No it’s not a new sci-fi TV show. And it’s not the newest innovation in high performance engines. So what exactly is EPOC? It stands for excess post-exercise oxygen consumption. Something that sounds so scientific is actually a simple metabolic function, which can be of great benefit for those looking to lose fat or prevent further fat storage. When you partake in an intense workout your body needs energy to do work. This energy will usually come from stored carbohydrates. Muscle glycogen that was stored from ingesting carbohydrates is broken down into glucose and used as fuel. When you utilize all of this stored fuel your body has to revert to a secondary fuel source, so it starts to burn fat for energy. This is where EPOC comes into effect. If you told the … Read entire article »

Go to any newsstand and check out the pop culture section. You are guaranteed to be inundated with multiple headlines about how some celebrity got in shape. “The (insert celebrity name) super diet.” Or how about “How (insert name) slimmed down.” Sadly people look up to celebrities for a variety of reasons. Some reasons are good but many more aren’t. Just like their positions, salaries and love lives, people are fascinated with celebrity diet and fitness secrets. The magazines know this and cash in. Herein lies the problem. This is all too similar to the television infomercials selling the next best fitness contraption. It is misleading and deceptive. You may be saying, “Alright but look at so and so. They’re in great shape; they must know what they’re doing.” Not necessarily, but someone … Read entire article »

There are fitness icons and then there is Bruce Lee. You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who exemplified fitness more than Bruce Lee. The man understood and achieved things that people today barely grasp. Let’s take a look at how the biggest name ever in martial arts built one of the best physiques ever. Bruce Lee’s training differed from that of other actors. His approach to fitness was to excel and remove all limits. His mission was to get the most out of his body. Not only was he a skilled martial artist in the practice of Wing Chun he also went on to bring martial arts and Asian culture to North America and even went as far as creating his own fighting style called Jeet Kune Doo. Ironically this style of … Read entire article »

There are many different levels of fame in the world. Some people are known locally, others worldwide. Then there are those who are in their own category, a person who can be recognized simply by uttering a singular common name. That name is Arnold. Sure there are millions of people in this world named Arnold, but one stands out among them all. Arnold Schwarzenegger is that person. Chances are if you’ve went to a movie, read a magazine, watched TV or were simply alive within the past 30 years you know who Arnold is. It is a safe bet that you could go to some remote European village and they’ll know who Arnold is just as well as anyone in the United States would. Arnold was born in the small village in Austria … Read entire article »

It is my opinion that boxers (and gymnasts) are some of the best conditioned people ever. Take away the few exceptions and the larger majority of all boxers are in prime physical condition. They endure extensive training and contend in probably the most endurance driven sport. Now you may be saying distance runners top the endurance totem, but remember they’re not being hit and delivering blows of explosive energy. Let’s examine the boxer’s training as one of the best workouts out there. A regular professional bout usually is scheduled to last twelve rounds. Each round consists of three minutes with one minute breaks between. That amounts to thirty-six minutes of punching, blocking, ducking and a variety of other offensive and defensive tactics. There is nobody to take your place if you get … Read entire article »

Every gym has its myths. Fairy tales that some wise but confused person thinks up and then like a fire it gets out of control and years later people quote it and believe it. And as crazy as it seems people will attempt to legitimize it and even assume it has been researched and proven. Here are some of the most common ones and the truths behind them. 1. IF YOU STOP WORKING OUT MUSCLE WILL TURN TO FAT. This is like saying if you don’t brush your teeth your hair will fall out. The point I’m trying to make is that muscle and fat are two different substances and cannot mutate into each other. If you stop working out your muscle tissue will breakdown but all that will happen is that your … Read entire article »

I don’t care if you’re a world class bodybuilder, or you don’t know the difference between a dumbbell and a doorbell. You are strong. Everyone is strong; they just have to unearth the hidden potential within them. I’m going to discuss the basics to working out. To start with let’s see what fuels your workout. There are two types of training you can do. AEROBIC means “involving or using oxygen”. This is known as aerobic exercise. In aerobic exercise the body utilizes oxygen for fuel. This type of exercise occurs on the treadmill, bike, running, swimming, etc. ANAEROBIC means “occurring without oxygen”. This is known as anaerobic exercise. Here the muscles use various compounds within the body to fuel work, without the use of oxygen. This happens in lifting weights. It’s pretty … Read entire article »

In 1975 a struggling actor and writer witnessed an event that would change his life. It would remove him from utter poverty and create an icon of American culture. If that was not enough it would also bring about a fitness icon. The event was a boxing match held March 25th 1975 at the Richfield Coliseum in Ohio. A fighter who was considered to never have a chance by the name of Chuck Wepner towed the line with who many consider the greatest to ever stand in a square ring. That opponent was the legendary Muhammad Ali. Wepner stunned the world by going the distance with Ali only being knocked down in the final minute of the fifteenth. There was also a much debated knockdown of Ali by Wepner. Now that struggling actor … Read entire article »

10 TIPS TO BETTER YOUR WORKOUT Being in the gym involves a lot of hard work. These are ten tips to add some ease to that hard work. Make an effort to apply them to your workout routine. 1. BREATHE- Everyone who uses weight training in their workouts has heard about breathing. It is actually a very important matter. When breathing you take in oxygen, the oxygen helps with the production of energy. However, to get the most out of your workout you need to breathe properly. Breathe in through the nose and out the mouth. The intake of air through the nose supplies oxygen to the lungs. Breathing out of the mouth exhales carbon dioxide. There are many benefits to this method of breathing. One such reason is that when … Read entire article »