In my companion article, I discussed the importance of healthy eating and an effective exercise program to fitness, as well as the difficulty of finding good information and a support system to get you on the path to success. Meanwhile, I went looking for some programs that offered good advice, clear guidelines, a support/feedback system, and online availability. I’ve come up with two that fit the bill. They have a focus on fat loss and fitness through sound nutritional guidelines and a safe, effective exercise program.
These similar systems are both essentially e-books (downloadable documents) with supporting materials. The information and guidance is sound and they are reasonably priced at 40 bucks. Both have a 60 day money-back guarantee from a very reputable payment processor, so you really can’t lose anything but your fat!
You won’t get a “diet”, but rather information about how to make healthy food choices you can follow and enjoy for the rest of your life. Some people are disappointed that they won’t be told how many grams of which molecules they should eat, but the point is that such tedious calculations and restrictions are unnecessary.
Both programs also have a focus on shorter exercise routines, designed to be as efficient as possible – that is, to safely get the most benefit from the minimum amount of time. You won’t spend an hour a day on a treadmill with these (and you don’t need to).
And the Winners Are…
Fat Burning Furnace and Truth About Abs
Both offer solid information with sound advice and lots of motivational material to get you on the road to a new, healthier chapter in your life. Both have quite a bit of free information on their websites that will help give you a feel for the content and their approaches.
Fat Burning Furnace
Of the two, Fat Burning Furnace is my preferred choice. The material, by author Rob Poulos, seems to be a little more accessible, and the writing style is a bit more down to earth, contained in a 158 page guide. The program comes with “email coaching” for several months, which is essentially a series of newsletters. But I believe the ongoing tips and encouragement goes a long way toward keeping you motivated and excited about your program. You also get some planning/tracking forms which you can print, and some tools, including a basic body-fat-percentage analyzer.
Ron covers nutrition by discussing foods to maximize fat loss, and offers a simple way to watch what you eat and while getting nutritionally sound meals. He explains why he doesn’t recommend fad diets, and takes you through a lot of common perceptions about nutrition. You get a sample meal plan for a day and he points you to a website with lots of free recipes you can use.
For exercise, the focus is on short resistance training workouts, and Ron explains why the typical approach to cardiovascular routines doesn’t help much. Suggested workouts can be completed in as little as 20 – 25 minutes a day, 3 times a week (2 times a week as you progress). Some basic weight equipment or access to a gym is ideal, but many exercises can be done using your own body weight for resistance. Specific exercises are combined to create a full body workout. The exercises are performed very slowly to maximize their impact. With this system, you need only do one set of each exercise, contrary to the common three-set approach. Over the years, my experience and research has led me to a similar approach with fewer repetitions and fewer workouts per week. It may not be the only way that works, but it works!
Exercises are described in detail in the guide, and are supplemented with photos. There’s an upgrade to a more advanced option that includes videos. Importantly, the guide also has a ‘break in’ routine for people who haven’t exercised in years, along with beginner, intermediate and advanced workout plans.
For more info check out the Frequently Asked Questions page, or download an introductory e-book.
The Truth About Abs
Truth About Abs is also a very good program. The name is a bit of a marketing ploy, as so many people are (rightfully) concerned about abdominal fat. But the author makes it clear that the way to deal with abdominal fat is through a comprehensive program of healthy eating and suitable full-body exercise, rather than millions of sit-ups. It also has a membership support site, which gives users a little more interaction for tips and motivation.
The exercise routines vary somewhat from the other program, but both focus on resistance training and burning lean muscle, rather than long, boring aerobic routines. Don’t worry, ladies – neither of these programs is going to make you bulk up like Arnie the Governator. You’ll just be replacing bulky fat with lean, trim muscle.
The biggest complaint I’ve come across is information overload. A lot of information is delivered, and some of it may be more in-depth and technical than you really wanted. It’s easy to get overwhelmed and become distracted from actually getting started!
For more about this program, visit the Frequently Asked Questions page or just go to the Home Page and click the Free Report tab to get the author’s free newsletter and a few bonuses.
Whichever you chose, pick a plan that appeals to you, read through the material, and most importantly, get started! Typing on your keyboard or lifting a low-fat latte to your lips just doesn’t count as a workout or a nutritional breakthrough!
