By Pete Thomas
Season 2 At-Home Winner of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser”

Last week I talked about “counting plans” and discussed why these types of diets can be ineffective.  However, there is another kind of diet plan called a “set” plan, and these can be just as bad for your weight-loss goals.  You’ve heard the saying, “Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish and he will eat for a lifetime.” Well, it is no different when it comes to your diet.

Jenny Craig and NutriSystem are set plans. These plans tell you what to eat for breakfast, what to eat for lunch, and what to eat for dinner. Because they are very specific, and they work well for a certain amount of time, they are very popular plans.

However, set plans do not teach you HOW to eat, they only tell you WHAT to eat. What are you going to do when the food that you’re supposed to eat is not available? Let’s say that you go on a vacation to Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon. What are you going to do when your special food that’s supposed to be refrigerated is not available in the Grand Canyon? If you don’t eat what’s on the plan, you’re not on the plan.

Another problem I have with set plans is that they never teach you to prepare your own food. You spend a fortune on the special food provided by the plan, but you never learn to make a meal plan, shop at the grocery store or prepare a healthy, low calorie meal for you and your family. So set plans have obvious limitations.

These limitations can sabotage your weight-loss goals and your health.  Avoid them. And stick around for next week’s discussion of short-term diets that go nowhere.

In the meantime, let’s continue this conversation on Facebook.  When you Sign up you’ll receive my free e-book, “Ten Tips from a Biggest Loser: How to Lose Weight and Keep It Off!”

I look forward to helping you reach your goals in 2012.  Whether you need a motivational speaker, teacher, coach or corporate wellness consultant—I can help.  Contact me at www.PeteThomas.com.

Remember, There’s a Winner Within you!

Pete Thomas
Season 2 At-Home Winner of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser”

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About Pete Thomas

Pete Thomas is the Season 2 $100,000 At-home Winner of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser.”  Since his win in 2005, Pete Thomas has evolved into an acclaimed motivational speaker, highly skilled TV personality, teacher, fitness trainer and corporate wellness consultant.

Thomas helps companies increase employee participation in their health and wellness programs and provides customized educational and inspirational health and fitness content for Human Resource, Benefits and Wellness Directors.  Thomas has also helped over 200 individuals shed thousands of combined pounds with his personally developed Lose It Fast, Lose It Forever™ 10-week Nutrition and Exercise program.

Dubbed, “Mr. Biggest Loser” by executive producers of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser,” Pete has appeared on ABC’s The View, The 700 Club, and eXtra, as well as being featured in People Magazine, Runner’s World, TV Guide, inTouch Weekly, Real Health and commercials nationwide.

A full time motivational speaker, weight-loss coach, consultant, and product spokesman for companies such as NordicTrack and HealthPlus of Michigan,  Pete travels and spreads his “Winning Principles” to organizations worldwide—both in person and through his website at www.PeteThomas.com.   To request an interview or inquire about having Pete Thomas speak at your event, contact Anita Lane at 646.450.6214.

If Your Diet Makes You Dumb, Ditch it!

By Pete Thomas
Season 2 At-Home Winner of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser”

Recently, we’ve been discussing reasons why you should quit “dieting.”  Last week, we discussed how restrictive diet plans can do more harm than good, and we resolved to ditch those.  This week, it’s time to evaluate how “smart” your diet plan really is, and whether or not you should keep it.

Many diet plans are “counting” plans.  A counting plan is where you have to count something – it might be calories, or carbohydrates, or fat grams, or something else. These are good for restricting the number of calories or carbs that go into your mouth, so they have value. Atkins, The South Beach Diet and Weight Watchers are examples of counting plans.  Lose It Fast, Lose It Forever, is a variation of a counting plan, so I’m definitely not against the idea of “counting.”

However, I have a problem with counting plans if it doesn’t teach you how to count for yourself. It is fine to understand the “point” value of a product, but it’s better to understand the nutritional information. If you’re trying to lose weight, knowing the calorie content in your food is the most important information.

Here’s an example. In one plan, Progresso Light Soup is “zero points,” although it does contain calories. That’s misleading and counterproductive to weight-loss. So in my opinion, that plan makes you “dumb” because it doesn’t teach you the real life skill of counting actual calories–and the reality is–all foods have calories. Water and diet drinks excluded, of course…

Here’s another thing to watch out for. In some plans, you’re rewarded for any extra exercise that you put in. That’s good in theory, but there’s a catch. They reward you by allowing you more points or more food that you’re allowed to eat. This can at times sabotage your weight loss efforts.

