Turning your intentions into RESULTS!

Do you intend to get into better shape? You intend to lose weight? Do you intend to eat healthier? Well, you know what they say, “The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.”  While you may intend to do all these things, your intentions alone will not get you very far. As a matter of fact, when it comes to your health, each day that you only think about getting better is actually a day of getting worse.

Don’t get me wrong, intentions are great but, only when they are followed by action. To truly reach any worthwhile goal, you need to commit. A true commitment is non-negotiable. It is something you just do.

Easier said than done, right?  I hear ya! I have plenty of unfulfilled intentions. What if I could show you some techniques that will help you transform some of your intentions into commitments? That would be cool, right? This post is going to help you to do just that so that you can begin to commit to a better and more remarkable life!

The first step in the process is that you have a vision of what this commitment will do for you. If you want to lose weight, imagine what that will look and feel like. Create a picture in your mind of what life will be like when you achieve your goal. Then mentally run through a day in that life. The more compelling your vision, the more it will pull you toward it. Trust me, it is far better to be drawn to a goal than to be pushed to it. One caution though. You need to make the vision believable. The only way this process works is if you know with all your heart that you can achieve your vision.

   

Once you are connected to a compelling vision, you need to get down to business. This is where a lot of people get bogged down.

Over the past two weeks, I witnessed Karen go from a person that just talked about getting in shape to a person that rides her bike 10 miles a day, every day, before work. How did that happen? How was she able to put aside all those great excuses and “just do it.” I mean she had all the classic reasons NOT to do this. She has a demanding job, she has no time, it’s really hot, she has exercise induced asthma. . . you get the idea. Yet, somehow, she overcame all these excuses and has ridden over 100 miles since the 30^th of June.

Her secret was a public challenge. When she rides, she uses an iPhone app called MapMyRide. The app tracks her speed and mileage. The app then saves them the MapMyRide website under Karen’s profile. As an added bonus, with the touch of a button, Karen can also share her workout to Facebook. This way all of her friends can see how well she is doing. It also motivates her to get on her bike every morning because she does not want to look lazy on Facebook.  

As an extra motivation, MapMyRide also sponsors challenges.  On June 30^th, Karen accepted the” Le Tour Challenge” to cycle 100 miles in 23 days. The challenge gives cyclists around the world the opportunity to compete against other cyclists during the 2012 Tour de France. When she started, she barely believed she could do it but she was committed. She cycled just a couple of miles for the first few days but, then slowly pushed herself and got up to OVER 10 miles!  Not only is she is feeling and looking great, she also finished the entire 100 miles in only 17 days!  Why was this so powerful? For one thing, she had a clear, measureable goal with absolute deadlines.  There was no question that she was making awesome progress. She could literally see mileage climbing every day. When she realized that she could actually excced her expectations, she raised her personal standards and finished early. She also made her progress public. As it turns out, this is huge for most people. We like to share our accomplishments with other people and we hate to share our short falls. In other words, when you know people are watching, you behave differently. For the most part, you behave exactly as you want to world to see you. Since most people value how they are seen by the world, this behavior is generally pretty good for you.  Think about it. How much better  would you eat if you committed to post everything you ate to Facebook? There is no doubt that making your commitments public helps you to keep them. I am so proud of Karen. She has really grown from this experience!

Karen's story is a lot like my kayak trip around Long Island. 

Really? What does Karen's bike challenge have to do with my paddle around Long Island? Everything! This paddle is my challenge! I made it public so that I would train hard and not give up. I gave it deep meaning and purpose by making it a fundraiser. The reason I tell the story of Karen is because I want you to connect to the concept and use it for your own personal Betterness®!  

Most people have a difficult time relating to a nut job like me who kayaks 25 miles on a Sunday morning to train for a 260 mile endurance trek. They don’t see how my journey can be useful to them. It’s just too radical. While I might seem radical, I started out as a 400 pound man. I was sick and tired and woefully out of shape. I can even remember the first day I committed to exercise. I did five minutes on a stationary bike. I did 5 minutes because I could not do 6. Now, I am thought of as amazing and radical. Not bad. The message here is that YOU, yes YOU, can do this. (Whatever your personal “this” is) No matter how bad you think you are, you can be radical or at least remarkable. If that is what you truly want. 

Thinking Better (or at least more positively) will actually improve your life.

Science is now showing that positive thinking not only improves you outlook on life, it actually improves your life! According to the book, "Positivity: Groundbreaking Research Reveals How to Embrace the Hidden Strength of Positive Emotions, Overcome Negativity, and Thrive."

