Eat Food. Not too Much. Mostly Plants.

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EAT FOOD. NOT TOO MUCH. MOSTLY PLANTS. Don’t let nutrition be confusing. It really made simpl(er). EAT FOOD refers to eating more whole foods and limiting/avoiding the many highly processed foods that make up the majority of a typical Western Diet. So much of our modern food is made using questionable ingredients to extend shelf-life and increase profits. Other foods are made in a variety of unhealthy ways using ingredients that were never meant to be consumed on a regular basis. No one is ever gonna be perfect 100% of the time. The point is not perfection here. The point is for us to evolve our habits and expand our knowledge so that we are more informed about where our food comes from, how it is made and manipulated, what ingredients are used, what impacts all this might have beyond the intended purpose and why/how various food are marketed. This does not happen overnight. This happens over time. Start slowly, build stronger. NOT TOO MUCH is exactly what it sounds like. Most of us consume far more calories than we actually need. The better the quality the food we eat and drink is, the better everything will be. Starvation is not the goal here. The goal is controlled moderation. Another key concept is balancing calories with varying activity levels. MOSTLY PLANTS refers to all things that aren’t animals or animal by-products, which is the majority of what food actually is. I’m not against eating animals. I’m also not completely against eating known unhealthy food on occasion. I myself eat pretty much everything. That choice is mine. That choice is your own as well. Guilt, shame, hate, fear, etc is NOT my message. The message is this: regardless of what foods you do or do not choose to include in your regular diet, consuming more Vegetables, Fruits (and all the many other plant foods that are available) will ALWAYS be a really good option, quite possible the best option. We actually know this already. Most 5 year olds already know this. We just forget sometimes? Well here’s a friendly reminder. #bssbbooks #michaelpollanfoodrules #austinpersonaltrainer #austinpersonaltraining #nutrition #healthyfood #drgregerhownottodie #blueskystrongbox

A post shared by Blue Sky Strongbox (@blue_sky_strongbox) on Dec 5, 2019 at 10:26am PST

Having a Plan is Essential

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HAVE A PLAN. To be successful with anything typically requires strategy. Don’t get me wrong, I love spontaneity as much as anyone but it’s not the recommended tool to use when we have serious goals in mind. We are 3 weeks away from Christmas and 4 weeks away from a brand new year. 2020. Now is a great time to figure out what you want from this new year. Try to examine the deeper WHY you want this. Devise a plan, a map. Write it down. Marinate on it. Summon your deeper self. Look forward to it. What are you waiting for?! There is no better time than now. #havingaplan #austinpersonaltrainer #austinpersonaltraining #blueskystrongbox

A post shared by Blue Sky Strongbox (@blue_sky_strongbox) on Dec 2, 2019 at 7:34am PST

WHY DIETS FAIL on Netflix

 

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WATCH THIS ON NETFLIX. There is a lot of confusion surrounding the facts of fat-loss, nutrition, calories, diets, exercise, etc. The photo above is of a 14-minute episode on Netflix. The show is called Explained and this particular episode is from the first season. I think it does a pretty good job of establishing some worthwhile facts. I recommend watching it twice. Here are some highlights. ~There is no perfect diet for everyone. ~Most diets are 1 of 2 categories, Low-fat or Low-Carb. ~All diets work when followed. ~All diets stop working once once not followed. ~The only way to see consistent results is to find a diet and lifestyle that can be maintained until you die. ~Failing to be successful on any diet causes unwanted guilt and shame which can lead to an unhealthy relationship with food. ~Guilt and shame are extremely profitable and will certainly be exploited by many powerful, manipulative industries. ~In 1863 a British author wrote the first ever low-carb Diet Book that became a best seller. ~Food changed drastically after WWII, which led to the Industrial Food Complex and a plethora of unhealthy processed food. ~By the 1980’s, obesity was on the rise, food was more unhealthy and cheaper than ever and we ate/drank more than ever, especially snacks, by about 500+ calories more a day, which has continued until till the present. ~1980-2000 saw a HUGE increase in obesity. It has continues to climb until the present. ~Exercise is great for health but not very good for burning enough calories to lose weight in a healthy way without improvements in the diet. ~Losing weight too fast, doing too much intense exercise and going too low on calories can cause a serious hormonal disruption that may make things much worse in the future. ~Genetics may make it more difficult for some to lose fat but it is by no means an absolute limitation. ~Achieving a consistent caloric deficit is still the most important factor for fat-loss. ~Eat more vegetables & fruits (plants) and less of everything else. ~ ~Consume less calories on days you move less. #whydietsfail #nutrition #austinpersonaltrainer #austinpersonaltraining #bssbbooks #blueskystrongbox

A post shared by Blue Sky Strongbox (@blue_sky_strongbox) on Nov 21, 2019 at 10:33am PST

My Attempts to Make Nutrition Simpler

 

