Bodybuilders and Steroids

I just posted a story about today's workout and the juiced up bodybuilders who were training beside me...its on my other blog here:

Bodybuilders, Muscle Building, and Steroids

Easy Veggie Meal Plans

If you want to stop eating meat and start transforming your body with an easy and simple to follow vegetarian meal plans, then I have great news for you!

My friend and personal nutrition coach, Kardena Pauza, is giving away a 7-day vegetarian meal plan for men and women.

Click here to get your free Veggie Meal Plans

But hurry, those will only be available until Friday night at midnight, and that's a promise!

By the way, its been 7 weeks since I started my Vegetarian Lifestyle experiment and I don't miss eating meat at all.

And I haven't lost any muscle and I don't have any problem getting enough protein.

But after all, I have the best vegetarian diet coach in the world, Kardena Pauza, telling me what to eat!

So join me on a Veggie Diet Experiment for the next 7 days and let me know what YOU think about the Vegetarian Lifestyle!

Just grab the veggie meal plans here:

=> EasyVeggieMealPlans.com

I guarantee you'll feel better with that plan,

Craig Ballantyne, CSCS, MS

PS - And don't miss Kardena's report on the Top 10 Vegetarian Foods you must NOT eat!

Grab that with your meal plans here:

=> EasyVeggieMealPlans.com

This is one of the most important nutrition programs ever designed - not only will you change your body but following the Easy Veggie Meal Plans will give you more energy and could help extend your life.

Random Kidney Stones & Protein Shake Q'n'A

Craig, I have read that excess protein can cause Kidney Stones. Evidently, this has occured in some people when they drink Protein Powders. Is there any truth to that? 

I know that you don't endorse the use of protein supplements. Is this one of the reasons?

Answer:
Good question!

I'm not a doctor, but the best site I've found with info on kidney stones is here:

http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/Kudiseases/pubs/stonesadults/

That should tell you everything you need to know. 

Of the two people I know who have had kidney stones, neither was a big protein shake type of person.

I actually worked with this one guy who was passing a kidney stone in the office bathroom. He was banging the sides of the stall as hard as he could.

I can only imagine how much that must hurt...

On the other hand, I know of dozens of bodybuilders who take protein shakes like crack, and they don't have stones. And on top of that, a lot of those guys use steroids, diuretics, caffeine, and even binge drink, so to be honest I have no idea what you have to do to get kidney stones.

So no, the risk of getting kidney stones wasn't a factor in why I stopped drinking protein shakes.

The reasons I stopped drinking protein shakes are because...

a) They aren't needed
b) They taste gross

Again, that site (linked above) should have the best info on stones, how to avoid them, and how to deal with them.

One of the many thing i never hope to experience in life is kidney stones!

But I do have a funny story about the other guy I know who had kidney stones...

This guy I know (a famous American internet marketer) had kidney stones and went to emergency room in extreme pain, but the nurse was being a jerk and she wouldn't admit him.

She told him wait.

But the pain was so excruciating, he called 911 while lying on the floor of the emergency waiting room! 

The 911 people thought it was a joke, but they sent someone anyways, and forced the nurse to admit my friend for treatment. 

I was almost in tears the way he told this story.

I think the doctor told him to cut back on coffee and diet coke, because my friend was drinking a lot of it.

So that's all I know about protein shakes and kidney stones,

Craig Ballantyne

PS - I am not a doctor and I did NOT stay at a Holiday Inn so do NOT take any of this information as medical advice.

If you think you have kidney stones, see a doctor!

Squat Workout

Running late today so I only had 30 minutes to train.

1) Power Clean - 185x2x5

2A) Squats - 325x3x6
2B) Chinups - 3x10

My squats suck. I feel really weak in my low back...went to the chiropractor after for treatment on my calves, pec, traps, and low back.

He scolded me on my sitting posture which I admit is really bad sometimes.

So his treatment plus better posture should lead to less low back tightness and I should be able to improve my squat.

After my workout I had a banana and two slices of vegetarian pizza leftover from last nite. I went about 4 weeks on the vegan diet, but in the last two Sundays I've had cheese.

Stay strong,

Craig

PS - Check out the "magic secret to workout motivation" here:

Workout Challenges - Bodyweight 500 & 300 Workout

Vegetarian Diets and Pro Athletes

Hey, I just wrote an article about vegetarian athletes and you'll be surprised at who doesn't eat meat.

Plus, I also posted the latest 7-day fat loss guide on my other blog and it includes a recipe for my "Big Boy Salad".

 

Click here to listen to the podcast

 

or

Click here to read the workouts & discover the salad on the blog

 

This week you'll learn...

 

-  The "WYLIT" Exercise Series

- 3 Advanced Bodyweight Workout Circuits

- What's in a "Big Boy Salad"

- The 2 Things You MUST Do If You Have a Small Muscle Pull

 

And big updates on the Vegetarian Lifestyle!

