4X Boost Juice! Certified Nutrition Staff Recipes for what we put in our water jugs to keep us recovering, building muscle, burning fat, energizing us, hydrating and generally feeling better everyday!

If you have ever been in the store or seen any of our Certified Sports Nutritionists at the gym or an event, then you will also see our Gallon Jugs of Boost Juice right by our sides.  We get the question, "What's in the jug?", all the time.  So we decided to have each Nutritionist share their favorite Boost Juice recipe with all of you.  

Carrying the jug around with us gives us an easy way to make sure we get the fluid we need each day and since we are drinking all that fluid gives us an opportunity to re-fuel our bodies with a formula to accomplish many different goals we may have for our fitness and health.  Everyone has different goals, but staying properly hydrating is shared by everyone so this is a quick easy way to speed up your results no matter what your goal.  Come in the store or email us today and we can help you put your personal Boost Juice recipe together!

MARC SCHARPHORN, CERTIFIED SPORTS NUTRITION SPECIALIST:
I call mine  Marc's Go-go Juice...   :)  

The main ingredients I use in the water are:

NutraKey Envie - Multi Vitamin and Minerals plus digestive enzymes to supply me with all the crucial nutrients and antioxidants  throughout the day - being in powdered form I know it will enter my system faster and being in the jug it will be working in me all day. 1 scoop

Choice Recover Blend or Cellucor Alpha Amino - (Fruit Punch or Icy Blue Razz) - both give me the recovering matrix of BCAA's and Glutamine I need for the active lifestyle of working out, softball and work. Increases my protein synthesis as well as combats muscle soreness and enhances muscle growth. 2 scoops

Condense Pre-Workout by PurusLabs - I find that one serving provides me with a nice sustained energy for the day.  With out the crazy amped up feeling or crash.  Condense is my favorite because it has no Creatine in it!  I typically will use Fruit Punch Flavor. 1 scoop

Occassionally  I will add Define8 to increase fat burning - 1 scoop

For added flavor I usually add a packet of Crystal Light Lemonade Flavor.

DAVID POLK, CERTIFIED SPORTS NUTRITION SPECIALIST & PERSONAL TRAINER:

Recovery Blend

I used AMINO D Strawberry Limeade Flavor by Puris Labs for muscle recovery.

Lemonade (with sugar that gives me extra carbs) to replenish glycogen levels with extra Choice Nutrition Systems powdered unflavored L-Glutamine through out the day before during and after workouts to improve digestion, sleep, reduce muscle soreness and fatigue.

SETH CAIRNS, CERTIFIED SPORTS NUTRITION SPECIALIST & PERSONAL TRAINER:

My Pre-Workout "Beast Juice"

Fruit Punch GAT Nitraflex & BPI Sports Beta-Alkaline to start

And then half-way through my workout I add BCN Amino-X Any Flavor with BCAA's and electrolytes and other vitamins and minerals to power me through the rest of my workout and set-up my recovery.

PAPA STACE HOUK, CERTIFIED SPORTS NUTRITION SPECIALIST:

Mine is called, "How an old guy keeps up with guys half his age boost juice deluxe!"

I sip mine all day in a gallon jug and strive to drink at least half of it while at the store and then get the rest of my water throughout the day.

2 scoops Alpha Amino Fruit Punch BCAAs and Electrolytes

1 scoops D-Fine 8 (any flavor) - for removing excess water, giving me fiber, and giving me mental focus and energy to get through the day while burning fat without making me jittery

1 scopp Nutrakey Inno-Flex - powdered lemon flavored joint and connective tissue repair with Collagen, Glucosamine, MSM, Chondroitin and essential minerals and vitamins to keep my old bones and joints in good repair so I can keep training.

1 scoop Choice Unflavored L-Glutamine to improve digestion, sleep, reduce muscle soreness and fatigue and improve growth hormone levels.

1 scoop Beauty Greens - I don't eat enough fruits and raw vegetables so I get the equivalent of two pounds of each in once tasty scoop along with digestive enzymes and probiotcs for good gut health.

