To follow up a little bit on this interval workout that I posted the other day, I got some, well, interesting responses...
They ranged from "yup, you're right, I hate you" to "I hope your house burns down!!" and finally my favorite "DIE MIKE!!!!!! DIE!!!!!!!"
Although they were all in fun (at least..I think they were), I'm glad people gave it a shot and will continue to make it part of their routine.
But don't think it gets any easier. I've been doing it now 2 times a week for the past 5 weeks and I still haven't gotten use to it.
Have a good weekend everyone.
www.leanbodyfitness.com
Friday, February 27, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
10 Things You Can Do to Enhance Fat Loss
Mike Roussell wrote up a short little report on ways that you can tweak your eating in order to get better fat loss results.
Take a read here and then follow the link in the article to download the free report.
www.leanbodyfitness.com
Take a read here and then follow the link in the article to download the free report.
www.leanbodyfitness.com
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
What is Eaten in One Week
This is an interesting photo slide show of what people around the world eat in a week and how much it costs.
It's really rather embarrassing what it shows for the United States (although the German one isn't all the great either)...
www.leanbodyfitness.com
It's really rather embarrassing what it shows for the United States (although the German one isn't all the great either)...
www.leanbodyfitness.com
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
7 Dont's of Exercise
This is a pretty good article on the don't of exercise and I agree with most of them. Although there is one I'm not in total agreement with.
This advice is the one I don't completely agree with. I agree with the part about finding a particular weight to lift and then progressively increasing from workout to workout. I don't agree that it's not good to go to failure. I don't think going to failure is good all the time but, I do think that lifting to the point that you just can't lift another repetition is good from time to time.
BUT, if you are doing an exercise like a squat, bench press, shoulder press, basically anything where the weight is above your body, make sure before you go to failure that you have a spotter.
www.leanbodyfitness.com
This advice is the one I don't completely agree with. I agree with the part about finding a particular weight to lift and then progressively increasing from workout to workout. I don't agree that it's not good to go to failure. I don't think going to failure is good all the time but, I do think that lifting to the point that you just can't lift another repetition is good from time to time.
BUT, if you are doing an exercise like a squat, bench press, shoulder press, basically anything where the weight is above your body, make sure before you go to failure that you have a spotter.
www.leanbodyfitness.com
Monday, February 23, 2009
The "I Hate Mike" Interval Workout
Back a couple of weeks ago in this post, I talked about how hard you should be going in your intervals. Basically, at your own subjective pace, you should be going hard enough to hate doing them.
Well over the last two weeks I've been trying out a new twist with a workout and I absolutely HATE them. I get nervous before doing them. The shoulders tense up. But, when I'm done with them, it's almost an immediate feel that I had one of the best workouts of my life.
This interval workout should take about 25 minutes to do and you'll need either a bike or a treadmill (treadmill is preferred).
What you're going to do is sprint (or pedal) at 90% of your max for 30 seconds, and then get off the bike or treadmill and do countdown pushups.
Let me explain what I call countdown pushups. You start by doing 10 pushups. Then you do 9 pushups, then you do 8 pushups, and so on until you do one pushup and then you're done.
You can do the pushups either the "normal" way with resting your body on your hands and the tips of your feet or, you can do them kneeling where you rest your body on your hands and knees. Regular pushups to easy for you? Then place your feet on some steps or a chair and do decline pushups.
After you're done with the pushups, you'll get back on the treadmill (or bike) and go at a slow pace for 90 seconds (well sort of, I'll explain).
So this is how the workout is going to go when on a treadmill:
0:00 - 2:15 - slow walk
2:15 - 2:35 - faster walk
2:35 - 2:50 - jog
2:50 - push the speed to your sprint level
3:00 - all out sprint
3:30 - press stop button and get off and do 10 pushups
After the 10 pushups, get back on the treadmill:
3:30 - 4:15 - slow walk
4:15 - 4:35 - faster walk
4:35 - 4:50 - jog
4:50 - push the speed level to your sprint level
5:00 - all out sprint
5:30 - press stop button and get off and do 9 pushups
Continue doing this countdown until you've done 1 pushup and then you're done.
Try this out a couple days a week to start.
