Recently, Debbie Rocker, Creator of the WALKVEST, published Training For Life, a program used by celebrities to quickly shed unwanted pounds.  Here are her thoughts regarding fitness:

KJ: Ms Rocker, tell me something about your childhood and how you became an athlete.

Debbie Rocker ~ I was an athletic child, also throughout school, but became very body conscious and then obsessed about my weight. The fun of athletics was lost to weight loss and eating obsessions and sadly I went through a very tough, very long period with that. I have been recovering and healing mentally and physically for the last 20 years and at almost 49 years of age I feel stronger, fitter and healthier in every way than ever before.

KJ: Why don’t diets work permanently?

Debbie Rocker ~Most diets address the physical aspects of weight gain only, and most people who are trying to lose weight, jumping from new diet to newer diet, do not have strictly a physical issue – being obese or perpetually overweight (when obviously it makes a person’s life hellish) is deeper and integrated into who they are mentally and emotionally too.

KJ: I know that extra cupcake in the fridge is bad for me, but I can’t stop myself from eating it. What should I do to get rid of my cravings?

Debbie Rocker ~Well, it’s easy to say grab a piece of fruit instead but cravings too are not just physical. In my opinion, when one has serious sugar or fat or salt cravings, those foods must be eliminated from the diet entirely, at least for a period of time, and then there must be mental conditioning too – even saying a mantra for 30 days like “I choose healthy foods and I like the way I feel because of it.”

KJ: I want to let go of all the dieting “do’s and don’ts.” Why is it important to do this?

Debbie Rocker ~We have been conditioned to believe what the diet industry is telling us like, eat more protein, eat less carbs and on and on. Dieting sets us up to eat unrealistically, to believe that their plan is the right plan, and then ultimately, when it doesn’t work, to fail. In fact, if someone is eating more calories than they are expending, and then they consume fewer calories (on any diet), they’ll lose weight. But the new eating behavior rarely sticks and the weight comes back since the person is not reconditioning their thinking and beliefs while changing their eating.

KJ: How can I really let go of the do’s and don’ts?

Debbie Rocker ~ It takes mental conditioning, improving self esteem and a little will power too – especially in the beginning.

KJ: What can a great fitness coach do for me that I’m not getting by working out alone?

Debbie Rocker ~ Coach helps you to reach higher levels of fitness through efficient training techniques and motivation.

KJ: Ms. Rocker, what training tools do you offer through Training For Life?

Debbie Rocker ~ What I have just described above – efficient training techniques like varying pace, terrain and duration of workouts and listening to my coaching and pacing (on CD and DVD) which is set to music. I have also created a product call the WALKVEST, which is a weighted vest that helps people get more from their workouts without doing more. The added weight helps people burn more calories, tone, sculpt and strengthen muscles and build bone density.

KJ: What are the benefits of following your program?

Debbie Rocker ~ You get to train like an elite athlete – even if it’s your first time working out. I have coaching and motivational skills that inspire women and men to exercise purely, effectively and consistently, and I also have experience as a former professional athlete who knows the best ways to get results.

KJ: Total Fitness, you state is a “Mind-Body Solution to a Mind-Body Problem.” What causes or begins the Mind-Body Problem?

Debbie Rocker ~ hard to say.. too many factors affecting our lives. We deal with what we have to work with today, and find positive ways to change the things that are negatively affecting us today.

KJ: What is our “unconscious life?”

Debbie Rocker ~ (many of us) live and eat unconsciously (out of habit) most of the time.

KJ: What is the daily “WorkIn?”

Debbie Rocker ~WorkIns are mental conditioning exercises that help us change our minds, not just our bodies.

KJ: When I begin the Total Fitness program, how will my “Awareness” level be raised?

Debbie Rocker ~By thinking about the issues that I raise, and by applying the techniques in the book, you will gain clarity and then a greater awareness of what you do and why.

KJ: Why is walking the most natural form of exercise?

Debbie Rocker ~ It is what we are brought up to know how to do.

KJ: Ms. Rocker, you created the WalkVest. What is the WalkVest?

Debbie Rocker ~ It is a weighted vest that is loaded with weights around the mid torso (for safely and balance) and it helps people exercise more efficiently (you immediately burn more calories while wearing it) since we have all already adapted to our natural body weight. The WALKVEST puts our bodies into a “training effect” – our hearts are strengthened by the added weight as we are forced to generate more energy to carry it. Our muscles and bones too have to produce more of what it takes to carry us along which builds stronger muscles and bones. There is a core conditioning belt that helps strengthen the abdominals and support the lower back – so posture is enhanced as well. But best of all, the WALKVEST comes with CD workouts - my motivational coaching set to music – for encouragement and proficiency.

KJ: What was the catalyst behind its creation?

Debbie Rocker ~ I started walking with weight bandoliers after my body told me “no more running” in order to get a heightened training effect from walking. But the weight bandoliers were uncomfortable, unsightly and unbalanced – still the workout felt great and all I was doing was walking. So I designed a weighted vest that is attractive, comfortable and safely balanced for all to use.

KJ: I’ll obviously need good shoes for the program. What else do I need?

Debbie Rocker ~ just the slightest bit of willingness.

KJ: Should I be counting carbs, calories, protein intake?

Debbie Rocker ~ stop counting – period. Just do the workouts, eat the prescribed diet and enjoy!

KJ: What kind of diet will I eat while I WorkOut and WorkIn?

Debbie Rocker ~ It’s a simple eating plan, no refined sugar in the beginning and predominantly fresh vegetables, lean protein and lots of water.

KJ: You say that I must take a break from the “hustle and bustle of my mind.” Tell me how to do this.

Debbie Rocker ~ 5 minutes of quiet time in the morning is a good start. Just sit in a comfortable, quiet space and listen to yourself breathe.

KJ: After the 14 day program—how do I continue being Trained For Life? (Please discuss the three phases.)

Debbie Rocker ~ Maintenance is personal based on people’s schedules and the options for more exercise and less are in phase 3. Phase 2 offers more food options/choices but many people find it easier to not have to choose.

KJ: Ms. Rocker, please elaborate on what you do professionally now.

Debbie Rocker ~ I am working on book 2, and developing products and programming for a large fitness company called Gaiam, who distributes to retail stores nationwide, they are also available on my website - www.debbierocker.com. My programs are primarily walking based so that (just about) everyone can do them.