I’ve considered using them now that I bought an amazing new Nutri Ninja blender last night, and I’m looking to burn some stomach fat (it’s the one part of my body I don’t feel great about and I’m motivated to work it down).  My best friend uses them every morning before workouts and they’ve been doing well for him.

Could it be it’s because these women just don’t want me to lose the weight because they can’t themselves?

First, define your goals… i.e. do you want to bulk with muscle or do you want a runner’s body.  It’s important to clearly define your goal(s) first.  Then do your homework from there.  Whole foods are your best source of proteins and other nutrients.  A good whey isolate supplement can assist you if you want to add muscle.  Consequently, more muscle mass will increase your basal metabolic rate and in turn burn more calories and fat.  However, you have to be smart about it.  You have to actually have to be mindful of adequate recovery or you can wind up catabolizing muscle.  In other words you can get better gains by doing less frequency.  However make sure your workouts progressively push you to your limits.  Start slow and light then work from there.  As your lifting gets more intense you will work your cardio as well.  The trick seems to be keeping time beetween sets to a minimum, 30-60 seconds.  Then on to your next set.  Work all major muscle groups.  This can be done in a variety of routines depending on how you fine tune your workout regimen.  You will get the benefit of an anabolic workout while simultaneously getting an interval type of cardio by keeping your heart rate going up and down.  My heart rate fluctuates while lifting between 110-165+ BPM while I am executing my routine.  I have gained muscle, strength, and cardio endurance.

(sorry, started this response on my tablet and want to finish on my desktop)

A lot of guys make the mistake of trying to build muscle while doing excessive cardio work.  This is actually counter-productive if you want to go for mass and definition.  Look at the typical marathon runner.  They look think and gaunt.  That is because all of the cardio they do to train actual catabolizes lean muscle mass.  If this is what you are going for then yes, tons of cardio will burn fat but it will also burn muscle.  This in turn will actually decrease your basal metabolic rate which will make it more difficult for your body to burn calories at rest.  So, I don’t know…this is what I have learned through a ton of reading on the subject of fitness.  I’m sure someone else can add to this or may correct something I’ve said.  However, as previously stated, fitness is not a “one size fits all” subject.  What works for one guy may not be effective for another.  Genetics has a role in this too.  Some people are just naturally predisposed to gaining muscle, others fat.  However, it can all be overcome with the right diet and exercise routine.

Personally, I lift weights 3x week and do very little cardio.  I have shed 50lbs of fat off the scale in the past year.  My clothes have gotten progressively baggy on me.  The funny thing is now the scale has started going back up now that I’m really dialing in my diet.  I am eating a lot of protein but I still monitor my calories in/calories out vs. my BMR on a daily basis.  I do use protein supplements as well as other legal supplements to augment my performance during my sessions.  I time the intake of my supplements so that they are at the maximum peak of efficacy when I am hitting the weights.  I go hard at the gym for 1:45 to 2:00 3x/week.  I am spent when I am done.  And no, I’m not trying show off by lifting the heaviest, largest stack of iron in the gym.  Rather, I go for more moderate weight and more sets/reps.  I have actually gotten really good results thus far.  It takes time, patience, and discipline with diet and routine.  I make sure and take my recovery time in between sessions so my body can build muscle.  As previously stated, the scale has started to go back up but my clothes consistently get bigger and bigger on me.  I’m redistributing my weight i.e. burning the fat and building the muscle.  Ultimately, I stopped obsessing over the number on the scale and made my diet and workout routine the focus of my efforts.  The proof is in the pudding.   My waist is getting smaller and I’m showing some definition and growth in muscle.  I’m happy with the results thus far but it is a long-term commitment to yourself (much more satisfying than committing to a broad).   There is no quick easy fix like everyone on t.v. tries to tell you.  That’s the bottom line.  Improve yourself for yourself.  All else will follow.

Let me recommend a guy on YouTube by the name of Jeff Cavaliere.  He is a physical therapist as well as a professional athletic trainer.  He has worked with a few different major league baseball teams.  He has a ton of practical advice and tips on how to get the results you want.  I have grown to trust what he has to say because I’ve used his techniques and I’ve seen results.  I get a few odd looks in the gym but the joke is on the meatheads that think I don’t know what I’m doing.  WINNING!

P.S.  My long term fitness goal is dubbed “Project Heartbreaker”.  hehe…..I’m gonna have the last laugh!

What got me into looking into this was some “fat burner shakes” I could make with my new blender, and I started trying to get creative with it.  One called for using protein powder, flaxseed, blueberries, lemon/lime, and of course ice cubes.

So far, my stamina is VERY slowly improving (at least I’ve noticed a difference, which I never have in my life before) and of course the weight has dropped.  I just don’t want to be missing out on anything nutrition-wise that would be vital or very helpful to my health.

The funny thing is when you get a really good diet dialed in full of the things your body NEEDS, you no longer CRAVE all the s~~~ that is bad for you.  Processed foods=BAD.  It’s like giving your body crack;  the more you give it, the more your body wants it.

Best of luck man!

Good video, Soul Man, that is pretty much what I do. Make sure to get plenty of protein in your macros, but be at a caloric deficit. You will gain muscle and get leaner at the same time.

Agree. There is jack s~~~ a fruit can give you that a vegetable can’t give you more of…for cheaper…and with less sugar! F~~~ em. Good video, Soul Man, that is pretty much what I do. Make sure to get plenty of protein in your macros, but be at a caloric deficit. You will gain muscle and get leaner at the same time.

Agreed…I think Jeff Cavaliere is on the money with his advice.  He has the background to back up his claims.  Admittedly, I am probably guilty of the “over-training”.  I guess I am going to have to re-assess my workout routine to pack more intensity in to a shorter period.  I’ve been getting good results thus far but another thing that helps progress is to change up the workout routine.  It keeps your body from getting too accustom with a particular routine and will challenge your body to adapt to different circumstances.  That seems to be a really important element in seeking fitness goals too.

Chris, again I can’t stress this enough.  Stay away from the processed foods as much as possible.  Cut out the bread.  Cut out the fruit.  Cut out sugar and processed crap as much as possible.  All this modern processed food is tantamount to cheap street drugs;  it makes you feel good for a moment, but you’ll feel like s~~~ when you come down.  Then you’ll be on the hunt for your next fix.  It’s a snowball effect.  I cannot stress enough how much giving your body what it NEEDS will kill the addiction to processed foods and sugars.  Now admittedly, I still indulge my taste for a few favorite junk foods from time to time but it is very far and few between.  I usually indulge in whatever I want maybe 2 days/month.  If you have the discipline to do that then great.  If not, then steer clear.  I’m way too far down the road to great progress to let myself slide back in to my former self.  I’m committed to me!

AFTERTHOUGHT….WATCH YOUR SODIUM INTAKE CLOSELY!  NOTHING RETAINS FLUID LIKE SODIUM!  THERE’S TONS OF IT IN ALL THESE “HEALTHY CHOICE” AND “WEIGHT WATCHERS” MEALS.  DON’T EAT THEM IF YOU CAN HELP IT!