Monday, December 26, 2011

2012 WILL BE A BetterLife NEW YEAR!

Do you know someone suffering from obesity?

Do you know someone who is pre-diabetic?

Are you overweight?

Are you unfit?

Is 2012 your year?

Will 2012 be the year you will lose weight, get in shape and begin a BetterLife?

If so, succeed with good eating, exercise and mental energy. For under $10.00 order your copy of A Life Beyond Weight Loss today and get started now!

wrote this book in 2010 and I have been interviewed extensively about my approach to weight loss, fitness and most recently the childhood obesity epidemic. Because of my no nonsense/no excuses approach, I was called my generation’s Bernarr McFadden. Another of one of my clients calls me a tough as nails Richard Simmons due to my attitude of:

SYMPATHY WITHOUT SOBBING!

MOTIVATION WITHOUT MANIA!

AND

TRIUMPH WITHOUT TEARS!

I was morbidly obesity and I took control of my over eating, lack of focus and indolent life style to make a change to not only my appearance, but my entire life.

Don’t allow previous failure, inane food guides, government misinformation or bad habits get in your way of taking control of your health.

Diet drugs are expensive and have many dangerous side effects. A Life Beyond Weight Loss costs under $10.00. Isn’t your health worth a sawbuck?

Gastric surgeries all have potential risks, including death. Wouldn’t it make more sense to read and implement an easy to follow eating and exercise plan instead of going under the knife.

There are a multitude of diet books on the market, and probably darn near as many exercise books. What makes this one different? It skips long-winded, over complicated, medical jargon and scientific gobbledygook. I wrote this book to be conversational, not pretentious or unnecessarily technical. It uncomplicates diet and exercise and gives you the tools to reach your goals.

Don’t live over-weight and unfit another day.

Fat Then Fit Now; A life beyond weight loss made low carb internet guru Jimmy Moore’s top 10 must read heath books of 2010. Read a snippet of what Jimmy had to say about Fat Then Fit Now; A life beyond weight loss:

Dr. Leonardi is an energetic man now, but he hasn’t always been that way. Once weighing in at a robust 340 “unhealthy, unfit pounds” as he describes it, today he’s a changed man. He shares how despite his love for weight lifting he allowed himself to get out of control nutritionally. And you won’t find any finger pointing in this book because Dr. Leonardi takes full responsibility for how he got to be so fat in his life. He describes this as the “secret” to making this happen for yourself. The power to bring about change is in YOUR hands and here’s how Joe puts it: “It is not difficult at all to lose weight; however, it takes discipline, desire and determination. You must make it happen. You must change your lifestyle.” If you think anybody else is gonna do it for you, then don’t bother getting Fat Then, Fit Now. But if you’re ready for some tough love that will earnestly help you transform your life without all the “long-winded, over complicated, medical jargon,” then this is INDEED the book for you!

I am currently writing my second book which will focus on childhood obesity and how it is robing our children of so much. I have also started Better Life Seminars to make myself available to speak to, encourage and help as many people as possible.
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Chiropractor, Dr. Joe Leonardi is the author of the life changing book, A Life Beyond Weight Loss. He is available to appear on any talk radio, internet podcasting or television outlet. He has appeared on WILK’s The Sue Henry Show, Magic 93′s Frankie In The Morning, WBRE’s PA Live, SSPTV’s News 13, Public Television WVIA’s State of Pennsylvania and Call the Doctor; Entercom’s Outlook on Northeast PA with Shadoe Steele, Citadel Broadcasting’s Sunday Magazine with Brian Hughes, Lisa Davis’ Your Health Radio; Jimmy Moore’s Livin’ La Vida Low Carb podcast; Hank Garner’s Podcast, Dr. Robert Su’s Carbohydrates Can Kill Podcast.
Dr. Joe Leonardi also will come and speak to your group; to learn more about his motivational speaking fees and availability contact him at docjoeleonardi@betterlifeseminars.com and check out his web site www.betterlifeseminars.com.
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************The posting that I write do not apply to those with an underlying medical or hormonal condition. I advise anyone embarking on a weight loss and fitness plan to have a thorough medical evaluation. You want to be sure that you are physically able to exercise and you don’t have any underlying medical conditions.*************

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Go From Simply Existing To Truly Living!

