Cinnamon and Honey: The Dynamic Duo You Need More Of

It is widely known that the key to a health-promoting diet is a variety of whole, nutritious foods.
However, there are certain foods – and certain food combinations – that can greatly boost your wellness quotient if you incorporate them into a healthy lifestyle.
One of the most potent superfood duos out there is cinnamon and honey.
Individually, both cinnamon and honey boast amazing health benefits.
Together, they are a veritable powerhouse.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is an ancient spice, and was used culinarily and medicinally in both ancient Egypt and China. This spice comes from the inner bark of the cinnamon tree, which rolls into a “cinnamon stick” shape when it is dried. These sticks are either used whole, or ground into powdered form.
There are over 100 varieties of cinnamon, although what we commonly consume in the West is cassia cinnamon, which hails from China. Ceylon cinnamon is known as “true cinnamon,” and has a subtler flavor, but it is difficult to find in this part of the world.
This sweet, aromatic spice is rich in minerals, including calcium and manganese. It also contains a number of essential oils with active components, including cinnamaldehyde, cinnamyl alcohol and cinnamyl acetate.
These volatile compounds, as well as other antioxidants found in cinnamon bark, have potent anti-inflammatory properties and help to combat disease-promoting free radicals.
Thanks to its essential oil content, cinnamon possesses antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties. A 2013 study published in the International Journal of Food Microbiology found that when cinnamon was added to carrot broth, it effectively controlled the spread of Bacillus cereus, a foodborne bacteria, for sixty days.
The cinnamaldehyde in cinnamon has been found to improve circulation and prevent the unwanted clumping of blood platelets. Because of this, it may aid in the prevention of heart attack and stroke.
Cinnamon is linked to helping to lower blood sugar, as it can slow the emptying rate of the stomach after ingesting food. This improves insulin sensitivity, and can therefore be of great use to individuals suffering from diabetes, as well as those diagnosed with pre-diabetes.
The anti-inflammatory properties of cinnamon make it a key food in relieving multiple types of pain, including joint pain, headaches and menstrual cramping. Furthermore, cinnamon has been linked to boosting cognitive function – just a whiff of its aroma may help to improve focus and memory.

Honey

Honey, like cinnamon, is also an ancient food celebrated for thousands of years for both its amazing taste and potent medicinal properties. Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, refers to it as “liquid gold” in his writings.
However, not all honey is created equal.
Processed, refined honey is a far cry from natural, raw honey. Many honeys that have undergone heavy processing no longer contain pollen, which is an important part of real honey’s health benefits. Also, some honey products that hail from India and other parts of Asia have been found to contain contaminants, and even antibiotics and metals.
While a certified organic honey is likely a safe bet, your absolute best source for honey is a local, raw variety.

Raw honey

The importance of finding a raw honey from a local source rests in its ability to help desensitize your body to allergens commonly found in the area where you live. When bees produce honey, they deposit a small amount of pollen into it. Eating a spoon or two of local, raw honey can help build up your immunity to environmental allergens in your hometown.
Raw honey can also be extremely beneficial during a cold or cough. Adding a teaspoon of honey to your tea is not just an old wives tale: it has been scientifically studied to work. A 2007 study performed at the University of Pennsylvania gave either raw honey or Dextromethorphan (DM), a cough suppressant medication, to children between the ages of 2 and 17 who were suffering from upper respiratory infections.
Upon analyzing the results, the study authors wrote: "In a comparison of honey, DM, and no treatment, parents rated honey most favorably for symptomatic relief of their child’s nocturnal cough and sleep difficulty due to upper respiratory tract infection. Honey may be a preferable treatment for the cough and sleep difficulty associated with childhood upper respiratory tract infection."
Raw honey has antibacterial, antifungal and antiseptic properties, and can be applied topically to both disinfect and help heal numerous wounds and skin conditions, including minor burns, eczema and dermatitis. When it is ingested, these properties can help to support your immune system in dealing with pathogens that may make you sick if left unchecked.
One particularly potent type of honey is manuka honey. This honey, which hails from the flower nectar of the manuka tree, native to Australia and New Zealand, has been found to have up to 200 times the antibacterial potency of any other honey. Manuka honey can also help to support healthy gut bacteria, which along with improving digestion may provide a significant boost to your immune system.
Note: Honey should not be given to children under 12 months of age.

When their powers combine…

In both Ayurvedic medicine and traditional Chinese medicine, the combination of cinnamon and honey has been long celebrated. The following are just a few benefits of blending these two superfoods:

• Boosting the immune system to help prevent seasonal illnesses and other infections
• Speeding recovery from colds and other seasonal ailments
• Clearing sinus congestion
• Soothing indigestion and other digestive disturbances
• Aiding in recovery from bladder infections
• Supporting healthy weight loss when combined with a healthy diet and exercise
• Aiding in the prevention of heart disease and other chronic ailments
• Potentially increasing longevity

Both cinnamon and honey taste delicious, and the healing powers of these ancient superfoods are vast.
The truth is, we've barely scratched the surface when it comes to the many benefits of honey.
If you liked today's article, feel free to share with friends and family below.

