First and foremost you need to know the average amount of fat and calories that are in your typical Thanksgiving meal.

Roasted Turkey-(no skin) 4 slices, about 4 oz. = 190 calories & 6g fat

Cranberry Sauce-1/2 cup = 209 calories & 0g fat

Cornbread Stuffing-1 cup = 431 calories & 21g fat

Green Bean Casserole -1 cup = 168 calories & 10g fat

Mashed Potatoes-1 cup = 243 calories & 11g fat

Pecan Pie-1/8 of 9″ pie = 456 calories & 21g fat

Pumpkin Pie (without whipped cream)-1/8 of 9″ pie = 323 calories & 15g fat

Having this basic information will help you to make the right choices. If you’re following the portion approach of the P90X diet plan then its pretty simple. All you have to do is make sure the portions fit within the parameters of your nutrition level. For example, if you are a Level 1 you’re allowed to have 1,800 calories a day, which consist of fats, proteins, carbohydrates, dairy products, fruits, vegetables, condiments & snack. Look to your P90X nutrition guide for more details on how many servings of each of these you should be eating.

If you’re not following the portion approach then its perfectly fine to switch over for the holiday season. It will make it a lot easier when making you food choices.

Also, you may want to plan ahead of time. Ask what is going to be on the menu beforehand and figure out what you can eat and how much. It will take the stress out of the holidays and you won’t have to feel guilty about your choices.

If you plan on making the meal yourself check out this video for cooking tips to reduce fat and calories in your Thanksgiving meal.

Thanksgiving Cooking Tips

Happy Holidays!

The P90X Nutrition Guide breaks down your daily caloric intake into 5 meals:

Breakfast

Snack

Lunch

Snack

Dinner

Notice how you have 2 “snack” slots in there. Well the reason you’re eating 5 meals a day instead of the traditional 3, is that eating several sensibly portioned meals throughout the entire day has actually been proven to increase your body’s metabolism. If you’re introducing food into the body, the digestive system is stimulated and although you’re adding calories you engaging the metabolic process which helps burn calories and keep the body “running” at a higher level of activity. So the next time you think about skipping a meal or starving yourself to lose weight…THINK AGAIN! It’s actually counter productive for this and other reasons.

The P90X Workouts are intense and in order to perform effectively your body needs fuel and that fuel comes from what you eat. The nutritionists who developed the P90X Nutrition Guide understand that protein is a key component as it’s involved in transporting oxygen, contracting muscles, transporting electrons, and is the primary component of muscle tissue itself! That’s where the P90X Protein Bars step in. In fact if you take a look in your nutrition guide you’re going to see it specifically called for in your daily meal plans in the snack categories.

2 of our 3 flavors of P90X Protein Bars have 20 grams of protein! Cafe Mocha trails right behind with 18 grams, still not too shabby! Check out the full list of ingredients by visiting the following links to our P90X Protein Bars:

(By the way our #1 customer favorite is Chocolate Peanut Butter)

P90X Protein Bars (Chocolate Peanut Butter)

P90X Protein Bars (Berry)

P90X Protein Bars (Cafe Mocha)

The P90X Meal Plan makes planning and preparing your meals a breeze. What you’ll find is an easy to follow meal schedule that will give you exact recipes of what to eat throughout the 13 week program. If you’re like me this is a godsend. Not only do the meals taste good, but it takes all the guess workout out of what to make for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It even has your snack recommendations laid out for you too—it couldn’t be easier.

The P90X Meal Plan Approach is just one of 3 approaches that the P90X nutrition guide offers. You can choose one approach or combine the approaches to add a little variety  Here are the options:

1.) P90X Portion Approach

2.) P90X Meal Plan Approach

3.) P90X Quick Options Approach

The P90X Portion Approach

It’s pretty simple. On page 5 of the P90X Nutrition Guide you first determine your “nutrition level” by filling in your current body weight and crunching a few numbers in the formula it provides. Once you figure out what level you are you are you turn to the “P90X Portion Approach”  table which lays out how much proteins, dairy, fruits, vegetables, fats, carbs etc. you should be eating in a given day. So lets say you are a Level 1, as the guide indicates you should be shooting for 5 “servings” of proteins per day. So, if you flip to the next page after the table food recommendations for each category. Now simply locate the proteins section and choice from the many suggestions. For example:

3 oz boneless, skinless chicken or turkey breast

This would qualify as one serving of protein. The portion approach makes it easy to put together interesting, healthy meals while keeping you on course with how much you should be eating.

