Okay, the holiday weekend is over. Let’s make it a point to really get the weight off during this time of year.

Here is what I want you to do:

1. Cut the liquid calories. I have NEVER seen so many people drinking soda and juice. It just HAS to stop. I was in South Coast Plaza earlier today and I could not believe the amount of people who were drinking their Coke right out of the can.

2. Cut the fast food. If you planned in advance, you wouldn’t be eating it, so plan.

3. Sleep. You should have caught up on your sleep this weekend. I hope you feel great in the morning and use every opportunity to get much needed rest.

Jim

I was driving around yesterday and was on my way to workout. I was trying to make a left hand turn and was inching up on the car in front of me to go around it. It was a big, baby blue Bentley.

So, this thin hand comes out and nicely waves me along, and as I look to the right to give the “thank you” wave, I notice it’s Paris Hilton.

Then, she waves the little cherry selling man over and buys a big bag of cherries off the street vendor.

So, three things to be learned:

1. Even celebrities with questionable behavior at times can be nice.
2. Paris eats
3. Paris eats cherries in season.

We ALL should be eating cherries right now as they are packed with vitamins and nutrients.

Enjoy the weekend and you better be working out.

Jim

Is DEAD wrong.

It starts by saying something like “A girl needs variety, and that’s what we provide.”

Wrong. Totally wrong.

All the research points to the fact that variety is what gets us INTO trouble, when it comes to eating. That is why buffets are such a nightmare.

The research also says that if you eat basically the same food most of the time, you effectively manage your weight.

That’s because variety makes us want to “taste” all the different foods.

So, stick with your basics and try interesting foods when it makes sense.

I know I sound like a broken record, but let’s make this weekend a success and not a HUGE not-success when it comes to your eating and exercise. Make sure to:

1. Exercise every day. Look, you have the time, so use it wisely. I would split your body part and work upper body on Saturday and Monday and lower body on Sunday. I would also try to get in as much activity as possible.

2. Watch your eating. Start each day with two poached or hard boiled eggs and some fruit. Or yogurt or cottage cheese and some fruit. Or I also like high fiber cereal and low fat mild. It’s easy and tasty.

3. Sleep. Use this time to sleep in, take a nap and get to bed at a decent hour. You will feel SO much better when you are well hydrated.

4. Connect with family and friends. The stress of these past years has placed a lot of stress on relationships. All the research proves that if you feel more connected to people, you will be less stressed, so use this time to repair or rekindle your connection to those who are important to you.

Enjoy,

Jim

Many people have called my office and emailed about my FOX segment on the SPRI ball. A number of you have asked about videos.

A few years back, I made two videos.

Video 1 – A 30-minute exercise session with the ball and SPRI tubing

Video 2 – A 30-minute exercise session with the ball and free weights.

If you call my office at 773-244-0123, they can help you with which DVD would be best for you.

And just sitting on the ball is a great way to start. I’m sitting on one right now as I type.

Jim

Both the winner and runner up say that they are now doing to START lifting weights.

Can you even imagine the muscle they have lost. Their metabolisms must be shot.

You HAVE to lift AS you are losing weight, or between 30-40% of the weight loss will be muscle.

This is a bad situation for them. I wish them luck, but it will be hard to keep the weight off.

Jim

As some of you know, I am not a fan of the show. It is an extreme, inappropriate way to lose weight.

The most recent winner, Michael, is on Larry King and he has lost 264 pounds and says that his skin is really fine, except for a little hanging skin in the lower abs.

LIES!

There is NO WAY you can lose that amount of weight and not have a hideous mess to clean up.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I want him to keep the weight off, but if he is like Star Jones and others who have lost a LOT of weight, then it is multiple surgeries to get his body even remotely back to normal.

So, Michael, congrats on the weight loss, but don’t tell people it’s pretty. I know from 24 years experience, it’s NOT!

Again, best of luck keeping it off but don’t be surprised if you don’t see and pics of him without his shirt.

Jim

If you take a look at the picture of Sarah Ferguson, you will once again see a former spokesman who gained ALL the weight back once the paycheck stopped coming in.

When will we all realize that getting paid to lose weight doesn’t work. it has to come from within and YOU need to decide that now is the time for you to lose weight.

And I actually feel sorry for Sarah. They were reporting on Good Morning America that she virtually received no money from the royal family, post the divorce, so she is desperate for money.

Jim

Have an 80% chance of being obese by age 25. That’s a HUGE reason to get weight off of your kids. How can you do it? Be a role model, eat right, exercise effectively and sleep. Also, get off ALL liquid calories.