Personal Trainer in Jackson Reveals Why Interval Training is Effective

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A personal trainer in Jackson will tell you that you can exercise day in and day out and still not see the weight loss results you want. If it’s time to get more from your effort, looking into interval training makes a whole lot of sense. This precision workout can provide the calorie-burning push you’ve been lacking in your routine.

Understanding Interval Training

Interval training involves a precision workout that combines intense, but brief, bursts of activity with less intense physical measures. The idea is to blend an aerobic and anaerobic workout into a single training session with a personal trainer in Jackson to maximize overall metabolic demands.

Let’s say a runner does great at 4 miles per hour on a treadmill, but starts to tire at 5 mph. An interval session might include a normal warm up period, several minutes of that runner working out at 4 mph and then a minute or two at 5 mph before the workout goes back down to the 4 mph range.

Essentially, an interval workout pushes the body farther, but not for extended periods of time. A short, but effective sprint in the case of the runner can maximize workout time and increase metabolic requirements significantly.

Does It Work?

The simple reality is interval training does work and can produce a number of benefits. While that 4 mph run does burn calories and helps trim the body, that burst of energy expended during the one-minute run can increase the overall effectiveness of the same amount of workout time without overextending the body in the process.

The benefits of interval training include:

  • Decreased chance of injury – It’s okay to push the body to its limits or near them, but not for too long. Interval training sessions help reduce the chance of injury and undo wear and tear because the burst of energy in the extreme range is very short and occurs after a person is properly warmed up.
  • More effective use of time – Where it might take 45 minutes to gain results running at a single pace, an interval training session with a personal trainer in Jackson can shave time off the routine. Basically, interval training makes for a more effective workout.
  • Increases fat burning – Interval training sessions put the body to work in the fat-burning sense. Studies have shown that interval sessions improve efficiency of mitochondria. These are tiny cells that use oxygen to help create energy. This more efficient use of them can increase fat burning properties of a workout.  And your peak metabolism rates will stay elevated significantly longer than the lower intensity steady state training will.  That’s calories burned for hours after the workout!

Interval training is a great way to get a bigger bang out of your workout time. Before starting a program, however, it’s a good idea to make sure you work with a personal trainer or check with a personal trainer in Jackson at your gym for assistance. This type of workout isn’t for everyone and you want to make sure you are working out appropriately for your fitness level and goals.

Read even more articles on this and other related topics by a personal trainer in Jackson…

About the Author

Clint Barr is the owner of Raising The Barr Fitness, Ridgeland’s premier private and small group fitness training studio. If you’re ready to begin your fat loss journey please call 601-414-3536 right now to receive a complimentary nutrition and fitness consultation (valued at $87).

If you’re not yet ready for our free consultation offer, download our free report “The Truth About Weight Loss” where we reveal the secrets the weight loss and fitness industry don’t want you to know.

How to Be a Social Butterfly without Gaining Weight

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You love going out for nights on the town, partying with friends and being a social butterfly with a packed calendar. You are also trying to lose weight, get in shape and improve your health.

Are the two desires mutually exclusive? While your Jackson personal trainer will want you to watch yourself as you dine and even avoid wine, you don’t have to become a shut in as you work on a program. There are simple tips and tricks that can help you stick to your guns and still have the time of your life.

If you want to lose weight and still paint the town red, consider:

  • Seeking support before you go out – Talk to your trainer, your spouse or the friends you intend to go out with and let them know you want to have a great time without suffering a weight loss setback. Your trainer can motivate you before you head out and your spouse or friends can provide you with the support you need to say no in the heat of the moment.
  • Not skipping meals before going out – Many people believe if they skip meals throughout the day, they can eat whatever they want while they are out on the town. While this sounds good in theory, it doesn’t work. Starve yourself until the evening and you’ll be more likely to splurge on anything that is available immediately upon arrival. Plus, you can slow down your metabolism, which is not good for weight loss. Instead of fasting and then binging, eat small, calorie-controlled meals and snacks leading up to a big event so you can enjoy a normal meal and even a treat while you are out.
  • Avoid the nibblers – If you’re at a dinner party, try to avoid the appetizers, especially if they are high in calories and fat. It is all too easy to let a bite of this and a bite of that add up to a whole lot of empty calories! Wait for the salad and the main course instead.
  • Order wisely – If you’re eating out in a restaurant, take time to really consider the menu options. Go for an entrée that fits in best with the nutritional program you are following. Most restaurants have very healthy and very tasty alternatives to calorie-laden entrees.
  • Be the designated driver – One of the worst things you can do while trying to lose weight or tone the body is to overdo on alcohol. If this is too much of a temptation, give yourself extra motivation to behave. Volunteer to be the designated driver and you’ll have two very good reasons to say no.

Going out on the town can be very difficult when you are trying to drop pounds and get into shape. Restaurants and parties present a lot of temptations. You can stay strong if you plan ahead and formulate a game plan. Ask a Jackson personal trainer or health club pro for additional advice on staying strong in the face of adversity.

Fun Aerobic Ideas

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If you think beneficial aerobic activity is limited to hours at a gym working out on a treadmill, think again! Exercises that produce excellent cardiovascular results abound and they don’t all call for equipment or even a trip to the gym.

While regular trips to work with a Jackson personal trainer are always smart, there are some fun things you can work into your routine on off days, when you are away from home or just don’t have time to make the trip. Chances are if you talk to the pros at your fitness center, you’ll even find your club has lots of options to offer that you might not have even considered.

To vary your routine and increase your enjoyment level, consider mixing up your aerobic exercise lineup with such things as:

  • Cycling – Get a bicycle, a helmet and hit the open road. Stationary bikes do produce results, but the scenery can get boring fast! If you want to work cycling into your routine, it’s a great exercise that can even benefit your entire family. On off weather days, by all means, use the gym equipment. When the sun is shining, hit the open road for more enjoyment.
  • Swimming – This is one of the best holistic cardiovascular activities going. Swimming works the heart and lungs while also toning the muscles. If you don’t have access to a pool at home or in your neighborhood, take advantage of your health club’s if one is available.
  • Skiing – This is a great cardiovascular activity that can be a ton of fun, too. Cross country is the way to go to build up endurance and boost muscle tone and calorie-burning efforts. If it’s not possible to take the activity outdoors, cross country training machines are fun to mix into an overall cardio program. Check with your trainer for advice on getting started.
  • Sports – There are many sports that can serve very well in place of more structured cardiovascular exercises. Tennis, basketball, football, boxing and even baseball are fun to play and they can most certainly add diversity to your workout routine.
  • Dancing – Just get up and dance if you want to work your cardiovascular system and have some serious fun, too. Thirty or so minutes of moving to the beats of your favorite songs can really get your heart pumping and assist in cardiovascular conditioning.
  • Taking a class – Aerobic classes, dance classes, Zumba and other organized activities can increase the fun of cardio exercise and even add to the camaraderie level. Check with your trainer to see what classes are offered at your club or keep your eyes open for fun activities offered at neighborhood recreation centers.

While exercise machines will get the job done, a successful exercise program is one that offers room for flexibility and fun. If you want to increase the variety in your program, talk to a Jackson personal trainer for other fun ideas to mix things up a bit.

Myth: Thigh reducers and ab equipment can spot reduce body fat

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Let’s face it!  You know this to be true.  Doing only crunches to reduce your waistline simply DOES NOT work.  So why do so many people still fall for the late night infomercial touting sexy abs by using their new and improved abdominal trainer, fat melting creme, or fat eliminating pill?  Answer: desperation, convenience… and a lack of complete understanding of how the body actually works.

