Why you need Shaun's nutrition program

"Hey Craig," Kelly wrote in an email today, "I just bought your latest workout program, so why would you do this? Why would you tell me that I need another program, like Shaun Hadsall's Xtreme Fat Loss Diet?"

That's a great question. I get this all the time, from long-time readers like Bob M. in Iowa, Chris C. in England, Sue L. in Australia, and Gianni V. in Italy. Here's the answer…

It might not be politically correct or humble to say this, but I can guarantee you that my workouts are the BEST in the world. You are getting the #1 solution for fat burning exercise when you join me in my programs, BUT…

I have TWO weaknesses. The first is injury rehab. I don't know the best way to fix your back pain or repair your rotator cuff, so please see your doctor for in-person help. My second weakness is nutrition. I'm NOT a world-class diet guru, but many of my friends, like Shaun Hadsall, Joel Marion, Yuri Elkaim, Flavia Del Monte, and Brad Pilon are world-class nutrition gurus…

The nutrition programs you get with Turbulence Training, 6MinutestoSkinny, Home Workout Revolution, and Metabolic Kick-Starter are great and will help you lose weight quickly and easily...

And while, YES, the nutrition programs you get with Turbulence Training, 6MinutestoSkinny, Home Workout Revolution, and Metabolic Kick-Starter are great and will help you lose weight quickly and easily...

...the more advanced programs I recommend, like Shaun Hadsall's Extreme Fat Loss Diet, are more detailed (and require a lot more preparation, too, to be fair). But when you combine these advanced plans with my World-Class Workouts, you'll get even faster – and extreme – weight loss results.

Adding Shaun's nutrition plan to my workouts is like customizing a Porsche or a Ferrarri to make it turbo-charged and even faster for the racetrack.

That's why I recommend other programs, and that's why you need to take advantage of this final reminder about Shaun's system that shows you how to:

Lose a Pound of Pure Fat in Just One Day <= Get it today and lose by Sunday!

Thank you again for your question and commitment to success.

Shaun and I are so proud of what you have accomplished so far and can't wait to hear your success story with XFLD and my World-Class Workouts.

Have an amazing weekend!

Sincerely,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

PS – People won't always understand or accept your…

… dedication to self-improvement, so when you are having a bad day and when people are talking behind your back or making you feel bad for your RIGHT decisions, please remember this:

Do not take it personal when someone attacks you. This will happen a lot when you step out of your comfort zone and become the best person you can – and are meant to – be. 

Simply look at the criticism constructively, and discard personal attacks. You are making the right choices for YOUR right life. That's what matters. 

Operate with honesty and integrity all the time and you will never have to worry about what other people say about you because you are doing the RIGHT thing. I know it.

Stay strong and keep on pushing on

1st workout in my Deadlift transformation was a killer bench and pushup meathead session

Not rhetorical at all, I gotta recognize all my #TTMeatheads that are representing TT Meathead training. Updated list:

#TTMeatheadPosse of Mike L., DLove, Daniel, Peter J., Derek W., Blake, John M., J-Roc, and Ferruggia.

***

Alright, this workout rocked.

What happens when you cross TT with Wendler's 5-3-1 and the Bobby Maximus Perfect Pushup challenge?

You get tired triceps and a big upper back pump.

Warm-up
- WYLIT
- BMax Perfect Pushups
- Band Pull

1A) Bench Press (Week 2 of 5-3-1)
1B) Chest-Supported Row - 4x8

2A) Barbell Incline - 2x5
2B) TRX Row - 2xMax

3A) Bench Press - 3x15
3B) Bobby Max Perfect Pushups - Max Reps
3C) BB Row - 3x12

Great #TTMeathead times!

Now for a couple of days off and then 1st Deadlift workout of the 23rd Transformation will be on Friday.

Soon I'll be back to this...

Hey...these guys look familiar! I love the KB box...it's from the Middle East, so for modesty, they photoshopped on a black tank top...but apparently they don't care about stealing my image. Ha! And yes, even GQ magazine borrowed ol' CB. Double-ha!

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tip:



Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

PS - If you are doing a fat loss transformation...

It's time to stop cardio. It doesn't work. Switch to...

...these FREE workouts with me

=> http://earlytorise.com/freedailyworkout/index.html

Win MY Money! Here's how...


The 23rd 12-Week TT Transformation Contest has now started

- http://turbulencetrainingcontest.com/rules.shtml


Grand Prize of $1000 plus a 3-Year Platinum TT Membership

2nd Place Prize of $500 plus a 2-Year Platinum Membership
3rd Place Prize of $250 plus a 1-Year Platinum TT Membership


Click here to see last contests winners and the rules page with more contest details: http://turbulencetrainingcontest.com/


Good luck!

Squats and Paleo Times in Texas

On Sunday morning I did a squat workout before heading to the Austin airport to get back to Denver.

I had forgotten how awesome of a city Austin, Texas is...great times here while at Paleo FX. I hung out with my buddy AJ Roberts...got a chance to meet the pioneer of Primal, Mark Sisson, and found some new sponsors for the TTSummit.com in June...and had a great meeting with Jesse Cannone from www.LoseTheBackPain.com

Also had an amazing hotel experience at the JW Marriott...biggest hotel gym ever...with a real squat rack, too.

Today's kickbutt mindset tip:
The only one that stops you is YOU. You are the one that gets your butt out of bed...or lies there...you are the one that eats right...or puts the junk in your mouth...You are the one that holds in your dreams, squishing them into nothing...or you are the one that shares them with positive people and opens your world up to attracting opportunity. you. You. YOU! I know what you are capable of...I know you have won in the past...and I know you will win again...I know the obstacles in your way stand NO chance against YOU...because I know that you know what matters...and we know that you know you will never give up on going for it...You will stay strong...You will push on...Your time is now...this chance for CHANGE belongs to YOU.

Do not stop.