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Weight Loss Market Trends in 2015

 Julie Wolvek, Associate Marketing Manager

When we say “wellness is the “new black,” we mean that, to a growing segment of American women, concern for healthy living is paramount. Wellness is a mindset—it can mean fashion, healthcare, food and so much more. One area that has seen dramatic shifts recently is in women’s approach to weight loss and physical fitness. We’ve seen a significant change in weight loss market trends; women have been shifting away from traditional diet plans toward overall healthy eating and fitness. In fact, 60% of dieters agree that it is better to eat healthfully than to use diet-specific products, while 38% value exercise over diet to maintain their ideal weight.

Saying “See You Later” to Traditional Diet Plans

The use of diet programs and pills has decreased drastically since 2007 and continues with the ever-shifting market trends for 2015. With an increasing emphasis on wellness, brands should be focusing more on the health benefits of their products and less on the weight loss benefits. Special K, in fact, has begun reshaping their entire brand message to appeal more to the health-conscious woman, not the traditional dieter. Fresh meals and locally sourced ingredients excite the modern day health and wellness enthusiast. Consumers will seek “functional fitness” this year more than ever, and instead of resorting to rough exercise schedules and succumbing to harsh diets, women will turn to plans that they feel they can stay committed to.

Wearable Tech and E-Trainers

Technology has begun to play a part in recipe-finding, calorie-tracking, and overall weight loss market trends. Whether they’re using them on their mobile devices or computers, health and wellness enthusiasts looking to cook more creatively are seeking websites and apps to find new, healthy recipes. Wearable health trackers and calorie counters have become a hot commodity. Brands can benefit from this transition into the digital space by offering virtual diet coaches or plans, or motivational outreach through social media. With a larger budget, your brand could even consider partnering with a wearable health technology company.

Reaching Your Health Enthusiast

Roughly 34% of the American population is considered obese. Only 50% of the US population takes part in regular exercise, while those who don’t cite lack of motivation or time as reasons they avoid the gym. Although consumers need to be ready to make life changes, brands can encourage healthier habits by understanding consumer pain points. For example, 31% of women who exercise prefer shorter workouts to fit into their busy day so appealing to working moms with short, effective fitness ideas can boost business. Women also favor “social” exercise (think yoga and Zumba), where they can mix exercise and friendship.

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Lean times for the diet industry

Consumers are eating more fresh food and perhaps exercising more. That’s great news for the country—but not for the weight-loss industry.

To grasp the plight of the diet industry these days, consider these two statistics: 77% of Americans are actively trying to eat healthier, according to a poll conducted this month forFortune by SurveyMonkey—but only 19% say they’re on a diet.

It’s not that Americans have slimmed down; more than a third of U.S. adults are still considered obese. It’s the fact that more and more people are focused on health first—and calories second. The percentage of women reporting they are on a diet has dropped 13 points over the past two decades, according to research firm NPD Group.

The result: crimped revenues for companies in the business of helping people lose weight. Market leader Weight Watchers has reported sales declines for two consecutive years and is projecting a weak 2015. Revenues have also shriveled at Jenny Craig and meal provider Medifast. Another meal provider, Nutrisystem, whose revenues were soaring a few years ago, has seen sales tumble 21% compared to four years ago.

The trend is also casting a chill on the low-calorie (or low anything) stalwarts in supermarket frozen food aisle. Sales of Weight Watchers dinners (made by Heinz) dropped by 17% from 2009 and 2014, while those for Con Agra’s Healthy Choice line thinned by 11% during that period, according to Euromonitor. Nestle’s Lean Cuisine revenues have shrunk by about a quarter over five years. Euromonitor has projected an additional 8% drop for the category over the next five years.

Consumers are eating more fresh food and perhaps exercising more. That’s great news for the country—but not for the weight-loss industry.

To grasp the plight of the diet industry these days, consider these two statistics: 77% of Americans are actively trying to eat healthier, according to a poll conducted this month forFortune by SurveyMonkey—but only 19% say they’re on a diet.

It’s not that Americans have slimmed down; more than a third of U.S. adults are still considered obese. It’s the fact that more and more people are focused on health first—and calories second. The percentage of women reporting they are on a diet has dropped 13 points over the past two decades, according to research firm NPD Group.

The result: crimped revenues for companies in the business of helping people lose weight. Market leader Weight Watchers has reported sales declines for two consecutive years and is projecting a weak 2015. Revenues have also shriveled at Jenny Craig and meal provider Medifast. Another meal provider, Nutrisystem, whose revenues were soaring a few years ago, has seen sales tumble 21% compared to four years ago.

The trend is also casting a chill on the low-calorie (or low anything) stalwarts in supermarket frozen food aisle. Sales of Weight Watchers dinners (made by Heinz) dropped by 17% from 2009 and 2014, while those for Con Agra’s Healthy Choice line thinned by 11% during that period, according to Euromonitor. Nestle’s Lean Cuisine revenues have shrunk by about a quarter over five years. Euromonitor has projected an additional 8% drop for the category over the next five years.

Consumers are eating more fresh food and perhaps exercising more. That’s great news for the country—but not for the weight-loss industry.

To grasp the plight of the diet industry these days, consider these two statistics: 77% of Americans are actively trying to eat healthier, according to a poll conducted this month forFortune by SurveyMonkey—but only 19% say they’re on a diet.

It’s not that Americans have slimmed down; more than a third of U.S. adults are still considered obese. It’s the fact that more and more people are focused on health first—and calories second. The percentage of women reporting they are on a diet has dropped 13 points over the past two decades, according to research firm NPD Group.

