Another Over 40 Inspiration, Luis Guzman

Recently I had the pleasure of interviewing another over the age of 40 inspiration, Luis Guzman. Luis is a shining example of how a healthy diet and regular exercise can keep you fit over 40.

1. Where were you born and where did you grow-up? I born Santo Domingo, republica Dominicana, and I grew up in a little town (San Isidro).

2.. Who has been the greatest influence in your life and why? My father, because my father was a soldier from air-force when I was a baby and he always took me to all the activities they used to have like, jumping from airplane, running troops, militaries routines and wear an uniform, I learned a lot of discipline and dedication and love for what you doing.

3. What is your profession? I am an air traffic controller and used to work as aviation information service (ais) at the airport.in my country (D.R), but here in United States where I live right now since 2008 I work as a PESONAL TRAINER.

4. How long have you worked as a personal trainer? I have been worked as personal trainer for more than six years and as a fitness instructor eight years.

5. What do you like most about your profession? I love my job because it is my passion, I love when I see people changing their lives, changing their bodies,, changing lifestyle, having different attitude toward life, and because of that reason they could be examples for others

6. What do you like least about your profession? Excuses, no commitment person,
7. How old are you? I’m in the best 44 years old of my life


8. How do you stay in such good shape in your 40s? I’m a fitness instructor, teaching kickboxing classes one time a week, (Tuesday) and Latin dance on (Saturday) and also lifting weight 3 times a weeks

9. What advice would you give someone about staying in-shape in their 40s? for anybody who want to staying in-shape in their 40s which it a great or the one of the best ages are lifting weigh, have a good cardio condition and eating Healthy way and enjoy everything you doing as the most with quality more than quantities

10. What’s your biggest dream? Besides to have my own fitness TV program, so I can show people why they need to work and how, also have a change to train the first lady (Michelle Obama)
11. What’s your biggest accomplishment? Come to united states and in less than 3 years become the best instructor and personal trainer 2 years in a row at some place where I use to work before and now having my own business.

Protein for Exercise, Fitness, and Athletes

Here's a blog post by Dr. Donald Layman, one of the brightest minds in sports nutrition.

Most athletes – both elite athletes and health conscious adults – recognize that protein is important, but still find the advice confusing. Athletes hear a lot of different messages about the amount of protein to eat and when to eat it. However, there are three simple messages about protein.

The first message is that all adults interested in muscle health need to consume multiple, daily meals each containing 30 grams of protein. To maintain healthy muscles, we must continuously make new proteins and breakdown old ones. The repair and replacement processes only occur during the 3-hour period after a meal providing at least 30 grams of protein.

Most Americans eat the majority of their protein in a single, large dinner meal, with less than 10 grams of protein at breakfast. Your morning high fiber cereal with 8 grams of protein is useless for muscle health. Adults should have three meals each day with at least 30 grams of protein, and breakfast is the most important meal of your day! The METABOLIQ Shake is perfectly designed to deliver the protein you need for a convenient and tasty breakfast.

If you’re a bodybuilder trying to achieve maximum muscle size, you may want 4 to 6 meals each containing 30 grams of protein. If you’re a runner, you still need at least 3 meals for muscle repair and recovery. Many injuries are the result of long-term wear-and-tear without adequate protein to allow your body to repair the damage.

Surprisingly, the 30-gram amount is the same for a small woman or a large guy and appears to relate more to blood volume than body size. If a meal contains less than 20 grams of protein there is no benefit to muscle health for any adult at any size.

Second, athletes should consume protein soon after exercise to accelerate muscle recovery and maximize the benefits of the exercise. Intense exercise produces muscle damage and muscle breakdown. This is part of soreness but also an essential part of muscle training and development. To optimize training and minimize soreness, athletes need to consume protein within about 1 hour after exercise. The good news is that exercise increases the efficiency of protein use, so after exercise, 15 grams of a high quality whey protein or egg whites will maximize recovery. The METABOLIQ bar was originally designed for post-exercise recovery and ideal for athletes at any age.

The third message is that protein before exercise does not help muscle development. Protein consumed ahead of exercise has no beneficial effects on the quality of the workout or the speed of recovery. Protein is also slow to digest and may make you feel full and sluggish if consumed too close to exercise. If you have a full protein meal, it should be at least 2 hours before exercise. If you exercise early in the morning and need something before you head to the gym, keep it light and try to get a balance of carbohydrates, fats and protein. Perhaps a Greek yogurt, or a combination of yogurt and granola, even a hard fried egg on whole wheat toast may work well for you.

