Yes, you read that right. Not everyone who wants protein snacks and supplements is trying to lose weight. As a matter of fact, many are trying to put on muscle mass. Because our metabolisms vary so much from one person to the next, struggling to keep weight on is a fairly typical problem-especially in the world of strength training and body building. Luckily, snacks high in protein and calories aren’t that difficult to find. A little creativity and an open mind can go a long way.

When coming up with snacks high in protein and calories, protein supplements are your friend!

Many people use Whey Protein as a supplement. Whether you are looking to gain or lose weight, using a protein supplement can help you reach your goals. The key in getting the results you want is how you use the supplement. While someone who wants to lose weight may use a protein shake as a meal replacement, someone looking to increase their calories could use it as a simple snack. Not only is it good alone, but by adding ingredients to a blender, you can create many snacks high in protein and calories.

There are several things you can add to a protein shake that will make it one of the better snacks high in protein and calories. One of the most popular additions is peanut butter. Peanut butter adds even more protein, a good deal of calories, and a great taste. Vanilla whey protein, peanut butter, and bananas make a great breakfast or post workout smoothie. Full fat yogurt is another good addition with both protein and added calories. Berries go good with this combination.

Although supplements like whey protein and protein bars are the easiest way to get added protein, meat products can deliver the same benefits. Consider adding more protein to meal times by combining some additional ounces of chicken breasts to your recipes. Chicken breasts are a great source of protein. While they aren’t necessarily high in calories, they can be if you simply increase your portion size.

When on the lookout for snacks high in protein and calories, be certain you aren’t getting a lot of added sugar. Some protein supplements go heavy on sweeteners to add flavor and calories. Always watch your ingredients list and buy only the best.

Slim In 6 is more than a workout DVD, it’s an entire fitness program including the Slim in 6 Diet and everything you will need to achieve your fitness goals. The whole idea behind this program is that you can get results with the Slim In 6 workouts but you can get even better results when you combine the workouts with healthy eating. It’s true—a workout plan will help you get fit but combining it with proper eating will not only make your results more dramatic but you will be far more likely to maintain them.

The key to lasting fitness is in diet and exercise. Not one or the other. The Slim In 6 Diet recognizes this and pairs cardio, strength training, and a good nutrition plan for maximum results.

To put it very simply: cardio work burns fat; strength training builds muscle; and a proper diet supports both of these functions. We all know that cutting calories will help you lose weight. But, fitness is much more complex than that. Everything you eat serves a purpose in your body. Each morsel that passes your lips either works toward optimal fitness or works against it. The Slim In 6 Diet helps you make these distinctions by giving you the nutritional advice you need to make the most of the accompanying workouts.

Like all good workout systems, Slim In 6 Diet comes with the workout DVDs and a nutrition guide. The makers of this system know that you have to eat right in order to get good results so they give you the information you need to do just that. In addition to the basic nutrition guide, you get an added bonus: the 6 Day Express Diet Plan. This diet guide gives you the details that can help you lose 6 pounds in 6 days!

The Slim In 6 Diet and workout system is all offered here on ExtremeBody Workout. We’ve got the basic Slim In 6 package, as well as Slim Series and Slim Series Express. Each is a great way to get fit and achieve your weight loss goals.

Summertime is definitely not the best time for hot soups and firing up the oven. When it comes to eating in the summer, cooler is better and salads take a front seat. Salads certainly don’t have to be the basic lettuce, tomato, cucumber mixture, however. Adding some creativity and protein to your salad is an excellent way to stay fit and cool. Monitoring your salad ingredients and portions will ensure your summer noshing doesn’t jeopardize your P90X or Insanity Workout progress too!

Many people think all salads are healthy. Rather than a burger they’ll opt for a steak salad, with bleu cheese, and crumbled eggs. This kind of salad can have more than twice the fat and calories of your typical burger. Just because a dish carries the “salad” label, doesn’t make it healthy! The ingredients in your salad need to be monitored just as you would any other dish, ensuring you get a ton of flavor without a ton of fat and calories.

