by | May 23, 2015 | Fitness |
I could not get a six pack until I cut these five foods out of my diet. Trust me, I worked really hard to get lean. I have been exercising since I was 13. When I was in my early 20’s, I competed in full contact kickboxing. I trained and worked out so much that I needed 6000 calories/day or I would lose weight, and I still didn’t have much of a six pack. Then I stopped eating these five foods, and I got shredded in a few months.
#1 Food That Make Us Fat: Processed (Refined) Sugar
Before buying anything in a box, bag, or bottle, read the label. If sugar is listed in the first 3 ingredients, don’t touch it, it will make you fat guaranteed. Sugar digests almost instantly and goes directly into your bloodstream. Your pancreas responds by secreting massive amounts of insulin into your blood stream. Insulin makes your body to convert the sugar into fat.

Sugar makes you fat kracked
The Bottom Line: Eating refined sugar forces your body to store fat. Stop eating it!
Like most super villains, sugar goes by many aliases. Don’t be fooled. All of these will make you fat:
— Sugar
— Brown Sugar
— High Fructose Corn Syrup or Corn Syrup
— Dextrose (if it ends in “ose” it’s bad)
— Artificial Sweeteners – They don’t contain any calories, but they still trick your pancreas into dumping insulin in your bloodstream which will make you fat.
I LOVE SWEATS. WHAT CAN I EAT INSTEAD OF SUGAR?
The sugar that occurs naturally in fruit digests much more slowly and won’t make you fat. I Personally love honey; it’s fantastically sweet and has a low glycemic index. Another one of my favorites, ripe Mangos have a low glycemic index and taste absolutely decadent.
GLYCEMIC INDEX: WHAT IS THAT?
The glycemic index measures how quickly carbohydrates digest to sugar. Besides a few exceptions, foods with a high glycemic index will cause a large insulin response and make you fat.
Look up the glycemic index of a food here.
#2 Food That Make Us Fat: White Flour
This includes white bread, crackers, pasta, and cereals. Read the label. If “unbleached flour,” “bleached four,” “enriched flour,” or any other type of “flour” is listed in the first 3 ingredients, don’t touch it unless you want to get fat. White flour digests to sugar just as fast as table sugar and produces a similar insulin response.

Flour makes us fat
The Bottom Line: Eating white flour forces your body to store fat. Stop eating it!
But I love bread & pasta! What can I eat instead?
Best Option: Eat whole rolled oats and brown rice – they are super foods. They are loaded with nutrients and digest slowly giving you a steady supply of nutrition and energy for hours. Bread an is best avoided all together as even 100% whole wheat or 100% whole grain bread still have a relatively high glycemic index, but if you must have bread, crackers, or pasta definitely get the 100% whole grain version.
LOVE MEXICAN FOOD? CHOOSE THE CORN TORTILLAS
When ordering or cooking Mexican food, always go with the soft corn tortillas. They are made from coarsely ground corn and have a low glycemic index. Don’t touch the flour tortillas unless you‘re trying to get fat.
#3 Food That Makes Us Fat: “White” Potatoes
Is the potato white on the inside? Don’t eat it. Potatoes have an ultra high glycemic index meaning they digest to sugar very quickly and cause an insulin spike. You guessed it:

Eating “white” potatoes forces your body to store fat. Stop eating them!
No Potatoes? What can I eat instead?
Sweet potatoes and yams are delicious and are another super food. They are bursting with vitamins and minerals and are a very slow digesting carbohydrate. Please don’t put sugar on them, it insults one of nature’s most awesome foods (and it will make you fat).
#4 Food That Makes Us Fat: Anything Deep Fried
Most deep fried foods are breaded with white flour, or they are potatoes (french fries). White flour and potatoes quickly digest to sugar which causes your pancreas to dump insulin in your blood turning your body into a fat storing machine. If that weren’t bad enough, the food is also dripping in high calorie saturated fats.