 If you can harness your happiness you can transform your life. Backed up by impressive lab research, positive psychology pioneer Barbara Fredrickson lays out the core truths of positivity—joy, gratitude, serenity, interest, hope, pride, amusement, inspiration, awe and love. While it is easy to see the subject of "positivity" as both disdainful and Pollyannaish, this book keeps it real. Dr. Fredrickson does an impressive job of providing scientific evidence to illustrate her findings. One of the most enlightening notions is how easy it might be to become an "effective optimist." According to the author, simply maintaining a 3:1 positivity ratio of positive thoughts to negative emotions creates a tipping point between languishing and flourishing. The book includes compelling case studies, concrete tips, a Positivity Self Test and a tool kit for decreasing negativity and raising the positivity ratio. Although many of Fredrickson's methods and theories (notes on meditation and karma) will seem familiar to anyone versed in yoga or eastern religions, the scientific foundation of her arguments and additional online resources (www.positivityratio.com) will give you a chance to experiment with positivity and very possibly lead a "better" and richer life.

Have you considered Blogging your weight loss journey?

What the heck is a blog? 

Well, according to the folks over at Google, "A blog is a personal diary. A daily pulpit. A collaborative space. A political soapbox. A breaking-news outlet. A collection of links. Your own private thoughts. Memos to the world. Your blog is whatever you want it to be. There are millions of them, in all shapes and sizes, and there are no real rules. 

In simple terms, a blog is a web site, where you write stuff on an ongoing basis. New stuff shows up at the top, so your visitors can read what's new. Then they comment on it or link to it or email you. Or not.

Why should I have one? 

In his book, Fire Your Therapist, Joe Siegler, MD talks about how helpful it is for coaching clients to start a blog. I think he makes a great point. You can use your blog as a journal to track your progress toward goals and the evolution of your thoughts as you progress through the coaching process. It is an awesome way to keep aware of issues that you want to work on. It will help you keep focused on your goals and help you to track your progress. 

Importance of writing stuff down. 

In a 1953 study conducted at Yale University it was discovered that only 3% of Yale graduates had taken the time to write down their goals. 10 years later, those "goal writers" became far wealthier than the other 97% of the class combined. 

In his book, "What they don't teach you at Harvard Business School" Mark McCormack, talks about survey given to the 1979 graduating class the Harvard Business School's MBA program when they graduated and then again 10 years later. On the initial survey, when asked: "Have you set clear, written goals for your future and made plans to accomplish them?" Only three percent of these graduates had written goals and plans; 13 percent had goals, but they were not in writing; and 84 percent had no specific goals at all. These are HARVARD GRADUATES!! 

The findings of the follow-up survey were shockingly predictable. Ten years later, the members of the class who had goals were earning, on average, twice as much as the ones who had no goals at all. The minority of students that actually wrote down their goals blew their classmates away by earning, an average of ten times as much as the remainder of the class put together. Hmm. I wonder if people that write down their weight loss goals lose 10 times the amount of weight as those who don't? I write my goals down. I have notebooks I refer to daily. I design myself goal forms, send myself emails and stick post-it notes all over the house and, yes, I have a blog. I have not only lost 100% of my excess body weight, but I am successfully maintaining it. I wonder if there is a connection?

The good news is that it is NEVER too late to start. If you really want to accomplish something write it down. If it is worth doing, it is worth making the contract. If you are not ready to write the contract, you are not ready to accomplish the goal. 

Why not write in a book, on piece of paper, on post-it note or on the bathroom mirror? 

While it really does not matter where you write your goals, aspirations, thoughts, affirmations and accomplishments, your blog is marvel of technology. Blogging is about more than just putting your thoughts on the web. It's about connecting with and hearing from anyone who cares about you. With a blog, you control who can read and write to your blog — let just a few friends, your coach or the entire world see what how you are approaching Betterness!

It is not only a tool to write down your goals, track your progress it can even help you to be accountable to your coach. When you set up your blog, you decide who can read and who can write to your blog. I use a group blog with multiple authors as a communication tool for my group coaching. If you want to keep it private, you can create a private blog as your online space for collecting news, links, and ideas, to keep to yourself or share with as many readers as you want.

As for accountability, you can set it up so that every time you post an entry, your coach gets an email, or not. You can even set it so other people in your support network know when you are writing, or not. You get to decide how you set it up. No matter what though, you will never have to worry about forgetting your goal sheet or journal when you and your coach meet. If your coach has access to the internet (and you give him or her permission) they will be able to see your blog. 