P90X Meal Plan Approach

If you aren’t interested or don’t know how to be creative in the meal department the P90X Meal Plan Approach will be your best friend. You get a weekly meal planner complete with the actual recipes to make each meal of the day. For example, lets take a look at a dinner:

6 oz Turkey

2 tbs Gravey

1/2 cup of Green Beans

1 cup Butternut Squash Soup

Now flip to the recipe page and it will give you the exact ingrediets and spices you need to make each course of the meal. It’s really hard to mess up. You know exactly what to eat, when and how to make it!

P90X Quick Options

These are really convenience foods and this option cannot be used as the primary focus of your nutrition. What’s great about it though, is if you are pressed for time you can grab these in the frozen food section of the grocery store and whip it up in a flash. No muss no fuss. Look for these brands:

-Amy’s Kitchen

- Weight Watchers Smart Ones

- Lean Cuisine 

- and more!

Keep in mind you should NOT exceed more than one of these meals in a day, and be sure to follow the calorie, fat and sodium guidelines that this section outlines.

Whether it’s the P90X Meal Plan Approach, The Portion Approach or the Quick Option Approach, the P90X Nutrition guide offers really simple ways to eat healthy and give your body the fuel it needs to keep up with the workouts. If you aren’t a five star chef don’t worry P90X still has you covered. While that outlines the 3 Approaches if you want to learn a little about the 3 Phases of the P90X Nutrition Guide checkout this article:

P90X Diet: 3 Phase Nutrition Plan

Good vanilla whey protein shakes can serve several purposes in the diet of an athlete. And if you are doing workouts like those in P90X you are already an athlete or well on your way!

Vanilla whey protein shakes are a protein supplement first and foremost. Many high intensity fitness programs require you to increase your protein intake far beyond what you might normally be accustomed to. Supplements like vanilla whey protein shakes make this far easier to take. Because there are times when a chicken breast just doesn’t sound appetizing!

In addition to a basic protein supplement, vanilla whey protein shakes are also a good choice for convenient meal replacement. In a rush? A protein shake for breakfast can jump start your metabolism for the day and it’s super convenient. If you are considering a snack from the vending machine, it might serve you well to bring your protein shake mix to the office. Vanilla whey protein shakes make great snacks as well.

There are several options when considering vanilla whey protein shakes and other ways to up your protein throughout the day. Not only are there additional flavors, there are also protein bars. By keeping a good variety of protein sources in your diet, you will find it isn’t as easy to get ridiculously bored with your new eating habits.

Check out the Vanilla Whey Protein supplement we carry here. You will find that it is filled with premium ingredients and tastes great. We also offer chocolate shakes and a variety of protein bars.

We’ll start out with the obvious, if you are looking to lose weight with meal replacement drinks, using them as a substitute for higher calorie meals is the route to success. Of course, most meal replacement shakes won’t keep you full between full meals, so remember to add healthy snacks throughout the day. Raw veggies, fruit, and nuts all make great additions to weight loss efforts that utilize meal replacement shakes.

Now, for people looking to add weight or regulate their yoyo functioning scale, meal replacement shakes are a great daily calorie booster that won’t fill you up like other foods. Use meal replacement shakes between meals or as an addition to meals. Protein shakes are an excellent choice here too, providing optimal proteins perfect for people putting on muscle.

