By now you know how much we love summer.  There’s nothing quite like cooking out with family and friends, taking your workout outdoors and showing off those hard earned muscles under the summer sun.   Unfortunately, it’s also our least favorite time of year to spend in a sweltering kitchen!    Don’t want to slave over the oven? No problem, fall back on these quick and tasty meal ideas instead…..

Low fat cottage cheese- with real berries, pineapple or any fruit (without added sugar) is quick and light enough for a summer snack, breakfast or lunch.

Greek Yogurt Parfait - Still haven’t tried this one?   Check it out under your recipe tab.  We promise, you won’t be disappointed!  Bonus:  Double up the recipe to have plenty on hand for the week.
 
Lean turkey roll up on a low carbohydrate, whole wheat wrap- Go ahead and load it up with anything you’ve got in the fridge- tomatoes, lettuce, hummus, onions, olives, roasted red peppers,  salad fixings, etc.  Add some sliced avocado for delicious, heart healthy fat.

Salad topped with tuna, cottage cheese, turkey or pre-cooked chicken.  The summer is the perfect time to get creative with your salads.  Layer your favorite greens with veggies, chopped or dried fruit, toasted nuts, light dressing and some protein and you’ve got a colorful meal in minutes.

A Protein and Fruit Smoothie is an ideal way to cool down this summer and get a big dose of calcium, fiber, and powerful antioxidants.  Even better, having a smoothie a day can help ward off cravings for other  high calorie summer time treats like ice cream.    Blend low fat milk or soymilk (try Lactaid if your lactose intolerant) with fruit (bananas and berries for example), some “good” fat like peanut butter, nuts, or ground flax seed, with your favorite protein powder (whey or soy) and ice until smooth.  Our favorite combo:  banana, strawberries, natural peanut butter, vanilla protein powder, 1% low fat milk and ice all swirled together in a blender….delicious!

Want more ideas?  Check out your Recipe Tab!  Each recipe in our collection is specifically designed to be balanced, delicious, FAST and EASY!  And the majority of recipes can be made in bulk and even frozen for meals later on (which fits in nicely with your busy summer).    How about Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad or BBQ Shrimp Kebobs?  Sure, some of these recipes will require cooking but if you take the time to cook in bulk once or twice this week, you can make enough food to last you for days.  Give it a shot and your summer might just get a whole lot easier! 

Enjoy your summer.  And feel free to drop us a line about your FAST and favorite summer time meals….we’d love to hear from you!

Our best,

The Venice Nutrition Team

Everyone knows that a walk or jog outdoors on a beautiful summer day is so much more exciting than pounding it out on the treadmill.    But if you’ve ever felt a little woozy or suffered from heat exhaustion afterwards, then you know how tough the blazing sun can be on your body.  What you might not realize is how risky it can be too.   In fact, prolonged or excessive exercise in the sun is one of the leading causes of heat stroke, a dangerous combo of exhaustion, muscle cramps and dehydration that can lead to shock, brain damage, organ failure and even death. 

The good news is you don’t need to give up your favorite summer exercise; you just need to be smart about how you do it.  Here are a few pointers to stay safe this summer.

1.  Stay hydrated.  If you’re thirsty, you are already dehydrated.  It’s wise to drink plenty of water throughout the day leading up to your workout and bring water with you during your workout.  If you’re an endurance athlete and exercising for long amounts of time outdoors, a low sugar sports drink with electrolytes can help to keep you hydrated and balanced.
2. Don’t overdress!  Wear loose fitting active wear, preferably made of moisture wick fabric.
3. Check with your doctor if you’re on meds.  Certain medications can make you more likely to suffer from heat related illnesses.
4. Take breaks in the shade and workout in the shade if possible.
5. Don’t forget sunscreen- aim for a waterproof version with an SPF of at least 30.  Remember, an SPF of 30 will protect your skin in the sun for 30 minutes…plan accordingly.
6. A hat and sunglasses are your best friends in the heat.
7. Listen to your body. If you feel any exhaustion, muscle cramping, fatigue, excess thirst, headaches, dizziness, weakness, nausea or start sweating more than usual, stop your workout immediately and get help.

Here’s to a beautiful, healthy summer!

Our best,

The Venice Nutrition Team

*info derived from myoptumhealth.com  and healthline.com

 If you’ve already mastered choosing high quality and balanced meals off of the menu while at a restaurant, you’re on the right track! Doing so will stabilize blood sugar levels and allow you to burn fat while feeling you’re best.

So why are you still bloated after a “healthy” meal? What you may not realize is that despite your best intentions of eating “clean”, restaurant meals typically contain much higher amounts of salt than what you are used to eating at home. A high sodium meal causes water retention which results in bloating, particularly in the abdominal area.

How can you beat the bloat while still enjoying your favorite restaurant meals? In addition to choosing balanced meals and watching your portion sizes, ask your server to request that your order is prepared “light on the salt” or with “no salt added at all”. Most chefs are used to personal dietary requests and are happy to comply.

