Weight Loss Diet Solutions

Last night we got to watch the first episode of Fit to Fat to Fit. Cool show although there were a lot of tears.

The premise of this fitness show is that a personal trainer does not know exactly what heavyweight customers need.

So how can the trainers better be in the trainees shoes? Why not have a very fit trainer with a 6 pack gain 60 pounds of fat and not trainer for a few months.

A lot of fun to watch and you can really feel even more for people living the real struggle to lose weight and get in shape.

Fit to Fat to Fit – First Episode

So the premise above really works. The trainer in the first episode is a fellow by the name of JJ Peterson. JJ is very ripped and a very aggressive trainer (aren’t they all?). JJ meets Ray Stewart, who works in law enforcement and is more than 100 pounds over weight and wants to start a family with his wife.

JJ Peterson – Trainer Fit to Fat to Fit

To start JJ talks on the way to meeting Ray for the first time that he does not really understand how anyone would not be fully motivated to be in great shape, thin and fit, but is looking forward to getting into Rays shoes.

This changes a bit when we Ray tearfully opens up to JJ about how important it is to lose weight and at the same time shocked that JJ would gain weight to get in the same position with Ray to lose weight.

Tears in this episode, lots of them.

In 16 weeks JJ Peterson does in fact gain 60 pounds and stays away from the gym at the same time. There was a lot of suffering. Of course anyone who is a trainer has a very large part of their ego built on the pride of muscle, strrength and low bodyfat. JJ Peterson is no different. He initially loves the food, eventually hates the feeling of being bloated and driven by fatty foods, And of course totally misses the gym.

Finally after that four months the two guys get together, more tears, and they get start to see where they are both at. During that four months, surprising everyone, Ray Stewart has lost over 40 pounds. Interestingly in the first few tests we can see that JJ has kept a lot of strength and is quite obviously pretty fat while Ray is weaker but most importantly needs to work on his cardio.

JJ and Ray Get In Shape

The rest of the episode was watching the weight drop off both JJ and Ray. It was great to see the strong feelings that both of them had as training buddies even though JJ obviously knew everything that had to be done and was really a mentor to Ray.

Over the next few week the weight does really drop off of both the guys. The confidence really comes back to JJ who was really beat from gaining all the weight. Ray never had a strong sense of confidence but built it up over the few weeks they were training together.

Ray wanted to be a super hero and JJ was such a buddy convincing Ray that he was in fact the Super Hero he wanted to be, didn’t need anyone to give that to him.

What Do I Think? I Know – Just My Opinion

I know that this new reality show is getting a bit of flack out there. The idea looks irresponsible and in some ways perhaps it is. The fact is though that over the years about 40% of Americans have become overweight – so this is a critical problem facing the entire country.

I think that there tends to be a great divide between the trainer and the trainee. Trainers have great physical bodies, know how to eat and exercise, and love the great feeling of being fit.

On the other hand many people who are overweight are not well, feel terrible, and bounce from diet to diet to try and lose weight fast. All too often people fail with diet after diet and do not know where to turn so they tend to have no choice it seems but to give up.

Giving up does not have to be an option – Ever!

What these trainers I suspect will show us over the next few weeks on Fit to Fat to Fit is that weakness, mentally and physically, as well as extra fat on the body can be beaten. All you need is a plan for exercise and diet as well as time for them to work.

The real drawback to this show is that in an hour of swinging weight up and then down again and with as much story as possible there is not really a lot of detail given to the exercise and diet that works. Hopefully each week we will get to see a bit more of the plans and what it takes.

Should you watch this? I remember when Survivor originally started this whole reality TV industry and a friend of mine told me that it would lead to the downfall of culture and society. I don’t think it has, but I do think that the amount of TV shows that pull us into sitting on the couch is really a part of the Obesity Epidemic anyway.

I really enjoyed watching this show and I loved seeing the perspective of a trainer in gaining weight and then losing it again. It gives everyone a perspective of how people get unhealthy as well as the joy of real fitness and health. I hope you watch it and enjoy it as much as I do

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I love my morning oatmeal. I always know that I have something special in the morning but oveer the last few days my oatmeal seems to be even better.

I was apparently taking my breakfast for granted.

I used to eat Nutella on a raisin and cinnamon bagel but after a while I got tired of it and switched to apple flavored oatmeal. I realized that I really did like the taste of oatmeal and it wasn’t just that it was good for me.

Getting Started With Oatmeal Again

I started getting a bit more serious a couple years ago about my breakfast and realized that the flavoring in the oatmeal was really not much more than apple flavored sugar(how the heck do they make flavorings anyway). So I decided to find some better stuff to put in plain oatmeal.

