How The Diet and Fat Loss Industry Has Failed You… And What You Can Do About It!
July 3rd, 2007
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by Scott Tousignant · Filed Under: Fat Loss Mindset · Fat Loss News
This blog post is a place for you to share your comments, thoughts, and fellings about the information contained in my industry insider report “How The Diet and Fat Loss Industry Has Failed You… And What You Can Do About It!”
Simply click on the leave a comment link at the top of the post and tell me what you think…
Are you sick and tired of the diet and fat loss industry taking advantage of you?
Are you more confused than ever about how you should eat and what workouts will burn fat the best?
Have you been over complicating the fat loss process?
How much effort are you willing to put forth in order to develop your dream body?
Are you ready to build a solid foundation to support your new unstoppable lifestyle?
Have you tried to find your dream body wrapped up in a pill or bottle?
Are you looking for the ’secret techniques’?
Have you been following a program that is just a temporary solution?
Do you feel that many diet and fat loss programs are just a band-aid solution?
I would love to hear what you think. You now know what I think, and I’m not going to stand for this crap any longer.
I don’t want to see you become more and more confused about what will help you get in great shape. It shouldn’t be that way.
I appreciate you taking the time to read through the special report and sharing your feelings with all of us in this community.
Have a totally frickin’ awesome day!
YOUR DREAM BODY AWAITS YOU…
Scott Tousignant, BHK, CFC
www.UnstoppableFatLoss.com
www.TheFitChic.com
Fit Chic Fat Loss Blog
www.TheFitBastard.com
Ask The Fit Bastard Blog
Check Me Out On MySpace
Scott,
First off, you are dead on. Everything you said is exactly right. I am one of the folks who “know this”, but have a hard time sticking with it. For most of my adult life, I yo-yo’d the same 20-30 lbs with diets mostly, and occasionally exercise. But, about a year and a half ago, I got serious about changing my mindset, and getting off the rollercoaster. It has taken me 18 months to lose 15 lbs of fat and gain some much needed muscle, because I refused to jump on any type of fad diet. I have tried to stick with eating whole foods and have slowly removed most of the “junk” from my diet. I also have stuck with hitting the gym 3-5 days a week, most of the time.
What I still have a problem with is “wearing down”. I just seem to get so tired of it all after 4-5 months of doing it right, and I’ll have 2-4 weeks of complete setback, not exercising and eating whatever I want.
Then I usually make myself sick, and snap out of it, and get back on track.
How do you stop that? Mostly I feel that I am changing my life, not “going on a temporary plan”, but sometimes when I see the people around me eating whatever/whenever, I feel like I’m missing out. Except more often now, I look at their bodies and remind myself that I’m missing out on that too!
Anyway, how do you stop “feeling sorry” for yourself on the one hand, while on the other hand you know that really you are blessing yourself and your family, by not living the typical “fat food” lifestyle?
I love that you tell me to stop being lazy, and get off my butt. I need someone to give me a kick in the seat every once in a while.
But, I’d really like to know how to give myself that kick?
Thanks for all you do,
Karen
Hi Karen,
Thank you so much for sharing your journey to health, fitness, and lifestyle success.
I am so incredibly proud of you for taking that stand, working on your mindset and refusing to give into the latest fad or quick fix.
I’m even more proud of you for seeing the great success in 15 pounds of fat loss along with muscle gain over an 18 month time frame.
It’s unfortunate that most people would not be happy with that… and that’s why they yo-yo.
I want to answer your question about setbacks in a couple different ways.
First off, if you haven’t read my article hear on this blog titled “I Fell Off The Wagon… Have You?” I highly recommend you head over there and read it:
http://unstoppable-fatloss.com/blog/i-fell-off-the-fat-loss-wagon-have-you/
Now here’s the thing when you are living the UNSTOPPABLE lifestyle…
Those 2 weeks that you ate whatever you felt like and you didn’t workout… It’s NOT a setback.
It’s all part of the wonderful journey that we are on. You should never feel guilty about it, you should never beat yourself up over it, you should never say,
“Here I go again… Ever time I try to get in shape after 4 or 5 months I go on a binge and screw it all up.”
That’s the way that most people think and they abandon their mission and look for alternative solutions such as stomach stapling or other severe measures to get what they are looking for.
