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I’m so glad you’re here!

Welcome to the website for Matt Van Der Laar (@mattlaarfit) and Fit Fat Training, LLC!

To learn more about who we are, what we do, and how we help clients, please use the navigation menu above. Thanks for stopping by!

mattlaarfit

No BS Health & Wellness Coach
Helping you conquer emotional eating, stinking thinking & lose fat for good
Mindful eating 🍲
Run. Lift. Eat. Hike 💪

You don't have to eat sh*tty food to lose weight. You don't have to eat sh*tty food to lose weight.

You don’t have to eat low calorie, low carb, low fat everything to be healthy!

Hell, you don't even need to track calories, though it can certainly help.

The more you complicate nutrition with food rules, restrictions, and super low calorie diets..the more likely you'll continue to struggle with losing weight or just being healthy in general.

You see, no one food you're eating or aren’t eating that is making you unhealthy or healthy.

It's your overall lifestyle, nutrition habits and behaviors that dictate that.

Once you apply mindfulness to the food you eat, the way you move your body, and the way you think.. you'll unlock a level of food freedom you never thought possible. 

And it starts with mindful eating as the foundation.

Do you struggle with your relationship with food?

Hope you found this helpful. Let me know below!

Matt

#mindfuleating #mindfulmay #weightlosstips #weightlosshelp #mindfulweightloss
Weight loss supplements are nothing but broken pro Weight loss supplements are nothing but broken promises and unrealistic expectations

You continue to struggle with reaching your weight loss goals because you are relying on supplements and diet programs to fix your problems 

But what problems are they actually fixing?

A diet won't fix your emotional eating 

A supplement won't change the fact that you are restricting and binging 

Diets and supplements are surface level solutions to problems that are much deeper than that.

Your mindset sucks. You give up when you have a bad weekend. You cant be perfect so you do nothing. 

You are too busy and stressed from life and mindlessly eat your feelings. 

You keep turning to supplements and diets yet they don't address the root cause and that is why you continue to struggle and stay stuck in the weight loss and weight gain cycle.

You don't NEED another diet or weight loss supplement.

What you need is to change your behaviors. Repair your relationship with food. Build a strong, resilient body and mind. 

Mindful eating helps you do that. Mindful eating isn't a diet or fad. Everyone can be a mindful eater.

Learn how to regulate your emotions and stress so you don't eat the feelings away.

Learn how to move your body in a way you enjoy. 

Learn how to be resilient and put an end to your self sabotaging behaviors.

Diets do not fix any of these issues. They only make them worse!

Only when you commit to reap change and leave all that BS behind will you make realistic progress with your weight loss goals.

Need help figuring it out? Our 9 week Mindful eating program starts May 26th. 

Over the coming week I'll be sharing details on our program and how we can help YOU Lose weight without dieting, buying expensive supplements, or obsessing about calories. 

Comment below for more details 💪

Matt

#mindfuleating #mindfulmay #weightlosssupplements ##weightlossdiet
I did some cupping therapy for the first time, her I did some cupping therapy for the first time, here's what my experience was like.

You've probably seen cupping pop up all over social media, but this isn't a new therapy.

Cupping therapy has been around for thousands of years and is an ancient Chinese healing method.

Cupping therapy is an ancient healing method that may ease back pain, neck pain, headaches and other issues. It uses suction to pull on your skin and increase blood flow to the affected area, which is thought to promote healing and recovery. 

My girlfriend has Fibromyalgia and has been using cupping therapy for months now and finds it to be effective for pain management and for flare ups.

I've been curious about it so I decided decided give it a try. I've got a lot of muscle in my back and I carry a lot of stress and tension in my upper back.

I enjoyed the experience and immediately after I felt a sense of calm and the tension in my back was gone.

It was so calming that I fell asleep in minutes and had a great night sleep 😂 the best way I can describe, is it's like a reverse massage.

Today I'm feeling great and my back is without tightness and tension and I'm considering that a big win. 

I want to call out here that cupping doesn't have strong scientific evidence behind it. I believe in giving you science based information and this my personal anecdotal experience with it. I do have clients that swear by cupping for recovery and I'm not going up discourage them from doing cupping if they feel like it helps them.

Many athletes partake in cupping for recovery. As always this should not replace traditional forms of medicine and recovery but can be used as a supplement.

This is something ill continue to experiment with, I'll be cupping on my legs next because as a runner, my legs take a beating and I'll take any help I can get to stay strong, healthy, and feeling good.

