Beach Workouts:Stay In Shape. Have Fun

As the pandemic continues, our current situation is not changing anytime sooner. And with that, most gyms are still closed and those that are open pose a threat, at least in my opinion. 

Nobody wants to get infected with Covid 19. So why not head out to a park or a beach in this case, and get a workout while at the same time enjoying yourself. And if you're blessed like I am to live near the beach, I suggest taking advantage of the benefits. So here we go.

Push ups

4 sets 20 reps

Slow and controlled repetitions are best when it comes to push ups. If you want to see good results using your body weight on any exercise, it is best you perform the movement slow and controlled, squeezing every rep. Creating tension. Creating resistance. Creating muscle. Inhale going down, exhale coming up.

Chest Flyes with resistance bands

4 sets of 12-15 reps. Add extra resistance using another band if necessary. Squeeze and hold at the top. Concentrate and feel the work.

Triceps Kick Back with resistance bands

4x12-15 reps

Lock your elbow at the top of the movement. Squeeze at the top. If you need more resistance use two bands. Control the movement. Feel the burn.

Back Rows with resistance bands

4 sets of 12 to 15 reps.

Use two sets of bands for added resistance, if needed. Squeeze at the top of the movement. Contract, squeeze. Make it work. It's not the same as weights but if you concentrate you'll #feeltheburn🔥

Reverse lunges combined with bicep curls

Reverse lunges combined with bicep curls for an excellent workout. Good for thighs, buttocks, muscle tone and cardio. 4 sets of 12 to 15 reps.

So as you can see, it's feasible. No gym is needed. I mean, don't get me wrong. I love the gym, but at this moment in time I don't feel safe being in one. So for those who feel the same, here's a safe and fun alternative, keeping a safe distance from others, of course. I encourage you to continue to workout. There are many alternatives and exercise equipment for a good workout, whether you're at home, a park, or at the beach. NO EXCUSES. 

Till next time,

Exercise The Mind

The right attitude can make a huge difference not only in achieving your long-term fitness goals, but also in getting the most out of every workout. 

If you find yourself thinking negatively before, during, or after your workouts, combat that negativity by putting pen to paper. Write down positive affirmations to counter the negative thoughts. This way, you train your mind to shift belief systems. 

If you keep repeating to yourself, "I'm too weak," better change it or reframe it to "I'm getting stronger and stronger everyday." In other words, if you keep whining like a cry baby, you will never achieve anything. 

Stop it already!!! Whenever a negative thought comes to mind, tell yourself the opposite. Like training muscles, training your mind will take time, but the benefits can carry into all aspects of your life.

Till next time,

Rotate Muscle Groups

Circuit training is an ideal method for simultaneously improving strength, mobility, and stamina. 

The format utilizes strength exercises that focus on a particular area of your body: upper body, core and trunk, lower body, and full body. The key to optimizing core training is to alternate your workouts, allowing each body region to rest for two to three days before repeating the workout. During the off days, those specific muscle areas will recover and grow stronger. Do exercise each area more than once a week though; otherwise the muscles will have no reason to grow stronger.

Here's an example:
Day 1
Chest and Biceps
Day 2
Legs and Abdominals
Day 3
Rest
Day 4
Back, Triceps and Abdominals
Day 5
Shoulders and Traps
Day 6
Rest
Day 7
Repeat cycle
There will always be a part of your body that will be repeated twice a week as you rotate the cycle.
Questions, answers, leave a comment.
Till next time,

Weight Training Tips For Muscle Definition

If you intend to look lean and defined, it is time for you to change the workout. 

So here are some tips on your weight training to slice up your body. Try this workout for six weeks along with a high protein-low carb diet.

Tip#1. Pick up the pace!

This is not the time when you are trying to set your personal bests in each lift. So, longer rest periods are not as important than they might have been at other points in your training cycle. 45-60 second rest periods are the ticket here.

Tip#2. Pick up the reps!

When you consider that your calories are going to be down a bit and you are going to be doing more cardio, for safety and common sense, up your reps a bit-12-20 for this period.
You don't want to risk injury and upping the reps means less weight and less risk, but not less intensity.

Tip#3. Use some higher intensity techniques in your training!

