5 Muscle Building Tips

August 13, 2009

Jason Ferruggia just put together 5 random muscle building
tips that may make a big difference in your training..

– Don’t exceed 5-6 reps on most of your warm up sets. Your first
set could consist of a very light weight for 10-20 reps just to get
loosened up and get the blood flowing but beyond that you want to
keep the reps low. The reason for this is that you don’t want to
build up too much lactic acid or accumulate too much fatigue with
your warm ups.

– Don’t stretch before your workout in the hopes of preventing
injury. This doesn’t work. The only benefit of stretching before a
workout is to help you get into positions you might not be able to
reach (such as a full squat) because you are tight in specific
areas (such as the hamstrings and hip flexors). But stretching for
the sake of injury prevention is an outdated idea and doesn’t
really work.

– Don’t over-analyze and over-think everything you do in the gym.
This never gets you anywhere. Don’t worry if the incline of the
bench is supposed to be 50 degrees or 55 degrees. Don’t worry that
if you don’t supinate at exactly the right time that you won’t
activate your biceps optimally. Don’t stress out about the exact
grip width on the bar. If someone tells you that a 16? grip on the
bench press hits your triceps better than anything else, but
because of an injury or anatomical difference you can only
comfortably use an 18? grip, don’t sweat it. People over-think
themselves to death and they never get anywhere because of it. Go
to the gym, get stronger, go home, eat, sleep and repeat. Don’t
turn it into advanced calculus. That is one of the best muscle
building tips I can give you.

– Always train both sides of the joint with equal volume. Therefore
if you do six sets per week of pressing exercises you need to do
six sets per week of pulling exercises. If you do two sets of curls
you should do two sets of triceps work. And so on and so on…

– If you can’t get your forearms to grow, try hitting them with
more frequency than other muscle groups. They can easily be trained
three times per week and recover without any problem. Also, try to
hold the bottom stretched position of wrist curls for 3-5 seconds
per rep. When you finish training the forearms, hit them with a
deep stretch for both the extensors and flexors for 30-60 seconds.
These muscle building tips should get the forearms to grow.

With these and other helpful tips from the greatest in the health and fitness field.
To your health and training,
Darrin Walton

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Potatoes – Friend or Foe for a Lean-Body?

August 12, 2009

Yeeeha….this is the kind of evidence I like to see. I am an Idaho boy and love my potatoes!

By Mike Geary, Certified Nutrition Specialist, Certified Personal Trainer

I’d like to start a little discussion today about carbohydrates… and in particular, “white foods” as well as potatoes. One reason I wanted to mention this is because so many health and fitness professionals trash talk potatoes about being a bad carbohydrate choice because of the high glycemic index. Some even say such ridiculous things as “avoid any and all white carbohydrates”.

Ok, now while I certainly agree that white bread and refined white sugar are two of the worst things we can be feeding our bodies, I definitely don’t agree with avoiding any and all “white carbohydrates”. Now I know all of the buzz lately has been about colorful foods and the protective antioxidants that they contain. They tell you to focus on colors and stay away from white.

It’s true that colorful foods are great, but it is a big mistake to specifically avoid white foods! There are plenty of white foods that have specific nutrients that are hard to find elsewhere. Let’s look at a few examples…

Onions & Garlic

What about onions and garlic? They are both white and they are chock full of protective phytonutrients, vitamins, and trace minerals that aren’t easy to find elsewhere in a normal diet… such nutrients as allicin, quercetin (an important flavonoid), chromium, and other unique anti-inflammatory nutrients.

Cauliflower

Another example of something white that is great for you is cauliflower. Cauliflower is loaded with vitamin C, fiber, minerals, and special compounds such as glucosinolates and thiocyanates, which are specifically abundant in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage. And a little-known fact is that some of the compounds in cruciferous vegetables help to combat other estrogenic compounds in our food supply and environment and can help prevent excess belly fat. So eat up on that cauliflower!

Mushrooms

Not many people realize this, but surprisingly, even white mushrooms have high levels of unique nutrients and antioxidants. White mushrooms are high in a couple types of antioxidants called polyphenols and ergothioneine.

Potatoes

Now that also leads us to another example – white potatoes (which by the way, can also be found in red, yellow, purple varieties, etc). Many health professionals claim that potatoes are a bad carbohydrate because they are thought to have a high glycemic index. First of all, if you’ve read my Truth about Six Pack Abs book, then you understand that glycemic index is not necessarily the most important factor in choosing your carbohydrates.

While a generalization can be made that most low glycemic index carbohydrate choices will help you lose body fat easier than high glycemic index choices, it is not all that it’s cracked up to be. There are many other factors that determine how your body will react-to and process the carbohydrates you ingest, such as glycemic load and also how you combine the high GI food with other foods.