Lastly, meal replacement shakes are a great option for people too rushed to eat healthy. Skip the fast food and keep meal replacement shakes at work instead. Don’t think you have time for breakfast in the morning? Think again. Meal replacement shakes are the perfect meal on the go. Remember you mother was right; breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

Meal replacement shakes are multipurpose dietary tools when used to their maximum potential. Don’t let their title limit their potential in your life. Meal replacement drinks have a place in everyone’s kitchen, particularly everyone that cares about their fitness and health.

There are several P90X supplements. While none of them are mandatory, there are several that are extremely helpful. The P90X Recovery drink is one of these. After one of the P90X workouts, your muscles (and your mind) are tired. They have been stressed and likely experienced some level of trauma. The P90X Peak Recovery Formula helps speed your recovery. Packed with nutrition these drinks ensure your body has the fuel necessary to make major changes. Mandatory: no. Beneficial: Without a doubt!

Another good P90X supplement to use is the protein products. Because P90X has you eating more protein than most people are accustomed to, it can be quite an adjustment. The protein shakes and protein bars we offer are a great way to get more protein without stuffing yourself with chicken breasts and egg whites. All of the protein supplements are extremely convenient and make great on the go snacks.

Lastly, everyone should take a multivitamin. The P90X Peak Health formula is a high end multivitamin made especially for the nutritional needs of an athlete. And if you are doing P90X, you can definitely include yourself in this “athlete” category. As far as P90X supplements go, this is the most basic. This supplement ensures you are getting the proper vitamins and minerals for optimal health. Since no one has the perfect diet, this product helps make up for what might be lacking.

There are other beneficial P90X supplements including the Core Omega 3 and Slimming Formula. All P90X supplements are made with the best ingredients and with your fitness success in mind. While you don’t have to use them for results with the P90X program, their inclusion can only enhance your experience.

Interestingly, one of the greatest immune boosters is exercise. Exercise prepares allows your body to practice handling stress in a very real way. It encourages the body’s defense mechanisms to kick into overdrive. This translates to a stronger immune system as well.

Think of exercise as immune system training. You are training your muscles and your cardiovascular system, sure. But, you are also training your cells to effectively fight off injury and illness. People who are fit are often the last to catch a cold. Regular exercise is an excellent immune booster.

A healthy diet is another good choice when it comes to immune boosters. Eating many fresh fruits and vegetables gives your body the vitamins it needs to function at its optimal level. Vitamins can be a good substitute to fill in the gaps that we all have in our diets.

Lastly, many people choose to take one of many herbal immune boosters currently on the market. There is evidence that ingredients, like those included in the Herbal Immune Boost formula, can assist the body in preparing to fight off infections. This product is sold through our site and we recognize its effectiveness first hand.

Along with frequent hand washing and covering your mouth when you cough, there are many things you can do to improve your immune system. Regular exercise, a healthy diet, and proper supplementation all play a role in a healthy immune system.

High quality vanilla whey protein shakes offer optimal nutrition for muscle maintenance and fitness goals. Protein is a crucial nutrient in the whole fitness process. It is not unusual at all to see nutritional plans that recommend a dramatic increase in protein consumption with a fitness program. P90X is a great example of this.

While there are other excellent sources of protein, you may tire of egg whites for breakfast. Vanilla whey protein shakes are a great alternative to the regular protein rich foods. Post workout, a whey protein shake is a great way to refuel and also gives your muscles the nutrition they need for healing and growth.

While some people prefer to use protein like that in a vanilla whey protein shake for their post workout nutrition, the P90X recovery formula offers a perfect balance of carbohydrates and protein for muscle growth and energy replenishments.

Protein supplements can also be used in a meal replacement program for people on the move or those wishing to lose some weight. Simply use chocolate or vanilla whey protein shakes as part of your breakfast or lunch along with a piece of fresh fruit for a lower calorie option with great nutritional value.

Lastly, many vegetarians want to follow the P90X diet and struggle with the protein requirements. Protein supplements are the perfect solution to this. They allow people with limited diets get superior quality protein in a yummy alternative.

When seeking out a high quality whey protein shake product, be certain to check out those we sell here at ExtremeBody Workout.

