It seems fairly obvious that people need to drink enough water, right? Well, it may be, but at the same time it’s no secret that many of us in America tend to fall short on some of the basics when it comes to healthy living – even if we don't always realize it. Only a few years ago in fact, NPR posted a survey on diet that revealed that 75% of Americans label their own habits … [Read more...]
Can You Have a Cheat Day and Still Lose Weight?
"Can I have a cheat day?" That's a great question! But what are you really asking? You are asking if you can still have beer, pizza, and ice cream. Or you might be asking if you still party like a rock star on the weekends. Yeah, I get it, you want your slice of birthday cake and a glass of wine with it too. ...and want to still lose weight. Well, unfortunately, … [Read more...]
Avocado Sunrise Breakfast Sandwich
Who doesn't love a quick, easy, and delicious breakfast when you head out in the morning? Personal Trainer Food can help! This breakfast sandwich will take less time than going through the drive-thru and the healthy fats will help you lose weight and feel great! Personal Trainer Food Ingredients: 2 Egg Patties 1 Breakfast Sausage 1 Monterey Jack Cheese stick, shredded (or … [Read more...]
Visceral Fat & Diabetes: Reducing Belly Fat
Noticing a little extra fat around your waist? That's a clear warning sign-- belly fat, or visceral fat means that your body is sounding an alarm you shouldn't ignore. Doing so will increase your risk of diabetes, heart disease, and even more weight gain. Arm yourself with the knowledge to understand the problem with belly fat, and what you can do to get rid of it as quickly … [Read more...]
Deviled Chicken Salad
This simple chicken salad makes a great lunch on the go! Have some extra lettuce on hand? Turn the salad into a mouthwatering wrap with a few large lettuce leaves. Don't forget to stay stocked up on all your Personal Trainer Food favorites so you can make delicious meals in minutes. Personal Trainer Food Ingredients: 1 Grilled Tender Chicken Breast Additional … [Read more...]
Spinach, Avocado and Pumpkin Seed Salad
Just in time for fall, Pumpkin Seeds are on the menu! Try out our latest snack option in this hearty salad. Don't forget to stay stocked up on all your Personal Trainer Food favorites so you can make delicious meals in minutes. Personal Trainer Food Ingredients: ¼-½ bag of Pumpkin Seeds Additional Ingredients: 2 cups Baby Spinach ½ Avocado, cut into ½ inch cubes 1 … [Read more...]
Pumpkin Spice Coffee
Hello Fall! Wrap your hands around a warm mug of seasonal flavor as you dive into fall with this heavenly PTF-approved PSL recipe! This recipe is just like what you would find in a coffee shop; it's the "spice and everything nice" but without all the sugar! Ingredients: 1 cup of Coffee 2 tbsp. Butter 1/8 tsp. Vanilla extract Pumpkin pie spice seasoning, to … [Read more...]
Eggs for Breakfast? What You Need to Know
If you are trying to lose weight, does it really matter what you eat for breakfast? Which will help you burn more fat in the morning: cereal, toast, eggs, or yogurt? Let's put it to the test! Here's your menu, pick one... Breakfast A: two eggs, and some toast with jelly (339 calories). Breakfast B: a bagel with cream cheese along with some yogurt (340 … [Read more...]
Supercharging Your Weight Loss
You have committed to changing your eating habits to lose weight and become a healthier version of you. How can you make the most of the next 28 days? At the start of your program, we recommend a 24-48 hour clear liquid fast. This will set you up for success as you embark on your weight loss journey. But is fasting safe? Won't it kill your metabolism? Many people … [Read more...]
Steamy Zucchini
Personal Trainer Food Ingredients: 2 Bags of Green Zucchini Additional Ingredients: 1 Celery stalk, chopped 1-2 Green onions, finely chopped 1 Small can sliced mushrooms 1-2 oz shredded cheddar cheese Instructions: Combine zucchini, celery, green onion, and mushrooms in a microwave-safe bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Heat in microwave on high until veggies … [Read more...]
