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Sunday, October 24, 2010

Quote from Mark Bradley writer for the AJC

I know, I know. The Gators had a week off and Urban Meyer is too clever not to think of something. But the Urbanator has had a while now to get this offense going, and he hasn’t yet. And here’s what I know: Georgia will go to Jacksonville:

• With the better quarterback.

• With the better offense.

• With the better running game.

• Having won three in a row, as opposed to losing three in a row, which is what Florida has done.

I’m aware that Georgia’s three victories have come against three mediocrities, whereas the Gators have lost to Alabama, LSU and Mississippi State — all of which are ensconced in the Top 25. I really don’t care. I like the way Georgia is playing. I don’t think anybody likes the way Florida is playing.

Monday, August 9, 2010

August 9 2010

Last night we decided I will in fact be competing in the NPC AL State Championship. It had been my goal all along but I got side tracked a bit competing in the Power Shack Classic.

I thought that was a freaking disaster but after a conversation with Mike Horn who was judging the event I realized two things.

(1) Just as I had planned the Biloxi event was a trail run and I had no illusions of actually winning my class. I went there to get up in front of judges and practice my presentation. As Mike pointed out, it was a good move since there were 2 national judges working the event, so I got some face time with judges that will be at the national show in July.

(2) My weakness is the obvious lack of density in my lower quads but more importantly my conditioning is just not anywhere near what it needs to be. I need to focus on getting all the bodyfat off not just low.

So here we go,with 3 weeks to prepare, I think I can tighten up in time to make a good showing at the State and maybe if all the stars align right finally pull off a class victory.

Been really focusing on legs and have split them into 3 days a week, Monday - quads, Wednesday - Hams and then either Friday or Saturday hitting quads again. Today was a great quad day and I made some major strides in my form while squatting. Getting lower in depth than I ever had before so I feel good about my progress. Squatted in combat boots for the first time today and they definitely help stabilise the ankles when the weight gets heavier, Got some strange looks from the civilians but who cares as long as I'm getting it done.

Until next time

Peace and Stay Strong


Friday, August 6, 2010

Incorporating cardio into your training while developing lean muscle

Cardio:

  • HIIT = High Intensity Interval Training aka Hellish Insane Idiotic Torture
  • Steady State = Working up to your target heart rate and maintaining it for a sustained period of time
  • Fasting Steady State is the best for burning body fat
  • HIIT is less time consuming

First, finding your heart rates:

Target heart rate (THR). In general terms, your THR is 60-80% of your maximum heart rate. The Karvonen Method of calculating THR is one of the most effective methods to determine target heart rate because it takes into account resting heart rate. Here's how to find your THR.

  1. 1. Find your resting heart rate as soon as you wake up. You can do this by counting your pulse for one minute while still in bed. You may average your heart rate over three mornings to obtain your average resting heart rate (RHR). Add the three readings together, and divide that number by three to get the RHR. For example,
(76 + 80 + 78) / 3= 78.


  1. 2. Find your maximum heart rate and heart rate reserve.

Subtract your age from 220. This is your maximum heart rate (HRmax). For example, the HRmax for a 24-year-old would be: 220 - 24 = 196.

Subtract your RHR from your HRmax. This is your heart rate reserve (HRmaxRESERVE). For example, HRmaxRESERVE = 196 - 78 = 118

3. Calculate the lower limit of your THR. Figure 60% of the HRmaxRESERVE (multiply by 0.6) and add your RHR to the answer. For example,

(118 * 0.6) + 78 = 149.

4. Calculate the upper limit of your THR. Figure 80% of the HRmaxRESERVE (multiply by 0.8) and add your RHR to the answer. For example,

(118 * 0.8) + 78 = 172.

5. Combine the values obtained in steps 3 and 4 and divide by the number 2. For example, (149 + 172) / 2 = 161
(You can get the same result by simply multiplying HRmaxRESERVE by 0.7 and adding to it RHR).

Here's a simple HIIT scheme. Choose your weapon (spinner, treadmill, climber, outdoor jog and run) and plan on twelve minutes of output. Start an easy warm up for four minutes, stepping it up comfortably as the minutes progress. You should now be in your THR, now blast it (get into your HR Max) for thirty seconds and back off for thirty seconds, blast it for thirty and back off for thirty. Repeat this thirty-thirty interval for a total of six sets, that is, six minutes. The final two minutes are committed to a gradual decrease in intensity and cooling off.

Incorporating your cardio into your training with the proper timing is CRUCIAL. If you do too much or at the wrong time you are wasting your efforts in your training and will not realize maximum gains and over train. Overtraining will result in a flat and stringy physique.

Typical Muscle Gain Training Split incorporated with fat burner cardio training:

  • Quads NO CARDIO
  • Arm Day Fasting HIIT
  • Rest Day Fasting Steady State Cardio – if you are behind in the BF war, do another Steady State session later in the day
  • Back Day Post Training HIIT
  • Hams Day Post Training Steady State Cardio – mild intensity and length walking outdoors recommended
  • Weekends Optional Steady State

This is my recommendation for cardio while developing lean muscle. If you have BF (bodyfat)issues, then use fasting cardio every day until it is under control. However you need to discuss this with me before hand. This is extreme and dangerous if not handled properly and will burn up any lean leg muscle you have developed.

It is crucial not to over train if trying to develop great legs. Can’t emphasis this enough. Also carbs must be eaten to fill out muscle bellies and help burn body fat.

Peace and Stay Strong!

Saturday, July 24, 2010

July 23rd 8 days out Biloxi

Started off with a 27 mile cycling cardio. Then got in my oats and the "Lisa Special" morning protein shake, which is: 1 1/2 cups egg whites, 1 c raw spinach and 6 strawberries. Also had a chicken breast and a half of pot of coffee.

Hit the gym after a couple more meals and pounding down a gallon of water and posing practice.
Worked on chest (felt strong surprisingly) delts, lower back and 1 hour of cardio. The cardio nearly killed me: 20 min on level 9 stair step, 20 min on level 5 stair step and 20 min on treadmill. My energy level was def in the tank! Lisa wanted me to go do the chicken and egg white shopping but luckily for me, called me off at the last minute... Thank God, I did not want to deal with anyone in my state! Just need to go lie down....ha!

Got home and iced my knees and drank more water and posed alittle more. Everything is going as planned except for the lower back, I have been killing it and it won't move! In the morning tight, at night looks like shit! I hope that's just water!

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

17 days out from Biloxi

I'll start a bit of a journal here to establish what I'm doing with my prep for this upcoming show.

Just a little bit first of what has transpired to get me to this point. My contest goal this year was Steel World, and then the Master's Nationals in Pittsburgh July 22nd. But due to some financial contraints which just seem to keep perpetuating itself, Pittsburgh is no longer in the plans. So we picked the Alabama State for the "biggie" to do this year. The guy that won my class there last year was phenomenal so I am sure this will be a big challenge for me.