Our best,

The Venice Nutrition Team

As a Venice Nutrition Coach for many years, I’m all for trying anything that promotes a healthier, fitter body.   Yet, whenever anyone attempted to persuade me to try yoga, I was skeptical.    After all, I’ve always been that girl in the gym sweating it out, lifting ridiculously heavy weights and sprinting until my hips ached, silently telling myself, “no pain, no gain”.  I looked good but felt fatigued, sore and unbalanced.  Regardless, I kept living by my motto until I actually got hurt in the gym.  I mean really hurt.    This pain was certainly not worth any gains I’d ever achieved.   My injuries were so bad, I had to stop all of my workouts and start extensive physical therapy.  Without realizing it, a lot of the strengthening and stretching moves that my physical therapists recommended to heal my muscle imbalances, core weakness and misaligned back and hips, were actual yoga moves.  It was time for me to change my ways and most importantly my way of thinking.  It was time to create a healthy body, mind and soul. 
 
Though I’m very much a “newbie” to yoga and I’ve only lightly scratched the surface of all that it has to offer, I’m tremendously grateful that yoga has become a part of my life.  I’m also completely astounded at the seemingly infinite list of benefits that yoga has to offer.  My research felt endless simply because the facts just kept piling up! 

What intrigues me most about yoga is that it’s a great workout for the body and for the mind.  And despite popular notion, it’s not all about twisting your body into a pretzel!  Ask any seasoned yogi why they love yoga so much and chances are they’ll admit to being absolutely addicted to the mind/body connection and the mental clarity they feel after they practice.   The way their body feels (and looks) because of regular yoga practice seems to be just an added bonus.   Do I think that every well rounded workout includes resistance training and cardiovascular exercise?  Yes.   But throughout my own experiences and extensive research, I now firmly believe that a balanced workout routine should include yoga too.  Here’s why (just a heads up...you are about to be very pleasantly surprised):

Yoga can:
 
1.  Increase your strength.  Don’t believe it?  Try holding a yoga pose in perfect alignment.  I'm willing to bet you'll shocked at how challenging a workout it can be.   On another note, there are so many forms and levels of yoga that it can easily be adapted for beginners (read:  no contorting your body into a pretzel) all the way to advanced students.

2.  Increase your flexibility.  Stretching the body safely and moving gently from pose to pose is fantastic for mobility and releases lactic acid build up that causes pain, tension and fatigue.
 
3.  Increase lubrication of your joints, ligaments and tendons. 

4.  Increase your muscle tone.  Muscles that are weak (there are so many neglected muscles that are hardly worked throughout your regular day or exercise routine) are used extensively as you move through a series of yoga poses.

5.  Increase your core strength.  Yoga can help you to develop deep core strength because the majority of the poses rely on those core muscles.

6.  Improve your posture.  Increased strength, flexibility and body awareness can help you to improve your posture in both standing and sitting positions.

7.  Improve your energy levels and awaken the mind.

8.  Relieve chronic pain (such as neck, joint or back pain).  A seasoned yoga instructor or therapist can help you adapt postures to avoid further injury and release tight muscles, strengthen weaknesses and re-align imbalances.

9.  Help you to avoid injury by keeping the body mobile and strong.

10.  Promote circulation.

11.  Improve your lung capacity and respiratory health through deep breathing exercises.  This can also be a very powerful benefit for athletes who wish to improve their endurance levels.

12.  Improve your outlook on aging by making you look and feel younger.

13.  Help you relax and handle challenging situations more effectively.

14.  Can encourage self acceptance and positive thinking.

15.  Drastically improve your stress levels and help you to feel a sense of calm.  Yoga practice includes meditation which teaches you how to ignore the endless “mind chatter” that leads to stress.  The result is also biochemical; practicing yoga decreases stress hormones.

16.  Reduce your depression and increase your happiness.
 
17.  Increase your focus

18.  Lower your blood pressure and slow your heart rate, and especially help those with hypertension, heart disease or stroke.

19.  Boost your immune system function.

20.  Decrease cholesterol and triglyceride levels

21.  Increase your body awareness, which helps you to correct your posture or alignment.  This awareness allows you to gain the most benefits and prevent injury during other workouts and even throughout your everyday movements.

22.  Help alleviate medical conditions such as asthma, insomnia and arthritis.  Research in the US is still being done on this topic, but medical researchers are hopeful and suggesting therapeutic yoga as a form of treatment for sufferers.

23.  Help with learning and memory.  Some studies are suggesting improvement in these areas with regular yoga practice.
 
As you can see, the benefits of yoga are vast and quite powerful!    Anyone, no matter their age, lifestyle, goals, or limitations has something wonderful to gain from practicing yoga.   If you are interested in incorporating yoga into your lifestyle, I would recommend finding a beginners or foundation class to get started.  Always make sure to let your instructor know of any health challenges or injuries you may have so he or she can modify the poses to best suit your needs.

Namaste!

