This blog will be dormant for a few days while I travel. We are flying back to South Dakota to pack up the remaining items in our home there. We will ship them our way and then load them into the new home we found close to the beach. We are renting for a year and then will find a permanent place to stay.

Have a blessed weekend and I'll be returning Monday evening to share more!

Lots of activity this week!

Over the weekend, we had a nice time at the beach and sampling cuban and Indian cuisine. I kicked off my "10 Fat Mistakes" project to bring the report that has been downloaded by literally thousands to audio. It will be about an hour long and will expand greatly upon the topics covered in the original report.

I am also looking at possibly updating the Healthy for the Holidays audio seminar. Whether or not we update the audio and packaging, I will relaunch this as we get closer to the season that challenges many people's healthy lifestyles.

I'm also wrapping up the Fat Loss teleseminar series and record the last audio this week. This will be released as a 4-CD set. That will expand our offering to half a dozen products dedicated to your improved health and wellness.

There is a lot of talk questioning whether resistance training is really necessary. I can think of a few good reasons you'll want to keep it in the mix ... the fact that it can help defy stereotypes of age and gender is a definite bonus!

Last week, the hype was that Yoga can help you shed unwanted pounds. This week, they're telling us it doesn't burn much fat.

Feel like it's harder to lose weight? Welcome to the joys of midlife metabolism (but don't get caught up in using this as an excuse, it's just another reason to work harder and be more consistent!)

Diets and vitamins important as we age. What I enjoyed about this article is that they didn't say "avoid fats" but instead were more specific about having a diet low in "saturated fat" and instead of foucsing on the waistline gave more attention to quality of life. We're also asked to put more berries in our diet and to stop eating so much on the go. Why all the fuss over nutrition? It's powerful ... even what you eat in preschool may affect your chances of cancer in adulthood.

This week's least recommended method for losing fat: The Baghdad Diet.

So enough of the trends and fads ... what do the "real-life experts" have to say about eating right? You'll find important points include discipline, long-term planning, and of the course the old "cut back on unhealthy foods" without really going into what they are (don't worry, we cover it in Lose Fat, Not Faith).

So moving from the experts to those who practice living healthy in the field, what can we learn from America's thinnest state? In Colorado, only 3 in 20 can claim to be obese. The article claims sunshine, altitude, and attitude have everything to do with it.

The Fat Man Walking is, well, still walking.

Could dropping weight be as simple as slowing down when and how we eat? If this is true, then we have 119 millions to share the good news with.

Having trouble grasping such a large number? Our mission is to share health and wellness with everyone who may benefit around the world. That's a lot more than just people who are obese, and it's in a lot more countries than the United States. But let's say we were to only focus on the United States. Let's assume no one becomes obese during our project, so the only people we have to worry about are the 119 million. So, how do we tackle this?

Let's assume we give ourselves 10 years to reach every one of the 119 million who are currently obese. That breaks down to just 11.9 million per year. So how many do we need to reach per month? Just about 1 million per month. Not bad. How many per week? 228,846. If we lecture 6 days out of the week, we would need to speak in front of an audience of 38,141 every one of those days.

There you have it. To reach every one of the 119 million obese Americans, we would need to address almost 40,000 people every day except Sunday for the next ten years.

This is why I love the Internet. Top Internet sites serve millions of visitors daily, allowing the message to reach a broader audience in a shorter period of time, and we don't have to find a venue that holds 40,000!

By the way, Moms, if you are obese and/or suffer from diabetes, consider this: your condition can impact your unborn child — just one more reason why staying healthy is about more than just you.

Blessed be,

I'm working on my next project. "Fit Within," the 8-CD set I will be producing, requires studio time and major editing so it will be awhile before that kicks off. I'm creating a single disc audio version of "10 Fat Mistakes" that will be available later this year, and taking my 4-part teleseries and turning it into a 4-CD set ... here's a preview of the first CD in the set with a preliminary design. Yes, you can actually order it, but I haven't received my review set yet so I can't make any promises.

I would love your feedback on the cover design.

Here's how some people weigh-in on the obesity issue — blaming everything from portion sizes and lack of exercise to transportation.

We mentioned that Oregon is one of the few states where obesity is not on the rise. This article claims riding bikes and eating vegetables are the main reasons why.

I enjoyed this view about being overweight: is it really about your weight, or your health? And I quote: Who's healthier - a sinewy panhandler, weighing 135 pounds, who smokes, drinks and lives a grueling lifestyle, or "overweight" Jake Plummer?.

Is there a link between Alzheimer's and diabetes?

You hear talks about raising your metabolism, building muscle, and eating more. These people eat less because they feel it will make them live longer.

What's in your child's lunchbox?

Blessed be,

OUCH!

Who would have thought that the Gazelle could make my calves so SORE?! I am sore all over today ... my arms from Monday, my calves from Tuesday, and yesterday's chest and back workout has the aches and pains coming along quite nicely as well. No worries there, I like the feeling of progress!

I just received the quote from my production studio to master an audio version of 10 Fat Mistakes, which I hope to release by the end of this year. Looks like we might get started with this project in the next few weeks. I'm also updating my holiday seminar for re-release this year in time for the turkey and cookies.

Using the techniques that I detail in the Shocking Fat Loss Secrets Revealed, I've dropped 5 pounds so far this week. Now, understand this is by no means all fat ... for me to lose weight that quickly, some has to be water weight. However, I feel great and am enjoying the rapid recession of my waistline. Yes, I got a bit puffy — I've written about that in previous journals — but I'm only a few weeks from being back in the zone. I'm toying with the idea of getting shredded again, just to see how easy it is to do by using the information I've culminated over the past several years.

It should be straightforward to reach ultra low body fat by the Chicago seminar. Normally, I don't concern myself too much with staying ultra lean ... there's no major health benefit, and when I do gain weight it's from consuming healthy foods, not junk. However, I found that even though I might be healthy following that style of nutrition, my energy is nowhere near what it is when I am eating ultra clean. As a speaker, energy is far more important now, so I have a hidden agenda with cutting ... I'm planning on modifying my habits so I can create more energy!

Of course, that means, eventually, ditching the coffee. Right now, it replaces the urge to overeat, but it's going to have to go. Here's my commitment ... by the October seminar, I will no longer be sucking cups of Joe to stay in motion. I might have a cup in the morning or enjoy an occassional espresso, but that's going to be the extent of my affair with coffee.

I noticed that this article about Losing Weight with God's Help forgot to mention my book ... how could they? LOL. When I was the official coach for the Christian rock band, Daniel's Window for the Christian Music Makeover, their label gave me a copy of The Total Temple Makeover. I read it cover to cover in about two days and really enjoyed it. More books should be written that not only advocate a balance in life (rather than a strict, overwhelming diet) but also help readers connect their spirituality with their health. There are many religions that do this, including Christianity, but I feel in America that the donuts and coffee in the fellowship hall have caused us to shift our focus away from the body as a templte. In fact, it is quite common for me to hear people condemning the violent teenagers, drug use, and other "sins" before Sunday's service while chowing down on donuts (gluttony) and committing a slow suicide through obesity. Sometimes we are too quick to judge others without taking inventory of our own habits and example.

Having trouble sleeping? Use exercise as a solution. I would add that having a quality supplement can help as well. My wife and I noticed an improved quality of sleep within a few weeks of switching from the generic, cheap brand we were taking to a quality, pharmaceutical grade brand. Donald Clothier experienced an "increase in energy and sense of well-being from the first week." Read what others have to say here.