Now, if you want to change it up and include something other than pushups, go ahead and try it with an inverted row (if you have a squat rack or something you can horizontally pull yourself towards).
Here's how you should look before and after the lift. This would be the beginner variation:
Notice that my hands are in an underhand grip (palms facing towards me).
Here's what you should look like during the lift:
Notice how the center of my body stays in a straight line. In other words, no slouching.....
If that's too easy, try it while resting on the heels of your feet:
Before and After:
During:
And finally, if you want to get more difficult, prop your feet up on a chair or another bench.
Before and After:
During:
Wanna really be a stud? Use pull-ups...
If you've got any questions or if you try it out and want to let me know how it went, drop me an e-mail at mike@leanbodyfitness.com
www.leanbodyfitness.com
Well over the last two weeks I've been trying out a new twist with a workout and I absolutely HATE them. I get nervous before doing them. The shoulders tense up. But, when I'm done with them, it's almost an immediate feel that I had one of the best workouts of my life.
This interval workout should take about 25 minutes to do and you'll need either a bike or a treadmill (treadmill is preferred).
What you're going to do is sprint (or pedal) at 90% of your max for 30 seconds, and then get off the bike or treadmill and do countdown pushups.
Let me explain what I call countdown pushups. You start by doing 10 pushups. Then you do 9 pushups, then you do 8 pushups, and so on until you do one pushup and then you're done.
You can do the pushups either the "normal" way with resting your body on your hands and the tips of your feet or, you can do them kneeling where you rest your body on your hands and knees. Regular pushups to easy for you? Then place your feet on some steps or a chair and do decline pushups.
After you're done with the pushups, you'll get back on the treadmill (or bike) and go at a slow pace for 90 seconds (well sort of, I'll explain).
So this is how the workout is going to go when on a treadmill:
0:00 - 2:15 - slow walk
2:15 - 2:35 - faster walk
2:35 - 2:50 - jog
2:50 - push the speed to your sprint level
3:00 - all out sprint
3:30 - press stop button and get off and do 10 pushups
After the 10 pushups, get back on the treadmill:
3:30 - 4:15 - slow walk
4:15 - 4:35 - faster walk
4:35 - 4:50 - jog
4:50 - push the speed level to your sprint level
5:00 - all out sprint
5:30 - press stop button and get off and do 9 pushups
Continue doing this countdown until you've done 1 pushup and then you're done.
Try this out a couple days a week to start.
Now, if you want to change it up and include something other than pushups, go ahead and try it with an inverted row (if you have a squat rack or something you can horizontally pull yourself towards).
Here's how you should look before and after the lift. This would be the beginner variation:
Notice that my hands are in an underhand grip (palms facing towards me).
Here's what you should look like during the lift:
Notice how the center of my body stays in a straight line. In other words, no slouching.....
If that's too easy, try it while resting on the heels of your feet:
Before and After:
During:
And finally, if you want to get more difficult, prop your feet up on a chair or another bench.
Before and After:
During:
Wanna really be a stud? Use pull-ups...
If you've got any questions or if you try it out and want to let me know how it went, drop me an e-mail at mike@leanbodyfitness.com
www.leanbodyfitness.com
Friday, February 20, 2009
Obesity in the Military
This article shouldn't surprise anyone but, it should alarm us all.
Some stats from the article:
I guess the question that pops in my head is whether the soldiers while in the military are getting more "out of proportion", or has the military been taking people in that are overweight from the start that they wouldn't normally take in because they are overweight? If they are taking people in now that they normally wouldn't normally recruit in the past due to being overweight, why the new lax in policy?
But this really is the trend around the country in almost anything really. I would bet the number of overweight accountants and lawyers is probably up over the last number of years as well.
CHECK BACK MONDAY
Monday I'm going to have a write up on a workout that I've been experimenting with. So make sure to check back then and take a look.
Have a good weekend.
www.leanbodyfitness.com
Some stats from the article:
In 1998, the number of military personnel diagnosed overweight or obese stood at 25,652, or 1.6 percent of the entire armed forces. In 2003, it increased to 34,333 (2.1 percent), and from then to 2008 the number doubled to 68,786 (4.4 percent of the total).
