If you have your own website, then one of the absolute best ways to get started as an affiliate is to write a review of the Burn The Fat, Feed The muscle ebook to post on your website. This is consistently one of the top affiliate marketing strategies for ebooks.

Although I cannot make any guarantees about earnings or sales, I can say that we have seen some affiliates increase their sales by up to 50% simply by writing an honest ebook review, putting it on a prominent, visible place on their site and driving traffic to their review page (example: www.yourwebsite.com/burn-the-fat-by-tom-venuto.html or www.yourwebsite.com/burn-the-fat-book-review.html and so on).

Reviews that are "gushing," and "over the top" are usually not nearly as effective as reviews which are honest, objective, and which reveal pros and cons, keeping in mind that some people who are looking for "quick fix" type programs, rapid weight loss, or shortcuts (like diet pills and so on), are not the best customers for this product.

A review that is extremely honest and points out that the Burn The Fat program is not a gimmick and requires effort and hard work is definitely the best approach.

Your best bet is to write your own review.  Below, you'll find some guidelines to keep in mind to help you write a review that is both helpful to the consumer and profitable for you as an affiliate.

If you are unable to write your own review, then you have permission to reprint the sample reviews below on your own website. You can reprint these word for word, edit these reviews so they suits the theme of your site and reflects your personal "voice" and philosophy, or simply use them as a model to create your own review.

It's a great idea to use the book cover graphic on your review page and be sure to make the cover clickable, using your affiliate link

One last note: book review pages make excellent landing pages for Google Ad Words and Pay Per Click campaign landing pages.

If you have any other questions about writing or using ebook reviews to promote Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle, you can contact me any time.

Sincerely,

Tom Venuto,
Author, Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle

How To Write Your Own Effective Review

There are some key things to keep in mind when writing a review about any product.  You'll want to include some basics:

1) Identify exactly what you are reviewing in the first paragraph. Mention that it is a digital ebook that teaches you how to lose fat permanently and naturally, for sale only on the internet.

2) Explain why you are reviewing the product. This is very important because the nature of the review is that it intends to help other consumers find the right product, or to avoid the wrong ones. It helps the customer to make an informed decision if they understand why you would take the time to review our program.

3) Tell about what is inside the ebook.  What specifically does it teach, and what makes it unique?

4) Be sure to note the pros and cons of the product. What are its strengths and weaknesses? It's important that you mention any drawbacks, as a one-sided review is not as effective as one that seems balanced and unbiased. One necessary drawback about the BFFM program is that it is a LOT of work - it's not a "quick-fix" diet.

5) Answer the question - "who will benefit from this product?" You could also mention who might benefit the most from the BFFM program.

6) End with a conclusion that offers your succinct, overall opinion of the program and provide direct instructions on how to proceed to purchase it.

Special Notes For Those That Have Used the BFFM Program Themselves

If you have read the BFFM ebook and put it into practice in your daily life, then you have a unique perspective on the program and can use this to your advantage.  In general, the more personal your review is, the better for the consumer and the better for you as an affiliate marketer.  You have the advantage of being able to connect with your customers because you have experienced what they are going through in searching for a solution to their fat loss troubles.

*Note: the Testimonial Review is a great format to model for this type of review.

Here are a few more things to keep in mind to while writing your review:

1) Re-read number 2 in the basic guidelines above.  Since you have used BFFM with success, and you want to tell other people about it, you should feel free to elaborate on this point.  Be brutally honest about why you feel compelled to share BFFM with others.

2) Share your story. Everyone has a story, and reading yours will give the customer one more way to connect with you and BELIEVE you.  

3) Tell about your successes, but also your failures.  Explain what you had to do to overcome difficulties and failures in order to succeed in the end.  This is a great way to point out that BFFM is not an easy solution, but that it works!

4) End with a call to action and reassure your customers that if it worked for you, it can work for them, too.

The length of the review is less important than the quality of the information you are sharing.  500-1000 words is a good guideline to go by, but a longer review can be just as effective if you can manage to hold the readers attention.  The most important thing to keep in mind is to be honest about your experience with the program.

If you need any help writing your personal review, please use the contact us form and put your question to the attention of the affiliate manager.

http://burnthefat.com/contact

The Professional Review

Why Is Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle The Best Selling E-Book In Internet History, With Thousands Of Satisfied (And Now Fat-Free) Users In 141 Countries from Algeria to Zimbabwe?

Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle is the #1 best selling diet and fitness ebook in the history of the Internet. In fact, it's one of the best selling e-books on ANY subject in the history of the Internet -... And there's a reason why...

It's because thousands of women and men of every age are burning off BODY FAT - not muscle or water weight - and they're doing it naturally, without supplements, pills or "magic potions," simply by using the proven, scientifically-accurate and common-sense advice found inside this amazing diet and fitness guidebook.

Tom Venuto, a respected fat loss expert, natural bodybuilder, and personal trainer, has not just pumped out yet another "diet program" into an already over-saturated market. Tom's Burn the Fat can be more accurately described as a "Fat Loss Bible." It is quite simply one of the most complete, detailed, and precise guides to fat loss you will ever read. What makes it so much different than other weight loss publications on the market?

Well first of all, it's not a "weight loss" program, it's a "fat" loss program. This may seem like semantics or wordplay at first, but once you've read just the first three chapters, there will be no doubt in your mind that pursuing "weight loss" is not only the wrong goal, it may be the reason that you've failed to reach and maintain your ideal body weight. Burn The Fat shows you exactly why it's fat you must lose, not "weight" (which includes muscle, water and other lean tissue) and then goes on to show you exactly how to do it.

Secondly, what makes Burn The Fat different is the amount of attention that is paid to each and every element of successful, healthy, permanent fat loss. Burn The Fat not only thoroughly dispels the lies, myths and fallacies surrounding a very confusing subject, it is simply the most detailed book about fat loss ever written. By reading Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle, (or better yet, "studying it"), you will learn more about fat loss than you could from an entire semester of nutrition classes or from an entire shelf of maintstream diet publications at your local bookstore.

You may be wondering, "Is this a low carb diet? A high protein diet? A high fat diet? what type of program IS it???" The truth is that Burn the Fat is neither a high protein diet, or a low carb diet. That's because with the information in this book, you will be able to easily determine your own ideal protein, carbs and fats ratio. You will be able to analyze your body type (are you an endomorph, ectomorph, or mesomorph?), you will determine your BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate, or the amount of "maintenance" calories your body requires every day), and you will find out whether you are carb tolerant or carb intolerant.

This personalized approach makes perfect sense because each of us is a unique individual and no two people are exactly alike in terms of body physiology and personal goals.

One of the most powerful chapters in the book is the first one called, "How To Set Powerful, Compelling Goals That Will Propel You Forward and Charge You Up with Unstoppable Motivation." In this chapter, you will learn what is probably the ultimate secret to burning fat and getting in shape... and it has nothing to do with diets, supplements or training programs. There's also a great quote in this chapter from the legendary Green Bay Packers coach, Vince Lombardi...

"The dictionary is the only place success comes before work. Hard work is the price we must all pay for success." That line does a nice job of expressing the "no quick fix" philosophy behind the entire book. In the rest of the book, you'll learn the complete and exact mechanics of fat loss - explained on both a scientific and a practical level (which you can easily apply in your own daily life in terms of what to eat and how to exercise to burn fat).

If there is any drawback to the Burn The Fat ebook, it's that it contains so much information, that some readers may find it a bit overwhelming. Those who are looking for a "cliff's Note's" quick start type of fat loss program, might be a bit intimated at first. The good part however, is that even these types of readers can feel confident and assured that it will be worth the effort because this will literally be the last book they ever have to buy on the subject.

Who will benefit most from Burn the Fat?

In the broadest sense, anyone and everyone who needs to lose weight will benefit from Burn The Fat. Men, women, bodybuilders, fitness enthusiasts, and especially motivated individuals and avid readers will love this book. Although it was written by a bodybuilder, this book is certainly NOT just for bodybuilders.

You will find no "30 lbs. in 30 days" miracles at work here. It's all about intelligent eating choices, planning, hard work and lifestyle change. As Burn The Fat author Tom Venuto says,...

"Burn the Fat is simple, but it's not easy."

In terms of graphic design, Burn the Fat is a clean and professionally formatted PDF e-book. It's a little on the plain side, being just text, but that makes it ideal for printing and reading in the comfort of a favorite chair. Because of it's size, it does require a robust printer and a good stack of paper.

