There are many reasons to lose weight, as I was reminded last night. During the competition, people at the ranch definitely were in it for their families. Having a toddler myself, I found it hard to believe that Heather and Bobby both are spending WEEKS away from their children, missing significant milestones in their children’s lives so that they could compete to be The Biggest Loser. Why are they willing to be away from their families?

Watching the tear-jerking videophone scenes, it became obvious. Their families ARE the reason they want to be The Biggest Loser.

As new teams were formed, competitors found new fire . . . new reasons to stay inspired and motivated. Some got stronger because they didn’t want to let their new teammate down. Others had that competitive spirit and didn’t want another team to beat them.

In the end, despite a week that was totally turned upside-down, most “Losers” tapped in to new and important reasons to lose weight, compete with a vengeance, and go the distance.

What is YOUR reason?

The desire to lose weight is a great reason to get started. And it will likely last a few weeks.

But if you are in your third or fourth week Body-for-LIFE (or any health program), you may find yourself needing some extra motivation. To endure 12 or more weeks of an intense new program . . . to transform your LIFE . . . you’ve got to have a bigger reason inbedded into your brain.

Maybe you are losing weight so that you
can keep up with your active children?

Are you getting into shape so that you
can be a part of their lives for a long,
long time?

Maybe you have a reunion next year
and really want to knock them out?

Or are you trying once again to find
that powerful person you’ve tucked
away for too many years?

There is a reason deep within your soul that will help you make the change. When you find it, you will have far greater endurance, you will be able to go the distance, you will reach any goal you set for yourself.

Figure out your reason. That reason that brings a tear to your eye or makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up.

When you do, write it down a hundred times and put it up everywhere you spend your time throughout the day. On your bathroom mirror, in your car, on the fridge, on the ceiling above your bed.

Remember your reason and go for it…

You’ve come this far. You CAN do this, too! I believe in you.

Tags: The-Biggest-Loser, weight-loss

However, last night some of the people on the show were confused. And I’ll bet if they were confused, you were puzzled as well. Let’s see if I can solve the mystery.

In past weeks members of both the blue team and the red team have gotten used to losing up to 10-17 pounds or more each and every week. However, in this fourth week they found themselves still losing weight, but noticibly less than in previous weeks. They wondered why.

If you are trying to lose weight, you may be wondering the same thing. Why are you suddenly hitting a plateau?

There is a simple reason.

Weight loss is not the same as fat loss. I shudder when people tell me they want to lose weight because losing weight is a short term goal. (Except for losing the pounds I had gained while pregnant, I haven’t lost any weight in five years! But I constantly continue to improve my health and sculpt my body.)

Losing weight is a great goal. And it is even motivating . . . for a few weeks. But when you put together a complete fitness program like they do on The Biggest Loser that combines diet, weight training, and cardio workouts, you may find that you don’t always lose as much weight as you did in the first few weeks.

Here’s what is happening. Your magnificent body is finally getting the chance to do what it has always wanted to do for you. You are eating right, doing cardio and building your muscles. It is rejoicing!

When you build your muscles while burning fat, this causes a weight loss plateau. It looks like this.

When you burn a pound of fat, that’s GREAT. Right? Right.
You are “losing weight.”

Now when you gain a pound of lean muscle, that’s GREAT. Right? Right.
You are toning and becoming more lean.

Now if you burn a pound of fat and gain a pound of lean muscle, what does that say on the scale? It says that you are not losing weight, doesn’t it? You have hit a weight loss plateau.

But you are losing fat while you are toning and becoming lean. THIS is what you always MEANT when you said you wanted to lose weight. Right?

Right.

The team members on The Biggest Loser were doing all of the right things, yet they had hit a weight loss plateau. If you are doing all of the right things, yet hitting a plateau, don’t get discouraged.

Try other measurements of your progress:
Track your body fat.
Take weekly photos of yourself.
Measure around your waist, hips, shoulders, bicep, thighs, chest and neck.
See how differently your clothes are fitting.

Along with your weight, THESE are also important ways to measure your progress.

I’ve found this site very helpful in developing a complete, customized program to help YOU lose weight, burn fat, shrink your waistline, increase your lean muscle mass, and feel all round better about yourself.

Customized Fitness Programs

Have a great night!
Tami

Tags: The-Biggest-Loser, weight-loss

But most go into a diet, program or challenge with energy, enthusiasm. “I’m gonna do it! Nothing can stop me!” they boast.

They set their intentions, plan and make their meals, get into the gym, lift the weights, and do the cardio.

This lasts a few days. Then a meal is skipped because a friend has a birthday. Or the person is just to tired today . . . they will make up the workout tomorrow. These tiny hiccups permanently throw them off-track.

