THE Fat Loss Expert

Excess Stomach Removed Through Mouth In New Bariatric Surgery

2010-12-04T09:08:00.000-06:00

***Give the Gift of Fat Loss this Holiday Season***

By Christine Smiths

A new type of weight loss surgery was preformed at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine. This new type of bariatric surgery removes a section of the patients stomach though their mouth.

The bariatric procedure called sleeve gastrectomy, which is also known as gastric sleeve, sections off a part of the stomach and permanently removes up to 80 percent of the stomach. With bariatric surgeries, the stomach size is reduced which makes the patient eat less and feel fuller faster.

A common approach doctors have been preforming the gastric sleeve procedure had the doctor make an incision in the stomach to remove the sectioned off stomach tissue. But with this new technique for bariatric surgery, the surgeon can remove the patients stomach tissue through their mouth.

The patient, who had the surgery in August 2010, is reportedly recovering well. In the one-hour procedure, the surgeon employed a combination of techniques, including laparoscopic and natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery. Using the laparoscopic technique, the surgeon made five minimal incisions in the abdomen, through which cameras and other instruments were inserted, allowing the surgeon to divide the stomach into sections, and then close it with staples. Following the laparoscopic portion of the procedure, an endoscope was inserted into the stomach through the mouth, and the divided segment of the stomach was removed.

The benefits to using the surgical method that allows surgeons to go through the mouth to remove the stomach sections, instead of through wide incisions are numerous. The approach causes less trauma to the abdomen region, lowers risks of developing a hernia and causes less post operative pain for the patient.

At the Center for the Treatment of Obesity at the University of California San Diego, where the surgery was preformed, surgical options for minimally invasive bariatric surgery are evolving. In the future, the purpose of this type of bariatric surgery is to assist morbidly obese patients to achieve long term weight loss goals, leave few scars and involve as few surgical devices as possible.

Find out more about your gastric bypass options and find local surgeons that preform gastric sleeve operations.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christine_Smiths
http://EzineArticles.com/?Excess-Stomach-Removed-Through-Mouth-In-New-Bariatric-Surgery&id=5439350

***CLICK here to save $10 and lose 20lbs faster than you can have your stomach pulled out of your mouth! ;)***

Weight Loss And Training Programs

2010-12-01T08:29:00.003-06:00

***CLICK HERE TO LOSE 20lbs FAST***

By Robert Carleton

If you've decided you want to take off those extra pounds, you'll want to set up a weight loss program and training program that is adaptable to your body and lifestyle. Luckily, there are a multitude of different aerobic and strength training plans that you can follow. You need both to maximize your overall health and weight loss. When it comes to aerobics, you can choose anything that gets your heart rate up. This can be walking, swimming, jogging, aerobics classes, running up the stairs, or even housework.

If it gets you breathing quickly, this is considered aerobic activity so don't be fooled into thinking you need to make time to the gym to get you exercise in. Squeeze it into your normal daily activities to save time and money. Aerobic activity burns fats and contributes to a healthy heart so this part is not to be taken lightly. If you haven't done any kind of aerobic activity for a while, you need to start off with very little weight loss and training. Even two minutes a day is acceptable (another reason to not book your gym membership right now). You'll proceed according to how you feel after each mini-workout. You can add a minute to each session or a minute each week, but go gradually to get the best results.

The key is to be consistent. This doesn't necessarily mean you need to work out every day, but it's recommended to do so at least two times a week (and three to six is preferred). If you are at the 2-minute-per-day stage, this is extremely easy to accomplish. However, once you start building in more time, it will get to be more of a commitment. Strength training includes weight lifting or using resistance bands or other types of resistance machinery. You can also do body weight exercises which don't require any other equipment except for yourself.

Strength training is needed to tone and strengthen your muscles and increase your metabolism. If finding the time to work out is your main issue, circuit training could be the solution for you as it combines both aerobics and strength training. Circuit training involves doing different activities for 30 to 60 seconds at a time. So, after warming up, you could do squats for about a minute, then jump rope for about a minute, then do some resistance exercise for about a minute, then walk or run for about a minute, then do some pushups for 30 seconds, then run, then cool down.

This is just one example. As you see, you alternate between aerobic activities and strength-building activities. Interval training is similar to circuit training except it is more aerobic. With this type of training you alternate your activity between slow and fast bursts which helps to burn calories and fat more quickly. Pick out the weight loss and training method that suits you best and stick to it.

Still trying to lose weight? Watch this FREE video and see the 3 basic concepts you must know to lose weight.
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_Carleton
http://EzineArticles.com/?Weight-Loss-And-Training-Programs&id=5457836

It's Not Harder It's The Same

2009-01-27T14:37:00.000-06:00

I say that everyone has problems. My problems are no harder than yours', and your problems are no greater than someone elses'. What I mean is this:

When I was a boy, I grew up very tough. We were always broke, and I seldom ate. To make matters worse, my mother was a drug addict and I was abused in every possible way that you can imagine. When I got up the nerve, I moved out at the age of 13 and made a life for myself. I fought my way through high school and into college. Eventually I became a success. Now you might say that i had it tough, but tough is relative to each of us.

You are on your own journey. What fat loss goals you have are only relevant to you. That is why you must never compare yourself to anyone else. My past is mine. You may have had it better or worse, but relatively you had it the same as I did, get it?

We each must bear our own crosses. We each must travel our way to Jerusalem. In that, we will ultimately become successful. Fat loss is no different. It is a tough battle, but I promise that it can be won. You are the general of your own army in the fight for fat loss and fitness. If you do anything at all, please make sure that you enlist the help of those who are willing. You will need lieutenants as well as infantry.

I will stand by your side in that fox hole. I will be your lieutenant if you let me. Together we can win this war, this battle of the bulge this fight for Independence. One day you will lay on the battlefield with as much exhaustion as enthusiasm, after you have finally captured the flag of fat loss, weight loss, fitness and freedom. One day you will be filled with the excitement of glory as you finally fit back into the outfit you have been keeping for years, hoping that one day you will be able to wear it again. One day you will look your doctor in the eyes with contempt because you are so healthy he doesn't understand how it happened. One day you will stare at yourself in awe because you finally realize that you DID do it! You Were worth it! You MORE THAN deserve it, and no longer am I the only person who believes in YOU!!!!!

"People do it everyday, they talk to themselves... they see themselves as they'd like to be, they don't have the courage you have, to just run with it."- Tyler Durden

I'm Too Fat!

2009-01-26T13:26:00.001-06:00

Wow! That certainly is a very harsh title. What's worse is that some people actually think that way. Here are some other phrases that people tell themselves.

I'm too stupid.
I'm too dumb.
I'm not worth it.
I can't do it.
Nobody loves me.
It's too hard.
I don't deserve it.
I hate myself.

The reality is that most people really think this way. Guess what? Every one of those phrases are saying the same exact thing. "I'm lying to myself!" Most of us have children. If you heard your child say any or all of these things, what would you tell them? Exactly...so, why are you saying these things to yourself? Negativity will breed more negativity which will breed more and more until you guessed it, you actually believe the negative thoughts. When that happens you are in BIG trouble.

If you are a regular reader, or believer in my programs, then you know that none of these sayings are true. You know that through the Three Commandments of Fat Loss, none of the above mentioned phrases could be true. You have to stay focused on the positive. I know that I harp on these things a lot, but it is because they are so important. To be successful in anything, you must be fundamentally sound. If you have changes that you want to make in you health or appearance, then you know that all it takes it to follow these three simple steps.

1. The hardest part of your workout is walking through the door (i.e., getting started). This is true for anything. You have to start if you want to finish. If you truly believe that you are too fat, too dumb or not worth it, then starting is extremely tough because you already believe that you can't do it, so why try? I know, that it can be intimidating, scary and nerve racking. You have to understand that you are worth it. There is always hope. The best way that I can explain this is through the bible. When Jesus was on the cross, he was accompanied by two other men. Both of them were bad dudes, but one of them looked to Jesus for forgiveness, and he was forgiven. It is never too late. You CAN make a difference! You just have to start!
2. Never compare yourself to anyone else. This is so important. Stop looking at celebrity magazines, actors and actresses, models and neighborhood super moms or even pictures of you from ten or fifteen years ago. Instead just look at you today. Stop trying to be these other people, and instead just be a better you. Each and every day, your goal is to be just a little better than the person you were yesterday. That is easy. Here are some examples. Walk one more step today then you did yesterday, take one less bite of something unhealthy or perform one more exercise than you did last time. When you look at it like that, you can easily become successful. Climbing a mountain is hard work, but taking just one step up that mountain, isn't. Each day just take one step forward, and you will eventually be on top screaming from the top of your lungs that you finally did it!
3. Never give up what you truly want, for what you think you want today. If I believe that I am too fat, then I have lost hope. Eating this candy bar really will not make that much of a difference. In fact it will bring me some level of happiness. Why should I give up the little happiness that I have left for something that I can never achieve, right? WRONG! That is thinking in the wrong direction. What is more important to you? Is it the candy bar, or is it really making a difference? Maybe you feel like you are too far gone, that there is too much weight to lose or that you are beyond help. If so, then you are right. You have to change your way of thinking. You must believe that you can make a difference. Do not focus on the 100 pounds of weight that you have to lose. Instead just focus on one pound. Baby step your way to victory. Can you lose just one pound? Certainly. So, I ask you again, what is more important to you? The candy bar, or the pound? Now you can make an educated decision in the positive direction! Keep this up and you will be on your way to a better tomorrow!

The bottom line is that you can do this. If I told you to walk into a dark room, and find your way to the exit, you would have a hard time doing it. You would be scared of stubbing your toe, tripping on something that you can't see or running smack into a wall. However, I'm not asking you to do that. By following a regimented program that is complete with diet and training, you are not walking into the dark. By following your program, you are walking through that same room only with the lights on. Walking into a room with the lights on it easy. Sure it takes some effort to walk from point A to point B, but at least you can see how to do it. There is no more intimidation, no more scary and no more nerves racking. With the lights on...

You CAN do it! You ARE worth it! You DO deserve it! Don’t let me be the only one who believes in YOU!

Give Up On Weight Loss

2009-01-21T22:01:00.000-06:00

What? Yes, you read that right. Give up...on weight loss. Here is what I mean. A lot of people focus on losing weight, and they make that their primary goal. That is the wrong idea people!

Losing weight is not what is important. You want to lose the fat, not the weight. If you have been sticking to your New Year Res., right now is about the time when most people quit because they stop losing weight. Don't quit training, just give up on weight loss.

