Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Fitness has evolved tremendously since the early days of round cement dumbbells and jump ropes. Now all the luxuries of home are provided for you in your workout experience, to help make it more convenient, enjoyable and have it feel less like, well, working out, as possible. Cardio machines now come equipped with numerous amenities, from personal televisions to fans. People now can seclude themselves from the rest of the world with head phones that connect to televisions' as they workout. Strength equipment has also advanced with more user friendly resistance machines that provide every possible way in which to target a muscle. Yes, our society has defiantly advanced, at least in terms of the equipment we use. However, some how, even with all of our technological advances we are still more over weight and obese than ever. Many people sit and wonder to themselves how could it be that movie stars can obtain and maintain such fit and beautiful bodies? They have access to much of the same technological advances as the rest of us do in our fitness centers and home equipment. After all, is it not about how much you do and not what you do? This is far from the truth; movie stars, models, performers, their just like you and me. They have cravings, they get too tired to workout and they have access to similar equipment. So again, how is it that with their hectic schedules, being constantly bombarded with rich foods, and being only human, that they can look so good, all the time! The answer is that they have access to something most people do not, a great personal trainer! I know what people will be thinking when they read this, "I can't afford a personal trainer" or "I don't have time to meet on a regular basis with someone." Online personal training is the solution to much of the nations' health problems. Online personal training can provide people with the direction they need to help them reach their goals. They can do this with access to a certified personal trainer, but without the cost and time needed to acquire one. Online personal training is the New Era of the fitness industry and can get you where you need to be, on the fast track to a healthier more attractive body! Here's how it works. Participants obtain access to an online training website. From their, the participant selects the plan they prefer most (prices usually increase depending on the type of program selected). Once a program is selected, a simple questionnaire is required to be filled out to determine you current health status, preferences and future goals. You are then set up with you own login screen name and password that gives you access to your programs online. The trainer will send you your workout plan periodically through email and post it on your login access online. Participants can print out their workouts, which consist of a picture of each exercises start and finish positions, written directions on how to perform each exercise and the correct order to perform each one are all provided. How many sets and reps to perform are included as well. For more detailed explanation of an exercise, clients can even access their program online and watch a video of a model demonstrating each exercise start to finish properly. Another great advantage to online training is that you have constant access to a personal trainer via email or phone, to ask questions about your program or any general health and fitness inquiries. The benefits seem endless, depending on the program one chooses, nutritional components are also supplied in different degrees. The nutrition component is based on your goals and eating habits. A licensed nutritionist supplies you with a daily meal plan and grocery list in which to choose healthy options based on your goals and health needs.
Is it better to lose 2lbs a day or 2lbs a week?
Yes it's very possible that you can lose 60lbs in 30 days but I don't think you would want to and here's the reason why:Let's say you do lose 60lbs in 30 days. how much of that weight you lose do you think is going to be pure body fat? Remember-- body fat makes us look ugly. Anytime you try to lose more than 2lbs a week or 60lbs in 30 days (2lbs a day!).A larger part of the weight you lose is only going to be water and muscle. Losing a lot of water and muscle weight does nothing to improve your looks and it slows down your metabolismSlow metabolism = easier weight gainEvery time you see a weight loss ad that's too good to be true.the ad is basically saying "Hey you can lose 60lbs in 30 days but some of that weight you lose is going to be water and muscle weight"Whenever you are trying to lose weight (body fat) for good and look your very best you definitely do not want to lose any muscle. Every time you lose muscle your metabolism slows down. A slower metabolism makes it easier for you to gain weightAs a matter of fact you may be one of those people who gain weight just by looking at food. The reason for your easy weight gain is that you probably don't have that much muscle to begin with and when you try to lose 60lbs overnight you are only going to lose more muscle making it very easy for to gain all the weight back you just lost!The more muscle you have the better you look. Even if you had two people of the same height & weight but both had different amounts of muscle in their bodies--the person who has the most muscle will always look better.Are the outrageous claims that the weight loss ads make true? Can you lose 60lbs in 30 days or 10lbs overnight? The answer isn't No but a big Maybe. But if you do happen to lose 60lbs in 30 days you're only going to look worse (because of the muscle you lose) and you're going to gain it all back quicker than you lost it (because you're metabolism is slower now that you lost muscle)What if you have to lose 10lbs in one week to pass a physical exam? In this case you may have no choice but to go on "Dr. whoever's rice cake diet" to lose 10lbs in a week. All you're looking for in that situation is a quick fix to your weight loss problem. But if you want to lose weight for good, look your best, & keep your metabolism burning at a steady rate. You got to lose weight at a much slower rate. You want to try to lose no more than 2lbs a week or 3lbs at the most when you want to lose weight permanently. Usually when you lose anything over 2lbs a week you are only losing water and muscle weight which again has no effect on long-term weight loss or significantly improving the way you look.Losing 2lbs a week is a lot simpler than trying to lose 10lbs a week. One of the things you can do to start losing 2lbs a week is to substitute higher calorie foods you eat with lower calorie foods. For example a simple trick that I have most of my clients do is to replace all the sodas and juices they drink with water. The drinking water trick is taken very lightly by a lot of people---but many of my clients tell me that they see a difference in their weight after drinking only water for a couple of weeks.The other thing you can do is to increase your daily physically activity. This doesn't mean that you have to start signing up for marathons regularly. To gradually increase your physical activity you can--* Park in the back of parking lots so you have to walk more to your destination* You can take the stairs instead of the elevator-it doesn't have to be all the flights.walk some flights and take the elevator the rest of the way.* Play golf or play with your kids everydayThe point is to just do something.It doesn't have to a lot at first but after about a couple weeks start to take 20-30minitue walks in the park or ride a bicycle everyday. Long-term weight loss doesn't happen in 60 days or overnight. it happens in the Long-term. Just remember that the next time you see a weight loss ad that promises you unbelievable results.

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