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What The Fire Monkey Has In Store For Everyone

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zodiacAnimals

I cam across a great site which you can check out to see what your horoscope is for the Chinese Year of the Monkey, which starts this coming Monday. Please visit this link for detailed information and predictions:

http://www.yourchineseastrology.com/horoscope/

It looks like people born in the years of the Rat, Ox, Rabbit, and Rooster are expected to have a fortuitous year this year. Dragons, Horses, Sheep, and Dogs will have average years according to this site, while Tigers, Snakes, Monkeys, and Pigs are expected to have a challenging year in 2016.

This information is meant to be fun, so don’t take it too seriously!

The Fire Monkey Is Coming, And I Am Ready For Him!

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Year-Of-The-Monkey-2016

Monday, February 8th marks the year of the Fire Monkey. Depending on your Chinese astrological sign, the year of the Fire Monkey may be great, so-so, or negative. According to George Tang’s Chinese Astrology site, 2016 looks like it will be a relatively good year for this Fire Horse…

Original link can be found at:

http://www.georgetangchineseastrology.com/chinese-horse-horoscope-2016/

2016 is the Year of Red Monkey. You were born in the Year of Horse. The following is the Red Monkey year prediction for people born in year of Horse.

Horse individuals can be extremely confident in 2016, my Chinese Horse horoscope 2016 astrology foretells, since everything they want is achievable in this Fire Monkey year. There should be many opportunities for success and hard work will not be wasted. There might be great obstacles to face, but they will be feeling very strong, both physically and mentally. They will be at their most charming and there is a strong sense that things will go their way.

As well as the chance to develop and expand in their careers and finances, such folk should also think about adding to their families. These characters will make remarkable strides in life this year since they may well be very clear about their objectives. 2016 will see excellent progress in new business ventures undertaken. They will be optimistic and they will shine. Everyone around them will benefit from their positivity. Friends will be drawn to these people in 2016 simply because of the “feel good factor” they cast around them.

For those Horse men and women in relationships, it looks like a year to share and enjoy times together, although the Horse characters must learn more respect the opinions of their spouses.

My Chinese horoscope suggests to me that both genders of this sign who are single will find love in 2016 providing they look for love in new places. Such individuals are naturals when it comes to romance and they will attract a fair amount of interest in the Fire Monkey cycle.

If Ma (Horse) folk are in relationships that are not working, then Chinese horoscope year 2016 is an excellent year to move on. The personal magnetism should be at its strongest in the spring months. By the summer months, Horse men and women will have found new romantic interests. Love will be very romantic and passionate for these people in 2016.

Being adored by others will help to build up the emotional strength of these folks and by October, they will be at their strongest and best. This is an excellent time to think about having a new baby for the birth of a child will serve to further strengthen personal relationships.

2016 is a wonderful horoscope year for the career of Horse characters, they are lucky. Anything they embark on this year has the potential for big success. Businessmen should try to maintain cordial relationships with their associates and partners. By May, they should not hesitate to take up new and exciting projects. The Monkey lunar period will enable them to enter into fresh partnerships and successfully expand their business activities.

As the year progresses professionals will have more clarity on their objectives and will take the right steps to meet their targets.

There could be lots of social interaction with people who will admire the thinking of the Horse. Although there could be some minor resistance to these folks ought to be able to win over people with their intellectual arguments. Thy will find that major co-operation will take place and the workplace will be extremely harmonious. There could be delays caused by technical problems, but Horse folk should remain steadfast since things will work out in their favour. This sign’s men and women are not inclined to make rash decisions anyway and by taking the time to reach solutions the way ahead for them will be on solid ground.

If Horse men and women have any debts, then 2016 zodiac period should be a good year to settle them. It is an excellent time for finding new ways to earn money. It will also be a time when people should be able to save. They could be surprised at how quickly they are able to accumulate cash. There could be some longer-term investments that will be of interest to them and ones that will bring in exceptionally good returns.


Chinese 2016 Horse Horoscope Closing Views

My Chinese astrology predictions foretell that Ma folk could be interested in investing in property development, either by making it more beautiful or by extending or changing the existing space.

The homes of people will increase in value substantially after home improvements are made and if they do decide to move house, they will make excellent choices in terms of location and good value for money.

The emotional health of the Horse individual will improve as their self-confidence increases this zodiac year. Physically there could be minor problems in the muscular system. Energy levels will increase considerably after June. These individuals will have plenty of stamina and will feel able to achieve just about anything they want as The Monkey cycle passes.

The zodiac Ma person should avoid over-indulgence in rich foods. If your hyperactivity can be controlled you will stay strong and find good solutions to most problems. Such individuals are naturally psychic and will find their psychic strength peaks in the late autumn months of 2016.

