2 problems with P90X

There are 2 major problems with the P90X workout.

 

First, these workouts are just too bloody long. Second, you have to do them too darn often. No one has the time - or joints - for this. That's why so many people drop out of the program. 

 

Here's a better way to get fit and lose fat:

 

Click here for a workout that is faster than P90X

 

These workouts take less than half the time, are a fraction of the price, and are on sale this week only. Plus, you get immediate online access to these workouts rather than having to wait weeks for DVDs to show up in the mail.

 

I could go on and on why my scientifically proven Turbulence Training (TT) program is better than P90X, but why don't we hear from happy TT users...
 

"I am now spending less time in the gym than before and getting my best results ever... the TT workouts are intense, fun, and incredibly effective." - Emily Johnson, who lost 15.5 pounds of fat and won the 1st ever TT Transformation Contest in 2008

 

"I am just over 30 and had plateaued. Big Time! I had followed P90X for a couple years and just couldn't finish losing my gut. I hate to say it but the workouts became boring and I was becoming complacent. With Turbulence Training I lost an inch and a half in my waist and added an inch to my chest." - Jay Casconi

 

"I have been doing Turbulence Training for two weeks and have seen fantastic results. The concepts behind it are awesome and my body responds better to TT than it did for Crossfit. My flexibility has also improved." - Dave Lawrence

 

Get Turbulence Training for results in less time than P90X or Cross-Fit

 

"Craig, I am a 46-year old single dad with three boys and I have full time custody, so my life is quite busy. I have been trying to develop or find a workout program that can fit into my busy lifestyle for quite some time now. I just completed week 3 of the Intermediate TT and my weight is down 10 pounds and I feel great..my abs are actually starting to show a little. I have undergone a very noticeable change in only 3 weeks. Turbulence Training is awesome!!! I have never written a testimonial for anything. I really just felt I needed to provide you with feedback because TT has really changed my life thus far. THANK YOU!" - Elio Denis

 

"I love Turbulence Training! Since starting Turbulence Training, I've cut my gym time in half but it's showing results already. AND I'm loving my non-gym days. I'm playing tennis again, taking my dog for long walks and I've even tried a bit of mountain biking. It's nice to get out and moving." - Tara Riordan

With Turbulence Training, you'll get all of the benefits of P90X and CrossFit - the fat loss, the transformation, the motivation, videos showing you the proper technique, a complete nutrition guide, and over 12 weeks of workouts - but without the pitfall of overuse injuries and in fewer workouts each week.

 

Plus, Turbulence Training comes with Beginner, Intermediate,and Advanced Level workouts, and a few extreme fat loss workouts as well for fast results.

 

Burn fat in less time than P90X <= 72% off sale this week only

 

Get back in shape and start losing the holiday fat immediately,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

 

PS - You can also use these workouts to WIN my money...

...in the 19th Turbulence Training Transformation Contest.

 

How? Just like this...

 

Step #1 - Take your before photos with today's newspaper.

 

Step #2 - Use these 30-minute fat burning workouts 3 times per week

 

Step #3 - Take your after photos with a newspaper 12 weeks later.

 

Step #4 - Tell us about your experience in 300 words.

 

Step #5 - Email us your entry, sit back, and let the world vote.

 

It's that easy. You can win $1000 just for losing your belly fat.

You'll be amazed at what you can do in 30 minutes, three times per week.

Your knees and shoulders will thank you for making the switch to Turbulence Training, and you'll save hours each week, too.

 

PPS - Wait, there's more...

 

"Craig, I had to share this with you. Back in February I had a checkup, and my cholesterol was not good, my blood pressure had inched up higher than it had ever been, and I was about 30 lbs. heavier than I wanted to be. I started TT right after that, and just finished the intermediate level program and had everything tested again. I was shocked!  In 8 weeks I'd lost 12 lbs., my cholesterol level has dropped by 60 points, my BP went from 128/85 to 110/70, and my resting heart rate went from 75-76 to 68. Not bad for someone who'll be 50 in a few months! Thanks for all of the work you do and the help you give to so many of us!" - Jeff Montgomery 

 

PPS - Happy to help, and Happy New Year! 

 

See you in 2014.

 

The Deadlift and Deadline to End 2013

Finished up the last workout of 2013 and it was fantastic because it included my favorite superset pairing of deads and presses.

The workout went like this:

1A) Box Jumps
1B) Deadlifts
1C) Military Press

2A) Front Squat
2B) Power Shrug

That was it. Good times.

Had a really common question on Facebook today:

Q: What's the best way to combine Turbulence Training (TT) and the Home Workout Revolution (HWR) program?

Answer:
For maximum fat loss, do 3 days of Turbulence Training (as outlined in the program) and add 1 day of HWR on the first of your back-to-back rest days.

For maximum fitness gains, do 2 days of Turbulence Training and 2 days of HWR. Do one day of TT followed by one day of HWR and then take a day off. Then do your 2nd day of TT followed by one day of HWR and then take 2 days off. Keep on pushing on!

And Turbulence Training is on sale this week only here:
- www.TurbulenceTraining.com

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tip - Harness the Power of The Deadline:
The deadline is all powerful and you must take advantage of it.

One place to use a deadline is in contests to get your clients to take action. I do this in all of my fat loss contests. Each contest has a deadline that helps folks stay motivated to see their changes through to the end. See the amazing results on this page for proof:

www.TurbulenceTrainingContest.com

We've also done business and life transformations at EarlyToRise.com

Another place to use deadlines is with your goal setting.

It's soon going to be January 1st, and if you're like me, you'll get a rush out of creating New Year's resolutions.

Put a deadline on them.

Don't just say you want to make $100,000 in 2014.

Put a deadline on it.

So let's say you pick September 30th, 2014 as the date by which you want to hit $100K this year.

Now start working backwards.

What do you need to do by then to hit $100K?
 
What do you need to accomplish by June 1st?
 
What do you need to do by March 31st? Feb 28th? January 31st? January 15th? January 3rd?

Reverse goal set your way to success with the deadline pushing you on at every step.

Harness the power of The Deadline - it might be the most important of the 5 Pillars of Transformation.

Use it to double your results, every day.

Put this magic to your advantage.

And don't forget the #1 New Year's Resolution:

Remember the Golden Rule. Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.

Happy New Year.

And one last tip...

The only cure for a Hangover or Muscle Soreness is a time machine. Know your limits for New Year's Eve & New Year's resolutions!

Happy 2014,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

PS - "Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power." – Tao Te Ching

www.TurbulenceTrainingFanpage.com

Home Gym Circuit Equipment Needed

Let's talk about the best workout equipment that you need to have at home.

Some things you might not know about.

For example, we all know about dumbbells, barbells, and kettlebells. These are all versatile. You could get an incredible body and even fantastic conditioning with anyone of these - combined with bodyweight exercises, of course. Each one will help you build muscle. Each will help you lose fat.

I don't have a barbell at home yet, but I have PowerBlocks (adjustable dumbbells) and six kettlebells (from 25 to 70 pounds).

But here are some of the unique tools I have.

1) A TRX Suspension Trainer - If you want to see how to use this like a pro, get www.suspensionrevolution.com from Dan Long. The guy knows more about TRX than anyone at TRX!!!

2) A Power Wheel - It's a great ab and pushup exercise tool.

3) A Slam Ball - This is a new discovery for me, and frankly, 20 slams are almost twice as hard as 20 kettlebell swings for conditioning. It's a really, really great addition to a home gym, provided:
a) You can make a little noise
b) You have a sturdy floor (or you could take it to a park)
c) You are not hungover (no need to add more thumping to a thumping headache, right?)

Minor Additions:

i) Resistance bands - these are okay, I just use them for warm-up and upper back exercises like rows, pull-aparts, etc.

ii) A jump rope - If you know how to use one, you can say goodbye to running forever.

