Body Fat Calipers are easy to use in the privacy of your home, with amazing accuracy and reliability. Since the majority of fat on the body is located directly under the skin, a very efficient and practical way to measure your body fat percentage is skinfold measurement – the scientific approach to the time-honored “pinch an inch” method. A body fat tester is a precision instrument which has been shown in clinical studies to be closer in accuracy to the “gold standard” underwater weighing than any of the more elaborate methods of measuring body fat (without the inconvenience, expense, trained personnel, and lack of privacy these methods entail). So whether you choose to use the Personal Body Fat Tester privately or with the help of someone else, just follow the simple steps below – it’s as easy as ONE, TWO, THREE. › Continue reading

Chances are you’ll make a New Year’s resolution this year, so here’s a question. Have you ever actually succeeded with one? Have any of your friends? This year, however, it’s going to be different! Here’s your countdown to success for 2010!

Article by Steve Edwards

10. Choose a resolution that suits you. Don’t be swayed by peer pressure or trends. For example, if you hate swimming, don’t choose the Escape from Alcatraz triathlon, no matter how cool it sounds. Go with a goal that fits your personality. › Continue reading

It’s that time of year again, where most of us wouldn’t mind losing a few extra pounds. Maybe you want to get in the best shape of your life.  Speaking from personal experience, I can tell you the most common problems with your dilemma.  Because I was in the exact same place.

I wanted to lose weight.  I wanted to get in shape.  I looked in the mirror and wasn’t impressed.

So I asked myself.  Now what?  What can I do about it?

I made the commitment to lose weight.  I didn’t want to go to the gym (I didn’t know what to do).

I didn’t want to pay a personal trainer to tell me what to do.

So I turned to a home workout program.  I started with Power 90 and lost 30 lbs in 90 days!

But maybe Power 90 isn’t your cup of tea.  Maybe you want to go extreme with P90X, or Insanity.  You may just like Chalean Extreme.

Regardless what you like most, we offer programs that fit every need and situation.  Just use our Compare our Programs guide.

The programs come with a nutritional guide, and teach you how to eat right, how to modify your eating pattern, to lose weight.  Something you can do for a lifetime.  No crazy fads.

Even better, I’ll help you.  You have questions, I’m sure.  So fire off an email, and let me offer some advice.  Their is no cost or obligation.  Not to mention, we have almost 200 fitness articles, to help.  Everything from diet and nutrition, general fitness, program reviews.  Here are some popular articles to get you started. I look forward to hearing from you!

How to Get In Shape. One of the most common problems affecting people all over the world is being overweight. People that are overweight try various methods to lose the excess pounds, mostly by diet and exercise. While these are the best methods to lose weight and to get in shape, people who try out these methods often fail in their endeavor due to lack of knowledge or professional guidance. (read more)

Get Fit with P90X. We are all obsessed with fitness and workout routines, but very few of us can manage to grab the best fitness routines available in the market. With so many fitness programs and workout routines it is really difficult to decide which one’s better than the other. Not all of these “get-fit” workout programs can give you all you need; some of these programs only encourage workout while the others focus on diet and weight training. But there’s one revolutionary program that takes care of the factors, your workout routine and also your diet
plans, it’s the P90X program. (read more)

Bill Murray’s 6 New Year’s Resolution Tips. It’s almost the New Year, and odds are, you’re putting the finishing touches on this year’s resolutions. “Eat better. Exercise more. Stop drinking Coke.” And so on . . . They’re never easy, are they? In fact, most of us blow every item on the list before January is even over. After all, we’re only human. So to guide us to the next level of resolution-keeping, Beachbody® has
sought counsel from someone who is more than human. A god among men. A general among privates. A monster truck among sedans. (read more)

Total Body Workout at Home.

Did you ever think that you could work out at home and get in great shape from the comforts of your own home? I’m not talking about, doing a few reps with a couple of dumbbells, or running around the block a few times. I’m talking about an effective total body workout at home. A
workout that gets results!  With advanced workout routines and effective techniques, it’s possible to workout at home, lose weight, and get in great shape. Keep reading, and I will give you all the basic information you need to workout at home. (read more)

How Much Exercise Do We Need?

