Just wanted to share some recent re-shares from the Project Swole Facebook page.
There’s 4 more pics after the jump. Go ahead and view the rest of the entry.
Running for Weight Loss
How to Eat Properly When Running to Lose Weight
Aside from getting out there and running some serious interval sprints, losing weight is a matter of calories in versus calories out.
When it comes to the burning side, running is one of the best training programs out there for burning the extra pounds and keeping them off for good. Not only that, running is cardiovascular exercise per excellence, thus doing it a regular basis will boost your endurance levels, help you ward off heart related problems, and get you in the best shape of your life.
Nonetheless, backing up your running program with a proper diet is the surest way for permanent weight loss results. For that, here are the diet guidelines you’ll need to lose the weight without sacrificing performance and energy for the workout.
Fitness T-Shirts Online
Posted June 3, 2012 in Business 3 Comments »
Make no mistakes, Project Swole gets traffic. We are currently getting between 10,000 and 13,000 unique visitors per day. This is good. However, this is expensive. In an attempt to recuperate some of those costs, I now host a t-shirt website.
The website is called Comical Tees. I’ve just started to build a sample of fitness tees. Here is a preview. Many more are to come. Please go Like Comical Tees on Facebook, so you can receive all of the updates.
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Other tee shirts on the site include topics like:
- funny tee shirts
- superhero tee shirts
- fitness tee shirts
- and completely inappropriate, NSFW, don’t let your kids see them tee shirts
So basically I am wondering what kinds of tee shirts you would buy online, if any. Here’s the poll:
[poll id=”34″]
Don’t worry though, this isn’t all we’re working on. Project Swole has many, many ideas, and we are working on building them out right now. The Project Shred 21 day detox diet is still in limbo. PDFs will be delivered shortly for all workout routines. The Werewolf Strength routine will be updated to version 2.0 shortly, and several other routines will be introduced. Guest posts and product reviews are coming. It is time to bring every Swole possibility to light, after many years of broken promises (I’ve been talking about the Project Shred diet for like 3 years, but it’s right here on my harddrive).
Any requests, please let me know. Project Swole t-shirts are coming soon, whether you want them or not, we just have to approve the right design. So stay tuned, because there is much more Swole to come in 2012.
World’s Strongest Man 30 Year Retrospective
I’m sorry to post so many videos, but this World’s Strongest Man 30 Years of Pain is a must-watch for any fan of strongman or powerlifting. I did not know Jón Páll Sigmarsson died at age 33. What a bum deal.
In the meantime you’ve got Magnus Ver Magnusson, Magnus Samuels-son, Svend Carlson, Phil Phister, Marisuz Pudianowski, and many others. Granted, maybe 1 in 100 of these guys were not on the juice, but every single competition is inspirational.
Anyway, Kaz is nuts and so are the rest of the old school strongmen. If you only care about losing fat, don’t bother with this video, but if you’ve ever watched the WSM finals during Christmas vacation, and you actually knew the finalists and had a favorite, you have to watch this.
‘Nuff said.
Double Rope Climb
Want massive forearms?
Aside from freaky traps, lumpy forearms are an excellent way to tell if someone is strong. Forget about pecs, biceps, even legs. If you are hella strong, you will most likely have thick, meaty traps and forearms. In order to get sick forearms, you have to use a variety of grip and forearm training.
Here is an interesting exercise called the Double Rope Climb. This is great training for both forearms and grip. Unfortunately it is Not easy to implement unless you have two strong ropes and something on which to anchor them. I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t last long if I tried this.
This is another exercise that could be performed on back day, for conditioning drills, on “arm day” if you have an “arm day”, in a grip training routine, during circuit training, or integrated into a HIIT routine.
Watch out for that rope burn!
Prone to Box Jumps
Here is a great plyometric exercise that you probably never do. It can be used in HIIT training or any other kind of conditioning workout. You can even use it at the end of a leg workout to really kill those wheels.
