Breakfast options

If your skipping breakfast then your a fool.......make the time for the most important meal in your day! Here are some ideas for you. Remember those that eat breakfast eat less throughout the day and have smaller waist lines. And if your trying to pack on muscle then breakfast can be a great way to start your day with a high calorie content.

*2-3 eggs anyway-scrambled with tomato and spinach is ideal. Hard boiled can be done the night before.

* Low fat cottage cheese with fruit

* Greek Yogurt-best brands are Chobani and Oikos

* Whey protein-Mix with water or skim milk and frozen fruit and some flaxseed oil

* Nitrate-free natural sausage-Turkey or chicken is best. Mix it in as a scramble with eggs or by itself.

* Natural peanut butter or almond butter-spread it on whole grain bread

* Kashi GoLean Crunch cereal-not a huge fan of cereal but this one contains good stuff

Random thoughts......

• Try moving slow on your lifts. This is a great way to create more tension on the muscle and therefore bring on new growth. On the way down of the movement aim for a 5 second count, and then a 5 second count on the way up as well. Example would be bicep curl lifting the weight towards your face for 5 seconds and then lower the bar back towards the floor. Play around with different counts but don't exceed a 10 second count.

• Want to burn more calories? Start your day off with a big glass of cold water which will help aid in keeping you more full and will kick start your metabolism. Also, do 25 reps of jumping jacks and 25 jacknives ( burpees ) to get you burning calories early and to get your metabolism going even more.

• Cant find time for breakfast.....well then make time! Those who have breakfast eat less throughout the day, burn more calories and have smaller waist lines than those who don't. Have I got your attention now? Eat in the am!

• Eat your spinach! Raw, cooked, steamed etc. Spinach is high in Vitamins A and C, both antioxidants. Also, spinach is a good source of iron and potassium.

• Having trouble putting on muscle mass? Deadlift and squat more often and your whole body will grow!

• Don't over look sleep. Sleep is just as important as your eating, workouts and stress. Sleep to get better results!
  

7 Excuses that will ruin your eating plan

1. Just one wont kill me-We all have been in that situation were that one extra slice, piece or serving doesn't seem to be a big deal or issue but in reality it is. Think about how much more work and exercise you will need to do to burn off that little bit. More often then not that just one turns into multiple just ones throughout the day and week.

2. I'm tired and don't feel like cooking so I will just hit up the drive thru-Some fast food choices have more calories in one item then someone should have in a whole day. Instead go to the health food grocery store and do the salad bar or prepared foods bar. Another option is to prep your food one night and that way you can make dinners in a more timely fashion. Don't take the easy way out when it comes to what you put in your body.

3. I'm bored- If your bored start doing crunches, pushups or jackknives( burpees ) on the floor but don't stuff your face. By eating not only will you still be bored but now you will be bored and fat and who wants to be both of those.

4. I am having a horrible day, I hate my boss, traffic was aweful, and everything that could go wrong has- If things are going bad why would you want to punish yourself by eating bad? First, don't let others control your emotions. Second, you cannot control those things going wrong so think about it that way. But what you can control is what goes in your body so do it. You can make a negative into a positive by staying in control with your workouts and eating plan.

5. I hate to waste food- No poor hungry kid will benefit from you eating and not wasting that extra food. It is ok to waste.

6. Everyone else is eating it- Good let everyone else be out of shape and fat, but you wont stray away from your goals. You run your show and no one else does.

7. I will eat better tomorrow/ I will start tomorrow-Yes you can slip and get back on track but why waste a day. Take advantage of the present and don't waste anything!

Random thoughts......

• Some post workout ideas- Take two Kashi honey oat frozen waffles and spread peanut butter in between to make a waffle sandwich. You get your protein from the pb and get your carbs from the waffles. This is a quick snack that is fast and easy. Another on the go option is greek yogurt topped with sliced almonds and drizzled with honey. This snack packs protein and carbs.

• Schedule your workouts. People live such busy lives that we tend to fill up our days and bypass the gym because of it. You schedule and book appointments so why not do the same for your workouts. Treat your workouts like a business meeting.

• Success is not a right. Doesn't matter how great of a workout program you have, in order to have success with it you must earn it everyday.

• Do your core work at the beginning of the workout instead of the end. By doing this you will have more energy and not rush through your core exercises.

