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The Nordic News April 6, 2025
Seriously?! Don’t fall for this

The madness has to stop.

I’m here to warn you about 5 fat loss myths that most people fall for. This might come across as a soapbox rant, and for that I apologize, but trust me when I say that this is a message that needs to be spread.

Your fat loss depends on it.

Don’t waste your time on these:

This is a Myth: Diet pills will help you lose fat.

It’s so tempting! The commercials make compelling claims about the power of diet pills, but don’t fall for it. The ‘magic pill’ has yet to be discovered (it has been discovered – exercise. It’s just not in pill form…). Diet pills are more likely to damage your health and burn your pocketbook than to slim you down.

Don’t pop a pill—instead burn calories with exercise.

This is a Myth: You should starve yourself to lose fat.

Attempting to lose weight by starving yourself is not only ineffective, it’s also dangerous. It may seem that severe calorie restriction would deliver the quickest weight loss, but your body is complex and by doing so you’ll disrupt your metabolism and slow your results.

Don’t starve yourself—instead eat healthy small meals throughout the day.

This is a Myth: Lots of crunches will flatten your abs.

We all want our midsection to look toned as we stroll down the beach, but excessive crunches aren’t the answer for tight abs. In order to achieve a lean look you’ll have to focus on burning off the layer of fat that is covering up your abs.

Don’t obsess about crunches—instead focus on fat burning.

This is a Myth: Eat packaged diet foods for speedy results.

It is amazing to see the kinds of foods that are packaged as ‘diet’ or ‘weight loss’ aids. More often than not these products are packed with refined sugar and other artificial ingredients that your body doesn’t need.

Don’t eat packaged diet foods—instead stick with nutritious whole foods.

This is a Myth: You have to avoid carbs to lose fat.

Carbohydrates have been given a bad rap, which is unfortunate because you can (and should) eat carbs while losing weight. The key is to stick with whole grains, oatmeal and brown rice while avoiding processed and refined flours and sugars.

Don’t swear off all carbohydrates—instead stick with wholesome carbs.

Now that you know what not to do in order to look great this summer, it’s time to go over your beach ready game plan.

Here’s what you need to know in 3 simple steps:

DO THIS FIRST: Cut out the junk.

The best way to do this is to start by purging your kitchen. Get rid of sugary, processed and fat-filled foods. Once the junk has been cleared out don’t buy any more of it. Remember that your beach ready abs depend on what you eat – don’t eat junk!

DO THIS SECOND: Focus on whole foods.

Replace the junk food in your life with plenty of the following: cooked and raw vegetables, fresh fruits, whole grains, moderate amounts of seeds and nuts, lean meats and low fat dairy. Clean eating really is that simple.

DO THIS THIRD: Come train with me.

This is the most obvious step. You’re ready to get into great shape and I’m in a unique position to make that happen for you.

Want more guidance as you take your body from flab to fab? I’d love to help you! Give me a call or shoot me an email and let’s get you on track to shed some major fat before summer!

Let’s do this together.


A Day to Start Walking to Health
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Wednesday, April 2, is National Walking Day, a celebration promoted by the American Heart Association to encourage people to get up and get moving.

We’re all for anything that helps folks take that first step—literally—toward better health. And don’t worry if the day came and went. You can make every day one for steps! Here are a few fun and motivating facts from the AHA:

Walking is the most popular form of exercise. It’s free, simple, and safe for most people.

It can lower your risk of heart disease and stroke.

A brisk walk—just 150 minutes a week total—can improve your mood, thinking, and sleep.

That’s just the beginning. Research shows that people with dogs tend to live longer, possibly because of all those daily walks. And walking can also boost creativity and help you solve problems.

But here’s an important reminder: While walking is wonderful, it’s not enough on its own—

especially after age 50. As we get older, we need to maintain strength, endurance, balance, and agility. That’s where strength training and functional fitness come in.

So yes, lace up those walking shoes and enjoy the movement. But when you’re ready to go further, come see us. Let’s talk about building a well-rounded fitness plan that supports your active, healthy lifestyle—for the long run.


