podcast

An Interview with the Lean Green DAD, Cory Warren

Thirteen hours a week. That’s the minimum amount of training time needed to prepare for an ironman triathlon. I learned that during my interview with the Lean Green DAD, Cory Warren. Cory was training for triathlons when he discovered that a plant based diet helped him recover faster and helped his wife manage her auto-immune disease. Since that point, he and his family have been advocates for the plant based lifestyle. Whether it be in his blog, YouTube videos, or on his podcast, Cory promotes the benefits of incorporating more plants into your diet. During our interview, Cory and I discussed supplements that are necessary on a vegan diet, how to motivate your kids to eat more veggies and an app he’s developing that will change the way you shop for groceries. Cory is dedicated to helping people and I feel privileged to have him on the Addicted to Fitness podcast.

In addition to our interview with the Lean Green DAD, Shannon and I discuss a pair of upcoming ETT events on this week’s episode. First on November 12th, ETT member Carmin will be competing in the main event of the Mike Calta Punchout. Even though this event is more entertainment than sport, Carmin has been training like a real fighter, which is why I believe her fight will easily be the fight of the night. The next ETT event Shannon and I discuss this week is the next ETT group workout on the 19th of November. Once again, if you live in the Tampa Bay Area, come join us for this free workout. All workout participants receive a 15% discount at one of Tampa’s best coffee shops, Spaddy’s Coffee.

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Earlier this week, I noticed that we had surpassed the 2000 download mark. I never thought anyone would even listen to this podcast, let alone it be downloaded over 2000 times! Thanks so much for your continued support. You all keep listening and we’ll keep putting out fun and engaging health & fitness news on a weekly basis. If you haven’t done so already, please rate, review and share the podcast. Thanks for the continued support and stay healthy this week peeps!

Links for this week’s episode

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/interview-lean-green-dad-cory/id1121420986?i=1000377569626&mt=2

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

Website: http://addictedtofitness.libsyn.com/an-interview-with-the-lean-green-dad-cory-warren

Getting Our Swerve On

This week’s Addicted to Fitness starts of with a recap of a recent trip back to my old kickboxing gym, Amir’s Academy. As soon as I walked through the doors at Amir’s, “Glory Days” by the Boss starting playing in my head. I owe a lot to Master Amir and his school and I knew he and his fighters would be the perfect people to help ETT client Carmin prepare for her upcoming celebrity boxing event. Master Amir put Carmin and I through 30 minutes of conditioning/cardio followed by several rounds of sparring. I was super proud of how Carmin performed in the ring. She sparred a very experienced martial artist for 3 rounds and did a fantastic job. After she finished, I knew that she was prepared for her match on November 12th at the Mike Calta Punchout 2. Shannon followed my week in training recap with her own (6 workouts in a row including an aerial yoga session) then we transition to a detailed examination of a natural sweetener called Swerve.

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Swerve is composed primarily of a sugar alcohol called erythritol. Erythritol is created when glucose ferments with the fungus Moniliella pollinis. According to the Swerve website, their product has zero calories, does not raise your blood sugar or create an insulin response. Preliminary experiments support their claims, but further studies are needed to determine if this is the zero negative impact sweetener we’ve all been waiting for. Even though it doesn’t create the same metabolic response as regular sugar, it’s taste may perpetuate the current sugar addiction we are currently seeing in this country. Shannon has used it in a few baked goods she’s made recently and I can attest that it taste just like sugar, which makes me believe that it’s zero health impacts are too good to be true. Our Swerve debate was not the only somewhat controversial topic we discussed on this week’s episode.

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Image courtesy of the Swerve website

Netflix recently added one of my favorite shows to their ever increasing repertoire of programming. Meateater can be described as a hunting show, but it is more a show about exploration and discovering what you’ll go through to obtain sustenance. Growing up on a farm, obtaining my own food, whether it be through hunting, fishing or farming, was an integral part of everyday life. Don’t get me wrong, we still went to the grocery store, but wild game was a staple of our diet. That’s why I wanted to have the conversation about wild game and how it’s obtained with Shannon. I’ve learned through the numerous years we’ve been together that Shannon is not a fan of the smell or taste of wild game (not including wild caught seafood). I describe the nutritional benefits of wild game, hunters contribution to wildlife conservation and the effect hunting has on your mindset. I know the topic of hunting can invoke a wide arrange of feelings in people, and I encourage you to leave your thoughts for or against it in the comment section below.

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My uncle preparing venison sausage

If you have a comment about hunting, or any topic we bring up on the podcast, feel free to leave them below or reach out to us at elementaltampa@gmail.com. We love using your feedback to help make the podcast better. We’d also love it if you’d give us a rating and review on iTunes. We truly appreciate all the support you all give us. It really motivates us to put out the best podcast we can on a weekly basis. Keep listening, keep sharing and stay healthy this week peeps!

