Top 5 Workout Tips To Look Better Naked On Your Wedding Night

Planning Planning Planning. What’s that quote? I said it last week. Oh yeah...

“Failure to plan, is planning to fail”.

Deadlines go great with this. We have deadlines at work and deadlines in life. A wedding is something that requires tons and tons of planning from the bride to be and her party. It’s amazing what happens to women as soon as they set a wedding date- they are ready and willing to do whatever it takes to get in their dream dress and inspire awe in all those who attend the most important day of their life.



But a bride still needs an exercise blueprint in order to get the job done. We need to build muscle in all of the right places (with the main focus on the shoulders and arms) and burn fat in all the right places (think hips, thighs, and belly fat). The following training guidelines have produced both body and life-changing results for our many students around the world. Typical results are losses of 2-3 pounds of nasty, unwanted body fat per week and a reduction in at least 1 clothing size per month. Remember- the focus must be on improving overall health, body composition, and performance, NOT weight loss!

The Sexy Bride Mentality:

TRAIN to Boost Metabolism and Lose Fat (NOT Weight)

Training Tip#1- Get Strong to Get Lean:

- Strength training strengthens muscle and bone leading to increases in lean body mass that increases RMR (resting metabolic rate), the number of calories your body requires to function on a daily basis regardless of activity. In other words, strength training will ramp up your metabolism so that you will be burning more stubborn fat 24-7-365. Talk about a good ROI (return on investment)!

- Most people who strength train, perform straight sets of the same exercise with super long rest periods in excess of 3-4 minutes. Instead, cut your workout time in half or more AND accelerate fat burning by performing alternating sets of non-competing exercises with short rest periods between sets. For example, perform an upper body exercise, then a lower body exercise, and then a core exercise. This will allow for full recovery for each exercise since you are resting your upper body while performing lower body and core exercises and visa versa. Furthermore, short rest periods allow for both the completion of more total work at each training session and also create the optimal hormonal environment for fat loss.

- For best results, perform 3 total body strength workouts per week with at least 1 day of rest between workouts. See below for a Sample Total Body Circuit Strength Workout:

50-10 Interval Five Exercise Total Body Circuit- You will alternate between 50 seconds of work and 10 s of rest for each exercise in the following five-exercise circuit. Perform this 5-minute circuit up to four times for a 20-minute total body workout. Be sure to switch between the 2 exercise options within each category for best results:

Exercise# Exercise Name
1 Walking Lunges
2 Bent Knee Push Ups
3 Bodyweight Squats or DB Squats
4 Bent-over DB Rows
5 Front OR Side Planks



Training Tip#2- Interval Training Burns 9x More Fat Than Ordinary Cardio Training:

- With interval training, the focus is on the intensity of exercise (quality). Intervals consist of alternating between shorts bouts of all out high-intensity effort and active recovery periods for a much quicker and focused amount of time (typically 10-20 minutes of intervals works best). This approach is scientifically proven to burn nine times more fat AND lead to faster improvements in fitness than the aerobic alternative (going slow for long).

- The Tabata study compared the effects of four minutes of high-intensity interval training (20 seconds on, 10 seconds off) with 45-60 minutes of low to moderate intensity cardio. The interval training group burned just as much fat as the endurance group and also had greater improvement in both anaerobic (think sprinters) and aerobic (think distance runners) fitness… in only four minutes!

- For best results, perform 3 cardio interval training workouts per week on non-strength training days. Below is a sample Cardio Interval Training Workout:

20-10 Tabatas- You will alternate between 20 seconds of work and 10s of rest. You will perform this 30-second set up to 8x for 4 total minutes followed by a 1-minute rest and transition. Perform this 5-minute sequence up to 4x for 20 total minutes. You can perform this workout on your cardio machine of choice (elliptical, stairmaster, running, etc.) or by alternating between body weight cardio exercises like stationary running, jumping jacks, squat thrusts, mountain climbers, etc. for the ultimate in-home workout!

Training Tip#3- Use Hard-headed Fat Cardio to Accelerate Results:

- Aerobic training does have its uses in conjunction with a strength training and cardio interval training base. Aerobic training is of low to moderate intensity in nature and burns a larger proportion of fat per effort than sugar. On the other hand, strength training and high-intensity interval training rapidly eats up your body’s sugar stores thus forcing your body to use fat for fuel in the recovery from exercise.

