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diet

Top 5 Nutrition Books

by Rob on April 29, 2012

Have you ever been into the nutrition section of the bookstore? There are hundreds of books on different diets and eating plans. All claiming that their way of eating is THE way of eating. How can they all be right? And how do you know which one to choose?

Nutrition is an area of science where you can prove opposing theories because the variable is the human body, and every body is different. So what I eat to keep me happy and healthy is going to be a little different than what you eat; and what you eat will be slightly different than what your neighbor eats.

The best thing to do is experiment with many different ways of eating and see what works best for you based on your body and health goals. Below is a list of some of my favorite nutrition books. As you read through them, notice: What things are the same? What things are different?

1. The Energy Balance Diet by Joshua Rosenthal – Balance is the goal when it comes to nutrition. This book will help you find that balance and relax so you can find a way of eating that works for you.

2. Nourishing Wisdom by Marc David – Connection with your own body wisdom is essential to finding a way of eating that is right for you. Marc will give you tips on how to get there.

3. Thrive and Thrive Fitness by Brendan Brazier – Brendan is a committed high raw vegan triathlete. If he doesn’t know how to combine vegan nutrition and exercise, who does?

4. Self Healing Cookbook by Kristina Turner – Best book I have read on incorporating grains and whole foods in an intuitive and simple way.

5. Mindless Eating by Brian Wansink – So much of the time we eat while doing several other things. No wonder we end up eating more than we need and feeling unsatisfied. The tools in this book will really help.

Post by:

Christy Meyers

Certified Holistic Health Counselor

To get further support with incorporating these tips into your life and reaching your health goals,
email Christy at info@howtochow.com, or visit www.HowToChow.com and How to Chow on Facebook.

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Top 5 Movies About Nutrition

by Rob on December 30, 2011

The end of one year and the start of another is usually a time for reflection. What went well this year? What are you going to work on next year? I encourage all of my clients to set goals before the new year starts so they can hit the ground running come January.

Sometimes you need a little inspiration though! And the holidays are the perfect time to kick back and relax…with some inspiring documentaries. Okay, maybe that wasn’t your first thought, but why not get inspired by learning more about why eating healthy can change your life and the world.

Here are some of my favorites that can be found on Netflix, and some on Netflix Instant Player!

1. Super Size Me - On the heels of recent lawsuits against McDonald’s, director Morgan Spurlock takes a hilarious and often terrifying look at the effects of fast food on the human body, using himself as the proverbial guinea pig. For one month, Spurlock eats nothing but McDonald’s, ordering everything on the menu and “super-sizing” his order whenever asked. The result is a sobering examination of the line between personal and corporate responsibility.

2. Food, Inc. - Drawing on Eric Schlosser’s Fast Food Nation and Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma, director Robert Kenner’s provocative, Oscar-nominated documentary explores the food industry’s detrimental effects on our health and environment.

3. Forks Over Knives - Focusing on the research of two food scientists, this earnest documentary reveals that despite broad advances in medical technology, the popularity of modern processed foods has led to epidemic rates of obesity, diabetes and other diseases.

4. Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead - Focusing on two men whose bodies have been trashed by steroids, obesity and illness, this documentary chronicles the rigorous healing path — including a two-month diet of fruits and vegetables — that both attempt in a bid to rescue their health.

5. Food Matters - With a staggering number of Americans suffering from obesity and other food-related maladies, this film takes a timely and hard-hitting look at how the food we eat is helping or hurting our health, and what we can do to live (and eat) better. Nutritionists, naturopaths, scientists, doctors, medical journalists and more weigh in on everything from using food as medicine to the value of organic food and the safety of the food we consume.

Post by:

Christy Meyers

Certified Holistic Health Counselor

To get further support with incorporating these tips into your life and reaching your health goals, email Christy at info@howtochow.com, or visit www.howtochow.com and on facebook.

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Organic Total Body Cleanse – Review

by Rob on May 3, 2011

I had a chance to try out the Organic Total Body Cleanse by ReNew Life last month. It is a “Natural 14-day Total-Body Herbal Cleansing Program,” broken down into 3 stages, blending only organic herbs and fiber to offer an effective colon and body cleanse with no extra ingredients to add stress to your body.

The Organic Total Body Cleanse was designed by Brenda Watson, who has written many books on nutrition and recently recorded a PBS special in late 2010, The Road to Perfect Health – Balance Your Gut, Heal Your Body, making the point that chronic disease starts with an unhealthy digestive system.