Be cautious of cheeses and creamy dressings—they can quickly ruin what would otherwise be a healthy delight.

The best in summer salads are packed with fresh veggies and also feature a good quality protein. Some of my favorites use seafood. Here’s a great Thai Salmon Salad that offers a unique flavor and is protein packed. Many people are hesitant to use fish in their salads. One quick search online, however, will reveal numerous options for healthy minded salad seekers.

Chicken is the old standby when it comes to salad protein and it’s because chicken is so versatile. A fajita salad complete with bell peppers and onions served on romaine is a great way to get your veggies. Add some black beans and corn, and a dressing of cilantro, lime juice, and oil to kick it up. Skip the sour cream and cheddar and use your fats wisely by chopping some avocado on the top.

Another good chicken salad recipe uses fruit to sweeten the deal. This recipe uses some white sugar which can easily be cut back on for the fitness conscious. Some strawberries and pecans add flavor and interest to the dish. For something different, try cranberries and walnuts or almonds. This is a great recipe starting point that allows for endless healthy substitutions.

Regardless of the exact fitness plan you are following, it’s easy to make yummy summer salads that won’t jeopardize your goals.

Fiber is a crucial component to any diet. Not just for people trying to lose weight, fiber is important for everyone. From relieving constipation and improving hemorrhoids to potentially decreasing your risk of heart disease and diabetes, the benefits of fiber are many and getting enough has never been more important.

The best fiber supplement or fiber source is natural foods. Supplements are designed to “supplement” your diet, not be your main source of nutrition. We suggest eating plenty of dark leafy greens and opting for whole grains when eating from what used to be called the “bread group”. However, when your diet calls for additional fiber, picking up a fiber supplement is not a bad idea.

Like most important nutrients, there are now supplements for people who don’t get enough in their daily diet. While the best fiber sources are natural foods, there are many good fiber supplements out there. The best fiber supplements are those that contain natural ingredients and are effective at delivering high quality fiber without discomfort.

There are many options available to supplement manufacturers when deciding the best fiber supplement formulation. Most fiber supplements are made from plants. Don’t think that “all natural” automatically means safe and gentle, however. As with anything you put in your body—be sure to do your research. Online consumer reviews are a good place to look. Be cautious of the review sources, however, as some aren’t as objective as they seem.

As always, the best goal when trying to get enough fiber or optimal nutrition in any way is to get it from a balanced, well regulated diet. However, when that isn’t possible, the best fiber supplements will deliver the beneficial nutrient to your body, providing a host of benefits.

Check back here often as we will soon be carrying one of the best fiber supplements on the market!

There are so many protein and meal replacement bars on the market right now it can make your head spin. Even people within the fitness industry can find it difficult to make a decision when choosing the right bar for their needs. There are protein bars made for every conceivable reason and population. Women, bodybuilders, runner, men and even kids have their own protein bars. But do you know what you’re looking for when you are comparing nutrition facts of protein bars?

Protein is known as the building block of life. The nutrient protein plays an important role in muscle development and this is a large part of the reason it is so often encouraged in fitness programs. Also, when you increase your lean protein intake, you are likely decreasing your consumption of fats and processed carbs. So, the number one thing to look for when comparing nutrition facts of protein bars is the actual protein content. If you are using the bar to up your protein, find one with no less than 15 grams.

When comparing nutrition fact of protein bars, it’s also important to make sure some things are absent. All protein bars have sweeteners; they’re added for flavor because the manufacturers know they won’t have return customers if the bars don’t taste good. There are numerous options available to the makers of these bars to choose from when picking a sweetener—some opt for sugar, while others use artificial sweeteners and even high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). Our advice is to stick with natural sugar and fruit sweeteners. Stay away from the HFCS!

Finally, when comparing nutrition facts of protein bars, take a look at the calorie content and weigh this against your nutritional needs. Obviously if you are using the bars as meal replacement, you may be able to afford a few more calories. Don’t get fooled into buying an energy bar, however, that is loaded with calories, or you might find yourself struggling to make fitness progress.

