Posts Tagged ‘weight loss’

A painful realization from Yesterdays Fat Guy

September 26th, 2009 admin

If you are working to lose weight then you may be, or have, where I’m at today. After an incredibly frustrating week (weight loss wise) the realities of what I’ve done to myself and where I am right now are starting to hit home.

They say confession is good for the soul so I’m hoping that it’s good for weight loss as well, but the truth of the matter is this… I’m addicted to food. Yes, I’m losing weight and doing the things I’m supposed to me doing but there are times when I’m NOT doing what I should be doing and it bothers me when that happens. Perhaps you can relate?

Last night my wife and I decided to do dinner and a movie. Even though I stayed within the parameters of the types of food I should be eating, I ate to much. I believe I could be doing much better with the weight loss, or that I should be…

The farther I travel on this journey the more I compassionate I become for those who are also working to make this change in life. Yes, it’s all well and good when the weight comes off, the clothes fit better and you feel better about yourself but it’s sobering when the reality of what you were come to light through a past of clouded and ambiguous judgement.

One of the scary things about being excessively overweight is that we start to justify it through false affirmation. These false affirmations impress our subconscious mind and we begin to believe our own bullshit. I remember looking in the mirror, at 337 pounds, and thinking (after sucking my gut in a bit) I’m still okay. When I go back and look at the pictures and video of myself at that weight, I was not okay… not even close.

What I find even more humbling are the pictures of the progress so far. I see the weight has come off, when I step on the scale, but I do pictures and video hoping to see more of the picture of the new me I’ve created to change my subconscious but the reality is what it is. Even though I’ve lost over 50 pounds I still have a long ways to go.

I could go on and on here, but will close with this. Whether you are on your weight loss journey or are just getting ready to set sail, there are stages you are going to go through that can make or break the mission. Regardless of how you FEEL, stay on the path. If you fall down and eat to much one night, get back up and keep moving forward. Just because you stumble along the way, or even fall down, doesn’t mean the mission is over… in most cases, it’s probably just beginning.

Have a great day!

Rex – Yesterdays Fat Guy

Fat shredding kettle bell workouts!

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Appetite suppression and weight loss, what works?

September 23rd, 2009 admin

Every now and again, when I log in to my Twitter account, I find something of value. As I was updating my Twitter background today I a Tweet came through talking of Fenugreek Extract and how it may aid in weight loss as an appetite suppressant.

I know that many of the people I have talked to, who are also on a weight loss journey, have shared their struggles with appetite. For some there’s a constant craving for food because the over eating has become an addiction ingrained in the mind. For others, the cravings hit at different times of the day with the most common hitting for many at night once they have become idle. Night time eating has been a huge struggle for me, so I can certainly relate.

There are several strategies for reducing appetite, when it comes to food. It has been said that protein and fiber help reduce appetite because they make you feel full for longer periods at a time. There are also numerous weight loss products available to help suppress appetite. I suppose this means that I could eat oatmeal or brand flakes in the morning if I were so inclined…

… but if those of us who are severely overweight are willing to be honest, many of us will agree that the reason our appetite has gotten out of control is because we have TRAINED it to be out of control. Think about it… the more we eat, the more we crave food, thus, our appetite has increased. But in this case it’s not a hungry body craving food, it’s an idle mind telling us to take action and eat.

Tell me if this doesn’t sound familiar… you’ve gone most of the day with very little to eat because you knew that you were going to pig out at dinner time. You know… hit the buffet, grab a big burger and fries, maybe even a beer if you’re so inclined…

… we save up for the occasion! Night time rolls around, you’ve only eaten one meal that day (however large it may have been) so now that mental hunger hits. Because of the fact that we starved ourselves all day it becomes easy to justify eating at night because, after all, we’ve only eaten once today. We don’t think about the fact that the one time we did eat, we probably consumed enough calories to carry ourselves through an entire day plus.

This was the story of my life for many years. What happens, I believe, is that many of us begin to mistake appetite for habit. A habit can nag and pull at you just as much, even more perhaps, than an actual healthy appetite for food. It becomes a vicious cycle and we begin to search for ways to reduce our appetite… but we’re still hungry, or so we think.

This type of appetite is going to be best suppressed in the mind. It’s our mind that has been trained by our bad habits so in order to break those bad habits we need to retrain our mind with good habits. I’ve mentioned this in previous posts, but I’m a firm believer (and I’m in the process of proving my theory) that when we take the initiative to get our mind in shape, our body will follow.

