Skyler Meine

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For months I have been reading about cheating and how great the benefits can be.  Would cheating really give me the advantage I was looking for?  For most of my life I have been a “by the book” kind of guy.  Don’t get me wrong I am competitive, very competitive.  I like being competitve. Let’s be honest I like to win and  hate to lose. In the past cheating was never an option for me.  I always just tried to outwork everyone to make sure that I got the maximum results.  But even working hard didn’t always insure that I ended up on top.  Maybe, just maybe, this time I should cheat and see if it gives me an additional advantage. Keep Reading…

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The number one reason I got involved in the weight loss industry is to make a difference in people’s lives. I want nothing more than for people to achieve their IdealShape, both physically and mentally. Watching people achieve that with my help has brought great happiness to my life.

One particular person has made a great impact on me and re-emphasized that I have truly been given an amazing opportunity to help people do amazing things. That person is Ryan Sullivan, the writer of nomorebacon.com. In July of 2009, he came to me and asked me to help in his weight loss journey. Keep Reading…

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Where To Start

The first question I ask myself when starting an exercise program with a client is how can I keep this person healthy. Injury will stop the best exercise program dead in its tracks. To prevent injury, each muscle and joint needs to be moving correctly. In order to ensure this is happening, I use foam rolling and active stretching to improve the quality and function of my clients’ muscles and joints.

Foam rolling is nothing more than self massage. Foam rolling targets trigger points or areas where the muscle fascia has become thick, tough or knotted. These areas, if not treated, can potentially create dysfunction and eventually injury. By rolling out each muscle group with a foam roller, especially targeting tight or painful areas, you can start improving the muscle fascia and prevent injury. Keep Reading…

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Some people want to tone up. Some people want to get rocked out. Whatever your IdealShape is, resistance training is vital to getting there.

For those of you who worry about bulking up when you lift weights, I promise muscle looks better than fat. Let’s get rid of the body fat first, and then if you feel like you’re bulky we can decrease your muscle mass.

Here’s why we do resistance training from the get-go. It’s going to force your body to maintain muscle while you are restricting calories to decrease body fat. You don’t want to be left with no muscle in the process of getting to your IdealShape (ex. HCG, MD Diet). Your weight will go right back up! Keep Reading…

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You’re ready to make a change. You want to achieve your IdealShape. You want it whole-heartedly, but you’re afraid to try again because you have tried so many times before.

What is going to make the difference this time?

The difference will be this: now you are going to be empowered to succeed at creating your IdealShape. How? By overcoming the past, thriving in the present, and having the ability to clearly visualize the future. Keep Reading…

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As a weight loss expert, I have asked myself one question more than any other:

Why do weight loss programs and diets ultimately fail for the majority?

I have read hundreds of different diets and weight loss programs—many from the best personal trainers and nutritionists in the world. The principles are sound. They should work. So why aren’t more people getting to their IdealShape and staying there? Aren’t thousands of these programs being sold every day? Keep Reading…

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Here’s something I don’t understand: why people believe they should take the hard route to their IdealShape. People will avoid supplementation because they think it’s unnatural, yet they’ll go for extreme diets and bizarre pills that don’t work.

Let me explain what supplementation really is, and why you need it.

The recipe for a healthy body and mind includes several ingredients. Supplements are one of them. When I talk about supplementing, I’m not talking about steroids or unhealthy muscle building substances, and I’m not talking about unnatural diet pills.

I am talking about vitamins, minerals, and natural ingredients that bring the body into balance. Nutrients that fortify the immune system and jumpstart metabolism. Many of these substances exist naturally in the foods you eat, but your body literally cannot absorb all the nutrients it needs from food alone.

That’s the beauty of extract form—i.e., supplements.

Understand that I personally would not take, or recommend, anything that was unhealthy, unnatural or a waste of time. I have been studying health and fitness for 12 years. And I’ve come to understand that adding supplements to your nutrition plan isn’t cheating, it’s the opposite of cheating. Here’s why:

You’ve been eating right and exercising hard. Now you can a) optimize your results (with a supplement), or b) cheat yourself out of your results by cancelling them out (leaving the body out of balance, letting the immune system and metabolism wilt).

Supplements are not only a key component of your body-shaping mission, they’re essential for lifelong health.

That doesn’t mean you’ll have to take a weight loss supplement forever; many people use it just to get down to their goal weight. By that time, the body is balanced and they are able to sustain their shape with the basics: exercise, food, a multivitamin and protein. But you need to get to that point first. The right supplement can take you there, helping you shed excess body fat so you can start sculpting!

Here are some body-balancing ingredients you’ll find in a good supplement:

• Green Tea—an antioxidant, promotes efficient metabolism
• Grapefruit—contains vitamins A, B5 and C, plus potassium and folate
• Caffeine—a natural appetite suppressant, promotes efficient metabolism and energy
• Resveratrol—this is one of my favorites: found naturally in the skin of red grapes and other plants, this antioxidant is currently being used by major pharmaceutical companies in longevity and health-promoting remedies. It has been shown to suppress appetite and correct leptin resistance (read the research on Resveratrol ).
• Kelp (seaweed)—promotes efficient metabolism, contains calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, amino acid and vitamins A, B1, B2, C, D, E

ResveraShape, by IdealShape, is an excellent supplement if your goal is to burn excess fat, curb caloric intake, or just get the nutrients your body needs to stay fit. It contains all of the above ingredients. I encourage you to learn more about it and understand why these natural ingredients help the body slim down and shape up. Get the full scoop on ResveraShape

Bottom line: if your metabolism isn’t running efficiently, you can exercise and cut calories but you’ll still keep the fat. And if you aren’t healthy and energetic, your workouts will be pretty worthless. To achieve your IdealShape and mind, you need to create a holistic balance. Start with supplements.