My recipe is definitely the ugliest looking version of everyone's but one just lasts me two days and keeps me going strong even at my age!

Come in today and we can make your recipe today!  Thanks to our staff for sharing their secrets!

Choice Protein - Cinnamon Oatmeal

Our friends at Choice Nutrition Systems give us a great recipe to try with their Choice Blend Cinnimon Bun flavored protein!

A lot of healthy eaters make Oatmeal a staple of their diet regimen.  For me personally, I love oatmeal but find it filling, especially when I have to supplement it with eggs or egg whites in order to get the protein I need at each meal.  Here is an easy solution that won’t make you feel like you are eating the entire farm every breakfast.

Make your oatmeal as directed by the oatmeal manufacturer.  We will borrow Quaker Old Fashioned Oats recipe here as an example.

          +  

½ Cup Dry Quaker Old Fashioned Oats

(We prefer the old fashioned whole rolled oats versus the over processed instant.  Whole oats give you more usable energy and cause a higher thermic effect for the food to burn more effective calories)

1 and ¼ Cup Water or we prefer Almond Milk (Vanilla or Regular, but always unsweetened)

1 ½ Scoops of Choice Blend Cinnamon Bun Protein Powder

Dash of salt (optional)

Bring the milk or water to a boil (or microwave till hot).  In a separate pan, mix the dry oats with the protein powder. 

Stir the dry mixture into the hot liquid until it is the consistency you like.  Usually takes at least 4-5 minutes on the heat to cook the oats or approximately 2 minutes in the microwave.  Let stand and cool a bit before eating and add additional milk or water after if you are wanting a little less thickness.

Enjoy!

Here is the nutrient profile of your Choice Cinnamon Oatmeal (made with water):

380 Calories; 32grams Carbohydrates; 5grams of Fat (Zero Saturated); 45grams of Protein; 70mg Sodium

This is a perfect macro-nutrient ratio to start your day!

Stop by today and try a sample of their awesome Cinnamon Bun flavor or ANY of the awesome protein flavors they have!

Til - Next time!

Mikie

Health Benefits of Green Coffee Bean Extract: Does Research Support the Hype?

"Green coffee beans are the same coffee beans we have come to know and love.

The difference is that green coffee beans are left un-roasted, not only giving them a smoother taste than roasted beans, but also giving them a distinct array of health-promoting plant chemicals.

The concept of green coffee applies to green tea as well.

Green, white, oolong, and black teas actually come from the same Camellia 

sinensis  plant, but green tea is the least  processed.

The change in how long the teas are roasted determines why green tea has different health properties than black tea.

This is also how green coffee beans harbor unique health benefits when compared to roasted coffee beans.

We know that drinking regular black coffee can be associated with a lower incidence of diabetes, certain types of cancer, as well as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and liver disease (1; 2), but what is so exciting about green coffee bean extract?

Emerging research shows that green coffee bean extract, may be a low-cost way to reduce weight naturally.

Early research suggests the extract may help normal weight adults prevent weight gain, and overweight adults from becoming obese (3).

According to animal studies, green coffee bean extract may support weight loss and inhibit weight gain by three interesting ways:

1. Block absorption of fats

2. Boost fat-burning

3. Support healthy sugar and insulin levels

Together, these three mechanisms may create a unique & natural synergy that may support natural weight loss in a way that would be very difficult to mimic with a drug.
(4; 5; 6; 7; 8; 9; 10; 11)

Green coffee beans contain unique plant chemicals that are otherwise lost with typical coffee roasting.

Coffee Antioxidants: Chlorogenic Acid

The “breakthrough” compounds believed to be responsible for the health benefits of green coffee beans are chlorogenic acids.

When you consume green coffee bean extract, a portion of the chlorogenic acids are believed to be absorbed directly in the small intestine. The leftover compounds that make it to the large intestine and colon then do something interesting.