Initially, some people thought that Burn the Fat was priced a little on the high side because $39 might seem like a fair chunk of money for an ebook download. However, after they saw the amount of information contained within Burn The Fat's 340 pages, along with the special bonus ebooks and reports that come with it, they said it was not only worth the $39, but many times that amount.

As with any how-to publication, you're not really paying for the materials used to compile the document, but for what the information can do for you, and clearly, this publication has changed many lives and the hundreds of testimonials and success stories found on the Burn The Fat website are proof of that (I recommend you take a look at that "testimonials" page on the Burn The Fat website because some of the before and after transformations are simply incredible - as well as inspiring).

The Bottom line?

Anyone looking for a quick fix solution to fat loss, anyone looking to be told fairy-tales, and anyone looking for a "magic bullet" offered by the likes of body wraps, fat burning pills, diet shakes, or "fat-burning" creams and gels might be best advised to steer clear of Burn the Fat.

On the other hand, anyone tired of "spinning their wheels" going nowhere, who wants the truth about fat loss and who is ready and willing to put in the hard work and discipline and make the lifestyle changes necessary to get a fat free body, will find Burn The fat to be one of the best investments they ever made in their lives. Click here to learn more about Tom Venuto's Burn the Fat program.

The Classic Review

The Internet Diet and Nutrition Classic, Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle: “The Bible of Fat Loss.”

Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle has been around a long time, at least in Internet years. It was released in 2003 and was one of the first diet and nutrition e-books ever published. Today there are e-books all over the web, not to mention more supplements, weight loss programs, ab machines, workout videos and “magic” diet pills than you can keep track of.

Even when your gut instincts tell you all these “fast and easy”, “just take a pill” weight loss claims are too good to be true, sometimes the advertisements press your emotional buttons so well that your curiosity gets the best of you.

But after getting burned enough times, you eventually smarten up. You swear off “quick fixes” and you finally figure out the long way (through your own experience), about what really works; a calorie deficit, proper nutrition, intelligent training, changing your lifestyle and replacing your old negative habits with positive new ones.

Through all the Internet diets that have come and gone in the last decade, this e-book is one that has stood the test of time. It has been an Internet best seller every year since 2003. Men and women of all ages in over 141 countries have lost anywhere from a few pounds to 253 pounds using Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle. The program consistently gets positive reviews and has earned a reputation for being sensible, science-based, honest and effective.

The author, Tom Venuto, received his degree in exercise science and has held certifications as a strength and conditioning specialist and personal trainer, but more importantly, Tom walks the talk. He is a natural-for-life bodybuilder, which means that he’s never taken steroids or other body-enhancing drugs. Venuto has competed in bodybuilding 28 times and has 6-pack abs you have to see to believe (check out the picture at www.burnthefat.com of Tom at 3.7% body fat).

Although Tom admits that he was never obese, he says he always struggled with stomach fat and never saw his abs until he’d gone through many years of trial and error and a lot of hard work.  Many people are encouraged when they hear that Tom is a lot like them and that he was not genetically predisposed to be lean. It gives them the hope that they can do it too.

Now that you know about the history and the author, here’s a quick overview of what you’ll find when you read Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle.

Burn The Fat, Feed the Muscle is published in Adobe PDF format so you can download the e-book. It’s on the long side at 300+ pages, so if you’re looking for a Cliff’s Notes type of read, this might not be the book you want. On the other hand, if you’re a detail person or if you want to know not just what to do, but also why you’re doing it, then Burn The Fat, Feed the Muscle is exactly what you’re looking for.

For more than 20 years, the author has studied physique athletes (bodybuilders, female figure competitors and fitness models). That’s the whole premise of this book: If you want to get lean as quickly as possible, wouldn’t it make sense to find the leanest people in the world, find out how they did it and do what they do?

When you read more about this on the web page at www.BurnTheFat.com, the idea of a program based on bodybuilder and fitness model techniques makes perfect sense, although it does intimidate some people at first.

In the introduction of the book however, Venuto points out: “Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle was created BY a bodybuilder, but it’s not just FOR bodybuilders.” In fact, the book easily could have been titled, “What every man and woman can learn from bodybuilders about permanent fat loss.”