Deep fried food makes you fat
Eating Deep Fried Food turns your body into a fat storing machine while supplying it with gobs of calories to turn into fat.
Eating deep friend food is probably the most effective way to get fat as quickly as possible. Unless you’re trying to get fat in record time, stay away from it.
But I love French Fries! What can I eat instead?
Don’t deep fry; bake or grill instead. For a french fry substitute, slice sweet potatoes into fries and bake or grill them. Brush on some olive oil, sprinkle on some Parmesan cheese, and bon appetite. These fries are both good for you and delicious.
#5 Food That Makes Us Fat: White Rice
Just like white bread, white rice is another refined grain that digests to sugar very quickly. Eat too much, and you will get fat.
No White Rice? What do I eat instead?
Why brown rice of course! It’s one of our super foods; it’s delicious, and it’s inexpensive. I buy my brown rice at Costco, 25 pounds at a time, and I’m single. That whole bag is for me. Brown rice is that awesome.
So That’s Why Americans Are So Fat…
By now you’ve probably realized that most Americans eat A LOT of these 5 foods, and this is precisely why 74% of Americans are overweight or obese! 74 percent – that’s insane! If you are part of the 74%, you now know exactly what you are eating that is making you fat and exactly what you need to stop eating to get your normal, healthy body back.
When you stop eating these foods, you will notice that you start losing fat like crazy (it’s almost scary). You will also notice that you can eat A LOT of good unprocessed food (as much as you want, anytime you want), and you will still be losing weight.
Maybe you know these foods are bad for you, but they taste too good, and it’s hard to stop eating them. It’s hard to change. You need an action plan to change your habits. You need to start small and change progressively because changing everything all at once is extremely difficult.
This article was written by Kurt Boyd, fitness fanatic, and director of Strength Stack 52. We have recently developed Weight Loss Stack 52, a game that helps you break bad eating habits and replace them with healthy ones.
by | May 19, 2015 | Fitness, Review |
Hi Beautiful People,
Everlast Nutrition recently supplied BubblingwithElegance.com with a complimentary packet of its VP PRO Vegan Protein mix to review. My hubby and I are always looking for healthy meal options, so we thought it would be great to try. Protein shakes are not just for fitness-minded people or for people looking to lose weight. They are also great in the summer time if you want something cool to drink or if you want a quick and easy, but a nutritious and light meal.

My hubby making a fruit smoothie with Everlast VP PRO Vegan Protein Mix
When selecting a protein shake mix, my hubby and I consider four main factors:
1. Does the mix contain fillers or artificial sweeteners?
If we see that the mix contain ingredients that we can not pronounce or that we have to look up to find out what it is, or has artificial sugars, we will not purchase it. We want only natural ingredients that provide health benefits.
2. How does it taste?
In the past, we have tried some shake mixes that were so sweet (with natural and artificial sugars), that was all we could taste. Or, in some instances, the flavored mixes did not taste natural. We have steered away from those mixes because we want the smoothie to taste great and not sweet. We recommend taking a look at the ingredient list on the package. If the first or second ingredient is sugar, or a sugar alternative; look for another product.
3. Does it provide a long-lasting energy boost?
When the smoothie or protein mix contains so much sugar, the energy boost is short-lived because it really is a sugar-high instead. We prefer mixes that are protein-based because proteins are known to keep you feeling full longer and give you an natural boost.
4. How easy is it digested and does it cause any issues on your stomach?
I have a sensitivity to some lactose products. So, unfortunately, some of the smoothie mixes did not agree with my stomach and I had challenges digesting the smoothie. I make sure to check out the ingredient list for any milk or lactose products. If the mix has these ingredients, I have to carefully sample the product before I can use it regularly.
I went to the Everlast Nutrition website and the nutritional values are listed below:

EVERLAST Nutrition facts
The directions from the package states that you can mix contents in eight to twelve ounces of water or your favorite cold beverage or smoothie. My hubby loves to add frozen fruit, flax or chia seeds, and peanut butter to add to the nutritious goodness.

Everlast VP Pro Vegan Protein Mix with Strawberries, Mangoes, Bananas and Peanut Butter.
For this sample, he used coconut water, frozen bananas, frozen strawberries, frozen mangoes, peanut butter. He mixed the ingredients together in our Ninja and I have to say that I enjoyed it. The vanilla flavor was very tasty without any odd or strange aftertaste. I would recommend the Everlast VP Vegan Protein Mix for anyone wants a great tasting shake. The mix is naturally sweetened with Stevia,instead of sugar or sucralose. One serving of the mix contains 22 grams of protein from three plant proteins (pea, rice and hemp) and it contains only 110 calories and no cholesterol, gluten, lactose, soy, hormones or GMOs. It is a winner in my book. You can purchase the protein mix by clicking HERE!

