Unless you change how you are,you will always have what you’ve got. Jim Rohn

Yesterday was a tough day for me.  For the last few nights the baby has been gassy - so he cries and cries and I feel so terrible because there is not much I can do besides massage him, give him medicine and put a warm compress on his tummy to relieve the pain. I […]

interesting!
–
Mental Fatigue Can Affect Physical Endurance
ScienceDaily (Feb. 26, 2009) — When participants performed a mentally fatiguing task prior to a difficult exercise test, they reached exhaustion more quickly than when they did the same exercise when mentally rested, a new study finds.
The study also found that mental fatigue did not cause the heart or muscles […]

 
“The successful always has a number of projects planned, to which he looks forward. Anyone of them could change the course of his life overnight.” –Mark Caine
Fitness Motivation:
What are you looking forward to?
Are you looking forward to getting stronger at your next kickboxing class?
Are you excited to try out your new recipe for protein bars?
Are […]

wow! Check Julia Louis-Dreyfus out at 48!
Here are some excerpts of her interview:
Eat smarter, not less
Like many women, Julia is constantly searching for the middle ground between indulgence and discipline when it comes to maintaining her weight. “Some people have it easier than others,” she says. “Unfortunately, I have to work at not being fat. […]

“Desire is the key to motivation, but it’s the determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal - a commitment to excellence - that will enable you to attain the success you seek.” Mario Andretti - race car driver

To make our way, we must have firm resolve, persistence, tenacity.  We must gear ourselves to work hard all the way.  We can never let up. - Ralph Bunche

Photo Credit: Wheatfields

In the latest National Grocers Association’s 2009 Consumer Panel Survey, 66% of American consumers responded their diet could be healthier.

Roughly 16% of the 2,145 individuals asked by the NGA Consumer Survey gave a response that their diet “could be a lot healthier,” with 52% saying it would be “somewhat healthier.”

An astounding (at least to me) 24% said they took some type of supplement to improve their diets.

But the most interesting part of the NGA Survey?

70% of respondents claimed the internet to be their primary source of information!  But only 26% said they trusted what they found in regards to nutrition on the web.

View the survey in full here.

It makes perfect sense really.  I’ve know many people in my lifetime that admit to eating poorly.  They know they should eat better but they don’t.  Sometimes it’s lack of information.  Other times it might be they haven’t found something strong enough to motivate them to make a lifestyle change.  It can be a combination of both.

Everybody has their limits or when they hit “rock bottom” and sometime primal forces them to change.

Here is a list out a FEW of the experts I personally follow.  I use Google Reader and frequently share items.. No matter what you use or what you read, here’s my Top List of Fitness Experts that I read daily or whenever I see something new in their blogs.

Not sure what RSS is?  Read What is RSS

If you are going to get your information from the Internet like 70% of people do in the survey, make sure you are getting it form the right people.   There’s a lot of great information out there and there’s some really horrible advice.

While this is not an all inclusive list of every expert on the subject, it’s the people I turn to often and read what they have to say.

Who’s In My Blog Reader:

BodyRecomposition

Lyle McDonald is a world renowned expert.  He’s a bit over the top for me at times but some of his work, like the Baseline Diet 2009 sums up about 250 pages of any good nutritional book.  I’ve found his posts to be incredibly useful.

Burn the Fat Blog

Tom Venuto is the fat loss guru.  He spends HOURS on his stuff, researching and writing and focusing on his core audience.  The guy is no-propaganda.  He’s not out to sell you on his latest fad diet or new fangled way of losing weight.  If he was the mainstream icon for fitness, maybe things would be different.  Maybe not.  In any case, worth reading.

Exercise Therapy

Carlos DeJesus, father of the Quad Blaster and bodybuidling pioneer is new to the scene.  Not the bodybuilding scene but blogging, etc.  He’s heavy on the thought process but if you understand what he’s getting at, you’ll know that the Experiment of One is all that matters.

Cranky Fitness

Provides more of a real-life, less technically approach to fitness.  Mixes it up with some humor.  A few swear words.  But not the typical bodybuilding approach that I’m so in tune with all the time.  Different approach to fitness that I preach but it’s nice information and not fanitical.

Diet Blog

If there’s a new story, they’re on it.  They find the latest mainstream stuff and comment quickly on it so that you can get some serious information quickly without falling prey to the bad information.  It’s a no-hype zone.  Short, sweet and to the point.

MuscleHack

Mark is a nice guy who’s taking a low carb bodybuiding approach.  You might enjoy his receips and unique style of writing.  The video demonstration of exericses and his theory on Optimized Form is liken to Skip LaCour’s Controlled Cheating.  Interesting perspectives.  Training tips you can use.