Maybe some supersets or drop sets would be in order, again keeping in mind that you want to keep the reps up.

Questions? Leave a comment.

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Food For Pounds

A healthy diet is an important part of any fitness program to obtain your fitness goals. Thus a few tips to obtain maximum benefits.

Protein:
Eat more than you need ( 1.2 Grams per pound of body weight) Some evidence suggests that those of us who lift weights can benefit by eating around 0.73 grams of protein per pound ( or 1.6-1.7 grams/kilograms) of body weight per day. More than this, it is suggested, is a waste. Your goal should be to eat a lot more protein than you need for muscle-building (i.e., protein synthetic) purposes. This will encourage your body to promote maximum muscle gain, while harnessing your fat-burning drive train.

Carbohydrates:
Once you`ve figured out how much protein to eat...
Carbohydrate- sugars and starches- the most direct source of glucose (blood sugar) in the diet. Glucose is the most important fuel source in your body. Your body`s total supply of glucose determines whether you`re getting leaner or fatter with each passing moment.

Fat:
Forget about avoiding fat, it`s everywhere. Just try to eat the most healthy proteins and carbohydrates available. For proteins, I recommend fish, turkey breasts, chicken breast, roast beef,whole grains, beans, egg whites as well. For carbs, you can go for brown rice, fresh vegetables, fruit, and potatoes. Stay away from foods like cheese or butter. Also avoid using vegtable oil. Look for alternatives to avoid the bad fat, saturated fat. Healthy foods provide you with good fat, polyunsaturated fat, essential fatty acids .

Follow these guidelines for choosing protein and carbohydrates and you wont need to worry about fat. Also, try using supplements for timesaving benefits.

Till next time,

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Train Larger Before Smaller

Do not train triceps or delts ( shoulders) before chest, biceps before back, or forearms before any upper bodypart.

You see, if you exaust a smaller muscle group before blasting a larger muscle, you will not have the same strength for the latter group.

However, there are exceptions. Lets say you have a weak tricep muscle, and your chest is a strong point in your musculature, you could actually train your triceps first to emphasize priority on your weak parts. 

Whenever you decide to work on triceps first, however, don`t do bench presses or dips. There is another exception due to the way this muscle is built and can be reversed: the hamstring before the quadriceps. 

The hamstrings are a large muscle group and can absorb the punishment before a quad workout, and also can help to bring balance in cases where the quads are not paired with the hamstring. Also, if noticed, whenever there is a quad workout, especially a heavy duty one with much compound lifts like squats and leg presses, it stresses the hamstring as well. 

So if you work on the leg curls first, you will give an extra work during the lifts for the quads, thus improving if it is also a weak point. 

Questions, comments, POST THEM DUDE!
Till next time,

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Weight Training for Women

Ladies who are concerned about and intimidated by weight training often bombard me with the following questions:

Will weight training make me big and bulky?


NO. I mean, if you don`t want it to! Remember, there are females that pursue bodybuilding as a carreer, so you know that they do want to get big. However, weight training can be done in many ways.

Different results can be attained by lifting varied amounts of weight for different numbers of repetitions. Properly done, weight training can result in the tone and tight physique that so many women strive to attain.

Squats

How do I know if I am performing the exercise correctly?


There are many valuable resources that can be tapped into to learn proper form in weight training. Check in your gym and find out what they offer in the area of personal training. Some offer one on one training sessions and even those that don`t, often have certified trainers on staff to answer questions and check your form. 

There are also many books and websites (like this one) that offer examples and detailed descriptions of exercises.You may even take it a step further and get certified as a personal fitness trainer yourself! It is priceless knowledge that you can use for your own personal gain and share with others that also need guidance! Wherever you go for guidance on form and safety, in any exercise program, please make sure that they are educated, experienced, and certified in the field.

How do I know how much weight to use?


There are a lot of factors to consider when determining the amount of weight to lift. It is important, before starting any new training program, to consult with your physician. After clearance has been given, there are some basic guidelines to follow. To achieve a tighter and more tone body, lift a lighter weight for more repetitions. A weight that you can lift for about 15 reps per set is a good start.

