A little more of a bumpy ride this week. My wife went in to see the doctor for a routine visit and ended up in the hospital. She is okay now but needless to say, that was not how we had planned for the week to unfold. She stayed overnight and we were looking forward to her coming home today, but she had a fever and they want to keep her another night. It's my second night as Mr. Mom and while I cherish the time with my daughter, I miss my wife! She's doing fine and they are simply keeping her as a precaution.

It is times like these that it becomes apparent when a small business is, well, a small business. My wife and I are the only ones who do the calls, and neither one of us has been available for several days. I apologize to those who didn't hear from me ... I'm doing my best and look forward to getting caught up once Doreen comes home.

More news on steroids in dietary supplements.

I probably receive about a dozen spam e-mails about hoodia every day, so I finally decided to put together a quick Hoodia Gordonii FAQ ... it shares a brief piece of information and then links out to a very comprehensive article at Bodybuilding.com.

A few cautionary articles like this one are circulating about the dangers of overdosing on vitamins. It is ironic because most people fall far short of what they should be getting, yet that doesn't stop people from making hypothetical statements that the media is eager to pick up and hype. For example, in this article, they mention iron as dangerous in large amounts. Absolutely! That's why quality multivitamins leave it out. It then mentions how Vitamin B6 can cause nerve damage. What they fail to mention is that the quantities required are so huge you'd have to eat handfuls of vitamins to get there in most cases. They mention a piece of nutrition software to help monitor levels ... I wonder if it's as powerful as our own nutrition coach?

I'm enjoying the many "myth-busting" articles that are coming out. If you haven't already read our own Gym Mythology then, well, there is the link. Afte that, mosey on over to be further myth-informed. I'm not just posting this because they agree with my own opinion about the best time of day to train or that nutrition is going to manipulate weight far more quickly than exercise alone.

My son still lives in South Dakota where it is cold, cold, cold with a lot of snow to boot. The town we moved from is close to Rapid City, where a sports editor writes about steps taken to make cutting weight safer.

Here's a little twist on the hype over the health benefits of the Mediterranean Diet. Here's my tip for eggs: if you're going to eat the yolk, get free range or grain-fed for a healthier yolk and poach them to preserve the integrity of the fats. If you want to swap out a few yolks, subtitute them with a teaspoon of olive oil. Yum.

Let's get crazy! No, I mean, there's yet another diet craze. Oh, look, it's another magic pill. I'll pass.

If you've ever read about brown adipose tissue or UCP (uncoupling proteins) you'll find this article about traditional role of adrenaline in fat loss challenged interesting. If not, don't worry about it ... you can still enjoy the article without the B.A.T.

The media is still excited to know that you can lose weight over the phone. My clients have been doing it for years. In fact, I've had to yank the phone-based one-on-one consultations because there is no more time to schedule them! I hope to have space open by Christmas so that those of you interested in a new you in the New Year will have that option available ... e-mail me if you'd like to reserve a spot ahead of time.

It appears that money is a good incentive to lose weight as one employer found out.

Here's some good information that less doesn't always mean more fat loss. If you don't read the article, at least read this one sentence: "Mariash is one of many athletes who have learned that thinner doesn't always mean faster or stronger, and that fitness and conditioning don't work well without proper nutrition." I couldn't have said it better myself, so I won't!

Until next time,

After the long weekend, I've got plenty of updates for you to share.

It is always a balancing act to decide just how personal this blog should get. I have to apologize for missing some calls and appointments. All of us have been a little under the weather this week — this unfortunately led to a few visits to the emergency room. Because I make all of my assessment calls personally, there was no one to "fill in!" We're all fine now. My wife is still not feeling 100% but I'm looking forward to her getting some good rest and feeling better tomorrow. A few weeks ago, I shared our excitement at the news that Doreen is expecting. We were a little premature with the announcement as this was not the right time for us and it turned out to be a false start. We feel blessed and know that when and if the time is right, it will happen.

In case you missed it, don't. Check out Weight Loss: How Many Pounds and have a blast. Share it with your friends!

Let's kick off with more evidence that your supplements aren't always what they seem. Sometimes those mass-building pills have more to them than you expect. These athletes aren't concerned about the products they're taking, despite the checkered past of the man who founded the company. Blackhawks (Hockey) coach Trent Yawney isn't surprised about allegations that one-third of the NHL is taking performance-enhancing supplements ... he brushes it off as mere hype and speculation, citing the steroids wouldn't make sense for athletes seeking speed and flexibility. Maybe he's already consulted with the Speed Experts. The Virginia High School League just says, "No," to steroids. Apparently, Xavier said, "Yes."

For Sarah McFarlane, building muscle was just a happy side effect from a bigger cause. She walked 1,750km to raise awareness about mental illness.

The holidays aren't over yet, so don't let them weigh you down. From my own town of St. Petersburg, Florida comes this guide to battling holiday bulge. In Orlando, die-hard fitness fans exercise their right to indulge. So which workout works best? One article provides some tips for fitness gifts. Here are some more ideas (prices in US dollars):

• Lose Fat, Not Faith — from as low as $16.49 for this 300-page paperback
• 10 Fat Mistakes CD — $15.00
• Lose Fat, Not Faith 5-CD Audio Program — $69.99
• Amazing Fat Loss Secrets Revealed 4-CD Set — $59.99 (includes instant audio access)
• Healthy for the Holidays 2-CD Set — $27 (also available as MP3 instant download)
• The entire library (all of the above) — $126.98 (you save $69.99)

You can also give gifts of fitness books and supplements, but I recommend something even more empowering. What about one of our inspirational posters or stretching guides?

The third point in this article on aging well is to take multivitamins. I agree. Read about their importance here. Don't take my word for the quality of the product that I link to ... check it out for yourself in the Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements.

Childhood obesity has tripled since 1980. Hopefully, they will attend one of these school programs that promote fitness for life. Of course, there are always the naysayers who ask, Are we really getting overweight? They must not visit the same public places that I do, or they'd say it's fairly obvious that overweight is an issue. However, is being overweight really a health issue? I believe so, but others aren't quite so certain. Being obese may interfere with the effectiveness of injected medicines, especially for women.

