Skinny Jeans... Here I Come!!

Skinny Jeans... Here I Come!!

We started back up with classes this week.

We finished up a few contests and did a ton of workouts, so see tomorrows blog for the contest winners and workouts.

Wendy Greashaber won Camper of the Week a few weeks ago by coming to class every time, bringing in her food journal, doing her homework, applying her knowledge and teaching others about fitness.

Thank you and congrats to her. She won a $25 Gift Card to Bolero Salon and Spa.



I have made a lot of changes from what I eat to how I exercise. Overall, I have always been a healthy eater, but I wasn't hitting all of the food groups the way I should have (and still am at about 80%) Changes that I've made in my diet include increasing fruit, decreasing salty snacks, taking a multi vitamin and a fish oil supplement, decreasing diet soda, increasing water and using the knowledge that I gained from the "grocery store" tour to plan our family's meals. I'm realizing that I can't live my life without occasionally giving in to my favorite salty snacks, I just have to learn to say no a little more often. I try to start each day off right and I don't beat myself up over the bad days.

Another change that I've made is that I am now jogging/running on a regular basis. I'd never been able to make it more than half a mile until I started boot camp. I now run 3.5-4.5 miles on Mon., Wed., and Friday mornings and then run 5-6 miles on Tuesdays and Saturdays. I have to credit boot camp for giving me the core strength that I had been missing, but needed to do this. I work on core doing dynamic "around the world" 2 mornings a week after my run.

Overall, I've learned much more than I initially expected about fitness by just listening in class, trying to do what I'm supposed to, and seeing the results. I'm glad that we never know the daily class agenda before we get there because I'd have a hard time making myself go on days where we do leg excercises. I really have to focus hard at fully applying myself to lunges -- I hate them! (but the pain does wear off -- ha ha!)

My advise to everyone in the class would be: 3 steps forward and 1 step back -- Make your "good days" the best days ever -- see how far you can go! Don't beat yourself over the bad days.

Soccer Mom with Big T-shirts - Amber Shawhan of Sexy Back Boot Camps fights to win the Kansas City Weight Loss Challenge

Let's cheer on Sexy Back Boot Camps member Amber Shawhan, in orange, as she goes against 6 others in Kansas City to bring sexy back and win!!

Watch a preview of Amber as she talks about growing up, weight gain, daily struggles, and more... ==> WEIGHT LOSS STRUGGLES

Every week there will be a new movie with their updates... stay tuned...



The winner will be in the February 2010 issue of Kansas City Fitness Magazine and win a $1000 cash prize!!

Let's wish Amber luck!! Add her on Facebook HERE

Winter Coats and Sexy Back Boot Camps in Kansas City

Every Saturday is a "fun" day of training at Sexy Back Boot Camps.

It was SOOOOO much fun for me to watch these ladies just totally kill it!!

This was a tough workout.

Winter time is coming so so fast!!

The average female gains 12 lbs of unwanted fat between the end of summer and New Years!!

Basically, they put on a special "winter coat" :) (not cool)

Ashley and Romy of the Presentation crew refuse to wear a "winter coat"!!

They've dropped a combined 18 pounds of fat in only four sessions at Presentation!!

How?

They are serious. They take their vitamins, follow the online nutrition plans, and train on off-days with cardio and Tabatas from the CD I handed out.

Simple. Super simple. Just follow the plan.

If you want to write your own plan and do what you have been doing prior to class... be my guest.

Make a commitment to yourself and to the other ladies of class, to come train with us and kick butt!

They kicked butt this past Saturday!!

It required cooperation between teams.

The "b" person had to finish their exercise before person "a" could stop.

Without compromising form, they were to do their exercises as fast as they could.

Totally fun for me to watch them dripping with sweat on the early 7:30 am class at GAGE.

Where were you at?

Come join us next time at GAGE on a Saturday!!

a. Squat Thrusts
b. Push-ups to bear crawl - 10 yards

a. Mountain Jumpers
b. Sandbag squats - 40 reps

a. Prone DB Push up Rows
b. Squat jumps (quick) - 60 reps

Monday's Training:

50-10's: 3 sets - vertical loading

a. Russian deadlifts with DB
b. Bent over DB Y's
c. suicides

a. Goblet squats
b. Wall sits
c. suicides

Try these out at home on our off-days or whenever you miss a class

First Week Back for Sexy Back Boot Camps

We had an awesome first week back to our high intensity training classes!!

There were a lot of new faces in the mix, including Dina, Laura, Deanne, Julie, Tracey, and about forty other ladies.

All of whom are in my Sexy Back program to bring sexy back!!

Check out the training we did during the first week.

We burned tons of calories, weight, and nasty fat.

There's a lot of information here, so take some notes.

Cardio Tabatas:
Jumping Jacks
Front cone hops
Running high knees
Mountain climbers

Core Tabatas:
Planks
Side Planks (R)
Vertical Leg crunch
Side Planks (L)

Strength Tabatas:
Squat jumps
Dynamic planks
1 arm DB swings
Partner band running

Strength 50-10s:
Negative push ups and switch to Planks 1/2 way
DB Bicep curls and switch to DB shoulder press 1/2 way
1 arm DB Overhead Tricep Extension *
Single leg squats (R)
Single leg squats (L)



PHA Training:
Bodyweight squats
Push ups
Walking lunges
Bent over 1 arm DB Row
Suicides
Single leg front DB raise
Sandbag squats/jumps
Single leg 1 arm DB Hammer Bicep curls
Box Jumps
1 arm overhead DB Tricep Extension
Hill Sprints

Fox 4 News in Kansas City Getting Fit with Sexy Back Boot Camps

Did you see us this morning on Fox 4 News in Kansas City!!

