Went through Workout A from TT 2K10 with a friend today, and it finished up with a different spin on using Kettlebells for intervals. That workout will be out right after Christmas.
Got home and made today's blender drink:
1 banana, raspberries, cashew butter, walnuts, almond milk, cacao nibs, and Vanilla Chai Vega Whole Food powder. I was surprised you could still taste the chai after all that. I actually dislike chai. It's lame. But I wanted to try this stuff out.
I think also got the chocolate flavor, so I'll try that tomorrow.
And here's today's Kekich Credo...#36:
"Religiously nourish your body with proper nutrition, exercise, recreation, sleep and relaxation techniques."
Simple, yet effective. Throw in social support and you have all the tools you need to succeed.
Craig
PS - Don't miss part 5 of Tony Horton's interview featuring...
Lazy day today...a sleep-in, a dog walk, a workout, and then more dog walking, reading, and football. I'll probably even watch the Grey Cup tonight.
On my facebook page today, I was talking about a fitness fraud...
"Calorie counters on cardio machines are the biggest fraud in fat loss exercise today. Avoid the cardio confessional...pointless! You can't "burn off" Thanksgiving feasts and calorie binges with 30 min of cardio. Stop living that mindset & free yourself from the guilt. Focus on whole, natural foods and short burst work...outs 90% of the time and enjoy yourself the other 10% - Guilt-free and boring cardio-free."
And then I went for an upper body workout...
1A) Close-Grip Bench 1B) Barbell Row
2A) DB Incline Press 2B) Rope Row
3A) Dips 3B) Incline Hammer Curls
I was going to do some jump training as well, but the room for that was in use...I'll slip it in tomorrow instead.
Traveling to Chicago this week for a few days, so I had to move up my workouts. New program too, so I am testing the waters this week.
Stay strong,
craig
PS - Watch for Bodyweight Bodybuilding - available Tuesday.
"Losing fat is a game between you and the outside world.
Everyone, from family to friends to co-workers to restaurant owners to TV advertisers are conspiring against you to make you eat more and exercise less.
Like it or not, it's true.
They might not be doing it on purpose, or with bad intentions, but they are happier when you are fed, full, and flat out on the couch.
You must always know your options.
You must have Plans A, B, C, D, and E. You must be prepared to counter-attack.
When they say pizza, you say sushi.
When they say take-out, you say, "I've already prepared my lunch".
When they say, "Happy Hour", you say, "Workout first."
Surround yourself with people who are fitter and healthier than you.
The power of social support and POSITIVE peer pressure will help you take your health and fitness to the next level.
Stay strong!
**************************
Today, I hit a dog walk and then a workout...
1) hang cleans
2A) squats 2B) chins
3A) Back Extensions 3B) Plank on Ball 3C) 1-Leg Stability Ball Leg Curl
Now time for another dog walk.
By the way, thanks to my stomach issues this week, I lost 7 pounds but have only gained 2 back. Time for more food. Send me your leftover Thanksgiving food and pumpkin pies!!!
- More info on fish oil supplementation - One thing I want you to do next Saturday - The harsh reality about other people and your success - 3 muscle building tips from Vince Del Monte - How much lifting it takes to burn 500 calories - 6 Questions you MUST ask yourself if you want TRUE happiness - The TRUTH about fruit and fat loss
PS - You'll love the new Bodyweight Bodybuilding because...
...it features a powerful new Bodyweight 501 circuit.
Of course, if you go crazy for bodyweight workouts, I've even included instructions on how to turn the Bodyweight 501 into the INSANE Bodyweight 666 circuit - if you dare!
That program comes out on Tuesday...watch your email for details!
Did a mini workout today...feeling a lot better...just some deadlifts - unfortunately I lost 7 pounds in 2 days.
Going to start a new 4-day per week program tomorrow. I have some big plans for this program and expect big results.
Big expectations are the theme today...Here's another one of my favorite Kekich Credo's, #40:
"No dream is too big. It takes almost the same amount of time and energy to manage tiny projects or businesses as it does to manage massive ones...and the massive ones carry with them - proportional rewards."
I say...
