What is the HCG Diet?

This diet plan was formulated by Dr. Albert T Simeons, who stated that a hormone HCG, can help men and women lose unwanted body fat, thereby assisting in weight loss.

The human chorionic gonadotropin hormone is a glycoprotein hormone naturally produced in pregnant women by the placenta, to nourish the growing fetus and provide nutrients.

The function of the HCG hormone is to signal the hypothalamus gland in the brain to mobilize fat stores and release the fat from the reserves. The hormone thus fuels the body with required energy by using up the fat from the reserves in the body.

Okay, okay enough of the science…

The HCG diet plan claims that it can help a person lose 1-3 pounds of weight per day. A person on the HCG diet plan is required to take HCG hormone (125 i.u. to 200 i.u. of Hcg everyday) on a daily basis. The number of days in this particular weight loss will depend on whether a person is taking injection or drops and the amount of weight wants to lose. Mostly, this diet plan runs over a period of 23 days.

One of the many things that scares me is that a person on this diet is strictly allowed to consume only up to 500 calories. Thus, besides taking HCG hormone, one also has to supplement the hormone intake with an extremely low calorie diet. The diet comprises of raw, steamed or grilled vegetables like spinach, celery, cabbage, etc. Organic fed veal, beef and skinned chicken are also permitted.

But is this diet plan safe?

HCG Diet Side Effects

Nevertheless, there are some human chorionic gonadotropin side effects that people on such a diet face. They are as follows:

Some HCG diet side effects in women are stomach ache, swelling of extremities, pelvic pain, etc. which occur due to Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS), that has been caused as a result of an HCG diet. People on HCG diet injections are also seen to experience additional side effects of HCG diet, such as muscle cramps, lumps, gynecomastia, premature puberty in men, etc.

Another side effect is sudden weight gain. What!!!
Well, an HCG diet calls for consumption of only 500 calories a day, which is not enough for supporting normal brain function. The body compensates the deficit by using up the stored glycogen, protein and fat. The additional hormone will suppress appetite, however, once one is off the diet and begins to eat normally, the weight lost is gained back. Moreover, since people have starved for over 3 weeks (500 calorie diet!) they usually tend to eat more once the diet program is over.

Irregardless of the alleged HCG diet side effects, it is important to remember that even though the HCG diet proposes to help with weight loss, it is yet another crash diet and is not a healthy way to lose weight.

Here is what our Food and Drug Administration has to say about HCG as a dietary supplement,

It is not FDA approved for weight loss at this time for the following reason, and I quote ” It is not possible to obtain uniformity in the reporting of results solely through the use of a common standard, since hCG is a complex molecule.”

To lose weight in a healthy manner there is no shortcut. Eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly is mandatory for losing weight the right way!

Just get yourself to the gym and do Boot Camp! Call me at 254-247-4999

American Journal Of Clinical Nutrition  http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/reprint/29/9/940.pdf

American College Of Bariatric Physicians http://www.asbp.org/resources/uploads/files/HCG%20Position%20Statement.pdf

http://www.dietsinreview.com/diet_column/06/hcg-diet-reviewed-by-fullbars-dr-michael-snyder/

Yummo, Coach like!

Ever since you first heard of smoothies, your mouth has been watering. When you’re sipping on a smoothie, your mouth is in taste heaven. When there’s no smoothie in your hand, all you can think of are strawberries, bananas, and blueberries. But if you’re not careful, your smoothies can turn into nothing more than an average dessert.

To make sure your smoothie is as healthy as it is cold and delicious, you’ve got to have more than a good blender. You’ve got to have the right building blocks as well.

Building Block: Fruit

In a healthy smoothie, the most basic building block is fruit. Ideally, you want to go with fresh fruits that aren’t sitting in sugar water or have been made unhealthy in some other way. Rather, you want fruit straight off the vine or tree. Raw fruit that hasn’t been tampered with will ensure you the most powerful smoothie punch.

