Achieve Your Goals

Over the past several months I have been working out 5 days a week. Three of them have been with a great friend, who truly pushed me on the days I didn't want to be pushed. I could not have done this with out her, so when someone tells you that you need a friend to work out harder don't turn away because because having that extra voice right next to you can truly make you successful !!

Here are a few other tips to help you achieve your goals... Referred from www.cutandjacked.com

12 Tips to Help You Achieve Your Fitness and Life Goals

Nowadays it is not uncommon to find novices, and beginners of all ages starting their fitness pursuits with a great deal of education. For the first time in all of human history, the World Wide Web has provided a luxury our grandfathers could have only dreamed of. Information. Knowledge. Resources. When utilized, these are the tools that help make us capable of truly anything we desire. The Internet has closed the information gap… it has been the great equalizer for millions all over the world. However, more information can sometimes bring more confusion. How do you know what works and what doesn’t?! The answer is TRY it, or talk to someone you trust who’s already been down the path you’re looking to walk.
Over the past several years, I’ve done plenty of the searching, trying, and asking. Through it all, I’ve finally found what I call, ‘My rapid-fire tips to help you achieve your fitness life goals this year’. Let’s get started, shall we…

1) Find a coach/mentor

Find a coach/mentor – Look for someone who’s already done it. No matter what you’re pursuing, your chances of achieving it with increase dramatically with an experienced advisor in your corner.

2) Plan ahead

Plan ahead (carry food with you) – Most people are unwilling to make this ‘sacrifice’, and put forth the extra effort it takes to plan. The thing is, it really doesn’t take much. Just get started, and make sure you have some quality food with you so you’re not skipping meals (and slowing your metabolism).

3) Drink more water (don’t drink calories)

Drink more water (don’t drink calories) – I’ve always remembered this quote “Nothing is more anabolic than a well-hydrated muscle” I believe this is true. Sufficient water consumption is the most underrated addition to your muscle building and fat loss goals in my opinion. Drinking plenty of water throughout the day can help curb hunger and stop sugar cravings. Ensuring your muscles are hydrated will also protect you from injury by keeping your joints healthy and lubricated… I like to carry a Nalgene ‘everyday’ reusable 1L bottle with me to class and work (Also helps save money and the Earth ☺)

4) Supplement with Psyllium seed husk

Supplement with Psyllium seed husk – If I could recommend one supplement you may not have heard of, this would be it. The way we feel is greatly influenced by what’s going on with our gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Psyllium seed husk is a partially fermented fiber supplement that promotes intestinal health, regularity, lowers cholesterol, and prevents various cancers associated with the GI tract. If you are on a low-carbohydrate diet, you may not be getting enough fiber in your diet as it is. Adding twelve grams a day to your shakes and smoothies is an excellent way to ensure you’re consuming enough fiber for healthy digestion and elimination.

5) Grab some Stevia (limit/cut out added sugar)

Grab some Stevia (limit/cut out added sugar) – Stevia leaf powder is another excellent addition to your supplement drawer. This sweetener is a herb that tastes great on oatmeal, in coffee, smoothies, protein shakes (w/cinnamon), and anywhere you’d normally use sugar. If you like sweet foods, you can potentially save hundreds of empty calories per week.

6) Turn off the TV

Turn off the TV (watch TED Talks) – This Christmas I finally had some down time to take a load off and do ‘nothing’ for a change. I decided to turn on the television to see what I’ve been missing. Turns out, I wasn’t missing much because nowadays, ‘TV is nothing but an income and potential sucker”. I have to agree on this one. Unless there’s something specific you have to catch, I recommend you do all you can to cut out as much television as possible. When I turned it off, I instantly thought about all the positive, constructive things I could have done with my time. A few years ago, I discovered these short videos where brilliant people would share their ideas at a conference of all the best minds in their respective fields. “TED talks” on TED.com are an excellent alternative to the tube. If you want, try and watch at least one new talk every day… they’re short, and you’ll learn something interesting and valuable.

7) Change positions

Change positions (…not what you think!) – I mean, if you spend a lot of time in front of the computer, at a desk, or doing a lot of sedentary work… hear this: You can increase your focus through movement, and keep your back healthy by increasing the diffusion of nutrients into the vertebral discs. In other words, it can be said that decreased physical activity is directly proportional to back pain. Get up, get your blood flowing every twenty-five minutes or so to refresh your body and mind.

8) Make nutrition easy, and your exercises hard

Make nutrition easy, and your exercises hard – The most drastic changes I’ve seen in people usually comes from changes in their diet. This is the main component you want to control in your quest to building a better body. However, taking control of your nutrition habits does not have to be difficult. Choose which food sources you like best, and plan your meals ahead of time in order to reach your specific goals. But what about training…? Of course, we know doing serious work in the gym is critical if you you’re expecting to see any progress. I’ve always found that the harder you can make an exercise, the greater overall effect it will have on your physique. For instance, instead of doing your shoulder presses sitting on a machine… stand up and grab a barbell. This will immediately involve new muscle groups by simultaneously forcing you to maintain your balance during the entire movement. Greater efficiency, effectiveness, and growth… what more could you ask for?!

9) Set Realistic, Short-term goals

Set realistic, short-term goals – Too many people quickly get discouraged on their road to improvement. Most of the time, this is because they’re not seeing immediate changes. The key is to be persistent, and patient. A great way to ensure you’re successful, while keeping your motivation high is to set small goals along the way towards your ‘ultimate vision’. Eventually, doing the right things one day at a time will produce amazing results you can truly be proud of.

