PUMPKIN

In my opinion, Pumpkin is the most overlooked food around. That’s right, Pumpkin! People should eat more pumpkin. And I don’t mean in the form of a pie. Yeah it tastes good, but pumpkin pie is loaded with butter and sugar – two things you should not be consuming on a regular basis, especially if you are trying to maintain your hot body.

But mashed pumpkin with a dash of cinnamon and some Splenda® sounds like a delicious fat-free treat. Pumpkin is on the high end of the glycemic index which makes it an excellent post-workout carb source. Not only that, but a recent study in East China found that compounds found in pumpkin promote the regeneration of damaged pancreatic cells in diabetic rats, thereby boosting the levels of insulin in their blood. Good news for diabetics. Eat some pumpkin and you won’t have to use as many painful insulin injections. Who knew this Halloween staple could be so good for pre-diabetic and diabetic individuals, and even better for a post-workout meal.

By the way, Zero Impact® Pumpkin Bars really do contain pumpkin!

Pumpkin facts:
>> Pumpkins were believed to help eliminate freckles.
>> Pumpkins were once used as a remedy for snakebites.
>> A number of facial and anti-wrinkle cremes include pumpkins.
>> Pumpkins have zero cholesterol, zero...
>> Pumpkins are low in salt, real low.
>> Pumpkins contain beta carotene which helps to reduce certain types of cancer and lowers the risk of heart disease.
>> Pumpkin seeds help to reduce the risk of prostrate cancer.

* Rest between Sets:

The amount of time that you rest between sets is dependent upon the intensity at which you lift (how close to your maximum). If you are doing higher reps (12-15) then you rest periods will be shorter (45-75 seconds), but if you are doing only a few reps (1-5) then you will need longer periods (2-5minutes) between each set.

I know it sounds backward, but it has to do with energy. The more reps you do the lighter the weight and the faster your body will bounce back for the next set. The heavier the weight lifted the longer it takes to recover the energy for another bout of the same movement.

Mashed Pumpkin
Description: Quick, easy, and tasty for serving with a main course.

Ingredients:

Salt to taste. Pepper to taste.

Preparation Directions:
To cook pumpkin, clean one pumpkin and peel it. Cook until soft. Then, mash it with a mixer. Canned Pumpkin is a fine substitute.
Re-heat mashed pumpkin in a large saucepan.

Thinly slice an onion. Fry the onion in olive oil till brown. Add browned onions to pumpkins. Mix in. Add coarse salt and fresh ground pepper to taste.

"Within only one month after starting the Zero Impact Diet, I could not believe what was happening to me! The rapid change in my appearance was just incredible! It was like a dream come true, to move those clock hands back, yes, those “ugly” hands that never stop running and that seem to chase us all. From that day on, I made up my mind that nothing was going to stop me, not even slow me down. I was going to complete the three phases of the Zero Impact Diet and make great positive changes with my life.”

Tammy Banko, 46
3 Years after the Zero Impact Diet