Five reasons why you should feel guilty about over-eating during the holiday weekend and indulging in chocolate bunnies…

5) You believe in striving for perfection

4) You love to verbally abuse yourself with phrases such as, “You’re such a failure. I hate myself for always sabotaging my goals.”

3) You believe that chocolate is evil and will go directly to your hips the second it touches your lips.

2) You get a high from the self torture that you go through as you watch everyone else eat desert while you refuse.

1) You believe that you must never eat junk food as a punishment for bad behavior
in a previous lifetime.

I hope that you realized I was joking before you got to #1.

Bottom line, you should never feel guilty for eating the foods that you enjoy even if they are not a healthy option.

I certainly don’t feel guilty about eating an entire chocolate bunny yesterday. In fact I look better today than I did two days ago.

Believe it or not cheating on your diet actually helps you reach your goals. It’s one of the best things that you can do.

Don’t believe me?

You need to check out the two case studies here… The Cheat To Lose Diet

If it wasn’t for planning chocolate and pizza into my nutrition plan I would be a basket case and there’s no way that I would have 6 pack abs without these little indulgences.

Promise me that you’ll never feel guilty again after eating junk food. No good ever comes from these feelings of guilt.

It’s time to look at some of our favorite foods in a whole new light.

I love case studies and I especially love success stories from real people who didn’t go to extreme measures in order to achieve their goals.

Check it out for yourself here… The Cheat To Lose Diet

Scott Tousignant, BHK, CFC

I woke up at 6am this morning and was so excited to get out for my morning walk. It was still dark. I love this because it’s very quiet and I feel so centered while walking and listening to the birds chirping. I also caught a few glimpses of some bunnies hopping around! (Hiding those eggs, I bet:) ) My walks not only help me to maintain my physical health, but are also very therapeutic for me.

I find that my thoughts get more organized and many of my concerns get sorted out or ‘answered’ you could say. I feel a wonderful calmness inside when I walk in the stillness of the early morning.

Many people shrug off walking and think that you need to do really heavy sweating for long periods of time to achieve a certain level of fitness. What I want to stress is that you CAN have intense cardio sessions as well as incorporate a brisk walk into your fitness routine. It really is all part of the package. Why exclude an activity that you may love to do?

A simple walk will: get your heart rate elevated, increase blood flow to all your vital organs, lubricate your joints, clear your mind, burn calories, and enhance your mood. Of course, there is a much lengthier list to the benefits of walking. I have only listed a mere few.

I just wanted to share this experience with you! Remember, you CAN find the time to exercise, you only need to WANT to.

Cheers to health,

Angie
ISSA - C.P.T., B.ED.

Do you want a quick breakfast for the road? Looking for a healthy snack option? Need some ideas for your child’s lunch? Try making these Banana Nut Muffins. They are easy to make and full of many nutrients.

Banana Muffins

Here’s how I make them really healthy:

3 large, ripe bananas
½ c. sugar
1 tbsp. honey
1 egg
1/3 c. melted butter
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
¾ c. white flour
¾ c. whole wheat flour
½ c. walnuts
¼ c. ground flax seeds

Mash up the bananas and add the sugar, honey, egg, and melted butter. Mix up the dry ingredients and add the banana mixture to it. Mix everything together.

Scoop out mixture into greased muffin tray. Makes 12 muffins. Bake at 375 for 20 min.

** I like to add the whole wheat flour and ground flax seeds to make it healthier. **

The bananas are a great source of potassium and fiber. The flax seeds are full of fiber as well. Also, walnuts are an excellent nut and full of omega 3 fatty acids.

Enjoy!

Cheers to health,

Angie Tousignant, ISSA – C.P.T.,B.Ed. Creator of “More Love Less Fat” - A Couples Guide To Transforming Your Body and Relationship. She is committed to helping women and couples to be the best they can through exercise and nutrition.

I have never seen an opportunity like this in the fitness industry. Trust me, you are going to want to keep reading and click on the links below. This is all thanks to my friend Nick Nilsson, the most creative fitness guru out there. He’s so creative that he’s adopted the nick name “Mad Scientist”.

