Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh and
the University of Colorado set out to determine
what lifestyle changes were needed to lose weight
AND keep it off. They began an on-going study
called the National Weight Control Registry (www.nwcr.ws).

This registry does not list all of their test
subjects. In order to make it you had to lose over
30 pounds AND keep it off for a year. So they did
a good job qualifying success.

What they found was intersting.

And the numbers they compiled don’t lie.

The findings are listed into 10 lifestyle changes.

Here are the 10 habits of these successful weight
losers:

1. 98 percent of registry participants reported
that they modified their food intake in some way
to lose weight. Ok, kinda obviousl But you must
change your eating habits in some way (i.e. fewer
calories) to lose weight.

2. Most registry members reported consuming less
high-fat dense food groups and more low-fat dense
food groups resulting in a lower daily calorie
intake and greater weight loss. Eat lighter and
cleaner. Stay away from fried, high fat foods and
eat more fresh fruits and veggies.

3. 94 percent of registry participants reported
increasing their physical activity. Again, kinda
obvious. More out, less in.

4. 90 percent reported exercising, on average,
about one hour per day. Note the difference of
activity and exercise. Yesterday a client ran 1
mile and also played in a basketball game. She
asked if the game counted for cardio. I said no.
Walking your kids around the block, golfing and
gardening are all activity. But exercise is
strength and cardio training. There IS a
difference.

5. 78 percent reported eating breakfast daily.
I’ll venture to say they didn’t eat donuts.

6. 75 percent of registry participants reported
weighing themselves at least once a week. The
interval can and should vary, but measurment of
progress is essential. It helps you stay
accountable and also provides motivation, which fuels your efforts.

7. 62 percent watched TV less than 10 hours/week.
More TV means a more sedentary lifestyle. Do you
know how much TV you watch? Try tracking it. I bet
you’d be surprised.

8. 42% of the sample reported that maintaining
their weight loss was less difficult than losing
weight. This is VERY IMPORTANT. Because I see this
mistake all the time.

In the beginning, when you’re trying to lose
weight, you CANNOT afford to cheat. You MUST
remain committed to your program and keep the ‘dial turned up’. Then, once you’ve reached your goal you can afford to cheat here and there. If you start to backslide you simply ‘turn the dial back up.’

9. Nearly all registry members stated that weight
loss led to improvements in their level of energy,
physical mobility, general mood, self-confidence,
and physical health. I won’t begin to list the
benefits of losing weight and getting in shape. You’re smart, and I’m sure you know there are TONS of them. Life is better when you look good and feel good about yourself.

10. For those who did regain weight, weight regain
was due, at least in part, to failure to maintain
behavior changes. This clearly tells us “diets”
don’t work. If you don’t continue to pay attention
to your health and fitness you will backslide.

There’s a lot of wisdom in these 10 strategies.

In the book Switch by Dan and Chip Heath, they
discuss how one guy helped solve a major
malnutrition problem in Vietnam back in the 90s. He did so by looking at the “bright spots” of other villages without the problem.

He didn’t try to solve all of the other underlying problems; poor sanitation, rampant poverty, ignorance to nutrition, etc… He looked to the villages that did not have any malnourishment followed their success.

You can learn a lot by finding the “bright spots”
and then implement them in your own life.

Stop trying to find more time – you’ll never find it. Stop trying to set aside enough money – you’ll never have enough. Stop trying to fix your problems. Make a few changes that other successful people have done to lose weight.

In addition to the weight loss registry mentioned
above our very own Bootcampers, maybe
some of them your neighbors, are another place to
find bright spots.

Sometimes we need to see the possiblities. We need
the motivation and inspiration of others that have
gone before us.

I hope the findings from 5,000 successful weight loss subjects and that of your very own neighbors motivates you to create change in your own life.

To your weight loss success,

The Bootcamp Team

P.S. So you didn’t start fresh on January 1st. Big deal.
It’s never too late to start. Get your free trial here.

Posted under Fitness Tips, Nutrition Tips, Weight Loss Tips

The fitness industry is one of the fastest growing industries today. And it has continued to be over the last 20+ years. Americans are heavier, less fit, and unhealthier more than ever. Thus giving rise to a myriad of fitness, nutrition, and weight loss solutions. Some good. Some not so good.

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.

