Build better bodies. That's what it's all about, isn't it?

You don't get up early every morning and force yourself to the gym just to have that annoying trainer try to upsell you on his "sessions" that require a $200 deposit and the deed to your house.

No, you do it because your body is your temple. Through hard work and dedication, you maintain a fit and active lifestyle that keeps you feeling good and living longer.

Plus it doesn't hurt to be smokin' hot when you hit the beach this fourth of July and unveil your cuts in front of all the whales and jellyfish -- and I'm not talking about the ones in the water.

But we both know that kind of head-turning physique isn't going to come from you skipping breakfast and gulping down a bottle of tanning pills. You're going to have to earn this one.

Any idiot can show up at the gym and blow through a circuit training routine in an hour or less -- but it's the people who actually want to see results that take the next step and tailor their nutritional intake to make sure all that hard work pays off.

Busy schedules and hectic lifestyles can guarantee you're not always going to get the time to grill some chicken and steam some broccoli, just as it's unrealistic to think you can start blending a protein shake while you're stuck in the morning commute.

That's where the science of sports nutrition comes in. And as most industry experts will tell you, no one is doing it better than ISS Research.

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Going into the gym and pumping iron is the foundation for building lean mass, just as guzzling down a gallon of water and punishing yourself on the treadmill is the foundation for good cardio.

Like all basic routines, supplementing you training regimen with the appropriate nutritional aides is pretty cut and dry. A good protein shake, maybe some Creatine or NO2 and you're sitting pretty.

But what happens when you're training goes beyond the nuts and bolts of routine exercises?

Any fighter worth their weight in sweat will tell you that bodybuilding may look good, but it ain't gettin' the job done inside the cage. Training for a fight involves a variety of disciplines including endurance, grappling, strength and focus.

Is it reasonable to think that pounding a protein smoothie in the parking lot of your dojo is going enhance your recovery? Probably not, unless you idea of recovery is blasting your grappling partner with an influx of protein farts.

Mixed martial arts competitors have different nutritional needs. Just as one method of training won’t cut it inside the Octagon, one nutritional blueprint won’t suffice for high level MMA fighters.

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For more information about the Lean Stack sale and its benefits click here. Otherwise, take advantage of the "Buy Now" feature before the discount expires!

For this week's edition of Fitness Friday, it would be prudent to talk about a manufacturer who has excelled for many years in the science of sports nutrition.

We often talk about getting in shape and taking your game to the next level. Well now it's time to profile a company that's set the high water mark for the nutritional supplement industry.

I'm talking of course about TwinLab, and in honor of their recognition, Feel It Nutrition is proud to offer 16% off on ALL TwinLab, Inc. products!

Twinlab Corporation recently earned first place in two categories of Vitamin Retailer’s Annual 'Vity Awards.' The company’s Glutamine Fuel Powder and Amino Fuel Liquid are being honored in the June 2009 issue of Vitamin Retailer magazine. The Annual 'Vity Awards' honor the industry’s best-selling products based on a nationwide survey of health food stores conducted by Vitamin Retailer Magazine.

TwinLab, Inc. is also one Feel It Nutrition's most well-known product lines. Feel It Nutrition is also one of the largest resellers of TwinLab vitamins and supplements, giving you the chance to save even more at the store.

TwinLab has the same standards as Feel It Nutrition, that is to offer products based on the latest science and manufactured to the highest level of pharmaceutical standards.

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In the old days, it was hard knowing how much protein to take and when to take it, but fortunately the science of sports nutrition (and the generosity of Feel It Nutrition) is making it easier by the day.

Protein (in the form of amino acids) is the basic component of all living cells and provides your body with the materials it needs for muscle growth, repair, and maintenance.

Protein helps you build lean muscle by preventing muscle protein catabolism and stimulating muscle protein synthesis, the means by which resistance training makes muscles grow.

