Dieting through the holiday season is a grind—who wants to skip out on all the good food and fun? Instead of white-knuckling your way through, embrace “The Season of Gains.” Here's the deal: the longer and harder you diet, the more your metabolism slows down. The fix? Lean into the “additional calories” of the holidays. You’ll have a better fitness: life balance, and set yourself up for easier fat loss later. 3 Reasons to Treat the Holidays as The Season of Gains: 1. More Food = Higher Metabolism Low-calorie diets slow your metabolism. Increasing calories resets those fat-burning hormones, priming your body for better results. 2. Muscle Burns Calories Muscle tissue burns calories even when you’re chilling on the couch. More muscle = higher calorie burn. 3. Muscle is a Dietary Buffer Ever seen that jacked guy who eats everything and still has abs? That’s the power of muscle. It’s like a cheat code for calorie-burning. This season, focus on enjoying life, not obsessing over every calorie. You’ll be setting yourself up to get leaner when it’s time.

My name is Steve Johnson. I live in Red Bay Alabama. Which is north west corner of the state. I am currently 66 years old, under doctors care, medical doctor, as well as cardiac doctor. I am doing a lot better than I was in 2011, I’m also down a total of almost 100 pounds since 2011. I am looking forward to losing a minimum of 15% to 20% body fat, along with a reduction of about another 50 pounds. I saw Eric and his content and that seems like what I needed in my life. I need structure. I need dependability, reliability, confidence, self-esteem, be more like the man I’m supposed to be. Thank you for having me and I hope I can live up to the standards that you have set for this group.

When a guy in shape walks into a room, people notice. It’s not “fair,” but it’s human nature. Your body is the ultimate status symbol. It shows discipline, grit, and self-respect—qualities no Rolex or Porsche can buy.

Which means it's time to set your intentions to win the week ;) Post your answers to these Qs in the comments below: 1. What are your Win(s)s from last week? 2. Where are you Stuck or Struggling? 3. What are your Goal(s) for this week? Share your answers in the comments below and then come back before Sunday and update us on your progress (as a reply to your own post) to be entered in the weekly prize draw!

Changing Your Body Is Like Investing. How? ​ ​You need consistent deposits of effort. ​ Early efforts may seem small, but over time, they build significant "physical wealth." ​ Rapid fat loss is like betting on a hot stock: it may pay off short-term but often leads to setbacks like muscle loss, hormone imbalances, and stalled long-term progress. Extreme dieting or overtraining could explain why your results have plateaued. ​ Healing and sustainable progress require a mental shift to smarter, long-term habits. Key points to remember: - Fat loss: Max 1% of body weight per week (e.g., 2 lbs for a 200-lb person) - Muscle growth: Up to 2 lbs/month for beginners; 2-5 lbs/year for advanced, natural lifters. Now, take a second–are your goals realistic? Is there a timeline? Use this as the time to set the expectation…and gauge progress from there.