One of the most common questions people ask me about is: “How much exercise do we need?” There is no clear answer to this, though.  In truth, each person needs to define his or her own fitness plan and goals.  However, there are some basic guidelines that can help you create the perfect schedule.  At a minimum, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services suggests getting at least 30 minutes of physical activity each and every day.  This refers to cardiovascular exercise, which improves your heart health.  Cardiovascular activities can include running, biking, swimming, hiking, etc.  However, to meet the 30 minute guidelines, you only need moderate activity. (read more)

Yoga. You either hate it or love it. Maybe you’ve never done it. Here is a small guide describing different types of yoga and the health/fitness benefits that go along with them. Thanks to Denis Faye at Beachbody for this enlightening article.

Going Gaga for Yoga!
By Denis Faye

Face it, nonbelievers; you’re losing the war against yoga. Once the province of hippies and Beverly Hills housewives, the practice has now become a go-to activity for increased athletic performance, stress relief, physical therapy, and just plain feeling good. Yoga studios continue to pop up around the country, which isn’t surprising given the practice has made it into the American College of Sports Medicine’s top 20 worldwide fitness trends for 4 years running. › Continue reading

It’s hard to make things better for yourself whenever your significant other doesn’t want you to, doesn’t support you, or just plain doesn’t care. I’ve seen this happen to couples that I know, and if it frustrates the person watching it happen, just imagine how the person feels that it is actually happening to! Stephanie Saunders at Beachbody has a great article about how to handle the “I want to get fit, but my partner doesn’t get it” pitfalls.

Unsupportive Partners: Ways to Placate Your Mate When They Don’t Feel Great about You Losing Weight
By Stephanie Saunders

To have and to hold from this day forward; for better, for worse; for richer, for poorer; in weight loss and muscle building; till death do us part. It is unlikely that these were your actual vows on your wedding day, but often the most difficult struggle a couple can face is when one member is considering a change, while the other prefers the status quo. That includes having kids, changing careers or homes, and, yes, getting into shape. You’d assume that the more attractive your partner becomes, the happier you would be, but this isn’t always the case. Increased attractiveness can foster insecurity, jealousy, resentment, and in extreme cases, emotional withdrawal and sabotage.

When a significant other becomes more attractive, and as a result, receives more and more attention, it can make the other person insecure. And if everyone starts turning their heads, look out! That person may start to wonder, “Why is my partner seeking so much attention? Is something already going on? If I find them attractive as they are, why isn’t that enough?” The answer is, of course, that we want to change to feel better about ourselves. Not that having heads turn as you enter the Christmas party is not a bonus, but it really is about meeting your own goals. And when the love of your life suddenly forgoes snuggling on the couch with Chinese takeout for a P90X workout, resentment can enter the picture.

So how do you continue toward your fitness goals without letting it affect the relationship you have with your partner?

Begin with communication. In the same way you should consult your doctor before beginning an exercise program, talk to your partner about what you are looking to accomplish. Explain that this is not motivated by a desire to attract other people, or anyone already in your life, but simply because you want to be healthier and feel better about yourself. Going into detail about your exercise plan and nutritional goals can take the unknown out of the equation, and possibly spark a desire in your mate. If you are still met with resentment, explain that you do not expect your partner to change just because you want to, and that you love him or her exactly as he or she is.

Ask for support. The road to health can be a tough battle, and we can use all of the support we can get. Asking your partner to be supportive along this road can make a huge difference. Ask your mate to use positive comments regarding your progress, and to only ask if you are making a wise choice, if you actually slip up. This will allow your partner to feel like he or she is part of the process without giving him or her the power to control it. Encouraging your partner to join you along this path will elicit the greatest amount of support of all.

Get a training partner. If your mate is unwilling to join you, find someone who is. Having a training partner creates greater motivation and retention than doing it alone. Obviously, find someone of the same sex, or at least someone who won’t threaten your mate. If you’re meeting resistance from your mate, working out with Lorenzo Lamas won’t increase the love at home. In addition to pushing one another to work out and eat healthy, talk with the training partner about your frustrations and ask about his or her own. If you are unable to find a Workout Buddy, remember your Beachbody® Coach is always available to give you added motivation.

