Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Burn Fat Faster: 10 Easy Steps

1. Eat 4-6 small meals per day. Spread your calories out evenly during the day to help keep your metabolism moving and your energy levels naturally high. Try to target balancing each meal so that they contain roughly the same amount of calories. Meal replacement shakes and nutrition bars are an easy way to supplement up to 3 meals per day.

2. Balance each meal with protein, carbs and fat. By providing reasonable amounts of these three essential nutrients at each meal, your body will have the fuel it needs to run at an optimum level. Balancing the nutritional make-up of your meals also helps prevent the storage of body fat.

· Preferred sources of protein: fish, lean meat, chicken, eggs, turkey, lean pork, protein powders.
· Preferred sources of carbohydrates: fruit, vegetables, beans, whole grains.
· Preferred sources of fats: olive oil, nuts, fish oils, canola oil.

3. Choose the right carbohydrates. When constructing your meals, select complex carbohydrates that are “colorful” and high in fiber (like fruits, vegetables, beans and nuts). Try to avoid highly processed carbohydrates like pasta, bagels, crackers, chips, soda and candy. Highly processed carbs have little nutritional value and can easily be stored as body fat. If it’s a carbohydrate and it comes in a bag or a box, you should be suspect.

4. Don’t forget completely about the fat. Despite the hype in the 80’s and 90’s, fat IS an important part of everyone’s diet and is necessary for fat loss. It may sound strange but it is the reality. One benefit is that fat is slow to digest so it makes you feel full and thus you eat less. Fat also helps in proper digestion of carbs and protein; without it your body cannot process food efficiently. The key is to select foods that are rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. These include salmon, mackerel, almonds, walnuts, olive and canola oils. 



5. Eat until you are no longer hungry, not until you are stuffed full. A common mistake people make in their everyday eating habits is that they just eat too much. They eat until they are literally bursting at the waistline. You don’t need to be stuffed at every meal, or eat every bite . . . despite what your mom told you, it is ok to leave food on your plate. Even better, don’t put so much on your plate in the first place. Keep your portion sizes under control If you find yourself eating for no reason, or you just can’t stop, you are probably eating to fill a void in your life, as many people do. Taking some time to evaluate the areas of your life that are making you unhappy may help. Food is not the answer, and overeating always results in feeling worse. 



6. Don’t cut your calories too low. Drastic calorie cutting attempts usually result in failure. If you are looking for lasting results and not just a quick fix, then your best bet is to aim for about 2/3 of your “normal” caloric, or food, intake. Putting your body into starvation mode will ultimately derail your weight loss attempts. Your body will fight back by trying to hold onto your fat even more tightly! Slow and steady wins the weight loss war.

7. Give yourself one, and just one, splurge day per week. If you are eating “clean” 6 days a week, you deserve a splurge day. Pick one day per week and save up all your cravings for that special day. Make a chocolate dessert, or have some extra pasta with dinner. Whatever it is, after 6 days of keeping your diet in order and keeping focused on your ultimate goal, you not only deserve a day of eating some of your favorite foods, but your body can also completely handle it. 

Remember, you cannot gain a significant amount of body fat in just one day. It takes months, in most cases, years of poor eating to add that weight. One splurge day a week is acceptable and even helpful; just make sure when the next day comes around, you get back in the saddle again and get ready for 6 more days of good clean eating and weight loss progress.

8. Get your body moving with exercise. You will not reach your fat loss goals without getting your body in motion. Exercise helps you burn calories more efficiently, improves blood circulation to all parts of your body (including your brain), helps your skin stay young looking, and even improves bone strength. Just 3 or 4 workouts per week is enough to get some truly life-changing benefits from exercise.

There are so many types of activities you can participate in. There’s no excuse. Weight training exercises are great for both men and women to build muscle strength. The more muscle your body has, the more calories it burns per day. Cardiovascular exercise is a great way to get your blood pumpin’ and your energy levels high. And you can do some of your exercise outdoors and breath in some of that fresh air too!

9. Drink plenty of water. Drinking at least 8 glasses of water per day is essential for fat loss. Water helps your digestion, helps you feel energized, gives you a feeling of fullness and keeps you looking young. In addition, water seems to act as a natural appetite suppressant. In fact, people on diets who do not increase their water intake will find themselves feeling “hungry” much more often and more severely than those who do up their water consumption. One possible reason for this is that dieters are getting less water from their food, because they’re eating less food, so the body is actually craving fluid. These cravings can be significantly curbed with increased water intake. 



