Beachbody

9 Appetite-Suppressing Foods

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Whitney Provost) — Tue, 14 July 2009 16:00:00 GMT

If you're like most people, conquering your appetite is one of the biggest challenges you face in your fitness and weight loss journey. As soon as the word "diet" crosses your lips, you may start craving all the junk you know you're not supposed to eat. The secret is eating the RIGHT foods to help calm the cravings for the wrong ones. Try these nine tasty foods to rein in your appetite.

5 Ways to Speed Up Your Six-Pack

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Ben Kallen) — Tue, 14 July 2009 16:00:00 GMT

No matter what your age, body type, or fitness level, we're pretty sure one of your main workout goals is to improve your abs. And why not? A flat midsection, with or without a visible six-pack, is the ultimate symbol of being fit and lean. (And yes, it looks great at the beach.) But it's not just a matter of vanity—a strong core helps stabilize your entire body. Here are five tips to help you get those great abs faster than ever.

Recipe: Craving-Crushing Salad

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Joe Wilkes) — Tue, 14 July 2009 16:00:00 GMT

After I read Whitney's article about appetite-suppressing foods (see above), I thought I'd try to put together a little salad from the ingredients she mentions for a filling lunch that would get me through the afternoon. After some experimentation, I hit on a pretty tasty combination.

How to Get Arms Like Michelle Obama

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Ben Kallen) — Tue, 7 July 2009 16:00:00 GMT

As perhaps the fittest first couple of all time, Barack and Michelle Obama are living proof that regular workouts work. And Mrs. Obama's well-toned arms in particular have become a symbol of female strength and beauty—and a demonstration of what even extremely busy people can accomplish with a little sustained effort. If you want strong, sculpted muscles like the First Lady's, this post–4th of July week is the perfect time to get started. Read eight tips for achieving those all-American arms.

Guys: Get a Body Like Barack's (or Better)

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Ben Kallen) — Tue, 7 July 2009 16:00:00 GMT

Anyone who's seen those shirtless beach photos of Barack Obama can see he's in great shape for a busy father, not to mention the leader of the free world. But…He could use some improvement. For someone who works out just about every morning, he has less lean muscle mass than he should and a relatively soft midsection. Based on reports, we have an idea of his workout regimen: a regular routine of isolated-muscle weight-lifting moves. And that's fine, as far as it goes. But here are 5 tips to do it better.

Test Your White House Powerhouse IQ!

mailbag@beachbody.com (By DeLane McDuffie) — Tue, 7 July 2009 16:00:00 GMT

All of this talk of 21st-century ripped first ladies and cut-up commander-in-chiefs has me feeling nostalgic. Let's take it back, when presidential hopefuls didn't have supplements, scientifically tested workout regimens, and state-of-the-art gyms. To stay in shape, you had to outrun a mountain lion every morning or bench-press a stagecoach, with your family in it. Match these presidents with their tough-guy qualities.

Abraham Lincoln
George Washington
Ronald Reagan
Gerald Ford

The All-American
The Muscle
The Brawler
The Giant
The Lifesaver

11 Tips for Cooking Out Without Pigging Out

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Joe Wilkes) — Tue, 30 June 2009 16:00:00 GMT

It's summertime—time to fire up the grill and enjoy the outdoors. It sounds healthy, until somebody shows up with a bowl of mayonnaise and potatoes. A few side dishes like this, and bathing-suit season can quickly become caftan season. With so many great foods available during the summer months, including many delicious vegetables and fruits, it's easy to plan a healthy menu that will be friendly to your waistline. Here are some tips so you can picnic without packing on the pounds!

Hungry for Change: Food, Inc. Reviewed

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Denis Faye) — Tue, 30 June 2009 16:00:00 GMT

The American food industry has managed to escape the scrutiny endured by fellow dubious institutions like Big Tobacco. Sure, you might see a book like Fast Food Nation or a film like Super Size Me gain notoriety, but it rarely has much impact. Sure, a fast food chain might downsize its french fry servings, but this doesn't even scratch the surface—there's still cow manure in your hamburger. If this worries you, you probably want to see this film. If you're "hungry for change," read the Food, Inc. review.

Test Your Ice Cream IQ!