They told you, "The scale lies." But can getting on it help you lose weight? I find it to be a powerful and successful tool with my clients, but Renee says it lies.

Yet another "quick-fix" trend to cut fat: lipotherapy.

A writer questions whether stress makes you fat.

A high-carb diet may increase blood pressure in diabetics. Of course, it may also make the condition worse, since diabetes is a disease linked to blood sugar and insulin. Despite recent studies that indicate the Mediterranean Diet doesn't necessarily make a major impact on girth, some people still say it is the way to go. While it may not help shed pounds, it's apparently good for the heart.

Not sure why you don't like certain foods, and can't stop eating others? A new study says you can blame Mom for her diet influencing your tastes.

Just a quick post ... no alerts or updates here. I just finished coding a page that I think you'll enjoy. After mulling over just what a few pounds of fat means (as per the beginning of Lose Fat, Not Faith where I break down 65 pounds) I decided to build a calculator. I'll add features as they are requested. Right now, it computes equivalents in foods, energy sources, how far you'd be able to drive a car, and more based on how much fat you've lost or will lose. It's a lot of fun ... if you have suggestions of what else you'd like to see, let me know. Here is the link:

Weight Loss: How Many Pounds? How Many Calories?

Jeremy

Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm excited about the meal we will share with my parents. My wife and daughter have been busy baking cookies. The house smells wonderful!

I hope you have a wonderful rest of the week.

It is common for people to tell me that they want to lose weight so they can gain self-confidence. As this story shares, that's a backwards approach. You must first gain the confidence to be satisfied with the physique you build. The transformation starts on the inside, which is why intuitive eating can be so effective, yet is a major challenge for some people to follow.

In a last ditch effort to save you from today's possible excess, here is another healthy for the holidays article. Then you can pick up the 2-CD set here (it's available either as physical CD or as an instant MP3 download).

I hope I've given you a bit more than turkey to chew on. I'll "see" you on Monday!

Warmly,

Cold front blew in last night, lots of wind.

Of course, our "cold front" isn't anything compared to what we used to have in South Dakota. "Cold" here is in the 60s. It means opening the windows and turning off the air.

Has it really been a year? WOW. I can't believe it ... this is what our newsletter looked like one year ago and this is what it looks like today.

For those of you new to reading this, or who just would like to know more about me, check out this candid interview I conducted a few years ago.

Many of you reading this know that the two motivators in life are pleasure and pain. Pleasure seems to motivate addictions, whether it is chocolate, alcohol, or just the few seconds of gratification you get while chomping on a piece of junk food that will leave you in hours of pain from guilt afterwards. Sometimes, the pain is just enough to kick things over the edge. Here is one example: a man decided to start working out at 74, but only after the death of his wife.

Fact or fiction? This article addresses many myths, including holiday weight gain, the total caloric intake people average on Thanksgiving (here's a sobering thought: it would take a 40 mile run to burn off all of the calories consumed on average), and a lot more. For more on the calories you will be eating this Thursday (or have already, in some countries) read this. There's good news, however, because this meal does not have to pack on the pounds. Before it's too late, jump online and receive instant access to the MP3 audios for our Healthy for the Holidays CD set.

After so many articles yesterday talking about how resistance training is not so special when it comes to burning fat, here's one that jumps right in to say lifting weights is king for burning fat.

I also mentioned yesterday that the media is slow to catch on. Jay Robb published the Fat Burning Diet in 1996. Bill Phillip's blockbuster Body-for-LIFE came out in 1999. Both advocate eating several meals throughout the day, spaced between 2 - 4 hours apart. Once again, the media is about a decade late with hype over the 3-hour diet, a book by Jorge Cruise that is bold enough to suggest that low-carb diets ... make you fat! Oh, I have to stop typing until I'm done laughing. Okay, I'm back. Folks, I wouldn't get too excited about this one, but that's just me.

We appreciate your continued support and I personally give thanks for you taking the time to read this.

Warmly,

There's just no excuse for it ... I've had you suffer this long without a search feature! Sorry about that. It's now added, so you can search through this blog. Some of the links may expire (that's the nature of breaking news ... once it breaks, it's broken) but there is still a lot of information to sift through.

It's sometimes hilarious to see how long it takes the media to catch onto trends in the fitness world. For example, one news source claims that functional fitness is a new workout craze. Wow. We were hearing about this years ago ... yet they still think it's new. The article is interesting, even if the topic is old.

Another news item claims to have found the trigger for obesity. Surprise ... overeating leads to a hormone imbalance that leads to being overweight. And leptin is part of it. Again, I'm afraid the scientists are a little late ... we've known about the role of leptin for years now (yes, even what they discovered with their experiments on rats, but we also have to remember that rat metabolism is similar to human metabolism, but not the same.) People still want to pop their hoodia and go to sleep and wake up looking like the next fitness model. Be careful, however ... some of these magic bullest can kill. Fortunately, this time it was elks and not humans, but who knows what the next wonder drug is secretly doing to your insides?

As much as I emphasize the importance of finding quality, pharmaceutical grade supplements, people still insist on buying the cheapest products that cater to the latest fads. It's no surprise that a recent study found that only 13 out of 23 products on the market passed testing by ConsumerLabs (the company I partner with did just fine with their testing ... they are listed here and stand firm behind their million dollar athlete guarantee.

Of course, instead of going for the latest magic bullet, you could always lose weight by setting yourself on fire ... I don't recommend this, but a Hong Kong spa sells this as a service.

Call me stubborn. I've met so many people who have lost hundreds of pounds by making a choice and sticking with it that it's going to be hard to convince me that some magic surgical procedure or weight loss pill is going to do the trick. Even if they DO burn the fat, what is going to keep it off? It's the process of releasing fat that teaches you to live fit and lean. If you take away the process, and wave the magic wand, then you are still the same person and will continue to have the same bad habits that put the fat on in the first place. Suck it up, stop trying to take shortcuts and start your journey!