The definition of physical fitness means that you meet these two criteria:

I am healthy - My cholesterol is normal, my blood pressure is good and I have enough energy to do all the things that I need to do every day.
I look good - I am completely happy with how I look in the mirror.

That is it folks. Never did I say I weigh a certain amount. Weight is irrelevant unless you are a boxer or wrestler trying to make a weight class to be able to compete.

If you have been on a program for a while, and you have stopped losing weight, do not get scared. Start measuring the inches you are losing instead. I'm sure you have heard that muscle weighs more than fat, right? Well, what that means is that muscle is more dense. Let's look at it from a size stand point.

Pretend that a pound of muscle is the size of a 8oz glass of milk. If that was the case then a pound of fat would be the size of a whole quart of milk. You see fat is four times the size of muscle. What this means is that when you have more muscle tone, you will weigh slightly more but you will be smaller. If you were a size 16 to begin with, and you trained hard enough to lose the fat, then you could end up a size 4 and still weight the same as you did when you started. When you look at it that way, it isn't so bad...is it?

So, the bottom line is to not get discouraged if you aren't losing any more weight. Remember that your goal is to be healthy and look great, not to lose weight! Just give up on weight loss, and focus on fat loss.

The Cold Hard Truth on Fat Loss

2009-01-20T15:10:00.002-06:00

Too many people pretend to work out and get in shape.

There are three types of people:

The ones that follow the same workout routines forever, they still eat the same old tired meals and they continue to bash their body by performing long bouts of cardio. These people wonder why they aren't getting the results they want.

Then there are the ones that are constantly trying recipes and workouts they read about in the latest fitness magazines. They try to combine ten different philosophies on how they should train, but usually end up attending the local gym's aerobic classes. These people wonder why they aren't getting the results they want.

Finally, there are the ones that do nothing. They buy info-mercial products and diet pills. They watch people working out on TV late at night while they consume an entire bag of potato chips. They give the products they bought a chance to work their magic (usually two weeks before they quit). These people wonder why they aren't getting the results they want.

Where do you fit in? If you are not one of these folks then you already look and feel great. Congratulations! But if you fall into the only real category there is "These people wonder why they aren't getting the results they want," then you have to commit to making a change. Change being the key word.

Look, Getting in shape is difficult at best. Going without little treats and deserts is not enough. You have to have your body primed and ready for fat loss to happen. Quit wasting your time and money on diet fads, diet pills, info-mertial products and celebrity workout programs. Do not rely on some fly by night personal trainer to give you the answers either. What you need is an expert in the field of delivering you the results that you are after...period.

If you have heart trouble, you would see a cardiologist. If you had cancer, then you would see an oncologist. What you would not do is look up on the internet ways to fix your heart, or ask your neighbor what has kept here cancer free all these years. FIND A SPECIALIST!
A specialist may cost you a little more, but when you weigh the costs against the benefits, you will always win. As a specialist in the field of fat loss, I want you to do these three simple steps:

Write everything down! Write down everything that you eat. How many slices of bread, how many eggs, how many glasses of water and if you chewed gum or not. Write down every workout, every set, every rep and how much weight. Write down when you start training, and when you finish. Tally the total miles of cardio you performed. Write down your goals for the day, for the week and for the month. When you write things down it becomes real. You can fool all of the people all of the time, but when you lie down in bed at night there should be three things that know the truth: God, you and your journals. Do this and you will see a monumental difference!
Plan in advance! You should know what workout you are going to do before you even get to the gym. Plan it out. Arnold used to but the number of reps he was to perform on a chalk board for everyone to see, and he would erase a number when he was finished. That way he never cheated himself out of results. Plan your meals days in advance. If you prepare all of your meals in advance, then you will have a much higher success rate than if you just eat whatever, whenever. If you fail to plan, then you are planning to fail.
Hire an expert! You are a specialist in your own field. You might be a school teacher, a fireman, a nurse, a salesperson or a doctor. Whatever your profession, you are not a qualified fat loss expert. We use experts all the time. They cut our hair, fix our cars, teach our children and save us from burning buildings. Why would you not use one for your health? No matter how smart my mechanic is, I do not want him teaching my kids how to read. I want the qualified teacher to do that. You can hire an expert at almost any level. Even if all you can afford is for him to develop your routine, you will see far greater results than doing it on your own. I have programs that start at $50 per month.

Bottom line is that you want to see results, so do it. The opportunity is there for you, but I can only lead you to the water. You must decide to drink it for yourself. Sorry so long, but I had to get it off my chest. Until tomorrow.

I Have a Dream...of Fat Loss!

2009-01-19T14:50:00.002-06:00

On August 28th 1963 A huge rally had been put together on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in DC. His partners in the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom included other religious leaders, labor leaders, and black organizers. The assembled masses marched down the Washington Mall from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial, heard songs from Bob Dylan and Joan Baez, and heard speeches by actor Charlton Heston, NAACP president Roy Wilkins, and future U.S. Representative from Georgia John Lewis.

Dr. King was last to speak and for good reason (I would have hated to follow his speech). And his speech started with this phrase.

"I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation."

He was right. He was a man of peace and equality. In a time full of turmoil and prejudice he spoke of the togetherness of the human race, not just the equality for African Americans.

"And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

A year later he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

What I want to say is that I also have a dream! My dream is that every person will rise up against obesity. Obesity is the number one killer in America. Little by little we are killing each other. We allow ourselves to be fooled that we are too busy to make a difference. We pretend that we are in good health because we might have decent blood pressure or cholesterol for our age even though we are over weight. We let the negative comments of ignorant people dictate our self respect until we have none. We have created a new prejudice, a new race a new oppression. The struggle is internal. We have lost hope as a nation. We have lost the will to fight for ourselves. It is time to take a stand!

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."

You have the power to make a difference! You are created equal. You can be better. There is no reason why you cannot create value in yourself.

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."

No longer will you be judged by your pant size or dress size. I have a dream that you will allow yourself the strength to see the value in your own character. You are worth it!

"I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together."

I believe that you have the power. Through accountability and proper guidance, the pitfalls of quitting shall be erased, the difficult times of training shall be made attainable and the results of fat loss and weight loss shall be achieved.

"And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!
Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!
Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California!
But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!
Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!
Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring."

I have a dream that every person can and will ring that bell of freedom. Freedom to achieve their goals. Freedom to wear the clothes they want to wear. Freedom to be the beautiful people that they are inside without the chains of being self conscious. Freedom to live their lives free of oppression, free to make their own choices and free from the chains of obesity. Together we can make that happen. I believe in you. You ARE worth it! You CAN do it! You DO deserve it! Don't let me be the only one who believes in YOU!

Time for a Change! Fat Loss for a Change!

2009-01-16T16:09:00.000-06:00

How long have you been doing the same old routine? Whatever it is, you started it, saw some results and then leveled out. Why aren’t you still losing weight or burning fat? The answer is simple.

When most people start a program, more often, they start training 3 times a week. Then someone (usually an inexperienced trainer) gives us what I call an A B C program. What I mean is that on Monday we perform the A workout, on Wednesday the B and finally Friday is C. Great job, we got through the first week of training.

Now, next week comes along, and we do exactly the same thing…A B C. Then the next week…and the next…and before you know it, you are stuck in the same rut. We all know what happens when you get stuck or bored…you quit.

See your body does the same thing. If you keep doing the same routine your body doesn’t respond. That is why after so long, you stop seeing results. Your body quits responding. That’s the bad news. The good news is that you can fix it!

The easiest way to fix this is to start off with the right program to begin with (don’t use an inexperienced trainer next time). If you start off with A B C the first week, then do D E F the next, followed by star square circle, and puppy cornflakes egg. Okay, so I got a little carried away with the names, but if you want to always see results, then all you have to do is change it up. The goal is to never do the same workout twice. Here are some great tips to keep your body guessing.

Try flipping the workout upside down. Do one of your regular workouts only in reverse. This is an easy way to continue what you are used to doing and still get new results.
Double the reps. I know it may seem a daunting task doing twice the workout, but try it. You might be surprised at what you can do!
Go halves-ees! Try chopping your workout in halves and then piecing them back together. For example, turn A into A1 and A2. Then turn B into B1 and B2. Now put A1 together with B1 and A2 with B2 then whah-la, you have two new workouts!

I hope these suggestions turn you on to new hights and new results. If you still have questions or want more help developing new programs and workouts you can log on to http://www.fittobeanamerican.com.

Step Right Up! Take yer Shot! Win ‘er a Cute Little Teddy Bear! What’s That Got to Do with Fat Loss?

2009-01-15T09:48:00.001-06:00

Ever been to a carnival? You know the guys they call “carnies” are every where you turn. “Step right up,” they say. One will get you two- two will get you three – and blah blah blah. You know what I’m talking about.

You’ve seen a guy or two walking around with that big teddy bear, so you think why not? You can win too. How hard can it be?

Here is the problem. Those games are rigged to make you lose. Most weight loss programs are exactly the same. They show you a person or two, usually celebs, that lost 30lbs on whatever. It’s the same game at the carnival. “Buy now and we’ll throw in an extra week of food.” “Join now and you get no enrollment fee.” “Let our experienced trainers set you up for success with a free $100 assessment.”

Here is the reality. If they are willing to give you a weeks worth of food, you should know that the food is way over priced. A lot of gyms say no enrollment, but that is just to get you in the door. They charge you your first month and last month up front anyway, ant that is the same price as the enrollment. Trainers make a living getting paid to give advice. No way will they give you ALL their secrets during an assessment. It’s just a marketing ploy to make you let them have a chance to tell you how much you need them. They are experienced in sales, not fat loss. Never trust a car salesman. These people are the same thing.

The weight loss industry is the only industry in the world where the blame is put on the consumer when the product fails.

It’s NOT your fault! The whole reason you go to a carnival is to have fun, right? So have it. You can have weight loss. You can have fat loss. You can do all the things you hear about, but you must keep focused on the real truth. Don’t let gimmicks fool you. Taking a pill won’t make you skinny. Just like my good friend Steve Payne says, “Getting in shape is easy once you figure out how hard it is.”

The real truth is that you CAN do it! You ARE worth it! You DO deserve it! Don’t let me be the only one who believes in YOU!

Seeds For Fat Loss!

2009-01-12T21:58:00.001-06:00

In the book of Matthew, Jesus speaks in parables. Whether you believe in Jesus as your Lord and Savior or simply as a historical figure is irrelevant. What the parable meant is what is important when you relate it to fat loss. This is the parable:

"Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundred, some sixty, some thirty." -Matthew 13:3-8

How this pertains to fat loss is the same way that pertains Christianity. You must be grounded in your quest. When you have a goal of losing weight, then you want to achieve that goal. To make sure that you stay on the righteous path of weight loss, you need to ground yourself in the right soil. In other words, stay focused and hold yourself accountable so that you do achieve your goal.

