Category Archives: Uhm?
Pull ups NOT REQUIRED for female Marines!?!
Ok I do understand that pull ups are hard…I mean they really really SUCK.
I also understand that most women hate them and really struggle with them.
BUT for MARINE FEMALES to not be required to be able to do at least one!?! That is ridiculous.
An article called “Pull-ups for women? Not going to happen” states that, “A plan that would toughen the Physical Fitness Test for women by adding pull-ups has been put off indefinitely.”
My question is…why? Why aren’t women being required to perform an exercise which is a GREAT demonstration of upper body strength?
Because we can’t on average do as many as men? Because they are super hard?
Why are we simply not using pull ups as a test instead of TRAINING women to be able to do them!?!
Seriously, this is ridiculous! Pull ups are something I firmly believe that everyone…I repeat…EVERYONE should be able to do AT LEAST one of.
What are your thoughts? Do you think that the fitness standards for Marines should be that different that women aren’t even required to do pull ups AT ALL?
P.S. The picture is also incorrect. What she is actually doing is a chin up…..
I told you so….
See the Man Bicep has been important all along!
- See Ellen agrees! “Best Who Cares About the Dress, Look at Her Arms Dress: Viola Davis“
- So if a gluten-free diet alleviates autism symptoms, how can you not think it is healthy?
- LIFT CHALLENGING WEIGHTS! Here is more proof that you should!
- Ok so not exactly how I would word it…But this article proves my point! Exercise does help you lose weight but it can’t make up for poor food choices. Of course, I don’t think you should really eat anything it recommends, but hey, you can’t win them all!
- Research showing grass-fed beef is better. Need more? Here. Oh and here is more.
- Older article by Gary Taubes, but great evidence that FAT is GOOD.
YEP!
And, I’m glad to see the enthusiasm for the Man Bicep diet! Here is one of the “Show Me Yours” photos I received! Thank you Amanda! Keep sending them Man Bicepers!
A lifter and a Paleo/Primal eater, Amanda will be trying the Man Bicep diet and workout program!
Where were the biceps at the Oscars?
So yesterday Candy and I decided to look at pictures from the red carpet at the Oscars. We weren’t looking at the women’s dresses though – we were looking at their biceps.
We were searching for 10 women with great arms so today I could post “The Top 10 Biceps at the Oscars.”
But we couldn’t find 10 women on the red carpet with Man Bicep worthy arms.
We found only two. Viola Davis and Cameron Diaz were the only two females out there repping Man Biceps.
Nice arms and a nice back, Viola Davis!
Nice sculpted arms!
I must admit….we were severely disappointed.
What the heck ladies!?! I mean did I miss some memo about anorexic, skinny arms being the new red carpet trend?
Are these really the arms you would prefer?
Eat some meat. Lift some weights. Then maybe you’ll be the best dressed on the red carpet.
Am I sacrificing?
I’ve had numerous people say they could never be as “strict” with their diet as I am because they couldn’t sacrifice so much.
Maybe this is why people assume that eating healthily means sacrifice...
My question back is always, “What am I really sacrificing?”
Here are two of the most common responses I get when I ask what I’m sacrificing….
“You can’t have pizza and such any day when you just “feel like it?”
For one, I do occasionally have pizza if I want it. I just don’t give into temptation very often.
And I don’t think it is a sacrifice to not eat bad food whenever I feel like it! But then again I’m also super happy eating butter, steak, bacon and the bazillion other fatty foods that I can eat every single day that other people avoid as “bad” for them.
I also realize the bigger picture. By avoiding eating the vegetable oils and gluten that comes with a lot of those “cheat” meals on a regular basis, I’m avoiding things that are seriously detrimental to my health. Also, why would I eat those cheats on a regular basis when I can indulge in healthier Primal cheats like dark chocolate, macadamia nuts, bacon and full-fat cheese?
So really who is sacrificing? Me with my delicious healthy foods and occasional cheats? Or you with your blander diet that makes you avoid fatty foods, but gives you the ability to eat bad whenever you want?
“You sometimes don’t go out or over-indulge in alcohol because you are sticking to your diet.”
