Scott’s long term goal: Ripped 6 pack abs by April 1st (no joke)

I reached all my daily goals yesterday except for taking the 10 minutes to relax and focus on taking deep breaths. I can’t believe that I actually forgot to do that. I should have read my daily goals before I went to bed.

Scott’s goals for the day: I’ll be riding the stationary bike while on a conference call and I will follow that up with a 10 minute quickie workout.

Once again I will focus on natural foods, but my biggest nutrition goal is to not have any beer after my hockey game tonight. I got into a bad habit with that this season and it’s time to eliminate it and replace it with a better habit.

Hold me accountable to these goals and give me heck for not following through with my daily goal from yesterday of focusing on deep relaxing breaths.

OK, now it’s your turn!

Linett, how was your fitness class? Did you drink 5 glasses of water?

Meredith, did you stay off the computer after 3pm? Did you make it to the store to buy healthy breakfast and snack foods?

Cat, did you follow the eating plan? Did you start your food journal?

Vicki, did you stick with the nutrition plan? Did you manage stress better?

Marylin, did you stick to your eating? Did you take care of all 4 mini workouts? Did you drink 4 liters of water? Did you go to bed on time? Did you do yoga/meditation before bed and have a restful sleep?

Marc, did you stay under 1800 calories? Did you run yesterday?

Pattie, did you strength training in the am, run for 45-60 minutes, follow the food guide, use a food journal, call your ‘health coach’ to sign in, and weigh in for the BL?

Vania, did you Exercise drink 8 glasses of water, have 4 or 5 healthy meals, keep your nutrition in accordance to your goals, keep a calorie deficit whether it be by eating less or exercising more, prepare foods in advance, get up at 6 am, and write down all your progress in your diary?

Gail, did you add 40 minutes of cardio after each weight session, walk 60 minutes along the foreshore in the evening, not consume alcohol, consume between 1000-1200 calories, drink 3 litres of water, do the 100 squat challenge?

Jesse, did you workout and drink water?

Cheryl, did you avoid binge eating yesterday?

Alright, let me hear from you. Share your comments in the box below.

Keeping It Real,

Scott Tousignant

Were you one of those rare people who actually visualized what you are going to look like when you achieve your goal? What helped you create that vision? Do you have an old picture of a leaner and healthier version of yourself or are you relying on magazine covers to help you visualize the new flat tummy that you are going to sculpt?

Speaking of magazine covers… how often do you look to them for motivation and inspiration? It’s hard not to notice them when you are in the checkout aisle at your local grocery store. I have to admit that I get a quick motivational boost when I see these fitness magazines while the cashier is scanning my food. There was even a time when I put back a tub of ice cream at the check out aisle because a magazine cover inspired me

How often do you use these fitness cover models as a model for what you are aiming for with your fat loss goals?

OK, so I just through a whole bunch of questions at you. I hope that you aren’t feeling overwhelmed. There is a purpose to it all and here’s the main one…

When setting your fat loss goals and envisioning yourself in a vibrant, healthy, energetic body it’s important to visualize the BEST YOU That YOU Can Be!

Comparing yourself to cover models is simply not fair unless you plan on making a career out of it yourself and you don’t mind seeing yourself airbrushed and Photoshopped.

I’m all cool with looking at a picture in a fitness magazine to spark that inspiration to make a change in your life or pull yourself out of a lazy day and get your butt working out.

…But I want the best eye popping abs that I Can Have not what someone else can achieve.

I can’t stand the phrase “Realistic Goals“. I find that the phrase tends to limit what’s really possible. But if your goal is to be the best you that you can be, burn that stubborn belly fat to reveal a flatter tummy, and look great in a bathing suit or evening gown, you really shouldn’t be looking at these cover models physiques as something to aim for.

Could you achieve a body like that if you really busted your butt off? It’s possible. Could you maintain it for life? Maybe.

Even though I don’t like the phrase ‘realistic goals’, here’s why I say that this may not be a realistic goal for you… Those cover models don’t even look exactly as the pictures are showing. They’ve been airbrushed and who knows what else.

Did you ever see that Dove commercial of a model getting Photoshopped prior to having her picture up on a billboard? Check it out…

Many women may see that billboard and wish they had that models cheeks or lips… Those cheeks and lips aren’t even that models!

That’s my point. Many pictures aren’t even REAL! The Muscle and Fitness cover image that I have at the top of this post features Kim and Gunter. They are one of the most fit couples out there. They look outstanding without being airbrushed. But I guarantee there’s been some work done to those photos.

Not to mention that there was perfect lighting conditions and an entire makeup crew to get them looking perfect. You would be blown away by how much make up is applied to people before stepping in front of the camera. I had a makeup crew during the recording of parts of The Change Series movie. I was caked with makeup… after all, my head is pretty shiny

Plus, these models go through some serious training to look as great as they can for a photo shoot. And, they don’t look like that all year long.