There are many things to consider when choosing your protein bar. These are just a few. Be sure to do your research and check out some of the bars we carry here. We post the ingredients lists and nutritional labels because we stand behind our products!

When you are in the process of slimming down, every little bit of help counts. Things can get somewhat confusing, however, when you start to examine all of the different supplement choices that are out there. From protein to creatine, to Omega 3 and multivitamins, it can be hard to know which you should take and which you can afford to skip. You certainly don’t want to be taking a fistful of pills with every meal but enhancing your nutrition with things like dietary fiber supplements can’t necessarily hurt.

Fiber is an essential part of a healthy diet. Naturally found in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, fiber is present in those plant-derived foods that are closest to their natural state. In other words, although other carbohydrate products like cookies and French fries contain dietary fiber, they are poor sources. Closer to their natural state, things like oatmeal and sweet potatoes will have higher fiber counts and give you more bang for your caloric buck.

As with any supplement, if your diet is perfect you have no use for them. But really, whose diet is perfect? Dietary fiber supplements can be a good addition on days when you can’t seem to get your fiber count up through diet alone.

Dietary fiber supplements and fiber through whole foods can assist with your weight loss efforts through a few avenues. Fiber tends to be bulky and can fill you up better than other empty calories. This means a fiber-rich meal is often lower in calories than one that is lacking roughage. Also, because it fills you up, you will tend to eat less.

And no discussion of fiber would be complete without talking about its effects on the digestive system. Fiber keeps things moving. Being regular has its benefits both in weight loss and in general health. When you consistently eliminate waste from your body, you find it easier to maintain a steady weight and you just generally feel better.

While a dietary fiber supplement is not a must-have, it isn’t a bad product to have around. The American Heart Association recommends 25 grams of fiber each day. On days when you just can’t hit that mark, consider a natural source fiber supplement to make up the difference.

According to the Mayo Clinic and several other sources, there are several foods that are the ultimate as far as being nutrient dense and at the top of their game. Over the past few years, several sources have published their version of the “10 Healthiest Foods”. While many of these lists contain some of the same foods, there are slight variations. Because of their reputability and visibility online, I tend to like the Mayo Clinic’s 10 Healthiest Foods.

According to their list, those on top include: almonds, apples, blueberries, broccoli, red beans, salmon, spinach, sweet potatoes, vegetable juice, and wheat germ.

The 10 Healthiest Foods as chosen by Mayo Clinic are said to have qualified under 5 standards including being a good source of nutrients, high in phytonutrients and antioxidants, low in calories, readily available, and able to help in the reduction of heart disease and other health conditions.

If this were my 10 Healthiest Food list, I would replace wheat germ with steel cut oatmeal. It is highly available and has numerous health benefits. As a matter of fact, many similar lists include oatmeal in their top ten.

One of the good things about this list is these foods are easily incorporated into your diet. Almonds and blueberries on your oatmeal make a great breakfast. A spinach salad with apples is perfect for lunch and salmon with sweet potatoes and broccoli make a super nutritious and filling dinner. By adding some of these foods into your daily diet, they can take the place of higher calorie, less nutritious things you may be eating.

Small simple changes can make a big difference in your diet. For additional information on healthy foods and good recipes to easily incorporate them into your diet, check out these entries in About.com’s Low Calorie Cooking Blog.

The term “healthy eating guide” can apply to a number of things. A fad diet book could be considered a healthy eating guide. Just because you can stick this particular label on it, doesn’t necessarily make it so. There are hundreds of “diets” out there and many of them aren’t worth the paper they are printed on. Weeding through them often leads people back to the place where they realize the best diet is one that is nutritionally sound and free of gimmicks and fads. For this reason, a truly healthy eating guide is often the simplest.

The right healthy eating guide for you may be different than the right one for me. We are all different and so are our bodies, our fitness goals, and what we like to eat. Finding the correct healthy eating guide that lines up with all of your individual needs can be tricky. But, it doesn’t have to be.

