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By Hassan Wicker

February is the month that most people revert to their pre-New-Year’s-Resolution habits. Have you given up on your fitness goals yet?

“If you are looking for an excuse to fall off the wagon, the universe will provide one.”

That was the lesson that Oprah shared in her recent confession about her ongoing struggle with weight. Oprah knows how it feels to fall off the fitness wagon; in the January issue of The Oprah Magazine she described her recent 40 pound weight gain.

Her testimony was filled with valuable insights for anyone else prone to relapse. There was a hidden cycle that I found in her story - one that exposes the process of falling off the wagon.

1) You Fall
Your fall off the wagon could take place in a single moment, or it could be the result of a drawn out process. Oprah described her fall as one that happened slowly as a result of health problems. These health problems became her reason for not exercising.

Illness, vacation, holidays, changes at work or any other change in your schedule are all things that’ll get you off the wagon. Once you’re off the real damage begins.

2) You Surrender
There comes a point after you fall off the wagon that you simply throw your hands up in the air and give in. For Oprah this was a dramatic moment. “I started eating whatever I wanted - and that’s never good. My drug of choice is food. I use food for the same reasons an addict uses drugs: to comfort, to soothe, to ease stress.”

This is the most destructive part of the cycle. You remove all expectations from yourself and as a result you plummet into an unhealthy realm. The progress that you’ve made toward your goals is lost and even more weight is gained.

3) You Hit Bottom
Inevitably there comes the moment when you hit bottom. Your body shows the new weight gain and you feel awful about it. For Oprah it was a sobering moment. “I felt completely defeated. I thought, I give up. I give up. Fat wins.” She went so far as to say, “I felt like a fat cow. I wanted to disappear.”

While hitting bottom is never a fun experience, it is a necessary one. The pain must become great enough for you to turn it around and take the control back.

4) You Take Control
Now comes the good part. When you hit bottom you were out of control, now you’re ready to once again grab the reigns. Oprah says that “These days I’ve put myself back on my own priority list.”

She plans to get an hour of exercise five or six days a week, as well as eating healthfully and reordering her life to include time to replenish her energy. Her new goal is to be strong and healthy and fit.

Have you fallen off your priority list, like Oprah fell off hers?

The time has come to put yourself back on that priority list. The time has come to decide that you are worth it.

I’m here to help you do just that. Call or email today to get started on an exercise program that will change your body and your life…just like Oprah.
Think Small

When you eat out, make it a habit to order the smallest portion available. We are programmed to eat whatever is in front of us, even though we’d feel just as full on less. And since portions have grown in recent years, the smallest size isn’t very small at all.

Healthy Chicken Fajitas

This recipe is a wonderful option for a weekday dinner – it’s healthy, delicious and ready in 20 minutes. Serve with low fat toppings like salsa, chopped tomatoes, fat free sour cream or hot sauce.
Yield: 4 servings

Here’s what you need…

* 1 teaspoon Chile powder
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
* 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
* 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
* 1 tablespoon cornstarch
* 1/4 cup water
* 4 uncooked chicken breasts (4oz each)
* 1/2 green bell pepper, sliced into thin strips
* 1/2 red bell pepper, sliced into thin strips
* 1 medium onion, sliced
* 1 tablespoon olive oil
* 2 tablespoons lime juice
* Lime wedges for serving

1. In a re-sealable bag, combine Chile powder, salt, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, cornstarch, and water. Add chicken, bell peppers, and onion; gently knead to coat. Refrigerate for 15 minutes
2. Heat the oil in a skillet, empty the contents of the bag into the skillet and cook over high heat. Stir occasionally and cook until the vegetables are tender crisp and the chicken is cooked through, about 7 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in lime juice
3. Transfer to serving dish and enjoy with lime wedges.

Nutritional Analysis: One serving equals: 160 calories, 5g fat, 5g carbohydrate, 1g fiber, and 24g protein.

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Stay Fit!

Web: www.wickedtraining.com

By Hassan Wicker

Repetition does not transform a lie into a truth.

That bit of wisdom came from Franklin D. Roosevelt during a radio address in 1939, and though he wasn’t talking about fitness, it certainly applies to the following fat loss myths.

Myth #1: Eating Late at Night Makes You Fat

The Facts: Your body doesn’t have an internal timer that causes late night eats to be stored directly as fat. Weight gain happens when you eat too much and exercise too little - you could eat too much in the morning, the afternoon, or late at night and it would all result in weight gain.

* Your Solution: Consider how many calories you eat and burn each day, rather than when you eat.

Myth #2: Snacking Promotes Weight Gain

The Facts: Eating snacks throughout the day is actually a great way to keep your metabolism up and to avoid overeating at meals. However, if you snack on junk food then be prepared to pack on pounds.

* Your Solution: When it comes to snacking it’s all about what you snack on.

Myth #3: You Can Lose Fat Without Exercise

The Facts: Exercise and healthy eating go hand-in-hand when it comes to permanent fat loss. Your body needs exercise just as it needs to be fed a diet filled with fresh produce, whole grains and lean protein.

* Your Solution: Accept exercise as a part of your daily lifestyle.

