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If I didn’t enjoy restaurants, cooking and eating as much as I do (and I really do) then maybe I would have never got fat in the first place.  But then again, who’s to say.  In retrospect I knew I was heading in that direction long before the 40 extra pounds plagued my body.  What’s crazy however is I now look back on those days when I was gaining the weight as a time of not fully appreciating food like I do these days.  Sure I lost the weight but never will I lose my passion for good food!  And if there’s anything I’ve learned on this healthy journey it is a tasty lean and green meal is key to both weight loss and weight maintenance. 

The basic guidelines for a lean and green meal while on the 5&1 is 5-7 ounces of lean meat (or protein source for vegetarians) plus a salad and/or vegetables.  Given that most meats are available in a relatively lean form, the possibilities are limitless.  Because I enjoy being in the kitchen, the lean and green meal presents a fun challenge; something akin to the TV show Top Chef.  Furthermore, what I’m looking for is maximum flavor with minimal effort.   

Below is a picture of a recent lean and green meal.  Grilled skirt steak with peppers and onions.  Check out the grill basket!  That thing is gold in my opine and cost only $5.99 at Bed, Bath and Beyond.  It is ideal for grilling vegetables and shrimp among other things.  The recipe for this meal is in our recipe section under “beef” and also under “vegetables”.

Helpful Hint:

• Cook multiple portions of lean and green foods on the weekend so you have some ready to go during those busy week nights.

I will be systematically adding to the Lean and Green recipe section my favorite meals.  If you’ve got a favorite lean and green meal that you want to share just reply with the recipe and a photo if you can.  That would be great.  We will ALL benefit!

Ever wonder how Take Shape For Life got started? Here’s a quick overview of how our business came to be: Co-founded by Bradley T. MacDonald (currently Executive Chairman of the Board of Medifast, Inc.) and Dr. Wayne Scott Andersen, a specialist in critical care and nutritional intervention, Take Shape For Life was founded in 2003.

The company’s approach to well-being combines effective portion-controlled meal replacements with coaching support and a robust corporate infrastructure to create healthier bodies, minds, and finances. Take Shape For Life is a wholly owned subsidiary of Medifast, Inc.,manufacturer of Medifast Meals.  Dr. Andersen currently serves as Medical Director of Medifast, Inc.

The right products and programs
Medifast Meals were first created in 1980 by William Vitale, M.D. The products were sold directly to doctors, who in turn prescribed them to their patients.

Since 1980, over 20,000 doctors have recommended Medifast, and over one million people have used Medifast. Medifast products and the Medifast 5 & 1 Plan® have been proven safe and effective in clinical studies.

The right business model
In addition to helping its Clients create Optimal Health, Take Shape For Life offers an extraordinary opportunity for you to own your own business and transform your life through helping others as a Take Shape For Life Health Coach.

Our Health Coaches and the personal service they offer is what differentiates Take Shape For Life® and makes us unique in the Marketplace. Health Coaches provide the total care and support that people need to move toward Optimal Health. They coach, educate, encourage, and mentor people who are using Medifast® products and following the specific protocols for safe and fast weight loss followed by transition and long-term weight management.

The right compensation
Unlike many home-based businesses based on selling products, Take Shape For Life pays its Health Coaches to support their Clients, and help them learn the Habits of Health that create true and lasting well-being. Take Shape For Life rewards you with the chance for more freedom, more income, AND an opportunity to add satisfaction and purpose to your life.

The right time
Two in three Americans are overweight or obese, and in need of a lasting solution for health. America’s medical establishment is focused on reacting to and medicating disease, not creating health. Take Shape For Life is a revolutionary approach to wellness that can transform people, families, and even our country.

Research has shown that regular exercise can actually prevent your risk of getting cancer. But if you don’t get enough sleep, it seems to cancel out this benefit of exercise. In fact, one study showed that women who worked out but slept less than seven hours a night had a 50% higher risk of cancer than those who got more sleep.

What’s the best way to feel fuller, wash away toxins from your body, increase your energy, and even reduce constipation? Have a nice 8-oz glass of water. Better yet, for Optimal Health, try having eight or more each day.

Drinking plenty of water is a basic Habit of Health. Now that the weather is getting warmer, it’s very important to keep yourself well-hydrated, especially if you exercise. The body loses water not only through perspiration and urine, but also from breathing.

When they say that water is the stuff of life, they’re not kidding. According to Dr. A’s Habits of Health, water makes up between 55 and 60 percent of your body weight, and you can’t make it yourself; you have to drink it in. Every function of your body needs water to work. Water is what moves nutrients, hormones, antibodies, and oxygen through your bloodstream and lymphatic system.