Yesterday's head-smacking obvious headline was about fast food restaurants clustering near schools. Today's is the study that found TV ads market junk foods to kids. I hope they didn't spend too much money on this study, because all they had to do was send someone with a clipboard to Toys R' Us and ask the parents their thoughts. Not all kids are buying it, however, like this girl who would rather bring her own healthy food than eat what her school cafeteria has to offer. She wouldn't have to do that if she went to these schools that are focusing on better nutrition, or if she lived in North Carolina where a bill was recently passed to improve nutrition in schools.

When you skip over the obnoxious, multi-page page, you can actually find some good information about blueberries in this article. Blueberries happen to be my daughter's favorite berry, because they match her favorite color (blue), because it's the color of her eyes. While blueberries are healthy, even healthy foods should be eaten in moderation. Here's more information on how to keep healthful foods healthful.

Apparently, if you eat like they do in Nantucket, you'll be on your way to fun weight loss. At least, that's what the author of the Nantucket Diet says — you can eat right and live well without strict limitations!

Are you one of those people who uses the excuse, "I can't lift weights, because I get too big?" This is about the biggest myth out there. Most people who claim weights make them big are in denial ... they are really gaining FAT. It's tough to gain muscle, just ask any competitive natural bodybuilder. The idea that you suddenly gain inches of muscle is a little far-fetched, even if you are blessed with genetics. The idea that most people don't do what it takes to build muscle is one of the two strikes this article makes against the concept that weight-lifting helps you lose fat. Did they take the time to look at this, this, or this? Seems to be good research in support of resistance training while dieting to me!

It's bad enough that obesity is growing in every U.S. state except Oregon. Now, it's even infiltrating the NFL! Of course, the idea that obesity is rising has also been disputed ... with a three-year average, that rates are up, but last year the rate of obesity in 14 states apparently declined according to ConsumerFreedom.com.

The government is fighting in your corner, helping you protect yourself from advertising fraud in the weight loss market with operation Big Fat Lie.

For those of you excited about Chitosan, a "fat blocker" that promises to block the calories from fatty foods, there is little evidence to support it.

I normally don't post about gossip, but this one caught my eye — Michael Moore recently checked into a weight loss center that charges $3,800 per week. When you're serious, you're serious!

(For serious people only, and it's a lot less than $3,800 per week!)

Blessed be,

Wow!

Last night, I hosted the third session of the "Shocking Fat Loss Secrets Revealed" teleseminar. We covered the changes that are necessary to your training in order to lose that last stubborn bit of fat. So far we have nearly three hours of audio available, and will be wrapping up next week. You can still purchase this course to have instant access to the audio for the first three sessions and attend our final session next week.

I mentioned yesterday that I would be resuming our inspirational and informative weekly Become Your Best Coaching Podcast sessions. Boy, do I have something in store for you! We are going to kick it off with perhaps the most requested guest I've ever had. I'll post more details soon, but the majority of you know this person as the author of the #1 best-selling fitness e-Book for the past several years. I also have confirmation from Jon Benson that he will return as a guest to discuss his powerful new M-Power Series and other projects he is working on. I'm also talking with a transformation champion who won a competition using the Max-OT system, as well as the webmaster for one of the largest bodybuilding sites on the web.

How's that for an initial line-up? All of the details to call in are here and I will post the call agenda once I have final confirmations (the first call will be September 12th).

I revamped the Natural Physiques™ home page to show recent articles, blog entries, and forum posts.

Our forums haven't seen much activity yet. It's the wallflower syndrome ... everyone is afraid to be the first to post. I even have incentives here waiting for those who choose to step out and get things rolling, but I'm not going to force the issue ... communities materialize based on the ideas and sharing the community itself, so it's not something that I will create, and if it's not meant to happen, it won't.

Someone asked me yesterday if I was having fun running with Mom. She is out pounding the pavement now. I decided the pavement was taking too much of a toll on my knees ... so instead I'm doing lower impact cardio, like recumbent bicycle and ... yes ... Mom has a Gazelle™ tucked away, so I've been having fun with that as well!

Here is a list of the 10 most common fitness blunders that include stretching, over-doing it, skipping the cooldown, and more. I doubt that Kelly Regan makes these mistakes as an incredibly fit woman who is 44 years young. She won't have to worry about something college students often experience — the dreaded freshman 15.

Studies provide more proof that weight loss doesn't come in a one-size fits all, cookie-cutter program. In fact, the real question is: do weight loss programs work? I personally believe no system will work for everyone, all the time, but a customized approach to lifestyle is the true solution. Just read this story about a program that emphasizes choices and lifestyle changes, rather than diets and specific types of training. No matter what program you look into, it usually comes back to portion control (eat less) and exercise (move more).

According to this news, exercise and proper nutrition can do more than help you keep your figure ... it may help you keep your teeth, too!

Australians have decided that a new diet is more important than Harry Potter and the DaVinci Code.

While a high-fat diet may encourage eating, I'd be more interested in the type of fat. I don't think the issue is "high-fat" but rather "high saturated and trans fat." Why would this encourage eating? Because you get tons of calories with little or no nutritional value. Try consuming a high-fat diet where the fats come mainly from raw nuts, flaxseed oil, and other healthy fats, and see if there might be a difference. Oh, by the way, take the study with a grain of salt, too. It was done on rats. And we don't have rat tails!

Here's one of those "smack your forehead" obvious stories ... it took researchers conducting a study to figure out that fast food restaurants cluster near schools. Hmmm ... you mean those people understand marketing and demographics?

I've always told my clients to stick to natural foods. While a diet soda might be good to transition from an addiction to the real thing, it shouldn't be the final stop ... eventually you'll want to learn to enjoy water, natural juices, and other ways of getting fluid that don't involve sucking down chemical cocktails. While the diet drinks might have no calories, there are other issues to be concerned with.

Would you like the scoop on meal replacement bars? Try ours ... it is ranked lower than old-fashioned oats on the glycemic index, all-natural, and tastes awesome. Visit this site, click on products and browse to the "Macro-Optimizers" to learn more. Your initial order also comes with a 30-day guarantee.

If you want a fat brain (a reference to being smart) then you'll want to eat the right types of fats, according to this study. I'm glad my wife was taking omega-3 fatty acids and a pharmaceutical grade multivitamin when she was breastfeeding Alyssa. I believe that this is part of the reason that she is now studying a 2nd grade curriculum even though she turns six in January.

This article says that a weighted vest burns fat. I disagree. Your body burns fat, the vest just forces it to work harder. When it's a weighted bullet-proof vest, you are getting double protection: reducing risk of cardiovascular disease, and death from high speed projectiles. It doesn't take a vest to burn fat.

There have been several studies recently linking poverty to poor health and nutrition. It seems that this project only serves to promote it. At first, it sounds great ... you clean junk out of your cabinets and buy healthier choices, and receive a free membership to a health facility. But where does the junk go? Into the hands of the needy. Sure, it feeds them ... but what's worse, someone broke and hungry, or someone broke with type 2 diabetes? You wouldn't clean out your liquor cabinet and donate the bottles to the needy, would you?

Americans love to eat. That's why, if you want to invent a diet that sells well, promise them a day they can gorge (oh, wait, that's been done) or promise them they can eat more and lose. That's what Volumetrics is about.