Further down the intestinal tract, chlorogenic acids may interact with healthy bacteria in the colon to produce additional sub-chemicals. Researchers associate these chemicals with even more anti-inflammatory benefits (12).

Chlorogenic acids found in coffee may also:

• Improve brain performance and mental health (13)
• Reduce oxidative stress, body fat, and energy uptake, while also boosting glutathione, your body’s primary antioxidant and toxin-scavenger.
  • Ultimately, the extract may reduce DNA damage and yield anti-aging properties (14; 15)
• Reduce blood pressure, although the research evidence is still inconclusive (16; 17; 18).
  • The proposed blood pressure-lowering effect may be a result of 5-quinoyl quinic acid as well as other chlorogenic acids found in green coffee bean. Scientists also have shown that the higher the dose of green coffee bean extract given, the more profoundly that blood pressure may be lowered. (19; 20; 21).
• Offer anti-cancer properties, and like similar plant chemicals, may keep cancer cells from metastasizing into new areas of the body (22).

Green Coffee Bean Extract has become extremely popular in just a short time. Dr. Oz recently featured it on his popular television show, and Starbucks now features green coffee bean extract in their new Refresher drinks.

So while the research is still young and predominated by animal studies, it supports the claims that green coffee beans can boost energy and potentially help you burn fat and lose weight. Just beware of unnecessary added sugars.

I’m usually one of the first to question a new trend, but I do believe that green coffee beans can be a useful piece of your nutrition and lifestyle strategy to support healthy blood sugar, improve fat metabolism, and ultimately maintain a healthy weight."

Its' the new year and everyone wants to burn fat. 2013 saw the introduction to many new and natural fat burners. One particularly interesting one has been green coffee bean extract.

Dr. Alexander Rinehart, MS, DC, CCN give us his run down on everyone favorite little bean!

Stop by and try a sample of some of the great product we have in store with green coffee bean today!
Til next time,
Mikie 

10 Tips to Stay Safe Over the Holiday

I came across this article by the National Crime Prevention Council and though with Christmas around the corner it would be some good information to pass along. Its a few simple tips for staying safe and enjoying the holiday that we wanted to share with all our friends.

"This year many shoppers will be out early to find those big bargains on Christmas Eve or online, but the criminals will be out too. NCPC has 10 great tips to help you shop safely while getting those great holiday bargains throughout the shopping season.

1.Do not buy more than you can carry. Plan ahead by taking a friend with you or ask a store employee to help you carry your packages to the car.
2.Shop online with companies you know and trust. Check a company’s background if you are not familiar with it. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.
3.Save all receipts. Print and save all confirmations from your online purchases. Start a file folder to keep all receipts together and to help you verify credit card or bank statements as they come in.
4.Consider alternate options to pay for your merchandise, such as onetime or multiuse disposable credit cards or money orders, at online stores and auction sites.
5.Wait until asked before taking out your credit card or checkbook. An enterprising thief would love to shoulder surf to get your account information.
6.Deter pickpockets. Carry your purse close to your body or your wallet inside a coat or front trouser pocket.
7.Have your keys in hand when approaching your vehicle. Check the back seat and around the car before getting in.
8.Do not leave packages visible in your car windows. Lock them in the trunk or, if possible, take them directly home.
9.Tell a security guard or store employee if you see an unattended bag or package. The same applies if you are using mass transit.
10.If you are shopping with children, make a plan in case you get separated. Select a central meeting place and make sure they know they can ask mall personnel or store security employees if they need help.

To find more useful shopping tips and personal safety information, visit the National Crime Prevention Council’s website.

So there it is some things to help make sure your holiday stays safe. Have a Merry Christmas every one from your friends at 4X!

Till next time
Mikie

Weight Management Tips for the Holiday Feast-tivities!

Weight Management Tips for the Holiday Feast-tivities!