The nutrition techniques will work for anyone because they progress in stages from beginner to advanced. Unless you plan on competing in a fitness or bodybuilding competition, you’ll only need to use phase one, aka, the “baseline” diet. If you want to get “ripped”, with the six pack abs look – you can use phase two and phase three of the program, where you will find the more advanced techniques that many people have used to prepare for their first bodybuilding or figure competitions.  

The main focus of the e-book is nutrition, because nutrition is arguably the most important key to getting lean. You could have the best training program in the world, but if you eat more calories than you burn, you’ll gain fat regardless of your well-designed training plan.

In the chapters on nutrition, you’ll learn how to set up a meal plan you can enjoy by using Tom’s menu “template” system: You just choose the foods you like (pick from the recommended food lists), plug them into the meal plan template, and your menus virtually create themselves. Sample menus are also provided for ideas.

You also learn the truth about six pack abs: Body fat tissue lies on TOP of the abdominal muscles, so you’ll NEVER see your abs unless your body fat gets low enough. You can’t burn fat off your abs with abdominal exercises like crunches or sit ups. You must get the nutrition right to achieve very low body fat levels.

In Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle, you learn everything you need to know about calories, protein, carbs and fat to get low levels of body fat. You’ll learn the facts about low carb and high protein diets. You’ll get the inside scoop on fat burning foods – including lists of what to eat and when to eat them.

You also learn how to set up a training program. These are the same workout routines used by top natural bodybuilding and fitness champions.  However, Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle nutrition works in combination with any training program (so you can use your own workout if you choose).

The 2 components are weight training and cardiovascular training. You’ll need access to basic equipment at home like dumbbells and barbells or you can train in a gym. One caveat: This e-book doesn’t give you photos or detailed instructions on how to perform each exercise. There’s more attention given to nutrition than training in this e-book, and if you use the training programs, it assumes you know how to perform basic weight training exercises.

Customizing your program is a major theme in chapter 5, which explains metabolic individuality and how to figure out your unique body type.  The major lesson is: There’s no one-size-fits-all nutrition program. If you have special needs, for example, if you’re lactose intolerant, allergic to gluten or if you’re just a picky eater, you can easily modify the menus to work for you.

In addition to the nutrition and training plan, chapter one contains what is probably the best explanation of goal setting, mental training and the psychology of motivation that you will ever read in any book. If you know what to do but you have a hard time doing it (ie, if old bad habits keep haunting you or if you’re inconsistent with your diet or nutrition), you’ll find the solution in the mental training, not the physical training.

In summary, Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle is no quick fix. You don’t get six pack abs or a body like a fitness model by training a few minutes a day and eating haphazardly or cheating frequently. This program calls for structure and requires effort. In fact, many Burn The Fat customers have said that the main reason they bought the program was because it openly admits that fat loss is hard work. However, it’s worth it because if you follow the program, there’s no question that you will get very, very lean.

After all these years, Tom Venuto’s Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle is a classic in the diet and nutrition e-book genre. There are many imitators and copycats, but if you want the original, this is it. Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle is literally the “bible of fat loss.”

You can get more information and download the e-book at the official site here: www.burnthefat.com

The "Is It A Scam?" Review

Instructions: The "Is It A Scam" Review is an excellent tool for selling to skeptical customers. Most notably, the Scam Review is best used in a PPC campaign such as Google Adwords. Here is a good system for best implementing the Scam Review successfully with PPC marketing:

1) Post this review on a page of your website that Google will favor. 

2) Customize the review for your site and target audience. You can choose to rewrite portions of this review to make it unique. Do keep in mind that some other affiliates may be copying and pasting this word for word. It's your discretion whether or not to customize it to have your own "private label version." You DO have permission to copy and paste this review as-is. Or, you can simply use this review as a template to write your own Scam Review. 

3) Bid on the Burn The Fat, Feed the Muscle product name and/or on Tom Venuto's name keywords. It might help to do some keyword research of your own. Some example keywords include: 

tom venuto, bffm, bffm book, bffm ebook, bffm e-book, burn the fat, burn the fat program, burn the fat feed the muscle, burn the fat feed the muscle program, burn the fat diet, burn the fat diet program, burn the fat ebook, burn the fat e-book, burn the fat book, burn the fat feed the muscle book, burn the fat feed the muscle e-book, tom venuto book, tom venuto e-book, tom venutos book, tom venutos e-book

4) Write a good classified ad that leads directly into the Scam Review. Pre-selling your traffic is very important, so keep in mind when writing your ad that you're trying to appeal to skeptical customers.

