Today's trivia question: how fast can I lose it?

Answer ... in my experience, women can expect to lose 0.5 - 1.0 percent and men 0.5 - 1.5 percent of their bodyweight in fat each week.

So, for a 300 pound male, that would be anywhere from 1.5 to 6 pounds per week.

Big range, isn't it? Yes, but there is also a large number of factors that come into play. Some people are more focused. Some people have better genetics. Others have less stress in their lives, some sleep more or less ... all of these factors combine to create the final result.

Yesterday, we headed downtown for dinner. I enjoyed a sirloin steak. We went to the beach, but there was a problem. The red tide is still there. We turned it into a scientific field trip. My daughter and I walked the shore and identified eels, sea snakes, crabs, blow fish, regular fish, even small sharks. Come to think of it, is was a very devastating scene. If I had my camera, I would have taken a picture for you ... the fish were literally piled up in two solid lines: one at the high tide mark, and one at the edge of where the tide was at.

I don't recall ever seeing so many dead animals from a red tide before, and the locals I spoke with agreed. So, my wife and daughter are playing it safe and swimming in the neighbor's pool instead today.

I still have a 5-mile run and arm workout ahead of me. I'm doing arms first, because I missed them last week.

Speaking of missing something, our first news excerpt is about a man "missing" 58 pounds. That's over 200,000 calories, and nothing to scoff at!

What's more fun than losing 58 pounds? How about losing 58 pounds and raising money for the American Cancer Society? Even Steve Day had his share of plateaus, going for six weeks without dropping a pound during his fund-raiser.

I am a chocolate lover. Oh, and did I mention that I love chocolate? Now, I'm not of the opinion chocolate is as horrible as some make it out to be. I stick will all natural and prefer organic, with just a few ingredients like cocoa, cocoa butter, and sugar. I have successfully cut 35 pounds over a 12-week period while enjoying the occassional piece of chocolate. Thank goodness you now can satisfy your chocolate craving and still lose weight.

The market for magic fat-loss bullets and pills is still going strong. Of course, now people are expressing concerns over ephedra-free fat burners. Here's the kicker, in my opinion. ANYTHING in excess is bad. People die from eating peanuts, so there's no doubt certain herbs are going to cause issues. Even coffee can be problematic. So, while I don't believe in using magic bullets to achieve your results, I also will be watching the news about ephedra-free weight loss products with interest. After all, who knows where the line will be moved to include something I believe everyone can benefit from, such as multivitamins.

We can't forget that often issues with being overweight have to do with a distorted self image. It can just as easily swing the other way: instead of putting on fat, some people have a dangerous extreme fear of fat.

The story of the fat man walking has made its way to Hong Kong (although he won't be walking there anytime soon). CONGRATULATIONS. What an exciting story to share with the world!

Here's a program about building muscle ... but not the way you think. It helps children with conditions ranging from spina bifida to autism improve through a special form of physical therapy.

Speaking of children, "obesity figures continue to gain weight." We are close to having 40% of our children in Europe and the United States classified as obese. That's 2 out of 5.

So we've blamed sodas, fast food, and inactivity. Now, this article pins the blame of obesity on fructose as a sweetener. Please don't get this confused with fructose that occurs naturally in fruits. Remember, too, that this experiment was conducted with mice. Mice aren't humans.

I really should get a big map and start putting pins everytime a new area comes up with a local program to target obesity. This one comes from Cedar Rapids, the place I'll fly into in a few weeks to train a client nearby.

Across the big pond from where I am writing this, in the UK, overweight people will be referred to "slimming clubs" by their doctors according to this article. That's catchy. Slimming club. Nine iron? Five iron? Slimming club?

Now that school is starting, we can refer to the Texarkana Gazette for after school snacks that count with good nutrition.

Children in Nanuvet, Canada apparently aren't getting enough Vitamin D. We have a chewable product that my daughter loves, and it's just $12 US for a month's supply (14.50 CA$ up north, 22.50 AU$ in Australia, or 9.66 pounds in the UK). For more information on that, just click here (US), click here (Canada), click here (UK), or click here (Australia). You can order from here or give me a buzz.

We'll cover mega millions and Laguna Beach in the weekly e-Zine, at the bottom of this post ...

Yesterday, I had a great workout. Pounded some 70 pound dumbbells, doing a set of bench pressing exercises. Today, I blast my arms. I can hardly wait! Er, yes I can.

We named our company Golden Summit because that is what the tract of land our South Dakota home was situated on (the "Golden Summit Lode") - in that area, most properties are described with relation to gold mines or lodes (areas where the gold is concentrated).

I found this article to be quite interesting, however, about someone in their Golden years reaching the Summit.

Over at WebMD there is an article about how maintaining weight loss gets easier with time. That's good news for those of us who can gain quite easily if we don't stay in control.

I mentioned osteoarthritis the other day, but didn't realize that one in three adults suffer from arthritis. The article discusses the role that exercise plays. I also have heard positive feedback from many clients who consistently take a pharmaceutical grade multivitamin and grapeseed extract.

By the way, that link takes you to the company that I partner with. There is a good reason I chose that company, because the founder's vision is one that I am proud to be a part of. This literally was my key to breaking out of the corporate world and stepping down from my job as Director of IT after 10 years in the industry to pursue a career in health and wellness. If this is something you are looking for, or perhaps you just want to earn some extra income to cover the cost of your quality multivitamins, then you can learn more here.

After all the excitement about the pros of weight loss camps last week, this article comes along to mention some of the cons. One of the major cons? "Kids may resent being shipped off to camp." I doubt these kids from Wales would, because they "jump at healthy learning."

Oh, wait, is there more news about camps?

Here's a weight loss class that teaches students to make small changes. I agree ... so many people jump into it without really taking the time to transform from the inside.

Apparently, Nicolas Cage doesn't believe in making small changes. His friends are worried the movie star is getting too thin.

Wait until you see his nutrition plan.

Apparently, bizarre nutrition is popular in Hollywood. Just read what this gossip column has to say about Christina Aguilara. Oh, wait, did I say gossip? Never mind, take the last two links with a grain of salt. Er, organic sea salt.

Here's more from the "healthy food doesn't have to boring" arena.

Oh, and you won't believe this. When college students were actually able to learn what was in their foods by being able to read nutrition facts, they actually made healthier choices. Now why would that be?

So when is it okay to gain weight? When that weight is muscle, of course. Are we STILL using the BMI?

When you think of fitness, do you think of heavily muscled bodies on Miami Beach or slim rollerbladers in Los Angeles? Apparently, one place where people exercise more than most of the country is ... New Hampshire! Can anyone from New Hampshire verify this for us? Grin.

Have you been told to skip the Vitamin D in your supplements and get more sun instead? Apparently, in sunny Austrlia ("the sunburnt country") there are concerns about vitamin D deficiency emerging as a public health issue. Perhaps they should be taking vitamins, too? (Good news: the company that I partner with has DCs in Australia and distributes them locally, so there is no need to pay the enormous costs of shipping from the U.S.).

In New Mexico, 33 schools share $1.4 million to slim down students in response to "rocketing child obesity rates."

One of my coaching clients has a great way she loves to exercise, that is easy on the joints: a trampoline! She has a lot of fun both walking her dog, chasing her grandchildren, and bouncing on the trampoline. She'll be happy to know that this is a great way to exercise, according to experts, er, wait, no, the people selling the trampolines. Shucks, it's just a press release!

More media coverage for Fat Man Walking ... here's the direct link for you.

Here is this week's e-Zine (you can subscribe at the main site):

Apparently, "Mega Millions" is a popular search on Google. So is "Laguna Beach," a popular show on MTV.

