Why Focusing on Performance (Not Body Fat % or Scale Weight) Helps You Burn More Fat

Unlock Lasting Results by Training Smarter, Not Just Lighter

Introduction

Step off the scale. Stop pinching your waist. If your health goals revolve solely around body fat percentage or your morning weight, you might be sabotaging your results without even knowing it. The truth is: focusing on performance — strength, endurance, and capacity — is one of the fastest and most sustainable ways to burn fat and extend your longevity.

Coach Ray Traitz, a seasoned health and strength coach, has guided hundreds of clients to drop fat, gain muscle, and boost confidence — without obsessing over the scale. His strategy? Shift the focus to performance goals like lifting heavier, running farther, recovering faster, and mastering the mind-body connection.

Let’s explore how science supports this — and how you can apply it today.

Why Performance Over Body Fat % and Scale Weight?

Focusing solely on numbers like weight or body fat percentage:

  • Ignores lean mass gain (which boosts metabolism)

  • Leads to frustration and inconsistency

  • Triggers unhealthy behaviors like overtraining and undereating

Instead, performance-based goals:

  • Enhance muscle development

  • Improve insulin sensitivity and hormonal balance

  • Boost metabolic rate more efficiently than scale-based dieting

3 Top Researchers Championing Performance-Based Fat Loss

1. Dr. Stacy Sims – Exercise Physiologist and Nutrition Scientist

Known for her groundbreaking work in female physiology and performance training.

Her Performance-Focused Strategies:

  • Train in power zones (sprints, lifts, HIIT) to increase muscle fiber recruitment and post-exercise fat burn.

  • Fuel pre- and post-workout: Eating around training optimizes hormone health, builds lean mass, and prevents muscle breakdown.

  • Track strength metrics: Focus on load progression, not weight loss.

2. Dr. Brad Schoenfeld – Muscle Hypertrophy and Fat Loss Expert

Widely cited in resistance training science, Dr. Schoenfeld studies optimal fat loss through training.

His Fat-Loss Through Performance Recommendations:

  • Lift heavy with compound movements: These torch fat by stimulating large muscle groups.

  • Use progressive overload over time: Building strength increases basal metabolic rate.

  • Combine strength with conditioning: Not just cardio — metabolic resistance training keeps fat loss high and muscle loss low.

3. Dr. Andy Galpin – Human Performance Scientist, CSU Fullerton

A top figure in muscle physiology and elite athletic performance.

His Approach to Performance-Focused Longevity:

  • Use performance tracking tools: Monitor watts, reps, VO2, and rest recovery—not your body fat %.

  • Build Type II muscle fibers: These fibers are critical for metabolic health and fat oxidation.

  • Train with intensity, then recover deeply: Quality recovery supports hormonal balance and sustainable fat loss.

Case Studies: Performance Beats the Scale

Case Study 1: Dr. Sims’ Performance Nutrition Intervention

A group of active women who stopped calorie-restricting and instead focused on strength metrics gained lean muscle, reduced visceral fat, and improved hormonal profiles within 12 weeks—without losing a pound on the scale.

Case Study 2: Dr. Schoenfeld’s Resistance Training Meta-Analysis

His analysis showed that participants in resistance training programs lost more fat and preserved more lean mass compared to calorie-restricted-only groups—even when scale weight barely changed.

Case Study 3: Dr. Galpin’s Work with Tactical Athletes

Operators who trained for performance — such as sprint times, power outputs, and tactical readiness — experienced a larger drop in body fat compared to those who focused on weight loss alone. Their recovery, energy, and performance all improved.

Coach Ray Traitz’s Approach: Performance First, Fat Loss Follows

Coach Ray has lived through and coached others through the emotional rollercoaster of scale obsession. His breakthrough came by shifting the goalposts: helping clients chase strength milestones, skill progression, and cardiovascular output instead.

His performance-first coaching model includes:

  • Goal-Based Strength Training: Focused on PRs, not pants size.

  • Metabolic Conditioning for Real Life: Sled drags, carries, bike sprints, and loaded movement.

  • Mindset Reset: Weekly reflection tools to redirect client attention from aesthetics to capability.

Why You Should Hire Coach Ray Traitz

If you're stuck in a loop of dieting, scale anxiety, or body frustration, it’s time to change course. Coach Ray will help you:

  • Set performance goals that excite you

  • Build a body that burns fat 24/7

  • Strengthen your mental game and self-worth

  • Train like an athlete, not a dieter

Your Body Is Capable of More Than You Think

When you train to lift more, move better, and endure longer, your body adapts by becoming leaner, stronger, and more resilient — often faster than if you simply chased the scale.

📧 Contact Coach Ray Traitz
Strength | Conditioning | Mindset | Longevity
📩 amrapfitness@hotmail.com

Resources

  1. Sims, S. (2021). ROAR: How to Match Your Food and Fitness to Your Unique Female Physiology.

  2. Schoenfeld, B. (2010). The mechanisms of muscle hypertrophy and their application to resistance training. Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research.

  3. Galpin, A. (2023). Unplugged: Evolve from Technology to Upgrade Your Fitness, Performance & Consciousness.

Ray Traitz
How Positive Self-Talk Can Improve Longevity

Rewiring Your Inner Voice for a Longer, Healthier Life

Introduction

What if one of the most powerful tools for extending your life wasn’t found in a supplement bottle or at the gym—but in your own mind? Research is increasingly showing that positive self-talk—the practice of consciously directing your inner dialogue—can profoundly impact your health, reduce chronic stress, and even increase your lifespan.