If you do not have good roots like the seeds on the rock, then you will surely fail in your quest.
If you surround yourself with negativity like the seeds in thorns, then you will surely fail in your quest.

But if you ground yourself tight, and hold yourself accountable, then you will succeed maybe a hundred, maybe sixty or maybe thirty! Get it?

There are three, sure fire ways to hold yourself accountable so that you stay on the straight and narrow.

1.Write down your goals. they are only ideas till you write them down
2.Write down a meal plan and then stick to it. Failing to plan is planning to fail.
3.Confide in someone you trust to hold you accountable. This is better when it is not a spouse. It can be your trainer, your best friend or someone who has already gone through what you are going through. In AA this is called a sponsor. In fitness it is called a success coach.

If you need someone to help hold you accountable then I would like to offer myself to your cause. If I can help you in any way, please do not hesitate to ask. You can reach me at jason@safatloss.com or you can sign up for my free fat loss newsletter by going here=> http://www.fittobeanamerican.com Any way that I can help you stay in good soil, I will do.

Wlak It Off!

2009-01-09T15:48:00.003-06:00

If you are a regular reader of this blog, then you know my philosophy on cardio. Click here to read up on proper cardio for fat loss if you are new. Bottom line is that cardio is best done in interval levels; however, here is a great way to burn some added calories just by adding walking to your day.

Walk Between Sets - When you are training in a gym, you normally have a rest period of say 30-60 seconds, right? So between sets go for a walk. Find a pathway in your gym that you can do this without disturbing others, and just walk at a brisk pace between sets. If done during a 30 minute workout, you could burn up to an extra 200 calories just by walking while you train!

Take the stairs - Anytime that you use an elevator or escalator, you lose out on the opportunity to burn calories. Instead take the stairs and watch you weight fall through the floor. By using stairs you are forced to perform a workload with your entire body weight for just one leg. It's like doing mini-one legged squats!
Protect Your Car- Park at least ten parking spaces away from where you would normally park. This has not only the benefit of more walking, but also a greater workload when you carry your groceries back to the car if you are shopping.

After Dinner Stroll- If you can add in a 10 minute walk 20 minutes after you eat a meal you will burn more calories. This is because the food you eat has a thermogenic effect meaning that it raises you body temp. slightly causing you to burn extra calories. This happens about 20 mins after you eat, so if you can time that with a 10 minute walk, you will see better results than other times of the day.

Of course all this info is meant to be in addition to what you are already doing. If you need help planning out your fat loss and weight loss goals just hit me up at my website=> http://www.fittobeanamerican.com/

Also check out my video blog @ http://www.youtube.com/fatlosspro

Greatness

2009-01-08T10:25:00.003-06:00

What is greatness? To define it by the limitations of a dictionary would be at the very best doing an injustice to its very existence. Doing better than all who oppose you is not enough, for those who have no opposition can still do great things. Doing better than you have ever done is still a step below true greatness because the past is in question. How great was the last chance that you had? To say that those with more talent are greater than those with less talent is wrong because the world is full of talented individuals who perform less than their full potential. The question is not if your glass is half-full or half-empty; but rather how efficient is your glass. The fact of the matter is that it is irrelevant how full your glass is. Every glass is full enough to achieve greatness. Doing the best with all that you have is the reality of true greatness. Greatness is an attitude. It is a state of mind that you will never allow yourself to fall short of your best. There are no excuses for the great. They embrace their limitations and conquer their strengths. The true great ones are not the ones who win the fight, but they are those who never stop fighting.

You CAN do it! You ARE worth it! You DO deserve it! Don’t let me be the only one who believes in YOU!

What to wear to the gym

2009-01-07T21:27:00.002-06:00

There is an old saying, "When you start worrying what to wear to the gym, its time to just stay home." What that means is you are there to work, not impress. Do your impressing with the body that you build. However we all need to war something, so here are some ideas for the next time you go train.

Shirts -
Unless you are a professional body builder, don't wear those string tank tops. Its okay to wear anything that you feel comfortable in, but be mindful of what you have on. T-shirts, sleeveless tees, or a sports bra for women are completely acceptable. If you are a guy and want to wear a sports bra keep in mind that you will be laughed at no matter how great your abs look.

Pants -vs- Shorts -
Wear what you feel comfortable. If you want to wear shorts, then cool. Some people prefer sweats. Just make sure that whatever you wear does not hinder your workout. I like to wear pants when I lift and shorts when I do cardio.

Shoes -
High heels are definitely out. Cross-trainers work best. My favorite brand is Adidas, but you wear what you like. The reason I say cross-trainers is because you do a lot of different things in the gym. If you stick to one type, it might limit your performance.

That's about it for attire. It is pretty simple. Wear what you want to. Also its a good idea to bring a towel with you to wipe up your sweat. If your gym allows you to bring a bottle of water, then do that as well. Most workouts require at least 16oz of water to be replaced after training. If you can sip that amount during you workout, then you will be ahead of the game! Happy training!

Crunches Won't Flatten Your Stomach

2009-01-05T15:53:00.004-06:00

The quest for six pack abs is probably one of, if not the most popular topic amongst people wanting to get in shape. Most people are happy with just a flat stomach, but if you can chisel out the six pack, why not do it?

The reality is that everyone has that perfect set of abs in there somewhere; you just have to let it out. The fastest way to do that is to not do crunches, sit ups or any ab exercises! That’s right abdominal exercises aren’t going to get you that flat stomach. Let me explain.

People think that if they do 500 crunches a day they will melt the fat off of their waistline. The problem with that train of thought is that you can not spot reduce. In other words, no amount of crunches will shrink your waist any more than doing neck exercises will get rid of a double chin. The body gets rid of fat all over the body at the same time regardless of what exercises you do. We all have problem areas like the waist, and unfortunately the problem areas are the last to go; otherwise they wouldn’t be problem areas. Even if we could spot reduce, it would take a little over seven million crunches to burn one pound of fat! So now what?

Remember when I said that we need to let the six pack out? That is exactly what we do. To do that we must combine the trinity of health and fitness: diet, resistance training and cardiovascular training. By combining all three of these powerful techniques, you will lose weight, burn fat and unleash the abs!

DIET-
The basics of a diet include a proper ratio of your three macro-nutrients: Protein, Carbohydrates and Fat. A good rule of thumb for basic fitness is a 40/40/20 percentage respectfully. Protein is responsible for building muscle tone. This will help you burn fat. Good sources are lean cuts of meat, fowl, fish and dairy. Carbohydrates are what give your body energy. You will need them for your workouts and normal body functions. Good carbs include oatmeal, sweet potato and beans. Fat is probably the most important because you need it for heart function. Bad fats will lead to bad problems, but good fats like fish oil, krill oil, peanut butter and almonds can aid in the reduction of cholesterol, blood pressure and joint pain.

RESTANCE TRAINING-
Resistance can be anything from body weight in a push up to weights in a bench press. You need to perform resistance training to add muscle tone to your body and create the shape you are after. For every pound of muscle tone you develop, you will burn an additional 50 calories per day. Build ten and that is 500 per day. When you multiply that times seven days in a week you will burn an additional 3500 calories which is equal to one pound of fat!

CARDIOVASCULAR TRAINING-
Cardio is anything that makes you sweat. This includes running, jogging, biking, sprints and even cleaning house if you do it right. The greatest benefit of performing cardio is it will keep you heart healthy. Cardio helps you lose overall weight by burning calories. Not as important as resistance training, but it will help you unleash your abs. The best form of cardio is what is called interval training. This means you work hard for a short time, and then rest for a short time. The ideal is sprints. Try doing ten short sprints with no more than 60 seconds rest in between. The old idea of spending 30 minutes in your target heart rate zone is the worst way to burn fat.

Try these tips for the New Year, and you will have those six pack abs in no time.

If Tomorrow Never Comes...

2009-01-04T18:17:00.003-06:00

Today makes the 22nd anniversary of my Daddy's death. It is a tough day for me still, even after 22 years. Although I was only eight at the time, I learned a valuable lesson: Don't wait.

Don't wait to make time for working out because that will only bring your last day closer.

Don't wait to eat right because that will only bring your last day closer.

Don't wait to make time for your family because that will only cause stress and that will only bring your last day closer.

And finally, don't wait to make a difference because that will only make your last day not matter.

You are better than that. Inside you have a burning desire to do whatever was meant for you to do. My advice is to do it. God Bless you all!

The Cost Of Supps

2009-01-02T13:37:00.007-06:00

Right now is the biggest time of the year for losing weight. Everybody is gearing up for their new year resolutions. You want to see the fastest results possible, so naturally the right choice is supplements, right? Well, supplements can help you get to your goals faster, but only if they are done correctly.

Remember that they are called supplements. They are meant to supplement what you are already doing. There is no magic pill or powder that will deliver the results that you are looking for. First you must get your diet in check and be consistent with your exercise routine. If you have those things in order, supplements may be right for you.

The most important supplement is a multi-vitamin. No matter how well you eat, you still need to add vitamins to your diet. My recommendation is Prograde VGF 25+. There are a lot of different vitamins out there and they are not all created equal. If your vitamin is not organic, then there is no reason to waste your money on it because your body will not be able to use it. 95% of over the counter vitamins are in-organic. The body doesn't dissolve them properly and they end up just flushing through your body or worse they end up as bone spurs. Prograde VGF 25+ has a men's and women's formula that is specific to your needs. It is also organic so your body will be able to use it.

The next supplement that you should be looking into is a meal replacement. Eating six times a day can be a daunting task if every time you turn around you have to eat real food. Meal replacements are powdered forms of real meals that can be used in place of actual meals to make dieting easier. There are a lot of them out there, and just like the vitamin they are not all created equal. You want one that is low in sugar, moderate in fat and high in protein. That way you are using something similar to what you would normally eat. My recommendation is a product called Prograde Lean. Again this is a product that is completely organic and natural so your body will be able to use it properly. This is the best meal replacement on the planet and will help you reach your goals in record time.