Some of the most common fruits found in smoothies include bananas, strawberries, and blueberries. But don’t let this keep you from getting creative. No matter what your favorite fruit is, you can toss it in the blender for a delightful, flavorful smoothie. From cantaloupe and mango to pineapple, raspberry, and melon, you can include any fruit you can find in your smoothie concoction.

Building Block: Juice

Once you’ve got your fruits picked out, you’ll need to find a complementary juice. As with the fruit choices, there is one juice that is picked much more often than the others: orange juice. However, you can toss in whatever type of juice you want to spice up your smoothie.

For variations on your favorite smoothie, give apple juice, grape juice, or cranberry juice a shot. Each different juice will affect the consistency, thickness, and flavor of your smoothie, so keep trying out juices until you find the perfect flavor for your pallet.

Building Block: Yogurt

When you have lots of different fruits and flavors, you’ll probably want something to pull them all together into one cohesive whole. Enter stage left: yogurt. Low-fat or fat-free is the best choice, and since most yogurt falls into one of these categories, it is also an easy choice to find.

With the right amount of yogurt in the mix, your smoothie will go from a yummy treat to a must-have each and every day. While you’ll probably rely on vanilla yogurt for most of your smoothies, using strawberry, strawberry banana, blueberry, or other flavors will enhance your smoothie instantly!

Breathe!

Everyone falls prey to lies and myths on occasion. But if you buy into one of these and your exercise routine is affected by it, you could be in a world of danger. What lies may be affecting your ability to work out safely and with maximum results? Read on to find out.

Lie 1: Big Size = Big Strength

Okay, so the big guys are often rather strong (you won’t see a lot of skinny folks lifting cars), but you don’t have to be super beefy to be strong. Actually, too much muscle mass can make it difficult to perform certain activities. Instead of focusing on getting bigger, bigger, bigger, go for exercises that help you get in good shape, have good muscle definition, and retain your ability to move quickly. Remember we train for the unknown and unknowable.

Lie 2: Muscle Becomes Fat

Ever wished you could transform all of the fat around your midsection into rock-hard muscle? Of course you have. Unfortunately, you know you have to burn off the fat in order to make room for muscle. Likewise, the muscle you build up won’t turn into fat when you stop working out. You just think it did, because any time you stop working out, you see unwanted pounds show up with such speed. You need to make your eating habits match your workout habits. Make sure you are at our next nutritional seminar to learn about the Paleo lifestyle.

Lie 3: You’ll Get His or Her Results

At every gym there are people with great bodies. Everything is where it should be and every muscle is well defined and shapely. To get the same results, you ask one of these model-looking individuals for the secrets to their picture-perfect bodies. You take careful notes and then attempt to mimic their every move in the gym. Unfortunately, what works for one person may not work for you. Every body is different and responds differently to various exercises. Since there is no one-size-fits-all approach to exercise, try plenty of different workouts to find out what works best for you.

Lie 4: Tons of Gym Time, Awesome Results

If spending an hour or two in the gym five days a week is good for you, then spending five hours every day pushing your body to the max is even better – right? Wrong. Overtraining your muscles and not giving them any chance to rest can actually cause your muscles to begin breaking down and going away. On top of this, you also put your muscles at risk for some serious injuries if you spend too much time exercising – especially if you’re doing the same movements over and over again. With our boot camp workout programming, you will get a great workout inside of 45 minutes.

Lie 5: Slow Is Safe

Commercials that feature outdoor groups of people enjoying a relaxing class of yoga can be misleading. While yoga and pilates can be relaxing and slow-moving ways to get exercise, they can put your body at risk for some of the same injuries other exercises pose. So before hopping into an advanced yoga class without understanding what you’re getting into, start at the beginner’s level and gradually work your way up to the more advanced, demanding classes.

Lie 6: Form Doesn’t Matter

Back when you were first starting to lift weights, you worried about keeping perfect form for each rep. But over time, you began to realize that form wasn’t as important as just getting out there and lifting. Unfortunately, your epiphany isn’t based in truth, because if you lift weights or perform other exercises without using the right form, the negative results are two-fold. First, you aren’t actually targeting the muscle you think you are unless you maintain good form. Second, improper form puts you at great risk for a variety of severe injuries. We are super strict on form here at the gym. Proper posture while lifting can save you pain and suffering and supercharge your workout!

