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*The title of this post was taken from the Oasis song of the same name*

Before Mark even started with me, he told me that he was more than willing to train every day just to lose weight but that he wasn’t sure he could change his diet.

I get it.

The hardest part of losing weight is the diet. It shouldn’t be, but it is.

No matter how hard those of us in this industry might try to simplify intake, eating in a deficit, and seeing the results at a sustainable pace, diet remains the hardest variable for so many people to control.

We’re around food/drink ALL.DAY.LONG. Temptation, stress, the eating cues of others, eating for a reward, eating because we’re bored, etc. It can be hard to control intake with so many points of influence.

And it’s not just the diet.

Mark said this was a recurring cycle in his life. To go about 70%, and not get to the finish line. The lure of external stimulus, inadvertent sabotage from friends and family, high stress at work.

I understand.

However, I’m not falling over myself with sympathy.

Please don’t hear what I’m not saying. I care deeply that my clients reach their goals. In my opinion, there is no greater reward than reaching the proverbial finish line. Who wants to runs a race without getting to the finish?

And as I’ve been known to say to my clients, “The better you look, the better I look.” I have a vested interest in those results.

But you do have to make sacrifices.

The sacrifices don’t have to be drastic. For a person who believes they’re giving 70% effort, pushing for 80% may be all that it takes to succeed. It may take a bit longer to see the goal but you will get there.

However, for as much as I know that conquering the diet is the path to success, not everyone is ready to tackle it from the onset.

So, focus on what you can immediately control.

Can you make it to the gym 2-3x a week? Great. Start there.

Can you increase your water intake and decrease the intake of anything else that either isn’t water or has calories included? Awesome. Do so.

If you’re giving 50% effort, can you push for 60% or 70% maybe? Excellent. Go for it.

“Little by Little”, the pieces will fall into place. Just don’t kid yourself about what will or won’t get you to your goal as fast as you’d like to be there.

If you can behave yourself all week long with your diet, just to watch the wheels fly off the car Friday, Saturday and/or Sunday, you’re probably losing the battle. Truth be told, I’ve seen some clients destroy a week’s worth of progress in one cheat meal. Sad but true.

My professional opinion? I think Mark will solve this riddle. He gives his all to his workouts and he’s been a blast to train. It would be shame if he didn’t dial it in a bit more to get to his ultimate destination of “XYZ” weight and to minimize some problem areas on his physique.

The picture below is of Shon (another RevFit family member.) Like Mark, Shon is crazy busy and has more than enough reason to let things go sideways for him. However, he got his food (and drink) under control a handful of weeks ago and he’s been dropping weight like it’s nothing. Funny how that works.

Are you ready to dial in?

Dr. Yoni Freedhoff, bestselling author of The Diet Fix, is my guest this week and I can barely handle my excitement about it. In my personal and professional opinion, he has one of the finest minds in the health and wellness community. While I probably could have spent hours on this episode, we had a tight window to fit in a great deal of information. No matter where you are on your weight loss journey this episode is a must-listen. To connect and find out more about Dr. Yoni, please visit http://www.weightymatters.ca To learn more about your host, please check out http://www.jasonleenaarts.com Download, subscribe, share with your friends and if you have a moment, please leave us an iTunes review.

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*The title of this post was taken from the Elvis Costello & The Attractions song of the same name*

In the podcast Someone Has To Say It that I co-host with my good friend, Blake Babcock, we were recently discussing how open I can be when discussing my life (specifically my past and anything pre- RevFit days.) The condensed version is that much of what happened from about 20-30 years of age was patchy and chaotic. Not all of it was bad but there were a lot of behaviors I had to deal with that affected virtually everyone who crossed my path. It wouldn’t be until shortly after my son was born that I began to look at my life through a vastly different lens. (This is my happy boy just a few weeks ago.)

Unfortunately, there is a risk attached when I speak openly about these things. I’m generally pretty blunt when people ask me all that occurred and to be honest, much of it doesn’t paint me in a very good light. The candor can turn some people off. I’m not naive to the fact that it can happen. My hope has always been that if people who are trying to change their own lives can see how I had to change my own, maybe that will get them one step closer to success as they define it for themselves.

