Give your body all that it needs.

To tone the body and build muscle does not just come from exercising. In order to get true results from your workout, protein is required to replenish the body and improve physical strength and appearance. Proteins are made up of amino acids, which help renew, regenerate and build new tissues. There are twenty amino acids that are required for growth in the human body.  However, the body can produce all but eight of the amino acids, and so we must eat foods high in protein in order to ensure you are receiving these essential amino acids.  The foolproof method is to make sure we are consuming complete protein sources in our diet.

There are many different sources of protein in our diets today, many traditional choices are animal based like meat, milk, cheese and eggs. But with the growing number of diet specifics like dairy intolerances and the different shades of vegetarianism many of us are turning to plant based sources of protein like soy, legumes, hemp and other grains. However, animal sources, as a complete protein, are more bioavailable to the body than plant sources and are a popular choice for protein powders.

On the markets today we see a lot of whey protein, some of you may know that whey is the liquid that separates from curds in the cheese manufacturing process. Whey protein can be found in two forms–whey isolate and whey concentrate. Whey isolate is a pure high-quality protein that contains at least 90 percent protein with less lactose than whey protein concentrate. Whey concentrate will typically have 70 to 85 percent protein. A blend of the two is ideal!

Be mindful of what you pick up.

 Tricky use of words, flashy graphics and slogans can be very deceptive. If you look closely at the labels of many of the popular protein powders on shelves you will find artificial colours, flavours and sweetners! Be wary, these are not something that you want to be fueling your body with on a daily basis. We want to give our body all that it needs, anything artificial will do more harm than good, even if it does taste better!

If you are looking for a great tasting, pure, all natural source of protein to compliment your healthy active lifestyle be sure to try TrueStrength! Some of the benefits of this versatile, delicious vanilla flavoured powder include:

-Can improve muscle recovery

-Assists with the building of lean muscle

-Promotes the loss of body fat

-Can improve immune function

-Improves body composition

-Increases antioxidants in the body

TrueStrength contains both whey protein isolate and concentrate with a complete amino acid profile. This is important when refuelling the body’s stores after an intense workout following your personalized Truestar Exercise Program or boosting your metabolism during the beginning phases of the Truestar Weight Loss Program.

TrueStrength provides a high concentration of branched-chain amino acids that can be used directly by the exercising muscle as an energy source, resulting in increased energy levels, endurance and mental performance. It also provides antioxidants, to help support proper immune function and improve overall health.

 All natural goodness.

No need to worry about artificial ingredients in Truestar products especially when it comes to sweetners. TrueStrength is sweetened with natural fructose (natural fruit sugar) and BeFlora™ Sweet Fiber, a wonderful prebiotic fiber that is 8-10 times sweeter than ordinary sugar and helps to feed and nourish friendly bacteria in the intestinal tract, establishing a healthy balance.

Personally, I use TrueStrength in many different applications including my oatmeal every morning, shakes and even baked goods, anywhere I can sneak a little more nutrition in. Most people don’t expect protein powder to taste this good!

Here are a couple of the awesome smoothie recipes available on Truestar’s Nutrition Plan (FOR FREE)!

For more of these amazing recipes and perfectly balanced meal plans create your free profile today!! 

Be well,

Gillian

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You are what you eat.

By now, we all know the importance of eating well is when it comes to living life at our optimal health.  At Truestar, we believe in the 80-20 Rule when it comes to eating right. Which means that 80% of the time we focus on consuming wholesome, fresh, naturally sourced foods that best serve our bodies. Keeping in mind that we are all human and the other 20% of the time we are allowed to ‘cheat’. It’s all about keeping that balance – everything in moderation. Personally, I follow this rule in my own diet. It works very well for me because I never feel deprived or restricted in any way. Follow the Truestar Nutrition program, print off the customized grocery lists and really take the time to read labels while shopping. Education is your greatest tool for success when it comes to eating healthy. Take responsibility for your health!

While you follow your personalized nutrition plan and you are on the path to your best health yet, it is important to make sure that you have all of your bases covered. Supplementing with TrueBasics AO is a great way to ensure your body is getting all of the essential nutrients it needs along with some extra antioxidant support.

Get moving!

If we want to live life at our peak and enjoy every moment to the fullest, we need to lead a healthy active lifestyle. Our bodies work so very hard for us every moment of every day, we need to respect that and help it in any way we can.  Scheduling in at least 20 minutes of physical activity everyday is a realistic goal, start with that. Be sure to set a reminder in your calendar, just like any other meeting or appointment. This is the most important appointment of the whole day – the betterment of you! Can’t bear the thought of going outdoors? Make a commitment to take the stairs every day. Or better yet, run in the stairwell at work on your lunch! Working out with friends makes it fun. This way you can be held accountable and push one another to challenge yourselves.  Switching up your workouts is a great way to keep you motivated for the long term.  The key is to find activities that you really enjoy, each person is different and it may just take a little bit of time to find your niche. The Truestar Exercise program will create the perfect plan for you, for FREE! Need a little boost of energy for your workout? Try our amazing TrueEnergy product today! Combining this with TrueThermo is a great option as it helps to rev up your metabolism, helping the body to burn more calories, making your workouts more effective!