Your long term goals must include massive dreams. The same steps will be taken to lose 50 lbs as will for 5 lbs. Do the right things & never give up.
I hope you're doing amazing today...I spent almost all day Wednesday in bed with a headache and stomachache...I think I'm a little better today...had a fever last night, but headache is gone today...but now my stomach hurts more. Weird, because I'm not having too much trouble eating.
Anwyways...
I plan on getting well soon, because I call this weekend the "Kick-Off to the Holiday Season" and I want to be out and aboot!
Plus, I want to take this time to wish you an amazing jump-start to the holidays.
However, there is ONE mistake you must NOT make...
Last week on the TT Member's forum one girl was really upset because she binged and overate carbs.
But she didn't have to feel that way...she didn't need to feel that guilt. In fact, it can be OKAY to blow it!
What if blowing it actually HELPED you lose fat?
That's pretty powerful stuff. A huge change in mindset.
No more guilt. Only better results. If you do it the RIGHT way.
All you have to do is follow this simple blueprint to the holidays that Joel Marion put together.
It's a cheat day on Thanksgiving (today), followed by a specific way of eating till the next day of cheating. You even get a semi-cheat day on Christmas eve followed by another full cheat day on Christmas.
It's all laid out for you.
Heck, it's so worth it just to have the guilt removed from eating your favorite holiday meals - the fact that it will work and is easy to follow is just a bonus.
To be honest, I think the #1 benefit to this whole "cheat" thing is psychological...it just allows you to indulge without guilt.
That is 100x's more important in my mind than any hormone changes.
So if you're ready to say goodbye to guilt, while getting back your freedom and control over your diet and fat loss, then please hurry, because today is the last day to get Joel's Holiday Eating Blueprint.
Weird - felt terrible all morning...skipped my workout and had a nap instead.
I'm still only about 80% right now, plus my legs and glutes are really sore from filming TT Abs beginner workouts last night and from squats on Monday.
Should be 100% tomorrow...
This might be helpful for folks on Thanksgiving...
Without a doubt, one of the most difficult things about losing fat is eating in social situations. The peer-pressure (from both the ignorant and immature) is the toughest test of your commitment.
BUT...
If you want to succeed, you have to lay the ground rules. There is no room for debate. You are either in or you are out.
And you might just surprise some folks when you show them that life can go on if you don't eat chicken wings with them.
So...
Be loud and proud of what you are doing. There are more folks secretly wishing someone will take charge and be a healthy role model for them.
It might not happen overnight, but if you continue to lead by healthy example - without preaching or being condescending - you can build an entourage of social support and people who want to be healthy like you.
This will build powerful relationships that will take your health to the next level.
To your success,
Craig Ballantyne, CSCS, MS Author, Turbulence Training TTMembers.com
Had fun with last week's bodyweight training, but to be honest I just missed the weights...so it was back to lifting, albeit conservatively in the first week of a new program...
Todays workout: hang cleans, squats, handstand pushups, rope rows, db presses, glute-ham raises, chinups.
And today's inspiration/motivation:
"To live an extraordinary life, you must resist an ordinary approach." - Frank McKinney, from "Make It Big". Great book...written about his real estate adventures, but still great.
Translating Frank's thoughts into fat loss application...
That means sticking to your plan, not giving in to peer pressure, and being immune to criticism. Work on these daily. This week should be an excellent test for everyone - especially my American friends.
And today's "video of the day": I filmed a couple of Bootcamp video tips for my buddy Chris McCombs last week in Orlando, and here's an 86 second video on why and how we set up the TT Bootcamps the way we do...
Here's a study I came across today...looks like it might be the first study I've ever seen to support 1 gram of protein per pound of bodyweight when dieting...very interesting...I'll need to buy this one and review it...
One thing to note, they cut calories big-time, by 40%. So that would be taking a guy on 2000 calories all the way down to 1200 calories. That's a big drop.
1School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom 2Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland 3English Institute of Sport, Sheffield, United Kingdom.
