You've probably heard of Jared Fogle - he's the guy that lost over 200 pounds by only eating at Subway. His amazing story captured the attention of people all around the world. Here it is in a nutshell: It all started March of 1998 when Jared was a college student with a problem. His weight had skyrocketed to 425 pounds. Now that's a lot of weight for anyone to handle, let alone a busy college student. So Jared made the decision to change his life. He knew the weight would come off with the help of a healthy, lowfat diet. Luckily for him there was a Subway restaurant located near his apartment. His plan was brilliant in its simplicity. Everyday he ate the same thing:

• Breakfast - coffee
• Lunch - "I ate the 6-inch turkey, tons of vegetables, including hot peppers and a bit of spicy mustard." He left off the mayonnaise and cheese and had a bag of Baked Lays® potato chips and a diet soft drink
• Dinner - Footlong veggie sub - again no mayonnaise or cheese.

I'm sure you know the rest of the story. The Subway diet, along with exercise, got Jared to shed the extra weight until he was a lean 190 pounds (the guy is 6'2"), and he became a spokesperson for Subway, sharing his story and inspiring millions of people. Subway then became synonymous with healthy eating. Ever look at a Subway napkin? It lists 7 of their sandwiches that have 6 grams of fat or less. Then at the bottom it shows you an alternative. The Big Mac and the Whopper, burgers that hold 31 and 40 grams of fat, respectively.Wow, Subway is much healthier, right? Well, yes and no.First read the small print. The 7 sandwiches with 6 grams of fat or less are calculated with only bread, veggies and meat. So if you take your sandwich with cheese, mayonnaise, and oil (and really, other than Jared, who doesn't?) then you need to recalculate the numbers. Here, I'll do it for you, using a 6" Roasted Chicken Breast sandwich as an example.

Let's not forget the tempting side items are that so often picked up in the Subway line:

And just like that your 'healthy' Subway sandwich grew into a meal with fat and calorie totals that rival a Big Mac meal. Now I know you probably don't get all of the extras when you visit Subway but, quite frankly, that isn't the point. The point is that there is danger in classifying any restaurant as 'healthy'.The truth is that you could gain weight eating anywhere, just like you could lose weight eating anywhere. It all comes down to maintaining a balanced diet with a reasonable calorie and fat intake. Jared lost weight by drastically cutting calories and fat from his diet and by starting an exercise program. You too could do this at Subway or any other restaurant. But eating at Subway does not mean that you will walk out leaner and healthier. It all comes down to choices.Everyday you make choices that directly affect your weight and your health. Should you get mayonnaise on your sandwich? What harm will one cookie do? Will skipping your workout today really make a difference? You get to decide. At some point we all reach a breaking point. For Jared it was hitting 425 pounds. For you it may be when you have to buy the next size up. Or when you find your body riddled with aches and pains. Or when you're shocked by the number on the scale. Sooner or later you will decide that you are worth it. You will decide that your health is important. You will decide that you deserve to look great. And you will do what it takes to achieve amazing results.

So you've slacked off a bit and avoided exercise.

Maybe your job demands too much of your time or you simply fell out of the routine. I have news for you. Whether you've taken off one year, ten years or haven't exercised a day in your life - it's never too late to start.

You see there are problems with living a life devoid of exercise. Big problems.Your weight rises along with your blood pressure and cholesterol. Your muscles and joints degenerate at an astounding rate leaving you with daily aches and pains. Your body becomes weak, making you susceptible to all kinds of medical issues.

Why Should I Start Now? You've heard about the benefits that consistent exercise bring, but what if you haven't been consistent? Should you even start at all? This has been the subject of many medical studies and the results are unanimous:

Exercise helps improve your quality of life even if you start late.

Researchers are constantly finding new benefits to consistent exercise. It's no wonder that Dr. Robert Butler, of the National Institute on Aging, once said "If exercise could be put into a pill, it would be the single most prescribed medicine in the world."

Imagine if a pill could offer all of these benefits (without harmful side effects):

• Substantially reduces the risk of coronary heart disease and osteoporosis
• Decreases the risk for stroke, colon cancer, diabetes and high blood pressure
• Helps to achieve and maintain a healthy body weight
• Contributes to healthy bones, muscles and joints
• Helps relieve anxiety and depression
• Promotes well-being and reduces stress
• Is associated with fewer doctor visits, hospitalizations and medications
• Helps prevent and treat chronic medical conditions associated with old age
• Increases energy levels and promotes sound sleep
• Strengthens immune system

I know that I would take that pill - wouldn't you? Exercise may not be something that you can gulp down with a glass of water, but it will offer you all of the above benefits that can greatly enhance your quality of life.

