Club Lifestyle Weight Loss

I remember a scene from the 1980s movie Smokey and the Bandit where Burt Reynolds tells “far-more-sophisticated” Sally Fields essentially something to the effect that how dumb you are depends on what part of the world you are standing in.

Those who consider an evening out going to Broadway will have more knowledge in certain arts-related fields than someone who considers a night out going down to the local lake for a campfire. Someone who spends their life in health and wellness will have FAR more knowledge in fitness than the Captain of a 747 commercial jet. But in either case — who is smarter? It depends on a host of factors of course.

In growing up I was blessed to spend my Summers on a farm in very rural southern Illinois farming and just plain doing back-breaking work for my Uncle and my best friend then who was my cousin. The upside for me was I got to be with my best friend and we got to ride motorcycles all over God’s-green earth and have fun hanging out with the local girls down there.

The people from the area spoke with a Southern drawl and were what most would consider pretty simple folk. Everyone waved if you passed them on the street whether in a car or on foot.

We had no indoor plumbing, no running water, no TV. We got our drinking water by going to the outside well, turning a bucket attached to a rope upside down and dropping it 30 feet down into the ice-cold water. The bucket would fill with water and we pulled the bucket back up. Some of the best tasting water I have drank and I’m quite certain there was God-knows what in it from the insects and whatever that probably lived down there.

In High School my Algebra teacher told my Mother that I was the only kid he knew who was taking Auto Mechanics (as a class) and Algebra.

My growing up, my natural interests, my proclivity to be non-judgmental to people as a result of everything I was exposed to and everything within me naturally prepared me to be able to enjoy fine art while also enjoying X Games motorcycle backflips. For the record? I prefer the X Games stuff. I can maintain quality, fulfilling conversations with Ph.D.s and “simple folk” from the sticks. I truly am blessed.

This short NAPA commercial is funny to me because I think it sums up what I just spent a few hundred words typing above. Who’s smarter? The pompous yuppy team or the team of Nascar driver Michael Waltrip and NHRA driver Ron Capps? It depends on what you spend your time doing and where you are standing in the world.

LOVE IT!

http://www.leannesslifestyle.com/postcard/?pcid=napa

In health,

David Greenwalt B.Sc., CSCS
http://www.LeannessLifestyle.com

Are you wearing your indecision?

Procrastinating a decision can result in stress. This stress is what I term a “door opener” for phantom-hunger drivers. The bottom line here is INdecision can manifest itself in stress eating. Stress eating can result in you “wearing” the INdecision with extra layers of fat.

If you’ve been putting off making a key decision I encourage you to:

1. Think on purpose on paper. Give the task some focused thought and make a T-chart for Pros on one side and Cons on the other.

2. Focus on what you really want. Ask for what you want repetitively throughout the days. This is not the same as focusing on the opposite of what you don’t want. This isn’t algebra. The opposite of a negative is NOT a positive when discussing self-talk. Saying “I want my dog to stop urinating in the house” is NOT the same as saying “I want my dog to urinate outside.” The difference might seem subtle but it’s important. “I want my husband to stop ignoring me” is NOT the same as saying “I want my husband to notice me and acknowledge me.”

Most times you won’t be verbalizing this. You’ll just be asking for it and concentrating on it with enough clarity to draw a true emotional state to your consciousness.

3. Make your consciousness be directed at what YOU can do. Use the serenity prayer or some other statement you like that helps you to remember that there really are some things you simply don’t have the power to change but for the ones you do–make the choices necessary to create the change within you and served by your hand.

4. Talk to a friend, mentor our counselor about the decision you have been reflecting on or procrastinating. Contrary to the belief we all have that “No one else suffers as I do.” or “No one else has this problem.” or “No one else gives a crap” everyone is suffering in some way, everyone is just a little bit screwed up (or a lot) and there are people in your world who care. Instead of going solo ask for other input you respect and trust. If you have to pay for the input? So be it. Abuse can only occur in isolation. Reaching out is far better than making the exact WRONG decision because you were captivated in a circular manner by your own thoughts alone. I call this the loop tape to no where.

