Magaly is in incredible shape for her age, and no I am not going to tell you her age! Take a guess if you would like. As a matter of fact put your guess in the comment section and we will see who comes the closest. And she just happens to have some of the best legs you will see on a woman. And that is not her in the picture. Check out the video and her website to see her.

Anyway you will see in the video, which we just happen to shoot on beautiful Laguna Beach, is a body-weight training video that you can do anywhere, anytime, no gym or equipment required. Yes I still prefer to be in the gym throwing the iron around but I also know the importance of taking breaks, especially when on vacation. Don’t get me wrong as you will see from the video it is a challenging workout and it goes to show you what you can do with just your body weight.

You will see I start struggling at the end of it and Magaly “the machine” just keeps going!

Here is the video! Enjoy!

For some reason I am having an issue embedding the video in this post so….

CLICK Here to watch====> Beach Body workout

Simple yet very effective body weight workout. Give it a try and would love to hear your comments on this.

Don’t forget to check out Magaly at www.magalyaparicio.com for more bodyweight training videos!

Think, Look and Be Strong!

I believe that one of the best quality exercises for conditioning and fat loss are SPRINTS. All types of sprints from hill sprints, to stair sprints, to flat ground sprints, to prowler sprints, to sled pull sprints. Like I have said before, just look how Olympic sprinters are built compared to a distance runner. The majority of  sprinters are ripped and muscular. One of the reasons why is that these quick short bursts of all out power stimulate more muscle fiber throughout your entire body, which in turn increases the release of the muscle building hormone, testosterone.

Now I am not knocking on slow steady state cardio and distance running because they all have there place but if you are looking for the fastest way to increase fat loss and build muscle then sprinting will get you there faster.

Check out this video of a sprint challenge I did with a buddy of mine. Hmm I wonder who the winner was?

Yeah I know I need to stop beating up on the kids, Haha!

So if you are not already doing it then start including some sprinting in with your workouts. It will save you valuable time and get you to your strength goals faster. And make a challenge out of it like we did.

Shoot me an email or comment and let me know what you think.

THINK, LOOK and BE STRONG!

Are you presenting yourself with difficulties or are you taking the easy way out? This does not only apply in the gym but also in the things you do in life.

You have to challenge yourself in the gym to arouse and stimulate new muscle. Are you?…or are you just going through the motions and doing the same exercises with the same weight all the time? Getting on the same treadmill or elliptical doing the same workout over and over only to see minimal if any results.

Well here’s a video of one way to challenge yourself and that way is by competition. Check it out and let me know what you think.

Need I say more?

Now get out there and challenge yourself or someone else and

Get stronger

and Be better!

Also check this vid out for motivation

Think, Look and Be Strong!

And instead of writing about it I shot a video of how I prepare for the gym and what I take with me to get the most out of my training.

Here’s some of what you will see:

- I talk about the pre-workout meal I eat and why.

- I also take you through my gym bag to show you what tools I take to the gym to keep me on the right track.

So check out the video below and please shoot me a comment. Thanks.

I hope you learned something from that and if you have any questions hit me up.

Think, Look and Be Strong!

I believe we have to challenge ourselves in every aspect of life not only to grow physically but mentally as well.

Do you consider yourself mentally and physically tough? Do you challenge yourself in and outside the gym? if not then you have no chance of gaining muscle, getting lean, being mentally tough, and getting what you want out of life.

So what does “taking the path of most resistance mean?

Well in the gym it means doing the hard exercises. The exercises that take you on “the path of most resistance.” The big compound movements like squats, dead-lifts, benching, standing shoulder presses, pull-ups, dips, lifting odd objects, hill sprints etc… What I like to call “More bang for your buck” exercises. These “hard” exercises are what is going to allow you to make rapid gains and will also develop mental toughness.

Not only should you use this philosophy in the gym but also in everyday life. Challenge yourself, get out of your comfort zone and do things you wouldn’t normally do.

-Play a sport you have never tried before

-Go tandem skydiving. (I’ve done and it is awesome!) or bungee jumping, especially of you are afraid of heights.

-Talk to that girl or guy who you have wanting to talk to but have been afraid of doing.

And in the gym like I mentioned earlier…

-Do pull-ups instead of pull-downs.

-Do sprints instead if slow cardio.

-Do free weight barbell squats instead of Leg press or any leg exercise in a machine, especially the Smith Machine.

-Do dips instead of tricep pushdowns

I think you get the picture. The harder the exercise is to do, the better it is going to be for you. Unless of course some type of injury prevents you from doing it. Even then find the more difficult but safe alternative instead of taking the easy way out.

A good way to remember this is to stick with the exercises where you move your body through space not the weight through a space. This will engage more muscle fiber and in turn increase muscle size and strength.

Give this a shot and let me know how things turn out.

Think, Look and Be Strong!

-Tommy T.

-

I will save the “Hit it and quit it” on a saturday nite for another post!

Let’s face it, if you are a normal person, with a regular job, family and other commitments you may find that you do not have enough time to get to the gym and get an effective workout in. Well I am here to tell you that there is a way to do it.