So got Steel World behind me and that was a learning curve that I must say I didn't particularly enjoy! I was in real good condition on Thursday before the show on Saturday. And then something went wrong. One thing I have learned about bodybuilding competitions is that until you have a lot of experience determining what prep techniques work best for you in particular, it is a crap shoot at best. I took my shot and missed! I must have missed timed the carbs, water, sodium or all of the above. But I learned from it. Documented everything I did in my journal and now I have a different plan! Who knows if it will work. Getting ready to find out the hard way.

So I started my 8 week prep for the AL State and in the middle of the prep, got offered a small sponsorship to do a show in Biloxi which just so happens to hit right smack in the middle of the 8 week prep. Not good! At first I balked and said that's just stupid! Then after reflecting a bit, the reality is someone just offered to pay for my expensive hobby! On second thought, yeah lets do this! So with only 4 weeks to prepare I am off to making it happen, right or wrong.

I'm at 17 days out as the title say now and I'm really paying catch up. When you are on a 8 week prep and you switch to a 4 week prep you better be in condition already and I wasn't bad at 4 weeks but not hard either. Now I've been crushing the training as I always do. But that's not the hard part. The hard part is to keep training like a mad man but cut your calories in half and start doing 1-2 hours of cardio a day in addition to what you were already doing!

So that gets you caught up to where we are today. Today's menu consisted of 50 grams of carbs, 400 grams of protein, 10 grams of fat and hopefully 2 gallons of water (days not over ) 1 1/2 hour cycling this morning, 2 hours in the gym working on arms, calves, glutes and lower back. And somehow I'm going to get my tired ass on the treadmill for another hour before bedtime.

My biggest assests are my arms and back. My biggest weakness are lack of hardness in my lower back, hamstring/glute tie-ins and lack of thickness in my legs. Nothing I can do about the legs but to keep pounding them hard with squats and lunges of all kinds. But I can work on getting them more separated for the show so that's where my focus is on legs: lots of BW single leg squats. Painful shit for sure but it works.

I've also incorporated some circuits that one of my friends showed me to help with the lower back, glute, hamstring areas and that seems to working as well. Circuit consists of glute machine with lots of weight and lots of reps, then reverse hyper extensions twisting at the top, then reverse kickbacks done on the roman chair. This will fry your lower back real quick. And if you want a hard ass, try this out!

Had some setbacks lately that just make me even more stubborn and willful which is a good thing when you are prepping for a show because your mind is all over the place when your carb depleting so any mental toughness you can muster, the better off you will be. Nothing earth shattering but envolved people that I depended on that for some odd reasons beyond my control just vanished or played stupid games that I have no patience for. Whatever, it's all good. I always said, only worry about the things that you can directly control. Fuck everything else. That's their problem.

Today weighed in at 204, one pound heavier than yesterday which I think is a good thing considering I had a great quad session yesterday. Maybe I picked up a half a pound of muscle? One can only hope! Until next time....Stay Strong!

Friday, July 2, 2010

BodyBuilding/Strength Training Glossary

Abduction - Movement of a limb away from middle of body, such as bringing arm to shoulder height from hanging-down position. (Refer to Hip Abduction Machine for Hamstrings.)

Abs - Abbreviation for abdominal muscles.

Adduction - Movement of a limb toward middle of body, such as bringing arm to side from extended position at shoulder. (Refer to Hip Abduction Machine for Hamstrings.)

Amino acids - A group of compounds that serve as the building blocks from which protein and muscle are made.

Anaerobic Exercise - Exercise of much higher intensity than aerobic work, which uses up oxygen more quickly than the body can replenish it in the working muscles. Anaerobic exercise eventually builds up a significant oxygen debt that forces an athlete to terminate the exercise session rather quickly. Anaerobic exercise (the kind of exercise to which bodybuilding training belongs) burns up glycogen (muscle sugar) to supply its energy needs. Fast sprinting is a typical anaerobic form of exercise.

Antioxidant - Small compounds that minimize tissue oxidation and help con-trol free radicals and their negative effects.

Arm Blaster - Aluminum or fiberglass strip about 5" x 24", supported at waist height by a strap around neck. Keeps elbows from moving while curling barbell or dumbbells or doing triceps pushdowns.

Atrophy - Withering away - decrease in size and functional ability of tissue or organs.

Back-Cycling - Cutting back on either number of sets, repetitions or amount of weight used during an exercise session.

Bar - The steel shaft that forms the basic part of a barbell or dumbbell. These bars are normally about one inch thick, and they are often encased in a revolving metal sleeve.

Barbell - Weight used for exercise, consisting of a rigid handle 5-7' long, with detachable metal discs at each end.

Balance - A term referring to an even relationship of body proportions in a man's physique. Perfectly balanced phys-ical proportions are a much-sought-after trait among competitive bodybuilders.

Basic Exercise - A bodybuilding exercise which stresses the largest muscle groups of your body (e.g., the thighs, back, and/or chest), often in combination with smaller muscles. You will be able to use very heavy weights in basic exer-cises in order to build great muscle mass and physical power. Typical basic movements include squats, bench presses, and deadlifts. (You should also see the listing for Isolation Exercise.)

Benches - A wide variety of exercise benches is available for use in doing barbell and dumbbell exercise either lying or seated on a bench. The most common type of bench, a flat exercise bench, can be used for chest, shoulder, and arm movements. Incline and decline benches (which are angled at about 30-45 degrees) also allow movements for the chest, shoulders, and arms.

Biomechanics - Science concerned with the internal and external forces acting on a human body and the effects produced by these forces.

Body composition - The percentage of your body weight composed of fat compared to fat-free mass.

Bodybuilding - A type of weight training applied in con-junction with sound nutritional practices to alter the shape or form of one's body. In the context of this book, bodybuilding is a competitive sport nationally and inter-nationally in both amateur and professional categories for men, women, and mixed pairs. However, a majority of individuals use bodybuilding methods merely to lose excess body fat or build up a too thin part of the body.

Buffed - As in a "finely buffed finish" - good muscle size and definition, looking good.

Bulking Up - Gaining body weight by adding muscle, body fat or both.

Burn - A beneficial burning sensation in a muscle that you are training. This burn is caused by a rapid buildup of fatigue toxins in the muscle and is a good indication that you are optimally working a muscle group.

Calories - The unit for measuring the energy value of foods.

Carbohydrates - Organic compounds containing carbon, hydrogen, and oxy-gen. They're a very effective fuel source for the body. The different types of carbohydrates include starches, sugars, and fibers. ('carbohydrates con-tain four calories per gram. Glucose-blood sugar-is a carbohydrate used by every cell in the body as fuel.