Of course, this comes as no surprise. As an overweight nation, most people would rather win their millions than earn them, and then sit in front of the television to watch teenagers go wild on vacation while they wait for their random numbers to get pulled.

They call it "luck."

If you want an interesting hobby, do a search on the Internet for the stories and biographies of previous lottery winners.

You'll find out that most of them lose it all. Every cent. Some end up in a worse situation than when they started, with debt payments higher than their usual income.

That's not the only place you'll find this interesting mechanism at work ... your body is in a constant state called homeostasis, literally, "keeping things the same."

This is why if you eat low calories for a period of time, your metabolism slows down.

It's a natural occurrence, not the horrific "starvation mode" people fear ... it's just that the body likes where it's at, thank you very much.

So what do lottery winners and waist trimmers have in common?

Some people don't like to hear this, but I want to give it to you straight:

The change must come WITHIN.

The reason why most people can't hang onto money is because they're no different than when they were broke. They have a broke mindset. They're used to blaming everyone but themselves for their situation, and so once they receive the money, their subconscious mind goes to work at trying to get rid of it so their situation matches their mindset.

We truly are masters of our own reality.

With the popularity of gastric bypass surgery, we are starting to see this happen as well.

Even with restricted stomachs, people who have poor nutrition habits simply switch from donuts to donut holes and full pizzas to lunchables. They are still malnourished, and still getting empty calories. Their metabolism grinds to a halt and they start gaining weight again.

You see, it's not about the destination. It can't be. The destination is just a place, a moment, a blink of your eye.

It's the PROCESS that gives you the tools to earn your right to STAY on the path. It's the journey that provides the gift.

No magic bullet can give you the joy of running your half marathon.

No quick-fix supplement is going to replace the feeling of pure joy and empowerment when you bench press your body weight for the first time.

No lottery ticket is going to teach you how to manage your money.

So, you can decide to play your tickets and watch the television, or decide instead to get into the game and slide into the driver's seat.

Do you realize just how powerful you really are?

See, most people would like to follow a diet.

It's easy. No responsibility. Give up control and follow the rules. If it doesn't work out, blame the diet.

Finding balance means taking responsibility, and realizing that consciousness commands matter.

What?

That's right. Yesterday, I received a book that I knew I must read. You see, when I flew down to Texas to train my client, Joe Vitale, author of the Attractor Factor:

The Attractor Factor

Joe mentioned that I had to read this book.

By the way, you can watch me train Joe here. It's a long link, so if it wraps in your e-mail, you'll want to be sure you cut and paste the entire thing.

Joe Training

Later that weekend, I met a friend of Joe's.

This is someone who is highly successful doing business over the Internet. Someone I enjoyed meeting and who I respect. Without having a clue of what Joe had mentioned to me, this man told me ... "You have to read this book."

Twice in one day? I was scratching my head, because I had NEVER heard of this book before.

When a third person mentioned it that evening, that was the kicker.

I was excited to find it had arrived yesterday.

I tore it open.

And I read it cover to cover ... I could not fall asleep without finishing it.

If you have an open mind and accept the possibility that you have more responsibility over your life than you may be allowing ... that your thoughts can create your reality, whether it is the reality of good health, of a trim physique, a successful career, or whatever else you desire, then you definitely want this book on your shelf:

How Consciousness Commands Matter
by Dr. Larry Farwell

Get it here

This is really why I chose the title for my own book, "Lose Fat, Not Faith" because the faith component is what is so powerful.

How can you take command right now? There are a few steps.

1. You can start becoming aware of your thoughts. That's it ... just start to listen to the words you speak to yourself in your mind.

2. You can stop yourself when you think those thoughts that don't serve you. I can't .. I won't ... I shouldn't ... what will they think, it's not possible ... all of these can be replaced.

3. You can start to plant powerful thoughts that will take you closer to your goals. I will ... not I'll try, but I will ... I am focused ... I am confident ... I can do this ... I will do this ...

The first day of our workshops are focused on this concept: the power of the mind. I use activities that will prove to you beyond a doubt that you are in control and have the power to transform even your own core beliefs.

We are visiting Orlando and Chicago this year, so you'll want to reserve your one slot out of 20 as soon as possible here:

Seminars

Remember, too, that Jon Benson's program focuses on power from within, which is why I advocate it even when I have similar products of my own. There are only a few hours left for his offer over at:

M-Power special

Have a blessed weekend, and remember what Jim Rohn has to share ... the same wind blows on us all, it's how we set the sail that determines the destination.

How is your sail set?

In health,

There is quite a bit of hubbub about a recent appearance by Mariah Carrey and rumors that she had her abs "painted on." I'm not one to spread gossip or rumors, but the picture I saw looked interesting .... but let's to get what I know to be a fact. In Keith Klein's "Get Lean" book, he mentions how some bodybuilders use a darker sunless tanning base in the creases than the rest of their body to highlight and constrast the muscle. Painted abs, or just advanced make-up technique? Does it matter?

I've been going to a local gym here, and there are plenty of abs that even Mariah would be proud of. It's great to see so many people pursuing fitness .... and with balance. I see many parents bringing their children and having fun. My daughter loves the children's section and sometimes doesn't want to go. I saw another mom bring her children into the room with the Swiss and medicine balls and have them run around and play ... looked like fun. More fun than the treadmill I blew up, anyway.

Jon Benson had some server problems earlier this week, so he's kindly extended his M-Power Offer through Friday (if you are reading this in the future, it may no longer be valid). I also reiterated to my own list the other day that our online personal training comes with a free 14-day trial, although this is not the same as hiring me personally.

Finally, I want to extend my thanks and gratitude for all of you for helping me take Lose Fat, Not Faith and the 5 disc audio series to the next level. Sales are remaining strong and much of it is due to your kind word of mouth and sharing your thoughts and reviews with others. I am both honored and humbled to have such terrific readers, subscribers, customers, and coaching clients! THANK YOU!

Onto the news ...

Think weight-loss surgery isn't that dangerous? Think again. Apparently, it was only after 11 people were seriously injured, and 6 people died, that this weight loss surgeon was charged with negligence.

Now here is something I found VERY interesting. We know that losing weight is kinder on our joints. That's why it was tough for me to run when I was 245, but now at 206 I do much better (more of the weight is muscle in my leg rather than fat in my midsection that my leg has to carry). However, I did not know that losing just 1 pound of fat actually reduces the load on knee joint by FOUR pounds. Wow! Check out this article for more.

Here's an interesting take on steroids.

The media is always trying to grab the latest, controversial topic. For example, take this one that suggests a binge late at night can help lose weight. WHAT?! Have they lost their mind. Oh, wait, at the end of the article, they do regain some sanity and declare, "healthy, balanced diet probably better." Whew!

It's interesting that while we are fascinated with other countries and how they can consume certain types of foods and remain healthier, those countries are having their own reformations. In China, a push to increase fruits and vegetables and reduce sodium is underway. That's also an interesting aside ... I constantly have people argue that there is nothing wrong with sodium. It's like the argument about splurge meals to boost metabolism or that if you are stalling, raise your calories. All of these have less to do with science and more to do with the need to justify doing something ... in other words, it's easier to justify a binge if we call it a metabolism boost, and if it's really tough to kick the salt habit, then instead of triyng harder, we can just go out and try to find information that supports the notion that salt is okay. Apparently, the World Health Organization doesn't think so ... but what do they know?

Fortunately, for the 2 million Americans with celiac disease who have an intolerance to the wheat protein, gluten, Gluten-free market goes mainstream. Now we just need a mainstream glutton-free market and we'll be set!