Don and Mark of the Morning Show were Tworkin' it out!!

Check the video out below.

Please leave a comment after watching it.

There actually is a BETTER one, yet to be released where Mark gets HIT by one of my resistance bands.

I bet you can't guess who did the hitting?

Watch this video and see!! ==>

Kri Chay and Greg Justice Going For A Ride on the Sled Workout - Sexy Back Boot Camps

I LOVE WOMEN

I DO

I LOVE WOMEN

I love training them, I love hanging out with them...

I just love my women

Why? Why not?

Sometimes though, I will train with my buddy Greg Justice out in Kansas

He owns the first personal training studio every built in Kansas City, back in the mid-80s, and he's still going strong.

If you don't know, Greg Justice is the original and BEST Fitness Professional on the Kansas side

Check out something we like to do when we train

We've done it to a lesser extreme in our training sessions

Let me know what you think by leaving a comment below the video after you watch it

Sled Pushing, Grunting, and Lunging for Total Body Fat Loss

Sled Pushing, Grunting, and Lunging for Total Body Fat Loss

That's what we did this week.

What did you do this week?

Check out the video below and be sure to leave a comment.



Tabatas 20-10's - 4 Rounds. Each round is 4 minutes!!

1) Heavy Bag Push
2) Decline Negative push ups
3) Army Walking lunges with weight
4) Elevated spider climbers

Rapid Fat Loss Workouts for Rainy Days - Kansas City

This post is gonna be huge.

And by that I mean I have workouts for you to do at home and a home video.

These workouts are designed to maximize your time in the "gym" or wherever it is you train.

I don't know about you, but when I train, I train for a purpose.

Right now, I have many clients who are still going on vacation.

School starts today for some of you which means the kids go back to school and that leave you with more time to plan your day and focus on training.

Copy these workouts onto paper or just copy and paste them.

More importantly, be sure to have fun while doing these and have an end goal in mind when performing each exercise.

Why are you doing this and what is your purpose?

Tabatas 20-10's: Stage 2 - 16 minutes - Chest, Total Body, Legs

1) Push-ups
2) Supine floor DB flyes with hip extension
3) 1-arm DB Swings *switch arms next round
4) Front step ups or Front Lunges

Perform 2 sets, rest one minute, repeat for 4 total sets.

Tabatas 20-10's: Stage 2 - 16 minutes - Shoulders and Back

1) Single leg DB Shoulder Press
2) Bent over DB T's
3) Partner 2-arm Band Rows
4) Bent over DB Y's


Perform 2 sets, rest one minute, repeat for 4 total sets.

50-10's: Stage 2 - 16 minutes

1) Negative Push ups * Planks 1/2 way through
2) Supine floor DB flyes with hip extension * Bicycle crunches 1/2 way
3) Single leg DB squats (R)
4) Single leg DB squats (L)

Perform 4 sets total



Video At-home Workout: 20-10's

1) Squat Jumps
2) Bench Press
3) Front Power step-ups
4) Pront Ball Planks * Dynamic

Rapid Fat Loss Workouts for Rainy Days - Kansas City

"Guns" Workout - Upper Body with Sexy Back Boot Camps

"Guns" Workout - Upper Body with Sexy Back Boot Camps

Yesterday, we trained the "GUNS" baby!!

We are in the strength training phase this whole month.

I want to put some muscle on these girls.

Check out the video below, then come back here and leave a message.

(sorry, I went a little crazy this day and was yelling at everyone!!)



Tabatas - 4 Exercises: 20-10's

1) Negative close-grip push ups
2) Bent over 1-arm DB kickbacks
3) BB Hammer Curls
4) Single leg Alternating DB Curls (palms up)

Personal Trainer Struggles to Lose Weight

OMG!! Check this video out.

This guy is crazy!!

Personal Trainer Struggles to Lose Weight

(You’ll have to watch it on Youtube as Good Morning America won’t let me post it on the blog. Once you’re done be sure to come back to the blog and read the rest of this post. )



Actually back in January 2007 I did a similar thing.

I was never fat so I began my quest to gain weight.

My goal was to see how much I could gain from January to May.

In 16 weeks I put on 19 lbs.

16 pounds of it was muscle and 4 pounds of fat.

I was freakin' HUGE!!

Muscles were poppin' out everywhere, but nothing like this dude.

He had other things popping out.

Why did he do this?

Is it just to get on TV and become famous?

Do you think he will truly understand his clients better?

Personal Trainer Struggles to Lose Weight

Bruised Knuckles and Shins - Sexy Back Boot Camps Kri Chay

Bruised Knuckles and Shins - Sexy Back Boot Camps Kri Chay

I don't just train in boot camps.

I train one-on-one in my Underground Gym too!!

If you wanna burn some fat REALLY fast, you should do this training that Carolyn did!!

It's brutal.

AND it only takes 6-minutes!!

For a major kick butt workout, repeat these six exercises for a total of four rounds.

50-10's powered by Workout Muse

1) Bench Press
2) Thai kicks
3) Single leg squats
4) Dyna-disc 1-arm lateral DB raise
5) Jab-cross combo on heavy bag
6) Thai kicks

Sexy Back Core and Cardio Training for Rapid Fat Loss

Core and Cardio Training. Do they belong in the same sentence?