I might have to start giving out awards for oxymorons. The title of this bit is, "Our Healthy Diets Were Killing Us" and is about women on extremely low calorie and low fat diets. Doesn't sound like a healthy diet to me! I think the title should be, "Our self-starvation and deprivation was kiling us."

Want to find people who aren't on the obesity train? Go to Oregon, the only state that has not experienced a rise in the rate of obesity.

I forgot to mention earlier ... when you sign up for our shocking fat loss secrets seminar, you'll not just get access to the audios ... I'll make them available for MP3 download so you can put them on your portable devices or burn CDs as well. I'm so confident you won't find this information in one place anywhere else that I'll refund 100% of your investment if you're not satisfied with the information.

That's all for now. Have a great day!

Blessed be,

It's now official! We will be relaunching our weekly Become Your Best Coaching Podcast call. We encourage live participation in the shows, it's what creates the energy and flow our guests deserve. Because the show was not officially kicked off, I interviewed prolific author Dennis Weis directly and posted it here.

The show is Mondays at 7pm Pacific Standard Time / 10pm Eastern Standard Time. To access the call, dial 212-990-8000 and then use pin BYBC# (2922#). We have some incredible guests lined up! The first show will be Monday, September 12.

Special thanks to Dave DePew for inviting me onto his World Talk Radio show — we talked about the power of transformation, lifestyle changes, and mindset. You can listen to the show here.

Want to lose 1.5 stone in 3 months? (Er, 21 pounds?) ... apparently, a new diet trend is becoming popular in Australia.

The debate over what protein is better continues with soy protein, i.e. "Is it safe?" The article questions, "is it too much of a good thing?" This gets back to one of the fundamental keys to nutrition success ... moderation. There is a big difference between having the occassional tofu dish or shake with soy protein, and having it with every meal as your main staple for protein.

Triathlon magazine shares 15 simple ways to improve your athletic performance.

While it may be painful for seniors to exercise it also profits many incredible benefits, as this article relates. Are you using any of the excuses mentioned?

Want to reduce the size of your inner thighs? The answer today appears to be same that it was a few decades ago: you can't spot reduce!

Exercise is great, but does it make women eat more?

I mentioned the traditional "Indian fry bread" yesterday ... I didn't realize it was such a big issue!

Got a limited budget? Here's some take-home fitness lessons that won't break the bank.

Many people grab energy drinks for a boost of juice and with the idea that they may help them burn fat. However, research shows that caffeine-loaded energy drinks are worse than soft drinks for the waistline.

6,700 is the estimated number of Georgians who die each year due to weight. That's almost 20 per day. The cost to address health problems related to obesity just in the state of Georgia? $2.1 billion a year. That's $57 million a DAY. Still not able to grasp this figure? How about $2.3 million PER HOUR or does $40,000 per minute resonate?

Think about that for a minute. Just one minute.

There you go. Another $40,000 gone because of the issue with so many people becoming obese. I don't blame the people who are obese. I can't. I was one of them. I was obese. However, it is staggering to consider that each minute what is most people's yearly salary is spent trying to address the symptoms of the problem, when the cause is right there. More in this article.

Here in America, we are so sensitive that we can't even deal with someone telling us we're obese, as one doctor found out the hard way.

Personally, I enjoy it when people are blunt and to the point. It lets me get out of my own way and do what I gotta do. You know?

Blessed be,

I changed my workout schedule this week, and decided to try it first thing in the morning. It happened to be on an empty stomach. This isn't because I feel it burns more fat, but rather, it is easier to fit into my schedule this way.

I did arms this morning. It was a grueling workout that I adopted from Ian Kings, "12 Weeks to Great Guns." This was originally published at Testosterone Magazine so you might do a search and find it there. Today's workout:

Superset of forearm flexions and extensions
Triset: concentration curl, low pulley curl, Zottman curl
Triset: dumbbell kickback, lying triceps extension, seated triceps extension
21s: preacher curl
21s: narrow grip bench press
Dropset: wide grip barbell curl
Dropset: standing triceps extension

In case you couldn't guess, today was an arms day.

A "Zottman curl" is an interesting variation on the curl. You face your palm up when curling up, then you reverse your grip and face your palm down as you extend your arm. It's a combination regular and reverse curl.

I didn't do any balance drills like the ones described in this article, but I did conclude the workout with something many people do not: thorough stretching (find books and videos about stretching).

Kettlebell training is gaining popularity. I found this article about kettlebell training the Los Angeles Times. There are now a few books and videos out on the topic (you can order the actual kettlebells through that link as well). Mike Mahler is one of the top instructors in the nation. You can visit his bio page to learn more, listen to an interview that we conducted with him, and read a few articles he was kind enough to share with us.

Here's an interesting bit about using the glycemic index and fears this is the next trend that will come as a backlash to the low carb movement. (Why do so many people misunderstand the Atkins diet?

Here's a simple guide to lowering cholesterol. More on cholesterol. And then read this from the Harvard School of Public Health.

While he's only 1/4 of the way there, our favorite fat man walking has already made television appearances and signed a book deal. It's good that he's doing his part to combat obesity, because the obesity epidemic (yes, they are still calling it that) is now expected to affect the health-care system.

Here's the place to train if you're an elite athlete. If you're a triathlete, you might be interested in Stanley Goldsmith's routine instead.

Got a bun in the oven (expression for being pregnant)? Doctors now say that the regular guidelines should be scaled back for pregnancy weight gain, because more than half of pregnant women are already overweight.

When I lived in South Dakota, I was introduced to a local favorite: the Indian taco. Basically, you take the ingredients for a regular taco, and instead of stuffing them into a tortilla or taco shell, you place them on top of a slice of traditional Indian fry bread. While it tastes incredible, it may also be a high-fat curse.

In an effort to reduce the amount of trans fats in foods, manufacturers are switching from soy bean oil to palm oil. As a saturated fat, this oil can withstand high heat better than unsaturated fats.

Now obese teens have a last resort to go to school with other teens in a similar situation ... and learn how to overcome the extra weight.

Some insurance companies are now offering programs to help children keep in shape.

We've still got items up at e-Bay, including my old home-based gym. Check it out before someone else does!

Blessed be,

Just a quick note ... for those interested, there is a brand new (shrink-wrapped) copy of the 5-CD set over on eBay (for those reading this in the future, it may no longer be there).

Wow, three posts in one day. Does that mean I can take the rest of the week off? Just kidding.

Jeremy

A client and friend of mine shared with me a very inspirational movie. It was about achieving your dreams. I realized at the end of the movie that it was a viral marketing piece — very powerful and inspirational, and then at the end you get to sign up for the newsletter that promotes their opportunity. Because you deserve to know about ALL opportunities (and because this movie IS good) I'll give them some free advertising and link to it here.

The company that I partnered with to leave corporate America also has a dream movie that is fun and inspiring to watch, but I'm also biased because I know a few of the individuals featured in the film.

Of course, network marketing isn't the only way to achieve your dreams, but it is a very powerful way. It's what connected me with free enterprise, allowed me to fire my boss, and gave me the time freedom to build Natural Physiques™ from the ground up. Natural Physiques wouldn't be here were it not for this remarkable industry ... so I'm writing to give thanks to my wife who told me to overcome my skepticism of the business model and Ian King who had the time and patience to be my mentor and set me on this path of moving from my head down into my heart.

Whatever your passion is, never forget your dreams.

