Lift Weights to Lose Weight

Have you considered lifting weights to lose weight, if not ask yourself how many years have you tried losing weight by running, kickboxing, and sweating to the oldies without reaching your goals?

True, I have stated in previous articles that a pound is a pound, and that roughly reducing 3,500 calories will result in the loss of a pound. However, over the long-run there are several other factors to consider.

1. Change equals challenge

2. Weight loss can reduce muscle mass

3. Muscle burns fat

Change Equals Challenge:

The stress you put on your body during exercise contributes to the change exercise causes to your body. With the appropriate amount of stress, recovery, and nutrition you can effect the sort of change you experience to align with your goals. That said you must realize that the physical change you see is the result of your body adapting to the stress. As a result, overtime it is essential to change the load, speed, rest, nutrition, etc… to further condition your body. This in part explains why you experienced more results in the first month or two months of Zumba classes than you did in the following three years.

If you have been in a lifelong pursuit of a single goal (e.g., weight loss) and haven’t had the benefit of working with a personal trainer, than chances are you have followed essentially the same routine for years. It doesn’t matter if you’re doing jumping jacks until you puke, kickboxing until you bleed, or any other aerobic workout; you have been doing the same thing. Sure there are minor changes in which muscles are doing the bulk of the effort, but you have been focusing on sustained increased heart rate, high repetitions, and low muscle load in all cases. Chances are you have done very little to increase muscular strength and lean mass.

Weight Loss Can Reduce Muscle Mass:

If you can relate to the previous section, and you have done little to increase muscular strength and lean mass but have lost weight, chances are you have reduced your lean body weight as well. If you are like most people, after some time you got bored with your workout and regained the weight previously lost. At this point you have actually increased your body-fat percentage. When you burn calories they are not all from fat. The percentage of calories burned from fat depends on your heart rate, diet, and workout. The good news is you can manipulate the ratio by using a heart rate monitor, decreasing carbohydrates, increasing lean protein, and incorporating anaerobic exercise for the purposes of building muscle.

Unfortunately, after years of struggling to lose weight, many will turn to low-calorie diets, extreme aerobic exercise, and avoid all possibilities of “bulking” weights. This is the worst combination for weight loss. In an attempt to sustain itself the body will convert to a starvation mode and store more calories as fat. At the same time, the intense caloric burn will require energy. Without sufficient glucose stores from carbohydrates the body will turn to the next available source and begin breaking down muscle. Without incorporating weight training, the body is not actively maintaining or rebuilding muscle and overtime you become, at best, a skinny fat person destined to replay this scenario over and over.

Muscle Burns Fat:

Unless you are running marathons, chances are you are not burning significant calories during your workout to lose significant weight. Not to say it doesn’t contribute to the 3,500 calorie equation, but you can’t expect to run off a days’ (or lifetime) worth of junk food. In reality, the calorie deficit created from exercise is as much related to the time after your workout as it is to the time on the treadmill. That is to say, working out increases your set metabolic rate (or the calories you burn while at rest) for roughly an hour after you finish your workout. This is true whether you are squatting 315 for 5 reps or your bodyweight for 30. The difference is that muscle, unlike fat actually requires calories to sustain itself. Literally muscles burn calories. Every pound of muscle you add burns 30-50 calories a day. The more muscle you build the more calories you burn just sitting at your computer reading articles about losing weight. The most common response I get from women is, “but I don’t want to bulk up.”

I promise you that unless you have a pituitary issue, are taking anabolic steroids, or train solely for the purpose of gaining mass, you will not bulk up! The truth is that many men who naturally produce testosterone, will spend their entire lives and thousands of dollars on mass building supplements, trying to bulk up, and will never reach the level that most women imagine when they read this article. The key is that this is just one phase in a weight loss plan.

Where to Go Next:

Considering it is the middle of May, I am sure the skeptics in you is hesitant to risk six weeks trying this and miss out on a month and half of crash dieting in the hopes of squeezing comfortably into a bathing suit. Before you close this article in search of one that promises six-pack abs and buns of steal, ask yourself this, “have those article ever worked for you in the past?”

