BUT FIRST, HERE’S A RECAP OF YOUR LESSONS SO FAR:

Lesson #1: You Must Have a Powerful and Meaningful Reason To Want To Change
Lesson #2: You Need to Make a Decision to Change
Lesson #3: Create a Sense of Urgency
Lesson #4: Write down your goals, draft a contract with yourself, then sign and date it

Remember, the greatest effect from these lessons will be their combined synergy….

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Don’t know how to construct your diet to help you lose fat? Click on this link to learn how:

Amazing Fat Burning Formula

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LESSON #5:

Fast Weight Loss Tips: A photo of your current self may be just the thing you need to jump-start your fitness plan!

TAKE YOUR PHOTO

It is human nature in some people to accept their less than optimal condition(s) rather than attempt to improve and better themselves. It is a psychological mystery that has yet to be answered with authority.  I believe, however, one of the answers to this mystery is awareness of one’s present condition. To be cognizant of what you are doing, who you really are and what you truly look like will cause you to realize that you need to improve in certain areas of your life.

Most people have in their minds-eye a view of themselves and their bodies that is totally and completely different from reality. I don’t care what the mirror reflects back to you right now, you WILL see yourself in a different light once you take and look at a photograph of yourself.

Of all the Blueprints you will read about today, taking a photograph of yourself in an enlightening pose is probably one of the most powerful factors in causing you to make that decision to change. Don’t take this advice lightly as the subtle act of taking your photo and looking at it on a regular basis will convince yourself that you do not want to look this way any longer and will cause you to eventually do something about it.

Now some of you are probably thinking to yourself,” I don’t want to take a photo of myself, I look horrible!” I completely understand your point of view. But it is vitally important that you do this. If you fail to, I believe it will be one of the biggest obstacles you will put in your path to achieving physical excellence.

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The ‘Amazing Fat-Burning Formula is specifically designed to help you lose fat quickly and easily.

If you’re in bad shape, or feel that you have terrible genetics, and no matter what you’ve done in the past to get in shape but never could, then this is Your answer…

‘Providing effective fat-loss solutions since 1998′

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You don’t have to show this photo to anyone but yourself. Don’t even show it to your husband or wife if you don’t want to. If you’re embarrassed about it, just keep it to yourself. But don’t just take it and then hide it. I will show you how to use your photo as inspiration in attaining your weight loss goals in Lesson #7.

I am emphasizing the importance of taking a photo of yourself because I have seen, and of course have felt myself, the power of seeing oneself as we truly are. For most people it provides a wake-up call that never would have come had they not taken, or seen, that fateful photo.

Take that photo and begin the transformation!

Take Charge!

P.S. Don’t forget to sign up for my Revolutionary Fitness Event this coming Tuesday, July 7th, at 9:00 PM EST. I’ll be discussing details of my Amazing Fat Burning Formula Program and answering all of your pertinent questions. I call this Fitness Event a “Watershed” event because it will literally be marking a change in the history of how someone goes about getting into shape. This, I dare say, revolutionary new “synergistic” way of eating, exercising, and supplementing, will alter the course in which people choose to get in shape. You will be the first recipients to experience and learn this new way of transforming your body.

Since so many people will be attending, and I only have 200 lines available for the event, enter your first name and email address to be on the Advance Notification List for this event:

And don’t forget that for those that do sign up AND come to this website and ask me any question that relates to health, workout programs, fitness, or supplements, I’ll give them the entire MP3 recording of the event for free. PLUS, a very special secret surprise gift you’ll REALLY find useful (You really want to get this!). GO NOW to this link and ask me your question: http://instantTeleseminar.com/?eventid=8076315

(make sure to enter your email address when you ask your question so I can check to see if you got on the advance notification list too – I really want to give you this free MP3 recording of the event – I know it will truly help you get fit once and for all)

METABOLISM SLOWS WITH AGE

As early as age 35 our metabolism naturally slows down.

