Anyone who has followed the Bartendaz or seen their videos can attest to their amazing display of strength, power, balance and explosive athleticism. The group has blown away what was once the physical performance standard for athletes!

Yes, their style and presentation may be obnoxious to some, but once you get past the talk at the beginning of their clips, you can really appreciate the time and dedication it takes a human being to perfect these movements. Considering the fact that it can take months for a person to develop the strength to perfect a single pull-up, the ease with which they execute these exercises is truly amazing.

This group has come to redefine elite fitness. The perfectly balanced athlete displays tremendous core strength, flexibility, body control, agility and accuracy. These guys bring that to an entirely different level. Ok, enough pumping them up – check out their video below. Again, ignore the first minute of talk and try to absorb the incredible display of fitness!

Truly breathtaking, isn’t it? It’s hard to imagine what kind of training program they used to perfect some of these movements. You can see the true mastery of skills across any possible modality of training – plymetrics, gymnastics, power lifting, resistance training….the list goes on.

The one thing that is truly inspirational about this video is that it makes all of our fitness goals seem that much more attainable! Whether your exercise program is geared toward weight loss, hypertrophy, increasing flexibility,sports performance enhancement or just improving your nutritional habits, this video shows us what the human body is capable of when pushed to its limits.  These guys aren’t even Olympic athletes!

Hopefully some of us will use this as fuel the next time we step in the gym. If your body tells you that you can’t get that last rep (or you don’t believe it when your personal trainer says you can), remember what is truly possible when you push yourself!

If you liked that video, check out this other performance they put together with some new and improved moves!  Again, please feel free to leave your comments below.

•   Share

Many television viewers have become absolutely fascinated with the NBC reality show, The Biggest Loser. The show takes obese, deconditioned people away from their every day life and places them on a campus to be put through an intense, grueling exercise and diet regimen geared toward rapid weight loss.

If you have seen the show and the results it produces, you’ve surely been impressed with the transformations in the bodies of the contestants. The weight loss that occurs on the show is nothing short of inspirational. But does the show give an accurate depiction of safe, effective weight loss?

Certainly no one can argue with the end result. Many of the contestants have lost over 200 pounds on the Biggest Loser campus, some at a pace of more than 10 pounds per week! So,it’s clear that the numbers don’t lie when it comes to the results these people are getting. It is truly amazing that this show has helped people take control of their health and more importantly, their lives. We as personal trainers love to see this!

However, there are some things that, as fitness professionals, we feel obligated to caution you against.

The show has the tendency to foster unrealistic expectations on the actual pace of weight loss. Healthy, sustainable weight loss should occur at 1-2 pounds per week. Some of the contestants experience weight loss of 15 pounds per week or more!

While this is impressive, we must keep two things in mind. One is that most of these contestants are morbidly obese and have upwards of two hundred pounds to shed, so it’s not unrealistic for them to shed pounds that are such a small percentage of their overall body weight. The second is that these contestants are on a full-time weight loss program. Their entire day is dedicated to weight loss, and the time they spend exercising can exceed 6 hours per day.

Another part of the show that may give the public the wrong idea about physical training is the unnecessary challenging exercises that the contestants are put through so early in the game. Often times the contestants are pushed quickly into complex, punishing movements without being taught the basics.
This can be a recipe for a medical disaster, and if you watched the premier last week, you know that two people have already landed in the hospital. At no point does losing weight justify sacrificing your health and well being!

Personal trainers, unjustifiably, can develop a bad reputation from this show. The trainers on the Biggest Loser are often shown screaming at the top of their lungs at the contestants in a way that appears to be nothing short of bullying. While trainers should be great motivators, they can push you to
succeed without screaming at you! If you’re afraid to hire a personal trainer because you think you’ll be yelled at, don’t be! You can shop around to find someone who fits your personality!