Running uses more body parts then a machine and also is a more “functional” means of exercising. You also need a strong core to keep the body in the most optimal training level.

On off-days or post-workout, I want you walking, jogging, running, and/or sprinting. You can do this in a gymnasium or outdoors or wherever you have room to run. Movement in a linear fashion,(walking straight) is a movement that we perform everyday.


This idea of interval training also applies to other cardio devices like bikes, stairmaster, treadmill, elliptical, etc… Interval training is going to burn more calories and rev up your metabolism. Best to do in the mornings or midday so energy and metabolism will be running high all day. It’s still okay to perform in the evenings but BEST early in the day. Make sure to push yourself and be huffing and puffing hard right before each Walking period.

Try this out 4-week cardio program at home. Start at your fitness level and move up every week. Copy and save this cardio program or print it off.

WEEK 1 - 20 minutes. 3-4x/week

Jog 30 seconds. Run 15 seconds. Jog 30 seconds. Run 15 seconds. Walk 30 seconds. Repeat.

WEEK 2 - 25 minutes. 3-4x/week

Jog 30 seconds. Run 30 seconds. Jog 30 seconds. Run 30 seconds. Walk 60 seconds. Repeat.

WEEK 3 – 30 minutes. 3-4x/week

Jog 20 seconds. Run 20 seconds. Jog 20 seconds. Run 20 seconds. Jog 20 seconds. Run 20 seconds. Walk 60 seconds. Repeat.

WEEK 4 - 30 minutes. 3-4x/week

Jog 20 seconds. Run 30 seconds. Sprint 10 seconds. Jog 20 seconds. Run 30 seconds. Sprint 10 seconds. Walk 90 seconds. Repeat.

We’re all busy, but we NEED to MAKE time to do this. It’s less than an hour of your time. What can you quit to achieve your goals? Quit watching a TV program? Quit hanging out with a friend that’s not helping you achieve your goals? Quit going out to eat and spending money on crap? Quit playing on the internet looking up stupid stuff? What can you quit? What will you quit?

Try out this cardio and core training program at home on your own.

This core sequence is called "The Finisher." Watch the movie below and leave me a comment below to let me know what you think.




Sexy Back Core and Cardio Training for Rapid Fat Loss

5-Minutes of Sexiness - Underground Training with Sexy Back Boot Camps Kri Chay and Miss Jude

Underground Training with Sexy Back Boot Camps Kri Chay and Miss Jude.

Watch this video and do this quick 5-minute workout at home to knock-off that hard to lose weight and nasty fat!!



Please leave a comment below

4-minute Fat Loss - Basement Training with Coach Kri Chay of Kansas City

Basement Training with Coach Kri Chay - Kansas City Sexy Back Boot Camps

I train just like you train.

I do my training at home to MY intensity level.

You need to train to your intensity level every time you train.

Stop making excuses and just do it!!

Check out my video from yesterday, tworkin' it out in my gym.

Please leave a comment below the video and let me know what you think ==>



Go to my OFFICIAL website to read more about the best ladies training in KC <==

Sexy Back Charity Boot Camps - The Children's Place Workout

Workout for The Children's Place Workout.

For anyone who wants to join us on Saturdays, please do so.

We do our charity boot camps majority of the time in the Brookside area of KC.



This is an awesome event which helps raise money to help the youth victims of TCPKC - The Children's Place of Kansas City.

If you couldn't make it to train with us, try these tabata workouts at home.

Be sure to download the FREE workout audio in a previous blog post below to go with these workouts. It's a special Michael Jackson tribute audio. R.I.P.

Beginner: 8 sets ==> 2 sets, rest 1 minute. Repeat for 8 total sets.

1) Supine DB Flyes
2) Stagger stance bent-over DB Rows
3) Standing DB shoulder press
4) DB squats

Intermediate: 2 sets each group. Rest 1 min. Repeat.

Just push play on the audio and melt the fat away!!

1) Front lunge hops
2) Push ups
3) Alternating side lunge hops
4) Push ups

1) BB Hammer Curls
2) Partner band side shuffles
3) BB Hammer Curls
4) Partner band side shuffles

1) Front lunge hops
2) Push ups
3) Alternating side lunge hops
4) Push ups

1) Single leg overhead DB tricep extension (R)
2) Close grip negative push ups
3) Single leg overhead DB tricep extension (L)
4) Close grip negative push ups

Have fun with these and twork it out at home baby!!!

More Crazy Sexy Workouts with Sexy Back Boot Camps in Kansas City

More Crazy Sexy Workouts with Sexy Back Boot Camps in Kansas City



7/9/09

Series 1:

1) Sandbag Plie Squats
2) DB Alternating Side Lunges
3) Reverse crunch
4) Suicides
5) Tricep dips

Series 2:

1) Partner Band Rows
2) Bent over 1-arm DB Row
3) Front power steps ups
4) Grasshoppers
5) DB Skullcrushers

7/13/09

Series 1:

1) Negative push ups
2) Partner band chest press
3) Vertical leg crunch
4) Jumping jacks
5) Dynamic planks

Series 2:

1) DB shoulder press
2) Single leg 1 arm DB side raise * switch half-way
3) Bicycle crunches
4) Jumping jacks
5) Dynamic planks

8-Week Bikini Body Makeover Contest Leaders and Michael Jackson Tribute Workout Audio

It's been two weeks since the passing of legend Michael Jackson.

As most of my campers know, I love his music.



I have something awesome to give to you readers today!!

