The starting point of all achievement is desire, Keep this constantly in mind. Weak desire brings weak results! - Napoleon Hill

My cousin, Wendy recently asked me this question and and since it's a common question, I thought that I should post it.

I have a quick question. I know you are doing the body building etc. I have been going to the gym now to get back in shape and to lose some weight I have reached my goal and can fit into clothes that I have been trying to fit into but I'm having problems still with trimming down my thighs and arms, abs is not too bad. Any suggestions? Thanks and take careWendy

Hi Wendy,
Congrats on your weight loss and going back to the gym! Believe it or not, this is a common question. Unfortunately the areas where you gain weight the quickest are also the last areas where we lose. Most people’s fat deposits aren’t equally distributed. Women tend to gain weight in their thighs/hips (pear-shaped), or in their stomachs/breasts (apple-shaped). Unfortunately we can’t spot reduce and lose fat only in one area or in the areas of our choosing. You may have to lose some more overall fat and firm those areas by lifting weights. You didn’t mention what you currently do at the gym so I am assuming that it may be mostly cardio therefore I would recommend the following:
1. Incorporate some light weights into your workout. I would recommend using light weights and high reps. For example, 12 to 15 reps with short 30 second rest between each set. Don’t be too concerned about getting too muscular. You don’t have enough testosterone and you are not lifting heavy so you should not be concerned about getting too muscular. Lifting weights will help tighten these areas.
2. Include some pylometrics and body weight workouts in your routine. Here is a link to examples of plyometric exercises. http://www.sport-fitness-advisor.com/plyometricexercises.html.
3. Change your workout and include some variety. If your regular workout includes running or walking on the treadmill, add do some interval work and increase the incline on the treadmill. For example, walk on the treadmill for 1 minute then increase the incline and speed for a minute, then reduce the incline and speed for a minute then increase for a minute. Make sure you include a regular 5-10 minute warm-up and cool down. Good luck!

If we all did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves! - Thomas Edison

I decided that I will not compete this year. The reasons are that I enjoy working out way more when I am not preparing for a competition and I really want to focus more on doing more shoulder and core exercises. I’ve also started doing body weight workouts which are fun, but challenging.

I always read the ingredients listed on food packages before I purchase foods. Some of the things I avoid and will not purchase are foods with high fructose corn syrup and trans fat. Basically, trans fat is made when manufacturers add hydrogen to vegetable oil--a process called hydrogenation. Hydrogenation increases the shelf life and flavor stability of foods containing these fats.
I was extremely surprised to learn that there was high fructose corn syrup in fat-free half .y husband adds it to his coffee in the morning. I am not sure why high fructose corn syrup would need to be included in fat free half and half but there it was? Needless to say, I will no longer be purchasing fat free half and half.
I am not sure why but I haven’t been sleeping well for the past 2 nights. Not sure if it has to do with the Daylight Saving Time change. My goal for the next few days is to get lots of sleep.

3 foods you must NOT eat if you want to lose fat.

3 foods you must NOT eat if you want to lose fat.

My cousin recently told me she wanted to lose weight. I really don’t think she is really serious so until she is there is not much I can do to help her. But my suggestions to her would be to try to lose fat, not weight. I say fat and not weight because if I wanted to lose 10 pounds I would prefer to lose 10 pounds of fat and not 10 pounds of muscle. Mainly because fat takes up way more space than mucle (pic below), and the more muscle you have the more fat you burn.

3 foods you must NOT eat if you want to lose fat.
1) Processed foods from a bag or a box. For example, avoid breakfast cereal. Most breakfast cereals have way too much sugar.

2) Carbohydrate snacks. For example, a bag of chips or granola bar. Does anyone really get full from eating a granola bar? I know that I don’t!

3) Liquid calories – Such as Coke, fruit juice. Most fruit juices are filled with high fructose corn syrup and I don’t think anything is worst than Coke except maybe Pepsi. Also if you are hungry will drinking a can of Coke and drinking juice really help? You might as well just drink water – zero calories!
4) Breakfast from fast-food restaurants. Just to give you an idea a Bacon, Supreme Omelet & Cheese on Croissant from Dunkin Donuts has 680 calories and 44 grams of fat.

Luckily my cousin likes to cook so I don’t think she has to be too concerned with #4.