Nutrition and Health

Protein - Amino Acids

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Minerals

Minerals are inorganic substances that the body needs in very small quantities. There are twenty two metallic elements in the body which make up about 4 percent of total body weight. Minerals are found abundantly in the soil and water of the planet and eventually are taken in by the root systems of plants. Human beings obtain minerals by eating the plants or by eating the animals that eat the plants. If you eat a variety of meats and vegetables in your diet, you can usually depend on getting a sufficiency of minerals.   The minerals in the body play a part in variety of metabolic processes and contribute to the synthesis of such elements as glycogen, protein, and fats. Calcium Phosphorus Bismuth Iodine Potassium Iron Silicon Chromium Magnesium Sodium Cobalt Manganese Sulfur Copper Molybdenum Tin Flourine Nickel Vanadium - vanadyle sulfate Germanium Zinc

Alcohol And Body Fat

QUESTION: Tom, what about alcohol? How does that fit into your burning fat program? I am not talking binge drinking, just one or two a day. John ANSWER: Hi John. A couple drinks on the weekend and or on special ocassions probably won't have any major impact on your fat loss results (although I would encourage you to consider the mindset that EVERYTHING you do either helps or hurts). A drink or two on ocassion is a part of enjoying life for many people, and it's important to find lifestyle balance for the sake of your long term happiness and success. However, I do not recommend drinking every day. "A couple every day" adds a LOT of extra calories to your daily diet. If you're talking about two 150-calorie beers, thats 300 calories extra a day or 2100 extra calories a week. Multiply that out for a year and you have 109,200 extra calories! WOW! That's potentially 31.2 pounds of fat in a year. If you DO account for the calories in those drinks, then you have another conundrum - the alcohol calories displace good valuable food calories... Drinking gives you empty alcohol calories with virtually no nutritional value (and some negative value in more way than one), while pushing out important vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals essential amino acids, essential fatty acids, fiber and other good stuff. Alcohol also inhibits fat burning. While your liver is busy metabolizing alcohol, it puts your fat metabolism on hold. That's why I do NOT recommend any drinking when you are on a fat loss program (at least if you are serious about it). When you are on a regular, year-round lifestyle/maintenance program I recommend that if you drink, you do so in moderation, keep it to special occasions or weekends and remember to factor in those calories

Protein Supplements Vs. Protein Foods?

By Tom Venuto, NSCA-CPT, CSCS www.burnthefat.com Are protein supplements really better than protein foods? Before attempting to answer this question, I should first preface it by mentioning that I do not sell supplements, nor am I associated with any supplement company, so you’re getting an honest and unbiased opinion. Don't get me wrong; I am not anti-supplement by any means. It would simply be more accurate to say that I am "pro-food." There are a lot of good supplements on the market, and I've used many of them, including a multi vitamin, creatine and essential fatty acid (EFA) supplements such as Flaxseed oil. Protein powders and meal replacements can also be indispensable if you don't have time to eat every three hours. However, protein supplements are not the master key to your success, real food is! Did you ever notice how articles about protein in certain bodybuilding magazines are seldom objective? Instead, they all seem to be slanted towards hyping some "revolutionary" new product. Did you ever wonder why? In my opinion, most articles on protein supplements are nothing more than thinly disguised advertisements (some very thinly). Sometimes they give you a very persuasive-sounding argument, replete with dozens of references from scientific studies (mostly done on rodents, of course). They even give you an 800 number at the end of the article to order. (How convenient!) When protein manufacturers throw around fancy words like cross flow microfiltration, oligopeptides, ion-exchange, protein efficiency ratio, biological value, nitrogen retention and glycomacropeptides, it sure sounds convincing, especially when scores of scientific references are cited. But don't forget that the supplement industry is big business and most magazines are the supplement industry. Lyle McDonald, author of "The Ketogenic Diet," hit the nail on the head when he wrote "Unfortunately, the obsession that bodybuilders have with protein has

Banking Calories

Banking Calories - Eat Less Now To Pig Out Later? By Tom Venuto, NSCA-CPT, CSCS www.burnthefat.com Suppose you’re on a diet and you have a banquet or a holiday party coming up. You’re expecting a big meal to be served for dinner, and there will be open bar with lots and lots of “party snacks.” You’re not sure if there will be any healthy food there, but you are sure that you’re going to be in a festive, partying mood! What should you do? Should you cut back on your food earlier in the day to make room for the big feast? What I’ve just described is commonly known as "banking calories," which is analogous to saving calories like money because you're going to consume more later, and it’s a very common practice among dieters. If you’re really serious about your diet and fitness goals however, then the answer is no, you should NOT “bank calories! Here's why and here's what you should do instead: First of all, if you're being really honest with yourself, you have to agree that there's almost always something healthy to eat at any gathering. You know those tables you see at holiday parties that are covered with yards of chips, dips, pretzels, cookies, salami, candies, cheese, punch, liquor, and a seemingly endless assortment of other goodies? Well, did you also notice that there's usually a tray full of carrot sticks, cauliflower, celery, fruit, turkey breast and other healthy snacks too? No matter where you are, you always have options, so make the best choice you can based on whatever your options are. If nothing else, you can choose to eat a small portion of "party foods" rather than a huge portion, thereby obeying the law of calorie balance. If you skip meals or eat less earlier in the day to bank

Tuna And Mercury - Are You Being Poisoned By The “Healthy” Fish You’re Eating?

QUESTION: Hi Tom: I love albacore tuna or salmon. Do you have any concern about the levels of mercury now being found in tuna and in larger fish? I still eat them. I'd have to quit eating to avoid all the things wrong with food. I’ve never been too environmentally minded, but I found myself perturbed that the fish are becoming toxic, little by little. My vegetarian daughter is our family environmentalist, and I'm on her side on this one. Recently there was an article in our paper suggesting that the breast milk of a nursing mother, could now be considered toxic in a high percentage of cases. If true, a sad indictment of our society. www.burnthefat.com ANSWER: According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the fish most likely to be contaminated with unsafe levels of mercury are those highest up on the food chain, including shark, king mackerel, tilefish and swordfish. These larger, longer-lived predatory fish feed on the smaller fish and retain in their bodies the contaminants that were in the small fish. The FDA released a mercury advisory warning in 1994, which advised the public that these fish were safe as part of a balanced diet if eaten no more than once per week. In 2001, the FDA upgraded their advisory, recommending that pregnant women, nursing women or women of childbearing age who may become pregnant, avoid the high-risk fish completely because mercury can harm the nervous system of a developing unborn baby. According to the FDA, the fish with the least mercury are salmon, trout, catfish, haddock, flounder, crab or shrimp. And what about tuna fish – that classic bodybuilding and fitness staple food? The FDA says that certain species of large tuna, usually sold as fresh tuna, tuna steaks or sushi, can