Yet knowing how much protein to consume on a daily basis is not as simple as it sounds -- and not everyone has the time or money to be wolfing down egg whites at the office or pounding a protein shake four times a day.

Enter Amino Acids.

The popularity of amino acid supplements has increased dramatically as of late. Packaged workout and recovery drinks that contain hydrolyzed (pre-digested) proteins and often some free-form amino acids can be found in most gyms. Also tubs of powdered or capsulated amino acids are being used by an increasing number of fighters. The good thing about these supplements is that they don't require digestion like food does.

The term free-form means that they are free of chemical bonds to other molecules and as such move quickly through the stomach, into the small intestines where they are very rapidly absorbed into the blood stream. When absorbed, amino acids are processed by the liver.

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Welcome to another edition of Fitness Friday ladies and gentleturds. I’ve got good news and bad news for all my fellow East Coast Maniacs. The good news is the warm weather is finally here. The bad news? The warm weather is finally here.

I know there are a diligent few who took my advice from earlier columns and behaved during the cold weather — when beer guts and flabby arms could stay hidden under puffy ski jackets. But I also know there are a handful of naughty folks who are still putting extra butter on their Butterfingers.

No worries.

Feel It Nutrition is here to rescue you from yourself with a limited time sale. Effective immediately, ALL WEIGHT LOSS SUPPLEMENTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR 15% OFF!

Now that you’re back in the gym and doing what you’re supposed to be doing, the boys over at Feel It Nutrition are going to supercharge your weight loss program and help you get cut with the science of sports nutrition.

The beach is a month away, so put down the pastries and bang out a few hundred crunches.

This sale is also designed for high performance athletes, especially fighters, who have the unenviable task of dropping a significant amount of weight in order to stay within their division come weigh-ins.

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Head over to Feel It Nutrition today to lock-in the amazing summer savings before it's too late. Click here.

Puny human! Feel It Nutrition smash (their prices)!

Whoever coined the phrase "Size doesn’t matter" never had the courage to step foot into a musty gym and test themselves against the cold and unforgiving iron that has broken each and every soul that ever dared to answer its call.

Size does matter, so if your routine involves a yoga mat and a pair of polished chrome dumbbells that max out at 5lbs. each, this week’s sale probably isn’t for you.

However if you’re like me and 90 percent of the other sacrificial lambs who surrender to the gym, it’s time to jump start your growth and take your body mass to the next level.

We all want that ideal body weight and muscle mass that gives us that healthy appearance. Adding that correct amount of body mass is a difficult, near impossible task for some.

With that in mind, you can’t expect to reach your full potential by only targeting the muscles you want to show. Everybody likes to flash their bi’s and tri’s, but you’re cheating yourself if your mass building routine doesn’t include your entire body.

By training your legs and core in addition to upper body, you allow the body to release growth hormone systematically, enhancing all areas of training and muscle development.

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Welcome back to another edition of Fitness Friday ladies and (wheat) germs, where you carefully avert your eyes from this weekly nutritional column because you know you've been a bad boy outside the gym.

And if you're thinking "Gee, I've been logging serious hours at my local Bally's, I know he's not talking about me," well then you're right.

I'm talking about people who are serious about transforming their bodies.

If your workout regimen consists of shiny chrome dumbbells and a Yoga mat that folds up like a flag in the color guard, you should probably take your spandex leotard and move along to the next post.

However, for those animals that punish themselves daily inside a musty tomb littered with iron plates and the smell of broken spirits, this sale's for you.

Feel It! Nutrition is now offering ANY AND ALL CREATINE PRODUCTS ON SALE FOR 15% OFF!

As most of you know, creatine can rightly lay claim to being one of the most popular and arguably most effective supplements around. The beauty of creatine is that it is 100% natural and occurs in many foods, so it's unlikely to be banned from any sports or competitions.

That's a major factor in today's high performance athlete.

