3/1/2008

Pants Lie

I came to a harsh and startling realization the other day: my pants have been lying to me. I know it's hard to believe, but pants are liars. Big fat liars. I suspect dresses are liars too, but I have no first hand experience with dresses (why? what did you hear?)

No long ago when I started my 4 Minute Fat Loss program, I asked all of the participants to take measurements. For they guys, it was the waist I was interested in, for the women it was waist and hips. So after one guy didn't email me with his measurements I asked him during the session.

"So what is your current waist measurement" I asked as I set up the workout.

"36" he replied quickly. The answer didn't seem right. I have been at this game a while, so I know when certain numbers sound fishy.

"You used a measuring tape?" I asked.

"No, but my pants are a 36."

There it was, so I told him "Go home and use a measuring tape"

I got an email later that evening that he actually measured and his waist was in fact 42 inches.

I'm sure he thought what I thought: How can that be? The pants said 36! That's when it really hit me: Pants are liars. I asked my other 4 minute Fat Loss guys what size pants they usually wore, and they all answered 36. But each of them had actual waist measurements of 40-42 inches.

So I decided to do a little experiment. I will say that I do not wear long pants all that often. You see I have big legs, and have always had big legs so it is hard to find pants that fit right. But it's usually pretty warm here, and even when it isn't I can get away with shorts 90% of the time.

it just so happens that I wear a size 36 pants, so I took my 36 inch jeans (the finest jeans Old Navy has to offer) out of my closet and measured them. Here is the actual tag.

These jeans are freshly washed, and not stretched from wearing. I put the tape measure up to them and this is what I got:

I know that is a little hard to see so let me zoom it in for you.

Now I think I was being generous as I did not full stretch them out as if one was to wear them, and even then it measured at 19 inches. Now do a little math and multiply that by two and you have the circumference. The result is 38 inches. I think I could have probably squeezed out another inch or two if I was to yank on them a bit. The only good news for me is that these pants are loose on me, so that is something.

So what does this mean? It means clothing manufacturers are trying to make us feel better by giving us smaller numbers on our clothes.

I expect politicians to lie to me, but not my attire. Pants lie. Dresses lie. Tape measures do not.

The Bottom Line: Do not believe everything you wear.

Joshua Carter The Body Transformation Expert Carter Fitness http://carterfitness.com 818-337-6175

PS: If you want to make your real numbers smaller, shoot me an email.

You Turn Your Back For One Minute...

I had to stop by my West Hills facility the other day to pick up some of the new shirts that had just come in. I had my youngest boy Nate (not yet 2) in tow. It was something like 2pm, so no one was training and the gym was deserted. Nate had been there many times so I let him loose with the physio balls- no problem right?

As I am unpacking the shirts I hear "Up high Daddy, up high."

"Yeah, ok Nate." then I turned around. YIKES!

Like any father I had a sudden influx of fear and pride. Fear of what his mother would say when she inevitably finds out, and of course pride - not even 2 years old and he climbed a stack of barbells! Camera always ready I snapped the shot and lowered him to (relative) safety.

For the record that is his "I know I'm doing something wrong but I am doing it anyway" smile.

Damn kids.

Joshua Carter The Body Transformation Expert Carter Fitness http://carterfitness.com 818-337-6175

Eat This, Not That

I don't usually do book reviews, but this one really impressed me. A few weeks back I found myself watching the Today Show, which is a rarity for me. They were doing a segment on "Eat This, Not That". And just as the name suggests, they were going over how to make better food choices at familiar restaurants.

How cool! So I hopped on to Amazon.com and within a a few days I was the proud owner of "Eat This, Not That" by David Zinczenko. It is based on the Men's Health magazine column of the same name, but goes into much more detail. Not only is it well written it is chock full of pictures of the cuisine in question.