That's what you need to get, and then you can do 20-25 minute circuits like this:

1) Slam Ball Toss and Sprint - 20 reps
2) KB Goblet Squat - 20 reps
3) Slam Ball Diagonal Chop Throw - 10/side
4) KB Swing - 20 reps
5) Jump Rope - 100 reps
- minimal rest when needed
- 3 to 4 rounds

Slam Ball Rulez!

Alright, enjoy the rest of your weekend, and take some time to start setting your goals and action plans for 2014. If you need help, watch my Vision video here - www.ANewAmericanDream.com

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tips:
Nobody is stopping you from working harder. If you want to achieve those goals in 2014, consider that before you look for shortcuts. I'll be right here putting in the hours beside you.

#NoExcuses2014

Push on,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

PS - Congratulations to...

...our newest Certified Turbulence Trainer, Matthew Stavor! Thanks Matthew for being a part of our 10 Million Mission!

2013 Books That I Read

Garage workout training wins again.

Had another fantastic session.

1A) PowerBlock Reverse Lunges
1B) A unique chin-up and burpee combo that will be in a future TT workout
1C) KB 1-arm Overhead presses

(NOTE: I had to go to the basement to do this circuit because that's where the rafters are for chinups.)

2A) KB Swing
2B) KB Goblet Squat
2C) Slam Ball Slams

3A) Curls
3B) Triceps

Good times. Really good times. Whooped after, too.

Then I went to a local cafe for a Facebook QnA session.

Half the questions I get are from people looking for me to excuse/justify their behavior. I have a 100% disappointment rate. #NoExcuses2014

For example...

Q: I know you can't out train a bad diet, but isnt it still all about calories? If you know you are going to a party and might be consuming more than usual wont it help negate some of the damage if you up the intensity of your workout, or add another 15-20 mins to your training? - Liza

Answer:
No, it's not all about calories. The type of calories you choose impacts key hormones (insulin, glucagon, cortisol, etc.) that play a big role in your results. If you can up the intensity of your workouts, then there is something wrong with your regular workouts.

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tips:
Repeat after me: Criticism from others only matters if I let it matter. I'm in control of my mind. If I believe what I'm doing is right, then I must not let anything stand in the way of what is important to me.

BTW, I enjoyed a really great book on Christmas Day called, "Humans of New York". The FB page has over 2 million fans, and the book itself is simply hundreds of photographs and quotes of people from New York. It's sad, funny, bizarre, entertaining and uplifting at the same time. Check the FB page here
- www.facebook.com/HumansofNewYork

Other books I read this year (in order of when I read them):

    A Year of Living Consciously – Gay Hendricks
    So Good They Can't Ignore You – Cal Newport
    The Art of Living – Sharon Lebell
    Good Life: Guide to Ancient Art of Stoic Joy – Irving
    Sources of Significance – Anton
    Icarus Deception – Seth Godin
    The Secret of Selling Anything – Harry Browne
    Several Short Sentences about Writing – V. Klinkenborg
    Animal Farm – Orwell
    Striking Thoughts – Bruce Lee's Wisdom for Daily Living
    Dad is Fat – Gaffigan
    Making the Most of Your Time – Mark Ford
    Wealth Planning for Freelancers – Mark Ford
    The Little Prince – de Saint Exupery
    The Big Leap – Gay Hendricks
    Success Formula – Bob Berg
    Meditations - Marcus Aurelius
    All Quiet on the Western Front - Remarque
    A Manual for Living – Lebell & Epictetus
    Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls – Sedaris
    Dialogues & Essays – Seneca
    Book Itch – Adam Witty
    21 Ways to Build Your Business with a Book – Witty
    Ready-Fire-Aim – Masterson
    Tao Te Ching – Stephen Mitchell
    Car Guys vs. Bean Counters - Bob Lutz

Training Books - I don't read a lot of training books, to be honest...I get most of my info from personal emails and conversations with guys like Jay, Alwyn, Roman, etc., and magazines

1. Drop 2 Dress Sizes – R. Cosgrove
2. Keep the Change – Catherine Gordon
3. Man 2.0 – Roman & Bornstein
4. Shape-Up ShortCuts – Jen Ator

And finally, I read a lot (too many?) magazines. These cut into my book reading, but most are important for business (at TT and ETR). I have subscriptions to:

    Inc
    Entrepreneur
    Fast Company
    Wired
    Robb Report
    Oxygen
    Men's Fitness
    Men's Health
    Toronto Life
    Publisher's weekly
    Direct Response magazine
    Rotman School of Business
    Success
    Couple of travel mags
    And a bunch of Dan Kennedy newsletters too

I'm putting a system into place to double the number of books I read in 2014, while still reading all of the magazines, customer feedback, FB QnA's, and more.

It's going to be a great year.

With no excuses,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

--

Craig Ballantyne, CTT

Certified Turbulence Trainer

www.TurbulenceTrainingFanpage.com

Garage Gym Workout Awesomeness Crushes Cardio Boredom

Awesome garage circuit workout with kbs and slam ball.

Slam balls are a fun addition to the home gym (they are essentially medicine balls that don't bounce).

I just need to get a tire, a sledgehammer, a sled/prowler for pushing and pulling, squat stands, a barbell, and rubber coated plates. Then it will be Nirvana.

Here's the 6-minute circuit I did for 4 awesome rounds until sweat was dripping off me in the 65-degree (Farenheit, 16 celcius) garage this morning.

1) KB Off-Set Front Squats (1 side heavier than the other) - 20 reps
2) Slam Ball Overhead Power Slams - 20 reps (toughest part of the circuit)
3) KB Swing - 20 reps
15 second water break
4) KB Close-Grip Pushups (grip handles of kettlebell and emphasize triceps) - 20 reps
5) KB Deadlift or TRX Row - 20 reps
6) Power Wheel Rollout - 20 reps

It sure beats cardio. Yet people still think they need to do long, slow boring workouts on a machine. Not true!!! Just say NO to cardio. I literally wrote a book with that as the title. Read this article for details:
- www.TurbulenceTraining.com - thanks!

And for folks that want to argue about the importance of cardio for your heart, just stop. I wrote this a long time ago (and I also have plenty of interval videos on youtube)
- www.TurbulenceTraining.com/intervalreport

Don't overcomplicate things...all exercise, from bodyweight circuits to walking to resistance training to 20 minute cardio sessions are good for your heart.

Finally, a question from a Facebook member:

Q: Craig, thoughts best way to approach your program when wanting to cut mid-section as a main focus and build overall upper body strength. 50+ old guy in good condition and healthy weight. I'd like to achieve 12% BF levels this year. How would you suggest the best way for me to achieve. I have a lot of your books and programs but not sure where I should step in to start to achieve what I'm looking for and for the fastest results. Thx. - Scott

Answer:
Use Turbulence Training from TurbulenceTraining.com. Use Advanced, then Expert, and then use this program

- http://www.turbulencetraining.com/workouts/2007/april2007ttmass.shtml

OR start with that program and then use TT Advanced and Expert.

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tips:
"If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude. Don't complain." - Maya Angelou

"Figure out what you want. Find people who have achieved it and find out how they think and act, and then follow their lead." – Bill Harris

Alright, off to work on some ETR essays. I really think today's was a good one, make sure to check out the #1 book I recommend you read for your career
- http://www.earlytorise.com/the-best-advice-of-the-year/

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

PS - "I am not failing. I'm growing. I'm getting stronger." – Tommy Caldwell, mountain climber

--
www.TurbulenceTrainingFanpage.com

how to eliminate sugar cravings

Like you, I struggled with overeating on Christmas - or any time these little suckers were around. You see, my diet downfall is chocolate covered almonds.

