Lose fat Archives - relative strength advantage

by Yavor - February 22, 2009June 3, 2015

You Don’t Have to Be on One Tree Hill to Look Good Naked

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!

by Yavor - January 11, 2009May 29, 2015

Who Else Wants Their High School Body Back

People usually look their best in high school. Young women and men are almost always thinner and more athletic than older folks. It’s kind of ironic really, because this is also the period full of the most insecurities and body image issues. Girls don’t feel thin enough or pretty enough while boys feel they don’t have enough muscle.

A Few Years Later…

by Yavor - January 5, 2009May 30, 2015

Bulk or Cut? If You Don’t Lose Fat Now, You’ll Hate Yourself Later

Even if you know what you are doing and have plenty of time to train, typically it takes a few months to get in top shape. Summer will be here sooner than most people expect it. I’ve seen time and time again people at the gyms going on an endless “bulking” phase. In reality, they stay fat year round, postponing looking good for the indefinite future.

Summer is coming. Might as well get in top shape and play with mermaids at the beach. You know, part of the reason for this is that folks have an unrealistic perception of themselves and what it takes to look muscular. They may think they are not muscled enough when in reality their shoulders or V-taper are hidden under a layer of fat.

Look Good Year Round

Lean people look decent even with limited amounts of muscle. This is the way to go – lose fat first so that you look good year round.

Isn’t it a bit lame of an excuse to say you are fat, this year, because you are on a bulking program? Why not look good all the time?

Leaner People Can Get Away with Eating More Carbs

by Yavor - January 3, 2009May 30, 2015

Ja Rule’s Workout – How You Can Build a Body You Can Be Proud Of

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.

Ja Rule is not a big guy. He looks good because he has a decent amount of muscle and is naturally very lean. 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, But He Looks Big

by Yavor - January 2, 2009May 29, 2015

Behavioral Modeling – The 4 Rules of Achieving Your Goals

Now that’s not the kind of modeling I’m talking about here. It doesn’t hurt to have a picture of a gorgeous woman though.. Behavioral modeling is a technique developed to replicate the achievements of high level performers. It means observing the technicalities of their competence, creating a model of that behavior and teaching it. For example, if you follow the exact steps someone took to achieve a certain thing, you will achieve it too.

Now the catch is that most pros are at a level of unconscious competence. This means that they know how to do certain things, but neither can break them down in explainable form, nor can they teach them.

Here is an example. A badminton player used to come to the gym where I trained. When we asked her to explain specifics about the way she plays the game, she said that you just do it. The girl declared that we were just unfit to grasp the techniques. Unconscious competence is the reason why many natural athletes are poor coaches.

They never had to analyze and breakdown the technique of their sport. Mediocre athletes on the contrary, often have to dissect things and are thus suited to teach others.

Know Your Outcome

by Yavor - December 31, 2008May 30, 2015

Paul Walker’s Into the Blue Workout and Diet Program

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.

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 let’s get back to Paul…

How Paul Walker Build His Muscles Mass

by Yavor - December 25, 2008June 1, 2015

Craig Ballantyne On Fat Loss, Home Workouts, Diet Vs. Exercise, And The Mindset of Success

I asked Craig Ballantyne to share a few things about him self and how he came across the methodology behind Turbulence Training? Enter Craig:

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.

The First Turbulence Training Workout

Read more

by Yavor - December 22, 2008May 31, 2015

Mark Dacascos in Instinct to Kill – B-Movie Cheesy Goodness and Workout Inspiration

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

by Yavor - December 20, 2008May 31, 2015

Relative Strength Advantage – What Is Fitness?

A lot of confusion seems to exist on the web regarding what being fit means. Is it being as big as possible? Being able to tow trucks or run endlessly? Here is my stance. I believe being fit is pretty much being in shape at around your high school weight, unless you were really skinny or obese in those days.

Being fit means looking good year round. No bulking in the winter and cutting for the summer. You should look good naked all the time.

Being beach ready fit, you are going to feel awesome and your loved one will appreciate it. To look good, you need to have low levels of body fat and high levels of strength for your body weight.

Relative Strength Advantage

by Yavor - December 16, 2008May 31, 2015

Fat Loss and the Holidays – How to Survive

I love home made Christmas cookies almost as much as I love Christmas itself. It just wouldn’t be the same without them. Live a little and enjoy your holidays. You’ve only got so many of them.

If you are trying to improve your body and lose body fat, the holiday season can be a hard part of the year.

You can try to stay on track or at least attempt to minimize the so-called damages. I say – why not enjoy the holidays themselves, family dinners and all, and still progress on your goals. Here is how to do it.

by Yavor - December 1, 2008May 24, 2015

Intermittent Fasting – Does It Make You Weaker in the Gym?

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.

Do We Need Would Pre-Workout Shakes?

by Yavor - November 16, 2008May 29, 2015

Eat Stop Eat – How to Lose Fat and Preserve Your Muscles Without Traditional Dieting

I found out about Brad Pilon’s ebook Eat Stop Eat from my friend Rusty Moore. I had a few weeks before my summer vacation trip and he wrote a post in which he mentioned the eat stop eat book. In this video Brad explains how intense exercise and fasting have similar effect on your body. In both cases insulin levels drop and growth hormone goes up. This causes free fatty acids to be released in the blood and this means increased fat burning.

So I decided to get it and was amazed how easy it was to follow the plan. I quickly lost 5-7lbs and kept it off during the vacation even though I ate whatever and whenever I liked there. It was hardly a diet.

by Yavor - November 6, 2008May 29, 2015

Linda Hamilton’s Terminator 2 Workout – She’s An Amazing Fitness Role Model

For her role in the movie Terminator 2 Linda Hamilton got into amazing shape. She got strong arms, chiseled abs and shapely shoulders. Not only did she look good, she also performed like a kickass warrior princess in the film.

Her Terminator 2 Workout.

Linda was working with personal trainer Anthony Cortés who also helped Edward Norton beef up for American History X. Apparently she shed 12 pounds of fat with diet and exercise. Her routine included running, biking, swimming, climbing stairs as well as free weights, mini-trampoline drills, walking lunges and abdominal work. They trained six days a week for 3 hours. The thing is she got into amazing shape after giving birth just 20 months ago.

by Yavor - September 25, 2008May 31, 2015

Jump Rope Workout – Lose Fat And Get in Shape

Jumping rope is a great workout. If you play sports, and I think that you should because life is just more fun when you also enjoy it through the capabilities of your body, jumping rope will enable you to perform at a higher level.

When done regularly, this kind of training, will develop your coordination aerobic and anaerobic power and capacity, balance, quickness of feet and hands, speed, agility, and explosiveness. It will also of course greatly aid in weight loss. Get strong and keep your body weight down and you will develop a great body.