Consider This Before You Want to Lose Fat

I probably shouldn't even be telling you this but...losing fat is not going to be easy.

You might be thinking to yourself, "great, even this personal trainer, who is trying to sell me on training with him is telling me that it's not going to be easy".  Well, it's the truth.

You may visit other sites that shout about how easy it is to lose weight, they entice you to believe that they have the magic solution...only if you do their special diet, or use their fitness gadget.

Losing fat may not be comfortable, enjoyable, or easy.  I've never had a client tell me that she eats only lean proteins, veggies, fruits, nuts, and some simple carbs, yet she can't keep the weight off.  Nor have I had a client tell me that he trains consistently 4-6 days a week and really pushes himself, yet he can't seem to keep the fat off.

So now you might be thinking that this Stephen guy is a jerk...and "my situation is different".  I'm here to tell you that your body responds to hard work and structured eating.  I don't make up the rules.  Anyone who tells you that losing fat is going to be easy is lying.

Rebel Against Fast Food And Fast Life

Photo by: ichiro kishimiI just read this over at Leo Babauta's Zen Habits.

"Our hectic, fast-paced, stressful, chaotic lives — the Fast Life — leads to eating Fast Food, and eating it quickly. This is a lifestyle that is dehumanizing us, making us unhealthy, stressed out, and unhappy. We rush through our day, doing one mindless task after another, without taking the time to live life, to enjoy life, to relate to each other, to be human. That’s not a good thing in my book. Instead, rebel against that entire lifestyle and philosophy … with the small act of eating slower. Don’t eat Fast Food. Eat at a good restaurant, or better yet, cook your own food and enjoy it fully. Taste life itself."

This really rings true with me.  I see many of my clients, and myself included, rushing in just about everything. This is a great reminder on how to approach life.

More on Acai

I posted here about the acai scam with the supposed fat loss benefits.

Well today I found that Emergen-C now offers a version with acai.  I read the package, but can't find how much.  Just food for thought.

CrossFit Pasadena

I notice that many people find my site from doing a Google search for "CrossFit Pasadena".  I love CrossFit and have been doing it for a little over since 2008.  I also have my Level 1 Certification from CrossFit...but I do not conduct group classes in the CF format.  I was accepted as an affiliate of CrossFit, but did not renew my affiliation.

I use CrossFit techniques with my Boot Camp Pasadena clients, but include other techniques as well.

Here are some CrossFit affiliates that are close to the Pasadena area. (These are from the www.crossfit.com site, and I am not endorsing any of them as I do not know them personally).

Monrovia-http://www.crossfitmonrovia.com/

Hollywood-http://www.crossfithollywood.com/

If you want to search further, check out the main affiliate site here:http://www.crossfit.com/cf-affiliates/

Update November 2011

Wow, CrossFit has now grown a lot here in the Pasadena,CA area.

There is CrossFit 626 in South Pasadena.

CrossFit Pasadena

CrossFit Crown City

and CrossFit North Pasadena


Pasadena Marathon Cancelled

Event Organizers Cancel Race Due To Poor Air Quality
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We regret to inform you that we have been compelled to cancel today's Kaiser Permanente Pasadena Marathon as a result of the significant wildfires in the Los Angeles area and resulting unsafe air quality.  Pasadena Forward's decision was made in consultation with the Kaiser Permanente Medical Team and the City of Pasadena.   Please know that it was extremely difficult to arrive at this decision, and we know that this is a disappointing outcome for all of us who have worked so hard for this inaugural event.  However, the only appropriate response to this emergent situation, given that the safety and well-being of our participants is  at the forefront of our concerns, was to cancel. Over the next several days, we will hold discussions to determine appropriate next steps.  Once concrete plans have been developed, updates will be posted at www.pasadenamarathon.org.  All registered participants will also be notified via email of all important updates.   Thank you for your support and patience as we work through this challenge.  We hope you are safe and well.