Cardiorespiratory Fitness - Physical fitness of the heart, circulatory system and lungs that is indicative of good aerobic fitness.

Cardiovascular Training - Physical conditioning that strengthens heart and blood vessels.

Cheating - A method of pushing a muscle to keep working far past the point at which it would normally fail to continue contracting due to excessive fatigue buildup. In cheating you will use a self-administered body swing, jerk, or otherwise poor exercise form once you have reached the failure point to take some of the pressure off the muscles and allow them to continue a set for two or three repetitions past failure.

Chinning Bar - A bar attached high on the wall or gym ceiling, on which you can do chins, hanging leg raises, and other movements for your upper body.

Cholesterol - A type of fat that, although most widely known as a "bad fat" implicated in promoting heart disease and stroke, is a vital component in the production of many hormones in the body. There are different types of cholesterol: namely, MDL and LDL (MDL being the "good" form and LDL being the "bad" form).

Circuit Training - Going quickly from one exercise apparatus to another and doing a prescribed number of exercises on each apparatus, to keep pulse rate high and promote overall fitness,

Clean - The movement of raising a barbell or two dumb-bells from the floor to your shoulders in one smooth motion to prepare for an overhead lift. To properly exe-cute a clean movement, you must use the coordinated strength of your legs, back, shoulders, and arms.

Clean diet - This refers to eating nutrient-rich, low-fat meals.

Clean and Jerk - Olympic lift where weight is raised from floor to overhead in 2 movements (see also SNATCH).

Clean and Snatch - One of 2 Olympic lifts where weight is raised from floor to overhead at arms' length in one motion.

Concentric - The lifting phase of an exercise, when the muscle shortens or contracts. For example, When you lift the weight in a bench press, pressing it from your chest to the lock-out position, that's the concentric, or "positive," phase of the exercise.

Curl-Bar - Cambered bar designed for more comfortable grip and less forearm strain.

Cut Up (or Cut) - A term used to denote a bodybuilder who has an extremely high degree of muscular definition due to a low degree of body fat.

Dead Lift - One of three powerlifting events (other two are squat and bench press). Weight is lifted off floor to approximately waist height. Lifter must stand erect, shoulders back.

Deficiency - A sub optimal level of one or more nutrients that are essential for good health, most often seen with vitamins. A deficiency can be caused by poor nutrition. increased bodily demands (especially from intense train-ing), or both.

Definition - The absence of fat over clearly delineated muscular movement. Definition is often referred to as "muscularity," and a highly defined bodybuilder has so little body fat that very fine grooves of muscularity called "striations" will be clearly visible over each major muscle group.

Delts - Abbreviation for deltoids, the large triangular muscles of the shoulder that raise the arm away from the body and perform other functions.

Density - Muscle hardness, which is also related to muscular definition. A bodybuilder can be well-defined and still have excess fat within each major muscle complex. But when he has muscle density, even this intramuscular fat has been eliminated.

Diet - Food and drink regularly consumed by a person, often according to specific guidelines to improve physical condition.

Dipping Bars - Parallel bars set high enough above the floor to allow you to do dips between them, leg raises for your abdominals, and a variety of other exercises. Some gyms have dipping bars which are angled inward at one end; these can be used when changing your grip width on dips.

Dip Belt - Large heavy belt worn around hips with chain at each end that can be attached to a barbell plate or dumbbell for additional resistance during certain exercises like dips.

Diuretics - Sometimes called "water pills," these are drugs and herbal preparations that remove excess water from a bodybuilder's system just prior to a show, thereby reveal-ing greater muscular detail. Harsh chemical diuretics can be quite harmful to your health, particularly if they are used on a chronic basis. Two of the side effects of excessive chemical diuretic use are muscle cramps and heart arrhythmias (irregular heart beats).

Double (Split Training) Routine - Working out twice a day to allow for shorter, more intense workouts.
Drying Out - Encouraging loss of body fluids by limiting liquid intake, eliminating salt, sweating heavily and/or using diuretics.

Dumbbell - Weight used for exercising consisting of rigid handle about 14" long with sometimes detachable metal discs at each end.

Easy Set - Exercise not close to maximum effort, as in a warm-up.

Eccentric - The lowering phase of an exercise, when the muscle lengthens. For example, lowering the weight to your chest during the bench press is the eccentric, or "negative," portion of the exercise.

Energy - The capacity to do work. Energy harnessed is power.

Endurance - Ability of a muscle to produce force continually over a period of time.

Essential fatty acids (EFAs) - Fats our bodies can't make, so we must obtain them through our diets. These fats (which include linoleic and linolenic acid) are very important to hormone production, as well as cellular synthesis and integrity. Good sources of these fats arc flaxseed oil and safflower oil

Estrogen - Female sex hormone.

Exercise - Each individual movement (e.g., a seated pulley row, barbell curl, or seated calf raise) that you perform in your bodybuilding workouts.

Extension - Body part (i.e. hand, neck, trunk, etc.) going from a bent to a straight position, as in leg extension.

Failure - That point in an exercise at which you have so fully fatigued your working muscles that they can no longer complete an additional repetition of a movement with strict biomechanics. You should always take your post-warm-up sets at least to the point of momentary muscular failure, and frequently past that point.

Fascia - Fibrous connective tissue that covers, supports and separates muscles and muscle groups. It also unites skin with underlying tissue.

Fast-Twitch - Refers to muscle cells that fire quickly and are utilized in anaerobic activities like sprinting and powerlifting.

Fat - One of the macronutrients. Fat contains nine calories per gram; it has the most calories of MI the macronutrients. There are two types of fat-saturated "bad" fat and unsaturated "good" fat.

Fat free mass (FFM) - The part of the body not containing fat, including: bone, muscle, skin, organs, water, hair, Hood, and lymph.

Flex - Bend or decrease angle of a joint; contract a muscle.

Flexibility - A suppleness of joints, muscle masses, and connective tissues which lets you move your limbs over an exaggerated range of motion, a valuable quality in body-building training, since it promotes optimum physical development.

Flexion - Bending in contrast to extending, as in leg flexions.

Flush - Cleanse a muscle by increasing the blood supply to it, removing toxins left in muscle by exertion,

Forced Reps - Forced reps are a frequently used method of extending a set past the point of failure to induce greater gains in muscle mass and quality. With forced reps, a training partner pulls upward on the bar just enough for you to grind out two or three reps past the failure threshold.

Form - This is simply another word to indicate the biomechanics used during the performance of any bodybuilding or weight-training movement. Perfect form involves moving only the muscles specified in an exercise description.

Free Weights - Barbells, dumbbells, and related equipment.

