Train For Yourself

I go over different workouts all the time for various reasons and at times it does become overwhelming from trying to do whatever just for the sake of doing it. I don't believe in trying to fit into someone else's ideals because they're stuff is so perfect. People forget that no matter what they make themselves out to be, nothing comes close to doing something for yourself because it leads a path to finding your true self. Practicing many systems and exercises over the years, I became very strong mentally and physically by doing things that suit who I'am.

Training to be like somebody else only makes you 2nd or 3rd rated in the sense where it makes you lose sense of what and who you are further and further away from what's truly there in the first place. Does that make sense maybe, maybe not but don't believe for one second you can't be the strongest version of yourself. It's not something you can just achieve overnight, it takes years of searching, learning different things and know your faults, weaknesses and how you pick yourself up.

I train for me because I know more than anyone what I've been through, good or bad and that fitness is not just a fad or even a lifestyle; its beyond those things. It's my universe, it's what brought me to do the things and choices I make everyday; its my blood, my skin, my soul, my breathing. People can call their way of life a style or something to temporarily do to pass time but they'll never understand what it's truly like to live your training no matter what you do or where you go or who you are with. I have had people tell me that because I do what I do everyday has become easy for me; truth is, it gets harder everyday because I constantly have to find something that's exciting, fun, quick, long, space or hardly any to do something. The only thing easy for me to train everyday without fail is the thought of if I don't do it at all, I lose a piece of my soul and that is something I can't live with. 

Train because you wanted to, not because you crave it or because you don't have a choice, do it because its a part of who you are. I can talk all I want about what works, what doesn't and how this should be and what that sucks and here's the blueprint & all that other crap, it all boils down to what you want to do and you go do something whether it's to experiment or do a routine or hell because you thought something was cool, you're going to do something anyway but do something because you knew in your heart, deep down in your guy that's what you wanted to do in that time. It's not easy being your true self in your training believe me I deal with it everyday yet it brings me to what I love and what it does for me and only me. Train for yourself, no matter what.

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Jungle Fever & Bodyweight Training

I'm hearing the call of the Jungle daily. The experience of moving like a wild animal puts you into a state of mind that not many other systems can touch. Your mentality becomes different and you're channeling that animal spirit within. Repetitions are great and everyone should strive to reach a goal of certain amount of reps in their regimen; however, I'm more for the quality within the quantity instead of just making useless reps at a pace where the form is sloppy and the potential for injury is greater. Nobody's perfect but always strive for quality in your practice.

That's the thing with animal moves and bodyweight training in general where the better quality of your movement the greater your strength, flexibility & endurance comes into play. Everything counts; train your body to become instinctive. How your body reacts to a situation in more extreme cases will either save your life or get you killed and the same goes for saving a life as well. Your movement development interacts with your instinctive nature. Train your body to instinctively act on the ability to crawl, jump, balance and be able to withstand unpredictable durations in situations that you never know how long can go whether in a split second or an hour or more.

The thing with bodyweight exercise overall is not just the luxury of training anywhere, anytime we have all heard it but it's also an opportunity to learn the true secrets and capabilities of our physiology & anatomy. Animal moves whether its from Global Bodyweight Training or from somewhere else, teach us how to control our bodies to become instinctive and be able to react to things you wouldn't expect. It's one of the reasons I have mixed feelings on systems like Crossfit; although it has amazing benefits in certain areas for some people and I like the randomness with the circuits and style of lifting and using your bodyweight it becomes a problem when quality deteriorates and only quantity matters. I believe if you're going to do something random or looking to shape up in a circuit style of training, make quality just as equal or more so than the quantity of the workout.

Practice mastering your bodyweight and find that animal spirit in your training on animal movements. Don't just learn how many push-ups or pull-ups you do in a set or see how fast you can do 100 Squats; learn the value of the quality in the movements more than the quantity because whether sooner or later in your workout if you become sloppy and keep pushing through, you will get injured and its going to be a bitch paying for medical bills because you decided to be a smart ass. Take it from me, I have performed some crazy stuff over the last 10 years and rarely ever got injured.

Be Awesome Everyone,

Ben


Animal Flow Workout: http://tinyurl.com/powerandmight-AnimalFlow

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Flowing In The Animal World & Exploring

Animal movement is so joyous and fun to do, period. I love the crawling, the jumping, balancing and just living it up. Yesterday I went into my Animal Flow workout and just felt amazeballs without needing to move all that hard for 10-15 min. like I usually do. Just flowing around and being creative integrating transitions, travels & switches that was more slow paced but still challenging.

The ability to explore your body as it moves in different patterns isn't easy by any stretch (pun intended) and it gives you feedback on what to work on and help yourself find your weak spots to generate into strength. My animal spirit is the Ape, I'm not questioning that and I feel whole heartedly that to be true. However you move will develop what you lean towards that spirit within you. We all have one and that's the beauty of exploration, its both a physically and mindful practice that everyone should do. It doesn't matter how old you are or where you come from; unleash your instincts little by little and see what brings out the best in you. 

The urban jungle can be scary and its up to you to find out what truly makes you animalistic. I know that sounds a little philosophical but so what? Animal Movement is not just moving in various motions; it's about channeling your inner self and bringing out what makes us who we can truly be. People are being held back because of various reasons; it isn't proper, it makes us look savage, it's uncivilized whatever the case may be. I'm still learning how to be more open with who I'am because growing up, it was very difficult to show my true self to practically anyone because let's face it, I grew up around a lot of guilt and ridicule and no matter how hard I tried; something always made someone defensive, poke fun at what I was trying to do and tell me it's impolite to be open about things or in other words "hold it in or suffer the consequences" that's how I felt. 

Over the years as I step by step was coming more out of my shell things started happening for me; showed people what I can do, be upfront about things and be accepted. My training has opened up a whole other universe for me where I can be myself, have fun, live without regret. Because I grew up around a lot of guilt not because of things I've done but the people who walk on it and hearing the soles squeak, it's instinctive for me to feel that way so around certain people I shut down and parts of me become emotionally painful. That's one of the reasons why I train, it helps me be open and be happy with who I'am and little by little i'm transitioning that mindset without needing to train but always keep my focus on the very thing that has helped me survive many hardships and helps me be a better man to the woman I love in all of this world.

Whatever you're going through, find something that helps you be a better version of who you want to become, channel your pain into something glorious and creative that gives you purpose and happiness. It's not materials that help you flow through life, its what keeps you flowing within yourself and making bad ass things happen. For me it's exercise and exploring, for others it may be something else but I'm telling you, nothing gives you more of a soul search than learning about your animal spirit and unleashing it without being fearful of it. Explore your true nature and make it awesome for you.  

Animal Conditioning Using Playing Cards

A couple years ago, I was testing out my conditioning as always and I went for a deck of cards workout that was made famous by the late Karl Gotch. Normally it be push-ups and squats so often I would do the whole deck which took me no more than 45 min. to an hour. As of late I've been wanting to do the deck again but with an added twist; I decided to not do only push-ups an squats but Animal Movements.

As you may have read on my facebook page I've been killing it with the Animal Dice Game where you roll a 20 sided dye once for an animal and a second for the amount of reps/steps you take. A couple times I added in a deck of cards to make things a little interesting. Instead of rolling twice, you only do it once to get the animal and you flip a card for your reps/steps. This is pure conditioning as it's going to be in my opinion; you can say there are better exercises but this is the ultimate in randomness and having to do unexpected movements and it's never the same workout which is a good thing if you're in sports or want to amplify your stamina for manual labor, continued strength, lung capacity for running or whatever.

Shuffle the cards as you normally would; have your dye in hand and roll it for an animal then flip the card to take your steps. This workout should roughly take you around 30 min. to complete and rest as little as possible; if you need a break, do deep breathing and drink that water, never sit down. Most decks are at around 52 cards, mine has 55 including 3 Jokers. Here's the repetition scheme for your cards.....

2-10=Face Value
K/Q/J=15 Reps
Ace=20 Reps
Joker=50 Reps

So pick 20 Animals you'd like play with or get them out of a Animal Kingdom Manual or from the DVD and go from there. Have fun with it, make noises if you want; it's not meant to brutalize your training but to help you have a good time while going through something very tough. This is great for kids, athletes in sports such as wrestling, MMA, Soccer, Football, Boxing, Spartan Race ect. My personal deck I use is Here and here's a set to get some 20-Sided Dye. This is an amazing workout with no special equipment and can be done practically anywhere at anytime. I do this in my den or outside when it's warm but if I'm in a hotel room or a very small room I do what's called a Caged Style workout where you're only allowed to move in a short amount of space. I have figured out how to do animal movements anywhere so don't let anyone tell you you need a very wide range of space.