I guess the question that pops in my head is whether the soldiers while in the military are getting more "out of proportion", or has the military been taking people in that are overweight from the start that they wouldn't normally take in because they are overweight? If they are taking people in now that they normally wouldn't normally recruit in the past due to being overweight, why the new lax in policy?
But this really is the trend around the country in almost anything really. I would bet the number of overweight accountants and lawyers is probably up over the last number of years as well.
CHECK BACK MONDAY
Monday I'm going to have a write up on a workout that I've been experimenting with. So make sure to check back then and take a look.
Have a good weekend.
www.leanbodyfitness.com
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Exercising While Beating a Ball
I don't get it and I'm going to go on a rant so hold on.
This article talks about some new classes being offered that consists of doing movements with a stability ball, that includes....beating it with sticks like you're Nikki Sixx.
It just amazes me that it seems that every time a workout comes out to try and "trick" people into thinking they're exercising, the fad falls away and then something new comes out that is even less effective yet gets all kinds of praise because it's again, trying to get people to exercise without them thinking they're actually exercising.
From the article:
Forced? This is what the state of health and fitness are coming to in America? We have to come up with non-mechanical, non-efficient means of exercise to supposedly get in shape but not feel FORCED to do it?
Another quote:
Completely incorrect. The same motion every day IS effective, as long as you continue to increase the INTENSITY that you're using in that movement. How exactly are they adding resistance to a drumstick pounding on a ball? Are they making them do it while standing on one leg in an isometric lunge? I'm guessing if they did, the class would fall flat on it's face because then people would think "oh geez, I can't do that! That would be exercise!"
Exercise. Get it through your head. You want results, then exercise, sweat, complain, hate it. Then you'll get the results that you want.
End rant.
www.leanbodyfitness.com
This article talks about some new classes being offered that consists of doing movements with a stability ball, that includes....beating it with sticks like you're Nikki Sixx.
It just amazes me that it seems that every time a workout comes out to try and "trick" people into thinking they're exercising, the fad falls away and then something new comes out that is even less effective yet gets all kinds of praise because it's again, trying to get people to exercise without them thinking they're actually exercising.
From the article:
Classes like "Sweat the Rhythm" force people to use different muscle groups without feeling like they're being forced.
Forced? This is what the state of health and fitness are coming to in America? We have to come up with non-mechanical, non-efficient means of exercise to supposedly get in shape but not feel FORCED to do it?
Another quote:
Raptis adds that "the same motion every day isn't effective. You need variety and movement."
Completely incorrect. The same motion every day IS effective, as long as you continue to increase the INTENSITY that you're using in that movement. How exactly are they adding resistance to a drumstick pounding on a ball? Are they making them do it while standing on one leg in an isometric lunge? I'm guessing if they did, the class would fall flat on it's face because then people would think "oh geez, I can't do that! That would be exercise!"
Exercise. Get it through your head. You want results, then exercise, sweat, complain, hate it. Then you'll get the results that you want.
End rant.
www.leanbodyfitness.com
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Intervals Catching On
Intervals are even catching on in mainstream media sources such as Self magazine.
In this article they talk about intervals and even give a sample routine:
Give it a shot to switch up your routine a little bit.
NEXT WEEK
Speaking of a new interval routine, make sure to come back here next Monday, February 23, 2009 for a post that I'm planning on a new interval workout I've been working. I think you're going to hate it.
www.leanbodyfitness.com
In this article they talk about intervals and even give a sample routine:
Hop on any cardio machine you like for the time allotted and the exertion level noted (1 is the easiest and 10 is next to impossible).
Warm up for 4 minutes at a level 3.
Sprint for 30 seconds at a level 7.
Recover for 90 seconds at a level 4.
Sprint for 30 seconds at a level 8.
Recover for 90 seconds at a level 4.
Sprint for 30 seconds at a level 9.
Recover for 30 seconds at a level 4.
Sprint for 30 seconds at a level 7.
Recover for 90 seconds at a level 4.
Sprint for 30 seconds at a level 8.
Recover for 90 seconds at a level 4.
Sprint for 30 seconds at a level 9.