Links to this week’s episode

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/getting-our-swerve-on/id1121420986?i=1000377317236&mt=2

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

Website: http://addictedtofitness.libsyn.com/getting-our-swerve-on

 

 

Body Types, Skinny Fat and the drawbacks of the Body Mass Index (BMI)

Fresh off our trip up to New England, Shannon and I kick off this week’s Addicted to Fitness podcast reminiscing about how good, and how bad we were in regards to what we ate. Shannon discovered, with the help of the Lose It! app, that the most egregious diet perpetrators were the adult beverages and dessert. In other words, SUGAR! Even though we strayed a little from our normal low-carb diet, we weren’t the only ones concerned about “cheating” on our diets. We discovered that a couple of close friends had recently joined Weight Watchers and I’m happy to say have had some awesome results. I know that in the past we’ve voiced our concerns about the long-term success rates of “calorie counting” diets, but I do believe they can make people more cognizant of the effect certain foods have on their bodies. Their weight loss and the way they were discussing food choices made me believe they were on the road to healthy eating.

 

After our trip down recent memory lane, Shannon and I jump into a discussion about the 3 different body types. According to a article adapted from the book ROAR by Stacy T. Sims, PhD, the three general body types are ectomorph, mesomorph and endomorph. Each body type has different symmetry, ability to gain/lose fat or muscle, exercise preferences and nutrition requirements. According to the article, Shannon and I identify with a lot of the mesomorph qualities but we also possess attributes from the other categories. Check out this article and let us know which body types you most identify with. It may help you determine which nutrition and exercise plan will optimize your health.

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Image courtesy of robinshea.com

One of the seemingly antiquated methods to determine overall health is the Body Mass Index (BMI). A simple ratio of weight and height has been used for nearly 200 years to determine whether a person is underweight, normal weight, overweight or obese. Shannon and I discuss the pitfalls of BMI, including some troubling statistics brought to light in a recent New York Times article. The article breaks down a survey of over 5,000 people in which nearly 1 out of 5 participants were misidentified as being at a healthy or unhealthy weight. One segment of the population that is misdiagnosed are those with weight that is normal according to BMI, but their body fat % is higher than recommended. This phenomenon is known as “Skinny Fat” and Shannon and I describe why this may be more dangerous than being obese.

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Image courtesy of nytimes.com

Week in and week out, we try our very best to give you the most up to date health & fitness information. Whether it be about healthy foods, new exercise equipment or the latest wellness book, our goal is to provide information that will ultimately improve your quality of life. We already have our next interview with a health & fitness professional lined up, and we’re planning a couple cool on-location podcasts for the near future. Our weekly downloads continue to climb which tells us that you enjoy what you hear and you’re sharing the podcast. Keep on sharing and please, please, please give us a rating and review on iTunes. Thanks again and stay healthy this week peeps!

Links to this week’s episode

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/addicted-to-fitness-podcast/id1121420986?mt=2#episodeGuid=4b15b6c3cd7a94b904e0ace4e33cdb5e

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

Website: http://addictedtofitness.libsyn.com/body-types-skinny-fat-and-the-drawbacks-of-the-body-mass-index-bmi

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

From the Vault: An Interview with Author L.A. Jennings, PhD

This week’s Addicted to Fitness podcast features a great interview I did a few months ago with a fitness & health professional who happens to be a very close friend of Shannon and I. Dr. L.A. Jennings received her PhD in literary studies from the University of Denver in 2013 and has contributed numerous articles to Fightland, a section on vice.com dedicated to combat sports. She is also the author of She’s A Knockout! A History of Women in Fighting Sports which MMA journalist Jack Slack called “The most complete history of women in the fight game that you will find.” In addition to being a fantastic author, L.A. owns a MMA gym called Train. Fight. Win. in Denver, Colorado with her husband Mike. TFW is where I first meant L.A. and I’m proud to say we’ve been good friends every since.

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L.A. and I doing some mittwork

In this episode, L.A. and I discuss her book, past and present female fighters and how the image of women in the ring and in the gym has evolved. We also talk about the effect current UFC fighter Cris Cyborg (who is headlining the upcoming UFC card in Brazil) is having on the expansion of the women’s division in the UFC. After hearing this interview, you may be surprised by the role women have played in combat sports throughout history. I know I was.

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Pic created with image courtesy of LiquidSteelPhotogs

Do yourself a favor and check out all of Dr. LA’s literary pieces (links above) and if you’re in Denver, stop by Train. Fight. Win. for an awesome MMA/fitness class. Interviewing professionals like LA is one of the main reasons I started this podcast. I’m currently lining up our next interview, so stay tuned for that. In the meantime, we’re still looking for 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 in advance and stay healthy this week peeps!

Links to this week’s podcast

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/from-vault-interview-author/id1121420986?i=1000375468392&mt=2

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

Website: http://addictedtofitness.libsyn.com/from-the-vault-an-interview-with-author-la-jennings-phd

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