My best,

Valerie Cogswell
Lead Nutrition Coach and Head Chef

*info derived from healthandyoga.com, spine-health.com and webmd.com

One of the most frequent requests we receive from our members are tips on how to stay focused on their goals during the weekend.   Why is it so much simpler to stay on course Monday through Friday?   More than likely your work week is typically more structured and follows some sort of routine.  After all, the weekends are usually hectic, less scheduled and packed full of activities you just didn’t have time for during the busy work week.  Add on the Saturday night dinner out with friends for cocktails, food and fun, and you see how easy it is to fall off track.   Even though your weekends are jam packed, you can still easily stay true to your personal goals without investing a lot of time or effort.  Here’s how.

1.  Take the time to journal your meals, timing, water, supplements, and exercise for two weekends in a row.  Then take a few moments to identify where your falling off track…you’ll notice that the challenges you are having are consistent weekend to weekend.  Once you are aware of where you might be going wrong, it’s time to create a solution.  For example, are you going too long without meals during the weekend days because of endless errands and plain forgetfulness?  Pack a protein bar in your purse or car so you never skip a meal.   Are you running out of healthy choices by Saturday and relying on whatever’s lying around?  Make an adjustment in the amount of food you cook in bulk for the week, such as adding a few extra chicken breasts or more veggies to have on hand…. If it’s there, you are more likely to eat it!

2.  Make the time to exercise at least one day over the weekend.  Many people like to work hard and work out hard Monday through Friday and then take the entire weekend off.   The better choice is to pick at least one day over the weekend for some kind of exercise, particularly one you enjoy if you have been incredibly active all week long.  It could be as simple as playing a game of golf, taking a power walk or even a yoga class.  If your body is sore and fatigued because of a strenuous week, aim for a calming activity like yoga or a walk.  And always take the time to stretch, even on your off days.  The extra day of activity will help to keep your metabolism pumping and your body limber and mobile.  It’s also the perfect motivation to keep up other healthy habits all weekend long.

3.  Plan your “off” meal.  Notice we said off meal and not off day!  It’s a misconception to think that taking an entire day or weekend to eat whatever you’d like is okay even if you’ve eaten well all week.  Doing so only leads to erratic blood sugar levels, moodiness, and ultimately fat storage.  You’ll also notice that an entire day or weekend of indulging in unhealthy food will cause you to want to eat unhealthy for days after due to unstable blood sugar levels.   And this makes it so much more challenging to get back on track on Monday.   So what’s the solution?  Plan an entire “off” meal where you can indulge in anything you’d like.  Just make sure that you’ve eaten balanced meals all day leading up to the “off” meal and you get right back on track at the following meal to re-stabilize blood sugar levels.

We know how important your weekends are to you.   Taking the time to relax and enjoy is a critical component of a balanced lifestyle.   Following the above strategies will keep you on track towards reaching your goals without taking up your entire weekend.  Here’s to a fun and healthy weekend!

If you’re stabilizing you’re blood sugar, then you know how important it is to get complete protein every three to four hours.  One of the ways to help make that more convenient is to use deli meat as your source of protein for one of your daily meals.   Here is what to look for to make sure you and you’re family are eating the healthiest deli meat possible:

1. Choose whole, oven-roasted then sliced deli meat in place of pre-packaged, processed, formed or section meats. 
2. Stick to lean turkey breast, chicken breast, and roast beef.  Avoid beerwurst, bologna, pepper loaf, olive oil, capocolla, corned beef, liverwurst, pastrami, proscuitto, salami and pepperoni.
3. Aim for low sodium products
4. Avoid any products with fillers, gluten, artificial colors and trans fats

Info from boarshead.com

Even the most dedicated health nuts occasionally have the urge for something sweet.  And of course it’s okay to indulge in your favorite dessert once in a while.  But if you are looking for delectable options that are balanced in protein, carbohydrates and fat and will actually help you to reach your goals while satisfying your sweet tooth, our team of nutrition and fitness experts have a few ideas!  The following options are both healthy and satisfying.

Protein bars- look for a bar that contains a good balance of protein, carbohydrate and fat like Detour, Greens Plus Protein Bar, and Think Thin Bar for example.  All of these options come in a range of flavors and many of them taste like candy bars.

Protein Smoothies- Combine chocolate, vanilla or strawberry protein powder with skim or low fat milk (or soy milk), fruit  (for carbohydrates) and peanut butter, nuts or flax seed oil (for fat) along with ice in a blender for a smooth and refreshing shake.

Try one of our delicious sweet treats from our recipe collection (see full recipes in your Recipe Tab):

Pumpkin Ricotta Parfait

White Chocolate and Strawberry Pudding Parfait

Cottage Cheese, Apple and Peanut Butter Bowl

Banana Nut Muffins

Greek Yogurt Parfait

Protein Power Oatmeal

B&B Pancakes or Banana Cinnamon Pancakes with Homemade Berry Syrup

Cereal To Go

The options are endless.  Enjoy!

