I hope you had a relaxing holiday and celebrated it with the people you care about! Besides training, a thing that brings me peace is cooking delicious meals (sometimes cheat meals). So in honor of the holiday I threw together my favorite egg dish- eggs benedict; with a few healthy twists- salmon, spinach and onion. Of course, topped off with fresh REAL hollandaise sauce I also made. Don't worry, this dish isn't totally healthy, it has its share of calories and let me tell you- tastes amazing. Check out the video, follow along and try it yourself!
If YOU are ready to turn back the clock and train with me for the best body you ever had no matter what your age (I'm 41) let's do it!
Who likes getting old? That’s what I thought..me either. In terms of basic numbers the average guy loses about 5 lbs of muscle between the ages of 25-50, that is if you don’t do something about it, like lift some regular weights.Now in my 40's, I still have just as much muscle (if not more) than when I landed my first cover of Men’s Fitness Magazine ten years ago (see previous posts) I am also just as fit, fast and durable. How do you think this is possible? Weight training- it truly is a fountain of youth.
Guess what? It’s not just for guys. Men and women both can both seriously turn back the clock with some regular weight training; the key is just doing it right. We all have muscles, we all have metabolisms that slow as we age and we can ALL fend off fat gain and aging with proper weight training.
Let’s look at some of the benefits of weight training for anti-aging that just “cardio” alone can’t accomplish:
It Strengthens Our Bones. As we age, osteoporosis (weakening of bones) sets in and this increases the chances of breaking something during a fall or stumble. Think of weight training as a way to ad armor to your body. Recent research in the Journal of Applied Physiology found that men who lifted weights for 16 weeks increased their hip-bone density by 3.8 percent and raised their blood levels of osteocalcin (a marker of bone growth) by 19 percent. Not only that, the added muscle is protection to your vital organs for any unexpected impact. Muscle Eats Fat For Lunch. Muscle is an active tissue requiring a lot of calories to sustain itself. Fat, not so much. Fat is a lazy tissue. One lb of fat takes up to 18% more space than one lb of muscle. Picture that- so it’s no wonder the clients I train actually lose more inches than total body weight- muscle is a much more dense tissue. A key thing to know here is that weight training when done with good intensity and regularity can increase testosterone levels naturally- for both men and women (that’s right, women have some testosterone too) thus setting up the body to burn MORE FAT around the clock. Studies in clinical nutrition found that for every lb of muscle a man loses, he gains a lb of fat as he ages- the bottom line? Preserve your muscle at all costs to fend off fat storage!
Weight Training Adds Flexibility. Between 30 and 70, flexibility decreases 20 to 50 percent and this makes it tough for your joints to move through their full range of motion. A lot of people can’t touch their toes or even squat down until the backs of their legs touch their calves (that’s most guys) This means you have tight hamstrings and hip flexors, possibly setting you up for injury. When done right, proper weight training movements through their full range of motion (ROM) from flexion to full extension effectively stretch the muscle while strengthening it. In a study published in the International Journal of Sports Medicine, it was found that lifting weights just 3x per week for 16 weeks increased flexibility of the hips by over 30% and bumped up sit and reach scores by 11%. Who says lifting weights makes you stiff and inflexible? Another question- why do you think more and more pro golfers are lifting weights? Because it limits their swing? So all you folks out there that use the old "I don't want to get big, bulky muscles if I lift weights" excuse, slow down. It takes more effort, know-how, time and caloric intake than you might imagine.
