FEATURES
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Q&A With Fitness Star Penny Phang
|By Vince “Fitness Financier” Pe| A few weeks ago I got to catch up with my dear, dear friend – the beautiful Penny Phang. If you’ve been fortunate to work with Penny, you know right away that she is an individual of incredible drive and passion in whatever she puts her mind to. This stunning entrepreneur is a Personal Trainer, Writer, Public Speaker/Motivator, TwinLab Canada sponsored athlete, and Wellness Coach. Did I also forget to mention that she is a double black belt martial artist in Kenpo and Freestyle Karate? In addition to balancing an incredibly busy schedule, Penny can be seen frequently with her 10-minute workout videos to keep all of her clients and…
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A Guide to Hydrating for PEAK Performance
|By Dr. Christine Davis| Proper hydration is imperative for optimal health, superior body composition and maximum athletic performance. Without proper hydration, your body will become dehydrated, limiting your ability to function at peak capacity. You lose water throughout the day when you breathe, sweat and go to the bathroom. The water content in the foods you eat and the beverages you drink combine to hydrate your body. Drinking 8 cups of water each day is usually sufficient for the average person, but if you’re a hard training athlete, you are most likely going to need more for peak performance. Without proper hydration, your body will become dehydrated, limiting your ability to function at peak capacity….
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The PERFECT Athlete: Part 1
| By Jeff Pearce | The Perfect Morning & Midday FOREWORD: This article is one in a series of articles that will outline what the ideal strength athlete would do to maximize their gains in the gym. We all know that what we do outside of the gym impacts our performance in the gym. This is a general blue print and by all means will not encompass every view point or consideration. However, it is a conceptualization of what the perfect or ideal scenario would be for a strength athlete. Introduction to Mr. / Mrs. X: What does the perfect athlete behave and look like? The perfect athlete looks like you, the reader, in…
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Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler Talks Bicep Surgery, 2012 Plans
4-Time Mr. Olympia and Muscular Development athlete Jay Cutler shows some scars from his recent bicep repair surgery and talks about his big come back plans for 2012 in this Strong-Athlete exclusive!
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Q&A with PRO Fitness Diva Mindy Karuk
|By Vince “Fitness Financier” Pe & Sophie De La Sablonniere| This month my partner, Sophie De La Sablonniere (of www.fitnessoph.com), and I caught up with WBFF Pro Diva Fitness athlete – Mindy Karuk. It’s not very hard to find this Vancouver beauty in gracing the pages in multiple fitness publications including Status, WBFF’s Fit & Firm, and Canada’s #1 Fitness Magazine, Inside Fitness. In addition to all of her magazine coverage, she now represents the shaker cup for all serious fitness athletes – SmartShake (www.smartshake.com). You can also catch Mindy in full training mode by subscribing to her YouTube channel at MindyFitK. Amidst balancing everything fitness related, Mindy’s acting career is starting to blossom too!…
ARTICLES
Top 10 Tips For Getting STRONGER
|By Big Jeff Pearce| Let’s get real, no one who spends any time in the gym wants to be weak; or as Mr. Schwarzenegger would say in a heavy Austrian accent, “a girly man”. Because of that, I have decided to pen an article that outlines my top 10 tips for getting stronger. Here they are: 10. Make sure your diet, supplementation, training and rest protocols are calculated and consistent. This is by far the most fundamental element to any training program. As an athlete, it is your first priority to ensure that your diet, training, supplementation and rest protocols are calculated and consistent. What does that mean? I’ll break down the basic points of…
CRUSH Catabolic Cortisol
|By Dr. Christine Davis| We all know that stress isn’t good for our bodies…especially for hard-training athletes. So what can we do about it? First, we have to recognize that stress can come in many forms. Many of us think only of the psychological stress, caused by family, work, life events or persistent worrying. However, physical stress is just as real and just as dangerous for our bodies. Lack of exercise, poor diet, food allergies or even weather changes can be a physiological stressor for our bodies. In contrast, over training can also be a major stressor for our bodies. So why is stress bad for us? Stress can impact a multitude of physiological reactions…
A Closer Look At INSULIN
|By Nadine Shaban| Insulin is one of the most potent and anabolic hormones in the body and plays a critical role in blood glucose homeostasis (balance/equilibrium). Insulin is a peptide hormone secreted by the pancreas in response to ingestion of fat, protein, and/or carbohydrates. The amount of insulin release depends on the individual as well as the type of food consumed with carbohydrates causing the greatest amount of insulin release. Insulin is known to be one of the most anabolic hormones in the body. Insulin is known to be one of, if not the most “anabolic” (think muscle building and or storage) hormones. This is because it is like a superhero and can allow…
TRAINING
Training With The World’s LARGEST Stuntman
Check out this special edition feature video of Rob Archer – The World’s Largest, Ripped Stuntman – crushing the weights with the late great Coach Darren Oliver and talking about what it takes to be successful as a real-life Hollywood action star!
The Beautiful Ania Anvaryfar is Set to Own 2012
Strong Athlete goes one-on-one with rising Pro Fitness Model Ania Anvaryfar as she sets aim to make big strides in 2012. Ania has already experienced incredible success in just a short period of time winning both the Fitness Stars Show and the IDFA Fitness Model Overall earning her pro card but she’s just getting started. With Ania’s passion for fitness combined with her relentless drive and determination there’s no stopping her this year! Keep your eyes on this girl ladies and gentlemen, she’s a born star! Join Her Facebook Fan Page: Here Follow her on Twitter: @AniaAnvaryfar Check out her feature video!
