February 08

Q. Ali now that I am working out with a trainer what diet would you recommend?

A. Congratulations on working out and choosing a personal trainer to help you accomplish your goal. Now the diet question, which should you choose?  You should choose none, absolutely, positively, none because diets are temporary solutions for temporary challenges.

Think of it this way if someone said you have to be 20 lbs lighter in twelve weeks and maintain the weight for an additional 8 weeks and we will pay you 2 million dollars do you think you could do that? I am willing to bet you and many more like you could find a way to accomplish that goal for the payment being offered and thus the “motivation” for the actor, supermodel, athlete, entertainer etc.

Now if you want to lose weight to keep it off you must first realize what in your lifestyle needs to be changed and then move to implement the changes needed. For many years prior generations rationalized this on various wives tales such as; well the older you are the more weight you gain, when you stop exercising your muscles turn to fat, once you have kids you lose your figure and gain weight. All of these examples are hogwash pure and simple, but rationalization is powerful in the human psyche.

Do not turn to the diets whatever they may be, if you peel away the skin of what the diet is actually they are all pretty much the same thing. You will never see a diet that consist of ice cream, pizza, chocolate cake, key lime pie, snickers, macaroni and cheese, candied sweet potatoes, Whoppers, milk shakes and French Fries to name a few items on any diet plan.

Instead try this diet: Exercise daily with plentiful helpings of cardio vascular exercise, add a few days per week of resistance exercise, go easy on the salt, eliminate the alcohol, reduce the dairy, add some stretching and give the body rest and watch this “diet” change your life.

                                                              January 08
Q: I have made a resolution to get back into shape this year, what should be my first step and how do I keep my resolution.
 

A: First step is to find type of exercise, and/or activity you want to do to get back in shape.  I am of the mindset that “all roads lead to Rome”, meaning that there are a lot of choices for people that want to get back in shape so pick one that you like.

 There are specialized studios for personal training,  spinning, cardio/aerobic classes, yoga, pilates, boxing, and groups for running, biking,  and swimming and large fitness centers offer a little bit of all things mentioned. So look around and decide on one or several types of activates.

For example; I weight train,  teach a bootcamp class on the beach,  bike ride,  jog with my dog,  run road races 5k, 10k and Marathons, duothalons, take yoga and spinning classes. A variety of activity and exercise, some people may only do one thing to get in shape or some people may do a couple things, but as long as we all reach the same goal of being healthy, then all roads lead to “Rome”. 

Next create the time in your weekly routine to allow for exercise. Everyone is busy and has no time for anything, I got it, however you must find time as your time to invest in your health and fitness.

Please be realistic in your new resolution of getting back in shape. Let me say a couple things to you that I say to all my clients:
1. If you are looking to get in “great shape” i.e.( fitness model type), lose 30 lbs or get back to your 32” inch waist from your present 40” inch waist in 6 weeks, then let me give you the number of a plastic surgeon who might be able to help you.
2. If being in great shape and maintaining a healthy lifestyle was easy, everyone would do it.

Look at your new found resolution as a learning process to change your individual lifestyle habits you have created to change them for what you accept as better choices for you, no one else. This is a slow and steady process constantly evolving. You cannot have a quick fix concerning the human body that has taken 5-10 years to create, if it took you five years to gain the extra 25 lbs. why would you think you can lose the 20lbs. in 4 weeks and keep it off?