The New Year is almost upon us and it’s time to start thinking about taking off those extra pounds you’ve put on over the last few months. Did you gain 10 pounds or more? Let’s talk straight about weight loss. As an NPC Figure competitor I know quite a bit about losing weight. My off season weight is around 130 lbs. but on show day, I weigh around 120 lbs. They say the average person gains 5 – 15 lbs over the holidays so that’s about your Holiday weight, right?

Over the years I’ve been competing, I’ve tried several methods. I’ve tried low carb; I’ve tried hours of cardio. The best and most successful method I’ve found for dropping weight is the method Fat Loss 4 Idiots uses. I eat 4-6 meals a day! I eat all the time! Off season, I continue that program in order to gain lean muscle mass and maintain a lean physique. If you need to lose more than 10 pounds, no problem! My first season on this program, I needed to lose about 25 pounds. As a type 1 diabetic, eating frequently keeps my blood sugar from spiking and retreating. Extra glucose in your system is stored in your body as fat. That’s why super low calorie diets fail. If you fall off the wagon, your body creates a glucose spike and stores that extra glucose as fat.

The principal of Fat Loss 4 Idiots is one of redistributing calories or, "Calorie Shifting". In order for your metabolism to run at a high rate you MUST continue to eat. Your body burns calories in order to digest and properly use the fuel you give it. You can actually lose weight just by eating! Another of the FL4I principals is to keep your body guessing. Eating different amounts of calories every day does exactly that. When "dieting down" that is the first thing I do. I refer to it as cycling. One lower calorie day followed by a higher calorie day. Your body will try to maintain "homeostasis" which means it wants to stay the same. In order to lose weight, you can’t let it get used to what you’re doing.

The best thing about eating 4-6 meals a day is that I’m never hungry. I learned to listen to my tummy. It tells me when it’s time to eat again. Every two or three hours that I’m awake, I’m eating. And, I eat foods I love. I do stay away from sweets and certainly add some cardio to my routine in order to speed up the process, but the diet is the main ingredient to my successful weight loss for a show. And, I don’t crave anything! I never feel like I’m dieting, even when I am. The method of FL4I is one that even my doctor approves of. She is also a firm believer in manipulating your metabolism in order to lose weight and stay fit.

It’s not low carb or low fat. I tend to stick to non-processed, whole grain foods and natural, healthy fats but those are my personal preferences. I eat pasta, rice, chicken, beef, seafood and plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables (including potatoes!). My energy level remains high and I’m the picture of health. You CAN get to your goal weight! Pick up your fork and let’s eat and lose weight at the same time!