I found a great blog, last night, over on Blog Catalog entitled “Feel Thin and Be Thin.” In short, this is a blog that talks of utilizing the Law of Attraction as a weight loss method, which was right up my alley! I’m a huge believer in the Law of Attraction and have been using this for weight loss all year because it works.

It sounds a bit on the “to simple” side, but I assure you that there is nothing simple about it. The mental exercise required to recreate yourself is ever bit as intense as physical exercise. In fact, it is strenuous to the point that most people fail to put this Universal Law into action because it requires so much work. But, if you REALLY WANT to lose weight and make a change for the better in life then it’s well worth the effort.

The appetite of our mind needs to be nourished just as our bodies appetite. When these two appetites get out of sync or confused? Well, those of us who have dealt with being 100 pounds, or more, over weight have see the gruesome results.

Get the mind fit and the body will follow… think and feel fit and healthy, BE fit and healthy!

Cheers!

Rex

Click here to get your mental makeover on mp3 for free!

Posted in Weight Loss Concepts Tags: , , , , 5 Comments »

Are we making weight loss harder than it needs to be?

September 21st, 2009 admin

Every time you turn around there’s a new way to lose weight. From tripping your Skinny Switch to the latest in fitness machines someone seems to have an answer that is better than all of the rest.

While doing some work inside of Daily Burn recently I read a comment to a blog post that made more sense to me, concerning weight loss, than just about anything I’ve ever read on the subject. Long story short, the message was simple… reduce your food intake and get more exercise.

Let’s look at both sides of this formula for moment starting with the reduction of food intake. The simple reason people gain weight is because they consume high calorie and/or large quantities of food without burning it off. Food is fuel for our body, if we don’t use it then it’s stored as fat… pretty simple. Now, looking at the second half of this equation, exercise (movement, activity) burns off the food we take in.

If we look at ANY weight loss program or fitness machine we will see that they have been developed to help us either reduce our food intake and/or increase our exercise. Do we really need a fancy program or fitness machine to help us do this? Quite honestly, no we do not. Here’s why…

While there are those who will argue the point, the simple truth is that counting and monitoring calories is a great way to monitor food intake. It allows us to utilize simple math to determine the amount of FUEL we are consuming to make our body run. Utilizing the nutrition label on the side of a box for finding a free calorie calculator online will help us make this determination.

If we can commit to making this simple change to our life and understand that, in most cases, we can thrive on 1500 to 2000 calories per day (and we are willing to monitor that) then we can simply add some basic exercise (along with our daily routine) to burn the calories we need to lose weight. It’s really very simple!

As stated by the gentlemen whose comment I read on Daily Burn, he’s just making sure that he consumes no more than 2000 calories per day. To burn it off, he’s made the commitment to burn calories each day by walking at a steady pace for a half an hour. This is all he is doing and the weight is coming off. He also went on to mention that he’s eating whatever types of food he wants, he’s just staying inside the numerical limit of 2000.

If I may be so bold as to add my 2 cents here, this really comes down to a commitment on the part of the person who wants to lose the weight. You must make a decision and stick to it. Once you do that you will get the results you are looking for.

I find it very difficult to believe that anyone who says they want to lose weight couldn’t make a decision to start here, provided they have the physical capabilities to walk for a half an hour everyday. You have to want it if it’s every going to happen for you.

Cheers!

Rex

Posted in Weight Loss Concepts, What's New? Tags: , , , 3 Comments »

Your mind and weight loss, what most are overlooking

September 14th, 2009 admin

I was reading through several of the blog posts here this morning and just feel compelled to share something that I believe will make a HUGE difference for those who are willing to apply it.

Just about two years ago now I was presented with a book that has changed everything about my life. It’s changed my financial situation, my outlook on life… it’s change me spiritually. All of that being said, the greatest impact this book made on me was with my weight.

I grew up with an addictive personality… I don’t know why, it just was what it was. That addictive personality followed me into my early adult years where alcohol and marijuana (a major contributor to becoming obese, for me) had also been added to the list of addictions in my life. Through prayer, little by little, some of the addictions fell by the wayside but the one addiction that I just could not break was the addiction to food. It didn’t matter what I tried… diets, fads, they all failed.

What I came to realize when I was presented with The Master Key System just two short years ago was that my mind was completely unfit. After being raised in a Christian home I understood that the Bible taught us of a renewing of the mind and strength of mind but for some reason I never grasped how to attain that.

