We’ve probably all met people who want to get into shape – but can’t bring themselves to workout because they “don’t like exercising”. Some people just really aren’t that physical and don’t like doing push ups or lifting weights. That being said – I think most people should be able to find some physical activity that they enjoy doing, and that’s the ticket to enjoying getting into shape.
Now, I’ve had posts in the past about activities you can do to keep physically active, but this isn’t one of them. This isn’t about how physical activities like dancing, swimming, or rock climbing can help you get in amazing shape. Instead, it’s about how physical activities can help you enjoy going to the gym or working out at home!
Here’s why:
When you find a physical activity you really enjoy, if you weren’t someone physical beforehand – two things generally happen:
1. You get more […]

Original post by rafael@thefitnessadviser.com (Rafi Bar-Lev)

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The Power of Touch

The largest organ on our body is the skin. Its protective layers guard our muscles, bones, internal organs, and ligaments, while its active function results in the most fundamental of our five senses – that of touch. For all our focus on maintaining optimal organ function through diet, exercise, and lifestyle, could it be that we’re neglecting the organ that figures most prominently in our daily, direct communion with the material world?
I know that it’s awfully easy for me to go several days without real, meaningful physical contact with another human when I’m on the road promoting the book or giving a talk. Oh, sure, there are handshakes and incidental shoulder brushes and maybe even the occasional fist bump, but it’s not the same. I miss my wife and kids. You can’t exactly hug total strangers (nor would you really want to) or even business associates. When I’m away from […]

Original post by Mark Sisson

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Weight Loss, Fat Money

It always amazes me when I think about how the weight loss has turned into an “industry”.
And, despite what we may be led to believe this is nothing new.
The weight loss industry has been alive and profiting since AT LEAST the late 1800’s .
You don’t need to look any further than the story of Bernarr Macfadden as told in “Mr. America” for proof that NONE of this is new.
From the benefits of the all milk diet to the miracle of high protein,….it’s all been recycled multiple times.
Somehow, at some point, we convinced ourselves that in order to lose weight, eating LESS is not the answer.
Instead, we’ve decided that the key to losing weight is discovering the secret foods that MAKE us lose weight.
I think this concept works so well because it “FITS” with life.
It fits with our current addiction to purchasing and consuming.
In today’s reality “taking away” […]

Original post by Brad Pilon

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Smart Spice: Cinnamon

We mostly see them as flavorants, as the little jars of powder that line our cabinets and the bags of dried roots, barks, and leaves tucked away in drawers, designed to subtly or drastically alter the flavor profile of our “smart fuel” creations in the kitchen, but for most of human history, spices were also prized for their medicinal qualities. Turmeric for GI disorders and inflammation. Chili peppers for pain management. Ginger for diarrhea. These aren’t just exaggerated cases of “folk medicine” or “old wives’ tales,” either. Current research has confirmed that many common spices do indeed have medicinal properties. One of the most beneficial is also the most common: cinnamon.

It’s important to realize that there are multiple varieties of cinnamon.

There’s Ceylon cinnamon, or “true cinnamon,” or cinnamomum zeylanicum. Ceylon cinnamon comes from the crumbly inner bark of the cinnamomum zeylanicum tree, and its flavor is sweet and delicate. It […]

Original post by Mark Sisson

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Matt Costa and Bryan Maher

If you could pick one job that had to be bad for your figure, what would it be? How about running a pizza shop? Bryan Maher works at Cosmo’s Pizza in Corolla, and it’s taken it’s toll on his waist line. But Bryan got tired of it, and came to the best place for fitness on the Outer Banks to get back in shape.
Bryan came in to KnuckleUp in early March weighing in at 350 pounds. In his younger days, Bryan wrestled at 180, so working out hard is nothing new to him. He just had to get back in the rhythm.
And did he ever! Bryan has been working hard in the kickboxing class, and has had a few privates with super-coach Matt Costa. Bryan has worked hard for the weight he lost.
And just how much has he lost? In the past ten weeks, Bryan has […]

Original post by knuckleup

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…skip breakfast.

(Hey you guys here is one of my favorite tips from a friend of mine,  Adam over at Body Weight Coach. I use this to keep that body fat burning. Use it and see what you think. -Darrin)

I bet you’re thinking I’m crazy. Right?

How many times have we been told that breakfast is the most
important meal of the day?

But here’s the simple truth: you’re either burning fat or you’re
storing it. There’s no in between. And the most efficient time for
fat burning is in the fasted state. So why not prolong that state
through to the noon hour?

