Wall Walks

September 26, 2014 by corestrengthalec in Exercises and tagged core, exercise, fit, fitness, handstand, Inspiration, muscle, muscles, progress, progression, push-up, shoulders, stability, strength, walks, wall, workout | 1 Comment

One of the most common questions I get asked is how to do a handstand. This exercise is one of the best ways to learn how. Wall Walks strengthen your core and your shoulder muscles, they help you practice your stability, and because many people are afraid of falling and/or being upside-down, wall walks allow you to become more comfortable with the movement of a handstand while still feeling supported. Wall Walks are also a very important step in learning handstand pushups.

To Perform Wall Walks:
1. With your feet against the wall, start in a pushup plank position.
2. Slowly walk your legs up the wall by pushing your hands into the floor and feet into the wall.
3. Walk your hands back toward the wall as your feet get higher.
4. Crawl your feet up the wall as high as you feel comfortable. Hold this position for 3 seconds.
5. While walking your hands forward, slowly walk your feet back down the wall and return to the push-up plank position.
6. Repeat Steps 2-5 for the allotted amount of reps.

TIPS:
1. Only go to a height where you feel comfortable. You will still be strengthening your core and shoulders even if you don’t go all the way up the wall. Once you become comfortable, try getting higher until you can walk all the way up.
2. It is not a bad idea to have someone watch as your perform this exercise. It is good to have someone to catch you in case you want to try pushing yourself, but it is also important to have someone watch your form and make sure you are doing this exercise correctly.
3. Keep your core tight and back straight. It is very common to curve your back during this exercise which will compromise form and possibly cause muscle strain.
4. This exercise is to be done slowly. Having slow control of this exercise is key to activating the correct muscles.
5. I like to do about 3 sets of 5 reps.

Have you ever tried Wall Walks? Do you want to learn to do a handstand? Contact me at corestrengthalec@gmail.com with any questions, comments, or ideas for other topics.

Feature Friday: Jen Piccolo

September 19, 2014 by corestrengthalec in Feature Friday and tagged at home, clean eating, diet, exercise, feature, Feature Friday, female, fit, fitness, fitness blender, food, friday, girl, health, healthy, Inspiration, jen, Motivation, muscle, muscles, nutrition, piccolo, tips, tone, tone it up, transformation, weight loss | Leave a comment

First name: Jen
Last name: Piccolo
City: Wolcott
State: Connecticut
Age: 23
Height: 5’3″
Weight: I choose not to share my weight on any of my social media platforms. I’m a big advocate of self love and not letting the scale determine your worth. I want to inspire people, young girls especially, to focus on the healthy, not the skinny.

Follow Her:
Twitter: @JenTheFitFoodie
Instagram: @JenTheFitFoodie
Youtube: Youtube.com/IAmJenPiccolo
Website: www.JenTheFitFoodie.Blogspot.com

When did you start working out?:
I started working out in 2009, right after I graduated high school. That’s when I decided to make a lifestyle change and start living healthier.

How many days a week do you work out?:
I workout 6 days a week. I have 1 active rest day where I typically practice yoga or go for a hike.

How long is your average workout?:
My workouts range from 45-60 minutes.

Favorite muscles to exercise:
I love to exercise my arms! I’m actually really proud of them. When I was at my heaviest weight I absolutely hated my arms. I would never wear anything that was sleeveless or showed anything more than my forearm. Now my arms are my favorite body part! They have definition to them now and I definitely have a lot more upper body strength. I do various arm exercises utilizing light weights and high repetitions.

Least favorite muscles to exercise:
Two words. Leg Day. haha. I’d say its a love/hate relationship.

Do you have any fitness goals? If so, what are they?:
I would like to lose more body fat and continue to improve my strength while building lean muscle.

Do you have any fitness inspirations? If so, who are they?:
I absolutely love Daniel and Kelly who run FitnessBlender.com. They provide free at home workouts for every fitness level. They advocate clean eating and exercise. They do not use supplements or endorse any products, which I think is awesome. Their main goal is to show you that all you need to change your body is a clean diet and exercise.

I also really admire Karena and Katrina who run ToneItUp.com. They upload free workouts to their youtube channel and post weekly workout schedules for you to follow. They also offer a nutrition plan!