Fast Weight Loss Tips 1 - To help you lose fat, keep your metabolism revving with weight training exercise

Result 1: A harder time losing fat than when you were younger.

Result 2: Weight gain simply from continuing to eat as you did when you were younger

Self Defense 1: Weight training and regular aerobic exercise to increase muscle mass (which boosts metabolism).

Self Defense 2: Eat food that are full of nutrients and fiber but low in calories. For example: Drink vegetable juice instead of soda. Eat fruit and vegetables instead of bread, rice, or pasta.

Self Defense 3: Reduce your portion sizes.

FREE YOURSELF FROM FOOD CRAVINGS

Food cravings are the nemesis of any dieter. They are the number one reason for failing to stick to a diet. Here’s some tips to help you:

Fast Weight Loss Tips - Crave junk food and you're not supposed to eat junk food? Try sugar-free licorice

Self Defense 4: If You Crave Something Sweet eat a low/no-sugar product. I like sugar-free, strawberry licorice.

Self Defense 5: Make Gradual Changes In Your Diet – not abrupt ones, which can upset mood-altering brain chemicals.

Self Defense 6: Eat Regularly – not skipping breakfast is especially important.

Self Defense 7: Take A Daily Multivitamin/mineral – some food cravings are actually your body’s way of telling you it’s deficient in a certain vitamin or mineral. Here’s the one I make and personally endorse. FREE OFFER (just pay for shipping)!

Self Defense 8: Drink at Least Six to Eight Glasses Of ICE Water every day – Mild dehydration can be misinterpreted as food cravings. Also, sipping ice water burns calories. Drinking cold fluids raises your metabolism to keep your body temperature from falling. Eight six-ounce glasses of ice water will burn an extra 200 calories per day.

Fast Weight Loss Tips - Did you know drinking ice cold water raises your metabolism?

A DIET FOR LIFE

Don’t start a diet simply to meet some short-term weight goal.

Example: Trying to drop a few dress sizes in time for a special party.

Problem: Pounds that are shed quickly using unhealthy means are likely to return just as fast – if not faster.

Better: Focus on long-term, permanent weight control, which requires a similar long-term, permanent change in lifestyle. Here’s the best program I know to help accomplish that.

CALORIE BUSTER

Pietro Tonino, MD, chief of sports medicine, Loyola University Medical Center, reported that his studies showed running on a treadmill burns more calories than other common exercise machines. Exercisers who ran on a treadmill burned about 700 calories per hour, compared with those who used a stair machine (627 calories per hour)…rower (606)…cross-country ski machine (595)…stationary bike with arm motion (509)…and standard stationary bike (498).

Take Charge!

P.S. Want to: Learn the “Easy” way to get and stay in shape? Discover the secret to quick fat loss? How to exercise less and get better results? Discover the secret to ripped abs without doing endless crunches? Then be sure to get my “Amazing Fat Burning Formula” HERE.

P.P.S. If you like this post, and think it will help others, please help me help others by clicking on one of these “Share and Enjoy” links below.

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• Pushing pause on the age gauge (nationalpost.com)

Fast Weight Loss Tips: All About Abs

Everyone wants them, but not many know how to truly get them.

What is the real secret of getting tight, firm, defined abs?

Like changing your body, there is no one “magic bullet” that will suddenly and magically transform a big gut to set of six-packs.

However, that doesn’t stop America from spending hundreds of millions of dollars on the latest fat loss pills, ab exercisers, and now even electronic muscle stimulation devices that work your abs for you while you sit back and watch tv.

Do any of these things really work?

Yes and no, mostly no.

