Relative Strength Advantage

This is a long over-due interview with my buddy Mark McManus. When it comes to training specifically for aesthetics and muscle growth, I consider him my go-to guy. And, he definitely walks the walk – check out how he looks!

Mark, tell the readers of Relative Strength Advantage a bit about your training experience and how you came up with your system of training? You have systematized your approach to building muscle in a free downloadable book. How can people get a hold of it?
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Why I LOVE Asian Cinema

If you haven’t been watching Asian movies, I got news for you – you’ve been missing out on a lot of cool flicks. Before I finish my next post about this new killer movie that is coming out and the physical training that went into it, here is a quick little non-fitness post. I want to tell you why I love Korean, Japanese, Cantonese, etc. movies… Here is the reason why I included many Asian movies in my post 25 Movies That Motivate Me To Train Hard. Also – this story was somewhat inspired by Chris McCombs recent post on his favorite books in different fields. So here is just a small selection of some of my favorite Asian flicks:
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I receive many questions from young guys asking me how they should train. Almost every single one of those emails includes a question about what supplements I would recommend to someone who is trying to build some muscle or burn a bit (or a lot) of fat. Every single time my answer is that you don’t really need supplements. If you even take any, they should be the icing on the cake. What matters when building muscle is that you do the right exercises and that you always, and I mean always seek progressive overload. As for losing fat – no pill will help if you don’t learn the cold hard truth that you need to eat less and exercise more.

[Our lady visitors were starting to complain of too much hot girl coverage and practically no dudes. So here is a fit good looking guy... under another hot girl lol. Ok, I couldn't help it! Can't blame a guy for sneaking in pics of gorgeous girls... Plus, I know most... ok practically ALL guys actually workout because they want to hook up with beautiful women. Just reporting on a fact lol]

I Was Pleasantly Surprized

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Hey wassup. Just wanted to give you another quick heads up re Rambo’s training – a special video with Stallone’s workout. If you missed the recent pic featuring ripped Sly, here it is once again – Sylvester Stallone Ripped for His New Movie The Expendables.

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This is a quick little post because I wanted to share with you this ‘leaked photo’ that is taking the net by storm. Sylvester Stallone ripped and in uber shape folks! And look at that bad-ass ink work on the shoulders. This is going to be one sick puppy folks, can’t wait for the flick.

[Sly hasn't looked this good the last 15 years. And, get this, he is 62 now. O, yeah!]

And If This Wasn’t Enough, Here Are Some of The Other Action Stars Who Signed Up For The Expendables

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Hey what’s up. I wanted to talk about one of my favorite TV shows – One Tree Hill. The reason I’m mentioning this is that it gives a perfect representation of what I am talking about when I describe the lean look and urge you to lose fat first thing. Do it as soon as possible folks. This is the number one key to looking good. That, and having some muscle mass – passing a beginner strength training level is enough. But a low body fat percentage comes first.

[This is one of the coolest shows on the tube, at least the first couple of seasons will have you hooked. What is cool about the show is it gives a realistic image of getting a lean and attractive physique. That's what I always stress - get lean first!]
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I find myself getting really pumped up when I watch a good movie. For one thing, I enjoy a good movie. Plus, it never hurts to see one in which the actor or actress is in top shape. Well, Caleb Lee happened to tag me to share 25 random things about me. So here goes – my top 25 movies that motivate me to train hard, kick ass and take names.

American History X
We got Edward Norton. Personal trainer Anthony Cortés got him so buff and the change was so dramatic, that Arnold Schwarzenegger himself supposedly thought Edward was on steroids. Norton’s comment – he says he just are like hell and trained like it was going out of style.
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The thing about most rappers’ physiques is that they have a natural advantage. They are genetically more suited for athletics. That’s why they have the muscles of the back of the body – the ones responsible for athleticism (calves, hamstrings, glutes, lower and upper back and traps) easily developed. It doesn’t hurt that they have naturally lower levels of body fat. All that is left is to develop the muscles of the front of the body – biceps and chest and you’ve got yourself a beach physique.

[Ja Rule is not a big guy. He looks good because he has a decent amount of muscle and is naturally very lean.]

Ja Rule is Not a Big Guy, But He Looks Big Without a Shirt
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Paul Walker Used to Be Skinny

I remember watching the movie The Fast and the Furious and thinking how Paul Walker looked like a skinny geek in it. It was especially striking when he was on screen together with big guy Vin Diesel. So, it was a big surprise to see him so well built in the movie Into the Blue. I think that he now has a physique that looks just right. He is not too big, but definitely has a decent amount of muscle. No more Mr. skinny geek. Plus he’s super lean and that accentuates his proportions. In fact, I think his transformation is comparable to what Edward Norton did for American History X. But I digress…

How Paul Walker Build His Muscles Mass

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Just got back from a nice walk in the snow with my lab Lucky. It was so refreshing in the park – the cold air cleared my head up.

So anyway, a few days ago I recommended a movie with Mark Dacascos – Instinct to Kill. It is a a straight up cheesy B-Movie guy’s flick.

Mark Dacascos in The Brotherhood of the Wolf
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Question 1: Could you share a few things about yourself and how you came across the methodology behind Turbulence Training?

Craig Ballantyne: Like most folks in the fitness industry, I played a lot of sports when I was younger. That led to weight training. From there, I realized I wanted to be a strength coach in professional sports.

I went to school for Kinesiology, which then led to a Master’s Degree in Exercise Physiology. Along the way I studied what made a good NHL Strength Coach (they had Master’s Degrees and were Certified Strength And Conditioning Specialists – CSCS).

I also started training athletes, along with men and women for fat loss. Then I started working with Men’s Health in 2000. And I invented Turbulence Training in 1999, and finally put it online in 2001.

Here’s how I invented the first Turbulence Training workout.
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Christmas is coming. I’m slacking and enjoying it. So there goes another non-training goof off post. Can’t wait to have some of those delicious cookies tonight by the way…

[The guy's been one of my favorite actors ever since I saw Transporter. He seems to play almost the same type of character in all of his movies - an ass kicking driver/hitman/former spec ops guy. I don't mind it all lol. Speaking of Transporter, can't wait for the third installment.]

Anyway, I saw another cool movie last night – Crank, starring Amy Smart and Jason Statham.

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Oh man, I’m so excited. I love martial arts movies and I think I just found my new favorite martial arts actor.

I decided I was in the mood for a cheesy B-Movie style action flick. I got this movie called Instinct to Kill with Mark Dacascos. Cheesy title, cheesy cover shot, cheesy synopsis. But it promised to deliver what every good guy’s movie should deliver.

Guy’s Movie Checklist
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It is a Monday morning, just got back from a walk in the cold with my Labrador Lucky. Over the weekend I had some time to catch up on my reading. I decided to motivate myself a little more for my fat loss transformation by rereading Brad Pilon’s Intermittent Fasting Book as it is an integral part of my plan.

One of the cool things I was reminded about fasting is that you can workout while you are doing it. In fact, Brad not only recommends that you workout three times during the week when fasting, but also adds that you can train on days that you fast without problem.

[Would navy seals need pre-workout shakes to perform at their best when duty calls?]
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Decided to make a quick update on my progress with the fat loss transformation challenge. I’ve been fasting twice a week and doing two Turbulence Training body weight circuits three times per week in addition to doing three full body workouts per week.

[Photo on the left taken November 4, 2008. Second photo is from November 20, 2008.]
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