Muscle Helps Keep Insulin Under Control. Most people sadly have daily helpings of the S.A.D. diet (standard American diet) which is full of fast-burning carbs and sugars like white bread, fried stuff or other fast, processed junk. When we eat these "foods" the level of insulin- a hormone that helps keep your blood sugar normal- rises dramatically. That's an issue because consistently elevated insulin increases your risk of diabetes, almost guarantees body fat storage and/or heart disease. Weight training can fight this. Researchers at the University of Massachusetts found that men who added two full-body weight workouts a week to their existing aerobic exercise program had insulin levels that were 25 percent lower after a meal higher in carbs than the levels of men who performed the same aerobic exercises with no weight lifting- why? Because muscle burns up calories to sustain itself around the clock, aerobic exercise only does it while you are actually doing the exercise. That’s a no-brainer right? This is called EPOC, or excess-post exercise oxygen consumption. Of course, smarter food choices are paramount for the best results but with that, weight training can actually prevent and reverse diabetes. Weight Training Makes You A Better Athlete. Done the right way, lifting increases your fast-twitch fibers- the fibers you need for explosive speed and power as an athlete in your younger years. Regular aging decreases fast twitch fibers by up to 25% more than slow twitch fibers (the ones used for casual jogging around the block) This is significant because fast twitch are the ones used to help us get up out of a chair or car easier when we’re old. Again, muscle just helps make life’s little challenges easier and helps maintain your athletic abilities. I myself, can actually still run around a 4.6 40 time (unofficial). I will soon be recording my official time to prove how weight training (and sprinting hills) can keep you young and fast. Improved Self Image And Outlook. Various studies have proven that weight training elevates your mood. In one such study in 2004 at the University of Alabama it was found that older men who performed three weight workouts a week for 6 months improved their scores on measures of confusion, tension, anger, and overall mood. The exact way this happens isn’t fully understood but one could just surmise that if you look better, you feel better. There is also an endorphin rush from training with weights and that helps make you feel happier and just plain stronger for what life throws at you. Some may have experienced it through a "runner's high", a euphoric natural buzz. I get that when I sprint hills almost everytime. The study subjects reversed a decade of age-related muscle loss and fat gain, by adding 4 pounds of muscle and dropping 3 pounds of fat, while increasing strength by an average of 42 percent. I would think results like that could make anyone happier- without the use of drugs and their often unpredictable side effects!
I cover everything you need to know to effectively build and feed muscle, burn fat and turn back the clock in my online training system “Ultimate Body, Awesome Abs!”.Learn more about how it can help you slow YOUR aging process to a standstill at http://www.robertmartingfitness.com No matter where you are in the world, or your age- we can train together and make your goals a reality! Or, if you are in the Southbay area of Los Angeles and would like to learn more about training with me 1-on-1, just send me an email, I want to hear your story.
When you have the right information and people in your corner, the odds of lasting success are in your favor, by far!
~Robert Marting, The "Over 40's Fitness Specialist"
Pre-workout or "N.O." (nitric oxide) supplements have been around a while, getting much press with the release of "N.O. Explode" a few years back. What's the big deal about them and what do they do for you? I've tried many of them but use only a couple here and there.
Force Factor, one of latest to capitalize on the N.O. supplement craze, is in my opinion the K-Mart of these supplements because it lacks any real punch to it's ingredients yet makes outrageous claims of miraculous fat-burning and muscle building results- don't fall for it; it's ALL marketing hype just like 5-Hour Energy shots. Both of them spend more on media buys for their lousy commercials than they do actual R and D for the product. Maybe that's why they are so overpriced. Ok, let's stay on-topic:
Since N.O. Explode came out, pre-workouts have gotten better in my opinion. It's usually only a matter of time before someone, somewhere finds a replacement ingredient that works just as well or better to get a desired result for cheaper than the current favorite found in what's on the shelves now. Without getting too scientific, let's talk about what is in these supplements that help you "swell up",lean out, have more endurance, stronger sets and less fatigue (according the the labels and marketing) some of these things are very potent and can effect some people very adversely, so be careful!
Besides the obvious huge dose of caffeine and a little creatine most of these mixes have in their "proprietary blend" (more on that later) ingredient list, there are many other potent things in there that might help kick-start your training or what ever else you are about to take on that requires focus and/or more athletic ability.
The short list of some of the latest high-octane ingredients found in these supplements are:
Beta-Alanine, Arginine, Theobromine, Evodiamine, R-Beta-Methylphenylethylamine and my personal favorite 1,3-Dimethylamylamine. Some are way to wordy to even try to pronounce, I know. Let's break them down and talk about what they actually do to help us burn fat and get ripped results.
One of the biggest, hottest ones currently for that is Beta-Alanine. BA is naturally occurring beta amino acid and is a component of the peptide amino acid carnosine, which has great anti-aging properties and is found in large concentrations in muscle and brain tissue. Supplementation of BA has been suggested to up the content of carnosine in muscles decreasing fatigue thus allowing more muscular work to be done; helping to reduce the burn brought on by lactic acid from intense training- I like the sound of that.
