Update
November 20, 2002 (visit the Update
Menu for other topics)
How
Do I Lose . . . . This?
By Phil Kaplan
There are two questions I hear
over and over and over and over again. The first is . .
"Does
it work?"
The question usually relates to
a supplement or device.
"Does the ab-trim-plus
really work?"
"Does cellucream really
target my stubborn fatty pockets."
"Does magic weight away
really shed pounds and inches like magic?"
I've covered the scams and offerings
at length here at the site as well as on my radio show, so
I'll leave that question aside for now. The second question
comes in every bit as frequently. It comes to me at the beginning
of seminars, in the supermarket, from the hosts of TV shows
I visit with, and of course people I meet in health clubs.
"How Do
I Lose . . . This?"
 The
question is accompanied by a gesture . . . pointing to a thigh,
grabbing the skin at the back of the arm, or patting a protruding
belly. Many of those trying to desperately reduce their waistlines
commit to endless reps on the situp board, only to find their
efforts are in vain. They're attempting to "target"
an area, and in that, reduce the area. They see people with
"great abs" working those abs and believe that the
exercise being performed is the path to greatness. What they
fail to recognize is, either the person with great abs has
always been lean, or he or she applied a process involving
supportive eating and both resistance and aerobic exercise
to get the result. The ab work just becomes a "polishing"
movement for those who already have great abs. Still, enough
people are misguided for fitness failure to be considered
a virtual epidemic, and the two questions are inevitable after
someone puts enough effort in with a flawed approach.
 Because
health club members are just as confused as the general public
in the realm of fat reduction, every Personal Trainer is faced
with the same two questions . . . over and over and over again.
It's clear that people need clarity in the area of bodypart
reduction. Bodypart reduction translates to "fat loss,"
and whether you want to lose fat from the thighs, from the
belly, from the love handles, or from the back of the arm,
the technology that "works" is identical. If you
want fat to leave your body, you have to incorporate a technology
that truly allows for fat release.
 Too
many are misled by judging their progress by their pounds.
The scale cannot measure fat reduction and a reliance upon
the scale, especially now, during the Holiday Season can only
lead to greater and greater frustration. Forget the scale,
forget those devices that "target" problem areas,
and begin to understand The Fitness Truth.
I publish a monthly newsletter
for Personal Trainers. The focus is on helping trainers find
their professional footing . . . and deliver more value than
people expect. Several months ago I covered the fat loss issue
in depth. I believe sharing a segment of that newsletter .
. . sharing a piece of what trainers learned that month about
how to help people understand fat loss . . . will act as protection
and offer a bit of clarity for those who are tempted to ask
. . . "How Do I Lose This?"
Here's an excerpt from my June,
2002, Health & Wealth Newsletter. Keep in mind, it was
written for personal trainers, but the information applies
to everyone. In this segment of the newsletter I shared with
trainers a figurative filter . . . some specific information
that if their clients come to understand . . . the fat loss
mystery is cleared up. If you are a human being born on the
planet earth, I can assure you, the information applies.
(excerpt begins here)
The body loses fat systemically!
We know this, and we often assume
clients do as well . . . but we should never assume. Few embarking
upon exercise programs or a shift in nutritional habits really
understand how fat goes away. It's important that we help
them see that we cannot determine where our bodies choose
to release fat from, and with genetic predispositions aside,
we lose fat proportionately from everywhere. If they understand
this first vital fact, that fat loss in a given area can only
be attained by putting the body into a physiological state
where it's willing to systemically free up some fatty acids
as a fuel supply, they are far more likely to grasp the idea
that the concept they must employ is global, that what "works"
for an athlete "works" for a 35-year old woman busy raising
kids. The process that works to allow the body to systemically
and healthfully release fat as fuel is . . . well you know,
a combination of the right nutrition, moderate aerobic exercise,
and a concern for muscle. Once this is instilled, once a client
can actually explain this back to you, a major leap has been
achieved in positioning that person for results. With that
gold nugget in place, we must move on to the next one.
Fat Loss is a two-step process.
 Bodyfat
is actually the accumulation of fatty acids structured as
adipose tissue. That adipose tissue has secured itself inside
a cell membrane. That membrane is structured in part from
fat. Body fluids are predominantly water. Unless we can release
those fatty acids from the protection of that fat cell membrane,
it's protected, locked in place, inaccessible by the ever-flowing
bloodstream. In order to burn it, it must first be released!
It must penetrate the wall of the fat cell and enter the bloodstream.
The released fatty acids travel via the bloodstream into the
mitochondria of muscle cells where they can be burned. Fat
loss requires first fat release and secondly fat burning.
With the second gold nugget locked in place, we move to the
third and final piece of creating an effective information
filter.
There isn't any pill . . .