When The Hunger Beast Strikes

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i-regret-nothing-cat-eating-1

Every once in a while, I will experience hunger that never seems to subside, no matter how much I give into my body’s insistence on foraging for food throughout the day. Since this type of insatiable hunger is exceedingly rare for me, I generally will allow myself to indulge in greater amounts of fuel than what I would normally eat. I usually take strong hunger impulses as a sign that my body actually needs the fuel, and that I might be lacking in some nutrient. Sometimes a killer leg workout will spark this mad hunger, and other times it might be a cleaning spree which causes my appetite to ramp up.

I almost relish the times that my body craves food like this, because I am usually not too excited about food. When I was in my teens, I went through anorexia, and feared many foods. Though I became a bit of a foodie in my twenties, exploring gourmet foods whenever I could, I had to adopt an “eat-to-survive” attitude once I reached my thirties, as a result of the rigorous medical training I underwent. During medical school and internship, I lived by the credo, “Eat when you can, use the bathroom when you can, sleep when you can”.

Then in my forties, the world of competing caused me to fall in love with some of the foods which I had demonized back in my teens. Though I rarely cave into the powerful lure of chocolate, desserts, pizza, and fried foods, I definitely learned to appreciate them during my competitive years. These days, I can stock chocolate, nuts and nut butter in my house without fear that I will go hog wild constantly and consume them all in one sitting. They are even relatively safe when the hunger beast strikes.

When I experience hunger which I cannot satisfy, I do NOT turn to unhealthy foods. Instead, I keep eating clean meals like chicken and green beans. However, I will often feel just as hungry after eating a meal as I did when I reached for the meal in the first place! When that happens, I will wait about a half hour, then snack on something relatively healthy, such as a small handful of almonds, or some lowfat cottage cheese, in hopes that my hunger will abate.

However, all bets are off if the hunger beast is around on my carb spike day! There have been numerous times in which the two have coincided, and during which I have allowed myself to eat pasta, bread, a large amount of rice, or some other carbohydrate rich food. The aftermath of such a carb bump is that my weight will actually DECREASE 2 or 3 pounds the next morning. This is one of the reasons why I encourage clients to have a moderate bump in calories and carbs every now and then, to spark the metabolic furnace.

As long as the hunger beast comes around only rarely, and you are in tune with your body’s needs, you should be able to indulge it without any issues.

I’m Smaller Than I Think

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IMAG0745

I have never been overweight a single day in my life, but since everything is relative, and since there is tremendous pressure on fitness models and competitors to be extremely lean, I definitely experience fat days. You know those days when you just feel fluffy, bloated, tubby, like a stuffed sausage? Yep, I have those days too. However, I guess I am retaining less water, mostly due to following a pretty clean food regimen, and as a result have been awarded with a tighter appearance. My measurements are still the same, yet a bunch of people have asked me if I lost weight, and will tell me I look tiny.

I got confirmation of my tiny dimensions lately when I tried on two different articles of clothing in my closet. One item was a pair of jean leggings from Hue which I had purchased in a size Small, based on online reviews which suggested that someone with my dimensions (5’5″ tall, 120 pounds, 24 inch waist, 34 inch hips) would fit better into a Small than an X-Small. Much to my surprise, I put on the leggings, and they were so baggy on me that they looked ridiculous on me. Then I tried on an old pair of MEK Denim jeans in a 24 which I had avoided because I assumed that I wouldn’t be able to wear them. Instead, they fit like a glove. I had almost gotten rid of those expensive jeans because I thought they didn’t fit me anymore!

I realize that my immersion in the world of fitness has made me more neurotic about having more of an off-season body, but the truth is that my off-season appearance is actually quite acceptable. I admit that the increasing laxity of my skin has caused me a certain degree of distress. However, even though the half-century mark looms several months away, I am making every effort to give myself credit for looking pretty damned good for my age.

I no longer live in waist trimmers in order to squeeze out subcutaneous water and shrink me down. I am well aware of the fact that an excessive degree of body dysmorphia exists within the fitness community, which is the inevitable result of constant pressure to look almost superhuman, with defined muscles, ripped abs, and unnaturally low body fat. Though I adore that look, I am also tired of having every square millimeter of my body scrutinized.

By no means am I saying that I am giving up on being as fit as I can possibly be, but I will no longer allow myself to feel as if I am out of shape or huge when I can fit into a size 24 jean!

I Really Do Train Four To Six Days Per Week

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rest days

Have you ever run into people who are such die-hard weightlifting fanatics that they are restless during their rest days? I am one of those people, and I suspect that I will remain that way for another few decades. There are a few people who have asked me why I continue to train four to six days per week, EVERY week, despite the fact that I am not in prep for a contest. Why would I continue to work so hard at maintaining or building muscle if there is nothing specific to train for? The main reason is because I train for LIFE. I have no intention of allowing my gains to diminish simply because other people think I am too old for such “nonsense”.

