What should your body fat percentage be?

Body fat percentage is talked about a lot in the fitness industry these days.  Here is my way, and the best way to find a body fat percentage you will be happy with!

This is one of the most common questions, I get asked. What should my body fat percentage be?  Does this question concern you?  Do you think you should be at 10%, maybe 12% or even lower than, say 7%.

A lot of people ask me this question. They also ask me what my body fat was when I did my first show on the picture below. Do you know what my body fat is in this picture? No?  Me either! Do you know why? When I was training for my first show (the Natural Caribbean Grand Prix) in the Cayman Islands and before I become a personal trainer, I met the president of the Natural Bodybuilding Federation of the Cayman Islands.  I asked what my body fat should be for the show.  I knew at that time that I asked the right guy because the year before he had won the Natural Federation Mr. Universe competition.

His answer to my question was a big “I don’t know”! I was shocked.  How come he doesn’t know? He is Mr. Universe! My second question was, “What was your body fat when you won Mr. Universe?” His answer: “I don’t know.” Wow, I almost fainted!  He simply told me, “This is all ‘BS’. Do you know how to check if your body fat is right for you? It’s when you look in the mirror and you are happy with what you see.”

Wow, that is simple! I have a member at the gym ask me almost every 2 weeks if his six pack is good enough. He lifts his t-shirt every time and asks me, “So what do you think? Do you think it is good enough?” I told him what I learned in Cayman and asked him if he was happy with what he saw? If yes, just maintain it, if no keep working on it.

For all of you who are trying to reach a number for your body fat, forget it and look in the mirror. See how you look. Some people look great at 15%, others don’t.  You don’t need fancy equipment. Look in the mirror and keep track of your measurements on a regular basis (every 4 to 6 weeks). This is the best way to look good and be happy with what you see.

But remember, you need the 4 wheels of the Express Fat Loss Program to be able to reduce your body fat and to keep the weight off for good. If you miss one wheel, you may lose your chance to ever be happy with what you see.

To read more on the express fat loss program visit: www.expressfatloss.com

How to Stimulate Your Muscle Fibres?

What’s the secret to getting the most from your strength workouts and fat loss exercises?  It’s not a piece of equipment, it’s not a new exercise.  In fact, the secret has been yours all along!

When I go to the gym, I see many members there who are working hard, trying to build a better, more athletic physique (fat loss).  Some are lifting heavy weights, some are lifting weights higher, some are lifting faster.  Some display good form and technique, while others abandon good form to lift a weight that is really too heavy for them.  I would like to give them some advice, because if you can follow some simple principles, your chances of building lean muscle and fat loss will be greatly improved.

I’m going to give you one of the best tips that for building a great athletic physique. You are probably asking yourself what kind of tip it could be and whether it is simple and easy. Always remember that you need to concentrate on getting the right nutrition on top of physical exercise for fat loss. But what is this magic piece of advice?

It’s not a piece of equipment, it’s not an exercise…it’s much more important than that: it’s your technique and your attitude. To be able to gain lean muscle you need to push yourself enough in order to stimulate your muscle fibers. Most people know that.  Next time you go to the gym, look around and see how people work out, just like I did. I’m sure you will see some good technique and a lot of technique that is not so good!

The reason I’m telling you this is quite simple: when you perform exercises, you need to stimulate your muscles so that you actually cause microscopic damage to the muscle fibers. With proper nutrition and the right amount of rest, your body will repair these damaged fibers, and this is what leads to muscle growth. I know that you probably already know already this, but remember: muscles don’t grow at the gym, they grow while you rest and sleep.

The most important point is your attitude. When you are trying to gain muscle and achieve fat loss, you need to lift heavy. But remember to always maintain the right technique for the movement you are performing.

Let me ask you a question… do you think your muscles know which dumbbells you are using for your Incline Chest Press? Of course not! Your muscles have no idea how much weight you are trying to lift. Your muscles will ONLY react to how you stimulate your muscle fibers. It doesn’t matter if you use 25 lb, 50 lb or 75 lb dumbbells. How you stimulate your micro-fibers will depend on how you do your workout.