How and why I went from simply existing to truly living; my trip from fat to fit!
Do you walk into a restaurant and look for a table because you can't fit in a booth?
Do you always take an elevator because even one flight of stairs leaves you exhausted and out of breath?
Is the simple act of tying your shoes a contortionistic maneuver?
Not all that long ago, my answers to the above questions would have been a resounding and embarrassing — yes!
I had finally tired of compromising my life, so on a fateful day in March of 2008, for the first time in two years, I hopped upon my dust-covered scale. The spring moaned and groaned as the needle revolved past the end of its’ limit and ventured into the “additional” numbers printed smaller and in red. The pointer bounced several times in a range of about ten pounds. I hoped it would stop at the lower end — it didn’t. I held my breath and peered down over the beach ball ballooning from my abdomen — I couldn’t quite see the rather large and over-sized dial. With a gale forced inhalation I sucked in my gut and strained once again to see the dreaded digits.
There it was, scales don’t lie, 3... 4... 0... That is not a typo; three hundred and forty ponderous, pachydermian pounds. In just over a pair of years I had added more than one hundred pounds to my previously well proportioned frame. I released my breath and heaved a heavy sigh. At least I could console myself with the ten pounds that clothing adds — never-mind; I was only wearing a pair of light cotton shorts.
Eventually, I stepped back. I paced the floor in stunned disbelieve. I knew I had gained weight, but there was no way I was over 300 pounds, let alone close to 350. Surely, after so long without use the scale must be out of calibration. That was the answer. I looked around and found a forty pound dumbbell. I placed it upon the platform expecting the number to possibly reach 80. No such luck — the indicator stopped spot on at 40.

ME, BACK IN 2008, SIMPLY EXISTING

It was official — in medical terms I was morbidly obese. In layman’s terms, I was fat.

The initial step to overcoming many problems is to first admit you have a problem. Even with the numbers staring me in the face — I still wasn’t ready to admit it. Later that day I arrived at my practice and had my office manager, Linda, photograph me from the front and the side. I downloaded the pics to my PC and was prepared to see just a large, big-boned guy staring back at me — what I saw was anything but. Staring back was a pin sized head atop a rotund, pear-shaped body.
I was ready to admit it — I had a problem.
When I arrived home, I dug deep into the closet and found some old clothes. On the bed I placed them side by side with my current wardrobe. It was eye-opening. There is a stark contrast between a size 38 and a size 54 pants, between a size 56 and a size 46 sports coat, and you wouldn’t believe the difference in the lengths of the belts. I shook my head wondering how this could have happened. Oh yeah, then I remembered, plenty of burgers, fries, pizza and pasta, followed each night by two servings of ice cream — blasted Ben and Jerry for those single serving containers.
The next day I headed down to Danko’s and reactivated my long dormant membership. The owner, Larry Danko, cheerfully greeted me. I told him I had to get back in shape and with an optimistic and confident tone he told me, “You can do it.”
The date was March 5,2008.
I have recaptured my physique, but more importantly, I have recaptured my wellness. Being a health care professional I am very aware of the potential damage I may have done to myself. However, I am blessed with being cared for by a cadre of skilled physicians. Dr. Sordoni, my general practitioner, has ensured my overall well-being with complete and thorough exams. Dr. D’Alessandro, my cardiologist, has run me through ECG’s, EKG’s, a stress test and even a cardiac catherization, encouraging me that my heart is okay. And Dr. Juan Gaia, of Valley Open MRI, read my coronary CT scan adding his reassurance that, at least for now, there are no apparent signs of damage.
I find it extremely difficult to swallow when overweight people tell me that they are happy the way they are; God knows I dropped that line myself enough times. It is impossible to be happy going through life struggling with simple, every day tasks. More importantly though, is that I have lessened my risk for obesity related maladies.
Obesity is a direct cause of some serious diseases; serious, PREVENTABLE, diseases. Obesity is not just a concern among adults. It is a growing, dare I use the word, epidemic concern with our youth. Type II diabetes, which is commonly referred to as adult onset diabetes, is showing up in children as young as ten years old. We have a grave public health problem, one that does not need to exist.

