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Eat for Fuel

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Eating for fuel is not a concept most people relish. Most people eat for pleasure purposes. They eat certain meals because they taste good or make them feel good. While this is fine in and of itself, if a person looks at food in this manner they will have a harder time losing weight when the time comes.

To the foodie, food is something they live for. They continually talk about how fantastic this food or that food is. They speak about the intense flavors they get when they eat certain items. They elevate food to almost God status.

To a bodybuilder, food is just fuel. It is something the body requires and really nothing more. This attitude is essential if you are going to survive eating nothing but chicken breast, brown rice and veggies. These things, while they can taste rather yummy when prepared properly, are not the most exciting foods in the world. However, they are all very effective at fueling the body. They help build muscle and burn fat.

This change in mindset is extremely important if you have alot of weight to lose. By having this attitude you won't really crave anything. Afterall, why would you crave one fuel over another? They serve similar purposes, so it wouldn't make any sense to crave one fuel over another. I will admit that it is probably alot easier to say than do.

I am one of the lucky people. I see food as fuel and nothing more. When people ask me what my favorite food is, I can never really give an answer. I look at food as something that keeps my body going from day to day. For the past 2 weeks I have eaten the exact same foods in the exact same order each and every day. This past week I dropped fruit from most of my meals. However, the meals are identical to what they were previously. It is just how I do it and it is working for me.

Thus, I suggest you try to change your mindset. Look at food differently and you may solve some of your nutritional issues.

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Mission Accountability Update: Week 5

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This was an amazing week. For the first time in about 5 years, I saw the numbers 229 on the scale. I know that scale weight isn't everything, but when you've been stuck at the same weight for so long, it feels awesome to not only lose weight, but to break the 230 lb. barrier. I've also learned alot along the way to this place.

I can tell you that my new focus in my training has been helping me alot. I am working on imbalances that have been caused by years of doing things “not so perfectly” and by fixing those things, other things are doing better. I am learning alot about myself, my intensity and my ability to implement change throughout this entire process. I think this is extremely important and if you are able to give something like this a try, go for it!

I am working very hard on my flexibility right now. My hamstrings are tight and that also causes my calves to be tighter than they should be as well. Because the calve attaches at the hamstring area, by loosening up the hamstrings the calves will also give a little. The stretches feel really good and I notice the difference during my training.

Eating hasn't really been an issue. Somehow I just don't crave anything that I shouldn't eat. I'm not really sure how that works, but I've heard some theories–some of which I agree with. It seems a real possibility that people get addicted to the insulin rush they get when they eat the wrong things. By cleaning up your diet 100% you avoid those insulin spikes and so you break yourself of the insulin addiction.

I'd love it if you could leave a comment about your own struggles with losing fat. Your words will help others.

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Book Review: Never Let Go

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Never Let Go by Dan John is an account of the life and training philosophies of Dan John, an Olympic weight lifter and discus throw champion. His book is subtitled “A Philosophy of Lifting, Living and Learning.” It is a very appropriate subtitle indeed. Dan John has alot to say and he says it in this book.

He covers a variety of interesting topics. His discussions are all centered around selecting the best training methods for you. There are several things about this book that have stuck in my mind and I discuss those below.

I have always wondered about “cookie cutter” exercise programs. Dan seems to say that you should try different things. Utilize the items around you to do different things. He talks about a guy who wanted to lean up and get stronger, so he took a barbell, 2 45 lb. plates and himself to a track. He set up the barbell and plates on the grass at one end of the track. He then proceeded to do a simple workout that consisted of sprinting a lap, then doing 10 deadlifts. He repeated this 10 times.

Dan then relates how he has done workouts using a hillside and a boulder. He'd roll the boulder up the hill and then let it roll back down. He used this for fat loss.

In this book, Dan makes the case that we should be trying different things to see what works best for our given situation. Everybody is different and they require different stimuli to get the job done. He promotes the exact philosophy I do when I speak about the Experiment of One (thank you, Carlos DeJesus).

I highly recommend that you read this book. It is not a long list of different exercise routines to try. Instead, it is a philosophy of training that you can apply to your own situation in order to achieve fantastic results. This book gets a thumbs up from me!

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Lat Pull Downs for Back Growth

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Lat Pull Downs are an excellent exercise for building up the size of your back. They can be used in conjunction with a rowing movement to really push the back to grow faster. While some people recommend using these to improve their chin ups, I would disagree at their effectiveness in that task.

The lat pull downs are what cause that classic V-shape in your back. However, most people execute the movement incorrectly. There are many things people do wrong when using this exercise. Some examples of issues:

  • The use of momentum
  • Going far too heavy
  • Not squeezing at the bottom of the movement
The idea is to do the movement under complete control. Have good control on the way down and the way back up. Be sure to get a full stretch at the top of the movement. This will help stimulate your lats even more. Hold the movement for a second at the bottom. Just squeeze your shoulder blades together tightly. 
For those of you interested in some instructions, please check out the slideshow below.

I hope you've enjoyed this description of a lat pull down and how to properly execute that movement.

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The Gym of the Future

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I wonder what would happen to the world of fitness if people were willing to hep others? What would happen if there were people at every gym who kept an eye out for bad form and corrected it for you? What if gyms had their staff walk the floor and actually answer questions? Do you think your progress would get better? Do you think you'd deal with less injuries?

I can tell you from personal experience, that a place like this exists. Yes, there is a gym where you are more than just a number in their system. There is a gym where you can ask questions and get a detailed answer. There is a gym that has people who will help you learn to squat or deadlift and they won't expect you to do personal training in order to receive that help. There is a gym where they provide a learning experience rather than just collect your dues.

I am sure you are wondering where this gym is. Finding a gym like this is a goldmine and something everyone who is serious about their training wants to do. Before I reveal the name and location of this gym, I want to talk more about the programs they have going on.

At this gym, there is a giant whiteboard with a bunch of “teams” listed. Yes, the list includes “Strongman”, “Powerlifting”, “Bodybuilding”, “Cross-fit”, etc. Members are encouraged to add themselves to one of the “teams”. Why? These teams meet on certain days during the week to workout together! They help each other out by encouraging one another to have an intense workout. They become friends based upon their shared goals.

I define innovation as “giving people something they didn't know they needed” and that's exactly what this gym does on a regular basis. They come up with innovative ways to train. They come up with innovative ways to use the equipment. They provide innovative events that create a learning environment.

Alright, so it is time to reveal where this gym is located. The gym I am referring to is Metroflex Gym in Long Beach, California. The two guys who own the place, Eddie Avakoff and Chris Albert, are very passionate about the fitness lifestyle. Let me tell you about my experience with these two guys.

Upon my first trip into the gym when it opened, I was greeted by first name by Chris. He and I had exchanged a few emails prior to the gym opening and so he knew exactly who I was. The next time I was in the gym I met Eddie. He spent 30 minutes chatting with my son and I about the unique ways in which we could use the equipment to get a different kind of workout. He talked to my son about the importance of eating right and even showed him a bunch of small books he had on the subject.

After some time, I approached Chris about some issues I was having. He agreed to help me out and his fee was extremely reasonable. What I noticed more than the low fee was the detailed nature Chris brought to the problem (my nutrition). In addition, the follow through was tremendous. He has me check in with him 3 times a week. He is always asking how my energy is. He is truly concerned with the results I get.

These guys are the real deal. The pricing of the membership is cheap. You owe it yourself to look these guys up. All contact information is located at http://metroflexlbc.com.

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