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Since the discovery of whey protein as a primary supplement to help in the development of body muscle, a lot of health buffs can’t seem to get enough of their own supply.

Everyone seems to be scampering to get his or her whey protein supplements, especially athletes and body builders who are naturally in dire need of building muscle mass.

It's hard knowing how much protein to take and when to take it, but fortunately the science of sports nutrition is making it easier by the day.

Protein (in the form of amino acids) is the basic component of all living cells and provides your body with the materials it needs for muscle growth, repair, and maintenance.

Protein helps you build lean muscle by preventing muscle protein catabolism and stimulating muscle protein synthesis, the means by which resistance training makes muscles grow.

Yet knowing how much protein to consume on a daily basis is not as simple as it sounds.

The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for sedentary adults is listed at 0.8 grams per kilogram of lean bodyweight, but that does not take into consideration the intense training of a weightlifter or mixed martial artist.

Just as the required caloric intake for advanced athletes increases, so must the protein intake.

Continue reading this post »

It's Fitness Friday -- and from where I'm sitting the mercury is pushing 80 degrees this weekend. Still hiding that little pouch under an oil-stained flannel? Pulling that collar up on your Alligator shirt to hide that sweet chin music?

It's now or never people. Consider this the last call for all armchair athletes.

But don't worry. It's not all doom and gloom. The stalwarts over at Feel It! Nutrition aren't just going to send you into the gym with nothing but a kitchen towel and some lycra-spandex gloves.

In fact, they're going to make sure you have the most cutting edge nutritional supplements on the market today for a mind blowing 15 percent off!

Now the layperson might balk at 15 percent off, but that's because they're either too lazy or too intimidated to ever step foot inside a nutritional supplement store to see what some of the top-of-the-line products actually cost.

Sure, you can hit the Health and Beauty aisle at your local Shoprite and buy a 55 gallon drum of protein powder for $8.99, but most of us prefer not to ingest protein that comes from an animal carcass pulled from a riverbed in Senegal.

The real athletes know that you can't take shortcuts with your nutrition, just as you can't take shortcuts in the gym. To that end, Feel It! Nutrition has slashed 15 percent off ALL Dymatize Nutrition products!

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Head over to FeelItNutrition.com right now to lock-in the awesome savings right here.

Alright Maniacs, it’s Fitness Friday and we've heard your demands! For those of you who missed out on our special sale at the beginning of the month, Feel It Nutrition is bringing back its most popular manufacturer and slashing prices on all BSN products by 15%!

The same BSN that is the official supplement company of the UFC. And yes, the same BSN that won "Brand of the Year" from Bodybuilding.com three years in a row.

Ever since Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos blew up at the Strikeforce weigh-ins like Violet Beauregarde, the talk of the town has been about cutting weight and shredding those few extra pounds in time for the big fight.

Well I have good news for all the fighters trying to get their shrink on: Feel It Nutrition is bringing ATRO-PHEX to the front of the line for this week's sale.

ATRO-PHEX is a very powerful thermogenic with some unique property for fighters. Users report increased energy levels, which allow fighters to maximize and get the most from their training sessions. No more feeling depleted and worn while running a thermogenic.

Unlike most of the leading brands, ATRO-PHEX uses a five-pronged approach to weight management making cutting weight more efficient and effective. Because it is a completely natural diuretic, its properties allow for complete removal of excess subcutaneous water removal.

No more having to worry about making weight! ATRO-PHEX sheds all unnecessary water prior to weighing-in. Other benefits of this very popular diuretic include: Increased mental focus and acuity, giving fighters laser-like focus for the human chess match that is modern day MMA fighting.

ATRO-PHEX leads to an increased sense of well-being, helping fighters cope with the rigorous stress of preparing for upcoming fights. You will not be let-down by this BOOST of a product. ATRO-PHEX, as well as the entire line of BSN, Inc supplements, are available now for 15% off at Feel It Nutrition, your ONE-STOP-SHOP for all your MMA Supplement needs!