JT doing Kettlebell workout
When working out, with my kettle bell or doing one of my other routines, adding protein into my diet is needed. It is great to have a Everlast protein mix to give me the necessary energy and fuel to be swinging my kettle bell. Gio (my beagle) is making sure I am using correct form. Gio is my coach but he’s looking a little sleepy there. Ha Ha!

DISCLAIMER:
Everlast provided me with a free sample of the protein mix and I was compensated for this review. However, all statements about the protein mix are truly my own opinion. Please check with your doctor to determine if this protein mix is the right one for you.
by Jay | May 19, 2015 | Haircare |
For most people, finding a way to enhance the look they have is an ongoing search and something they take very seriously. There are a number of ways you can enhance and keep up your look, which means you will need to do some research to find the best methods for your needs. One of the biggest problems most people have when trying to keep their appearance of is getting rid of unsightly hair. Among the best ways to get rid of this unsightly hair is through laser removal. The following are a few of the benefits of laser hair removal in Toronto.
Possibly Permanent
One of the biggest benefits you can gain when using this type of treatment is the possibility it could be permanent. For some people, the longer they undergo this type of treatment the slower their hair will begin to come back. In some cases, this could turn into a permanent solution, which will help to save you a lot of time and trouble. You need to speak with the professionals you are using to see what type of advice they have on slowing down the growth of your hair.
Helps to Save Money and Time
Another benefit you can take advantage of when using this method of hair removal is it will save you time and money. Having waxing done will only offer you a few days or a week’s worth of smoothness. Using this method will make you have to go back time and time again in order to keep the right results. By using the power of lasers, you will be able to have your hair free parts stay that way. The time and money you can save by using laser treatments will be well worth it.
Short and Painless
Yet another advantage you can gain by using this treatment is the fact that it is very painless and takes a short amount of time. The last thing that anyone wants to do is sit in a chair all day while having a hair removal process done. Although this process does not take a lot of time, it is very successful and can help you to get rid of the unsightly hairs you have. Make sure you take your time to find the right professional to administer this type of treatment for you. The time and effort you put into this process will be more than worth it in the end.
If you are in need of high-quality laser hair removal, then be sure to call Hair Free Clinics. They have been in the business for many years and can offer you the service you need. Call them or go to their website for more information.
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by | May 18, 2015 | Pets |
For most people, having to deal with a high amount of stress each day is a normal thing, but still very damaging to their health. The best way to reduce the amount of stress you have in your life is by getting a pet. There are a number of pets out there, but none is more loving and loyal than a dog. By having a dog, you will be able to care for them and take your mind off of the stress you have in the process. Over time, you may notice your pet is becoming a bit unruly and will need to have training to get them calmed down. The following are a few tips on finding the right dog training in Ottawa.

Photo courtesy of AWESOMEK9.COM
What Are Your Goals
The first thing you have to consider when trying to find the right trainer is what your main goal is. The more you are able to find out about what you want in these training sessions, the easier it will be to choose the right one. Make sure you speak with each of the trainers in your area to find out what they can offer you and whether or not it is what you need. By taking the time to do this, you will be able to make your decision much easier.
Getting Some Information on the Trainer’s Background
The next step you need to take when trying to find the right dog trainer is to do some research on the one’s in your area. You want to make sure you are able to find out as much as you can about the trainers so you can make the right decision. The time and energy you put into find the right information on the trainers in your area is needed to make the right decision.

Photo courtesy of AWESOMEK9.COM
How Long Are the Courses and How Much Do They Cost?
Another very important thing you have to consider when trying to find the right trainer is how long the courses will last. Once you have this information, you will need to find out about how much these classes with cost you. The more you are able to find out about what each of the trainers can offer you, the better equipped you will be to choose the right one. Make sure you weigh all of the options you have before you make the decision on which trainer to use.
If you are in need of a great trainer for your dog, then be sure to call on the team at Awesome K9. They have the knowledge needed to get your dog in good shape in no time. Call them or visit awesomek9.com for more information.
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by | May 14, 2015 | Around the Home, Crafting |
Making your own home decorations can really stamp your personality on your living space. Home crafting is one of my favorite past times, and I just love the chance to get creative and let loose with some unique pieces. It’s not that hard to do, either. So, if you are a little worried about trying your hand at home-made crafts, then why not try these simple ideas? You’ll learn the basics while having a lot of fun, and it won’t be long before you can let your imagination run wild.

