Body Motivation

Have you ever seen a Hollywood actor or actress and wondered how they got that way? Well, it’s really not as hard to achieve as you may think. Sure, many actors have an entourage of trainers at their beck and call 24/7, but if you’re willing to put in the work it is possible for anyone to get into great physical condition.

Adding too much muscle creates a generic look. When someone stays slim and lean while gaining strength, to me it makes them appear more sophisticated. Gal Gadot is a prime example. She trains almost every day, but focuses getting strong without bulking up. This allows her to look fantastic and stylish as well as being strong. I was pumped when they chose her for Wonder Woman. I believe that more women want this sort of balance, instead of looking like a CrossFit Games competitor.

For most people, losing belly fat takes 2-3 times longer than expected.... especially if you are middle-aged or beyond. A lot of my close friends are in their mid-to-late 40's. Back in college... We could lose fat and get ready for summer by simply adding in a bit of cardio and cutting calories for 3-6 months before summer. If you are in your mid 30's and beyond? You almost have to think in terms of 1-2 years to reach your ideal physique.

It’s definitely possible to build a strong and defined physique with bodyweight training. The biggest positives of bodyweight training? You are able to train just about anywhere. There is one challenge with bodyweight training. “The downside of bodyweight is… you can’t really train your lower back effectively… and you have to train your lower back to stay young.” – Pavel Tsatsouline

April Harkness is a 44 year old Chicago nurse and mother. She put on 30+ pounds during the first 9 month of 2020 due to the intense stress of her job and lack of time to workout. With just one kettlebell and this special workout she was about to drop 32 pounds in 4 months and get flat abs and toned body. Here's more of her stories and details of her workout.

We have been told for years that spot reduction is NOT possible. Findings from a recent study challenge this idea. “Effect of combined resistance and endurance exercise training on regional fat loss” They found that spot reduction may be possible around the area of resistance-trained muscles. The key is to do cardio right after focused resistance training. Here are the specific steps: Challenge your target muscles near the stubborn area.

I actually like to get to the gym 6 days per week each Spring. It may sound excessive, but I find myself sitting A LOT these days.Muscle definition increases at a rapid rate since each muscle group is being contracted every time you enter the gym.

Skinny fat people are those that look slim in clothes and maintain a low or moderate BMI (body mass index) but have high levels of body fat and low muscle mass. So, underneath those clothes – they actually look soft and they don’t have a lot of muscle tone. A skinny fat workout regime (if any) is mostly cardio and their diet is mostly based on processed food. So, how to get rid of the skinny fat body? You definitely need to change your diet and workout regime (or adopt a workout one).

Are there certain foods that will help me change my body’s weight set point? Cayanne – has Capsaicin that gives peppers their heat. This heat provides a thermogenic fat burning effect in your body. This has a beneficial impact on set-point. Cinnamon - has been shown to boost metabolism and it also kicks butt when it comes to blood sugar regulation; making it an ideal seasoning for you if you’re diabetic or are pre-diabetic. Mustard - Mustard seeds have been shown to boost metabolic rate by…

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF REPETITION SPEED - In regards to strength training, in particular, repetition speed refers to how fast you’re lifting a set of weights or resistance equipment. The tempo in which you’re lifting can be broken into three separate movements. Concentric, or lifting movements, are at the beginning of the exercise. Once you’ve reached the top of your lift, you transition into the isometric phase, in which you hold your position for a few seconds to increase the intensity...

NEW Kettlebell Home Workout Course filmed on the beach in Costa Rica. The goal is to help men and women burn fat and improve muscle definition with one single kettlebell.

"Cardio is great for burning calories, so it's a great place to start when you're trying to lose weight," says Lauren Murray, health fitness coordinator and personal trainer at Houston Methodist. "Plus, cardio has other benefits, such as improving your heart and lung health, lowering your blood pressure, regulating blood sugar and improving cholesterol levels." But, Murray points out that there's more to burning fat than "just getting some cardio in"...

Skinny-fat is when you’ve got a body-fat percentage of over 20% but still look skinny in a t-shirt. It’s when you’ve got skinny arms but still have fat around your belly. Why does that happen? Why are you gaining fat instead of muscle when you gain weight? And why are you losing muscle instead of fat when you lose weight? It’s a confusing situation to be in because it’s not clear whether you need to focus on bulking to build muscle or cutting to lose fat.

So, you may, or may have not heard about the 16:8 fasting. It is an eating pattern where you are allowed to eat during an 8-hour period and must only consume water for the rest of 16 hours each day. The intermittent fasting 14/10 is very similar to that type, only here you are allowed to eat whatever you want during a 10-hour window. If you get up early, you can start eating at 7 AM, and then your last meal this day will have to be at 5 PM, followed by a fasting period which will end by 7…

Whether you want to nix lower back pain or are dead set on losing belly fat, strengthening your core is a great place to start. As a major muscle group, your core is command central for strength, helps you move your lower and upper body more effectively, and lowers your risk of injury. Many people don't realize that the core is more than just the abdominal muscles, too. It also includes your lower back and hips.

Before you decide on anything else you first need to get clear on your goal. Do you want to lose fat and maintain muscle or gain weight and build muscle? These are different goals that require different things from your training plan so it’s important you figure this out upfront. Should You Cut Or Bulk First? The answer to whether you should cut or bulk first largely comes down to 2 factors.