If you are getting involved in a fitness program and seeking a guide to accompany your workouts talking with a personal trainer or nutritionist might be a good idea. However, most of us don’t have the time or the money for this kind of one on one help. In that case, finding a fitness program that has an eating plan included is a great way to ensure that what you are eating matches your goals and your workouts.

The P90X Nutrition Guide has gotten a lot of good feedback for several reasons. This healthy eating guide not only gives you detailed instructions on how to eat with the accompanying extreme fitness program, it gives you options. Nothing is more difficult to stick with than a nutrition plan or workout that doesn’t have some wiggle room or customization features. With the P90X Nutrition Guide you pick the eating plan that fits your lifestyle.

When looking for the ideal healthy eating guide, don’t forget your preferences and needs. We are often lured by what works for someone only to find it is totally inappropriate for us. Find a nutrition plan that allows you to make some customizations and alterations in order to increase the likelihood of your successes.

Not all diet plans are created equally. What works for you may not be the best solution for my fitness goals. While some people struggle with the fitness aspect of healthy living, eating high quality nutritious foods is more difficult for others. As with any aspect of a healthy lifestyle, there are numerous approaches to make incorporating healthy foods easier. Simply learning little tips and tricks can dramatically increase your healthy eating habits overtime.

One of the best ways to reduce your consumption of high fat or otherwise unhealthy foods is to increase the consumption of healthy foods. When you replace empty or unhealthy calories with those that further your fitness goals you get one step closer to a healthier and happier you.

Home workout programs that include a nutritional or eating plan often give great tips on how to make the inclusion of healthy foods an easy task. P90X and ChaLEAN Extreme both give people the nutritional fuel they need to reach even the most lofty fitness goals.

Finding ways to boost the number of healthy foods in your diet, even by one vegetable daily, can make a difference. If eating right is particularly difficult for you, start small. Add one additional veggie to lunch and dinner. The place this veggie fills on your plate will need to take the spot that was once filled with a less healthy option. Once you realize how simple this small change is, you may work up to more difficult dietary changes.

Try adding a steamed green veggie to your dinner plate tonight or perhaps some extra tomatoes and sprouts to your noontime sandwich tomorrow. Also, bulk up recipes with extra vegetables to reduce their calorie count. Making multiple small changes can add up to major results when they are done in conjunction with a fitness program.

The holidays are nearly over and you may have gone a little overboard in your indulgences. In order to get back on track with your fitness, you simply have to jump right back into it. Don’t allow slip ups and transgressions over the holidays send you into a fitness downward spiral. Being able to treat yourself and then immediately return to your healthy habits is crucial in making your health a lifetime commitment. It’s time to, once again, pick up those healthy foods and get moving.

You may have leftover cookies and other holiday goodies in your home but when the holidays are over, it is time to move on. Consider taking some of the treats to the office. There’s nothing quite like an office break room to unload some sweet treats on. If your leftovers aren’t work material, get rid of them. True, it’s not fun to waste food, but the “clean plate” mindset is what hurts many people’s efforts at getting fit and sticking with healthy foods.

You must purge your home of the culprits. Regardless of how you get rid of them, just get it done. Remember the resolve that you had under your belt before the holidays came and recapture that. Whether you had two cookies over the holidays or an entire pan full, get up and move on.

Head to your favorite store to stock up on some fresh veggies and other healthy foods. Allowing yourself a shopping spree in the produce department can be a fun way to get back on track. Check out a few new healthy recipes before you go so you have some direction when you get there. Consider making a big pot of winter veggie soup or vegetarian chili. These are great for freezing and ensure you have a hot comfort food within reach at all times.

Don’t let your December slip ups cost you all of your hard work. By immediately jumping back on track, you can ensure the only leftovers you have from the holiday are good memories.

If you are looking for a fitness program with a great diet, check out the P90X program and its accompanying meal plans.

A healthy diet is critical in your overall health and wellness. There is no doubt about this. The right foods in the right amounts can keep our body running on its full potential. Improving your immune system, encouraging heart health, maintaining brain health, and an optimally functioning digestive system are just some of the many benefits of a healthy diet. However, a healthy diet can’t do it all.

