Tag Archives: bodybuilding

Reasons why you don’t have abs! And how to get a six pack!

Posted in Lifestyle Tips, Nutrition Tips by

imageHello everybody!

Today I want to talk about abs! Lots of you girls (and also guys) have been asking me constantly what’s the best exercise to get abs, what’s the best diet for a six pack abs, what are the tricks of getting abs are?

I’m telling you now, unfortunately there is no secret or magic pill to obtain that toned and muscular six pack look.

There are many things that you could be doing wrong and you don’t even know about it.

Here are the top 5 reasons why you are not seeing your abs!

1. Your body fat percentage

If you have a higher body fat % (over 18% girls, over 10% guys) might be the reason. You can have perfect abdominal muscles under the fat layer, but you will not be able to see it unless you decrease your body fat!

2. You think doing 100-150 ab crunches every day will give you abs

Sorry to spoil your dreams, but you can do as many crunches you can, if your body fat percentage is high, your abs can’t show!

3. Your diet!

If you think going to the gym and working out every day for hours will out balance your diet, you are wrong! Your diet has to be clean, meaning no processed foods, no fried foods, no sugars, no fast food! It’s a big misconception that people who work out every day can eat whatever they want and they maintain their abs!

4. You don’t get enough sleep

Rest is very important! If you don’t sleep enough, your body is in stress and it will not produce enough hormone called leptin (which helps you to feel full). You will feel hungry more often, and not feel full even after a meal.

5. You don’t drink enough water!

Water is essential for a healthy body! If you are not hydrated toxins build up in your system and nothing good will come out from that!

Here is what you should be doing!

1. If you want to get your body fat down, make sure to incorporate a solid dose of high intensity cardio and emphasize a healthy, LEAN diet. I train clients on a daily basis and the most efficient exercise that burns that body fat is HIIT training. You don’t have to do if for hours, a max of 15 minutes is enough, but you really have to push your limits!

2. You cannot lose body fat in specific areas of your body by training that body part more often. So doing crunches even 200 per day will not help you! The only way to strip the fat from your abs is by slowly and gradually burning it off from your entire body through cardio, nutrition, and resistance training.

3. The most effective action toward achieving those sculpted abs is to clean up your diet. When it comes to your abs, training Them every day will not help you. You need a smart meal plan to lower your body fat percentage and uncover your abs. Stay away from fatty, highly processed foods, which may keep you from your goal of a flat stomach. Instead consume good fats from foods such as fish, nuts, seeds and avocados in.

4. Try to get at least 8 hours of sleep a night! Make it easier on yourself by staying away from caffeine late at night and turning off all electronic devices (such a your phone, TV, laptop) a few hours before bed. Drinking a cup of herbal tea, such as chamomile, can also help you to sleep better!

5. Is the best to drink at least 16 ounces of chilled water as soon as you wake up in the morning. German scientists recently found that doing this boosts metabolism by 24 percent for 90 minutes afterward. (A smaller amount of water had no effect.) What’s more, a previous study determined that muscle cells grow faster when they’re well hydrated. Are you convinced?

Remember! Achieving nicely sculpted abs will not happen over night. Trust the journey, keep your diet clean and exercise regularly. 

 

 

 

 

 

Beginners guide to the gym

Posted in Fitness Tips by

wpid-img_20150220_205558.jpgHello everybody!

When I say new to the gym, I refer to the people who want to be consistent in a gym, who want to make fitness a part of their lives and most important to make it a habit.

In my opinion before you get your gym membership you have to do a couple of things.

Here they are:

  1. Have a plan! The best option is to hire a personal trainer to make a personalized workout plan for you. You should have that plan printed out, and you should know how to do those exercises correctly.
  2. Get an outfit in which you feel comfortable. It doesn’t has to be super stylish. If you are a girl your sports bra should fit perfectly, not to tight or too loose. You should wear some leggings, and be shore they are not see-through and they fit well. And some comfortable shoes.
  3. 3. Headphones are super important. You go to the gym to work out and mind your own business. You should not care what other people think about you, or look at you. If it bothers you, get also a cool cap, I used to do that, so you will feel even more comfortable
  4. You need an arm band or waist band to put your phone in. Be super careful I see broken phones in the weight sections all the time!
  5. 5. Decide your muscle group split. The traditional way is: Back and biceps, chest and triceps, legs and shoulders, abs and cardio. You can split your workouts in other ways too, depending on your goals and the body parts you want to focus more.
  6. How many sets and reps you should do? Well for beginners I would suggest 4 exercise per muscle group so it’s like 4 exercises for biceps, 4 exercises for triceps…and so on. I would suggest 3 sets of 12-15 reps.
  7. Check your form! There are a lot of mirrors in every gym. Check yourself if you are doing them correctly and also to feel it in the body part you are training. If you train shoulders you should feel it in your shoulders and not in your biceps or something.
  8. Exercising should never hurt! You can feel the burn or that you are sore, but it is not ok to feel pain in your joints!
  9. Do not forget to Stretch! Stretching is super important especially after your workout. It helps lengthening your muscles, and helps your blood flow in those muscles, helping them to recover.
  10. Get a great playlist on your phone. Music can make such a big difference! Your favorite music will push you through your workout. If you don’t have a playlist you can find any kind of music on Spotify or what I like is Fit radio, they have a lot of playlists, different kind of music, so you can choose something you like for sure.

