Improve Your Physique By Improving Your “V-Taper”
Improve Your Physique By Improving Your “V-Taper”
Whether my personal training clients come to me because they want to compete in fitness competitions or simply improve their health and physique, they are looking to develop a smaller trimmer waistline. This requires, cardio, strength training, and a well balanced meal plan, in order to develop that “V-taper”!! What is the V-taper? It’s the broad shoulders and well developed lats, that make the waistline look narrow and slender. The lats are the broadest muscle group of the back and it’s responsible for the highly sought after V–taper. The following 4 exercises are imperative to building those lats and I often incorporate them in my own workouts.
1. Wide Grip Lat Pull Downs: The key is to pull the bar down to the top of your chest by recruiting your lats and not your biceps. Tensing the lats and activating those muscles, squeeze your back as if grabbing a pencil between your shoulder blades. Hold the contraction at the bottom of the movement. Shoot for 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps focusing on perfect form and making that muscle-mind connection.
2. Dumbbell Pullover: Lay on a flat bench with your feet firmly planted on the floor. Grab the dumbbell with both hands and hoist it over your head. With only a slight bend in your arm, lower the weight as far behind your head as possible until you feel that you’re getting a good stretch in your lats. Now, using the targeted muscles, pull the dumbbell back over to a point just over your head. Shoot for 3 sets of 12 to 15 repetitions. You should feel a good stretch in your entire back, especially in the lats.
3. One Armed Dumbbell Rows: Place one knee and the hand from the same side on a flat bench, using your other leg as a stabilizer flat on the floor. With your chest up, creating an arch in your lower back, and keeping your back from rounding, dumbbell in hand, pull your elbow up by contracting your back muscles. The key here is to maintain your elbow at a 45-degree angle and raise the dumbbell toward your hips, not your side. Hold the contraction then slowly lower the dumbbell and repeat. Aim for 3 sets of 8 to 10 repetitions.
4. Pull Ups: Whether using a close grip or a wide grip, pull-ups are an absolute staple to building a solid back, especially when concentrating on the lat muscles. Grab the bar from a dead hanging position, tuck and cross your legs behind you keeping your chest up. Pull yourself up until your chin reaches the bar and slowly return back to the start position. Shoot for 3 sets of as many reps as possible.
The most critical concerns when developing a strong, powerful back and creating the appearance of a V-taper is the use of proper weight. Throughout my many years of experience in the fitness industry, I’ve seen too many trainees focus on lifting too heavy which shifts the form and focus to other muscles. For more information on sculpting a desirable physique, increasing muscle mass, or if you’re frustrated with your current level of fitness and looking to hire a personal trainer, contact us.
Three Exercises To Build Stronger Triceps!
Three Exercises To Build Stronger Triceps!
When it comes to training triceps there are a number of exercises to choose from. However, here are three specific exercises that I like to take my personal training clients through that target all three heads of the tricep and produce the best results. After all, that is what we’re all about here at Training Innovations-Results!!!
1. Weighted Bench Dips-Weighted dips rely primarily on your own body weight, though additional weight can be added in your lap to increase the resistance on the muscles. Using two benches placed approximately 3-5 feet apart. Sit on one bench with your heels resting on the other; you may need to adjust the distance between the benches depending on your height. Place your palms on the bench you’re sitting on and slide forward, using your arms to support your weight. Now, slowly lower yourself until the bend of your elbows, reach a 90-degree angle. Maintain tension and push yourself back up until your arms are completely extended. This is one rep. Complete as many as you can with proper form until you reach fatigue.
2. Rope Extension-Attach a rope to a high pulley and select the appropriate weight. Leaning forward very slightly, grab the rope with a neutral grip (palms facing each other). Keep your elbows at 90 degrees and tucked in close to your body. Pull the rope downward moving only at your elbows. Continue pulling until your arms are fully extended and each side of the rope is down beside your thighs. Complete as many reps as possible until you reach fatigue.