It’s so easy to give up at that point. It’s so easy to use it as an excuse… “Oh I always fail after so many months, I’ll never have the body of my dreams”
You just put in 16 to 20 weeks of incredible effort into shaping and molding your body. 2 weeks is not going to screw it all up.
Chances are it’s your body trying to tell you to take a break. Use that time to reflect on your great successes. Enjoy some naughty foods and appreciate how great you feel when you’re eating the healthy foods.
You’ve got to give yourself permission to ease up on your program because from experience you know it won’t last long and you’ll be eating well and exercising before you know it.
In one of the Unstoppable Fat Loss interviews with Kyle Battis, he mentions that we are never off track so we never really have to get back on.
Our track will never be straight. Appreciate the curves and bends for what they are… not setbacks, but a challenge that will only make you stronger in the end.
So there’s one of my approaches to setbacks and of course it’s got to do with how you interpret the situation in your mind.
Next I will say that although these times where you are not following your program strictly are OK and you should welcome them, you should also take that time to reflect on what it may be that’s triggering it.
You mention that you get tired of it all. What is it that makes you feel that way?
Are you bored with your program?
This is often the case. I see way too many people following the same kind of routine for extended periods of time.
In The Fit Chic and The Fit Bastard Year of Workouts book, I change up the program every 4 weeks and that’s what I recommend you do with any program.
This does several thing for you. One it applies a different kind of resistance to your body and forces it to adapt by getting stronger.
Two it gives you one heck of a mental boost and brings some excitement into your program.
For me, by the third week I’m already getting excited for the next program.
Here’s another problem that I see. Following a fat loss program for too long. I highly recommend that after 12 to 16 weeks you switch phases and go from a fat burning phase to a muscle building phase.
Again that’s what I do in the programs in my books and that’s the part that I get the most positive feedback about, especially from women who were hesitant to build muscle for fear of getting big and bulky.
After 12 weeks of muscle building and shaping and sculpting your body, you can now chisel away at more fat with a refreshed attitude and feeling because you just spent 12 weeks not dieting, yet you look even better than before.
That’s a great feeling!
Now you should also reflect on if your body is just tired and actually needs a break, which very often is true. And of course don’t feel guilty about it.
You can always count on me to give you that kick in your ’seat’
I love the way you put that.
I want you to realize that I too, experience times when I don’t feel like going to the gym or don’t want to put in much effort.
But I can honestly say that since interviewing John Riccio and Nino Savona for Unstoppable Fat Loss, every single time those thoughts enter my head I think of them and what they’ve been able to accomplish with the challenges they’ve been faced with and I think to myself, “What the heck is my excuse to not give 110% of all my energy into making the most out of the body that I have?”
I have a lot of respect for my body. I want to treat it the best that I can. I am rewarded for it with limitless energy, happiness, and so much more.
Why should I treat my body like crap when I can have more energy and be happier living like this.
People may have fun eating crap, but they are not happy… Bold statement. I know.
Once again Karen, thank you for sharing your story.
My advice. Just continue to be better today than you were yesterday and better tomorrow than you are today.
Keep up the great work!
Hi Scott,
As I read through your article, I could name weight loss programs against which you rail. None of these programs start at Point Zero: a person’s dissatisfaction about his or her self-image. Someone like that needs to learn many more basic things than these online programs offer. If the only thing a beginner sees is to buy a 60 oz. supply of such-and-such powder to mix with water or milk, the beginner will put on weight. The exercise programs don’t help the beginner and they require a fairly well-established exercise practice and body to support it. I find that after several attempts at some of these, there have been only three programs that I find effective for me.
1) The liquid protein diet (1970s style: no sugars, no caffein, no alcohol, no starches, no fruit or fruit drinks. I was young enough to follow this discipline for about 6 months and I trimmed down to my weight goal. Big slip at Thanksgiving when I ate a slice of Key lime pie. The sugar affected me to the extent I could not drive. In retrospect, the weight loss was via starvation and was not a healthy program; it did work, though.
2) Eat something/anything every 2 hours, making sure nothing was too acidic. At 3PM, have a milkshake. Don’t worry about fat or non-fat ingredients. The practice of never allowing me to have an empty stomach and relying on the meal-intervals to address any hunger pangs should they occur. The physician assigned this plan to address a suspected ulcer, but I found that I did lose weight eating anything I wanted–except coffee, tomatoes and citrus. No ulcer, but several belt sizes lost without any loss of energy.
