6 Tips for Lean Living in 2013

The "weight loss" industry in America generates somewhere between 40-60 BILLION dollars annually. Read one book and then read another and you might find yourself in a vicious cycle of confusion. A confused mind always says NO.

This crazy cycle leads people to attempt everything under the sun out of shear frustration and produces profits for some while many people participating in the "weight loss" game are left empty handed, heavier than when they started, and are left looking for the next "best" thing.

Here are 6 tips to help you avoid the craziness and live lean:

1. Work a program. The program that works best is the program that YOU WORK AT. Plain and simple. Sounds like rocket science huh? I know. Switching programs because you failed to get immediate results will kill any chance of momentum you capture. Living lean is a lifestyle. Think and plan for long haul.

2. Rethink your fitness plan. Monotony is your enemy. Muscle confusion is your friend. A one dimensional (or one-note) fitness plan is boring and will produce little over the long haul. Look into high-intensity training and metabolic training. As I have said many times before intensity beats extensity.

3. Use your closet as a dream board. Put those clothes that you want to get into in sight (middle of closet) so you remember them and envision fitting back in them. Fat proof your closet!

4. Quit calorie banking and calorie skimping. Your body works in calorie burning ranges that support your current lifestyle. Eat too little and you store fat. Eat too much and you store fat. Starving yourself one week and gorging the next is unhealthy and it can destroy your metabolism over time. Be "Steady Eddy." Get with a professional to determine your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) and your activity needs (often referred to as a body analysis).

5. Check your frequency. Cramming a week's worth of missed workouts in over the weekend is just plain stupid. This increases your risk of injury, burnout, and spotty future attendance. Skip the "weekend warrior" idea. Aim to train 5-6 days a week for 30-45 minutes.

6. Splurge once a week. The goal here is to allow yourself a little breathing room (assuming you follow your plan to a tee during the week LOL). Over time your splurge foods will change into healthier options because you will want to eat to support your fit lifestyle. Use common sense and moderation with "splurging."