health motivational book-your input please

[amore]

Hi everyone,

I don't know how much interest this topic will have, but regardless:

My friend Mike and I are starting motivational seminars through his company called DynamicDestiny Inc. He will be speaking about business and general life to motivate people to do better. I want to speak about fitness and health as that's something I am very passionate about. I think that without your health you have almost nothing... I know this all too well from working in the interpreting field (language interpreting) with clients who had accidents etc. Now I don't have nearly as much knowledge as many of you do on here so that's why I'm asking you for input. I don't know it all. None of us do, but collectively.... ;-) PS We'll have guest speakers if the company gets to be big enough ;-)))) (HOPEFULLY!!!) Anyway, I'd like to be something like a messenger about health, if that's possible. ;-)

What would you want people in the overall society to know about health/fitness? If you could tell someone in 1 paragraph or two how to change their lives to make their life better, what would you say? I'd also like to write a book like this. Trump wrote a similar book... He asked his most successful friends and colleagues about the best lessons they've learned in life in a page or so and that's how the book came to life. I think it would do our society a ton of good if such a book came out about health/fitness!!

I'd appreciate any input either on the forum or through email: [email protected]. I'm not after profits. I'm after influencing as many people as I can, truly ($ is good, but it only goes so far - it cannot really create happiness i think). This society is screwed up and as far as health goes, it's getting worse (ex obesity rates now vs 10 yrs ago)....... ;-) Someone has to take some action! Oh, I know we all use names other than our own on here... I'd love the book to have info from people w/ their real names... Would make it much more personal I think and the credit would go where it is due, which I think is very important. I don't know how that would happen though as we all like to keep our anonymity on here... Any ideas would be welcomed!! My deadline for the book is Dec 06 (publish date). And the seminars should start some time in March 06 in CT and hopefully in June or so in Florida. ;-)

 

[scorpiogirl]

Two words - clean diet!!!

 

[amore]

Two words - clean diet!!!

;-)

 

[amore]

I really would like to write a book like this and really would appreciate more direct input. If I don't receive it, I guess I'll just take information i have learned from this and other great forums ;-))

 

[Sassy69]

You would think that you could express something fairly simple in a paragraph or two, but there are so many fundamental aspects that need to be carried to the mainstream. I think a story from someone who has lost a lot of weight or overcome hardships and made a huge conversion in their lives has a very compelling story. However if you were just talking to people -- you can motivate them for a few moments, but they need to overcome some basic misconceptions and then spend a little time establishing the habits that will lead them to a healthy lifestyle. People always want some quicky way to achieve a goal, but you need to get them motivated enough to not just look for the quicky result but rather make the basic changes, put some time into it and then experience the benefits beyond just "weightloss".

The misconceptions:
1) You don't want to "lose weight & lean out" - rather you want to reduce your bodyfat and increase your muscle mass. Don't get hung up on the number on the scale because it is not an accurate measure of how "fat" you are.

2) Yes you want to increase your muscle mass in addition to drop bodyfat. The two go hand in hand.

3) You need to EAT to drop bodyfat - its not a matter of how little you put into your body (i.e. starvation diets) but rather fueling efficiently so your body has the correct energy to burn and no excess.

4) Women CAN lift heavy weight!!!!!! And NO you won't look like a guy if you lift something more than the damn pink weights - that requires more male hormone (testosterone) than women naturally produce so dont' use that as an excuse for not weight trainin.

5) The best, most reliable and most maintainable way to drop & keep off bodyfat & improve muscle mass is by patience & persistent & consistent diet & training. THERE ARE NO QUICKIE PILLS. PERIOD. You didn't gain those 20 lbs in 2 weeks so dont' expect to lose it in 2 weeks. Your body WANTS to run efficiently, but it takes a little while for it to react to the new changes you've made w/ good diet & training.

6) Regardless of "weightloss", you will also find you feel better, have more energy, sleep better & have a better attitude & self-confidence from getting control of your diet & training. There is NO DOWNSIDE to diet & training.

7) No you don't have to start by lifting 400 lb and doing 4 hrs of cardio every day. Start where you are able, paying more attention to form & consistency before worrying about keepign up with someone else. And then focus on making one small improvement every day - whether it be one extra rep on all your sets, 10 extra min of cardio, improved form, whatever. This way you are always achieving some goal that gets you one step closer to your ultimate goal. And by the time you reach your "ultimate goal" the whole effort of diet & training have become habit and just another part of your daily life.

If people can get over those myths & give themselves 3 weeks of honest effort on diet & training, they will see results.

 

[amore]

You're right Sassy, yet so many people are obese. The guy I got the free treadmill from was obese. And he was giving the treadmill away. I was almost ready to tell him to keep it and use it, but well, it's all in one's mind and he did not seem like he was ready and willing to make a positive change in his body. i was just talking with my parents about cookies today, how one has so much sugar and fat. And lots of people eat many of those cookies a day - I used to!! So unhealthy!! I know from experience that a quick weight loss doesn't stay forever if it is not maintained, and you are right ... many people just want a quick fix and are not willing to work at it later, hence their disappointments once the weight, and more importantly fat comes back.....