A healthy diet won’t give you bigger muscles or a tighter rear end. Sure a healthy diet can contribute to physical fitness but it can’t deliver the results all on its own. A healthy diet must be paired with a high quality fitness program for the best overall fitness.

Superior level athletes know that proper fuel (a healthy diet) must be paired with training for the best results The right food is crucial to give your body the fuel for its jobs. However, if you don’t use your body it will not respond in the best possible way. A combination of good fuel and regular use is necessary for optimal health and fitness.

Can you lose weight without exercising? Sure. But I wouldn’t consider that to be a healthy diet. Cutting your calories drastically will lead to weight loss. The problem with this weight loss is it isn’t very sustainable and it often results in the loss of muscle tone as well.

A body that has lost weight via drastic calorie cuts is far less visually appealing and also less healthy than one that was obtained with diet and exercise together.

A good effort should be made to keep your diet healthy, full of nourishing whole foods. But, don’t get swept up in diet and forget about the other necessary component. High quality exercise is a crucial factor in getting the body you want and the health to last a lifetime.

If you are looking at ways to get exercise in a convenient amount of time, consider the 10 Minute Trainer program. It allows you to customize a workout to fit your schedule. Also, as a possible addition to your healthy diet, take a look at the P90X Recovery Formula. This drink mix gives your optimal nutrition to replenish what you lose in a strenuous workout.

One of the issues many people have with supplements of any kind are the fact that they are a substitution for actual, nutritious food. Our bodies crave nourishment and proper nourishment at that. They were designed perfectly to process foods, from the chewing to the elimination. Our digestive systems are obviously equipped for food so some wonder why we would substitute liquid or capsule supplements for it. In discussing eating protein vs. drinking a protein shake, looking at the motivation behind supplementation is crucial.

Most people who are thinking about using protein supplements are already healthy. They are typically on a fitness program and seeking a way to get high quality protein in a convenient matter. Very seldom, though it does occur, are people under the misconception that supplements can somehow make them healthy.

For those people weighing the benefits of eating protein vs. drinking a protein shake, it often boils down to convenience.

Plain and simple: when undertaking a muscle building workout plan, protein consumption is often increased to assist the body’s natural muscle building abilities. Protein can help us build muscle by facilitating the repair of tissues broken down in a strenuous workout. In order to further encourage this, you will often see people cutting back on carbs and sugars in exchange for high quality protein.

Wanting to boost protein consumption is easy, stomaching it can be difficult. There aren’t many snack options today that combine concentrated protein levels with convenience. Carrying around a chicken breast isn’t really feasible; neither is making an egg white omelet at work. While real food is always a good choice, supplementing with protein shakes and good quality protein bars like the P90X protein bars is an easy move that allows you to boost your protein while moving throughout the day.

Are we suggesting you get all of your protein from protein supplements? Never. However, using them as a tool in your nutritional arsenal simply gives you a quick and easy way of boosting protein without growing tired of the old standbys. When considering eating protein vs. drinking a protein shake, go with the food when you can but don’t be afraid to use protein shakes as a good secondary option.

If you’re looking for the right kind of protein shakes to add to your plan, take a look at the Vanilla and Chocolate Whey Protein Powders we carry here. These shake mixes taste excellent and deliver 18 grams of protein per serving.

Be prepared might be the Boy Scouts motto, but it works pretty well for fitness fanatics as well. Going into the holidays, it is important to be prepared. Having a plan to fight off the lure of decadent desserts and afternoon naps on the couch can mean the difference between staying on the diet track or complete fitness derailment. With all the goodies within your reach this time of year, having a few healthy holiday snacks on tap will greatly increase your chance of holiday success.

Cranberries

These little berries with the deep crimson blush are packed with antioxidants and not too high in sugar. Finding ways to incorporate these into the holidays can often satisfy a sweet tooth without packing on the pounds. There are many recipes online for healthy cranberry options. Check out this one from Taste of Home that uses tart Granny Smith Apples, gelatin, and unsweetened apple juice.

