How lucky am I? I mean seriously, not only do I get to live a fitness driven lifestyle and make a living, but also I get to try products for review.I wake up every day and love what I do!

The good people at FRS Healthy Energy sent me a sample package of their Healthy Energy products. I was intrigued, especially because a lot of energy supplements and drinks have been in the news lately – not in favorable light I may add.

I was sent the FRS protein shakes, the energy drinks (cans) and a few chew packs. I’m going to focus my thoughts on the drinks because I think that most people use these types of supplements.

At the core of all FRS products is Quercetin, a powerful all-natural antioxidant that provides sustained energy and endurance along with boosting immune function. Plus FRS uses a patented mix of green tea extract and vitamins to further bolster their products performance.

Unlike the caffeine and sugar in other energy drinks, FRS’s use of Quercetin helps promote the production of your body’s mitochondria (energy powerhouses). Basically instead of artificially boosting your energy levels from the outside, FRS healthy energy products assist you in making more energy on your own. Do you know what I mean?

The real question is does it work? In truth I had a few weeks worth of product to try and I worked really hard at being objective. It’s important to note that when using supplements, especially those with vitamins in them, the effect isn’t immediate or dramatic. But rather with continual use the individual should see and feel results. For one, all the products taste great. I had orange and wild berry and loved them both. For the protein drink, which features 20 grams of whey protein isolate, the orange cream was a treat post workout.

Does the product work? Honestly I can’t tell you with 100% certainty. You all know I’ll never BS you so I feel the need to be honest. But I will continue to use FRS products as I think the science behind Quercetin is undeniable. And FRS was developed and refined by PHD’s and refined by researchers at Harvard University. And I do think I feel a difference after my two weeks of use. I’ve been working 14 hours non stop for almost a month straight now and I feel really good.

If you’re looking for an energy drink or supplement, but don’t want any of the X brands with chemicals and artificial sweeteners, I suggest you give FRS energy a go.

All information contained within this site, Angry Trainer Fitness.com, is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any health problem – nor is it intended to replace the advice of a physician. No action should be taken solely on the contents of this website. Always consult your physician or qualified health professional on any matters regarding your health or on any opinions expressed within this website. Please see your physician before changing your diet, starting an exercise program, or taking any supplements of any kind.

FitFluential compensated me for this sponsored post. All thoughts and opinions are my own

The post Product Review: FRS Healthy Energy appeared first on Angry Trainer Fitness.

You may also know that I’ve recently started working as a Fitness Manager for NYSC. Well Steve has been with the company for over 6 years and runs the ‘front of the house’. When I met Steve for the first time, within minutes he was showing me an old picture of himself from when he played football. For one reason or another, at the age of 24, Steve had found himself overweight, obese in fact.

At that moment I knew I could help him change his life.

But I waited and over the first two weeks at my new job, I planted little seeds and tossed out some feelers to see if Steve was game for changing his life. And you know what? He kept mentioning it, telling others he wanted to try workouts, follow my diet advice etc.

So I had a heart to heart with him. I told him quite literally that he’d be dead if he didn’t change his life. I told him that by signing on with me, he was signing up for commitment, dedication and a chance to regain his life. I also told him something that was told to me by Drill Instructor Tony Francisco of the Marine Corps…

‘I will not give up on you even if you give up on yourself’.

I also told Steve I expect him to stumble, to make mistakes and that this will test him in ways he couldn’t imagine. And I made it clear that like any relationship, communication is key and that my expectation is that he’d always be honest with me. As long as he’s truthful we can work through anything.

The scale doesn’t lie.

We shook hands and the deal was sealed.

Here’s what surprised me. At our very first workout Steve laid it all on the line. Keep in mind he’s a former football player so he knows what ‘putting out’ is all about. On April 29th I put the big man through his paces. After a brief warmup his workout was:

18 minute AMRAP of 10 squats, 10 push-ups and 100 meter run. Steve got 7 rounds + 4 reps.