Increase Your Metabolism

Increase Your Metabolism And Decrease Your Appetite With This Fat-Burning Food Group By Tom Venuto, NSCA-CPT, CSCS www.burnthefat.com There have been countless studies performed on the role of protein in the muscle growth process to try and determine exactly how much protein you should consume to build muscle mass. Recently, several studies have looked at the role that dietary protein plays in helping you lose fat, and more importantly, helping you keep it off! One thing scientists have discovered is that eating lean protein foods is important for regulating body composition because it decreases your appetite. In a 2003 study reported in the journal, Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition And Metabolic Care (2003; 6(6): 635-638), protein was shown to be more satiating (made you feel fuller) than both carbohydrate and fat both in the short term and the long term. Eating more lean protein foods has also been proven as an effective strategy to help you burn fat and keep it off because of something called, “dietary thermogenesis” (also known as the thermic effect of food). In a study published in the British Journal of Nutrition in 2005 (93(2): 281-289), researchers followed a group of 113 overweight subjects after 4 weeks of a very low calorie diet, through a 6 month period of weight maintenance. The subjects were divided into a protein group or a control group. The protein group was simply given an extra 30 grams of protein per day on top of their usual diet. The researchers found that during weight maintenance, the group with the higher protein intake was less likely to regain the lost weight, and any weight gain in the protein group was lean tissue and not fat. The results were attributed to higher thermic effect and a decrease in appetite. Although calories will always be the bottom line when it comes to fat

Cortisol, Stress And Body Fat

Cortisol, Stress And Body Fat: Straight Answers To The Top 20 Questions About The Stress Hormone By Tom Venuto, NSCA-CPT, CSCS www.burnthefat.com It seems that every time science uncovers some type of association between body fat and anything, opportunistic entrepreneurs are waiting in the shadows to create a product and a marketing campaign around it. They ride the wave into the multi millions, until the buzz dies down or until the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sues and slaps a padlock on their warehouse doors. Then, it’s on to the “next big thing in weight loss,” because they know there will always be a gullible crowd eagerly waiting for the next quick fix. The most recent example is when researchers discovered a correlation between cortisol and abdominal body fat. Cortisol was then blamed as the latest culprit in the obesity problem, and cortisol-suppressing pills were touted as the “miracle solution.” Big Claims, Little Proof After a web search on the subject of cortisol, here are some of the claims you may find: Stress makes you fat Cortisol is what makes you fat Cortisol reducing supplements control stress Cortisol reducing supplements reduce belly fat Cortisol reducing supplements get rid of “stress fat” Cortisol reducing supplements balance hormone levels that cause stress Cortisol reducing supplements increase muscle growth Cortisol supplements suppress appetite Cortisol supplements speed up metabolism The advertising claims include just enough scientific fact to make even the savviest consumers say, “That makes sense, I think I’ll try that.” They also hit home emotionally by focusing on common hot buttons such as stress (who isn’t at least a little stressed in this day and age?) Brilliant marketing. Convincing. Unfortunately, most of the claims being made are completely false, with only a tiny thread of truth woven in. Cortisol is a very important hormone that you must understand if you want to get maximum results from

Muscle Building Supplements

Table of Contents Why Use Body Building Supplements Body Building and Ephedra Using Nitric Oxide for Body Building All About Creatine Body Building Energy Drinks Protein Supplements Meal Replacement Supplements Maltodextrin Supplement to Degrade Enzymatic Process Glutamine Vanadyl for Nitrogen Retention Leucine to Promote Anticatabolic Metabolism Essential Fatty Acids Glucosamine Special Supplements for Women The Dangers of Steroids Why Use Body Building Supplements Why Use Bodybuilding Supplements? Bodybuilding supplements have risen in prominence in the past few decades. They offer the advantages of both convenience and affordability. Since bodybuilders need to get more nutrition than the average individual, it will be much easier for them to achieve their goals through supplements. Keep in mind that these are not magic bullets that you can take and expect to become big overnight. Everything needs to be included in a sound and systematic strategy. A Brief Description of Bodybuilding Supplements Bodybuilding supplements are used by many gym enthusiasts with the hope of gaining more lean muscle while losing extra fat. At present, there are so many choices to choose from compared to many years ago. During the 1970s, protein supplements were the only staple that helped bodybuilders reach their target protein intake per day without having to devour huge amounts of food. 20 years later, manufacturers and laboratories started creating more products that promise to create anabolic responses to boost the body’s recovery for tissue repair as well as improve metabolism to keep unwanted fat off. Now, there are protein supplements of different kinds like creatine, branch chain amino acids, nitric oxide, fat burners and energy enhancers which will support the aspiring bodybuilder in a variety of ways. Sometimes two or more of these products can be taken for better results since some products are known to compliment the effects of others. People however, should know that bodybuilding supplements only comprise a small portion of the entire picture. People think that the products have

Fish Oil May Help You Burn Fat…

What the latest research says about omega-3 fatty acids and weight loss By Tom Venuto, NSCA-CPT, CSCS www.BurnTheFat.com Unless you’ve been living under a rock somewhere for the last several years, you’ve probably heard about the health benefits of eating fatty fish or taking fish oil supplements. Well, it looks like you might be able to add fat loss alongside the other benefits like heart, blood (cholesterol/triglycerides), brain, skin and joint health (and the rest of the list, which is too long to print here). The biologically active ingredients that seem to make fatty fish so beneficial are are the long chain omega-3 (n-3) fatty acids, EPA and DHA. At least a half a dozen human studies and more than two dozen animal studies have been completed in the last 10 years which suggest that these omega-3 fatty acids found in fish may help you lose more fat. However, the fat loss benefit is not as much as some people want you to believe… The results of two new studies on fish oil and fat loss were just released earlier this year. In one study published by the International Journal of Obesity, researchers from Reykjavik Iceland tested the effects of fish or fish oil consumption equivalent to 1.5 grams of combined EPA/DHA on body weight and body composition as part of a calorie restricted diet. (1) The subjects were 324 young overweight men and women who followed one of four experimental protocols for 8 weeks: (1) sunflower oil capsules (control) (2) lean fish (3) fatty fish (salmon) (4) fish oil capsules The researchers reported the following results: “In young, overweight men, the inclusion of either lean or fatty fish, or fish oil as part of a hypoenergetic diet resulted in 1 kilogram more weight loss after 4 weeks than a similar diet without seafood or supplement of marine origin. The addition of

What happens to the fat cells when you burn body fat?