10. Supplement wisely. The JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) now recommends a multi vitamin/mineral complex for all healthy adults. Also, a quality weight loss supplement may aid in your efforts and help you finally get rid of that unwanted fat. (Note: weight loss supplements work well only in conjunction with a healthy diet and exercise program).

Source: global-nutrition-inc.com

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Striations from Strife?


So I’ve been going through some major turmoil in my life, stuff so hard that it’s caused me to lose sleep, lose appetite, lose sex drive, lose passion for pretty much everything. I lost ten pounds within two weeks.

Not intentional.

Now, any person who knows about fitness would say that this quick loss of weight due to lack of eating is cannibalized muscle. And they would be right. In times of strife and starvation, we’re much more likely to break down our muscle before we break down fat. Our bodies are too efficient. It wants to hold onto that fat AS LONG AS POSSIBLE, in case, you know, we have to wait out an Ice Age or something.

So, knowing this, and not really being able to stomach food because everything from my throat to my stomach feels like a vise is gripping it—I call this the Crush of the Red Velvet Glove. That’s the image I have for it.

Anyway, I figured I don’t want to destroy hard-earned muscle in the gym, which would also leave me weaker, more fatigued, with a slower metabolism, and more prone to injury. So I cooked up this little recipe. Some will think it’s disgusting. And I guess it could be, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

I made this drink that combines egg whites, a low-sugar juice, L-glutamine powder, and creatine. This is my anti-catabolic drink. I also eat a handful of almonds every now and then just to try and add some daily calories. Hopefully soon, this personal strife will be resolved and I can resume a normal, healthy diet with an unaffected appetite.

So, here’s the breakdown. The egg whites are pure, fat-free protein, suitable for building and maintaining muscle, L-glutamine is an amino acid that your body produces, but extra in your system prevents your body from breaking it down from your muscles for nutrition. Next, a little creatine and then some juice to assist with the absorption of the materials into the muscles. Here are the ratios.

In a drinking glass, add:

• ½ or 1 cup of liquid egg whites
• ½ cup of low-sugar juice like apple (Trader Joe’s Carrot Juice is really good!)
• ½ teaspoon of creatine
• 1 teaspoon of L-glutamine

Mix the ingredients briskly with a fork and then drink. I gulp the whole thing down, I couldn’t imagine sipping it.

Anyway, I’ve noticed that I have more definition in my muscles than before, including some striations appearing on my shoulders. So that means that I’m losing fat over muscle. Obviously, this combo, along with the almonds, seems to be working. Typically, I drink this mixture twice a day, usually upon waking and once more in the afternoon.

I may use this when I can eat normally again, too. I’ll keep you posted on the results.

NOTE: When using creatine, I would recommend consuming at least 16 ounces of water. Creatine forces water into your muscles and it's better that the water is from an external source than from pulling it from your kidneys, which can be very hard on your body.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Burn 700 Calories in 30 Minutes!

That's what my treadmill tells me that I've burned when I perform this specific workout. I'm 42-years-old at 215 pounds, so obviously results vary.

But I guarantee that you will be burning and sweating long after you take your post-workout shower. And that's a good thing, as it means that your body is eating fat and your metabolic thermostat is turned up on high. This workout will also boost your HGH levels, an added bonus.

This is an intermediate to advanced exercise, so if you're a beginning runner, I would not attempt it. Always check with a doctor before beginning any intense exercise program.

Using the Tabata principle of 20 seconds working out followed by 10 seconds rest, here's how the workout breaks down. You will also need a treadmill in order to adjust the incline gradient.
*Note: My treadmill only inclines to 12%. Many commercial ones found in gyms incline to 15%. Incline to the highest point the treadmill goes before reducing the gradient.

