Tracy Anderson Precision Toning

Hello everyone!

First off, I am very excited because my new DVD - The Method For Beginners is out for delivery as I type this blog.  I am definitely going to try it and watch it today!  (Stalking the mailman right now, haha)

Also, as a (late) birthday present, I am getting her new soon-to-be released DVD- Precision Toning.

What is it?  According to the packaging, it is four complete workouts. The information that Amazon has (not very much at this point because this DVD will not be out until September 3)

This workout is for all skill levels and will help you learn the basics of the Tracy Anderson Method. Designed to tone, strengthen and engage every
muscle, this is a workout for your entire body. Precision Toning by Tracy Anderson focuses on empowering the smaller accessory muscles as they strengthen and support the large muscle throughout the body.

There is a clip from the video!

I speculate that this is more of like, a 15 minute workout to do when you do not have a lot of time for a full workout but want to do at least something.  

Are any of you going to get this DVD?  What do you think about the potential of having little quickie workouts that still get everything in less time?

To pre order Precision Toning, click here. 

Weigh or Measure Your Portions?

Hello everyone!

There is something I have been wondering for a while- when it comes to measuring portions for weight loss, what is better- measuring cups or a food scale?

Which of these is the best way to measure? It depends!

According to Shape.com, the method of measuring really depends on how spot-on you need to be about your portions.  The article says the gold standard of portion sizes is weighing. However, weighing is more for when you need to be very exact- examples would be bodybuilders preparing for competition, clinical studies involving calorie monitoring, etc.  Most people can get by on the measuring cup method, which is easier.

As for me, I actually like weighing, I do have a food scale at home.  I have also noticed that a lot of recipes (from other countries) actually list weights of food that go into a recipe rather than the measuring cup amounts. I found a recipe from Japan that called for 500 grams of potatoes, for example.

So, the method to use really depends on your preferences.  If you really need stringent control or you just prefer weighing, go right ahead! Otherwise, using a measuring cup will do fine too.

PiYo: Align - The Fundamentals Review

Hello everyone!


Last week, I mentioned how I would try PiYo out, and review each video as I do them.

Here's the first video!


It's called Align: The Fundamentals and basically what it is is an instructional video.  It's 40 minutes of Chalene demonstrating the poses and you do them along with her and the other three people in the video (each demonstrating beginner/modified, intermediate, and advanced)

I agree with all of these statements except the last one, the "strengthening flow that will have your blood pumping".   Maybe it does for some people, but to me there was a lot of stopping, a lot of talking, and I didn't totally feel that I got a "workout".

If you are experienced in yoga,  you will not need this, mostly you learn the different warrior poses, up/down dog, half moon, triangle, and a few moves like the PiYo flip.

I do recommend at least giving this a watch, but I do not agree with them using it as the first real workout.    I also do not recommend it as a replacement or an "easy" day.

Next review will be Define: Lower Body.

I hope everyone had a good week, see you next time with my next review!

PiYo Initial Review~

Hello everyone!

A while back, I wrote about Chalene Johnson's newest program, PiYo 

Well, now I have the program myself! *Yay for early holiday gifts!*  I will be starting it tomorrow, for a change of pace. 

The set comes with three DVDs, each with a few workouts on it (which I will be outlining as I do them, starting with tomorrow's Align: The Fundamentals) and from what I see on the calendar, you start with disc one primarily, then progress to the ones on two, then three. 

I am going to take my measurements and weight to start the 8 week program with, and I will continue eating well too.   I am curious how a low impact workout can help me, since I am heavier and high impact can't possibly be good for my knees right now.

Have any of you done PiYo?  How is it going for you, what kind of results were you seeing?

Metamorphosis, Teen Meta... Now Men Meta?

Hello everyone!


Yet another potential new product coming from Tracy Anderson- We have Metamorphosis, Teen Meta, The Pregnancy Project, and now... Men Meta!

There is very little to no information about this yet (If you do find something on it, TELL ME! Thanks!), and it may be just a speculation that it will be a product at all.  However, Tracy was working out with a bunch of men from Details Magazine.

A link to a snippet of the workout (Cardio with bands- looks interesting!) can be found here:

Tracy works out with men from DETAILS magazine


My opinion: Honestly, I think if she made a program for men, that would be a great thing.  A man's body has different needs than ours, and not all men want to hit the gym to look like a Vin Diesel or Dwayne Johnson lookalike.   I think it would also send a positive message to younger men (teenagers, for example) that there's nothing wrong with taking up a dance/pilates based workout program no matter what gender you are. 