QUESTION: Dear Tom: would you please try to explain in laymen's terms exactly how fat cells work and what happens when you start to burn body fat. I heard a statement that the fat cell has to get moved into the muscle cell for it to be released or burned. Thought you could explain a little better. ANSWER: Earlier this week someone in our discussion forum wrote, "I haven't LOST any fat... I know EXACTLY where it went! I got a chuckle out of that because I "got" the joke, but truth is, most people really don't know where the fat goes when it's burned or how the fat burning process takes place, so this is a really good question. When you "lose" body fat, the fat cell (also called an adipocyte) does not go anywhere or "move into the muscle cell to be burned", as it was suggested to you (although that's not too far off). The fat cell itself, (unfortunately) stays right where it was - under the skin in your thighs, stomach, hips, arms, etc., and on top of the muscles - which is why you can't see muscle "definition" when your body fat is high. Fat is stored inside the fat cell in the form of triaglycerol. The fat is not burned right there in the fat cell, it must be liberated from the fat cell through somewhat complex hormonal/biochemical pathways. When stimulated to do so, the fat cell simply releases its contents (triaglycerol) into the bloodstream as free fatty acids (FFA's), and they are transported through the blood to the tissues where the energy is needed. A typical young male adult stores about 60,000 to 100,000 calories of energy in body fat cells. What triggers the release of all these stored fatty acids from the fat cell? Simple: When

“The Incredible Shrinking Fat Cell”… What Really Happens When Body Fat is Burned?

By Tom Venuto, NSCA-CPT, CSCS www.BurnTheFat.com Earlier this week someone in our discussion forum wrote, "I haven't "LOST" any fat... I know EXACTLY where it went! I got a chuckle out of that because I "got" the joke, but truth is, most people really don't know how fat cells work, how the fat burning process takes place or where the fat goes when it's burned. It's actually quite a complex biochemical process, but I'll explain it as simply as possible, so by the end of this article, you'll be a "fat burning" expert! When you "lose" body fat, the fat cell (also called an adipocyte) does not go anywhere or "move into the muscle cell to be burned. The fat cell itself, (unfortunately) stays right where it was - under the skin in your thighs, stomach, hips, arms, etc., and on top of the muscles - which is why you can't see muscle "definition" when your body fat is high. Fat is stored inside the fat cell in the form of triaglycerol. The fat is not burned right there in the fat cell, it must be liberated from the fat cell through somewhat complex hormonal/enzymatic pathways. When stimulated to do so, the fat cell simply releases its contents (triaglycerol) into the bloodstream as free fatty acids (FFA's), and they are transported through the blood to the tissues where the energy is needed. A typical young male adult stores about 60,000 to 100,000 calories of energy in body fat cells. What triggers the release of all these stored fatty acids from the fat cell? Simple: When your body needs energy because you're consuming fewer calories than you are burning (an energy deficit), then your body releases hormones and enzymes that signal your fat cells to release your fat reserves instead of keeping them in

How Liquid Calories May Be Making You Fat… Even Your Favorite Protein Drinks!

By Tom Venuto, NSCA-CPT, CSCS www.BurnTheFat.com At least 7 scientific studies have provided strong evidence that energy containing beverages (i.e., “liquid calories”) do not properly activate the satiety mechanisms in the body and brain and do not satisfy the appetite as well as food in solid form. Epidemiological research also supports a positive association between calorie-containing beverage consumption and increased body weight or body mass index. New research now suggests that soda may not be the only culprit... The primary source of liquid calories in the United States Diet is carbohydrate, namely soda. Now running a close second are specialty and dessert coffees. Did you know that a 16 ounce Frappucino can contain 500 calories or even more! That’s one-third of a typical female’s daily calorie intake while on a fat loss program. A recent study at Purdue University published in the International Journal of Obesity set out to learn even more about this bodyfat - liquid calories relationship. Researchers compared solid and beverage forms of foods composed primarily of carbohydrate, fat or protein in order to document the independent effect of food form in foods with different dominant macronutrient sources. Based on previous research, some experts have recommended targeting specific beverages as being “worse” than others. High fructose corn syrup and soda has been singled out the most and you’ve probably seen that yourself in the news. There’s no question that soda has been on top of the “hit list” for some time now, by virtue of the amounts and frequency of consumption alone. However, this recent study says that from a pure energy balance perspective, we should be cautious about ALL liquid calories, not just soda and not just carbohydrates! Fruit juice for example, appears to be an obvious improvement over soda, so many people have swapped out their soda for fruit juice. However, when fruit juice

THE GREAT ABS MISTAKE “He Was Doing One Thousand Crunches And Sit Ups A Day… But Still NO Abs!!!

By Tom Venuto, NSCA-CPT, CSCS www.BurnTheFat.com After 18 years in the fitness business, “How do I get great abs” is still BY FAR the most frequently asked question I receive out of the 30,000+ emails that come into my office every month. No doubt, it's because abs are the one body part that most people are the most frustrated with. Although their questions are often phrased differently and each person’s situation seems unique, my answer to “how do I get great abs” is almost always the same… and you’re about to hear it... "1,000 Sit-Ups And Crunches A Day and Still No Abs!" One question I received recently REALLY got my attention because a young guy told me he was doing 1,000 crunches and sit ups a day and said he still couldn’t see his abdominals. He wrote: “Tom: I have been working out for around a year now and I cannot get my lower abs into any type of shape. I'm starting to see my upper abs a little bit, which is great, but despite doing 900 various crunches, ab roller, and 100 sit-ups four days a week, along with my regular workout on the weights, I still have a tire around my waist. What else can I do?” What did I tell him? Well, I gave him the same answer I’ve given thousands of people over the years, which is the only true “Secret” to great abs... It takes training to increase strength, build endurance and DEVELOP the abdominals, but to SEE the definition in your abdominals - or any other muscle group for that matter - is almost entirely the result of low body fat levels. This may sound counter-intuitive, but if you can't see your abs, it's not an issue