Next week, I’ll discuss another type of restrictive diet—the kind that only tells you what to eat instead of how to eat.

In the meantime, let’s continue this conversation on Facebook.  When you Sign up you’ll receive my free e-book, “Ten Tips from a Biggest Loser: How to Lose Weight and Keep It Off!”

I look forward to helping you reach your goals in 2012.  Whether you need a motivational speaker, teacher, coach or corporate wellness consultant—I can help.  Contact me at www.PeteThomas.com.

Remember, There’s a Winner Within you!

Pete Thomas

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About Pete Thomas

Pete Thomas is the Season 2 $100,000 At-home Winner of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser.”  Since his win in 2005, Pete Thomas has evolved into an acclaimed motivational speaker, highly skilled TV personality, teacher, fitness trainer and corporate wellness consultant.

Thomas helps companies increase employee participation in their health and wellness programs and provides customized educational and inspirational health and fitness content for Human Resource, Benefits and Wellness Directors.  Thomas has also helped over 200 individuals shed thousands of combined pounds with his personally developed Lose It Fast, Lose It Forever™ 10-week Nutrition and Exercise program.

Dubbed, “Mr. Biggest Loser” by executive producers of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser,” Pete has appeared on ABC’s The View, The 700 Club, and eXtra, as well as being featured in People Magazine, Runner’s World, TV Guide, inTouch Weekly, Real Health and commercials nationwide.

A full time motivational speaker, weight-loss coach, consultant, and product spokesman for companies such as NordicTrack and HealthPlus of Michigan,  Pete travels and spreads his “Winning Principles” to organizations worldwide—both in person and through his website at www.PeteThomas.com.   To request an interview or inquire about having Pete Thomas speak at your event, contact Anita Lane at 646.450.6214.

Feeling Restricted? If Your Diet is Not Sustainable for the Long-Haul, Go Ahead and Ditch it Now!

Last week, I began a series on when and why you should quit a diet plan.  There are several reasons, but the first to keep in mind is this: if it restricts you, ditch it.

Most diets are not sustainable for a lifetime. That’s because they operate on the basis of elimination. Let me explain. You may have heard of the Master Cleanse (also called the Lemonade Diet because it’s made of maple syrup and lemonade) or one of several “Cookie” diets.

The Master Cleanse is famous among Hollywood stars because it helps people shed pounds quickly. On the Cookie Diet, which has understandable appeal, you have a cookie for breakfast, a cookie for lunch, and a regular meal for dinner. It’s very popular in certain parts of the country. And it’s true that these plans work for some people for a short time.

But here is the key: they only work one way – elimination. You’re going to lose weight from caloric or carbohydrate elimination. You’re not making any real changes to your life; you’re just temporarily eliminating these things from your body.

Understand, if the diet is not sustainable for you in your life, then it’s just not a good diet. You have to be able to stick with the diet in any and all circumstances for it to be long-term. When I teach my students the secret of “Modification, Not Starvation” they learn the tools for a lifetime of healthy eating. The bottom line is that you need to have a plan that’s going to work in your real life … for your entire life.

Next week, I’ll discuss a few common-sense diet tips in part three entitled, “Ditch It…If Your Diet Plan Makes You Dumb.” Because if dieting is bad enough, being dumb and dieting is even worse.

In the meantime, let’s continue this conversation on Facebook.  When you Sign up you’ll receive my free e-book, “Ten Tips from a Biggest Loser: How to Lose Weight and Keep It Off!”

I look forward to helping you reach your goals in 2012.  Whether you need a motivational speaker, teacher, coach or corporate wellness consultant—I can help.  Contact me at www.PeteThomas.com.

Remember, There’s a Winner Within you!

Pete Thomas
Season 2 At-Home Winner of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser”

————-

About Pete Thomas

Pete Thomas is the Season 2 $100,000 At-home Winner of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser.”  Since his win in 2005, Pete Thomas has evolved into an acclaimed motivational speaker, highly skilled TV personality, teacher, fitness trainer and corporate wellness consultant.

Thomas helps companies increase employee participation in their health and wellness programs and provides customized educational and inspirational health and fitness content for Human Resource, Benefits and Wellness Directors.  Thomas has also helped over 200 individuals shed thousands of combined pounds with his personally developed Lose It Fast, Lose It Forever™ 10-week Nutrition and Exercise program.