Our best,

The Venice Nutrition Team

These days, everyone is trying to save a dollar.  With the economy in crisis and so many people out of work, even every day staples like groceries can be hard to come by.    Many people think that eating healthy and often (the keys to success with the Venice Nutrition program) can be really pricey.  The fact is, if you shop “smarter” using the tips below, you can eat well while saving your hard earned cash.  Read on to learn more!

Do some research first to see what’s on sale and where.  Your newspaper is a great resource.

Join a coupon club online.  Do a google search to see which club is best for you.  Then simply print the coupons you need and save.

Places like Super Walmart are excellent for every day basic needs.  Most families who shop here weekly for groceries save hundreds!

Make a list and plan your spending to avoid impulse buys.

Never go to the grocery store hungry; doing so leads to impulse buying (and a lot of excess snack food you probably wouldn’t buy otherwise!)

Remember that the most natural, healthy foods like produce, proteins and dairy are generally on the perimeter of the grocery store (not in the aisles). 

Be open to trying new foods; if you see a fruit on sale that you haven’t tried before, give it a chance.  You’ll expand your culinary palette and save.

Stock up on inexpensive but healthy staples like eggs, chicken breasts (bone in, skin on is cheaper than regular breasts, just remove the skin once cooked to save calories), frozen veggies, milk, cheese, brown rice, sweet potatoes, fruits in season etc. so you always have them on hand.

Take a good look through your kitchen and prepare your menu for the week around what you already have on hand, and what's on sale.

Keep in mind that the larger stores are generally cheaper than smaller ones.

Avoid trips to the local convenient stores where you always end up spending too much.

If you go to the supermarket before 9 am, you may have a better chance of getting mark down items.

Check the front and back of your supermarket flyer, the best sales are usually on these pages.

Most bargains are found on the higher and lower shelves. Most expensive brands are at eye level (to get your attention).

If a product you use often is currently on sale, buy in bulk to save money.   As long as you know you’ll use it and you have the room for it, it’s not a waste of money.

Just because an item has the word "SALE" on it, doesn't mean you are getting it for a lower than normal price.  Compare it to the other brand or store names on the shelf- you may be surprised at how much cheaper some of the same products can be.

Always sign up for a savings card with your local grocery store.

Give store brands a try!  Remember that fancy packages and labels cost you more money for the same product.   Most stores will refund your money if you are not satisfied.

Buy and use in season veggies and fruit.  

Frozen fruit and veggies are great to use as well and have a lengthy shelf life.

Remember, convenience foods, such as pre-chopped veggies are more expensive. 

Always ask for a raincheck if an advertised special is out of stock. While you are waiting for the product to come back in, look for more coupons for that product.

Always return a product that is spoiled.

Send off for rebates to get items free, or nearly free!

*many tips derived from www.thefrugalshopper.com

We all know that daily exercise and regular activity is a must, especially as we age.  But did you know that regular exercise can actually help you lower your risk of some of the most common diseases?  It’s amazing to think that we can help to control our health and only 30 minutes a day of regular heart pumping exercise is enough for many people to make an impact!  In fact, check out how exercise works to ward off the following health risks.

Obesity-  Reducing your body fat along with increasing your lean muscle mass with good nutrition and the right exercise program is the most effective way to get and stay at a healthy weight.   Maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding obesity is critical to helping to avoid other diseases. 

Type 2 Diabetes- With this dangerous (and often avoidable) disease on the rise, even in children, it’s no wonder Diabetes made the list.  Regular activity helps to lower blood sugar levels and improve the way your body uses the food and sugar you take in.

High Cholesterol-   Exercise, particularly aerobic exercise increases your HDL (the good cholesterol) while lowering your triglycerides; a great combination to keeping healthy cholesterol levels.

High Blood Pressure-   Regular activity prevents your heart from having to work too hard to support your body.  This lowers the pressure on your arteries, thus reducing blood pressure.
 
Heart Disease- Exercise is a great way to improve your heart function and enhances blood flow to help prevent heart disease.

Osteoporosis- In combination with a healthy diet including plenty of calcium and Vitamin D, weight bearing exercise such as walking, jogging, and weight training helps to  build bone mass and prevent osteoporosis.
 
We invite you to get moving today for a healthier future!  For correct exercise protocol and the most efficient forms of exercise, please visit your Exercise Tab in your online program.

Live well.

Our best,

The Venice Nutrition Team

*info derived from msnhealth.com, webmd.com and ehow.com

What Makes Venice Nutrition Unique and is This Program for Me?

At Venice Nutrition, we know how many nutrition and diet programs there are available for you to choose from.    We also understand how wary you may be to commit yourself to an online program without knowing if it works for you.  That is why we wanted to provide you with some answers about our program AND an opportunity to try the Venice Nutrition program FREE for 14 days with absolutely no obligation to join.   We won’t even ask for your credit card information.  Your trial membership will simply expire after your FREE trial.  Interested in receiving a 14 day FREE trial to Venice Nutrition and achieving all of your nutrition and health goals today?  Simply click this link and you're all set:   http://bit.ly/6YL5QK.    After all, what have you got to lose?

So what is Venice Nutrition?

