Lisa's Likes - Summer Read

Spring’s arrival is just a reminder that summer is coming!   This is the time of the year that I revel in living and working on the Westside in Los Angeles.  It really doesn’t get much better than stepping out of The Studio (MDR) after a sweat-drenching total body workout and feeling the warm sun on my skin along with the cool ocean breeze that is literally steps away. Beach days in Venice are the best, especially on the weekend.  Admittedly, I am attached to my Blackberry and MacBook, but there is something to be said about curling up on the sand with a good, old book.  And Teacher Appreciation Week reminded me of one of my favorite teachers, Ms.Simon, who encouraged me to read The Alchemist.  This classic is one of those books I read over and over again.  Paulo Coelho’s fable is powerful, thought provoking and inspiring– I truly believe EVERYONE should read it.  This book is bursting with optimism and reminds us that we really can do anything we want to do.

“There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.”

― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

As Coelho eloquently puts it, "It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting" and I wake up every morning with such a feeling of gratitude that my dream came true when The Studio (MDR) opened its doors.

So, fellow bookworms, what are you reading right now?

Real People, Real Results: True Stories Of 230lb Weight Loss From The Workout Trenches Of LA

Real people. REAL results. Over 230 lbs lost amongst 6 people  in one year alone (we're still counting and there's more than that)! This is what The Studio (MDR) is all about. Forget fad diets, deprivation and denial and say hello to a healthy lifestyle where people experience a total transformation with a little help from their friends.

Transformation is a powerful word.  For some, it can mean a loss of weight, a change in attitude, the commitment to living a healthy lifestyle, and so much more.  Personal transformation means something different for each person. That's what makes our little fitness enclave so special. Forget a cookie cutter approach, experience individual results!

After opening our doors just one short year ago, the physical transformations amongst our community of MDR loyalists have been astounding and so much so that every 4 weeks, we are honored to feature one of our fabulous clients as a Transformer of The Month.

As of February, six transformers had been featured in our newsletter. Each individual has overcome personal struggle and adversity to achieve life-changing transformation!

Was it easy for our "warriors"?  Absolutely not.

Possible?  Definitely.

Each of these lovely ladies exemplify proof that with commitment and hard work, change is not only possible but inevitable.

For Heather Keopunna, mother of two, transformation has meant losing over 50 pounds and reversing her pre-diabetes diagnosis.

Busy TV production executive, Christine Sanchez, is now in full remission from Lupus and is 35 pounds lighter thanks to her clean, detoxifying vegan diet and consistent weekly MDR workouts.

Lindsay Hallam dropped 50 pounds and 10% body fat in a little over six months, and she believes so strongly in the benefits and effectiveness of this method that she is now training to be an instructor at The Studio (MDR).

After trying everything from gyms and personal trainers to ab rollers and the Santa Monica Stairs, Donna Ohana found success, dropping 25 pounds, when she began taking classes atThe Studio (MDR).

Sone Vaynerman is over 25 pounds lighter after cutting out alcohol, sugar and gluten. She found her support system in the people who were breaking a sweat right next to her at The Studio (MDR) each week, proclaiming:

"It's a community full of wonderful people who are in a perpetual state of supporting one another."

Susan Benjaminsen's journey at The Studio (MDR) advanced from weight loss and physical fitness to creating new pathways of mind-body awareness and connection. She learned it's one thing to make a physical transformation and yet another to "own" it psychologically.  This year, Susan turned 50 -- and dropped from 169 pounds and a size 14 to 137 pounds and a size 4.

So wherever you are in your journey of transformation for 2012, let these encouraging stories of success inspire you to reach your goals.  Better yet, implement a workout at The Studio (MDR) three to four times per week, check out the healthy recipes featured on our blog and make a commitment to your health.  Look It + Feel It + Live It. Because you deserve it!

The Studio (MDR) Superfood Saturday's: Flaxseeds

For this week's Superfood Saturday on The Studio (MDR) blog, we're favoring the flaxseed.  Similar to the chia seed we posted about last week, we love the health benefits and versatility of the flaxseed. Wellness experts and media alike are calling this the new wonder food for its ability to help fight everything from heart disease and diabetes to breast cancer.  WebMD also reports that, although flaxseed contains all sorts of healthy components, it owes its healthy reputation primarily to three ingredients:

Omega-3 essential fatty acids, "good" fats that have been shown to have heart-healthy effects. Each tablespoon of ground flaxseed contains about 1.8 grams of plant omega-3s.

Lignans, which have both plant estrogen and antioxidant qualities. Flaxseed contains 75-800 times more lignans than other plant foods.

Fiber. Flaxseed contains both the soluble and insoluble types.

Tips for Incorporating Flaxseed's Into Your Diet:

• Drink plenty of water. There is so much soluble fiber in flax that it is important to drink plenty of water when eating flax products, otherwise constipation may result.
• Remember to start slowly if you aren’t used to a high-fiber diet.
• If you purchase the whole seeds, you need to grind them up to get the benefit.
• Flax is often used as an egg substitute in baked goods for people who can’t or choose not to eat eggs. This is because of the soluble fiber, which adds structure to the food.
• About 2/3 to 3/4 cup of flax seed yields 1 cup of flax meal. With my grinder, it’s 3/4 cup, and my recipes reflect this.

Flax Recipes and Serving Suggestions:

• Raw or toasted: Sprinkle over cottage cheese, ricotta, yogurt, breakfast cereal; put in shakes (thickens them somewhat)
• Cooked in a hot cereal: For example, try Hot Flax Peanut Butter Cereal or Hot Pumpkin Cereal

• Cooked into other foods: For example, meatloaf, meatballs, or casseroles.

Have you ever tried flaxseeds? Want to share your own recipe? Leave a comment here or chime in via our community on Facebook--http://www.facebook.com/thestuidomdr Also, we'd love to get your input. Which superfood should we feature for next Saturday? Let us know.