A Client Success Story: a testament to consistency!!

This is an example of everything we believe in at Fuel to Thrive… progressive lifestyle change over time! Notice how this client did not do a drastic diet or jump into a whole new fitness routine. He build habits over time and stuck with them. Also, notice how his journey started in early 2021 and he reached his goal weight in May 2022.

LONG TERM LASTING CHANGE TAKES TIME & CONSISTENCY!

Please read that again….

Ready to feel motivated?! Heres the success story….

Background

I’ve always had a “large” frame and been overweight since I was probably 12 years old. During high school and my first two years of college I was probably at my healthiest. I was part of the WSU football team and played as an offensive lineman. As part of that role I weighed up to nearly 300lbs by the time I graduated in 2004. After graduation I lost a lot of weight in the first two years and was able to reach 240lbs fairly easily as that’s where my body naturally seemed to balance out at.

Before My Journey Began….2015 - Oofda

I didn’t really work out with resistance training in any form or fashion and did very little cardio but I have always been active and spent a lot of time hiking, kayaking, or being up and around on weekends as part of my hobbies. This level of activity took my body weight to about 230lbs but my cholesterol was high, my energy levels started lagging, and I just didn’t feel like I was living up to my potential or setting the stage for the next couple chapters of my life.

Motivation

I turned 40 in January of 2021 and over the course of the year started really thinking about what the rest of my middle age years and after would look like (midlife crisis perhaps?). Lisa (my wife) has worked for Fuel to Thrive since late 2020 and had been sharing stories of the successes Fuel’s principals and training were having with their clients. While I wasn’t overly out of shape, I wasn’t making any progress and was steadily gaining weight and losing what little muscle tone I had left. In late 2021 I decided that I was finally tired enough of the way I looked and felt to take action.

The Beginning of My Journey… Summer 2021- Dad bod status achieved!!

Actions Taken

Using Fuel’s principles and training I started working out in January of 2022. I had a general idea that I wanted to get “fit” but I wasn’t sure what I even wanted that to look like. I use the term “working out” in the most general terms which involved doing three sets of 10 push ups and 3 sets of 30 crunches 3-5 days a week. This was the most I could do at the time and I was pretty sore for the first couple weeks. I kept up with the pushups and crunches and added lunges and a little bit (20 minutes twice a week) of jogging. I started to see weight come off after the second or third week and was able to add the number of pushups weekly until I was doing three sets of 50 by early February. By mid-February I had dropped about 15lbs and was really starting to get motivated. At that time, I ordered a simple collapsible weight bench, some resistance bands, and started using a set of concrete filled vinyl dumbbells (you know the ones) to do bench exercises and add weight to my leg routines. I also started really paying attention to the Fuel to Thrive principals of exercise balance and training and using MyFitness Pal and tracking calories to achieve a goal bodyweight of 200lbs.

Seeing results leading to motivation…March 2022

By early March I had dropped from 235lbs to 203lbs and could really see the results. I had the beginnings of a six pack, and my man boobs were looking more like pecs each week. Furthermore, the increased weight training was leading to an increase in my metabolism which was making the weight loss/maintenance almost easy. In addition to looking and feeling better I was realizing that the lifestyle and diet were going to be totally sustainable. I didn’t have to completely eliminate any of the foods/drinks I love and just had to keep track of what I was consuming. After mid February, the weight loss slowed for a couple weeks but it wasn’t discouraging since I was really close to my goal and could see physical changes taking place on a weekly basis and by early May I reached my goal weight!

May 2022….Goal Weight Achieved!

At that point I started setting new goals for muscle gain and body composition and started incorporating more cardio (30-45 minutes 2-4 times a week) and using a wider variety of resistance exercises to reach the whole body. At this point my goal is to continue to add muscle mass and just see how far the journey can take me. I’ve never felt physically better in my life, I’ve got a six pack for the first time ever, and I have 100% confidence that I can maintain my fitness and nutrition indefinitely without having to eliminate things I love eating or drinking. Fuel to Thrives’ approach to a sustainable fitness journey have made the changes sustainable so I can see the progress without being miserable in the process!

