That’s the amount of money companies are making
peddling weight loss suppleme…err… scams.

You may have fallen victim to handing over your
dollars to them. The weight loss results they tout
are staggering. 40 pounds in 30 days, Joe Blow
loses 150 pounds, and many other similar results.
There marketing is very good. Shady at best.
But still good.

25 mil was revenue from ONE company! A
few days ago the FTC filed complaints on 10 other operations just like it.

Which puts it in the HUNDREDS of millions.

The saddest part; the crap they sell doesn’t even
work.

Solve the worlds weight problem and you should get
a BIG check. Sell snake oil and you should go
to jail.

Try as we may, we can’t redefine ourselves
overnight. That’s too easy. If that worked then
all of the late night infomercials and fitness
dvd’s would work.

But you CAN redefine yourself steadily, over time.

A very successful client of mine sold his
business for millions of dollars a few years back.
An article in the paper dubbed him as an overnight
success story. After talking with him, he said the
article gave him a chuckle because in reality they
were “a 10 year overnight success.”

That statement made me think. It opened my eyes
that as much as we might see overnight successes
or hear about 30 day weight loss stories, the
reality is it takes steady, constant, and yes,
disciplined action.

Read that sentence again.

It takes steady, constant, disciplined action.

Let it soak in.

Because until you buy into that you will continue
to search, try, and fail at whatever it is you want to do. And waste a lot of money in the process.

STOP believing in crap. Start accepting diet
and exercise does it.

To your weight loss success,
The Bootcamp Team

P.S. Do you need to lose 10, 20, even 50 pounds or
more? We can help. It’s a proven program that even
your doctor would recommend. Give us a call for more
details, 314.800.7607.

The American College of Sports Medicine released
it’s survey results for the top fitness trends of
2012.

I listed a few of the top 20 here with my comments.

Educated and experienced fitness professionals.
This trend will never fade. Trainers aren’t looked
upon just for the Hollywood elite anymore.
Trainers are for everyone. Just as plumbers,
accountants, and dentists are too. Smart people seek solutions to their problems from experts.

Strength training.
Jack LaLanne and Au-nold helped introduce this to
the American landscape. It’s changed a bit but the
foundation is still the same.

Fitness programs for older adults.
Research shows baby boomers to have made more
income leaps than any other generation before. You
can retire with all the money in the world, but if
you can’t enjoy the fruits of it then what’s the use? And you don’t take any of that money with you when you die. Think about it… if you’ve managed to create financial independence then you want to travel, be active and get out and do things. Your health and fitness is vital for that.

Exercise and weight loss.
As I’ve said before, you can’t outwork a bad diet.
You need both diet AND exercise to lose weight.

Children and obesity.
I’ve talked about this many times before. And my conversations with our clients that are Peditricians only bring home this problem even more. This problem continues to grow (no pun intended) and must be addressed.

Core training.
With the majority of Americans suffering from back
pain this is a BIG area of emphasis for us. We sit in front of a computer all day, are less active day to day, and have bigger waistlines. All
of these contribute to poor core strength, bad
posture, and back pain. It can be one of the
easiest fixes… IF it’s done correctly.

Group personal training.
This is why our Bootcamp is so successful! People realize the power of a group and make exercising fun. All of the components of our traditional one-on-one programs exist, but with the energy, fun, and SAVINGS of a group.

Zumba.
I can’t say I’ve tried this myself, but my wife has and she really enjoyed it. We also participate in St. Luke’s Spirit of Women Day of Dance expo. There was an overwhelming turnout and I’ve never seen that many ladies have so much fun! Zumba was a clear favorite.

Functional fitness.
This type of training has exploded over the past few years. It’s seeped its way into all areas of fitness. Functional training is ideal for the golfer wanting to improve his stroke to the stay at home mom wanting strength and mobility to carry kids and groceries.

ACSM lists these as trends, but some will NEVER die. If you’ve been reading my blogs and emails for awhile now then you know your program should consist of strength training, cardio training, and nutrition. Versions and modifications of these will come and go. But the foundation will never change. Real lasting results come from those three.

To your health,
The Bootcamp Team

P.S. Jump on board with one of the top trends of 2012 and request a free Bootcamp trial. Join the other ladies that have totally changed their bodies and their lives.

That was on the front page of yesterday’s USA Today’s Life section. A headline like that sparks immediate attention.

Jerry Gray of Travelers Rest, South Carolina is being charged with criminal neglect of her 14 year old, 555 pound son Alexander. This is a HUGE case (no pun intended) given childhood obesity has been on the rise and this could set a precedent for criminal action against parents with morbidly obese kids.

I’m not going to get into the legality of an issue like this. I’ll leave that for your opinion and the courts. But with most issues like this, the problem is to the left.

According to the CDC 40% of kids 12-15 years old, and 50% of teenagers 16-19 years old have been told by a doctor or health care professional that they are too heavy. THIS is a serious problem. And in the case of Alexander it’s gone way too far.
Obesity and in this case, morbid obesity, is a gushing wound with no bandage. At what point does it become a concern? A child weighing 555 pounds is absurd. This is a child’s life we’re talking about. And to me, the worst part of this is Alexander’s future. Aside from the teasing and taunting I’m sure he’s getting, his health and quality of life will suffer tremendously as he ages.

Something MUST be done now!

Sorry if I’m going on a bit of a tirade. But seeing this on the front page just fires me up. I work with women and men that want to lose weight and improve their health. Sue D. joined the FT family yesterday morning by deciding to lose weight and get back into shape. Her choice to make a change in her life will pay off. BIG time. I know that becasue our FT clients prove that day in and day out.