Tarzan Is Calling To Me Once Again

Couldn't stay away from my Animal workouts for long. Over the past few days I've been hearing the call from the Ape Man himself & he's making me work harder than ever before. The jungle has been nuts since he got me playing the Animal Dice Game again. With the way he's kicking my ass lately I have hit more than 40 rolls of animals; the show off over here has been warming up with even higher numbers; my highest set of rolls is at 58, that's a lot of movement ranging from 1-20 steps at a time.

Even in the last 4 workouts; 57, 58, 42 & another 42 rolls I'm feeling it everywhere and my core is just getting hit the most because of the contraction to protect my lower back from injury. The endorphin high is incredible and I love feeling really good afterwards. This is pure conditioning and can really put you in Jungle Shape, basically gaining stamina and overall body to strength ratio. Although I'm over 265 lbs; I feel like an athlete under 220 and look like i'm around 235. If you really want to burn off fat and put on real muscle, this is the ticket hands down.

As much as I love my sprints, Isometrics & Hammer Work; the animals are the top of the workout food chain at least to me when it comes down to building insane strength and endurance for bodyweight work. You don't need to do that many rolls worth of animals to get the full benefit, only 5-10 to start and 20 min. worth of work is all that's needed. How much would it cost to you to get fit only 20 min. a day and gain strength, power, stamina & speed all in one workout?

Animal Kingdom Conditioning- $127 ($0.35/day for an entire year)

Animal Kingdom Conditioning 2- $67 ($0.18/day for an entire year)

Animal Flow 2.0- $59.95 w/ DVD ($0.16/day for an entire year)

Animal Workouts DVD- $29.95 ($0.08/day for an entire year)

If you really think about those numbers, that's still under $1 a day to train for an entire year alone just learning about animal exercises and that's still cheaper than the average gym. Just one of these courses alone can save you a couple hundred bucks a year at a gym that you need to drive to, get stuck in traffic, dress into workout clothes and get ready to get on a treadmill and the weights which you might have to wait for at several minutes at a time usually. Get your greatest benefit by saving time and money on a long-term perspective. I can hear the jungle man calling to you now and letting you know its never too late to get in Jungle Shape.

Best Workouts & Equipment While Traveling

I like a lot of things that training has provided but you can't always do what you want when it comes to certain things. Traveling for example can be a pain if you had to lug a kettlebell around or in dying need of a gym that a Hotel has (if that's what they call a gym) specific equipment. That's why I believe the best traveling form of exercise is Bodyweight; can be done in your hotel room, out in the hallway, at a park or hell on a plane (yes I literally have done movements seated on a plane).

Some people would like to travel with equipment that could be useful and resourceful. When I travel I usually take only 2 specific types of equipment that are light to carry but effective regardless of where you are. That would be the Chest Expander & the TNT Cables, they have been lifesavers for me as they give me the type of training I'd like to do that can be done just as in the gym. Hook the door attachment to a door, strap the cables in and you're good to go. Basic exercises like Pulls, Presses & Squats can be done with the cables. The Chest Expander is just as awesome if not more convenient and has nearly as many exercises to choose from. 

When it comes to specific workouts while traveling, hands down Circuits. Doing these for 20 minutes is all you need to get in good shape. The Darebee Workouts work best for training in hotel rooms, waiting for a plane or wherever. I once did a workout that involved stretching & Bridging exercises while waiting for a plane at the airport. I'd rather do a circuit in a hotel room or outside somewhere where i'm staying so I don't sweat all over the place. When it comes to equipment, resistance bands are best and to me Lifeline Fitness carries the best kind and very affordable. Do workouts that are within the 15-20 min range or less unless you're on vacation and may have more time you don't need to train any longer than that. When I'm in Lake Tahoe, I take advantage of my surroundings and head down to the lake to lift heavy rocks, swim, crawl amongst the rocks, climb ladders of the docks and anything else that suits my imagination. 

I get it some like to use a gym and maybe some may need it like Pro athletes or musicians, entertainers or whatever but for the most part unless you're a bodybuilder, powerlifter, strongman you don't need to go to a gym while you travel. Have some imagination. If you got a good small amount of space; you can do some crazy training. Since me and my girl are heading to Disneyland for her first trip to California we'll be walking the majority of the time but in the hotel, mostly calisthenics & resistance training will be used but at the parks in line for rides; Isometrics baby. Push, Pull, Wall Sit, Squeeze & flex in various positions as you stand in line. Be open minded and be resourceful with what you have. Use the environment and use your imagination and you'll never ever need the gym again. Value what you have and make use of your surroundings. Don't make excuses to not train. 

Why Cram It When You Can Spread It

One of the fascinating things about Fitness is not only the variety but the mixture of exercises put together. Now I'm not one to be fiddled routines and on occasions I put myself into only one workout for the entire but for the most part; I like to dabble with exercises throughout the day. The reason why for that being done is because sometimes one workout just isn't quite enough or I won't have a usual time to train everything I need to do.

Some folks can only do one workout within the day because that's all they can do which is understandable; job, family, emergencies, unexpected circumstances whatever the case may be you only have this much time to do what's important. I like to look at things from another perspective; doing exercises throughout the day may have some value you may not realize. Not everyone has an hour to exercise to the gym or even at home at times which is believe it or not perfectly ok. I would normally get my training in by the afternoon after promoting or hanging with my girl but at times when I travel or i'm out of my element in another person's home and I would sometimes have to improvise.

I do my best to teach you that when you can train anywhere at anytime there's more to it then just being able to get something in within those factors. As the title implies, you can do things throughout the day but in increments instead of just cramming everything into one specific set of time. Here's an example; in a little over a week i'll be in California for a family gathering and since i'm not there that often, things can get chaotic with me seeing everyone and going all over town and to other cities/towns within 30 mile radius my training won't be exactly the same and I won't always have the time I need to train the way I normally would. That doesn't mean I stop doing what I do, just spreading things out with exercises here and there to get going with the chaos that happens there. My exercises mostly contain push-ups, self resistance, stretching and Isometrics plus the occasional squat but overall I just do enough exercise to where I can get a few minutes in throughout certain areas of the day. Because of this trip, I'm doing what I feel is right for me to do and train even for a couple minutes before something crazy happens and if people give me looks or think something negative; their issues not mine.

Training throughout the day may sound taxing and exhausting but as Doc Brown would say "You're not thinking 4th Dimensionally" but with the right level of intensity and keeping reps down to only a few and the exercises only a few; it can keep you energized the entire day. Wouldn't it be cool to feel giddy & high on endorphins? Being able to stay active without fatiguing and enjoy the vibrations of your body's electrical feeling? It can even help calm your nerves with the right exercises and doing things without people noticing you. Be open to ideas and doing what's important for your body. Give yourself an opportunity regardless of time that your body matters and staying fit doesn't have to be complicated but a gift to have the chance to do something down to the smallest fraction. Make it work for you and not against you, be your own trainer.

Mountain Burpee Video

Video on my version of the Mountain Burpee. How many can you do in a workout?

The Mountain Burpee

Over the last couple days or so I've been in the mood to do Burpees. I never really gave them much thought before and never really liked doing them but my brain kept at me and get in the mood to do them. I did a few variations because as you know I get bored easily and would like to come up with things and just make it up as I go along. Routines most of the time for me don't last more than a week.

One Burpee variation that really caught my eye was combining two exercises and making them one into an exercise that truly hits every muscle in the body. Burpees in general are fat burning torture exercises and anyone that can multiple sets of them has my vote. I watched and tried out other variations just to get an idea but one really kept me coming back to and that's what I call the Mountain Burpee. It's a combo of a Burpee & Mountain Climbers.

Now granted because I don't do Burpees often I get winded pretty damn fast. This however really makes you eat dust in a matter of seconds. Here's what you do.....

