When it comes to exercise, are you getting too much of a good thing? Take Shape For Life recommends no more than 45 minutes of intense activity while following the 5 & 1 Plan and to build to this level gradually, listening to your body as you increase the time and/or intensity of your workouts.

Here are some of the symptoms of overtraining:

• Your workouts are getting harder, not easier
• You feel more tired during the day
• You have difficulty getting up in the morning, falling asleep at night, or sleeping soundly

If you are, in fact, overtraining, then you’ll feel better - and get better results - if you cut back. Overexercising can depress your immune system and leave you at greater risk of injury.

If you not on the Take Shape for Life BeSlim customer preferred club we have put some how to videos on how you can join and start saving money on your Medifast products. Here is the link for more details. BeSlim Club Link.

If you found yourself to be somewhat of a couch potato during the cold, winter months, now is the time to spring into action! Warmer weather is upon us (or at least just around the corner), and now is a great time to get things rolling! Walk or bike outdoors and enjoy the blooming flowers. Grab your rollerblades or tennis rackets. Look into summer programs for the whole family, as these often get booked up quickly.

Watch the Road

Now that spring is finally here, you are probably eager to get outside to walk, bike, and jog. However, be aware of the new potholes and cracks in the roads and sidewalks. The wrong step could leave you with a twisted ankle. It might not hurt to drive your chosen path first to check for potential hazards. You could also choose a path that you know to be safe, such as a dirt t rail or a track.

Spring Clean Your Way to Fitness

Still putting off your spring cleaning? Don’t think of it as a chore—think of it as a great workout! Here is an example of approximately what a 150 pound individual may burn in one hour of cleaning:

• Light cleaning (dust, vacuum, change linen): 170
• Mowing the lawn (power mower): 307
• Heavy cleaning (wash windows, wash car, mop, clean garage): 307
• Home repair (painting, papering, laying carpet or linoleum): 307
• Moving furniture: 409

Workouts-Part of Your Daily Routine

Trying to squeeze a workout into your day unsuccessfully? Instead, physically schedule an “exercise appointment” into your daily routine. This will help you keep to your agenda and activities on track.

Cook Lightly

Looking for an easy way to add flavor to meals without a lot of calories? Try cooking with low-sodium broths (such as vegetable, beef or chicken) instead of higher calorie alternatives. You may be surprised to find that just a small amount of bouillon can be used to stir-fry vegetables or tofu or simmer meats.

To stir-fry with bouillon simply place a pan with a small amount of bouillon over high heat. When the broth is warm add your vegetables or tofu and continue to stir veggies until they are cooked al dente (crisp to the taste). To simmer meats, simply turn heat down to medium and allow to simmer, watching to ensure the pot does not accidentally boil over.

Are you an Inactive Client?

If you are an Inactive client now is the time to put a little “Spring” into your step. We have developed a promotion to help you! Until April 30, 2008, for Inactive Clients can try one month of our new, delicious Momentum products for free, just by purchasing $200 or more worth of Medifast Meals. To receive the free month of Momentum, the coupon code MMF must be added to the order.

Here are the specifics:

- Promotion is open to all Inactive Clients.

- An Inactive Client is defined as someone who has not placed an order with Take Shape For Life in the last 60 days.

- Order $200 or more of Medifast Meals.

- Enter the coupon code MMF on the order.

- Receive a Free Momentum One Month Package (contains 63 Momentum Flavor Infusers and 21 Momentum Meals).

- May only be used once.

- Not valid with any other coupon code.

- Offer expires April 30, 2008.

We recently sent postcard mailers to of our Inactive Clients. Again, this promotion is only for Inactive Clients.

Click Here to Shop Now!

Do you know how to make the Lean & Green meals for you single meal each day? Everyone is given the Take Shape for Life Quick Start guide but many don’t know how to actually make a lean & green meal.

Now there are recipes in our Support in Motion on-line support tool. Here is how to see those recipes.