Fructose - The main type of sugar found in fruit. It's sweeter than sucrose (table sugar).

Giant Sets - Series of more than 2 exercises done with little or no rest between movements and a rest interval of 3-4 minutes between giant sets. You can perform giant sets for either two antagonistic muscle groups or a single body part.

Glucose - The simplest sugar molecule. It's also the main sugar found in blood and is used as a basic fuel for the body.

Gluteals - Abbreviation for gluteus maximus, medius and minimus; the buttocks muscles.

Glycogen - The principal stored form of carbohydrate energy (glucose), which is reserved in muscles. When your muscles are full of glycogen, they look and feel full.

Gorging - This refers to eating large amounts of food at one meal, then waiting for many hours, maybe a full day, before eating again. This is also known as bingeing.

Grazing - This term refers to frequent feedings-eating small amounts of food often.

HDL - This stands for "high-density lipoprotein." It's one of the subcategories of cholesterol--typically thought of as the "good" cholesterol. You may be able to raise your HDL cholesterol levels by ingesting quality unsaturated fats like flaxseed oil.

Hypertrophy - The scientific term denoting an increase in muscle mass and an improvement in relative muscular strength. Hypertrophy is induced by placing an "overload" on the working muscles with various training techniques during a bodybuilding workout.

IFBB - International Federation of Bodybuilders, founded in 1946 - group that over-sees worldwide men's and women's amateur and professional bodybuilding.

Intensity - The relative degree of effort that you put into each set of every exercise in a bodybuilding workout. The more intensity you place on a working muscle, the more quickly it will increase in hypertrophy. The most basic methods of increasing intensity are to use heavier weights in good form in each exercise, do more reps with a set weight, or perform a consistent number of sets and reps with a particular weight in a movement, but progressively reducing the length of rest intervals between sets.

Isokinetic Exercise - Isotonic exercise in which there is ACCOMMODATING RESISTANCE. Also refers to constant speed. Nautilus and Cybex are two types of isokinetic machines, where machine varies amount of resistance being lifted to match force curve developed by the muscle.

Isometric Exercise - Muscular contraction where muscle maintains a constant length and joints do not move. These exercises are usually performed against a wall or other immovable object.

Isolation Exercise - In contrast to a basic exercise, an isolation movement stresses a single
muscle group (or sometimes just part of a single muscle) in relative isolation from the remainder of the body. Isolation exercises are good for shaping and defining various muscle groups. For your thighs, squats would be a typical basic movement, while leg extensions would be the equivalent isolation exercise.

Isotonic Exercise - Muscular action in which there is a change in length of muscle and weight) keeping tension constant. Lifting free weights is a classic isotonic exercise.

Judging Rounds - In the universally accepted and applied IFBB system of judging, bodybuilders are evaluated in three distinctly different rounds of judging, plus a final pose down round for only the top five competitors after the first three rounds have been adjudicated. In Round One, the competitors are viewed in groups and individually in seven well-defined compulsory poses; in Round Two, they are viewed semi-relaxed from the front, both sides, and back; and in Round Three, they perform their own uniquely personal free-posing routines to their own choice of music. Overall, this use of three rounds of judging and a pose down round results in a very fair choice of the final winners of a bodybuilding champion-ship.

Kinesiology - Study of muscles and their movements.

Knee Wraps - Elastic strips about 3½" wide used to wrap knees for better support when performing squats, dead lifts, etc.

Lats - Abbreviation for latissimus dorsi, the large muscles of the back that move the arms downward, backward and in internal rotation.

Law Of Nature - Use it or lose it.

LDL - This stands for "low-density lipoprotein" and is a subcategory of cholesterol, typically thought of as the "bad" cholesterol. Levels of LDL cholesterol can be elevated by ingestion of saturated fats and a lack of exercise.

Lean Body Mass - Everything in the body except fat, including bone, organs, skin, nails and all body tissue including muscle. Approximately 50-60% of lean body mass is water.

Lift Off - Assistance in getting weight to proper starting position.

Ligament - Strong, fibrous band of connecting tissue connecting 2 or more bones or cartilages or supporting a muscle, fascia or organ.

Linoleic acid - An essential fatty acid and, more specifically, an omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid. Good sources of this fatty acid are safflower oil and soybean oil.

Linolenic acid - An essential fatty acid and, more precise an omega-3 poly-unsaturated fatty acid. It is found in high concentrations in flaxseed oil.

Lock Out - Partial repetition of an exercise by pushing the weight through only last few inches of movement.

Lower Abs - Abbreviation for abdominal muscles below the navel.

Mass - The relative size of each muscle group, or of the entire physique. Meal - Food that's eaten at one time. Each meal should contain a portion (which is the size of the palm of your hand or your clenched fist) of protein and a portion of carbohydrates.

Metabolic rate - The rate you convert energy stores into working energy in your body. In other words, it's how fast your "whole system" runs. The metabolic rate is controlled by a number of factors, including: muscle mass (the greater your muscle mass, the greater your metabolic rate), calorie intake, and exercise.

Metabolism - The use of nutrients by the body. It's the process by which sub-stances come into the body and the rate at which they are used.

Midsection - Muscles of abdominal area, including upper and lower abdominals, obliques and rectus abdominis muscles.

Military press - Pressing a barbell from upper chest upward in standing or sitting position.

Minerals - Naturally occurring, inorganic substances that are essential for human life, which play a role in many vital metabolic processes.

Muscle - Tissue consisting of fibers organized into bands or bundles that contract to cause bodily movement. Muscle fibers run in the same direction as the action they perform.

Muscle Head - Slang for someone whose life is dominated by training.

Muscle Spasm - Sudden, involuntary contraction of muscle or muscle group.

Muscle Tone - Condition in which a muscle is in a Constant yet slight state of contraction and appears firm.

Muscularity - An alternative term for "definition" or "cuts."

Negative Reps - One or two partners help you lift a weight up to 50% heavier than you would normally lift to finish point of movement. Then you slowly lower weight on your own.

NPC - The National Physique Committee, Inc., which administers men's and women's amateur bodybuilding competitions in the United States. The NPC National Champions in each weight division are annually sent abroad to compete in the IFBB World Championships.

Nutrients - Components of food that help nourish the body: that is, they provide energy or serve as "building materials." These nutrients include carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, water, etc.

Nutrition - The applied science of eating to foster greater health, fitness, and muscular gains. Through correct application of nutritional practices, you can selectively add muscle mass to your physique, or totally strip away all body fat, revealing the hard-earned muscles lying beneath your skin,

Non-Locks - Performing an exercise without going through complete range of motion. For example, doing squat without coming to full lockout position of knees or pressing a barbell without locking out elbows.

Obliques - Abbreviation for external obliques, the muscles to either side of abdominals that rotate and flex the trunk.

