend a few days in my  son’s driveway.  My kids call us every day to check on our progress.  David’s comfort with driving the big rig increases hourly.  He stops giving me that (only slightly accusatory) whelmed look after the second day.  Son Graham, salivating, gets behind the wheel to see what-all the turbo Cummins can do.  He approves and spends some time educating us on engine details.  Then we partied for a couple days and celebrated.

Week 8: Drove down into New Mexico to Silver City where David finished sorting through his effects and loaded his worldly goods onto the rig.  We hung out with my brother Lennie and assorted old friends; went on some hikes and enjoyed the monsoons.   Hosted a couple parties in the new rig.  Picked up Mya, who is about 20 lbs bigger than my other rottie, BabyDoll.  Mya is not leash trained.  Mya is what Rottweiler John referred to as ‘a Princess’ accustomed to being an only dog.  Mya was also quite surprised when the ‘house’ began to move.  She quickly figured out that David’s foot on the accelerator was responsible for the untoward lurching and focused her laser rottweiler attention on removing the offending foot.  That was exciting.   Saturday afternoon we left Silver City with promises to return in the fall.  We traveled across the hot desert – so hot that the dogs couldn’t pee because the ground was burning their feets! – and arrived in CA yesterday afternoon.  David’s driving skills are impressive.  He’s making it look so fun and easy that I’m ready to start driving, too…

***

We’ll be in CA another couple weeks or so and then we’ll head back up to Montana.

RV parks are a new experience, and like I said – an older, faster crowd.  This mobile lifestyle is feeling more and more alluring to me and I’ve not had time to reflect yet on how that’s going to look.  I don’t know yet how long I’m going to do it for.  My guess is ‘as long as it’s fun’.

I do know that my previous immobile lifestyle was too restrictive and far too complicated of a lifestyle for what is currently on my plate.  I  know that the process of simplification is quite enjoyable.  I know that I like waking up in the same bed looking out the window at new views.  I love watching the peacocks strutting outside my kitchen window right now, and that I equally enjoyed the antelope out that same window a couple days ago.  I like knowing exactly how much energy I am consuming in this fully self contained system I live in.  I like that I can get my mail no matter where I am thanks to a trustworthy mail service.  I also like that I’ve hiked my ‘fun and excitement’ meter waaaaay up.  I truly thrive on all this change.

Oh, and I love that I have a patient, understanding, intelligent partner who trusts my instincts.  MWAH!

Cleans, Push-presses, Squats, Bench presses, and Deadlifts are some of the moves of ‘old school’, or Olympic lifting.  Strength training using Olympic lifts is the classic way to gain muscle strength and endurance. Olympic lifting requires a coach or trainer who is well-versed in the proper form necessary to execute these moves safely and effectively.  Many personal trainers today do not know or ‘get’ the compound, old school moves.  They are not in fashion, do not sell cool equipment, and require a great deal of skill that many trainers today do not spend the time to learn (most trainers today do not have backgrounds in bodybuilding).

These five exercises are OLD SCHOOL, Olympic moves – this means they are large, compound moves that direct your body to build strength, muscle and endurance.  Nothing – but nothing! – puts strength and muscle into your body faster than these old, die hard compound moves that the entire fitness industry has built on (most bodybuilding moves are actual components of these big old school Olympic moves).

IF YOU DON’T KNOW THESE MOVES GET SOME QUALIFIED HELP! IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT YOUR CORE IS ENGAGED AND YOUR ALIGNMENT IS PERFECT.   Your posture must be perfect for these moves to be effective and safe.  Using lighter weights until you have the moves ‘down’ will serve your body best.

Warm up with some light cardio (walking recommended) for at least 20 minutes for this routine.

OLD SCHOOL STRENGTH TRAINING (all body routine)

EXERCISE 1: (do three sets with 90 sec rests )

FARMERS WALK   (heavy dumbbells, 20 ft distance, walk SLOWLY with short steps and stay aligned; chest up!)  This move also works with your hand grip strength, which many women especially need to build for lifting.

EXERCISE 2: (do four sets of 8-12 reps with 90 sec rests )

SQUATS  (barbell at free standing squat rack.  Put a bench behind you so that when you come down, your butt touches it so you know you’re coming low enough.)

EXERCISE 3: (four sets to failure with 90 sec rests )

WIDE GRIP CHINS  (nothing builds a strong back faster.  practice.)

