Lean Body Secrets: What you can learn from bodybuilders about weight loss

Ever wonder what bodybuilders eat? How they stay so lean and ripped while you slave at the gym for hours and struggle to lose the last 10 pounds? What's the secret behind beautiful bodies you see in magazines?

"There is no secret! There is no magic!" exclaims Jason Kozma, Beverly Hills personal trainer who sculpted the bodies of celebrities, athletes and fellow-bodybuilders.  "It's all about hard work in the gym and discipline when it comes to food."

But what does it mean?  Another fad diet? Fast weight loss diet? No carbs?  Calorie restriction?  Days at the gym lifting heavy weights? You would be surprised that the key to successful bodybuilders' diet is eating a lot of food.  "Most people, especially women, stop eating when they want to lose weight," says Kozma.  "That's a big mistake! Because the body starts storing anything they do eat and convert it into fat." 

Kozma says his program doesn't offer "quick" fixes.  "It requires a lifestyle change, exercise, good nutrition and patience," he says. "You'll lose nothing but pure fat and keep all your muscle!"

Kozma offers 10 tips to jump-start the new YOU.

• 1. Eat every 3 hours to speed up your metabolism. This will allow your body to maintain lower body fat and higher muscle tissue.
• 2. Don't skip breakfast and eat within 30 minutes of waking up. Incorporate oatmeal and egg whites into your breakfast meal and say ‘good-bye' to high-sugar cereals and waffles, breads, butter and bacon.
• 3. Grill, broil and steam your meat instead of frying and sautéing. Choose the leanest cuts and enjoy dozens of delicious ways to make your meals without using oils and butter.
• 4. Eat fresh and steamed veggies with every meal. They not only help with fiber and better digestion, but will also contribute to clear skin and healthy hair.
• 5. Pick foods like look great. Remember that lean protein feeds lean muscle, fat feeds fat; bread makes you puffy, tofu makes you squishy, mayonnaise looks exactly like it does in the jar underneath your skin.
• 6. Don't skip on carbs. Carbs give you bursts of energy, so choose them carefully. Opt for whole grains, traditional rice (not quick recipes), pastas and potatoes.
• 7. Say NO to alcohol. It's not good for you anyway, so why drink. Besides, wine, champagne, beers and hard liquor are loaded with sugar that converts into fat.

•8.      For late night sugar cravings, get a sugar-free popsicle or Jell-O to satisfy your desire.

•9.      Drink 100 oz of water daily. Drink between meals and especially during your workouts

•10.  Don't eat within 3 hours of going to sleep.

Kozma stresses that everyone needs an individual plan to fat loss.  He designs custom meal programs based on your body composition and monitors your success.

To contact Jason Kozma, call 310-772-5105 or email through his website at http://www.latrainer.com