Learn the Facts on HIIT Training!
HIIT training has become very popular recently, but what is HIIT training? Who will benefit from it? What’s the difference between HIIT and interval training? Is it superior to aerobics? In this show we answer those and many other questions about HIIT training with researcher Dr. Abbie Smith-Ryan.
Part 1 of 3 on the deleterious effects of too much sitting
Are you struggling to lose that extra flab and all those nasty calories that seem to be glued to your waistline? Do you ever wonder why, despite your hard training and dieting, you still have those annoying love handles? Then maybe you should try to implement the NEAT way to fat loss…
Each show will cover a wide range of topics important to anyone interested in accurate, science based, and objective information on all things health, fitness, longevity, weight loss, and body building related!
“Whether you are involved in competitive weight training or are a weekend warrior or somewhere in between – you need to understand the science behind your goals. Will Brink, writer, athlete and expert distills the essence of the facts on nutrition, training, weight loss so that you can understand and use the data. You’ll benefit from his years in the fitness industry and the solid information from his experts to build your body and plan for optimum results.”
This show we examine the “fat burning zone” with guest Dr. Jose Antonio. People are often told to exercise at lower intensity, within some target heart rate, to “burn” more fat, but is that accurate advice or outdated?
HIIT training has become very popular recently, but what is HIIT training? Who will benefit from it? What’s the difference between HIIT and interval training? Is it superior to aerobics? In this show we answer those and many other questions about HIIT training with researcher Dr. Abbie Smith-Ryan.
What makes whey protein so unique from ALL other proteins? How does whey positively impact your health?
What makes one whey protein better than another? Isolates vs. Concentrates?
There’s far more to whey protein than most people realize, and in this show people will learn what’s so unique about whey as well as learn what marketing terms to avoid to choose the whey that’s right for them.
If you are following the anti-aging media news, you’ve heard about the alleged benefits of calorie restriction (also known as food restriction or diet restriction). Studies in numerous species have demonstrated that reduction of calories 30-50% below ad libitum levels of a nutritious diet slows the aging process, increases lifespan, reduces the incidence and delays the onset of age-related diseases, improves stress resistance, and decelerates functional decline.
In a previous article http://www.brinkzone.com/general-health/calorie-restriction-vs-the-bodybuilding-lifestyle/ Will pointed out that practicing calorie restriction counters the bodybuilding lifestyle. Here I will explain that it not only counters the bodybuilding lifestyle, but also is makes it impossible to implement and reap the benefits of other healthy lifestyle habits, and in addition brings along several pitfalls and negative health consequences in humans.
While animal studies can and do shed light on what’s going on at mechanistic level, we have to be very careful and resist the temptation to extrapolate results from animal experiments to humans. Here I will make the case for that we can age gracefully and successfully and increase our health span and “youngevity” without having to starve ourselves for life.
I’ve written several articles for The BrinkZone on weight training, fat loss, fitness modeling, bodybuilding programs, and various of motivational articles. The articles were meant to inspire and motivate both men and women to embrace the fitness lifestyle, and maintain the healthiest, leanest, strongest body possible no matter what age or excuse. And speaking of (good) excuses, stay-at-home, post-partum, and working moms are among one segment of the population that can benefit the most from simple, basic knowledge of weight training and fat loss advice that can help get them lean, strong, and healthy.
That’s why I’ve produced a book and DVD that addresses the many challenges that moms of all strides face when trying to achieve fat loss, and can help inspire you to lose that baby weight for good. It’s a great program that’s simple and effective. Perhaps you’re a new mom or maybe a mommy of two or more, and you’re ready to drop a few pounds, and get back in your pre-pregnancy clothes. Or maybe you just want to get in the best shape of your life. This program is for you.
I’m often asked what’s a good exercise for the gluteus and hamstrings. Bridges are one of the most underrated and underutilized exercises for working those muscles. The bridge is an excellent exercise to isolate and strengthen the gluteus, hamstrings, core stability muscles, hip/lower back as well as improve spinal stabilization. Most people do this exercise without added resistance, but that’s a mistake (see “tip” below vid). Done with added resistance, there’s improved responses, as all muscles require added resistance (vs volume) to adapt and get stronger. And NO, they are not just for women!!! 
Bridges are a highly functional exercise that can lead to both functional improvements as well as visual. For example, one practitioner of Brazilian jiu jitsu I know said “This is a key exercise for anyone who competes in jiu jitsu tournaments. Strong bridge makes all the difference in escaping. I work bridges hard.”
Bridges are an exercise that have both expected and unexpected benefits both functionally (for various sports) and visually, for bodybuilders, figure/fitness, or the average person looking shape up and strengthen the area. It’s also used for both rehab and prehab. Personally, I tend to incorporate it into lower body days. A typical workout might look like: front squats, RDLs, Bridges, and planks, or a workout I did the other day geared more toward conditioning/GPP/conditioning was a complex of:
Sand bag step ups
Slayer Barbell Bridges
High/low Prowler sprints
Did three circuits of the above then some planks and side planks. My butt was sore for days!