The Master Key System is THE mental workout of the ages. When applied, the exercises first help you gain control over your body and then over your mind. When you practice this everyday you will begin to notice that (once you realize that YOUR are not your body and YOU are not your mind) things begin to change. For example, I hated organized exercise growing up. I like to be active, ride bikes, play sports, etc., but when it came to getting conditioned for those things, forget it. Even in to my adult years exercise was cumbersome. Since I’ve made the exercises within the Master Key System a HABIT, that hatred of exercise is gone and I actually look forward to going to the gym everyday.

The strength of mind to follow through with the goals and plans we have in life is of the greatest necessity. Without it we can count on continued failure because we have formed the habit of failure. I hear, so many times in weight loss circles, how people are trying again and again and again. Talk about frustrating. What’s really scary is that habit of failure brings about failure in other parts of life as well. When we don’t complete something guilt, worry and depression set in… all very powerful emotions that impact our subconscious mind in a negative way.

Charles Haanel wrote in the Master Key System “modern psychology tells us that when we start something and do not complete it, or make a resolution and do not keep it, we are forming the habit of failure; absolute, ignominious failure. If you do not intend to do a thing, do not start; if you do start, see it through even if the heavens fall; if you make up your mind to do something, do it; let nothing, no one, interfere; the “I” in you has determined, the thing is settled; the die is cast, there is no longer any argument.”

I wish I could sum this all up for you in one blog post, but the truth is that if you are going to find success when targeting any proper object in life, it is going to require exercise… both mental and physical.

You have to simply ask yourself “How bad do I really want this? Do I want it bad enough to do whatever it takes or am I just holding on to a pipe dream that I will never really be able to achieve?” If you are ready to lose the weight and keep it off then this is for you.

Read The Master Key System free online. Make it a daily habit. Once you start, do not stop for ANY reason… and watch what happens.

Cheers!

Rex
Yesterdays Fat Guy

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The emotional side of obesity and weight loss

September 12th, 2009 admin

We hear so much about the mechanical side of weight loss in society today. Diets, programs, surgeries, treatments… most of what I have talked about on this blog has been very mechanical, how to and results oriented.

Today I’m going to share an experience the other day that brought about a reaction in me unlike anything I’ve experienced before. Based on this response I think that, perhaps, the scary side of being severely overweight is starting to register with me. I think that’s a good thing…

My wife and I like to eat! We always have and probably always will. One of the aspects of eating that we have had to change to meet the objective of thinning down is WHERE we eat. Instead of eating at buffet style restaurants where fried, greasy and high sodium food is the choice, we now only frequent those places where we can eat right.

Anyway, the other day we decided to run up to Souplantation (Sweet Tomatoes) to have our main meal. Each time we go there the place is busy, which is a good thing considering that it’s good for you.

I’ve been to Souplantation several times since we moved to San Diego. Each time we go we see people of all shapes and sizes there (for whatever reason) and, up until the other day, I never gave it a second thought.

As we enjoyed our lunch the other day, my wife got up to grab a bowl of soup and I couldn’t help but notice a severely overweight woman across the way feeding her child. What horrified me was the fact that this child (sitting in a high chair, no more than two years old, probably younger) was struggling and pulling away from his mother as she tried to feed him. What was even more disturbing is that this child (at the age of two) looked to be (easily) 20 pounds heavier than he should have been.

At first I was enraged at the mothers ignorance at how much (and what) she was putting in his mouth. Here we are at one of the healthiest restaurants on the planet and she’s shoving pasta and cheese in this kids face like he’s never going to eat again. As I continued to watch I saw her dinner guest return to the table. As the guest tended to the child, the over weight woman got up to make another trip to wherever. I was shocked to see, after she had moved, how much food she had stocked on that table. My anger toward her turned to empathy when I saw that, because I’ve been there. I was never a food stacker, I was a plate stacker. I’d make several trips and stack plates instead, but it’s the same thing.

What this all boils down to is addiction. I could easily relate to the comfort she sought in food for what could be one of a thousand reasons. What was sad was to see that addiction projected upon an innocent child who is being set up for a life of pain and ridicule if it doesn’t stop. Seeing this happen in front of my made me want to yell, cry, scold, warn… interesting feelings for a guy who tries to cover everything with a sense of humor.

What’s really starting to bother me and fuel my passion for helping people overcome obesity is the fact that this disease is becoming socially acceptable. I’ve been there. I’ve been at the juncture where the “I, and others, should love me for me and I don’t care what anyone thinks” mindset has been my crutch in all of this. This might make a few people angry but what’s a blog without a little controversy. Simply put, the excuses come from a bullshit mentality. Every last one of us has the ABILITY to change our mind, it comes down to a choice to do so. In most cases it’s not a matter of can’t, it’s a matter of WON’T!

