I’ve found myself doing more and more Jiu Jitsu and athletic training lately. I’m loving it. Here’s the schedule I’ve been keeping:
Monday:
5:30-6:30 Renegade Athletic Training (mma)
6:30-7:30 Jiu Jitsu

Tuesday:
7:00-8:00 Weight lifting, PRESSES (chest, shoulders, and usually some biceps). Super high intensity. I’ve been doing timed training. 30 seconds bench press, 30 seconds shoulder press, 30 seconds bicep curls for a total of 1:30 of pure hell. Workout partner does the same, then it’s my turn. (do this for 3-5 rounds then go onto more fun stuff that hit the same primary muscles)

Wednesday:
5:30-6:30 Renegade Athletic Training (mma conditioning)
6:30-7:30 Jiu Jitsu

Thursday:
7:00-8:00 Weight lifting, PULLS (back, triceps). Super high intensity. I’ve been doing timed training. 30 seconds pull ups, 30 seconds bent over rows, 30 seconds skull crushers for a total of 1:30 of pure hell. Workout partner does the same, then it’s my turn again. (do this for 3-5 rounds then go onto more fun stuff that hit the same primary muscles)

Friday:
5:30-6:30 Renegade Athletic Training (mma conditioning)

Saturday:
Weight lifting, LEGS. Super high intensity.

Anyways, I LOVING this new schedule. My Jiu Jitsu skills are getting pretty solid, I’m more athletic than I’ve ever been (quick, agile, balance, everything) along with keeping a fair amount of bulk and strength.

Needless to say, I’ve been training like a madman and I’m loving everyday of it. One of the BIGGEST benefits I’ve noticed is my mental toughness is going off the charts. Mental toughness is something that very few people have. I was WEAK mentally when I first started training Jiu Jitsu and MMA. Like total pussy weak, yet I thought I was tough. This new found mental toughness has carried over into all aspects of my life and I’m reaping benefits from it. The bottom line: putting yourself through hell PaYS.

Here’s a progress pic showing off some bruises from grappling :)

I want to make sure our readers understand that we don’t expect over night changes. That may seem like a common sense thing, but I know how challenging it can be to get in shape. More than that, I know how intimidating the whole “fitness world” can be when you feel like you’re “outside” looking “in”.

If anything, we know that for you to truly transform your body you have to first transform your mind, your thoughts about food, your thoughts about yourself, your thoughts about your abilities and more than anything else, what you truly believe is possible. That is something that VERY rarely comes overnight. It takes hard work. It takes failures and readjustments. It takes consistent effort and commitment. And most of all, it takes time.

I know for me, when I was at my lowest I had ballooned up to 275lbs… I never worked out. I saw a lot of my friends and my room mates “somehow” make time to go to the gym and I both envied and loathed them for doing what I just couldn’t. I never ate healthy – I practically lived off of Dr. Pepper. But when things started to click… when I realized that I was REALLY ready for a change I knew I was so addicted to my habits I couldn’t just drop everything cold turkey. I had tried that before and it never lasted. So, I slowly tested the water.

It started off with cutting back on certain things. I then worked on getting to the gym multiple times a week. And then I built off of each success I had. I focused on the times I had achieved what I wanted and learned from the mistakes and slip ups I made. But no matter what I kept going – I never stopped trying to do better and learn more. And that was the key.

So – I know a lot of our posts can seem intense. They can seem blunt or over the top or whatever. But really, we’re trying to spark some desire for change and we know that takes time. So don’t read everything and think to yourself, oh man, there’s just no way I could just suddenly do all that. That’s ok. Be honest with yourself – that’s the only way you’ll make a lasting change.

Set goals. Daily. Weekly. Monthly. Yearly. Whatever – but take this stuff one day at a time. If you think it’d be impossible for you to suddenly stop eating all processed carbs, then just start cutting back. Give up a little here and a little there. You’ll be amazed at how quickly that will start to breed more and more changes and what’s even crazier is that you’ll WANT to give up other things because you won’t see it as something you’re giving up. Rather, you’ll start viewing those “sacrifices’ as things you are gaining control of… and that is a very powerful feeling.

Soooo – to take from one of my favorite movies of all times – it’s all about baby steps. Don’t feel like you have to do everything over night. Set small goals – baby steps – to make changes that are realistic and can be gradual. Have an end goal to work towards and set a time frame for it.

When you break your goals into small manageable baby steps you’ll be amazed at how quickly you can walk a mile.

Keep it up guys – you’re all doing an awesome job and we are so stoked that we can be a part of your transformation!

Nico

Flu shot? Swine flu shot? NO THANKS. I’ll take care of the REAL issue: my immune system. The reality is the majority of people in this county are sickly from depleted immune function due to eating crap food continuously. Of course, they don’t want to face the REALITY of the situation and would much rather run to the doctor for the magic pill solution: the flu shot. I mean who wants to take control of what they’re eating? That’s way harder then standing in line for 30 minutes at Costco for the magic pill! However, as we all know by now, MAGIC DOESN’T EXIST. If you actually look at studies, the effectiveness of flu shots are widely overestimated.

