exercise

From the Vault: Exo Cricket Flour Protein Bar taste test

We reach way back in the ETT Wrap Show vault for this episode. This week’s Addicted to Fitness podcast features my former cohost Tyler and a taste test of a protein bar made from a tasty little critter. Before we get into the taste test, Tyler and I discuss my experience learning jiujitsu from current UFC fighter Joe Lauzon. This eventually leads to us talking about two of the biggest names in MMA at the time, and now strangely enough, Conor McGregor and Jon Jones. I inform Tyler about Jones’ impending suspension and why I think there is “no way” McGregor could beat Nate Diaz in a rematch. Boy was I wrong. After all the UFC talk, Tyler and I jump into the protein bar taste test.

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Collage made with image from Conor McGregor’s IG page

Exo protein bars, according to their website, are “soy, dairy, grain and gluten-free. Paleo and environmentally friendly protein bars.” Most protein bars cannot makes these claims due to their ingredients, but the main ingredient in Exo bars is unlike any other protein bar. These bars are made with cricket flour. Yep, you read that right, this is a cricket bar. Most of the world already uses insects as a go to food source, but we still consider them somewhat taboo here in the United States. Except for crabs & lobsters which are essentially sea insects. Anyways, crickets produce 100x less greenhouse gases than cows and require a tremendous amount less water to produce than other protein sources like pigs and chickens (source). Tyler and I munch on two of these bad boys and to our surprise, love how they taste. High in fat and protein, these bars will keep you satiated a lot longer than any granola/trail mix bar. They also contain a significant portion of your recommended daily allowance of calcium and iron. The dates and honey used in the bars give them a relatively high sugar content, but I imagine the glycemic load is lowered due to the fiber and fat. I’d highly recommend everyone head over to the Exo protein bars website and grab a sampler pack. You won’t be disappointed, I promise.

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Image courtesy of Exoprotein.com

Let us know about the newest “health” food craze that you’d like us to try on the podcast. I  already have a couple in mind *cough* cockroach milk *cough* but we always love hearing your suggestions. In addition to leaving us suggestions on future taste tests,  please help us out by leaving us a rating and review on iTunes. Our downloads continue to climb each week which means your ratings, reviews and shares are helping us grow our audience. Thanks for the support and stay healthy this week peeps!

Links to this week’s episode:

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/from-vault-exo-cricket-flour/id1121420986?i=1000377041722&mt=2

Android: http://subscribeonandroid.com/addictedtofitness.libsyn.com/rss

Website: http://addictedtofitness.libsyn.com/from-the-vault-exo-cricket-flour-protein-bar-taste-test

Food Label Breakdown

Shannon and I start off this week’s episode reminiscing about our past week of training. Our workout recap got me thinking about a possible exercise experiment. We’ve talked about which exercises burn the most calories according to a Harvard medical school publication in a past episode, but I want to determine which of the following exercises burn the most calories in 10 minutes: jump rope, shadowbox or stationary bike. Not sure if I’d be able to podcast this experiment, but I’d certainly post the results in a future blog. Which of those exercise do you think would burn the most calories in 10 minutes?

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After our training recap, Shannon and I investigate the actual definitions for several commonly used food label terms. Thanks to an article written by Sheah Rarback, a registered dietician and nutritionist at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, we discover what the terms natural, GMO, non-GMO, gluten-free and organic really mean. Make sure you listen to this episode because I think you’ll be surprised about what products are allowed to use these terms. I know I was. In addition to these terms, we also discuss the ever evolving concept of “grass-fed.” Shannon and I frequently purchase grass-fed products, but after reading an article about the USDA recently dropping their requirements for a product to be considered grass-fed, we’re definitely rethinking adding them to our weekly grocery list.

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We are constantly trying to provide you with the most up to date health and fitness information. That is why I am please to announce that next week’s episode will feature an interview with registered nurse and certified diabetes educator Nicole Recine. Nicole is full of information on a variety of health and fitness topics including how we can fight the current obesity epidemic. If you have a suggestion for a health and fitness professional we should interview on the podcast, please leave it in the comment section below. After you leave your suggestion, please give us a review on iTunes and when you share this episode, tell your friend to do the same. Thanks in advance and stay healthy this week peeps!

Links to this week’s podcast

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/food-label-breakdown/id1121420986?i=1000376118741&mt=2

Android: http://subscribeonandroid.com/addictedtofitness.libsyn.com/rss

Website: http://addictedtofitness.libsyn.com/food-label-breakdown

Dairy: I have nipples, can you milk me?

This week’s Addicted to Fitness podcast kicks off with Shannon and I recapping the most recent ETT group workout. We’ve been offering free group workouts since the inception of ETT and have used several different venues with varied experiences. After this month’s group workout, I believed we’ve found our go-to venue. The Tampa Riverwalk is a nearly 3 mile walkway that snakes its way through downtown Tampa. ETT has used it the last few months for our group workouts which consist of a run, stair climb and striking exercises. After hearing feedback from several workout participants, I believe we’ll be hosting our group workouts there from now on.

