Training

An interesting reason you may not be progressing…

Nutrition, Training

The #1 Roadblock to Your Success
By Bill Phillips

After 20 years of helping over one million people transform their bodies and lives I know one thing for certain: As odd as it may sound to you right now, you can’t enjoy lasting weight loss, along with long-term health and happiness, without FIRST transforming what’s going on ‘beneath the surface.’ (I call this an ‘inside out approach’ and it’s making a world of difference for those who experience it.)

Sure supersized portions, addictive ‘nutrient dead’ foods, and inactivity are literally killing millions of Americans and robbing children of their healthy futures. But the truth is, unless you address excess body fat with a holistic approach—meaning you consider the mind, body, heart and soul—you’re not going to get lasting results.

Period… end of story.

That statement is so important I’d like to say it again in a more direct way…

Statistics Show That 95% of Dieters Are Never
Going To Lose Weight And Keep It Off If
They Only Focus On Food And Exercise Alone

Their old patterns, unresolved emotional blocks, addictive habits and limiting beliefs will, sooner or later, cause them to rebound and spiral out of control… again and again.

Has this ever happened to you: One day you’re following a diet, losing weight and feeling hopeful but the next thing you know you’re overweight and unhappy again?

If you’re like most people, this hasn’t happened to you just once… it’s happened many times over the years. In fact, I’m sure you know people who have been trapped on the weight loss rollercoaster for decades and the darn thing just won’t stop.

This brings me to a very important point that I want to really emphasize: Until you get to the root of what causes weight problems, you’re going to be stuck living the rest of your life in a body you’re ashamed of… along with the mental, physical and emotional health consequences that come along with it.

The reality is simple:  Dieting is like clipping a weed at the ground surface—as long as the root is intact, it will come back. But I’m sure you don’t need to hear this from me—when you think about it, your past experiences have proven this to you over and over again.

You see, as long as you’re still the same inside–at the level of your thoughts, beliefs, patterns, and emotions–you simply haven’t undergone a true transformation. And any temporary weight loss results you do get will soon rebound and ‘snap back’ just like when you release a stretched rubber band.

What’s more, as you’ve probably experienced yourself, each time you try and fail to stick to a diet, it lowers your calorie-burning metabolism as well as your emotional well-being. As a result, you tend to gain even more weight until you want to give up completely.

And to make matters worse, science has shown that all of this negative emotional ‘baggage’ we carry around such as anger, frustration, stress, grief, shame, anxiety, depression, negative thinking and loneliness contribute to an imbalance in the brain which triggers cravings to eat, even when you’re not hungry. What’s more, these same emotions can negatively impact our health by lowering our immune system and increasing our risk of developing cancer and heart disease.

That’s the BIG roadblock with traditional diets—they completely ignore the root of the problem that’s driving you to overeat and feel bad. Fortunately there’s a new breakthrough…

The Bio-Balance Solution: How
to Lose Weight By Feeling Good

A leading Neurologist named Ronald Ruden, M.D., Ph.D., has done groundbreaking work in how emotions and thoughts impact something he calls ‘bio-balance.’ The simple explanation of ‘bio-balance’ is when you’re free from toxic emotions, negative thoughts, and you feel connected to other people in the world, your brain becomes much healthier and happier. This in turn allows you to feel good, enjoy a healthy state of mind, control your weight and experience more energy!

Bio-balance is a natural state of being that Mother Nature intended you to be in.

On the other hand, when your brain is out of bio-balance, it’s constantly working against you by causing cravings and stress, which of course lead to over eating, weight gain, poor health, low energy, and depression.

Here’s a question… Do you ever eat when you feel angry, stressed, anxious or lonely? If so, the cause may be coming from a lack of bio-balance.

The Serotonin Connection

To be more specific, a brain neurotransmitter called serotonin plays a big role in bio-balance. You see, when our bio-balance is off, serotonin levels become low, and not only are we not happy (actually, we’re depressed), but another one of our natural brain chemicals, called dopamine, can become overactive.

Do­pamine is the ‘gotta-have-it’ neurotransmitter. It’s what makes us crave and strive for everything from certain foods, to alcohol, to nicotine, to unhealthy, compulsive behaviors.