The Truth About Protein Powders

I swear I get asked on the daily about protein powders… do I recommend? How much? Which brands? What to look for? So…. Here is your guide to all the questions about protein powder you may have!!!

I even linked some of my favorite brands at the bottom!!

How Important is Protein Powder in Achieving Your Goals?

Too often, people rely on a pill or powder in an attempt to hit a new health or fitness goal, rather than focusing on what matters most: nutrition, progressive overload, sleep, stress, and time management. In reality, a supplement can only provide a slight benefit (less than 5%), even when these other factors are really dialed in. However, there are a few exceptions. A high-quality protein powder is something we do recommend for some.

When Should You Supplement?

We recommend a supplement when a client has a high protein goal that they are struggling to reach. For example, a client who is vegetarian might have a hard time getting enough plant-based proteins in. Maybe a busy athlete needs a quick and convenient protein source to support recovery. Even those looking to lose weight can have higher protein goals, and a protein supplement makes that goal attainable. Sometimes, having just one or two extra servings of protein daily can make things significantly easier.

What Should I Look For?

When choosing a protein supplement, there are a few key things to look for to make sure you are getting a high-quality, effective, affordable source of protein.

Amount of Protein

You want at least 20 grams of protein in a single serving, and the serving size should ideally be 1 scoop. By maximizing the protein content and minimizing the serving size, the protein powder will be convenient, easier to track, and likely more affordable.

Source

Not all protein sources are created equal. Some proteins are better utilized in our bodies than others, so even if the label says “20g of Protein”, you might not be using it completely. Whey and Casein proteins are the most ideal. If you are dairy-free, Soy protein is a very good option for you. If you are looking for a vegan powder, look for one that has a combination of proteins, such as rice, pea, hemp, potato, etc. (having 3 or more sources is ideal).

Leucine

Now that you have chosen a good source of protein, you can then consider the Leucine content of it. Protein is made up of amino acids, and Leucine is one that plays a very important role in building muscle. Research shows that having 2-3g of Leucine with each serving of protein maximizes the effect that protein has on the muscles. Generally, a balanced meal of lean protein, carbohydrates, and vegetables, will have that Leucine content. But for protein supplements, making sure it has the right amount of Leucine, if available, is recommended.

Other Nutrition Facts

Your protein supplement shouldn’t have a bunch of unnecessary carbohydrates, fat, and calories. Those are best obtained through more whole-food sources. Avoid a supplement that has more than 5g of carbohydrates or 3g of fat. Save those for your meals!

Cost/Value

Don’t assume that because a protein powder is the most expensive on the shelf, that it is of superior quality. Do some research to find a protein powder that fits your budget, but also has the other factors listed in this blog.

Recommended Brands

Look for a supplement that is third-party tested to ensure you are getting what you pay for and nothing potentially harmful or allergenic. The gold-standard is NSF and Informed Choice. Look for these logos:

A few brands we recommend:

• Momentous

• Klean

• Ascent

• Optimum Nutrition

• Garden of Life

• Vega

• BPN

Not Sure If You Should Be Supplementing?

Reach out to one of our dietitians to see if a protein supplement might be right for you in helping you hit your health or fitness goals!

3 Diet Changes I am Making:

This may surprise you, but yes, I am always working on my nutrition as well! Whether it’s mindset around food, or certain habits, I am always challenged to make changes that fit my goals. So, I thought I’d share some of the things I have been working on!

My current goal:

I am currently in full swing training of Coeur d’Alene Half Ironman. My volume is high. Fatigue and time constraints are real.

Things I am Already Doing:

This is important to say because it is easy to skip over foundational pieces that are essential to our goals.

• Eating 3 meals + 2+ snacks a day

• Listening to my hunger

• Eating enough protein

• Focusing on fruits and vegetables

• Planning meals ahead (most of the time)

• Fueling my workouts well

Three things I am working on:

1. Getting enough carbs

   As volume increases carbs become more and more important to performance and recovery. I am not counting carbs, but I am purposefully including them in each meal and snack and reaching for them when I am hungry or tired.