5) Send traffic to YOUR review on your website in order to more effectively pre-sell Burn The Fat.

6) Send that traffic to www.burnthefat.com through your clickbank hoplink. It would be a good idea to hyperlink the book name a few times in the review and again at the end. You may also want to include a hyperlinked book cover in the last paragraph. An author photo would be another nice touch. Put it near the top of the review where Venuto is introduced.

7) Track and confirm your results. Test and retest!

Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle makes some outrageous claims, has a bunch of larger-than-life testimonials, and costs more than your average hardcover book. When scrolling through the (very long) official website, your mind will be racing with questions wondering if it’s a scam or a legitimate program, because you have to admit, the concept behind the program is very intriguing.

It’s getting harder every day to distinguish the legitimate fat loss programs from the ones that are nothing but scams, so…

Before you decide to purchase Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle, let’s put it to the test.

First, the author, Tom Venuto has been featured on hundreds of websites as well as in magazines such as Natural Bodybuilding & Fitness, Ironman, Men’s Exercise and Men’s Fitness. Tom is also the author of a hardcover national best-seller, The Body Fat Solution (Penguin/Avery books). There was even a blurb about his latest book in Oprah Magazine.

Venuto is a bodybuilder – in fact, his whole system is based on “fat-burning secrets of bodybuilders and fitness models.”  Looking at his pictures, you can see that he is beyond good shape, the guy is jacked and six-packed.  You’d be tempted to scream “Steroids” except that Venuto says he’s lifetime natural and has competed in drug-tested competitions for more than 20 years.

After a little more research, you’ll find that Burn The Fat was released in 2002 and was the #1 e-book best-seller for 4 years in a row. Most Internet weight loss programs haven’t even been around that long, let alone topped the charts that long. Also, New York City publishers and major magazines like Men’s Fitness don’t give the time of day to fly-by-night Internet marketers, so there’s some credibility.

But the real question is, does the program actually work?

The claim made by Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle is that bodybuilders and fitness models are the leanest athletes in the world. Venuto himself was 3.7% body fat at one point (note: on the day of a contest). Therefore, says Venuto, if you find out how bodybuilding, fitness and figure competitors get so lean and you do the same thing, you will get the same results. It makes sense. However, there’s no magic solution here.

From reading Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle, you learn that you won’t get 6-pack abs or a body like a fitness model by training a few minutes a day and eating junk. You learn that to get lean you have to change your lifestyle and adopt new habits to replace the old ones that made you fat. You learn that to get “ripped” it takes an even more regimented nutrition program.

When looking at the Burn The Fat website, you’ll see a home page plastered with testimonials from people of all ages. Since it’s impossible to be sure these testimonials/people are real, a little outside research is in order. What you’ll find on a web search is a free discussion forum called the Burn The Fat Facebook group, which has several thousand members who support each other to implement the program. You’ll also find several Burn The Fat Yahoo groups. There is also a paid online support community (sponsored by Venuto), called the Burn The Fat Inner Circle, with thousands of members using the Burn The Fat system. Membership to this site is optional and doesn’t come with the e-book.

With a little more online research, it’s easy to find positive reviews and before and after photos of people who have successful used Burn The Fat to lose weight. You’ll also find some YouTube videos and blogs devoted to chronicling the training journals and nutrition programs of fat burners.

It’s hard to dispute that Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle is one of the most established fat loss programs online.  Not only is third party proof all over the Internet, this program has been around since 2002. A program just can’t survive that long on the web if there isn’t good word of mouth. And of course, we know this method has worked for bodybuilders for decades.

The final question then becomes, will it work for YOU?

Burn The Fat, Feed The  Muscle is a best seller and there’s proof that it works.  But it will probably appeal the most to a certain kind of person.  First, it takes effort and a significant time investment.  It trades focus, dedication and hard work to get significant, permanent and natural fat loss (as opposed to some rapid fat loss programs where you’re required to take drugs or supplements and where the weight is a lot more likely to come back).

