The Best (and Worst) Halloween Treats

Today is a VERY dangerous day.


Not because of ghouls and goblins.


It's not the "tricks" you have to
fear. You and I both know it's the
"treats" that are frightening!


The Best (And Worst) Halloween Treats < === AVOID the horror


Now, because you want to keep your
friends and family safe, we urge you
to forward this article to them.


The Best (And Worst) Halloween Treats < === the smart way


Who's lookin' out for ya? J


Yours in good health,


Kirk Huggins Rogers

Happy Halloween...

Happy Halloween from Heroic Fitness...click below!!!





Halloween Tricks :)...

What foods should you eat every single day?

Are there any foods that you eat every day? If so, do you do so because they give your body the nutrients you need? For many people, the foods eaten are foods enjoyed. However, for those who are thinking about their fitness needs and focusing on their health, there are more than a few foods that you should be consuming each day, or at least as much as possible. Doing so gives your body a boost and gives your weight loss goals or muscle building goals a real chance.

Spinach Is Number One

The top food you should be eating each day is spinach. It is a rich tool for building muscle mass and it is a fantastic solution for preventing a wide range of health problems including strokes, heart disease and osteoporosis. In addition, it can also stimulate sexual health in men by increasing blood flow. You just need a cup of fresh spinach each day to see these results.

Yogurt

Are you eating yogurt each day? You should be. The cultures in it can do wonders for your body. Probiotic organisms in yogurt help to reinforce the healthy bacteria in your body. This helps to boost your body’s natural immune system, helping you to stay healthy. It can also help protect against cancer. Look for those with labels that say “live and active cultures” are a part of them, to see these benefits.

Tomatoes

Another great food for consumption is the tomato. Eat them often and eat them in a variety of ways. The redder they are, the better they are for you. The antioxidant lycopene is in them, which can help to reduce the risk of developing numerous health conditions including stomach cancers, prostate cancers, heart problems and skin conditions. Try to consume 22 mg of lycopene each day for the best solution.

Blueberries

Blueberries are one of the most important super foods today. They have a large number of antioxidants in them. These antioxidants help to prevent against cancer, the appearance of aging and the development of diabetes. They are rich in fiber and Vitamin A and C. You should try to eat a cup of fresh blueberries each day or ½ cup of dried or frozen varieties.

Carrots

You may know carrots are good for your eyes but they have other benefits, too. They are also an excellent tool for fighting of cancers. They can help to reduce inflammatory conditions in the body and even help with arthritis pain. They also have a low caloric level. Try to consume about ½ cup each day for the best results. If you do not like carrots, consider sweet potatoes, yellow bell peppers or even butternut squash. Mango is a fruit alternative.

For many individuals, having healthy foods in their diet is not easy. For that reason, try to add as many of these foods to your diet each day. Doing so can boost your overall health and give your body the nutrients it needs to be healthy long term.

