Gaining Weight To Qualify For Lap Ban Surgery

At 202 pounds, Steffany Sears knew she was fat, but not fat enough to qualify for traditional weight-loss surgery.

Desperate for help, the Gold Bar, Wash., woman did what seemed the only logical thing: She gorged herself on chips and cookies, pizza and fried chicken so she’d gain at least eight pounds more.

“I would have eaten myself stupid,” recalled Sears, 34, who was turned down by her insurance company for the $20,000 procedure. “I know friends who would have done that, too.”

In the end, she actually qualified to participate in a clinical trial that led the federal Food and Drug Administration this spring to lower the bar for obesity in people eligible for one form of weight-loss surgery, Allergan’s Lap-Band stomach-shrinking device. Because she had a body mass index, or BMI, of between 30 and 35, the target range of the new rule, she even got the treatment for free, instead of having to take out a second mortgage on her house.

Today, at 5-foot-6, she weighs 143 pounds. “I felt like I’d won the lottery, really, with my life,” said Sears, a native of England.

But Sears’ experience highlights what dieters and doctors alike say is a growing dilemma. Spurred by strict insurance policies that limit surgery to high BMIs of 35 or 40, some obese people are actually striving to gain weight – in order to lose it.

Web sites devoted to weight-loss surgery are full of advice and anecdotes from would-be losers who claim they ate piles of bananas, chowed down on burgers and curly fries or swilled gallons of water to nudge the scale to the correct heights.

“That happens all the time,” said Dr. Robert Michaelson of Northwest Weight Loss Surgery in Everett, Wash., who was a clinical investigator for the FDA trial. “I’ve seen people come in with ankle weights on.”

Sometimes, it works. Elizabeth Marks, 32, of San Diego, Calif., was turned down for surgery once by her insurance company for being less than 100 pounds overweight, but accepted after she gained more.

“I just had two weeks of eating all the junk I could,” Mark said.

In general, a person who is 5-foot-6 and weighs 220 pounds has a BMI of 35. At 250, the BMI climbs to 40.

Weight-loss doctors definitely discourage patients from gaining more and instead urge them to pursue non-surgical options, or to find other ways to pay for the surgery. One good reason? Some insurers regard the practice as fraud.

“I tell them go home. You don’t qualify,” said Dr. Namir Katkhouda, a bariatric surgeon at the University of Southern California who has performed 2,000 procedures. “They come back six months later and their problems are much worse.”


Excerpted from MSNBC: Gaining Weight To Quality For Lap-Band Surgery? | A Black Girl's Guide To Weight Loss

How to Boost Natural Fat Loss

As a trainer, I find that many clients are willing to put in the fitness and exercise component while struggling with the nutrition component of their health program. If you experience the same thing, this article is for you.

It is important to realize that nutrition plays a bigger role in fat and weight loss than exercise and physical training. There are many ways to boost metabolism and working with a personal trainer will help you to incorporate as many strategies as possible into your daily routine.

The following are a few techniques to boost your fat loss efforts:

Engage in aerobic exercise for 30-60 minutes MOST days of the week and an additional 15-30 minutes in the afternoon/evening. My peers in the fitness industry may suggest less time per week but I find that the body is designed to be active daily and maintaining a strong workout schedule boosts the metabolism. Always remember that you can break your workouts into shorter sessions to meet your schedule and personal obligations.

When exercising, use interval training and weight training sessions at least three times a week. Both techniques push the body to use carbohydrate and fat stores in the body. Weight training also builds lean muscle mass which increases your metabolism.

If you are performing weight training and cardiovascular exercise in the same day, weight train first because it will burn carbohydrates for the first 30 minutes so that the calories you burn during cardiovascular exercise will come from fat.

Always look for ways to be active throughout the day. Walking up the stairs instead of using elevators and walking as much as possible throughout the day will add up to meet your fitness goals.

Exercise in the morning when you can because it will help to control your appetite all day long and decrease food cravings.

Do not hold your breath and breathe deeply during exercise because your body needs oxygen to effectively burn fat and boost your metabolism.

Once you have the fitness component in place, you should take a look at your dietary habits to boost your metabolism.

First of all, drink water, water, and more water. Drinking cold water throughout the day actually encourages your body to get rid of excess water, increases your body’s core temperature which stimulates your metabolism and promotes cleansing of the body.

Always eat breakfast and eat 5-6 smaller meals a day (every 3 hours).

Eat the majority of your calories earlier in the day when your body is active and able to burn more calories than during sleep.