Hope this helps!

Have you ever tried cupping therapy? 

Matt

#cupping #cuppingtherapy #cuppingmassage #activerecovery
5k PR! Today I ran in a local 5k with my dad and 5k PR!

Today I ran in a local 5k with my dad and had a great time. We both came home with PR's and I came in 10th place.

I beat my 5k time set last November by 21 seconds and I'll be honest I didn't think I had a PR in me today! 

I was so incredibly tired from my week but I found the focus and resilience I needed to get dialed in..

I set a PR my half marathon two weeks ago and have been taking it easy to allow my body to heal before starting my next training block.

This was a fun race and I really enjoyed spending time with my dad. If you didn't know.

My dad is the reason why I became a personal trainer a decade ago, after he had a stroke. I helped him get strong and healthy in the gym and fell in love with helping others.

Idk whose idea it was to start the race with an uphill climb, that was rude, but it paid off at the end of the race as I was able to pick up speed going down that same hill right for the final 100 yard push at the end.

I didn't check my watch the entire time, I was running off of how it felt and it felt HARD 🙃 

Once I came around the corner and saw i was close to a PR I turned it up, finished strong, and came home with a PR and an effort I'm proud of. 

Once I finished I circled back to root my dad on and help him set his pace and we crossed the finish line together.

The best part of this race? Walking tacos at the finish line 😋

I don't train for speed but am about to start a block of training where I'm focusing on my 5k and I'm excited to see where I can take it. 

No weak ass finishes here. Finish what you started and give it everything you have. 

We are Fit Fat Strong!

Matt 

#runnersofinstagram #5krace #mindfulmay #mindfulmovement #runnercommunity
AsPaRtAmE is bad for you! Drink the full sugar sod AsPaRtAmE is bad for you! Drink the full sugar soda with hundreds of empty calories instead. 

- Fitness Influencers (don't forget to comment SCAM below and my bot will send you a discount code to my supplements that are unregulated and untested)
How my client lost 20 lbs without cutting calories How my client lost 20 lbs without cutting calories!

It's so easy everyone can do it. Literally.  Isn't that NEAT?!

Here's what she did...

She increased her daily movement. She went from averaging 2k steps per day to 8k steps per day. This adds up to hundreds of extra calories burned everyday and doing that over an extended amount of time really makes a big difference. 

She lost 20 lbs in 6 months and we didn't do any additional exercise. She did that while eating 1800 calories, too.

I've recently lost about 20 lbs myself without tracking calories and a big part of that is because of my activity levels. I still eat dessert almost everyday and eat food I enjoy.

The more active you are, the higher your metabolism. You'll burn more calories which means you can eat more food while still losing weight.

The answer isn't to cut your calories. The answer is to move your ass 💪

Matt

#mindfulmay #mindfulmovemrnt #moveyourbody ##dailymovement
How to STOP overeating and mindless eating (this a How to STOP overeating and mindless eating (this actually works)

Mindful eating is a skill just like any other skill.

One of the first things you need to do when learning how to eat mindfully is raise awareness and be willing to get uncomfortable.

These questions and strategies are designed to help you do just that. 

Without awareness you cannot change, and a great way to create awareness is to ask questions, get curious, and exploring your hunger.

So let's get curious!!

Welcome to mindful May Day 8. All month long I'm taking mindful eating, mindfulness, and mental health. 

Find this post helpful? Liking and commenting helps me reach more people and is greatly appreciated.

Happy mindful eating,

Matt

#mindfulmay #mindfuleating #emotionaleating #mindfulweightloss
Not losing fat? Your insulin switch is broken! Ju Not losing fat? Your insulin switch is broken!

Just kidding. That's bullshit.

For years now, holistic health influences have been claiming that insulin is what is making you fat... but there's a problem with that.

it's been debunked. The carbohydrate insulin model (CIM) claims that high insulin is the driver of obesity, but it's a flawed model.

For example, did you know protein also triggers insulin release? I don't see these influencers blaming protein for your fat gain.

Your body uses energy every single day. if you bring in more energy than your body needs, it gets stored as fat. When you don't bring in enough energy to maintain your body,  your body gets energy from your fat storages. 

This is energy balance. Calories in, calories out. 

Is this simplified? You betcha. but it's also true. and you need to keep things simple if you want to lose fat and keep it off..and worrying about insulin is the definition of overcomplicating things. 

