Dallas Dinner & DB Workout

Down in here in Dallas at a seminar, and I went out to dinner with my friend Carrie Wilkerson last night. She and I went to Bob's Chop & Steak House, and here's what I had:

Asparagus salad, rib-eye steak, giant carrot (didn't expect that to show up on my plate), 3/4 of a side order of broccoli (and if you've ever been to one of those steakhouses, you know that is a lot of broccoli), and a baked potato. Also had some bread, a Heineken, and a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon.

Definitely not my usual meal...but I'm not in Texas every day, either.

Used that meal to build my body and power a great workout this morning...the hotel gym at the Sheraton in Dallas is the biggest hotel gym I've ever been in...100 pound dumbbells too. Needed those for DB Rows.

Todays 5:45am workout:

1A) db reverse lunge
1B) 1-leg ball curl
1C) plank

2A) db row
2B) db 1-arm shoulder press
2C) 1-leg reaching lunge

I also noticed too many people doing "bench dips" in the gym...here's why you need to STOP doing them:

=> Triceps Bench Dips are bad, enkay?

Back to nutrition...as I mentioned, that's not my regular meal...I rarely eat meat. In fact, I eat more like my friend, Jon Hinds.

Here's a great "grocery store vegan" interview with Jon Hinds - super cool dude and I agree with so much of his SIMPLE nutrition philosophy - and YES, even meat eaters will get a lot of great ideas here...its not about meat being right or wrong, its about making nutrition as simple and as healthy as possible

=> http://monkeybargym.com/grocery-store-vegan-interview.html

And finally, I'll leave you with today's kick butt mindset tip:

The best fat loss workout in the world is useless without implementation. All the planning in the world is no good if you don't follow through. Become a robotic action taker. Just get it done. Even if you don't feel like it, just get started...go through the warmup, chances are you'll do the whole workout and you'll feel amazing after.

Get strong, stay strong, be strong,

Craig

Barbell Workout

Heading to Dallas today and will be training at a hotel gym on Friday...so I needed to do all of the barbell exercises from workouts C & D of my program today.

The workout:
Depth Jumps, Hang Cleans, Front Squat, Incline Bench.

Yesterday's blender drink:

The Simple Vegan Berry Blend - 1 banana, raspberries, strawberries, big tablespoon of peanut butter, frozen spinach, walnuts, chia seeds, almond milk.

And finally, please note it is the LAST DAY for this...You can try out Turbulence Training (and all the sweet bonuses) for just $1 here

=> http://www.turbulencetraining.com/ForOnly1Dollar.shtml

Until then, remember today's kick-butt mindset tip:

"Failure is not an option."

Stay strong,

Craig

Why I Do What I Do

You know, it's kind of funny.

I spent 6 years studying Exercise Physiology at University, and another 15 years training great folks like you after that...but the truth is, I still haven't found the perfect solution to your #1 obstacle in the way of your success.

I mean, we've crushed the "lack of time" argument with the short TT workouts...

...but everyday I still struggle to help people overcome their lack of motivation.

But I'll tell you, even though it is the #1 obstacle to success, I do have one MASSIVELY effective weapon that has worked amazing to help hundreds of men and women in the last 2 years.

And it is the Turbulence Training Transformation Contest.

So I have some great news for you...we are just days away from the 8th Turbulence Training Transformation Contest...and yes, it is free for you to enter the contest. You don't have to buy anything. But you do have to use Turbulence Training workouts to enter.

If you want to check out all of the rules for the 8th contest, go here:

=> http://www.TransformationContest.com/rules

I know that the Transformation Contest will help you crush any lack of motivation you might struggle with. That's my promise to you.

The social support from other Turbulence Training users combined with the intense personal challenge has helped men AND women lose up to 33 pounds in just 12 weeks.

We've had winners from all walks of life and from all over the world, from Australia to Norway to California to Spain.

Plus, and this is a bit of a confession...but I have a SELFISH REASON for running the contests.

You see, your transformations are what drive me.

I've never told this to anyone before, but on days when I'm feeling a little disheartened - perhaps due to some negative feedback online or a tough day at the office - I actually go back and re-read the Transformation essays from various contestants as a way to cheer me up and give myself a big motivational kick in the butt of my own.

Seriously.

There is so much emotion in the transformation stories of everyone who completes a contest. It doesn't matter if they win, or if they lose 20-30 pounds, what matters is the changes that have taken place, and what they have overcome to succeed.

This is why I do this. This is why I've dedicated almost half of my young life to teaching my friends and family (and that includes you) about health, fitness, and nutrition.

And I'd love for you to read some of the recent entries here:

=> http://www.TransformationContest.com

As much as I love to see the photographic evidence of their success, it really is the essays that move me the most.

I guarantee you'll find someone who is around your age, and who had the same amount of fat to lose as you...and who did it! (Even though they might have been struggling with some of the most difficult personal issues of their lives.)

It's almost like the Transformation Contest gives them a refuge from the storm going on in the rest of their life. Or even from a bad day at work. For them to be able to go home, update their progress, and to see improvements on a day by day basis, it's like a little bit of therapy that keeps them going.

And I love it. I really do.

In fact, I've been doing a lot of thinking about Turbulence Training lately, and I've decided to dedicate myself to a mission.

My goal is to help ONE MILLION men and women to transform their bodies by 2020.

That's a big goal. A "big, hairy, audacious goal" as they say in the business world.

But I don't care. I'm going for it. And I'll achieve it too, with a little help from you.

Now of course, that means I need to start doing everything I can to get more people - just like you - involved in the contests.

That's just one of the reasons I'm practically giving away Turbulence Training this week for just a buck.

I know you've always wanted to try the program...and I can't think of any better time to start than today.

So here's the link to get Turbulence Training and the 3-month TT Membership for just one dollar before Wednesday, April 28th at midnight:

=> http://www.turbulencetraining.com/ForOnly1Dollar.shtml

When you get started, make sure you stop by the TT Member's forum and say hi, introduce yourself, and ask me your #1 fat loss exercise or nutrition question.

I'm here to serve!

And THANK YOU for joining me in my march to 1 million transformations!

It will be the best dollar you've ever spent,

Craig Ballantyne, CSCS, MS
Author, TT Hardcore - Coming soon to ALL TT Members

PS - The 8th TT Transformation Contest officially starts on Monday, May 3rd...

...but you can get started NOW by posting going through the workouts and planning your nutrition for next week. Get the junk OUT of the house and get all the right foods IN the house. That's more than half the battle right there.

Plus, you should start posting in the Member's forum so that you start building the online social support you need to help you get through the tough spots...and also so that you can help others get through their tough days.

And get ready to take your "before photos" and official measurements on Monday.

