Not Your Average Fitness Tips

In my last two posts I’ve discussed how I use pushing exercises and pulling exercises as part of my workout routine.  When I do heavy weight low rep supersets, I like to pair a pushing exercise with a pulling exercise.  When I do low weight high rep training to failure, I like to perform pushing exercises one day and pulling exercises another day.  In this post, I wanted to quickly review a few different pushing exercises and pulling exercises that you can incorporate in your workout routine. Continue Reading…

While I generally think heavy lifting while avoiding failure is the best way to train, every once in a while I like to perform low weight high reps training to failure.  This is primarily used for sarcoplasmic hypertrophy which results in muscle mass gains.  Done strategically, training to failure can actually generate a nice “shrink-wrap effect” as well.  However, over the long term, I think low weight high reps training is best left to bodybuilders. Continue Reading…

Have you ever wondered about how to make your strength training workout more time efficient and effective?  Then it’s time to consider a high weight, low reps superset workout routine.  The best way to build strength is by using a heavy weight that you can only lift for a few reps.  Ideally you want to give your muscles plenty of time to rest between sets so that you avoid training to failure.  However, this is terribly inefficient.  This is where superset workout routines can be helpful.  Rather than just resting between sets, you perform a different exercise.  I’ve discussed my preferred way to combine high weight, low rep training with a superset workout in Fitness in a Flash and How to Get a Beach Body but thought it might be worthwhile to provide a little more flavor. Continue Reading…

I recently completed Joel Marion’s Xtreme Fat Loss Diet.  It’s a rapid fat loss diet designed to help you lose up to 25 pounds in 25 days.  Are the Xtreme Fat Loss Diet results really that impressive?  What sacrifices are you going to have to make along the way?  Read my Xtreme Fat Loss Diet review to find out the answers to these and more. Continue Reading…

As you get leaner, one of the biggest challenges is measuring body fat percentage and measuring muscle mass percentage.  If you’re trying to lose a lot of weight, the scale is just as good a tool as any.  However, when you’re trying to lose the last 5-10lbs of fat while preventing muscle loss, the scale alone won’t necessarily help.  How can you effectively measure your weight loss results if you don’t know your body fat percentage or muscle mass percentage?  Based my recent experience, your best bet is to combine a variety of different methods.  Even then, it’s tough to definitively determine anything in the short term. Continue Reading…

Are there any benefits of low intensity cardio?  With the emergence of high intensity cardio and other intense training routines, a low intensity cardio workout is not nearly as prevalent as it used to be.  Why have I started doing a lot more low intensity cardio for fat loss then?  Because it’s a great way to burn a few extra calories with very little risk of over training or injury.  This is an important component of Visual Impact Cardio and was mentioned in my interview with Rusty Moore as a great way to get the lean, Hollywood look. Continue Reading…

What are the best supplements for weight loss and muscle gain?  While supplement marketing companies might contend otherwise, I think there are only a few supplements that work.  Even then, you should consider whether the cost/benefit is really worthwhile.  Personally, I don’t think supplements are an integral part of any diet and exercise program.  However, they may help you accelerate results.  Just remember, the dirty little secret of supplements for weight loss and muscle gain is that you actually need to diet and exercise for them to be effective.  That being said, in my opinion, what follows are some of the best supplements for weight loss and muscle gain. Continue Reading…

In the past, I’ve discussed how I use boxing workouts at home to help increase fat loss.  Now I’d like to lay out a boxing workout routine that you can use to either supplement or even replace your existing strength training routine.  What I like about a boxing training routine is that it is a high intensity, low impact program.  Because you can’t perform HIIT focused on your legs day-after-day without overtraining, boxing gives your legs a bit of a rest while still allowing you to get a great cardiovascular workout that tones your arms, ups HGH levels and results in EPOC.  Even better, a boxing training program can be done with little to no equipment in limited space. Continue Reading…

Rusty Moore recently took time away from his busy schedule to do an interview for my site.  By way of background, Rusty runs a high traffic blog called Fitness Black Book that focuses on achieving the lean, Hollywood look.  His Visual Impact Muscle Building, Visual Impact for Women, and Visual Impact Cardio workouts are some of my favorite approaches to getting a great body.  More recently, Rusty started a Facebook page where he pretty much acts as a free personal trainer answering all sorts of questions about how to get in great shape. Continue Reading…

A lot of people are curious about how many meals a day to lose weight.  Some people claim one meal and others say six meals is best.  So, how often should you eat?  Additionally, does meal timing have any impact on weight loss?  Is it better to eat first thing in the morning instead of late at night?  Is there an optimal time to eat that will give you a better chance of losing weight?  Here are a few things I’ve discovered about meal frequency and weight loss. Continue Reading…