Fiyah powah!

My last post was about fueling your body, wood or trash? I wanted to expand on that.

Go with me on this. These tasty BBQ is your end result. What do you need? FIRE!!! So how do you build it? Do you get some charcoal and lots of lighter fluid to start it? Do you find the best wood around, get kindling and nurture the fire to the best coals you can get?

Where is this going? A student asked me how do I gain weight? I asked him how many calories are you eating a day? Turns out he was at his maintenance level. He would NEVER gain weight at this level. I asked if he knew what his Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) was, he didn't. You want to find this out so you can determine how many calories you need to eat to lose or gain weight. I asked if he knew how many macros he was consuming, he had no clue. That's when I brought up the fire.

So back to the BBQ. I told him to get a tasty BBQ you need to add kindling to start your fire. Kindling is like your Carbs, quick to burn. You can add some lighter fluid to help get things started, supplements, but too much and you spoil your fire.

As the fire gets going you add larger pieces of wood, fats, they have lots of stored energy but you can not start a fire with them. You can change the flavor of the meat with wood chips, proteins. They build the flavor profile, again you can start a fire with them but they are better used to build and enhance. A little Pecan chips mixed with some Apple wood thrown into your mesquite fire greatly changes the way the meat tastes. Proteins can even be the spices and marinades you use to enhance the flavor. Proteins are critical in getting what you want out of your workout. They are the building blocks of the body and if you are not getting enough then your body does not function correctly.

Though out your BBQ, you must tend to your fire. Just as you must tend to what you eat. It is easy to get lazy, buy some charcoal briquets and cook. It gets the job done, but to get a good BBQ you never, never use charcoal, only real woods. So you can do the quick and easy way of fast foods and easy quick microwaved meals, they get the job done. Are they your BEST choice? Let's be honest, do you really think that fast foods will help you achieve your body goals? That's what I thought. Choose your foods well, don't be satisfied with something fast. Losing/Gaining weight takes time, just as in building a fire. Slow and steady wins the race. In the end when you build the right fire you and you have waited 10-12 hours for that succulent brisket it is so worth it. Same is true when you spend years eating right, exercising daily and taking care of your body you are rewarded with the best you there can ever be.

Dammit! now I want some good smoked BBQ. Anyone have any Mesquite?

It is called fast food because it speeds you to the grave. -Chuin

It's only 300 calories.

A cord of wood 4ftx4ftx8ft

                                                                                         Trash 4ftx4ftx8ft











Both of these are the same in volume. So they are the same, right? They both burn, right? Just as a calorie is a calorie, right? Well, just because something has 300 calories doesn't mean it's good for you. Just as both of the pictures above will keep you warm on cold night. Which would you rather have in your fire place at night or using to cook your food? So, why would you choose a fast food meal just because it's claimed to be "healthy" and "a low calorie substitution?" Personally, I would much rather use the wood to use in my BBQ pit. Yes, it does have some things that are not good for you, but it is much, much cleaner to burn than trash. Who knows what is in that pile of trash?  Yet, some people would rather eat trash because it tastes good, it's easier to get, you get more for your buck, blah blah blah. Yet, a more nutrient dense meal will provide more for you. People will scoff at a clean meal. "it has no flavor!" "It cost too much!" bah blah blah.  Yet, burn the wood, it will burn hotter and longer than the trash.

Look at what you are eating, can you say what you are ingesting? Does the ingredient list have more than 3 items? Does your diet comprise of numerous trips to McBurger Queen and StoreBooks? Take my advice with a grain of salt. I am not telling you that you must eat a vegan diet or your going to die!!! Eat what you want, its your body. It's a temple, if you choose to trash your temple, that is on you. Good luck!

the ongoing battle with fat loss

So how many commercials or infomercials about weight loss have you been bombarded with just today? I'd bet a lot! Let me get this out now. THERE IS NO FAST WAY TO LOSE WEIGHT!!!

Whew! That's off my chest. I hear all the time especially from those close to me that they need to lose X amount of weight in the next month or in the next 10 days. It can't happen!!! Be happy with your body and work with what you have. Most people are over critical about themselves, Repeat this to your self, "I am beautiful!" Say that over and over to yourself. Don't say it, then say, but I need to lose this or if only this wasn't so jiggly. When you are happy with yourself you can do more.

Most people live in a constant state of dehydration. Those crazy headaches that you get for no reason is your body screaming at you saying GIVE ME WATER!!! If you are thirsty, you are way low on water.  Yes, you will have to go more to the bathroom, when you first start taking in more water, but he human body will adjust.

Funny thing about the human body. When it's low on water, it holds more, you feel bloated. Solution, drink more water it releases all the excess and you feel better. Same is true with eating. Most people who are "trying to lose weight" restrict themselves from eating. Guess what the human body does? It keeps everything you do eat to protect itself. I would bet that you are below what you need to survive right now.