Some of us are naturals in the kitchen. For us, coming up with new and tasty P90X recipes isn’t all that difficult. We can look at the food list on the portion approach and immediately see some options we may not have thought of before. For us, the meal plan approach may not speak to our creative side. When you are able to wing it in the kitchen and come up with your own P90X recipes, there’s no sense in restricting your creative juices.

For others, culinary skills may not come naturally at all. For those, P90X recipes should be as simple as possible and spelled out step by step. While some of the recipes in the P90X meal plan approach are a little complex, there are several that can be done by just about anyone.

Also, no one said you had to cook every meal. If you’re happy with precooked grilled chicken breasts found at the grocery store and raw vegetables, you can certainly make a no fuss P90X plan that requires absolutely minimal cooking. Just make sure you are sticking with your nutritional approach to ensure you get the maximum benefits from the P90X program.

Here at ExtremeBody Workout we have come up with a few very simple P90X recipes. Check out this one for some quick fajitas or another one for Grilled Chicken Parmesan. Not enough? Try typing “P90X recipes” in the search bar above to get several additional blog entries on P90X recipes.

Protein is a nutrient necessary for life. It is responsible for so many things within the body; we can’t list them all here. One of the more important functions, however, is the building and repairing of tissue. Why is this important to you? Well, when following the P90X calendar or any other strenuous workout program you are working on building serious muscle. P90X protein supplements are a great way to ensure your body has the optimal fuel for those goals.

When doing a strenuous workout, tiny tears are created in the muscle tissue. These tears are the breeding ground for bigger muscles. See, in an effort to repair those tears, your body mends the muscle, fortifying it in the process. This mending, facilitated by muscle growth, leads to muscle and strength growth.

P90X protein supplements were created to give people participating in the P90X program a few simple ways to get extra protein. Because of the modern adult’s busy schedule, simple solutions like the P90X protein supplements are highly successful and under serious demand.

If you are looking for a supplement for your P90X transformation or want a protein supplement to go with any other workout program, the P90X protein supplements are an excellent choice. Protein bars provide an easy snack or meal option on the go. The P90X Whey Protein Powder is a nutritious and tasty way to get that extra protein in throughout the day.

P90X protein supplements make it easier to get all of your daily protein needs.

When you commit to the P90X program you may not realize just how much you will demand from your body over the next several weeks. Your body will look to you to provide it with the right energy sources to keep it running smoothly. Because your diet can’t possibly include everything your body will demand, P90X Peak Health Formula is a great way to supplement.

P90X Peak Health Formula is made with high quality vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to ensure your body is running on all cylinders. With this formula you get immune support, energy support, cardiovascular support, anti-aging and anti-stress assistance, memory and nerve support, as well as hair, nails, and skin nourishment.

Taking a multivitamin should be part of your daily routine anyways. When you add a program like P90X to your life, it is more important than ever.

Asking your body to work the way it will with P90X is asking a lot. Feeding yourself with the right foods is a good way to start fueling your body and ensuring greater health. No matter what you are eating, though, it is likely you would benefit from a supplement like P90X Peak Health Formula.

Finding a good multivitamin that will nourish your hard working body during a program like P90X doesn’t have to be impossible when you consider P90X Peak Health Formula was designed for just that purpose.

The importance of post workout nutrition is huge. The P90X Recovery Drink provides exactly what you need in a post workout snack, and it does this in a refreshing drink. After a workout like Plyometrics or Yoga X, a serious recovery drink is what your body needs.

When working out you traumatize muscles and deplete your energy stores. You must feed your body afterwards to ensure your glycogen is replenished and your muscles can begin the healing process. The P90X Recovery Drink was created with these goals in mind.

A proper balance of protein and carbohydrates will ensure your muscles begin the repair and build process as soon as possible. The formula will also ensure you have the energy to continue on throughout your day, replenishing your energy stores that you torched through during the intense P90X workouts.

In addition to muscle repair and energy replenishment, the P90X Recovery Drink also supplies you with superior grade antioxidants and vitamins to encourage overall health. We may not always eat the best but supplements like these make it easier.