There are some male celebrities who do or have worked out with the Method: Matthew McConaughey, Jake Gyllenhall, and my favorite, Robert Downey, Jr. (He works out with his wife, Susan, who is a TAM devotee herself)


So, what do you think? Would you buy Men Meta for your male loved ones, or if you are a man yourself, would you try?  Comment below!

Workouts In a Small Space

Hello everyone!


As of now, the space that I do my workouts in is in the process of being rearranged.  Now I have far less space to do my workouts, if I lift my leg to the side like before, I'll kick over something for sure.

So, I began to do some research as to what can be done in a tiny space? What about people who live in studio apartments, dorms, and other situations where they simply don't have the space to work out indoors?


Carrie Rezabek of Pure Barre gave some tips to get a dancer's body even if you have a tiny space, or even an injury!

MOVE 1Wall Pushup

Stand facing a wall with your arms extended in front of you, shoulder-width apart, palms resting on the surface. Bring your legs together and rise up onto the balls of your feet (a). Bend your elbows until your chest nearly touches the wall (b). Push back to the starting position. Do this for 30 seconds. Then continue for another 30 seconds, this time using a smaller range of motion and a faster pace.

MOVE 2Standing Turnout

Place your hands on your support, feet in a narrow V. Extend your right leg behind you (point your toe to five o'clock), lifting your foot off the floor. Slowly lift your leg up and down by an inch for 30 seconds. Repeat, smaller and faster, for 30 seconds. Next, make small circles—as if your toe were tracing a quarter—for 30 seconds, then reverse the circles for 30 seconds. Repeat the entire sequence with your left leg (toe pointing to seven o'clock).

MOVE 3Scissor Curl

Lie on your back with shoulders and feet raised, right leg extended up, and hands behind knee. Slowly curl up and down by an inch for 30 seconds. Continue, smaller and faster, for 30 seconds. Next, bring your left arm up to your ear and curl for 30 seconds. Then reach your left arm toward your right ankle, curling for 30 seconds. Switch sides and repeat the sequence.

MOVE 4Parallel Extension

Stand next to your support, and extend your right leg in front of you, keeping your left knee slightly bent. Slowly lift and lower your raised leg by an inch for 30 seconds. Repeat, using a smaller, faster motion, for 30 seconds. Next, make small circles with your leg (as if your toe were tracing a quarter) for 30 seconds, then reverse the circles for 30 seconds. Switch legs and repeat the entire sequence.

MOVE 5Semi-Foldover

Place your forearms on your support and rest your head on your arms. Lift your right leg, foot flexed, and bring your heel toward your butt. Press your heel up and down by an inch for 30 seconds. Continue, only smaller and faster, for 30 seconds. Extend your leg and slowly lift up and down by an inch for 30 seconds. Continue, smaller and faster, for 30 seconds. Switch legs and repeat the entire sequence.

MOVE 6Curl

Sit with your knees bent, holding the backs of your thighs. Round your back and lower it toward the floor, contracting your core. Slowly curl down and up by an inch for 30 seconds. Then bring one arm up next to your ear and continue curling for 30 seconds. Switch arms and repeat. Finally, bring both arms to your ears and curl up and down for 30 seconds.

MOVE 7High V

Stand next to your support, feet in a narrow V. Rise onto the balls of your feet, keeping your heels glued together; bend your knees, bringing your butt down toward knee level. Slowly move down and up by an inch for 30 seconds. Repeat, smaller and faster, for another 30 seconds.

MOVE 8Wide Second

Stand next to the support, feet more than hip-width apart, toes turned out. Lower your body about six inches. Slowly move down and up by an inch for 30 seconds. Continue, smaller and faster, for 30 seconds. With knees bent, rise onto the balls of your feet, then lower your feet; continue for 30 seconds. Repeat, faster, for 30 seconds.

Moves are taken from this article: http://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/isometric-exercises

I may give these a try myself. Have a great day!

Mushrooms!

Hello everyone!



Being that I am still trying new veggies to eat, I decided to try something I have heard a lot about- Maitake mushrooms (or "Hen of the woods")

They look like this: 

Looks almost too pretty to eat, I think. 

Maitake are popular especially in Japan because they have strong anti-cancer properties, as well as being an immune system booster and also having anti-bacterial properties.

So, how do they taste?  