Here’s how the Cleanse works. In the box you’ll receive 3 different bottles of capsules:
1. Detoxify with Organic Total Body Herbal Cleanse
2. Capture with Organic Fiber Blend
3. Eliminate with Organic Colon Cleanse

You take 5 capsules in the morning and 5 capsules in the evening and that’s it. There is no diet plan to follow or recommendations on food or exercise with this cleanse.

I had no trouble keeping up with this regimen. If you are someone who wants a very simple cleanse to help you kick off a healthier lifestyle then I think this is the perfect way to start. For me, I’ve done two dietary cleanses in the past year or so which has provided me with better results. This is not to say I didn’t see any results with the Organic Total Body Cleanse. I definitely found I was processing food more quickly and having more regular bowel movements and even felt a little serge in my energy levels.

All in all I think this cleanse is good for the beginner. If you’ve never done a cleanse before and you’re not sure what to do, this is the perfect option for you. If you are someone who does cleanses on a regular basis (two to three times a year) I’d try something a little more involved.

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Blog 8: One Month Down, How’m I Doing Rob?

by Rob on February 9, 2010

Adam At Home Week 4

We are into our first day of month 2 and I’m feeling a bit of a one month slump. I’m feeling strong, and I’m down to 161 pounds from 175, but I’m starting to get really tired during workouts and really hungry during the day! Month 2 is the next level and I feel like my body and my mind have to step up their game! Today’s workout was grueling and satisfying at the same time…

We’re still in the ‘trim down’ phase of the nutrition, losing weight, no bread, few carbs, no sugar, no caffeine…mostly whole foods and veggies! I’m loving the diet, although it wasn’t fun at the Super Bowl party…but having the best friends I could ever have, my guys made some turkey chili that i could eat! I ate, supplied the veggies and hummus…and together we got through it. It’s amazing how intrigued everyone around me is with this program, it almost seems like people think I’d be the LAST person to ever watch what I eat! And now that I am, people are starting to really think about it themselves. Luckily, because of Christy, I’m now the go-to-guy in my group of friend for everything nutrition, which, as you all know is complete MISHIGAS!

Here’s the newest episode…meet my trainer and the creator of the Challenge, Rob Dionne…he’s the guy that’s changing my life right now, and I thank him everyday for it!

Sky Fit Challenge – Video Blog #6 – My Report Card from Open Sky Fitness on Vimeo.

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Blog 5: Cooking It Up

by Rob on February 9, 2010

The Sky Fit Challenge is awesome.

Today was a great day. Amazing work out, probably the first time I’ve worked out my back since the great Back Spasms of ’92. We all remember that. I think since then, I’ve pretty much left that part of my body alone and, boy, did it show today! But the work out was really great, and very hard, and I was exhausted by the end of it!

This afternoon my nutritionist, Christy came over for Extreme Makeover: Kitchen Edition. We went through every piece of food in my kitchen and got rid of everything that’s not on my nutrition plan…all the sugars, the processed foods, the pastas and breads, and even my favorite taco shells. Ouch! But it’s worth it, next week we’ll go to the market together and try to replace all of those things with their healthier-whole-food equivalent. Video from Extreme Kitchen Makeover to come!

I cooked up some salmon, asparagus and kale tonight for dinner. Kale! Kale? I never heard of this vegetable, and now it’s my favorite. Roast some Kale at 375 for 15 minutes with some extra virgin olive oil and a tiny bit of salt, you got your self a side dish, my friend!! Add some baked salmon and a little asparagus, a couple glasses of water…you got yourself a happy Katie.

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Blog 4: Week 2 Down!

by Rob on February 9, 2010

Week 1 & 2

Week 2 was intense! It rained harder that I’ve ever seen it in LA. For the whole week, we got soaked, but we got through it all. Open Sky style!

The workouts are getting more difficult now that my form is improving. If you do a push up the wrong way, you can do 30, if you do it the right way, you’re lucky to reach 10! Same goes for all of my exercises.

I did some Yoga this week and I also tried Gyrotronic. Both were a huge help in helping my body stretch and recover from the workouts.