However, if you are striving for increased muscle size, you need to lift heavier weights for less repetitions. A weight you can lift for about 6 to 8 reps is a good range, in that case. Actual amounts of weight will vary person to person.




Will weight training aid in weight loss?


Yes! Most importantly, it will aid in FAT LOSS! Weight training is a crucial part of healthy weight loss. The magic combination of weight training, cardiovascular exercise, proper diet, and supplementation adds up to a healthy, tone, and tight body. The absence of any of these elements will drastically hinder your progress. If weight training is eliminated from the equation, it can result in the loss of muscle instead of fat!

Are there any exercises that I should avoid because I am female?


No! There are no exercises that should be avoided solely due to gender! However, the first concern, for either gender, is safety! Medical conditions, hereditary conditions, and personal capabilities should all be taken into consideration when choosing exercises. The golden rule is if you are performing an exercise and start to experience pain, aside from normal training burn, stop immediately! Working through the pain can result in serious injury.


So, if you are not sure how to lift weights, or what effects it will have, I hope that this helped that certain uncomfortability about weight training. Remember, with the proper program, you can achieve physique changes that you never dreamed possible! Best of luck!

Till next time,

Leg Training: A MUST DO.

A while ago while I was literally blasting the crap out of my legs, some guy walks up to me and asked why do I train legs and why so heavy?

Before I answered his stupid question, I took a glance at his legs and could not help but notice this guy needed serious help. No wonder he`s making  dumb-ass questions like that.

So, before I answered, I asked him what was it that he wanted to achieve by working out? What was his goal?

Nobody would believe me, but he actually wants to be a freakin bodybuilder. So this is the part where I explode.

So I asked him,"You wanna be a bodybuilder, but you don`t work on your legs?" WTF!

Dude! You CANNOT get on a stage looking like Tweety. Looking like some greek mithology freak like half cow half chicken. Simply put, you gotta have some wheels if you wanna bodybuild.

I`m retired from competition, but I still work with the same intensity, every body part there is to be worked on.

So he says, "I hate squats. I`m lazy when it comes to leg workouts". So I said, "Forget about bodybuilding then, cause you`re not gonna win any show with those legs."

Where in the world do these guys come from? Do they EVER read a bodybuilding mag? Have they ever SEEN a bodybuilding contest? 

Luis Hernandez 1995

A bodybuilder with no legs is like having rice without beans. It`s like the cake with no icing. It`s insane.

So, I finally answered his stupid question, and told him that even though I`m retired from the stage, I still hit it heavy and hard because simply put, I do not want to look like him.

After our brief conversation, he was like stunned by what I responded. The next day, I walked into the gym and to my surprise, there he was, waiting for me, to get some advice and to start a leg routine. 

Sometimes you just gotta be harsh to get the message through, and motivate someone to work for what they want.

The plain truth.

Next time,

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Cross Training

Cross training helps improve fitness without overtaxing the muscles used in your primary sport.

Cross training also helps keep your workouts fresh and interesting. Find exercises you enjoy; otherwise you'll dread your workout instead of looking foward to it.

For cardiovascular fitness, try running, swimming, cycling, rowing, stair climbing, rope jumping, skating, skiing or court sports such as basketball.

Strength training could include calisthenics, free weights, or machines.

Flexibility exercises include stretching or yoga; while speed and balance drills, circuit training, sprinting, and plyometrics offer skill conditioning.

Till next time,

Mass Stack: Training And Nutrition Program

Want Size? Want strength? Here`s a good training and nutrition program that will give results. It all depends on you.

Let say your height is 5' 10'' to 6', and you weigh 230-235 lbs.
This is an example.

Average Daily Nutritional Totals:

Protein: 3oog - 325g = 1200 - 1300 calories

Carbohydrates: 330g - 350g = 1320 - 1400 calories

Fats: 100g - 120g = 900 - 1080 calories

Water: 150 - 200 oz.

