Category Fit Attitudes

Don’t Ban Fruit!

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Basket of FruitFruit has gotten a bad rap recently in people’s efforts to eradicate sugar from their diets.  However, I strongly believe that this is a big mistake.  Fruits are low-calorie and (with the exception of avocados) low in fat, and are plentiful in vitamins and soluble fiber.  Soluble fiber aids the body in ridding fats and cholesterol from the body as well as ensuring regular transit of food particles in excretion.  In addition, fruits offer antioxidants which protect the  body from oxidant stress and many diseases, as well as boost our immune response.

I especially love blueberries as they contain a special type of antioxidant known as anthocyanins.  In fact, all “blue” fruits (blackberries, acai, mulberries and black grapes contain these powerful antioxidants just underneath their skins.

Here is a list of some of the most popular fruits along with their associated health benefits:

APPLE:  Apples are packed with soluble fiber and are high in vitamins.  Due to their high fiber content they can be excellent aids for individuals who suffer from constipation.

BANANA:  This fruit is well known for its high potassium content.  Those who have issues with high blood pressure might want to make bananas a regular part of their meal plans in order to manage their pressure issues.

BLUEBERRIES:  As stated before, blueberries are one of my favorite fruits because they offer so many health benefits.  This fruit is ranked number one in antioxidant activity and may help to lower the risk of developing neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.  They also freeze very well.  In fact, not too long ago I was in the habit of purchasing large batches of blueberries, then freezing them for use in my morning oatmeal.

CRANBERRY:  This extraordinary fruit prevents bacteria from adhering to the bladder wall and in so doing can be very effective in preventing urinary tract infections from developing.  I recommend the extract or juice to women who are prone to frequent urinary tract infections as it minimizes the chance of developing infections.  Cranberries have a strong antioxidant effect as well.

PINK GRAPEFRUIT:  This fruit is very high in a form of soluble fiber known as pectin, which can help to lower cholesterol.  It also is rich in lycopene and flavonoids, which may have a protective effect against certain types of cancer.  Beware of this fruit if you take cholesterol-lowering statins or some other medications, as grapefruit can interfere with some medications.

KIWI:  This strange, beautiful, tart fruit is packed with vitamins C and E, has 3 grams of fiber in one fruit, and is also rich in potassium and magnesium.  In fact, kiwi has more vitamin C than oranges do. 

MANGO:  This fruit has ample amounts of lutein and zeaxanthin, which have a protective effect on vision and can reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration, which is the leading cause of blindness in adults.

ORANGE:  Oranges are rich in folate, an essential substance which helps to prevent neural tube defects in unborn infants and which also has a protective effect against the development of high blood pressure in women.  It is also rich in vitamin C and fiber.

PEAR:  Pears contain a lot of soluble fiber and for this reason can be very effective in relieving constipation.

PINEAPPLE:  This tropical fruit, besides containing large amounts of vitamin C, contains an enzyme known as bromelain which assists in breaking down protein and facilitating digestion.  Bromelain also has wound healing properties, helps to prevent blood clots and inhibits cancer cell growth.  Pineapples also have anti-inflammatory properties which can help to alleviate arthritis pain.

POMEGRANATE:  This fruit is rich in antioxidant tannins which have a demonstrated protective effect on the heart.  Individuals with high blood pressure or risk of heart attack will benefit from ingesting this fruit on a daily basis.

PRUNE:  Prunes are very high in sorbitol which has a mild laxative effect, so the old wive’s remedy of drinking prune juice for constipation was extremely valid.  This fruit is also very rich in boron, a mineral which may help prevent osteoporosis.

RASPBERRY:  Raspberries are rich in folate, magnesium and ellagic acid, an antioxidant which may help to prevent cervical, esophageal and colon cancer.  They also provide large amounts of fiber, as well as vitamins A and C.

STRAWBERRY:  Strawberries are packed with vitamin C, fiber, folic acid and potassium.  They also have a protective effect against carcinogens.

I realize that many people are not able to locate the fresh varieties of fruits throughout the year, so I want to call attention to the varieties of fruits which are available frozen.  Dole offers the following fruits in frozen versions:

  • Apples
  • Bananas
  • Blackberries
  • Blueberries
  • Cherries
  • Cranberries
  • Mangos
  • Mixed berries
  • Papaya
  • Peaches
  • Pineapple
  • Raspberries
  • Strawberries

Frozen fruit is picked, washed, peeled, cut and frozen immediately in order to retain the bulk of its nutritional value.  When you are ready to use the fruit, you can either thaw it at room temperature or lightly defrost it in the microwave, though I strongly prefer room temperature thawing.