The result: crimped revenues for companies in the business of helping people lose weight. Market leader Weight Watchers has reported sales declines for two consecutive years and is projecting a weak 2015. Revenues have also shriveled at Jenny Craig and meal provider Medifast. Another meal provider, Nutrisystem, whose revenues were soaring a few years ago, has seen sales tumble 21% compared to four years ago.

The trend is also casting a chill on the low-calorie (or low anything) stalwarts in supermarket frozen food aisle. Sales of Weight Watchers dinners (made by Heinz) dropped by 17% from 2009 and 2014, while those for Con Agra’s Healthy Choice line thinned by 11% during that period, according to Euromonitor. Nestle’s Lean Cuisine revenues have shrunk by about a quarter over five years. Euromonitor has projected an additional 8% drop for the category over the next five years.

“Consumers ascribe less direct interest in diet as a standalone need,” said Weight Watchers CEO Jim Chambers in a recent presentation. He acknowledged that consumers are taking a more “holistic” approach by eating healthier, as well as pursuing wellness and fitness goals. (That broad trend towards fresher foods is squeezing not only the diet companies, but also non-diet packaged-food companies; see Fortune’s cover story, The War on Big Food).

The U.S. weight loss market totaled $64 billion in 2014, according to Marketdata Enterprises, a research firm that tracks the industry. Among the categories whose revenues are dwindling are low calorie/diet foods, diet soft drinks, and commercial weight loss centers.

Other categories are expanding, including health clubs, medical weight-loss plans (more on those later) and bariatric surgery. There are also niches of growth in diet foods, including among multi-level marketing companies such as Herbalife.

Beyond the changes in eating, other factors are playing a role. Technology is newly influential. Weight-loss-industry executives point to the proliferation of smartphone apps, says John LaRosa, research director at Marketdata. Health and wellness apps can help track calories and movement. And they particularly appeal to younger consumers, who may feel out of place, LaRosa says, at a Weight Watchers, where the average group leader is 48.

Obamacare has also taken a bite out of the commercial weight loss market. Several provisions in the law promote preventative care for obesity-related services, including mandating insurance reimbursement for such services. But the reimbursement applies only to “qualified providers,” which essentially boils down to those programs run by doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel. Programs such as Weight Watchers typically don’t qualify.

CVS Health is a new competitor in this realm. The pharmacy chain offers one-on-one coaching assisted by doctors or nurse practitioners (thus making the program eligible for reimbursement under Obamacare), personalized plans and other weight loss services at 970 MinuteClinic locations. CVS relies on the Dash diet, a plan that emphasizes fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy foods.

“For so long, we had weight loss within the commercial marketplace, rather than under the medical umbrella,” says Dr. Kimberly Gudzune, who led a study, published inAnnals of Internal Medicine on commercial weight-loss programs. (Her team discovered that Jenny Craig clients shed at least 15 pounds on average after a year, while Weight Watchers participants lose at least eight.)

“All of these changes are happening as we speak,” Gudzune says. “I am hopeful obesity screening and counseling will be an option for more patients than it is today.” That’s good news for patients but not, perhaps, for diet companies.

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The Exact Steps that Alex Miller used to Lose 36 Pounds of Body Fat and FINALLY Get Six-Pack Abs

Check out Alex's inspirational pictures and also the Q&A we put together on how he achieved these results (very informative and inspirational!)

Alex Miller from the UK

Alex in 2007, before using 
These pictures are of one of my favorite TruthAboutAbs readers, Alex Miller from the UK, who has had phenomenal results and I couldn't be more proud of him with how he has changed his life!  I've kept in communication with Alex these past couple years and have actually become good friends with him.  But he started out years ago as one of my TruthAboutAbs customers.
What I love best about these pictures is that you can see there is at least a 2-year period between Alex's "before" pictures and his "after" pics.  This shows the reality that changing your body doesn't happen overnight.  Sure, Alex probably could have made these changes in 4-6 months if he did everything perfect, but sometimes  life gets in the way, and his journey took longer...
TruthAboutAbs                        
Alex in 2009, and 2010, after applying the TAA principles

And that's why I like his story -- it's realistic for the average person.  I'm sick of scammy weight loss ads that claim you'll get a perfect body in 15 days by taking some miracle acai berry pill... sorry, not going to happen!
I've been so amazed by Alex's story, that I contacted him recently because I just HAD do a Q&A with him to get you all the nitty gritty details of how he's had such an awesome transformation.

So let's get started!
Mike:  Hey Alex, I wanted to feature your story to my readers because I think the changes you've made are really inspirational and can help others.  You've had
incredible results using some of the principles that you learned in my Truth about Six Pack Abs program as well as other research you've done yourself.
First of all, your before and after pictures are amazing!  Congrats on changing your life and your body so dramatically. It's obvious that you're an action taker and that's why you got such amazing results.
Let's start by having you share some of your before and after stats with my readers.  What were your before and after bodyweight, body fat %, etc?
Alex:
Back in 2007 (image 1) I was 14-15% body fat at least, weighing in at 197 pounds.  After applying some of your techniques in your product, I dropped to 9.4% body fat within a few months, but only got around to taking some pictures in the summer of 2009. I lost fat faster after changing my workouts and diet. As of late 2010, I'm under 8% body fat and a weight of 161 pounds - that's a 36 pound loss and I still have plenty (if not more) muscle on my frame than I used to.
If you look at my before pictures, when I looked fat and out of shape, I was actually running and lifting weights in the gym 3-5 times per week. Typically each session used to last about 1.5-2 hours.
I was definitely getting stronger and my distance running was improving a lot, but I could never shift the fat from my stomach especially, no matter how hard I tried with training and eating. I had certainly reached a plateau and it frustrated me more than you could imagine.

