Over the last year, I have been approached at times by UB members inquiring as to why they have not been losing any more scale pounds beyond what they lost during the initial months in the program. These people claim to do everything that they are supposed to do; they attend every class, exercise to the best of their abilities, and eat very healthy, so why, they ask, are they gridlocked in this unwanted temporary weight-maintenance mode, or "plateau," for several days or sometimes weeks? In other words, since they have been successful up to a point in losing fat using a certain way, why doesn’t it work anymore?

Note that fat loss occurs only when you expend more calories than you consume, creating a caloric deficit. Gaining fat involves expending less calories than you consume, and finally, burning and eating equal caloric amounts create a constant state of dynamic equilibrium, neither gaining nor losing fat. Furthermore, your body constantly strives to burn the least amount of calories to accomplish a task, making the body an extremely energy- efficient organism. With this in mind, when you start an intense exercise program, since you are unaccustomed to using muscles in the ways required, you must expend a tremendous caloric amount to accomplish tasks. In other words, because your muscles have not adapted to handle the new workload yet, you have to expend a greater amount of energy, or calories, to exercise.

During this initial workout phase, or adaptation phase, your body works inefficiently, burning more calories than consumed, engendering fat loss. As time elapses, your body, still striving to adapt but at a progressively slower rate, expends less and less calories than used initially. This continues until your body finally realizes a plateau state, meaning you have completely adapted to your new exercise and eating lifestyles. In this state, your body expends the least amount of calories, becoming very energy saving and, therefore, losing the desired caloric deficit needed to lose fat. Considering this, how do you maintain a caloric deficit, staying ahead of your body’s ability to adapt to its new exercise workload so that you can continue toward your fat-loss goal?

Understand that one of the quickest ways to reach a fitness plateau is to exercise the same number of times per week with the same intensity for the same length of time each time, doing the same kind of exercises in the same order. On the other hand, I have had and continue to have great success in keeping clients in a constant state of adaptation and, hence, fat loss, using the FITT principle. "FITT" stands for Frequency, Intensity, Time and Type. This is a powerful way to avoid plateaus by increasing caloric expenditure beyond caloric consumption. The following expounds on each of these acute variables:

Frequency This refers to how often you exercise in a given time period. If your goal is fat loss, work out more often. Intensity This involves how hard your cardiovascular system works. Remember that cardiovascular work enlists two systems: your heart and lungs. If your goal is fat loss, raise your cardio demands by exercising more vigorously within reason. Time This is associated with how long you exercise. Simply extending your workout times translates into increasing your caloric expenditure. Type As an example, if your body is conditioned to stationary cycling, try a different exercise mode, like stair climbing, swimming, fast walking, jogging, aerobic-kickboxing, or high-intensity stepping. Another way to shatter a plateau is employing interval training, alternating between states of very high and very low cardio intensities. Stated differently, shock your body into getting it to adapt to a new way of using its muscles at the appropriate intensity levels.

The key to overcoming a plateau is being consistent in your efforts to break it. Sometimes, having a lock on your progress and not understanding why can discourage you from believing that you can beat it. Never accept that you cannot lose anymore fat. In fact, there is no limit to fat loss; you can lose so much fat that you can die of having too little of it in your body! Therefore, please seek the advice of a fitness or healthcare professional when choosing your fat-loss goals. Remember that there is a new cycle of Ultimate Body starting January 29th. Contact us today so that we can help you get started on your new body!

The Ultimate Fit Club (UFC) is a highly specialized unit within the Ultimate Body Transformation System comprised of those who have succeeded in making a Ultimate Body Transformation. Membership into this elite group is not something that can be purchased. Instead, membership has to be earned.

UFC members are entitled to train at any of the Ultimate Body Studios at a discounted rate of $200 per cycle with no contracts. UFC members simply choose a class time that has available openings and claims that space for as long as they want it.

UFC members also get very special shirts and other workout clothing throughout the year issued to them for free. Weekly highly specialized training classes and mini-seminars will be made available only to UFC members, free of charge. Discounts at many local businesses have been established for our UFC members as well.

Due to the extent of work put into the UFC program, it has been slow in arriving, however, it is here and the payoff is great! If you are a successful past or present UB member who has completed the original 20 week program and believe that you are UFC material, contact us and complete a simple application. Once it is reviewed, you will be contacted regarding your status.

UFC members have their own Ultimate Body emails and a special protected members section of the Ultimate Body website that only they can access. UFC members are asked to make themselves available to new UB members as mentors generally via email.

The first UFC event is scheduled for Saturday Feb 10th at 10 am at the Frisco Studio. The UFC event is a combination meet and greet and a 45 minute UFC Circuit Class. This class will be taught by all of the instructors and is guaranteed to be a real hit. Lots of planning and preparation have gone into making your UFC a real success and something you will be proud of.

If you are UFC approved or if you apply and get approved by this event date, please make every effort to attend. Shirt sizes will be taken, membership cards will be issued and there will be a great meet and greet as well as a super class!

The guys down at Two Brothers Restaurant at Preston and Main in Frisco are happy to announce the addition of their Ultimate Body Studio Menu. There are many selections from egg white dishes to turkey burgers and such. All items were hand selected by the UB staff and are sure to satisfy you as you complete your Ultimate Body Transformation. Drop in and check out the new menu. If you don't see our black Ultimate Body menus on the table, ask for one! All numbers you will need for your food journal is on the menu. Let us know what you think!

A lot of people have asked why my articles are named the “The Art of Life.” The art of life in my opinion is having the ability to accept life for what it is and live it. The art of life is the ability to adapt to whatever happens to you and to maintain your peace. It is appreciating the small, tiny things in life and not taking anything for granted.

I think the art of life is the balance between living life TO THE FULLEST, and living life ACCORDING TO STANDARDS--yours and the environment you live in. It's full of contrasts that way.

The Art of Life is to be able to enter this world and touch the lives of others. I also believe that it is to become a role model, someone who others can learn from, someone who can sets the example to live by. Be faithful to your church and let God use your hands to do the work that the Lord gives you. Find joy in working with others. Help others believe in themselves and give hope to those who feel a heavy burden. Lift up others even when you are feeling down and never let others lose hope when they need encouragement. Be that beacon of light that shines in the darkness, someone that people can go to when they're lost or need help.

This is the Art of Life!

Over the years we have attracted members of UB from every imaginable occupation. We have a diverse group of people in our membership and have been able to make some great business connections over the years.

In order to further enhance the business life of our members, we will have a networking coffee event on Saturday February 3, 2007 at 10:00 at the Frisco Studio. The event will last about an hour and will include coffee. Bring your business cards and be ready to talk to other UB members about what you do for a living and how you could help them with your business or services. The dress will be informal. Please bring $1 to help offset the cost of the drinks provided. We will be offering a few door prizes such as personal training with UB trainers and other items provided by UB members who wish to provide them.

Please contact us at 972-712- 2120 if you have any questions. You must be a current or former member in good standing with UB to attend this event. If you are not and never have been a UB member, please contact us for permission to attend this event. MLM businesses must also have advanced permission to attend.