Dubbed, “Mr. Biggest Loser” by executive producers of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser,” Pete has appeared on ABC’s The View, The 700 Club, and eXtra, as well as being featured in People Magazine, Runner’s World, TV Guide, inTouch Weekly, Real Health and commercials nationwide.

A full time motivational speaker, weight-loss coach, consultant, and product spokesman for companies such as NordicTrack and HealthPlus of Michigan,  Pete travels and spreads his “Winning Principles” to organizations worldwide—both in person and through his website at www.PeteThomas.com.   To request an interview or inquire about having Pete Thomas speak at your event, contact Anita Lane at 646.450.6214.

Happy New Year!

I hope 2012 is an even healthier year for you than 2011. No doubt there are some areas in your life that need to change in order for 2012 to be healthier. After practicing successful weight loss for seven years since winning the “At Home” prize on NBC’s The Biggest Loser, I still have adjustments to make. That’s because living a healthy lifestyle requires constant vigilance in our high-calorie, highly processed food culture.

One of the changes you might need to make in order to be healthy is to quit your diet plan. I can just hear you saying, “What? I thought losing weight was a good thing…” Yes, losing weight is a good thing. But losing weight PERMANENTLY is a GREAT thing. And you can do that this year, but you might need to ditch your incomplete, ignorant, or downright unhealthy diet plan.

Let me explain.  A lot of diet plans help you lose weight by restricting you from eating certain types of foods, whether they be carbohydrates, refined foods, grains, or whatever. Those changes are easy to make for a while, but good luck sticking to it for a lifetime. Other plans don’t teach you how to eat, they tell you WHAT to eat and WHEN. So if you find yourself in a different country or in an unfamiliar setting, you won’t know how to adapt and continue with your plan.

That’s why I like to call Lose It Fast, Lose It Forever a “nutritional” plan, not a diet plan. You need to change the way you eat forever, not adopt a bunch of temporary rules or buy a truckload of prepared meals. That way, no matter where you are or what food you see around you, you will make intelligent choices that lead to health and independence.

There are reasons to quit your diet plan.  In the coming weeks, I’ll discuss the top four reasons why you should in more detail.

Next week, we tackle find out the first reason why you should ditch your diet and start taking control of your life. Stay tuned!

In the meantime, let’s continue this conversation on Facebook.  When you Sign up you’ll receive my free e-book, “Ten Tips from a Biggest Loser: How to Lose Weight and Keep It Off!”  I also welcome you to drop in or join my SLIM U™ Boot Camp and Seminar in Ann Arbor, MI if you’re in the area.  Learn more at www.PeteThomas.com

Remember, There’s a Winner Within you!

Pete Thomas

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About Pete Thomas

Pete Thomas is the Season 2 $100,000 At-home Winner of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser.”  Since his win in 2005, Pete Thomas has evolved into an acclaimed motivational speaker, highly skilled TV personality, teacher, fitness trainer and corporate wellness consultant.

Thomas helps companies increase employee participation in their health and wellness programs and provides customized educational and inspirational health and fitness content for Human Resource, Benefits and Wellness Directors.  Thomas has also helped over 200 individuals shed thousands of combined pounds with his personally developed Lose It Fast, Lose It Forever™ 10-week Nutrition and Exercise program.

Dubbed, “Mr. Biggest Loser” by executive producers of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser,” Pete has appeared on ABC’s The View, The 700 Club, and eXtra, as well as being featured in People Magazine, Runner’s World, TV Guide, inTouch Weekly, Real Health and commercials nationwide.

A full time motivational speaker, weight-loss coach, consultant, and product spokesman for companies such as NordicTrack and HealthPlus of Michigan,  Pete travels and spreads his “Winning Principles” to organizations worldwide—both in person and through his website at www.PeteThomas.com.   To request an interview or inquire about having Pete Thomas speak at your event, contact Anita Lane at 646.450.6214.

Biggest Loser Winner Pete Thomas Helps the City of Detroit Fight Childhood Obesity with Detroit M.O.O.V.E. Initiative!

CLICK HERE to see additional photos from this event:

DETROIT GETS M.O.O.V.ING TO FIGHT CHILDHOOD OBESITY
Councilman Andre L. Spivey declares war on city-wide youth epidemic

DETROIT, November 1, 2011-In an attempt to reduce the growing number of overweight kids in the city of Detroit, councilman Andre Spivey will bring together over 700 Detroit Public School 4 & 5^th grade students for a morning of fun, fitness and nutrition education at Wayne State University’s Matthaei Center on Friday, November 4, 2011 starting at 9:30 a.m. This youth rally will serve as the official kick-off for M.O.O.V.E. Detroit, a newly formed task force created to combat the crisis of childhood obesity.