 

Once you get that first hit of sugar, it's all over. You feel helpless, but it also feels like you have to feed the addiction. It's embarrassing.

 

Or at least that's the way it used to be...until I met the 2013 TT Trainer of the Year. She taught me how to eliminate sugar cravings. Now I can have a few and not overdose. I am in complete control.

 

If you struggle with overeating or sugar cravings, her simple 3-step solution will save you from the sugar curse. 

 

Discover how to kill the shameful sugar cravings here

 

With this simple solution you won't embarrass yourself at next week's New Year's party, or gain any more belly fat over the holidays. Even better, once you read Catherine's story about how she overcame stealing to feed her sugar addiction, you'll see that if she can do it, so can YOU.

 

You'll know EXACTLY what you need to do to beat the sugar cravings.

Imagine being able to attend holiday parties and being in complete control of yourself. Stop letting sugar and sweets control your life and waistline.

 

Get a simple solution to beating sugar addiction and binge eating here

It will change your life and give you back your strength and confidence.

This is exactly what you need so you can be free of sugar addiction for life.

Stay strong and make your big change today,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

 

PS - This is the perfect plan for you to use in the TT Transformation Contest...

 

...in fact, Catherine was once just like you. She entered - and won - my second TT contest back in 2008. At the end of 12 weeks she had lost over 15 pounds of fat and looked 15 years younger.

 

Two years later, she became a personal trainer. Today she runs her own personal training business in California and has coached several of her clients to become TT Transformation winners as well.

 

And last June, competing with dozens of tops trainers, Catherine won the prestigious TT Trainer of the Year at our annual world TT Summit. 

 

I'm so proud of Catherine and what she has accomplished, and I'm even more excited than ever that she has put together a plan for you to beat the sugar monster and change your life.

 

It worked for her when she was in her late 40's, and it will work for  you too, no matter what your age or experience level.

 

Catherine's Sugar Freedom plan will change your life.

 

Discover her simple secrets to beating sugar addiction here

 

--

Craig Ballantyne, CTT

Certified Turbulence Trainer

www.TurbulenceTrainingFanpage.com

Free 19th Turbulence Training Contest Starts Today!

Wow, what a really great Christmas. Stress free. It was almost perfect, and even had a nice light snow to make it super-Christmassy.

I read a fantastic book - "Humans of New York" - and a I got a LOT of presents, too. I also did a 36-hour no internet, no phone/text 'fast' from 4pm 24th to 4am 26th. Gotta do more of these.

But the biggest present comes today from all those folks that enter my latest fat loss contest.

The 19th Turbulence Training Transformation Contest kicks off here:
- www.TransformationContest.com.

Check out what our past winners have done - it's amazing. You can do it too!

Get back on track now, don't wait for Jan 1st.

Today's monster TT S&M (strength & mass) workout for me went like this:
1A) Squat
1B) Box Jump
2A) Pullup
2B) Bench Press
3A) DB Press
3B) Chest Supported Row
3C) Good Morning

Long, but fun. I only do 2 long barbell-based workouts per week. Everything else (2 other short workouts) is done in my garage.

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tips:
"It's hard to beat a person that never gives up." - Babe Ruth

Remember, it's your time, it's your life, and it's your dreams you are after. Never, ever, ever give up on what is important to you.

Keep on pushing on,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

PS - [Contest Reminder]

You can WIN my money while losing weight and getting in the best shape of your life!

All you have to do is join the 19th TT Transformation Contest. Sign up starts today! More details here
- http://send.turbulencetraining.com/ContestRules

PS - Chances are pretty good you might win a cash prize. This past contest the Men Over 40 category only had 3 entries! - Everyone took home money!

PPS - Plus we've added two NEW categories. Check them out here
- http://send.turbulencetraining.com/ContestRules

--

Craig Ballantyne, CTT

Certified Turbulence Trainer

www.TurbulenceTrainingFanpage.com

Guru Workout Excitement

I'm so excited.

Not just because Christmas is less than 2 days away.

Not just because I have two awesome presents under the tree (from Matt Smith and the Keuilians).

And not just because we had the big family Christmas gathering out on the farm on Sunday. It was really fantastic.

But the real reason I'm super excited right now is because I just finished up the January Workout of the Month - TT Guru-Level 40-Minute Fat Loss 2K14 and it is is awesome as its name is long!

Watch for that in just a few days when it is added to www.TTMembers.com

In the meantime, you have about 10 days to turn all of the extra Christmas calories into muscle, rather than letting them go to fat.

Here's a question I get a lot: "Hi Craig, I'm 6' tall & 170lbs. I'd like to put on 10 pounds but I struggle to put on weight, even when I eat over maintenance calories…any TT routine suggestions? " - Dan Barber

Answer:
Listen, if you're a skinny guy trying to add size, the key to gaining muscle is in volume. Both in your diet and your training routine.

So diet-wise, you need to eat more. Eat more before and after workouts and more for breakfast. Eat more dairy, like yogurt, because it's easier to eat more of that.

And when it comes to TT training, grab this muscle building series
- http://send.turbulencetraining.com/Meathead9

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tips:
The more you know about yourself, and the more you respect and respond to this knowledge about who you truly are and what makes you different, the better your results will be with everything in life. Don't try to be something you are not. What you see as your weaknesses may actually be strengths.

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

PS - Here's how to be happier over the holidays...

I was just reading research from a book called, "The Happiness Advantage", and here's what you need to know:
 
The #1 characteristic of happiest people is the strength of their social relationships. The more social support you have, the happier you are. If you can do one thing to be happier, it's spending time with friends.
 
Ain't that the truth?
 
Remember to implement that simple strategy for holiday happiness this week and next, and then keep it going all year round in 2014.
 
At Turbulence Training, we're happy to be part of your social support for everything, from losing belly fat to being happier.
 
We'll always be here for you and to answer any questions you have.
 
Alright, time to go for a walk in the snow with ol' Bally the Dog, the furriest little ball of happiness that I know!
 
Merry Christmas!

Craig
 
"There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship." - Thomas Aquinas

Merry Christmas!

Holy cow! I'm so excited to give you these gifts.

 

I've teamed up with Santa Vince, Big Mike the Elf, and Dave "The Red-Nosed Muscle Cook" Ruel to bring you the best fitness Christmas presents in the world. Get your free giftz here:

48 hours of FREE fitness gifts

But hurry, this special free gift offer is only up until Christmas Eve, Tuesday, at midnight. As soon as Christmas arrives Santa shuts it down when he heads out to deliver toys to all the good boys and girls of the world. It doesn't even matter if you leave Santa extra BioTrust cookies, there are no exceptions to the deadline.

 

So grab all those free gifts here before Christmas...

48 hours of FREE fitness gifts <------- Ends on Christmas Eve

 

It's just one way we're giving back to our loyal readers and Facebook fans that support us all year round. Thank you so much for being part of the Turbulence Training community and 10 Million Transformation Mission.

 

Go fill your fitness stocking with those great gifts. And if you need to, just copy and paste this link into your browser:

 

- http://www.yourfreefitnessgifts.com/christmas-gifts

Merry Christmas from all of us here at Turbulence Training,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

The Amazing Dessert Bowl & Yogurt Dilemma

I'm can't wait to eat this for lunch today.

 

It's my go to "dessert bowl".

 

In it: This one kind of yogurt, a special ingredient, berries, and more (all revealed below), but first...

 

Did you know that almost ALL yogurts are bad news for your waistline?

"Light" yogurts, for instance, are terrible for you, for more reasons that one.

First, most "light" yogurts are loaded with artificial sweeteners and/or high fructose corn syrup.