When we ‘score’ one of those things, our brains release serotonin and for a short period of time we’re satisfied, we’re fulfilled. But then serotonin levels dip again and dopamine drives us into another cycle of craving, seeking, getting… and this addictive pattern continues, over and over again, unless our bio-balance is corrected.

An interesting reason you may not be progressing… Read More »

Common Fitness Blunders – Part 3

Training, Weekly Motivation

Even Experienced Exercisers Can Be Guilty of These

— By Jen Mueller, Certified Personal Trainer

Have you ever started a workout routine, thinking you’re doing everything right, only to find out there were some important things you missed? Here are some common workout mistakes that most of us have made from time to time, and what you can do to prevent them from happening to you.

Blunder #5: You’ve done the same cardio and strength training workout for the past six months.

When you first start a new activity, your body responds more readily, and you begin to see results. Maybe you lose a little weight, begin to see muscle definition, or notice you are getting stronger. But over time, your workouts aren’t as challenging. After a month or two, you stop losing weight and can’t figure out why you’re stuck.

After about 6 weeks, your body starts getting used to the activity you have been doing. It’s no longer challenged when that activity becomes a normal part of the routine. If you want to start seeing results again (or just continue the progress you’ve made), you have to change something about your routine. If it’s cardio, add a variety of activities to your workout. Try a new class or machine, or take up a new sport.

If you love what you’re doing now, you don’t have to give it up. You can stick to your favorite activities—just try to increase your intensity and duration. If you walk, add some speed work, increase your distance, add hills to your route—anything that makes it different will keep your body guessing.

For strength training, be sure to change your exercises every 4-6 weeks for the same reasons. You can change your workout by:

  • increasing or decreasing your weight, reps, or sets
  • moving from machines to free weights; trying new equipment like tubing or bands
  • experimenting with more body weight exercises for variety
  • adding balance elements (stability balls, standing on one leg, BOSU, etc.)
  • reversing the order of your exercises
  • trying a new exercise for each muscle group (such as chest flys instead of a chest press, or front raises instead of lateral raises)

Blunder #6: You start a new program and are disappointed when you don’t see results in the first week.

Everyone is different. So even though you start an exercise program, it might take a few weeks for the number on the scale to budge. The important thing is not to get discouraged. Even if you don’t lose weight right away, there are many other important changes you’ll notice in the first week or two. Regular exercise helps you sleep better, increases your energy, reduces stress, and helps you feel better overall. Don’t overlook these benefits!

If you do lose weight quickly in the first week or two, don’t get discouraged if it slows down a little after that. You should expect to lose an average of 1-2 lbs per week if you stick to a program of regular exercise and eating right.

Common Fitness Blunders – Part 3 Read More »

Common Fitness Blunders – Part 2

Training, Weekly Motivation

Even Experienced Exercisers Can Be Guilty of These

— By Joe Downie, Certified Physical Fitness Instructor

Blunder #3: Believing the Myths

There are too many to count. Fitness myths are created for many reasons, but are mainly the result of people unknowingly spreading inaccurate information. Sometimes they are blatant sales approaches to try to get you to buy the latest book, training sessions, or exercise contraption.

There is no miracle solution. The great thing about exercise, just like life, is that there are many different ways to success. Figure out a way that works for you, but don’t fall into the trap and believe these myths.

  • Myth #1: You will burn more fat if you exercise at a slower intensity. I’m not sure how this started. Maybe the theory behind it believes that exercising at a slow intensity will help you sustain your exercise and create consistency– which, again, is very important. The problem is you will only condition yourself at a very low level, which won’t help you burn the necessary calories you need to lose weight. Yes, it’s good to start out with this theory in mind so you don’t burn yourself out. But it’s paramount that you increase your intensity over time.
  • Myth #2: Use light weight to tone your muscles. This always seems to imply that you shouldn’t lift more than what you consider “light”. Maybe it’s 5, 10, or even 15 pounds, but you shouldn’t necessarily put a limit on what you should lift. Instead you should put a minimum and maximum on how many times you perform an exercise. Weight should always be relative to how many repetitions you can do. If you can only do 4-6 reps with proper form, the weight is too heavy. If you can do 15-20 reps and feel like you could easily do more, even if you are lifting 100 lbs, you are using a weight that is too light. This doesn’t mean you have to push yourself so hard that you don’t want to ever exercise again. But you should push yourself to the point where you couldn’t do another rep without breaking form the majority of the time if you want to achieve a toned body. Of course, beginners are recommended to work your way up to this point.
  • Myth #3: Abdominal exercises will help get rid of the fat around your belly. The key to lowering your body fat is burning calories. The best way to torch calories is through cardio. The core muscles are very important to strengthen but unfortunately you don’t burn many calories by working them. Therefore, spending most of your exercise time each workout on abdominal exercises doesn’t make sense. You will burn many more calories and lose overall body fat in all areas of your body by working your larger muscle groups… quadriceps, upper back, chest, shoulders and hamstring/buttocks. Riding a bike, running on a treadmill, or doing the elliptical works all of these large muscle groups, but it’s also important to add a bit more resistance with strength training exercises.
  • Myth #4: You have to be an athlete to exercise. Exercise has always been linked directly with athletes because it helps them condition themselves to improve their performance. Unfortunately, exercise hasn’t been linked with the improvement of everyday life as much as it should. Every person benefits from exercise. There are hundreds, if not thousands of different ways to exercise… find the right training that links to your lifestyle.
Blunder #4: Not Being Consistent

