Reforming Michael Masterson

Ben and Jerry’s ice cream late at night. That’s one of the bad habits Michael Masterson developed last winter. The result of this indulgence? He ended up 19 pounds over his ideal weight.

I discovered this little secret back in February. And let me tell you, it was a big relief. I’m a professional trainer, and I’d been working Michael pretty hard. Plus, Michael practices Brazilian Jiu Jitsu several times a week. Not to mention that he knows his stuff when it comes to fitness and nutrition. So when he stopped dropping body fat and started gaining weight, I was stumped.

Once he confessed the ice cream habit … and his tendency to enjoy a more-than-occasional dinner filled with high-glycemic, complex carbohydrates (like pasta, rice, or mashed potatoes), I knew he was ready to change. (You have to admit you have a problem before you can fix it, after all.) And I knew exactly what to do to help him quickly and efficiently burn off the extra pounds.

In six weeks, he lost 15 pounds and dropped from 23 percent body fat to 18.5 percent. That’s a loss of 13 pounds of pure fat!

Good for Michael! And it’s good for you, too. Because if you have a few extra pounds to lose, I’m going to be teaching you a few of the little tricks I taught Michael that you can use to get your health back on track.

Here’s the first trick: Recognize that your habits need to change.

It’s as simple as that. If you’re eating potato chips or cookies as a snack every day, recognize that you need to stop if you want to have the body you dream of. If you aren’t exercising enough, recognize that you need to make a change in your routine.

That’s it for today. But check back tomorrow, and I’ll teach you another little trick – an exercise routine to help you get back into shape.

[Ed. Note: If you’re looking to see results like Michael’s, Coach Yari can help. She’s offering a special online training program for people who can’t make it to her gym. Learn how to burn up to 37 pounds of fat in 6 weeks right here.

Of course, working out isn’t the only key to getting fit. Get healthy recipe ideas, the latest news on natural supplements, and plenty of motivation right here.]

Yarixa Ferrao is a Certified Personal Trainer. She was voted “America’s Next Fitness Phenom” in 2008. Coach Yari is an expert in functional training, weight loss, sports performance, and cellulite. She is the founder of Get Fit in 6, a six-week life transformation program for both women and men in Delray Beach, Florida. Coach Yari is the author of the e-book, Cellulite and the Featured Fitness Instructor on Dr. Al Sears World Renowned P.A.C.E Program exercise video.