I hope everyone has a very merry Christmas!

Day 3 is already in the history books for the holiday edition of FM Bootcamps.

I’m already receiving word from members about the changes they are already seeing.

Here are a few highlights from the other night:

I can’t stress enough how effect interval training can be.

How many of you know someone that lost weight doing the Atkins diet?

How many of you know someone that lost weight by walking every day?

How many of you know some one that transformed their lifestyle with a personal trainer?

Is there really a right or wrong way to stay healthy and in shape?

I say definitely not!

But the difference between the ones that have failed and the ones that haven’t is perseverance. It wasn’t from complicated exercise techniques or elaborate meal plans. These people simply choose to do something and get it done!

So what is your action plan to success?

What are the steps your are going to take get healthy and stay healthy?

Drink more water every day?

Get to bed earlier?

Make it to the gym two to three times a week?

The difference between the “dids” and “didn’ts” is the “dids” had a plan and they stuck to it.

Day two at FM Bootcamps was even better then the first day!

These boot campers have made the commitment to eliminating the pre-holiday jolly jiggles.

So I ask… what’s your excuse?

Now, exercise needs not to be overly complicated or complex.

When it comes down to it, its just a bunch of simple movements.

In fact, I believe you don’t even have to join a gym or an exercise class. A lot of this stuff can be done at home. (This is a bold statement coming from a guy that makes a living working at a gym)

Internal motivation, that thing that gets you out of your warm bed in the morning, needs to be the driving force behind your desire to be healthy, in shape, or that visualization of you wearing those clothes you once wore in high school.

Now, I’m not talking wash board abs or any other photoshopped’ crap you see plastered all over the media these days.

I’m talking about being confident in yourself, living a long healthy life, seeing your kids growup,  walking up the steps with out taking ten minutes to recover… i think you get the point.

So do whatever it takes to get it done!

I commend my boot campers for taking action.

Here are some highlights from class the other night:

PS

I get a lot of gripes over the name of the class, “bootcamp”. Most of my campers are beginners, but thats not the best part, I have a few “advanced” exercisers getting their butt kicked as well!

We got off to a great start at our holiday bootcamp, here are some highlights!

By the year 2010, it is estimated half of the population under 18 will be considered obese or overweight.

There’s no doubt, youth obesity has taken over today’s kids. It has become easier and more exciting to pick-up a video game controller then it is to go outside and play. Physical Education in schools are becoming less of an requirement and viewed more as a ‘nuisance’ to students. The television has become the go to babysitter. And the Internet has become the primary socializing tool.

So what is the problem?

I would go as far as saying parents are at fault for their overweight kids. However, parents definitely an uphill battle.

You can’t go ten minutes without seeing a video game ad or the latest fast food kids toy. Not only that, kids talk, kids want what other kids have.

So parents, I empathize with you. You are facing a extremely difficult battle.

What’s the solution?

When it comes down to it, I believe one of two things: Parents just don’t know any better or they are just too lazy.

Now, I know many parents work hard to support their family, and finding time for their children is difficult, but I do not believe this is an legitimate excuse.

The solution to youth obesity comes down to education and commitment. Commitment from the parents, family, teachers, babysitters, daycare workers, everyone and anyone that influences kids.

Let’s get something straight, I’m not writing this post to get you to buy the product I’m promoting, I’m writing this to hopefully encourage a small handful of parents to step-up and make a solid commitment to giving their kids what they deserve. I’m writing this to encourage parents to allow their kids a live a long healthy life. I want parents to step-up and make the commitment to their kids to get them more active and eating healthier.

Brian Grasso at the International Youth Conditioning Association (IYCA) has put together an AWESOME resource for parents. The Youth Obesity Solution is a guide for parents that covers everything from activities for kids to healthy kids nutrition.

Also, go to the website and check out his Free Report “The 7 Secrets You Need To Know About Raising Healthy, Happy & Active Children.”

This is not an end all be all answer to childhood obesity, but it is a large step in the right direction. Educating yourself and taking action are critical steps in combating childhood obesity, so why not start now!!

Whether you are a parent or even if you know a parent, take a good look at The Youth Obesity Solution, educate yourself, pass the information on, and help today’s kids!

joe

The biggest fitness time of the year is just around the corner. Soon the New Years resolutions will be flying around like feathers at a pillow fight. This is the time of the year where stepping foot into any gym at six pm is nearly impossible.