Despite its faults, this show has done wonders in motivating Americans to take control of thier health and start pursuing their fitness goals relentlessly. We strongly encourage you to watch it and follow along as it will show you
that anything is possible when it comes to achieving your fitness and weight loss goals! The show airs Tuesday nights at 8pm on NBC.

If you want to be pushed, motivated and encouraged like the contestants on the show, we can help you with that too! For just a few more days, We’re still offering 3 FREE personal training sessions with the area’s best trainers when you sign up for a package of 18 sessions or more. And we promise…no screaming, no hospital visits, and you don’t have to get on a scale in front of the entire country like they do on the show .

Call Mike Now at 888-872-7961 ext.1 to learn more or click here for more info. This offer expires on September 30th so jump on it.

•   Share

Yes, you read the subject line correctly. Exercise is NOT
linked to weight loss, according to Time magazine’s most
recent article written by John Cloud. The article emphatically
implies that exercise has no substantial role in weight loss
or weight management.  Among several other misleading
assertions made in this article, the most prevalent one is
that exercise automatically increases appetite and therefore
single handedly becomes the culprit for promoting over eating.
Wow!

This article is as reckless as it is completely false, and
frankly – irresponsible. I’ll share the link with you shortly,
but first, let’s explore some reasons why his claims are so
ludicrous.

First and foremost, there is an overwhelming amount of
scientific, evidence- based research that proves the positive
role that exercise plays in weight loss.  The author’s
assertion that exercise uncontrollably increases appetite is
simply erroneous. In fact, studies done by the most credible
authorities in the fitness industry including ACE and ACSM
show that appetite may actually be suppressed for up to 90
minutes following vigorous exercise by affecting the release
of particular appetite hormones. Unless you’re an elite
athlete following a high intensity workout program
consistently, your body’s demands for additional calories
will not drastically increase with a moderate exercise program.

Second, weight loss is a matter of simple mathematics. You
must expend more energy than you take in to lose weight. This
fact has proven time and time again and continues to be
accepted, with good reason, in the modern age. Most of the
individuals described in the article (including the author
himself), are not able to meet their weight loss goals because
they are simply eating too much. To attribute this to exercise
alone is completely unsubstantiated.  The author assumes that
the majority of individuals are powerless in their weight
loss efforts and simply lack the overall will power to keep
their caloric intake at a healthy level. The bottom line is
that exercise and proper nutrition go hand in hand, and you
simply cannot discount one or the other when it comes to
studying weight loss.

Disappointingly, the author also fails to effectively
emphasize the effects that exercise has on overall health.
As we have all seen, people who are “light weight” are not
always healthy. Health can be achieved through exercise in many
different ways including improved muscle composition, lowered
blood pressure and cholesterol, improved cardiovascular health,
and one more “minor” thing known as DISEASE PREVENTION. The
scale is simply not the only indicator of overall health and
well being.

We encourage you to read this article yourself and draw your
own conclusions. Click Here to read about it.

After you read it, also be sure to read a follow-up article
written by Dr. Claude Bouchard, who is the executive director
of the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, which is an
organization that Time magazine “claimed” to have obtained
some of its research from. As you’ll read, this claim is also false.
Check it out  HERE

•   Share

Top 4 Benefits of Partner Training

Fitness is such an amazing activity and lifestyle choice. Aside from it being undeniably good for you, it is also fun and often down right exciting. There are just so many kinds of fitness activities and places to do them, that it is hard to believe anyone could tire of personal training.

Most people tend to fly solo when it comes to getting in shape. They lift weights, go running, swimming or do aerobics. Sure, they may be in a gym full of people, but the swimming, treadmill, weights and cadio classes are essential individuals training at the same time. Even when you have a trainer, you are still alone in your efforts of doing the fitness routine.

But there is another way to train, one that may be more fun and challenging. It is partner training, and today I would like to tell you about the four top benefits of this type of training.

1-Motivation

One of the biggest problems with getting into and staying in shape is actually getting up and doing it. It is a fact that millions of gym memberships are bought and never or only rarely used. Personal trainers help with motivation, because you have someone to account to. But if you also had a fitness buddy, a training partner, chances are you would be more motivated.