And don't miss this short burst workout, too:
=> http://www.earlytorise.com/5-minute-extreme-fat-loss-bodyweight-workout/

No stopping you,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT

PS - Some great TT Feedback...

"Thank you for your inspiration! I have lost 15 pounds since February!" – Daisy Joynt

 

"I am a swim coach and always looking for 'dryland' work we can do that doesn't require equipment or take much time. Your routines are fabulous! The swimmers are outstanding athletes and your routines bring them to their knees." – LeAnn Nana Johnson Carr

 

"I have been doing TT workouts for about 12-18 months now. I have had great results thus far losing 30+ lbs, dropping of 4" on my waistline, and making noticeable differences in the mirror/muscle definition. I am very pleased with the results and more importantly, I have the ultimate confidence in these programs, so thank you Craig!" – Ron Jack, TT Member

__________________

Too Much Workout

Dang. Sunday was the "Too Much Workout" day. I ate too much before, I had too much caffeine, and I did too much squats. (Apologies for the terrible grammar. It's all too much!) The caffeine made me feel weird and the food-squat combo made me feel like vomiting, but I made it through the TM Workout and ended up having a great day.

Workout at the Colorado Athletic Club:

1A) Squat
1B) High Box Jump

2A) Front Squat
2B) Good Morning

My big breakfast was my High-Fat Cereal. It has to be 1,000 calories, and it kept me full for 9 hours. Seriously. I was done eating by 6:30am, in the gym at 8, and didn't eat again until 3pm. My High-Fat Cereal recipe goes like this:

1-2 tablespoons of coconut oil
2-4 ounces of walnuts or pecans (I've never measured)
1-2 tablespoons of almond butter (or other nut butter)
1 banana

Sometimes I sprinkle Paleo Protein Powder on top because it's so sweet. And sometimes I sprinkle 2-3 teaspoons of cacao nibs on it.

It's a giant bowl of nut cereal. Good times. Except when you are squatting less than 3 hours later. I need to leave more time between High-Fat breakfast and the workout.

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tip:
"Identify exactly what it is that you want. This takes a lot of thought. Then don't let anything stand in your way of getting it." – Kekich Credo #56 …..I do this. I take this seriously. I set goals. I write them down. I review them regularly. I've created a Vision Board. I plan my days. I set a priority to-do list each night to work on starting first thing the next morning. I have recruited social support. I have professional accountability from a coach. I have accepted the difficulty and the simplicity of the road ahead. I know the steps will be hard, but they have been taken before. There is a path, a rough one, over rocks and around great obstacles, and up a steep success mountain, but I am committed to taking it and reaching the top. I will stumble, but when I do, the helping hand of a mentor will reach out to guide me, and a push from my support will propel me back onto my feet. This is how it's going to be. Accept it and Take Action. I am there for you. You are here for me. You will get there. We will get there. Together. And when we do, no reward will be greater than the internal satisfaction knowing we have accomplished our goals. I look forward to celebrating with you. Until then, stay strong and keep on pushing on. I believe in US.

We can do it,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

The Cardio Lesson

On a sunny and humid Saturday morning in South Beach last weekend, I walked out to the edge of the Atlantic ocean a few minutes before 7am and sat down, cross-legged, for my morning meditation session. I take great pleasure in timing my meditation with the sunrise. There were dozens of other tourists out on the beach, many with cameras, trying to capture the memory in their own way. It was a magical moment. 

Twenty minutes later, stress-free and relaxed, I ran 6 intervals on the beach (after a warm-up, of course). Then I did a long walk under the hot sun all the way down to the legendary Fontainebleau hotel (featured in the classic James Bond film, Goldfinger) and back to 5th Street before finally getting back to The Raleigh Hotel around 9am. 

While I was on my walk I passed dozens of 'joggers' - or 'yoggers', as Ron Burgandy might say ;) 

It seems there are two types of jogger-bodies. One is skinny and scrawny, and almost a little scary. The other is overweight and beat up, and those folks do more 'shuffling' than jogging. Neither body looked good compared to the beautiful bodies of the men and women doing pull-ups, pushups, and lunges at the outdoor bodyweight gym area at the corner of 8th and Collins. I think that tells us something VERY important!

But here's the frustrating thing to me...hopping on a treadmill to do 45 minutes of cardio is STILL the go-to workout for most people trying to lose weight.

Seems like a good idea, right? 

Not exactly…

The problem is this: there is a right way to do cardio (done right, you can literally burn double the calories in half the time) and there's a wrong way to do cardio, which causes you to plateau, leaving you soft, flabby and injury-prone. 

I speak from experience.  I tried doing lots of cardio back in the day (2nd year of college, 1995 to be exact). I had the "more is better" attitude and thought the longer I go, the more endurance I'd build and more calories I'd burn, which means I'd get more lean and fit.

Unfortunately, it didn't work out that way.  About the only significant results I got were chronic injuries and mental burn out.

So if you've been hittin' treadmill in hopes of getting lean and fit, we want to spare you the injuries and disappointments.  Instead, we want to share with you what I learned from my mistakes and show you what REALLY works…

===> Men, click here

===> Women, click here

Stay Strong and Keep Pushing On,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

PS -  Once you start doing cardio the RIGHT way, you'll finally start seeing the pounds melt away (and it'll make you instantly realize how wrong you were doing it before!)  You will literally FEEL the difference...it'll actually be fun, it will give you more energy (instead of sucking it away), and it will take you less than half the time as your old cardio routine. Discover what REALLY works…

===> Men, click here

===> Women, click here

PPS - More harsh #truth...

People choose cardio because it is mentally EASY. Just hop on a machine and go slow and pray to the cardio confessional that the overestimated number of calories it says you are burning will help you lose weight.

But the harsh #truth is that cardio will not help at all.

"Running causes a flattening of your bottom," said fat loss expert, Hollie Grant in Saturday's issue of the British paper, The Telegraph, "and running just doesn't trigger fat loss at all. Don't expect it to change your body shape."

I agree. So STOP doing cardio. Click on the links above to find out what REALLY works.

