Become A Beast

In Episode 47 of The Become a Beast Podcast, we dive into the small habits you can start implementing to make big changes in 2015. How we have made big improvements in all aspects of our life at Become a Beast has been thinking on a micro level and working up to macro. Establishing small habits is the ideal way to have sustained success in whatever we are trying to accomplish. Dive into today's episode and start 2015 off right. Click here to listen, rate, and subscribe on iTunes)

A fellow listener asks, "What's the best workout for me?" This is an awesome question and one that many people ask. In Episode 46 of The Become a Beast Podcast, I answer this question and my answer might just surprise you. Often, we think one workout is the end-all-be-all to workouts. This isn't the case. Not because that workout doesn't work, but because that workout might not be right for you. So, what is the best workout? Listen to this episode to find out.

Overthinking diet and fitness can lead to frustration, loss of motivation, and lack of results. This all comes about because we make something extremely simple into something the is unnecessarily difficult. In Episode 45 of The Become a Beast Podcast, I discuss how we often overcomplicate our diet and fitness. The simplest approach, with anything, is often the right approach. Diet and fitness fall into this approach as well. The more you can break them down, the likelier you will succeed.  

In Episode 44 of The Become a Beast Podcast, I discuss how my strength and fitness evolved once I started reducing the weight I was lifting and increased the number of bodyweight exercises I was doing. If you are looking to prevent injuries and/or have a much wider range of fitness, I highly suggest listening to this podcast. I talk about some of the easiest (and FREE) bodyweight exercises that you can start today. Enjoy!

As I've discussed before, I have a hatred for dieting versus choosing a healthy diet. In Episode 43 of The Become a Beast Podcast, I discuss the many problems with diets and specifically, why most people fail at them. Yes, some people succeed at these fad diets out there. No doubting that. However, MOST people don't succeed. My goal is to get you and others to be closer to the results of most rather than few. I don't want a handful of people succeeding at their diets. I want as many people as possible. Thus, I started OneIngredientDiet.com I go into more details in this episode so check it out and listen closely for your OneIngredientDiet bonus.

About a month after the 1st of the year, my gym starts seeing fewer visitors, the produce aisle isn't as crowed, and life, unfortunately, goes back to the sad normal it was prior to the first of the year. What happened? People's motivation from setting New Year's goals has waned and that high is no longer there. It's time to reevaluate and attack once more, but most tend to just move on. In Episode 42 of The Become a Beast Podcast, I discuss how to reevaluate one's health and fitness once the rush of motivation wears off from establishing and attacking goals.

In Episode 41 of The Become a Beast Podcast, we discuss food addiction and my own addictions to food. Food addiction is not only an issue for the obese. As a fairly fit guy, I have an addiction to food and can fully admit to this issue. However, food addiction isn't your typical addiction. You have to have food to survive so simply ridding food from your life is not an option. In this podcast, I discuss how I address my own addiction and how my approach may be a way you too can address this issue. For more episodes, check us out over on iTunes by clicking here.

We are just a few weeks removed from the new year and there are millions of people who have tried to detox from the gluttony of the holidays and subsequently failed miserably. Detoxing, for most people, doesn't work. You know what does - - - eating a one ingredient diet. Check out the latest from The Become a Beast Podcast in Episode 40 where we discuss why people fail at detoxes, why detoxes can (in rare instances) be good, and what you should do instead of detoxing. Don't forget to rate and subscribe over on iTunes so you can get the latest podcast and help us grow the Become a Beast following.

