How I Lost 64 Pounds in 7 Months (NOT what you think)

Today, I’m going to share with you my personal story. About how I lost 64 pounds in 7 months. I’m also going to reveal what I think was the #1 key to my success … and I’ll bet it’s not what ya think! So make sure to read the WHOLE story to find out …

A little less than 9 years ago, my football career came to an end. Half of my life up to that point – over 10 years – had been invested in being the best I could be at my sport. I played all four years of high school, five years in college and two in and out of the NFL.

So it was quite the transition. And going from working out hours per day with a very specific purpose, to NO directed workouts at all, and no real purpose to train for … real quick I was out of shape.

One day, I saw this picture of myself:

And decided enough was enough. I set out to train six days per week, plan my meals religiously and get to my “fighting” weight of 246 (at the end of the summer after my senior year of high school I was weighing in at 246, and that’s when I had been in the best shape of my life, up to that point).

So I started on the plan. Things went very well at first, if I remember correctly, the first 10 or 20 pounds came off very fast – within the first month or so.

But pretty soon, the weight loss started to slow down. I hit a plateau for a few good weeks, and it was very frustrating.

At this point I was training by myself. All my strength workouts, all my cardio sessions – I was doing them alone.

I realized that I had trained in a team environment, been around like-minded people working towards a common goal for more than 10 years. And I realized that that’s what I needed again to kick-start my progress again.

So what I did at the time was 1) take two or three spin classes per week at the gym I was working at, and 2) lifted with the guys I worked with at the gym two or three times per week.

That snapped the plateau. In fact, it took me all the way to my goal weight in about 7 months. And I KNOW that getting around other like-minded people was the #1 factor that helped me really reach my ultimate goals (and maintain them until now, I might add):

So, if YOU are struggling, if you’re at a plateau … if you feel like your workouts and your nutrition is pretty good, and you can’t really figure out why you’re not making progress … this could be the missing factor for you.

And, the exact type of support you need is individual to you. Maybe it’s a spin class. Maybe it’s a training partner. The training programs we offer at the FVT Studio are also a great solution for many folks.

=> Click HERE to leave us a message and schedule your Test-A-Trainer session today

You may (or may not) know WHAT you need to do. And the reality is, if you don’t, you can do a little research and come up with a plan for yourself if you really wanted to.

At the end of the day, it’s being around like-minded people working towards a common goal, it’s the accountability and the motivation and everything else that comes with being a part of the FVT “tribe” that gets our clients such amazing results, and new success stories coming several times each and every month. (Take a look at the testimonial section on our website HERE to see a few of them!)

The moral of the story is, wherever you’re at, get some help and don’t go at it alone. Find the best solution for YOU, whatever it is. And see your results blast through the roof!!!

Thanks, and talk soon –

– Forest Vance, MS, RKC II
Owner, FVT Boot Camp and Personal Training

7 Tips To Make Fat Burning Meals

Got a guest post for you today on 7 tips to make fat burning meals from Diana Keulian.

Diana is a busy mother of two and creator of RealHealthyRecipes.com – an INCREDIBLE resource for just what it says – real, healthy recipes!

After years of frustration, she’s landed on her “formula” for creating meals that promote fat loss, and taste good while doing it. And you’ll discover the basics of her formula in today’s article.

Enjoy!

– Forest

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My name is Diana Keuilian, I’m the creator of Family Friendly Fat Burning Foods and today I’d like to share with you my top 7 Tips To Make Fat Burning Meals.

Wouldn’t it be great if all your favorite comfort meals naturally promoted fat loss? I think that would be awesome.

My old favorite comfort meals were fried fish tacos, fully-loaded veggie burritos, angel hair pasta with mizithra cheese and cheese-smothered veggie burgers with fries. Yummmmmmmm! Unfortunately these old favorites brought on rapid fat storage.

Due to my love of food, in my twenties I went from a size 4 to a size 12.

In my frustration I tried portion control, and began to limit the amount of foods that I ate. This began a yo-yo cycle of eating less food one day, more the next, and never seeing the results I wanted.

Over the past few years I’ve read countless books on nutrition and have finally landed on the formula for creating meals that promote fat loss, and taste good while doing it.