If you’re looking to cut weight prior to competition without jeopardizing your focus or motivation, or if you just want to shed those few extra pounds that have survived your onslaught of physical exertion, give ATRO-PHEX a try.

It could even affect the outcome of your next fight. Who has the advantage: The fighter doing a light workout the morning of the weigh-ins or the fighter who is shriveling up inside a sauna with just a prayer and a rubber suit?

Click here to get ATRO-PHEX.

Act now, this opportunity ends April 23!

It's Fitness Friday ladies and germs and it's finally here ... the one you've all been waiting for. That's right, get ready to cash in and save 15% off all CytoSport products including the ultra-popular Muscle Milk!

Cytosport is a proud sponsor of some of the biggest names in the sporting world including Shaquille O’Neal, Adrian Peterson, and Brandon Roy. Whether you’re a top athlete, collegiate star, gym maniac, or just someone trying to get to the next level, everyone is a part of "Team Cyto."

For this reason, Feel It! Nutrition has chosen CytoSport as our highlighted manufacturer of the week, slashing prices on all CytoSport products by 15%!

There is a reason why Muscle Milk is all the rage.

Bodybuilders, mixed martial artists and other serious athletes know how to put their bodies through the rigors of intense physical exercise.

But do they know how to benefit from it?

Every gym has what I like to call "Lifers." They spend their life sentenced to working out without ever getting any benefit from it.

They’ll diligently march into the weight room or aerobics class each morning with a dark and dour disposition while robotically going through the motions of a paint-by-numbers routine.

Then they’ll leave the gym and throw it all away.

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Props: FeelItNutrition.com (More details are can be found here.)

It's Fitness Friday ladies and gentlemen, and if you thought last week's sale was off the chain, you haven't seen anything yet!

Feel It! Nutrition is once again offering some insane deals on top quality BIG NAME products you love and trust. This week’s sale focuses on one of our most popular manufacturers: Optimum Nutrition. This entire week save 15% off the entire Optimum Nutrition supplement line at Feel It! Nutrition!

It can be hard knowing how much protein to take and when to take it, but fortunately the science of sports nutrition is making it easier by the day.

Protein (in the form of amino acids) is the basic component of all living cells and provides your body with the materials it needs for muscle growth, repair, and maintenance.

Protein helps you build lean muscle by preventing muscle protein catabolism and stimulating muscle protein synthesis, the means by which resistance training makes muscles grow.

Yet knowing how much protein to consume on a daily basis is not as simple as it sounds.

The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for sedentary adults is listed at 0.8 grams per kilogram of lean bodyweight, but that does not take into consideration the intense training of a weightlifter or mixed martial artist.

Just as the required caloric intake for advanced athletes increases, so must the protein intake.

Researcher Dr. Peter Lemon has raised the RDA for males engaged in strength training to about 1.7 - 1.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body mass per day. The range for female athletes is slightly lower, around 1.2 - 1.4 grams.

Other factors to consider are how often you exercise and how vigorously. But just as important, if not more so, is the quality of the protein.

For example, egg protein may have a higher chemical rating than any other protein source based on its complete level of amino acids, but whey protein has a higher biological value.

It would be a lot simpler if there were no restrictions on eating for high level athletes (like mixed martial artists), however one of the biggest challenges they face is trying to balance a diet with quality protein while trying to eliminate protein rich foods from their daily intake in an effort to cut weight.

Not only is it impractical, it can be damaging to the bodies nitrogen and energy balance.

Fortunately, this can easily be solved with a myriad of available protein supplements from Optimum Nutrition, like their Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein -- Feel It! Nutrition's recommended choice for quality protein.

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Alright Maniacs, it's Fitness Friday and yours truly, Nostradumbass himself, has come down from his throne on Mount Pompous to weigh in on a very special sale we're introducing courtesy of the serial killers over at Feel It Nutrition, who just murdered the competition by slashing prices on all BSN products by 15%!