I started looking on the Internet for advice and a way to break through this and eventually I came across Mike and his product "Truth About Abs" and that's when everything changed for me.
I changed my workouts completely and started doing his style of intensive, interval training instead and combined this with his unusual workout plans for weights (which are amazing by the way).  I now spend a mere 25-40 minutes per session in the gym and get at least 3-5x better results -- hopefully my pictures prove I'm getting better results!

CLICK HERE to find out more about this program

Mike: Amazing transformation Alex!  I'd also love to hear how this transformation has changed your life.  Obviously, you went from "a little bit chubby" to ripped six pack abs.  But beyond just the obvious visual improvement in your body, how has it affected things in your life such as:

a.  your confidence
b.  your health and energy
c.  how other people treat you or view you (any extra attention     from the ladies ?)
d.  your ability to perform activities or sports ?
e.  any other benefits you can think of ?

Alex:
I can't tell you how much more energy I have now compared to a few years ago. I used to feel pretty tired, a little lazy and I generally lacked consistent energy – plus this was during my early 20's!
Nowadays, my energy fluctuates a lot less during the days and evenings, and this has had so many benefits for me – I'm more productive with work, my mood is better (less highs and lows) and I generally just feel more active!
I'm a regular gym-goer and obviously there are some days I'm just not in the mood, but 9 times out of 10 I look forward to working out because I know I'll get such a powerful endorphin release after my workout as well as knowing I'm keeping the weight off.  You have to try Mike's exercises!
I'd be lying if I said attention from the ladies has gone down!  It's such a confidence booster to have the body that you've always wanted and I'm not shy to take my top off at the beach anymore.
Before, I looked for every excuse to keep my shirt on!

Mike:  I love it! It's so powerful when you think how many aspects of your life that being fit and healthy can improve.
Next question... Please share with my readers exactly how you got started when you first started using some of the principles that I teach in The Truth about Six Pack Abs?  For example:
- How did you change your workouts? 
- How did you change your eating habits? 
- How did you change your mindset?

Alex:
My workouts:
Ok, I totally changed my workouts.
You have to be willing to do this to see the results that you want - many people (which is totally understandable) are stubborn to change their routines because this requires you to step outside of your comfort zone, but if you follow Mike's stuff you won't regret it.
I stopped going for long, boring jogs and runs which used to last 40-60 minutes each time.
I stopped isolating my muscle groups when lifting weights.
I started doing multi-joint exercises and high intensity workouts which involves working your largest muscle groups as the calorie expenditure is ridiculously higher this way. I'm typically in the gym for 25-40 minutes MAX (vs 1.5-2 hrs previously).
Circuit training is at the core of my workouts which I generally just make up myself (more on this further below) but they are always intensive. That is the key. I'm burning over 600 calories easily every workout; I can't even compare it to what I was doing before... I wasted 4-5 years doing the wrong thing!
My Eating Habits:
This was also a BIG one. Nutrition is easily 75-80% of "the game" with weight loss because you can burn 600-800 calories in the gym, but if you're taking in more calories per day than you're burning, you're not going to get the fat loss results that you want.
Before I explain a little more, you have to understand that you don't need to eat perfectly all of the time, I always have 1 day a week where I'll go out drinking with my friends or eat some junk food.  It's what you do on the other days that gets you the results.
I eat a lot of wholesome, single ingredients foods – all kinds of meats, fish, veggies, beans, whole grains, nuts, seeds, eggs etc –simply don't listen to people who say you have to eat tuna fish all day to lose weight.
I eat so many different meals and food combinations it's unreal – the options really are endless AND tasty! I love the food that I eat and I used to eat TONS of crisps, chocolates, cakes when I was heavier.
I virtually eliminate the intake of carbohydrates in the evenings because I know I won't burn off the energy, plus it helps stop cravings and hunger soon after and I feel much less bloated.
I guess I'm on a "slow-carb" diet.  And when I do eat carbs, I mostly limit the grains and sugars to small quantities.  Just remember that you can get more than enough carbohydrates from veggies, fruits and beans.
It's the little changes that make a BIG difference – for example, when I changed what I ate for breakfast on a daily basis I lost an extra 4-5 pounds over the course of a few months. I'll eat eggs in the morning, either with some veggies or a slice of wholemeal toast – this is 100x better than eating sugary, ultra high carb cereals which make you hungry only a few hours later as well as pile on the calories!
Mindset:
Well, my mindset turned into pure excitement as soon as I started reading The Truth About Abs – I genuinely was pumped because realised I had been doing it almost totally wrong for the past 4-5 years in the gym, but I like to think that I've proved it's never too late to change!
My motivation sky-rocketed as I began to see myself losing pounds quickly, as well as seeing vast improvements in my energy, general mood and confidence.
It's hard to lose that motivation when you see results consistently, month after month. Then, when you reach the body you've always wanted you obviously don't want to lose it so the motivation sustains itself.

Mike:  Perfect! I agree on the motivation point... I feel that once you're in great shape, it's really hard to let yourself slide because you don't want to give up the great feeling that you've gained.
I also think that one of the major reasons that you got such great results compared to many people that buy fitness or diet programs is that you TOOK BIG TIME ACTION on the information!
One of the things I love about your transformation, Alex, is that you've taken some of the concepts that you learned from me, and you created your own customized workout plans, and nutrition that worked for you.  I think it's so important for people to learn how to customize things to their own schedules and personal lives.
Can you explain how you've integrated my concepts into your own personal workouts and diet that works for you?

