Dumbbells Still Work – Always Have, Always Will. By Dan & Jennifer Polimino.

This new year we just might see “The Tummy Toner,” “The Butt Lifter” or “The Home Gym in a Box”! And most likely the promotions will say they’re “guaranteed to get you in the best shape of your life.”

Year after year, manufactures have to come out with new technology in fitness equipment. If they don’t develop new ideas, designs and concepts their business dies. Besides, every designer wants to “hit it big” with the next piece of equipment that no one can live without. It’s easy to poke fun at some of the gadgets on the market today because they’re so ridiculous that they have no chance of helping you achieve your fitness goals. In all fairness to the research and development folks, though, they actually have created some great products – like computerized stair climbers or treadmills – that can be great additions to your training “toolbox.”

Yet for all the fitness thingamajigs out there, there is one product that has been around longer than Jack LaLanne and is still the gold standard in getting results – dumbbells.

Dumbbells have been around forever because THEY WORK! There’s nothing that makes your muscles stand up and take notice like pushing, pulling and balancing free weight. Dumbbells never restrict your range of motion; rather they enhance your movement capabilities. They don’t take up much space. They’re inexpensive. Anyone can use them. They’re mobile, and they come in a variety of shapes, colors and sizes. Now, we know it sounds like we’re producing and selling dumbbells, but we’re not. We simply believe in the power of free weights to sculpt your body better than any exercise tool available today.

The problem with dumbbells is that very few people know what to do with them. Sure, they can figure out biceps curls and maybe a chest press, but after that it’s anybody’s guess.

If you want to learn how to use dumbbells and how they can help you create your best physique, contact us at support@greatshapeup.com. And before you spend a ton of money on this year’s “got to have it” piece of equipment ask yourself, “Why have dumbbells been around so long?”

Book Dan Polimino to speak at your next meeting or event today. For program information contact us at info@BookDan.com, visit www.BookDan.com or call 303-683-4795.

Nutrition Is King. By Dan & Jennifer Polimino.

Many people call us this time of year wanting a full-time personal trainer, but ultimately it’s not in their budget. Then they usually ask, “What’s the best way to lose weight fast?” We respond, “Proper nutrition, strength training, cardiovascular training and a few other miscellaneous factors are the key elements for safe, effective and permanent weight loss.” Inevitably, though, they want to know what one thing is most important. So, if we had to rank order these components in terms of their importance for successful weight loss, there’s no doubt that proper nutrition is number one. Strength training (weightlifting) is the second best choice for losing weight, followed by cardiovascular training in third place. This comes as a surprise to most people because all of their lives they’ve been under the impression that weightlifting is for muscleheads, and if they want to lose weight all they have to do is run a little bit.

Eating a healthy, well-balanced diet ranks number one because most people eat far more calories each day than they burn. So the equation of calories in versus calories out doesn’t balance and they gain weight. Weightlifting ranks number two because gaining lean muscle raises your metabolism, thus you can burn more calories all day, even at rest. Cardio comes in third because when the movement stops so does most of the calorie burn. Its primary weight-loss benefits come while you are exercising.

In response to client requests, then, we’ve come up with a “nutrition only” counseling package. These two-hour sessions are for people that want to know what to eat and when or why they should eat it. This package is one of the best ways to lose weight and not break your budget by meeting with a personal trainer three times a week.

If you’d like to learn more about how to make successful, permanent changes in your eating habits, e-mail us at support@greatshapeup.com.

Book Dan Polimino to speak at your next meeting or event today. For program information contact us at info@BookDan.com, visit www.BookDan.com or call 303-683-4795.

Dumbbells Still Work – Always Have, Always Will. By Dan & Jennifer Polimino. http://ping.fm/usNfW

Nutrition Is King. By Dan & Jennifer Polimino. http://ping.fm/5aQMR

Ward Off Holiday Weight Gain, Part 2. By Dan & Jennifer Polimino. http://ping.fm/TdERF

Ward Off Holiday Weight Gain, Part 2. By Dan & Jennifer Polimino.

Clothes feeling a little tight? You’ve come to the right place. Last week we began exploring 10 ways to avoid holiday weight gain, and this week we’ll finish them up. If you joined us last time, you’ll recall that the holiday spread is a real problem with the average American gaining between three and five pounds. What’s worse is that this extra weight is rarely lost.

But never fear—here’s a rundown of our first five tips in case you missed them: (1) It’s not too late. You can still lose six pounds in the next three weeks with exercise and proper diet; (2) Eat a small healthy meal before going to parties so you’ll be less tempted by high-calorie foods; (3) Drink more water to feel full before meals; (4) Taste everything but make portions small; and (5) Fill your plate with fruits and vegetables first, leaving less space for higher calorie foods.