• Great breakfast-Turkey bacon egg sandwich on whole grain bread. Scramble 3 eggs with spinach top it with some swiss cheese and two slices of turkey bacon. Delicious and high in protein!

• I love parmigiano-reggiano cheese, I put it on so many things. I guess it is a good thing because research shows that it activates fat-burning hormones and has a high protein content compared to other dairy products
  

More weight loss tips

• Eat a small salad or a vegetable based soup ( non cream based of course ) before eating dinner. These foods are low in calories and high in water content therefore will fill you up.

• Snack on non starchy vegetables like carrots, bell peppers, celery and cucumbers, all which are high in water content and low in calories.

• Drink water all day and before meals

• If you feel like eating sweets ( chocolate in particular ), go out of the house and take a quick 10-15 minute walk. Some studies have shown that this has reduced cravings. If anything you just end up burning some extra calories.

• Commit yourself completely. Go all in!

• Every bite counts. Avoid nibbling on foods because in the end those calories will add up.

• Say no to sugars

• Be aware of food labels and read them

Quick hitting tips.....

• Eat a pear for fiber-5 to 6 grams per large pear

• If you want to gain muscle mass-Eat 50% more calories on one of your off days from working out. Eat everything and anything just stay away from trans fats and sugars. To figure out how many calories you would need simply multiple your body weight by 16 then multiply that by 1.5.

• Change up your workout volume -If you always do low volume ( meaning not many sets and reps ) then switch your workouts to high volume ( numerous sets and reps ) to get new results!

• Focus more on your backside! Most people are strong and developed in their chest, shoulders and quads but are super weak and underdeveloped in their back, hamstrings and glutes. Put more emphasis on the backside of your body and improve your posture, back health and your look!

• If your body fat is not dropping it is most likely due to - 1) You don't workout hard enough 2) You eat too much/or not at the right time 3) Your not consistent

• If you didn't give up anything for Lent- Give up making excuses!

Eat hummus

Hummus has grown in popularity lately and it is for good reason. Hummus is a pureed chickpea dip that is loaded with health benefits. Hummus is a traditional Middle Eastern spread that has found its way to masses. Below are some of the benefits of hummus.

• High in fiber and protein
• Rich in folic acid, magnesium and iron
• Low in fat, high in good monounsaturated fat
• Has cholesterol lowering benefits

Quick uses for hummus

• Use as a spread on sandwiches or for wraps instead of mayonnaise
• Use it as a dip for fresh veggies
• Use it to spread on grilled chicken or meats
  

The biggest road block to weight loss success

The one thing keeping you from losing the weight is YOU. Yes....It starts and ends with YOU! Even if you know everything about how and what you should be eating, YOU still need to make that choice and execute. Even if you know how to workout and what you should be doing in the gym, YOU still need to go and get through the workout and execute.

Everyone today likes to blame everyone else for their problems and issues. Nobody likes to take ownership and responsibility. Don't be like everyone else........YOU are responsible and YOU can change things. YOU can make it happen just get your mind right and do it! Once YOU decide to eat well and workout and follow the plan then YOU will see the results YOU want.

Go Dominate

Random thoughts.......

• No matter male or female, no matter how big or small, no matter how old or young......everyone should be able to do at least 1 solid pushup and pullup/and or chinup

• Drink your green tea- it has been show to help burn fat and boost metabolism, help lower cholesterol and fight cancer!

• There is no " best " time to workout. Find a time that works for you and go dominate!

• If you want thin legs-do cardio. If you want toned and shapely legs-do weights. If you want the best of both worlds-do both cardio and weights.

• Use a workout partner if you can. You can help motivate one another and keep each other accountable. Plus its a fact that people perform better around others.

• Workout like crazy and with the best routine known, but then you don't eat properly, well you can forget about getting results.

The New Year is almost here- 3 Ways to burn more calories

1. Do something during your work day- Most people sit all day at work and burn very little calories. Take the stairs more often, or take the long way around the office to drop off that report. You should also get up every now and then to avoid getting tight in your low back and hip flexors. Simply standing up and walking around for 2 minutes helps.

2. Lift rapidly-Lower your weights under control, and then move them up as fast as possible! This will allow you to recruit more muscle fibers and therefore burn more calories!

3. Eat protein with every meal- The thermogenic effect of absorbing/digesting protein is higher than any other macronutrient like fat or carbs. This means it takes more energy/calories to process protein.

