4/1/2008

Scales Lie Too (part 1)

For years I have battles with clients who have taken it upon themselves to weigh in daily, or in extreme cases multiple times per day. Drives me nuts. The deal is scale weight can fluctuate greatly based on several factors including water retention and matter retention (poop). So weighing yourself constantly is kinda dumb. I recommend weighing yourself at MOST once per week. Make it the same day of the week and the same time of day. That way you can get the most accurate and consistent reading possible. Even then nothing is 100%, but so long as there is a downward trend (assuming you are trying to lose fat) then your you are doing fine.

waist

I much prefer clients take measurement. Bodyfat calipers are always cool but not everyone has a set. A regular old tape measure does the trick quite nicely. IF you simply track the measurements around your waist (or hips) and if it continues to decline it does not matter what the scale says - you're doing great. Read the next story to see what I mean.

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

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Scales Lie Too (part 2)

2 weeks ago I ended the 4 Minute Fat Loss trial group. The results were absolutely incredible and surpassed my wildest expectations. (FYI I am hard at work putting a comprehensive 4 Minute Fat Loss program that should be ready soon). Anyway back to my story...

Carla was one of my 4 Minute Fat Loss volunteers. In true rock start style this 45 year old mother of 4 truly kicked ass on the program. She followed the workout and nutrition plans to a "T" . I knew her results would be off the charts - but then I was shocked.

She came to see me for her final "after" weigh in on a Saturday morning. It was the morning that my article "More Pants Lie" came out. To refresh your memory, the point of the article was that no number should define you or have any baring on your self worth. Carla had in fact read the article that morning.

So then we weighed her in. Her total weight loss equaled 10 pounds- *ONLY* 10 pounds. I thought 10 pounds was a huge loss for 28 days but the disappointment was apparent on her face. Others in the group had actually lost more, so Carla was hoping the scale would reflect the effort she felt she put in - and to her it didn't.

I reminded her of the brilliantly insightful article I wrote pertaining to just this situation, but even my masterful prose failed to break her mood. So I told her scales suck anyway, and that she needs to break out a tape measure when she got home - maybe she lost a dress size or two. Boy was I off...

7 inches. That's right - 7 inches gone from her waist in 28 days.

Carla1
Nice!

She called me later and left me a voice mail to tell me the great news. I was ecstatic. I knew she had made huge progress - and the tape told the tale.

Congrats to Carla and the other 4 Minute Fat Loss all-stars.

In closing: F the scale.

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

 

The Action Taker in You

Spring is here and that means one thing - it's time for spring cleaning.

The word alone conjures up the image of a garage too filled with junk to walk through, let alone park a car, and closets filled to capacity.

When things get this out of hand it's easy to just give up.

Why put your shoes on the rack when you'd have to climb over a stack of newspapers to reach it? It's easier to throw them down by the door. Why hang your coat up when the closet is a disaster area? It's easier to drop it over the back of a chair.

What does this have to do with fitness and weight loss? It's actually a striking analogy for where many of my clients are before they find me.

They've given up.

Why eat a salad when you're thirty pounds overweight? It's easier to enjoy a heaping plate of pasta. Why go to the gym after work when it will just make you sore? It's easier to relax on the couch.

Living life with unwanted excess weight is like allowing your garage to stay clogged with junk. It's a discouraging place to be.

The good news is that you aren't stuck.

In the same way that you take a weekend to roll up your sleeves and get that garage cleaned out, it's time to take a month or two (or more depending on where you are in relation to your goals) and drop down to your ideal weight.

I know I'm making it sound easy, and when you approach it this way it is easy.

Beware: There are two ways to approach weight loss, one will leave you discouraged and frustrated while the other will get you fit. Which approach do you use? Read on to find out...

The Diet Dabbler
You know this person. Every month they are trying out a new diet, one week they can't eat carbs and the next week they are only eating soup. They feel guilt about food and are unable to experience the results that they want.

Exercise is equally as spotty and is done in bursts. One month they power walk on their lunch break, a few months later they try taking a class at the gym. Results aren't achieved and the programs are abandoned.

Maybe you can relate.

The entire problem with the Diet Dabbler mentality is their lack of consistency. The only thing consistent is that their frustration grows with every failed attempt and their weight continues to rise.

The Action Taker
You also know this person. This is that guy or gal who buckled down and lost the weight with the use of a massive plan of action. They teamed up with a professional, they stuck with a diet plan and they exercised hard. And in a short time their body was transformed.

Guess what? Now that Action Taker is in maintenance mode-the best place to be. They look great, they feel great, their cloths fit just right and they're loving every minute of it.

Maybe you're thinking "I tried to lose the weight and it didn't work, so this won't work for me either." Forgive me for putting it bluntly, but you're wrong.

Maybe you've dabbled with diets and exercise only to come away frustrated. I understand. Many of my clients have experienced that same frustration before they found me.

Here's the bottom line: it's time to tap into your inner Action Taker, roll up your sleeves and do what it takes to drop down to your ideal weight.

Get serious about your results and begin the last weight loss program that you'll ever do. Contact me today to get started on a program that will deliver results.

Then you can kick your diet dabbling days to the curb.

It's Just a Number

We spend so much time worrying about getting the number on the scale to drop that it's easy to get discouraged when your weight loss slows for a time. When you workout hard and eat right your body gains muscle while losing fat-this isn't shown by the number on the scale. It's shown by inches lost, in the way your clothes fit better than ever, and in how you look and feel amazing.

Flax Meal Protein Cakes

Who doesn't love pancakes? Here's a recipe that you can enjoy guilt free. These pancakes are packed with protein and contain omega-3 fatty acid from the flax meal. Omega-3 fatty acids are not manufactured naturally in your body, and thus must come from your diet as they are essential for growth and development. Servings: 2

Here's what you need...

  • 1 egg and 2 egg whites
  • 2/3 cup nonfat cottage cheese
  • 1/2 cup whole grain cornmeal
  • 2 tablespoon whole wheat flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1/3 cup nonfat milk
  • 2 tablespoon flax meal
  • 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
  • Sliced banana *optional*
  1. Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
  2. Bake on a 350-degree griddle lightly greased with cooking spray. Serve with sliced banana.

Nutritional Analysis: One serving equals: 264 calories, 4g fat, 39g carbohydrate, 3g fiber, and 20g protein.

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Joshua Carter

The Body Transformation Expert

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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