M.O.O.V.E. Detroit is an acronym that stands for Minors Overcoming Obesity with Veggies and Exercise. A spin off of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move campaign, M.O.O.V.E. Detroit was created by the councilman to address the growing issue of overweight children in the city of Detroit.

A new generation of children are being raised addicted to fast food and not being exposed to physical activity. Unfortunately, many elementary schools have discontinued recess and daily P.E. classes for all students guaranteeing daily exercise and fresh air.  Experts recommend that kids should have at least one hour of what they call moderate-intensity physical activity such as walking the dog, riding a bike or dancing to a favorite song.

“In order for Detroit to be a strong community, it must be healthy first,” said Detroit city councilman Andre L. Spivey. “As a legislator I fight everyday for the rights of our citizens but what am I fighting for if our children will not be around to inherit the hard work of today because they are too sick from various controllable diseases such as high cholesterol and diabetes?” Today’s kids are tomorrow’s leaders, but if they don’t adopt healthier lifestyles, they could be the first generation of children that will not live as long as their parents.”

M.O.O.V.E. Detroit will focus on exploring the root of childhood obesity in Detroit and tackling the myths behind health eating and exercise.  It will involve not only youth, but also the school system and the local grocers who supply the food to our communities. This initiative will act as a one-stop shop in the city for all things related to controlling this dilemma. It is a fact that children are spending too much time indoors, adversely affecting their health. Besides obesity, Detroit children are seeing increased Vitamin D deficiency, early onset of diabetes, reduced attention spans, increased aggressiveness, and sleep deprivation. Studies show that 70% of overweight youths already have at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease, such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure.

The councilman has put together a jam packed morning with the goal of taking the necessary steps to curb the staggering statistics listed above. The youth program will feature some wonderful Detroiters who have dedicated their lives to health & nutrition.

Pete Thomas, the Season 2 at-home winner of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” will serve as the nutritional speaker for the day.  He is a full-time motivational speaker, teacher, weight-loss coach and consultant.  Thomas has been featured in People Magazine, TV Guide, inTouch Weekly and has appeared on, eXtra, ABC’s ‘The View’, The 700 Club and commercials nationwide.

Nutritional expert Lazet Michaels Boatman, a certified physical fitness expert and owner of the Life Center Fitness Facility in the city of Detroit is the author of the book “Workout & Worship” 8 Steps to Physical & Spiritual Health. Boatman is a Fox 2 Detroit Fitness Consultant and CEO of the “Working out with Lazet” Foundation, which has a program called “Get Fit for Prom…Get Fit for Life!” for high school students, currently at the (DIA) Detroit International Academy for Young Women High School. Boatman will be showing the children how to properly workout and stay physically fit during the school year.

The event sponsors and task force partners include Whole Foods, Health Alliance Plan, The McDonald’s Owners & Operators Association and Wayne State University. Individuals throughout the community including corporations and non-profit organizations have been invited to the table to help solve this plaguing issue.

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About Pete Thomas

Pete Thomas is the Season 2 $100,000 At-home Winner of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser.”  Since his win in 2005, Pete Thomas has evolved into an acclaimed motivational speaker, highly skilled TV personality, teacher, fitness trainer and corporate wellness consultant.

Thomas helps companies increase employee participation in their health and wellness programs and provides customized educational and inspirational health and fitness content for Human Resource, Benefits and Wellness Directors.  Thomas has also helped over 200 individuals shed thousands of combined pounds with his personally developed Lose It Fast, Lose It Forever™ 10-week Nutrition and Exercise program.

Dubbed, “Mr. Biggest Loser” by executive producers of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser,” Pete has appeared on ABC’s The View, The 700 Club, and eXtra, as well as being featured in People Magazine, Runner’s World, TV Guide, inTouch Weekly, Real Health and commercials nationwide.  A full time motivational speaker, weight-loss coach, consultant, and product spokesman for companies such as NordicTrack and HealthPlus of Michigan,  Pete travels and spreads his “Winning Principles” to organizations worldwide—both in person and through his website at www.PeteThomasOnline.com.   To inquire about having Pete Thomas speak at your event, contact Anita Lane at 646.450.6214.

Don’t tell me; Teach me!

This is one of the best articles I have ever read. Ever.