Olympian - A term reserved for use when referring only to a bodybuilder who has competed in the Mr. Olympia or Ms. Olympia competitions.

Olympic Barbell - A special type of barbell used in weightufting and powerlifting competitions, but also used by bodybuilders in heavy basic exercises such as squats, bench presses, barbell bent rows, standing barbell curls, standing barbell presses, and deadlifts. An Olympic barbell sans collars weighs 45 pounds, and each collar weighs five pounds.

Olympic Lifting - The type of weightlifting competition contested at the Olympic Games every four years, as well as at national and international competitions each year. Two lifts (the snatch and the clean and jerk) are contested in a wide variety of weight classes.

Onion Skin - Slang denoting skin with very low percentage of subcutaneous fat which helps accentuate muscularity.

Optimal nutrition - The best possible nutrition; distinct from merely adequate nutrition, which is characterized by no overt deficiency. This term describes people free from marginal deficiencies, imbalances, and toxicities, and who are not at risk for such.

Overload Principle - Applying a greater load than normal to a muscle to increase its capability
Partial Reps - Performing an exercise without going through a complete range of motion either at the beginning or end of a rep.

Peak Contraction - Exercising a muscle until it cramps by using shortened movements. Pecs - Abbreviation for pectoral muscles of the chest.

Plates - The flat discs placed on the ends of barbell and dumbbell bars to increase the weight of the apparati.

Plyometric Exercise - Where muscles are loaded suddenly and stretched, then quickly contracted to produce a movement, Athletes who must jump do these, i.e. jumping off bench to ground, quickly rebounding to another bench.

Portion - The amount of carbohydrates or protein one should eat with each meal. A portion is the size of the palm of your hand or your clenched fist.

Pose - Each individual stance that a bodybuilder does onstage in order to highlight his muscular development.

Pose Down - Bodybuilders performing their poses at the same time in a competition, trying to out pose one another.

Poundage - The amount of weight that you use in an exercise, whether that weight is on a barbell, dumbbell, or exercise machine.

Power - Strength + Speed.

Power Lifts - Three movements used in powerlifting competition: the squat, bench press and dead lift.

Power Lifting - A second form of competitive weightlifting (not contested in the Olympics, however) featuring three lifts: the squat, bench press, and deadlift. Power lifting is contested both nationally and internationally in a wide variety of weight classes for both men and women

Power Mindset - The state of being where you feel self-reliant, confident, and strong.

Power Training - System of weight training using low repetitions, heavy weights.

Progression - The act of gradually adding to the amount of resistance that you use in each exercise. Without consistent progression in your workouts, you won't overload your muscles sufficiently to promote optimum increases in hypertrophy.

Progressive Resistance - Method of training where weight is increased as muscles gain strength and endurance, the backbone of all weight training.

Proteins - Proteins are the building blocks of muscle, enzymes, and sonic hormones. They are made up of amino acids and are essential for growth and repair in the body. A gram of protein contains four calories. Those from animal sources contain the essential amino acids. Those from vegetable sources contain some but not all of the essential amino acids. Proteins are broken up by the body to produce amino acids.

Pump - The tight, blood-congested feeling in a muscle after it has been intensely trained. Muscle pump is caused by a rapid influx of blood into the muscles to remove fatigue toxins and replace supplies of fuel and oxygen. A good muscle pump indicates that you have optimally worked a muscle group.

Pumped - Slang meaning the muscles have been made large by increasing blood supply to them through exercise.

Quads - Abbreviation for quadriceps femoris muscles, muscles on top of legs, which consist of 4 parts (heads).

Quality Training - Training just before bodybuilding competition where intervals between sets are drastically reduced to enhance muscle mass and density, and low-calorie diet is followed to reduce body fat.

Repetition (rep) - The number of times you lift and lower a weight in one set of an exercise. For example, if you lift and lower a weight 10 times before set-ting the weight down, you have completed 10 "reps" in one set.

Rep Out - Repeat the same exercise over and over until you are unable to do any more.

Reps - Abbreviation for REPETITIONS.

Resistance exercise - Working out with weights or using your body to resist some other force. This includes a wide spectrum of motion, from push-ups to dumbbell curls.

Rest Interval - Pause between sets of an exercise, which allows muscles to recover partially before beginning next set.

Rest Pause Training - Training method where you press out one difficult repetition, then replace bar in stands, then after a 10-20 second rest, do another rep, etc.

Rest period - The amount of time you allow between sets and exercises

Ripped - Slang meaning extreme muscularity.

Roid - Slang for ANABOLIC STEROID.

Routine - Also called a training schedule or program, a routine is the total list of exercises, sets, and reps (and sometimes weights) used in one training session.

Saturated fats - These are 4bad" fats. They are called saturated because they contain no open spots on their carbon skeletons. These bad fats have been shown to raise cholesterol levels in the body. Sources of these fats include animal foods and hydrogenated vegetable oils, such as margarine.

Set - Group of reps (lifting and lowering a weight) of an exercise after which you take a brief rest period. For example, if you complete 10 reps, set the weight down, complete eight more reps, set the weight down again, and repeat for six more reps, you have completed three sets of the exercise.

Spotters - Training partners who stand by to act as safety helpers when you perform such heavy exercises as squats and bench presses. If you get stuck under the weight or begin to lose control of it, spotters can rescue you and prevent needless injuries.

Slow-Twitch - Muscle cells that contract slowly, are resistant to fatigue and are utilized in endurance activities such as long-distance running, cycling or swimming.

Snatch - Olympic lift where weight is lifted from floor to overhead, (with arms extended) in one continuous movement (see also CLEAN AND JERK).

Spot - Assist if called upon by someone performing an exercise.

Spotter - Person who watches a partner closely to see if any help is needed during a specific exercise.

Straight Sets - Groups of repetitions (SETS) interrupted by only brief pauses (30-90 seconds).

Strength - The ability of a muscle to produce maximum amount of force.

Strength Training - Using resistance weight training to build maximum muscle force.

Stretching - A type of exercise program in which you assume exaggerated postures that stretch muscles, joints, and connective tissues, hold these positions for several seconds, relax and then repeat the postures. Regular stretching exercise promotes body flexibility.

Striations - Grooves or ridge marks seen under the skin, the ultimate degree of muscle definition.

Super Set - Alternating back and forth between two exercises until the prescribed number of sets is complete.

Supplement - This is a term used to describe a preparation such as a tablet, pill, or powder that contains nutrients.

Symmetry - The shape or general outline of a person's body, as when seen in silhouette. If you have good symmetry, you will have relatively wide shoulders, flaring lats, a small waist-hip structure, and generally small joints.

Tendon - A band or cord of strong, fibrous tissue that connects muscles to bone.