Arginine is one of the most common naturally occurring amino acids. It is mainly included as a supplement ingredient because it is a precursor for the synthesis of nitric oxide (NO) and is necessary for the synthesis of creatine (which is also naturally occurring) it helps decrease healing time of damaged tissue (muscle in our case) and decreases blood pressure. In general most adults don't need to take arginine as it is naturally occurring in our bodies but it's understandable why it is included in pre-workout supplementation (this is the main ingredient in Force Factor) WEAK.
Theobromine is a caffeine-like ingredient, but not as potent. It comes from the cocoa tree so you can find it in dark chocolate. It is a mild stimulant and has a diuretic effect on us (makes us urinate more) which is not necessarily a bad thing. This is one of the reasons that these supplements can appear to help you get "shredded" that most people don't really think about. When we pee more, we get rid of water and salt usually held subcutaneously just under the skin. This look occurs from eating food high in empty calories/salt, usually processed and/or fast food from S.A.D. (Standard American Diet) This makes us look puffier or bloated. So, when we pee more, we flush all that out and thus look "leaner" or more shredded. This is a bodybuilding/fitness model must- you can't be holding any water and expect to land a cover!
Evodiamine is a common ingredient in pre-workout supplements; extracted from the Tetradium family of plants which has shown in some mice studies to reduce fat uptake. It's mechanism is similar in theory to capsaicin, which is the active ingredient in chili peppers. At the very least the theory could be that it increases metabolic rate much like a thermogenic, or "fat burner" pill like Hydroxycut. A Japanese animal study in 2001, found that evodiamine doubled fat burning in it's subjects.
R-Beta-Methylphenylethylamine is one of the newer ingredients on the menu for pre-workouts supplements. It is somewhat similar to what norephedrine was years back before it was banned. R-Bet-Methyl stimulates norepinephrine in the human body with weight loss effects like appetite suppression and increased energy much like caffeine. Sounds like a good combination to me if the goal is to drop inches and pounds.
Now for my favorite ingredient, DMAA or Dimethylamylamine. It's a legal over the counter stimulant that is extracted from geranium plants although some sources say that has never been confirmed ands it is synthetic. Early on it was patented by the drug company Eli Lilly as a nasal decongestant. Years later it was brought into the fitness supplement industry. It, much like R-Beta-Methyl (above) are norepinephrine releasing agents which increase energy and focus, amp up vasoconstriction (restricts blood vessel size) and heightens the senses. Some report a feeling of eurphoria and/or mental well-being. It has also been suggested that DMAA stimulates dopamine release but that is not confirmed. DMAA is not approved by the FDA and in 2009 the World Anti-Doping Agency added it to the 2010 prohibited list. That's ok, that does not mean it is illegal, just that drug-tested athletes should not be taking it.
There have been a whole host of positive testing results among athletes and DMAA, like American Sprinter Mike Rodgers in 2011, claiming he drank vodka with an energy drink two days before an event in Italy causing the positive result. And the very latest, February 2012, two U.S. soldiers who collapsed during training kicked off an investigation into DMAA as it was found in their systems. The DoD decided to take all products containing DMAA off base-store shelves as a precautionary measure. But the DoD did stress- these ARE legal products and the link between the two dead soldiers and DMAA has not been confirmed. Final findings are expected in late March, 2012.
Truth is, more people die every year from obesity-related conditions, smoking or drinking than anything containing DMAA. You simply have to do your research and practice common sense. If you have a sensitivity to caffeine or any other stimulant, you probably should stay away from these products. Everyone is different- the way each of our bodies react to different foods, supplements and training modes.
The other thing to think about is that if you are new to training (especially higher intensity) and you are told to start taking supplements like this from your buddies, your trainer or whomever, just take it slow and maybe let the training condition your heart/cardio respiratory system prepare to take the effects a bit better. I have been training for close to 20 years and I have had no problems what so ever trying various supplements like these. Others who are new to training may not experience the same tolerance so again, use common sense and always test toleration levels slowly!