Don’t fall into eating pitfalls. Grocery shopping, meal preparation, and snacking can be challenging in a household on the same eating path. But when you are trying to eat lean protein and vegetables, and your partner would prefer macaroni and cheese with a side of fries, the challenge can become World War III. If you are the primary shopper and food preparer, you have a lot of power over what your family consumes. Healthy food can taste great, and your mate might have no idea that you have altered his or her diet. With that said, you might need to make concessions for what your mate desires and make alterations to meal plans that can satisfy both people’s needs. Something as easy as adding an extra side for your mate can keep the peace. If you are not the primary meal provider, be prepared to take control over what you consume.

Also, make sure tempting treats are out of immediate reach. If you have a countertop full of potato chips and Oreos®, eating carrot sticks might lose its appeal. Put all of your partner’s junk food in a specific drawer, and avoid it.

Try to work out around family time. There are only so many hours in a day, and you should spend at least eight of those hours asleep. Finding time to exercise can be challenging as it is. And if that exercise time cuts into time that can be spent with a loved one, resentment can build. I have several friends who began workout programs that took them immediately from work to the gym daily, which got them home at 9 PM. Basically, they didn’t see their mate until Saturday, which did not go over well. Here is where P90X and INSANITY® workouts are so helpful. If you can manage to crawl out of bed a bit earlier in the morning, you can begin your day with an amazing workout, and still be home in time to have dinner with your partner. If you’re a night owl, try working out after your love has retired for the evening. Being considerate of your time together can make all the difference in the world.

Keep the peace, but honor thyself. Sometimes all of the communication and consideration in the world will not help a partner to understand your desire to change. If this is the case, short of seeking therapy, you must continue toward your goals and try to make it as undisruptive as possible to your partner. We realize that this is one of the most important relationships in your life, but no relationship is more important than the one you have with yourself. Walking away from health and fitness to please someone else will just lead you down the path of resentment. Keep moving forward, creating positive change, and try to still give energy to the relationship. Maybe your partner will not understand, but perhaps over time, he or she can learn to accept.

Relationships can be incredible adventures that offer great opportunities for growth, happiness, and security. Learning to navigate that adventure can be challenging, but ultimately well worth it. Always remember that your greatest tools are communication and compassion. Sometimes, trying to understand why our partner is resistant can help you figure out a way to explain your needs to them. And know that change will come in life, whether we create it or not. Figuring out how to foster support over something like lifestyle change can make the harder struggles in life easier to deal with later on. Having six-pack abs should not destroy “till death do us part.” And with communication, consideration, and some effective planning, perhaps your mate might learn to love your new look.

Having “six pack abs” is something that many people strive for.  Other people, may not be striving for a “six pack” but just a slimmer, leaner mid section. Unfortunately, many people have problems achieving these fitness goals.  You may be asking….what is the best way to a six pack or a leaner middle?  Can it be as simple as hitting the gym?  What about just dropping down to the floor and doing some good ol fashioned sit ups?  How about just throwing in an ab exercise DVD?  All of these may seem like good ideas, but are most likely not going to get you “six pack” or lean mid section.  At least not by themselves.  However, I will say that a good ab exercise DVD, combined with a solid exercise program will give you the best chance for success.  Especially when combined with a healthy diet.

I’m going to give you some overly simplistic “tips on how to get the most from you ab exercise DVDs, which you have hopefully combined with a workout program.

1. Start eating right! Just eat healthy.  You can also speed up your results to a six pack by using a calorie deficit.  Find out how many calories you should be eating to maintain your ideal weight, and subtract an additional 300-500 calories.  Check out my article on How to Get In Shape for more on this.  To get a six pack or a lean midsection, you must lose the layer of fat hiding your abs.  Eating right is important. And eat every 2-3 hours, 5-6 smaller meals a day.

2. Exercise. Contrary to popular belief, you can not work your abs, and lose weight in your “gut”.  I wish it were that easy.  As you lose weight, you will lose weight everywhere at the same time.  We all have our trouble areas.  The “spare tire”, our hips, and butt are the most common.  These areas are usually the last to go.  Which is ironic, because it’s usually these areas that have motivated us to begin working out in the first place.