While the birth of my son was a pivotal point for me, I have to also include the changes I went through when his mother and I split, the clean slate I worked to make when I met my current wife, and of course, the passing of my father.

As I mentioned a few weeks ago in my post about self esteem, we all are fighting some type of battle. There are clients who walk through my door that have suffered abuse, neglect, rape, battery and everything in between. You wouldn’t know it if you met them. But by opening up myself to the world, some of my clients have decided to open up to me as well.

Without rehashing too much of what was said in the aforementioned post, I think it’s important to not identify too closely with your past. Obviously, if you have a past that you’re proud of then I think you should wear it shamelessly. I am not one of those people. A great portion of my past is downright deplorable. However, I spend a little bit of time every day making small steps to distance myself from it. My son deserves the best father that he can have. My mother, the best son. My wife, the best husband.

True to the title of this post, every day you have a choice of which story you want others to tell about you. How you act, react, respond and live will write the words. There’s a lot you can accomplish when you take care of your health. It’s one of the few selfish acts in this world that is equally selfless when you are offering the best version of you back to those who care about you.

So lift a weight, run a mile, drop some pounds, eat quality food in appropriate amounts, love your significant other with reckless abandon, kiss your children, compliment someone in their outfit, be nicer, laugh a little, hug your dog, sleep well, listen more intently, speak a bit less…write the book.

Maybe your story resonates somewhat with mine. Maybe the person you used to be is keeping you from being the person you want to be. Identify the weakness…write the book.

Every day I thank anyone who will listen that I get the opportunity to help people who want something better than the “right here, right now.” I think that’s awesome. They’ve identified the weakness. Their chapters are being written (and sometimes rewritten.)

If you’re already a part of the group considered the RevFit family, you’re making your strides. Every day you have another opportunity to change the course and head in the right direction. Every day you turn a page and keep writing for a desired outcome.

I did…you can too.

Mike D’Angelo, creator of BodyEvolver PT Pro, takes time to discuss with me the software that he created that has been such a great component of our success here at Revolution Fitness & Therapy. Mike looks back to talk about how and why the software was created and why it’s been so successful with literally hundreds of clients all across the globe. Even if you’re not a personal trainer, I highly recommend checking this episode out to see how this software can benefit you and get you better results if you’re an exercise enthusiast elsewhere. Mike is so passionate and enthusiastic about the product he created and I couldn’t wait to get him on the show. To learn more about BodyEvolver, please check out http://www.bodyevolver.com or connect with Mike directly at Mike@bodyevolver.com To learn more about your host, please visit http://www.jasonleenaarts.com Download, subscribe, share with your friends and if you have a moment, please leave an iTunes review!

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*The title of this post was taken from the AlunaGeorge song of the same name*

When Deb approached me a few months ago to work with her cousin Tina, she knew I had a little bit of experience working with clients who have special needs. Tina, specifically, has Down syndrome. She had a little bit of weight to lose and after seeing how well her cousin Rob (Deb’s brother) did with weight loss after he started training here, it seemed like a good fit.

I met with Tina and her mom initially to talk about what some of the challenges might be involving diet and exercise. Tina was ready for the journey and felt confident she could get both diet and her workouts working in her favor to bring her weight down. We discussed some opportunities with food that may have led to her weight gain and worked on a game plan to make it all work together.

In my experience, working with individuals who have special needs, traditional strength training can have varied results. Some clients move well with little instruction to correct form while others have to see more modifications and substitutions to be able to perform an exercise properly.

In Tina’s case, we’ve tried to make her workouts more “play” and less lifting weights. As a result, we use ball slams, kettlebell swings, battle ropes, sleds and more.

Tina has been incredible. She is extremely witty, always ready to work hard and never afraid to let me know if she thinks I’m getting out of line (which NEVER happens by the way!) She lives independently but she always has a provider to assist her with daily living.

Enter Consuela.

Consuela is one of two providers who works with Tina. Since it worked out best for Tina’s schedule to have Consuela come with her, the initial plan was to have Tina work out while Consuela waited here for her.