It's a Special Michael Jackson tribute Workout Muse audio!

It's a 4-minute Tabatas audio, replicating the style of MJ himself.

It was tough for my friends BJ and Topher to replicate the beats of a legend but the audio sounds awesome!!

So, download the FREE track below and use it for your next workout!!

Michael Jackson Interval Workout Music Tribute from Workout Muse- 20-10 Tabatas




8-Week Bikini Body Makeover Contest Leaders and Michael Jackson Tribute Workout Audio

Rowing for Fat Loss

Yesterday, I was in Central Park in NYC having a blast!!

My cousin Toney and friends Sarah and Danielle went around all of Manhattan touring everywhere and sampling tons of good food.

Saturday night was HORRIBLE!!

Sunday, I went to Toney's restaurant where I ate what's called a Bento Box. It had chicken curry salad, hummus, jasmine rice (my fav), and something else which I don't remember. That was pretty good.

That same night, I ate HORRIBLE.

I went a little overboard on the food, which you can see by my photos on Facebook HERE.

Click on the video below to see my rowing trip in Central Park.

Please leave a comment below and tell me what you did on your Memorial Day.

Sexy Weight Loss Tips

Here is a collection of various resources with sexy, healthy weight loss tips for you to follow.

Start implementing these tips into your daily routine and you will start to see these weight loss tips pay off with success.




6 Tips to Get Realistic with Your Weight Loss Goals

It’s not the occasional dessert or extra helpings that cause you to fail at your weight loss goal, it’s the unrealistic expectations that you put on yourself that makes you fail. Find out how to overcome common diet pitfalls and …

Lose Weight in Time for Summer: Fitness Tips to Shake up Your...

Swimsuit season’s just around the corner. Get out of your workout rut and shape up for summer by incorporating these tips into your fitness routine.

Know When to Take a Break from Your Workouts on Diet and Weight...

Diet Bites Diet Plans, Diet Menus, Weight Loss Motivation, and Dieting Tips . DietBlog diet news pooled by various health care professionals who offer their opinions and advice for a healthy lifestyle. …

5 Tips for Weight Loss with Pilates

If so, take a look at my list of 5 Tips for Weight Loss with Pilates. It details the important facts you need to consider about diet, exercise, and losing weight; and I’ve linked in lots of options for making Pilates and effective part...




6 Simple Fat Loss Tips: Shed Those Pounds


Weight loss is on one hand rather simple … … if you follow some basic tips, the pounds can and will melt away. 6 Simple Diet Tips that will help you shed those pounds … 1. Reduce your fat, sugar...

What healthy weight loss tips do you have that have worked for you? Please share with everyone by leaving a comment below.

How To Do The Best Core Exercise Ever => Push-ups Part 1

The Push-up. I love push-ups. They can be done anywhere at anytime. You can do them on the ground, on a ball, on a wall, and even suspended in water. It is probably the most popular exercise of all time. But being popular doesn’t necessarily mean being well liked! In fact, I think it is safe to say that the majority of people really HATE push-ups. More specifically, the push-up tends to be the undying nemesis for people who carry extra body weight and for most females who feel they do not have the upper strength to ever be able to do anything but “girl push-ups” or modified push-ups on the knees.



The goal of this article is to address everything you need to know about performing the push-up with proper form in addition to learning how to do more push-ups ASAP. Remember, people only hate what they are not good at it. In other words, I am confident that though you may currently hate push-ups, by following this program you will finally unveil your true push-up potential. And though you may never be madly in love with push-up, you’ll at least be able to stomach them!

Benefits of Push-ups

Right next to pull-ups, a push-up is the greatest upper body exercise of all time. In fact, I believe push-ups to be one of the best total body exercises around.

Push-ups work primarily your chest, triceps, and front shoulders. However they also place a great demand on your core strength and stability. After all, your spinal stabilizers (transverse abdominis and spinal erectors) need to have the endurance to maintain that critical straight-line position throughout the duration of your push-ups for optimal safety and performance. In addition, push-ups engage your scapular muscles (shoulder blades) in a way that most pushing exercises do not, thus providing some much needed mid and upper back work that most trainees are missing out on. Furthermore, maintaining the proper push-up position requires that you tense and engage every muscle on the front side of your body from your feet to your front shoulders. Heck, if you squeeze your glutes (which you should as this helps protect your lower back), you even get your booty involved!



Finally, push-ups are the ultimate anywhere, anytime exercise that requires nothing but your body weight and space the size of your frame to perform.

How to Perform a Perfect Push-up

Though nearly everyone to grace this earth has attempted a push-up at some time in his or her life, the vast majority of people have never performed a full range of motion floor push-up with perfect form and technique. If this describes, don’t sweat it. It’s not your fault if no one ever taught you how to perform push-ups properly. I mean, haven’t we all heard this at some point before from an authority figure, whether it be an old school athletic coach or gym teacher:

“Alright 100 push-ups now! No, not like that, get lower! What are you, weak? It’s just a push-up! If you don’t do them right, we’re going to do them all day! I’ve got the time!”



But, what’s done is done. And though it was be a blast to kick the tar out of our former punishers, let’s focus on doing things right for ourselves. Below is a complete list of technique and coaching points regarding how to perform a perfect push-up:

- Simultaneously tuck your elbows to your sides and pull your shoulders blades down and back: It’s critical to keep your elbows close to your ribcage while performing push-ups. Letting your elbows “sprawl” away from your torso puts your rotator cuff at a much greater risk for injury. In addition, since most of us are so upper trap dominant, we tend to shrug our shoulders during push-ups. This scapular elevation can lead to clicking and grinding of the shoulder (known as shoulder impingement syndrome). To avoid these pitfalls, visualize trying to hug your elbows to your ribcage while cracking a nut between your shoulder blades during all push-ups.