Want to learn how? Then stop making excuses and do what hundreds have already done ... invest in the weight loss that is not a diet or special training program, but a guide to unlock your inner transformation. I guarantee it ... don't like it? Send it back, and I'll refund the investment. You deserve to try it out, especially this time of year. In fact, why not grab the entire library and save big time? If you already have some of the products, give them to your friends or family who deserve the opportunity to change.

I often sift through reams of "expert advice" that just isn't good advice at all. I was glad to stumble across this bit about lifting weights to burn fat. Will it help? Yes. Will it magically add pounds of muscle and turn your metabolism into a raging inferno that makes the felt melt away in your sleep? NO! You can't rely on weight training alone.

I love this one ... you literally are what you eat ... and who you hang out with! They say if you want to know how successful someone is, look at their closest friends. One of the core philosophies of Natural Physiques™ is that attitude will do more for your figure than a diet plan or training program. Why do you think my clients share that, "It's not a diet ... it's a lifestyle?"

The glycemic index diet is gaining some popularity, but you would do well to take a reality check before diving in head first. Here are my thoughts on the glycemic index in Lose Fat, Not Faith ... use Google's print search to view entire pages of the book (I hope the link works, if not, go to Google Book Search and type in "lose fat not faith glycemic index") ... I've submitted a request to fix the cover.

They say that sex sells, so the latest diet book is trying to sell sex as a weight loss measure. Something tells me that the math doesn't add up: 66% of Americans are overweight or obese, but I bet almost 100% of them have sex, so it doesn't appear to be working as a weight loss tool. In less exciting news, a professors say that simple math is the key to diet success. Aw shucks, wasn't the other one more fun?

I'm happy that gyms are catering to the fitness needs of children. It's needed.

Mary Ryan is a woman I can relate to. She is a fan of healthy, realistic diets. Thanks, Mary. We need these doses of common sense.

You can now add increased risk of broken bones to the growing list of obesity-related problems.

What is your health worth? When people ask for a free assessment with me, they often state that their health is priceless ... yet often they still will not invest just $15 to learn the most common fat loss mistakes (and how to avoid them) or just a little more to stay healthy for the holidays. What steps are you taking? Did you know that the 10 Fat Mistakes CD is available for volume discounts? It can make a great stocking stuffer and you will save big when ordering multiple copies. Even if you're not ready or do not see the value in this, you deserve to at least do a free test drive of our online personal training tool (you can even track your own workouts for free ... no credit card information required).

I hope you are having a wonderful, blessed week. Until next time,

Wow!

Here we are, one week away from a great holiday here in the states.

I am so happy many of you took the time to write and share your comments about the entry I made yesterday. My intention is to integrate my daily experiences with this blog, so that was one I felt would help others. There are many entrepreneurs on this list who probably find themselves in similar situations from time to time. It's okay!

I had a fantastic time this week with my new project. It went well. We are having a great weekend.

Type 2 Diabetes has been a popular topic in the news lately. It seems to go hand-in-hand with obesity. This week, you can read about how a healthy diet and lots of exercise are the key to managing type 2 diabetes (not very many people are brave enough to talk about reversing completely yet).

Doctors now say that nutrition alone could prevent up to 2.5 million deaths from cancer. How's that for a reason to trade the fries for carrot sticks? As you begin to shed the fat, your waistline will do more than decrease. It will also help predict your reduced risk of heart disease. So when you tighten that belt to the next notch, go shopping for smaller jeans or drop that dress size, give thanks for having a healthier heart as well.

For those who still believe the myth that egg yolks should be thrown out because of their cholesterol, read this. I believe it is explained best in The Schwarzbein Principle. If I remember correctly, about 50% of the people who suffer heart attacks have normal cholesterol, and only a small percentage of people actually have their cholesterol go up from eating high cholesterol foods. Some people get high cholesterol eating a no-cholesterol diet because it's saturated fats and carbohydrates that can be turned into cholesterol, not just cholesterol that comes from food. I'm excited to see more people realizing that the cholesterol scare is more about the billion dollar pharmaceutical industry than it is your health. I'm excited that my mother-in-law found one of the best cardiologists in Florida and when her cholesterol started to rise, his advice wasn't to take a drug with horrendous side effects. Instead, it was to get more fish oil in her diet.

For some people, having bypass surgery is a wake-up call to begin living healthy. For others, it's simply a surgery and they go back to their old habits. Unfortunately, when those habits lead to obesity they also create an increased risk of arrhythmia.

Until next time,

Blessed be,

I want to start with an apology for not being consistent this week. I believe the most important part of any type of success is consistency. Fortunately, I also believe in adapting and this week was a new week for us. My wife started a contract that has her out of the house, and I've taken on new projects that have me productive throughout the day, so we had an entirely new schedule this week. Fortunately, we now have worked out all of the little details (who takes our daughter to school, picks her up, etc.) and next week will be far more balanced for me. It is still my intention to provide these updates every day.

Thanks for your patience!

For those of you who subscribe to my Become Your Best Coaching Podcasts, have patience. We pulled the downloads offline because the overhead was enormous. I'm implementing a structure so that you can listen to them for free or download the large files for a nominal subscription rate. It will be no more than a few bucks a download and I'll offer a lifetime subscription as well. This won't impact the controls that allow you to listen online as those do not impact our own bandwidth.

I am also in the process of designing some seminars. They will be in the local area (Tampa) to begin with, but I'm still open to out-of-town venues. If you are in an area that you feel deserves a workshop, contact me and let me know how many people you are willing to help me put in a room and we'll see what we can create together! I'm also interested in whether you prefer a workshop that lasts a few hours and is highly focused, or one that lasts several days and covers as many topics as possible.

I had fun with a mail that I received the other day telling me I am fake and greedy because I sell my products. I was told that if I really care, I should give them away for free in the "true spirit of human giving."