Squat Down

Jump Into Push-up Position

Do a Push-up

Do a 4-Count Mountain Climber

Jump Back Into Squat Position

Jump Up

Repeat

Just doing a few of these is brutal enough and will help you build some solid conditioning. Make it harder by adding a second push-up after the mountain climber. This generates loads of Natural Human Growth Hormone when done consistently but in the beginning not everyday; work up to it and don't need to do a whole lot to get all the benefits. Start doing them in sets of 5, build up to 10, 20 until you can do 50 (because of the mountain climber count, you're hitting 200 climbers at this point). Don't have to do them all in a row, take a break if you need to and when you're rested do another set. Set a goal for the amount of reps you want to achieve or better yet use it as a finisher at the end of a work in tabata style (20 on, 10 off) or do them on your days off. You can do them anywhere at any time. Do a set in your Hotel Room while you're on the road, knocking out a few on a lunch break at work, at the park while your kids play, when commercials come on. Nervous before heading out on a date? Knock out a set of these bad boys and your endorphins will kick in and your anxiety just might fade away (make sure to take a cold shower after so you're not sweating and stinkin' on your date.

I plan on doing these on my trips to Disneyland & Tahoe this year, hitting them up in the hotel room before heading out to the parks, in the cabin before going to the lake or casino.

Comment about your experience with this exercise and give me your insights on it.

Time To Take The Wheel Again

Spring is on the rise in a few weeks and the body will have had enough time to recover from winter. Beach Season is coming not too long after this so getting in shape is on a lot of people's priority. The most common place to get shaped is the Core Muscles. People like to see awesome looking abs and that trim waistline. Believe it or not a lot of those that have good looking abs are not that strong in that area. This is where I help you find a solution to not only get muscular abs but a crazy set to boot. 

Crunches, sit-ups, ab machines and Insanity DVDs are the most common things those wishing to get abs flock to because they're either very easy or you just sweat out following someone. I'm here to tell you about the one device that can help develop really strong and muscular abs that takes the boring exercises out of the equation; one that I'm personally using myself to take off some fat especially in the lower areas plus the obliques. Just a few minutes with this bad boy and you'll see results quick.

It's called the Power Wheel. I've mentioned it in previous articles the most recent one being on legendary pro wrestler Bob Backlund using ab wheels to condition his abs and upper body. The reason why the Power Wheel is so effective its because you don't just have to use the handles to roll with but can also put your feet into the straps and do other exercises as well. Even the most simple exercises hit your Core hard and that's a good thing. Doing things that are too easy and in extreme reps won't give you true results. This wheel literally will tell you how balanced you are and that if you don't use the muscles needed for the exercise, you will lose balance. Learn them carefully and build a base. In my case, after a few rollouts I feel it immediately and I barely just get started. I'm seeing results within just the last 2-3 workouts, you don't get results that fast from doing boring crunches and sit-ups. The wheel makes you use every muscle just to balance on the damn thing.

You can't be loose when you use this thing, you have to flex every muscle and make yourself like a steel rod, if you're loose you'll know it right away. Less than 10 minutes of this a day and you'll have stronger abs in a matter of less than a few weeks; do it for 6 months and you'll have powerful abs you couldn't get in years prior. Check it out and for the Nutrition; keep a steady eating habit of real foods and less crap as possible. I even have some products you can look into that'll help trim your waistline awesomely.

Go after the 24-Day Challenge and get free workouts and extra meal plans in the process; using this challenge along with the awesome stuff i'll send and combining these with the Power Wheel; you'll be unstoppable and nothing will stand in your way to get the best abs you can have. Lose weight, gain energy, relieve back pain and eat & drink like a champion. INVEST in your health and INVEST in the Power Wheel.

Finding Comics For Inspiration At An Older Age

When I was a kid, I wasn't into comic books; it just didn't appeal to me as I had books ranging from Disney to Goosebumps & things of that sort. For all I knew back then was comics were for nerds and geeks and that was all that mattered to them. My comics came from watching superheroes on Saturday morning and after school like Batman: The Animated Series, Spider-Man, X-Men, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers & Superman. In the 90's, Superhero TV shows flourished, you couldn't find any kid under the age of 12 that didn't know who Batman or the X-Men were; quite frankly it surprises me that the comics themselves still sold like hotcakes since the Shows were towering over them.

I had one comic when I was a teen not many knew about with me. It was a Fantastic Four comic. I can't tell you where it is right now but I remember reading it in my room a few times and it was the only one I truly knew about. How I got it that I don't remember. When Ironman & The Incredible Hulk came out in the late 2000's, it peaked my interest because it reminded me of my childhood watching the cartoons. In the last near 5 years since I lived in Idaho, I have collected more comics (graphic novels) than ever in my entire life. I found a store here that has at least 3 sections dedicated to comics and one of the first ones I picked up was I think a Thor & Hercules set of comics. I had the Thor Hammers made by Stronger Grip a couple years before that and I just got enthralled to the point I got into the comic book scene. I'm officially a superhero nerd when it comes to that kind of thing. They inspire me to train and get fired up for breaking PR's, inspire me to create and come up with new things to write, they infuse my imagination like Burgers & Fries it just worked.

I'm reliving my childhood all over again in my 30's and learning about amazing stories and classic/new artwork and how the images are so breathtaking & wonderful to view. I find it so fascinating that any book that I find interesting I grab. Most of what I've collected are graphic novels of Marvel and little of DC but always have a heart for both. I've got books on Harley Quinn, Thor, Moon Knight, Batman, Captain America, Spider-Man, The Inhumans & Hercules. I've even got books on Star Wars based on Characters & The Force. I've been to a couple Comic Cons in Spokane, WA and plan on to go again at Lilac City Comic Con going with my girl and her brother.

As you can imagine, as a crazy superhero fan with the movies its going to be one hell of a year. Already seeing Deadpool and moving onto Batman Vs. Superman: Dawn Of Justice (I'm with Bats on this one) its going to be insane. I've become such a fan of both the comics and the films that I have put in my own Amazon Store exclusively for Comics of all types which you can go to here at My Comic Book Store with all the latest updates and Pre-Orders for upcoming comics and graphical art sets of paperback & hardcovers. Whether you want inspiration to train, learn about the characters or just a collector of new and classic books there's something for everyone. I'd recommend because of the craze of Star Wars & Marvel Films coming out get your hands on some of the newest editions of stories on Darth Vader & the Rise Of The Empire/Republic with Deadpool stories and upcoming hero stories based on the upcoming movies.

The Bob Backlund Workout

Most pro wrestling fans today (especially those in their teens) wouldn't know who Bob Backlund was or is. Most today who have heard of him only know about him being another Hall Of Fame guy or the weird looking dude with the Bow Tie and business shirt with red straps that appeared on Raw once or twice in the last few years. What you don't realize was that next to Bruno Sammartino was the longest reigning WWE champion that lasted over 5 years. Back in the 70's & 80's he was the poster boy for the babyface character; Howdy Doody on roids with a boy scout all-american personality.

Former College football player & wrestler transitioned into the pro ranks being trained by legendary pro wrestling coach Eddie Sharky (same guy who trained the greatest tag team of all-time the Road Warriors and former Minnesota Governor Jesse "The Body" Ventura) and ventured out on the road wrestling in the old territories. Backlund was about as a blue-collar american kid as you got. One of his traits back in the day was being in top condition on a frequent basis. We're talking about rough conditioning that would make some MMA Fighters blush and was able to go an hour with some of the top guys at that time including former Intercontinental Champion and 2004 HOF inductee Greg "The Hammer" Valentine. His training is still talked about to this day in some circles.

Since the mid 80's or so when his career was going down little by little he began training differently in order to build strength in his legs after being injured from constant running for cardio and some of the beatings he took in the ring and learned about the Step-Up test from Harvard University. So to substitute running he became a fanatic of the Step-Up Exercise going as fast (with good form) as possible. He would do this sometimes for more than an hour at a time. His other exercise he really got a bug for was the Ab Wheel. He believed that these two exercises were the heavy foundation that saved his career and his health. Granted these two baddies are as simple as you'll ever see but yet some of the most brutal exercises around. Doing rollouts with the Ab Wheel is no joke and will build muscle in the entire core along with strengthening the back, arms and shoulders. The step-ups are crazy in themselves because you're constantly quickening your feet up and down at a steller pace. I've done more than 5 minutes of this exercise and was dying so imagine doing that for more than a freaking hour.

You can do Step-Ups from virtually anywhere there is a step or stairs. Ab Wheels are great but the ultimate wheel is the Power Wheel from Lifeline. You don't just have to grip the handles, you can place your feet into the straps and can do all sorts of stuff that even the legendary wrestler would be impressed by; walk on your hands, do push-ups, pull-ins, hamstring curls, jumping push-ups and so much more. This device alone targets the core unlike anything else and makes machines look weak.