EXERCISE 4: (three sets of 6-10 reps)

BENCH PRESS  (heavy dumbells)

EXERCISE 5: (two to three sets of 6-10 reps)

DEADLIFTS  (barbell, med to heavy.  you won’t have much energy left by the time you get here.  use all you have left.  then go eat and take a nap.)

Seated Side Stretch

1)  Start in a cross-legged seated position.  Give yourself some padding (if needed) to lift your hips above your knees.

2)  Remove the flesh from under your sit bones (we all have it!).  Roll your shoulders back and down. Lengthen your spine from the sit bones up through the top of the head.  Bring your spine to neutral.

3)  Inhale both arms up overhead.  Exhale, bring your left hand out about 10-12 inches in line with your left hip.  Reach through your right fingertips.  Keep your right sit bone rooted into the ground.

4)  Take full deep breaths.  Allow your breath to expand the right lung and right side of the ribcage.  Take 5-10 deep breaths.

5)  Change sides and repeat.

Prior to starting make sure you warm-up for 10 minutes: walking is an easy way to warm up. The set works on strength while also challenging your balance. The set requires very little equipment which means it can be done at home or at a gym.

NOTE: Make sure you are engaging your core throughout all of the exercises. Always inhaling through you nose and exhaling forcefully through your mouth: the forceful exhale assists you in keeping your core engaged.

Do 12 to 15 repetitions 3-4 times through, depending on your level of ability.

Knee plank: Start out on all fours with your hands directly under your shoulders: core engaged. Neutral spine.  Walk you knees back far enough so that you body, from your knees to the top of you head, mimics a plank (all in the same plane).  Feet up off the floor.  Hold for 30 seconds (working up to 1 minute) breathing in through your nose and forceful breaths out through your mouth.

NOTE: To regress this exercise  place you feet on the floor/shorten the time; to progress curl you toes under and bring your knees up off the floor – full plank.

Knee Plank

Supine chest press with legs in tabletop: Start supine (on your back), having weights close by. Bring your legs up to 90 degrees – creating a tabletop.  Imprint your back and engage your core.  Arms straight out from your shoulders creating a 90 degree angle – palms facing your feet. Inhale through your nose as you exhale bring the weights up and over your chest – bringing the weights together at the top. 12 – 15 repetitions

NOTES: Make sure  you keep your spine imprinted and core engaged the whole time.  Upon completing the repetitions you should be feeling your core as much or more than your chest.

Supine Chest Press, bottom

To regress this exercise bring you feet to the floor and hold spine in neutral; to progress place block between your knees and gently squeezing the block, while still engaging your core and keeping your spine imprinted. You can also increase the weights.

Stationary lunge: Standing with your feet hip width apart, shoulders back and away from your ears and core engaged. Take a giant step back. Inhale as you lower the back knee towards the floor, exhale as you rise up.  Making sure to NOT lean your upper body forward as you lower. In other words, keep your shoulders over your hips throughout the movement.  Also make sure your  front knee stays over your ankle. 12 – 15 repetitions each leg.

NOTES: To regress – don’t go all the way to the floor with your back knee or start out with no weights; to progress – add weights or increase the weights.

Stationary Lunge, bottom

Incline biceps curl on a stability ball: Start out sitting on a SB, feet hip distance, core engaged, neutral spine. With the weights resting on your thighs, walk your feet out bringing your butt low enough so that your body is supported from your tail bone to the middle of your back. Bring your arms to your sides – upper arms will be resting on the ball. Inhale and as you exhale raise your palms up to your shoulder – upper arms remain resting on the SB throughout the movement. 12 – 15 repetitions.

NOTES: To regress this exercise do the biceps curl from the seated position; to progress add more weight.

Incline Bicep Curls

What do you eat for lunch and energy? Definitely, light. All right, no light bulbs, obviously (I got this response on Twitter, you can follow me there as well.).

In the summer, we often feel sluggish and tiered during the day. Add on the extremes of temperature, smells and heat radiating from buildings and the disaster — a slow-down in function–is almost perfect. (Not in a good way!)

Therefore, lunch becomes a critical point. Can you take some needed energy into your system that doesn’t make you tired, drag you down or make you sleepy?

You might think about eating some lean protein. But here are the facts: Protein takes longer to digest than fruits. Fruits contain simple carbohydrates that contain vitamins, minerals and enzymes. Don’t mistake it with simple carbohydrates such as white sugar. Fruits are digested in the stomach for 30 minutes before they move into the duodenum. The breakdown of protein into amino acids takes longer as there are more chemical processes involved. In the duodenum, long chain polypeptides are reduced to short chain polypeptides, tripeptides, and dipeptidases. They are absorbed across the gut wall into the portal vein to transport the amino acids to the liver, the principal site of protein metabolism.