It's an interesting concept, really. I thought about it, and proposed that they ask their boss to stop sending them a paycheck. After all, in the "true spirit of human giving" they should just do the job for free, right? I was also a bit confused at how I would be able to pay the editors, graphic designers, CD manufacturers, printers, credit card service providers, shopping cart software licenses or even the people who host my website. From what I understand, these things are supposed to magically fall into place as I cheerfully hand out CDs by the dozen.

Truth be told, I've done my best to give you access to information ... over 500 articles and frequently asked questions, literally hours of free audio, and more. Forutnately, these e-mails don't get me down. I had a good coach, but the reason I'm bringing this up is not out of frustration over the mail I received, but because it is a timely lesson.

You see, some of you may be in the same boat, where you are frustrated because you feel you can't pay the bills or afford the things you want. Others reading this have incredible gifts and services to provide but feel so guilty about receiving any compensation that you won't grow it into a business.

I only have two pieces of advice to pass on.

First, think about this. Giving is great. I love giving. I don't believe giving should be something I do to receive attention or gain popularity, so I don't write about the donations I make or how I choose to contribute unless I'm hoping you will be involved, too. That's really between me, whoever I'm giving to, and God. Here's something to consider, however. What if everyone I tried to give to said, "NO WAY" and refused to accept what I have to offer? That would put me out of business as a giver. So, understand that giving is only successful when there is a receiving side. The next time someone says, "Let me pay you" or "Here, take this," and you think it's kind or noble or humble to turn them down, realize that you aren't being kind or noble or humble ... you're throwing things out of balance by putting the givers out of business. You say giving is good, but then you don't receive and that means the givers can't give!

Second, I enjoy being able to go to church and tithe. I am grateful that when the hurricanes struck, I was able to donate something. How much more powerful will it be when a $10 donation can become a $100 donation? How much more good will I be able to do in this world if instead of $100 I am able to give $1000? Before you decide that you should be poor and noble, realize that if you truly believe in giving, then you also must believe in success and abundance. By not doing your best, you are taking away what you could otherwise give. Do you understand this? Being abundant isn't about having more and being selfish, it's about producing more than you need so that you can GIVE out of your abundance.

Two simple concepts, but these are very powerful. Many people would rather complain and attack those of us striving to make a difference than take the time to discover how they can create their own success. The person who wrote me complained of their financial situation ... but instead of taking responsibility and asking how to change the situation, they chose to belittle me and ask me to solve their problem for them. Do you think they'd really receive any value from anything I could give to them? I doubt it.

Let's jump into some news.

Here's an interesting concept. Start with the simple question, "Buddy, do you have time to workout?" and then turn it into Buddyfit.

Got a problem with your weights? Ya gotta move 'em to lose 'em! More of our children are catching on ... in fact, more girls are joining high school weight-lifting teams!

Believe it or not, not everyone focuses just on treats and meals during the holidays. There are also a number of events that can help you burn off that holiday flab ... but I'm not talking about the 1-mile walks or 3-mile trots. There are some serious folks who take on serious challenges, like the 50 mile ultramarathon. Here's some food for thought: you might think that you can easily get rid of the extra calories by pounding the pavement. However, a few miles aren't going to do as much as you think ... the average runner burns about 100 calories per mile. That means even 50 miles only burns about 5,000 calories ... which is less than what some people consume every day! Don't get me wrong — moving IS important, it's not the end-all, be-all most people believe it is.

For those of you still looking for the magic diet pill bullet, it just doesn't work as well unless you also exercise and manage your nutrition. What I've found is that if you do those well, you can save your money because you don't need the pills.

You've probably heard that genetics play a role in determining how easy it is for you to gain or lose extra weight. Here's something you might not have realized ... besides affecting your jeans, how you eat might affect your GENES!

Aw, shucks. Despite being a bestseller, the Mediterranean Diet doesn't appear to have much of an impact at all on our size, according to a recent study.

What a mother eats can impact her unborn baby's development. More interesting, however, is that how a mother feels impacts what she eats.

Can we ever grow tired of the holiday tips to stay fit while enjoying the feasts? Nevermind, don't answer that.

Apparently, a new drug that suppresses appetite causes weight loss and improves cholesterol. Guess what? I've found in my years of coaching that the right willpower can do the same! (Did you know you don't need drugs to suppress your appetite? It's true ... just push the plate away. Who's in control, the turkey or you?)

From Montgomery, Alabama: music may help boost fitness results. I like techno and hip-hop for cardio and pure rock for lifting weights, what about you?

I thought I'd heard it all ... but did you know that just dressing 'right' could help you lose weight? Go figure!

W.H.O. says we are not doing enough to fight obesity? That's right ... the World Health Organization has thrown down the gauntlet.

In conclusion, I have one more special gift ... due to my full schedule, I have removed the option from my page to hire me for phone-based coaching. There are no available slots during the day! However, I do have some time in the evenings free ... enough for five individuals who are ready to transform their lives. If you are one of those, take a look at my online coaching services. The second page has my rates. If you are interested in adding 12 phone-based sessions, for a total of 6 hours (that's 30 minutes every week for 3 months) to your program, then purchase the Silver Package and indicate in your order commnents that you'd like phone time as well. I'll give this to the first five people for only $200 extra ... that's $800 off the normal rate!

Those of you who have requested assessments, I will be scheduling them through this weekend and will extend the offer to you as well.

Until next time,

Before you do anything else, check out our latest Lose Fat, Not Faith e-Zine. You'll find some powerful information there, including an update from Ed.

As men age, their fitness needs change. What about women? According to the article, "A woman's aging process is distinguished by particular physiological changes that demand specific workouts, such as resistance training to combat the osteoporosis that often occurs following menopause. But men don't have such definitive markers and may realize they need to change their exercise routines only when they suffer a sprain that takes weeks or months to heal." I'm not sure I agree with this ... what are your thoughts?

Heart rate monitors can help motivate, but they aren't magic. I see too many people feel they must train a specific level or get a certain number on their readout in order to have a good workout. As I share in Measure Your Success, don't get too stuck on one particular method. All of them are simply tools that help paint the bigger picture!