Its OK, I got an action plan to get you going before crazy fitness season begins!

In just a short time people will have high ambitions and hopes and dreams of shedding those unwanted pounds that subtly added volume to their waists in the past months (or years). Everyone will be high on willingness to workout and buzzing with beautiful body transformations on there mind.

New Years resolution time has always left me confused. Why does the New Year spark a fire underneath everyone and get them moving? I understand the whole new beginnings thing, but isn’t every Monday a new beginning?

Out of observation, an overwhelming majority of New Years resolutions live a very short life. Everyone starts strong and crashes hard. Will this be you?

So I ask… Why Wait?

Pre-2009 Plan of action:

• Lose 1 - 2 pounds a week BEFORE new years
• Workout an extra day a week, so if your working out 3 days a week, workout four
• Add challenges to your workout, like run 3 miles, do a 100 squats in a row, 50 push-ups
• Eat a vegetable with every meal
• Replace sugary snacks with fruits

Here are few things to get you rocking before the New Years bandwagon sets ablaze.

1. Check out Jayson Hunter’s Carb Rotation Diet - It’s simply outstanding!
2. Check out the Special 3-Week Holiday Bootcamps
3. If your a Snap Fitness member (or thinking about it) schedule a free personal training consult with myself, I promise I’ll get your rear in gear!

The New Year is coming, no need to wait, get going today!!

I have been around gyms for quiet a while, and I have a general observation that is just robing people of their much wanted results!

People actually spend more time resting, walking around, drinking water, talking to others, talking on the phone then they actually workout!

Think about it? If you eliminated all of the “fluff” out of your current workout… how much time would you actually be working out? 15 - 20 minutes…. PERFECT!!!

Seriously! That’s all you need! If you are tight on time, go into each workout on a mission to get it done in 20 - 30 minutes!

“I don’t have time.” This has to be the number one excuse of all the lazy arses out there!

Of all the lame excuses I get for not working out, its the time one…that drives me nuts!

Now usually when someone tells me they don’t have time I relate that to one of two things: ONE - They are afraid of a little hard work and a little sweat. TWO - They simply don’t know what to do.

No Cell Phone. No Chit Chat. No five minute rests. Just get it done!

But Joe what if I don’t know what to do?

Ok, for this I have a simple answer.

First, chose four exercises that you already know how to do.

If you don’t know four, you know how to do a push-up, squat, jumping jack, and sit-up.

For ten minutes do 15 repetitions of each exercise back to back. Try to get through the four exercises as many times as possible. That’s it. Plain and simple, no fluff.

Another solution is seek help from a trainer or a join a group exercise class like FM Bootcamps.

Either way, get off your arse and get it done!

I like my peanut butter!

But it wasn’t until a few days ago I realized something…

My supposedly “trans fat free” peanut butter… has trans fat!

Get this… on the front of the label it says “No Trans Fat Per Serving”

However, if you read the ingredient label you will see “Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil” aka Trans Fat!

Get this junk, the FDA allows companies to label their products No Trans Fat if the Trans Fat is less then .5 grams per serving.

So as long a “serving” contains no more then .5 grams of trans fat, the food label is allowed to advertise “No Trans Fat”

So what’s the big deal?

Trans Fat is some nasty stuff. It’s being linked to increased risk of coronary heart disease. It raises your LDL Cholesterol(bad cholesterol) and lowers your HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol). In fact, the recommend amount to eat is zero grams total!

Here’s how to protect yourself.

1. Don’t trust what is on the front of the label, read the ingredient labels
2. If the words “Partially Hydrogenated” appear in the ingredients, it more then likely contains trans fat
3. Eat less processed foods
4. Shop only in the perimeter of the grocery store
5. Include at least one vegetable and fruit in every meal

What is the biggest mistake most people make when it comes to exercising?

Not Warming Up!

Here are the benefits properly warming up before exercise:

• Increases core temperature
• Increases blood flow to joints and muscles helping to prevent unnecessary injuries
• Reduces post exercise soreness
• Increases post exercise recovery
• Increases glucose up-take to the muscles
  
• Increases metabolic processes aka “FAT BURNING”

So what’s a proper warm-up?

Any type of cardiovascular exercises at a moderate pace for 10 - 15 minutes should do the trick. Just remember, do this prior to ANY workout and your body will thank you.