3) Do “push-backs” except at breakfast. This program came from a conversation with Ronny Lott (SF 49er) at the gym we belonged to. I had asked how to get the abdominals like his were. He said he never did ab exercises. The rest of a well-structured exercise program including lots of cardio reveals the 6-pack everyone has. Then, push back from the table at meals, don’t take second helpings, eat about 80% of the food. I find that this is the easiest, effective program. Reduce caloric intake per day allowing physical activities to consume more calories than go into the mouth. No meal counting, no content constraints (except for adhering to a balanced diet), establish a total caloric intake limit per day and stick to it. This
will change one’s eating habits over time and will be effective for achieving your body’s preferred weight. Be conscious of exercising every day to some extent. Allow one year.
The online marketers are like those in magazines. Also, some sites continue to assault those who already purchased a membership and make their pitches seem like new or additional benefits of membership. At least four sites I can name circulate their articles to each other and these articles are packaged to market each other’s programs.
When I see that, I recognize a common, systematic marketing approach that claims it generates higher revenues for the online trainer or fitness expert. My reaction is to delete redundant emails.
Regards,
Peter
Hi Peter,
Thanks for information packed response.
You raised some great points about self image.
I also like that you said there are 3 programs that worked for ME.
The problem that I have is the majority of programs will say that this is the best diet ever and claim that it will work for everyone.
Very low carb diets may be the perfect thing for some people, but not for others.. and so on.
Your #1 program seems a bit extreme to me, but like you said, it worked for you. I personally am able to consume large quantities of natural starches such as potatoes and oatmeal as well as fruit and lose weight.
I never recommend fruit juices though.
The thing that’s great about your #2 diet is exactly what you mention… always satisfied, never full.
People who try to go several hours without eating, often end up picking at food while they are preparing their late night meals and in many cases consume meal size portions of snacks before the actual meal.
Love the #3 Approach. Ronny Lott’s more than just a great football player I see. I am asked the exact same question pretty much daily. How can I get abs like yours?
They are blown away when I say that all I do is 1 abdominal exercise per week and only once per week.
You can train your abs other ways and yes, no matter how many ab exercises you do until you are blue in the face, you’ll never see them with a layer of fat over them. Do your cardio and use nutrition to get your abs to show.
I just did an incredible interview with Mike Geary which will be posted up at the blog:
http://www.AskTheFitBastard.com/blog and
http://www.FitChicFatLoss.com/blog
in the next couple days.
He’s got a great book called The Truth About Abs http://www.6PackTruth.com
The large majority of his book is not about ab exercises at all. In fact he shows more exercises to train the rest of your body that will work your abs at the same time.
Like I said in my report. I have no problem recommending other products that I know are of high quality and will truly help you in your journey to fitness success.
I love doing interviews with these experts, delivering great content, and sharing their products that may suit members of my community.
I do earn a commission from recommending their products and this is part of my business that I am supporting my family with.
I am a man of integrity and would only recommend products and programs that I’ve personally read and applied.
I’ve been asked by way too many people to interview them and promote their products and upon review of their products I had to turn them down because it just wasn’t up to the standards that I like to deliver to you and the rest of the members in our community here.
I have your best interests at heart and am 100% committed to your success.
A lot of work time and effort goes into what I do and I absolutely love it. Especially when I receive comments and feedback from my readers…. That really excites me.
So thank you so very much for your great comments and sharing what has worked for you over the years. I’m sure that it will help many people that read it.
Have a totally amazing day Peter!
Hi Scott
I cannot thank you enough, for being so HONEST and saying it exactly like it is, IT IS ABOUT TIME SOMEONE DID.
I am a personal trainer, I am from South Africa.
I have been battling to get my clients TO GET IT! Now thanks to you, I can email what you have written to them, it says exactly what I have been trying to say in a really nice way. I have read it twice and it has inspired me to do better not only as a trainer for my clients but for myself as a person.
I too have seen this industry fall apart over the years and have been sickened by it. Thanks!
What was so inspiring is that you refer to the fat loss, but it boils down to getting your head together use sense not “common†sense instead of all the endless advertising doing your head in.
South Africa could do with some great trainers instead of so many who woke up one morning and decided to work less and earn more money, at the expense of real people who are trying to make sense of all the confusion.
WELL DONE!