PURPOSE:: To examine the influence of dietary protein on lean body mass loss and performance during short-term hypoenergetic weight loss in athletes. METHODS:: In a parallel design, 20 healthy, young resistance trained athletes were examined for energy expenditure for one week and fed a mixed diet (15% protein, 100% energy) in the second week, followed by a hypoenergetic diet (60% of the habitual energy intake), containing either 15% (~1.0g.kg) protein (control group, n=10; CP) or 35% (~2.3 g.kg) protein (high protein group, n=10; HP) for two weeks. Subjects continued their habitual training throughout the study. Total, lean body and fat mass, performance (squat jump, maximal isometric leg extension, one repetition maximum bench press, muscle endurance bench press and 30 sec wingate test) and fasting blood samples (glucose, non esterified fatty acids (NEFA), glycerol, urea, cortisol, free testosterone, free IGF-1 and growth hormone) and psychological measures were examined at the end of each of the four weeks. RESULTS:: Total (-3.0 +/- 0.4 kg and -1.5 +/- 0.3 kg for the CP and HP, respectively, p=0.036) and lean body mass loss (-1.6 +/- 0.3 kg and -0.3 +/- 0.3 kg, p=0.006) were significantly larger in the CP compared to the HP. Fat loss, performance and most blood parameters were not influenced by the diet. Urea was higher in HP and NEFA and urea showed a group*time interaction. Fatigue ratings and 'worse than normal' scores on the DALDA were higher in HP. CONCLUSION:: These results indicate that ~2.3 g.kg-1 or ~35% protein was significantly superior to ~1.0 g.kg-1 or ~15% energy protein for maintenance of lean body mass in healthy young athletes during short-term, hypoenergetic weight loss.
Looks like i made the right decision to go to bed early and skip the UFC fight...anyone watch it? I wanted Tito to win - oh well.
Started the day with an apple and a peanut butter sandwich, and then a quick bodyweight and kettlebell workout.
My workout was pushups (hands elevated on two stones), bodyweight squats, hill sprints (all done behind my dad's old barn), then back inside for kb rows.
Hope you are having a healthy start to your week. Stay strong, even over the holidays, and make sure you plan out your reward meals so you stay guilt-free this Thanksgiving weekend (for my American friends).
Heading back to Toronto now,
Craig
PS - Supercharge your week by downloading your copy of the Kekich Credo's here...
They will inspire you to success. For example, here's the one I reviewed yesterday...
"Find out what works, and then do more of it. Focus on first doing the right things, and then on doing things right by mastering details. A few basic moves produce most results" - Kekich Credo #18
Early lunch salad: spinach, black beans, 1/2 avocado, broccoli, peppers (red, green, orange), onion, salsa.
Then I had my bodyweight workout - a circuit of basic exercises in perfect order for a combo of conditioning and perhaps even muscle building. Workout C in the new Bodyweight Bodybuilding coming out in December for TT Platinum Members. Will also be releasing TT 15-Minute Express workouts for all members...maybe even in time for Turkey Day.
" I hit 3 personal bests this morning - thanks for posting about trying for PB's during every workout. Thank you for all you do and know that it makes a difference for me!" Jen Russell
Make sure to hit a personal best in each of your workouts,
If you get bored following traditional workouts, but hate to sacrifice results just for the sake of variety, then this is one workout you will want to follow. In this workout you will use kettlebells, bodyweight, and barbells fused together into supersets and circuits to deliver a super fast and ultra effective workout.
The first exercise is a forward lunge, but instead of alternating sides, you will do all reps for one side and then switch to the other side. Do 8 reps per side. Then take a minute rest and repeat this exercise 2 more times for a total of 3 sets.
Next up you'll mix in a superset pairing of barbell squats and back extensions.
Your legs will inevitably be a little tired from the lunges, so you won't be able to use your maximum weight for the barbell squats.
So, with the bar positioned at chest height, step underneath of it, taking a relatively close grip (unless you have shoulder mobility problems). Then, take the bar off the rack and step back with a medium stance with feet slightly wider than your shoulders. Keep your chest up, head forward and drop your hips down and back, then drive back up.
For the back extensions, start by lying down on the ball, with your feet shoulder-width apart and firmly planted on the floor for good support. Position your hands behind your head and keep your chest up as you raise your body up. You can also use a back extension chair if you have access to one.
Rest for 1 minute and repeat that set 2 more times for a total of 3 supersets.
