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Are you frustrated by that stubborn fat that seems to stay with you no matter how hard you work out or exercise? Are you getting annoyed that no matter how you eat, you cannot seem to lose that extra 10 pounds you're carrying around with you?

Many people are in the same boat, from coach potatoes to hard core athletes. They train hard, lose some weight, but then hit a plateau and the fat loss stops. There are reasons for this, but more importantly, there is a solution! Often, even active people are unable to trim down to their ideal weight or shape due to factors such as:

' Eating too much and eating the wrong foods

' Working out too HARD (YES! You may need to slow down to burn fat), including not taking recovery days

' Skipping strength training workouts

' Feeling stressed about 'getting all your workouts in'

As a former athlete, reality started settling in after I graduated from college and I needed a fitness and nutrition plan that worked! The mac & cheese and meatless spaghetti diet was failing me. I was getting a gut and I was tired all the time. I started making massive changes to my diet and finally got back to being trim and fit and had more natural energy.

The changes I implemented were even more important as I started doing triathlons. As an athlete, you need the energy to train sometimes twice a day, and at the same time, you need to prevent from being broken down and susceptible to colds and flus. You need to keep your endurance up and keep injuries away.

How can you do all this and maximize your fat burning potential?

Here is a great start:

1. Cut out empty calories and simple carbohydrates like potatoes, pasta, and cereal as much as possible.

2. Eat more green vegetables, low fat protein, nuts, and healthy fruit like apples, pears, blueberries and melons.

3. Incorporate immune-boosting coconut oil and heart-healthy omega-3 (fish) oils into your diet.

4. Exercise every day, and keep most of your workouts aerobic, like walking, running, biking, or rollerblading.

5. Reduce stress by adding in 10 minutes a day of quiet meditation. Stress often prevents you from breaking through the plateau that is keeping you from losing that extra 5-15 pounds.

Instead of counting calories, choose the right kind of calories.

If you are looking to get into the shape of your life without getting sick, you need to exersise smart, not hard!