If you’re serious about avoiding the flu this season, it’s time take control of what you’re putting down your pie hole. Some dopy flu bug doesn’t stand a chance against a well-groomed immune system. It’s time to turn your immune system into a fully armed soldier ready to take out the enemy. Here are 3 SIMPLE ways to make it happen.

1. stop consuming sugar and processed carbs

If you’re serious about your family’s health and your own for that matter, it’s time to take control of your sugar intake. Getting some ‘magic pill’ vaccine is NOT the answer.

Want to be certain you’ll get sick? EAT BUNCHES OF SUGAR ON A REGULAR BASIS. Feed your kids lots of sugar, processed carbs, breads, etc. that will guarantee they’ll get sick.

You see, when you drink a coke, or eat a candy bar, or eat a couple pieces of white bread, eat your pizza, or drink your cool-aide, you literally FLOOD your body with glucose. What happens? Your immune system gets knocked out for up to 5 hours. Literally shuts down and gets recruited to try to get rid of this sudden flood of glucose. It’s busy trying to get the load of glucose out of the blood stream, not patrolling for undesirables.

MOST American’s have chronically elevated glucose levels from eating crappy crap food. Think about your diet. How much of it consists of processed carbs and sugar? If you’re like I use to be, probably the MAJORITY. Then we wonder why we end up with the flu? haha. Isn’t it obvious? Our immune systems are always down. No wonder most people are overweight, obese, on their way towards diabetes, getting multiple colds every year along with the flu whenever it ‘comes around.’ They are continuously stuffing their faces with processed carbs, flooding their system with glucose.

The immune system was meant to handle bugs like the flu JUST FINE. You don’t need some stupid shot and neither does your child. You need to eat foods that allow your immune system to be on patrol. You need to feed your body the nutrients it needs to have a powerful immune system equipped with fully automatic assault rifles.

When you’re continuously ingesting processed carbs, your immune system is the equivalent of a 3 year old with a stick trying to fight off an army of terrorist.

2. get your vitamin d

The vitamin D data is very clear that a lack of vitamin D compromises innate immunity, making it easier for someone to get H1N1 swine flu, as well as traditional flu.

It makes sense when you consider that fact that 70% of children are deficient in vitamin D.

Ways to get Vitamin D:
SUNLIGHT
Pure Cod liver oil, 1 Tablespoon (Note: most refined cod liver oils today have the vitamin D removed! Check your label to be certain.)
Salmon
Mackerel
Tuna fish
Sardines

3. EAT NUTRIENT DENSE, LIVE, NATURAL FOODS

Eating alot of nutrient dense, live foods will allow their immune systems to be on full alert armed with fully automatic assault rifles. Flu bugs won’t stand a chance in that fight. They will be destroyed with ease. Eat vegetables. Eat natural foods that come from the earth, NOT a box.

I highly reccomend checking out THIS article on immunity boosting foods.

Sam

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I walked into the book store today and couldn’t help but overhear an overweight man giving advice to an overweight woman. The new magic pill was “an alkalizing green drink” that would cure all her overweight and health issues. She was diligently taking notes on what he had to say…

Recently, I noticed Oprah was giving out some more healthy living advise. Millions of people take her words as gospel doctrine. Isn’t it a bit ironic that she hasn’t been able to even stabilize her weight? Here’s a lady who has millions of dollars, any personal trainer she could ever want, an entire chef crew, an awesome home gym, catered everything, and she can’t keep her weight under control. THEN, she has the nerve to give out advise to other people? haha. The funny thing is people listen.

The other day my roommate told me that eggs are bad for you because they have fat and cholesterol in them (don’t worry I quickly enlightened him on the truth).

One of my favorite quotes is:

if you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.

Nothing could be more true when it comes to health. There is so much conflicting information out there it’s a joke. SO without further ado, here’s a NO BS, 2 filter guide, for filtering all the conflicting health advice out there.

1. who’s giving it?

Would you take advise on attracting women from this guy?

Would you take financial advise from this guy?

Would you take yoga lessons from this lady?

hmmmm….

So why on earth would you take fitness advise from someone who isn’t fit? Why would you take health advise from someone who isn’t healthy? Why would you take advice from a doctor who isn’t vibrant and healthy herself? It makes no sense.

I always find it funny that someone would give much, if any, merit to some bodybuilder workout routine who is injecting steroids, hgh, among other things. Why would you look to these guys for advise? You’re NOT PLAYING THE SAME GAME on the same field.

2. does it fit into the evolutionary picture

This is really simple folks. Evolution has been confirmed time and time again through many scientific disciplines. Adaptation is observed. Mutation is observed. The human body evolved over a LONG period of time. What did early humans eat? What did early humans do? I wrote about this extensively here.

