The Terrific 12 – A One-Stop Shop For Fat Loss

I was sitting here, working at my desk, when for some reason I started studying the books on the shelf beside me.  I am always in awe of the literature I’ve amassed over the years and was taking visual inventory down the row, one spine by one. Then I hit on a title that didn’t ring a bell.  Burn the Fat Feed the Muscle, by Tom Venuto.

This book was recommended to me by one of my dear readers a LONG time ago.  By the time I finally decided to order the thing and it actually came, I was knee-deep in my usual craziness.  So I shelved it with the good intention of picking it up at a less crazy time.  Well, that time is apparently now, though I still feel like I could be certifiable some days lately (but it’s a great crazy :))

Anyway.  I plucked it off the shelf and dove right into it, forgetting the email I was in the middle of.  As I leafed through the 384 pages, I realized that so much of the content is dedicated to nutrition.  This was instantly impressive to me.  And not only the real nitty gritty numbers-driven stuff that I have only recently learned to love, but the super simple, immediately applicable nuggets you can use right now. The following list is one such nugget, and I was surprised to find that I used EVERY SINGLE item on this list during my transformation journey. Every one, kind readers.  Because we all know – say it with me – Diet is 80%!

So take a gander and know that you could create endless meal combos using a lean protein and a carb for each meal using just this list alone (I currently eat about 6, but that’s a whole other post).  If you are super fitness-minded, like I know many of you are, then you already realize this might be over-simplified.  However, for those who have yet to embark down their own path and are stalled out of fear or confusion, you can also appreciate how powerful these foods are as a cornerstone for getting in shape and for overall general health.

If you are on the fence about getting started because you feel like the nutrition portion of ‘getting healthy’ is all just too complicated, then this list is for you.  

I used to feel that way too.  I was red-light, green-light with my nutrition for over a decade.  There was so much information out there, it was just overwhelming.  I wish I’d stumbled across this little collection way back when.  The fact that it is blissfully short immediately would have set me at ease.  And even though there are many choices within some line items, it’s the length of the list itself and the authority behind it that I would have latched onto.

Thanks for cutting through all the static, Tom.  I can’t wait to settle into the rest of this so-far amazing resource and find even more informational treasures.

The Terrific 12

1. Whole, fresh fruit

2. Vegetables (any fibrous carb or nonstarchy vegetable)

3. Yams (or sweet potatoes) (plain)

4. Potatoes (plain)

5. Oatmeal, rolled or steel-cut (unsweetened)

6. Brown rice

7. Beans and legumes

8. 100% whole wheat or whole grains (watch portion size)

9. Low or nonfat plain dairy products

10. Chicken and turkey breast

11. Eggs and egg whites

12. Lean cuts of red and game meats

Endorsement Disclosure:  From time to time I’ll extol the virtues of a specific product or service like this one.  Rest assured that unless noted otherwise, I receive zero compensation in doing so.  If I really like something, I feel compelled to share.  Word of mouth is a powerful force, and I love to see excellence rewarded.