In 2013, I took on the challenge of working out for 365 straight days. I must say it wasn't easy, but worth every workout. In episode 39 of The Become a Beast Podcast, I discuss the struggles I faced in working out for 365 straight days. We discuss the toughest parts to taking on this challenge along with the best parts to accomplishment the feat of working out every day of the year. You can take on the 365 day challenge, but I suggest starting with a much smaller streak (i.e. 14 days or 90 days) and building from there. Taking on the working out every single day challenge is quite the beast to start with. Enjoy the latest from The Become a Beast Podcast! (Suggested App for Challenge: Commit App by Nathan Barry)    

Welcome back to The Become a Beast Podcast! I have missed you guys and gals. Thank you for all of your continued support. I know I have been distant, but we are back and better than ever. Lots coming down the pipeline. Check out the latest podcast... In Episode 38 of The Become a Beast Podcast, I discuss A LOT. Why I have been gone for 124 days (...too long) What is going on with The Become a Beast Podcast & BecomeaBeast.com Where we are headed There's a lot to cover so we only slightly touch on all of these things in this episode. I promise we have tons and tons to come. Thanks again and hope you enjoy!

The last thing we want to do is often the first thing we need to do.  - Tim Ferriss (paraphrased) I hate pull ups. They intimidate the hell out of me. I suck at them. I can bench over 200 pounds without flinching, yet shake in my boots when I need to do 10 pull ups. That doesn't mean I can't do them. That just means I hate doing them. That's when I came up with the idea for #DontWannaWednesday. Click here to listen, rate, and subscribe on iTunes) Have a question, idea, or thought? Leave us a voicemail. As noted above by Ferriss, the thing that I least want to do is often what I should address first. However, it's discouraging and not motivating to do the things we hate to do. So, how do we do them? I have officially dedicated Wednesday's to including pull up's in my workout routine. I absolutely hate doing them, but I know they need to get done as they are a great bodyweight exercise. With my Boston Qualifying attempt training in full swing now, I need to include more and more bodyweight exercises to m

Sometimes your friends really aren't your friends. They are just the people you end up hanging out with. True friends push you to achieve the potential within yourself. So today, I wanted to talk about how becoming a beast may lead you to a loss of the social community you have found yourself in, but that this might be the best thing for you. Click here to listen, rate, and subscribe on iTunes) Have a question, idea, or thought? Leave us a voicemail. When becoming a beast, you start to find a new drive and passion. Whether it is for running or crossfit or strongman lifting, or whatever, you will start to surround yourself with information (i.e. blogs, podcasts, classes) and people (i.e. fellow runners, weightlifters) that are trying to achieve something. When these people commit to achieving their potential, they start to become your new friends and you just don't have as much time sitting around gossiping or getting trashed. Trust me, that's a good thing. I've been on both sides of the coin many times

Many of us established a fitness plan and think, "I've got this." The problem with these plans sometimes isn't that we don't follow through, but that we want to do more than our plan. So, what should we do? I address just that in Episode 35 of The Become a Beast Podcast on sticking to a fitness plan when wanting to do more. Click here to listen, rate, and subscribe on iTunes) Have a question, idea, or thought? Leave us a voicemail. Sticking to a fitness plan may be tough, but the better you are at it, the likelier you are to attain your goals. Have a good one Beast Squad!

Do you want to look like the world record marathon runner or the world's strongest man? I don't want to look like either. I want to become a super athlete. In Episode #34 of The Become a Beast Podcast, I discuss how I became a super athlete, how I am attacking this approach again and why I suggest this over a sport specific approach. Click here to listen, rate, and subscribe on iTunes) Have a question, idea, or thought? Leave us a voicemail. Back in 2008, I took on the challenge of becoming a super athlete full steam ahead. I ate (almost) perfect for 6 months. I worked out at least everyday but Sunday and often 2-3 workouts each day. I was extremely focused in my attack and I achieved the results you see to the left. I didn't become some malnourished marathon runner and I didn't become a 300 lb hee-man. However, I was able to run a half decent marathon, continue lifting significant weight, and was capable of competing and placing in athletic events that served a well-rounded athlete (pic to the left: 3

As a parent, I feel that my top two responsibilities are 1) to provide a safe environment for my child to develop and 2) to show them what I believe to be a good example for living one's life. The first responsibility is self-explanatory, but the second is a far greater interest to me. In Episode 33 of The Become a Beast Podcast, I share my entry into the wild world of parenting, how it has effected my fitness and health, and lastly, how you can either become and maintain a healthier and more fit body as an example for your kids. Click here to listen, rate, and subscribe on iTunes) Have a question, idea, or thought? Leave us a voicemail. Episode Notes/Links: FitDadBlog.com Jason Fitzgerald, StrengthRunning.com As always, have a good one Beast Squad!

