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Building muscle builds better brains?

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Great news for people who like to work out and exercise.

Several recent studies have shown that people “who had high levels of physical activity had fewer problems with memory and thinking skills, while a 2013 study claimed exercise is beneficial for the cognitive functioning of dementia patients.

The researchers say that such outcomes may be a result of improved structural activity within the white matter of the brain”

Credits: Sedentary behavior ‘may counteract brain benefits of exercise in older adults’

Big, better brains

 

But there is an additional factor that you really need to know especially for most of us who have a desk job or are cube dwellers…

 

 

Zombies will love eating your big brains

Ok, so maybe zombies won’t get you because you are too fast and with your exercise building up your brain you’ll be too smart to get caught… but what if you forget to run or forget to set that lock or zombie alarm?

The study did show that working out helped your brain, but being sedentary, ie cube dwelling, may counteract that benefit.

The study revealed that people who engaged in moderate to vigorous physical had fewer white matter lesions than those who engaged in low-level physical exercise.  They also had greater structural activity in the white matter of the temporal lobes, which plan an important part in memory, language, sight and hearing  Credits: Sedentary behavior ‘may counteract brain benefits of exercise in older adults’

None of the 40-ish people I know, including me, want to get eaten by zombies any more than we want to [Read more…]

6 Pack Abs update after Days 15 to 18

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A quick update here on the blog for the 6 Pack Abs Challenge series we have on Joe’s journey to get 6 pack abs.

I rolled into day 15 with renewed focus and plans and did pretty well. Didn’t make much progress, but I am trying to dial this in for the long term! Short term goals are important so that is why I am breaking the challenge down like this, but I have to keep the goal in mind or I will get too frustrated.

I mentioned I might try to reach out to some of my online, Twitter, and bodybuilding/fitness friends to get some tips and I did exactly that. I am spending my spare time evaluating what they suggested and the plans I’ve seen so I will make that choice very fast and start incorporating their suggestions.

Six Pack Abs Challenge Days 15 to 18Back to even with the plan which is good, but I am in danger of crossing the line to the dark side. Can’t let that happen!

This update is for several days, but it is short so if you are looking for more motivation and stuff from Twitter check out the stuff I did for day 14 on FighterDiet.com –  Day 14 is here.

You can still find all of the first 30 days (currently in progress) and you can find the 2-pack goal for this period here along with links to details for each day.

Day 19 and 20 are going to be tough, but I can handle going to

[Read more…]

6 Pack Abs update after Day 14

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A quick update here on the blog for the 6 Pack Abs Challenge series we have on Joe’s journey to get 6 pack abs.

I rolled into day 14 with additional motivation and did very well. Didn’t quite get the fast results I wanted, but stayed about the same so I stopped the bleeding!

I mentioned I might try to reach out to some of my online, Twitter, and bodybuilding/fitness friends to get some tips and I am trying to do that because it is obvious I need to be more focused.

Still below my plan weight, but my concerns are still very active and present given I held pretty much steady today. Need to adjust quickly, but still trust the process!

This update is for one day and has more motivation and stuff from Twitter and FighterDiet.com – Check Day 14 out here.

You can still find all of the first 30 days (currently in progress) and you can find the 2-pack goal for this period here along with links to details for each day.

I really hope [Read more…]

6 Pack Abs update after the 10 Day Cleanse

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A quick update here on the blog for the 6 Pack Abs Challenge series we have on Joe’s journey to get 6 pack abs.

I finished moving and am starting to settle into the house and new routine.  That’s the good news.

The bad news is I gained some back after the last great weight drop…30 Day Weight Loss Chart for 6 Pack Ab Challenge - Days 10 to 13

I am still under my plan and on track to make my goal, but an obvious cause for concern.  Need to adjust quickly!

This update is for another 4 days and it has some interesting details and weight analysis I think you will enjoy so go check it out here.

You can still find all of the first 30 days (currently in progress) and you can find the 2-pack goal for this period here along with links to details for each day.