10) Stand Your Ground
Stand guard at the door of your mind – There have been countless successful people who’ve written books, recorded audiotapes, and put out videos you can utilize and apply in your own life. Spend your free time listening, reading, and searching for the resources that can empower you. Luckily you usually have a choice, it’s all up to you. Make sure you spend most of your time absorbing materials that can bring new ideas and move you forward.

11) Push yourself to the max

Push yourself to the max – When you challenge yourself, then succeed-- you create a new set of positive references; your confidence goes up, you learn what you’re capable of, and other difficult tasks of the past become very possible. You can tap into these empowering references any time you want simply by deciding to. The more you force yourself to step outside your comfort zone, the greater your potential for growth and improvement will be. You only have one life, so challenge yourself and go for what you want no matter what anyone else says.

12) Be grateful

Be grateful – Here (in America) most of us take a lot for granted. The fact that we even have the ability to pursue our fitness aspirations is amazing. The ability to build and sculpt your body and mind is a huge privilege we share. When you consider the fact that three billion people in the world today struggle to survive on US$2/day, we gym goers have it pretty darn good. Start your day thinking of a few things you’re grateful for. Only then can you really tap into your potential and have a fulfilling year.

Cutting Up

Today's blog was created for my husband. For someone who has always loved stay in shape he is pretty clueless on the proper way to stay in shape. He just finsihed his bulking up period and is having a hard "cutting" so I thought I would help him out and share this article from www.cutandjacked.com

Cut, shredded, lean, ripped, whatever you want to call it most people if not all want to get leaner to some degree. Doesn’t change the fact I still hear the terms ‘I don’t want to get too lean’ or ‘I don’t want to get too big’ in many consultations I have.
Following on from my ultimate bulking guide I am now going to put together a pretty comprehensive guide to stripping down that bulk and get that physique out and ready for hitting the beach.

Some basic ground rules before you think this is the solution to all your problems.
The effectiveness of any nutritional plan is more often than not dictated by the person undertaking it and both their perseverance and willingness to change.
You must change your lifestyle, habits, addictions and approach to life if this is to work.
To cut subcutaneous (body) fat effectively with minimal muscle loss we must:

1. Create a deficit of total calories through either a reduction in dietary calories or an increase in fuel (calorie) usage.
2. Increase or stabilise anabolic hormones and decrease catabolic hormones.
3. Increase or maintain protein and nutrient turnover.
4. Increase the overall metabolic output of the body.
5. Strategically and periodically increase leptin levels and thyroid output.

Cutting up’ is different in many respects to bulking in that the detail is now what counts and being pretty analytical with your food is what will safely get you to where you want without a notable trade off. As I’ve said before when it comes to most things, there is always some form of trade off. When it comes to cutting often the trade off is a loss in muscle tissue brought about by a notable caloric deficit and the elevation of catabolic/stress hormones. The key to effective fat loss is to manage the two hormonal states effectively whilst changing fuel usage and maintaining or creating a deficit.
Can fat loss be achieved whilst maintaining or even gaining mass? In my opinion yes and I have seen it happen on many occasion. It requires educated and strategic management of nutrition and fuel usage.
My approach for myself and my clients is different to that of most and I guess the reason for me writing this is to express that approach. I also wished to title this 'the death of the diet' but maybe it’s a little early for that kind of speculation.
Little bit of plagiarising of my own articles here, as some of this info is relevant and in my opinion good.

Insulin

Insulin manages our hormonal state and part of our natural fluctuation between a state of regeneration and degeneration. Our hormonal and genetic makeup define for us how well insulin is managed at a base level and dietary habits influence it from then on in. Managing insulin is all about stabilising blood sugar and maintaining it through selective ingestion of predominantly carbohydrates.
To understand the more complex roles of carbohydrates besides the storage and transport of energy we must first understand that the bodies’ hormones are largely governed by this 'master' hormone, insulin. Following the consumption of carbohydrates of any type there is a concurrent and specific rise in our blood sugar or blood glucose levels. In response to this rise, insulin is secreted into the body. The excessive or insufficient ingestion of carbohydrates that is common in todays society cause lows and highs in blood sugar levels. The repeated fluctuation of these levels can impact the bodies’ ability to produce insulin and in some cases cause the whole system to shut down. Not only does this have a major impact on the regulation of sex hormones but in the pursuit of 'getting cut' there is a common and drastic trend to exclude or minimise carbohydrates from the diet below the bodies normal requirements. We start messing with sex hormones and we fall deeply into a catabolic (degenerative).
The three bodytypes endomorphs, ectomorphs and mesomorphs are what we will be starting with at our hormonal and genetic makeup level. What we have done with it from then on in is always tricky to define.
To summarise with this:
The suggested base dietary ratios (carbohydrates:proteins:fats) for the various body types are.