Total Daily Calories: 3420 - 3780 Calories/Day

Growth Foods

Protein: Tuna, Chicken, Egg Whites, Sirloin, Ground Beef

Carbs: Brown Rice, Sweet Potatoes, Oatmeal, Broccoli, Asparagus

Fats: Flax Seed Oil, Natural Peanut Butter, Mixed Nuts, Olive Oil

Training Splits

5 on 2 Off

Monday: Chest/Calves/Abs

Tuesday: Quads/Hamstrings/Lower Back

Wednesday: Back/Traps/Biceps

Thursday: Triceps/Calves/Lower Back

Friday: Delts/Abs

Note:

• 30 minutes prior to training, a nitric oxide supplement would be good.
• All training sessions begin and end with 10 minutes of stairmaster or treadmill for warm up and cool down.
• Warm up Sets - range from 12 - 15 reps per set, with a maximum of three sets.
• Working Sets - Each muscle group is trained with maximum intensity and weight for 6 - 10 reps per set, with a total of 12 - 16 sets (excludes warm up sets).
• All sets (excluding warm up sets) are pyramid sets; starting with moderate weight quickly increasing to maximum weight.
• Resting time between sets is a minimum of 1 minute and maximum 2 minutes.
• Immediately following training, a protein shake or creatine mix should be taken. You can mix both, or obtain a formula that has both components.

* You can find great protein supplements at astonishing low prices here in this exercise blog. Just look for the links found here. Remember to always consult a physician before beginning any exercise and nutritional program.

Till next time,

Should you use SUPPLEMENTS?

The American Dietetic Association, Dietitians of Canada, and the American College of Sports Medicine all recognize that physical activity, athletic performance, and recovery are enhanced by optimal nutrition.

Eating the right foods and drinking enough fluid before, during, and after exercise can help maintain blood glucose during exercise, maximize exercise performance, and improve recovery time. Your diet should include carbohydrates, proteins, and fluids appropriate to your weight, constitution, and activity level, with 60 percent of calories coming from carbohydrates, and a protein intake of 1.2 to 2 grams per kg per day.

Adequate fat intake is also necessary to provide the essential fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins and help provide adequate energy. If you're eating a varied diet that is adequated to maintain body weight, vitamin and mineral supplementation is generally not necessary. However, it does'nt hurt to take supplements on the side to re-enforce nutritional needs, especially those who train at high levels of intensity. In some cases, supplementation with B vitamins, zinc, and chromium may optimize carbohydrate metabolism.

Consuming sports drinks containing carbohydrates and electrolytes helps to maintain blood glucose and control thirst during your workout and decreases the risk of dehydration. Short-term supplementation with creatine-one of the more popular ergogenic ( performance enchancing) aids-taken within the recomended dosages, can improve performance during repeated high-intensity exercise. Individual needs should be addressed with a qualified nutrition expert.

Any questions feel free to ask them please.

Get PrimeGENIX Whey Isolate Protein here:

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Make Time For A Workout

No time for exercise? We’ll show you how to fit in a workout every day, give you 5 reasons to work up a sweat in the morning and share some moves.

Simple math is all it takes to schedule exercise time: Cut out one hour of evening TV, and set your alarm to wake you up 30 minutes earlier. Presto! You’ve just accomplished two great things for your body: 30 minutes more sleep and 30 minutes available for morning exercise. If you don’t need more sleep, adjust the formula. Voila! You now have a full hour to exercise.



But why exercise in the morning? After all, 500 calories burned at 6 a.m. is no different than at 6 p.m.

The answer is the fringe benefits. For the person who wants to add exercise to an otherwise sedentary lifestyle, here are 5 excellent reasons to work out in the morning:

Wake-Up Call #1: Time flies when your workout’s not done.You plan to work out, but your busy day throws a curveball, leaving you scrambling to finish your to-do list by bedtime.

So instead of hitting the gym, you hit the sack – annoyed that you missed yet another workout.

That’s why you should exercise first thing in your day. In fact, about 90% of people who exercise consistently do it in the morning. It’s the only way to guarantee you won’t skip it.

Need an extra boost to get out of bed? Push-ups will strengthen your arms, shoulders and pectoral muscles, which helps to create the illusion of cleavage as well as lift sagging breasts. Try this exercise:

Step 1: Kneel on a mat on all fours with your knees hip-width apart. Your hands should be slightly wider than shoulder-width apart and your fingers and wrists pointing forward.

Step 2: Feather your breathing as you lower your chest toward the floor through a count of 10 seconds. Descend to your maximum tension point, and hold for 2 seconds.