I felt a little bit like the character from The Terminal the past few days (i.e. I was living at the airport). My client in Iowa wanted me to stay for one day, so the plan was to fly Thursday evening, stay one night, then train her all day Friday and fly back that night. Sometimes the best laid plans don't account for what, in this case, was truly outside of our control — lightning strikes near the airfield! Our plane in Tampa was delayed one hour and I could not make the connecting flight in Detroit. The only flight going out the next day was so late in the morning, we'd only be able to spend a few hours together (she was flying out on Friday, too). So, we decided to reschedule. I stayed in a hotel about 1 mile outside of the airport (courtesy of the airline) and flew back to Tampa yesterday ... of course, my flight was the first one out, so I received about three hours of sleep!

This was really a powerful event in my life, simply because of what it revealed to me about how much I've changed. In the past, I would have been so angry and frantic about getting to where I needed to be. I probably would have been upset about the cost of the trip and spent hours stamping my feet with a red face allowing the veins on my neck to bulge out trying to get my "justice" for having been delayed.

This time, however, I was at ease. I simply accepted that it was not meant to happen at this time, and took advantage of the time to relax and connect. I made friends on the flights both going out and coming back, shared information about my book, even found someone who was an entrepreneur and connected them with information about my own mentor. It was a great time. I learned the layout of Detroit airport and found out more about the major carriers at Tampa so that I can start to focus on one or two airlines to book most of my flights.

It was an enlightening experience!

Yesterday, Doreen, Alyssa, and I decided to have a picnic on the beach for dinner to watch the sun set. We arrived just as dark clouds were looming in the distance. The sun was fat and red and slowly sank as we felt the wet breeze and listened to the boom of thunder. While the rain was still far off, we finally decided the lightning strikes were getting too close and retreated to our vehicle. There, we watched the lightning dance around us (literally hundreds of feet away — my daughter got to experience some very loud booms) and the sun dip beneath the horizon. Again, the rain and thunder didn't spoil the fun, but added some fun and excitement to our dinner plans.

When I came home, I checked on my book and was delighted to find that Amazon has not only scanned the pages, but updated their search index. Now, you can search for words inside hte book! Not sure if it covers a certain topic?

Enter your search phrase:  

I received my new recording equipment. I'll probably do one more interview before I open up the public, weekly teleconference ... this is by far the cleanest audio I've heard (I tested it by calling my daughter on my cell phone ... we had fun doing that!)

Before I jump into the news abroad, a quick update on our adventures ... we decided the moving companies were gouging us with their quotes. Every time we eliminated something in the house (we sold it partially furnished) they'd tack on bonus charges to bring it back up to the original price. This was with multiple companies. So, we finally decided to use this unique service that drops off containers, we pack it, then they drive it down to our storage in St. Petersburg. We'll fly out the first of the month, pack it up, then fly back a few days later. The truck will arrive with our pod about a week after that! I'll share our experience with the company here in case anyone else is in a similar situation (I don't mind loading the furniture ... I just didn't want to drive semi 2,000 miles!)

What will they think of next? How about a new device that could help the paralyzed maintain fitness?

I was excited to see that multi-time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman was in our backyard of Tampa, Florida. Then, I read the article more carefully, and realized this was someone else — Mr. Universe Ron Coleman! It is an interesting biography.

If you are a teenager or have a teenager in the house, read this article about the unique nutrition needs of teen athletes. Then, go here to pick up the multivitamin we have specifically developed for active teens. (Hint, click on Products ... Essentials ... and the name of the product is BodyRox, a trademark of Usana Health Sciences).

Upset about the price increase for gas? Why not burn fat, not gas? Not into riding your bike? Just jump and burn calories instead.

It still amazes me that respected journals run articles like this one that claim taking protein supplements will shrink your internal organs and ... here is the kicker ... force your body to "run out of fat to burn and begin breaking down muscle and protein." WHAT?! Even though I'm not a fan of having a high protein intake, this is just flat out ridiculous, if you ask me (oh, you didn't? Well, it's MY blog, so there!) I say, show me the proof!

Here's an interesting take on running and walking.

This just in: if you ask the people paid by the dairy industry if dairy burns fat, they all say, "YES!" If you ask the scientists not funded by the dairy industry, well ...

Last week, a woman proved that she could lose weight on a fast food diet. This week, a study shows that while she might be skinny, eating french fries can increase her chances of having breast cancer. Fortunately, the fact that she lost weight may reduce her risk of acquiring breast cancer.

Besides sparing you a few calories, diet soda can also keep you from being carjacked.

You've heard about the nutritional benefits of omega-3 fatty acids and eating cold water fish, right? Well ... apparently, too much fish as a child can lead to eventual death from stroke if you believe the conclusions drawn by a group of researchers at the University of Bristol.

One statement that I agree with in this article about a crusader against fat is that "if you're feeding kids fast food three to four times a week, you're killing them." You would give your children a cigarette, would you? Why give them foods that contribute to degenerative disease?

Just when I was about to cut down on my coffee consumption, I find out that coffee is good for you. Hurray! Let's celebrate with a triple-shot espresso!

The third fitness rule is to eat healthier. I forgot to mention rules one and two.

Schools in Pennsylvania are recognizing that having a healthy staff means less expensive health insurance so they are offering more wellness programs to teachers.

Here's an odd twist ... if you're heavy as a baby, you're more likely to be leaner as an adult!

I have to admit, this one has me scratching my head. The article claims that litter and grafitti are linked to obesity? Of course, litter is NOT the reason why obesity is winning, according to an article from the Boston Globe.

Until next time, I am

Once again, I'm heading out of town, so I may not have another blog post until Sunday. I'm flying to Iowa to train one of my star clients ... imagine having her "problem" — after a few weeks of coaching, she shared that she was losing weight so successfully, we had to modify the nutrition to slow things down!

I look forward to learning more about her gym and the area she trains in so we can build a more customized routine to fit her busy schedule.

Yesterday, I went on a run with Mom. It was quite an experience! I wrote about it last night, and that will go out in tomorrow's Lose Fat, Not Faith Weekly e-Zine. I don't need this article to appreciate moderate exercise — Mom gave me my fair share chasing her down around the park!

In that issue, I'll be writing about excuses. One common excuse I hear is, "I have a slow metabolism." For such a rare condition, it seems like everyone has it. The truth is, psychologically most people want to believe that they can eat more and lose. I've found it creates an unrealistic expectation of how many calories are really appropriate to lose fat. Some women who are only 5'2" tell me that going below 2400 calories would be starvation ... when at 5'10" and 200 pounds I can easily reach 1700 calories to trim down for a photo shoot! To learn more about having a slow metabolism, read this, then learn how to raise your metabolism through natural methods.

If you've been sitting on the fence with Lose Fat, Not Faith, you can now Search Inside the Book™ — that's
Amazon's nifty way of looking inside. Just visit the site for the book, click on the Amazon link, and browse the pages.

There is a new surgery for the loose skin some people have after losing weight, and it's described in this article. Don't get too excited, yet — what you think is loose skin may really be excess fat. Most people who lose weight quickly or diet without training don't necessarily have loose skin. A lot of people who tell me they have loose skin really just need to lose fat.

There are a few reasons why they feel it is loose skin ... psychologically, they've set a weight they think they should be trim at, and they reach the weight and don't want to continue to lose weight. Therefore, the loose skin becomes a convenient excuse. Others pull a thick wad of skin and assume it must be extra skin because they don't know how thin skin really is.