Finally, you need to make sure that you are getting the essential fat that your body needs to rid itself of unwanted body fat. When you begin to eat healthy, you will be limiting the amount of total fat you ingest. That is a good thing, but without supplementing what are called Essential Fatty Acids, you are hindering your results. Prograde's EFA Icon is the perfect fat for your body, and will help you in several ways. First, it will let your body get rid of stored body fat. Second, it will help lower your cholesterol and blood pressure to healthy levels. Third, it will help you regulate your hormone levels. Most of the body's hormones ore fat soluble which means that they need a fat to carry them through the blood stream. Saturated fat, like from a bacon cheeseburger, get stuck in your arteries. Essential fat on the other hand, flows through the blood stream allowing the hormones to travel to where the body needs them to travel. This will help you not only lose weight, but also reduce stress and diminish pain in your joints.

The problem with supplements is that they can be very expensive when you look at the price. Looking at a tub of protein can be a scary thought if all you see is the label. Instead look at the cost per serving. For example, Prograde Lean is around $85 for two tubs. That can be an expensive price if that is all you see. However, there are 30 servings in those two tubs, and divided out they are less than $3 each. This is a meal replacement, so three dollars a meal isn't all that expensive.

Everything that you eat is grocery money. That includes stuff you buy at the store, dinners that you eat out, pizza, beer, cigarettes and supplements that you buy. When you look at things in this fashion, you will notice that three bucks for a meal isn't all that bad. Plus when you start to eat better, the amount of bad groceries goes down while the amount of good groceries go up. Things really do even out, and the side effect is feeling better and looking good.

If you would like to purchase the above mentioned products, you can by following this link => http://ftbaa.getprograde.com/ or by clicking on the following image.

See you tomorrow!

Waiting Till Monday to Start Your Resolution?

2009-01-01T17:02:00.003-06:00

Happy New Year! Today is the first day of the last year in the first decade of this millennium. Boy, that's a mouthful. It is also a Thursday. For whatever reason, we tend to prefer to wait until Monday to start things in the good ol' USA. When you're hired for a new job, your told to start Monday. Schools start their school year on Mondays. Television shows have their highest ratings on Mondays. Naturally, you want to start your New Year resolution on Monday January 5th. That can be a great idea, or a devastating disaster. Let me explain.

It really doesn't matter when you start your new routine for fat loss. You can be just as successful regardless of when you start, but what is important is timing when you start.
For example, if you are the kind of person that is super excited about getting started, then start right away. Don't wait. People that are chomping at the bit, tend to lose interest fast which can contribute to not finishing. Those that grow with excitement gradually can afford to wait until Monday.

These are classic type "A" and "B" personalities. Your personality type isn't going to affect the results you are going to get, but they can have a bearing on how you feel when you decide to get started.

Bottom line, if you want to go exercise today, then go exercise. Waiting until Monday could affect your willingness down the road. If you are happy waiting until Monday to train, then wait. You may be the kind of person who appreciates structure, and that is totally cool. All that matters is your goals. I want you to achieve them regardless of what kind of personality you are.
GO TO THE GYM WHEN YOU ARE READY, AND IF YOU NEED HELP... jason@safatloss.com

NEW YEARS EVE - NO MORE BULL CORN

2008-12-31T18:24:00.001-06:00

Ahh, the last hoo-rah! New Year’s Eve! Today is the last day that we have an excuse for not working out. Tonight is the last night that we can blame the holidays, family in town, Christmas shopping and every other excuse that we made up from Halloween to now. Tomorrow is a new year, a clean slate and a chance to make good on the same resolution we made last year….Wait a minute, did I just say the same resolution from last year? That can’t be right, or can it? This year make the difference!

I blogged about this topic a couple of days ago already, but it needs to be revisited. GET YOUR HINEY IN THE GYM!!!!! You are a grown up, so act like it. If you want something, then you know you have to work for it. One of my favorite quotes about getting in shape goes like this; “Getting in shape is easy once you realize how hard it really is.” – compliments of Steve Payne, a mentor and dear friend of mine.

The bottom line is that no matter what shape you are in now, you can change it. Whatever kept you from not training this past year can be stopped. Whatever your fears, you can overcome. Whatever it takes, you can take it. Never sell yourself short from the greatness that you can achieve. Believe in yourself. This year it’s time to realize your full potential.

WELCOME TO A WORLD OF CONFIDENCE, WELCOME TO FIT TO BE AN AMERICAN!

GET PERSONAL TRAINING FOR LESS THAN 9 DOLLARS A SESSION, ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD! EMAIL ME NOW TO LOCK IN YOUR NEW YEARS RATE. jason@safatloss.com

Hamsters Are Stupid

2008-12-30T00:08:00.011-06:00

The great thing about not being a hamster is that we are smart. Hamsters on the other hand are stupid. They spend their whole life running on a wheel and for what? Sure they are heart healthy, but what do they look like? They are fat little balls of fur. Okay, so they are cute too, but the key word is fat ball. Do you want to look like a hamster? I didn't think so.

If you don't want to look like a hamster then quit spinning your wheel on the darn treadmill! If you run on the treadmill for 60 minutes every day, then you will have a very strong heart and a very poor waistline. Not only that, but you will have wasted 7 hours of your week! If you could cut your cardio to a third and get 10 times the results wouldn't you do it? Of course you would. You are smart, unlike the hamster.

Cardio for fat loss is best when done in short bursts like sprints. For example. When you perform a constant 60 minutes in your target heart rate zone you will burn X number of calories depending on your bodyweight and muscle density. If you were to instead perform 20 short bursts really fast for 30 seconds followed by 30 seconds of rest you will have burned X times 10 the amount of calories during the 60 minute session and you only went 20 minutes! Not only that, but when you perform long constant cardio you stop burning calories when you step off the treadmill. If you were to perform short bursts your caloric expenditure will continue for 78 more hours!

Give these cardio workouts a try next time you want to burn fat!

Welcome to the Weight Loss Resolution!

2008-12-29T13:08:00.006-06:00

Well, last year about this time you may have made a resolution to lose weight. You may have even started a pool at work to help keep you motivated. However, something went wrong. Then you said I want to be in shape for spring break and life just got too busy. When the kids are out for summer I will have more time turned into when the kids go back to school I will have more time. And then finally after New Year's I will get back in shape. Sound familiar?

Don't blame yourself. Sometimes life gets in the way of our dreams. We rationalize things because we are smart. Being to smart for your britches is a burden that I'm sure you are willing to live with. The thing about it is that here we are in the same place that we were last year, and probably a little heavier. This time you will be successful if you just try these simple steps.

Write it Down - Keep a daily log of your food intake. Good, bad or ugly write it down. This will keep you accountable and help you stay on track.

Be a B student - Don't try to be perfect. Trying to be perfect will just burn you out and cause binge eating. Instead follow the 90% rule. Eat well 90% of the time. Make 90% of your workouts. By allowing yourself to focus on the 90% you will last much longer and be more productive. 90%, a 100% of the time is better than 100% for only a couple weeks.

Goals, Goals, Goals - Write 3 types of goals. A long term goal for you to always strive for. This should have a time limit of two to three months. Then write weekly goals. And finally write daily goals. That way every time that you achieve these short term goals, you will feel successful. These mini-victories will keep you motivated for success and help to push you forward!

There you go. That's it for today. Tomorrow I will share with you the benefits of why working out less is more!

What Happens When I Stop Seeing Results?

2008-12-17T10:46:00.001-06:00

I can't tell you how many times I get this question. People have been working so hard to get to their goal, and then whammo! They stop seeing results. What went wrong? You are dieting so hard that you are basically starving, and you are doing so much cardio that you can't see straight. Why are you not seeing results?

The answer is simple. You are working harder instead of working smarter. Let me explain. First we will start with the amount of cardio that you are doing. You are just spinning your wheels if you are doing cardio sessions for long periods of time. We have been told for decades that if you perform aerobic activity for 30-60 minutes in your target heart rate zone, then you will burn body fat. WRONG!

Look at Olympic athletes. The long distance runners stay in their target zone for hours a day, every day. But physically they look soft and frail. However the sprinters never perform long distance running and they look defined and well sculpted. That is because the average body fat percentage of an Olympic sprinter is around 5% while the long distance runners are around 14%.

The point that I am trying to make is that if you want to shed weight and body fat then long bouts of cardio are not the way to do it. Instead try interval training. That means you work hard for short periods of time like sprinters do. Examples of this would be to walk for 30 seconds then run for 30 seconds or jump rope for 15 seconds then rest for 30 seconds, and do this for say 10-20 minutes. Anything that you do with high intensity coupled with low intensity will give you the results you are after. Also make sure that you perform cardio after any weight training. The reason for this is two-fold.

One, after you have trained with weights your glycogen storages are at a minimal level if not zero. When these storages are gone and you perform this advanced cardio; your body has no other choice than to burn body fat for fuel. Second, you want to have all of your energy for when you are performing resistance training because that is how you develop muscle tone. Every pound of muscle tone that you develop will burn an average of 50 calories per day. If you can develop 10lbs of muscle tone you will burn 500 calories per day while resting! Multiply that times seven days in a week, and you will incinerate a total of 3500 calories by doing nothing! 3500 calories equals an entire pound of fat!

Now let's address the diet issue. Another myth we have been taught is that less calories consumed than expended will equal a weight reduction. This is a half truth. It will result in a weight reduction, but at what cost? Remember that you want to keep the muscle tone and lose the fat because muscle tone burns extra calories. When you diet too hard or restrict too many calories then your body has to find a way to feed itself what you aren't. When that happens the body does not resort to burning fat because there are no nutrients in fat. Think about it. If you had a choice between eating a juicy steak and a bowl of fat; what would you choose? Of course you chose the steak. The body isn't stupid. It picks the same thing because there are nutrients in the steak that your body needs to function.

Next time that you want to restrict calories try to restrict certain types of calories like things made with flour, sugar and foods high in saturated fat. Also spread out your meals over five to seven small meals per day making sure that you eat within 45 minutes after training. This will keep your metabolism primed and help to shed unwanted pounds and body fat.

If you find yourself working harder instead of smarter give these tips a try. If you have hit a plateau, implementing these ideas are a sure fire way to get you over that hurdle.

What's in Your Wallet?

2008-12-15T23:32:00.000-06:00

Wall Street is in shambles. Companies are cutting back. The cost of living is on the rise. Gas prices while low now, have been at record highs for months. Unemployment is worse than ever, and if you are one of the lucky ones to still have a job, there is no Christmas bonus this year! How are you supposed to hire a trainer to help you get rid of unwanted body fat and weight when you can't afford it?!

Great Question. Most people when they first go to see a trainer are amazed at the prices. Depending on where you live a training session could cost between $55 and $85 per session. When you add that times three times per week, then four weeks a month, you could be spending between $660 and $1020 dollars per month just on training!

