Month: March 2015

Being a Better Omnivore

This weekend, I participated in a tradition that according to Michael Pollan’s book Cooked connected me with some of our earliest human ancestors. That’s right, I did some grilling. I grilled/smoked some pork ribs to be more exact. As pleasurable as that experience was, it made me realize that lately I’ve been relying heavily on animal products as my primary sources of protein. I frequently proclaim my identity as an omnivore, but the recent lack of diversity in my protein sources may be hindering my ability to be a more proficient omnivore. With that said, I decided to follow a pescetarian diet this week. Yes, I know that seafood is still animal protein, but limiting my animal protein to one category forced me to discover alternative sources of protein. I could have bought a bunch of canned tuna and salmon, but that would have negated the idea of adding diversity to my diet (not to mention the price of quality canned products). I decided to do some research into plant-based protein sources and discovered that lentils are a great source of protein and provide several other essential macro & micronutrients. I picked up a 16 oz bag of green lentils from Trader Joe’s for less than $3. The bag contained 9 servings, each of which contained 12 grams of protein. That’s only 2 less grams of protein than the 2 oz can of tuna fish I picked up that same day. Lentils are not a complete protein (meaning they are lacking in one or more of the essential amino acids) but you can pair them with another food like nuts and/or seeds to make them complete.

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I don’t plan on giving up animal products anytime soon, but discovering new sources of protein helps me reach my goal of adding diversity to my diet. What are your favorite plant-based protein sources? Got any tasty protein-pack vegetarian recipes?

ETT Exercise of the Week Ep.1

Welcome to the inaugural episode of the Elemental Training Tampa (ETT) exercise of the week. An ETT exercise combines striking techniques with a strength building body weight exercise. This week’s ETT exercise combines a jab-cross-hook-uppercut combination with 2 lunges. Feel free to use any punch combination, but make sure you’re practicing proper technique regardless of what strikes you perform. After the punch combination perform 2 lunges that match your fitness level. I suggest practicing your lunges in a mirror to ensure proper form. Check out the video below for more helpful tips on how to perform the ETT exercise correctly. Incorporate this exercise into your next high intensity interval training (HIIT) workout or use it as a warm-up before your next weight training session.

Throwback Thursday
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Photo courtesy of Jeff Morris

This may be my favorite picture from my short stint as an amateur kickboxer. The picture was taken before the decision was read for my sixth and final fight. My trainer Amir Ardebily, the man largely responsible for getting me addicted to fitness, is taking my gloves off for the last time. I was honored to have Master Amir in my corner for all my fights and even though my kickboxing “career” was short lived, what I learned from competing in that arena will stay with me for the rest of my life.

Become An Egghead

Diverse would be a good word to use to describe my diet. My eating habits fall somewhere between a badger and a trash compactor. As non-discrimanatory as my palate may be, I strive to eat the most nutritious food available. Eggs are a constant staple of my diet, but the wide selection of eggs that exist at the grocery store makes it hard to choose which ones are the most nutritious. Unless you plan on building a chicken coop in your backyard (which isn’t that crazy of an idea), check out the article below and learn which eggs pack the most nutritious punch.

http://ecowatch.com/2014/11/14/organic-eggs-healthiest-to-eat/

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Green Is The New Black

I never thought it would be hip to eat a dark leafy green vegetable, but I think kale has reached that status. Whether it’s a kale entrée at a trendy restaurant or a kale smoothie from Panera, it seems like you can get kale pretty much anywhere nowadays. Regardless of how trendy kale may be currently, the truth is that it’s extremely good for you. However, eating kale raw is not exactly appetizing. Check out the video below for a tasty kale & fruit smoothie recipe that will have you reaching hipster status in no time.

It’s Not Me, It’s We

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Today’s Monday Motivation is very personal because the individual I am trying to inspire the most with this post is myself. As of late, I’ve been neglecting important responsibilities in both my personal and professional life. My recent selfishness prompted someone very close to me to question my level of dedication to these commitments. This intervention of sorts made me realize that I need to devote more time and effort to aspects of my life that are important not only to me but to all of those around me. Elemental Training Tampa was founded on the idea of community, and it’s about time I become a better member of this community.