 

After reminiscing about the workout, Shannon and I dive into the main topic of this week’s episode, DAIRY. The benefits of this food group seem to be frequently contested. Some people claim we’re not evolved enough to digest dairy. Others advocate the consumption of fermented dairy products, like yogurt, is key to maintaining proper gut health. What’s the truth? We discuss our relationship with dairy and review an article from Self magazine that describes several key points about human’s ability to digest dairy products. Sticking with the dairy theme, I go on a rant about a flavored milk product that will certainly make you cringe. I won’t give too much away because I want you to listen to the rant, but I will say that any chance of TruMoo being a sponsor of this podcast in the future is pretty much zero. Sorry I’m not sorry.

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Check out the nutritional facts of this product

We love sharing the most up to date health and fitness information with you all. Not only do we want to educate ourselves but we also want to educate others in order to reverse some of the unhealthy trends we as humans are currently experiencing. By rating, reviewing or sharing the podcast, you will help us distribute that information to more people. You keep helping us grow and we’ll keep searching for ways to lead healthier lives. Thanks again for your support and stay healthy this week folks!

Links to this week’s podcast

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/addicted-to-fitness-podcast/id1121420986?mt=2#episodeGuid=ba0d1d6e7f17b650159edae59a92b899

Android: http://subscribeonandroid.com/addictedtofitness.libsyn.com/rss

Website: http://addictedtofitness.libsyn.com/dairy-ive-got-nipples-can-you-milk-me

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Image created with screen grab from “Meet the Parents” trailer

FU IIFYM

This week’s episode of the Addicted to Fitness podcast kicks off with a ton of exciting Elemental Training Tampa news. Shannon and I talk about a pair of diehard ETT personal training clients, the date for our next group training session and recent/future equipment purchases. You may not realize it but if you’re reading this you are a part of the ETT community. First off, THANK YOU and please feel free to check us out on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

 

In addition to our ETT updates, Shannon and I go in-depth on a crucial vitamin that most Americans are deficit in, Vitamin D. Known to most people as the “sunshine vitamin”, vitamin D plays a large part in variety of bodily functions including creating strong bones. Thanks to an infographic provided by the great Dr. Rhonda Patrick, Shannon and I let you know about the possible reasons behind the current deficiency statistic, the possible side effects of being deficit and what you can do to avoid this deficiency.

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Image courtesy of foundmyfitness.com

Last but certainly not least, we dive into the topic that spawned the title for this week’s podcast. I heard about the IIFYM (if it fits your macros) diet from friends of the show Vinnie Tortorich and Anna Vocino. They were discussing a Yahoo article that was singing the praises of a diet that lets you eat whatever you want as long as you stay within your prescribed daily macronutrient count. That’s right. IIFYM claims you can eat fast food and still lose weight. We debunk this calorie counting fad diet and give our opinion on the best approach to eating healthy.

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Image courtesy of memecrunch.com

Thanks to you listeners, the podcast recently surpassed 1000 total downloads. I know of other podcasts that would immediately shut down if they had an episode that got only 1000 downloads, but we’re excited about this milestone. Primarily because it means you’re listening and more importantly you’re sharing the podcast. You can’t imagine how much that means to us. We deeply appreciate your support. If you haven’t done so already, please leave us a rating and/or review on your preferred podcast app (an iTunes rating/review would be especially awesome). Thanks again and stay healthy this week peeps!

Links to this week’s podcast

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fu-iifym/id1121420986?i=1000375192544&mt=2

Android: http://subscribeonandroid.com/addictedtofitness.libsyn.com/rss

Website: http://addictedtofitness.libsyn.com/fu-iifym

The Return of the Macros Game

In my opinion, we have a lot of silly holidays in the United states, but Labor Day is not one of them. Labor Day is a celebration of the decades of hard work American laborers put forth to make the United States an economic powerhouse. Hopefully you get to enjoy a paid holiday thanks to all that manual labor, and what better way to spend your holiday than listening to a new episode of the Addicted to Fitness podcast. NOW THAT’S A SEGUE!

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We kick off this week’s episode talking about the recent weather event we had to deal with. Hurricane Hermine screwed with several ETT personal training sessions, but luckily we were able to complete most of them without incident. We also discussed my new favorite Peloton cycle instructor Jessica King (pictured above) and get into a pair of nauseating smoothie stories. The smoothie stories are especially troubling because one deals with people catching Hepatitis A from contaminated fruit sold at a national smoothie chain. We go into more detail in the episode but if you’re looking for more information about this story check out this news article from the CDC.