But there’s so much more to losing weight and improving health. Not only do you change your body but you transform your life in the process. You become alive and more energetic. You’re able to give more of yourself to family and friends. You’ll work with more passion and productivity. Everything in life becomes richer, fuller, and more enjoyable when you look and feel fantastic!

Alexander is now in foster care while the case waits to be heard. I hope, for his sake, he’s on a proper nutrition and exercise plan. Whether it’s you or your child, you must sit and take a good serious look at reality. You’re either moving closer or farther from good health. That’s an everyday move. Eating a twinkie moves you farther. Eating fruits and veggies moves you closer. Where are you going? Where is your child going? If you need help or information please request a consultation here. There is also a ton of free info at our site you can get your hands on.

If your child needs help losing weight, being active, or improving his or her health please let me know. If there’s enough interest I’d like to have a kid’s fitness class before school starts. Send me an email and tell me about your kid(s) and their situation. Or feel free to call the studio, 314.863.7799, so we can talk by phone. Regardless, decide today – one little choice – to lose weight, get in shape, and live a healthy life.

To your health,

Tim Chudy

P.S. Click here to request a consultation. We can talk about your situation and what it’s going to take for you to reach your goals.

P.P.S. A lot of times people struggle to lose weight because of their nutrition. Specifically with stress eating. Keep your eye out for specific steps to stop that emotional and sometimes uncontrollable urge to eat.

Money and the economy are in the top 5, if not the top 3 lists of personal importance for most Americans. Relationships and purpose fall up there too. But exercise and diet…not so much. For some it’s lucky to squeeze into the top 20! But it IS important. Now more than ever. Which brings us to this post today.

You see, now more than ever your health, fitness, and nutrition are important. Because it’s the foundation for handling everything else in life. If you can’t take care of yourself, you can’t take care of others and the other stuff in your life.

Think of flying. When you’re on the runway ready for takeoff, the flight attendant tells you to put the oxygen mask on yourself FIRST. Then the child. As a kid I remember thinking that was backwards. Children should be protected first I thought. But the airline knows better. They know if you get the mask on the child and aren’t able to get it on yourself, you’re in big trouble.

The same goes with your health. It MUST be taken care of first. BEFORE you can take care of anyone or anything else.

Today I give you the top 5 reasons to exercise and eat right in a down economy. I think they’ll resonate with you. Maybe not all, but some. Pay attention to them. I’m sure you can picture someone you know that ‘has it all’. They’re calm, cool, and collected. They’re always in control no matter what happens. These are the people that own their health and fitness. And you can and should too. OK, enough all ready. Here they are.
Confidence and charisma. Exercise breeds both. When you’re fit, lean and toned; when your blood pressure and heart rate are low and steady; when stress is decreased or eliminated altogether; when your focus is razor sharp; when you feel really good – not just healthy – but also proud of your appearance… that’s when you are at your best.  In today’s environment a healthy resume is not the only thing needed. You, and the perception of you, must impress the potential employer that you’re THE best one for the job. Being overweight, out of shape, and lethargic does not present you in that light.

Your best medicine. According to the American Psychological Association, nearly half of Americans said their stress increased in 2008. With money and the economy topping worry lists. Exercise is the best cure for mental and emotional stress. And right now, in this economy, there’s a lot. The APA also reports three quarters of people experience physical problems such as upset stomach and headaches because of stress. When you’re stressed you become more susceptible to sickness and disease.  You tire quicker and frustrate easier.  Some would have you believe that the answers to all your health concerns are contained in little pills. That’s misleading.  And it’s dangerous. If there is a panacea, it’s exercise and a nutritionally sound diet.

Depression is at an all time high. Studies have shown those with a sense of personal control – that which exercise can create – is a characteristic of happy people. Plenty of research points to exercise being the best cure for mild depression. Mild depression is the gateway to an unhealthy lifestyle. It leads to unhealthy behaviors such as smoking, drinking, and eating poorly. It’s a viscous cycle that is hard to escape. In all my years of talking to men and women struggling to achieve health and fitness results, the hardest part is getting started or re-started. Breaking the cycle of depression takes a massive amount of effort. But once you make that one decision, and with each passing day, it gets easier and easier.

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Being sick is expensive. And it’s not good to miss work, especially if your job is on the line. But it is good to save money on doctor’s visits, medications, and other costs associated with your health. This begs the age old question, if you don’t have your health what do you really have? Nothing. Nada. Zilch.

Exercise and a healthy diet improves your health, stimulates your immune system, increases productivity and energy, increases self esteem, improves mental focus, decreases risk of heart disease, osteoporosis, and diabetes to name just a few. It increases strength and stamina, reduces depression, decreases stress levels… should I keep going? I think you get the point. But I could easily add another fifty benefits.  

A healthy lifestyle makes you rich in spirit. It would be ignorant of you to put your head in the sand and ignore the financial mess we’re in. But at the end of the day, you and your relationships are what are most important. Exercise and a sound diet give you the framework for a rich spirit. No one wants to be around a ‘Debbie Downer’. Being rich in spirit means stepping back and taking stock of what’s really important. And being able to appreciate that.

If you’re exercising now then you know the benefits and have seen and felt them. if you’re not, you need to jump on this wagon now. And fast. Trust me; it’ll take you for the ride of your life!

To your health,

Tim

P.S. I’m going deeper into stress, cortisol, and how it affects your weight in my next post. Stress is rampant in our lives today and we must do our best to keep it in control. Be on the lookout.