Cholesterol drug can damage muscles in high doses – Simvastatin takers should see doctor

(please take the following with a grain of sea salt, unless your “health care provider” has told you to follow a ‘low sodium’ DIE-et)

Now maybe it’s just me, but didn’t going to the doctor cause this problem in the first place?  This witch hunt on cholesterol, which is Essential to your body for HUNDREDS of uses, has caused far more problems than it ever solved.

Your body uses cholesterol to make many essential hormones.  A recent study in elderly subject “surprisingly” found that those with the highest cholesterol levels got the best results from their exercise program.  These subjects, who were at high risk for muscle loss, gained more metabolism boosting muscle tissue than those with lowest cholesterol levels.

Now here is ANOTHER study showing rhabdomyolysis (muscle loss) in patients taking cholesterol lowering drugs.

When I went to school, I was taught that the HEART was also a muscle – but of course I’m not a DOCTOR so you should feel free to draw your own conclusions.  Most of these drugs also severely deplete the essential antioxidant Co-Q10, which your HEART needs to function in a healthy way (along with a host of other things, including: Sodium, Potassium, Calcium, and Magnesium).

High cholesterol is a SYMPTOM, not a disease!

6 years ago, my heart had a problem.  I had a birth defect that caused me to need a pacemaker.  My cholesterol level was a total of 293, with HDL at only 13.  Now through healthy nutrition (including lots of omega-3 foods) and regular exercise my total is around 160, with a HDL of 38.

ALL WITHOUT CHOLESTEROL LOWERING DRUGS.

Make informed choices, and don’t follow the lemmings of the cliff – just my opinion…

“Because Isn’t It Time To Take Care of YOU?”

as seen on

Give us just 21 days and we’ll melt up to 10 pounds (or more =) of fat off your body, skyrocket your energy, and put you on the fastest track to tight, toned and terrific… quickly, safely and naturally – no crazy diets, drugs of gimmicks!

The Only Catch is we only have room for 10 new clients
- and the new program starts on April 4th, 2011!

These Hendersonville men & women did it, and now it’s your turn…

From Kym Roberts, Totally New You Lead Personal Trainer, Hendersonville NC, 290-WELL

Dear Hendersonville Moms and Dads,

Hello and welcome!

I’m really glad you are here and I want to encourage you to call us today at 290-9355 or complete the form on this page for your 2 free, no-obligation gifts that put you on the fastest track ot your new, best body ever.

Here’s what this is all about…

We’ve developed a 21-day rapid fat loss program that’s unlike anything you’ve ever tried in the past.  And it’s guaranteed to work for you.  There’s no dieting, no drugs and no gimmicks. Because that stuff doesn’t work (and can damage your body).

Our 21-day program is a combination of three elements:

• Fun, quick exercises that burn the maximum number of calories, removing ugly fat from you body faster than anything else you can do
• Nutritional guidance and meal planning
• The magic of coaching and accountability from proven experts with an unmatched track record of successes here in Hendersonville NC

Yes, the coaching and accountability are pretty darn close to magical.  In fact, if you’ve struggled in the past to lose weight and get your body looking the way you want it to, the #1 reason for that is lack of effective coaching and accountability.

Simply put, there is no substitute for external motivation and personalized coaching from a real expert who has been there.  I used to be unhealthy, overweight, and I’m a mother of 2 myself.  Getting coaching and accountability were two of the biggest secrets to my success, as well as our clients just like you that we help everyday.

Just give us the chance and we’ll prove that to you (you’ll be amazed by the results).

The entire program is just 21 days.  Three weeks… that will melt up to 10 pounds of fat off your body and put you on the fastest track to tight, toned and terrific.

And if you’re one of the first 10 to register now by completing the form on this page, we’ll give you the entire 21 day program for just $97 (a savings of $100 off our regular price)

But You Won’t Pay A Penny Until You’re Convinced

That’s right, not one thin dime.  Because we don’t want your money until we PROVE to you just how effective our 21-day rapid fat loss and energy boosting program really is.

When you complete the form on this page, we’ll call you to schedule a time for you to come in for a complimentary consultation and get started.  Your first session is FREE, and there’s no obligation.

