Everywhere you look, someone has their "top 3/5/10 exercises" for leaner thighs, abs, arms, or whatever. All this hyperbole and anti-scientific rhetoric is based on the same type of nonsense - but let's keep it specific to the "tummy" since that's probably the most common "trouble zone". Want to know what exercise helps you get a flatter stomach? ANY exercise. Stomach fat loss is not in response to ab muscular activation (just as fat loss ANYWHERE is not in response to local muscle … [Read more...]

I wanted to touch on this topic real quickly. All too often I’ll hear people say things like “Well, I’m just trying to lose weight.   So I’m only doing cardio and not doing any weights.” This is not an ideal strategy.    Most likely, if you’re trying to lose ‘weight’, what you’re REALLY trying to lose is fat.     All weight loss requires a calorie deficit (which is why cardio can be really helpful for that cause), but a calorie deficit really doesn’t give a damn about how you want to … [Read more...]

Moderation is somewhat an abstract term – which is why for a while, I did not like it.    I understand at least some others are in that same camp.    However, I’ve found it to be a helpful term to create a contrast with unhealthy, unnecessary, and unsustainable restriction. But…to take it out of the realm of the vague and make it more concrete, I would definite "moderation" as: Diversity in one's diet with nothing off limits that isn't harmful for the individual (or simply not desired) - … [Read more...]

Sugar is the Rodney Dangerfield of nutrients - it gets no respect.   Virtually all internet discussions on the realities of sugar will devolve at some point into alarmist statements of "SUGAR FEEDS CANCER!". Naturally, these types of extreme claims are RARELY spouted by people with as clear of an understanding of science as clear as their understanding of how to use caps lock and exclamation points.     So I thought.... "how bout I get someone with some in depth scientific knowledge on this … [Read more...]

Though long maligned due to being a white carbohydrate (Oh, the humanity!), potatoes absolutely have a place in a nutritious and weight loss supportive diet.  Despite their lack of pigmentation, they have nearly the identical nutrient density as sweet potatoes.  They are also the food with the highest score on the Satiety Index, and one of the most important factors for sustainable weight loss is maximizing how much satiety your diet is providing you. We were originally introduced to green … [Read more...]

Guest post this week from my friend Kathleen.   She's a super gal and has some great and info and perspective for you.   Check it out... - Sean Finding More Time for What You Really Want Guest Post By Kathleen LeGrys “I just don’t have time to exercise” or  “I don’t have time to cook (or figure out how to eat healthy), so I just eat on the run.”  or “I just heat up a frozen dinner or make a packaged meal.” I hear this from people all the time. It’s during this conversation they … [Read more...]

“Oh my goodness Bruno!   I’m so proud of you, buddy!” I want to tell you a story about my best buddy and how it’s a perfect example of what many people have struggles with. When we adopted Bruno in 2009, he was quite emaciated.     We were told that he was eating 3 times a day and “just wouldn’t gain weight”.    I’m not sure how true that was – but he was a skinny boy.   The first time we brought him to the vet to be weighed, he was less than 50lbs (as a fully grown male boxer).       … [Read more...]