I get asked all the time how long I spend in the gym and when I say 30-45 minutes 3-4 times/ week I always get a crazy “you have got to be F-in kidding me” look!

For some reason people think that you have to spend hours and hours in the gym to gain muscle and lose fat. And that my friends could not be further from the truth! Now back in the day when I first sarted training at age 14 in 1988, I did spend hours in the gym. And although I did gain a lot of muscle I believe I wasted a lot of valuable time. And time has become a lot more precious to me as I get older.

Yes I still love going to the gym and being in that atmosphere…well i should say the right kind of gym that suits me and my goals and has the right people in it I want to be around.

Read this Post for my thoughts on that==> Death of Fitness Centers

Me out and about

But at the moment I do have another job and also a social life, so if I can limit my time to the gym at 30-45 mnutes 3-4 times per week I can still do all the other things I want to do and still reach my strength and fitness goals and that is what life is all about. You don’t have to become a slave to the gym and have no life to get the results that you want.

You may have to get better with time management and prioritize things but it can be done.

Now the way I have designed my workouts lately to get more done in less time is by using antagonistic pairing and super setting of exercises. I also have gone to either full-body days or upper/ lower splits. I either design my own or get them from programs like Muscle Gaining Secrets and Underground Strength Manual. These types of workouts have been tried and tested and are very effective for the “Hit it and Quit it” style of training.

Plus the less time you spend training the more time you spend resting and that’s when you actually grow muscle!

Here’s one of my favorite upper body “Hit it and Quit it” workouts:

1: BB Bench Press        4 X 6-8

2a: Chin-ups                 2 X 8-10 (Weighted if needed)

2b: DB Arnold Press   2 X 8-10

3a: DB Hammer Curls    2 X 8-10

3b: Bar Dips                  2 X 8-10

4: Hanging knee Raise  3 x 12-15

Rest 90 seconds between sets.

And if you don’t know, the exercises like 2a and 2b are a super-set pair meaning you will do 2a first rest 60 seconds then perform 2b rest 60 second perform 2a again and so on for the desired number of sets then move to exercise 3a and 3b do the same and so on. This type of training allows you to get more work done in less time but while still giving your body the recovery time it needs to get the maximum out of each set and rep.

The key is to really stay focused and you should be out of the gym with warm-up and post workout stretch in 45 minutes or less.

Also here’s a video of me performing a “hit and quit it” arm workout with a sled that I thought you might like to see

Give it a shot and let me know how that works out for you. Would love to hear your comments also.

Now get out there and “Hit it and quit it”!

And this is why it should be a priority of yours to add more muscle to your physique this coming year. And in keeping with the number 11, here are 11 ways you are going to add more muscle than ever before this year.

#1: Follow the path of most resistance!

Yes you read that right. The harder the exercise is, usually the better it is for you! So concentrate on more free weight movements and stay away from the machines which make things easier.

#2: Take less supplements and eat more natural foods!

Your nutrition plan should consist of eating all natural foods, lean meats and veggies, Stay away from processed junk in cans and boxes. If you cant kill it or grow it, don’t eat it! Supplements are there to supplement an already good diet not take the place of it. Also there is a lot of crap out there so save your money this year and stick to the basics that work. A good quality Whey protein source, Fish oil supplement, and a good multivitamin/mineral.

#3: Drink more water and less other crap!

Consume at least half your body weight in ounces of water daily. This is the most important and cheapest supplement you can take! Limit or just plain stay away from soda, sugary juices, energy drinks, and any other highly sweetened drink. And yes, coffee is ok, just don’t add a bunch of crap to it… I am trying to swear less in 2011 so I am using crap a lot!

#4: Lift heavy crap!

Yes this includes you girls! You want to build muscle then you have to lift the weight. The more weight you are lifting, the more muscle fiber you stimulate, therefore you will build more muscle! Stick to weights you can lift from 6-10 reps, and your last rep should look just like your first as far as your form goes.

#5: Do sprints:

Sprint up hill, on flat ground, side ways, backwards, pushing something and pulling something! You want to build muscular legs then sprinting is where it’s at! Look at how sprinters are built! Guess what they do? Enough said!

#6: Keep it simple!

Don’t over think things! Your program, or your diet. Give your workout program and diet program at least 4-6 weeks to work then adjust. Too many people change things too quickly without giving it time to work.

#7: Keep a training log!

This goes along with #6. Keep track of what you are doing, How much weight you are lifting, body composition, and measurements. Without knowing where you were when you started, your not going to be able to see if your making progress. Before and after pics are great for this. The camera does not lie!

#8: Surround your self with strong positive people!

You want to get bigger and stronger then hang out with people that are big, strong, healthy and positive! You become the people you most associate your self with!

#9: Manage your time better!

The #1 reason for people not being able to go to the gym or eat properly is “not enough time”. I say BULL CRAP! That’s just an excuse that you will keep using and you will never make progress. If you want something bad enough, like an awesome looking, healthy, physique then you will make the time to get it. Look at your schedule and see how much time you watch TV for or waste time on facebook, or playing video games or doing other crap. I bet you can find 30-45 min in there where you can get a workout in and also prepare some good meals!