Let me tell you right now, I was thoroughly impressed. He’s driven, motivated and pushed himself. As you can see, I’m using CrossFit workouts with Steve and so far the results have been……MIRACULOUS! In one week Steve lost an amazing 15 pounds! Now keep in mind I’ve also put him on the Paleo plan so some of his weight loss was water, BUT he definitely lost fat as well.

Since then I’ve also introduced him to a scaled version of FRAN, where he used 65 pounds for thrusters and performed bodyweight rows. The rep scheme was 21, 15, 9 and again Steve cranked it out – finishing in 8:53. That’s impressive as heck for a 300+ pound individual.

65 pound thrusters during his 1st go at FRAN!

Here’s the thing, NONE of Steve’s workouts have passed 30 minutes. He’s run some sprints, had straight weight training workouts, used the rower etc. He is NOT a slave to exercise and is getting great results. We’re using the CrossFit philosophy of “Routine Is The Enemy’. He’s getting amazing results for one reason – his intensity is high and he’s getting a lot of work done in short amounts of time. There are no leg extensions, curls, triceps pushdowns or any isolation movements. Steve is using BIG movements and teaching his body to work as it should in a real, functional way. He’s currently getting three workouts in per week and staying active on his time off; taking hikes etc.

In short, he’s becoming a fat burning machine through metabolic conditioning.

Plus his food choices have been amazing too. As you know DIET IS KEY to weight loss success and Steve has been on point. He’s even cooking his own food and came in to work with Paleo stuffed peppers the other day. Kotton isn’t counting calories either. He’s eating whole, unprocessed foods consisting of vegetables, lean meats, nuts, seeds, healthy fats and a little fruit.

He is 100% committed – it’s clear.

I could go on and on about my feelings. I’m so excited to see Steve become who he really is and take his life back. If you could have seen the look on his face when he weighed in this past Monday at 325, you’d cry with joy. I almost did. It was absolutely priceless.

7 days & 15 pounds later.

I’m asking all of my friends to help me in supporting Steve. I’ve set him up on his own Facebook page – Kotton No Candy, he’s on Instagram and Twitter too. I believe his experience will be invaluable and that he can help inspire others with his success. He and I will both be posting daily updates on his workouts, meal plan and overall how he’s feeling. Plus I’ll be letting you all know right here twice per month where he’s at in his journey.

What’s the goal? 100 pounds lost in 4 months. On September 1st Steve will be 240 pounds…or less.

Follow Steve Kotton

LIKE Kotton NO Candy On Facebook
Twitter @GMEN6488
Instagram SKOTTON64

In future posts we’ll get real honest about why Steve believes he lost control of his weight. But for now, lets show him some Angry Trainer thunder!

Stay Tuned! 123 days and 85 pounds to go!

All information contained within this site, Angry Trainer Fitness.com, is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any health problem – nor is it intended to replace the advice of a physician. No action should be taken solely on the contents of this website. Always consult your physician or qualified health professional on any matters regarding your health or on any opinions expressed within this website. Please see your physician before changing your diet, starting an exercise program, or taking any supplements of any kind.

The post ATF Project: Steve Kotton – 100 Pounds In 123 Days appeared first on Angry Trainer Fitness.

So lets hear it for New Jersey Governor Chris Christie – lets all give him a round of applause for undergoing lap band surgery to lose weight.

I’m kidding. In my mind he simply gave up.

Christie’s weight has made news before – first some speculated he would make for an unfit President and used subliminal fat jokes in political campaigns. Then the Governor was hospitalized due to an asthma attack that again brought his weight front and center. And most recently, a former White House doctor was quoted saying she was worried for his health and that he may have a heart attack. Keep in mind, the quoted doc had never treated Christie and was making comments based solely on his appearance.