Backlund's best records with these exercises from what I read was 2800 Step-Ups (1400 per leg) and 700 Roll-Outs. That's seriously impressive don't you think? Although he did do other stuff to stay fit these 2 were his golden boys. So next time you want to get in a good workout, do 100-200 Step-Ups & 20+ Roll-Outs and see how you feel the next day. That's the thing I love about the old-timers, their training was off the chain and were revered as legendary and have been used to test guys who were tough enough. I practiced a good deal with the Power Wheel before I came up to Idaho and did stuff off and on in the few years since. Walking on my hands is my favorite exercise, second would be the roll-outs, those kill me every time. Here are a couple of videos of Backlund doing these exercises for your enjoyment.

Train To PLAY!!!

I know what its like to push past limits, do crazy challenges and just overall have a hardcore mindset. I've been there and I've done it but the fact of the matter is none of it matters if I don't play with what I do. People become so confined to a one dimensional idea that they forget there's options to where they can do things that do't require that hardcore mindset to train to be beastly.

I like to think of myself as a Three Dimensional fitness enthusiast; practicing various things because my brain is hot-wired that way....Gymnastics, Animal Movement, Sledgehammer Striking, Isometrics, Swimming, Sprinting, Stretcher & others. Its not that i'm obsessed with exercise, I find it fun and enjoyable, if i'm not interested in something, I find a way to be interested in something else. People like to do one particular style where it's Crossfit, Zumba, Aerobics, Weightlifting, Bodyweight for MMA or whatever. I'm all for those who engage in exercise that keeps them active but on the other side of the coin, I feel bad for those that don't like what they do or get bored but keep doing it anyway. You're not meant to train like a Zombie or act like one in your training. Adventure is the name of the game here; PLAY with your exercise.

The foundation is just pure movement. Create scenarios, games & just live it out. Some like it structured and that's cool, no harm in that but at some point there might be that "F*ck it" moment where you just want to be free and make stuff up just to get your brain cells going. I'm constantly doing different things; I test out routines for days or weeks at a time but I always end up just free balling and making things up as I go because that's where I find myself in my best state of mind. Most of the time its pure bodyweight but I might have an idea in my head on just doing cables that day or hit the tire every 4 days with Big Bertha (59 lbs. Epic Sledgehammer). I don't limit myself because if I do, I not only lose out what's fun but I become cranky and out of whack.

When you invest in Playful Movement as I like to call it, it gives you freedom to do what you want and practice awesome things without needing to go beyond your limits and just be happy. Playful Movement is the practice of moving with a playful physical and mental idea in freedom. Always find a way to play.


***Looking to invest in losing weight & gaining energy in the process check out my Weight Loss Bundle where you can get a healthy snack on the go, a month's supply of Shakes & Slim products plus Healthy Capsules to help ease cravings and trim your waistline. Each month use a different supply of Meal Replacement shakes. I suggest you make an annual purchase instead of monthly to help your budget. Five Extra Workouts will be included to help shed those pounds with fun filled exercises based on a Superhero Theme I'm personally holding. Both men & women will benefit greatly from this. Each purchase will be donated a small percentage to the folks who have made these workouts possible.

Isometrics & It's Value In Fitness

Off and on for over a decade I've dabbled in Isometric Training to help carry over to other areas of strength that I do including various feats like Steel Bending & Phonebook Tearing. This type of training for the most part is one of the most valuable yet neglected because when you normally think of Isometrics it's usually something out of yoga poses or doing a plank but in reality it's one of the toughest areas of strength training period. To learn more on the specifics check out this course.

I'm here to talk about it's value and its importance especially in today's fitness circles. On the deeper level very few people know what Isometrics truly are but that's not their fault. Fitness companies and other areas try to disprove it because it's believed it doesn't hold true value for real strength (which is ironic because most fitness areas have nothing to do with strength) which is quite a shame. Isometrics build not only real muscle but dense hardened muscle due to the amount of contraction needed in order to really have it be effective. There's two types of Isometrics; one is short burst contraction where you flex a muscle for a period of near max power at no more than 10-12 seconds, the second is coined Aerobic Isometrics where you flex or push/pull at smaller intensity for a longer period of time say 30 seconds or more. Which one builds more muscle? It depends on the objective but overall you're developing muscle from another perspective while working the tendons at another level as well.

There's literally countless ways to do Isometrics and can be used in practically every single type of exercise. BTW its nothing new either; it has been used for centuries in various ways from the ancient archers to the NASA Space Program and beyond. Some of the strongest men on the planet used Isometrics to develop strength for specific feats. It's even used in Bodybuilding because of the posing these guys do. I prefer however the type that those from the earlier 20th century used Muscle Control in an Isometric format, flexing specific muscles to contract and relax at a more rapid level.

It's very powerful and can aid in those who have trouble getting over plateaus in their program. I specifically used Isometrics to enhance my strength in pull-ups, feats of strength & even my Animal Movements. I wouldn't be in the state i'm in if it wasn't for this type of training. My neck bridges are a form of isometrics, holding various qi gong poses are Isometric. It's not always about what exercise to do, its the controlled contraction that you start in your mind and working your to the muscles. Yes that sounds weird but its more true than you'll believe. Isometrics have been used not just in fitness but in other areas like in the movies for example in Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back when Luke is in that handstand using the force to channel his body to levitating the rocks and even Aretoo; that's a Isometric Exercise. How about like in Man Of Steel where Superman had to hold the beams of that building in the middle of the ocean to save those workers from being crushed; that's a mega extreme form of Isometric Contraction. You see even something as awesome as those are inspiring to me that this type of training has value in ways most don't ever realize.

Superheroes use this type of training whether it's actual training or not, athletes use it, strongmen use it, bodybuilders use it, yogis use it and many others. You never know what you'll find on it until you have read, observed and done it. I have even used it to strengthen my legs after my accident. It develops wonders you didn't think were possible and imagine the dense muscle you can have and the fat that burns really fast doing this correctly. It is not just a form of training it is a very tough skill to practice but its fun and you can create any workout you want around it. For the most part, Isometrics hold the key to real strength most consider to be untouched and have yet to truly discover.

Animal Exercise Under Two Hours Per Week

Getting back to doing Animal Movements in the last few workouts has become quite fun and accelerating. Being able to move in different positions on a constant shift helps develop the body and mind in another style. 10-20 min. a day is all that is really needed. Start out 3x a week to build a level of strength & endurance. Some of the exercises require some flexibility but with practice you can get some pretty awesome stretching. Some people don't do no more than 5x a week on this specific routine and that's ok.

You don't need endless hours of training in order to get fit. People have to work for a living and have other responsibilities yet there's no excuse you can't train under 30 min. a day; 10 min. would be enough for most people. Advanced can do 20 min. or longer depending on the day you do them. I recommend more of a spread of Greasing The Groove; training periodically throughout the day a few minutes here & there. Keep it to where you go after a daily goal of doing your workout as long or short as needed. Animal Exercise overall won't take you very long because of the constant movement and multiple muscles you use in a particular exercise.

Make it work for you and you will be in shape in no time.

Animal Kingdom 1

Animal Kingdom 2

Animal Flow 2.0

Insane Conditioning For An Insane Life

Doesn't that title sound freaking crazy? Who knows but to me depends on the definition. I'm a believer in being fit and well conditioned. When it comes to Physical Appearance, I want to look a certain way but over the years its not that big of a deal to me. I live a simple, easy going life. I may spend a lot of time sharing stuff with you guys but in person, I'm actually quite private and have a few friends. I train hard at times and I train like I'm doing nothing but always doing something. My insane life is basically not all that insane looking but you haven't been around me.

It's not a crazy idea to be awesomely fit for any occasion; have enough energy to play with the kids, go swimming when its warm out, play catch with your buddies, help out family moving stuff & even have a little fun in the sack with your girl or man. That's the mark of being well-conditioned. If you get tired too easily just walking up a flight of stairs you got some issues. I believe in being shape not for the sake of looking like a Model but to be able to function in ways that are critically important in daily life from taking care of a baby to carrying groceries to even possibly saving someone. For me looking fit comes second or lower because its not about looks; you can look like a model any day of the week if you could do that but where does that really lead you? Sure it'll help with confidence and all which is always a good thing but not every attractive person is strong, full of energy and can even be mentally stable. 

Tip Top shape is a key to living a healthy lifestyle. It's not about being hardcore and thinking you're more fit or this much stronger than someone else no, its about balance, challenging yourself often but not too frequently, opening your mind to greater possibilities & building greater brain power. I love to train but also love to have fun. Being in shape has it's perks you may not even realize. Go outside the box and do things that isn't the norm. When I get a chance I smash a tire more than 1200 times with a 60 pound sledgehammer; most people would find that too weird or something someone should be put in the nuthouse for. Make your insane life a positive one and not to push the volume of your daily life but have a balance that works in your favor. Conditioning is your greatest asset.