Think about it… you didn’t gain the body fat you currently have in just a few short weeks.  And you definitely didn’t tell it where you wanted it to be distributed when you gained it.  The opposite is also true.  It’s not going to go away in just a few short weeks from doing crunches or using a thigh trainer, nor will the body just burn abdominal fat while leaving all the rest to be used up another time.  Your body distributes fat evenly over the body and it burns it off evenly over the entire body.  Now… you may have more body fat in one area over another, but that trouble area is not the only place you have body fat.

The key to burning large amounts of body fat is working all the major muscle groups with complex, multi joint movements in a total body resistance training routine to dramatically change and effect your metabolic rate.  Combined with a good, healthy supportive nutrition plan and high intensity interval training cardio plan, total body resistance training done in this fashion will not only help improve the overall metabolic demand of the workout, but will also help build and maintain lean muscle tissue that will result in a higher resting metabolic rate (calories burned at rest).

Complex, multiple joint exercises are exercises that work more than one muscle group in the same movement.  In the video above, Drew demonstrates a squat press using resistance tubing which works the legs, glutes, abdominals, shoulders, and triceps.  That exercise is far more effective, and efficient, than working each of those muscle groups separately.  Supersetting that exercise with the pushup jackknife exercise and alternating each of them in a circuit fashion will help you complete a workout in far less time as well.

So, get up off those machines in the gym that isolate each body part and start exercising more effectively, more efficiently and more functionally!  If you need more help with designing your total body resistance training routine, request a consultation with a certified Jackson Personal Trainer today.

Fact or Fiction: “Dieting” Will Eliminate Body Fat

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Fiction!  “Dieting” will not eliminate body fat.  In fact, long term it will do just the opposite.  Let me explain…

The term “dieting” that I am referring to here is what most individuals call it when they say they are “on a diet.”  I’m referring to restrictive calorie dieting.  This is where you calculate the number of calories you are currently taking in on a daily basis and drastically reduce that amount to produce your desired weight loss goal.  You will initially lose weight implementing this strategy, but unfortunately it’s the wrong kind of body weight.

You see… the body cannot decipher between intentional calorie deprivation and starvation.  Rather than the body adapting to make up for the lower calorie intake by burning fat, it will actually slow the metabolic rate (the rate at which we use energy) and hoard any calories that are being ingested to store as fat to ensure survival.  Due to the lower caloric intake causing the body to hoard and store the calories taken in, the body needs alternative fuel sources and adapts by breaking down muscle tissue for immediate energy.

The overall effect of this is a slower metabolic rate because muscle is a metabolically active tissue.  Lean muscle tissue burns up to 50 calories per pound at rest each day.  If you were to add, and maintain, just two pounds of lean muscle in the course of a year, that would be the equivalent of ten (10) pounds of body fat in calories.  So, by restricting your diet it will effectively cause you to burn fewer calories at rest, making it harder for you to maintain a lean body weight.

Not only that, but because you are taking in less fuel for your body, you will become lethargic and lack energy.  Energy that you need to have effective metabolic enhancing workouts, and energy that you need to stay active. It’s a formula for failure, and one that many try to implement all to often.

The lower energy levels also lead to uncontrollable cravings.  The body senses that you need energy so it relays messages to the brain that you need high energy dense foods and fast absorbing foods.  Therefore, fats and sweets become foods that you crave.  This adds to the body’s natural hormone response to store these calories as fat.

So what do you do if you’re not supposed to “diet”?

Remember, the use of the word “diet” in this article refers to restrictive calorie dieting.  Diet by definition is simply the food you eat on a daily basis.  In order to lose body fat you need to combine an effective exercise regimen, including resistance training, with a supportive nutrition plan that will produce a positive change in your body composition.  But for time sake, let’s cover some simple and effective tactics you can start applying to your diet right now to see results…

1) Increase meal frequency – in simplest terms, eat more often.  Studies have shown that eating 5-6 small meals each day is the most effective method for producing a lower body fat composition.  By eating every couple of hours you are preventing your blood sugar from dropping below levels that cause you to crave high energy dense foods (refined sugars and fats).  You also prevent yourself from overeating at each of those meals because you’re not as hungry due to the fact that you ate just a few hours earlier.  So, you’ll not only eat fewer calories at each meal, but it will be much easier to avoid the foods that are primarily stored as fat rather than used for energy.

2) Drink a lot of water – dehydration can slow your body’s metabolic rate by as much as 50%, making it difficult for you to burn significant calories at rest.  Water is calorie free and can make you feel more full as well.  Make sure you are drinking water throughout the day and especially when exercising.  To know whether or not you are drinking enough water, simply monitor your urine color.  The more concentrated (dark) your urine, the more dehydrated you are.  Conversely, the more diluted (clear) your urine, the more hydrated you are.

3) Eat Your Vegetables – research shows that individuals who consume vegetables regularly each day are significantly leaner than individuals who do not consume vegetables regularly each day.  The reason is because most vegetables are low energy dense foods with a high nutrient value.  Example: 2 cups of steamed broccoli is just 87 calories.  In contrast, just one glazed donut can be as high as 350 calories.  Moreover, the donut is composed of simple, refined carbohydrates that break down quickly and don’t sustain you for very long.  Broccoli is a complex, fibrous carbohydrate that takes significantly more time, and more energy, to be broken down by the body.

You don’t have to restrict your calories and starve yourself to get the lean, tone body that you’ve always wanted.  Quite the contrary.  Eat healthier foods more often and combine that with a structured exercise regimen that includes resistance training, and your goals can be achieved.

If after reading this you are still struggling to connect all the dots, you can (and should) seek help.  Reach out to us, that’s why we’re here.  Submit your questions in the comments section below and we’ll gladly respond as soon as we possibly can.  And feel free to request a no obligation health and fitness consultation.  You can also pick up a copy of our “True Success: Nutrition for FAST Fat Loss” DVD by clicking on the banner at the top right hand corner of this page.

To your success,

Clint Barr

Tips For Making Good Food Choices

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You’ve made up your mind to lose weight. You know you need to eat healthier and smarter to make it happen. Unfortunately, knowing and doing are two very different things. Temptations do lurk around practically every corner.

Can you resist and put yourself on a healthier path? You bet you can! These tricks and tips can help you navigate around temptations:

  • Make your home a haven – It’s probably not feasible to put yourself out of the path of temptations all the time. You can, however, give yourself one “safe place” where sweets and other treats are not found in abundance. Get rid of the junk food in your own home by giving it away or tossing it out.
  • Change cooking habits – Eating right doesn’t mean having to give up on flavor. When you opt to grill, broil, boil or bake your favorite foods instead of frying them, you can make a big difference in your eating habits. Replace heavy sauces and tons of butter with spices and healthy side dishes. Be creative on this front and you are likely to find making good food choices tastes quite good.
  • Don’t skip meals – Skipping meals and even planned snacks is bad for your metabolism. It can also make you so hungry at mealtime that you’ll be more likely to select faster, less healthy choices. Eat throughout the day and your hunger level won’t get out of control.
  • Order wisely – Even if you have to eat out, try to look for healthier choices on a menu. Even fast-food restaurants do offer alternatives to fried, calorie-laden foods on their menus.
  • Stock up on healthy snacks – Replace those bags of chips and chocolate bars with healthier snacks. Fresh fruits and vegetables, low-fat yogurt and other options can fuel your body and satisfy cravings, too.
  • Cut out sugary drinks – Don’t overlook the need to stop drinking sugary sodas or juices when losing weight is the plan. Opt for lower-calorie choices and your body will thank you for it.  Water is always the best option.  Feel free to add lemons or cucumbers to make it a bit more palatable.
  • Think before you eat – Before popping a doughnut or other unhealthy choice into your mouth, stop and think. It’s also a very good idea to read labels when shopping to make sure you know exactly what you are buying and putting into your body.