Try something new; follow the workout provided in the article full body waterfall for four weeks. Be true to the weights (i.e., heavy enough that you cannot possibly do more than 8 reps but aim for muscle failure at 4 reps). Limit cardio to no more than two days a week and rest the other two (nothing more strenuous than a light walk and normal daily activity). At the end of four weeks continue with the program but increase the reps (and decrease the weights) to the 10-12 range for the next 4 weeks. From here you can go back to aerobic training for the next 4-6 weeks; wash rinse, and repeat.

For the purposes of diet consider this suggestion in conjunction with your own unique dietary needs as identified by a nutritionist or your physician. Eat 5 small meals a day consisting of lean protein and one serving of fresh vegetables. Daily consume lean protein (approximately 1 gram per pound of body weight) 5 servings of vegetables, and 3 servings of fruit. Limit fat to small amounts from nuts, avocados, low-fat dairy and lean protein. Most importantly remove all added sugar and simple carbohydrates.

If by the middle of July you are not seeing significant results you can go back to sweating to the 80′s and crash diets. In all seriousness, increasing your lean body mass will make you feel better, carry yourself better, and move more efficiently. This is not intended to be a miracle program, but part of a holistic approach to improving health and fitness while addressing a major gap in many programs. Most importantly have fun learning something new; Live Fit, Be Fit…

Is Ear Candling Therapy Ideal for the Little Children?

Wax can build up in the ears of any person, which includes youngsters. You may use ear candles for children, however, you really need to be very cautious with them. They aren’t advisable for children less than Six years old.

Set the Stage

The whole process of ear candling for children is the same as for adults. However, the child may have some anxiety because they don’t really know what is going to take place. Tell them the procedure so they are prepared for what will happen. Perhaps you can do the ears of an adult first and let the watch. You can also have them watch a video online so that they see what will take place.

Get them Comfortable

Just before ear candles for children, ensure they are comfortable. Make them use the bathroom and get a drink. Have them lie on the couch so that their head is flat and you can use the candle successfully. Turn on cartoons or a video that will keep them interested so that you can complete the process. Give them a couple of minutes break time before you repeat the process on the other ear.

Listen closely

Don’t get distracted when you use ear candling for kids. You don’t want to risk allowing the candle to burn too far and to burn them. Keep some water close by that you can put the candle into. A towel that you can use around the ear to keep the heat from being too much for them is also recommended.

Another option is to use a paper plate with a hole cut in the middle of it. Slip the candle through the hole so that the paper place is close to the ear. This will prevent the heat from getting too close to the child.

Amazing benefits

Several parents will tell you that routinely using ear candles for children in their household has made a huge difference. It has reduced ear infections and in some children, they have stopped complaining about a buzzing in their ears. Chronic ear infections can cause the child to lose sleep, to miss school, and to have a great deal of pain. Ear candles are a better option if they help than for the child to be taking antibiotics which the body can become immune to.

Many children find the procedure to be soothing as well as relaxing. It can help them to feel better and that is what many parents are after. One of the old wives tales is to blow smoke in a child’s ear when they have signs of an infection in it. This candling process is similar. The smoke can help to dry out ears that may be wet inside and that wetness is often what agitates children.

The actual outcome can vary for each child though so you will have to see what occurs for your own children. Make sure you use quality made ear candling for kids so that you get the best possible results.

Acupuncture Clinics: Find A Good Therapist To Work With

When you explore acupuncture clinics you will want to make sure that you are finding a good therapist to work with. Acupuncture can be very successful if you find someone that really knows what they are doing.

You should always find out about licensing information from an acupuncturist. There is specialized training that needs to be completed in order to receive a license. You can ask any therapist about this qualification to make sure that they are trained to complete acupuncture in an effective manner.

The direct experience of an acupuncturist can also be very important. You want to work with someone that has experience with the problem you are experiencing. If you are making this appointment for weight loss, or infertility, you can ask this therapist about their experience in this field of acupuncture therapy.

There may be therapists that have direct experience with certain conditions and this may be something that you can easily find on their website. This will give you the best outcome when you are participating in acupuncture treatment.