There are no magic pills or machines that will get you a six pack over night.

So find an exercise plan, one that includes weights and cardio.  Lifting weights, helps you to add muscle.  By adding muscle, you burn more fat.  It takes your body more calories to maintain the muscle in your body, than the fat in your body.  So add muscle, and your metabolism automatically kicks in and starts to burn more calories!  Then your cardio workouts will burn fat as well.  Then add in your ab exercise DVD, to start working on your abs.  As you lose fat, add muscle, and work your abs….guess what?  A six pack, and/or a lean midsection!  But it takes some time and consistency.  If you’re a woman and think adding muscle will make you “bulk up” or look too masculine, read this article. Chalean Extreme, Building Muscles Isn’t Just for Boys.

3.  Consistency. If you only follow the ab exercise DVD or workout program a handful of times and then never use them again, it will not work. Consistency is the key to getting great looking abs and you need to be prepared to work at it. Typically, you should work your abs 2-3 times a week, or every other day.  Like any other muscle, you don’t want to work them every day.  Give your exercise program a chance to work.  Don’t expect overnight results.  I think a good healthy goal of 1-3 lbs a week is excellent progress when you are trying to lose weight and get lean.

4.  Get Support. Have a support plan.  Whether it be a work out partner, an accountability coach, a fitness forum, family members.  Whatever you decide, have a way to get support when you are losing motivation, need encouragement, or need a helping hand.

I’ve tried many ways to get in shape… gyms, martial arts, home workouts, you name it.  I found that Beachbody programs and their online support tools, were the keys to my success.  I’m very fond of Power 90 (I lost 30 lbs with this program), and then P90X.  Power 90 was an entry level program, that got me in shape and eating right, taught me the basics of nutrition, and exercise.  Then P90X got me in the absolute best shape of my life.  Both of these programs have a great ab exercise DVD.  If you’re like me, struggling with gym workouts, not sure what to do, when to do it, try a program designed to get results.  As always, I’m here to help.  Feel free to contact me anytime!

I love to lift weights. It makes you stronger, it makes you leaner. I ran across this article by Beachbody’s Whitney Provost that gives some excellent reasons why we women should be slinging weights.

10 Reasons Why Women Need to Lift Weights
By Whitney Provost

Many women believe that the only way to lose weight is to do cardiovascular (aerobic exercise). So they jog or take aerobics classes five times a week. Eventually, though, they notice that while their bodies are a little smaller, there are still a lot of flabby and jiggly bits. Sound familiar? Aerobic exercise is important for good health, but it’s only half of the equation. Keep reading for the other half.

For optimal fitness, longevity, and a lean body, weight training is essential. If you avoid pumping iron because you’re afraid of getting “bulky,” then you’re missing out on one of the best fat-burning methods around.

When you’re weight training, you shouldn’t rely exclusively on the scale to gauge your progress. You can use a body fat tester or a tape measure to track how many inches you’re losing. The size of your body will shrink as you shed fat and build muscle, but your weight may not change as dramatically as you expect. Besides, what’s more important, the number on the scale or how you look in your skinny jeans?

If you’re still not convinced that you need to lift weights, here are 10 reasons why you should reconsider.

Burn more fat. Researchers at Tufts University found that when overweight women lifted heavy weights twice a week, they lost an average of 14.6 pounds of fat and gained 1.4 pounds of muscle. The control group, women who dieted but didn’t lift weights, lost only 9.2 pounds of fat and gained no muscle. When you do an intense weight-training program such as ChaLEAN Extreme®, your metabolism stays elevated and you continue to burn fat for several hours afterward. During regular cardio exercise, you stop burning fat shortly after the workout.

Change your body shape. You may think your genes determine how you look. That’s not necessarily true. Weight training can slim you down, create new curves, and help avoid the “middle-age spread.” Just look at the amazing body transformations of the women who’ve completed P90X®. Dropping only 3 percent of your body fat could translate into a total loss of 3 inches off your hips and thighs. And no, you won’t bulk up—women don’t have enough muscle-building hormones to gain a lot of mass like men do. If you keep your diet clean and create a calorie deficit, you’ll burn fat.

