If anyone ever tells you that working out is all about fat loss or muscle building, they have a very limited scope of thinking on the subject of fitness.

A few weeks ago, I wrote a post about a blast from the past, literally.

I used to be a body builder and they were some of the most incredible times of my life… I love the community, I loved building muscle, I love the comradery amongst my friends at the gym.

I owned Olympia Fitness Center back then and it was a blast!

Then I broadened my horizons and learned all about health and fitness… yes I said fitness, because bodybuilding is about neither. I suppose you could say that you are healthier than a large section of the population as a bodybuilder, which you are, but you are anything but "healthy" and shapely, yes… fit… not quite.

As you may know bodybuilding is about building muscles, it’s not about fitness, at least not the kind of fitness we are talking about when you’re Fit for Power, and engage in the basic training plan for the Performance Lifestyle.

For a while I really got down on bodybuilding because as I learned more about health and fitness and the real purpose in thinking, living and training as a Healthy High Achiever, I saw all the bad things in bodybuilding and really beat it up over the years.

What I forget was all the other great things about body building and the community that I was apart of for so long added to my life. First, I loved the hard core environment and when I left it. I left a piece of me behind.

It was nearly 15 years I let that happen and now I know it really affected me.

While I’m not saying "train at a hardcore bodybuilding gym", I am saying that there is more to training than fat loss and muscle building. Both are great, but there is still more…

Two months ago, I met up with a friend I haven’t seen in years to train at a Diamond Gym in Maplewood NJ and I can’t tell you how much of a full circle experience it was as a 40 year old (birthday, October 5th, 2008) to come back to my roots. It changed my life in a good way. It awakened the hard core part of me, that I had been missing for some time, and it enabled me to experience the comradery, that exists in a gym like this, unlike any other gym type can deliver.

Bodybuilders are really there. They are fully present and loving their gym experience. It’s high intensity training, it’s committed, it’s fully engaged and I love it!

Where and how you train and with whom, all the dynamics involved affect your personal growth, awareness and social life. I really value that and I trust you will too.

When you are Fit for Power, you can train anywhere and build in many types of training into your lifestyle. That’s part of what makes it so exciting, so practical and exciting. I did that that two months ago, by adding in a handful of workouts each month at Diamond Gym.

And yes, I experienced some fat loss, and building building, because when you put on muscle, the after burn affect is incredible. And you feel amazing.

In my next post I will be putting up some photos of my bodybuilding days of old.

Till then,

Live Like a Pro,

~JAM,

John Allen Mollenhauer is the creator of Fit For Power a Performance Lifestyle Solutions, the better healthier, more successful ways to achieve your goals in life, business and sport. As a former worn down workaholic turned Healthy High Achiever, John Allen (aka “JAM”) will teach you how to Live Like a Pro, optimizing your lifestyle the way athletes do for better results. He is the creator of the Healthy High Achiever - Unleash the Full Potential of Your Lifestyle to Perform, Look and Feel Better!

It’s true! There honestly is a "true" undebatable fat loss secret weapon. I’ll share some proof with you in a moment, but first I need to make something clear…

Relying on diet and exercise, "alone", to lose weight could really disappoint your very high hopes.

I want you to realize that there are many nutrition and workout programs that really work. The problem is that many people are not working the programs during the challenge periods of their life.

They are depending on will-power to pull them through. Will-power is the crutch for a weak mindset.

What you need is… (and here is the secret weapon) an Unstoppable Mindset. It will help you live a Performance Lifestyle.

An Unstoppable Mindset that skyrockets your motivation through the roof and provides you with the constant and continuous inspiration to take action towards your goal each and every day, however large or small, significant or seemingly insignificant, common or uncommon, hight or low performance your actions may be…

Having an Unstoppable Mindset is the only way that you’ll ever form the healthy, personal performance habits that will last a lifetime and guarantee you continued success.

It’s time for you to develop your Unstoppable mindset.

