Backwards Fitness in New Orleans?

As you can imagine, I hear a ton of excuses from people on why they don’t exercise.

Sometimes the reason is self inflicted: I don’t have the time.

Other times the reason is procrastination: “I’m going to start as soon as tax season ends.”

And occasionally the reason is downright ridiculous: “The dog ate my gym shorts.”, “I can’t handle waking up early to workout” , “I don’t like working out during the winter”, “it’s too cold”, “it’s too hot”..

I usually point out to these well meaning folks that, despite their reason, exercise is a very important activity that will dramatically improve their life. I bring up the health benefits and describe how many of their physical ailments would improve. I talk about how great they will feel dropping excess weight and rediscovering a slender figure.

However, there was always an excuse that would get me.

The devious excuse of ‘being active’: Oh, I don’t need to exercise in a gym - I’m very active. I play tennis and hike in the summer and I ski in the winter.

Well, they have a point, right? Tennis, hiking and skiing are all active sports that burn calories. Maybe they can be fit without doing any other exercise, especially if they are at a reasonable weight.

Then I started to notice a trend.

The ‘active’ people couldn’t touch their toes in a simple flexibility test. The ‘tennis players’ couldn’t jump rope for 60 seconds. The ‘hikers’ needed a week to recover from a one mile jog. The ’skiers’ encountered injury after injury. And then it hit me.

You don’t become fit by simply being active. That’s backward fitness.
Only by being fit can you become more active.

To become and maintain a level of fitness there is no replacement for a consistent exercise program. It’s the only way.

True fitness is when your body can do whatever you ask of it. This means having flexibility, strength and endurance.

-Do you exercise? Or are you fooling yourself with the excuse of ‘being active’?

-How happy are you with your level of fitness?

-Are you able to meet all of the functional demands of life?

-Do you find yourself opting out of experiences or situations that you know would be too challenging?

If you’ve used the excuse of ‘being active’ in the past, it’s time to reconsider your options. Don’t practice backward fitness with the hope of true results.

Contact me to get started on a Fitness program in New Orleans that will make you truly fit. And if you’re furthest from active and simply want to lose those extra inches and pounds, make the decision to take action today.

After all, there’s no trial run in the game of life.
Make sure to leave a comment below..I love to hear your thoughts!

Wait! Before you skim down to find which exercise I’ve labeled as the best, read the whole story…

It’s always interesting when I’m approached and asked to pin down a single exercise as the one that will help lose the most fat or sculpt the quickest. I’m always slow to answer.

You see, I’m acutely aware of the fact that though an exercise may be perfect for Client A, it may not be the best choice for Client B-hence my hesitation to label any exercise as the universal best.

That being said, there are exercises that are better than others. And, yes, there are even a few that I would label as the best.

What makes an exercise the best?
When deciding which exercises to include in your routine it is important to consider the type of movement involved. The simpler the movement, the fewer calories you’ll burn. On the other hand, the more complex the movement, the more calories you will burn.

Simply stated, exercises that use complex movements will deliver better results than exercises that use only simple movements. Complex movements recruit multiple muscles, some to stabilize and others to perform the movement. This process keeps your heart rate higher than a simple exercise would, giving you a more intense workout.

What is a complex movement?
A complex movement is a multi-joint movement that recruits large portions of the body to complete the exercise. Let’s compare a simple movement leg exercise with a complex movement leg exercise:

The leg extension machine uses a simple, isolated movement to work the quadriceps. You’re in a seated position moving only your knee joint. There isn’t much involvement, if any, from other muscles and it doesn’t burn very many calories.

Now let’s look at a free weight walking lunge. You start by standing with your feet together and a dumbbell in each hand at your sides (or a barbell across your shoulders, or a medicine ball held at your chest, or even with no weight at all). You take a large step forward and lower your back knee, keeping your front knee at a 90 degree angle. Now you push off your front foot and pull your back leg forward, repeating the movement.

How many muscles did you utilize while performing the lunge? Probably too many to count.

You certainly worked your quadriceps, gluteus, hamstrings, calves, abdominals, supporting muscles in your shoulders, arms and back-just to name a few. You also raised your heart rate and really kicked your metabolism into high gear. That’s what I call a great exercise.

Other ways to increase intensity
Using complex movements are just one of many ways to kick your workout intensity up a notch. Try incorporating a Super Set into your routine. To do so simply perform two or more exercises in a row and then take a short rest.

Or how about a Compound Set? Perform one exercise, rest, then perform an exercise with opposing body parts. To find exercises that compliment one another, choose ones that have similar but opposite motions such as a chest press and a row.

The key to finding the best exercise is to find the ones that bring your workout intensity to a whole new level.

I’d be shortchanging you if I named any exercise as the best. The fact of the matter is that it is a combination of changing your workouts up, using interval training, and even some good old cardio that will ultimately see you to your goal.

These methods will help you to burn more calories, increase your metabolic rate, and will stimulate the production of more fat burning and muscle toning hormones. Of course, there is more involved to achieving your fitness goals. You need to incorporate fat burning into your routine. You need to consistently challenge yourself during workouts. You need to take control of your eating habits and to get your diet dialed in.

So what’s the best exercise for you?

Well, we do a lot of them in New Orleans Boot Camp for Women <–click to learn more!

Could These Foods in New Orleans Could be Making you Fat?

It’s easy to let yourself be fooled into thinking the things you eat are healthy. Foods dressed in crafty packaging lead you to believe they will help you lose weight.

But do they?

The truth is that most of the time the only thing special about the so-called healthy food product is the clever marketing. Have you been fooled by the following foods?

So-Called Healthy Food #1: SALAD

Who doesn’t get a self-righteous feeling when ordering a salad, right? Salads are healthy, and salads equal weight loss. Unfortunately, not anymore.

Salad in and of itself is a wonderful, healthy food. It is filled with nutrients and untouched by artificial additives. If only we left it at that.

Most salads on the menu today are loaded with fat laden extras. Croutons, tortilla strips, nuts, and even fried chicken (not the best source of protein). And let’s not forget the salad dressing.

While you know that salad dressing isn’t very healthy, you may not be aware of the staggering number of fat calorie packed in these dressings. Most people add between a quarter to a half a cup of dressing to their salad, and with the average creamy salad dressing weighing in at 8-12 grams of fat per tablespoon, you can see how an innocent collection of greens can quickly turn into a spare tire.

So-Called Healthy Food #2: 100 CALORIE PACKS

In the snack section of your local grocery store you’ve probably seen the attractively packaged “100 Calorie Packs.” These light and airy snack packs send a subtle message that they are healthy and in line with your desire to drop the fat.

I mean, how harmful can they be? Let’s take a look at the snacks within the package.

Here are the most popular:

• Oreo cookies
• Ritz snack mix
• Planter’s peanut butter cookies
• Cheese Nips crackers
• Chips Ahoy cookies
• Shortbread cookie

Hmmm, that list sounds like junk food-doesn’t it? These items are high in sugar, salt and fat, and they don’t contain a grain of nutritional value. And let’s be honest, most people don’t eat just one pack…

So-Called Healthy Food #3: CEREAL

Can a box of cereal help you lose weight? That’s the message being sent out by a handful of cereal brands, namely Special K. This cereal manufacturer has gone so far as to create the Special K Challenge, a program which claims to help drop 6 pounds in 2 weeks. The message that most consumers take away from the cereal commercials is “If I eat this brand of cereal then I will lose weight.”

Wait, don’t grab a bowl of your favorite cereal along with your skinny jeans just yet.

It’s dangerous to think that any food item will promote weight loss, especially a food item that is high in simple carbohydrates. In the fine print you will see that the cereal claims to help lose weight when incorporated with a very low calorie diet, and that the cereal itself has no weight loss inducing power.

Making the Healthy Choice
As a rule of thumb ignore the bold claims on food packaging-the information you really need is listed on the nutrition label. Finding healthy food is simple when you use the following guidelines.

• Eat Fresh: The healthiest food in the world is fresh, unprocessed whole foods. This includes fresh vegetables and fruit, whole grains and legumes, and raw seeds and nuts. These fresh foods supply your body with vitamins, minerals and enzymes that are priceless to your health. When it comes to meat, poultry and dairy choose products that are grass fed and hormone and antibiotic free.

• Set Limits: Let’s be honest. Just because something is edible doesn’t mean you should eat it. A key to healthy eating is to identify which items to limit or even eliminate from your diet.

• Cholesterol. The American Heart Association recommends that you limit your intake of cholesterol from food to less than 300 milligrams per day.

• Saturated Fat. Your intake of saturated fat should be less than 7% of your total daily calories.

• Trans Fat. It is recommended that you either eliminate trans fat from your diet or keep it under 1% of your total daily calories.

• Sugar. Most of us consume way more sugar than we should. Make a habit of checking the ingredient list of the foods you eat. If sugar is the first listed ingredient then you know that item is packed with sugar.
  
  Look at the whole picture: A healthy diet consists of taking in a combination of fats, carbohydrates, fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals each day. Remember that eating too much of even healthy foods can lead to weight gain. All of the foods that you eat should fit together to form a well-balanced, calorie controlled diet.

The bottom line is that you should eat to live not live to eat in New Orleans….. Your body will thank you for it.

Interested in how many women in New Orleans lose weight fast? Read this article about my New Orleans Fitness Boot Camp Program

If you have any questions or comments leave them below. I’m more then happy to help you out!

Do you have the New Orleans Stubborn Fat Blues?

Every year at about this time frustrated people around the globe look in the mirror and take in the end results of their holiday eating frenzy.

Maybe your waist is larger, or your hips are wider, or maybe your New Year’s resolve has fizzled.

So what do you do about the stubborn and seemingly permanent fat?

Sink into a depression?

Well, the easiest thing to do is to throw a pity party. Then before you know it your feelings of self pity begin to snowball into a full blown case of the Stubborn Fat Blues.

How do you know if you have the Stubborn Fat Blues?

• Your pants are tighter today than they were a year ago
• You’ve tried to lose weight only to fail.
• You feel trapped.
• You’re close to giving up on yourself.

If you can relate to any of the above statements then you have the Stubborn Fat Blues - quite an unpleasant condition to have.
Fortunately, there is a cure.

It all starts with your mind. The thing about the Stubborn Fat Blues is that it affects your mind more than anything.

You see, your mental state is critical in determining your shape and size. When you focus on all of the things that you hate about your current body like the size of your thighs, the shape of your butt, or the way your belly looks then you’re putting all of your energy on the negative.

The more you think about how unhappy you are, the unhappier you will become.

Makes sense, right?

So instead of wallowing, use the following techniques to conquer the Stubborn Fat Blues:

1. Take it one battle at a time.
You may have 20, 50 or 100 pounds to lose before you reach your ideal weight - and, boy, that can be overwhelming. The truth is that weight loss like that won’t happen overnight - it takes months of dedication. It’s no wonder so many people simply give up.

Don’t worry about winning the entire war today, instead focus on conquering one battle at a time. Take it one meal at a time, and one day at a time. A healthy meal, a good workout and you’ve won a battle. Remember, 100 pounds is broken down into 350,000 calories. Sure, that sounds like a lot, but all you have to do is focus on burning more calories than you take in today – in the end weight loss will be inevitable.

2. Use a trigger.
How many times throughout your day do you find yourself plagued with negative thoughts? I’m too fat. I’ll never look as good as I used to. I’m not attractive. Yikes! Thoughts like these will ruin your chance at regaining your figure - they are total momentum killers.

Here’s what I want you to do. Whenever a negative thought enters your mind instantly do the following:

• Breathe out and squeeze your abs for 5 seconds – 3 times
• Throw away any junk food within arms reach
• Plan to exercise that day

Make negative thoughts a trigger to take positive action toward your goal - the results will amaze you.

3. See what you want.
If you have weight to lose, mirrors are a nightmare. Every lump and pouch seems to jump out with alarming illumination. And it doesn’t help that most of us see things as worse than they really are.

When was the last time that you closed your eyes and pictured the body that you wished you had? It may sound hokey, but I’m serious. Your mind is very impressionable, and when you bombard it with only the negative then you will be stuck on that image.

Take time each day to visualize your ideal body. Close your eyes and put yourself in that ideal body – feel what it feels like to be fit and attractive. This exercise is a powerful way to fixate your mind on your goal in a way that will leave you no room for failure.

4. Get serious.
Sooner or later you will decide that you are fed up with the Stubborn Fat Blues. You will decide that your health is important. You will decide that you deserve to look great. And you will do what it takes to achieve amazing results.

The best way to ensure that your motivation stays strong - and that your goal is met - is to get on a New Orleans fitness program that actually works.

If you need help finding the right program for you – I can help. Together we will identify your goals, find workout programs that you enjoy and create a routine that works with your schedule. It’s that simple.

Jill Lost 25 pounds With New Orleans Boot Camp and Climbed a Mountain!!!

Contact me today for a consultation and to learn more about the Best New Orleans Boot Camp program available to you.
Then you can say goodbye to the New Orleans Stubborn Fat Blues - forever!

Make sure to leave a comment below and let me know How I  help you fight the Stubborn Fat Blues!

The New Year renews hope for your dreams.

And if you are like most people then your dream for the New Year has everything to do with losing weight.

It makes sense, doesn’t it? What better time is there than now to transform your body into the one that you’ve always dreamed of?

To get you off to a great start I’d like to share with you some food for thought:

Why do you eat?

Now I know at first glance the answer to that question seems painfully obvious - but I want you to dig deeper. You’re probably thinking that you eat when your body is hungry to get the energy you need to sustain life. And you’re partially right. But that’s not the only reason that you eat.