3. Dumbbell Overhead Extension-For this exercise, it’s a good idea to use a seat or weight bench with some kind of back support. Choose an appropriate dumbbell weight and hold it with both hands, palms facing up under the plate of the dumbbell. Raise the weight up and behind the head, this is the starting position. Carefully lower the weight behind your head so that it is even with the lower part of the back of your head. Keep your elbows in tight close to your head. Raise the dumbbell back overhead so that arms are fully extended and repeat keeping proper form until muscles reach fatigue.
There you have it, three exercises that I’ve successfully incorporated into both my personal workouts and my clients’ workouts to build strength and muscle mass in those triceps! When working on increasing muscle mass in any muscle group, remember that it’s important to take in the proper nutrients from a well-balanced meal plan to assist in meeting your fitness goals. For more information on an individualized meal plan, increasing muscle mass, or losing weight or if you’re frustrated with your current level of fitness and looking to hire a personal trainer, contact us.
Best Time To Exercise To Burn Fat!!
Best Time To Exercise To Burn Fat!!
Depends On Your Goal
Exercise is essential to weight loss and burning fat. That fact is obvious to most of us. However, the best time of day to exercise to burn fat may not be so obvious. If your goal is to burn the maximum amount of body fat in a minimum amount of time, then first thing in the morning is definitely the best time. Working out on an empty stomach is also known as the fasted state cardio. This prompts the body to burn fat at a faster rate than working out later in the day.
Morning Is Better To Burn Fat
Research shows that exercising in a fasted state increases both lipolysis and fat oxidation. Lipolysis is the breaking down of fat cells for energy. It is best to exercise while your insulin levels are low. This will allow your body to mobilize and burn significantly more fat. Glycogen levels decrease overnight to fuel basic metabolic processes. Because your glycogen levels are low in the morning, exercising at that time burns fat instead of carbohydrates or glycogen.
Glycogen levels are higher at other times of the day due to nutrients that are consumed through your meals. This means that your body will preferentially burn through blood glucose before utilizing fat. In addition, blood flow in the abdominal region is increased when you’re in a fasted state. This is important because one of the problems with “stubborn fat” in this region is reduced blood flow. Less blood flow means less fat-burning chemicals and thus less fat loss.
Afternoon/Evening Is Better To Build Muscle
When you exercise in the morning it maximizes metabolic change. It does this by making your body burn calories at a higher rate post-workout. Therefore, your metabolism increases for several hours following intense exercise. Your metabolism actually slows in the evening. So working out at night lessens the fat-burning benefit of exercise. However, I personally prefer to exercise in the evening when my glycogen levels are higher in order to allow for maximum performance.
I find I am much stronger in the evening when my glycogen levels are high than first thing in the morning. So in closing, the best time of the day to exercise really depends on what your fitness goals are. If you’re after maximum performance and strength, you probably want to exercise in the evening. This is due to the fact that your glycogen levels are elevated in the evening. But if your goal is to maximize body fat burning, then exercising first thing in the morning is better.
For more information on best time to exercise to burn fat, strength training, eating healthy, or if you’re just frustrated with your current level of fitness, contact us.
Eat More Fiber to Lose Weight
Eat More Fiber to Help You Lose Weight
What is Fiber?
Fiber is the element in plants (like fruits, vegetables and whole grains) that our bodies do not digest. Fiber is different from most foods that we eat in that, unlike most foods, which are absorbed and digested, fiber is not absorbed or digested. It actually passes quickly through your digestive tract, mostly intact, and it is not broken down like other foods. The fact that fiber is mostly left intact is a good thing as it creates bulk, which aids in moving harmful carcinogens through the digestive tract. Without enough fiber in your diet, you will have irregularity and sluggishness. Insufficient fiber can also increase your risk of colon cancer, as well as other serious health issues. In fact, fiber is essential in the weight loss process. You need to eat more fiber to lose weight.