Committed to your health and fitness success,

Kirk Huggins Rogers

5 Easy Ways to Drop 5 Pounds

5 Easy Ways to Drop 5 Pounds I'd like to share five simple strategies with you for shedding five pounds of fat before the holidays. But first let me clear something up. Weight loss can be put into two categories. The first is a fully concentrated effort. This is where you dedicate yourself to counting every calorie and slaving away in the gym. The pounds come off, but once you relax the regimen your weight goes right back to where it was. The second is a combination of simple lifestyle changes. This is where you change a few key factors about what you eat and how you exercise, without making it a fulltime job. This type of weight loss is gradual and permanent, since you are able to maintain it long term. The five simple strategies below all fall into the lifestyle change category. These strategies may seem ridiculously simple, but do them over an extended period of time and you will see amazing, permanent results. Strategy #1: Ditch Your Diet Soda Studies are coming out that link diet soda to weight gain. Researchers from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio concluded that those who drank two or more diet soft drinks a day had the largest waistline increases—about five times more than that of non-drinkers. They stated, "Data from this and other prospective studies suggest that the promotion of diet sodas as healthy alternatives may be ill-advised: they may be free of calories, but not of consequences." Bottom line: Artificial sweeteners are addictive, lead to waistline increases, and cause you to crave sugary foods. By cutting diet soda out of your daily routine, and replacing it with water, you will lose inches and pounds—effortlessly. Strategy #2: Swap Sandwich Bread for Lettuce Move over bread, lettuce is better. It's time to re-define your sandwich. While bread has tradition on its side, lettuce wraps offer you weight loss and increased energy. Try my Tasty Tuna Lettuce Wraps recipe below. Bottom line: Eating bread and other starchy foods always leads to extra pounds, so change your ways. Swap your sandwich bread for lettuce for 30 days and see how much you will effortlessly lose. I bet you'll feel more energetic after lunch too. Strategy #3: Trade Slow Cardio for Intense Intervals Doing slow cardio will not give you results. In order to really make your workout effective, you need to turn up the intensity. If you love the treadmill, then do a series of sprints throughout your workout. If you're a swimmer, then push yourself extra hard every other lap. Bottom line: Doing slow, easy cardio will not give you the streamline body you want. Only intense intervals will do that for you. Pepper your workout with bouts of intense cardio and watch as the fat starts to disappear. Strategy #4: Avoid Sugar 99% Of The Time Sugar will cause you to gain weight every single time. There's really no way around that simple truth. Sugar is standing between you and your perfect body. If you're serious about looking and feeling great, then understand that sugar has no place in your diet. Bottom line: If you avoid sugar 99% of the time, then you will be on your way to a lean and energetic body. If it's your birthday or a special holiday, then partake in a small amount of sugar, but make that the exception and not the rule. Strategy #5: Exercise With A Professional When I design your workouts, you know it will be great. People who work with a personal trainer get better results than those who attempt to do it on their own. Just look at my clients and their amazing transformations, and you'll see what I mean. Each workout will push you to your limits, challenge your body and deliver the results you're looking for. Bottom line: All of my clients expect to get the best workout of their lives each and every time they train with me, and my job is to over-deliver. Call or email today and I'll get you started on a program that will get you to the body of your dreams. The Halloween Excuse The stores are brimming with Halloween candy – and it calls your name every time you walk by it. STOP! You don't have to buy loads of candy just because the holiday is approaching. Admit it to yourself that you've used Halloween as a big excuse to eat candy. This year stop and think. Do you really want to eat candy and put on a few pounds? I didn't think so. Tasty Tuna Lettuce Wraps Who needs bread weighing them down? These tasty tuna lettuce wraps are so much better than a traditional tuna sandwich, and will leave you feeling light and lean. Use wild-caught Albacore Tuna packed in water. Servings: 2 Here's what you need... 1 (5oz) can Albacore Tuna, packed in water 3 celery stalks, diced 1 Tablespoon relish 2 Tablespoons light mayonnaise 2 teaspoons mustard 2 teaspoons dried dill weed, plus more for garnish dash of freshly ground pepper 1/2 cup purple cabbage, shredded 4-6 butterhead lettuce leaves, washed In a medium bowl, flake the drained tuna with fork. Add celery, relish, mayo, mustard, dill and pepper. Mix well. Place lettuce leaves on plates, evenly divide cabbage on the leaves and then fill with tuna mixture. Sprinkle with dried dill weed. Nutritional Analysis: One serving equals: 148calories, 7g fat, 434mg sodium, 7g carbohydrate, 2g fiber, and 13g protein. Spread the word. Forward this newsletter to your friends, family and co-workers by using the "refer a friend" link below. Forward This Newsletter - Refer a Friend IMAGINE, How big would You Dream, if You knew You couldn't fail???...Click Here for More Information.