Chocolate for Breakfast

If you've ever talked to a politically-correct, mainstream nutritionist or dietician, it can be really frustrating. Eat lots of whole-wheat bread, never lose more than half-a-pound a week, and "make sure to eat lots of soy, grains, corn, and dairy," they'll say.

But that is BAD advice. 

The TRUTH is that you have to break a LOT of nutrition rules if you want to lose weight.

For example…

#1 Rule to Break: Never eat the foods you <= False!

#2 Rule to Break: You must count calories <= My clients NEVER do this!

#3 Rule to Break: Eat six small meals per day <= No! That just leaves you unsatisfied.

The TRUTH is that you can eat hearty meals of the foods you love without having to count calories IF you follow the insider-advice of a experts that have helped tens of thousands of people change their bodies. 

These experts, like *ahem* myself, and nutrition & cooking gurus like Flavia Del Monte, will show you how to get more results in less time and without having to make big sacrifices in your life or your diet. Just combine my short workouts with Flavia's incredible meals and rule-breaking diet secrets.
  
If you don't know Flavia, let me tell you about her. She's a Registered Pediatric Nurse, a female fitness expert and a busy new mom (and expecting her 2nd soon!)
 
In other words...she's Super Woman!
 
Take a look at how just recently she achieved these amazing transformation results after she had her baby. . .

 
 
Wondering how she did it? Here's Flavia's…

3-Step Fast-Fat-Loss Solution:

1. Eat Flavilicious recipes when you are hungry.
2. Eat Flavilicious recipes until she was satisfied – but not stuffed.
3. Eat real food – always!

A big part of her secret was that for the past 2 years she's been working alongside a professional chef and "arming" herself with easy-to-make, allergy-friendly, fat-burning recipes that are DELICIOUS.
 
Her goal is to teach women how to lose weight just like she did; without starving, without tasteless food, and without counting a single calorie...EVER...not even one!
 
I'm super excited to share one of my favorite recipes from Flavia's cookbook, Flavilicious
Cooking, which Flavia has discount at 60% off to celebrate the release of the hard copy for the next two days:
 

 
You can make a few days worth of this on a Sunday, freeze any that you won't be eating for the next few days, and toss the rest in the refrigerator for your busy week. These are balanced with proteins, carbs and fats to keep you fully energized for hours. 
 
Flavia's recipes also use specific ingredients to BALANCE your hormones, which is the #1 KEY to keeping your body in "fat burning mode" so you can eat until you're full and love your body along the way :)
 
If you're looking for some brand new recipes to accommodate your crazy schedule, then pick up a copy of Flavia's brand new Flavilicious Cooking cookbook. Her book teaches you how to Eat More to Lose More!
 
Remember, when you grab it today, you'll be getting a 60% discount because she's celebrating the release of the hard copy version of the book.
 
==> 60% Off Flavilicious Cooking + Amazing Bonuses
 
And one more thing...
 
Anyone who orders today will also grab a very special bonus video called "How to Cook 15 Meals in 50 Minutes!"
 
This video was created alongside Professional Chef, Amy Stoddart, who unpacks her 10 years of culinary skills into a 50-minute step-by-step 'batch cooking' video. This information is PRICELESS and the biggest time saving cooking video I've ever seen!
 
(This one bonus will give you back hours of your life, so you can do the activities you really enjoy, all while feeling great and loving your body!)
 
This bonus video cannot be found anywhere else!
 
==> How To Cook 15 Meals in 50 Minutes  

Lose fat faster than ever with my workouts and her meals,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

PS – It's up to you!

Personal growth and change are up to us. 

"If it is to be," the saying goes, "it's up to me." 

Our life. Our choices. Our challenges. Our decision. 

Put plans into place to support your growth, to take action, and to do it all with a sense of adventure.

And remember…

To Get Something You've Never Had, You Must Do Something You've Never Done.

Onward!

Truth About Getting Abs with Ab Exercises

Here's how I got my million-dollar 6-pack abs that you see in my photos. It wasn't from back-breaking sit-ups or crunches. It wasn't from doing dumbbell side-bends (that's a surefire way to ADD inches to your waistline!). And it wasn't from using dangerous ab machines (those machines are scientifically proven to increase your risk of injury).



What I did to get 6-pack abs was a combination of metabolic training, classic interval training, and total body ab exercises using just my bodyweight (but again, these are NOT ineffective crunches or situps).


In fact, you should not use 'ab exercises'. 

In today's new article, "abs" expert Shin Ohtake is going to reveal why "ab-targeted" exercises don't work (no matter how many reps you do!) — plus, he'll show you how tightening up your mid-section is MUCH easier than you might think, once you know what (and what not) to do…

==> 3 Killer Techniques That Get Rid of Stubborn "Ab Flab" (NEW ARTICLE)

If you actually take this advice, you'll be shocked at how quickly your belly fat will seem to melt away, finally revealing those washboard abs that have been hiding underneath for all these years.

Stay Strong and Keep Pushing On,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

PS - Don't skip tip #3 — it's insanely effective!
PPS - It's all YOU! 

Personal growth and change are up to us. "If it is to be," the saying goes, "it's up to me." Our life. Our choices. Our challenges. Our decision. Make the right ones today

Deadlifts and Gobbly Squats in South Beach

Final day in Miami before I head home to Toronto for a few very busy days of appointments and errands. On Saturday I have to get back to Denver. Today I dropped by Crunch Fitness on Alton Road for some deadlifting and a personal best with Goblet Squats.

1A) Hang Clean
1B) Box Jumps

2A) Deadlift
2B) KB 1-Arm OH Press (standing)

3A) Overhead Squat
3B) Leg Curl

And then I stumbled across an 80lb kettlebell and decided to go for a personal best in the Goblet Squat. My past record was 70x17, done at the end of a leg workout. Today I smoked 21 reps with the 80...probably because I had some caffeine before this workout. Good times.