“Well Adam, the reason you shouldn’t do that is because your
metabolism will slow down.” That’s what you’ve heard right?

Wrong…

Even after 72 hours of fasting there’s no noticeable effect on
metabolism. That’s right, even after three days of fasting your
body does NOT start to down regulate your fat burning furnaces. So
I don’t think skipping breakfast is going to hurt.

“OK, but I’ll lose all my muscle mass won’t I?”

Nope…

Not at all. In fact, if you are using resistance training
(bodyweight counts), you can actually GAIN muscle quite
effectively. Especially if you concentrate certain types of
calories around your workouts.

“Yeah, but what about all those studies saying that people who eat
breakfast do a better job of losing weight or maintaining their
weight loss?”

Not so “fast”…

You have to understand that those findings are not necessarily
CAUSAL. Often, people who skip breakfast are the types to grab a
doughnut and coffee at 10:30 in lieu of breakfast. But breaking your
fast at noon with a big salad and homemade vinaigrette is hardly
the same thing!

So there you go. One simple tip to extend your fasted state and
keep burning fat for hours longer than usual. And if you can add a
strategic and well planned workout in there, you’ll multiply your
results even more.

Cheers,
Adam

— ——————————————————–

I use this as often as possible and love the added energy it produces so give it a try and let me know how you do.

Stay lean and train like a Warrior,

-Darrin Walton

Warrior Fit Body Solution

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Devon and his bike outside KnucklUp OBX

That’s right, KnuckleUp isn’t just about fighting and fitness on the Outer Banks anymore. Our newest member is bringing a little motorcycle mayhem our way.  Devon Pilkington is a professional Arenacross racer! How awesome is that?
Devon is a Virginia native who has just started coming to the gym recently.  For those not in the loop, Arenacross is held in an arena (obviously), has a dirt track, and a lot of jumps. Try holding on to your bike when your flying through the air at 50 mph. It takes a lot of strength, and Devon picked KnuckleUp as his place to get conditioned, working with Matt in the kickboxing class.

Devon flying off a jump!

This is Devon’s first full season as a professional racer.  He’s got a sweet new bike and is confident he can make something happen this season. Pilkington has quietly become a role […]

Original post by knuckleup

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You asked for it, so here it is: another round of Primal Blueprint Success Stories. Emails like these are basically why I continue to run Mark’s Daily Apple. It’s all about giving people the tools and resources they need to feel empowered to take control of their health, and in many cases completely turn their lives around.
Years ago I set a (lofty?) goal for myself: to personally play a role in helping 10 million people. If you’re one of the 10 million please let me know! If the Primal Blueprint has helped you in any way email me. It could be your story that helps others make the Primal leap. Grok on!

_________________________________________________________________________
Finding the Primal Blueprint has changed my life completely. My weight had always been an issue for me. Growing up my parents took us to fast food often, and I had unlimited access to chips, sodas, and […]

Original post by Mark Sisson

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Just some random stuff I’ve either discussed or thought about in the last few days. You can read part one here.

1. Some workouts don’t go as planned. Even if your diet has been on point and even if you feel well rested from your last session. If you are attuned to your body and it’s limits, you will often feel when that time is due early in your workout.
How do you feel it? The warm-up sets feel heavier than they should be. You feel a subtle soreness in your pecs in between your warm-up sets for bench presses. Knees feel sore after squatting. Lower back feels sore after deadlifting. When warming up for weighted chins, you might find that body weight chins go slow – when you’d normally be flying up for the first 4-5 reps. And when thinking about the weights you are supposed to use for your first […]

Original post by noreply@blogger.com (Martin Berkhan)

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Not so nimble right now.

We know you want to live a healthy and active lifestyle. That’s why you come to the number one Outer Banks fitness club, and work out regularly. And that’s awesome! However, be careful. If you push it too hard, you could get in trouble.
Take our friend and kickboxing trainer Matt Costa, for example. Matt was pumped up and excited for the Flying Pirate Half Marathon, and since Matt runs the Knuckle-Up Boot Camp, this was not even close to outside his abilities.
And Matt went about it smarter than most too. He started training for it seven weeks before-hand. He trained three times a week, cyclically, going three miles, then five, then eight. Everything was fine. That is, until his knee started swelling.
But no worries! Matt’s a pro. He rested it, iced it, and did everything by the book. He didn’t even work it the last week, […]

Original post by knuckleup

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