Healthy Simple Living » Fitness

Holy Grail Week 1 & Primal Workout Avatar-Style

lilla — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 23:34:57 +0000

Woot! I finished my first week of the Holy Grail Body Transformation program by Tom Venuto. Once again, it felt good lifting weights. I don’t know why I stop. Wellllll, I guess I do know why. It’s because numero uno, I travel a lot, change gyms and lose the habit. And number dos, I tend to work out in spurts – all or nothing and then burn out! But THIS time, I’m following the plan to the letter and not “improving” it (lol – because I know sooo much more than Tom.)

Holy Grail Workout – Week One

First week was tough I have to admit, because the DOMS hit me and hit me hard – ouch! I was walking around like Redd Foxx in Sanford & Son – “You hear that, Elizabeth? I’m coming to join ya, honey!”

Anyway the workouts are going well. They’re different than the split routines I’ve done in the past and I think more effective judging by the serious DOMS, which means the muscle fibers are breaking down and my body is sending out the squadrons to rebuild bigger and better!

I’ve also learned I’m definitely, unequivocably a morning workout person. I went to the gym after 6pm one weekday and it was a madhouse! I rather squeeze in the weights AND yoga in the morning, even if it means getting up before the sun. Cardio is now outdoors thanks to my severe case of Spring fevah! Can’t get enough of this Northeast Spring weather – loving it.

The Holy Grail Nutrition Timing

The eating sched is taking a bit of getting used to. Now that I’m in an office environment 5 days per week, it’s harder to prep my meals. But I’m working out a system to make this happen and to optimize the pre & post workout nutrition according to the Grail. So the first week was kind of the warm-up (I’ll call it week 13) and now the SERIOUS 12 week countdown begins – no excuses.

Primal Workout Avatar-Style

Check this video out. I just love how these guys move and use bodyweight and things found in nature to exercise…barefoot even. Reminds me of the movie Avatar. Epic.

Sunday Weekly Round-up

lilla — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 23:18:42 +0000

FITNESS UPDATE

The Holy Grail

I said I was going to and I did – I started Tom Venuto’s Holy Grail Body Transformation Program yesterday. Day 2 and I’ve already got upper body DOMS! But it’s good pain, right? Actually I like to lift heavy (relatively speaking – lol) quite contrary to the Tracey Anderson phenomenon going on right now.

COCONUT MILK, RAW BUTTER & NORI ROLL RECIPES

Make Coconut Milk

Don’t like canned coconut milk? Can’t access unadulterated young cocos but need coconut milk in a pinch? Then make coconut milk from shredded coconut meat. It’s easy! It just takes some blending and squeezing through cheesecloth. Learn how to make coconut milk.

How To Make Cultured Butter

You haven’t tasted butter until you’ve made it fresh from raw milk. Add a little yogurt to the raw cream the day before, then throw it in a blender and watch the magic happen! There’s a recipe for roasted garlic butter too. Watch the video on making homemade butter.

Raw Nori Roll for One

When you have odds and ends in the fridge, throw it in a nori roll I say! You can’t go wrong with veggies coupled with a fat like avocado or tahini, rolled in nori and dipped in tamari. Check out a quick nori roll recipe & watch a vid too on rolling nori with a sushi mat.

ARTISAN CHOCOLATE & GLASS STRAW GIVEAWAYS

Cocoa Powder Highest in ORAC

“Cocoa powder contains more beneficial anti oxidants than other chocolate products … the highest levels of TAC and procyanidins, which were found to be the dominant antioxidant in chocolates.” - USDA Win Askinosie cocoa powder & 3 dark chocolate bars!

Win A Glass Straw – Save the Beaches!

According to the Ocean Conservancy, plastic straws amount to 27.5% of all US marine debris. In their report on debris collected on beaches around the US, straws came in at 65,384! And that’s JUST on beaches JUST in the US. Yuck. Enter to win a glass drinking straw and spread the word!

The Holy Grail of Body Transformation

lilla — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:07:10 +0000

This is is a bit off-topic since I haven’t written about fitness in a long time. I chose to try to do things in moderation – eat clean and exercise regularly. But…well…I’m a girl and summer’s coming…and bikinis and um…it’s time to get moving!

So what spurred this on all of a sudden? Last night I stayed up late just to read Tom Venuto’s new ebook release The Holy Grail: Body Transformation Program. I’ve met Tom in person (a fellow New Jerseyian) and he really knows his stuff. SERIOUSLY. In the Holy Grail, he explains how it IS possible to gain muscle AND discard fat at the SAME time.

Me and Tom Venuto

He is a champion natural bodybuilder, author of Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle and The Body Fat Solution. He doesn’t just rely on theory – he lives what he teaches. He’s also one of the most voracious readers of scientific study after scientific study about health, weight loss, muscle building, body composition and nutrition that I’ve ever met. Lucky us! We get the advantage of him distilling all that snore scientific mumbo jumbo information into books that people can understand. The other great thing I love about Tom is that he doesn’t push powders, supplements or sports drinks. It’s all clean wholesome food with S.O.L.E!