That’s it guys I hope I could help with these tips. Now go and get ready for a great workout!

Have a great day! :*

My interview with Musclemunch.net

Posted in Fitness Tips, Personal stuff by

wpid-img_20150121_232249.jpgHello my dears!

If you are interested to see a short interview with me, check out, musclemunch.net. There are some questions and answers with me.

Hope you like it, see you soon! :*

Here is the link: http://www.musclemunch.net/622/female-interviews/aspiring-fitness-model-bea-talks-with-musclemunch

Moderation is the key!

Posted in Nutrition Tips by

IMG_20141010_170335Hello everybody!

I have a little tip for you today. do you see this wonderful, delicious dessert on the picture? Well I ate it all…. and no I don’t eat things like this every day! Now maybe you ask yourselves now, but is this kind of food allowed in a diet? My answer is, yes BUT moderation is the key!

Everything in moderation! It’s important to have balance and have treat like this every now and then if you crave it. Otherwise you will go totally crazy, you will get out of control,  and eat the whole fridge :))

One thing I’ll say though, after I eat things like this heavenly dessert, the next day I eat extra healthy and clean!

Enjoy your life! Live it, and don’t restrict yourself too much!

Have a wonderful weekend! :*

What you need to know about carb cycling

Posted in Fitness Tips, Lifestyle Tips, Nutrition Tips by

carb cycling picHey everybody!

I have some informations for you today, about a diet plan called carb cycling, which is one of the most effective diets used by body builders and fitness personalities. This article may be a little longer than other articles I used to write, but trust me it worth your time.

Carb Cycling is a low/no-carbohydrate diet with intermittent periods of high or moderate carbohydrate consumption.

Most people have the misconception that consuming low carbs on a daily basis for long periods of time is good for them. You cannot eat that way forever. Your body needs carbs for its daily functions. They deplete your energy and strength and are not the best method when attempting to lose body fat and retain muscle.

There are also those individuals who preach high carb diets. While high carb diets help to speed your metabolism, they are not ideal for weight-loss or reduction of body fat as we know, for weight loss the body needs to be in a  calorie deficit.

This is where carb-cycling comes in. Carb cycling is an in between type method that will give you the benefits of both a low and high carb diet which allows you to hold on to the muscle you already have and shed body fat.

This type of diet will also help you maintain your sanity, strength, and energy.

So let’s see how this diet works

Carb cycling works by giving your body the fuel it needs to increase your metabolism and create a calorie deficit to increase fat loss.

There are typically three types of days when carb cycling:
high-carb days
low-carb days
no-carb days.
These days are rotating between them.

Generally the most common carb cycling approach used is where you will place higher carbohydrate days on your heaviest training days and then lower carb days on off/low-intensity training days. This plan is usually based on eating 5 smaller meals per day, 3 meals and 2 snacks (healthy ones)

In order to lose weight, our bodies need the right combination of proteins, carbs, and healthy fats.

Here’s why:

  • Protein builds and maintains muscles and these muscles burn calories like. Protein also breaks down more slowly than carbs and fat, which burns even more calories and helps you feel fuller longer.
  • Carbs are the preferred fuel source for your muscles and organs, and they come in healthy versions (vegetables, fruits, grains, and legumes), and not-so-healthy versions (cakes, cookies, soda, doughnuts, candy, and many processed foods).  Healthy carbs are also very important for burning calories, and since they break down more slowly than those not-so-healthy carbs, they keep your blood sugar and energy levels steady
  • Healthy fats (unsaturated fats) eaten in moderation help the development and function of your eyes and brain and help prevent heart disease, stroke, depression, and arthritis. Healthy fats also help keep your energy levels steady and keep you from feeling hungry.

So why do we alternate high-carb and low-carb days in carb cycling?

On high-carb days you’re stocking your calorie-burning furnace so that on low-carb days your furnace burns fat, and lots of it! So it tricks your metabolism into burning a lot of calories, even on those low-carb days. It’s an amazing and well-proven process.

Occasionally, you may feel hungry on your Low Carb days. This is because you’re avoiding starchy carbohydrates which fill you up fast and contain a lot of calories.

In these cases you can add more protein and vegetables to your meal. There’s no harm in eating an extra chicken breast or more salad.

Here is the list of the approved carbohydrates:

  • Brown rice
  • Oats (Slow Cooked Preferred)
  • Sweet potatoes
  • Spelt whole grain
  • Starchy Veggies (corn, peas, etc.)
  • Beans/Legumes

Approved Yet Limited Carbohydrates

  • Whole-wheat pasta
  • Whole grain breads, pitas, etc.