The important factors are how many sets you do, how many reps, and the ‘Time Under Tension (TUT). TUT depends on the speed you do your reps. You can lift a heavy load a little bit faster in your reps, and then during the next set, use a lighter weight and go little bit slower.

Make sure you remember this for your next workout. Your muscles don’t react to the number on the dumbbells, the bar or the machine. Your muscles will react to how you train and stimulate your muscle fibers.

One more very important piece of advice: if you train, for example, your biceps, make sure you feel the pump in your biceps and nowhere else. Feel which muscle you are trying to work out. If you cannot feel it very well, try to modify your technique. Maybe the angle is not right, or maybe you are moving your elbows too far, working your shoulders more than your biceps.

Building a great physique with fat loss is a fine line. It is like an artist who paints. Sometimes he needs a broad brush and sometimes a small one. Make sure you don’t use only the broad brush to build your physique!

The most important thing to remember from this blog article is this:

Your Muscles Have No Idea Which Weight You Are Trying to Lift. Your Muscles Will React Only To How You Stimulate Your Muscle Fibers. So be precise to get the results you want!

Your Fitness Routine should continue after 12 weeks

Where are you with your program to get back into shape? When you decided to get back into shape, that was probably when you requested your F.ree E-Book or when you purchased the Express Fat Loss program.

A lot of people decide they want to make a body transformation for a special event like a New Year’s resolution, a wedding, a trip to the beach, a family reunion etc. But what happens after this is over?  Are you going to give up everything you achieved? Give up all your good work and go back to your old habits, feeling sluggish with no energy, increasing your body fat and then starting the same pattern over again for another event in a few months or next year?

Are you like that?  Can you recognize your behavior in that scenario?

Now that you have been in your routine for a few months, the trick is to keep going. So many people work hard to pass the 12 week point and after that, if something happens, they cancel their exercise time at the gym.  They think it’s probably not a big issue.  It’s only one time, but next week the same situation will come up again, and again the following week, and they end up missing more workouts.  I’m sorry to tell you that this usually signals the beginning of the end.

I have been in this business for so long that I know that at some point you will probably feel bored with your exercise program.  Maybe you will reach a plateau, and you may not see any obvious improvement in weight loss or muscle gain. You might start to lose your focus.

The other day, I read something by Mark Joyner. Mark Joyner is a 4 times best-selling author, and this phrase made a lot of sense to me. Make sure you apply this to your goals: he said, “Hit it until you hit it”. Whatever your goals are, apply this to your focus and you will ‘Hit It’ for sure.

If you have lost focus lately with your fat loss program, make sure you are still doing what you need to do to be successful. Here’s a few ways to get back on track:

Ÿ  Establish a routine – Make exercise part of your daily lifestyle. Exercise should come naturally like eating, sleeping or brushing your teeth.

Ÿ  Schedule – Make sure you set up some time in your agenda for time at the gym. Choose the best time for you and KEEP IT! This time slot is yours. It’s your time to think about your health.

Ÿ  Pay attention to your nutrition – Without monitoring your nutrition closely, it will be very difficult to achieve what you want. It’s a package deal: you need all of ‘wheels’ (Nutrition, Strength Training, Cardio/Flexibility and Rest)

Ÿ  Goals- Look back to the goal setting you did a few months ago and see if your goals were realistic.

Ÿ  Start keeping your nutrition and exercise journal again – Make sure you stay on track with both.

Ÿ  Push yourself little bit more at each workout session, perform maybe one extra rep or increase the weight of your lift.

Ÿ  Change your routine every 4 to 6 weeks to keep you interested and your muscles learning and getting fit.

Your fitness program should go beyond the first 12 weeks. First make a commitment for the first 12 weeks and then re-assess and make another commitment for another 3 months. Use a small time frame (12 weeks at a time) and aim to get fitter and stronger every time you set up fresh 12 weeks goals.  Remember what you learned about goal setting – keep it realistic, and measure your progress regularly to stay motivated!