Time To Teach Healthy Habits
The month of September is known for many things. There's International Country Music Day, Butterscotch Pudding day, Punctuation Day, Happy Cat Month, National Honey Month, and National Shake Month just to name a few. But did you also know that September is also officially National Childhood Obesity Month? Childhood obesity is a serious topic. So serious that it … [Read more...]
Fajita Steak Salad
Personal Trainer Food Ingredients: 1 bag of Fajita Steak Strips Additional Ingredients: 1/2 Head romaine lettuce, chopped 1 Large head Belgian endive, chopped 1/2 Red onion, thinly sliced 1 Red or green bell pepper, sliced 3 Cups baby arugula 12 Cherry tomatoes, halved 4 oz Gorgonzola Salt to taste Red Wine Vinaigrette: 1/2 c Red wine vinegar 3 tbsp Lemon … [Read more...]
What’s the LEAST Amount of Exercise You Can to do Lose Weight?
How hard do I have to workout? How often do I have to workout? What kinds of workouts do I have to do? What you are REALLY asking is "what's the bare minimum I can get away with and still get the results I want?" Fair enough. No one wants to spend any more time than is absolutely necessary doing something they really don't want to be doing in the first … [Read more...]
6 Steps to Supercharge Your Weight Loss & Drop a Pant Size (or two)!
By Jan Hauser Weight Loss Coach, Personal Trainer Food “In order to lose weight, you must count calories and do more exercise.” Wrong! If you have tried doing this, you know it takes forever just to lose a little weight, and the minute you stop starving or exercising yourself to death, the fat comes back with a vengeance. It isn’t in your head! The advice you were … [Read more...]
Chicken, Bacon & Avocado Chopped Salad
Check out this simple salad full of fresh flavor--the perfect end of summer dish you can have ready in minutes! Don't forget to stay stocked up on all your Personal Trainer Food favorites so you can make delicious meals in minutes. Personal Trainer Food Ingredients: 1 Grilled Chicken Breast Additional Ingredients (add to taste): 2 Cups chopped romaine lettuce 2 … [Read more...]
Low Carb Cocktail Recipes: Sugar Free Drinks & Mocktails
Here's a great collection of sugar-free low carb cocktail recipes that will keep your party going! How to Use These Low Carb Cocktail Recipes With these recipes, you can make several fun sugar-free virgin mocktails. But you can jazz them up further to make low carb cocktails with alcohol, too. If you do intend to go for alcoholic drinks, here's a handy list of low … [Read more...]
Buttered Garlic Shrimp and Broccoli
Personal Trainer Food Ingredients: 1 Broccoli Additional Ingredients: 8-10 Shrimp, thawed and shelled 1 Tbsp Butter Garlic salt, to taste Pepper, to taste Instructions: In a non-stick pan melt the butter. Add shrimp and saute for 1 minute or until warmed through. Reduce heat and add garlic salt and pepper to taste. Heat Broccoli in the microwave. Once heated, … [Read more...]
Should You Track Your Calorie Counts?
How can you eat fat, ignore calorie counts and still lose weight? Easy! You just have to understand one thing: a calorie is not a calorie. Everyone is crazy about calorie counts and fat and food manufacturers have responded by creating low-fat, low-calorie foods. Does It Really Help to Count? When you go to the grocery store, fat-free foods are everywhere-- even … [Read more...]
Wrongfully Accused
Butter, eggs and steak, oh my! You instantly made a bad association to the foods listed in the sentence above, didn't you? Put them all together and you get an artery-clogging heart attack bomb, right? It is that deeply ingrained reaction which prompts many people to ask us why we allow unlimited meats and eggs on our program. For the last 60 years or so, we have … [Read more...]
The Ultimate Hack to Kill Cravings
Why is it when you start a program, you crave things like cookies, bread, candy, and chocolate --but not broccoli? Believe it or not, your body IS telling you to eat broccoli. You've just got your wires crossed! Let's get this all straightened out so you can kill cravings for good. Know thy self, know thy enemy. A thousand battles, a thousand victories. -- Sun … [Read more...]