These four steps can take you out of the indecisive mode you may have been in. The liberation of decision rather than the suffocation of indecision will become visible in your exercise and food choices on a daily basis. Make the decision. It’s one of the healthiest things you can do for yourself.

David Greenwalt B.Sc., CSCS

My client and one of the founding partners of Brightworth Private Wealth Counseling featured an article penned by yours truly for their Winter 2009 newsletter. You can get a copy of the entire Brightworth newsletter by CLICKING HERE - My article is on Page 8.

Brightworth works exclusively with wealthy individuals who need a high level of expertise to properly manage large portfolios. To learn more about the Brightworth difference visit their website at http://www.brightworth.com/brightworthdifference.html

from David Greenwalt
Written Christmas Eve 2008

The quick and easy would be just for me to say “Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!” and move on with my day. I thought, for this unprecedented year I’d get down and dirty, keep it real, and still keep, in the end, the sanity of hope alive.

I’ve noticed for WEEKS now as I’ve driven through our little town of 15,000 people and elsewhere that the Christmas lights are fewer–the streets are darker at night. Normally in our town the festivity this time of year is palpable and blindingly obvious–but not this year. Have you noticed this in your neighborhood too? I’ll bet a lot of you have.

Be there no mistake everyone–we are ALL in this economical crisis together. And I’m going to go ahead and leave the word “all” in there knowing that five percent of anyone who might ever read this aren’t really impacted by the recession/depression we are living right now. I’m okay with being “wrong” that five percent.

For everyone else? If things feel a bit scary right now? Welcome–and you’re normal–and MOST are scared right now. If you feel a sense of hopelessness? Welcome–you’re normal–and MOST are feeling some level of hopelessness for any number of reasons right now. If you’re not sure if you’re going to be able to keep your (home, car, 401k, health insurance, premium cable, etc.)? Welcome, you’re normal–and MOST are feeling some worry over what they may not be keeping in the next few weeks, months or year. Has doubt ever entered your head, even for a flash of a second, about whether you REALLY want to remain a part of this earthly world? Welcome–you are normal–and MOST people have thoughts like these at one time or another–especially in times like these.

Are you starting to feel me on this? Are we in this together? You bet we are.

In my years of learning, coaching, mentoring and living I’ve come to know a truth about we humans and that is every single person you pass on the street is struggling with something in their life. It doesn’t matter what their smile looks like or what they’re driving or what clothes they wear or who they’re married to or not or how much money they have. Every single person is struggling with something. In such a time as we are living right now the struggles have exponentially increased.

Your closest friends or relatives may or may not talk to you about where their financial struggles exist. There is a feeling of “being the only one REALLY struggling” until you talk to enough people openly and honestly about what’s REALLY going on in yours and their worlds. I want you to know, beyond the shadow of any doubt, that you are NOT alone. Again, we are ALL in this together.

Lift your head a bit higher, let the tears flow if need be, but grit your teeth and allow a sense of pride for simply continuing your journey in the short time we all have here on Earth. What’s that? Well let me just say it more directly. Maintain or gain a sense of pride for keeping yourself alive–for NOT unplugging yourself from life. Is that clear enough? But why allow a sense of pride for simply making the choice to live? Because, as history partially repeats itself when we consider the 1929 depression, there will be an increase in suicides in the coming year, two or three. Those people will have chosen NOT to stand and fight. As you do choose to stand, fight and even, as you can, celebrate life? It’s worth feeling pride over. And, if you think about it, you are only here because your Mother/Father or Grandmother/Grandfather stood and fought during the decade-long 1929 depression and they stood long enough to conceive you. They were fighters. And you’ve got some of that DNA inside you–this is good.