 There
isn't any pill that will burn fat, there isn't any pill that
will shed pounds like magic, and there isn't any pill that
boosts metabolism with any permanence. Pills enter via the
digestive tract. We've already established that fat cell membranes
and the little capillary support networks they build up are
protecting fat. To expect a pill to magically suck fat into
the digestive tract is to expect a miracle, and we already
know, the fitness miracle doesn't exist. When your clients
see infomercials and full page ads presenting chitosan products
(Fat Trapper) as great fat burners, the filter you've created
will help them see through the deception. Pills that "boost
metabolism" do not actually boost metabolism, but rather create
a drug induced stimulant effect. While caloric burn may be
increased, and fat release may be amplified slightly in the
short term, the inability to maintain a stimulant induced
"fat burning" state without serious risk of side effects reinforces
the reality that says, "fat burners do not burn fat." In order
to burn fat, remember, you have to first release it and then
burn it as fuel. That requires stabilization of blood sugar,
increased caloric burn through exercise, and metabolism stimulating
meals. A pill just won't do it. Just with that basic filter
alone, with that preliminary understanding of fat release,
it becomes clear that a supplement won't do it, a diet won't
do it, a spot reduction device won't do it, and only a sensible
reliance upon a carefully constructed strategy incorporating
exercise and supportive eating can lead to long term healthful
fat loss. Wow, if only we could get everybody to that point
of understanding before counseling them along the path of
a structured synergistic program.
(end of excerpt)
What should you extract from this?
Well . . . that if you want to "reduce" or "get
rid of" or "lose" anything that presently makes
up your physical manifestation (that's just a fancy way of
saying "if you want to lose bodyfat"), you must
apply the same three vital components that everyone else seeking
fat loss must apply if their goals are ever going to become
reality.
The Right Nutrition, Moderate Aerobic
Exercise, and a Concern for Muscle!
If you won't be
in South Florida for my next seminar . . . get the book that
shares it all!
 The
testimonials keep coming.
"The most powerful fitness
book I've ever read, and that's from a guy who's read them
all! The Best You've Ever Been is entertaining, but more importantly,
it really hits home with the information people such as my
clients need in order to finally get the results they've wanted.
I make it mandatory for each one of my clients to get a copy!
And now I'll share a little secret. I learned a lot from the
book . . . and I've been a trainer for 8 years! It cleared
up so much about the supplements, the way the hormonal system
works, and most of all, about how to sort through the "low
carb - low fat" battle. Following the Advanced 8-week
Physical Excellence Program in the book I managed for the
first time in my life to cut my bodyfat down below 10% and
I'm turning 40 this year. Thanks Phil!
- Michael Scott Calahan, Personal
Fitness Trainer, Baton Rouge, LA
Find info and ordering details
by clicking here.
Additional
Options
If you want to consider the 17-week
program that helped me empower of 35,000 people to change
their bodies and lives . . . look into my TRANSFORM!
program. If you're a bit apprehensive, you can start with
the 17-Day
ANSWER program.
Whatever program you choose, I
can promise you'll master this "losing" battle.
Of Interest to Fitness Professionals:
Suggested Next
Page:
Go to the Previous [ Update
]. If you haven't read this one, you'll want to check it out
now. It's titled, The Promise
. . . and the Real Story Behind the Infomercials.
Related Articles:
Topic:
Fat Loss
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Previous Updates:
Update
8/27/02 - The Promise and the Real Story Behind the
Infomercials
Update 8/01/02
- Clearing up Four Prevalent Myths
Update
6/20/02 - Giving Credit Where Credit is Due
Update 5/11/02 - Miracle
GH, What "Works"
Update 3/25/02 - Women on
Steroids and More on Core Training
Update
2/15/02 - the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Fitness
Update
1/14/02 - Counting Calories
Update
12/28 - 'Twas the Night Before New Years
Update
12/8 - The New Electronic Ab Offerings
Update
12/12 - The "Magic" is Within You
Update 11/20 - Holiday
eating!
Update
11/3 - Weight Loss Bread and other Nonsense!
Update 10/29 - Supplement
Values
Update
10/3 - Getting Back to Doing What We Do
Update 9/19 - Tragedy and
Love, RE: Sept 11
Update 8/15 - Myths, Fallacies,
False Beliefs
Update 8/1 - The Internet,
Leptin, Steroids, and more
Update
7/9 - The New Supplements
Update 6/14 - Seminar
offerings and clarity on "Brownies"
Update 5/29 - Lose
Weight, Eat Brownies?!?!?
Update 5/1/01 - Pizza, Beer, and Fitness
Update 4/7/01 - "Phil-osophies"
and Rip-Off Realities!
Update 4/1/01 - Gourmet Recipes!
Update 3/15/01 - Research Has
Proven?
Update 3/1/01 - Preparing for
The New Infomercial
Update 2/1/01 - Time, Space,
Matter, and Energy
Update 1/15/01 - Atkins hits
the UK
Update 10/7/00 - Supplements,
Additional Clarity
Update 7/27/00 - The Experts
Round Table, Almada, Colgan, Parillo
Update 7/3/00 - Core Training
& Metabolism Boosters
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Phil Know Your Opinions and Comments:
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Phil Kaplan's Fitness Associates
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(954) 389-0280
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