What's even cooler is that they compare apples to apples (figuratively speaking). So when a normal suggestion would be eat the salad not the burger, "Eat This Not That" says eat THIS burger, not THAT burger. It tells you calories and fat in each choice, and gives you the total caloric savings. And it does this for countless restaurants and menu options. It also has a holiday eating section, for example, a good Thanksgiving dinner vs. a bad one. The list of the 20 worst foods in America is not to be missed.

Some Cool Facts: (from MSNBC)

• BURGER KING doesn’t want you to know that a BK Big Fish Sandwich and fries have a whopping 1,000 calories—nearly half your daily caloric intake! (Fish is usually healthy, but not this kind. Find out why on page 39.)
• AT McDONALD’S, an Egg McMuffin is actually a healthy choice, with just 300 calories. (The Hotcakes pack more than double that amount!)
• AT KRISPY KREME, all you need to do is order the Very Berry Chiller instead of the Mocha Dream Chiller, and you’ll save 500 calories? (Do that once a week and you’ll drop more than 7 pounds this year—without trying!)
• Outback Steakhouse's Aussie Cheese Fries, at 2,900 calories, is the single worst food in America. (Start your own investigation on page 6.)

This book is aces in my book for many reasons.

1) It gives practical, relatable advice.

2) It is clear and concise.

3) It has pretty pictures.

Bottom line is that it is a fun and easy read, and has information that can benefit all of mankind. Well, maybe not ALL of mankind. But certainly those of us who like to eat, sometimes too much, and sometimes the wrong things.

You can pick up your own copy by clicking HERE

Joshua Carter The Body Transformation Expert Carter Fitness http://carterfitness.com 818-337-6175

Germs PSA

This information could save your life.

(This wil open in your browser)

Joshua Carter The Body Transformation Expert Carter Fitness http://carterfitness.com 818-337-6175

Do Your Kids Exercise?

A recent study from the University of Washington showed that more and more 2-year olds are regularly watching television. This sets the stage for a sedentary life with an increased risk for obesity and heart disease.

Now that last statement wasn't from the study - that was my own prediction.

But really, the statistics don't lie – a study done at Johns Hopkins concluded that a child's weight increases with the number of hours they spend in front of the television each day.

Are you cringing yet? What parent hasn't popped in a DVD to occupy the kids for a few hours?

And what about your child's diet? How often do you find yourself in the drive thru line ordering another cheeseburger and fries?

Childhood obesity is now described as an epidemic. It puts your child's health at risk, and makes them more susceptible to problems involving their cardiovascular systems, endocrine systems, and even their mental health. Type 2 diabetes mellitus, depression, and low self-esteem are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the problems looming over the heads of overweight children.

I'm not telling you anything that you don't already know. It doesn't take a study done at Johns Hopkins to discover that kids today are putting on weight in ways that we never did - you just have to open your eyes to notice.

The ‘why' is simple. It goes back to the basic equation for weight gain: energy in versus energy out. Kids eat too much and do too little.

But I have to ask... are you setting a good example by your eating habits? This may be a painful question to want to answer – but the truth sometimes hurts (and is good for us).

Maybe you've noticed that your child has begun to put on a little extra weight - what do you do about it? No matter what age your child is - weight is a sensitive issue.

What do your kids eat?
Think about your child's diet. Do they eat three balanced meals a day? Do they eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day? Are they limited in their servings of fried, processed, and sugary foods?

Maybe you aren't sure what your kids are eating. Do some investigation by observing and talking to them about what they eat.

Identify the foods your kids are eating that are rich in calories but lacking in nutritional value. Examples: candy, fast food, chips, cookies, soda pop, and pizza. Replace these foods with fresh nutrient dense foods such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean meats and low fat dairy.

How much activity do your kids get?
Computers, video games, and satellite T.V. are our children's latest and greatest toys. Who has time to play outside when you are about to beat the hardest level, or your favorite show is about to start? Our kids participate in less physical activity and are more sedentary than any generation before.

Do you know how much physical activity your kids get each day? Some parents may think that kids are getting an hour of P.E. each day, only to find out that the school has dropped its P.E. classes.

