Supplement Tip. CLA, Get The Most From Your Fat Burning Stack!

CLA: Conjugated Linoleic Acid

- What it is
Conjugated linoleic acid is a collective term used to describe one or more positional and geometric forms of the essential fatty acid linoleic acid. Linoleic acid may help your body increase muscle and decrease fat deposits.

- Natural Sources
CLA is naturally present in cow’s milk and beef and other ruminant meats. Milkfat, in particular, is the richest natural dietary source of CLA in the cis-9, trans-11 (c9, t11) configuration. Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is found in cold-pressed oils such as flaxseed, hempseed, grapeseed, sunflower, safflower, and olive oil. Other foods contain this omega-6 acid as well, such as dairy, beef, and chicken.

- How it works
Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) is an enzyme that breaks down fat you eat and stores it in your body. CLA hinders LPL, so your body stores less fat. CLA also helps destroy fat cells before your body stores them, and it helps turn fat into energy.

- How to consume
 Many people take up to six capsules a day to get the recommended 1000 mg.

- Which ingredients should one combine with for better results

Due to it’s fat burning properties, CLA may stack well with other fat-burning supplements such as L-Carnitine, and EFA’s.

- Positive Effects
CLA has been studied for various effects on health including: effects on the immune
system, cancer prevention, blood lipid and glucose levels, and body composition
weight loss.

- Negative or side-effects
It is natural, and the only side effect is an upset stomach for some people. Taking your CLA with food helps this.

SIX PACK AB'S...THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH , NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH. IN ME YOU TRUST!!!!

How do I get six-pack or washboard abs? Hmm.. the question I am most often asked.

The first thing you need to understand is this: we ALL have six-packs! Six-packs aren't 'created' by doing ab exercises...they already exist.
The reason most of us can't see our abs is because they're covered by a layer of fat. What this means is that:
Doing ab exercises to achieve a six-pack is an impossible goal
The only way to see your six-pack is to reduce your body fat
The best way to reduce your body fat is with high intensity strength training and a healthy, low-calorie diet. Notice I didn't say cardio, doing cardio has it's place, however if you want to shed fat to see those abs....you need to do high intensity work.
This doesn't mean that ab exercises serve no purpose--strong abs support your spine and protect your back. However, keep in mind that your ab workout is just one part of a complete program when it comes to getting a six-pack.

Normally when writing a post, I use a picture that best fits the story, usually a fitness model or a pro athlete. I take care in giving you visual inspiration along with solid information you can trust to be true. Today I will use myself, the reason is simple. The topic you the readers seem to be most interested in is abdominal training and how to get the coveted " Six Pack ". So at forty two years of age, I can tell you that I was able to take the guess work out of ab training and learn really what it took to sculpt some eye catching abs. No I am not going to sell you anything or refer you to some infomercial. What I am going to do is tell you exactly what it takes and how to do it and all for free.

In doing so I am using a picture of myself to demonstrate that you do not need to be a pro athlete or a fitness cover model to have a great mid section. I like most of you have a full time job and a family. Like most of you, at one time I was misled in believing you needed sit ups or fancy machines and tons of cardio to build a defined and trim six pack. Commercialism is so very responsible for misleading the American public, it's no wonder so many of you are just plain confused. So here goes.

If you're not a child with the metabolism of a jet rocket, better leave the basic sit up back in the gym class. It is not very effective in sculpting your mid-section. What is effective as I have already touched on is high intensity training, using weights. The key is whole body training and the basic multi-joint exercises like the squat, dead lift, pressing movements, pull-ups, yes pull-ups and then some finishing exercises like weighted floor barbell roll outs and rope crunches. These exercises done correctly and quickly with resistance will force your body to recruit many fast twitch muscle fibers. Doing this demands more energy so first stored calories then fat are quickly used for this. The best news, when you finish training in this manner your body continues to burn calories for many hours after the work is done. Unlike cardio. With cardio, the minute you step off the treadmill, your calorie burning grinds to an immediate halt.

The abdominal respond best as do any other muscle group, with intensity!! Weighted exercise create the intensity needed to cause the stress required for the building of lean muscle tissue and burning tons of unwanted fat. Listen, your abs come into play in just about every thing you do throughout the day as well as about every exercise you do in the gym. The abs must stabilize your spine and are constantly being used. Do you think some crunches on a exercise ball are going to sculpt your mid-section and burn fat? I think not, in fact your abs are laughing at the notion.