Next, for the interval portion of the workout you will do a kettlebell circuit, following 3 exercises for a total of 500 total repetitions.
First, start with kettlebell swings for 200 reps with as few sets and as few rests as possible. If you are a woman, using a KB that is less than 18 pounds is a good place to start. If you are a man, and haven't been training, you can start out with the 18 pound KB. If you are more advanced, however, you can use a heavier weight, but be conservative with it if you are starting out.
Start with the kettlebell down in front at arms length. Next, push your hips back and drive the kettlebell up to shoulder height using the power of your hips. Your arms should not be doing any of the work and are simply along for the ride. Mental fatigue and your grip may slow you down, but make sure you finish the 200 swings.
From there you will move into a superset of bodyweight squats for 200 and stability ball jackknives for 100 reps.
For Bodyweight Squats, place your feet just wider than hip-width apart, arms straight out in front of you. Push your hips back as you squat down. Do 200 reps in total, breaking them up as needed. You can also break these exercises up into a superset by combining this exercise with the Stability Ball Jackknives and doing as many reps as you can.
For the Stability Ball Jackknives, put your hands on the floor with your feet balanced straight out on the ball. Pull your knees into your chest and back out. You will do a total of 100 reps.
Last around midnight we finished up 3 hours of filming the beginner portion of the Turbulence Training Express workouts...3 more hours tonight...dang! We'll be filming the advanced portion. I earned my cashew butter and blueberry sandwich on flax bread midnight snack.
Earlier today, I had a blender drink: 1 banana, blueberries, raspberries, almond milk, pumpkin seed butter, walnuts, spinach. poured over oatmeal, raisins, almonds
And then hit the gym for another bodyweight workout featuring hops, jumps, (no skips), handstand pushups, bw rows, chins, decline pushups, 1-leg ball curls, and more. Legs are feeling it already.
But of course, no quitting allowed. In fact, most people quit too early...just before success.
A facebook friend of mine, Natasha Petra Sara Blackmore, sent me this inspiration yesterday...
"The line between failure and success is so fine that we are often on the line and do not know it. How many times has a man thrown up his hands at a time when a little more effort, a little more patience, would have achieved success? Just a little more effort and what seemed hopeless failure may turn into glorious success." Elbert Hubbard
Great stuff. And before I go film tonight, I'm going to go read...Just finished "New Empire of Debt" and now reading "Mad Cowboy". Also read "High Raw" by Kevin Gianni last week. The best of the 36 books I've read this year have been "Emergency", "The Go-Giver", "The Choice" (Eli Goldratt), and "Crush It".
Just did a short interval training workout outside in the fresh fall air. having a bowl of dorset cereals "nutty muesli" with almond milk. Big TT filming session tonight - putting together the December workout of the month - a 15-minute workout program (beginner and advanced versions).
Earlier today I had a big salad: spinach, onion, orange and green peppers, broccoli, salsa, tomato, avocado and kidney beans.
Sad statistic: My dog eats more fruits and vegetables each day than the average person - "The average American eats one and one-half servings of vegetables and one serving of fruit per day."
(And they count ketchup as a vegetable!)
So don't be another statistic.
Bally the Dog just ate some peppers, avocado, and broccoli from my salad, and then we shared an apple. He also had 1/5 of a banana and some blueberries today.
So get started on making improvements in your nutrition today. Every day add another 1/2 serving of fruits or vegetables until you are getting at least 5 total. But you can do even better than that...work your way up to 10.
But don't forget to celebrate your successes.
You must set goals (outcome and process), and upon reaching them, reward your performance. Do not reward yourself unless you reach your goal. You have to be tough on yourself. It is not easy to succeed. (An outcome goal is a result, such as losing 5 pounds. A process goal is action oriented, such as committing to working out 3x's per week.)
Been working hard on some tough new bodyweight programs, 15-minute workouts, and metabolic circuits. Tuesday night we'll be filming the December program - TT Express Workouts. So today I put a client through a couple of them just to make sure they were perfect.
My buddy Nate Green also posted an interview with me on his site.