Two Types Of Fiber:
There are two kinds of fiber: Soluble fiber dissolves with water and creates a gel-like substance that helps to lower blood cholesterol and glucose levels. Insoluble fiber absorbs water, which adds bulk to your digestive tract and helps to move things through quickly. Examples of soluble fiber include oats, oat bran, peas, rice bran, legumes/beans, apples, and citrus fruits. Examples of insoluble fiber include whole-wheat flour, wheat bran, rye, cabbage, carrots, brussel sprouts and nuts.
Health Benefits Of Fiber:
Besides keeping our digestive track working smoothly, other health benefits of fiber include reducing the incidence of heart disease, lowering cholesterol, blood pressure, glucose levels and inflammation, and even weight loss. Fiber can help with weight loss because it creates a fullness within your intestines that helps you to eat less.
How much Fiber Should You Consume In A Day?
If you are like most Americans, then you probably consume about 10 to 15 grams of fiber a day. Unfortunately, this is just not enough. We should actually be consuming anywhere from 25 to 38 grams of fiber a day. The national fiber recommendations are 30 to 38 grams a day for men and 25 grams a day for women.
Best Way To Consume Fiber:
Now as previously mentioned, brown rice, apples, whole grain cereal, and foods made with whole-wheat flour contain a good amount of fiber. However, be cautious. Some fiber rich foods may also be high in carbohydrates, which turn in to sugar! For those limiting carbs, look at the ratio of usable carb or net carbs compared to fiber. Some high fiber-low carb foods are as follows: Mustard Greens, Chicory, Endive, and Flax Seeds. Foods with more fiber than usable carbohydrate are collard greens, avocado, spinach, chard, broccoli, cauliflower, blackberries, and raspberries.
So… just to recap, fiber is an essential aspect to a healthy diet. It slows the rate that sugar is absorbed into the bloodstream. When you eat foods high in fiber, your blood glucose levels are kept from rising too fast. It keeps us feeling full, keeps the digestive system working properly and may even aid in dropping those unwanted pounds and shedding belly fat. For more information on how to eat more fiber to lose weight, getting in shape, working out, or if you’re frustrated with your current level of fitness and looking to hire a personal trainer, contact us.
Eat Salad to Lose Weight! 3 Tips
Eat Salad to Lose Weight!
3 Ways Salad Helps You Lose Weight
I am consistently preaching to my personal training clients about the importance of incorporating an abundant amount of green leafy vegetables into their meals. Salads are known to be rich in vitamins A, D, E and K. Consuming more salads aids in lowering cholesterol and also is known to keep your digestive system working properly. Here are three easy ways to eat salad to lose weight!
1. Salad Cleans the Digestive Tract:
Green veggies like salad provide digestive enzymes that help cleanse the digestive tract of insufficiently digested foods and toxicities. Why is that important? The liver’s main job is to filter the blood coming from the digestive tract, before passing it to the rest of the body. So wouldn’t it make sense to pre-clean the digestive tract before the blood running through it gets to the liver? This makes the liver’s job much easier. Running your body on little to no salad is like running your car without an oil filter. With all that grime sitting in the engine, things just won’t run properly, same concept applies with the body!!
2. Get Your RDA of Vitamins and Minerals With a Salad:
To learn what your daily intake of vitamins and minerals should be to stay healthy, turn to the RDA. Even salads composed from a few simple ingredients make a nutrient-rich meal. Many salad ingredients contain vitamin C and vitamin A in the form of antioxidant carotenoids. One cup of spinach has 93 percent of vitamin A and 7 milligrams of vitamin C. And green leaf lettuce has 88 percent of the recommended daily intake of vitamin A. Vegetables that have a better mix of both antioxidants include red peppers, tomatoes and broccoli so don’t forget to add these healthy vegetables to your salad!
3. Salad and Leafy Greens are Negative Calorie Foods!!
Yes, you read that right. A negative calorie food is a food that requires more energy from the body digest than the food itself provides. Its thermic effect or specific dynamic action, the caloric “cost” of digesting the food, is greater than its food energy content. Therefore, you can eat an overabundance of salad and never gain weight. However, that doesn’t mean you can consume an unlimited amount of salad dressing. Be cautious with what you put on top of your salad. Creamy, high fat, and dressings loaded with sugar will definitely destroy that healthy negative calorie food making a double bacon cheeseburger the healthier choice!
There you have it, consuming more salad can significantly increase your intake of vitamins and minerals, providing more of the nutrients your body needs to stay healthy and live a healthier lifestyle. Adding more salad to your diet can help you lose weight, maintain a healthy weight and assist in developing a better physique. For more information on how to eat salad to lose weight, meal plans that are specifically designed for your personal needs, or if you’re frustrated with your current level of fitness and looking to hire a personal trainer, contact us.
Looking To Build A Bigger, Stronger Chest?
Looking To Build A Bigger, Stronger Chest?
Throughout my many years in the fitness industry, I have taken numerous personal training clients through chest workouts that have resulted in a stronger, more muscular chest. Working the chest muscles with a variety of exercises and angles is the best approach. Your chest is composed of two muscle groups: the large pectoralis major, and the smaller pectoralis minor underneath. The pec major is responsible for two major functions, bringing the humerus to the center line of the body(adduction), and turning the humerus in an arm-wrestling motion (internal rotation). The pec minor has one major function, which is to stabilize the scapula. There are four exercises that I often use strategically to add resistance to the pecs: the bench press, dumbbell press, dumbbell fly and cable crossover.
Bench Press: Remove the bar from the racks and tighten up the muscles of your abdominals. Begin lowering the bar under complete control to a point at the bottom of your sternum. Inhale as you lower the bar while it descends to your chest. Keep your feet firmly planted on the floor and exhale and contract your chest in order to push the weight up back to the starting position. This is one rep.
Dumbbell Press: Lie down on an incline or flat bench with a dumbbell in each hand resting on top of your thighs. The palms of your hands will be facing each other. Using your thighs to help raise the dumbbells up, lift the dumbbells one at a time and bring them each down to rest on your chest. As you breathe out, contract your pecs and internally rotate your hands to push the dumbbells up. At the top of the movement contract your chest and hold for a second, then begin coming down slowly. Continue you with the desired number of reps.
Dumbbell Fly: Hold the dumbbells over your chest turning your palms to face each other. Using a wide arc from the shoulders, lower your arms with elbows slightly bent until you feel a good stretch across the chest. Pause and contract the pecs against the extra resistance that the dumbbbells provide at the bottom range. Tense your pecs as you bring your arms back up in a wide hugging motion. Continue in this manner for the desired number of reps.
Cable Crossover: grab the cable handles and move into a staggered stance with one foot forward and one foot back. With slightly bent arms, contract the pecs in order to bring the handles down in an arching motion to the front centerline of your body while rotating your palms inward; hold the contraction in the center. Open your arms back and up until you feel a good stretch across the pecs. This is one rep.
There is more to working out than just lifting the weight. To get maximum results from your workouts, you must make the muscles work and engage the muscles you’re working. For more information on building a chest and increasing muscle mass, improving your physique, or if you’re frustrated with your current level of fitness and looking to hire a personal trainer, contact us.
2017 Barbados Trip
The corporate office recently flew me out to Barbados to stay at the Hilton Barbados Resort, Bridgetown for a little R & R. There was nonstop entertainment from the minute I got off the plane. Starting with the cab driver named Basil(pronounced Baazil) who insisted that the steering wheel on the right side and driving down the left side of the road was the correct way(we have it backwards in the US. LOL!); to the mischievous green monkeys at the Wildlife Reserve who took one of the travelers passports and ran up a tree with it(it took them about an hour to coax the little guy down with some food). I enjoyed some delicious food and met some really nice people. If you’re ever in Barbados, make sure to check out the Barbados Wildlife Reserve, Harrison’s Cave, and Grenade Hall Forest & Signal Station. And make sure to use Andrew Maynard of Ambitious Tours & Taxi Services for all your transportation needs. Andrew was a great tour guide and very reasonably priced! Click here for more pictures.