You may not know it, but by the time you’re actually feeling thirsty, your body is getting seriously low on water. If you only drink when you’re thirsty, you don’t have enough water in your system to keep functioning at your peak. Keep it up, and you may find yourself getting headaches, getting constipated, or feeling more distracted or fatigued than usual.

And it’s no wonder: When you don’t drink enough water, your kidneys can’t adequately filter and eliminate toxins and byproducts of metabolism. As Dr. A puts it, your body is forced to recycle dirty water, diminishing the efficiency of every metabolic function.

Keep bottles of water with you when you’re exercising, and sip continually throughout your workout. If you’re exercising strenuously in a very hot environment, try water enhanced with electrolytes to replenish potassium and other minerals that you’re losing through heavy perspiration.

Water is essential for those working toward a healthy weight. A recent study showed that drinking two 8-oz glasses of cold water could increase a person’s metabolic rate by 30 percent for 90 minutes. In addition, often when we think we’re hungry, we’re actually thirsty, and a glass of water will take the edge off our appetite. A nice big glass of water-filled and refilled throughout the day-can help keep your body (and your healthy eating plan) in top form.

There’s life after weight loss, and it starts with Take Shape For Life Transition Plan. Once you’ve reached your weight-loss goal, it’s time to make the transition into lifelong healthier eating.

The idea behind the transition phase is gradually increasing your calorie intake over time, while re-introducing a wider variety of the foods.

In general, how long you spend in the transition phase depends on how much weight you have lost:

• If you lost less than 50 pounds, allow 8 weeks
• If you lost 50 – 100 pounds, allow 12 weeks to transition.
• If you lost over 100 pounds, allow 16 weeks to transition.

Your transition needs may be different depending on your gender, age, height, weight and activity level. You’ll be adding an additional 100 calories each week until you reach your goal calorie level.

The Take Shape For Life Transition & Maintenance Guide helps you create an individualized approach to staying at your new, healthier weight.

For lifelong weight management-and other benefits of Optimal Health, be sure to get copies of Dr. A’s Habits of Health and the companion guide, Living a Longer Healthier Life, and follow their guidelines for a lifetime of healthier eating and living.

Maintenance

Once you’ve completed your transition phase successfully, you’re ready to sustain your weight loss and improved health for good. Monitoring your weight, balancing your calories, making smart food choices, and staying active can help you keep what you’ve worked so hard to achieve.

Like the transition phase, the maintenance phase isn’t one-size-fits-all. Your gender, age, height, weight, and activity level will determine your calorie requirements. 

Hints for lifelong healthy eating

• Continue to eat 6 small meals a day.
• Continue to weigh yourself every week.
• Begin or continue to exercise daily.
• Make vegetables account for ½ of your plate at mealtime.
• Eat at least 2 servings of fruit each day.
• Choose lean cuts of meat in 4 – 6 oz servings (about the size of a deck of cards or a computer mouse).
• Bake, grill, steam, poach, and broil. Avoid fried foods and cream sauces
• Read food labels for serving size information.
• Drink calorie-free beverages, including plenty of plain water.
• Restaurant servings can be up to four times the size of a regular healthy serving of food. Get a“to go” box when you order at a restaurant and put at least half of your meal in the box as soon as it’s served. Or, split your meal with someone.
• Order sauce or dressing on the side, and use only a portion of it.
• Enjoy the superior nutrition of Medifast Meals as part of your lifelong approach to healthy eating.
• Stay in touch with your Health Coach and friends on Support in Motion, and reach out to new Take Shape users: It’s a great way to make your new beginning an inspiration to someone else.

If you start to regain weight

For an extra metabolism boost, try our Essential1: Calorie Burn products. Each serving of Calorie Burn Cappuccino or Calorie Burn Flavor Infusers^TM contains 100 mg of caffeine and 90 mg of EGCG to enhance fat burning and decrease appetite.

Essential1: Calorie Burn is specifically designed to help you break through a weight-loss plateau and maintain weight in your maintenance phase.

Here are some more tips to keep from regaining weight:

• Work closely with your Health Coach, who can help you learn to embrace healthy habits for lasting change.
• Watch portion sizes.
• Keep an eye on stress, and take steps to address the emotional issues that can undermine your success. Yoga, meditation, and walking may be good options.
• If you’re exercising, consider stepping up your routine in terms of duration or intensity.
• Surround yourself with your Bio-network, and plenty of healthy, supportive people who value what you’re trying to achieve.

Pay it forward

One of the most powerful things you can do to ensure your continued health is to coach others who are struggling to do what you have done.

Also, when you become a “walking billboard” for the Habits of Health, you are providing a powerful and inspiring success story that’s beyond words!

Let us know if you are interested in becoming a Health Coach yourself or if you would like to share your success story, click here.