UFC Fighter Jason MacDonald Talks CrossFit for MMA
UFC veteran, Jason “The Athlete” MacDonald visited with Strong Athlete to discuss why he believes Crossfit is a great way to improve strength and conditioning for MMA fighters and how all athletes should incorporate strength training into their sport preparation for long-term success. Check it out!
Sledbarrow – The Ultimate Functional Training Equipment
In this feature video, Strong Athlete visits with Andre Agate and Jason MacPherson, the co-founders of the ultimate functional training device – the Sledbarrow. Strong Athlete met up with Team Sledbarrow at Advantage 4 Athletes training facility to learn more about their amazing functional training invention and how it can help to improve overall strength, conditioning and athletic performance for sports. The Sledbarrow’s cutting-edge design will help athletes push harder and reach further in their training and in turn perform better in their sport. The Sledbarrow is a totally new three-in-one conditioning system that combines the power of a drag sled, drive sled and a training wheelbarrow all into one innovative and extremely effective design….
The SCIENCE of High Intensity Interval Training
|By Nadine Shaban| Fact: Obesity has officially become an epidemic and the number of people being classified as obese is growing (probably exponentially) every day. In fact, the prevalence of diabetes follows obesity by about 10 years. Although the prevalence of diabetes is growing in our society, it is not a new disorder. Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and Obesity have become a global epidemic…hence for the new disorder: DIABESITY. Fact: Being female has its perks, however, when it comes to NON estrogen related issues, we need to take care of ourselves. Women are more likely to have Cardiovascular Disease (CVD)…the NUMBER ONE cause of DEATH globally. Women with diabetes have a greater risk for developing CVD….
WBFF Bikini Competitors Kelly & Jen Train Legs
Bikini competitors Kelly Boone and Jen Watt are two reasons why the contest stage will be heating up once again at the WBFF World Championships. Kelly and Jen made the trip to Fitness 365, the mecca of Canadian Bodybuilding & Fitness, for a pre-contest leg training session with Coach PK just days away from the big show. This was the final hard leg session for the girls before stepping on stage, and they really made sure to bring their A game. PK put them through their paces with a high-volume workout that included hack squats, reverse hack squats, step ups, walking lunges, leg curls and standing calf raises. All reps were in the 12…
So You Wanna Compete in FIGURE?
| By Anita Kus-Roberts | 14 Things You Should Know Before Wearing A Sparkly Bikini and Clear High Heels When I think back to my early days of prepping for shows, I cringe! There are so many details I wished I knew before I stepped onto that stage. Years later, I’ve helped numerous others prep for shows, and I want to pass on this knowledge on to you. So to make sure you step onstage with the poise and polish of a seasoned veteran, here’s what you need to know and do before you enter your first competition: 1) Go to a Show This tip might sound obvious, but you’d be amazed how many competitors show…
NUTRITION
GROUND & POUND CHILI
Ingredients: 1 lb. ground beef 2 tsp extra virgin olive oil ½ cup onion, finely chopped 1 clove garlic, minced 2 cups red kidney beans 1 cup black beans 1 jalapeno, minced 1 tsp dried basil 1 tsp dried oregano 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper 4 oz. fat-free cheddar cheese, shredded ¼ cup green chili peppers, canned, drained Directions: Coat a large saucepan with cooking spray; place over medium heat. Add onions and garlic; sauté for about 2 minutes until soft. Add beans, ground beef chili peppers and jalapeno to pan and sauté for about 3 minutes. Add seasoning and simmer for about 5 minutes. Top with shredded cheddar cheese and serve. Nutritional Breakdown: Calories: 383…
AWESOME Avocado!
Avocado Shrimp Salad Ingredients 1 Ripe Avocado 1 Cup of Baby Shrimp ¼ Cup of Cherry Tomatoes ¼ Cup of Yellow Zucchini ¼ Cup of Cucumber ¼ Cup of Red Peppers ½ Cup Green Onions 1 small Jalapeño Pepper 1-2 tbsp of Rice Wine Vinegar 1 tbsp Olive Oil A little drizzle of honey Directions Cut avocado into two and remove pit. Chop all ingredients into small bite size pieces. Mix in with shrimp. Add sea salt, fresh ground black pepper, olive oil and rice wine vinegar and a drizzle of honey. Toss and pour over avocado. Avocado Berry Salad Ingredients 1 Ripe Avocado ½ Cup of Blueberries ½ Cup of Raspberries ½ Cup…
STRONG Recipes V
Power Berry Blast Shake Ingredients: 25 grams vanilla whey protein 1 cup unsweetened almond milk 1 cup water ½ cup blueberries ½ cup Strawberries 1 tbsp all-natural almond butter Directions: Combine whey protein, milk, water, blueberries, strawberries and almond butter into a blender and blend for 45-60 seconds. Add ice (optional) and serve. Nutritional Breakdown (per serving): Calories: 394, Protein: 38 grams, Carbohydrates: 37 grams, Fat: 12 grams