CLICK HERE to find out more about this program

Alex:
Sure! When I got used to your exercises and some of your workouts I started looking up other such exercises and variations (mostly on Youtube) so as to keep my workouts fresh and keep things interesting. When you go to the gym 4 times per week you need to rotate what you're doing quite a lot, otherwise you'll get bored quite quickly.
I'd find 5-10 multi-joint exercises that I liked the looks of and then create my own circuits and workouts. I sometimes do them in a studio or I'll go into the gym, grab a mat and work out there (you really don't need much room at all).
I keep things very intensive, constantly rotating muscle groups and my rest periods are literally 0-30 seconds in between exercises. So, I might do 6 exercises in a row with little to no break – then I'll rest for 30 seconds and do the round again. Then I'll finish with a different 3rd round of exercises (to keep it interesting and keep the body guessing). This can be done in about 15 minutes easily.
After that I'll maybe do some dips, pull ups, leg raises (4-5 different variations), medicine ball work (6-8 exercises) and some other killer ab stuff. The cool thing is that 90% of the exercises that I do are at least working the abs indirectly – those, combined with the more direct-ab exercises results in me getting a really strong core, burning tons of calories and feeling AWESOME.
In terms of diet, once you "get it" and understand more about nutrition and what your body needs, it's really not hard at all. I know exactly what options to take if I'm either cooking at home or eating out. I make sure that I treat myself regularly because I still enjoy eating chocolate and drinking alcohol (which I do too much probably!) – typically I'll pig out and/or drink a bunch of alcohol once per week but for the other days I completely enjoy eating tons of meat, fish, wholefoods, veggies, eggs and the other foods I mentioned above. I never feel like I'm on a diet which is what many programs make you feel, everyday.
Mike: If you had to list 2 or 3 of the biggest changes that you made in your life that have had the most impact on your transformation, what would they be?  Were there any old destructive habits that you had to give up?

Alex:
1.  Working out intensively in the gym, training your largest muscles and focusing on multi-joint exercises totally transformed my body and the number of calories that I burnt. Stop doing long, boring cardio – you won’t lose the weight that you want to.

2.  Cutting the amount of carbohydrates that I eat during the day, and especially at night. I do NOT mean the Atkins diet, but it's simply a matter of cutting most carbs out after 4-5PM in the day as your body doesn't need it and will end up storing excess fat or causing cravings.

3.  I try to eat every 3 or so hours during the day, even if it's just a little snack in between the larger meals. This helps me to stop over-eating when it comes to lunch and dinner especially. If you just eat 3 meals per day you'll find it very hard not to over-consume – I'm hardly ever starving or stuffed and it's a great rule to keep to (and very easy). Organisation is the key – making sure you have a stock of healthy foods at home or on you when you're out and about will make a big difference and stop you from eating the wrong foods.
Mike:  Great stuff Alex!  I especially like what you said about minimizing carbohydrates.  People like to argue about carbs, but every single fitness model, bodybuilder, or athlete that I've known that had super low body fat levels, always was very careful about their carb intake.  Bottom line... when I want to gain weight, I increase my carbs... when I want to lose weight, I decrease my carbs and eat more proteins, healthy fats, and lots of veggies.
Ok, last question... from what you've told me, your new body and life is a permanent change. You're not going to "fall off the bandwagon" and let yourself get out of shape again.
This new body and life is a new fitness lifestyle for you that is a priority in your life.  Do you have any advice for other people that seem to always fail to make a PERMANENT change? Some people seem to go on diet after diet only to lose weight and gain it back again.  But you've kept your transformed body for at least 2 or 3 years now, and you're not going back.  What advice do you have for people that struggle with this?

Alex:
I touched on this further above but as soon as you start enjoying your workouts and the food that you eat, whilst at the same time getting unbelievable results, you simply won’t want to go back to your old ways.  Why would you?
I'm convinced you'll love these workouts, exercises and overall the approach that Mike takes to exercise. On top of that, it's so enjoyable to eat foods that are so healthy for you, fill you up, SO tasty and result in a lower, daily calorie intake.
Remember that I still eat treats and things like chocolate but honestly my cravings for these types of foods rapidly decreases when you start eating correctly and giving what your body wants. This is because your blood sugar levels are a lot more controlled and therefore your cravings will reduce significantly.
Once you've got it, you won't ever want to go back.

Mike:  Thanks so much for agreeing to do this Q&A with me Alex!  You're truly an inspiration to all of my readers, and I love your story!

CLICK HERE to find out to get this program for less than $5.00

CLICK HERE for more testimonials

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Weight Loss Motivation and Attaining the Right Mindset for Success

I talked about this powerful secret to achieving almost anything you desire in life a few months back, but just today, my friend Tom Venuto sent an email and did an amazing job explaining the exact methods on how to use this secret to successfully attain your goals... whether these goals pertain to your dream body or anything else for that matter.
Tom's incredible article is below. For those of you that don't know of Tom yet, he's the author of one of the most popular fitness ebooks in the history of the internet - Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle.