Best Food to Burn Belly Fat!!!
#1 Best Food to Burn Belly Fat!!!
How do I burn the fat from around my waist? What foods should I eat? Sound familiar? Well today, I’m gonna answer that million dollar question of what food you need to be eating in order to burn that stubborn fat off your belly! I preach to my personal training clients all the time that it’s not the foods you eat that make you fat, but the hormones that are released from the foods that make you fat. Let’s look at some foods and see if you can guess which one is the best for fat burning.
Let’s look at apples. Could apples be the best food to burn fat?
Apples are good sources of quick energy. They would be considered simple carbohydrates. And your body needs carbohydrates, both simple and complex, even if some of the fad diets tell you otherwise. Carb consumption becomes even more important if you perform intense exercise. Without carbohydrates, your body will begin to break down your muscle tissue to fuel your body. However, carbohydrates are not the #1 food to banish belly fat!
Eat More Veggies To Make Belly Fat Vanish??
All too often the assumption is made that higher-fiber foods like vegetables will displace the less healthy foods, and that’s a mechanism to lose weight. Such effects will not be evident by simply adding more vegetables to your diet. Yes, vegetables are full of fiber, which is a necessity to keep our digestive system working smoothly. But they are not the #1 food to banish belly fat!
Eat More Fat To Lose Belly Fat??
Many people avoid nuts like almonds when they want to lose weight, thinking they are too high in calories or fat. However, nuts are little powerhouses of nutrition and getting a good variety of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients into your diet is precisely what is needed to help diminish those cravings! Almonds are a great source of heart healthy monounsaturated fatty acids that provide high levels of satiety. They contain good levels of minerals such as manganese, copper and magnesium as well as B vitamins like riboflavin, niacin and biotin. Even though almonds provide many health benefits, those little powerhouses are not the #1 food to banish belly fat!
Eat More Protein to Lose Belly Fat?? Yes Protein!!
Protein rich foods are the #1 foods to burn belly fat. The consumption of protein rich foods triggers the release of two fat burning hormones, growth hormone and glucagon. I’m sure many of you have heard of growth hormone because of all of its rejuvenating and fat burning qualities, but glucagon is not often talked about. Glucagon is the sister hormone to insulin. They work synergistically, and since insulin is released by the pancreas when blood sugar is high, glucagon is released by the pancreas when blood sugars are low.
Bottom Line: Protein is definitely the key nutrient to help banish that belly fat and improve your physique! There are many high-protein foods you can incorporate in to your diet to boost your protein intake. For more information on the best food to burn belly fat, or if you’re looking to improve your physique and thinking about hiring a personal trainer, contact us.
Apple Cider Vinegar Benefits!
Apple Cider Vinegar Benefits!
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, chances are you’ve heard about the much-touted health benefits of apple cider vinegar. As with any trend, it’s easy to get lost in the hype. You might start believing that apple cider vinegar (ACV) is the miracle medicine to help you lose weight and banish belly fat. My personal training clients tell me about their nightly cocktail before bed which consists of two tablespoons of ACV. This is when I tell them, a well balanced diet and a consistent exercise program are key to weight loss. It is also the key to an improved physique and an overall healthier lifestyle. That’s not to say that consuming apple cider vinegar does not come with some health benefits. Studies have shown that consuming 2tbsps of ACV and 8 oz. of water can……
1. Reduce Blood Sugar Spikes
Apple cider vinegar is full of acetic acid, which has been proven to slow down the digestion of simple carbohydrates. This process helps to regulate blood sugar levels. Drinking apple cider vinegar before a high-carbohydrate meal improves insulin sensitivity. It does this by slowing the rate at which blood sugar levels rise.