Step 3: Push your body back to starting position through a count of 10 seconds, keeping your elbows slightly bent at the top of the move.

Step 4: Repeat three times without resting.

Wake-Up Call #2: Your metabolism won’t boost itself.You roll out of bed, throw on some clothes and stumble out the door on your way to another busy day. Are you even awake yet? Your metabolism certainly isn’t.

The average person can expect the metabolic boost to last for 30-60 minutes post-exercise. EPOC typically accounts for a few paltry calories – 10-60, depending on the intensity of the workout.

Not only does morning exercise help you burn calories during the actual workout, but its effects linger after you’re finished. It’s called EPOC – excess post-exercise oxygen consumption – and it’s a fancy way of saying you burn extra calories even after your workout’s over.



But don’t let that discourage you! It adds up over time, and because it only takes a daily deficit of 500 calories to lose one pound in a week, every calorie counts.

Pump up your metabolism and your biceps with the standing side curl:

Step 1: Hold a pair of dumbbells and stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Extend your arms down by your sides, with palms facing forward and knees slightly bent.

Step 2: Feather your breathing as you curl the dumbbells up through a count of 10 seconds to just past a 90-degree angle. Hold and squeeze for 2 seconds.

Step 3: Keep your elbows tight against your body as you lower the weights to the starting point through a count of 10 seconds.

Step 4: Repeat three times without resting.

Wake-Up Call #3: It’s your choice to be a night owl or an early bird.Tick-tock. You have an internal clock that thrives on routine. It’s your circadian rhythm, and it regulates your body on a 24-hour cycle.

Give yourself a strict bedtime, force yourself to wake up when your alarm goes off (no snoozing!), and exercise each day – even if it’s only for 10 minutes. 



Over time – a few days for some, a few weeks for others – your body will learn the new routine. It will gently wake you up, no earsplitting alarm required. You’ll feel rested and energized, and will actually start looking forward to your workout.

Get yourself in gear tomorrow morning with lateral squats. This move requires a lot of balance and hip stabilization – a job perfect for your gluteus medius.

Remember, this muscle is positioned not where you consider your butt to be, but rather on the side of your hip. Be sure to keep your hips and shoulders in line, and don’t allow your knee to drop forward over your toes:

Step 1: With your hands on your hips, stand with your feet about a foot wider than shoulder-width apart.

Step 2: Squat down to the side toward one leg, while keeping the opposite leg straight, through a count of 10 seconds.

Step 3: At the maximum tension point, hold for 2 seconds. Return to the starting position through a count of 10 seconds.

Step 4: Alternate sides without resting. Perform 2 reps on each side.

Wake-Up Call #4: Morning exercise helps you sleep better in the p.m.Hitting the gym in the morning helps you hit the sack at night. A study published in the scientific journal Sleep showed that overweight or obese women who began a regular morning exercise routine slept better than those who exercised regularly in the evening.



Why? Evening exercise stimulates your body. You become restless and alert, making it very difficult for your brain to turn off and your body to drift into restful sleep.

Exercise is like the ignition in your car – it turns your body on, not off. Get yourself going in the morning with some reverse crunches:

Step 1: Lie flat on a mat, with your hands by your sides, palms down. Pull your heels as close to your bottom as possible. Raise your heels about 2 inches off the ground.

Step 2: While keeping your chin up and abs tight, breathe slowly and rhythmically as you pull your knees up using the lower abdominals through a count of 10 seconds.

Step 3: Hold and squeeze for 2 seconds at the maximum tension point (when your bottom is just off the ground).

Step 4: Lower your body to the starting point through a 10-second count.

Step 5: Repeat three times without resting.

Wake-Up Call #5: A morning workout is better than coffee.Oxygen, not caffeine, is what your brain wants in the morning. So instead of reaching for the coffeepot, reach for your sneakers and you’ll get all the brain-boosting benefits you need.



Studies show that exercise can increase your mental sharpness for 4 to 10 hours after your workout, a benefit you can really use at the start of your day. So, get up and get moving with this quadriceps flex.

