4 Steps to Look & Feel Great

By John McCain

The New Year is upon us and there is no better time than the present to resolve to get healthy and lose that extra weight. Whenever you look into a mirror, don’t you deserve to smile and feel proud at what you see? Of course you do, so if you are shocked (and not in a good way) whenever you look at a photograph of yourself, it’s time to make a healthy lifestyle change.

Your appearance is your calling card, so make sure you have a winning hand! Regardless of how shallow this may seem, we are all visual creatures and a huge percentage of our initial perception when we meet someone for the first time is based upon their overall appearance.

When you look your best, you feel better about yourself. When you make a commitment to a healthier lifestyle, you’re going to start to feel better. This will lead to better health and that will save you money, a lot of money! Whenever I bring this subject up to my clients, most of them will say, “Yeah, that’s right. We just have to be reminded of it sometimes.”

If you truly want to feel better and take control of your life, here are four simple steps to follow:

1. Food is fuel for your body. If you put proper fuel in your body, you’ll feel better, which will increase your strength and endurance and help you get more positive things done.

2. Avoid eating processed foods. Processed foods are high in calories and low in nutrition, so if you want to get more done, choose healthier options rich in vitamins and nutrients.

3. Eat breakfast every day. 86% of American’s that are overweight don’t eat breakfast. That’s one club you don’t want to join!

4. Having a coach to hold you accountable. When you have somebody that you can talk to that will hold you accountable, your chances for success dramatically improve.

We offer a program that can help you eliminate some of the bad choices that lead to poor health. Good health is your greatest source of wealth, so don’t wait until you hit rock bottom. Go for it!

Editor’s notes: John McCain is the owner of Premier Nutrition in Sacramento, CA. He can be reached at (916) 804-9679.

The Biggest Weight Loser Challenge

By Bob Cox

Are you among the majority of Americans who would love to lose weight, gain energy and create healthy friendships that will last a lifetime? If you answered yes to these questions, you will be thrilled to hear about an exciting new weight loss program called The Biggest Weight Loser Challenge. Starting January 8, 2014, The Biggest Weight Loser Challenge will be inviting up to 39 people to be a part of a twelve week program that’s designed to help people lose weight in a healthy, balanced and supportive environment. I spoke to the director of the program John McCain recently to find out more about this exciting new program and here’s how our conversation went…

Q: What motivated you to start the Biggest Weight Loser Challenge?

A: We decided to do this because whenever we get a group of people together, the energy from the group with a common cause like weight loss works extremely well. We all work together to encourage one another to lose weight in a safe and healthy way.

Q: What is the Biggest Weight Loser Challenge?

A; It is a twelve week program that is intended to motivate and educate people regarding proper nutrition and healthy weight loss. Each week we hold a class and everybody is given the opportunity to share their unique stories as much as they feel comfortable. We have a caring and supportive environment that encourages our students to share their successes as well as challenges in their daily diets. We sometimes bring healthy food to share and discuss during the classes as well. We give our students some guidelines to help them with better nutrition and healthier choices. Members of the group are encouraged to add what they have done to be successful by inspiring others with specific challenges they've overcome to achieve greater success.

Q: Is there any obligation to purchase additional products or to join any organizations?

A: No, the fee you pay goes to the 12 week program. Of course, you just put in what you get out of it. Sometimes the meeting needs you and sometimes you need the meeting. In other words, if you have a good weight loss story to share, your words will motivate and encourage others in the group. On the other hand; if you’re struggling with certain challenges, you may need to hear an inspiring story. We really are a group or community that gets together and encourages one another. Studies have shown that people have more success losing weight and keeping it off when they have a weight loss partner or group doing it with them.

Q: What’s the cost to join the Biggest Weight Loser Challenge?

A: It’s $35 and $30 of that goes to the prize money and $5 goes to administrative costs.

Q: What do you do during a typical meeting?