Chantelle Venter – Personal Trainer
Nat.Cert.Ex.Sc
Hi Chantelle,
It’s great to see another fitness professional share the same views as me.
I do mention fat loss because it is one of the goals that people are aiming for… but really it’s so much more than that.
I had a great conversation with another fitness professional and good friend of mine John Allen Mollenhauer “JAM” the other day.
We were talking about that exact topic. When you are living the Unstoppable lifestyle, eating healthy foods because they make you feel fantastic, exercising because you are doing the activities that you enjoy, the fat loss just becomes secondary.
I always bring up my early morning 45 minute brisk walk because I bounce out of bed excited to get out there not because I want to burn fat, but because I really enjoy it.
I love listening to educational audios while I’m out there, or listen to the animals all around me, and take everything in around me.
I’ve seen many a shooting star out on my early morning walks because I am at peace out there with a clear head and zest for life.
If I was strictly focused on the fat loss I would be stressing out while I was out there.
Like I’ve said, the unstoppable fat loss mindset is so much more than just positive thinking and goal setting.
Mindset is much bigger than that and it will have a huge impact on your approach to fat loss forever.
Keep driving home the message Chantelle
You’ll change many lives in the process.
I thank you for your kind words and efforts to make the world a healthier place.
Have a totally fantastic day!
I am a 51 year old male who has been into fitness since I was 10. I used to be heavy into body building because it always made me feel “great” both during and after my workouts. I still continue to work out 3-6 times a week. My question is this: Can a 51 year old man still pack on muscle mass or should I focus on a maintenance program and keeping my fat content to about 10%?
Thanx
cb
Aloha Scott,
Let me tell you a little bit about my fat loss journey. I am a 37 year old working single mom, my daughter is 4 years old, and since her birth in 2003 I have gained 40 lbs and struggled on and off with depression. In mid-July of this year, I did an 11 day “Master Cleanse†(lemonade/maple syrup/cayenne pepper/water) fast on the advice of my naturopath to help with symptoms of acid reflux, constipation, and poor digestion. I know you are skeptical of such things, but all I can say is that my acid reflux/digestive problems–all gone. As a side benefit, I lost 8 pounds, but I got so much more out of it then I ever imagined I would (especially in terms of insight into the psychological factors that make me eat/overeat). When I was finished I felt so good and healthy and clean and positive that I didn’t want to put anything harmful into my newly-rejuvenated self, so I followed my instincts and only consumed raw, plant-based food. I didn’t know how long that would last, but its been about 6 weeks now, and I’ve lost an additional 20 pounds, I’ve reinstigated my (long-dormant, physically-demanding) yoga practice, and most importantly I feel radiantly healthy inside and out, mentally and physically. I’m in the ZONE. I just want to keep going.
I used to love to lift weights at the gym, and while that’s not really possible now due to my demanding schedule, I figured I could at least get some dumbells and work out a bit at home. I got a dumbbell set, a set of elastic bands, and a swiss ball at the local sporting goods store.
I made an appointment with a personal trainer, just wanting someone knowledgeable to come to my house and set me up with a few workouts that I could do given the space/equipment/size I have. A very large muscle-bound man showed up at my house, and after talking to me a bit, told me he thought cleansing and raw foods was a joke, and that if I wanted to be his client I would need to eat “at least tofu and oatmealâ€. His rationale being that I could never build/develop muscle on such a low-protein, high-carbohydrate diet, and so I wouldn’t get good results and this would “reflect badly†on him. He also told me he was an expert with 15 years of experience and a passion for diet and nutrition, and didn’t want a client who was second-guessing his advice in that area. So he fired me as a client!
This just made me more determined. I know how my dietary choices are making me feel (absolutely, unbelievably great) and I’m not going to question that. And I also know that its possible for me to get a fit, healthy, toned, beautiful body if I’m willing to work for it, which I am. I got on my favorite research tool, the internet, and ran into a lot of conflicting advice. Lots of reps, low weight! Fewer reps, heavy weight! High carb! Low carb! Cardio burns fat! Cardio makes you fat! Then I found The Fit Bastard on YouTube speaking rationally about supplements. Glory hallelujah! That led me to http://www.thefitchic.com and knew I had found just the right thing for me. I’ve been working out with the Fit Chick plan for about 3 days now, and its easy and fun and exciting and takes barely any time at all.
