12.26.2011

Ab-Hancer


Introducing the Ab-Hancer a six pack in seconds.  Dramatically enhanced abs?  More like dramatically enhanced excess flab.  


I guess this could be advertised as a male equivalent to the push up bra...'chicks dig it'!?


Like BRASH Fitness & Conditioning on Facebook

12.22.2011

Show Off in 2012


The new year is right around the corner- 'tis the season to make some changes, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la.  Right about now, millions of people around the world are planning their new year resolutions.  Don't bother.  I've made my share of resolutions and never even attempted one of them.  Instead of making a new years resolution how about setting out a few tangible goals for yourself?  Because the number one resolution is based on personal health and fitness and because this is a fitness blog we'll focus on fitness related goals.  

I outlined the importance of setting goals and the three different types of goals you should set in this previous blog [Gooooal!]

Your challenge:  Clearly define your Outcome, Behavioral and Performance Goals.  Write them down and share them with someone you trust.  The point of this exercise is to make sure you're being held accountable.   

12.21.2011

Brash Essentials: Strength Training for Women


The alternate title I flirted with for this article was How to Get a Body Like [insert famous celebrity name here].  Being a Fitness Professional has it's perks one of those is not being bombarded with questions about how they can lose 'this' or 'tighten up that'.  




The first thing you have to understand is there are only a few ways to get that slim, fit, athletic look like your fav celebs.  Forget the words 'tone' or 'sculpt' in relation to your muscles.  You cannot shape or elongate or tone a muscle or anything like that.  You can only make a muscle bigger or make it smaller. The same can be said for fat cells; you can make them bigger or you can make them smaller. That’s it.  So basically what every women should be aiming to do is build muscle and lose fat.  When you build muscle you will end up burning more calories at rest, meaning it will help you burn fat and get leaner.

12.20.2011

4 Lessons From Tim Tebow by Jason Ferruggia

Tebow 226x300 4 Lessons From Tim Tebow
Yesterday, the magical streak of Tim Tebow came to an end and there were a lot of happy people.
That’s because people hate Tim Tebow.
Tom Brady and the New England Patriots put a temporary end to Tebow-mania as Brady showed the youngster how the position of quarterback is meant to be played. As a result there were a lot of unhappy people.
That’s because people love Tim Tebow.
He’s a polarizing figure who, over the last few months, has become one of the biggest sports stories of the year.
Like him or hate him I think there’s a lesson to be learned from watching him. I, personally, have questioned his skills all along and found myself nodding in agreement when watching NFL pregame shows about how this type of offense can’t last.
Lately, many of those same critics have changed their tune, saying that there’s something unique about the kid and that he just knows how to win.
Now whether or not he ever wins another game or even plays another down doesn’t matter. What matters is that he has set an example for people all over the world.
Personal feelings aside here is what I have taken from Tim Tebow:

12.19.2011

Brash Essentials: Practice What You Teach


There is a trend among trainers and coaches to give orders, to ask of clients what they have never felt, nor understand.  Why should a client listen to a fat and out of shape trainer who can barely do a chin up himself or get through a metabolic circuit without vomiting.  I know trainers who love to 'kill' clients, make them suffer to the point of near collapse just because they can.  That doesn't make you a good trainer, that makes you an ass.  When it comes time for them to train do they push themselves that hard? Yeah right.   

We are suppose to be the example, if we can't do it, who in their right mind would listen to us?!

12.14.2011

Brash Essentials: Finishers


I'm not a fan of traditional cardio.  The idea of spending 30 minutes on a treadmill bores me and it frustrates me to think that some people rather use a treadmill, eliptical or stationary bike instead of...let's say a real bike.  If all you intend to do at the gym is sit your behind on a bike and pay $50 per month you're better off splurging on a bike and taking it outdoors.  I understand that when you're new to exercise it is the least intimidating thing to do, but when we're talking about goals and getting the most bang for your buck [time] it's not the best choice.  And the real problem with these machines is the fact that they're positioned in front of television sets or you read magazines while sitting on them thus never truly exerting yourself.  Some people come to the gym with the sole purpose of walking on the treadmill, why?  You could have just gone for a walk in your neighborhood.  See? Frustrating.  

I will say that steady state cardio like jogging or running on a treadmill is good for helping you build a strong base of cardiovascular endurance and it will help you burn some fat [but will eat away at muscle too], but if you really want to torch fat, retain muscle and have some fun you'll use Finishers!  

A Finisher is an old school term for an exercise or group of exercises designed to end your regular workout or 'finish' you off so to speak.  In fact, laying face down or on my back looking like a crime scene is a regular occurrence at the end of a finisher.  Incorporating finishers is great for people [guys especially, but girls should use them also] who hate doing traditional cardio [like myself].  If you're doing traditional strength training workouts adding finishers will get your heart rate up, will help you burn fat all while leaving your muscle intact.  

Here are a few reasons why you should incorporate Finishers. *from T-Nation.com*

12.13.2011

Out Of The Shadow


It recently occurred to me that the only image of myself on this site is taken from behind and I'm walking down the street in Rome.  Great pic, I love it, but not exactly 'fitness' related...lifestyle sure, but it doesn't scream fitness.

So, I had some pictures taken for the site, facebook, promotional material, etc.  I've never done a photoshoot before [if we could call it that], it was a bit awkward, I wasn't sure what to do, where to look, how to stand...the first few shots felt like I was taking grade school photos again, only without the long hair, bad acne and fake smile- actually scratch that last one!

Here are a few of my fav's edited with a little Brash-ness.

12.12.2011

My Week of Crossfit


For one week in November I decided to abandon my usual training to try my hand at the global phenomenon known as crossfit.  For those of you who may not know what crossfit is you can read about it here.  Crossfit posts daily workouts they call WOD or workout of the day.  I picked 4 WOD from the the crossfit website and recorded my results.  

Here are my results... 

12.05.2011

Brash Essentials: Tools of the Trade


Every profession has a set of tools that helps them do their job.  A fully stocked gym is the largest tool box a trainer or client will ever need, but for a small investment you could mimic what you get in your gym, at home.   

People are often surprised at my own personal home gym because I really don't have that much in it.  I have a set of dumbells from 5 to 25lbs, tubing in various resistance, a couple stability balls and medicine balls, the TRX [which is a bodyweight suspension trainer], different speed and agility equipment [ladders, hurdles, cones] and some kettlebells.  That's it.  I do have the luxury of of a fully stocked gym [where I run classes] whenever I need it but if I want to get a quick workout in without leaving my house that option is always there.  And you can to.


Top 5 Tools for Your Home Gym/ To Use At Your Gym


*If the gym you're paying to help get you in shape doesn't have ALL of the pieces of equipment in this list....then your gym sucks!

12.01.2011

Awesome Excuses 2.0


Before we get to this months 'winning' excuse, I'd like to quickly introduce you to Nick Scott.  Nick is a professional bodybuilder competing in the wheelchair division.  In August of 1998 Nick was in a car accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down.  Unable to walk his weight ballooned to 300 pounds.  His football dreams where dashed but instead of feeling sorry for himself he started a grueling rehabilitation regimen that would see him walk without the use of crutches across the stage at his college graduation.  

His new journey led him to competitive bodybuilding.  Today, Nick Scott is the leading proponent in the development of professional wheelchair bodybuilding. Nick is one of the Highest Ranked Wheelchair Bodybuilders in the world and leads by example. 

"If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, whatever you do you have to keep moving forward" - Martin Luther King Jr.

And now for the best excuse to workout second edition...
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
The Human Trainer Essential Kit