Coach Ray Traitz, a passionate health, strength, and mindset coach, has seen firsthand how clients can transform their outcomes by changing the way they speak to themselves. He’s not only teaching this approach—he’s living it, integrating positive self-talk into his own wellness protocol as a key element for mental resilience, physical performance, and healthy aging.

What is Positive Self-Talk?

Positive self-talk refers to the internal dialogue that supports and uplifts rather than criticizes and sabotages. This internal script can shape our attitudes, stress responses, habits, and health decisions, influencing both our mental and physical well-being.

3 Leading Experts on Positive Psychology and Longevity

1. Dr. Barbara Fredrickson – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

A pioneer in positive psychology, Dr. Fredrickson developed the Broaden-and-Build Theory which shows how positive emotions expand our awareness and build long-term resilience.

Her Longevity-Focused Self-Talk Strategies:

  • Use “I am” affirmations: E.g., “I am strong,” “I am healing.” These statements stimulate hope and reduce stress hormones.

  • Savor moments of joy: Reflecting on small positives can rewire the brain for optimism.

  • Practice loving-kindness meditation: Mentally repeating phrases like “May I be safe, may I be well” lowers inflammation markers.

2. Dr. Kelly McGonigal – Stanford University

Author of The Upside of Stress, Dr. McGonigal teaches that the way we interpret stress can determine its biological effects.

Her Top 3 Self-Talk Shifts for Longevity:

  • Reframe stress as strength: “This stress means I care.” This approach reduces cortisol and boosts cardiovascular health.

  • Talk to yourself like a coach: Replace “I can’t do this” with “I’ve trained for this” or “I’ve got this.”

  • Name your values: Saying, “I’m doing this because health matters to me,” increases endurance and commitment.

3. Dr. Ethan Kross – University of Michigan

Author of Chatter, Dr. Kross studies how the inner voice affects our decisions, emotions, and even our immune system.

His Proven Positive Self-Talk Tools:

  • Distanced self-talk: Use your own name (e.g., “Ray, you can get through this”) to reduce anxiety.

  • Write it down: Journaling positive affirmations helps regulate emotion and reduce inflammation.

  • Visualize future success: Picturing yourself thriving in your 80s or 90s can influence your health behaviors today.

Case Studies from the Experts

Case Study 1: Fredrickson’s 2005 Positivity Ratio Study

Participants who practiced daily affirmations and gratitude journaling experienced lower blood pressure, better immune function, and more consistent physical activity. Many showed biomarkers of biological age younger than their chronological age.

Case Study 2: McGonigal’s Mindset Stress Reframing Intervention

In a workplace setting, individuals trained to reinterpret stress through self-talk had 40% less cortisol, improved memory, and higher performance in cognitive tasks. Six months later, they reported better sleep and lower doctor visits.

Case Study 3: Kross’ Study on Distanced Self-Talk During Crisis

During the COVID-19 pandemic, participants using distanced self-talk (“You will get through this”) showed greater emotional regulation, reduced depressive symptoms, and stronger adherence to healthy routines, such as regular movement and healthy eating.

Coach Ray Traitz’s Real-World Implementation of Positive Self-Talk

Coach Ray doesn’t just help people lift weights—he helps them lift the mental burdens that hold them back. He integrates positive self-talk coaching into his personalized programs to ensure clients don’t just get physically stronger—they become more resilient, focused, and self-compassionate.

Here’s how Ray helps clients master their inner voice:

  • Daily Mindset Drills: Morning and evening affirmations that align with their goals.

  • Mirror Work: Teaching clients to practice affirmations aloud to boost confidence.

  • Mental Reps with Physical Sets: Clients are encouraged to repeat motivational phrases (“I am getting stronger,” “This is making me better”) during workouts.

Why You Should Hire Coach Ray Traitz

Coach Ray Traitz understands that physical health is inseparable from mental wellness. He creates programs that strengthen the body, reframe the mind, and optimize longevity.

By working with Ray, you’ll receive:

  • Custom Fitness Plans with Mindset Coaching

  • Nutrition that Supports Mental Clarity and Energy

  • Tools to Rewire Your Brain for Success and Self-Belief

  • Support from a Coach Who Lives What He Teaches

Take Back Control of Your Inner Voice

It’s time to speak life into your goals, your health, and your future. Let Coach Ray Traitz guide you toward a life rooted in strength, self-respect, and lasting wellness.

📧 Contact Coach Ray Traitz
Health | Fitness | Nutrition | Strength
📩 amrapfitness@hotmail.com

Resources

  1. Fredrickson, B. (2004). The Broaden-and-Build Theory of Positive Emotions. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B.

  2. McGonigal, K. (2015). The Upside of Stress. Avery Publishing.

  3. Kross, E. (2021). Chatter: The Voice in Our Head, Why It Matters, and How to Harness It. Crown Publishing.

Ray Traitz
5/24 🇺🇸 HERO SATURDAY 🇺🇸

"Rankel"

Complete as many rounds as possible in 20 minutes of:
225 pound Deadlift, 6 reps
7 Burpee pull-ups
10 Kettlebell swings, 2 pood
Run 200 meters

U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant John Rankel, 23, of Speedway, Indiana, assigned to 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1 Marine Expeditionary Force, based out of Camp Pendleton, California, was killed on June 7, 2010, while supporting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. He is survived by mother and stepfather Don and Trisha Stockhoff; father and stepmother, Kevin and Kim Rankel; and brothers Nathan Stockhoff and Tyler Rankel.

Ray Traitz
5/23 Friday

Dynamic Warm Up #1

*Coaches choice run or row*

Lunge complex

Inchworm

Dynamic walk

Toy soldiers

Broad jumps

WOD

5 rounds for time:

400m run

10 burpee squat jump complex 

Ray Traitz