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Nutrition should be Simple. Of course, this is seldom the case. Not knowing what to eat or worse, being scared to eat food, can be a serious problem. Nutrition is about balance NOT imbalance. When someone asks me about anything nutrition related I do everything I can to give very simple advice. Everyone’s in a different place. It’s important to start where you’re at. You may have a health, fitness or cosmetic goal. It may be all three. It’s very important to identify what it is you want and need. Personally, learning to understand the difference between Whole Food and Processed Food is a great place to start. Remember that “Food” is not only limited to what we eat but also anything we drink. We all know what Junk Food is but it doesn’t hurt to refresh. Learn to read Food Labels, not just count calories. Have a working knowledge of all 3 major Macro-Nutrients: Protein, Fat and Carbs. Understand that certain food is more like Medicine and some food is more like Poison. All Diets work because they require paying closer attention to what we consume. Any Diet will fail if we stop doing it. There is no perfect Diet for everyone. We each must find our own way live. Sleep, Stress Reduction and Exercise are important concepts that help with everything when applied appropriately. Don’t be scared to take a small step in a healthier direction. Work on educating yourself. Work to improve one main area at a time. In fact, with regards to Diet, try improving only one meal at a time (ex: breakfast, lunch or dinner). It’s ok if it’s not always perfect. No one is ever perfect all the time. Here’s a short list of my preferred references. 1) Dr Greger’s Daily Dozen list-and phone app 2) Dr Greger’s book, How Not to Die-and NutritionFacts website 3) Michael Pollan’s book, Food Rules 4) Netflix Explained series entitled, “Why Diet’s Fail” 5) Precision Nutrition website. I would highly suggest watching the 14 minute Netflix episode first. It’s a great summary of important information that is often misinterpreted in the media and pop-culture. #bssbbooks #austinpersonaltrainer #austinpersonaltraining #drgregor #drgregordailydozen #michaelpollanfoodrules #whydietsfail #blueskystrongbox

A post shared by Blue Sky Strongbox (@blue_sky_strongbox) on Nov 14, 2019 at 10:15am PST

Whataburger and My Personal Weekly Movement Quota

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I love lists. Short or small. Big or tall. It’s a huge part of my strategy to maximize precious Time & Energy. Obviously, I highly recommend them. They need not be fancy or complicated. I often use my phone for list making but I also prefer the old fashioned way of writing things down. This is/was a quick list of movement (exercises) that I like to practice at least 1 time each week. It looks like a lot but spread out over seven days it’s not. Things become more clear when written down. I find things get done when I write them down. The one danger is developing an unhealthy addiction to “getting things done”, which is fine for those things that are truly necessary but maybe not for the rest. The trick is to be deliberate and efficient. Do only what needs to be done. Prioritize action. Save “the wants” for later. Enjoy them. The wants are sometimes more fun when left to spontaneity and improvisation. Anyway, I’ve already said too much. #bssbbooks #carltonlists #austinpersonaltrainer #austinpersonaltraining #listofexercises #carltonsmixtapegumbo #blueskystrongbox

A post shared by Blue Sky Strongbox (@blue_sky_strongbox) on Nov 7, 2019 at 6:37am PST

Essential Priorities for Busy People

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ESSENTIAL PRIORITIES FOR BUSY PEOPLE. Being busy is not unique. In fact, it’s commonplace these days. I would argue that much of our business is due to poor time management, especially with smart phone usage. Of course pointing this out doesn’t really help anything. But with that said, it is crucial to realize that the only person that will help you find more time is YOU. It’s not a crime to be good to yourself. And being good to yourself doesn’t necessarily require more free time. However, it does require quality time with attention to detail, especially with regards to the management of time and energy. Prioritize SLEEP first. After AIR & WATER, sleep is the foundation for everything. DIET is the next big area of concern. The most realistic approach that I’ve found is to aim for at least one meal a day that is close to perfect. Something simple, convenient and repeatable. Think oatmeal w berries, a smoothie, salad, healthy sandwich, etc. The last major priority of health is daily MOVEMENT. You can’t NOT move. Seriously. It’s about way more than just calories and vanity. This is about survival. My best recommendation is to build more WALKING in to each day. When possible, do it while at work so you get paid for it. If that’s not possible, aim for 10-30min of dedicated walking sometime before bedtime. Also, try your best to get at least one STRENGTH workout in each week. You could do this with only 2 exercises in less than 15 minutes. It helps keep muscles from withering away, which does help with metabolism and many other vital functions within the body. Don’t let everything go to sh*t because you’re busy. You’ll regret it later. Be mindful and manage your time well. #austinpersonaltrainer #austinpersonaltraining #timemanagement #timemanagementtips #limitsmartphoneuse #timemanagementskills #healthminimums #blueskystrongbox

A post shared by Blue Sky Strongbox (@blue_sky_strongbox) on Nov 4, 2019 at 8:43am PST

The 3 Major Kettlebell Exercises

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THE 3 BIG KETTLEBELL EXERCISES. You should first know that you don’t actually “need” any equipment for strengthening the body. Our own body weight is enough. However, equipment can make things a bit more fun and challenging. My favorite piece of equipment is a single Kettlebell. In fact, this is what I use most often and have for the better part of a decade. There are many exercises that can be done using a single Kettlebell. However, there are 3 big ones that I see as essential. 1) Swing 2) Goblet Squat 3) Turkish Getup. In fact, these 3 make up the main components of the HKC Certification (Hardstyle Kettlebell Challenge). I use some version of these with almost every client I work with and have for many years. These may look easy but regular practice is absolutely essential to get the most from them and prevent injury. Kettlebells may not be for everyone but you’ll never know if you never try. If you do decide to give it a go, start slow and light. Build stronger over time. Perfect form and smooth-graceful movement should always be the goal. #kettlebells #austinpersonaltrainer #austinpersonaltraining #blueskystrongbox