Give your body all that it needs.

Everyone’s body is different, and therefore specific needs need to be addressed on an individual basis. Truestar’s Vitamin Profiler will help you find what your specific nutritional needs are instead of just guessing what you need based on what you hear.

With shortened daylight hours, we have to be sure that we are getting enough of the sunshine vitamin – the all mighty Vitamin D. TrueD is extremely high quality and can be the perfect addition to your daily supplementation routine.

As we begin a new fitness regimen, the body’s nutritional demands are positively associated to the intensity of our workouts. In order to make sure we are giving our body all that it needs, supplementing becomes very key. Try our delicious protein powder, TrueStrength in a smoothie for breakfast or post workout. To help with recovery after workout, a combination of TrueRenew and TrueRepair will do just the trick. I take these products post workout or right before bed to help heal my body while I sleep. It is called beauty sleep for a reason!

Turn that frown upside down.

Winter is nearly over, there is light at the end of the tunnel. It’s time to set some new goals. Log on to the Truestar Attitude Section and start filling your daily, weekly, monthly, yearly and dream goals. Create a dream board, filled with pictures of all the fun outdoor activities you would like to do, places to travel, etc. Keep this somewhere you can see every day, the fridge door or at work in front of your computer are a great place!

Rest up.

Staying up late to watch TV? Getting up early for work? This can become a vicious cycle that will leave you reaching for coffee all day to avoid energy crashes. Try to take advantage of the extended hours without sun, leave your evenings for unwinding and resting up.  I have recently learned the importance of getting a good night’s sleep with the help of Truestar’s Sleep Program. I have set up a bedtime routine that includes no TV/phone/computer at least one hour before bed, a few drops of lavender oil on my pillow, TrueSleep and my eye mask. This is wonderful and much needed way to wind down at the end of a busy day. If you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, try TrueSleep for a perfect nights rest.

Be well,

Gillian B

Check out Gillian’s Personalized Health Portal  and website today!!

By: Gillian B

When the January blahs hit, it becomes difficult for many of us to stay motivated and focused on our health goals. With a combination of back to work, holiday credit card bills and bad weather across much of the country, seasonal affective disorder (SAD), can easily kick in, waylaying us on our pursuit to our new and better self. This is not abnormal, and statistics have shown that depression and even suicide peak at this time of year.

On a more positive note, there are many things you can do to avert depression in order for you to take some giant leaps forward in the pursuit of health and happiness.

To start off with, exercise is proven to be one of the best ways to create positive feelings as endorphins are released, even with as little as 20 minutes of sustained cardiovascular exercise. Truestar.com has many 20-minute workouts and yoga sequences that can get you feeling great in a time crunch.

Consider joining a neighborhood gym such where physical activity and camaraderie combine to improve your mental state and your health.

In the latest neuroscience research from the book, Power up Your Brain, it is proven in a research study that a group of persons who participated in as little as 20 minutes of exercise per day increased their neuro-pathways by 1800% over a similar group which was sedentary or did not exercise.

Boost your mood and your mind with l-Tyrosine, an amino acid related to increased brain power and mood. Try TrueIQ, a product which combines L-Tyrosine with other amino acids to stimulate your mind. Moreover, reducing calories from the standard American diet of 3,660 calories per day by 30% has proven to increase brain power. Remember, overeating, especially sugary and high carbohydrate meals, can cause a “crashing sensation”, along with unwanted weight gain and sluggishness that can affect one’s self esteem. Set up a personal profile using follow Truestar’s cutting-edge personalized Nutrition Program. It will get you on the right track nutritionally as all of the meals are calorically and hormonally balanced based upon your personal profile.

Take one of Truestar’s 30-Day Challenges  and commit to feeling your very best physically. As leading motivational and research experts such as Tony Robbins have said, “Change your physical state and your mind will follow.”

Truestar’s 30-/90-Day Challenges can be taken in five categories including: Weight Loss, Healthy Aging, Muscle and Strength, Optimal Wellness and Energy Support. Not only will the Truestar Challenges set some goals for you, they are also supported by Truestar’s award-winning supplements and have many prizes available, including a Grand Prize of $50,000!

Setting goals and writing them down has worked wonders for many and Truestar’s Attitude Section contains a personal Goal Setting Program that allows you to write down daily, weekly, monthly, yearly and dream goals. Once the goals are set, they can be accessed on your smart phone as reminders to keep you motivated and focused.

If you are feeling a bit glum due to the grey weather, vitamin D has been proven to support seasonal affective disorder. Truestar’s award-winning TrueBASICS A/O, contains vitamins D along with a multitude of vitamins and minerals that can support your health.  Many experts recommend a higher dose of Vitamin D (up to 3000 IU per day).TrueD is available for those looking for a higher dose of high quality vitamin D.

Getting the proper amount of sleep is also a key factor in maintaining a great attitude and feeling good physically.  Complete a Sleep profile on Truestar.com and learn about small changes you can make to improve your sleep regimen.

Reading or listening to positive or motivational material for only 10 minutes per day can also have a profound effect on your attitude. Take your mood and weather into your own hands and carry your positive weather with you wherever you go!

Visit Gillian B’s Health Portal Today!