But seriously, I very much like your down to earth, practical, empowering style. Everything you are saying sounds so right on in terms of mental attitude and the willingness to do the work (exercise), but work smarter not harder. And make it fun. I can agree to disagree on the topics of detoxing, cleansing, and diet and still reap the benefits of the Fit Chick plan.
But the best part about your program is, since you don’t actually know me, you can’t fire me for eating how I like! (Which is anything and as much of it as I want as long as it is raw fruits and vegetables. And a SILLY amount of avocados and macadamia nuts for someone losing almost a pound a day. That’s living foods enzyme action. I’m a believer. Put that in your pipe and smoke it, nutritionists!)
Thanks so much, Scott, for all your words of encouragement and advice. I already KNOW I have my dream body waiting for me, its just waiting to be revealed. It’s a foregone conclusion. I’m a 5%-er. I’m UNSTOPABLE.
Mahalo nui,
Jennifer
Maui, Hawaii
Aloha Jennifer,
Wow, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the time that you took to tell me about yourself and how you are living the Unstoppable Lifestyle.
How can I argue with something that makes you feel great, look great, and has you super pumped up and passionate about continuing to improve your body and health?
I’ve done a cleanse once before for 12 days. (but I was allowed some food, it wasn’t just a liquid diet.) First 2 days were great, third day I felt like I got hit by a semi. After that I began to feel awesome.
But I would never do it again because I did feel deprived and I do enjoy meat and a tasty chocolate bar once a week. But that is just me.
I’m just not one for extremes, but obviously in your case it didn’t feel so extreme and it actually helped you develop some wonderful habits.
I’m all for raw foods baby! It’s really where you are going to get much of your nutrients and energy from.
Nutrition is very personal and unique to each individual and that’s the problem that I see with the industry is that they come up with a plan and all of the sudden that’s the only one that works. I don’t think so!
I see people do very well on low protein – high carb and I see people do very well on the exact opposite.
The key is to find what works best for you, what makes you feel the best, and what you can stick to as a lifestyle for the long term.
All of my answers are not the ‘right’ answer. The right answer is what’s going to work for YOU.
Avocado’s and macadamia nuts… mmm healthy fats
I’ve had some of those hawaiian macadamia nuts before… good stuff.
All that I can say is it’s a darn good thing that your trainer fired you. I would hate to see you comply to something that does not feel natural to you.
The only true way to find out what works is to try different things, give 100% effort and base it on the results that you achieve.
I think you have your answers. Still, keep an open mind to other options and when the time is right give them a try too.
Keep up the great work my Unstoppable Friend!
Scott Tousignant, BHK, CFC
http://www.FitChicFatLoss.com
Scott. Thank you for the how the diet and fat loss industry has failed you…. That was a fantastic ebook. It didn’t seem like I was gonna get around to reading it any time soon. So I converted it to an audio file (hope that’s alright) burned it to a cd and played it at work today. It was right on the money about safe and permanent, common sense weight loss.
I am not overweight. But I have the same battles and body fat issues to deal with as those who are. It’s as much of a battle for me to gain or to keep one pound of weight as it is for anyone to lose a pound of weight. Do you know what really motivates me to keep exercising and controlling my diet? Liking or disliking what I see in the mirror. I know from personal experience that I haven’t liked my body when I was inconsistent with my diet and exercise programs. And when I say diet, I’m not talking about those starvation, deprivation or rigid diet plans that will only deliver quick fixes and short term results. Diets that I can’t see anyone living with for the rest of their lives. I’m talking about a lifestyle of healthy eating. Replacing processed and junk foods with fruits and vegetables and other healthier alternatives. I didn’t say it would be easy. But for me, being lean, fit and healthy (with a body I can be satisfied looking at and living in) is more important to me than anything I can eat. No matter how good it is. By all means my diet is not perfect. There is plenty of room for improvement. I think most of us have an idea of the type of foods that will blow us up and keep us overweight. Here is a partial list: cakes, pies, cookies, donuts, pastries, biscuits, muffins, some fast food and several more non-nutritional junk food items. And when you add in the fillings and the toppings, you’ve multiplied the calories of that junk. And that doesn’t include the calorie surpluses one may ingest from other foods. I do eat junk food occasionally. It seems to have the highest amount of calories. And as an ectomorph I need all of the calories I can get. But moderation is the key. I don’t want to get sick or obese or to add 50 plus pounds of body fat to my body.