For example, using glycemic load as an example… it is known that watermelon has a high glycemic index. However, the glycemic load of a normal serving of watermelon is just way too low for your body to start packing on body fat just because you ate a high glycemic index fruit. You would have to eat such an enormous quantity of watermelon just to get enough grams of carbohydrates to have any negative glycemic effect, that it is just non-sensical.

Not to mention that watermelon is also a great source of vitamins, minerals, and lycopene. There’s just no reason to avoid it simply because it has a high GI. My point is… candy bars, cupcakes, and donuts make you fat… NOT watermelons, carrots or potatoes.

Also, as i mentioned, food combinations are important in how your body processes the carbohydrates and the associated blood sugar and insulin response you receive. For example, if you mix a high glycemic index carbohydrate with an extra source of fiber, healthy fats, or even certain proteins, many times the blood sugar and glycemic response will be slowed down considerably by the way you combined the food. Again, I talk in detail about this entire topic in my Truth about Six Pack Abs book.

Alright, so back to my point that white potatoes are actually a healthy carbohydrate as long as you eat them in the right form… with the entire skin, and please don’t ruin them by deep frying them into french fries either! French fries are one of the most evil things ever invented for your health, but only because we ruin them by soaking them in a scorching bath of trans fats in the deep fryer from the hydrogenated oils that are typically used.

Keep in mind that potatoes contain so many vitamins and minerals that the list is way too long to even try. Also, as long as you eat the skins, you get a decent shot of fiber too.

On the topic of potatoes not being so bad after all, I don’t remember where I saw this referenced, but I recently saw a particular study that had participants eat something like 7-9 whole potatoes per day for several weeks.

At the conclusion of the study, the potato eaters had actually consistently lost weight! I’d venture a guess that the reason the people lost weight is that they were probably so full from eating all of those damn potatoes, that they actually consumed less calories than normal! An average sized potato only has about 100-120 calories, and I can surely imagine you’d be full constantly from eating 7-9 potatoes each day.

Now I would never recommend going to those extremes, but my point is that an occasional potato is not going to hurt your efforts to get lean, especially if you combine it with some other fibrous vegetables and maybe a healthy fat and some protein. On that note, I have one of my favorite recipes for you, using potatoes.

Geary’s Lean-Body Potato Side Dish

* Desired quantity of baby potatoes (I like to use this mixture I found recently at a health food store… it is a mixture of white, red, yellow, and purple baby potatoes)
* 1 red pepper
* 1 green pepper
* 1 yellow pepper
* 1 or 2 onions
* a couple cloves of garlic, finely chopped
* 1 or 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
* a little salt and pepper to taste (I like using a sea salt instead of normal commercial salt)

Cut the baby potatoes into slightly smaller pieces and place in a steamer until soft all the way through. Slice up the peppers and onions into strips and add with the chopped garlic into a pan with the olive oil. Cook the peppers, onions, and garlic until tender, and then add the steamed baby potatoes. Stir it all together and serve. This is a delicious and healthy side dish that goes great with chicken or red meat.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this little topic today about potatoes, healthy carbohydrates, glycemic index, and my killer potato recipe idea!

by Mike Geary, Certified Nutrition Specialist, Certified Personal Trainer

So go try this out and don’t be afraid to eat potatoes!
-Darrin Walton

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Hormones, Problem Areas and Your Body-Fat Map – Part 2

August 12, 2009

In yesterday’s post, I introduced you to the idea that your hormones are responsible for your personal fat-distribution patterns.
For example, women with an excessive percentage of fat on the back of their arms are likely to have elevated insulin levels or low DHEA levels.

Men unlucky enough to be lugging around a generous set of man-boobs are likely to have high levels of estrogen (often combined with high insulin and low testosterone)

So, as a public service to all of my man-boobed brothers out there, we are going to take a look at how to get those hormones back in balance.
(For this post, I will be using a variety of reference sources. Most of the sources are pretty dry and technical, but one that I can heartily recommend to y’all is The Hormone Diet by Dr. Natasha Turner (Canada). It is a great reference that is easy to read and understand. I […]

Original post by DR

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The Missing Link For Motivation

August 12, 2009

This is some great stuff by my friend Jeff we all should be practicing on a daily basis. I challenge you to give it a try. I know I will be doing it.

-Darrin Walton

By Jeff Jowers,
If you’ve ever wished that you were more motivated to experience life at your full potential then this is for you.

Most of us set goals and work hard only to find our motivation fizzle out after a couple of weeks. But there are little tricks that will help you harness the power of your mind and propel you toward achieving your goal.

