Hate Body Fat?                                                                   Remember The Big Three

People work out for a lot of different reasons, some to improve their health, some to have more energy, some to stop bone loss, and some to lose weight.  My experience is that almost anyone who works out would like to lose weight, or to put it more accurately, lose body fat.  In the United States the weight loss industry is a multi-billion dollar a year industry.  It's clear that there is a lot of demand for body fat loss. 

Everyone knows that working with a personal trainer will facilitate weight loss, but, the truth is that in most cases, just working out is not enough.  Just working out, or strength training, is enough to have many changes in the body, usually improved strength, energy, bone growth, sleep, and others.  But it's often not enough, by itself, to diminish an individual's body fat to satisfaction.

In order to guarantee body fat loss you have to follow the big three, or the trinity of fat loss.  I'm going to write them in big, bold letters so that you can get to know them and love them.

                  Strength training              Cardio Training                Diet

I think these require a little explanation, so I'll give each one its own little paragraph.

Strength training         When you go to a PFT, or personal fitness trainer, this is the easy one.  Often the trainer will be working right with you for two or three sessions per week.  He or she's there to encourage you to challenge yourself.  Just having the appointment to meet the trainer at a specified time is enough accountability for most people.  So, in many ways, strength training is the easy part.

Cardio Training           This is a little more difficult, but still, not the hardest of the big three.  First, let me explain the meaning of the term "cardio."  "Cardio" refers to cardiovascular training, or repetitious movements with light or no weight over a sustained period of time (usually 5 to 60 minutes).  Examples of cardio training would be; running, walking, cycling, or any variation of these using machines.  This one's also fairly easy with a PFT, because most of the time the cardio machines are right in the gym where you've done the strength training.  The accountability level is still high, because though the trainer might not be right there with you, they're usually still in the room.  

Diet                              Now we've come to the hard one.  This is America, where there is food every 50 feet.  There's an advertisement for food every 25 feet.  Selling food over the media (television, movies, radio) is a multi-billion dollar enterprise.  Restaurant dining has gone from basic nutrition to entertainment.  Worst of all your PFT can't be with you for this one.  Your trainer's with you usually about two or three hours a week, that leaves 165 hours a week by yourself.  

The problem with the big three is that they have to work together in order to provide satisfactory weight loss.  Leave out one, particularly the diet, and body fat loss will not occur.

So, if body fat loss is your goal, and for most it is, then remember the big three.

Happy thinning,

Rudy