If you are searching for a real-life nutrition program based on science and how your body really works, then you’re in the right place.  Venice Nutrition is a program that focuses on keeping blood sugar stable to allow your body to release stored fat, increase metabolism and energy levels and achieve overall balance within the body for optimal health, permanently.  Because Venice Nutrition is customized to your personal lifestyle, food choices, body composition and your unique health and fitness goals, our program works for people of all ages, backgrounds and goals.  We even offer two individual types of memberships for your convenience, our online program (see above to receive your FREE, no obligation trial) or the opportunity to work with your own private nutrition coach through our one on one consulting programs.   

At Venice Nutrition, we know the only way you will achieve permanent success is with a lasting education in how your body really works, real life tools you can use daily to work nutrition and fitness into your lifestyle, and ongoing support with health professionals who understand you and your goals.  We are committed to providing you with a nutrition program that guarantees all of these components for your success. 

What makes Venice Nutrition unique?

1.  Venice Nutrition is based on the science of blood sugar stabilization.  By eating the right amount of calories each meal, eating them at correct intervals, and making sure that the proper ratios of carbohydrates, protein, and fat are maintained, you create balance within your body and blood sugar is stabilized.  Once your blood sugar is stabilized, your body will naturally start breaking down fat on a consistent basis. By incorporating your customized exercise routine into your plan, you will then be able to build lean muscle mass while increasing metabolism.   Stable blood sugar will also eliminate your sugar cravings, increase your energy and focus, and reduce fatigue.   Because Venice Nutrition actually changes the way you’re body works, you’ll not only look great, but feel great as well. 

2.  We’ll eliminate the “Yo-Yo Diet Effect”!  So many diet programs are based on “quick fix” methods such as calorie restriction or cutting whole food groups such as carbohydrates. These “quick fixes” cause a "yo-yo" effect. You lose weight and then gain it back the moment you fall of course. Methods like this leave you feeling hungry and actually cause you to lose lean muscle mass, which drastically slows your metabolism. Unfortunately, when you gain the weight back, you don't regain muscle mass, only more body fat in its place, leaving you with a higher percentage of body fat than ever before. When people do these types of programs they typically repeat the process over and over with each attempt, resulting in the laying down of more and more body fat cells. Venice Nutrition is different.  We’ll teach you how to achieve permanent results the healthy way.  By maintaining stable blood sugar levels you will lose weight and keep it off permanently because your body will be changed from the inside out.

3.  We’ll teach you to stay the course.  Most programs focus on initial results and fail to teach you how to stay on track permanently.  Venice Nutrition will provide you with the motivation and education to implement your program indefinitely. We also provide the tools to get right back on track if you do fall off course.

4.  We focus on your entire lifestyle.  Most programs only teach you how to eat according to their rules and neglect other important aspects of your health. Venice Nutrition will teach you how to eat well to best fit your needs, how to exercise correctly, how to improve your sleep and stress levels, and how to work your program into your current lifestyle. You'll learn how to balance your health with all other aspects of your life including your profession, relationships and lifestyle.

5.  We know you are an individual with your own unique goals and lifestyle.  While most programs have the same "game plan" for everyone, Venice Nutrition knows you are an individual with your own unique goals, lifestyle, health challenges and food preferences. Our member's goals vary from person to person. Some of our members want to lose weight and body fat while others like professional athletes may want to build lean muscle and enhance performance. While blood sugar stabilization is the basis for everyone's program, each plan is created specifically for you based on your customized nutritional parameters, your current lifestyle and the goals you wish to achieve.

What does my customized Venice Nutrition Program include?

At Venice Nutrition, we know what it takes for you to be successful.  The tools that come with your program are exactly what you need to reach your goals.  Here is what your personal Venice Nutrition program includes (even if you only participate in the 14 day FREE trial!):

1.  Your Personalized Health Structure- is your game plan for success!  This includes customized meal and exercise plans, recommended sleep schedule to maximize results, supplement recommendations, water intake parameters and real-life, stress management tools.

2.  The “Getting Started Guide”, The “Three Phase Guide”, and even a “Goal Setting Guide”- from when you first get started with Venice Nutrition to maintaining your new lifestyle, we map out a go-to guide for you to stay the course.  With Venice Nutrition, we make it as simple as possible for you to stay the course!

3.  Customized Meal Plans with over 1000 Meal Options To Choose From!  Your customized meal plans are based on your goals, lifestyle, health, level of exercise and of course, your food preferences.  Each tasty meal in your plan is designed according to your personal nutritional parameters so there’s no guess work.  Just choose a meal in your plan and enjoy!  Even better, each meal can easily be edited to your liking.  With our extensive food database you will have the ability to quickly exchange food items within a meal and create new meals. The software does all the work for you. You’ll never need to count calories, do math, or try to figure out your own ratios!

4.  Creative and Healthy Recipe Database- full of FAST, EASY and DELICIOUS meal options perfect for singles or families that want to eat healthy without all the fuss!