Making healthy food choices isn’t easy, but it can quickly become a habit. Be creative in your food choices, vary your menu plans and seek advice from your trainer and you are likely to find that eating healthy never tasted better. Changing lifestyle choices doesn’t mean giving up on flavor or going hungry.

 

Why You Can Benefit from Madison Personal Trainers

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With Madison personal trainers you can improve your life through a healthier choices and fitness. Deciding where and how to begin your fitness journey are just as important as making the decision to begin in the first place. For those that have never traveled down this path before, it can be complicated and confusing. That’s why working with Madison personal trainers is a great choice for beginners and lifelong fitness devotees alike. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at how the personalized attention of a trainer can help you reach your goals.

You Don’t Have to Do This Alone

How many times have you started a new exercise routine and followed it faithfully for three weeks before you’ve found that your enthusiasm is long gone? Be honest – it’s easy to make excuses to avoid exercise. “I had a rough day at work,” “I’m too busy today,” “I didn’t get enough sleep last night,” the list goes on and on. But how quick would you be to make excuses if you know there was someone waiting for you at the gym?

And once you get to the gym, going through the motions alone can be equally intimidating. “How long should I do this exercise?” “Am I even doing this right?” Having Madison personal trainers by your side will help ensure that you can get instant feedback whenever you have a question, not to mention that they’ll monitor your progress and make sure you are working out safely and efficiently.

Focus and Motivation

Madison personal trainers are more than safety instructors in the gym; they can be your personal cheerleader – or even your personal drill sergeant, if you prefer – to help keep you focused on your goals and motivated to make them happen. A good personal trainer will keep track of your progress, and use this information to change or accelerate your workouts accordingly.

Before setting on your fitness path with a personal trainer, make sure that this is someone that you can see motivating you in the future. Do you feel comfortable with this person? Will you feel comfortable taking directions from this person? Being sure that you can form a good relationship with your personal trainer may mean the difference between meeting your goal and getting frustrated enough to walk away from your trainer and your goal.

Tailoring to Your Personal Needs

From the first day you meet with your personal trainer, he’s working to help you realize your fitness goals. The first meeting should include a full assessment, including your present weight, body fat index, and what you’re working towards – whether it’s losing weight or preparing for a marathon. This is also the time to let the trainer know if you have any problems such as joint or muscle injuries, are suffering from diabetes or are recovering from a heart attack. Using all of this information, the trainer will create an exercise program that is tailor fitted to your needs to help you reach your goals, and not the other way around. There is no better time than the present to hire Madison personal trainers to make your goals a reality!

Read even more articles on this and other topics by Madison personal trainers…

Three Diet Success Keys to Maximize Your Fat Loss

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You’ve probably heard about how important diet is to the overall fat loss equation. In fact, it is just as important as your workouts. The combination of both proper nutrition and exercise ramps up the body’s ability to burn fat. So, what are the most important factors to focus on in order to maximize your fat loss? Three simple things:

1. Increased Meal Frequency

Recommended 5-6 small meals a day.

Every time you eat, the food you ingest has an effect on your metabolic rate. This process is called the Thermic Effect of Feeding (TEF). What this means is that your body has to expend energy to chew your food, swallow, move the food through the digestive system, etc. The amount of energy used comes nowhere close to the amount of calories that you are eating at a given meal, but it does “spike” your metabolic rate.

Why is that important?

Because your resting metabolic rate is responsible for 80% of the calories you burn on a daily basis. So anything you can do to keep that elevated will benefit you. Furthermore, the more often you eat the less you will eat for each meal, which will keep the total number of calories ingested each day at lower levels.

2. Consume Low Carbohydrate Foods

Be aware of the high starch foods that you consume. You should continue to eat non-starchy carbs in the form of green vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, spinach, bell pepper, tomatoes, etc.). Please don’t confuse these statements with the “Atkins Diet.” I am not saying that you eat just protein and fat. Carbohydrates are still important to your diet and supply you with much needed energy to maximize your efforts during a workout. You simply must discontinue consuming foods that convert to sugar rapidly in your body. The main reason for doing this is insulin.

Whenever your blood sugar is high, insulin is secreted by the pancreas to remove the sugar from the blood. It does this primarily by converting the sugar to fat and storing it in the adipose tissue. More importantly, insulin inhibits the body’s ability to use stored fat as an energy source. Thus, when you consume a high carbohydrate, starchy diet your body is storing excess sugar as fat, and preventing you from burning that stored fat. In other words, you could be exercising daily and still not seeing any results from your hard work.

3. Eat More Fish or Use a Fish Oil Supplement

Recent studies show that individuals that consumed fish oil lost significantly more body fat than those that were given a placebo. Researchers have not determined the mechanism that facilitates accelerated fat loss, but all the evidence supports the fact that it does improve the amount of fat loss in those individuals that consume fish or a fish oil supplement. It is important to note that both groups in all studies also exercised. They made sure that all subjects did the exact same amount of physical activity. Remember exercise combined with proper nutrition is still extremely important for reaching your goals.

Start implementing these three simple steps to improve your diet and you will start seeing some visible results. The ball is in your court now. Remember that exercise is equally important to your goal, and especially resistance training because it helps promote lean muscle gain and increases your metabolic rate. If you’re not currently exercising or using resistance training in your exercise routine a fitness professional can help you design a safe and effective resistance training program.

What to Look for in a Fitness Instructor in Jackson

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You’ve decided to improve your health and lifestyle with a fitness instructor in Jackson. Congratulations! You’ve already made an important first step. The next one is to find a personal trainer that can help you achieve your goals, but where to start? Don’t make the mistake of hiring the first personal trainer you come in contact with, because he or she might not have accredited certification and make you dread showing up for exercise sessions. In this article, we’ll take a look at three important things to keep in mind when looking for a fitness instructor in Jackson; certification, your comfort level and how your potential personal trainer looks.

Certification

Thanks to the rise in popularity of personal trainers, more and more inexperienced fitness enthusiasts are seeking out certification from unlikely sources, such as the internet. Don’t be fooled by a fancy looking certificate or an impressive sounding certification body. There are a handful of accredited certification bodies that offer personal fitness certification and it is worth the time to learn about them before your search – not only because you’ll be able to separate the good from the bad, but because each certification has a different focus on fitness.

Any fitness instructor in Jackson worth his salt will also be certified in first aid and CPR, so be sure to ask about these issues as well.

Comfort Level

Just as every fitness instructor in Jackson is different, everyone seeking a personal trainer has different needs as well. The idea of a drill sergeant as personal trainer may be what you need to keep motivated, or it might ensure that you never show up for a session again. The purpose of hiring a personal trainer is that he or she will push you to work harder than you would by yourself, but the way they intend to push you will make all the difference in the world.

Even in the interview stage, don’t be afraid to ask the fitness instructor in Jackson how he or she intends to encourage you to go on. Also, is this a person that you’ll feel comfortable asking questions to in the middle of a session? Don’t disregard your initial feelings on meeting a potential personal trainer, because if you don’t feel comfortable with him or her, the less likely you’ll be to continue showing up to work out.