Come Train With Kirk!     Heroic Fitness Hours of Operation Carillon Building Fitness Facilities Monday:  7:00 AM – 9:30 AM, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM Wednesday: 7:00 AM – 9:30 AM, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM Thursday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM Friday: 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM Ally Center Fitness Facilities Monday:  10:00 AM – 2:00 PM Tuesday: 7:00 AM – 9:30 AM, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM Thursday: 7:00 AM – 9:30 AM, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM Friday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM Heroic Fitness Success Stories   I had tried every thing to lose weight. I worked out all the time, drank lots of water, ate healthy, and took diet pills but i never saw results. Then I started working out with Kirk, and the weight fell off. It was fun and it wasn't hard. Kirk made it really easy to lose the weight. I started at a size 14 and now I am a size 4. I am so happy with my weight loss, it really has changed my life. I recommend Kirk to every one I know. He is truly a genius and really great person. I told him that he should be training celebrities because he is that good at what he does. Sarah Frye I am Britnie Turner, your Miss North Carolina United States 2009 and 2010.   Also, I was a top 5 finalist in the Miss United States 2010 Pageant.  I will be competing in other state and national pageants this year, and I am looking to improve my chances by getting the best bod possible!  I have researched trainers over the past 2 years but have never been able to find one who: 1.) Genuinely cares 2.) Really motivates me to do and be my best 3.) Isn't a creep 4.) Is REAALLY worth the money When I finally found Kirk Huggins Rogers of Heroic Fitness it was through at least 6 direct testimonies from his clients who have achieved amazing results and couldn't stop praising his work! I had to meet this guy, just to see if what everyone was saying could possibly be true. Well, I tested him out and long story short he is everything you need to get the results you want! I am looking forward to a great year not only preparing for competition but continuing my new life where my mind and body are disciplined and healthy. I am very blessed to have found someone that can help me and push me to finally achieve my goals. Thank you Kirk! Britnie I have been working out avidly since my high school years. I had competed in amateur bodybuilding competitions during my teenage years and had always made physical fitness a priority. Unfortunately life had thrown me a curveball which prevented me from continuing with my passion until 2 years ago when I met Kirk Huggins Rogers of Heroic Fitness. I had been fighting a losing weight loss battle and hit a plateau with my workout routines. As any athlete knows it is always best to have someone review a program and to have them make adjustments to allow the body to continue making progress. It was Kirk Huggins Rogers’ knowledge and expertise on the subject that made it possible for me to loose more than 38lbs taking me from 235lbs to 197lbs and to shed more that 20% body fat from 32% to 11% over the course of a year!!!! Kirk implemented a custom made meal plan program along with a unique workout regime that he revised as I achieved milestones on my fitness pathway. I attribute my results to Kirk from Heroic Fitness and his power to inspire and motivate which allowed me to make physical fitness apart of my lifestyle!!!! Nate

Email: heroicbod1@heroicfitness.com
Phone: 704-575-1514
Web: www.heroicfitness.com

This message was sent by heroicbod1@heroicfitness.com to heroicbod1@heroicfitness.com. It was sent from: , 

Easy Ways To Cut Calories Fast

It is very easy to take in calories. You may find yourself taking in a few hundred calories just from the snack you have. What about that cup of coffee or that bottle of juice, you may not realize just how many hidden ways there are to consume calories without really realizing it. If you are like many people, you want to keep your calorie count in line so that you can lose weight or maintain a healthy body. To do this, you need to know where to find those hidden calories that are causing you to gain. Top Ways to Cut Calories at Breakfast There are many ways to cut calories from your day without realizing it. Breakfast is a good place to start. Do you reach for that fast, frozen pastry filled with jam? Instead, go for a high fiber piece of toast with jam on top. That way, you control how many calories you are putting into your body. Avoid topping foods cooked in butter with more butter. Avoid the whipped topping on your cup of specialty coffee, too. Lunch Time Savings Lunch is another opportunity to cut back on the hidden calories. Instead of drinking anything with calories, choose a non-sweetened drink instead. Avoid dumping a big bottle of dressing onto your salad. Instead, opt for the spray varieties that cut down on the calories and the fat content significantly. Avoid those croutons on salads and choose the best quality, whole grain bread for your meals. Choose simpler foods. If you must have pizza, go with just cheese instead of the meat lovers. Stopping for a Drink? Many men and women make a stop on their way home from work for happy hour. It is the perfect way to unwind before going home. Before you reach for that drink, know what it is doing to you. Rather than drinking two or more beers, sip on a glass of wine. Avoid higher calorie treats and go for a healthier option. For example, don’t be tempted by a pina colada. Instead, go for the daiquiri. Dinner Means Calorie Cutting, Too Instead of a soda, drink sparkling water. Be sure to choose leaner cuts of meat. Choose low fat foods instead of no-fat or high fat foods. Be sure to fill your plate with 80 percent vegetables. Choose whole grain foods instead of using carbs with high sugar amounts. It is a good idea to eat foods with the least amount of additives, like dressings, sauces and condiments. These just add calories onto your food. When following recipes, make a conscious decision about each of the ingredients you add. Is there a way to reduce those calories or improve the health aspects of it? If so, do so. Fruits and vegetables, low fat cheeses and nuts make some of the best snacks, too. Before you drink anything or eat something, ask yourself how many calories you are popping into your mouth. If you are not sure, find out and then make a decision about whether or not that is the best choice available. Committed to Your Health and Fitness Goals, Kirk Huggins Rogers PS - Don't forget this is the last week to join the Christmas Crunch Challenge…only 2 spots left!!!