Oh and this method of eating has effortlessly brought me back to that size 4 🙂

This is what I discovered…

Fat Burning Tip #1) Focus On Protein

The base of a fat burning meal is a healthy serving of quality, lean protein. Choose from organic, hormone-free chicken, pork, beef, lamb, veal, fish or eggs.

No wonder I was gaining weight! Most of my favorite meals had very little to do with protein. After giving up meat at age 12, I spent the next 18 years as a junk food vegetarian. Most of my meals were made up of processed grains and sugar.

Why is protein so important? Protein supports and fuels your lean tissues, namely your muscles, and does not have an effect on blood sugar levels, which would promote fat storage.

Fat Burning Tip #2) Ditch Grains and Refined Sugar

A fat burning meal does not contain a serving of grains or starches. Yes, I realize that this goes against everything that we have been taught or experienced with dinners. Most meals are plated with a jumbo serving of noodles, pasta, potatoes, rice, has been breaded or is served with bread, tortillas, chips or buns.

As I learned the hard way, these carbs are more than we need, and end up being stored as fat. And, yes, it is possible to create fat-burning dinners that satisfy even the hungriest meat-and-potatoes members of your family.

This was the hardest part for me to get used to. Grains and sugar are filled with fat-promoting carbs, and as you saw above, my favorite meals were all carb-ed out.

There’s really no reason, other than habit, to eat grains or sugar on a regular basis. Once I removed these from my diet, and got out of the habit of eating them, I no longer craved or even found my old favorites very appealing.

Fat Burning Tip #3) Bring On The Veggies

After you remove the grains and sugars from your meal, add a bunch of fiber-filled veggies instead. One of my favorite things to do now when building a fat burning meal is to get a bowl, add a few handfuls of organic spinach and arugula, and then top it with protein and some cooked veggies. Add a light homemade dressing and you’re looking at the perfect, quick fat burning meal.

Fiber-filled veggies are important for many reasons in addition to the fiber. They are filled with nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, all of which your body needs. They are also very low in calories compared to the amount of space that they take up in your stomach. So you’ll get full faster on fewer calories.

Fat Burning Tip #4) Quality Ingredients

Ingredients are the building blocks to a healthy meal so pay attention to the quality of the ingredients you use. Fast food just isn’t going to cut it! Be willing to spend a little more on the foods that you eat. Quality is much more important that quantity.

When choosing meat look for organic, antibiotic and hormone-free. Avoid processed meats, like lunchmeats, as these contain potentially harmful additives and lots of salt. Also avoid highly processed soy fake meats.

Choose foods that are:

Fresh, organic and seasonal
Pronounceable ingredients
Whole foods

Fat Burning Tip #5) Use A Healthy Cooking Method

The method in which you cook your meal determines how many calories, how much added fat, and the number of nutrients that survive.

Don’t prepare meals like this:

Fried and battered
Processed and packaged
Doused with cream sauce

Choose these cooking methods:

Grilled
Baked
Broiled
Steamed

Fat Burning Tip #6) Cook With Coconut Oil

I used to always cook with vegetable oil, never realizing how harmful it was to my fat loss efforts. Unfortunately most people use harmful, unstable and fat promoting oils when they cook.

The good news is that coconut oil is an amazing, healthy oil that not only tastes great but also helps promote fat loss. Among its many benefits, coconut oil is stable, even at high temperatures. It’s filled with lauric acid, which boosts the immune system and helps ward off infections.

Best of all, coconut oil has been shown to increase metabolism and thyroid activity, which boosts fat burning.

Fat Burning Tip #7) Enjoy Dessert of Fresh Fruit

When is the last time that you bit into a fresh, organic, perfectly ripe piece of fruit? Delicious, wasn’t it? I used to overlook fruit as the perfect dessert that it is, and instead would eat artificially flavored, cane sugar sweetened, processed desserts that encourage rapid weight gain and declined health.

I’m not going to say that ice cream and chocolate don’t taste awesome, because they do. But eating desserts like that on a regular basis is one of the big reasons that I kept gaining weight back in my twenties. By making the simple switch from refined sugar desserts to desserts of organic, fresh fruit I was able to lose weight without feeling deprived.