So, for quick, easy energy, fruits are the way to go. Try this recipe for a refreshing lunchtime soup. You can prepare it the evening before in 3 minutes:

Spicy Energy Soup:

1 peach (51 calories)

2 kiwis (52 calories each)

1 piece of ginger (thumb size)

Wash all the fruits. If they are organic, you can keep the peel on. Otherwise, peel them.

Cut the fruits and place into a blender with the peeled ginger.

Blend for 1 minute then smooth.

Serve with some fresh mint leaves to add additional freshness to this spicy energy soup.

High in flavor, this recipe is also low in calories (155 calories). A great strategy to reduce your calories naturally for natural weight loss.

Stay focused,

Stefan

P.s.: Sign up for your Free weight loss updates and solutions at www.stefanaschan.com.

P.s.s: Ramp up your home workout program. Check out this DVD.

Dear Cleveland, All Of Northeast Ohio and Cleveland Cavaliers Supporters Wherever You May Be Tonight;

As you now know, our former hero, who grew up in the very region that he deserted this evening, is no longer a Cleveland Cavalier.

This was announced with a several day, narcissistic, self-promotional build-up culminating with a national TV special of his “decision” unlike anything ever “witnessed” in the history of sports and probably the history of entertainment.

Clearly, this is bitterly disappointing to all of us.

The good news is that the ownership team and the rest of the hard-working, loyal, and driven staff over here at your hometown Cavaliers have not betrayed you nor NEVER will betray you.

There is so much more to tell you about the events of the recent past and our more than exciting future. Over the next several days and weeks, we will be communicating much of that to you.

You simply don’t deserve this kind of cowardly betrayal.

You have given so much and deserve so much more.

In the meantime, I want to make one statement to you tonight:

“I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER ‘KING’ WINS ONE”

You can take it to the bank.

If you thought we were motivated before tonight to bring the hardware to Cleveland, I can tell you that this shameful display of selfishness and betrayal by one of our very own has shifted our “motivation” to previously unknown and previously never experienced levels.

Some people think they should go to heaven but NOT have to die to get there.

Sorry, but that’s simply not how it works.

This shocking act of disloyalty from our home grown “chosen one” sends the exact opposite lesson of what we would want our children to learn. And “who” we would want them to grow-up to become.

But the good news is that this heartless and callous action can only serve as the antidote to the so-called “curse” on Cleveland, Ohio.

The self-declared former “King” will be taking the “curse” with him down south. And until he does “right” by Cleveland and Ohio, James (and the town where he plays) will unfortunately own this dreaded spell and bad karma.

Just watch.

Sleep well, Cleveland.

Tomorrow is a new and much brighter day….

I PROMISE you that our energy, focus, capital, knowledge and experience will be directed at one thing and one thing only:

DELIVERING YOU the championship you have long deserved and is long overdue….

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Ouch!  I suppose that felt good to old ‘Danny Boy’.   But by responding in this fashion, he’s made himself look even worse than “King Prince James.”

Make no mistake about it.  This LeBron-A-Thon which started around the same time as the NBA Finals with LeBron going on Larry King, Nightline, and any other show short of Oprah, (I’m sure they called her) was a farse to begin with.  The Celtics were playing the Lakers for godsakes.  Kobe Bryant, Ron Artest, Pau Gasol and Derek Fisher were going against Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett.  Doc Rivers was trying to win his second NBA title in three years as Celtics coach.  Phil Jackson was in the midst of winning his 11th as coach.  At that point, personally I didn’t give a damn about what LeBron was going to do.  His team was eliminated in the second round of the playoffs.  Still he couldn’t resist but to move the attention on to himself.

The primetime ESPN special was also a joke.  How vain can one get;  Especially since the “Chosen One” that hasn’t won in the NBA?  Sure I watched it!  It was the ultimate train wreck.  I rubbernecked from start to finish and watched James sit uncomfortably as Jim Grey threw James softball after softball questions that he could not seem to hit out of the infield.  To hear James tell it, Cleveland wouldn’t be Cleveland if it were not for him.  In reality, he didn’t do more than Mark Price, Brad Daugherty, Ron Harper and Larry Nance for the Cavaliers franchise.  And two consecutive MVPs or not, the difference between he and Kobe Bryant isn’t even close.  Bryant is clearly more concerned about his historical basketball legacy in which greatness is clearly defined by championships.  James is more concerned with branding, merchandise and ego.  For all of his talents, he thinks more highly of himself than he should.   He was created to be that way since he was on the cover of Sports Illustrated while driving that Hummer around in High School.  And yea, the story is marketable in a summer where there is nothing but baseball and a boring soccer matches hardly anyone cares about.