The Two Motivators
When you boil it down, you’re motivated by two simple things:
1. To avoid pain (fear of failure)
2. To gain pleasure (promise of reward)
You are naturally geared toward one of these motivators. To figure out which, think of the last time you accomplished a task and then ask yourself the following: While doing the task were you thinking about what would happen if you failed to finish, or were you thinking about what you would gain when you finished?

Take note as to which motivator works for you – fear of failure, or promise of reward.

Set Your Goal: The first step towards unstoppable motivation is to determine your goal. You know you’re unhappy with your body, but what exactly do you want to change? Why is it important to you?

Perhaps you can relate to one of the following goals:
· You need to lose weight for your health. Your doctor scared you straight or maybe you’ve had a recent health problem that landed you in the hospital. Your goal is to move away from the pain of sickness.
· You want to look and feel incredible. You’ve always wanted to feel vibrant and attractive. The idea of having more energy really excites you. Your goal is to move toward the pleasure and reward of a fit body.
· You’re worried about your kids. They don’t eat enough vegetables, they drink more soda pop than water and they play video games constantly. You have decided to model a healthier lifestyle and to encourage your kids to participate. Your goal is to move away from the risks of a sedentary lifestyle and to propel your kids toward a healthy future.
Train Your Mind for Weight Loss:
With your clear and important goal in mind, let’s take a few minutes to train your mind to achieve it. You know that weight loss comes as a result of eating right and regular challenging exercise, so let’s use your mind to conquer both.

Eating Right: Use this exercise to distance yourself from the self-sabotaging foods you really wish you didn’t eat, and to naturally begin selecting healthy foods.

Take a moment to review your current eating habits. Identify the foods that you should stop eating (hint: sweets, anything fried, refined carbohydrates, sugary drinks). Identify the worst food that you eat regularly but know you shouldn’t.

Now imagine the healthy foods that you should eat (hint: vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean protein). Identify the healthiest food that you know you should eat regularly.

Now with the image of these two foods in mind, find a quiet place and do the following exercise (seriously this stuff works):
· Draw up the image of your unhealthy food item. This image will likely be quite vivid, with smell, taste and bright color. In your mind, fade this picture to black and white and distance the image until it is dull, fuzzy and remote.
· Draw up the image of your healthy food item. This image will likely be fuzzy and faded. In your mind, bring this picture to life with smell, taste, sound and bright color.
Regular Exercise: This technique can be applied in a way that encourages you to crave exercise rather than avoid it.

Take a moment to imagine how you feel after a great workout (notice the emphasis on the word after). Remember the physical satisfaction as well as the sweet feeling of accomplishment.

Now bring to your mind the aspects of exercise that you dislike. What is your biggest reason for avoiding exercise? Are you too tired? Do you not have enough time? Is physical exertion too much of a hassle? Pinpoint your greatest complaint about exercise.

Now with the image of these two aspects of exercise in mind, find a quiet place and do the following exercise:
· Draw up the image of your exercise complaint. The image is likely to be clear and accompanied by the sounds, smells and sensations. In your mind, fade this picture to black and white and distance the image until it is dull, fuzzy and remote.
· Draw up the image of the wonderful feeling you have after accomplishing a great workout. Magnify this image in your mind. Fixate on how you feel physically, mentally and emotionally. View the experience in bright colors and add a sound track of inspirational music.
Why It Works
If this was your first experience with training your mind (also called Neuro-Linguistic Programming, or NLP) it may have felt a little odd. Many of the world’s top achievers regularly use techniques like these to accomplish astounding goals.

The techniques above work because they train your mind to bring your behavior in line with your values. Think about it, you value health, you desire to be fit and attractive and you want to instill healthy habits in your kids.

These techniques encourage you to avoid self-sabotage and to make choices that line up with what you truly value.

Now that you are ready to accomplish your goals, call or email me today to start your fitness program that will greatly improve your life.

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Fitness Boot Camps: Should You Enlist?

August 11, 2009

Fans say boot camp exercise classes inspire them while whipping them into shape.

By Barbara Russi Sarnataro
WebMD Weight Loss Clinic-Feature
Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD

The year Teri Smith turned 40, she decided it was time to tackle a nagging urge to get in shape. That’s when she signed up for her first fitness boot camp class.

“I didn’t have any energy and I could feel my age creeping up on me,” says the Pembroke Pines., Fla., mother of two. Her weight had crept up, too. Though she wasn’t heavy, the 20 pounds she’d added over the years didn’t feel comfortable on her 5-foot, 3-inch frame.