- By performing some low to moderate intensity cardio following your strength and/or cardio interval training workouts you can accelerate the fat loss process. More specifically, 5 minutes following high-intensity exercise your body dumps stored triglycerides (fat) into your bloodstream, making it the perfect time to do some aerobic training to eat up that fat before it gets re-stored.

- We like to call this hard-headed fat cardio and we prescribe a maximum of 10-20 minutes of steady state cardio (where you go as fast as you can without stopping) 5 minutes following strength and cardio interval workouts. This really helps accelerate the fat burning process, specifically for those trouble spot areas like the abs, hips, and thighs!

Training Tip#4- Use Total Body Exercises to Build Stunning Arms:

- You don’t have to be a genius to know that most brides are really focused on working their arms and shoulders since these areas of the body are often highly exposed in wedding dresses. But, doing a bunch of single-joint, isolation exercises like curls and triceps extensions is not going to get the job done. Spot reduction is a myth- no number of triceps kickbacks will ever put a dent into the “turkey-arm phenomenon” many women deal with.

- Instead, you should focus on performing compound, multi-joint movements that work as many muscles in your body as possible (including your arms and shoulders) for best results. Not only do compound exercises allow you to use heavier loads which stimulate maximal lean muscle gain (think push-ups over triceps extensions), but they also burn the most calories and create the optimal hormonal environment for burning the fat covering those sexy, toned muscles!

- To take it to the next level, use total body exercises exclusively in your workouts. Whole body movements that work your upper body, lower body, and core at the same time will allow you to get lean all over in addition to ensuring that you are working your upper body during every moment so that you are ARM-ed and ready for the big day. For example, instead of doing presses, do squat to presses. Be sure to check out “THE OFFICIAL SEXY BACK BRIDE WORKOUT” for some sample workouts using the aforementioned total body exercises- they are SWEET!

Training Tip#5- Twork It Out, Then Recover:

- Though this may be the least sexy tip of all, I truly believe it is the most important. Recovery from exercise is where all of the beneficial changes from high-intensity training occur. Don’t forget, a tough workout actually causes small micro-tears in your muscles that stimulates growth and repair. If all you do is work hard and break your body down this can lead to overtraining issues that may results in you limping down the aisle on the big day- not good!

- Do yourself a favor and invest in your own personal massage therapist in the form of a foam roller. It’s cheap and easy to use. Simply spend at least 5 minutes pre and post-working performing 5-10 rolls on the most tender and sore areas of your body, with a specific emphasis on your hips and thighs and your upper/mid back area.

- This corrective self-massage both lengthens your muscles and improves tissue quality, preventing nagging aches and pains in your joints that can leave you on injured reserve in your get sexy bride quest. Furthermore, self-massage brings blood flow and nutrients to your muscles, which accelerate recovery and reduce soreness from high-intensity exercise.

- If you don’t have access to a foam roller, you can also use a tennis or racquet ball or even a rolling pin to achieve the same effect.

- Well, those are my top 5 workout tips to help you look your best on the biggest day of your life. When it comes to exercise, keep it simple and stay the course. And remember, it’s not about weight loss- it’s about being as visually stunning as possible by losing inches in all the right places ;)

10 Reasons NOT to Go to the Gym

Some of you have been with me for over a year now and some are newbies. You know that I used to kill myself working at a gym every single day, over 12 hours a day.



I remember the days when I used to workout at a gym exclusively.

I used to think it was absolutely necessary to be in a gym to get results- that a good workout required you to be in a health club or weight lifting room of some sort.

Today I find myself at the best point of my life, from both a business and fitness standpoint, and I haven’t stepped a foot back into that gym for 3 months now.

In fact, I workout exclusively at home or in my boot camp training centers, and all I have at these two places is space and the following training equipment: speed ladder, bands, dumbbells, kettlebells, sand bags, medicine balls, and a couple other user and budget friendly items to mix things up from time to time.

It’s crazy when I think about it… the overall quality of my life dramatically began to improve as soon as I stopped going to the gym.

Here is a brief list of some of the things that have happened to me in the last 3 months since I stopped going to the gym:

- My monthly income from my fitness products and businesses has increased by more than tenfold

- I now maintain a single digit body fat percentage with abs popping year round

- I get in at least six high-quality, distraction-free workouts per week (sometimes as many as 10-12)



Now, I don’t mean to imply that not attending the gym anymore was the only reason for the dramatic turn of events in my own life.

