Tag Archives: Health

5 Day Split Workout – Build Muscle

Tips: Approx. 60 seconds per rep. Tension all the way through the motion. Focus on failure not getting all reps.

All strength days

20 minute warm up on treadmill

2 minute cold plunge @ 40ish F.

10 minute stretching

Day 1 – Upper Body

Barbell Bench Press – 4 sets (6,8,10,12).

Neutral Grip Lat Pull Down 4 sets (X 10)

Superset: Dumbell Front Raises – 4 sets (x 10) and Dumbell Side Raises – 4 sets (x 10)

Squated Cable Row – 4 sets (x 10)

Face Pull – 4 sets (x 10)

Superset: Bicep Curl – 4 sets (x 10) and Hammer Curl – 4 sets (x 10)

Cable Rope Overhead Extension – 4 sets (x 10)

Triceps Pushdowns

Day 2 – Lower Body

Glute Bridges – 2 sets (12-15)

Clamshells – 2 sets (12-15)

Banded lateral walks – 2 sets (15-20)

Barbell Hip Thrusts – 3 sets (8 – 10)

Step Ups – 3 sets (8-10)

Superset: Squats – 4 sets (x 6, 8, 10, 12) and Goblet Squares – 4 sets (10)

Superset: Deadlifts – 4 sets (x 10) and Leg Extensions – 4 sets (x10)

Superset: Leg Press Wide – 4 sets (x 10) and Leg Press Narrow – 4 sets (x 10

Cable Wood choppers – 4 sets (x 10)

Cable Ab Crunch – 4 sets (x 10)

Hanging Leg Raises 4 sets (x 10)

Day 3 – Push (or rest)?? / Cardio

Barbell Bench Press – 4 sets (6,8,10,12)

Incline DB Bench Press – 4 sets (x 10)

Pec Dec – 4 sets (x 10)

DB Shoulder Press – 4 sets (X 10

Tricep Kick Back – 4 sets (X 10)

EZ Bar Skull Crusher – 4 sets (X 10)

Crunches with Ball – 4 sets (X10)

Cable Wood choppers – 4 sets (x 10)

Day 4 – Pull

20 minute warm up on treadmill

10 minute stretching

Deadlift – 4 sets (6, 8, 10, 12)

Pendlay Rows – 4 sets (x 10)

Wide Grip Lat Pull Down – 4 sets (x 10)

Rope Pull Down – 4 sets (x 10)

Superset: Hammer Curls – 4 sets (x 10) and Concentration Curls (x 10)

Superset – Cable Wood choppers – 4 sets (x 10), Cable Ab Crunch – 4 sets (x 10), and Hanging Leg Raises 4 sets (x 10)

Day 5 legs

Glute Bridges – 2 sets (12-15)

Clamshells – 2 sets (12-15)

Banded lateral walks – 2 sets (15-20)

Barbell Hip Thrusts – 3 sets (8 – 10)

Step Ups – 3 sets (8-10)

Squats – 4 sets (6,8,10, 12)

Barbell Lunges – 4 sets (x 10)

Superset – Walking Lunges – 4 sets (x 10) and Leg Extensions – 4 sets (x 10)

Superset – Leg Press Wide – 4 sets (x10) and Leg Press Closed – 4 sets (x 10)

Calf Raise – 4 sets (x 10)

Cable Wood choppers – 4 sets (x 10)

Cable Ab Crunch – 4 sets (x 10)

Hanging Leg Raises 4 sets (x 10)

Day 6 – Kettle Bell Mobility Exercises and Recovery

Day 7 – Stretching

Procrastination

Procrastination is a habit that you have learned and that you repeat whenever you feel stress.

Procrastination is a “freeze” response to stress in order to protect yourself. It is part of our bodies natural fight, flight or freeze response.

Procrastination gives you relief from stress.

How to respond : 1) recognize that you are doing it; 2) don’t make yourself wrong ; 3) make a choice – continue to procrastinate or interrupt it by doing “5,4,3,2,1” and get back to the thing you are avoiding. 80% of people will continue to work on the item after starting.