 

Tell me about your favorite salad on the blog,

 

Craig Ballantyne, CSCS, MS

PS - Post a comment about your favorite veggie meals here:

 

=> Click here to find out more veggie meal plans

Workout and Hippie Smoothie

I almost had a chocolate milk after training. I even walked into the store but turned around because the line-up was too long.

So I went somewhere else after my workout for a hippie smoothie, but more on that in a second...

First, the workout.

The gym was full of fools today, including the guy who was doing 7 plates aside on leg presses and lunges with 15 pound dumbbells.

Whatever buddy.

And then there the trainer who was letting his young client do barbell rows with a rounded back. Terrible. I don't even want to know how much that kid pays the guy for his bad advice.

Today's workout:

1) Deadlift - 385x3

2A) Military Press - 3x6
2B) Front Squat - 2x6

3A) Bodyweight Row - 3x25
3B) Back Extension - 2x12

I was thirsty after this workout, which is why I almost went for the chocolate milk...but I decided to hold off and try a cafe near home instead.

The place is called "Alternative Grounds" and I'd always dismissed it as a little hippie joint and when I went in I wasn't disappointed. It felt like that scene in Star Wars where they're in the bar with all those strange characters.

I felt like I landed on another planet. There were pictures of Che Guevara on the wall, and in the windows hung banners that said, "Fairness" and "Community".

But they made up for all the socialism with their capitalist prices. I spent $11 on a small vegetarian calzone and a smoothie (orange, mango, banana). And the smoothie was worth it.

So that was my little vegetarian diet adventure today.

Oh yeah, and one of the Korean powerlifters gave me a thumbs up today at the gym after my last set of deadlifts. He doesn't speak English, so that was pretty funny.

Stay strong and have a great weekend,

Craig

PS - I've added some more bodyweight exercise workouts to my other blog.

How to Have More Energy This Weekend

These tips won't make you the life of the party, but they will help you get more done and get more energy all day long this weekend. Perfect for busy folks with lots on the go...

If you find yourself tired on the weekends when you should have even more energy to do the things you love, here are my best tips to make sure you don't have a crash in your energy levels.

1) Go to bed and get up at the same time.

This sounds boring, but I guarantee you won't be tired during the day and you won't have trouble falling asleep on Sunday night.

2) Start your day with 30 minutes of fun activity.

It doesn't have to be a structured workout (you can save those for during the week), but getting up and getting moving will get you off to a high energy start to the say.

3) Avoid high-calorie, high-sugar brunch buffets.

If you want a surefire way to make you sleepy, then go load up on orange juice and pancakes. But if you have things to do all day long, then skip those foods and stick to an omelet filled with vegetables and drink Green Tea with your meal. Get the right fat loss meal plan for your lifestyle.

And when you finally meet up with your friends on the weekend, keep that energy going and stay active by going for a hike or bike ride, rather than sitting down in a pub or movie theater with high calorie foods.

You'll have more energy and lose fat with those tips!

Stay strong and have a great weekend,

Craig Ballantyne, CSCS, MS

3 Abs Workout Myths

Myth #1 - You Have to Do Hundreds of Crunches and Sit ups To Burn Fat and Get Flat Abs

If you rely on boring, back-breaking abdominal crunches and sit-ups to burn belly fat, you'll never lose the ugly belly fat covering your abs.

TIP: To work your abs hard, use total-body abdominal exercises instead, such as stability ball rollouts and stability ball jackknives.

Myth #2 - In Just Four Easy Payments of $29.99, You Can Buy a Miracle-Working Six Pack Ab Machine From a Late-Night informercial

Ha! I wish one of those abdominal exercise contraptions worked half as good as the so-called "experts" say, but infomercial gadgets don't burn belly fat or flatten your abs (they only burn your money and flatten your wallet!).

TIP: To get more fat burning results in less workout time, use fat burning interval training three times per week for 20 minutes.

Myth #3 - You Have to do Ab Workouts Everyday to Get Six Pack Abs Not true! In fact, one of the secrets of top fat loss trainers is to drop boring, repetitive ab exercises and replace them with total-body abdominal exercises you only need to do for a few minutes three times per week.

TIP: Use resistance in your ab exercises, such as cable crunches, using a weight that allows you to do 10-15 reps per set, and train your abs only twice per week.

Let me know your ab workout myths,

Craig Ballantyne, CSCS, MS

Total Body Workout & Vegetarian Meal

Okay workout today...

1) Power cleans

2A) Squats
2B) Chins

3A) Pistols
3B) Close-grip bench

After workout vegetarian meal:

• 2 bananas
• 2 bowls of oats with blueberries, almond milk and cashew butter

And last night we had a blast filming August TT workouts...there's a line in the Mini-Bodyweight Circuits program that I can't deliver without laughing. its our first TT bloopers real.

Also, we filmed the "TT Meatheads IV - Get Jacked and Lean" - an awesome program...coming August 1st!

Until then, you'll have to go with TT Reconstruction from www.TTmembers.com

Stay strong,

craig