- Simultaneously suck in your gut and brace your abs: As mentioned earlier, the push-up is a great core exercise that requires good muscular endurance for your deep spinal stabilizers. By pulling your navel to your spine and bracing your abs as if you we about to be kicked in the gut, you will best activate those key core muscles while performing push-ups.

- Simultaneously tense your thighs and squeeze your glutes: The straighter your legs during the push-up the more stable you will be. This is easily accomplished by tensing your thighs throughout the exercise. Furthermore, tense your butt cheeks- this helps relax overactive hip flexors, thus alleviating unnecessary strain on the lower back.



- Power breathing: In general, seek to focus on inhaling during the lowering portion of the push-up and then forcefully exhaling during the lifting portion of the push-up. By filling your belly with air during the lowering portion of the push-up your make it easier to stabilize your spine, meaning that your core remains locked in thus allowing for a smooth and seamless transition from the down position to the up position.

- Spread your fingers: Many people complain of wrist pain while they do push-ups. This usually stems from a combination of a lack of mobility at the wrist joint and a lack of flexibility of the forearm flexors and extensors. Plus, many people simply have weak wrists from a lack of weight-bearing exercises in their daily routine. Think about it- we do not do as much as we used to do with our hands and are rarely in a position where our wrists our supporting our entire body weight (besides when doing push-ups). One way to take pressure off of your wrists during push-ups is to focus on spreading your fingers as far apart as possible. This expands the surface area and thus dissipates some of the excess strain on the wrists. Furthermore, doing fist push-ups or push-ups with your hands on a dumbbell (or push-up handles) tends to significantly alleviate if not eliminate any unwanted wrist issues. This neutral grip allows you get all of the benefits of push-ups so that your wrists do not continue to be the biggest limiting factor for your push-up goals. In addition, the neutral grip also makes it easier to keep your helps tucked to your sides and shoulders down and back for optimal shoulder safety.

- Be flat as a diving board: Throughout the entire movement, the key is to maintain a straight line from the heels through the shoulders. You must not let your hips sag as this will put undue strain on your lower back in the form of hyperextension. Furthermore, you must avoid raising or “piking” your hips because this not only takes a way much needed core work, but also results in a rounding of the upper back that potentially results in unwanted shoulder issues (impingement, rotator cuff strains, etc.).

Dishing Out The Best 10 Super Bowl Tips To Cut Thousands of Calories

Super Bowl Sunday is six days away. Other than the BIG Holidays of Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, this event has become a traditional celebratory day in America which we need to start preparing our stomachs for the goodies to come. This year, you can save yourself thousands of calories by using these party food alternatives at kickoff time.

The following is a comprehensive list of both approved food choices and/or healthier substitutes for traditional party foods. Use this list to satisfy your taste buds while saving at least hundreds if not thousands of calories in the process. If you use these strategies consistently for parties and social gatherings over the course of the year, this could prevent 5-10 lbs of fat gain… easily!

Section I- Appetizers

• Naked Sandwiches (preferably bun-less, only use whole grain bun option if absolutely needed)
• Thin Crust Whole Grain Pizza
• Fruit Salad (throw low carb whipped cream on top as desired)
• Super Salad Bowl (use unlimited veggies and meats, dip dressing on the side or use low calorie substitutes)
• Sweet Potato Fries
• Tuna or Chicken Salad
• Nut Butter on Celery Sticks
• Mixed Nuts (no sugar, unroasted, low in salt)
• Cheese, Eggs, and Meat Tray
• Raw Veggies (use dip sparingly)
• Grilled/Sauteed Veggies (use extra virgin olive or coconut oil)
• Figure-Friendly Nachos (see “accessories” below for ingredients: tortillas, cheese, salsa, and guac)
• Buffalo Chicken Bites (skinless, no breading, use low calorie buffalo sauce sparingly)
• Pasta Salad (use whole grain pasta and go easy on the dressings, choosing marina based sauces over creamier versions)

Section II- Accessories

• Natural Whole Grain Tortillas
• Natural Baked Chips
• Natural Cheetohs
• Natural Lipton Green Teas (or other low calorie/carb beverages)
• Water
• Natural Salsa
• Guacamole
• Salad Dressings: Vinegars of choice (apple cider, red wine, balsamic, etc.)
• Other Low Calorie Condiments of Choice: mustard, hot sauce, horseradish, etc.



Section III- Main Courses

• Lettuce Burgers (use extra lean sirloin or bison, preferably bun-less only using whole grain bun option if absolutely needed)
• Rotisserie Chicken (choose “plain” and remove skin and dab off any grease as needed with paper towel)
• Extra Lean Kosher Hot Dogs (preferably bun-less, only use whole grain bun option if absolutely needed)
• Chili (preferably bean-less, only use if absolutely needed and feel free to swap extra lean turkey for the beef version to cut down fat intake)
• Pizza (see “appetizers” above or use whole grain/thin crust options from restaurants or frozen food isles)



Section IV- Desserts

• Edy’s Grand Light Ice Cream
• Prograde Cravers (100% organic chocolate snacks bars)
• Larabars
• Cocoa Via Bars or Packs
• Low Carb Cheesecake from Cheesecake Factory
• Protein Cookies (swap in protein powder for flour)


BONUS- Top 10 Tips to Save Thousands of Calories on Super Bowl Sunday

1.) Do not fast in preparation for a feast as it will turn your body into a famished fat-storing machine the next time you eat. The resulting low blood sugar levels that come from not eating for four hours or more make you crave junk foods high in both fat and refined sugars.

