I came across this article from Dr Doug Cook Rd commenting on a popular “fat loss/cleanse system. I found it interesting, maybe you will to.

Isagenix is not new but it seems to have taken on new life. I have been approach by representatives of Isagenix on several occasions to be a distributor – that’s right, it’s a multi-level marketing scheme. While some product lines like Avon are a little more straight forward, Isagenix is a line of nutritional products making unsubstantiated claims and promises.

Keeping with the fad of detoxing, these products claim to help rid the body of excess ‘toxins’, which they say, are the reason why so many people struggle with weight. One of their main arguments is that people are unable to digest and use the food they eat making them malnourished at a cellular level. When people are starved of nutrients and when they are loaded with toxins, their bodies can not use stored fat for fuel and so it just accumulates and people gain weight, according to pitch I’ve been presented with.

Upon closer examination of their weight loss plan, you replace two meals with Isalean shakes (about 250 calories each), and eat a ’sensible’ dinner – this would provide about 1000 to 1200 calories per day! You don’t need to be an expert in nutrition to know that this will result in weight loss, and the weight loss is not due to the herbal supplements etc that they claim help to ‘flush’ the body of toxins or the cayenne pepper/green tea ‘accelerator’ used to ‘boost’ metabolism.

When pressed for supporting research to substantiate these claims, I’ve always been given the run around. This system does nothing more than line the pockets of the distributors while leaving the buyer with products that just don’t measure up! What’s amazing to me is how people take the sales pitch of the distributors, who tend not to know the first thing about nutrition or human physiology, as proof positive. Reiterating the information that comes with the product does not make someone knowledgeable! Please save your money for real wholesome foods, a good multivitamin and of course vitamin D to start!

Many of the clients I deal with are natural bodybuilders or other natural athletes. Many are not. the difference between the two is actually very small in the way I want them to think about their training and eating. What you CHOOSE to do everyday affects every aspect of your life. If something you are CHOOSING to do is making you happy, feel more complete as a person, and not negatively affecting personal relationships, that activity is adding to your life and is a long term sustainable addition. If something you are CHOOSING to do is giving you a negative outlook on life, alienating a spouse or friends and has no long term benefit, then that action or activity is taking away from your life.

Competitive sport, especially bodybuilding is not sustainable long term at its highest level (the actual competition) Just as a sprinter does not go out and run his best race day after day, a bodybuilder is building to this peak that only lasts a few days a most. That is the nature of competition. It is when the unrealistic obsession of trying to maintain this “peak” over the long term, that you can really run into problems. Individuals start associating exercise and food with guilt and this can have devastating effects on your personal life.

I don’t want to ramble on about this forever and try to make myself out as a perfect person who never has obsessed maybe a little too much over how much I was eating or how much I was training. At the highest levels of competition you have to. I just want people to stand back and take a look at your life and your training and ask, “one year from now will I be better off because of what I am doing now?”

That does not mean you can’t be passionate about what you do and put your best effort forward. Quite the opposite. Training hard makes people tired. Getting ripped makes people hungry. Neither one of these thing should make someone miserable.

The satisfaction of achieving a goal, no mater if it is stepping onstage, competing in a track meet, or losing 50 pounds, should be a huge reward and not followed by a feeling of emptiness and guilt afterward. This is very evident in athletes and bodybuilders that always seem to be in competition mode. They are always competing or training and dieting like they are, even if there is no event on the horizon. If you are 8 weeks from a event or competition yes I am sorry to say you might have to say no to somethings you enjoy. A dedicated athlete has no problem doing this. But if that same athlete skips his nieces wedding because it is leg day and his cheat day is on Sunday not Saturday, not to mention that competition that is 10 months away so I have my cardio to do, thats a problem. Compulsion and obsession are being confused for dedication and passion.

This post may seem a little all over the place but what I am trying to get across is this. Have goals. Work as hard as you can to achieve those goals. Don’t confuse working more and eating less for working hard and eating properly for your goal. Don’t lose perspective on what is really important. Bodybuilding or whatever sport you do is just that, Something you do. It is not who you are.

Countless people have started and failed on exercise and nutrition plans. Almost all of them have something in common. They had a good reason for their failure. Or at least in their minds it was a good reason. This my friends is rationalization.

Rationalization is a pretty simple concept really. What it boils down to is making untrue arguments for excusing unacceptable behavior. As an example if you stole a paint brush from a huge hardware store and justified it to yourself by thinking “they factor this type of thing into the price” or ” this huge corporation makes so much money they can afford to lose a little here and there” you are rationalizing something you know is wrong to yourself.

