Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Fat Loss Versus Every Other Exercise and Nutrition Program

Most people are not participating in a fat loss program. They think they are but are unfortunately misled. What most peopl are doing is wasting very valuable time and not getting the most out of their nutrition or exercise program.

Kind of like sheep many follow the herd in hopes of getting great results, only to be sadly disappointed in the end. I’ve been around active people for a long time and I always see the same trend. Only the select few get what it takes to see results, and they account for about 5% of the total number of people exercising every day. The other 95% are not participating in a fat loss program, rather doing some workout they got from a magazine or the same exercises they have been doing for years just haven’t ‘gotten around’ to changing their program. It has become more of a social event or a mirror pose off after every set (you know the types I’m talking about).

Why are ther not more people following a fat loss program when that is their main goal? Well I think there are two main reasons:

1. They are misinformed- there is too much conflicting information that someone wanting to lose fat gets dizzy from reading this philosophy and that workout, that they try the workouts for a little while but give up because they hear of something ‘new’ and ‘improved’ that will work better.

or

2. They know what it takes but are unwilling to do it, because it is too hard and takes too much discipline. So they settle with how things are and accept that this will be the way they look.

Listen, to cover number one, there is only one way to lose fat, and that is from hard work. There are no short cuts there are no magic pills, and there are no special devices you can buy that will get the fat off you faster than getting your hands dirty kind of work. That means preparing and planning your food choices, and being disciplined with them, no acceptions. And being loyal to your workouts and treat them as moments where you have an opportunity to better yourself, not as a time to catch up with others who want to bring you down with them.

You have a job to do, do it, and don’t let John Doe at the chest fly machine get you off track. He doesn’t care how much fat you want to lose, only you do. So be relentless with your time to workout. You will spend half the time exercising and will feel exhausted but fantastic afterward. Plus you will be amazed how much difference in your results it will make.

And to cover number 2, it is no doubt hard work and there will be times you will want to quit before you reach your goal. Too bad, suck it up and do it. The price to pay now is much more bearable than the price to pay when you are older and have to have a heart attack with your children and grandchildren at your side with tears in their eyes because they don’t know if you are going to make it.

This is no joke, are you going to rely on a magazine workout that was thrown together by someone so hyped up on drugs or has the genetics of a superhuman? Do you really think they do these workouts? Let’s get back to reality here, and understand that the only way ANYONE is going to get real results is if they work their ass off (literally). It is very hard to lose fat, which is one reason you won’t see a large group of people doing bodyweight exercises and full body movements in the gym. It is our nature to choose the path of least resistance, so we have to stare it in the face until it gives in.

The body hates to lose fat, a series of events have to happen in order for fat loss to take place. And they all take a lot of work, which isn’t what the body likes to do. It likes normalcy, and comfort. Neither of which will work in a fat loss program. Are there programs that will keep you healthy that are comfortable? Sure, absolutely, but fat loss is VERY different than a typical exercise program.

Here is a short comparison to a typical exercise program to keep you in ’shape’, and a fat loss program:

‘In Shape’ Program


5 minute warm up on treadmill if you have time

3 sets of 10-15 repetitions of each exercise, performing all sets before moving onto the next exercise.

There is at least 30 seconds to two minute rest in between each set

Save the Abs for last

20-30 minute cardio workout at the end going at a steady comfortable pace

Maybe stretch

Now a Fat Loss Workout:

General warm up using body weight like jumping jacks or jump rope or a jog

Main Workout stations of 30 seconds to 1 minute of each exercise, and rotate to the next exercise with minimal or no rest. A balance of movements are throughout the workout. Three to four rounds of each exercise are performed in an alternating fashion minimizing rest.

Interval Training Cardio Workout-alternating high intensity work with low intensity rest periods. Perform for max of 20 minutes

If we compare the two time periods the ‘in shape’ workout will take 1.5 hours or more but the Fat Loss Workout will take 45-50 minutes.

It is a shorter amount of time but you are getting a ton more quality work done, and the fat loss comes after the workout is done while the body is recovering.

If you commit yourself to losing fat and don’t fall into the ‘quick fix’ trap or the ‘comfort’ trap, you can succeed. But you have to know what you are getting into. It just plain isn’t easy, for if it was, we would be a country full of bating suit models.

No comments: