What Do Happy Hour and Boot Camp Have in Common?

"Happy Hour is so much fun, you get two drinks and you pay for one!"

I don't know where I first heard this, but for some reason it stuck in my head. It's a little diddy about "happy hour". And yes, there's a tune that goes with it, but you'll have to make up your own for now.

Silly? Absolutely. But it perfectly symbolizes the " 2 for the price of 1" or what we have come to refer to as the "Two fer".

And that brings me to boot camp. We have a "two fer" also. If you are a new member you can join with a friend and "split the cost" of a one month membership. Two people, half the price, the perfect "two fer".

Register Here For "Two for One" Boot Camp

What's really great about this is that it gets people excited for "two" reasons. First, everybody loves a deal and to save money. By getting a perceived value, they feel good about their purchase and that's also a good thing. Second, they have established a low barrier of entry into boot camp.

First time boot campers are often tentative. They don't know what to expect and they have some reservations that they might fail or not be able to keep up with the group. It's easy for us veterans to know that their apprehensions are just FEAR or what is referred to as

False Evidence Appearing Real.

But within a week or so, their fears are gone and they know how boot camp works. Aside from some sore muscles everything is hunkey dory.

But then by the final week, they are beginning to feel awesome and their energy levels pick up. Many are getting their nutrition dialed in and their clothes are a tad looser. And many begin to realize that boot camp exercise works. I live for is the look on people's faces when they talk about how their lives are changing, how amazing they feel, and that they can do things they never could before.

But, they also begin to realize the appreciate the value of boot camp that is far beyond the price.

Here is a recent testimonial I received from a boot camper.

"I was getting ready to leave my office and head over to Boot Camp when I received a call from my boss advising me that our offices were going to be moving and I would have an hour-long commute. While I was driving to Boot Camp I could barely hold back the tears, I was a complete wreck at the thought of such a grueling commute. I got to Boot Camp and Larry put us through another great workout, which is always different and and fun, and always kicks my butt (in a good way though). Got back in the car to drive home and started thinking about work again, and realized that I was in such a great mood that even the thought of that commute couldn't bring me down. I just felt a sense of contentment that wouldn't go away. I was totally amazed that the power of a great workout had changed my mood from being completely miserable to being very happy, and changed my outlook to make a bad situation seem not so bad at all, or at least fixable. If I can change my body to make it better, then I can change anything."

Boot camp is about life. Everything we think and do adds up to the experience we call "our life". It's not complicated, but it is about our thoughts and our actions.

So let me get back on point. If you want to change your life, then you need to start working towards creating the life you want. Fitness goals should not take over your life, they should enhance every other part of it. Your body, mind, and diet aren't stand alone islands. Everything interacts and weaves together.

And boot camp is a place where all of this comes together. It's here for the taking if you want it and if you are willing to do the work.

And we're making it easier than ever because now you can join with a friend for half price. (new members, one month only).

Register Here For "Two for One" Boot Camp

Press on!


P.S. Please forward this blog post to anyone you know that might be able to benefit from our program and this New Year's Special.


Register Here For "Two for One" Boot Camp

A Heathier Super Bowl Sunday

If you haven't done your food shopping yet here's a smorgasbord of goodies for your football party. As long as you are at it, why not make a few tweaks to some of the more traditional party food recipes to make them healthier and more "figure-friendly"?

The following is a comprehensive list of both approved food choices and/or healthier substitutes for traditional party foods. Use this list to satisfy your taste buds while saving at least hundreds if not thousands of calories in the process. If you use these strategies consistently for parties and social gatherings over the course of the year, this could prevent 5-10 lbs of fat gain easily!

Appetizers

• Naked Sandwiches (preferably bun-less, only use whole grain bun option if absolutely needed)
• Thin Crust Whole Grain Pizza
• Fruit Salad (throw low-carb whipped cream and dash of Splenda or Stevia on top as desired)
• Super Salad Bowl (use unlimited veggies and meats, dip dressing on the side or use low calorie substitutes)
• Sweet Potato Fries
• Tuna or Chicken Salad
• Nut Butter on Celery Sticks
• Mixed Nuts (no sugar, unroasted, low in salt)
• Cheese, Eggs, and Meat Tray
• Raw Veggies (use dip sparingly)
• Grilled/Sauteed Veggies (use extra virgin olive or coconut oil)
• Figure-Friendly Nachos (see “accessories” below for ingredients: tortillas, cheese, salsa, and guacamole)
• Buffalo Chicken Bites (skinless, no breading, use low calorie buffalo sauce sparingly)
• Pasta Salad (use whole grain pasta and go easy on the dressings, avoid creamier versions)

Accessories

• Natural Whole Grain Tortillas
• Natural Baked Chips
• Natural Cheetohs
• Diet Lipton Green Teas (or other low-calorie/carb beverages)
• Water
• Natural Salsa
• Guacamole
• Salad Dressings: Vinegars of choice (apple cider, red wine, balsamic, etc.)
• Other Low Calorie Condiments of Choice: mustard, hot sauce, horseradish, etc.

Main Courses

• Lettuce Burgers (use extra lean sirloin or bison, preferably bun-less only using whole grain bun option if absolutely needed)
• Rotisserie Chicken (choose “plain” and remove skin and dab off any grease as needed with paper towel)
• Extra Lean Kosher Hot Dogs (preferably bun-less, only use whole grain bun option if absolutely needed)
• Chili (preferably meat-less, only use if absolutely needed and feel free to swap extra lean turkey for the beef version to cut down fat intake)
• Pizza (see “appetizers” above or use whole grain/thin crust options from restaurants or frozen food isles)

Desserts

• Edy’s Grand Light Ice Cream
• Prograde Cravers (100% organic chocolate snacks bars - got2getprograde.com
• Larabars
• Low Carb Cheesecake from Cheesecake Factory
• Protein Cookies (swap in protein powder for flour)

BONUS - Top 10 Tips to Save Thousands of Calories on Super Bowl Sunday

1.) Go Naked: Replace all buns or breading for sandwiches with a lettuce wrap alternative to cut calories, stabilize blood sugar, and boost fiber and micro-nutrient intake.

2.) Hydrate: Drink at least two to four cups of water before eating AND one to two cups every 15-30 minutes after you start eating to fill your stomach and prevent overeating that can be triggers by dehydration.

3.) Eliminate Empty Liquid Calories: Minimize or eliminate all fruit juices, regular sodas, and alcohol. Opt for water, tea, or low calorie/carb beverages in moderation to leave more room for whole food choices that have more nutritional value and better fill you up.

4.) Do not fast in preparation for a feast as it will turn your body into a famished fat-storing machine the next time you eat. The resulting low blood sugar levels that come from not eating for four hours or more make you crave junk foods high in both fat and refined sugars.

5.) Replace All White with Brown (Or Better Yet... Green!): Be sure to use the whole grain alternatives for any starch you serve at your party (e.g. chips, tortillas, breads, rice, pasta). Whole grains have more vitamins and minerals and are high in fiber which means they won’t have as negative of an impact on your blood sugar compared to its white counterparts. However, if you want to be a nutritional boy or girl scout, go one step further by replacing all brown with green in the form of green veggies (see “Go Naked” above).

6.) Focus on eating lean proteins and fruits and veggies first. Use these in unlimited amounts as needed to fill you up and best prevent the typical party “killshot” of high carb and high fat meals (e.g. thick crust pizza with extra full-fat cheese).

7.) Never eat directly out of the bag or community bowl and use smaller plates to put your food on while limiting yourself to a pre-set plate total (e.g. four plate maximum during a three-hour football game).

8.) Replace Gold With Green: Opt for guacamole over cheese for your salads and chips. Guacamole is not only low in saturated fat and high in heart healthy monounsaturated fats but it also has a ton of fiber that will help fill you up fast and prevent overeating. Though cheese is a true super food in moderation, it is very easy to overeat especially when mixed with refined carb sources like white chips and pizza.

9.) Replace Flour with Protein Powder: Few people know that protein powder makes a great cooking or baking substitute for flour (e.g. protein cookies). By adding protein and reducing carb intake you will boost metabolism.

10.) 20 Chews: Eat slowly and require a certain number of chews before you swallow to allow your brain enough time to get the “I’m full” signal (e.g. 20 pre-swallow chews).

"But Larry...!"

What is it that makes some people successful while others keep chasing it wondering why achieving the things they want in life are always beyond their reach?

It's not talent.

It's not genius.

Give up?

It's diligence.

People that are successful focus on tasks and do them with "diligence".

Here's the Wikipedia definition.

"Diligence is a zealous and careful nature in one's actions and work. Decisive work ethic. Budgeting one's time; monitoring one's own activities to guard against laziness. Putting forth full concentration in one's work."

If you have obstacles, you might never even get in the game. Here's a common challenge I have heard consistently over the years and it's this:

"But Larry, I don't have the time."

There are some people that literally don't have the time, but most people are simply wasting time. In essence, they value other things. Let me ask you a simple question. Do you ever watch TV at night? Millions do, and why not, there are some very good shows on television. But it could be costing you big time. (And if it's not TV, it could be the internet, video games, etc.)

But isn't watching TV really a reward for all the hard work you do all day? You really do deserve to kick back, grab the remote (if it's available) and lose yourself in a good movie, catch up on your soaps, a sporting event, a cooking show, or learn "What Not To Wear"!

Look, I'm not against TV. But, I am against TV if you watch it for two hours a night and you tell me you have no free time. Even one hour a night is a is costing you, as you could be exercising.

"But Larry, I'm also too tired at night to workout".

I feel for you, I really do. I know it's hard being you. Many of you have challenging careers, take care of kids, take care of parents, own a business, run a home, coach a team, and the list goes on and on. I understand completely, but I'll tell you this.

SO WHAT? That's right, so what?

Everybody has challenges that make them tired at the end of the day. But here's something you may not realize. Everybody has everything in their lives that they value most from the clothes they wear to the cars they drive. If it's a "high value" item, good, or service, you've got it. By "high value" I don't mean high-priced. I mean on a scale of one to ten, the things you value are closer to ten. So if working out at night is not for you, then make sure you go to bed earlier so you can get up earlier, AND WORKOUT!

Yes, this change will be hard and you won't like it, but do it anyway because the benefits outweigh the discomfort. In time, you'll be glad you toughed it out as you'll have more energy and you'll lose weight. And once you make getting up early and exercising a habit, you'll be hard pressed to let it go.

People that are fit may not be wealthy and yet they may make sacrifices to belong to a gym, hire a personal trainer, or come to boot camp.

Why is that?

Because they value their health and they care about the way they look. Well, the way they look naked anyway. (However, some of us do need to watch "What Not To Wear") Quite simply, exercise and nutrition is a higher value priority in some peoples lives.

Now I realize I might be ruffling a few feathers here, but some of you need to know this. If you are struggling with your weight, month after month, year after year, the problem is most likely in the choices you make which is driven by the way you think about the choices you make. A good place to begin is to change the way you think about exercise and nutrition.

"But Larry, I don't like to exercise."

I understand. Exercise is hard work and since you were born a princess, you really should be excused from performing hard work. After all, isn't that what skilled labor is for? Perhap you could hire someone to lift your weights, perform your cardio, and eat correctly for you! (did you catch the sarcasm?)

Before I go on let's make sure you do not have any health related issues. Sometimes people struggle for years and never realize they have an underactive thyroid for example. You might want to consider seeing a medical doctor.

With that disclaimer out of the way, let's assume you are healthy, and you are still struggling for much too long. Nutrition is so often the missing link. Every time you eat something ask yourself this question. Am I bored, upset, just hungry, or am I eating to boost my metabolism and improve my health? Eating is an opportunity to do something healthy, or not. If you are eating extra food for "extra" reasons, you are most likely eating too many calories.

A little planning can go a long way.

When you go to bed at night, do you think about the next day and factor in your exercise routine? Do you have a contingency plan? How do you feel about yourself if you miss a workout? How do you feel about planning your meals? Does it all seem too overwhelming? How often do you find yourself skipping breakfast? How often do you find yourself picking up dinner at Quiznos or Panera Bread? Ouch, I bet I hit a nerve there.

Well, once again you are right on the money. This actually is very challenging.

The fact of the matter, the crux of the biscuit, the very bottom line is this... People that are successful at anything are successful because they are willing to do what other people won't do. They want the end result bad enough that they are willing to change their lives (drum roll please) AND STILL BE UNCOMFORTABLE. (see make sacrifices)

They will skip watching TV (or watch a lot less)
They plan their meals, meetings, work, play, etc.
They exercise daily and factor it in to the day.
They want something bad enough and make sacrifices and stop making excuses.
They write down what they want to achieve.
They educate themselves about whatever it is they want to achieve.
AND THEY LOVE BOOT CAMP! - Sorry, I couldn't resist :-)

No, I can't sugar coat this for you. This is simple, but it's not easy. Most people that travel down the road of health and fitness wander aimlessly. I am just a guide with a map. "Come follow me, I'll show you the way."

I absolutely love it when someone comes along and just gets it. They know that they want to be lean and fit, so they hire me as their coach. They follow the plan they lose fat in record time. Sure it makes me look good as a fitness professional, but truth be told, they deserve all the credit and they are the one's who look great!

Successful people:

Know what they want.
Take action.
Follow through with diligence.
Don't quit.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Let's start at the beginning. In order to improve your body composition, you need to exercise and eat right. Unfortunately that's just too much of an over simplification. Exercise and eating right means something different to everybody. So I'll do my best to make this easy for you.

I've got two options for boot camp that are both also great deals. You get more value than you pay for. But if you actually follow my plan and incorporate some of these success formula traits at the same time, the results could be worth 1000 times your financial investment.

What you "Value Most" will always determine your decision.

I came to value health and helping people so much that I changed my life and my career to do what makes me happy. Try to imagine what motivated me. I'll tell you this, it wasn't inspiration, it was desperation, massive doses of it too. There were literally dozens of reasons why I needed to change my life. It didn't happen over night. It's been a seven year journey since I had the first thought when I connected with my passion for fitness.

Decide what you want to change in your life and go for it.

Don't worry about getting it perfect, just get it going!

What's Exercise Costing You?

First let me set the record straight that I am not writing this post to make fun of Nintendo's Wii Fit program. Instead, I want to I simply make you stop and think about it in a different context. Consider the fact that Nintendo is first and foremost a huge corporation that manufactures electronic products that entertain. I'm willing to wager they created and launched Wii Fit because their research proved it would be a hot seller and "make money". And they were right.

I think it is important to point out that unlike other companies Nintendo is not a health and fitness company. They have jumped on the fitness bandwagon and created Wii Fit for people who are looking for fun ways to work out. Basically, there's nothing wrong with that. It's a great idea, especially if it gets you to exercise more often, and there's nothing wrong with exercise being fun. But is this the kind of exercise we need, and is it effective?

In my opinion, Wii Fit is highly unlikely to provide enough stimulus to the body to build lean muscle and improve your body composition.

I've seen evidence that the Wii Fit is doing well with the seniors market. That makes sense to me and seems reasonable as the older we get and the more de-conditioned we become, having a device like the Wii is perhaps a good choice to get senior citizens to move their bodies. Sadly though, Nintendo is not marketing specifically to the senior market. They are marketing to everyone.

I'm sure people of all ages are playing with Wii Fit. If it's entertainment and fun you seek then have a blast. But if its a leaner more muscular body you are looking for then Wii Fit will simply not get the job done and you will have spent money and wasted countless hours of your precious time and not achieve the results you were hoping for.

I think it's safe to say that this video is a pretty good example of "What NOT to do" when it comes to implementing an effective, fat loss routine.

Great points about this video -

There is no “video game” solution that has been designed with your best interest in mind.

Do not lose sight of the fact that this is a hugely successful gaming company.

And just like we have seen many examples in the Food Manufacturing industry - money is the #1 priority.

With rising obesity rates, what better product to create - especially when video games have been blamed for the reason our children are suffering from weight gain.

I conducted a little research into Wii Fit and I came across this interesting statement:

This statement was made in regard to the release of Wii Fit in America

~~~

Nintendo has shipped approximately 500,000 copies of Wii Fit to North America, and about 2 million units to Europe. By sending four times as many units to Europe, they are maximizing profits, which at the moment are pretty incredible.

Besides, it’s not as if those American waistlines are going anywhere anytime soon. “They know that Americans will be just as fat a few months from now when Nintendo will have more units available,” Pachter said.

~~~

Really makes you reconsider, right?

Taking responsibility for our health and fitness - and most importantly the health and fitness of our children - requires not just the know-how but also the ability to recognize trends like these and taking a moment THINK about the consequences of relying on them as THE solution.

Disclaimer:
If you choose to use the Wii Fit - please do so for entertainment purposes. You simply cannot get an effective fat burning resistance training and interval session out of playing a game in front of your TV. This is just something Fun to do in Moderation.

Like the video sarcastically points out - which I love - there simply is no substitute for getting OUTSIDE, moving freely, breathing the fresh air, soaking up the sunshine, appreciating life - real life.

Do you remember what REAL play was like?

I want you to consider adding some "back yard" activities you can do with your family. Have a catch with a baseball or a Frisbee, go for a walk in your neighbor hood "as a family" and make it an after-supper ritual. Ride your bikes together. There are many simple things you can do if you use your imagination. I have tried lacrosse and now practice with my son Jake. The best part is "I suck at lacrosse", so I am always running after the ball I couldn't catch!

There simply is no substitute for these types of experiences.

Wrap Up

Well if you have an extra $100 (depending on where you live) and wish to add to the entertainment center - go for it. I am not at all saying there is zero benefit to some of the offerings Wii Fit packages up for you.

However, if you find that you - and more importantly your children - are spending more time in front of the TV than you are getting outside, reading a book, taking or playing with your loved ones - then please reconsider this approach.

Bottom Line: The solution to our health and fitness needs is not found by spending hours in front of our TV each day.

What do YOU think?

Exercise hurts so good

This week was a good one for workouts. I introduced a "300 Style" workout and got some terrific feedback from boot campers. The "feedback" was in the form of ..."name a body part" followed by, IS KILLING ME! Believe it or not that's a compliment!

I often wonder what it is about us crazy exercise "enthusiasts" that we enjoy sore muscles. Actually it's more of a love-hate relationship for me. Having sore muscles let's me know that I pushed myself hard enough to know that my muscles were stimulated and sufficiently overloaded. This means more calories burned and lean muscle growth. That's the love part.

The hate part is the pain I feel after a heavy squat workout, where my legs and butt are punished to the point where just trying to get up from a chair (or the toilet for that matter) is painful. I know you are laughing with me, right?

Still, I believe the love part wins out. I think it's because our brains rationalize the pain we feel after exercise as the price we have to pay for letting our bodies get out of shape. It's also the price we have to pay to "earn" our improved shapely physique. It's not a conscious process, we just accept it as part of the deal.

Of course there are many people who don't like the muscular discomfort and quit. Personally, I feel for these individuals. I know if they just hang in there for a few weeks, they'll be so very glad they did. The benefits are so worth it. If you are one of those people and you are reading this, please try again. Just start more slowly and progress gradually. It's the too much, too soon exercisers that often give up. And can you really blame them? The limbic part of the brain codes anything that is new and different as "bad and wrong". What follows is the brain equates exercise with pain, and well, you know how this story ends. It saddens me when I see people who have passed through boot camp. They come for one session expecting miracles and then just give up. I know, because I often see some of these individuals around town months later and they are often, well, a lot fatter.

Another thing I've noticed is that we like to share our pain with others. It's cool to let others know we hurt too! No one likes to hurt alone, and more importantly no one likes the person who kicks it hard and doesn't hurt at all. What's with that? I guess we all secretly want to be one of those fortunate few. Hey, if you were thinking that person is me, guess again! To prove my point, we often have a week off in between each boot camp, right? Well, I use that week to organize, write, work on marketing, follow up phone calls, etc., and I rarely work out. After just one week off, I can feel the effects of my workouts when the next boot camp starts. In only a week!

But what does it mean to you? Care to comment? By all means please do!

You Might Be On You Tube!

Hi All!

I just added a new video about our boot camp on You Tube.
Take a moment to see if you are in the video and then share
it with your friends!

Enjoy,
Larry

Here's the link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsjGCI3jk84