   As an athlete, I think it is valuable to have a minimum amount of carbs you are eating a day, and know what that portion at each meal and snack is, and then understand you can and should add more when you need it and when volume increases.

   Sometimes these carbs are fruit or brown rice or oats and sometimes they are pretzels and fig bars and cookies… and that’s called balance!

2. Including beans/lentils at least 1x per week

   This became a goal after I did my InsideTracker bloodwork (contact me for discounts). I have always enjoyed beans and lentils, but have not worked to include them regularly. Beans and lentils are full of fiber and great plant sources of protein.

   I do not always have success with meatless meals, because I often end up hungry after and the fiber can be rough on my GI system during runs, SO I have started to just include these along with meals I am already making.

   An example…. include black beans with your tacos or taco bowls.

   Also, for the record, I buy canned (low sodium) beans and rinse them… so you can do this too. It is not “unhealthy” or “too processed,” It is actually convenient and easy!

3. Reach for anti-inflammatory foods

   These foods have all the rage right now!! As an athlete, they help with recovery and repair. All fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats can be anti-inflammatory.

   Here are some tips:

   The richer the color of fruit or vegetable, the more anti-inflammatory it is

   Look for fats with omega 3s

   Some ways I am including anti-inflammatory foods:

   Adding flax meal to my oatmeal

   Opting for tart cherry juice when I want something sweet at night

   Including walnuts in snacks

   Adding frozen berries to anything and everything

   Making sure I am getting 3+ servings of vegetables a day

The Take-Aways

• Diet changes don’t have to be extreme

• The changes you are making should reflect your goals

• Be realistic with your changes

• Think ahead of ways to make your changes successful

As always, if you need help knowing what diet changes to make for your goals, please reach out!

Products I Love

Guys! I have been wanting to do this forever and am very excited to finally be doing it! I wanted to make a page that you can land on to find products that I recommend frequently (and use myself too!) Check it out!!!

Food:

SNACKS:

• Chomp Sticks

• PB2: Add to yogurt, smoothies, pancakes… anything really!

• RXBar Nut Butters: These are great traveling snacks!

• RXBar Oatmeal: Find out how I use these here

• Picky Bar Granola

• Picky Bar Oatmeal

• Adams Peanut Butter

• Whole Grain Triscuits: My go-to cracker!

• Kodiak Cakes

• Siggis Yogurt

• Bitchin Sauce

BARS:

• RXBARS

• LaraBar Protein

• Picky Bar

• Perfect Bar

WORKOUT NUTRITION

• Gogo Squeeze Applesauce: Great pre-workout and/or during workout.

• Fig Bars Great pre-workout and/or during workout.

• Graham Crackers Great pre-workout and/or during workout.

• Lyte Balance Electrolytes Everyday hydration

• Skratch Labs Hydration (strawberry lemonade): Shorter workout hydration

• UCAN: Great for workouts lasting longer than 60 min

• Hammer Perpetuem (Cafe Latte): Great for workouts lasting longer than 60 min

• Hammer Endurolytes Fizz: Great for post workout hydration

• GU Gels: Great for workouts lasting longer than 60 min

• Science in Sport Gels: Great for workouts lasting longer than 60 min

• Clif Bars: Great for workouts lasting longer than 60 min

• Fuel for Fire: Quick post workout snack

• Noka Smoothie: Quick post workout snack

COOKING to add flavor:

• Spiceology Spice Mixes (any of them)

• Balsamic Glaze

• Trader Joes Green Goddess or Carrot Ginger Miso Dressing

• Salsa (always)

• more to come….

The Key to Success: Meal Planning

Who is tired of stressing out about what to eat for dinner every night?

During this quarantine season, I can imagine you feel the stress even more without the freedom to go to the store everyday to grab something your forgot. Meal planning can make your life easier, your grocery shopping trips less stressful, save you money, and can help you feel more in control about what you are eating and feeding your family. Not to mention, keep your risk of catching COVID-19 down by limiting your trips to the store!!

I truly believe having a plan is one of the most important ways to eat well. When plans aren’t in place, last minute and convenient decisions are made, which let’s be real… aren’t always the best decisions.