Alright, the holidays are quickly approaching and along with this time of year come, parties, big dinners and lots of tempting treats.  So here are a few of our favorite tips for surviving the holiday feasting season:

1. Try Using Light Alternatives:  Nowadays there are lots of good alternatives that are low-calorie, lower in carbs or lower in bad fats that taste very much like the original high-calorie version.  See if you can add a few of these items to your menu to help reduce the calorie content of some of your favorite foods like butter, whipped cream, sour cream.  In some cases you can blend things like Splenda (artificial sweetener) with real sugar to still make your baking sweet and tasty, but lighten the sugar/calorie content at the same time.
2.  Go For A Quick Walk:  On the days you are going to be feasting, take a walk in the morning and after the meal.  As you walk the increased oxygen, endorphin's and adrenaline will help digest the food and help you avoid the couch coma effect.
3. Go Outside and Play:  This one is much easier for us here in South Florida.  Many families in Florida plan beach time during the holidays, just remember to bring the Frisbee or football and make sure you get some activity involved with your beach outing.  Or take the kids to the park after a big meal, get some fresh air and have some fun!
4.  Chew Your Food Extra Well:  Your body is used to chewing a mouthful of food a specific number of times.  The more you chew, the less you are inclined to eat and your body will feel full sooner.  Plus, when you chew your food very well, it has time to interact with the digestive enzymes contained in saliva.  Once you do swallow, your body is better able to digest, process and eliminate your meal, allowing nutrients to be absorbed more efficiently.
5.  Drink Plenty of Water:  Water has no calories and helps you digest and process foods.  It will also make you feel fuller faster.  Drink a glass or two with the feast and it will interact with the fiber in your meal and make you feel full and satisfied faster.
6. Pay Attention to Your Body:  When you begin to feel uncomfortable, stop eating!  Many times the food just tastes so good that we go way beyond the point of comfort.  You feel full and sluggish and, of course, the natural progression of this leads to a couch and a long nap.  It all sounds so tempting, but remember, when you sleep, so does your metabolism. I call this the lips to hips condition. 

You can enjoy the holidays and still keep on top of your diet and at least maintain your body’s current condition and weight.  It is not as hard as it seems with these simple tips!  Our Certified Fitness Nutrition Specialists have lots of other great ideas for helping you get through the holiday season happy and healthy!

Til next time,

Mikie

Five Supplements Even CrossFitters Should Love!!

Every now and then I run into some people who do intense crosstraining but don't take supplements. I ask them how they feel and they ALL say their times suck, they can't move the next day and that they don't feel like they are making progress.
So I ask what supplements they are taking and I'm shocked that they say nothing! NOTHING...not even aminos...zip...zilch...nada!!!

So I searched the internet for the best and most basic information I could find, so between all our knowledge here and the good folks at Breakingmuscle.com we've put together a great list of supplements that will help you become a healthier and better performing athlete.

CoQ10

Also known as ubiquinol, coenzyme Q10 is so named because it is ubiquitous in your body. That means it’s everywhere. Coenzyme Q10 is a naturally occurring enzyme in our bodies, so you’re not putting anything foreign into yourself by supplementing with it. And while you can get CoQ10 in small levels in a variety of foods, our body’s level naturally declines as we get older.

What CoQ10 Does:

• Helps with the production of ATP (your ability to produce energy)
• Is a powerful antioxidant
• Plays a major role in circulation and the health of the heart
• Helps regulate insulin levels
• Helps prevent and alleviate migraines

CoQ10 isn't just hype. In fact, it’s been approved for use in Japan for the treatment of heart disease for many decades. This is one of those supplements that the more research comes out on it, the more of a no-brainer it seems to be.

On top of all those basic health reasons, recent research showed CoQ10 improved power output in elite athletes by 2.5%. Do some math with your “Fran” time and tell me you wouldn’t love that.

Magnesium

Some of you might take magnesium for sleep or for muscle function, but it’s benefits go way beyond that. Magnesium also helpsbalance blood sugar and lower insulin.You know, all those things you’re working toward with your paleo diet. Research has shown that there is an inverse relationship between magnesium levels and insulin resistance. So, the more deficient you are in magnesium, the more likely you are to take that first step toward diabetes.