Recover for 30 seconds at a level 4.
Sprint for 30 seconds at a level 7.
Cool down for 3 minutes, 30 seconds at level 3.
Give it a shot to switch up your routine a little bit.
NEXT WEEK
Speaking of a new interval routine, make sure to come back here next Monday, February 23, 2009 for a post that I'm planning on a new interval workout I've been working. I think you're going to hate it.
www.leanbodyfitness.com
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
7 Minutes of Exercise a Week
Some British researchers found that just working out 7 minutes a week can cause an improvement in how the body uses insulin to clear out blood sugar from the blood stream.
But the catch is that the 7 minutes had to be intense:
The volunteers did this for 2 weeks before getting tested again.
Although this is some good news, let's not get to excited. This study was only showing the effects of a small vigorous exercise routine on how insulin would react. This study doesn't say either way whether it had any effect on fat loss, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, etc.
It's a good place to start though. If we can get people to workout just 7 minutes a week to improve their insulin reactions, then we might be able to gradually get them up to working out even more for fat loss.
www.leanbodyfitness.com
But the catch is that the 7 minutes had to be intense:
The volunteers, who were relatively out of shape but otherwise healthy, rode an exercise bike four times daily in 30 second spurts two days a week.
The volunteers did this for 2 weeks before getting tested again.
Although this is some good news, let's not get to excited. This study was only showing the effects of a small vigorous exercise routine on how insulin would react. This study doesn't say either way whether it had any effect on fat loss, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, etc.
It's a good place to start though. If we can get people to workout just 7 minutes a week to improve their insulin reactions, then we might be able to gradually get them up to working out even more for fat loss.
www.leanbodyfitness.com
Monday, February 16, 2009
Pasta
Back in this post I gave a link on a blog post from Mike Roussell on coffee.
Take a look at this video where he gives some scoop on pasta.
As he mentions, I don't know how practical it was to have people running for one and a half and 3 hours straight. That just seems like torture to me and I'm not sure that the vast majority of people would even have time on a regular basis to do something like that.
But, I think the conclusions that those groups didn't put any fat on by eating the pasta compared to the sedentary group was interesting and helps with the argument that carbs aren't the culprit, fat instead the culprit, and protein isn't the culprit...the culprit in fat gain is eating more calories than what your body needs.
www.leanbodyfitness.com
Take a look at this video where he gives some scoop on pasta.
As he mentions, I don't know how practical it was to have people running for one and a half and 3 hours straight. That just seems like torture to me and I'm not sure that the vast majority of people would even have time on a regular basis to do something like that.
But, I think the conclusions that those groups didn't put any fat on by eating the pasta compared to the sedentary group was interesting and helps with the argument that carbs aren't the culprit, fat instead the culprit, and protein isn't the culprit...the culprit in fat gain is eating more calories than what your body needs.
www.leanbodyfitness.com
Friday, February 13, 2009
My Shopping List
I was out doing my grocery shopping yesterday and decide it might be a good idea to blog what my list of food was for the week. So here it is:
12 apples
7 bananas
7 oranges
3 cucumbers
1 can of tuna
package of string cheese
green tea
brown rice
liter bottle of water
1 dozen eggs
2 tubs of cottage cheese
7 yogurts (all natural)
12 pack of diet cherry coke
1 package of frozen broccoli
1 package of frozen carrots
1 package of multi-grain soft tortilla shells
2% milk
I know you're probably wondering (or at least you SHOULD be wondering) where the main protein is at. I buy chicken breasts in bulk as well as salmon so, those aren't part of the normal weekly list.
But this list above pretty much covers what my eating looks like over the course of a week. Some may say boring. And true, I guess it is. But, eating like this is what gets results. So pull this post up the next time you head to the grocery store and add some of these to your list.
Have a nice weekend.
www.leanbodyfitness.com
12 apples
7 bananas
7 oranges
3 cucumbers
1 can of tuna
package of string cheese
green tea
brown rice
liter bottle of water
1 dozen eggs
2 tubs of cottage cheese
7 yogurts (all natural)
12 pack of diet cherry coke
1 package of frozen broccoli
1 package of frozen carrots
1 package of multi-grain soft tortilla shells
2% milk
I know you're probably wondering (or at least you SHOULD be wondering) where the main protein is at. I buy chicken breasts in bulk as well as salmon so, those aren't part of the normal weekly list.
