Archive for May 2010

"Things Fall Apart" Pushes 50 Cent to Drop 50 Pounds (SHOCKING PICTURES)

Photos showing 50 Cent’s weight loss appeared on the website ThisIs50.com

 I’m not a fan of 50 but I got to give him respect for his dedication to playing this role.

(CBS) What’s behind rapper 50 Cents’ shocking weight loss?

According to the website ThisIs50.com, the 34-year-old musician-turned-movie-star lost more than 50 pounds, dropping from 214 to 160, to portray a cancer patient in the movie “Things Fall Apart.”

He did it with with a liquid diet and three-hour-a-day treadmill walks for nine weeks. Now, he’s ready to eat again (I’m starving,” he says) and ready to rock. His “The Invitation” tour resumes this weekend with dates in Chicago and Detroit. The rapper, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, also will perform next month in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Miami, Atlanta, New York and Boston before heading to Brazil in July.

Directed by Mario Van Peebles, “Things Fall Apart” was filmed in Michigan earlier this year and is due in theaters in 2011. In it, 50 Cent stars as a promising college football player who is diagnosed with cancer. It also stars Ray Liotta as a doctor. The rapper co-wrote the screenplay with Brian A. Miller.

source: cbs.com

My Protein Pleasure: Trust me on this One!

Fage Greek Yogurts a great snack, but if you add a scoop of whey protein powder its a lot better its actually one of my protein pleasures. The protein powder gives the yogurt a nice vanilla or chocolate flavor. 1 cup fage 2%, 1 scoop whey protein powder = 230 calories, 39 grams of protein! A great snack with lots of protein. Just make sure you have 1 cup of yogurt “no less” or the protein powder wont mix with the yogurt. Mix them both, I do this in the yogurt cup but it’s pretty tight, a bowl or big cup would be better. I add a dash of cinnamon and a touch of peanut butter (purely optional) great post-workout meal or mid-day snack.

Step 1: Get the Fage! 0% is better but this was on sale!

Step 2: Add the protein, cinnamon and PB!

Step 3: Mix …Mix…Mix (this can get messy!)

Stay Motivated!

I honestly don’t mean to be selfish…but this is for a select few & myself. I’ve been remotivated by many things and people. Here is a passage from a fellow lifter:

(Big KonKrete)

We have the unlimited power of creation within us. Always had.  It is our birthright which has been stolen, trampled or disguised by those who would keep us in chains of fear and limitation.  But we are now entering a new awareness and a new vibration of Divine Blessing.

The old ways of limitation, war and greed are in their death throes… pay them no heed… as this new reality is being birthed, your awareness of your pure potentiality and limit-less-ness is needed to bring it forth. Now is the age when we are being guided to align ourselves with the reality of our spiritual natures and throw off the cloaks of repression and fear. This is without doubt the most amazing time to be alive! NOW GET IN THE GYM AND GET BIG!!!!!! -unknown

Anabolic Diet 101: The Definite Anabolic Diet Guide

It’s been a while…I’ve been in the lab grinding. I still havent peaked with consistency or intensity, but I have been eating clean (REAL CLEAN). I’m on Day 10 and it has resulted in a 10lb drop. Stronglift has an awesome description of the Anabolic Diet. It is a muscle building and fat burning diet. Dr Mauro Di Pasquale developed the Anabolic Diet as a response to drug use. He wanted a diet that gave similar results but naturally & safely.

The Anabolic Diet does this by manipulating your muscle building hormones. Key is eating the right combination of foods at the right time. Not easy, but works if done properly. Here’s the definite Anabolic Diet guide.

Benefits of The Anabolic Diet. The Anabolic Diet is a high protein, high fat diet which involves carbs cycling. Some things you can expect:

• Fat Loss. You force your body to use fat for energy by avoiding carbs for 5 days. Your body stores less fat because you eat lots of fats. You’ll get rid of stubborn fat like love handles. 10% body fat year through is easy.
• Muscle Gains. Key to the Anabolic Diet is fatty read meat. This is rich in cholesterol and saturated fats which increase your testosterone levels. Testosterone is the muscle building hormone.
• Improved Health. Lower cholesterol & tryglyceride levels, less plaque build up, controlled insulin levels, less food allergies, less acne, … Do a blood test before starting the Anabolic Diet and compare months later.
• More Energy. Controlling your carb intake will make you wake up full of energy. You’ll never have blood sugar crashes or heaviness after eating again. Also less irritability & less mood swings.
• No Hunger. Fat satiates and makes you feel full longer. You’ll never feel hungry on the Anabolic Diet. You’ll have to remind yourself to eat even though you’ll be eating more than before.