Avoid empty-calorie foods and beverages like sodas or alcohol which dehydrate your body, slow your metabolism, do not satisfy your hunger, and add to the calories you have to burn later.

Whether you want to boost your metabolism to increase fat burn or boost overall energy, make sure you consult a professional like myself and gradually incorporate the tips I am sharing with you to reach your goals. Don’t forget to avoid stress and sleep well (7-8 hours) to improve your results.

The Dangers of Appetite Suppressants

Cassandra Forsythe-Pribanic, PhD, RD

No one likes to feel hungry and we all know by now (hopefully) that starvation diets do not work. Sure, you may lose weight, but you’ll gain it all back, plus more - and what good is that?

Yet, for some reason, countless men women turn to fat-blocking drugs and appetite suppressants hoping to lose the extra 20, 30 and even 60 pounds they’re carrying around.

But, do you really know how dangerous these weight-loss “solutions” really are?

Do you really understand what they’re doing to your body?

Probably not, but read on and we’ll tell you.

Magical Pills Don’t Exist

You’re convinced that your problem with weight gain is because you eat too much.

No, it’s not that you’re eating ice cream every night, or because you haven’t eaten a vegetable other than the lettuce in your sandwich – it’s because you’re eating more calories than your body needs.

So, you tell your doctor this, and they recommend an “appetite suppressant” drug. And, you think your prayers are answered.

But, your body is in for a wild and dangerous ride.

Less Food Means Less Energy

Immediately you feel like you can eat less. You now think you can actually function normally without any breakfast, with a 100-calorie snack pack at lunch, and then a 300-calorie frozen meal for dinner. For a few days you feel ok and you start dropping a few pounds.

But, the second you try to start doing anything active, even something as simple as body weight squats or walking lunges you’re gasping for air, your heart rate feels like it’s going to burst out of your chest and you feel dizzy, faint and completely helpless.

So, you stop exercising and realize that this “immediate” weight loss might not be such a good thing.

(Really) Unpleasant Side Effects

After a week or so, your body starts to realize something isn’t right. You start experiencing horrific side effects such as dizzy spells, blurred vision, sleeplessness and intestinal upset.

Even worse, one of the biggest drawbacks of these fat-blocking weight loss drugs is that they stop your body from being able to absorb most of the fats you’re eating – even the healthy ones!

Fats such as the essential omega-3 fatty acids in krill and fish oils which actually help your body burn fat, fight inflammation, prevent mood swings and keep your hair and skin healthy.

Also, they stop your body from being able to absorb fat-soluble vitamins like vitamin D, which we all know is a preventative measure against cancer and protects against colds and the flu.

Who thinks dry, brittle hair, achy joints and being sick all the time sounds like a good thing? Not me!

Further, scientifically-based weight loss research shows us that low-fat diets actually increase our risk of heart disease and do not help us lose body fat. Instead, our body needs fat to burn fat and right now, your body is not getting the fat it needs.

These fat-blocking appetite suppressant drugs are not helping you at all!

Eating Right and Exercising Hard is the Real Answer

Winners in the weight loss battle know that what you eat is more important than how much you eat. And, how hard you exercise is more important than how much you exercise.

So, before you decide to pop another appetite suppressant, fat-blocking pill in your mouth, ask yourself this:

1) Am I eating foods containing protein, fat and carbohydrate, every day that Mother Nature would recognize as her own? Or would She have no idea what they are because they are covered in a colorful package, and preserved with chemicals that are no good for anyone?

2) Am I exercising intensely enough almost every day of the week to make my muscles feel more challenged than a easy stroll around the park? Or, am I just going through the motions and doing the bare minimum to get by?

If you struggle answering these questions, look towards someone who’s achieved these accomplishments to help you. Join a supportive group of people that have the same struggles as you and who are led by someone that shows them how to get past these struggles safely and effectively.

Blocking fat absorption and eating less is not the answer – you need good food to fuel effective exercise and keep your spirits high.

Otherwise your weight loss really will never work because no one likes to feel starved and irritable every single day.

Are you ready to burn up to 800 calories 30 minutes?

Do you want to work your entire body in just a handful of moves?
Would you like to see a toned, strong body and a slimmer waist in a matter of weeks?

Good, because the kettlebell will do just this and more.

Many of my Personla Training clients have already experienced the power of this iron cannonball on a handle, but I've barely scratched the surface of what this instrument of fat burning can really do... yet...