But this list above pretty much covers what my eating looks like over the course of a week. Some may say boring. And true, I guess it is. But, eating like this is what gets results. So pull this post up the next time you head to the grocery store and add some of these to your list.
Have a nice weekend.
www.leanbodyfitness.com
Thursday, February 12, 2009
The Mental Part of Fitness
So I've been thinking lately about motivation when it comes to losing weight.
I had always had this breakdown in my head as to what percentage of the parts are needed for successful fat loss.
I had always said that 75% of it is eating healthy, and the other 25% is split down the middle between the workouts and motivation/drive/desire/focus, the whole mental aspect of it.
But lately i've changed my mind and was talking to a client about it today and thought I'd blog about it.
I think 90% of pie when it comes to reaching your fat loss goals is mental.
I've tried out a lot of workouts and diets out there. And you know what? They all work in some way. Maybe i didn't get the exact results that was claimed for the program but, they worked. They worked because....I stuck with them. I have the discipline and the focus to say "okay, sure, i'll try this diet and/or workout for 6-8 weeks and see how it goes." For me, that's easy. I've trained myself to be that way. I lived my life for a number of years with the drive and desire to reach various health and fitness goals. It's a complete focus.
But, obviously with the number of overweight and obese people growing in this country (and the world for that matter), most people do not have that ability to truly dedicate themselves 100% to a plan and stick with it.
Maybe that's where you start with trying to solve this problem then. Focus on why people lose interest so quickly and then figure out methods of motivation to keep people focused.
When I come up with that solution, you'll be the first to read it (although you might have to buy it in paperback).
www.leanbodyfitness.com
I had always had this breakdown in my head as to what percentage of the parts are needed for successful fat loss.
I had always said that 75% of it is eating healthy, and the other 25% is split down the middle between the workouts and motivation/drive/desire/focus, the whole mental aspect of it.
But lately i've changed my mind and was talking to a client about it today and thought I'd blog about it.
I think 90% of pie when it comes to reaching your fat loss goals is mental.
I've tried out a lot of workouts and diets out there. And you know what? They all work in some way. Maybe i didn't get the exact results that was claimed for the program but, they worked. They worked because....I stuck with them. I have the discipline and the focus to say "okay, sure, i'll try this diet and/or workout for 6-8 weeks and see how it goes." For me, that's easy. I've trained myself to be that way. I lived my life for a number of years with the drive and desire to reach various health and fitness goals. It's a complete focus.
But, obviously with the number of overweight and obese people growing in this country (and the world for that matter), most people do not have that ability to truly dedicate themselves 100% to a plan and stick with it.
Maybe that's where you start with trying to solve this problem then. Focus on why people lose interest so quickly and then figure out methods of motivation to keep people focused.
When I come up with that solution, you'll be the first to read it (although you might have to buy it in paperback).
www.leanbodyfitness.com
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Lee Goes Off
Ya, I know, two posts in one day. What is this world coming to..
I had to post this though as it's a little bit of a follow up on my piece yesterday about A-Rod and steriods.
Lee Taft in his blog yesterday went off on a rant that I think bring up some great points. Take a read here.
www.leanbodyfitness.com
I had to post this though as it's a little bit of a follow up on my piece yesterday about A-Rod and steriods.
Lee Taft in his blog yesterday went off on a rant that I think bring up some great points. Take a read here.
www.leanbodyfitness.com
Bad Health Foods
How many times did you have to read that title before you actually figured it out?
A lot of food companies out there are trying to make their food sound healthy on the front of the package by using words like "low fat!" or "multi-grain" but then upon further investigation, they are telling the entire truth.
This article gives some examples of the worst offenders of trying to portray healthy food.
Remember, read the ingredients part of the package. If you see the words (High Fructose Corn Syrup, anything hydrogenated, or it claims to be whole grain but doesn't list "whole grain flour" anywhere in there, then put it back on the shelf.
www.leanbodyfitness.com
A lot of food companies out there are trying to make their food sound healthy on the front of the package by using words like "low fat!" or "multi-grain" but then upon further investigation, they are telling the entire truth.