When I interviewed Clark Bartram, one of the most recognized fitness models out there, for the Unstoppable Fat Loss program even he said people should not be trying to look like his magazine cover pictures. It’s his job to be in absolutely outstanding shape, but if you are an engineer, a hair stylist, or a nurse you don’t need to be ridiculously ripped.

So why should you try to visualize yourself with that body? Does it make sense to aim for those super elite high standards? Do you think it may set you up for frustration and disappointment? What kind of emotions will it stir up in you?

Now tell me… what’s the BEST YOU look like? How does she/he feel? What challenges has this best you overcome to become this incredible person that you always knew you had inside of you? What does the future look like for this BEST YOU? What opportunities have presented themselves to you? What new goals will this best you be aiming for now that you realize you are capable of greatness?

I would love to hear your thoughts and opinions. What I have shared are my own personal thoughts and it’s quite alright if yours are different. Take a moment and share them. Let’s have a fun discussion on this topic.

I appreciate YOU!

Keeping It Real,

Scott Tousignant

Long duration cardio does have it’s place in an active and healthy lifestyle and it certainly does contribute to an effective fat loss program. But when it comes to seriously boosting your metabolism it’s the shorter, more intense, interval type cardio combined with resistance exercises that really does the trick.

But the success of any fat loss program all boils down to compliance… Sticking with it and following through for the long term. I have found that the best way to comply with a fat loss program is to add the ‘FUN’ element to it. If you do something that you enjoy it will be easier to stick with.

One of the ways that I like to make at home cardio fun is by turning it into a challenge. Here’s one fun at home cardio session that presents a fun challenge as well…

Fun At Home Cardio Challenge

I absolutely love it when I see one of my blog readers take me up on a challenge and share how the experience went for them. The video below is by a gentleman who goes by the name “Fat Old Man”.

As he states in the video, “this workout is more difficult than it looks”. I like to hear that because at first glance some people may brush off one of my home workout videos because they’re not convinced about the impact that it will have. That’s why I encourage you to at least perform the workout once and see how it feels.

Video Response To 100 Rep Squat Challenge

The 100 rep squat is just one way to make at home cardio fun. There are so many different ways that you can progress. You can begin by using just your own body weight and then use some light dumbbells and progress with the weight each week. You can decrease the rest period and try to complete the workout faster than you did the previous week. Or you can do a combination of the two.

Another way that you can create a fun at home cardio challenge with squats is to see how many reps you can do in 10 minutes. Again, you can progress by increasing the weight a bit each week, or increasing the number of reps that you are able to do in 10 minutes by decreasing your rest periods.

Give the 100 Rep Squat at home cardio session a try. Time yourself and see how quickly you can complete it while still using proper form. During the next three weeks I’m expecting you to progress in one way or another.

Keep me posted on your progress and share your experience with the rest of us here by commenting in the box below.

You ROCK!

Scott Tousignant

5) You believe in striving for perfection

4) You love to verbally abuse yourself with phrases such as, “You’re such a failure. I hate myself for always sabotaging my goals.”

3) You believe that chocolate is evil and will go directly to your hips the second it touches your lips.

2) You get a high from the self torture that you go through as you watch everyone else eat desert while you refuse.

1) You believe that you must never eat junk food as a punishment for bad behavior
in a previous lifetime.

I hope that you realized I was joking before you got to #1.

Bottom line, you should never feel guilty for eating the foods that you enjoy even if they are not a healthy option.

I certainly don’t feel guilty about eating an entire chocolate bunny yesterday. In fact I look better today than I did two days ago.

Believe it or not cheating on your diet actually helps you reach your goals. It’s one of the best things that you can do.

Don’t believe me?

You need to check out the two case studies here… The Cheat To Lose Diet

If it wasn’t for planning chocolate and pizza into my nutrition plan I would be a basket case and there’s no way that I would have 6 pack abs without these little indulgences.

Promise me that you’ll never feel guilty again after eating junk food. No good ever comes from these feelings of guilt.

It’s time to look at some of our favorite foods in a whole new light.

I love case studies and I especially love success stories from real people who didn’t go to extreme measures in order to achieve their goals.

Check it out for yourself here… The Cheat To Lose Diet

Scott Tousignant, BHK, CFC

Unstoppable Fat Loss Member Loses 57 Pounds

The reward during your fat loss journey is not simply losing belly fat. The reward is not even having a flatter stomach. The real reward is the impact that losing belly fat has on your life. Check out the smile on Traian’s face as we stand in front of the St. Maarten welcome sign.

