In the latest issue of Atlanta MultiSports Magazine!

Honored to be in the latest issue of Atlanta MultiSports Magazine. Digital copy out now and on newsstands.

Beyonce Faces Backlash After News about Vegan Diet!

The other day Beyoncé announced the news about how she keeps her weight off by being a Vegan. She received a lot of backlash from this due to the fact she still wears animal products. Another problem is people think she is just another celebrity marketing her new venture, The 22-Day Revolution. It could be true or not.


I have been a vegetarian for over 3 years and just last week was thinking about changing my diet to a vegan based diet. I didn't say I was going to become a total vegan, I said a diet based around what vegans eat. I think people should at least give a person a chance to become something compared to them lashing out because overnight you want them to  become something you have been either your whole life or for many years. Its like telling someone that used to smoke that now is wearing a patch, they are still smoking!

This is How Your Hot Dogs are Made [Video]

Started T25!

I started T25 on my birthday January 27, my 52 birthday! In one week lost 6.8 ibs and feel great! Stay tuned for my progress.

Eating Tilapia is Worse Than Eating Bacon

I’ve written before about the dangers of farmed fish. Most people agree that eating fish is a healthier option for us. And the truth is, it really is! Fish is a low fat, high protein food that has a range of health benefits. However, given what we know of fish and its sources today, I need to clarify the myth that all fish is healthy.

Fish may not always be good for you. Fish can either be incredibly healthy or detrimental to our health, depending on where it’s sourced. There’s a world of difference between fish caught in the wild, and farm bred or farm-raised fish.

The most common types of farm-raised fish are
Salmon
Carp
Tilapia
Sea bass
Catfish
Cod
Why is Farm Raised Fish So Bad for You?

1. Can Cause Inflammation

Farm raised Tilapia has always been a popular source for fish, not only because it’s widely available in the US, but it’s also very inexpensive. It’s known in the food business as “aquatic chicken” because it breeds easily and tastes bland. Tilapia is the perfect factory fish; it happily eats pellets made largely of corn and soy and gains weight rapidly, easily converting a diet that resembles cheap chicken feed into low-cost seafood. Recent studies have concluded that eating

Tilapia may worsen inflammation which can lead to heart disease, arthritis, asthma and a world of other serious health problems. People who have started eating more fish as a way to get their dose of omega-3-fatty-acids and lessen their risk of heart attacks should avoid Tilapia. In fact, scientists have found that the inflammatory potential of Tilapia is greater than that of a hamburger or pork bacon!


2. Contains Cancer Causing Pollutants

Farm bred fish may have at least 10 times the cancer causing pollutants compared to the wild variety. This can most likely be attributed to the feeds used on farm-raised fish. Chicken feces is one of the main ingredients in farm fish feed. Not only that, the transfer of pig and duck waste to fish farms is also a very common practice.

3. Contains Antibiotics and Pesticides

Where do farm bred fish get their antibiotics? The crowded conditions of fish farms cause the fish to be more susceptible to disease. To keep them alive, farm owners give antibiotics to the fish to stave off disease. Farm bred fish are also treated with pesticides to combat sea lice. The pesticides used to treat these fish are so deadly that they have been found to kill wild salmon that are accidentally exposed to them. These pesticides are also eventually released in the ocean where they get into the bodies and systems of other marine life.

4. Low Levels of Nutrients

Many of us consume fish, hoping to reap the omega-3 fatty acid benefits that come with it. However, did you know that the omega-3-acids found in farm raised fish are less usable to our bodies compared to wild bred fish, and they also have a lower protein content. Not only that, because farm raised fish are kept in cages, they have the tendency to contain more fat, and can have a higher concentration of omega-6 acids. The problem with getting too much omega 3 and omega 6 acids is that they may cause inflammation to the body

5. Contains Toxic Chemicals

Dibutylin levels (toxic chemical used in PVC plastics) is said to be 6 times higher in farm raised mussels compared to wild ones. Dibutylin is toxic and can impair immune system function while also contributing to inflammation. Dibutylin may be the reason why we’ve seen a rise in asthma, obesity, allergies and other metabolic disorders in the recent years.

6. Contains Even MORE Toxic Chemicals

Dioxin levels (toxic chemical) are 11 times higher in farm bred salmon compared to wild salmon. Dioxin is actually a very toxic chemical that can contribute to cancer and other complications. The problem with dioxin is that once it enters our system, it can take a very long time until it is let out. The half life of dioxin is about 7 to 11 years.

This is why I only eat Wild Caught fish like Wild Sockeye Salmon. Wild caught salmon is loaded with Omega-3 fats, EPA and DHA, and has incredible health benefits. Plus, Salmon contains astaxanthin (A metabolic building block) which has been shown to be 6,000 times more powerful than Vitamin D at absorbing free radicals.

To see all the fish I recommend, check out my free Healing Food Shopping List. If you’re not eating Salmon or another wild caught fish once daily, then I recommend taking a high quality fish oil that contains astaxanthin, like Oceans 3.


Where to Get Wild Caught Fish

1. Local Health Food Stores, Whole Foods. Be careful though, because “wild caught” can be a loosely used term, so ask. Kroger and Publix are starting to carry more organic and wild caught items.