My mother says the South Beach Diet was her favorite program and really helped her transform her habits (she would never take a program from her own son). I'm happy for her - she regularly runs 4 miles, and you can see her abs ... and she's 54. Go mom! So, Mom, just for you, here is an interview with the creator of the South Beach diet.

Anyone who is either working in the marketing department for a company that manufactures whey protein and anyone who is a type 2 diabetic, will appreciate this article about how a whey supplement may be helpful for diabetics.

Here's something interesting: apparently, when teens are faced with choices in the lunch room, they often go with the healthier choice. Were these real teens, or paid actors? Or maybe they were these Oakland teenagers who are putting their focus on healthy eating and exercise. Apparently, it's contagious ... just look at these local students to participate in a nationwide fitness program (backed by Lance Armstrong, no less).

Balancing work, family, and fun can be challenging. That's how this article about making fitness a family affair starts. Personally, I'd list it as family, fun, and work (let's get it prioritized, shall we?). Speaking of family, why not tell your grandparents about these senior games that promote good health and fitness?

Many parents are concerned about their teens being on drugs. Here's a twist: Fat Teens on Drugs ... "pharma labs keep cranking out obesity pills and shots. Teens are a prime target." Target?

Raw tomatoes don't agree with me. I get stomach pain from eating them. Cooked seem to be fine. If you don't have the same problem and enjoy them, you'll also love to learn about the tomato as power food.

Uh-oh. Now we're close to a drug that allows people to get in shape — without exercising. SCARY, if you ask me. But what do I know?

Recently, I received a package in the mail. The kind people at Barilla sent me a sample of their pasta. I must say, it was delicious, and I love the ingredients — high-fiber and high-protein items like lentils, whole grains, etc. We enjoyed the spaghetti my wife made with grilled chicken breast. Thanks for the pasta, guys! Speaking of pasta, here is an article about how pasta is a good choice for foot fuel (oh, don't let me forget the important part: "experts agree.")

Remember supermodel Elle? Learn how she stays Fit over 40 (not to be confused with Jon Benson and Tom Venuto's book, Fit over 40).

Going to the beach? It's only ten minutes from where I'm writing this, but the sky is a bit overcast right now. When you do, you'll want to bring some no-regrets beach food.

Blessed be,

No, not smoking as in, inhaling. Smoking as in ... leaving it behind in the dust. I inherited my love for chocolate from my parents, and there are stacks of dark chocolate in the refrigerator. Instead of allowing these to be an overwhelming temptation, I really just enjoy a little here and there and that's the end of it. No chocolate factory for me, however. I prefer to spend my time in the sweat factory.

Take this morning ... I had a smoking workout. This time, I mean it ... literally. I had just run 4.5 miles and was kicking up to 9.2 mph for a short quarter mile "sprint" (hey, after 4.5 miles, that FEELS like a sprint, anyway). As I was building speed, the machine started to squeal quite loudly and vibrate. I jumped off the track and the next thing I know, billows of smoke start pouring out of the engine! It was insane. The women next to me all laughed and said, "Now THAT'S a workout!" I had to agree. I noticed some of the staff, went over to a working treadmill and finished my workout. Talk about burning fat ... I was literally burning rubber.

I'm happy to see more testimonials coming in for Lose Fat, Not Faith. Here are three of the most recent:

"After reading the first couple of chapters of this book, I believe it has a wealth of information who want to lose weight the right way. Also, it covers how to gain lean muscle mass by working out and doing cardio. Moreover, it covers a lot of the nutritional information in order to lose that extra body fat with healthy foods. I like how Jeremy tells his stories about how he was motivated to lose all that fat, and how spirituality made a big difference in his life. By focusing on a good goal, anyone can use this program to lose weight the right way. I have been struggling to lose weight for most of my adult life. I have gone from 206 lb to 190 lb in three months by working out and eating the right foods. I believe have gain some lean muscle mass along the way. If you want to lose that body fat, read this book because it will help anyone tremendously." — David Raymore

"This is a very honest and helpful book. It addresses the emotional aspects of nutrition, rather than just giving the "commandments" of what to eat and when." — Keri Kemper

"I have not completed the book yet, but so far it's very informative and motivating! Thanks SO much. I was in a bit of a rut and this was just what I needed." — Judy Link

Thank you for sharing your feedback with me! I appreciate you.

Speaking of running and burning out treadmills, in Australia, there is a race going on: while efforts to improve heart health have made headway, obesity is running close behind and threatening to overtake their advances. Learn more in this article. Apparently, this is becoming more of a problem in all developing nations.

In Chicago, the American Medical Association passes some directives to fight childhood obesity while the governor vetoes a bill designed to improve nutrition in schools — read more here. In California, however, the bias is in the other direction by the governor, who may have a slight bias towards fitness. Fitness isn't just for kids, as we well know. That's why I'm excited to read that retirement communities build place for seniors to stay fit.

If you're one of many who likes to eat while "on the run," you'll enjoy this article about how to lose weight at McDonald's.

The power of Lose Fat, Not Faith and my own online personal training is that fitness begins within. We focus on your most important muscle: your mind. This article discusses how you can "think thin" to lose weight.

I enjoyed reading this article about online personal trainers. It mentions Jeff Galloway, who was at the half marathon that I ran earlier this year in South Dakota. The article mentions $5 to $10 per week, which is also exciting because our own system, online personal training system (not to be confused with hiring me directly) is only $14.99 per month, $49 if you choose to have a specific trainer assigned to you. That's very competitive with the prices quoted in the article! We offer the first 14 days free so you can "try before you buy" at MyNaturalPhysique.com.

The article also describes how people with an online coach fare better, losing more weight, than those who try to be self-taught and research on their own. I encourage learning but also know from my experience that my greatest results were when I hired my own coach.

If you are suffering from osteoperosis, osteoarthritis, or any form of joint stiffness, you'll be interested in this article: Fitness class offers relief for stiff joints.

Here's an interesting proposition: "if you don't drink water like a fish, you'll turn into a whale."

Are you confused about all of the information out there about proper nutrition? Thank goodness the Detroit News rounded up 12 diet experts to answer 12 weight-loss questions. Whew!

Speaking of weight-loss questions, I'm doing a series at Bodybuilding.com called "Ask the Health Coach." These are articles from my Health and Wellness FAQ grouped by topic. The most recent topic is Fat Loss. By the way, I have no clue who the smiling guy is next the title — it's not me. Hey, it's their creative license, not mine.

Austrian skiier Knauss is going to sue supplement producers for doping her supplements and causing her to fail a test. This appears to be quite common, and athletes are worried that their vitamins have more than the label claims. Often, manufacturers will add stimulants like caffeine (which is banned in many sports) so consumers "feel good" and think the product is working. Fortunately, companies like ConsumerLabs have an athletic banned substances screening program which lists products cleared to be safe for athletes. The list includes the pharmaceutical grade multivitamin from the company that I partner with ... and for a good reason, because they back their product with a Million Dollar Athlete Guarantee. Another reason why I continue to use and trust these products!

Blessed be,

Okay, so my workouts aren't quite as exciting as the British Open, but I get them done. We got to the gym last night and my daughter had a blast in the kids' area while my wife and I worked out. In fact, even my Mom and Dad ("Nana and Grandpa") were there ... it was a true family occassion.

I even managed to wake up early and make it to the gym today! I am so happy I have it done and always feel more confident and ready to face the day.

Nope, I don't do it on an empty stomach — sorry about that, I know it's a popular trend. I get up and have a bowl of whole grains and oats with a banana, drink some coffee, wait an hour for it to digest, then hit the gym.