Let’s bring fruit back to its rightful place as our favorite, most popular after-dinner sweet. Out with the refined sugar and corn syrup and in with Nature’s sweetest gift…fresh fruit.

Hope that you have enjoyed these 7 Tips To Make Fat Burning Meals. I’m walking proof that this way of eating truly delivers results without deprivation or boring, bland meals.

I love food WAY too much to give up flavorful, delicious dinners, snacks and desserts. In fact, I’m so passionate about creating fat burning foods that, for the first time ever, I’ve put all of my best recipes and eating secrets together into a full Family Friendly Fat Burning Meals program.

This system has over 100 of my family’s favorite fat burning recipes – which I used to effortlessly reverse the weight I had gained in my twenties. It’s tasty stuff like Chicken Enchiladas, Baked Chicken Nuggets, Make-Your-Own Tacos, Healthy Brownies, Easy Chocolate Chip Cookies and much, much more.

Here’s a page where you can learn more about my Family Friendly Fat Burning Meals Program

I’m excited to hear your fat loss success story. Good luck, and enjoy all of those tasty recipes 🙂

FVT 15 Minute Follow-Along Body Weight Workout Video

fvt follow along workout

We’ve been getting a TON of interest in the 21 Day Summer Shape Up Rapid Fat Loss Formula program we’re running right now at the studio.

But we’re also getting a lot of the same questions from folks that are *considering* signing up. Such as –

“What do you guys actually DO at a FVT boot camp workout? “

“How is a session structured?”

“What kind of exercises do you do?”

We put together a 15 minute follow-along body weight workout video for subscribers of the FVT Newsletter a short time ago – but in case you missed it, thought it would be a great time to re-post the link.

Gina and I take you through a 15 minute, body weight – ONLY, full body workout you can do ANYWHERE with absolutely zero equipment. It’s a great little sample of what you’d actually experience in a full workout at FVT. Check it out here:

=> 15 Minute Follow-Along Body Weight Workout Video from FVT

And, for more details on the 21 Day Summer Shape Up Rapid Fat Loss Formula program – and to reserve your spot – click HERE.

Train hard, and talk soon –

Forest Vance, Owner, FVT Boot Camp and Personal Training

Meet Dan!

Seeing Dan now, you would never guess that less than three months ago, he was almost 20 pounds heavier.

For years he had tried losing weight using fad diets, various supplements and on-again off-again workout programs.

But when he decided to take our last rapid fat loss challenge, everything changed.

Spring 2014 FVT Rapid Fat Loss Boot Camp

 

He lost 11 pounds in his first 30 days on our program – and has lost almost 10 more since.

In fact, just yesterday, he posted this message on Facebook:

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Another kick *** workout with Forest Vance at FVT earlier … the workouts are TOUGH, but the results are astounding … in roughly 3 mos, maybe less, 17lbs and counting, 4 more to go and maintain …

If you want to feel great and shed some poundage, go see Forest on Riverside Blvd!

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Wow. Congrats on your success Dan, keep up the awesome work, and so glad we can be a part of your progress!!

May 2014 Challenge Workout Results

Here’s the May 2014 FVT Challenge Workout again, in case you missed it:

=> Bodyweight / Kettlebell Challenge Workout

 

And the results:

Women Non-Modified
SF 450
PK 436
SG 436
KM 429
SK 419
JM 402
LA 398
AM 391
LB 388
MD 385
JM 383
MG 375
BS 368
KG 357
MT 350
FY 313
DB 305
NG 290
RK 279

Women Modified
MA 393
AL 376
AD 355
CL 352
GK 341
CP 326
LT 326
KP 323
GS 287
AS 254
RR 215

Men Non-Modified
FM 518
RM 472
SS 430
RA 386
JM 382
MP 381
RB 363
BK 356
KS 335
JD 318
BD 305
MM 296

Men Modified
DM 316
GT 287

 

Great work to all! ‘Till next time –

– The FVT Team

Summer Shape Up Rapid Fat Loss Formula

Summer is almost here. Can you believe it?! Such an awesome time of year. Can’t wait!