2. Online. This works great for me because I know exactly where my fish is sourced from plus it shows up at my door. This is why I prefer to order wild caught fish online. I trust Vital Choice, it’s where I order my wild caught Salmon and other fish from.

Vegan Mock Meats: To Eat or Not to Eat

It's a cheeseburger! It's a hot dog! It's isolated soy protein?

The vegan diet is at an all-time high in popularity. With celebrities, ex-presidents and even Mickey Mouse getting his vegan fix on, the sales of faux meat-like substances are skyrocketing. 2008 saw more than $4 billion in soy product sales, often the main ingredient in mock meats. But are they really good for you?

Often called "transitional foods" and lauded by animal rights organizations such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) to lure meatheads into a satisfying cruelty free diet, there's mock chicken, turkey, sausages, chorizos, deli meats, even mock shrimp available; but some experts argue that these foods offer their own risks.

Consider the devastating loss of rainforest in Brazil due to farming soy or the toxic chemical hexane used in isolating soy protein, or even the excessively processed nature of mock meats which include lots of salt and a mash-up of unhealthy sounding ingredients. Top selling Boca Burgers contain hydrolyzed wheat protein, disodium guanylate, disodium inosinate, methylcellulose and a 'non-meat' artificial flavor, according to their Web site. And Philip Morris, the giant tobacco company, owns them.

There's no question that adding more fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds is the healthiest diet choice. Treat mock meats like you would regular meats and eat them sparingly or not at all. Definitely stick with brands whose ingredients you recognize and can pronounce. If you do your homework, you can find meat alternatives that are far healthier than others (and certainly healthier than animal-based products.) Here's some faves:

Best of the Bunch

Field Roast: They make slices, roasts, meat loaves and sausages. They're wheat based, so if you're intolerant, you're out of luck. By far, they're the best tasting products available.

Sunshine Burgers: Sunflower seed veggie burgers? Yep. Light-years better than the soy burgers and count 'em, only five ingredients: ground raw sunflower seeds, brown rice, carrots, herbs, sea salt.

Tofurky: Inventors of the popular Thanksgiving feast, they use non-GMO ingredients and hexane free soy in their slices, tempeh and sausages too. Founder, Seth Tibbott, is about as genuinely awesome as they come. Imagine if your Dad embraced veganism and moved to Oregon to make faux turkey. Awesome, right?

Gardein: Oprah's Conscious Cook, Tal Ronnen, helped formulate these products, and while the ingredient list is a bit long, that's mostly due to the herbs and spices in the products. They're not organic, but they're made from real ingredients and a unique protein blend.

Juicing in 2013

Received a NutriBullet for Christmas. I have been having so much fun with it. Juicing everything from  kale, spinach and various different fruits.  Weight should really drop now!

2012 Goals!

2012 was a great year. Accomplished many things health wise. I've completely stopped eating meat and chicken. Still eat seafood, need a little variety.

March I placed second in a weight loss challege.

In June I started working out at Train Studios. They emphasize on core training using ropes, kettle bells, TRX and your own bodyweight. My waist dropped 2 inches and my shirt size went from XL to L.

2013 will bring many changes including juicing. My biggest goal is to be down 60 ibs by my 1 year annivesary at Train Studios.

9 Foods You Should Be Eating for Type 2 Diabetes

Healthy eating for type 2 diabetes is about losing weight and preventing dangerous spikes in blood sugar. Nutrition and health expert Joy Bauer explains how these nine foods can help.

Foods for Diabetes

Still drinking coca cola? Watch this!

See what happens to a burger over years time!

Tucking shirt in!

I hate this look for me. If you do it that's your business, but I feel sloppy. When I wasn't able to tuck my shirts in, I always wore pullover type shirts for work. 

This is the look I like! So much cleaner look. I'm happy I can do this again! Keep Planking!

The Amazing Transformation of a Guy Who Didn't Give Up!

WHY ARE BANANAS GOOD FOR WEIGHT LOSS?

If there was a food that was low in calories and low in fat while high in fiber and vitamins and could help you lose weight, chances are you would eat it. The truth is, this nutritious food can be eaten with breakfast or as a snack, or can complement a nice dessert. Bananas are one of the most nutritious and natural foods that help promote weight loss, and can make a convenient addition to your daily diet.

Calories

Bananas are best known for containing large amounts of potassium, magnesium and vitamin B6 and are surprisingly low in calories. The average large ripe banana, which ranges from 7 to 8 inches long, contains only 105 calories, the Discovery Health website and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Nutrient Database agree. Based on a 2,000-calorie-per-day diet, eating several bananas a day can provide numerous nutrients and account for only a fraction of your daily caloric intake.

Fat

Like most fruits, bananas do not have much protein, but they are very low in fat. The USDA database reports that a large, ripe banana has less than half a gram of fat. Considering there are 9 calories per gram of fat, you can eat several bananas a day and not take in any bad fat that could lead to weight gain.