Minute 1.0: 20 on/10 off - 0.0% incline
Minute 1.5:
20 on/10 off - 0.5% incline
Minute 2.0: 20 on/10 off - 1.0% incline
Minute 2.5: 20 on/10 off - 1.5% incline
Minute 3.0: 20 on/10 off - 2.0% incline
Minute 3.5: 20 on/10 off - 2.5% incline
Minute 4.0: 20 on/10 off - 3.0% incline
Minute 4.5: 20 on/10 off - 3.5% incline
Minute 5.0: 20 on/10 off - 4.0% incline
Minute 5.5: 20 on/10 off - 4.5% incline
Minute 6.0: 20 on/10 off - 5.0% incline
Minute 6.5: 20 on/10 off - 5.5% incline
Minute 7.0: 20 on/10 off - 6.0% incline
Minute 7.5: 20 on/10 off - 6.5% incline
Minute 8.0: 20 on/10 off - 7.0% incline
Minute 8.5: 20 on/10 off - 7.5% incline
Minute 9.0: 20 on/10 off - 8.0% incline
Minute 9.5: 20 on/10 off - 8.5% incline
Minute 10.0: 20 on/10 off - 9.0% incline
Minute 10.5: 20 on/10 off - 9.5% incline
Minute 11.0: 20 on/10 off - 10.0% incline
Minute 11.5: 20 on/10 off - 10.5% incline
Minute 12.0: 20 on/10 off - 11.0% incline
Minute 12.5: 20 on/10 off - 11.5% incline
Minute 13.0: 20 on/10 off - 12.0% incline
Minute 13.5: 20 on/10 off - 11.5% incline
Minute 14.0: 20 on/10 off - 11.0% incline
Minute 14.5: 20 on/10 off - 10.5% incline
Minute 15.0: 20 on/10 off - 10.0% incline
Minute 15.5: 20 on/10 off - 9.5% incline
Minute 16.0: 20 on/10 off - 9.0% incline
Minute 16.5: 20 on/10 off - 8.5% incline
Minute 17.0: 20 on/10 off - 8.0% incline
Minute 17.5: 20 on/10 off - 7.5% incline
Minute 18.0: 20 on/10 off - 7.0% incline
Minute 18.5: 20 on/10 off - 6.5% incline
Minute 19.0: 20 on/10 off - 6.0% incline
Minute 19.5: 20 on/10 off - 5.5% incline
Minute 20.0: 20 on/10 off - 5.0% incline
Minute 20.5: 20 on/10 off - 4.5% incline
Minute 21.0: 20 on/10 off - 4.0% incline
Minute 21.5: 20 on/10 off - 3.5% incline
Minute 22.0: 20 on/10 off - 3.5% incline
Minute 22.5: 20 on/10 off - 3.0% incline
Minute 23.0: 20 on/10 off - 2.5% incline
Minute 23.5: 20 on/10 off - 2.0% incline
Minute 24.0: 20 on/10 off - 1.5% incline
Minute 24.5: 20 on/10 off - 1.0% incline
Minute 25.0: 20 on/10 off - 0.5% incline
Minute 25.5: 20 on/10 off - 0.0% incline
Minute 26.0: 20 on/10 off - 0.5% incline
Minute 26.5: 20 on/10 off - 1.0% incline
Minute 27.0: 20 on/10 off - 1.5% incline
Minute 27.5: 20 on/10 off - 2.0% incline
Minute 28.0: 20 on/10 off - 2.5% incline
Minute 28.5: 20 on/10 off - 3.0% incline
Minute 29.0: 20 on/10 off - 3.5% incline
Minute 29.5: 20 on/10 off - 4.0% incline
Minute 30.0: 20 on/10 off - 5.5% incline

Two minute cool down - 0.0 incline

Monday, July 20, 2009

Five of the Best Burgers You Can Order


Who doesn't love a burger every now and then? I prefer to grill my own (I like to eat only 93-96% lean ground beef). Sometimes, however, I'm hungry, in my car, and crave a freakin' burger...

Then what?

Have no fear—as featured on Eat This, Not That, there are a few fast food options available when you really just "gotta have it."

Burger King Whopper Jr. w/o mayo

370 calories
21 g fat (6 g saturated)
570 mg sodium

DQ Original Burger
350 calories
14 g fat (7 g saturated)
680 mg sodium

In-N-Out Protein-Style Protein-Style Cheeseburger
330 calories
25 g fat (9 g saturated)
720 mg sodium

McDonald's Quarter Pounder
410 calories
19 g fat (7 g saturated)
730 mg sodium

Wendy's Quarter-Pound Single
430 calories
20 g fat (7 g saturated)
870 mg sodium

Saturday, July 11, 2009

12 Power Foods

Men's Health magazine—and this post isn't for men only—often features their A.B.S.D.I.E.T.P.O.W.E.R 12. Each letter signifies a power food, beginning with the letter "A" for almonds. These are foods to eat often to build muscle, reduce disease, and increase your years on Earth.