My warm-up is 20 minutes, this week at a 3.0 incline, doing intervals of 5mph, 6mph, 7mph, and 8mph. Today, I did back ... cable rows, pull-ups, bent-over rows, and pull-downs (see, a nice balance of vertical and horizontal push and pull).

I feel great!

I was also excited to see that someone tried to order my book from B. Dalton and was told that it would take a week to order because it was a high demand item. Imagine that! Amazon.com just asked me to ship them another 10 copies ... it's great to see so many people taking action to make a difference!

Since Lance is all the craze right now, I thought you might enjoy reading this article from his personal coach.

Here is a fun story about a teenager who decided to compete in bodybuilding as a senior project. It turns out that he is now on his way to a good future in bodybuilding (with picture).

I found another profile about fitness model Debbie Kruck — way to be a superwoman!

Are you interested in the history of bodybuilding? Check out this museum — a history of strength.

Have you ever been told that anything more than x or y is overtraining? I've always shared that it is relative to your experience and existing abilities, and that experience athletes can take on a lot more than those of us who push computer keys all day long and then drag ourselves over to the gym. Just check out Eva Marie Gooden who does 3 hours of training every day!

Shifting gears, I was very happy to find this article about exercising your brain to work "in the now." The NOW is flow ... it is being in the moment, working from your heart and not your head, manifesting on demand. I am blessed to be coached by the Master of Flow, Jeffery Combs, and any one who has listened to my interviews or CDs can experience what it means to speak directly from the heart without getting lost or tangled up in your mind.

Here's an article about girl power, complete with "tips for women working out in coed gyms."

Are one of "those high protein, low-carb" people? Here's some fuel for pro-protein arguments.

I'm intrigued by this article that alludes to bone cavities filling with fat deposits in osteoperosis, but this is one of those news sites that require you fill out registration information before you access the article! I personally don't waste my time, but if you do it, let us know how good the article was.

In Lose Fat, Not Faith I discuss the satiety index, or a measure of how full you feel after eating certain foods. The baked potato was #1 on the list, before this came along — an injection that makes patients feel full.

Just when we got used to adding healthy fats to our diet, this study comes along and claims low-fat diets reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence. I'd like to see them go beyond just looking at fat in the diet, and examine the types of fat so we can get clear on this.

If you want to start a running program, you should train correctly according to this article. I agree, but I failed to see any mention of resistance training!

In light of Mississippi being able to claim the prize of ranking second in the nation for obesity, this article offers some advice to help you lose fat.

Here's an interesting look at obesity that says, simply, is it obesity that is the issue, or inactivity? I agree with many of the points in this article. For example, I find it ironic when I get called out for not maintaining low body fat (I often bulk up to 12 percent or sometimes higher) by people who think I should be running around at 6% all of the time. However, I'm always be more than happy to take them out on the track for a nice 10 mile run or get under the rack for some 280 pound breathing squats so we can see who the fit one really is.

One of the nicest gifts I've received from a friend is a mug that has a Henry Thoreau quote on it that reminds me to "go confidently in the direction of your dreams." Henry apparently was ahead of his time — for example, you can read in this article how he liked to "walk to work and burn fat instead of fossil fuels."

Apparently, it's newsworthy to note that scientists have no idea why ex-smokers gain weight.

I think they're looking in the wrong place. The motion of the fork to the mouth easily replaces the motion of the cigarette to the lips. Yes, as an ex-smoker, I know.

Have a fantastic day!

In the spirit of cross-bloggership, here is Dr. Joe Vitale "Mr. Fire" showing the stuff he's made of. What a workout it was! I'm proud of Joe, 70 pounds down and so close. If you want me to fly down and give you some of that, just stop by this link and let me know how much you're ready to take!

Yesterday we had a great time at the beach. I used the right sunblock and was able to take the full on sun without melting or burning to a crisp. The waves were great and my daughter had a place. We were seeking sand dollars but couldn't find any, except for a few fragments of dead shells. I had a hermit crab using an old conch shell for a home crawl on my foot, so my daughter giggled when I put it on the shore and we watched it crawl back to the water. I also saw a dead horseshoe crab floating and it looked more like a helmet in the water.

Last night, my wife and I went to watch "Lucian and the All Stars" play at a place on the beach. Her co-worker and my lifelong friend's dad is in the band. We had a great time listening to any type of music you can imagine from jazz, swing, Latin, and more. We danced, we laughed, and we had a great time. We also were given a gift for anyone interested in "delta blues" that is quite the listen. It's Tampa Bay's own Molten Mike, produced by my friend's dad, Randy. We enjoyed the steel twang, and you might, too. Apparently, he's number one in his category on the MP3 sites.

This morning we woke to the 5:30am alarm but both agreed we would be training TONIGHT instead of the in the morning. We also agreed we'd get to bed a lot earlier so it won't be an issue tomorrow (waking up). My wife is off to her first day at the new real estate office, so that leaves me with some health and wellness news for you ...

Amazing. We are still hoping dairy is going to help us lose fat. Fortunately, this article DOES take the time to mention that "calories count. They always did, and always will."

Not quite sure HOW calories fit into the equation? Read Brink's Unified Theory of Nutrition for Weight Loss and Muscle Gain.

In Canada, they don't use injuries as an excuse to become a couch potato. Here is the proof.

I learned when I was young that most of my ancestors were from Norway. Not sure if that makes me a Nordic walker or not, but it seems this style of walking has quite a few benefits. Check out this this article that encourages you to get your arms involved in fitness walking.

The weight-loss camps we mentioned last week are gaining more exposure in the news. This article features a 16-year old who lost 30 pounds at a camp and has so far kept it off.

While I have to commend these women for their entrepreneurial spirit, I am a bit worried. How on earth do you make sugar-free, low-fat ice cream? I shudder to think of how many years of Latin would be required to decipher the ingredients list!

I know this may come as a big surprise, but apparently the Lance Armstrong phenomenon has sparked a lot of interest in how good genes aid athletes. Hmmm ... let's ponder this one ... ok, enough pondering.

Looking for some books about this amazing athlete? Find books about or by Lance Armstrong including his famous, "It's Not About the Bike" which is an incredibly inspirational read.

Speaking of genese, here's an interesting opinion column about how to build a better human. Opinions are popular these days. Here's one that has the solution summed up simply as "put down that fifth piece of bacon ... exercise more ... and just think a little bit more about what you are doing healthwise every day."

Don't worry ... the entire world hasn't lost its mind. There are still pockets of resistance that are focused on enjoying the foods most people are making an effort to throw out. For example, consider this article on how to be an ice cream snob. I didn't see them mention basal metabolic rate once in the entire article!

In health,

First, Hurricane Emily, quick note: we don't want any. Can't you hurricanes take a break?

I was a little exhausted yesterday, so I did not blast my arms after all. I could either shift my entire schedule and do them today (I go straight into upper body tomorrow) but I decided I'll take the extra day of rest and hit it full force tomorrow. This was my first real week of 100% lifting and running, so I've earned a bit of recovery time! Looking forward to working out with my wife tomorrow, and my daughter can try out the kids room for the first time ... we'll see what she thinks.

Okay, a huge thanks to all of you who are supporting Lose Fat, Not Faith ... I checked this morning and it was in the top 25,000 (Harry Potter, look out, only 24,999 slots to go - grin) at Amazon, which is great considering we haven't done any marketing outside of my own website and mailing lists. Thank you! I also appreciate you taking the time to leave your reviews.

My coaching packages have been updated. You now have more options and flexibility, including being able to make payments in installments. Check out the new page here and request a free assessment here.

What do you do when you have a stroke at the age of 22 and are told you will never run again? You run! That's right. Check out this inspirational story.