How do I stay so consistent with such a frequent training schedule? I make going to the gym an essential part of my daily routine, and it is so important to me that it only comes second to brushing my teeth and putting on gym clothes before I head to the gym. Food and showering are always done afterwards, first of all because I plan to sweat when I am at the gym, and secondly, because I might throw some fasted cardio into the mix before I hit the weights.

I will never understand gym-goers who spend several minutes between sets chatting with others, checking text messages, and finding other distractions which deter them from starting the next set. I train rapidly, resting only 30 seconds between sets or supersets. That is part of the reason why I do NOT want to chat at the gym. I am so focused on my next set while I am resting that I often don’t hear others, especially because I listen to music while I train. I try not to allow random thoughts to creep in, because such thoughts can throw me off, especially if they are anxiety-provoking. When I am in the gym, I push distractions and worries aside, and truly enjoy the physicality of training. Besides, I have the rest of the day to address issues and responsibilities.

Whether you choose to train four days per week or more, or you prefer training fewer days per week, just make sure you are CONSISTENT. Make your time in the gym a time to decompress and tune into your body.

Spending The Weekend With Great People From Active Interest Media!

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I am so blessed and honored to be able to represent AIM at various fitness expos! This weekend I am representing them at the Los Angeles Fit Expo.

Here are some fun photos from expos I have worked in the past with them.

With Ian Lauer last year at the L.A. Fit Expo

With Ian Lauer last year at the L.A. Fit Expo

With Vladimir Dan and Theresa Jenn Lopetrone from a previous expo...good times!

With Vladimir Dan and Theresa Jenn Lopetrone from a previous expo…good times!

This amazing lady Ashley Kaltwasser added a third gold medal for a three-peat Olympia Bikini win since this photo was taken in 2014!

This amazing lady Ashley Kaltwasser added a third gold medal for a three-peat Olympia Bikini win since this photo was taken in 2014!

Goofing off at the Arnold a couple of years ago...

Goofing off at the Arnold a couple of years ago…

Come By And Say Hello This Weekend At The L.A. Fit Expo!

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Fit Expo 2016

If you live in Los Angeles, or will be in town this weekend, you should check out The Fit Expo Los Angeles! I will be working at the Muscle and Performance/Oxygen/Black Belt/The Box booth (Booth number 722) on both days. Please come by to say hi, get free magazines, and get signed magazines and photos from me and the other incredible athletes who will be at the booth as well!

A Great Client Transformation

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Front January 7, 2014

Front January 7, 2014


Front December 30, 2015

Front December 30, 2015


Back January 7, 2014

Back January 7, 2014


12.30.15 Darrick back
I am always so proud of my clients when they stick with the program I give them! Transformations can take a while, but they are worth the wait! This client started with me in January of 2014. His first progress pics are seen here in the orange shorts. The pics taken in the blue are from December 30, 2015.

Over the span of two years, my client built quality muscle, and transformed his physique. What is even more amazing is that he was the same weight in both sets of pics. Bravo!

If you are interested in online training and nutrition services with me, please visit:

http://cutcurves.com/

for detailed information on packages and pricing.

Trainers Who Don’t Look The Part

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personal trainer fat

Have you ever seen a trainer who looks like he or she is in sore need of a trainer? It amazes me when I see trainers who are in horrible shape, but who are training others. I have even heard a couple of trainers berate their clients for practicing poor eating habits, then I will see them drinking Starbucks frappucinos or eating food from McDonald’s!

If you work in the fitness industry, you have a responsibility to LOOK THE PART. It’s not about looking like you are photo shoot ready all the time, but you should at least be in decent physical shape, practice healthy lifestyle habits when out in public, and be clean and well groomed for your clients and followers. Your appearance is your business card and your logo, so when you show up looking like you have been on a long break from working out, you lose your power to motivate others through leading by example. The thing is, leading by example is critical to igniting that spark in people to pursue fitness goals and replace bad habits with good ones. No one wants to follow the lead of someone who looks like a lazy pig!

There is one trainer I have seen at one of the gyms I train at who, over the years, has turned into, well…a sloth. She was never in very good shape, though I can tell that she was one of those people who went through a mega transformation and lost over 100 pounds at one point. On the one hand, she should be proud of what she has accomplished. However, just because she got a weekend certification doesn’t mean she knows diddly squat about training people. I have watched her train clients, and I swear I could use those observations as a sleeping aid, because she doesn’t know how to train people, and she is so damned slow and boring!

As the years have passed, she has spread in girth, and walks more slowly than ever, with a severely stooped posture and a belly so big that I honestly thought at one point last year that she was pregnant (no, she wasn’t). What boggles my mind is that she seems to be completely clueless about most of the equipment at the gym!

I would never say anything to the trainers who don’t look like they have any business instructing others on exercise, but it really bothers me that they have somehow convinced their unwitting clients to train with them.