Big Fat Lies Series #10

Hi Subscriber, 

How quickly should you shed your excess pounds? Let me guess ... You want to get rid of them as fast as possible! (like, yesterday, right?)

Yes, we all wish we could melt off the fat "overnight," but supposing you really could take the weight off "lightning fast." Is rapid weight loss is really healthy and safe? And is it permanent?

How much fat loss is realistic? How much is physiologically possible?

I've got bad news for you. You have been lied to over and over about "quick fat loss" and it really irks me that weight loss companies keep getting away with it at your expense!

It's time to bust this myth and uncover the truth.

Train smart, expect success, and be relentless.

Kirk Huggins Rogers
Physique Transformation Specialist
www.heroicfitness.com

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fat Loss Lie #10: "Fat loss can be quick and permanent"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

The "Quick Fat Loss" Lie Exposed

"Lose 30 pounds In 30 Days!"

"Lose 9 Pounds Every 11 Days!"

Lose 10 Pounds This Weekend!

You see ad claims like these all the time, and they sure are enticing, aren't they? They play on our emotions and our desires for instant gratification.

Patience is the one thing you never seem to have when you've got a body fat problem. You want the fat gone and you want it gone now! And why not? It seems so do-able. Everywhere you look, you hear promises of quick weight loss and you even see people losing weight quickly.

We have reality TV shows that actually encourage people to attempt "extreme" body makeovers or see who can lose weight the fastest, and the winners (or shall we say, the "losers", as if that's a flattering title to earn), are rewarded generously with fortune, fame and congratulations.

Let's face it. Everyone wants to get the fat off as quickly as possible - and having that desire is not wrong - it's simply human nature. However...

Serious Problems Can Occur If You Try To 

Force It And Lose Weight Too Quickly

The faster you lose weight, the more muscle you will lose right along with the fat, and that can really mess up your metabolism.

An even bigger problem with fast weight loss is that it just won't last. The faster you lose, the more likely you are to gain it back. It's the the "yo-yo diet effect" - weight goes down, but always comes back up. Think about it: We don't have a weight loss problem today, we have a "keeping weight off" problem

Weight loss will be the healthiest, safest and most likely to be permanent if you set your goal for about two pounds per week (and even if you lose only a single pound each week, that is healthy progress). This is the recommendation of almost every legitimate and respected dietician, nutritionist, exercise physiologist and personal trainer on the planet, as well as exercise organizations such as the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Dietetic Association.

Are there any exceptions? Yes. It may be ok to lose more than two pounds per week if you have a lot of weight to lose, because the rate of weight loss tends to be relative to your total starting body weight. Generally the rule is that it's safe to lose up to 1% of your total body weight per week, so if you weigh 300 lbs to start, then 3 lbs a week is a reasonable goal.

But there IS a catch.

What Really Matters Is Not How Much WEIGHT 

You Lose, But How Much FAT You Lose 

Where did your weight loss come from? Did you lose body fat or lean body mass? "Weight" is not the same as "fat." Weight includes muscle, bone, internal organs as well as lots and lots of water.

Let's look at an example with some numbers so you can really grasp this concept of weight versus fat and then you can see, illustrated with specific examples, what will happen when you lose weight too quickly.