–>> It help you live a Performance Lifestyle, which will help you develop and reinforce your mindset in unparalleled ways.

–>> Your mindset will help you be successful with any nutrition or workout program that you engage in to take your fat loss, fitness and lifestyle to the next level…

–>> Your mindset will ultimately help you achieve your goals in life, business and sport. 

My friend Scott Tousignant has a 21 Day Challenge to Develop an Unstoppable Mindset, it’s part of his Unstoppable Fat Loss offering. I think he is doing great things with this and that it will help you with fat loss, your fitness and lifestyle.

This opportunity will prepare prepare you for a Performance Lifestyle. It will skyrocket your motivation and help you form healthy habits to last a lifetime.

Here’s the proof that I was mentioning earlier. It’s a testimonial from Gary Talley who applied the scientifically proven strategies of the Unstoppable Fat Loss program to win 3rd place in a recent transformation contest.

Note: Transformation contests are very inspiring, but they don’t always lead to success, if you don’t have the right support.

Hi Scott,

I’ve never written a testimonial for a product I
bought before. That was because no product I’ve
ever purchased has had such an impact on my life
as your Unstoppable Fat Loss interview series.

I recently finished a 12 week fat loss challenge.

I entered my first body transformation challenge
way back in 1998 and have since entered at least
7 other similar body transformation challenges
through the years but I never would follow through. 

Every single time I would slide back into what I
call "default". Back to skipping workouts, eating
junk food, or drinking beer.

This recent challenge was different because I had
a secret weapon, Unstoppable Fat Loss.

As I listened to the interviews each time I would
think to myself, wow that was my favorite interview
until I listened to the next one and I would say to
myself again, no that’s my favorite one, until I
realized that each interview was so powerful, so
life changing, so inspiring that there is no way I
could choose just one as my favorite.

I listen to them every day and because of UFL I not
only finished the challenge, I am in the best shape
of my life and I won 3rd place.

Thank you Scott so much for Unstoppable Fat Loss. 
I now have the tools and techniques and the mindset
I need to live an Unstoppable Lifestyle.

Gary Dean Talley

Now that’s inspiration in itself. To see that Gary entered 7 contests and failed to follow through, but he never gave up.

Because of his persistence and applying the strategies of the Unstoppable Fat Loss program he has finally made his dreams become reality.

I know it’s because he had the kind of support that you will get in Scott’s fat loss program.

Make it easier on yourself and don’t try to burn fat without this secret weapon… an unstoppable mindset, join the 21-day transformation contest.

Scott is the creator of the Unstoppable Fat Loss program. This is one of the most unique transformation contests to ever hit the fitness industry…  because it focuses on what matters most… your mindset!

This contest is different because it will not be judged on before and after pictures.

Instead…

It will be judged on your mindset and motivational transformation, which is the most crucial component of your fat loss success. The 21 Days To Unstoppable Fat Loss Contest takes place over 3 short weeks and is the perfect primer for Performance Lifestyle Training.

To learn more about this ground breaking event and discover the strategies to skyrocket your motivation simply visit…

The 21 Days To Unstoppable Fat Loss Contest

This transformation contest is the secret weapon to help you form healthy habits, and sustain fat loss… that will last a lifetime.

Scott Tousignant and me, John Allen Mollenhauer "JAM" went to town on this subject of mindset and lifestyle, diet and exercise "fat loss" programs etc… I challenged him many times and we clarified many thoughts that are really ground breaking in the world of fitness.

This whole conversation started by the way when I challenged him on a blog post where he said, the Lifestyle Plan approach to Fat Loss is a Bunch of Crap!.. I took issue with that… because a Performance Lifestyle is a lifestyle plan, and the goal is not fat loss, but fat loss will certainly be one of the outcomes if that’s your objective… (more on that later)

You know the fitness world is only one of the worlds I inhabit as a Performance Lifestyle trainer, coach and solutions provider, but "fitness" as a concept is unique, because it’s a result of your lifestyle; not the only result but a BIG one.