However, it is now clear to me the sheer act of breaking from the norm and NOT doing what everyone else seems to do has set me on a distinct path of success- the road less taken if you will.

After some thought, I put on paper what I feel to be the top 10 reasons NOT to go to the gym:

1.) Wasted Travel Time

Most of us live at least 5-10 minutes away from the closest gym (some people live 20-30 plus minutes away). This means that a daily gym workout will cost us at least 10-20 precious minutes in wasted travel time. Add that time up over the course of a week and you are looking at losing at least 1-2 hours going to and from the gym. And that’s not including any additional time changing clothes in the locker room or getting caught in conversation with people you know.

2.) The Ba-Ba Black Sheep Mentality

It’s sickening to go to the gym. I truly believe the example that most people set will make you worse. Everybody is doing the same thing. Most men and women are just sheep- slaves to all of the misinformation provided in the form of sensational fitness magazines and infomercials. People just go to the gym and do whatever everybody else is doing.

Most women are cardio queens spending hours at a time on ellipticals, bikes, and treadmills- sadly getting nowhere fast. Ladies, you need to start doing some resistance training and cut those cardio sessions down to 20 minutes of intense interval training to burn that stubborn hip, thigh, and belly fat that is holding your sexy back.

And then there are also those meathead guys who only work their mirror muscles (abs, chest, biceps) while taking extraordinary long rest periods between sets of upper body isolation exercises. These oversized morons often bench in excess of 300 lbs but probably couldn’t perform 10 perfect, full-range of motion push-ups with their body weight if their life depended on it.

When in doubt, DON’T do what everybody else in the gym is doing because it’s NOT working!

3.) Needless Waiting Time for Equipment or Space

I remember when I used to workout at a gym that I would spend about an average of at least 15-20 minutes per workout waiting on a piece of equipment or a certain space of the gym to complete my daily routine. Not only does this waste a bunch of valuable time and create a detrimental roller coaster of warming-up and cooling-down, but this long stop and go format is completely counter productive to the appropriate alternating set format and work to rest ratio to burn fat and lose weight fast- the main goal of over 90% of fitness enthusiasts.

I have found the most effective strength training protocol for fat loss to be a 50-10 (50 seconds of work, 10 seconds of rest and transition) Five-Exercise Total Body Strength Circuit. Frankly, there is no way you can workout in this format at the typical overcrowded commercial gym when people are constantly getting in your way and hording your training space and equipment.

Build your own gym at home so you and you only control your workout environment.



4.) Nasty Diseases and Sickness

Let’s just be honest about this- gyms are cesspools for sickness and disease. Most overworked, burnt out trainers working at the typical failing health club are forced to double dip and clean up the gym at the end of 8+ hour workdays. How much energy do you really think they have left to thoroughly clean and disinfect equipment that hundreds of people have sweat and dripped on all day long?

Beyond catching the common cold, there are some other real serious things that have been spreading at gyms like wildfire like the recent merca staph infection epidemic.

Stay healthy and twork it out at home!

5.) Annoying People

This is probably the biggest reason I no longer go to gyms: people are so fu<&ing annoying! My workout time is my time and my time alone. I don’t want to talk to anyone and I don’t like being interrupted while I’m tworkin’ it.

For most people going to the gym isn’t about getting results, it’s about socializing. Plus, I have always felt like a caged animal at a zoo during my workouts with people rudely gawking at me while I’m getting after it. Sure, my workouts utilize a host of unique and advanced exercises and they are often disturbingly intense, but it’s just a pain in the a$$ to have people looking at you like you are crazy. To me it’s crazy that I get better results in brief 20-minute sessions than the typical gym rat who wastes 2 hours a day getting nothing accomplished.

But that’s not the worst part- the worst part is when people interrupt you mid-workout to ask you questions about your training routine. Sorry- go pay for a trainer to give you advice. I’m there on a mission, not to re-educate. That’s reserved exclusively for my Boot Campers and In-Home Clients.