Testosterone - The male hormone primarily responsible for the maintenance of muscle mass and strength induced by heavy training. Testosterone is secondarily responsible for developing such secondary male sex characteristics as a deep voice, body hair, and male pattern baldness.

Thick Skin - Smooth skin caused by too much fatty tissue between the layers of muscle and beneath skin.

Training Straps - Cotton or leather straps wrapped around wrists, then under and over a bar held by clenched hands to aid in certain lifts (rowing, chin-ups, shrugs, dead lifts, cleans, etc.) where you might lose your grip before working muscle to desired capacity-

Training to Failure - Continuing a set until it is impossible to compete another rep without assistance.

Traps - Abbreviation for trapezius muscles, the largest muscles of the back and neck that draw head backward and rotate scapula.

Tri Sets - Alternating back and forth between 3 exercises until prescribed number of sets is completed.

Unsaturated fat - These are 'good' fats. They are called unsaturated because they have one or more open spots on their carbon skeletons. This category of fats includes the essential fatty acids linoleic and linolenic. The main sources of these fats are from plant foods, such as safflower, sunflower, arid flaxseed oils.

Upper Abs - Abbreviation for abdominal muscles above navel.

Variable Resistance - Strength training equipment where the machine varies amount of weight being lifted to match strength curve for a particular exercise-usually with a cam, lever arm or hydraulic cylinder. Also referred to as "ACCOMMODATING RESISTANCE."

Vascularity - Increase in size and number of observable veins.

Vitamins - Organic compounds that are vital to Tile, indispensable to bodily function, and needed in minute amounts. They are calorie-free essential nutrients. Many of them function as coenzymes. supporting a multitude of biological functions.

Warm-up - The 10-15-minute session of light calisthenics, aerobic exercise, and stretching taken prior to handling heavy bodybuilding training movements. A good warm-up helps to prevent injuries and actually allows you to get more out of your training than if you went into a workout totally cold.

Weight Class - In order for bodybuilders to compete against men of similar size, the IFBB has instituted weight classes for all amateur competition. The normal men's weight classes are 70 kilograms (kg), 154 pounds (lbs); 80 kg, 176 lbs; 90 kg, 198 lbs; and over 90 kg. In a minority of competitions, particularly in the Far East, one additional class 65 kg, or 143 lbs is also contested.

Weight Training Belt - Thick leather belt used to support lower back. Used while doing squats, military presses, dead lifts, bent rowing, etc

Monday, June 28, 2010

Bringing Up Weak areas of Back

Being a few weeks out from my next contest has made me re-think some of my training towards to my weak points. They are many but the three major ones are: overall leg density, lower back conditioning, and glute/hamstring tie in. Today I'm focusing on the lower back and how to harden up that area.

My upper and middle back are my strengths so I don't need to focus much attention there, just keep hitting that area with the same intensity. But this train of thought has brought me to realize that I have not been separating the back into different areas of training; the weaknesses as though they are priorities. So I'm going to break the back down and re-focus on the weaker points and de-prioritize the strengths.

The back is made up of four different areas: the upper lats, the lower lats, middle back and lower back. The upper lats include the teres major muscle which gives you the v taper. It's best hit with movements such as wide grip pull ups (my favorite) and wide grip pull downs. Wide gripping rowing exercises also hit this area to some degree.

The lower lats provide the appearance of back width all the way down to where the lats meet the waist. Exercises that focus on this area are reverse and neutral grip work that are performed with shoulder width grip, such as pull downs and pull ups, as well as rows done with barbells, dumbbells, T-bars, cables and machines. The straight arm pull down and pullover also hit the lower lats.

The middle back includes the middle and lower traps and rhomboids. The best exercises that target this area are seated rows with a wide grip in which you pull to the chest, not your mid-section. Also you can use dumbbells by taking an overhand grip and bringing the weight far out to your sides (not tight to your sides). Regular rowing exercises in which you bring the bar to your midsection (as opposed to your chest) also hit this area to a high degree, but for more thickness in the middle, make sure you incorporate a wide grip, bringing the bar high on the torso. The very best exercise for this area and for overall back thickness is the barbell deadlift done with strict form.

The lower section is the erector spinae muscles or lower back. Exercises that tend to work best for this area are stiff legged dead lifts, good mornings and back extensions. These moves work best for this area if you allow a slight rounding of the back, unheard of in most other exercises for good reason so you need to lower the weights a bit. This area is my weakness and I will focus much of my attention to. I am going to do some of these exercises twice a week to firm up the lower back.

A good approach to specific area back training is to rate your back into these 4 areas from 1-4, 1 being the weakest and 4 being the strongest. Then arrange the exercises where you are doing the weakest parts first in your back training and the strongest last. Or you can have two back training days where you train the weak parts earlier in the week and the strongest at the end of the week.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

How Bad Do You Want it

This is a re-post by Dusty Hanshaw, National level SHW Bodybuilder. I couldn't agree more with his comments!

As I have went through this prep I have had countless people compliment me on the discipline I show through my training, diet, and overall regiment. While I admit I appreciate the fact that people see my hard work I consider it a prerequisite to being a successful bodybuilder. You see when I started seriously bodybuilding about four years ago I decided I was going to be a pro. With that decision I also understood the commitments I would have to make in order to make such a lofty goal a reality. I understood that bodybuilding is a marathon rather than a sprint. What that means is that the gains are not going to happen overnight and the biggest key is being consistent day in and day out. So have I achieved my goal of professional status yet? No, but unlike the beginning a lot of people can see that it is just a matter of time. I have proven day in and day out over the last four years that I am serious and that is proven by how much my physique has changed. Hell, at the Border States in October of 2008 I stepped onstage at a weight of 242lbs and this year I am in much better condition the week of my show weighing in at 267lbs. If I can continue to progress like this I will achieve my goal of professional status by the time I reach 30 years old.
What is the point of all this rambling about myself? The point is I decided that I wanted something, understood what it would take to achieve that goal, and implemented the proper steps to make it happen. The previous sentence is what it takes to achieve any goal you make. I’m not going to lie, when I am dieting my patience for people falls greatly and one thing that drives me nuts more than anything is people who say they want something but are not willing to make the needed sacrifices to succeed. Obviously in my line of work I hear most about peoples goals that involve the way they want their bodies to look. They come to me and explain what they want and that they are willing to do whatever it takes to see their goals through. At that point I explain what they will need to do from diet, training, cardio, rest, etc.. Excited they run off to have the body they have always dreamed of. The problem is that excitement fades quickly and the excuses begin. My favorites are: Work has been really tough, I have kids, I travel all the time, I can’t eat whenever I want, I am having relationship problems, I have been so stressed, etc… BULLSHIT! Just stop it already. At least do yourself the service of admitting that obviously you don’t want it bad enough to make the sacrifices needed. We all have problems, family, significant others, and jobs. Those who work around these things no matter what succeed and those who use them as excuses fail.
My challenge to everyone reading this is to take a long look at the goals you have in your life and look at what you are doing or not doing to support them. Maybe you will see that you are not showing the discipline necessary to be a success. At this point you can honestly decide how badly you want to be successful. Most likely you understand what needs to be done so it should really just be a matter of deciding whether or not you are willing to follow through. If you are going to go for it please do yourself the service of giving your goals everything you have and if you decide you are not willing to make the needed changes to your life don’t hesitate to quit. This is your life and these are your goals. The people around you will love you whether or not you achieve them. But please, please, please, don’t tell me how badly you want something with words just to let your actions show me different. I ask again, What do you want?? Do you want it bad enough???
It’s only a matter of time…
Dusty

What Do You Want? How Bad Do You Want It?