A successful graphic designer, Smith had never felt as comfortable in sneakers as she did in front of her Macintosh. “I didn’t have the confidence” to exercise, she says, because she always felt uncoordinated.

But when her stylist suggested she try the boot camp fitness class, she worked up the nerve to do it. And she’s never looked back.

“No other workout makes me feel so good. It makes me feel like I really kicked my butt,” says Smith, 42, a faithful boot camper for 2 1/2 years now.

She is now one of the fastest runners in the class, and is once again happy with the way she looks. “It took 12 weeks, but I lost 25 pounds,” says Smith.
What Is a Fitness Boot Camp?

Boot camp exercise classes vary in style, depending on the teacher. But you can generally expect to meet outside, rain or shine. You’ll probably spend an hour doing some form of cardiovascular exercise (running, hiking, interval training, or obstacle course challenges), along with strength elements (using dumbbells, exercise bands, or the resistance of your own body weight). You’ll also work on flexibility in a stretch portion of the class, which may incorporate elements of yoga or Pilates.

The fitness boot camp class Smith attends in Weston, Fla., is taught by ex-college football player and fitness coach Tom Rayhill. Rayhill’s boot camp is offered three times a day, seven days a week, year round. People can pay daily, weekly, or monthly and come as often as they like.

Many other boot camp classes are offered for defined periods of time. John Spencer Ellis’ California-based Orange County Adventure Boot Camp, which has locations in nine countries, is offered to women only at 5:30 a.m., five days a week for one month. Many participants re-enlist one or more times.

Boot camp fitness classes challenge the mind as well as the body, instructors say.

“We work on technique, form, core training, breathing, relaxation, and a better understanding of how the body moves,” says Ellis. “In four weeks, people will drop 5% to 6% body fat, lose up to 10 pounds, and reduce their mile time sometimes by 2 minutes a mile.”

Often, the confidence participants gain in boot camp class helps them take control of other aspects of their life, Ellis says.

What Is a Fitness Boot Camp? continued…

“They might say, ‘I will go back to school. I will get this job. I will start my own company, I will travel,'” he says.

Boot camp became more than just a workout for Smith when her oldest son was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome (a developmental disorder that is milder than autism) and her husband, a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force, had to spend a year in Korea without the family.

“It was literally my saving grace,” says Smith. “It was a very stressful time. (Boot camp) was a way to take care of myself physically and emotionally, it was my social outlet. It kept me sane.”
‘Drop and Give Me 50’

Though the name “boot camp” was inspired by military training camps, neither of the instructors who spoke to WebMD use intimidation tactics in their classes.

“If you’re lining people up and yelling at them, that’s not real camaraderie. That’s something you can fake,” says Rayhill. Besides, he says, it’s not necessary. People will push themselves on their own when they’re in a group.

“Human nature is to challenge yourself against other humans,” says Rayhill. “Not everybody is as athletically inclined, but by hanging out with those more driven people, you’re naturally going to want to do better,” he says.

Ellis’ Adventure Boot Camps follow the same philosophy. Military exercise is for the military, he says, and those are not the people signed up for Adventure Boot Camp. His participants are generally moms aged 25-50 who may have had C-sections and want to get in shape.

“Negative reinforcement generally only goes so far,” he says. “My choice is to have an empowering environment, one that is nurturing and very challenging. One that is not just about getting in shape but about community and nutrition and about being better in everything you do.”

Still, he says, it is a boot camp: “People are expected to show up, shut up, pay attention, and give 100%,” he says. “It’s disciplined in nature. It’s intense. It’s not a cakewalk.”
Camaraderie Is Key

So why do boot camp classes suddenly seem to be showing up everywhere?

According to Rayhill, it’s about interaction with, and encouragement from, your peers.

“Most of what we do all day is very isolating,” says Rayhill. “We’ve got iPods, cell phones, computers. We’re not connecting with other people.”

The interaction of a boot camp class is not only emotionally satisfying, but helps people push themselves physically, he says

“If you’re around other athletic people, they are going to pull it out of you,” says Rayhill. “By the time they leave, they’ve done so much positive already that day.

“No computer can make you feel better – not like the connection to other people.”

A Cult of Personality?

Another powerful draw for fitness boot camp classes, say some participants, is the charisma of the teachers.

A boot camp class, says Ellis, is meant to empower students for the whole day. As a teacher, “at different times, you interject powerful thoughts and statements. You’re setting the example. You’re guiding the way.”

Rayhill tries to be a guiding force to his students as well. As one of six children, and a 5-foot, 8-inch former college football player (who still holds two state records in Illinois), Rayhill says he’s “always been an overachiever.”