15 Reasons to try the Express Fat Loss Program

Are you still debating if you should invest the equivalent of the price of a few coffees to be in best shape of your life? Well, if it were me, the answer would be simple.  I do everything I can to stay in good shape. Even when I was diagnosed with throat cancer, and during my chemotherapy and radiation treatment, I would still take a walk every day.  At that time it was the only thing I could do, but I still did it.

What about you?

I’ll give you 15 good reasons to adopt the Express Fat Loss Program. I’m sure after you see what my program can offer you, it will be an easy choice and you will be closer to achieving the new YOU!

15 great reasons to get your jump start with the Express Fat Loss Program

1.    Speed up your metabolism: you will burn more calories and maintain a better lean mass/body fat ratio.

2.    Improve self image and your self esteem.

3.    Increase the good cholesterol (HDL) in your blood. HDL helps to protect you against the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

4.    Increase your aerobic capacity.

5.    Develop more muscle mass. With more muscle, you will burn more calories.

6.    Decrease and control your blood pressure, reducing your risk of cardiovascular disease.

7.    Help to control your blood sugar and your insulin level. This will reduce your risk of diabetes.

8.    Improve the blood flow in your body, helping your skin to look healthier.

9.    Increase your bone density, helping to prevent osteoporosis.

10.    Improve the quality of sleep.

11.    Make your heart fitter.  Don’t forget your heart is a muscle: you need to train the most important muscle in your body! Your heart will be more efficient, increasing the volume of blood flow.

12.    Increase energy

13.    Improve your posture with a stronger core.

14.    Strengthen your immune system, helping you to fight illness and disease.

15.    You will get a real program with all the information you need.  Experience shows that the Express Fat Loss Program works.

And here’s one more reason: I will personally guarantee that this book will change your life. Accept my 60 Day Satisfaction Guarantee and get your money back if you are not completely satisfied!!!

To Start Your Program Today visit: www.ExpressFatLoss.com

Top Vitamins for Women Revealed

Ok, so you know Vitamins and Minerals are important. Most every woman knows that.

However, not everyone understands WHY they are so important for their body. So I recently asked Registered Dietitian Jayson Hunter to give us the easy rundown on the Top Woman’s Vitamins. Here’s what he had to say:

Vitamin A – This vitamin contributes to the health of you eyes, skin and nails.

Vitamin B – While B Vitamins are often referred to as “energy vitamins” they don’t actually give you a surge of energy. What they actually do is help facilitate metabolic reaction in the body to create energy. They’re also necessary for a  healthy metabolism.

Vitamin C - This woman’s vitamin is a great antioxidant and immune system booster. It also helps skin health.

Vitamin D – Helps women absorb calcium. And it may help prevent certain types of cancer.

Calcium – It’s actually a mineral not a vitamin. And as most women know already, it improves bone density.

Pretty simple, right? But you can also see why it’s so important to understand vitamins for women. When we understand the reasons to make healthier choices it helps us make them.

Now, I get asked all the time by women which vitamin supplements, if any, they need to be taking. Great question.

Well, if your nutrition is 100% perfect all the time then you probably don’t need to take any.

But that’s not the case for most women. Most women are busy as heck and don’t always find the time for proper nutrition. So if that’s the case with you I recommend taking a Whole Foods based Multi-Vitamin. And the only one I recommend is Prograde Nutrition’s VGF 25+ for Women.

It’s actually really cool because it’s literally made from 25 veggies, greens and fruits. You should definitely check out Prograde’s Women’s Vitamins.  At the very top of the page is the list of ingredients. You can see the 25 whole foods they use to make VGF 25+ for Women.

PS – Pretty cool, huh? The nutrition of 25 whole foods in a bottle!  Prograde Nutrition’s VGF 25 + for Women

Win the Battle Against Fat Cells

As a fitness expert, you know I’ll never promise you a pill is going to be the answer to that “jiggle in your wiggle.” If you want six pack abs you’re going to have to work for them.

BUT…

There is some very promising research out there in regards to a dietary supplement you’ve probably been hearing a lot about.

Yes, I’m talking about Essential Fatty Acids. You probably have heard them called something like Fish Oil pills.

How’s this for good news?!