Israel Estrada
Executive Director, Pasadena Forward
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Pasadena Marathon May Be Cancelled Due to Fires

9:40 pm PST

Just read that the Pasadena Marathon may be cancelled due to the fires in our area.

The Pasadena Marathon site has this to say:

"We are in consultation with air-quality experts, as well as health and fire officials, to determine if last-minute adjustments to our event must be made as a result of fires burning locally. If the event must be cancelled due to poor air quality, this determination will be made at 4:00 a.m., and all persons who are signed up for our newsletter will receive a notification to this effect. We thank you for your support and patience. "

Daniel Craig in Quantum of Solace Opens Today

I'm often asked about the workouts and diets of celebrities.  Today Quantum of Solace opens so people are curious about Daniel Craig's training and diet.

I searched the web and found speculative stories about what he ate and how he trained, but I haven't seen a definitive article from his trainer, Simon Waterson.

If I was training Daniel Craig, I'd have him do a CrossFit style workout, like I do with some of my more fit clients.  This type of training produces a lean and efficient look, rather than a bulky and slow body builder look.

Here's my version of a 007 workout:

Set up 5 stations...you'll go for one minute straight at each station with no break between stations...once you've completed all 5 stations, then take a 1 minute rest....your workout is finished when you have competed 3 rounds. (Note, these are the exact exercises that I give my boot camp clients.)

Station 1: Rowing or jump rope

Station 2: L-pull ups (think pull-ups, but with your legs straight and up at waist level...keep em there)

Station 3: 20lb medicine ball toss (10 feet high)

Station 4: Air squats

Station 5: Push ups

For his lean eating program I'd choose a Zone based plan with a Paleo emphasis.

Plenty of sleep, and at least one massage per week.


 

 

Don't Fall for The Acai Fat Loss Scam

You may have seen some supposed "blogs" or ads that say "Hi I'm Amy and I lost 50 pounds using acai."  I wrote about this back in 2005, but the scam has returned.  In creating this post I also saw a scam that says "acai is a scam, so buy my hoodia".  How do you like that?  One scammer bashing another.

First of all you should know that if it sounds to good to be true, it probably is.  Think about it.  Does it sound realistic that you would lose weight by drinking berry juice?

Image courtesy:www.belavista-rio.com

Ever since I tried acai in Rio many years ago, I really liked it.  It has a strange, almost chocolatey taste, plus I believe that there may be some antioxdants in the acai berry that are helpful too.

I have an acai shake almost every weekday.  You can see the video that I made of me making my acai shake.

I usually buy my frozen acai at Whole Foods.  If you are trying to stay lean I'd suggest that you get the acai that comes in the purple package...as it has no added sugar.

So enjoy your acai, but know that you are drinking it for good health...and not fat loss miracles.

If you'd like to receive email updates about scams like this, sign up here.  You'll receive tips and strategies that really work, unlike lot's of the B.S. that floats around the internet.

Bodyweight Training Exercises

As I've gotten older, I've found that I do a lot more bodyweight exercises.  Lot's of pull ups, push ups, and lunges/squat activities.

I've noticed that I still get a great pump, plus I love the "natural" look of a more athletic body rather than that of a bulky body-builder.

I just ordered the Universal Strength Apparatus to increase the variety in my training.  Here's a short video of what I'm talking about.

Healthy Halloween Strategies

Headlines likes the one above get on my nerves.  You see this type of headline all the time during the holidays.

So you want to know my SECRET Healthy Halloween Strategy?  It's have a blast and eat some candy.

That's right.  I said it.  Get real.  Eating candy is what this event is all about.

I encourage you to have a blast.  Eat those "forbidden" things.

One day won't kill you.  The real problem is what you do the other 6 days this week...and the other 3 weeks during the month, and the rest of the year.

Don't fool yourself into thinking that you need to do special things on this day.

If you aren't already eating clean and healthy foods, you need to change your LIFE...not one day.

Happy Halloween.