In a New York Times interview, Christie reveals he had the surgery (limiting his stomach size) this past February to ‘be there for my children’, he says. By all accounts the governor, despite weighing in at 350 pounds, was healthy by ‘all normal indicators’. Well that’s what he said anyway although I’m not quite sure how true a statement it is.

I think what bothers me most is what has always irked me – these types of surgeries are band – aids and fix nothing. I mean let’s think about this for a second. Does it sound like a rational thing to do? Hmmm, lets cut down the size of persons stomach by wrapping a rubber band around it so they can’t eat as much. Or how about we actually cut the stomach out and make a little pouch. Yes, that’s a great idea!

Seriously? Is this what we’re promoting as a healthy and fit lifestyle and a way to control our weight?

Why not put Governor Christie on the show Survivor? Then he’d lose weight for sure. There’d be no junk food, no cake, no processed food and he’d have to use his body to survive. Watch the show – EVERYONE loses body fat when living as we were meant to. Of course he wouldn’t go on the show but you see my point right?

If Christie truly was truly healthy prior to surgery it makes it all that much more worse in my view. These types of surgeries were meant as last resorts for those that were at high risk for death. Yet as I’ve said before it’s become a cosmetic procedure of sorts for those who aren’t disciplined enough (for varying reasons) to limit their food intake.

And the results aren’t permanent with either the lap band or more invasive bypass. NBC’s hit show The Biggest Loser has seen a few contestants on the ranch who were prior weight loss surgery recipients. Then you have Carnie Wilson and Al Roker – both have had gastric bypass and BOTH have gained a lot of weight back. The reason is simple – weight gain and being obese is not just about food. There are usually emotional, mental and coping mechanisms in play that contribute. Simply reducing the size of a persons stomach doesn’t fix anything in my opinion and it helps cover and circumvent the REAL issues.

Plus in case you weren’t aware, your stomach can stretch and eventually hold more food (as it used to prior to surgery) if you overeat consistently. It’s hardly a permanent solution.

And truthfully while I had disagreed with prior accusations that his weight made him less capable in his job, I’m now feeling a bit different. In my mind having this surgery is a sign of Christie not being able to commit to his health or to make hard personal choices when something as valuable as his life is on the line.

Lets remember all this surgery does is limit how much food a person can eat. I find it hard to believe that a man who has speculated about running for President expects the American people to stand behind him when he can’t even control his food intake and opts for surgery as a fix.

You may or may not know that I had a cousin who died from complications arising from gastric bypass surgery and as you can tell I feel quite strongly. I’m not suggesting obesity is an easy fix, that real problems don’t exist and that we as a nation have a serious pandemic on our hands. Nor am I’m not suggesting that obese individuals are lazy. We need education, support, accountablity and health / weight management programs implemented on the state and local levels.

What I am saying is that the answer to beating obesity is NOT wrapping bands or cutting out our stomachs. That is madness in my opinion.

What do you think? Are you for or against weight loss surgery?

The post Chris Christie: Lap Band Surgery And Lazy? appeared first on Angry Trainer Fitness.

Angry Trainer, can I ask a simple question?

When is it time to accept your limitations? I have eaten clean and trained hard now for two years and yes I have made gains. I am now 28% body fat (you do not want to know where I started) and I am benching my body weight and squatting double my body weight (which again, you do not want to know).

I am starting to think that this is my best. I do not want to relax or go back to that sad woman on the couch watching other women live their lives but I also do not want to chase a goal which will leave me injured or frustrated. What is your opinion?

Antonia

Hey Antonia, how are you? Thank you for asking this question on my Facebook page. I think many people can relate to how you’re feeling. So here’s what I’m thinking…

First I want you to stop being down on where you started. Twice in your letter to me you reference that “I don’t want to know…” suggesting that your previous weight and strength would make me think less of you. That is not true at all. It’s important for you to remember where you were and celebrate the fact that you are now a better version of YOU.

Congratulations on your accomplishments. I’m proud and thrilled for you.