This article gives some examples of the worst offenders of trying to portray healthy food.
Remember, read the ingredients part of the package. If you see the words (High Fructose Corn Syrup, anything hydrogenated, or it claims to be whole grain but doesn't list "whole grain flour" anywhere in there, then put it back on the shelf.
www.leanbodyfitness.com
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
A-RoidGate
I had something else all set up to talk about today but, I needed to put in a few things about my favorite sport, baseball.
If you haven't heard, Sports Illustrated has reported that Alex Rodriguez (A-Rod) tested positive for steroids during the 2003 baseball season, which is also the year he was awarded the American League Most Valuable Player.
Yesterday he came out and admitted it.
One part of me doesn't feel sorry for him for the bumps on his head that he's going to take the rest of his career. It was a bad move, a bad example to young kids, and overall puts a cloud over the entire sport.
But, on the other hand, I can't help but blame the fans. Let me explain.
Back in 1994, baseball had a strike. Fans tended to look at the strike as a bunch of whiny millionaire baseball players wanting more. So attendance when the strike was over was off the high mark of the 1990s after the 1993 season.
Attendance starting shooting up again in 1998. Why then? That's when there was the big home run race between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa.
Turns out, McGwire and Sosa are under (and always will be) suspicion for doing roids during that 1998 baseball season (although they deny it).
So although everyone in hindsight (players, the player's union, owners, managers, and, the fans) are ripping these guys for using steroids, the reality is that the Home Run race of 1998 is what brought fans back to the ballparks. Fans were still disgruntled about the strike years earlier but became fascinated with two guy trying to break a record that is considered one of the most sacred in sports.
I think it would be naive to think the owners, managers, and heads of Major League Baseball didn't know what was going on. But why would they blow the whistle when paying customers starting walking through the gates again?
In the end, it's a clear example of the saying "It's easier to beg for forgiveness then ask for permission." Fans want to be entertained. And baseball had a huge image problem after the strike and needed something to get people back in the seats.
I'm not suggesting in any way that taking steroids is appropriate. Absolutely not. If anything it should show the young people out there that no matter how sneaky you're trying to cheat in a game (and taking steroids IS cheating), at some point it's going to come back to haunt you.
How will A-RodGate affect baseball going forward? Who knows. But if I had to guess, people (like myself) will still file through those gates to watch the game they love.
Back to normal fitness blogging tomorrow for those that don't give a crap about baseball.
www.leanbodyfitness.com
If you haven't heard, Sports Illustrated has reported that Alex Rodriguez (A-Rod) tested positive for steroids during the 2003 baseball season, which is also the year he was awarded the American League Most Valuable Player.
Yesterday he came out and admitted it.
One part of me doesn't feel sorry for him for the bumps on his head that he's going to take the rest of his career. It was a bad move, a bad example to young kids, and overall puts a cloud over the entire sport.
But, on the other hand, I can't help but blame the fans. Let me explain.
Back in 1994, baseball had a strike. Fans tended to look at the strike as a bunch of whiny millionaire baseball players wanting more. So attendance when the strike was over was off the high mark of the 1990s after the 1993 season.
Attendance starting shooting up again in 1998. Why then? That's when there was the big home run race between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa.
Turns out, McGwire and Sosa are under (and always will be) suspicion for doing roids during that 1998 baseball season (although they deny it).
So although everyone in hindsight (players, the player's union, owners, managers, and, the fans) are ripping these guys for using steroids, the reality is that the Home Run race of 1998 is what brought fans back to the ballparks. Fans were still disgruntled about the strike years earlier but became fascinated with two guy trying to break a record that is considered one of the most sacred in sports.
I think it would be naive to think the owners, managers, and heads of Major League Baseball didn't know what was going on. But why would they blow the whistle when paying customers starting walking through the gates again?
In the end, it's a clear example of the saying "It's easier to beg for forgiveness then ask for permission." Fans want to be entertained. And baseball had a huge image problem after the strike and needed something to get people back in the seats.