Ectomorph
55:25:20
Mesomorph
40:30:30
Endomorph
25:35:40

In essence this is telling us if we take an ectomorph and they consume 55% of their total caloric intake from carbohydrates they will metabolise it effectively and without gaining excessive fat. Is this 100% accurate, no but it gives a great start point. If we want a steady flow of energy this 55% ratio should be spread evenly throughout the day with a spike in levels only post workout. In the case of cutting assuming coming from a bulking cycle you will know what those ratios and levels are. If not I would take your current diet, log it accurately and see what level you are at right now. You will see why shortly. Whatever happens you need to honestly know where you start at otherwise you cannot adapt anything.
Point 1. Create a deficit of total calories through either a reduction in dietary calories or an increase in fuel (calorie) usage.
This is the point at which people will dispute the information I am about to give you now for various reasons. Answer me this, are you looking at maximal fat loss whilst preserving muscle tissue? If the answer is yes read on. If you don't care about losing some muscle just keep doing what you're doing.
Let me remind you of the two basic hormonal states. This diagram shows it in relation to blood sugar and its physiological response should it drop below a given level.

If we want to manage composition we cannot drop below the black line and into the red.
For the purpose of explaining this I’m going to use a hypothetical case study. John is an ectomorph who has been consuming a strategic eating plan to build bulk. He is now ready to cut the fat and maintain mass, being an ectomorph if he gets this wrong he will lose what took him a long time to gain. He consumes 3000k/cal per day and guess what he is going to cut without dropping calories. As a reference for those of you that ask the question, John uses no performance enhancing drugs, the relevance of this will become clear later.
He is going to diet for 15 weeks and we have ascertained that his basal metabolic rate simply to survive is a measly 1200k/cal per day. Remember he cannot drop in the red. The second he does all of his goals become compromised.
Firstly I want to give you a little insight into fuels and how they are used.

The essential nutrients (our body can't create but we have constant jobs for them) proteins and fats can be utilised as carbohydrates should our body need them. This is a pathway that your body needs to adapt to in order to become efficient at it. If we don't have enough protein our body steals from itself (lean tissue), if we don't have enough dietary fats our body shuts certain systems down. If we plan to protect muscle tissue whilst giving the option for the body to use another form of fuel (stored fat) we must maintain an anabolic state and consume above maintenance levels of protein. We can stick with our total caloric requirement whilst adapting fuel sources and protecting tissue. How do we burn fat, we burn fat because we not only tell the body to stop storing it, we create a metabolic impact through our training. At this point I must also tell you that when it comes to training more isn't always better. I will explain more later. This article is about the dietary aspect of cutting, why? Ask anyone in shape what’s more important. Diet or training?

Stage 1. Change fuel sources.

This is straight away under the assumption that you will eat only clean foods during this time and stick to the plan.
The best way I have found to do this is by switching fuel sources over a given period. An undulating drop in carbohydrate switching calories to proteins and fats. Here is an example taking my case study down from 413 grams of carbs to 188 over a course of 15 weeks. He is an ectomorph and has a high carbohydrate tolerance so going much lower wouldn't probably be required. A large amount of this 188 grams will be ingested post workout, the rest of it evenly distributed throughout the day.

Stage 2. Creating a Metabolic Output.

So this is the point where it becomes the argument of calories in vs calories out.
Take calories out of your diet you run the risk of the red zone. Burn more you don't provided you utilise a post workout drink.
I have speculated a very low basal metabolic rate in my case study, 1200 k/cals. Basal metabolic rate is basically what our body needs just to survive. We don't want the body switching into a survival mechanism (red) therefore you can deduct 1200k/cals from the intake straight away and know you will never drop below that. That leaves with a 3000k/cal total intake 1800k/cal to play with and utilise as fuel before we drop into the red.

How does the body burn fat?

By creating this optimal hormonal state (anabolic) we can prime the body to burn fuel that isn't required (body fat). We preserve the metabolically active tissue (muscle) whilst providing an alternative and protective fuel source (protein and fats). This minimises the risk of a surplus of carbohydrates (our raw fuel) and it's conversion to stored energy. As we still ingest the same amount of calories our ability to sustain metabolically demanding workouts still remains possible. We create a calorie deficit with minimal risk and by only increasing output not reducing food intake. Overweight people diet and eat diet and low calorie foods.....need I say more.
Let me show you an example of when more is not always better and a reason I only add cardio into a fat loss program as a last resort and way to burn energy (literally moving, not running, nothing overly strenuous) high intensity cardio is low intensity weights before anyone starts.
John (case study 1) is on a weekly basis going to add a brisk 15 minute walk extra a day to his fat loss regime, that’s all. By week 15 he will be doing 3 hours and 45 minutes of cardio per day!!!! Effective? Read on.

Up until week 7 his body is primed for fat loss, at week 8 it fails and will start to catabolise valuable and metabolically active tissue. This would look something like this:

If this wasn’t a simple enough reason to understand why conventional dieting (dropping calories) doesn’t work I don't know what is.

Also when nutrition has been consistently manipulated for 10-15 weeks and your metabolism is topping out what have you got left? Nothing. You haven’t any more time or energy to do more cardio and your receptors are so fried from all the fat burners you've taken what tricks do you have left?? None. Save the cardio and thermogenics for when you're looking for the details.

When metabolism stalls?

I have a very successful fat loss client who has lost over 45kg of weight and an amazing amount of bodyfat whilst also adding a decent amount of lean tissue. Weight loss if done successfully as in fat will always wave up and down much like the carb cycling I showed above. Infact here is his weight loss chart.....well some of it (ps. I don't log clients weights, he did this using his iphone):
The peaks you see weren't because he went off plan they're because of what I like to call metabolic shifts, his body is adapting to new tissue and making adjustments to compositional changes and his ability to use fuel more effectively.
At one point his weight stalled for about 5 days so the question posed to me was:
'should I reduce my calories and do some more training, maybe some cardio?'
My answer:
'Lets drop out one of your gym sessions this week and I want you to increase your overall calories everyday' very puzzled he went ahead and did it, guess what, he lost more fat and got his metabolism going again. He had stalled because he had waved into the red so I pulled him out of it. My point here is that metabolism and fuel usage in immeasurable to a large extend so at times it needs a push in the right direction.

