You Be The Judge

I designed a presentation on the Real Problems Behind Steroid Use with some facts based on the YouTube film and my own knowledge and experience. Comments appreciated -- good or bad.

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Spartan Steel -- Are you tough enough?

When you watch the movie 300 - you can tell that actors put in there gym time. I gather you become highly motivated when your costume is comprised of a cape, helmet, and leather thong.

When I did a search to find out how the actors got into such kickass shape, I found this great video and article from Men's Journal on precisely how Gerry Butler and crew got abs of Spartan steel. It seems that the trainers follow a Crossfit-type of workout philosophy, incorporating super intense 20 minute workouts that combine weights, interval sprints, and gymnastics, all with a "functional fitness" type attitude. This strategy clearly paired well with the actors, as they not only had to look cover-boy fit, but also be able to weather the Sword, Shield, and Spear combat techniques they had to learn.

The upside, the training worked, as you can see from the multiple six packs visible in the film. The downside - overtraining. If you watch the video, you'll hear Gerry say that after going hardcore for six months, he completely stopped training for a year, clapping his hands together as if to say, "That's enough, where's the pub?"

This is advanced level of circuit training. Feel the pain.

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Pumping Iron -- The Remix

Pumping Iron 1977 -- This is the film that helped bodybuilding and exercise gain its popularity in the late 1970s. From Gold's Gym in Venice Beach California to the showdown in Pretoria, amateur and professional bodybuilders prepare for the 1975 Mr. Olympia and Mr. Universe contests in this part-scripted, part-documentary film. Five-time champion Arnold Schwarzenegger defends his Mr. Olympia title against Serge Nubret and the shy young Lou Ferrigno, whose father helps him prepare for the contest; the ruthless champ psyches out the young lion. Franco Columbu competes in the lightweight class; at home in Italy he solves a tight parking problem by lifting the car into place. Joe Weider is the marketer; Mike Katz and Ken Waller go for the title of Mr. Universe. Bodybuilding and a celebrity-to-be go mainstream.

You'll see my in this video as well on the Incline Bench. Go Louie!
Arnold says Louie should never had stopped competing and would have been untouchable.
I think Louie made an amazing comeback though and that's better than most others.




Liking Arnold or not linking Arnold, liking bodybuilding or not liking bodybuilding, this seventies documentary is an interesting study of the discipline, willpower and guts it takes to succeed in a (let's be honest) rather extreme sport. The film shows the athletes as real people, not merely as empty shells of testosterone. And while some of the views expressed in the film are quite humorous, others are (surprisingly?) balanced and deep-felt.

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Training with the Elements

Seasonal Mood Disorder Affects a lot of people. Especially Canadians, since we have a large Mood Disorders Society of Canada organization addressing this big problem.

The big side effect of SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) is close to clinical depression.

From their website, they list the reasons below;

• Fewer daylight hours may reduce important mood altering chemicals in the brain
• Hormonal disruption (cortisol, thyroid)
• Reduced retinal sensitivity to light
• Low winter temperatures may trigger the body to rest and disrupt circadian rhythms
• Barometric pressure and precipitant levels
• Psychological mechanisms and personality traits may all be contributing factors.

They suggest Light Treatment to help the problem. Starring out the window and getting a little daylight.

I suggest training with the elements to DESTROY the problem so that it never affects the person again in their lifetime.

"Rob, what the heck are you talking about now?"

Onward!

You have lived in the seasons for your entire life, they don't change. Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall -- they all come and go every single year. How will training with the elements help you destroy your SAD?

1. They get you outside in direct sunlight -- but if your a vampire be careful and wear your sunglasses.
   
2. Weight Bearing Exercises increase the good hormones, especially when performed with hybrid functional movements outdoors.
3. Exercise gets the blood flowing and indirectly increases responsiveness to all organs of the body.
4. Exercise also improve your circadian rhythm by balancing your good hormones and providing a natural high. Exercising at the same time of day is more beneficial.
5. Weather pressures are better that work pressures, so get outside and exercise.
6. Exercise again gives you a natural high, builds good hormones, bones, muscle balance and tone and works the ever so important cardio-respiratory and cardio-vascular systems. It helps you be a more complete and helps you adapt to external and internal environments.

Now, watch this exciting Rocky Montage and tell me, would you rather cry about SAD or go outside and lift some logs?