No, none of this is easy and it does require some skill and education. Be persistent and take this information to heart. The TV ads that promote fast abs wouldn't sell any product if they told you the above mentioned is what it really takes. So don't be fooled, save your money. If you need help, I will give it to you for free. It's all here on my site. H.I.G.T is the future of fitness training. Stay focused and good luck. Now go live the shredded life.

Richard

Extreme Fight Conditioning.

There are several general concepts, which helped to shape the specific program. First, the work profile of boxing is repeated 3-minute rounds of activity, often with very high intensity bursts within a round. The rounds are separated by one-minute rest intervals. Thus, the relative contribution of anaerobic energy release pathways is considered extremely important, with aerobic capacity playing an important role in terms of facilitating rapid recovery. Extreme conditioning is required to fight effectively for ten intense, 3-minute rounds and anaerobic endurance is a key aspect that cannot be overlooked.

Short of an early round knockout, boxers cannot afford to win only the early rounds of a fight. They must maintain an intense, but measured pace throughout a long and competitive bout. So conditioning counts almost as much as skill for boxing success. Optimal physical conditioning provides the platform from which the skills can be used. The best way to simulate the demands of boxing is to use conditioning methods, which mimic the work/rest ratio and integrated bursts of power that typify boxing. I continue to use "suicides" and different versions of my H.I.G.T program to keep my fighters as well as my clients in peak physical condition.

Boxing is a highly individual sport. Fighters possess unique styles that create specific physical demands. Some rely on explosive strength ("power"), for others it's starting strength ("speed"), and for most a combination of the two ("speed-strength"). True champions change their style in a way that will make them more able to attack the weaknesses of any given opponent. Improvements in specific capacities can be made, but they are only helpful if integrated into the fighter's style. For example, extensive footwork exercises may not benefit the power puncher who fights stationary and looks to deliver a blow that starts with the legs and drives right through the opponent, and wins that way. Similarly, a fighter who relies on punching speed and fast footwork should not put all his training hours into heavy bag work and muscle mass development. So, the program designed must not only be specific to boxing, but also specific to the boxer.

Ideally, the boxing punch consists of synchronization between arm, leg, and trunk actions. The punching movement of a boxer consists of leg extension, trunk rotation, and arm extension, in succession. The more effective the coordination between arms, legs and trunk movements are the greatest and the impact force of a punch. The leg muscles play a vital role in the power developed in this sequence. Increasing leg force development and coordinating it with trunk and arm action is probably the most effective way to increase punching power.

Because boxing is an explosive sport, ballistic training methods are especially effective during weight training for boxing. This kind of training method requires the athlete to perform each repetition explosively, with maximal intended velocity. Finally, in my view, the best way to weight train for competitive boxing is via a cycled training schedule. This type of training schedule integrates workouts and exercises that will meet all the basic performance demands of boxing, strength, power, speed, agility, and strength endurance.

Tuesdays 5PM @ The Zoo Health Club

Ask AbFitt: How Do I Get Ripped?

Question submitted by Bill Shefferd

Princeton NJ:

I run 10k every other day and I do an hour of BodyPump on the opposite days. I eat well around 85% of the time, sticking to foods like oatmeal, egg whites, chicken breasts, whole wheat bread with natural peanut butter, apples, oranges and almonds. I am lean & fit but NOT ripped and have very little muscle. I want to look good in my clothes and ripped when they come off!
What can I do to get ripped, really RIPPED? Naturally?