ME NOW TRULY LIVING

Utilizing what I like to call the three D’s; desire, determination and discipline, if you suffer from the ailment of obesity, you too can conquer it. I didn’t have surgery. I didn’t use any drugs. I changed my eating habits and I exercise seven days a week. It isn’t glamorous, it isn’t hip, what it “is” is just old school logic and self-control.
I was asked recently that if now that I lost the weight, I thought I was going to live longer. I pondered the question and paused before I spoke.
I said, “I honestly don’t know, however I do know one thing, I am living better.”
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Chiropractor, Dr. Joe Leonardi is the author of the life changing book, A Life Beyond Weight Loss. He is available to appear on any talk radio, internet podcasting or television outlet. He has appeared on WILK’s The Sue Henry Show, Magic 93′s Frankie In The Morning, WBRE’s PA Live, SSPTV’s News 13, Public Television WVIA’s State of Pennsylvania and Call the Doctor; Entercom’s Outlook on Northeast PA with Shadoe Steele, Citadel Broadcasting’s Sunday Magazine with Brian Hughes, Lisa Davis’ Your Health Radio; Jimmy Moore’s Livin’ La Vida Low Carb podcast; Hank Garner’s Podcast, Dr. Robert Su’s Carbohydrates Can Kill Podcast.
Dr. Joe Leonardi also will come and speak to your group; to learn more about his motivational speaking fees and availability contact him at docjoeleonardi@betterlifeseminars.com and check out his web site www.betterlifeseminars.com.
———————————————————————————————————————
************The posting that I write do not apply to those with an underlying medical or hormonal condition. I advise anyone embarking on a weight loss and fitness plan to have a thorough medical evaluation. You want to be sure that you are physically able to exercise and you don’t have any underlying medical conditions.*************

Friday, December 16, 2011

How Will You Choose To Respond To Adversity?

After all I have been through life continues throwing me some heavy-duty, Rocky Balboa type, rib-breaking body blows. Compared to many I am blessed, but on occasion --- I don’t feel that way. The reality of owning a business in these current economic times can weigh heavy upon one's psyche. Very real pressure can crush even the strongest and broadest shoulders. Some days, I feel much like I did a few years ago. Similar situations caused apathy, which in turn led to laziness. The result was that my weight ballooned to a ponderous, pachydermian three hundred and forty pounds and my fitness levels plummeted to previously unforeseen depths.

On a morning a few days back, when the alarm clock sounded, for the first time in a long time, I had the desire to unplug the chronograph, roll back over and continue my slumber. Reawakened by my current situation, my inner demons reared their ugly heads.

Visions of carbohydrate crammed foods danced in my head. Pancakes, home fries, doughnuts and waffles for breakfast started bubbling to the forefront of my brain. Later, I could go for a pizza and a nice pot of macaroni. Then, in the evening, maybe a pie and a pint or two of ice cream. Ah yes, the comfort foods would work their soothing magic.

The demons screamed into my skull:

Why exercise?
Why eat right?
What is the point?
Think of how nice it would be to sleep, on a full belly, an extra few hours each and every morning.

I knew that the combination of sloth and gluttony would once again isolate me from the outside world. The calming influences of empty calorie, nutrient devoid foods would help me sleep. The lack of exercise would convert the excess consumption into a protective lard layer and I would once again be isolated from the rest of the human race.