Strategic metabolic ramping

I wrote about this a while ago when discussing cheat meals. Let me draw your attention to this and will simply cut and paste some of my previous piece as it now ties in nicely.

Leptin

Leptin is a hormone that basically signifies if we are starving or satiated. In the grey or in the red. Its a bit more complex than this but a whole other article but fundamentally. Someone creating a deficit or on a restrictive diet will lower leptin levels, which therefore sends the signal we are starving (red zone). At this point cortisol goes through the roof, thyroid hormones plummet and a bunch of appetite stimulating hormones fire up to tell you to get your arse back in the grey. Science tells us that after 7 days of restrictive dieting or creating a negative deficit through training (my favourable method) leptin levels drop by about 50%. To raise this back to its normal level will generally take us less than 24 hrs.
Ok, now before you all start getting excited and think that because you’ve spent 7 days dieting or creating a calorie deficit its time to pig out, think again. The higher someones bodyfat is the higher their leptin levels are, the lower someones bodyfat therefore is the lower someones leptin levels will be. The 50% drop is relative to the amount you begin with. If you’re overweight the leptin is there but much like the issue we have with insulin you cannot release and utilise it, the leptin receptors have been de-sensitised. The 50% drop will not be sufficient in someone overweight to warrant a carb/caloric refeed as it’s only relative to the amount they began with. Leptin management is only really of major concern to those that are lean but if utilised correctly can push the boundaries of leanness and ramp metabolic rate significantly.
In a hierarchy of what someone overweight needs to be concerned with it isn’t leptin. As diet improves and insulin efficiency improves leptin receptors will in hand be re-sensitised and it now becomes a useful tool in the quest for fat loss and getting cut.

Thyroid Hormone..

The thyroid hormones are responsible again in this conversation for basal metabolic rate. It will increase this basal metabolic rate and also impact the metabolism of protein, carbohydrate and fat. This becomes a burnout issue in most cases. Our body has a certain amount of fuel it can process and utilise in one go.
If we take a typical western diet that has 3 meals in it with traditionally the biggest meal being in the evening it would mean at some point this person will overeat in order to meet caloric requirements. If they don’t remember all that happens is leptin decreases and appetite stimulating hormones ghrelin, neuropeptide-y and anandamine increase. So you’re going to be hungry irritable, losing no bodyfat and on a low calorie diet. …..Sound familiar (just incase you really don’t get it muscle will be used as fuel so weight will come down to a point).
So everytime someone overeats thyroid hormones elevate metabolic rate and this leads to heat generation. In someone who regulates metabolic rate successfully overeating will lead to a notable increase in body temp. If this isn’t you maybe the timing of a cheat meal isn’t appropriate. Continuous bouts of overeating or binging will lead to the burnout of the thyroid hormones and once again an indication of underactivity within them. Overeating is not total calories, it is a ‘per meal’ scenario. Therefore 3000 k/cal is not just 3000, it's how it's dispersed and often the reason most of my clients end up eating more calories than they started with.

So When To Cheat.....

There is no exact science here but I would quite simply start with some markers.
If bodyfat is in excess of 25% there are no cheat meals as in the onset, someone at this level will make conscious and unconscious mistakes.

• 15 - 25% bodyfat I would look at implementing a cheat meal every 4-5 weeks.
• 10 - 15% bodyfat I would apply a cheat meal at least every 14 days without fail.
• 4 - 10% I would use a ‘re-feed’ or cheat meal every 7-10 days.

What Constitutes a Cheat Meal?

A cheat meal simply has to be an excess of calories and a substantial elevation in carbohydrates if we want to spark up and make use of the above three systems. This does not have to be junk. It can simply be a re-feed. I occasionally just eat my normal structure and throw a 1kg bag of sweet potatoes on every meal in that day. Other times I’ll pick one meal and have a pizza or something like. At present my bodyfat is about 8 - 9% so I use one every 7-10 days and may choose either option. What I can say for sure is that 1 - 2 days post re-feed my metabolic rate is still racing and I am visually leaner. The way this works is that the elevation in calories ramps everything up and for a period of 24 - 48 hours later your body is working harder than ever. Therefore you burn fuel fast!
Pretty neat huh…..but this is an earned right!
Cheat meals need to have a high percentage of carbohydrates in them to be effective and also a hefty hit of calories, double normal intake is a good bet. This ramps metabolic rate, which remember you have primed and will carry over momentum for 48 or so hours later.
There is no definitive way to cut or get lean!! There are stupid approaches and intelligent approaches. I am throwing down my gauntlet as to how I approach people (and myself) when trying to get lean. I keep calories high and burn fuel. I know in the course of a year I can burn 30 - 40kg of bodyfat easily with someone, I can't develop that amount of metabolically active muscle tissue in anyone. I choose to protect muscle tissue and use it to my own and others advantage. I haven’t gained more muscle personally than most other people that have weight trained for the past 15 years, I’ve just lost less and my profit is more!

What is your health worth to you??

