Tag fitness

The Bottleneck: Breaking Through From National To Pro

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stock-footage-glass-bottle-pouring-water-into-blue-water-in-slow-motion

Every single year I watch nationally qualified competitors duke it out onstage in hopes of finally making it through the bottleneck and achieving Pro status. Some competitors get smacked down repeatedly, yet keep hitting the national circuit for so long that they must compete against new blood, further limiting their chances. There are times when I shake my head in wonder over the outcome of a national or Pro event when individuals who clearly should have been in first callouts were neglected. I know that feeling all too well because it has happened to me a number of times. Every year the national level events get bigger, which results in even more pressure and more competition to get through that level and into the big wide world of Pro status. When a competitor finally gets pushed out of the bottle and glides into Pro waters, he or she will bask in it, enjoying the victory, but the majority of Pro competitors soon discover that becoming a Pro doesn’t mean that life will become any easier. If anything, it becomes more difficult, because the bar is set much higher.
fish in a bowl
Those of us who compete live in a bubble. In fact, I will go as far as to say that when we escape the bottle, we end up in a fishbowl instead of open water. Please don’t interpret this to mean that I lack appreciation for being a Pro, because it is indeed a great honor. But the world at large is a vast ocean which bodybuilding leagues really don’t connect to, similar to the artificial environment which a bowl provides for a pet fish. Bodybuilding is its own world, and though I may love it, I also know that it won’t make me a superstar. Even the biggest bodybuilding legends (except for Arnold) don’t have the full global recognition which they deserve, because bodybuilding is such a niche industry. The only bodybuilders who are household names are the ones who became thespians.

I will admit that when I finally got my Pro Card (after 14 Pro qualifiers), I was relieved and ecstatic because I had finally reached a goal I had set for myself. However, I also fully realize that it wasn’t entirely up to me when or if I would ever get that card, so I always tried my best not to berate myself when I fell short of that Pro card goal. A number of competitors who have been on the national circuit for a very long time have built up a tremendous following on social media channels and have so much power and influence, yet they sell themselves short because they focus on the Pro Card chase as a singular goal. These are precious gems whose shine is only dulled by the disappointment they experience when the sport of bodybuilding edges them out of the winners’ circle.
diamond
If you have been competing for a very long time and are getting weary from slipping in national placings or just missing that Pro card too many times, it’s time to take a good look at where your passion truly lies. If your true passion lies directly in the experience of stepping onstage, then by all means continue. However, if you are broke, exhausted, sore and dejected, and you have a true passion beyond the stage for inspiring others to reach fitness goals, then why not BREAK the bottle and swim into the wide ocean? If you build a name, a brand, and a following, you can establish a presence in the real world which will enable you to impact others in the truest sense. In addition, you might stand to make some decent money from nurturing your passion for fitness. Honestly, how much money have you made from competing? Just saying.

Whey And Casein In Lactose Intolerant Individuals

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cows
If you are lactose intolerant, then you are quite accustomed to checking to see if dishes contain dairy. You might also be wary of whey and casein protein powders due to their derivation from milk. However, if you have only a mild lactose intolerance, you may not have an issue with whey and casein. Why is this?

Many individuals with a mild lactose intolerance are fine with whey protein isolate as well as with casein. Both whey and casein are separated from the lactose during processing. There are small concentrations of lactose which bypass the separation, but usually this is not enough to mount a reaction in a mildly lactose intolerant individual. Only the most sensitive individuals will have a problem with these forms of protein. Bear in mind that whey concentrate is not the same as whey isolate, and that individuals who are more lactose intolerant or who have other gut issues might not tolerate the concentrate form of whey.

You may be asking what the big deal is with whey and casein, and whether they are better than other forms of protein. Why take a chance of mounting a reaction in the belly when there are other forms of protein?
whey scoop
Whey is a complete protein, meaning that it provides all the amino acids the body requires. It is also relatively cheap. Casein protein is also a complete protein, and is digested very slowly, making it a great option for bedtime.

While soy is also a complete protein, it undergoes considerable processing, and it contains phytoestrogens which are estrogen mimics. I am definitely not a fan of soy protein and will not advocate its use. Rice, hemp and pea proteins are good alternatives for the vegan or vegetarian crowd, but since they are not complete proteins, they must be combined to fill out the amino acid profile. Rice protein is very easily digested, while pea protein has glutamic acid, which helps convert carbs into energy instead of being stored as fat. Hemp protein is rich in omega-6 fatty acids and has a high fiber content.