High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is one of the top 3 WORST ingredients you could ever consume.  First, as it's name suggests, it's made of primarily fructose, a sugar that easily spills over to fat storage when consumed in sizable quantities.

And artificial sweeteners are...well...artificial.  Do you really want to put chemically altered, man-made ingredients that don't exist in nature into your body?  Me either.

Second, HFCS spikes blood sugar and insulin more than almost any other food or ingredient.

Bad news all around.

Bottom line, just because something is low calorie (i.e. "Light") doesn't make it a healthy choice. Light yogurt won't help your fat loss goals.

What about "fat free" yogurts?

Well, hopefully we all know and understand that fat isn't bad.  Fat is a critical nutrient to both your health and your fat loss efforts. Dietary fat also helps to naturally stabilize important fat burning hormones that help with fat loss.

Most fat-free yogurts are LOADED with sugar so that they taste good (because removing fat 'ruins' the yogurt).  What a silly idea:  Get rid of the naturally occurring healthy fats and load up on sugar instead!  Sounds like a plan to me...a really bad one.

So does that mean you should be avoiding all yogurts?

No, in fact there's ONE type of yogurt that we highly recommend you use as part of your fat-burning diet...and that's Organic Plain Greek Yogurt.

First, Greek yogurt has double the protein of regular yogurt, so you get more protein punch in every spoonful.

Second, by choosing the plain variety you avoid all the extra, unnecessary, artificial ingredients along with calorie-boosting added sugar.

Lastly, by going organic you'll avoid the hormones and antibiotics that are otherwise generally injected in the typical cow.

Greek Yogurt is my #1 pick and I eat it for lunch just about every day (recipe below).  I recommend you do the same.

Now, before I go (for another round of my dessert bowl!), at the link below my great friend and top nutritionist Joel Marion is going to show you his #1 carb-fighting trick that you can use each and every time you eat carbs.  This simple carb-fighting "ritual" is clinically proven to:
 
*Lower your blood sugar
*Increase insulin sensitivity
*Decrease fat storage
*Increase fat burning
 
Even better, you can perform it in just a few seconds...and it WORKS like gangbusters.
 
==> Do THIS before eating carbs (every time)
 
To your Transformation,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

 

PS - Here's the full dessert bowl recipe...

 

1.5 cups organic plain Greek yogurt

2 scoops BioTrust Milk Chocolate protein

Frozen raspberries

1 tablespoon crunchy almond butter

1 tablespoon unsweetened shredded coconut

1 ounce of walnuts or pecans

 

 

 

--

Craig Ballantyne, CTT

Certified Turbulence Trainer

www.TurbulenceTrainingFanpage.com

#1 fitness gift to get

There are several popular fitness Christmas gifts that seem to be a real waste of money - to me. But I'm cheap, so what do I know? Maybe I'm a grinch!

 

Anyways, I wouldn't get a FitBit...it doesn't even track heart rate...although I do like the silent vibration alarm option. I wouldn't get an elliptical machine. They are a joke. And I wouldn't get a pair of LuluLemon pants. LOL. Ever!

 

Here's the #1 fitness gift - and the workout program you MUST get for it.

Get a TRX. It's so versatile. I hang mine in the garage and use it in every home workout I do, and I use it in every gym I visit, like PowerHouse in Tampa, Renegade Gym in Jersey, and Fit Athletic in San Diego. 

 

Forget those calorie counters and get something practical that will actually change your body! And to get maximum value from your TRX, find out 191 exercises you can do with it from my friend Dan Long, TRX guru.

 

Get 191 exercises and 27 TRX workout videos <= sale ends today

 

Dan's even put together an amazing Hybrid workout where you combine TRX moves, dumbbell exercises, and kettlebell training to accelerate your fat loss results. You can do these at home too, if you have a simple garage gym set-up like I do.

 

(Since I already have a TRX, I treated myself to a full 125 pound PowerBlock system for Christmas...should be arriving this afternoon. That goes with my 7 kettlebells, the TRX, Powerwheel, and two medicine balls. I'm all set!)

 

If you're just getting started putting together your home gym, start with the TRX - it's the most versatile piece of equipment you can get, and you can take it to the park, or in your luggage when you travel the world.

 

But make sure you know how to use it. Get Dan's videos today's.

 

Get 191 exercises and 27 TRX workout videos <= sale ends today 

 

Oh, by the way, I also have a Jungle Gym XT. It's good, but I don't like it as much as the TRX, although the JGXT is cheaper. You get what you pay for.

Enjoy Dan's energy in those training videos and Rock Your Core in 2-0-1-4 with the TRX!

 

Have a Merry Christmas,

 

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

www.TurbulenceTrainingFanpage.com

Best Transformation Ever

She won $1000 of my money plus a 3-year TT membership for what you're about to see...

 

...and she did it all in just 12 weeks while using Turbulence Training. As did all four of our $1000 grand prize TT contest winners announced here:

 

See all four of our $1000 winners here and get the rules for contest #19

 

Here's what is even more important. You can win my money in our next contest starting on December 26th (Boxing Day as we call it up here in Canadia). Plus, there is one brand NEW category being announced. Click on the photos below to go to the winners page and to read the contest rules.

 

The contest is FREE. You do NOT need to buy anything. Learn more here.

 

Listen, there is someone in the contest that was just like YOU, and they transformed...all ages, both genders, EVERY life situation.

 

You CAN do it. YOU can succeed. We are here to help you.

 

Our next contest starts the day after Christmas.

 

You can achieve these results too.

 

$1000 winner in Women's Over 40!         2nd place in Men's Under 40
 

See all four of our $1000 winners here and get the rules for contest #19

 

And get ready to start your personal transformation in the next contest, anywhere from Dec. 26th to Jan. 15th <= First and last days to enter

 

You don't have to wait until January 1st to change your life.

Have a Merry Christmas,

 

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

PS - Struggling?

 

Learn from your mistakes and then stop dwelling on them. Stay positive. Keep moving. Take action.

 

Never give up on what is truly important to you.

 

The trick is to know what REALLY matters. Put your energy there.

 

That's what these people did

 

Be an Action-Taker that plays up a level by surrounding yourself with the best people you can - and yes, that means by connecting with positive people on the Turbulence Training Facebook page. It works!

 

Keep on pushing on. Share your success with others. Build others up, it will only make you more successful.

 

---

Craig Ballantyne, CTT

Certified Turbulence Trainer

www.TurbulenceTrainingFanpage.com

--

Craig Ballantyne, CTT

Certified Turbulence Trainer

www.TurbulenceTrainingFanpage.com

Deadlift and 4-Minute Abs

This was the final workout of my latest 4-week program. The timing is perfect as we head into the holiday week. This will be a deload week, and minimal, if any barbell training. I'll start up again next Friday.

I'm also expecting my Powerblocks to come in today (I ordered the set that goes to 125 pounds). This means even fewer visits to commercial gyms.

Hurray!

That means less watching people workout with no clue.

Like the 65 year old skinny guy trying to do rear-delt raises with 35 pound dumbells today. Geez, was that ugly. I told him they were way too heavy for him. Thankfully, for his sake, he moved to something else.

And then there was the kid doing deadlifts - with poor form - and while looking sideways into a mirror. He's going to get hurt, especially because he did deadlifts after three other rowing exercises!

Geez, Louise. Where do people get these ideas?

Here's something much better. It's TT-approved. It's your 4-min abs workout to get your abs 'ready' for the big holiday weekend 
- http://www.earlytorise.com/workouts-of-the-day/4-minute-at-home-ab-workout/

Train hard but safe but hard.

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tips:
Everyone faces obstacles. Everyone goes through dips and disappointments. What separates us from over 95% of the rest of the world is that we do not give up on what is important to us. You WILL figure this out. You always have. You always will. That's what you do. So stay strong and keep on pushing on.