5.  Your Personalized Exercise Plan- we know one size does not fit all when it comes to exercise.  Our goal is to design a workout for your body that will help you get faster results in less time.  We’ll teach you the right exercises, frequency, duration, target heart rate, and techniques for cardiovascular training, as well as core/ resistance training and stretching for your personal goals.

6.  Interactive Journal and Automatic Customized Grocery Shopping List- two incredibly powerful tools to help keep you organized and on track!

7.  Ongoing Support with Our Team of Certified Nutrition Coaches- we pride ourselves on the level of support and commitment we provide our members. If you have a question, just ask. Your customized program even comes with your own personal email coach for constant support.

8.  E-Newsletters, Health Blogs & Member Forum- connect with fellow members and nutrition coaches across the world and explore the most cutting edge tips and info in nutrition, fitness, health, and more!

9.  NEW-Monthly Coaching Webinar Series with creator, Mark MacDonald- we understand that even with the power of the Internet, it is still difficult to find health information that is relevant, backed by science, understood, and can be implemented into your lifestyle. For this reason, we've introduced a powerful Monthly Coaching Webinar Series for our members where you can join in, learn and even participate in Q & A.

And so much more…….!

Now is the time to make your health a priority permanently.  And you have nothing to lose!  To receive your FREE 14 day trial membership with absolutely NO commitments (we won’t even ask for your credit card info!), simply click this link and your all set:   http://bit.ly/6YL5QK .  We look forward to helping you to achieve all of your goals today.  Happy Holidays!

Our best,

The Venice Nutrition Team

For those of you interested in earning a Nutrition Certification and becoming a Certified Nutrition Coach you may have been wondering if you can legally teach/coach nutrition even though you do not have a Bachelor's degree in Nutrition.  The answer is Yes you can, through Venice Nutrition and the IBNFC.

Since each state views Nutrition like a Licensed service, the Dietetic Association of each state created a Law to confirm that all nutritional advice was being given by qualified health professionals. Below is a link to the website that provides additional information regarding the Dietetic Laws of each state. You will also find the Exception to the Law that a Nutrition Coach Certification by the IBNFC and Venice Nutrition falls under.

Because of the Credential’s of the Venice Nutrition Medical Board, the Advanced Certification Course Curriculum & the Robust Venice Nutrition Software System, any individual that becomes Certified as an IBNFC Nutrition Coach & utilizes the Venice Nutrition Software System CAN Legally Teach Nutrition throughout the Continental US.

This is the link that describes the Nutrition Laws of each state:

http://www.cdrnet.org/certifications/licensure/index.htm

For states that have this law in place, below is the necessary requirement and the exception to the law that Venice Nutrition, LLC and IBNFC certified Nutrition Coaches fall under. The IBNFC governs and confirms all Certifications and content of the entire Venice Nutrition System. The Title below is taken from Georgia Licensure Law, the same exact law, with the same verbiage, is used by the other states that enforce the Dietetics Practice Act.

TITLE 43, PROFESSIONS AND BUSINESSES CHAPTER 11A. DIETETICS PRACTICE ACT.

43-11A-18 Exceptions

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to affect:

7. PERSONS WHO PROVIDE WEIGHT CONTROL SERVICES, provided the weight control program has been reviewed by, consultation is available from, and no program change can be initiated without the prior approval of either a dietitian licensed under this chapter, a dietitian licensed in another state which has licensure requirements which are substantially equal to the requirements contained in this act, or a registered dietitian

_________________________________________________

For more information on becoming a Certified Nutrition Coach through Venice Nutrition please visit our Certification page on our Health Professionals website.

Thank you for your interest in Venice Nutrition.

We’ve all seen the commercials.  A perfectly fit and toned woman is lying down (clearly not exercising!) in the tiniest pair of short shorts with a pair of bright pink and silver sneakers on.  Her legs are long and toned, her glutes contain no cellulite and her calves are perfectly formed.  And she got all of this from her sneakers?  What gives?

If you’re like me, you’re probably a skeptic.  After all, I get more inquiries about the newest fitness gadgets from my clients and friends than I can keep up with.  I watch the newest trends come and go daily and like I tell everyone, “Trends come and go but eating correctly and working out correctly always works!”  That being said, these new “magic sneakers” have intrigued me enough to do a little research.

So how does these shoes work?  Though I don’t own a pair (they’re expensive!), I can speculate.  If you’ve ever used a bosu ball (that half ball type contraption most likely located in the stretching area at your gym), then you get the idea.  There is almost a mini-bosu ball under the ball and heal of the shoe, forcing your balancing muscles to work harder.  As a health professional, this makes sense to me.

According to Reebok, “Easy Tone is designed to give definition to your legs and butt.  Simply walk and let the balance pod under your shoes do the rest.  The slight instability created by the pod forces your muscles to work a little harder, toning you up as you strut.  The more you walk, the more you’ll tone.  Technically speaking your gluteas maximus muscles will get 28% more of a workout.  And your hamstrings and calves will have to try 11% harder”.  Even I have to admit, I’m a little impressed.