Long story short..if you aren't losing fat, you simply aren't in a calorie deficit.

Hope this helps.

What fat loss questions do you have for me?

Matt

#fatloss #insulin #weightlosstips
You've got to try this wild high protein snack! P You've got to try this wild high protein snack!

Peach Greek yogurt (fruit in the bottom) and cheese sticks.

I love having yogurt and cheese sticks for snacks..so why not combine them? 

What can I say, I like food that I can dunk. Reminds me of being a kid - mindful eating is about enjoying the food you eat!

High protein. Delicious. Nutritious. Simplicious. 

My girlfriend is mortified 🤣

Would you try this?

Matt

#highproteinsnacks #simplesnacks #snackideas #mindfulmay ##mindfuleating
Electrolytes!! Do you need them? No, probably not Electrolytes!! Do you need them?

No, probably not.

Electrolytes (as with most supplements) are very specific for their use.

They can be beneficial for those enduring prolonged intense exercise. Athletes could also benefit from using them. Endurance sports. They're sweating their Dicks off.

People working in hot humid environments. Doing lots of yard work on a long hot day.

But sitting your office job all day and going to the gym a few times a week?

Nah. You aren't losing electrolytes doing that.

In fact, overconsuming electrolytes can be harmful, especially if you are hypertensive. 

Eat a balanced diet and drink plenty of water and you're fine. You don't need to waste your money.

Have you ever taken electrolyte supplements?

Matt

##mindfulmay #electrolytes #nutritionhelp #supplements
What I eat to stay on track with my health goals w What I eat to stay on track with my health goals while at an amusement park (Cedar Point).

One of my favorite nutrition hacks to use when I'm traveling is to eat a big ass sandwich.

Sandwiches are a great way to get some protein, fiber, and micro nutrients in your diet, depending on how you make it.

Pair it up with some fruit and/or a protein shake and up have an awesome meal that you can eat anywhere.

Did you know you can take your own food to amusement parks? We kept our food in the car since we're local - you can do this too when you're running around doing errands!

All you need is a little planning and a cooler 🙌

Eating healthy doesn't have to suck!

Happy mindful eating!

Matt

#mindfulmay #fatlosstips #fatlosshelp ##mindfuleating 
#nutritiononthego #nutritionhelp #eatasandwich
Are you familiar with your signs of hunger and how Are you familiar with your signs of hunger and how your body communicates hunger to you?

For me I start to feel anxious, but I won't have an appetite.

It's tempting to not eat in that situation because you are not hungry and you are elevated, but that's exactly why you need to eat.

Hunger can show itself it many ways. Anxiousness. Moodiness and irritability. Rumbling stomach. No focus. Tired. Nausea. These are just a few ways your body could be telling you that you're hungry.

So how do you find out if that's what it is? We'll, it's time to be mindful. 

You eat. Sit down and try to eliminate any distractions, and just eat. A food journal may also help so you can document how you were feeling, what you are doing, food you ate, who you were with, etc.

This will allow you to spot trends and become more aware of your emotions and hunger.

What are some ways hunger shows up for you?

Remember, hunger can show up differently for everyone.

Happy mindful eating,

Matt
5 foods that WILL make you fat.. ALL food has th 5 foods that WILL make you fat.. 

ALL food has the ability to make you fat...if you eat too much of it.

There are NO foods that make you gain fat by themselves. ZERO. Not even sugar. 

The only way you gain fat is by regularly consuming more calories than you burn. 

You can fight against this all you'd like.. 

Or you can accept it and apply it to your life so you can actually make realistic progress with your weight loss instead of yo-yo dieting your life away.

What are you struggling with when it comes to losing fat?

Matt 

#weightlossfoods #mindfulmay #caloriedeficittips #weightlosstipsforwomen
Self care isn't selfish. Self care is self preserv Self care isn't selfish. Self care is self preservation!

This is a concept that we teach our clients in our Mindful Eating program.  As parents, spouses, partners, employees ,business owners - it is so easy to put our needs on the back burner while caring for others.

We tend to feel guilty for taking care of ourselves, don't we? This shame we feel is often from the unrealistic expectations society has on us, or perhaps that we put on ourselves. 

Wherever it's coming from, handle it with grace. 

Self care doesn't have to be some extravagant thing.  Most of the time it likely won't be. Even just a few minutes of mindfulness every day can help. 

How you show up for yourself matters.  YOU matter, and you are worth it.