In my companion article, I discussed the importance of healthy eating and an effective exercise program to fitness, as well as the difficulty of finding good information and a support system to get you on the path to success. Meanwhile, I went looking for some programs that offered good advice, clear guidelines, a support/feedback system, and online availability. I’ve come up with two that fit the bill. They have a focus on fat loss and fitness through sound nutritional guidelines and a safe, effective exercise program.
These similar systems are both essentially e-books (downloadable documents) with supporting materials. The information and guidance is sound and they are reasonably priced at 40 bucks. Both have a 60 day money-back guarantee from a very reputable payment processor, so you really can’t lose anything but your fat!
You won’t get a “diet”, but rather information about how to make healthy food choices you can follow and enjoy for the rest of your life. Some people are disappointed that they won’t be told how many grams of which molecules they should eat, but the point is that such tedious calculations and restrictions are unnecessary.
Both programs also have a focus on shorter exercise routines, designed to be as efficient as possible – that is, to safely get the most benefit from the minimum amount of time. You won’t spend an hour a day on a treadmill with these (and you don’t need to).
And the Winners Are…
Fat Burning Furnace and Truth About Abs
Both offer solid information with sound advice and lots of motivational material to get you on the road to a new, healthier chapter in your life. Both have quite a bit of free information on their websites that will help give you a feel for the content and their approaches.
Fat Burning Furnace
Of the two, Fat Burning Furnace is my preferred choice. The material, by author Rob Poulos, seems to be a little more accessible, and the writing style is a bit more down to earth, contained in a 158 page guide. The program comes with “email coaching” for several months, which is essentially a series of newsletters. But I believe the ongoing tips and encouragement goes a long way toward keeping you motivated and excited about your program. You also get some planning/tracking forms which you can print, and some tools, including a basic body-fat-percentage analyzer.
Ron covers nutrition by discussing foods to maximize fat loss, and offers a simple way to watch what you eat and while getting nutritionally sound meals. He explains why he doesn’t recommend fad diets, and takes you through a lot of common perceptions about nutrition. You get a sample meal plan for a day and he points you to a website with lots of free recipes you can use.
For exercise, the focus is on short resistance training workouts, and Ron explains why the typical approach to cardiovascular routines doesn’t help much. Suggested workouts can be completed in as little as 20 – 25 minutes a day, 3 times a week (2 times a week as you progress). Some basic weight equipment or access to a gym is ideal, but many exercises can be done using your own body weight for resistance. Specific exercises are combined to create a full body workout. The exercises are performed very slowly to maximize their impact. With this system, you need only do one set of each exercise, contrary to the common three-set approach. Over the years, my experience and research has led me to a similar approach with fewer repetitions and fewer workouts per week. It may not be the only way that works, but it works!
Exercises are described in detail in the guide, and are supplemented with photos. There’s an upgrade to a more advanced option that includes videos. Importantly, the guide also has a ‘break in’ routine for people who haven’t exercised in years, along with beginner, intermediate and advanced workout plans.
For more info check out the Frequently Asked Questions page, or download an introductory e-book.
The Truth About Abs
Truth About Abs is also a very good program. The name is a bit of a marketing ploy, as so many people are (rightfully) concerned about abdominal fat. But the author makes it clear that the way to deal with abdominal fat is through a comprehensive program of healthy eating and suitable full-body exercise, rather than millions of sit-ups. It also has a membership support site, which gives users a little more interaction for tips and motivation.
The exercise routines vary somewhat from the other program, but both focus on resistance training and burning lean muscle, rather than long, boring aerobic routines. Don’t worry, ladies – neither of these programs is going to make you bulk up like Arnie the Governator. You’ll just be replacing bulky fat with lean, trim muscle.
The biggest complaint I’ve come across is information overload. A lot of information is delivered, and some of it may be more in-depth and technical than you really wanted. It’s easy to get overwhelmed and become distracted from actually getting started!
For more about this program, visit the Frequently Asked Questions page or just go to the Home Page and click the Free Report tab to get the author’s free newsletter and a few bonuses.
Whichever you chose, pick a plan that appeals to you, read through the material, and most importantly, get started! Typing on your keyboard or lifting a low-fat latte to your lips just doesn’t count as a workout or a nutritional breakthrough!