Vol. 3, No. 1
Jan 10, 2006

Intro: Happy New Year!

Now that the last of the confetti is swept away and the empty champagne bottles are piled high in the recycle bin, how did you fare? If you managed to maintain your weight over the holidays, congratulate yourself. However, if your profile now resembles Demi Moore's on the infamous Vanity Fair cover, you may be motivated to make some changes.

Get started now by going to: http://lifebeatfitness.com/products.html to advantage of a Limited Time Offer good only until February 1: Sign up for my Custom Nutrition Plan at less than half price and find out how many calories and portions of carbs, protein and fat you need to lose those extra pounds. (And it includes a 30-minute phone consult with yours truly.)

Don't wait for those fat cells to take up permanent residence – GET STARTED TODAY!

Absolute Fab Abs

Losing weight and "getting rid of this gut" are the most popular resolutions (along with "I'll never drink that much again," but that only lasts until the hangover ends). The two goals go hand in hand, since you can't flatten your stomach without losing weight around your midsection. And, contrary to what you'd like to believe, crunches do not miraculously ignite your abdominal muscles and blast them into the stratosphere never to be seen again. In fact, you won't see them at all if you have a layer of fat covering the muscle.

Having said that, if you're cutting back on portions and calories and religiously performing cardiovascular exercise at least 30 minutes three times a week and weight training at least twice a week, you will see results. For additional tummy tightening, try the following exercises, ranked "The Best Abdominal Exercises" (as determined by the American Council on Exercise) and abs of steel will soon be yours: (send me a note for further info or an explanation of any of the following exercises.)

1.  Bicycle maneuver

2.  Captain's chair

3.  Crunches on an exercise ball

4.  Vertical leg crunch

5.  Torso Track

6.  Long arm crunch

7.  Reverse crunch

8.  Crunch with heel push

9.  Ab roller

10. Hover

What's Growing on Your Desk?

This time of year, it's good to be a little Monkish. Fortunately, with hand sanitizers and products like Airborne available in every drugstore, it's not that difficult. But have you thought about your desk? Aside from organizing the papers on top of it, when was the last time you actually cleaned it with disinfectant?

If you're among the 57 percent of workers who snack at their desks at least once a day, you may be your own constant gardener and not even know it. According to research, germs have a field day on work surfaces when employees eat at their desks.

Worse than that, 80 percent of workers said they typically leave perishable foods lying out for more than two hours and 44 percent leave food out all day. Can you spell s-a-l-m-o-n-e-l-l-a?

So this year, make a resolution to whip out that Clorox spray once in awhile and get rid of the bugs outside your computer. Bon appetite! 

Trans Fats Labeling: It's the Law in 2006

All trans fats must now be listed on manufacturer's labels as of January 1, 2006. Which brings us to the question: What is a trans fat and why should we worry?

Trans fats form when a process called "hydrogenation" pumps hydrogen into liquid vegetable oil thereby creating a more solid, shelf-stable fat. Found predominantly in shelf-stable snack foods, trans fats are highest in stick margarine and baked goods like cookies and crackers. Products containing trans fats list "hydrogenated" oils on the label.

Here's why you should care: the health effects of consuming trans fats are many – and none are good. Trans fats raise the risk of heart disease by increasing "bad" low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels, similar to the effects of consuming saturated fat. In addition, research also shows links to Alzheimer's disease, macular degeneration, gallstone disease and inflammation (a risk factor for many chronic diseases). The good news, however, is that trans fats are fairly easy to avoid...

• Check the Nutrition Facts panel for grams of trans fats. If not "zero," find another brand that is.

• Check the ingredient list for hydrogenated oils and avoid them as much as possible

• Watch portion sizes and limit snack products with trans fats

• Check for saturated fats, which may be used to substitute for hydrogenated fats

• Limit commercial baked goods, stick margarines and fast-food French fries, all high in trans fats

• Keep in mind that the absence of trans fats does not mean a food is nutritious and can be consumed in unlimited quantities

Make this year your healthiest ever!

We offer this article on a nonexclusive basis. You may reprint or repost this material as long as Linda Melone's name and contact information is included.

Thanks! LM