Metaphysics & Brain science merge and prove that positive thinking and goal setting literally create your body and your entire life experience by Tom Venuto
Last week on a special edition of CNN's Larry King Live, Mr. King interviewed a panel of "mind experts" about how the thoughts you think literally turn into the events you experience, the material things you possess... AND even the health of your body.
For years, "positive thinking" and goal-setting were often criticized as "pollyanna" and "the law of attraction" was relegated into the category of "new age" fluff
On last week's show, panel experts Bob Proctor, John Assaraf and others who were featured in the movie 'The Secret' explained that recent breakthroughs in neuroscience along with understanding mental laws, reveals why goal setting, the "law of attraction" and "positive thinking" all work, regardless of whether you look at them from a metaphysical or a scientific perspective.
Scientists have even identified specific parts of the brain, such as the reticular activating system (RAS), which works with the visual parts of our brain to call our conscious attention to things that are important to reaching our goals and to filter out those things that are unimportant.
The RAS is activated by "programming" goals into our sub-conscious minds. 

Our sub concscious mind is the "power center" and THIS is the mechanism that explains why goal setting and positive thinking are now being accepted as scientific methods for change.
We are discovering that our brain is cybernetic in nature, which means that it is literally like a computer, waiting for a program to be installed.
Here's the kicker - the subconcsious is completely neutral and impartial - it will carry out any instructions you give it.

Unfortunately, many of us are still running negative programs we picked up from others as children when our non-conscious minds were totally open and impressionable, or which we developed over the years as a result of repetition of our own negative thinking.
As it turns out, our own thoughts, repeated daily, are one of the primary ways that our "mental computer" is programmed on a sub-conscious level, which is the level of beliefs, habits and automatic behavior.
To change your results, you must overwrite old negative programming and install positive new programming into your subconscious.
This can be achived through such techniques as written goal setting, positive self-talk (affirmations), and mental imagery (visualization).

In the 1970's, the Soviets and East Germans were the first to formally use structured mental rehearsal, and at that time, they dominated in several olympic sports. 
Today, virtually all elite athletes use visualization extensively, as we now know that the brain cannot differentiate between real practice and practice that is vividly imagined.
If you are getting more of the same negative results in your life - such as the same health problems, or the same body fat continues to return even after you lose it, then you have probably been un-consciously running old negative programs and re-inforcing them with negative thought patterns.

You can begin the positive mental reprogramming process by writing down your goals, changing your internal dialogue and taking a few minutes to relax, quiet your mind and perform a session of visualization or mental rehearsal every day (seeing yourself in your "mind's eye" not as you currently are, but as you ideally would like to be).
These methods, repeated often enough, will begin to program the non-conscious portion of the mind, which is the same part of the mind that controls your heart beat, digestion and new cell production, all on "automatic pilot."

In the last decade, neuroscientists discovered that you have the capacity to create an almost infinite number of new neural connections in your brain when you run new thought patterns.
The Old neural pathways are like grooves in a record, and if you are struggling with your health related behaviors or behaviors in any other area of your life, you have been playing the "old records" over and over again.
If you were to carve a new groove into that record, it would never play the same way again. the old pattern would weaken and the new one would take over. 
Brand new, positive thoughts, feelings and images begin to create new neural patterns.
Psychologists estimate that it takes 21 to 30 days to establish a new pattern in your brain. During this time, the focus on sticking with your practice and repeating your new thought patterns is critical.
Is this easy? For most people, no it's not. In fact, controlling your thinking and keeping it constructive may be one of the most difficult challenges you have ever faced. 

 Fortunately, writing goals and reading affirmations can help get you started.
You can take some of the pressure off yourself by simply accepting that negative thoughts and self criticisms will pop up from time to time. Just observe them, without mulling over them or adding to them, and change the polarity of the thought by quickly repeating one of your positive affirmations or by changing your mental pictures.
So is there something to this whole "positive thinking" thing?
The philosophers and theologians have been saying yes for the entire span of recorded history:  "As you think, so shall you be." Variations on this proverb can be found in every spiritual and philosophical tradition.
But... if you are the left-brained, "prove-it-to-me" type, you dont have to go on faith anymore. Scientists are beginning to prove more and more convincingly that thoughts are powerful things. Even Larry King seemed impressed with what his panel of "mind mentors" had to say. 
In fact, I just found out that Larry will be airing part two of this "Power of positive thinking" show next week.
So how soon are you going to begin your mental training right alongside your physical training? When are you going to learn how to harness this power locked up inside your mind?
Guess what? You're already using this force every day because you cannot turn it off. Whatever you are thinking and picturing in your mind repeatedly on a daily basis is on it's way to you already, so it's simply a matter of HOW you are using it, not IF you are using it.

What do you say to yourself every day? Do you say, "I am becoming leaner, healthier and more muscular every day?"... or do you say "I am a fat person - Ive tried everything, nothing ever works?"

The fact is - you can think yourself thin and healthy or you can think yourself obese and ill. Maybe not in the literal sense...but most certainly as the critical part in the chain of causation...
You see, there's a lot of talk these days in the personal improvement world about law of attraction, manifesting, intention, visualization and of course, positive thinking
Without understanding that there is an orderly, scientific basis underneath all of this, many people will simply remain skeptics, while on the opposite extreme, others may get the idea that you can sit around meditating and visualizing, then expect a mystical "law of attraction" to kick in and then "poof!" a great body materializes out of thin air... along with the perfect relationship, a nice bank account and career success.
What really happens is "Positive thinking" and related methods quite literally re-program your brain, which in turn creates new behaviors that move you physically toward whatever you have been thinking about and focusing on.
So success is achieved through positive thinking + positive doing... attraction + action. There are two sides to the coin. Without paying attention to both, you may continue to struggle... often against nothing but yourself.
If you want to transform your body or any other aspect of your life, then you have to change on the inside (the mind) first and then everything else will follow.