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Monica Gomez) — Tue, 30 June 2009 16:00:00 GMT

July is National Ice Cream Month. Break out those spoons, bowls, and napkins! Actually, just get a few spoons, no bowls or napkins necessary. What do you know about these delicious and refreshing ice creams? Rank these from highest fat content to lowest fat content. (Serving size for all is 1/2 cup.)

Ben & Jerry's® Chocolate
Baskin Robbins® Pistachio Almond
Dreyer's Loaded Chocolate Chip Mint Brownie
Häagen-Dazs® Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
Cold Stone Creamery® Cake Batter Batter Batter™

Diet, Exercise, and Your Kid's Grades

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Steve Edwards) — Wed, 24 June 2009 16:00:00 GMT

School may be out for the summer, but there's a lot you can do for your kid's education. Teaching proper eating habits and providing time for exercise will do more for your child's potential to excel than anything else. Find out what one school did to improve kids' grades and performance. And find out how you can do the same!

Cookbook Reviews

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Denis Faye) — Wed, 24 June 2009 16:00:00 GMT

It would be a lot easier to eat healthily if you could just lock yourself away from the world with a copy of Michi's Ladder, a veggie-stocked refrigerator, and no outside interference. Unfortunately, humans are social creatures, and eating, even healthy eating, is just so much more fun with company. With that in mind, we've reviewed three cookbooks intended to help the healthy host or hostess make mouthwatering meals that don't require a post-digestif loosening of the belt. Read the "tasty" reviews.

Test Your Snacks for Kids IQ!

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Joe Wilkes) — Wed, 24 June 2009 16:00:00 GMT

How much do you know about the sugar content of these kid snacks? Rank these from least sugar to most sugar.

1 package of Hostess Ho Hos® (3 cakes)
1 6.8-oz. pouch of Capri Sun® Tropical Punch
1 3/4-cup serving of Cap'n Crunch® (no milk)
12-oz. can of orange Fanta®
1 Betty Crocker® Fruit Roll-Up

The Best Food on the Planet

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Steve Edwards) — Wed, 17 June 2009 16:00:00 GMT

I frequently get asked, "What's the best thing I can eat?" Or, "What's the best food in the world?" It's also a subject that makes its way onto the glossy pages of the assorted magazines you peruse whilst standing in line at the market. And there's always an answer. "One food that will change your life!" Or, "Just eat this!" It's so simple, right? In today's Nutrition 911 lesson, we'll take a look at the answer. So, class, just what is the best food in the world?

14 Reasons to Keep Pushing Play

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Denis Faye and the Message Boards Community) — Wed, 17 June 2009 16:00:00 GMT

Exercise is easy. Buy a video, pick up a weight, and you're doing it. Nutrition is easy. Buy good foods, eat them, and you're doing it. So why aren't we a world of the fit and the skinny? Because motivation is a killer. It's one thing to know how to eat right and exercise. It's another thing entirely to actually do it. The trick is to find your magic button. Here are 14 reasons to Keep Pushing Play.

Test Your Summer Solstice IQ!

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Daniel V. Donatelli) — Wed, 17 May 2009 14:30:00 GMT

On Sunday, June 21, 2009, at 1:46 AM ET, summer will officially arrive. For many people, that means it's time to strip off the layers of clothing and show off the goods. For me, that means it's time to break out my binoculars and the long-distance zoom lens on my camera and head to the beach! How much do you know about this blessed day?

True or False?

1. The word solstice's Latin roots translate to "ambitious sun."
2. The summer solstice is the longest day of the year.
3. The summer solstice was also the Ancient Egyptian New Year.
4. The summer solstice is when Earth is closest to the sun.

Interval Training: The Best Way to See Quick Results

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Steve Edwards) — Wed, 10 June 2009 16:00:00 GMT

There are many misunderstandings about the best way to reshape your body. Generally, the various regimens touted all have some merit. Interval training, though, is the most effective way to change your fitness level. We're just about to launch a program called Insanity™, featuring Shaun T, which is a high-intensity conditioning program that's based on something we call MAX Interval Training. In fact, every Beachbody® program uses some type of interval training. Let's see why interval training is so effective for getting results.