I really hope [Read more…]

6 Pack Abs update after the move!

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A quick update here on the blog for the 6 Pack Abs Challenge series we have on Joe’s journey to get 6 pack abs.

Moving 6 Pack Abs GoalI moved over the weekend and had a few days of craziness.

Now, based on my results so far in the 6 pack abs challenge, I may have to move something else – my 6 pack abs weight loss plan goals!

30 Day Weight Loss Chart for 6 Pack Ab Challenge - Days 3 to 9I blew away my numbers so go check it out – don’t worry – it is days 3 thru 9, but it is only one post…

Again, you can find all of the first 30 days (currently in progress) and you can find the 2-pack goal for this period here along with links to details for each day.

I really think [Read more…]

6 pack abs with Joe

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In case you only come to the blog, make sure you check out the new series we have on Joe’s journey to defined 6 pack abs.

6 pack abs for Christmas and New YearsIt should end up around Thanksgiving, but definitely by Christmas.

The first 30 days is in progress and you can find the 2-pack goal for this period here along with links to the individual days if you want any details.

I really think you will [Read more…]

Featured Fitness Series is now live

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The new Featured Fitness series is now live with our first two wonderful interviews.

Our First Fitness Interviews:

Donna Bray

Donna Bray Before and After pictureDonna Bray was the first woman to get her responses back and luckily for us, she ROCKS!

Check out one of her pics and then go read the interview and follow Donna on Twitter!

Rescue Train

RescueTrain was the first man to get his responses back and that is because as soon as we thought about doing this series, the first person we wanted to ask was him so we sent him the very first draft.

RescueTrainHe is an inspiration and works super hard so go check out his Twitter and read the interview!

Excitement, Workout Motivation, and… What do You Bench?

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If you have worked out for any length of time you have asked, and been asked, the most common question in lifting… “So… How much do you bench?” You almost expect to hear it in the gym. Maybe even on the street like this funny video where Men’s Fitness asked guys what they could bench and then suprised them with a bench to prove it.

Everybody loves the most common exercise in the gym – flat bench with a barbell. THE bench press. Nobody walks into the gym the first time and looks for a decline bench or pec deck.

Why? Probably because it is so common almost everyone including non-lifters have heard of it and seen it. There are entire contests devoted to it. Even the NFL combine uses it as a measure for all positions.

Simple, fun little test… Walk up to the biggest guy in the gym and say [Read more…]

Calves… Tour de France or World Cup?

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So we all have body parts that we struggle to control, grow, or define. Right? No, just me? Ok, stop reading here.

For those of you who do, I can relate. I have two body parts I really struggle improving – abs and calves.

Abs I’ve discussed before… So, what brought the calves up?

Cristiano Ronaldo legs, calves, absI watched some of the World Cup and some of the Tour de France recently and my oldest daughter walked in during both with roughly the same comment. Those guys are lean and they have great legs! Dad, you need to run / cycle!

Lance Armstrong CalvesOUCH! On two accounts. One, freaking me out a bit with her commenting on the guy’s legs. Two, I know what she meant.

I naturally have smaller calves. I know it and I work on them pretty hard. Not hard enough evidently.

Would I swap my chest and arms for their legs? Uh, [Read more…]

Eating well on the road

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I am going on another 4 day weekend trip – now before you get all Jeally (that’s cool Dad speak for Jealous using the kid’s lingo) it is just to Knoxville, TN for my youngest daughter’s Southeastern swimming championships at the University of Tennessee’s aquatics center.

Southeastern Swimming4 days of sitting for a few minutes of swimming…

And, TOTALLY worth it! Seriously, I love watching my daughters grow into fit, strong, competitive young women.

The countless hours of practice, early mornings, late nights and tired bodies are easy to justify when you see them get up on the starting blocks for an explosive swimming start or make an approach to attack a volleyball.

Wait, that still sounds like fun other than having to see all that Tennessee Volunteer orange. And it is.
Tennessee Swimming and Diving
However, I am starting a new program for nutrition and [Read more…]