As long as you mix plant based proteins to get a complete profile, you will not be at a disadvantage if you cannot tolerate whey or casein. However, when it comes to cost, nutrition profile, and convenience, whey will always win the prize for being the king of protein powders.

Why I Love My Slow Cooker

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My chicken comes out drier than this which is what I prefer.

My chicken comes out drier than this which is what I prefer.


Slow cookers are incredible time savers, but I have always struggled with the texture of foods which results from this method of cooking. Red meat cooks incredibly well, but the cuts which work best are higher in fat and tend not to fit into my meal plans. That isn’t much of an issue since I tend to buy 90% lean ground beef patties and just broil them when I need them.

Chicken and yams are another story entirely. I consume both of these food items regularly, and find prepping them to be incredibly tedious. My favorite method of cooking chicken is to grill them outside, so that I get that crispy char, but the intense summer heat has discouraged me from doing this. I was tempted to use my slow cooker but I didn’t like the mealy texture that slow cooking imparted to chicken, so I decided to experiment a bit, and finally hit a winning prep method that works for me. Until the mercury drops to acceptable levels, I will use my slow cooker to cook chicken, employing an incredibly simple prep method.

Here’s what I do: I take about 8 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breast and place it in the slow cooker, then I season HEAVILY with salt free seasoning and lots of black pepper, white pepper and parsley. I then add two to three coarsely chopped onions (usually a mix of red and yellow) and a few cloves of garlic. Sometimes I will also add a few stalks of chopped celery. I DO NOT ADD WATER. I used to add water and never liked the almost mealy consistency which resulted, but then I read Ashley Kaltwasser’s tip about not adding water and tried it, with great results. I allow this mixture to cook for 10 hours on low. The only issue I have with slow cooker chicken is that I need to add a LOT of seasonings to make it tasty, but then again, I like stronger flavors in my meats.

Once I had my chicken slow cooker method down I was pretty happy, but I wanted to figure out a way to make yams with the same marinade I usually use, but in the slow cooker. Typically I will marinate my yams, then throw them on a cookie sheet and bake them, but the summer heat once again got me thinking about cooking methods that didn’t require me to stand near a strong heat source. I turned to my slow cooker once again, but added only a small amount of liquid (contrary to what the manufacturer recommends), resulting in yams which had the perfect degree of softness.

Here’s my slow cooker yam recipe: I wash about ten pounds of yams, then cut them into large cubes. Then I place them in a clean plastic bag. In a bowl, I combine about 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup pomegranate vinegar, 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar, 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract, 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground cloves, and 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg. I mix this well, then toss into the bag with the yams and shake vigorously until the yams are completely coated. I let this sit overnight. Then the next morning, I simply place the yam mixture into the slow cooker, add 1/2 cup water. I set cooker to 10 hours and let it do its thing. I LOVE the flavor in my yams because it is highly seasoned, and the yams are soft yet not mushy.

Try these recipes and let me know if you like them!

My Nutrition Coach Certification

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NAFC-Logo-05
Despite the fact that I am a fully licensed and board-certified physician, and also hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science, I realize that some people get hung up on specific certifications. My education covered nutrition in exhausting detail, which is why I am able to customize meal plans for clients and patients based on a myriad of factors. However, I also obtained a Nutrition Coach certification from NAFC to fortify the credentials I already had.

For those of you who are curious about the course, here are some details:

NAFC’s Nutrition Coach Foundations delivers scientifically-based nutrition education so health and fitness professionals can better serve their clients.

Develop the skills, knowledge and abilities to successfully work with clients seeking goal-based nutritional guidance.
Gain an occupational advantage with enhanced education and a credential to differentiate you from your competition!

NAFC’s Certified Health & Fitness Coaching course blends sound basic science with the latest in nutritional science along with proven coaching skills to help you successfully guide your clients toward better health, better performance, and a better body!

In Section I of this course, you’ll get a strong introduction to the basic sciences; in Section II you’ll become immersed in the field of nutritional science; in Section III you’ll learn about the art & science of being an effective coach; and finally in Section IV you’ll go through a step-by-step set of instructions on how to implement nutritional coaching competently & profitably (including over 30 pages of questionnaires and assessment tools to use with your clients).

No other nutrition certification puts all of these components together. No other nutrition certification was written by a physician with over 35 years of experience in the areas of nutrition, fitness, personal training, anti-aging medicine, and performance enhancement.