"Ignore the gimmicks, such as, "cold water burns calories", or "adding lemon to your water burns fat", and "negative calorie foods". These are all a joke when it comes to fat loss. Instead, focus on the 2 things that get results - a diet of whole, natural foods and short, burst intense exercise. Most people get caught up in the tiny things but ignore the real deal."
Craig
PS - Do you know what the world's most dangerous animal is?
This week I'm taking a break from heavy barbell work to plan out a bunch of TT programs. And today ended up being a killer intense bodyweight workout - possibly harder than anything in my last 4-week program.
I actually felt a little sick after this...
Bodyweight Bodybuilding Workout A...lots of jumps, pullups, rows, bulgarian splits squats, dips, bodyweight triceps presses, 1 and 1/2 reps, and Vinny D. crash sets. 50 minutes of bodyweight insanity. TT Platinum Members will get this in December.
NOTE: Feeling sick/nauseous is not necessary in order to have a productive workout. And part of my nausea was due to eating/drinkiing too much before training...but mostly from a higher rep, higher volume bodyweight workout.
Here's the morning blender drink I over-consumed before training: 1 banana, raspberries, blueberries, spinach, almond milk, almond butter, walnuts, cacao nibs. poured some over oatmeal and almonds.
Overall, great workout and learning experience, you're going to love this one.
Of course, another reason to be a part of TT members is the social support.
In my experience, social support is the #1 key for success in sticking to a fitness program.
While the support can come from your spouse, sibling, child, parent, friend, neighbor, or co-worker, individuals have a better chance of sticking to an exercise program when they hold themselves accountable to a personal trainer or lifestyle coach. Don't try and do this on your own. Social support is important in your quest for fitness and fat loss.
"Your training programs r the best. I needed to lose a few lbs and thought I would try it out. it was incredible. I lost 10 lbs in a month and did not really change my diet except to cut back on the sugar( which was hard to do for coffee) , It worked. No more 6 day per week workouts for me." Don Held
That's pretty darn cool, I love getting feedback like that.
And here's something else I posted on the Fanpage today...
"Figure yourself out; spend some time in introspection" - Frank McKinney.
Brilliant idea for today...take 10-15 minutes for yourself to write down where you're headed for the rest of the year, and what plans you want you to accomplish in 2010 and then put in some action steps you need to follow to reach those goals.
Keep it simple and clear.
Is the life you're living worth what you are giving up to have it?
Are you doing what you want in life?
Are living the personal life that you want?
Are you doing enough of the little things that make you happy?
Are you spending enough time with the people that make you happy?
Are you making the best use of the limited time you have in your one lifetime?
Simple questions. Simple answers.
Make a simple plan.
Develop simple solutions.
To your success,
Craig
PS - If you fall "off the wagon"...
...cut your losses, don't worry about it, and get right back on track. Immediately. It's minor damage that can be dealt with. Stay STRONG!
Here's one of my old workouts that will give you 3 supersets to to gain muscle and lose fat in jsut 30 minutes.
This workout is tailored for those looking to build muscle and boost their metabolism in a hurry. With classic dumbbell and barbell exercises, along with a couple of bodyweight exercises, one with a unique twist, this fusion workout is sure to keep you motivated and coming back for more.
Make sure you warm up with two sets of three to four bodyweight exercises in circuit-like fashion, including a 30 second rest in between. Once you've gotten that out of the way, you're ready to start your workout.
On Monday I was talking to Tony Horton about night eating, and how setting a cut-off time for your last meal is an excellent way to cut calories and transform your body.
Now there's nothing magical about stopping eating at 7 or 8pm, but it does help you avoid dreaded night binging.
So during the holidays, if you aren't going to a party or holiday dinner, set a cut-off time each night for your food intake.
Set a rule that you can't eat after 7:30pm, and you'll avoid taking in too many calories.
(Of course, it doesn't have to be 7:30, that was just as an example.)
That's a simple powerful tip that will help you get through the holiday eating season - WITHOUT GUILT!
And if you want 14 more SIMPLEways to easily cut calories over the holidays, then grab Joel Marion's new report.
One of my biggest pet peeves is getting female personal training clients who have never done a pushup or bodyweight row.
Now I'm not talking about beginners...but about women who have been training with other personal trainers and who have decided to train with me instead.