The truth is that you (along with almost everyone you know) eat too much. Your body simply doesn’t need all of the calories that you consume, and it shows in a physique that is less than svelte. If we only ate to fuel our bodies then we’d all have washboard abs. And that’s clearly not the case, right?

So what drives you to eat when you shouldn’t? Hmmmm. The answer to this question could be just what you need to see results before 2010.

Here are the four basic reasons that you eat:

1. Because you’re hungry.
This one is obvious. You eat when your body tells you that it’s hungry and in need of fuel. Just like your car lets you know when it’s time to head over to the gas station for a filler up, your body is great at letting you know that energy stores are low.

Eating when you are hungry and stopping when you are full is a healthy thing. Too bad this isn’t the only reason that you eat…

2. Because you’re emotional.
…but the truth is that you also eat when you are emotional. Think back - can you remember a time when you turned to food after a stressful confrontation? Or how about when you’ve soothed the blues away by treating your sweet tooth? And it’s not just negative emotions that lead to emotional eating - most of us reward happiness with unnecessary calories as well.

Emotional eating adds an untold number of calories to your diet - all calories that are unnecessary and turn into fatty deposits on your body.

3. Because you’re social.
Come on, don’t just sit there, have a slice of pizza with us. No one likes to eat alone, and so you feel obligated to eat with others. How many times have you filled up a plate just because everyone else was eating?

When eating becomes a social activity with no thought to the calories that are being consumed, only one thing will result: weight gain.

4. Because you’re habitual.
At the end of each day you relax in front of the television with a snack, and I’m willing to bet that it isn’t because you’re hungry. You simply associate sitting down to watch television with eating something. Or maybe you always visit the vending machine on your break whether you’re hungry or not - it’s just become a habit.

As humans we love to form habits, and when your habits involve eating extra calories then your waistline suffers for it.

Here is my challenge to you:

• Take the time to examine why you are eating, and choose to only eat when you’re truly hungry. This small action has the potential to dramatically improve your physique in the coming year.

• Remember that improving your diet is only half of the equation when it comes to reshaping your body.

The quickest and most permanent results are achieved when good eating habits are accompanied by challenging New Orleans exercise program.

I’d like to see you transform your body before  2010 - so much so that I am willing to pay you for Every Pound and Inch you Lose!

Just click the link below and register for the next boot camp starting Dec. 7

New Orleans Exercise Boot Camp Program! <—-Click here

Make sure to leave a comment below and let me know what really drives you to eat what you shouldn’t!

New Orleans Holiday Weight Loss Tips!

Have you ever wondered why everyone you know still gains weight this time of year - despite the fact that Holiday weight loss tips are passed around in greater numbers than Thankgiving cookies?
Don’t get me wrong - weight loss tips are great. I love to find creative ways to cut calories and increase activity during the most fattening time of the year.

In fact, here are 10 great tips that will prevent you from gaining weight over the holidays:

1.Limit your intake of calorie laden beverages. Eggnog, champagne, mochas, and hot chocolate all have one thing in  common: they are packed with empty calories - avoid these beverages and load up on water instead.

2. Officially schedule exercise into your calendar. It’s just too easy to let workouts slide this time of year - make a commitment to exercise and keep it.

3. Forego the goodie making. By keeping your home free from Holiday treats you will undoubtedly gain fewer pounds. However, if you simply have to make those Holiday cookies then chew gum during the baking process to prevent snacking.

4. Have fun being active. Winter is a great time to burn calories outdoors. Go bike riding for a day or take the kids to the park. Too chilly? No problem - take a r power walk through the mall.

5. Use healthy ingredients. Your Holiday meal will taste even better when you seek out fresh, organic and low fat ingredients - and you’ll feel better too.

6. Learn to compromise. Dying to have that peppermint mocha? Go ahead - but have it with nonfat milk and pass on the whipped cream.

7. Don’t go hungry. The Holidays are a dangerous time for your metabolism. Focus on eating small balanced meals every few hours to keep your metabolism going strong.

8. Enjoy a sample. No one says you have to completely avoid the appetizers and desserts at your Holiday party - just enjoy in moderation.

9. Focus on family not food. Let’s face it, this time of year is big on two things: family and food. Make an effort to place your focus primarily on your family.

10. Stick to your strategy. The best way to gain weight over the Holidays is to approach them without a plan. Using the above tips, write down the ways in which you plan to avoid weight gain this year - then periodically check up on yourself.

The truth is that if you follow these New Orleans weight loss tips you will see a drop in Holiday pounds and you may even lose a pound or two…but don’t expect to reshape your figure with them.

