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Time to Reload

March 25, 2011 By Michael Mahony, ISSA CPT 1 Comment

I am working on getting into great shape. My issue has always been how I eat and the cardio that I do (or sometimes don't do). I've had alot of success with the Stronglifts 5 x 5 workout in 2011. While I still weigh what I weighed on January 1, 2011 (that alone is a victory), my fat percentage is down a full 2% since the start of the year. That is significant because I know I could have eaten better. Saturday I am going to be doing one rep maximums. I am certain that I am going to obliterate my squat and deadlift numbers. After that I will begin the Lean Hybrid Muscle Reloaded program. I am planning for massive results!

The premise of Lean Hybrid Muscle Reloaded is that you can add muscle and remove fat simultaneously. This is a “recent” discovery, but one I've been privy to for a long time based on my friendship with Carlos DeJesus. When you handle your training with enough intensity and you eat cleanly, the result will be increased muscle and decreased fat. That's the plan for me over the next 12 weeks!

The Plan

In order to succeed there has got to be a plan in place. This is the first step in any body transformation. I have taken a step back and looked over the things that have worked well for me along with the things that have not worked well for me. I believe that if I am very careful with the timing of my carb intake, I will be able to blast fat even with the increase in carbs. I am doing this because I've focused on very low carb nutrition for a long time and want to reignite my metabolism.

Nutrition

I will not be strictly following the Lean Hybrid Muscle Reloaded nutrition plan. Instead, my plan is to carb cycle throughout the entire 12 weeks. I am starting out this way so that I can change things up if the fat loss isn't happening. The nutrition plan will involve eating lean protein, lots of fibrous carbs and having 2 carb up days per week and one day each week where I have a cheat meal (one single meal, not the entire day). My starting calorie plan is as follows:

Monday, Tuesday 2600 calories (40% protein/40% carbohydrates/20% fat)
Wednesday 2400 calories (50% protein/30% carbohydrates/20% fat)
Thursday, Friday, Saturday 2600 calories (40% protein/40% carbohydrates/20% fat)
Sunday 2100 calories (50% protein/30% carbohydrates/20% fat)

This will accomplish two things: (1) I am cycling my carbs in short spurts of high and low carb days; and (2) I am cycling my calories as well. Both of these things should aide the fat loss process and are recommended by the Lean Hybrid Muscle Reloaded nutrition plan.

Weight Training

I will be working the Lean Hybrid Muscle Reloaded weight training plan throughout the 12 weeks. I am going to use Phase 1 of the program.

Cardio Training

I will be using the Lean Hybrid Muscle Reloaded cardio plan with an added twist–double cardio! Yes, I am going to do the cardio from the plan right after the workout and then I am going to add a second cardio session later that same day. On rest days I will add one long steady state cardio session. The idea is to blast the fat and I am taking that mission seriously!

Mike Westerdal and Elliot Hulse

Mike Westerdal
Mike Westerdal

Elliot Hulse

This program is created by Mike Westerdal and Elliot Hulse. You can check out an interview with Mike Westerdal if you are interested.

Related Posts:

  • Cardio Timing for Fat Loss
  • Fitness Goals are Achieveable With the Right Strategy
  • Book Review: Better Than Steroids
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Filed Under: Experiment of One, Training

Listen or Make It Worse

March 5, 2011 By Michael Mahony, ISSA CPT 3 Comments

Listen to your body. All of us have heard this before. Most of us have also ignored the wisdom of that phrase. I did recently and thankfully it didn't cost me a large amount of time off from training.

Lat Saturday I experienced some tendonitis while doing some very heavy squats. I powered through the workout, came home and iced the elbow. I continued lifting all week. At one point I had the pain even after taking 3 Advil. Like an idiot, I kept at it–until today.

As I hit the gym today,i wore an elbow brace and took some Advil. I was determined to complete my sets of squats at 340 lbs. After the first set I could feel that familiar feeling cropping up. I was determined to get through it. I managed to finish the squats, but was in such pain that I couldn't complete the rest of my workout. Now, as I sit here writing this article, I am heating my shoulder (which also began to hurt today). What will I do next?

I am taking at least one week off lifting effective immediately. I will get in a ton of extra cardio training during this break. I need to listen to this old body and not lift at all. I've gained a ton of strength since the start of the year. Taking time off won't hurt the process as much as getting a major injury. My body is obviously unhappy with my training right now.

What can you learn from this? Don't push through an injury. Be sure to recognize the difference between regular muscle pain and pain from an injury. Take regular time off, but listen to your body if it wants time off sooner than the scheduled time. These things will keep your training moving forward.