Think you have a handle on healthy eating? Why not test your nutrition IQ?

Even if you don't have diabetes, diabetic recipes are a good fit with everyone's diet ... just don't get too stuck on concepts like the glycemic index. Tom Venuto has a great article about this here.

A chiropractor right here in St. Petersburg offers a special type of adjustment: your diet.

Education about lifestyle changes helps lower risk of diabetes. Aren't you glad you read this?

How about a nice recipe for healthy stew?

So why exactly do protein-rich diets curb hunger and help you feel more full? Researchers think they've found the reason ... and it has to do with the production of sugar in your intestines.

The American diet lacks in essential fatty acids. Find out why.

Here are some simple steps to better bone health.

Runners are finding that online coaching aids their success.

Blessed be,

Scientists have found a "genetic switch" that can make mice skinny. It's not certain whether this information is useful to humans. Mice aren't known to sit down in front of the television with a carton of ice cream when unhappy and to date there are no fast food restaurants that cater to rodents.

No matter how physically fit you are, a poor diet can undermine your efforts.

One of the few "vices" I've held onto is the habit of drinking coffee. I even have some great pictures of my coffee-making equipment. The debate over whether coffee is good, bad, or just ugly continues. The latest study suggests that caffeine in coffee doesn't impact blood pressure, but the caffeine in soda does. Maybe the researchers are focusing too much on caffeine by itself and not taking into account the other chemicals and compounds?

Whether or not you enjoy coffee, unless you are allergic to gluten, try sneaking whole grains into your diet ... or better yet, even if you do have celiac disease, go for the gluten-free varieties.

I'm almost afraid to ask what's inside the special diet sprays that promise to add calorie-free flavor to dishes. Are we so out of control that instead of learning to change our tastes, we have to simply cover them up with chemicals? We're rapidly becoming a world of diet soda, decaf coffee, and alcohol-free beer drinkers ... now we will be dining on unknown synthetic cocktails flavored to taste. Niiiiiiice. I say, skip the chemicals ... and transform your eating habits instead to shed the weight. Want an easy, no-diet approach? Tackle the Five Keys to Healthy Eating.

Some teenagers are fighting obesity ... by starting a club that promotes nutrition.

A new clinic offers four different methods of therapy for eating disorders.

As others continue to debate whether quality multivitamins are important, another study now suggests that high-dose vitamin supplements can reduce risk of a second stroke (imagine how powerful this would be to prevent the first one).

Blessed be,

Is anyone else excited about watching the next episode of Lost? I don't usually watch much television, but there are a few series like "X-Files" and "Sopranos" that grab my attention. Lost is definitely one of my favorites.

Unfortunately, I did not get to see all of the episodes during the first season. It caught my eye a few episodes in as I was channel surfing one evening, and then I only caught a few sporadic nights until we settled in our new home. I've got the Lost: Complete First Season DVD set on my wish list.

It's hardly a coincidence that I find many articles about pregnancy and breast feeding now that I know my wife is expecting. Some of these are very important to understand, however, even for those of you who don't have a little one on the way. For example, research has revealed that a special diet curbs colic, a condition where a baby cries continuously. The special diet eliminates the most common allergens (such as peanuts, milk, wheat, etc.). Now, let's step back for a second because this implies certain foods are causing enough grief that the baby cries continuously. Why do adults, then, constantly ignore their own allergy symptoms by blaming it on everything from colds to being tired to something in the air? Of course, this diet was only tried for a limited period of time and not everyone is convinced it is a cure-all. I still believe more people would benefit from eliminating certain foods for short periods of time to learn what their body may be having adverse (but not necessarily obvious) reactions to.

On the topic of babies, read why doctors were watching an unborn baby's weight. Then see why it's important for expecting mothers to trim the fat before giving birth.

While creatine has been around for decades and is certainly one of the more well-researched supplements, a lot of debate still remains. I participated in an interesting thread about creatine over at the BFFM forums (based on Tom Venuto's best-selling e-Book, Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle. It was a lively and interesting discussion. Bodybuilding.com has a great creatine page ... if you scroll to the bottom, they have a large table that breaks down the cost per gram so you can find the best bargain.

For those of you who struggle with your nutrition, here are eight ways to cheat without wrecking your diet (or so they say). Just don't go overboard, because a healthy diet can lower three heart risk factors that we know of.

Maybe the solution is as simple as eating more slowly and enjoying your food. Or could it be that quantity, not quality, is the issue?

That's it for today. I'm off to mow my lawn!

Blessed be,

It took all of my ability to not focus to finish the run today.

What I mean is that I would have never made the distance if I was focused on the run itself. I finally reached my original goal, and it was quite a push to get there. I reached a milestone last week and thought I was close to my ultimate destination: the Don Caesar Beach Resort. It is just over 2 1/2 miles from my house. I found out today that the milestone I picked was still farther from the Don than I had suspected ... probably about 6 - 8 blocks away when I had assumed only 3 - 4. Still, I made it the distance and was able to turn around and return home for more than a 5 mile run followed by 48 push-ups.

Once I start running more than 3 - 4 miles, I really have to get into a state where I'm not focused on the run at all. It's not really difficult. I guess you could call it runner's high or "in the zone" but to me, it's like walking. Everyone walks, so most people have had the experience of letting their mind drift as they walk. You can do the same thing with jogging. I say jogging because something aggressive like running for me has always meant sort of checking out and focusing on not much more than my breath and each step ... this is what I do in races when I need a more aggressive pace. When I'm just jogging, however, and less concerned about the pace than the distance, I can get into a very comfortable pace and then let my mind drift.

I was reflecting on how much my wife and I have accomplished together ... raising two children and now with a third on the way. We've been to the other side of the world, moved to amazing locations, visited incredible places, taken dives to coral reefs, hiked to the top of mountains, hit the ski slopes, wandered through our nation's capital and had a blast at Disney World. We've learned how to become entrepreneurs. I've become certified and began public speaking, learned how to write a book and produce CDs, and she took on selling real estate.