Motivation is what makes us decide to do something, like getting into shape, changing our eating habits, going to the gym. And while many of us do follow-through, there is nothing like having an actual fitness partner to motivate you to get together and work out. You’ll want to, you’ll look forward to it!

2-Competition

Training together with a partner also provides a little competitive edge to each workout. Because there is someone by your side, doing what you are doing, you get that little extra “push” and encouragement needed to give it everything you’ve got.

And when you’re tired and either don’t feel like going to the gym or are there but feel like giving up, that partner next to you will give you the reason to push and do. You know, no matter what you might say in public, that you will never lose to Jane or Bill. You would sooner show up sick then feel like you let the partnership down. And there’s no way you’d allow Becky to do one more push-up than you!

3-Accountability

Training with a partner also makes you more accountable—to yourself, to the trainer, to your friend. Just by being committed with you, your partner will help you remain on track by being not only accountable to you but also to them. They are also sacrificing time, money and effort… and are counting on you to be there for them.

Between workouts is when having a partner who is a friend really pays off! It’s like Big Brother or Big Sister is watching you all the time. They will make sure you are eating right, sleeping right, getting ready for the gym on time. They, like you, want a partner to watch over them and help them achieve their fitness goals!

4-Costs

One of the biggest barriers to getting into shape and committing to a workout or gym is financial. It costs money to do all the things necessary to get and stay fit and healthy. Well, having a fitness partner will help alleviate some of those costs by contributing to your trainer fees. While it may cost more money per hour for two people to have a trainer, the cost per person is less than paying as an individual.

So what are you waiting for? Go and grab your best friend, life partner or co-worker and become fitness partners! And with our new promotion… there’s no reason not to!

With our new promotion, we’re offering 3 FREE partner training sessions with the purchase of a package of 18 sessions or more. That’s right, in addition to your free trial session to see if your trainer is a good match for you and your partner, we’ll also give you 2 additional training sessions!

Also, if you missed it, don’t forget that our “Cash for Chunkers” promotion expires on August 31st. Don’t miss your chance to get $200 OFF any personal training package of 12 sessions or more.

•   Share

When you think of building muscle, do you envision big grotesque bodybuilders with fake tan lotion flexing them for anyone that will give them attention?

Do you think of the guy at the gym who’s grunting loudly, lifting way too much weight with veins popping out of their head?

If so, I’m not surprised.  Not enough is done to stress the health importance of building healthy lean muscle tissue as we age.

I’m here today to tell you about the more practical / normal side and importance of building muscle.  The side that notes its benefits to your health.

While some individuals are strictly interested in obtaining muscle for aesthetics, for many, this isn’t the soul interest.  Instead, you’re more interested in knowing what  health benefits weight lifting will have for you…

Far too many people overlook the many health and fitness benefits that weight training has to offer, and because of this, experience problems down the road with their body such as decreased bone density, a slowed metabolic rate, increased stress levels and other negative consequences that are associated with constant stress and a neglected aging body.

Luckily, weight training – if done properly, can prevent not only all those issues listed above, but many more.   As you enter your 40′s, your muscle mass begins to decline.  By the time you reach 50, you begin to lose muscle at a rate of 1 to up to 5lbs per year depending on your level of inactivity.  At this point, the amount of muscle you lose starts to outpace the rate at which you increase muscle mass.  Thus creating a deficit, says professor of geriatrics Robert Wolfe, from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and director of the Center for Translational Research in Aging and Longevity.

Here are some of the most critical benefits you’ll get when starting up on a muscle building program.

-Increased Bone Density

With weight lifting being one of the best weight bearing exercises you can do, the stress on the body will increase your bone density and help ward off Osteoporosis (dangerously low bone mass), Osteopenia (precursor to osteoporosis).  My mother was recently diagnosed with Osteopenia so you can bet I’ve got her doing all sorts muscle building weight lifting exercises.  She works with one of our trainers and also participates in our Women’s Only Boot Camp.