I'm not suggesting in any way that taking steroids is appropriate. Absolutely not. If anything it should show the young people out there that no matter how sneaky you're trying to cheat in a game (and taking steroids IS cheating), at some point it's going to come back to haunt you.
How will A-RodGate affect baseball going forward? Who knows. But if I had to guess, people (like myself) will still file through those gates to watch the game they love.
Back to normal fitness blogging tomorrow for those that don't give a crap about baseball.
www.leanbodyfitness.com
Monday, February 9, 2009
The next twist about coffee
It seems a day doesn't go by without something new coming out asking whether coffee is good, bad, or indifferent. I'm still not quite sure but, I'm open to reading on all sides of the argument.
Mike Roussell's a pretty smart guy that wrote up a nice little summary of some of the findings here on his Naked Nutrition blog (WARNING: don't google "naked nutrition" at work or if your kids are in the room as you might find yourself staring at some search results that will open your eyes wider than that morning cup of joe...) on the benefits of drinking coffee.
But, if I have to throw my two cents into the debate....keep the intake moderate.
www.leanbodyfitness.com
Mike Roussell's a pretty smart guy that wrote up a nice little summary of some of the findings here on his Naked Nutrition blog (WARNING: don't google "naked nutrition" at work or if your kids are in the room as you might find yourself staring at some search results that will open your eyes wider than that morning cup of joe...) on the benefits of drinking coffee.
But, if I have to throw my two cents into the debate....keep the intake moderate.
www.leanbodyfitness.com
Thursday, February 5, 2009
The Skinny on the Wii Fit
I'll admit that I'm not one of the biggest tech geek (I'm still confused on what kind of iPod I should buy) but i have seen the big craze that seems to have hit the world and that is the Nintendo Wii. Along with the Wii, there's a "game" called the Wii Fit (Sorry, I know I sound like I'm explaining this to people that don't know this but it's really more of an explanation for myself for future reference...).
This article goes through and talks about how basically, it's not really working on getting people and families fit, although there's a study being conducted to verify whether that's actually the case.
But here's my favorite line of the article:
Why is that so "disingenuous?" If anything, that's the genius of it. People buy something fitness related, use it two times, and then lose interest. That's what 90% of the market is all about. Think of all the treadmills out there sitting in people's homes that have been used a half dozen times, and now it's used as a tool to hang clothes.
The vast majority of fitness plans, diet plans, fitness equipment, are designed to fail (well, except mine of course...).
There's nothing disingenuous about it, it's just what the vast majority of the industry is designed around.
LOOKING FORWARD
Right now I'm trying out a new interval workout that I built and so far, I'm hating it (read this post to understand what i mean by that..). So keep an eye out in the next few weeks for me to talk about it and lay out exactly what I'm doing.
Everyone have a nice weekend!
www.leanbodyfitness.com
This article goes through and talks about how basically, it's not really working on getting people and families fit, although there's a study being conducted to verify whether that's actually the case.
But here's my favorite line of the article:
Still, it seems a little disingenuous for Nintendo to heavily market a fitness tool that's sitting in more than a million American living rooms collecting dust.
Why is that so "disingenuous?" If anything, that's the genius of it. People buy something fitness related, use it two times, and then lose interest. That's what 90% of the market is all about. Think of all the treadmills out there sitting in people's homes that have been used a half dozen times, and now it's used as a tool to hang clothes.
The vast majority of fitness plans, diet plans, fitness equipment, are designed to fail (well, except mine of course...).
There's nothing disingenuous about it, it's just what the vast majority of the industry is designed around.
LOOKING FORWARD
Right now I'm trying out a new interval workout that I built and so far, I'm hating it (read this post to understand what i mean by that..). So keep an eye out in the next few weeks for me to talk about it and lay out exactly what I'm doing.
Everyone have a nice weekend!
www.leanbodyfitness.com
Why You Should Hate Intervals
I get questions a lot asking how fast should you begin running, cycling, etc., on the high part of an interval.
Just to recap on what intervals are and why they are so important for fat loss, here was Part I, Part II, and Part III of a series I did a long time ago in a galaxy far far away...