You are the tree. The seed that you came from is your genetic inheritance. Some of you are oaks, others are cedars, and a few of you are Bonsais and for that I am sorry.

I am not a body builder or powerlifter, but the main point of this article—the fact that we learn things systematically, should be taught to every Health Care professional on the planet.

I am continually amazed—not just by the amount of confusion there is in the world of exercise and nutrition and wellness in general—but I am more amazed that NOBODY teaches the basics. Not nutritionist, RD’s etc. Now to be honest I know there have to be individuals that teach the basics but as a group, it seems as if everyone has their own ‘program’ or ‘principles’ or ‘plan,’ and so few people teach a basic set of information on which everything else is laid.

Maybe it’s related to the amount of schooling I missed when I was young, but what is called Systematic Education has been fundamental for me losing and keeping the weight off for these past 6 years. And it is why in my course, Lose It Fast Lose It Forever, before I answer the question, “How many times per day should I eat,” I ask (and answer) the question, “How many calories does your body require per day and what does your daily schedule look like?” To me there is a systematic progression to these things.

Here’s another example, before I dispel the myth that late night eating is bad, I teach on hormones and how they affect metabolism at different times of the day. To me 1 + 1 comes before 1 times 1. By the way, it’s not eating late at night that’s bad, it’s what you eat at night that is bad.

Lastly, I have often heard from various health professionals that people just don’t understand the basics (as I call them). The problem is not with the message, it is with the messenger.

In our school systems there are certain educators who are called ‘Master Teachers’ who can take complex subjects and make them come alive in various ways so that a variety of learners can grasp the subject matter. And then there are some educators who could not teach someone how to stop at a red light. The information can be the same but there are some folk who are just gifted teachers. It is not the message – it is how it is presented and by whom.

Before you teach serving sizes and “my pyramid” or “my plate” and whole grains, teach calories and grams (or ounces) and macro nutrients. Once people have an understanding of the basics, then progress from there. For this former fatty— that is Systematic Education.

Oh yeah, while you’re at it, get Dan’s book – regardless of whether you’re a power-lifter or not. The basic life lessons alone are worth more than double the price of the book.

Get Dan’s Book.

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About Pete Thomas

Pete Thomas is the Season 2 $100,000 At-home Winner of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser.”  Since his win in 2005, Pete Thomas has evolved into an acclaimed motivational speaker, highly skilled TV personality, teacher, fitness trainer and corporate wellness consultant.

Thomas helps companies increase employee participation in their health and wellness programs and provides customized educational and inspirational health and fitness content for Human Resource, Benefits and Wellness Directors.  Thomas has also helped over 200 individuals shed thousands of combined pounds with his personally developed Lose It Fast, Lose It Forever™ 10-week Nutrition and Exercise program.

Dubbed, “Mr. Biggest Loser” by executive producers of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser,” Pete has appeared on ABC’s The View, The 700 Club, and eXtra, as well as being featured in People Magazine, Runner’s World, TV Guide, inTouch Weekly, Real Health and commercials nationwide.  A full time motivational speaker, weight-loss coach, consultant, and product spokesman for companies such as NordicTrack and HealthPlus of Michigan,  Pete travels and spreads his “Winning Principles” to organizations worldwide—both in person and through his website at www.PeteThomasOnline.com.   To inquire about having Pete Thomas speak at your event, contact Anita Lane at 646.450.6214.

The Butterfly Effect or the Butterfinger Effect?

Sometimes the smallest thing can make the biggest difference. Have you heard of the Butterfly Effect? It’s the theory that a tiny butterfly, flapping its wings in a farmer’s field in Iowa, can have drastic and far-reaching ripple effects on tidal waves and tsunamis in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. In fact, some believe, the flapping of a butterfy’s wings can actually cause the tsunami.

Modern fiction has taken the Butterfly Effect further and used it to explain how your life, and everything that happens in your life, is a result of hundreds of seemingly meaningless decisions and coincidences, and have total and irreversible consequences and control over your life. The flapping of a butterfly’s wing may seem to carry little weight, but it actually might contribute to major events.

Imagine that you could control the effects of the butterfly’s flapping wing? What if you could thoughtfully and purposely inject subtle, gentle butterfly effect type behavior into your own life? Imagine if you could introduce little things into your routine that could cause a tsunami?

You can!

Imagine the power in knowing that little things matter in a big way? Let’s start today and add “butterfly wings” to your own life that will have a dramatic and seismic impact on your health, fitness, attitude, energy, and weight. Trust me, though these things may seem small, do them, and get ready for a tidal wave.