Blue Cheese Buffalo Chicken Wrap
Enjoy this quick and simple wrap with a kick! Personal Trainer Food Ingredients: 1 Bag Buffalo Ranch Chicken Sticks Additional Ingredients: 1-3 Romaine lettuce 1 Celery stalk Buffalo sauce Bleu cheese dressing and/or cheese crumbles Instructions: Heat the Buffalo Chicken Sticks in the microwave. Place a Buffalo stick and celery stalk on the romaine leaf. … [Read more...]
5 Super Easy Steps to Losing Weight
Exercise more, eat less, count calories, avoid fat, eat whole grains, eat this or that packaged food. That's what conventional diet wisdom has told us in recent years. Who can blame us for being confused, not to mention overweight? So what's the SECRET to LOSING WEIGHT? (Hint: it does not involve a diet). Obesity in our country is reaching epidemic proportions, … [Read more...]
How Many Calories Should You Eat to Lose Fat?
How many calories are in our programs? Good question! It's great that we now have access to information about the foods we eat, like calories, nutrients, and whether it is GMO-free. But has that information really done anything to solve our expanding waistline? FACT: Americans are the most nutritionally educated consumer in the world, and yet we are the most obese … [Read more...]
Angus Cheeseburger Salad
With all the love we've been giving to the Personal Trainer Food Grilled Chicken for Salads, we've had people reach out to us saying, "where's the beef?" Here's a quick and snappy salad you can whip up using our delicious Angus Burger. Personal Trainer Food Ingredients: 1 Beef Angus Burger Additional Ingredients: Cheddar Cheese Slice Sliced Tomato and … [Read more...]
Apple Salad
This light, refreshing salad is the perfect dish to bring to a social gathering. Your family and friends will love the sweet touch of fresh apples. Don’t forget to stay stocked up on all your Personal Trainer Food favorites so you can make delicious meals in minutes. Personal Trainer Food Ingredients: 1 Rotisserie Chicken Breast 1 ounce of Almonds, chopped Note: … [Read more...]
Bunless Portobello Mushroom Burger
Use this bun-hack for your next BBQ! And for more great ideas for your Memorial Celebration (including what do do about booze), check out these four great tips! Personal Trainer Food Ingredients: 1 Personal Trainer Food Angus Burger Additional Ingredients: Burger toppings of your choice (lettuce, tomato, cheese, etc.) 2 Large portobello mushroom caps Salt & … [Read more...]
Healthy Memorial Day: Low-Carb BBQ Guide
Memorial Day signals that summer is finally here! Here's what to eat and what not to eat so you can enjoy yourself, rock the latest swimsuit trends, and have a healthy Memorial day with a low-carb BBQ celebration... Healthy Memorial Day Main Courses: The easy part! Of all the holidays, having a healthy Memorial day BBQ is the easiest because... well... BBQ!!! You can … [Read more...]
Guilt-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies
During weight loss mode, we encourage you to keep it simple and just stick to meats and vegetables. But if you've reached your goal, we thought you'd enjoy this recipe our CEO Mike makes for our PTF celebrations. You better watch out-- they aren't weighed down with a ton of carbs and sugars so they disappear fast! Personal Trainer Food Ingredients: 12 Personal Trainer … [Read more...]
Memorial Day All-American Burger Stack
Memorial Day is the unofficial kick-off day of the American barbecue season. Personal Trainer Food pays homage to backyard chefs everywhere with this mouth-watering All-American Burger Stack. Personal Trainer Food Ingredients: 1 Angus Burger Patty 1 Colby Jack Cheese Stick Additional Ingredients: Mustard, Mayonnaise, Pickles (your favorite PTF-approved toppings, hold … [Read more...]
Teriyaki Chicken Wrap
Personal Trainer Food Ingredients: 1 bag of Teriyaki Chicken 1 bag of Roasted Almonds (optional) Additional Ingredients: Iceberg Lettuce Sesame seeds (optional) Instructions: Microwave the bag of Teriyaki Chicken for 2 - 2.5 minutes. Place two leaves of Iceberg Lettuce on a plate with the inside facing up. Chop up the Teriyaki … [Read more...]