Excuses, excuses, excuses…

I know what you are thinking. Those benefits sound great, but I can't exercise because:

• Exercise is painful. Not if you do the type most suitable for you.
• Exercise is boring. Most people who exercise find it to be quite enjoyable.
• Exercise takes too long. It only takes 30-60 minutes a day.
• Exercise is confusing. Not when you work with a trained professional (me).
• Exercise if for young people. Studies have shown that exercise if for all ages.

Get Started the Right Way. Many people have started an exercise program only to quit days later. Now that you have decided that exercise may be worth your time after all, ensure your success with the following tips:

• Make a Commitment

You know the meaning and value of a solid commitment. It's in your blood. So don't view exercise as something you will merely try. You will only reap the true benefits of exercise when you stick with it.

A great way to reinforce your commitment is to solicit the support of your friends and family. Tell them how you plan to improve your health and quality of life through exercise - who knows, they may join you.

• Set Reachable Goals

This is an immensely important ingredient to your success. Don't start your exercise program with unreasonable expectations. If you expect to lose all of your unwanted pounds, drop your blood pressure and cure your joint pain all in one week then you will be sorely disappointed.Remember that it took years for your body to fall out of shape so it makes sense that it will take some time to regain it. The key to unlocking all of the benefits of exercise lies in one word: consistency. Only then will your body be transformed.

• Rearrange Your Schedule

They say that you can't teach an old dog new tricks. This may be because his schedule simply didn't allow for it. The truth is that as we age there is a tendency to become 'stuck in our ways.' The thought of rearranging your schedule may leave you a bit squeamish.

Remind yourself that exercise is worth your time and then think long and hard about your daily schedule. The fact is that you do have time to lend toward exercise - you simply need to find it. Set aside 30-60 minutes for exercise and then stick with it.

• Increase the Challenge

You should start your exercise program with the thought of easing into it. Since you haven't exercised in a while your body will need to build up strength and endurance. Consider a car that has been sitting in your garage for years. You wouldn't turn it on and instantly slam down on the gas would you? You need to warm it up.

However, this warm up period should not last forever. Your body has an amazing ability to adapt to new challenges and will grow complacent when asked to do the same exercises over and over. When your routine begins to feel easy take that as a hint to increase the challenge.

Don't let another day pass you by. You deserve the good life. Take action now.

Trim The Fat

Before you bite into a tasty steak, check for visible fat on the meat. Cut this excess fat off and you will end up with a healthier meal. Remove the skin from chicken and make it a habit to select extra lean cuts of meat while grocery shopping.

For more than 20 years the media has bombarded us with a perpetual diet craze. An avalanche of fad diets are announced one after another as breaking news while producing zero true results. Sure, you may lose 5, 10 or even 20 pounds on a fad diet...but you'll gain it all back and then some. How can I be so confident that your results will be short lived? It's actually a simple concept, and once you understand it you will be forever saved from the tortures of yo-yo dieting. Fad diets saddle you with unreasonable calorie restrictions and some even cut out entire food groups just to produce that short lived drop in weight - a process that is actually harmful to your health. The fad diets also ignore one major component to shaping up: exercise. You see, most fad diets operate on one age old premise: cut calories, cut calories, cut calories. By restricting the type and amount of food consumed the fad dieter usually sees an immediate drop in weight. If only it stopped there...But it doesn't stop there. Life continues, and the fad dieter returns to their pre-diet eating habits - with one major difference in their body due to the sudden drop in pounds. Their calorie requirements have gotten smaller. In practical terms this means that the dieter will begin gaining weight even though they are eating their normal pre-diet portions. And since exercise hasn't become a part of their routine, the unneeded calories will result in pounds gained. So what's a dieter to do? Find a brand new diet to follow - right? Wrong. There is a way to drop pounds and firm your body, but you won't read about it in the next diet book or hear it on the news. The solution to your fad dieting nightmare is a lifestyle change. What is a lifestyle change? To change your lifestyle means to replace unhealthy habits with healthy ones, and to do so consistently. It isn't something you do for a week or two, only to revert back your old ways - a lifestyle change redefines who you are. I know this is starting to sound like some heavy stuff, but hear me out. Changing your lifestyle from one that is unhealthy to one that is healthy will be the best thing that you ever do for yourself. Trust me, I help people like you make this change every day with amazing results.

Fact: The shape of your body is the direct result of your current lifestyle. So how do I change my lifestyle?

That is a great question, and the answer is actually easier than you might think. Most people who are unhappy with their bodies are really only holding on to a few bad habits. Once these destructive habits are identified and then replaced with healthy habits their body naturally transforms from one that they loathe to one that they are proud of. In other words, to get the body that you want simply determine your unhealthy habits and replace them with healthy ones. Here are the most prevalent unhealthy habits:

• The habit of inactivity. Failing to exercise on a consistent basis is one of the most destructive obstacles for your health and figure. (The key word here is consistent. If you aren't exercising at least 3-4 times each week then you own this habit.)
• The habit of overeating. Consuming calories in excess of your daily caloric needs is one of the main reasons that more adults are overweight today than ever before.
• The habit of empty calories. Filling your diet with foods that hold little to no nutritional value is a great way to expand your waist. (Hint: if a food item is made up of mainly sugar and/or fat consider it 'empty' calories.)

