General Fitness article by Ben on Wednesday, August 12, 2009 10:11:44 AM EST
Have a look at this video link that my client sent me this morning from ABC News (please forgive the commercial at the beginning, it's worth sitting through though). It's about Australian personal trainer Paul James who packed on almost 90 pounds of fat for an independent documentary and to get a better understanding of what it would be like to be as big as his overweight clients.
In just six months, Paul James was able to transform his body from ultra ripped fitness model to overweight, tubby guy with moobies and terrible posture! He had no rules and ate anything and everything he could get his hands on and stuff in his mouth... you can see by the picture above that he was really dedicated to the experiment!
He now battles an addiction to fats and sugars, experiences muscle, joint and lower back pains, has high cholesterol and high blood sugar and is realizing that it is going to be a very long road back to health. What took only 6 months to achieve will take much, much longer to reverse. That is if he's even able to get back into the shape he was in before he went on a six month eating binge! It's going to take a lot of hard work and a lot of blood, sweat and tears to get his ripped, beached body back!
He claims he has no regrets and can now completely empathize with his heavier clients and the extra obstacles they face by being overweight. I guess now at least he'll never have another client sit there and try to say... "you don't know what it's like man!"
General Fitness article by Ben on Sunday, August 09, 2009 4:58:38 PM EST
Did anyone watch the mixed martial arts clinic that was put on by Anderson Silva and BJ Penn last night in Philadelphia at UFC 101: Declaration? Both fighters were victorious and both completely outclassed and dominated their respected opponents.
Bj Penn looked great! He came into the fight looking stronger and more defined than he has in the past. He also seemed to be in far better condition for this fight because even as they were going in to the championship rounds, he still looked pretty fresh. He was able to grind Kenny Florian down, pound him with elbows and punches, take his back and finish him off with a rear naked choke. It was a very impressive win but nothing like the beating that Anderson Silva unleashed on Forrest Griffin.
Anderson Silva looked like Muhammad Ali in his prime last night and put a beating on Forrest Griffin that won't be forgotten by MMA fans for a very long time. Silva absolutely dominated the entire fight and definitely proved beyond a doubt that he is the "pound for pound" best MMA fighter in the world! He looked so relaxed during the fight and carried his hands at his waist and his chin in the air taunt to Griffin into a stand up brawl. It worked and Silva's counterpunching, pin point accuracy, and devastating punching power proved too much for Griffin. He went down several times during the the fight and was unable to continue after being dropped a by a perfect right hand counter punch near the end of the first round. Griffin was overwhelmed and totally outclassed. It's too bad because I really like him as a fighter and hope that he can come back from this loss.
Silva has now solidified himself as the King of the Octagon and I'm not sure who they will throw at him next. Dan Henderson is next in line for a rematch but unless Hendo can bring something new to the table I don't think he has much of a chance of dethroning the King either!
Diet & Nutrition article by Ben on Tuesday, July 28, 2009 6:07:29 PM EST
Since it's another scorching hot day in Vancouver, B.C. I figured I'd post up another great barbeque recipe that I tried out last night. For all you meat lovers out there, I made some barbecued Buffalo Burgers and they turned out absolutely perfect! I didn't really follow a recipe or anything, I picked up some fresh ground buffalo, onions and peppers at the local grocery and then just kind of mixed in a few other things that I had at home already.
Cajun Buffalo Burgers
Ingredients:
approx. 1-2 lbs. of ground buffalo
approx. 1/3 cup of chopped yellow onion
approx. 2 T chopped jalepeno peppers
approx. 2 T chopped garlic
approx. 1/2 cup of rolled oats
2 egg whites
2 T of Lea & Perrins worcestershire sauce
a pinch of brown sugar
cayenne pepper
black pepper
and lot's of cajun spice!
Preparation:
Mix all of the above ingredients together and then shape them into individual burgers. You should be able to get 4-6 depending on how big you make each one. You can have the burgers on toasted buns or with out. I had mine without the buns but did have some grilled onions on them and they were so good!
Also, have a look at this article from epicurious about the top 12 Best Burgers in America recommended by the nation's top restaurant critics. It's a quick read, it features some unbelievably tasty looking burgers and it might come in handy if you're traveling through the United States and are in need of a really good burger!
Exercise & Workout article by Ben on Tuesday, July 21, 2009 5:30:05 PM EST
One of my clients passed this article on to me from the New York Times and I thought that I should share it with any one who has or is currently taking any type of thermogenic, energy pill or fat burner. I've never been a huge supporter of diet pills, energy drinks or weight loss powders. I've read some studies about the benefits of having caffeine before a training session and will occasionally have a cup of tea in the morning or a diet Pepsi in the afternoon for a littler pick me up but as far as fat burners are concerned.. I've never really been a big fan. I remember about ten years ago I tried this fat burner called Therma Lean and it made feel so jittery, nauseous and sketchy that I never touched it again. I remember hating the way it made me feel and I couldn't wait till it wore off a bit so I could "come down" and feel normal again!
Hydroxycut is another brand of fat burners and weight loss supplements and they have recently had some of their products pulled from store shelves because the FDA has received 23 reports of significant adverse health effects in people that have used Hydroxycut products, including tissue and liver damage, a liver transplant, heart problems and a possible death. The company that owns the brand Hydroxycut, Iovate Heath Sciences of Oakville, Ontario have voluntarily recalled 14 of their products. These products include:
Hydroxycut Regular Rapid Release Caplets
Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Rapid Release Caplets
Hydroxycut Hardcore Liquid Caplets
Hydroxycut Max Liquid Caplets
Hydroxycut Regular Drink Packets
Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Drink Packets
Hydroxycut Hardcore Drink Packets (Ignition Stix)
Hydroxycut Max Drink Packets
Hydroxycut Liquid Shots
Hydroxycut Hardcore RTDs (Ready-to-Drink)
Hydroxycut Max Aqua Shed
Hydroxycut 24
Hydroxycut Carb Control
Hydroxycut Natural
So if you have been taking or are currently taking any of these weight loss and energy boosting products then you must stop immediately! Be sure to consult your physician if you experience any symptoms or side effects!
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Disclaimer: The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. Consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem.