Another thing to know is that the main focus of the e-book is on nutrition, and it requires counting calories and crunching numbers to create menu plans. There’s a lot of value in that kind of precision, but this approach may not be for everyone.  Some people prefer to just estimate portion sizes. Burn The Fat is probably ideal for people who need structure, enjoy planning and are detail-oriented (accountants, engineers, math buffs and other analytical types will be in seventh heaven). If you like to know WHY you’re doing something instead of just being told WHAT to do, you’ll appreciate the detail in the 300+ pages.  It’s definitely thorough. Encyclopedic even.

Here’s the bottom line:

If you want a quick fix weight loss solution, if you’re looking for what pill to take or if you’re not willing to exercise, then Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle is probably not for you.

On the other hand, if you’ve tried all the diet trends and fads, if you really want to know the (sometimes uncomfortable) truth about fat loss and if you have the discipline to make lifestyle changes, then you’ll find Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle to be an excellent investment that delivers what it promises – you burn off the fat, you keep your muscle and you don’t have to starve yourself to do it.

It may not be for everyone, but it’s no scam. Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle is legitimate and effective. You can learn more at the official website at http://www.BurnTheFat.com

The Testimonial Review

*Please Note: This is a fictitious person and a fictitious review. Please do NOT copy and paste this review word for word. This is meant to be used as an example or a template, for how to write a good testimonial review.

Instructions: The Testimonial Review is a very personal review that plays on emotions to get click-through's. The Testimonial Review will work best if you have a personal story to tell about your own weight loss success or if you know somone else who does. There are a few key elements that make a good testimonial review:

1) A Good Headline - The headline should capture attention and maintain interest. This is the most important sales copy of the entire testimonial review because it will determine if the visitor will even start reading. It's a good idea to brainstorm and write down several headlines before choosing one. Some copywriters will write 50 or more headlines before choosing one to work with. A good headline will convey emotions, and this is best done through imagery. Words and phrases that create mental pictures will be good copy for a headline. Also, a headline should have specifics. You'll notice in the sample review below that this character lost "63 pounds." Also, time frames are very effective in headlines especially with weight loss products (ie "lost 12 pounds in 30 days" or "10 lbs in 4 weeks").

2) Effective Success Story Anatomy - A good testimonial review will usually follow a universally successful writing format.

Part 1: Explaining what life was like before finding the program - this is where you explain how terrible life was before successfully implementing the BFFM program - the pain, misery, wanting to quit, etc.

Part 2: Explaining all the things you tried to solve your weight loss problem - this is where you explain the details about how nothing worked until you found the BFFM system.

Part 3: What life is like now - this is where you explain the details about how happy you are now that you've successfully used the BFFM program to lose weight and get fit.

3) Before and After Pictures - this one strategy can make all the difference in determining whether your readers will actually read the review or click through to the sales page. If you have a set of before and after pictures, even if they're not very good pics - then we highly recommend you include them somewhere that they will be easily seen. A couple of good locations are near the top of your page, and near the call-to-action at the end.

4) A Good Call-to-Action at the End - a testimonial review call-to-action should be very personal and heartfelt. The reader should get the idea that the author sincerely wants to help them.

Keep these tips in mind when reading the sample review below!

*Another Note: If you plan on writing a testimonial review, and would like an extra competitive edge over the other affiliates, then we highly recommend considering a video testimonial review format.  A talking head review or a powerpoint with audio spliced into the background would work very well. The same testimonial review template below can be used for video as well. In the future, we will write a tutorial on how to create your own video review of Burn The Fat, but don't feel limited to wait for us if you already have video skills. A high quality video review will put you head and shoulders above most of the other affiliate competition because this is a largely untapped promotional area.

How I Went From A Fat "Couch Potato" Who Tried Every Diet Gimmick on Late Night Infomercials to Losing 63 Pounds and Now Dominating the Courts on Friday Night's "Shirts vs. Skins" Pick-up Basketball Games

Today, I am healthy, lean and athletic, but just 12 months ago my life was a wreck and I had almost given up on myself. Just getting ready for work in the morning was beginning to wear on me because I had to stare at myself in the mirror, ashamed of what I had become. I looked awful no matter how well I dressed and I felt awful all the time. I couldn’t even hide that I was an unhappy fat guy anymore.