So visit this link to get your 3-month TT membership as a bonus when you get the Turbulence Training program for just one dollar:

=> http://www.turbulencetraining.com/ForOnly1Dollar.shtml

PPS - I just added "TT Hard-core 2K10" to the member's site, and you'll get that program as another free bonus when you take the $1 trial offer. Sweet deal!

Decent Deadlifting

Decent deadlift workout today...

1) Jumps (5x2)

2) Deadlifts (3x5@355)

3A) Good Mornings (2x8)
3B) Shrugs
3C) 1-leg Squats

Gym was filled with meatheads today. Good times.

BTW, if you need replacements for chinups or pullups, watch this:

=> Upper Back Exercises

And today's kick-butt mindset tip:

"Get around the right people. Get around positive, successful people. Associate with men and women who are going somewhere with their lives. And get away from negative, critical, complaining people. Remember, you cannot fly with the eagles if you continue to scratch with the turkeys."
Brian Tracy

Many of the daily quotes I post come from my friend Gerald Romine's book, "The 1-Minute Guide For Finding Daily Inspiration In Your Life". You can get it here 

=> Quotes & Inspiration Book

That's a decent day,

Craig

PS - Don't forget...

...just want to make sure that everyone knows I have a TT Fanpage where I give out more great quotes and do fitness Q'n'A sessions each day...check it out, its: http://www.turbulencetrainingfanpage.com

$1 TT Offer

Listen, I know you're here because you want to lose belly fat. You told me that in the survey.

So here's what you're going to do.

You're going to take advantage of the most insane TT offer ever and then you're going to follow the 7 simple steps I outline below. But first, what's the "most insane offer"? It's this:

For the next 3 days you can try the full TT program out for $1.

Seriously.

Just go here and get TT for just a buck before Wednesday at midnight:

=> Turbulence Training for $1

You'll get 21 days to put Turbulence Training through the Ultimate Test Drive. And if you don't like it (although I guarantee you will), just let me know and you won't pay a penny more.

And when you get your copy of TT, here's exactly what I want you to do so that you can use the program correctly to lose 20-33 pounds in the next 12 weeks, or the last 10 pounds in the next 3 weeks...

Whatever you need, the $1 TT Trial Offer will guarantee that you'll achieve it.

OK? So here's what you need to do once you have it...These are the exact 7 steps you're going to take to burn fat fast:

First, you're going to train three times per week, for about 45 minutes per session - no more. That will save you 3-5 hours per week compared to the ineffective slow boring cardio program you might be using now.

Second, you're going to start each workout with a bodyweight circuit. No more of that silly 10-minute walk on the treadmill to get warmed up stuff...that treadmill warm-up is a waste of time. So there, I just saved you another 10 minutes of your day.

Third, you're going to do non-competing supersets so that you don't waste a second of workout time. That will save you another 17-21 minutes per workout.

Fourth, you're going to finish with interval training. Just say NO to slow cardio and YES to research-proven, belly-fat-burning interval training.

Fifth, on your off days, you're going to stay active. You don't have to go to the gym to do cardio. Kill the cardio mindset and avoid the cardio confessional - forever. Instead, stay active - walk the dog, play with your kids, join a dance class, or play a sport. Just do something you love - but that won't interfere with your real workouts.

Sixth, you're going to work ever harder on your nutrition than you do on your workouts.

As JP, a TT Member, said on the TT forum, "Follow the 21-day Kickstart diet modifications in Chapter 6 of Turbulence Training.
Your mantra is now 'I can't out-train a bad diet'."

After that JP said, "You need to be consistent 90% of the week on your diet...allow yourself 1 or 2 treat meals a week as long as they are not all out binges...be sensible but enjoy a little of your treat foods...over time eating healthy choices your tastes will change anyway."

Great advice JP! (You'll get help from so many other TT Members on the forum, since you get 3 months free when you take the $1 TT Trial Offer.)

Seventh, again, to make this as easy as possible, you're simply going to use theexact workouts and nutrition plan in the Turbulence Training package that you'll get for just $1 here:

=> One Dollar Turbulence Training

And I'll leave you with one more bonus tip from JP who said, "Most importantly, BELIEVE you can succeed. You will...as you follow TT and implement Dr Mohr's nutritional strategies to make realistic & permanent changes."

Powerful advice, what a great TT Member!

So listen, this is seriously the most insane Turbulence Training offer ever...you get the proven program used by thousands of men and women, all for just a buck!

If you can't give TT a shot for just a buck, then I'm not sure if you're serious about changing your body. Are you?

I sure hope you are serious...but you only have until Wednesday night to prove it to me - and to yourself.

It will be the best dollar you've ever spent,

Craig Ballantyne, CSCS, MS
Author, TT Hardcore - Coming soon to ALL TT Members

PS - When you get take the $1 TT Trial Offer...

...you'll also get 3 months free in the TT Member's area, and you'll get access to the new "TT Addiction" program (for the rest of April) and the upcoming "TT Hard-Core 2K10" program on May 1st.

These are ADVANCED fat burning workouts.

So that's another $40 worth of TT Programs...that you'll get for just a buck when you take the TT 21-day Trial Offer before Wednesday.

=> Click here to get started

Let me know if there is anything else I need to do to convince you!

Progress

Making some progress with my strength...

My workout today was a big warmup, then bench press (3 sets of 3 with 250), db incline press, cable external rotations, and some plank stuff. Saving the back for deadlifts tomorrow.

Today's blender drink was one of the Greatest Ever, so I called it, "The Drake"

1 banana, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, big tablespoon of peanut butter, frozen spinach, flax seed oil, chia seeds, rice protein powder, almond milk.

Today's kickbutt mindset tip:

"We are engineered to set and achieve meaningful goals"
Earl Nightengale

CB says, "Set your goals. Both short term and long term. Then put together a plan that will help you reach them. Then review your goals, your plan, and your progress at regular intervals. Adjust your plan as necessary. And hang around o...thers who will push you to improve."

It's that simple.

And today's resource:

You don't need to wreck your back, to get a sexy six pack.

Here's how I got my abs

=> Craig's Abdominal Exercises

Stay strong and set your goals,

Craig

Blender Drink Mania

Had a couple of blender drinks today...

Started the day with the "Surprisingly Simple & Good Blueberry-Coconut Blender drink": 1 ripe banana, lots of blueberries, coconut flakes, tablespoon of peanut butter, frozen spinach, flax meal, chia seeds, rice protein powder, almond milk.

Slipped into the gym for a quick "guinea-pig" session, taking a friend through Workout C of TT Hardcore 2K10. They were surprised by the heart-pounding effects of my latest metabolic resistance training circuit.

You'll love it.

Followed that up with today's omelet:

4 "free-range, peacekeeping, carbon-neutral, prius-driving eggs", feta cheese, broccoli, red pepper, and red onion.