It doesn’t matter what you try to tell yourself, abusing your body is not socially acceptable. I’ve been watching (sorry to admit) this new “More To Love” reality show on TV (affectionately referred to by my wife and I as “The Fat Bachelor”) and have been amazed by some of the things people will say to justify the mistreatment of themselves with food. I look at myself in pictures and on video now, and even though I’ve made decent progress, I’m still embarrassed by the way I look. I find it hard to believe that those who try to excuse it away don’t feel the same, especially when they openly admit their self consciousness when wearing a bathing suit.

This blog post doesn’t really have much of a point, I guess… kind of rambling and ranting here, but let me try to sum it up so someone can benefit from this. I think the point here is that when you make the conscious decision to change your mind and work through the pain and discomfort that comes with a weight loss mission, your eyes are opened to things that you never saw before because wherever you looked, the reflection was the same. When that reflection begins to change, it could very well mean that after years of trying, the change is significant enough to believe that you might just finally be making progress!

Have a great Saturday!

Rex

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How to effectively market a weight loss product or business online!

September 10th, 2009 admin

It almost seems to easy when you think about it, but when it comes to marketing a weight loss product or business opportunity, there’s one trick that stands the test of time… before and after!

Watch any infomercial or commercial promoting a weight loss product, fitness machine or anything that’s geared to help you lose weight or get fit and what do they all have in common? “I was fat, now I’m not because I use this!”

The modern Internet makes it easy for any savvy marketer to get creative and drive traffic from their specific niche, regardless of the competition. Resources like Digg, Mixx, Hoobly… even Craigslist make it pretty easy to get your offering in front of the right people through the search engines.

Then, of course, we have YouTube, MySpace, Facebook, Twitter and more where we can post pictures, posts and videos that show our progress… making it very easy to set up a story line where people can follow you along on the journey. They can experience the sites, sounds and challenges you experience through the world of Internet media. It’s pretty remarkable when you think about it and most of it is free!

Think about it… with a little ingenuity you can create a blog using Wordpress or Blogger (best to set up Wordpress on your own hosting account), utilize Squidoo and Hubpages for backlinks and SEO, create some video, document your journey through written text, advertise a free sample of any products you may be using to build your business… get the idea?

With Google being as handy as it is, if you have questions about how to do anything, just do a little research and you will, mos likely, find someone on the globe who has created a video to show you how to do something.

When it comes to setting up an effective marketing campaign online today, there aren’t any excuses for why someone cannot… it comes down to a will not. It’s all about taking action, that’s the key. Once you start something, keep building it and do not stop. Put 3 to 6 months of solid work into it and watch what happens.

If you are going to be successful online with a home business then you need an audience. The Internet has changed dramatically! You’ve heard the saying “the whole world is a stage?” That same truth fits the Internet to a “T”!

One might pose the question here, “What if I don’t need to lose the weight but still want to market the product?”  Simple, find someone who does need to lose the weight and is willing to be the star of the show.  Maybe do a joint venture with that person in a business opportunity that you wish to promote.

Please take the following into consideration before making a decision to market your weight loss business opportunity online…

1.) Keep things real - when creating your content, videos, audio, etc. make sure that you are offering great value and not just pitching the product. There’s a time to pitch the product but people are going to be more responsive when you offer solid insight and quality content versus blogs and videos full of advertising. Look at what’s being done on TV when it comes to reality weight loss programming and get ideas from that. You don’t have to be an actor to share experiences.

2.) Offer samples – if you have a way to get samples in the hands of your would be customers then do it! Setting up a marketing system online where people opt in to request samples via the postal mail works wonders. It’s a small investment and price to pay when you consider the potential of a quality business opportunity.

3.) Find one thing and stick with it – If you have found a business that drives your passion and fits you as a person then that’s the one you want to build. Just because you are into weight loss products doesn’t mean you have to promote them all. You will find that results come much faster when you find one opportunity and focus 100% of your effort on it.

4.) If you put your mind to it, you can create any condition in life that you wish!

1. The “I” of you is not the physical body; that is simply an instrument which the “I” uses to carry out its purposes; the “I” cannot be the Mind, for the mind is simply another instrument which the “I” uses with which to think, reason, and plan.

2. The “I” must be something which controls and directs both the body and the mind; something which determines what they shall do and how they shall act. When you come into a realization of the true nature of this “I”, you will enjoy a sense of power which you have never before known.

Charles Haanel – The Master Key System – Chapter 4 reference 1 and 2

Cheers!

Rex

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Posted in Business & Marketing Tags: , , , 3 Comments »

How a fat guy got into a skinny guys shorts!