Train hard and expect success,
Tom Venuto, NSCA-CPT, CSCS
Author, Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle
PS This process of *scientific* goal setting and mental reconditioning through emotionally charged mental imagery (visualization) and internal mental dialogue (affirmations) is the very first thing I have always taught my clients and the first thing I wrote about in my book, Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle You can learn all of these techniques in detail in chapter 1.  Learn more about the psychology of body transormation inside the Burn The Fat ebook:

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Thank you Tom for your insights and sharing this enlightening article. I couldn't have said it all better myself. I think the most important point to take from all of this is that no matter what your goals, dreams, and aspirations are in life, everything starts first with your mindset. Nothing is achieved without first attaining the proper mindset for success. Hopefully this article has given you motivation to take action with your weight loss or whatever your fitness goals may be, as well as other areas of your life that you would like to get a handle on.
If you enjoyed this motivational subject today, please feel free to email this link to any of your friends, family, or coworkers who would enjoy it.

Hope you're having a great day!
Ally Goldsmith
www.losebellyfatforlife.com

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Don't Fall for the "1 Rule of a Flat Stomach - Obey" Acai-Berry Fake Blog Scam!

This scam has also been running rampant for Resveratrol products, Colon Cleanse products, Wrinkle "Cures", Men's muscle building supplements, and anything else that claims to give you miraculous results from a bogus little pill... and if they tell you that you get 1 free bottle for only paying shipping and handling... get off that site FAST!