Boost your metabolism. The less muscle you have, the slower your metabolism will be. As women age, they lose muscle at increasing rates, especially after the age of 40. When you diet without doing resistance training, up to 25 percent of the weight loss may be muscle loss. Weight training while dieting can help you preserve and even rebuild muscle fibers. The more lean mass you have, the higher your metabolism will be and the more calories you’ll burn all day long.

Get stronger and more confident. Lifting weights increases functional fitness, which makes everyday tasks such as carrying children, lifting grocery bags, and picking up heavy suitcases much easier. According to the Mayo Clinic, regular weight training can make you 50 percent stronger in 6 months. Being strong is also empowering. Not only does it improve your physical activities, it builds emotional strength by boosting self-esteem and confidence.

Build strong bones. It’s been well documented that women need to do weight-bearing exercise to build and maintain bone mass, and prevent osteoporosis. Just as muscles get stronger and bigger with use, so do bones when they’re made to bear weight. Stronger bones and increased muscle mass also lead to better flexibility and balance, which is especially important for women as they age.

Fight depression. You’ve probably heard that cardio and low-impact exercises such as yoga help alleviate depression, and weight lifting has the same effect. The endorphins that are released during aerobic activities are also present during resistance training. Many women find that regular strength training, in conjunction with psychological treatment, helps lessen their depression symptoms substantially.

Improve sports fitness. You don’t have to be an athlete to get the sports benefit of weight training. Improved muscle mass and strength will help you in all physical activities, whether it’s bicycling with the family, swimming, golfing, or skiing . . . whatever sport you enjoy.

Reduce injuries and arthritis. Weight lifting improves joint stability and builds stronger ligaments and tendons. Training safely and with proper form can help decrease the likelihood of injuries in your daily life. It can also improve physical function in people with arthritis. A study conducted at the University of Wales in Bangor, United Kingdom, found that mildly disabled participants who lifted weights for 12 weeks increased the frequency and intensity at which they could work, with less pain and increased range of movement.

Heart health. More than 480,000 women die from cardiovascular disease each year, making it the number-one killer of women over the age of 25. Most people don’t realize that pumping iron can also keep your heart pumping. Lifting weights increases your “good” (HDL) cholesterol and decreases your “bad” (LDL) cholesterol. It also lowers your blood pressure. The Journal of the American Medical Association reports that people who do 30 minutes of weight lifting each week have a 23 percent reduced risk of developing heart disease compared to those who don’t lift weights.

Defend against diabetes. In addition to keeping your ticker strong, weight training can improve glucose utilization (the way your body processes sugar) by as much as 23 percent. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 16 weeks of strength training can improve glucose metabolism in a way that is comparable to taking diabetes medication. The more lean mass you have, the more efficient your body is at removing glucose from the blood, which can reduce complications from diabetes or even help prevent type 2 diabetes in the first place.

I recently graduated Insanity, and prior to that P90X (several times), One on One with Tony Horton, and ChaLEAN Extreme. I’m always on the lookout for a way to “spice” up my workouts. Tony Horton always says that “Variety is the Spice of Life”. Taking that advice to heart, here is a rotation which combines Insanity with Tony Horton’s One on One. If you don’t have Tony Horton’s One on One, you need to check it out! You can buy them one at a time, which is cool, and you can pick and choose the ones you think you would like best. Follow this link to read the descriptions and watch videos of the various One on One workouts.

The One on One and Insanity hybrid was provided to me by Mark Briggs. However, I have had numerous requests for a rotation using P90X and Insanity. Below you will find the 12 week rotation. In parenthesis, you will find a P90X substitute for the One on One. Feel free to tweak the workout to suit your needs. In fact, I you may want to switch P90X Plyo for the P90X Legs & Back. Get creative! The idea is to keep things interesting, prevent boredom, avoid plateaus, and add variety.

This hybrid assumes you have access to at least the basic Insanity program, and EITHER P90X or One on One. As you add the One on One workouts to your fitness library, you get even more options! Have fun!

