“The Program”
Looking at the hyped up and over dramatic news feeds on Facebook that start with, “check out my amazing program!” that makes me cringe. I worry about the people reading the posts that simply do not know any better and can become susceptible to the scam. I am talking about the various status’ that say, “John Smith has lost 36 inches in 3 weeks on my program.” The worst is the one that hooks the susceptible mom looking for a solution to the new, not so comfy body she has post-partum. “Look at Jen Smith she has lost 45 inches and 30lbs in 3 weeks of her baby weight.”
These “programs” trouble me on so many levels. Lets start at the beginning. Firstly, you have no idea what the chemical reactions will be inside your body on both the short and long term. There are not enough studies done on the long term reactions and the likely hood of diseases and cancers to your body. These additives you are putting into your body could be any combination of poison, not regulated by the FDA and overall just scary stuff. Don’t be in a rush to get quick results.
Second, this is not “YOUR” program. I have actually deleted “friends” of FB because I couldn’t take these posts anymore! Its not as if the sales rep were in some lab mixing these chemicals like a mad scientist. He/ she probably paid some fee, took a 2 day course (mostly on sales) and bam! Now you have your own store or online store and you decide to crank out the hype on every socail media website pumping your “program” as healthy. This stuff is the furthest thing from healthy!
Third is in regards to the new mommies with the baby weight. Like I said this concerns me the most on so many levels. I know how hard it is on woman who has put on the baby weight and just wants their figure back. I have a 9 month old daughter and I see everyday how hard it is on my wife. Their isn’t any need to jump into a quick fix with chemicals made in a lab. Additionally, on these programs you don’t make a plan, you don’t work on a system of a healthy life style with REAL foods on a consistent basis. Lastly, what kind of example are you setting for you child right off the bat? He/She sees mommie mixing a powder a few times a day. Instead of preparing real, whole organic foods for a nice sit down meal as a family.
So now your thinking ok genius… What should I do? First, you need to accept that there are no short cuts, no quick fixes. The body just doesn’t work that way. When you lose a ton of weight or inches quickly and you go off the “program” you will quickly gain the weight and inches back and then some. A favorite quote of mine is, “hard work solves anything!” If you put together a solid training plan combined with a sound nutrition plan, you can have success. No it will not be fast, no it will not be easy but it will be permanent and so worth it. Remember your kids are watching!
Here are couple of movies that will help you in your goals and will change your mind about nutrition with out any chemicals. They are, “Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead” and “Food Matters”. They are available on Netfilx and well worth your time because they should help put you in a mind frame to accept the path of a healthy lifestyle. Good luck getting on track.
Time to hit the weights..woman included
If you aren’t lifting weights you minus well just skip the gym all together.
Ok, that is actually a little harsher then is completely true, but in all seriousness, I cannot stress enough just how integral strength training is for your physical health. As much fun as it is to run endlessly on the hamster wheel (I mean treadmill…ha ha) there are so many benefits to stepping away from the cardio machines and over to the weights section in your gym.
While you may think that you can lose the weight with loads of cardio, which on face value I agree with you can make sense. Unfortunately that is just not the case. By incorporating strength training you will ideally build lean muscle mass which at rest (means you do not actually have to do any physical activity in order to encourage it) will burn more calories. Therefore you can lose weight throughout the day, like while enjoying a movie on the couch, simply because you focus attention within your workout on strength training.
So if you are looking to reduce your body fat, increase your lean muscle mass and burn calories when you aren’t even trying then strength training is for you. I am not suggesting you strap on the weight belt and lifting gloves and power lift for an afternoon with the men in the corner at the gym, but by introducing slow and controlled strength activities into your workout routine you will work smarter and not harder to meet your fitness goals.
For a one on one introduction into proper strength training techniques please follow the link to Elite Training LLC and learn how our trainer can help you.
Elite Training LLC. 