To see if you have loose skin, the test is really easy. Skin itself is only the thickness of a few millimeters. Heard the phrase "Can't pinch an inch?" This is true even if you have loose skin. So take your "loose skin" and grab a pinch of it with your hands. If it is thicker than a few millimeters, i.e. if you can grab a thick fold, then there is still fat underneath the skin. Whether you like it or not, you still need to lose weight!

On the other hand, if you pull the skin and it is paper thin, i.e. it stretches away from your body but has no thickness to it, then that is truly loose skin.

In most cases, loose skin won't do what you think. If you don't see your abs, for example, it's not because of loose skin. It's because there's still fat under the skin. One of my clients, a mother of four who lost over 100 pounds of fat (the last 30 through my coaching), arrived at our seminar ripped and shredded. You could clearly see her abdominal muscles. However, she also had loose skin ... when pulling the skin on her stomach, it would stretch out a good few inches. We didn't notice it until she told us about it, because true loose skin is so thin you can still see through to the muscle definition beneath.

Sometimes you may have to get leaner than you think in order to lose the skin. Here's a hint: if you are just dieting, expect to have loads and loads of the thick, droopy skin with fat under the surface. That's because dieting tends to burn more of the internal fat, while it's exercise like cardio and resistance training that burns the fat underneath the skin. So the combination is the key to getting rid of it all!

Obesity creates a catch-22. Exercise is important, but difficult when you are carrying the extra weight. In fact, soaring obesity rates are pushing knee and hip replacement needs. When you embark on a program to release the extra fat, make sure you are shoe-horned into a generic program that is going to cause more harm than good.

In my own neck of the woods, a local pair is taking aim at obesity in Pasco children.

In the UK, children are being told to walk to school to beat obesity.

My wife and I were excited to read the school guidelines for my daughter's lunch. Children at her Montessori school are not allowed to bring candy, pack cupcakes, or drink soda. We looked at each other and said, "Wow!" What a change ... in the past, we knew that even if we packed her a healthy lunch, our daughter would have plenty of access to chips, soda, and other junk her growing body simply doesn't need. This school won't even allow it! So what do we send? She loves her lunches, that are packed with albacore tuna, Kashi bars, applesauce, yogurt, and peanut butter sandwiches (whole wheat bread and organic, all-natural peanut butter). If you'd like more ideas for healthy lunches, read this article.

If you think your nutrition program is tough to follow, read what Jack Osbourne went through for his new series in the UK ... you'll never look at coffee the same way again.

Is your child or someone you know diagnosed with ADHD? Before drugging them senseless with medications, consider this study that involves omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids.

You've heard time and time again that breakfast is an important meal. Now, learn some tips for healthy fast food breakfasts.

Concerned with arthritis? Try drinking more juice.

The author of "Eating Well When You're Expecting" shares a few tips on how to eat better while dealing with morning sickness, bloating, and inexplicable aversions to chicken.

You've probably heard of liquid vitamins — but what about vitamin-rich beer?

I'll be sure to check for one on the menu in Detroit as I make my way over to Iowa!

...er, me. Yes, I'm posting this just before a nice, long jog in the Florida humidity and sunshine. Not sure what course we'll take today, but I'm determined to keep up with Mom! Last week I was able to do the course without stopping, but the heat did slow me down. Today's goal is to keep pace!

Last night, I did a 2.4 mile run in 20 minutes using HIIT-style training, then did some super slow sets of weights. I'm transitioning with my new nutrition style this week, so I'll train but not anything planned ... yes, sometimes I do the "instinctive" training, mainly on my weeks of "active rest."

Tomorrow evening I'll fly to Iowa to train a client there. I'm excited to meet her after our time together, she's lost a significant amount of weight and we actually changed her nutrition so she'd maintain because she was losing too much (not a bad problem to have, no?) She was introduced to me by her daughter, another client who I got to meet at our seminar in Spearfish.

I have the venue for the Chicago/October event — it's a charming bed and breakfast in Oak Park that is in the middle of the two Chicago airports. Very beautiful place, walking distance from other hotels and restaurants. If you haven't reserved your spot, now is better than too late!

Here's a newsflash — and those reading the blog will be the first to know! We are resuming our weekly teleseminars. The free ones, that you dial into and participate. We will have them weekly on Monday nights at 7pm PST / 10pm EST. I'll reveal more details but the first one will either be Labor Day Weekend or the week after (September 5th or September 12th). I already have some exciting guests lined up and as always will bring you thought-provoking topics related to health and wellness. I will post the number to the Podcast site soon and make the formal announcement!

If you have the chance, please dial in. The calls are interactive, so you can ask your questions, and when we have guests you are welcome to ask them questions directly at the end of the call. If there is someone you would like to hear on the call, or you know someone (or perhaps you, yourself) who would make a great guest, let us know! Last time we saw attendance dwindle with the availability of the podcast. If we stop having live guests, I'll probably pull the plug on the podcast and just do the interviews on the phone.

Soy is a controversial protein. Most of the controversy, in my opinion, comes from the simple fact that manufacturers of whey protein and representatives of the billion-dollar dairy industry don't want an alternative to their glorified and over-hyped protein (whey). I've heard it all, from the idea that you can't build muscle with soy (then explain Mike Mahler's physique to me, a vegan, or how about Steve Holt) to how it is poisonous (strange, some people who have consumed soy their entire lives don't seem to succumb to this mysterious poison). Personally, I believe it comes back to moderation: you shouldn't drink whey shakes all day long, and you shouldn't consume soy as your only source of protein. Either, in moderation, are fine. It was refreshing to find a more balanced article that looks at both sides of the equation.

Here are some useful tips to get "oomph" back in your life by author Jon Gordon. Jon Gordon wrote the book, "Energy Addict: 101 Physical, Mental, and Spiritual Ways to Energize Your Life."

You might not see them strolling down the street during the middle of the day, but robots are gaining in numbers. A recent study found that robotic weight-loss surgery appears safe. Sorry, it will have to do more than just "appear" safe for me to let that tin can come near me with a cutting instrument!

If you're frustrated because it seems you are not losing fat fast enough, don't be. A little weight loss goes a long way. Even 15 pounds can cut the risk of hypertension by 21 percent. Overweight children who lose weight can also regain lower blood pressure.

Here's some practical advice about losing weight and keeping it off. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition conducted a weight loss study and found that those who lose the weight permanently followed six "common sense" strategies:

1. Get active and stay active
2. Eat a low calorie diet
3. Don't skip breakfast
4. Monitor your weight
5. Maintain a consistent eating pattern
6. Catch 'slips' before they turn into bigger problems

The last point is simply, "Fail fast."

What may surprise some people whose weight loss education came from forums or bulletin boards is the point that keeping a trim waistline may involve monitoring your weight. It's a popular trend today to shout, "Throw away the scale ... the scale lies." Very rarely do I find that the people proclaiming this sage advice have actually reached their own goals. The scale doesn't lie, it tells you exactly how much you weigh, and if you have 40 pounds to lose, you are not going to gain 40 pounds of muscle, so the scale must go down if you are going to be successful.

Scales are like guns. They are only as dangerous as the person using them. If you are emotionally linked to the number on the scale, then maybe you don't need to step on it. But it's not lying. It's telling you the truth about your weight!

The Lose Fat, Not Faith Audio Program (did I notice one on e-Bay ... grin) addresses these points and many more. It is a very comprehensive guide to getting your ducks in a row and following a true lifestyle change, rather than becoming a yo-yo on a crash diet.

How about a weight loss program based on genetics? Sounds like a new twist on an old idea to me. Any qualified trainer will develop a program based on YOU, not some generic system.