Anyway, I know this post is super-short notice because I JUST read the ebook last night, but the Holy Grail is available as a bonus through midnight PST tonight March 5 with his now classic Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle or membership to the Inner Circle Burn the Fat forum.

This is the first time Tom outlines how to proceed with nutrition and exercise for 12 weeks. Yay! Because I need it spelled out to me – the roadmap gps plan to body transformation. I will be beginning Saturday March 13th for 12 weeks with the 2-day split workout: Sat and Sunday (because those are my days off ) and Wednesday and Thursday (because the gym is a bit more empty then.) For nutrition, I will do the zigzag cycle with 3:1 mesocycle duration. So by June 5th, I will be beach bikini ready!

I would LOVE it if other people joined me. We don’t necessarily have to start on the same day but close to it would be great. Please drop me a comment if you are up for the fitness challenge!

A Surprise Christmas Treat

lilla — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 19:19:52 +0000

Hey everyone! It’s been a looong time since I last wrote but I just HAD to post about the Raw Food World because I am blown away by their service. I placed an order for a whole bunch of goodies on Tuesday December 22nd. They’re having a massive 17.5% off sale until New Year’s Eve so I wanted to stock up to start 2010 right. NEVER did I expect to get my loot by Christmas Eve. But lo and behold 48 hours later, I opened my front door on my way out to some Xmas festivities and was SHOCKED to see that Santa had delivered my package. YAY!! Not only that, but it came with samples of Natural Calm, chlorella “nuts” & hemp powder. WOWEE!

Of all the places I’ve ordered from, the Raw Food World truly does have the best prices and services in my humble opinion and I’m proud to be affiliated with them. They are always having special sales, but this is the best one so far! Just use coupon code – HOLIDAY18 – when checking out (HOLIDAY12 for 12% off of appliances.) Here’s a picture of what I got. Can’t wait to experiment with some yum pots AND the Irish moss to make some “tiramisu consistency” desserts. I’ll keep you posted on my creations.

Raw and Yummy!

In the meantime I’m chillin’ at home on Xmas day, listening to some YT videos that Anthony from Raw Model posted here. REALLY interesting out-of-this-world stuff. Also thinking of going to see Avatar at the IMAX but scared of the Xmas day crowds – LOL. I’ll probably stay local and play around with my new raw “toys” instead. HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!! ;D

Unplugged…Again

lilla — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 09:54:03 +0000

I think the universe is trying to tell me to take a break from my virtual life. On Sunday, I dropped my laptop and broke my wifi usb. (Phew – at least that was the oly thing that broke!) On Monday, I went to the only computer store in town to drop another $149 for a new one and they were closed for the holiday. Went back on Tuesday to be told they no longer carry them! Went to the post office to check if they carried them, but they are sold out. Drove out of town to an electronics store and they are out of stock. So here I sit, back in a library (with a notoriously slow connection speed) trying to catch up on the latest and greatest.

Ah well, actually it’s been good having some downtime – I’ve been working on few side projects and catching up on some reading, so it’s all good. I did have a peek online today and noticed two exciting things!!

First, Gnosis Chocolate is coming out with a raw vegan protein chocolate bar!!! Wowee! They are based in my native NYC area and make some of the best raw choccie in the world! This may very well be the first “healthy” protein chocolate bar. Yumm! Feeling a bit homesick and nostalgic for home. I realize how I take for granted how much is available to me living in the states, expecially NYC side.

Second big news is the RTP contest deadline is super fast approaching!! Being offline, I had lost track of it and I’ve noticed that Adam and Tom have sweetened the pot by adding MORE to the prize package. I am soooooo IN and more motiviated than ever to get in shape! Check it out:

RTP Contest Prize #1: *Round Trip Airfares to New York City.

RTP Contest Prize #2: 2 Nights Accomodation at W. Hotel Hoboken.

RTP Contest Prize #3: A Ride in Tom Venuto’s “Burn The Fat Mobile”

RTP Contest Prize #4: US $500 Spending Money.

RTP Contest Prize #5: Training Session in NJ with Tom and Adam.

RTP Contest Prize #6: Pro Photo Shoot in front of epic NYC landmarks!

RTP Contest Prize #7: Private dinner with Tom and myself in NYC.

RTP Contest Prize #8: A Broadway Show in Manhattan’s Theatre District!

RTP Contest Prize #9: Your very own time lapse video! produced for you!

RTP Contest Prize #10: Your Success Story featured in RTP System 2.0!

Contest closes promptly at US EST 11:59:59 April 30, 2009. The more people that join in, the more motivating it is honestly. I thrive on the competition to kick my rear in gear! LOL. On second thought, don’t join. With under 500 contestants, I’ve got a fair dinkum shot at winning!! Haha. ;D

See you in the Shreddersphere if you dare take up the challenge!