Whatever your athletic level, be sure to get the most out of your exercise with the right amounts of protein at the right times every day.

Van Spell, An Inspiration to All Over 50

It's my pleasure to introduce you to one of natural bodybuilding's best competitors, Van Spell.  Van recently placed second in a regional professional natural bodybuilding show, competing against contestants much younger than he.  This is a recent interview I had with Van, he dispels the myth that you're over the hill after your 40s.  Enjoy.

Darvis: Where were you born?
 
Van: I was born and raised in eastern N.C. in Wilson

Darvis: What's the greatest influence in your life?

Van: Well to be honest, I would have to say no one except God alone, but I do give a lot of credit to my mother for the hardship she encounter from raising 9 kids by herself.

Darvis: What's your profession?

Van: My profession most of my adult life is automotive. I went into the military in that field and once I discharged I was able to get hired by the Postal Service and later continue in the automotive department. I guess you can thank me, for I fix the vehicles that brings your bills.

Darvis: What got you into bodybuilding?

Van:  Bodybuilding has been a dream of mine, but back in the 80s and before, I thought places like California and New York only had competitions until I went to see the states in downtown Raleigh. I was blown away with the beauty of the sport so it was then I sought to know everything about it



Darvis: When did you participate in your first competition?

Van:  I first did my novice show back in 86 I believe, and quickly found out that it takes time and a lifestyle of hard work to be successful at this sport.

Darvis: Tell me a little about your first time on stage.  What was going through your mind?
 
Van: Well, the first time was alot different than  posing in front of the mirror. It's understandable, but the audience don't cut you any slack if you look like blank!!! Not to mention the judges also, but I did well even though I beat out one guy for third place, but I was pleased and didn't quit.


Darvis:  What's your age?

Van: I'm presently 54 years young

Darvis: How do you stay in  such great shape in your 50s?

Van:  Love for fitness and I believe its a gift from God not only to myself but to anyone who choose to believe and accept!

Darvis: What advice would you give someone who's trying to get fit over the age of 50?


Van:  Well, I would suggest to judge your body with realistic expectation in regards to your goals and the time limit and level. Keep it simple at all possible because the fitness world makes a lot to cash on people being ignorant and just plain stupid. Stay on food as much as possible and only turn to supplements when you can't prepare your meals or eat out healthy. You get out of fitness what you put into it, so working out and talking on your cell phone at the same time will not get it. Don't join a gym right off, but work out with a program like P90X or less intense. Many people make the mistake every year joining a gym and only giving it a month or 2 and its back on the couch. But what ever you do DON'T GIVE UP!


 Darvis: You compete in All Natural bodybuilding competitions, what does that mean?

Van:  Well, it means alot to me for I can honestly say I have never taken a steroid for muscle growth, just plain determination and learning as the years went by. It's been a tough road but a blessing also. I'm still having fun with this, so the sky's the limit.

Darvis: How do you get ready for competition? When do you start training?

Van: Well, I choose and commit to the show that I want to do and question myself how long do I believe it would take me to get in contest shape? I have to say that's been my biggest challenge of leaning out, so my learning is I would recommend to any one that's natural, don't get no more than 3% or 10 pounds over your competition shape for I found in my 50s just looking at a stack of pancakes I can gain 5 lbs.or more. My training is basically the same year round unless I discover something that helps me improve. Other than that it's either watch the mirror closely and cutting back on just enough carbs to train with high protein and low fats of course.

Darvis: What's your training program in competition mode?

Van:  Training mode is basically the same but one other thing, if at all possible I train twice a day if I can and go at a time when I'm not around people that I know well. Conversation is a killer !!!


Darvis:  What's your program like off-season?

Van:  My training program off season really doesn't change. People, or some gain 20 or more pounds and maybe power lift to add more muscle but mine is intense all year long, so I feel its stress free by keeping it simple and realistic.

Darvis: What's your diet like in competition mode?

Van:  Well I hate to say but I really don't like to cook. So to keep from spending much time in the kitchen I eat almost the same thing each day which consist of Oatmeal, Chicken breast (broiled), mix vegetable bag from Sam's and water.When I cheat its pancakes with lots of helpings. I do add some lean cuts of beef from time to time and my supplements in the form of  Isopure protein powder, Universal Animal Pak, and Qivana's Prime Nitric Oxide Activator.

Darvis: What's your diet like off-season?

Van:  Its the same off season, I just eat out more and play in the candy store

Darvis: You won your Pro Card in natural bodybuilding, what does that mean?