Click this link: www.GetYouHealth.com/SIM and click the Register link.

You will register for Support In Motion, an Interactive on-line support tool.

Once you register and log in, click the BeSlim tab at the top, then click the recipes link at the top. Then you will see a “Healthy Recipes” menu section.

Select the Lean & Green Recipes link and you will have several recipes in a list box to choose from. Select any recipe and it will tell you how to make those meals.

Here are 2 examples:

Chicken Teriyaki

Prep Time: 15 mins (+4 hours marinating time)
Cooking Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

2, 6 oz. chicken breasts
1/2 cup cauliflower
1/2 cup broccoli

Marinade

2 tablespoons olive oil
4 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
1/2 cup onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 teaspoon ginger

Method

Blend marinade. Butterfly chicken breasts and tenderize till the breasts are of even thickness. Marinade with spices at least 4 hours or overnight. Grill chicken and steam veggies until desired softness.

Nutrition Info.

Cal 360 | Fat 16g | Chol 100mg | Carb 10g | Pro 43g

====================================================

Balsamic Glazed Chicken

Prep Time: 15 mins (+ 3 hrs marinating time)
Cooking Time: 45-60 mins

Ingredients

4, 6oz.chicken breasts (or strips of chicken)
2 cloves garlic
4 tablespoons rosemary leaves, chopped
4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 medium red onions, 1 inch thick slices
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
6 cups broccoli
Salt and pepper to taste

Method

Rinse the chicken and pat dry. Combine the garlic, rosemary, black pepper and sea salt and mix with 3 tablespoons olive oil. Rub the outside of the chicken all over with the rosemary mixture. Cover and refrigerate 3 hours (or overnight).  Preheat oven to 350. Place the onion slices on the bottom of a small roasting pan. Place the chicken on top of the onions. Pour the wine over the chicken and rub all over with 1/4 cup of the vinegar. Roast in oven for 45 minutes or until done. 

Steam broccoli and serve on the side.

Nutrition Info.

Cal 380 | Fat 17g | Chol 100mg | Carb 13g | Pro 41g

This recipe makes 4 servings.

Many diets out there claim to help you lose weight from pills to meals to meeting plus meals but none of these so call diets will actually get you healthy.

Take Shape for Life and Medifast is committed to maximizing the health and wellness through its provision of soy-based meal replacement weight control programs. In light of recent controversy, including books, slanting soy, Medifast feels it is their duty to provide the latest evidence-based recommendations regarding the use of dietary soy for healthcare providers.

The following document provides a comprehensive summary of the latest scientific information regarding soy and its relationship with all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, cancer, menopause, bone health, and kidney function, as well as addresses any safety concerns regarding soy.

This article summarizes the health benefits of having Soy in your diet, but not ordinary Soy, but the kind found only in Medifast products. To read the entire article on how the Medifast products and the Take Shape for Life 5 & 1 program play an important part in getting and keeping you healthy follow the link: Soy’s Effect On Health.

IMPORTANCE OF (SOY) PROTEIN DURING DIETING

Medifast’s soy-based meal replacements are a healthy way of achieving the optimal amount of dietary protein crucial for weight loss while still preserving lean muscle mass.

Yet, perhaps even more important is that soy protein has been shown to yield numerous health-related benefits for conditions that overweight individuals are more likely to suffer from. The health benefits soy has been shown to confer occur independent of the weight loss itself, and range from cardiovascular disease to cancer and to reductions in overall mortality.

NOT ALL SOY PROTEIN IS CREATED EQUAL

Medifast’s soy-based meal replacements are made from isolated soy protein (Solae Brand™), with its naturally-occurring isoflavones (genistein, daidzein, and glycitein) working together to yield health benefits, like lower blood cholesterol. An innovative water-based technique is used to separate carbohydrate and fat from the soy protein while still maintaining the healthy isoflavones. Other processing methods, like the alcoholextraction method, remove a substantial amount of the isoflavones and thus its antiatherogenic properties (Clair & Anthony, 2005).