2.) Hydrate: Drink at least two to four cups of water before eating AND one to two cups every 15-30 minutes after you start eating to fill your stomach, and prevent overeating that can be triggered by dehydration.

3.) Eliminate Empty Liquid Calories: Minimize or eliminate all fruit juices, regular sodas, and alcohol. Opt for water, tea, or low calorie/carb beverages in moderation to leave more room for whole food choices that have more nutritional value and better fill you up.

4.) Go Naked: Replace all buns or breading for sandwiches with a lettuce wrap to cut calories, stabilize blood sugar, and boost fiber and micronutrient intake.

5.) Replace All White with Brown (Or Better Yet... Green!): Be sure to use the whole grain alternatives for any starch you serve at your party (e.g. chips, tortillas, breads, rice, pasta). Whole grains have more vitamins and minerals and are high in fiber which means they won’t have as negative of an impact on your blood sugar compared to its white counterparts. You can also go one step further by replacing all brown with green in the form of green veggies.

6.) Focus on eating lean proteins and fruits and veggies first. Use these in unlimited amounts as needed to fill you up and best prevent the typical party “killshot” of high carb and high fat meals (e.g. thick crust pizza with extra full-fat cheese).

7.) Never eat directly out of the bag or community bowl. Use smaller plates to put your food on while limiting yourself to a pre-set plate total (e.g. three-four plate maximum during a three-hour football game).

8.) Replace Gold With Green: Opt for guacamole over cheese for your salads and chips. Guacamole is not only low in saturated fat and high in heart healthy monounsaturated fats but it also has a ton of fiber that will help fill you up fast and prevent overeating. Though cheese is a true super food in moderation, it is very easy to overeat especially when mixed with refined carb sources like white chips and pizza.

9.) Replace Flour with Protein Powder: Few people know that protein powder makes a great cooking or baking substitute for flour (e.g. protein cookies). By adding protein and reducing carb intake you will boost metabolism.

10.) 20 Chews: Eat slowly and require a certain number of chews before you swallow to allow your brain enough time to get the “I’m full” signal (e.g. 20 pre-swallow chews).

Top Fitness Trends of 2009

I can't believe it's already the middle of December. Let's briefly look back at 2008 and let's see what happened. The fitness industry has tried but sadly has failed on changing enough lives to reverse the obesity epidemic that will hit us in 2009 and into 2010. More specifically, the sickening fact that American adults keep getting fatter, more lethargic, and less healthy has mirrored the unabated deterioration in the health and fitness of our youth population. However, on a positive note, I feel that 2009 will be host to several growing fitness trends that will provide the long-term answers to solve this ever-growing problem:

Fitness Trend#1- Fitness Boot Camps Will Rise, One-On-One Personal Training Will Fall

You've heard about Wall Street. You've seen big companies get "Bailed Out". We are living in the biggest economic recession since The Great Depression. With the disappearance of the middle class and an economy that will most likely get worse before it gets better, the average American simply does not have the disposable income for typical personal training rates that run about $60 per hour.

However, with every problem emerges a solution; fitness boot camps are just that. Boot camps are probably the hottest thing in the fitness game right now. The group training business model creates the ultimate win-win for trainers and clients making the one-on-one alternative obsolete. Fitness trainers get to better leverage their time and maximize profits by working with an unlimited number of clients per hour. Fitness clients are able to better access personal training services in a unique and dynamic team environment that provides better social support and accountability for only a third of the cost of typical one-on-one training rates.

Fitness boot camps are popping up all over the country, and for good reason. If you are trying to lose weight in 2009, do yourself a favor by saving your hard-earned money to get better results by joining a local fitness boot camp.

Fitness Trend#2- Interval Training Destroys Aerobic Training For Improved Fat Loss And Fitness 100% Of The Time

High-Intensity Interval Training is rapidly gaining popularity as the best form of improving both fitness and fat loss. Thankfully, 2009 will see more people doing sprints and less people doing marathons to lose weight. However, make no mistake about it, lots of people are still going to do hours of snail-paced cardio to burn fat.

Aerobic or endurance training is essentially going at a slow, low intensity pace for a long period of time (typically at least 30-60 minutes). In other words, the focus of endurance training is on the total volume of exercise (not quality). Think about all those speed limpers you see every New Year foolishly running for hours pounding the pavement or treadmill to get rid of that winter blubber. Sadly, this results in minimal fat loss and lots of overtraining injuries (e.g. pulled calves and hamstring, hip flexors...).

With interval training, the focus is on the intensity of exercise (quality). Intervals consist of alternating between shorts bouts of all out high-intensity effort and active recovery periods for a much quicker and focused amount of time (typically 10-20 minutes of intervals works best). This approach is scientifically proven to burn nine times more fat AND lead to faster improvements in fitness than the aerobic alternative.

Two landmark scientific studies come to mind here:

The Tabata study compared the effects of four minutes of high-intensity interval training with 45-60 minutes of low to moderate intensity cardio. The interval training group burned just as much fat as the endurance group and also had greater improvement in both anaerobic (think sprinters) and aerobic (think distance runners) fitness… in only four minutes!