Can we allow ourselves to feel some pride for “doing our thing?” What THING is that? Whatever it is you do the most. Maybe you’re a stay-at-home Mom, one of the greatest roles a human can play and one of the least admired and appreciated. If you’re still getting out of bed and being a Mom? It’s worth feeling some pride over. And to all my Moms out there? Remember to give yourself a hug and pat on the back and some time to yourself because no one is going to give it to you.

Maybe you are the primary breadwinner and there just hasn’t been that much bread to be won lately. For getting out of bed and doing that thing you do–I say congratulations, well done and I hope you’ll feel a sense of pride for simply continuing to do it. Not everyone will.

Regardless of whatever it is you do day in and day out or how you contribute to your “pod” and the world let’s feel some pride over simply continuing to contribute.

Feeling some appreciation and pride at the most basic levels for the most basic things is going to be necessary to continue on productively. And it might simply be necessary to appreciate and feel pride over the basics to continue on. Now more than ever it’s important to be grateful and to feel grateful for the smallest of things.

If the wolves are persistently at your door. If you are upside down in your home. If you have too much month and not enough cash all too often. Yes, it’s time to get advice from family, close friends and, of course, experts in the area of financial planning and/or debt management. Keep in mind that the universal laws of attraction are working whether you’re aware of them or not–regardless of what you call them. Be solution focused. Focus on what you want–not on what you don’t want. And for God’s sake remember that the opposite of a negative is not a positive. “I don’t want to go broke and lose my home” is not the same as saying “I want to be financially secure and keep my home.”

Be mostly positive. Many people are afraid to be the “Pollyanna” where we play the Glad Game and try and find something to be glad about in any situation. The reason I say be mostly positive is our subconscious loves authenticity and if we try and be nothing BUT positive our subconscious will soon kick back a “Ya right, get real dummy — things are not THAT great.” So be mostly positive in your thoughts, words and actions yet allow the reality of the negative to be present (and here is a key) without so much catastrophic thinking surrounding it.

Are you “broke” or are things just really tight? Broke is pretty catastrophic. Tight is several notches lower. Bring it down a notch or two or three. It’s easy to be and go negative–we are naturally wired to be that way. Natural isn’t always best. Allow a “diffused” level of negativity to exist WHILE you work to stay mostly positive focusing on what you want and being solution oriented.

:: More positive than negative (tough to do but can be done)

:: De-catastrophize the negativity (diffuse it to a lower level that’s more likely real)

:: Focus on what you want not on what you don’t want

:: Solution focused rather than problem focused

Okay, sorry for the long-windedness of what this 2008 holiday message has become. As a teacher it’s hard not to teach. But, be there no mistake, as I teach and mentor others I continue to re-enforce principles for myself as well.

Here is a little postcard with an audio message from me including a little positive affirmation statement I reflect on and listen to when I, personally, am feeling at my wits end and things feel simply beyond comprehension and out of control.

http://www.leannesslifestyle.com/postcard/?pcid=icanhandleit

As the title of the postcard says—You can handle this period in your life. We all can. We’ll get through it. Opportunities DO exist for each of us even in these most difficult of times. There is much to be grateful for even during this financial recession.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

With heartfelt concern, appreciation and warmth,

David Greenwalt

P.S.: You might find one or more of these books helpful to you. If any of them speak to you directly I cannot encourage you enough to get one or more in print or audio or both. In no particular order…off the top of my head…

Crazy Busy by Hallowell
http://tinyurl.com/823uf6

Margin by Dr. Swenson
http://tinyurl.com/a5q2c9

Eat That Frog by Brian Tracy
http://tinyurl.com/8am4aa

Mans Search for Meaning by Frankl
http://tinyurl.com/ax52xf

Crunch Point by Brian Tracy
http://tinyurl.com/8ejk3x

Reposition Yourself by Jakes
http://tinyurl.com/a5rtz7

Over the Top by Ziglar
http://tinyurl.com/7ygmwz

Total Money Makeover by Ramsey
http://tinyurl.com/9egj8u

Right click over the link here to listen to David Greenwalt interviewing Leanness Lifestyle member Jeff Pickett as he discusses his most recent 30-pound loss over just 13 weeks using the Leanness Lifestyle University program online. Mouse Over This Link <– After you mouse over the link RIGHT CLICK and SAVE TARGET AS to save the MP3 recording to your computer.