The Truth About Ab Gadgets

You’ve no doubt seen them on television and may even own a set of them yourself. The latest incarnation are the electrical muscle stimulation devices. Most of the time pure hype is what sells these products. It’s only after using these devices do the realities of their ineffectiveness and sometimes even danger become apparent. Here are some unsolicited testimonials from users of some of the popular electrical muscle stimulation devices:

Kevin of North Carolina, USA writes:

I have purchased both the Fast Abs and the Ab Energizer. I must say that today I used the Fast Abs for the first time and it has a MUCH stronger contraction than the Ab Energizer. Also the programs are more detailed from pulse to random pulse/massage. Also the Fast Abs comes with a smaller belt that allows easier use on arms and legs. The Ab Energizer is too bulky and has a tendency to cause burns if constant contact is not kept with the skin. This can be very painful.

Ruwan of Maryland, USA writes:

I purchased the Fast Abs after seeing the ad on TV. I tried it out for a week and found it to be ineffective. Also it “burned” my skin even having the gel applied. I don’t recommend it to anyone as it is a waste of money.

Holly of California, USA writes:

I used this product the first few days I received it in the mail. I was left with small burns on my entire abdominal region. I wasn’t able to see any of the promised results. I am going to give my skin a chance to heal and may try it again to see if it will work. I can’t believe I am the only person who has burned themselves. I have four small circular burns…I think Fast Abs should have notified consumers of this possibility.

Kevin of Maryland, USA writes:

This thing is truly a piece of junk. I bought mine at the mall for $40, and took it home. The very same day I used it, the battery died. Day 2, I was already using the second battery! RIP OFF! Also, the main reason I got it was for my back. I workout all the time, and really don’t mind doing sit-ups, however, due to a previous injury I have severe back pain when I do sit-ups. When I attach the product to my back, I don’t feel a thing! Please, do not waste your money on fast abs. It’s truly is a cheep piece of crap!

Electrical stimulation devices have been used for years by the medical community for bedridden patients that couldn’t get out of bed to exercise. Used in this fashion they worked at preventing muscle tissue breakdown and even in some cases, promoted small amounts of muscle growth. But the medical electrical muscle stimulation devices in use today are a far cry from the ones typically available on the consumer market. They have a much stronger electrical pulse (which if properly applied by a medical professional doesn’t cause burns as many people report with the consumer brands) and cost a heck of a lot more.

However, in the end they are a poor substitute for hard work in the gym and proper dieting.

The Real Problem

Lies in the fact that so many are lazy and looking for an easy way out.

Please believe me when I tell you there is NO easy way to get a great set of abs. It takes work and sacrifice to build a truly impressive set of abs (probably something you didn’t want to hear).

But, just in case you want to really know how, here are…

Three Keys To Great Abs

1. Diet,
2. Exercise (done the right way)
3. Time

These 3 in conjunction will cause the metabolic shift in your body that will strip fat away from your abs and cause the underlying ab muscles to get bigger (this is a good thing – trust me – more in a second).

First — Diet…

Unfortunately this is one of the things most people don’t want to hear when they ask how to get a nice set of abs. Why? Because it’s hard to diet for the length of time usually required to allow the layer of fat over the abs to be reduced. But unfortunately, dieting is the number one thing you must concentrate on in order to “get those abs.”

I won’t go into a detailed discussion of the diet I feel is most effective at doing that as it would take too long (or you could just go to my blog and review some of the posts I’ve made for great meals, or look under the “fast weight loss tips” category for posts there).

I will give you one quick tip — concentrate on reducing your meal portion sizes. The biggest roadblock to reducing fat is, of course, excess calories. Most people know that. However, one easy way to help you avoid going overboard on your daily calories is to concentrate on reducing your portion sizes in every meal you eat.

After reducing your portion sizes correctly you should actually feel like you should be eating more at every meal. If you just wait 1/2 hour or so after eating this feeling will go away (especially if you eat a high-fiber diet). And the end result will be less fat on your body. So concentrate on reducing portion sizes.

Exercise

This is the other problem most people have when trying to get their abs to “show”. Somehow, the idea that doing hundreds and hundreds of repetitions of their favorite abdominal exercises will reveal hidden “six-packs” has been promoted and practiced by virtually everyone trying to get abs.