If you love it, stick with us for 21 days that will change your body and your life.  If not, we part friends with no hard feelings.

It’s that simple.

There is no “fine print” and nothing to buy now.  And we don’t play any games or pressure you to buy anything you don’t want.  We don’t have to… the results we get for our clients in Hendersonville speak for themselves.

If you’re one of the first 10 people to register, the entire 21-day program (a $197 value) is yours for just $97 (but you only pay once you’re convinced).  If you don’t make the 10 person cut-off, we’ll let you know and give you the opportunity to go on our waiting list (this program won’t be available again for at least 2 months).

Either way, you pay nothing now, so there is no risk to you.

Who This Is For

This special program is designed specifically for men and women aged 30-55 who want to lose up to 10 pounds in 21 days, quickly, safely and naturally… and are ready to fully commit to themselves and to our proven program.

Because now it’s time to take care of you!

Requesting your 2 free gifts does not obligate you to purchase anything.  They’re are gift to you, no strings attached.  But you need to hurry because we can only accept 10 people into this program.

Look, you’ve read this far for a reason… you want your best body as quickly and certainly as possible.  And that’s what we’re promising you.  Just take the first step by completing the form on this page right now.  If you’d prefer to speak with us, call 290-9355 and mention that you’re interested in the 21-day program you saw on Facebook.

Click Here to Begin!

We’re the leading provider of guaranteed results fitness services in Hendersonville because we’re committed to the success of our clients (as you can see from their stories).

So now there is just one question… “Are you worth it?”  Is your body, health, fitness and how you feel about yourself worth $97?  That’s the bottom line.  If you’re worth it, then call or complete the form right now.

I look forward to meeting you and getting you the body you’ve always wanted (and I hope you get signed up in time to reserve one of our 10 spots!)

To your health and fitness,

Kym Roberts, lead personal trainer at Totally New You!

Maybe you joined a gym, hired a personal trainer, or just gotten a friend to work out with on a regular basis.

You even got your nutrition dialed in with a good nutritious meal plan, and are writing in your nutrition journal (which is a Great idea by the way).

This is a short list of things you can do to supercharge your fitness results.

1.  Take a whole food multi-vitamin. For your body to burn fat as fast as possible, you want to make sure that you have all the nutrients your body needs.  Obviously you want to get as many nutrients as possible from the nutritious foods you are eating every day.  Taking a whole food multi-vitamin is like having nutritional insurance for your body.  I recommend the one sold here ( for men / for women ), but you can certainly go to your local health food store and get a good one that they may recommend.  I just don’t personally like the idea of getting synthetic vitamins made in a laboratory somewhere, which is why I recommend the one’s that I do.

2.  Get a foam roller.  We all have stress that accumulates over time in our minds and bodies.  Working our certainly helps to relieve that stress – especially if you have a good personal trainer.  But workouts can also make your muscles tight and sore if you are working hard.  A foam roller is an awesome tool to help loosen up tight muscles.  It is kind of like being able to give yourself a massage anytime you want one.  Here is my favorite place to get foam rollers.  You can also get them at Target in the workout section, but they are a little more expensive there with less selection.  I recommend getting the 6 inch diameter  round foam roller, in either 12 inch or 36 inch lengths.

3.  Drink green tea with ginger root. This combination is incredible for alleviating muscle soreness!  Green tea has a lot of great antioxidants, as well as boosting your metabolism so that you can burn more fat.  The ginger is great for calming your stomach, as well as helping your sore muscles to recover faster.  Just be sure to make your own, and don’t buy that junk in a bottle from the store!  You don’t want all those artificial sweeteners or sugar.

4.  Other supplements you may find useful (most supplements are garbage and not worth taking – don’t waste your money!) are a good protein powder, fish oil, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper.  I recommend this fish oil, and here is an all in one metabolism booster that contains green tea, cinnamon, cayenne, L-tyrosine and more called Metabolism (appropriately enough =).