"Well I eat 1200 Calories a day!" A calorie is only a unit of measurement to determine how much heat is needed to raise the temperature of 1 gram water ONE DEGREE CELIUS. It takes 3500 calories to burn ONE POUND of fat!!! Does that mean stop eating? Go workout for 5 hours? How about eating better? Working out out smarter?  Forget the calorie counting! If you eat clean, veggies and leaner meat you will see a HUGE difference. Restrict the amount of grease that you eat. You need fats to survive. In fact eating fats will aid you n exercise. That does not mean eat a pound of bacon before you go workout as tasty as that may be. Try this 40% Protein, 40% Carbs, 20% Fat. This can be adjusted to 40/30/30. With a diet like this, YOU MUST EXERCISE!!!! Sitting on your BUTT will only make your butt bigger!!

Why the higher protein? Protein helps with the building of muscles. Muscle burn fat. So the bigger your muscles the more fat they burn. Ladies, you will NEVER get muscles as big as a man. You do no have enough testosterone to support that muscle growth. However, if you do start to lift weights you will burn more fat. Spending an hour on an elliptical will help but not as fast as lifting heavier weights. So lose that mentality of if i lift I'll look like a man!

It will take some time. If you are trying to lose weight after a pregnancy, remember it took 9 months to put the weight on it will not come off in a month. If you are tired of the weight gain same thing, it took years to gain the weight, it won't "melt" off of you.

You will not get everything you need from your regular foods, you might have to supplement. Do your research, just because you see flashy ads about people dropping weight FAST doesn't mean its the best. "Mira, Juanita is using BRAND X and she lost 200lbs in 2months!" I call BS!!!  I steered clear of supplements for some time. I did my research and found a great line that does work. If you want to know please message me and I'll be more than happy to tell you what I use and have put my wife and family on with great results.

Man in motion

As Head Instructor of a Martial Arts School, I get asked health related questions all the time. What should I eat before class? What is a good way to lose/gain weight? I am SO sore, how do I stretch this muscle? I can answer all of these and more. Why?

I am fortunate because in a previous life I worked for a Health Club as an Certified Personal Trainer (ACE Certified) and in a Physical Therapist's office as a PT Tech.  I also hold an Assoc. AND a Bachelor's in Kinesiology. 

Let me warn you, what is passing for Personal Trainers today is sad. Anyone, I mean anyone can pay as low as $69.95 for an ONLINE course and boom, you get a certification to print out at home.  Ask what degrees and certifications they hold.  Look for ASCM, NSCA, NASM, ACE, AFFA and CI. These require months of intense study and require continuing education to keep said certification.

Why the rant on Certifications and Education? Lately EVERYONE is a self proclaimed health expert because they say, "the internet said" this is the latest and greatest exercise. "The internet says" don't eat this much or this food. So because some wahoo says something worked for them all of a sudden they are the guru of fitness. Yes, there is a lot of good info out on the internet. Just make sure it is a trusted source.

Man in motion by Leonardo DaVinci

The human body is quite a miracle. It works on a simple principle, put energy in you get energy out. I've always have compared the body to a car in a sense. You need to put gasoline in your car to get anywhere, right? Same with your body, you HAVE to eat(gasoline) for your body to function. You can not take a road trip without stopping at the gas station at some point in your trip.

The human body requires anywhere from 1600-2800 calories per day to MAINTAIN current weight. Why the 1600 calorie difference? Because EVERYONE is different. Some people are sedentary and require less, some are VERY active and require more.

There is a population of people that believe that if I don't eat I can lose weight. These are the same people who say, "I just don't have enough energy! I need something to perk me up." NO!!! You NEED to eat! People gain weight for two main reasons, Either they are eating TOO much and not doing anything or not eating enough and can't do anything. The human body works off this, I eat for energy and need to do something with this energy. I can move and burn it off or do nothing and STORE the energy for later.  There it is, the root of the problem, most people do nothing. They hope that a magic pill will come and take their fat away. As I said earlier you have to eat AND do something, like walk, ride a bike, run, martial arts, canoe, jumping jacks, etc... you get my point. You have to MOVE!!! The human body was designed to move not to sit for hours on end.

I am being very simplistic and not delving into types of food or certain diets or exercise regimes. To stay with my car analogy, the higher the octane the cleaner the fuel. So the more natural your food is the better it is for you. Stay away from the Fast Food places. Back in the day they were closer to natural, but now they are a den of processed madness.

There is so much more I can go into. One of my favorite classes was Exercise Physiology, we went in depth of how the body utilizes the energy you intake. I plan on going further in later posts.

Live Life!!!!!

Shave and a haircut, 2 Bits

After sitting in a Barber shop for 2 hours today. My mind reached for ways to pass the time. I was messing with my phone for a while but I really miss the older days of cutting up with the Barber/Hairstylist. A good Barber Shop will have a group of characters. There will always be a discussion of sports, politics and women.

