Here is a quick update on my dieting…

My top trainer Sara Gray just returned from a one month stint with the ARMY…Hoorah!!

That set back my program back a little bit. I started at 190lb. and am down to 182lb.

Here are some things that are helping me to break my plateau, I have picked up the cardio again, 2-3 times a week on the elliptical shooting for 500 calories and at least one run a week (usually 5K).

I am back to 3 times a week at my martial arts school, but have not been lifting weights just calisthenics.

I have also added two supplements recommended by Dr. Oz, Raspberry Keytones and Triphala, they seem to be helping.

Then next update will have me at 175lb. or else!!

- Eric Toussaint

Here is a workout I put together the other day to practice my kicks. If you follow this blog you’ll know that I practice martial arts and I love kicks.

So here is the recipe:

Location – A gym or training facility that has an aerobics room with three Century Wave Bags (http://www.centurymartialarts.com/Training_Bags/Wavemaster/Original_Wavemaster.aspx)
and a Competitor kicking shield (http://www.kungfu4less.com/competitor-kicking-target.html) with mirrors.

Take the kicking shield and mount it to the mirror at 12 o’clock, then take three Century wave bags and place them at 3 o’clock, 6 o’clock and 9 o’clock.

With the bags in position you can perform any number of kicks in multiple directions.

I like to use the kicking shield for hook kicks, spin kicks and precision work, while using the Wave Bags for side kicks, round house kicks and push kicks.

See if you can throw 1000 kicks in 1-3 min. bursts. If you can make it to 5 min., I’ll tip my hat.

Have fun!!

If you have been following my blog you’ll know that I am trying to lose 15lb. So here is a quick progress report. I am down about 8lb. but gave in and had some pizza last night so I may be back up a pound. That brings my current weight to about 181lb. down from 190lb.

I am sticking to my two a day workouts. Usually the first workout is cardio (either elliptical or running). The second is a martial arts workout. I have also increased my stretching, this doesn’t burn too many calories but is helping with my recovery.

I am actually taking today off (3/16/13), because I think I may be overtraining. I have been a little listless and have had trouble sleeping. I will stretch at some point today and maybe take a walk to get outside for a bit.

My diet has stayed the same as well, the Isagenix approach with a Paleo diet twist. I think come Monday I may start a full eleven day Isagenix cleanse and try to drop at least another five pounds. I will have to modify slightly to keep up my workouts.

I’ll check in again and let you know how it’s going.

The other day I got on the scale and weighed 190lb., that is the heaviest I have ever been. Much of this is due to my increased lifting in the winter. My strength gains have been excellent, I got to a point where I was benching 225lb. for reps and my leg press was up to about 1000lb.

The downside was that I started to notice a lack in stamina due to less cardio and that I was moving more slowly in my martial arts classes.

Upon this realization I decided I needed to trim down ASAP, especially since I am thinking about getting back into sparring where of course I will need to be as fast and quick a possible and just as light on my feet.

My goal is to get to 175lb., I have always very felt comfortable at this weight when running road races and doing triathlons. Likewise I feel best at this weight when doing martial arts.

So now the question is “How to go about it?” Of late we have been using Isagnix nutritional products with our clients, so that was my first go to. I decided to combine this approach with a paleo diet twist.

For breakfast I have an Isagenix shake, for meals two and four I will have half and Isalean bar. Lunch is all paleo, roasted turkey breast and baby carrots. For dinner I will have some type of lean meat or fish and a dark leafy green.

As far as exercise, I have cut out all weightlifting and have switched to just calisthenics. I try do some cardio everyday, either running or elliptical always shooting for at least 500 calories and I have upped my martial arts training to 5 days a week.

So far I have lost 9lb. in two weeks and am going strong, I will let you know when I get to 175lb.

I am someone who is mostly capable of self motivating but I find myself working much harder when I’m training for something in specific. In the past year or so my training has focused on two tough mudders and now a half marathon. When I have something I am training for I am much more focused on getting in the right workouts and not just coasting through something.

The tough mudder training combined a decent amount of running with lots of strength training. My workouts were often a circuit of 3-5 exercises such as push ups, pull ups, and squats. These were fairly intense workouts and I did 2-3 times per week. Overall I fairly pleased with how my training prepared me for the race. The one aspect I would add in the future would be trail runs.

Currently I am training for the Nike Women’s Half Marathon. The great thing about training for a half is that there are so many different training plans available. I found one online that I have been very happy with; 4 days of running and one day of cross training per week. I’m starting week 5 today and so far so good. My one critique to the program is that it does not include any strength training which should be included even on a half marathon plan.

Happy training!

What does it mean to be in shape, it means being able to look good.

What does it mean to be fit? It is a measure of your actual fitness, not how good you look. Can a bodybuilder run 10 kilometers? Can a model who has starved herself for days for a shoot do the same? Probably not but some would say that they are in good shape.

At JETT Training are measure of fitness is functionally strength.

Functional training is a classification of exercise which involves training the body for the activities performed in daily life.

The functional aspect of training is the primary focus of JETT Training – demonstrate the two Turkish get-ups

How many things can you see in your real life within these two movements?

Get answers from the crowd…

Simple things like getting up and down off the ground, sometimes with something in both hands…like a baby.

Being able to kneel, to stand, to reach for something, to handle weight over your head, take things on and off of a shelf or in short being able to handle your ADLs (Activities of Daily Living).

This functional aspect of Training is always the first goal of JETT and this is achieved in a few ways.

As mentioned we use Functional Training exercises
We also give all of our clients a Functional Movement Screen that is designed to identify possible asymmetries, which of course ensure better functionality and a reduction of possible injuries.
We must not forget that cardio vascular health can be functional as well, because if you don’t have it…well you can’t really function very well. That being said we have a strong focus on cardio vascular health as well. We provide programs for our clients, I am opposed to charging people to hold their hands while on the treadmill.
The last component of course is diet. If you are obese, then you can throw functional out the window. I have struggled with the best approach to this most important issue over the years. We now use a nutritional line of products called Isagenix and have espoused their approach and it is working well for our clients.

Put all these things together and you and everyone you know can be fit and eventually in “shape”.

That being said who is a candidate…very easy everyone because we all need it.

More specifically who do I want (I’m very selective).

I like daytime availability!! That means:

I like stay at home Mom’s
I like those business owners that have control of their schedules
I like people that want to be fit
I like people that want to be functional

I am an easy sell, just listen for people while you have your business lunches…are they complaining about what they are eating and how it will effect there waist line

I’m all about weaving things into conversation…listen for these things

Listen for people who you are talking to about their New Year’s resolutions

Listen for people complaining about an injury…we specialize in post-rehab work

Listen for those who may be or soon to be pregnant…I have a pre/post natal certification

Listen for anyone who wants to “Look and Feel Better”