September 9th, 2009 admin

Sorry, I couldn’t resist the title… lol, and it’s probably even more lame to laugh at my own joke, but it is what it is.

When it comes to losing weight we like to SEE progress. We enjoy seeing the numbers go down when we step on the scale, believe me, but there’s a certain sense of accomplishment that brings new motivation to the game when you are able to comfortable wear jeans that, just a month ago, I could even button.

As my wife and I were getting ready head out for lunch today I was digging through the dresser drawer for something to wear. There tucked in the back bottom corner were those jean shorts that have been waiting for me for a long time now. I wasn’t going to try but then I figured “why not… they have to be closer then last time.”

As I slid them on I could see there was a significant change but when I was able to button them without any extra effort, and sit down in them without cutting off the blood flow to my lower body, I realized that I had reached a marker on the journey to the checkered flag of 237 pounds by the end of this year.

So sure enough, the Yesterdays Fat Guy is shrinking!

“modern psychology tells us that when we start something and do not complete it, or make a resolution and do not keep it, we are forming the habit of failure; absolute, ignominious failure. If you do not intend to do a thing, do not start; if you do start, see it through even if the heavens fall; if you make up your mind to do something, do it; let nothing, no one, interfere; the “I” in you has determined, the thing is settled; the die is cast, there is no longer any argument.” Charles Haanel - The Master Key System

Cheers!

Rex

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What is your BMI (Body Mass Index)?

September 5th, 2009 admin

The other day, while chatting with someone online, the term BMI was used to share a persons size, versus their weight… but what does that mean to those of us who want to lose weight? While I had heard the term before I didn’t know how to calculate it, it’s significance in weight loss or if it was even that important.

After taking some time to do some research online, concerning BMI (Body Mass Index) I learned several interesting facts, including the importance thereof.

BMI (Body Mass Index) is a calculation of both height and weight to determine on of four levels of health. Those four levels include underweight, normal, overweight and obese. BMI is used as a screening tool to calculate potential weight problems in adults.

While this tool is interesting, I still believe that my favorite two tools for estimating my weight and the amount I need to lose stand the test of time. Those tools are the mirror and the scales at the gym. When I look in the mirror I can easily see there’s a problem that needs to be resolved and the scales confirm it.

Nonetheless, I found a cool little Google Gadget for calculating BMI and have added it to the right hand column of Yesterdays Fat Guy if anyone would like to try it out. In running my numbers I found out that my current Body Mass Index is 39. My ideal (based on crunching some numbers) would be between 18 and 24 were my BMI to fall in the normal category for my height.

You just never know what you will learn when you take a few minutes to search the web.

Click either of the links in this post to learn more about BMI (Body Mass Index).

Cheers!

Rex

Posted in Weight Loss Concepts Tags: , 1 Comment »

It’s not too late for summer weight loss!

September 3rd, 2009 admin

Let me ask you a question. When summer started this year and you, or perhaps a friend, made a decision to shed those unwanted pounds before swim suit season, did you reach your goal?

Summer weight loss is a popular topic in the months that make up the spring season but how often do we hear about it after the fact? Just because fall is here does not mean that we won’t spend some time on a beach somewhere (on vacation perhaps) during the fall and winter months. What it most often means, though, is that if we’ve missed the mark, that we still need to lose weight regardless of the season.

Here are some great tips and ideas for losing those unwanted pounds that you weren’t able to shed with your original summer weight loss commitment.

1.) Fruits and vegetables – Just because the fall is approaching doesn’t mean that we can’t still enjoy those foods we love in the summer. However, the key to losing the unwanted weight is making sure that we chose the right foods. Fruits and vegetables are very popular in the summer months because they are light, refreshing and more welcome than heavy foods, especially during those hot scorching days when turning on oven is the last thing you want to do. More summer weight loss ideas!

2.) Gym Memberships- There are two times per year where a gym membership is most welcome… during those extremely hot months and also the extremely cold. Even a half an hour per day on a treadmill at the local gym can help you obtain the look that you want. You will find that most gym memberships will not break the bank. In fact, most memberships cost less per day than a cup of coffee or two.

3.) Sweat The Small Stuff - There are hundreds of tiny changes that you can make that add up quick when it comes to reducing calories and fat. Fast food is popular in the summer because it’s quick, easy and one less thing we have to cook. If you are going to eat fast food, skipping the mayo helps. Ordering tea or water versus soda makes a huge difference. Staying hydrated is also very important and helps the body remove impurities. Learn more about summer weight loss lifestyle changes here.