I hear from clients over and over again, that they feared planning food would limit their food freedom. Once they get in the habit, they all say that having a plan gives them more freedom! When you don’t have to stress about what to make for dinner every day, you have more brain power to enjoy and do other things!!

I know, it can be a dreadful process, but once the process is in place it becomes a tool for success, and you will get to the point where you aren’t willing to not utilize that tool… because you know how it will lead to your success.

Here are a couple tips on meal planning:

Think about meals and what is going on around those times:

• Will you need to pack food? Have a quick meal? Utilize leftover? Will you feel like cooking?

• Be realistic and recognize your time and energy restrictions!!! Thinking through these things can prevent that situation that we’ve all been in… You get home late, had a plan to make a full meal. Then you ran out of time and energy and your left eating PB&J and cereal, feeling like you failed cause you didn’t eat as planned.

Utilize leftovers!

Think about breakfast, lunch and snacks!

• I often see that when people meal plan they only think about dinner, which leaves your scrambling for the rest of the day!

Think about fresh ways to use normal ingredients.

• I can’t even tell you the amount of different meals we’ve made with chicken and rice! Use spices; look for a cuisine you haven’t tried making before; think about your favorite flavors when you eat out and try to replicate at home!!

Balance your meals, always!

• Each meal should include a protein, starch and fruit or vegetable. Plan it that way!

Make a list, and check it!

• There is nothing more frustrating than forgetting an ingredient or buying something you already have!! Eliminate this issue by checking what you have and making sure all ingredients you need are on your list.

Meal planning can be so helpful in keeping you and your family eating healthy AND it can save time, stress and money.

Check out these resources to help you meal plan better!

Menu subscription:

Do you feel like you run out of ideas when it comes to fresh meals? Let me help by sending you 3 meals a week that include a complete grocery list and meal prep instructions!!

Meal Plan Guides:

Organize your meal plans! These are 3 templates that I encourage you try out now!!!

Option 1: This guide will help you keep your week, days and grocery lists all in one place!! It even helps you keep track of your nutrient intake daily!

Option 2: This guide will help you think through each meal of the week and plan according based on what is going on around that meal and what type of meal you need to have.

Option 3: This guide is a simple way to help you organize and plan your week!

And I will leave you with this: a goal without a plan is just a dream, so plan your food out!!!

At Home Workouts: No Equipment, No Worries!

One of the coolest ways I’ve seen the community adapt to this COVID-19 quarantine is the amount of ideas being shared for at home workouts. Kevin and I have been doing at home workouts with very limited equipment. It has been great to get our bodies moving, but sometimes workouts just don’t feel as challenging when done with body weight. I wanted to share some extremely practical ways of making movements more challenging.

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Add weight: get creative!! You have heavy things around your house, I know you do! Find ways to make them carry-able… grab a backpack and get creative with what you can throw in it.

I found a Costco bag of rice and textbooks. You can also fill water bottles with water. Bags of dog food are heavy. Cans are heavy. Just find some heavy stuff and throw it in a backpack!

How to utilize for a workout:

• Place either on your back or your front to vary the load. You can do squats, lunges, deadlifts, 1 leg deadlifts, push ups, planks, jumping jacks, sprints, step ups, dips and many other movements with this.

• Carry it: you can do squat presses, strict presses, farmers carry.

• Move it: you can do wallballs, sit ups, kettlebell swings, cleans, toss it back and forth. Whatever you do, make sure the straps are tied in so they don’t whack you in the face.

At home workout:

4 rounds

• 30 lunges

• 20 squat press

• 10 push ups

• 400 m run (weight on your back)

Jump: jumping adds an element of power and speed, both of which will challenge more than a non jumping movement. Jumping will also get your heart rate up.

How to utilize in a workout: mix in jumping and non-jumping movements into your workout. Movements that can include jumping are: squats, lunges, push ups (for some), jumping jacks, tuck jumps, high jump, broad (frog) jump, speed skaters, and box jump.

Before you add jumping, make sure you feel strong enough in the non-jumping variation (aka a normal squat). Jumping will add more force to your joints and bones, so keep that in mind if you are nursing an injury.