Much of the press around low-carb diets has focused on the recent bankruptcy filing as "evidence" that they don't work (a bunch of hogwash, because how a company runs its business has nothing to do with how successful their nutrition approach is). This article goes a step further, and claims the low-carb approach can be downright dangerous. Take it with the same grain of salt you would any other "study" used to validate or defunk a commercial idea.

What is the best nutrition for your infant? According to this article, breast-feeding is the "gold standard." I agree. Nothing can compare to mother's milk, it was designed specifically to nurture your child. When Doreen was pregnant with Alyssa, we did a lot of research and found links between breastfeeding and improved immune system, higher IQ, and many other developmental factors. While we were both working full time in the corporate world, we did everything we could to allow Doreen to feed Alyssa as long as possible before weaning her to other food. She deserves it!

Here's an interesting statistic: 6 in 10 Americans are overweight (1 in 3 are obese). However, 6 in 10 Americans have also attempted to lose weight. This is why having a success coach can be so powerful by assisting you to turn your attempt or "try" into success. Read this article about finding a personal trainer who's right for you.

If you really want to integrate fitness into your life, consider one of these homes that are designed for fitness!

Here's a story about a great program that has changed lives, but must shut down due to lack of funding.

Are you Asian or Indian? Studies show you may store more fat on your body than Polynesians and Europeans.

One concern with many of my clients is their medications that make it difficult to lose weight, and may even cause weight gain. This article describes some of these "anti-diet" drugs. What's the solution? In my experience, it's to focus on health, not weight, so that ultimately you may not need as much of the medications to begin with. Many clients have worked closely with their doctors over the course of losing weight and building muscle and were able to reduce the dose or even eliminate drugs from their program.

Are you looking for a fun way to burn calories? Try this activity.

So what's the best time to eat? Meal timing may be just as important as what and how much you are eating.

Pregnant? Exercise good for pregnancy.

And that's all for today.

Blessed be,

The beautiful machine to your left is the Parabody Smith machine. The model that I bought uses free weights instead of plates because I feel plates are too limiting. This is the machine I purchased several years ago and have used to stay in shape from the relative comfort of my basement. We've moved 2,000 miles now, and there's no place to stash the system, let alone the cost of the move. So, I figured my loss could be your gain and placed it on e-Bay (if you're reading this in the future, the link may no longer be valid). The caveat is that you must be able to drive to Lead, South Dakota to take delivery of the system. If it's not too much of a haul for you, then you'll definitely want to check out the system because it comes with practically everything you could ever imagine or need to stay fit.

Want a magic pill to lose the fat for you? So did this woman. The cost? Her life. Want to buy one of the new magic pills for your child to lose weight? You won't be getting it from Giant Food Stores, because they voluntarily banned the sale of dietary supplements to prospective buyers younger than 18 years old.

Is your neck sore from watching the tennis match between proponents of a high protein diet and the vegetarian camp? Personally, I don't understand why it has to be so black and white. It seems these days, you're either a herbivore or a carnivore ... what happened to the omnivore? I like to look at my own approach as vegetarian with a touch of animal meat. There's a good reason, too — it's because I keep reading studies like this one about the benefits of having a largely plant-based diet (this one suggests a vegan diet may reverse cancer).

» Books about the vegan diet

Here's more on the politics of the dairy industry.

Yesterday, I mentioned a clip about New York's attempt to ban trans fats in restaurants. This article celebrates the anticipated return of lard.

For those of you who wonder if online and phone-based coaching really work, here's another article that supports the benefits of this approach. Of course, they are calling it a "new concept" when phone consultations have been around for decades, but hey, it's the media. If you'd like to spend longer than 20 minutes per week (with me, you get 30) with an experienced, qualified health coach, hire me and we'll talk!

How about a more laid-back (pardon the pun, you'll see what I mean when you read it) approach to fitness? Read this.

» More about Yoga

You've probably heard it a million times: "Women don't need to train differently than men, because a muscle is a muscle." Dr. Pamela Peeke and the other scientists at the 2005 Idea Fitness Convention politely disagree.

I read this article while enjoying a big cup of black coffee. Seriously, I'm weaning myself off of coffee. The time has come. I have quite a few speaking engagements this year, and I need to be operating at 100%, not the 80% down to 20% then drink a cup then up to 80% false "high" that coffee provides.

Lauren lost weight and gained a life. Need I say more?

Interested in anticellulite creams? Be sure to read this before you buy.

A few years ago, I went to my doctor for a regular check up. I remember the feeling of excitement as I waited in the lobby. I had lost all of my extra weight and had been living healthy for several years, so I was eager to learn how my cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure, and other statistics had changed.

The nurse led me back and I stepped on the scale. At the time, I weighed 195. According to the BMI ("Body Mass Index"), I was a "29" or overweight.

When I was in the room for my check-up, I was asked to remove my shirt. I pulled it off and smiled with confidence. I could see the striations in the muscles on my arms, see the veins, and look down at a well-defined six-pack.

You can imagine my surprise when, after examining me and asking me to put my shirt back on, my doctor, who was obese, peered at me over his clipboard and informed me that, "You're overweight. We'd like to see you lose about 10 pounds. You should get more exercise and watch what you eat."

GIVE ME A BREAK! Get more exercise? I'd like to take him on my high intensity treadmill runs, or through a few sets of dead-lifts. It occurred to me that he hadn't even noticed my physique, and was programmed to just spit out the trained response, "BMI = 29, therefore, advise weight loss."

That planted one of the seeds that led to my passion for sharing the truth about living healthy. These memories came back to me in a flood when I read this article about how many physicians would rather treat strep throat than obesity ... partly because they are obese, too.

If you are one of those people who constantly complains about the price of gas, you'll get even better material to share with your friends around the water cooler in this article that suggests the cost of insurance has increased 10 times in 15 years due to obesity. That's a billion-dollar tab we get to keep for being an obese nation.

In the category of, "Surprise ... who would have thought it?" researchers have found ... are you ready? ... a link between ... brace yourself ... families' eating habits and childhood obesity. You mean Junior's weight problem might have something to do with piling his plate ten feet high and then insisting on dessert with every meal?

Blessed be,

... has to be a Jeffery Combs event!

This weekend, we traveled back to the east coast. We spent some time with Doreen's parents, and on Saturday, with some incredible friends.

My business coach and friend, Jeffery Combs held his "More Heart than Talent" workshop there. My wife and I always benefit from our time with Jeff and the other entrepreneurs that attend his events. There is an energy that is difficult to describe without you actually being a part of it. You can sense a little bit of it on his weekly calls (the number and time are posted on his site) and even more through his CDs, but nothing compares to the energy of actually attending an event.

There were old friends there that we reconnected with. There were new friends. There was the amazing Ellie Drake who I met just over a year ago. When I met her at the salad bar in Los Angeles, writing a book or producing a CD set were just a dream for me. She was just beginning to realize her dream, and told me at the time she was a speaker and developing her career.

She truly has developed it! Her portion of the event was powerful and impactful. She now has several CD sets and leads a very successful life empowering entrepreneurs to reach the next level.

We made new friends, reconnected to the powerful living energy that always energizes us at the events, and then came home the next day excited about the future we will create.

We also set a deadline to find our own place. We decided we would rent at first until we have the cash to invest in the house we truly desire, rather than purchase a "stepping stone" on the way. Our South Dakota home will close in a few weeks, so we are planning the logistics of going there to pack up the remaining items and get them down to St. Petersburg.