How to use this single exercise for a 20-25 minute HIIT workout:
- Lie on your belly, on the floor, jump up to a standing position, then immediately jump up onto a box. Very simple.
- Do 5 sets of 5 reps with 30-45 seconds rest between sets. Execute the reps as fast as possible with good form.
- Take 3 minutes to rest and do some ab work – maybe some fold-ups or something.
- Do another 5 sets of 5 reps.
- Finish up with 3 more minutes of abs.
Stretch for 3-5 minutes.
HIIT workout complete!
Watch the Prone to Box Jumps video below.
The Very Best HIIT Routines for Fat Loss and Fitness
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If you want a debriefing on my most recent stance on endurance cardio versus high intensity intervals, check out this post:
High Intensity Intervals are Far Superior to Endurance Cardio
Once you understand how useful HIIT training is for fat loss, read about the following routines that you can use to burn fat and get in awesome cardiovascular shape.
Common Myths About Sculpting Your Abs
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How to Build a Ripped Midsection
Frustrated? Tired? Upset? Ready for change? If you’re answering all of these questions with a loud YES from your living room, then you are in good company. And that’s why I keep writing these pieces, honestly — there’s a lot of frustration going on.
I look down at a body in progress and I think about everyone else doing the same. Are we on track? Are we falling off the mark? It just depends on your goals. But if you’re dreaming of abs, dreaming of a nicely sculpted body from top to bottom, then you need this guide too.
I know that it’s time to think differently about the way we work out, but in order to start down that path, you have to know what you’re up against.
Introducing… Whole Body Vibration Training??
 Vibration Training Then |
I couldn’t believe this when I saw it. About as useful as EMS and slightly less comical than the Shake Weight. Now you can spend $100 a month for a membership to a Virbrational Training studio, where you undergo EMF (electric and magnetic field) treatments. Yes, the same EMF that has been widely reported for decades to be linked to such unhealthy effects as perturbed sleep patterns, altered heart rhythms, and cancer. Think: powerlines, building wiring, microwaves, appliances, and cell phones.
But, what the heck, why not bring back an out-dated fat-loss philosophy from back in the 70’s and 80’s. Remember those vibrational fat loss machines? I’ve met a handful of women who remember standing around in these things at the gym, waiting for their butt-fat to vibrate away into oblivion. Have you see any of these machines in the last 20 years? No? Think there could be a reason for that?
As is the standard with American culture, where we are always looking for greater returns for lesser effort, this is another Less-Time – Less-Effort weight loss / muscle gain strategy. They advertise “10 Minutes = 1 hour at the gym” using “NASA Technology” and an “FDA Approved Medical Device”. Most of the studies conducted involve short treatments, often 10 minutes, once or twice a day. The site and its supporting “research articles” are full of “might”s, “could”s, and “may”s, which is always reassuring.
Three Step Muscle Gain Plan
Do you want to gain mass super fast while staying lean enough to show off your 6-pack abs?
If so, then this Three Step Muscle Gain Plan is for you!
How to Gain More Muscle Fast!
More often than not we see supplements focused on helping people, usually, women, lose weight. But men desire to be healthy and fit just like women, and some men also strive to become big, strong, fast, and powerful.
To that end I want to introduce a potent combination of supplements designed to maximize muscle building and maintain a low level of body fat.
Now I would like to introduce you to N.O. Xplode, Optimum Nutrition Serious Mass, and Optimum Nutrition Whey Protein.
The combination of N.O. and whey protein will help you get the strong, powerful, lean, healthy body that you dream of. Hardgainers can choose the whey protein weight gainer Serious Mass, while mesomorphs and ectomorphs can opt for straight whey protein powder, which has fewer overall calories and carbs.