You want to find a clinic that is close to where you live, or work. You will likely need appointments on a weekly basis in some cases. When you find a good therapist near your location, it can make it much easier to get to your appointments to get the full experience of acupuncture therapy.

References may even be provided by an acupuncturist. This will allow you to find out what other patients are saying about their experience with acupuncture therapy. When you visit a website for a therapist, you can learn a lot about what they offer, and possibly patients they have treated. This can give you some great insight on how this may benefit your needs also.

If you do not know what to expect from your first appointment, there are many great resources online that you can utilize to find out what occurs during each treatment. This can be a great way to get more familiar with the process of acupuncture and to learn the most common myths about this kind of treatment.

Finding the right acupuncture clinic can give you the best options for your treatment. This can be a great way to find solutions to relieve chronic pain. You may be surprised at the many ways that people are using acupuncture to bring a greater sense of well being to their lives.

Benefits Of Acupuncture

Acupuncture can help you with a variety of conditions that you may be suffering from on a daily basis. When you really explore the many ways that acupuncture can help you, it can help you to open up to a new experience. Acupuncture does not cause any side effects, and there is no pain involved at any time during the process.

Back pain is something that people suffer with each day. Sometimes the solutions have been pain pills that can have some very negative side effects. Acupuncture can help to relieve chronic pain that is common in the back area.

There are certain points on the body where needles are inserted that can help to reduce pain. An experienced acupuncturist will know the exact spot to help control pain in the back area.

If you are taking medication each day for conditions, you may find that acupuncture can actually increase the effectiveness of medications. This can be helpful in reducing the amount of medication that you need to take each day. Many people do not want to be bound to medication, and this can be a small way to help use less medications for management of your conditions.

Chronic heartburn and indigestion can be a part of the American diet. Acupuncture can relieve these symptoms and help to combat chronic stomach pain. Medications are often used to treat heartburn, and acupuncture can help to eliminate the symptoms and reduce the use of medications.

Headaches can be one of the most debilitating chronic conditions. Headaches can interfere with all parts of your life. Acupuncture can reduce the intensity of headaches. This can also help to reduce how often they occur. Headaches can be very hard to treat, and acupuncture can provide a very safe alternative.

Weight loss can be enhanced with acupuncture. This is a treatment that has been proven helpful in combination with other weight loss techniques. There are acupuncturists that specialize in using acupuncture for weight loss treatment. This can be a great person to seek out if this is your reason for a visit to a Seattle clinic.

Acupuncture clinics can provide you with treatment for a variety of chronic conditions. If there is a problem that you are struggling with on a daily basis, you can visit an acupuncture clinic to find out if this is something that can be treated with the use of acupuncture techniques.

Food Is For Fuel – Part 2 – Food Is A Gift of Life

In Food Is For Fuel – Part 1, we talked about the fact that God really does care what we put into our bodies. He does care what we eat and drink. That’s the “what.” In this article we will begin to talk about the “why.” Part 2 of Food is for Fuel demonstrates that Food is a Gift from God.

FOOD IS A GIFT FROM GOD

When God was giving Adam and Eve instructions regarding their roles, he told them:

“Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food.” (Genesis 1:29 ESV)

After The Flood, God expands man’s diet to include meat.

“Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything.” (Genesis 9:3 ESV)

God knew that men would need food for nourishment. It is a gift from God. But like every other good thing that God has given us, Satan offers a counterfeit. There is a good chance that amidst all of the email forwards you have received over the years, you have run across this humorous narrative.

Angel’s Food vs. Devil’s Food…

In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth and populated the Earth with broccoli, cauliflower and spinach, green and yellow and red vegetables of all kinds, so Man and Woman would live long and healthy lives.

Then using God’s great gifts, Satan created Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream and Krispy Kreme Donuts. And Satan said, “You want chocolate with that?”

And Man said, “Yes!” and Woman said, “and as long as you’re at it, add some sprinkles.” And they gained 10 pounds. And Satan smiled.

