The Fat Loss Tip That Will Change Your Day

People often tell me how great they feel after a solid workout in which they pushed themselves harder than they ever have before. I wrote about this situation in my article "The True Beauty of Fat Loss". But there is still even more to it than learning something about yourself.

How many times have you heard someone say that they've "pushed themselves to the limits?"

I hear it all the time. But what are these "limits"? Are these things that have been created for us? Are these things that can be changed? Or are these things that we have set for ourselves?

Personally, I do not believe in limits. They are created by individuals who want to believe that they are giving 100% effort and cannot possibly do any more.

But does anyone really ever give 100% effort?

Truthfully, no one can ever say that they give 100% effort because as humans we cannot even comprehend what 100% effort is like. Think about it, have you ever done anything with an effort that you can honestly say you could not have pushed even just a little bit harder?

If Albert Einstein could only utilize a small portion of his brain power, it is not surprising that all humans leave so much potential untapped over the course of our lives. This potential can be used, but even with a tremendous effort most of it is untouchable by our current realized capabilities.

All this goes to show that there really are no limits to our efforts. We can always find a way to give a little more. We can always find a way to dig a bit deeper. The only limits that exist are the ones that we set for ourselves.

Think about your last workout. Think of a point where you could have pushed a bit harder and gotten a little more out of it. Now, there may be times when your workouts are more concerned with form than pushing as hard as you can. Whenever I am attempting a new exercise, I often concentrate solely on form for the first workout or two. I challenge myself with moderate resistance, but the real challenge is the new movement pattern. This does not mean that it is time to relax and not give as much effort as can be mustered. Rather, it is a time to concentrate all focus on the form of the exercise. A high level of focus and concentration on form, can lead to getting more out of each exercise and dramatic results down the road.

Taking this concept a step further, think of your entire day to this point. Did you have a perfect breakfast? Have you kept yourself hydrated at optimal levels at all times? Did you have perfect snacks?

All these things are a part of your fat loss routine. Heck, all of these things are a part of any health and fitness routine. And I am sure that you were not absolutely perfect on any of these things, let alone all of them.

This just goes to show you that there is always something that you can do better. There is always an area in which you can concentrate more effort to improve your fat loss potential. This means that the possibilities are endless. The limits do not exist. Just writing about this gets my juices flowing.

Sit and think for a minute of one thing that you could have improved about day to this point. Then, make a note that you will make the improvement for tomorrow, or the next time this situation will arise. Do this every single day. I guarantee you will always be able to find something if you really put your mind to it.

When it comes to your fat loss efforts, there are no limits. Do not set any for yourself.

10 Things to Watch for Fat Loss in 2008

Happy New Year!

Let's make 2008 a great year for fat loss.

Here's to a year where:

1)Hard work replaces the quick fix.

2)Effort replaces laziness.

3)Chicken breast, spinach, and water replace a Big Mac, fries, and a Coke.

4)The gym replaces the couch.

5)People treat the word "resolution" literally instead of as a buzzword.

6)The gym is more than a place of social gathering.

7)People stop walking and start running in intervals.

8)People stop doing 3 easy sets of 10 reps when they can really do twice that.

9)People stop beliving that fat loss can be easy.

10)The good fitness professionals take the forefront by coming together and getting stuff done!

2008: The year that will change the world of fat loss!

Working on Blogging

I'm evaluating a multi-media course on blogging from the folks at Simpleology. For a while, they're letting you snag it for free if you post about it on your blog.

It covers:

• The best blogging techniques.
• How to get traffic to your blog.
• How to turn your blog into money.

I'll let you know what I think once I've had a chance to check it out. Meanwhile, go grab yours while it's still free.

Merry Christmas!

I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. This is a difficult time of year for fat loss, but it still is possible.

That being said, don't be afraid to have a good time. Have a couple drinks, eat a little dessert, have some fun! Just don't go overboard.

This is one of the most special times of the year for a lot of people and I want you all to enjoy it. Spend some quality time with your family and stop worrying about fat loss for a while.

