SmartFitnessTips.com

Overall Mindset for Fitness and Fat loss

Stop weighing yourself, get fit and loss weight the right way. The weight scale is not the tool to use that will tell you if you are fit or fat. Your body tissue composition is the proper indicator to track you fitness and weight loss progress.

A great Place To Get Started

Here are some common body tissue composition numbers to be aware of for tracking your fitness and weight loss goals.

If a man’s fatty tissue is more than 14% up to 15% of his body mass, or if a woman’s is more than 20% to 22%, he or she is overweight, or more precisely, over fat.

A small amount of fat is needed for padding the internal organs and as insulation under the skin. Excess fat leads to medical issues like diabetes, gout, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, and gallbladder problems. The fittest survive not the fattest.

Your focus should be on how to resolve the weight loss and fitness problem. It really can be an easy problem to fix. Most people who want to lose weight tend to concentrate more on lowering their weight, according to the “ever reliable” results of the weighing scale. You can not rely on the weight scale for your weight loss and fitness results.

Let’s think of the human body as a heat-exchange engine that works on the basic principles of energy physics. The caloric balance equals the total calorie intake minus the total calorie expenditure.

This is one of the most basic and important weight loss tips.

Some of the calories people take in are used for basal metabolism. Basal Metabolism is: the amount of energy consumed by a resting organism simply in maintaining its basic functions.

As people age their bodies require fewer calories for this basic upkeep. Some calories are excreted as waste products. Some go into “work metabolism,” the energy expenditure required for any physical activity.

When people take in more calories than are used by these functions, there is a caloric excess. By the laws of physics, energy is transformed rather than destroyed. This is an eye opener each excess of 3,500 calories is changed into a pound of fat. If you want to lose fat you have to burn up 3,500 calories to lose a single pound.

Winning the War Against Fat, is it a war against Fat loss or is it just a simple process of relearning and creating a life style that promotes a healthy and fit you. Read on and let’s see where most people go wrong with their Fat loss programs and where you can simply adjust and win at the game of fitness and weight loss.

When you think of fighting fat with exercise, you probably think of hours of hard, sweaty exertion. If this is the case, then you will not get very far with your Fat loss and fitness program. Why, because mot people who are focused on losing more by exerting more tend to get bored easily or they don’t even get started.

Experts contend that when people exert more effort than what they are capable of doing it creates a tendency to develop fatigue and a weariness which in turn creates a loss of interest. They give up they stop doing their routine exercises and end up turning to what they are comfortable with sulking in the corner with a bag of chips that have all the bad calories that they are trying to get away from.

You might ask, “What should be done instead?” Here is your answer: Cross training combined with tracking or journaling.

Don’t over think these simple techniques they are effective and motivating. These are extremely simple and you should have a fitness and Fat loss mindset of logging your journey. Just keep it simple and being JUST DO IT!

After some intensive studies and experimentations, health experts were able to come up with the concept of incorporating cross training to overcome and break the monotony or newness in an exercise program.

Cross training refers to the integration of diverse movements or activities into a person’s conventional exercise routine.

The main purpose of incorporating cross training into an exercise program is to avoid overdoing excess muscle damages and to put a stop to boredom. Cross training helps you get through the beginning stages of your weight loss and fitness program. It will assist you in gaining that level of excitement and consistency with your health lifestyle and fitness routine.

Cross training offers a variety of benefits for fitness and fatloss. It builds up the strength and endurance of the heart, lungs, and blood vessels. It has also some tranquilizing effect on the nerves, and it burns up calories as much as it makes your “losing weight” more bearable.

Keep this in mind and approach your weight loss and fitness program with the mind set and you will change your life for the better you are creating a new lifestyle and it takes time to get the routine down.

Your fatloss and weight loss program a fun, new and exciting journey. Turn it into a fun new game learn to play the game the best you can, be patient and have fun, start with easy accomplish able step that you can build on. Don’t over due it at first remember this is a new game that will forever improve your life and create the you that you want.

Take the steps that will create the result that you want and if you do stop start again and again. It really is that simple are you going to play the game or quit. Learn and adjust play and have fun but say in the game and you will win.

Don’t expect too much from yourself when you begin your healthy weight loss and fitness program. The fist and most important focus for you in the beginning is activity in your overall weight loss and fitness program. Focus on getting started and staying active in your fatloss and fitness program. Learn and adjust it really is fun and exciting the new you will forever be thankful.

The most commonly used activities whenever a person decides to engage into cross training are swimming, walking, running, body weight exercises, weight training and cycling.

In cross training tracking your activity is one way to enhance your activity levels as your condition improves. For this reason, you need to simply track and record you activities you will see results.