AbFitt- I've seen trouble like this before. I'm no detective, but this sounds like a case of "Skinny-Fat-itis" caused by excessive cardio and a lack of lifting! If you train religiously & eat good foods, but don't have a (ripped & muscular) body, you might need to pound the pavement less and move iron more. I know it's hard to hear, but there's no way you can maintain a lot of muscle running 10k every other day followed by an hour of BodyPump on opposite days.
Even though BodyPump classes utilize weights, BodyPump includes a significant cardiovascular component. Cardio is important for fat loss, but eventually you have to be careful that you don't do too much.
Listen: performing too much cardio can be counterproductive to your ripped goals!
With excessive cardio every day, you'll start burning muscle as opposed to losing fat, and the end result will be that skinny-fat, long-distance-runner look. It doesn't sound like this is the ripped, lean physique you want. I've seen many people train this way. Most of them get that stringy look and end up with considerable amounts of fat on their bodies.
So, what's the solution?
Less Cardio, More Iron
First, cut your cardio in half and incorporate more weight-training in your weekly routine. You should be weight-training at least 3 to 4 times per week, which will allow you to build muscle and burn fat at the same time. Weight-training is one of the most important components in getting ripped.
The extra muscle tissue you gain will burn fat. Why? Muscle tissue uses almost three times as many calories as fat, even while resting! If you add 2 to 5 pounds of muscle through weight-training, you can expect to burn up to 100 more calories per day. Muscle is the key to getting lean!This goes for the ladies as well. Don't think you can get the body you want without lifting some serious iron. News flash!!! You can't! No pill, no food, no cardio will do what one hr of some weight training will. Case closed!

Timing Is Everything

There are also different theories on when you should do cardio. For fat loss, should it be before you lift or after?

The answer lies in a study conducted at the University of Tsuken (Japan), published in Medicin & Science. The study used ten 23-year old male students. The students had to cycle for 60 minutes at 50 percent of their V02 max. They cycled before they weight-trained and after they weight-trained on two separate days.

The male subjects lost more fat doing cardio after they lifted instead of before! Researchers attributed the increased fat loss to heightened levels of adrenalin and noradrenalin after resistance training. You also have a higher GH (growth hormone) peak after you lift weights, which is another significant advantage to post-workout cardio. Growth hormone typically stimulates fat burning annd muscle recovery.



FAT BURNING

Although weight-training and the right amount of cardio is important to overall fat loss, you still have to eat the right fat-burning foods.

One of my favorite fat-burning foods that can also help you slowly build muscle is oatmeal. Oatmeal is a great fat-burner food, but watch out for heavy sugar in the single-serving packages.

Another fat-burning favorite is chicken breast. Make sure when purchasing a chicken breast that it is lean with minimal fat. I also like egg whites, which are great for dieting and losing weight. Last is asparaguss, a great fat-burning food. It has natural diuretic effects and contains a chemical called asparagine, an amino acidd that directly affects the cells and breaks down fat.

If you can incorporate all of these essentials - nutrition, resistance training and proper cardio timing - you can overcome Skinny-Fat-itis and turn yourself into a ticket stub: ripped, really ripped!

The Power Of Berries

Fit tips / supplements..

Here are two to add to your list.

GoJi berries

Why do people use goji berries?
Goji berries have been used for 6,000 years by herbalists in China, Tibet and India to:

* protect the liver
* help eyesight
* improve sexual function and fertility
* strengthen the legs
* boost immune function
* improve circulation
* promote longevity

Goji berries are rich in antioxidants, particularly carotenoids such as beta-carotene and zeaxanthin. One of zeaxanthin's key roles is to protect the retina of the eye by absorbing blue light and acting as an antioxidant. In fact, increased intake of foods containing zeathanthin may decrease the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of vision loss and blindness in people over the age of 65.

In recent years, goji juice has become popular as a health beverage. Companies marketing goji juice often mention the unsupported claim that a man named Li Qing Yuen consumed goji berries daily and lived to be 252 years old.

Salba seed-

Omega 3s, Fiber, Antioxidants, & Much More...

Salba is the richest whole food source of Omega 3 fatty acids and fiber found in nature. Gram for gram, Salba provides eight times more Omega 3s than salmon, four times more fiber than flax, six times more calcium than whole milk, 30 percent more antioxidants than blueberries, and much more. Salba is all-natural, has no trans-fats, very few carbohydrates, and is certified Non-GMO, Vegan, Kosher, and Gluten-Free for those who suffer from celiac disease.

So what are the key supplements to build your best body ever? How much do you need and when is the best time to take them?

Supplements are very effective for promoting muscle gains. The most critical would be:

Whey Protein- Since it is so fast-digesting it aids muscle growth around workouts.
Multivitamin- To help cover all your micronutrient bases.

Creatine- Which is fairly cheap and very effective.

Branched-Chain Amino Acids- They may help promote muscle growth.

Q: What is the proper intake of proteins per meal? Is it true that the body can absorb 30 grams per meal? Is there such a thing as too much protein? I see some people eating 80g of protein per meal.

