Former Fat Guy Blog

Real People Real Results

Video: The Basic SquatJanuary 7

This squat video by the American Council on Exercise shows proper form and technique for the squat. They’re doing body weight squats in this video, to show form and function, but it’s also a good idea to progress to a point where you’re using weights.

Adding weight to your squat can come in the form of a barbell across the shoulders, dumbbells in each hand, a kettlebell in one or both hands or even a dumbbell in one or both hands.

YouTube DirektLink

Body Weight Exercises

Bodyweight exercise is fantastic. Push-ups can be done anywhere you have a floor and they’re one of the perfect vacation exercises. Squats are just as easy to perform anywhere you have a floor. If you’re using body weight, you can begin with one or two if you’re quite large, then progress as you get stronger. If you’re already quite strong, do a massive set of 50 or 100 squats.

Jeff Anderson the Muscle Nerd uses a combination of many different types of bodyweight exercises plus gym tools in his Combat The Fat Workout program. I’ve used the Combat The Fat Workout as my primary training routine when I was getting in shape to climb to Mt Everest Base Camp in Oct of

Eating At The Table - Food For ThoughtJanuary 6

It wasn’t until today that I decided that I need to revitalize a old tradition from my childhood and reminiscent of the Thanksgiving or recent Christmas Dinners - Eating at the table.

Eight weeks ago, we purchased a gorgeous dark wood pub style table and chairs for our kitchen.

We live in a smallish condo. perfectly comfortable for two with no designated dining area. I chose the table because of the dark wood and it gave the area special warmth. A place for us to dine together. Until then, we had a tiny table not suitable for two.

40% of North Americans eat with their family at home each night each week

Until then and even after we had the table, we shuffled our plates on our laps while we unconsciously, almost zombie like, sat to watch a sit com, the news or whatever reality tv show was on. After a busy day at work and especially throughout the Christmas season, it was our time to relax and our time to rest.

After recently talking to a couple at a party, I learned that they too would quite often watch tv with tv trays. Not only the two of them but their children as well.

Now, I suspect that we aren’t the only ones doing this.

Recipe: Mint Pea Lime Soup with SpinachJanuary 3

Greens, greens and more greens! It is not only a very festive Christmassy color, but most things you can eat that are green are super charged with nutrition. Dark leafy greens are on the top of the charge for nutrient density, and the more you can eat of them the better.

Many people think of “rabbit food” when you say “dark leafy green” but you can do so much more with them than just salad. This recipe uses green peas, spinach and fresh mint leaves which makes it not only good for you but really tasty. Anyone that knows Rob and I, know we like to taste our food so we look for recipes that are healthy AND taste great. No one wants to eat flavorless food. Add more lime, or add some chili peppers if you want it to have more zip.

Mint Pea Lime Soup with Spinach

2 Tbsp coconut oil
3 cups yellow onion diced
4 cloves of garlic pressed or diced
3 cups of green peas (fresh or frozen)
1 bunch of fresh spinach (enough that if you made a salad it would serve 4 as a side dish) washed and stems removed
1 Tbsp celtic sea salt
4 cups of filtered water or vegetable soup stock
10-12 sprigs of fresh mint, washed and stems removed
Juice of one lime, or use bottled if in a hurry - 2 Tbsp or to taste

Cook the onion and garlic in the coconut oil until onion is

Recipe: Healthy Christmas Dinner Ideas and VariationsDecember 20 2008

How to stay healthy and not gain any weight during the holidays and at Christmas is the age old question, isn’t it? Well here are some ideas on how to take some of the old favorites and make them with a slightly new twist that takes out the bad (saturated fat, loads of salt, etc) and puts in the good (lots more nutrition, vitamins, fiber, etc). Pick and choose the ones that appeal to you and mix them together for a holiday menu sure to please the hungry masses and leave them not only wanting more, but asking for the recipes.

Healthy Christmas Dinner

Christmas dinner usually starts with a turkey, so I won’t spend much time on that other than to highly recommend getting an organic, grass fed one over the regular grocery store variety turkeys. I convinced my mom to do so about 3 years ago and we haven’t gone back since. Yes they cost more per pound but consider this - many of the commercially raised ones (apart from being full of hormones, steroids and other drugs to make the grow faster) are pumped full of water and oils before they are frozen. They claim to make them juicier that way - but in reality the turkey just weighs more frozen, and you get less meat.

We used to buy a 20 pounder but the first organic one we bought was only 15 lbs. After my mom cooked it, she said it had WAY more meat, and was certa

Vitamins Dont Work - Aspartame and Sucralose is FineDecember 19 2008

Food Supplements are Big business in America. In the year 2000 Americans ALONE spent more than 16 BILLION in supplements.IN 1994 Americans spent 8.8 BiLLION! Thats double in only six years! Multi vitamin supplements are the most popular and most people believe they contribute to good health.

Americans are skeptical about people (the Government) criticizing their supplements.Nearly half of Americans surveyed believed physicians are prejudiced against use of supplements and dont understand them.

People dont trust the government when it comes to advice on supplements either.Approximately 70% of people said they would continue to use a supplement even if a government agency ( such as the goold ole Food And Drug Administration or FDA) said it was ineffective! (strength Cond J. DEC 2002; ARCH.INT. MED.,161:805-810,2001)

This study is about 8 years old but I tend to believe nothing has changed. If the FDA told you to quit taking your vitamins yet approve Sucralose,aspartame and artificial flavours and colors are all slammed down your throat for consumption how do you explain that?

Dont get me wrong I love my Doctor hes’ a good guy and means well for me but this isnt about the little family practictioner. this is about the big conglomerations that are not making millions their making BILLIONS on selling th