If possible, swim the course and measure the distance. If you will be using a running track, such courses usually are a quarter-mile per lap for a complete circuit.

Keep a journal of your body weight sets and the number of repetitions that you perform.

Walking and running can really give you an unfair advantage to increasing your fitness level. Track your distance and your time.

• Set a goal to travel the same distance in less time or to increase the distance in the same amount of time. This really is an extremely effective way to increase your weight loss and fitness levels.

A great Place To Get Started

Cross training has three basic components:

1. Endurance exercises to condition the heart, lungs, and blood vessels and to induce relaxation. Begin with a carefully planned walking regimen and then increase it as you go or start with a jogging regimen, depending on fitness level.
2. Exercises to strengthen the muscles, particularly those important to good posture. This is one area that really promotes fatloss. Exerting more energy with less effort to Burn The Fat, Melt It Away! Strengthening your muscles will burn more fat than most of the other exercises that you will do.
3. Exercises to improve joint mobility and prevent or relieve aches and pains. These consist of a series of static stretching positions that are safe and effective. This allows you to relax you and your muscles. Promoting blood flow and preparing yourself for exercise. Stretching also calms you muscles after you have worked them this is a must do part of your fitness and weight loss program.

Indeed, cross training is a great way to modify the concept of exercising and losing fat without having to endure monotonous activities. In fact the idea of exercising is to like what you are doing when you engage in cross training you will be aware of what you have already achieved and how to bump up your fitness and weight loss goals.

Boiled down cross training is certainly one way of having fun developing and enhancing your weight loss and fitness lifestyle.

Have fun and enjoy the new you. Be fit, sexy and living life to the fullest.

A great Place To Get Started

So here are 5 more Fat loss tips for beginners & advanced.

1) No liquid calories (with the exception of a post-workout drink).

Get rid of all the juices, the sodas, and the sports drinks. Liquid sugar is the last thing you need when you are trying to lose fat.

You must also limit your alcohol intake - especially if you are adding mix to drinks…that is a double calorie bomb! A single “Jack and Coke” is over 200 calories (100 calories from booze and 100 calories from mix).

2) No fast food.

Do not eat at fast food restaurants. Even if you choose what you think is healthy, remember this:

Fast food restaurants are all about profit.

And in order to profit while giving you cheap, quick, and easy to prepare foods, the quality of the food ingredients will be poor - especially the protein.

Now you might have read that you can still make healthy choices at fast food restaurants. But you know what, that’s just politically-correct opinion. If it’s fast food, it’s poor food.

Walking into a burger joint and grabbing a chicken breast on a white bread bun with a piece of old lettuce and a half-green, half-pink tomato is “barely” healthy eating.

The politically-incorrect truth is that it’s going to take time and effort to eat properly. You will have to plan, shop, and prepare healthy meals. You will have to spend time cleaning, cutting, and cooking your food. That’s the truth.

But believe me, it will taste so much better than fast food, and healthy eating will make you more alert. Eating fast food will make you feel terrible, and will make you want to have an afternoon nap at your desk.

Make one small improvement to your nutrition everyday for the rest of your life.

3) Eat more fruits and vegetables.

If you are eating 2 servings per day, then go up to 4 servings per day by the end of the week. And even if you think you are doing great by having 5 servings per day, you still need to double that (take 2-3 weeks to work your way up to 10 servings per day).

Stick with fiber-rich fruits and vegetables - organic if possible.

4) Eat 1oz of almonds or walnuts per day (1/2 oz in the AM, and the other half in the afternoon).

Most nuts are roasted in oils (possible source of trans fats), so stick to natural or dry-roasted nuts.

Don’t panic…this small amount of nuts won’t make you fat, but will fill you up and help you lose weight.

5) Be consistent with your workouts.

And make sure the workouts are efficient and effective. To make it easy for you to follow, stick with the Turbulence Training fat burning workout system.

It doesn’t matter if you train in the morning before or after breakfast, or at night before or after dinner, or at 1pm on days when the moon is in line with Saturn…don’t worry about the details, just train consistently.

Click here to get Turbulence Training
==> http://www.turbulencetraining.com

6) BONUS TIP: Go for a walk after lunch or dinner (or anytime you eat a big meal).

Research shows this will help you control your cholesterol and triglycerides, plus any movement is better than sitting around watching the TV and snacking.

Improve your lifestyle everyday!

Craig Ballantyne, CSCS, MS
Author, Turbulence training

PS - Change your workouts to beat a Fat loss plateau.