The Gibala study compared the effects of 20 minutes of interval training (30 second sprint followed by four minutes of rest) with 90-120 minutes of endurance training in the “heartrate zone.” The conclusions of the study were that both methods of training lead to the same improvements in oxygen utilization (or aerobic fitness). In other words, intervals accomplished what endurance training did from a fitness standpoint in only a sixth of the time!

The time is now to jump on the interval training bandwagon. Come 2009, do yourself and your body a favor and start sprinting to look better naked.

Fitness Trend#3- Lean Protein And Fiber Are The Carbohydrate Addict’s Answer For Improved Health, Performance, and Body Composition

Americans are carb addicts. We simply can’t get enough starches and sugars in our diet, and we have the bulging midsections to prove it. One of the biggest misconceptions about diet today is that eliminated starches and sugars from your diet automatically means low carb. Better said, eliminating grains (even whole grains) and refined sugars still allows for consumption of the other carbohydrates: fruits and veggies. These nutrient-dense carbs are loaded with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber and create more stable blood sugar levels to keep your body burning fat all day long. All of my clients who have lost the most fat have followed our guidelines of unlimited veggies all day long (besides corn, peas, carrots, beets, and potatoes). In other words, eat lots of veggie carbs, and very little of the other stuff if you want to see your abs!

The overwhelming scientific literature proving the fat burning benefits of a diet high in lean protein and fiber is finally catching the eye of mainstream consumers. Protein is the most important component of each and every meal or snack you consume. It builds and maintains muscle, allows your body to preferentially burn fat, increases metabolism through the thermic effect of feeding, and fills you up. Fiber (ideally obtained from fruits and vegetables, specifically green vegetables) helps slow digestion for a more steady supply of nutrients and sustained energy, it prevents overeating at each meal, and it helps keep you more full between meals. Thus by combining protein and fiber every two to four hours, you provide your body with the optimal one-two belly fat burning punch for a leaner, sexier you.]

Without a doubt, people will be consuming more protein and fruits and veggies next year, and their bodies will reap the rewards of this.

Well, those are the top fitness trends for 2009 according to my crystal ball. I hope the information in this article gives you the push you need to be the trendsetter for your own body and the bodies of those whom you care most about in the New Year!

Top 10 2008 Fitness Gifts for Last Minute Holiday Shoppers

1.) A Foam Roller


If you’re like most people, you spend a lot of your day nailed to a desk. And when you actually do have time to workout, all you usually can fit in is the workout itself. Really, who has time for daily stretching?

Well that’s where a foam roller comes in. It’s an awesome corrective self-massage tool that will dramatically strengthen injury prevention and improve performance. It’s ideal to use for at least five minutes pre and post-workout to promote healing of the small micro-tears in your muscles that result from high-intensity training to jumpstart the recovery process. Plus, a foam roller both kneads out and lengthens your muscle and connective tissues thus alleviating, if not eliminating, nagging aches and pains in your back, knees, hips, shoulders, and elbows. It’s like having a personal deep tissue massager in the house!

If you’re going to get a foam roller, get a good one. The cheaper options tend to wear down into a limp noodle for larger individuals after a couple of months. I get all of my foam rollers from Perform Better. My brand of choice is The EVA Premium Foam Roller (about $30), I have used it every day for the last several years and I swear by it! You can get it here
Perform Better Foam Rollers

2.) Resistance Bands


Resistance bands are by far the most simple, convenient, and affordable equipment option in the fitness industry. They supply total portability for killer workouts that can be done anywhere. If you are a busy professional who does a lot of traveling, bands are the perfect lightweight training tool to take your workouts with you on the road as they can fit in the smallest of bags without a problem. If you are a busy Mom looking to workout in the comfort of your own home, bands can make this happen too. Bands provide the perfect compliment to your body weight circuit training workouts for added variety, allow for multiple levels of resistance with practically zero transition and set-up time, are easy on the joints, and are fun to use!

In my travels, I have had the pleasure of meeting and befriending the world’s premier resistance band training expert, Dave “The Might Band Man” Schmitz. This guy is a crazy dude who creates the most innovative fat loss workouts with bands that you’ll ever see. He has his own line of resistance bands that are virtually indestructible and I use them year round to crank it at home or on the road. To get the best bands in the business check out Resistance Band Training

3.) A Gift Card to a Sporting Goods Store For Fitness Equipment and Apparel


You can’t beat a sporting goods store like Dick’s Sporting Goods to get the best fitness equipment and apparel on the market today. I always recommend going with a gift card here because everybody has their own preferences, particularly when it comes to clothing sizes and styles.

4.) A Gift Card to Whole Foods, Nature’s Pantry, or Other Premium Grocery Stores


Rather then waste money on an overpriced restaurant, why not give a week’s worth of groceries to a 100% organic grocer like Whole Foods to a friend or loved one. After all, everybody’s got to eat, but how many of us actually eat the right stuff to support our fitness goals?

I must admit, several years ago I thought Whole Foods was just for rich people or hippies, but man was I wrong. I shop there almost exclusively these days, particularly when buying produce to avoid foods that are typically loaded with hormones and pesticides at other regular run of the mill grocery stores. The key is to go in with a budget in mind (e.g. spend $50 bucks on protein, $20 on fruits and veggies, and $10 on miscellaneous items) only buying what you need.

