Strategies

Do you need new strategies?

As you progress in your physical, professional, or even personal life your strategies to succeed must change. This is just a simple truth. You know how hard it is to lose that last 7 pounds. Usually, this is because you are attempting to conquer new ground with old strategies. In simple terms your body has adapted to your old techniques and it will no longer produce results.

This principle is also easy to understand in regards to earning money. The strategies used to earn $20,000 certainly will not work to produce $100,000. You improve the efficiency of your strategies and develop new ones which will produce results in new ways. To make such a jump you usually need to learn a new skill or leverage your time in a manner which will allow you to earn money even when you are not physically at work.

When it comes to weight loss its easy to lose that first 8-15 pounds with just minor dietary and or exercise modifications. When it comes to amounts above an beyond this initial loss we must start to make intelligent dietary adjustments beyond just starving ourselves, next we must adhere to an exercise program that has some meat to it not just hours of boring cardiovascular exercise. You must employ a that is nutrient dense with the proper meal timing, consistently employ resistance training methods, and take advantage of metabolism raising interval training.

Now as your motivation begins to wain you must begin to focus on the most powerful tool you have and that is your brain. You must analyze your motivation and focus! You must condition your brain to success. I could spend hours on this one but suffice it to say that without this piece you will never conquer the weight loss game once and for all.

If you are truly ready for a break through analyze your strategies. One area where most need a strategy adjustment is their nutrition habits. The Fitness Quest Precision Nutrition program may be just the thing for those stuck and in need of a new strategy. If you are interested in cutting edge materials, cookbooks, dvds, audio, and best of all a live grocery store tour and cooking class.

C.Todd Lowder “The Fitness Guy”

www.fitnessquestpt.ning.com

Sea Shells

As many of you know I have been with my family on vacation in the Outer Banks of North Carolina for the past week.  I spent most of the day yesterday playing on the beach with my two boys ( Ethan 6 and Evan 4). We spent a ton of time searching for the perfect sea shell.

It struck me that finding sea shells is a lot like chasing your dreams.  There are an infinite number of shells in the ocean just like possibilities in your life. Like life the ocean just keeps coming at you whether you choose to grab the shell of your choice or not.  Like life there are external factors you must contend with like the height of the surf, the temperature of the water, the temperature of the air……. Ultimately you can either get hung up on these external factors or set your mind and go after the shell you desire!!!!

I hear alot about external factors but I assure no matter what your excuse there is someone one with the same busy schedule, kids, genetics, metabolism or whatever that has gotten in great shape and achieved their goals. This means you can too!!!!!!!!!!

Have a great day- I am going to claim the shells and dreams - of MY choice-  how about you?

C.Todd Lowder “The Fitness Guy”
www.fitnessquestpt.ning.com

Random Fitness

Just some random thoughts I had while traveling.

1. “We are born into greatness and conditioned into mediocrity” – James Ray

Look at the general condition of American and this is so true. I think lots of people are rationalizing being out of shape because of “the there is always someone worse mentality”

2. I can’t believe how many people still drink full sugar “type II diabetes in a can” Soda! This is just asking to have a HUGE waist type II diabetes and eventually heart disease.

3. We don’t have a fitness problem in this country we have a food problem. We are constantly surrounded by food for people who want to be unhealthy and well sorry for being harsh but fat.

So what is the point here. 1. Everything counts hold your self to a higher standard. 2. Dont drink your calories 3. Choose nutrient dense foods not the crap most people eat. Stand at the door of the place where you plan to eat and if 50% of the people leaving are fat then don’t go in.

C. Todd Lowder ” The Fitness Guy”

www.fitnessquestpt.ning.com

What are your Results Saying

“Results tell an interesting story….they tell the truth” – Bob Proctor

What story are your results telling? Are your current thoughts, words, and actions serving you well? You must come to grips with the hard truth that your current situation is a reflect of your past thoughts, feeling and actions.

Your beliefs go hand in hand with your actions. Ask yourself right now and make a list of the thoughts, feelings, and actions that are keeping you from the body, health and life you desire. Now go burn that piece of paper! This is liberating. Now make a list of 3 actions you must adopt to move toward the body, health and life you desire! Keep this list where you can read it everyday multiple times and take action.

Dax Moy has created a great system “The Magic 100″ which will super charge your efforts!

Check it out by clicking here

C.Todd Lowder “The Fitness Guy”

<img src=”http://digg.com/img/badges/100×20-digg-button.gif” width=”100″ height=”20″ alt=”Digg!” />
</a>

Wow

I received this video via “The Secret” newsletter. Take the 3 minutes and watch the video – you owe it to your self. On a side note I loved the book – some do some don’t but like a respected colleague of mine once said I have never gotten dumber from reading a book. You can get some thing out of anything!