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Post Workout Drinks And fat Loss

QUESTION: Dear Tom: I came across a piece of muscle-building advice written on a white board at a Bally's fitness club, posted outside the "advanced" personal training station. I took a picture and attached it to this email. As you can see, it said to ingest whey protein and 60-70 grams of *simple sugars* 30-45 minutes after your workout. Is there any truth at all to this advice? I take particular exception to point #1... I can't believe eating 60-70 grams of simple sugar at any time can be good for you! If this is indeed bad advice, I will write Bally's corporate and tell them to stop hurting the public with bad advice from their personal trainers. What do you think? thanks, Doug ANSWER: It does seem counter intuitive, but believe it or not, that is standard, and science-based advice for post workout nutrition. Post workout nutrition has been well researched and there is evidence that taking in simple carbs - usually glucose or dextrose with maltodextrin (plus whey protein) in the form of a post workout drink - is an ideal post workout recovery "meal." The part about "waiting" 30-45 minutes is the part that is questionable, but that may have been a simple oversight... I think what they meant was to ingest it "within" 30-45 minutes. Most of the research says that the sooner after the workout you take post workout nutrition, the better (which is why you see so many people these days chugging down workout drinks while still at the gym... in the locker room, etc.) That said, here is where I will get controversial, because almost everything you read and everyone you talk to these days tries to convince you that if you're not drinking a post workout

The Worlds Healthiest Foods

Table of Contents Vegetables Grains Beans and Legumes Fruits Nuts, Seeds and Nut Butters Soy Foods Dairy Meat, Poultry and Eggs Fish and Seafood Herbs, Spices and Other Condiments Oils and Fats Beverages Chocolate Sweeteners Water Vegetables Many take vegetables for granted without really taking into consideration what good it can do to our body. Aside from the fact that some of them look and taste unusual, we practically ignore most of them on sight. In truth, many health experts believe that vegetables are a great day-to-day added sustenance to the human body. Different kinds of vegetables offer their own blend of nutrients that can provide us the energy we need for our daily routine, keep our body in top shape and a higher resistance from diseases as it boosts our immune system. Health Benefits The human body requires a balance of nutrients to keep it going at a normal pace – and vegetables can do just that. Here are some of the vegetables you can practically see around the common market and what it can do for you. 1. Cauliflower. This tasty vegetable is quite common in most Chinese cuisines, and is served because of its high nutritional value not to mention the added flavor it gives to the recipe. For starters, cauliflower contains minerals such as potassium, phosphorus, calcium and sodium; as well as vitamins A, C and B6. It is known to fight cancer and regulate the hormones to a normal level and a health food for those who suffer from high sugar content or diabetes. 2. Squash. Whether the winter or summer variety, the squash is well known around the world for being rich in Vitamin A; which is very good for your eyesight – though the summer variety contains more of it than its winter counterpart. Turning this into a soup would be quite delectable. 3. Carrots. The carrot is well known for containing Beta

Nutrition Or Training

Nutrition Or Training - Which Is More Important? By Tom Venuto, NSCA-CPT, CSCS www.burnthefat.com Legendary bodybuilding trainer Vince, "The Iron Guru" Gironda was famous for saying, "Bodybuilding is 80% nutrition!" But is this really true or is it just another fitness and bodybuilding myth passed down like gospel without ever being questioned? Which is really more important, nutrition or training? This IS an interesting question and I believe there is a definite answer: The first thing I would say is that you cannot separate nutrition and training. The two work together synergistically. Regardless of your goals - gaining muscle, losing fat, athletic conditioning, whatever -you will get less than-optimal or even non-existent results without paying attention paid to both. In fact, I like to look at gaining muscle or losing fat in three parts - weight training, cardio training and nutrition - with each part like a leg of a three legged stool. pull ANY one of the legs off the stool, and guess what happens? In reality, it's impossible to put a specific percentage on which is more important - how could we possibly know such a number to the digit? Nutrition and training are both important, but at certain stages of your training progress, I do believe placing more attention on one component over the other can create larger improvements. Let me explain: If you're a beginner and you don't posses nutritional knowledge, then mastering nutrition is far more important than training and should become your number one priority. I say this because improving a poor diet can create rapid, quantum leaps in fat loss and muscle building progress. For example, if you've been skipping meals and only eating 2 times per day, jumping your meal frequency up to 5 or 6 smaller meals a day will transform your physique very rapidly. If you're still eating lots of

Foods That Burn Fat: The Top 10 Lists

By Tom Venuto, NSCA-CPT, CSCS www.BurnTheFat.com Anytime the topic of discussion in my blogs, articles or newsletters has turned to my own personal grocery shopping list, there has always been a spike in interest. It seems that many people are not only curious about what foods a natural bodybuilder eats to maintain single digit body fat, but they also want to be taken by the hand and told exactly what foods to eat themselves while on fat-burning or muscle building programs. That’s why I decided to put together four separate “top 10” lists of healthy foods that burn fat and build muscle. Exact quantities and menus are not listed, just the individual foods, and of course my food intake does vary. I aim to get as many different varieties of fruits and vegetables as possible over the course of every week and there are a lot of substitutions made, so you are not seeing the full list of everything I eat, only what foods I eat most of the time. I also want to point out that while I don’t believe that extreme low carbs are necessary or most effective when you look at the long term, research has shown that there are some definite advantages to a low to moderate carb and higher protein diet for fat loss purposes. These include reduced appetite, higher thermic effect of food and “automatic” calorie control. Personally, I reduce my carb intake moderately and temporarily prior to bodybuilding competitions. Specifically, it’s the foods that are on the starchy carbs and grains list that go down during the brief pre-competition period when I’m working on that really “ripped” look. I keep the green and fibrous veggie intake very high however, along with large amounts of lean protein, small amounts of fruit, and adequate amounts of essential fats. This list reflects