5.  Make sure that you are using a food journal each and every day. Research has shown that accountability doubles fat loss!  We give all of our personal training clients a fancy nutrition journal, but you can just as easily use a 99 cent notebook.  A bonus strategy that we really like is to end each day by writing a success of the day.  Keeping a positive mindset is incredibly important to long term fat loss, and this habit helps to reinforce the positive things you are doing for yourself.

One more thing I forgot to mention is getting a good blender for you protein drinks.  I have been through Many blenders, and my 2 favorites are the Kitchen Ninja, and the Vita-Mix.  The Vita-Mix is by far the most powerful blender I have used, but it comes with a hefty price tag (approximately $400).  The Kitchen Ninja is about 95% as useful, but costs Much less (approximately $40-$60).  The only thing it has not handled to my satisfaction is grinding dry ingredients like golden flax seeds or coffee, but you can easily get a coffee grinder very inexpensively.

That’s it for now!  In the future I may add to this list, but this should get you started.  You should be proud of yourself for getting started on your path to fitness, now it may be time to Supercharge your results with some ideas from a personal trainer.

Have a Spectacular Day!

A Better Choice Today, Longer Life Tomorrow

Our society today is fueled by processed foods, animal products, dairy products, and sugary substances. The Standard American Diet which is based on the foods listed above is killing our people. Currently, eighty-five percent of the nation’s healthcare costs come from diet-related illnesses such as strokes and heart attacks. The only way to combat that and the Standard American Diet is to become a nutritarian. Nutritarians strive to consume more foods with skyrocketing nutritional values, and food that is beneficial to their health. It is pivotal to make the change to a nutritarian lifestyle because of the harmful effects the Standard American Diet has on individuals, more energy from nutritarian eating, and it promotes health and longer life. It may seem challenging to eat little else but nutrient dense foods, but the lifelong benefits it promises are worth it.

The first key reason to being a nutritarian is to avoid the lethal effects the Standard American Diet has on individuals. By consuming a low intake of unrefined plant foods on that diet, the immune system becomes weakened. Therefore, frequent illness and premature death can occur. A diet consisting of animal products, pasta, fried food, and sugar are the building blocks of disease. Secondly, by eating foods without nutritional value and no antioxidants, waste products build up inside cells that lack necessary material needed for proper function. The average American consumes only seven percent of their calories from nutritional foods. Furthermore, adding fruits and vegetables to the Standard American Diet is not enough. To be a true nutritarian, individuals must make nutrient dense foods such as green vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, beans, and legumes the center of their diet. Abandoning the Standard American Diet and becoming a nutritarian will increase one’s energy and productivity levels.

A nutritarian lifestyle also gives individuals more energy and drive to complete tasks throughout the day. Firstly, being a nutritarian increases one’s stamina. Therefore, one will have more vigor to exercise and fully enjoy recreational activities. Secondly, being a nutritarian reduces fatigue which plagues many working people throughout the day. Empty calorie foods on the Standard American Diet makes one feel sluggish and lazy. Most importantly, nutritarian eating improves bodily functions, increases brain power, and promotes health.

Lastly, being a nutritarian promotes health and combats disease. If individuals follow the eating routine of a nutritarian exactly, many diseases can be prevented and combated. Diseases such as type two diabetes, heart problems, strokes, cancer, and circulatory impediments can be healed and reversed. Furthermore, one can maintain a youthful complexion, age slower, have vigor and stamina, and live much longer. These results are proved and supported with years of medical studies and thousands of success stories. Because of eating those foods strictly from nature, one’s health can be preserved, and diseases can be reversed and healed.

In conclusion, being a nutritarian can benefit one’s health incredulously. It is vital to be a nutritarian rather than a victim of the processed and fatty eating of the Standard American Diet. If one looks closely at the first letters of the words “Standard American Diet,” it spells out the word “sad.” That is completely true. This diet most Americans are on deters their health completely. Even though nutritarian eating can be difficult to switch to, it can taste delicious and gourmet with extra effort. Secondly, nutritarian eating satisfies every craving of the body. Backed by medical research, this way of life is the key to living longer without disease, illness, or the use of prescription medications. By eating food strictly from nature only, one can add up to twenty more years onto their life. It is never too late to become a nutritarian. If one wants to enjoy life to its fullest, being a nutritarian is the way to achieve that goal.

