Olivia Ward was the winner of NBC’s The Biggest Loser Season 11, and her sister, Hannah Curlee, was the runner up. Both have been huge fans of NuGo for the last year and have inspiring weight loss journeys. View Olivia’s winning moment on The Biggest Loser.

We sent the sisters NuGO Slim and were eager to hear their thoughts. Olivia loved NuGO Slim and was excited to share it with Hannah. Watch the first four minutes of the video to see their entertaining chat about NuGO Slim, NuGo Dark, and REAL Dark Chocolate! For fun tips about fitness and maintaining weight loss, be sure to visit their informative blog, My Fitspiration.

Look at this impressive gift we received from a big NuGo fan. She ate many NuGo bars and used the wrappers to make a fantastic change purse! She is a huge fan of NuGo Family Chocolate and NuGo Dark bars. She wrote in a lovely note, “I am addicted and must eat one as soon as I get up each day.” We are amazed by her creativity and love how much she adores NuGo!

Quickly find out your risk for developing type 2 diabetes by taking the Diabetes Risk Test. The test involves answering eight simple questions and takes less than two minutes. This new version of the test was launched today by the American Diabetes Association for Diabetes Alert Day. For every test taken between now and April 27, 2012, Boar’s Head will donate $5 to the American Diabetes Association.

Encourage your friends and family to also take the test. If you are at high risk for developing prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, there are important diet and lifestyle changes you can make now to lower your risk!

Happy Registered Dietitian Day! March 14th celebrates all of the hard work and dedication that registered dietitians throughout the country do to make our society a healthier place. Registered Dietitians are the nutrition experts, specializing in many different areas such as weight loss, pediatrics, food allergies, and chronic diseases. Although I have experience counseling patients for a variety of conditions, my true passion in nutrition lies in sports nutrition. The Board Certification as a Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD) credential is the premier professional sports nutrition credential in the United States. CSSDs are registered dietitians who provide safe, effective, evidence-based nutrition services for health, fitness and athletic performance. The best way to locate a sports dietitian closest to you is to contact the Sports, Cardiovascular, and Wellness Nutrition (SCAN) group at www.scandpg.org.

Therefore, in honor of RD Day, I have compiled the “Top 14” reasons to consult a sports dietitian, whether you are a weekend warrior, daily gym rat, or competitive athlete.

1. You want to improve exercise or sports performance.

2. You desire to gain muscle mass or lose body fat.

3. You want to gain muscular strength and power.

4. You want to increase stamina and endurance in your sport.

5. You want ideas for food to eat before, during, and after exercise or sporting event.

6. You want to choose the best fluids to drink before, during, and after exercise and sport to stay adequately hydrated.

7. You want to make better food choices and need ideas for buying and preparing food.

8. You have food allergies and intolerances and want to know the best choices for your condition and how food and medicine interact.

9. You experience gastrointestinal problems that keep you from performing at your best and you want solutions.

10. You are an athlete or active individual who has a medical condition, for instance, diabetes, cardiovascular risk factors, compromised bone health, abnormal iron status food allergies, or gastrointestinal problems such as gluten sensitivity, and need nutrition guidance and a personalized meal plan.

11. You want to speed your recovery following intense training, competition, surgery, illness, or injury.

12. You want to develop lifelong nutrition strategies to complement annual preparation, competition, and off-season plans.

13. You want to learn how to choose, store, and prepare healthy foods to fuel your body.

14. You feel the need to have someone assist you in the management of your body weight and body composition.

The key to optimal meal planning for athletes is individualization. Contact a registered dietitian for personalized nutrition plans and advice. Remember to demand experience, demand excellence, and demand a Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics!

About the Author: 

Ashley Acornley, MS, RD, LDN is a clinical and sports dietitian, certified personal trainer, and blogger/writer originally from Philadelphia, PA. Ashley earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Nutritional Sciences with a minor in Kinesiology from Penn State University in August 2008. She completed her Dietetic Internship and received her Masters of Science degree in Nutrition from Meredith College in December 2011. Ashley is an AFAA certified personal trainer and has been motivating clients since 2007.