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tip:
Failure isn't bad. Failure isn't final. If there is one thing I know after having observed this crazy world for 39 years, it's that you can SURVIVE almost anything and come back better and stronger than ever before.

Don't let the fear of failure stop you from achieving the success you deserve. Failure only hurts when it means you've quit on something important to you. So don't. Keep at it.

The more you move in the right direction towards success, the better you'll feel. Every day work on making new positive habits second nature automatic. Do your best to make little bets and mini-steps ahead each day.

Stay strong. Never quit. I believe in you. You can do it.

So do it,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

PS - Losing fat is a game between...

...you and the outside world. Everyone, from family to friends to co-workers to restaurant owners to TV advertisers is scheming against you to make you eat more and exercise less. Like it or not, it's true. They might not be doing it on purpose, or with bad intentions, but they are happier when you are fed, full, and flat out on the couch. You must always know your options. You must have Plans A, B, C, D, and E. You must be prepared to counter-attack. When they say pizza, you say sushi. When they say take-out, you say, "I've already prepared my lunch". When they say, "Happy Hour", you say, "Workout first." Surround yourself with people who are fitter and healthier than you. Stay strong my friend.

Sunday weird South Beach workout

Sunday was a weird one. Today was an off day. Here's what happened.

Down at 7th street and Collins Ave here in South Beach, there is an outdoor gym in the sand that works great for a meathead upper body session. I did a circuit of:

1. Pullups
2. Pike Pushups or Decline Pushups
3. Bodyweight Squats
4. Bodyweight Rows

I did this at 8am on Sunday morning, and it was surprisingly busy on the boardwalk. Workers were setting up for the South Beach Gay Pride parade, other folks were doing pullups, and one street-person was using a metal detector to search for coins in the sand.

Now let this be clear, I'm not making light of this street person, but it was clear he was not mentally well. As we exercised, he began insulting everyone, asking two folks, "Where are you creepy people from?"

Then he basically stood over me while I did pushups and said, "Look at all you a-holes with jobs working out. You're losers."

I just ignored him. Eventually he went away.

Sad. Weird. But also made me crank out a few extra reps in frustration.

Today is a big workday, lots of phone calls and Google Hangouts, and tomorrow is a deadlift day and flight back to Toronto day. Oh, and a late drive back to the farm, too. Won't be home until 9pm.

Wednesday starts a deload week, and then I travel to Denver on Saturday for 2 weeks in the ETR office and workouts at the Colorado Athletic Center. It's a great gym. 

Here's some interval training info for you, too:
=> http://www.earlytorise.com/3-best-ways-to-do-interval-training/

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tips:
Give 100 percent effort and attention to building a new positive habit today.

"Begin at once a program of self-mastery," says Epictetus. "Stick with your purpose. Do not seek external approval. Do not worry about anything outside of your control. The only things you command are your thoughts and actions. We choose our response. Stop aspiring to be anyone other than your own best self: for that does fall within your control."

Keep on pushing on,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

Saturday Morning Sprints in South Beach Miami

On a sunny and humid Saturday morning in South Beach, I walked out to the edge of the Atlantic ocean a few minutes before 7am and sat down, cross-legged, for my morning meditation session. I take great pleasure in timing my meditation with the sunrise. There were dozens of other tourists out on the beach, many with cameras, trying to capture the memory in their own way. It was a magical moment.

Twenty minutes later, stress-free and relaxed, I ran 6 intervals on the beach (after a warm-up, of course). Then I did a long walk under the hot sun all the way down to the legendary Fontainebleau hotel (featured in the classic James Bond film, Goldfinger) and back to 5th Street before finally getting back to The Raleigh Hotel around 9am.

While I was on my walk I passed dozens of 'joggers' - or 'yoggers', as Ron Burgandy might say ;)

It seems there are two types of jogger-bodies. One is skinny and scrawny, and almost a little scary. The other is overweight and beat up, and those folks do more 'shuffling' than jogging. Neither body looked good compared to the beautiful bodies of the men and women doing pull-ups, pushups, and lunges at the outdoor bodyweight gym area at the corner of 8th and Collins. I think that tells us something VERY important!

Cardio sucks.

People often ask me how I got my million-dollar 6-pack abs that you see in my photos. It wasn't from boring cardio or back-breaking sit-ups or crunches. It wasn't from doing dumbbell side-bends (that's a surefire way to ADD inches to your waistline!). And it wasn't from using dangerous ab machines (those machines are scientifically proven to increase your risk of injury). So stop wasting your time on cardio and crunches.

What I did to get 6-pack abs was a combination of metabolic training, classic interval training, and total body ab exercises using just my bodyweight (but again, these are NOT ineffective crunches or situps).

Essentially I used www.TurbulenceTraining.com - not surprisingly!

And so did my friend Sean. He transformed from 225 pounds of 'softness' to a nearly ripped 210 pounds. And this was the last guy I thought would ever change because he loves to eat and drink. But he "manned up" and did the work and changed his habits...I was really impressed. If he can do it, anyone can.

Tonight at 6pm he'll be walking down the aisle on the beach behind the Raleigh Hotel. He's getting married to my friend Alison, and it's going to be a great big party. I'm very proud of Sean, and very proud of you for all the action that both of you are taking to get better in every way.

Alright, time to enjoy the South Beach Scene.

Back next week with some heavy liftin'.

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tip:
Personal growth and change are up to us. "If it is to be," the saying goes, "it's up to me." Our life. Our choices. Our challenges. Our decision. Make the right ones today!

Push on,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

PS - Harsh #truth...

People choose cardio because it is mentally EASY. Just hop on a machine and go slow and pray to the cardio confessional that the overestimated number of calories it says you are burning will help you lose weight.

But the harsh #truth is that cardio will not help at all.

"Running causes a flattening of your bottom," said fat loss expert, Hollie Grant in Saturday's issue of the British paper, The Telegraph, "and running just doesn't trigger fat loss at all. Don't expect it to change your body shape."