Myth #4: Fat Free Means ‘All-You-Can-Eat’

The Facts: It’s time to close your eyes and mentally erase everything that the 90’s taught about fat-free dieting. Fat-free foods are not the equivalent of flavored air – they contain plenty of calories and often lots of sugar.

* Your Solution: Be mindful of calories when eating fat-free foods.

Myth #5: Eat as Little as Possible for Maximum Fat Loss

The Facts: Eating too little causes your metabolism to shut down and puts your body into starvation mode, and prone to store fat rather than burn it.

* Your Solution: When it comes to fat loss think burn rather than starve.

Myth #6: Diet Pills Work for Fat Loss

The Facts: The only thing that diet pills are capable of burning is the extra cash in your wallet. Billions of diet pills are sold every year – all to no avail.

* Your Solution: Healthy eating and exercise can never be replaced by a pill.

Myth #7: You Should Never Eat Fast Food

The Facts: It’s all about what you order. Fried, processed and salty foods will cause weight gain - don’t order them. Lean meat, salad, vegetables and beans, on the other hand, are available at many fast food chains - order these instead.

* Your Solution: When eating fast food skip the fried items, stick with lean meats and salads.

Trying to lose weight is often a frustrating experience. In a world filled with quick fixes, lasting weight loss is not something that happens overnight. Remember that it took time to gain the weight, so it will also take some time to lose it.

Permanent weight loss happens as a result of a proper exercise and diet plan - my specialty.

Call or reply to this email and together we will customize a diet and exercise plan designed to help you lose the weight, tone your body and feel fantastic.
Don’t Try

The New Year is still fresh and change is in the air. What do you want to change in your life this year? Whatever your goal, apply this philosophy to it: Do or do not. There is no try. This bit of wisdom didn’t stem from a former president…it came from a little guy named Yoda!
Roasted Citrus Cod

Want fish in a flash? This recipe offers a healthy and delicious serving of cod crusted with breadcrumbs and enhanced with citrus zest.
Yield: 6 servings

Here’s what you need…

* 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
* 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted)
* 1/4 up chopped parsley
* 1 teaspoon grated orange zest
* 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
* 1 teaspoon grated lime zest
* 6 (6 oz) skinless cod fillets (1.5 inches thick, with bones removed)
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon pepper

1. Preaheat oven to 450 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Combine panko, butter, parsley and citrus zest until evenly mixed. Place the cod fillets on the prepared baking sheet. Season the fillets with salt and pepper. Top with the panko mixture, pressing it onto the fillets.
3. Roast until the breadcrumbs are browned and the cod is fully cooked, about 10 minutes.

Nutritional Analysis: One serving equals: 122 calories, 3.5g fat, 10g carbohydrate, .5g fiber, and 12g protein.

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Hassan

Please visit Wicked Training

By Hassan Wicker

This is the time of year when grocery stores put ‘health’ and ‘diet’ foods on display. Before you reach for that box of ‘health bars’ or ‘100 calorie packs’ take a moment to actually read the nutrition label. Many of these items aren’t healthy at all. They are simply cleverly disguised junk food that will actually promote weight gain rather than weight loss. Stick with items that are low in sugar and fat, and eat fresh produce often.

Eat-Your-Spinach Frittata

This recipe is a great way to eat more spinach-and we all know how that turned out for Popeye. Frittatas make a great dinner, so don’t limit this as a breakfast food. The key to making a low fat, high protein frittata is to replace most of the eggs with egg whites, as this recipe calls for.

Servings: 4

Here’s what you need…
•    1 teaspoon olive oil
•    1 teaspoon minced garlic
•    4 cups baby spinach leaves
•    3 whole eggs, plus 4 egg whites
•    1/2 teaspoon salt
•    1/4 teaspoon pepper
•    1/2 sweet onion, chopped
•    1/4 cup red bell pepper, minced
•    2 red potatoes, peeled and shredded
•    1/4 cup shredded low fat mozzarella

1.    Preheat the broiler and position the rack about 4 inches from the top. In a large nonstick frying pan (with a flameproof handle, since this is going in the oven) heat 1/2 teaspoon of oil on medium heat. Add the garlic and sauté until soft, about 1 minute. Stir in the spinach and cook until it is wilted, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and set the frying pan aside.

2.    In a bowl whisk together the eggs and egg whites, salt and pepper. Set aside.

3.    Put the frying pan back on medium heat and add the remaining 1/2 teaspoon of oil. Add the onion and sauté until soft, about 4 minutes. Stir in the bell pepper and potatoes and cook until the potatoes are browned, about 5 minutes.

4.    Spread the potato mixture to an even layer in the pan. Spread the spinach over it, then pour the eggs on and sprinkle with the cheese. Cook until slightly set, about 3 minutes.

5.    Place the pan under the broiler until the frittata is browned and completely set, about 3 minutes. Cut into wedges and serve immediately.
Nutritional Analysis: One serving equals: 176 calories, 6g fat, 16g carbohydrate, 2g fiber, and 12g protein.

Motivate your friends, family and co-workers! Use the “refer a friend” link below to forward this newsletter and subscribe your friends.

Hassan

Wicked Training