Can you give a brief overview of your diet?:
I have actually been following celebrity trainer, Chris Powell’s, carb cycling plan. I eat 5 meals a day and alternate between low and high carb days. I typically stick to lean meats, tons of fresh veggies, and healthy fats. I do my best to choose things that are minimally processed. I have one treat meal a week… and it’s always Mexican food! My absolute favorite!

You have made a huge transformation in the past few years. How long did it take and how much weight did you lose?:
I have lost 70 pounds. It took me a little bit over a year to lose the weight. Since I lost the initial 70 pounds I have just been working on building lean muscle and dropping more fat.

Do you think diet or exercise played a bigger role in your weight loss journey?:
Although both play a huge part in living a healthy lifestyle, I would say diet played a bigger role. I’m a firm believer that you can’t out exercise a bad diet. I’m actually proof of that. I was a competitive dancer growing up. It was a great form of exercise. However, I had a poor diet and large calorie intake so I was always overweight.

What is one thing you wish you knew at the beginning of your transformation?:
I wish I knew more about “clean eating”. When I first started losing weight I did it by counting calories. It would have been a lot easier for me to just cut out the processed garbage and focus on eating nutritious foods!

How did/do you stay motivated?:
When Im not feeling motivated I look at old pictures of myself. By doing so I can really see how much I have changed. I realize how much I enjoy living a healthy lifestyle. I love feeling healthy, strong, and confident; I want to keep it that way!

What is your favorite cheat meal?:
As I already mentioned, Mexican food! I love fajitas and beef burritos. And churros. I really love churros.

Do you have any workouts that you specifically like, that you believe are very affective?:
I always love HIIT workouts (High Intensity Interval Training). They are quick, effective, and perfect when you’re short on time.

Do you have any tips for people who are trying to reach their fitness goals?:
My tip would be to stay consistent. Make small changes over time and stay consistent with them. Integrate them into your lifestyle. Don’t change your diet so drastically or you’ll never stick to it.

Do you have any other things you would like to say?(Comments, suggestions, etc)?:
I have lost 70 pounds without a gym! You don’t need fancy equipment or a gym membership to get fit. There are so many great platforms to obtain free workout plans. Utilize whats already out there and invest in some free weights!

Did you like this week’s Feature Friday, Jen Piccolo? Would you or someone you know liked to be featured? Contact me at corestrengthalec@gmail.com for questions, comments, or ideas for other topics.

Raised Shoulder Pushups

September 18, 2014 by corestrengthalec in Exercises and tagged back, core, direction, exercise, fit, fitness, handstand, Inspiration, insrtuctions, lats, Motivation, muscle, progress, progression, push, pushup, raised, shoulder, strength, tone, tricep, up, workout | Leave a comment

Once you have mastered the regular Shoulder Pushup, it is now time to increase the difficulty. These Raised Shoulder Pushups are the second step in the progression toward achieving handstand pushups. This exercise will help activate and strengthen the muscles in your back, shoulders, arms and core that you need to perform the more difficult handstand pushup.

To Perform Raised Shoulder Pushups:
1. While facing the forward, start by putting your hand on the ground and legs up on a raised surface behind you(bench or table).
2. Straighten your legs and straighten your back to create and ‘L’ Shape with your body. You will need to activate your core to hold this position.
3. Bend at the elbows and lower so your head is just above the floor.
4. Push back up to straighten your arms and return to the ‘L’ position.
5. Repeat Steps 3 and 4 for the allotted amount of reps.

TIPS:
1. If you have not tried regular shoulder pushups prior to this exercise, please Click Here to see how to perform a shoulder pushup.
2. Keep your back and legs straight to activate your shoulders, core and lats correctly.
3. Really use your core to keep the ‘L” shape in your body. Do not let your hips droop.
4. The tall the surface the harder the exercise is, so try starting with something that is only a few inches off the ground first and then work your way up to a taller surface such as a table.
5. Keep your neck in line with your spine. Don’t lift your head to look at the floor. That will cause unnecessary tension.

Have you tried Raised Shoulder Pushups? Are you working on getting handstand pushups? Contact me at corestrengthalec@gmail.com with questions, comments, stories, or ideas for other topics.