“The constant shakeup is amazing. I look forward to my workouts. I feel so much better than I did 6 weeks ago. I had almost given up on fitness as I was becoming very frustrated with my plateaus. I started out at 233 lbs and am already heading for 225 in only a few short weeks. Thank you for developing this truly amazing program and for sharing with the rest of us. It’s very refreshing to enjoy working out again!”
Dave Heffernan

“Turbulence training is AWESOME! I started working out in 2004 first time in gym at 39 yrs. Then I discovered T.T. in 2006 and started receiving unbelievable info on xercises/nutrition. Immediately I started incorporating T.T. in my busy schedule which is improving my strength, definition, flexibility and nutrition. Craig is quick to reply to questions and supportive. My confidence and strength has definitely improved. If I only knew of Turbulence Training in 2004. The gym crowd is really checking me out now.”
Kimmie Clark

“I lost 14 pounds this month and the weight is just falling off me. My wife says I now look like when we first met and I still have more to go. I can fit into my old jeans again which is a big deal for me. I just cut back on starches and bread and do your routine 2-3 times a week. I never thought in a million years that just 10-20 minutes of weight training followed by some cardio would get me such steady results. I even cheat a bit on the weekends.”
Billy Williams

Turn your health around with Turbulence Training:
==> http://www.turbulencetraining.com

About the Author

Craig Ballantyne is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist and writes for Men’s Health, Men’s Fitness, Maximum Fitness, Muscle and Fitness Hers, and Oxygen magazines. His trademarked Turbulence training Fat loss workouts have been featured multiple times in Men’s Fitness and Maximum Fitness magazines, and have helped thousands of men and women around the world lose fat, gain muscle, and get lean in less than 45 minutes three times per week. For more information on the Turbulence training workouts that will help you burn fat without long, slow cardio sessions or fancy equipment, visit www.TurbulenceTraining.com

Why Cardio Doesn’t Work for Fat loss

By: Craig Ballantyne, CSCS, MS
www.TurbulenceTraining.com

Cardio exercise is such a strange thing. In theory, it should work so perfectly well for all men and women, but as anyone who has tried it knows, the practicality of it just doesn’t add up.

After all, some men and women do cardio 6 hours, 9 hours, or more per week, and still have belly fat to burn. On the other hand, it works just fine for others.

British researchers wanted to get more insight into this paradox, and studied 35 overweight men and women, who weren’t previously exercising.

(Reference: International Journal of Obesity 32: 177-184, 2008).

Subjects exercised 5 times per week for 12 weeks. That’s a lot of exercise, but it helped the subjects lose an average of 8.2 pounds, which is great - I was positively surprised by the results.

So cardio will work for some people, however, in my experience, it works best in young men, who need the help the least!

Back to the study, the variance in Fat loss between individuals was huge. Check this out…

The best subject lost a staggering 32.3 pounds in 12 weeks, while the worst subject actually GAINED 3.74 pounds.

The scientists think they know where things went sour. They classified the subjects into 2 groups, called the “Compensators” and the “Non-compensators”.

The Compensators were hungrier, and as a result consumed an extra 268 calories per day, all but wiping out their cardio efforts.

Therefore, the Compensators lost the least amount of weight, and scientists believe that was due to the huge “compensatory” increase in appetite experienced by this group.

Does your appetite increase when you do slow cardio? If it does, research shows it will ruin your cardio efforts.

So if your cardio program is not working for you, check your appetite and calorie intake to see if you are “compensating” for your efforts. If you are, you might be better off using a program
of high-intensity resistance and interval training (i.e. Turbulence training) for your weight loss efforts.

As Australian Professor Steve Boucher has shown in research, interval training increases hormones called catecholamine. And increased level of catecholamine can reduce appetite, among other fat-burning benefits.

In the real world, few people lose 33 pounds after 12 weeks of cardio. Heck, few even achieve an average weight loss of 8 pounds with aerobic exercise.

So again, check your appetite, and consider giving high-intensity exercise a go for your next workout program.

Beat the curse of cardio with high-intensity Turbulence training.

Craig Ballantyne, CSCS, MS
Author, Turbulence training
www.TurbulenceTraining.com

About the Author

Learn about the “Dark Side of Cardio” in the free report from Craig Ballantyne at www.TurbulenceTraining.com. Craig is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist and writes for Men’s Health, Men’s Fitness, Maximum Fitness, Muscle and Fitness Hers, and Oxygen magazines. His trademarked Turbulence training Fat loss workouts have helped thousands of men and women around the world lose fat, gain muscle, and get lean in less than 45 minutes three times per week. For more information on the Turbulence training workouts that will help you burn fat without long, slow cardio sessions or fancy equipment, visit www.TurbulenceTraining.com

By Tom Venuto
www.BurnTheFat.com

Happy New Year! In this article, I’m going to predict your future and forecast exactly what kind of results you’re going to get in the next 12 months. Sylvia Browne, step aside… I’m pretty good at this.