BOTTOM LINE: Medifast meal replacements are made from the highest quality soy protein with the highest levels of naturally-occurring isoflavones.

HEALTH BENEFITS

All-Cause Mortality

Japan has the highest life expectancy in the world (Health and Welfare Statistics Association, 1999). Soy is a staple in the Japanese diet. The Takayama Study prospectively examined the relationship between soy intake and mortality among over 13,000 Japanese men and 15, 000 Japanese women residents over a 7 year period. Using a food frequency questionnaire, they determined that the average total intake of soy per day for men was 102.3g (44.6mg isoflavones) and for women 93.3g (41.4mg isoflavones).

FINDINGS:

• A significant inverse association between soy intake (and isoflavone intake) with all-cause mortality for men and women after controlling for age and total energy intake.

• After adjusting for nondietary factors, a decreased hazard ratio was observed among men (0.83, 95%CI 0.68 to 1.01) and women (0.83, 95%CI 0.68 to 1.02) with the highest compared with the lowest quintile of total soy product intake.

BOTTOM LINE: Soy is inversely associated with all-cause mortality.

Cardiovascular Disease Soy’s isoflavones, genistein and diadzein, protect the heart by boosting the activity of LDL receptors that remove ‘bad’ cholesterol from the bloodstream and deliver it to the liver. Additional ways soy may protect the heart are through its antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and potentially anti-thrombogenic properties (Clair & Anthony, 2005). Thirty-two of Medifast’s meal replacements meet the criteria to carry this health claim.

Seven years after soy’s health claim was first issued by the FDA, tons more research has been done to substantiate the original claim. In 2006, Reynolds et al. performed a metaanalysis of 41 randomized controlled trials that evaluated the effect of soy protein supplementation, as the only intervention, on serum
lipids.

They found that soy protein supplementation was associated with:
♥ A significant decrease in mean total cholesterol of more than 5 mg/dl (95% CI -
7.14 to -3.38)
♥ A significant decrease in low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol of more
than 4 mg/dl (95% CI -6.00 to -2.50)
♥ A significant decrease in triglycerides of more than 6 mg/dl (95% CI -9.14 to -
3.38)
♥ A significant increase in high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol of 0.77
mg/dl (95% CI 0.2 to 1.34).

BOTTOM LINE: Soy protein protects against coronary risk factors and 32 of Medifast’s meal replacements carry the Heart Healthy Claim.

Metabolic Syndrome

The metabolic syndrome is characterized by a clustering of cardiovascular risk factors, including abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, increased blood pressure, insulin resistance, and a proinflammatory state (Borgman & McErlean, 2006). Metabolic syndrome is widespread among adults from developed nations and its prevalence continue to rise as rates of obesity do. While the etiology has yet to be fully elucidated, genetic, metabolic, and environmental factors, like diet, are thought to play a role.Both animal and human studies have demonstrated that the inclusion of soy protein in the diet positively affects metabolic syndrome (Lukaczer et al., 2006; Davis et al., 2005; Azadbakht et al. 2007). Significant reductions in insulin, fasting plasma glucose, Cpeptide have all been observed among postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome on a diet incorporating 102 mg/d of soy isoflavones. Thus, it appears that soy foods improve insulin sensitivity and modulate the metabolic abnormalities linked with insulin resistance (Jayagopal et al., 2002).

BOTTOM LINE: Soy may improve the metabolic abnormalities of metabolic syndrome.

Cancer

After cardiovascular disease, cancer is the second leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Soy protein is associated with reduced risk of certain cancers. The evidence of a protective effect for soy is particularly strong in cancers of the prostate, breast, and gastro-intestinal (GI) tract.

