Fat-Burning Diet and Nutrition Guide

We usually start revving the X-treme Lean machine aro u n d
late March. Yes, it’s a little difficult at that time because it’s still
chilly out. Col d weather mean s our physiques are ra re l y
u n c o v e red, so that leaves our motivation still groggy from its
winter hibernation. Nevertheless, we try to pound it into our
heads that summer is just around the corner, so we’d better get
with it —unles s we want to re sembl e a coup le of gla zed
doughnuts when warm weather arrives. (Did we say doughnuts?
S o rry.) And just to hammer home that point, we shoot some
b e f o re photos. Seeing our digital images on our computer
s c reens forces us to admit to ourselves just how far off peak
condition we are. It instills a sense of urgency. Put it this way:
We’ve never looked at those first photos and said, “Oh, we
don’t look so bad.” It’s usually more like, “Oh, crap! We’d better
kick it up a few notches.”
What we’re saying is that, if you’re serious about getting into
your best shape ever (why else would you be reading this
book?), you should definitely take before photos. They’re re a l
eye-openers. You can take relaxed front, side and back views,
or you can shoot those standard befores along with a variety of
bodybuilding -type poses (pu t the camer a on a tri pod, if
possible, at about waist height so you get a balanced top-to-
bottom assessment). Be sure to keep a list of the shots you
take—the poses you hit—and the camera settings you use.
T h ree to six weeks later, take photos again and use the same
poses and camera settings. Also—and this is import a n t — b e
sure the lighting is the same. Take the pictures in a room with a
fairly bright overhead light and don’t use the flash on your