Time after time I would ask my new clients to do pushups or even eccentric chinups, and they would say...
"Oh, my old trainer never had me do those exercises."
That always pissed me off.
Why?
Because it means their "old trainers" didn't respect their strength, fitness, and ability.
Instead, like most of the fitness industry, they were just out to get their client's money.
And that's how it remains today. Most personal trainers just like to talk to their female clients and give them a few fluff exercises, rather than respecting their client's time.
So that's why I'm excited to see one of the first "respectful" fitness books written for women is now available.
It's from Rachel Cosgrove, an amazing trainer, who has worked with triathletes, fitness competitors, obese women, beginners, and even female powerlifters.
She is a true female fitness expert, and her new book includes:
1) The ultimate guide to strength training for sustainable fat-loss, increased energy, and healthy body image for women who want to be in great shape, look amazing, and feel sexy and empowered
2) A 16-week program
3) A 2-week Bodyweight-Only Jumpstart Phase that will help women adjust to strength training while seeing results in just days
4) Over 100 fully illustrated warm-up moves and innovative strength-training exercises using everything from dumbbells and barbells to bands and straps
5) A comprehensive nutrition plan including nutrient-timing strategies that work with workouts, satisfying foods that promote optimum health and energy, and even an indulgent snack every day
4A) Ball Rollout - 3x12 4B) DB Triceps Extensions 4C) DB Curls
(Also included some of Vince Del Monte's "crash sets".)
Hope you had a great workout today. And if you are thinking about "slacking off" or worse, "quitting", then read this...a classic quote from a classic movie:
"Quit? You know, once I was thinking about quitting when I was diagnosed with brain, lung and testicular cancer, all at the same time. But with the love and support of my friends and family, I got back on the bike and I won the Tour de France five times in a row. But I'm sure you have a good reason to quit." - Lance Armstrong, from the movie, "Dodgeball"
Now to finish off the work day with a giant meal of wild rice, black beans, avocado, tomato, and salsa.
Craig
PS - Just posted an entertaining "sexy body" blog post over at TT Fat Loss...
...from John Romaniello.
"5 muscle building, fat burning tips for guys" - (also includes pictures of hot girls and a killer squirrel!)
After an early dog walk, I did this 25 minute workout:
Kettlebell swings and pushup circuit, then outside for sprints+mountain climber circuit. All with my trainer, Ballythedog. Perfect fall weather.
Some of this was inspired by my interview with Tony Horton yesterday. And I've put the Tony Horton interview up on my blog...(pass it on)...you'll discover his favorite workouts, his thoughts on intervals, cardio, and yoga, even 3 powerful business lesson for personal trainers
Download that to your Ipod for your workouts or drive to work. Very inspiring.
And as I mentioned earlier, I love this time of year (the weather is great for training outside), but I hate to see how many people get stressed out by holiday eating and the fear of gaining fat.
But I have good news...
For the next 3 days Body Transformation Grand Champion Joel Marion is giving away his brand new "Holiday Fat Loss Black Book" report to help you keep off the pounds.
In fact, when you check out this free holiday nutrition guide it will help you lose 10-15 pounds over the next 6 weeks - BEFORE New Year's Eve.
Back in the gym after a nice trip to Atlanta...here's today's workout:
1A) Vertical Jumps 1B) Shrugs
2A) Squats 2B) DB Incline Presses
3A) Rope Seated Rows 3B) Planks
4) Chinups
I was pretty crushed by the end.
In the morning I went to my chiropractor for ART on a bunch of bodyparts and an upper back adjustment. My chiro, Dr. Michael Sommers of Evolve Chiropractic, is one smart dude. He puts me back together after I beat myself up in the gym, or after sports, or after any of my other random accidents.
This weekend he went to a shoulder therapy seminar and came back with a bunch of recommendations for my training...one of which was the incorporation of the rope rows into my program - using a rope allows for a greater and better range of motion in a seated row than using a fixed V-grip handle. Definitely something worth adding to your program.
That exercise made my upper back work really hard even though I used 50% of my regular seated row weight.
I'll be trying out more of his recommendations and passing them on to you soon.