Next summer will here before you know it! Apply these changes now so you won’t have to worry about it next year!

Cheers!

Rex

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How to burn fat and lose your belly

September 3rd, 2009 admin

I’ve been doing more research on how to burn fat, especially that of belly fat. After all, burning fat equals greater weight loss. You would be amazed at how many theories, ideas and diets exist when it comes to the the subject of how to burn fat.

Most of my fat is stored in my mid section giving me a pear shape. While this has shrunk considerably since the start of my weight loss journey, I still have a a long ways to go before it’s all gone.

It just doesn’t seem like you can get rid of belly fat fast enough. For whatever reason you might want it gone, in my case, I seem to be losing the weight everywhere else but my gut. I know that it’s shrinking based on current tape measurement but, as I was telling my wife yesterday, I just don’t feel like the change has been that noticeable yet. You’d think that it would register with you, a bit more, when you were approaching the 50 lb. loss mark.

Nonetheless, onward and forward. What I’m doing at the gym combined with a proper diet and the use of GBG Energy Matrix as a fat burner is working well… I just need to be patient.

Here’s is a listing of some of the things I found online that you may find interesting or helpful. Some are a bit extreme so use caution and make sure to talk to your doctor or trainer before attempting any of this.

1.) The Ketogenic Diet – Most common use is the treatment of epilepsy in children by fooling the body. Seems like there’s a lot of that going around these days.

2.) Using green tea is also been linked to the burning of belly fat. I’ve noticed that there are several weight loss products that utilize green tea or a combination of green teas and caffeine to burn fat.

3.) Aerobic exercise and a healthy diet are highly recommended for the reduction of abdominal obesity.

4.) Grapefruit – I found several references online to the use of grape fruit for the reduction and elimination of belly fat.

5.) The Flat Belly Diet – Here’s a diet plan I found using Wikipedia. The claim is that a dieter can lose 7 pounds in 96 hours following this plan.

I hope you find this information useful, but again I must encourage you to seek the advice of a health or medical professional before making drastic changes.

Cheers!

Rex

Posted in Weight Loss Concepts Tags: , , , 2 Comments »

How to (and why it’s helpful to) start a weight loss blog

August 31st, 2009 admin

Have you ever looked at the number of searches conducted on Google, everyday, containing the word “weight loss?” Check this out…

If you read into this there are several things that you can attribute to this type of demand for information…

1.) There are a lot of people in the world who want to lose weight…
2.) There are a lot of people who want to sell weight loss products…

I’m sure we could go on and on. My theory is this… the demand for information concerning weight loss is so huge because the failure rate is so high. I’ve looked at a few of the top ranking web sites concerning this and they report that “95% of those who lose weight eventually gain it back within three years. Beyond 3 years that failure rate is even worse.” I believe that much of the search for info is for people who have tried and failed once, twice or even more, but are still looking for that one thing that it going to make the difference.

I’d love to sit here and say that, at last, I’ve finally found the solution that has worked after all of these years, but the fact remains that I have a long way to go. In my mind I certainly “feel” and “believe” that things are different this time… so I better keep “believing” if I want the changes to stick this time around.

That being said, one of the things that his helping me stay on point is this blog. Creating this weight loss blog keeps me accountable which helps tremendously. It gives me a place to share the experience as well as “see” the results from a different perspective than I’ve seen them in before.

What’s more, it puts me in front of an audience that helps to hold me accountable. It also allows the the opportunity to be part of a network of people who are going through a similar change in their life.

While there are several key components to successful weight loss, a blog certainly helps if you are brave enough to share your experience with the world. If you have been struggling to lose the weight you want to lose I highly recommend that you give a weight loss blog some serious thought. It’s helping me, and as is demonstrated in the link menu on the right, it’s helping many others as well.

Starting a weight loss blog is not as difficult as it might seem. You can register for a free blog through Wordpress.com or Blogger.com. Even those with basic skills will find that it’s pretty easy to add content, share pictures and video… you might even make a little extra money promoting a few weight loss products.

Cheers!

Rex

Posted in Business & Marketing, Weight Loss Concepts Tags: , , , , 1 Comment »

Does your body have a Skinny Switch?

August 30th, 2009 admin

Have you ever seen that late night infomercial for a weight loss program called “The Skinny Switch?” Now this is an interesting concept when it comes to a weight loss plan.

Long story short (as I stated in an earlier post) the concept seems to be, again, throwing your body a curve ball.

The science of keeping your body guessing, regardless of any program you chose, seems to developing some merit. There are several weight loss and fitness programs that are embracing this concept of “confusing” or “fooling” your body.