The next time you hear someone tell you that “eggs are bad for you.” You can ask yourself “would a hunter gatherer have eaten eggs?” If the answer is yes, you know that they’re full of it.

If humans ate it 10,000 years ago, then you should too. Why? The human genome is not much different today then it was then. Our bodies thrive off the same foods. Natural meats, fruits, vegetables, seeds, and nuts. If some study comes out that determines almonds are bad for you, I’ll call BS. Why? Because the human body evolved eating nuts.

Sam

“Strategic management is about two things, gaining competitive advantage, and maximizing profitability.” Said my teacher in the capstone business school class. I raised my hand, “why?” Familiar question that I often ask. “Why can’t a corporation be satisfied with providing real value for real people without the need to maximize profitability or gain an edge? Why can’t they just self sustain?” In other words, why supersize it? The teacher had no answer. That night he posted a response on the classes interactive website. Something to the tune of “Sam’s question was perplexing, and honestly, there is no answer for why maximizing profitability and competitive advantage is the nature of corporations.” He went on to expound and summed it up with an “it is what it is” statement.

The class was somewhat of an annoyance for me. It turned me off from business. I had spent 4 years getting a degree teaching me to work for some selfish entity? When looking at whether a company should be environmentally responsible, the issue was approached from a “what will it cost to care vs. what will it cost to not care.” When looking at hiring, firing, laying off, human resources in general, it was looked from a “will it lead to maximizing profit and gaining a competitive advantage.” This was the almighty filter for strategic management: selfishness.

What mattered wasn’t helping people, what mattered was the need for MORE. MORE MORE MORE. It wasn’t until I read the book “A New Earth” by Eckhart Tolle that my ill feeling toward this way of thinking made sense.

Eckhart Tolle talking about Egoic Entities

…Some egos know what they want and pursue their aim with grim and ruthless determination–Genghis Khan, Stalin, Hitler, to give just a few larger-than-life examples. The energy behind their wanting, however, creates an opposing energy of equal intensity that in the end leads to their downfall. In the meantime, they make themselves and many others unhappy, or, in the larger-than-life examples, create hell on earth.
…..
The physical needs for food, water, shelter, clothing, and basic comforts could be easily met for all humans on the planet, were it not for the imbalance of resources created by the insane and rapacious need for more, the greed for the ego. It finds collective expression in the economic structures of this world, such as the HUGE CORPORATIONS, which are egoic entities that compete with each other for more. Their only blind aim is profit. They pursue that aim with absolute ruthlessness. Nature, animals, people, even their own employees, are no more than digits on a balance sheet, lifeless objects to be used, then discarded.

Huge corporations are EGOIC ENTITIES. Their only blind aim is PROFIT, and competitive advantage. How can you guess this relates to our health and fitness? Well we’re bombarded with corporate food manufactures. Do these corporations care about your health? Does McDonalds care about your well being? Does Pepsi care about your vitality? Do they care about you in any way, shape or form? NOPE. They care about your money. That’s it. THAT’S IT.

How could a corporation that manufactures food maximize profit? How about this: make it taste really really really really good. Hire scientists to study the tastes buds and expose them. Infuse the food with addictive agents (corn syrup, msg). Manufacture artificial flavorings and put them in everything. Then advertise NON STOP to condition in their product, their slogan, and their brand into our minds. Hungry? Why wait! I’m Loving it. Have it your way. What are they really saying? Supersize it. Supersize our company.

Corporation’s one aim? SUPERSIZE IT. They want to be the biggest, the ‘best,’ the most profitable and they want to wipe out the competition and rule all. Why? Who knows. It’s egoic longing. It doesn’t make conscious sense.

Some of you might be thinking I’m a whining socialist. Actually the opposite is true. I recognize the reality behind corporations and realize we as consumers have a HUGE responsibility to FORCE THEM to care. Corporations have given consumers really good things. However, when the product is literally killing people and draining their entire well-being and lives, it’s TIME TO FIGHT BACK.

Every dollar we spend or don’t spend with them is voting. Personally, I’m not going to give McDonald’s my vote. Why? Well watch the video below and you’ll probably feel the same way. Then follow it up with some research on how they are literally engineering their foods to send your taste buds on a roller coaster ride and get you addicted. Then research where they get their animals from and the conditions they are raised in.

Supersize it? NO THANKS.

The energy behind their wanting, however, creates an opposing energy of equal intensity that in the end leads to their downfall.

I hope to be a force for this opposing energy. I’m tired of the relentless advertising of corporate food manufactures. I’m tired of the “I’m loving it” mass societal conditioning attempt. I’m pissed to be honest. I’m really pissed when I look around and see all the victims that these egoic entities have created.

If you haven’t seen “supersize me” I suggest you watch it (full video).

Rage Against the Machine puts it perfectly. “**** you I won’t do what you tell me.” I won’t eat your high fructose corn syrup infused crap. I won’t eat your disturbingly raised, sickly, animals. “**** you I won’t do what you tell me.”

Guerrilla health and fitness. Militant 4 life.

Sam

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