Now the question is where do fat loss programs come in?

Get some of the answers here…

http://www.instantteleseminar.com/?eventid=3828918

By the way, you’ll here me talking about Scots The 21 Days To Unstoppable Mindset challenge… you’ll know what I mean when you listen to the audio.

It’s a great idea and one that’s very near and dear to my heart.

Listen in,

JAM

PS< here’s a follow up article I wrote on the Healthy High Achiever blog.

John Allen Mollenhauer is the Founder of MyTrainer.com where fitness video’s are free for everybody! He is also the founder Performance Lifestyle Solutions, the better healthier ways to achieve your goals in life, business and sport. As a former worn down workaholic turned healthy high achiever John Allen (aka “JAM”) will teach you how to Live Like a Pro, optimizing your lifestyle the way athletes do. He is the creator of the Healthy High Achiever - Unleash the Full Potential of Your Lifestyle to Perform, Look and Feel Better!

I was reading a post by my good friend Scott Tousignant, who publishes the sites, Unstoppable Fat Loss and The Fit Bastard.

He is a really knowledgeable guy and when it comes to fat loss, I pay attention to what he has to say. That said, I don’t always agree with everything he has to say.

The title of this post, is a post that he made recently on the Unstoppable fat loss blog.

Go there and read it, here is my response….

Hey Scott,

As you may have suspected, it was inevitable that you were going to prompt a debate from me on this one. I think this lifestyle / fat loss program debate is one of THE most important subjects when it comes to developing an elite body… fat loss and fitness, health and success

Glad you got the conversation started here. As a Fit Bastard reader, I wanted to share my thoughts and in the end, what being "unstoppable" means to me.  

"The Lifestyle approach to "fat loss" is a bunch a crap!"

I agree BIG time, and disagree BIG time with that statement, but I think I know where you are going with it…

The truth we share; if you are going to take charge of an out-of-shape body, you have to take things to the next level. You have to challenge yourself to create a new "set point" and go into a period where you raise the bar on the quality of the food you are eating, your activity and training levels. This promotes personal growth and development, fitness and… fat loss. 

Scott, you are one of the best in the business of helping people with fat loss. 

I am the best in the business when it comes developing a health and success promoting lifestyle… getting your lifestyle working for you, not against you by making the lifestyle shifts that make the difference. 

In a Performance Lifestyle, we refer to "Challenge Periods"; if you want to loss weight and significant amounts of it, YOU WILL during a challenge period, not to mention develop new levels of personally powerful, confidence building fitness. It only happens when you challenge yourself.

To that end, that’s why I promote the Fit Bastard, and other select fat loss and fitness programs. I agree with you; as you said we have to mix it up to "challenge our bodies in new and unique ways."   

But you know, overweight is the most obvious symptom of a poor lifestyle so we have to be careful not to discount or cloud the subject of lifestyle one iota.

A poor "Lifestyle" is the reason why someone has to lose significant amounts of weight to begin with.

It depends on what kind of lifestyle you have.

A "traditional lifestyle" causes the overweight condition. If, for example, you are living a life of moderation in everything (which is a failing proposition), you ARE coping out.

The traditional "moderation in everything" lifestyle is an impotent approach to life… when you are all caught up consuming stuff that’s really consuming you and your energy, like junk food and junk TV and so much "convenience" that you don’t have to move your deconditioned body… you look around and you think it’s normal to be that way; it’s not. Don’t get me started! 

But if you live like athletes do, this a very different deal; not to mention a better quality of life.

YOU, already have a great "athletic" lifestyle so when you challenge yourself, you’re going from great to even better. That you don’t have to strip off mounds of pounds is because you have a "Lifestyle plan"; a lifestyle approach to fitness… I would think that’s why you are successful at challenging yourself!

So let’s clarify… I think your point is, if you think your going to push to new heights living on a never-ending fat loss or fitness program "for life", that idea IS a bunch of crap. Amen brother! 

That is NOT a successful lifestyle.

