Getting Fit the Sweet and All-Natural Way

FIRESTONE, Colo., Feb. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The holidays have come and finally gone, we've even had our Dia de la Candelaria's traditional tamales on February 2nd and Valentine's Day sweets so the excuses are over- it's time to really get started! After all the decadent food, drinks and festivities, our wallets are the only thing left a little lighter as many of us packed on a few extra holiday pounds. It's a cycle that happens year after year, continuously making getting fit and exercising the most popular New Year's resolution. This year is no exception as we line up for the gym and try everything from cleanses to extreme diets to feel and look better. However, extreme methods seldom last, which is why fitness and wellness expert Barbara Trujillo Gomez has partnered with the National Honey Board (NHB) to launch a 3-month challenge on www.mielpura.org to help consumers get on the right track to getting in shape and sticking to a new, active lifestyle- all with the help of honey. Yes, honey… natural energy!

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Changing your routine can be difficult, but you don't need to spend hours at the gym to see results. "While eating balanced meals and exercising 20-30 minutes three to four times per week is key to trimming down, honey can give you the energy you need to stick to your new routine," states Barbara.

Honey is an all-natural energy booster that can be consumed to get you ready for an active day, and you can even enjoy it as a sweet reward after a long day, as well. Whether you're hitting the gym or taking a walk around your neighborhood, a tablespoon of honey in your water will give you the extra oomph you need to keep you motivated and energized. You can use that energy to make other easy changes, too, like cooking your own meals at home instead of buying a prepared meal for lunch or dinner after work. Making your own meals will not only help you cut calories, but also burn calories since you're up and moving about!

Honey is the quick, easy and delicious all-natural energy source, as it has a distinctive carbohydrate composition of natural sugars and trace amounts of antioxidants, enzymes, minerals, vitamins and amino acids. No matter what activities you partake in, carbohydrates are what fuel muscle contractions to help keep you going and ultimately reach your personal fitness goals. "It's amazing that something we all enjoy and have in our cupboards can make such a huge impact on our well-being, and we're very excited to have Barbara on board to lead the way," states Catherine Barry, Director of Marketing for the National Honey Board.

Start off the New Year by finally sticking to a plan that works! Join the challenge by logging on to www.mielpura.org for your own weekly fitness tips, honey-based recipes and more. The website includes progress charts so you can personalize your experience by logging in your daily activities and improvements, and Barbara's step-by-step exercise routine tutorials can also be found exclusively on www.mielpura.org - making it the ultimate resource for the journey to a new you!

Leading a healthy lifestyle isn't easy, but with the help of fitness expert Barbara Trujillo Gomez and honey as your golden fuel, you can sweeten the challenge and succeed.

About the National Honey Board

The National Honey Board is a federal research and promotion board under USDA oversight that conducts research, marketing and promotion programs to help maintain and expand markets for honey and honey products. These programs are funded by an assessment of one cent per pound on domestic and imported honey.

SOURCE National Honey Board