Prostate Cancer

Lung cancer is the biggest cancer killer among men. However, overweight men who fall into the heaviest weight category are also more likely to die from stomach or prostate cancer according to the American Obesity Association. When compared to Asian men, American men are far more likely to die from prostate cancer and have a death rate that is 18-fold higher than their Eastern counterparts (Jemal et al., 2002). Soy, a dietary staple, may confer the protective effect among Eastern Asian men as Asian men who have emigrated to the US and have adopted the Western diet have higher rates of prostate-related morbidity and mortality.

BOTTOM LINE: Men who consume soy may have lower rates of prostate cancer.

Breast Cancer

Position of the National Cancer Institute (NCI): There have been several studies that suggest dietary soy may reduce breast cancer risk and improve survival. The controversy, however, is over the use of soy, by breast cancer patients, especially those with estrogen receptor–positive tumors.

Position of the National Cancer Institute (NCI): There have been several studies that suggest dietary soy may reduce breast cancer risk and improve survival. Thecontroversy, however, is over the use of soy, by breast cancer patients, especially those with estrogen receptor–positive tumors.

BOTTOM LINE: Soy appears to have a protective effect against premenopausal breast cancer. The verdict is still out among postmenopausal females, or females with a past personal history or family history of breast cancer.

The verdict is also still out regarding the use of soy and Tamoxifen. Medifast recommends that patients follow the NCI guidelines and the advice of their physician or breast cancer specialist.

GI Cancers

Numerous studies have also found a protective effect of soy against adenomatous polyps (Witte et al., 1996) and colon cancer (Hoshiyama et al., 1993; Nishi et al., 1997). Results of an intervention study showed that an intake of 39 g/d of soy protein for one year significantly reducesd colon mucosa cell proliferation vs. 39g/d of casein protein in “atrisk” patients with colon polyps or colon cancer (Bennink, 2001).Numerous studies have also found a protective effect of soy against adenomatous polyps (Witte et al., 1996) and colon cancer (Hoshiyama et al., 1993; Nishi et al., 1997).

Results of an intervention study showed that an intake of 39 g/d of soy protein for one year significantly reducesd colon mucosa cell proliferation vs. 39g/d of casein protein in “atrisk” patients with colon polyps or colon cancer (Bennink, 2001).

Numerous studies have also found a protective effect of soy against adenomatous polyps (Witte et al., 1996) and colon cancer (Hoshiyama et al., 1993; Nishi et al., 1997). Results of an intervention study showed that an intake of 39 g/d of soy protein for one year significantly reducesd colon mucosa cell proliferation vs. 39g/d of casein protein in “atrisk” patients with colon polyps or colon cancer (Bennink, 2001).

BOTTOM LINE: Soy appears to protect against cancers of the GI tract and may help eradicate H. Pylori infections.Menopausal Symptoms

Approximately 2/3 of women who reach menopause develop vasomotor menopausal symptoms, primarily in the form of hot flashes and night sweats. Of 21 trials examining the effects of soy and/or its isoflavones effects on hot flashes and night sweats in postmenopausal women, every trial found a decrease in hot flash frequencies compared to controls (Balk et al., 2005). Additionally, soy protein helps protect against some other menopause-associated features. A review by Geller & Studee (2006) suggest that soy isoflavones have a small but positive effect on lipids, bone mass, and cognitive function.A randomized, double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled trial found that postmenopausal women who received 60mg/day of soy isoflavones had improved cognitive performance and mood (Casini et al., 2006).

BOTTOM LINE: Soy helps with vasomotor symptoms of menopause and positively affects other menopause-related health conditions.

Bone HealthIn addition to study design issues, the inconsistent results may be partly due to studies evaluating women in their post-menopausal years who would be less likely to hypothetically benefit from phytoestrogens because of age-related declines in estrogen receptors on bone (Reinwald & Weaver, 2006). To reap the benefits of soy when it comes to bone health, it may be better to consume soy protein in the peri-menopausal or early post-menopausal years when the more mild estogenic effects of soy might be less opposed by endogenous estrogen, and before the age-related decline in estrogen receptor number occurs (Reinwald & Weaver, 2006).

