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Weight Loss Seminar Q & A

January 27th, 2008 | by Marcus Smith |

A few months ago I held a seminar on losing weight and keeping it off. Originally, the audience was supposed to be 10-15 members. I don’t know what happened in between my announcement and the actual event but nearly 40 people showed up to hear what I had to say about losing weight. I designed the session to be an interactive group activity in which I could tell my story, entertain, and teach at the same time.

After the session was over I opened the floor for questions. There were some good questions raised so I decided to post the questions and my answers here on my blog.

Enjoy!

How long have you been working out?

I worked out a few times on and off before I got serious about it. I’d have to say that I took a stab at it 2 or 3 times before it finally became a permanent part of my life in August of 2005.

What motivated you to start working out?

The mirror was all I needed. Since the first time I saw a set of chiseled, oiled up, perfectly defined abs on TV I’ve wanted a set. So like 99% of the people in the gym my original motivation was to have a set of six pack abs to display.

You said you did things wrong for a year before getting things right. What did you do wrong and how did you turn that around?

Eating right and engaging myself in cardio were not priorities when I started. I was thoroughly convinced that if I lifted enough weights I would eventually lose weight and reveal the body I’d always wanted. For a little over a year I saw my weight go up and stand still, go up and stand still, go up and still. I never EVER saw it go down.

These results began to annoy and frustrate me. It’s very frustrating to feel like you’re wasting your time (especially a year).

I turned it around by first owning up to the fact that I wasn’t doing everything right. After that I began bringing high quality snacks to work and implementing cardio. The rest is history my friend.

I want to make my body over for the school reunion. I’m currently at 240 lbs. Can I lose 30 lbs in the next 2 months?

You definitely can but I wouldn’t encourage it. The odds against you losing that kind of weight and keeping it off long term are low. You would have to engage in some very risky activity that I’m sure you wouldn’t want to continue after that reunion.

My advice would be to aim for 1.5 lbs-2 lbs per week for the next 2 months. I’d also advise you to create a long term goal. Life does continue after the reunion

You said there are certain exercises that you could give a beginner but you aren’t likely to. What are they and why is that?

I’ll use one of my favorites as an example. I’m a big fan of the deadlift. I use it in the majority of the workout programs I make for myself because it’s a great total body exercise. It’s very tiring and exhausting when done right so the benefits are huge.

However, it’s one of those exercises that I consider to be for advanced lifters. Most beginning lifters won’t really know what it is and the lower back pain that results the first time can be enough to keep people away from the gym altogether. I’m not trying to scare anyone off that’s why I normally steer clear of those at the beginning.

There are advertisements around here for a “no sweat” workout. What’s your opinion of that?

I think its offensive to offer people a watered down version of what they need to get results. You just aren’t going to see noticeable results from a workout that requires no exertion.

That’s almost like saying you can generate income without providing value to your customers. It’s just not truthful.

I know I don’t eat very healthy right now. How do you recommend I begin to change my habits for the better?

The easiest and most overlooked thing you can do is create a list of healthy snacks that you enjoy eating. Make a list, buy them, and have them available in your work environment as well as at home. Grab a healthy snack 2-4 times throughout the day to keep your metabolism revving.

It’s one of the easiest and most efficient things you can do to get started.

I have no problem starting a program but I can’t seem to stick it out. What are your suggestions for sticking with it?
The answer to that question begins and ends with you. What’s your motivation for working out?

I’ve found that people who have short term or no goals at all often drop their program with ease. If you’re doing it just for the sake of doing it then it probably won’t last. If you’re doing it for someone else then it probably won’t last.

Your motivation for working out has to be tied into long term fitness or general wellness goals that you have for yourself. Otherwise you’ll find yourself in and out of the gym all the time. That’s no good.

My spouse isn’t very supportive of me going to the gym. Is there anything I can do to change him?

Tell him you’re changing your life for the better. Losing weight will make you happier, more energetic, more engaging, and it will make his friends even more jealous than they are now .

If that doesn’t change his mind then I wouldn’t worry about it. I understand that he’s your spouse but at some point you have to do what’s best for you. Don’t let his lack of enthusiasm hold you back because in the end it’s not his body it’s yours.

I heard somewhere that losing weight makes your penis bigger. Can you comment on that?

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