Fabric Samples from a Local Craft Fair
Frame Up Your Photos
Let’s start with the easiest of all – framing one of your self-taken photos. You can build a frame from virtually anything you like, from driftwood to discarded metals, or even old ceramic tiles. I love this rustic frame made from sticks, faux moss and a few flowers, for example. The only limits are your imagination, and it is such an easy way of getting started into home crafts. All you need is some material to use, some scissors, glue and string, and once you have finished, you will have an entirely unique picture in a handmade frame. It’s a very rustic effect for city or country dwellers alike.
Cork Notice Board
If you enjoy a glass of wine with your meal, why not start saving up those corks? They can be used in a number of ways to create some interesting pieces, but my favorite by far has to be the cork notice board. All you need to get started are plenty of corks and a good-sized piece of thin plywood. Use glue guns to fix the corks to the plywood, and cover the entire piece. Once it has dried, and the corks are stuck fast, use some of the framing ideas above to finish it off. You’ll be left with a stunning and hardy notice board that you can pin important info on with ease.
Leaf Painting
Leaf painting is such an easy activity that even kids can do it well. In fact, if you have children, it’s an excellent way to get them into crafts as well as teaching them about nature. All you need is some good quality paint, a brush, and a healthy dollop of creativity. How you paint them is up to you. Silvers and golds are great for the festive period (try making a garland or surround an advent wreath with them). However, you can get some excellent effects just by choosing some coordinated colors and either sticking them to your all or arranging them on a mantel or shelf.
Pot Pourri Hangers
If your wardrobe is getting a little musty, then why not make things a bit more appealing to the nose? Head to your local craft store and pick up some attractive material. Lace is always good for the more feminine amongst you, and some standard polyester will also be needed. Grab some tracing paper and an old clothes hanger, and use a pencil to draw an outline. Flip the hanger over and do the other side, leaving an inch or so for a border. You now have a template for cutting your fabric, so do that and put aside for the time being. Next, wrap the polyester strips across the shoulders, making them nice and plump. You can now secure the hanger to one side of the fabric with glue, place some of your favourite potpourri inside, and then seal the other side. Use faux flowers for added effect, and you are done! A beautiful hanger that not only looks great but will improve the smell of all your clothes!
Make A Keyholder
Need to spruce up your key holder? There are plenty of ideas that can turn this most mundane of objects into a genuine talking point. Whatever style your home is, you can create some truly stunning key holders with ease. Pieces of driftwood will look great hanging on your wall if you have a nature theme running through your house. For a more funky look, just buy some kids’ alphabet blocks, add some screws, and fix the to the wall with sticky-backed plastic. You can spell out any words that you like – even going so far as to personalizing them, so you and your partner never have to argue over keys again.
Create Unique Lampshades
Creating your own lampshades is so easy to do, yet so few people attempt it. Pick up a DIY lampshade kit and come up with some ideas. You can either wrap it in old wallpaper offcuts or use fabric. A good material allows a little extra creativity, as you can create a self-inspired design or pattern. Just buy plain material and sculpt a lino block to your liking. Then dip the block into the paint of your choice, and go wild with your design. It is simple and cheap enough to make plenty of mistakes when you are just starting out.
Make Use Of Your Cardboard
If you go into any home design store, you will often find beautiful storage boxes made from vinyl or cardboard. But, when you look at the price tag, all of sudden they don’t seem that pretty at all. Why spend the money when you can make your own storage boxes for a fraction of the price? Even an old shoebox can look magnificent wrapped in some cheap hessian or burlap and a simple design printed on it. You could also look at your local thrift store for old metal handles to stick on. Even old wallpaper and some off cut upholstery fabric can turn a standard delivery box into a glorious storage unit. Again, all you need is a glue gun, some excellent raw materials, and a good imagination.
I hope this post has given you some ideas on how to jazz up your living space. It is so much easier than you think to create something entirely unique. None of these ideas are expensive, so even if you struggle with the learning curve you will be able to afford to make mistakes. Happy crafting!
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