Fueling Your Strength

Dieting is a multibillion-dollar industry in the United States. Every diet claims to be the answer to your fat-loss prayers. Why is it, then, that in the United States obesity trends have been rising dramatically since 1985? If any particular diet were successful, then we would expect to see segments of the population who were resistant to weight gain. Instead, we find that the entire country has gotten fatter. The fattening of America, and other developed countries for that matter, is multi factorial. In addition to silly fad diets, a big reason is a significant reduction in physical activity patterns. As our country has become more technologically advanced, our activity levels have dropped substantially. Findings from the National Weight Control Registry indicate that a combination of diet and exercise yields the best results for people trying to lose weight and keep it off.

Believe it or not, 95 to 98 percent of all diets fail. This means that all but 2 to 5 of every 100 people dieting will eventually regain the weight they lose. You may already have experienced such a reversion, or you may in the future. In almost every case, though, simple mistakes cause diets to fail. We all know someone who picked up a book, followed the diet, and lost weight. We also know other people who failed miserably while trying the same diet. It may seem logical that if a diet worked for your friend, it should work for you- It's on the bestseller list and everyone is doing it, so it's got to be right. But copying your friend's diet doesn't take into account your individual needs. Maybe you have a sedentary job, whereas she is on her feet all day. What if she has high cholesterol and you have high blood sugar? To avoid wasting time and to maximize the amount of progress you make, the rules are simple: Get a medical checkup, take objective measurements, monitor yourself, and follow up and adjust when necessary. You can maximize the positive effects of a strength-training program with a smart and individualized nutrition plan.

Start With a Physical

Measure and Monitor

Make Adjustments

Individualize Your Nutrition Plan

Eat Right for Training