9 Low-Stress Summer Activities

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Denis Faye) — Wed, 10 June 2009 16:00:00 GMT

Every January, thousands of ambitious souls take a major step on the road to fitness and order an in-home fitness program like ChaLEAN Extreme® or P90X®. And every June, thousands of newly ripped, would-be athletes buy themselves fancy new surfboards or top-of-the-line pro volleyballs. Then something happens. The board and ball go into hiding. Just because you're super fit doesn't mean you need to surf monster 50-foot swells or make killer spikes. Here are nine low-stress summer activities.

Test Your Trash Talk IQ!

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Valerie Watson) — Wed, 10 June 2009 14:30:00 GMT

Oscar the Grouch was a prophet. He knew the world would catch up with him and love trash too. With the garbage flotilla in the Pacific and floating junk in space, we see he wasn't too far off. See if you can rank the top 5 nations that are leading the trash charge.

United States
Russian Federation
Japan
Germany
United Kingdom

a) 52.36 million tons of waste annually.
b) 236 million tons of waste annually.
c) 34.85 million tons of waste annually.
d) 207.4 million tons of waste annually.
e) 48.84 million tons of waste annually.

To Fast or Not to Fast?

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Steve Edwards) — Wed, 3 June 2009 16:00:00 GMT

As our Nutrition 911 series transitions from drinks to food, what could be more natural than to discuss something in between, like fasting? Most people think that the simplest way to lose weight is to not eat. But if you don't eat, you'll die, which renders this "theory" ineffectual. As we've discussed, we need nutrients to live, and we also need nutrients to transform our bodies. So what's the deal with fasting? Is it dangerous? Should you do it? Let's look at some reasons people fast.

4 Steps to End Overeating

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Denis Faye) — Wed, 3 June 2009 16:00:00 GMT

As a kid, my kitchen was rarely stocked with junk food—rarely, because most of this junk would be eaten before it had a chance to be put away. Chips would be lucky to last an hour. Ice cream didn't stand a chance. David Kessler, in his new book The End of Overeating, would likely describe this as "Conditioned Hypereating." Junk food causes overstimulation, and the body continues seeking this overstimulation. Let's discuss overeating and four steps to end it

Test Your Candy IQ!

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Valerie Watson) — Wed, 3 June 2009 14:30:00 GMT

June is National Candy Month. No, this doesn't mean you should run out and buy a tub of Red Vines to celebrate (sadly, this includes me). How much do you know about these sweet, delicious treats?

1. How many jelly beans are produced in the U.S. each Easter?
2. What did "fairy floss" come to be known as in 1920?
3. When are most NECCO® Sweethearts® Conversation Hearts sold?
4. How many pounds of milk are used each day by U.S. chocolate manufacturers?

The Best and Worst Cocktails

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Steve Edwards) — Wed, 27 May 2009 16:00:00 GMT

If you want a drink, you want a drink, and all the bad press you read isn't likely to quench your thirst. So the Nutrition 911 on alcohol will be to skip the boring science and discuss what to do when you're going to drink. Besides, studies keep telling us that a bit of alcohol in your diet enhances your health and lengthens your life span. Let's get started, class. We delve into this week's Nutrition 911: The Best and Worst Cocktails.

5 Fun Fitness Activities: Do They Work?

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Suzy Buglewicz) — Wed, 20 May 2009 16:00:00 GMT

After spending several hours at a desk job or sitting in traffic while shuttling overscheduled kids from one activity to the next, it's tempting for families to spend their downtime plopped on the couch. The next time you find yourself with an hour or so of unscheduled free time, grab the kids and get moving. Exercising as a family has multiple benefits, from creating quality time with loved ones to reducing stress. Here are six activities that let families play and stay fit together.

Test Your Fitness IQ!

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Valerie Watson) — Wed, 12 May 2009 14:30:00 GMT

Because May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, let's test your knowledge of physical fitness devices through the ages. See if you can rank these vintage exercise products from oldest to newest.

Medicine ball
Pogo stick
Wham-O! Hula Hoop®
Rollerblade® in-line skates

1958
1980
1919
3,000 years ago

Wanna Dance Like the Stars?

mailbag@beachbody.com — Wed, 6 May 2009 16:00:00 GMT

Hip Hop Abs®
Rockin' Body®
Hip Hop Abs® Ultimate Results

90-Day Health Challenge

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Steve Edwards) — Wed, 20 May 2009 16:00:00 GMT

Spurred by company president and P90X® graduate Jon Congdon, Beachbody® has just begun an in-house quest to practice what it preaches. Over 80 percent of the company's employees have signed on for a 90-day health challenge. The kitchen's been transformed, you've got to book ahead of time to use the gym, and the employees have replaced their soda and caffeine fixes with Meal Replacement Shake. Let's look at what promises to be one of the fittest—if not the fittest—corporate environments.

