MY FIRST ARTICLE AT CARBSMART COM

Well, Ive been keeping a little secret from my readers.  I didnt want to say anything, in case nothing came of it, but when I met Andrew DiMino at the Low Carb Meet & Greet this summer, he asked me if I would be interested in writing for his online magazine, CarbSmart.com.  I thought about it for a few days, wrote an article and emailed Andrew, saying, "The answer is yes and here is an article for you to consider."  And guess what!  He liked it!  It went through a little editing with Dana Carpender and was published very late last night.

I am so tickled to be joining the ranks of Andrew DiMino, Dana Carpender, Amy Dungan, Jimmy Moore and others, in writing articles about the low carb movement and my personal journey in weight loss and improving health.

This is my article to the left, entitled "The Carbiest Generation." Here is a short excerpt:

When future generations look back upon today’s generation, what will they see?  What will set us apart in the timeline of human history?  What contributions have we made to humanity that will define us in a word or a phrase?  Some people in the Low Carb Movement think we will be known as “The First Modern Generation Where the Children Had a Shorter Life Span than Their Parents,” but that’s a little wordy.  I feel a better name would be “The Carbiest Generation,” because, when it comes down to a pretty important aspect of our humanity – our overall health and very existence — this encompasses all that has gone wrong.  Blame it on the food guidelines that have been handed down to us by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and promoted by our government starting in 1977.  That’s when George McGovern took it upon himself to change the way America eats by vilifying saturated fat and cholesterol and glorifying carbohydrates.  In case you don’t remember what happened back then, or were not even born yet, this short video by Tom Naughton summarizes the dubious wisdom and eventual adoption of the tenets of The McGovern Report.  (Read the full article here.)

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5 Exercises to Do At Your Desk

Life is busy and finding time to exercise after a long day at work can be nearly impossible. There will be days when you just dont have the time to hit the gym on your way home. When those days happen, here are 5 exercises that you can do at your desk while at work! Not only are they easy to squeeze in and spread out among you breaks during the day, but doing them will make those hectic days a little less stressful. Endorphins for everybody! 

Tricep Dips - Stand in front of a desk or chair facing away from the cushion. Place your hands, with your arms straightened, on the cushion behind you. Extend your legs out in front of you keeping most of your weight on your upper body. Bend your elbows dipping your body low to the ground. Re-extend your arms to the straight position. Do this 10 times three times per day. 

Assisted Squats - Stand with your back against a wall and your feet shoulder width apart. Bend your knees and lower your body into a squat. Keep your back and buttocks straight and against the wall, and keep your knees behind your toes. Get your butt as close to the ground as you can and then come back to standing. Do this 10 times three times per day.

Desk Pushups - Stand in front of a sturdy desk. Place your hands on the edge of the desk. Make sure that your hands and your shoulders line up. Angle your body so you are on the balls of your feet and the majority of your weight is on your upper body. Lower your body into a push up. Extend your arms to straight. Repeat this 10 times twice per day 

Chair Holds - Sit cross-legged in your office chair. Contract your abdominal muscles and use the arms of your chair, to hold yourself up for 10-20 seconds. Repeat this three times per day. 

Kettle Bell Curls - Kettle bells are a great way to add strength training to your day. You can pick them up at a fitness store or even Wal-mart. Keep your kettle bell under your desk and when you have some free time do some curls with it to start building up your arms. Try to do at least 12 curls twice per day.

Other healthy tips for sneaking in a little more exercise:

-Park at the back of the parking lot and walk

-Take the stairs

-If you get a lunch break, try walking a few laps around the building. 

Have you ever tried exercising at the office? Which exercises did you try?

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HCG Beach Body Project 2014

I dont know about you, but Im counting down to summer! And its coming up fast, especially when I realize I have less than 3 months to get swimsuit ready. I really want to help as many women as possible get ready for summer and regain their confidence. So, I am hosting a Count Down to Beach Body using the HCG Diet! 

Ive put together a timeline and some resources to help you lose up to 40 pounds by the first day of summer (June 21st, 2014). Thats right... up to 40 pounds!

