The New Year’s Resolution Trap

 

New Year’s day…it never fails to evoke feelings of hope and renewal, but is it really a trap?

You’ve been handed a proverbial clean slate – another chance to shrug off your bad habits and reach for your dreams.

In an attempt to bottle that New Year’s vigor, you’ll make a few New Year’s Resolutions. But before you put pen to paper, you ought to know this:

It has been reported that 92 % of all New Year’s Resolutions end in failure.

That means that less than 1 out of every 10 people will successfully accomplish their resolutions in 2009.

Ouch – those statistics are brutal. Who in their right mind would take the time to make resolutions when failure is that imminent?

As your trusted source for fitness advice, I’d like to coach you though this sticky situation. Yes, most people fail to achieve their New Year’s Resolutions. However, I am going to clue you in on what the 92% do wrong and teach you what the 8% who succeed do right.

First up, the 92% who failed. These well meaning folks shared a common mistake that put the nail in their coffin before they’d even begun.

They bit off more than they could chew.

In all the excitement of becoming a better person and changing their life in the New Year they made the crucial mistake of committing to do too much. But reality set in, a few weeks or even days into their reformed life, and they gave up.

The 92% gave themselves an easy way out. They approached their resolution with an ‘all or nothing’ attitude. Once the ‘all’ became too tough they opted for ‘nothing’. And just like that another resolution ended in failure – end of story.

Now let’s examine the 8% who succeed with their resolutions year after year. The key to their success is quite simple (you may have even guessed it by now).

They set realistic goals.

I’ll repeat that… they set REALISTIC goals.

  • Instead of resolving to lose 50 pounds by June, they commit to exercise 3-4 times each week.
  • Instead of resolving to give up all carbs, they commit to bring healthy snacks to work instead eating from the vending machine.
  • Instead of resolving to drop 3 sizes in 3 months, they commit to losing 1 pound each week until they reach their desired size.
  • Instead of resolving to never eat out again, they commit to eating healthy all week and rewarding themselves with one meal out on the weekends.

Did you see the difference?

If you want your resolution to stick then think of something simple and realistic. Sure, it certainly won’t sound as cool as the resolutions that the 92% make – but they aren’t going to keep theirs anyway.

Remember that the whole point of making a New Year’s Resolution is to become a healthier, happier and more successful person. Small changes done consistently will make a big difference.

If your New Year’s Resolution has to do with losing weight and getting into great shape (and whose isn’t?) then guarantee your success by working with a fitness expert who can show you the ropes and guide you to success.

I’d love to team up with you – together we will transform your body in 2009!

Call or email to get started today. Booty Boot Camp begins January 5th!

Sugar, Sugar, Sugar….. Stop Already!

 

Ok, so I know that that is way easier said than done.

I personally have dealt with a seriously over active sweet tooth most of my life. So much in fact that I weighed nearly 200lbs not too long ago.

So while you really do need to limit added sugar to a small percentage of your daily caloric intake, I know that for most of us women, eliminating it 100% is not happening.

What worked for me and has worked for many of my boot camp clients is to retrain your sweet tooth. I have some ideas for you, read on………..

  • Eat regularly – When you allow yourself to get so hungry that everything looks like the best -pizza, sandwich, donut – you’ve ever seen, there’s no way you are not going to be able to resist that candy bar or cookie that is right in front of you when you’re starving! Also by eating at regular intervals you will keep your blood sugar in check and also help reduce the chance of binge eating.
  • Limit sweets to after your meal -I know to most of you this is a duh thing, but I grew up in a house where dessert was served with dinner! (sorry to rat you out mama) so I thought this was normal. I am happy to say my family has since changed their ways. The point is however, if your tummy is already filled up with good solid food the chances that you will over indulge in sweets is greatly reduced.
  • Curb your cravings with a mini portion – When you just gotta have that treat, try a reduced size of what you want. Instead of a Hershey bar, have a Hershey kiss. It will most likely knock the edge off of the craving allowing you to get control over it without doing damage to your healthy habits. You can also try sharing your dessert with your dinner companions.
  • Un-train your internal sugar alarm clock – If everyday at 3:30pm you grab a cookie what are the chances that your body will begin to "need" that cookie at 3:30pm everyday. In doubt? How long do you go before you remember you need to drink your coffee or tea each morning. Sugar is addictive. If you train your body to expect it at the same time everyday, guess what? It will. Instead of giving in to your sugar craving see what might really be going on. Are you hungry? Are you stressed? Bored? Identify the real reason for your craving and distract yourself with something else. You’ll probably forget about it in less than 20 minutes.
  • Don’t eliminate sweets all together – Some of you may know my motto is "all or nothing gets you nothing" well in this case it’s the opposite. All or nothing will probably have you shoving every piece of chocolate and sugar filled goody in your mouth before weeks end! Yes, restraining too much can lead to binging. Enjoy your treats in moderation.

