I hear a lot of discussions in gym locker rooms about how to burn the most amount of body fat and gain lean muscle during strength training. The good news is you don’t have to spend more time in the gym. In fact, it’s completely the opposite:

Spend less time – especially resting between sets!

 
[A watch or clock is essential for measuring rest periods between sets - even grandma's old clunker will get the job done.]

Will I Still Be Strong?

It depends on your goals. If you’re training to increase strength to be able to compete in power-lifting competitions then resting a bit longer would be a good idea – up to three minutes for movements like squats and deadlifts. But chances are you’re here at The Fat Loss Authority wanting to learn about losing fat. Being able to lift a small European car is not the primary goal. (more…)

We’ve all had our fair share of stressful moments in life. Looking back, some events may seem silly now (a grade 10 science exam, who cares about memorizing the periodic table?) while others were monumental like a driving test or your first job interview.

It doesn’t get any easier as we grow older with financial burdens, relationships, or a loved one’s illness making life particularly challenging and frustrating along the way.

[Oh my god... this poor girl is so stressed her tongue turned into a...remote control? What the hell is that thing?] 

The idea for this article was conceived during my last trip to the grocery store and walking by the magazine stands. September is “back-to-school” season in most parts of the world and there was no shortage of article headlines talking about stress: how to cope with stress or try these stress blasting workouts or the best stress busting exercises uncovered and well… you get the picture.

The Reality of Stress and Weight Gain

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Quick, name the three most watched TV shows in Canada currently:

#3 Law and Order

#2 So You Think You Can Dance

#1 So You Think You Can Dance

And no, it’s not a misprint.
Source: http://www.bbm.ca/en/nat08032009.pdf

Yes, it’s the summer season and there isn’t much on the tube. And yes, everyone’s favorite sitcoms will be back in the fall so the list above could look remarkably different. But people like, really like watching dance shows!

[No dumbbells required! Mastering their own body weight is what produces the lean and sleek look of these artists.]

The entertainment production value of these shows, sprinkled with a little reality TV for good measure, really helps in attracting viewership. Choreographed routines combined with matching outfits makes the viewer feel like they are watching a rock show in a big city arena.

Who am I kidding?

Women, and men, are watching these lean cut bodies pulsating and gyrating to different musical stylings because they are aesthetically pleasing!

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Ever looked in the mirror after six months of hard, intense training, and utter the words, “this isn’t worth it“? It’s happened to me on a few occasions and it’s painfully disappointing.

Busting my butt, working out HARD 4 days a week with cardio on my “off days” seemed like a good plan. Hell, more then a few books and programs told me this was the only way to lose body fat and achieve great results in the gym.

Wrong!

It’s the classic “more is better” mentality, or what’s better known in the fitness world as over training.

[Yes, we all like the burning sensation during and after a workout but too much of a good thing can be detrimental to your fat loss goals and could be a sign of over training!]

Sounds pretty strange to say your training too much but trust me, it’s very real and can become a dangerous obsession.
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