I’m gonna wrap this up now. Good luck to all of you out there who want to lose weight and keep it off. There is only one diet plan that I would consider implementing into my life. It’s called the new dash eating plan. A copy of that diet plan can be found, I think on the US Food and Drug Administration web site. The new dash eating plan appears to be a healthy eating plan consisting mostly of fruits, vegetables, meats and dairy products. Natural food choices. I don’t think I’d have a problem living with that. Meats, fruits, vegetables, soups, salads and dairy products never made me obese. Those foods make up the bulk of my diet. To paraphrase Scott in the diet and fat loss industry ebook, it’s the lifestyle of over-eating an abundance of processed, carbohydrates (starches and sugars) that are usually linked to obesity and health problems.
Scott – Thanks for “How the Diet & Fat Loss Inductry has failed you”. I am 50 yr old female, 30 lbs over weight, 18 months post heart attack and I’ve been looking for over a year for the “thing” that will help me lose weight. I’ve tried many of the ones you have mentioned in previous blogs. I don’t have the discipline to count calories. I’ve detoxed by removing everything and then adding items back in. I’ve tried one of the commercial weight loss programs. Though I’ve stuck to that program, it’s not helping the weight come off. I’ve now decided to try their “Core” program. After reading your email today, I knew what I had just started to do was what you were suggesting – eating from the perimeter of a grocery store & staying out of the aisles. Am I serious – yes, I just spent several hours making homemade soup with beans, ground chicken, vegies, organic sauces & broth, etc. It tastes great.
The exercise portion was getting boring. After having tried BFFM, & TT, both of which I did at a gym, alone, I find I need more structure. I am one of those who really gives 100% in a cardio or weight training/resistance class. I’ve just purchased some DVD’s that combine both cardio, weights and HIIT. I did the first set yesterday and felt great. I am not one of those who “watches” a DVD – I’m glad & thought to grab a towel. It is a commercial DVD but if it does what I need and want, it will work. I don’t expect it to fall off, I just want to see progress. I’m measuring myself today so I have a base line to compare with. I’ll keep you posted.
thanks for the enlightenment Scott! I totally agree on all the things you have said in your report..keep it going man!I could honestly say that all your efforts genuinely educate people who are confused on how to get fit and healthy..oftentimes its more of the rubbish marketing the wellness industry seemed to have over exaggerate just to sell off their quick fix formulas to desperate people..i am in a point wherein i just allow myself open to all these inputs from you fitness experts and just pick up exercises and choose from the “right”menu of food which is in the all natural category..it is difficult as there are alot of distractions out there..and good food can also be expensive on the long haul… but the journey is worth it..if it was that easy i would’nt even started shedding off the fat i had eversince i was young because i easily get bored of doing redundant things..i think im not alone there..but now im growing up and getting old, its time to get smart..its all in the mindset..i double agree on that..keep your helpful advises, tips,exercises,recipes and all other healthy stuff coming..i truly enjoy it and these things you do positively contribute a lot of sense in the wellness perspective of things..more power to you and your friends!
It seems to me that the fitness-scam professionals are taking over where the doctors left off, treating the symptoms and not the cause.
It drives me nuts to see overweight, out of shape people sit on their back sides and declare that they are fat because
- genes
- contagion (the latest excuse from the media)
- a virus
not one says it’s to do with their lifestyle or nutritional habits. Not one.
The “wine is good for you” scam makes me see red! Sure there are anti occidants in red wine BUT only in the deposit at the bottom of the bottle, and that you’ll only find in the really GOOD, grand wines, not your regular “yellow tail” and others in that price category!! And in any case, you don’t eat that deposit, and mainly get alcohol in you! No good.
What anyone can find to say for beer, is beyond me, but then I don’t like the taste to start with.
My absolute healthiest period in my entire life was when I embraced the teachings of Natural Hygiene. The trouble is, it’s a lifestyle that doesn’t fit in well with modern social life.
My period of most wellbeing, has been these past years with the serious, scam-free fitness community, the guys and gals who give it to you straight! Not only is the lifestyle compatible with socializing (as long as you can get your friends to accept that your glass of water with a wedge of lemon is in fact a DRINK), you also get to use your body in a great way.
I’m no cardio-freak, far from it. I won’t even DO any if I can get away with that. But I do shorten my rest periods while weight training and that seems to work just fine for me. Come spring, I’ll get back to the morning walks, like Scott I enjoy those. They are great for clearing my head of the cob-webs from the night.