Rose LoPiano

April 30, 2010

Grade 8

Buddhist to do list

1. Breathe

You have 3 Primary Nervous Systems:

• Sympathetic – fight or flight, stress
• ParaSympathetic – calm and relaxation
• Autonomic – digestion and reproduction

How you Breathe Directly Influences both the Sympathetic and ParaSympathetic.

Your Lungs are actually comprised of 4 lobes. When you breathe through your mouth and into your chest, you only get air into the top two lobes. This activates the Sympathetic Nervous System – which makes you feel stressed. Useful if you are about to get into a fight, not so useful for dealing with co-workers and family! =)

Breathing deeply through your nose and into your belly gets air all the way down to the bottom 2 lobes. This activates the ParaSympathetic Nervous System, which is calming. You can Instantly lower your Heart Rate and Blood Pressure by simply Re-Learning how to Breathe!

Experiment:

• Hyperventilate through the mouth 30 times – notice the effect
• Take 10 Deep breathes in through the nose, all the way down into your belly - how does that feel? Different?

This is Stress Management 101

This is an Incredible tool that you always have at your disposal!

Don’t let your circumstances dictate your reactions.

Learn to take Control and Respond Appropriately!

Hang this up where you have to see it All the time, thus reminding yourself of Your Why’s!

The more often you see something in your mind’s eye, the more quickly you’ll reach it.

The more intensely you see it, the more surely and completely you will attain it.

Fill your mind with positive images – Soon your life will be filled with positive results.

1. My #1 ___ Week Goal is
2. Why is this Goal Important to ME?
3. What are the Consequences if I Don’t Keep This Promise to Myself?
4. What am I Committed to DO?
5. Potential Obstacles?
6. How WILL I Overcome Them?
7. How am I going to Reward Myself when I reach my Goal?

Two of the main functions of water in the body include temperature regulation and removal of waste products.

Here are 4 great reasons to fill your glass to the brim with crystal clear water:

1. Staying hydrated enhances weight loss.
2. Drinking water prevents dehydration.
3. Filling your stomach with water before meals prevents overeating.
4. Quenching your thirst with water hydrates your skin, giving it a more youthful glow.

It’s a lot easier to drink extra calories than to eat them. Most of us drink 21% of our daily calories. An average of 460 each day! Just STOP!

According to NutraIngredients:

“The rhizome of the ginger plant (Zingiber officinale) is a rich source of antioxidants, including gingerols, shogaols, zingerones and other ketone derivatives … ginger’s pain reducing effects are biologically plausible with both in vitro and in vivo animal studies showing an effect of gingerols, shogaols, and zingerones on inflammatory compounds.”

Ginger has a long history of medicinal use, primarily for soothing nausea and easing stomach upset and dizziness. But it’s also a natural immune system booster with anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties — as this latest study confirms — and has even been found to promote cardiovascular health.

Ginger as a Natural Pain Reliever

In this double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study, the participants were given either two grams of raw or heat-treated ginger supplements, or a placebo, for 11 consecutive days. They then performed a strenuous exercise with a heavy weight to induce “moderate muscle injury” to the arm. Pain- and inflammation levels were assessed prior to the exercise and for three days afterward.

While both types of ginger produced good results compared to the placebo, the raw ginger was slightly more effective, reducing exercise-induced pain by 25 percent within 24 hours. The heat-treated form reduced pain by 23 percent.

Part of the explanation for ginger’s pain relieving properties is its potent antioxidant content, which includes gingerols, shogaols and zingerones. It is believed that these compounds have particular anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties similar to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Co-author Patrick O’Connor is quoted as saying:

“The economic and personal costs of pain are extremely high. Muscle pain generally is one of the most common types of pain and eccentric exercise-induced muscle pain specifically is a common type of injury related to sports and/or recreation, like gardening.

Anything that can truly relieve this type of pain will be greatly welcomed by the many people who are experiencing it.”

Yes, knowing that there are far safer options out there that cost a fraction of conventional painkillers is indeed a very valuable piece of information.