Crunchy Cereal Mix

For those of us who crave salty snacks, you can find healthier versions of Chex Mix online too. Many of them add popcorn to decrease the calories while keeping the salty crunch on high. Here’s one that uses many of the original ingredients. Consider eliminating the peanuts and adding just a handful of chopped almonds instead.

Mixed Nuts

Nuts are packed with nutrients and offer a great snack that requires some work. Buy some nuts in their shells and keep a basket of them out. Almonds and walnuts are great snacks and the time it takes you to open them truly does reduce the number you will eat.

Planning ahead when you are living a healthy lifestyle is crucial. Having good choices to reach for when the rest of the family is eating cookies can be a life saver. Consider bringing some healthy holiday snack options to the holiday gatherings you attend. You will always have options that way and your family just might thank you for it!

It’s the holidays! Time to relax, eat, drink, and be merry, right? While this sentiment is felt by many people, it isn’t the best attitude to take going into the holiday season. Sure, you may eat a little more than usual on Christmas day or have a few extra drinks on New Years, but it is vital that you stay fit, even during this time of year. Why is physical fitness so important now? Because it is important at all times!

This time of year seems to be all about indulgence and gluttony. From the food to the spending, more seems to be better. It is possible to get too much of a good thing, however. And if you are considering that plate of Christmas cookies for dinner, you know exactly what I am talking about.

Many of us shrug off diet and exercise around this time of year because we are busy, we are stressed, and there is food everywhere. But, the fact is, this is the precise time when you should be trying harder to stay fit. Truthfully, if you can stick to your diet and exercise plans during this time of year, you can pretty much do it whenever.

Why is physical fitness so important during the holidays? Well, aside from the fact that you want a gumdrop bar for desert and a heaping help of steaming mashed potatoes and gravy with your dinner, stress is at an all time high this time of year. Working out isn’t only giving you a little wiggle room on your Christmas diet, it’s also burning off some of that tension you are carrying around. Whether it’s the spending or the house full of guests, staying fit can keep your stress level manageable.

So, when you are caught slipping and thinking you could take a few weeks off this year, think again. The answer to “why is physical fitness so important during the holidays?” can be found in every cookie tin, gravy boat, and stress headache. Maintaining some semblance of normalcy in your workout program will keep you feeling and looking better this holiday season.

It’s that time. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas there are holiday parties everywhere you look. Whether it’s an office party, a get together with friends, or the holiday party at your child’s school, they are everywhere. And the one thing these parties typically have in common: food! Unfortunately, healthy food isn’t quite as big of a hit at these parties so sticking with a healthy eating plan becomes tricky. The key is to have a good time without negating that progress you make every other day of the week.

There are a few things you can do to make the damage minimal at these holiday parties. While it is somewhat unreasonable to ask you to not eat anything off your diet, it’s not out of line to tell you not to completely blow it either. It’s all about balance when it comes to healthy eating at a holiday party.

Here are some tips to keep your healthy eating in check:

1. Eat before you go. Eat something healthy before you leave the house. Showing up to a holiday party famished is a surefire way of doing some damage. Instead, have a bowl of vegetable soup or even a full meal beforehand. Having something on your stomach will make it easier to just say no!

2. Make one trip. Typically snacks are laid out on a table for everyone to munch at these sort of events. Fill up a plate knowing it will be your only. Allow yourself a few treats on there so you don’t feel deprived but don’t return to the snack table afterwards.

3. Bring a healthy option. If you are friends with the hostess ask if you can bring a tray to add to the collection. They’ll think you’re merely helping out but this is one way to ensure there’s at least one healthy eating option. Crudités or grilled chicken appetizers are both great options here.

4. Watch the liquid calories. Holiday parties are as known for their liquid treats as they are for the food. Choose beverages made with limited sugar and steer clear of things like beer or champagne. Allow yourself a glass or two of wine and then stop. It’s much easier to throw drinks back in a social setting, so beware of this sneaky diet disaster.

Holiday parties don’t have to be a drag for people watching what they eat. Healthy eating can fairly easily be incorporated without an accompanying sense of deprivation. Celebrate, have a few treats, and then get right back to business the next day!