Whew ... what fun! I can't wait to see what the next few years will bring.

Speaking of fun, ever been to a bodybuilding show? 5,000 people in Kentucky went to a recent event that drew 160 competitors. Not a bad turnout!

One woman I was blessed to meet about five years ago also competed in a bodybuilding show ... and won her pro card! When I met Denise, she was not just in amazing shape ... she was full of positive energy and really helped make the charity event we attended a blast (the organization is no longer around, but it's fun to see the old web page anyway). Now she is a WNBF pro with a new website, UnitedFitness.Org — check it out and let her know Jeremy says, "Hi!"

It's amazing how much people spend on diet books and videos, weight loss centers, and health clubs. 1.6 billion alone is spent on diet books and videos. Again, I don't know about you, but I have a hard time visualizing 1.6 billion, so I like to break it down ... that's the equivalent of 4.3 million PER DAY or $183,000 every hour. WOW! And here I am excited that I've sold a book or two ... apparently, I'm missing a lot of people!

Perhaps you can help. If you feel you received value from Lose Fat, Not Faith, won't you share the link with your friends, family, or anyone else you know who might benefit? Remember, too, that we offer discounts for bulk orders ... so if you know a large group who would benefit, you'll save on the larger purchases. Thanks for all your support. Even if you can't think of someone to share it with or aren't in a position to purchase extra copies, it is a tremendous help to us if you leave your feedback or review to assist others with making an informed decision.

Good job, Australia! Children born in Western Australia can expect to live longer than their parents because they are exercising more and eating better. It helps that they aren't smoking as much, too.

If you are curious about gastric bypass surgery, you can follow the journey of one man who had the surgery at 355 and is now down to 260. It still doesn't compare to Rob Cooper who lost nearly 400 pounds through lifestyle changes alone ... listen to my interview with him.

It's interesting to see how companies and contests change with time. I still recall how excited I was to receive my first certification for finishing the Body-for-LIFE Challenge in 1999 ... and then when I was named a Top 2000 Finisher and given a leather duffel bag that I still cherish to this day. Unlike the old competition, where a panel of judges picked the winner, this year you can vote and decide who takes the championship. It's got to be exciting to know you are a finalist. Some are receiving quite a bit of attention, like Liz Miller, a fitness trainer from Severna Park.

Another female fitness expert, Lisa Druxman, has created a fun opportunity for mothers and babies to have fun while pursuing good health together. It's called Stroller Strides and is an hour-long mother-and-baby workout. I'll have to see if there's one in our local area!

Since we seem to be on the topic of fit women, check out this group from Indianapolis who have been running together for ten years.

If you don't have a baby but are still looking for something fun to do with your fitness, why not try to tango your way to better health?

More and more homes are being built with a room for fitness, or families are scrambling to convert existing space to the local gym. For those who don't have the luxury, learn how to lose weight at work instead.

Unfortunately, being overweight comes with more than health issues. Individuals who are overweight or obese can also become victims of bigotry. Weight gain itself is a complex issue, and can be caused by both physical and emotional problems.

Another reason to take your multivitamins seriously: researchers believe that Vitamin D deficiency may be the reason that the people of Tasmania have a higher rate of multiple sclerosis than those who live on the mainland.

Let's have a phenomenal week!

Blessed be,

Wow, I found some interesting and mixed reviews about What the Bleep do we Know?! Regardless of what people receive from this movie, one point I found fascinating was about The Hidden Messages in Water, or how water freezes in different patterns based on thoughts people are projecting as the water freezes. The question is posed that if our thoughts can do that to water, and our bodies are mostly water, what are our thoughts doing to us?

Power vs. Force raises similar issues and demonstrates how certain ideas can make us weaker or stronger. If you hold a cigarette and have someone push on your arm, it will be harder to resist (you will be weaker) than if you hold an organic apple. Sound strange? Get the book and try the experiment yourself.

I believe these concepts relate directly to what I experienced during my run yesterday. It was the start of the day and I knew the sun would be higher because of daylight savings time. I decided to try it without sunscreen and also see how the heat would affect me.

As I began the run, I started daydreaming about our newest addition. I was also thinking of some milestones I hope to achieve both with my business and also with my programming skills, as I am contracting as well so that Doreen can stay home when the baby is born. These thoughts led to some exciting ideas. As I returned home (I believe my runs are about 4.5 miles now), I realized that the run went smoothly. I did not have to stop, did not feel any strain, and actually came back with a sense of peace and ease.

Then it hit me ... by focusing on positive and loving thoughts, I no longer had to concentrate on my breathing or the heat or other aspects of the run. I started thinking about the examples I mentioned and wondered what it's like for someone to run with thoughts about how overweight they are, or what bills have to get paid, or after watching the news and feeling ill over some violence or tragedy. How do these thoughts drain, and make it difficult to finish the exercise?

I believe they have a major impact. In fact, I had one client share with me that the difference between his plateau and suddenly losing between 1 - 3 pounds per week consistently for several weeks had nothing to do with nutrition or training. We focused on his mind, and his mindset. By taking time to rest, be at ease, and slow down his day, and by learning to manage stress and deal with hectic situations, he was able to create positive thoughts that supported his efforts to train and eat healthy. This, in turn, led to results.

In the end, what are you truly pursuing? Many people focus on activity. Get the run in. Eat the food. Yet this is sometimes not enough. You can go through the motions, but what is really important is productivity. If you focus not on the actions you take, but instead on the results you receive, you can begin to move into a space of faith and dedication that isn't possible when you're just "doing." You want to be and let your actions spring from who you become, rather than forcing them on who you refuse to let go of being. Does this make sense? Can you choose to be a healthy, fit person who exercises as part of their routine, rather than being an unhealthy, tired person who forces themselves to train hoping it will create change? Change must begin within before you'll start to see the results without.