#1 Metabolism boosting tip

Today's video lesson shows you a brand new, powerful metabolism boosting tip designed specifically to help women lose weight fast where they need to most.

Powerful Metabolism Boosting Tip For Women Only <--- video lesson

And get this:

Research shows when Women use this science-proven tip to boost their metabolism  they burn fat faster and easier than men instead of the other way around for once!

Use this flat belly tip to flip on your female fat burning switch today: 

Breakthrough Metabolism Boosting Tip For Women Only <--- video lesson

Enjoy,

Craig Ballantyne,CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

PS - The sheer number of real, everyday Women with shocking transformations in this video that have used this flat belly tip will absolutely amaze you. It really is pretty crazy stuff!

==> Breakthrough Flat Belly Tip For Women Only

PPS - Win the Game!

Losing fat is a game between you and the outside world. Everyone, from family to friends to co-workers to restaurant owners to TV advertisers is scheming against you to make you eat more and exercise less. 

Like it or not, it's true. They might not be doing it on purpose, or with bad intentions, but they are happier when you are fed, full, and flat out on the couch. You must always know your options. 

To win the fat loss game, you must have Plans A, B, C, D, and E. You must be prepared to counter-attack. When they say pizza, you say sushi. When they say take-out, you say, "I've already prepared my lunch". When they say, "Happy Hour", you say, "Workout first." And seek to surround yourself with people who are fitter and healthier than you. 

Stay strong my friend...because I believe in you. You can - and WILL - do it. Your time is NOW!

OOOps, i meant these are the others

Challenges		Squat	225x16	Squat	185x16
1-Mile Run		Fr Sqt	135x15	Squat	135x27
1000JR	9:51	420JR	3:15	BkeL20	30kcal
5-Min Sn Tst			DL Chllng	Snatch	225x8
50 rep Sn Tst		BB Crl	45x35	Reg	225x14
Farmer Walk		90x95		Trap	225x22
Long Walk				135	135x37

Challenges

Here are some personal strength challenges I've been doing with J-Roc, 2014 TT Client of the Year

Challenges				1-l Clf	12
DBCSR	50x18	60x8		Bench	135x18
100Brps	12:45			DB Hmr	50x6
RckPlk	73			PullHold	20s
KB1-A Pr	35x17			ChinHold
KBSn35	21+10			PushHold
KBGBSQ	70x17		DB Suitcase Carry		80x120

And more

Challenges				1-l Clf	12
DBCSR	50x18	60x8		Bench	135x18
100Brps	12:45			DB Hmr	50x6
RckPlk	73			PullHold	20s
KB1-A Pr	35x17			ChinHold
KBSn35	21+10			PushHold
KBGBSQ	70x17		DB Suitcase Carry		80x120

Join me in San Diego after I get done with Miami

Quick workout before a long drive to Miami.

40 Pullups
100 Elevated Pushups
Suitcase carries (80 lbs in one hand, 3 sets of 100 steps)

Miami and Travel Plans:
Thursday: Dinner and basketball game with Joel and 12 other guys who will be in Miami for his "Bachelor Party Reunion". They'll be out partying Friday and Saturday, too, but I have a friend's wedding on the 11th.

Friday: Bedros and Di and their kids are driving in from Disney just to go to Prime 112 on Friday and then flying home on Saturday.

Saturday: Wedding

Rest of week:
I'm staying in Miami until Tuesday and then going back to Toronto for a few days and then flying down to Denver on Saturday, April 18th afternoon.

Summit Announcement:
I have devoted my life to changing the fitness industry. It's taken nearly 20 years, but you have to agree, the world has finally come around to my way of thinking. These days everyone knows – or at least has the feeling – that cardio is over-rated for fat loss.

You've discovered the power of bodyweight workouts for weight loss. You've lost inches, you've increased your energy, and you've changed your life.


And so I want to invite you to a celebration…one where we celebrate your success, one where we show you new opportunities for your life, and one where we share some birthday cake at my 40th birthday party. It's also where you'll discover the 39 other Biggest Lessons from my Life that will change YOURS.


Click here to join me at my 40th birthday party that will change your life


Here's all of the incredible value that you'll get at our awesome, high-energy TT Summit…

• Bonus access to the VIP reception for fast-action takers ($25 value)
• Free lunch, on me, every day ($50 value)
• Goodie bag with delicious BioTrust snacks and more ($50 value)
• An ETR Gratitude Journal (my 'first book') ($20 value)
• Your Personal Trainer Start-Up Kit ($297 value)
• Free copy of The Recipe Hacker by Diana Keuilian ($20 value)
• Meeting my Mom (Priceless!)
• Slice of Craig's 40th birthday cake ($4 value)
• Getting my sister to tell you embarrassing stories about me ($5 value)
• Two morning bootcamps with celeb trainer Todd Durkin and myself ($40 value)

That's over $501 in real bonuses…not including the priceless information you will learn from the TT world's best trainers and celebrity guests, such as…

• Ali Fox, a full-time lawyer and Certified TT Trainer from Australia
• Todd Durkin, author of the Men's Health Impact Body Plan
• Brittney Williams, owner of FBBC near Charleston, South Carolina
• Bedros Keuilian, the best personal trainer coach in the world
• Dan Ritchie, leading expert for training men and women over 50
• Chris Lopez, our TT Kettlebell guru
• Daniel Woodrum, our Director of the CTT program
• Ray Ortiz, FBBC owner who will show you how to grow a fitness team
• And ol' CB, that's me!

Plus, my friend Diana Keuilian will be there to sign your copy of The Recipe Hacker and she'll be baking me a special birthday cake that is free of gluten, dairy, and soy. The only person that won't be there is ol' Bally the Dog, since he doesn't have a passport…yet.


He's also not a person!