I felt like I was being held from Hell's fires by a proverbial rope. I glanced up and studied the rope that has kept me afloat in even the worse situations. I noticed that the repair jobs from the previous occasions in which life almost took me down, were once again frayed. The gremlins and graveling, which are busily hacking away at the rope, are now more than half way through.

As my gazed remain fixed; I pondered a few thoughts: Will the rope give all together? Will my life and future plummet into a great abyss? It very well might. When it desires, life can be a cold and heartless bastard. The big question is:

Will I embrace my inner demons and willingly hasten my demise?

I stayed in bed and wondered what it would be like to have had a charmed life. I asked myself more questions.
How different would it have been if my father hadn’t been forced onto disability by a life altering injury?
How would it have been if my parents could have afforded to send me straight to college out of high school?
Was my judgment to enter the Navy, to alleviate the burden of at least one child to care for, the correct decision?

Yes, the self-doubt and self-pity of despair were being cheered on by the demons. Much like the negative focused naysayers, my inner mischievous sprites are acting as the harbingers of doom — joyfully, fanning my flames of despair, discontent, doubt and disillusionment.

How easy would it be to embrace their self-destructive message!
How simple would it be to return back to my former indolence!
How effortless would it be to add a hefty burden to the rope!

As these thoughts ran through my head, a truck driver outside my window slammed on the brakes. As the tractor-trailer came to a very loud halt, its cargo violently shifted and I was jarred by a thunderous clang. My still sleeping brain interpreted the clamor into the clang of iron plates being dropped onto the gym floor.
Thoughts of clanging and banging iron sent a familiar shiver through my body.

I jumped from my bed. The demons hid in terror. I would not give into their cursed cheering.

There is no time for self-pity.
There is no time for self-sorrow.
There is no time for self-destruction.

The rope is starting to show threads and I am not sure how long it will hold out. However, I will not increase its burden by adding weight to my frame.

As much as we tend to think otherwise, there is very little in our lives over which we have control.

Well run businesses fail.
Bad, at times awful, things happen to good people.
Politicians pass laws regardless of the actual outcomes.
Hard working, loyal employees often find themselves without a job.
Is adversity a setback or an opportunity?

It is all in how we choose to view it. We can allow bad luck, bad decisions and just flat out bad situations dominate, control and beat us down, or --- we can choose how we respond.

You see, I choose how I respond. I choose not to allow those demons that are screaming effect me. And, I choose to tell those demons to go straight back to hell!

The one thing we can control is ourselves.
We can control our mental attitude.
We can control our fitness level.
We can control what we eat.

In spite of Gary Taubes's anti exercise writings, I continue my endeavors in exercise. I am confident that by being physically fit and strong, if that rope does give out, I will be powerful enough to reach up, grab the remaining end and support myself
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Chiropractor, Dr. Joe Leonardi is the author of the life changing book, A Life Beyond Weight Loss. He is available to appear on any talk radio, internet podcasting or television outlet. He has appeared on WILK's The Sue Henry Show, Magic 93′s Frankie In The Morning, WBRE’s PA Live, SSPTV’s News 13, Public Television WVIA’s State of Pennsylvania and Call the Doctor; Entercom’s Outlook on Northeast PA with Shadoe Steele, Citadel Broadcasting’s Sunday Magazine with Brian Hughes, Lisa Davis’ Your Health Radio; Jimmy Moore’s Livin’ La Vida Low Carb podcast; Hank Garner’s Podcast, Dr. Robert Su’s Carbohydrates Can Kill Podcast.
Dr. Joe Leonardi also will come and speak to your group; to learn more about his motivational speaking fees and availability contact him at docjoeleonardi@betterlifeseminars.com and check out his web site www.betterlifeseminars.com.
———————————————————————————————————————
************The posting that I write do not apply to those with an underlying medical or hormonal condition. I advise anyone embarking on a weight loss and fitness plan to have a thorough medical evaluation. You want to be sure that you are physically able to exercise and you don’t have any underlying medical conditions.*************
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