Weight lifting, being an anaerobic and anabolic process, helps to promote the building of muscle tissues / fibers.

Some have argued that running is a good muscle building exercise.  It’s really not.  It actually promotes a decrease in muscle mass.  Weight lifting is going to be much better at preserving your bone mass.  Weight lifting is also a non-impact exercise which is actually much easier on your Hips, Knees and ankles.

-Decreased likelihood of Injuries

One very overlooked and rarely mentioned benefit of weight lifting is that when you strength train, not only are your muscles going to get stronger, but you’ll also be strengthening the ligaments(connect bone to bone) and tendons(connect bone to muscle), thus reducing the chance they become injured when participating in other physical activities.

Injuries can be extremely frustrating.  Especially when you’re making great strides towards your goals.  In most of all non-trauma all injury cases, the injury is a direct result of a tendon, ligament, or muscle not being strong enough when a stressful force is applied.

Since weight training targets the deep tendons and ligaments, as well as the muscles, it’s the best injury prevention out there.

-Reduction of Health Related Risks

Studies have demonstrated that regular weight training can have a positive effect on your health by showing a decrease in becoming insulin resistant, developing high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and even cancer.

Put a solid weight training program together with a clean, healthy diet and you’re dramatically decreasing your chances of developing these chronic life threatening illnesses.

-Prevent Fat Gain

The more muscle you have on your body, the higher your metabolism.  There are many studies out there showing that gains in muscle mass increase the amount of fat burned by your body.  Different studies give different numbers but from what I’ve seen, every 1lb of muscle added to your body can burn anywhere between 6 and 50 extra calories per day.   This results in being able to maintain a much more consistent body weight without worrying quite as much if you have a cheat meal here and there.  Your increased resting metabolic rate will help you to burn more calories while at rest.

So with all the positive points above, I have to address one big hang up and myth out there that keeps a lot of people for wanting to lift weights.  And that is…

Am I going to get big, heavy, too muscular, look like a body builder, have veins popping out everywhere, etc…

The answer is NO!

Those guys and girls get super big because the EAT to get that big.  They take in as much as 10,000 calories per day.  Not only from food, but from high calorie shakes, and who knows what else.  They also train with extreme intensity, heavy weight and low number of repetitions(hence the awful grunting).

The calories alone won’t make you muscular – Just look at Michael Phelps.  The multiple Olympic gold medalist.  During the Olympics, it seemed all you’d hear is about how he consumes 12,000 calories per day.  He works hard…  How come he doesn’t have big muscles?  It’s because of the type of training that he is doing.  Without that combination of training method, high calorie diet, and performance enhancing drugs, bodybuilders would never get that big.  The calories are the building blocks for all that muscle.

Chances are, you’re most likely going to be eating somewhere in the neighborhood of 2,000 calories per day.  Enough to replenish muscle but not nearly enough to stimulate undesired growth.  Therefore, you have absolutely nothing to fear.

Hopefully it’s now clear that building muscle is very important to your health.  The aesthetic benefits and fat loss are just the icing on the cake.  No, do not get up and get cake

Weight training can be intimidating to start but also dangerous if not done properly.  Working out with one of our Personal Trainers you’ll have a weight training and weight loss routine custom tailored to your specific needs, wants, and goals.  You’ll also avoid doing it incorrectly or ineffectively.  If you’d like to learn more about how we might be able to help you, please call us or sign up for a FREE consultation below…

Click Here To Sign Up For a Free Consultation
1-888-872-7961

If you’re currently not doing or chose not to include weight training as part of your current workout program, it is without-a-doubt one of the biggest mistakes you could make as far as your long-term health and fitness level is concerned.  Don’t let this extremely important exercise pass you by any longer.

Dennys Passeto, CPT
www.Achieve-Fitness.com
1-888-872-7961

•   Share