As long as your not too crazy, you'll get right back on track in a couple days.

Merry Christmas!

-Matt Maresca

The True Beauty of Fat Loss

Have you ever accomplished something difficult?

I'm sure you have, so how did it feel?

Pretty darn good, I bet.

Now, let me give you a hypothetical example. Suppose you were to run a race against someone with a broken leg. You, of course, win easily. However, you do not end up feeling very satisfied. This is because it was, in fact, very easy. You did not actually accomplish anything great at all. This was no thrill of victory. There was no satisfaction of achievement.

Suppose, on the other hand, you were to run a race against a former track star with two good legs. This would be a much more difficult match. If you were to go on and win this one, it would be a remarkable accomplishment. You would feel great. You would go and brag to all your friends. It would be something to not easily be forgotten.

If you play chess and beat a nine year-old just learning how to play, you would not feel much from the victory. On the other hand, if you were to beat a world champion, it would be an unforgettable experience.

My point is that the beauty of fat loss is that it can be a monumental achievement in your life. It can be an experience that you never forget. It can drive you to bigger and better things. It can make you grow as a person.

And it can do all this because fat loss is not easy. It is a challenge.

I want you to take this challenge that you have in front of you and embrace it. Take full advantage of the opportunity to find out a lot about yourself.

I don't want you to just dig deeper like all the other people who are "giving it 110%". I want you to dig where they are all digging and then dig even further. Get to that point where 99.9% of people stop pushing and go a little bit further. Go to the point where you would normally stop and then take another step.

That is called growth. I want you to grow.

Fat loss is not just about a better body and better health. It is about finding a better you. And once you have found that "better you", it is about bringing that person out each and every day of your life.

That is what makes your fat loss journey so beautiful.

Go out and find yourself.

Try it with your next workout. Try to push a little harder than you would normally push and get in that extra rep or two. Push a little harder on the treadmill or bike. Take your workouts further than you would normally go. You will love how great it makes you feel.

And you will learn a little bit more about what your body can really do.

Fat loss is all about the person you become along the journey.

That is the philosophy being my book that can be found at www.conquerthefat.com.

Weight Loss Gimmicks and Gadgets Demolished

There have been a number of gimmicks, gadgets, and fads that have become popular in the so-called “health-craze” that has taken place in recent years. You know what I’m talking about, that health-craze that has led our society to deeper levels of poor health and obesity. Some craze that is!

We’ve seen hundreds of diets surfacing in the past few years with a few becoming very popular. These diets range from low-carb to high carb, from high protein to low fat, from calorie restricted to fasting and liquid diets, etc. Anyone who has had an idea for a diet and been able to present some kind of scientific study to support its claims has been able to profit by going after desperate consumers.

Is that what I’m doing with my program?

No, absolutely not. I am actually doing the exact opposite. I do not want to create a craze or a frenzy surrounding my program. What I’m looking to do is bring an end to all the fads and all the trials and tribulations. I want to bring about some stability to those looking to shed some pounds of bodyfat. I’m looking to transform lives and make it simple to do so. And when I say simple, I do not mean easy.

Diets that come and go are fads. They are fads for a reason. They simply do not stand the test of time. Either they are impossible to follow for a significant period of time or they produce short term weight loss due to losses in bodyfat, muscle, and water only to see the weight come back in bodyfat and water with a deficit in muscle. This is something that will be discussed in more detail later. The important thing to understand right now is that 99% of the diets on the market produce temporary results. The studies they cite are either loosely related, not reliable, short-term, or finagled a little to make the diet look good.

Enough about diets, though. There are millions of products on the market that are supposed to make losing weight easy. Some are exercise programs. Some are in the form of diet pills. Others are in the form of exercise products. Once again, approximately 99% of these are completely ineffective for your fat loss goals.

Seriously, how is an abdominal machine supposed to help you dramatically reduce your bodyfat? You’ve seen the commercials for those products with the machine that you can use while watching TV that is supposed to sculpt your abs like Michaelangelo did David’s. You are supposed to see that six-pack from working just minutes a day in the comfort of your own home. Then they present the before and after pictures of people who have used the machine. These people not only lost a tremendous amount of bodyfat, gained that six-pack, but they also built some nice muscle in their arms, chest, back, and legs.

