Weight Watchers is a quite popular diet program based on low fat eating, exercise, and group counseling. Every food item from ice cream to pizza has a point value based on its nutritional content. You can eat as much as you want as long as you stay within your points. To assist the dieter in their lifestyle changes all members are encouraged to attend group discussion and counseling sessions, mostly in person, at local Weight Watchers centers. As of late they have come with out a new creation called Flex points, this is just the same program in a better marketing package. In the Flex plan they have added a weight watchers point calculator and use more weight watcher recipes. Most dieters are given a reserve 35 points (flex points) to use for unplanned activities or cravings. I see no difference from before.
I have many clients that say they had success on the Weight Watchers plan in the past. Yet I always question if it worked so well why are they seeking out a NEW solution? It obviously didn’t work for them in the long term. If it worked so well why didn’t they stick to it?
Weight Watchers in my opinion used to be a pretty sound program, far as trying to help people, but as of late it seems to be using a lot of slick marketing and advertising to bring people in. Far as being successful that’s a different story. They usually advertise telling people enjoy the foods you love and lose weight while you do! The points plan controls the amount of food you consume but not always what those foods are. So you could be potentially eating less food but not exactly better choices for healthy weight loss and long-term success. So the dieter thinks he or she is making some healthy changes in their diet by eating fewer calories and staying within their points but could be consuming higher sugar and fat meals, meals that are not balanced enough, or high enough in calories to support your metabolism. See the problem here? The points system does not differentiate between foods high in sugar or high in carbohydrates protein or fat. This diet is assuming all calories are calories and they all affect your body the same way. I’m here to tell you they do no!
Some foods are more easily stored as fat, some foods effect your blood sugar levels more than others, some foods are actually more thermic, meaning your metabolism actually increases trying to break these foods down! Some foods combinations can make you fatter, while some can make you leaner. If your goal is long-term fat loss (not just weight) then the specific foods you are consuming are more important than the calories from food in general. When will people realize calories are not BAD! Calories are fuel for the human machine. Without the right amount of calories you will slow down are metabolism, and store more fat in the long run. You need calories and the right ones.
Now Weight Watchers is actually selling their own processed frozen meals. They are nice for convenience yes…but are they good for you? No, not really they are balanced yet they are loaded with sodium, preservatives and have a have a paragraph for the ingredient list. You can make the same meal yourself for the same the price and with fewer preservatives. Any diet that cost money to join and then try to sell you their own food has other interests in mind.
Exercise is not a #1 priority for this Weight Watchers program and if your goal is long- term success it should be! The problem with long term diet counseling and group support which most Weight Watchers program includes is you develop no self- reliance and self- discipline to do it on your own, which is crucial to succeed long term. This diet is added to my list that use low calorie deprivation to lose weight on a scale. Weight loss on the scale is not accurate indicator of fat loss. I know many people who lose lots of WEIGHT on a low calorie diet and then long term they gain the majority of it back. Their are 3 things you can lose on the scale:
1)Water
2) Fat
3) Muscle
There are better and more successful options people..trust me.
Your Fitness and Nutrition Coach,
~David Modderman
Filed under Lifestyle, Nutrition, weight loss by on Jun 9th, 2009. Comment. 
Why do you procrastinate and put things off? Is it pure laziness? Is it you are not serious about getting things done and getting up and moving?
For some people I truly believe the reason they procrastinate is fear. You are afraid you will fail. So if you don’t try you don’t fail. But if you don’t try you also will never succeed.
My biggest pet peeve as a Fitness Professional and Health Coach is someone who says they are going to do something then they don’t do it. We are all guilty of it. Even myself. There isn’t anyone out there that doesn’t procrastinate in some form.
But procrastination will kill your chances of ever being successful with your fitness goals.
It seems like almost everyday I hear someone say”I’m serious about this David” “I really am I need to do this”. “I am going to exercise 3 times a week and eat better” Then one week later they have stopped exercising all together and they have hit the fast food drive thru 3 times in 3 days!
Procrastination is holding so many people back! It is holding you back!
If I was paid a $1 every time someone told me they were going to start their workout on Monday, or next week I would be a rich man. I hear this very often “I will start doing this on Monday” Will you??
If you’re saying this to yourself “I will start on Monday” or “I will start tomorrow” you will NEVER reach your goals. Your dream will always be in the future that you will never reach, because it is always tomorrow.
You know what really drives me crazy when you procrastinate? You use it as an excuse to eat bad the rest of the day and you are constantly telling yourself you will be good tomorrow. Will you?
But what happens tomorrow? You use the same excuse! You just keeping saying to yourself “I’ll start tomorrow” but you never do.
“Putting off a hard thing makes it impossible”- George Horace Lorimar”
Tomorrow is never a good time to start. When is? RIGHT NOW!!!
I don’t care if you’re eating a bowl of ice cream right now! If you start thinking you will be good tomorrow you have already abandoned the commitment of eating well today.
- Stop thinking what am I going to do tomorrow and start thinking what am I going to do RIGHT NOW!
- The workouts, exercise programs and nutrition advice I can give you is the map you need to get to your desired destination, but it you keep putting off getting the map from me you will never get there. If you never learn how to read the map you will never get to where you want to go either. If I have already given you the map you MUST follow it everyday or you will be lost.