The Brink Zone

Will Brink is the supplement guru. I don’t know why people don’t do more research when purchasing high end or expensive supplements.  Talk about why people have a low trust factor!  Truth be told, Will is more than just a supplement expert but he’s the 1st person I talk to on a professional level whenever I see some new fad come out and people start tossing money at hype.  Waxy Maize Craze?  New Creatine version?  Ask Will.

The Physique Formula

Jimmy Smith is from New York.  At least he sounds like it.  His vidoes are clever and he’s got that down to earth, healthy living, bodybuilding, lean physique lifestyle.  He’s not into doing crazy things but he gives off the appearance that in his youthful days (how old is Jimmy anyway?).  No matter, he’s got some good solid information to bring to the fitness world.

BodyBuildingSecrets

Another Tom Venuto site but this is geared towards the bodybuilding lovers.  Hardcore workouts, bodybuilding interviews.  A side of Tom that unless you subscribe to this blog, you’ll never know.  He’s a meathead from New Jersey that is old school.  He’s a fat loss expert for sure but he’s also a muscle building guru to boot.

WorldFitnessNetwork

Clever articles about fitness and bodybuilding.  Helpful things like reading a nutrition label down to utilizing dumbbells and doing various exercises.  Anything that keeps the workout from becoming stale.  Tips, tricks and helpful suggestions.

NinosMission

Nino doesn’t blog nearly enough but I like Nino.  He’s just a nice guy who gives no excuses.  I like following people who push themselves to their limits and try and help others.  Nino gives thru his unique posts.  You might find some real gems in his poetic style of writing.  He’s got to stop using the word “Gee” so much!  Just kidding Nino.  Be yourself.

Skip LaCour

No blog here but over 55 and counting radio shows.  You can call in, download episodes and get some SERIOUS tips from a bodybuidling expert.  Skip’s show is worth listening to as in 60 minutes you can pick out some real “ah-ha” moments.  Allows you to connect with an expert and ask your questions.  Take him up on the offer.

And that in a nutshell is what I have in my reader.  If I run across more, I’ll update this entry as appropriate.

Marc David
“The NoBull Muscle Guy”
www.nobullbodybuilding.com

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Monster Mass by Cytosport

From the Marc David Rumor Mill: Monster Mass!

Rumor has it that FACT: Cytosport is going to release a weight gainer along the lines of the Monster line of products. Code name: Monster Mass. If the logo above is any indication, you should see this sometime around March 2009 at selected retailers.

What: Monster Mass by Cytosport

Why: Because there is a lot of interest in weight gainers.  Specifically higher quality ones that are not full of sugar, low quality protein and empty calories.

When: March 2009?

Who: Designed for the bodybuilder looking to gain weight who wants top-notch protein and lots of calories.

Monster Mass Supplement Facts:

• 600+ Calories
• LeanLipids Plus – Sunflower oil, MCT’s, canola oil, and conjugated linolenic acid (CLA)
• Monster Complex Carbohydrates – 75+ gram blend of waxy maize starch, maltodextrin, soluble dietary fiber
• 50 grams of multi-source protein matrix
• Whey concentrates, whey isolates, isolated milk protein, caseinates, lactoferrin, l-glutamine, glutamine peptides and free form BCAA’s

Price: Forthcoming (but Monster Milk was in the $40-50 range).  If I get enough comments, I will push for more info.

If you want updates on this supplement, I urge you to subscribe to this particular entry. Either via e-mail or a feed reader. I’ll update this entry with more information including my own review of this new Cytosport supplement when it becomes available.

Resources:

Monster Milk Trademark

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Over the past few years, restaurants have taken a beating when it comes to eating healthy.  Fitness Professionals, including myself, preach that eating at home is the best way to go because it can be better for you and maybe cheaper.

Although restaurants have taken the blame for portion distortion, cookbook recipes have done some “supersizing” of their own.

A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine looked at how classic recipes have changed during the past 70 years.    It focused on the Joy of Cooking because of the wealth of data and how the same recipe has changed over the years with new editions.  What they found was…

“Nearly 40% increase in calories per serving for almost every recipe reviewed.”

This was partically because of more calories per serving but larger portion sizes.

“That (calorie increase) is more insidious because that’s the sort of thing the average person wouldn’t notice, wouldn’t even think has happened over the years.” ~ Brian Wansink, studies director.

I could do a break down of every recipe … but I’m not going to.

I’m going with less.  I think you get the point.  If you use a cookbook, just ensure it meets you needs in terms of calories but portion sizes.

Pick up a copy of Muscle Chow today. I give it my highest recommendation, and it’s less than 16 bucks at Amazon.  There’s plenty of healthy recipes in there with the lean bodybuilder in mind.

Marc David
“The NoBull Muscle Guy”
www.nobullbodybuilding.com

P.S. - No offense to the Joy of Cooking.  My mom owns the 1969 edition and it’s used so much it’s falling apart.  Just be aware of the changes in home cookbooks.  They too can be causes of higher portions and higher calories.  Just raise your awareness to this possibility.

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