The TT Summit is your ticket to Independence and Abundance. We'll show you how to achieve your big goals and dreams using my 5 Pillars of Transformation and the 40 biggest lessons I've learned from my 40 years here on earth (and two decades in the health and fitness industry).
We'll have fitness celebrities like Catherine Gordon, Mikey "Finishers" Whitfield, Jason & Jen Ferruggia, John Romaniello, Missi Holt, and Todd Durkin all on hand to answer all of your diet and workout questions.



There's never been a fitness event like this before. It's big enough so that you'll meet tons of other incredible people, but it's also intimate enough that you will get to interact with all of the presenters, get photos with them, and ask them your questions in a one-on-one setting.


You have nothing to lose. In fact, if you don't love the first day of the TT Summit, just turn in your gifts by the end of the day and I'll give you DOUBLE your money back and we'll part as friends. The TT Summit has never disappointed anyone before, and it's not going to happen this year.



This NEW and IMPROVED version is going to be better than ever.


See you in San Diego soon,


Craig Ballantyne, CTT

Certified Turbulence Trainer


PS – Dream Big!


Set big goals. It takes the same focus to make big steps as it does to take little leaps. So go for the dramatic changes you desire – and deserve – in life. 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. Hang around big goal achievers and get support from others who believe in you – we ARE out there…and right here! Get outside your comfort zone and grow and go. You can do it. Your time is now! See you soon.


Join me here at the 5th TT Summit to Change Your Life and Change the World

Tampa Squats and Miami Plans

I've been doing a few extra interval runs with Joel and today I worried my legs would be tired. It was a scheduled squat session. Fortunately, legs were not tired or sore. Or so I thought. Heavy sets were good, but high rep sets suffered a little. Overall, what mattered was the heavy sets. So I'm good.

1A) Squat
1B) High Box Jump

2A) Front Squat
2B) Good Morning

That was it.

Now it's time for a walk with Joel. No intervals today.

Weather and food has been fantastic. Tomorrow I drive to Miami. Going to a Heat game with Joel, Vinny D, Chef Gui, Mike Westerdal, and a bunch of others on Thursday night. Friday is dinner at Prime 112 with Bedros and his family (they are vacationing at Disney this week). Saturday is a wedding for my friends Sean and Alison, and Matt Smith will be there too. Then I spend a couple of days relaxing and working before heading back to Toronto on Tuesday afternoon. Next Saturday I return to Denver for a couple of weeks.

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tip:
Your transformation into a high-performance machine starts with your Rules. I have one rule that saves me a lot of trouble. It reduces the temptation to eat too much or too late at night. It minimizes sleepless nights from too much caffeine. It eliminates hangovers. My rule allows me to look and perform like someone ten years younger than me.

Here it is: "I go to bed and get up at the same time 7 days per week. I stick to my diet, avoid caffeine after 1pm, eat dinner at 6pm, and avoid alcohol within 3 hours of bedtime." Twice per week I have social outings that require me staying up a few hours later. That's okay. The most important part of the rule is to get up at the same time everyday. Every single day. No matter the time you went to bed. Do that and you will win your mornings, own your days, and control your life.

Never lose a morning, ever, if you want to go undefeated in life. Stay strong, push on, you can do it. Sacrifice now to create your legacy forever.

Push on,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT

PS - It's always darkest before the dawn. There will be days when you struggle. That's okay. Just never give up & always TAKE ACTION.

5 regrets of the dying and 5 foods not to eat

Did you know there are certain foods -- including several vegetables and even protein sources -- that can actually DAMAGE your brain and your memory?
Even more, if you're currently experiencing any kind of memory issues, if you feel your memory is fading, or if you've been known to have a "senior moment" every so often lately, it may be directly related to certain foods in your diet.
Fortunately, trusted diet expert Dr. Mark Ettinger just wrote a free report that shows you exactly which foods these are. Download your free copy in just a couple seconds here:
==> The 5 WORST foods for your brain
Helping you stay healthy through good eating,
Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

PS - Loved this and had to share...

Top 5 Regrets of the Dying
By Bonnie Ware:
1) I wish I had let myself be happier.
2) I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
3) I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings.
4) I wish I hadn't worked so hard (busy work vs. what matters).
5) I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me…
...So make the right decisions right now for your right life. Stay strong and keep on pushing on!

Meathead Easter

Some fun Meathead Upper Body Easter training in Tampa before a lively church service at http://www.bridgepointonline.org with Joel. We followed by an excellent brunch at the Don Cesar hotel in St. Pete Beach with Joel and his family and Dr. Kareem Samhouri and his family. I also spent the entire day disconnected from phone and Internet access.

1A) DB Press
1B) DB Row

2A) Close-Grip Pushups on KB handles
2B) Farmer's Walk

3A) TRX Triceps
3B) TRX Biceps

4A) DB Hammer Curls
4B) DB Triceps Extensions

Don't miss this...Get your say in the 22nd TT Transformation Contest. Voting ends tonight at 11:59 PM EST. Cast your votes here: 

- http://www.turbulencetrainingcontest.com/vote_0315.shtml

At brunch I enjoyed 3 slices of lamb, and a little bacon, mahi, salmon, tuna, and shrimp, as well as a LOT of vegetables and a bit of fruit. I think that makes me a Meathead in a different way from my workout. Ha. Anyways, there were no Mimosas for me, or waffles covered in Nutella, that many others had. Still, I was full and didn't need to eat again for the rest of the day (we finished at 4pm).

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tip:
Measure PROGRESS, not perfection. Understand you will never reach perfection...but you must celebrate your journey as you improve from point A to point B. Make each day better than your last.

Have a great week,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

PS - "The person who gets the farthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare. The sure-thing boat never gets far from shore." - Dale Carnegie

TT Summit invite from Tampa

Let's start with a personal invite to my birthday party at the 5th TT Summit - hope to see you there! => www.TTSummit.com. TT Certifications will take place on the Thursday and Sunday.

Just email Lesa at TurbulenceTrainingHelp@gmail.com to reserve your spot. Daniel Woodrum is teaching Level 1 on Thursday and Level 2 on Sunday. Chris Lopez is teaching Level 1 on Sunday. Thank you!

