Redd is an EbonyMale.com contributor with an extensive background in Exercise Physiology and Massage Therapy. Redd caters to both the metaphysical and physical facets of man. He is the Counselor, Personal Trainer, and Massage Therapist to countless celebrities across the country.

I'm challenged to help my clients lose body fat, tone key areas, build muscle, and look good for the coming summer months! I'm excited! My clients trust my Fitness Training expertise and so (today) I offer a little to those of you who want to get in shape and look great NAKED this summer! I want you to look good this summer, but more than anything I want you to make a LIFESTYLE out of fitness. Here's a little advice to get you started. Please keep me updated and feel free to ask questions if you have any.

GETTING STARTED... The HARDEST part of this journey!

First things first! Before starting any fitness regimen or meal plan, consult your doctor! Get a check up! Check your blood pressure, ask for a stress test (a test that examines how your heart responds to the demands of physical activity), and find out if you have any allergies (so you know what food, beverages, and suppliments to avoid). Get a PARTNER! The best way to challenge yourself is to get an exercise partner who will motivate you to do what you probably WON'T do on your own (and vice versa)! We all need ACCOUNTABILITY because it helps us work harder and stick with our exercise plan.

FOOD... The MONSTER that can make or break you!

Food can be your best friend or your worst enemy! Knowing what to eat and what to avoid is key in getting to near physical perfection. LOL! Pay attention to REDD'S RULES:

Drink plenty of water. At least eight (8) glasses of water daily. Water helps regulate body temperature, hydrate our organs, detoxify the body, and promote weight loss.

Try your best to eat five (5) SMALL meals every three (3) hours on a daily basis [breakfast, light snack #1, lunch, light snack #2, and dinner]. Put yourself on a schedule. Eating this way fuels and regulates your metabolism. You will burn fat so much faster. DO NOT eat at least two (2) hours before you go to bed. Our bodies don't digest food as well while we sleep. Your food will be stored as fat (because you won't produce enough digestive hormones - gastrin, secretin, and CCK - while you sleep). Pick ONE (1) day, preferably on the weekend, to eat the things that you really like. You will need one (1) day a week to "rest" from a strict meal plan so you don't burn out. Don't overdo it! Take a multi-vitamin daily.

AVOID salt (become aquainted and friendly with Mrs. Dash). AVOID sugar. AVOID excess fats (oils, salad dressings, mayonaise, and dairy products - whole milk, cheese, eggs, and butter). AVOID simple carbohydrates (artificially flavored or carbonated beverages, candy, cakes & cookies, pudding & custard, and ice cream). AVOID certain complex carbohydrates (white or wheat bread, white rice, white potatoes, pasta, and certain cereals). Eat WHOLE GRAIN bread and ceral ONLY! AVOID pork (ALTOGETHER). AVOID beef (or at least minimize your intake to once per week). AVOID fried food (at all costs). AVOID alcoholic beverages (or at least minimize your intake to once per week). AVOID smoking (at all costs)!

EXERCISE... The KEY to looking great NAKED!

After consulting a doctor, join a gym and hire a Certified Fitness Trainer (certified by AFAA, AFPA, NFPT, NSCA, ACE, or ACSM). These certifications are top notch and require actual training experience and a thorough knowledge of Anatomy, Kinesiology, Fitness Testing, Injury Prevention & Emergency Care, Exercise Programming, and Nutrition. Finding a good trainer is like finding a good Plastic Surgeon... trying to be cheap and not checking credentials can really SCAR you for life. If an uncertified trainer causes damage to your joints or nerves, it is often IRREVERSIBLE! So please be careful. If you need to save money, get your exercise partner to split the fee with you and do team training sessions. Some trainers will train you and your exercise partner together.

Redd's Special Note: Just before getting started, buy a camera and take pictures of your body. Try to take pictures once a month and label them. This is a great way to monitor your progress! It is also motivating to see your body constantly changing and improving.