But to say that a lifestyle plan or lifestyle approach to fat loss is a bunch of crap, is where I take debate; it depends on what kind of lifestyle you’re living.

BTW, the "purpose" of our lifestyle is not to lose weight. When we change our lifestyle, fat loss is usually a benefit because we’re living better, and this symptom lessens. The point of changing our lifestyle is to achieve our goals more successfully, in a healthier way.  

I for one, do the same thing that you do, which is to challenge myself with a new fitness routine or "program" that raises the bar every couple of months; but "for me" those challenge periods are not back to back, they take place when I’m ready to go to the next level.

Like you, I have a lot more going on in my life than fitness and I don’t need to be ready for the beach all year round or the Olympics for that matter.

My lifestyle is optimized, it is athletic, health and fitness promoting so I can sustain success. It also enables me to maximize the results I can achieve in any challenge period.

I think the reason most people are unsuccessful with  fat loss or fitness programs, of any kind, is because they have poor lifestyles underlying their attempt.  Suffering from overwhelm and exhaustion, for some fatigue, will STOP you in your tracks despite your good intentions and desire to succeed.

No lifestyle plan, means you are STOPPABLE! 

Living non stop on weight loss or fitness program’s and without a successful lifestyle to fall back on, is very challenging.

I know you are not saying don’t have a healthy or successful lifestyle, but I have to debate the "Lifestyle approach" "Lifestyle Plan" semantics in your article, because a lifestyle fitness plan is required if you are going to be successful with fat loss and fitness.

When we don’t have a lifestyle plan or strategy, we ARE relegated to weight loss programs for the rest of our life, which I know is not something you do or advise anyone else does; but that IS what most people are doing.

Our lifestyles, over time, enable us to live at or near our ideal weight… all the time, but the "challenge period" is required to take things to the next level, and we need this from time to time. If getting closer to elite fitness, and a beach body is your objective, bottom line, you have to challenge yourself.

I think that is what you are saying.  Is that right?

I’m saying that if you don’t have a lifestyle reinforcing your health (energy and fitness) and your success, you will hop from program to program and this is a chaise-your-tail way to live and not a true lifestyle, maybe not even an enjoyable one for many. Depending on your lifestyle it can be down right crappy.

What I know to be true about you is different. Let’s clarify.

I for one, even though I live a Performance Lifestyle, don’t want to be challenged non stop. I sometimes need extended periods of the status quo, but because my lifestyle is naturally athletic and based on sound fundamentals, the status quo doesn’t promote significant weight gain.

Sure I’ll gain a few, when I’m not challenging myself, but that’s normal. Weight fluctuates, especially if you factor in time periods of great stress. Stress of the wrong kind, has that affect. I am going through one of those periods right now and I’ve gained some weight, even though I live incredibly well.  

The funny thing is, we are saying something similar. Maybe even the same thing, and this my friend opens up the debate… it’s not one or the other, I think it’s both!

We need a lifestyle plan and fitness / fat loss programs to take things to the next level, that’s what being truly "unstoppable" means to me. 

I would love to debate this publicly Scott, as I think everyone would benefit from the lifestyle plan / fat loss - fitness program debate, if you are up for it and think it would benefit others as much as I do. By the sound of your article and interview, it sounds like you are. 

PS, I could lose a few pounds, so as soon as I’m ready, I think I’m going to challenge myself.

PPS, I’m going to put myself through 8 weeks of your  Fit Bastard workouts. Yeah.

John Allen Mollenhauer is the Founder of MyTrainer.com where fitness video’s are free for everybody! He is also the founder Performance Lifestyle Solutions, the better healthier ways to achieve your goals in life, business and sport. As a former worn down workaholic turned healthy high achiever John Allen (aka “JAM”) will teach you how to Live Like a Pro, optimizing your lifestyle the way athletes do. He is the creator of the Healthy High Achiever - Unleash the Full Potential of Your Lifestyle to Perform, Look and Feel Better!