5 Ways to Manage Cortisol

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Denis Faye) — Wed, 20 May 2009 16:00:00 GMT

A few years ago, a wave of supplements hit the market vilifying the stress hormone cortisol, claiming it caused an accumulation of excess fat. While this helped some companies sell "cortisol blockers," there was a problem. It's complete hogwash. Let's set the record straight. Cortisol actually has various tasks. For example, it's instrumental in controlling blood pressure. But cortisol should be managed, since it also aids in breaking down muscle mass for use as energy. Here are five ways to manage cortisol.

Test Your Medical Term IQ!

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Daniel V. Donatelli) — Wed, 12 May 2009 14:30:00 GMT

It's funny how doctors have a way of saying things that are completely foreign to the rest of us. We say "tomato"; they say "Lycopersicom esculentum." It can lead to a lot of misunderstandings, so it's best to be on top of your medical game when discussing things with your doctor. Match the following technical diagnoses with their more common names.

Myocardial infarction
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Androgenic alopecia
Monochromatism
Varicella

Male-pattern baldness
Heart attack
Chicken pox
Lou Gehrig's Disease
Color blindness

A P90X Restaurant Guide

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Denis Faye) — Wed, 12 May 2009 16:00:00 GMT

You're working late at the office. It's time for dinner, but there's a problem. You're in the middle of your P90X program, and a big, greasy restaurant meal is not an option. Relax. I'll talk you through this difficult situation. The first thing you need to do is use common sense. You don't have to sacrifice your diet or your results. Here's a quick list of things that'll help you survive any restaurant.

Energy Drinks

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Steve Edwards) — Wed, 12 May 2009 16:00:00 GMT

Energy drinks have taken over the soft drink market in a caffeine-fueled frenzy. The ad campaigns make it seem like it has everything to do with your health. Now instead of leaving the convenience store with a gut bomb, you can grab a Monster can of Adrenaline that promises to Redline your performance until you're partying like a Rockstar. But do energy drinks really give you wings? We find out in this week's Nutrition 911: Energy Drinks – Do They Work?

Test Your Lazy Invention IQ!

mailbag@beachbody.com (By DeLane McDuffie) — Wed, 12 May 2009 14:30:00 GMT

Creativity is a good thing. But sometimes, those who don't use the power of creativity for the forces of good can cross over into the realm of slackers and just plain stupidity. Fight the good fight, and match the lazy contraption with its function/characteristic.

Extendable forks
Electric scissors
Packaged, peeled, hardboiled eggs
The Hawaii Chair
Motorized ice cream cone

Grade-A laziness
Be cooler than your friends
Eat like a giant
Cut through the bull
Twist into shape

9 Healthy Gift Ideas for Mom

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Joe Wilkes) — Wed, 6 May 2009 16:00:00 GMT

With Mother's Day approaching, the pressure's on to find a great present for a great woman who has cared for you and provided you with many interest-free loans. Flowers are a favorite, but they wither and die quickly—not exactly a lasting gift. You could get chocolates, because there's nothing like the gift that says, "Mom, here's my contribution to your adult-onset diabetes!" Or, you can show her you want her around for a long time. Choose from these nine healthy gifts ideas this Mother's Day

Nutrition 911, Part XIII

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Steve Edwards) — Wed, 6 May 2009 16:00:00 GMT

Last time we discussed why Jamba Juice® isn't always the healthy beverage chain it's cracked up to be. We took a brief look at why something that is "100 percent fruit" might not be healthy. Today we'll look at store-bought juice, homemade juice, and whole fruit. What is the difference between blending and juicing your fruits and veggies? And what can eating whole fruit do for weight control? Find out in this next installment of Nutrition 911: Juice, Juicing, and Fruit – The Differences.

Take Your Vision IQ!

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Monica Gomez) — Wed, 6 May 2009 14:30:00 GMT

May is National Healthy Vision Month. The goal of Healthy Vision Month 2009 is to promote the importance of getting eye exams. Have you gotten yours? What do you know about those baby blues, or browns, or greens? Answer "true" or "false."