One day, Tina was using the battle ropes and Consuela showed an interest in trying them. I got her started and thought that maybe there could be a better use of Consuela’s time (plus extra motivation for Tina) if they both would train together.

We started discussing more details about diet for both ladies. Since Consuela had significant influence over what Tina ate, meals she packed to take to work, and her extracurricular exercise, it only made sense to have them both working towards the same goal.

Well, Consuela has been seeing incredible results. She knows what she’s supposed to be doing, she’s motivated by her steady weight loss, and she’s realized that she is actually a lot stronger than she ever gave herself credit for.

Not to mention, every time I post a picture of her progress on social media, her friends absolutely blow the post up with support and words of encouragement. I cannot possibly overstate the importance of this. Having a support system who stands behind you while you’re trying to improve yourself is monumental and you can’t put a price tag on it.

There is so much more to achieve with these ladies. We’ve barely seen what can be done thus far. What I do know, is that due to Consuela’s efforts, Tina is succeeding. That is an outcome that would have been difficult to achieve without someone like Consuela in her corner.

It has been really inspiring to see how these two motivate one another to get better, do better, train harder and eat right. Consuela is proving that when you are in control of your decisions and allowing little negative influence to affect your decisions, you can thrive. Tina is that extra little bit of motivation that Consuela needs to remind her that “I’m not in this alone, I am part of a team.”

And in just over two months, Tina is down 10lbs and Consuela is down 20lbs.

The best is yet to come. 

 

 

Ian Dunican joins me this week to discuss his work with Sleep4Performance. After hearing his excellent interview with Danny Lennon (Sigma Nutrition Podcast) several weeks ago, I knew I had to bring him on to discuss how much sleep can affect the general population. Ian takes his wealth of experience as a sleep researcher and director of Sleep4Performance and shines a much needed light on how sleep and the lack thereof can be affecting performance in life, work and training. We cover sleep habits, sleep etiquette, sleep aids and more. Also, make sure you connect with Ian directly to get his free ebook offered to all who tune in to the show. For more information about Ian, please visit his Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/sleep4perform To learn more about your host, please visit http://www.jasonleenaarts.com Download, subscribe, share and tell your friends. If you have a moment, please leave us a iTunes review to let us know how you like the show.

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*The title of this post was taken from The Offspring song of the same name*

I remember it somewhat vividly.

I was fresh out of high school, dating a girl who would later be coined the “girlfriend from hell” by my family. The relationship didn’t last long. That was probably obvious to everyone but me.

I spent every dime of my graduation money on her. Pawned away good music instruments and equipment too. When I got wind that she was cheating on me with a friend of mine, it stung a bit.

Granted, she was in Ohio (so was he) and I was in Tennessee. A girl would get lonely, right?
That wasn’t the worst of it though. I was having a conversation with her mom shortly after I found out about the affair and she said “Don’t worry, Jason. She really cares about you. She’s only with him for his looks.”

Ouch.

You see, I’ve never been under any illusions that I could make it as a runway model. Too short, too this, too that. But for a short amount of time, I thought my “looks” were enough to keep my girlfriend faithful.

I wish I could say that was the only time when it seemed apparent that maybe I wasn’t the best looking guy on the block. It wasn’t. But that was definitely one time where my nose got rubbed in it.

Fast forward over two decades later and I really look nothing like that guy. I weigh a bit more, have more muscle and as of 10 years ago, have completely shaved my head. I also have married a woman who, in my humble opinion, is stunning. When this post is published, it will be our two year anniversary.

I’m still no runway model but I have learned to grow a bit more comfortable in my own skin.

What I often find with my clients, is a similar dissatisfaction with themselves. Maybe their parents impressed it on them at an early age. Maybe, like with me, it was a relationship that went awry.

Unfortunately, the lack of self esteem is what I find can hold many of my clients back. They’re too concerned about the size of their butt, the loose skin under their arms, the excess fat around the midsection that never seems to get tight enough. Or maybe it was never tight at all.

That concern for the perfect body tends to override all of the amazing feats of progress that someone can achieve. When being skinny trumps being healthy. When starving oneself is a greater badge of honor than eating appropriately and responsibly for a goal. Or the opposite effect of overeating because one has lost sight of a goal.

