Sarah s Blog

We all know the story about the turtle and the hare. How the slower turtle won because he went at a steady pace, and the hare lost because he kept stopping and playing along the way.

This is true also of durable fatloss. If you want to get the excess bodyfat off (and you do, if for no other reason than for your health), you want to do it slowly and steadily. It is not only the safest way to reduce bodyfat, it is also the the best way to manage to keep it off.

The reason behind this statement is simple, yet complex. It has to do with your body’s metabolism, which needs to adjust to the new lifestyle; but also with your brain’s acceptance of your new look.

Mainly, the reason for fad-diet failure, is that it is a temporary thing. “Lose 5 lbs over the weekend”, “How to lose 15 pounds in 2 weeks” etc. It’s too fast! There is no way your body can manage to burn off that much weight in fat in such a short time. Yet you may argue, the scales show a much lower number! Yes of course, but you are losing water weight and muscle, to an extent possibly even bone mass; and very little fat. Not what you want. Also, the fad diets tell you to eat too little, which slows your metabolism. That is not good either.

 You start eating “normally” again after this fad, and what happens?

Number one, your “normal” eating was what made you gain weight in the first place. You will again, if you follow the same “normal” diet again. More of the same gives more of the same results. Makes sense, right?

Number two, your muscles are what actually keeps you burning your calories. From food, and from the fatty reserves. But we just saw that you lost muscle with the fad diet! So you now have less muscle than before, yet eat the same as before? If 1+1 made 2 before, it’ll add up to 3 now; which is why people tend to add more weight to their bodies after a fad diet.

Number three, no fad diet ever tells you to exercise. Or it has a built-in 5-minutes per day thing, a so-called “no excuse exercise program”. In either case, useless.

The solution, is to forget all the fads, all the “last fashion diet” ideas, all the quick-fix exercise programs, and also the “miracle pills, liquids and powders” supposed to slim you down fast when all they really are targeting is your wallet!

What you need, is a lifestyle change. Start exercising - walking, bicycling, rowing, swimming, gym cardio equipment, and weight training - you need those muscles! Yoga and Tai Chi is fine, as a relaxation exercise program and stretching, but won’t do much for your muscles or your fatloss. However, in a combination with weights and cardio, they are great!

Yes. it is normal to lose muscle after age 30.  According to … ? Because our closer ancestors didn’t. They farmed their land until past 50, and had plenty muscle … because they used them! If you are 30 and sit behind a desk 5 days/week then plonk down on the couch in front of the TV the other 2 days, your body doesn’t help you build muscles, you don’t “need” them to survive (no hunting, gathering, running, lifting …) so while it waits for this to be necessary, it layers all the abundant food onto your body and you look and feel like crap.  Tired, flabby, aches and pains all over, you need medicine for high cholesterol and blood pressure, you start having signs of diabetes, you have allergies, you’re sick all winter, and call it .. age?

Nah, it’s called being sedate, not old. Look around you. There are lots of active and great-looking people without any of these complaints, who are older than you. Wake up! Take control of your life now, before you die from overeating, under nourishment, and laziness. Why do we need more leisure time, when all we do is sit our our ever larger behinds and watch life pass us by?

Get up and start living, right now!

Which program should you chose for your new lifestyle? Well, you have the easy-to-grasp http://www.healthylivesforyou.com/ now only $9.99 in which I have outlined in as easy terms as possible, how it all works and interacts, how you can incorporate a healthy lifestyle into a hectic family life, including easy recipes (it seems some recipes snuck in with sugar, rather than having been corrected to stevia … sorry about that. You will of course know to make that substitution yourself).

There is also any one of the e-books which we endorse here at AtoZ Fitness. If we have them, it’s because we believe in them. There are others out there, good programs, but not ones we would be able to help you with by answering any question you might have should you decide to buy it. We endorse the ones we know personally from having tried them - and liked them - or at least read through them and found them sound!

The http://www.atoztoptrainers.com/ Total Body Makeover is a good starting point, because it gives you 8 different programs rolled up in one great book, with a lot of incredible bonuses thrown in.

Or you could opt for Burn the Fat Feed the Muscle , which to me is at the base of all understanding of goal setting, mind set, nutrition and exercise.

You might like to try Fit Over 40 , which isn’t just for those over 40, the stories of normal people like you and me, between 40 and 80+ are totally mind boggling. How many of these people overcame their handicaps, illnesses and doctors’ recommendations for pills and sedentarily … and now are fit, healthy and take no (or extremely few pills) … they even tell you how they did it!

The Xooma Challenge of course, that I am testing at the moment www.xoomachallenge.com and which is yielding nice, slow and steady results, a program which gives you the map and the compass, all you need to do is follow the path to success for your lean body. Yes, down a little more again today, fat is melting and I have added a slight amount of muscle. I could add more, by using heavier weights, but I know my muscle mass total is good and only need to shed the covering layer of bodyfat, so I’m not going too heavy now.

Think about it. Seriously. Change your lifestyle today. And change your life expectancy at the same time.