At home workout:

5 rounds: 40 sec work/20 sec rest:

• Squat jumps

• Plank

• Speed skaters

• Dips

• Jumping jacks

Slow Down: slowing a movement down requires control. Because your muscle is working for longer, it is required to fire more often. This is a great way to make a movement harder with just a little bit of weight!

How to utilize in a workout: You can either move slowly through the whole movement, or pick a part of the movement to move slowly through and use power and speed in the other portion (like the deadlift video). This can be done with squats, lunges, deadlifts, push ups, presses, 1 leg squats and deadlifts, and sit ups.

At home workout:

3 rounds of 12 of each movement:

• Squat (lower for 5 seconds, pause at the bottom for 3 seconds, raise up for 1 second)

• Deadlift (lower for 5 seconds, pause at the bottom for 3 seconds, raise up for 1 second)

• Push up (lower for 5 seconds, pause at the bottom for 3 seconds, raise up for 1 second)

• Sit up (lower for 5 seconds, pause at the bottom for 3 seconds, raise up for 1 second)

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I was just thinking this morning that the idea of the quarantine has seemed like a fun idea… there has been a sort of novelty around it. If this continues on, I know at home workouts are going to become more and more challenging to stay motivated for. I strongly encourage you to KEEP MOVING! Exercise helps with:

• Immunity

• Triathlon and running performance

• Weight loss and weight maintenance

• Mental health

• Mood

So yes, your equipment may be limited. But push to find ways to make it more challenging and fun. You post-quarantine self with thank you for it.

If you have questions or need more ideas, please reach out!

Traveling Nutrition: airplane and hotel meal and snack ideas

The other day we were looking at flights to New Zealand for the 2020 IM 70.3 World Championships and all of a sudden I started freaking out about what we were going to eat on the plane… haha! We won’t even be getting on that plane for more than 11 months and thats where my head goes (#thelifeofadieitian). I know it is all because the last time we traveled across the world I remember getting off the plane feeling like JUNK!! Like I remember my ankles were non-existent and I just felt swollen! Sitting for that many hours, not sleeping well and eating airplane meals is not a recipe for success for me and I am determined to find ways to prevent this feeling as much as possible so I don’t have to race feeling like a balloon!

A few days after I had my freak out moment, I was asked by two completely separate individuals if they had tips for traveling nutrition. And it got me thinking that I should share some information about this because I am sure it is a question that a lot of people face!

And yes, I will figure out how to eat on the plane before our race and yes I will share what I learn with all of you. For now, here are some good tips and ideas for plane/airport nutrition and hotel meals.

Airplane/Airport Nutrition

Things to be aware of:

• Gels and liquids: gels and liquids have to be less than 3.4 oz. That means not only all fluids, but also yogurt, nut butters, hummus, guacamole, applesauce pouches and anything else that could even remotely be close to a “gel” like consistency. We had to throw away an entire jar of that delicious freshly ground honey roasted peanut butter once… consider this my warning to you!

• Security: I almost always travel with food and get my bag pulled at security probably 25% of the time. It is a possibility, so expect that it might happen. They usually just open my bag, pull out the food, look at it to make sure it is food (they are very respectful about not touching it) and let me go. Literally, I got pulled for having a large carrot in my bag once (I guess it looked dangerous!!)

• Smells: For the respect of those around you on the plane, don’t bring something super smelly. Some people are even cautious about nuts and nut butters because of allergies.

• Packaging: I will only bring things on the plane that don’t require a container from home. I am not going to carry around a container for my whole trip. Choose packages that you can throw away or bring a container that you don’t mind parting with, just to make your life easier!

• Water bottles: make sure you empty your water bottles before security and then just fill them up on the other side! Most coffee shops will do it for you if you are looking for fresh water!

Food During Layovers:

I found an awesome salad bar in the Minneapolis Airport. If you’re at that airport, FIND IT!!!

• Look for fresh: Look for proteins and fresh fruits and vegetables. I usually have the best luck at coffee shops. Don’t just settle for the packaged sandwiches and yogurt parfaits. If you have the time, do some searching and try to get creative.