That being said: Dan Gilbert’s self-righteous victimized rant came off as if LeBron slept with him for a night but didn’t stick around to cuddle the next morning.  This is the same man who would have given his chosen one $130 million for 6 years had James decided to stick around in C-Town.

Gilbert wants to rant on LeBron about loyalty?  Hell last I heard James was a free agent as of July 1.  This was indeed his time to choose whatever team he wanted to chose.  The real issue is that with James’ departure, the value of the Cavaliers franchise dropped faster than a bad stock.  Last night may as well be called Black Thursday as far as Gilbert is concerned.  Still I’d like to ask him about loyalty when it came to coach Mike Brown who won the most NBA games this past season.  I’d like to ask him about his courting of college coach Tom Izzo as if he were going to take the Cavaliers anywhere let alone have the respect of James as well as other NBA players.  LeBron never went to college so why would he respect a college coach?  I’d like to ask him why he ran out one of the best GMs in the league in Danny Ferry. 

Is Gilbert the pot or the kettle that’s all I’m asking here.  Now he’s barking off about how LeBron quit in the playoffs throwing the guy under the bus.  And any of this talk about leaking more of LeBron’s tresepasses I’m sure has been shut down by a phone call from David Stern.

My favorite quote of his entire letter is this one:

“The self-declared former “King” will be taking the “curse” with him down south. And until he does “right” by Cleveland and Ohio, James (and the town where he plays) will unfortunately own this dreaded spell and bad karma.”

Are you serious?  Were you just watching The Color Purple Thursday afternoon because it sounded very much like what Celie told Albert:

 ”Till you do right by me, everything you even think about gonna’ fail.”

Gilbert’s eagerness to court James and willingness to give him a max deal, then slamming him as James headed to South Beach is tantamount to a thug who pursues a woman at the club.  After being turned down several times finally fires back with something like this: “F’-U then!  I didn’t want your number anyway.”

As much as James is a self-glorified egomaniac, the fact of the matter is that he did indeed give the Cavaliers and the city of Cleveland seven exciting years.  He made the team and the city a lot of money.  It was an even trade-off.   Now that the affair is over, it’s over.  Gilbert should turn the page.  And if he can’t, he should touch himself and think of the memories.

Longevity is the term that explains all these concerns under one label. It is interchangeable with the term “life expectancy.” And how about youngevity? Stefan, are you crazy, what is this? Ok, ok, let me explain. Youngevity is my term to explain how young you will stay, act and look even in older age. Can this be done?

Longevity is easier to accomplish. Simply by going for check-ups and adjusting nutritional intake, you can probably increase your longevity. Also you can calculate your expected longevity with those calculators:

Blue Zone Vitality Compass

Live Expectancy Calculator

Real Age

I have tried many other calculators, but these give you a quick assessment. Also the questions will help you to think about the areas on which you should focus on.

Youngevity will not be addressed, in these calculators, unfortunately. However, there are easy, natural strategies that can be implemented today to help with this goal. Eat to maintain collagen production, for example. Vitamin C foods increase the collagen and keep your skin stronger and more elastic. And recently scientists in Australia analyzed data on how social aspects impacted youngevity in people at age 70 and older. The results? The researchers found that people in the group with the most friends were 22 % less likely to die than those in the group with the least contact. In the little village where I grew up, the older mixed with the younger and the younger with the older. It was inevitable not to stay current with the latest happenings in the world, and the kept the older younger.

It takes effort to stay longer younger physical and mentally.

Youngevity is how you will think about yourself when you are in your 70’s, 80’s or 90’s. Prepare now. And know that how active and independent you are now will affect your future.

Go out, play, have fun! And once a year, do one thing that you are absolutely afraid of to build your youngevity mojo now.

Stay focused as always.

Stefan

Your Weight Loss Longevity Coach

P.s.: To sign up for your FREE weight loss updates and solutions please go to www.stefanaschan.com

P.s.s.: Get summer ready and feel great with the Austrian Advantage

P.s.s.s.: What to eat in a monkey heat? Recipes will come next week.