Feature Friday: Ryan Young

September 12, 2014 by corestrengthalec in Feature Friday and tagged actor, aesthetic, body, california, calisthenics, exercise, feature, Feature Friday, fit, fitness, friday, gym, health, Inspiration, LA, male, marathon, model, Motivation, muscle, muscles, race, run, runner, ryan, ryan young, tips, young | Leave a comment

First name: Ryan
Last name: Young
City: Los Angeles
State: California (Originally from outside Chicago, IL)
Age: 34
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 170lbs
Profession: Model and Actor

Follow Him:
Twitter: @RYoung25
Instagram: @ryyoung
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ryyoungLA

How long have you been modeling for?::
I started in the mid/late nineties while growing up in Chicago. but it really took off once I moved to LA around 2000.

What agencies are you signed to?
I’m blessed to work with such great people at LA Models/LAM2 in Los Angeles, Spot 6 Management in Toronto and Brand in Orange County. Lately I’ve been looking to expand and reach further markets.

When did you start working out?:
Fitness has always been a part of my life. Growing up I played soccer, baseball and volleyball. My first summer job was lifeguarding so I became a great swimmer then too. I was fortunate to grow up in a family that placed an emphasis on excelling in all areas of life, fitness being one of them.

How many days a week do you work out?:
I’m active seven days a week. I know, I know… I’m suppose to take a day or two off and rest but I find it hard to sit and relax! Six of seven days I’m lifting and running; the other ends up being lighter with maybe a hike, a shorter run, a spin class, an ocean swim, something.

How long is your average workout?:
My average workout is usually an hour and a half. I’ll hit at least a couple body parts, throw in some abs and do some stretching. I should come clean and let you know, I do split my day up with workout sessions. I’ll lift in the am and then run in the early evening, or I’ll switch it up. Either way, my day isn’t complete until I get both sessions in. Yeah, its a bit of an addiction at this point.

Favorite muscles to exercise:
Favorite muscle to exercise, abs. Or legs. Its a satisfying feeling putting in the effort and seeing results from both of these muscle groups fairly quickly.

Least favorite muscles to exercise:
Not necessarily my least favorite, but definitely least worked, would be my back simply because I rarely see it. Vain but true! Lately I’ve been trying to change this and concentrate on it more because its been neglected.

Do you have any fitness goals? If so, what are they?:
I’m constantly setting new goals; they give me a sense of what to work toward. Its part of why I love running so much. There usually isn’t a time I’m not registered to compete in a race. At the moment, I’m training for marathons in Reykjavik, Chicago and Long Beach. Then I’m set to run across the state of California in January… the short way, west to east. Along with all this running my goal is to keep on the small amount of mass that I do have. Finding the right balance is constantly in the back of my head.

Do you have any fitness inspirations? If so, who are they?:
I’m constantly picking up inspiration from a variety of places. I’m that guy who while running will look at the faces of other runners and wonder what their stories are. I’ll be out along the beach and find inspiration in nature. Or I’ll be reading piece of news and be blown away by some small act of courage. Other athletes, small miracles of nature, music can all be inspirations to me. Its hard for me to separate what’s a “fitness inspiration” and what inspires, motivates me in general. I see it all as one. I believe how and what we choose to see in the world is reflected in our choices and therefore our fitness.

Do you have any other people you look up to?:
I do! At the moment I’ve been consuming everything I can about the great Indian runner from the 50s and 60s, Milkha Singh known as The Flying Sikh. His story of loss, tragedy, the power to over-come odds, and give back in charity inspires me greatly. Last year an awesome film called “Bhaag Milkha Bhaag” was released about his life story. I highly recommend it, athlete or not.

What supplements do you take or recommend?:
These days I swear by C-8 MCT oil added to coffee or foods I’m already eating. Just a small amount goes a long way in providing an energy boost, increased focus and greater endurance. I make myself whey protein shakes after each lift or run and take daily potassium and magnesium supplements.

Can you give a brief overview of your diet?:
I eat healthy but don’t have a set, strict diet. I allow myself to make daily choices and occasionally give in to my sweet tooth. Any given day, I’ll have a couple shakes with protein, chocolate almond milk, bananas, a variety of berries and maybe some peanut butter. Salads and lots of chicken and turkey are always on the menu.

I know that you are also a runner. How often do you runner each week? And how many miles?::
Usually I run 6 days a week, sometimes 5. Total mileage varies. Because of the run I’m doing in January, almost 270 total miles over ten days, I’ve been approaching my training a bit differently than as I normally would. I’ve been setting a distance to achieve and doing the same mileage for five days, taking a day of rest (or two) and then upping the mileage and repeating. Averaging out my total miles since the beginning of the year I’m at about 42 miles a week; lately, with more increased training I’m in the mid 50 range.