This error in ab exercising has caused much frustration when little to no results are obtained even after furiously exercising this way for months on end.

Let me ask you this? Are the abdominal muscles a muscle group just like other muscle groups on your body? Aren’t they composed of the same types of muscle as your arms, or legs, or shoulders, or chest?

If you wanted to build up those areas of your body with lean muscle would you do hundreds of repetitions for your arms, or shoulders, or legs, or chest? Of course not, you know better, right?

Then why do so many people suddenly think their abs are a completely different muscle and perform such high repetitions for them?

Because of the mistaken belief that high repetitions will somehow “BURN” the fat away from their abdomens. This is one of the biggest fallacies still in existence today. High repetitions will NOT burn any fat away from your stomach.

Think about this scenario for a moment and you’ll see how ridiculous it sounds. Picture an overweight man with a large belly. This person is not only fat in the belly but everywhere else on his body too, right? Now think how ridiculous this man would look if all he did were hundreds and hundreds of ab exercises and SOMEHOW, this caused him to eventually sprout a ripped set of six-pack abs. Yet, the rest of his body was still fat — his face, his chest, his arms, his legs — all still fat except for his ripped abs.

Is this possible? Of course not. The only way for this man (and everyone for that matter) to allow his abs to show is to reduce the OVERALL fat throughout his body. And the way to do that is, as I’ve already talked about, by dieting.

Going back to exercising the abs and the right way to do it, remember how I said you want your underlying ab muscle to actually get bigger?

You probably thought I was crazy when I made that statement earlier but I assure you that is EXACTLY what you want.

Here’s why – Let’s use the scenario of a man or woman losing fat throughout their body. As they lose fat their underlying ab muscles start to show through the fat still left on their stomach. Now, if your ab muscles were “bigger” to start with then they would start showing sooner than if you were sporting a smaller set.

Your ab muscles are composed of rows of distinct sets of muscles. When all fat is completely stripped away you get the familiar rows of “blocks” or proverbial “six-pack” set of abs. Now, here comes the important part – if your ab muscles are not that developed, you will have to achieve a lower bodyfat level in order for them to “show” through your skin (and remaining fat). On the other hand, if you have well-developed ab muscles you can actually “see” your abs at a much higher bodyfat percentage.

So the trick to creating the illusion of a ripped set of abs is to BUILD the underlying abdominal musculature. AND, the only way to do this is to work them just like you would work any other muscle group you were trying to build.

This means lower reps and heavier weight — exactly the opposite way most people are exercising for a flat stomach. This is what you should be concentrating on in conjunction with your dieting efforts. This is what will eventually give you an impressive set of abs you can be proud of.

The Kind of Ab Exercise You Should Be Doing

Fast Weight Loss Tips: Work abs, not hip flexors

What I have found is 99% of the people trying to target and exercise their abs are actually stressing and exercising their hip flexors instead. The range of motion for the ab muscles is 30-45 degress. Anything more and you’re exercising primarily your hip flexors. And trust me, you don’t want to overstress your hip flexors as this can cause a wide range of back problems.

If you have been doing this in the past you may have chronically tight “psoas” muscles. A great stretch for this is found in my Amazing Fat Burning Formula “Exercise Companion” video (available when purchasing my Amazing Fat Burning Formula Program and upgrading to the printed manual plus DVD)

Although difficult to describe in words, the main thing is to feel a stretch in the muscles of the front part of your hip. And the way to do this is to get into a lunge position and drive your hips forward while feeling the stretch in your hips.

The best ab isolation exercise I’ve found is one I’ve devised and perform on a decline bench. Again, verbally describing it is difficult. The best way to learn it is to get my “Exercise Companion” video where it is described and demonstrated there for you.

This ab exercise has you performing what initially looks like a decline bench crunch but with a twist. The change I use totally isolates the ab muscles and takes away the involvement of the hip flexors.