This was such a great blog I had to re-post and share with everyone. So many people argue with me about ordering Shakeology because of the costs, so I hope this helps answer a lot of questions people may have.
In the end, you have to ask yourself... What is your health worth to you?

How Do I Really Know If Shakeology^® Is Worth the Money When Everything Else Costs Less?

There are many protein shakes and meal replacements that are less expensive than Shakeology. But comparisons based on the simple "protein shake" or even "health shake" are usually off the mark and don't stack up to Shakeology.
Shakeology was designed for people who want more than protein, and for people who want the health benefits being represented by the ingredients on the label. To really know whether a product measures up to Shakeology, you need to keep some things in mind:

How much is enough?

We are proud of Shakeology's 70+ ingredients. Other shakes will trumpet the number of ingredients they have too. But are the ingredients they are counting actually good for you? Are there any artificial flavors or colors listed in those ingredients? Not in Shakeology!
Are they derived from whole-food sources? They are in Shakeology! Too often the "magic ingredient" has been isolated from the enzymes and phytonutrients that actually make the ingredient useful when consumed.
And does the competition formulate for the synergistic benefits between the ingredients, or just slap together whatever is hot in the media? Shakeology was specially formulated for the collection of ingredients to work together like a symphony; this combination is so effective, some people report dramatic benefits within the first week. Other supplements point to one or two individual ingredients and build a "story" around their superfood attributes.

Protein

Pay attention to a product's protein source or blend. Protein sources like whey protein hydrolysate have been shown to trigger a much higher insulin response in the body. That's not an outcome we would tolerate in Shakeology.
Our protein source is whey protein isolate, which is more than 90 percent pure protein. Plus, Shakeology is loaded with digestive enzymes and lactase—that's the enzyme that breaks down lactose and is found in over-the-counter products like Lactaid^®. Don't confuse whey protein concentrate with isolate. Whey protein concentrate is the least pure form of whey protein made. The benefit of isolate versus concentrate is that the fat has been removed to achieve isolate. The fat in whey protein is what carries toxins consumed by the animal. That's the reason Shakeology can be used by so many people who are lactose-intolerant—because those toxins have been removed through the isolate process.
For our vegan formulation, we use sprouted brown rice protein, not soy. Does the competition use ANY soy in their formulation? Soy protein contains estrogen, mimicking compounds that can interfere with your hormones. On top of that, most of the soy in the marketplace is GMO (genetically modified). These are two important reasons why we don't use soy in Shakeology.

Glycemic index tested . . .

In terms of sugar, many protein shakes contain 1 gram of sugar or less. This is because they are using artificial chemical sweeteners. (Check the label for sucralose, aspartame, or sugar alcohols.) Shakeology's small amounts of sugar comes from natural sources and whole superfoods like coconut flower nectar and luo han guo, which are easily processed by the body and, in fact, have been tested and certified by an independent lab to have a low glycemic index of 24—that's lower than most fruits! (An apple is 36, and an orange is 43.)

What's not in the base, they may suggest you add later

Other shakes don't cost as much as Shakeology at first glance, but they also don't contain the full profile of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) for some vitamins and minerals, or whole-food sources of antioxidants, phytonutrients, adaptogen herbs, prebiotics, probiotics, or digestive enzymes. We've seen competitors make you buy a separate vitamin pack for $150 per month! Once you add it up, this is hardly a "good deal," and it's usually hardly even a good product.
To achieve the benefits of Shakeology we've seen, competitors charge between $250 and $335 per month! $120 doesn't seem expensive when you realize all of the benefits Shakeology delivers.

SUMMARY:

Formula: 70+ of the healthiest ingredients from whole-food sources from around the world VERSUS protein, fillers, artificial coloring, and isolated glamour ingredients
Winner: Shakeology
Protein Source: Shakeology's pure whey protein isolate or plant-based sprouted brown rice protein VERSUS soy, hydrolyzed whey, and/or whey concentrate blend
Winner: Shakeology
Taste: Rich Chocolate, tangy Greenberry, or fruity Tropical Strawberry Shakeology VERSUS chemically-derived, artificially-flavored competition
Winner: Shakeology
Price: $120 for Shakeology VERSUS—Oops! It's impossible to compare lesser formulations on price. But if you add in all the separate vitamins and flavoring agents the other companies ask you to buy to match the benefits and nutritional content of Shakeology, you would easily spend over $300 every month—that's 2 and half times the cost of Shakeology!
Winner: Shakeology

But the best comparison is results. From weight loss, to reduction in cravings, to regularity, to healthier cholesterol levels, to increased energy levels, to an overall sense of well being . . . We give a bottom-of-the-bag guarantee on Shakeology because we KNOW people will be amazed by how they feel. Shakeology is the winner by a total knock out!

My Shakeology Website

Running Rut

I have found myself in so many running ruts over the last year I found this article very informative. I love to run on the roads, but I know that to improve my running I have to constantly change my running areas.

Someone recently stuck this magazine on my on my desk and I absolutely loved every article in it. Check out the website www.running.competitor.com for more great running articles and nutrition information.

Are you stuck in a running rut? Take your running where it’s never been before–quite literally.

Runners, by our very nature, are creatures of habit. Anything and everything related to our running – from the shoes we wear, to the food we eat (and when we eat it), to the races we run year in and year out – is regulated by routine. Think about it. When was the last time you missed your annual Thanksgiving Turkey Trot? Probably the last time you switched shoe brands or failed to spread a tablespoon of peanut butter on half of a bagel some 35 minutes before jumping on the third treadmill from the far window at the gym.