I have been with Sheri as my coach since March of this year.  I have heard her say in both my consultations with her on the phone, and again in our coaches training, about fat loss and how “it” is really different than weight loss.  I have probably heard her say that 15 times so far.  Well, I just wanted to give you my version of just how different fat loss is compared to weight loss.

I am one of those crazy people who sometimes can’t pass up a “great deal”.  A little over four years ago, a company that I have bought numerous pairs of dress pants from had a clearance sale.  I soon became the proud owner of four pairs of new pants at the bargain basement price of $12.00 each.  I take my little size 14 (ok, maybe not so little) pants out of the box and go to put them on and to my shock and horror all four pair barely go over my hips and back side.  All of my other size 14s from that company fit, so I was wildly disappointed at these “too small pants” until I decided to make them my “goal” pants for the mere fact that while the label said size 14, they are actually a size 12.  Over the course of the last four years I have “diet and exerciseed” down to 195 lbs.  When I hit that number I knew for sure that I would be sporting my “goal” pants finally!  Needless to say, I put them on and I was able to button them, however, the fact that they looked like a sausage casing on me topped off by some “super sweet muffin top waist action”, I would sadly hang my pants back up in the closet.   While technically they were on me, pride would not let me wear them, not to mention the fact that if I had sat in them or tried to get my leg up in my SUV they would have split in two.  I told myself…ten more pounds and I will be wearing these pants for sure!

That was in October, 2009.  I was part of the Jenny Craig diet and exercise world and on my 1,700 calories per day “diet and exercise” I began to gain weight and crave sugar like a crazy woman not to mention the fact that I was exercising like a mad woman.  My hopes of being in my goal pants were now long gone!

I began GT in March, 2009 and started at 201 lbs.  Over the course of fueling I put on a couple of pounds by the end of it, but I was not panicked as the measurements on body, which I have taken every couple of weeks, were decreasing.   Now here is where it gets good.  Last week I needed to go to court and I was likely going to be testifying so I wanted to look nice.  None of my size 16 suits fit (hallelujah) and my size 14’s are loose, wearable, but loose.  I look over at my stacking hanger of “goal pants” and go…what the heck…give them a try.  I pulled on the first pair, cream colored linen trousers and they go on nicely.  I begin to button them and notice no struggle in that effort.  As a matter of fact, the waist has a gap in it.  I run from the closet to the bathroom to check it out in the mirror.  Wow, ok, they are loose in the waist, fit nice in the hips and I can sit, get in my car, and the best part is they are really comfortable.  I wore them, along with a blouse that I have to say, would normally require a camisole under it because I could not button the top button without having it pull across the chest.  That day, not only was I wearing my goal pants (let’s just say I was wearing my now OLD GOAL pants) and my blouse buttoned up without a camisole under it because it fit beautifully.

Now I am not bragging, because I am still about 45 lbs of fat away from my real, healthy, vibrant goal.  But the fact that I can weigh five more pounds than when I was on Jenny Craig and fit into clothes that I could not at that weight (195) speaks volumes to me about the difference of fat loss versus weight loss.  While I was lighter on the scale, I was also losing muscle.  To top it all off, I was puffy and full of inflammation compared to where I am now, with fully nourished muscles and an inflammation-free body!   Viva la fat loss!

Remember, eating clean doesn’t mean ‘boring food’ – it means going on a culinary adventure with new ways of prepping food!

Ginger-Lime Marinade

Ingredients:

2 garlic cloves

1 tsp – ground ginger

2 tsp – honey

.25 tsp lime juice

1 tbsp – extra virgin olive oil

1 tbsp – brown rice vinegar

Description:

Perfect for fish or chicken. Marinate for at least an hour, in the refrigerator.

Instructions:

You can use fresh ginger root, freshly grated, instead of powdered. Mince the garlic. Whisk all of the ingredients until combined. Refrigerate until ready to use. Enough for 2 large chicken breasts or fish filets.

Mojito Grilled Fish Tacos

Ingredients:

1 tsp – honey

1.5 cup – green cabbage

1 pound – halibut

3 tbsp – lime juice

4 tbsp – dried mint

2 tbsp – extra virgin olive oil

.25 cup – veganaise

Description:

Makes 4 servings of 2 tacos each.Use fresh mint. Use ezekiel sprouted corn or wheat tortillas or just wrap it all in a big lettuce leaf.