1. Park your car in the furthest parking spot you can find. Fitness people suggest most of us take between 2,000 and 5,000 steps per day, but we should be taking 10,000 steps per day. 2,000 steps is the equivalent of 1-mile (approximately). An average person’s stride is 2 ½ feet. So your first butterfly-effect activity is simply to park far away from your office building, from the mall entrance, or the grocery store today.

2. Throw out unnecessary food. Do it. Walk into your kitchen, open a cupboard or your refrigerator, grab something you KNOW isn’t good for you, and throw it away. Actually, destroy it. Burn it, put it in your bird feeder, or fire up the garbage disposal and completely get rid of all evidence it ever existed in your house to begin with. Throw away one thing every day. As I always say, “will power is overrated.” Sure you can try and look at that tasty, fatty snack and say, “no, I WON’T eat it,” but if that were so easy, none of us would be overweight. The fool proof way of NOT eating junk food is to totally eradicate it from existence in your house. If you feel bad destroying food …donate it, but it needs to be gone. Again, this simple elimination of a temptation might seem small, but day after day, one box of cookies at a time, we’re talking about an avalanche.

3. Register RIGHT NOW for my HealthPlus Interactive Health and Fitness Seminar: http://healthplusflint.eventbrite.com. If you think I’m starting to sound like a never-ending sales pitch, you’re right. I’m trying to sell you a new, different, exciting life …a life that will make you proud, excited, and full of energy. The simple decision to sign-up and show-up can be the flapping of a butterfly wing that changes your life – FOREVER. Mouse click, mouse click, and some typing will get you registered, and it’ll be the first step of 10,000 or 10-billion steps towards your perfect life – a life you deserve.

To pre-register for the November 5th Seminar in Flint, visit: http://healthplusflint.eventbrite.com
8 AM – 12 Noon
Holiday Inn Gateway Center
5353 Gateway Centre
Flint, MI

For more information, call 1-866-810-4540.

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About HealthPlus of Michigan

HealthPlus is a licensed nonprofit health-benefits company that provides health care coverage to more than 215,000 members statewide and beyond. HealthPlus arranges health care through a variety of employer group, individual and government plans. For more information visit www.healthplus.org.

About Pete Thomas

Pete Thomas is the Season 2 $100,000 At-home Winner of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser.”  Since his win in 2005, Pete Thomas has evolved into an acclaimed motivational speaker, highly skilled TV personality, teacher, fitness trainer and corporate wellness consultant.

Thomas helps companies increase employee participation in their health and wellness programs and provides customized educational and inspirational health and fitness content for Human Resource, Benefits and Wellness Directors.  Thomas has also helped over 200 individuals shed thousands of combined pounds with his personally developed Lose It Fast, Lose It Forever™ 10-week Nutrition and Exercise program.

Dubbed, “Mr. Biggest Loser” by executive producers of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser,” Pete has appeared on ABC’s The View, The 700 Club, and eXtra, as well as being featured in People Magazine, Runner’s World, TV Guide, inTouch Weekly, Real Health and commercials nationwide.  A full time motivational speaker, weight-loss coach, consultant, and product spokesman for companies such as NordicTrack and HealthPlus of Michigan,  Pete travels and spreads his “Winning Principles” to organizations worldwide—both in person and through his website at www.PeteThomasOnline.com.   To inquire about having Pete Thomas speak at your event, contact Anita Lane at 646.450.6214.

Where do you eat quickly and healthy?

Being overweight and unhealthy is easy. However, when you are overweight and unhealthy, being happy and self-confident is difficult.

Being fit and healthy is difficult. However, when you are fit and healthy, your smile and your positive attitude will come easily.

Many believe these feelings are mutually exclusive. Many believe they can be happy if they allow themselves to eat a pepperoni pizza and ice cream every day. Or, they believe they can be happy looking good in their clothing and seeing themselves in a mirror. They believe it’s impossiblel to have both. Happiness is an “either/or” situation in most people’s mind.

I asked on Facebook yesterday how can we possibly go, go, go …achieve, achieve, achieve …and still manage to make healthy food choices and fitness choices so we have happy hearts, hips, and lips all while having happy eyes because we smile when we see ourselves in photographs looking healthy and fit?

It can be done. Even when pressed for time, we can eat healthy and mix in some exercise. Today I want to discuss the best and healthiest quick-lunch options that will taste good and make your taste-buds happy and then, an hour after eating, you won’t feel guilty about what you ate. Instead, following my “fast food” tips, you’ll feel happy and energized.

Q’doba, Chipotle, or Baja Fresh – chances are you have one of these chains near you. Yes, they make great burritos and chimichangas. But do you know all of them make the same burrito in a bowl? Next time you’re in need of something quick, stop into one of these places and take notice – they have 90% healthy food in those places. Ask for a “naked burrito” and then top their Mexican chicken with lettuce, tomatoes, pinto beans (or black beans), some black olives, hot peppers (if that’s your thing), a scoop of guacamole, and then as much salsa from their fresh salsa bar as you can handle. Skip the cheese, skip the sour cream, skip the tortilla, and politely decline the tortilla chips. But load up on everything else.

A fancy grocery store (or really any grocery store nowadays): Somewhere there’s a grocery store that, long ago, put a salad bar and a fresh olive bar in their store and they must’ve hoped people might skip fast-food places and come visit their salad bar. Well, it must’ve worked because today you can’t find a grocery store that isn’t also trying to be a salad bar, buffet, or fast-food type place. If you have $6-$10 you were about to use for lunch, drive right past that burger joint and find these super, space-age salad bars. You can make a huge salad with bacon and eggs (protein, protein, protein), with peas, peppers, and three or four types of lettuce (I never knew there were so many types of lettuce) and you could actually make a $10 salad that you can eat for two days. And go with a simple vinegar and oil.

These are just two ideas. What are your quick-healthy-options? Share yours and maybe you’ll inspire someone to skip the super-size for a day.

Next week: No time for the gym or a run today/this week? I’ll give you quick-hit workouts you can do anytime …anywhere.

To pre-register for the November 5th Seminar in Flint, visit: http://healthplusflint.eventbrite.com
8 AM – 12 Noon
Holiday Inn Gateway Center
5353 Gateway Centre
Flint, MI

For more information, call 1-866-810-4540.

———

About HealthPlus of Michigan

HealthPlus is a licensed nonprofit health-benefits company that provides health care coverage to more than 215,000 members statewide and beyond. HealthPlus arranges health care through a variety of employer group, individual and government plans. For more information visit www.healthplus.org.

About Pete Thomas

Pete Thomas is the Season 2 $100,000 At-home Winner of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser.”  Since his win in 2005, Pete Thomas has evolved into an acclaimed motivational speaker, highly skilled TV personality, teacher, fitness trainer and corporate wellness consultant.

Thomas helps companies increase employee participation in their health and wellness programs and provides customized educational and inspirational health and fitness content for Human Resource, Benefits and Wellness Directors.  Thomas has also helped over 200 individuals shed thousands of combined pounds with his personally developed Lose It Fast, Lose It Forever™ 10-week Nutrition and Exercise program.

Dubbed, “Mr. Biggest Loser” by executive producers of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser,” Pete has appeared on ABC’s The View, The 700 Club, and eXtra, as well as being featured in People Magazine, Runner’s World, TV Guide, inTouch Weekly, Real Health and commercials nationwide.  A full time motivational speaker, weight-loss coach, consultant, and product spokesman for companies such as NordicTrack and HealthPlus of Michigan,  Pete travels and spreads his “Winning Principles” to organizations worldwide—both in person and through his website at www.PeteThomasOnline.com.   To inquire about having Pete Thomas speak at your event, contact Anita Lane at 646.450.6214.

There are No Rules that Say When You Should Start Exercise & Diet!

What happens when January 1st comes and goes and you had a cold, the kids had dentist appointments, and your husband was travelling on business and you had 5 loads of laundry to do and it took until 1 in the morning to get it all done? And January 1st was the day you were going to start your diet and start exercising.

So you tell yourself as soon as vacation ends and the kids are back in school, and the whole family is back to a good, predictable routine …THEN you’ll do it. For real, this time. But then there’s a really bad snow storm and the kids have two snow days in a row, and the dog suddenly has something wrong with her ear, and your mother-in-law calls and needs to borrow chairs and tables for a party she’s throwing and before you know it, it’s February.

What do you do? How are you ever going to lose weight or start exercising?

Guess what? Start January 2nd. Start February 1st. Start January 6th. Or February 11th. And don’t worry about creating a perfect routine of exercising on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays only. Exercise and diet on January 2nd, 6th, 7th, 10th, 18th, 20th, 27th …or whatever day you feel motivated and have a few moments. Which is better? Not working out at all, or working out whenever you can fit it in.