After a couple of dog walks, I finished my day with an afternoon blender drink experiment gone right, and appropriately named: "The Sweetest Thing"

Ingredients: 1 banana, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, 5 dates, spinach,almond milk, flax oil, rice protein powder, peanut butter. Had with a toasted almond butter sandwich.

Also posted the latest 7-day fat loss call here:

=> Big 6 Advanced Fat Burning Circuit

And to finish with today's kick-butt mindset tip:

"If what you're doing now was enough to get what you want, you'd already have it."
Jack Canfield

Stay strong,

Craig Ballantyne, CSCS, MS

PS - Please join me on the TT Facebook Fanpage...

...for random fitness QnA sessions here:

=> http://www.TurbulenceTrainingFanpage.com

Quality Training

Train with purpose. Train with quality. Do not get sucked into the "training with quantity" mindset. That will lead to you being tired, hurt, and exhausted for no good reason.

I felt like I had a real quality session today.

Depth Jumps, Front Squats, Cable Abs, Reverse lunges, 1-leg stability ball curls, stability ball planks

But the blender drink was "not so good, Al"...I blame the chocolate vega, which is not so good tasting. Won't be buying it again.

Ingredients: 1 banana, lots of blueberries, lots of strawberries, spinach, chocolate vega powder, chocolate almond milk, peanut butter, chia seeds, flax seed oil.

And finally, a nice kick-butt mindset tip for the weekend from Dave Kekich.

Kekich Credo 55. "Enjoy life. Treat it as an adventure. Care passionately about the outcome, but keep it in perspective. Things are seldom as bleak as they seem when they are going wrong – or as good as they seem when they are going well. Lighten up. You'll live longer."

I agree,

Craig

PS - Coming soon...

TT Hardcore 2K10

I hired a trainer today

Just got back from working with the best trainer in Toronto, Matt Nichol. He spends 95% of his time working with pro athletes, but I kept pestering him until he made an exception to see me. (Fortunately we're friends, so I wasn't really bothering him that much.)

We spent about an hour going over some mobility work and squat form. Everyone needs a trainer, even trainers. Well worth the investment.

And we are lucky that here in Toronto there are many world-class trainers, physiotherapists, and chiropractors. Very lucky.

But the bottom line is that if you are concerned about your form in a certain exercise, the best thing you can do is spend a session with the best trainer in your town.

A small investment now can save you from big rehab bills in the future.

As Vince Lombardi says...

"The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand."

But...only you can motivate yourself to take action.

Emotion leads to motion…You have to look into your heart for the motivation to change…You must find your reason. As Larry Winget says, "You will not
change until you first become uncomfortable with where or who you are." Motivation to change comes from inside you only...not from someone else.

Stay strong and get stronger,

Craig Ballantyne

Diet Warning

RED ALERT: Accusations are flying that there is one sneaky "dieting technique" that should be banned from the 8th Turbulence Training  
Transformation Contest because it will give users an unfair advantage. 
  
Whether or not I decide to ban it, I think you really need to read about it... 
  
Click here listent to Joel Marion's interview that exposes this one controversial dieting technique: 
  
=> http://turbulencetraining.com/JoelMarionExtremeFatLossDieting/ 
  
URGENT WARNING: Today is also your last day to get this report and hot diet tip from controversial author Joel Marion.  
  
Why? 
  
Because at midnight tonight Joel will be removing this report from the Internet for his own safety because of the online firestorm it  
is causing. 
  
CAUTION: Do not be caught without this dieting technique as you try to lose those last 10 pounds and whip yourself into shape for summer 
with Turbulence Training.  
 
  
Then get ready to use this information to get into the best shape of your life for summer. 
  
Helping you burn that stubborn belly fat before summer, 
  
Craig Ballantyne, CSCS, MS  
Author, TT Clash of the Titans - Coming Soon

Date Blender Drink

Started the day with a "Date Blender Drink". Here are the ingredients...

1 banana, raspberries, 3 dates, peanut butter, spinach, flax meal, flax seed oil, chia seeds, rice protein powder, almond milk. Three dates are enough to make a fairly sweet blender drink, so cut back if you don't like sweet drinks – also, cut them into smaller pieces to make it easy on the blender. Also had a toasted almond butter & blueberry sandwich on flax bread (I put the blueberries on... the sandwich instead of in the blender drink).

Today's workout:

1) Hang Clean (3x5)     

2A) BB Incline (5x5)     
2B) DB Row (3x15)     

3A) 1-arm DB Shoulder Press (3x8)     
3B) Row

Today's resources:

1) Free nutrition interview (audio & transcript) with Joel Marion (controversial)

=> Joel Marion Diet Interview

2) 3-Minute Pushup Video - I explain Martin Rooney's test

=> 3 Minute Pushup Video

And today's kick-butt mindset quote comes from Lance Armstrong in Dodgeball...

"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. So what are you dying from that's keeping you from the finals?"

And then my friend Carrie Wilkerson said...

"Everyone assumes that THEIR excuse (reason) is different and that 'OTHERS' have it easy...truth is - we all have challenges, all have obstacles, all have incredible REASONS to persevere. Do NOT Quit."

Indeed,

Craig 

Highlight of my year

Today was the highlight of my year.

Even though I've been lucky enough to go to the Superbowl and attend seminars in Vegas and Miami this year, nothing beats what happened today...

I got to teach health and fitness to high school students at North Park Secondary School in Brampton, Ontario.

And for some strange reason they let me bring Bally the Dog.

You can just imagine how crazy that was...but he settled down after about 10 minutes and I shared my 15 Simple Nutrition rules with the kids, and then we did a QnA session on all sorts of topics, from workouts to supplements to careers in the fitness industry.

I could have stayed there all day...it was an amazing environment and its was awesome to be around the energy of kids who have the opportunity to create an incredible life ahead of them.

After that, I had a lunch at my friend's "Freshii" store at the Heartland Town Center in Mississauga, and then came back to the office to put together 2 gifts for you.

1) I want to give you access to an hour long audio and report that I did with Joel Marion where he explains even more about his nutrition program and the 3 reasons that traditional diets fail.

You can download that info for free right here:

=> Joel Marion's Extreme Fat Loss Dieting

Don't miss Joel's comments about how most diets are only good for __ days before they go bad...and we finish the call with the funny story of Joel's cheeseburger-superset workout...you won't want to miss that one.

2) We also added the TT Gauntlet videos to my Facebook Fanpage here:

=> Get the TT Gauntlet Workout Videos

You can watch those advanced bodyweight circuit workouts and download the free workout manual from the fanpage...and make sure you stay alert for the QnA sessions I do on the fanpage.

They happen at least once per day...randomly...talk to you there!

Thanks to North Park High School for an amazing day,

Craig Ballantyne, CSCS, MS
Author, TT Clash of the Titans - Coming Soon

PS - The new TT Addiction program...