As with many other aspects of life, rationalization is probably the single biggest roadblock in a person’s way when he or she is trying to lose fat, add muscle, get healthy, or increase performance. We always seem to have a good reason to skip a workout or eat something we know is bad for us. We’re not lying to others about why we’re doing these negative things; we’re lying to ourselves.

Once you learn to recognize rationalization it is very hard to ignore it. You can actually catch yourself doing it all the time. When you challenge a rationalization it will crumble under your own scrutiny. Then you are on your way to achieving real results.

A few years ago when I used to manage a fitness center, the two busiest months of the year were January and September. September means back to school and back to school signifies a time of new experiences, fresh starts, and organization, not unlike January and the fresh start of the new year. It’s a second chance at that New Years resolution you made to get in shape. With a few simple changes and additions to your daily routine, you can still achieve your goal before another year has come and gone.

1) Set specific- realistic goals. Don’t expect to lose 10 pounds in a weekend. That’s a definite set up for failure. Set an attainable goal of 1-2 pounds a week through sensible nutrition and regular exercise. If you are not losing on a weekly basis make the necessary changes. Don’t continue to do the same thing week after week and expect a different result.

2) Eat breakfast. Ignite your mind and metabolism with a satisfying combination of whole grains, lean protein,and fruit. Stay away from packaged foods that are marketed as healthy but are far from it.

3) Plan your meals. Failing to plan is planning to fail. Make a plan for meals a few days or even a week in advance. Without a good plan you could easily find yourself plugging quarters into the vending machine at that 3pm crash or skipping snacks or meals only to overeat later in the evening.

4) Join a gym, and actually go. Take advantage of the deals that most gyms offer at this time of year and make an honest commitment to working out.

5) Take action. Don’t wait for motivation to get you moving. Action inspires motivation, so just get up and do it. Setting and adhering to specific goals is a surefire way to success.

September is another chance at a new beginning, so take advantage of it.

As I was having my morning coffee today, I happened to hear of an interesting medical study just released this week. It might just be enough to give you that kick in the butt you need to get off the couch.

A study done at the University of Western Australia shows that regular moderate exercise may help to delay the onset of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. This is fantastic news for those that may be noticing signs of this particular affliction, as well as those of watching a loved one suffering through it already.

Eighty elderly people in the early stages of dementia were divided into two groups. Forty of them were put on a moderate intensity walking program of 150 minutes per week. The forty participants in the control group made no lifestyle changes and remained sedentary. After one year, the group of walkers scored significantly higher on memory and cognitive thinking tests. The most likely reason for this is the improvement in blood flow to the brain along with development of new brain cells.

Exercise may not be a cure, but it’s a whole lot better than nothing! Think of it as a healthy, drug-free way to take control of your body AND mind. So grab the leash and take the dog for a hike, walk to work, or play a game of soccer at the playground with your kids. Whatever you’re into, get up and do it. You’ll thank yourself for it later in life. Your family will thank you too.

Last night I was talking to my wife Shauna and was inspired to write this blog today. The topic of our conversation was why many people were unhappy with various aspects of their lives, but made absolutely no effort to change it.

It got me thinking “why if you can pinpoint what you don’t like, can’t you fix it” That seemed like a large part of the battle to me. If your car breaks down, the mechanic can do little to get you back on the road until he diagnoses the problem. Once he has done that he can take the necessary steps to solve the issue and get you on your merry way.

The issue that seems to hold many back is fear, or more accurately, fear based decision making. When you are making decisions based on fear you are constantly finding a “what if” or “I would BUT”. Many people complain about their jobs but when faced with the option of finding another one, fear rears it ugly head and you think to yourself, “I would like to but what if that job is worse?” or “If the new job doesn’t work out how will I pay my bills?” Ok, valid concerns but what if the new job turns out to be better? What if it opens doors and opportunity you never would have had at your current job?

It reminds me of a bodybuilder I knew some time ago. He began to get ready for a competition no less than 10 times in the time I knew him. Every year after he began his prep this fear and doubt consumed him and he eventually dropped out. When I asked him why it was always the same phrases about how he wanted to get “better” or “bigger” and just needed one more year and he would be ready. Every year came and went and he never to this day stepped on stage. His decision to drop out was always based on what he feared most. Failure. He never actually said it but he could not take the chance of being judged as less than someone else. “What would people think if I don’t win?” I am sure is a phrase that bounced around in his head year after year.