The National Association for Fitness Certification was established in 1992 to provide scientifically-based, standards-focused education and training for Group Fitness Instructors, Personal Trainers, and Wellness Consultants. The NAFC’s combination of demanding standards, practical application of scientific principles, and affordable program pricing have defined it as the most rapidly-expanding certifying organization in the industry today.

The NAFC was established by a forward-thinking group of fitness professionals, representing expertise in fields including Exercise Physiology, Adaptive Physical Education, Medicine and Nursing, and Professional Coaching. Their desire was to enhance current fitness certification standards by providing access to convenient and comprehensive – yet practical and affordable – education and skills.

The NAFC follows guidelines established by the American College of Sports Medicine, emphasizing practical information with respect to a comprehensive knowledge base.

Royal Sport Ltd. Ultra Clean 100 Whey Protein

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royalwhey
From the makers of Cellucor comes Royal Sport Ltd., a sports supplement line which is sold exclusively through GNC. Royal Sport Ltd. has a number of products in their lineup, but the newest product is the Ultra Clean 100 Whey Protein. Ultra Clean 100 is gluten free, and contains NO Yeast, NO Wheat, NO Preservatives, NO Added Sugars, NO Hydrogenated Oil, and NO Artificial Colors, Dyes, or Fillers. One scoop of this clean whey protein delivers 20 grams of protein and 100 calories per scoop. This protein mixes so beautifully well that I have NEVER had an issue with shaking it up in a mixer cup. You will never need to use a blender with this protein!

I have tried all of the flavors and truly love them all. They are:

Chocolate Cupcake – This is a very rich chocolate, and I absolutely love it. All you chocolate fiends out there will be very happy with this flavor!

Cinnamon Bun – I love the subtle hint of cinnamon which comes forth in this flavor. It’s not over the top, but you will definitely be able to taste the cinnamon as you drink this.

Vanilla Cream – This is a great vanilla, very creamy with excellent and true vanilla flavor.

Ice Cream Sandwich – This is my favorite flavor in the lineup. It reminds me exactly of the slow churned, super creamy, almost frothy consistency of the ice cream which is found in a really good, old-fashioned style ice cream sandwich. The mouth feel on this one is outstanding and definitely tricks your palate into believing that this is a decadent, fat laden ice cream shake.

I encourage you to try this fantastic protein!

I Will Be At The Muscle And Performance Booth At Olympia This Week!

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Muscle & Performance

Come to the 50th Anniversary of Olympia! I will be at the Olympia Expo on Friday, September 19th, and Saturday, September 20th, working at the AIM Publications booth, which features magazines like Muscle & Performance, Oxygen, MuscleMag, and Black Belt. Be sure to stop by to say hello, and get some free magazines!

2014-OLYMPIA

Here we are at the AIM booth from the Arnold Sports Festival earlier this year:

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And from last year’s Olympia:

Olympia 2013

Why I Love Attending Olympia Every Year

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2014-OLYMPIA

My non-fitness friends don’t see why I get excited about attending Olympia every year. They say that it looks like the same old thing every year, and to a certain extent it is. But there is something so powerful about getting bodybuilding greats to descend upon Las Vegas that I wouldn’t want to miss it for the world. The energy in the Expo Hall is incredible, and with so many of the world’s top competitors there to compete, I pick up on that buzz and enjoy it immensely. When I attend Olympia, I bump into so many friends in the industry that it serves as a regular reunion. This year in particular is a milestone because it marks FIFTY years of Olympia. This year’s Olympia will be televised, hopefully generating more interest from the mainstream and portraying bodybuilding in a favorable light.

From Olympia 2012

From Olympia 2012


I think I maintain a certain balance and guard against boredom at the Olympia by working a booth each year. I have been extremely fortunate to work with wonderful companies, representing great products, and I never run the risk of sensory overload that sometimes hits spectators who go up and down the aisles endlessly. I am happy to stay within the confines of my booth, handing out product and talking to fans, friends and attendees. One disadvantage is that I rarely get enough time to explore the Expo and have to plan out which booths I need to visit during my lunch break on each day, but the list has gotten smaller over time as a result of my more established name and a different objective for visiting the booths. I used to visit booths to get myself on the fitness map, but now I visit booths to see friends and conduct meetings, so I am much more focused.

The noise in the Expo hall can be deafening at times, but I love it because it is reflective of the energy that builds up. People in the industry are very bold about showing their excitement and passion. There is no restraint at the O! At the end of each Expo day, my feet are sore, my legs are tired, my forearms are cut up from the magazines I pass out to people, and my voice is hoarse, but I absolutely love it. You better believe I will be back at the O next year and for many years to come.