THE FITNESS EXPERT By John DeFendis
The Importance of proper nutrition and Health Food Stores. (Week #3)

The Grapefruit Diet...The Cabbage Soup Diet...The Licorice Diet. These are all diets that some of our readers have gone on in hopes that they would find the miracle cure to weight loss. Some people will try anything to lose a few pounds so that they could look good at their Class Reunion or just simply fit into those slacks or that dress. But the truth of the matter is that we must start eating healthy as a lifestyle if we expect to look good and feel good permanently. A fad diet may help you to lose a few pounds in a short time span but most of what you lose is "Muscle" and when you lose muscle, your metabolism slows down and not only will you gain back the weight but you will gain additional weight and fat as well. This is proven time and time again by Yo Yo dieters.
So, what is the right way to lose weight? Well the first thing that we should understand is that there are three no no's that we must avoid. They are...Fat...Salt...and Sugar. I call these the three Demons. We have all been taught to watch the fats in our diet. But even though it is good to avoid a high fat diet, it is not the entire answer. Salt and Sugar are the other two demons that we want to avoid at all costs. Well now, you probably are beginning to understand why you have not lost much weight on your new Low Fat Diet. You see, almost every food that is low in fat has been sabatoged with tons of salt and sugar. They replace the fat with salt and sugar in order to make it tasty and enjoyable. I personally will not touch items like Entenmanns No Fat Cakes, Low Fat Salad Dressings that are loaded with sugar and salt, and No Fat cheeses that are also extremely high in salt. Always remember..."READ THE LABEL!"
Well, now we have to figure out where to buy low fat, low, salt items that are not full of sugar. You may find a select few items such as Enrico's no salt, no fat spaghetti sauce on your Publix Grocery Store shelf but the bulk of these products can only be found in a Health Food Store. When you get the chance I would like for you to take a trip to the Health Food Store and explore the possibilities. You will find such items as No salt, no sugar, no fat Breads, salad dressings, seasonings, sauces, and crackers. These are key items in a Burn Fat...Build Muscle Program. You can actually enjoy your eating regimen and get incredible results at the same time! I have discovered that the least effective diet programs are low fat programs that are sugar and salt laden. A good Health food store will also have no salt, no fat canned items also such as Kidney Beans, Great Northern Beans, and other healthy vegetables. On the same shelves, you will also discover healthy low fat cereals like Flax Cereal and 7 Grain Cereal. These are my two personal favorites and both of them are void of added salt and sugar. They are tasty, rich and nutritious. I have discovered many new and interesting recipes with many of these foods. If you would like a free recipe booklet, you can contact me at (561) 968-6578 and I will make sure that you receive one. After all, my main purpose is to educate and motivate each and every person that wishes to lose weight, stay healthy and enjoy a higher quality of life. I cannot and do not try to convince anyone that they need to go on a weight loss program. This is a choice that we all have to make. There are enough people in todays society that want the help, need the help and are willing to put forth the effort. These are the people that I am here to help succeed. You have to be willing to make the commitment. I will continue to share the knowledge that God has given me over the past 20 years and we all can live healthier, happier lives.Stay Motivated and Focus on your goals and dreams!

Your Coach & Friend,
John DeFendis (9 Time Trainer Of The Year.)