A post shared by Blue Sky Strongbox (@blue_sky_strongbox) on Oct 28, 2019 at 8:43am PDT

Strength Training requires at least 3 Exercises

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EVERY ADULT NEEDS TO DO STRENGTH TRAINING AT LEAST 1 DAY A WEEK. It doesn’t need to be complicated. Workouts don’t need to be longer than 30-45minutes max. 5-10minutes of a really good exercise done really well could do the trick (think Deadlift, Heavy carries, Kettlebell Swings, Heavy Squats, Turkish Getup, Squat to Row). For health, 1 workout a week can work. For health and to look better, 2-3 days a week is better. Oh yeah, don’t forget Diet, which is THE most important factor in approving appearance. You can never out-exercise a bad diet and too many liquid calories. How many exercises, and which ones? Regardless of how often you Strength Train, each workout must include a Lower Body Leg/Hip Exercise, an Upper Body Push and an Upper Body Pull. There are a ton of choices. Keep it simple. You can do more but I would limit it to a total of 6 exercises. Try to find exercises that involve the entire body while targeting the specific areas I just mentioned. How many sets and reps? I personally like 2-3 sets per exercise. For reps, l like 15 reps some days, 10 reps on other days and a heavy 5 reps on days I feel rested. Any rep range will work so long as you challenge yourself without beating yourself up or allowing form to degrade. Variety is nice. The secret to getting results is NOT missing workouts, walking a lot each day, proper rest and above average diet/nutrition. Never forget that. Get to it! #blueskystrongbox #strengthtrainingathome #strengthtraining #resistancetraining #austinpersonaltrainer #austinpersonaltraining #blueskystrongbox #johntylerhighschool #cujonation

A post shared by Blue Sky Strongbox (@blue_sky_strongbox) on Oct 7, 2019 at 10:39am PDT

Fundamentals First!

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Weekly I get asked about things like the Keto Diet (for the record, I’m not a fan. In fact, I’m not a fan of any non-personalized diet or exercise routine). I also get asked a lot about things like High Intensity Interval Training, Spin Classes, Burpees and other flavor-of-the-month exercises and diet fads that promise nice arms, a firm backside and 6 pack abs. Rarely, does any of this stuff truly matter if the fundamentals aren’t being satisfied. The fact is, the majority of people don’t exercise at all and never will. Those that do, tend to exercise too little, too easy or too much and too hard. Very few of either category will likely exercise consistently for a lifetime or to an age where it actually matters most. Most people eat way too many calories of poor quality food every single day. A lot of people drink excessive amounts of liquid calories, especially alcohol calories. Too many people get too little sleep and stress about too many things. NONE of these things do anyone any favors. The basics need more attention. They always need top priority. A house crumbles on a weak foundation if it ever stands at all. #bssbbooks #austinpersonaltrainer #austinpersonaltraining #faddiets #fadexercises #unhealthylifestyle #fundamentalsofhealthyliving #propersleep #drgregorsdailydozen #blueskystrongbox

A post shared by Blue Sky Strongbox (@blue_sky_strongbox) on Sep 26, 2019 at 11:26am PDT

Nutrition, Start with these: A Dark Leafy Green, Blueberries & Flax Seed (ground up/milled)

 

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Fruits, vegetables and many other “plant” foods are important for overall health. They provide many nutrients not found in other foods. Think of them as earth’s natural medicine. It doesn’t mean that you can’t eat and enjoy other foods. Just remember that for optimal health, fat loss and longevity, plant-food is vital. The typical American diet is stocked full with sugar, salt, protein and fat, often entirely too much to be considered healthy. Too much regular exposure to salt and sugar in food tends to make many fruits and vegetables taste bitter and/or bland. Keep this in mind when trying to add more “plants” to the diet. It may take time for the taste buds to adjust. With that said, make no mistake, we were designed to eat plants. Lastly, this week’s recommendations were: 1)a dark-leafy green 2)blueberries, 3)ground-up flax seed (flax meal). Sure you could eat these on their own but it might be a bit awkward and harsh if they happen to be new to you. Google some different ways to incorporate each of them over time. Experiment. This may even require learning to make new meals that include them. Start with just one at a time. Don’t worry about being perfect. Just aim for consistency. Take care of your body, we only get one. Fruits and vegetables are essential for this. #bssbbooks #austinpersonaltrainer #austinpersonaltraining #fruitsandveggies #nutritionasmedicine #HowNotToDie #darkleafygreens #blueberries #flaxseed @nutrition_facts_org @precisionnutrition #blueskystrongbox

A post shared by Blue Sky Strongbox (@blue_sky_strongbox) on Aug 15, 2019 at 5:29am PDT