Approved Lean Protein Sources (A)

  • Chicken (white meat)
  • Turkey (white meat)
  • Tuna Fish (can), natural, no oil
  • Fish (flounder, tuna, salmon, shark)
  • Shellfish (all types)
  • Protein (preferably whey post workout, and casein before bed; must be low-carb)
  • Lean beef (including lean cuts of steak)
  • Cottage Cheese (0 or 1% fat)
  • Egg whites (egg beaters)

Approved Higher-Fat Protein Sources (B)

  • Chicken (dark meat)
  • Turkey (dark meat)
  • Eggs (half whites, half whole eggs)
  • Steak and other meats
  • Cottage Cheese (Whole Milk)

Fat Sources

  • Almonds, wallnuts, nuts, peanuts (or nuts natural butter)
  • Flax Oil
  • Cod Liver Oil
  • Hemp Seed Oil
  • Olive Oil

Water Consumption
In short, you can never have enough. The ten 8-ounce glasses per day recommendation is the minimum. You should drink at least a gallon (3.5-4 liter) per day

Here is a weekly cycle that should work nicely for most:

Monday = No Carb
Tuesday = Low Carb
Wednesday = High Carb
Thursday = No Carb
Friday = Low carb
Saturday = High Carb
Sunday = Low Carb

The carb cycling diet is easy to maintain, and because you cycle on and off carbs, the body does not plateau like it would on a prolonged low carbohydrate diet.

Carb cycling speeds up metabolism and gets your body to efficiently use up fuel while sustaining muscle and burning off body fat! Use a carb cycling diet along with a consistent workout plan!

Hope you enjoyed it! Have a beutiful day! 🙂

Quick butt toning home workout video

Posted in Butt& thighs, Workout video by

 

Hello everybody!

If you don’t have time or the mood to go to the gym, but you want to tone up your legs and butt a little, this workout is for you!

Just pay attention to your form, be sure to make all the moves nice and controlled. You are not just lifting your leg, pay attention to squeeze your muscles all the time. Do all these exercises in a raw without any pause on one leg then stretch a little and go on the other leg. Try to do between 15 and 20 repetitions of each movement. Believe me at the end of the workout you will feel it 🙂

Have a great day! :*

Most popular fitness myths!

Posted in Fitness Tips by

 

myths_6When you start a fitness journey or a healthy lifestyle, the most important thing  is to be informed. The best defence against failure is good information. These crushed fitness myths will help you recognize right from wrong and truth from lies.

You may be surprised to learn how many are really fiction, so here they are:

Myth nr.1

The more you sweat, the more fat you lose.

Sweat is your body’s way of getting rid of heat, is our body’s way of cooling off, it means you’re losing water weight, not fat. Fat is oxidized inside your body and it is not going to vaporize because you’re sweating! The sweat isn’t related to burning fat – it’s related to temperature regulation.

Myth nr.2

Doing crunches or working on an “ab machine” will get rid of belly fat.

Doing ab exercises like crunches might help strengthen the muscles around that area, but to be able to “see” your abdominal muscles has to do with your overall percentage of body fat.  If you don’t lose the belly fat, you won’t see the abdominal muscles. Unfortunately you can’t pick and choose areas where you’d like to burn fat. So crunches aren’t going to target weight loss in that area. To burn fat, you should create a workout that includes both cardiovascular and strength-training elements. This will decrease your overall body fat content.

Myth nr.3

If you want to get in shape, you have to run for long distances.

If you want to lose weight or gain muscle, running miles may not be the best way to do it. The more efficient your body becomes at running, the fewer calories you’ll burn. A good tip if you really like to run is to add intervals. Interval workouts, whether programs on the machine or created by you, will always be the best option.

Myth nr.4

Occasional overeating makes you fat.

Eating more calories than your body needs will make you gain weight. But you can gain both muscle and fat depending on where the calories are coming from and whether you stimulate your muscles into growth. Occasional overeating will not make you fat.

 Myth nr.5

No pain, no gain!

Exercise should not be painful! During your workout you should be sweating and breathing hard. You should not be so out of breath that you cannot speak, but should not be so comfortable that you can make a conversation. That’s how you know you are working at a good level. It’s important to distinguish between muscle fatigue (feeling “the burn”) and muscle/joint pain (uncomfortable pain during movement). Pain is your body’s way of telling you that you’re doing something wrong.  Just listen to your body; if it’s painful, you have to stop!

 Myth nr.6

Fruit is a healthy snack that can’t make you fat.

We eat food because it gives us nutrients and fuel, but any kind of food, no matter how healthy, can make you gain weight. Fruit has a lot of easily accessible carbs. When you provide your body easily accessible carbs, you’re basically telling it to stop burning body fat for fuel.