The bottom line is that for runners, routine rules–and where we run is no exception. Whether you’re a runner who prefers to pound the pavement, tear up the trails or trot on the treadmill, chances are you’re tied to your terrain like a dog on a leash. You’re scared to stray too far from your usual stomping grounds and play in some new puddles, so to speak. Well, it’s time to break up the boredom, put an end to the mind-numbing monotony and start treading over some new terrain. It’s not only good for your mind, but beneficial to your body and paramount to improving your performance.

“Changing running surfaces works different leg muscles which, will lead to physical benefits,” says Eric Blake, head cross country and track and field coach at Central Connecticut State University. “And different scenery in your running will lead to mental benefits.”
For the road warriors out there, get off the asphalt every once in a while. Retreat from the roads and seek softer surfaces to run on – some of the time, anyway. Your feet, shins, knees and hips will thank you!

While the roads are always readily available for running, they’re not the best thing for your body. If possible, find a softer surface to run on at least once a week, be it a trail in the woods, grass field at your local high school or path through the park. Aside from steering clear of troublesome traffic, the off-road impact is significantly easier on your body. Let’s explore a phenomenon I like to call it the golf ball effect.

Throw a golf ball at your driveway. What happens? That’s right; it takes off into the atmosphere. Now throw that same golf ball at your front lawn with the same velocity. Where did it go? Yep, it’s still there on the ground, where the grass has absorbed most of the impact. Now imagine that golf ball is your body and the above process gets repeated a couple thousand times over the course of a 5-mile run. Which surface is treating your body better?

If you guessed the grass, or some other similarly soft surface, you guessed right. Not only will you keep those everyday aches and pains to a minimum, but you’ll recover quicker, strengthen your ankles and develop your lower leg muscles more rapidly.

“The softer surface of trails and gravel roads that I run on keeps the impact stresses down and allows me to recover from workouts faster,” says Kevin Tilton, a two-time member of the Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team. “Plus, running on the trails makes you use a lot of little stabilizer muscles that you may not use running all of your miles on the roads. I also find the trails more interesting and that allows me to get in more training.”

Staying soft doesn’t always make the most sense, however, especially if you’ll be racing on the roads. You’ll need to harden your legs to the harder surface, and the best way to go about doing so is to pound the pavement every once in a while. Aside from not worrying about rolling an ankle on a root or dodging some other unforeseen obstacle, you can work on your race rhythm much more effectively and get your fast-twitch muscle fibers firing that much faster.

“My road racing helps keep me in touch with speed that I may not normally find if I did all my training and racing on the trails,” Tilton admits. “Plus, getting my butt kicked in big road races gets me fired up for my trail and mountain races.”

Racing on the weekends isn’t the only recipe for getting your butt kicked and running on the roads isn’t the only way to work on your rhythm. Taking it to your trusty treadmill every so often will do the trick as well. Even for competitive runners, the treadmill doesn’t have to be synonymous with dreadmill. Blake, a two-time winner of the Mount Washington road race, does a lot of his training on the treadmill, a somewhat surprising circumstance for someone who’s a regular winner on the road-racing scene. Aside from the impact being easier on his body, training on the treadmill from time to time allows Blake to closely control his pace, increase the incline when necessary and monitor his effort level continuously.

“You know exactly your pace and distance,” Blake said. “And the treadmill is one of the only places you can run on a 10-12 percent grade for a long time. Training on a treadmill at an incline is very specific to the event.”

So, regardless of where you run, take a break from your regular routine, switch up your surface every so often and literally take your running where you’ve never taken it before. As the miles add up, not only will your risk of injury be lower, but the fun factor will be that much higher.

“I don’t get too burnt out by doing the same thing over and over,” says Tilton. “Running is supposed to be fun after all, right?”

Metabolism

Well I have seriously become addicted to this website www.cutandjacked.com. I could read every article on it over and over again. Here is one that I found because so many people wander how to speed up their metabolism.

A Simple Guide To Speeding Up Your Metabolism

Over the years I have received numerous questions from men and women who have tried to lose weight by drastic measures in order to try and achieve the body shape they desire; including those who have essentially starved themselves for months, if not years.
When you cut your calories drastically it’s actually very restrictive on your body, and prevents your body from loosing fat. Your body goes into ‘starvation mode’ and starts protecting its fat stores making it very difficult to shift any weight! If you continue in this way your body will start using your muscle stores, and we know that the less muscle we have the fewer calories we require, all contributing to slowing your metabolism down!
So, without spending too much time on the science, I will give you a few suggestions on how you can start firing up a slow metabolism!
Firstly... as mentioned our metabolism is somewhat measured by how much muscle we have, generally if you have more muscle mass you will have a faster metabolism. Muscle also burns more calories than fat! So, a good first step would be to start a weight-training program. An intense weight training session can burn far more calories, and obviously engage many more muscles than what you would train if you were opting for a cardio workout only.

Eat More Often

Try planning 5-6 meals per day, little and often. When I commence a competition diet the first changes I make to my regular diet are to begin splitting my meals up more throughout the day. Often during my diets I can eat up to 7- 8 times per day... every 2-3 hours depending where I am in my diet plan. You should never let yourself feel hungry, and eating every few hours will prevent this. Be mindful that if you do start eating like this you must exercise portion control with your food. I personally weigh my food so that I don’t make any mistakes. However you don’t have to be this strict about it. But keep in mind that portions should be small!