Van:  Winning my pro card is a great accomplishment for I can compete for cash and prices along with possible endorsements.  I know I'm long in the tooth but I'm having fun with this and I plan to take it as far as I can because God wants me to be the best I can be. Actually I have 2 pro cards(NPA and NGA) and I'm going for the ultimate WNBF hopefully in 2013.


Darvis: What do you consider your greatest accomplishment?

Van:  Not to change the subject, but the biggest and always will be, is what God's done for me through his son Jesus which made it possible for me to become a child of His. Winning my pro card in bodybuilding is just the start for I believe there are greater accomplishments still to come and I'm willing to work hard for it. As long as I'm healthy and this sport presents a challenge and fun, I'll compete. But bodybuilding is in my blood, meaning its a gift and it benefits the human body so I'm hooked for life and proud to say so.           

Darvis Simms Receives An Outstanding Book Review

Darvis Simms Receives An Outstanding Book Review

The Hottest Fitness Trends of 2013

The Hottest Fitness Trends of 2013

Qivana is Bringing the Best Nutraceutical Products to Market

 

If a scientist creates a drug that treats or prevents any disease, he or she can easily find a channel for the mass manufacture and distribution of that drug by pharmaceutical companies. Most people can very easily name the top pharmaceutical companies such as Johnson&Johnson, Pfizer, and Roche. On the contrary, if a doctor or scientist discovers a nutraceutical product there are no established channels for the manufacture and distribution of that product to bring in into the market place.

What's the difference between a pharmaceutical drug and a nutraceutical product you ask?  Well, a pharmaceutical drug is defined as any chemical substance intended for use in the medical diagnosis, cure, treatment, or prevention of disease. And, Dr. Stephen L. DeFelices, MD, founder and chairman of  the Foundation for Innovation in Medicine has coined the term nutraceutical to mean any food or parts of food that provide medical or health benefits, including the prevention and treatment of disease. Thus, pharmaceuticals are man-made chemical substances while nutraceuticals are natural food substances and both are intended to provide health benefits.

Today people are starting to feel like the pharmaceutical industry is flooding the market place with so many chemicals that you need one drug in order to treat the side-affects of another drug.  On the other hand, people are looking for natural solutions to their health, but find it very confusing in the nutraceutical industry to know what products are beneficial for their well being.  Well, a company called Qivana has come-up with an answer to this situation.

Qivana is the first company to organize natural nutritional products into easy to understand and follow systems that promote optimum health and wellness.  Qivana is poised to revolutionize the natural nutraceuticals industry by collaborating with the brightest doctors and scientists in natural medicine and providing a channel for them to bring their best products into the market place.

Just click here if you want to know more about this company and it's great health systems.

Lean Muscle is the Key to Looking Tight and Tone

I see it all the time, people who spend hours doing cardio and still have a high percentage of body fat.  To burn body fat and to look tight and tone you must build lean muscle.  This is especially true as you approach your 40s and beyond.

Strength training is the best way to build and maintain healthy muscle.  While cardiovascular exercise is an important part of your fitness program, maximizing lean muscle should be the the foundation of your exercise routine.  Strength training is important because around the age of 40 you start to experience muscle loss. "If you don't do anything to replace the lean muscle you lose, you'll increase the percentage of fat in your body," says Dr. Edward Laskowski, a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.  Left unabated, you can lose up to 10 pounds of muscle each decade starting at age 40.

Loosing muscle is detrimental to your fitness because muscle is the component of your body that burns the majority of the calories you consume each day.  Therefore, when you lose muscle your body requires less calories to function.  Consequently, those extra calories you consume are stored as fat around your waist, hips, and other places.

Your body constantly burn calories, even when you’re doing nothing. This resting metabolic rate is much higher in people with more muscle. Every pound of muscle uses about six calories a day to sustain itself, while each pound of fat burns only two calories daily. This small difference can add up over time. In addition, after a bout of resistance training, muscles are activated all over your body, increasing your average daily metabolic rate.

Fortunately, strength training can mitigate, and even reverse the loss of muscle at any age.  Thus, increasing the amount of calories needed to function.  That’s why you hear some people say that their appetites increase after they have been strength training for awhile.  This is a sign that they are starting to build muscle.

As with any fitness program, a well balanced diet is a key component to seeing the best results.  Qivana's Metaboliq Weight Maintenance System is the best I've see in my 20 years in the health and fitness industry at teaching you balance in your diet in order for your body to burn body fat at it's maximum efficiency.  You can checkout this system by following this link: Metaboliq