How Does the Trainer Look?

Just like the old saying goes, you should never judge a book by its cover, but let’s be honest – don’t you want a personal trainer that practices what he preaches? While you may never know for sure that the trainer achieved a healthy looking body by following a healthy diet and exercise program, you’re more likely to respect and follow the training if he looks like he does. He doesn’t have to look like he just stepped out of last week’s fitness magazine, but wouldn’t you find it difficult to respect a fitness instructor in Jackson if you looked better than he did?

Exercise In A Pill — Don’t Believe The Hype!

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At least that is what researchers are calling it. But is it really exercise?

The drug is called AICAR. It is a drug that they are calling the ultimate workout for the couch potato. You’re going to be hearing a lot about it, if you haven’t already.

AICAR was originally developed as a means of preserving blood flow to the heart during surgery. To date, it is only one of two studies that testing has been done in human trials relating to the drug. The other was a diabetes study in England.

The current study, recently published in the Journal Cell, showed that sedentary mice increased their ability to run on a treadmill 44% farther when administered AICAR. The doses were significantly higher than those in the human studies.

The drug appears to change the physical composition of the muscle transforming sugar-burning fast twitch fibers to fat-burning slow twitch fibers. This leads the researchers to believe that the drug possesses fat burning qualities which could help reduce weight, ward of diabetes, and prevent heart disease.

Don’t believe the hype!

Look at what Dr. Ronald Evans, the lead researcher said about the drug— “It’s tricking the muscle into ‘believing’ it’s been exercised daily.”

Let’s put it this way. One expert said, “believing that you’ve exercised using a pill is like being placed on third base and thinking you hit a triple.” It doesn’t add up.

Why?

Because exercise not only involves skeletal muscle, but the muscle we depend on most, the heart. The actual act of exercise helps improve cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure, reduce stress, and build strong bones. Exercise in a pill cannot do any of that.

As far as the fat reducing properties the drug may or may not have. Fat requires oxygen to be used as an energy source. Therefore, you must exercise to get oxygen in the body and muscle. This process is known as fat oxidation which occurs during the recovery process. Exercise requires recovery, and it is during the recovery process that the body adapts and uses stored fat as an energy source.

Think of it like this: if you went to the gym to see how much muscle you build during a workout and measured immediately after that workout, you will have gained absolutely no muscle. That is because the body must recover and adapt to see the effects of the exercise.

It’s no different when we talk about fat loss. During a workout the goal is to create such a metabolic disturbance that your body takes up to 38 hours to recover. During that time you have an elevated metabolism in which you are burning calories at a higher rate. This process done consistently is the only tried and true method for long term results.

Exercise in a pill cannot simulate this process!

Look. It’s HUMAN NATURE to seek the path of least resistance. But, if you want lasting, permanent health and fitness results, exercise is still the only proven method.

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.”

Robert Frost

Rather than taking the path of least resistance, take the path less traveled. That path requires hard work and consistency. There is no substitute for a sweat drenching, muscle fatiguing workout. It does wonders for your health — physically, mentally, and spiritually.

Clearly the benefits of exercise can not be packaged in a convenient pill. Get up, get moving, and most of all have fun!!!

Eat More Fish…Lose Body Fat!

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Baked citrus orange roughy and fresh green beans

Baked citrus orange roughy and fresh green beans

Orange roughy is definitely my favorite white fish.  Great flavor and texture, with little to no “fishy” scent.  Tonight I combined my fish with some fresh baked green beans….  Mmmm!  Another easy, clean, and healthy meal.  Won’t you join me?!

To your health,

Clint Barr

Raising The Barr, Inc.
103 W. Washington Street #B4
Ridgeland, MS 39157

When Life Gives You Lemons…Make Lemonade

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As a professional athlete I was at high risk of injuring myself.  The thing is, for the 2+ years that I spent playing in the New York Yankee farm system, and four years of college, I merely had minor injuries.

By minor I mean a broken thumb, broken ring finger, broken hand, 10 stitches in my chin, and two concussions… Whew!  Maybe I was more injury prone than I thought.

But none of those injuries were serious in the sense that they required surgery.

Little did I know that during my years as both a college and professional baseball player I had a developing injury all along that wouldn’t rear its ugly head until now.

In just 9 days I will be having arthroscopic hip surgery to remove a bone lesion on the neck of my femur and repair a torn labrum.  And I have to tell you…I’m worried sick about it.

Recently a client of mine asked me if I was excited to finally get my surgery and have the pain in my hip gone for good.

I can’t say that I’m enthused about the actual surgery itself, nor would I say I’m excited that I am having surgery.

But she reminded me of something that I teach all my clients which is when things such as these present themselves you have the choice to decide how you are going to react to such obstacles.  Your attitude towards how you approach “road bumps” in life can be all the difference in turning them into a spring board for making you stronger.

The Student becomes The Teacher!

And I am forever grateful that she reminded me of this very important fact.

You see, no matter what obstacles life puts up in front of you, you have the power to make the best of it.  Your attitude and outlook on every situation can make or break you.

You can sit on the sidelines and sulk…or you can get your butt in the game and rise to the occasion.  Its simple!

“Nothing worthwhile ever happens quickly and easily. You achieve only as you are determined to achieve… and as you keep at it until you have achieved.”–Robert H. Lauer

So when life gives you lemons…make the sweetest tasting, most refreshing, and outright BEST lemonade you can!

Yours in health,

Clint Barr
Raising The Barr, Inc.
www.bestjacksonpersonaltrainer.com

What's for Dinner?… (follow me into my kitchen)

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Spaghetti Squash a.k.a. “Squaghetti”

  • Cut in half lengthwise and remove the seeds from the center
  • Place face down in about a 1/4 inch of water in a baking dish
  • Cook at 350 degrees for 35 minutes
  • Remove from oven, drain water and turn squash over
  • Fill with your favorite marinara or meat sauce
  • Sprinkle with some fresh Parmesan cheese
  • Put the squash back in the oven at 350 for about 15 minutes or until the sauce is warm and cheese is melted
  • Remove and serve!

To eat just take your fork and start to scrape the squash away from the rine.  You can eat straight from the rine or scrape your squaghetti straight into a bowl.

Enjoy!

Yours in health,

Clint Barr
Raising The Barr, Inc.
www.bestjacksonpersonaltrainer.com

Top 5 Resistance Tubing Exercises (Home Gym Series #4)

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Alright everybody.  Today I am here to share my top 5 Resistance Band Tubing exercises.  This is a great piece of equipment.  It is very versatile and its resistance profile matches the strength profile of your muscle tissue.

What do I mean by that?

Well, when you are at your weakest, or when the muscle is at its maximal length, the tubing is at its shortest length.  Conversely, when you are at your strongest (muscle fully contracted), the tubing is fully elongated and thus has more tension or resistance.

You can use this tubing to create different types of adaptations in the muscle than you could with a dumbbell.

OK.  Let’s get to the Top 5:

  • Squat & Press
  • Standing Y
  • High Pull with a Side Shuffle
  • Resistance Band Push Up
  • Squat/Lift/Twist

You’ve seen the video and learned the exercises.  Now you have to take action and put them to use or they just don’t work.  Get to work and have fun!