And then, rock the vote.
 

TT Contest #22 is now open for VOTING! Please pick your winner from our 4 categories here. (And next contest starts first week of May...get ready!) => http://www.turbulencetrainingcontest.com/vote_0315.shtml

My workout in Tampa today was hot, humid, and sweaty. And last night I ran some intervals with Joel after I arrived from Denver. I "wussed out" by not driving 45 minutes into Tampa to deadlift at Powerhouse, so I punished myself with the following session in Joel's garage:

1A) DB Walking Lunge
1B) KB Snatch - high rep challenge

2A) DB RDL
2B) Ab Wheel Rollout

Followed that with a few laps in the pool and then 45 minutes of babysitting Joel's oldest daughter. We played lunch, and she made me a "delicious hot lunch of strawberries, watermelon, and bacon, with dirt on it." Hot fruit and dirty bacon. Just the way I like it.

Dr. Kareem, his wife, their son, and their dog, are also visiting. We're having an Easter Egg hunt later this afternoon, and a big brunch outing tomorrow. Here's hoping there are some crab legs on the menu. And I'll be starting the day with db rows, pushups, farmer's walks, and meathead arms, followed by an hour's walk to get the Sunday NY Times. It's going to be a blast.

Also going fully Device-Free on Sunday. No net, no laptop, no phone, no TV. Just friends, family, newspapers, exercise, swimming, and a huge brunch.

Hope you have a Happy Easter!

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tip:
Always look for progress ... even little steps in the right direction today give you the momentum to carry on into victory tomorrow.

Stay strong,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT

PS - See you at the TT Summit!

My Birthday Gift to you

It's my birthday, but I want to give YOU a gift – one that will last a lifetime. It's something I've been working on for 40 years. You might even call it my life's work. In this gift you'll discover everything you need to help your friends, your family, your co-workers, and men and women of all ages in your community. You'll be able to take this gift and share it with them, showing them how to eat better, live longer, feel healthier, and dramatically improve every aspect of their life.
It is the gift of knowledge and access to all of my secrets. This slight edge, one that will separate you from everyone else out there, will help you achieve your dreams, overcome your struggles, and eliminate the obstacles in your life.
This gift has been used by men and women all over the world, including Shawn Stevens, Certified Turbulence Trainer in Fenton, Michigan who said, "The TT Summit in San Diego was springboard into opening my own studio. My business is doing great. I am amazed at the support I get from TT. I enjoy being part of the TT family and connecting with Craig and other TT trainers. I get encouraged and inspired daily. Being a CTT rocks!"
Imagine being able to make a little extra money by taking your passion for health and fitness and training the people in your community to make them healthier and fitter. When they thank you with tears in their eyes, you'll experience one of the most rewarding feelings of your life. You have the chance to be a HERO. Yes, you. Here's how…
On June 5-6th we're holding our 5th annual Turbulence Training Summit – and my 40th Birthday Party! – in sunny San Diego, California.
This event changes hundreds of lives each year. Trainers come from all over the world, including as far as Australia, Malaysia, Japan, England, Ireland, South Korea, and even India. People make the journey to the TT Summi for one reason – because they want to be the Fitness Hero in their home city. They want to be the go-to guru that is famous for changing lives and making their city and community healthier, happier, and safer.
(Oh, and this year they'll get a piece of my birthday cake too! But don't worry, the incredible high-energy morning bootcamp with Todd Durkin will burn off those calories.)
If you've ever wanted to experience more joy and fulfillment from your work, even just in a few hours per week, this is the key to independence and happiness that you've been looking for. At the TT Summit we'll give you the complete Personal Trainer Start-Up Kit, along with everything you need to get your first clients and help change their lives.
In this article, you'll discover everything you need…
… to turn your passion for fitness into a flexible and fun career helping others lose weight and get healthy – while living the lifestyle you want.
You'll discover how to run your own transformation contests, fill up a fun-and-energetic fitness bootcamp, attract one-on-one personal training clients to earn you a little money on the side, and of course, how to create the best and most effective fat-burning workouts that take just a few minutes a day.
My gift to you is 40 years of knowledge learned at the school of Hard Knocks.
It's everything that I learned on my journey to becoming one of the most sought-after fat loss gurus in the world. Men's Health and Women's Health magazines have been tapping my brain for over 15 years, and now I'm ready to reveal everything (even giving you a few secrets that I'll never share with those big magazines no matter how much they try to pay me…some secrets are just for TT Family Members like you).
At the TT Summit you'll be surrounded by hundreds of other Fitness Ambassadors, all of them with incredibly inspirational transformation stories. You'll meet trainers like Katie O'Dwyer, CTT who just opened up her own studio in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Katie started out holding TT workouts in her church, and said, "I love challenges," O'Dwyer said. "This business is pushing me to constantly grow and learn. Anyone who is thinking about starting their own business should seek out mentors in the same field to help them gain insight."
That's exactly what you'll get at the TT Summit. In addition to training with and learning from me, you'll get to do morning bootcamp workouts with famous trainer, Todd Durkin, author of Men's Health's Impact Body Plan, and trainer to NFL players like Drew Brees.  
But it's not all about famous trainers. It's about being around people like yourself that just want to start off making a small difference in their community. You've learned the secrets to success and you can't help but wanting to share them with the world. Just listen to the story of 2014 TT Rookie Trainer of the Year, Nestor Flores, from Fresno, CA.
"Having been over 200 lbs at one point myself, I wanted more for myself and felt that personal training was what I was meant to do. But I had no idea how to actually train someone. I went online and found out that the owner of the website that had inspired me to follow my dreams, Early to Rise, was also a world renowned fat loss expert that offered a certification. That is how I was introduced to Craig Ballantyne and Turbulence Training."
"First I bought the Original Turbulence Training program and I knew if I could design similar workouts I would definitely stand out as a personal trainer. The Turbulence Training Summit was one of my highlights of 2014. Turbulence Training has taught me how to be a trainer, introduced me to a network of other highly successful trainers from around the world, provided me with the business guidance to start and grow my business, and has opened the doors to a future I never imagined possible. All things I would never receive from any other certification, or from my degree for that matter. Going to the TT Summit was the BEST decision I've ever made." – Nestor Flores, Fresno Fit Personal Training, 2014 TT Rookie Trainer of the Year
And being a trainer and hometown Fitness Hero is also something you can do part-time, even if you are one of the busiest folks in the world. Check out this story…
In just two years Ali Fox, CTT has transformed hundreds of lives…all while being a full time lawyer and mom of two young girls.  She'd spent the last 10 years climbing the corporate ladder, earning success, prestige and respect. But despite all that, something was missing in her life. While she had job security and a high paying job, she was missing passion, purpose and happiness in her life.
Two years ago she launched Ali Fox Transformations as a side business. With limited time (as you can imagine) she was still able to grow from 5 to 75 clients using the Turbulence Training workouts – and three of her clients have won $1000 Grand Prizes in the TT Contests. Turbulence Training also has inspired her to create Ali Fox Activewear built on the philosophy of creating confidence and a support network for active women. Ali is living proof that when you take action and follow your passion that anything is possible. She's following her dreams and has become the Fitness Hero in her community.
I could go on and on with dozens of other TT Trainer success stories, but we'll save that for the 5th TT Summit in June. It's going to be an amazing weekend, and you never know what will happen or who might show up.
Last year Master CTT Trainer Brian Kalakay proposed to his girlfriend (she said, Yes, of course!). Even my Mom is coming back to the TT Summit … after all, she can't miss my 40th Birthday Party and VIP reception (that YOU are also invited to attend at the Summit). And you'll get to hang out with my fitness friends, like Diana and Bedros Keuilian, Todd Durkin, Jason Ferruggia, Catherine Gordon, and many more.

