35-year-old Chris Pirillo has made a name for himself by offering computer software and technical advice to “geeks,” as he calls them, or other tech savvy people throughout the country. He’s also made a name for himself by being the first thing that comes up when you google the name “Chris.”
But Pirillo also comes up first when you google the term “weight loss tips,” for which you will see the list he has drafted of 50 weight loss tips that, he says, helped him drop 30 pounds in three months.
One of these tips, which he says made a complete difference in his weight loss journey, was playing video games (no, not the Nintendo Wii), but interestingly, he says, it wasn’t the physical action of playing the games that did the trick.
WLB talked to Pirillo about his 50 tips and what one piece of advice he offers to those involved in a similar weight loss journey.
Q: What made you come up with this list?
A: Well, I came up with it because I finally reached my goal and I thought well, I could probably share how.
Q: Is this the first time you lost weight?
A: I’ve struggled with weight my entire adult life. The moment I stop keeping an eye on things, that’s when everything goes a rye. I had lost weight probably about four times, I’ve gained it and lost it… I’m lucky to be a male, so it’s a lot easier to lose weight.
Q: What’s your secret trick?
A: Honestly, just know how much calories you need, and cut it down a little- just a little. You don’t need a magic pill. It’s just science. The tough part is not having anybody around to support that effort. Without community, you’re kind of left to your own devices. So, unless you’ve got a strong resolve, it’s probably not going to happen.
Q: On your list, one item tells people to avoid sugar, the next tells them to avoid artificial sweeteners. So, what do you do if you have a serious sweet tooth, like me?
A: I was listening to the radio, and there was a guy on there talking about sugars and how sugar impacts weight gain and weight loss in a big way. It appealed to [me]. That makes sense, and then I looked into what he was talking about and learned that artificial sweeteners actually make you more hungry. I stopped ingesting anything made with artificial sweeteners. Any time man screws with a molecule, something’s not right.. So the best natural substance that you can take to stop hunger- find a hobby. (Pirillo also said that it is okay to eat a small amount of a sweet snack, preferably a rich food, like dark chocolate, as long as you factor the calories into your daily calorie count.)
Q: What about exercise?
A: I have on my list, and I still think it’s a great tip, to use the Gazelle.
What I’ve found is I was working out that way and I had basically worked to a point where I couldn’t work up a sweat, so then I started playing different video games and then I started sweating again. So I had to think about it, why? It’s the adrenaline rush that I was getting because I was playing the game trying to win, so I had to take fast action in the game. Now, I’m a wimp, I’m Mr. Low Impact. So I know there are other people like myself-watch your calories, and that’s it. Yea, to help things along, you have to exercise. I’m no health expert-I never claimed to be. The toughest part, I think, is not losing weight-it’s maintaining it. It’s easy to lose weight.
Q: Do you/have you followed every one of your 50 tips?
A: All 50. There are certain things that I live every day, and some that I don’t.
Q: Is there one tip, if you had to choose, that is more important than the others?
A: Count your calories. Because it’s dead simple. It’s math. Find out how much you need on average to maintain, and don’t gain from there. The people who cut out calories all together, they’re going to fail.
Pirillo also said that losing weight cannot be a temporary thing. “It’s almost like a religion,” he said. “You’ve just got to be dedicated to it, because it’s your body.”
If you would like to see all the tips on Pirillo’s list go to http://chris.pirillo.com/50-weight-loss-tips/
posted @ Thursday, April 30, 2009 2:36 PM