FREE STUFF! Plus, Interview With Marty From The Biggest Loser

FitSugar — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 09:30:00 -0700

The folks over at Wrigley's asked me to interview Marty from the Biggest Loser, Season Three, and I love that show so I jumped at the opportunity.

In return for getting a few great tips from Marty, I get to give 10 Walk and Chew Gum Sets (gum, a water bottle, a pedometer and a Biggest Loser DVD) away free to you guys. To be eligible, just leave a comment below - no duplicates please. I'll randomly select 10 winners on September 26th, 2007 at 5:00 pm PST. You do need to be a TeamSugar member to comment. So if you're not already a member, just register here for an account and to join in all the fun on the Sugar Sites!

Click here for official rules and regulations.

Now, to see my little chat with Marty, including how he went from loving BBQ ribs to lettuce wraps, just read more

Fit: What is your new favorite exercise and new favorite meal?
Marty: I really don't have any sort of favorite exercise, I just like moving in general now! Some of my favorite things to do to get in my cardio are: Stair stepper, I do it usually for 20 minutes and it is intense. Spin Classes, they are a great way to get your mind off the workout and feel good about yourself. Tennis, I enjoy getting competitive and playing tennis with AMY! I usually win! My favorite healthy meal now is chicken lettuce wraps!! mmmmmmm.

Fit: What was the hardest food for you to give up and is there a healthier alternative you've replaced it with?
Marty: I was a BBQ rib and baked potato kind of guy. I liked a full rack of ribs and the potato loaded with cheese, sour cream and bacon bits. I do not really have a healthy alternative for the ribs now a days, I just limit how often I eat them (maybe once a month), but the potato I have substituted for a sweet potato. If you are out to eat and want to make a healthier choice, get a sweet potato and ask for no butter and cinnamon on the side. I sprinkle the cinnamon on it and open a sugar substitute packet and put it on the potato for a sweet cinnamon treat! That has been a change for the better!

Fit: What was the one thing that kept you grounded during the show and why?
Marty: I really tried to focus on what I was learning and make the most of the opportunity! I knew I could go home at any time, so I focused on changing myself rather than "playing a game."

Fit: What were (are) your biggest weight loss obstacles now that you've been dieting on your own?
Marty: Maintenance is difficult, because you realize the battle is not over and there is no finish line. The largest obstacle is getting back on track after a cheat day. I schedule my time at the gym in the morning the day after, and make sure I go. I always feel better after a workout and get re-energized and focused on my goals. That is why I decided to become a personal trainer and start a company (realitywellnessinc.com), so I can help others overcome obstacles and be the accountability they need.

Fit: What happens when the cameras stop rolling?
Mary: The same as the camera shows! Working out, and eating! There was never much time to do anything else.

Fit: What's your advice for anyone reading this that is trying to lose weight?
Marty: Don't wait for the Biggest Loser to come along to start changing your life. Start today by taking small steps and making small changes every day. One thing that can make a difference is to log onto gumisgood.com and sign up for Wrigley's Walk and Chew Gum Challenge. Everyone needs a support system, and this is a good way to get motivated and work toward a meaningful goal with others! Wrigley's Walk and Chew Gum Challenge is a great program that challenges Americans to collectively cut 10 million calories and walk 100,000 miles. While it sounds like a hefty goal, it's about making two small changes to your daily routine over the next 100 days - walk more steps each day and cut calories from your diet by chewing Extra sugar-free gum instead of eating a high-calorie snack.

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Chewing Gum Fights Stress?

FitSugar — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 03:00:00 -0800

My favorite candy, chewing gum, not only fights heartburn, but it looks like it may also help conquer stress. Chomping on a piece of gum, and may I add that the gum should definitely be sugar-free, was found to decrease levels of the stress hormone cortisol by 17 percent. In recent laboratory tests, chewing gum also increased alertness and improved performance. It sounds like a winning combination but might be a bit more complicated than unwrapping a stick of gum.

While working your jaw, chewing gum may increase the flow of blood to your brain helping you think more clearly, but it can also tire out the muscles of the jaw and lead to overuse injuries of the joint, like TMJ. For full disclosure, I should mention that the study on gum for stress release was funded by gum maker Wrigley, who is "committed to advancing and sharing scientific research that explores the benefits of chewing gum." While I thoroughly enjoy chewing gum, I think I will also stick to my free and injury-free stress reduction technique, breathing. How about you?

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