I wish that I could have bottled up all of Traian’s energy during this cruise and allow you to experience it for yourself even for just a moment. Without a doubt Traian was the most energetic person on the dance floor in the Carnival Cruise club at night. Every time that I was around him he had a great big smile on his face. I’m certain that if Traian was on this cruise 4 months ago when he weighed 57 pounds more, his experience on the dance floor would have been much different, if he even stepped foot on the dance floor at all.

Here’s a picture of Traian prior to his success with the Unstoppable Fat Loss program. He mentions in the video above how uncomfortable it was for him to even bend over to tie his shoes. He certainly doesn’t have to worry about that anymore now that he is sporting a great six pack.

One of the greatest things to witness during our time together on the cruise was seeing how proud Traian was about showing off his new body. I’m personally not one to go prancing around in a Speedo, but Traian was wearing one on all the beaches with great pride.

The boost in confidence that you experience from achieving your fat loss goals is highly under rated and under valued. If you are suffering from low self esteem and are lacking confidence, I am certain that you are missing out on the amazing and wonderful opportunities that life presents to you each and every day.

The first step in driving toward your goals and skyrocketing your confidence is to first acknowledge that you deserve the best that life has to offer. Traian met some incredible people during this cruise. He experienced the Caribbean to it’s absolute fullest. He danced like no one was watching. He deserved all of this.

It’s moments like this that make me proud of the work that I do. It’s the greatest reward that I could ever ask for. Traian opened up and shared his goals and visions with me. He shared his life values and beliefs. For this I am eternally grateful.

I learned a lot from Traian in the short time that I spent with him. I now consider him a true friend and recognize him as an incredible man who is going to impact the lives of many people in a wonderful and positive way.

If you would like to live the Unstoppable Lifestyle and live life to the fullest, I encourage you to take action as Traian has and apply the strategies within the Unstoppable Fat Loss program.

Unstoppable Fat Loss has a built in 21 day transformation contest that is judged on your change in mindset, motivation, and the amount of action that you take toward achieving your goals. Every month I award over $600 in prizes to the winner of this contest.

The latest winners, which I am announcing right now on this blog are Shiraz and Cat. I’ll be in touch through email to award you with your prize package.

The next 21 day challenge begins on Feb 2nd so get on board today and start digging into the powerful strategies in the Unstoppable Fat Loss program. Visit Unstoppable Fat Loss today and see some of the powerful strategies in action and how many of the Unstoppable Fat Loss members are applying them each and every day.

I look forward to being a part of your fat loss journey and sharing in fun experiences with you as I recently have with Traian and several other Unstoppable Fat Loss members.

Empower Your Mind… and Your Body Will Follow!

Scott Tousignant, BHK, CFC

Do you find you are mostly on your own when it comes to eating healthy and having intentions of losing weight? Is your partner overweight, yet doing nothing about it? Are you the only one in your household enjoying large salads, nuts, and fresh fruit and berries?

What if you and your partner BOTH decided to get in the best shape you possibly can in 2009? I mean, NO EXCUSES. What if you both decided to commit to a workout plan as a couple? You could hold each other accountable. You would be a team. You would be eating the same foods. You would no longer feel that you are ‘denying’ yourself anything because you are both eating the same meal. You would not have to feel tempted by the other foods in the house because they are not there! You could surround yourself with only healthy foods. You would feel that connection with your partner because you are both going after the same goal. Doesn’t this sound like a fantastic beginning to the New Year? How about the beginning of a new and exciting chapter in your life?

I feel so fortunate that Scott, my husband, is a health nut. We are both always encouraging each other to workout and eat well. We have each others best interests in mind. It is so much easier to think and act like a fitness minded person when you live in the same household as one. Fitness becomes your identity. It’s just a wonderful way to live versus trying to reach your health goals on your own. It’s like a constant battle field when other people in your home are not on your team. The goal in mind seems so much more out of reach. The fun of it is missing. Eating well seems more challenging because your intentions are different than everyone else’s.

I guarantee you that your journey towards healthy living will be that much more successful with your partner ‘on board’ with you. So you’ve got some thinking to do now:

1. How do I get my partner to want to get fit with me? Ultimately this will need to be their choice. However you can give them the reasons why you feel it would beneficial to you as a couple to get fit together.

2. Do you have a program you can both follow?

3. When will you do your cardio?

4. Do you have a nutrition program to follow?

I hope that I am getting you to really think about your health and fitness goals for 2009. It is almost here!

“What You Believe, You Can Achieve.”

Cheers to health,

Angie
ISSA – C.P.T., B.Ed.

Then there is your health. You know that you should be exercising. You know that it will make you feel better. You know that you’ve put on some extra pounds and with the holidays fast approaching, you don’t want to put on any more weight. You’re stress out because you feel you cannot meet all of the above demands…so how can you ever find the time to workout?