...is now available for TT Members to download.

Back to school, back to school

Bally the Dog and I are off to go back to school today...

...that's right, we'll be teaching Health & Nutrtition to the Grade 12 Class at North Park High School in Brampton.

And seriously, they are letting me bring my dog.

It's going to be outrageous...but my hope is that the dog settles down after about 5 minutes of jumping up on all the kids.

Hopefully.

And then I'm going to give a nutrition presentation and answer all of their questions...should be a good time. After that, I'll be hitting Freshii for lunch...

Freshii is a chain of super-healthy restaurants that serve fresh ingredients...if there is one in your area, make sure you check it out.

Now here's today's kick-butt mindset tip.

2010 = 30% complete today.

Time to review your goals, be honest with your progress, adjust, and replot your course. If you want things to change, you have to take action and change them. There's no better day to start than today

And today's resource:

Another CB magazine workout that made it onto MSN.com (from April 2010 Mens Health)

=> 4 upper body exercises that work your abs

Off to school,

Craig

TT Addiction Workout is here - Get Addicted!

The long awaited Turbulence Training Addiction program is here…and YES, it is an ADVANCED program.

(These workouts are super tough and if you are feeling pain, dizziness, or discomfort at any time, please stop the workout and see your doctor.)

“What’s with the name?” you might be asking?

Well, it all started with the 300 workout. Now remember, I didn’t invent that workout, but I filmed exercise demonstrations for the folks at Men’s Health, and since 2007 over 1.5 million people have watched that video on their site and on Youtube.

And more importantly, I’ve received hundreds of emails from people asking how often they could do the workout each week. You see, they were addicted to the challenge. Fortunately I was smart enough to recognize this “healthy addiction” and I started creating challenge workouts of my own.

As a result, I believe I’ve found one factor in fighting the obesity epidemic…turning regular exercise programs into “workout golf” (I call it workout golf because the programs become as addictive to users as golf does to a golf fanatic).

So hold on tight, you’re about to learn more about the most addictive workouts in the fitness world…all while helping you lose fat and sculpting the body of your dreams.

Looking forward to your success!

Your friend and coach,

Craig Ballantyne, CSCS, MS,
Author, Turbulence Training Addiction

7th Transformation contest winners!

Hey everyone, big news...

7th TT Transformation Contest winners have been announced!

=> http://transformationcontest.com/

After you see those, I know today's mindset quote will hit home:

"The worst thing one can do is not to try, to be aware of what one wants and not give in to it, to spend years in silent hurt wondering if something could have materialized--never knowing."
Jim Rohn

So make sure to get started on your transformation today - mentally and physically. No need to wait until contest #8 starts on May 3rd.

Let me know if you need workout help.

For me, it was time to start a new 4-week program...

Today's workout for me was:

Max Jumps (5x2)
Deadlift (3x3, 1x8)
Good Mornings (3x10)
1-Leg Squat off Box (3x8)
BB Shrug (3x8)

And today's blender drink:
1 frozen banana, strawberries, cashew butter, spinach (you can't taste it), walnuts, chia seeds, coconut flakes, rice protein powder, almond milk.

Also had a toasted almond butter & blueberry sandwich on flax bread (I put the blueberries on the sandwich instead of in the blender drink).

Today's Resources:

#1 - Jay Ferruggia on the 5x5 system

=> 5x5 Workout Method

#2 - The TT Abs Gauntlet Workout B

=> Abs Gauntlet Circuit Workout

Enjoy!

Craig Ballantyne, CSCS, MS

Simple Nutrition for Fat Loss

Hope you had an amazing weekend.

I spent it with Bally the Dog driving all over the city looking for a new home in the Beaches or Leslieville areas of Toronto.

Both neighborhoods are perfect - dog friendly and a little offbeat and even slightly weird.

Now speaking of weird, I've been getting a lot of emails and Facebook questions about the craziest diets - many of which I had never heard
of before.

But eating for fat loss doesn't have to be confusing, crazy, or complex. In fact, I'm a big believer in Simple Nutrition.

Eat real, whole, natural food (which allows you lots of carbohydrates), and don't eat too much (eating too much is almost impossible on a whole, natural foods diet).

That is the BEST diet for fat loss. And yes, it really is that simple.

After all, it works for me...for proof, just check out the new photo of me above at these stats:

5'9", 180.5 pounds, 9-10% body fat - April 14, 2010

This Simple Nutrition fat loss diet is also good enough for GQ magazine...

What do I mean by that?

Well, if you haven't already heard, GQ magazine stole one of my photos and used it on page 66 of the April, 2010 issue (bottom left hand corner).

If I'm lean enough to be a "GQ model" (and yes, I AM adding that to my resume), then my Simple Nutrition program must be working, right?

So if you're sick & tired of confusing carb-restriction diet programs that leave you starving and still stuck with stubborn belly fat, then I have great news for you.

I've put together my complete nutrition program - and over 31 amazing blender drinks, smoothies, and post-workout shakes - into a special (and super cheap) nutrition package showing you how to eat a lot of carbs and still lose fat.

Plus, you'll get those blender drink, smoothie, and post-workout shake recipes to help you add fuel to your metabolism fire.

Here's my Simple Nutrition program that you've been asking for:

=> Simple Nutrition & Blender Drink Recipes

But be warned...this program is not...

- "low carb" or "obsessively high protein"
- confusing or complex or crazy
- restrictive (you'll actually be full & satisfied!)

Listen, I stay at 9-10% fat all year round while eating tons of carbs and loving every meal I eat - and I avoid all diets that are so restrictive it causes you to binge eat on weekends.

So not only will you get proven fat loss advice (my recommendations are backed by clinical scientific research) but this program will also take the stress out of eating.

It's so simple...even Bally the Dog uses most of the secrets in the plan to keep his six pack abs sharp (and yes, a vet really did once tell me that Bally the Dog has six pack abs). Funny, huh?

So get ready to discover...

- The Simple Nutrition Rules for fat loss
- The top 3 food myths that everyone gets wrong in their diet
- The 7-step detox diet plan (that doesn't require a zany detox diet)
- My grocery list and meal plan
- 43 blender drink, smoothie, and post-workout recipes

(NOTE: I'll be adding more recipes every couple of months, and I'll send you the updated recipe book for free every time I do!)

Time for another delicious and filling Simple Nutrition meal.

Have a totally amazing week,

Craig Ballantyne, CSCS, MS
Author, Simple Nutrition

PS - If you are sick and tired of confusing and complex diets...

...then you need to stop the insanity and switch to the Simple Nutrition for Fat Loss System.

Your results are guaranteed by a 100% money back promise. And no matter what, you'll get to keep the recipes & you'll still get all of the future recipe updates.

PPS - Make sure you get the videos, too.