This is a post by Super Heavyweight Bodybuilder Dusty Hanshaw. I had to re-post this because I agree with this comment 110%

As I have went through this prep I have had countless people compliment me on the discipline I show through my training, diet, and overall regiment. While I admit I appreciate the fact that people see my hard work I consider it a prerequisite to being a successful bodybuilder. You see when I started seriously bodybuilding about four years ago I decided I was going to be a pro. With that decision I also understood the commitments I would have to make in order to make such a lofty goal a reality. I understood that bodybuilding is a marathon rather than a sprint. What that means is that the gains are not going to happen overnight and the biggest key is being consistent day in and day out. So have I achieved my goal of professional status yet? No, but unlike the beginning a lot of people can see that it is just a matter of time. I have proven day in and day out over the last four years that I am serious and that is proven by how much my physique has changed. Hell, at the Border States in October of 2008 I stepped onstage at a weight of 242lbs and this year I am in much better condition the week of my show weighing in at 267lbs. If I can continue to progress like this I will achieve my goal of professional status by the time I reach 30 years old.
What is the point of all this rambling about myself? The point is I decided that I wanted something, understood what it would take to achieve that goal, and implemented the proper steps to make it happen. The previous sentence is what it takes to achieve any goal you make. I’m not going to lie, when I am dieting my patience for people falls greatly and one thing that drives me nuts more than anything is people who say they want something but are not willing to make the needed sacrifices to succeed. Obviously in my line of work I hear most about peoples goals that involve the way they want their bodies to look. They come to me and explain what they want and that they are willing to do whatever it takes to see their goals through. At that point I explain what they will need to do from diet, training, cardio, rest, etc.. Excited they run off to have the body they have always dreamed of. The problem is that excitement fades quickly and the excuses begin. My favorites are: Work has been really tough, I have kids, I travel all the time, I can’t eat whenever I want, I am having relationship problems, I have been so stressed, etc… BULLSHIT! Just stop it already. At least do yourself the service of admitting that obviously you don’t want it bad enough to make the sacrifices needed. We all have problems, family, significant others, and jobs. Those who work around these things no matter what succeed and those who use them as excuses fail.
My challenge to everyone reading this is to take a long look at the goals you have in your life and look at what you are doing or not doing to support them. Maybe you will see that you are not showing the discipline necessary to be a success. At this point you can honestly decide how badly you want to be successful. Most likely you understand what needs to be done so it should really just be a matter of deciding whether or not you are willing to follow through. If you are going to go for it please do yourself the service of giving your goals everything you have and if you decide you are not willing to make the needed changes to your life don’t hesitate to quit. This is your life and these are your goals. The people around you will love you whether or not you achieve them. But please, please, please, don’t tell me how badly you want something with words just to let your actions show me different. I ask again, What do you want?? Do you want it bad enough???
It’s only a matter of time…
Dusty

Friday, May 28, 2010

PROPER POSTURE

I went for my yearly gyn exam and gained 3/4" in HEIGHT! How did that happen??? Oh, I know; my posture. I have worked on improving my posture for a year. It was a conscience effort for months before it happened naturally.

Posture plays an important role in all our daily activities, standing, sitting, walking, and exercising.

Proper posture:
  • keeps bones and joints in proper alignment
  • prevents fatigue because muscles are being used more efficiently allowing the body to use less energy
  • prevents pain and injury
  • improves body appearance (belly looks flatter too)
  • promotes self confidence
No doubt, proper posture improves your looks and it just feels good. It is a form of self discipline which makes one more physically and mentally stable, a better mind and body state. I don't know about you, but I love improving my mind and body.

Good posture involves training your abs, back, hams and shoulders! Thanks Hammer for helping me train for proper posture!

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Kristin Clark

Kristin has now grauated from the University of Georgia. How time has flown by! I can remember carrying her around all day in a back pack, sh ewas always withher Daddy! Now she's all grown up. We are so proud of her.
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Ft Walton Beach Power Expo 2009
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Kayleigh fashion show Christmas 2009
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2 more day until Steel World go tto get rid of the water and nail the posing.
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Wednesday, March 31, 2010

What are people thinking?

Is it just me or are people in your gym like this? You're on a bench working your ass off and someone walks up while your doing your set and ask, "how much do you bench"? Or some other weird comment like, "wow you look great, do you work out"? Or I really like this one, "you must be dieting for a contest because you really look skinny." Gee thanks, that makes me look forward to eating some more chicken breasts and broccoli!

These people I'm referring to are usually tagged as "civilians" to the serious training community. What does that mean exactly? Interestingly enough I got into this conversation with my training partner after the third person asked him how much he could bench! Well finally my big friend put someone in their place and told them it didn't matter and we don't train that way.

I go to the gym for a purpose. It's not where I go to socialize. But if you look around sometimes, that's all anyone is doing! Yap Yap Yap! How do any of these people expect to ever accomplish anything?! They will do some silly little half hearted exercise then go off and talk to someone for 15 minutes and then maybe text something on their cell before returning to what they were doing. And the same people will come up to me and ask me how they can look like me! I want to just scream at them. But usually I will simply tell them it takes years of hard work. That's not what they wanted to hear and then they look at you like you are crazy or something.

We came to the
conclusion that we are a dying breed of people. Nobody wants to work there ass off anymore to get results. They think it is some kind of a secret on how guys and gals get into shape or worse yet they think you can get it out of a bottle or a pill! It just doesn't work that way! I mean people actually ask me what I'm drinking, like I have some secret elixir in my water jug!

The very small group of people that actually care about what they look like and their subsequent health are becoming a very small minority. It made me stop and think about this. I
don't think Ive been considered a part of a minority before. Or maybe I've always been different than everyone else, I just never stopped to think about it.