Research has also shown that magnesium increases testosterone levels in athletes. Whether you’re male or female, healthy T levels are good for your muscle growth and performance, and regardless of gender your levels are dropping as you get older.

Phosphatidylserine

CrossFitters are nerds, let’s face it. Most of you guys are pretty darn driven, successful, and intelligent people. Wouldn’t it be great if you gave your brain all the fuel and power it could possibly use? What if your speed of thought, reaction time, and analytical powers were all boosted?Welcome to the world of nootropics.

A great nootropic to start with is phosphatidylserine (PS). Again, it can be made in the body, but we get most of our supply from the food we eat. Having a good enough supply in our system is essential for our brain health.PS is commonly used in the treatment of Alzheimer’s, dementia, and other diseases related to aging of the brain.

More importantly for you as an athlete, though, is phosphatidylserine's ability to lower your cortisol levels. Here's an excerpt from one study:

The findings suggest that PS is an effective supplement for combating exercise-induced stress and preventing the physiological deterioration that can accompany too much exercise. PS supplementation promotes a desired hormonal status for athletes by blunting increases in cortisol levels.

In addition it was reported in Biology of Sport all the way back in 1998 that PS could be a "valuable training tool" for weight training athletes due to its ability to reduce muscle soreness. Reduced cortisol and muscle soreness? Sounds like a winner to me.

Vitamin D

So, like magnesium, we all know the basic reasons for supplementing with vitamin D. We know we need our dose of sunshine or we need to rub some liquid drops in our skin if we're trapped inside all day or happen to live in the northern regions.

But did you know that low vitamin D levels have been directly linked to low testosterone levels?So not cool. And again, whether you're male or female, you need testosterone in your body if you want to have strong bones and build your muscles. The great thing is, though, further research into magnesium went on to show that supplementation with vitamin D can indeed raise your T levels. Men taking 3,332 IUs of vitamin D daily for a year experienced a 20% increase in their free testosterone levels. So, it's an easy fix, as long as you've got vitamin D on your daily to-do list.

Protein Powder

I know, I know, CrossFitters only eat “real food,” right? And protein powder is the gold standard of everything that’s wrong in the supplement industry, right? Wrong.What’s wrong is all the stuff you bought in the past from some pyramid level outlet company that was indeed chemical-filled junk. But there are plenty of quality protein powder sources out there.

And let’s look at real life for a moment. For one thing, real food gets expensive. For another, real food is not always very convenient. And third, I don’t know about you but sometimes I don’t feel like chewing and digesting a meal within thirty minutes of a killer workout, but I do feel pretty stupid and woozy.

And as much as we would all like our lives to revolve around our workouts, the fact is we do have these things called jobs and schedules. Are you going to eat a cold chicken breast right after your 7:00am workout as you rush to shower and get to work? Would you rather not refuel your body than consume protein powder?

If you take your training seriously, then you need to take your post-workout nutrition seriously and that means replenishing glycogen stores and consuming protein. A good post-workout shake can fill the gap when you've got ten minutes to shower and get out the gym door.

So there you have it. Five things that are not foreign to your body, but in regards to which you may indeed be operating at a deficit. CoQ10, magnesium, phosphatidylserine, vitamin D, and protein. That list doesn't sound too bad right? And, all of these you can find at 4X Nutrition Center. Along with getting a sweet discount.

Consider the effort you put into each individual workout you do. Consider the care with which you choose and prepare your food, and the care you put into the selection of the gear you use. You are working hard and being incredibly discerning in your attempts to optimize your health and performance. Intelligent supplementation is just one more way to squeeze more results out of the work you do. You deserve supplements that work just as hard as you do!

And I promise it won’t make you a bad person if you take these. In fact, it might make you a better athlete and a healthier human being.

Til next time,
Mikie

Weight Management Tips for the Holiday Feast-tivities!

