Weight Loss

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.

Do you despise dieting? Is it hard for you to control your cravings day after day? If so, you may be a good candidate for the Alternate Day Diet, described by Dr. James Johnson in his 2008 book. On Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, you can indulge yourself in absolutely anything. But on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, you stick to a strict regime of low-fat yogurt, lettuce, fruits, and veggies.

The Alternate Day Diet is based on animal studies in which mice who were only fed every other day experienced incredible health benefits, including increased longevity. Since it would be difficult/dangerous for humans to do the same, instead of not eating, Dr. Johnson proposes that you ‘nibble.’ A typical M/W/F diet for him includes a protein shake, a salad, broth-based soup, and a piece of fruit – and that’s all you eat for one entire day. He takes in about 20% of his typical caloric intake on his dieting days. However, once you’re in the maintenance phase, you can eat about 30-50% of typical intake on your MWF dieting days.

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.

What it Takes to Lose the Weight and Keep it Off

The government estimates that $33 billion is spent on weight loss products and services each year. That is a lot of money, but with all that dough going towards losing weight, why are we still seeing rising numbers in obesity every year? Maybe the money is going in the wrong places. Fad diets and gimmicks are too numerous to count these days and without the right education on how your body responds to nutrition how are you to know what is going to work for you or what is healthy for your body?

Never fear, Lauren is here to help. First, I want to make sure that if losing weight is a goal of yours, you will always put health as your number one. You should never try to lose weight at the expense of your health. This means putting harmful stimulants into your body, not eating appropriate amounts of food, or trying to lose too much weight. A healthy approach will always turn out to be more beneficial than any superficial or overboard attempt.

The weather is cooler, the leaves are changing and with all the beautiful scenery there are breathtaking hiking trails waiting to be discovered. Fall is a great time to lace up your hiking boots and get trekking. Not only will you get your body moving to help shed off (or ward off) the holiday weight gain, but it will also give your mind the chance to unwind and enjoy the beauty of nature.

Hiking can burn between 350-600 calories an hour depending on the hills involved and any weight you may be carrying on your back. At this rate, adding an enjoyable hike three times a week to your routine can help you drop one pound every two weeks. Hiking is also great for building muscle and toning your hamstrings, quads, glutes, and calves. Your cardio and endurance will improve as you push yourself through the winding path, and your core will get its fair share of work from the uneven surfaces. You can even get your arms in on the action by using light weight hiking poles. All in all, hiking is a great total body workout to condition your body and mind.

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!

Let’s take a moment and talk about plateaus. If you’ve ever experienced one – and the odds are, you have – you know that it’s just about the most frustrating and dangerous thing that could happen to a fitness plan. Maybe you’ve lost a little (or a lot) of weight, but you still have more to go. Maybe you are starting to see clear definition, week by week, in your abs or arms, but then suddenly, everything seems stagnant. For weeks, the scale, tape measure, or BMI calculator doesn’t budge. It may be driving you crazy, but rest assured that this happens to everyone. Many a dieter has fallen prey to plateaus, feeling their attempts to get stronger or leaner are futile, but it is essential that you kick start your fitness routine. Here is some information from fitness experts to keep in mind the next time you find yourself on a plateau with no clear end in sight.

Traveling can be tough for dieters; convenience store junk food, the infamous airline snack box, and combo meals all add up to a diet disaster.

There is something about traveling that makes us think we’re hungry. Let’s start with road trips. I don’t know about you, but Steve and I have the worst snack attacks when driving long distances. Although the need to feed mostly stems from boredom, the million billboards showcasing juicy hamburgers don’t help either.

Once a billboard convinces you to stop and eat, you find yourself driving down an unknown road with restaurant after restaurant calling your name. Taco Bell, McDonald’s, Denny’s, Dairy Queen, Applebees – they all have a special, or menu item, to capture your attention.