I won’t argue with this statement, but I also don’t think of staying in occasionally or not “overindulging” as a sacrifice. For one, I’ve never been a HUGE party-er or a huge drinker so that didn’t really change with my “strict” diet.
I don’t go out any less…I just don’t always indulge in the carb-loaded appetizers you order…or the desserts. But unlike many diets I’ve tried, I don’t need to be a recluse on Primal. Very rarely can I not find at least one Primal dish to eat!
So I can still go out and party as much as I’ve always done. So…again, I don’t think my DIET is making me sacrifice.
“What do you mean you can’t try the food I brought in?”
I hate that when food is brought into work everyone always tries to force you to eat it. They try to make you feel like you are missing out because you aren’t trying it.
My theory though is that they envy the fact that you have enough self-control to refrain from eating something that honestly isn’t something you (or even they) really wanted to eat.
Is it really sacrificing to not eat something you weren’t planning to eat? Is it really sacrificing to skip that piece of pizza or brownie that you don’t know is good when you have a delicious meal that you brought with you?
Seriously, why eat something someone brought in when you don’t want it!?!
Now let me ask you, am I really sacrificing? Is being healthier while eating foods that are still satisfying even if they aren’t what I used to consider “cheats” worth not getting to indulge in some of the great “bad” foods I used to love as often?
I think so….
Vegan Boyfriends – Kind to animals, abusive to their women
I was disgusted when Ryan showed me this commercial yesterday. My first thought was this is a commercial about rape, but I soon realized it was a commercial trying to convince men to become Vegans.
It was a commercial showing just how MASCULINE vegan men are.
And guess who created it!?!
PETA! People for the ETHICAL TREATMENT of animals….
Isn’t part of the point of going vegetarian or vegan to protect animals and get them more humane treatment?
This commercial doesn’t seem at all connected to the “ethical treatment of animals.” Actually it makes me think that vegan men are abusive bastards who eat only vegetables.
It disgusts me that the commercial glorifies abuse of a partner as being MASCULINE?
I mean, does this really convince any guys or girls that they or their partner should go vegan?
I sincerely hope not.
“Fish meat is practically a vegetable”
Sometimes you feel like we are making progress – that Primal/Paleo is finally breaking into mainstream society. That people are losing their fear of fat and realizing just how bad whole grains and vegetable oils are for you.
And then all of a sudden an article comes out that dashes all your hopes.
Military men will now be served a “healthy” low-fat diet full of fruits and vegetables and whole grains.
Why, oh why, couldn’t it just be a healthy whole foods diet even? Why this low-fat crap!?!
Michelle Obama – I love the fact that you promote strength training and aren’t afraid to bust out push ups on the Ellen Show. I love the fact that you are dedicated to promoting health and wellness to children.
But why a low-fat diet?!?
I can’t seem to find the exact diet anywhere. And I can’t find out exactly whose recommendations this supposedly “healthy” military diet is based on.
Is it the USDA’s recommendations? Because I sincerely hope it isn’t. I mean their recommendations are awful.
Just look at this food pyramid for kids!
Ok…of course I hate the fact that grains are even listed on this pyramid, but may I also point out that tomatoes are a fruit, but listed under veggies. Also, corn is not a veggie! It is a grain!
Botanically speaking, corn is a caryopsis, or dry fruit — popularly known as a grain. (NY Times Corn: Vegetable, Fruit or Grain?)
Can I also point out that meat and beans aren’t equal in terms of protein so why are they listed together? Beans aren’t a complete protein. They actually only contain 3 of the essential amino acids that make up a complete protein – lysine, tryptophan, and methionine. Beans need to be eaten with grains to become complete…maybe it would be wiser to list them with grains than with meat…
Also, probably the thing that annoys me most on this chart is the fact that vegetable oil is listed on it!! AND it is listed by milk. This chart says that corn oil, soybean oil, vegetable oil and canola oil are good for you!
UHM HELLO!?! There have just been numerous studies published in mainstream media stating otherwise so how the heck does the USDA still have this on their pyramid? This is an interesting piece about how BAD for you veggie oils are for you! (P.S. I love the fact that this guy likes coconut oil!!!)