Recently, a client (who has been seeing tremendous weight loss results) was criticized for how they look by their spouse. Maybe it wasn’t meant in a derogatory way but this individual already struggles with self worth and feeling as if they deserve the body they’re working so hard to have.

It’s akin to criticizing someone for their looks on things they have little control in changing. How demoralizing.

It takes a special kind of strength to keep fighting for your goal. It takes a great amount of determination to decide that you’re not going to let any negative part of your past define who you are today, much less who you will be tomorrow.

It would be easy for me to write each week about calories or exercises or motivation. But if you want to be successful on your journey, it’s about a lot more than any of those things.

Many of our clients are fighting a battle that won’t ever be seen. It might be emotional, physical, or social. Sometimes, the best that can happen is they come into the gym and let all of that stress out on the weights. I think that’s a great thing.

And I don’t want to pretend that I have this whole self esteem thing worked out for myself either. I have my own battles. But you’re welcome at RevFit to help me straighten some of my issues out as long as I can return the favor.

 

Over the last couple of years, Dan Broadbent AKA “A Science Enthusiast” has been taking the social media world by storm in efforts to bring rational thought and scientific understanding back to the conversation on some very hot button topics. We bring many of them up in this conversation. From vaccines to GMO’s, religion to autism, we tackle a lot! This was quite a chat and I truly hope that listeners take some nuggets of wisdom from what we discussed. No matter where you stand on these topics, Dan shines a passionate light on the issues he gets vocal about on his own website. To learn more about Dan, you can connect with him and check out his podcast via http://www.ascienceenthusiast.com To learn more about your host, please visit http://www.jasonleenaarts.com Download, subscribe, share with your friends, and leave us an iTunes review to let us know how we’re doing!

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* The title of this post was taken from The Dirty Nil song of the same name*

Ah, to be young and fearless again…

Or is that young and invincible?

While I don’t have the lifting background of someone who played sports through high school/college, my body has felt it’s fair share of aches, pains, strains, and other miscellaneous hiccups. You can read about some of the more serious ones here.

In fact, most of my clients are in something of the same boat. A bad knee here, a rough shoulder there, unusual pains in the lower back, hip, elbow, etc. I’m not sure that I have any clients at all (young or old) who aren’t fighting through or around some nagging problem.

To treat each of my clients as if they had no weaknesses would be foolish to say the least. Some people have an innate strength or aptitude that I try to flesh out and improve on. Others have to fight and claw for every ounce of progress they can make. I tend to post a lot of pictures of people lifting respectable weights with a traplift or a back squat. However, I have at least 30% of my clientele who cannot, and likely will not, ever be able to safely perform those lifts.

That’s ok.

Not only do we all have different goals set for ourselves, we have different bodies, with different histories behind them. All of which have a path to forge and it’s my job (and the job of my trainers) to help shine that light.

If you want to get stronger, get leaner, eat more responsibly, balance your training with the rest of your life, we want to see you succeed. No two paths will look identical to one another. No two outcomes will be perfectly aligned.

I’d also like to offer a call to those of you reading this to stay aware of your weaknesses. Sometimes they can be made stronger and sometimes they need to remain subtle reminders of where the body cannot be pushed.

Perhaps the largest offenders of any of this are the weekend warriors and those just trying too damn hard to relive their former glories (When I was in college I could lift “XXX” or run a mile in “YYY”.)

Focus on who you are today.

The person who’s lived a few decades or so under their belt, raised a family, climbed the corporate ladder and maybe suffered some legitimate losses in their life.

We want that person with a few battle scars who’s ready to conquer the next stage of their life. And while you may have weaknesses (we all do), we want to share some of these new victories with you.

You in?

 

 

I go solo this week and bring you a shorter episode this go-round. Dive in to this week’s show to check out the snacks I recommend to clients and what my go-to options are, the supplements I’ve been using and how they might benefit you, plus some strategies to help you on your fitness journey. Per the recommendation on the show, please check out http://www.examine.com to get great information on your supplements. To find out more about your host, check out http://www.jasonleenaarts.com Download, subscribe, share with your friends and leave a review on iTunes to let me know how you like the show.

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