How do we keep our kids active, fit, and healthy? We help them have fun, according to this article. Not sure how? Check out our Fitness for Kids sections for some great articles about games, activities, and other fun stuff to do with your children.

After all of the excitement over Arnold's ties to the fitness industry, it looks like they're taking the Arnold out of the Arnold Classic. Isn't that like taking racecars out of Nascar?

The United Kingdom is not just fighting terrorism. In their battle against obesity, they will now give children weight and fitness checks in their secondary schools.

We've read a lot about how local cities and communities are increasing their focus on fitness. Some companies are taking up the charge as well. For example, read this article about what Nissan is doing to help get and keep their employees fit.

On the magic bullet front, there is now a hormone-based treatment that can enable "obese people to lose more than 5 pounds every month." I'm sorry if I can't get too excited about an injection that does less than what most of my clients can achieve through lifestyle changes alone (my obese clients consistently lose 2 - 5 pounds per week, and no needles are required).

Have you heard of "Fat Man Walking?" Apparently, tens of thousands of people are checking his progress through his website, TheFatManWalking.com. He is 350 pounds (down 50 pounds from 400). Very inspiring story.

Here's a news flash (by the way, I'm being sarcastic) ... seems the media finally figured out that body fat percentage more important than weight. REALLY? You mean it's okay to be "overweight" if it's all muscle? WOW. If you want to "see" what I looked like at different body fat, go here. Want to measure your own? Use our body fat calculator.

Here's an article about a new aerobics trend (close to my home, too). I'm glad they were kind enough to refer to it for what it is: a trend. I'm sure it can be very effective for some people, however ... and group sessions can certainly make fitness a lot more fun.

Here's some more on a high protein diet.

And, in the words of a famous cartoon character ... th-th-th-that's all folks!

Blessed be,

You learn something every day, don't you?

I found out that gustnado is not a typo. Apparently, there are tornados, that start in the air and come down to the ground. Then, there are gustnados, that start on the ground and work their way up! A slew of them just tore through a few trailer homes in Largo, Florida just the other day.

I'm writing this from the sunny Treasure Coast where my in-laws live, reunited with my daughter. We are going to go swimming at the pool, then I'll be roughing up my arms at the local gym.

Before I head out, I wanted to share this news with you ...

Here's a new nutrition service that says, "Forget the scale!" and asks customers to send in photos with their cell phone to prove they are staying on track! (Hint: with my coaching I'll let you send all the pictures you like)

This article about how parents can contribute to the fight against obesity also sums up the word "diet" as one of those 4-letter phrases that shouldn't pop up in conversations too often.

Do you enjoy drinking diet sodas? Read about a a personal trainer's brush with dizziness that he attributes to the sugar-free sodas.

Are you or your loved one planning on getting pregnant? This article suggests you start to make healthy changes to your nutrition BEFORE trying to get pregnant, and not waiting until during or after.

More on the debate over nutrition and exercise in schools. While a major part of our decision to home school and then look into Montessori schools for our daughter has to do with her aptitude, we certainly factored in nutrition and exercise as well. It's a shame how out of control some schools can be with reinforcing negative and destructive nutrition habits while eliminating exercise. With home schooling and small, tutored programs, we can pack a lunch and have more flexibility to do things with out daughter that encourage a fun, healthy, active lifestyle.

Speaking of health and wellness and youth, here is a blurb about a camp that teaches wellness to youths.

Here's an interesting blog entry on metabolic typing (mixed in with a book review). I've personally never pursued this style of nutrition plan, but the article definitely got my gears turning. I'm always up to try something new, so maybe this will be my next experiment?

It seems a bit of today's news focuses on our youth. Here is an article about double diabetes and the thread it poses to children especially.

Australia brings us an interesting article via New York about how catering to fast-food addicts reaps fat profits.

Did you know that being overweight can affect your sleep?

If you want proof that training intensely and consuming "a low-carb diet packed with protein" works, check out this article about Tammy Jones. Now, I'm not a big fan of a high protein intake but with her pictures, the proof is in the size of her biceps!

Here's another article about a personal trainer, Vanessa Underwood, who is passionate about making a difference in her clients' lives.

Then there's this one about being like Lance.

Refuse to take a day off or eat a "reward meal?" You might want to reconsider after finding out that even the superfit have their off days.

Have a blessed weekend,

It's a lovely day today.

I'm writing early because I'm not sure what my schedule will look like. We are considering surprising my daughter and picking her up today instead of Sunday. We both miss her, and Doreen's parents told us she was missing us quite a bit, too.

Doreen is off to an interview: the last one before she makes her final decision about which firm to join. This one is a commercial real estate opportunity, which is quite exciting to us.

I'm due for another 45-minute run and an arms workout. If I don't do it today, I'll go to the gym close to my in-laws tomorrow. I met the owner who recently set a world record for power-lifting. He's a BIG guy and has a lot of personality. I want to drop off a copy of my book for him to review while we're there.

I will also call my friend John DiLemme to see what he's up to. He's probably one of the busiest (and by busy, I mean productive) men on the planet, which is why he is so successful. I'd like to drop off a copy to him and thank him personally for all he's done to inspire and motivate my career in fitness. He was one of the first speakers I listened to at my first seminar I attended when I began to pursue free enterprise.

We are winding down to the last hours for Jon Benson's M-Power promotion. I've had a few people write to ask me if I think it is worth the investment. I can't tell you what YOUR values are, but I would never endorse a product I did not believe delivered more value than the purchase price. You deserve to check it out!

The press wires have kept me quite busy this morning finding you breaking news in the health and wellness industry ... here's what I dug up for today:

Here is a new home gym solution you'll definitely want to check out. It works the ENTIRE body in ways existing equipment simply can't.

For more on the debate of whether low, "steady state cardio" or high-intensity (i.e. sprint) cardio is better, read this article. It starts with the basic premise we've heard in the past ... "Compare the body of a sprinter to the body of a marathon runner." They even caution that BMI isn't the best indicator of fitness - way to go!

Here is an interesting blurb about how Vitamin D helps build muscle.

While I don't usually link to articles from sites that require a subscription (even if it's free) I think you will benefit from reading this article which flies in the face of some claims being made about muscle mass. I think it is a very good argument that puts into perspective just how trendy weight-lifting has become for weight loss. I support resistance training, because of results from studies like this, this, and this, but do feel sometimes people blow it out of proportion.

While many of you reading this may already know it's a myth, it is important at times to return to the basics and remember that muscle cannot be converted to fat and vice versa. From this same site is an article to eat fat to lose fat.

Getting in shape apparently isn't just about your health. It appears that people who trim down impact their wealth as well. Of course, here is one way you can do that.

I feel that weight loss should be easy, not a boring chore. That's why I enjoy articles like this one that break it down in simple, easy to understand and follow steps.

Hey, here's a new one for me ... apparently, Pamela Anderson is now a personal trainer. Her first client? Courtney Love!

Here is an interesting article about obesity and the U.S. economy.

For those of you who are brides to be, you'll enjoy this article with common questions and answers related to trimming down for the big date. I especially like the emphasis on losing FAT instead of just losing WEIGHT ... hopefully more articles like this will help educate the general population about the difference.

After you have that baby, make sure you read this article about how exercise is the key to weight loss after pregnancy.

While you know that I am a huge fan of taking a pharmaceutical grade multivitamin, this article suggests that there is too much of a focus on supplementation rather than on dietary patterns. In other words, it's better to change your eating habits and focus on quality nutrition for whole foods rather than to just add a multivitamin and consider your bases covered. I couldn't agree more ... and imagine how powerful the double-punch of healthy food AND a quality multivitamin can be!