A friend of mine did Body-for-LIFE several years ago, started, completed and experienced phenomenal results. This lasted about a year. Then for 4-5 years, that friend fell off-track.

It was so difficult to watch him struggle. He played so many mind games. Held dear so many excuses.

Then he tried to get back on track — time after time after time.

Each time there would be a big buildup. He would hit rock-bottom, realize he needed a change, make up his mind, spend a few days really binging hard, knowing he would be getting back on track . . . “tomorrow,” or Monday, or next Sunday.

He was cocky.

He knew his body and mind had the power to commit and to make the change. But he was speaking from ego instead of from his heart.

I would also bet that 100% of people who fail on diets, programs or challenges came from ego instead of coming from heart. AND, 100% of people who succeed come from heart, gratitude and love.

Two weeks ago, my friend didn’t hit rock bottom. He didn’t have a few days to binge before he started because he knew he would follow his meal plan all week, and he could have what he wanted for his free meal, which was just a few days down the road.

He started THAT DAY.

Planning his meals is no big deal. He just does it.

Weight training is flowing. He gets into the gym and is surprised by how quickly his weights are moving up.

He is enjoying more energy, feeling better. His food is providing his body the fuel needed to make explosive gains (his goal). His high intensity workouts are giving him lasting energy that has allowed him to kick his coffee habit.

He even had a birthday and waited until the next cheat day to celebrate.

This time, he is not cocky. This time he has certainty.

What’s the difference? He found his heart.

It’s easy to hear what your ego is saying about the shape you are in.

What is your heart saying?

Though it is high in fat, peanut butter can be considered a solid source of protein. Now, I wouldn’t go eating it every day, but enjoying a banana or apple or celery stick with 1/4 cup or so of peanut butter is not going to harm your progress, as long as you limit this treat to about once a week. Peanut butter has what they call the “good fat” so it is not an awful food to eat.

I also get the “natural” peanut butter as it has little or no added sugar, as opposed to “kid friendly” brands you see advertised. You will recognize natural peanut butter because it is the kind that is separated with the oil at the top. You may want to refrigerate it, or stir it before you eat it.

But as for low-fat peanut butter, I steer clear! Food manufacturers may cut back on the fat, but they replace it with yucky, unnecessary ingredients like sugar and sodium to make it TASTE better. So you may cut back on the fat, but you are adding to your carbs.

Tags: Body-for-LIFE, Bill-Phillips, Eating-for-LIFE, Diet, weight-loss, body-fat, low-fat-diet, healthy-eating, eat-healthy

Have I gotten bored with cardio? You bet. It’s the same-old, same-old, day after day. But I like the results so I keep on doing it.

Sound familiar?

A few weeks ago a friend of mine asked if I would help her condition for her volleyball season that starts mid-August. Sure! I thought it would be great fun to help Marilyn get into better shape. But I didn’t realize how much fun I would have, too.

The ordinary jog has turned into a fun, fresh way to spend the morning. We run still, but we do “butt kicks” where our feet kick all of the way up to our rear-ends with each step. Then we shake it up and do knee-up running. Marching, skipping, grape-vining . . . we’re doing it all.

We are both getting into far better shape than we would if we were just running or doing other repetitive indoor cardio machines. (It’s been so hot here, it’s been tempting to stay inside.) I’ve made muscles sore that I never even knew I had. My heart rate is jumping a little higher and the time seems to be going by much faster. For the first time in a while I actually found myself looking forward to getting cardio done this morning.

AND we are having much more fun than when we were just hitting the pavement.

So if you are getting bored with your cardio, try shaking it up!

Find a light post in the distance and sprint to it.
Put a good summer parade tune on your iPod and march to it.
Skip-to-my-loo, my darling!

Have a great time. And help me cheer on Marilyn as she gets ready to try out for the team!

Tags: Body-for-LIFE, Bill-Phillips, Eating-for-LIFE, Diet, weight-loss, body-fat, cardio, running

The bad news: Precision Protein has become even harder to get. In fact, it has been discontinued. I was so terrified to hear this because I am a big, big fan. It tastes so good, mixes so completely, and combines well with so many good carbs like yogurt, rice pudding, and even coffee. So when my friend Marc at EAS tried to convince me to try EAS 100% Whey Protein, I was a little hesitant. In fact, I was downright disappointed.

But I needed my protein so I gave it a try.

You know what?!

THE GOOD NEWS: EAS 100% Whey Protein is AWESOME. In fact, I like it even BETTER than Precision Protein! It mixes even easier and has a pleasant, mild chocolate taste. I even purchased the Vanilla, which is great with cereal. Banana and strawberry taste delicious with oatmeal.