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Last but certainly not least, everyone’s favorite nutritional trivia game makes it’s long awaited return to the podcast. That’s right! The Macros Game is back, and we’ve got a special Labor Day edition for you. Shannon quizzes me on the macronutrient content of several Labor Day cookout staples. Make sure you play along at home and send us your scores. In addition to your scores, we would really appreciate you all giving us a rating and/or review on iTunes. Help us spread the good word of fitness and share the podcast with anyone and everyone. We appreciate the support and stay healthy this week peeps!

Links to this week’s podcast

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-return-of-the-macros-game/id1121420986?i=1000374926964&mt=2

Android: http://subscribeonandroid.com/addictedtofitness.libsyn.com/rss

Website: http://addictedtofitness.libsyn.com/the-return-of-the-macros-game

 

Bone Broth, Plant Protein & Meal Prep

Guess who’s back, back again. Shannon’s back, tell a friend.

Sorry about that blatant and tacky rip off of the great Marshall Mathers, I’m just excited about Shannon’s return to the Addicted to Fitness podcast. She returns just in time to help me review a pair of beef related food products. I try a cup of beef bone broth, procured from Growing Rootz (a Tampa natural & organic food purveyor), while Shannon sips on a fruit and veggie smoothie containing Great Lakes beef collagen protein powder. We analyze the nutritional benefits of both products and let you know whether or not they’d be a good addition to your daily diet. After talking a whole lot of bull (get it), we go to the other end of the spectrum and discuss our favorite plant based protein sources. In addition to our preferred plant proteins, we list off a ton of favs given to us by listeners on Facebook and Twitter. Last but not least, we dive into our weekly ritual of meal prep. Shannon describes what we do every Sunday to help us maintain our nutritious diet day in and day out and we recommend a company that will help eliminate some of the burden of meal planning & grocery shopping.

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I’m happy to report that after only two episodes this month, we have already surpassed the download numbers for June and July. That means you’re listening and more importantly you’re sharing the podcast. You can’t imagine how much that means to us. We deeply appreciate your support. If you haven’t done so already, please leave us a rating and/or review on your preferred podcast app (an iTunes rating/review would be especially awesome). Thanks again and stay healthy this week peeps!

Links to this week’s podcast

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/bone-broth-plant-protein-meal/id1121420986?i=1000374410575&mt=2

Android: http://subscribeonandroid.com/addictedtofitness.libsyn.com/rss

Website: http://addictedtofitness.libsyn.com/bone-broth-plant-protein-meal-prep

From the Vault: Obesity is Beneficial to your Health?!

Not only is Shannon still recovering from her persistent cold but I’m smart enough not to make her podcast on her birthday, which was yesterday. Even though I gave her another week off I didn’t want to rob you all of her soothing voice, which is why I reached back into the ETT Wrap Show vault and pulled out Shannon’s podcast debut for this week’s episode. In addition to Shannon’s lovely voice, you’ll hear us discuss my personal weight loss story, mauy thai with Duane “Bang” Ludwig and a ridiculous news article that explains the “benefits” of being obese.

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I’m truly grateful for all the great feedback we’ve been receiving about the Addicted to Fitness podcast. We have a ton of great podcast topics in the hopper, but we’d still love to have your input on what we should address on a future episode. Also, we still need a few more reviews to get rated on iTunes so do us a solid and give us a review and when you share this episode, tell your friend to do the same. Thanks peeps!

Links to this week’s podcast

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/from-vault-obesity-is-beneficial/id1121420986?i=1000374139966&mt=2

Android: http://subscribeonandroid.com/addictedtofitness.libsyn.com/rss

Website: http://addictedtofitness.libsyn.com

Peloton Cycle Review

The day has come. I didn’t think it was going to happen this early in the history of the Addicted to Fitness podcast, but it has. I’m referring to the first episode where I have to fly solo because Shannon has come down with a nasty cold. While Shannon recovers, I perform a live product review of our newest piece of exercise equipment, the peloton cycle. We’ve mentioned peloton on the past few episodes, but if you aren’t familiar with them, check out their promo video below.

I huff and puff my way through all the options the peloton cycle has to offer. Scenic rides, live spin classes, on-demand videos featuring DJs and exercise videos you can do off the bike. The big 20″ touchscreen display allows for easy user interface, and you can even chat with other peloton users. I won’t lie to you, the financial investment for the bike is substantial, but when it comes improving our fitness, I believe it’s money well spent.

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Reviewing fitness products is something I’d like to incorporate more into the podcast. If you have a product you’d like us to review, leave it in the comment section below. While you’re at it, please leave us a rating or review and share the Addicted to Fitness podcast with a friend. Thanks peeps!

Links to this week’s podcast

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/peloton-cycle-review/id1121420986?i=1000373856778&mt=2

Android: http://subscribeonandroid.com/addictedtofitness.libsyn.com/rss

Website: http://addictedtofitness.libsyn.com