Canada sounded this alarm about how poor nutrition isn't just making our children overweight — it's affecting their liver and creating serious disease. In fact, the estimate is that 5 percent - that's 1 out of 20 - are in the first stages of fatty liver disease. Apparently, it takes more than a playground to work off the effects of those french fries.

If that's not bad enough, here is a study that links obesity with cancer. According to this article, obese people are more prone to injuries as well. All good reasons to Lose Fat, Not Faith!

It seems that bananas are a popular diet staple with Ugandans, who each eat about two pounds of them per day. This article focuses on a project designed to improve the nutritional value of those bananas. I found this article to be of particular interest because the company I partner with recently opened a medical center in Uganda. I contribute each month to support their efforts to bring food and medical attention to millions of starving children, not just in Uganda, but around the world.

It looks like the city that received a claim to fame as the most overweight city in America is taking a stand ... this article talks about how they've transformed the school program to have healthier menus. GO HOUSTON! We can do this, even if it's just one school at a time. Here's another article about efforts being made at the state (Texas) level.

Who is John Carleo? You may have seen him on TV. He works out on a popular home-based gym product. His story is very inspirational and you can read it here.

Don't have much time each day to train? This article claims that 30 minutes a day really works. Thank goodness, because if you plan on joining the navy, make sure read about how the Navy tightens its fitness rules. Apparently, they are concerned with (and this is the direct quote from the article) "the number of fatties in uniform."

If we don't "speak" sooner, have a blessed and abundant weekend!

Okay, apparently I can attract clouds now ... more on that later.

This morning, we slept in. We were planning to workout last night, but my wife had her exam. It was a two-hour drive to Gainesville one-way, and then several hours of testing, then back, so she wanted to relax. We had a nice Italian dinner, enjoyed some late night coffee, and caught up on sleep.

This morning, it was off to the gym. I made up my 45-minute cardio session. This was at a 8:50 mile pace for 45 minutes, covered 5 1/3 miles when it was through (all at a slight incline). Great run! The treadmill was slow, though. I like to do a quarter mile from 4.5 miles to 4.75 miles at 9 mph, but it only went to 8 mph, so I had to settle for increasing the incline. Still was fun.

After that, we had a nice meal at John's Pass on the water, and then went to the beach. I've never been a beach person because I'm fair-skinned, but now that I discovered the wonders of sun block, eating healthy, and taking plenty of Vitamin D and healthy fats, I don't fear it as much. It was a bright, sunny day until we arrived. Then, the clouds rolled over. We collected seashells, laid down for a bit, and then it was time to leave. As I slipped into the driver's side of the truck, the clouds came out. Doreen wasn't too happy about me attracting clouds so I wouldn't get antsy under the sun!

I normally would shift my schedule and call yesterday a day off, but we'll be traveling to pick up our daughter from West Palm, so I'm going to do a second session tonight. Looks like chest and abs for this evening!

Now for some news while you lose ...

I often hear excuses about not having enough time or money to workout. People complain of stressful jobs, of being too old, and anything else that comes to mind and can serve as a reason not to train. The next time you find yourself pulling out an excuse, think about these athletes. A woman lost control of her car and plowed into a group of cyclists ... but they are determined that they will "fight way back to health."

I found another article about surgery for obesity, this time linking low blood sugar to weight-loss surgery. Another reason why you should consider the natural alternatives before succumbing to the knife.

Here is a great article about how we should tailor weight-loss plans to the culture. Of course, here, I customize my programs to the individual, and that includes the culture.

Apparently, some people will do ANYTHING to lose weight without having to do the work of transforming their lifestyle ... like using crystal meth to lose weight. Of course, a lifestyle change does result ... only this involves being underweight, ill, addicted, and often results in death.

To put things in perspective, instead of focusing on health and quality of life, here is what one of the women had to say, "It made me skinny, and it worked." Is this what life is about? Getting skinny?

If you ARE going to use a weight loss aid, ditch the drugs and pills. Instead, consider these sneakers. I mean, come on, what's the worse that can happen — a blister on your toe?

Australia is finding that people with desk jobs don't exercise enough, even when following the nation's current guidelines for physical activity. They say news travels fast, and apparently this idea is catching on here in the United States. Atlanta declares that obesity may begin at the office.

Fitness awareness is spreading, and a lot of projects are being launched in an effort to educate people about the benefits of living healthy. Here is a great story from San Diego about funding for a project to "plant seeds of fitness." The Missouri governor just announced this initiative in Columbia. Connecticut even joined up, promoting a program designed to "encourage people of all ages to get and stay fit." You can read about their initiative here.

In New Zealand, forget paying for your fitness magazine. You can pick up the latest health mag for free, right in your local gym. The same country figured something out that comes as a big surprise to the rest of us (hint: I'm kidding) - that junk food ads spur kids' obesity. Noooo really? When we encourage them to eat junk, their bodies fall apart, too?

We mentioned a possible link between obesity and diabetes a few days ago, now they've isolated it down to the molecular level. Interesting.

Now, fitness doesn't have to be boring at all, does it? This article examines a fun approach to cardio rehab.

While most health coaches and personal trainers have been touting the benefits of eating every few hours (haven't you heard this one — six meals a day? I first read it about five years ago in a very popular physique transformation book). It seems this article confirms what we've believed, but also takes it a bit far, declaring that eating every 3 hours can help you "lose 2 pounds a week" but then losing credibility when they claim that "no food is off limits." Good publicity for a new book, The 3-Hour Diet.

Blessed be,

My wife did! She moved it. She is taking her real estate exam today. We enjoy working out together, so she asked that I kindly hold off on running 5 miles until she returns later this evening (we've been training in the morning). I'm more than happy to oblige .... everyone, wish her success on her exam! Okay, thanks. Now, who's in the market for a Florida property?

Seriously, I look forward to seeing how running in the evening compares to my early morning runs. I'm due for 45 minutes at 6.8 mph today at a 1.0 incline ... sounds like fun, no? (I'm curious to see what videos they play in the evening, too).

It appears that training in person is a larger demand than I previously thought. I was hesitant to roll out the higher end package, until I started receiving more requests for it. Even spoke with someone today about a special 1-day package, flying out the evening before and then spending the day. I also have receive a few requests for videos to demonstrate the exercises, so I'll be looking into that as well.

The best way to get his right now is to attend one of our seminars (remember, if you bring someone with, you can get extra tickets at a discount and split the savings) ... the entire second day focuses on form, technique, etc. so we will get one of these on video and have that available for you to view.

So far the MPower announcement was well received, and I can't wait to hear the feedback from those who are on the system.

I just got off the phone with a company that manufactures pharmaceutical grade products. Right now, I partner with a health sciences company that also is multi-level based, which allows me to provide more than just products, but also a business opportunity to those interested. However, if I can create similar quality products through this arrangement, then I may consider moving over ... especially if they can produce them at a discount that I can pass onto my clients. We'll see what it looks like!

Now, for the latest news (yes, I'm going to keep this coming ... are you enjoying these articles and tidbits? I hope so - take the time to let me know so I don't feel like I'm spinning my wheels here gathering all of this info together for the posts).

Here is more information on the debate over dairy products and weight loss: click here.

From a far away place, here is something about breathing your way to a slimmer waistline.

I guess we don't have to just cover weight-loss or fitness related topics in this blog. What about some financial information as well? Apparently, Bally's fitness just got a slap on the hand ... "depressed stock" is an interesting term. "Despressed stock trader" is something I've encountered on occassion.