Muscle Building Mania All About Supplements

You ordered your super duper muscle-building machine weeks ago. You have used it faithfully every day. So why don’t you see any improvement when you look in the mirror? Nothing! Nada! Zilch! The story is the same whether you bought fitness equipment or joined a gym. Some people metabolize differently and begin to see results almost immediately. Others of us (usually the majority) don’t see any measurable difference for longer periods of time. If you are new to muscle building you need to understand that it took many years for you to reach the condition you are in when you start your muscle-building program. Don’t expect results overnight. In fact, long-term results are far more favorable, and healthier, than a quick fix. What most successful body builders realize is the importance of change from the cellular level outward. Yep, here come those ugly words diet and nutrition. But, there’s another aspect that is equally as important. What is it? Supplements. All to often newcomers to muscle building think that adding a multi-vitamin is all they need in addition to a healthy diet and nutritional plan. That is a huge mistake! Ask around and you’ll find that every serious body builder will tell you that half the battle is not just what you eat but what you use to supplement your diet. It is virtually impossible to get all the vitamins and minerals in the food we eat nowadays. There is no multi-vitamin known to modern science that contains everything you need to supplement your diet. If you are a body builder the additional nutritional strains demand more nourishment. What Supplements Do I Need? That depends on who you are and what you have decided on for your long-range goals. For example, did

Fats

Fats are made up of the same elements as carbohydrates - carbon, hydrogen and oxygen - but the way the atoms are linked together is different. Fats can be found in both plants and animal's and are insoluble in water. They are grouped in three categories:   Simple fats (triglycerides) Compound fats (phospholipids, lipoproteins) Derived fats (cholesterol) Fats in the body serve three basic functions: 1. They provide the major source organs. 2. They serve to cushion and protect the major organs. 3. They act as an insulator, preserving body heat and protecting against excessive cold. Fat is the most calories dense of any nutrient. A pound of fat contains about 3,500 calories, as opposed to 1,600 calories stored in a pound of protein or carbohydrate. When you exercise, assuming you stay within your aerobic capacity (don't get out of breath), the body uses fats and carbohydrates for energy on about a 50-50 basis. But the longer you continue to exercise, the higher the percentage of fat used. After three hours or so, the body may derive as much as 80 percent of its energy from fat. Fat molecules differ biochemical in their composition, being either saturated, unsaturated or polyunsaturated. In addition to other factors, diets high in saturated fat tend to raise the cholesterol level of the blood. Therefore, health experts recommend that something like two-thirds of your fat intake be polyunsaturated fats. For the best sources of Fats please consult the USDA website.

The Best Selling E-Book In Internet History

Why Is Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle The Best Selling E-Book In Internet History, With Thousands Of Satisfied (And Now Fat-Free) Users In 133 Countries from Algeria to Zimbabwe? Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle is the #1 best selling diet and fitness ebook in the history of the Internet. In fact, it's one of the best selling e-books on ANY subject in the history of the Internet -... And there's a reason why... It's because thousands of women and men of every age are burning off BODY FAT - not muscle or water weight - and they're doing it naturally, without supplements, pills or "magic potions," simply by using the proven, scientifically-accurate and common-sense advice found inside this amazing diet and fitness guidebook. Tom Venuto, a respected fat loss expert, natural bodybuilder, and personal trainer, has not just pumped out yet another "diet program" into an already over-saturated market. Tom's Burn the Fat can be more accurately described as a "Fat Loss Bible." It is quite simply one of the most complete, detailed, and precise guides to fat loss you will ever read. What makes it so much different than other weight loss publications on the market? Well first of all, it's not a "weight loss" program, it's a "fat" loss program. This may seem like semantics or wordplay at first, but once you've read just the first three chapters, there will be no doubt in your mind that pursuing "weight loss" is not only the wrong goal, it may be the reason that you've failed to reach and maintain your ideal body weight. Burn The Fat shows you exactly why it's fat you must lose, not "weight" (which includes muscle, water and other lean tissue) and then goes on to show you

Mental Training Tactics For Health And Fitness Success

By Tom Venuto, NSCA-CPT, CSCS www.BurnTheFat.com Understanding the mind's role in motivation and behavior is one of the most critical elements in fitness success. If you struggle with changing habits and behaviors or if you can’t get motivated, then even the best training and nutrition program is not much help. A fascinating fact about your subconscious mind is that it's completely deductive in nature. In other words, it’s fully capable of working backwards from the end to the means. You don't need to know how to reach a goal at the time you set the goal. If you "program" only the desired outcome successfully into your "mental computer," then your subconscious will take over and help you find the information and means and carry out the actions necessary to reach it. Many people are familiar with affirmations and goal-setting as ways to give instructions to your subconscious mind. But perhaps the ultimate mental training” technique is visualization. In one respect, affirmation and visualization are the same, because when you speak or think an affirmation first, that triggers a mental image, being as the human brain "thinks" in pictures. You can use visualization to plant goals into your subconscious mind. You simply close your eyes, use your imagination and mentally create pictures and run movies of your desired results. For example, in your mind's eye, you can see the "body of your dreams". If repeated consistently with emotion, mental images are accepted by your subconscious as commands and this helps with changing habits, behavior and performance. Although there are some new and creative ways to use visualization, (which you are about to learn), this is not a new technique. Visualization has been used formally in the fields of sports psychology and personal development for decades and philosophers have discussed it for centuries: “If you want to reach your

How To Lose Ab Flab

How To Lose The Last Few Pounds Of Ab Flab By Tom Venuto www.burnthefat.com "Stubborn Fat." You know what I'm talking about - the kind of flab that sticks to you in those hard-to-lose places: The lower abs, the lower back, the "love handles," the back of the arms, the upper-thigh/butt area - yeah, THAT fat! How do the bodybuilders and fitness models do it? I mean, how do they get that hyper-ripped, thin-skinned look that reveals every ripple and sinew and mound of chiseled muscle definition? I can tell you this- the answer is NOT drugs. I've never taken a steroid or physique-enhancing drug in my life, and I routinely hit 3-4% body fat for bodybuilding contests without difficulty. Some drugs work, but they are NEVER more than a temporary solution, and the nasty side effects just aren't worth it. The answer is NOT fad diets. It's a FACT - 95% of all diets fail. If you diet the way most people are doing it, you might even be slowing down your metabolism and making yourself FATTER! The answer is definitely NOT supplements, either. Some of my protégés were spending $300.00 or even $400.00 a month on worthless supplements and they now get BETTER results, FASTER with my new system - with absolutely no supplements whatsoever (or just the bare basics like multi vitamins, protein powder, etc). After 14 years of trial, error and experimentation, I finally discovered the answer and developed a fool-proof system to reach outrageously low body fat levels the natural way - no drugs, no crash diets and no supplements necessary. And now I'm finally revealing my secrets in this new "Bible of fat loss" called, BURN THE FAT, FEED THE MUSCLE (BFFM) These advanced, mega-powerful fat burning secrets do not appear to you magically just because you started working out. These insider

The Paleolithic Diet - Should We Eat Like Our “Cave Man” Ancestors?

