Avoid High Fructose Corn Syrup at ALL Cost. Ignore what the commercials are trying to sell you about the sugar! Shocking new research has found that all high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is and has been contaminated, probably for many years with MERCURY!

The research is now showing that nearly one-third of the tested grocery products which contain HFCS were found to have a detectable level of mercury.

Naturalnews.com, which is one of my favorite sites, has an article which you must read!

Magazines and well-intending trainers, doctors, weight loss clinics, and weight loss programs are giving the same impression that it is simple to lose weight. They give the impression that willpower and a diet is all you need for weight loss.

Usually these programs put you on a diet and tell you to exercise. You follow the diet, exercise, maybe go to a gym and do an hour or more of exercise.

But are you getting the results you want?

Losing body fat is not that simple! And if you are losing on the scale what are you losing? Is it muscle, water or fat?

There is no such thing as doing 100 or more sit ups and losing the belly fat. Doing one exercise will not trim your waist.

If you are exercising, are you using the correct modality for weight loss and muscle growth? Are you doing too much cardio? Are you weight training? If you are, are you training in excess? Are the weights heavy enough to bring about a metabolic response?

Losing body fat is not simple!

• There are 119 million American adults that are overweight.
• It is projected that 73% of adults could be overweight or obese by the end of 2008.
• Being overweight or obese increases ones risk of 35 major diseases.
• The direct and indirect costs of obesity, amounts to more than $117 billion dollars a year. This includes medical services and lost productivity.

After 15 years of assisting hundreds of women and men to lose the extra body fat, I can tell you for sure that that no one can lose 20 lbs in 1 month, or similar claims. (Maybe they can get close to this number on the first month, but most of it is water weight). When you read these ads and watch The Biggest Loser, all you are seeing is the weight loss on the scale. You are not told the fat-to-muscle ratio. This is crucial in any weight loss program along with keeping the fat off.

When you diet and do not eat the right ratio of nutrients along with the proper modality of exercise, most of the weight loss on the scale will be muscle weight. When you lose muscle, your body’s BMR (calories burned at rest) is lowered and your muscles are not as efficient. A poor fat-to-muscle ratio will have a negative impact on your healthy lifestyle. When you lose muscle, you can become a skinny fat person — someone who looks smaller but who has a soft, undefined appearance. Additionally, because you did not lose the body fat, your health risks are still elevated.
Composition Counts

If your goal is to trim up your body and become healthier, the first step is to get your body composition taken by a reliable method. At my studio, we use the BodyMetrix Ultrasound measuring techniques. This ultrasound technology has been shown to be more accurate then the caliper (skin fold) method for measuring human body composition.

The BodyMetrix measures tissue thickness by millimeters by an ultrasound imaging. The information we receive helps us develop the appropriate program. It is also gives the lean body mass which by that we can determine the amount of protein our clients should have daily to either maintain or build their muscles. The fat-to-muscle ratio will give us an idea how many calories our clients need to eat on workout days and their off days, too.

By re-measuring every 6-8 weeks we can keep track of the fat-to-muscle ratio. One-for-all weight loss or exercise programs simply do not work. Body Composition will give the information needed to develop an appropriate program.
Hormones and Chemicals!

For millions of Americans who are overweight, there is not one simple solution. In my practice as a fitness professional, I have found that losing excess body fat requires a multi-factorial approach.

In addition to accurate body composition measurements there are many other factors to take into consideration. Hormonal function, toxicity, metabolism and nutrient imbalances have to be taken into account for a complete personalized weight management, fat loss program.

Hormones such as Cortisol and Insulin have shown to be the major factors in fat gain and fat loss. If there are excesses the body will manufacture more fat. Both of these hormones are fat producing hormones. Cortisol is produced in excess in the body from too much stress, if you do too much exercise (especially aerobic exercise) and if you do not sleep adequately. Insulin can be secreted in excess if your meals are not timed right or if your ratios of protein, carbohydrate and fat are not balanced for your metabolism.

Adrenal fatigue can cause an increase in body fat by not allowing the metabolism to shed excess fat. It is well-known and researched that the Thyroid is a major contributor to excess body fat especially women over 35. Imbalances in the female hormones, male hormones, Perimenopause, menopause and birth control all can contribute to an increasing body fat storage.

Chemical messengers in the brain, called neurotransmitters, that relay signals between the cells can be compromised by any hormonal imbalance. Imbalanced neurotransmitters can strongly influence weight management, especially in terms of appetite control, mood elevation and feelings of satisfaction. They are also involved in sleep pattern, stress management and mental / emotional balance.
Toxins, Nutrition & Other Factors

If your body has a toxic overload of heavy metals, the ability to shed the excess fat is compromised. Toxic metal loads can also increase muscle soreness by increasing excessive inflammation. In turn inflammation can cause the body to hold onto excess fat and water. Toxic substances in our fat cells can also contribute to inflammation and prevent the body from shedding excess fat.

Body fat is cycled through the liver. If the liver is toxic it cannot detoxify efficiently and fat metabolism can be impaired. Yeast (Candida overgrowth), too little fiber and not enough water are all major barriers to body fat loss and can increase body fat gain.

