LOSING THE LAST 10 POUNDS

I don’t get a chance to watch television while working in Iraq so while I’m at home on R&R for the holidays, I turned on the television to catch up on my favorite reality shows; weight loss.  You know those shows with the dramatic body transformations? 

I found a show called “The Last 10 Pounds Bootcamp.”  Not everyone has a huge amount of weight to lose.  Many of us are fighting the last 10 pounds.   We’re fighting the “muffin top”; that part that hangs over your waistband.  Are you following me?

As I always say, there’s nothing new.  It’s the same basic information.  Let me share with you the underlying truths of the show and basic weight, or more specifically, fat loss.

1.      Refined carbs-In the show the first thing they did, and what we should do, is look through our pantry for the culprits that keep us hanging on to the last few pounds.  They’re called refined carbs.  What falls into that category?  If it’s in a box, it’s usually a refined carb. 

The list of foods is as follows:  pasta, sugary cereals, cake mixes, cookies, chips, crackers, instant potatoes, instant rice.  We have instant everything.  There’s no limit to what you can find in a box other than good nutrition. 

In your refrigerator take a look at the so called healthy foods.  Yogurt is the one that instantly comes to mind.  Many brands are low in calories or fat but if you look at the grams of sugar, they’re outrageous. 

Years ago the rage in “diet foods” was low or no fat.  Instead of fat, we began eating massive amounts of refined carbs; sugar and preservatives.   We became fatter than ever in record time and developed a disease called diabetes.

In this particular show the woman had 4 weeks to lose the weight.  She lost 8 pounds in 2 weeks.   What she did is take out the pasta, cookies, and cake from her routine eating.  

2.       Get moving-I know, where do you find the time?  I guarantee that if something is important to you, you will find the time.  You may not have 2 hours a day to workout but do you have 20 minutes here and there? 

Maximize your time with efficient workouts.  You can do bicep curls while performing squats.  You can do tricep kickbacks while doing a mamba step.  While working out on your step to your favorite music you can also do a variety of upper body exercises.

You’ve heard this before but by taking the stairs rather than the elevator, parking farther away, walk rather than ride; you can easily add a little exercise to your day.  Even the small changes are better than nothing at all.  That’s what a lifestyle change is all about.

Never think that because you can’t give a huge block of time to your workouts that it can’t be done.  Do something, do anything but,  get moving. 

3.       Accountability-Possibly the biggest thing I noticed is, and it’s been proven, if you have to be accountable to someone you are more likely to succeed.  We all need an area of support.  Some of us may need to learn the basics of nutrition but many of us need someone to either hold our feet to the fire or give us loving support. 

One of my favorite transformation coaches is Anthony Robbins.  He tells us that we’re either driven by pain or pleasure.  I absolutely believe that is true.  I can tell you from personal experience that many of my clients respond to “atta boys” while just as many need a drill sergeant to drive them and keep them on the straight and narrow. 

But, the bottom line is, we’re more likely to succeed if we have someone to help us.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (New International Version)

9 Two are better than one,
       because they have a good return for their work:

10 If one falls down,
       his friend can help him up.
       But pity the man who falls
       and has no one to help him up!

11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
       But how can one keep warm alone?

12 Though one may be overpowered,
       two can defend themselves.
       A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Who can you enlist to fight the battle of the bulge with you?  Is it a friend, spouse, or even a personal trainer or, get my book, God’s Temple-40 Days to Total Transformation?  Do it now.  Get an accountability partner or trainer.

4.       Plan-Planning is one of the most crucial steps.  We don’t have time to cook a dinner so we get takeout food.  Come on, who are we kidding? How long does it take to make a salad and broil some chicken breast or some fish? 

Not as long as it takes to drive to a fast food restaurant, wait in the drive through window, and drive home.

I can’t tell you how many people ask for my help and then explain their “great” fitness and eating routine to me.  It’s the same one they’ve been trying for months and even years.  My response is, “how’s that working for you?”  You just may need a new plan Stan!

I have a couple of good, reliable quotes for planning:

Fail to plan and plan to fail.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

5.        Action-Some of us are always in the process of putting a plan on paper.  We’ve done all the research, written out our exercise routine, bought all the mostly healthy organic foods, scheduled our workout sessions but we never take the most important step; action.

James 2:17 (New International Version)

17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

My friend, if you don’t take action, you will never succeed.  It doesn’t matter how many positive power affirmations you recite, what motivational guru you listen to or how many designer label fitness clothes you have.  If you don’t take action, you will never be successful.  It’s taking action that will get you the results you so desperately want!

When I wrote God’s Temple-40 Days to Total Transformation, my intention wasn’t to write another diet or fitness book. 

As the wise King Solomon said, “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.”

I believe that to be true of health as well. There is nothing new under the sun.  Most of us know what a protein, carbohydrate, cardio, and strength training is. 

So, why are we still fat?  Why are we a nation that’s growing fatter and unhealthier every day?  It’s certainly not for lack of knowledge.  Turn on the television, listen to the radio, google the internet or go to your local bookstore.  All the information is there!

God’s Temple-40 Days to Total Transformation goes deeper than good eating and exercise; it’s about a total transformation.  One that we can only make by adding the spiritual element for total health, fitness and well being. 

Biblically, changes were made in 40 days.  You can absolutely make a transformation in 40 days.  Am I saying you can go from being a size 22 to a size 12 in 40 days?  Of course not. 

Can you feel better about yourself, have a closer relationship with God, lose fat, inches and gain good health in 40 days?  Absolutely, and no doubt about it!

All the suggestions I’ve listed above to lose the last 10 pounds are absolutely doable;

·         Limit refined carb

·         Accountability

·         Get Moving

·         Plan

·         Take action

As they say in the movie industry, that’s a wrap.