GIMME FIVE.

Your weight changes every day.  5 pounds or less (upwards or downwards on the scale), is nothing to write home about.  5 pounds and UP (lost or gained) is when to celebrate or recalibrate.
 
I’m not going to NOT support the loss of 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 pounds, but know that your body weight, my body weight, fluctuates 5 pounds up or down on a regular basis.  Water retention, have you just eaten a big meal, etc. all affect your weight.  It really only makes a difference when you’ve lost and sustained 5+ pounds.  And don’t lose your mind if you put on up to 5 pounds for the same reason.
 
People who worry over 1 or 2 pounds will worry themselves INTO adding another 2 or 3 pounds or more just simply due to the stress of worrying about how much (or how little) weight was put on in the first place.  Don't fall into the trap.
 
And, for the 1 billionth time, keep in mind that as you begin to exercise you WILL PUT ON MUSCLE WEIGHT WHICH WILL OFFSET YOUR POUNDS OF BODYFAT LOSS.  You will perhaps end up with a net loss and addition that cancel each other out.
 
Remember it's not completely about weight, but about body composition (ratio of bodyfat to muscle) and shape (clothes fitting differently).

Have a strong day, weight losers.

HYDROXY-CUT FROM THE TEAM.

Well friends, I don't need Hydroxycut.

Who knew??!

I knew.

But I still went to an interview by a production company casting individuals for some sort of upcoming Hydroxycut and Whey Protein campaigns.

I was dismissed from the interview for being "too lean" for their purposes.

A couple of things:

I knew I didn't need to use Hydroxycut when I went, but I do have just a tad bit more body fat I'd like to dump. I know I could get a bit more defined for a campaign and possibly use that to springboard my career a bit. They would definitely have good "Before and After" pics from me. But is it really worth it with everything you hear about Hydroxycut not being good for you? No. Not really.

I've gotten to the place where I am with proper FUNCTIONAL exercises and proper diet.

I know I can help you achieve the same.

You DON'T need expensive fat burners.

You DO need to take one step at a time and DO THE WORK to figure out what your body responds best to in terms of both diet and exercise.

I KNOW that I can't eat junk for my body type without it turning out poorly in terms of my body fat percentage.

The bigger story here is that I just need a new challenge to get me out of my rut and this just might have done it. Though, a new challenge without Hydroxycut will definitely allow me to be much more true to my goals and beliefs.

And I'll be better for it.

Have a strong day.

WELLNESS IS NOT A SICKNESS.

A friend recently returned from spending the summer living and working in Washington D.C. He has been doing well at eating healthily, exercising regularly and trying to make little lifestyle changes for a healthier existence. In turn, this will make his work more focused and productive in regards to the completion of his Doctoral Dissertation. A byproduct of his taking better care of himself, as one might expect, is weight / fat loss.  This is of course excellent, as carrying weight around the abdomen (in men or women) increases the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease... amongst other potential health problems.

A professor of his made the point to ask if he was healthy - as if the first response to someone getting in shape should be that they are "sick" in some way. Yes, there are those with deeper emotional traumas or psychological battles that can affect their diet or eating habits. If we're close to them, we need to be aware of such situations so that we can help them through a tough time (eating disorders, sickness, loss of a loved one, etc.) if we do indeed have the relational right to do so.

But lets press pause for a moment. Has our view of "healthy" been reprogrammed in our hearts and minds so completely by this point that when someone is working to lose weight, have more energy and get in shape that our first response is "Uh oh, there must be something wrong. Lets get them some help." Has our view of "healthy" actually consciously or subconsciously morphed into overweight such that we actually accept the wrongful carrying of too much body fat as being "healthy" and the opposite (being lean and trim) as not healthy?

When someone who is extremely overweight achieves their goals of losing weight and getting in shape its a victory to be celebrated. I'll be the first to cheer and support this accomplishment. When someone who is moderately out of shape does the same, are they to be considered out of balance and unhealthy? Do they deserve any less support or encouragement?

Please, let's unlearn this "new" way of looking at people and their waistlines. I don't pre-judge any who seek my coaching or input since it's difficult enough as it is to get yourself (or others) moving in a positive direction with fitness. I wish to be counted as one of the sources of support and encouragement for that person / those people. The only thing I need to see, regardless of size or shape, is the desire to make a positive lifestyle change for good. Everything else is details that will be worked out over time through their gradual lifestyle change or negative outside attitudes that detract from that person's success.

Have A Strong Day.

Bravo out.