How The Anabolic Diet Works. The Anabolic Diet works whatever your gender or age. And like any diet, it works best coupled with strength training. Here’s how your week looks like when you eat the Anabolic Diet way:

• Weekdays. Proteins, fats & veggies. Eat fatty red meat, fatty fish, whole eggs, full fat cheese, olive oil, spinach, broccoli, cabbage, …
• Weekends. Eat lots of carbs. Pasta, rice, bread, potatoes, oats, fruit, … Lower your protein & fat intake.

How to Get Started on The Anabolic Diet. Use FitDay to track your daily caloric and macronutrients intake. Anabolic Diet rules:

• Determine Caloric Needs. Rule of thumb is your BW x 18kcal, but the Cunningham Equation is more accurate. Read this post.
• 12 Days No Carbs. Eat proteins & fats only for 12 days. This forces your body to use fat for energy. After these 12 days, eat carbs for 2 days on. Then alternate 5 days no carbs and 2 days carbs.
• No Carbs Days. 40% protein, 60% fat, 25g carbs max. The carbs should come from foods like veggies, eggs, meat, … No oats or rice or milk.
• Carbs Days. 15% protein, 25% fat, 60% carbs. So 60% of your calories should come from carbs. These will fill your carb stores.

It takes about 4 weeks to adapt to the Anabolic Diet. Expect stomach issues, moodiness, tiredness, … Don’t give up. All of this will go away if you stick with the Anabolic Diet. Read first week experiences on the Anabolic Diet.

Example Meal Plan: No Carbs Days. Usually Monday to Friday. Eat protein & fat only, avoid carbs. For inspiration, read the Anabolic Diet food list.

• Breakfast. Whole eggs, bacon, spinach.
• Snack. Italian or french cheese.
• Lunch. Ground round, broccoli, olive oil.
• Snack. Italian or Spanish ham.
  
• Post Workout. Whey, olive oil.
  
• Dinner. Mackerel, salad, olive oil, cheese cubes.
  
• Pre Bed. French cheese, ground flax seeds, fish oil.
  

Example Meal Plan: Carbs Days. Usually Saturday & Sunday. Best is to avoid training on these days since the high carb intake tends to cause tiredness.

• Breakfast. Oats, raisins, milk.
• Snack. Lots of fruit.
• Lunch. Chicken breast, quinoa, spinach.
• Snack. Lots of fruit.
  
• Dinner. Whole grain pasta, tomato sauce, Parmesan cheese.
  
• Pre Bed. Cottage cheese, berries, ground flax seeds, fish oil.

Drawbacks of The Anabolic Diet. Your grocery bill will be higher at first and the weekends can turn into junk fests. More drawbacks of the Anabolic Diet:

• Hard for Weight Gain. The Anabolic Diet is high in fats which satiate & make you full longer. This makes gaining weight on the Anabolic Diet harder, but not impossible. GOMAD is better for weight gain.
• Complicate. You have to count calories, you’re cycling between carbs & no carbs days, food choice is tricky with all the hidden carbs, … A diet based on the 8 nutrition rules is simpler.
• No Good For Sports. Sports like rugby and MMA don’t mix well with low carb diets like the Anabolic Diet: they rely too much on carbs for energy. One solution is to use mid-week carb ups. But it’s not ideal.

Should You Do The Anabolic Diet? If you eat carbs on the days where you eat lots of saturated fat and fatty proteins, you risk obesity and diabetes. Stick to the Anabolic Diet rules or you’ll get adverse effects.

If you’ve never stuck with a diet, follow the 8 nutrition rules for 12 months. Then you’ll be ready for advanced stuff like the Anabolic Diet. If you still need it, since you’ll lose fat by following the 8 nutrition rules.