People who compete may have adopted the attitude that fruit is a big no-no, as they believe the fructose in fruit will potentiate fat retention.  However, if you consume small portions with meals, especially with your post-training meal, there is no way that you would consume enough to create such an issue.  I strongly disagree with the mindset that fruit consumption should be eliminated during contest prep, as this robs the body of powerful antioxidants and deprives a competitor of natural sweetness, which could result in strong cravings for sweet items which are made with sucrose or artificial sweeteners.  If you are extremely concerned about consuming too much fruit, try a small portion (1/4 to 1/3 cup of fruit in the morning with your first meal, and the same portion size with your post-workout meal. 

Branched-Chain Amino Acids For Muscle Growth and Recovery

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ON Amino EnergyBranched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) are the essential amino acids leucine, isoleucine, and valine. What makes them essential is the fact that we must obtain them from food sources since our bodies do not produce them. Since BCAAs comprise one third of the amino acids found in muscle tissue, and also since they possible reduce muscle breakdown, they are an essential part of the supplement regimen for individuals who are committed to building muscle. They are also capable of sparing glycogen during training. Glycogen is the primary source of fuel for muscles during high intensity workouts. Individuals who ingest BCAAs before and during training preserve their glycogen levels by 25%. Even when glycogen stores are depleted in working muscles, BCAAs enhance fat oxidation which allows people to train longer.

BCAAs can also boost testosterone levels when consumed before training. Testosterone levels increase during intense training but plummet to normal levels once training is done, but if BCAAs are on board, testosterone levels remain elevated for a number of hours. BCAAs also improve the body’s testosterone to cortisol ratio. What does this mean? Testosterone levels will remain high long after training is completed, while cortisol release will be minimized. This translates to more muscle growth and less breakdown of muscle. As if this wasn’t enough, the amino acid leucine increases insulin sensitivity which promotes fat loss, muscle growth and protection against diabetes.

Other uses for BCAAs are to prevent fatigue, improve concentration, treatment of liver-related brain conditions, and Lou Gehrig’s disease. A recommended dose range is 4 to 8 grams before training and 4 to 8 grams immediately post-training.

My favorite BCAA brands are listed below:
1. Optimum Nutrition Amino Energy (this has caffeine so beware if you need to keep your caffeine intake down)
2. BSN Amino X
3. Scivation Xtend
4. RSP Nutrition ReGen

Switch Up Your Training For Maximum Results!

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Ian Lauer IFBB Pro in Dcore Fitness Apparel

Ian Lauer IFBB Pro in Dcore Fitness Apparel

Perhaps you have become accustomed to a certain training split, and you perform the same leg routine every leg day, the same chest routine every chest day, etc. You think you hit it hard but you aren’t seeing the changes you are working so desperately to attain. Fact is, the body will adapt to a weight lifting regimen that never changes. You may notice that when you train you are almost going through the motions.

It’s time to switch up your regimen! If you change your routine every few weeks you are more likely to obtain the results you seek. The key is to challenge yourself by making your workouts harder, either by changing the number of sets, the number of repetitions, rest periods between exercises, weights used, types of exercises, number of training sessions per week or the types of exercises you perform. When you do this you force your body to adapt to exercise.

Simply by changing only one of these variables each week, you can bring about great gains in your workout regimen.

Number Of Sets: You can increase the number of sets you perform during a workout.

Repetitions: If you use a heavier weight, you will perform fewer repetitions. The rule of thumb is that the last couple of repetitions should be somewhat difficult to complete.

Rest Periods: A good rest range between sets is 30 to 60 seconds, which you can switch up.

Weights Used: You will increase the weight you lift on days when you are performing fewer repetitions per set. Use lighter weights on the days when you perform a higher number of repetitions. Make sure that the weight used is one that is slightly difficult to lift during the last couple of repetitions in your set.

Number Of Sessions: If you are looking to make greater changes in your legs, then incorporate two to three leg sessions per week which are separated by at least 24 hours in between each leg session. During those 24 hours you can train in an upper body portion of your split. If you want to make greater gains in your upper body, the same principles can be applied.

Types Of Exercises: You can increase the number of activities for a muscle group during a week in which you want more of a challenge. If you usually use machines, switch to free weights. If you use barbells (e.g. for a chest press), switch to dumbbells. If you usually use dumbbells, switch to a cable. Another thing I LOVE which will really offer a challenge in a workout is to add in plyometric moves such as jump squats and straddle bench jumps. I especially love incorporating plyometrics in a superset with other leg exercises.

Pyramids: Pyramids are GREAT for maximizing muscle growth. You will be worn out from pyramids which is a good thing if you really want to grow muscle. With pyramids you will increase the weight lifted with each successive set while reducing the number of reps. What this does is engage all the muscle fibers thoroughly. Here is a typical pyramid for an average man performing an incline dumbbell chest press:

Set 1: 25 repetitions with 30 pound dumbbells
Set 2: 20 repetitions with 35 pound dumbbells
Set 3: 15 repetitions with 40 pound dumbbells
Set 4: 12 repetitions with 45 pound dumbbells
Set 5: 10 repetitions with 50 pound dumbbells
Rest 30 seconds between sets.