Now I don't like to go on record with a product endorsement because I don't want to be held responsible for the results that you may or may not achieve.

But this is different. This is BSN.

The same BSN that is the official supplement company of the UFC. And yes, the same BSN that won "Brand of the Year" from Bodybuilding.com three years in a row.

There's a reason I kicked our staff writer to the curb on this one -- and it's not because of my bloated ego (for once). It's because I've paid my dues in the gym for many years and I can say without exaggeration you won't encounter a finer product line that is not only inexpensive, but tailored to fit almost any fitness goal.

And it works. That's not a Nostradumbass prediction, that's a guarantee.

I hear a lot of our readers hemming and hawing in the comments section about what nutritional supplements to take, and I'm pleased to see that many of you are already on the BSN bandwagon.

If you're not, then what the heck are you waiting for? Spring has sprung, and unless you're certified gangsta, the warmer weather means you'll have to ditch those baggy pants and puffy North Face jackets.

Since we're laying it all on the line, it's time to start calling some people out. I've read somewhere in the comments section that Joey Abs likes to take Brand X because it's ten bucks cheaper and is just as good.

This is the same guy that can bang out ten reps of 350 lbs. on the bench because he only lowers the weight two inches per rep. If you want to take advice from Mr. Abs, who insists on screaming out the number of each rep and leaving a greasy headprint on the bench, then maybe BSN isn't for you.

But if you're serious about making the time in (and out) of the gym matter, there are a couple of products you absolutely must have in your arsenal.

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Nearly half of all Americans make a New Year's resolution or two. For many, adopting healthier eating habits usually tops the list.

And even though it's midway through March, it's still not too late to get yourself in gear.

If you're serious about changing your derelict diet—and losing a few pounds along the way—a resolution can help. A study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology reports that those who pledge to make behavior changes by means of a resolution were 10 times more likely to succeed than those who simply want to make a change. Going public and sharing your goal with someone can also bump up your odds for success.

But a commitment to better eating is only the start. You also need to figure out how and what to change. Here are four suggestions that can put you on the right path:

1. Keep a food record

To fix your diet you should understand where it's broken. One good way to do that, says Washington, D.C.-based registered dietician Katherine Tallmadge, is to keep a pencil and notebook handy as you go about your day. For at least a week, record everything you eat, when you eat, and maybe how you feel after you eat.

If a pad and pen are inconvenient, most of today's cell phones are equipped with a text-based notepad.

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UFC light heavyweight Tim Boetsch is set to make his third straight appearance inside the Octagon when he takes on the well-rounded Jason Brilz at UFC 96 "Jackson vs. Jardine" this Saturday, March 7, from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

"The Barbarian" made his debut against David Heath at UFC 81: "Breaking Point" last February in which he had less than two weeks to prepare after Tomasz Drwal went down with a knee injury at the last minute.

Boetsch filled in and put on a dominating performance against Heath, tossing him around the eight-sided cage and basically having his way with the tough UFC veteran until the referee called a halt to the action late in round one.

After a high-altitude hiccup against Matt Hamill at UFC Fight Night 13 back in April, he resumed his reign of terror on the 205-pound division with a TKO of Michael Patt at UFC 88.

Our partner in crime, Alex Alleman of Feel It Nutrition, had the chance to spend some time with Boetsch before his upcoming fight this weekend in Columbus.

Here's how it all went down.

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I've got good news and bad news for all my fellow East Coast pimps. The good news is the warm weather is almost here. The bad news? The warm weather is almost here.

I know there are a diligent few who took my advice from earlier columns and behaved during the cold weather -- when beer guts and flabby arms can stay hidden under puffy ski jackets. But I also know there are a handful of naughty folks who are still shooting M&M's like some kind of corpulent pill-popper.

No worries.