How about you? What do YOU have planned? Spending some time at the beach? Maybe going out on the boat? Time at the pool with the kids?

Guess that leads us to my REAL question for you today … and that is, are you READY for the summer to start? Like, REALLY ready?

In other words, if I invited you to a pool party this weekend, would you feel good about throwing on the swimsuit? Or is a little more of that “winter layer” still hanging around than you would like?

Or even just putting on a pair of shorts and a sleeveless shirt. Do you feel good NOW, or could you stand to lose five or ten or more pounds of fat before summer officially starts?

Well, if this note has got you thinking a bit … if you need some help to lose a few pounds of fat and get where you need to be, QUICK … I’ve put together the PERFECT solution, specifically for you.

The FVT 21 Day Summer Shape Rapid Fat Loss Formula is a package we put together SPECIFICALLY for folks like YOU, who are looking to lose those last few pounds of fat before summer officially starts.

It includes boot camps at our studio, a special rapid fat loss meal plan, before and after weight and body fat measurements, and access to a special private Facebook group where we can interact, share what’s working, hold each other accountable, and reach our summer fat loss goals – TOGETHER!

(BTW, this offer is for new/inactive clients – but if you’re currently training with us and interested, shoot me a message and we’ll get you going!)

==>> Click here to get more info about the FVT 21 Day Summer Shape Rapid Fat Loss Formula and get started now (hurry, space is limited and we’ll only be running this offer for a short time)

Thanks, and have a great day –

Forest Vance
Owner, FVT Boot Camp and Personal Training

May 2014 Challenge Workout

BRUTAL bodyweight / kettlebell challenge workout for you this month.

Let’s get right to it –

May 2014 FVT Challenge Workout

Set up is FIVE exercises:

– KB swings (standard weight is 24k for men, 16k for women)
– hand release push ups (from the toes for men, from the knees for women … each rep, at the bottom, take your hands off the floor)
– walking lunges (lightly touch your knee to the ground on each rep; each step counts as one)
– inverted rows (either suspension trainer or Lebert Equalizer … knees are bent, feet flat on the floor … any grip … touch the ground with the body and chest to the level of the hands on each rep)
– burpees (no push up at the bottom, clap hands above the head at the top of each rep)

Get as many reps as you can of each exercise in 60 seconds. Rest for 30 seconds between exercises. Do three rounds total, resting for 60 seconds between rounds. Your score is the total number of repetitions you do in the workout.

Score benchmarks:
300 – great
375 – amazing
450+ – world class

Good luck! You’ll need it 😉

Scores will be posted at the end of the week.

– The FVT Team

Muscle Meal in 60 Seconds (or less)

muscle meal

Man, this muscle meal brings back memories.

Back in my college days, it was a staple.

EASY to prepare, and it costs maybe two or three bucks for all the ingredients.

I still come back to this simple muscle meal frequently because it’s nutritious, affordable, and just SO easy to make:

Muscle Meal in 60 Seconds (or less)

(exact portions of each ingredient will depend on your specific calorie/food intake needs)

— tuna
— brown or white rice
— peas, corn, and/or carrots
— lite teriyaki sauce to taste

For the tuna, I prefer albacore, but you can go with whatever kind you like.

You can experiment with different types of rice – steamed, boiled, in microwavable cup or bag, etc.

The veggies also can be fresh, frozen, or canned – depending on your preference and how much time you want to spend putting the meal together.

 

So there you have your muscle meal in 60 seconds or less. It may not be a culinary delight – but it reasonable tasty, has your lean protein, your veggies, you carbohydrate … it uses simple ingredients, and it’s SUPER easy to prepare … what else do you need? 🙂

Enjoy –

Forest Vance, MS, FNC

PS – If you’re looking for:

– a done-for-you list of best protein, carb, and fat sources to focus on for fat loss and lean muscle gain
– dozens of healthy breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack ideas that take 5 minutes or less to prepare
– meal prep tips, how to eat well while eating out, how to beat cravings and more

Check out my simple fat loss (and lean muscle gain) meal plan here:

=> “Official” FVT Meal Planning Guide