The Health & Nutritional Benefits of Kale -by Jeremy Scott

Maybe you have heard of Kale maybe you haven’t so here is a little  information on this green machine that I came across the other day…

• This green leafy vegetable is very abundant and bursting with flavors in the colder climates.
• This vegetable is 80 percent water, and can easily replace more popular leafy greens (spinach and cabbage), if you want to change up the nutrition on your plate.
• Kale contains essential vitamins and minerals, which are much needed to fight off colds and flu’s which may run rampant in the winter months.
• Kale contains healthy doses of vitamins A, C, and E, plus minerals like potassium, manganese, iron, and calcium.
• Research has also shown that kale contains a phytochemical called sulforaphane, which has been linked to a reduction in cancer.

Throw Kale in a sauté with some garlic and olive oil for a tasty, green, nutrient-rich side dish that goes perfect with just about any protein source.

They also make Kale chips now, which won’t taste like Doritos but they are a healthy way to get your greens with a little crunch!!!

Thermo Fire for Contest Prep -by Thanh Le

Since I decided to do another show, I added PROLAB Thermo Fire to my pre-contest stack, and let me tell you, I love this stuff. This stacked with PROLAB Cuts II Gold is amazing. I take 2 capsules in the morning before breakfast and 2 more capsules before I eat lunch. I’m not really a morning person and I’m pretty slow, so the caffeine in it works great to get me up and going. One of the other reasons I love this product is that I actually FEEL the product working. Most of my day is spent at my cubicle, but I feel my body temperature increase and my heart rate is also increased. This is the “whole body burn” that I look for. The increased heart rate and body temperature helps shed the body fat by increasing your body’s metabolism.

I highly recommend this product to anyone that is trying to shed a little body fat…or a lot of body fat. Thermo Fire stacked with Cuts II Gold along with a proper nutrition and training program will get you the results you want. Give it a try and get ready to see the difference.

My Experience with Intermittent Fasting -by Charles Turner

Over the last two months I’ve been experimenting with intermittent fasting. Basically I only eat 8 hours of the day and fast for the other 16. Initially I had my reservations about it.  I’ve always had the mindset that I must eat six times a day in order to get the kind of results and gains I wanted. Overall I’ve been very surprised to this point. The one thing that I like about intermittent fasting is the flexibility it allows you to have. You can live somewhat of a normal life without being so stressed about eating or counting calories. That’s not to say you can just eat whatever you want, but if you decide to have a cheat meal, you don’t feel as guilty about doing it. Basically you’re going to fast later that day, so your blood sugar levels and insulin will stay in check.

There’s really no wrong way to set up your schedule. It’s a matter of what works for you.  I basically set up my schedule in this manner:

8 am – 4pm eating period I try to eat mostly whole foods (fresh meats, Veggies, fruits, nuts, Ezekiel bread, yams, and oatmeal for my carb sources).

4pm-8 am fasting period – this is generally when I’m busiest and includes my sleep periods.

Around 6am I’ll train on an empty stomach (which is against everything you or I’ve ever heard).  I do 1 serving PROLAB BCAA PLUS to prevent muscle loss and 1 serving PROLAB Quick Fire pre workout to ramp up my energy levels.  I’ll eat my biggest meal post workout, around 8am after coming off my fast.

Benefits of Intermittent Fasting – According to research:

1. Reduced Blood Glucose and Insulin Levels
2. Increased fatty acid oxidation
3. Maintenance of lean mass
4. Reduced inflammation
5. Reduced oxidative damage
6.  Increased cellular stress resistance (esp. on heart and brain)
7. Decreased risk associated with degenerative diseases of aging ( heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s)

Things I’ve noticed

1. Actual increase in energy levels
2. Accelerated fat loss in the mid-section due to increased growth hormone levels from less insulin spikes
3. No apparent muscle or strength loss. Actually gained a bit of lean muscle and gotten much stronger while reducing body fat levels.
4. Better control of appetite
5. Better digestion of meals
6. Feel fuller faster- tend not to over eat/ consume majority of calories post workout meal- allowing for better protein synthesis.
7. Better mental clarity

Intermittent fasting has kept me much leaner in my offseason allowing me to stay around 6-7% body fat. I feel that by continuing to implement this plan, I can shave a few weeks off my contest prep, by staying leaner year around. While to some bodybuilding enthusiasts this goes against everything you’ve ever heard about dieting and nutrition – I can honestly say that intermittent fasting works! How will you ever know unless you try? So if you’re looking to get leaner and stronger, be open to trying new things, and give intermittent fasting a shot today!