Want to get in great shape while being on an insane budget? Trust me, not everyone can afford gyms or spas and get the results they want so one of the things I've used which I've mentioned in earlier articles is the Darebee Circuit Workouts. These alone can benefit you greatly using basic exercises, finding your level of fitness and ideals for programs, challenges and Training Plans. I've gotten crazy fit doing these and my favorites are the Superhero Themed Workouts. A lot of fun and most of the time very challenging but that's why i'm insane when I do these. Power up on these and you can't go wrong. If they're not suited for you, look for ideas on the blog or go to my website which is on the right hand side of this bad boy.  

Train Your Abs Like A Gymnast

There are a lot of programs out there that target the Abdominals but seldom do they target the actual Core, using the entire body with the focused purpose of all the ab muscles from upper to lower and the obliques. Most of these programs target only pieces of the abs or in other words Isolate. Only 2 other programs I know of really hit the Core with a vengeance and not just to shape the muscles themselves but to make them punch-proof strong as hell.

Our Core is the center of our physical structure and without proper training, the stabilizers will become very weak, our posture is horrible and we lose touch of that confident and powerful element of the way we walk and mobilize our body. In my years of study and training different styles, nothing has come close to utilizing the body as a single unit and not a bunch of muscles working one dimensional style. The body was meant to stabilize you in any angle possible and not only to hold ourselves up but to be able to move with confidence and true strength.

The strongest when it comes to Ab Strength are in Gymnastics & Cirque Du Soleil because in order to perform stunts, flips, the rings, handstands & even Cartwheels the abs have to be engaged at peak levels. I've seen both and have trained a little in Gymnastics almost a year worth and have practiced bodyweight exercise for over 10 years. It is one of the toughest sports I've been in next to wrestling and strongman. The stronger your Core is the stronger your whole body is. You don't need to train in Gymnastics or perform CDS in order to achieve great Ab Strength. Most ideals for Ab Training is based on merely repetition, multiple sets of crunches & sit-ups and only targeting certain Muscles; Gymnastic Abs goes beyond this. In order to make real progress its not about how many reps or sets; it's about staying in solid form on a consistent basis whether holding or doing reps. Just yesterday I did a full workout that included rocking, holding, lifting myself up and doing hanging knee pull-ins. Did only 1-2 sets of 10 per exercise but on the 2nd-3rd set I would hold the position for as long as I felt doing and most of the time it was tough holding the body in a position flexed the entire time.

I didn't do a ton of time but I put in a ton of effort because you can't be sloppy in these exercises or you will risk injury; you need to keep the body strong and solid in a flexed position whether holding or moving otherwise things don't work. When you engage the whole body you become one within yourself and controlling every muscle in order to perform the tasks acquired. I have never found a course that really hits the abs as hard as these, I've been through fast pace workouts that require plenty of ab work but never this solid where the whole body has to work in order to strengthen the abs.

If you truly want to get rid of that lousy gut, lose weight and build muscle all at the same time; get this course. It works wonders and can be used anytime, anywhere and can supplement any workout or added as a finisher. You can do these for 5 min. or 20 min. doesn't matter, practice at your own pace and progress little by little down to the smallest fraction.

Combining Elements For Ultimate Movement Training

Studying various systems has been my schooling for over 10 years and like being in school, there are things you'll find interesting that really hit you and guide you to where you want to go in life. Learn to absorb things like a sponge and finding the right things that suit you and your interests. There's never been a person that truly likes what he can't stand; its like a leper judging a beauty contest it doesn't really work.

I don't do just one thing as you may have read or seen in my videos. I like to take the very best elements of training that I have learned and mold it into my ultimate style. When you choose little things here and there, not just exercises but a combination of different programs, workouts & others. It took me a long time to truly find what works because I'm constantly experimenting, observing, learning and tackling what peaks at me. Most people go through the motions and the trends that only last a few months or week if that. They don't want to learn what suits their personality and how it absorbs their brain and muscular structure.

I'm a big dude and most of the time I'm considered a weightlifter or possibly a football player but the truth is I practice mostly bodyweight and other styles of movement like Animal Exercise, Gymnastics, Circuit Training, Primal Movement, Ginastica, Strongman exercise and more; I don't contend myself with the latest trend or what is said in a muscle magazine because I learned to be self-reliant; finding areas that are outside the box and molded into my own world of things that strike with that jolt of lightning-like feel. If you're interested in follow along infomercial programs that's your business I bare no judgement but what if you took little things and created something for yourself. Whether in the gym, a park, your home or hell at the freaking beach; practice what makes you feel interested, motivated and not what everyone else is doing. I have literally gotten looks from people when I do certain things like Animal moves, hand balancing, even qi gong in the middle of a cabin living room in Tahoe where there's at times more than 5 people in the cabin.

For beginners; learn the basics of what you want to learn; don't worry about not being strong enough yet or working the clock enough. Start at your own level, progress little by little down to the smallest fraction. Let me give you a very weird example; in the movie Ant-Man, during one scene Scott Lang got so freaking small he shrunk into the smallest molecules of dust in the air that seemed like a whole other universe, as he got smaller the world around him got larger and larger in a billionth of a fraction within that speck of dust. The point of this is no matter how small you progress, the progress becomes bigger and bigger as time goes on and before you know it you'll be far stronger and more interested in what you want to do.

Combine things to create your own Ultimate Style Of Movement and see how far you're willing to go and I don't mean push to the limits until you start puking; that's not what I represent. I want you to go as far as you are willing to without being in pain and agony and injured. People get so caught up with that "Push till you puke" "No pain, no gain" & god forbid "Injured? Suck it up Nancy boy" kind of mindset that there are far better options that can have them live very strong physical lives that prospers in the future and not have that "I use to be able to" life later on. Be resourceful and do what's useful to you.

Playful Movement Exploration

For years I'm always coming up with different things to train on because that's just how my brain works. I don't stick to routines very long because I get bored with them fast. I love to Sprint, I love learning about Finishers & I definitely love doing Animal moves to work my body from all sorts of angles. Overall, I just love to explore & move because it opens up new possibilities and ruling out the singularity of focusing on something that is so one or two dimensional.

I call it Playful Movement Exploration; the ability to explore movement in a playful mindset. Routines are great for some people because it gears them towards being focused and driven to a specific goal setting but for me; exploring just seems more simplistic and natural. Thinking outside the box, moving from one area to the next while infusing imagination, creative patterns & utilize personality in practice. I was never one to use my brain like the general population. Growing up and having to learn in complete 180's and honing my skills for things that most don't understand.

It's very powerful when you learn to explore yourself physically, emotionally, mentally and more. You are one person that is different than everyone else. Unless you have a full on Clone, you are one person among billions that are rich in very unique ways. Some never realize what they have until it's too late, others just watch the world go by and there are some that just don't have the sense to come out of their selves and be like everyone around them. I combine different elements that reflect on my brain functioning capabilities, my best physical movement that hits me like a bolt of lightning and use my memory that's very unique to recount things most wouldn't even fathom.

You are a person who aught to explore themselves in a powerful way that makes you feel alive in a positive and spirited way. Learn who your true self is. I learn it everyday of my life and sometimes it becomes very difficult when you have to hide who you are from people that you believed could show your true colors. Its beyond movement that is being explored; its your whole being, your soul that goes into what you do, who you are and where you will go. It becomes exhausting at times trying to be someone else; i've been doing it for more than 3 decades and its a total pain in the ass. Little by little I don't just explore moving and staying fit, I explore my real self and how it has been used to help others and make people smile. You can do it too. Move with passion and feel it deep down no matter how far it is. Its tough, can be painful and it hurts inside at times but when your true self comes out and people notice it good or bad, you made the choice to do it because you are done hiding.

Explore and have like child-like quality of personality, movement & deep profound power within to become the Ultimate Self.

Review On Steel/Sandbell

I'm a simple guy when it comes to equipment. I don't fettle with Barbells & Dumbbells unless i'm in the gym on a rare occasion. I'm also big on the quality of the equipment I get and use them to have fun and be enjoyable; whether it's hammers or cables or my pull-up bar there's always something useful. One piece of equipment I use however is very unique and takes it out of me practically every single time in less than a few minutes. The Sandbell is in a class by itself with the endless variety out of one small thing.

