Weight Loss Guru

Hi everyone, here's a great little piece from a friend of mine. Her name is Susan Cass, she's a Personal Fitness Trainer and she really knows what she's talking about... Enjoy :)

I can't have that, I really can't have that - I want it, I want it - oh okay I'll just do an extra hour in the gym tomorrow, donuts aren't that bad after all anyway are they? Especially if I scrape a bit of the sugar off and it after all it has a hole in the middle.....

So tell me, Dust? high in fat, low in fat? Well probably both depending on your mind set that day. Had a great day? - yes? so its okay to reward yourself with "CAKE". Had a bad day? Yes? so it's okay to cheer yourself up with "CAKE"

Do you remember being at school and doing exceptionally well in your spelling test? Well it was more than likely your folks were waiting at the school gates with a huge smile and armed with that finger of fudge for being great. Didn't make the soccer team first squad? Your greeting at the school gates is now open arms, a sympathetic expression and that finger of fudge. So you can see a distinct pattern emerging. From a young age food was generally interpreted as both reward and condolence.

As we have gotten older we've understood that more calories we consume than we actually need leads to carrying additional body weight - so we start trying to balance out our calorie intake/expenditure formula by overtraining or going on bouts of sudden and severe training regimes which overtime can damage our internal body systems. For example in order to have that Krispy Kreme, you HAVE to do an extra hour on the stepper or run an extra 6 miles, or you'll feel guilty for the rest of the day.

So food can quite often resemble an emotional crutch to get us through any situation and battling your conscience on a daily basis could feel like the energy equivalent of fighting 10 rounds head to head with Mohamed Ali (if only the calorie burn were the same!)

The question is, Do I REALLY want to eat that, do I REALLY need it? If the answer is yes - then you will have it. If the answer is no, think about doing something that makes you feel good? Perhaps a long walk in the countryside alongside a babbling brook breathing in the fresh air? A competitive game of 10 pin bowling with friends at the local alley? a game of five aside with your friends after work? shopping with girlfriends and the purchase of those killer Jimmy Choo's, going to see the newest film release at the cinema? - just reading that probably made you smile.

Somewhere deep within us, we have some unique behaviour triggers, the things in life that truly inspire us and make us feel great and want to push on. Write down those thoughts, aspirations and goals that inspire you as well as your measurable goals and how you are going to achieve them. Refer back to them as often as you can as a reminder that will keep you on course. It will act as a motivational tool to make sure you stay focused and on track. Over time your goals and dreams may change, so you may need to try a variety of approaches and change your diet to find that winning formula for you. There is no right or wrong - if it works for you, it works!

If you always do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always got - so chuck away those emotional food crutches, think about the consequences of your actions everyday and take a positive stance to change by taking responsibility to break the bad habits. Its truly liberating and you'll step out of bed every morning healthier, happier and more in control of you. No more food rewards and no more Majorie Dawes!

Article by
Susan Cass
Personal Fitness Trainer

Here's some truely amazing feedback from Diane Stephenson - what a success story! Thanks Diane for sending this through and becoming an instant inspiration!...

P.S. Sorry i haven't been around much this mad month of May - so busy...
More blogging in June i promise!! :)

Hi there everyone,
Did you know that weight training could be as effective as endurance exercises like running, swimming or cycling when it comes to burning fat and warding off diabetes, a study suggests.

Professor Ken Fox, an exercise specialist at the University of Bristol, said that attention was increasingly turning to resistance exercise as a means to improve metabolism and help lose weight. Resistance training has been more often associated with serious athletes and body builders than with slimming, especially by women, but it is a beneficial way of helping your body get rid of those excess pounds.

Many women worry that by using weights they will turn themselves into the Incredible Hulk. But it’s actually quite difficult for anyone to put on significant amounts of muscle, and it is MUCH more difficult for women. The most important factor in muscle gain is the male hormone testosterone, which women have very little of, thankfully! But it’s not only woman that shy away from resistance training but also the older members of society.

Numerous studies confirm that resistance training can preserve and even increase resting metabolism. What that means is that regardless of age and sex - resistance training can help you lose weight. Here are some other very good to reason to take up resistance training:

• You can firm up your entire body and reshape it.
• You can increase your metabolism by at least 15 per cent. So, even when you’re sleeping, you’re burning 15 per cent more fat than you used to.
• Your clothes will fit you much better because as you tone your muscles your body shape will improve.
• You will develop more energy, feel younger and even improve your posture.

If you aren’t familiar with resistance training then I strongly suggest you get some expert advice before you start.  And if you haven’t exercised or a long time, or you have high blood pressure then please consult your doctor before doing any of this type of training.

You might want to consider investing in a personal trainer. Personal training is now much more accessible, it’s possible to get a trainer to teach you about resistance training and design a specific programme for yourself.

Take good care.
Pete.

Well, it’s day 2 and our recruits haven’t had a moment to themselves as, once again, they were woken up at 5am for an early morning workout.

They appear to be doing well - but they are being tested. Today, they are going through a detox; only having fruit juices and some vegetable broth. Rather them then me! But it’s not a bad thing, as their bodies will benefit from not having to deal with some of the foods they're accustomed to eating.

They are in for a surprise this afternoon as Anton Du Beke, who was Kate Garraway’s dancing partner in Strictly Come Dancing is here to teach our recruits how to ballroom dance. They don’t know how lucky they are!

Is it just me, or does Karen look like she's enjoying this?

Until Tomorrow,
Take care, Pete