My first memory of a barber shop was one on Ayers Street in Corpus. I remember the leather strop to sharpen razor blades hanging off the chairs. I asked Dad what was it for, the barber didn't miss a beat, "to give noisy kids spankings!"

Years later, my Mom would take us to see Sandra at Mr. Louie's. She cut our hair for years. She became a close family friend. Whenever Dad would take us, I always noticed he would close his eyes. I never understood why Dad would sit in the chair and close his eyes, almost sleep while getting his hair cut.

As I got older, I ran into a hairstylist named, Tammy, at Louie Louie's. Yes, the same guy open both places. She seemed to know me in a chatty, flirty way. Had I met her before? I really don't think so, I REALLY would have remembered her. Tammy cut my hair for YEARS in Corpus. It got to a point that I didn't have to tell her how I wanted my hair cut, let it be known, I never crossed the line with her. She was my Barber/Hairstylist.

As I got older I ventured into getting professional shaves. If you have never had a professional straight razor shave, do it. It is so relaxing. At first I could not stand the hot towel, or the sound of the blade across my face. By the way, I HATE shaving. yet I love getting a real shave. Weird huh?

Now as I go to get a haircut I see why Dad would close his eyes. It is a very relaxing getting your haircut, when you trust the person cutting your hair. Something today told me I should have walked out. Usually everyone is great where I get my haircut. The guy who cut mine today looked like he had been at work a little too long and he stayed out a little too late. He was jonesing hard for a cigarette and his phone was buzzing away with text messages. I'm not happy with my haircut. So the question is now, go back and have them fix it, fix it myself or wear a hat until my next hair cut. It's not bad just not what I wanted. I was pissed off after waiting 2 hours, so I paid and walked out. So now do I find a new place?

It's a beautiful day!!!

Driving back from dropping Venus off at work and this song came on the radio.  On our way I noticed people driving crazy, honking horns and cutting people off. This song reminded me that, It's your choice! You can think of all the bad things in your life. Yet, it IS a beautiful day. The sun is still going to rise. So what that they ran out of your favorite coffee at the Quicky Mart, the birds are still singing. It's a beautiful day don't let it get away. 

Your problems are small in the grand scheme of things. Will getting to work 10mins late really affect the outcome of the day? Well, it could affect how you see things. Those extra 10 mins in traffic could have been enjoying the sunrise, that crazy looking cloud that looked like a funky flamingo. You didn't see that one? Smile, enjoy your day. Trust me there are much bigger problems in the world. It IS a beautiful day, don't let it get away!

It's a Beautiful Day - U2

The heart is a bloom
Shoots up through the stony ground
There's no room
No space to rent in this town

You're out of luck
And the reason that you had to care
The traffic is stuck
And you're not moving anywhere

You thought you'd found a friend
To take you out of this place
Someone you could lend a hand
In return for grace

It's a beautiful day
Sky falls, you feel like
It's a beautiful day
Don't let it get away

You're on the road
But you've got no destination
You're in the mud
In the maze of her imagination

You love this town
Even if that doesn't ring true
You've been all over
And it's been all over you

It's a beautiful day
Don't let it get away
It's a beautiful day

Touch me
Take me to that other place
Teach me
I know I'm not a hopeless case

See the world in green and blue
See China right in front of you
See the canyons broken by cloud
See the tuna fleets clearing the sea out
See the Bedouin fires at night
See the oil fields at first light
And see the bird with a leaf in her mouth
After the flood all the colors came out

It was a beautiful day
Don't let it get away
Beautiful day

Touch me
Take me to that other place
Reach me
I know I'm not a hopeless case

What you don't have you don't need it now
What you don't know you can feel it somehow
What you don't have you don't need it now
Don't need it now
Was a beautiful day

Weekend at my Grandpa's

In an attempt to resurrect my blog I will be reposting a few OLD posts. I spoke of a few about my Grandpa, here is the first. Enjoy!!

Reposted from May 11, 2008

This weekend I got to spend the weekend with my Grand father. My uncle took my grandmother to Dallas to visit.  My Grandfather didn't want to go so I was charged with watching over him.  It sounds weird, huh?  Me taking care of an 89 year old man.  I felt bad that I had to leave this afternoon.  We was so happy to have me there.  We went to lunch yesterday and he insisted on paying.  I took movies over to watch. He got a kick out of my favorite movie, The Three Amigos.  I ended up sleeping on the couch, oh my back and my neck!  Does anyone know a good masseuse?  I woke up late felt good to sleep late.  Funny thing, I never knew how much my Grandfather influenced me. WE went to luch and ordered the same thing.  I didn't  asked what he was getting and I was surprised when he ordered. It was hard to leave but I had to get home to get ready for work. I could tell that he wanted me to stay again. 

What was funny was talking to my Grandmother after! I didn't get to wish her a Happy Mother's Day. so I was telling her about the HUGE party Grandpa and I through. We had all kinds of fun while she was a away. Then I said, he didn't tell you? Even about the dancing girls? she had the biggest laugh!!