Feel It! Nutrition is here to rescue you from yourself with their incomparable Lean Stack. Now that you're back in the gym and doing what you're supposed to be doing, the boys over at Feel It! Nutrition are going to supercharge your weight loss and help get you cut with the science of sports nutrition.

This also applies to high performance athletes, especially fighters, who have the unenviable task of dropping a significant amount of weight in order to stay within their division come weigh-ins.

By starting Lean Stack about thirty days out from competition, you can say goodbye to the sauna, the crash dieting and the treadmill. By working with your body in conjunction with your training regimen and nutritional blueprint, the stored fat cells get released in a safe and timely manner.

By the time weigh-ins roll around, you’ll already be sitting pretty. So don’t change the way you train, change the way you prepare. Let technology do the work for you.

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It's Fitness Friday ladies and Maniacs and while I usually take this time to cover a certain aspect of training or supplementation, the guys and gals over at Feel It! Nutrition have plum lost their minds and started slashing inventory like Jason Voorhees at a YMCA day camp.

Truth be told, no Stack is safe in this fire sale, so don't just sit there trying to remember how long it's been since you actually touched a piece of exercise equipment, get clicking and take advantage of the $20 off Feel It! Nutrition is offering on ALL STACKS from now until March 5 -- but don't procrastinate -- supplies are limited!

Don’t worry about trying to figure out which nutritional supplements are going to help you achieve or maintain your current fitness goals. The Feel It! Nutrition experts have already done the research for you and assembled some of the most comprehensive stacks available to help you attain almost any fitness goal.

Looking to get huge?

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Today's world of training and sports nutrition can be very intimidating to beginning and experienced athletes alike. Trying to make heads or tails of the endless shelves of performance-enhancing products at your local supplement store can be a daunting task.

Less is usually more, especially when you can stack the right supplements in conjunction with your specific training regimen.

What has always been (and will probably always be) a constant is locking in the right amount of protein to help maximize the benefits of your training.

It was hard knowing how much protein to take and when to take it, but fortunately the science of sports nutrition is making it easier by the day.

Protein (in the form of amino acids) is the basic component of all living cells and provides your body with the materials it needs for muscle growth, repair, and maintenance.

Protein helps you build lean muscle by preventing muscle protein catabolism and stimulating muscle protein synthesis, the means by which resistance training makes muscles grow (Barr and Esser, 1999).

Yet knowing how much protein to consume on a daily basis is not as simple as it sounds.

Continue reading this post »

It's Fitness Friday ladies and gentlemen, and on the eve of Valentine's Day I bring you good cheer that doesn't require getting an arrow shot into your buttocks by a naked putto.

Thanks to the huge response we received from our recent markdown on MMA Stack, Feel It! Nutrition is slashing prices yet again to help you get through another box of chocolate hearts and beyond.

Simply put, you’re finally able to get ripped without getting ripped off.

Most mixed martial arts competitors start to drastically alter their diets before weigh-ins, torturing (and boring) themselves on the treadmill until the scale begins to drop.

Unfortunately a lot of their size and strength begins to drop as well.

Surprisingly enough, most athletes can eliminate the sweets and other forms of junk food from their diets without any problem. Where they run afoul however, is not knowing what to eat in its place (or when to eat it).

Proper nutrition is an integral part of any weight cutting program. This requires eating smaller meals more frequently and as we all know, trying to whip up a small meal at the office while the boss is riding your desk is no easy task.

What you eat and when you plan to eat it should be mapped out in advance. Take one day out of the week to do all your shopping for the entire week and stock up on items consistent with your fitness goals.

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It's Fitness Friday once again Maniacs and if you recall last week's column we covered some great exercises that closely resemble the kind of physical exertion you would experience in a real mixed martial arts bout.

We may have rocked your upper and lower body with those routines, but don't get too relaxed because we're only halfway there.