Besides my favorite protein bars made by Promax, my favorite pre-workout supplement right now is called Noxipro by CTD Labs out of Spring, TX.I have no affiliation with CTD Labs, I just like their product. It is similar to the popular Jack3D, but the mixture of ingredients in Noxipro just work better with my system. There are many products out there that qualify as pre-workout supplements. Many of them however do not have the potent ingredients such as DMAA in them. As with any supplement, since it is NOT regulated by the FDA, they take advantage of what is called the "Proprietary Blend" which simply means they don't have to disclose just how much of anything is in the product and that rubs many the wrong way, rightfully so.
Again, the bottom line about ANY supplement is this: It does just that- it only SUPPLEMENTS what YOU do day in/day out in the gym and in the kitchen. I like them for that reason. They give me a kick when I need it. What I rely on is my nutrition and my training, NEVER supplements. That goes for protein supplements, "fat burners" like Hydroxycut, creatine, or pre-workout mixes.
Nothing takes the place of a solid nutrition/training plan for your body type or goal- and the will to improve. In my book that will never change. For more info on how to bring it all together and get the body of your dreams with full support from me, visit http://www.robertmartingfitness.com
Until my next post, train, eat and supplement smart!
In this short video shot in Palm Springs, Ca I show you the beauty of bodyweight supersets if you don't have a gym or wieghts. If you know what movements to do and in intense fashion (superset) you don't always need gyms and weights to get lean! Of course, your nutrition must be in order no matter what you do; that's a golden rule! Make sure to check out the end..very cool!
Most of my results (and magazine covers) came from dedicated sessions in a fully equipped gym, with various workouts structured around a combination of compound movements and isolation movements. Home workouts with limited equipment can however offer a great stand-in session when you can't make the gym. If you want to train with me in the gym and recieve dedicated support from me in the gym and the kitchen step by step, visit me at http://www.robertmartingfitness.com there, we can train one-on-one no matter where you are! Do it now!
I just saw another infomercial for P90X and it got me thinking…
A few months back I did a post right here on this blog mainly on Beachbody’s flagship product “P90X” (scroll down a few posts) and other topics surrounding the company.
I’m pretty sure you’ve seen the documentary-style infomercials that BeachBody spends millions on per year to plaster its marketing message all over the networks- hey, infomercials that hit even just a little bit can help you retire early.
As it turned out, The New York Times was also putting together an article on BeachBody. In doing so, they paid me a visit (which was awesome) thanks NY Times!
The Times asked me a few questions on my knowledge of BeachBody; back in 2002 I was paid talent in a few of their infomercials as someone who appeared to use their products (then Power 90).
My contribution to the article includes the age-old principle coined by Joe Weider over 50 years ago called “Muscle Confusion”. Which simply means doing different workouts, tempos and movements every time you train (ground breaking stuff here).
The quote got a response from Carl Daikeler, CEO of BeachBody:
The guiding principle is to mix up routines and “confuse” the muscles so as to avoid hitting a plateau. So some days are devoted to dumbbells or resistance bands, in addition to old-fashioned push-ups and pull-ups. Other days are reserved for yoga or cardiovascular workouts that involve a lot of jumping and squats.
But Robert Marting, a personal trainer who sells his own exercise videos, says that “muscle confusion” is a time-tested principle of bodybuilding, and that the idea has been around since the early days of Joe Weider, a creator of the Mr. Olympia contest. Beachbody “kindly borrowed the principle and just retermed it as a training secret,” he says.
True enough, Mr. Daikeler says.
“Trainers love to give negative reviews of P90X, saying it’s not that special,” he said. “They are right. It’s not that special.”
Well, I wasn't being negative, I was only stating the truth; and at least Carl was being truthful too. If P90X really were that special, I don’t think pitchman Tony Horton would be training in his own "tricked out" home gym as explained in the NY Times article, he’d be training in his living room in front of a plasma TV.
What about if you did the full 90 days and you did'nt know what or how to continue training? Do you just start again from day 1? Watch the entire series again for another 90 days? Who likes re-runs? This is a problem with P90 obviously and where some complaints come up with this program along with injuries that can sideline your progress.
I guess P90X just not ‘confusing’ enough to keep real results coming!
It’s a great read either way, check out the entire article on the official NY Times site HERE
Thanks again to the New York Times for including http://www.robertmarting.com in theirarticle and thanks to BeachBody for giving me something to blog about!
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube