More Information Than Ever yet Less Results?

All it takes is one trip to the book store or even to the grocery store checkout line to see that there is more than enough information regarding fat loss. The issue, the majority of it is junk! We know more about the human body, biochemistry, and physics than ever before yet we are getting larger, less healthy, and lethargic...

If personal trainers, PhDs of Nutrition, and dietitians can get caught up in this nearly useless information, what is someone who has never studied and trusts the magazines and the "low carb guru" suppose to do? Granted, the personal trainers, PhDs, and dietitians can sort through the information and come back to the basics that matter, but most people will be swept away in Acai Berries, or no carb junk, or what have you. 

This is a call to STOP looking at magazines. If you enjoy learning new tricks and you have the basics down then fine, but if you are struggling with losing any weight please do NOT read the magazines and fad books. Learn the basics. People learn so much they get "analysis paralysis." You're better off focusing on veggies, lean protein, and some fruit along with a few other basic habits then you are trying to stay up to date. The human body has not changed. Physiology has not changed. Our "food," habits, and mind sets have changed. 

Most people know what it takes. Eat less, move more, get your veggies. If you aren't losing weight, you're eating too many calories and/or not moving enough. It's that simple. Stop studying, start DOING! And get an accountability partner or two. You'll be glad you did. Not to mention your stress levels will drop because you aren't being confused by "gurus" and "experts."

You're better off doing something mediocre that is based on solid common sense than you are not doing the most advanced, science-based program.




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Change for a Better Life

When I was training at an awesome bootcamp, someone told me that, after a year of hard work, for the first time they were playing with their kids and their kids were tired before she was! To see that she could actually catch them while playing tag and she could out-endure them was an eye opener to her and to me! She added a TON of value to her life through habit change! To see the emotion and how much that meant to her was AWESOME!
 
Recently I have been looking into becoming a Wellness/Life Coach. Throughout the years I've noticed that those who get and KEEP the results most people are searching for focus on lifestyle change. They gradually change their habits. They realize that they have been stagnant and they aren't where they want to be. They see a potential future of not having energy, having diabetes, obesity, not being able to enjoy playing with their kids and grandchildren, and so on if they don't do something about it now. They also see the life they could have. High energy, lean (doesn't have to mean six-pack), healthy, vibrant, playing with their kids and grandchildren, going on adventures... fulfilling whatever their life goals are! 

I've also noticed that many personal training clients come and go. They come in, a personal trainer gives them into a routine but they never really see change. Those who are truly motivated get fantastic results whether they came in with that fire in their heart or the personal trainer is a great coach and helped them reach that level of motivation. This bugs me. There must be a better way of helping people change their own lives! Not just set a New Years Resolution and spend hundreds of dollars to end up right back where they started.

Then I see Wellness Coaching on the rise. People who help guide others through life. They help get rid of the clutter in your mind and help you focus your efforts on your true goals. I see these coaches helping others get phenomenal results and those results generally stay for a lifetime! Having a strong love for restoration and improvement, I want to help others get better together! I don't want them to just come in, do their workout and walk out frustrated. If they are happy with what they are doing, that's great, but I'm talking about those who are struggling and feel "stuck."

So what's the point of this article? To open your eyes to possibility and a new part of the health and fitness industry that is on the rise and has a GREAT potential for helping change people's lives. You can reach your goals! These Wellness Coaches can help! 

Check out more in this article.




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A Lesson From the Successful

Ya know when you go into a store just to see if there's a deal. You think, "there may be ONE thing that is a steal." Well today I went into a Goodwill with that thought in my mind. Maybe there is something worth getting, maybe not, but I'm already driving by so I might as well see.

Well to my surprise I walked out with $25 in books. Now this may not seem like much but keep in mind this is Goodwill. The most expensive book was only $2.99! 

Here's a list of what I found:

     1.) "Developing the Leader Within You" by John C. Maxwell
     2.) "The 3-Hour Diet" by Jorge Cruise
     3.) "The Rational Manager" by Charles H. Kepner and Benjamin B. Tregoe
     4.) "Wins, Losses, and Lessons" by Jou Holtz
     5.) "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen Covey
     6.) "Inbound Marketing" by Brian Halligan and Dharmesh Shah
     7.) "The Discipline of Market Leaders" Michael Treacy and Fred Wiersema
     8.) "Leadership Secrets of the World's Most Successful CEOs" by Eric
          Yaverbaum
     9.) "YouTube for Business" by Michael Miller
     10.) "The Starbucks Experience" by Joseph A. Michelli
     11.) "Business Plans That Work" by Jeffry A. Timmons, Andrew Zacharakis, 
          and Stephen Spinelli

Well that's all fine and dandy but what's the point? Well there are 2 points here:

1.) NEVER stop learning!

The more I observe and read about the successful, whether CEOs, stay at home moms, and someone in the middle of their journey to better health, they all share a certain habit. They are always learning. Now this doesn't mean looking for the newest fad information and what have you, the successful search for TRUTH. They observe other people, read books, and so on. They even hang out with people who are further along the road they want to take! That is KEY! Did you absorb that? The crowd you hang around will affect who you become! Zig Ziglar even suggests investing in "automobile university."

2.) Truth!

As I mentioned above, the successful search for truth! People all over the world are becoming more and more hungry for truth. I personal believe this is one reason why Dave Ramsey's books and services sell so well.