All that with just minutes a day using a simple ab machine? Sign me up. I’m sold. But wait, that’s not really possible, is it?

No, my friend, I’m afraid it is not. Using an abdominal machine is not going to produce significant fat loss results. It is not going to give you a six-pack. And it certainly is not going to build muscle anywhere but your abdominals. It might tighten up your stomach’s appearance slightly, but no more than some other exercises would that are more effective overall.

This is why you must say no to those abdominal gadgets.

There are a few tools you can use in your workouts like stability balls, medicine balls and balance boards. These can work great if utilized properly.

Just avoid those gadgets that seem like their claims are too good to be true because they probably are.

A lot of people are out there to trick you. Be careful. Do not trust someone just because you saw them on TV. Unfortunately, a lot of people in the fitness industry do not know what they’re doing yet claim to be experts.

I’ve read articles in magazines that make me shake my head. I’ve read programs created by so-called expert trainers that make me cringe. I’ve heard of celebrity trainers whose workouts could’ve been created by someone with absolutely no experience. A lot of the advice out there is just dumb.

The reason for this is that the fitness industry is relatively new, especially when it comes to fat loss. Years ago, the world was not concerned much with fat loss. Most people were in pretty good shape. This was before the convenience age that I have discussed in other articles.

Nowadays, everyone is trying to cash in on the huge problems we are currently facing. In the United States, a third of the population is obese and two thirds are overweight.

There are thousands of people trying to put an end to this by offering ludicrous advice that took very little though and consideration. Thousands more are offering products that simply do not get at the heart of the problem.

The heart of the problem is that people are not willing to work hard. People are not willing to change, and until that are then our current problem is going to continue.

Do not be fooled by products and advice that claims to make fat loss easy. It is not going to be easy at all. Hopefully that point will be hammered down by now. Hopefully the world will realize this soon and those who made their half-hearted attempts to “solve the problem” just to cash in will be made broke. Then those who really want to help and really have the ability and knowledge to help can take center stage.

Healthy and effective fat loss really is simple when you break the process down, but it will NOT be easy.

Here's Your First Christmas Present

I decided to get the drop on everyone else this year by making sure that I was the very first person you know to start giving out Christmas presents, and what a present I've got for you!

I've been asked by my friends Dax Moy and Pat Rigsby to contribute a very special e-book that I've just finished working on called Conquer the Fat: Mental Makeover to their 12 Days of Fitness Gift-Giving Program.

The e-book will teach you step-by-step exactly how to break down your old, weak fat loss mindset and overcome the biggest things that are preventing you from achieving phenomenal results. This report is the missing piece to your fat loss repertoire.

But whilst I'm pretty excited about being able to offer you my gift, I'm absolutely over the moon that I've been chosen as one of a handpicked group of just 250 health and fitness experts from all around the world to participate in the largest gift-giving program ever.

This means that, as well as getting your gift from me, you'll be able to download a sackful of videos, audios, ebooks and special reports on just about every area of health and fitness from Diet to Nutrition, Fat loss to Strength training, Back pain to Mom's fitness and just about EVERYTHING in between.

Seriously, Dax and Pat have ensured that only the very best quality gifts have been allowed into this years gift-giving, meaning that many of the contributors have created gifts that you would happily pay for...

But you get each and every one of them for free!

All you have to do to get you hands on my e-book (and the other couple of hundred amazing gifts, of course) is pop on over and register your name and email address at www.12daysoffitness.com and you'll get the whole lot delivered to you with my compliments by way of thanks for reading the Conquer Fat Loss blog.

Well, what are you waiting for?

Get on over to www.12daysoffitness.com now! : )


Matt Maresca


P.S - Feel free to tell your family, friends or work colleagues about this promotion so that they can take advantage of this massive gift-giving. After all, it's not every day that you get access to this kind of information for free right?"