Its versatility is incredible and its powerful adaptation to any workout is beyond comprehension. My all-time favorite exercise is purely picking it up and slamming it as fast and hard as possible for a short amount of time. It even is better than sprints some of the time. Anyone can use this for any style of training because it not only packs a wild punch but has not one or two but THREE types of equipment in its arsenal: Kettlebell, Dumbbell & Medicine Ball. I've been in fitness close to 2 decades and never have seen or felt such a powerful force like the Sandbell.

What a lot of people don't realize is that the Sandbell is not just meant to be used in a variety of ways but it puts on realistic results to generate natural Growth Hormone. Because of the epidemic of obesity and lack of nutrition these days, exercise has become a last resort and far too much info on what to do and how to do it. With the Sandbell, it doesn't have to be complicated whatsoever. You can do practically any exercise in the gym using only this bad boy and you can get in a workout that's no more than 15 minutes.

I realize a lot of people get told about weight progressions and all that which I highly bring on for others to understand but when it comes to the Sandbell, you don't need all that much weight to get your ass kicked and here's why; because of the changing of the grip, you're working not just the muscles but the tendons in many ways from pinching to thick and anywhere in between. The most weight I advise people on is no more than 20-30 lbs. I get it there are challenges and are told you need to use this weight for that challenge or whatever, who doesn't love a good challenge but in the end, its not about the weight its about what you're willing to create that can make 20 lbs. feel like 100 when you do it right. Just some of the exercises alone can be brutal for most people. One exercise I do is called the 360 Exercise and I do it for 100 reps (50 per side) and hits me enough. Sure it be cool to do it with 40 or 50 lbs but that's not the point. Use it for long term use and not how much weight you can move.

Another amazing thing about this tool is that it can be used or kids to play with and toss it around with friends. Even toddlers can use this thing when its under 5lbs. I had my 7 and 4 year old cousins play with my 20 lber and couldn't get enough of it. I had the 7 year old do rows and slams and the 4 year old (who has down syndrome BTW) just see if he can flip it on the floor and he got it once or twice and was smiling. My girlfriend uses it for slams and for resistance when she does SIT-UPS; this chick rocks it doing sit-ups in sets of 10-15. It is one of the most playful and fun tools on the planet period.

There are so many benefits with this thing its difficult to list them all. I will give you a couple that are not only kick ass but awesome as well when you realize how many ways you can really use it. When you slam it, it doesn't wreck the floor so no worries about breaking furnished floors or carpets, it can be put in a backpack to travel with (that I would recommend under 20 lbs.), there is no such thing as boredom because no exercise is ever the same with the changing of the grip, can be added to any regimen, gets you fit in a short amount of time, develops finger & hand strength, develops a very strong core and powers up Testosterone (come on guys how could you not want this).

One guy I had connected with has had some severe joint problems and asked me about the Steel/Sandbell and wanted to know if it worked for him. He had read what I had done with it and seemed intrigued. I told him to give it a shot and told him to go with a ten pounder so its light enough to where it wouldn't hurt him and get something out of it. His name is Lou Delpha from Lakeland Florida and this is what he had to say after only using it a few times......

I'm 67 years old, have had 69 Surgeries, including 2 cervical fusions, both shoulders, both knees, left hip, both feet, 4 hernias operated on, several major abdominal Surgeries, Lower Back surgery and a pacemaker. I also have degenerative joint disease from head to toe. With all these Medical problems the Steelbell Workout felt great. My arms felt like rock when I was done. If I can do it, so can YOU!!!

That to me is one of the most bad ass testimonials I've ever read. It's inspiring and it makes guys like me feel blessed to be doing this and not even have all those issues. That makes him stronger than most people on this earth. It truly is a gift of fitness and everyone should have one and get one under 5 lbs for their kids. One of the best investments that is worth every damn penny.

Finishers For Extra Boosting

Lately I've been getting into Finishers for my workouts or use the day after to help accelerate fat loss. Finishers are micro workouts you can do after your main one to boost extra fat loss or amp up your conditioning. During my sprint and Darebee days I would pick a little something that sounds exciting to me and do up to 10 min. or so to really hit the Spot. Granted some are crazy but if you want to get a little more juice this would be it.

You don't have to do these at the end of your workouts, they can be used for next day extras or when you only have a few minutes of your day. They can cook you and depending on what you do, can be a little out there. Now some of these are not for beginners because they're very intense. I'm not big on trends like you have read on but I do like training systems with certain themes attached to them; mainly superheroes. It just gives that added motivation and triggering of the brain that just boosts confidence and fun times. These bad boys are no more than a few minutes and you can either do it in a circuit or in a tabata style workout where you do something for 20 sec. and 10 sec. o rest time. Go for time or just see how many rounds you can do.

One of my favorites is one called Legs Like Ms. Marvel where you guessed it its all leg work (and don't be laughing just because its a chick workout, my legs were dying at the end of it). Here's how it goes.....

Its a 20/10 Protocol and you go for 8 minutes.

Lateral Side Jumps, Ice Skaters, Squat Hold & Split Squat (20 sec. each leg) its only 4 exercises but you're resting 10 seconds at a time and trust me it ain't easy.

There's a whole course devoured in Finishers that goes well for beginners and hardcore maniacs. It's by a guy named Mike Whitfield called Workout Finishers. Imagine getting that little jolt of testosterone after a great workout at the gym or getting in some good no BS training if you're strapped for time. Do workouts in as little as 3 minutes. My biggest one was no more than 10 1/2 minutes. Get a good session in and then hit those last 3 minutes like a beast. Ladies this sheds fat like a cheese-grader and if you want to tone up and need that boost after putting in some work at the gym or at a park wherever you may be at. What can 3 minutes really harm huh? This would be great to do if you're on vacation and want to get in a quick workout before taking in the sites or jumping into the lake or the pool. Make it fun and remember, its fast and intense but so worth it. Don't do these everyday, do them at the end of some workouts or the next day to make up for something. When I was doing my sprints I would do a finisher at the end and that was only 3x a week.

Hit it hard and make that fat scream bloody murder.  

Funtastic Conditioning

When you have an imagination, you want to make it useful and open things up to bring in opportunities to showcase your mind on a physical level. I feel bad for those poor souls who do very and utterly tedious & worst of all boring exercise programs. Some of the exercises are great but a lot want to treat it as the hardcore no pain no gain crap. To me; exercise is about emotion, bringing in your entire being into a series of movements or holds that turn you into a machine full of passion and the willingness to go for more. 

I've seen many dread going to the gym or seeing the latest trend and think its going to make them happy. They're only motivation is what everyone else is doing. Not me brother, trends are temporarily objectives that don't belong in many areas. I believe going outside the trends, creating ideals that are inspired by programs that I personally enjoy. My workouts are emotional, content and lust for awesomness. My training these days is doing High Intensity or a great level of intense cardio with a finisher that blasts my body big time. Although they're a bit nuts I find them fun and exciting. That's what training is suppose to really be. The pink dumbbells and isolated machinery most of the time when it comes to conditioning is completely useless. 

What you can get truly out of training with excitement and adventure is endless without boundaries or rules & certainly can do stuff only you decide to do. Granted I believe in coaching but it's the right kind of coaching; I teach others how to have fun in their workouts and share with them the value of kicking ass while having a good time. If you train for complete seriousness and no emotions you're either a freaking robot or your soul is corrupt. With the many ways you can adapt your training its crazy to think you'd get bored but yet people do and its a damn shame. I'm not saying be all ditzy and act like you don't care, train like your life depended on it but use your imagination. Build scenarios, create an environment and see in your mind what you're training and put it into action. When I do my hammer workouts, I pretend i'm taking out the toughest form of rubber and steel with this massive hammer and hitting the tire as if I was in the land of the frost giants with Thor going into battle. When I do certain bodyweight exercises like Burpees or step-ups, I pretend i'm in Indiana Jones, running up steps with whip and ducking and dodging boulders or those boobie traps in Last Crusade. 

When I play with the Sandbell, I imagine making the earth quake every time I slam it, create an imaginary circular shield around my body when I do the 360 exercise or whatever else. The greater you can put your imagination into your training the greater your results will be. My girl's favorite bodyweight workout is called The Harley Quinn. I can just imagine her kicking ass in that awesome outfit taking out baddies with the Suicide Squad or finally sticking against her former "puddin" (If you know who this is kudos to you). Our greatest ally is our imagination but not many people use it. A lot of trainers want to suppress this beautiful entity because they want you doing things their way and anything you do just beneath them. You are an amazing bad ass underneath; unleash that little by little. When I started out, I was more of a superhero's assistant's assistant, learning the ropes and not knowing a damn thing; climbing that ladder step by step. If you're willing to put in the effort you can go far, how far is up to you. 

