Has the same old number been staring back up at you from between your big toes every time you jump on the scales? Do you feel like it’s almost impossible to budge the bulge? Here are some awesome tips from our nutritionist buddy Matt O’Neill - founder of Metabolic Jumpstart.

Today’s Monday Motivator is by Matt O’Neill - Active Aussies’ partner nutritionist. You can find out more about Matt’s awesome nutrition program, and the only nutrition program Active Aussies recommends, at www.metabolicjumpstart.com.

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I hear it every day.

I hear it on the train, on the street, in the park, in my fitness classes, from my clients, from my friends, from my family, from everyone.

“I still can’t lose weight!”

I get the feeling though that it isn’t so much a statement, it’s more a cry for help.  “Help me get it right, Chris!” they are telling me.

I like to point out the following points to people who struggle to budge the blubber.

Muscle weighs more than fat

Sometimes scales tell fibs when it comes to quantifying your fitness level.  The big bold numbers staring up at you try to convince you that the bigger the number they display the more unfit you are.  Muscle weighs more than fat.  What you really need to find out is if you are looking and feeling better.

• Looking better - Do your tuckshop lady arms look like they’re shrinking?  Do other parts of your body look like they are losing fat?  Guys usually struggle to lose the fat on the belly and neck, girls struggle with hips, bum and thighs.  So therefore, have a closer look in the mirror.  Also, this is a good time to highlight the importance of regular fitness testing.  Fitness testing should include body girth measurements in addition to body weight measurements.  You want the whole picture don’t you?
• Feeling better - Are you feeling a little firmer in the tummy area?  Those little bumpy bits under your skin are called a.b.d.o.m.i.n.a.l.s, that means all those crunches and sit ups and other crazy things your personal trainer is getting you to do are working!  Keep it up.  Are you feeling less puffed out when it comes to going about your daily activities?  You must be getting fitter then!

Are you doing all that is required to lose weight/fat?

Are you meeting the current guidelines for exercise and nutrition?  You should if you are serious about reaching your goals to lose weight/fat.  The recommendations help you to create fat burning muscle and increase your cardiorespiratory fitness.  Again muscle weighs more than fat but fitter, stronger muscles are fat furnaces…sort of :o)  Muscles require energy to contract and function, sometimes there just isn’t enough to go around so your body comes up with a great solution - it uses the energy you have stored in your body fat instead!  What a great idea body, thanks!  So by doing the following things you are making sure that you are burning fat through exercise and by building muscle to burn fat while you rest.

Are you eating the right foods, in the right portion sizes, the right amount of times at the right times of day?  Below are the guidelines you should be following.

Finally, let me finish this post by saying:

“You are beautiful!”

Don’t be discouraged or disheartened because you just watched some skinny model or read a magazine with a photoshopped to the max skinny guy or girl.  Don’t be discouraged because so-and-so just had a baby and she is back to her pre-baby weight in 6 weeks.  You are you!  Stop comparing yourself to other people and be content with who you are.

In the words of Meher Baba: “Don’t worry, be happy.”  Keep working hard and you’ll get there in the end.  It’s all about lifestyle habits.  Rome wasn’t built in a day!