Ok I’m sorry…I just can’t believe this pyramid. Processed foods are on this list over things like fatty meats, butter and full fat cheeses.
Can I just ask why the government is so behind in its diet and exercise beliefs? Why is the government pushing antiquated nutritional standards onto our children and our military men and women!?!
(P.S. The title is a quote from my favorite meat-eating TV character Ron Swanson.)
Nothing frustrates me more…
Oh yes…you bet there is about to be a rant. Hey, I’ve barely slept the last couple of nights because I’ve been hunting mice (LOOOONG story) so I deserve a nice rant.
Nothing frustrates me more than women choosing light weights THAT AREN’T CHALLENGING because they are too afraid to bulk up.
Ok nothing frustrates me more than that except maybe people slacking off IN MY CLASS! I mean at least look like you are trying hard!
Seriously ladies. Those barbie weights are cute and all but pick up the heavy dumbbells! You want to lose those love handles or get nice shapely legs? Well then lift some freaking weight!!!!!!!!
Even though I know the belief that women shouldn’t lift heavy is out there, I’m just always shocked when it rears its ugly head.
And I just had so much hope for today. A female member was out on the floor doing unassisted pull ups this morning. My clients were lifting some heavy weights. And I got emails from Man Bicepers across the country who are all taking back the weight room floor!
It almost felt as if that stupid lie about women lifting heavy was dead!
But sadly, it was just in hiding for the morning.
Boy was it in full force during my class though, which is shocking for numerous reasons.
For one, my class is torture. It is KNOWN because of its torture. So why would you come and slack off and use freaking joke weights?!?
For two, EVERYONE ALWAYS SEES ME LIFTING AND HEARS ME HARPING ABOUT WOMEN LIFTING. Why would you come to a class with a female instructor and ignore the fact that they are telling you to use heavier weights?
I always want to yell out one of two things..
“Get out of my class if you aren’t going to actually lift.”
or
“WHAT THE F***!” Use some freaking weights!”
I never yell out either, which is why I’m ranting right now.
I know I say this all the time, but why do people believe that women will get bulky if they lift heavy weights? Because there are female bodybuilders on steroids that look huge? Uhm it isn’t the weight lifting that made those women that big!!!
I do see a light at the end of the tunnel though – it’s all of you wonderful Man Bicepers out there flexing your man biceps!
A special “thank you” to Man Biceper Mary Kate for giving me hope!
Mary Kate is starting a nice version of the Man Bicep deadlift program and I can’t wait to hear how it goes!
Mary Kate's Man Bicep!!!
6% of Americans call out sick the Monday after the Super Bowl
I was not one of those Americans. Nope I was up at the crack of dawn per the usual – a day full of training, working out, emails and paperwork.
I did wake up super full though this morning because for the first time in the last 6 weeks, I ate more than just some fruit, veggies and nuts for carbs. I had POTATOES…fried in duck fat for that matter!
I was not one of thousands of Americans eating pizza, crackers and popcorn last night. I was instead enjoying a ridiculously delicious Primal feast!
This was definitely not served at my house!
And, I didn’t feel like I was at all deprived or missing out even though many of my friends couldn’t believe I was passing on a day to eat bad food.
Nope instead of pizza and wings and veggie oil fried chips I had: (The pictures are a bit rough and the food isn’t displayed super nicely since it was just me and Ryan chowing down!)
Homemade duck fat fried potato chips (peeled potatoes and duck fat with salt and pepper)
Homemade guacamole (organic avocados, salsa, heavy cream and seasoning spices)
Chorizo queso dip (local pork chorizo, full fat raw milk or grass-fed cheeses and homemade salsa)
Parmesan, scallion and bacon dip (full fat Parmesan, scallions, nitrite-free bacon)
Homemade deviled eggs (cage free eggs, heavy cream, paprika, nitrite-free bacon)
Parmesan Crisps (grass-fed butter and full-fat parmesan)
stacked up next to the guacomole...and almond butter haha
Organic apples, raw milk and grass-fed cheeses and wild boar salami tray
Banana, almond butter, chocolate bites (organic bananas spread with raw almond butter dipped in super dark chocolate)
They don't look good BUT they tasted delicious!
