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...]
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...]
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...]
What is the BEST Day to Start a Diet?
Hi There! Have you ever said these things to yourself for diet motivation? This Monday I am starting my diet,” "After New Year’s, it will begin,” "I am not eating any more red meat,” "I'm going to run a marathon to finally lose this weight." "I bought a membership to a gym to force myself to go." In saying these things, we believe that we will miraculously change at … [Read more...]
Eating right to prevent the afternoon binge
Have you had more than 'just one' Christmas cookie or candy today? It might be time to make over your morning meal, finds a recent study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Here's how you can prevent mindless snacking and weight gain. How High In Protein is Your Breakfast? Researchers from the University of Missouri tested the breakfast habits of 20 … [Read more...]
Broccoli Salad
This beautiful emerald-green salad tastes divine—and is SO healthy for you! Personal Trainer Food Ingredients: 1 Bag of Broccoli 1 Bag of Roasted Almonds (you’ll just need a handful) Additional Ingredients: Full-fat mayonnaise Bacon bits Red Onion Instructions: Heat broccoli in the microwave. Once heated, place broccoli in a bowl. Slice desired amount of … [Read more...]
15 Holiday Fixes: How to Survive This Time of Year
Chances are, you'll be tempted to make at least one of these common blunders this holiday season. In fact, you might even be making one right now. Here's what to watch out for... #1 Running on coffee so you can eat at the holiday party later. Coffee is awesome, but chain-drinking it so you can "save calories" for later... ...drops your blood sugars too low, setting … [Read more...]
The 4 Tricks to LOSE Weight Over the Holidays
The holidays are right around the corner. All that hard work to lose or maintain your weight over the summer tends to go by the wayside during fall and winter. But I have four easy-to-do secrets for how to actually lose weight despite those gut-busting holiday meals. 1. Avoid anything with the word “casserole” Americans will consume around 3,000 calories at the … [Read more...]
Sweet Sugar-Free Treats
Cinnamon Cocoa Almonds These sweet sugar-free gems will help you kick chocolate cravings in the rear! Ingredients: 1 egg white 1 tsp cold water 2 cups whole almonds 3 tbsp artificial sweetener 1 tbsp ground cinnamon 1 tbsp cocoa powder 1/4 tsp salt Instructions: Preheat your oven to 250 degrees. Beat the egg white and water until frothy with a whisk in a … [Read more...]
Comforting Chicken Soup
Here's an easy way to enjoy a warm, comforting soup on a cold day! Personal Trainer Food Ingredients: Butter Roasted Chicken Breast Normandy Vegetable Blend Additional Ingredients: Chicken Broth Instructions: Heat the Butter Roasted Chicken Breast and the Normandy blend in the microwave. Heat the chicken broth in the microwave. Slice … [Read more...]
10 Time-Saving Tricks to Get Your Workout In
What's the No. 1 excuse for not working out? Lack of time. Sure, we're all busy handling multiple priorities and rushing around from here and there every day. But no matter how busy you are, someone even busier than you are is working out right now. If you look closer, you'll discover that you do have the time to work out—and you deserve to use that time for yourself. … [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...]
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...]
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...]
PTF Results: Mary Lost 27 Pounds in 3 Weeks
Mary had been trying to lose weight for years. But nothing she tried was working. Then she switched up her breakfast routine... Let's talk about Mary's Personal Trainer Food results, and some concrete steps you can take to lose weight, too. When we first met Mary, it wasn't like she was eating a ton of junk food or calories. She's a registered nurse, so she knows … [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...]
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...]
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...]
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...]
The Cookie Diet Review: Worth a Try?
So you want to lose weight without giving up all your favorite things. That's why you're considering the “Cookie Diet.” America loses it's mind: WEIGHT LOSS COOKIES? YES PLEASE! Really, who doesn't like a good cookie? But the question is, will it actually work? The most popular cookie diets are the Hollywood Cookie Diet, Smart for Life diet, and Dr. Siegal’s … [Read more...]
Transformation: We Can’t Show You On Facebook
After just 8 weeks of Personal Trainer Food, Avelino made an amazing weight loss transformation. He lost a shocking amount-- over 50 pounds. That's more than 20% of his starting body weight. But something happened when we tried to share his weight loss transformation on Facebook: we were blocked! You be the judge. Is Avelino's transformation story too much for social … [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...]
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...]
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...]
4 Shocking Frozen Food Facts
Is frozen food actually healthy or are all the nutrients destroyed when it gets frozen? Is it even worth the cost? Here are 4 frozen food facts that will probably surprise you... Fact #1: Your fresh apple might be 7 in dog years. In nature, apples are only ripe once a year. But you can find them available year-round in nearly any store. That year-round … [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...]
13 Sneaky Health Foods that Actually Create Fat
Can Health Foods Make Fat? Everywhere you go, you see foods marketed as good for you. But are they also good at helping you to burn fat-- or will these health foods make fat? The answer will surprise you! Check out these 13 sneaky "health foods" --and learn what to eat instead. 1. Sushi Sushi rice tops the list of all the rices in its ability to put fat on your body … [Read more...]
