Read on to find out the answers to:
- Why do I promote other people’s programs?
- What are my favorite oblique exercises?
- How do you modify my most challenging program?
- Can I get visible abs after losing lots of weight?
- Another sugar substitute?
Let’s get started….
Question: I often get asked ‘why do you promote other people’s programs?’
Answer: I was happy that my friend, Rick Kaselj shared a note a customer sent him. I’ve featured Rick on my blog several times. We support each other because we believe in each others programs and expertise. You can read about Rick here, here and here. This is a reminder that the people I support are helpful in getting customers one step closer to their goals. Here’s the email that Rick received:
I have completed the following fat loss programs since Sept 2013:
- 4 Cycle Fat Loss (completed in 8 weeks) – By Shaun Hadsall
- Cheat Your Way Thin (completed 6 weeks) – By Joel Marion and Shaun Hadsall
- Xtreme Fat Loss Diet (completed in 5 weeks) – By Shaun Hadsall, Joel Marion and Dan Long
- Turbulence Training (currently in Week 5 of 12) – By Craig Ballantyne
- Superhero Sprints (can’t wait to start this program) – By Dennis Heenan
- I’ve also been following/using information from Mike Whitfield, Shawna Kaminski and you.
I’m 64 years old and I’ve lost 40 lbs and 6 inches from my waist. My amazed doctor took me off of my Diabetes II and Cholesterol meds.
I’d say this is a great reason to share programs from other authors that I believe in. And this is why I share other people’s programs…
Question: What are the best exercises for oblique muscles?
Answer: Here are my picks: Cross-Body Mountain Climbers, Side Planks and Hanging Leg Raises to the side.
Question: On the 21 Day Challenge Diet , can I have the bacon frittata every day for breakfast? Can I mix and match all the recipes?
Answer: Yes, you can mix and match the recipes. Yes, have the frittata every day for breakfast if you enjoy it. This way you know that breakfast is taken care of and you start your day with a good serving of protein to help you feel full and satisfied.
The calorie goal is about 1400 calories per day. Please keep in mind there might be more or less depending on the exact recipes you choose and the portion size. A helpful tip is to stop eating when you’re about 80% full. When you tap into this awareness you will be listening to your own body signals so you will tend to overeat less.
The 21 Day Challenge Diet plan and community will help you meet your fat loss goals.
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Question: I am extremely out of shape. I’d really love to try your Challenge Fat Loss program. Is it for me? Can I benefit from it or will I end up hospitalized? (Kidding, sort of…) Ted
Answer: If you decide to try the Challenge Fat Loss workouts, I think you can be successful if you do a few things:
- Take ALL modifications we do in the videos (what would seem to be the ‘easiest’ of exercises)
- Stay upright for exercises at first (do incline push ups and planks vs a wall) to reduce the getting up and down issue that can be difficult and cause a little nausea and dizziness, slowly we can work you to the floor and working planks from your knees not toes yet
- Do ALL non impact HIIT, that is do marching in place, step jacks, full body extensions etc instead of jumping exercises (don’t jump up and down)
- START OFF SLOWLY – only work at half speed at first and gradually work a little harder each day
- Do NOT do deep squats for starters, go half squats or let pain be your guide, if it hurts to go deep, do shallow squats, shallow lunges or replace with a wall sit
The good news is you actually have 60 days to test drive the program. If you find it doesn’t work for you, you can get a full refund.
You need to start some where, so the follow along videos where I can modify/intensify exercises is a great place to start short of having a qualified trainer actually in your living room.
Hope that helps, all the best to you. I think you can get on top of your health/weight issues. It’s not too late. Keep me posted.
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Question: I am interested in your Challenge Fat Loss program. I am in really good shape. I am 59, female although I am an ex-runner, I can’t run anymore (for obvious reasons). I do work out all the time, though – weights, yoga, speed walking. Is this program suitable for me? I don’t want any plyo moves at this point but I can definitely do pushups, etc.
Answer: You definitely will be able to do non impact options for all exercises and you have the video workouts to guide you. Here’s my favorite non-impact option called the Total Body Extension. It may not look like much, but man oh man, it gets your heart rate up. =====>
The Challenge Fat Loss program is geared to increasing your strength through bodyweight exercises and other exercises using simple equipment. There’s no need for impact moves and you still can get lean and strong.
Question: I have always thought that I would not be able to have abs….well showing like yours since I’m 5 feet tall and was 100 lbs all my life. When I got pregnant with my three kids, I ate like porky pig and gained 60 lbs for each baby. I lost it all afterward but didn’t have the knowledge we have today so even though I lost it all, I didn’t know how to exercise then.
In the last 25 years I have climbed up to 148 lbs…way too much for my size. So I’ve started to lose some weight, so far, I have lost 12 lbs and it feels wonderful.
Would your Challenge Fat Loss program help someone like me? I want to be a sexy, toned and a muscular older lady! D.K.
Answer: I think my program can help you but I must be honest. You will get leaner, but if your tummy was really stretched, you may not be completely happy with the tone of your skin. You’ll definitely look and feel 100% better, but you may only be rocking a tankini and not a bikini.
I’m being totally honest. The elasticity of our skin loosens with age. But for the most part, you have the ability to get leaner and be much healthier.
I don’t want to promise you something that’s unachievable.
Having said this, if you’re not happy with the program, you have 60 days to return it.
I hope that helps, all the best to you and your fitness.
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Question: I have a stress fracture in a metatarsal in my foot. Impact and ‘cardio’ is out. How can I help my legs and triceps from turning to jelly?
Answer: Building and maintaining the muscle you have is key to the tone, so work hard at strength type moves. 
You can do a great deal to strengthen and tone your legs without impact. Squats and lunges, wall sits, and RDL’s are all great. I’m not sure you can do one legged exercises, so the lunges may be out, especially with the extension of the toe, so you’ll have to experiment with that.
As for your triceps, any push ups, get ups, over head presses, skull crushers will be great. But be careful with the foot position and the toe extension.
Do back movements, and core ones as well (rows, more planks, side planks, stick ups, etc) and these will help keep your sanity and will help build metabolically active muscle everywhere to help you burn calories even at rest. Don’t worry that you can’t do impact or ‘cardio’ as long as you do some strengthening or resistance training.
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Question: What about erythritol to be used as a sweetener? I’ve been told that it’s a good substitute for sugar and I have been using it in my coffee and tea. I would really appreciate your take on it.
Answer: Erythritol is a sugar alcohol, a sweetener that doesn’t provide as many calories as sugar. But the reason that sugar alcohols provide fewer calories than sugar is because they’re not completely absorbed into your body. For this reason, high intakes of foods containing sugar alcohols can lead to abdominal gas and diarrhea.
Also, bear in mind that while sugar alcohols are lower in calories, gram for gram, than sugar, they are not calorie-free, and if eaten in large enough quantities, the calories can be comparable to sugar-containing foods.
Some sugar alcohols are reasonable to consume in moderate quantities — for example, xylitol doesn’t spike blood sugar levels in the way that high-fructose corn syrup might, and it is anti-bacterial and actually helps prevent dental cavities.
In general, erythritol is free of side effects in regular use, so in moderation, erythritol is a suitable sugar substitute.
Do YOU have a question? I’d be happy to help you, just pop me an email or comment and I’ll be sure to get back to you.