• Timing: Know when you are going to get hungry and be prepared. If you aren’t hungry during your layover, but know you will be on your next flight, grab something that you can bring on the plane. If you will be flying over a meal time, make sure that something is a meal and not just snacks.

Meal and Snack Ideas

• Oatmeal: you can now find oatmeal packaged in cups Quaker, Picky, and Kodiak Cake are just a few brands that do this. Bring a banana and a pack of nut butter (less than 3.4oz). Get some hot water (for free) on the plane or at a coffee shop in the airport. Mix all together and let it absorb. Then enjoy!

• Sandwich: For early morning flights, we usually bring PB + Banana sandwiches. We have also brought turkey sandwiches and PB&Js. (be cautious of bringing tuna because of the smell).

• Fruits and vegetables: we always bring all the fruits and vegetables in our fridge that we didn’t get a chance to eat before we left. This way you can have them on the plane and at your destination (if customs is not an issue!)

• Bento Box: bring any mix of cheese, crackers, deli meat, vegetables, hard boiled eggs, nuts, fruit for a meal or snack!

• Bars: My favorite bars to recommend (and eat) are RX Bars. They also have nut butters with added protein which are under 3.4oz and delicious with fruit or on their own.

• Jerky: jerky can be an easy and fun way to get protein. Chomp Sticks and Epic Bars are a couple brands that I suggest!

• Kodiak cakes: bring these with fruit and nut butter to make a meal!

• Trail mix/nuts: just make sure they are portioned out so you don’t eat the whole thing!!

• Tuna packs: This is for layovers (so you don’t stink up the whole plane!) Bring some vegetables and crackers and you have a nicely balanced meal!

Nutrition for your stay:

Tips for eating while at your destination:

• Protein and vegetables: My #1 tip!! Look for vegetables and protein, the carbs will be there too! They are the hardest to find, but well worth the search. You can always ask what vegetable side options area available!

• Go off of hunger: With time changes and different than normal foods, listen to your body and how hungry it is. Meals out are often naturally bigger and more dense than foods you would have at home. Don’t just eat to eat, but also make sure you have enough to make it to the next meal.

• Have snacks available: because meal times and hunger can be off, bring snacks with you just in case you get hungry when a meal isn’t around!

• Don’t splurge on every meal: It is tempting to splurge just because you are eating out. Choose a couple of meals that are worth the splurge and then try and choose healthy options for the other meals. You’ll feel better, I promise!

• Stop by a store to grab some healthy options: most hotels have a refrigerator. Grab some fruits and vegetables and other fresh snacks and utilize the refrigerator.

• Save leftovers: if you are out to eat and don’t finish your meal, stick the rest in the refrigerator in the hotel room. You can eat it for another meal!

• Utilize the complementary breakfast: I am the queen at grabbing things at the complimentary breakfast to snack on later!!! There are often options that you can throw in your room refrigerator or even just take to go.

Meal Ideas:

Remember, when you build a meal, look for a protein, starch and vegetable or fruit. This will help keep it balanced. Here are some ideas:

• Vegetables

  • carrots, peppers, celery, cucumber and snap peas all do well with the stresses of traveling

  • Salad mixes

  • Salad from salad bars

  • Frozen vegetables

• Starches

  • whole wheat bread/tortillas

  • Whole wheat or rice crackers

  • Rice cakes

  • Microwaveable brown rice or quinoa

  • Oatmeal cups

• Proteins

  • Tuna or chicken packets

  • Hard boiled Eggs

  • Deli meat

  • Smoked Salmon

  • Greek yogurt

  • Peanut butter

• Others

  • Guacamole packs

  • String cheese/cheese wheels

  • Fruit

Meal ideas:

• Salad mix + microwaveable brown rice + tuna or eggs

• Whole wheat tortillas + turkey and cheese + carrots

• Greek yogurt + oatmeal + fruit

• Peanut butter and banana sandwiches

• Guacamole and hard boiled egg sandwich

• Rice cakes + smoked salmon + bell peppers

I hope these ideas can help on your next travel adventure!