Chocolate macadamia nut bark with sea salt (Macadamia nuts and dark chocolate sprinkled with sea salt)
AND because I’m not a big beer drinker…Organic Hard Cider! YUM!
All in all a perfectly Primal and super delicious meal without the crappy bad food hangover! I did eat a bit too much though and roll around on the bean bag complaining the rest of the night…but what the hey!
Next time your friends tell you that you are missing out by not eating their gluten-laden party foods, show them this list and ask them if pizza really looks better!
Studying Studies
I mentioned last week that one of the ways you can pick the best diet for you is by doing some research and looking at studies. I also mentioned that not only should you read the studies, but you also need to analyze them.
Does the study really PROVE what it claims to?
And trust me, you need to ask this question a lot.
I asked that question today when I found an article on Fox News called “Calories count but source doesn’t matter study says.”
UHM? Hello…the source is what matters most! And the crazy thing, is I just wrote a post about the fact that losing weight is about more than calories in vs. calories out!
So of course, I had to read this article because as you know I love a good rant.
But after reading the article, I realized the title was misleading…and now I was confused. Here I was ready to refute all of the article’s evidence saying that it is simply calories in vs. calories out, but that really wasn’t at all what the article was about…
The article was actually more about finding the a diet that you could stick to! I mean yes the article does hint that calories are all that matter, which I don’t agree with, but it makes a great point about the fact that if you don’t choose a diet you can stick to, no matter how well it is SUPPOSED to work, it won’t work for you.
“If you’re happier doing it low-fat, or happier doing it low carb, this paper says it’s OK to do it either way. They were equally successful,” said Christopher Gardner, a Stanford University professor uninvolved in the study.
In the end, he said, people should choose the diet that’s easiest for them to stick with.
See! You have to experiment and find something that works for you! Isn’t that another point that I make in my post about how to find your personal “dieting secret?” Why yes….I think it is!
One of the researchers also had a quote in the article that really made me smirk with satisfaction.
“They did have difficulties with adherence, so that really tempers what you can conclude,” he added.
You win – I quit
uhm...YEP!
I taught subbed a muscle conditioning class yesterday for Brian in which I pretty much killed everyone. Two exercises from the end, one guy stood up and said, “You win. I give up.”
I think my jaw dropped in shock.
I win? How does you quitting mean I win?
I was super upset by the fact that not only did he quit, but he also rejected my critiques of his form during class. He made a nasty retort when I tried to correct his lunge form and he made a nasty retort because he couldn’t handle the intensity of the class.
I was trying to help him and give him a great workout – not make him angry or make him feel bad!
Apparently he was so angry that he walked out of the class and told Candy that “There is something seriously wrong with that woman.” (Of course Candy thought he meant it as a complement, but I knew that it wasn’t based on his reaction from the class. haha)
But I honestly didn’t understand why the guy was so upset. Brian’s classes were always murder – I was just trying to match Brian’s intensity!
I was so upset in fact that I mentioned the incident to just about everyone, including Brian who usually teaches the class. Brian said that the guy had grumbled when Brian had directed him to do push ups from his knees (his form was bad when he did push ups from his toes). Apparently he listened to Brian even though he wasn’t happy about it.
But when I gave him some form advice, he shot me down and refused to follow it. So I asked Brian, “Why did he listen to you but get really upset at me?”
Brian said, “Maybe because you’re a girl.”
Again, I think my jaw dropped.
WHAT!?! He didn’t want to listen to the teacher and TRAINER because of my gender!?! Was Brian being serious?!?
Yep he was. Sadly enough there are some males out there that won’t listen to a trainer because the trainer is female.
Why? Why should my gender matter? What difference does it make that I’m a girl?
The only explanation I can find is that his belief that I shouldn’t be critiquing him came from the belief that women don’t AND SHOULDN’T lift heavy weights and that all they do is run.
In some men’s minds, the weight room floor is still a male domain.
Seriously, can someone of the male species explain it to me? Why don’t some of you men think women belong in the weight room? Why do men shun female advice in the gym?
Man Bicep 