What an exciting time! I also am receiving a final quote today for the Chicago event from the vendor I hope to host it at ... it will be a surprising, powerful, relaxing venue for the event. We still have a few positions remaining so don't hesitate to reserve your spot.

I'm going to make up for the absence of entries over the weekend by loading you with lots of information to browse this Monday morning! Tips like how weight loss also brings a big boost in self-confidence (would you have ever guessed?) ... I don't entirely agree with this article. As I mention in my CD set, I believe a part of weight loss requires that you gain confidence in the first place (actually, more important than confident is self-esteem).

Here's an interesting approach to fitness ... "talk therapy" or "Walking the Talk."

While there have been a few articles condemning vitamins and claiming that they are not needed, there are a few more like this one that link vitamin supplements with reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease (as much as ... are you ready? FIFTY-FIVE PERCENT). I'm glad my family is covering our bases with this multivitamin. Here's another view about getting everything from food.

If you want to learn more about antioxidants, check out the "Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements." It is a guide to not only what antioxidants and vitamin supplements can do, but also compares 500 of the products on the market.

I'm noticing a paradigm shift with how the media is addressing growing concerns about health and wellness, at least in the United States. For several years, the concern has been with the "obesity epidemic." A few weeks ago, there was a flurry of activity around the idea that obesity or weight isn't the issue, but instead that is simply a symptom of the lack of exercise or poor nutrition that might lead to obesity. In other words, obesity isn't dangerous, lack of fitness is. Now, suddenly, we have headlines like this one, that mention not one but two epidemics: "The Obesity and Diabetes Epidemic." Are we going to hear more about the diabetes side of the issue? Is it a surprise that the most effective nutrition plans for dealing with obesity are the same programs that work well for diabetics? It will be interesting to see the trend continue, and watch how the label shifts from obesity to diabetes, just as you will see less and less of "adult onset diabets" and more of "type 2 diabetes" as more and more children are afflicted with this "adult" disease.

» Books about diabetes

How about some "strategies to prevent type 2 diabetes?"

The number one leading cause of preventable death in the US a few years ago was tobacco consumption. Number two was poor diet and lack of exercise. If you think drinking is bad, consider this: Cirrhosis Possible Without Alcoholism — a new study links obesity to liver disease.

A recent study suggests many parents are ignoring the health risks of having overweight children. From Australia, this report states that obesity in children is worse than once thought. So how do you keep your children fit? Here are a few ways, check out our Fitness For Kids articles, and read these books.

Of course, we can't forget that obesity is a mental health matter, too. That's why my one-on-one coaching focuses on fitness from the inside. Like client Robin Otto, a mother of four who has lost an entire 120 pounds (the last 30 of those under my guidance), shared, she had "been struggling with weight and self esteem issues for about 24 years" when our seminar really helped tie things together. That's powerful feedback because my goal is not to address the symptom of obesity (weight) but the cause (different for every individual). Remember, as Robin shares, "physique transformation is an enlightening experience — your body doesn't lie." Learn to get fit within!

Obesity doesn't impact your liver and mindset. It impacts the phones, magazines, and even lifevests you have available when you fly! This article discusses how airlines are sacrificing amenities to make room for overweight Americans.

Here are some eating tips and nutrition tidbits for you. The film "Super Size Me" had a short segment about a school that found serving healthy meals was actually less expensive than bringing in frozen and processed foods (a common argument against having fresh, healthy fare). The teachers interviewed said that their students calmed down and focused more after having the healthy meals, as compared to before. This article from Ireland also reports a link between healthy nutrition and children's behavior.

The Conservative Voice asks America to "stop the fad dieting!" I agree. Lose Fat, Not Faith instead!

Whew ... I had a lot of fun reading this exchange between a low-carb advocate and a low-fat advocate.

More controversy on the "dairy helps you lose weight" front is reported in this article, with a rebuttal from Dr. Zemel "who doesn't hide the fact that he receives substantial funding from the National Dairy Council" ... surprise, surprise.

People who have dreams but are afraid to person them like to join the "Not Much Club." Now, it appears people who don't have the willpower to go through what it takes to lose weight have the It's Okay to be BIG club. They went so far to say, "Fat is empowering." Empowering how? What does it benefit? Hey, I'm all for loving someone for who they are, and I do not judge someone because they're overweight (or male, or female, or young, or old, or anything else). But to decide that it's okay to be killing yourself ... I don't agree. Now, there was mention of "being healthy" and this I agree with. If you are truly exercising consistently, eating healthy foods, and the weight stays on ... you are more likely healthier than a lot of "skinny people" who eat junk and sit on their duff all day long. However, I see many people using this as an excuse not because they focus on living healthy and staying fit, but because they'd rather eat crap and skip out on exercise.

If you really want to avoid taking responsibility for your weight and health, why not just blame Homer Simpson as some parents are doing?

After New York proposed limiting trans fats in restaurants, the restaurant owners came back with, "but our customers LIKE fried donuts." It's hard to argue with that logic ... after all, tobacco killed the most Americans in 2000 and people still like to smoke!

So, just How Fit Are You?

Want another reason to be fit? How about to slow the progression of prostate cancer?

Got golf? Learn how you can improve your game and reduce your risk of injury by doing more than just hitting links.

Bodybuilding buffs will enjoy this brief history of the iron game.

Is that enough to bite off and chew this Monday? I sure hope so. I'm looking forward to bringing you more updates this week.

Blessed be,

The August issue of the Lose Fat, Not Faith e-Zine is now available online, right here.

We'll be heading out to the east coast this weekend. While I will try to keep the blog up to date, I'm not making any promises because our event tomorrow will last the entire day.

Fans of the movie Super Size Me, which follows the weight and health changes of a man as he consumes nothing but fast food for a month, will be excited to read this article that shares, among other things, the fact that he's come out with a book. The movie already has its critics, including this woman who also went on a diet eating only fast food, but actually lost 37 pounds in the process.

Is American truly a junk food nation? Read this article that asks the question, "Who's to blame for childhood obesity?"

In case you thought early puberty was a sign of adult obesity, this article says "it isn't so."

This article details the campaign to fight obesity in California, and admonishes that "they should do something about the dramatically high numbers of unemployed and homeless" first. Maybe some of them would benefit from starting their own home-based business? For those too young to start a business, there is a new program that targets childhood obesity with alternative sports.

Recently, the navy decided that "a Sailor's physical fitness directly impacts mission readiness" and raised the bar with their physical fitness test standards.

According to this article, lower back pain is the most common fitness injury. Fortunately, we have Jesse Cannone and his articles about keeping your back in good shape.

Ever wonder how to train to be the strongest man in the world? This article features an Airman who has set out on just that quest.

Have you heard all of the myths that young children should stay away from weights? This article makes a strong case for kids' weight training. (Check out the book, Strength Training for Young Athletes).

Researchers have found that genes can keep older people from benefiting equally from exercise, no matter how much energy they put into their workouts. This study of 3,000 seniors did find that those who exercised stayed healthier than their "couch potato peers."

Want to lose some weight? The Fed Hutch Cancer Center is looking for volunteers to join a weight loss study.

It should come as no surprise that developing a healthy diet starts at home. Men, take heed: diet may fight prostate cancer.