Here’s how you do it:

First, start in a fully contracted sit-up position on the decline bench. Next, slowly lower yourself. But before you do, your feet should be supporting you not the traditional way (with the pad on the decline bench touching the top of your ankles). Instead, you should only be supporting your body weight with the heels of your feet – this is critical as it will isolate your abs and remove your hip flexor involvement.

On the way down think of arching your back so that when you get close to the decline bench pad with your back, only your upper back should be close to touching it. But don’t touch it! Stop just short of your upper back touching the bench. Your middle back should have a big arch in it. If you were able to see yourself in this position, and if you were doing it right, your back would be arched as much as possible, your butt would be on the bench, and your upper back almost touching the bench.

Next, you would contract your abs such that the only thing that happens is you no longer have an arch in your back and are now in a slightly “crunched” position. Your upper body will have traveled approximately 30-45 degrees while the angle between your upper legs and hip will have remained the same. You are also nowhere near a full sit-up position. Doing it this way will also allow constant “tension” to be put on your ab muscles. Also, if done correctly you will be able to perform less than 5 repetitions the very first time you try it.

If you can do rep after rep after rep don’t congratulate yourself thinking you have strong ab muscles. On the contrary — you’re doing something wrong (most likely you’re doing regular crunches using your hip flexors to assist you). Even after having done this exercise for quite some time now I still struggle to complete 15 full repetitions. The best way to learn this exercise is to see someone doing it. Again, a full demonstration of how to do this is available in my Exercise Companion video.

Time

Fast weight loss tips: Patience works wonders

Finally, time and a little patience (as long as you are doing the right things) will allow you to gradually strip the fat away and build up the underlying muscles to reveal YOUR perfect set of abs.

Follow this three-pronged approach and see if you too can achieve impressive abs.

Take Charge!

P.S. Want to: Learn the “Easy” way to get and stay in shape? Discover the secret to quick fat loss? How to exercise less and get better results? Discover the secret to ripped abs without doing endless crunches? Then be sure to get my “Amazing Fat Burning Formula” HERE.

Visit www.HarryJohnsonJr.com for 10 Fast Weight Loss Tips to Prevent Yo-Yo Dieting

My favorite was a bright yellow one that just had some real “magic” in it. It would spin like mad, and hold that spin forever so I could do my favorite tricks. Up and down, up and down that mad yellow yo-yo went.

Now as an adult, I realize that “yo-yo’ing” sucks!

No, not the yo-yo’ing that is done with the toy yo-yo, but the yo-yo’ing that is done millions of times every year when someone gets on a diet and drops the weight, only to have it yo-yo back up again.

If you’re trying to lose weight (fat), it’s easy to be discouraged by the experts. Doctors and dietitians routinely cite this pessimistic, but very real statistic, “95% of all dieters gain their weight back — and then some.”

Let’s do something different today… instead of focusing on the negative aspects of what happens to most dieters, why don’t we instead concentrate on figuring out what’s different about people who don’t gain their lost weight back?

It turned out there were 10 common threads among these “successful losers”…

10 FAST WEIGHT LOSS TIPS

1. THEY BELIEVED THEY COULD DO IT.
Most of the people surveyed had lost and regained their weight at least five times before successfully keeping it off. But they didn’t give up.

The turning point for many of them came when they realized they were sick and tired of the weight-loss battle. Instead of using this feeling as an excuse to stop trying to lose weight, however, the successful dieters somehow felt empowered by it. The feeling made them resolve to take control.

2. THEY LOST WEIGHT FOR THEMSELVES – NOT SOMEONE ELSE.
All her life, one young woman interviewed had been told by her mother (and everyone else), “You have such a pretty face – if only you’d lose some weight!”

She lost and gained weight repeatedly. Inside, she was angry that people didn’t accept her the way she was. By the time she entered college, she weighed more than 200 pounds. But it was there that she met a man who loved her that way.