According to the ratings I found on the site and elsewhere on the internet, these shoes are incredibly comfortable, like walking on sand.  Others said they could “see a difference in their legs and glutes” and really felt that difference while walking and doing their daily activities.  The one interesting fact I noticed while reading the reviews is that the majority of women said that they are now walking more.  I’m wondering if the actual purchase of the sneakers has encouraged and motivated them to walk more and perhaps is responsible for the tighter legs and glutes? 

In my opinion, I would have to guess that these shoes would force you to target your balancing muscles, thus creating more of a burn and possibly increased tone.  Buying the shoes won’t bring results, walking in them and using them might!  Which brings me back to my original belief of eating correctly and working out correctly and regularly is what works, always!   Will I try them? Probably not.  As someone who struggles with SI Joint, back and hip problems, constant instability is the last thing I need.  That being said, if you’re interested in using these sneakers and have any health issues such as back or hip problems, I would recommend that you speak to your doctor or physical therapist first. 

If anyone out there has tried the Easy Tone sneakers, I would love to get your feedback! 

My best,

Valerie Cogswell
Lead Nutrition Coach and Head Chef

*info derived from www.Reebok.com/EasyTone and www.examiner.com

If you’ve ever struggled with digestive disturbances like gas, bloating, constipation or diarrhea, then you know how easily these symptoms can ruin your day.  Dealing with the strains of a turbulent stomach is uncomfortable to say the least, and if your symptoms are chronic, it’s even more of a pain.  For those struggling with more severe bowel problems such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome and even Chron’s disease, it’s a daily struggle to keep a handle on symptoms and live a normal lifestyle.  The positive news is many are able to help regain balance within the digestive system the natural and easy way with the help of a certain bacteria known as probiotics.

You may be thinking, “But isn’t bacteria a bad thing?”  The answer is not necessarily, in fact, certain bacteria are helpful in balancing the colon.    Approximately 100 trillion microorganisms already live in our bowels, helping us to better absorb nutrients, guarding against bad bacteria and even helping to improve our immune function.

As experts continue their research in bacteria, it has been proven that live bacteria like probiotics work with us, not against us, in combating digestive disturbances.  According to experts, there are many health benefits of probiotics.  These may include assisting those with lactose intolerance, enhancing the immune system, re-balancing one’s digestive system after the use of antibiotics, managing relapse of certain inflammatory bowel conditions, decreasing the risk of some types of cancers, and even may improve vaginal health in women. 

As research continues, the market for probiotics has exploded in both supplement  and dairy form (yogurt is a great source of live bacteria).  As a Nutrition Coach who has been using probiotics for two years, I can honestly say that my digestion has never been better.  I’m less bloated with fewer instances of “stomach woes” and all the happier for it!  After struggling with “issues” for years, my new GI doctor recommended probiotics (for me, he specifically recommended Accuflora) as a natural therapy and it has been incredibly effective.  If you are struggling with digestive disturbances, or a bowel disease, or just interested in living a healthier lifestyle, I recommend that you speak to your doctor and see if probiotics can help you.  He or she can help determine what kind and how much probiotics will be most beneficial for you.

Live well.

My best,

Valerie Cogswell
Lead Nutrition Coach and Head Chef

At Venice Nutrition, we’ve written quite a few blogs and articles over the years on how to survive Thanksgiving while maintaining your health goals.  We’ve talked about how to best prepare for this food-filled holiday while providing you with realistic tips and tricks on how to enjoy the festivities without going overboard.  And of course we highly recommend that you read those blogs (“Thanksgiving- How To Stay On Course With Your Nutrition” and “Holiday Secrets From A Nutrition Coach and Chef”) to help arm yourself with realistic ways to feel your best this Thanksgiving.

As important as these blogs are, this year we decided to do something a little differently.  We wanted to help you on how to not only survive Thanksgiving, but provide you with a game plan for the next day!  For some, it takes only one day of indulging to fall off track, and that is why this blog is so important; use it as your blue print to stay committed to your health and get back on course to achieving your goals.  Here’s your day-after survival plan.

1.        When you over-indulge (as most of us do on Thanksgiving), your blood sugar levels spike, only to crash a few hours later.  It’s important to be aware that when your blood sugar levels raise and dip, you will feel the effects the next day (and possible for a few days after).  You may feel tired, cranky and crave carbohydrates more than usual.  If you’ve had alcohol, you may be feeling even worse.  Rather than give in to the crash and fuel up on more fat and carbs, the best thing to do the next day is to eat balanced meals one hour within waking and every 3 or 4 hours until you go to sleep.  The sooner you eat balanced meals again, the quicker you’ll get back into fat burning mode.  This will allow you to re-stabilize your blood sugar and get your body back into a balanced state, making you feel better sooner.

2.        If you’re the host of Thanksgiving dinner, you probably have a lot of not-so-healthy leftovers.  Try storing some of these leftovers in the back of the fridge (or in another fridge away from the main kitchen if you have one).  This will help you to avoiding “picking” out of the fridge.    Another option is to send home leftovers with guests.  The old saying, “out of sight, out of mind” really applies here!