Click on the almonds below to go to the site, make a list, and then head to the grocery store—the power is yours!

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Stay Anabolic With... Chocolate Milk?

According to research that I've found in both print and on the Internet, chocolate milk does double duty when it comes to post-workout recovery. It rehydrates your body better than sports drinks or even water. In addition, it repairs muscles—which then causes them to grow bigger and stronger—40 percent faster than plain milk.

The simple sugars, which quickly transport the protein to the muscles and cut down on the catabolic Cortisol hormone, are obviously the nutrient factors working here.

So, who says you can't slam chocolate milk while working on your six pack? It's been recommended that Organic Valley Chocolate Lowfat Milk is one of the better brands on the market. This is because they use real sweeteners and not crap like High Fructose Corn Syrup which flavors most national brands of chocolate milk.

So, drink up to build up!

Nutrients (approximate):

Organic Valley Chocolate Lowfat Milk
(1 cup)
160 calories
2.5 g fat (1.5 g sat)
9 g protein
27 g carbs

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Banana Nut Hemp Shake

After an intense run, I needed to make a post-workout shake. Low on supplies and needing to go grocery shopping, I started throwing ingredients into the blender from what I could rummage in the kitchen...

The final results were this sweet, nutty concoction that’s sure to please—and fill you up. High fiber and high protein all the way, baby!

In a blender add:
1 tbsp (14g) – peanut butter (use organic unsweetened if possible)
2 tbsp (28g) – hemp protein powder (I prefer Nature's Way EFAGold®)
2 cups (480ml) – unsweetened almond milk
5-10 drops – liquid stevia
1 frozen banana (important to use frozen bananas for froth; I keep a half dozen ready)
1 scoop – vanilla whey powder (one cup [240ml] egg whites can also be used)

Blend for 30–60 seconds and serve.

Total prep time: 3 minutes

Nutrients (approximate):
Protein: 29g
Fiber: 18g
Fat: 14g (polyunsaturated)
Sugar: 22g
Calories: 480

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Worst Sandwich in America

Say 'ello to my big, fat, nasty friend!


Quiznos Tuna Melt (large)
2,090 calories
175 g fat (31 g saturated fat, 2.5 g trans fats)
2,190 mg sodium

This sandwich puts tuna’s healthy reputation on the line. A large homemade sandwich would likely provide one-fourth of the calories.

Eat This Instead!
Small Honey Bourbon Chicken on Wheat Bread
310 calories
4 g fat (1 g saturated fat)
920 mg sodium

Source

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Chest, Back, and Abs

This is an effective combination of exercises that I was introduced to from Lee Ramos. Rest no more than 20 seconds between sets and no more than 60 seconds between exercises.

Get in, get it done, and then get out. Waste no time.

This rapid weight training approach will also assist in fat burning, as well as muscle building.

Proceed!

AB HANGING RAISES

I recommend using weight lifting straps or an ab straps as your grip will most likely give out before your abdominal muscles do.

Hang from a bar, lift your legs until your feet are chest high. Keep your back curved, not arched or you'll target your leg muscles.

12 reps. - body weight
10 reps. - body weight
10 reps. - body weight

AB CRUNCHES

These can performed on the floor with a 1o-pound (4.5 kg) plate or with an ab machine.

30 reps. x 10 lbs. (4.5 kg)
30 reps. x 10 lbs. (4.5 kg)
30 reps. x 10 lbs. (4.5 kg)

CHEST INCLINE PRESS WITH DUMBBELLS

Use an incline bench and dumbbells.

12 reps. x 35 lbs. (16 kg)
15 reps. x 35 lbs. (16 kg)
20 reps. x 30 lbs. (14 kg)

CHEST SUPINE PRESS WITH DUMBBELLS

Lie on a flat bench or floor, using dumbbells.

18 reps. x 30 lbs. (14 kg)
20 reps. x 30 lbs. (14 kg)
20 reps. x 30 lbs. (14 kg)

BACK PULL-UPS (USING GRAVITRON)

If you have access to a gravitron, use it, or you can substitute for standard lat pull-downs.