I also had a really great workout because I had a lot of rest on the weekend...I didn't train, and only did a few 30 minute walks around Atlanta. In fact, on Saturday I did something very uncharacteristic of me.
I was getting sick of being in the seminar I was attending, so I went back to my hotel room and watched 7 straight hours of TV, including:
- College Football - The Breeders Cup (caught a once in a lifetime race - I bet they make a ton of movies about the winning horse) - Then I rented Inglourious Basterds (slow start, awesome ending) - Then I watch Strikeforce (the Fedor-Rogers fight - probably the most exciting MMA fight I've ever watched)
On Sunday, I got lucky and caught an early flight home.
- The Truth About Junk Food - The Best Creatine to Use
- The Facts About Lifting While Sitting on a Stability Ball - Who Sticks to Their Nutrition Better - Men vs Women? - #1 Most Irresistible Food on a Diet - The 90% Solution To Sticking to Your Workouts - 3 Reasons You Need to Eat This Meal
"Always hit a personal best in each workout. This guarantees progress. And focus on quality workouts, not quantity. Focus on planning ahead to overcome obstacles, rather than trying to "out-cardio" your bad diet. That never works."
After I posted that on the TT Facebook Page I went and trained at Gold's Gym on Peachtree St. in Atlanta - solid.
1A) Pullups 1B) BB Lunges
2A) Hammer Chest Press (for the fun of it) 2B) RDL's
3A) UH bodyweight rows 3B) DB Triceps Extensions 3C) DB Biceps Curls
Good times.
Now for the ladies - and guys too, to be honest - I've just posted the Booty for Life program - check out the 3-day workout (weeks 1-4) here: => Booty for Life Workout
Success tip of the day comes from Kekich Credo #4:
"Real regrets only come from not doing your best. All else is out of your control. You're measured by results only. Trade excuses and "trying" for results, and expect half-hearted results from half-hearted efforts. Do MORE than is expected of you. Life's easy when you live it the hard way…and hard if you try to live it the easy way."
So do your best with everything you have control over. Most people fail to control themselves, and end up only with regrets. They trade minutes of pleasure (i.e. fast food) for days, weeks, months, and years of regret. Don't be like that!
Now for some training info...yesterday I was interviewed by Men's Health about how guys could replace cardio in their workouts and I thought you'd like the sample workouts I provided so that you could use in your bootcamps.
PS - Check out this feedback on the TT Bootcamps program...
"hey, this is Travis Stoetzel, i'm a bootcamp instructor and fitness pro from omaha, ne. i just wanted to let you know that your TT bootcamps program is the bomb! Thanks a ton for being such a giving person and sharing your ideas and knowledge!" Travis Stoetzel
One of the few trainers I "listen to" in the fitness industry is Alwyn Cosgrove.
Most other trainers just repeat what he says anyways, so when I go looking for the latest fat loss info, I interview Alwyn.
And here are the latest innovations in fat loss that he's seen work at his facility in California.
1) The New Way to Do Interval Training
For someone who wants to lose a lot of fat quickly interval training is the key.
But you run into a problem.
Running a mile burns about 100 calories, however did you know that running a mile is equal to doing 1000-1500 reps with impact forces of double to triple bodyweight?
So a 180lb person will do 1500 x 360lbs to burn 100 calories.
It's just a massive amount of load and volume and stress on the body.
Switching to the bike makes it less joint load - but the volume of exercise has to go up.
So what's the solution?
At our gym in California, we switched to doing non-traditional interval training using bodyweight, kettlebells etc.
A 5 exercise circuit performed at 30s on; 30s off for 3 rounds will take 15 minutes, but it will burn way more calories during and after the workout, with way less reps and load - plus that load can be spread over the entire body.
We experimented and hoped it would be a good substitute for traditional intervals and we found it's actually a SUPERIOR choice.
It's the reason why weight watchers meetings and their entire program of just "Eat less" continues to work (and beat the results of a lot of gyms).
It's not the program - it's the social support factor in their group meetings.
I think it's one of the reasons why semi-private training appears to generate better results than one-on -one and one-on-one training outperforms training on your own. Social support rules.
