How is your 2023 going so far?! It’s hard to believe we are already well over a month into the New Year, which makes it the perfect time to check in on your goals. Whether you’re looking to find your motivation or want to keep the fire burning, remember . . . You’ve Got This!
Our biggest goal is to help our community achieve their best. So, for our most recent virtual event, You’ve Got This, we rounded up a panel of experts to share their strategies for helping you do just that by discussing how everyday healthy habits can lead to transformation.
Here are some highlights from the evening…
30 Years Strong
AdvoCare CEO, Patrick Wright, and SVP of Sales & Marketing, Christina Helwig kicked off the evening celebrating AdvoCare’s 30th Anniversary. And here’s the thing about milestones. . . they only happen if you show up every day. In fact, any big goal is achieved by a series of much smaller actions along the journey – something we’ve consistently observed from our amazing community. That’s exactly why we wanted to focus the evening on how everyday healthy habits can lead to transformation. Because it’s the small, daily actions, that when performed over time lead to the biggest impact!
Daily Dose of Energy
First, Patrick and Christina were joined by Dr. Leanne Redman, MS, PhD. Dr. Redman specializes in human physiology and endocrinology as it relates to the quantification of energy balance. She is currently a Professor at Pennington Biomedical Research Center within the LSU System and Director of the Reproductive Endocrinology and Women’s Health Research Program. Dr Redman’s research program focuses on how lifestyle, in particular diet and physical activity influences body composition and energy metabolism. When it comes to the topic of energy, here’s what she had to share:
- The body’s currency for energy is calories. Energy going out is called calorie expenditure. Energy coming in is called calorie intake.
- Energy balance is having these two things relatively equal. Energy imbalance can cause energy stores to change (up or down) leading to weight gain or weight loss.
- Your body gets energy from food, with the main sources being fat, protein, carbohydrates and alcohol. But not all food is equal in calories and energy. It’s important for your body to have good, clean energy.
- Your body prioritizes how it uses energy coming in, carbs are prioritized, then protein with fat coming in last because we have large reservoirs for storing extra fat energy. So, what we eat and where calories come from are important. For example, we all probably took in a lot of energy over Valentine’s Day (in the form of chocolate) but those types of calories are going to have a different impact on your body than a supplement like Spark, which has zero sugar and is full of B vitamins.
- The 5 Pillars of Wellness (a balanced diet, regular exercise, sleep, stress management and supplementation) are fantastic ways to help naturally improve your energy.
- Spark® delivers energy and helps enhance mental focus with 20 vitamins, minerals and nutrients. Spark contains caffeine, vitamins B12 + B6, which are ideal for energy, and 8 vitamins that meet your recommended dietary allowance. This helps boost your body’s energy in the right way, and with very few calories.*
A New Look for Spark®
As part of AdvoCare’s 30th Anniversary celebration, our team is thrilled to unveil a brand-new look for Spark! We surveyed over 10,000 people to get their input on what the new look should be, and this was what the overwhelming majority decided.
Feed Your Gut
Next up, we spoke with Dr. Gail Cresci, another member of the AdvoCare Scientific Medical Advisory Board and Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology at Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital and Department of Inflammation & Immunity, as well as Director for Clinical Nutrition Research. As a specialist on gut health, here are some of the top points Dr. Cresci spoke about:
- Your gut health really is at the center of your whole body’s wellness. Studies have found links between good gut health and a strong immune system, reduced inflammation, improved mood, as well as good cardiovascular health.
- A healthy gut also means your body can properly absorb nutrients within your digestive tract. Your microbiome – bacteria residing in your gut that help breakdown proteins and fats – plays a key role in that process.
- Your digestive tract is home to well over 500 different species of bacteria. In fact, within your gut bacterial cells outnumber human cells 10:1.
- We can support a healthy gut and microbiome by helping to feed these bacteria through a healthy diet that includes adequate amounts of fiber. Since it can be challenging to reach the daily recommended amount of fiber through diet alone, a fiber supplement, like AdvoCare Fiber®, can be a great way to add more fiber to your diet. A combination of prebiotics and probiotic supplements can also help to feed and replenish your gut microbiome, helping support a healthy balance of bacteria.
- Probiotic Restore Ultra® and Probiotic FastMelt® are two great options for supplementation – focus on your preferred delivery method to pick which works best for you!
- Probiotic FastMelt® is a delicious, easy to take powder that’s great to take if you don’t like pills and a wonderful option for kids ages 4 & up. It consists of three probiotic strains including Bacillus subtilis (DE111®) that also supports heart health and a unique blend of clinically tested prebiotic strains (PreforPro®) that work to increase and enhance the function of friendly bacteria.*
- Probiotic Restore Ultra® comes in capsule form and contains seven strains of beneficial microorganisms. This combination of probiotics in effective levels helps to populate the upper and lower intestine to facilitate the digestive cycle.*
Everyday Healthy Habits
After their chat with Dr. Cresci, the team was rejoined by Dr. Redman to talk about 5 healthy habits you can incorporate every day:
- Refresh Your Body: Around 60% of your body is made up of water. Every cell and organ in our body is composed of water and good hydration is essential for proper cellular function.
- Healthy Swaps: Pay attention to what your body is craving – is it sugar or caffeine? If you need some caffeine, try taking Spark. If you’re craving sugar, reach for a complex carbohydrate that includes fiber and use portion control.
- Mindfulness: We all rush between activities throughout the day, but taking a moment to slow down, take a few deep breaths and be mindful of how you’re feeling and what you’re experiencing can really help to reduce
- Move Your Body: Did you know that moving your body can help you feel more energetic? Doing something active increases circulation throughout the body, which helps you feel more alert. Some evidence also suggests that exercise can also positively impact brain neurotransmitters, helping you feel more energized.
- Prep for Sleep: Creating a sleep routine can help cue your body that it’s time to wind down. A good sleep environment that feels calm and relaxing is also important. This includes a cool temperature (around 65 degrees F) and minimal lighting (blackout curtains are great). If you’re able to stay consistent with when you go to sleep and wake up, that can also help your body get into a great sleep rhythm.
Interview with Jason Witten
Jason Witten is a former professional football tight end, who played at an elite level for 17 seasons. He knows what it takes to stay strong and how everyday healthy habits can have a positive impact. Here’s what he had to say:
- Adversity is going to happen in life, but how you react is what will define you. What are you going to do get back up?
- Surrounding yourself with people who believe in you can help you reach your goals.
- Keep your goals insight and remember that you really can reach your full potential if you stay consistent and work hard.
Dr. Lombardo
We closed out the evening with Dr. Elizabeth Lombardo, author of Get Out of The Red Zone: Transform Your Stress and Optimize True Success and Better than Perfect and renowned expert on living a purposeful life. Here are the strategies Dr. Lombardo shared to help you reach your full potential:
- Identify perfectionist tendencies
- Do you think in all-or-nothing terms?
- Do you focus on what’s wrong in the mirror than what you appreciate?
- Do you “should” yourself? (I.e. “I should have _______.)
- Know that perfectionism has good intentions, but is going to hold you back because you’ll only be focused on “being the best” vs. making progress
- Try to be “Better than Perfect” by:
- Actively taking steps in the right direction
- Focusing on wellbeing
- Prioritizing yourself as well as others
- Celebrating wins – every step in the right direction is a win
- “It’s not failure; It’s data” – what can you learn from a mistake in a non-judgmental way?
- Change your rulebook – do your rules work for you instead of against you?
- Remember YOU are better than perfect!
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.