Notice in the list of books I got, there was only 1 book related to fitness and nutrition. This isn't just because I have already learned what the other books were about but because many of them were junk! They were about fad diets! I saw a few that were actually decent and about the PRINCIPLES behind weight loss and body transformation. That's why I made this blog, to help you.

Continued learning will not only expand your horizons but it helps keep you focused on whatever you are learning about. The more you learn about weight loss and being healthy, the more you think about it and the better the chance of your habits changing! Listening to the Bible while driving may help keep you more focused on God instead of holding a grudge against the guy who cut you off. 

I conclusion, "Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance," Proverbs 1:5

"Suck" up the knowledge.

For those of you who recognize Dunkin Donuts colors, that is a Dunkin Donuts straw I am using to pretend to drink information from a Starbucks book. Oops! :)

When Weight Loss Gets Tough!

Today I just didn't feel like working out. Oh no! A PERSONAL TRAINER didn't feel like exercising? Yeah, yeah... We're human too. :) But seriously I just didn't feel like working out, at all! But I knew that yesterday, when I was supposed to have done the workout, I didn't. I knew I had to suck it up and get to it or the results wouldn't ever show their pretty little face.

So I figured I'd at least get a few quick sets of squats in and see how it goes. I started warming up by doing a few reps with the bar to get blood flowing and to get loosened up. After lifting 135 and 185 for a few reps each I did some more mobility stuff until I felt the right muscles were warm and I had optimal range of motion. Then I got 225 without the weightlifting belt and it felt pretty good. So I went for 275. Great. Then I put the belt on and hit 295 for 1 rep. Then 315 for 1 rep. Now my previous max was 315 pounds for 1 repetition, so I was feeling pretty good and surprised that it felt relatively "light." Especially compared to my eye popping effort that last time I tried. I was very optimistic so I went for 325 pounds and instead of doing 1 rep I did 3! I was blown away! This was NOT the typical training session. In fact, for the last few months I had been stuck around 300.

This story is not meant to "toot my own horn," but to illustrate that there are ups and downs in any exercise regimen just like in life. Sometimes life happens and you need to easy up a little. On the other hand, life may be going wonderfully! Your stress is down, sleep is good, nutrition is right on, so you push a little harder.

Obviously, along with this ebb and flow, results fluctuate. Your goal may not be to lift a house. If your goal is weight loss, you may start a program and lose five pounds the first week. The second week you only lose two pounds. For the next few months you may lose about one pound per week. Now through the weeks you had your ups and downs. One week you may lose 3 pounds then next you gain back one. I've even seen people fluctuate as much as five pounds in one day! Granted that is more food and water weight. Other people are like clock work and they can expect one or two pounds lose per week. Even day-to-day they lose about the same every day.

The point of this article is to take some weight off your shoulders and encourage you. Goals aren't reached overnight. If they are, you're probably not challenging yourself enough. 

Life has it's ups and downs, so don't get discouraged. Roll with the punches. If you're having a tough time reaching your goals, take a step back and analyze what you are doing. What are the barriers keeping you from reaching your goals? What are your weaknesses? How can you change them? 

In life and especially in fitness, the successful are those who stuck with it. They went through the war zone and the tough times, but they held in there and now they're enjoying the rewards! Don't give up! Find support and buckle down! You CAN do it!

"...suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." (Excerpt from Romans 5:3-4 NIV)

The #1 "Secret" to all Success

No Limits

Remember when you were a kid? When you had so many dreams and aspirations? When ANYTHING was possible! When there were no limits! Those were the good ole days. So what happened? Where are you now? Are you where you want to be? Did your dreams come true?

If your dreams came true, congratulations. I applaud you and encourage you to dream more and set new goals to achieve! If not, why not? What stopped you? Did "life" get in the way? Did you let it get in the way? What happened?

Many of us have aspirations and dreams through out life. The difference is, when we are kids we see no limits, however, we lack the knowledge and experience that comes with age. That knowledge and experience, as well as age so people take us seriously, enables us to achieve. On the flip side, as we become adults, we tend to limit ourselves. For whatever reason, we get stuck in a rut. 

I know I'm young and that may work against me, but David was a youngster when he took out Goliath (true story). So with one limit hopefully taken off me, I'm here to encourage you to take your limits off! What's your dream? Dream career? Dream body? Dream knowledge level? Dream family? Dream adventure? Whatever your dream is keep it in mind. 

Part 1

The "secret" has 2 parts. Part one, get your mindset right. Will it take work to reach your dreams? Yes. Will it come quickly? Probably not. Will there be sacrifice? Most likely. Keep in mind sacrifice is giving something up for something better or more important (check the dictionary). But will it be worth it? Absolutely!

Part of the new mindset is inspiration! As one of my favorite coaches, Todd Durkin, says, "Live Inspired!" To live inspired is to read inspiring books, watch inspiring movies, listen to mentors who will help you achieve. To live inspired is to get your blood going everyday! Whatever it is, feed your dream and keep that mindset that you CAN achieve! WRITE YOUR DREAMS DOWN and remind yourself of them EVERYDAY so you stay focused! Don't get side-tracked!

Part 2

Part two is, take ACTION! It's not enough just to dream. That's what many are already doing but it's the successful ones who had a dream and took action! You can sit in a car all you want but until you put it in drive, you don't move.

So dream, plan, take action, and stay focused! Don't let anyone tell you that you can't! Get a mentor! Whatever it takes... Dream! Do!