Lean in 2017: California Fitness Guru Tells You How

1. Drink more water and tea than any other beverage. In fact, if you make water or tea more than 75% of your beverage intake and virtually eliminate high sugar drinks (like soda and juice) and alcohol, you could lose more than half your excess weight in a few to several weeks. Why? Because most of us are at least moderately dehydrated, which slows your metabolism, and so we often drink high-calorie beverages, ingesting hundreds of calories in just a few minutes, often with very few of the nutrients or satiating qualities of produce, protein or high-fiber grains.
2. Keep hard boiled eggs and raw veggies in your refrigerator(s) at home and at work. This is a simple, portable, no-prep and filling protein/produce combination source. Add a cheese stick and piece of fruit for a low-calorie, healthy snack with half the protein of an expensive bar at less than 1/10th the cost.
3. Retool your exercise program to improve your cardio and strength components’ safety and efficiency. Here are videos with good examples for both resistance and aerobic work.
4. Release the excess fat you’re carrying around that is clogging your arteries and compressing your spine, hips and knees. That’s right, I said release, as in surrender, let go. Your thinking it’s holding onto you is what is creating the obstacle to losing it. But that obstacle can be removed with a simple decision to change your mind about how to look at it. With the right viewpoint (that your body is simply storing excess energy you decided to consume in either not the best form or in excess quantities, or both) rather than viewing your excess body fat as an ominous, inescapable shadow that lurks around you and constantly threatens you, you can start to apply the tools that will allow you to put that energy to good use and take the inventory down to a safe, comfortable level. Then you’ll be free of the mindset and assumptions that loaded you down in the first place.
5. Get help for numbers 3 & 4. So what should you look for in a professional to guide you to the best possible end-product? Here are vital characteristics to make sure your fitness and nutrition professional possesses:

• National certification (ACE, NASM, ACSM or NSCA)
• Post-certification collaboration with Registered Dietitians on healthy, lean eating practices
• Endorsements by a broad range of medical and wellness practitioners
• More than ten years of experience working with many individuals with a broad range of ages, lifestyles, nutrition requirements and restrictions
• Several referrals from successful clients

Once you’ve vetted your candidates (referrals from trusted friends and great Facebook, Google and/or Yelp reviews can also be helpful in this process), you should be able to get a free, no-obligation (and no-pressure!) phone or in-person consultation. The prospective trainer or weight loss program should be able to speak to the design, components and execution of your program in a way that resonates with you and suits your particular goals, motivations, lifestyle and personality.

Finally, the trainer or program should also be able, and more than willing, to get you established on your own, should you want to fly solo sooner or later, with an easy-to-follow blueprint for a lifelong fit, healthy body.

Understanding these points provides the winning formula for you get on track to that firm, fit frame, and make sure you’re pointed in the right direction to stay that way.

Dan Taylor, ACE, NASM-CPT, is owner and head trainer at Pleasanton-based Tri Valley Trainer. They offer personal training and small group fitness solutions and an innovative, medically endorsed web-based group healthy eating coaching program.