Want a Lean and Chiseled Physique Instead of Too Much Muscle?

February 8, 2012 admin Muscle Tone Strategies

My blog is a bit different from the average fitness site…I prefer the lean and chiseled look over the “Lift Heavy and Get Jacked” philosophy.

But what does that mean?

Simply put: I’m not focused on being in a bodybuilding contest. I’ve pretty much conceded to the fact I’m never going to make a living as a fitness model. Dang! My focus, today, mainly lies in wanting to look good in a nice shirt and sport a nice pair of pants the wife picks out for me. (Trust me, she’s got better taste than I do.)

Lean and Chiseled

A few years back, I really worked to tout more lean muscle on my frame. It was just after the birth of my second daughter when I just felt compelled to hit the weights hard, like I’ve done before.

My goal was to put on a few pounds of quality muscle. And there is a difference between putting on muscle and putting on weight. A big difference.

How to Kick Off Your Plans the Right Way

» Read more..

No comments

Have Your Push Up Workouts Stalled? How to Add More Reps to a Routine and Get Stronger.

February 4, 2012 admin Body Weight Training

What happens when you’ve plateaued in your push up workouts?

Well, if you’re cranking out the same number of repetitions for each go at your routine, and with the same trusty exercises, you’ll eventually hit a wall in your progress. This is actually a common frustration in all workout plans, and not just specific to bodyweight routines. In this post I want to discuss a few tactics to help keep your upper body strength goals on the positive end, and out of a training rut.

Push Up Workouts

Repeating the same set of movements continuously will simply force the muscles to adapt instead of strengthening. As a result, the muscles will get comfortable. The triceps will get comfortable just as the pecs will get comfortable.

Let’s Look At Our Push Up Choices…

» Read more..

2 comments

How a Jump Rope Workout Can Help Blast Off Excess Body Fat

January 28, 2012 admin Interval Training

Did you know a jump rope workout can be one of the most effective ways to burn off a ton of calories?

This is probably on of the simplest options for anyone who’s goal is to get a leaner physique. Price wise, a jump rope is a helluva lot cheaper than a treadmill or stationary bike. Also, if you can’t find a good place to get in your High-Intensity Interval Training, this little piece of equipment is pretty convenient when space is an issue.

Jump Rope Workout

I have to admit that one of my favorite ways to finish off an exercise session is to grab my rope and set the stop watch. I like to have options when I train because I really don’t like doing the same style of workouts over, and over, and over again. So, while I might use sprints as my primary training method, I like to have a fall back option that I know won’t let me down.

Jump Roping: The Hardcore Way

» Read more..

6 comments

Are Man Makers The Ultimate Burpee Exercise?

January 21, 2012 admin Featured Exercise

If you’re looking for full body exercises, here’s one that’s simply a step beyond the ordinary, and those are Man Makers.

Okay, if you don’t know by now, I love training with bodyweight exercises. I do mix in weight training as well, but for the most part I prefer the impact that bodyweight routines can deliver. I can do them practically any place and at any time.

But when it comes to the superb Burpees, I have a love-hate relationship with them: They suck…but in a good way. 

Man Makers

But sometimes great exercises can get a little boring. So one way I like to keep myself engaged is to spice up every go-to exercises with other elements. Sometimes it’s as simple as adding in more resistance, or dropping/increasing the rep count. I find it doesn’t have to take much to make a movement more challenging. And, sometimes looking for new reasons to keep you coming back is half the fun.

How to Tackle Man Makers

» Read more..

8 comments

Beating Overtraining Symptoms By Picking The Right Recovery Times Between Workouts

January 14, 2012 admin Fitness Techniques

One of the easiest ways to burn yourself right out of your fitness goals is to go beyond your limits find yourself dealing with a few nasty overtraining symptoms. Mentally and physically it’s the worst. If you consistent go into your workouts feeling sapped of energy each sessions will be a demoralizing experience.

Overtraining Symptoms

(Photo: kmaschke)

The most common reasons people suffer from this is because they never switch up their routines. They keep plugging at the same workouts each week. Even when those trusty workouts stop working people hate to deviate from their comfort zones.

Another concern is if you start suffering from overtraining you could put yourself in the position to actually turn back your progress. Without meaning too you could end up making yourself weaker. And that’s no good.

The Fine Line Between Overtraining and Undertraining

» Read more..

8 comments

How Simple Pull Ups Bands Can Help You “Conquer the Bar”

January 7, 2012 admin Body Weight Training

If you’ve never heard of Pull up bands before, they’re essentially really thick, over-sized rubber bands. For anyone having difficulty conquering the pull up bar then they’re a nifty little tool for strengthening your back muscles, and aiding in your quest to master those pull ups. And since I think pull ups are one of the best exercises you should have in your program, I wanted to share a few of the methods that helped me increase my pull up stats over the years.

Pull up bands

When I first started getting serious into exercising I could only muster a few pull ups at a time before I’d fall off the bar. It was a shame because the workout program I was following at the time had me seeing some significant gains to other muscle areas. But when it came to pull ups I just couldn’t increase my numbers.

The one thing about strength training you need to remember is nothing is over night. It’s all about time and practice. That means patience as well. Getting frustrated won’t make the muscles respond any faster. Only being relentless in your training will get you moving forward.

“You’ve Got to Work The System”

» Read more..

4 comments

How to Live Healthier: Does Your Resveratrol Dosage Matter?

December 29, 2011 admin Main

In vino veritas? For a fun time probably yes. But does the same hold true for a healthier you? I wanted to look at how the reservatrol dosage contained within one glass of red wine may have a positive impact on your over health. This is especially meaningful with the since the holiday season is just about to come to a close, and many of you have either had a few sips or are planning to get a few when we ring in the New Year.

Resveratrol Dosage

(Photo: Hans Voorn)

[Longevity is all about taking the time to enjoys the little things that make life matter the most. "In the end, it's not going to matter how many breaths you took, but how many moments took your breath away." - shing xiong]

What Exactly is Resveratrol?

» Read more..

No comments
« Older Entries  
Disclaimer | Anti-Spam Policy | DMCA Notice | Privacy Policy | Contact