And God created the healthful yogurt that Woman might keep the figure that Man found so fair. And Satan brought forth white flour from the wheat, and sugar from the cane and combined them. And Woman went from size 6 to size 14.

So God said, “Try my fresh green salad.” And Satan presented Ranch Dressing, buttery croutons and garlic toast on the side. And Man and Woman unfastened their belts following the meal.

God then said, “I have sent you heart healthy vegetables and olive oil in which to cook them.” And Satan brought forth deep fried fish and chicken-fried steak so big it needed its own platter. And Man gained more weight and his cholesterol went through the roof.

God then created a light, fluffy white cake, named it “Angel Food Cake,” and said, “It is good.” Satan then created chocolate cake and named it “Devil’s Food.”

God then brought forth running shoes so that His children might lose those extra pounds. And Satan gave cable TV with a remote control so Man would not have to toil changing the channels. And Man and Woman laughed and cried before the flickering blue light and gained pounds.

Then God brought forth the potato, naturally low in fat and brimming with nutrition. And Satan peeled off the healthful skin and sliced the starchy center into chips and deep-fried them. And Man gained pounds.

God then gave lean beef so that Man might consume fewer calories and still satisfy his appetite. And Satan created McDonald’s and its 99-cent double cheeseburger. Then said, “You want fries with that?” And Man replied, “Yes! And super size them!” And Satan said, “It is good.”

And Man went into cardiac arrest.

God sighed and created quadruple bypass surgery.

Then Satan created Health Care Reform.

While humorous, there is a lot of truth in this little story. Fortunately for us, God did not just leave us to guess which foods are good for us and which are not. With the gift of food, God gave us guidelines.

BIBLICAL GUIDELINES FOR FOOD

When God gave the Law to Moses, he included guidelines about what types of meat were good for food, and which were not.

“This is the law about beast and bird and every living creature that moves through the waters and every creature that swarms on the ground, to make a distinction between the unclean and the clean and between the living creature that may be eaten and the living creature that may not be eaten.” (Leviticus 11:46-47 ESV)

In his book, The Maker’s Diet, Dr. Jordan Rubin provides a summary chart of clean and unclean meats. The chart is summarized here:

The meat of animals with a cloven or split hoof that also chew the cud (Lev. 11:3) can be eaten. This includes cows, goats, sheep, oxen, deer, buffalo, and so forth.

Avoid animals, such as the camel, that chew the cud but do not have cloven hooves (Lev. 11:4). This includes, but is not limited to, horses, rats, skunks, dogs, cats, squirrels, and possums.

Do not eat swine (pigs). They have divided hooves, but they do not chew the cud. These are unclean animals (Lev. 11:7-8). In fact, pigs are so unclean that God warns us not to even touch the body, meat, or carcass of a pig.

Eat any fish with fins and scales but avoid fish or water creatures without them (Lev. 11:9-10). Those to avoid include smooth-skinned species such as catfish or eel and hard-shelled crustaceans such as crab, lobster, or clams.

Birds that live primarily on insects, grubs, or grains are considered clean, but avoid birds or fowl that eat flesh (whether caught live or carrion). They are unclean. (See the extensive list in Leviticus 11:13-19.)

Laws for Life

Many people will quickly point out that these laws were given as part of the Old Covenant but that they no longer apply because we are under the New Covenant of Grace. After all, didn’t Paul say:

“for you are not under law but under grace.” (Romans 6:14 NAS95)

Yes, he did, but look at the context. As is often said in inductive Bible study circles, “A text without a context is a pretext for a proof text.”

“Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be!” (Romans 6:12-15 NAS95)

We are indeed under grace, but that does not mean we are to disregard God’s laws. OK, so what about Peter’s vision of the Great Sheet recorded in Acts. Doesn’t that verse show that we are no longer bound to the Levitical laws concerning meat? Well, let’s look at it. Peter said:

“”I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, an object coming down like a great sheet lowered by four corners from the sky; and it came right down to me, and when I had fixed my gaze on it and was observing it I saw the four-footed animals of the earth and the wild beasts and the crawling creatures and the birds of the air. “I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Get up, Peter; kill and eat.’ “But I said, ‘By no means, Lord, for nothing unholy or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ “But a voice from heaven answered a second time, ‘What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.’” (Acts 11:5-9 NAS95)

This vision is not about food. That is not the point of this story at all. Peter relates the vision given to him by God to show the Jewish Christians that God was now including Gentiles in His Kingdom. It is Gentiles who have been cleansed by God. We have been washed in the blood of the Lamb and are now perfect and holy. This is not the best passage to demonstrate we are not longer bound to the levitical law. Now there is a verse that states that Jesus declared all foods clean.

“And He *said to them, “Are you so lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated?” (Thus He declared all foods clean.)” (Mark 7:18-19 NAS95)

Okay, now we can all breathe a sigh of relief. We do however have to clear one last hurdle. Does the Word of God contradict itself? We have clearly seen that in the Mosaic Law of the Old Testament, God declares certain foods to be unclean. Now we read that Jesus declares all food clean. This seems to be a contradiction, but we believe that God does not contradict Himself. So what do we do with this passage?

First, we understand from the context that Jesus’ argument here is based on physiological fact that all food, even food considered “unclean” in the levitical law, enters in the physical digestive system of a person and never touches the moral-ethical-spiritual part. Therefore no food can defile a person morally, ethically, or spiritually.

Second, we know that Jesus clearly accepted the authority of Moses as a teacher of the law (cf. Mark 1:44; 7:10; 10:3; 12:26). Remember, Jesus said:

Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. (Matthew 5:17-18 ESV)

Confused yet? The Old Testament law was never meant to save us, but rather to point us to our need for a Savior. Mark inserts his interpretive comment here to explain to his gentile readers why the Old Testament kosher rules were no longer binding.

The reason we are not bound to the law is because Christ fulfilled it on our behalf.

Furthermore, all foods have always been clean as they relate to our spiritual lives. What makes us unclean, as Jesus goes on to explain in this passage, is what comes from within. It is the condition of our hearts before God. It does you absolutely no good whatsoever to religiously keep God’s laws if your heart is not right.

For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.(Matthew 5:20ESV)

Again, I do not bring up the Levitical laws to be legalistic. The very point of the verses in both Acts and Mark is that we are not to be legalistic. This is NOT a salvation issue.

Food cannot defile your soul. What we eat has nothing to do with our salvation. After all, as Paul said, “Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food, but God will do away with both of them.” (1 Corinthians 6:13 NAS95)

The question we should be asking is not can I eat this, but rather should I eat this? As Paul said a verse earlier, “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.” (1 Corinthians 6:12 NAS95)

The question here is one of position. Who is in control, you or your appetites? Are you a slave to your desires or to God? Is this something that is good for you, or something that will harm you. The point of God’s rules is always our benefit. God gives us guidelines for our good. I agree one hundred percent that food cannot defile your soul. It can, however, defile your body. Every guideline God gives us is for our own good.

Again, this is not be legalistic, this is about life!

Food for Life

Your Body is a Temple. It is also an incredible marvel of engineering. Food is the fuel that our bodies run on and we can choose to feed it foods that lead to death or we can honor God by choosing life-giving foods.

We are all familiar with the story of Daniel and his friends, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah and their commitment to obey God’s laws rather than fit in with the Babylonian culture.

“But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself.” (Daniel 1:8 ESV)

Daniel and his friends got permission to eat only vegetables and drink only water for ten days and then be compared to the other servants who ate from the king’s table. After ten days Daniel and his friends looked healthier than the other servants and were allowed to continue eating vegetables and water.

The point is that by following God’s guidelines rather than those of the surrounding culture, God blessed Daniel and his friends. Solomon advises in Proverbs 23: “When you sit down to eat with a ruler, observe carefully what is before you, and put a knife to your throat if you are given to appetite. Do not desire his delicacies, for they are deceptive food.” (Proverbs 23:1-3 ESV)

The point? My paraphrase: Keep your appetite in check. Pay attention to what you are putting in your body. If you have a hard time remembering to watch what you eat, put a knife to your throat (A reminder perhaps that if you indulge yourself you are slitting your own throat). Avoid deceptive foods. Just because it tastes good doesn’t mean it’s good for you. In other words, stay away from “edible food-like substances.”