QUESTION: Hi Tom: Your Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle ebook was an eye-opener for me. I am following your advice closely with very good results. I'm a semi professional windsurfer and a mountain biker, and especially for the latter I need to be as lean as possible. Thanks in large part to your program, I'm well into single digit body fat and dropping. Just recently I came across a book called the paleolithic diet and I was wondering if you ever heard about it? What's your opinion on this book? Is it worth reading if I already have your book? Is the program any good? Mariusz Poland ANSWER: The "paleolithic," "stone age," "cave man," or "neanderthal" eating plans have been around for a while and there are quite a few books that have been written on the subject. In general, with a only few minor constructive criticisms, I think they are right on point, and will benefit your health and definitely your fat loss efforts. A "Paleo Diet" is actually quite similar to my Burn The Fat program, only with the starches and grains (and dairy products) removed completely. In fact, a "paleo" or "cave man" diet is very, very similar to the "contest" (bodybuilding or physique) diets I recommend in Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle and this is most definitely a great way get very lean, very fast. On physique competition diets (bodybuilding, fitness, figure, etc), you leave the lean proteins, lean meats, nuts and seeds, the green veggies (fibrous carbs), and some fruit in the diet, while reducing or removing ALL processed foods and SOME of the grains and starches. (usually the dairy products go too). When it comes to MAXIMUM FAT LOSS, the removal or reduction of grains and calorie dense starchy carbs in

1,000 Sit Ups And Crunches A Day And Still No Abs

QUESTION: Dear Tom: I have been working out for around a year now and I cannot get my lower abs into any type of shape. Despite doing 900 various crunches, ab roller, and 100 sit-ups four days a week, along with running and my regular workout on the weights, I still have a tire around my waist. What else can I do? ANSWER: "What should I do to get abs?" is still one of the most frequently asked questions I receive out of the 7,000+ emails that come into my office every week. Although the question is often phrased differently, my answer is always the same: Seeing your abs, or any other muscle group, for that matter - is almost entirely the result of having low body fat levels. You get low body fat from proper diet (as well as cardio and strength training), not from doing hundreds of ab exercises every day. You didn't mention whether you knew your body fat level or not. My guess is that it may seem like your lower ab muscles are "hard to develop," but it's not really an issue of "muscle development" at all, you simply have too much body fat and are storing it in your lower abdominal region more readily than other parts of your body and you can't see the muscles through the fat. Most people don't have their fat distributed evenly throughout their bodies. Each of us inherits a genetically determined and hormonally-influenced pattern of fat storage just as we inherit our eye or hair color. In other words, the fat seems to "stick" to certain areas more than others. Men often tend to store fat more readily in the lower abdominal region (the "pot belly", "spare tire", "beer

Organic Food

What A "Muscle Head" Says About Organic Food By Tom Venuto, Natural Bodybuilder www.burnthefat.com Last week I was talking about nutrition with one of my workout buddies and when I mentioned grass fed beef and "organic food” he asked, "Do you mean like what you get at Whole Foods Market?" I said, "Yes, exactly... that's a natural food and organic supermarket." He said, "Yeah well, that place costs so much, I call it Whole Paycheck!" I was rolling on the floor laughing, but the truth is, organic food really is expensive and so is grass fed beef and free range chicken, so it's a valid question to ask, “Is it worth it?” After researching the subject and doing some personal experiments with my own diet, let me offer you my take on it from a bodybuilder’s viewpoint. This is a perspective on organics you may not have heard before. First, look at it this way - if you put the cheapest fuel in your luxury car, how well is it going to run and how many miles are you going to get out of it? While I'm on car analogies, health and fitness author and educator Paul Chek once wrote about how ridiculous it is to watch how many $75,000 + cars pull up to the Mcdonald's or Burger King drive through window to buy $1.99 hamburgers. I would say that's a serious case of screwed up priorities, wouldn't you? The driver has no problem shelling out the $1,100 monthly car payment, but it's too much to ask him to put premium fuel into his own "bodily vehicle." How can you put ANY price tag on your body and your health? You can buy another car, but you've only got one body. Now, as for the grass fed beef and organic foods question…. For best results in body composition improvement, which I

3500 Calories To Lose A Pound - Is This Formula All Wrong?

By Tom Venuto, NSCA-CPT, CSCS www.BurnTheFat.com Most fitness conscious people have heard that there are 3,500 calories in a pound of fat, so if you create a deficit of 3500 calories in a week, you lose a pound of weight. If you create a deficit of 7000 calories in a week, you lose two pounds, and so on. Right? Well, not so fast… Dr. Kevin Hall, an investigator at the National Institute of Health in Bethesda has done some interesting research about the mechanisms regulating human body weight. He recently published a new paper in the International Journal of Obesity that throws a wrench in works of the “3500 calories to lose a pound” idea. Some of the equations in his paper made my head hurt, but despite the complex math he used to come to his conclusions, his article clearly prompts the question, "3500 calories to lose a pound of WHAT?" His paper also contained a lot of simple and practical tips you can use to properly balance your caloric intake with output, fine tune your calorie deficit and help you retain more muscle when you diet. Below, I’ve distilled some of the information into a simple bullet-point summary that any non-scientist can understand. Then I wrap up with my interpretation of how you can apply this data in your own fat loss program: Calculating the calories required to lose a pound and fine-tuning your caloric deficit 3500 calories to lose a pound has always been the rule of thumb. However, this 3500 calories figure goes back to research which assumed that all the weight lost would be adipose tissue (which would be ideal, of course). But as we all know (unfortunately), lean body mass is lost along with body fat, which would indicate that the 3500 calorie figure could be an oversimplification. The amount of lean body