We have come to the
conclusion the best way to seriously train in a gym that is not so much of a hard core training gym is to train in sweatshirts and long pants, pull your cap down over your eyes so nobody can make eye contact and plug in your iPod and turn up the volume so you can not hear the idiot when he asks you how much you bench!
I saw a
tshirt that I think I will start wearing in the gym, it said, "Danger - work in progress, may explode at anytime, stay back 100 feet".

Come check out our website at www.hammerfitbodybuilding.net
Hammer

Monday, January 25, 2010

Power Foods - Eat to get Leaner

I have written other blogs on what you should know about staying fit and getting lean. Now I want to tell you some things you may or may not know about some of the foods that are readily available that are known as POWER FOODS. They are also referred to as the CLEAN FOODS. That is foods that we can use in our diet plans that have been researched and scientifically proven to add the vital nutrients we need to gain lean muscle and reduce body fat. That's what everyone wants, right? Walking around leaner and carrying less body fat makes you look better which in turn makes you feel better about yourself. It also is a major contributor to longer life by reducing cardiovascular disease.

What this basically boils down to is you may get a diet plan from me or someone else and it may tell you to use 35 grams of protein, 30 grams of complex carbs and 15 grams of Omega3 fats. You're probably scratching your head and wondering know how am I suppose to figure that out? I'm going to make it somewhat simpler for you. I'm going to break this down into the basic food groups; protein, carbohydrates and fats.

Protein
Note: all meats should baked, broiled, boiled or sauteed in extra virgin olive oil or something similar such as Smart Balance blended oil.

Chicken Breast, best bought at a butcher, the grocery store chickens are full of salt and additives to make them look fuller.

Egg Whites, you can buy these already separated in quart size containers.

Fish. I could list all the different kinds of fish there are here but basically if it swims it's a fish and fish are a great source of lean protein. Some fish have gotten a bad wrap on mercury content and you have to use good common sense here. If you hear about a local fish, such as king mackerel,that has developed higher mercury content, then just don't eat that particular fish everyday. Duh! Cold water fish such as Tuna, Salmon and Sardines are rich in Omega3 oils are are really high on the POWER FOODS list.

Lean Beef. Another animal that has recently gotten a bad wrap; that eating cows make you fat or gives you a higher chance of attracting cardiovascular disease. Again this is a common sense thing. Lean cuts of beef are very good for you and contain little fat. Cuts such as 90% (or leaner) Lean Ground Beef, Ground Sirloin, Eye of Round Steak, Top Sirloin Steak, Fillet Mignon Steak and Flank steak are all good sources of lean beef.

Low Fat Diary Products. Items such as low fat yogurt (Greek Yogurt being the best) low fat cottage cheese, low fat, 1%, skim or no fat milk. Regular milk is very high in dietary sugar.

Protein Powders. Lots of controversy here. Be smart and read labels is the best advice. Also a good adage here is you get what you pay for. The really cheap brands are full of fillers and worthless ingredients. The very expensive brands sometimes have other ingredients that you may or may not be looking for so read the labels carefully when choosing a protein powder. The very best protein powders are Whey Isolate cold filtered. I could write a book on this subject and maybe I will one day but trust me here, that's the good stuff and whatever you do stay away from the word "concentrate". That's a fancy word for, "this is not the real stuff." I am a big fan of protein drinks but not as a meal replacement. Nothing substitutes food more than real home prepared meals for nutrition. Proteins shakes are supplemental and should be used as such. Eat 3-5 balanced meals a day and add shakes to your diet to get in those extra meals that you need to help keep the metabolism cranking for building lean muscle and burning up body fat. I'll give you my favorite protein shake recipe here: 8 oz. cold filtered water, protein powder (1 scoop for women, 2 scoops for men), 6-7 whole large strawberries, 1 banana, 1 tablespoon of natural peanut butter and 1/2 cup ground oats, throw in a few ice cubes to make it slushy or use frozen strawberries.

Turkey Breast, Again look on the packaging and red flag the words added salt and MSG.

Whole Eggs I like to use the Omega3 eggs but still use these sparingly with the egg whites. A good ratio would be 3 to 1. Three eggs whites to one egg.


Carbohydrate Sources

Oats, probably the best source of good clean complex carbs, the best oats are the old fashion style and steel cut. Stay away from the sweetened and flavored ones.

Potatoes. Sweet potatoes are the best. Also red and white are good sources. But if you are on a low carb diet stay away from the white potatoes.

Rice. Basmati, brown and long grain.

Quinoa

Pasta - that you make, not the oily stuff you get in restaurant. There are some great whole grain pastas in the grocery also.

Whole Grain and/or high fiber cereals such as Cheerios (thank god I think my mother feed me thousands of pounds of this stuff) Ezekiel and Fiber One are few of the good choice here. Again read the labels. Words such as sugar, fructose, processed, are red flags.

Whole Grain Bread. Ezekiel bread, sprouted grain breads and whole grain breads.No processed or white flour.

Fruit. This list is endless but any fruit is good. Some have higher sugar content. Good ones are: Apples, Bananas, Blueberries, Cantaloupe, Kiwi, Mango, Oranges, Pears, Raspberries and Strawberries.

Beans. Black, Red, Pinto, Lima and Navy are all good source of complex carbs.

Healthy sources of fats.
Oils. Fish, Flax, and Olive Oil (extra virgin)
Nuts. Almonds, Walnuts and Pistachios.
Olives (without the Vodka)
Butter, Use substitutes here such as Smart Balance buttery spread. Also natural peanut butter, and natural almond butter.

Then there are the free foods; Vegetables. My wife keeps telling me, you can have all the free foods you want. Gee thanks. No seriously you can eat just about any amount of these and still stay in the "physique friendly" category with the exception of beets, carrots and tomatoes. They are also good but not really free to eat any amount. Rule of thumb is 2 ounces of beets, 1 carrot and 1 tomato.

Free Food List
Arugula, Bean Sprouts, Borage, Butter beans, Cauliflower, Fennel, Gourd, Jalapeno Peppers, Mushrooms, Parsley, Spinach, Turnips & Greens, Asparagus, Beets, Broccoli, Cabbage, Celery, Cucumber, Garlic, Green Beans, Kale, Mustard Greens, Peppers, Summer Squash, Watercress, Bamboo Shoots, Bell Peppers, Brussels Sprouts, Carrot, Chives, Eggplant, Ginger Root, Horseradish, Lettuce, Onions, Radishes, Tomato and Zucchini Squash. I'm sure I left out some but you get the drift.

Hope that was beneficial in helping you make the right choices for picking the appropriate foods that will help make you leaner and lower your body fat.

Remember it really was true what your mother said: breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Always include all the food groups in your meals, protein, carbohydrates and fat. Eat the appropriate serving size and never wait until you're hungry to eat.


Hammer