One of my favorites is the chocolate/peanut butter craver from Prograde. It’s all natural and organic with under 200 calories so I don’t feel guilty when I have one.

This is a battle, I know it firsthand. Don’t beat yourself up for not getting it perfect right off the bat, or ever. Keep working on it. I’ll be here to support you.

Stay focused

Sarai D. Jones

No Weight Loss Resolutions For Her!

 

Booty Boot Camp and one of my star clients, Monica are mentioned in the January issue of Sacramento magazine.

I am so proud of Monica and the true lifestyle change she has made.

Check it out…………

Elk grove boot camp

Four locals weigh in on how they successfully shed the pounds.

It’s January—and you know what that means. It’s resolution time.

Actually, make that revolution time.

For anyone who’s decided this is the year they’re going to lose weight and
get into shape—and we know you’re out there—this one’s for you. It’s a story
about four locals who’ve not only lost weight but kept it off, and done so
without magic pills or gimmicky fads. They’ve gone back to the basics: sensible
eating and regular exercise.

No Fat Flush, South Beach or Grapefruit diets for these folks. They’ve
learned that the only kind of plan that works is one they can follow for
life.

Monica Jones

Then: 165
Now: 145

When your sister-in-law is a fitness trainer who runs “booty boot camps,” you
probably can expect a friendly kick in the you-know-what every so
often.
That’s exactly what Monica Jones got from her sister-in-law, Sarai
Jones, fearless leader of said boot camps through Fit Bodies 2 Go in Elk Grove.
After Monica gave birth to her second child in the summer of 2007, she was
lugging around an extra 20 or 25 pounds that needed the boot.

The goal: to drop the weight by November, when her maternity leave would end.
“I wanted to go back to work with a new body,” says Jones, whose postpartum
poundage peaked at 165. She was aiming for 140—just a shade under her normal
145. (She’s 5-foot-5.)

So that August, with her sister-in-law at the ready, Jones’ battle with the
bulge began.

First order of business: a new way of eating. “Sarai gave me The
Eat-Clean Diet
book and asked me to read it before we started working out,”
says Jones, who lives in Sacramento. “She wanted me to get my mind-set in
place.” The book’s plan called for six small, balanced meals a day, each
hovering around the 300-calorie mark. Fish, veggies and whole grains became
staples; out went the cookies and the chips.

For the 29-year-old Jones, who always had “eaten pretty much everything I
wanted,” changing her eating habits was the greatest challenge of all—even
harder, she says, than working out.

But that, too, was difficult. Jones says she couldn’t even run around the
block before her sister-in-law kick-started her into action.

“I was a little intimidated,” she admits. But when Sarai showed up at her
house three days a week, it was fight or flight.

She fought.

Light workouts were soon replaced by vigorous ones. She walked. She ran. She
rode bikes. She did jumping jacks. She jumped rope. She weight-trained with
dumbbells. Sarai was “a great coach,” Jones says. “It helps to have that
accountability factor—to know someone is going to come and work out with
you.”

It also helped Jones to visualize herself waltzing back into work and having
her office mates go “wow.”

Did she make it? You bet she did.

“I got rid of a lot of clothes, went out shopping for some new ones and just
felt so much better about myself,” says Jones.

Since then, she’s gained back about 5 pounds. But she’s kept off 20 and is
happy with the way she looks.

Jones still struggles with the eating thing. “Sweets are my enemy,” she
confesses; chocolate is a particular weakness.

But she continues to work out three times a week, and you can probably guess
where. Yep. She goes to booty camp.