Lowering Your Cholestrol

TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION WHAT IS CHOLESTROL, LDL & HDL? DIAGNOSING CHOLESTEROL CAUSES CHOLESTEROL MEDICATIONS NATURAL TREATMENTS HERBAL REMEDIES LIVING HEALTHY INTRODUCTION Cholesterol has been around for thousands of years. It’s a natural function of the human body. The modern story of cholesterol and how it affects us today, actually began during a government study in 1951. The Pentagon sent pathologists to Korea to examine the bodies of servicemen who lost their lives during the war. Autopsies were conducted on 2,000 soldiers. The results were astounding to the medical community of that time. Normally, no one under 35 dies of coronary heart disease. Remember, this was 1951! More than 75 percent of the soldier had yellow deposits of atherosclerotic plaque on their artery walls. The average age of these soldiers was 21 contradicting the assumption that such artery clogging deposits were only prevalent in older men. The results of the Army pathologists rocked the medical community. Prior to these autopsies, doctors had no idea how early the process of heart disease began. Not long after this discovery, a name was given to the major contributor to the buildup of plaque and to heart disease risk – cholesterol. More recent studies have shown that for every 1 percent drop in cholesterol levels, there is a 2 percent decrease in the risk of a heart attack. Since those original studies, the risk of heart disease stemming from cholesterol has exploded. In 2002 it was estimated that 107 million American adults now have a blood cholesterol level high enough to require medical advice. Unfortunately, the numbers keep rising. Despite this epidemic problem, there is good news. You can do something about the problem and that’s what this guide is all about. In plain English, we will take a laymen’s look at cholesterol, the causes, effects

INTERVIEW WITH A WEIGHT LOSS EXPERT & MORE!

Introduction We will approach this interview as if we have someone who wants to lose weight. Our guest expert has a diverse background. His credentials include personal trainer certification, 26 years of fitness experience as well as several awards as a body builder and owner of his own gym. Using the experience and expertise of our guest, we are going to explore the different things that our client needs to do to get started. We will use a Q (Question) and A (Answer) format.   Goal Setting Q - What is the average weight that people want to lose in your health club? A -For most people it’s anywhere from 10 to 50 pounds.   Q - How important is the reason or motivation when someone decides to lose weight? A - The reason or motivation could be their health or their health situation or just the way they feel.   Q - I guess what I am asking is that the reason that will get them to start with a weight loss plan and stick to it? A - I would say so.   Q - What do you think our client should do to set realistic goals? A - Well the first thing, you have to do is what I say. That is really the bottom line they have to stick to good nutritional guidelines.   Q - Do you find that clients set unrealistic goals based on a certain time frame? A - Not really, they are pretty realistic weight loss because that is one of the questions that I have on the data acquisition form that I use to evaluate my client.   Q - Would you share some of those questions? A – Well, one of them would be how much weight do you want to lose and in a certain amount of time and I have

10 Bonehead Workout Mistakes

The Top 10 Bonehead Workout Mistakes By Tom Venuto, NSCA-CPT, CSCS www.burnthefat.com “Common workout mistakes” has always been a very popular topic in fitness publications. But no matter how many times this subject is re-hashed, you almost always hear about the same half a dozen or so mistakes, including poor form, overtraining, going too heavy, not stretching, not warming up, yadda, yadda yadda. Ironically, you seldom hear about the biggest mistakes of all. I call these humongous bloopers “bonehead mistakes” because once you start to analyze and think about them, they’re really just common sense and they all seem so obvious… except of course to the person doing it… who is often quite oblivious until someone else points it out to them... then the light goes on and it's like... "Doh!" Before I begin the countdown, (in no particular order), there’s one more gripe I have about the treatment this subject has been given in the past: Most of the attention has been put on the mistakes, but very little on the solutions. It’s all too easy to point fingers and say, “Don’t do that” and “Shame on you, dummy” but only 1% of your time should be spent on problems. 99% should be spent on solutions. So in that spirit, after I bring each mistake to your attention, I’ll give you a solution-oriented training tip to help you avoid boneheadedness and join the elite group who “kick butt” in the gym at every workout… Bonehead workout mistake #1: "Winging it" “Winging it” means having no written goals or plans, no training journal and no way of “keeping score.” It’s when you just show up at the gym day after day and do whatever strikes your fancy, whatever machine happens to be available, or whatever you’ve become habitually accustomed to doing. Winging it is when you

Muscle Building Mania

  Table of Contents Introduction to Body Building History of Body Building Basics of Building Muscle Body Building Facilities Building A Home Gym Body Building Routine Diet and Body Building + Recipes Dietary Supplements What About Steroids? Body Builder Beware Charting Your BMI Body Building Tips Resources INTRODUCTION TO BODY BUILDING This book is an exploration. We will explore the fascinating history of body building, which can be traced as far back as the 11th Century, up to the 19th Century when it arrived on the North American scene. We will explore how to build your body and muscles, body building and weight lifting equipment, the “right” and the “dark” side of dietary supplements as well as the importance of proper nutrition for the serious body builder. No discussion of body and muscle building would be complete without covering consumer health fraud. Bogus claims and promises of unrealistic results have been around for decades. The explosion of marketing on the internet has, unfortunately, created an exponential increase in unsavory providers ready and willing to bilk unsuspecting consumers. Muscle Mania will explore package labeling and what you should know about before you buy. The content we cover presents a broad outline rather than substantive personal recommendations. Nothing within should be construed as anything more than educational and should never replace medical advice from a professional physician. We will take a look at the different types of exercise equipment that is available to bodybuilders and what considerations you need to keep in mind when shopping for your own equipment or using the services of a gym. What could be more important than your diet and nutrition? It’s critical to your success when bodybuilding. We’ll give you several recipes that are not only prepared specifically for bodybuilders, but that provide you with a breakdown of calories, grams of protein, grams of carbohydrates, grams of fat

SECRETS TO LOOKING AND FEELING YOUNGER

INTRODUCTION   The truth is we begin the aging process just as soon as we pop out of the womb. Every day of our lives our bodies slough off and regenerate new cells. The speed at which that process takes place when we are children is vastly different as we get older. For years explorers searched for the illusive “fountain of youth.” Unfortunately, it does not exist or you wouldn’t be reading this. Every day you are bombarded daily with commercial messages that attempt to lure you into believing that the most recent miracle drug is just what you need to fight off the ravages of Mother Nature. At times it seems as though there are more miracle methods than ever being flashed in front of your eyes each day. . .and there are. Ask any advertising executive and they will admit that there are more advertisements than ever touting everything designed to cash in on a huge market. What is that market? It’s the aging Baby Boomers. We are living longer as a whole. Singularly, that can be a curse or a blessing depending on your perspective. In this book we will explore low and no cost methods you can use to help in the anti-aging process. Some of our material may be new and some serve as reminders of things we may have forgotten. We may not have had much say in how we arrived on this earth, but we can certainly determine how and when we will depart. Just remember, YOU are in control.   LIFESTYLE We have to discuss it. You’ve heard it before but it must be repeated. You ARE what you eat. There are over 13.5 million Americans alive today who have a history of heart