1. Farsightedness is known as myopia.
2. Conjunctivitis is not contagious.
3. Red-green color blindness is the most common color vision defect.
4. The British air ministry spread the myth that eating carrots results in improved vision.
5. Darker sunglasses offer more protection from UV radiation than lighter sunglasses.

6 Wallet-Friendly Foods

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Suzy Buglewicz) — Wed, 22 April 2009 16:00:00 GMT

These days it seems as if we're all trying to stretch our dollars. If you've been looking to stretch your grocery budget without resorting to filling up on cheap, empty calories, read on. It's a myth that the healthiest foods are the most expensive. With a list and a plan, it is possible, and simple, to eat healthily without blowing your budget or sacrificing those hard-earned P90X® or ChaLEAN Extreme® results. Keep your wallet fat and your waistline trim with these six healthy foods.

Nutrition 911, Part XII

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Steve Edwards) — Wed, 22 April 2009 16:00:00 GMT

Today, our nutrition class hits the mall, or at least the strip mall, for a look at popular beverage chains. These range from places we know may not be healthy to juice bars that market themselves as the pinnacle of nutrition. Anything that has the contracted name of a cornucopia of healthy fruits, with a "y" or "z" at the end, must be healthy, right? Let's take a deeper look at that Mangorangoberry Pizzazz you were considering for lunch today.

Take Your Sweetener IQ!

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Joe Wilkes) — Wed, 22 April 2009 14:30:00 GMT

True or False?

1. Of Equal®, Splenda®, and Sweet'N Low®, Equal is sweeter than sugar.
2. Aspartame turns into formaldehyde in your body.
3. Saccharin causes cancer.
4. Sucralose is made from sugar.
5. Stevia is banned in the U.S.

6 Ways to Cut Costs While Getting Cut

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Denis Faye) — Wed, 29 April 2009 16:00:00 GMT

True or false? Six-pack abs require a six-figure salary. Of course, that statement isn't even remotely true, but look around at our consumer society, and you'll be hard pressed not to believe it. Everywhere you turn, you're told you need this membership or that gadget or this exotic, Brazilian fruit to look and feel good. Fortunately, the reality is that fitness doesn't require loads of cash; it just requires a little savvy and a lot of hard work. Here are a few ways to go about getting ripped without getting ripped off.

Nutrition 911, Part XI: Coffee, Tea, and Caffeine

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Steve Edwards) — Wed, 29 April 2009 16:00:00 GMT

Today we discuss the most popular drink in the world: coffee. I don't actually know where these statistics come from, but since we mainly want to discuss one ingredient, caffeine, I'll lump coffee, tea, and other caffeinated beverages into the same discussion so that we'll be sure to address something that's pertinent to almost all of you. So, let's take a look at coffee, tea, and caffeine.

Take Your Coffee IQ!

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Daniel V. Donatelli) — Wed, 29 April 2009 14:30:00 GMT

1. Is the coffee bean really a bean?
2. What 1773 event occurred that helped popularize coffee in America?
3. What country produces the most coffee in the world?
4. Which has more caffeine, dark or light roasts?
5. Who played the title role in the 1973 film Coffy?

8 Most Asked Questions

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Denis Faye) — Wed, 15 April 2009 16:00:00 GMT

"How do I get past this plateau?" "Why do I have to do yoga?" "How on earth can the sweet, orangey goodness of P90X® Results and Recovery Formula be good for you?" As an Advice Staff member on the Beachbody® Message Boards, these are the kinds of questions I'm always fielding. There's not much that throws me, except one question: "Is it possible that I'm allergic to water?" Besides that, questions tend to be fairly routine. Here are the top eight questions I get asked on the boards.

Nutrition 911, Part X: What's in Your Water?

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Steve Edwards) — Wed, 15 April 2009 16:00:00 GMT

This week, we take a look at bottled water. We drink it because it's safe, right? Or do we drink it because it tastes good? What if someone told you that your tap water was held to a higher safety standard than your bottled water? What if I told you that the refreshing bottle of Aquafina® you just paid $2.75 for at the Stop-N-Rob came from the municipal water supply of Detroit? Let's take a look at what's in your bottled water.

Test Your Freaky Parasites IQ!