While I have not done any extensive, shall we say, testing on these concepts, based on recent events, I’m confident enough to say that I must agree that there is something to this.

In short (because I’ve already written on this) I plateaued one week, made a drastic, unplanned switch the next week and dropped another six pounds over a five day period. Did I trip my “Skinny Switch”? Did I “confuse” my body? Was it the implementation of a new weight loss product? Was it all of the above?

While I’m no expert, I will say that… in my opinion (and this is only an opinion) that it seems to me that it would be in the best interest of those wanting to lose weight that they pick one program and stick with it unless it just doesn’t work for you.

My wife has decided to get in the game and has chosen this as a weight loss program. I think now that she sees that I’m finally getting serious about it that it’s time for her to start dropping the pounds as well. While I have chosen to do it through calorie counting and exercise, she ordered “The Skinny Switch.” It will be interesting to see how that works out for her.

When I first saw the program on TV, I was tempted to try it out but when you think about the past and how I put the weight on (no exercise and over eating) that by reversing the habits (a lot of exercising and healthy eating) that weight gain would turn to weight loss. Turns out, so far, I was right.

To each their own I guess, but if you really want to lose weight then a simple turn from the current bad habits to new healthy habits still fits the bill better than anything.

Have a great day!

Rex

Posted in Weight Loss Concepts Tags: , , 1 Comment »

GBG Energy Matrix arrives!

August 17th, 2009 admin

Needless to say I was quite eager for the arrival of my first shipment of GBG Energy Matrix today. Once I had the box in my hot little hands it was only a matter of minutes before the package was opened and I was using the product for the first time.

At present (3:55 p.m. PST) it’s been about an hour since consuming my first beverage. Talk about super charging a bottle of water, wow! The energy boost was immediate… within 15 minutes (bottle wasn’t even finished) I felt the energy boost and as I am writing this post, the boost is not only still there, it’s increasing! I can hardly wait to use this before and during my workout tomorrow.

As far as flavor is concerned I was a little concerned. So many times we hear of the latest and greatest in products, but once we get them, their flavor does not live up to the hype. That was not the case with Energy Matrix. By the time I reached the bottom of the bottle there wasn’t a weird after taste. I was expecting something a little on the sweet side, but this is more light… very “sports drink” ish with a hint of herbal flavor.

Now the real test starts. Now that the product is here I will be doing an extensive five day test on the product to see how it does in helping with weight loss. I will be creating video to document the results as I go and hope to publish the video findings early next week.

Click here to request a free sample pack!

Cheers!

Rex

Posted in GBG Energy Matrix Tags: , , 3 Comments »

Calorie counting and weight loss, what I’ve learned!

August 15th, 2009 admin

Well, I’m not going to sit here and pretend like I’m an expert, because I’m not. When it comes to weight loss, nutrition, fitness, etc., I’m kind of a greenhorn. Nonetheless, here’s what I’m learning…

Managing calories to lose weight is not much different than managing money. Each day you have so much to spend based on your age, weight, activity, etc. The foods that you eat, of course, have a specific value in calories. Each time you eat something, you are spending from your daily calorie budget.

I’ve used a couple of different weight loss calculators, but to be honest, I don’t totally understand them. Most of them are telling me that I should be taking in more calories than I am. Let me show you what I’m talking about…

free calorie counter

The image above represents my current calculation based on my age, weight, height and activity level. Do you see how many calories it says I should be eating? Good grief, I’d explode! It could just be my lack of understanding (so any trainers out there, feel free to chime in on the comment board of this post) but that seems like an awful lot of food to me.

Then I looked at this information which popped up under my calorie calculations…

basic conversion of pounds to fat based on calories

… which made more sense. Now the graphics says that if I reduce what I should be eating by 500 calories per day then I can drop one pound per week. So, in my estimation, I figured if I could cut my intake by 1000 or even 1500 calories I could drop even more weight. That’s what I did. I’ve been consuming no more than 2000 calories per day (usually 1500 to 1750).

I’ve been burning a minimum of 800 calories per workout daily. I spend a half an hour on the treadmill at 3.7 mph at an incline between 7 and 9. I also do a half an hour on the elliptical machine as well as some basic muscle fitness working the back and arms on one day, legs and chest on alternate days. I’ve even been throwing in some basic exercises to work my abs like crunches and toe touches and then wrapping up each session with some time in both the steam room and the whirlpool (helps the sore muscles!)

Following this routine I dropped seven pounds last week. I haven’t felt like I have deprived my body, I’ve had plenty of energy and feel great!