That change can begin right now, even before we step into the holidays. Many of you are selling out by saying, "I'll start next year, after Christmas." The change can happen right now if you truly want it ... if you are procrastinating, ask yourself what is going to change about your mindset in January that you can't already change right now? It only takes an instant to make the decision. It doesn't mean you have to give up vacation or holiday meals, it means you can tackle those with a sense of piece and enjoy them as a healthy person. To start the process, here are some healthy holiday hints.

Want to know a good strategy for living a long, healthy life? Try following the Centenarian's diet ... or what people who live to be 100 or more share is the key to their longevity. Some go so far as to say that successful aging is all in the diet. I believe exercise plays an important role as well.

Health is really about mind, body, and soul. Often, we focus so much on the body that we forget to exercise the mind, which is also very important. You can flex your mental muscle at this site that features puzzles, games, and illusions.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Blessed be,

Thank you all for the kind feedback about our latest news. I really appreciate the love, prayers, and congratulations!

I guess it's only appropriate to start the day with an article about baby nutrition!

I'm excited about the monthly e-Zine that will come out next week. I just spoke with guest columnist Ed Orlowski. Ed has had some rough times personally yet still has some great success to share. You'll read about that in the newsletter.

I am also looking for good, quality content to post to the site. I haven't added many articles lately simply because I haven't found ones that I felt adhere to our standard of quality. There are a few that I am deciding if they should go in the e-Zine or on the site, so if you submitted something and it hasn't gone up yet, that may be why. We accept submissions from all authors, but reserve the right to only post those that we feel are in line with our natural approach to health and wellness and provide quality to our readers.

In news today, there is a growing concern that steroids are becoming more common in youth sports. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) points out how easy it is for youth to purchase steroids online.

Teenagers who face a different problem (how to lose the fat) can go to after school camps with a focus on weight loss.

Diet plus exercise equals longer life, says this article. Another story shares that you can exercise, have a healthy diet and still enjoy life. We agree ... in fact, what I've found is my clients enjoy life much more after they truly embrace a healthy lifestyle. It's just the process of tearing out old habits and creating new ones that can be painful ... and learning how to keep it balanced.

Remember that losing weight is often as simple as tweaking habits ... with my own coaching, for example, I often follow my client's diet for weeks and simply provide feedback about simple changes and substitutions, rather than having them suddenly jump on a diet that is completely different and rather extreme.

If you're depending on your doctor for nutrition and exercise advice, you might want to rethink your strategy. Doctors aren't always trained specifically on nutrition or exercise. You'll want to find the right diet doctor for that information.

Her loss is really a gain ... one woman dropped 185 pounds and has maintained that for over a year.

The key to lose 10 pounds in 30 days is not to diet. I agree ... it's more about transforming your behaviors. If you like sports, consider losing weight like an athlete with a sports-specific program.

Craving something sweet? Try the Louisiana sweet potatoe and load up on good nutrition.

We've read about obesity and diabetes, inflammation, and cancer. We've mentioned these links before, but it is very important that people realize extra fat isn't just about appearance. Being overweight also significantly increases a person's risk of developing myeloid leukaemia according to an Australian study. There are other cancer risks linked to obesity as well. As these disturbing facts are brought to light, childhood obesity is growing and not just in the United States.

Thanks to our reader Lance from Wales, WI who shared this article about what local schools are doing for their part in tackling childhood obesity.

Got lead? People paying $38 for a product "made in the USA" that is actually imported from China may be getting an unhealthy dose of lead.

You're never too old to make an impact on your health, as a group of seniors in Hampton have found.

Many of you are already enjoying our absolutely free online training solution ... you can load your workouts, track them, enter your weight, heart rate, and other vitals, even access a 3-dimensional exercise library, and all at absolutely no cost. If you would like the system to develop workouts for you and give you access to our nutrition coach, you can try out the first 14 days free and then it's just the cost of two movie tickets a month. Check out the packages available and pick the one that works for you!

Blessed be,

I've been a little out of sorts lately.

And there's a good reason.

While it's early in the game and we still need further confirmation, we might as well let the cat out of the bag. Our family is due for a visit from a stork. We found out this week that Doreen is pregnant!

Alyssa is excited to be a big sister. Gordon doesn't know yet because we usually speak with him on the weekends ... it will be an interesting birthday gift for him to hear. Doreen and I are amazed, as this was not planned by us ... but it is certainly part of God's plan for us! We feel blessed with this miracle.

Whew!

So, needless to say, I've been a little ... scattered in the mind this week.

Getting back my focus, I want to once again thank those of you who have taken the time to provide feedback about our products and services. I would love to hear from anyone who is currently taking advantage of the free online workout tracking we offer online. I enjoy the system but it's not about me ... it's about you and if you find this to be a valuable tool. If you haven't already, sign up (it's 100% free to try it out) and let me know how it goes for you!

I also received more feedback about the 10 Fat Mistakes CD and the Amazing Fat Loss Secrets Revealed 4-CD Set ... I appreciate you!

One of my clients who signed on for a one-on-one consultation with me asked about fitness testing and what tests make sense. I've already shared with you the concept of synchronicity, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that this article was recently posted about the benefits of testing your VO2 Max.

For those mothers who are breastfeeding, read this about the importance of what you are doing for your child!

My good friend Jesse Cannone shares an amazing 13-minute workout. Be sure to listen to the awesome interview I did with his partner, Steve Hefferon (click the link for the interview) as it is loaded with information about pain management and prevention, with a specific focus on lower back pain.

The dairy industry gets a big plug with the claim that adding milk can help you keep muscle and lose more fat. I personally feel that's more a function of your overall nutrition and training, so don't be disappointed if you start drinking milk or eating yogurt and don't experience a sudden surge in fat loss.

One of the supposed markers for aging is inflammation. Many diseases are related to inflammation in one form or another. Part of why I take a pharmaceutical grade grapeseed extract daily is because of the studies that support that it naturally manages inflammation. Now, new studies report that fat causes inflammation as well, another reason to trim the excess.