Ironically, because she finally felt accepted, she was able to lose weight once and for all — for her own sake.

3. THEY FOUND OUT WHAT WORKED FOR THEM.
About half the people lost weight on their own. Others used a commercial diet center or a self-help group…or consulted privately with a professional.

In addition, successful people learned to accept a target weight that was realistic for them. However, in defense of these people, I believe they would have gotten better results had they used a program that would have allowed more and better success to happen for them. In other words, for the same efforts they would have gotten into better shape.

It’s not about starving yourself, but doing the right things to cause weight and fat loss to happen — by working with the body instead of against it.

4. THEY WERE WILLING TO LEARN A NEW WAY OF EATING — FOR LIFE.
Many dieters go back to their old eating habits once they lose weight. That’s why most dieters regain weight.

The weight-control masters accepted their new way of eating as a way of life. They learned to enjoy fruits, vegetables, and lean, healthy meats (instead of tastier, but more fat-laden ones).

They found ways to add low-calorie flavor by using spices, lemon or lime juice and low/no-sugar products. Gradually, they noticed that they didn’t feel good when they ate they way they used to.

5. THEY DEAL WITH SLIPUPS IMMEDIATELY.

While they aren’t obsessed with the scale, most weigh themselves once a week to once every few days. They have a narrow window of acceptable weight regain (typically five to 10 pounds). When their weight exceeds this “buffer zone,” they do what’s necessary to lose it.

Some people exercise more. Others cut back on sweets…pay closer attention to portion sizes…or keep a food diary to increase their awareness of what they eat. But each person said they had a plan of action — and used it before the weight gain could get out of hand. Remember the old adage, “fail to plan and you’re planning to fail.”

6. THEY SAY NICE THINGS TO THEMSELVES.

Negative self-talk can be self-fulfilling. An example is the “now-I’ve-blown-it” phenomenon that’s familiar to many of us. “I ate one cookie.” “I’m a pig.” “I might as well eat the whole bag.” Any of these sound familiar to you?

The weight-loss masters give themselves positive and encouraging messages even when they make mistakes: “I resolved not to eat two helpings, but I slipped. I’ll be more careful the rest of the day and for the next 2 days.”

7. THEY EXERCISE.

Nine out of 10 of the successful people interviewed exercise regularly. They aren’t fanatics, and few of them work out every day. But they’ve managed to find simple activities (weight training gives the most bang
for the buck) that they can work into their daily routines.

8. THEY FACE THEIR FEELINGS.

Back when they were overweight, many of the people automatically turned to food whenever they felt upset, bored, lonely or anxious.

What they learned to do instead was get to the source of the negative emotion — by noticing the feeling, identifying the cause and figuring out a way to solve the problem.

Many of their solutions are quite simple. When bored, they leave the house and do something fun. When lonely, they call a friend. When angry, they confront the person who’s mistreating them.

9. THEY ENJOY LIFE.

A number of the now-successful people used to spend so much energy taking care of others that they neglected their own needs. Eating was their only reward.

Some people who kept weight off have developed what I call a “healthy selfishness.” They’re still considerate to others, but they take care of themselves, too.

As one woman put it, “I found that when my own needs were met, I was better at meeting the needs of others.”

They’ve also found ways to reward themselves without food — from pursuing a job by to seeking more satisfying relationships.

10. THEY GET SUPPORT.

They ask their families not to leave junk food lying around…call a buddy when they’re tempted to overeat…and request encouragement and pep talks from friends and family.

Tired of the “yo-yo” effect? Then put these 10 Fast Weight Loss Tips to work for you today.

Take Charge!

P.S. Want to: Learn the “Easy” way to get and stay in shape? Discover the secret to quick fat loss? How to exercise less and get better results? Discover the secret to ripped abs without doing endless crunches? Then be sure to get my “Amazing Fat Burning Formula” HERE.