It has often been said that many people dig their own graves with their teeth. History has shown that the dietary laws given to the children of Israel weren’t just arbitrary. They weren’t given to punish God’s children, they were given for our benefit. The dietary laws actually kept the Jewish people healthier than their neighbors. In an unpublished book entitled, “The Art of Health” Dr. Peter Rothschild stated: “It suddenly dawned on us that God, the greatest master nutritionist of all times, has given us an all-purpose diet more than 3000 years ago… There is abundant historic evidence that reveals that the average Israelite, up to the end of the last century [19th], was much longer lived than the average gentile. We wish to emphasize that we are referring to the Israelites up to the end of the last century, because up to those years, the overwhelming majority of Jews obeyed God’s laws by and large… it appears that God indeed knew what nourishment to recommend.”

Beginning with World War I as Jews began to slack off on both diet and hygiene, the trend of longevity began to vanish among those who ignored God’s laws. What is interesting is that science is beginning to confirm that there are actual health reasons to avoid eating the foods that Scripture declared to be unclean over 3000 years ago. It turns out that God knows the human body and what is best for it. One of the perks of being Creator.

Another very good example of science backing up Biblical instruction has to do with circumcision. God commanded all male children to be circumcised on the eighth day, “He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised” (Genesis 17:12 ESV). As it turns out, on the eighth day, the amount of prothrombin present actually is elevated above one-hundred percent of normal-and is the only day in the male’s life in which this will be the case under normal conditions. If surgery is to be performed, day eight is the perfect day to do it. Vitamin K and prothrombin levels are at their peak (Vitamin K, coupled with prothrombin, causes blood coagulation, which is important in any surgical procedure).

We serve an amazing, loving God who has always looked after the best interests in His people. He has promised us: “If you will diligently listen to the voice of the LORD your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, your healer.”" (Exodus 15:26 ESV)

As long as His people follow his statutes they will avoid the diseases God has placed on other nations. When they started giving in to their surrounding culture and relaxing on His principles they began to pay the price.

Okay, so what’s the point? The point is that in order to live well, we must control our appetites. We can’t do whatever we feel like doing. Remember, our bodies belong to God, not to us. Fortunately, God has given us an instruction book, The Bible, that tells us where the boundaries are. If we ignore His guidelines, we will pay the price in our bodies and in our lives, but if we live our lives according to His guidelines, He will satisfy our desires and give us abundant life.

Does this mean that we have to eat clean absolutely one hundred percent of the time? No. If you can eat clean 80-90% of the time it will make a huge difference in your life. That means you are moving forward more than you are moving backwards. Many people falsely believe that it is enough to simply “maintain.” There is no maintaining. We are constantly in motion. The question is “Which direction are you moving?”

As Jeff Olson said, in The Slight Edge: Secret to a Successful Life, “There is no treading water in life, no running in place, because everything is in motion… Let’s take an honest look at your health. Are you building it every day? The way you eat, the way you exercise, the kind of schedule you keep, the ways in which you take care of yourself – are all these building a greater feeling of health and vibrancy every day? Or does it feel like you’re making more and more withdrawals from your life-energy bank account, and the balance is steadily decreasing?”

It’s a matter of habit and consistency. To help you on that journey, I will be posting more articles on nutrition, exercise, and getting your mind right to achieve your goals. For recipes, ways to save money and still eat healthy, etc., please visit me at the website listed below. If you have any recipe ideas, I would love to try them out!

Deryl Williams Duer is a former college minister and law enforcement officer who has transitioned his love for fitness, faith and freedom into a six-figure international company that now helps others live the life of their dreams.

Deryl founded Freedom Through Fitness with his wife, Tracy, after stepping onto the edge of physical and financial ruin. Having experienced a complete turn-around, they are now passionate about offering hope and support to those who are dissatisfied with their current situation and desire to live a healthier, more productive life.