Keep going,

--

Craig Ballantyne, CTT

Certified Turbulence Trainer

www.TurbulenceTrainingFanpage.com

28 Day program to do the impossible

Lame college professors and cardio addicts like to tell you that you can't do this. They say it's impossible.

 

That's what "they say".

 

This workout proves them wrong

 

Listen, I've been in the business for almost 20 years, and I've been in the gym (working out or training others) for 20 hours a week for over a decade. I know what is possible more than those naysayers.

 

I know you CAN gain muscle and lose fat at the SAME time.

 

Check out this amazing success story from one of my best clients:

 

"Hey Craig, I'm finishing up the last week of TT Gain Muscle/Lose Fat 2... And it's living up to its name. I've gotten way bigger through the upper body... lats are filling out... And waist is slimming. I benched 245 five times on my fourth set on Saturday... Beast mode! Wanted to thank you again for helping me out. I'm loving it! I've gone from a fatty to one of the strongest guys in the gym." - Sean Goldsmith

 

And this type of training works for ALL age groups and both genders, too. 

 

One of my workout programs was used in a study where women gained 4.2 pounds of muscle and lost 3.5 pounds of fat in just a few weeks. 

 

BOOM. They did the impossible, and I bet they looked fantastic.

 

(Reference: Med Sci Sports Exerc. Body Composition and Strength Changes in Women with Milk and Resistance Exercise. Josse, A.R., et al.)

 

In another study, men AND women OVER the age of 60 gained 4 pounds of lean mass and lost 4 pounds of fat in 12 weeks with resistance training. Imagine how great they felt...and they didn't even change their diet. That's the power of these workouts.

 

(Reference: Am J Clin Nutr. 2007 85(4):1005-13. Resistance training and dietary protein: effects on glucose tolerance and contents of skeletal muscle insulin signaling proteins in older persons. Iglay, H.B., et al.)

 

So because YOU and I know better than these stuffy professors, I'm having a "Prove them wrong!" sale this week on my Gain Muscle-Lose Fat program this week only. The sale ends on Thursday night. 

 

Use this workout to Gain Muscle and Lose Fat at the SAME Time

 

Save over 67% on the regular price of this workout so that you can start gaining muscle and losing fat at the SAME time during the holidays.

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

 

PS - Move quick! This sale ENDS Thursday and the price TRIPLES.

TRX moves

You've never done core training like this...

 

...that's why I had to make a video with world-famous TRX guru, the legendary and high-energy Dan Long.

 

I visited Dan in Florida just to tap into his TRX-brain to give me over 200 new exercise ideas. 

 

Watch this video for his 3 best ab exercises

 

And then watch the other video on that page for his "TRX-hybrid" exercise demonstrations. Literally, you have NEVER seen these exercises before. I hadn't, and I've been in the workout game for over 20 years.

 

This guy does things you will never see anywhere else. 

 

Watch these unique videos here

 

Time to upgrade your workouts for 2014,

 

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

I will teach you how to write

This is the most important news of the day. Don't worry, we'll get to lifting in a second.

I will teach you my writing secrets for free - application details here
- http://www.earlytorise.com/the-phrase-that-pays/

Now back to training...

Today I drove from St. Pete's over to Tampa to visit the amazing PowerHouse gym. Here's the workout...

Big Warm-up

1A) Squats
1B) Prisoner Squat Jumps
1C) Pullups
1D) Pushups (too warm up for bench press)

2A) Bench Press
2B) Chest Supported Rows
2C) Good Mornings

That was it. But it was an hour of lifting. I do two big barbell lifting sessions each week, and one shorter, 30-minute garage gym muscle building workout. On another day I do bodyweight circuits, and then I just do long walks with the ol' pooch the rest of the week. It's working out great right now.

For today's nutrition tip, we had a little fun on our TT FB page today, posting this:

On the 4th day of Christmas...Santa ate way too many of Mrs. Claus' delicious gingerbread cookies. Luckily Santa's favorite nutrition expert, Joel Marion, had an early Christmas gift for him - a little something to make sure his gut stays healthy and his body burns fat:
- http://send.turbulencetraining.com/GutHealth

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tip:
Plan ahead. Always have 2 solutions for every obstacle. Never go into a battle unprepared.

The #1 factor for success is good ol' perseverance. Don't underestimate yourself. Never give up on what is important to you.

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

PS - If you haven't cast your vote yet...

...for the 18th Turbulence Training Transformation contest winners, do it now
- http://send.turbulencetraining.com/VoteNow

New Fat Loss Records

New records were set...

 

...and four lucky people will win $1000 of my money because of it.

 

One woman in our over 40 category lost a record 28 pounds of fat.

 

All in just 12 weeks while using Turbulence Training.

 

Another woman in our under 40 category lost 38 pounds of fat.

 

And one cool dude in the men's under 40 category dropped 24 pounds of fat.

 

But most important, you get to pick the winners of my money here:

 

Vote for the winners of our 18th TT Contest here

 

And then you can get started on your personal transformation with TT.

 

Our next contest starts the day after Christmas.

 

You can achieve these results too.

 

Looking great!                                 Ha, yeah, he got a haircut, too!
 

Pick the winners of my money here:

 

Vote for the winners of our 18th TT Contest here

 

And then get started on your personal transformation.

 

You don't have to wait until January 1st to change your life,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

 

PS - Tough weekend?

 

If you stumble, get back up. What happened yesterday no longer matters. Today, get back on track on move closer to your dreams and goals. You can do it. Never give up on what is truly important to you. The trick, of course, is to know what REALLY matters. Put your energy there.

 

And remember...

 

Plan ahead. Always have 2 solutions for every obstacle. Never go into a battle unprepared.

 

That's what these people did

 

And add one new positive habit each day this week. Remove one negative habit. Baby steps, little bets, over time, add up to big success stories. 

Florida-Garage Line Workouts

I know, I know. What a stupid blog post title. But it just popped into my head.

Plus, I've been doing garage workouts down in Florida for the past 3 days.

What a great time so far in Tampa.

The first day I arrived - on time, too! - around 3pm. I then put Joel through a metabolic workout. Here's the circuit he did four times:

1A) PB (Powerblock) Row - 15 reps per side
1B) Pushups on Handles - Max Reps
1C) Kettlebell Swings - 20 reps
1D) KB Goblet Squats - 20 reps (this always sucks after Swings!)
1E) Mountain Climbers - 15 reps per side

Followed by another circuit he did 3 times:

2A) PB Incline Press - 10 reps
2B) PB Reverse Lunge - 8 reps per side
2C) KB Rack walk in - and - out the driveway
2D) PB Rear Delt Raise - 12 reps

Then he was done. And I mean done. I whooped him.

Powerblocks are great. Joel has the set that goes to 125 lbs. And I just bought myself the same set yesterday. Should arrive before Christmas. That will cut my gym visits down to just one per week, which is both good and bad. I might have fewer weird gym shenanigans to write about in future newsletters! Then again, I'll be traveling a lot in 2014 and visiting gyms all over the world...so there should be a few good stories.

Or I can just read the garbage in the papers, like this...

According to The Daily Mail, "Women will need to run for 5 hours 2 minutes to burn off the food they eat on Christmas Day, while men face jogging for 4 hours 25 minutes", a study found.

"Women will consume 3,514 calories on December 25 and men a waist-expanding 3,640 calories - up to 76 per cent more than the recommended daily allowance."

Yikes.

Sadly, someone, somewhere is going to take that literally and think that they can "out-cardio a bad diet".

Cardio fails for fat loss. Skip the cardio and go straight to a better body with these short burst workouts from Shawna K, CTT:
- http://send.turbulencetraining.com/Challenge

Ok, time to go hit a KB-Powerblock-Bodyweight workout in Joel's garage. He was up working until 8:27am - LOL - so he won't be joining me.