Can Red Wine and Alcohol Help You Lose Fat?
Maybe you've heard that drinking red wine is good for you because it has resveratol in it. And some people are saying that a few glasses of red wine before bedtime will suppress your appetite and help you to lose weight. Now THAT sounds like a dream come true. But should you do it? In this article, we'll talk about alcohol and weight loss! 1. Alcohol is a … [Read more...]
7 Ways to Turn Cheating Into Success
Just one bite... …oops, now the bag is empty! How did THAT happen? You have been so good and making great progress up until now. What do you do next? Is it possible to turn your setback into success? Or have you completely ruined your program and doomed yourself to a life of failure? Eating like this is what was once normal for you. It is what put on the fat in the first … [Read more...]
Apple Pie Filling
Apple pie without the guilt! This recipe is a fantastic way to satisfy your sweet tooth! Don’t forget to stay stocked up on all your Personal Trainer Food favorites so you can make delicious meals in minutes. Ingredients: 1 Apple, cored and sliced into wedges 1 Tbsp Butter Non-caloric sweetener such as Splenda or Stevia to taste 1/8 teaspoon (or to taste) apple … [Read more...]
3 Must-Read Tips to Keep You On Track– the Last One is Powerful!
By Erika Smith Weight Loss Coach, Personal Trainer Food In these current times, one way to help with stress and anxiety you may be experiencing is to focus any potential negative energy on something positive. With everything going on, it is especially important to spend some time each day focusing on yourself. You cannot pour from an empty cup. Whether you are at your … [Read more...]
He Lost 35.4 Pounds, but Gained Something Unexpected…
We could all use more time in our day. Find out how you can gain 40 hours a month and save money on your grocery bill, too! Stop Spending 40 Hours a Month Slaving In the Kitchen Did you know that with a family of four, you have the job of providing 336 nutritious meals a month? To do that, you will spend 70 hours shopping, prepping, cooking, and cleaning up. For a … [Read more...]
17 Healthy Habits Skinny, Slim People Do Every Day
We all have one of those friends-- the kind who stays slim, and seems to eat anything they want. It makes you wonder how they do it. So we took a survey of skinny people who had lost weight, asking them to share their best tips to burn fat day in and out. Here's what these skinny people had to say— check out their surprisingly simple habits that keep them slim … [Read more...]
3 Cheese Portobello Mushrooms
Personal Trainer Food Ingredients: 1 Mozzarella Cheese Stick 1 Colby Jack Cheese Stick Additional Ingredients: 1-2 Portobello mushrooms Parmesan cheese Spices of your choice 1 Zip-Lock steamer bag Instructions: Scrape out the gills from the inside of the mushrooms. Scoop 1-2 spoonfuls of tomato sauce into the mushrooms. Slice or shred Mozzarella, Colby Jack, … [Read more...]
5 Ways You Can Get Ridiculous Energy Levels
Do you feel like taking a nap right now? Are you dreaming about your next cup of coffee? What if you could boost your energy for the long-term without relying on quick fixes? Let's talk about 5 straightforward ways to ditch the coffee and energy drinks and get the energy jump-start you've been waiting for. One: Do this Step by Step Are you reaching for another cup … [Read more...]
17 Calcium-Rich Foods Better At Burning Fat Than Milk!
Some people are surprised that our Weight Loss Guidelines recommend avoiding milk and most other dairy. That surprise immediately turns into a concern that without milk, they may not be getting enough calcium. This is completely understandable since milk and dairy advertisements leave us with the impression that dairy is the only calcium-rich food out there. But this … [Read more...]
Exercise Myth or Fact? Get Proven Strategies for Success
Hi there! We really need to talk about an exercise myth (or two) that could be keeping your from your goals. If we haven't already met, I'm Mike Starks the CEO and Founder of Personal Trainer Food. And after losing 50 pounds myself, and helping thousands of people also lose weight too, I'm no stranger to exercise myths. Is An Exercise Myth Keeping You From Seeing Your … [Read more...]