Morning routine

  1. As soon as your eyes open up or alarm goes off, count down from 5 and get up . You will lose motivation after 5 seconds
  2. Make your bed . Reduce clutter and show discipline regardless of how you feel. Won’t get into bed
  3. High 5 yourself in the mirror after you brush your teeth. Accelerate mindset of confidence, uplifts mood, believing yourself and cheering yourself on.
  4. Drink full cup of water
  5. Get outside to get exposed to natural sun light . Helps sets your body to awake stage .
  6. Go for 20 (sunny), 10 min (cloudy) or 5 min (rainy). Combine this step with #5. Walk with

Health – burning fat

Foods and Tips to Activate Brown Fat and Burn White Fat based on me listening to this podcast

Brown fat is a type of fat in the body that generates heat and burns calories, making it an excellent ally for weight management. The following foods and habits can help activate brown fat and improve overall metabolic health:

Foods That Activate Brown Fat

1. Tomatoes

• Eat one tomato per day.

• Cooking tomatoes at 190°F for 20 minutes increases their nutrient absorption and boosts metabolism.

2. Pure Pomegranate Juice

• Drink 8 ounces daily to support brown fat activation and benefit from its rich antioxidants.

3. Kiwi

• Eat one kiwi per day.

• Add the skin to your smoothie for extra fiber and nutrients.

4. Matcha

• Add matcha green tea powder to smoothies or beverages.

• Matcha is rich in catechins, which may help boost metabolism.

5. Dark Chocolate

• Choose chocolate with at least 80% cocoa content to support fat burning.

6. Soy Nuts

• Incorporate soy nuts into your diet as a healthy, protein-rich snack.

7. White Navy Beans

• Eat 1 cup, 5 times per week for their high fiber and resistant starch content, which promotes fat burning.

Lifestyle Tips to Maximize Brown Fat Activation

1. Stay Active

• Move around frequently throughout the day. Regular physical activity helps stimulate brown fat activity.

2. Portion Control

• Avoid going for seconds.

• Eat only 2/3 of what you normally would, allowing your body to feel satisfied rather than overly full.

3. Embrace Canned and Preserved Foods

• Use tinned foods like fish and legumes, especially during off-seasons.

• Pair with sourdough bread for balanced meals.

4. Shop Local

• Buy locally grown produce to ensure freshness and support gut health.

5. Avoid Harmful Substances

• Keep “weird” or overly processed ingredients out of your diet. Stick to whole, natural foods.

Foods and Drinks to Avoid

1. Soda (Including Diet Soda)

• Artificial sweeteners disrupt gut microbiota and hinder metabolism.

2. Health Bars and Packaged “Healthy” Foods

• Often ultra-processed, these contain synthetic ingredients that negatively affect health.

3. Processed Meats

• Classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the WHO.

• Commonly made with nitrates and “meat glue,” which are harmful to health.

4. Bottled Water

• Bottled water can shed microplastics, which enter the body and accumulate in organs.

• Opt for reusable ceramic or glass containers instead. Avoid microwaving plastic.

5. Airplane Water

• Avoid drinking coffee, tea, or tap water on planes. The tanks are rarely cleaned, posing health risks.

Immediate Steps to Boost Fat-Burning

1. Drink Cold Water

• Cold water stimulates brown fat, especially when paired with black coffee or tea (avoid dairy).

2. Cut Out Processed Foods

• If you can’t make it yourself at home, don’t eat it. Stick to whole, unprocessed foods.

3. Eat Slowly and Moderately

• Eat until you feel satisfied, not full, to allow your body time to process satiety signals.

4. Move More

• Incorporate consistent movement throughout the day to support metabolism.

Additional Tip: Cold Plunges

• Exposure to cold temperatures, such as cold plunges or ice baths, can activate brown fat by mimicking hibernation processes. This helps burn white fat and improve metabolic health.

By incorporating these foods, avoiding harmful substances, and adopting healthy habits, you can effectively activate brown fat and support your body’s natural ability to burn white fat.

Insulin and Health

Interesting article from Fred Hutch Cancer Center…

A key point from article

1) findings show how eating processed food doesn’t just affect weight gain, it affects cognitive function. It affects a deep functioning of your body

2) good news for anyone who’s worried about how mid-life obesity or weight gain may affect their risk of dementia later is that insulin resistance is reversible,

https://www.fredhutch.org/en/news/center-news/2023/11/rajan-alassaf-glia-insulin-resistance.html

This is another great book and resource on insulin resistance

https://www.instagram.com/glucosegoddess/?hl=en

https://www.glucosegoddess.com