With regards to your bodyfat I’d have to say it’s likely you can improve a bit more. I’m not worried for vanity’s sake, but for health reasons. You’re on the upper end of what’s considered a healthy level for women. I’d like to see you in the 22% range – which is doable. As always I’ll suggest limiting grains and dairy and choosing lean meats, nuts, seeds, veggies, healthy fats and a little fruit. Plus in your workouts I’d add in some HIIT training for 20 minutes two to three days per week.

And I wouldn’t count calories either. I’d suggest you opt for a lean protein source, two handfuls of veggies and some health fats like nuts or avocado in 3 – 5 meals per day. Search my site for the Paleo Diet and you’ll be golden.

As for lifting more weight – why? How about you add in some circuit style workouts? They’ll get your heart rate up, increase your calorie burn both during and AFTER the workout and they’re just more efficient. Try taking four exercises like squats, pushups, sit-ups and jumping jacks and perform each for one minute, for 5, 6, or even 8 rounds! It sounds like maybe you just use straight weight training so it’ll be a nice change of pace for you.

You will never be that sad woman sitting on the couch ever again. You ARE living your life, you hear me Antonia?

Many times people are confused with setting goals. In other words if you’re looking to drop more fat weight, increasing your squat isn’t really the route to go or productive. Do you see my point? Sure it’s nice to be strong and functional, but you are already. You can lift your own bodyweight in pounds – that is awesome. But now I want you to turn toward metabolic conditioning and becoming a fat burning machine. I want you to try to increase your reps or number of rounds in a given time frame. That’s a new goal for you that you can always improve upon.

As an example, take the workout I mentioned earlier and add up all of the reps from every set – that’ll become your score. The next time you use that workout try and beat that number; get more reps in the same time. Get it?

Alternatively you can set a time limit and rep scheme for each of the four exercises. Let’s say you will perform 15 reps of each exercise ok? Set a timer for 18 minutes (or longer) and see how many sets or rounds you can get done in 18 minutes. As with the other workout, the next time through try to get more rounds in the same time frame. Does that make sense?

You should be continually striving to be better, walking the line of being slightly uncomfortable in your workouts to elicit change. If you ‘accept’ a perceived limitation then complacency sets in. Once an individual is complacent there is no motivation to change. Do not accept limitations but instead constantly establish new goals and ways to reach them. A fitness driven lifestyle is not stagnant and in order to be successful, you must constantly strive for change.

Throughout the years I’ve had hundreds of various goals; lifting more weight, lower body fat, bigger muscles (knucklehead days!) etc. Right now each week I add an additional 100 meter sprint to my weekly sprint schedule until I reach a total of 24. I’m sure you know I love CrossFit, so I’m performing WOD’s and giving my all to beat my previous times and reps within various workouts. I’m working toward better shoulder mobility, my jump rope double under form and much more. I always have something I’m working towards and I’m 100% focused on improving my health and fitness.

Listen Antonia, you may not ever squat 315 pounds and that’s ok. But when it comes to health and fitness, you have no limitations. No matter who you are, where you are, what shape you’re in, injured or not, beginning a journey or a seasoned pro – you can always improve and get better.

Always.

In my opinion you should be very proud of your achievements and be excited for making more progress. Being your best is a state of mind and a reflection of daily actions and thoughts more than anything else and reaches far beyond what goes on in the gym. Do you understand what I mean? You are not simply valued at numbers put up in a squat or bodyfat levels. Keep that in mind.

I bet you’ll see results if you try my dietary suggestions and implement a style of workout like what I’ve mentioned. Let me know. I know you can do it Antonia.

- Alfonso

All information contained within this site, Angry Trainer Fitness.com, is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any health problem – nor is it intended to replace the advice of a physician. No action should be taken solely on the contents of this website. Always consult your physician or qualified health professional on any matters regarding your health or on any opinions expressed within this website. Please see your physician before changing your diet, starting an exercise program, or taking any supplements of any kind.