Of course, Facebook is an awesome tool for this kind of accountability as well. For some people, this is the best way to communicate with their world. The problem is that Facebook may be a little too public. You can set up your blog so that it is between just you and your best supporters. 

Ok, how do I get one of these "blog" things? 

Although there are many options for getting a blog, I use a Google service known as blogger. While you certainly can get your blog from any provider, this video will help you get started with Blogger.



Another great tool for staying accountable is an app called http://www.myfitnesspal.com/
It allows you to share your fitness and food logging successes with other users and friends.
According to their website,
With a 100% FREE membership you get:

• The easiest to use food diary on the web -

   
  Track what you eat with just a few clicks from anywhere with an internet connection - at home or at work

• A searchable food database of over 1,865,000 items -

   
  and it's growing everyday!

• Your own personal food database -

   
  add your own foods and recipes at any time and access them from anywhere with an internet connection

• Free mobile apps for iPhone and Android -

   
  so you can log your meals and exercise even when you are on the go

• Support and motivation 

  from people just like you - Our discussion forums let you learn from others, share your own tips, receive and give encouragement, and make friends.

• A personalized diet profile

   
  - customized to your unique weight loss goals.

• Flexibility

   
  - our system can support any eating lifestyle you choose.

Thanks -

Wellness: A Retirement Fund You Can Bank On

A couple of years ago, an entire issue of Money magazine was dedicated to the topic of health and wellness. In his preface to the edition, the editor stated apologetically that, although at first blush, it seemed strange for a magazine ordinarily devoted to issues of wealth to concentrate on health and wellness, the accumulation of wealth is worthless without the health to enjoy it. When retirees were interviewed as to the regrets about mistakes made when planning for their retirement, the most common belief was that they should have made a more significant investment in their health earlier in their lives. I see many people who have worked their entire lives only to discover that they are ineligible to fully enjoy the fruits of their labor because they did not invest early enough in their health. When you think of it, the initial costs of these investments are relatively low and the return is immensely high. Right now is the best time to start listening to those retiree s regrets. By not investing early enough in your health, you could find yourself tarnishing your golden years. As with all investments, timing, quality and quantity are critical. Making wise choices now are the keys to the success of your wellness future. Those who have planned well for their health, not only live longer, but live better. They tend to enjoy their financial prosperity more. Overall, even those less financially successful seem to have a much richer life if they have made solid health investments early on.

What makes a truly good investment? One thing we know of investments in health is that relatively small deposits compound over time and yield tremendous results. A 10 minute walk every day from now on, could buy you the ability to trek across the spring tundra of Alaska on your 80th birthday. Small, wise, health investments made over time will yield truly miraculous results. The good news is that health investments are easy to identify. Good deals are out there, and we know what they are: quit smoking, lose weight, eat healthy and become more physically active. Our biggest mistake is thinking we can start tomorrow. Every day that passes without making a health investment is a lost opportunity to increase our wellness portfolio. There are 365 days in a year and it is amazing how quickly they pass. What were your health goals, one year ago? How many have you met? The absolute truth is that the time to invest in your health is now. As with any investment strategy, it is best to start small. Begin by picking one thing that you can do to improve your health. Even the smallest investment has the potential for tremendous return. Walking 10 minutes a day, every day, no excuses - can and will make a huge difference in your life. Don't believe me? Prove me wrong. Walk 10 minutes a day, every day, for one month and see what happens. When started I my evening walks, it did not take long for the walks to become easier and more enjoyable. Although I have to admit, some walks have been better than others, I am convinced that I am always the better for it. The improved strength and increased energy I derive from walking are simply dividends being paid to me now on my long-term health investments. The big payoff will come when I am older provided I continue to invest. Walking is just one example. It is easy to do and does not require any special equipment. In short, it is difficult to find a valid excuse not to walk. Are you having trouble getting started? Do you need a plan? Luckily, help is out there. The financial planners of the health and wellness world are called coaches. Coaches are specially trained professionals that help you to understand the process of change and can show you how to get started. They help you to set realistic goals and help you realize your long term potential. The best coaches have had personal experience fighting and winning the same battles you are facing. They have been where you are now and they understand. Although it is NEVER too late to begin your wellness portfolio the earlier the better. How about today? Consider reaching out for guidance from a skilled professional that can bring you from where you are to where you want to be. It is possible, it has been done by others, and you are not alone.