I’ve always been a success, at least in business, but my body didn’t reflect who I really was. My physical condition was bringing my whole life down. I desperately tried to convince myself that I was more than what I looked like – that I was strong, happy, and free. But I wasn’t those things, I was holding on to false hope and an even falser sense of identity. Somewhere, deep inside of me, there was a little voice that kept telling me “I’m more than this.”

There were many times that I got so fed up with myself, that I would try anything that promised to help me lose the weight I’d gained over the years. I was the customer who used to keep the infomercial companies in business.

I tried everything. Supplements, training gadgets and gizmo’s, diets, you name it. I even had a gym membership at one of the nicest health clubs in town at $119 a month. The cold hard truth is that everything I tried only left me feeling worse off than when I started because nothing worked.

The supplements didn’t work like the ads said. The fancy exercise equipment didn’t work and the training programs left me weak and exhausted, and they never helped me get any kind of a build (especially not in “just 5 minutes a day!”) The diets did nothing but dictate what I couldn’t eat, and I was starving all the time. I’ll tell you – that really messes with your head, not to mention your energy levels.

I actually enjoyed the gym membership, but every time I went in, I wasn’t sure what to do or expect. I didn’t really have a plan. I just went in to work up a sweat, and that’s all I ever got - sweaty. I blew off some steam, spent some energy, and then went home. At times, I felt a little stronger, and I would even flex in front of the mirror at home, but I knew that I hadn’t changed much at all. I was still FAT. It’s funny looking back – I actually used to reward myself with ice cream after going to the gym, as if I’d earned the right to pig out.

I stopped going to the gym after awhile, fed up with my lack of results, even though I was still locked into paying for it. My weight slowly started to creep up even more. Just when I was about to throw in the towel, one of my buddies recommend that I take a look at this new fat loss program they were on. I ignored the advice, knowing I had been fooled before, but then I began to notice he was losing weight. Every time I saw him again, he looked leaner. Not only was he losing weight, apparently he was actually loving the process too. He couldn’t stop talking about it to everyone, so finally, after a few months I decided to see what all the fuss was about.

I looked up the program, Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle on the internet and bought it late one night. It was a download and I was glad I could read it right away because I wanted to find out quickly if this was another scam or if it could really help me. I felt like this was my last chance to lose the weight, and the last time I would ever let myself be fooled again.

While reading it, I found out that the author, Tom Venuto, was a lifetime natural bodybuilder who has gotten his bodyfat percentage down to less than 4% (After reading the book, I can tell you that anything under 10% bodyfat is like super-lean!). It made sense that a bodybuilder would be one of the best people to go to for advice about fat loss problems. Venuto has had to diet down for over 25 competitions, as it turns out.

I read chapter one that night, which is the goals and motivation chapter. It was at that moment that everything in my life came into perspective – all the failed attempts, all the troubles. I realized that my mind was working against me – my own negative thoughts were preventing me from achieving my goals. Actually, I didn’t even have goals until I was done reading the first chapter. I needed to rewire my thoughts before I could even think about changing my actions.

I went to bed that night with a completely different perspective, and I already had a plan for the next day. I finished the rest of the book that week, and my life hasn’t been the same since. To say that my body has changed would be an understatement, because my entire LIFE has changed. I’m enjoying things today I thought I would never experience again. I go hiking and boating in the summertime. I take off my shirt on the basketball court without a second thought! I look and feel better than I ever have.

There was a little bit of a learning curve and some number-crunching in the beginning, but as I learned more about nutrition and tried new recipes, it got easier as I went along. The best part of this program is that it takes you by the hand, and leads you one step at a time – baby steps. I didn’t do anything crazy or drastic. Just small adjustments, and those old habits that were changing began to add up.

This program really isn’t a diet, it’s a new way of living, and I was eating way more than I had on any diet I had been on before. I think the discipline you need to follow this program in the beginning was the real wake up call for me. It made me realize I was blaming my condition on everything but myself and I had actually been lazy in the past, always looking for a quick fix.

There are a lot of garbage diet programs out there. I should know because I’ve tried them all. Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle really worked for me, and I would recommend it for anyone who has been struggling to lose weight for a long time without any success. I lost 63 pounds, but some people have lost more than 100 pounds and one guy lost 218 pounds. Take a look at the www.BurnTheFat.com website and you can read some more stories from other people. Check out the testimonials page. Good luck.