Angie and I have both experienced great success with Nick’s workout programs over the past 4 years. I have also been using his programs to help my personal training clients achieve phenomenal results.

I gained six and a half pounds of lean muscle mass in just 28 days with his “Muscle Explosion” program. Angie firmed up her thighs and tightened her butt with Nick’s “Gluteus To The Maximus” program. This is also the program that I put many of my female clients through as well as some of the guys who want to build a butt because theirs is flat.

Lets face it. When you get a new workout program you expect to learn something new. Often times you discover that it’s the same old recycled crap on the market. One thing that I can guarantee with Nick’s programs is that you will learn something new from each one.

Here’s The Great News…

This week Nick is giving you some great samples from his programs for you to implement immediately. Simple visit the links below and sign up for the sample exercise and courses on each page. You will find the sign up box at the top right hand corner of the page.

Here’s Even Better News…

When you sign up for these sample exercises and courses you will be provided with a special link for 50% off of all of Nick’s programs. This is a really big deal. Why?

Because Nick’s programs are already a crazy bargain. Seriously! He’s been told for years to raise his prices but he prides himself on over-delivering.

With his programs being 50% off this week it’s an absolute steal and I am not exaggerating.

If you want to learn something new and you want to make 2009 the year that you finally achieve the body that you deserve, I highly recommend that you jump on this offer.

I own all of Nick’s programs and love each one of them. If you have any questions at all please do not hesitate to ask.

Bonus:

If you take advantage of either Muscle Explosion or Gluteus To The Maximus send me an email with the receipt number and I will send you a link to a special private call that I did with Nick on how to make the most out of each of those programs.

Those two calls really helped Angie and I make the most out of the programs. Nick delivered unbelievable content in those calls. I’ll make a point to schedule some calls for Nick’s other programs to help you make the most out of them as well.

But for now I would like you to click on the links below and sign up for the sample exercises and courses. You’ll really enjoy them.

Metabolic Surge - This is a unique diet program offered by Nick. It’s definitely unconventional and that’s probably why it works so well.

Gluteus To The Maximus - If you want to learn some great new exercises to work your butt and thighs along with a variety of unique workout programs to help you firm your butt, this is one hell of a program.

Muscle Explosion - I gained 6 1/2 pounds of muscle mass in just 28 days following Muscle Explosion. The amazing thing is that I’m a self proclaimed hard gainer. This program blew my mind.

Best Abs Exercises You’ve Never Heard Of - Want a new and unique program to work your abs? This is one workout program that you must try. I love Nick’s creativity and I incorporate many of his abs exercises into my programs.

Hybrid Training - This program left me in awe. I had never witnessed this form of training. If you want to completely shock your system and force your body to change, this program with amaze you.

Best Exercises You’ve Never Heard Of - This was the first program of Nick’s that I ever purchased. It’s what turned me onto his work and made me a raving fan of everything that he creates.

Specialization Training - If you have weak or lagging body parts, then this program is definitely for you.

There you have it! Seven amazing programs offered by the “Mad Scientist” of the fitness industry, Nick Nilsson. Take advantage the free offers on each of those pages and the incredible 50% sale that he has going on for this week only.

Reminder: You will only receive the Special 50% Discount link when you sign up for the sample exercises and courses.

If you have used any of Nick’s programs I would love you to leave your feedback in the comment box below. I personally love each one of them, but I want to hear your input as well. So don’t be shy. Share your feedback below…

Empower Your Mind… And Your Body Will Follow!

Scott Tousignant, BHK, CFC is the creator of Unstoppable Fat Loss, The Fit Chic, and the Fat Loss Quickie Experience. Scott is on a mission to reverse the obesity trend by 2015 and is calling upon YOU to help make this possible. Together we can create positive change.

Tell Someone Today.