In order to become a complete fighter (or at least be in shape like one), our training must also focus heavily on aerobic and anaerobic endurance to balance your training and sculpt you into a complete fighter.

Combat sports falls under the anaerobic umbrella because it requires a great deal of power output in a short period of time. The energy is quickly available, but short term energy stores are rapidly depleted, lactic acid builds up and exercise soon comes to a halt.

Once the production of lactate (lactic acid) by the anaerobic system is greater than its removal, lactate begins to accumulate in the bloodstream and the body must return to a state of rest to recover.

How do you know when you’ve reached your anaerobic threshold? When you’re out of breath! When the energy supplied by your breathing is insufficient to sustain your activity, you have reached your anaerobic threshold.

This is why so many mixed martial arts fighters falter as they go deeper into a fight. They may have excellent aerobic endurance, but their body is not conditioned for the quick bursts of power that only anaerobic endurance can provide.

Continue reading this post »

One of the biggest criticisms facing mixed martial arts competitors in today's fight game is an apparent lack of combat cardio.

I call it combat cardio because there is a marked difference between merely being in shape and being in "Fight Shape."

So many mixed martial arts fighters begin to falter as they go deeper into a fight. They may have excellent aerobic endurance, but their body is not conditioned for the quick bursts of power that only anaerobic endurance can provide.

The key is to find a training regimen with a balance between aerobic and anaerobic conditioning. The treadmill is of course a must, but so are sprints. Despite what you may have heard, slow and steady doesn’t always win the race!

Your training should also include interval work consisting of a repeated series of short, high intensity bursts with alternating rest periods. Constantly changing levels and speeds to mimic the frequent stopping and starting of close range combat is the only way to prepare for three or even five rounds inside the cage.

Below is an exercise routine designed to mimic the rigors of an actual MMA bout.

Your first order of business should be to get the blood flowing. Stretch out your muscles and spend a few minutes bouncing between cardio machines (like the treadmill and cross trainer) until you've got your heart rate going.

Continue reading this post »

I remember the old days when getting enough protein meant sucking down a T-bone on the days I went heavy in the gym. That could probably explain why I had giant guns and insufficient funds.

It was hard knowing how much protein to take and when to take it, but fortunately the science of sports nutrition is making it easier by the day.

Protein (in the form of amino acids) is the basic component of all living cells and provides your body with the materials it needs for muscle growth, repair, and maintenance.

Protein helps you build lean muscle by preventing muscle protein catabolism and stimulating muscle protein synthesis, the means by which resistance training makes muscles grow.

Yet knowing how much protein to consume on a daily basis is not as simple as it sounds.

The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for sedentary adults is listed at 0.8 grams per kilogram of lean bodyweight, but that does not take into consideration the intense training of a weightlifter or mixed martial artist.

Just as the required caloric intake for advanced athletes increases, so must the protein intake.

Continue reading this post »

When you think of women's mixed martial arts (MMA), you probably think of Gina Carano. And why not? She has the looks, the talent and the personality to embody everything positive about this sport and the women who compete in it.

But what about lesser known female fighters like Diane Berry (2-0)? I mention Diane because she does not have the name recognition or drawing power of Gina Carano, but like "Conviction," she practices the sport of MMA because she loves it.

And because it keeps her physically and mentally fit.

Now we’ve spent a lot of time in our previous fitness articles talking about some pretty hardcore routines. In an effort to prove we haven’t forgotten about the lovely ladies that bust their butts inside and outside the gym, Feel It! Nutrition is offering 20% off its new Women's Stack - but don’t procrastinate - this sale ends on January 29.

A woman’s body, besides being able to hypnotize and control the male population, has very distinct nutritional needs. Even more so for women who compete in competitive sports or strive to achieve high levels of fitness.

Now most women I know have a fear of looking manly and as a result, abandon a majority - if not all of their gym routines in favor of cardio programs and Denise Austin videos.

Attention ladies: Muscle is not the enemy!

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