One of the biggest blunders of an exercise program is the lack of consistency. It’s very similar to climbing a mountain. There may be all sorts of reasons why you want to climb your “mountain”— to lose weight, to gain energy, to improve health, or to fit into your favorite jeans.

You exercise for 2 weeks, then you have to work overtime, so you take a whole week off. You get back to the gym for another week, and you’re feeling great. A couple days later, you have to go to your son’s basketball game, and a few days later, your parents are in town for the weekend. Your exercise quickly falls low on the priority list. Does this sound familiar? You might get over the foothills of your mountain with this approach, but there’s no chance you’ll ever see that beautiful view you have in your mind.

Does that mean you have to exercise every day to be consistent? NO! It means that you need a plan that incorporates fitness into your weekly schedule. This way you continue to climb upwards. The key is not letting yourself tumble back down to the bottom, so even holding steady or just taking one step forward is enough.

Maybe your forward progress starts with 2 days of exercise for 20 minutes until you reach the foothills. Yes, it might take you longer to get over the foothills this way, as opposed to working out 6 days a week for an hour, but it’s a process that allows you to adapt and adjust your current lifestyle to incorporate change for the long haul. When you’re ready to tackle that first small mountain, bump it up to 3 days of exercise for 25 minutes. You can actually enjoy the process because it doesn’t take everything out of you to get this far, and you find yourself excited to add to your program. This excitement is the motivation that will eventually lead you as far as you want to go. A good view to shoot for is 5 days a week for at least 30 minutes.

At some point something will come up in life that knocks you back down a little bit. It’s only natural that your excitement level can plummet when this happens. But if you expect it and are prepared, you can limit the impact it has on your climb. All the successful climbers understand it’s part of the process. They LEARN from whatever knocks them back so it doesn’t hurt them again at another point along the journey.

Learning how to overcome a tumble, slowly building on your plan, and using excitement as motivation are keys to making exercise a part of your lifestyle. This lifestyle will help you climb that mountain and enjoy the view from the top. From there, it’s all about maintenance.

Common Fitness Blunders – Part 2 Read More »

Common Fitness Blunders – Part 1

1 Comment / Training, Weekly Motivation

Even Experienced Exercisers Can Be Guilty of These

— By Joe Downie, Certified Physical Fitness Instructor

Both beginners and experienced exercises can be guilty of a few fitness blunders from time to time. Some may even become a regular part of your fitness routine, much like a bad habit. But, to get the best results from all your hard work, it’s important that you don’t find yourself creating a fitness routine filled with mistakes. This can set you up for injury, lack of results, boredom and plateaus. Analyze your fitness routine on a regular basis and ask yourself if you fall into any of these common blunders.

Blunder #1: Skipping the Warm Up, Cool Down, and Stretches

This is one of the most common bad habits of exercisers! You finally committed yourself to a fitness routine, and you don’t want to waste any time, so you jump right into your work out without warming up, cooling down, or stretching. After all, those low-intensity segments are meaningless and a waste of time, right?