Can you explain more about your “Race across California?”::
This coming January I’ll be taking part in the Race Across USA marathon challenge. Along the way runners will be raising awareness on the benefits of health and fitness to children. I’ll be running the California state portion running from the ocean, Huntington Beach to the CA/AZ border, (just under 270 total miles) before passing off the run to other runners who will carry it across Arizona, and then another group through New Mexico, then Texas and so on until the race reaches the White House. All the while, there is a core team of runners who will complete the full run across the country; I’ll just be keeping them company in California! Part of my involvement is to raise funds to support the sponsoring charity, The 100 Mile Club. This organization has over 700 chapters in elementary schools across the country and encourages kids to pledge to run 100 miles per school year. While pursuing their goal, the pledging kids earn small incentives to continue on along with learning the values of goal-setting and a lifestyle of making healthy choices. If anyone reading feels inclined to donate and be a part of my journey please take a look at my site http://www.imathlete.com/donate/RyanYoung . I appreciate it!

Do you have any tips for people who are trying to reach their fitness goals?:
I see health and fitness not in terms of dieting or exercising to get that “summer body,” but rather in terms of practicing wellness through our daily choices. Its deciding to live a life consuming good foods and training. Achieving fitness goals, I believe, requires a change in our thinking and habits so that any positive results we see become long-lasting. Making these choices that at first might feel like sacrifices; giving up those sugary foods we love, going out for drinks or skipping a workout we just don’t feel like doing, but with a true commitment to ourselves, along with the answer to “why am I pursuing this goal?”, these sacrifices become just another way of life. So I guess that’s my humble advice: achieving fitness goals requires a change in mindset from what was to what is possible.

Do you have any other things you would like to say?(Comments, suggestions, etc)?:
Yes, make sure to get plenty of sleep too! It does a body good.

Did you like this week’s Feature Friday, Ryan Young? Would you or someone you know liked to be featured? Contact me at corestrengthalec@gmail.com for questions, comments, or ideas for other topics.

Elevated Reverse Hyperextensions with a Stability Ball

August 27, 2014 by corestrengthalec in Exercises and tagged aesthetic, back, ball, bosu, butt, core, diet, exercise, fit, fitness, glutes, gym, health, ideas, innovation, instructions, lower back, Motivation, muscle, muscles, stability, stability ball, strength, tone, waist, weight loss, workout | Leave a comment

Elevated Reverse Hyperextensions follow the same concept as Reverse Hyperextensions that are done on the ground, however when elevated you are able to increase your range of motion and challenge your core stabilization. To perform the exercise, all you need is an exercise ball and either a bench or a table. If you have not tried Reverse Hyperextensions on the floor, Click Here to view my past post and to see how to perform the exercise.

To do Elevated Reverse Ball Hyperextensions:
1. Place the Exercise ball on the elevated surface (table or bench).
2. Carefully lie down, facing forward, with your abdomen on top of the exercise ball. Grab the sides of the bench or table with your hands. Keep your legs straight and have your feet as low as you can have them. They should not be on the bench or table, but rather over the side.
3. While keeping your legs extended, raise your legs up as high as you can.
4. Slowly lower your legs back down.
4. Repeat Steps 3-4 for the allotted amount of reps. (I like to do 5 sets of 10 reps.)

TIPS:
1. Be careful when you are on top of the table or bench. Use your core and your arms to stabilize yourself. If you feel like you are tipping over, try performing Reverse Hyperextensions on the ground. Click Here to see how to perform this exercise on the ground.
2. This exercise is not about speed or how high you can get your legs, but it is all about the form. Control the motion and take your time with each rep.
3. When your legs are at the highest point, try to hold the position for about a second before you lower your legs back down. This will increase you muscle activation and make the exercise more affective.
4. Do not use the ball to bounce your legs up in the air. Doing so could cause muscle strain or you could possibly fall off the bench or table which may lead to many other injuries.

Do you like this exercise? Do you have any other exercises you like to do? Contact me at corestrengthalec@gmail.com with questions, comments, or ideas for other posts.