Train hard, condition up and have a lot of fun guys.  

Extreme Cardio For Fat Burning

When it comes down to it, modern day version of cardio is most of the time is pure crap. When it comes to fat burning it rarely if ever really does anything that is worth its time. Cardio to most people is spending 30 minutes or more on a treadmill at a moderate pace that is either walking or jogging. Sure you burn a few calories but you also lose muscle mass and store more fat than you want to believe. To truly take off fat like you would take off a t-shirt, you have to be very intense and short.

When you're jogging at a moderate pace your heart rate goes up a little but stays there for as long as possible in the long time to keep it there. That's great for endurance training but you're getting one shred of realistic muscle from doing this. Having a good glimpse of lean muscle mass goes a long way to increase your metabolism, athletic stamina and filling your lungs with powerful oxygen. When I say muscle mass i'm not talking bulky and grotesque looking like a bodybuilder but more of a classic muscular man pre-1970's. Cardio is good for a few reasons but to truly build insane lung power you need to up the ante.

Extreme cardio is purely blowing up your heart rate to a level where you're huffing and puffing in a matter of seconds instead of minutes that's where fat burning comes into play because your oxygen levels need more blood to pump through the heart and other vessels of the central nervous system. When you do short bursts you're installing those hormones that burn calories like a flame to gasoline. That's why I love developing my style of the Superhero Sprints Program. It's purpose is to keep your workouts short and sweet to where you're basically resting more than working and the reason is because every fiber in your body is taken to optimum levels. Workouts at a great clip are no more than 20-25 minutes, when you add a finisher no more than 35 minutes total of high intensity interval training. When you train cardio for 60 minutes or more at a moderate pace your strength and muscle diminish but you still have your stamina yet build up a level of flab. When you train crazy hard on Superhero Style Training, you're decreasing fat, improving both strength & stamina and you pack on natural and lean muscle.

This style of training is no more than 3x a week because of the need of the muscles and tendons to recover from an insane session. It has been proven from experiments around the country and parts of Europe where HIT is the best way to improve muscle and burn off fat the fastest way possible. I have been studying and testing things out for over 18 years (everyday in the last 10+) and I have no other method to increase growth hormone and metabolic conditioning than HIT Style fitness. That's why I enjoy the workouts I do because I get to eat what I can to fuel up and i'm still burning calories hours after the workout barely doing anything. The basics of Superhero Fitness is doing 5 Sprints (8 if you're outdoors), a circuit & (if you're willing to go even further) a finisher that's roughly no more than 10 minutes. Take a look at the program and see what I mean, there's all kinds of exercises to choose from both weighted and bodyweight, a beginners program, indoor and outdoor training plus training on Supersets. This truly is one of the best courses I've ever come across.

This isn't some rinky-dink training where you go very slow and do little jogs, this is high levels of training that is meant to increase your fitness and building a realistic muscular/lean physique with the purpose of being able to eat enough to fuel up, drink plenty of water and taking a rest day and that could be a walk in the park, hike, swimming whatever you want to stay active but to a level of degree.

Share What You Love & Possibly Get Paid For It

I was always taught if you do a good job and work hard you'll be rewarded. Well I bounced around a couple jobs in my life and did what I could but never could be proud of what I was doing. I had short stints as a janitor, helping out giving people massages, made $100 helping a family friend and chopping wood a time or two but nothing was compared to working just by sharing my favorite things of fitness and on Amazon. I felt at ease doing this kind of work because it naturally came easy to me. I can create my own hours, gave me the opportunity to enhance my creativity by writing and making funny memes and posting on places like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr and forums.

This is what has helped me buy the things I wanted and use to save up for things later on plus getting food and sharing a part of the rent. This has become my main source of income and although I do some things from time to time even if it's getting paid to help out this is what made me a hard worker. I have signed on with various fitness companies that hold dear to my heart because they got a ton of stuff that I personally believe in and have used a lot of their stuff to enhance my strength, endurance & flexibility. The most recent place I signed up where the Fee was decent and not freaking ridiculous was becoming an Advocare Distributor.

I'm not giving you a get rich scheme or places where it's phony bullshit. You get out of what you put into it and things vary from a couple bucks to hitting more than few hundred dollars in commission. I'll give you a personal list of places to sign up as an affiliate where you can have your own link and share cool stuff like books, Cd's, Courses, Equipment, PDF's and way more. Share with your friends and family; be creative and let your mind learn new things that you can come up with. You've seen what I do so what makes you think you can't do the same in your own way. For me I don't plan on becoming a mult-millionaire, if it happens its because it was meant to happen but for now I'm happy where i'm at and I want to get better and learn from others on what I can do to adapt to my style. For you, it might be different and you want some extra cash to put in for a college fund, put a kid's favorite cereal on the table, buy a prom dress for your daughter, get a commission and use it to save up for a Playstation 4 or XBOX; there are so many possible ways to do it and reasons for it.

My personal reasons for being in this line of work and making time for it is to save up to go to Disneyland with my girlfriend, save up to get a place of our own, buy my mom a house one day, get foods I like to keep me fueled up from training hard and most importantly is to share the awesomeness of the things I have used and knew of people who use them. Here is a list of places to sign up and get familiar with......

Rogue Fitness

Onnit

Clickbank

Dragon Door

Amazon

There you have it. One of the great benefits Amazon provides is you creating your own store. How cool is that to pick what you want to promote and spread it around the net. One thing that can be very useful when you're an affiliate is to shorten links so customers don't have to type or copy and paste so much. This is where I like to use the site Tiny URL to help with my personal links. Do whatever you find creative to get people to go to your direct links and share with them why you like a product or specific type. Make it work for you. Whether you want to do this as a weekend thing, part time or full time it's your choice. Learn what people like and make it creative for them to look at what you are sharing with them.

Don't get discouraged if the dough doesn't roll in right away. My first paycheck as an affiliate was just over $10. Over time things started adding up and I was racking in a few hundred dollars here and there, to this day I made money well into the THOUSANDS and it's still growing. One of my biggest pay days was getting a commission of $250 off of ticket someone bought for a Strongman Seminar. There are limitless possibilities and I want you to do what you can even if it's worth getting a paycheck to get groceries for your family for the week. Grow a network and have other sign up so they can join you; those are called Subaffiliates where they work under you and you can get paid from some of the work they do. Create opportunities and grow.

My Current Training Program

I love posting about certain things like my philosophy on training or life, my favorite products, what I consider good or bad in fitness and keeping you thinking and laughing from time to time but I rarely talk about my actual training. Mostly the reason I don't talk about it directly on the blog is because I don't always know what I'm doing on a particular day. For the last few weeks I've created my own training "routine" that is based on a few different ideals mixed together inspired by a course I can't stop loving. I'm currently training to lose fat and build leaner muscle based on the program Superhero Sprints.

I'm currently 9 Workouts in doing this and the last few workouts have added a Finisher of different styles whether it's circuit training, tabata, animal, Kettlebells, Sandbell or whatever. Although it's inspired by the course, I came up with a few tweaks to make it to my liking. Here is how it goes.....5 Sprints (30 Sec. Each), 4 Circuits of 3-9 exercises and a Finisher of 1-9 exercises for rounds or time. No matter what I do with this thing it always comes out brutal and somewhat out there but it seems to be working. It's done 3 times a week and on days off I mostly stretch doing something fun or recovering using DDP Yoga or Animal Flow. It's a good balance and i'm seeing quite a number of results including muscle definition in my abs, chest, calves and back, gives me a ton of calories to burn and it really cranks up my appetite for fuel. One night at Applebees I had more than 3,000 calories in a sitting because my body needed fuel so I had a burger, fries and a very large oriental crispy chicken salad. Not the best meal but come on man a guy's got to eat.

Designing workouts inspired by courses is a passion of mine plus it gives me a chance to develop my own style of intensity; although always high I sometimes shift the number or order of exercises around to get rid of boredom. Here is a workout that really kicked my ass on Monday......

