What’s the deal with cholesterol anyway?

You’ve probably heard somewhere along the road that cholesterol is bad, and that you need to keep your
levels down…but do you really know “what’s what” when it come to your
cholesterol levels, diet, and health?
Here’s the skinny:
You have 2 types of cholesterol in your body: HDL and LDL cholesterol. Think of HDL as the good kind of cholesterol, and LDL as the kind that’s not so good.

Contributing factors to a rise in your LDL levels typically include:
eating foods that are high in saturated fat
leading a sedentary, or exercise free lifestyle
you can also inherit high cholesterol levels if it runs in your family

3 easy ways to improve your HDL levels include:
resistance training and adding a little muscle mass to your body. Notice I didnt say you had to turn into a bodybuilder, just add a little bit of muscle!

eat fish! Compared to lean meat and chicken, those who eat fish have shown a 26% increase in HDL2, a protective form of HDL.

Eat Macadamia nuts! Who knew, right? Australian scientists have found that replacing 15% of your daily caloric intake with 12-16 macadamia nuts a day can increase HDL levels by up to 8%!

Have you ever had to lower your LDL levels? How did you do it? We want to hear about it! Just post your “cholesterol lowering success stories” down below for your chance to win a random drawing for a complimentary 30 minute personal training session at Fitness Edge in Lakewood!

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Looking for your six pack? Check out these 12 Belly-Flattening Foods!

  1. Almonds: high in protein, good for building muscle and fighting off cravings and hunger
  2. Black Beans: great for burning fat, regulating digestion, and an excellent source of protein, fiber, and iron.
  3. Spinach: rich in magnesium and vitamin A, C, E and K. Besides fighting obesity, spinach helps protect against heart disease, stroke, and colon cancer.
  4. Blueberries: full of antioxidants and great source of soluble fiber which helps you feel full.
  5. Oatmeal: low in fat, good source of fiber. Oatmeal is also low in sodium and cholesterol.
  6. Eggs: packed full of protein, iron and vitamins A, D, E, and B12. Eggs help promote the loss of body fat and stabilize blood sugar levels.
  7. Sweet Potatoes: high in fiber, complex carbohydrates, protein and vitamins. When eaten with the skin, sweet potatoes have more fiber than oatmeal!
  8. Peanut Butter: packed with protein and heart healthy fats,  peanut butter helps build muscle while burning fat. It is high in calories though, so watch your intake!
  9. Extra Virgin Olive Oil: helps burn fat while keeping your cholesterol in check.  Substitute salad dressing with a tablespoon or 2 of extra virgin olive oil.
  10. Lean Turkey: helps build muscle and boosts your immune system. An excellent choice for boosting your metabolism and speeding up your body’s ability release fat! 
  11. Whey Protein: helps build muscle and burn fat. Add to your favorite post workout smoothie to accelerate your fat loss.    
  12. Low Fat Yogurt: great for strengthening your bones, providing ‘good bacteria’ in your digestive system, and helps to speed up fat burning.

Eat supportively at each meal by combining a lean protein, a starchy carbohydrate, and fibrous carbohydrate for maximum fat loss!

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The quickest way to boost metabolism and melt ugly fat!

Quick and easy 60 second breakfast offers solution if you’re pressed for time!

If you’re like a lot of my clients, oen of the biggest excuses for nto eating breakfast is “I dont have time in the morning”, or “I’m always running late, so I just grab whatever’s available and run out the door.” Here is a quick and easy ‘on the go’ meal (from Men’s Health) that takes all of about 60 seconds to prepare, is high in protein and fiber, and will definitely start you off on the right foot in the morning. Enjoy!

1 medium apple
1/2 pint fat-free milk
1 bran vita muffin (these are available at your local grocery store, go to vitalicious.com for a supplier near you)
1 pack skippy squeeze stix peanut butter

Slice the apple, grab the milk, peanut butter, and muffin, and go! Squeeze the peanut butter on to your apple slices as you eat.

Mixing fibrous carbohydrates with protein is an easy way to keep your blood sugar levels stable and maximize your body’s ability to burn fat! 

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Fitness Edge 16400 Madison Avenue Lakewood, Ohio 44107
216.373.7654