Right now, the kettlebell is the talk of Tinseltown. Current devotees include Jennifer Lopez, Penelope Cruz and Jennifer Anniston, to name but a few.

This Russian bell of iron offers every woman and man the perfect workout; high calorie burning without the fear of bulking up - Perfect! What's more, it builds power, strength and an atheltic physique.

Right now I'm using the kettlebell more and more in my own training program and I have to say that dumbbells are starting to gather dust in my workouts. What I love about the kettlebell is that it's challenging, it hits your whole body with every move and you don't need to go heavy to see good results.

Because you're moving the weight around or swinging it, the whole body has to work hard to move and stabilize it, which means a core workout that tones your midsection in record time and forces you to concentrate on each exercise.

And the best part? With a kettlebell at home you can burn an impressive number of calories and go to town on your bum and your tummy in as little as 10 minutes a day!

To find out more try my brand new MVP Boot Camp Kettlebell class for more info go to www.mvpfitness.net.

How to gain patience in your weight loss program

Have you ever seen a baby try and walk? Babies who are trying to walk, try to do it over many weeks and months. They make a small effort, usually fail and then try again. It is only after many efforts that they eventually master the skill.

What does that have to do with confidence?

It seems to me that even though we see all around us, that anyone that developed a difficult skill took a long time to do it, we somehow kid ourselves into thinking that we can achieve a new skill overnight. We expect to learn a language in a few hours even though you took months and years to learn your own language. Part of it is advertising that promises quick results. Part of it is we have become a society obsessed with speed. But the fact is, you can't make big changes overnight. Sorry, but it's just not possible.

So when I see people who expect to be transformed overnight from un-confident to confident, I have to give them a dose of reality. It ain't gonna happen! If you are serious about developing your confidence, you are going to have to accept the reality. It won't happen immediately. You have to be patient. You have to apply yourself every day and have a firm plan for action. If you don't do this, you will never succeed.

Remember, patience is the key. As they say, a desire for instant results can be the cause of a lifetime of failure. Don't expect results too soon. If you are getting a little better every day, not only are you guaranteed to get there in the end, but the skills you develop will be much more stable and secure. You will have earned the achievement.

Resolve today to apply yourself every day to becoming confident. It's only with a commitment to day by day improvement that you will get to your goal of being an impressive socially confident individual.

4 great ways to put on the pounds

My tip this week is to not give up, remember reaching your fitness goal is a gradual process.

But if you DO decide to quit here are some great tips that will allow your body to become more sluggish and will allow you to pack on more pounds GUARANTEED!

1. Eat only process and fast foods - If you're truly serious about packing on some serious fat, you'll follow this rule faithfully. It is also a great way to spend lots of money too.

2. Get to bed as late as you can - This technique is a great way to make you so tired, that you won't feel like exercising.

3. Stay away from water - This tip will allow you to add to the overall toxic load on your system. Remember to use coffee, tea and soda so your metabolism will slow down.

4. Don't exercise at all - You want to watch as much TV as possible and do nothing at all. This is a great way to raise your blood pressure, give you a greater chance of a heart attack and it should allow you to live a more shorter and lazier life.

So that's it!

Follow just one or two of them for even a short time and you'll see a rapid softening of the waistline and a BIG gain in scale.

If you following all of them, you'll be stunned by your appearance in your mirror staring back at you within a month.

Give it a go!

Pace Yourself

Pace yourself for Weight Loss - A good meal plan and exercise plan will help you reach your weight loss goals.

One secret to maximize your meal plan is to eat a small meal and wait 20 minutes before deciding if you need more food. This will give your stomach and brain time to communicate. If have eaten enough food, your brain will alert your body and you will find that you don't desire anything more. If you are still hungry after this period, eat a small amount more and wait another 20 minutes.

The Get Fit 4 Christ exercise program and meal plan has been in the testing phase for three weeks now. How has it worked so far? Well, here are a few results from clients that are in the Get Fit 4 Christ 40 Day Beta Testing Program.

Deena Sneed lost three pounds!
Stacey Miller has dropped a total of seven pounds so far!
Sunnie Hughes has melted away five pounds!
Sheree’ Gaston trimmed off three pounds!
Cierra Evans has blasted away three pounds!
Charles Boyd has chopped off four pounds!
Lutricia Adegebite has shaved off seven pounds!

For more info on Get Fit 4 Christ log onto http://www.getfit4christ.com/

4 Ways to Look and Feel Great by Summer

The summer months are almost here! The perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing, and all of the chores are done.