5 Sprints

4 Circuits: 20 Climbers, 10 Lateral Jumps, 10 Push-ups & 10 Burpees

Finisher: One round of the Darebee Chapter 1 Workout (took about 3 min. to complete)

That was freaking insane and I needed plenty of fuel just to even feel satisfied. I had a Post Workout Smoothie with Banana & Goat's Milk then not too long after, went to a restaurant and grabbed a nice bowl of salad with blue cheese dressing, a crispy chicken sandwich and some fries. Again not great but I needed food. I'm actually losing fat even with a below average good eating habit and building muscle. Not too shabby it's helping in the testosterone department. Thought I'd share that with you today and i'll keep you posted on my progress and you all have a great hump day.

Reminder: I'm giving away ***FREE** workouts and meal plans to give you something extra for the purchase of an advocare product. The meal plans I will send out to you with the purchase of the 24-Day Challenge and help you along your journey feel more at ease. Order today and get some cool stuff personally from me.

My New Year's Gift To You

Welcome to a new week guys. We've been in the New Year almost a couple weeks now and it's been crazy. Training like a maniac, writing about all kinds of products and sharing with the world why I believe they're bad ass. I'm even playing around with various ideas to help customers achieve their goals. This isn't a resolution to me but more of something to push forward and experiment with.

One of things you may have noticed throughout my articles and promotions throughout social media is Advocare products. Whether you buy them or not that's your choice, all I do is share a few benefits and give you an opportunity to check them out and see if they work for you. However, I want to do more than just show you how awesome they are, I want you to really succeed in your goals. In that manner I want to do something different and something I think you'll get a kick out of. Here's my gift to you: Whenever you purchase a product from Advocare, I will call/text you not only to thank you but ask what specific goals you're looking into and whatever you come up with I will personally send you 1-5 Workouts for you to do at home that is within those goals; either ones I have found or created myself.

You deserve to rock it in your journey and as a fitness enthusiast myself, I want the best I can find that makes it interesting and outside the box. This is something I feel and believe is my duty to go that extra mile for you and help you in your journey as much as I can. Not everyone will do this and I've always had a knack for going outside the box. I want to go beyond a product and help you as if I was training you myself. You are important and want you to know that. What do you say? You in?

Super Man Herbs

When you get outside the box you run into some interesting things.

Conventional methods of working out just don’t work very well. But so many people, hopefully yourself included, have gotten great results when they tried something a little different.

When it comes to health it’s the same thing. The public health model has some obvious flaws. Following the USDA’s food pyramid and taking pharmaceuticals (did you know the average American is on at least one?) is not giving people great health.

Although people claim that our life spans are longer than ever, if you actually account for things like public sanitation they really haven’t improved much since ancient times.

But there is a different way…

Did you know that ancient Chinese doctors were paid when they’re clients were healthy and not when they’re sick? That’s because if the person was sick the doctor wasn’t doing his job in preventing illness.

In fact, from the Chinese Daoist tradition you have the concept of “Radiant Health”. This is health beyond danger. This means you’re body is running in such an optimal way that you can’t become sick. Think about that.

Zero illness.

And that’s not all. Generally health is looked at as the absence of disease, but that’s just focusing on the negative. What if you had such abundant energy that you could work tirelessly each day, and turn your life into how you want it to be?

What if there was no struggle in doing the things you know you should be doing?

Eating the right foods, living a healthy lifestyle, and dealing with the stresses of modern day living are all important towards this aim.

But there is a “secret weapon”.
https://jt231.isrefer.com/go/supermanherbs/bennyb84

For the average person if you become sick you go to the doctor and get medication for it.

Even if you turn to the alternative health world, it’s the same flawed model. Got a problem? Then take these supplements or herbs. Or follow this method to fix yourself.

But what if you desire to achieve Radiant Health? There is a certain class of “Superior Herbs” that do this for you. With their adaptogenic properties they can work intelligently with your body to increase your health regardless of where you’re currently at. And they do this in a powerful way.

https://jt231.isrefer.com/go/supermanherbs/bennyb84

Many people look at these as their secret weapon, the thing that gives them the extra 10% they need out of life.

And I want to point you to a great resource on these herbs. Not just where you can grab them, but learning a whole lot more on what they can do for you.

Its called Super Man Herbs (and no its not just for men, these are equally great for women too).

Go here now to check it out...

https://jt231.isrefer.com/go/supermanherbs/bennyb84

Be Awesome

The Mystery Female Hormone?

If you’re a woman and you know anything about hormones...

You know about Estrogen.

You know about Progesterone.

And hopefully, especially if you’re older, you’ve sought to balance these out as they’re absolutely critical for health in many, many ways.

But recent research points to another “Critical Hormone” you’re probably not aware of.
Uncover the “Mystery” here...https://jt231.isrefer.com/go/whf/bennyb84

You have 3 times as much of this mystery hormone as estrogen but most women don’t think they have any.

It will probably surprise you.
...And that the loss of this hormone may be at the cause of estrogen and progesterone getting out of balance.

You’ll find out its importance in metabolism, energy, mood support, libido and more.
Find out what this Mystery Hormone is, what it can do for you, and how to work with it in natural ways (no doctors need) in this new 23 page Special Report.
It’s free, all you have to do is sign up to grab it now.  https://jt231.isrefer.com/go/whf/bennyb84

Be Awesome

P.S. This may not be around for long so I suggest heading over to this page, signing up, and reading it today.
 https://jt231.isrefer.com/go/whf/bennyb84

Morning Wood?

MEN!

Do you wake up with “Morning Wood” each day?

And did you know that’s there’s a lot more to it, then if you simply have it or not?

Morning Wood is a leading indicator of your health.

Why? One word...

Testosterone.

Check out this 17 page special report all about morning wood.
https://jt231.isrefer.com/go/morningwood/bennyb84

You’ll discover:

What it is and how it relates to testosterone

Two major methods to enhance it (plus boosting your hormones and health along the way!)

How to properly do the “Morning Wood Test” (most get this wrong…)

Did you know there’s a female equivalent?

“The Cardiovascular Correlation” and what this means for you.

Plus more.

Go here to check it out now.
https://jt231.isrefer.com/go/morningwood/bennyb84

Be Awesome

Is it Disgusting...Or a Secret Weapon?

Everyone has heard of Ginseng.

In Chinese medicine it is the most well known in the class of superior herbs.

Unfortunately the majority of it that is sold in convenience stores and even health food stores is worthless crap, or even harmful.

You see, ginseng must reach 3 years of age in order to be considered mature and worth taking.

And to get the good stuff you need to pay top dollar.

And when I say top dollar I mean it. A recent 1000 years old ginseng root was sold off for $1000000 dollars!

In Chinese medicine, ginseng is considered a Qi tonic in how it can give you energy. Good quality ginseng won’t give you a rush and a crash like caffeine might but a smooth even feeling that can even help support your health.

Although it is considered one of the best Qi tonics there is actually something even better.

While ginseng is considered “The King of Herbs”, this one is known as “The Herb of Kings”!

Some people have said it is disgusting, but a number of people taking this consider it one of their secret weapons.

Find out what it is here.
https://jt231.isrefer.com/go/antextract/bennyb84/

Be Awesome

P.S. If you are looking to enhance your workouts, while simultaneously improving your health, you’ve got to check this out...
https://jt231.isrefer.com/go/antextract/bennyb84/

My Review On Nighttime Recovery

As a consistent trainee, I practice many forms of training everyday and have been doing it for over 10 years. I believe in being able to stay in top shape whether for 5 minutes or 60 minutes and just as important I want to recover just as amazingly. Some of things I have taken have worked for me, some haven't.

I gave the Advocare Nighttime Recovery a shot and I got awesome results from it. Granted according to the bottle I had to take more than most but that's ok. I'm use to that and it was different. Because of the training I was doing I only took them 3x a week when I was doing my most hardcore workouts. They have a weight system for how many an individual should take. Because I was 40 pounds beyond the normal dosage for a 210 pound man I only took 5. There were only 60 capsules and I was taking 15 a week give and take taking some time off for a week. The only drawback is that if you do several months of training or in a professional setting where recovery is extremely critical you're going to need more than one bottle.

More on the positive side, the capsules really target the muscles that you need for recovery and while you sleep it really takes charge and repairs those muscles with a freaking vengeance. I felt amazing everytime I woke up. Refreshed and ready to go. I was always at my best and it really helped with my endurance. I just might go back to them sooner than I expected. I love being able to be at my best every workout and when it comes to the most intense ones, it's even more awesome. Since the Performance Elite Line has more than one product to use for recovery there are other options.

Overall, an 8 out of 10 for this product. If you're looking for kick ass recovery this is one of the things that will do it for you. You would get a kick out of this bad boy and look out for my next review for the Post-Workout Recovery Shake.