She is very sports-minded and stays active by participating in 5Ks, triathlons, half marathons, and other competitive events. She also practices boxing, yoga, tennis, and strength training at her local gym. Besides physical activity, she has found a new interest for cooking and baking and writes about it in her food blog, “Fresh From the Farm.” Ashley is currently a private practice dietitian at Triangle Nutrition Therapy in Raleigh, NC. Triangle Nutrition specializes in individualized counseling for a variety of populations and health conditions. Ashley enjoys teaching her clients how to stay healthy, motivated, and physically active!  

Ashley can be found by visiting Triangle Diet or by checking out her blog.

Yoga is the physical, mental, and spiritual discipline originating in ancient India. Yoga in the West is typically associated with Hatha yoga. The practice of Hatha yoga is to achieve balance between body and mind through postures, breathing exercises, and meditation.

Here are five reasons why everyone needs a little yoga in their life:

1) Improve Strength and Flexibility:

A consistent yoga practice will improve your strength and flexibility. Many people don’t try yoga because they think they aren’t flexible enough, have bad balance, or can’t endure an entire class.

We are all a combination of strength and flexibility. You may be very flexible in one posture, but lack the strength to hold in the posture. Conversely, you may hold a pose forever with excellent muscular strength and endurance, but lack the flexibility for full posture expression. Yoga helps you find the balance between strength and flexibility.

2) Keep Your Heart Happy:

Yoga has been shown to improve heart health. M.Mala Cunningham, Ph.D., counseling psychologist and founder of Cardiac Yoga, says yoga can help prevent or reverse heart disease. Yoga can decrease blood pressure, increase lung capacity, improve respiratory function and heart rate, and boost circulation. You can even find a yoga instructor specializing in cardiac medical yoga. Check out www.cardiacyoga.com.

3) Decrease Stress:

Yoga can help you combat daily stresses. Breathing exercises, or pranayama, should be part of your yoga practice. Pranayama teaches you to breathe more slowly and deeply. Learning to control and become more aware of your breath can help relax your body and clear your mind. You will experience more inner peace, better sleep, better memory, and better concentration.

4) Assist in Weight Loss:

Yoga can help an individual lose weight when used in combination with cardiovascular exercise, weight-training, and a proper nutritional program.

As mentioned above, yoga can reduce stress. Stress is a known contributor to weight gain. Excess of the stress hormone cortisol can slow down your metabolism. Stress can induce cravings for more salty, fatty, and sugar-filled foods. Practicing yoga will help reduce cravings and decrease cortisol levels.

Yoga can also improve sleep and increase energy levels. Better rest and more energy will fuel your workouts, enhance recovery, and help you stay consistent with a fitness program.

5) Cultivate Mindfulness:

One of my favorite quotes is from Thich Nhat Hanh in the book True Love, “Without mindfulness we live like the dead.”

Yoga is all about mindfulness. Mindfulness is the practice of bringing the body and mind back to the present moment without judgment or criticism. You become more in touch with your thoughts and actions. The mind-body connection will enable you to make better decisions. You will gain emotional strength and confidence. Reactionary and mindless actions are replaced with loving kindness and awareness of yourself and others.

Yoga is for everybody! No matter what you bring to the mat, yoga will greatly benefit your life. If you are new to yoga, try a few different styles before you settle into a yoga practice. Grab a buddy and go on a yoga adventure! Are you an experienced yogi? Continue to broaden your practice by trying a new style, new studio, or a new teacher.

Bring an open heart and open mind to the mat. Get ready to reap the endless benefits of yoga!

About the Author:  

Jessica Roberts is a nutrition and health coach specializing in vegan nutrition. She is a Certified Health Coach, Certified Personal Trainer, and Bikram Yoga Instructor. She is also a small animal veterinarian and currently pursuing her Registered Dietician certification. 

A long-time vegan, Jessica’s passion is teaching people the value and practicality of adding delicious, nutrient-dense plant foods into their daily diets. As a veterinarian, she has a deep understanding of animal-welfare and food safety issues. She plans to combine her veterinary background and her RD to provide the community with a unique approach to veganism. Visit www.navalightnow.com, follow @NavaLightJess on Twitter, and like her Facebook page.