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Daniel V. Donatelli) — Wed, 15 April 2009 14:30:00 GMT

Sure, we all hate parasites. There's Giardia lamblia, the parasite that will turn your insides into liquid fire if you drink untreated water, and there are mosquitoes, which feed on other organisms' blood to reproduce. But then there are the less common, more freaky parasites of the world. Can you match these awful parasites with their nightmarish behavior?

Loa loa filariasis
Human botfly
Candiru
Hookworm
Cymothoa exigua

Chews its way into the host's body
Swims up the host's urethra
Attaches itself to the host's subcutaneous tissues
Attaches itself to the host's intestinal wall
Attaches itself to the base of a fish's tongue

Cola: Real Thing or Real Junk?

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Denis Faye) — Wed, 8 April 2009 16:00:00 GMT

Sure, it may be one of the most recognizable beverages. Sure, soda is the biggest calorie source in the American diet. Sure, soda may be a sugary-sweet drink that is partially responsible for the planet's obesity epidemic. But frankly, there's not much real about soda. Let's take a look at the ingredients in a can of cola. Is there anything real in there?

Nutrition 911, Part IX: 10 Reasons to Drink Water

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Steve Edwards) — Wed, 8 April 2009 16:00:00 GMT

This week, we're going to address why we should drink water. You know, water, "like in the toilet." This line, borrowed from the film Idiocracy, isn't so far from the way many people think about drinking plain water. You can hydrate yourself with other liquids, but every time you do, you're chipping away at the chances of following a nutritional diet. Drinking soda to stay hydrated isn't going to cut it. Here are 10 reasons to drink "plain," "boring" water.

Test Your Water IQ!

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Joe Wilkes) — Wed, 1 April 2009 14:30:00 GMT

True or False?

1. The average human body contains 37 liters of water.
2. Five percent of the earth's water is safe to drink.
3. It takes two gallons of water to produce one chicken egg.
4. The average individual uses 100 gallons of water every day.
5. Ten million people in the world are without safe drinking water.

2008 Success Story Winner

Wed, 1 April 2009 15:00:00 GMT

One man and one woman from four different age groups were selected as the best of the best of the 2008 Success Stories. And on March 14, 2009, at a gala ceremony in Los Angeles, California, Dallas Carter and Kristy McLean were each awarded the Grand Prize of $250,000! Read Kristy's inspiring story—she lost 90 pounds with Turbo Jam®, ChaLEAN Extreme®, Hip Hop Abs®, and P90X®.

Nutrition 911, Part VIII: The Worst Food

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Steve Edwards) — Wed, 1 April 2009 14:40:00 GMT

Since all great things come in threes (or is it celebrity deaths?), we're going to complete our sugar trilogy with a look at soda pop. Forget about brands—it's all junk. There are different degrees of "junkiness," though, but this is Nutrition 911, so we're sticking with the bird's-eye perspective. The taste might make you happy, but soda's only place in the world is to make people fat, sick, and unhappy.

Test Your Warning Label IQ!

mailbag@beachbody.com (By DeLane McDuffie) — Wed, 1 April 2009 14:30:00 GMT

Warning labels are everywhere. Some are quite unique. For instance, for years, whenever I visited a greasy spoon, I knew that the quality of the food was inversely proportionate to the number of teeth the head cook had. The fewer teeth, the tastier the food. Some warning labels seem puzzling, though. Can you guess the products bearing these warnings?

1. Shake well and buy often.
2. Corn used in this product.
3. Ingredient: Sugar.
4. Avoid spraying in eyes.
5. Be careful when driving a motor vehicle or operating machinery.

2008 Success Story Winner

Wed, 25 March 2009 15:00:00 GMT

One man and one woman from four different age groups were selected as the best of the best of the 2008 Success Stories. And on March 14, 2009, at a gala ceremony in Los Angeles, California, Dallas Carter and Kristy McLean were each awarded the Grand Prize of $250,000! Read Dallas' inspiring story—he lost 190 lbs. with P90X®, One on One with Tony Horton, 10-Minute Trainer®, and ChaLEAN Extreme®.