According to this article from India, obesity may be passed along from generation to generation. I think we can see some families here in the U.S. and figure out this is true. The question is, are they passing genes, or passing on family traditions that promote obesity? Perhaps a combo?

In Missouri, 1 out of 4 adults are considered obese. It seems every day we see a new program to combat obesity being launched. Should we send them a few boxes of Lose Fat, Not Faith? While Missouri is concerned about their obese adults, apparently Oregon doesn't have the same concerns for their children, as they trimmed a child obesity plan from a recent bill.

On the same topic, in Australia, they've figured out that sitting in a chair all day can contribute to obesity. Just read this article. Is that a big surprise? You sit down all day, eat, and gain weight? Now, the question is, would this be reversed simply through nutrition and an hour or so of exercise every day, or should we redesign the cubicles to force people to stand or sit on Swiss workout balls?

One issue with becoming overweight is the high correlation between overweight, obesity, and insulin resistance and full-blown diabetes. The question is whether simply being overweight leads to these conditions, or if the habits that lead to being overweight also create the conditions. At any rate, having insulin resistance is common in overweight and obese individuals, and now this has been linked yet again to heart failure. If that's not bad enough, our friends in France have linked obesity to loss of brain tissue and increased rates of dementia!

Here is a great article about how steps to prevent heart disease may ward off memory loss. I have long believed there are strong links between nutrition and health. For example, there is a great book by Dr. Julian Whitaker called The Memory Solution: Dr. Julian Whitakers 10-step Program to Optimize Your Memory and Brain Function. Many people would pass this by if they're not concerned with memory, but the advice in this book really relates to overall health in general and I consider it a great nutrition guide. What I don't understand is why we don't just integrate all of the plans together ... instead of having one plan for memory, and another for eye health, don't we realize just eating healthy in general will impact all of these areas?

When I coach clients, I focus a lot on stress. I know from personal experience that excess stress can kill any fat loss plan no matter how strict the calories or exercise. This article discusses the link between stress and belly fat. I can always check my stress levels by the amount of fat on my gut. Can you? Perhaps you are focused too much on calories, and need to find better methods of stress management! This is why we integrate this with our coaching.

Thanks to the Detroit Free Press for these healthy recipes.

Okay, time to enjoy the remains of the day. Have a blessed midweek ...

Note — this entry contains time sensitive information. If you are reading this in the future, some of the statements may not apply!

Have I been doing a good job of bringing late-breaking news to this blog? I hope so. Tonight, I have news of a different sort, from my good friend Jon Benson.

Are you familiar with the motivating, inspirational, life-changing e-Book called "Fit Over 40?" I mentioned how my wife and I had to pick our jaws from the floor as we browsed through story after powerful story about amazing transformations and how people are living healthy and fit well into their "golden years." I've interviewed the author, Jon Benson (you will hear why we created such a synergy together when you listen to the interview) and also one of the featured fit over 40 people from the book, inspirational Georgette Pann.

Jon Benson, the internationally recognized lifecoach, nutritionist, and author of that book has done it again.

In fact, you might even find this a bit strange ... that I'm promoting a product that so obviously competes with some of my own projects. Hey, if he can do it this well, then you deserve to take a look!

Jon is giving away $849 in free bonuses for 96 hours starting midnight on Wednesday, July 20th when you purchase his brand-new product, the "M-Power Audio Series."

That's not all, though. He's offering the entire product at HALF PRICE!

M-Power enables you to:

• Reach your ultimate potential
• Learn the secrets to building the mind in order to achieve a dream body and empowered life
• Literally accumulate wealth and happiness by helping others do the same!
• Discover ways to 'instantly' change old patterns and re-define "what's possible"
• Shed fat, get healthy, and achieve any physical goal you put your mind to
• Unravel the confusion about fad diets, worthless supplements, workout routines that take hours, and why people may be 'killing' themselves by trying all this hype!
• How to take all this and use it to increase wealth, relationship intimacy and even spiritual growth

All of that is available at the MPower site.

*** FOR 96 HOURS (from 12:01 am Wednesday July 20th, 2005, EST), 48 WEEKS WORTH IS HALF PRICE ***

Many of you know my own coaching rates just increased. I support Jon in all he does and for the investment in his program, you definitely want to take a look at these bonuses. This may just be the "coaching compromise" you've been looking for. It doesn't involve the same one-on-one personalized coaching that I offer, but for less of an investment you will receive ...

• A free workout and nutrition evaluation and plan, provided by a 'real' certified M-Power Trainer! This alone is worth more than Jon is charging for the entire 48 weeks! (I know, because I do my share of these for my own clients)
• 90 days of unlimited email support from your M-Power Trainer
• E-books on personal development, fitness, foods, training...you name it.
• Tele-seminars with Jon himself, along with special guests, free of charge to you.
• "M-Powering Words": this weekly email is just full of wonderful tools, inspiring messages, facts on burning fat, improving your relationships, and more. It's free, every week.
• "M-Powering Conversations"...12 interviews come with Jon's System (the 48 Week System) with the best of the best in every field you can imagine!
• A free D.V.D. by world famous fitness model Clark Bartram, "M-Powered Living", worth $39.
• And MORE...

The MPower site

Remember, this offer is ONLY VALID FOR 96 HRS!

Sincerely,

Jeremy Likness

P.S. Still not sure? Head on over and check out the testimonials. Yes, even I shared my thoughts because I believe there should be more programs out there that address the true key to getting fit and living healthy: mindset. Jon gives you plenty of reasons to know why his package is so powerful, and even shares a few samples on the site. Go ahead and check them out.

It's official ... rates will change by tomorrow for my personalized coaching packages. I have a few more calls to make today for free assessments and then I'll make the update.

My good friend Jon Benson will be announcing the release of a series I stand behind 100%. I'll share it with this journal and also mail the good news to my list. I won't let too much out of the bag now, but it is exactly in line with my own philosophy of fitness from the inside out. I'm really honored to be a part of this product launch because I believe the fitness world deserves more products like this, that work on the mindset and empowerment side, rather than just the nutrition and workout side. You hear me say that a lot, don't ya? (Dontcha? - is that song being played a LOT or what?)

Lots more? We went to the gym today. I'm doing 20-minute HIIT as a warm-up (yup, that's right, a warm-up, I need the calorie burn ... I do 5, 6, 7, and 8 mph minute intervals on an incline, right now I'm at 2.5 incline and raising it 0.5 each week). I did back today and was excited to see I can do most of the stack for cable rows and pull-downs. Unfortunately, with the pins, plates, pulleys, and cams, I don't know what that translates to in the real world. Doing bent-over rows was nice and humbling, and gave me a better idea of ballpark what to expect.

My knee decided to act up and aggravate me a bit today. I don't have time for this, and don't plan on writing about it again ... knee, you WILL get better!

Now, for the latest news to read while you lose ...

Here is an excellent excerpt of what it's like to live as slave to food addiction and binge eating, from an upcoming book that looks very promsing - click here.

For those considering the knife as a solution, here is a brief article about the benefits and risks of weight-loss surgery. Then read this article for more information about how "the amount of weight loss in bariatric surgery is exaggerated." The article mentions that the cost of obesity is being overstated, but this article disagrees.

I know I probably spend too much time writing about living unhealthy ... what about living health? Here is a positive story about a young athlete who is living the life ... if her story doesn't inspire, I don't know what will!

As someone who drinks a bit too much coffee myself, I found it refreshing to read this article that shares some methods to get that energy boost without drinking a pot of coffee.

While the most common complaints to cop-out of a fitness program are lack of time or money (which, by the way, are the most common excuses for most things in life, from getting an education to starting an entrepreneurial pursuit) ... this woman decided not to use the excuses and focus on staying fit instead. This story comes to us all the way from China, on the heels of their new nutritional regulations to combat obesity.