Posted under Fitness Tips, health, Nutrition Tips, Weight Loss Tips

I want to share something AWESOME with you.

It’s freaking amazing.

Watch the video below (it’s less than 3 minutes):

I can talk fitness and nutrition until we’re blue
in the face. I can give you the most effective
workouts, give you the best foods to eat…

…but you will stumble.

You will mess up.

You will fall down.

That’s life. It’s a certainity.

But it’s not about falling. It’s about getting back
up. That’s what matters. That’s what separates
winners from losers.

You see what Heather Dorniden did after she fell
down. And she’s a champion!

No matter what happens… you MUST get up!

I have a quote above my computer screen from
Calvin Coolidge, the 24th President of the United
States:

“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence.
Talent will not; nothing is more common than
unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not;
unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education
will not; the world is full of educated derelicts.
Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.
The slogan, ‘Press On’, has solved and always will
solve the problems of the human race.”

I love this quote. It makes me feel OK that I’m not
the strongest, fastest, smartest, etc… But also
hope knowing I can still come out on top IF I just
keep getting up and keep pressing on. In sport,
business, life.

Because it’s NOT about being the fastest. It’s NOT
about being the smartest. It’s about doing the
right things CONSISTENTLY over time.

I know you want immediate see-it-in-the-mirror results. But the magic pill doesn’t exist. And you need to tell yourself the truth if you haven’t already.

Focus on a consistent program – strength training,
cardio training, and nutrition – that will transform your body over time.

And then couple it with accountability, support, and motivation
to keep it going.

Does that make sense?

I hope so. Becuase at the end of the day, it’s the
best coaching I can give you.

Posted under health, Personal

I’ve never seen an episode of Jersey Shores. And
frankly, I don’t care to.

But I do know Snooki. A name like that demands
attention.

Snooki knows a BIG secret to achieving weight loss
results.

But you know it too.

You might not know you know it. But you do know
it.

This secret isn’t some special piece of equipment
or any particular exercise. It’s not even a new
diet or supplement.

Would you like to know what this secret is?

The secret is sacrifice.

You see, sacrifice is essential when it comes to
losing weight. You must sacrifice something.
Often times many things.

Sacrifice is defined as ‘destruction or surrender
of something for the sake of something else’.

You can’t get something without giving something
(up) in return.

You know it.

I know it.

When it comes to your weight loss, it’s making
sacrifices that will help you get rid of the
pounds.

“If I weren’t here (working out) I’d be sleeping.
It’s been a good decision. A no-brainer really.”

One of our clients said that after I
inquired about their program.

He sacrificed a little sleep.

Snooki is sacrificing booze.

“I just have to quit the drinking so much. If I do
drink, it’s going to be, like, vodka and seltzer
… maybe like two or three.”

Sheesh. Ok, maybe she’s not sacrificing all that
much.

What are you sacrificing to lose weight? What have
you ‘destroyed’ or ‘surrendered’ in order to lose
weight?

Fast food is a popular one. Sweets, eating out,
TV, the list goes on and on.

The fact remains, if you are not making any
sacrifices, you will not lose weight.

Taking a pill is easy. Buying some abdominal
contraption is easy. There’s no sacrifice in that.

Nothing good and lasting comes with ease.
Sacrifice is a must.

Now go make some sacrifices.

By the way, giving up booze except for vodka
is pretty weak. That’s like saying you’ll give up
McDonald’s except for the Quarter Pounder. Make
your sacrifice something worthwhile.

Posted under health, Weight Loss Tips

My blog post last week was about Drew Carey’s 80
pound weight loss. I revealed his fatal flaw to
lasting results. Nonetheless, he’s doing a lot
right.

But this week John Goodman has lost a reported 100
pounds! And he has done it the RIGHT way.

Let’s talk about how he did it.

His Turning Point

“It’s been constant. It’s always been in the back
of my mind. It just ate at me the whole time. That
may be part of the reason I shoved food in my
mouth so much. That satisfaction.”

When John got a role in Santa Clause he said
enough was enough. But he finally wised up and
didn’t set the ever-futile New Year’s resolution.
He hired a trainer and got on a program.

Whether you have a specific turning point or not,
you MUST decide enough is enough.