What am I talking about? I’m talking about the TRUTH. Let’s face it - most of us are not completely honest with ourselves when it comes to what we are eating. Do you really tell the truth when someone asks you what you are eating to lose weight? Usually not. This is the problem. If you want results, I mean the REAL DEAL, you need to be completely honest with yourself.

I want to tell YOU that I am eating totally clean today. There I did it. I am going to tell my husband too. Why? Because I know that once I tell you, now I will do it. Simple as that. Wow, it feels so great now that I just made myself accountable to all of you.

I’ve been totally rockin’ it with my home workouts. I’m working out 5 days/week, yet still picking at snack foods that I know are not good for me! They are only in the house for lunches for the kids and I do like to bake them cookies for their lunch. I know I just need to get myself in the right mental frame to make the changes.

I’m telling you though, once you speak your goals OUT LOUD, you will be much more likely to stick to
your plan. TELL SOMEONE TODAY. It’s powerful!

Have a great day and weekend!

Cheers to health,

Angie Tousignant, ISSA – C.P.T.,B.Ed. Creator of “More Love Less Fat” - A Couples Guide To Transforming Your Body and Relationship. She is committed to helping women and couples to be the best they can through exercise and nutrition.

Achieving a rock, solid body does not need to cost you a fortune. Heck, it doesn’t even need to cost you a dime! Your own body weight can be utilized to help you to achieve those 6 pack abs you’ve always wished you had. What do you need to do?

To start, you need to make a plan on when you will do your cardio component. You should aim for at least 5 days/week to get your heart rate up. You may walk, jog, skip, bike, do jumping jacks…whatever it is that you enjoy! The idea is to find something that you love to do and that you will stick with over a long period of time. I’m talking a very L-O-N-G time, like your entire life! Don’t make this just some passing phase. 30 minutes of vigorous exercise is great. Or, you may choose to do a 15 minute ‘interval’ session. For this you will alternate between jogging very fast and then slowing down, then speeding up, then slowing down. You can do this for 30 sec. intervals or 1 minute. It is really up to you.

Next, you can do some resistance exercises such as: sit ups, push ups, squats, lunges, and leg raises simply using your own body weight. However, if you want to progress to gain muscle I do suggest that you eventually invest in a couple of dumbbell weights followed by an exercise program. You can also purchase a stability ball at a reasonable cost. A stability ball, dumbbells, skipping rope, and your own body weight are all you need to achieve a lean and sexy body. I know because this is all I use! If you are interested in following the program that I do, you can view it at “strong>The Fit Chic”

This program is filled with a year of workouts that will only take you 20 minutes to complete. You can even do them in the comfort of your own home, as I do. This will save you hundreds of dollars when compared to a gym membership. Often my kids are running all around me, yet I still can get in an awesome workout. We also have 10 minute express workouts for those moms who may have a super busy week. With only 10 minutes to spare, we have created exercises for you to get the maximum benefits in little time.

Or, you may be interested in getting fit and bonding with your partner, we also have a workout program for couples. “More Love Less Fat” is filled with a year of workouts that will encourage your relationship to flourish as you both embark on a journey towards optimal health. Scott and I love working out together. It is our time to truly connect. When we are both fit and healthy we feel we can give only our best to each other!

I wish you the best in Fitness for 2009 and look forward to helping you along the way,

Cheers to health,

Angie Tousignant, ISSA – C.P.T.,B.Ed. Creator of “More Love Less Fat” - A Couples Guide To Transforming Your Body and Relationship. She is committed to helping women and couples to be the best they can through exercise and nutrition.

Barack Obama, the President of the United States, is making it to the gym 6-7X/week for 90 minutes. What a great role model. I mean he could have every excuse to not make it, but he understands the importance that physical fitness plays in his role as the leader of his country. He strongly believes that, “physical fitness yields mental fitness.” The two concepts have been married in his mind ever since says his family and friends. I, too, strongly believe that my mind is much more focused and better apt to perform mental tasks more efficiently when I workout that day.