But one thing you have to be careful of is not backsliding and finding yourself dreading the summer months because of the way you look and feel.

Winter is typically the blame for your inability to stick to your fat loss plans and fitness goals.
However, I do have 4 simple tips that will help you avoid blowing it and enjoy the all the summer fun activities feeling healthier and stress free.

1. Flush it out - Water does the body good when it comes to good health. Water helps flush out toxins and other unwanted things lingering in your body. Water also replenishes fluids that help lubricate the internal body, while keeping you hydrated, lowering your desire to eat, and also helps keep your skin looking smooth and young. You should be drinking your body weight divided by half in ounces of water per day to keep your body hydrated and working properly.

2. Flax Seed - A great way to maintain a healthy cardiovascular system is by adding flaxseed to your healthy meal plan. Taking Flaxseed is a great way to control high blood pressure and helps with digestion; just make sure the flaxseed is crushed for easier consumption and absorption.

3. Eat Less Later - Everyone knows, whether they want to admit it or not, reducing calories will help you lose weight. However, just as you should reduce the calorie intake, you need to know when to eat. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and the one meal that you should not miss. Lunch should be healthy but less than you ate for breakfast. As you approach dinner, eat healthy and light. Avoid after dinner snacks and DO NOT Eat at least 3 hours before you go to bed at night.

4. Reduce the Pressure - Stress can be an incredibly powerful drag in your life and when a person is stressed, the body reacts. Results of stress can lead to high blood pressure, tension headaches, upset stomachs, and many other ailments. Exercise is probably the most effective defense against stress in your life. So keep your stress in check with good quality well balanced exercise program.

Weight Loss Tips

With so many diet and exercise programs out there it can be difficult to decide on the best weight loss plan to use. Choosing a weight reduction program is no easy task but you can make a reasonable selection if you consider your goals and your lifestyle before jumping into what you may think is the best weight loss plan for you. In this article, I will give you some free weight loss tips.

First of all you need to consider the core of your weight problem. Do you want to drop ten or twenty pounds? Are you fighting a life-long obesity problem? Is your weight associated with a recent pregnancy? Does depression or mood adversely affect your weight? In order to find the best weight loss program, it is crucial that you consider the source of your problem.

Depression is a serious matter. Rather than trying to find the best weight loss strategies to use a person who is depressed is better suited to research his mood condition. This individual may find that once the depression is treated, the pounds melt away. Treating the depression itself is often the best weight loss plan available.

A person who wants to drop some vanity pounds after giving birth would want to take a very different approach than someone who needs to lose a lot of weight that she has been carrying around for years and years. The best weight losss program for one person may not be the best for another. The new mom could benefit from taking on a trendy six-week fat burning exercise program while the lifelong obese problem will need medical intervention.

Speaking of medical intervention, make sure that you talk to your doctor about the best weight loss program for you. You can save a lot of time and effort by simply asking your physician about which program would be best for you. Your doctor can help you start off in the right direction.

You doctor can also suggest whether you should start a weight loss exercise plan. The best weight loss strategy for many individuals is to simply start a reasonable exercise routine. You may find that you don’t really need to diet as long as you increase your activity.

Free Weightloss Resources:
Weigh Less Nutrition Center - GNC

When Is The Best Time To Eat Dinner?

Studies have shown that eating early in the evening is better than eating late at night.

The highest percentage of the overweight people studied ate their dinners later at night than those of average weight. The reason for this appears to be the fact that their food does not get digested before they go to sleep.

Here is a tip - Your metabolism is at its slowest when you sleep. Undigested food that stays in your body overnight tends to build up fat and contributes to weight gain.

The best thing to do is eat five to six small meals throughout the day and a moderate dinner at a reasonable hour, generally three hours before you go to bed.

If you work at night or until a late hour and are in the habit of eating when you get home, try to change your eating and sleeping habits accordingly.

Remember to exercise three to five times per week and be sensible about when and how much you eat and you should be able to control your weight.

Surround Yourself With MVPs!

One of the key characteristics of successful people is that they avoid negative people and they spend the majority of their time surrounded by those who have already achieved success and want to achieve more success.

So if your goal is to lose 20 pounds by eating healthy, exercising and living an energy full life - then seek out others who already live a healthy lifestyle and want to lose weight .

If you are around person that has an negative attitude, than it most likely that your attitude will be negative.

Surround your self with another MVP (Most Valuable Person) and you will have the support that it takes to reach your goals.

Hanging out with a person who just talk about getting in shape but never take persistent action will ensure that you never reach your goal.