While my fellow trainers and I appreciate your hard earned money, during times when the market has fallen out, we understand that you may not be able to afford us. What that means for you is that you are out on your own with no one to help guide you.

Maybe you have been training so long with a trainer that you have a basic understanding of what to do, but you know that without that accountability your workouts and your results will suffer. Even worse, you could be starting out on your own for the first time and risking injury and who knows what else by training alone! What do you do?

The answer is simple. Thanks to the Internet and you-tube, you have options. The best idea for your budget is what is called Virtual Training. Virtual Training is one on one personal training via the Internet. VT allows you all the luxuries of a personal trainer without all the costs involved from hiring one.

With VT you have your workouts emailed to you on a weekly basis. These workouts also contain links to proper step by step video instruction on how to perform your exercises. These videos are down-loadable directly into your IPod or equivalent device! This will allow you to have the power of a personal trainer right in the palm of your hand!

VT should also email your meal plan depending on which program that you purchase. That way you always know exactly what meals you should eat, and when to eat them! In some ways VT is better than a personal trainer because you do not have to adhere to anyone else's schedule. This way you can do your workout whenever you want to! Imagine having a user friendly program that you are in charge of!

The best part of Virtual Training is the price. Instead of spending a house payment on personal training, VT can give you everything that your body needs for around the cost of eating out twice in a month!

My VT programs start at $75 for the entire month! How's that for a bargain? Especially when compared to the cost of conventional training. For more information visit

http://www.fittobeanamerican.com/Fat_Loss_Expert_virtual_training.htm.

Personal Fitness

2008-12-13T18:22:00.000-06:00

Not a long blog today. Just wanted everyone to know that I am giving away $100 to everyone who is a subscriber to my newsletter. Your coupon will be in the next newsletter. If you want to sign up, you can here http://twurl.cc/8dc

Why Fish Oil Isn't The Best

2008-12-11T14:25:00.000-06:00

Why do we need to take Essential Fatty Acids?

Today poor quality diets and processed foods create deficiencies in two very important fats. Those fats are DHA and EPA. Scientific research is showing that consuming sufficient quantities of DHA and EPA can help prevent certain diseases such as cancer, heart disease, depression and more.

Why not just take some fish oil?

General fish oil is weak in anti-oxidant content and do not contain the essential ingredients to allow for a high ORAC value as well as the efficient ability to deliver the DHA and EPA to your cells. We have found an oil that solves all the problems of general fish oil. It is called genuine Neptune Krill Oil. Studies have shown that genuine Neptune Krill Oil contains over 300 times the antioxidant power of Vitamin A & E. Over 47 times the antioxidant power of fish oil and lutein.

The unique formulation in EFA Icon of Antioxidants, Neptune Krill and Omega 3’s provides support for:

* Improved concentration and memory
* Protection for cell membranes
* Healthy nervous system function
* Improvement in cholesterol
* Support a strong immune system
* Relief of PMS symptoms
* A healthy heart
* Fights the damaging effects of aging
* And many more

Essential Fatty Acids cannot be manufactured in the body so we are required to get them through our diet. EFAs are essential for normal health and metabolism. EFA Icon is a powerful source of Omega 3’s. Most individuals diets contain too much Omega 6 fats and not enough Omega 3 fats.

When there is too much Omega 6 fats this promotes the production of inflammation causing chemicals in the body. Omega 3’s on the other hand encourage the production of inflammation fighting chemicals.

Our current diets consist of a ratio of 20:1 Omega 6 to Omega 3 fats. Some scientists believe that this ratio is contributing to certain diseases such as heart disease, cancer and obesity. This is why I truly believe that 90% of today’s population should consuming high quality EFA Icon to help offset that ratio.

This will not only decrease the risk for disease, but improve your overall quality of life.

EFA Icon is more stable than conventional fish oils and more resistant to rancidity. This means it will last longer and be more effective in your body. You will also not get the fishy breath, belching or reflux that is common with other fish oils.

Give it a try, you'll be glad that you did!

Lose 9-90lbs in 9 Weeks!

2008-12-09T14:07:00.000-06:00

Impossible you say? It is if that is the attitude you start off with. The mind is a powerful tool. Just by thinking positively people have cured themselves from cancer, climbed Mt. Everest and invented most of our technology. Thomas Edison failed at making the light bulb thousands of times before he finally did it. He was able to accomplish his goal because he continued to stay positive.

There are tons of success stories out there. Michael Imperioli, Chrissy on the Soprano's, never booked an audition for years until he landed that role. Lance Armstrong was constantly scrutinized for his determination to ride his bike. Beethoven was deaf. Helen Keller was deaf and blind, but became a best selling author. Now it's time to add your name to the list!

The problem with most work out plans and weight loss programs is that they leave out the quintessential ingredient, motivation. Recent studies prove that motivation and accountability are more important than the workout, or the meal plan when it comes to losing weight. That is why you might have failed in your quest before now. It wasn't your fault, it was the jerk trainer's fault for not keeping you motivated. That's how my program is different.

Inside my book Lose 9-90lbs in 9 Weeks - The Guide to Becoming a Champion, is a motivational strategy that keeps you focused with positive reinforcement. I know that you can do it. It really isn't that hard when you have someone cheering you on!

You will learn step by step everything you need to know to be successful in fat loss and weight loss. I take all the guesswork out of it. Every workout is explained in great detail, and can be downloaded directly into your IPod! Each and every meal is laid out with perfection in mind to help you lose that unwanted fat around the belly, thighs and glutes. And to top it all off, I help you plan your goals in a way that you can only succeed. Losing is the only option!

Stop trying to lose weight and finally do it! Stop letting negative comments from ignorant people be your downfall. I believe in you! I know that you CAN do it! You ARE worth it! You DO deserve it! Don't let me be the only one who believes in YOU!

Stop what you're doing right now, and send me an email, jason@safatloss.com, and I will help you get started absolutely FREE! It's time to add your name to the list of successful people! I don't care if you have 9 or 90 pounds to lose. You can do it! The only question is.....will you?

The Price of Fat Loss

2008-12-08T23:00:00.000-06:00

We reap what we sow. In other words we get back what we have put in. Boxer's express it with "The more you sweat, the less you bleed." But you get the point. The big question is....What are you putting in?

When a teenager comes home with poor grades, the parents usually ground him or her. They restrict them from enjoyable activities until their grades are brought up. The parents know that we reap what we sow. If you put more into your studies, then you will get better grades.

Why is it so different for you? Is your life really that hectic? A workout only takes about 30 minutes. If you normally hit the snooze button twice, then you do have time to get in shape! Pay the price.

If fat loss was for a grade, would you be flunking? As your parent should I ground you from certain activities like watching television, spending too much time checking emails and surfing or going out with your friends after work?

Are you acting too irresponsible to be allowed to do the things that you enjoy? The question isn't as important as the answer. If you are flunking your fat loss class, then you need to ground yourself from activities that will hinder your success. Stop eating fried foods, stop missing workout sessions and stop thinking about doing it and do it! Be prepared to pay the price for fat loss and weight loss.

What price you need to pay is different than the price for someone else. To you it may be a price of cost. You don't have the money for a personal trainer. Okay...fine, I can respect that. Find a cheaper solution. I offer virtual training for clients who need the perfect workout, but are short on money. You can check it out here http://twurl.cc/92s .

Maybe the price you need to pay is in the form of motivation. You need support and motivation to be successful. If that is the case, you can find the perfect blueprint for success in my book, "Lose 9-90lbs in 9 Weeks - The Guide to Becoming a Champion." or read about my philosophy for fat loss success here http://twurl.cc/92w.

Whatever the price of fitness you need to pay, just remember that you are not alone. You have the ability to succeed. I believe in you. You CAN do it! You ARE worth it! You DO deserve it! Don't let me be the only one who believes in YOU!

To be included in my free newsletter and receive my ebook Fat Loss Secrets Revealed absolutely free as a thank you for joining, click here!

Fat Loss Motivation

2008-12-05T09:23:00.000-06:00

What would it take for you to accept the challenge of losing weight, burning fat and getting into the best shape of your life? It’s a bold question. Think back to everything that you have ever done to get into shape. Maybe you started going for walks after supper. Maybe you bought one of those products of the television from that guy with the ponytail. Maybe you even hired a professional trainer to get the weight off. Were you successful? And if you were, did you stay that way?
Most of the time I hear, no. The big question is why? Why were you unable to stay on track? It all comes down to motivation and support. Even if you had a trainer, you probably got bored after a while with the workouts. A poor trainer doesn’t know how to keep things different. He only knows a certain number of workouts, and not only will you get bored, but so will your body. When that happens, your body will stop changing. This is what happens if you continue to walk the same distance after supper as well. If you want to stay motivated then you have to change things up.
You can change the things you do by hiring the right trainer for one. This is the best advice I could give. The right trainer will make all the difference because he or she will continually challenge you and your body by always adjusting your training protocol. But you need to do your part as well. The best way to do that is to make goals for yourself.
By making goals you will always have something to strive for. I reccomend using nine weeks as the perfect time frame for you to set your goals. Every nine weeks you should sit down and write out three to five goals for you to meet. These goals need to be VERY specific, and should include your nine week time frame.
Let’s say that you want to make not missing any workouts your goal. If you say within nine weeks I will make more workouts, then you are starting off with a very poor goal. Instead say something like, “Within nine weeks I will have worked out at least 30 times.” This is a goal that can be measured, so it makes it harder to escape. If you have a hard time with your diet, then you could make a goal like, “Within nine weeks, I will have cheated on my diet no more than nine times.” This is a good goal because it allows you to mess up a little, but still do very well. You want to make sure that all of the goals that you make, you can achieve. That’s why I didn’t say, “within nine weeks I will not cheat on my diet even once.” If you make a goal like that and slip up even once, you will feel defeated and 9 times out of 10 give up. The whole point of making goals is to stay motivated.
You should also write your goals down. Emmit Smith, a future NFL hall of fame running back, once said that, “A goal is not a goal until you write it down.” This is so true. Writing down your goals make them tangible. Until you write them down, they are only an idea. Try writing down your goals, and watch your results come to life! If you need more Ideas you can always email me @ jason@safatloos.com or log onto my website http://www.fittobeanamerican.com/

What is it About Fat Loss?

2008-12-02T06:06:00.000-06:00

Why do we want fat loss so bad? What is it about stepping on a scale or looking into a mirror that drives us bonkers? You could blame it on Hollywood movie stars, underwear super models or any number of other marketing ploys but the fact remains that over 90% of Americans are unhappy with at least one aspect of their bodies. And the problem is only getting worse!

Eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia are on the rise as is the quantity of gastric bypass procedures and plastic surgeries. More and more Americans are turning to drastic measures to achieve that ideal body, and yet the number one killer in America is obesity. There are more people with type II diabetes than ever before, heart attacks and strokes claim more lives than vehicle accidents, and new studies show that the number one cause of cancer is fat.

It seems that despite our best efforts, America is killing itself. How is this possible? The main reason is the lack of success from our attempts to lose weight. Most people try to crash diet or over exercise to try to increase the speed of results. This is the wrong way to go. You didn't gain the weight over night so don't expect to lose it overnight. The other problem is that we are ignorant of what it really takes to achieve fat loss. We try what we think should work, instead of seeking the advice of a trained professional. Look, if you had kidney failure, would you try to perform your own dialysis? Of course not. You would go to the hospital and seek the help of a doctor. Trying to lose weight shouldn't be any different.

As a real fat loss expert and fitness professional myself, I see this kind of thing way too often. Thanks to the information age we have way too many self prescribed experts on every subject imaginable. Instead of calling a plumber, we look up how to fix a leaky faucet on the Internet. While this may help with the plumbing, fat loss is a lot more intricate. Too many bad plumbers are on the web when it comes to fitness and fat loss. 9 out of 10 trainers out there really don't know what they are doing, at least not yet. They only have a certification to guide them. They lack the exp. and the know how to really help you.

If you are trying to lose weight, burn fat or get in shape, I urge you to seek the help from a real qualified professional. Don't let anything get in the way of fat loss success. You CAN do it. You ARE worth it. You DO deserve it. Don't let me be the only one who believes in YOU!

The Preamble To New Year's Fat Loss

2008-12-01T09:22:00.000-06:00

You have exactly 31 days until you promise yourself that you will get in shape in 2009. Seems like a long time to wait. Especially when you could already be on your way to getting in shape this year. There is no magic about weight loss during the new year. In fact the odds are stacked against you. Nine out of ten people who resolve to lose weight during the new year never accomplish their goal. Five of the nine actually put on even more weight! Think about it. What did you resolve to change last year? Was it weight loss? Are you heavier or lighter? If you are lighter and accomplished your goal, then I applaud you. If you didn't...want to know why? It wasn't your fault.

You see, during the new year there is a great demand for fitness and fat loss products. As a result, prices go up. As a former gym owner I know that 45% of all revenue for the entire calander year is made during January and February. Higher prices eventually break you down, and cause you to give up on your dreams.

Reason number two. The gym is too crowded! When a person who is new to the gym scene shows up to the gym for the first time, it is intimidating enough as it is. When you throw in four times the normal average of patrons, then it is just plain scary. Individuals begin to feel alone in a crowd of people. This type of anxiety causes many people who were once excited to work out, to just avoid the big scary gym and all the crazy whackos in it.

And last, but certainly not least, the reason that most people fail to achieve their fat loss and weight loss goals is the inexperience and ignorance of wannabe expert trainers. Every day some village loses its idiot because some guy who likes to work out thinks he can help other people work out and get paid for it. Look you only have one body. Why leave it to some dude who is more interested in the size of his biceps over the health and wellfare of his clients? Make the right decision and find an expert. Like The Fat Loss Expert (shameless plug). I have 12 years of experience in helping thousands of clients. I promise that you will achieve your goals or I offer a double your money back guarantee! Guess What? No one has ever asked for their money back! Make the changes you want to make! Do it now! Don't wait for the New Year. You have been waiting too long already. Order my FREE Fat Loss Report and get started today!

Working Out For The Brain?

2008-11-28T20:51:00.000-06:00

Diet and exercise can give a 50-year old a body that looks and feels much younger, BUT studies are now pointing towards the same benefits for the brain! McKnight Brain Institute studied rats that spent significant time on their exercise wheels versus sedimentary rats. Those that “exercised” had had healthier DNA and less-damaged brain cells over the course of their lives. “For this study animals were not forced to run; they did it because it was entertaining,” says researcher Dr. Thomas Foster. The good doc says for people “The results show that regular exercise can prevent oxidative damage.” Oxidative damage is linked to memory failure and other forms of mental decline that comes with aging. For questions about what the best kinds of exercise are or how to make exercising entertaining, just send me an email. jason@safatloss.com Or leave me a comment. I'd be happy to help you with all of your fat loss needs.

Does Black Friday Feel More Like "Fat" Friday?

2008-11-28T17:54:00.000-06:00

This may or may not apply to you in regards to Black Friday, but chances are it applies to your life one way or another.

You see, I predict that untold numbers of people got up super early today and went shopping on Black Friday. I also predict these folks either skipped breakfast or grabbed something sugary on the way out the door.

Then at some point, when their shopping frenzy has begun to die down, they'll plop down at a food court and load up on greasy fast food or something very close. Not good for fat loss. Not good at all.

If you want to shed pounds and inches you just have to eat a solid breakfast. It sets the tone for your metabolism for the entire day. Taking the time to plan what you're going to eat for breakfast the night before is more than worth the time if you're serious about melting fat off your frame. But look, sometimes you just don't have time for it. Sometimes it's the day after a holiday and you're not firing on all cylinders. No reason to fret. You can reach for a great tasting meal replacement shake that will stoke your metabolism and help you burn fat all day long.

People ask me all the time what brand I recommend. Simple: Prograde Lean. Why? Because it tastes amazing and will keep you full for hours. It's just what the fitness pro ordered on a day like Black Friday.

If you'd like to try Prograde Lean for yourself, well, if you hurry you can get it on sale today. The Prograde Nutrition Thanksgiving Week Sale ends TODAY at 11:59pm EST. You can save 11% off all of their products. All you need to do is use their coupon code when you checkout. For instance, if you want to order Prograde Lean just go here: http://ftbaa.getprograde.com/lean

Place your order. And when you get to the coupon code simply type in the word:

thanks

(Yes, that's the word 'thanks' in all lower case letters)

If you're a busy person on the go, and you're serious about fat loss, then I highly recommend giving Prograde Lean a try. I know it took them nine months of taste-testing to get the chocolate flavor just perfect. It really is delicious!

The sale ends TONIGHT, so if you're thinking some Prograde Lean would make your life easy then you need to order right away before you forget.

How Will Thanksgiving Change You?

2008-11-26T19:15:00.000-06:00

There is something special about this time of year. The leaves start turning beautiful colors, the air becomes much crisper, we tend to eat stews made from a crock pot instead of burgers fired up on the grill and cuddling in front of a fire takes the place of long walks down the beach or lake. Have you figured out what the special thing about this time of year is yet? It’s CHANGE!

What is special about this time of year is that changes are happening all around us, and it’s not just the weather. Our personalities change as well. When the holidays are upon us, we begin to relax. For some people that can be a good thing, but in terms of fitness it is usually bad.

How many times have you yourself said or heard someone else say, “Wow, I really need to get in shape so I can wear my turtleneck at the Christmas party.” The reality is that you don’t. As a whole, we tend to let ourselves go during the holidays. We drink a little more, we eat a little more and miss a few too many training sessions. That is the change that we make. As a result the average American gains seven to ten pounds from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day! Is that the kind of change that you want?

This holiday season I challenge you to make a real change in your life by not changing. If you normally take a turn for the worse then I want to help you stay on the straight and narrow. If you have been thinking about starting a program to get in shape, but have been putting it off, then I want to help you get started. Send me an email with your concerns at jason@safatloss.com and let me get you going in the right direction. This holiday season make a REAL change. You can do it. You are worth it. You do deserve it. Don’t let me be the only one who believes in you!

An Early Thanksgiving Feast!

2008-11-24T14:54:00.000-06:00

As you probably already know, there's only one nutrition company I believe has your best interests at heart. And when I heard they were having a rather unusual sale for Thanksgiving I had to tell you about it. You see, Prograde has two big reasons to be thankful this week.

1- They have completely revamped their website. It really is cool and it makes ordering SO much simpler.

2- They have just released their brand new Anti-oxidant formula - Prograde Longevity.Oh, and the interesting part is it's an 11% off everything sale. Here are some other details I want to make sure you know about:

- Again, you receive 11% off all Prograde products. - It will run from Monday, November 24th until Friday, November 28th at 11:59pm EST.

- Yes, that 11% will be applicable to SmartShip orders. But it only applies to that first purchase. Not ongoing.

- The coupon code you will need at checkout is:

thanks

(Yes, it all needs to be in lower case.)

- In case you missed it, the website is http://ftbaa.getprograde.com/ Oh, and you should definitely check out the Prograde Lean - that's my favorite Prograde product. I've been using it with pretty amazing results.

Yours in health,

Jason "Shark" (Mc)Guckian

PS- Remember, this Thanksgiving celebration ends this Friday, so be sure to order right away and take advantage of these BIG savings. (http://ftbaa.getprograde.com/)

Dummies Burn More Fat

2008-11-19T21:04:00.000-06:00

People who want to get in shape are very clever. I know from dealing with my own clients that they are very, very smart...too smart for their own good. Sometimes we are so smart that we "think" ourselvesaway from achieving the goals that we are after.
Ever heard of the term "Dumb Jock?" Think back in high school. There was that football player who was so good looking. He had a muscular frame, nice arms and six pack abs! But guess what?...he was as dumb as a box of rocks. This is the Hollywood cliché of a great looking guy, who has it all except the brains, right? Well, there is something to be said for that. You see, the act of getting in shape is so simple that many times, us clever people miss it. Don't get me wrong, having brains is a burden that I am proud to live with, as I'm sure you are as well, but to be successful in fitness we need to be a little more simple minded.

That is why using a personal trainer is so beneficial. Let your trainer do all the thinking for you. When you go to the gym or to a boot camp class you should put your mind on auto pilot and let the trainer do his/her job. Stick to your trainer for all of your fitness advice. Only listen to one trainer at a time. Different trainers have different methods. Once you have chosen the right one for you, follow that trainer's guidelines. Try not to deviate from the program.
Sometimes, as clever people, we try to re-invent the wheel. If we are on a diet regimen of xyz that our trainer provided, then we might be too hasty and drop the x off of it to try to get better results. DON'T DO IT! The meal plan was provided to give you everything that you need to achieve your goals. Remember that you hired your trainer because he/she is an expert in their field. Have faith in their ability to produce results. When you try to alter the program, you could be putting your goals, or worse, your health in jeopardy.

Another way we think too much is by trying to do too much. For example if your trainer has you training 3 times per week, then you should only train during those times unless you have discussed this with your trainer before hand. Trying to do more than that could put your joints in danger! Plus you need to remember that you do not build muscle tone during training. Muscle tone is built by resting, not by training.