Friends and family vouch that he treats his workouts like a ritual. He will not miss. He is at the gym
90 minutes, 6 days/week. I mean he could have every excuse in the world to not get there! He also goes first thing in the morning. Which for many people is the best time to go because as the day unfolds, so does your pile of excuses.

What do you think is the number one reason Obama never misses a workout? Well, he says it is his number one stress reliever. I’m sure the guy has many legitimate reasons to be stressed! He also says that it clears his head.

I just think it sends an excellent message when the leader of a country takes his physical health seriously. He knows that being in excellent physical shape will help him to be the best leader he can.

We are all very fortunate to have not only a charismatic leader, but a person that is in top physical health and will therefore be capable of leading the country to the best of his abilities.

Cheers to health,

Angie
ISSA - C.P.T., B.Ed.

When it comes to keeping your waistline trim for life, take a really good look at the types of food you are choosing. Foods such as fruits and vegetables are low in calories and can therefore be consumed in high volumes. You will feel full longer on these types of foods. Whereas, if you choose sweets and processed foods, you are risking consuming a high number of calories by eating only a small volume of food.

Just envision this: a small hamburger on your plate. Or, a large salad, sandwich on whole wheat bread, and celery sticks. Now, what do you think will keep you feeling full longer?

Try this today: For your first 3 meals, have a serving of fruit. For your next 3 meals have a serving of vegetables at each meal. There are many reasons why eating more fruits and vegetables will keep you slim:

1. Fruits and vegetables are high in water. This means that they provide volume, but calories. Did you know that grapefruit is 90% water and has just 38 calories in a half-fruit serving? Wow! Carrots are also high in water, racking up only 52 calories in 1 cup. Another wow!

2. High fiber foods take longer to digest, which will keep you feeling fuller longer. These include: fruits, veggies, and whole grains.

3. You will also want to include protein and dairy into your diet. The best choices are those that are high in protein but low in fat and calories, such as legumes, fish, lean meat, egg whites, nuts, and fat free dairy.

You will without a doubt notice your body slimming down when you begin to consume more foods that are low in energy density. Start making small changes each day.

I know that when I started to add more veggies into my eggs each day, I did feel full longer. I also always add blueberries to my oatmeal now. When I have a midday snack, I think of a vegetable such as raw carrots and celery sticks. I may also eat a protein such as almonds or walnuts because they, too, will sustain my appetite. These particular nuts are high in omega 3 fatty acids and will take time to digest. For dinner, I try to stay away from foods that are high in energy density such as heavy pastas and potatoes. Instead, I will fill my plate with a huge salad and lean meat. If I want a potato or pasta, I will try to consume it earlier in my day so that my body has time to digest it and burn off the calories throughout the day.

These are just a few tips to help you to take the steps to achieving the body that you soooo deserve!! Go and get it!

Cheers to health,

Angie
ISSA - C.P.T., B.Ed.

I came across an excellent article published in the UK involving families. The government is mandating that PE be implemented 2 hrs each week in the schools. The problem is that the children are not getting any slimmer.

A more recent study decided to focus on the families of these children. Parents were educated on changing their entire behavior by eating more healthy foods and the importance of exercise on a daily level.

The results were quite astonishing.

A review of 64 studies involving 5,230 people found that “children lost up to seven pounds through changing their home diet and activities over 12 months.”

I do agree that PE needs to be stressed in the school system as well as at home, but I do see that the growing obesity problem cannot be solely based on the school system. I believe the family unit has the largest impact of the values that children embrace. When parents and/or caregivers engage in healthy behaviors such as buying groceries, cooking healthy meals, and exercising on a daily basis, children will inadvertently grow up to value these behaviors.

Try this: Sit down as a family and discuss some healthy meal options that you would all enjoy. Do the same for physical activities. What do your children suggest? Would they play tag with you? Can you go for a walk or bike ride after dinner each day? What about creating an obstacle course in the yard?

Make this the year to implement CHANGE. This will take time. You will be forming some new family habits. There may be some resistance from your kids at first, since this is something new. However, keep moving forward and you will all benefit.