Read the rest of this entry »For Extreme Fat Loss Check out Intermittent Fasting
Posted April 10, 2012 in Intermittent Fasting No Comments »
I have always been a big supporter of eating breakfast and eating frequent, small meals all day long. Both for fat loss and for muscle gain. That is, until a year ago when I started investigating Intermittent Fasting and Martin Berkhan’s Leangains protocol, Jon Pearlstone’s EET, and the ‘Eat. Stop. Eat.’ plan.
Since I started believing in the Intermittent Fasting hype, I have learned so much more about the benefits of IF, and I use the strategy pretty much every day. It is unusual for me to eat before noon or 1pm, and my most productive time of day is pre-meal.
Aside from IF and sporadic gym training, I’m not actively trying to lose weight, yet I’ve lost about 15 pounds in the last year while keeping my strength level. I haven’t decided whether or not IF is best for muscle gain, but you can’t beat it for fat loss.
Here are some links you can check out for more info about Intermittent Fasting:
4 Reasons Why You Should Start Skipping Breakfast
Eating the ‘Most Important Meal of the Day’ Will Make You Fat
Leangains
EET Fit
The US Obesity Epidemic in Recent Years
Meals to Maximize Performance
Posted November 10, 2011 in Diet No Comments »
Meals That Maximize Your Performance
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Willpower is not enough. Food is what fuels your training and performance. Athletes make eating meals a conscious process, and they put knowledge of nutrition and planning into it.
I have found that performance outcomes can differ by seconds, which means the right muscle didn’t get the right fuel. Every bite that you eat counts. In working with athletes and their nutrition needs, I’ve found a few simple rules that help you keep food as fuel at the forefront of your mind and help ensure that you get the proteins, carbs, fats, vitamins, minerals and fluids.
Here we go:
Stay fit Stay healthy: Exercise daily
Posted November 7, 2011 in Healthy Lifestyle 1 Comment »
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The growing health issues like heart issues and obesity can be curbed by keeping your body fit through daily and proper exercises. Getting into a habit of regular exercise can lead you good health and increase your energy levels. It also alleviates your stress level to a large extent keeping you fit and fine.
Ironically, despite all the importance, exercises are still not considered as a must activity in daily schedule since people find it hard and boring. Regardless of the hard and easy thing you see in the exercises, putting into its proper habit is important rather than doing it haphazardly. There are couples of benefits of having a daily exercise schedule. Let’s explore them.
Halloween Recipes: Caviar Crescent Moons
Posted October 25, 2011 in Recipes 1 Comment »
A high protein gourmet Halloween recipe.
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If you’re hosting a Halloween party this year, chances are, you’re serving your guests a few Halloween inspired treats. Typically, the quality of the appetizers gets sacrificed in the name of this fun filled holiday. Why not try something different this year, and opt for a healthier, more refined gourmet foods hors d’oeuvres table.
With domestic prices on gourmet goods at an all time low, you can achieve this without breaking the bank and with these tips, you won’t have to worry about having to skip on any the fun ghoul and goblin spooky flair. Instead of the endless amount of sugar cookies caked with sugar and frosting, why not invite your guests to partake in delicious puff pastries or blinis topped with crème fraîche and orange Salmon roe and black caviar to look like pumpkins. This way, your guests will feel guilt free because they are eating a high protein snack, rather than a fatty cookie.
Keeping with your Halloween gourmet theme, substitute your bagged chips for tasty Crescent Moon inspired toast topped with sour cream or a low fat aioli spread and then topped with black caviar. The caviar will give your moons just the right amount of that Halloween feel.
Swole 101: The Elusive Quest for a Six Pack
Posted October 20, 2011 in Bodybuilding, Conditioning, Diet, Fitness Tips, HIIT Routines 5 Comments »
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Nowadays, it seems everyone is after a toned midsection. Some people won’t even stop until they achieve shredded washboard abs. A six pack has come to be an important quest for many persons, however, many are misled as to the method to obtain it.
One common misconception is that cardiovascular exercise is the most important aspect of dialing in a six pack. Another misconception is that doing 1000 crunches a day is most important. Wrong on both accounts! Diet possibly plays the greatest role in obtaining a six pack. Let’s see why.