*University of Georgia researchers have found something pretty amazing about  Essential Fatty Acid supplements containing DHA. Get this: The actually help STOP the conversion of pre-fat cells into fat cells by causing them to die out before they can mature.

Once a pre-fat cell becomes a fat cell, well, there’s no turning back. You’ve got that fat cell for life. Imagine, actually decreasing the accumulation of fat by taking an Essential Fatty Acid supplement containing DHA!

Now let me do my best infomercial voice for you…

But wait, there’s more!

Seriously, that’s not the only benefit of Essential Fatty Acid supplements containing DHA.

According to studies** done at the University of South Australia people that combined exercise with Essential Fatty Acid supplements containing DHA saw greater fat loss than the test group that only exercised and did not take the supplement.

How can you not be excited by these research studies??

Now, personally, I don’t like Fish Oil pills because they cause you to burp like crazy. If you’ve ever taken them you know exactly what I mean. And they aren’t always the highest quality.

I prefer EFA Icon from Prograde Nutrition because they use Krill Oil. It’s been found to be a superior source of Essential Fatty Acids containing DHA. Plus, with EFA Icon there are NO fish burps. And I haven’t even mentioned all the amazing health benefits from this dietary supplement.

If you’re looking to accelerate your fat loss results than I really recommend you go with Prograde Nutrition’s EFA Icon. You can get it here: Prograde Nutrition

PS – Remember, EFA Icon is NOT a miracle solution. You will need sound nutrition and exercise. BUT the research is there. It’s definitely a supplement with powerful fat loss properties.  Prograde Nutrition

* Journal of Nutrition, Vol. 136:2965-2969

** American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 85:1267-1274

Best Ways to Lose your Belly Fat

The first step towards the ultimate perfect body shape is to lose belly fat.

Everyone wants to look smart and fit but almost everyone faces a critical situation in some span of life when one is not satisfied with his or her physique. If a person is healthy and in a well maintained shape then self confidence and trust in one’s own personality comes automatically. Majority of the people don’t give much attention to this issue till the matter gets out of control and then one has to start considering to lose belly fat.

To lose belly fat, a good deal of patience and devotion is required. Belly is the initial position of body fats’ accumulation. So the motive of any one who wants to reduce weight should be to lose belly fat. At times even when a person’s in a suitable shape, to lose belly fat is a definite concern. By simply getting rid of the belly fat one can always stay in a fit shape and maintain an ideal weight.

Balanced Nutrition:

To lose belly fat, a number of nutritional tips and techniques are provided. These diet plans offers balanced nutrition that stops the further accumulation of fats and help to lose belly fat. The “Express Fat Loss Program” recommends using balanced nutrition that includes

·    Fresh fruits
·    Fresh Vegetables
·    Lean Proteins
·    Whole Grains

Physical Exercises:

The second step that anyone ought to take is physical training. The physical exercises play a very important role in helping one lose belly fat in a short time period. The various physical training sessions include cardio sessions, extensive power trainings and functional core training. These exercises allow a person to reduce weight in a quick speed and in a healthy manner.

Four Wheels of Express Fat Loss Program:

The Four Wheels of Express Fat Loss Program (Cardio, Strength Training, Nutrition and Flexibility) help you attain the goal to lose belly fat and acquire a fit and healthy body. Moreover they have no side effects and are easily achievable with the right determination and devotion.

To order your Express Fat Loss Program, CLICK HERE

11 ideas for a quick and healthy snack

The most straightforward part of a diet can be the 3 main meals of the day: breakfast, lunch and dinner.  But what do you eat in between?  You need to snack to keep hunger at bay, and keep your metabolism ticking over.  Here are some great tasting healthy snacks to keep you happy and healthy, and to keep you on track for your fitness and weight loss goals.

How are you doing today? Nice talking to you again! I often receive emails from people asking me what to eat as a snack.

Some people do well with Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. A goo nutrition can become a little more difficult when it comes to adding snacks between meals. People often don’t know what to eat, and they get bored if they eat the same snack all the time.

