Lose Weight, Slim Down...but first, a little about me

So as I am enjoying a nice Tetley Tea...quietly brewed for about 15 minutes, and made with hot milk and a small teaspoon of sugar (a receipe that my friend's dad Mr.Ahmed has perfected), i'm looking at 2009 and what this year looks like. I think before I continue I should share a little bit about me.

So this is me..

• Certified Personal Trainer This is what I do for work, and I love it.


• Kickboxing Enthusiast My friends and I like to kickbox each other


• An Optimist I think positively, therefore I think people CAN


• Brother and Son I have two amazing sisters and a cool mom


• Boyfriend to my Girlfriend I'm a Friend, confidant, part-time masseuse


• A Good Listener Sometimes I learn the most from Listening...

I've been a personal trainer for several years and i've seen the fitness industry evolve (or dissolve) in some ways. Here's a brief timeline sketch since i've been involved in fitness.

In the mid 90's, to the early 2000's, it was the hot thing to hit the gym, work on your biceps, chest, buns, etc..and be the biggest, and smallest respectively. Bodybuilding was hot, and Flex Magazine (and a cupboard full of protein shakes) was in every teen boy's collection.

During the early 2000's, Pilates became the cat's meow for men and women to slim down, look long and lean and prop themselves in fantastic mathematical angles...or planks.

In the mid 2000's, Men's Health and GQ helped to make fashionable the image of strong, lean, high-performance, successful, 'can-cook' guy. The image of mean, constipated, and vein-popping bodybuilders became less interesting, and having abs and a great smile became popular.

The interesting part about all this is that for the first time in a while, men are thinking about what matters to his health, and also about what women (or men) are thinkinig might be attractive. And we thought men were dumb! Confidence, Success, and Charm take a close second to Sex Appeal nowadays (depending on who you ask).

So where do I fit in? Because most people approach me with the same goal in mind: lose weight, slim down, get sexy, I propose what might work then and start training. What often happens is that people realize that this is a real lifestyle commitment, and that people on tv and magazines have some magical way of getting miraculous results easily. I'm interested in telling the truth, and my belief is that hard work, careful planning, and commitment is the only way to get better, and be the best you've ever been. No fads, gimmicks, nothing. Nada. Niente.

I'm inviting you to share your stories dealing with fads or quick-fixes. Be blunt, be honest, be brutal. Let's bring training back and show the world that what may be 'too good to be true' probably is.

Yours in health,

Sebastien