2. Improved Digestion
Some studies have also stated that consuming raw unpasteurized ACV and water can help to naturally improve digestion. Drink 2 tbsps. ACV with 8 ounces of water about 15 minutes before your main meals. This will stimulate digestive juices for better breakdown of your food, which helps you assimilate more from your food.
3. Strengthen Your Immune System
Your intestinal flora is a big part of your body’s immune system. So by improving the conditions for the growth of friendly bacteria with ACV, you may improve overall immunity. The malic acid in ACV is also a strong antiviral. This could be one of the reasons people claim they experience fewer colds when they consume ACV with water on a regular basis. Additionally, raw and unfiltered ACV is said to benefit your lymphatic system. It does this by helping to cleanse lymph nodes resulting in the relief of sinus congestion and alleviation of allergies.
There you have it, ACV contains valuable minerals and trace elements. It also contains LDL cholesterol-lowering pectin, fat burning acetic acid, anti-viral malic acid, and many other beneficial nutrients. However, it isn’t a magical cure-all and doesn’t replace common sense behaviors like eating a healthy, balanced diet. Plus, vinegar is an acid, so going overboard with it or not rinsing out your mouth after consuming can erode tooth enamel. Some medications may also interact with apple cider vinegar, including insulin, digoxin and certain diuretics. As previously stated without a healthy eating plan and a consistent exercise regimen, improving your physique and reaching those weight loss goals may be a challenge. For more information on losing weight, improving your physique or if you’re frustrated with your current level of fitness and looking to hire a personal trainer, contact us today.
3 Tips To Get The Most Out Of Your Bicep Workouts!!
3 Tips To Get The Most Out Of Your Bicep Workouts!!
My personal training clients often ask me how I built my biceps. I tell them that I tie a rope to the back end of my jeep and pull it 100 yards a day. LOL! There actually aren’t any secret exercises out there to build biceps. The secret is in the performance of the basic exercises. Have you ever heard two people tell the same joke and the crowd laughs hysterically for one of the people, but not at all for the other? It’s all in the delivery folks. For instance, when training biceps, there is so much more to consider than just curling the weight up. With my many years of experience in the health and fitness industry, I have three insider tips I’ve found to be especially effective for building those biceps!
1. Understand The Function Of The Muscle!! The biceps function is primarily flexion of the forearm. However, the secondary function of the biceps which most people forget is supination of the hand, or turning the palm of your hand upward. In order to achieve maximum recruitment of your biceps’ muscle fibers when performing a bicep curl, it is necessary to turn your palms up as you curl. After training with us, my personal training clients are well aware that a simple turn of the hand allows full contraction of the muscle. To reach the peak-contracted position, flex the biceps as hard as you can while also supinating. Without that extra twist, you will not be able to generate nearly as much tension and isolation in the muscle.
2. Focus On The Muscle You Are Trying To Work!! Another imperative technique I ensure my personal training clients employ is to focus on the muscle we are training. For instance, you can visualize your biceps working. Deliberately focus on maximizing tension and blood flow to the localized area. This may require you to reduce the weight so it is a weight you can handle without utilizing other muscles to complete your reps. Thus allowing you to focus on form, tension and engagement of the muscle.
3. Use The Bicep To Initiate The Movement!! Before starting the rep, always contract the muscle being worked. If you tense the muscle then proceed to complete the movement, inertia and any other unnecessary body movement will be eliminated. By contracting the muscle before starting the movement you are also preparing your body’s nervous system and activating the muscle. Don’t waste any more time in the gym just going through the motions. For more information on how to make each and every workout count in such a way that will help you achieve your fitness goals, or if you’re looking to improve your physique, or frustrated with your current level of fitness and looking to hire a personal trainer, contact us today.
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