So what am I talking about – quality time and a workout at the same time? Huh?? Think about this. How much quality time do you and your partner really have in a day? Do you even make the time to sit, without interruption, and just talk about your day? Did you know that studies have revealed that married couples ON AVERAGE only talk 7 minutes a day? Wow. I was shocked. I mean, no wonder the divorce rate is so high! Some couples are only communicating an average of 10 minutes A WEEK!

Scott and I have found a wonderful way to spend some quality time together and get healthier at the same time. We work out together! I’m telling you, it’s been a huge success in our marriage. I mean we are totally bonding and getting an awesome workout in at the same time! We have discovered that this is our 30 minutes of uninterrupted time together. We are able to share the events of our day, talk about the kids, share our goals, and our passions. It’s been such a great trip.

Instead of us “tag-teaming” each other as we leave separately for our workouts…we now plan to do this together. There is no resentment, as in the past, when one of us was walking out on the other, leaving them with the dishes and two screaming kids. It’s a team approach. You are both on the same team now.

What works for us is to workout when the kids are in bed, either in the A.M. or after they are asleep at night. We workout from our home with a set of free weights, stability balls, and medicine balls. This is all you need!

So if you are like us and feel that working out will take away from your time with your children and/or spouse…there is a solution. Work out together. If your children do happen to be awake and around you, possibly they can get their exercise jumping around to a kid exercise video, or be kept busy with a craft. Remember all you need is about a half hour to get in an awesome weight training session.

I also want to stress that when I do get in my workout, I am a much more relaxed, stress-free, and patient mom. So you may feel that you are taking time away from the kids, but in reality you are giving them the gift of a parent that is happy and energized. What kind of parent will be able to offer more quality time to their kids? A tired, unenthusiastic, and depressed parent or one that is smiling, care-free, and energized?

I just feel so energized all day and I love the feeling of getting toned! Better yet, you are getting toned together and this will do wonders for your relationship!

Cheers to health,

Angie
ISSA – C.P.T.

When I think of the word holiday, I think of family, friends, and lots of yummy foods. The majority of people think, “Oh, I’ll eat my heart out over the next few weeks, and then I’ll start eating well in the New Year.” I always think, “Why wait? Why not start right now?”

Having partner support will only skyrocket your fat loss success. With your partner onboard with you, you will have the added benefit of someone that understands what you are going through. You can share your goals with each other. You can be that source of inspiration when one of you needs the extra boost to stay focused. You will share that many more like-minded activities that can only bring you closer together.

Over the holidays Scott and I plan to help each other stay focused on our fitness goals in several ways that I want to share with you:

1. Before bed, we will go over our ‘action steps’ for the following day. These are the 2 or 3 things that you want to accomplish the next day. For example, do cardio in the A.M., eat two meals with carbs, lift weights in the evening. You want to be as specific as you can with these action steps.

2. We will plan to do our cardio component in the A.M. before the kids wake up.

3. The day of our holiday meal, we will ask each other what we will choose to eat and not eat.

4. We will remind each other NOT to go up for seconds.

5. Remind each other to choose 1 – 2 of our favorite desserts.

6. We will go for a walk after our meal.

7. Have a contest. The person who loses a pound or maintains their weight over the holidays is the winner and is rewarded by the other partner.

There is absolutely no rhyme or reason why you should have the attitude of eating your heart out over the holidays and then going all hard core in January. People that do this usually only last for MAYBE two weeks and their enthusiasm drops right off. It’s like they get so revved up because of all the hype of it being a ‘New Year’ yet they really have no plan to keep their enthusiasm sustained.

Why not choose the attitude to take the small steps that you can RIGHT NOW to live a healthy lifestyle and keep on taking those steps each and every day. Just because it’s almost 2009 and the beginning of a New Year, does not mean that you will suddenly have more motivation, or that sticking to an exercise program will be any easier. Your motivation is based on YOU, and your beliefs regarding your role in your fat loss journey. What can you do to keep your motivation and enthusiasm strong? Start that journey today and keep jabbing at it each and every day.

Will you choose to be UNSTOPPABLE TODAY?

Cheers to health,

Angie
ISSA – C.P.T., B.Ed.

If you are joining us live there is a chat box where you can have a back and forth conversation with us. I’m really interested to see what you think about the live video broadcast and if you find it any more helpful than webcasts or the traditional teleseminars that you may have been a part of.

The thing that I like about the video broadcast is that I can demonstrate an exercise or movement and you can visually see it, rather than me trying to explain it over the phone.

We are really looking forward to answering your questions tonight and plan on doing many more of these live video broadcasts to deliver the best possible quality information to you.

Have an absolutely amazing day!

Scott Tousignant

So what did you think of that experience? Pretty cool interaction there eh? Would you like to see more videos like this?

I’d love to hear from you. Share your thoughts in the comment box below.

Empower Your Mind… and Your Body Will Follow

Scott Tousignant