A: You should shoot for about 30-40g of protein per meal. How much protein a body can absorb depends on the individual and what they have eaten prior to that meal.

Q: I've heard a lot about carb cycling - what is it? Why should I do it? What is an example of carb-cycling?

A: Carb cycling refers to alternating periods of low- and high-carb intake, maximizing both fat loss and muscle growth. For fat loss, your default diet would be somewhat under 1g of carbs per pound of bodyweight. You would cycle in a high-carb day (greater than 2g per pound) every five to seven days.

Since carb-restricted diets can lower your metabolic rate by decreasing leptin levels, the high-carb day helps to reset your leptin levels and keep your metabolic rate up.

To add size, your default diet would be 2-3g per pound. You can go lower, either to about 1g per pound on non-training days, or you can have two low-carb days after every three or four high-carb days to minimize fat gain.


Q: Do you have any tips for getting rid of that last inch around the belly? HIIT cardio and weightlifting have left me with just a little bit more to lose.

A: That last inch is the toughest. The only way to get rid of it is to burn even more calories than you consume. So to consume even fewer calories, consider dropping some extra carbs from your diet, such as at your pre-workout meal and/or lunch.

To burn more calories, consider turning up your high-intensity interval training by going for a few more intervals each time.

Q: I do cardio right after weights. Should I have my postworkout shake and carbs before cardio or after? If I wait until after cardio, will I miss my postworkout window to stimulate muscle growth?

You should wait until immediately after the cardio is over to consume your protein and fast carbs. This is especially true for the carbs, which would blunt fat burning during the cardio workout. Don't be worried about missing your post-workout window . . . as long as you prepared properly with a pre-workout protein shake.

The pre-workout protein shake provides energy during the workout and also serves as a post-workout protein source to stimulate muscle protein synthesis.

Q: If I'm taking creatine, do I need to do the loading phase first? What is a typical loading phase?

A: You only need a loading phase if you want to see immediate results. A good loading phase should last five to seven days. Take 5g of creatine four or five times per day. Definitely take creatine with protein and carbs, and on workout days make one of those doses with your pre-workout shake and carbs, and another one immediately post-workout with your shake and carbs.

Q: I take 40-45g of protein and 5g of creatine in my post-workout shake. What is the best source of carbs to take at that time: a supplement powder I could combine with my shake or a food source?

A: Post-workout, it doesn't matter, as long as they are fast-digesting or high-glycemic carbs. For supplements, nothing beats Vitargo in my opinion, a powdered complex carb supplement that actually digests about twice as fast as most sugars.

Another option is simply dextrose powder. For foods, fat-free sugary candies are best. One company that stands out is Wonka. Many of their candies, such as Pixy Stix, Sweet Tarts and Bottle Caps are made with either dextrose or maltodextrin, which are both basically pure glucose and will spike insulin and drive amino acids, carbs and creatine into your muscles, and turn on muscle protein synthesis to stimulate growth.

Slow-digesting carbs, such as most fruit, oatmeal, whole-wheat bread, etc., are not the best choice, as they keep insulin levels low and stead

Sonny Brown On His Road To The WBFF Calgary, Alberta – June 29th (Update)

(Follow Aussie Sonny Brown with his training diary leading up to the WBFF Calgary, Alberta June 29TH)

Good morning fellow fitness lovers!! Thought I would check in and let you know how it's all coming along. I'm off to America in 4 days which means I will start my "dialing in" process. 

The basis of the process is to bring the skin a little tighter and start to fill my muscles out a bit more. I'm on a flight for 14 hours which is going to be very interesting for the conditioning but I have some methods in place to get off the plane at 110%. I'm excited to share the next 2 weeks with you all as I shoot with the worlds best then finally step on stage at the WBFF. 

The videos seem to be going great. Lets do another one! I'm thinking analog on keeping conditioning on long flights, glycogen depletion workouts and my methods to reach America in the best shape of my life. Simply like and I'll get the process going for you guys. Happy Saturday to you. SB 

 Visit Sonny @  https://www.facebook.com/sonnybrownfitness?fref=ts

Get your post workout nutrition locked in.

During your workout, your body extracts glycogen (stored carbohydrates) from your muscle cells as one of its primary fuel sources for hoisting those dumbbells into the air. If you don't replace this muscle glycogen fast following your workout, your muscle cells won't be able to repair themselves at optimum levels and you may actually experience muscle loss, or at least "less than desired results" from your weight training program.