“Don’t wait: the time will never be ‘just right.’ Start were you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along”- Napoleon Hill
If you want to stop procrastinating and take control please schedule your first session now!
See Ya Later Procrastinator! 
Your Fitness and Nutrition Coach,
~David Modderman
Filed under Lifestyle by on Jun 3rd, 2009. Comment.
Are you working out day after day on your own and not seeing great results? Are you working with a trainer who seems to be kicking your butt, yet you’re not seeing the progress you like? Well I’m here to tell you it’s not just about the workout. If you’re not changing your eating habits then you’re not going to see the results you really want long term. I still see trainers give their clients a great workout and then send them on their way and never mention nutrition or educate them or ask what they are eating on the outside. That’s like a car salesman selling you a car without an engine. Without the right stuff going on under the hood and without the right fuel you will not see great results. If you or your trainer are not focusing on nutrition at some point you will fail! Not because you can’t do it! But because you are not applying the successful fat loss strategy…….which is proper nutrition in balance with proper exercise.
Maybe proper nutrition is the missing piece of the puzzle you have been looking for……
Like I always say “Any Trainer will give you a workout” “But will they give you RESULTS?”
Your Fitness and Nutrition Coach,
~David Modderman
Filed under Nutrition by on Apr 4th, 2009. Comment.
We see the “Eat Fresh ” Subway commercials. We see good old “Jarrod” reminding us how he lost hundreds of pounds eating Subway sandwiches. We see Subway religiously plugged on “The Biggest Loser” television show. So Subway must be a healthy choice right? Maybe and maybe not………
I won’t even get into my beef with ”The Biggest Loser” televsion show and how they plug foods of companies that sponsor the show……..think they are trying to help YOU at home to eat healthy? Think again…
I would agree there is definitely some low fat choices at Subway, and some healthier alternatives to fast food burgers and fries. But if you think you are getting natural breads and meats..then think again!
The meat and cheese is processed and loaded with sodium to keep it from going bad.
But the bread is “fresh” and must be OK right?
Even the healthiest choice of bread isn’t good for you…….the wheat bread is not “whole wheat” it’s processed enriched bread that contains high fructose corn syrup. FOR A BREAD TO BE 100% WHOLE WHEAT IT MUST BE THE FIRST INGREDIANT” and not contain the words enriched wheat flour.
But David! They have come up with the “new” 9 Grain wheat bread!
Yes they have… but look at the ingrediants is it really any different?
SUBWAY-9-GRAIN WHEAT BREAD- Enriched wheat flour (wheat flour, barley malt, niacin, iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), water, yeast, high fructose corn syrup, whole wheat flour, wheat gluten, contains 2% or less of the following: oat fiber, soybean oil, salt, wheat bran, rolled wheat, rye nuggets, dough conditioners (DATEM, sodium stearoyl lactylate), yeast nutrients (calcium sulfate, ammonium sulfate), degermed yellow corn meal, rolled oats, rye flakes, caramel color, triticale flakes, parboiled brown rice, refinery syrup, honey, barley flakes, flaxseed, millet, sorghum flour. Contains wheat.
YIKES and this is supposed to be the healthy bread!
Lets take a look at the white/Italian bread:
ITALIAN (WHITE) BREAD Enriched flour (wheat flour, barley malt, niacin, iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), water, sugar, contains less than 2% of the following: soybean oil, yeast, salt, wheat protein isolate, wheat gluten, dough conditioners (acetylated tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides, ammonium sulfate, calcium sulfate, ascorbic acid, azodicarbonamide, potassium iodate, amylase [enzymes]), sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate, mineral oil. Contains soy and wheat.
Just remember if a food is not natural and is processed….not to mention has a long list of ingrediants it has little to no thermic effect (your body burns nothing digesting it) and it has a better chance of being stored than being used for fuel.
Add in a diet pop and some chips….you just consumed a meal that will not aid your body in burning fat but actually storing it.
My best suggestion make your own sandwich at home with 100% Whole wheat bread and real meats and know what your actually eating…..don’t take anyone elses word on it espically a large food chains.
~Your Fitness and Nutrition Coach,
David Modderman
Filed under Nutrition by on Mar 30th, 2009. Comment.
-Top 5 new years resolution mistakes-
1) Going on a fad diet
2) Buying a infomercial product to spot reduce a body part
3) Believing a weight loss drug or supplement will be the solution
4) Using cardio/aerobic as your only form of exercise
5) Trying to reach your New years fitness and nutrition goals on your own.
Filed under Lifestyle by on Jan 23rd, 2009. Comment.
Ahhhh Christmas is coming and so is the food…….and we can’t forget New Year’s Eve dinner and drinks and also New Years day football and food…….
With all the big meals and gatherings coming up in the next 2 weeks it will be easy to make the wrong food choices and put on some extra holidays pounds.
That is why I created 10 page e-book all about preventing the Holiday weight gain entitled “The Healthy Holiday Eating Guide”. You can download this great ebook for FREE here:
Your Fitness and Nutrition Coach,
~David Modderman
Filed under Lifestyle, Nutrition by on Dec 19th, 2008. Comment.