His goal as a teacher, he says, is to give the class a different workout every day — and to encourage them to find what it takes to reach their goals.

“I call myself a catalyst. I know what it takes to get there. I know there’s more than one way of doing something. We’re talking about how to make people better,” he says. “Whatever you want out of your life, you’ve got to get it. You’ve got to do it for yourself.”

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Bleeding Edge Nutrition Research

August 6, 2009

This post is strictly for the fitness/nutrition geeks.
All sorts of neat-o research studies.
Enjoy

The Nutrient-Rich Foods (NRF) Index is a new, objective, science-based way to measure the total nutritional quality of foods and beverages…link to the research, Nutrient Rich Foods Coalition
Urban Farming? – Will Allen – creator of Growing Power, FoodCycles – Toronto’s Urban Garden
Millions Of U.S. Children Low In Vitamin D – Increased risk of bone and heart disease – all due to sunscreens and a fear of the sun? – link to the research
More Evidence Of Fish Oil’s Heart Health Benefits – There is mounting evidence that omega-3 fatty acids from fish or fish oil supplements not only help prevent cardiovascular diseases in healthy individuals, but also reduce the incidence of cardiac events and mortality in patients with existing heart disease. link to the research
Caloric Restriction reduces the risk of Breast Cancer – link to the research
If you […]

Original post by DR

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Advanced Bodyweight Exercises: No Gym, No Problem! – Guest Post by Coach Adam Steer

August 3, 2009

Several readers have recently asked me about good bodyweight exercises to stay in shape while on vacation. While I could come up with a good routine or two that I have used in the past, my buddy Adam Steer is the master of advanced bodyweight exercises. I asked Adam to kindly do a guest post on this topic and give you an intro to what he is all about. Make sure and ask him questions in the comment section. He can certainly help tweak your bodyweight program to get better results.

[Gymnasts display incredible muscle tone largely from doing body weight exercises. I used to make the mistake of only using free weights to increase muscle tone and muscle definition. I believe the best way to that slim and ripped Hollywood physique is a combo of using weights along with body weight work.]
Advanced Bodyweight Exercises: No Gym, No Problem!
by Coach […]

Original post by admin

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A True Inner Circle

July 31, 2009

I’ve never understood the concept of a 5,000 member inner circle.
It just doesn’t seem that ‘inner circle’ to me.
I’ve also never understood the concept of inner circles that run for an indefinite amount of time either.
Personally I’ve always preferred the grad-school approach.
A small group of people who are extremely interested in a specific topic.
A set time-line to go over as much information as possible.
And, most importantly…open communication.
This is exactly how I will be setting up the Eat Stop Eat Coaching and Tutorship program.
35 people for a 3 month period. 6 Teleseminars each covering a specific topic which we will discuss as a group. These Teleseminars will not be recorded and sold for a profit, rather they will be available for 48 hours, then they disappear.
Personal Emails and Personal Skype calls.
This is the evolution of Eat Stop Eat.
A true inner circle. A coaching and tutorship program set up the exact same […]

Original post by Brad Pilon

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Eat Stop Eat vs The Warrior Diet

July 30, 2009

I've been getting a ton of questions about Eat Stop Eat and The Warrior Diet and which is better. I've been using intermittent fasting steadily for 2-3 years (can't remember exactly when I started). I began with The Warrior Diet and it worked to a certain extent, but something didn't quite "feel" right. While I think The Warrior Diet was a groundbreaking book and it was the first book to bring intermittent fasting to the masses, I believe Eat Stop Eat is a more effective and healthy way to drop body fat. In this post, I will give you my experiences with both methods and explain crucial differences between these two ways of eating.

[I was actually searching for a picture of warriors or gladiators, but found this brutal photo instead. When will the violence end? Can't we all just get along!]
My One Meal Per Day Warrior Diet Post Has 1,371 […]

Original post by admin

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As Many Rounds As Possible in X Minutes (AMRAP) – Q A

July 28, 2009
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This morning, someone emailed me this question:
I’ve Got a question: I’m supposed to do as many rounds as possible of 20 squats and 5 pushups. Do I rest between exercises? Do I rest after doing a set of each? Do I not rest at all? If I do rest how long is a rest for? Sorry for all of the questions but I want to do this right.

Great question. Here is the answer:
Rest as long as you need to between sets, however, keep rest to a minimum. When I do this workout (called AMRAP, as-many-rounds-as-possible in X minutes), I usually do not rest because that would mean accomplishing fewer sets and a lower score.
You may want to benchmark yourself for the first 5 minutes. Eg, suppose you complete 6 sets in the first 5 minutes and the total workout is 10 minutes. Try to […]

Original post by admin

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