You can lose weight and improve both your appearance and your health. You can look and feel great. You can transform yourself into the person that you've always wanted to be. Don't let another day go by that leaves you a slave to unhealthy habits. Take action now. Email me today and together we will recreate your lifestyle and redefine your body. By the way, I should mention another deadly habit that destroys too many people's dreams. The habit of procrastination. How many times have you told yourself that you will start eating healthy tomorrow? How many times have you promised that you would call me to start your personal training program? Each day that you succumb to the habit of procrastination is a day that pulls you farther and farther from your goals.

Write It Down

Did you know that writing down your goals is one of the best ways to assure that you will meet them? Make the (healthy) habit to write down your fitness and weight loss goals and to update it periodically with your progress. Remember that the more specific your goals are the more likely you are to meet them. Instead of writing 'I want to lose some weight' make your goal more definite like: 'I want to lose 15 pounds and fit into my size 8 pants'.

Taken From Adam Brewer's Get Fit Newsletter

Do you have what it takes to get the body of your dreams?

For many the summer months bring with them a harsh reminder of unmet fitness goals.While the toned men and slender women of the world put on their skin-tastic summer gear and proudly put themselves on display, those with jiggles and dimples would rather opt for a cover up and hang out under an umbrella.So why haven't you met your fitness goals?Why must you go through another agonizing summer, turning your head as you pass by a dozen magazines showcasing skinny celebrities in bikinis? You should be enjoying your summer days without wondering which pair of shorts covers the most.Š

The truth is that anyone can get the body of their dreams...even you. And wouldn't it feel great to pull on your bathing suit without bracing yourself before looking in the mirror?You can turn your fitness dreams into reality-read on for the three things you need to begin achieving amazing results.Š

1. Your Mind

You may be wondering what your mind has to do with getting your body into great shape. In a single word, your mind has everything to do with getting the body of your dreams. Your mind will single handedly make or break your success.How? Well, your mind works hard to reinforce the beliefs that you hold about yourself. If you think of yourself as a fat person, or an out-of-shape person, or just an average person then your subconscious mind will do everything in its power to keep you that way.It's like self-sabotage.However, if you begin to think of yourself as fit, healthy and attractive, then your mind will do everything it can to make your belief a reality.*Take time everyday to visualize your new body and to focus on your goals.

1. Your Plan

Everyone who successfully sets out to lose body fat and achieve results does so by implementing a plan. Your plan is crucial to your success, picture it as a guiding map needed to find a new destination. Without it you are lost.

Here are the 2 major parts to your plan: 1. Diet: They say you are what you eat, and that is never truer than while losing weight. Cut junk food from your diet and stick with fresh healthy foods instead. Eat small meals throughout the day containing protein, carbohydrates and minimal fat. 2. Exercise: Yes, you will have to break a sweat, but the good news is that once you make exercise a habit you will likely find it to be enjoyable - In fact, I know you will. It is important that you make exercise a part of your lifestyle, and not something that you do on random occasions. For maximal results exercise 4-5 times each week doing both cardiovascular and resistance training.*Stick with your healthy eating plan and exercise routine-these are the building blocks to your success.

1. Your Determination

Determination is the one thing that will guarantee that you will lose weight, tone your body and feel better than ever. You have to want it-that's it. Thinking about it is not enough. Now it's time for action!You have to want your dream body...more than you want that burger and fries.more than you want to skip your workout.more than you want that chocolate cookie.more than you want to sit on the couch.The shape and size of your body is in your hands, and your hands only. I believe that you possess the kind of determination that it takes to change your body-you simply need to dig down deep enough within yourself to find it.

Fuel your fire by building a network of support in your life. Enlist friends, family and loved ones to encourage your efforts and to keep tabs on your progress. In fact, I would love to be a key player in your network of support-don't hesitate to call me or reply to this email to get me onboard. Fitness is my passion and I can help make it yours too!*Surround yourself with support and don't give up.I get excited when talking about getting you the body of your dreams-this is what I do everyday for my clients. Making the decision to transform your body is something to celebrate.Email me through my website www.WestsideBootCamp.com and let me know that you are ready to make it happen for yourself and together we'll create a fitness and fat loss program that will change your life!

Fat Burn Zone

Are you exercising in your fat burning zone? The easiest way to check this is to do the 'talk test'. Are you able to hold a conversation whilst exercising vigorously without wheezing or having shortness of breath? If you answered yes, then chances are you are burning fat! But, if holding a conversation seems too easy, then you need to kick it up a notch or two.