There’s no statistical evidence that January 1st stimulates greater weight-loss and burns more calories than January 2nd, 5th, or 10th.

There is statistical evidence that working out (with me) in my SLIM U Boot Camps and attending my health and fitness seminars on October 22nd and November 5th WILL help you lose weight and get motivated. What’s so special about 10/22 and 11/5?

Do you want to see what it’s all about? Check out SLIM U on Tues, Thurs and Saturdays… AND, join me and HealthPlus for an Interactive Health and Fitness Seminar – Saturday, October 22nd or November 5.

Admission is $20, but free for HealthPlus members.  The event includes a full breakfast, workshop materials, prize drawings and giveaways, great information and resources, and fun activities to keep you on your toes.  Register online.  For more information, call 1-866-810-4540.

To pre-register for the October 22nd Seminar in Saginaw, visit: http://healthplussaginaw.eventbrite.com
8 AM – 12 Noon
Horizons Conference Center
6200 State Street
Saginaw, MI

To pre-register for the November 5th Seminar in Flint, visit: http://healthplusflint.eventbrite.com
8 AM – 12 Noon
Holiday Inn Gateway Center
5353 Gateway Centre
Flint, MI

We’re going to have a great time. We’re going to learn a lot. You’re going to make the changes  you’ve wanted to make in your life, changes you’ve been thinking about for a long, long time.

See you there. Don’t wait. Space is limited (I wish I could host 400, 500, or 1,000 …believe me). Register today!

For more information, call 1-866-810-4540.

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About HealthPlus of Michigan

HealthPlus is a licensed nonprofit health-benefits company that provides health care coverage to more than 215,000 members statewide and beyond. HealthPlus arranges health care through a variety of employer group, individual and government plans. For more information visit www.healthplus.org.

About Pete Thomas

Pete Thomas is the Season 2 $100,000 At-home Winner of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser.”  Since his win in 2005, Pete Thomas has evolved into an acclaimed motivational speaker, highly skilled TV personality, teacher, fitness trainer and corporate wellness consultant.

Thomas helps companies increase employee participation in their health and wellness programs and provides customized educational and inspirational health and fitness content for Human Resource, Benefits and Wellness Directors.  Thomas has also helped over 200 individuals shed thousands of combined pounds with his personally developed Lose It Fast, Lose It Forever™ 10-week Nutrition and Exercise program.

Dubbed, “Mr. Biggest Loser” by executive producers of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser,” Pete has appeared on ABC’s The View, The 700 Club, and eXtra, as well as being featured in People Magazine, Runner’s World, TV Guide, inTouch Weekly, Real Health and commercials nationwide.  A full time motivational speaker, weight-loss coach, consultant, and product spokesman for companies such as NordicTrack and HealthPlus of Michigan,  Pete travels and spreads his “Winning Principles” to organizations worldwide—both in person and through his website at www.PeteThomasOnline.com.   To inquire about having Pete Thomas speak at your event, contact Anita Lane at 646.450.6214.

Quit?

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About HealthPlus of Michigan

HealthPlus is a licensed nonprofit health-benefits company that provides health care coverage to more than 215,000 members statewide and beyond. HealthPlus arranges health care through a variety of employer group, individual and government plans. For more information visit www.healthplus.org.

About Pete Thomas

Pete Thomas is the Season 2 $100,000 At-home Winner of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser.”  Since his win in 2005, Pete Thomas has evolved into an acclaimed motivational speaker, highly skilled TV personality, teacher, fitness trainer and corporate wellness consultant.

Thomas helps companies increase employee participation in their health and wellness programs and provides customized educational and inspirational health and fitness content for Human Resource, Benefits and Wellness Directors.  Thomas has also helped over 200 individuals shed thousands of combined pounds with his personally developed Lose It Fast, Lose It Forever™ 10-week Nutrition and Exercise program.

Dubbed, “Mr. Biggest Loser” by executive producers of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser,” Pete has appeared on ABC’s The View, The 700 Club, and eXtra, as well as being featured in People Magazine, Runner’s World, TV Guide, inTouch Weekly, Real Health and commercials nationwide.  A full time motivational speaker, weight-loss coach, consultant, and product spokesman for companies such as NordicTrack and HealthPlus of Michigan,  Pete travels and spreads his “Winning Principles” to organizations worldwide—both in person and through his website at www.PeteThomasOnline.com.   To inquire about having Pete Thomas speak at your event, contact Anita Lane at 646.450.6214.