Several years ago, a public relations firm in New York City asked me to write an article for one of their publications about fitness trends and predictions for the coming year.

It turned out that my “crystal ball” was pretty darn accurate. I nailed most of the predictions I made about aerobics classes, yoga, core training, “holistic” approaches, online personal training technology, the baby boomer market, increasing obesity and many other subjects.

I do confess, it wasn’t that difficult, because instead of just guessing, I actually did some research on industry statistics and I also had some “inside insights” because I’d been a health club manager for so many years and was privy to fitness business trends.

This year, instead of making predictions for the whole fitness industry, what if I could take out my crystal ball again and predict with 99% precision exactly what kind of results you will achieve with your body by the end of the year?

Well, no problem, I can do that too!

I would claim that I have some kind of “gift” for this, but to be honest, you and I don’t need to be psychic to make predictions like these.

There are two things you can always count on:

(1) Nature’s laws of cause and effect, and

(2) human nature.

On that basis, here are my 20 fitness predictions for the New Year:

I PREDICT that if you can reach into your pocket on any day this year and pull out a card or piece of paper with all your body and fitness goals written on it in vivid detail, the odds are 95 to 1 in favor of you achieving every one of those goals before the year is out.

I PREDICT that if you focus your thoughts on your goals and how you are going to achieve them, all day long, you will reach your goals so fast this year, it will make your head spin.

I PREDICT that if you focus your thoughts on health woes and body fat problems and if you think about what you don’t want, all day long, your problems will get worse than ever this year.

I PREDICT that if you made a new year’s resolution, but you didn’t turn it into a specific, written goal with a deadline and a strong reason why you must achieve it, you will freely abandon it the moment the going gets tough.

I PREDICT that if you can tell me all the reasons why achieving your health and fitness goals are important to you, you will be motivated from within to stick with it when the going gets tough.

I PREDICT that at times, the going is going to get tough.

I PREDICT that if you can tell me today what is your life purpose and what is your lifelong vision for your body and your health, you will still be as motivated and driven at the end of the year as you were at the beginning.

I PREDICT that if you don’t have long term goals and a “big picture” vision for your life that you will lose your New Year’s enthusiasm and motivation in a matter of months or even weeks.

I PREDICT that the way you see yourself in your mind’s eye today will be an exact reflection of what you see in the mirror at the end of the year.

I PREDICT that if you have a setback that seems to get in the way of you reaching your health and fitness goals and you tell yourself “this just is temporary; this too shall pass,” then it will pass and it won’t set you back.

I PREDICT that if you believe the way your body looks today is out of your control and you feel helpless or powerless to change, you won’t even make much of an effort this year.

I PREDICT that if you accept complete responsibility for the way your body looks today and you believe that you have the power to change, that you will take action and keep taking action, even through the tough times.

I PREDICT that if you’re unhappy with your physical condition and you say, “it’s not my fault” or you blame it on genetics, hormones or age, then your body will look pretty much the same at the end of this year as it did on New Year’s day.

I PREDICT that the more you have patience, a long term perspective and the ability to postpone immediate gratification, the more likely you are to be a success one year from now.

I PREDICT that the more you seek “miracle pills” or “quick fixes,” the more likely you are to be a failure one year from now.

I PREDICT that you will be tempted by many quick fixes this year.

I PREDICT that if you hang out with losers and negative people this year, you will become just like them.

I PREDICT that if you hang out with winners and positive people this year, you will become just like them.

I PREDICT that you will run into more negative people and losers this year than positive people and winners.

I PREDICT that if you recruit just one friend or support partner that stands behind you and the lifestyle changes you want to make this year, you will double your chances for success. If you surround yourself with numerous support partners, you will become virtually unstoppable.

So how does your future look for the year ahead?

Based on my “predictions,” if it doesn’t look as bright as you’d like it to be, then don’t worry, because a prediction is not predestination.