BOTTOM LINE: There is evidence to suggest that soy confers a protective effect on bone.

The benefits of soy on bone health may be most garnered more during perimenopause or early post-menopause

SAFETY

Thyroid Function

Some evidence suggests that soy foods, by inhibiting absorption, may increase the dose of thyroid hormone required by hypothyroid patients.

Further, in some individuals who consume marginal amounts of iodine, soy foods may, at least theoretically, increase the risk of developing clinical hypothyroidism.

BOTTOM LINE: Soy has no adverse effects in euthyroid individuals. Individuals with hypothyroidism on synthetic thyroid hormones do not need to avoid soy in their diets. They simply need to pay closer attention by monitoring their lab work more frequently.

BOTTOM LINE: Soy does not alter sexual function, behavior, or affect sterility.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

There is no evidence in animal (Fagi et al., 2004; Cardoso & Bao, 2007) or humanstudies that the phyto-estrogens in soy adversely affect child or adult growth, development, reproduction, or sexual behavior (Merritt & Jenks, 2004).For most people, the benefits of incorporating soy protein as part of a healthy diet plan far outweigh the potential (or hypothetical) risks. This is particularly true for overweight or obese individuals, who are more likely to suffer from a comorbidity that would be responsive to soy.

Medifast is a pioneer in recognizing the double benefit that can be potentially gained by offering the highest quality soy protein, rich in isoflavones, as part of their clinically-tested weight control program.

There is no evidence in animal (Fagi et al., 2004; Cardoso & Bao, 2007) or humanstudies that the phyto-estrogens in soy adversely affect child or adultgrowth, development, reproduction, or sexual behavior (Merritt & Jenks, 2004).

If you are already eating and enjoying the health benefits from Soy with the Medifast products and Take Shape for Life program, Congradulations!

If you need to lose weight fast and get healthy again, try a Medifast Starter Kit from Take Shape for Life. It contains all the products you need to lose weight and also get healthy!

Is your teenager is overweight and unhealthy as many adults are? We now have a Medifast for Teens Guide to help them loose the weight and get healthy.

You’ve taken the important first step in controlling your teenagers weight and improving their health! Please read this Medifast for Teens Program Guide carefully; it will provide you with the information that you need to get your teenager started.

As your teenagers body continues to grow, achieving and maintaining a healthy weight is crucial to your overall state of health. Take Shape For Life has meal plans specially designed to meet the needs of adolescents 13-18 years old.

These meal plans are convenient, they emphasize portion controlled eating at regular intervals throughout the day and best of all – they’re simple to follow!

Take Shape For Life can help your teenager achieve the healthy weight that’s right for him or her.Maintaining a healthy weight allows your teenager to live life to the fullest. Successfully lose weight and improve your health with more than 60 Medifast Meals to complement your healthy eating meal plan. Medifast has been recommended by over 15,000 physicians and proven in multiple clinical studies.

Click Here to Read and Print Our Medifast for Teens Guide and Start Getting them healthy today!

We have 2 NEW products. Click on the links below to view documents explaining each new product. Be sure to enable popups if you have a popup blocker!

1. Momentum by Medifast

Each Momentum by Medifast product contains 100 mg of Caffeine and 90 mg of EGCG. The combination of Caffeine and EGCG found in three (3) Momentum products has been clinically shown to have the maximum effect on inducing thermogenesis. Think of thermogenesis as the metabolism “turning up the heat” to burn extra calories.

2. Super Omega 3

For optimal health and longevity, everyone can benefit from daily omega-3 fatty acid
supplements. Essential fatty acids cannot be produced by the human body, so they must be obtained through diet or supplementation.

To order these products, just go to http://GetYouHealth.TSFL.com and click the Shop Online button at the top menu bar. Use your TSFL ID and Password to order from the GetYouHealth web site.

Visibility and convenience-áis why people eat so much. Medifast is convenient and healthy that is why we ought to make it-ávisible to everyone!