Feature Friday: Felipe Camargo

August 22, 2014 by corestrengthalec in Feature Friday and tagged abercrombie, aesthetic, arnold, bieber, body, brazil, bryant wood, calisthenics, camargo, collin wayne, exercise, feature, Feature Friday, fecamargo, felipe, fit, fitness, friday, gym, health, Inspiration, jeff seid, justin, LA, male, model, Motivation, muscle, muscles, sao paulo, tips | Leave a comment

First name: Felipe
Last name: Camargo
City: São Paulo
Country: Brazil
Age: 22
Height: 173cm (5’8″)
Weight: 70kg (154lbs)
Profession: Marketing Analyst

Follow Him:
Instagram: @fecamargo
Facebook: /fitfecamargo

When did you start working out?:
I started working out when I was 15 years old.

How many days a week do you work out?:
6 – 7 times a week.

How long is your average workout?:
My normal workout is about 1 hour, but 1 hour and half with cardio.

Favorite muscles to exercise:
Chest and biceps

Least favorite muscles to exercise:
Legs

Do you have any fitness goals? If so, what are they?:
I would like to prepare for Men’s physique competitions. For me, that means more muscular quality and increasing my weight.

Do you have any fitness inspirations? If so, who are they?:
Arnold, Jeff Seid, Collin Wayne, Bryant Wood.

What supplements do you take or recommend?:
Supplements are very important for an intense workout routine. I take whey protein isolate, glutamine, MCT, BCAA, chrome, vit C, B, D. But it’s not news that the most important thing in your routine is the DIET.

Can you give a brief overview of your diet?:
I eat most of the basics. I eat chicken or meat for protein and sweet potatoes or brown rice for carbs. Right now I want to gain weight, so I have 7 meals a day that have a total of about 300g of carbs and 180g of protein.

Do you have any workouts that you specifically like, that you believe are very affective?:
Not really, each body part needs a different type of stimulation. What you really need to do is push every workout to the limit, always give your best, and train like it is your last workout.

What fitness goals would you like to achieve in the future?:
I want to truly be an inspiration for everyone that has fitness goals. I want to be like the ones who inspire me today.

Do you have any tips for people who are trying to reach their fitness goals?:
Focus on your goals. Find a good professional to help you get where you want to be. Learn as much as you can with them and never give up on this.

Did you like this week’s Feature Friday, Felipe Camargo? Would you or someone you know liked to be featured? Contact me at corestrengthalec@gmail.com for questions, comments, or ideas for other topics.

Oatmeal Energy Breakfast

August 21, 2014 by corestrengthalec in Recipes and tagged Breakfast, build, cheap, coconut oil, diet, energy, food, free, gluten, health, healthy, milk, muscle, nutrition, oatmeal, oats, oil, peanut butter, protein, recipe | Leave a comment

Recently people have been asking me to post my meal plan on here for them to follow. I would really love to do that, but I honestly don’t follow a strict diet plan. I eat things that I know I like and that I know are healthy for me. I don’t count calories, I don’t even count my macronutrients, instead I eat what I think my body needs.

This meal is one I like to have in the morning when I know I have a big day ahead of me. It gives me a nice energy boost and keeps me full for a few hours.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup of rolled oats
3/4 cup of Skim Milk
Dash of Cinnamon
1 tsp of Peanut Butter
1/2 tsp of coconut oil

Instructions:
1. Put 1/2 cup of oats and 3/4 cups of skim milk in a bowl. Microwave for 2 minutes
2. Stir the oats and milk and microwave again for an additional 45 seconds.
3. Let the oatmeal sit for 2 minutes.
4. Remove the bowl from the microwave and stir in a few dashes of cinnamon, 1 tsp of peanut butter, and 1/2 tsp of coconut oil.

Nutritional Facts:
Calories: 275
Total Fat: 8g (3g of saturated fat)
Carbs: 38g
Protein: 13g
Fiber: 4.5g

Tips:
1. Sometimes I like to stir in a few Tbsp of non dairy vanilla coffee creamer to add to the taste, or I may stir in a scoop of vanilla protein powder. If I do stir in protein powder, I usually add a little more milk to get the consistency I like. If you do add protein powder, make sure the oatmeal cools before you add in the protein, otherwise the protein can denature making it less effective.

Do you have any healthy recipes you would like to share? Contact me at corestrengthalec@gmail.com for questions, comments, or ideas for new topics.

Feature Friday: Tyler Martin

August 8, 2014 by corestrengthalec in Feature Friday and tagged abercrombie, aesthetic, austin, body, calisthenics, cheer, cheerleading, coach, college, dallas, exercise, feature, Feature Friday, fit, fitness, friday, gym, health, Inspiration, male, martin, model, Motivation, muscle, muscles, navarro, spirit of texas, texas, tips, tyler | Leave a comment

First name: Tyler
Last name: Martin
City: Austin
State: Texas (Originally from Dallas, Texas)
Age: 24
Height: 5’9″
Weight: 185 -190 on a good day 😉
Profession: Cheer Coach

Follow Him:
Twitter: @Topmodelmartin
Instagram: @Tyler_Martini

Are you signed to any agencies?
As of right now, I’m not signed with any agencies, but I am open to the idea.

When did you start working out?:
Around 2-3 years ago.

How many days a week do you work out?:
6 days a week.

How long is your average workout?:
Between a hour and a hour and a half.

Favorite muscles to exercise:
Legs and glutes.

Least favorite muscles to exercise:
Biceps.

Favorite cheat meal:
Pizza and Wings and cinnamon rolls (any thing unhealthy).

What sports have you done?:
I’ve done gymnastics for 16 years and cheerleading for 6 years.

When did you start Gymnastics?:
When I about 4 years old.

Favorite tumbling pass:
Any double flipping passes like double backs, double lays, full in back outs.

When did you start Cheerleading?:
My freshman year of college by complete accident. Growing up I was never interested in cheer and I never thought I would do it. At one of my gymnastics meets I got scouted and they offered me a scholarship, so I had to take the it.

What teams have you cheered on?:
Spirit of Texas and Navarro College.

What is one of your biggest accomplishments you have achieved with cheerleading?:
Grand National Collegiate Champion, 3 time National Champion, 2nd at Worlds… multiple times.. unfortunately.

Do you have any fitness goals? If so, what are they?:
I would like to start competing in men’s physique and at some point go pro.

Do you have any fitness inspirations or people you look up to?:
My old trainer who basically taught me everything when it comes to weight lifting and eating right, Charles Chester who is a pro competitor. My other inspiration would be my dad because he’s annoyingly talented at everything.

What supplements do you take or recommend?:
I take factor 9 human growth stimulator which and P6 testosterone booster which I see huge effects by the end of my cycles.

Can you give a brief overview of your diet?:
I just started eating 2lbs of clean meats throughout the day with a serving of healthy carbs and greens with each serving of meat. When I wake up, I also take 6 shots of egg whites straight from the eggs which is actually not bad tasting at all.

Do you have any tips for people who are trying to reach their fitness goals?:
Get on the right eating plan and be consistent! As hard as it may be, meeting your goals is hugely affected by what your putting in to your body.

Did you like this week’s Feature Friday, Tyler Martin? Would you or someone you know like to be featured? Contact me at corestrengthalec@gmail.com for questions, comments, or ideas for other topics.

Reverse Hyperextensions with a Stability Ball

August 7, 2014 by corestrengthalec in Exercises and tagged aesthetic, ball, bosu, butt, core, diet, fit, fitness, glutes, gym, ideas, innovation, instructions, lower back, Motivation, muscle, muscles, stability, stability ball, strength, tone, waist, weight loss, workout | 1 Comment

Reverse Hyperextensions are a great exercise to help tone and strengthen your lower back while also working your glutes. Although this exercise is pretty easy to do, and it may even look fun, when done correctly, you will feel a burn in your lower back region. All you need for this exercise is an exercise ball.

To do Reverse Ball Hyperextensions:
1. Lie down, facing forward, with your hips on top of the exercise ball. Place your forearms on the floor, and your feet should be just off the floor. Keep your legs straight.
2. While keeping your legs extended, raise your legs up as high as you can.
3. Slowly lower your legs back down to about an inch above the floor.
4. Repeat steps 2-3 for the allotted amount of reps. (I like to do 5 sets of 10 reps.)

TIPS:
1. These should be slow controlled motions. You really want to feel a nice tightening in your lower back when you raise your legs.
2. When your legs are at the highest point, try to hold the position for about a second before you lower your legs back down. This will increase you muscle activation and make the exercise more affective.
3. This exercise can be done with your feet together or apart. I like to keep mine together, but if you do separate them, keep your feet shoulder width apart.
4. Do not use the ball to bounce your legs up in the air. Doing so could cause muscle strain or injury due to the fast motion from the bounce.

Do you like this exercise? Do you have any other exercises you like to do to strengthen your lower back? Contact me at corestrengthalec@gmail.com with questions, comments, or ideas for other posts.

Feature Friday: Ash Crawford

August 1, 2014 by corestrengthalec in Feature Friday and tagged abercrombie, actor, aesthetic, ash, ash crawford, Australia, body, calisthenics, crawford, exercise, feature, Feature Friday, fit, fitness, friday, gym, health, Inspiration, LA, male, model, Motivation, muscle, muscles, tips | 1 Comment

Ash1

First name: Ash
Last name: Crawford
City: Boston
Country: (Originally from Byron Bay, Australia)
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 185lbs
Profession: Actor/Model/Entrepreneur

Follow Him:

TikToK: @AshRCrawford https://tiktok.com/@ashrcrawford
Instagram: @AshRCrawford
Facebook: www.facebook.com/theashcrawford

Are you signed to any agencies? If so what agencies?
Print & Commercial: Daniel Hoff Agency
Manager: Me2Management

Ash3

When did you start working out?:
Growing up in Byron Bay, Australia I was active in all sports; soccer, cricket, surfing. I excelled at golf most. After high school in Australia I was recruited to go University in Texas on a D1 Golf scholarship. It was there that I began a strength and conditioning regime with the athletic department– much more rigorous than I had ever imagined. After I stopped playing golf competitively, I started working out with friends who were in the fitness industry. Since then I’ve been experimenting with all kinds of fitness and diets. I’ve found that keto works best for me and I’ve been doing that for the past few years.

How many days a week do you work out?:
5 days a week.

How long is your average workout?:
About 90 minutes

Ash2

Favorite muscles to exercise:
I like holistic, dynamic exercises like muscle-ups

Least favorite muscles to exercise:
Cardio, is that a muscle?

Do you have any fitness goals? If so, what are they?:
To be proportionate and healthy.

Do you have any fitness inspirations? If so, who are they?:
Steve Cook. He’s an absolute legend. Not only is he shredded, he is a great human. Check him out.

What supplements do you take or recommend?:
Coffee. That’s a supplement right?

Can you give a brief overview of your diet?:
Heaps of vegetables and lean meats. I try to have very minimal gluten and dairy in my diet. Keep sugars to around 50g per day also. Sodium you have to watch doesn’t creep above 2000mg per day either. Drink heaps of water. If you’re eating “clean” that’s great. But you get the biggest changes and results from consistently hitting your macros each day within 5-10g grams. Without that, you’ll plateau.

Do you have any workouts that you specifically like, that you believe are very affective?:
I really like all kinds of different training. Functional fitness is key for me. Can I be a better human? I do weightlifting, CrossFit and also a lot of Tabata Songs workouts like this one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nF0uWCiKs30

Ash4

Do you have any tips for people who are trying to reach their fitness goals?:
Decide what you want to do and what you want to change specifically. Be clear why you even want to change what you’re already doing. Once you decide if your goals are to lose body fat, to gain muscle, or to be able to compete in your given interest, you will approach your diet and training differently.

Do you have a website for people to visit to check out more information on you and your career?:
I’ve recently started a nitro coffee/tea and lifestyle company called Quivr. We make true cold nitro with no added anything. It’s the best out there and seeing the reaction from people has been really cool. I think everyone is sick of food and drinks that are full of bullshit. www.drinkquivr.com

You can find us on Instagram @drinkquivr instagram.com/drinkquivr

Do you have any other things you would like to say?(Comments, suggestions, etc)?:
The biggest tool that’s helped me over the years is tracking my strain and recover using WHOOP. If you know about them, then you know. If not, join me here – https://glnk.io/ovrz/ash-crawford

Please reach out to me on IG if you’d like to collaborate in anyway. I’m happy to help anyway I can. See you out there!

Did you like this week’s Feature Friday, Ash Crawford? Would you or someone you know liked to be featured? Contact me at corestrengthalec@gmail.com for questions, comments, or ideas for other topics.

Core Strength Blog

Giving Tips on how to achieve your fitness goals

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