Stop procrastinating. Stop looking for the quick fix that doesn’t exist. Take charge of your life and your bodies. Get real! And while we’re at it … get the scammers to go bankrupt (nice dream, now let’s do it!)
Scott,
Thanks for the report. You’re exactly right. I always struggled with 30 extra pounds, but thanks to following diet fads through my 20’s I ended up 100 lbs over weight at 36 years old. I finally ditched the “all or nothing” mindset and made a life style change. With no research I decided that natural foods from the earth were probably best. I’ve done much research since the beginning (and losing 86 lbs in 12 mos.) and can’t find anything better than what I started with…healthy eating, cardio and resistance training. My body is still holding on to the last 20 or so pounds, but that’s ok because I know it will eventually come off. It took me 10 years of eating complete crap to gain the extra weight so I don’t expect to lose it in a few weeks. Anyway, I appreciate all you do and love the recipes and advice!
Brian
(for anyone who is just “lurking” here and hasn’t made a change yet, please believe me when I tell you that you may dread or hate exercising, but you will eventually come to love it and the healthy foods! To quote Tom Venuto: “Nothing tastes as good as being lean feels”.)
Hi Scott
Its obvious that you know what you are talking about and you do seem genuine in your information. I am big guy….not muscular…..just big….called obese by doctors im 6′2 and 300 + pounds…im sick of being over weight….i have kids that need a fit father and not a slow….not a blahhhhh dad. Think they would be my motivation, but they are just not enough. I’ve always been over weight and i have had enough. For months i have been reading from numerous different experts……..YEAH IM CONFUSED.
No i don’t believe in a super pill….but i have daily time limits and resources($$$)to make this happen. I have the will…the desire….just need to be directed down the right path and a path that will see some results. i know it will be a life change and it will require work for a few yaers and maintainence after.
Help free me from this maddness
Thanks for you and this site.
Paul
Thank you for saying what none of the other experts have the nerve to say! (I guess they’re more concerned with being a “fitness celebrity” or being the ONLY fitness guru on the block.) When I worked (VERY) hard at a fairly popular fitness regimen, I would see all these wacky things going on around me at the gym. Then, after 3 months of hitting the gym 6 days a week (as insisted upon by the regimen), and strictly following their diet – with their VERY unnatural supplements – I dropped only 15 pounds, and my upper arms had even gotten bigger! In fact, my “After” picture almost looked like it could’ve been a “Before” picture! I was crushed. After all, wasn’t this THE ONLY way to get fit, and NOTHING ELSE would EVER work?! And that’s what began my long journey on a series of “ONLY FITNESS PROGRAM” nonsense. I even found myself doing some of the wacky things I’d witnessed at the gym! Sad to say, I’m actually worse off now, than when I started on that 1st fitness program. Still, after reading a bunch of your email blasts and blog posts, I’ve been doing a couple of things I know I need, and started doing a couple of fun, but physically-challenging activities (like fast-walking to and from work, roller skating a couple times a week, etc.). I will continue to add and/or swap out exercises and activities, and I think the long-haul lifestyle change will do me more good than any hard-core, short-term, intense body-building mentality. I’ve gotten my life back from out of the gym. I will continue to read your information for inspiration and tips. Thank you for being the voice of reason!
Hey Scott!
This was a great article! I think you are bang on but ballsy too, cause shmuck who sold a book is gonna be mad! Ahh well. I’ll never forget the first diet I tried, it lasted about 2 days. One of those high protien things a friend had told me about. I was starving! and Miserable. It was then ( after particularily watching a friend yoyo diet, lose 20 lbs, gain 30 lbs.) That I knew dieting was stupid.
After much trial and error, I eat very well, very lil processed food.
Sad truth about for alot of People now a days are looking for easy-peasy instant gratification and a lot of “fat or weight loss experts” have clued in to this. I know that I can want an item, buy it and feel great for a short time and then move onto desiring something else, vicous cycle. Or I can work my butt off, eat very well, get into a powerful mindset, lose the 11 lbs. of fat in that last 3 months that I have and feel really good about my acheivments!
Truth is most people do not want to work hard enough to get real buff, so they try and cheat thier way there. But as you know its a continual journey, not a destination.
Cheers! (with lemon water of course)