Tip: most people do bridges with body weight only as adding additional resistance comfortably is not always easy. The Slayer Barbell allows for as much added resistance as you could want in perfect comfort, which is one of many exercises this bar allows. If not using a Slayer, try putting a foam pad around an Olympic bar (so the bar does not dig into your hips), or try a plate across your lap, or a heavy medicine ball. None of those options are as comfortable and smooth as using the Slayer Barbell, but experiment with those options and see what works for you. As with any body weight only exercise, your own weight will only get you so far and added resistance will be needed for continued increases in strength, etc.
Note: if you want more information on Sandbags, Slayer Barbell, or Prowler sleds, go HERE and or use the search function (upper right hand corner of this site) to see more vids, articles, etc on them. They are “must have” training tools in my book.
So you survived Thanksgiving, and are praying that the added cost of pumpkin pie + halloween candy + office parties + Christmas parties + New Year’s doesn’t totally derail your fitness or weight loss goals. Perhaps up until you turned comfort food corner, you’ve been doing real well.
In reality, if you intend to take off the weight and keep it off, Holiday season or not, you’ve got to be continually vigilant about the choices you make year round. And sometimes it seems that some of us have a way easier time than others being mindful about food or fitness choices on a regular basis, while others more easily succumb to temptation when faced with it (this tends to be worse during the Holidays when sweets and comfort foods are EVERYWHERE).
Train your brain like you train your biceps.
It’s not like these people are super-disciplined humans with no sense of smell for homemade chocolate chip cookies, but the one thing they probably have in common is willpower- the power to use discipline and self-awareness to make choices that steer them towards achieving their bigger goal, no matter what the occasion.
The good news is you can exercise your “willpower muscle” much like you exercise your muscles when you lift weights. The more you “train” your brain to either resist a temptation or make a positive choice, the easier and more natural the process becomes. If you stop and think about it, how many times have you been faced with a temptation and you hear two voices in your head battling it out?
And how many times have you “spent” your mental energy all day at work, resisting the urge to tell a complaining customer or boss to shove it, then come home and bury your sorrows in a cheesecake or a bottle of wine (or both!)? Perhaps you’ve exhausted your willpower muscle, and something has gone on in your head that either steers you to make the best choice for your diet/fitness goals or away from it.
Lots of people ask about strategies for “surviving” the Holidays while dieting. Traditions and tempting treats abound, and everyone seems to be indulging. And you’ve heard the same advice over and over again, right? Like, bring a healthy dish to the party, drink water in between the wine, chew gum while cooking, stay away from the buffet table, and so on.
In my prior post and video with the Slayer Barbell I focused on arm training, the “bread and butter” of this bar. However, as this latest video shows, it’s a very versatile piece of equipment for home or commercial gym use. This whole body program I did with figure competitor and model Kelly Anne DeCollibus shows this to be an effective piece of equipment that has a very small foot print. A workout like this can be done in minimum space and easily finished in under and hour depending on the pace you keep and number off sets of each exercise you perform. It’s going to hit all major muscle groups and allow for a wide variety of workouts.
One can do it as circuits, complexes, or straight sets, depending on goals. Beginners might do one set of each exercise 2-3 times per week, while more advanced trainers might do 3 sets per exercise while increasing the weight, and or reps, as they progress. One could also do the lower body workout one day, followed the the upper body portion the next day, then take a day off. Just a few possibilities on how to construct a program using the Slayer. Obviously it would change if there was additional equipment involved, etc.
If you’re looking for a piece of equipment that allows whole body training for conditioning, metabolic work, ‘burning’ calories, and general fitness, that takes up minimal space, the Slayer Barbell would be on my short list. If I was looking to build a highly effective home gym for around 1k, a Slayer Barbell with stand, TRX suspension Trainer, set of sand bags from Ultimate Sandbag, a balance ball, and perhaps a kettle bell or two, would cover it well for overall fitness, conditioning, “functional” training, metabolic work, etc.
No, it’s not a set up design for say bodybuilders or power lifters per se. That’s pretty much my home set up BTW when I can’t get to the gym and the products on that list can be found in my Approved Stuff section if looking for more info. For more information on the Slayer Barbell, hit HERE
You’ve heard the saying; if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. And a simple way to fail on your weight loss effort is to let the fast-food burger joint have its way with you. One of the best ways to circumvent the nagging desire for the donut/cupcake/candy bar/chips and salsa (insert personal craving here) is to prepare meals in advance and keep your fridge stocked with meals that have a long shelf life.
Thankfully, the recipes included here don’t require much skill or particular fondness for cooking (though it helps to be creative), nor require you to be in the kitchen too long. I’ve tried to include recipes that are big on flavor and easy to make. And because I live in Austin, TX there’s a definite nod to the local taste preferences, and because I’m from India, you’re going to see the requisite curry recipe.
If you don’t already have one, a kitchen scale will be a useful tool, in addition to your measuring cups and spoons.
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