Getting stronger and building muscle are often the two most desired attributes of those looking to become fit. However, they often overlook the best way to start. In Episode #32 of The Become a Beast Podcast, we discuss how you can start building a foundation for becoming stronger and building muscle in a healthier way. Click here to listen, rate, and subscribe on iTunes) Have a question, idea, or thought? Leave us a voicemail. Free weights can be your friend. However, when you expect your friend to provide everything while you bring nothing to the table, your friend (the free weights) won't be that kind to you. Bodyweight exercises are your entry to developing a base that then can be used to see faster strength gains. This episode will guide you through the basics of bodyweight exercises and help you get headed in the right direction. Episode Notes/Links: 50 BODYWEIGHT EXERCISES YOU CAN DO ANYWHERE Iron Gym Total Upper Body Workout Bar (Amazon aff. link.) Have a good one Beast Squad!

Diet or fitness? The question many folks ask themselves when they have either been in a rut or have never really addressed either. Today on the Become a Beast Podcast, I address which I choose and how you can know which you should choose to address first. Click here to listen, rate, and subscribe on iTunes) Have a question, idea, or thought? Leave us a voicemail. The answer I share will probably surprise most people and differ from what other personal trainers and dietitians will tell you. That's okay. This is just my approach and what has worked for me. It will be up to you to test what works for you. Hope you enjoy and have a good one Beast Squad!

Often, small actions in one part of our lives can lead to huge benefits in others. When we workout at our full potential, there is an overlooked benefit that can lead to better results in the future. That #1 overlooked benefit of working out at our full potential is better sleep. Click here to listen, rate, and subscribe on iTunes) Have a question, idea, or thought? Leave us a voicemail. In the past and even to this day, I sometimes forget about the incredible benefits of sleep. From hire amounts of the hormone leptin to reduction of chronic inflammation, getting better sleep leads me to achieve my potential on more cases than not. And when I don't get the necessary sleep, my performance in the gym and while running declines and my diet just seems to fall off the wagon. In today's episode, I address the importance of recognizing sleep as a critical aspect towards achieving your full potential. Episode Notes/Links: WEBMD (link) As always, have a good one Beast Squad...and get your sleep already!

Sometimes, the simplest answer to our biggest stressors comes through cleaning the junk out of our lives and just focusing on life itself. In it's simplest form that means putting a high focus on our health (i.e. diet and fitness). Click here to listen, rate, and subscribe on iTunes) Have a question, idea, or thought? Leave us a voicemail. In Episode 29, I address the approach of curing depression through diet and fitness. Instead of taking some pill, we at Become a Beast like to try and solve problems the natural way. In this episode, I discuss the chemical aspect to depression and how simple actions solve this major issue. Episode Notes/Links: Ultramarathon Man Depression and anxiety: Exercise eases symptoms Hope you enjoyed and as always... Have a good one Beast Squad!

In Episode 28 of The Become a Beast Podcast, I discuss the three fitness idols that I look up to and how they can help you achieve more of your own fitness goals. Click here to listen, rate, and subscribe on iTunes) Have a question, idea, or thought? Leave us a voicemail. Everyone will have their one fitness idols and I encourage you to find your own, but the three I present in this podcast are quite talented men. # 3 - Elliott Hulse - (YouTube) - I have only been following Hulse for 6 months, but quite the impression he has had on me. There are those trainers who know the minimum and then there's Elliott. Hulse has what seems to be an endless wealth of knowledge on fitness and the human body. Even better, he is laid back, to the point, and honest. # 2 - David Goggins - (Wiki) - Goggins is a straight-up badass. He hates running, but he does it so that he can raise money for the families of fellow fallen soldiers to the tune of over $200k. When he wanted to run the Badwater 135 miler, he called the race