And let's be real here. You will be a better, more present person when you practice self care. No one needs a stressed, overworked, burnt out version of yourself lol

What are some ways you practice self care? Is self care something you struggle with?

Let me know how your mindful May is going!

Matt

#mindfuleating ##mindfulmay #selfcareisntselfish
Lost your motivation? Here's what you need to do Lost your motivation? 

Here's what you need to do get your motivation back.

1. Have a bigger goal that actually means something to you. Losing weight is a terrible goal.

2. Take action and create your own motivation. Motivation is a feeling, an emotion. 

Feelings come and go. emotions change. and when you make decisions based off of your feelings and emotions, you will lose everytime.

Take messy action. Do something instead nothing. Make your own motivation.

Matt

#motivation #fitnessmotivation #mindfulmay #mindsetmatters
High protein Peanut Butter & Jelly?! Yup. Even be High protein Peanut Butter & Jelly?!

Yup. Even better than when we were kids, too.

Not only can PB&J be High protein and part of a balanced diet...it's also a great way to get some fiber in. 

I don't know if many people know this but Peanut butter is a sneaky source of fiber.

All you have to do is make your sandwich like an adult instead of like a child.

Swap out your shitty white bread for a whole grain bread like Dave's Killer Bread. More protein, more fiber.

Vitamin D milk is a great way to add in some protein, and who doesn't have milk with their PB&J? 

Peanut butter itself isn't a great protein source as it's primarily a fat, but when you balance it out like this, it can actually work quite well for your goals.

Something else I like to do is swap out jelly for fresh raspberries and smash them up.  This is lower calorie than jelly and higher fiber.

You don't have to eat shitty food that tastes like cardboard to reach your goals and you certainly don't have to give up your childhood favorite comfort foods.

Matt

#mindfuleating #nutritiontips #highproteinmealideas
You haven't f*cked up. The only way you f*ck up i You haven't f*cked up.

The only way you f*ck up is if you throw a pity party and quit.

That's what you do every time you "have a bad meal".

Every time you "cheat".

Don't you realize the reason you're spinning your wheels is because you keep f*cking quitting?

How will you ever be consistent if you beat yourself into oblivion every time life happens?

One day, one weekend, in isolation, will have no impact on your goals or fat loss.

But if you keep it going and keep this all or nothing mentality going, it will.

Keep going. You haven't f*cked up - yet.

Have a great weekend.

Matt

#fatlosstips #mindfulmay #selfsabotage #allornothing #mindsetmatters #mindfuleating #mindsetmotivation
She did WHAT?! 🤨😮 This was such a great vi She did WHAT?! 🤨😮 

This was such a great video with an incredible message @thediaryofrihanna

If you wouldn't do it to her, why would you do it to yourself?! 

You are your own worst critic. You treat yourself poorly, get stuck in the negative self talk loop, are constantly shoulding yourself, and let's be real here.. you treat your body worse than you could ever treat your worst enemies. 

You don't have to love everything about yourself in order to love yourself unconditionally, perceived flaws and all.

Matt 

#mindfuleating #mindfulmay #mindsetmatters #mentalhealthawareness #foodfreedom
When I knew Janelle Rohner was a scam I've always When I knew Janelle Rohner was a scam

I've always known. Myself and many of my coaching friends and colleagues tried warning yall.. you didn't care then why do you care now?

yall weren't upset about her keto scam lol or her macro scam, but you draw the line at her GLP-1 scam?

Make it make sense.

Matt
Snacking your way to constant hunger and weight ga Snacking your way to constant hunger and weight gain?

To be blunt, your idea of a snack kinda sucks. I say this with love 🤣

Potato chips are tasty. They also don't provide any satiety and are incredibly easy to overeat.

If you're trying to lose fat, snacking can really make things difficult. Opt for protein and fiber snacks, or better yet, pair your chips or other less than nutritious snack with some fruit, beef jerky, yogurt - something that has some staying power and will provide some nourishment.

Otherwise, you are left mindlessly snacking and overeating your actual meals.. Or worse yet, continuing to snack all night because you haven't actually given your body what it needed.

Snacking is OK, but it isn't necessary, and if all you're doing is snacking, perhaps it's time to evaluate your approach to nutrition, because your meals quite obviously SUCK.

Is mindless snacking something you struggle with?

Matt

#mindfuleating #mindlesseating #mindfulsnack #highproteinsnack #highfibersnack #mindfulmay
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