Nutrition 911, Part VII: Sugar vs. Fat

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Steve Edwards) — Wed, 25 March 2009 14:40:00 GMT

Ladies and gentlemen, tonight we bring you the long-awaited fight to crown the World Obesity Federation's heavyweight champion. It's the battle to decide which contender is most responsible for making us fat. In one corner, we have our long-reigning champion, The Heartbreak Hammer, Fat! In the other corner, we have the up-and-coming challenger everyone's been talking about, The Soda Pop Kid, Sugar! Fat has been the people's champion for a long time, but Sugar is prepared to fight.

Test Your Sugar IQ!

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Joe Wilkes) — Wed, 25 March 2009 14:30:00 GMT

1. Which has more calories, brown sugar or white sugar?
2. How much sugar typically makes kids hyperactive?
3. How is powdered sugar, or confectioner's sugar, made?
4. How many gallons of maple sap are needed to make one gallon of maple syrup?
5. Who played Sugar Kane in the 1959 film Some Like It Hot?

7 Tips for Tastier Water

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Denis Faye) — Wed, 18 March 2009 15:00:00 GMT

Thirsty? You should be. If you're reading this, it probably means you're working your tush off every day with Slim in 6®, P90X®, ChaLEAN Extreme®, or another fine Beachbody® program. And when you do that, you perspire. And when you perspire, you need to replenish the water in your system. Sadly, you may be one of those lost souls who can't stand the taste of water. But water doesn't have to be bland.

Nutrition 911, Part VI: Sweeteners

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Steve Edwards) — Wed, 18 March 2009 14:40:00 GMT

Welcome to part VI of our very, very basic nutrition class. We've now taken a basic look at what we should eat, marketing slogans to be wary of, and how to read food labels. Today we'll look at sugar and fake sugar. The bottom line, of course, is that we should cut down on our sugar consumption. But we understand that those sugar cravings are hard to satisfy and tame.

Test Your Sweetener IQ!

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Joe Wilkes) — Wed, 18 March 2009 14:30:00 GMT

True or False?
1. Of Equal, Splenda, and Sweet'N Low, Equal is the sweetest.
2. Aspartame turns into formaldehyde in your body.
3. Saccharin causes cancer.
4. Sucralose is made from sugar.
5. Stevia is banned in the U.S.

5 Spring Break Diet Tips

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Gregg Rossen) — Wed, 11 March 2009 15:00:00 GMT

Just as February has its tradition (the stalking of a Pennsylvanian rodent to see if it can spot its shadow), March also has its seasonal rite—spring break. But taking part in this tradition contains pitfalls that have little to do with flat tires. Instead of flat tire, think "spare tire." Spring break pitfalls can affect how summer shapes up—literally.

Nutrition 911, Part V: 5 Steps to Master Food Labels

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Steve Edwards) — Wed, 11 March 2009 14:40:00 GMT

Welcome to part V of our nutrition class. We've discussed marketing slogans and how they can affect our eating habits, and the basics of what we should eat. Today's lesson: How to judge a food in 15 seconds or less! We need to understand food labels to avoid leaving the supermarket with garbage masquerading as food. You can benefit greatly from taking even a cursory glance at a label.

Test Your Baseball Foods IQ!

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Daniel V. Donatelli) — Wed, 11 March 2009 14:30:00 GMT

Spring training for baseball season has arrived! Pitchers and catchers are reporting for duty, a senate subcommittee is attempting to indict a box of steroids, and hot dog vendors are re-shouldering those metal cages of delicious wonder, dusting off and reheating the hot dogs from last October, and getting ready to help us all celebrate America's national pastime of eating copiously while watching other people work. How much do you know about these favorite ballpark staples?

True or False?
1. Babe Ruth hated hot dogs.
2. Introduced in 1918, the sailor and dog on the Cracker Jack box are named "Jack Dardanelles" and "War Bond," respectively.
3. The peanut plant originated in South America.
4. Beer companies spend close to $1 billion per year on advertising in the U.S.
5. Nachos were invented by baseball legend Roberto Clemente.

Chalene's 10 Tips for Getting Kids to Eat Healthily

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Chalene Johnson And Denis Faye) — Wed, 4 March 2009 15:00:00 GMT

As hard as it is to fight your junk food urges, if you have kids, you probably know that getting Junior to make smart food choices is triple the challenge. It'd be excellent if you could just yell, "Eat your spinach!" But you can't. It takes commitment, patience, and some serious cunning to steer kids down the right path.