As an example, let's take a 260 pound man who has a lot of body fat to lose - let's call it 32%. With 32% fat, a 260 pounder has 83.2 pounds of body fat and 176.8 pounds of lean mass. Using this example, let's look at a few possible scenarios with losses ranging from two to four pounds per week.

Weight Loss Scenario 1:

Suppose our 260 pound subject loses four full pounds instead of the recommended two pounds per week. Is this bad? Well, let's see:

If he loses a half a percent of body fat, here are his body composition results:

256 lbs
31.5% body fat
80.6 lbs fat
175.4 lbs lean body mass

Out of the four pounds lost, 2.8 pounds were fat and 1.2 were lean mass. Not a disaster, but not good either. Thirty percent of the weight lost was lean tissue.

Weight Loss Scenario 2:

If he loses a half a percent of body fat and only three pounds, here are his results:

257 lbs
31.5% body fat
80.9 lbs fat
176.1 lbs lean body mass

These results are better. Although he lost less body weight than scenario one, in this instance, 2.3 pounds of fat and only 0.7 lbs of lean mass were lost.

Weight Loss Scenario 3:

What if he only lost two pounds? Here are the results:

258 lbs
31.5% body fat
81.2 lbs fat
176.8 lbs lean body mass

These results are perfect. Even though our subject has only lost two pounds, which seems slow, 100% of the two pound weight loss came from fat and he kept ALL the muscle!

Weight Loss Scenario 4:

Now let's suppose he loses three pounds but he loses more body fat: .8%

257 lbs
31.2% body fat
80.2 lbs fat
176.8 lbs lean body mass

These are the best results of all. When the weekly fat loss is .8% (better than average), 100% of the three pounds lost is fat. So as you can see, yes, it's safe to lose more than two pounds per week... but only if it’s fat weight. If you lose three or four pounds per week, and you know it's all fat, not lean tissue, then more power to you! If you lose four pounds and two of those pounds are muscle, you just shot yourself in the foot!

If as little as 20%-30% of your weight loss comes from muscle, when compounded over a few months, you're talking about a massive muscle tissue loss which can dramatically slow down your metabolism, weaken you and turn you into nothing more than a "skinny fat person" (that's a person with low body weight because they lost so much muscle, but still holding stubborn fat because they shut down their metabolism).

Don't Be Fooled By Water Weight Losses

One thing you should also know is that it's very common to lose 3 - 5 pounds in the first week on nearly any diet and exercise program and often even more on low carb diets. Just remember, its NOT all fat - WATER LOSS IS NOT FAT LOSS!

The only way to know if you've actually lost FAT is with body composition testing. For home body fat self-testing, I recommend the Accu-Measure skinfold caliper or a digital bodyfat caliper. Even better, get a multi site skinfold caliper test from an experienced tester at a health club, or even an underwater (hydrostatic) or air (bod pod) displacement test.

From literally hundreds of client case studies, I can confirm that it's rare to lose more than 1.5 - 2.0 lbs of weight per week without losing some muscle along with it. If you exceed 2.0 to 3.0 pounds per week, the probability of losing muscle is extremely high. If you lose muscle, you are damaging your metabolism and this will lead to a plateau and ultimately to relapse.

The Biggest Weight Loss Mistake That Is 

FATAL To Your Long Term Success

Lack of patience is one of the biggest mistakes people make when it comes to losing body fat. If you want to lose FAT, not muscle, and if you want to keep the fat off for good, then you have to take off the pounds slowly. (of course, if you want to crash diet the weight off fast, lose muscle with the fat and gain all the fat back later, be my guest)

This is one of the toughest lessons that overweight men and women have to learn - and they can be very hard learners. They fight kicking and screaming, insisting that they CAN and they MUST lose it faster.

Then you have these TV shows that encourage the masses that rapid, crash weight loss is okay. To the producers of these shows, I say SHAME ON YOU! To the personal trainers, registered dieticians and medical doctors who are associated with these programs, I say DOUBLE SHAME ON YOU, because you of all people should know better. These shows are not "motivating" or "inspiring" - they are DAMAGING! They are a DISGRACE!

The rapid weight loss being promoted by the media for the sake of ratings and by the weight loss companies for the sake of profits makes it even harder for legitimate fitness and nutrition professionals because our clients say, "But look at so and so on TV - he lost 26 pounds in a week!"

Sure, but 26 pounds of WHAT - and do you have any idea what the long term consequences are?

Short term thinking... foolish.

Do it the right way. The healthy way. Take off pounds slowly, steadily and sensibly with an intelligent nutrition and exercise program like Heroic Fitness’s, measure your body fat, not just your body weight, and make this a new lifestyle, not a race, and you will never have to take the pounds off again, because they will be gone forever the first time.

We're getting close to the end of this series and next time, in part 11 of 12, you'll find out about the scandal that is taking place in the medical and pharmaceutical industries ("The big pharma lie")... Until then...

Train smart, expect success, and be relentless.

Kirk Huggins Rogers
Physique Transformation Specialist
www.heroicfitness.com

Subscriber, Here's Big Fat Lies Series #7

Hi Subscriber, 

Welcome to part 7 of BIG FAT LIES! In this lesson, you'll learn the scientific facts and latest discoveries about heredity and body fat, straight from the laboratories of the human genome project...

Train smart, expect success, and be relentless,

Kirk Huggins Rogers

Physique Transformation Specialist
www.heroicfitness.com  

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fat Loss Lie #7: "Your genetics are keeping you fat"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

How The News Media Distorts, Exaggerates And Lies To You

A recent New York Times story headline said, "Genes Take Charge, And Diets Fall By The Wayside." A similar headline in the New York Post said, "Battle Your Biology? Fat Chance!"

These and other articles like them claim that more and more evidence is proving that if you're overweight, "it's not your fault" and that genes - more than environment and behavior - explain obesity.

I say, "Complete, unadulterated GARBAGE!"

Media stories like these often take legitimate statistics about genetic obesity completely out of context and blow them out of proportion to make for sensational news. They also make the common and devastating mistake of encouraging people to cast blame for their health anywhere but on themselves. Many of these types of stories are also based on ulterior motives.

Even worse, believing that "It's not your fault" is one of the biggest lies told in the weight loss industry and one of the most damaging beliefs you could ever have. In fact, the ONLY way you can ever become successful at achieving and maintaining your ideal weight is by accepting responsibility.

What The Research Really Says About Obesity And Your Genes

Make no mistake, there IS a genetic component to obesity. According to the latest research from the Human Genomics Project, you may inherit body fat tendencies just as you inherited your height, eye color or hair color. The tendency may range from slight predisposition to full blown genetic obesity.

In the 1990's, obesity researchers identified the OB (obesity) gene and mapped it to chromosome #7. Studies following a large number of twins and families have also helped to establish a link between obesity and heredity.

However, scientists say that severe mutations in the obesity gene are rare in humans (so mouse studies are largely irrelevant) and doubt has been raised concerning high genetic probability for obesity. ("Full blown" genetic obesity affects only about 5% of obese individuals!)

Therefore, claiming that genetics are more important than behavior and lifestyle is completely false.

Other Genetic Influences... Your Body Type And Metabolic Type

Other theories of genetic individuality discuss inherited body types, metabolic rate and body chemistry. In the 1930's, Harvard psychologist Dr. William H. Sheldon developed a classification system for different body types called "somatotyping":

Ectomorphs are the lean, lanky types. They are usually very thin and bony, with fast metabolisms and extremely low body fat. An ectomorph can seemingly eat like a horse without gaining an ounce.

Mesomorphs are the "genetically gifted." They are lean, muscular and naturally athletic. Mesomorphs lose fat and gain muscle with ease.

Endomorphs are the "fat retainers." Characterized by round features, excess body fat and large joints ("big bones"), endomorphs usually have difficulty in losing body fat and they tend to gain fat quickly if they eat poorly or don't exercise.