Our winter vacation was originally going to be in Colorado. We've experience so much change recently that we moved it to Hollywood, Florida to be closer to home. However, if you are planning to hit the slopes this winter, be sure to get your body ready. Be sure to also pay attention to nutrition for the slopes. And don't forget that the fitness trainers we partner with for our online personal training can also provide you with a custom routine to prepare for the black runs.

I've known many people who have completely reversed all effects of diabetes through nutrition and exercise. It obviously is not the same for everyone, and regulations say that you cannot state a disease is ever "cured" or that a particular diet and exercise program can cure it. That's all good and well, but researchers at Bringham Young University are now saying it out loud: Lifestyle changes like diet and exercise may not only prevent type 2 diabetes but may reverse it. Now isn't that good news?

Look for a superfood full of nutrition to eat? Try mixing salmon and pomegranates.

Okay, I think that's a wrap for now ... we will be discussing tips for nutrition and exercise during pregnancy in our weekly newsletter tomorrow.

Blessed be,

Yesterday was a cool and rainy day here. It actually felt quite nice. The rain was soft so we kept the windows open and felt the breeze come through the house. My daughter is excited today because she gets to go swimming at the pool for her activities at school. They rotate sports every few weeks.

I received some exciting news from Tom Venuto yesterday. If you're not familiar with Tom Venuto (the link goes to an interview I had with him), he is the author of the best-selling fitness e-Book, Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle. Tom has a very big heart and has made a tremendous impact on the industry. One online group in support of his book has thousands of members because it has truly impacted so many lives.

I feel very honored to have my article published in his recent newsletter. If you don't subscribe, I recommend it as a source of very valuable information in addition to what we provide through Natural Physiques™.

Speaking of that information, did you know that strong bones are a major part of your overall health? Fortunately, the same training that strengthens your muscles and builds mass is also the type of training that can help strengthen your bones. Read more about strong bones here.

When training, it's important to understand that your body also needs time to heal. Adoptiong an all-or-nothing mindset can lead to injury. That's why I wrote I Can, I Can't and spent an entire track discussing this on the Become the Journey CD, because it's so important to learn how to balance exercise and fitness with everything else.

If you've been called a "muffin-top" and don't know what it means you'd better check out this article.

Remember to look at the big picture ... exercise is important, but your body takes its shape through diet, not just activity. On the other hand, cutting calories alone won't eliminate your gut.

This teenager lost 117 pounds ... so if you are still procrastinating, what's your excuse?

What if that teenager was your child? Advice for parents with overweight kids. If you live in Casper, Wyoming, you can also look into this program that teaches kids about nutrition and exercise.

The center of a fit body is a stable core. Once you're convinced that a stable core is important, check out our core and abdominal training article.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) just released some shocking statistics. They estimate a full 1 in 10 (10%) or 100,000 cases of cancer per year (that's almost 300 every day) could be avoided if overweight and obesity didn't exist. That means losing weight is about a lot more than just looking good on the beach! In other cancer-related news, it appears that protein helps Vitamin E fight cancer. This protein suppresses prostate cancer while enhancing Vitamin E's cancer-fighting ability.

Blessed be,

Trick or treat!

We had a fun time last night. My daughter dressed as a ballerina. Mom and Dad (that's Doreen and I) just went as, well, parents. We went through our own neighborhood first ... in our location, there are a lot of retirement communities and seasonal rentals, so there were only a few homes to visit but we had fun and met our neighbors. Then, we drove to my parents' neighborhood. They have quite a few families there and just going on one street was enough to wear us out. Some people were quite creative will full graveyards set up next to their driveway, ghosts hanging from the trees and bats with red eyes flying around.

Today, we have a bowl full of candy but I can guarantee it won't all get eaten, but we'll enjoy a few morsels. Yes, Mom and Dad do enjoy the occassional treat so we allow a few pieces of candy per day and then after a few days the rest gets donated or tossed. That's our philosophy.

So here we are, the first day of November! Thanksgiving is just around the corner, but there's no need to wait to give thanks. What can you give thanks for today? I have many things I am grateful for and hold those thoughts in my mind with thanks and gratitude throughout the day.

Here's an interesting note of hope for today ... a diet high in cabbage may help prevent breast cancer. I never liked cabbage but it's a favorite of my wife's.

In case you're not getting enough fiber, it's not just for old-timers. Fiber fights disease, lowers cholesterol, and has many other benefits. The easiest way I found to increase fiber in my diet (while tackling the recommended servings of vegetables as well) was to bring in a big bag of frozen veggies and consume the entire bag throughout the day.

I can't believe some of the crazy diets that people come up with. How about losing a dress size in a week on the three-apples-a-day diet? Please, how about losing strength, water weight, and muscle mass as well? Three apples? If you want to do something like that, at least consider getting a variety of nutrients by eating nothing but raw fruits and vegetables or going on a juice fast.

So what's the big deal with salt? This is a common question. People want to know if it will keep them from losing weight. I always shake my head, because so many people are more concerned with a number on the scale than their over all health. Instead of always asking, "Will this help me lose weight?" why not ask, instead, "Is this beneficial to my health?" In the case of salt, it's not, and reducing added salt can reduce high blood pressure and help maintain it for those who have normal blood pressure.

Here's one creative teacher's way to keep Halloween healthy ... a Halloween obstacle course.

If your appetite is getting the best of you, consider adding protein ... it helps control hunger according to studies.

I'm often asked why I don't advocate losing, say, 7 - 10 pounds per week when it's done on the popular weight loss television shows. Here's a great answer to the question.

The news is tired of focusing on obesity, so lately all of the articles have been about childhood obesity, like this one that focuses on moving more and following proper nutrition as the solution. From Australia, we find that teens who eat meals at home with their family are less likely to be overweight. I can attest to that ... I know exactly what my son likes to buy when he's out with his friends, and it's not what's for dinner at home!

If you're considering human growth hormone, read this article that explains why many of the anti-aging claims fall a bit short.

Have a safe, healthy, and abundant November!

Blessed be,