So this month’s most frequently asked question is:

“Tami, I can’t find Precision Protein. Where can I get it?”

And the answer is:

“Get EAS 100% Whey Protein that has replaced Precision. It is so yummy, you’ll love it!”

NOTE: Here is the easiest and fasted way to get it. After you click on the link for EAS 100% Whey Protein, first search for EAS and then 100% Whey Protein.

Happy health!

Tami

Tags: Body-for-LIFE, Bill-Phillips, Eating-for-LIFE, Diet, weight-loss, body-fat,

A good friend of mine has been TRYing to get in shape now for FOUR YEARS. He’ll TRY to get into the gym and it will work for a few days. He’ll TRY to eat well and it will work for a few weeks. He will TRY to do cardio and it doesn’t really work well at all.

So, you may be thinking “give him a break, Tami. At least he’s trying!”

There is a big difference between TRYing and DOING.

So if you have been TRYing to get into shape, you might as well quit.

Quit trying and start DOING.

I know this is rather simplified. But first start with your words. Once you quit saying TRY, your mind will quit giving itself a way out. Six years ago our trainer Donovan gave us a list of four words we are never again allowed to utter in his gym.

TRY is at the top of his list.

So what about you? Have you been TRYing to work out, eat right, get in shape?

If so, please accept this challenge. For the next 7 days, ELIMINATE THE WORD TRY from your vocabulary. Each time you hear yourself say it, back up and restate what you are GOING to do.

After one week, I’ll bet your urge to try has sustained and the DOING is well underway.

And if it works for you, let me know . . .

Tags: Body-for-LIFE, Bill-Phillips, Eating-for-LIFE, Diet, weight-loss, body-fat

Wendy, who has also experienced phenomenal results on Bofy-for-LIFE, and her husband Luke recently moved here and had a housewarming. In the kitchen I overheard one of their friends saying they were cooking meals the Body-for-LIFE way. If I recall correctly, combined, she and her husband have lost around 100 pounds following Body-for-LIFE.

Over in the living room, Wendy’s mom told me about a friend of hers who had lost 73 pounds with Body-for-LIFE.

Hearing how others have changed their lives with Body-for-LIFE is so inspiring to me. Tune your ears in to other people following Body-for-LIFE. You’ll be surprised how big your new “family” is. And you’ll enjoy that they are often the life of the party!

Tell everyone you know about YOUR Body-for-LIFE experience. What a wonderful gift you will be giving them when they decide to join our family.

Have a GREAT Body-for-LIFE Day! I’m off to do cardio . . .

Tami

Tags: Body-for-LIFE, Bill-Phillips, Eating-for-LIFE, Diet, weight-loss, body-fat,

I never realized how much I missed it. Life without it for the last two years was a little less convenient. I stopped drinking Myoplex Lite while I was pregnant and then nursing my son. But I’ve gotten the green light to enjoy my favorite beverage once again!

Once again, a meal is just a shake away. Thank goodness for Myoplex Lite!

Tags: Body-for-LIFE, Myoplex

It may sound cliche, but like the Nike slogan, the best way I know is to “Just do it.”

Now I know that better than ever before. Maybe I can share with you what it takes to “Just do it.”

Our families recently got together and are all doing 12 weeks together. I had been following Body-for-LIFE pretty closely for the last year, but ever since the baby was born it was just a little easier than it used to be to miss a weight training session. Missing a weight training session made it easier to have a little unauthorized snack at night.

When we got our measurements taken, I realized that I was more off-track than I had originally thought. I had fallen back into believing I was more dedicated and disciplined than I really was. I was fooling myself.

I would do fine all day, but after the baby went to bed and the house was quiet, I could rationalize just about any reason to treat myself to a little snack.

“If these teething cookies are good enough for the baby, they won’t hurt me.”
“If I can eat these teething cookies, than girl scout cookies are almost the same thing. No big deal!”
“I’ve eaten one girl scout cookie. I might as well hit the ice cream.”

I had made it all OK.
But it wasn’t.

My evening urges were almost out of control. Some nights I couldn’t stop myself, no matter how hard I tried.

So those words came back into play.

“Just do it.”

I had to find that switch in my head that turned on the self-control and turned off temptation.

I don’t know how to help you find that switch, but it is as hard as that. And it is as easy as that.

Just stop snacking. Just stop cheating. Find that switch. Honor yourself and quit cheating.

I’m proud of you!

Tags: Body-for-LIFE, Bill-Phillips, Eating-for-LIFE, Diet, weight-loss, body-fat