Ive mapped everything out for you from your starting date, to your ending date, your maintenance phase, Ive even made a 40 day menu for your time on Phase 2! Whhhhatttt? Yeah girl, Ive got you covered.

Email me for your HCG Phase 2 40 day menu!

So heres how it works: In order to fit a round of HCG and a round of maintenance in before summer, you have to order your kit by April 2nd (domestic orders by April 7th at the latest) so you get it in time to start on April 15th. The menu covers the 40 days of food youll eat in Phase 2 using recipes from HCGDiet.coms digital recipe book and some of the meals are substituted for Gnarly Slim meal replacement shake. So make sure that you have your kit, your digital recipe book and your meal replacement shake ready to go by April 15th.

If you need to get your supplies, no worries, Ive negotiated a special deal to make sure you can get everything you need to start for an affordable price.

Get 35% off a 40 day HCG Kit, a digital recipe book and a Gnarly Slim Protein Shake when you apply the coupon code MYBEACHBODY at checkout. This is only for my readers and its a great discount to get you started! Then you can send me an email (lowery@hcgdiet.com) to get your 40 day menu, diet timeline, and my Phase 3 menu! :) Seriously, this is going to be awesome.

No excuses, ladies. Its time to get your beach body!

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7 Summer Habits to Keep You Healthy

Its finally June! Ive been counting down for warmer weather, and its finally here. When it comes to summer time, I like to spend as much time as I can outside. I stay pretty busy soaking up the sun and hanging out with friends. Sometimes being so busy can interfere with my goals to lose weight and exercise more, but this year I am convinced that summer is going to help me get closer to my goals and you should be too. Here are 7 summer habits to keep you healthy.

Take Water With You Everywhere

Heatstroke isnt cool and not getting enough water on those sunny days will put you at risk of heatstroke. staying hydrated means staying healthy. Stay hydrated for all of your summer activities by taking water everywhere you go. Even if you arent planning on being out in the sun for a long time, you should be drinking water throughout the day. Fill up some reusable bottles and keep them in the fridge so you can grab one as you head out the door.

Skip the Ice Cream

If youre looking for a treat to help you cool down, skip the ice cream. Its high in fat and sugar and it wont help you get closer to your goals. Instead of reaching for the Ben & Jerrys, try making your own Popsicles. There are plenty of recipes out there that are made with coconut water, stevia, and other healthy ingredients. You can usually find Popsicle molds at the dollar store, too. Make several in advance and snack on those when you need a cold treat.

Get Outside as Much as Possible

Go enjoy the sunshine. Lay out and get a tan, go for a run, go swimming, just be outside and enjoy yourself. Vitamin D is essential for your health. Youll feel happier and energized when you soak up some rays. Dont let yourself turn into a couch potato. I enjoy central air and Netflix just as much as the next girl, but spending too much time inside might send you into a lazy funk. Dont waste the sunshine. When winter comes, youre going to miss it.

Take Sunscreen With You

Speaking of soaking up sun, do it responsibly. Cancer sucks, so protect yourself with sunscreen. Sunburns are a real downer, too. Apply and reapply so you dont have to worry about blisters and lizard peeling.

Workout in the Morning

Because summer is such a busy time of year, and because its so hot outside, try moving your workouts to the morning if you dont already workout in the a.m.. This helps you get in your fitness before you get caught up in other things. Plus, working out in the morning sets a healthy tone for your day.

Shop at the Farmers Market

One of the best parts about summer is the farmers market. You can get locally made goods for relatively cheap. Its a great way to stock up on fresh fruits and veggies! Eating fresh fruits and vegetables will help you get nutrients and it feel energized for all of the awesome things you have planned this summer.

Try New Things

Dont be afraid to break your normal routine. Instead of spending your summer by the pool like last year, try going cliff diving, or take a sailing lesson, try an outdoor ropes cores, or go hiking. There are a lot of new adventures out there, and the more adventures you go on, the more memorable this summer is going to be. Not to mention, trying new things is HEALTHY! It helps you stay happy. :)

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