I’ve written extensively about the health dangers of NSAIDs such as Vioxx, Celebrex, and even common over-the-counter painkillers. The short- and long-term side effects of these types of drugs can cause far more suffering than the pain you’re trying to get rid of.

Other Natural Pain Relievers

Aside from ginger, there are several other natural products and strategies that can offer pain relief, including:

Boswellia: Also known as boswellin or “Indian frankincense,” this herb contains specific active anti-inflammatory ingredients.

Krill oil: The omega-3 fats EPA and DHA found in krill oil have been found, by many animal and clinical studies, to have anti-inflammatory properties that reduce joint inflammation and promote joint lubrication.  (You can get a great Krill oil supplement HERE)

Bromelain: This enzyme, found in pineapples, is a natural anti-inflammatory. It can be taken in supplement form, but eating fresh pineapple may also be helpful.

Cetyl Myristoleate (CMO): This oil, found in fish and dairy butter, acts as a “joint lubricant” and an anti-inflammatory. I have also used this for myself to relieve ganglion cysts and a mild annoying carpal tunnel syndrome that pops up when I type too much on non-ergonomic keyboards. I used a topical preparation for this.

Evening Primrose, Black Currant and Borage Oils: These contain the essential fatty acid gamma linolenic acid (GLA), which is particularly useful for treating arthritic pain. I personally prefer the use of GLA supplements from evening primrose oil but borage oil contains a higher concentration of GLA, which means you need fewer capsules, and it tends to be less expensive.

Cayenne Cream: Also called capsaicin cream, this spice comes from dried hot peppers. It alleviates pain by depleting the body’s supply of substance P, a chemical component of nerve cells that transmits pain signals to your brain.

Another pain relieving strategy that includes neither drugs nor supplements or creams of any kind, is to use an energy tool such as the Meridian Tapping Technique/Emotional Freedom Technique (MTT/EFT).

Many types of pain, especially chronic pain, can be the result of a disruption in your body’s subtle energy system, caused by unresolved emotions or emotional trauma.

Granted, emotional trauma may have little to do with the pain you experience after straining your muscles from vigorous exercise. However, if you suffer from chronic or other hard-to-treat pains, MTT/EFT may be something you’ll want to look into as this simple do-it-yourself technique has been shown to provide effective pain relief about 80 percent of the time — on everything from headaches to cancer pain.

Ginger – The BEST Therapy for Nausea and Morning Sickness!

Getting back to ginger, one of the most common traditional uses of this medicinal tuber is for nausea, including the morning sickness experienced by about 80 percent of pregnant women.

Ginger has been proven to be more effective in reducing nausea and vomiting in pregnant women than a placebo, and it also works just as well as vitamin B6, which can also improve morning sickness symptoms in pregnant women.

I believe it’s one of the absolute best therapies for nausea of any kind, and can even work on motion sickness as well.

However, last year NutraIngredients reported that the Finnish food safety agency, Evira, “recommended warning labels for ginger supplements, after its Risk Assessment Unit highlighted dangers for consuming them for pregnant women.”

“The assessment found that ginger food supplements, teas and drinking powders should be limited in pregnant women because elements in ginger may be harmful to fetal development if consumed in great enough quantities.” [Emphasis mine]

The warning label issued in Finland was not necessarily due to scientific evidence of harm, but rather implemented as a precaution.

I’ve previously stated that ginger is safe for consumption during pregnancy, and I still believe it is safe in moderation.

It’s worth considering that whole ginger root contains a variety of synergistic compounds. This natural synergy typically ensures that one compound in the food doesn’t “overtake” the others to inflict harm. It is rare for any type of whole food to be dangerous enough to not eat during pregnancy.

That is typically only a concern that arises when you extract individual ingredients or compounds from a food or plant source, which is done in drug development, and to a more limited extent for certain supplements.

That said, whole ginger can be consumed in a variety of ways, including:

My favorite way of using it is to cut off about a teaspoon worth, dicing it very fine and swallowing it with water. This is far more potent, inexpensive and effective than any other way I know of.

Cooking with it: Ginger tastes great lightly sautéed with other vegetables, meat, sesame oil, and a pinch of natural, unprocessed salt.

