P's Weight Loss Journey

Hi! My name is Patra (that's me in the middle), otherwise known as 'P'....I'm Royce's girlfriend, and I am addicted to food! (WOW that was really hard for me to say). Well really, I'm not addicted, I just appreciate and love food and all that it has to offer. I was given this trait by my [late] father who would eat anything under the sun, and would clean his plate every single time to show his appreciation. I remember lots of stories growing up involving my father and food: One time my mother and I died laughing because he was adamant about taking home a to-go container full of 1/4 a piece of bacon, a spoonful of eggs, and 3 squares of a pancake from IHOP. That's a food lover right there! One other time at the dinner table, my mother didn't like a certain take out dish and told my father; he asked to sample it and agreed that it was not tasty at all...5 minutes later after conversation, we noticed he had cleaned his plate...and my mother's too!!! Not tasty huh?? lol.

These stories fill my heart with laughter and happiness when I remember my father. But I do realize that some of the habits I grew up watching along with additional bad habits developed over time have led to a lifetime struggle with weight. Just recently, I gained 20+ pounds over the course of my last year in Business School and I realized I have been significantly affected by it, both physically and emotionally. So I am here to blog about my experience and journey in losing this recent weight I've gained, and also to change my eating /exercise habits for the long...LONG term. I'm hoping that you will find this blog helpful, inspiring, and if nothing else, an outlet for the challenges that you too are going through.

A few things you should know about me regarding dieting and weight loss (if you fit in at least one of these categories, you should definitely read this blog - shameless plug! :)

• I love to eat - I rarely discriminate between good and great food... as long as it tastes like what it is supposed to taste like, I don't really complain!
  
• I am not an avid exerciser in the gym - I much prefer activities outside, but since I live in Houston and value breathing, this is often not an option in the summer months!
  
• I am short - this has all sorts of downsides when dealing with weight gain.
  
• I am not really athletic - I didn't play sports as a child, but I have taken a liking to tennis - great workout!
  
• I don't like fad diets - I did the lemonade diet once, and crashed after the 3rd day, begging my co-worker for some of her leftover nachos from lunch... not good!
  
• I am a carbivore - I heard someone use this term, gave them a confused look, and began using it the next day! I love rice, pasta, bread...ahhhh the thought of it all!!
  

Given these few characteristics, it should make for an interesting combination of emotions and behaviors that I exhibit on any given day.

This will be a journey for me and so a few things you can expect to receive in my periodic blogs...a healthy dose of laughter along with honesty, humility, encouragement, inspiration, tips, and some story telling. My goal is to appeal to those who have real difficulty in committing to weight loss long term and also to receive some encouragement from those who have been where I am and are now firmly committed to living a healthy life of eating and exercising. So stay tuned for future posts. Hope you enjoy!

http://t.co/4tw7Pud

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5 Reasons Why Alcohol Will Destroy Your Dream Physique

Getting drunk is more harmful than you think.

"Does drinking really affect the muscle growth process?"

I'm sorry to say it, but yes, too much alcohol will almost definitely have a significant negative impact on your muscle-building results. Alcohol is far more harmful than most people think, and it's very important that you understand how this substance is affecting your progress. This is not an anti-drug speech, but if you're serious about achieving a truly impressive physique, you should definitely be aware of the 5 main ways that alcohol is slowing down your gains. . .

1) It negatively affects protein synthesis.
Protein synthesis is the process where amino acids are joined together to form complete proteins. Excessive alcohol consumption slows this process down by up to 20%, and since your muscles are made up of protein, you can see how this is a problem.

2) It lowers testosterone levels and increases estrogen.
Testosterone is the most important muscle-building hormone in your body. One of the limiting factors that determines how much muscle a person can gain is their level of free-flowing testosterone.

3) It causes dehydration.

The kidneys must filter very large amounts of water in order to break down the alcohol, and this can result in severe dehydration within the body. Water plays an absolutely crucial role in the muscle-building process, and being even slightly dehydrated is a recipe for disaster. The muscles alone are comprised of 70% water.

4) It depletes the body of vitamins and minerals.
Alcohol consumption causes vitamins A, C, the B's, calcium, zinc and phosphorus to all be drained at rapid rates. Vitamins and minerals keep every little process in your body functioning properly, and many of these processes involve muscle growth and maintenance.