Nutrition 911: Defining "Fat Free" and "Low Carb"

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Steve Edwards) — Wed, 4 March 2009 14:40:00 GMT

Welcome to Part IV of our nutrition class designed to make healthy eating simpler. First, we had an introduction, which was followed by a simple analysis of what you should eat. Today, we finish last week's discussion about marketing jargon, with a look at two of the most successful slogans of all time: fat free and low carb. So what do these successful slogans really mean?

Test Your Weird Artificial Additives IQ!

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Joe Wilkes) — Wed, 4 March 2009 14:30:00 GMT

Here in America, we like stuff. Stuff. Big, loud, greasy, and sugary stuff. We also like our share of artificiality. From our surgically enhanced body parts to scripted "reality" TV to the superhuman performances of some of our athletes, we love the artificial—sometimes even in our food. Match the food or drink with its weird artificial additive.
Cake icing
Cool Whip
Chocolate
Coconut spread
Beer

Tartrazine
Polysorbate 60
Propylene glycol alginate
Titanium dioxide
Sorbitan monostearate

7 Tips for Portion Control

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Joe Wilkes) — Wed, 25 February 2009 15:00:00 GMT

The big news in nutrition this past week was a study that covered cookbook recipes published over the last several decades. It was discovered that calorie counts have gone up as authors have increased portion sizes—the average calorie count went from 268 per serving to 384 per serving. Nutritionist Marion Nestle says that mainly it's just a reflection of people becoming accustomed to eating more and more overall. What can we do to monitor and control portion sizes?

Nutrition 911, Part III

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Steve Edwards) — Wed, 25 February 2009 14:40:00 GMT

Welcome to Part III of Nutrition 911. Today, we delve into the marketing world. It's impossible not to hear terms like organic or omega—evidence that advertisers want to bombard you with these terms, especially since you might not know what they mean. And as long as you don't, advertisers can spin them. Spin—not just for politicians. But these terms have meaning. And once you understand them, they can help you make smarter food choices.

Test Your Peanut IQ!

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Joe Wilkes) — Wed, 25 February 2009 14:30:00 GMT

We've all read the news this past week that peanuts make excellent carriers of salmonella, but what else do you know about this recently beleaguered legume?
1. From what continent do peanuts originate?
2. How much peanut butter does the average American eat each year?
3. On average, how many peanuts does a typical 18-oz. jar of peanut butter contain?
4. Why does peanut butter stick to the roof of your mouth?
5. Who invented peanut butter?

7 Weight Management Tips

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Michelle Chichester) — Wed, 18 February 2009 15:00:00 GMT

You're working hard to lose the weight and get in shape. You bought P90X®, ChaLEAN Extreme®, Slim in 6®, Hip Hop Abs®, or fill in the blank. But for some people, the results they work hard for disappear as bad habits return. Some wonder how "those thin people" can stay thin. In 1993, the National Weight Control Registry was founded to study the behaviors of "successful losers." And what they found were 7 common factors of successful weight management.

Nutrition 911, Part II: What to Eat

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Steve Edwards) — Wed, 18 February 2009 14:40:00 GMT

Welcome to Part II of our basic nutrition class. Today we're going to talk about what to eat. I've changed the schedule because of something that happened on the Message Boards. A guy heard that olive oil was good for him so he was eating 12 tablespoons of it for lunch. He believed he was doing something beneficial—obviously, the situation has become alarming.

Test Your Grapefruit IQ!

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Joe Wilkes) — Wed, 18 February 2009 14:30:00 GMT

February is National Grapefruit Month. How much do you know about this citrus staple?
1. Where was grapefruit originally cultivated?
2. How did the grapefruit get its name?
3. How many pounds of grapefruit does a typical tree yield every year?
4. What nutrients does grapefruit provide?
5. Why should you be careful about mixing grapefruit and medication?

9 Aphrodisiacal Foods

mailbag@beachbody.com (By Joe Wilkes) — Wed, 11 February 2009 15:00:00 GMT

Aphrodisiacs have been the stuff of legend and song throughout history. Lovers have long searched for the magic ingredient. And today the search has gone to the Internet. Anyone with a lackluster spam filter has probably scanned the emails advertising powdered rhinoceros horn or some chemical promising to goose your or your partner's desires. But these are extremely dubious. There are, however, products that you can find right in your grocery store that can potentially increase the heat between the sheets.