Yours in health,
Clint Barr
Raising The Barr, Inc.
www.bestjacksonpersonaltrainer.com

Why You Should Ignore All The Government Warnings About Exercise

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Hi Everyone,

Today I want to communicate to you the truth about exercise. I want to explain to you why you need to ignore all of the gvernment warnings about how much you should be moving. As MD Henry Lodge states in his powerful and provocative book, “Younger Next Year” the government’s recommendation to exercise 3 or 4 days per week is only a bare minimum. A desperate plea from the medical profession to a nation of couch potatoes.

Remember this…

Your body literally craves the daily chemistry of exercise. Henry Lodge also puts it this way…”When you get in shape, when you exercise, when you dance, you are sharing the ancient chemistry of movement with every other animal on the planet.” Think of how happy a dog is when he is set free from the leash at the park. You can almost see him smiling. He will run for days if you let him. When you find this universal instinctive truth, there will be no stopping you.

Nature’s rule is simple, do something every day. It doesn’t have to be the same thing over and over either. And really, it shouldn’t. A new stimulus on the body means new adaptations, a new you every day.

You absolutely MUST connect with this truth and this reality. Yes, I know, you might be saying right now that you are busy, life is crazy and “I just don’t have enough time or energy to exercise that often.” These are only excuses and a confusion of priorities. Exercise at least 6 days a week is no longer an option. Especially when you reach the age of 50. Because at that point you literally have two choices. You don’t exercise, grow old and wear out, or you start moving on a regular basis and live a long, healthy, fit and energetic life into your 80s and beyond. I know which one I’m choosing.

Believe me, I’ve heard all the excuses and misconceptions about why people can’t exercise on a daily basis. Helping people work through these is a big part of my job. And regardless of whether or not you ever consult with me on how to make it happen in your life, I want to communicate something very clearly…

Making excuses about how you are too tired, busy, or unorganized to exercise reguarly is just denial. It’s thinking about the whole thing backwards. You are tired and lethargic during and at the end of your day and even in the morning, because you don’t get enough exercise and are not eating well and taking your vitamins.

People become mentally, physically, and emotionally drained from being sedentary. Yes, it’s true. And I know how that can sound to someone who is sitting right now reading this passage. But it really is true, even if it sounds to you like an oversimplification. Arriving on your doorsetp exhausted every night is not living. It is merely surviving, and a really really long way from thriving. I choose to thrive!

Remember, as Deepak Chopra puts it, “Your body’s natural state is to be healthy.” When you are worn out, put out, and stressed out, feeling as though you don’t have the energy to physically move every day and love it, something has gone terribly wrong. The good news is that you can do something about it.

Yours in health,

Clint Barr
Raising The Barr, Inc.
www.bestjacksonpersonaltrainer.com

Top 5 Stability Ball Exercises (Home Gym Series #3)

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Welcome back for video #3 in the How to Build a Home Gym for Under $300 series.  Here are my top 5 Stability Ball Exercises.

  • Stability Ball Crunch
  • Big Ball Push Up
  • Stability Ball Jackknife
  • Stability Ball Leg Curl
  • Stability Ball Cobra (Low Back Extension)

If you don’t want to wait for your stability ball to arrive by mail you can always go to your local sporting goods store like Academy Sports or even the sporting goods department in Walmart.  The link provided above is going to direct you to a much higher quality ball than the ones available in your local store, but those will still get the job done.

Pick up yours today and get started!

Yours in health,

Clint Barr
Raising The Barr, Inc.
www.bestjacksonpersonaltrainer.com

Top 5 TRx Exercises (Home Gym Series #2)

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As promised here are my Top 5 TRx Suspension Training System exercises.

Here they are:

  • TRx Bulgarian Split Squat
  • TRx Push Up
  • TRx Body Weight Row
  • TRx Jackknife
  • TRx Body Weight Leg Curl

If you haven’t picked up your TRx yet just click here to be directed to the only place where these are available.  Get yours today and get your home gym started.
Yours in health,

Clint Barr
Raising The Barr, Inc.
www.bestjacksonpersonaltrainer.com

How to Use the Struggling Economy to Improve Your Health

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I don’t know about you, but I’m getting tired of hearing every day about how bad our economy is. And don’t get me wrong, I’m not here to complain. I think if you’re listening to the news on a daily basis (which maybe you shouldn’t be), you hear enough complaining and negativity.

What I do think is that all of this is actually a great metaphor for your commitment to your health, fitness, and weight loss goals.

How could that possibly be?

Well, let me explain…

I hear complaints almost every day from both clients and society at large about how hard it is for them to eat right, exercise more, and stick to an exercise and nutrition plan that will get them results. It never seems to happen fast enough for people. And do you know why? Because they’re focused on the wrong things.

I’m sure you can relate to this to some degree. After all, most of us in some way or another usually feeling like we could do a little better when it comes to our pursuit of peak health. For example, right now I know I personally would benefit from a little more sleep, a little more water, and a little less snacking on pretzels at night. Yes, those are small changes, but I’m not perfect either.

The point is, that we should always be working on self-improvement. It makes us better as individuals, and then in turn contributes to society’s well-being too. The bigger point though is this…

Change takes time, especially when it comes to turning the economy and your health around. Even though we hear every day that the current economic problems in the world are not going to subside quickly, there is still a strong tendency for all of us to place too much emphasis on small changes that are either good or bad.

The same holds true for your pursuit of your health and fitness goals. I can’t tell you how many conversations I have with people week to week that are focused around their obession with that little number on the scale, or body fat machine, or tape measure. Yes, this is a good thing to an extent. Because just as in running my business, when it comes to your health, you need to watch the numbers. But there is one very important thing you must remember at all times…

You are NOT your numbers!

The only way to achieve true and lasting change, and ultimately your goals, health and fitness or otherwise, is through a constant and steady improvement in all aspects of your life, your personality, your habits, and your exercise and nutrition program.

So, let’s turn the current economic state into a positive right now shall we? Every time, you hear bad things about the economy, simply take a moment and connect with the fact that we all know that it’s going to take some time to turn around. Use that knowledge and awareness to your advantage in the following two ways:

First, don’t react to every bit of bad news that comes your way. And if you need to, turn off the news in your life from time to time. Spend some alone time with your thoughts.

Secondly, use those moments to remind yourself that your pursuit of peak health, and your fitness and weight loss goals will happen faster when you are less attached to the day to day results, and more focused on your vision and pursuit of long term and postive change.

Yours in health,

Clint Barr
Raising The Barr, Inc.
www.bestjacksonpersonaltrainer.com

How to Design a Home Gym for Under $300

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Have you ever wanted to have your own home gym, but could never afford it?  Well in this video I give you 4 pieces of equipment that are absolutely essential for any home gym, they are the only pieces of equipment you need, and together it will cost you less than $300!

The first piece of equipment is the TRx Suspension Training System.  This is quite possibly the most versatile piece of home gym equipment ever made.  And made to go in more than just the home, so you get a home gym and a gym in a bag that goes with you anywhere…and it fits in just about any bag, including a women’s purse.

The TRx Suspension Training System offers even more than simple fitness.  Perhaps you enjoy playing tennis.  Or maybe you are an avid golfer.  This piece of equipment offers it all, even a military version for those aspiring to as fit as our top military personel.

The second piece of equipment is your standard Stability Ball.  As you’ll see in an upcoming video to this video series, the stability ball is great for working the core as well as several other large muscle groups.  It too is extremely versatile.   It can be used for upper body training like Stability Ball Push Ups and Big Ball Push Ups.  And can be used for lower body training like Supine Hip Extension and Supine Hip Extension w/ a Leg Curl.