A: Every week we all weigh in and get measured. After that, we talk about a specific subject that’s part of losing weight, including discussions on protein intake, caloric consumption, nutritional eating habits and choosing healthy snacks high in protein. We have a limit of 39 people and that number helps keep our meetings brief and dynamic. Our meetings typically last about 45 minutes and they are very lively, informative and fun.

Q: Is there any other reason you set the limit to 39 people per group?

A: Yes, because that’s the limit of the prize money that can be paid out to the person that would win the most, without being subjected to additional income tax!

Q: When does the next session begin?

A: The next session begins on Wednesday, January 8, 2014.

Editor’s notes: For more information about The Biggest Weight Loser Challenge, call (916) 295-1900.

Premiere Nutrition

Jerry’s Update: Before, I felt almost like a buffalo walking around, but now I feel more confident. I feel like I look better and I just feel better all around. Now, I feel more confident and people are noticing. Jerry’s starting weight before Premiere Nutrition was 352.6 pounds five months ago. He is now 306.2 pounds and has lost 46.4 pounds, 4.7% body fat; he’s dropped 6 points of visceral fat and lost a combined 31.5 inches! Go Jerry…Go Jerry …Go Jerry!

Elizabeth’s Update: Before I got on the program; I would get sick to my stomach, no matter what food I ate. Then I would feel tired and sad. Now, I don’t feel tired and I don’t feel sad. I feel good, I feel strong and I have more energy. Before Premiere Nutrition, I felt sluggish and sad and now I feel energetic and excited about life! Elizabeth starting weight before Premiere Nutrition was 263.2 and she is now down to 226.8 pounds. She’s lost 36.4 pounds, 5% body fat, has dropped her visceral fat 5 points and has lost a combined 17 inches! Go Elizabeth… Go Elizabeth…Go Elizabeth!

John McCain’s Story: When I got started in Premiere Nutrition I was tired, overweight, had digestive problems and cravings for fast foods. Within the first seven days, I got my digestive problems under control and in fourteen days lost my cravings for fast food. I lost 31 pounds in just 90 days and have gone on to lose a total of 51 pounds and I feel great! 

Turn your life around in 15 Weeks

By John McCain

When I first met a couple named Jerry and Elizabeth 15 weeks ago, they were battling a variety of physical and psychological challenges. Jerry started out with a weight of 352.6 and he suffered from low levels of self confidence. Elizabeth came in at 263.2 while dealing with chronic depression and stomach disorders. They came together, determined to reverse their unhealthy lifestyle. What has happened in these last few months in nothing short of miraculous.

Jerry’s Story: I was tired of people telling me that I was getting bigger, so I thought it was time to do something. The hardest part about getting started on the Premiere Nutrition Program was understanding what I could eat and learning how to read labels and looking for the 10 to 1 ratio of protein to fat. I used to eat fast food like hamburgers, French fries and pizza. Now, I feel more confident and people are noticing. A lot of people have said, “Wow, you have lost a lot of weight”, so that gives me the opportunity to tell them how we did it. I let them know that we don’t have to starve and it’s all about making the right choices. I tell them what we snack on and what we’re able to eat and show them that direction. Before, I felt almost like a buffalo walking around, but now I feel more confident. I feel like I look better and I just feel better all around.

Elizabeth’s Story: I started on the program because I was upset with how people looked at me and how I looked at myself. I wanted a better career and I wanted to go to college but I did not feel good enough to do that. Since I’ve been on the program, it’s been difficult giving up certain foods I have associated with my depression or my boredom, like chips and chocolate, which I would eat every day. I have noticed that when I eat the food recommended on the program and drink their shakes, I don’t get nauseated. Before I got on the program, I would get sick to my stomach, no matter what food I ate. Then I would feel tired and sad. Now, I don’t feel tired and I don’t feel sad. I feel good, I feel strong and I have more energy. Before Premiere Nutrition, I felt sluggish and sad and now I feel energetic and excited about life!