Breakfast

Eat breakfast!!!!! This is a sure fire way to kick-start your metabolism! I take on the majority of my carbohydrates during this meal, and add some protein. It’s normally my largest meal of the day and one I would never consider missing!

Protein

Eat more protein, it contributes to building muscle and will also help you feel full – which is a feeling that many people dislike about ‘diets’, that they never feel full! If you start eating protein with every meal you will definitely feel fuller for longer. Additionally it actually helps the body release the stored fat so that the body can use it as energy!

Drinks

Be mindful of what you drink... Remember juices from concentrate, alcohol etc are all packed with calories. However a coffee in the morning can help increase your metabolism.

Relax

Try and take some time out to relax... increased stress levels give rise to cortisol, and too much can slow your metabolism. Stress can also cause cravings, and you might find yourself wanting to eat fatty and sugary foods.

Sleep

Ensure you’re getting adequate sleep each night; sleep helps our bodies repair and grow. Some theory suggests that if you continually go without enough sleep your ability to process carbohydrates is lowered; your body will also struggle with the ability to function properly during the day meaning that it could struggle to burn calories if you’re trying to follow a diet.

One Last Point...

If you were looking to speed up your fat loss my best tip would be to exercise on an empty stomach before breakfast. There is a huge body of research to support this tip but in short, upon waking from sleep your body is depleted of glycogen (energy stores), so in theory if you do some form of exercise before breakfast you can utilise your fat stores. This method seems to promote more effective weight loss, although I’ve read other theories that contest this. However if I recall each diet I’ve followed to compete I have always done some steady low impact exercise before breakfast and it certainly works for me!

Written by Louis Rogers at www.cutandjacked.com

Men in the Gym

Yesterday I posted about what women shouldn't do in the gym so I figured why not end the week by telling the guys what not to do. This is a great read for everyone.

I found this on www.cutandjacked.com by Brandon Fokken. Check more out at Cut and Jacked

Men: 6 Things You Should Never Do In The Gym

1. Sweat all over the place and just leave it for the next person to worry about it !!
This is something that is just plain wrong. Who in their right mind would ever want to sit in, or clean up a strangers sweat? I know I don’t. It’s disgusting and something you should never do, yet it happens all the time. If I came over to your house after a run outside, sat down on your couch and got sweat all over it and didn’t clean it up, how would that make you feel? I’m sure you wouldn’t be very happy along with every other sensible person out there. So take the time and clean up after yourself. Others will thank you, and you won’t be viewed as the sweaty jerk that doesn’t clean up after themselves in the gym.

2. Cardio or Bull Riding?
People will tell you all day long how hard and intense their cardio regimen is. The truth is they put the incline up as high as the can get it, and then hold on for dear life as if they’re about to get bucked off the machine. This is cardio, not bull riding. These people throw their back out of alignment, stress their shoulders and the rest of their body, and really don’t get much of a cardio workout. Set your parameters in the realm of what you are actually capable of doing. You won’t look ridiculous while doing your cardio, and you will actually benefit your body.

3. Don't Be The Tough Crowd
Everyone is at a different level in the gym. You have beginners all the way to experts in the gym at any given time, but you are all trying to do the same thing- Better yourselves. So many times someone will walk around like a tough guy, and try to get the attention of everyone else. They will stare people down, and make people feel uncomfortable in a place where they belong just as much as anyone else. It’s even worse when this is done as a group. You give serious lifters a bad name and make yourself look like a jerk. You belittle others, take away their confidence, and make a place that should be a sanctuary a very uncomfortable place. Treat everyone with respect; you were once where they were. This will offer a better gym experience for everyone.

4. Leave The Phone In The Locker Room. Can you hear me now??
Save the cell-phone conversations and marathon text sessions for outside the gym. Most people see the gym as a chance to tune out from telephones, work, etc. You will take upwards of three times longer on equipment if you’re playing on your phone. This will annoy people, delay them from finishing their workout, and will keep the person using the phone from having a productive workout themselves. If you need your phone for an emergency that’s understandable, but nobody wants to hear about your weekend plans, what you’re having for dinner, or how much you love your significant other while they are doing cardio next to you. To make matters worse some people like to have a photo shoot while they workout. I couldn’t agree more with keeping a photographic record of your progress, but this can be done at home. Be courteous of others in the gym and keep phone usage to a minimum.

5. Noise Makers
No matter what rep he's on, or what weight this guy is using, they feel the need to share their pain with everyone else in the gym. This is a major distraction for everyone in the gym. Some people go to the gym to relax after a long day, some go to better themselves, some just want some peace and quiet and a get away from a hectic home life filled with the noise of children. The constant noise maker takes this away from them and puts all the focus on them. They distract others from their own workout, and could quite literally cause someone to injure themselves due to causing a lack of focus. A certain amount of noise is understandable, and even expected on certain movements, but nobody wants to hear you yell through 4 sets of arm curls. So keep the yelling and grunting to a minimum.

6. Let's Do This Together
You will see two guys working out together to lift the same weight. This is almost always on the bench, ez bar curl, or squat rack. The lifter will load up the bar as heavy as he can, and when he starts he may get one maybe two reps, but the training partner will help them through another eight or so reps. After the workout if you were to ask the lifter what their max lifts are, they will tell you a number far above what they can actually do. This method does not only hinder your progress, but it just plain makes you look like a rookie in the gym, and nobody is going to take you seriously. Take the time it takes to work yourself up to the weights you want to use. Set goals and in time you will get there.