Instructions:

Combine veganaise, 2 TBSP mint and 1 TBSP lime juice and cabbage for lime slaw. Combine all other ingredients for marinade. Add fish to marinade. Refrigerate for 30 minutes turning once. Remove fish from marinade, discard remaining marinade. Prepare grill for high heat cooking. Place fish directly over heat, grill until firm and opaque and lightly browned, about 7 minutes, top with 1/3 cup slaw.

Profound Patty’s Chicken

Ingredients:

6 ounce – chicken breast

.5 cup – lemon juice

3 tbsp – lemon peel

.75 tsp – dried marjoram

1.5 tsp – minced garlic

6 tbsp – extra virgin olive oil

.25 cup – parsley

.75 tsp – black pepper

.75 tsp – dried thyme

Description:

A Profound marinade for grilled chicken. The lemon provides a nice spring/summer flavor and is great alone or cut up in a salad. I think rosemary would also be tasty too.

Instructions:

In a small bowl combine the all ingredients except for the chicken. Pour 1/3 cup marinade into a large resealable plastic bag; add the chicken. Seal bag and turn to coat; refrigerate for up to 1 hour. Cover & refrigerate remaining marinade. Drain & discard marinade. Grill chicken, covered, over medium heat for 5-8 minutes or each side or until a meat thermometer reads 170 degrees, basting occasionally with reserved marinade.

Tarragon Turkey Burgers

Ingredients:

2 – eggs

1 pound – ground turkey breast

2 tsp – dijon mustard

.25 cup – chopped onions

.25 tsp – spike, no salt

1 tbsp – dried tarragon

.5 – zucchini, shredded

Description:

Easy – cook them on a George Foreman grill, or an outdoor grill, or broil in oven. Nice paired with steamed green beans (or served regular-burger style with all the fixin’s – you can use a large lettuce leaf for a ‘bun’ if you’re not eating flour products).  Also try the ‘Tender Turkey Burgers’ in the Genesis recipe file.  Wow.

Instructions:

Preheat broiler or grill. In bowl, combine everything and mix throughly. Add: 1 TBS dried tarragon, 1/2 tsp sodium-free Spike or Mrs Dash, and 3 grinds of fresh black pepper. Shape into 4 patties, and cook using desired method.

Grilled Asparagus

.5 cup – balsamic vinegar

1 – clove garlic

.25 cup – extra virgin olive oil

Description:

A great way to enjoy asparagus!

Instructions:

Whisk together the dressing (olive oil, balsamic, and garlic) and set aside. Place the asparagus on a clean hot grill, brush with a little olive oil and turn until slightly browned on all around. Asparagus should still be somewhat crisp. Place the asparagus on a platter and drizzle with the dressing. Season with a twist of pepper.

Grilled Kebobs

Ingredients:

2 tbsp – balsamic vinegar

1.5 pound – chicken breast, raw

2 cups – mushrooms

6 1 tsp. – Stoneground Mustard

2 tbsp – extra virgin olive oil

2 each –  sweet red peppers

2 each –  yellow sweet peppers

Description:

Yummy Summertime Kebobs!

Instructions:

Make 6 kebobs with chicken, mushrooms, yellow peppers, and red peppers. Combine 2 tbsp. of Olive Oil, 2 tbsp. stone ground organic mustard (ground mustard seed would probably work well too), and 2 tbsp. of balsamic vinegar for the dressing. Coat each kebob and then put them in the oven at 400 for 20-25 minutes, or on the grill.

Grilled Pineapple

Ingredients:

3 tbsp – raw honey

1 tbsp – lemon juice

.25 tsp – black pepper

4 pound – whole pineapple

Description:

This very simple and elegant dessert is the perfect ending to a heavy barbecue. The pepper brings out the “grilled” flavor and adds some spiciness.

Instructions:

Trim, core, and peel pineapple. Cut into quarters from top to bottom. Slice out the core from each quarter. Cut each quarter slice into four pieces (two pieces lengthwise and two crosswise). You should now have 12 wedges of pineapple (about 3-inch by 1-inch each). In a small bowl, combine honey, lemon or lime juice, and black pepper. Brush the glaze onto each slice of pineapple, coating completely. Preheat barbecue grill. Either oil or spray the grill rack with non-stick cooking spray. Place pineapple wedges on the grill and cook approximately 4 minutes on each side (turning so that grill marks are on all sides) until the pineapple becomes fragrant and starts to dry out on the surface. NOTE: Don’t overcook, or they’ll turn mushy. Remove from the grill and brush with any additional glaze one more time. Serve and enjoy! Makes 6 servings.