As a tea: Simply put a couple of thin slices into hot water. A little bit of raw honey can sweeten the otherwise “hot and spicy” flavor of the tea.

I’ve previously also recommended ginger syrup, which you can easily make on your own or purchase in most health food stores. However, knowing what we now know about the massively negative health ramifications of fructose consumption, I’d recommend avoiding this alternative and just stick to eating or drinking the ginger without loading up on unnecessary sugar.

Using a ginger syrup, which consists of about twice the amount of sugar to ginger, doesn’t make much sense in terms of overall health – especially if you’re drinking it regularly.

Added Boon: Ginger May Also Help Prevent Heart Disease

In the past decade, researchers have also discovered that ginger may benefit your cardiovascular health, including:

• Preventing atherosclerosis
• Lowering cholesterol levels
• Preventing oxidation of low density lipoprotein (LDL)

One animal study found that mice who received 250 micrograms of ginger extract daily experienced:

• 44% reduction in aortic atherosclerotic lesion
• 27% reduction in triglycerides
• 29% reduction in cholesterol
• 53% reduction in VLDL cholesterol
• 33% reductions in LDL (bad) cholesterol
• Reduced LDL oxidation and aggregation

As you can see, there are plenty of reasons to make sure you’re eating (or drinking) fresh herbs and spices such as ginger on a regular basis.

1. Protein should come from Organic Sources if you are going to consume Animal Products and Whey Protein, and Vegetarian Sources should be Non-GMO
2. Fats should be balanced between Omega-3′s, Omega-6′s, and Omega-9′s (for example walnuts, eggs, and olive oil)
3. Carbohydrates should come from Whole Food Sources: Vegetables, Fruits, and Whole Unprocessed Grains like Steel Cut Oats and Quinoa for example.

Calorie Calculator:

Here is Coach Alan Aragon’s “Calorie Calculator” to determine how many calories you should eat each day. According to Aragon, to determine the number of calories you should eat each day, you need this equation:

Daily calories = Goal weight x (workout hours per week + 9.5)
•    Protein grams = goal weight in pounds
•    Fat grams = half goal weight in pounds
•    Carbohydrate grams = [Daily calories – (protein calories + fat calories)]/4

NOTE:
o    1 gram of protein provides 4 calories
o    1 gram of carbohydrates provides 4 calories
o    1 gram of fat provides 9 calories

Female Example:

160 pound woman who wants to weigh 140 pounds, exercising for a total of 3 hours per week:

Daily Calories = 140 x (3+9.5)
Daily Calories = 1750
Protein = 140grams (560 calories)
Fat = 70grams (630 calories)
Carbohydrates = [1750 – (560+630)]/4
Carbohydrates = 140grams

Male Example:

220 pound man who wants to weigh 180 pounds, exercising for a total of 3 hours per week:

Daily Calories = 180 x (3+9.5)
Daily Calories = 2250
Protein = 180grams (720 calories)
Fat = 90grams (810 calories)
Carbohydrates = [2250 – (720+810)]/4
Carbohydrates = 180grams

I hope you find this as useful as I did – Please Share this post on Twitter and Facebook!

How to Skyrocket Your Energy!  … and look and feel 10 years younger =)

So what I am about to do may seem a little strange to some of you.

I am going to GIVE Away the digital version of my book, with no strings attached of any kind!

Why would I do this?  I believe this information Needs to get out, and YOU need to read it.

The Universe is an Abundant place,

and I believe the more people I can personally help,

the more the Universe will help me in return.

You can simply click the link and download my book for Free – I just want to ask you for 2 favors:

1. You Actually Read it and Use the Information to Better Your Life
2. You Pass the Information on to your Friends, Family, and Co-Workers

My BELIEF is that we are all Personally Responsible for the Life we Choose to Lead.  Let me help you to find the answers to more Energy, Better Health, and Longer Life.  And then help others do the same.  Pay it Forward.  And leave me some feedback, please!

It is a pretty big PDF file, so be patient.

If you want a hard copy I have them for sale for $10, and if you haven’t already, please sign up for my weekly Fitness Now! newsletter, where you will receive fitness tips, healthy recipes, and support to Transform Your Life.