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In this issue...
- What's New at StrongFast?
- Feature Article: Cruel, Cruel Summer
- Fitness Found Online
- Recipe: Chicken, Avocado, and Blueberry Salad
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What's New at StrongFast?
Big news! Our first annual Back to School Transformation Challenge starts September 10th! Shed unwanted pounds, win
fabulous prizes. What's not to like? Get the details here.
This Saturday, August 25th, is the last open, discounted session of the Saturday morning B52-Z Metabolic Resistance Training.
It's open to all for just $15. StrongFast and blitzometer members
can sign up in
Blitz Central; non-members should go to
blitzometer.com where they can register for free before joining the Blitz. Look for the "Saturday Morning B52-Z Workout"
Blitzes. Each class is still limited to eight people, so join soon!
After Labor Day, the B52-Z training returns to Saturdays, and weeknights, too! But those will be for
StrongFast members only. Just another reason to join us!
Oh, and the picture of Miss Whiskers has nothing to do with any of this. She's just very photogenic.
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"My gym has two-pound weights. If you are using two-pound weights, how
did you even open the door to the gym? What’s your dream? To pump up and open your mail?"
-Dave Attell
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Feature Article
Cruel, Cruel Summer
After spending weeks working to get beach-ready for summer, and then spending lots of time outside in activities like
swimming, cycling, and yard-working, you'd think people would finish summer in their best shape of the year. But somewhere
along the way, something goes awry: weights creep up and fat sneaks on and before you know it, we're back to square one, or
even minus one. What's up with that?
Now, I don't want to rush the end of summer. There's still a long way to go. Even Labor Day, the unofficial end of summer is still
weeks away. But why do so many people defy the expectations of the most active season of the year? Let us count the ways.
- Summertime meals. A lot of barbecues, picnics, luaus, and other outdoor eating opportunities abound during the summer months. And
while this could mean a great opportunity for delicious salads and meats, it instead turns into a festival of hot dogs (and buns),
potato and macaroni "salads," and other questionable meal choices. Add to this an increase in fast food (due to busy schedules) and
dining out (patio!) and you have the makings of an expanding waistline. But wait, there's more!
- Summertime snacks. Before, during, and after those meals we have snacks. Lots and lots of snacks. Potato chips,
pretzels, popcorn, puffy orange things, creamy white things, and all sorts of other temptations await before, during, and after meals.
And we're still not done!
- Summertime drinks. Beer, pop ("soda" to outlanders), lemonade, sweetened ice tea, milkshakes, wine coolers, margaritas...they all
figure prominently in summertime thirst-quenching (or just drinking). They make it so easy to drink on the pounds, especially the alcoholic
beverages.
- Summertime desserts. It seems like every summer meal features multiple dessert options, including many you won't see
during other seasons. (Pistachio pudding cake springs to mind, but I won't link to a recipe!)
- Ice cream! Yes, it could be included with desserts, but let's face it, there are lots of times we indulge other than
just after a meal. And it's so much easier to get in the summer. Sure, it's still at the grocery store. But seasonal places (like
Dairy Queen) pop open just for the warm weather months. Heck, some guy drives a truck down our street selling the stuff! (I have to wonder
if that tune will be stuck in his head till the day he dies.)
- Fewer workouts. While there's usually an increase in general outdoor activity, there's also usually a decrease in
organized, planned workouts. You know, the kind that burn the most calories and build the most muscle. If you're a regular gym-goer,
you'll notice (and probably enjoy) the lack of crowds during the summer. If you're one of the MIA, you're probably noticing some
unwelcome waistline changes.
- Vacations. A British study
last year found people who holidayed in the US gained more than eight pounds in two weeks, leading all other vacation destinations. (We're
number one!) Another survey
(also British) had cruise passengers gaining a pound a day! Blimey!
If you've fallen prey to summer's tasty temptations, you can check out our
Back to School Transformation Challenge as a way to
recover and finish the summer strong. Because it's not over yet, baby. Get out and enjoy it!
Be seeing you.
-gary
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Fitness Found Online
The BBC's Michael Mosley is at it again, this time
self-experimenting with Intermittent Fasting.
It's not for everyone (more on this in a future Planet), but worked for him. And props to the BBC for
producing this kind of material.
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Maybe you saw another one of those sensationalized "studies", this one suggesting egg yolks may be
unhealthier than smoking. Lots of takedowns of this one are available, but
here's one from
good old Mark's Daily Apple. I'll keep enjoying my dozen eggs a week, thank you very much. They're a lot
cheaper than a pack of smokes.
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Recipe: Chicken, Avocado, and Blueberry Salad
It's still summer, so here's a tasty salad for you. Leftover grilled chicken makes it a lot simpler.
And any sensible person would leave off the cheese. It's just milk gone bad, right? Come on, who's
with me on this one? Hello?
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