This workout is similar to the one I did last Saturday morning in Denver, but it will be easier because I won't be sucking Mile High wind. It really makes a difference. (Some days, but not everyday.)

After the workout I'll go for a short walk in the Florida sunshine. Christmas party at Dan Long's tonight. Powerhouse Gym visit this weekend. Good times! Have a great weekend.

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tips:
Add one new positive habit each day this week. Remove one negative habit. Baby steps, little bets, over time, add up to big success stories.

"You were born to win, but to be a winner, you must plan to win, prepare to win, and expect to win." - Zig Ziglar

Stay Strong to Win,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

www.TurbulenceTrainingFanpage.com

4 best foods

If you've been told that you shouldn't eat after 7PM, you've been LIED to.

 

... but the trick is knowing which foods fuel your fat burning metabolism as you sleep, as those that you must AVOID to stave off unwanted belly fat.

Fortunately, one of my best friends Joel Marion, expert nutritionist, just wrote a brand new free report that you can download for free today showing you the 4 BEST foods to eat before bed and ALL the foods you must avoid at night if you ever want a flat belly.

Download it in a few seconds here:

==> The 4 BEST foods to eat before bed

No need to go to bed hungry while you lose fat,

 
Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

Traveling Not Training

No lifting for me today. I'm flying to Tampa for a few days. Just left the hotel room at 8am and will get to St. Pete's around 3pm. Then it will be time with Joel Marion and family.

If you need a workout, use this 15 minute fat blaster:
- http://www.earlytorise.com/15-minute-complex-workout/

Tomorrow I'll drive to one of the best commercial gyms in America, Powerhouse in Tampa. I'll train, then film with Dan Long. Hopefully I run into Ben Pakulski. He's a great guy and a training mentor of mine.

Speaking of mentors, another mentor of my just released his latest hardcover book. So treat yourself and burn the fat with Tom Venuto's new 28-day program in his updated, Burn the Fat Feed the Muscle 
- http://www.BurnTheFatFeedTheMuscle.com

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tips:
Surround yourself with people who are better than you…they will bring out the best in you.

Have gratitude today for all the coaches, mentors, and teachers that helped you along the way. The list is probably over 100 people long...

Stay strong and stay around good people,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

5 minute success trick

Did you know there is a simple 5 minute trick...

 

...that can change your life today? 

 

It's the secret behind my success. And I wrote a book that shows you exactly how to use this strategy in your own life. 

 

Even better, you can get your copy of my book for just $20 today (saving 50% off the regular price). 

 

Click here to get the #1 Way to Change Your Life Today (50% off)

 

Dr. Robert Emmons, of the University of California at Davis, asked college students to keep a gratitude journal for ten weeks

 

Each day the undergrads listed 5 things that had happened in the last week which they were thankful for.

 

The results were surprisingly powerful--the students who kept the gratitude journal were 25% happier, were more optimistic about the future, and got sick less often. They even got more exercise.

 

Amazing, being thankful can probably help you lose belly fat!

 

And all it takes is 5 amazing minutes in the morning OR at night.

 

Click here to get the #1 Way to Change Your Life Today (50% off)

 

Thank your way to Success and Health,

 

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

 

PS - Today is the last day for this "Cyber Monday"...

 

...special offer. I know I'm a week and a day late, but this might be the most important resource you invest in all year long. 

 

Click here to get the #1 Way to Change Your Life Today (50% off)

 

Buy a couple for yourself for 2014 and as great Christmas gifts for the people you love. 

Odd Squat and Bench Monday Session

Happy International Bench and Chest Workout Day.

This is every Monday, as you know, and makes for a busy gym, most of the time. It certainly will be in a few weeks during January 2014.

But today the gym was empty for an odd squat and bench workout. After all, who does squat and bench on the same day? I do.

It was a good - and odd - workout. I squatted beside this crazy early-20's girl wearing giant raver sunglasses. And she was squatting heavy, too. It was weird.

But still, good times.

1A) Squat

1B) Prisoner Squat Jump

2A) Bench Press

2B) Pullup

3A) Chest-Supported Row

3B) DB Chest Press

3C) Good Mornings (light, because it's been a long time since I did this move...and it can leave me with sore hamstrings)

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tips:
If it is in your house, you are going to eat it. Get rid of it. Do not rationalize it's existence. if family brings it in, then you put it in a place that is extremely difficult for you to access. A high cupboard, out of sight, out of mind. Research shows the harder it is to access, the less you eat.

"Use your fear as fuel. Embrace the unknown and it softens to the point where you can work with it." - Seth Godin

If you are a trainer or if you want to be successful, read this:
- http://www.earlytorise.com/bedros-keuilian-success-secrets/

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

PS - I share many more quotes and tips over at...

...my Twitter feed here:

www.Twitter.com/CraigBallantyne

Daily Ritual and Toys for Tots

On Saturday afternoon I did something weird.

 

Earlier in the day I had taken the Turbulence Training and EarlyToRise.com teams, plus my friends Bedros Keuilian, Shaun Hadsall, and Nick Pineault, shopping in Denver to help the Marines with the Toys for Tots charity drive.

 

And thanks to donations from Jason Ferruggia, Dani Woodrum, BioTrust (Joel & Josh), and Beyond Diet (Isabel De Los Rios and team), we were able to buy $102,173 worth of toys (that's over 5,000 Christmas gifts!) so that local Denver-area children will get a present on Christmas morning.

 

You can see photos from the day here <= so much fun

 

But it was after our shopping trip that I did the "weird" activity.

 

I spent 90 minutes writing out Christmas cards. I haven't done that in years. But it felt great. It brought a smile to my face. Giving always does. It's truly is so much better than receiving.

 

As you grow older, you realize it's the small things in life that bring us the greatest pleasure, and it's experiences that matter more than material goods.

 

Writing cards until my hand cramped gave me the same wonderful feeling that I get when I write in my Gratitude Journal each morning. That might sound crazy to you, but trust me, writing down your gratitude for who and what you have in life will have a HUGE impact on your life

 

It has for me. It's eliminated feelings of jealousy and brought me peace. It puts a smile on my face every morning when I write down a friend's name. It reminds me of how easy my life is...of how I'm surrounded & supported by so many wonderful people from you, my readers, to my family, and to my high-school friends I see at the local coffee shop.

 

You might be skeptical of using a Gratitude journal, but here's what you should be grateful for every day:

• Family & friends
• Big opportunities in your life 
• Our "easy" lives (just think of how convenient life is compared to 50 or 100 years ago!)
• The holidays
• Your job & ability to help others
• Your health
• A workout or project you finished
• This list could go on and on
  

Here's my Sunday Gratitude Journal entry:

 

I'm grateful for...

• The ability to write you this while listening to Christmas music on a cold Christmassy night out on the farm .
• The chance to help my mentor, Tom Venuto, launch his book on Tuesday.
• Writing time to finish up this month's Turbulence Trainer newsletter.
• The opportunity to travel to Tampa on Wednesday to stay with one of my best friends, Joel Marion.
  
• For Bally the Dog, my Mom who doggy-sits Bally while I'm on one of my adventures, my business partners Matt Smith and Bedros Keuilian, all the people that helped at Toys for Tots, my favorite coaching client Isabel De Los Rios, my best friend Jeremy, my long-time Director of TT Amy Dodd, and the nice customers that posted their success stories today on my Facebook page.

What a day! These simple things bring me so much joy and gratitude. 

 

(It's always the gratitude for complete strangers or "first timers on your list" that will bring a smile to your face. After all, it's like you're talking about them behind their back - but in a GREAT way!)

 

I am truly blessed. And so are you. Never forget it.