Thirdly, is the Resistance Band.  You can attach these to a door handle to do standing chest press, standing row, and several rotational core exercises.  In the video I show you some exercises where you can stand on the Resistance Band Tubing.  Just a few of the many exercises that can be done right in the comfort of your own home.  Remember, in an upcoming video in this series I will be demonstrating several more exercises you can do with your new tubing.

The last piece of equipment I think is an absolute must for your new home gym is the Medicine Ball.  You can use a medicine ball to add resistance to several body weight exercises and even combine it with other pieces of equipment like I demonstrated in the video.  A medicine ball is similar to a dumbbell, you may need more than one size and weight to accomodate many different movements, but for now you can get by with just one.

There you have it.  Your very own home gym for under $300.  Let’s review what you should get:

Okay.  Now you have the tools.  Check back soon for additions to this video series where I will demonstrate several exercises you can do using your new equipment in your very own home gym.  Once you have the equipment and the routine you can finally trash that gym membership, save some money, and still get a great body.

Yours in health,

Clint Barr
Raising The Barr, Inc.
www.bestjacksonpersonaltrainer.com

Expect To Be Successful

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Okay, so Tiger Woods didn’t have the storybook comeback that everyone was hoping for….including me.  But that doesn’t mean that he won’t ever taste victory again.539w

Let’s take a look at Tiger’s career, arguably the best in PGA history.  He has won 65 tournaments, 14 of which are majors.  Tiger has 236 career starts and made the cut in 222 of those tournaments.  He is one of the greatest players to ever play the game and he has only won 27.5% of the tournaments he has entered.

Now, don’t misunderstand me, that is a remarkable percentage in his sport and the reason why he will one day be known as the best ever.  But my point is that he expects to win every single tournament he enters and still he has only won 27.5% of the time.

Does that keep him from entering the next event and expecting to win it?  Absolutely NOT!

You have to take the same approach with your health and fitness goals.  Expect to be successful!  Have a mindset that nothing is going to stop you from reaching your goals.  That doesn’t mean you won’t experience some road bumps…and possibly a few road blocks.

Even when it seems you’re not seeing any results continue to expect the best result.  Keep working to the best of your ability and don’t let anything stand in your way.  Break through the brick walls LIFE puts up in front of you!

You have to have the “Eye of the Tiger.”

Do this one thing, adopt this mindset, and expect to be successful!

Yours in health,

Clint Barr
Raising The Barr, Inc.
www.bestjacksonpersonaltrainer.com

Due Diligence…The Key To Success (Tiger Woods Proclaims)

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Hi Everybody,

Well, he’s back! In case you have been living on another planet and haven’t heard the news, Tiger Woods returns to play on the PGA Tour today after missing the last 8 months due to ACL knee surgery.

Why is that important?

Actually, the fact that he recovered so quickly is the biggest news. You see it usually takes longer than 8 months to return from ACL reconstruction on the knee.

tiger-woods-picture-2

When Tiger was asked about what he did to return in such a short time frame he simply answered “I just did my due diligence everyday.”

Basically that means that he did the work that was required for him to return to his job as quickly as possible. In this case his job is a professional sport that demands a lot of him physically.

So Tiger spent the last 8 months doing his rehab and getting stronger, more fit,…better. Eight months, not 2 weeks! He worked his tail off for the last 8 months and he wasn’t looking to get the results he needed in some unrealistic time frame.

And he was CONSISTENT!

You can learn a great deal from someone like Tiger. First and foremost he had realistic expectations for when he might return because he understood that it would require a lot… not a little, a lot of work!

Secondly, the man stuck to a plan and worked that plan on a consistent basis.

The same goes for your health and fitness goals. You must have realistic expectations or goals. You have to have a plan of action. You have to work that plan, and you absolutely must be consistent at doing it in order to see the results that you want.

Do YOUR due diligence!

Set some realistic goals, make a plan, take action, and stay the course. Reaching your goal is that simple!

Yours in health,

Clint Barr
Raising The Barr, Inc.
www.bestjacksonpersonaltrainer.com

P.S. Doing it on your own is tough. At Raising The Barr Fitness I help you set those goals, create your plan, and help you take action. I pride myself in how I support, motivate, and coach my clients. The accountability I provide can help you stay the course. Give me a call to schedule your no obligation fitness and nutrition consultation. Unleash a “Tiger” in you! Call today.

Is America in Denial About What to Eat for Dinner?

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Americans have grown fatter and sicker than ever. People don’t move, they eat poorly, and in many ways seem unwilling to do much about it. And as the crisis worsens, we seem to grow ever more confused about how we got here, and ever more polarized about setting things right.

There is a quote from one of the experts in the movie, “Supersize Me” where the scientist makes the point that back in the 1800s, people wished for a constant supply of food that was easy to access and plentiful. Well, be careful what you wish for the old expression goes… Because we have that endless supply now, and our culture doesn’t look so good.

Not only have we become as unhealthy as ever, but the confusion that’s now present about what to do about it seems to feed people’s denial about needing to take some action. When people are confused about what to do, action stops. People are also busier than ever, so it becomes easier to eat lots of packaged and processed food, sit behind the desk, and complain about our growing waistlines.

Let me give you an example of how far out of shape the confusion has become…

I’ve had more than one client tell me that they are actually afraid of potatoes. This is mostly a result of their understanding that too many simple carbs are bad for them, which is true.  And there are lower glycemic choices, but here are the facts about potatoes (a whole food)…

They’re a better choice than anything you’ll get in a package (bag or box), and if you eat it with the skin, the round little thing contains as much fiber as oatmeal.  It only packs 150 calories (if it’s not one of those giant ones and you don’t load it with butter, sour cream, and cheese).  It also contains plenty of vitamins and minerals. If you had a complex carb like broccoli on top, you’re doing even better, because the complex carb on top slows down the digestive process even more, adds more nutrients and helps you get closer to your greens goal for the day.

There are literally countless ways to balance the equation in your favor. The energy balance equation that is. If you burn more than you take in on a regular basis, you’re going to lose weight, increase your energy level, and live a better healthier life. It really is that simple, until you attempt to wade through all of the evidence and recommendations.

For now, I’ll leave you with just a few simple suggestions for more healthful eating. If you’re a current client, you’ve heard this stuff before, but I know it’s worth repeating. If you’re not a client yet, I encourage you to click on the Free Consult link to the left so that we can discuss how we can apply these strategies to your individual needs and get you living a better healthier life starting now!

Here are the strategies:

1. Stop eating Junk! Including those big giant pretzels with cheese I see people eating at the concession stands and pretty much everything else you might find there. It’s all junk! By giving up junk for whole foods, you can shed hundreds of calories per day. OK good, you’re already heading in the right direction.

2. Eat vegetables in abundance. There isn’t a diet guru on earth who disagrees with this. You just don’t hear it often enough because the advertising budgets for big food companies are in the billions while the “5 A Day for Better Health” campaign put out a few years back for example only had a million or so. Only about 1 in 4 adults eats their vegetables. I guess it starts as a kid and never improves. That’s a shame.

3. Drink a lot of water. Often when you feel hungry, you’re actually just thirsty. Water of course has no calories so simply making sure to stay hydrated will help you shed some extra calories for the day.

4. Prevent the excess.  Portion sizes are critical to taking control of your health.

5. Eat a great, well balanced breakfast every day.

Yes, of course there are more strategies, but if you simply stuck to these you would be doing better than most of the rest of the population, especially if you pushed that chair back from behind your desk, stood up, put your coat on and went for a walk once a day!

Yours in health,

Clint Barr
Raising The Barr, Inc.
www.bestjacksonpersonaltrainer.com

Is your nutrition your downfall?

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Hello Everyone,

Today I want to share a video with you that explains how you should eat.  Focus on the basics.  Don’t get caught up in the numbers and science.  Just listen to what you should be eating.  I couldn’t make a good video this good and it explains in a nutshell everything I have been talking about the last few weeks.  Enjoy!

Yours in health,

Clint Barr
Raising The Barr, Inc.
www.bestjacksonpersonaltrainer.com

Why You Can't Ignore Good Nutrition

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Let me introduce you to Stephanie.  She came to me with her husband Rick about 12 weeks ago.  Listen carefully to what she says about nutrition and how it has impacted her weight loss goals.

Now, I have to tell you that Stephanie really jumped in with both feet on the nutrition side of things.  And her results reflect her commitment to the changes she has made.  You  should know that the changes she made were very simple and anyone can do it.  So how’d she do it?

Simple.  Just do the following:

  • Eat more.  As long as the food you are eating is of high quality protein and non-starchy carbohydrates in the form of green vegetables, you can eat as much as you like.
  • Eat more often.  Doing this keeps your metabolism at optimal levels.  Plus you actually eat fewer calories because you are never hungry.
  • Avoid saturated fats.  Foods containing saturated fats actually slow your metabolism and sabotage your results.
  • Avoid simple sugars.  Sugar IS the metabolism killer.  It promotes the release of the hormone insulin which slows your metabolism and promotes fat storage.
  • Take high quality supplements to fill the voids.  A high quality daily vitamin pack like Vitalizer and a post workout recovery shake like Physique are Stephanie’s secret weapons to increasing her energy and blasting away body fat.

That’s it.  It really is that simple.  Don’t get me wrong, it requires hard work, planning, commitment, and probably the most over looked factor… Accountability.

If you want to have a life changing experience like Stephanie, you can’t ignore the power of a good nutrition plan.  I want you to know that I am here to help.  Just click on the Free Consult button on the left hand side.  Who knows you could lose up to 33 pounds just like Stephanie.

Yours in health,

Clint Barr
Raising The Barr, Inc.
www.bestjacksonpersonaltrainer.com

Avoid These 3 Foods or Suffer The Consequences

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Hello Everyone,

This week has been a tough week for me in regards to my own nutrition.  Wait… I know what you are thinking… you’re a personal trainer and you always eat right and exercise everyday.  But less you forget, I am still human.

Any way, I guess you could say I have been lazy with preparing meals and planning ahead.  Sometimes I just get tired of trying…  sound familiar?  I found myself lacking fresh foods over the last couple of days and my energy has been sluggish to say the least.

One of the main things I noticed is that I was consuming foods that were processed, had saturated fats, and contained simple sugars.  All of which are metabolism killers!

That small blip in my eating habits has reinforced my commitment to getting back to the healthy eating I am used to.  I wanted to share that struggle with you, and share the 3 foods that literally promote fat storage and turn off your fat burning capabilities.

1) Simple Sugars - things like cookies, candy, soda, fruit juice, cakes, and table sugar are metabolism nightmares!  They cause your body to secrete the hormone insulin which is a storage hormone and effectively throws the water on the coals of your fat burning furnace.  Your body simply refuses to burn fat when insulin is present in the blood stream.

2) Processed and Refined Carbohydrates – white rice and pasta, pre-packaged foods, granola bars, basically anything in a bag or a box.  Processed foods and refined carbohydrates are absorbed by the body very quickly and therefore easily converted to fat.  You should be getting your carbohydrates from fresh, organic (if possible) vegetables and whole grains.  These foods take longer to digest, thus require more energy to be broken down by the body which gives you a significant boost to your metabolism.

3) Saturated Fats – These are easy to identify.  Saturated fats are solid at room temperature, like the marbles of fat in a sirloin for example.  Things like fast food, salad dressing, dairy and other animal fats are very high in saturated fats.  Not only does this type of fat cause a health concern for your cardiovascular system, but they also slow down your metabolism and train the body to store fat rather than burn it.  You can kiss that new body you have been working so hard to get good-bye if you consume these types of foods.  Go for more healthy sources of essential fats in the form of nuts, fish oils, and flax seed oil.

As you can see, if I allowed myself to fall to far off the wagon this week I would have a daunting up hill climb to overcome just to get back to where I was.  Luckily I snapped out of it soon enough and so can you.  Just make a commitment to start eating healthier, fresh foods and stay away from the snacks in a bag and the meals in a box.

You will definitely feel better, I know I do.
Yours in health,

Clint Barr
Raising The Barr, Inc.
www.bestjacksonpersonaltrainer.com

Give Me Something Healthy! When You Go to Lunch Don't You Wish There Was Something Besides Fast Food?

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Here is something new that I will be doing each month.  I will visit a new restaurant each month to show you that there are healthy alternatives to the fast food lunch scene.

There are many great new eateries in Jackson, and some old favorites as well.

Today I visited Blue Moon Cafe which is located on Jackson St. in old town Ridgeland just between Hwy 51 and I-55.  They have great sandwiches that are sure to tickle your taste buds and give you something different than what you normally get from a Subway or Quiznos.

My meal today consisted of a Turkey sandwich with roasted red bell peppers, onions, and baby leaf spinach.  It is served with a mango salsa as the condiment.  I also had the Tuscan Chicken soup which is a very healthy choice compared to french fries or potato chips.

Here is a brief overview of the meal:

  • Turkey – excellent source of lean protein
  • Spinach – high in calcium
  • Red Bell Pepper – non starchy carbohydrate
  • Onion – another great non starchy carb
  • Chicken Soup – another great protein source and light broth, which is much leaner than creamy soups
  • Legumes (white beans in soup) – very good resistant starch that actually helps promote metabolic rate

So there you go.  Check out the Blue Moon Cafe for your next lunch outing.  You won’t be disappointed!

Yours in health,

Clint Barr
Raising The Barr, Inc.
www.bestjacksonpersonaltrainer.com

Want to burn fat in the least amount of time possible… Do This NOW!

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Here is a great video that I put together that reveals the secret behind burning body fat in the least amount of time possible.

If you want to look great this spring, but don’t want to spend hours in the gym this winter, than this is a great way to do just that.  Bodyweight circuits are great for increasing metabolism, promoting fat loss, increasing strength and increasing the mobility of your joints.  But in order to get maximum results from a 10 minute workout the intensity has to be high.

So in this workout you are going to do 9 different exercises:

  • Jumping Jacks — 60 repetitions at 1 repetition per second
  • Y Squats — do as many proper form repetitions in 30 seconds
  • Push Ups — for 30 seconds
  • Squat Jumps — for 30 seconds
  • Standing Y’s — for 30 seconds
  • Crunches — for 30 seconds
  • Mountain Climbers — for 30 seconds
  • Alternating Lunges — for 30 seconds
  • Bench Dips — for 30 seconds

Repeat that circuit for a total of 2 circuit sets and 10 total minutes.

You’ll experience a great cardio workout and gain a tremendous amount of “real world” strength.

Have fun…  And as always I welcome your comments.

Yours in health,

Clint Barr
Raising The Barr, Inc.
www.bestjacksonpersonaltrainer.com

The Time is NOW!