Rocky Montage

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If your comfortable your dead -- 10 keys to performace

I was at the Power Within seminar held in Ottawa last week and every speaker was amazing. They all had one thing in common to say. Hard Work, Passion, Giving and Perception are the 4 absolute keys to living your dreams.

Anthony Robbins 5 keys to Performance are:

1. Make a decision, act and use the momentum
2. Change your limiting beliefs
3. Model the strategies that work
4. Increase your intensity Motion creates energy.
5. Shift your state and take a different action

Focus = Feeling = Reality

Something that Anthony Robbins did not mention about performance, was the truth that you don't have to be 100% better than someone else at something. You just have to be 1% better or 1 degree better.

As a competitive bodybuilder, I always strive to be that 1 degree better. It separates 1st place from second place, outstanding from normal and rich from poor, not only in money but in life.

Mike Litman reinforced this statement of being 1% better than the next person and it's been working for me for a long time.

Want to start your day off with incredible awareness of your potential? Check out this video and spread the word. It's called 212 degrees (F), that's 100 degrees (C).

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Joe Bodybuilder -- Sponsored by Maalox

The anabolic steroids black market is dangerous... very
dangerous...

You have to learn how to protect yourself! You can ruin your health, go to jail, receive massive fines, blow your cash on scams, even kill yourself if you act on even one piece of BOGUS info!

Steroids are widely available on the black market but 99% of these steroids are fake, not pure and can kill you. Did you know Winstrol V, a popular steroid can be faked by using Maalox? Do you really want that for a day at the beach with your shirt off and diarrhea in your pants?
Instead of having a photo moment, you'll have a Maalox moment.

Most oil based steroids can be faked just by adding a bit more sunflower oil to them or even vegetable oil. Not getting enough veggies in your diet? How about a needle full of vegetable oil?
Can anyone say "HEART ATTACK with a side of Pepperoni Zits, please!".

Maybe your a high risk taker that feels your adult enough to try steroids once or twice. That's great, if you want to completely disrespect your body and cause it harm.

Are you stressed that you won't have that lean muscular body for the beach or girls?
You should be more fearful that steroids can kill you over time. You should respect
your HOUSE! You live in your body 24 / 7 and you can't sell it.

Take advice from an expert in competitive bodybuilding. Body Building can be achieved without steroids. It takes hard work and passion. Something that you could use more of, if your thinking about taking steroids.

Don't let yourself be a victim by taking the low road to bodybuilding. Respect yourself and your bodybuilding. The reward will be longevity and you will attract good things into your life.

Your Fitness and Life Coach,

Robert Lagana
http://www.laganafitness.com

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Are fitness and bodybuilding magazines telling the truth?

ACSH reports again on nutrition information in popular magazines.

The American Council on Science and Health's has issued its tenth
report on the accuracy of nutrition information in popular magazines.
The evaluation judged approximately ten articles each from 21
magazines for factual accuracy, presentation, and quality of
recommendations. The highest-scoring magazines were Consumer Reports
(90% rating), Glamour (87%), Ladies' Home Journal (87%), and Shape
(87%). The three lowest were Cosmopolitan (75%), Muscle & Fitness
(72%) and Men's Fitness (67%). The full report -- Nutrition Accuracy
in Popular Magazines, January 2004-December 2005 -- can be downloaded
free of charge at http://www.acsh.org/docLib/20070227_Nutrition.pdf

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The Gold Coin Trick -- How to Detox Your Senses

The Best Tasting Chocolate in the World doesn't hold a light with the crappiest chocolate.

What am I talking about?

Well, I'm not always at 6% body fat year round. I believe in eating anything I crave as part of my mesocycle of training. I found it to put on muscle and strength must faster. It's a phase of my training that I REALLY look forward to.

There's a myth about taste buds losing their sense as you get older. What really happens is that you get so use to eating certain types of foods that other types of food don't appeal to your senses anymore.

Here's how it works: While you're chewing, the food releases chemicals that immediately travel up into your nose. These chemicals trigger the olfactory receptors inside the nose. They work together with your taste buds to create the true flavor of that oatmeal taste by telling the brain all about it!

OATMEAL ! No, I'm not kidding about the oatmeal.

Here's how to increase your senses of taste and smell. I go through another phase of training which involves cutting out anything sweet tasting for 3 months. I mean EVERYTHING.
I eat the most bland things you can think of. Plain steel-cut Oats is one of them.
After 3 months, I then allow myself a cheat food. Guess what that is?