 

Use this ritual to remind yourself of all the great things in your life. It will reduce your blood pressure, brighten your mood, make you more patient and positive with other people, and will bring a smile to your face no matter how cloudy the day.

 

I think you'll agree that we are both living lives of luck and prosperity if we're even able to have this conversation at all.

 

Join me in this Daily Ritual and it will change your life for the better.

 

Get your copy of the ETR Gratitude Journal here <= 50% off sale

 

Enjoy the journey to becoming a better person through this simple act that requires only pen, paper, and an open heart.

 

Sincerely,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

Buy you a beer in California

That's right, I'll buy you a beer. You can even have two if there are extra.

 

You see, when you attend my Saturday night session at the world's most
important fitness event, I buy every one a beer on Saturday night...

 

It's legendary. Everyone knows that Bedros and I pull out all of the stops.

 

Get your free beer & early bird discount to Fitness Business Summit here 

 

And this year we have one of my best friends, Jay Ferruggia speaking
right after - and before - me. (I'm doing TWO sessions this year!)

 

Plus, we have the world's BEST fitness speaker, Martin Rooney, who will
deliver the most motivating session you have ever attended. Guaranteed.

 

You cannot call yourself a Personal Trainer and miss this event.

 

It's mandatory for fitness industry leaders like you and I. See you there.

 

Grab your early bird discount seat to Fitness Business Summit here

 

The Fitness Business Summit will literally change your life. We're dedicated
to helping you get more clients and make more money - and get those clients
even better results in less time than ever.

 

Change lives today,

 

Craig Ballantyne, CTT,

Certified Turbulence Trainer

#1 fat burning meal

This is the best way to eat for fat loss when you are busy.
 
Just say NO to eating six meals a day. That is unnecessary & too stressful.
 
At the link below, my good friend and top nutritionist Josh Bezoni is going to
show you the #1 fat-burning meal of ALL-TIME, and how eating this simple meal twice daily helps you shed fat faster AND easier than ever before. 

Even better, you can prepare this fat-melting meal in less than 60 seconds.

No, it's not too good to be true.

==> The #1 Fat-Burning Meal (Eat this 2xs a day)

Keep your nutrition simple for maximum fat loss,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

Awesome Denver Workout

My new program is working out quite nicely.

It's going to be 3 days per week. Here's what I did today.

1A) DB Split Squat - 8 to 10 reps

1B) KB Clean & Press - 3 reps

1C) Chin-ups - AMRAP

1D) TRX Pushup/Fly - 12 reps

- 5 rounds of this circuit

2A) KB Swing - 25 reps

2B) Pullups - AMRAP

- 4 rounds of this circuit

3) 1 set of barbell curls!

When I was at my strongest, I was lifting 310 and 225 for 14 reps. Here's the EXACT program I used to add 25lbs to my bench press
- http://send.turbulencetraining.com/Meathead

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tip:
Praise & thank someone today. Be extra kind & give someone a thoughtful gift. This will make you feel better than buying something for self.

Be an Action-Taking, Go-Giver that plays up a level by surrounding yourself with the best people you can. Always out-give.

And that's what we tried to do today in our 2nd annual Toys for Tots drive in Denver, sponsored by EarlyToRise.com.

Toys for Tots is a charity run by the Marines. It delivers gifts to kids who wouldn't otherwise get a gift on Christmas morning. Last year we raised $60,000 for Denver Toys for Tots. This year we're raising the bar and going for $100,000!

If you'd like to help us reach that goal, please contact Rachel at Support@EarlyToRise.com

Craig Ballantyne, CTT

Certified Turbulence Trainer

Some bonus workouts!

Woof, woof!

 

Ol' Bally the Dog here, filling in for the goofball that normally writes these workout updates. He's down there in Denver at some Mastermind meeting today, and said I could write today's training update.

 

So I'm giving away a bunch of his workouts! 

 

When you get your copy of Neghar Fonooni's fat burning workouts and nutrition system here, we'll also give you...

 

1) Booty for Wife

2) TT Jan 2013 - Extreme Fat Loss

3) TT April 2013 - CBS Abs

 

Let me explain each of those...

 

1) Woofy for Bite, ooops, I meant Booty for Wife ;)

 

...is a 12-week lower-body specialization program for sculpting curves in all the right places. It goes from beginner to advanced routines to work your booty back into shape. 

 

That's a nice Christmas present for everyone!

 

2) TT January 2013 - Extreme Fat Loss 2K13

 

Whoooo doggy, this was a heck of a workout. This is ol' CB's most aggressive Turbulence Training workout yet, so prepare for an extreme fat loss transformation.

 

3) TT April 2013 - CBS Abs

 

Discover the unique S-C-S training mechanism for getting chiseled, beautiful, and sexy abs like the ol' goofball, Craig Ballantyne, and of course me, because YES, one time a vet really did say that ol' Bally the Dog had "rock hard 6-pack abs". 

 

Still got 'em, too. Wooofity woof.

 

So you'll get all three of those TODAY only when you get Neghar's workout.

 

Get Neghar's workout here <= Neghar's celebration sale ends today

 

Then email us.

 

Lesa is standing by, and I'll be sleeping all day (so don't email me at BallytheAmazingWonderDog@woofymail.com). Just make sure to email Lesa, she'll be happy to hook you up.

 

Just email Lesa at TurbulenceTrainingHelp@gmail.com with your receipt.

 

Bark soon.

 

Your poochie friend,

 

Ol' Bally the Dog

Certified Dog

TT Dog of the Year, 2005-Infinity

 

PS - Ol' Craiggy's sister just lost 5 pounds using this program...

 

...she hates exercise. Didn't like sports growing up. 

 

But when she found kettlebell training, she got hooked. And in the last 2 weeks alone has dropped 5 pounds.

 

Just another reason to get Neghar's workout here.

 

Grab the Lean & Lovely program & ol' Craiggy's bonuses

 

But hurry, the sale and bonus offer ends today.

My Favorite Superset

It was back to the barbells after two days off lifting.

This workout included my favorite superset of deadlifts and overhead (Military) press.

1A) Deadlift

1B) Military Press

2A) Front Squat

2B) Barbell Row

Good times.

Now to do a Fitness Mastermind with Bedros Keuilian. If you are a trainer, make sure to attend his event in March. I'll be speaking there.

www.FitBusiness2014.com

Nutrition Tip:
If it is in your house, you are going to eat it. Get rid of it. Do not rationalize it's existence. if family brings it in, then you put it in a place that is extremely difficult for you to access. A high cupboard, out of sight, out of mind. Research shows the harder it is to access, the less you eat.

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tips:
Your life, your choice, your chance to change. You control your thoughts, actions, & behaviors. Choose wisely. Make today GREAT.

Stay strong,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

PS - Yesterday's workout was...

...writing out Christmas Cards...

If your mood needs a little boost, try it, and read this
- http://www.earlytorise.com/need-a-boost-try-a-little-gratitude/

Workout Warning

This is what I call a "Bad Idea Jeans" workout.

 

Do you remember that skit from Saturday Night Live back in the 90's? It was one of my favorites. It included classic quotes such as:

 

Guy #3: "Well, he's an ex free-base addict, and he's trying to turn around, and he needs a place to stay for a couple of months."

 

Image on Screen: BAD IDEA!

 

(Haha, and no, they were not talking about Toronto's mayor, Rob Ford...)

 

The skit is worth Googling if you've never watched it...although I must warn you, it's politically incorrect.

 

And speaking of warnings, this morning I had to give my good friend Dion a classic CB Workout WARNING.

 

Dion is back on the fat loss scene after letting himself slip for a few months, and a bodybuilder gave him a terrible workout. It included 15 sets of chest (including the shoulder-KILLING bodybuilder barbell bench press) followed by 9 sets of triceps exercises. 