6.) Expensive Memberships

What a scam! Paying money for a place to workout. Isn’t your current rent or mortgage enough of a monthly overhead! Plus, these scammers lock you in for long-term agreements that mean that you’ll probably still be training at the gym when your hair goes gray. Total BS. Even more, they’re banking on you NOT to come in, that’s how they make their money! Because if you stop coming, subconsciously in your mind, that means you have quit something, that you’re failing. That is exactly what they want you to do!!

7.) Useless Equipment

Machines suck- I haven’t used a machine in years. They don’t allow your body to train the way it was designed to move and function and they cause many overuse injuries.

If you want to be lean, tight, and muscular, all you need is your body weight, some bands, and a few free weight options like dumbbells or kettlebells to get the job done at home or on the road.

Every couple of months I treat myself to a new training tool (I have been enjoying rope training as of recently) to mix things up and keep my workouts fresh. It’s pretty cool to slowly build you own budget-friendly personal gym by adding new implements every so often- I highly recommend it!

8.) Lack of Open Training Space

This one’s pretty simple. Idiot club owners focus on all the frills with substance by filling the training floor up with overpriced, oversized machines that take up all of the prime real estate. Ever try doing a walking lunge in the typical health club? The last time I did I winded up tripping on a loose muscle clamp.

All you need is space baby- space to move freely and explore your own body’s capabilities.

9.) Crippling Dependence

I mentioned this earlier - gyms force you to create a dependence on them. If you are used to using machines, you feel lost when you travel and can’t access the same equipment. In most cases, people figure “what the hell, I’ll just take some time off until I get back home since I don’t have any gym access out here.”

I can personally guarantee you that I can break you with your body weight far before I can break you with any machine- and your body weight can go through customs too! So, show yourself that you can get results without the gym. I promise you that the best workouts of your life are waiting for you at home or in new places like a park, beach, hotel room, etc. Step outside the box!

10.) Bad Trainers

Sorry- most trainers SUCK- they get certified by these money-hungry certification agencies that provide no support with program design that’s more ancient than Larry King. And they get paid squat with no true incentive to get clients results. Over half of the trainers at 24 Hour Fatness get hired because they look good and most aren’t even certified! I dare you to find proof.

When you go to the typical gym for personal training, you enter a factory. They are trying to get you in and out. They don’t care if your reach your goals nor do they have the desire to build lasting relationships with you. They just need to hit their quota- you are just another number for them.

I can’t tell you how many times I have been sick to my stomach seeing some jackass personal trainer getting paid $60/hour to talk to some overweight client while he or she walks gingerly on his or her cardio machine of choice. Personal training these days is really a crime to humanity- it’s really only just a glorified therapy session.



And what about this need for the one-hour workout? Where the hell did that come from? I’ll tell you where- it’s just a default time to maintain an easy appointment schedule that most health clubs have borrowed from other businesses that have nothing to do with fitness.

Join a fitness boot camp in your area that creates a fit community- a culture of success. I know a ton of great boot camp instructors all over the world- people that I do business coaching for that can get you better results for less than a third the cost of typical personal training rates. If you can’t get it done at home on your own, look for the trainers all over the globe using the Workout Muse Tabata track that will get you body and life changing results in less than half the time. We’ll get you out in 30 minutes and have you burning fat for the rest of the day!

Man, when you really think about it, why would anybody want to go the gym if they could easily set-up their own dream gym at home (think basement, den, garage or living room)?

I currently train a husband and wife at their house in Blue Springs at the same time. All we use is their corner of the living room, my creativity, and their hard work.

I mean if you are the type of person who is motivated, empowered, and dedicated enough to consistently workout on your own, it appears that going to the gym may very well be the dumbest thing you can do.

And if you need the support and motivation of a workout buddy or can’t or don’t want to work out on your own, the typical gym still falls in short in providing a results-based, cost-effective solution.

I have been intensively working out since I was 12 and I have had a lot of time over the years to develop some incredible perspective on exercising for general fitness.

And I can honestly say that if you are serious about getting results, both inside and outside of your workouts, your best move is to avoid the gym like the plague and build your own portable home gym or to join a fitness boot camp with a proven track record of unmatched results.

I hate the gym.

It’s such a joke.

It’s such a waste.

It’s such a cop out.

I can only hope that I shed some light on what might be holding you back- both in regards to your fitness and in your own life in general.

Break outside of your comfort zone.

Step outside of the box.

Take the road less taken and have the body and life-changing results to show for it.