Try to work out five (5) days per week. I prefer a full body workout WITH WEIGHTS three (3) days and cardiovascular conditioning two (2) days... with two (2) consecutive days of rest. Trying to divide upper body and lower body workouts is too confusing and not as effective (unless you are trying to become a bodybuilder). Plus, you want to consistantly work MORE muscles and spend less time being sore! If your goal is to build muscle, use heavier weights [always try to start out lifting 85% of the maximum amount you can lift] and less sets & repetitions [I recommend 4 sets of 6-8 reps of heavy weight]. If your goal is muscular tone and definition, use lighter weights with more sets and repetitions [I recommend 5 sets of 10-12 reps... 15 reps for the extra challenge]. Remember to WARM UP by doing at least five (5) minutes of aerobic exercise (elliptical machine, treadmill, stationary bike, or stairclimber) before every weight lifting session. STRETCH before and after any strenuous exercise. Warming up and stretching will help prevent injury and increase the range of motion in your joints for better weight lifting results.

Redd's Special Note: If you hire a trainer who prefers to divide your sessions into upper and lower body workouts, follow his or her lead. Just be aware that you will spend an extra day with the trainer which means you will have to pay for four (4) sessions weekly rather than three (3) sessions.

Cardiovascular conditioning [with aerobic exercise] is important! It helps improve the efficiency of our heart and lungs (by increasing blood supply to the muscles and increasing the body's ability to use oxygen). It helps reduce HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE. It helps reduce HIGH CHOLESTEROL [LDL or bad cholesterol levels]. It helps reduce the risk of developing DIABETES (by improving glucose tolerance and reducing insulin resistance). It also helps to reduce body fat and improves the body's ability to control weight.

Redd's Special Note: I prefer the ELLIPTICAL MACHINE because it is VERY "low impact" (meaning easy on the knee and ankle joints). It won't cause shin splints or wear down the cartilage in your knees and ankles. Start with thirty (30) minutes at a moderate level for two (2) - three (3) days per week. Add five (5) minutes every week until you get to sixty (60) minutes. At that point increase the intensity level and go back to thirty (30) minutes at that intensity until you build up to sixty (60) mins again. Continue the cycle. Redd's Challenge... periodically (once or twice a week) set the machine to the "Random" or "Cross Training" setting and experience working at different intensities in the session. A GOOD elliptical machine will usually (automatically) change the intensity and monitor your heart rate throughout the session. This will also boost your training results.

NO GYM, NO TRAINER, NO PROBLEM... Save money and still look great NAKED!

If you can't afford a gym membership or just don't have time to go, you STILL have options! Use the resources you have. Take a brisk thirty (30) - forty five (45) minute walk in the local park daily with your exercise partner (and a STUN GUN or a PITBULL in some rough areas... SMILE). Find some stairs and walk (or run) up and down the stairs for approximately twenty (20) minutes a day [this will help you burn fat and condition your heart & lungs simultaneously]. Do pushups [start with 4 sets of 10 reps] and crunches [start with 4 sets of 10-15 reps]. Increase your sets and or reps every two (2) weeks. Buy some light weights and some good exercise DVDs [I love the CRUNCH DVDs as well as the BILLY BLANKS Tae Bo DVDs]. The key is being CONSISTANT (by exercising with your DVDs daily) and following the instructions closely for best results. YOU WILL BE IN THE BEST SHAPE OF YOUR LIFE FASTER THAN YOU EVER EXPECTED!

Redd's Special Note: consult your Doctor for the BEST vitamins and suppliments for your body type and specific needs.

Looking great NAKED is all about YOU! You have to take control of your life and health. I want EVERYBODY to be healthy and happy. Even if you don't plan to be naked on the beach, you will look good in whatever you choose to wear (AND IT WILL FIT). Some of you will lose pounds and inches and have to buy a totally new wardrobe. I'm excited about that! I can't wait to see some of the results.