So take a moment and watch – believe in god or not that is your choice but after watching you have to realize how prefect this world we live in is. Hard to believe it happened by just chance! Have a great day!

C.Todd Lowder “The Fitness Guy”

Do you eat insects?

So you think the FDA is here to serve and protect you (the consumer), right? I think if you knew just a few of the facts about how food labeling works in the United States you might think again.

Some of you are saying that doesn’t apply to me “ I read labels”. This is where you are mistaken. Did you know that as long as a food additive is Generally Regarded As Safe (GRAS) your label will only say “artificial flavor” or “artificial color” or maybe even “natural”.

With this in mind consider the average American eats their weight in food additives each year – YUUM pass me some chips,cookies or other processed food.

So again the FDA musts be looking out for us right? Did you know that the food additive manufacturers are the ones who notify the FDA of an additives status on as GRAS and they provide their own evidence to support their claim. This makes the American public guinea pigs in a giant food additive experiment doesn’t it? Kind of makes me wonder whats really in those NATURAL Doritos.

An additive doesn’t lose it’s status as GRAS until reports accumulate citing its damaging effects.

Paul Chek Fitness and nutrition expert makes the point that “insects, insect larvae, monkey guts, and even mercury are all “natural” and are just a few of the things that can end up in your food.

You think this is bad – the supplement industry is even worse – but that is another blog for another day!

C. Todd Lowder “The Fitness Guy”

www.fitnessquestpt.ning.com

Are your friends holding you back?

One of the major things I learned from Motivational Speaker James Ray was if you want to be super successful don’t spend high quality time with people you don’t want to be or become. This may sound harsh but I get it. It makes sense.

It doesn’t mean you are better than those friends it merely means you have a different mission for your life.

I hope none of you are thinking “what do you mean a mission”.

Do you ever see an eagle flying with a flock of pigeons? NO they are on a completely different plain. Birds of a feather flock together – bet you have heard that one. You have probably even said it. It is true in general isn’t it.

We can probably all agree that there is a lot to be said for surrounding ourselves with like minded people whom want to the same things out of life that we do. This no more obvious than when you are trying to raise your level of fitness.

Think about how hard it is to eat “clean” when you are surrounded by a bunch of people who don’t care about their bodies. How about the way your non exercising friends look at you when you express how great a hard workout was.

So here is my new variation of James Ray’s rule

“Don’t eat like anyone you don’t want to look like”

More on this later in the week

C. Todd Lowder “The Fitness Guy”

Fitness Fatloss Food and Vemma

This week I felt like just ranting, sorry but I hope you at least get a laugh and maybe think a little!

10 Things we should all pay more attention to or just ignore!

1. 30% of Children are overweight!

2. That number has tripled in the last 20 years

3. Whole wheat Donuts and Krispy Kreme – Give me a break!

4. America is ranked 28th for longevity among the 36 industrialized nations but we spend more on health care than any other nation.

5. Since 1955 the average american male height has stabilized while european and asian countries have not only caught up but surpassed the United States.

6. Orlistat – the latest fat loss drug has gotten a ton of attention lately but at what cost check out this noted side effect -  “oily spotting on underwear, flatulence, urgent bowel movements, fatty or oily stools, increased number of bowel movements, abdominal pain or discomfort, and inability to hold back stool (incontinence).”

7. People have to understand that a quick hop into their local Starbucks for a latte and a blueberry scone will set them back 740 calories and a whopping 21 grams of artery-clogging saturated fat. – Thanks for keeping me in business Starbucks!

8. “I dont have time to exercise” – oh come on,  the average american watches 170 minutes of tv according to a 2004 University of California Berkely Study.

9.  40% of americans students scored below basic skills for math and 23% below basic for reading – ADHD is now a common problem – child obesity is at record levels – but nobody is pointing to nutrition as a possible culpret or at least a contributing factor!!!!!!

10. Avacore, Hydroxycuts, or any one of the 100’s of fat burners out there.  How about start by getting your diet in order!!!  There are no majic pills or products or diets its all about LIFESTYLE – Diet, cardiovascular exercise and resistance training and did  I mention Diet!

11. Orange Juice – I know you are thinking what could he possible being saying about O.J. – Its simple this must be the best marketing job in the history of the food industry!  Why does everyone think this juice spiked with more sugar / high fructose corn syrup (can you spell hypoglycemia) beverage is a prerequisite for a healthy breakfast!!  Come on if you want ot be lean and healthy skip the Orange Juice and I bet not only will it aid in your efforts to get leaner but improve your energy levels!