Click This Link To Watch a Video of this very funny YouTube video. In an effort to further my readers’ transformation success I feel it’s important that if you purchase a gym membership that you know these secrets about the purchase. This video I’d rate PG-13 so parental discretion is advised.

Tom Roehl is a Leanness Lifestyle Master Coach and a member of Leanness Lifestyle University since 1999. In July of 2008 Tom turned 50.

Mouse over the link provided and RIGHT CLICK to SAVE TARGET AS to download the 42-minute interview I did with Tom in celebration of his amazing success even though he was faced with a blown disc in his neck and over $10,000 in damage and lost possessions due to a flood and sewer backup in his home. Tom did it “even though” and “without exception.”

Here is the link to download the mp3 interview. MOUSE OVER THIS AND RIGHT CLICK TO SAVE TARGET AS

I recently corresponded with a new Leanness Lifestyle University student who, quite honestly, after 30 minutes of enrollment, wanted to quit. I think it’s important that I share why she wanted to quit though. I will quote her anonymously and then reply with what I told her.

I cannot stress how common it is that new students come to me frustrated after paying an in-person personal trainer a lot of money with no weight-loss results to show for it. Personal trainers can be great–as long as they are used for what they are best at–THE WORKOUT. Very very few personal trainers have the training, experience, tolerance and time to deal with lifestyle- and nutrition-management strategies. Those are the areas Leanness Lifestyle University especially excels with.

What Leanness Lifestyle University does not do is precisely what personal trainers are best at–IN PERSON WORKOUTS. They do what we don’t do. We do what they don’t do. It’s a match made in heaven if you can do both. But if you go to a personal trainer to lose weight you are not putting your money to maximal use.

FROM A NEW STUDENT

“It seems that there are a lot of steps involved and I’m afraid that it will be another failed attempt on my part. As of now, my esteem and faith is pretty low. I’ve been working with a trainer for the past 16 weeks and I have no results to show for it.

I KNOW that I am putting in the time and effort necessary and that this would work for the average person. I’m afraid that i’m not average. My body does not want to give up fat. Only in the past week has my trainer admitted to me that she’s not an expert in nutirtion and that she would need to consult a friend about my situation because I should be dropping the weight and I’m just not. It took her 16 weeks to think of this.

I was taking in 1300 cals and now i’m up to 1600. I’m 5′7″ and 185 pounds so I guess thats supposed to be the magic number for me. No luck yet. i’m working hard with no results.

Fear is stopping me at this point. Pure and simple. Let me know if you have any thoughts.

Thanks”

======================

My Reply:

Okay, now we’re getting somewhere.

I asked what you believe you need. The clearest answer you gave for that is “I don’t have a clear answer”

Next — I don’t blame you a BIT for being frustrated with NO results in 16 weeks. The bottom line is you got some good workouts in but not some good LIFESTYLE and NUTRITION workouts so you could figure out what to eat and how to make it work in your life. You also were not challenged to ask WHY you want to do this in the first place. I ask that and much more.

You are confused. Join the crowd of almost every new person who comes to me. I do what your trainer is scratching his/her head over. You are not confusing to me. The issue you are having is whether all this INTERNET STUFF is worth it and doable. It is. It’s an education. It’s like going to a local University and sitting in a classroom where you learn life-changing lessons that NO ONE can take away from you when you graduate.