You'll get to see me and Bally in the kitchen...him eating and me being a total clutz.

PPPS - Stay tuned for some really cool free stuff this week...

...I have two free reports and some workout videos to share with you.

Quick Favor - Free Workout

Would it be possible for you to do me a quick favor?

I put together a quick little survey that will take you less than 1 minute to fill out...

...and to show my appreciation for you taking 1 minute to fill out the survey, you'll get to choose from one of two free TT workouts (retail value $19.95).

So here's how to turn 1 minute into a 20-dollar workout...

1) Go to this link and fill out the short survey:

=> https://www.Surveymonkey.com/s/turbulencetraining

2) When you are done the survey, it will take you to a page where you can download your free workout.

Thank you so much for your time and feedback.

This will help me make better programs and videos, and write more helpful articles for YOU. Thanks!

You are so awesome!

Have a great weekend,

Craig Ballantyne, CSCS, MS
Author, Turbulence Training

PS - Don't forget...

The 8th Turbulence Training Transformation Contest starts on Monday, May 3rd. More details coming soon. Get ready for your chance to win $1000 just by losing belly fat. Winners of the 7th TT Contest will be announced on Tuesday.

TT Workout Filming Update

Last night I finished filming one more phase of Booty for Wife, and then the TT Addiction workout...Workout C is totally awesome...can't wait to hear your scores...

And I took this goofy photo.

Anyways, speaking of workouts...this is possibly the HARDEST TT workout ever (and you get the full program for FREE on the Turbulence Training Fanpage)

=> Extreme Fat Burning Workout

And today's kick-butt mindset quote:

"Everything has a price. Success has a price, and so does failure. Choose either, but be prepared to pay the price for your choice."
Larry Winget

And speaking of "failure", I had a small one today with the blender drink:

Tried hemp seeds in the blender drink today and wasn't too thrilled with the taste - I blame Jason Ferruggia for this...I'm just not down with the hemp flavor...

Ingredients:

1 banana, raspberries, blueberries, spinach, 1% milk, almond milk, cashew butter, flax oil, vega protein, hemp seeds.

Had with a toasted raw almond butter sandwich on flax meal bread.

Fortunately Jay has redeemed himself with this awesome article on how to do more pullups

=> How to Improve Your Pullups

My workout today is Workout B from TT Hardcore 2K10...just wait till you see the cover for this manual...I think you'll love it and laugh at it.

Stay strong,

Craig

PS - Very tight race in the Female Transformation Contest voting...

...please stop by, check out the photos and essays, and have your say in who wins the $1000 top prize (greatly appreciated!)

=> Transformation Contest Voting

Blender Drink/Workout of the Day

Last week I finished up the latest phase of my own personal program, and I'm going to start a new program next week, but in between, I'm spending this week training with a couple of lab rats to work out the kinks in the new TT Hardcore 2K10 program coming out in May.

Today we finished up Workout A, and it was solid. The interval session is tough stuff. The resistance training is fast, efficient, and a little bit different from what I've done in the past. Tomorrow...barbell complex and bodyweight training.

Earlier I tried out chia seeds in a blender drink...the full ingredient list was:

1 banana, raspberries, blueberries, spinach, almond milk, walnuts, cashew butter, sesame seeds, chia seeds, & brown rice protein powder. Also had a raw almond butter sandwich on toasted flax bread, an apple, and a green tea.  

Resources

#1: An abs interview I did Monday night with Scott Colby on how to get a flat stomach with simple nutrition and the right ab exercises

=> Abs Diet & Exercise Tips

#2 - Finally...got some new videos up on Youtube --

=> 15 Minute Fat Loss Workout

And today I got a great response on my Facebook page with these kick-butt mindset quotes...

"Want a better life? Go after the cause of your problem. Don't mask the problem. Don't dull the pain. Instead, feel the pain and ask yourself what is really causing it. Then attack the cause." - Larry Winget

"You will never find time for anything. If you want time you must make it." - Charles Buxton.

The quote from Buxton was probably my most "liked" quote I've ever posted...very interesting...

Alright, off to interview Super Joe Mario...I'll post the link to this call for you soon,

Craig 

Funny Story, Final Notice

Here's a quick little funny story...

The other week I sold my house here in Toronto, and I plan to wait until the housing market here cools off a bit before I buy a new place.

However, I did something silly...

I left my apartment searching till the last minute, and now I'm scrambling to find a place to live before my "Final Notice" to move out of this place.

I'll let you know how the drama unfolds...I'm looking at a couple of options right now...but I'm not extremely happy with either of them. But you know what, I actually feel a little better just explaining it to you...so thanks for listening!

And take it from me, the last thing you want to do is miss a big deadline. And there's a very big deadline happening today...

...because today is your last chance to get me as your very own personal trainer, coming into your house to take you through the TT for Abs DVDs.

We'll do every set, every rep, and even the intervals together.

And after I'll invite you into my kitchen to show you the Simple Nutrition System that I follow for staying lean with six pack abs all year round.

Plus, today is the last day to save over $100 on the regular price of this 19 DVD System AND your last day to take advantage of the 4 payment plan option.

And it's also your last day to get the free shipping too.

So this is your final notice to take advantage of the most complete Turbulence Training System ever created.

=> Click here to take advantage of the TT for Abs Special Offer

And then I'll be showing up on your doorstep soon,

Craig Ballantyne, CSCS, MS
Creator, TT for Abs DVDs

PS - The price of the TT for Abs DVDs increases by $100 after midnight tonight.

So grab your copy and the free shipping today here:

=> http://www.ttforabsdvds.com/specialoffer/

There's also a lower priced 4-payment plan to help you out. But it's only available until midnight as well.

7th Transformation Contest Finalists

Have you checked out the finalists for the 7th Turbulence Training Transformation Contest yet?

They are amazing and you can support them by voting here:

=> Transformation Contest Finalists

Pictures may be worth 1000 words, but their personal stories are 10x's more powerful than even the most dramatic of their before and after photo.

Please take a moment to read the entries from our amazing finalists, including our women...

1) Julie, a busy young hairstylist and student who dropped 15 pounds

2) Busy Mom Stacey who lost 12 pounds and dropped 2 pant sizes

3) Kes, who dropped 12 pounds while kicking perimenopause to the curb

4) Shannon, who dropped 10 pounds & 2.5 inches while becoming a role model of health and fitness to her family

5) Busy Mom Shanda, who lost 14 inches & 12 pounds of post-baby fat

6) Becky, who lost 4% fat & 3 inches from her belly (read her essay!)

And our men...

1) Rob, who dropped 16 pounds and now fits back into size 32 jeans!