The Qualities of a Gold Medal Winner

The Olympics is grabbing every one's attention. Great athletes like Micheal Phelps, of the United States , won eight gold medals in swimming and Usain Bolt, of Jamaica won the gold medal in the 100 meter dash with a blazing time of 9.69.

All of the Olympic athletes have five qualities in common: (We can use these same qualities to reach your fitness goals.

1. Commitment - A great athlete will make a promise to accomplish a goal that they have set for themselves
2. Have a Plan - A great athlete also follows a set plan and is dedicated and sticks to his plan
3. Attitude - A great athlete always has a positive and winning attitude.-
4. Mustard Seed Faith - A great athlete knows that it takes faith to be a winner.-
5. Prayer - A great athlete always knows where his or her strength comes from and believes that it takes the will of God to be a world class winner.-

If you follow these five qualities you can become a gold medal winner in your fitness goals. Remember, with hard work, dedication and our Heavenly Father on our side, we too can be gold medal winners!

Ladies - African American Hair Care For Exercising

Foxy 95.5 radio personality, Niecy, admits that one on the most popular excuses that African American women use for not exercising is "I just got my hair done."

The hardest time part about exercising is knowing you are going to sweat your hair out and you will have to spend 30-40 minutes repairing fixing your hair. Plus, you may wear a short, sexy style so you can't just wash and go.

I understand that you spent a lot of money on your hair and looking good is very important. But the lack exercising can hurt you in the long run. The obesity rate among African American females is 70%. The reason why is poor eating habits and not exercising.

Here are 8 tips on how to stay fit and keep your hair tight and right at the same time.

1. Work out before bed, then you just need to shower and get your hair to a sleeping point

2. Wear an Underarmour cap, if may wick the sweat

3. Change your hairstyle to something more low-maintenance

4. Wear a wig

5. Wear a head band and pull your hair back

6. Wear braids

7. Put on a shower cap after your workout and hop in the shower and then just touch up your hair with the straightening iron afterwards.

8. Make getting fit a priority and try your best to work around your hairstyle

The Benefits of Boxing

I recently met with actor and dancer Darrin Henson to talk about my favorite subject FITNESS.

Henson, who played "Lem Van Adams" in the Showtime series Soul Food and "Grant" in the movie Stomp The Yard is a fitness buff and uses boxing as a workout technique for his busy schedule.

Staying in shape is a must for Henson, who is currently working on three films -

The Express where in plays running back Jim Brown, will be released later this year. The other two films - Blood Done Sign My Name and Tekken will be released in 2009.

We both agreed that the benefits from boxing are endless. Here are 10 reasons to incorporate boxing into your fitness plan.

1. You stay motivated and committed to a fun and challenging workout.
2. You reduce total body-fat percentage and strengthen muscular system
3. You build confidence and a sense of well-being
4. You improve the ability to relax, to keep calm and poised under high pressure

5. You develop discipline

6. You will tone muscles

7. You will increase endurance and stamina

8. You will improve flexibility and balance

9. You will improve co-ordination
10. You will burn fat and loose weight

A good boxing workout not only will make you feel like a Champ, but you will also make you feel like a MVP!

Here's How To Fit Into Your Favorite Jeans

Participating in MVP Boot Camp is a great way for you to fit into your favorite jeans.

You know the ones that you look so sexy in a couple of years ago.

Here is a challenge for you. Keep those sexy jeans. Keep trying them on to keep yourself in check to keep eating right and exercising.

Click on the link below and try the MVP Skinny Jeans Workout. This workout focuses on the inner thighs, the hips and butt with a mix of cardio thrown in.

MVP Skinny Jeans Workout

Wellness Extreme Makeover

Yes the search it on!

MVP Fitness has teamed up with Triad Chiropractic and we are looking for nominations for individuals ready, willing, and able to make a life change.

We are offering a full transformation to two individuals (one male and one female). Including energy balancing, structural correction,wellness coaching, core and spinal stabilization, personal training, weight loss strategies, and nutritional supplementation. Everyone knows one person who needs a total transformation!!

Please send us an e-mail to info@triadchiropractic.net with you are nominating and tell us "their story", just a little about them and why they deserve this opportunity. No limit on the number of people that you can nominate.

Strength Training 101

I want to quickly clear up a myth about strength training.

Some women avoid weight training because they don't want to bulk up. However, strength training is a very important element to maintain a healthy weight and strengthen your body.

The fact is women can't bulk up with strength training simply because women typically don't have the amount of testosterone necessary to build huge muscles.