A great way to encourage activity is to limit the time your children spend on sedentary activities, such as T.V and video games. Sign your kids up on a local sports team so that they can run and be active with other kids. Take the whole family to the park on a weekend instead of gathering in front of the T.V.

Monkey see monkey do
This issue really boils down to one factor: Parental Example. Your kids watch what you do even when you wish they wouldn't, and this is certainly true when it comes to diet and exercise.

Do you model good eating habits, or do your kids see you indulge? Do you exercise regularly, or do your kids see you on the couch in front of the television all weekend?

As a parent, it is your unique responsibility to teach your children the habits that lead to good health. Since you know that obese children have a greater chance of remaining obese into adulthood, thus greatly increasing the likelihood of serious health problems, this isn't a responsibility that you take lightly.

If your eating habits and activity level have slipped it may be time for you to turn things around. It's never too late to set a positive example for your kids – the key is to act now.

Contact me today to get started on a program that will transform your body and renew your lifestyle. There's nothing better for motivation than dropping a few sizes!

All In Good Time

So you're ready to start a healthy diet. The first time you bite into a protein bar instead of a cookie your taste buds may protest, but hang on! Give yourself time to adjust to your new healthy lifestyle and the new foods that you will discover. It won’t take long for your taste buds to adjust and for your waist to shrink.

Turkey Spaghetti Sauce

This spaghetti sauce is delicious and packed with protein. For an even healthier option, serve the sauce over cooked spaghetti squash or steamed broccoli. Servings: 6

Here's what you need...

• 1 pound uncooked turkey tenderloin, cubed
• 1 medium green pepper, cut into 3/4-in. pieces
• 1 medium onion, cut into wedges
• 2/3 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 1 jar (15-1/2 ounces) meatless spaghetti sauce
• 1 cup sliced turkey pepperoni, halved
• 1/2 cup dry red wine or chicken broth
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 10 ounces uncooked vermicelli

1. In a Dutch oven or large kettle, sauté the turkey, green peppers, onion and mushrooms in oil until vegetables are tender. Stir in spaghetti sauce, pepperoni, wine or broth and tomato paste. Bring to a boil.
2. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 45 minutes. Uncover; simmer 15 – 20 minutes longer or until thickened. Meanwhile, cook vermicelli according to package directions; drain. Serve with sauce.

Nutritional Analysis: One serving equals: 321 calories, 5g fat, 40g carbohydrate, 4g fiber, and 28g protein.

Share the fitness truth...Forward this newsletter to your friends, family, and coworkers by using the refer a friend link below.

Forward This Newsletter - Refer a Friend

Refer a Friend - Click Here

Joshua Carter

The Body Transformation Expert

Email Me

My Site

818-337-6175

Successes

Online Training
Special

Right now I am offering the standard 4 week online package for ONLY $150. 

For the price of 2 in person session with me, you can have :

* Personalized Workouts Emailed Directly to You

* Personalized Nutrition Plan Emailed Directly to You.

* Customized Supplement Plan Emailed Directly to You

* Email Monitoring & Support For a Full Month

* Complete access to the extensive Video Exercise Database

Sign Up Now

Blog

I have a new blog.  Yippee!  I know, I know.  When you just can’t get enough of me drop by and see what I am up to or what I am doing or just come by and heckle me. Don't know what a blog is? It is basically a newsletter that is updated regularly.   I have been posting every few days or so.  Check it out:

Click It

Essential Links

Sharkfit.com : Legal Ephedrine

About the Author:
Joshua Carter is a certified personal trainer as well as a fitness and fat loss expert. With over 15 years personal training experience, Joshua has developed training & nutrition protocols that have delivered proven results in half the time as traditional programs.  These successful protocols have been shared with a select few trainers who assist Joshua with training at his Carter Fitness in West Hills, California.  His facility offers personal training for those who live near West Hills , Woodland Hills, Canoga Park, Chatsworth and Calabasas.

Email: joshua@carterfitness.com
Phone: 818-337-6175
Web: http://carterfitness.com