Blessed be,

I was delighted to receive an excited message the other day. A sweet woman who had purchased my book, Lose Fat, Not Faith was writing to share a powerful experience. I call all of my customers, so I feel she is more like a friend because we've had some terrific conversations together. So I was very excited to hear about her personal triumph. She had been pushing herself hard during a cardio session. In the book, I talk about overcoming obstacles — I even share a deeply personal experience with this. That experience gave her fuel and inspiration to push through, and she accomplished a personal best.

Isn't that awesome? I love helping people become their best. In fact, this is what a new client of mine shared with me last night. We were speaking about her situation, and she was sharing how she is tired of not being her best. How interesting, and appropriate, that the slogan for my coaching happens to be, "Become Your Best!"

I don't have to recall that experience to remind myself how to pursue greatness ... I seek it every day. Take, for instance, my run yesterday. I was determined that I would finish this ... the last two times out with my mother, I had to stop because of the heat and exhaustion. This time, I was focused. Was it easy? No. Did it get uncomfortable? Yes. But that's what being human is all about ... we often find our greatest moments during the most challenging times. This is why I've learned that I never want to spend more than a few split seconds in the "comfort zone" ... it's too easy to fall asleep there. Life is like going up the down escalator ... if you stop pursuing it, you'll end up going backwards. I'm eager to run up those steps.

So, when I started feeling tired, did I stop and walk? NO! I slowed my pace, focused on my breathing, and kept going. When the path seemed to stretch a long ways before me, almost like it had no end, did I despaire? No way. I found a marker ... a shadow that fell across the path ... and focused on reaching that point. Once I was there, I picked a new spot, and focused on that.

As I was returning back to the car, I approached an overpass. My legs felt like lead. My stomach was turning. It was difficult to catch my breath. The sun was beating down on my face and I was soaked with persperation. I was ready to throw in the towel and walk.

Did I?

What do you think?

I reminded myself that these rare moments are when we awaken the greatness within. We only have so many chances to be brilliant in life, so why pass any of them up? No, this won't change the world, in fact, it was a very personal moment ... but it was a moment that changes ME and how I navigate day to day. So I sucked it up. I kept going. When I reached the top of the ramp, I broke into a face-paced run. It was not an all-out sprint but a steady, fast jog. I lifted my head, stood tall, confident, took deep breaths, settled into the rhythm, and finished.

How often do you let yourself sink into the comfort zone? You surround yourself with familiar things and become complacent. Trust me, it's easy to do. But have you stopped to think about the most amazing moments in your life ... when you wanted to jump and shout and celebrate? could it be those came just outside of that comfortable area most people live in?

One way you can step out of that zone and create transformation in your life is to join us at one of our seminars. It might not be close by ... you may have to drive a bit, or fly to it. Guests drove for hours and hours or flew from across the country to our last seminar. They received empowering information, but more importantly, they connected with each other. It created friendships, and bonds between people with a common goal: to shed weight and live healthy. It was about freedom more than anything, and it was wonderful to see our guests empowering and inspiring each other.

It's that type of inspiration that can lead to permanent weight loss, not just another bounce on the yo-yo diet. It takes changes in lifestyle to make it permanent. This article discusses studies that focus not just on how much people lost, but how they managed to keep it off. Points include keeping food records, having a good support system, and following up with a provider for monitoring. Both my one-on-one coaching and our online personal training system offer all of these!

We just received another 5-star review of Lose Fat, Not Faith posted to Amazon.com. This one read, "I take the book with me to work. What a great motivator. I have already ordered a second book for a friend ... if this book doesn't motivate you — I don't know what will." Thank you, Margaret!

I really believe that most people give away their power when they subscribe to a strict diet, because it's not only asking someone else to tell you what to eat, but also placing responsibility on the diet instead of your own actions. For example, while I know that sugar addiction can be a real condition people suffer from, the problem is far more complex than people make it out to be. "Sugar is bad." Why? "Sugar raises your blood sugar quickly." Well, not all sugars. Even broccoli deposits sugar into your bloodstream, just at a slower rate. Most fruit (sugar) actually puts sugar into your blood more slowly than oatmeal (not considered a sugar, even though it is broken down into one). So again, why is "sugar" so bad? In fact, honey will do far less for raising blood sugar than maltodextrin, which is considered a complex carb. I really believe the issue is never sugar versus non-sugar, but instead refined/processed sugars versus natural, whole foods. This article draws the same conclusion I have: there's no magic food item, like sugar, that contributes to gaining weight. It's more complicated and tied to overall calories and exercise. There are several chapters in my book, Lose Fat, Not Faith that cover simple sugars, complex sugars, the glycemic index, glycemic load, the insulin index, and other factors related to exactly how carbohydrates impact your health and nutrition status.

While we know that obesity is more complex than just blaming fats or sugars, we are also finding out it is impacting more areas of the world. This study found that 65% of the people living in Bahrain are obese. While recent articles report that obesity might not be an epidemic and isn't as bad as the media has made it to be, other reports like this one disagree, and claim that this may be the first time in years that average life expectancy will go down, not up.

So what happens when you've made some lifestyle changes and are doing well, when suddenly you become seized with the desire to binge? This article offers some tips to avoid those deadly breakdowns. I also discuss this at length in my CD, "The Five Keys of Healthy Eating," available as part of the Lose Fat, Not Faith 5-CD Audio Program.

Here's a great insight into how the pharmaceutical lobby works. This article condemns Vitamin E as a healthy supplement, then jumps straight into the "promise" shown by a new drug being manufactured, even though it reduces "good" cholesterol and induces an irregular heartbeat. For love of money!

Speaking of money, I had someone write to me last night and ask a simple question: "Jeremy, are you in this just to make money or to sincerely help people lose weight?" My reply? Both! I sincerely wish to make money by helping people successfully lose weight and keep it off. Now that sounds like a win-win to me.

While we're on the topic of "making money," in addition to touting their products as having powerful fat loss benefits, the dairy industry is also bringing more flavored products to the market in an attempt to compete with the soda industry. This article raises some concerns about whether or not these products truly are the healthy alternative they promise to be. One "expert" attacks saturated fats in the article. Everyone knows that saturated fats are the unhealthy kind, right? Well, not so fast. If you want the full scoop on fats, and don't mind a little technical reading, check out Fats that Heal, Fats that Kill and find out why some saturated fats can actually be good for you!

The Mayo Clinic has these tips on how to handle children who are picky eaters.

Two questions I often receive are, "Is coffee bad for me?" and "Can't I still have alcohol?" This article addresses both. More questions, like "How long can you leave coffee in the pot? Do you have to refrigerate eggs? Is it safe to leave pizza out overnight?" are answered here.

Bodybuilding continues to be a non-mainstream sport, but it is gaining momentum. Here is one article that profiles a young man who hopes to be a professional bodybuilder. Check out the picture of him dead-lifting 440 pounds!

The author of Helping Your Overweight Child — A Family Guide offers these words that may be encouraging to some: Eat more and lose weight!

Now I'm off to finish publishing this month's newsletter!

Blessed be,

It was "back day" the gym. So we headed back to the gym.

We rolled up, parked the truck, checked our daughter into the kids' room, and descended into the "treadmill pit." I raised the incline to 4.0 and ran my 2-mile warm-up while Doreen did uphill walking next to me. We watched in despair as the last high-energy dance video faded from the television screens and was replaced with soft rock from the 80s (somebody save me).

Then, it was over to the weight room. Her workout led to her to the opposite side from me. I started at the cable rows, stacking a good portion of the plates and watching in the mirror as the muscles and veins began to bulge. Focused on proper form, keeping m