12. A Calorie is A Calorie – Give me a break!!  This is the biggest crock of you know what I have ever heard.  So if you believe this you are telling me that 200 calories of candy have the same effect on your wt. loss efforts as 200 calories of broccoli!  I dont think so – in fact I know better.  I have seen how proper food selection at the same calorie level can make a wild difference in physique!

13. Cardiovasculr Exercise:  First dont get me wrong we all need it to maintain a healthy cardiovascular system, but so many people rely on cardio to try to cover up for poor eating habits!  I challenge you to go to any commercial gym and tell me where the leanest people are hanging out.  Hint – not the cardio deck.  Usually they are pumping iron.  I also gaurentee you they are not heading to the closest fast food joint after their workout.  They are pounding down a post workout shake, antioxidants, and some fish oil tabs.

Bonus Rant item:  VEMMA, VEMMA, VEMMA  if this stuff is the miracle of the year then why is there only 1 human study on Mangosteen (the main ingredient) done in 1932 in a singapore hospital and only showed that when added to a drug protocol  it was slightly more effective at treating dysentery!  Now, before I get a ton of hate mail this information came from an unbaised source and awesome resource ” Nutrition Action Health Letter” so write them not me – but I don’t like the way this stuff (Vemma) is being marketed either.

Fast Food can Kill You – maybe

How to do the least amount of damage while eating out!

I think we can all agree that fast food is bad for you. At the same time I don’t see many
McDonalds going out of business! So, it is safe to say that my job is to minimize the
damage!!! I have complied below some tips to help you survive while
OCCASIONALLY visiting your favorite fast food chow line. Before I enlighten you I
have an exercise for you. Next time you have a hankering for that burger or taco … I
would ask that you sit outside your restaurant ( I use the term loosely) and watch what
the bodies of those who walk out look like. I think I first heard this from Tony Robbins “
Success leaves footprints” what foot prints are you following into that Restaurant?
Please excuse the Rant – now on with the show.
So you want a Latte at Star Bucks here is the best you can do and I might add this one is
surprisingly good:
Starbucks:
The Good:
Latte ( nonfat milk no whipped cream)
Calories Fat Protein Carbohydrates
160         0     16       24
Have three egg whites before you leave the house and get one of these on the way to
work and you are not doing to bad. Now let me show you the worst:
The Bad:
White Hot Chocolate
Cal fat pro. Carb.
480 18 17    63
Ouch that will certainly go straight to your stomach or hips!!!!
Now, how about lunch at good old McDonalds? Yes it can be done you can eat good at
MCD’s.
The Good
Grilled Ceassar Salad – with light dressing
Cal fat pro. Carb.
200 6   29    9
These numbers don’t reflect the dressing but the Newmans Own light dressing is pretty
harmless unless you opt for 4 serving.
The Ugly:
I picked the following because I am sure some people might order this thinking how bad
could this be – BAD!
Crisy Chicken Bacon Ranch Salad with ranch dressing
Cal fat pro carb
640 49 27 24
WOW! This one should come with a warning label!!!! Or a voucher at the local
cardiologist!
Now for dinner we will be dinning at KFC!!! Get ready to peel some skin or else.
The Good:
Tender Roast Sandwich with Sauce ( if you ditch the sauce this meal is drastically
improved nutritionally)
Cal fat pro. Carb.
390 10 31 24
The Bad:
Original Recipe Breast
Cal fat pro. Carb.
380 19 40 11
There you have it some good ideas and not so good ideas. If you remember nothing
remember success leaves foot prints!!!!!
I just couldn’t pass up filling you in on this study. I also found
myself wondering where do I sign up to be a subject for this kind
of thing.
Sexual Orgasm Increases Longevity
Having regular (and enthusiastic) sex confers a host of measurable
physiological advantages to both men and women.
In one of the most credible studies tracking overall health with
sexual frequency, the mortality of roughly 1,000 middle-aged men
was tracked over the course of a decade.
Men who reported the highest frequency of orgasm experienced
half the death rate. Other studies have correlated frequency of sex
with, among other benefits:
· An improved sense of smell
· A reduced risk of heart disease
· Weight loss and overall fitness
· Reduced depression
· Pain relief
· Less-frequent colds and flu
· Better bladder control
In physiological terms, women experience no possibility of “overdosing” and experience
no dangers from too much sex. Men, however, can damage their penile tissue with too
much rough or forceful sex, especially now that drugs such as Viagra and Levitra can
allow for more staying power.
Forbes.com
British Medical Journal December 20, 1997; 315(7123): 1641-1644