5.) A Gift Card to a Massage Therapist


Most of us are crazy busy and super stressed out during the holiday season and nothing eases the tension like a good massage. This is about as can’t miss of a gift as it gets, unless you know someone who doesn’t like to be touched. It’s nice to be pampered on occasion, and though the foam roller I mentioned above can do wonders for the majority of your body, nothing can alleviate tension in your upper back, neck, and head like a good massage therapist! Beauty Brands has a HUGE discount on massages, almost 50% off for first time folks. Check it out here at Beauty Brands

6.) Supplements that Work: Protein Powders, Fish Oil, Multi-Vitamin

I have helped hundreds of people lose thousands of pounds of fat. In my journey, I have found only three supplements to be a mandatory part of the optimal fat loss program: protein powders, fish oil, and multi-vitamin supplements.

Protein powders provide great liquid workout nutrition and a convenient meat alternative for on-the-go snacking. For a protein powder, look for a brand low in sugar and carbohydrates and with a mix of both whey and casein (fast and slow absorbing proteins). I like 100% Whey Protein by Optimum available by www.musclesurf.com.


Fish oil, or more appropriately entitled an essential fatty acid (EFA) supplement, is critical to providing key omega 3’s to maximize overall health, performance, and body composition. Studies show that krill oil provides the most effective dosing of EFA’s.

A multi-vitamin provides keys vitamins and minerals that are tough to obtain unless your diet is near picture perfect. I don’t know about you, but I like to cover my bases when it comes to my health. Be sure to choose a multi-vitamin supplement that is made from whole foods rather than synthetic materials, in addition to being made specifically for your gender.

My clients and I rock with VGF+25 and EFA Icon, both included in Prograde’s Health+ Package available at Prograde Products


7.) Sport-Specific Gift


This one’s pretty basic: if you want to give a great gift to an athlete then get them something unique that compliments their sport, whether it be fitness equipment, apparel, or both.

8.) Fitness Book or Subscription to Fitness Magazine


Everybody need bedtime or bathroom reading baby! If you have just read a good fitness book that you know a friend or family member would benefit from, hook them up with their own copy. Better yet, people love magazine subscriptions. Personally, I am a big fan of Men’s Health and Women’s Health. These magazines are filled with tons of workout, nutrition, and lifestyle tips catered to each sex and I never miss an issue. I know it sounds funny that I read Women’s Health being a guy, but I work with a lot of women so I need to keep up with the lingo like skinny jeans and muffin-tops, ha ha ha!

9.) Wireless Bluetooth Stereo Headset – Motorola S9


You can find this one below $100, but man is it worth the unparalleled listening pleasure and convenience. It’s this simple: drag and drop your workout MP3’s onto the your phone’s memory card using a USB cable and then press play and rock out while you workout. There are no annoying wires to deal with and the headphones are comfortably, yet firmly locked on your head so they never fall off and you never miss a beat. You can compare prices and get one here at Motorola S9



10.) A Gift Card to a Fitness Boot Camp


Boot camps provide a fun and exciting team environment that guarantee better results than one-on-one personal training for only a third of the cost… it’s a total no-brainer.

Look for a local fitness boot camp with tons of social proof (client testimonials, especially in the form of pictures and video) to make sure they have a solid reputation and a bunch of raving fans of people just like you. Plus, any good boot camp worth its weight offers free trials and money-back guarantees to all newcomers because they are so confident their program works that you’ll more than likely continue after a test-drive, This way there is typically no risk on your part… besides getting you butt kicked, in a good way ;)

So join a fitness boot camp with at least one other friend or family member or buy a boot camp gift card to give to your loved ones. As a boot camp instructor myself, I know firsthand that clients always get better results when they embark on a fitness journey with others.

And if you live in the local Kansas City area, come work with us for the best personal training on the Eastside – Lee’s Summit and Blue Springs, by visiting www.SexyBackBootcamps.com. We’ll change your life and have you looking better naked this New Year, guaranteed!

Twork it out for the holidays and have a very safe and happy New Year!

CEOs, Executives, Co-workers GET FIT for DIABETES IN UPCOMING 2nd ANNUAL CEO FITNESS CHALLENGE

WIN – WIN… Thousands raised for American Diabetes Association plus Workplace Wellness



November 4, 2008 – Miami, FL – The CEO Fitness Challenge continues its mission to help The American Diabetes Association. CEOs, Executives and Co-workers compete as Teams to Lose Fat and Gain Muscle. Proceeds from registration benefit The American Diabetes Association, which provides research, education and medical care for people with Diabetes. Learn more at www.Diabetes.org

Kri Chay, Official Trainer Hero and Representative of the CEO Fitness Challenge in Kansas City, wanted to ensure that the members of your organization received notification about the 2nd Annual weight loss event, benefiting the American Diabetes Association.

The team with the greatest averaged weight-loss improvement will receive a $10,000 prize and a trip to Las Vegas. Communities benefit as their local businesses improve their health, which equals increased quality, efficiency, productivity and safety. Everybody Wins – employees, communities, and companies.

As it enters its second year, the CEO Fitness Challenge has become a highly-anticipated event for thousands of hard-working employees who want to improve their health. The CEO Fitness Challenge is a 12-week program with the objective of losing fat, and gaining muscle. In addition to promoting teamwork and morale among the teams, the challenge provides incentive for the workplace environment with weekly webinars on motivation, nutrition, exercise and feedback for employees.

Teams can register from November 15 -December 15, 2008. Employees, managers and CEOs are eligible. Each team consists of 5 members. Weigh-ins are performed by Certified Trainers at designated locations/times. Florida Heart Institute will provide on-site health screenings.

www.CEOFitnessChallenge.com