Diet

Have you ever heard the saying “a lazy man works twice”? It’s ironic, but we often end up doing twice the work by trying to take shortcuts in life.

When it comes to fitness, dieting is number one on the shortcut list. Most people think you should be able to physically “work” the weight off without dieting. No matter how much I encourage people to work as hard on their eating as they do in the gym; some people just have to learn the hard way.

This experience is most obvious during intense training like our Boot Camp program. Most of our boot campers have never worked as hard as they do during Boot Camp. When you’re working that hard you expect results - and when you don’t get them you are devastated. Besides, you put in the same energy as the girl next to you who seems to be dropping weight by the minute. The difference is you are trying a shortcut and your shortcut isn’t working.

Most people are overwhelmed when it comes to dieting. So much so, many would just prefer to be told what to do. That’s why diets are so tempting. Regimented diets tell you what to eat so you don’t have to think.

I refer to this type of step-by-step diet program as the “ABC Diet”. This is when a diet program gives you a list of things you can and cannot eat. At first, this seems like the logical plan, but eventually the limited selection gets old.

Diet and exercise is not hard but it takes time. Unfortunately time is not something most people have a lot of. Ironically, people end up wasting a lot of time because they don’t manage their time wisely. They spend too much time doing one thing, not enough time doing important things, or wasting time doing anything and everything but the right thing. When people feel as though their effort does not match their results, they give up.

I want to encourage you! Here are three simple steps to help you make the most of your time.

Have you ever wondered what Sumo wrestlers eat to look the way they do? Recently, out of curiosity, I decided to do my own research and I was shocked at my findings. The Sumo diet looked a little too familiar.

First, Sumo wrestlers typically eat only two times a day, skipping breakfast to keep their metabolism low. This is also a common practice in America. Whether it’s a lack of time or appetite, many people skip breakfast. I don’t know about you, but the next time I’m tempted to skip breakfast I’ll picture myself as a Sumo wrestler.

The next rule for the overweight athlete is to nap after eating. Their secret to gaining weight is to sleep for at least 4 hours after each meal. Although most American’s don’t take 4-hour naps, we typically return to our office chair with little activity.

In recent years, there has been a major drift in both the trends of chronic disease states and the causes of death in the United States.¹ These changes reflect differences in lifestyle and behavioral choices. The major causes of death are not due to cancers or car accidents, but rather the poor management of habits that can lead to lifelong health problems such as heart disease and diabetes. A few examples of these bad habits are smoking, poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, and excessive alcohol consumption.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) tracks trends of health-related behaviors and risks, with two public surveys: the telephone-based Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and the interview-based National Health Interview Survey. Data collected from the BRFSS survey is compiled to create the Selected Metropolitan and Micropolitan Area Risk Trends (SMART) report. All data collected allows the CDC to identify problems in specific communities and allocate resources purposely.

The easiest way to cheat on your diet starts out innocently enough. It’s a colleague’s birthday, an anniversary, or a night out with friends. You’re at a restaurant, and all of the dishes just look so good. How can you avoid the tantalizing pasta or sizzling sirloin and stick with a boring salad?

Don’t be miserable while your friends indulge. Order what you want, but avoid the hundreds of extra calories prepared foods will cost you. Order the HALF SIZE portion.

So, you did it – you finally busted through that frustrating plateau, achieved a new personal best, or fit into those skinny jeans. That’s great, but the battle isn’t completely over – you’ve got to maintain your new physique. Unfortunately, that’s a lot easier said than done over the holiday season. Everyone complains about the binge-friendly family celebrations, calorie-laden holiday treats, and booze-heavy office parties, but it’s time to do something about it. This year, take control of your eating habits – and chances are, you’ll have an even more memorable holiday.

1. Stay active! Of course you’ll pack on a few pounds if you overindulge in homemade sweets and spend a ton of time in front of the tube. Yet tons of normally fit, active people fall prey to this cruel holiday tradition each year. Just because your routine is a bit different doesn’t give you an excuse to skip the gym. By setting a schedule – and sticking to it – you’re setting yourself up for success. With time off work, you may even be able to fit in MORE gym sessions. Go for a run while cooking a side dish, or while the prized Thanksgiving turkey roasts. Make a deal with yourself that you will squeeze in one hour of physical activity per day.
2. Involve the whole family. Visit a farm and chop down your own Christmas tree. You can start a new tradition and get exercise walking around and inspecting all the different pines. Take a weekend ski trip, or just visit the local ice rink. Even if your family members have health complications or problems that prevent them from partaking in more high-impact sports, you can always try to take a walk around the neighborhood (caroling, anyone?). After all, every little bit counts!

We’ve discussed the benefits of raw food before, but I’d like to devote a little more time to the raw food movement. The push to eat all-natural, unprocessed, organic foods has taken hold of many dejected dieters. Unlike other fad diets, in which the weight piles back on the second you stop dieting, the raw food diet is a movement and a lifestyle change.

The next time you’re desperately trying a new diet or attempting to quench a craving with a quirky trick, remember this: no matter what lengths you go to in order to lead a healthy lifestyle, there’s always someone who’s even crazier than you. Food for thought:

• Julia Roberts eats on only blue plates in her home. Research has demonstrated that the color blue is an appetite suppressant.

How does “The Hills” star Lauren Conrad stay so slim? One of her secrets is the food she buys. Laguna Beach alum LC was recently spotted at Whole Foods Market in Los Angeles, making her weekly grocery pickup.