How to Lose Belly Fat: Real-Time Study Results
Are you frustrated by belly fat? Imagine being able to lose fat and cinch up your belt by 6 to 7 inches in just a few weeks. How many notches would that be? 3, 5, 6? Think you can't? Think again. We have conducted many fat-loss studies over the years, on groups of teachers, nurses, men, beauty queens, and even on ourselves! The Results From Our Men's Weight Loss … [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...]
President Trump, About Your Diet– We’d Like to Help
President Donald Trump The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW Washington, DC 20500 Dear President Trump, We heard you’re not doing so well with your diet. We get it; you love your fast food staples like Domino’s, McDonald’s and KFC. Who doesn’t love a good chicken tender and burger patty every now and then? It IS America, right? And exercise? Psh. The average American … [Read more...]
10 Brilliant Things You Can Do to Look Younger Now
Is it possible to reverse the signs of aging so you can look younger and feel younger too? Learn about healthy aging and what you can actually do to look younger right now...even if you are in your 30's, 40's, 50's (or more). 1. #1 Way to Look Younger: Cut Sugar Let's face it, our bodies are not designed to handle the massive amount of sugar in today's … [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...]
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...]
Zucchini Pizza Bites
Quick and easy, these guilt-free pizza bites are an excellent afternoon snack. Even the kids are sure to love them! 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 bag of Green Zucchini 1-2 Mozzarella String Cheese Sticks 1 bag of Pepperoni Bites … [Read more...]
Broccoli Cheese Bake
A simple take on the traditional casserole, this dish is the perfect dinner for a chilly winter day. Thanks to Cynthia E. for submitting this hearty and delicious recipe! Personal Trainer Food Ingredients: 1 Bag of Fajita Chicken for Salads 1 bag of Broccoli 1 Colby Jack Cheese Stick, shreded Sweet Garlic Butter Sauce, to taste Additional Ingredients: 1/4 tsp. … [Read more...]
4 Reasons You Should NOT Start a Diet in 2016
By Jan Hauser Weight Loss Coach, Personal Trainer Food #1 Diets Become Moral Dilemmas The moment you announce to the world that you are on a DIET, your brain does a funny thing. It starts judging everything as either 'good' or 'bad.' Counting calories is 'good.' High-fat is 'bad.' It doesn't take long before weighing yourself to track progress is 'next to godliness' and … [Read more...]
Teriyaki Broccoli Bowl
A Personal Trainer Food favorite, this flavorful dish is sure to please! With almost no preparation required, it's a perfect go-to meal for a busy evening. Personal Trainer Food Ingredients: 2 Teriyaki Chicken 1 bag of Broccoli Florets Additional Ingredients: Sesame Seeds Red Pepper Flakes Instructions: Heat Teriyaki Chicken and Broccoli in the microwave. … [Read more...]
The Top 8 Stories of 2015, According to a Personal Trainer & Sports Nutritionist
By Shane Allen Personal Trainer Food Certified Weight Loss Specialist, Sports Nutritionist and Personal Trainer As the year comes to a close I want to reflect back on my favorite health and fitness-related stories of 2015. We're constantly bombarded in the headlines with studies that conflict one another. These only add noise and confusion to understanding what truly is and … [Read more...]
Cheesy Bacon Chicken Breast
This recipe is a quick and delicious way to dress up your double-protein dinner on the RECON plan! 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: 2 Butter Roasted Chicken Breasts 2 Mozzarella Cheese Sticks Additional Ingredients: 2-3 Slices cooked bacon, … [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...]
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...]
Cheesy Meatballs
Meatballs are always a crowd-pleaser and the perfect thing to snack on while the turkey or ham roasts in the oven. Personal Trainer Food Ingredients: 1 Meatballs Italian Style (or PTF meatballs of your choice) 1 Mozzarella Cheese Stick Additional Ingredients: Tomato sauce (2g of sugar or less) Seasoning of choice, to taste Instructions: Heat … [Read more...]
Sriracha Yellow Squash & Zucchini
We love how this little dish with big flavor comes together so quickly! Our Zucchini and Yellow Squash are perfect for soaking up the flavorful sauce. Personal Trainer Food Ingredients: 1 Yellow Squash 1 Zucchini Additional Ingredients: 2t soy sauce 1T oyster sauce 1t sesame oil 2T (or to taste) Sriracha hot sauce ½C fresh cilantro, chopped … [Read more...]
Protein-Packed Good Morning Egg Muffins
Serve up these easy to prepare protein-packed Egg Muffins for breakfast, appetizers, or snacks— your family will love these delicious and portable meals. Protein Egg Muffin Ingredients: 1 dozen eggs, whisked 12 ounces cooked bacon or ham, diced 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded 1/2 cup diced red peppers Dried basil and oregano, to taste Salt and pepper, to … [Read more...]
Green Beans with Goat Cheese and Walnuts
Try this healthy swap in place of the usual green bean casserole—it takes just a few minutes to prepare and is sure to please the whole family! 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: 1-2 bags of Green Beans Additional Ingredients: 1 oz Goat cheese, … [Read more...]