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9 Ingredients to avoid in processed foods

After watching the movie Food Inc., I was lucky enough to get a link that surprisingly said “9 Ingredients to avoid in processed foods” I was like wow….because I’m working on a list call the …(I’ll hold off on this thought). Staying away from this list is easier than you think, my problem is with splenda, but with time I can wean myself off of it. Moving closer to a whole foods lifestyle recently has also made my dependence on fruits for that sweet tooth, so no sugar need here baby! Sad part is, these are a major part of the Standard American Diet (SAD) something I’ve been involved in since …uh January.  Anyway here is the article and a lease on a great summer:

If you know me at all, you know that I’m an advocate for whole, unprocessed foods.  However, many of us inevitably turn to packaged or processed foods when we are short on time.  Maybe we grab a frozen dinner or pizza for a quick dinner for our family.  Maybe we grab a quick nutrition bar to satiate our hunger until we can sit down for a real meal.  Or maybe, we just don’t like to cook.  Whether we like it or not, packaged and processed food has become a huge part of our food industry and, as a result, a part of many of our diets.

Although there are some brands that I hugely advocate for, there are many more that border on outright unhealthy and “scary.”  Many packaged foods that seem healthy often contain fillers, preservatives and other ingredients you don’t want in your diet. It is always preferable to choose products that have only a handful of ingredients, all of which should be recognizable.  One test to know whether an ingredient is healthy is to ask yourself whether your grandmother would recognize it.  If not, there is a good chance the ingredient is less natural food and more man-made chemical.  Another good test is whether or not you can easily pronounce the ingredient.  If you feel like you need a science degree to pronounce it properly, chances are the ingredient is worth avoiding.

If you do have to resort to a processed food for a snack or dinner (anything canned, packaged, etc.), try to avoid those that contain the ingredients listed in the following chart.  Although this isn’t an exhaustive list, these ingredients are some of the most highly processed and least healthy of all:

Have you checked your ingredient lists recently? Do they contain any of the above? Have you tried cutting some of these ingredients out?

Excerpted from “GET REAL” and STOP Dieting! Copyright 2009 – Brett Blumenthal

Originally posted on sheerbalance.com

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Reebok Zigtech: Get a Pair

REPOST, COMMENT OR SUBSCRIBE AND BE ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A FREE PAIR OF REBOOK ZIGTECHS!

Sometimes new technology arrives and just blows you away. Take the new Reebok Zigtech for example. Reebok’s newest and most exciting sneaker was unveiled at Super Bowl weekend, much to the amazement of several sneaker heads worldwide.

The Reebok Zigtech is flat out zig-alicious. The new design will hit retailers nationwide, March 11th. It’s sure to make a big splash this Spring. Reebok’s ZigTech footwear was designed with the idea of giving the athlete a soft and springy ride. The innovative zig-zag shaped sole absorbs the impact of heel strike and sends a wave of energy along the length of the shoe to help propel the athlete forward with each step. Reebok has said through a statement that ZigTech technology causes up to 20% less wear and tear on key leg muscles, especially the shins and hamstrings.

Reebok’s ZigTech footwear collection is available for men and women in an array of bold, bright colors that will truly stand out in the gym. Professional athletes, like the always flamboyant Floyd Mayweather, have already jumped on the Zig bandwagon.

These are bold and confident, perfect for an athlete like me.”

If they’re perfect for the money maker, maybe they’re perfect for you as well.

Floyd Mayweather: Training / Workout Reebok ZigTechs

Floyd Mayweather takes a break from training to show off his Reebok ZigTechs. He has been training in his Reebok ZigTechs for his upcoming fight against Shane Mosley.

“We’re thrilled Floyd is training for his upcoming fight in the new Reebok ZigTech shoes. We have literally hundreds of athletes that are doing the same thing, and to have one of the best pound-for-pound fighters using these shoes to train for one of the biggest fights of the year really shows the attributes of the shoes. Floyd’s preparation has been incredible and these shoes are helping him train longer, harder, and faster to be in the best shape he can be in for this fight.” – Reebok

Mayweather will be the better-conditioned fighter. He always is. There is training for a fight, and there is the lunacy of how hard he works. The best job in Mayweather’s camp has to be the guy holding water and a towel for breaks. There never seems to be any.

The man you see here can run a 5-minute mile and bust out 40 pullups and 200 situps without breaking a sweat. But don’t call it a workout. When Floyd Mayweather Jr. trains, it’s a show. With this kind of training and conditioning Mosely is going to have his hands full.

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