6. Single Body Part exercises for fat loss-unless you are strengthening an area post injury or have an inefficiency of function in a body part, there is no reason to train single body parts at a time if you are trying to shed body fat.  Full body movements incorporating several muscle groups simultaneously give you more bang for your buck and produces twice the results in half the time.  Step away from the infomercials.

7. Low Fat or Fat Free Foods- some foods are legitimately better if they are low fat or fat free, but the list is VERY small.  Typically these foods that market low fat or fat free options are made from a base ingredient that is a fat.  So if the fat is taken out, something else must be put into its place.  Often that is sugar,salt,sodium, hydrogenated oils, or high fructose corn syrup, or any combination of these ingredients.  Opt for a full fat version of a food and just watch portions.  Fat is not as bad as you think.

8. Over-supplementation- We tend to get real carried away with supplementation.  When trying to lose fat, there are a few things you want to be taking to ensure an optimal environment, and to take if you want to be healthy.  Protein Powder, multivitamin, Fish Oil are three mandatory supplements you want to ensure you are taking on a regular basis.  Other than that, it’s more on a case by case basis.  Most supplements were designed with body builders in mind and if you aren’t looking to become a body builder, you are wasting your money.

9.  Abdominal Machines- They all should be thrown into a pit and lit on fire.  These have no benefit. I haven’t found an abdominal machine yet that helps with stabilization which is the primary role of abdominal muscles.  Exercises like planks, and body weight utilization through free movement will train the abdominal muscles so much better than any machine could.

10. The five minute warm up on the treadmill- The five minute warm up is a joke if you are trying to prepare your body for exercise.  Start with slow movements and movements to strengthen or lengthen difficult areas, or areas of potential injury.  Then progress to higher intensity warm up exercises.  You don’t need to step foot on a treadmill for a warm up, nor should step on any machine for that matter.  To prepare your body for exercise you must use your body to warm up.  Machines assist the body in exercise and that  is not what you want.

The power of our group is undeniable.  We are here for eachother and we are a family.

Here was tonights workout:

Fight Gone Bad

Burpees

Push ups

Kettlebell Swings

Prisoner Kneel to Stand

Speed Rows

1 minute per movement. 1 minute rest after finishing all five movements.  Complete 3 rounds and get as many reps as you can.

Here’s video action from today:

Well I’m going to attempt to shed a little light on the subject for you by taking ten out of the equation and putting them on the ‘outlawed’ list.  The outlawed list is those items or theories that have no place in fitness and will waste your time rather than giving you results.

Outlaw List

1. Long, slow cardio- I’m sure if you are a frequent reader, that you knew this one was going to be on the list.  Long, slow cardio is number 3 on the priority list in terms of types of training that will get you results, behind Weight training, and interval/metabolic circuits. It can help you get results, but not as the main focus of your training and should be don only after the first two have been utilized.

2. Marathon workouts- there really is no need to train for more than an hour.  In the real world people don’t have the time to train that long anyway, so stating that you must train longer than an hour to get results is ridiculous.  The more and more I read from the experts I’m beginning to believe this for long distance athletes as well.

3. Ellipticals- choppy range of motion, lackluster resistance to make you work.  Its ok if you have no other option, but honestly there is always another option; ie bodyweight, jogging, running interval sprints, jumping jacks, etc.

4. Seated Weight Training Equipment- We sit all day, no need to do it when we are performing weight training too.  Our hip flexors get very tight and short when we sit, so standing exercises and hip dominant exercises are very important for health, reducing injury and results.

5. Altering food to the point its no longer  food to make it healthy- lets stick with the basics here, I mean the things that we all know are not only healthy but will also keep our metabolism running at a very high level, so let’s cut to the chase and eat those items and lose the fat free, sugar free, low carb, bread on the shelf.

Tomorrow I’ll reveal five more things that need to be outlawed by the fitness industry.  In the meantime keep it simple; hard work and eat well.

As for the rest of the details, here they are:

• Teams of 4 only- teams can be comprised of two bootcampers and two non-bootcampers, or one bootcamper and three non-bootcampers.
• Non-bootcampers pay a $25 participation fee which goes toward the prizes for the winners
• Bootcampers do not pay
• Measurements will be done three times during the transformation; beginning, middle and end.  Winners will be determined by the highest percentage of weight lost and total inches lost during the eight weeks.
• Bootcampers are the coaches of their teams.  They help, workout, teach, their teammates how to shed fat using exercise and nutrition during the 8 week contest.

Good luck to everyone!

Black T-Shirt Winner: Julie Poulin

Julie, for over two years has been a model of consistency and tenacity.  Along the way she has inspired so many, if not to just ‘keep up’, then to work a bit harder push out just one more rep.  Many come to our program looking to lose body fat and to change their lives.  Julie already had a very active lifestyle, so what she was looking for was the ‘next level’ in her hobbies of running and biking.  She has done that and has also included indoor soccer as well as many other activities to her list.  All of her fellow classmates have attested that they get motivated and inspired in class when Julie is working out everyone brings up their level a notch.  The results of her appearance might have something to do with it too.  Her arms are ripped, legs too, and the six pack I’m sure has some influence .  Congratulations Julie, your peers thank you and I thank you too for pushing your limits and inspiring so many along the way.

Campers of the Month Derby:

530am: Jess Fortin

 Jess always pushes the envelope.  She is always looking for ways to get better.  After a break from bootcamp she has come back with avengance and propelled herself back to her old form of solid effort day in and day out.  Being a black tshirt winner in the past Jess knows what it takes to be successful.

630am: Mary Griffin

 Mary has shot onto the scene taken her intensity and especially strength to a whole new level.  Every class she comes in with the mindset that, she will get better and she will conquer anything you throw at her.  Mary has got what it takes to be a black t-shirt winner very quickly with her effort, camaradarie, and mindset.

415pm: Julie Reigl

 Julie has quietly been very consistent with her workouts and has taken her abilities to the next level.  She responds to challenges in a very positive manner and is always willing to try.  Her positive effort and attitude speaks volumes to her growth and value to her class.  Julie’s strength has skyrocketed especially with her pull ups and squat exercises.  Her mobility has also dramatically increased in her squat.

530pm: Amanda Richards

Amanda’s effort has taken a turn in recent months to, and I’ll try attitude to ‘I’m doing it’ attitude.  With that shift in her mindset she has been able to make her body do things she never thought possible.  A shift to a stronger focus on her nutrition has also allowed her to make changes in her body that has motivated her to do more and reach higher.

630pm: Michelle Baker

 Michele has a great attitude and willingness to strive to be better every class.  I can’t doesn’t fit in her vocabulary and has allowed her to see changes in her body and notice differences in her strength and stamina.  With continued drive and determination like she has, the sky is the limit for Michele.

Campers of the Month: St. Johnsbury

900am: Meridith Berry

 Meridith never backs down from a challenge and has recently not doubted herself as much as she used to.  She has always been willing to give it a shot, but has changed her inner voice to be more positive and it has translated into a belief that we always had in her; that she has unlimited potential with accomplishing her goals.  Every day she becomes more and more inspiring to her fellow campers.

500pm: Peggy-Sue Pomerville

 Peggy-Sue is extremely dedicated to making herself better and it shows in her workouts, her attitude, and her work ethic.  She has been able to achieve great results and more importantly has been able to maintain her results during her time in bootcamp.

600pm: Judy Buxton

 Judy, or the quiet warrior, as a fellow bootcamper called her, has had tremendous growth in her strength development.  Along with her strength her consistency with nutrition and workouts has allowed her to transform herself to a whole new level that she may not have thought possible.