Why Some People Can Drink Alcohol Without Getting Fat

By Tom Venuto, NSCA-CPT, CSCS www.BurnTheFat.com Alcohol has been implicated as a factor that may hurt your efforts to lose body fat. Whether alcohol is "fattening" has been a very controversial subject because technically speaking, alcohol is NOT stored as fat; it is oxidized ahead of other fuels. Whether moderate drinking is healthy has also been a subject of controversy. Many studies show that cardiovascular health benefits are associated with moderate beer or wine drinking (which has been of particular interest lately with reservatrol in the news so much), while other studies show improved insulin sensitivity. Some experts however, say that alcohol has no place in a fitness lifestyle. A recent study published in the journal Obesity adds new findings to our knowledge about alcohol, insulin resistance and abdominal obesity. Analysis of the results as compared to other studies also gives us some insights into why some people seem to drink and get fat while others seem to drink and get thin! The truth about the beer belly phenomenon This new study, by Ulf Riserus and Erik Inglesson, was based on the Swedish Uppsala Longitudinal cohort. The researchers found that alcohol intake in older men did not improve insulin sensitivity, which contradicted their own hypothesis and numerous previous studies. They also said there was a very "robust" association between alcohol intake, waist circumference and waist to hip ratio. They pointed out that a high alcohol intake, especially hard liquor, was closely associated with abdominal body fat, not just overall body mass. Abdominal fat accumulation is not just a cosmetic problem, it can be a serious health risk. Abdominal fat, also known as "android" or "central" obesity, increases the risk for cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, high blood lipids, glucose intolerance and elevated insulin levels. Many other studies have also found a link between alcohol intake and abdominal fat, but

Top 10 Travel Fitness Tips

Tom Venuto's Top 10 Travel Fitness Tips By Tom Venuto, NSCA-CPT, CSCS www.burnthefat.com I recently read two articles about travel fitness. One said that while you're traveling, you should keep up with 50% of your normal training and the other said you should keep up with only one-third. Both were written by well known fitness professionals and both said that you should NOT expect to keep up your regular exercise program while you are traveling. That struck me as kind of "lame" and I said to myself, “Why the heck not? Why do people have such low standards and demand so little of themselves? Why do they let themselves off the hook and scale back?” Sometimes, of course, traveling is purely for a vacation – including a vacation from training. Occasional time off from intense training is beneficial and necessary to let your body recover and rejuvenate completely from chronic training stress, just as time off from the office is needed to disengage your mind for a while. It’s also true that it really doesn’t take much to maintain fitness once it is developed, and an abbreviated, but still effective, workout routine could certainly be used, if you choose, when you’re on the road. However, you still have healthy eating to think about and just because you’re traveling doesn’t mean you can’t follow your regular exercise regimen. Why settle? If you want to continue to improve your physique while on the road, you can! Here are 10 ways that I did it on my last extended business trip that you may find helpful as well. It begins with a simple decision. 1. Decide to improve while you’re traveling and to come home in better shape than when you left Nearly every time I travel (the exception being if it’s a complete rest and relaxation vacation), I set a

Secrets to Sleeping Soundly

Contents: The Definition of Sleep and What it Does About Sleep Research What is REM (and is it important)? Are Dreams Important? What is Circadian Rhythm? What is Insomnia? Do You Need a Sleep Test? How Light Affects Sleep How serious is Persistent Insomnia What are Snoring and Sleep Apnea? Your Infant and Sleep (Beware of SIDS) What is Narcolepsy and Is It Treatable? How to Prevent Sleepwalking and Night Terrors Sleep and the Immune System What Is Lucid Dreaming ----------------------------------------------------------------------   The Definition of Sleep and What it Does   Why is sleep important? Sleep needs no definition, especially for most people who have longed for the sweet experience of deep slumber, Sleep may be defined as that stage in which a person is supposed to experience total relaxation of body and mind. During sleep, a person is less conscious and less active but his brain is at work.   Proper sleep is important if a person is to keep to his normal duties the next working day. A person who gets little sleep will be more irritable, less focused and more fatigued the next day. Getting less sleep for one night can be an irritant to most people; getting less sleep for weeks can be extremely detrimental to health.   People who lack sleep can wake up troubled the next morning. And, while a person who lacks sleep can still do his normal tasks, he could be doing it in a robotic way and he can start acting like a zombie.   While lack of sleep can cause minor disturbances and changes in a person’s behavior and working patterns, it can cause a major catastrophe when a sleep deprived person attempts to drive and subsequently causes an accident. Sleepy drivers have caused deadly accidents on the highways. This is no joke when you

Your Home Fitness Program!

Table of Contents First Things First How Much Exercise Do You Need? Basics of Fitness Resistance Training How to Combat Fatigue Walking Costs Nothing Beginner Fitness Program Intermediate Fitness Program Advanced Fitness Program Workout Gear Exercise Guide Fitness and Nutrition Exercise and Your Health Sport Training Inexpensive Equipment First Things First First things first: Motivation for a home fitness program The modern lifestyle each person has to contend with has resulted in quite a number of problems affecting both mental and physical health. People live their lives with only one goal in mind and that is to produce more, earn more and consume more. This has resulted in serious problems with the way people live their lives including the way they choose the food that they eat as well as their daily physical activities. People are so busy that they find it more practical to eat frozen food or fast food instead of cooking sumptuous and healthy meals. People are so caught up with their jobs that they no longer have much time for walking or for simple physical activities like a game of tennis or riding a bike. A person who has weight problems should consider incorporating his physical activities with his work or schedule. It is not easy to maintain a good fitness program but he has to prioritize first things first. And talking about first things first means knowing his priorities in life and what he has to do to address and achieve those priorities. Once the priorities have been listed or known then it would be easy to look for time to do those things despite a hectic schedule. A person can start a feasible home fitness program if he has the proper motivation for doing so. Knowing the target and how important the target is makes a good start for any person. A person should consider the negative and positive consequences