Fiber

Bananas are high in dietary fiber, which makes you feel fuller longer so you won't overeat at your next meal or reach for an unhealthy snack before it. A large banana contains 4 grams of dietary fiber per serving, which can help you reach the recommended daily allowance of at least 25 grams.

Glycemic Index

Aside from its many nutrients and convenient packaging, bananas also have a low glycemic index, which can help you with weight loss. The glycemic index is a ranking of how quickly carbohydrates from food are released into the body. Foods that have low glycemic index scores release carbs slowly into the body. This prevents drops and spikes in your blood sugar levels as fluctuations signal your body to eat more than you should. The Glycemic Index Foundation's website lists ripe yellow bananas with a glycemic index of 51 --- a low value on a scale where anything above 70 is considered high and anything under 55 is low.

Misconceptions

Eating bananas is only part of an overall lifestyle change--- including a healthy diet, cardiovascular exercise and strength training --- that can result in effective weight loss. Eating bananas should not be the sum of your weight-loss plan, but rather one small part of it.

TRAIN HARD!

I started at Train Studios on June 4th and today I'm down 13.7 ibs. Check them out.

June totals & lost 18 ibs!

Kiss Your Fat Goodbye: Get Fit Now

Fake Meat Never Tasted So Good

Fake Meat Never Tasted So Good: We Taste-Test Subway's New Vegan Subs, and Like Them

 
Photo courtesy of Compassion Over Killing

Pity the vegetarian on a long road trip. In the grand scheme of American fast food, there really aren't many palatable meatless options. If you're a vegan, it only gets more difficult to find proper sustenance in the types of restaurants that dot strip malls and highway exits.

In that, Subway's 33,000 nationwide stores have always been something of a blessing. The fast food sandwich monger has always provided its Veggie Delite to vegetarians, but that was about it. But now, there are more options to be had—and these will even appeal to vegans.

In partnership with animal rights group Compassion Over Killing, Subway recently rolled out three all-vegan sandwich options—and much to our luck, they're being tested in the D.C., Maryland and Virginia market. Since I sent Ben to taste-test Burger King's Bacon Sundae (short Ben: it was gross), it fell on me to head down to a Subway Café on Massachusetts Avenue today and sample the new vegan alternatives.

First off, a disclaimer: I don't go to Subway very often. But in the totality of American fast food, I would choose it over some of the competitors. I suppose I like the variety as much as I enjoy pretending that it's really healthy. (It's not as unhealthy as some fast food joints, but it's also fast food—and there's always plenty of extra calories secretly hidden away in its offerings.) Additionally, all words of praise here have to set to a fast food standard: good means good relative to other fast food options; we're not pitting Subway against Citronelle, after all.

My first choice was the Sweet Riblet. And why not? Non-meat meat products have certainly improved over the years, but their consistency and flavor can leave just about any meat-eater wanting. I approached this sub skeptically; I really like ribs, after all, so fake ribs just wouldn't make the grade. Or so I thought.

Though the ribs emerge from a vacuum-sealed pouch that's quickly microwaved before being unceremoniously plopped on your choice of bread—there are five vegan options: Roasted Garlic, Sourdough, Light Wheat English Muffin, Hearty Italian and Hearty Italian White—they tasted like, well, ribs.

No, a real rib aficionado wouldn't be fooled if served Subway's vegan alternative unaccompanied on a dish, but sandwiched between the bread and toppings you'd hardly fault someone for thinking they're not eating the real thing. The barbecue sauce slathered on the "ribs" even had a pleasant smokiness to it, and I had no problem wolfing down the six-inch Sweet Riblet sub. (It did have an odd aftertaste, but I've learned that plenty of meat substitutes do.) I can see this becoming a go-to option whenever I stop into a Subway, as rarely as that happens.

The Italian Black Bean sub was a little less compelling, mostly because there wasn't much to it—a halved Morningstar black bean patty is the star of this sandwich. Also thrown in the microwave, the patty became unpleasantly chewy, almost gummy. It wasn't bad—the patty itself is nicely seasoned, after all—but there wasn't much setting it apart.

I didn't get around to trying the third offering, the Malibu Greek sub, mostly because I'm not about to stomach a full foot-and-a-half worth of Subway—ever.

I'd say Subway is on the right track with its three vegan options. The standard Veggie Delite sandwich is passable, but it fails on one key point—the vegetables at Subway don't ever seem very good. The vegan alternatives—at least the Sweet Riblet—make you feel like you can pack your sandwich with something a little tastier, heartier and animal-friendly.

If you want to try the sandwiches yourself, these are the participating locations:

D.C.
555 13th St NW, Washington, DC 20005 -- 202-347-4616
455 Massachusetts Ave, NW (1st Floor) Washington, DC 20001 -- 202-638-0348
550 First St., NW, Washington, DC 20001 -- 202-661-6639

Maryland
8145 Main St, Ellicott City, MD 21043 -- 410-418-4330
5520 Research Park Dr, #107, Catonsville, MD 21228 -- 410-455-5222
300 Sentinel Dr, #100, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701 -- 301-490-6553

Virginia
320 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314 -- 703-879-4321
2361 Eisenhower Ave, Alexandria, VA 22314 -- 703-879-4321

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