Take these tips to heart as you travel on your journey to fitness. No matter how smart you are, remember that you hired your trainer for a reason. He may not be as smart as you are (in fact he may be the ex-foot ball player from high school) but he is an expert in the field of fitness. Listen to his advice and apply his knowledge. If the situation was different, say you hired a CPA, then you would listen to him about how to prepare your taxes, right? The same goes for your trainer. Play dumb and you will be well on your way to being in the best shape of your life! You CAN do it! You ARE worth it! You DO deserve it! Don't let me be the only one who believes in you!

Why Can't I Lose Weight

2008-11-18T11:21:00.000-06:00

I can’t tell you how many times that I have heard this question. People come to me and ask, “Why can’t I lose weight? I am doing everything I can, but I’m just stuck!” Sound familiar? The problem isn’t what you are doing, but rather what you are not doing. Let me explain.
First and foremost, you need to have a firm understanding of what it really takes to lose weight. There are four simple guidelines. Let me share them with you.

1. NUTRITION - What you eat and how often you eat are much more important than how much you eat.

2. RESISTANCE TRAINING - free weights, weight machines, bands, balls and even your own body weight plays an important role in this category.

3. CARDIOVASCULAR TRAINING - This is done by walking, running, swimming, biking and even cleaning house if your working hard. These are things that cause you to sweat by raising your heart rate.

4. ACCOUNTABILITY & DETERMINATION - This is both the most important and most overlooked ingredient needed for fat loss and weight loss. You need to have a checks and balances system in place for you to succeed.

Let’s start with the diet. Diet is a four letter word that nobody likes to hear. The problem is that most people treat this word as a verb and not a noun. A diet is really whatever you eat. The key to having a good diet (notice I didn’t say key to dieting) is to eat more often. Actors, models and other people who take care of their bodies follow this rule. You need to eat something small every two to three hours. This will keep your metabolism working overtime and help your body not only burn fat, but process the food you feed it. Keep the sugars and hydrogenated oils to a minimum and focus on complete proteins and fibrous carbohydrates.

Next comes the resistance training. Working with weights will not make you bulky or manly looking, no ma’am. Doing resistance training properly adds muscle tone, not muscle mass. This is crucial because not only will it build that sexy body of your dreams, but by increasing muscle tone, you increase your metabolism. For every pound of muscle that you build, you burn an average total of 50 calories per day! That means you burn 50 calories even when you are sleeping! With a structured program from a qualified personal trainer you can build a total of 10lbs of muscle tone over the next 10 to 12 months! That means you will be burning a total of 3500 calories per week! That equates to a pound of body fat! That means that once you can build 10lbs of muscle you will burn approximately one pound of fat per week just by resting!

Cardiovascular training is the most abused form of weight loss. We have been taught for years that if we stay in our target heart rate for 30 minutes three times per day, that we will burn fat…WRONG! Cardio doesn’t burn fat, it burns calories. We want our fat to melt off of our bodies right? Lets look at the top Olympic athletes to illustrate this point. World class distance runners stay in their target heart rate for hours each day, however, they look soft and frail. The average body fat percentage of an Olympic distance runner is 16%! That is four points above ideal for an average male, let alone an Olympic athlete! Now lets look at sprinters. These athletes push their bodies very hard for short periods. This is called High Intensity Interval Training. This allows them to build muscle with every sprint. Sprinters look hard and defined. They have very sexy, sleek and long lean muscle tone that is visible even from the top of the bleachers. These athletes never run long distances and carry an average body fat percentage of 4%. Instead of walking or jogging forever to get that small waist, try pushing yourself for short periods. This will incinerate your fat storages!

Finally we come to the most important part, accountability. The easiest way to stay focused is to write things down in a journal. I keep a training journal to write my workouts in, and a nutrition journal to write down what and when I eat. I also measure my arms, waist, chest and thighs every month to make sure that I am making progress. That way if some jerk tries to tell me what he thinks, I can always listen to the reality of my results, and not the stupid comments of ignorant people.

In closing I want to leave you with what I call the THREE COMANDMENTS OF FITNESS. If you can apply these principles, then you will always be one step ahead.

1. The hardest part of your workout is walking through the front door. Once you are here, then you can accomplish anything.

2. Never compare yourself to any one else, including the person you might have been five, ten or fifteen years ago. The only person you have to be better than is the person you were yesterday.

3. “Never give up what you truly want, for what you think your want today” - Zig Ziglar

Why Workouts Don't Work

2008-11-14T12:56:00.000-06:00

I get most of my clients after they have been either training on their own for a while or if they have been training with another trainer for a while and have stopped seeing results. Yes, I said that right they STOPPED SEEING RESULTS! Wait a minute. If they are exercising, especially with a trainer, why are they not seeing the results? The answer is simple. Around 90% of fitness trainers out there have only a certification as there guide. They lack experience and understanding. What they are taught is to instruct the client first and foremost on their balance. This is why you see most trainers using a lot of balls and platforms with their clients. These are good exercises, but they are missing the most important reason why they were hired in the first place....The client wants RESULTS!

I have never had a client come to me and say, "Jason, I really need help with my balance." No, that sounds silly. I do however hear, "Jason, I really need to lose this fat off of my belly, hips and thighs!" That is why it is so important that you investigate and research a trainer before you spend your hard earned money on one. Even if he/she starts to put you through real workouts, you still need to be careful. Let me explain.

What many trainers do is immediately put you on a three day split. For example, using Monday, Wednesday and Friday as our training days, the trainer will have you do workout "A" on Monday, "B" on Wednesday and "C" on Friday. Next week the same routine is performed, A, B & C. Doing this kind of routine, you will start to see some results, but after a while you will plateau or stay the same. The question is WHY?

Your body begins to adapt to the consistent workload that you are putting it through week in and week out. Once this happens, you will no longer be able to achieve results. Most trainers do not understand this concept. Either because they are ignorant and lack experience, or because they are focused on their own motivation...money. You see, most trainers charge by the hour. They sell their sessions or workouts to you at the price of $60 to $90 dollars each. The more sessions you buy the better. There is a huge flaw with this type of set up! Never once were your goals and results the focus!

A real trainer will charge you by your goals. I do. If you don't get in the best shape of your life, by training with me, then I will give you double your money back! I can promise this because I understand how your body reacts to training. Instead of an A, B, C, A, B and C training regimen, I offer something completely different each and every time that you train. We may start with A, B, and C the first week, but on week two we progress to D, E and F. The trick is to never repeat the same workout twice. This will keep your body guessing, and always prove powerful results. After all, if you are not achieving your goals then what's the point, right? If you live in San Antonio, Texas you may contact me direct at (210) 887-2304 or if you are anywhere else in the world, feel free to inquire about my online training packages via email at jason@safatloss.com. Either way I am committed to your success. You ARE worth it! You CAN do it! You DO deserve it! Don't let me be the only one who believes in YOU!

Hunger

2008-10-28T19:40:00.000-05:00

A Cherokee elder sitting with his grandchildren told them, "In every life there is a terrible fight - a fight between two wolves.

One is evil: he is fear, anger, envy, greed, arrogance, self-pity,resentment and deceit.

The other is good: joy, serenity, humility,confidence, generosity, truth, gentleness, and compassion."

A child asked, "Grandfather, which wolf will win?"

The elder looked him in the eye. "The one you feed."

I received this from a guy in England named Dax Moy. I post a number of the quotes that he sends me here in this blog. Great question. Which wolf are you feeding? Are you feeding the good wolf, or the bad one?

Did you have a great workout today, or did you just go through the motions? Did you even work out today? When we make the goals to lose weight, tone up or get in shape then we are feeding the good wolf. To continue to feed the good wolf, you must take action. Thinking about it won't make it happen. Try these tips to keep the big bad wolf hungry.

Make a journal of everything that you eat. When it is on paper, then there is some measure of accountability. Even if you "cheat" write it down. I promise that you will cheat a whole lot less this way.
Plan your attack. If you have a day planner or use a pocket PC, then schedule in advance when you are going to work out. When you have a plan, then you will make time for it instead of not having time for it.
Chart your results. You always balance your check book at the end of the month, right? That way you know what money you have spent and/or saved. The same goes for your goals. Measure your waist, chest/bust, hips, thighs and arms to see that good things are happening. This will keep you excited and ready for more action!

Keep training hard, and if you have any questions, or if I can help you in any way email me at jason@safatloss.com or call me direct at 210-887-2304

Never Quit!

2008-10-22T20:47:00.000-05:00

My partner, Steve Payne, included this in his last newsletter. I never want to miss another workout, and neither should you after watching this video. This woman is amazing!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KA_Wcwt4e-o

Effort

2008-10-20T06:35:00.000-05:00

"The one thing that matters is the effort."
- Antoine de Saint-Exupery, French pilot, author 61096017

It's not hard, but it sure as heck ain't easy! It can be overwhelming at times and it may be a little intimidating, but getting in shape is not as hard as you think it is. The problem is that most people do not know the RIGHT way to get in shape. We try get thin quick schemes, starve ourselves and even take harmful pills to get that body we have always wanted. So...STOP IT!

All you really need is to apply the effort where it counts. But be careful who you listen to. 90% of so called fitness experts know very little about what they are talking about. Your program should involve you working smarter, not harder. If you want to hear the truth about what it REALLY takes to get fit, then email me at jason@safatloss.com.

Once you are on the right tracks, then a little effort will go a long long way! Train Hard!

What are you capable of?

2008-10-17T09:18:00.000-05:00

"We differ, blind and seeing, one from another, not in our senses, but in the use we make of them, in the imagination and courage with which we seek wisdom beyond all senses."
- Helen Keller, lecturer, author

People come in all different shapes and sizes. Especially in a town like San Antonio. People also go to Personal Trainers for all different reasons. Some people have large goals such as losing lots of weight. While some goals are much smaller, say to lose a few vanity pounds. Regardless of what your goals are be it fat loss, weight loss or body sculpting you cannot change the shape you start off with. We all start with today. Whatever today brings, each of us must deal with it in our own way. That's the beauty of it. What you can change is you!

By changing the way you think and act, you set the stage for whatever shape you end up with! Helen Keller was able to unlock every bit of potential that she had inside by changing the way she thought and acted. She went from being handicapped to being a champion!

We all have handicaps. Some of them are physical, some of them are mental, some of them we were born with and some of them we inflict on ourselves. Whatever your limitations are, embrace them. Stop trying to fix what you have no control of, and just do the best you can with what you have. Helen could not change the fact that she was blind, but that did not stop her from becoming a successful writer.