His Nutrition

“I had to clear out my own house first. It was
built on a bad foundation.”
“…But also fresh vegetables, lean protein… I’m
not a real hard-on about keeping strict calorie
counts. I know what’s in my wheelhouse, what I can
eat and what I can’t. And I’m satisfied eating it.
I cannot tolerate sugar. I crossed over to the
diabetic side, but I can’t tolerate it anyway
because it creates hunger.”

Spot on John. First fix the foundation. Get rid of
the crap. Now he’s getting protein and cutting the
sugar. Very important. And if you notice his
nutrition is supportive to his exercise.

His Alcohol

“Alcohol is alcohol. I’m an alcoholic. I would
drink no matter what. That’s just part of being an
alcoholic.”
“…and the big key was drinking.”

Goodman has cut out alcohol completely. The
problem with alcohol is not the calories or how
many carbs are in your beer. That’s marketing
hype.

Alcohol inhibits your metabolism. And your
metabolism is your body’s process for burning the
fat. If you want to lose weight and get in shape,
cut out the alcohol.

His Identity

This is very important and I probably don’t give
it as much attention as I should. I’ve talked to
men and women over the years that feel as if their
weight helps identify themselves. If your weight
helps identify you, i.e. being the ‘big cuddly
bear’ or defines you in any way, then YOU WILL NOT
LOSE WEIGHT.

I’m not being a cold s.o.b. here. I’m being
honest. How you define yourself will dictate how
you think, act and live your life. I identify
myself as being a healthy guy. Will I always be
healthy? Yeah, I probably will. I may eat a donut
from time to time, but I won’t let myself become
grossly unhealthy. Because that’s not how I define
myself.

So if you identify yourself with being ‘the big
guy’ or in some other way with your weight; you
won’t lose it. You might lose some for a period of
time, but you WILL gain it back.

So… on weight being apart of his persona and
being worried about losing his weight and having
people perceive him differently in the acting
realm…

“Hey, that’s too bad. I’ll scream and cry when I’m
in the unemployment line, but that’s really
secondary. I am what I am. I can act at different
weights. It’s a miracle I was hired at all for a
lot of these jobs.”

Don’t let ANYONE tell you who you are and what you
can or can’t do. Ever!

His Exercise

All cardio John?

“This time we mixed in strength training with
resistance bands. They’re great for me because I
can contract and release slower, and that builds
up better muscle for me.”

“I was doing a job in New Orleans twice a week
called Treme. I was only working a couple days a
week. I wanted to treat this other thing
(exercise) like a job–to get healthy.”

This speaks to how much he’s exercising. I wish
more people took their health and fitness as
serious as John has.

His Effort

Does he like it?

“I do. I’m still a sucker for highs, and I get
those endorphins. It’s just a feeling of well-
being. I’m where I’m supposed to be. I’m doing
what I should be doing. I feel good. I’m hopefully
extending my life. Before, I didn’t care.”

Being fit, firm and strong; able to handle stress
or any situation that comes your way; not just
looking good, but feeling good… that’s when you
have it all. That’s when life is at it’s best!

But I can’t adequately describe to you what being
fit feels like. That feeling must be experienced.

There are a TON of lessons to be taken from John’s
weight loss journey. I hope you pick them all up.
Of course the 80/20 rule will apply to these
lessons.

Many will read this and say, “Well, he’s a
Hollywood actor, with money, and time, and blah,
blah, blah.” And those people won’t do a thing.
They’ll stay the same. Stagnant. Inactive.
Unchanged.

The other camp will take this as another success
story (yes, I have given you others) to model and
motivate and make a change in their life. What you
do is your decision. But I hope you decide wisely.

If you haven’t signed up for a free trial you can reserve your spot here.

Posted under Fitness Tips, Nutrition Tips, Weight Loss Tips

I emailed this lesson on Father’s Day and totally skipped posting it to the blog. So excuse the timliness of it. But I think the lesson is worth the tardiness.

First, I want to wish all of the dads out there,
especially my dad, a Happy Father’s Day. We’re
blessed and thankful to have you in our lives.
Second, I have a weight loss tip for you today.
And appropriately, it’s a tip I learned from my dad.

My dad was the one that spurred my health
kick. He bought me my first set of weights.
He’d make me a healthy lunch for school. But most
importantly, he taught me health and fitness by example.