17 reps. x 150 lbs. (68 kg)
12 reps. x 150 lbs. (68 kg)
20 reps. x 150 lbs. (68 kg)

BACK CLOSE-GRIP CABLE ROWS


Seated on a bench, pull the cable handgrips back until your shoulder blades touch, return to start position and repeat.

12 reps. x 120 lbs. (54 kg)
10 reps. x 85 lbs. (38 kg)
20 reps. x 70 lbs. (32 kg)

TRAPEZOID DUMBBELL SHRUGS

Stand with two dumbbells at your side. Slowly shrug your shoulders toward your head.

12 reps. x 50 lbs. (23 kg)
10 reps. x 50 lbs. (23 kg)
10 reps. x 50 lbs. (23 kg)

Done!

This workout should take no more than 30 minutes. Shoot for 20 as your fitness level increases.

Frequency: once per week


Thursday, May 28, 2009

Incline Interval Run

For the technical term, it's called High-Intensity Interval Training, or simply HIIT.*

This quick workout will boost your metabolism for at least 24 hours. Do this brief exercise 2-3 times spanned out over a day and you'll be blasting your fat like Han Solo blasted Greedo in the controversial STAR WARS Cantina scene.

This is also a fantastic way to boost your natural HGH levels, important for everyone over 25 years of age when the hormone levels start to dip and you notice that you can't put down the food like you once did without your favorite jeans becoming too "snug."

This works best on a treadmill, but you're welcome to use a track, road, or hill. Just get out and do something–that's the most important thing.

Stretch your leg muscles before beginning. You may also begin with a 2-minute warm-up.

Now hit your HIIT:

2 minutes: dead sprint @ 8mph on a 4% incline.
1 minute rest.
2 minutes: dead sprint @ 8mph on a 4% incline.
1 minute rest.
2 minutes: dead sprint @ 8mph on a 4% incline.
1 minute rest.
2 minutes: dead sprint @ 8mph on a 4% incline.
1 minute rest.
2 minutes: dead sprint @ 8mph on a 4% incline.
1-2 minute cooldown.

Total time: 15 minutes
Total output: 85% THR (for a 42-year-old male)
Total calories burned (during exercise) 400

Obviously you can play with the incline and MPH according to your fitness level, just keep the output at 85% of your Target Heart Rate. (It's best to use a heart-rate monitor or your finger, the monitors on treadmills usually suck, offering bizarre, inaccurate readings.)

Remember to drink water afterwards and eat at least one hour after EVERY workout to avoid muscle breakdown. Try the Fat Burner Shake.

Be a big hit with HIIT.

*Check with a physician before beginning any new diet or exercise regime.


Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Fat Burner Shake


This tastes a bit like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. It's a great pre- or post-workout drink.

12 oz. (240ml) spring water
1-2 scoops (33-66g) of egg white powder or 1 cup (227g) of liquid egg whites
8 frozen strawberries
1 tbs. (15ml) almond butter
Mix in blender for 30 seconds.

Approximate calories: 280 (for one scoop/cup of egg whites); 400 for two scoops/cups

Fast food that's a fat burner, not a fat storer.

Enjoy!

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Fat-Loss/Muscle-Builder Recipe #1: The Lean, Green and Clean Spinach Salad


Lee Ramos, my former personal trainer, introduced me to this salad. He dropped from about 240 pounds down to 215 in a few weeks. He started at an already lean 11% body fat and dropped down to 3% for a bodybuilding competition (he took third in the Over 50 Masters). This is the quick, fast meal that he used–and now I am, too. The ultimate fast food! Prep time is about 2 minutes.

Ingredients:

3 cups of organic baby spinach
1 can of low-sodium spring water albacore
1 tablespoon of unsalted organic sunflower seeds
2 tablespoons of low-calorie vinegarette dressing

Mix all the ingredients and serve (makes one serving).

NOTE: I like to mix my salad in a 32-ounce plastic, sealed container (like Glad). That way, I can shake and serve in a flash.

This delivers approximately 35 grams of protein, 10 grams of carbohydrates, and about 12 grams of polyunsaturated fat. The perfect combination to lose fat while building (or retaining) valuable lean muscle tissue.