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Related Posts:

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Filed Under: Featured, Training

Carb Up After Workout Shake

February 12, 2011 By Michael Mahony, ISSA CPT 2 Comments

Today I show you how to make a great after workout shake for higher carb days. It tastes great and has some awesome ingredients.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup of oats
8 oz. non-fat milk
1 cup frozen blueberries
1 medium banana
1 scoop whey protein (26 g.)

Directions:

First you add 1/2 cup of oats to the blender.  Next, add 8 oz. of non-fat milk to the blender.  Next, add 1 cup of frozen blueberries.  Next, add one medium sized banana. Finally, add one scoop of whey protein.  Blend it all together and drink!

This smoothie is powerful. I use it on my Saturday carb up days after my training session. It helps guide my body in the right direction after a long week on low carb meals. This guy is a whopping 761 calories. It contains 39 g. of protein, 107 g. of carbs and just 9 g. of fat. This means this smoothie is 70% carbs, 20% protein and 10% fat. This is exactly what I am aiming for.

If the calories are too high simply cut back on the amount of ingredients you use.

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  • Great After Workout Shake!
  • Goodbye My Friend
  • Eating for Fat Loss and Muscle Gain
  • Nutritional Planning for My Future

Filed Under: Diet & Fat Loss, News, The MuscleCast

Nutritional Planning for My Future

February 8, 2011 By Michael Mahony, ISSA CPT 3 Comments

As I mentioned in a previous article, I have been working my own Experiment of One for a long time now. During that time I have learned what works well for my body and what does not. My only issue has been actually sticking to the plan. I spent some time reviewing my past performance and figured out where the pitfalls were. I am now going to execute a plan that not only addresses fat loss issues, but also addresses the ability to adhere to the program for long periods of time.

Now, like a workout routine, I have found that it is important to change up your nutritional strategy on a cyclical basis.  I wrote out my plan and set a date to start it (this past Sunday). I then came into contact with the Lean Hybrid Muscle guys, Elliott Hulse and Mike Westerdal, via a video they had prepared for the launch of their new product, Lean Hybrid Muscle Reloaded (a review of that product will be forthcoming in the next few months).  To say I was a little shocked is putting it mildly.  Other than the fasting day they inserted, they are pretty must using the same nutritional program I had planned for myself.

After a discussion with Tom Venuto, I have adjusted my calories a little to accelerate fat loss, but here is the plan so far.  I am going to cycle my carbs over a 7 day period.  I will also be cycling my total caloric intake over that same 7 day period.  Monday and Tuesday will be low carb, high fat and high protein days (55/15/30 protein/carbs/fat) with 2100 total calories.  I will then fast from my final meal on Tuesday until 6 p.m. on Wednesday.  This part might only be temporary as my original plan called for a 40/40/20 day on Wednesday, so we shall see.  Thursday and Friday will see low carb, low fat and high protein (75/15/10 protein/carbs/fat) with 2300 calories.  I will then have a refeed day every Saturday with a 40/50/10 (protein/carbs/fat) ratio and 2500 calories.  Depending upon how “carbed up” I feel after Saturday, I will either do the same on Sunday or switch to a 40/40/20 ratio for Sunday.

The idea that I am keeping carbs very low for 5 days is daunting, but at the same time, the mini-cycles where the calories and the ratios change has me convinced that I will be able to stick to the program. That is going to be the key for me because I already workout like a beast. I believe that my body will react quite well with this system. It is sort of a modified Anabolic Diet program, modified to eliminate the ton of fat that program allows.

One final thing: I have started taking Shakeology from Beachbody.  They claim it will help suppress cravings and give me energy.  I will tell you that it tastes great. I've been on it for 2 days now. I will give a detailed description of my experience with Shakeology next week.

Related Posts:

  • Carb Up After Workout Shake
  • How Vegetables and Bodybuilding Go Together
  • How to Stick to a Nutrition Plan
  • Are Carbs Evil?
  • How to Eat at a Party

Filed Under: Diet & Fat Loss, News

Great After Workout Shake!

January 29, 2011 By Michael Mahony, ISSA CPT Leave a Comment

In this video I show you a great after workout shake that I drink.  This shake has oatmeal, blueberries and a banana.  I only use this mixture after a weight training session because I like to keep my carbs low and the addition of the banana and the oatmeal ups the carb content.  This is fine when the shake is consumed after a training session.

I find that this shake satisfies me and gives me energy for many hours later.  This is the first in what will soon be a series of nutritional posts.

Related Posts:

  • Carb Up After Workout Shake
  • Eating for Fat Loss and Muscle Gain
  • Protein Shake for High Carb Days
  • How Vegetables and Bodybuilding Go Together
  • Monday Madness: Smoothie Recipes You Will Love

Filed Under: Diet & Fat Loss

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