Your Hero Journey Starts at the 5th TT Summit

Trainers that succeed understand the power of knowledge. They recognize the importance of making connections and learning from the best trainers in the world.
And that is what the TT Summit is all about. It's a life changing weekend that will skyrocket your future to levels you never thought were possible.
Plus...It's my BIG 4-0 Birthday Bash
I'm turning 40 this year and to celebrate we are throwing in some incredible bonuses for everyone that attends. These are exclusive Birthday Bonuses for TT Summit attendees and will NEVER be offered together again. After all, I only turn 40 once!

• Personal Trainer Start-Up Guide [Done for you Blueprint on how to start your personal training business in less than 90 days]
• Exclusive VIP Birthday Party  [Hang out with Craig, Bedros, Todd Durkin, and all our VIP Guests at this exclusive party]
• VIP Trainer Reception [Network and meet all of the 150 attendees on Friday night at our beautiful poolside location]
• Access to our new Metabolic Kick Starter Follow-Along Videos
• Access to Missi Holt's Restorative Yoga videos (coming soon)
• Exclusive TT Workout Programs [Get access to the latest TT workout programs and the science behind Turbulence Training]

If you want to join me and be a Hometown Fitness Hero, your journey begins at the 5th TT Summit. You'll change lives, build a nice little side business, and get the greatest reward of all – the Life of Your Dreams.
Click here to reserve your spot at the 5th TT Summit for my 40th Birthday!
Can't wait to see you there and share some of Diana Keuilian's amazing Gluten-free birthday cake with you...and maybe even Bally the Dog? (If he gets a passport, LOL.)
Here's to becoming the Fitness Hero in your community. Thank you for being an action taker and value adder. The world needs you now more than ever!

Stay Strong and Keep Pushing On,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

PS - Love this quote:

"People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." - Cavett Robert
Ain't that the #truth!


And as you get ready for next week, don't forget...


Make the best out of whatever situation you are in. You can't change the past. You can't control others. But you can control your future because you control how you respond to everything. You control your thoughts, words, and deeds. Make the right decisions, right now, for your right life. You can do it. This time it WILL happen. I believe in you. Keep going. And never, ever give up what really matters to YOU.
Join me at the TT Summit to get closer to your big goals and dreams in life
We'll celebrate your success and progress at the TT Summit soon. Stay strong!

TT Summit Invite for You!

This is the most important article I've ever written about YOU.
You've made it.
You've changed your life.
You've built incredible habits of health and fitness, you've overcome tremendous obstacles in your way, and you've discovered that weight loss and a healthy lifestyle don't require sacrifice and starvation. But people need your help. Will you answer the call?
Read this article about YOU and make your decision
I will show you exactly how to get started,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer

PS - My 'most important quote' ever...

Success is simple once you accept how difficult it will be.
Only when you accept how much effort, honesty, responsibility, planning, creativity, intensity, discipline, and control the process is going to take, will you make it. It is not easy, but it is simple.
You must follow the proven steps to success even though they take you on a hard, winding, uphill trek. Success is not going to happen overnight or come from any magic pill. Only once you accept these facts will you succeed.
Live by your personal rules and set up winning routines and good habits. Rely on your rules and less on willpower. Having your rules and taking personal responsibility for your situation in life are what separate the success stories from the wannabes.
It takes planning to stick to your dreams while others play and waste their lives, but that is your personal responsibility and a requirement for success.
Put more Structure into your life and you will win your Freedom. Structure = Freedom. It sounds weird, but trust me, it works. Stay strong and push on. You can do it. I believe in YOU!

Denver Squats

Great dinner at The Kitchen in Denver last night...fueled today's workout of Squats, Box Jumps, Good Mornings, and Front Squats.

Today's Kickbutt Mindset Tip:
Make the best out of whatever situation you are in. You can't change the past. You can't control others. But you can control your future because you control how you respond to everything. You control your thoughts, words, and deeds. Make the right decisions, right now, for your right life. You can do it. This time it WILL happen. I believe in you. Keep going. And never, ever give up what really matters to YOU.

Push on,

Craig Ballantyne, CTT