What is Healthy Weight Loss?

This is a simple but tricky question.

WHAT is Healthy Weight Loss?  It is a method of reducing the amount of fat stores on your body while preserving your lean tissues. It is a slow and sustained process of altering your thinking and your choices to align with your new goals and values.

A Healthy Weight Loss plan provides nutrition for your body and movement to energize you to feel your best. It is a diet rich in grains, fruits, veggies and healthy fats. It is an eating style that includes foods, not eliminates them. It is an active lifestyle that gives you fuel and energy to live your best life.



 Who should you trust to give you Fitness Advice?

HOW do you achieve Healthy Weight Loss?

• Healthy Weight Loss focuses on... healthy patterns.
• Healthy Weight Loss focuses on the long-term outcomes, not instant gratification.
• Healthy Weight Loss allows you to be flexible, not rigid in your food and exercise selections.
• Healthy Weight Loss allows for setbacks and does not provide punishment for a poor choice or temporary loss of focus.
• Healthy Weight Loss focuses on caring for your physical, mental and emotional needs, not punishing yourself for not being perfect.
• Healthy Weight Loss is slow and steady.
• Healthy Weight Loss is allows you to eat out at restaurants, not sit home alone obsessed with following a "diet".
• Healthy Weight Loss allows you to feel good about yourself and know that you are making great changes for your life, not that you are sacrificing and restricting your choices.
• Healthy Weight Loss includes all foods, not limiting the "magical fattening" foods or avoiding entire food groups (Dairy, Wheat, Carbohydrates etc…).
• Healthy Weight Loss includes strength training to boost your metabolism, help your posture and allow you to enjoy more food.
• Healthy Weight Loss is balanced.
• Healthy Weight Loss is intelligent and planned, it avoids fads and falling for "miracles".
• Healthy Weight Loss is a way of life. Your new life.

In this new life, you would:

• Know that you have control over many things but do not have control over everything.
• Focus on obtaining fruits, veggies, fiber and protein from your food choices.
• Focus on moving more simply for the sake of moving.
• Focus on reading and learning to build your "brain muscle".
• Focus on trying new recipes and finding activities to do with your family and friends.
• Focus on your relationship with yourself and with others.

Healthy Weight Loss is a journey to a new lifestyle. Enjoy it.

To your Health,

Robert

Follow these tips to begin eating better 

Choosing a Trainer - Part III - Personalities

Selecting Your Trainer

Now we have determined that you have a professional, caring, well meaning and highly educated trainer in front of you.  There is one more thing left to determine if they are the right trainer for you.  Do you like them?  Personality types should not be ignored, especially in the instance that you will spend your money to spend 2 to 6 hours a week with this individual.  I have listed a few Personal Trainer Personality Types so you can familiarize yourself and be well armed to make the best decision for yourself.

READ: How to choose a Personal Trainer

·      The Enabler.  This type of trainer makes everything OK for you.  They do not try to push you too hard and they will listen to you for minutes between exercises.  This is the trainer for you if Fitness Goals are not your priority but you need a good listener.  This is more of a “Rent a friend” than it is someone totally absorbed in your success.

 

·      The Drill Sergeant.  As the name implies this is an individual who will motivate you through constant pressure to succeed and achieve more every time you are with them.  This is a person in control of the session.  Some of us need this as we are incredibly powerful, busy people and sometimes we just want to be told what to do.  Results are the cornerstone of this individuals focus.  This person was well… a Drill Sergeant in a past life.

 ·      The Analyzer (Also called The Technician).  This trainer carries a clipboard, two different color pens and a highlighter.  They will make sure that you are in the exact position that you should be before you are allowed to move.  Be sure not to deviate as this person will stop you, reset you and do it all over again until it is perfect.  The Analyzer studied engineering at some point in their life.

·      The Olympian.  A former athlete who thinks you were too!  You will lift heavy things that do not need to be moved, run to nowhere; perform feats of strength seen on American Gladiators re-runs, do sprints, box and anything else you can possibly think of.  It may not be the best structured workout you will ever experience but make no mistake – it will be an experience.  Hint: Bring an extra towel!

·      The Coach.  This is a very fun loving but intense type of trainer.  Chances are this is the only profession this person has ever known and they have been doing it for a long, long time.  This trainer understands that there are many parts to a successful fitness plan and they want to teach you how to do it all with or without them.  You will be sure to get little pearls of wisdom daily and be encouraged to do your best.  Your success will be measured and there will be an action plan for everything.

·      The Cheerleader (Also – The Motivator).  This Cheerleader is fun and you will be sure to laugh during your session.  This is a trainer who will be vocal, loud, exciting and in your face.  They will get you to let loose and try dance moves, Pilates, Yoga, Stretching, and Balance on weird Fitness Gizmos. You will be so caught up in the moment that you will not believe that you just had a personal training workout.  This person is bubbly and always smiling and you will be too.    

·      The Prima Donna.  This is the trainer that thinks they are more important than you are.  My suggestion:  Stay Away!  Warning Flags:

• Ignores or dismisses your questions.
• Works you so hard you are in pain for days. Soreness is normal, but you should still be able to get out of bed.
•  Neglects any part of a complete program or recommends a level of training that is too hard for you.
• Diagnoses injuries or illnesses instead of referring you to a doctor.
• Thinks they have the magical workout or diet plan.
• Interrupts your session to talk to friends or take phone calls (unless it is an emergency or can not be avoided).
• Does not return phone calls or emails.
• Likes looking in the mirror a bit too much.

Remember, you are spending your money and your time.  You should have a trainer that you like, that cares about you and knows how to help you achieve your goals.

-Robert