5) It increases fat storage.

With 7 empty calories per gram, alcohol can actually be quite fattening. Alcohol also disrupts the Kreb's Cycle, which plays an important role in fat burning.

If you're serious about achieving significant muscle-building and/or fat loss results, you definitely need to monitor your intake of alcohol and make sure that you are consuming it in moderation. A few drinks here and there shouldn't be a problem, but if you find yourself drinking every weekend you can almost certainly kiss your muscle gains goodbye.

If you do decide to go out and party, make sure to drink plenty of water and to properly nourish yourself with vitamins/minerals and a protein rich meal

I'm just trying to help YOU!

Dedicated to Your Success,

Rolls Royce

Testimonial Video for 365 Fitness Houston

A Letter from your Belly Fat

How's it goin'! This is a letter from your ol' pal, Belly Fat.

We had a great run last summer, didn't we? Lots of good times, great food, and plain ol' sitting around eating too much.

Well, I'm thinking about sticking around another year if you don't mind. But you might need to get a bigger pair of pants, as I was thinking about expanding my place down here.

So do me a favor, avoid that interval training you were thinking of doing. The last time you did that stuff, I nearly had to look for a new place to live. I felt like the Wicked Witch of the West in the land of Oz. Did you hear me yelling, "Help me, I'm melting!"?

Instead, stick to that slow cardio stuff. Sure I get a little sweaty, and the ol' brain up there thinks it's doing "a real fat burning workout", but it's never enough to melt me outta here.

Another thing, keep listening to those experts who say strength training doesn't burn body fat. Since research shows they're wrong, if you added strength training to your program, you'd practically need to throw me a going away party!

After each one of those superset workouts you tried last January it felt like someone lit a match under our collective butt. I was burning up down here!

But boy oh boy, I sure was glad you gave that up and went back to just lifting utensils and not dumbells. Otherwise we wouldn't have been able to celebrate another summer together this year.

Sometimes I wonder, what did you ever do in college without me, your trusted belly fat? Back then, you were probably one of those people that couldn't wait to get to the beach to show off your body, unlike these days.

Nope, stay in the shade and keep the cover-up clothes on, that's the way to go now. Besides, its a lot closer to the cold beer and the BBQ when you're sitting in the shade avoiding all the fun down on the beach.

Well, it sure was good catching up with you. I'm sure we'll be in touch more often, as long as you stay away from that 3-IN-1 Rapid Fat Loss Training workout routine. Brings a tear to my eye whenever I even think about that workout program and all the belly fat it's burned. Heck, it's fried more fat than a short order cook at a roadside truckstop.

So again, if you want to keep your dear old belly around for another year and another summer, do NOT use 3-IN-1 Rapid Fat Loss Training - otherwise, its all over pal, and you'll never see me again.

Belly Fat says, "Don't use this"
=====>  3-IN-1 RAPID FAT LOSS WORKOUT

Your friend and spare tire,

Belly Fat

PS - Seriously!
Don't go near that 365 Fitness Houston 3-in-1 workout program unless you want to see me, Thunder Thighs, Manboobs, Jigg Lee Arm Fat, and Luv Handles pack our bags and hit the highway. It will be a sad farewell, and you'd be stuck with ripped abs, gorgeous glutes, and toned arms, and you know how much attention those guys get from the opposite sex. Who needs it, I say!

PPS - Don't do what this guy and gal did.

They used the 3-in-1 workout w/365 Fitness Houston and look what happened to their belly fat. Now please go get me some more comfort food...

"This 3-in-1 program was a blast. The training was focused & intense. And the results were incredible. It's good to look the way you feel!"

Brian Malone
I/B Visual Concepts
Houston, TX

"The 14 Day Fat Loss Program w/Royce's 3-in-1 workout routine was a testament of will power and perseverance! I have never been so challenged and motivated in the pursuit of my fitness goals. Royce was knowledgeable, skillful, and creative! This program was no ordinary day at the gym. In addition to the workout the diet plan was awesome. The meals had variety and never left me hungry". "Go Hard or Go Home!!!"

Thanks Royce!

Tiffany Sheppard
Social Worker
Houston, TX

Got Excuses?

There is NO EXCUSE for NOT getting Healthy, Tight, Tone, Lean & Sexy in 90 days or less w/365 Fitness Houston!