Also, studies have shown that "the average woman who strength trains two to three times a week for eight weeks gains 1.75 pounds of lean weight...and loses 3.5 pounds of fat.

In other words, strength training makes you more lean.

Go to the link below and try The MVP Fitness Dumbell Blast.

This is an excellent dumbell interval training workout. I recommend that you use a pair of 5-10lb dumbells for this circuit.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=k_QmM0Lvwoc

Note: Exercise is not without its risks and this or any other exercise program may result in injury. To reduce the risk of injury in your case, consult your doctor before beginning this exercise program. MVP Fitness, LLC and advice presented are in no way intended as a substitute for medical advice, MVP Fitness, LLC disclaims any liability from and in connection with this program. As with any exercise program, if at any point during your workout you begin to feel faint, dizzy, or have physical discomfort, you should stop immediately and consult a physician.

The Keys to Flat, Sexy Abs

I get a lot of questions on how to flatten the stomach.

Here is a very simple strategy I use.

1. Eat Breakfast - it is the most important meal of the day.
2. Watch What You Eat - you must stay away from fast food joints
3. Eat Five to Six Small Meals Per Day - it is a great way to speed up your metabolism
4. Drink Only Water - no soda or sugary drinks such as kool aid or lemonade
5. Exericse - use both strenghth training and interval training

Click on the link below and try this four minute ab routine that is used in MVP Boot Camp.

The video is called the "Abs From Hell" - this workout is being view on You Tube and some viewers perfer this workout to so many others, it actually makes the abs burn.

Perform this routine twice.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=bYHeIlbVye8

Note: Exercise is not without its risks and this or any other exercise program may result in injury. To reduce the risk of injury in your case, consult your doctor before beginning this exercise program. MVP Fitness, LLC and advice presented are in no way intended as a substitute for medical advice, MVP Fitness, LLC disclaims any liability from and in connection with this program. As with any exercise program, if at any point during your workout you begin to feel faint, dizzy, or have physical discomfort, you should stop immediately and consult a physician.

Here's a Way to Stay Fit During the Off Week

A great way to get a workout in when you are short on time is doing an Interval Training routine.

I use Interval Training a lot in MVP Boot Camp.

Interval Training is about mixing high intensity bursts of exercise for 20 seconds with moderate intensity recovery periods for 10 seconds

Interval training will improve your fitness levels, boost your metabolism and burn off that extra fat. It is fun, challenging and saves time.

Plus, there is no equipment needed because the four minute circuit below is a bodyweight exercise routine.

For an example of a great Interval Training workout, go to the link below and perform the MVP Boot Camp 4 Minute Workout.

MVP Boot Camp 4 Minute Circuit

Note: Exercise is not without its risks and this or any other exercise program may result in injury. To reduce the risk of injury in your case, consult your doctor before beginning this exercise program. MVP Fitness, LLC and advice presented are in no way intended as a substitute for medical advice, MVP Fitness, LLC disclaims any liability from and in connection with this program. As with any exercise program, if at any point during your workout you begin to feel faint, dizzy, or have physical discomfort, you should stop immediately and consult a physician.

Fitting Fitness In

The summer time means busier schedules - but that does not mean that you can't fit your workout program in.

Here are a few tips to fit fitness in during the busiest time of the year.

1. Instead of spending your time searching for the closest parking space, park your car further away. Not only do you save time, frustration in finding a parking spot, but you also will use more energy walking.

2. Don't use the drive-thru. Park and get out of your car.

3. Use stairs instead of the elevator or escalator.

4. At work, take the long route to the water fountain, restrooms and cafeteria. Walk briskly.

5. Take a walk during your lunch break.

6. Buy Fit Deck Cards - created by former Navy Seal, Phil Black. FitDeck exercises require no equipment, and strictly use your body weight to deliver great results.

How FitDeck Works

A. Shuffle exercise cards
B. Insert cards into Card Holder
C. Draw a card and flip it over
D. Perform the exercise
E. Return card to back of deck
F. Draw next card and flip it over
G. Perform the exercise; repeat

For more info go to www.fitdeck.com

7. Make social time a time for working out by playing tennis or golf with friends.

8• Purchase an exercise DVD and workout at home.

Remember, the hardest part of an exercise program is getting started. The easiest part is to stop. Most people who start an exercise routine quit within a few weeks. But if you make it past those first few weeks, you will probably stay with your routine, and you may even discover that you love it and can't do without it. I have!