Is that your problem?  This is why I am going to give you some great ideas for quick and healthy snacks. Each of them is easy and quick to prepare, and they are perfect for a quick snack. All of these snacks can be part of your Express Fat Loss Program:

1.    Frozen grapes and wheat germ with plain yogurt.
2.    Yogurt, with or without fresh fruit on the side.
3.    Low fat cottage cheese (can be mixed with fruit).
4.    Tuna salad and whole wheat crackers.
5.     Smoothies or Protein Shakes.
6.    Baby carrots/celery/ cucumber with Hummus.
7.    1 small apple sliced with 1 tablespoon of almond butter for dipping.
8.    A small serving of natural yogurt with pumpkin, sesame, and sunflower seeds.
9.    6 almonds, 4 small florets of broccoli, and 2 cherry tomatoes.
10.    2 small kiwis sliced, and 6 almonds.
11.    1 pita and filled with salad leaves, tomatoes and hummus

To get more idea on healthy nutrition grab your  18 different meal plan with grocery list with the purchase of the Ultimate Guide of Express Fat Loss

7 Tips to Reduce fat in your nutrition

When you are trying to lose weight, eating anything with fat in it is bad right?  Wrong! Fat contains vital vitamins and nutrients that your body needs to function properly.  Here are 7 great tips on how to reduce fats in your diet, while consuming the right amount of good fats that your body needs.

By now you know that too much fat- especially saturated fat- is not good for you. Your body can easily store excess calories ingested from fat as body fat. Plus, saturated fats can clog your arteries and contribute to heart disease.

But be careful. Although reducing dietary fat is important, eliminating all fat from your diet is not at all healthy. Fat is an essential nutrient that produces energy for daily activities and supplies the body with vitamins A, D and E, which are needed for healthy skin and optimal growth. The body cannot produce fat on its own; it must be provided through dietary intake.  For these reasons you should enjoy some fats in your diet, especially monounsaturated fats like olive oil. The key is moderation.

Here are 7 tips to reduce the unhealthy-Saturated- Fat:

1.    Use evaporated skimmed milk instead of cream when preparing sauces or desserts.
2.    Create your own nonfat salad dressing by mixing balsamic vinegar, mustard and herbs. If you really prefer an oil-based dressing, try using three parts vinegar to one part oil.

3.    Sauté foods in chicken broth, vegetable stock or tomato juice  instead of frying them in oil or butter.
4.    You can make your own taco shells. Hang soft corn tortillas directly over the oven rack (with the sides of the tortilla hanging down) and bake at 400 degrees until they’re crisp. (Taco shells sold in supermarkets are usually fried.)
5.    Sweet potato fries. Place 1/4-inch-thick potato slices on a nonstick baking pan, and coat with a light spray of olive oil. Sprinkle with paprika or salt, and bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes. Turn once during baking.
6.    Substitute six egg whites plus one whole egg for every three eggs in your favorite recipes.
7.    Substitute applesauce or any baby-food fruits for up to half of the total oil in your favorite dessert recipes

To help you with your weight loss program...Try the Ultimate Guide to Express Fat Loss

2 reasons to skip sports drinks

Commercials tell us that sports drinks will improve our sporting performance and endurance, but be careful: when you are trying to lose weight, sports drinks may harm your progress.  Here are 2 very good reasons why you should avoid sports drinks.

Who doesn’t like the sports drinks? Of course, they taste great, but the bad news is, they are packed with calories. When you are trying to achieve a weight loss goal, skip sports drinks for good. Here are 2 good reasons to skip sports drinks:

1- You will save money and calories. If you train for around 60 minutes per day, sports drinks are not for you, especially if you are trying to lose weight. Most people should just rehydrate using  water, which will save about $200, and 7 to 10 pounds of body weight per year, if you exercise 3 time a week.

2- You will protect your teeth. A study from New-York University College of Dentistry found that the citric acid in sports drinks can harm your teeth.  Researchers submerged cows’ teeth in sports drinks, and after 75 to 90 minutes (which simulates sipping the drinks throughout the day), the enamel coating was partially eaten away, leading to weaker teeth.

Small details like this add up really quickly.  When you weigh yourself at the end of the month, paying attention to the small but important details like this is why you will get results with the Express Fat Loss Program.