The One On One / Insanity Hybrid

Week 1

1. Thirty Fifteen (P90X Chest & Back)
2. Pure Cardio & Killer Abs (Pure Cardio and P90X Ab Ripper X)
3. Mammoth UML (P90X Core Synergistics)
4. Patience Yoga (1st 45 minutes of P90X Yoga)
5. Max Interval Sports Training (Insanity Max Cardio Plyo)
6. Core Cardio and Balance
7. Rest Day

Week 2

1. Core Ball Sandwich (P90X Chest & Back)
2. Plyo Cardio Circuit
3. Just Arms & Cardio Abs (P90X Shoulders & Arms)
4. Fountain of Youth Yoga (1st 45 minutes of P90X Yoga)
5. Max Interval Circuit
6. One on One Cardio Intervals (P90X Kenpo X)
7. Rest Day

Week 3

1. Road Warrior (P90X Core Synergistics)
2. Cardio Power and Resistance
3. Insane Abs and Killer Abs (Ab Ripper X and Cardio Abs)
4. Recovery 4 Results (P90X Stretch)
5. Max Cardio Conditioning
6. Bun Shaper (P90X Plyometrics)
7. Rest Day

Week 4

1. Fountain Of Youth Yoga (1st 45 minutes of P90X Yoga)
2. Core Cardio and Balance
3. Patience Yoga (1st 45 minutes of P90X Yoga)
4. Medicine Ball Core Cardio (P90X Kenpo X)
5. Recovery 4 Results (P90X Stretch)
6. Cardio Recovery
7. Rest Day

Week 5

1. Plyo Legs (P90X Plyometrics)
2. Plyo Cardio Circuit and Cardio Abs
3. Diamond Delts (P90X Chest and Back)
4. Patience Yoga (1st 45 minutes of P90X Yoga)
5. Max Cardio Conditioning
6. Just Arms (P90X Shoulders & Arms)
7. Rest Day

Week 6

1. Core Ball Sandwich (P90X Chest and Back)
2. Pure Cardio and Killer Abs (Ab Ripper X)
3. Cardio 5-6 Plus (P90X Kenpo X)
4. Fountain Of Youth Yoga (1st 45 minutes of P90X Yoga)
5. Max Interval Sports Training (Insanity Max Cardio Plyo)
6. Bun Shaper (P90X Plyometrics)
7. Rest Day

Week 7

1. Thirty Fifteen (P90X Chest and Back)
2. Core Cardio and Balance
3. Just Arms and Killer Abs (P90X Shoulders and Arms, Ab Ripper X)
4. Patience Yoga (1st 45 minutes of P90X Yoga)
5. Mammoth UML (P90X Core Synergistics)
6. Max Recovery
7. Rest Day

Week 8

1. Fountain Of Youth Yoga (1st 45 minutes of P90X Yoga)
2. Core Cardio and Balance
3. Patience Yoga (1st 45 minutes of P90X Yoga)
4. Medicine Ball Core Cardio (P90X Kenpo X)
5. Recovery 4 Results (P90X Stretch)
6. Cardio Recovery
7. Rest Day

Week 9

1. Core Ball Sandwich (P90X Chest and Back)
2. Max Interval Plyo and Cardio Abs
3. Just Arms (P90X Shoulders and Arms)
4. Max Recovery
5. Bun Shaper and Killer Abs (P90X Plyo and Ab Ripper X)
6. Max Interval Sports Training (Insanity Max Cardio Plyo)
7. Rest Day

Week 10

1. Plyo Legs (P90X Plyometrics)
2. Max Interval Circuit and Cardio Abs
3. Thirty Fifteen (P90X Chest and Back)
4. Patience Yoga (1st 45 minutes of P90X Yoga)
5. Max Interval Sports Training (Insanity Max Cardio Plyo)
6. Cardio Intervals and Killer Abs (P90X Kenpo X and Ab Ripper X)
7. Rest Day

Week 11

1. Killer Abs and Insane Abs (Ab Ripper X and Cardio Abs)
2. Max Interval Sports Training (Insanity Max Cardio Plyo)
3. Cardio 5-6 Plus and Cardio Abs (Pure Cardio and Cardio Abs)
4. Max Recovery
5. Core Ball Sandwich and Killer Abs (P90X Chest and Back and Ab Ripper X)
6. Max Cardio Conditioning
7. Rest Day

Week 12

1. Fountain Of Youth Yoga (1st 45 minutes of P90X Yoga)
2. Core Cardio and Balance
3. Patience Yoga (1st 45 minutes of P90X Yoga)
4. Medicine Ball Core Cardio (P90X Core Synergistics)
5. Recovery 4 Results (P90X Stretch)
6. Cardio Recovery
7. Rest Day

Reveal your six-pack! with Rev Abs! RevAbs is specifically designed to burn off the belly fat and give you a six-pack. In just 90 days.

Rev Abs with Brett Hoebel

Why is RevAbs so effective?

Abcentrics – Brett’s proven training technique—works your abs from 6 different angles, not just one or two. And Brett shows you how to Fire Your Abs and engage your abdominal muscles during every rep of every exercise. You make every move count and get a RevAbs result: the abs you’ve always wanted—FAST! Plus you get nutrition, motivation, and all the tools you need to rev up your results.

Abcentrics™ and How to Capoeira With Abcentrics, you learn how to Fire Your Abs to get maximum results. In How to Capoeira, Brett teaches you his favorite moves from this unique Brazilian martial art. (approx. 35 min.)
Fire Up Your Abs Intervals of calorie-scorching cardio combined with Brett’s Six-Pack moves, his signature ab circuit that works your core from 6 different angles for 6 times the results. (approx. 40 min.)
Power Intervals High-intensity cardio with intervals of lower-body resistance moves proven to rev up your metabolism. Melts belly fat, sculpts lean legs, firms the glutes, and works your abs—all at the same time. (approx. 30 min.)
Total Strength and Mercy Abs If you want to get rid of ab flab, you’ve got to work all your muscles. They’re your best friends in the fight against fat. (approx. 45 min.) Mercy Abs The mightiest little ab workout you’ll ever experience. (approx. 15 min.)
Fat Burning Abs A fired-up routine of new ab and cardio combinations that lives up to its name. (approx. 40 min.)
Power Intervals 2 Lower-body resistance moves and revved-up cardio to kick booty and blowtorch belly fat. (approx. 30 min.)
Strength and Endurance Rock-hard abs, meet rock-hard body. This total-body workout gives you the definition you’ve been looking for in your abs and everywhere else. (approx. 40 min.) Merciless Abs A 15-minute ab-shredder that makes your abs pop. Now that’s what you want to see in the mirror. (approx. 15 min.)

Rev up your results RevGuide Easy to read, this tight little guide spells out the whole program, so you can get the most out of your 90-day ab transformation. Plus, you get Brett’s tips to win the battle of the bulge. Nutrition Guide Get the fuel you need to Fire Your Abs. This 65-page nutrition guide comes with customizable, delicious, and easy-to-prepare meal plans for men and women. It also includes Brett’s 14-day Jump-Start Plan. It’s so effective, you’re guaranteed to lose 10 pounds and a whole size in the first 2 weeks or your money back.

4 bonus gifts to keep you motivated Rev It Up Cardio No more boring treadmill cardio. This workout is spiced with Capoeira moves to burn the fat off your abs and your entire body. (approx. 30 min.) Anytime, Anywhere Abs On the road or can’t get to your TV? Take this workout anywhere and do it anytime. It only takes 5 minutes. RevAbs Wall Calendar More than inspiration, it tells you which workout to do each day for maximum results and makes it easy to keep track of your progress. Professional Fat Caliper The perfect tool to measure your body fat before and after your transformation. See if you can pinch an inch after 90 days!

	Plus, FREE Online Support FREE 24-hour access to the RevAbs Web site, where you can chat with Brett and other fitness experts, and meet other RevAbs customers!

Ready to see some RevAbs Results!

When it comes to weight loss, the scale can be a good measure of progress, particularly if you have a lot of weight to lose. But if you place too much emphasis on your weight and not enough on your body composition (the ratio of fat to lean muscle), you’re only getting half the story. Plus, dreading your weigh-in or obsessing over the number on the scale is unproductive and can lead to unhealthy behaviors such as bingeing or starving yourself. Losing pounds doesn’t always mean losing fat. Here’s why the scale can be misleading.