 

"No, no, NO! Do NOT train like this," I told him.

 

"You're almost 40 years old, you haven't lifted in months, you have a wife and young son, and you have an important career! That's a Bad Idea workout, guaranteed to hurt you, and besides, it's built for a steroid-using bodybuilder, not someone looking to lose fat," I lectured.

 

Like you, Dion needs to use research-proven 21st-Century fat loss methods, not something out of the 90's like a classic SNL skit.

 

Here's what I recommend that he and you do to lose fat. It's a proven workout from an expert, the hot, sexy, lean & lovely Neghar Fanooni

 

In this Kettlebell-Bodyweight circuit, you'll rest as little as possible between exercises and you will complete 3-5 rounds total. (And yes, you can sub in dumbbells in place of KB's.)

 

1) KB Goblet Squats - 10 reps

2) KB 1-Arm Row - 10 reps per side

3) KB Goblet Reverse Lunge - 10 per side

4) Push-up or Decline Push-up - As Many Reps as Possible 

5) KB Swing - 20 reps

 

That's a REAL fat loss workout, one that will give you results safely and efficiently. Just say NO to Bad Idea bodybuilder workouts from the 1990's. 

 

Get more REAL fat loss workouts & nutrition advice here

 

Train smart and safe,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

Smokin' hot workout from a smokin' hot trainer

Squat and Bench in Denver

I had a good squat and bench workout today at a gym in Denver.

I'm now on a new program, and I'm taking my training more serious than ever before.

I've always been serious about my workouts, but hanging around John Romaniello and his wife, the inimitable Neghar Fanooni, this weekend showed me I need to get serious about my results, not just about doing the training.

I will be changing things up, and taking my nutrition and recovery (sleep) serious. The window of opportunity for me to get stronger is closing as I get older. I feel young as heck, but the reality is my physiology is changing to make everything more difficult.

Today's workout was:

1A) Squats - Will be using Jim Wendler's 5-3-1
1B) Box Jumps - 4x4
1C) WYLIT on ball - sets of 10 as warmup for bench
1D) Pushups - easy sets of 12 as warmup for bench

2A) Bench Press - Will be using Jim Wendler's 5-3-1
2B) Pullups - 5 sets at 50% of max reps

3A) DB Press (rest pause) - 25 total reps
3B) Leg Curl (rest pause) - 40 total reps
3C) Chest-Supported Technogym Plate Loaded Row (rest pause) - 40 total reps

There were a lot of warm-up sets and bodyweight movements performed in circuits to get started and throughout the workout to cut down on training time, but I was still in the gym for 60 minutes.

I will be doing two long gym workouts per week requiring barbells (the other will focus on the Deadlift and Military press). I will also be doing two gym or garage workouts per week requiring only dumbbells, kettlebells, TRX, and bodyweight exercises.

And I'll have three recovery days of walking ol' Bally the Dog for a little extra time.

This will all be well documented here. Stay tuned.

Now here's something controversial...

"The notion that someone can be obese yet still healthy is a myth," says researchers at Toronto's Mount Sinai Hospital. "We are telling people and doctors that it is not OK to be obese, even though you don't have metabolic abnormalities," Dr. Catherine Kramer reports. More details here:
- http://news.ca.msn.com/top-stories/healthy-obesity-a-myth-review-finds

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tips:
Take full responsibility for your environment and behaviors. Everything you do sets you up for success or puts another obstacle in your way.

Here are two important articles for you to read:

1) How my hero Terry can help change your life
- http://www.earlytorise.com/it-is-not-too-late-to-start-this/

2) How to Give to Receive More in Life
- http://www.earlytorise.com/how-to-receive-more-in-life/

"One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed."- Proverbs 11:24-25

Stay generous and strong,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

PS - 'He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.' - Epictetus

Back to Denver and the Squat Rack

Time to head back to America after a wonderful weekend wedding celebration here in Mexico. The weather was perfect and the company was even better. It was great to see John & Neghar Romaniello, Joel Marion, Isabel De Los Rios, and of course, the new and improved Mr. & Mrs. Mike Geary.

The ceremony was fantastic and the party even better. The food at the resort was tremendous, with every meal featuring fresh mahi-mahi or sea bass with vegetables and fresh fruit for breakfast in the morning.

My workouts were low-key, as I stuck to short bodyweight warm-ups and workouts in the morning. I'll start back in the gym with heavy lifting on Tuesday morning in Denver, and the month of December will allow me to finish one more strength cycle.

I'll admit, I've played around with programs a little too much this year. In January I'll return to what I know works, and get focused to get stronger. I did improve my squat and bench press significantly this year, but the deadlift has a long way to go.

I will also need to cut back on the amount of workout filming that I do so that it doesn't interfere with my real training. That shouldn't be a problem as the Home Workout Revolution and Turbulence Training programs are complete. That said, we just added a few new 4-Minute workouts to the website at www.HomeWorkoutRevolution.com. Get them all there.

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tips:
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.

Think big. Expand your network. Hang around other big thinkers and positive people that support your dreams. Get outside of your comfort zone.

"A good man lives in harmony with himself – he neither seeks nor needs external approval." – Chin-Ning Chu

"Often we are so concerned with what makes us feel good that we forget what makes us great. Understanding how to surmount pain, doubt, and failure is an important aspect of the game of winning at life." – Chin-Ning Chu

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

New 4-Minute Workout Videos Are Up

Finally...

 

The 10 new 4-minute workout videos I shot last month have been
added to the HWR website.

 

The new videos are added to the '4 Minute Miracles' menu option. They
are all labeled NEW and start at video #11.

The manual is under the 'Start Here' menu called '12 Week 4-Min
Miracles Plan".

If you are an HWR client and still have access problems, please contact
Lesa at TurbulenceTrainingHelp@gmail.com.

 

If you are NOT a HWR client yet, you can get immediate access to the
full program and over 80 bodyweight workout videos here:

 

Get the full Home Workout Revolution program here

And then let me know your results with the program,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT, MS
Certified Turbulence Trainer
Creator, Home Workout Revolution System

 

P.S. Want to get EVERY workout I've ever created?

Plus, you'll get a NEW workout every month, AND access to all of
my online exercise video clips...AND the new Turbulence Training
2.0 follow-along videos coming out in September!

You will also have priority access to the discussion forums where you
can ask me all of your personal program and nutrition questions so that
you can ACCELERATE your results.

You'll get that PERSONAL attention plus ALL of my workouts while
saving over $100 with your PREFERRED client discount today.

 

Here's your discount to get started with ALL that I've got:

=> www.GiveMeAllYouGot.com

See you on the TT forums.

Free finisher workouts

You could probably do this fat loss finisher in your closet. 

 

You certainly don't need to go to a gym for it.

 

Get it here => Best fat loss finisher (and it's FREE)

 

I've asked Mikey "Pancakes" Whitfield to share with you exactly how to use your own bodyweight (with options for little equipment) with the BEST finishers ever.

 

He over-delivered and even did videos of these fat-shredding finishers. They are better than any app you'll ever find.

 

 

NEW Finisher of the Day => Best fat loss finisher (and it's FREE) 

 

You'll get a NEW finisher for the next week every day FREE PLUS... 

 

... 4 weeks of Metabolic Workouts that take ONLY 16 minutes.

 

It is his Christmas gift to all TT readers,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

 

PS - You'll love ...

- The density finisher with a crazy rep scheme on day one

- The gauntlet finisher on day two with "combination" exercises

- A new "hybrid" conditioning and ab exercise in one

- The fast-paced 16-minute workouts (especially Workout C) 

 

FREE => Get the Best fat loss finisher and 16-minute workouts here