Let’s be honest, you want to lose more than a pound or two.

-You want to lose all of those extra pounds while reshaping your body.
-Simply avoiding certain foods or burning a few extra calories won’t produce the breathtaking results that you crave.

Here’s the bottom line: To transform your body you must introduce new and challenging exercise to your routine.
You may feel that the secret to achieving weight loss is just that - a secret. A mystery. You try, and try, and try but your goals are never met. Your dream body continues to stay out of reach.

In my experience the people who are unable to lose weight aren’t failing due to laziness. In fact, those frustrated with their weight often put in a lot of effort – but on the wrong things.

• A fad diet.
• The latest exercise gizmo.
• An ineffective routine at the gym.

It’s not that you aren’t willing to put in the effort - you’re just doing the wrong thing.

Think about this for a moment…What if 2009 was the year that you took control of your body?

The year that you threw your fat clothes away…

the year that your doctor congratulated you on your improved health…

the year that your family and friends - and that special someone - showered you with compliments.

the year that you were proud to put on those skinny pants…

It’s possible. Even more possible than you think.

The thing is that you need to direct your effort in an effective way.
It all comes back to introducing new and challenging exercise into your routine.

This is where I come in.

You see, for me weight loss isn’t a mystery. It’s my passion. I have a proven method that will dramatically transform your body into one that you are proud to be seen in.However, I can’t promise that it will be easy. You’ll work hard, you’ll sweat and you’ll even feel sore. And before you know it you will be telling everyone you know about the amazing results you’ve achieved.

In this season of gift giving don’t miss the opportunity to give yourself the gift that you really want.

• A new body.
• A tight body.
• A stronger body.
• A healthier body.

I am here to help you do just that.

If you would like to learn more about  my New Orleans Boot Camp Weight Loss program. <—click here

You deserve it.

Make sure to leave a comment below and let me know your biggest weight loss challenges during the holidays!

Can You Do 5 Steps to Setting your New Orleans Fat Loss Goals?

I was in Orlando this past weekend. I went to a seminar that talked about Strategies and how to get your Goals done.
It was a Great event..Plus I got to take my daughter to Disney while  I was down there….. I had a blast with her!

However, I wanted to share with you 5 Key points I herd over and over again at the seminar…………

Can you do me a favor and Just Do these 5 steps? It’s a Great way to Reach Your Goals!

1. Make a Choice, Look at your body, Your Quality of life. What do you really want to have?

2. Be Specific- Leave no Detail left behind.

3. Find Your Reason- Now that you know what you to change, ask yourself WHY?

4. Form your Plan- What is it going to take to get there? What are you going to have to do?

5. Take Action-  Do you know the Number one cause of failure in most peoples lives?……….Never Taking Action!

• We develop comfort zones and become afraid to Step out of those boundaries and really go after our goals.
• We know we Must Change………….
• We know that we have to follow our plan to be happy, but seldom do…….

DO NOT let your written plan of ACTION go to waste….

Start immediately on working toward your goals!

For all you Action takers out there,  make sure you take action and Register for the next Boot Camp

The Only Boot Camp that Pays you to Lose Weight!!

Click here to Register New Orleans Fitness Boot Camp

Make sure to leave a comment below and let me know your 5 actions!

Simple ways to Minimize Your Swine Flu Risk in New Orleans

I’m not an alarmist kinda person.  However - Seasonal flu annually sickens 5-20% of the population. and statistics Don’t lie.

Actually, a friend of mine in New Orleans called me yesterday to tell me that her child contracted the swine flew..It kind of freaked me out because I have a beautiful 5y/o daughter (see pic below) in Kindergarten this year…..I can’t help to be concerned ….which prompted me to write this blog today.

But there’s no need for gloom and doom. These 7 simple techniques reduce your Swine Flu risk and you’ll start feeling much better.

1.    Vitamin D through sun exposure or a good multi-vitamin that contains Vitamin D3

2.    Avoid sugar and processed foods

3.    Get on a consistent New Orleans exercise program <————–click here

4.    Daily Omega 3 fats from krill oil to boost your immune system

5.    Get enough rest.  Some believe getting less than 6 hours of sleep a night dramatically increases you chances

of contracting the flu

6.    Wash your hands thoroughly throughout the day

7.    Consume anti-oxidants to help fight off free radicals that can weaken your immune system

If you’re looking for the way to stay healthy this year then that means following all 7 seven steps above.

In the comment section below I’d love to hear about any other tips that you know of  or swine flu stories

Yours in Health and Swine Flue Prevention!

Jonas Deffes

Make sure to forward this info to your family and friends to help us prevent the spread of Swine!