by Mike Geary, Certified Personal Trainer, Certified Nutrition Specialist
I found out that even my own mom had recently fallen for this type of scam, so please read how this works and pass on to your friends to protect them from falling for this too.
Over the course of the last year, you may have noticed that you couldn't go to any website on the entire internet it seems without seeing about 10 ads saying things like this:
1 Rule of a Flat Stomach - Obey
or
3 Rules of a Flat Stomach - You Must Obey
Here are some similar ads that have been EVERYWHERE lately:
New Jersey Mom Got Skinny by Following 1 Rule
or
Chicago Mom Lost 52 lbs following 2 Rules
Here's the deal on how this scam works:
If you've ever clicked on one of these ads, the first thing you'll notice is that this so-called "1 Rule" or "2 Rules" doesn't even exist.  Instead you end up at what looks like a blog (or so they're trying to fool you into thinking it's a real blog)...
FYI - this same exact fake blog scam is being used in all sorts of categories online now from teeth whiteners (ever seen the stupid "Cathy's Teeth" ads everywhere?) to men's muscle-building supplements to dozens of other products (which is why I'm showing you how the scammer usually works this whole operation).
Scam Characteristic #1:  the fake blog naming
These "blogs" usually show a picture of a woman with some made-up name such as Heathers Fat Loss Blog or Kristin's Diet Blog or Jennifers Weight Loss Blog.  However, the problem is that Jennifer or Heather or Kristin all don't even exist!  To be honest, they could easily be some big fat hairy guy sitting in his boxers on his couch operating this fake blog that is trying to sell you bogus pills.
Scam Characteristic #2:  fake pictures
The pictures of the women used in these blogs are usually simply obtained by the scammer from stock photo websites... and then they manipulate some photos to try to look like a person made some sort of transformation.  Many of the pics only show from the chest down, so they aren't even the same person in before and after pics.
Scam Characteristic #3:  fake blog comments
The entire blog is fake, including the so-called "comments" that are at the bottom of the blog (which the affiliate marketer is clever enough to put some comments in all-caps and some in all-lowercase, so they look like legit comments from different people).
Scam Characteristic #4:  they somehow live near you???
Another thing that the scammer does is their site detects your IP address location, so that they can fill in a city near you to make you think that Heather or Kristin or Jennifer are located somewhat close to where you live... That's why if you live near Chicago, it'll say that it's Cindy's Blog and she's a mother of 2 that lives near Chicago...  maybe they think this gives you the "warm fuzzy" trusting feeling that they must be a local person.
Scam Characteristic #5:  they usually claim some sort of celebrity endorsement, such as Oprah, Dr Oz, or Rachel Ray
Almost all of these fake blogs usually show pictures of either Oprah, Dr Oz, or Rachel Ray (or some other celebrity) and claim that they are endorsed by that celebrity.  First of all, even if a celebrity did endorse a pill, who cares? Does anybody really think most celebrities are weight loss experts? Give me a break!
And 2nd of all, most of these celebrities have come out publicly and stated that they don't endorse these products... so again, this immoral fake blog owner is simply lying.
Scam Characteristic #6:  their secret "2-step process"
Another characteristic of most of these fake blogs is that they will usually claim that they used a "2-step process" to lose some made up weight loss number like 52 lbs in only 21 days.  Usually their "2 step process" is that they claim they used a "free" bottle of acai berry pills and a "free" bottle of colon cleanse pills.
Sometimes they will promote a different product such as resveratrol or some sort of other "miracle fat burning pill".  It doesn't matter what combination they claimed they used... they're all complete scams!
The reason they claim that they used 2 products is because they get 2 commissions from the supplement companies if you are fooled into buying both of their "free bottles" (which you'll eventually see aren't really free when they send you the 2nd round of bottles in 3-4 weeks and you get billed $90 on your credit card for EACH bottle).
Scam Characteristic #7:  they say the offer expires at a date that is either 1 or 2 days from current date
 Many times the fake blog will also say that the offer for these "free bottles" of pills expires (and it gives a date that is either 1 or 2 days from the current date).  They do this through a script that simply fills in the date at a set time after today's date.  Again, they are lying.
Where the Diet Pill Fake Blog Scam (and teeth whitener scam, wrinkle eraser, muscle building pill scam, etc, etc) originates
The backbone of this whole thing lies in something called a CPA network, where independent online advertisers are allowed to do whatever they want to try and sell a bottle of pills to someone using a "get this free bottle of pills and pay only shipping and handling" type of offer... and these CPA affiliates will do ANYTHING to try to lure you into this sale -- and that includes blatantly LYING in BOTH their ads and their fake blogs!
Now these CPA networks aren't necessarily the bad apples (although I've heard that some reps from the CPA networks have actually tried to convince their affiliates to produce fake blogs)... it's the CPA affiliate marketers that run most of the advertising for the products that the CPA networks allow.  Those are the real low-lives with no morals that will do anything to make a buck.
From what I've seen, these CPA network affiliate marketers that run "magic pill" offers will do whatever it takes to make a sale... they literally seem sleezy enough that they would probably even lie to their own Mom just to make a sale.  The CPA network pays the affiliate a set hefty fee everytime someone orders a "free plus S&H" bottle of pills.
But it gets worse!
Now beyond that fact that they already blatantly lied to you by using a fake blog, fake story, and about 10 other lies... most customers do not see the fine print that tells them that they'll start receiving bottles of this junk every month starting about 3-4 weeks after their initial order for the "free bottle + shipping".
This same exact thing happened to my mom when she told me about the "free bottle" of pills she found on the internet.  I asked her what the site looked like that she saw this on and she described exactly the type of fake blog that I'm telling you about in this article.  She literally had no clue that she was going to be billed another $70 to $90 per bottle on her credit card in a couple weeks when they automatically started sending her the next month's shipment.
Now to give some of these companies a little bit of credit... if you read the fine print, they do say that you'll get automatically billed, but from what I've heard is that most people don't read the fine print and really have no clue that they will be billed again.  Most people really do think that they are getting a free bottle of pills for only S&H.
And if you ordered both bottles of pills from the fake blogger's so-called "2-step process", then you'll be shocked to see 2 giant charges on your credit card next month when they send you the 2nd set of bottles.
To make matters worse, I've heard from people that some of these shady "fly by night" supplement companies are poorly staffed and it's nearly impossible to get in contact with them to cancel your order or get a refund.  Good luck with that!
And the Last Problem - the pills don't work!
That's right...they don't do jack-diddly-squat!  I've even heard from some insiders that these sleezy companies produce these bottles of pills for about $1.50 per bottle, and then charge you $70 or $80 per month for them!
Remember that ever since the passing of the 1994 Dietary Supplement and Health Education Act (DSHEA), supplements have been excluded from federal regulation. One of the negative aspects of this is that certain unscrupulous companies could now pretty much get away with putting anything they wanted in the bottle because it did not have to undergo quality control testing to make it to market. Their label didn't even have to match what was in the bottle, since nobody is policing them.
As shady as these companies are, I certainly wouldn't trust them to actually be truthful in what they're putting in the pills... how do you know it's not just sawdust in the pill?
That's why I only trust very select supplement companies... those that I know the owners personally, such as this site: http://natural.getprograde.com
I hope this article has helped so you know exactly how to avoid these types of fake blog websites... remember that these types of fake blogs have spread to all sorts of other things beyond weight loss pills... 3 of the newest offenders being teeth whiteners, wrinkle "cures", and muscle building supplements.
Watch out for this Idiot Loser too...
Also watch out for a particular fake blog scam that I just saw showing up recently called the "Terminator Workout".  This fake blog is designed to deceive men into buying a "free bottle" of muscle building pills.  This idiot that made the fake blog claims you don't even need any exercise at all.  sure... ok Tiny Tim.
Also his ads don't even make any sense, since the Terminator Workout ad takes you to a fake blog that doesn't even talk about working out... he just talks about the pills.  He tries to talk in a real casual and "urban tone" on the blog too to fool you into thinking he's a regular guy that found a miracle supplement.  What an idiot loser!
Watch out for these slimeballs and their fake blogs... they're everywhere!
Email this page to protect your friends and family from this scam!  Also feel free to copy/paste the link to this page to your twitter, facebook, myspace, blog, or forum pages to help those you know avoid this scam.
Instead of falling for scams, get the real TRUTH on losing body fat permanently without any bogus pills

To your success in achieving a lean healthy body (without scams),

Mike Geary
Certified Personal Trainer
Certified Nutrition Specialist
Author - The Truth about Six Pack Abs (world-wide best seller of over 250,000 copies)

PS - My friends at Prograde Nutrition only sell legitimate products such as a high ORAC antioxidant blend or natural krill oil (even more benefits than fish oil).  These products have dozens of healthy benefits, but nobody is claiming them to be a "miracle weight loss cure".  When a site actually preaches real health benefits instead of claiming to be a miracle fat loss pill, you know that is a site to trust.

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