Getting Your Ducks in a Row: How To Plan For a Contest

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The number of individuals who express interest in competing has risen dramatically in recent years with the addition of newer divisions such as Bikini, Men’s Physique and Women’s Physique.  This has also resulted in a considerable increase in the competitor pool at the local/regional level, the national level and in the pro ranks.   Sadly, many new competitors have no idea how to prepare themselves for a competition.  I am not talking about the contest prep which a coach would develop for a client, but rather, the financial investment and time management which must be planned out in advance in order to ensure that a competitor will remain on track for the chosen contest date and that there will be no loose ends.

A detailed timeline is especially important for people with hectic schedules.  It certainly helps if you are a good planner and actually augments the focus that is critical to pursuing your goal of being contest ready.  I lead a very busy lifestyle which has me switching roles from physician to model to writer to contest prep coach to trainer.  I also train intensely and regularly five to seven days a week and drag my food everywhere with me.  If I did not have a checklist for each contest I would forget some very essential elements which would only make me anxious as a contest date approached.

 

Here is what I put on my checklist for a competition:

 

1. Detailed Budget for the contest which includes a breakdown of the following:

  • Show entry fees
  • Spray tan
  • Flight
  • Hotel
  • Rental Car or Cab fare
  • Bag fees
  • Gym fees
  • Incidentals

 

2. To-Do List for each item on my budget so I am sure to stay on track with when show registration is due, deposits are due, and when flight reservations should be made.

 

3. Contacts List for spray tan vendors, hotel address, venue address, etc.

 

4. Appointment Sheet so I have all appointment dates and times handy.

 

5. Official Show Schedule 

person-writing-a-list

Make sure to refer to your list often so that everything is in place before your contest date.  Best of luck!

Tips For Visualizing Your Body Transformation Goal

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Body B&AWhenever I do initial consultations with weight management patients I make sure to ask them what their ultimate weight loss goals are.  Invariably my patients will mention a friend or relative who has the physique they desire, or they will mention a time in their lives at which they considered their own bodies to be ideal for them.  At the end of the evaluation, I instruct my patients to find at least one picture of that ideal body and post it in a prominent place, either on a desk, bathroom mirror, refrigerator, or car dashboard.  The whole point is to create a visual representation of the patient’s goal so that it becomes more tangible over time.

Another tip which I give to weight management patients is to take weekly progress pics so that they can monitor the subtle changes in their bodies over an interval period of time.  What they might not see from week to week can be very dramatic when they compare their baseline photos to photos taken many weeks or months later.  Over time it becomes easier to take these progress pictures.  Trust me, I do it regularly myself.

Lori HarderThe tips I have just mentioned also work EXTREMELY well for people in the midst of contest prep.  What I employ with my contest prep clients is the weekly progress picture ritual, as I have seen the high value of doing so in order to monitor subtle changes week by week and to provide information which I can use in order to make small changes in a prep plan.  However, when I first began competing in 2009, I quite randomly picked a couple of images of female competitors whom I really admired, printed them, and placed them on my bathroom mirror.  I saw these images daily and was able to visualize my goal on a consistent basis.  I did not remove these images from my mirror until I moved in October of last year, and when I did so, I moved the images to bulletin boards in our trophy room.

What is amazing now is that I have images of myself next to the images of the ladies I had so admired, and you know what?  I achieved my goal.    I no longer look at the images of these ladies as something to aspire to, but instead look at them as peers.

In summary, there are two things you can do to visualize your goal:

1. FIND AN IMAGE OF THE BODY YOU WANT AND POST IT IN A PROMINENT PLACE.

2. TAKE WEEKLY PROGRESS PICTURES OF YOURSELF.

Visualize and make your goal materialize!

So Very Proud Of My Client Alli Salibian – This Is After 8 Weeks Of Prep With Me

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Alli

My client Alli began training with me on December 17th, 2012 for an NPC contest which will be held on April 13th, 2013. These images show her one week before she began contest prep and how she looked on February 18th after 8 weeks of dedicated training and prep. She will compete in both Open and Masters Figure. This woman is tremendous and I am so very proud of her! She has stuck with her meal plan and training despite having two small children and a very full life. Talk about inspiring!

Posing Essentials for Figure and Bikini

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Please click on link below to read my latest article on RxGirl which covers posing essentials for NPC Figure and Bikini Divisions:

http://www.rxmuscle.com/rx-girl-articles/7521-posing-essentials-for-npc-figure-and-bikini-divisions.html?hitcount=0#.USHT-6WTgz4

Finally got a butt!

This was my 16th competition over four years. I have worked very hard to transform my physique from “average” to “DAMN!”. All the hard work was work it!