Keep a potluck from becoming a potbelly!

Still looking for the perfect Thanksgiving dish to bring to your family get together?

If diet truly accounts for the 60-80% of weight loss success then Thanksgiving is the ultimate derailment. None of us want to scrimp on Grandma's homemade, holiday feast but if you want to make it through the turkey marathon without undoing all your hard work you're going to have to plan ahead.

Do yourself and your loved ones a favor this year by bringing a traditional side with a twist. Women's Health is offering five healthy options that will be welcome at any family gathering. From savory twice-baked potatoes or green beans and shallots to sweet and sassy cranberry pear sauce and chili spiced mashed sweet potatoes you're sure to find a substitute that will satisfy without weighing you down.

Just remember that little indulgences are fine, make up the ground where you can and throw a game of backyard football in the mix to up your activity level!

5 Healthy side options

The rules of nutrition

Every health magazine I see claims to have an easy way to lose weight or the secret to weight loss without breaking a sweat. Today I want to touch on the difference between"fat loss" and weight loss. Anyone can lose weight, just stop eating and you will see the effects on the scale. But what happens when you start eating again because you can't stay on a 1200 calorie diet? All that weight comes back.

This article below gives great advice on fat loss and how you can shed your fat without slowing your metabolism or losing the muscle you have worked hard to build. Most importantly, this weight loss is sustainable. Don't feel you have to do everything the article suggests, most of us aren't training to be bodybuilders. Use what will challenge you while fitting your lifestyle, most of the tips are simple and can be implemented in your everyday life.

The rules of nutrition

Carbs...the good and the bad

I first want to apologize for not having my posts up as regular as I normally do. My Internet has been down and I have been struggling with that but we should be good. I just wanted to clear that up before I went on.

Now that is taken care of we can get on to the reason for this post, CARBS. Carbs have been made out to be the enemy for the last several years, but the truth is they are a necessity. We can not live without carbs, they are our main energy source. So what are you supposed to do? Eat carbs, take them totally out of your diet?

How about a combination of both. Eat the good carbs and try and stay away from the bad carbs. Basically complex carbs (vegetables, whole grain breads and pastas) are the carbs you should be eating. They take longer to digest, fill you up faster and normally have vitamins and minerals. Simple carbs (any candy, soda, fruit) are the carbs you should watch out for. Limit the amount you have per day and try to stick with your fruits and dairy when in taking simple carbs.

There are a lot of views on this whole carb thing but like anything else moderation is key. The only way you are going to lose weight is to eat fewer calories than you burn. If you would like any more diet advice feel free to give me a call.

Tips to create a healthier you

I am about to give you 100 tips on how to get into the best shape of your life, and when I say I, what I really mean is me through Men's Health. This list gives you tips on lifting, cardio, sports, diet, injury prevention and much more. Take a look and see if you can use at least three tips per week. My bet is you will become a more healthy, happier you.

100 Best Fitness Tips

What to do about your abs

I think of all the muscle groups in your body the abs are probably the most talked about. Everyone wants a six pack, there are a thousand different workouts that claim to have the secret.

Well, the truth is, there is no secret. Abs are just like every other muscle in your body. You have to work them to get results but you also have to allow them to rest so they can recover from your workout.

To maximize your results you need to switch up your workout and use different movements to work your abs in different ways. Doing the same thing again and again will only get you so far, your body will adapt and you will stop seeing results.

Diet is also key, you may have the world greatest 6 pack but if you have a layer of fat covering it up no one will know. Moderation and perseverance are vital, you won't get ripped abs in a couple of weeks. It is going to take time and hard work. If you need that extra push give Klein Fitness a call. We can help you get over that last hurdle to the body you want.

The facts about protein

When you think muscle building you think protein. There are protein shakes, protein bars, protein snacks, protein meals...the list could go on. But how much protein do you really need? Do you really need to be going through shakes and bars every day in order to build muscle? Can too much protein hurt you?

All of these questions are covered in this article from Men's Fitness. They do an excellent job addressing a lot of common concerns. Take a look and see if it helps you understand protein a little bit more.

The lowdown on protein

The Late Night Snack

I am a late night guy, I hate to go to bed before 12. Because of this I am always eating something after 10. All my buddies tell me that I need to stop the late eating to get into great shape.

I have heard both sides of the coin on this and may be a bit biased, but I think this article helps clarify why its not the time you eat but the food you eat and the calories you burn that makes the difference.

Check out this article from Men's Fitness that supports this line of thinking:
The Metabolism Clock