If there is something i want to get across to people with this blog it is this. If you consider something broke, fix it. If you are not making any progress in your training, fix it. Change something, anything. If you are not losing weight on your diet fix it. If you are unhappy with your career, fix it. I am not going to go into huge detail about how to fix these things as everyone’s situation is unique, but everyone’s problem has a common denominator. If you do nothing, change nothing, try nothing new, nothing will happen. Just to be clear whining about it is not the same as doing something about it.

Have a great weekend

There has been a lot of talk about trans-fats in the news lately. New York city started the ban on trans fats in its restaurants a couple years ago, and now the entire state of California has imposed a ban. Numerous other US cities have done the same, with Canadian cities and schools following suit. So what exactly are trans-fats and how is it that they are so bad, the government sees fit to intervene?

Trans-fats are processed, man made fats used to increase the shelf life and flavor of foods like Twinkies, french fries, cookies, pizza and donuts. Trans-fats are an inexpensive alternative to butter and lard, created when liquid fats (unsaturated) are converted into solid fats (saturated) by the addition of hydrogen atoms. Although they certainly can be convenient and cheap, they have also been shown to increase LDL (bad cholesterol) and decrease HDL (good cholesterol), leading to an increased risk of heart disease.

The bottom line is that trans-fats are not at all good for us and in fact can be very dangerous.
We all should be smart enough to realize however that even without the use of trans-fats in food preparation, french fries, cakes and donuts are STILL not good for us. They weren’t healthy choices 20 years ago, and they won’t be healthy choices 20 years from now. I’m not saying the ban on trans-fats is pointless. It most certainly serves a purpose, but we have to understand that the alternative to using trans-fat is replacing it with butter or lard or creating a different processed fat.The reason Trans fats came to be about in the first place was because of their ability to remain on the self for an extended period without going rancid, so it is not likely that trans fats are going to be replaced with natural fats that spoil very fast. Whether your pastries are made with butter, trans-fat, or some other yet to be named man made fat, they are still pastries. Tasty yes, but healthy no.

If you truly care about the health of your heart and the look of your abs, the best choice is to eliminate these foods in all circumstances. I am realistic and am not saying you can never have a doughnut, I intend to eat some myself, but choosing processed and high fat food very rarely is definitely do-able. It has to be, your health depends on it.

I read an interesting quote from a cardiologist today that said “Children that consume a steady diet of pop tarts, hamburgers, pastries, donuts and candy are at an increased risk for heart disease later in life.” Well, no S**T. If that is what the average child is consuming on a regular basis then of course it’s no wonder we have the health crisis of today. You don’t have to be a cardiologist to figure that out.

We shouldn’t need our government to tell us we are not allowed to eat certain things. We should simply know better. I am not sure where the idea that you have to have these foods in your house if you have kids came from but it is B******t. Get back to basics and eat some real food. When it comes to processed, high fat foods, don’t buy them, don’t serve them and don’t eat them, trans-fats or not. Your physique and your heart will thank you for it.

I came across this inspirational story of overcoming adversity and never seeing any challenge as to great. I hope it inspires you like it did me.
Mark Wellman, 44, has been a mountaineer since the age of 12. Wellman has ascended over 50 Sierra Nevada peaks, including the French Alps. A freak accident on his descent of the Seven Gables in the John Muir Wilderness left him paralyzed from the waist down in 1982.
Mark has continued his love for climbing with the help of his climbing partner, Mike Corbett. In 1989, they made history with their ascent of the 3,000-foot face of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. On September 4, 1991, Wellman and Corbett set out to conquer Yosemite’s other big wall, Half Dome. Thirteen days later they reached the top of the 2,200 foot vertical Tis-Sa-Ack route on Half Dome
A former member of the United States Disabled Ski Team, competing in two Paralympics, Mark is also known for his extreme down hill skiing and white water kayaking adventures.
In the spring of 1993, Mark skied 50 miles, to be the first paraplegic to sit-ski across the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range with only the use of his arms. The Trans’ Sierra crossing started at Ellery Lake, on the east side of the Sierra, ascended over the 10,000 foot Tioga Pass, and four days later ended at Crane Flat
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Mark earned a Park Management Certificate from West Valley College in Saratoga, California. From 1986-91 he worked as a full time Interpretive Ranger and was Director of the Disabled Access Program in Yosemite National Park
.
The book Climbing Back, is Mark’s autobiography. It is a story of his struggle to survive a disabling accident, to become a park ranger and an accomplished wheel-chair athlete, and ultimately to climb the sheer granite faces of El Capitan and Half Dome. He has designed ‘adaptive’ equipment and has developed programs to inspire and motivate others
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Mark’s passion for the outdoors has led him to document several videos on outdoor adventure, featuring physically disabled individuals enjoying outdoor sports and using their individual means of adaptation. The videos No Barriers, Beyond the Barriers and Wheels of Fire are filled with adventure, drama and inspiration. They include climbing, skiing, kayaking, sailing,surfing, diving and hang-gliding, and more. Every video is enhanced with outstanding music and lyrics, by musicians with varied disabilities.
In August of 1996, Mark demonstrated to the world an example of overcoming adversity. Honored by the Paralympic Committee, he ascended a 120-foot rope, with the flaming torch, and lit the cauldron for the Opening Ceremonies of the 1996 Paralympics in Atlanta, Georgia.
On July 19, 1999, Mark made a repeat climb of El Capitan, which would be ten years later with climbing partner Mike Corbett. Called ‘Return to the Challenge’ his 10-year anniversary climb was completed in 11 days on a much more challenging route, The Nose.
Mark speaks for the Washington-based, Disabled Sports USA. He lends his name to the Governor’s Committee on Employment for the Disabled, and is a consultant for the California’s Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. He is also a member of the General Motors ‘Barrier Breakers’ Team and is an advisor for World T.E.A.M. Sports.
Mark Wellman lives in Northern California where he operates his business No Limits. Whether training for new wilderness adventures, or touring the country as a motivational speaker, Mark constantly strives to break down barriers. From college campuses to corporate boardrooms he has become a nationally known influence for the disabled and able-bodied alike. With his dynamic style and bold determination, Mark continues to encourage his audiences to fulfill their dreams by reaching for higher goals to success.

