How To Lose Weight

Losing 20 pounds in 30 days is actually my number one goal at present. I need to lose this weight because I'm going to be on television in February. In October, I visited a friend who toured me through KGO (Channel 3 TV) in San Francisco. While touring, I stood where they discuss the weather and traffic report, and then looked on the screen and thought "uh oh! I've gotten fat!" While some people still think I look great, when you're on television you look 10-20 pounds heavier.

So, I've determined to lose 20 pounds in one month.

How will I lose the weight?

Here's my plan on how I will lose 20 pounds in 30 days or less:

1. Mental Focus:

My goal is to be at my optimum health, which includes being slimmer and trimmer. To achieve this goal I must commit to eating more healthy foods and beverages in my diet, working out regularly, getting regular sleep, and eat at regular times.

2. Physical Activity:

a. I commit to working out 4x a week, with a cardiovascular workout in the afternoon, for at least 45 minutes.

b. I commit to 15 minutes of stretching, sit-ups, and general toning work before starting my workday 5 times a week.

3. Diet:

a. I commit to eating more fruits and vegetables, especially vegetables. I commit to eating more protein and less carbohydrates. I commit to remove the junk food from my diet for the next 30 days. This includes red vines, fried foods, and foods high in sugar or carbohydrate (bread, wine, etc.).

b. I commit to reduce the amount I drink in alcoholic beverages to no more than five drinks a week; however, during the next 30 days, I commit to drink no alcohol at all.

c. I commit to drinking more vegetables as beverages, whether in a V8 or other drink I create from raw vegetables and fruit.

d. I commit to eating regular meals at prescribed times in order to balance my sugar levels.

4. Sleep:

a. I commit to a regular sleep schedule, to help balance my diet and eating schedule. I'm trying this as something new, but believe it can help keep the stress of changing my diet and exercise habits. I will go to bed earlier, and rise earlier, in order to complete my workout routine.

So, that's my list. I haven't read any fancy dieting books to figure out this list. It's just my way of losing this weight. Everyone is different, so as with any diet program, you might consider consulting a doctor before starting. I've already talked with my doctor when I was sick recently and asked him about my plan to lose weight and exercise more, and he approved my plan and said it sounded like I knew what I was doing! Funny, huh? I'm not a dietitian, but I know several and they are always trying to get me to eat fewer carbohydrates, less sugar, and more healthy overall diets. They also want me to push my body more than I do. The challenge for me is creating time in my schedule. With all of the writing, consulting, training, and program development I've been doing for both AspireNow (http://www.aspirenow.com/) and ARRiiVE (http://www.arriive.com/), it is not always easy to make the time.

However, this television interview is really important. It is the number 2 goal behind losing weight and becoming my optimum weight for my New Year (more public speaking in 2008). I achieved this goal last year with speaking in person, and when I put on my suits I noticed I'm filling them out more.

The benefits to achieving my optimum weight and losing weight include:

1. I'll be able to fit into many of my clothes easier. This will save me money as I won't have to replace as many garments.

2. I'll feel better about myself. Any time we look slimmer and feel we are at our "optimum" it is also easier to have optimum state of mind. This will make me more productive and more powerful when I am on stage performing, speaking, and training people.

3. My diet will be healthier, which ought to extend my current energy as well as possibly lengthen my life by treating my body better.

4. I'll have more energy because I'll be working out more often. Any time we have muscles, we also burn more fat when stationary. It will be easier to keep the weight off because of my workout schedule and new muscles I'll redevelop.

5. I'll get more sleep and have a more disciplined lifestyle. Even though I'm a jazz musician and this is a little challenging for me, I'm going to get my schedule more disciplined, because I know
I can accomplish more if I am more organized.

So, that's my focus on losing 20 pounds in 30 days. Obviously, your situation might be different.

You might be smaller and eat healthier than I do. Or, you might be eat worse and never work out at all. If that's you, ease into it the first week or two. I always recommend starting with a smaller goal and then working up. So, rather than focus on losing 5 pounds each week, just focus on your program, then look at your scale after two weeks. If you're off your pace, adjust and refocus on your goal. It may take at least 21 days, and probably at least 40 days to create your new habits. That's the way I'm approaching this goal.

If you like the way I suggest you improve your life through achieving your optimum weight, you might enjoy my other blog posts at http://aspirenow.blogspot.com/ (for self-help) and http://arriive.blogspot.com/ (for business).

Here are some resources from Amazon to help you reach and maintain your optimum weight:

Meditation for Optimum Health: How to Use Mindfulness and Breathing to Heal Your Body and Refresh Your Mind
Amazon Price: $11.75 List Price: $24.95

Andrew Weil, M.D. - 8 Weeks to Optimum Health & Spontaneous Healing
Amazon Price: $8.35 List Price: $14.95

Andrew Weil, M.D. - Eating Well for Optimum Health
Amazon Price: $8.72 List Price: $19.98

Low Carbon Diet: A 30 Day Program to Lose 5000 Pounds--Be Part of the Global Warming Solution!
Amazon Price: $7.43 List Price: $12.95

8 Minutes in the Morning for Real Shapes, Real Sizes: Specifically Designed for People Who Want to Lose 30 Pounds or More
Amazon Price: $3.98 List Price: $24.95

Kevin Trudeau Natural Cures - LOSE 30lbs in 30 Days CD ~ As Seen On TV ~
Amazon Price: $19.95 List Price: $19.95
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