6 more weight loss tips

1. Pay attention to night time snaking-Mindless eating generally happens after dinner. You go sit on the couch and let yourself relax and that is when you tend to grab the chips or candy or some other garbage snack. Your best bet is to not allow yourself to eat after a certain hour. Another option is to eat a small healthy snack like an apple or handful of mixed nuts.

2. Eat protein every meal- Protein is more satisfying than carbs and fat so make sure you are eating it! Getting enough protein ensures you to maintain your muscle which helps you keep a high metabolism. Aim for lean meats, nuts and yogurt.

3. Spice things up- Foods with more spice with add a flavor boost to foods you might call " healthy and tasteless" and will be more satisfying so you don't eat as much.

4. Keep your cabinets stocked with healthy options-If you keep good stuff around odds are you will eat good stuff. Convenience is another big key, so if you have foods that are easy to prepare or easy for you to make you will do better. Here are some things to keep around-

• Fat free popcorn


• Pre-cooked chicken breast


• Containers filled with brown rice


• Whole grain wraps or pitas


• Bags of pre-washed greens


• Frozen veggies

5. Don't cope with stress with food- Sooner or later the time will come when your super stressed and you will want to eat something that will make you feel better. Most likely when you go to de-stress by eating you will grab something that isn't good for you. A better option is to go listen to music, read a book, write in a journal, or exercise!

6. Keep working out hardcore-Don't let the workout get you.....but you attack the workout! Go Dominate!

BHM- Between Holiday Mindset

For those of you rocking through your workouts and in your best shape yet then ignore this post but for everyone else who needs that spark...LISTEN UP!

Thanksgiving has come and gone and odds are as you look at yourself in the mirror you notice a couple extra pounds on that body of yours and realize your not liking it. Thanksgiving is not the easiest of holidays on the body......carbs and more carbs and deserts galore get stuffed into your face like a vacuum. The good news is you now have some time to prep yourself before the next set of holidays near. You have exactly four weeks until Christmas to ramp up your routine and eating plan to get yourself in the best holiday shape yet. Use this time constrain as your motivation and to help you keep focused. Remind yourself to go hardcore for 4 weeks and you can reap the rewards! The eventual goal is that once you get rolling for 4 weeks that it will be a whole hell of alot easier to start the New Years Resolutions than if you were starting from scratch.....think less pain and time.

Lets first focus on your eating for the next four weeks. The holidays are a time of special treats, cookies, pies and breads.........so make it special and don't eat them until Christmas or Christmas Eve days! For the time being focus on limiting carbs to the mornings and post workout only. Lean proteins are a must at every meal. If you can think of doing one thing during the next four weeks I would say try to make a small change each day and that is it! Don't try and change everything and do an overhaul just think of ONE SMALL CHANGE......you would be amazed what a difference that would make.

Now lets change the focus to the workouts. First, I want you to drop whatever program you are on and toss it! You heard me! Stop another day of whatever you were doing! I don't care how amazing it is or even if you have made insane gains with it......STOP IT! It was once said " that the best workout for you is the one you are not one." Now that you have done this go ahead and grab a scrap book or piece of paper. I want you to list exercises you don't like to do or ones you have not do in a long time. When your done, look at everything you have down on that paper and there you go.... before you is everything that will be included in your workout for the next 4 weeks. Below is an example:

If you wrote down the following-

THINGS I NEVER DO

Legs....like squats and deadlifts

• Triceps


• Anything cardio


• Circuits


• Pullups, inverted row

NEW WORKOUT

• All circuits


• Involve leg work 2-3x week


• Start doing assisted pullups and inverted rows


• Add interval training to your routines.......read my post from a couple of days ago

I want you to seriously give this a try and let me know your results. Go Dominate.

Muscle building foods

1) Milk- Is a old school bodybuilding staple. You get a nice amount of calories and a great blend of both whey and casein proteins. Milk also contains calcium ( duh ) magnesium, potassium, Vitamin A and D. Whole milk provides the most calories although a higher fat content.

2) Potatoes-Both dense and filling. Filled with Vitamin C, B6, iron and potassium and some other nutrients.

3) Wild rice-1 cup of cooked wild rice has 3 grams of fiber and 7 grams of protein!

4) Whole chicken- Cheap and can be kept for great leftovers!

5) Turkey-Good in many ways and contains selenium ( helps fight cancer ) and numerous nutrients and is high in protein.

6) Whole eggs- Get the benefit of the yolk!