2) Mike, who lost an amazing 21 pounds and 6.5% Fat

3) Oak, who dropped an incredible 30 pounds with just 3 workouts per week

4) Joel, who combined Cheat Your Way Thin with Turbulence Training to lose 20 pounds of body fat and can now see his abs

5) Tamas, who lost 30.5 pounds of fat and 5 inches from his belly - thanks in part to his son who bought him the TT program

6) Troy, who dropped a contest-best 31 pounds of fat to look like a fitness magazine cover model.

Read your entry and cast your vote for our men and women here:

=> Transformation Contest Voting

So proud of everyone that entered,

Craig Ballantyne, CSCS, MS
Author, Turbulence Training

PS - The 8th Turbulence Training Transformation Contest starts...

...on Monday, May 3rd. More details coming soon.

Get ready for your chance to win $1000 just by losing belly fat!

7th TT Transformation Contest Voting

Time to vote for the male and female winners of the 7th Turbulence Training Transformation Contest.

Congratulations to all of our finalists! This was our most consistent "class" for both men and women. Some really amazing changes, and please read the essays as they are 10x's more powerful than just the photos.

Please vote for men AND women here (and tell your friends to vote too):

=> Click here to vote for the Transformation Contest Winners

Voting ends on Friday night at 9pm EST.

Very inspiring...and it got me thinking about how to make the new TT Hardcore 2K10 program even better...you'll probably see an interval program similar to the one I did today:

Today's workout: Dog walk, stretching, 10 sprints of 24 seconds with 36 second recovery. More stretching. That's it.

Today's Blender Drink comes in 2 versions...the "beginner's version" without any funky ingredients, and the "health freak version" that contains weird
stuff.

Beginner: Raspberries, strawberries, 1 banana, 2 cups 1% milk, cashew butter
Weird version: All of the above plus spinach, flax oil, and sesame seeds.

And some good resources for you to check out:

Resource #1

5 ab exercises that will make your abs sore

=> Advanced Ab Exercises

Resource #2

Some tips from Mike Boyle

=> Mike Boyle Strength Training Advice

And finally, today's kick-butt mindset tip:

Kekich Credo #47 - "The right thing is usually not the easy thing to do. You may sacrifice popularity for rightness, by you'll lose self-esteem for wrongness. Don't be afraid to say no."

Be strong,

Craig 

Deadlift, Abs & Post-Workout Resources

Good deadlift workout today...I'm going to focus on improving my DL for the summer, and I'll be finding tons of awesome resources to share with you as well (I'm going to interview a lot of experts about how to improve it).

Today's workout:

1) Jumps (4x4)

2) Deadlift (3x5)

3A) Good Morning (2x8)
3B) BB Shrug (2x8)

4) BB Lunge (2x8)

Earlier today, I had a random, thick, "I ran out of almond milk" blender drink:

1 banana, strawberries, applesauce, spinach, oatmeal, walnuts, chocolate protein powder, cashew butter, almond milk, and sesame seeds.

Very filling.

And a giant big boy salad for lunch:

can of black beans, spinach, field greens, 1/2 avocado, mushrooms, red pepper, broccoli, cauliflower, and salsa  

And now for some training & nutrition resources:

Resource #1: My favorite ab exercises

=> Ab Exercises Video

Resource #2:

Jason Ferruggia post-workout nutrition tips here

=> Muscle Building Nutrition

Resource #3:

5 abs exercises that gave me sore abs recently:

=> Advanced Ab Exercises

And finally, today's kick-butt mindset quote:

"Unhappiness is not knowing what you want and killing yourself to get it." - Unknown.....Listen, make sure your goals are specific. Know your destination. This goes for fitness, work, life, etc. Don't grind yourself into the ground because you don't have a finish line.

Stay strong and set those goals,

Craig Ballantyne, CSCS, MS

PS - And a bonus resource...

I really liked this...7 interesting lessons my buddy Vinny D & his awesome girl Flavia learned at Marriage school

=> Marriage Preparation Lessons

Supercharged Sunday

Supercharged Strawberry-Banana blender drink: 1 ripe banana, frozen strawberries, spinach, flax oil (you can't taste it), cashew butter, chocolate vegetarian protein powder, and almond milk. Served with toasted raw almond butter sandwich (flax meal bread).

It will be followed by bench press workout, dog walk, and watching golf (one of the few sports I find more interesting to watch than to play).

I'll be hanging out and watching golf with one of my best clients today...someone who might eat even healthier than me, so I thought this kick-butt mindset tip was appropriate for you today:

"Spend some time this week with people who are fitter and healthier than you. Find out what works for them, what drives them, and what you can learn
from their habits and apply to your life. Hang around A-level players and take your game up to their level."

Resource of the Day:

Here's a little "workout fix article" I helped the Toronto Globe and Mail with...NOTE: Do not read the comments (as they are full of un-needed hate)

=> Busy Mom Fat Loss Tips

And a bonus...yesterday's kick-butt mindset quote was this:

"Oh, what a boring life we would lead if not for the wonderful challenges we are given. Every challenge is an opportunity. An opportunity to overcome. An
opportunity to grow. An opportunity to learn. An opportunity to live." - Read this in a book given to me by my friend, Gerald Romine.

Hope you have great workouts this week,

Craig 

Testing Your Limits

Today's TT Workout: TT Addiction Workout C -- tested my limits. Crazy times. You'll love it. Coming April 19th to an asylum near you. It roars out to a crazy start with the pushups, peaks in the middle with the Burpees, and then finishes strong with the kettlebell swings. Upper body gets pumped, but its the quads and glutes that take the biggest beating of all. And everything is bodyweight except for the KB Swings. 

So push your limits, but don't get frustrated if things don't go your way. Just listen to what one smart guy had to say...

"I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward."
Thomas Edison

And then here are my thoughts...

"If you plan, & I mean really plan (not just making your lunch the day before, but plan out meal by meal, grocery trip by grocery trip, workout by workout for 12 weeks), you will lose fat & achieve more than you ever thought possible. This is the stuff of legends. Take 3 hours & plan out your next 3 months. You might this incredibly hard, or even incredibly liberating, but each time you do it you will get better at it."

And planning is necessary for winning the TT Transformation Contest...speaking of which, FYI:

Transformation Contest #7 ends next week...and the 8th Turbulence TrainingTransformation Contest will start May 3rd. Last day to enter will be May 31st.

Looking forward to your success,

Craig

PS - Do yourself a favor and make someone else happy today.

It will make you happier than if you tried to "get happy" by shopping, drinking, or eating.

24-36 Interval Split

I spent a lot of time in February reading interval training studies and articles, and I think I might have found the most effective interval training duration.

And I used it today in Workout B from the upcoming Turbulence Training Addiction program. You sprint for 24 seconds and recover for 36 seconds. The
Australian researchers who performed the intervals vs cardio study that was published back in 2007.