Women in the Gym

Its been over a month since I started going to the gym three times a week, and I am already noticing a huge difference. Although, I may not see it in my reflection I see it in the heavier weights I am able to lift. So many lose faith if they aren't physically seeing the changes happen, but people have to remember that it's more than the way you look.

I found this article at www.cutandjacked.com by Laura Jeanne and found it very interesting, especially since I see so many of these things happening when I'm at the gym. Sometimes.. the gym can be  great place to people watch :)

WOMEN: 6 THINGS YOU SHOULD NEVER DO IN THE GYM

1. Run Your Mouh
Gym time is not social hour, ladies. Saying hi to friends or fellow gym goers is fine; standing around (or worse, sitting on machines or benches but not using them) and chatting for 20 minutes about how your day went, how your weekend was or playing catch up on the latest reality shows is not. If you notice dirty looks directed at you while you're blabbing away, chances are it's because you standing around taking up space talking is getting everyone around you… you know, the people who are there to actually train and use the equipment you're sitting on… really, really annoyed. Pick a different time or place to talk one another's ears off, please.

2. Be A Stalker
It's one thing to have a training partner and chat with them in between sets. It's another thing entirely to follow your boyfriend/husband/gym crush around the whole time you're at the gym, never leaving their side and not actually training yourself while they're trying to do work. I've seen this happen plenty of times and always feel bad for the guy, having his training session constantly interrupted. I'm not saying you need to or should be completely ignoring your significant other or whatever cute guy you're interested in, but you should be aware that you're interrupting their training and, honestly, wasting your own time by just following them around and not actually training yourself.

3. Worry About Your Appearence
This is a serious pet peeve of mine. I know women like to look good and a little primping here and there is necessary sometimes. But come on now, you're at the gym to train. Who the hell do you need to impress while you're there? I see ladies show up with their hair and makeup perfectly done and then proceed to walk up to the mirror in between EVERY single set to check and make sure everything's still intact. Or there's the girls who get right up close to the mirror while doing bicep curls with 5lb dumbbells, then proceed to turn to the side and stick their butt out as much as they can while curling the weight (using completely improper form, mind you) and using their free hand to adjust their hair. And of course, they're looking around to see if guys are noticing them. Stop this nonsense, please! No one is going to take you seriously if you keep preening like a peacock in front of the mirror. And guess what - no one really cares what you're doing! So stop strategically positioning your made up self in front of the mirror while a guy is doing an exercise in hopes he'll notice you and say something. It's not going to happen.

4. Obsess Over Cardio
I cannot stress this this one enough. PLEASE don't come to the gym just to spend hours on the treadmill, elliptical, or any other piece of cardio equipment and consider that a legitimate workout. It's not. It's a waste of your time and energy and, more importantly, is NOT going to give you the results you want to see in your body. The more cardio you do, the more you're going to have to do over time to see the same benefits. Not to mention, hours of cardio every day is just plain boring. Learn to train smarter. Be bold - pick up the weights! I wish everyone would start adding weight training to their gym routine. I'm not saying you need to pick up massive weight, but just don't spend your time there every day on a walk to nowhere on the treadmill. If you want to do cardio, consider adding high intensity interval training (HIIT) to your routine. HIT gets your heart rate up and the fat burn going in half the time. And as for that idiotic misconception that women will get bulky and jacked like a dude if they lift weights...STOP using that as an excuse to just do cardio. I train my butt off and I'm a whopping 115lbs. Bulky? I think not. Lesson to be learned here? Just say NO to endless hours of cardio!

5. Dress Inappropiatley
This is true for all women, from young girls to little old ladies. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for wearing cute gym clothes. My point, though, is that you should do yourself and everyone else at your gym a favor and dress appropriately. No one needs to see you prancing around half naked, especially if you've got some extra fat or things that really shouldn't be exposed or seen prancing anywhere. If things aren't covered up or you can tell they're oozing out, cover them up pronto. If you can tell something is too tight on you, don't wear it, or at least not in public. I've seen older women who look good for their age, but that's no reason to walk around in a tiny sports bra and short shorts with half your booty hanging out. It's definitely a distraction to the guys at your gym, but not for the reason you're thinking. They aren't looking at you thinking "Wow she looks GOOD." Trust me.

6. Act Like You Own The Gym When You Don't Know The Proper Form
If you see someone doing an exercise you think looks interesting and want to attempt it yourself, I applaud you for having the motivation and desire to try something new to improve your training. Most women I see in the gym live on the cardio machines, so anytime I see someone venture away from the cardio equipment and try training on the machines or with free weights, it makes me happy. However, don't assume you're doing the exercise correctly and using the proper weight just because you've eyeballed someone else doing a few sets. Don't be afraid to ask someone exactly how you should be performing the exercise, what weight you should start at, etc. It's only to your benefit to start off doing things right from the get go. And drop the attitude, too. The other day there was a woman who had NO clue what she was doing, wandering around from machine to machine and carrying her workout sheet from one of the trainers. I was using the lying hamstring curl machine and halfway through my second set, I noticed her standing next to me. Instead of asking if she could work in, or saying anything to me all, she just stood there, glaring at me and tapping her foot impatiently. Really, lady? Don't act like just because someone showed you how to use certain machines, you're running the joint. Lose the 'tude.