Become the champion in your own life. You CAN do it! You ARE worth it! You do DESERVE it! Don't let ME be the only one who believes in YOU!

Fitness is "Fun"-damental

2008-10-16T15:30:00.000-05:00

That's right! If you want to be successful in fat loss, fitness, weight loss, body sculpting, body building or preparing for a sport...YOU MUST MAKE IT FUN, San Antonio!

A lot of time, people are put off by long bouts of exercise, or performing exercises that they do not feel comfortable doing. That is why San Antonio is ranked THIRD on the nation's fattest cities list. It is because we either are listening to the wrong people, or we are doing the wrong things.

Fitness should be fun! All my clients will admit that training with me is difficult, but they also have a blast doing it. Little do they know, that they are working as hard as professional athletes. They do not realize it though because I make it fun! Working out is hard enough, try to make things as enjoyable as possible. Here are some ideas,

Wear an Ipod, or equivalent when you train. It will help keep you focused and actually motivate you when you are listening to your favorite music.
Try moving your treadmill into the living room. Catch up on your favorite shows while going for a walk. This will kill two birds with one stone.
Train in a small group or class designed around your goals. When you train in a group whether you realize it or not, competition will drive you to succeed.

For information on my group classes, or semi-private training log onto www.fittobeanamerican.com or email me at jason@safatloss.com

"Opportunity's favorite disguise is trouble."
- English proverb

perserverance

2008-10-14T09:29:00.000-05:00

"Success is often achieved by those who don't know that failure is inevitable."
- Coco Chanel, fashion designer

Whatever your goal is...reach for it. Do not try to reach for it, but rather go for it. Commit yourself to accomplishing that very goal. Do everything that you can. Do the very best that you can with whatever you have. And after it is all said and done if you still don't reach that goal, understand that you have not failed. The only failure would have been to not do your best.

Fat loss is no different. Why do we fall? To learn to pick ourselves back up again. If you are in San Antonio, or even if you aren't and you have been reaching for a weight loss goal, fat loss goal or any type of fitness solution and you just have yet to get there for whatever reason. Email me jason@safatloss.com, call me 210-887-2304 or log onto my website www.fittobeanamerican.com and let me help you. Don't let me be the only one who believes in you!

-Jason "Shark" (Mc)Guckian
San Antonio, Texas' Top Personal Trainer, Body Sculptor & Fitness Mentor

What you leave behind

2008-10-11T14:42:00.000-05:00

Today I was doing squats, like every Saturday at Olympic Gym, and I noticed something. Someone was making excuses. He actually pretended to pull a groin muscle. I know this because of my years inside a training room; watching, rehabbing, taping and observing all kinds of injuries. This was not a groin pull.

Look, if the workout is tough...just say so. All he had to do was be honest. Instead he left the gym limping on the wrong foot. We don't care how much you lift or don't lift. We just care that you do your best! When it comes to fat loss, weight loss, strengthening & toning muscles, stretching or any club sport you may play....just be honest!

"What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others."
- Pericles

Sore Muscles?

2008-10-10T08:15:00.000-05:00

The week is finally over for the campers in my new 5:30am Fat Loss, Fitness Developing, Strength Building and Flexability Creating Fit Camp Right here in San Antonio, Texas! It's a long name, but promises quick results!

As when starting any exercise program, you are going to get sore. Believe me my class is feeling that right now! So, here a a few tips to help beat soreness.

Try to make time for a 20 minute walk, jog or bike ride. Soreness is called by a build up of lactic acid. Performing 20 minutes of light to medium cardio will help to flush that out!
STRETCH!!! Be sure to warm your body appropriately for a minimum of 7 minutes. Hold each stretch for 35 to 60 seconds, not the old school 10 count. Your muscle needs 35 seconds to be able to completely relax.
Glutamine. Glutamine is an amino acid. It so happens to be the most abundant amino acid in your muscular system. It is responsable for healing and also aides in boosting you imune system. 10-30g daily (take your body weight and drop off the last number. Ex - if you weigh 165lbs, then use 16g of glutamine each day)
Vitamin C. This vitamin does more than help you get over a cold. It boosts your imune system!!!! When training take 3 to 10g spread out over the day, as it is a water soluble vitamin.

Notice I didn't say anything about Motrin or Ibuprophin. I am not against using things for pain, but try these other remedies first. They will fix the problem, Ibuprophin only masks the problem.

"Destiny is no matter of chance. It is a matter of choice. It is
not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved."
-
William Jennings Bryan, secretary of state

What are you missing?

2008-10-08T15:52:00.000-05:00

Hello again, this is your friendly neighborhood Shark with your fat loss, muscle tone, training tip of the day for all my clients in San Antonio, TX and around the world! Are you ready? Here it is....

"Believe"

That is all you ever have to do is believe. A lot of times we get lost and never find our destination. Most of the time it has to do more with the directions we were given. No matter how hard you try to get to destination, if you don't have the correct directions...well then you won't get there. The difference is, that you do have the right directions. Before it wasn't your fault because you were working harder instead of smarter. Now when you combine the determination and will that you have in your heart along with the knowledge and experience of Fit To Be An American and myself, then you have a synergistic combination that is sure to blow you away!! All you have to do...is believe.

Jason "Shark" (Mc) Guckian

Two For Tuesday

2008-10-07T08:39:00.000-05:00

Fat loss, health and fitness is the goal! I have been helping San Antonio fight the good fight against obesity for the past 12 years. One of the best ways to fight fat, and lose weight is to keep your body guessing. So try going for a Two For Tuesday!

A Two For Tuesday is when you shock the body by throwing in a second workout. One of the easiest ways to do this is to simply go for a walk. You have your regular workout for the day, but on tuesday you add a 20 minute walk.

The best time to walk is in the morning on an empty stomach, but timing you walk for 15 minutes after a meal can be a great time, too!

Why after a meal, you ask? The reason is simple. When you eat, your body begins what is called thermo-genesis. That means that your body's engine is geared up and red hot, to help digest the meal you just ate. When you time your walk to coincide with a thermo-genic state, you amplify your ability to burn fat as fuel!!!

Give it a try and watch the inches fall off!

-Jason "Shark" (Mc)Guckian
Personal Trainer/ Body Stylist/ Fitness Mentor

fittobeanamerican.com
safatloss.com
jason@safatloss.com
210-887-2304

First Day of Fitness!!!!

2008-10-06T08:01:00.000-05:00

Today we started with our very first Firestorm Fit-camp at the Let's Get Loud Cheer-leading facility. 5:30 is early for anyone, but everyone that showed up really did great! If you're reading this, you should be very proud of yourselves, I am. They worked hard, and even though it was only a basic routine, they had fun with it. If you feel like trying out our routine today...here it is!

Round 1 -

perform 10 reps of each exercise. Repeat the round over and over as many times as you can for a 10 minute duration.

Push Ups
Squats (body weight)
Front to back Lunges (each leg)
Bent over Row (with rubber band)
Burpees

Round 2 -

perform 10 reps of each exercise. Repeat the round over and over as many times as you can for a 7 minute duration.

Side Lunges (each leg)
Broad Jumps
Thrusters (with rubber band)
Plank (10seconds each side)
Jump rope

That's it for today. You can still take advantage of the free two weeks! Just send ma an email, or call to reserve your spot. jason.guckian@gmail.com or 210-887-2304.

Train Hard,

Shark

Rest on Sundays?

2008-10-05T18:38:00.000-05:00

I am always getting questioned by people whether or not they should rest, or how often they should rest from training. I am a firm believer in taking breaks. That is if you earn it. For those people who continuously go through the motions week in and week out, performing the same tired old routine, then no. No breaks for you. However if you are constantly varying your training, incorporating new ideas and really pushing your body to the max, then yes. You deserve a break. For those fanatics, one or two days a week should be enough to give your body the rest it needs. If you need help learning ways to change out of that old routine, then feel free to send me an email. I'd love to help. jason.guckian@gmail.com
Shark

The Problem with Legs

2008-10-04T13:24:00.000-05:00

A lot of people who work out on a consistent basis dread training their legs, especially men. Women are much stronger in their lower-body then men are, so they feel more comfortable training their legs, than we do. The problem is that if you do not train your legs, not only will you eventually look like a golf tee, but you are missing out on unlocking the secret to enhanced strength and fat loss. Two thirds of our muscle bellies are in our lower body. The only way to burn fat is by increasing your muscle mass, so if you skip out on legs then you are skipping out on your most powerful weapon against fat! If you can't lift heavy due to lower back issues or knee problems, then try going for high volume. Today this was my leg routine, and I didn't even have to squat!

Leg press:

1 x 100 reps with the right leg only, 1 x 100 reps with the left leg only (with no weight at all)

1 x 50 reps with both legs (450lbs)

1 x 25 reps with both legs (900lbs)

1 x 40 reps with both legs (900lbs)

1 x 40 reps with both legs (990lbs)

It was a very challenging work out, even without squats. The point of this session is to do perform a high level of repetitions. Only use weight that you can handle, and never sacrifice form for added weight. Give this a try and watch your legs grow, your strength increase and your body fat melt off! Happy training!

-Jason "Shark" McGuckian

Firestorm Fitness Systems Fat Burning Fit Camp

2008-10-03T22:26:00.000-05:00

This is your friendly neighborhood Shark, with some important information, especially after the unfortunate events on Wall street.

Please foreword this on to any friends or family you think would benefit, thank you.

As you may already know my partner (Steve Payne) and I run the Firestorm Fitness Systems Fat Burning Fit Camps located at Let's Get Loud cheer leading facility (located @ 12066 Starcrest # 100 San Antonio, TX 78247 Get directions). And after the unfortunate events on Wall street this week, we would like to offer a special FREE "get to know us" bonus package for all of San Antonio residents.

The offer includes;

2 weeks of FREE classes (8 sessions beginning Oct. 6th at 5:30am- Mon., Tue., Thurs., Fri.)

FREE e-book "125 Smoothie Recipes For Athletes"

FREE bonus report "The Eat Out Guide"

FREE personalized custom meal plan

We also offer more FREE time for referrals

Space is limited for this FREE offer, so please call or email us now to reserve your spot.

If you have any questions, comments or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me.

Thank you again,
Jason "Shark" (Mc)Guckian
8611 N New Braunfels
San Antonio, Texas 78217
210-887-2304 Mobile

Steve Payne
8611 N New Braunfels
San Antonio, Texas 78217
210-884-2072 Mobile

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