But I added a little twist to it...based on another interval training study I read last year...that study looked at the physiological responses to different types of interval training used by members of the Ivory Coast national soccer team - Who knows, maybe Didier Drogba was a research subject?

So the TT Addiction Workout B program includes a special type of TT interval using the results of both of the studies.

The program also included L-Chinups, 1-leg hops, jumps, decline pushups, and a couple of metabolic circuits. The complete program will be available on April 19th.

You'll get hooked on this one pretty fast.

In the meantime, here's today's kickbutt mindset tip:

Kekich Credo #42 - "Lead by example."

If you don't have social support, take charge as the leader. Be confident in your choices. People will respect your decisions, even if it seems at first that they don't. Eventually, a lot of people will come to you for advice and support. You are the one making the right decision. Never forget that. If you are the one to lead, people will gravitate towards your passion.

And 2 resources for today:

1) Cool vegan & veggie health foods reviewed

=> Vegetarian Health Foods Reviewed by Kardena Pauza

2) Life changing question:

=> 1 major question to ask yourself

Stay strong,

Craig

PS - Big news coming about Memorial Day weekend...

Life Changing Question

Every morning I review my secret, sacred "guiding documents" that keep me on track to doing what I love, helping others, and of course, building a lean muscular physique and increasing my vitality & health.

And today just happened to be the day that I was to review this question from my quotations document:

1) Is the life you're living worth what you are giving up to have it?

You may have heard this question in church, at a personal development seminar, or even just from a respected elder.

But it could be one of the most powerful questions anyone will ever ask you.

Are working too much for too little? Sacrificing time with your family just to make a few extra bucks to buy things you don't need?

Are you sacrificing your long term health and vitality in exchange for the rush and recklessness of cigarettes & alcohol?

Are you giving in to junk food which causes belly fat and leads to you being discriminated against at work?

Are you skipping workouts to watch TV or sit at the bar, leaving you without the lean mass you desire?

So many questions...and I'm not done yet. And yes, I realize that you probably want me to shut up and stop challenging you.

(Reminds me of the old Saturday Night Live skit where Dana Carvey playing Bono comes out and says, "Am I bugging ya? I don't mean to bug ya.")

But I DO mean to bug you.

Once you've answered that question, answer these:

Are you doing what you want in life?
Are you 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?

Now I know that some folks will answer a resounding "YES!" to all of these, and I'm super proud of you and happy for you.

But for others, answering these questions might be like getting a bucket of icey cold water to the face.

These questions are a wake-up call.

But there's light at the end of the tunnel.

So here's the most important question to ask yourself...this is THE LIFE-CHANGING question...

If things aren't going great, what's at least one thing you can do to start making a change right now, today?

You don't have to tell me (but if you want to comment below or send me a message on Facebook, that's cool - I'd like to hear from you and maybe even help guide you to a solution).

But most importantly, just tell yourself, and then get started on making the change. That's how you get things done.

Remember what I said earlier today...research shows that the biggest regret people have in life is not something they did, but something they DIDN'T do.

And I don't want you to go through life regretting that you never did this or that, because as my friend Vince Del Monte says, "living a life of regret SUCKS".  

If you have regrets right now, you need to change. And yes, it will require you getting outside of your comfort zone, but that is what life is all about.

That is how we live the life worth living. Yes?

If you want to motivated to find your mission in life, to build the lean mass you want and deserve, to find the MATE you desire, and yes, to even earn the money you deserve, then I highly recommend you take action and start making a change today.

It's not "just" about workouts. It's about working on every part of YOU so that you live the life you've always wanted to live.

If you want to change, start taking action now.

Your friend and coach,

Craig Ballantyne

Muscle & Milk Resources

Couple more articles I don't want you to miss...

1) 10 Reasons You Need Lean Mass

=> 10 Reasons to Build Muscle

2) Brad Pilon discusses milk, health, and government regulations

=> Healthy Milk Discussion

Milk is the hottest, most controversial topic in nutrition today. I think he makes some great points, and the discussion has been quite good as well.

Craig

#1 Rule for Men

I've got a very strong politically incorrect opinion for all those guys emailing me and saying that they are 5'8" and weigh 145 pounds and want to lose fat before they start building muscle...

...and that is, "WRONG CHOICE!"

Brother, you need muscle.

In my infamous "abs photos" online (including the one recently STOLEN by GQ magazine - April 2010, page 66), I weigh 180 pounds at 5'9". And I still look small!

So listen, the #1 rule for men is this:

When in doubt, a guy should focus on BUILDING muscle, not losing fat.

Unless you are over 15% body fat, you should not even think about losing fat or dieting if you aren't at the right weight for your height. Once you hit your height-weight level, then you can work on fat loss.

Here's my infamous height-weight scale.

5 feet, 6 inches = 150 pounds
5 feet, 7 inches = 155 pounds
5 feet, 8 inches = 160 pounds
5 feet, 10 inches = 170 pounds
6 feet = 180 inches

(For every inch gained in height, add 5 pounds.)

NOTE: If you are below the assigned weight for your height, you MUST - and there is NO debate - focus your workouts on BUILDING muscle.

That's the #1 rule for you.

And there are two guys who can help you...with two very different approaches and attitudes:

1) Jason Ferruggia - The Renegade - He's raw and rough around the edges...but also one of my best friends. Check out his interview and free report here:

=> Jason Ferruggia Muscle Building Interview

2) Vince Del Monte - The Passionate One - A lot of mindset and motivation from my good friend Vince. You can tell he is the son of a pastor...

=> Vince Del Monte Muscle Interview

Get strong, stay strong, be strong,

Craig

Morning Interval Workout & Blender Drink

"What you think about, talk about, and get off your ass and do something about, comes about." - Larry Winget.

Great start to my day. Up at 6. Dog walk. 20 minutes stretching. 10 minutes intervals. 2nd dog walk. 5 minutes stretching. Then I sat on the balcony
overlooking downtown Toronto while I designed part of "TT Hardcore" for May Workout of the Month.

Then I made the morning blender drink...

1 banana, blueberries, raspberries, spinach, walnuts, cacao nibs, almond milk, vegetarian protein powder, and cashew butter.

Today's resource:

7 tips for thinner thighs

=> Thin Thighs and a Better Butt

And today's kick-butt mindset tip:

Kekich Credo #42 - "Lead by example."

If you don't have social support, take charge as the leader. Be confident in your choices. People will respect your decisions, even if it seems at first that they don't.

Eventually, a lot of people will come to you for advice and support. You are the one making the right decision. Never forget that. If you are the one to lead, people will gravitate towards your passion. People love to follow people with passion - never forget that.

Stay strong,

Craig

Challenge Yourself

"Accept the challenges so that you may feel the exhilaration of victory."
General George S. Patton

Today's workout:
Turbulence Training Addiction Workout A - included an interesting 5x5 superset.