Transitioning From Cutting Phase to Lean Mass Phase
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Transitioning from bulking to cutting can be complicated. Most often, the transition is done improperly and we end up either losing precious muscle mass during a cut or gaining too much fat during a bulk. I’ve been there and so have you, don’t kid yourself.
When switching from cut to bulk, we might overestimate the rate at which we can gain muscle, which results from a lack of knowledge about the human physiological response to dieting. Some inexperienced bodybuilders might make an immediate switch from a strict diet to free eating, which results in the immediate reversal of any recent diet progress.
Of course strategies will differ dependent on the individual, but the basic concept should remain the same. You will have to accept that your first couple attempts at bulking will result in either very little muscle gain or unnecessary fat gain. It is all a matter of trial and error.
Let’s examine a couple different diet transition strategies.
Strength is the Product of Struggle
First a quote, then an excerpt from Henry Rollins’ The Iron
“Strength is the product of struggle, you must do what others don’t to achieve what others won’t.”
“Through the years, I have combined meditation, action, and the Iron into a single strength. I believe that when the body is strong, the mind thinks strong thoughts. Time spent away from the Iron makes my mind degenerate. I wallow in a thick depression. My body shuts down my mind.
The Iron is the best antidepressant I have ever found. There is no better way to fight weakness than with strength. Once the mind and body have been awakened to their true potential, it’s impossible to turn back.
The Iron never lies to you. You can walk outside and listen to all kinds of talk, get told that you’re a god or a total bastard. The Iron will always kick you the real deal. The Iron is the great reference point, the all-knowing perspective giver. Always there like a beacon in the pitch black. I have found the Iron to be my greatest friend. It never freaks out on me, never runs. Friends may come and go. But two hundred pounds is always two hundred pounds.”
Henry Rollins – a legend
Swole 101 – How to Avoid Training Plateaus
Don’t let Your Workouts Get Stale!
Going to the gym and doing the same workout over and over again is a sure way to prevent progress when it comes on to muscle growth. Repetition is a surefire way to make progress… in moderation. Too much repetition will leave you tired, bored, sore, lazy, and overtrained. Enough emphasis cannot be placed on the necessity of having a properly designed fitness program.
 Don’t let your progress plateau like this guy. |
You Have to Read Dr. John Berardi’s Free Intermittent Fasting eBook
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Since the late 1990’s Dr. John Berardi has published 8 scientific abstracts; 15 scientific papers and textbook chapters; presented at nearly 50 scientific, exercise, and nutrition related conferences; and published countless articles online.
His first articles at Testosterone Magazine so many years ago, provided me with the basis for everything I know about nutrition today. Over the past couple years I have published Dr. Berardi’s popular nutrition tips with much success. Today I want to give you a link to his extremely interesting review of the Intermittent Fasting diet protocol.
Here is the link to the book: Precision Nutrition’s Intermittent Fasting Review
Basically, Dr. Berardi sets about to lose 20 pounds of fat by following an Intermittent Fasting diet. He tries the following popular IF programs:
- Alternate day fasting (ADF) – 36-hour fast/12-hour feed
- Eat Stop Eat – 24-hour fast, 1 or 2 times per week
- Warrior Diet – 20-hour fast/4-hour feed
- Leangains – 16-hour fast/8-hour feed
- Random meal skipping
As the experiment spans several months, Berardi logs his meals, moods, workouts, and even 23 health markers including blood glucose, cholesterol, tryglicerides, and testosterone level. You can see his final progress pics as well – check out the back shot, his back is simply shredded at the end of the experiment.
Dr. Berardi ultimately decides that a combination of the different programs works best for him. He liked 5 days of Leangains followed by a Warrior Diet weekend, and he liked Eat Stop Eat with a 1-day per week fast but hated the 2-day per week fast.
Trust me. Read the whole ‘book’. You will learn more than you might think.