Food addictions such as: chocolate, cheese, wheat, gluten, and sugar can contribute to fat gain and prevent fat loss.

Imbalances in nutrients — including protein, carbohydrate, fat, vitamins, and especially minerals — can be major contributors to inefficient fat metabolism and the tendency to increase body fat.

Remember, if your muscle mass level is lower than optimal, then the amount of calories that you burn at rest is much lower. Ultimately increasing and protecting muscle mass is at the very core of an effective, long-term fat management program.
A More Balanced Approach

There are incredible professionals in the Maumee/Toledo area who work with us to address these problems associated with weight loss and a healthier body. If you find you are having trouble — especially if you are over 35 — it may be one of these underlying issues which is hindering your results. Anyone who has stuck out a “DIET” is incredibly disciplined.

It is not your fault! It is all the misinformation and deceiving headlines that are sabotaging your results. Losing weight is not simple, but with the right information, a more balanced body and some hard work, it can be done in the most efficient way with excellent results.

What about you? What are you doing to create the positively fit body you’ve always wanted?

10. Doing crunches on the floor.

This is not an effective way to train your abdominals. The abdominal muscles must be trained like any other muscle group. This means fewer repetitions with greater resistance and hence, higher intensity. No one needs to do 100 crunches to strength the abdominals and to improve their appearance. Crunches on the floor puts undo stress on the spinal cord and only trains the upper abdominal muscles. Crunches are not a complete abdominal movement. The abdominal require a number of exercises to improve function and strength.
9. Exercising to spot reduce.

There is no such animal as “spot reducing,” no matter what the magazines say.
8. Not stretching.

Regular stretching restores flexibility which is one of the components of fitness. When you have tight muscles you are more prone to injury. Stretching promotes increased circulation to our legs, arms, hips, and back.
7. Not eating properly before and after training.

Eating properly is critical to support the stress of the training session and to allow for maximum benefit after the training session. We should eat approximately 25 grams of protein at least one hour before training. After training a fruit should be eaten within ½ hour and within an hour 25 -30 grams of protein.
6. Working out only on machines.

Your brain does not work in terms of isolating muscles for movement. It works in terms of movement and the muscular activity to complete that movement is automatic. Our movement patterns are as unique as our thumbprints.

Your joints cannot move naturally on a machine. Joints that do not move naturally cause bones to meet at surfaces that are not designed to take as much stress: this can lead to arthritic changes in the joint and/or joint dysfunction or injury. For most individuals, machine training provides an inferior, incomplete and less efficient way of training their musculoskeletal system. Training on machines over prolong periods of time creates flawed sensor motor integration and abnormal forces throughout the kinetic chain. You burn fewer calories on a machine versus doing body weight exercises. This includes free weights, stability balls, medicine balls and cables.
5. If they do lift weights, the intensity is too low.

Women are afraid of getting too “bulky” or a masculine- like body if they weight train”. Women who are healthy and fit will have a well defined lean muscular body, which is covered with a thin layer of body fat. To obtain this goal it is necessary to train with heavier weights and with a greater degree of intensity. This higher intensity will stimulate the most muscle fibers.
4. Not getting a Full Body Assessment done buy a qualified fitness professional before they start a workout program.

This assessment determines the exercise selection for an individualized program. Exercise requirements in many respects are unique for each person. What works well for one person may not be effective for another. You may have injuries that dictate that you modify certain exercises.

A well done assessment can establish the parameters for each person so that an ideal exercise program can be developed for optimal benefits.
3. Not weight lifting.

Lean mass (muscles, bones and organs) is a major factor in determining the metabolic rate. Lean mass also stabilizes blood sugar. After and around age 35 women start to lose lean mass. Weight training is required to maintain or build lean mass including muscle. Studies show that the amount of calories you burn is directly proportional to the percentage of lean mass the body contains.
2. Doing excessive aerobic exercise.

Excessive aerobic can cause an increase in the hormone cortisol. Cortisol is a fat producing hormone. This fat can deposit on your hips, and stomach. Excessive cortisol has been linked to several diseases including an increase risk of breast cancer. There is not a substantial release of growth hormone with aerobic exercise. Growth hormone release is a major factor in preventing degenerative disease and reducing many of the negative effects associated with aging. Growth hormone is essential for protecting muscle and bone mass.

Most women feel that in order to burn fat they need to do a tremendous amount of aerobic exercise. It is a misconception that if you do aerobic exercise you automatically reduce the percentage of body fat. Though it is true that the body burns a greater percentage of fat for energy during aerobic exercise; the excess release of cortisol that occurs from excessive aerobic activity can actually increase body fat and reduce lean mass. If you lift weights, because of the higher intensity, you will burn a greater amount of calories, for up to 72 hours after training.
1. Not making exercise a top priority.

Women commonly forfeit budgeting in time for regular exercise and/or they do not exercise enough. Adult females should do a minimum of two days of full body weight training per week as well as incorporating three 20-minute aerobic workouts every week.