I also benched 250x3, which is the best I've done in a while. Stay strong, challenge yourself, and your confidence will ...shoot through the roof everytime you conquer an obstacle.

Workout also had some upper back and arms, and my legs are starting to get sore from yesterday.

Of course, there is more to life than just challenging yourself with workouts.

For anyone going through one of those "what should I do with my life" phases, ask yourself these 5 questions:

- "What is my purpose/higher calling here on earth?"

- "What did my higher power put me here on this earth to do?"

- "Who was I put here to serve?"

- "What skill/ability do I have that NO ONE else in the world can do better?"

- "What do I want my legacy to be?"

I hope that helps you out,

Craig

PS - Vince Del Monte is the talk of the fitness world this week...

...and if you want to get to know him better, join Vince and I on this audio interview - or read the report of our call here:

=> Vince Del Monte Muscle Building Interview

3-Minute Pushup Tips

I've added an extra day to the pushup challenge...so you can still get your entry in before midnight tonight. Here are the rules:

=> http://snipurl.com/3minpu

Lots of folks surprising themselves with their results...and here's one big tip...Do NOT overdo it in the first set. If you're a guy and can do 40 pushups straight, don't do more than 15-20 in your first set.

I can do 57 in a row and I stopped at 20 and went:

20-20-20-15-10-10-10-5-4

If you do 30 in your first set you'll bonk too quickly.

Today's workout for me

1) Max Jumps (5x2)

2) Wide Sqt (3x5)

3A) Olympic Squat (2x5)
3B) RDL (2x8)
3A) Cable Abs (2x20)

*************************
Now a word of warning...

Don't go depending on the "cardio confessional" today...you can't burn off a 2500 calorie Easter Sunday dinner/chocolate fest with 30 minutes on a cardio
machine. Just forget about it. So instead of dreading a cardio workout, do a TT workout that gets you pumped.

And today's kick-butt mindset tip:
Don't be satisfied with the norm if you want more. It's okay to want to achieve special results. The world needs folks who dream and achieve big things. Keep pushing to reach your full potential. Persevere. Never give up. And don't let anyone hold you back.

Stay strong,

Craig

PS - Toronto...

...if u have a lil change in yr pocket, please help the food bank:

=> Click here to help the Toronto Food Bank

They appreciate your help. It's been a rough year for them. 

Saturday Morning Dog Shenanigans

Ha, so Saturday morning I'm at my parent's house and my mom is scolding Bally the Dog for drooling on the kitchen floor...but I think it's her fault for cooking bacon.

And to top it off, she keeps on telling him to "stop dripping"...or "at least sit on a mat if you're going to keep dripping". As if he's a faucet.

Personally, I don't care if he drips, I just want him to stop puking...because he woke me up early Saturday morning by puking in the corner of my bedroom. Lil' stinker.

Anyways, on to some workout tips...

1 common characteristic of almost all success stories is that they had a BEFORE photo taken - this is a key to long-term motivation. Don't be afraid to do this...it will drive you to success.

Resource #1:

Inspiring audio/transcript of interview I did with Vince Del Monte on building your lean mass metabolism...plus you hear the funny story of how he almost died...seriously, its funny.

=> Vince Del Monte Maximize Your Muscle Interview

And...

Resource #2: 10 Step Guide to Becoming a Successful Personal Trainer

I first answered this on TT Members and then added it to the Facebook Fanpage here:

How to become a successful personal trainer

Enjoy,

Craig

3-Minute Men's Health Pushup Challenge from Martin Rooney

This weekend I want you to take the 3-minute Men's Health pushup challenge designed by Martin Rooney.

You can find all the details on page 46 of the April 2010 issue of Men's Health, or you can find the details and enter your score to win 3 months free at Turbulence Training here:

=> 3 Minute Pushup Rules & Contest

Martin Rooney is one of the most experienced strength and conditioning coaches in the world, and I've interviewed him a couple of times.

In one interview we talked about the importance of an athlete having a high strength to bodyweight ratio. Here's how Martin explained the importance:

"Re: strength to bodyweight…Think of it like this…If I did a forty-yard dash and a vertical jump (two good tests of performance) and then performed the two tests again with a 25-pound weighted vest, would I get worse the second
time? Of course.

But how would you explain that? I explain that the athlete just got heavier, but didn't get stronger to accommodate the new weight. Because of this decrease in strength to bodyweight, their performance suffered and their chance for injury increased.

Most athletes are too weak for their bodyweight. And they commonly weigh too much. This is a double strike against them."
Read the rest of the interview here:

=> Martin Rooney Interview

Okay, now for today's workout...which I did outside at 10:30am in 70 degree weather with no shirt on. Can't remember an Easter this warm. While I trained, the dog went swimming in the river beside my parent's house. Now he's begging for lunch...Ok, so back to the workout:

1) The 3-Minute Pushup Test = 114 reps.

- 2 minute rest

2) Then I did the same 3-minute test for bodyweight squats = 121 reps (I expected more...)

- 2 minute rest

3) Then I did the 3 minute test for pullups = 30 reps (I could have done more here with better timing)

4A) Elevated Pushups (2x20 per side)
4B) KB Row (2x15 per side)
4C) Plank (2 sets of max time)

That was it.

Going to do a kettlebell workout tomorrow.

Today's workout has given me some good ideas,

Craig Ballantyne, CSCS, MS
Author, TT Gauntlet Workout

PS - The TT Gauntlet videos...

...have been added to the TT Fanpage Video Section here:

=> TT Gauntlet Workout Videos

Enjoy!

Crazy Train-ing

Crazy week around here...First Vegas, then the GQ magazine incident, interviews with John Romaniello, Vince Del Monte, and Dr. Chris Mohr, and I sold my house yesterday.

By the way, here's the link to Vinny D's call:

=> Vince Del Monte Interview

Also interviewed Dr. Chris Mohr this morning, and we had a lively call about post-workout nutrition, the truth about milk, Vitamin D, fish oil, and REAL
WORLD fat loss. That call is now available to TT Members.

But the crazies "event" of the week might have been something I watched at the gym today...

A poor girl at the gym today was doing "jump training" by lining up 6 BOSU thingys and jumping (more like mini hopping) from one to the next. And she had them set up on a slippery aerobics studio floor, so they kept sliding out from under her.

Listen, whoever is teaching this stuff needs to stop now. Its stupid, dangerous, and a waste of time. And this is NOT an April Fool's joke...but I kept looking for hidden cameras because it was hard to believe someone thought this was a good idea...

1A) Pistol
1B) Stability Ball Plank  

2A) BGSS 1&1/2 reps
2B) 1-Leg RDL

3A) Stability Ball Rollout
3B) Stability Ball Leg Curl

That's it ... crazy week is over.

Have a great long weekend,

Craig