China isn't the only place with some great news about living healthy ... this story shares how "an initiative to help improve fitness and sports in Bahrain and the region is gaining support."

When I offer my services as a health coach, I don't just prescribe calories or exercise programs. My clients will share with you that a large part of my training is focused on the mind. I believe in taking quiet moments during the day, spending time in silent meditation, and above all finding ways to reduce and eliminate stress. Stress is very powerful and can work both for and against a healthy lifestyle. From my new home's capital city, here is an article that goes into detail about how powerful stress really is (and may help answer why a few of you are eating clean and working out strenuously but not seeing the results you feel you deserve).

Yesterday, I posted that the statistics for death and obesity weren't quite as severe as initial thought. Today, however, I share a possible link between obesity and asthma.

In other news, it appears a gene related to obesity has been isolated that may explain the connection between obesity and type 2 diabetes. Personally, I think Dr. Ray Strand has already found some powerful connections along with a method to treat them. He worked with one of my clients side-by-side with my own program to help him reverse symptoms of insulin resistance and improve several medical markers. I consider his book, Releasing Fat to be a great addition to anyone's health library.

Chicago says that "Blacks must wake up to problem of obesity." Personally, I think we ALL should wake up, don't you?

WAKE UP!

Okay, until next time ...

I was browsing through some links today and noticed that Amazon.com has the paperback version of Lose Fat, Not Faith discounted 34% to $16.49 ... not bad!

You can link out to it (and grab some bonus downloads after your purchase) right here.

This is the second update today, so don't forget to check out the news links below!

Jeremy

I have a little bit of a tender shoulder. You can see the imbalance. When I stand, my head is normally cocked to the side a bit. When I lift, the right shoulder rolls and collapses. I say "So what?" not in the sense that I am going to push through and injure it more, but in the sense that it's not going to hold me back. I had a great workout today. I'm starting with bilateral movements (both arms) because this requires less coordination when coming from a lay-off on heavy training. After a few weeks, I'll switch to unilateral and use the "weak-side" rules:

1. Train using unilateral, i.e. one-armed military press or one-armed side raies
2. Train my weak (right) side first
3. Don't do more weight or reps with my strong (left) side than what my weak (right) side can handle

My wife and I really enjoyed working out together again. We then did a test run to our daughter's school to time it. We know what to expect with commuter traffic but when school starts, it's a whole new game with a new set of rules so we'll test a few routes then. My wife wants the best route to be the one that takes us past the beach. :)

One article caught my eye because of the headline: Trainers are often all that stand between athletes and injury. This is so true ... but even more true for clients and personal trainers. I see so many people get injured from their workouts — when the goal is to get stronger and healthier. If you have 100 pounds to lose, for example, you don't start out by doing hill sprints and lifting heavy squats and dead-lifts. It takes time to get the body prepared for the work. This is why you deserve something custom designed to your specific schedule, age, any existing conditions or injuries, your schedule, and other parameters that are important!

One benefit I've had is learning from Australian Physical Consultant Ian King. His decades of experience have been with professional and elite (including Olympic) athletes. One of his primary focuses is on injury prevention and rehabilitation, which I don't believe should just be a consideration for athletes. Everyone deserves to know these techniques! This is also why I am getting my certification as a Fitness Therapist so that my exercise prescriptions are even more in line with the individuals that I work with.

While it is a little late for this season, parents of overweight children have a new option when considering camps. Check out this article about weight loss camps. Sounds great to me, even for children who DON'T need to lose weight, but just want an active vacation!

Here are some fool-proof weight loss tips from Canyon Ranch spa. I think these are GREAT points and agree with most of them ... I'm still not sold on the high protein, but hey, I can be flexible.

For the first time, I stumbled across an article claiming the life expectancy of adult Americans may DROP by 5 years or more! That's right ... apparently, this is the price we pay for being an obese nation, according to this article. The article packs a good call to action as well. Who will take up the charge?

I've been watching a campaign from a major fast food chain with interest. this article goes into more detail. It will be interesting to see how it pans out. Personally, I like the idea that if I'm on the road and in a crunch, I can stop by a fast food joint and actually order something healthy. But what about those who haven't adopted a healthy lifestyle yet, or are addicted to fatty foods? Will this make a difference or an impact, when they are still served right next to the high calorie meals that so many people put away as if they were lumberjacks by trade?

Now, it's only fair that I offer the other side of the coin. I've been very vocal about the real dangers of a sedentary lifestyle ... but this article points out that some of the statistics may have been inflated. I'm not fully convinced of this, however. I think there is one major flaw in the way these studies are conducted. We are examining overweight and obesity. However, for many people, this is a symptom and not the cause. The cause is the poor eating habits and lack of exercise. There are plenty of people (you probably know a few, and are frustrated because of this) that eat poorly, don't exercise, and maintain what is considered a healthy weight. That's great ... but what's going on inside? I'd like to see an examination based on eating habits and exercise habits, rather than just weight.

As hard and heavy as the dairy industry is pushing their products as some magical weight loss remedy (I see it on the yogurt cartons in big letters - BURN FAT) this article questions if there is really anything tangible to their claims. My comments: could this perhaps be another billion dollar marketing ploy, like the nonsense they've spread about having to drink milk to get calcium when we know milk actually increases your body's demands for calcium?

Closer to home (actually, really close to my in-laws' home) is this profile of a woman who had bariatric surgery and describes how it has impacted her life.

I received a wonderful note from the Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Man ... THANK YOU! He wrote to express his thanks at my little blurb the other day. I thought it was a fantastic gesture and wanted to reiterate how much I enjoy reading his blog. This is one of those .. thank you ... no, thank YOU ... no ... really. Thanks! Enjoyed the letter, and glad to see others out on the Internet are the real deal and take the time to connect with others.

Finally, before I go, the original auction for a signed copy was so successful that I launched another one ... get a discounted, signed copy of my book from e-Bay (this link may not be valid if you are reading this in the future) if you are the winning bidder!

Do you have a website that does reviews, and are you interested in reviewing this book? contact me and let me know a little about why it is important that people see YOUR review, and we'll talk!

Blessed be,

... we were fortunate to avoid the wrath of Hurricane Dennis. And, according to the national hurricane center, no worries on either coast with any of the others forming. We have family on both coasts, so we never know when it might become an issue. The only problem here is red tide, which has killed enough local fish to raise quite a stink!

While I won't be doing the tour de france anytime soon, I'm certainly excited to have a full week of consistent training under my belt. I'm doing two 45 minute cardio sessions that right now cover 5 miles and will increase the pace each week. I do a 20 minute interval workout before training. Yesterday, I blasted my arms and they are nice and sore. It's good to know that despite not being full strength, I still have it in me ... I was able to master the entire stack for triceps push-downs and will be in search of a new machine with more plates next week.

In other news, I did manage to get out to see a few movies. Not really a movie person, not even a TV person, but without children to watch over and after a hectic move, we deserved it! Saw War of the Worlds (and loved it, I can't remember any movie that was so tense in a long time) and then the Wedding Crashers. Despite poor reviews, I laughed throughout and enjoyed it. I also made my way back to a bar my friends fondly referred to as the "armpit of St. Pete" 10 years ago, which I believe has closed and reopened and is now much like it was then, the famed Pelican Pub

With one eye on the news this week, I noticed an interview with Earl Williams, the owner of American Sportsplex, which was very interesting. Atlanta was my town just over a year ago, so it's interesting to keep pace with develoments there.

So, we're starting to r