Your Goal for the Day: start using a natural body-shaping, health-promoting supplement like ResveraShape. Use it every day for 31 days and assess the results!

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The mind is definitely the most powerful influence on getting to your IdealShape. A close second is your metabolism. You have probably heard from other fitness professionals that weight loss is all about “calories in” versus “calories out.” Are they right? Yes… but it isn’t that simple.

If all you did was decrease your “calories in,” over time your “calories out” would decrease as well. But your goal isn’t to balance out, it’s to expend more calories, right? And if your only plan to boost metabolism is to eat fewer calories, well, you’re losing lean muscle. That’s not even balancing out—it’s driving your metabolism down. So, you’re skimping on food and yet slowing your metabolism. Not at all what you’re going for.

The real key to getting to your IdealShape is figuring out how to keep your metabolism up while taking in fewer calories.

Is It Possible to Keep Metabolism High While Lowering Caloric Intake?

Yes!

To a lot of people, “metabolism” is something unfathomable and untouchable. They believe their metabolism is set in stone, and they use it as an excuse to stay out of shape.

Metabolism is not a mystery. And we do have the power to shape our metabolism, and thus our bodies. Here are three ways to keep your metabolism high while cutting calories back:

1. Perform resistance exercises. They will build your lean muscle mass right up, in turn boosting your metabolism. Strength training is any activity that uses weights or your bodyweight. For example: bicep curls, push ups, planks, squats and lunges (these are just a few!).
2. Eat well before exercise. In addition to resistance exercises, fueling your workout will help you preserve muscle mass to keep metabolism high. Give your body plenty of carbs and protein pre-workout, so it doesn’t go after existing muscle for exercise energy. Also, consuming protein right after your workout will further muscle recovery and growth.
3. Don’t cut your caloric intake too low. To shed excess fat, you only need to go 300-500 calories less than your daily caloric need. Go any lower and your body will be forced to turn to muscle for daily energy.

Don’t use a “sluggish” metabolism as an excuse to be a shape you’re not happy with!

Your Goal for Today: put the above three tips into motion. Lower your caloric intake within the healthy range, complete a resistance workout, and have protein within 30 minutes of exercise (a weight loss protein shake is ideal). Make this your standard exercise routine, and watch your metabolism become twice as efficient!

More tips on pre- and post-workout nutrition coming this week!

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The Power of Positive Influences

It’s tough to feel confident about your ability to slim down when your friends aren’t. Sometimes even well-meaning friends and family are skeptical of our goals. (Often they feel bad that they’re not making the same great changes in their own lives, so they unconsciously put you down.)

Losing weight is hard. We don’t need negative influences around us to make it harder. No—we need people to help us make it easier! And they can. In fact, positive influences are essential to your body shaping mission.

Take a look at this post on No More Bacon: it’s by “the woman behind the fat guy”—Ryan’s wife. Can you see the role she plays in his journey, and the role he plays in hers? They keep each other strong and upbeat, and the heights they have reached in just one year are phenomenal.

So where are these positive influences in your life?

The People You Hang Out With: It’s smart to spend time with upbeat people who support your goal. Your mind absorbs what people tell you and the energy around you—positivity is contagious! You may not have to go outside your circle to find it: sometimes it’s as simple as asking your friends and family for support.

A Community of Like-Minded People: If you can’t get your friends and family on board (and even if you can), join a community related to your goal. Spending time with a group of people who have the same purpose and experiences as you is invaluable.

Body Shaping Hypnotherapy: How is hypnosis a positive influence? Tammy Garner, the Master Certified Hypnotherapist who worked with me to create the Mastering the Mind series, knows exactly how to get your subconscious mind to work positively toward your goal. So, not only is she a positive influence in your life, but she’ll help you become your own positive influence—which is what achieving your IdealShape hinges on. (Why? Read this)

1. The Experts: Personal trainers, weight loss coaches and nutrition professionals are powerful positive influences. We are trained to help you create your ideal body and mind, and we’re passionate about the mission. This blog is a great source of positivity, so keep reading! I’m here offering encouragement and expert advice, free of charge, simply because I want you to learn that you have the power to create change in your life.

If you want to make your weight loss path smoother, more enlightened and more fun, surround yourself with the positive influences above. You’ve already got three on board—you’ve joined a community, you listen to Mastering the Mind each day, and you’ve sought out my advice on this forum.

That leaves one goal for today: spend some time in the company of a positive person. Pick someone who is supportive of your goals, and hang out with them or give them a call. Enlist the encouragement of everyone around you!

See you back here tomorrow. And if you have questions or comments, leave them below.

You’re doing great!