I started with just oatmeal – no sugar even

Then I added some berries. Blueberries initially, then dried cranberries (much easier to travel with)

Then the seeds. I love pumpkin seeds, and I know that other seeds would add lots of nutrients and healthy fats.

And finally, just a few months ago when making my home made granola bars I realized that coconut flakes would be really great as well.

So here is a picture of my favorite Oatmeal. This is my great breakfast meal

Looks pretty full of stuff doesn’t it? I have to admit that I was a little surprised but not too worried about how high the calories are in this. It tastes really good, is super healthy for you, and is quite filling.

Here is the Nutritional Breakdown for my Special Oatmeal

This really is a substantial breakfast but it is a really great one with lot so nutrients and great flavor.

How Did I Take This For Granted?

Oh, and earlier when I mentioned that I was taking this for granted? I always make this as a big bag of oatmeal. I make a week or two worth at once and then just pour it out of the bag each day for a serving. Friday things changed a bit.

On Friday I had run out and decided to have something different – a sausage and egg bagel form McDonalds. The taste was great but the fat really slowed me down and it still did not energize me as much as the oatmeal.

Then over the weekend I was eating bagels with natural peanut butter – again tasted good, again not satisfying and did not fuel me like I am used to on a daily basis.

So try this out. Go to the local bulk section and get some seeds and add mix up a bowl of hot oatmeal. I always use water never milk – but try hot milk if you would like, see what you think.

If you try this for a few days you will find it is the best breakfast and you will never want to go back to boring cereal or donuts again.

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My daughter is a Spoonie, well according to Instagram she is. This led me to wonder what the heck is the #Spoonie hashtag and what exactly is a Spoonie?

As you know my daughter just went through a Kidney transplant back in August where I gave her a kidney and she bounced back from surgery really fast. Well initially she bounced back really fast but then she kind of receded back to being tired a lot and missing school and stuff.

Kidney disease sucks – we know she will get better but it is a longer road than we thought it would be.

How the Spoon Theory Started

As for the Spoonie hashtag. The idea of this was created by Christine Miserandino. While out at night with a friend she was trying to find a way to describe what it is like to live with a chronic illness.

And the Spoon Theory was born that night.

The idea is that if we look at regular tasks in our day, getting up, getting dressed, making breakfast, talking to people in the street, each of these simple tasks can be reduced to an action.

Symbolized by a spoon

(I don’t do this description justice at all you really need to read the article to hear her fantastic story.)

Anyway, these tasks for a healthy person would be unlimited. We have a nearly unlimited amount of spoons. Where someone like Christine or Taylor in our case, may have 12 spoons.

So as we cruise through our day trying to get my 10,000 steps in, or going to work and then having plans after work, people with chronic illnesses will be stuck deciding what are the most important few things, spoons, that they will do that day.

Here is Christine reading the Spoon Theory Story at a conference a few years back

I know with Taylor she can only do so much in a day and then she is done. Some people with Chronic illnesses can get more done in a day but that will leave them sick in bed for a day or more afterwards.

So this Spoon theory is a great way for us to look at people with Chronic illnesses. They look fine, but follow them around for a few days and you can see the deliberateness in actions. Only doing what is most important and passing on anything that is not.

Over the last few years many many people with chronic illnesses have identified with the #Spoonie hashtag and have used it on Instagram and Twitter and by using this special hashtag people like my daughter can find and support others struggling through the day the same as them.

How Can We Help Spoonies

I have been kind of bad as a dad of a sick kid, especially early on with my daughters illness.

Taylor would be tired and I would come up with little things that we could do. “Lets go to the store” Lets go for a bit of a walk”

I of course was just trying to help. I know for myself that the harder that I push myself the stronger I will be tomorrow. Probably not so true for Taylor and it was very tough for my expectations for her as well as her expectations for herself.

My wife Michelle has always let Taylor set the lead and the expectations. Taylor is very driven. If she is behind in school work she will work really hard, past her limits, to catch up. Michelle will always advocate for her at school and the hospital and make sure that Taylor does not have to push far past her limits and make herself sick.

The best way for us to support and help those with illnesses around us is to let them set the limits.

Make sure that we are helping in any way but not setting up high expectations.

Most of all let that friend or son or daughter to take the lead and set the speed that life is moving at.

Christine Miserandino has been a fantastic spokesperson for those with Chronic illnesses and give great ideas on her blog for how we can help those Spoonies around us.

 

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