Since Jerry started on the Premiere Nutrition Program, he’s lost a total of 44.6 pounds (352.6 to 308.0), 3% body fat, 5 visceral points and a combined size loss of 31.5 inches in just 15 weeks! Elizabeth came in at 263.2 and she’s now at 231.4 pounds. She’s down 31.8 pounds, 3% body fat, 4 points in visceral fat and a combined inch loss of 15 ¼ inches. They are both excited. They have become aware of their association with food and have made conscious decisions to make healthier choices. They now realize whenever they are tempted to make a bad food choice and why they feel the urge to do it. They are going through a life transforming process and I’m proud of them. They’re doing a great job!

Jerry and Elizabeth still face challenges to make healthy choices every day, but they’re doing it and I’m proud of them. They come in every two weeks, get measured, weigh in on the iron man scale and track their progress. It’s fun to see people being committed to a healthy lifestyle and its fun to see the results for me personally. It motivates me when people are successful and they start to believe in themselves.

Jerry and Elizabeth have a ways to go to reach their goals, but they did not get there overnight and they’re not going to change overnight. But in just 15 weeks, to see these results is inspiring. When I see those numbers and hear how positive and excited Jerry and Elizabeth are now, it gives me chill bumps. I think to myself, “Man, this is what it’s all about! 

Choose Premium Fuel for your body

By John McCain

How do you look at the food you eat? Do you look at food as a reward, a central part of every celebration or fuel for your body? Whenever you look at the food that you put into your body, be sure to ask yourself this important question: Am I eating the proper food that fuels my body and allows me to have a positive attitude, do the work I need to do and have the energy I need to make the most of each day? If you answered yes, congratulations. Give yourself a well deserved pat on the back!

Treat yourself like a high performance machine. If we were to build your body, it would cost a billion dollars. If you had a million dollar race horse, would you give it fast food, sodas and chips? Or, would you give it the best food money can buy? You need to treat yourself like that million dollar race horse. It’s all about how you look at food. Do a mental self check and ask if you’re eating that because it tastes good but you know that it’s not good for you. Do I drink the soda pops just because I like the taste? Is there something I can replace it with? Remember this: Food equals fuel for the body.

If you are not getting the proper nutrition from your current diet, don’t beat yourself up with negative thinking. Instead, make a healthy choice the next time you fuel up your body and choose the premium quality foods that are high in nutrition. Stay away from the mental and physical filler foods, foods that just fill up space in your stomach that really have little to no nutritional value. Some common filler foods include potatoes, corn and white rice. Instead, choose foods that are rich in fiber, vitamins and lean proteins.

Here are a few tips to help you replace low nutritional filler foods with high octane foods loaded with nutrition and flavor. 1. Replace white rice with wild rice. 2. Reduce the amount of potatoes and eat more salad with vegetables. 3. Replace the high fat greasy hamburger and get the lean hamburger that is 4% in fat. It may taste even better than the high fat burger when you add the right spices for your pallet. 4. Eat more chicken, tuna, fish and ground turkey. 5. You can still enjoy Mexican cuisine and savor all the seasonings by choosing vegetarian re-fried fat free beans with no tortillas. You can have a few chips (5-6) with some healthy dip; just don’t overdo it with a basket full!

There are several celebrity chefs on television today who offer great cooking tips that will help you enjoy a healthier diet that’s high in nutrition. They will show you how you make healthy food taste great. Finally, you don’t have to starve when you’re eating the right stuff. If you don’t like the way you look or feel, you can change that by the food you eat, so don’t put it off until tomorrow. Go for it today!  

Do you like the way you look?

By John McCain

Well, do you? Chances are good that the answer most American’s would give is: “No, I hate the way I look!” And why is that? Because 86% of Americans are overweight and according to the American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 36 percent of Americans older than 20 suffer from extreme obesity! Another startling fact is over half of Americans (60%) are dehydrated because we’re not drinking enough water. We’re replacing water with sugary energy drinks that aren’t healthy for us. To make matters even worse, we often confuse hunger signals when were actually thirsty, causing us to eat even more!

If you think we’re the only country that’s having a battle of the bulge, guess again! In 1950, China had an epidemic when 750,000 people died of malnutrition, but now they are gaining ground on the U.S. by gaining more and more weight. Why is this happening? They no longer ride their bikes, they drive automobiles. Second, they’ve added over 3,000 Burger Kings, McDonalds and KFC’s. Plus, they no longer drink tea every day; they’re gulping down Coca Cola. And now they are the fifth fattest country in the world!

What is the reason for this global overweight epidemic? It’s the terrible food choices we’re making. Nobody makes us eat bad food that’s not good for us. We can choose to eat better and still have a day where we go into those places that aren’t good for us and enjoy an occasional cheat meal.

If we want to get serious about losing weight and getting healthy, we have to want to change. That does not mean starving and depriving ourselves. We have to choose better foods and be committed to it. We have to look at food as premium fuel for our bodies. We have to stop being sick and tired of being sick and tired. We have to change, but where do we begin? One option is to give me a couple of days to help you get on a healthy routine. Just a couple of days is all it will take for you to see and feel the difference.

You have the free will to make choices and if you are serious about the positive choices you make, you will be successful. It doesn’t mean you have to be 100% committed 100% of the time. But you have to be 100% committed to making a healthy change. What happens if you cave in to temptation and fall off the food wagon by eating something that’s not good for you? Well, probably not much if you choose to get right back on track with your serious commitment to yourself.

You will likely need to make some other major mental adjustments. The reality is you didn’t put this weight on overnight and you can’t get it off overnight, but if you work at it steadily, you will take off unwanted pounds without starving yourself. Healthy weight loss is not about reducing your calorie intake; it’s about eating the right foods.

Why am I always so excited? Because I have a program that really works and helps people look and feel great! We encourage our clients to substitute one or two high calorie meals with two shakes a day, along with some enhancers to help them increase energy while eliminating hunger pangs and cravings for sweets. Our program is balanced, simple, nutritional, natural and good for you.

I have two clients that have enjoyed great success over the past 6 months. Bob Cox has lost 25 pounds and Rex McNeill has lost over 20 pounds! Equally impressive: Both are feeling great and they’re not starving to death or feeling deprived. They’re just eating the right foods and enjoying a couple of tasty shakes a day with some enhancers. I became a believer in the program when I lost 31 pounds in the first 90 days! I felt different and it really changed my life. I believe that if I can do it, anyone can do it. With a little helpful coaching and a serious commitment, I’m confident that I can help you say yes the next time someone asks you if you like the way you look!

3-2-1 Blast off to Heatlhy Weight Loss

By John McCain

Have you ever been on a diet and felt hungry, deprived and frustrated? Well, I have some great news for you: you don’t have to go hungry by starving yourself in order to lose weight. You actually can and should eat all the food you want and never feel hungry. Just be sure your diet is balanced and healthy. So, go ahead, eat all the vegetables and fruits you want. If you eat meat, then choose lean, mean protein and stay away from all processed junk foods. Go for it!

When you’re starting a sensible weight loss program, these are the three most common changes:

1. You change what you eat.

2. You change your philosophy and relationship with food.

3. You change your exercise routine.

Too often, I see people who are just getting started and they try to do too much. When they do this, they almost always burn out quickly. It’s good to exercise when you’re starting out but it’s not necessary. If you choose to add exercise to your weight loss program, start slowly and then gradually increase the intensity and duration. Be sure to avoid over-exercising. If your heart rate is too high, your body will burn lean muscle instead of fat.

If you’re just starting out, don’t overdo it with too many changes all at the same time. You will likely feel frustrated, get burned out and quit. Instead, start with just one thing first. Don’t go cold turkey by giving up everything unhealthy all at one time; instead, slowly wean yourself off the unhealthy foods and replace them with healthier options that you will enjoy. For example, if you have three sodas a day, cut back to two a day the first week, then one a day the second week and then zero a day in week three. If you’re eating fast food three days a week, use the same strategy as the soda example. Celebrate the small healthy changes you make every day because over time, these changes will eventually lead you to big success.

If you blow it and have a bad meal, don’t get down on yourself. Instead, resolve to make the next meal a good meal. Here are a few more healthy tips to help you get on track to healthy weight loss.

Lean Proteins: Avoid high fat meat and select leaner meat like fish, chicken and turkey.

Meal Replacement Shakes: Choose shakes that are high in protein and nutrients and low in sugar and carbohydrates.

Drink Tea: Some teas can actually accelerate your metabolism while suppressing your appetite!

Reasonable Dinner: I recommend 4 ounces of chicken, salad and asparagus.

Change your Thinking: Envision yourself as a lean machine. Pay attention to the kind of fuel you are putting into your body to propel you through the day.

Drink Plenty of Water: Every cell in your body needs to be adequately hydrated to function properly. How much water should you drink? For every two pounds of weight on your body, drink one ounce of water. 

Planning for Healthy Success

By John McCain

When people ask me what’s the single most important tip to losing weight and keeping it off, the answer is very simple: Stay committed to the program you are on that works best for you. If that means having two shakes a day and then a reasonable meal, do it every day. Treat the food you put into your mouth like fuel, fuel for your mind and your body. Great fuel for your mind and body will help you not only feel good but you’ll also have more energy. More natural energy means you don’t have to rely on outside stimulants to make you feel energized. It doesn’t mean you don’t have a day where you go off track a little bit, but just be sure to get right back on track the next day.

Think about this: How much better do you feel when you put the proper nutrition in your body? Not only will you lose weight but you are more productive during the course of the day while you work. You’ll also have more energy after work as well. One of the best ways to enjoy greater energy all day is by replacing sugary snacks with fresh fruit.

Plan your meals for the week. Be sure you have an idea what you’re going to have for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday etc. After all, you’re probably already planning your work and when you’re picking up the kids from soccer practice etc. So, why wouldn’t you plan your meals for the most important person (you)?

Make yourself a priority. I understand that people don’t want to be selfish, but if you have an obligation to other people that you love and care about, then taking care of yourself should be the first priority so you can help other people that depend on you. Reverse the thought process that says, “I’m a selfish person if I take care of myself first.” If you take the precautionary steps to feel better longer, you’ll enjoy your life more and you’ll have more energy to help other people too. When you have more energy and vitality, you’ll be more giving to others because you took the time to service your own account. Take care of your health and well being.

Good health will actually save you money in the long run if you take care of yourself now. Then, twenty years down the road, you won’t have to take drastic measures where you have to alter your entire life due to failing health. If you take small little steps along the way, you will achieve big results over an extended period of time.

Don’t focus on the things that you are giving up. Instead, pat yourself on the back whenever you replace a bad habit (junk food) with a good habit (healthy food). Over time, when you’ve made a habit of eating healthy every day, when you do have that greasy fast food, it doesn’t really taste that great. Chances are, you just acquired a taste for it, which means you can reacquire a taste for good healthy food and really see the difference it makes with how you look and feel.

One final tip: If you want to lose weight and enjoy greater health and energy, don’t skip breakfast! Instead, make more time for yourself in the morning and enjoy a good breakfast. Eat something that is nutritious that will fuel you through the morning. You just slept for 7-9 hours with nothing to eat, so your body was still working and maintaining your body’s function as you slept. Next, be sure you have something nutritious for lunch and then an afternoon snack if your energy starts to fade or your appetite kicks in. After work, reward yourself for dinner by hopefully making a wise decision. Of course, it’s all up to you. Since you’ve made the first two of the meals healthy, if you want to cheat a little or have something that’s not very nutritious, it’s not as devastating as if you ate poorly all day.