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Dear Friends,

This morning while I was talking with a client, whom I have to thank for spurring this thought, stated that he was ready to finally take control of his eating habits.  Then he said “I’m gonna start next Monday.”

Have you ever noticed how we always say “I’m gonna start on Monday”?  It’s as if Monday’s hold some kind of magical power that makes it possible to start doing something.

There is no time like the present… like NOW!

I have been talking a lot lately about goals and how to set goals.  Hopefully you have written those goals down and shown them to somebody to make them real.  The next step is to develop a plan… a plan of ACTION.  Now you have to physically do what it is you planned to do.

You must put thought into action.  Your desire to lose weight, get fit, look lean, or feel good cannot be realized if it is just a thought.  Thoughts do not become reality until you act on them.

The following exercise will help you do just that:

Every time you think about something you could do to help you realize your goals, whether it is a new cardio routine, a cleaner diet, etc., write it down and within 1 days time do it.

I think of things all the time right before I fall asleep.  So you know what I do?  I keep a notebook on my bedside table and write down whatever it is I was thinking about.  When I wake up the next morning I read through the notebook to refresh that thought and immediately take action.

Haven’t you ever been sitting there and thought something like…”I could do that,” or “I would love to do that!”  Well why don’t you?  Take action on those thoughts.  There is no better time than RIGHT NOW.

Instead of looking back three months from now and wishing you would have started new healthy lifestyle habits months ago, look back months from now as the defining moment in your life when you claimed victory over your health and fitness.

GET GOING NOW!

START EXERCISING NOW!

EAT HEALTHIER NOW!

Now is the time to take action.  Don’t wait for Monday.  I promise you’ll be glad you did.

Yours in health,

Clint Barr
Raising The Barr Fitness

P.S. Need help?  Let us help you Kick Start your health and fitness!  NOW is the time to act and get a leg up on the holidays.

No More Resolutions…

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…Only Commitments to Change!

The word resolution can be defined as something that is resolved.  So if we make New Year resolutions we are saying that whatever IT is, it’s going to be resolved.

Then why do so many New Year resolutions get left by the way side?

Simple…

There was never a true COMMITMENT to change in the first place.  A resolution is only as good as the desire to take action.  Without action there is no change.  You can make all the resolutions you want but if you don’t act upon those resolutions and have the commitment to see them through (and I mean all the way to the end), then nothing will ever be resolved.

WHACK!!

Sorry but somebody has to hit you with a “wake up” stick.  It’s time to finally put some hustle behind that muscle.

Here’s what you need to do:

1.  Sit down and take time to really think about what you want to accomplish with your health and fitness.  And I’m not talking about scribbling down how many pounds you want to lose.  Anyone can do that.  Instead think about what you truly desire for yourself in terms of your health and fitness.

2.  Now write them down!  These are your goals and they do not become physically “real” until you put them down on paper and show them to someone to prove that these are the things that you WILL accomplish for yourself.

3.  Post these goals…no…these aspirations, these desires, these targets,these objectives… anywhere you will be forced to see them everyday.  Put them on your bathroom mirror, your refrigerator, and your desk at work.  This will help you keep yourself accountable to the COMMITMENT you made to YOURSELF.

4. Get off your butt and get to work.  Bottom line…you must TAKE ACTION!

5. Take baseline measurements to start.  How are you supposed to how much you progressed if you don’t know where you started?  Take measurements of your weight, percent body fat, blood pressure, resting heart rate, and body circumference measurements of your waist, hips, thighs, and chest.  Make sure to consistently take these measurements on a monthly basis.

6. Have a plan.  Have you ever gone to the gym and did not know in advance what you were going to work on?  Was it a good workout?  Probably not.  A plan is something that is designed with an end result in mind.  When you wonder aimlessly in the gym you are not giving yourself the optimal conditions to reach the goals you set for yourself.  This is where a fitness professional can make all the difference.  Most personal trainers offer program design as a seperate service to their personal training packages and is an inexpensive way to get started.

7. Grab a friend or find someone in the gym that shares the same desire to change as you.  Support is an integral part of anyones health and fitness.  It’s far too easy to allow yourself to get out of doing your workouts when you are only accountable to yourself.  You need a good support system to make the lifestyle changes that will help you reach your goals.  A good fitness coach can not only give you the support you need, but the motivation, guidance, education and accountability that’s necessary for you to achieve success and maintain it the rest of your life.

Don’t just assume that by making a resolution you will magically achieve the body of your dreams.  Take action and make the body of your dreams a reality.

Like the United States Marine Corps recruiting commercial says “We don’t take applications.  We only take commitments.”  Don’t accept a run-of-the-mill resolution this year… MAKE A COMMITMENT TO CHANGE!

Yours in health,

Clint Barr
Raising The Barr, Inc.
www.bestjacksonpersonaltrainer.com

P.S. If you have a desire to finally make your New Year resolution stick once and for all then give me a call right now at 601-201-3823 or visit the website and make a commitment to change.  Get a complimentary New Year’s health and fitness consult and discover what the right plan can do for you.  Call or visit the website now!

Whether You Think You CAN or CAN'T, You're Right!

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Dear Friends,

They say experience is something you gain when you get what you weren’t expecting.

Well I am finally back from my trip.  I can truly say that my recent trip to Europe was an amazing experience.  I can’t really say what I was expecting, but what I experienced far exceeded what ever it was.

It was facsinating to see how differently others live in another part of the world and at the same time how similar they are to us here in the U.S.  What was truly great to see was how eco-conscious they are in Europe.  The public transportation systems are all electric with the exception of a few buses.  There were seperate trash bins on the street each for glass, plastic, paper, and even a small box on a post for batteries which would all be recycled.

And no matter how cold it was there were more people than I could count walking or riding their bikes to work, the store, or wherever.  Even on the weekends people spent their time walking to market to enjoy the fresh air and the physical activity.

Which brings me to the main point.  One of my clients gave me a great book for Christmas, which I read on the plane to Switzerland, entitled “The Last Lecture.”  Fabulous book!  Get it, read it.  Trust me, you’ll be glad you did.

In this book the author, who is a college professor, is dying of cancer and one of the chapters is on cliches.  One of the ones he mentions is-whether you think you can or can’t, you’re 100% right.

You see, there is one certainty you can count on time and time again, and that is you.  You determine the level of success you will have when it comes to your health and fitness.  If you think you can do something… you probably can and will do it.  The opposite is true.  If you think you can’t, you will never overcome that obstacle and thus never accomplish your goal.

“I don’t have time…”, “Work makes me tired…”, etc. are all excuses that cloud your mind and make you believe you don’t have the energy to put forth in order to get a good workout.  But when you exercise everything is better.  You feel better, you look better, you have more energy,  and you are more healthy.  That is why I love what I do.

So take charge of your health and fitness.  Adopt President-Elect Obama’s slogan “Yes YOU Can.”  Break through the brick walls you put up in front of yourself and overcome any obstacle life throws in your way with the right attitude.

A store in Zurich promoting "change" with an Obama T-shirt.

A store in Zurich selling Obama T-shirts.

You can and you will succeed in 2009!

Yours in health,

Clint Barr
Raising The Barr, Inc.
www.bestjacksonpersonaltrainer.com

P.S. You can take charge of your health and fitness right now!  Give me a call at 601-201-3823 to schedule your personal health and fitness consult and experience what has been missing in your fitness routine.  Let me exceed your expectations and give you an experience that you will never forget.  Call now or visit the website www.BestJacksonPersonalTrainer.com

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