Action Giving - An exercise in kindness: improving the world one step at a time.

Whether you are losing weight or have reached your goal, it is important to keep your body moving. The good news is that almost any kind of movement will do as long as you do it and keep doing it. In order to be effective, however, staying active needs to be a long-term commitment that does not end when you have lost all the weight you want to lose.

According to the National Weight Loss Registry, engaging in a consistent activity program is a key element in the maintenance of any weight loss success. Did I say long-term commitment? I meant life-long commitment. Yes, that means that movement needs to become part of your life. That may sound like some kind of prison sentence but if you do something you really enjoy doing it’s not that difficult.

If any of you have a bad case of insomnia one morning around 4am and happen to be strolling along a beach on the North Fork of Long Island, you might catch a glimpse of me blissfully gliding along the surface of the bay in a kayak. I enjoy it so much; I can't even call it exercise. Make no mistake, though, I do manage to elevate my heart rate. I actually paddle hard enough to exceed the speed of an average 30 foot sailboat under full sail. I know this because I have confused many a sailor as I quietly whipped by them. The cardiovascular benefits of paddling are undeniable, the scenery is impossible to beat and the core muscle training is awesome. By the end of the summer I cannot even fit into my shirts because my chest has become so developed. The core strength and flexibility the sport provides me improves every aspect of my physical abilities, especially my balance.

When I kayak I have some unbelievable workout partners, ducks, geese, osprey and loons. There is no better way to “work out” then to do something you love to do. My “gym” is a million miles long and a million miles across, and I will never get to see the whole thing; that’s pretty amazing. The peace and euphoria that this routine brings me sets the tone for my entire day and can last for a week.

Yup, I sure do love to kayak. The problem is that even when you love to do something, the motivation to keep going can still evaporate. Next thing you know, a month or a year goes by and you’re no longer doing anything. The secret to holding on to your motivation is to maintain a deep connection to all that is good about what you are doing. Still, holding on can be difficult.

It was a cold, rainy and windy start to the kayaking season and I don't mind telling you that I was losing my kayaking MoJo (Motivational Joy -- not to be confused with the Cuban Spice also known as MoJo.) I remember too many mornings at the beginning of the season where I just stood on the beach, cold and wet, only to turn around and go home. I did nothing to really move my body on those days and I really felt lousy because of it. It was a bad habit in the making.

One of the main lessons that the challenges in my life have taught me is that every human being has the potential to be better. Certainly, losing over 200 pounds was a challenge but keeping it off- is takin’ some work too! Throughout my weight loss journey I began to see this process of success develop. I began to recognize that the path to the life I really wanted could only be walked one step at a time. I learned that all I had to do was to develop one good habit at a time and stick with it. After a while that good habit became easy and it was time to make a better habit. I discovered that all I needed to do in order to stay on this path of improvement was to just keep collecting these small, positive changes. After a while, I developed a system that allowed me to focus on the changes that best suited me.

I call this system Betterness ®. Simply put; Betterness ® is defined as the process of radical life improvement through the accumulation of small but consistently performed positive changes. Although there is way more to the actual system than that, the key here is that you need to keep doing what you are doing. In the case of my daily kayaking “habit” all I had to do was keep on doing it. Unfortunately, sometimes Betterness just that ain’t that easy.

I define “Action Giving” as the act of giving by doing something physical. This kind of charity is not only good for you but it gives you the opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of others. It is an awesome way to stay motivated to keep your body moving. Yes, even I, with my professed love for kayaking can use a motivational boost.

My MoJo was rescued back in 2007 by the Paddle for Humanity. The paddle for humanity is an 18 mile open ocean charity paddle from Montauk, NY to Block Island, RI. It is held every year in early September.  Who would have believed that the same 400 pound man struggling to stay on an exercise bike for 5 minutes would cross almost 20 miles of Open Ocean in a 15 foot kayak? Believe it! I did it for three years and this year I am going out on my own to do a charity kayak of almost 300 miles around Long Island!

How did this give my MoJo back? All I needed to do to get my MoJo going was to think about all the people whose lives might change if I could keep paddling. I knew the only way for me to endure the grueling 18 miles to Block was to get my butt into that boat and paddle - every day. Since getting started is always the hardest part, all I needed was a little shot of MoJo and soon I was blissfully ripping along like always. As I continued to train, I stayed motivated by getting sponsors. I knew that people were depending on ME and I was not going to let them down. I knew that when I finally left the safety of Montauk, I would not be alone. I would have all of the collective energy of my sponsors and their beneficiaries behind me. As I paddled, I couldn’t help thinking about the real people whose lives will be made better by the causes we were supporting. I am truly grateful that I am able to make a difference in the world, contribute to my own wellbeing and do something I love to do in the process. This kind of giving is a great way to stay motivated on the sometimes difficult road of Betterness.

