Weight loss: Made easy
July 11, 2009 by Ozzie Jacobs
Filed under Fitness Articles, Fitness Blog
“Calories consumed” must be less than “calories burned”, this is the simple equation that is essential to reach your weight loss goals. Oftentimes, the simple concepts (like this one) are the ones we struggle with the most. Your trainer or the fitness guru on TV makes it seem so simple “just stop eating the junk food”, “get to the gym”, “make the commitment”. Oh, if it could be so easy…… 
The fact is that weight loss is hard because there are a variety of different variables that often stand in our way. One of the major causes for our demise is our environment and how we respond to it.
1. Our surroundings…. On every corner chances are that there is a fast food joint or tasty restaurant that is calling your name. This restaurant will often carry your favorite guilty pleasure (i.e. french fries, cakes, cookies and the list goes on). So when you’re hungry for a quick breakfast or afternoon snack before you go home your primal urges kick in (especially if you haven’t eaten in the past 4-5 hours).
Solution: Keep yourself stocked with tasty (and healthy snacks) and eat small meals every 2 hours. This way you can control those primal urges since you would’ve already had your fill of nutritious foods.
2. Our relationships…. Most would agree that when your “love boat” starts to sink, ice cream and chocolate are great flotation devices. Drowning a broken heart in chocolate and cookies seems like a good idea at the time but what sense does it make to lose your man and lose your waistline at the same time?
Solution: Don’t sulk in the kitchen, go out and enjoy yourself. Burn off the stress with a night of dancing on the town!
3. Our expectations…. When we make the decision to change our lifestyle we don’t consider “the spectrum”. The spectrum of eating healthy consists of eating super clean (think physique competitor/fitness model) and eating really bad (think “junk food junkie”). As a result, we try to eat perfectly and end up falling off the wagon.
Solution: We must cut ourselves some slack and not expect to make a “180” in 2 days. Small steps result in large gains, because small steps are feasible building blocks that lead to long-term changes that last.
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Give 100!
June 26, 2009 by Ozzie Jacobs
Filed under Fitness Blog, Fitness Videos
Ozzie Jacobs, Health and Fitness Expert, explains how “giving 100″ can lead to a balanced, healthier and happier lifestyle.
Love & Fitness: Skinny jeans
May 31, 2009 by Ozzie Jacobs
Filed under Fitness Articles, Fitness Blog
This time last year they were your prized possession.
These were the jeans with the snug fit that hugged your curves in just the right way. When you wore these jeans you knew that you were sexy, heads would turn, sirens would sound and hearts would skip a beat. Okay so maybe it wasn’t that dramatic but you did look HOT.
Now those jeans are your nemesis!!!!!
Not only do those jeans have the nerve to be too tight they are a constant reminder of the body you used to have. Each time you step into your closet to decide what to wear there they are taunting you. At any moment the urge to throw those, once beloved, jeans into the trash will consume you but it doesn’t have to be this way. Start salvaging your relationship with your skinny jeans today.
Step 1. Remember the good times. When you and your skinny jeans were happy you lived a certain lifestyle. Maybe you were more active or your eating habits were under control. Try to incorporate those old habits into your life.
Step 2. Work on your communication. Your skinny jeans don’t have to be a reminder of the body you “used to have” they can be a reminder of the body “you can have” if you take a proactive effort toward reaching your fitness goals.
Step 3. Get back together. At one time you and your skinny jeans were a happy couple, why not rekindle the flame. Accept that a relationship with your skinny jeans will take dedication, consistency and a commitment.
Check out the following workouts for some extra help:
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Ask Ozzie: How to lose weight
May 16, 2009 by Ozzie Jacobs
Filed under Fitness Blog, Fitness Questions
Ozzie Jacobs, Health and Fitness Expert, tells you how to lose weight!
Click here to Ask Ozzie your fitness question!! For additional information, check out the following articles:
Click here to Ask Ozzie your fitness question!!
Workout: Spicing it up
May 7, 2009 by Ozzie Jacobs
Filed under Fitness Articles, Fitness Blog
The key to making exercise an enjoyable activity is to spice it up! Exercise can become monotonous if we continue with the same strategy week after week. There are only so many bicep curls and lunges that one can do before our subconscious begins to scream “Not Again!!!!!!” 
Spicing up your fitness routine is a lot easier than you may think. It is just a matter of keeping an open mind and exploring the possibilities.
This weekend try to incorporate at least one of the following into your routine:
- Dance the calories away with salsa dancing at Monsoon (3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica)
- Try people watching as you take a jog through Venice Beach, don’t be surprised to find a “human tree” or some impressive acrobatics
- Check out a new gym. The hard bodies at the infamous Gold’s Gym in Venice can certainly inspire.
- Take a stroll with your significant other or that “hot” guy or girl you’ve been eyeing for a while.
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