Lie 7: Genetics Are Everything

If your parents and grandparents are overweight and out of shape, it can be easy for you to expect the same fate for yourself. But don’t let your genetics get in the way of exercise. Instead, understand that you may have to make some modifications (including what you eat) to get the results you want in the gym. You may even have to change your goals to better meet your body’s abilities.

So, there are a few of the biggest lies in exercise. Ready to commit and get fit? Call 254-247-4999 or come by the gym and start today!

Much like Chicken Saltimbocca, this is chicken smothered in Parmesan cheese and rolled with mozzarella and prosciutto and baked in white wine.

Categories: Lunch, Dinner, Low Carb, High Protein

• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
• 1/3 cup white wine
• 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
• 4 teaspoons butter
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 pinch black pepper
• 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
• 4 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto
• 10 ounces sliced whole milk mozzarella cheese

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
2. Pound chicken breasts flat, and lay them on work surface.
3. Sprinkle liberally with Parmesan cheese on both sides.
4. Place a pinch of minced garlic and 1 teaspoon butter in the center of each breast.
5. Cover each breast with a layer of prosciutto and mozzarella cheese.
6. Reserve some of the prosciutto to place on top of the chicken.
7. Roll up each chicken breast, and secure with toothpicks.
8. In a 9×13 inch baking dish, combine white wine and olive oil.
9. Arrange chicken rolls in dish.
10. Place a small piece of prosciutto on top of each roll, and sprinkle with pepper.
11. Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink, an juices run clear.

Official Member

]]> http://www.combativesgroup.com/archives/1114/feed 0 http://www.combativesgroup.com/archives/983 http://www.combativesgroup.com/archives/983#comments Tue, 23 Mar 2010 02:36:31 +0000 Jim http://www.combativesgroup.com/?p=983

Hey Everybody! I want to welcome two new Athletes to our Boot Camp family. They are:

Lindsey Lee

Neenah Saucedo

When you see them in the gym tomorrow, help them warm up!

Do you???

Almost on a daily basis, I need to remind my Athletes and Fighters to breathe. Sound funny? It might, if you aren’t exerting yourself to the nth degree. If you are giving 100% to your squats or burpees? How about if your training partner is putting the body triangle on you? What about in the middle of a 5 minute round of knees on the bag?

For many people, breathing seems to be the hardest part of exercise to grasp.  While proper breathing is very important, it doesn’t have to be complicated or confusing.  The most important thing to remember when it comes to breathing is DON’T hold your breath.  Holding your breath can lead to elevated blood pressure during your workout routine, which can result in dizziness or even fainting.

 Here’s an easy way to make sure you’re breathing correctly while you workout…

 Exhale on exertion.  That means breathe out while you’re lifting the weight and breathe in while you lower the weight under control.  For example, if you’re performing the kettlebell swing, you should exhale as you lift the weight upwards above you and open your hips, then inhale as you lower it back down.

Another example is that of striking. You should exhale as your strike and inhale upon covering. If you are being hit, exhale forcefully upon impact.

By following these simple breathing techniques, you’ll not only perform each exercise more effectively, you’ll also be more comfortable while you’re working out.  And that makes for a more enjoyable fitness experience, which will ultimately lead to better, faster results.

Until next time, breathe!

What You Need:

4 red snapper fillets (4 ounces each)

1/4 c fresh lime juice

1 T fresh lemon juice

1 t chili powder

1 plum tomato coarsely chopped

4 green onions, sliced in 1/2 inch lengths

1/2 c chopped Anaheim pepper

1/2 c chopped red bell pepper

cilantro for garnish

Place red snapper in a shallow baking dish. Combine lime juice, lemon juice and chili powder in measuring c. Pour over snapper. Marinate 10 minutes, turning once or twice. Sprinkle onions, tomato and peppers over snapper.

Cover. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or just until snapper flakes in center. Let stand, covered, 4 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh cilantro.