To quickly replace muscle glycogen and avoid further muscle breakdown, consume about 100 grams of high-glycemic carbs (GI rating over 70) within 1 hour after your workout.
 
Post-Workout Carb Selection with Glycemic Index Oatmeal, Instant, Sweetened 87
White Rice 81
White Bread 100
Banana, Ripe 90
Pineapple 94
Mashed Potatoes, White 104
Table Sugar 92
Donut 108

Throughout Your Day:

Other than immediately after your workout, you should try to avoid high-glycemic carbs as much as possible throughout your day.

By avoiding the associated "insulin rush" that comes from highly processed and sugary high GI foods, your body will draw more from your fat stores to help provide fuel rather than looking to the quickly digested carbs in your stomach.

Not only will you feel energized and alert all day long, but you'll also have ignited a long, slow fat burn that will help you finally get a peek at the washboard abs you're trying to uncover.

Before Bed:

When you sleep, your body's metabolism slows down considerably and makes it easier to store excess calories as fat. Although you should certainly avoid high GI carbs before you go to bed, you should also try to limit your consumption of "dry carbs" after 4:00 pm to avoid excess fat storage while you sleep. These would include things like pastas, breads, rice and potatoes.

Here is a short list of "approved" carb choices:

Pre-Bedtime Carb Selection

Glycemic Index Rating
Grapefruit 26
Peach 30
Apple 49
Milk, Skim 46
Yogurt, Plain 32
Custard 59
Tomato Soup 54

What you need to know to grow. Protein.....

 

* Egg – Grand Daddy of all foods. I like to have 1 whole egg for every 3 whites. So breakfast might include 6 egg whites and 2 whole eggs.

* Liquid Egg Whites – This is just pure egg whites. More convenient than cracking all the eggs and discarding the yolk but will cost you a little more.
* Skinless Chicken Breast or Cutlets – Lean, inexpensive, high quality protein; staple of every diet.
* Lean Ground Turkey – Lean high quality protein. Little more expensive than chicken breast.
* Top Round Steak – Lean cut of meat. Has more fat than chicken but great source of meat. Definitely something you want to have in the off-season and can be eaten while dieting in moderation.
* Filet Mignon – Tasty lean cut of meat. Expensive but worth it every once in a while.
* Buffalo – Lean red meat, very tasty but super expensive. Give it a try.
* Flounder – Inexpensive lean fish.
* Cod – Inexpensive lean fish.
* Pollock – Lean fish.
* Wild Salmon – Healthy fatty fish. I get my salmon wild because the quality is a lot better but that results in a higher cost.
* Canned Tuna – Lean inexpensive fish. If you worry about your sodium you might want to cut down on this. Make sure you get the one in water not oil.
* Turkey Bacon – Leaner than regular bacon, not something I have all the time but I am a bacon lover so adding this to my breakfast in the off-season is something I like.
* Lean Ground Beef – Make sure you get something that is at least 90% lean. This can be a great off-season source of protein.
* Cottage Cheese – Slow digesting form of protein. Great for having when you have to go a long time in-between meals and also excellent to have before bed.
* Pork Tenderloin – Inexpensive lean protein.
* Wild Sea Bass – Lean high quality protein. Expensive side.
* Wild Swordfish – Lean high quality protein. Expensive.

Protein That You Should Stay Away From:

* Skinned Chicken – The skin just adds extra fat that you don’t need.
* Breaded Chicken – The bread crumbs adds simple carbs that you don’t need.
* Deli Meat – Made with too many chemicals. Low quality of meat.
* Bacon – Too Fatty, but so tasty. I love this food but it is not the best for you.
* Farmed Fish – Have less omega-3s than wild fish, recent studies show that the farm raised fish’s fat is very unhealthy.
* Fatty Ground Beef – Any ground beef that is below 85% is too fatty for me. Yes, they make tasty burgers or meatballs but that amount of fat is just too high to have on a regular basis.
* Fatty Cuts of Red Meat – Just look at the steaks, if the outside of the steak has some fat on it but the body of the steak is all red then that is fine. All you have to do with those steaks is cut the fat off the edges. If the body of the steak is riddled with white fat you are getting a low quality highly fatty steak that might taste good but won’t be good for you.