This last weekend I was I had the privilege of helping out my good friend Scott Abel with a seminar in Toronto. On the Saturday he made a statement that stuck in my head, not only because of its simplicity but because it is absolutely true. He said “whatever you are doing, if it does not feel like work, it’s not going to work!!. How many contraptions and diet schemes have you seen advertised where the big catch line is something like, “effortless” or ‘without changing anything you already eat” or something similar. Essentially the selling point is suppose to be “this is going to be easy”. They should have to put a disclaimer in front of these ads stating, ” What you are about to see is total bullshit and a waste of your money. The manufacturer of the following products takes no responsibility for your laziness and lack of common sense.”

In our “have it now with minimum effort world” the concept of hard work seems to be lost on most people, especially when it comes to exercise. Most people will put in the time but not the effort. Strolling along on a treadmill for an hour makes people think they are making a real effort. The fact that they have not made any progress in months or years seems irrelevant.

Let me leave you with these questions that should help you evaluate your workout intensity. If you can read or watch TV while you are exercising are you really putting in maximum effort? How much water do you go through during your workout? And here is a good one for the ladies. Do you wear make up when you work out? Is it still on your face when you are done?

Have a good day

I came across this article that was published in the print edition of the Irish times. It talks about the weight loss supplement Orlistat. In North America it is sold as ALLI. Here is an excerpt from the article;

LAST WEEK, the pharmaceutical company Glaxo Smith Kline (GSK)
announced that it had received approval to market its weight- loss
product orlistat, as an over-the-counter (OTC) product. It is the first
time that a non-prescription medicine for weight loss will be available
in the Republic and all 27 EU member states.

Readers may be
familiar with the drug under its current trade name, Xenical. It has
been prescribed by doctors for 10 years as part of an overall dietary
plan for people who are overweight or obese.

The experience with
it has been good and the decision to place orlistat on the OTC register
under the trade name Alli, albeit at half the dose prescribed by
doctors, reflects its safety credentials.

While the drug may
very rarely cause side effects such as bowel inflammation and
hepatitis, bloggers in the US, where orlistat has been available
without prescription since 2007, are open about one major drawback. If
you stray too far from the recommended low-fat diet, you are likely to
soil your pants.

Because the diet pill works by blocking 25 per
cent of fat from being digested, those who exceed the recommended fat
intake are likely to experience at least some fecal discharge, if not
the sudden and unwelcome appearance of a stool.

Although this
represents a challenge for first-time users, the side effect does have
the advantage of reinforcing behavioural change. If you cheat on your
diet, you pay a penalty, which is an incentive to reduce your fat
intake so as to avoid social embarrassment and which happily will also
help you lose weight.

Now I am not sure but is ALLI being partially marketed on the premise that if you don’t follow your diet you will shit your pants? This is suppose to “have the advantage of reinforcing behavioral change” I guess it is time to add a new line to my clients contract. It will read as follows; “Any client not following their program will be fed stewed prunes, bran cookies and black coffee and then forced to run a 10k run” All this time I have been using the wrong motivator. Learn something new every day.