And now, here are our final five tips for battling the bulge this merry season.

• Drink less alcohol. Did you know alcohol has no healthy nutrients and seven calories per gram? That’s almost as much as fat!
• Bring a holiday dish to the party but prepare it using less fat and sugar.
• Don’t allow others to seduce you into eating or drinking more than you should. We don’t drink alcohol so when people try to offer us some we just tell them we can’t because we’re on medication. Works like a charm.
• Weigh yourself every morning (just through the holiday season). If you see you’re gaining weight, deal with it now! Watch your food choices, portions and increase your activity level.
• Look for opportunities over the holidays to be more active. For example, park your car farther away from the mall door so you’ll walk more.

Remember the holidays are meant to be fun, and depriving yourself of holiday treats will only make you miserable. Try these strategies instead. If you still outgrow your favorite jeans, just call us on January 1st.

Book Dan Polimino to speak at your next meeting or event today. For program information contact us at info@BookDan.com, visit www.BookDan.com or call 303-683-4795.

How To Ward Off Holiday Weight Gain, Part 1. By Dan & Jennifer Polimino. http://ping.fm/QHLtz

How To Ward Off Holiday Weight Gain, Part 1. By Dan & Jennifer Polimino.

The average American gains three to five pounds over the holidays, and to make matters worse studies show that those holiday pounds are rarely lost. In fact, most people put on an additional two to three pounds by year’s end. That’s around eight pounds in one year.

Let’s face it—holiday celebrations include seriously good food. So instead of depriving yourself, why not head into the holidays down a few pounds. Then if you gain some weight it won’t be such a big deal. Let’s say you’re comfortable at 175 pounds. Come January 180 might not feel so good, but what if you went into the holidays weighing 167 pounds? Now let’s say you gained five pounds due to a few splurges and indulgences. You might hit January at 172 pounds, but that’s still three pounds under your norm of 175!

Even though it’s already December it’s not too late to develop a good nutritional game plan for the holidays using this or any of a few other strategies we have up our sleeves. Below are the first five of 10 tips that will get you though the holidays feeling great, enjoying your favorite foods and still slipping into your favorite jeans come January.

1) Start exercising and eating right now. The average person following a good nutrition and exercise plan can lose up to two pounds per week. By Christmas, that’s six pounds.

2) Plan in advance how you’ll deal with parties and other potential pitfalls. Simply robbing yourself of your favorite foods isn’t going to work. Instead, try eating a small healthy meal before the party so you can sample your favorites without overindulging.

3) Drink adequate amounts of water before social events. Two to three glasses of water before eating will help you feel full.

4) Taste everything, but keep portions small.

5) In the buffet line fill your plate with fruits and vegetables first, leaving less space for the higher calorie foods.

Next week we’ll take a look at the final five tips to help you avoid holiday heftiness.

Book Dan Polimino to speak at your next meeting or event today. For program information contact us at info@BookDan.com, visit www.BookDan.com or call 303-683-4795.

Holidays Are Meant to Celebrate, Not Diet! By Dan & Jennifer Polimino. http://ping.fm/9p5cA

Holidays Are Meant to Celebrate, Not Diet! By Dan & Jennifer Polimino.

Thanksgiving is this week and here’s our advice if you’re worried about sticking to your diet: Relax and enjoy. When it comes to holidays, take a break from the nutrition plan and don’t beat yourself up if you have a piece of pie or too much candied yams.

Holidays are meant to be celebrated. That means family, friends, food and fun. Too many people obsess about what they eat and it ruins the fun not only for themselves, but for their family and friends too.  In our society food is part of the very fabric of socializing and the holidays, so if you try to avoid it you’ll be depriving yourself. And deprivation leads to bitterness, anger and feelings of loss. Is that how you want to feel about the holidays every time they roll around?

We think the six-and-one program is a much better idea. Here’s how it works: Stick to your healthy plan six days of the week and on the seventh day you can eat whatever you want—it’s your cheat day. The six days of good eating must include healthy non-processed foods, and you’ve got to have a good balance of wholesome carbohydrates, proteins and fats. But then if you want to start day seven with chocolate chip cookies and ice cream, go for it. It’s not going to hurt to get off the nutrition plan for one day. And no, you won’t gain weight from cheating one day a week.

So go ahead and enjoy Thanksgiving, Christmas, and even New Year’s. You’ll notice, however, we did not say it’s fine to fall off the wagon from Thanksgiving through New Year’s! A month and a half straight of holiday eating will pack on the pounds. One day a week will not.

Book Dan Polimino to speak at your next meeting or event today. For program information contact us at info@BookDan.com, visit www.BookDan.com or call 303-683-4795.