Pretty freakin good, the way I prepared it.  I cut the base/root area off, cleaned the mushroom and gently sauteed the petals in olive oil with a little sea salt and pepper. Delicious. The downside as with any  mushroom is they shrink when cooked. 

These mushrooms are a tiny bit pricey (one mushroom about the size of my fist cost me $2.49) but the health benefits and the taste are worth it. 


Do you have a mushroom recipe? Share it in the comments!

Natto- Smells Bad, Good For You!

Hello everyone!

As someone who likes and has an interest in Asian foods, there is one food I know of that gets really mixed up reactions.  Either you love it or you hate it.

What is it? Natto.


Natto is fermented soybean, same bean as soy sauce and miso come from, but it's different.  It's still in whole bean form and it's very very sticky and smells. 

It looks like this when it's all mixed up: 

It's an acquired taste but has a lot of health benefits, the bacteria it is fermented with is similar to that of yogurt or kimchi in a way, and helps with the digestion for example.


Also it's usually not eaten by itself.  Usually it's mixed with soy sauce or a little mustard (a tiny mustard packet usually comes with it) and on top of something or with something like rice (I've seen people put it on toast too).


Do I like it? I don't know! I recently bought some but have not tried it yet.  When I do, I will post how I reacted to it, hahaha.

Have any of you ever tried natto?  Would you?

Want to Dress Up Your Food? Try Furikake!

Hello everyone!


There may be a day when you are eating plain rice, plain vegetables, or plain anything, and you may wonder "How can I dress this up?"

The answer: Furikake!


What is Furikake? It sounds weird.

Furikake is a Japanese word, and it refers to a variety of things you can sprinkle on top of your food.  They add flavor and make the food look pretty.  To my knowledge you can kinda use anything (I have even seen bacon furikake) but I decided to try a traditional one- Gomashio.

Goma (sesame seed) shio (salt) is basically sesame seeds covered in salt.  They do sell the stuff at Asian markets but I decided to take the plunge and *shock* make my own.

I already had the ingredients needed- black sesame seeds (the tan kind are fine too but the black ones are pretty) and sea salt.  Here's how you make your own on the stove.  


What you need:

100 grams of sesame seeds (toasted or untoasted, mine came pre-toasted)
10-12 grams of sea salt (depending on how salty you want it)
1/2 cup or so of water

If you have raw seeds:

Pour a layer of seeds into a skillet, no oil needed.  Heat on medium heat, stirring constantly.  You will hear popping noises and you'll start to smell the yummy aroma.  For a sparse layer, 5 minutes should do it, a thin layer would take about 10 minutes, if it's a thicker layer then it would take even longer.  You can do  your 100 grams of seeds in batches if need be, but once toasted they can all be salted at once.  If your seeds are pretoasted like mine, skip this step.

Dissolve the salt in the water until there are no grains of salt left. It's okay to add more water to properly dissolve it.

Put the seeds in the pan and then pour in the water.  The seeds will clump when wet.  Heat on medium heat, stirring.  As the water evaporates, there will be salt on the edges of the pan. Scrape this off.

How long it takes to finish depends on how much water and seeds you use. You are done when the seeds are dry, and no longer clump.  If you use black ones like I did, they will have a slightly grayish tint to them.  Evaporating the salt water directly on the seeds will evenly coat them all.

Let cool off on the pan, after you remove it from the heat.  Then, store in an airtight container.

Here's some pics of mine- in progress and the finished product!

Seeds with water

As they cook, you can see the water evaporated some and there's salt on the edges.

All finished and in the container!

Gomashio is very versatile, you can use it on anything that salt will taste good on and give a little nutty flavor. It's also very nutritious, as sesame seeds are a source of protein also. 

Have you guys ever tried any furikake or made your own? 

A warning about brown rice syrup

Hello everyone-


I came across an article on Yahoo this morning that is not necessarily about weight loss, but it IS relevant if you eat brown rice/brown rice syrup.

Click here for article


Recently, studies have shown that organic brown rice syrup COULD be a high source of arsenic, and the article also mentions rice itself having arsenic in it.  This just makes being gluten free even harder, if you don't want poison in your food.  And going organic won't change it much- the arsenic was found in organic brown rice syrup-containing foods. 


I actually have a jar of organic brown rice syrup that I think I might have to toss in the can after reading this. 


As far as I know, stevia is still safe to use for sweetening, so I think I will keep doing that. 


I really think the best way (at least for me) is to just avoid grains altogether, since everything seems so wrong with all of them these days.  I usually feel better when I do.




Have any of you tried to be grainless? How do you like it?

Grain-Free Comfort Food?

Hello everyone!




I am always trying to read up on things grain-free, and while chatting with a friend of mine about a book she had seen for vegan comfort food, the lightbulb went off in my head- Are there Paleo (dairy/legume/grain/gluten-free) comfort food books as well?


So, I went to my good old friend Amazon.com and typed in the search line "Paleo Comfort Food".


And then I got directed to this title:

Paleo Comfort Foods- Homestyle Cooking for a Gluten-Free Kitchen by Julie & Charles Mayfield

The good thing about this is that the recipes are free of anything I don't want to eat- grain/beans/dairy.  I downloaded the ebook to my Kindle Fire and I will be going over it during the weekend and let you guys know how it is.

My gluten/grain free ladies (and anyone else) any good websites, books, etc for gluten free recipes? Post below!

Have a great night!

Tracy Anderson Calls Juice Cleanses "Horrific"

Hello everyone!

Today, I read an article about Tracy Anderson and her stance on the juice cleanses that are so popular these days.  (I actually know people also who are doing juice cleanses and I hear about it all the time online)

Tracy recently said that juice cleanses are "the worst thing ever to be commericalized" and "you might as well eat a Twinkie. There's like 80 calories in it, there's a bunch of chemicals in it, what's the point? The only benefit [to juice] is that it's pre-digested and the Twinkie's not."

Her main issue with the cleanses is  "They crash people's metabolic rate. Now, the F.D.A. says they have to be pasteurized. So, you're drinking, basically, water that's going to give you Type 2 diabetes, potentially."

She also does not advocate a raw vegan diet, she went on it in the past and lost her period for seven months. 

What Tracy DOES advocate is a clean organic diet and daily exercise.

For the article, click here. 

What are your thoughts?  Have you tried to juice cleanse? How about raw vegan?

Another Asian Workout I Found!

Hello everyone!


A long while back, I wrote about a workout from Korea called Figurerobics (You can check out the blog post here: My Blog on Figurerobics!)

I have friends all over the world (or so it seems!) and a friend of mine in Japan (who is also trying to lose some weight- I will tell you not ALL Japanese women are slim. Nope. ) told me about a popular workout program that women are doing called Curvy Dance!


Curvy Dance was invented by a woman named Hiromi Kashiki and the goal is to get a slim, curvy, feminine figure.  The reviews of her products from users said things like how the workouts are easy to follow, yet really get you sweating. 

Hiromi wrote several books about her program, which come with DVDs and are sadly, in Japanese and can't be played on other region DVD players.  Still want to see what it looks like and perhaps, try it?


This has everything, a warm up, 2 dance combinations, a cool down and even breakdown for the combinations.

I think this could  be good for those who need a low impact workout but still want to move.  Like me. My ankle is a bit better but I still cannot be on my hands and knees. (I tried again today and it wasn't working) I still don't feel confident to jump around either, so I will try this. It can't hurt, right?


Have you ever heard of Curvy Dance? Would you try it?

Tracy Anderson on the Dr. Oz Show

Hello everyone!


For those of you that don't normally watch TV (like myself) Tracy Anderson was on one of the latest episodes of the Dr. Oz Show.


Here is the part with Tracy in it! (About 15-20 minutes total)










I thought it was pretty interesting what she had to say.  I also like the 8 minute workout she did on the show.  


You can see the workout here: http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/tracy-anderson-workout

It doesn't take much space but you need 3 pound weights.  It looks like a good warm up at the very least, or even an add on to your current TAM routine.

Gluten Free Pizza- At Dominos!

Hello everyone!

For those of you (and myself) who love pizza but don't love gluten, I read that Domino's Pizza will be offering gluten free dough!

It is safe for those with mild gluten sensitivities but not recommended for those with full blown celiac disease.  This is because the pizzas are prepared in the same kitchen as the regular crust pizzas that do have gluten.  If cross-contamination does not bother you,  then this is the pizza for you.

I also read that this crust will be only for small pizzas and sadly, cost $3 more than a small pizza with a regular crust.  According to Domino's, the crust is made from rice flour, rice starch, potato starch, water, and olive oil.

If I hadn't already eaten dinner, I would have ordered one for myself!

For more information, the article can be found here- http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/the-exchange/domino-let-gluten-free-160438224.html

And another article here- http://www.glutenfreephilly.com/2012/05/last-domino.html

Are you going to try it, or do you want to try? Post in the comments below.

Review: Caramel Fudge Think Thin

Hello everyone!


I have a little review- as some of you may know I do like the Think Thin bars that are on the market.  Today, I tried a new flavor that for some reason doesn't seem that popular.

Caramel Fudge!

Texture:  Texture is not all gooey and caramelly inside. (I wish!)  It is solid, like most protein bars and all of the Think Thins I have tried.  The inside is a caramel brown color with a chocolate coating.

Taste: Better than I expected.  Most protein bars taste like crap in general, this one tastes... Less like crap.  I like caramel, and this does have a caramel taste.  The chocolate outside tastes very good too.  I have tried Lemon Creme (SUCKED) Brownie Crunch (didn't like it) Crunchy Peanut Butter (didn't like it) Dark Chocolate (so so) Chocolate Fudge (LOVE. The best TT bar ever) and this one is more toward the Chocolate Fudge flavor.  

Price: If you order from www.thinkproducts.com  you can get a box of 10 for 16$ plus shipping, amazon carries think thins too for a similar price.  However, ordering from the Think site gives you more choices of flavors (they do not have these caramel ones on Amazon, they used to for a whopping $25 per box of 10. No thanks.) and they are more likely fresher. I have received nasty boxes from Amazon. 

That's it for today, have a great day!

Kabocha Salad Recipe!

Hello everyone!

I am still keeping my diet as I mentioned last time, and as promised, I will share with you my recipe for kabocha salad.

I forget where I found the recipe, when I find it again, I will give the website credit!

Kabocha Salad

What you need:

1/2 a kabocha squash, seeds scooped out.

1 onion

Japanese mayonnaise (I used Kewpie brand, which is the only mayonnaise I will eat)

Salt

Pepper

1. Cut the kabocha into uniform 1 inch cubes (bite size)

2. Boil or steam the kabocha for 7-10 minutes or until it's tender.

3. Drain the kabocha and let it cool

4. While the kabocha is cooling, slice the onion into thin slices (not rings but julienne) and coat with salt.  Squeeze the onion to soften and squeeze out the moisture. Don't worry about the saltiness, use as much salt as you need to get the onions covered and softened.

5. Drain the onions into a colander and rinse well with water.  They will no longer be salty.

6. When kabocha is cool, put the kabocha cubes, onion and toss with mayonnaise.  Use as much mayonnaise as you  need to moisten the salad, if you like your potato salads a little creamier, add more.

7. Toss gently so as not to smash the kabocha too much.

8. Add pepper to taste (I personally did not use any because it was good as it was)

9. Chill before serving.

As for calorie count... I really  have no idea.  However, kabocha IS suitable for paleo diets, it's not too starchy like a potato and has a sweet taste like a sweet potato.

This recipe can also be made vegan by using Vegenaise instead of the normal mayonnaise. 

Have you guys ever had this, or any kabocha recipe?  Let me know!

Hunger Games Star Jennifer Lawrence Will Not Diet for Roles

Hello everyone!


Perhaps there is hope for body image in Hollywood.  I came across an article saying that Jennifer Lawrence, who plays Katniss in the Hunger Games movie, says she will not diet for a movie role.  Her main reason is that she is concerned about young girls getting the wrong idea.

"I don't want little girls to be like, ‘Oh, I want to look like Katniss, so I'm going to skip dinner," Lawrence said. "That's something I was really conscious of during training...I was trying to get my body to look fit and strong - not thin and underfed."

She did get a lot of backlash from critics saying she looked "too healthy" to play a character who is struggling to be fed.

My input- If these critics actually read the Hunger Games books, Katniss logically WOULD look fit, she hunts (illegally) regularly for meat which her family eats and she sells.  Also, her specialty is archery which also requires some kind of muscle to be able to do well and actually kill the animals she is hunting.

I say good job, Jennifer.  You look great as you are and whoever says she looks "obese" (yes, people say that) are blind or do not know the meaning of the word.

If this is "obese", then excuse me while I go crawl into a cave and starve myself. (sarcasm)

Do You Have PCOS? Gluten Sensitivity May Be to Blame

Hello everyone!

I was chatting up a friend last night who, like me, has PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) and she said something very, very interesting.

They say that PCOS is caused by gluten intolerance, not the other way around.

Have PCOS? Try kicking the gluten!

That really intrigued me so I did some reading.  Sure enough, I found several articles saying things to support that theory.

One article in particular by PCOS Diva was particularly informative. 

The article discusses how PCOS is caused by inflammation in the body.  People with gluten intolerance who eat it are causing their bodies to be in a constant state of inflammation. This in turn causes all kinds of other problems (aside from PCOS) like joint pain, diabetes, etc.

Something else the article said was that odds are that if you have gluten intolerance, you're also lactose intolerant in some way.  Any additional source of estrogen (soy and dairy) affects you more than people without gluten sensitivity.

From the article: 

So in addition to the symptoms mentioned above, maybe you’re also experiencing:

* Trouble sleeping (difficulty falling asleep, not experiencing refreshing sleep)

* General fatigue – all the time, even with enough sleep and exercise

* Generalized joint and muscle aches, maybe diagnosed with fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome

* Weight gain for no reason; resistance to weight loss despite healthy diet and exercise

* You’re sick all the time. Colds/flus, infections (bacterial, yeast)

* Lightheadedness

* Fogginess/ poor memory/difficulty concentrating

* Low blood sugar – post-prandial hypoglycemia(after you eat a meal, you feel even more tired and hungry than before you ate)

* Long-term effects: allergies (environmental: hay fever, food allergies), arthritis, asthma, hypothyroidism

I see a lot of these in me- especially the tiredness/joint pain/weight issues/mental fog

By simply eliminating gluten from your diet, all of these symptoms are entirely reversible. Within a week, you can start feeling like yourself again.

I am really hoping that this happens for me, because trying other things and not going gluten free has had very little result. 

For the full article- click here! 

Bob Harper: Diet is Key to Weight Loss, Not Exercise

Hello everyone!


I came across an article with an interview with Biggest Loser trainer Bob Harper.  I thought it was very interesting.

The first thing mentioned in the article were what caught my attention: "Celebrity trainer Bob Harper, of the weight-loss TV show "The Biggest Loser," has built a career putting very obese people through some grueling fitness paces but if he's learned anything from the experience, it's that diet trumps exercise every time."

Bob Harper from The Biggest Loser

That's right.  The Biggest Loser seems to have the contestants slaving away at exercise all day, and one of their trainers now says that diet is the real kicker with weight loss.  Bob Harper also went on to say "It is all about your diet, I used to think a long time ago that you can beat everything you eat out of you and it's just absolutely not the case."

A lot of people seem to have that mentality- that no matter what you eat, as long as you exercise hard, you will lose weight. 

He also says that people usually worry about if they should be fit and healthy, but his obese clients on the Biggest Loser have a different concern:  'I just want to get skinny.'

I can't say that that method of thinking is wrong, because as an obese person myself, I also just want to get skinny.  I think there are several reasons bigger people put "skinny" or "small" as a goal as opposed to being fit and healthy.

1. Especially for women, being larger makes one feel less feminine.  There is often a correlation between small size of things and femininity, body size being no exception. (I know I am guilty of this thinking too)

2. We think skinny IS healthy.  After all, we see all these thin people and they seem a lot healthier than we are being obese. 

3. The media.  The media emphasizes that pretty women are thin.  What woman doesn't want to be pretty?

4. Clothes.  Most stylish clothes, or even clothes that are fairly inexpensive come in smaller sizes.  The clothes I have seen for plus size women are either overpriced (I'm looking at YOU Lane Bryant and Torrid!), cheaply made, or just plain frumpy and ugly.  (Mostly the latter)

He also goes on to talk about how he does CrossFit and how he believes CrossFit workouts are suitable for everyone with proper coaching.

A counterpoint to this also in the article is that Dr. Mark Kelly of the American Council on Exercise says that even with supervision, CrossFit can still be dangerous to the unfit.

"CrossFit has very ballistic training. You're asking people to move fast through a large range of motion. Even with coaching, the foundation of stability, mobility and psychomotor skill has to be laid (first)," he said

He does agree with Harper that diet is the main factor that lowers weight, but he says that exercise is important to keep that weight off. 

Kelly talked about the National Weight Control Registry, a research study that includes adults who have lost at least 13.6 kg (30 lb) of weight and kept it off for at least one year. Ninety percent of those in the study exercise regularly.

"They're the biggest losers across the nation," Kelly said. "And the No. 1 thing they did was exercise on a regular basis. Many simply through walking."

For the full article, please visit: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/22/us-fitness-trainer-bobharper-idUSBRE97L0Y320130822