NOT TRUE! Warming up, cooling down and stretching should be the foundation of your exercise program. They should be viewed as a transition into (and out of) exercise, allowing your body and mind to prepare for running, jumping, or strength training. Here is what you gain from proper warm-up, cool downs and stretching sessions:

  • Your muscles and connective tissue loosen to prepare for the stress of exercise
  • Oxygen and blood flow to your muscles and connective tissue increases, providing fuel for better muscular performance
  • Tension in your body decreases
  • Breathing patterns establish, helping relax the body during exercise
  • Joints are lubricated to allow for better performance
  • Muscle soreness is prevented and/or reduced during and after your workout
  • Better body awareness
  • Quicker reaction time
  • Improved posture
  • Improved coordination
  • Quicker recovery
  • Decreased muscle soreness

You’ve probably exercised without warming up properly, for example, and maybe nothing horrible happened. It may seem unnecessary, but consistently skipping it will limit your gains and put you at risk for injury. You could even be injured without even knowing it since you may not feel any pain right away.

Fix it Tip: Try to warm up with a low impact exercise for 5-10 minutes. A light sweat is a good indicator of your body temperature rising. Follow your workout with 5-10 minutes light exercise to cool down, and stretching, head to toe. Most of your flexibility benefits will come from your post-exercise stretch because your muscles will be so warm.

Blunder #2: Looking For Instant Gratification

We are a culture of instant gratification seekers! Expecting fast results from a new diet and fitness plan is very common. Unfortunately it is one of the worst mindsets a beginner can create. You know about all the great benefits of exercise, like increased energy, weight loss, and better health. You exercise for a week straight, wake up the following Monday completely wiped out, a couple pounds heavier (because the exercise made you so hungry), and you have a cold. What gives?

Exercise definitely provides many great benefits, but the results are often seen weeks or even months after you begin. When you are consistent:

  • Your metabolism speeds up to allow for weight loss
  • Your body will adjust to the stress of exercise and you’ll feel more rejuvenated
  • Your immune system improves to help prevent sickness
  • Your strength and endurance improves, making exercise (and daily tasks) easier
  • Your mood and energy levels stabilize throughout the day
  • You sleep better at night
  • You look and feel better!

Fix it Tips: Don’t throw up your hands if you don’t see what you are looking for. Analyze what you are doing and try to make adjustments. It’s worth it.

  • Try to focus on other improvement besides weight loss–how you feel, how much you’ve learned, how you have more energy, etc.
  • Keep in mind that progress may be slow in the beginning. It probably took you many years to gain the weight you are trying to lose. You can’t expect to take it off in a fraction of the time. Plus, slow and steady weight loss (about 1-2 pounds per week) is healthier–AND you’re more likely to keep it off when it happens at this rate.
  • Get support and encouragement from a buddy, your friends and family, or on the message boards. Sometimes a kind word is all you need to stop you from giving up.

 

Common Fitness Blunders – Part 1 Read More »

4 Ways to Re-Think Your Fridge

Nutrition, Training

The first step to changing your diet is rearranging your refrigerator. How you position your groceries may shape the way you eat.

And for even more ways to revolutionize your diet and get lean for good, check out The Lean Belly Prescription by Dr. Travis Stork. It’s filled with simple strategies that will help you lose weight the same way you gained it: By making easy lifestyle choices that will transform your life—for the better.

Shelve Strategically

Fill your eye-level shelf (or top shelf) with fruits, vegetables, and other nutritious snacks. You’re 2.7 times more likely to eat healthy food if it’s in your line of sight, a Cornell University study says. “That’s also why manufacturers pay a premium to have their products at eye level in stores,” says Kit Yarrow, Ph.D., a professor of psychology and marketing at Golden Gate University.

Pack Smart

A variety of small leftover containers tempt you to eat more than you planned, says Brian Wansink, Ph.D., author of Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think. Instead, combine leftover entrees and sides so that each container has one meal’s worth.

Shop More, Buy Less

Instead of laying in supplies for the week, hit the supermarket more often and buy only for the next few meals. An overload of choices at home may deplete your willpower, a 2008 Journal of Consumer Psychology study found. “And people tend to reduce consumption when resources are scarce,” Yarrow says.

Hide the Junk

All stocked up on snacks? Now make sure you eat the good ones. In a 2009 Danish study, one in four participants who chose a healthy snack over an unhealthy one later reached for the junk anyway. So place the healthy stuff front and center, and stash small guilty pleasures out of sight.

4 Ways to Re-Think Your Fridge Read More »