In addition to inherited body type ("somatotype"), individuals may also inherit certain metabolic types. Some people metabolize carbohydrates inefficiently and do not regulate blood sugar efficiently. They tend to produce too much insulin when they eat concentrated or fast-absorbing carbs, and or to be insulin resistant. This makes it more difficult to release stored body fat and puts them at risk for a variety of health problems. This condition is known as "Syndrome X" or "metabolic syndrome."

The $26 Billion Conspiracy Behind The Lies

Some doctors and researchers, such as those quoted in the newspaper stories, consider these obesity-stimulating conditions to be genetically transmitted "diseases" that require medical treatment. In a few isolated cases, obesity clearly is a genetic disorder. However, these cases are rare, so this idea of obesity as a "disease" should be viewed with a great deal of caution and suspicion, because weight loss is potentially the biggest market in the world for drug sales.

According to Justin Gillis, a staff writer for the Washington Post, more than 45 companies worldwide are trying to develop new obesity drugs, and the stakes couldn't be higher. Gillis writes, "In world where a blockbuster drug is worth $1 billion a year in sales, analysts give $5 billion as the low estimate for sales of an important obesity drug. If a company developed a truly safe, effective weight loss drug, and sold it for $3 a day to one quarter of the 100+ million American adults estimated to be overweight, sales would exceed $26 billion a year in this country alone."

If obesity is classified as a (genetically inherited) "disease", that means more prescriptions will be written

Listen, if anyone ever tells you that "It's not your fault... you were born fat, so don't feel guilty... and don't worry, we have a drug that can help," be cautious and question whose interests are being served; yours or the pharmaceutical giants.

The Truth About Heredity And Body Fat

Losing weight does seem easier for some people than for others. In fact, researchers say that there is a segment of the population that appears to be "genetically resistant to obesity." That doesn't seem fair, but that's the way life is. Let's be honest; not everyone has the genetics to become a top-ranking pro bodybuilder or to become an Olympic Gold medalist.

But you are NOT doomed to live a life of fatness if you don't have "athletic genes." Everyone can improve their body shape and fitness level beyond where it is today.

Body fat is the result of many influences. Genetics is only one of them and as little as 25% the causes are genetic/biological in nature. According To Dr. Claude Bouchard of the Human genomics Laboratory in Baton Rouge, LA, there are several certainties about the TRUE causes of obesity. He suggests the following contributing factors:

(1) physical environment
(2) social environment
(3) behavior
(4) biology
This means that 75% of your results are dictated by lifestyle and behavior factors and only 25% by biology. According to Dr. Bouchard, "The obesity epidemic that we are facing today has developed only over the past 50 years and cannot be explained by changes in our genome."

And The Truth About Personal Responsibility That Will Set You FREE!

Like it or not, the condition of your body today is primarily a result of your own lifestyle, behavior and mindset (psychology). But that's great news, because it means most of the factors that affect your body fat levels are entirely under your control. These factors include how much you eat, what you eat, when you eat, who you eat with, how many sedentary activities you engage in, what type of exercise you do, how frequently you exercise, how long you exercise and how hard you exercise

Your first step if you want to achieve and maintain your perfect weight, is to accept 100% responsibility for your weight and your health. When the going gets tough, it's easy to blame and make excuses. But blaming genetics is a convenient excuse for not taking continuous action. It's also giving away your power and conceding that you are a victim of life rather than a major influencer of your destiny.

If you're a frustrated "endomorph" or if you feel like dieting is an uphill battle against your genes, PLEASE do NOT chalk it up to "bad genetics," and do NOT blame your weight on your chromosomes! YOU are responsible and YOU are in control! Dr. Thomas Wadden, a psychologist from Syracuse University, says, "There IS a genetic component to your weight, but NO ONE is destined to be obese."

Above all else, do NOT quit! The universe always bows to persistence. The empowering approach is to see your physical challenges as assets, because overcoming obstacles forces you to develop discipline, determination and character. These traits will carry over to other areas of your life and make you a stronger person.

As Arnold Schwarzenegger once said, "Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strength. When you overcome hardships, that is strength."

In the next lesson you will learn the lies and the truth behind the whole low carb diet phenomenon.

Train smart, expect success, and be relentless,

Kirk Huggins Rogers
Physique Transformation Specialist
www.heroicfitness.com