You are special yet still quite average. You are unique yet exceptionally common. In NO way are you broken or some enigma that I can’t figure out. The fact your trainer couldn’t figure you out is, again, NOT a surprise. It’s not what they do. It’s what I do. They are with you an hour a day. LL University is the other 23 hours in a day.

Low faith? Again, join the crowd. Most come to me pretty broken down. How many failures must one endure to finally win? I’ll give you the answer — ONE MORE. You keep going until you win. I call this PWE(squared)

Pursue the worthy endeavor
Persist without exception

Never give up. Part of that, for you, is getting the education and putting in the time FOR YOU that is necessary to get the education (the REAL education) that you need to succeed.

Your body does NOT want to give up fat. You are 100% right! We can nudge your body into giving up fat — guaranteed.

We say “Feel the fear and do it anyway.” Being afraid is normal at first here. Giving up before you start? Not normal for my students and definitely not a pattern for someone who is eventually going to be successful.

I AM an expert in nutrition. Can you dedicate 1 hour per day for 1 week and then 45 minutes per day for 1 week and then 30 minutes per day for 1 week and then 15 minutes per day from then on (if you stay) to get an education that can change your life? If you can? Stay, commit to this investment of time with my educational program. You’ll be amazed what you learn and how your body responds to your newly applied knowledge.

Sincerely in health,

David Greenwalt B.Sc., CSCS - Founder
Leanness Lifestyle

Click This Link To Watch a Video of a MAD TV skit that I simply find hilarious due to its absurdity. I do want to caution that I’d rate it PG-13 so parental discretion is advised.

If you’ve ever searched for weight loss miracles you’ve undoubtedly found a website or fifty touting the miracle of the negative-calorie-food diet.

The most common “negative-calorie” food touted is celery. A stalk of celery is about six calories. The miracle pitch is that the calories it takes to chew it and digest it are about nine calories. Hence, the six-calorie celery ends up being a negative-calorie food because nine (the calories purported to digest it) is greater than six.

Ah, the legend of “negative calorie foods” continues the long tradition of folklore fixes for weight loss.

Mathematically? I haven’t found any credible source that back ups the claim that you burn more calories eating and digesting celery than that which celery provides.

What is known, proveable and is scientific is what is called the thermic effect of food (TEF). Through TEF the body uses energy (calories) to digest food. This equals about 5-10 percent of calories consumed. See page 157 of LL V.4.

About 3% of fat calories consumed are used to digest it. About 7% of carb calories consumed are used to digest it. About 25% of protein calories consumed are used to digest it. A calorie truly is NOT a calorie. Protein does provide a greater TEF than either carbs or fats. But did you see anywhere that I mentioned that fats, carbs or proteins have a TEF of 105%? Uh, no.

What you’ll find if you scour the NET is eventually common sense prevails. Even IF celery WAS a negative-calorie food no one eats JUST celery and if someone was hoping for the extra “calorie burn” from eating celery to burn off one pound of stored body fat? Good luck — even with the folklore versions where they state you burn an additional 6 calories MORE to digest it than a stalk of celery contains you’d have to eat over 500 stalks to burn off an additional one pound of stored body fat (a pound of stored body fat has roughly 3500 kcals in it)

That said, almost everyone could use a few more fruits and vegetables in their daily regimen, and choosing a wide variety among those with fewer calories isn’t a bad idea if you’re trying to lose weight. Opting for a piece of fruit or a plate of vegetables instead of snacking on nachos and cheese certainly will help you toward your weight-loss goal. But it’s not because they have “negative calories.” It’s because of the standard, simplistic fact they contain fewer calories than you might otherwise eat and then a BUNCH of reasons the common “experts” don’t talk about relating to food addiction, food allergies and much more — well beyond the focus of this short article on negative-calorie foods.

Sincerely Yours In Health,

David Greenwalt B.Sc. - Founder
http://www.LeannessLifestyle.com
http://www.LifestyleAtWork.com