Have you ever completed a workout and felt like dropping dead for the rest of the day? Felt like napping the day away? The P90X Recovery Drink would’ve been the perfect solution, helping to regenerate energy and muscle tissue, making you stronger and more fit, ready to take on the day.

How many times have you found yourself at the office vending machine at lunch time? Or getting into the coffee cake in the breakroom because you just didn’t have time for breakfast? You’re not alone. Many people don’t have the time to sit down and eat 3 meals a day. Some are pushing it to fit in two meals. When you are pressed for time but still hungry a high protein meal replacement shake or bar can take the edge off and keep you moving throughout your busy life.

From BeachBody, there are a few high protein meal replacement solutions that can provide nutrition on the run.

Whether you prefer a liquid lunch or a protein bar reminiscent of candy bars, we have you covered. The meal replacement shakes we carry here at ExtremeBody Workout are a perfect solution to busy days. We carry these high protein meal replacement shakes in both chocolate and vanilla.

We also carry a few varieties of protein bars. These are great high protein meal replacement bars to keep in your car or your desk drawer. The come in some great flavors and will keep your energy up on those days that seem to stretch on forever.

Recognizing that you might not always have time for a regular meal and being prepared for it will keep you on the right track during your long days. High protein meal replacement solutions are a perfect way to stay energized and fit in your busy life.

When putting together a line of supplements, Tony Horton spared nothing with this line-up.

You are making huge changes in your lifestyle as you embark on the P90X program. Ensuring you are getting the proper nutrition is not only important for your results, but also to ensure you are as healthy as possible. P90X supplements are able to fill in the gaps, completing your daily nutrition so that your body can perform optimally whether doing Plyometrics or working at your desk.

Everyone needs to take a multivitamin. Making up for the deficiencies in your daily diet is simple when you select the P90X Peak Health Formula. These vitamins come in daily packs, making it easy to get your vitamins in one shot. The P90X supplement family isn’t complete without this health staple.

A huge member of the P90X supplements group is the Recovery Drink. You will hear Tony mention this product throughout the workouts. It is an excellent post workout drink, designed to replenish your body with proteins, carbohydrates, and antioxidants.

The protein bars and Whey Protein powders are both great ways to up your protein intake for the day. Many people aren’t used to the high protein recommendations on the P90X Nutrition Plan. With these P90X supplements, however, it is made a whole lot easier. As a snack or breakfast both the bars and the shakes are a great way to get your muscle building protein in.

If you are looking for extra help with weight loss, the P90X supplements answer is the P90X Slimming Formula. This product is made with all natural ingredients to speed your metabolism and curb your appetite, making results easy to see and motivation easy to find.

Both Core Omega 3 and Herbal Immune Boost also offer great benefits to people embarking on the P90X plan. Encouraging overall health through supplementation, P90X supplements do what many other formulas cannot.

Be certain to check out some of the supplements as you begin your P90X experience. Protein supplements and the P90X Recovery Drink are highly recommended as you get started with the program.

2- 3 oz. portions of boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 T. Olive Oil
2 oz. Parmesan Cheese
2 Cups Cooked Whole Grain Spaghetti
2 Cups Spaghetti Sauce (plain, no cheese or meat added)
Italian Spice Blend

Heat stove top grill or skillet on medium heat. Coat pan with 1 T. of olive oil and add chicken breasts seasoned with Italian spices and black pepper. Heat spaghetti sauce and boil pasta while chicken is cooking. Cook chicken, turning once, until golden brown and cooked through (180 degrees, approximately 10 minutes per side depending on thickness). When pasta is al dente (tender-firm), remove from heat and drain. Stir the other tablespoon of olive oil into the pasta and serve pasta with chicken and sauce on top. Top each serving with 1 oz of parmesan cheese.

This recipe serves two and each serving includes: 1 protein, 1 vegetable, and 1 grain. Double the chicken if you are short on your daily proteins.