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Five Fat Burning Secrets

By: Ben Greenfield

Usually, I'm not this specific in my articles, but I'm going to give you the exact details on 5 very efficient methods for maximizing your metabolism and boosting your fat burning levels. These are strategies you can use that don't incorporate long workouts or calorie counting diets – just practical methods of achieving results. Throw just 1 or 2 of these tips into your daily routine, and you'll notice changes. Try all 5, and you’ll be able to literally watch the fat melt away and a lean body begin to appear.

1: 10-15 minutes of light exercise before breakfast every morning. You may have heard that you shouldn't exercise on an empty stomach before breakfast because by the time that you finally do eat the morning meal, your body will be in fat-storage, starvation mode. While this is true for longer exercise sessions, a brief bout of exercise will give your metabolism a boost and ensure you start the day off right. Here is a sample routine to complete 1-2x:

· 25 knee or regular pushups + 25 jumping jacks

· 25 crunches + 25 jumping jacks

· 25 body weight squats + 25 jumping jacks

· 25 toe raises + 25 jumping jacks

2: Park at least ½ a football field from the front door of anywhere you go - grocery store, shopping mall, health club, church, video rental - everywhere! If you have a hard time gauging the distance of a football field, take about 50 long strides. For most individuals, that will be close to 50 yards.

3: Eat one of the following every single day (I call it the ABS group): 1 Apple, 1 Banana, 1 Salad. Whole, raw, and with as little dressing, peanut butter, croutons, cheese, and other fancy additives as possible.

4: Perform 20 body weight squats every time you use the restroom. Don't laugh - I told you I'd be specific! Make sure to keep your weight on your heels, your knees behind your toes, and your back straight. And get those thighs parallel to the ground.

5: Do not eat any food that contains High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS). I dare you. Since HFCS is extremely soluble, mixes with many foods, is cheap to make and easy to store, its used in everything from bread to dressing to processed meats to beer to health bars to soda. Because HFCS doesn’t activate the hormones in the body that regulate weight and appetite, fat burning and metabolism are suppressed after it’s consumption – even more that other sweeteners!

OK, now that you've got the 5 secrets, let's review tomorrow's plan: 10-15 minutes of light to moderate exercise followed by a healthy, complex breakfast; park far away everywhere; eat ABS; squat when you squat; nix HFCS. Got it? Good! Our bodies weren't meant to sit quietly the entire day and be fueled by liquid candy and processed foods, so eat smart, live smart, and train smart!

If you'd like a personal trainer to give you more practical tips by phone and e-mail, a detailed exercise routine, or a sound nutritional plan, just check out what we offer for online personal training from www.pacificfit.net, or e-mail me at elite@pacificfit.net. Also, when you're at the website, feel free to download a free sample copy of my diet and fitness book – Shape21: The Complete 21 Day Lean Body Manual. Anyone who is training online automatically receives a 10% discount on the the book/DVD package. So if you use the 10% personal training discount at the end of this newsletter, you'll be getting double discounts!

Ben Greenfield holds bachelor's and master's degrees in sports science and exercise physiology (University of Idaho), and is certified as a National Strength and Conditioning Association personal trainer and strength and conditioning coach, a Serotta certified bicycle technician and an ISSN Sports Nutritionist. Ben is the owner of Pacific Elite Fitness www.pacificfit.net an online multi-sport coaching, nutrition and personal training service and is director of sports performance for Champions Sports Medicine www.champsportsmed.com He is also available as a private wellness coach or to speak at seminars and conferences. E-mail elite@pacificfit.net

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