Now that my children are 5 and 7, I often ask them to choose what they want for dinner. This way I know that they will eat and there are no surprises! They also know that I love to get my exercise so I often chase them around our yard for a game of ‘tag ball.’ Or, we play hide n’ seek in the dark in our basement. It’s great because we are all having a blast and getting exercise at the same time!

They also see me working out in our basement. Often, they will pick up a couple of 5 lb dumbbells and imitate me. It’s really cute. I love that I am inadvertently teaching them the value of exercise.

What can you do today to make a change in your own home?

Cheers to health,

Angie
ISSA - C.P.T., B.Ed.

Traian Gabrian has lost 57 pounds during the last 4 months by applying the strategies within the Unstoppable Fat Loss program. As a result, his life has completely changed. I had the privilege of witnessing his newly discovered zest for life during a Caribbean cruise with Traian and other Unstoppable Fat Loss members. Take a moment and watch this short video to see the excitement that Traian expresses as he continues to set new and bigger goals than he ever could have imagined…

Unstoppable Fat Loss Member Loses 57 Pounds

The reward during your fat loss journey is not simply losing belly fat. The reward is not even having a flatter stomach. The real reward is the impact that losing belly fat has on your life. Check out the smile on Traian’s face as we stand in front of the St. Maarten welcome sign.

I wish that I could have bottled up all of Traian’s energy during this cruise and allow you to experience it for yourself even for just a moment. Without a doubt Traian was the most energetic person on the dance floor in the Carnival Cruise club at night. Every time that I was around him he had a great big smile on his face. I’m certain that if Traian was on this cruise 4 months ago when he weighed 57 pounds more, his experience on the dance floor would have been much different, if he even stepped foot on the dance floor at all.

Here’s a picture of Traian prior to his success with the Unstoppable Fat Loss program. He mentions in the video above how uncomfortable it was for him to even bend over to tie his shoes. He certainly doesn’t have to worry about that anymore now that he is sporting a great six pack.

One of the greatest things to witness during our time together on the cruise was seeing how proud Traian was about showing off his new body. I’m personally not one to go prancing around in a Speedo, but Traian was wearing one on all the beaches with great pride.

The boost in confidence that you experience from achieving your fat loss goals is highly under rated and under valued. If you are suffering from low self esteem and are lacking confidence, I am certain that you are missing out on the amazing and wonderful opportunities that life presents to you each and every day.

The first step in driving toward your goals and skyrocketing your confidence is to first acknowledge that you deserve the best that life has to offer. Traian met some incredible people during this cruise. He experienced the Caribbean to it’s absolute fullest. He danced like no one was watching. He deserved all of this.

It’s moments like this that make me proud of the work that I do. It’s the greatest reward that I could ever ask for. Traian opened up and shared his goals and visions with me. He shared his life values and beliefs. For this I am eternally grateful.

I learned a lot from Traian in the short time that I spent with him. I now consider him a true friend and recognize him as an incredible man who is going to impact the lives of many people in a wonderful and positive way.

If you would like to live the Unstoppable Lifestyle and live life to the fullest, I encourage you to take action as Traian has and apply the strategies within the Unstoppable Fat Loss program.

Unstoppable Fat Loss has a built in 21 day transformation contest that is judged on your change in mindset, motivation, and the amount of action that you take toward achieving your goals. Every month I award over $600 in prizes to the winner of this contest.

The latest winners, which I am announcing right now on this blog are Shiraz and Cat. I’ll be in touch through email to award you with your prize package.

The next 21 day challenge begins on Feb 2nd so get on board today and start digging into the powerful strategies in the Unstoppable Fat Loss program. Visit Unstoppable Fat Loss today and see some of the powerful strategies in action and how many of the Unstoppable Fat Loss members are applying them each and every day.

I look forward to being a part of your fat loss journey and sharing in fun experiences with you as I recently have with Traian and several other Unstoppable Fat Loss members.

Empower Your Mind… and Your Body Will Follow!

Scott Tousignant, BHK, CFC