He went to the gym a minimum of 5 days a week. He
would always make sure we had veggies with dinner. Don’t get me wrong, he would still bring home donuts on Saturday morning, but all in all, he was a healthy example to follow. And that’s the tip I want to share with you today. Learn by example.

I bet I can guess how successful you are with your
weight loss and fitness goals by taking a look at
the examples you follow.

Those examples will influence your actions and
behaviors. They will have the greatest effect on
you. Sometimes whether you choose it or not.
For instance, wouldn’t you want to follow the
example of someone that’s been successful
with weight loss versus someone that hops
from one diet to the next always struggling to
keep the weight off?

The examples you have in your life will utlimately
influence your actions.

I am the man I am today because of my dad. He
didn’t sit me down one day and say, “Tim, this is
how you be a man.” Not at all.

But I did learn how to work hard. I did learn how
to treat a lady. I did learn how to sacrifice. I
learned all of this from his example.
You can learn the same way. Doesn’t matter if it’s
weight loss, fishing, or sewing. If you
watch, observe, and follow a good example, chances
are you’ll be just as good.

Good examples are a great way to learn. Take some
time now to think about the examples you have when
it comes to your weight loss. Are they good examples to follow? Will they help you move closer to your goal? If not, I suggest you find others to follow. If you need a good example to follow come spend a week with my team and I. We’ll quickly show you the path to weight loss!

P.S. If you don’t have a good example to follow or have been unsuccessful with your weight loss click here for a support. You’ll receive a free trial to our bootcamp and see for yourself how being around like minded women with a common goal is very beneficial to your weight loss and fitness.

Posted under Fitness Tips, Weight Loss Tips

I received an email from one of my mentors
last week. He was using the problem I’m
referring to in a different light. But
immediately I realized it’s the biggest problem
mother’s face. Here’s what he said…

“Author and motivational/self actualization guru,
Larry Winget, has a book out that I recommend to
you. It’s called “No Time For Tact.” Great title.

VERY serious advice that cannot be overlooked for
long or you *will* pay the price.”

I think he’s spot on. But this is THE biggest and
most common problem I hear from mothers.

I firmly believe we’d be lost without our mothers.
They always put themselves on the bottom
of the totem pole and serve others first.

But it shouldn’t be that way. And it doesn’t have to be
either. I just finished meeting with Jennifer Janson. She
trained with us last year and came back in to get get
re-started.

Jennifer runs her own ‘company’ of 6 at home. Plus
her husband. When she went on hiatus from FT, she
realized that going it alone and doing it on her own was
not realistic. Too much distraction. Too much room for
error. Too much time. She was better when she had a
disciplined and structured exercise routine. It was time
for her. No one else to think about. No one else to tend to.

FT helps leverage her health and fitness. And she
knows her family is better served because of it.

This is even more important with your health, your
fitness, and your weight loss. You will serve
others better (spouse, kids, friends, etc…) if
you serve yourself first.

How to be effectively “selfish”:

Plug these into your calendar first:

- Your personal down time
- Your workouts
- Your nutrition
- Your sleep

And then be discplined about
honoring and protecting that time. Will it
be perfect? No. It never will be. But you
can certainly strive for it.

If you are married, have kids, work a lot of
hours, there are always others to tend to. It
takes discipline and commitment or your time can
soon fade away.

Gotta guard against that – at all costs.

Here’s to the Mom’s out there!

P.S. If you think this is only applicable to mothers
you’re sorely mistaken. Make sure you take time
for yourself, your health, your fitness, and watch
your care for others improve!

P.P.S. Would you like help being ‘selfish’? Would you
like a way to leverage your health and fitness? See
how Jennifer does it by clicking here.

Posted under Fitness Tips, health, Personal

You may have caught my segment on KMOV’s
Great Day St. Louis on Monday. If not, you can
see the 5 common fitness mistakes
I revealed to Matt Chambers.

Check it out below. #2 is a biggie. Watch for it
with 4:45 remaining. Also, Julia demonstrates
one of my favorite exercises. Can you guess which
of the three it is?

Are you making any of these mistakes? If so, we can help! Come join us for a FREE Boot Camp class. Come out and have some fun and get fit. Investigate, then decide. Hope to see you soon!

Posted under Fitness Tips, Weight Loss Tips