Quick tip: This is the time of year when grocery stores put ‘health’ and ‘diet’ foods on display. Before you reach for that box of ‘health bars’ or ‘100 calorie packs’ take a moment to actually read the nutrition label. Many of these items aren’t healthy at all. They are simply cleverly disguised junk food that will actually promote weight gain rather than weight loss. Stick with items that are low in sugar and fat, and eat fresh produce often.
Stay focused
Sarai Jones
So did you check out the new season of biggest loser this week?
It is a real wake up call that the obesity epidemic is getting out of hand. If you watched the show you know that they have the biggest man and women ever to be on the show. Nearly 400lbs for him and about 370lbs for her.
Wow! I know it’s a show filled with very large people but this season is really like no other!
I was thinking about how and why this is happening to us Americans and one thing that instantly jumped to mind is portion sizes.
Over the past few decades, portion sizes of everything from muffins to sandwiches have grown considerably. From 1977 to 1997, hamburgers expanded by 23%; a plate of Mexican food got 27%
bigger (see above picture); soft drinks increased by 52%; snacks (potato chips, pretzels, crackers) grew 60%.
It’s no wonder that season after season a major TV network can find plenty of severely overweight people to fill its show and "entertain" us.
Take a look at these examples of how much our portion sizes have changed.
This is getting ridiculous!
Well it all stops here. Did you know that just by reducing your portions of the exact same foods you eat now you could begin to lose massive amounts of weight? It’s true. Now think of what will happen when you start making healthier choices as well.
Here are some tips to get you started in the right direction:
The Reality:
You are going to be eating less so don’t be surprised if you feel a little hungry in the beginning. This will pass. Try drinking more water and loading up on fiber filled veggies to help you feel more full until your body adjust.
Start using these tips today. Let’s keep you off the biggest loser!
Stay focused
Sarai D. Jones
So another new year is upon us. Untold numbers of people are "resolving" to win the battle of the bulge this year.
Some people are actually laying out a solid plan based on exercise and nutrition.
Others are going to go on yet another fad diet.
Even worse, lots and lots of soon to be disheartened folks will be turning to the latest miracle pill they’ve seen on TV or the Internet.
It’s sad really.
The marketing for these pills gets cranked up to full blast now that it’s January. These far less than reputable companies know how desperate people are. And they certainly know how much greater that desperation becomes in January.
Look, you and I know better. We know that the only way you’re going to Kung Fu that fat off your belly, butt, hips and thighs is to eat right and exercise.
Know what else is sad?
Once people come to grips with the fact they’ve been ripped off over and over by these "miracle" diet pill companies, oftentimes they’ll refuse to listen to reason about nutritional products that have actual benefits.
For instance, did you know that Essential Fatty Acid products help promote fat loss through the stabilization of blood sugar levels?
And that they may also help regulate mood, improve heart health and decrease joint pain?
If people are looking for a pill to take – one that is actually based on research – they should strongly consider adding an Essential Fatty Acids product to their diet.
I’m asked all the time what I use and it’s Prograde’s EFA Icon (you can read more about it here: Prograde Icon
Again, I know you’re to smart to fall for the gimmicks, but if you know of anyone trying a diet pill this January, please tell them to get real. They’ll be better off for it.
Stay focused,
Sarai Jones
PS – Again, if you’re looking to add a great Essential Fatty Acid product to your diet be sure to check out Prograde’s EFA Icon. It’s the best out there. Prograde Icon
"Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: ‘What! You,
too? Thought I was the only one.’” (C.S. Lewis)
Are you ready to start eating healthier, maybe lose a few pounds, or sculpt some sexy lean muscle —it’s good to find a fitness friend, maybe even several! Experts say sharing your goals with others is vital to achieving them.