Now keep in mind this is just a recording of my progress. I’m not suggesting that you go out and do that same thing. Make sure you talk to your doctor or trainer before trying anything like this.

The most significant change that I’ve noticed is that the more I learn and program into my mind, the more passionate I become about what I’m doing. As the mind can only focus on one thing at a time, if I’m focusing on the “management” of my daily intake then I’m not focusing on just eating or food. Focusing on the right things brings about change in your mind and your body.

I’ve heard people say things like “life is to short to count calories” or “I get enough exercise at work” and so on. I’ve also heard the same people gripe about being overweight and how they “should” go on a diet, blah, blah, blah. If you are serious about making a change, take action. Take action in your mind and your body will follow.

Posted in Weight Loss Concepts Tags: , , , 5 Comments »

Happy 10th Anniversary To My Wife Tamara And A Special Thanks To Tom Ham’s Lighthouse!

August 14th, 2009 admin

Tom Ham's Lighthouse Restaurant

“Okay Rex, so what’s the deal?  Aren’t you supposed to be losing weight?” Yeah, yeah… I’m losing weight and moving forward with the weight loss challenge, but as today marks our 10th wedding anniversary, a celebration was in order tonight.  It was well worth the extra time spent on the treadmill today in preparation, but I was good and didn’t blow my calorie budget, by much ;) !!

A few months back we discovered a nice restaraunt over on the bay, just south of Point Loma, called Tom Ham’s Light House.  Before tonight, we knew this to be the best Sunday Brunch in San Diego, but tonight we experienced, first hand, a dining experience we will not soon forget.

When it comes to dining out, one of the things that appeals to me more than anything is the courtesy of the staff.  Our waitress this evening hosted an anniversary dinner that was nothing short of spectacular.

We chose Tom Ham’s Lighthouse for tonight, as we had received an inivitation from them (as previous guests) to come and celebrate our anniversary… at a significant discount!  As we’ve never been disappointed there (and Lord knows I like to save a buck or two where I can) this was the obvious choice.

After being seated we were treated to a complimentary bottle of sparkling wine and the chefs special appetizer… a Roma tomato served with olive oil, basil and Mozzarella cheese!  We then ordered a starter… the BEST spinach and artichoke dip we’ve ever eaten, served with home made potato crisps!  We were also treated to a great loaf of sourdough bread.

The enrtree’s were simply amazing.  We ordered a salmon and pasta dish, as well as a scallop dish served with garlic mashed potatos.  As part of the anniversary special one entree was on the house!

Just when we thought it was over, our waitress Kattlyn brought us one more surprise… a “more than generous” serving of the best chocolate mud pie we’ve ever eaten! This was the perfect compliment to our after dinner coffee.

In total, a dinner that would have easily cost $100 bill plus… as part of the special, cost less than $50.  I would have glady parted with $100 for such a fantastic evening.

So… to the managers, wait staff and chefs working at Tom Ham’s Lighthouse tonight, thanks so much for a wonderful evening.  We will be returning soon!

Posted in Updates & Reports Tags: , , 2 Comments »

Welcome to Yesterdays Fat Guy with Rex Harris

July 30th, 2009 admin

Thanks for stopping by Yesterdays Fat Guy!  Today marks the official launch of this blog and the relaunch of a weight loss and fitness journey that I hope will inspire others to take action and make a change for the better in their lives.

After my weigh in two days ago (8/11/09) I am (for the first time in years) on the threshold of being below 300 pounds.  In total, I’ve lost 37 pounds this year on a mission to lose 100.

If you look at the video on the right, you will see a weigh in from earlier this year.  While there is much less of me now I still have a long way to go.

At present, my current routine consists of no more than 1800 calories per day.  I’m also back in the gym (thanks 24 Hour Fitness!) where I’m burning 1000 calories per day using the eliptical machine, the treadmill and a series of muscle fitness exercises and resistance. Since going back to the gym, the loss of weight has increased dramatically with my biggest one week loss of seven pounds coming this past week.

I’m also gearing up to do a full video series on Energy Matrix by GBG.  This is the world first thermogenic fat burning energy drink that is diabetic safe!  Early tests (done by the company) indicate incredible results with this product with limited or no exercise.  The company also offers people the opportunity to start their own business using this product… so long story short, you can earn great money by sharing it with others.

It’s time to head to the gym, come back for updates anytime.  All participation is appreciated!  Don’t forget to click the Mind and Body Makeover banner on the right to get your free box set compliments of Team Xtreme!

Cheers!

Rex

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