If you have to train alone, make sure your friends and significant others support you in your efforts outside of the gym.
If they won't - its' going to be tough so consider hiring a trainer, getting a training partner or joining an accountability forum such as the Turbulence Training Member's area.
3) Nutrition: Multiple Meals Work Best
Every time I stray away from multiple meals with our clients, results go down.
I think 3 meals and 3 snacks always works. I've seen results with carb cycling, intermittent fasting and other methods - but as the complexity goes up, the results never go up with it.
I think simple principle based nutrition of:
- eating multiple meals - eating some protein at each meal - eating a serving of fruit or vegetables with each meal - and just keeping refined carbs low always ALWAYS works for fat loss
If you're dieting for a show then maybe you need to count calories - but for most people that's a level TEN approach.
And we're starting at level one: nutritional free-styling.
Just following some simple principles is a massive forward step.
Stop looking for a perfect system and just follow ONE. ********************************************************************
Thanks Alwyn.
Oh, I forgot to mention, Alwyn doesn't sugar-coat anything and is pretty blunt - just like me...
...but that's why our clients get results.
Alwyn is also the author of the workout program in this book:
Lame articles about "boosting your metabolism" are all over the internet...so I want to talk about two of the bigger myths today.
1) "Eating breakfast boosts metabolism" = myth.
Just another one of those things that trainers repeat all day long without data. Show me the research. (I know research shows that folks who eat breakfast keep the weight off, but where's the "breakfast boosts metabolism" study?)
And what does that mean anyways - eating breakfast boosts your metabolism by 10 calories, 100 calories or 1000 calories? Does anyone stop and think before they repeat this stuff all day long?
2) Another "metabolism" myth - One pound of muscle burns 50 calories per day.
Sounds good when you're talking about one pound, but would i really burn an extra 1000 calories per day if I gained 20 pounds? No, of course not.
Bodybuilders that have over 100 pounds of muscle on their bodies would have metabolic rates of over 5000 calories per day if this was true. Again, another myth spreads because we don't take time to stop and think...
Fitness "journalists" need to show a little critical thinking when they write their articles.
*************
Alright, now on to my workout for the day. Since I'm traveling to Atlanta today and not sure if I'd get to a "real gym" with barbells, I moved up some of my barbell exercises to today that otherwise would be done on Friday.
1) Jumps - doing well with these...need to test out on a basketball court, but pretty sure I can touch the rim again.
2A) Deadlift - 3x6, 2x10 2B) Military Press - 3x6 (little weak on these today)
I'll save lunges, pullups, and some other DB and ab exercises for the hotel gym workouton Friday.
Train safe, train hard, stick to the basics, and forget about boosting your metabolism with "tricks". All that matters is that you eat enough for your goals, and you workout with intensity.
Craig
PS - Consistency is key...
According to the October issue of Men's Health magazine, "People who workout in the morning are 90% more likely to stick to their workout than folks who try to workout later."
Continuing my experiment of a vegan diet combined with a modified meathead's workout for November.
Will be experimenting with some new foods, but I went with a huge meal of Amy's chili and wild rice yesterday while watching the Packers-Vikings game.
Also kept it simple with today's after workout meal of 3 almond butter sandwiches on flax bread with 2 glasses of chocolate almond milk.
Today's workout was...
1) Power Clean - 2x5
2A) Squat - 2x5, 2x8 2B) DB Incline Press - 2x8
3A) Seated Row - 2x15 3B) Plank - 2x90 seconds
4) Chinups
So far, so good.
Oh, and one more thing...I was re-reading Kekich Credo #1 today, and here's what it said:
"If you want to accomplish anything, get out of your comfort zone and increase order and discipline in your life. Discipline usually means doing the opposite of what you feel like."
And here are my thoughts on that, you need to...
• Set deadlines
• Discover & do what you do best & what's important & enjoyable to you
• Replace your bad habits and thought patterns, one-by-one, over time, with good habits and positive thought patterns
Craig Ballantyne is a workout routine and fat loss expert, and writes workout routines for Men's Health, Men's Fitness, Muscle and Fitness Hers, and Oxygen magazines. For his Turbulence Training workouts, visit www.TurbulenceTraining.com