This exercise requires a bit of balance – a talent not everyone has. So be sure to use a chair or stable countertop for support:

Step 1: Grasp a chair or other hip-level support, and stand with feet shoulder-width apart.

Step 2: Through a count of 10 seconds, bend your knees as you allow your body to fall slightly backward, letting your heels come up off the floor.

Step 3: At the maximum tension point, hold and squeeze your quads for 2 seconds.

Step 4: Through another count of 10 seconds, slowly return to the starting point.

Step 5: Without resting, repeat three times.

Have you conquered a personal challenge? Exercise and Nutrition wants to hear your success stories, whether it’s diet, fitness, addiction, relationships, debt, career or personal health. We may feature your story to inspire readers just like you.



Email us your story at luishernandez573@hotmail.com.

Outdoor Cardio. Have Fun!

I know for a fact that lots of people get bored doing cardio on a treadmill or a stairmaster at the gym, and especially at home.

At least a gym is more populated and most of them usually have plasma screens right in front of the cardio section.

However, it is so neat to ride a bike in the mountains, which is in fact, a great way to get rid of fat and also to get away from it all.






Running on a beach is also a good way to burn off calories.

Now, I know that for some of you, it is not that easy to get away from it all, with work and kids, and you might have to squeeze in your cardio workout at the gym, or at home, because of lack of time for a separate outdoor session.

Nevertheless, try to make an effort and change your routine schedule. You don't have to always do the same workout, change is good for your mental health, you fight the now and then boredom that sometimes overcomes us all, and you can have a nice time with your family or friends and have a workout at the same time. It's also good to have quality time with the ones you love.

Ride a bike, or go jogging at the beach or near your neighborhood. Have a basketball game with your friends or kids. Basketball burns major calories! Just take the time to appreciate family and friends, change your cardio workout once in a while and have fun. Working out is fun! If you don't see it that way, then you'll have a problem on the long run, probably you won't see the results that you want, and you'll end up quitting. We're here to help. Send me an e-mail or post a comment.

Give Your Brain A Boost

We know it's a good thing for physical health. Now a new study reports that long-term physical activity, particularly walking, will help boost your brain power.


The study from the Harvard School of Public Health looked at more than 18,000 women ages 70 to 81 during a period of approximately 18 years and concluded that long-term regular physical activity, including walking, sharpens memory and increases learning ability and attention span.


Perhaps the best news is that the study found walking at an easy pace was sufficient for positive results. The key was frequency. According to lead researcher, Jennifer Weuve, MPH, ScD, the cognitive benefits first became apparent with two hours of easy-paced walking per week. Weuve defines an easy pace as taking about 20 or 30 minutes to cover a mile. Walking six hours a week at an easy pace, or expending the same amount of energy at another exercise, is associated with the most benefits, according to Weuve.


How does walking promote brain health? Once again, according to Weuve, regular physical activity benefits the cardiovascular system. Better cardiovascular health is related to better cognitive function. Physical activity also appears to have a direct effect on the brain itself.

It appears to promote the production of chemicals in the brain, called nerve growth factors, that improve the brain cells' survival and growth.

Till next time,

Exercise To Music

Studies have consistently shown that exercising to music helps pass the time, increases motivation, and decreases sensations of pain and discomfort. 

As a mood enhancer, music might even motivate you to push yourself harder during your workout. Music helps us get into an altered state of consciousness commonly called "flow," which is characterized by complete immersion in the activity and a sense of effortlessness. 

Picking the right music is a personal choice. Studies have shown that any kind of music, from pop to classical, can enhance mood and make your workout more enjoyable. Slow music tends to be relaxing and lowers the heart rate, so it is better used to reduce anxiety before a competition than for motivating you to optimal performance.

Generally, researchers advise picking music that is upbeat and matches the tempo of the exercise you are doing. Or choose by theme: Remember those songs from Rocky, by that rock group Survivor? That's great motivation right there pal! Also, the music from Chariots of Fire, or other music associated with sports tend to produce positive, nostalgic feelings. 

Keep the music loud enough to block out other auditory distractions so that it becomes a central focus of your attention, unless you're running or biking in highly congested areas where you'd want to be aware of nearby traffic.

Get motivated! Be inspired! Workout to music! 

Till next time,

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