Big Tom's Trainer Gives Keys To Weight Loss

By Terry Hood, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- There is more good news from Tom Basler as he searches for a new weigh.

The Tulsa musician is trying to lose 200 pounds, and he's getting closer to his goal.

This week he lost another six pounds for a total of 81 pounds.

While Tom is shedding weight, many people aren't as successful.

Some experts say if you want to lose weight, exercise alone won't do the trick.

"You can work out all day, you can do boot camps every day of the week, but if you don't modify your nutrition just slightly, you're not going to see the results you desire," said Jonathan Conneely, co-founder of Boot Camp Tulsa and a whole-hearted advocate of rigorous exercise.

When people sign up for his program he tells them nutrition is about 70 percent of the game.

The question of nutrition versus exercise is the No. 1 issue Jonathan hears about from clients. He encourages people to look at the big picture.

"A lot of what you're doing from a nutrition perspective is not just about looking good for bikini season," he said. "It's about living long, longevity."

So does this mean back to the diet books? Not according to Jonathan.

He says there are three keys you need to think about: what are you eating, how much are you eating (portion size) and when are you eating -- the timing makes a big difference.

For example, Jonathan says after you exercise is a good time to indulge a little.

"This is the best time to have the starchy carbs, the good, complex starchy carbs," he said. "If you want to have a bagel, if you want pasta or a potato, this is the time. Sixty minutes after your workout is your time to do that."

These few little tricks, along with hard work, can pay big dividends. In the past eight weeks, Jan Wilson has lost 25 pounds.

"I feel different," she said. "My skin feels different. My body feels different. My husband loves it."

Jonathan says if you want to lose five to 10 pounds to get ready for summer, start by cutting all your liquid calories. That means no soda, no juice, no alcohol, no fancy double lattes.

He says people tend not to count those calories, and they really add up.