121 Ways to Tell If You Are Losing Weight —that don’t include a scale!
When you're doing everything right but the scale won't budge, how else can you tell you are losing weight? That's where tracking non-scale victories can help. To illustrate what non-scale victories look like, we asked people like you how they knew they were losing weight. Their responses are inspiring, funny, and fantastically motivating-- and they'll help you to stay on … [Read more...]
New Year, New You! Resolutions that Work!
It's time for a New Year! Out with the old! In with the new! Let's make that list. Maybe your are the person who likes to take their time to sit down and truly reflect on life with a hand written the list. Or maybe you prefer to make a mental check-off list. Either way, we all want to start the New Year with that clean slate. Making a list can help us to make changes … [Read more...]
7 Guilt-Free Ways to Celebrate Cinco de Mayo
Cinco de Mayo. A day of indulgence in Mexican favorites such as tacos, enchiladas, and tamales... ...with loads of rice and beans and endless bowls of chips and salsa! And of course it just wouldn't be Cinco de Mayo without bottomless pitchers of margaritas y cerveza. Yes! Drink ALL the Margaritas! Yikes! Hide your scale! You know, it IS possible to enjoy … [Read more...]
April Fool’s! Did You Fall for These Pranks?
By Jessica Carlton Sales Director, Personal Trainer Food I remember being a kid, carefully and strategically planning out all the April Fool’s jokes I would play on my friends and family. This one vividly sticks out in my head: I would quietly wake up very early, sneak down the stairs, tip-toe into the kitchen, and tie a rubber band on the handle of the kitchen sink … [Read more...]
Awesome Super Bowl Sunday Munchies
Try these awesome Super Bowl munchies-- whether your team wins or loses, they won't make you want to toss the scale into the trash Monday morning! Bacon Jalapeno Deviled Eggs Ingredients: 6 eggs 2 pieces of cooked bacon, finely chopped (leave some pieces behind for garnishing) ¼ cup mayo 1 tablespoon minced jalapeño (leave some pieces behind for garnishing) ⅛ teaspoon … [Read more...]
What You CAN Do When The Scale Won’t Budge
Uh-oh, scale won't budge? Let's get it moving again! First, Tell Us-- What's Your Perfect Number? You know, it's the one on the scale that will make you feel sexier, more confident, and happier. The one you fantasize about when you first start out on your weight loss journey. So what is it for you? 125? 140? 175? Whatever your number is, that's great! You CAN get … [Read more...]
Meatball Minestrone
Embrace the chilly winter weather with a hot bowl of hearty minestrone. This enticing soup is packed with flavor and takes just minutes to make! Personal Trainer Food Ingredients: 1 Meatballs with Onions 1 bag of Mixed Vegetables Additional Ingredients: 2 cups Chicken Broth 1 Roma tomato, chopped Italian seasoning & Salt, to taste Instructions: … [Read more...]
Chicken Avocado Soup
Warm up with a delicious bowl of this chicken soup. The unique blend of flavors and the added avocado will keep you full and energized! Personal Trainer Food Ingredients: 1 package (4 ounces) Chicken Fajita Strips Additional Ingredients (add to taste): 1 Green onion, finely chopped ¼ Cup (or to taste) cilantro 1-2 Cups chicken broth ½ Tomato, diced 1 Small avocado, … [Read more...]
Chicken Fajita Salad
This flavorful and filling salad is loaded with veggies and chicken. Top it with your favorite dressing or a little salsa for an easy dinner! Personal Trainer Food Ingredients: 1 Bag of Fajita Chicken for Salads Additional Ingredients: Lettuce Red Peppers Onions Small Avocado Instructions: Place lettuce on a plate and set aside. Heat your Fajita … [Read more...]
Hamburger Veggie Soup
Personal Trainer Food Ingredients: 1 Angus Burger 1 Mixed Vegetables Additional Ingredients: 1-2 Cups chicken broth ½ Tomato, diced 1 Stalk of celery, chopped ¼ Of a small onion, chopped Seasoning of choice, to taste Instructions: Heat Angus Burger and Mixed Vegetables in the microwave. Once heated, remove the Angus Burger from bag and cut into small pieces. … [Read more...]