As it turns out, often a little motivation is all we really need. If you don’t think action giving is powerfully motivating, it is only because you have not yet experienced it. Yes, you too can be an “action giver” and don't have to risk shark attacks, muscle cramps, being lost at sea or even getting wet. OK, so I’m being dramatic. When I do these crazy paddles, they are actually extremely well organized and safe there is no chance of being lost at sea, the sharks out there are well fed enough to leave us paddlers alone and my training keeps the muscle cramps away. I am quite sure, however, that staying dry is not an option. So, if getting wet is not your thing, there are many good causes that will get you moving.

Perhaps the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life is the most familiar to you. Did you also know that the Obesity Action Coalition and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery jointly organize the walk from obesity? (http://www.walkfromobesity.com/)The proceeds from this event support obesity research and obesity advocacy. If you are overweight, as I was, and ever felt isolated, alone and misunderstood, this is a great cause for you to support! The march of dimes also comes to mind. These events are held all over the country at various times which gives you plenty of opportunities to get involved. I encourage you to find your own way of Action Giving.

When you do sign up, treat the event as true commitment to yourself as well as the beneficiaries of the event itself. Think of your participation as a reason for you to do better, fell better and BE better. Set your mind to the belief that the more you train, the more you AND the world will benefit. Honestly, you can change the world with just one positive thought provided it is followed by an action. So be active! Don’t just show up on the day of the event and expect to simply stroll around. When you get there, seek to be an example to everyone else. Since you have trained, you will not only feel better, you will look better as well. You will exude an enthusiasm that will be infectious. The way you look feel and act will attract attention. People will want to know about your new Betterness and you will inspire them. Who knows, your Betterness might even cause someone at the event to hop on the road to Betterness with you. If they did, it would certainly make their life better and it could even lead to a longer, more productive life for them. Think about this: If you can make other people better simply by being better yourself, Betterness is not a gift you give only to yourself; it is your gift to the world.

Weight of the Nation: PART 1: Consequences

 PART 1: Consequences 

The first film in 'The Weight of the Nation' series examines the scope of the obesity epidemic and explores the serious health consequences of being overweight or obese. The first character we meet is Cindy. Born and raised in Bogalusa, Louisiana, Cindy is the mother of two grown sons and now a proud grandmother. Cindy allowed HBO into her home and life to discuss some very painful things. Only 99 pounds when she got married, Cindy has struggled with her weight ever since her first pregnancy. And it's only gotten harder. Health and behaviors in early childhood can have serious consequences later on in life. The Bogalusa Heart Study - of which Cindy was a participant - shows that overweight and obese children have risk factors for heart disease, even at a young age. The obesity epidemic is a problem that's emerged over the last 30 years. It threatens our nation's social, economic and physical health. But, unlike a natural disaster, obesity is often preventable. Although overall obesity prevalence rates appear to be leveling off, there are still far too many Americans who are overweight or obese and who continue to develop health problems as a result. In order to end the epidemic, everyone must be part of the solution. At the level of our DNA, we're programmed to eat as much as we can to survive and store the extra as fat for future energy use. In a world where calorie-dense, sugar-laden and fatty foods are available around every corner, that's a problem. The good news is that, even if the propensity to gain weight is written into our genes, we're not fated to a lifetime of fat. As we take a look at communities across the country - from New York City to Santa Ana, California - it is clear that we have all been getting heavier. But the problem doesn't affect all communities equally. The sad fact is that obesity rates are higher in some ethnic communities and in lower-income states. The trends are so extreme that they are attracting the attention of health officials and lawmakers. Obesity among children is also rising, and it's a real threat that may have lasting health consequences. As Anna Busby says, based on her observations as the nurse of the Bogalusa Middle School Health Clinic, overweight and obese children are at risk of being "on dialysis in their thirties if we don't do something now." The good news is that we can make a difference in our children's lives both now and as they get older by helping them adopt healthy eating behaviors and become more active. There's a powerful connection between being overweight or obese and having heart disease as an adult. The heart, our hardest-working muscle, spends every second of every day vigorously pumping blood to the farthest reaches of our bodies. The larger we become, the harder our hearts have to work to keep blood circulating. The bottom line: being overweight or obese places you at a higher risk of developing heart disease and suffering a stroke as an adult. Beyond the cardiovascular system, excess weight has negative consequences throughout the body. "Almost every organ system in the body is adversely affected by having excess body fat," says Dr. Samuel Klein, director of the Center for Human Nutrition at Washington University in St. Louis. Even a small amount of excess weight, accumulated slowly at the rate of a few pounds a year over many years, can lead to type 2 diabetes. Being over 45 years of age, having a family history of diabetes, being physically inactive and being overweight or obese can increase a person's chances of developing type 2 diabetes. If poorly controlled or left untreated, type 2 diabetes can lead to a number of serious health problems, including heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, amputation and even death. Obesity is not only one of the top public health issues facing our country; it's also a threat to our nation's bottom line. Rising obesity rates threaten to drag our economy down through higher health care costs and lower productivity. Currently, 69% of American adults are overweight or obese.


Watch all 4 please 

http://theweightofthenation.hbo.com/watch/main-films/Consequences 

http://theweightofthenation.hbo.com/watch/main-films/Choices 

http://theweightofthenation.hbo.com/watch/main-films/Crisis 

http://theweightofthenation.hbo.com/watch/main-films/Challenges 

Let me know what you think . . . 

Are You Living Life In a Television Comfort Zone?

You are the author of your life. Everyday that you live, you write the script in your head and play it out during the day. As you write your life’s script, your mind constructs everything it needs to complete the story. A big part of that story is its setting. Where does the story of your life take place? What kind of scenery have you constructed? In the theatre, the scenery is often taken for granted but it can make or break a production. The mental scenery that you create for your story has enormous impact on its outcome. Does your story take place mostly in the “The Comfort Zone”? The truth is; most of us live in a perpetual comfort zone. We tend to find comfort in the scenery of familiar places, people and, most of all, habits. It is the warm light of this “scenery” that brings us comfort and familiarity.  Like that worn old baby blanket or that shabby favorite sweater, this environment envelopes us and make us feel safe.  Although this scenery makes us feel comfortable in the moment, it doesn’t always serve our best interests. Sometimes we keep the old ratty sweater simply because we are used to it. We cling to it even though it has an odd odor and is riddled with holes. Its familiarity gives us a sense of comfort. Often the warm glow of our “scenery” is dim and dirty, but our familiarity with it keeps us from exploring change. The feelings we have when we are in the “zone” are so familiar that we seek them out over and over again, even when they are not doing us one bit of good. Staying in the “comfort zone” rarely brings growth or happiness.  We need to realize that that comfort zone only makes us comfortable for a small moment in time.  Living in this zone does not support growth or allow us to reach our goals. For many of us, our comfort zone is our prison. Your comfort zone could take the form of a bad habit, a tendency toward inaction or a propensity to hang around people that constantly deflate your attempts at self improvement. Even the most comfortable prison is still a prison.
Living in the “zone” makes us sit down and watch television instead of going out and taking a walk.  In fact, if you go out and take a walk you may find that you actually feel better and, as an added bonus, you have done something good for yourself.  How much have you honestly accomplished for yourself while watching TV? Was it really time well spent? Do you honestly believe that it has enriched your life?  Add up all the hours you have blown passively watching TV. Have those hours really amounted to anything? Be honest! 

What you may not know is that the most the best experts in the field of weight loss have never even attended college. They have, however, graduated with honors from the school of hard knocks. These true experts are the people that have successfully lost weight and are keeping it off.

            The National weight loss registry is a list of over 6,000 people that have done just that. This is one of the largest studies on weight loss in the world. A couple of times a year the researchers design a survey for the participants to answer. They ask all kinds of personal questions and then hound you to send back the survey. The information they gather is then interpreted for the scientific community and spit out in the form of reports and journal articles. We weight loss professionals wait for these journals with the same level of excitement that most people feel when they are waiting for their EBAY purchases to arrive.  As a member of both the scientific and the participant sides of this study, I fill out the surveys and get the results. When the studies are released, I am particularly excited to see how my answers stack up. It turns out that, according to the latest weight loss registry report, these weight loss “experts” (you know, the ones that actually lost weight) don’t watch that much TV. As it so happens, these folks spend a lot more time living than they do watching life on a small screen. In most cases, the life they live makes a more exciting story than those they are missing on TV. These same people also have managed to limit their addiction to the internet. I guess these people are so busy “living” that they don’t have time to waste surfing EBAY for exercise equipment they will never use.