The simple answer is this: as hard as you can. Pretend someone is chasing you...with a knife....up the stairs...you fall and get back up....then you turn around and ask "What do you want??!!" Oh, sorry, that was just the theme to about 1,532 horror movies out there...
But seriously, it's about running for your life.
When I talk to people that have done these kind of workouts after I explain them, I ask how they liked it and the normal answer I get is "I like them." Unfortunately, that's the wrong answer. You should not like intervals. Remember this statement: If you don't hate intervals, then you're not doing them right. You need to hate them. You need to look at that treadmill before you get on it and the hair should stand up on your arm.
But realize, THEY WORK. You will hate them, but you will love the results you get by hating them.
www.leanbodyfitness.com
Just to recap on what intervals are and why they are so important for fat loss, here was Part I, Part II, and Part III of a series I did a long time ago in a galaxy far far away...
The simple answer is this: as hard as you can. Pretend someone is chasing you...with a knife....up the stairs...you fall and get back up....then you turn around and ask "What do you want??!!" Oh, sorry, that was just the theme to about 1,532 horror movies out there...
But seriously, it's about running for your life.
When I talk to people that have done these kind of workouts after I explain them, I ask how they liked it and the normal answer I get is "I like them." Unfortunately, that's the wrong answer. You should not like intervals. Remember this statement: If you don't hate intervals, then you're not doing them right. You need to hate them. You need to look at that treadmill before you get on it and the hair should stand up on your arm.
But realize, THEY WORK. You will hate them, but you will love the results you get by hating them.
www.leanbodyfitness.com
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Now the 20 Most Unhealthiest Drinks
Poor Baskin Robbins. First they get the top spot for having the worst food in America that I posted here the other day, and now they get the worst rated drink in America in this article.
I guess I've been out of the loop for awhile in the "normal unhealthy" food world but, I didn't even know they made some of those things in that list.
So I'm going to be mister obvious here....if you want to lose weight....don't eat or drink anything on those two lists....Ya, I know....It doesn't take a CSCS to figure that out.
www.leanbodyfitness.com
I guess I've been out of the loop for awhile in the "normal unhealthy" food world but, I didn't even know they made some of those things in that list.
So I'm going to be mister obvious here....if you want to lose weight....don't eat or drink anything on those two lists....Ya, I know....It doesn't take a CSCS to figure that out.
www.leanbodyfitness.com
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
What Kind of Class do YOU want?
So I'm doing some major revamps of my fitness business this year and have a TON of ideas of the kinds of group classes that I can offer. But, why should I do all the thinking? YOU know what kind of class you'd like so let's hear it.
Maybe you and some of your co-workers have an interest in fitness but don't know where to start and you'd like for there to be a class right there on your worksite.
Maybe you're going to have a baby (or you just had one) and you'd like to do your best to stay in shape while pregnant (or lose those pounds after you have the baby).
Maybe you have kids that aren't the most active and you'd like for them to get into some kind of fitness routine to get them away from that Xbox.
There's really an infinite number of options out there and with the economic hard times that are upon us, it doesn't have to be expensive.
So go ahead and shoot me an e-mail at mike@leanbodyfitness.com and let me know a suggestion on what you think I can offer you to help you with your fitness goals.
www.leanbodyfitness.com
Maybe you and some of your co-workers have an interest in fitness but don't know where to start and you'd like for there to be a class right there on your worksite.
Maybe you're going to have a baby (or you just had one) and you'd like to do your best to stay in shape while pregnant (or lose those pounds after you have the baby).
Maybe you have kids that aren't the most active and you'd like for them to get into some kind of fitness routine to get them away from that Xbox.
There's really an infinite number of options out there and with the economic hard times that are upon us, it doesn't have to be expensive.
So go ahead and shoot me an e-mail at mike@leanbodyfitness.com and let me know a suggestion on what you think I can offer you to help you with your fitness goals.
www.leanbodyfitness.com
Monday, February 2, 2009
20 Worst Foods in America
This article has some of the most disgusting sounding foods I think I've ever read about. Okay sure, maybe there's a large chuck (no pun intended) of the population that is drooling over it, but, look at those calories...especially the #1 worst food in America.
www.leanbodyfitness.com
www.leanbodyfitness.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