Banana!

It doesn't taste that a regular banana you buy a grocery store. This is a banana on steroids!
The flavor of this banana is like eating candied banana dessert.

Why would it taste so good to me? For the past three months, I've put my taste and smell sense through a natural detox. A natural detox is basically eliminating something that you are visibly or unconsciously addicted to in it's complete degree.

Imagine this, normally you would eat a piece of your favorite chocolate and it would really impress your taste buds, but imagine if you were to deprive your taste buds of anything sweet for three months. Would would your favorite chocolate taste like?

My point is, I bet I could give you a piece of crappy chocolate (like those Gold Coin chocolates)
and make it taste that your eating your most favorite chocolate in the world.

So, stop abusing your taste buds and sense of smell and you will enjoy more types of food in life and appreciate it, even Oatmeal or the crappiest chocolate in the world.

Your Fitness and Life Coach,

Robert Lagana
http://www.laganafitness.com

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Change Your State -- Your Feeling Controls Your Perception

Does this sound familiar? You woke up this morning, missed breakfast and arrived late to work?
If you live in the incredible city of Ottawa, in the incredible country of Canada, I commend you for entering into -28 degree Fahrenheit or -33 Celsius weather. These factors such as missing breakfast, arriving late to work, the weather and the traffic can make you feel like your battling your way to productivity. When you get to your office and finally start answering emails or begin on your project, you still don't feel right. For most people this feeling can last all day. For some it can turn into a disease called depression.

To control your perception on things and raise your mood to feel good. You need to change your focus. You must visualize and focus for at least 7 seconds, which has been proven to shift your state, but to achieve the greater desired effect, here's one thing you can do to completely change your state, in 30 seconds flat and make it last for several hours.

You need to MOVE YOUR BODY, with some exercise! Exercise will elevate your mood to make you feel good all day. Exercise will release endorphins and you'll feel great, confident and be more productive at work and life. Just watch this video and learn. You should get a good chuckle too! It's a classic.

Get Video Code

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My Philosophy

Today, I'm a very open minded person when it comes to philosophy. Not really a reflection of the way I grew up. I was very hard headed Italian, that always wanted a free ride in life, but never really got what I wanted without hard work. So, the method I used to get want I wanted out of life was hard work. Hard work pays off. Most people that disagree, are those that quit and/or pass up opportunities from fear of success.

My personal and business development came from putting in long hours of physical and mental work. When I wasn't in my home gym or at the local gym busting a sweat, I was reading a book on meta-physics or bodybuilding magazine and surfing the Internet which developed a greater awareness for life.

Bodybuilding and Fitness is certainly a major part of my life which I balance successfully, with my marriage, home keeping, lifestyle, socialization, money, full time work, personal training and meta-physics. My success through life has been driven by an ability to keep a steady focus on what I need to accomplish without losing sight of what each goal will bring to me.

As I paraphrase one of my great mentor's, "Most people think about doing the work and lose focus or get discouraged, instead of thinking about what the end results will bring. They think about the process and not the results." Mike Litman

One absolute quality to have in order to succeed by focusing on the results is to be steadfast and to visualize your goals.

As a bodybuilder, I've learned at a very early age to visualize. After seeing the movie "Pumping Iron". Arnold, taught me how to think big! When I wanted to build bigger biceps, I would close my eyes and relax. In my mind, I would picture myself flexing my biceps and morphing them into giant rock hard mountains. I would not only see this in my mind but feel positively empowered and assured that nothing could stand in my way. My end results would get me closer to achieving winning one out of many more bodybuilding contests to come.

So, before you waste any more time, stop whining and start to focus on working harder and visualizing your end results. Remember, free rides don't last, tough people do!

Your Fitness and Life Coach,
Robert Lagana
http://www.laganfitness.com

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Lagana Fitness

Welcome to my Blog! I have some exciting and beneficial information to share with you.

I will be blogging about general health, nutrition, stress management, exercise for beginners, longevity, nutritional supplements and all the hype. Of course, bodybuilding and fitness is my specialty but I want to give more to my readers, because I have much more to offer.

Enjoy and my blog and I hope you subscribe today.

Your Fitness and Life Coach,
Robert Lagana
http://www.laganfitness.com

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