My withdraw symptoms and crazy mood swings due to my massive diet change are starting to calm down. Thank the Lord. Looks like Katie won’t have to leave me after all. I ate at a raw/vegan restaurant called Cru, here in LA, where I could order anything off the menu, which was a blast. It was like being back at Roman Delight in Abington, PA…only the pasta was made out of seeds and the cheese was actually cashews. But after 14 days of eating salads, i could have sworn I was in Italy! This place was magic…they can make raw foods taste like just about anything…I had a brownie that wasn’t a brownie topped with ice cream that wasn’t ice cream and it was delicious!

Today is Sunday, which is my day off, and it’s much needed after my 2 hours of basketball yesterday…probably the most painful two hours of the Sky Fit Challenge. Turns out I USED to be good at basketball. At least I had energy!

Sky Fit Challenge – Video Blog #4 – Week Two in the Bag. from Open Sky Fitness on Vimeo.

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Sky Fit Challenge Giveaway

by Rob on October 27, 2009

Open Sky Fitness and How to Chow have decided to choose another lucky person to participate in the Sky Fit Challenge for FREE!! Starting on November 30th, 2009 a new Sky Fit Challenger will start his or her 3 month life altering program.

Sky Fit Challenge is a personalized fitness and nutrition program designed to burn fat, build lean body mass and get your body looking the best it’s ever been, in just 3 months. Working 1 on 1 with Sky Fit Challenge creator, Rob Dionne, and How to Chow’s Christy Meyers, you will be molded into the person you’ve always strived to be.

The Sky Fit Challenge includes:

3 one hour sessions per week with Rob Dionne, Personal Trainer
Personalize Cardio Program designed to burn excess fat
Personalized Nutrition Plan with How to Chow’s Christy Meyers
Nutrition Consultation and weekly tracking sessions
Before and After pictures to track results
Monthly Results Tracking – including Body Fat % & Circumference Measurements

This is over a $4500 value for FREE!! All you have to do is join the Open Sky Fitness Facebook Fan Page and send your request to be the next Sky Fit Challenger to SkyFit@OpenSkyFitness.com and you could be NEXT!

Because we are offering this program ABSOLUTELY FREE it is very important for us to know that this new Challenger will be 110% dedicated. That is why we are requesting a short explanation of why you should be the next Sky Fit Challenge success story along with a full body photo. All applicants must email their requests by November 16th and the lucky individual will be announced on November 23rd.

Don’t forget to sign in on the right side of this page to get a FREE workout and nutrition plan to help you get started today!

Unfortunately this offer is only for Los Angeles residents at this time.

Jeff Meacham, the last Sky Fit Challenger!

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Blog 6: Let’s Keep On Track On Vacation

by Rob on August 26, 2009

I’m lying on my dad’s floor in Hebron, CT watching the Red Sox vs Yankees which means the family vacation officially begins. My first challenge: Don’t raid the fridge, Second: Try to find time to workout, Third: Stick to the plan.

Before I left on Thursday night Christy and I sat down and made a food plan for the next 4 days. One little Christy secret she gave me was if you can’t find something in small town USA, bring it with you. In my suitcase she put a zip-lock bag of Quinoa that should last the whole time I’m here, a bag a dried organic mango to snack on and some Lara Bars that taste so good.

As for my workouts, technically I’m only missing my Monday with Rob but it feels like a long time. So, I took Friday off after a killer leg workout on Thursday…those dam stairs. Oh, by the way, where there are stairs there is also a hill. Don’t get me started on the hill. So, Friday off, cardio on Saturday and Sunday, then Rob will email me a workout I can do with bands on Monday. As with the food Christy gave me, Rob sent me with 2 bands, all of which takes up very little room in my suitcase.

We all know when you’re with your family food can be a little rough. The chip dips seem to line the fridge walls. Your step Mom asks you if you want homemade blueberry or apple pie and the local diner makes some sweet ass pancakes. At least in small town Connecticut they do. So, my challenge is to limit those foods, workout and as some dead English guy said, “stay the course.”

All in all, 5 weeks are down in the Sky Fit Challenge. I’ve lost almost 10 pounds, I’m down about 3% body fat and I really feel good.

Week 1

After Week 4

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Post-Workout Supplements

by Rob on February 3, 2009

stockvault_1211_20070301 I have to admit that I don’t normally recommend supplements to my clients. It seems like the trend here in Los Angeles is to keep it natural. At least when it comes to food that is. Alas, one of my clients recently asked me about drinking a shake after his workout. The reason being, it takes him 45 minutes to an hour to get home from the gym after work and he’s starving.

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