3.       If you do want leftovers, aim for the healthier ones such as white breast turkey, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce and vegetables.  Watch portion sizes and try to create a balanced plate of protein, carbohydrates and fat.

4.       Drink extra water.  Chances are, you probably consumed more salt than you normally would at Thanksgiving, and may be experiencing some bloating.  Increasing your H20 intake slightly can help to alleviate this and ward off carb cravings.

5.       Don’t forget to exercise.  Even if you have only 20 minutes the day after the holiday, take the time to work out.  A power walk outdoors or a quick lifting session will rejuvenate you, burn excess calories and get your body back in fat burning mode.  If you’re feeling stressed from the holiday, a yoga video, meditation or a pilates class is a great way to re-center yourself.

6.       Make an extra effort to stay on track the following week.  If you’ve consumed too much on Thanksgiving, avoiding excess cheat meals and eating cleaner the following week can help balance the equation.

And lastly, remember Thanksgiving is meant to be enjoyed.  Even the fittest and healthiest people indulge occassionally!  The key is to get yourself right back on track as soon as you can.  Balance is always key to long term success.

We wish you a happy and healthy Thanksgiving.  Enjoy!

Our best,

The Venice Nutrition Team

If you’ve got picky eaters who don’t like the taste or texture of traditional whole wheat bread, the new white “whole wheat” breads may be a great solution.  After all, what’s better than bread that looks and tastes like the traditional white bread variety but has the nutrition of whole wheat?

Unlike regular white bread, white “whole wheat” bread contains all of the whole grain and has the same fiber and nutrients as regular wheat bread.  The difference is, it is made of a certain variety of wheat that is paler in color and has a milder flavor, and there for well tolerated by white bread lovers!

When shopping for bread, aim for a product with at least two grams of fiber, and preferably three per slice.   Take a moment to read the ingredient list as well.  The most nutritious products will list “whole” (whole grain or whole wheat) as the first ingredient.

Eat well.

The Venice Nutrition Team

*info derived from www.mayoclinic.com

Chances are if you’ve sat in front of your television lately, you’ve watched more than a few commercials promoting the health benefits of vegetable juice.  After all, we know we need veggies and isn’t it easier to gulp them down in 30 seconds then actually peel, chop, cook and prep them?  As a Nutrition Coach and health nut who enjoys anything convenient that helps me to live a better lifestyle, I decided to do a little research.

According to V8, the most well known vegetable juice company, 7 out of 10 adults don’t get their daily recommended amount of vegetable servings.  In order to help address this concern, V8 has a new mission; to create a diverse line of products to make it easier for adults to reach their recommended 2-3 cups of veggies per day.  The result?  In addition to their line of 100% vegetable juices, V8 has also introduced a new line of vegetable and fruit juice combinations that are more sweet than savory. 

According to experts, 100% vegetable juice can help you to increase your daily servings of veggies.  Vegetable juice is also an excellent source of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.  The only drawback?  Vegetable juice can also be high in sodium (a concern for those with high blood pressure) and lacks the amount of fiber found in whole vegetables in their natural state.  It’s important to note, however, that V8 does make a low sodium version of their famous vegetable juice.

So what’s the bottom line?  In my opinion, I believe that the occasional glass of vegetable juice is a great way to load up on your vegetable intake, but should never completely replace whole vegetables in your diet.   In addition to being lower in sodium and higher in fiber, whole, natural vegetables are also digested more slowly in your body compared to a liquid.  This helps to keep your blood sugar more stable, allowing you to reach your goals faster.    So enjoy the occasional glass of vegetable juice but keep your fresh veggies as the front runner!

Eat well.

My best,

Valerie Cogswell
Head Chef and Lead Venice Nutrition Coach

*information derived from www.v8.com and www.mayoclinic.com

Did you know that beef is the #1 protein source of Vitamin B12 and Zinc?  Although beef is sometimes unfairly thought of as unhealthy, the truth is, beef is one of the most nutrient rich foods available.  The key is choosing the leanest cuts of beef to gain the extraordinary health benefits while avoiding any unnecessary fat.  Below are the best of the best to choose from.

Extra Lean Beef (3.5 ounce portion containing less than 5 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 95 milligrams of cholesterol)

Eye of Round Roast
Top Round Steak
Mock Tender Steak
Bottom Round Roast
Top Sirloin Steak

Lean beef  (3.5 ounce portion containing less than 10 grams of fat, 4.5 grams of saturated fat, 95 milligrams of cholesterol)

Round steak
95% lean ground beef
Chuck shoulder roast
Arm pot roast
Shoulder steak
Strip steak
Tenderloin steak
T-bone steak

While shopping for beef, pay careful attention to the cut.  “Prime” is typically higher in fat while “Choice” or “Select” are leaner.  And of course, beef should be eaten in moderation.   For most healthy individuals, it’s fine to eat beef a couple of times a week.

Our best,

The Venice Nutrition Team

*research found on ask.com  © 1998-2009 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER).