Weight Loss versus Fat Loss

When many of us are in pursuit of losing weight as a health and fitness goal, we often rely solely on the numbers of the scale to tell us how we are doing. Unfortunately, this is not always a healthy measure of success. Losing weight without a exercise regime can result in losing important muscle, which can have more dangerous effects in the long run. We will take a closer look at weight loss vs. fat loss, and what you can do to ensure that you’re losing weight in a healthy and safe way to make sure that you reach your Manhattan health and fitness goals.

Weight Loss Doesn’t Mean Fat Loss

When most of us say that we want to lose weight, what we really mean is that we want to reduce to amount of fat in our bodies to create a leaner silhouette. Most of us know that the fundamental principle of losing weight is that if we burn more calories than we consume, the result will be weight loss. But where is this weight coming from? Let’s take a closer look at how our bodies process the calories that we consume.

First, the body converts what we eat into energy, which in turn gives us the power to go about our daily lives. When we consume more calories than we burn, the resulting calories are converted into fat. On the other end of the scale, when we consume less calories than we burn, we lose weight but we also lose energy. Unfortunately, the weight loss doesn’t necessarily come from the fat, but the energy stores that are depleted are made up proteins and carbohydrates, which are found in muscles. This means that the muscles get smaller, the metabolism lowers, and once the body has adapted to the lower energy levels, the body will cease to continue losing weight.

The bottom line is that simply decreasing the amount of calories consumed may result in short term weight loss, but the weight won’t necessarily come from fat. Plus, if the calories are restricted too much, the body could even start storing fat as a preventative measure, because it doesn’t know when it will start receiving normal levels of calories again.

Getting Rid of Fat Instead of Muscle

So what’s the right procedure to get rid of the unwanted fat? The answer is simple – begin a nutrition and exercise program with NYC Adventure Boot Camp or Gemini Adventure Fitness. Your body still needs enough calories to keep your energy levels high, but you can eat a great deal more and keep your appetite satisfied with a healthy, balanced diet than you can with a diet full of junk or fast food. The other important factor is a balanced fitness routine comprising of both cardio and strength training. Both cardio and strength training are important for burning away fat and increasing muscle mass, not to mention increasing the metabolism.

Measure Your Body Fat

There are several ways of measuring your body fat, which is often a better gauge of your overall health than a scale. Calculate your Body Mass Index or have one of our health and fitness specialist calculate your body fat with a skin fold caliper or simply measure yourself with a tape measure and keep track of the results. The best way to gauge your body fat is to simply look in the mirror, take note of how your clothes fit, and most importantly, how you feel. Feeling great is really the best result of following a health and fitness program.

Call Stacy Papakostas at 917-822-3440 for a free consultation.

Happy with the body you have...

Just as some people have to come to terms with the fact that they’ll always be of short stature, a lot of us also have to come to terms with the fact that we’ll never be a size zero. We all are in the same boat! Setting unrealistic goals in our fitness or diet routines can not only set us up for failure, but also a lack of self confidence and even depression. Even before starting on the path to a healthier life, it’s helpful to get focused on what you can achieve with the body you have. In this article, we’ll explore the pitfalls of comparing yourself to others, celebrity culture, and how you can get on the right track to making the most of what you have.

Here at NYC Adventure Boot Camp we are big on the three C’s- COMMITMENT, CONTROL & CONSISTENCY! Make the first step and Commit and we will gladly guide you through the rest. Whatever your health and fitness concerns are, we are confident that we can help you achieve your goals! If you are interested in speaking with a personal trainer, please sign up for a free consultation. We can discuss your goals and see if we are a good match. What are you waiting for?

Comparing Yourself to Others

It seems like it’s almost ingrained in women to compare ourselves with each other, whether it is with our friends, co-workers, or even strangers. We can always find something to admire in other women, whether it be their hair or waist size. The problem is that we don’t often take time to sit down in front of a mirror and discover what it is we like about ourselves. Sure, we know what we want to change, but when do we ever take the time to complement ourselves?

The most important thing to remember is that every body is different. Sure, there are plenty of women that are naturally thin, and others that have to fight tooth and nail to retain their size. Don’t get caught in the trap of focusing your energies on anyone’s body but your own. Manhattan fitness trainers can help motivate and support you, and most importantly, help you recognize your strength and improve your health! Nothing is more important than ones health!

Celebrity Culture

Celebrities are everywhere these days – of course we expect to see them in movies or on music channels, but now they’re on the covers of women’s magazines, starring in commercials, and don’t forget the thousands of internet pages dedicated to favorite stars. It’s hard not to admire them for what seems like a fantasy lifestyle, and on top of that, they often seem to be absolutely perfect.

Just like comparing yourself to your friends and others, comparing yourself to celebrities is a dangerous trap, and there are three reasons why. First of all, it truly takes a team to make a celebrity look good on the red carpet. Wardrobe consultants and hair and makeup assistants all work together to make the celebrity look her best. Second of all, it’s true that many celebrities work very hard to maintain their figures, but a lot more than we could ever have time for, sometimes as often as two or three hours a day. It’s a part of their job to look the best they can, so they can afford to take the time. Finally, there is a not so secret weapon that magazines use to make celebrities look their best – the air brush. This tool is used very often to manipulate pictures of celebrities for the cover of magazines to make them look perfect, when the reality is quite different. Do yourself a favor and keep these reasons in mind the next time you admire a celebrity on the cover of a magazine!

What Can You Do?

It’s all very well and good to say that we need to focus on our own bodies when setting out to achieve a fitness goal, but sometimes it’s beneficial to have a second opinion, and that’s where NYC Adventure Boot Camp can come in handy. A personal trainer can use his experience and training to do a full assessment of your body and help steer you towards a goal that will have you looking and feeling your best. Remember, our fitness trainers can help motivate and support you, and most importantly, help you recognize your strength and beauty!

Contact Stacy Papakostas at 917-822-3440 for a free consultation and visit our website for more information and upcoming camp schedules.

West Side Location Opening Up Soon, Ladies.

NYC Adventure Boot Camp Opens New Central Park West Location
Due to popular demand in New York City, NYC Adventure Boot Camp has opened a new location on the West Side of Central Park.

Stacy Papakostas, owner of New York City Adventure Boot Camp, an authorized Adventure Boot Camp, opens a new location on the West Side of Central Park to accommodate the needs of her enthusiastic campers.

The members and friends of NYC Adventure Boot Camp have been requesting
the new location for months and now the first camp will start on
February 9 through March 13, 2009.

The first camp in February will be at an Indoor location to accommodate for the cold weather.

Campers are already signing up and filling up the available spots for this new camp location. New campers are encouraged to sign up now before the class is full.

Camp costs are still as low as $309 for a month of Boot Camp classes. Campers may choose from 3 Day and 5 Day a Week options, as their schedule may permit.

The new West Side camps will start at 5:30 am and end at 6:30 am. A full hour of workout. Don't be surprised if you see a 3-5% reduction in your body fat over the four weeks!

NYC Adventure Boot Camp is a four week outdoor fitness program that offers fitness instruction, nutritional counseling and motivational training - packed with fun and energizing activities designed to help you reach your fitness goals. Whether you want to lose weight to fit into that special dress, shed the extra pounds from a pregnancy or just get fit before that special occasion, this is the program for you!

Stacy has been an ECITS Certified Personal Trainer for over 8 years in Miami as well as New York City. She currently works at the New York Health and Racquet Club in mid-town Manhattan developing a following of personal clients. Stacy currently holds certifications in Functional Body Weight Training, Sport Specific Exercise, Boxing and Kickboxing. She is committed to a lifetime of continuing education in the field of health and wellness. Her unique approach gives women the edge on self-defense techniques in addition to weight loss coaching and nutrition counseling. Her program is designed for each woman to effectively maximize time and effort, ie- less time, more results! The foundation of Stacy’s practice as a fitness professional is built on encouraging positive thinking to boost self-esteem and a healthy body image.

Contact
Stacy Papakostas
(212) 426-4871