But you can’t just pick anyone, your choices also play a huge part on whether your fitness buddies will help or hinder you. Keep these tips in mind:
Avoid the crabs- We’ve all come across these people in our lives, the ones that would rather pull us down with them than see us succeed. The ones who have the habit of belittling or ridiculing the goals of others. Stay away! Once you realize that someone is a negative energy on you avoid discussing your personal goals and trials with them. No good will come from it.
Don’t expect one fitness buddy to your all-in-one- You may have one friend that has every calorie chart memorized and every fat gram accounted for. Use her as your buddy to help you keep your eating in check. Is another friend of yours a workout fiend? They are probably your best pick as an exercise motivator. Spreading out your support system will keep any one of your friends from feeling like they took on a second job! But remember you can’t just take, take, take. Make sure you are giving back to your fitness buddies as well.
Look Outside Your Normal Circle Of Friends – Can’t think of anyone in your life that currently fits the bill as a fitness buddy? There are many online health/weight loss related forums, chat rooms and social communities that are very beneficial for maintaining your motivation. For in person support, consider joining an exercise class like an outdoor fitness boot camp. Not only will being apart of a class hold you accountable to a schedule and give you nutritional guidance, it also instantly gives you several fitness buddies who have the same goals you do.
If you are in the Elk Grove or Livermore, Ca area and want to see what happens when social support, professional guidance and booty kicking workouts come together, come check out my boot camps
Achieving your goals takes daily attention. Letting others know what you working towards takes courage and also hold you accountable to someone else. It is a very powerful step that should not be overlooked. Once you take that step, not only are you more likely to follow though on your goals, but you’ll also have a good time with your fitness buddies as you do it together!
Stay focused
Sarai Jones
Booty Boot Camp
We ran, we biked, we prayed, we ran some more, we cursed whoever thought of signing us all up for this ;), but in the end we all felt like WARRIORS!
Today, Saturday January 3rd, 12 of my boot camp ladies and myself became duathletes!
Whew! It was crazy tough and awesome!
Although we had been practicing together over our long holiday break, race day threw a few curves at us that we didn’t expect. Like the fact that the run was a trail run, not the flat paved roads we’d been practicing on.
We single tracked it 2 miles with 300 other people through sand, dirt, puddles, horse patties (gross) and hills that felt like mountains!
The 7 mile bike ride was next and although it was on a paved course, it had WAY more ups and downs than we anticipated. We all needed a crash course in gear shifting for that roller coaster ride. Ultimately some of the boot campers decided it would be faster to run their bike up the hills than to ride (next time we’ll practice that gear thing a little more).
The conclusion was another go round on that 2 mile trail run, only this time we all had to do it with a pair of legs that felt like rubber (this is where the cursing whoever talked us into this came in). There was no stopping now however and we all huffed and puffed and fell through across the finish line.
Mission accomplished!
All of the boot campers are at various stages of fitness. One of the participants had only been a member of boot camp for two weeks. Another camper has been in camp since March of ’08 and everyone else fell
somewhere in between.
Most of us beat the personal finish times we set for ourselves. But all of us felt like we had now raised the bar on what our bodies can do.
It’s funny, somewhere right in the middle of the whole thing you ask yourself why you ever decided to do this. But by the end your asking the organizers when the next one is! We all plan on returning in April to tackle the challenge again and hopefully knock some minutes off our time.
If you live in Elk grove or Livermore we’d love to have you on team Booty Boot Camp.
I’ll be your biggest cheer leader!
Stay focused
Sarai D. Jones
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.
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!
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………..
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
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…………
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 JonesThen: 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
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.
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?
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
This is a great snack or even a nice light breakfast.
Come on, even you can do this 🙂
Enjoy………..
This simple recipe makes a fast, healthy snack. The fresh pear, non-fat ricotta cheese and natural honey blend with great flavor and texture. It is also tasty with cracked black pepper instead of honey. Servings: 1
Here’s what you need…
Nutritional Analysis: One serving equals: 197 calories, 0g fat, 34g carbohydrate, 5g fiber, and 6g protein.