#10: Read more!

You not only have to exercise your body but also your mind! I personally like to read motivation books, training manuals, and fitness related articles. Find something you are interested in and read. Even if its 30 min before bed.

#11: Stop complaining!

Complainers are CRAP Magnets! Instead of complaining about how bad things are or making excuses as to why you dont have the body you want, just take some action and change it! You are the only one who can help you!

So there you have it. It’s not rocket science or some magic formula! Would love to here your comments below.

All the best for 2011!

It’s time to gain some MUSCLE!

As you will see I have videos ranging from workouts to motivation, and on nutrition and more.

So here are the TOP 5 most viewed Fitness Training Videos in order from the least to the most viewed. ENJOY!

#5

#4

#3

#2

and my #1 viewed video is…..

Yeah… don’t know why the posing one is number one right now so….

and these may not be the best fitness videos I have done but for some reason they are the most viewed.

Don’t forget to check out my channel and subscribe if you haven’t already. Many more videos to come!

Would love to hear your comments on these. Good or bad.

Thanks,

THINK, LOOK and BE STRONG!

The coach, who just happened to be on a Super Bowl winning team in the past, was saying that when you start feeling tired and winded that it starts to mess with and weaken your mind and confidence and can really bring down your ability to play the game.

Think about it….

You’re in the big game and right at the start you are feeling tired and winded and your legs are getting heavier and heavier. This is going to have a serious effect on your mind and you are going to start doubting yourself and wondering if you can make the plays you need to make, or defend the opposing player you are up against.

This not only just applies to sports, it applies to the majority of things you do in life. And it has to do with preparedness.

For example; when you have that big exam and you know you could have and should have done more to prepare for it you go in taking that test with a lot less confidence than if you had fully prepared for it.

Or you have a speech to give and didn’t rehearse or practice what you are going to say ahead of time and then BOOM, you are in front of a bunch of people sweating bullets, not knowing what to say.

Or you have a big workout session planned but didn’t get enough sleep, ate like crap all day, didn’t drink enough water, and when it’s time to get under the bar you are already beat because you know in your mind  you didn’t prepare yourself the right way.

Like the saying goes: “Perfect practice of the right things make perfect!”

Our minds will give up before our bodies will, and if you know in your mind you didn’t get properly prepared for whatever it is you are taking on then you will be beaten in your mind and that will effect you physically and ultimately lead to failure.

Check out this video of former pro bodybuilder Ian Harrison training me at his gym, City Fitness, in Bradenton, FL. I knew the day before that I was training with him so to prepare, I got plenty of sleep, and ate the right things. And as you will see in the video it was a grueling training session. Yeah there were times when my mind was telling me to quit but by being prepared and with Ian pushing me and having that “never quit” attitude I fought through the mental barriers and finished the sets!

Also when you are at peak physical condition you will be at peak mental strength because of the confidence it gives you and the knowing that your body can push to the limit and beyond what your mind is telling it to do.

This will not only make you a better player on the field but it will make a stronger person when taking on the tasks in everyday life.

Would love to hear your comments on this below. Thanks!

Think, Look and Be Strong!

Well one way you can fix your program if it’s not working or you just want a change is to include other types of training tools into your workouts.

You see our bodies don’t know what we are lifting, it just recognizes that we are putting a stress on our muscles with some form of resistance and will adapt accordingly.

I was brought up in the iron game lifting barbells and dumbells and training on machines and have seen great results in using all those training tools. In the last few years I have swithed things up and have gotten outside the box of traditional gym workouts and now include other strength training tools in my programs.

Don’t get me wrong I still love to get under the bar and lift heavy Dumbells and those are still a main part of my programs. But now I have thrown in some odd object training tools such as, big tractor tires, Kegs, sandbags, sledge hammers, pushing  and pulling vehicles, and sled dragging.

Now your training goals maybe just that you want to look good and don’t really care about real world strength and “being as strong as you look”.

Well my goal is to have both! Look great and be strong as hell!

And yes you can get strong as hell and look great just by lifting barbells and dumbells and including some machine work. But why just stick to that when there are so many other inexpensive tools you can use that will get you outside the gym, and maybe even out of that training rut that you are in!

Let’s face it with the ecomomy the way it is, times are tough for some of us and some gym memberships can get expensive. Most of the odd object strength training tools I am talking about are very inexpensive and some are FREE and you can do your training at home or in a nearby park or parking lot.

Here’s a short video of me and a couple of my buddies hitting some tire flips and farmer walks as finishers to a recent trainig session.

Yeah it’s hard work, but fun and rewarding!

Like I said I still love to get under the bar and do some traditional bodybuilder type training, but since I’ve started to include odd object, strong man type training in my programs, my physique has taken on a new form,

and…

I am getting as strong as I look!

And as a man and warrior that should be our ultimate goal.

Think Strong, Look Strong, Be Strong!