Twice the pain, but bigger gain
Fitness guru Jari Love -- personal trainer, gym owner and mother of two -- is mining exercise gold with her “Get Ripped!” DVD series. She has sold 300,000 units in the series, totaling about $4.5 million in sales. Her most recent offering -- “Get Ripped & Chiseled” -- is a full-body workout designed to shed pounds.
What is different about your “Get Ripped!” program?
We tested exercises on a metabolic cart, which tests how many carbohydrates and calories you burn, to determine which exercises are most effective for weight loss. Through our scientific research, we discovered that the key for successful weight loss is to burn close to 100% carbohydrates. Once your body depletes all the carbohydrates, your body will burn fat throughout the rest of the day. Also, the “Get Ripped!” program increases your metabolic rate by doing high-intensity cardio intervals, and it employs your lean muscle mass through the use of weights. So you are working both the heart and muscles at the same time, which is key for weight loss.
What is your diet like?
I believe that diet is 75% of your weight-loss success. I eat a variety of fruits, vegetables and lean protein. I eat every three hours, which helps me feel satisfied. I also make sure to get at least 30 grams of fiber per day. I try to avoid sweets and processed foods as it is so easy for me to put on weight. When I get busy and need protein, I take a protein shake, with a small amount of low-glycemic fruit, one tablespoon of flaxseed and psyllium husk for extra fiber. I also take a multi-mineral vitamin, calcium citrate, Ester-C, B-12 and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.
Your 1,000-calorie workout looks like a killer. What does it take to burn that many calories?
“Get Ripped 1,000” is great for burning tons of calories, because I’ve combined the top calorie-burning compound exercises with high-intensity intervals. High-intensity intervals are the best way to lose weight because they get your heart rate up and increase your metabolic rate, which helps burn more calories throughout the day even at rest. Compound exercises [double-duty exercises] burn a lot of calories because they involve multiple muscle groups. For example, when we metabolically tested a bicep curl, many of us burned around two calories. Once we added another exercise, the bent-knee dead lift, the average caloric expenditure was nine! Some exercises burned as many calories as running on a treadmill at 6 mph for one hour.
What’s the biggest mistake people make when trying to get in shape?
Looking for the quick fixes. There is no substitute for regular physical activity and proper nutritional habits, which in the long run will benefit us and reflect permanent lifestyle changes. This is not entirely people’s fault. Many never reach their goals or achieve the results they want because they do not receive the proper information. Also, you need to control your environment. Saying you want to lose weight and still keeping junk food in the house sets you up for failure.
If a person could do only one exercise to stay in shape, what would you recommend?
Squats -- they are the king of compound exercise. They burn so many calories and activate your largest muscle group -- the legs. I recommend combining squats with the lateral raise. This will not only work your legs but you are also working your shoulders at the same time. This burns around 10 calories per minute when you include the arms with the legs.
The great thing about squats is that you can do them anywhere, even sitting on a chair. But the key thing is to do them correctly. The knees need to be behind the toes. Many of us lean forward, causing pain on the knees. You are doing them right when you feel like you are going to fall backward.
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