Natural Mood Enhancer Supplements

What is 5 HTP Mood Enhancer? The Griffonia Extract is rich in 5-HydroxyTryptophan (5-HTP), which comes from an African vegetable, the Griffonia simplicifolia seed, and contains 30% 5–HTP. 5-HTP is an amino acid that is a direct precursor of serotonin, an important neurotransmitter having pain soothing and relaxing effects. 5-HTP is not present in significant amounts in a typical diet. The human body manufactures 5-HTP from L-tryptophan, a natural amino acid found in most dietary proteins. However, eating food that contains L-tryptophan does not significantly increase 5-HTP levels.

5-HTP mood enhancer is the precursor to serotonin. It improves mood, anxiety and is beneficial in weight loss. 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is an amino acid that is the intermediate step

between tryptophan and the important brain chemical serotonin. There is a massive amount of evidence that suggests that low serotonin levels are a common consequence of modern living. The lifestyle and dietary practices of many people living in this stress-filled era results in lowered levels of serotonin within the brain. Read more about 5 HTP Mood Enhancer supplements, click here.

What is GABA? A non-essential amino acid found mainly in the human brain and eyes. It is considered an inhibitory neurotransmitter, which means it regulates brain and nerve cell activity by inhibiting the number of neurons firing in the brain. GABA is referred to as the "brain's natural calming agent". By inhibiting over-stimulation of the brain, GABA may help promote relaxation and ease nervous tension.

GABA or gamma-aminobutyric acid, discovered in 1950, is the most important and widespread inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. Excitation in the brain must be balanced with inhibition. Too much excitation can lead to restlessness, irritability, insomnia, and even seizures. GABA is able to induce relaxation, analgesia, and sleep. Barbiturates and benzodiazepines are known to stimulate GABA receptors, and hence induce relaxation. Several neurological disorders, such as epilepsy, sleep disorders, and Parkinson’s disease are affected by this neurotransmitter.

What is St John's Wort Mood Enhancer? Extracts of Hypericum perforatum L. (St John's wort) are now successfully competing for status as a standard antidepressant therapy. Because of this, great effort has been devoted to identifying the active antidepressant compounds in the extract. From a phytochemical point of view, St John's wort is one of the best-investigated medicinal plants. Researchers in Europe have studied St John's Wort for decades. They discovered a combination of elements in the plant, foremost of which is "hypericin", react with specific chemicals in the brain to temper emotional discomfort, lift depression, and calm the nerves. Working very much like the common synthetic prescription antidepressants (maprotiline hydrochloride and imipramine), natural extracts from St. John's Wort have shown to relax and soothe the psyche with minimal side effects.




Simple Tuna Salad

Here’s a simple and light version of tuna salad. It cuts out high-calorie mayonnaise and adds some chopped fruit and vegetables to really liven it up. This is a great recipe to enjoy as you journey towards your fitness goal.

Courtesy of RealHealthyRecipes.com

What you need
Serves 4

1 green apple, chopped
2 green onions, tops only, chopped
¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
2 cans albacore tuna, in drained
1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
¼ cup coconut oil, melted
¼ cup red grapes, halved
sea salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Mix all of the ingredients in a large bowl and serve immediately. I like to serve this salad in large butter lettuce leaves or scooped onto avocado halves. Enjoy!

Nutrition
One serving equals 314 calories, 15g fat, 12g carbohydrate, 183mg sodium, 2g fiber, and 33g protein.

Motivate your friends, family and co-workers! Use the “refer a friend” link below to forward this newsletter to your friends, family, and coworkers.

Lawrence Marcuson

2670 Charles Ct NW
Rochester, Minnesota

5072023894


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GRAND PA STRONG 

Online Life Transformation

​Online Coaching/Training is a new and exciting way for me to provide more effective, and more cost effective, body transformation services for people looking to be their best and Move Well to Age Well.

Your virtual Personal Trainer - Anytime or Anywhere!!

Learn more:

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Drops of Inspiration

" Better to do something imperfectly than to do nothing flawlessly."

- Robert Schuller


Pay Attention

When you are eating, pay attention.

Sounds simple, but how often do you snack in front of the T.V. or eat your dinner while in rush hour traffic?

Paying attention means eating when you are hungry and stopping when you are full. It means never eating just to eat, but rather because your body needs it.

Do this and you will quickly reach your ideal weight.