You can’t do anything to change the past, but by changing your thoughts, attitudes and actions in the present moment, the future is yours to create.

www.BurnTheFat.com

Your friend and coach,

Tom Venuto

To see a complete fat burning system that takes you by the hand, step by step and shows you what to eat, how to exercise and how to stay motivated, all year long, visit:www.BurnTheFat.com

About the Author:

Tom Venuto is a natural bodybuilder, certified personal trainer and freelance fitness writer. Tom is the author of “Burn the Fat, Feed The Muscle,” which teaches you how to get lean without drugs or supplements using secrets of the world’s best bodybuilders and fitness models. Learn how to get rid of stubborn fat and increase your metabolism by visiting: www.BurnTheFat.com

Politically Incorrect Holiday Fat loss Tips

By: Craig Ballantyne, CSCS, MS
www.TurbulenceTraining.com

I was at a big event last week and was reminded how important it is to have strategies for this season of high-calorie parties and busy schedules. But I get ticked off by the tired old
suggestions you find on the Internet or in magazines like Woman’s World.

Often the suggestions are lack any substance, because the writers don’t want to imply you actually have to make a sacrifice to succeed. They make Fat loss sound easy, as if all you had to do was park at the far end of the parking lot and you’d burn all the calories from 5 shortbread cookies.

Well it doesn’t work that way…So here are my politically incorrect, unique Turbulence training strategies to help you keep off the holiday pounds.

By the way, I “borrowed” a few ideas from contestants in my Turbulence training Transformation Contest. The Transformation is rocking with social support and success stories right now, even while the rest of the world struggles with weight gain, these TT users are losing fat over the holidays.

Click here to get started with Turbulence training for Fat Loss:

==> www.TurbulenceTraining.com

Strategy #1 - Green Tea & Almonds

One of the most common tips you’ll hear is to “fill up” before you go to a party where there will be lots of goodies.

Unfortunately, most people I talk to have no luck with this tip. Most people still go to a party and eat everything in sight.

But recently TT users have told me that having a cup of Green Tea and one ounce of almonds has helped them avoid holiday cravings better than anything ever before.

The fiber from the almonds reduces appetite while the small amount of caffeine from the Green Tea seems to increase mental alertness and keep you “energized” at the party.

Hopefully that might work for you…

Strategy #2 - Don’t waste your time on any fancy cardio programs

Listen, the bottom line over the holiday season is that your success depends almost entirely on your nutrition.

You can’t expect to hit the cardio confessional and burn off last night’s 2000 calorie smorgasboard. That’s a 4-hour workout. Instead, don’t get into that situation in the first place.

Here are more nutrition tips:

• - Focus on portion control (and if you have no discipline, forget even trying to eat just one)
• - Nix all drinks mixed with calorie-containing beverages, or better yet, just stop getting drunk. Period.
• - Write down everything you eat to identify your problem spots. Then do whatever you need to do to eliminate your weaknesses. If you don’t record your nutrition, chances are you’ll miss big opportunities to change your diet and lose fat.

Strategy #3 - Take care of you first.

My friend Holly Rigsby (of http://www.fityummymummy.com) is always reminding busy moms to take care of themselves first, and I think that suggestion applies at this time of year to everyone.

So take a deep breath. Ask yourself as you’re running around to please everyone else, “Have you set aside time for yourself”

Be selfish. Make sure you have had some exercise time, some good nutrition, and some rest before overextending yourself and doing too much for other people when you haven’t taken care of yourself and your goals first.

Strategy #4 - Get on a roll

This one comes from a TT Transformation contestant who is too busy losing fat to get off track over the holidays.

Don’t procrastinate ghet started now! Dozens of men and women are doing their Turbulence training Transformations right now - through the heart of the holiday season.

They aren’t waiting for Jan. 1st to show up. They are taking control now, and getting on a roll and not letting anything (from work parties to peer pressure) get in their way.

Strategy #5 - exercise in short bursts whenever you can

Don’t be afraid to dance at your Christmas party. Don’t worry, there is bound to be at least one worse dancer than you out on the floor. Have fun and get down!

On a more serious note, here’s how to avoid falling off the fitness program during the busy holiday season.

Get your butt out of bed 15 minutes early so you can have 3 minutes to wake up and 12 minutes to do the December 2007 Turbulence training 12-Minute Workouts.

Get this workout as part of your bonuses when you start using Turbulence training today:

==> www.TurbulenceTraining.com

Stay healthy and fit over the holidays,

Craig Ballantyne, CSCS, MS
Author, Turbulence training
About the Author

Learn about the “Dark Side of Cardio” in the free report from Craig Ballantyne at www.TurbulenceTraining.com. Craig is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist and writes for Men’s Health, Men’s Fitness, Maximum Fitness, Muscle and Fitness Hers, and Oxygen magazines. His trademarked Turbulence training Fat loss workouts have helped thousands of men and women around the world lose fat, gain muscle, and get lean in less than 45 minutes three times per week. For more information on the Turbulence training workouts that will help you burn fat without long, slow cardio sessions or fancy equipment, visit www.TurbulenceTraining.com