Dr. Anderson the founder of our program is truly a visionary! He is-áway ahead of the curve!He has written a book called-á”Not Your Fault” and now we have the research to prove it. Not that we needed that, but it is nice to have.

High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is widely used as a cheap substitute for sugar and as a preservative. Today, the average American consumes over 60 pounds of HFCS per year, in sodas and many other processed foods. Some obesity experts note that the rise of obesity in the United States corresponds with the increased availability of HFCS-áthrough the-ábarrage of cheap, mass-produced junk foods.

To make matters worse, HFCS appears to stimulate the bodyGÇÖs appetite and depress its GÇ£I’m full!GÇ¥ signals.

We can’t blame the entire obesity trend on a single food additive.

Still, your health will benefit if you limit your HFCS consumption as much as possible. Read labels, because even foods that are labeled GÇ£all-naturalGÇ¥ may contain HFCS.

Medifast supplements have none of this and every packet contains healthy nutrition for your body while helping you lose weight fast and easy.-áA-áone month Medifast Starter Kit containing the most popular Medifast products is available for new clients, just-áCLICK HERE.

I’m sure as we all are tempted by all the summer activities and food around us some of us have put on some weight and maybe some of you have put on a lot of weight.

But the Take Shape for Life 5 & 1 program is very forgiving and allows you to jump back on and get yourself back in shape again and drop the pounds you’ve gained.

As you follow the program and lose weight you start to feel healthy again. And as you transition off the 5 & 1 plan you continue to make Medifast your on-the-go meals as they help you maintain your weight and keep you feeling healthy. The best part is Medifast food fits our on-the-go lifestyles perfectly-áin this hectic world.

GetYouHealth.com has a special short video testimonial that we’d like to share with you. Simple go to www.GetYouHealth.com-áand scroll down to the middle of the page and click the “Play” button. Featured are several-áTake Shape for Life clients-áwho have lost weight and gotten healthy in the process. Hear in their own words the success they have-áfound with the Take Shape for Life 5 & 1 program.

As the-áfood industry continues to constantly flood the food market with high calorie, processed foods filled with excessive fat, sugar, additives, and poor nutrients in each service, Americans rank low on the health scale and we are getting fatter and sicker with each and every passing day, not to mention many other countries that are following America in their poor food choices.

Most current diets offer little or no nutritional value and only offer temporary results but rarely have any long-lasting value.

We live in a high stress and “workaholic” society which often leading to poor health, obesity and a diminished quality of life. We are always looking for fast food solutions that we can take on the run and “wolf down” just to get filled up and satisfy our taste buds.

No wonder people are frustrated and confused. Most people who visit their physician for health problems are handed a prescription with the pat advice, GÇ£eat healthier and exercise,GÇ¥ but with no further information or recommendations.

Many Americans have lost hope given all the misinformation about diet and exercise. They believe some company will invent a “magic pill” that will automatically make them loose weight and feel good. We go round and round with over 65 percent of the population being overweight and in deteriorating health, and using more and more prescription medications than ever before as a way of counteracting health effects that will most likely cause other health problems and death in some cases.

You Start Getting Fat Again and Feeling Like Crap!

I proved it. My products were delayed and didn’t order enough and I started eating fast food because I’m on the go a lot like many other people. Most of the time I drink a shake and my body is satisfied. But without Medifast you reach for fast food like McDonalds. Even if you try to make something at home and bringit with you, the food is junk… as in NO NUTRITION.

Whatever approach you take to weight loss, thereGÇÖs one thing to remember if you plan to keep the pounds off: You need to make a lasting commitment to your lifestyle changes. If you go GÇ£on a dietGÇ¥ that you plan to abandon as soon as you hit your goal weight, then the pounds will come back as soon as you return to your old habits.

You will need to eat-áhealthy foods-áand engage in regular physical activity on a regular basis for the long-term.When you have reached your goal weight, we encourage you to continue using Medifast Meals in your daily meal plans.

Order Yours NOW! CLICK HERE-á-á