Article written by Whitney Provost

The scale doesn’t tell you how much fat you have. Your scale does exactly what it’s supposed to—it tells you how much you weigh. But in addition to measuring your weight, the scale weighs bone, water, muscle, organs, and undigested food. When the number on the scale goes up or down, it doesn’t represent only fat loss or muscle gain. It measures fluctuations in glycogen (stored carbohydrates) and water, and it even measures how much that breakfast you ate weighs.

You may wonder about scales that claim to measure your body fat. These send small electrical currents up one leg, through your pelvis, and down the other leg to determine your body’s density. Then a formula is used to estimate your body fat. The problem with these scales is that they’re notoriously inaccurate. However, they are usually consistent in their readings, so they can be helpful as a measuring tool. Even though the body fat reading might be off by as much as 5 or 10 percent, if the number trends downward over time, you know you’re on the right track.

The scale can’t tell if you’ve gained muscle. A pound of muscle is like a brick, small and compact. A pound of fat is like a fluffy feather pillow, bulky and lumpy. When you gain muscle and lose fat, your body gets smaller and tighter. Building muscle also makes it possible to drop clothing sizes without a big change in weight. Perhaps after a 90-day fitness program, the scale says you lost 7 pounds, which may not sound like much. But what if you actually lost 12 pounds of fat and gained 5 pounds of muscle? That’s a remarkable improvement in your body composition, but you wouldn’t know it if you only used your regular bathroom scale to track your progress.

You didn’t really gain 5 pounds of fat overnight. You may step on the scale one morning and shriek in disbelief because the number is five digits higher than it was the day before. Stop panicking. Unless you ate an extra 17,500 calories the previous day, you didn’t gain fat (a pound of fat is equivalent to 3,500 calories). Your scale is registering water, stored carbohydrates, and food. Also, cheap bathroom scales may have measurement errors, giving slightly different readings even when you’re at exactly the same weight.

Your body’s water levels are constantly changing. The scale can move up or down depending on how much water you drink, how much salt you consume, how much you sweat, and how many carbohydrates you eat. An average person can see a daily fluctuation in water weight of about 2 pounds, without any changes to diet or exercise habits. These fluctuations do not signify fat loss, and watching the scale move up and down every day can be frustrating for many dieters.

If you’re trying to achieve a healthy weight and improve the way you look, you should focus less on what the scale says and more on developing the good habits that will produce results. To get lean and strong, with low body fat and nice muscle tone, there are three things you should do:

1.  Cardio plus weight lifting (or other resistance training). Cardio workouts raise your heart rate to help you improve your fitness level, burn calories, and shed fat. Resistance training builds muscle, which boosts your metabolism and helps you burn even more calories. Fitness programs like P90X, ChaLEAN Extreme, and RevAbs all use cardio plus resistance training to improve muscle mass and burn fat.

2. Healthy diet. No matter how much you exercise, you’ll never reach your fat-loss goals if you don’t follow a healthy diet consisting of protein, vegetables, fruit, and whole grains. The right foods in controlled portions will fuel your body as it shrinks.

3. Track your progress. If you don’t use the scale, you need to do something else to check your progress.

• One of the best ways to keep track of your changing body is to use a tape measure. Record your chest, waist, hip, thigh, arm, and wrist measurements in a journal or the guidebook that comes with your workout program. Update the measurements every 30 days to see how your body changes.
• Pictures are also good indicators of progress. Have someone take front, side, and back photos of you every 30 days and keep these with your body measurements.
• Body fat testers can also be used regularly to track your fat loss. Monitoring your progress with tools other than the scale will give you a more realistic assessment of your weight loss success.
• Hydrostatic (underwater) testing and DEXA (X-ray) scans use advanced technology to measure your body fat with a high degree of accuracy. An Internet search can help you find testing centers in your area.
• Notice how your clothes fit. This is a foolproof way to prove that you’re losing weight. If your clothes are getting looser, your body is shrinking, even if you don’t see a big change in the mirror yet.

Too many people are slaves to the scale. They can’t resist weighing themselves, only to feel guilty, angry, or demoralized when the numbers don’t move down quickly enough. If you’re one of those people whose weigh-ins lead to loss of motivation or a feeling of helplessness, then you need to reconsider using the scale for your progress checks. Success is more than just a number.