Alright, the holidays are quickly approaching and along with this time of year come, parties, big dinners and lots of tempting treats.  So here are a few tips for surviving the holiday feasting season:

1. Go For A Quick Walk:  On the days you are going to be feasting, take a walk in the morning and after the meal.  As you walk the increased oxygen, endorphin's and adrenaline will help digest the food and help you avoid the couch coma effect.
2.    Go Outside and Play:  This one is much easier for us here in South Florida.  Many families in Florida plan beach time during the holidays, just remember to bring the Frisbee or football and make sure you get some activity involved with your beach outing.  Or take the kids to the park after a big meal, get some fresh air and have some fun!
3.  Chew Your Food Extra Well:  Your body is used to chewing a mouthful of food a specific number of times.  The more you chew, the less you are inclined to eat and your body will feel full sooner.  Plus, when you chew your food very well, it has time to interact with the digestive enzymes contained in saliva.  Once you do swallow, your body is better able to digest, process and eliminate your meal, allowing nutrients to be absorbed more efficiently.
4. Drink Plenty of Water:  Water has no calories and helps you digest and process foods.  It will also make you feel fuller faster.  Drink a glass or two with the feast and it will interact with the fiber in your meal and make you feel full and satisfied faster.
5. Try Using Light Alternatives:  Nowadays there are lots of good alternatives that are low-calorie, lower in carbs or lower in bad fats that taste very much like the original high-calorie version.  See if you can add a few of these items to your menu to help reduce the calorie content of some of your favorite foods like butter, whipped cream, sour cream.  In some cases you can blend things like Stevia with real sugar to still make your baking sweet and tasty, but lighten the sugar/calorie content at the same time.
6. Pay Attention to Your Body:  When you begin to feel uncomfortable, stop eating!  Many times the food just tastes so good that we go way beyond the point of comfort.  You feel full and sluggish and, of course, the natural progression of this leads to a couch and a long nap.  It all sounds so tempting, but remember, when you sleep, so does your metabolism.  I call this the lips to hips condition.

You can enjoy the holidays and still keep on top of your diet and at least maintain your body’s current condition and weight.  It is not as hard as it seems with these simple tips!  Our Certified Fitness Nutrition Specialists have lots of other great ideas for helping you get through the holiday season happy and healthy!

Til next time,

Mikie

How to Eat More Healthy Fats

How to Eat More Healthy Fats

 

Fat might be the most misunderstood nutrients of all time, often reduced or even cut out completely when people are trying to “shed” or eat “more healthily,” according to that old and erroneous low-fat mentality.  Given this  fat phobia, healthy fat is one of my favorite topics for discussion with people. It’s not only essential for our overall health and mood, but it’s critical for our metabolism. Fat matters when you’re trying to lose fat! Let’s talk about  tips for boosting this essential nutrient and giving your body the healthy fat it needs!

Healthy sources of dietary fat can include nuts and nut butters like P28, seeds and certain oils, as well as the naturally occurring fats in meats and some vegetables. When trying to boost intake of healthy fats, I generally coach with guidelines covering animal fats, nuts and seeds, and oils.

Keep the yolk. All sorts of healthy nutrients, including fat, live in the yolk of the egg. When preparing your morning breakfast or other foods, be sure to keep the yolk for some extra healthy fat in your meal.

Flax it. Flaxseed comes in whole, liquid or ground version, all which can be beneficial to pump up the healthy fat in your meal. Try adding a tablespoon to your gluten free oats, protein shake, or even to your stir fry or salad. 

Co-co-nut. Fix up the taste of your meals with coconut oil. Solid at room temperature, a tablespoon over the stove will melt fast and amplify the favor of your foods. Unsweetened coconut flakes can also be a great addition to any meal and works well for a healthier breading on fish and poultry! One of my favorite is by E-Pharm and called Organic Extra virgin coconut oil!

There are a number of supplement products that contain the correct amount of healthy fats as well, like Met-Rx Triple Omega and CLA, D-Fine 8 and even some proteins like Pro Complete 40!

Below is another list of some everyday 'Good Fat' you can add into your diet that you might not thing about. 

Til Next time, Seth