************************************************ To see the full Sacramento Bee article click here

If you are in Livermore or Elk Grove and would like to receive the same motivation, support and one of a kind workout that got Monica looking and feeling better than she ever has come check us out. Booty Boot Camp

Stay Focused

Sarai D. Jones

Comfort Food…Your Two-Sided Friend

 

This might offend some of you but it needs to be said………

It’s 3 days before Christmas and you’re gearing up for more celebrations…and piles of seasonal comfort food. If you don’t mind, I’d like to be totally candid with you today.

Sure, I could write you a ‘feel good’ article about cutting back a few calories and exercising a few minutes each day, but I’d rather be perfectly frank (and truly helpful).

Here’s the real deal: You abuse food.

That’s right. You’re overweight because you eat too much, and you eat too much because it brings immediate pleasure.

I am here to point out that this pleasure comes at high price…

The other side of comfort food: You’ve heard dishes being referred to as ‘comfort food’—some restaurants even have an entire section of their menu designated as comfort food. But comfort food is more than just a hearty dish.

  • It’s those extra calories that you eat to feed an emotional need rather than a nutritional need.
  • It’s excessively big portions that leave you stuffed.
  • It’s high calorie snacks.
  • It’s sugary treats.
  • It’s fried, cheese smothered appetizers.
  • It’s whatever you indulge in with mindless munching.

Could you relate to any of the above? Most of us tend to gravitate toward a particular form of comfort food. For many women it’s chocolate or other sugary treats. For men it often takes a saltier form.

Think of the last time you ate for pleasure rather than nourishment. Why’d you do it?

Out of Habit: Your body loves routine. If you always snack while watching television then you’d probably find it hard to relax without going through that munching motion. The good news is that once you break the cycle your body will quickly adapt to a healthier routine.

To Change Your Mood: Does the thought of a cupcake bring a smile to your lips? How about a large pizza to lift your mood? Pay attention to the emotions that trigger you to overeat—you may be surprised how often you use food to feel better.

Because Everyone’s Doing It: Who can resist comfort food when it’s offered among friends? Peer pressure doesn’t just apply to teenagers—it’s another reason to overeat. Remember that true friends will support your decision to refrain.

Can you remember how you felt after you last filled up on comfort food? If you’re honest, you’ll admit that the stuffed and bloated feeling was downright awful. So why do it?

Come on, where have your eating habits gotten you?

  • Into clothes that are a few sizes larger.
  • Drained and with less energy than ever before.
  • Plagued with health concerns and prescriptions.
  • Embarrassed and frustrated with your body.

Most people don’t realize it, but the battle to overcome your eating habits is decided by a single body part—and it’s not your mouth. (Your mouth is simply a puppet.)

It’s your brain. Once you’ve made up your mind, for better or for worse, you can bet that your body will obey your decision to the letter. You’ve proven it time and time again.

So make the decision to give up your unhealthy dependence on comfort food.

There is no better time than now.

Making a change is hard—that’s why I’m committed to being with you every step of the way. Call today to schedule trial of my Elk Grove Boot Camp, or if you’re in the bay, check out my Livermore Boot Camp.

You can end the abuse, once and for all.

I’m here to help

Stay focused

Sarai D. Jones

Booty Boot Camp

Coping With Emotional Eating

One challenge we often face when it comes to our fat loss progress is how to control our eating from an emotional standpoint. This can be a huge problem for a lot of women.

For most of us food is forever attached to emotion based on the environment we grew up in. Just by the way certain foods made us feel when we were young, we attached emotion to it long before it consciously became “comfort food” or a reward.

It’s only natural as we get older to extend that and use food as a coping mechanism for things we try and deal with.

So what classifies as emotional eating? [Read more…]

Should I Eat A Salad Or A Cheeseburger?

So as some of you may know I have started my Dress Size Reduction Diet today www.30dayjumpstart.com and as I look over my menus for the next few days I see there are lots of vegetables but no salads so far.
This caught my eye because usually as soon as you utter the word diet, salad usually follows.

But the truth is MOST salads you find at restaurants and fast-food joints are loaded with more fat and calories than a cheeseburger and fries. Really. In fact most of the time when I see someone eating one of those salads I wonder, did you really want that or did you really want a cheeseburger but settled on the “healthier” salad? [Read more…]