Showing posts with label less body fat. Show all posts
Showing posts with label less body fat. Show all posts

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Fat Burning Tips 10 Keys To Fat Loss

10 Things You Can Do To Lose Fat Without Even Trying

1. Eat smaller more frequent meals - not only is your metabolism
boosted every time you eat something, your body can more
efficiently process smaller meals. Instead of having 3 large
meals in a day, try to break them up into 5 or 6 smaller meals.
You can even make the same things - just save half and eat it a
bit later.

2. Drink more water - regular water intake helps to flush away
waste products and keeps you hydrated, which is critical for fat
loss.

3. Be inefficient - do you need to go to the kitchen to get a
couple of things? Break it up into to two trips even if you can
do it in one. Being inefficient like this can easily double your
activity level, burning calories without even trying.

4. Eat more protein - sources of protein include foods such as
chicken, fish, eggs, dairy, beans, lean red meats, etc. Your body
burns more calories processing protein than either carbohydrates
or fats. Protein also helps to support your muscle tissue, which
burns calories all day long!

5. Take the stairs instead of the elevator - any time you can
add in a little more physical activity, do it. This doesn't mean
you need to slog up 20 flights of stairs. Even a flight or two
done regularly will add up.

6. Don't let yourself get really hungry - when you get extremely
hungry you will have a much greater tendency to overeat when you
do finally get something to eat. As well, because your body is
starting to go into starvation mode, it will be much more likely
to hold onto whatever you give it.

7. Order small portions at restaurants - it's tough to order
small french fries when "supersizing" your order is such a great
"value." Take note, however, your real savings will occur in the
calories that don't end up on your backside. You can also
immediately request a container and put half your meal into it
right away.

8. Eat more fiber - fiber is very filling. By eating more fiber
you will find yourself full sooner. This feeling of fullness will
last a long time as well.

9. Wait 20 minutes between servings - your brain takes at least
20 minutes to register that you're full. By waiting that long,
you'll give your brain a chance to realize that you probably
don't really need any more food.

10. "Cheat" on your diet - one thing I always make my clients
promise is that they will cheat on their diet. The only thing I
ask that they do is to cheat ONLY when they have planned to cheat
(you can also call it a "free meal" if cheating doesn't sit well
with you). By planning when you are going to eat the foods you
crave, you take back control of your eating habits. It's very
empowering!

This way you no longer "give in" to your cravings. You "reward
yourself" for sticking to proper nutritional habits. Do this once
or twice a week and you will feel far more in control of your
eating.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

4 Useless Exercises You Probably Do


4 Common But Useless Fattburning Exercises



You may be wasting your time in the gym or at home if you are trying to shape your body or get rid of bodyfat.

Most people are. That is when it comes to exercise for getting rid of bellyfat and getting into better shape.

I was in the gym today (nothing new... ; ) and I saw all 4 of these exercises being performed by various gym members (again... nothing new.)

And they are useless for 99% of the people on the planet.

Here they are...

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USELESS EXERCISE 1: Walking Dumbbell Lunges

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Okay ladies, this one is for you... although I see guys do this exercise as well.

This is where you take a pair of dumbbells and kneel with one leg, then the other, and so-on, walking around the gym as you go.

The idea behind this exercise is to work the butt, and to some extent the thighs... but it's a joke. It's something invented by trainers who should know better.

If you want to build and tone your butt, exercise one leg at a time. Lunges are a great exercise for this, but save your energy. Do them on a Smith Machine or with a barbell. Work one leg at a time, too. Do not alternate legs. This just wears you out aerobically before it has a chance to get to your glutes.

Here's how I perform lunges: On a Smith Machine, with pretty heavy weights... one leg at a time. I will do 2-3 sets, or do them in my 7 Minute Body-style workout fashion. I will finish one leg (and one butt cheek) before moving to the other leg.

Why? Again, to focus on the muscle more intensely and to avoid turning a leg/butt workout into a cardio session.

Jon Benson covers exactly how to work the butt area for the best results in 7 Minute Body and 7 Minute Muscle, found right here:

click.here ----- > 7 Minute Muscle

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USELESS EXERCISE 2: The Sit-up

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I'm shocked that people still think sit-ups done the old-fashioned way actually work the abs. Even worse, most people have been fooled into believing this actually helps get rid of bellyfat.

Nonsense. Bellyfat is burned off when you have a good nutrition plan and through general exercise, not using exercises for the abs. Ab exercises are fine, but guess what?

I never train my abs more than 3-5 minutes. Today my ab workout took 3 minutes and 12 seconds to complete. And my abs are sore!

But without the nutrition plan, forget it... I'd never SEE my abs at all. I'd just have a nice wall of muscle with a bunch of flab covering it up.

The best nutrition plan for abs is The Every Other Day Dietplan, found here:

click.here ----- > The Every Other Day Diet

The best exercises to do for the actual ab muscles are hanging leg raises, done slowly, crunches (if you do them right)... and that's really all you need.

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USELESS EXERCISE 3: The Bench Press

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I'm going to get a lot of flack from the guys out there who love to bench, but I'm here to tell you that this exercise for bodyshaping is all but worthless.

Why? Because most people are not built right body-wise to bench press on a flat bench with a barbell. I am not, that's for sure.

Bench presses work if you have short arms, a relatively short torso, and your shoulders are genetically strong.

Protect your shoulders and really work your chest by doing incline dumbbell presses with your palms facing OUT, not in toward your head. This protects the rotator cuff, a part of the shoulder that is often injured using barbell bench presses.

Combine this with a good cable fly or press movement and you're set. Again, you only need about 7-14 minutes of chest work tops to get the job done.

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USELESS EXERCISE 4: Most Cardio Exercises

----------------------------------------------------------------------|

Yep... saved the best for last.

Here's a fact: Most cardio (bike, treadmill, glider, whatever) is a waste to time... UNLESS you do it at the right time with the right nutrition plan.

The calories you burn from cardio will be easily negated simply by eating a bagel! Hardly effective for getting rid of bodyfat. Weight training and/or resistance training at home or with your body weight, as covered in 7 Minute Muscle, is your best bet for exercise that burns-off mega-calories and keeps on burning long after the exercise session is over.

Here's how to use traditional cardio wisely:

1. Do it first thing in the morning on an empty stomach;
2. Keep your heart rate down to 75% of your max (220 minus your age x .75 will give you this number, at least approximately);
3. "Burst" for 2-3 minutes in your session up to 85-90% of your max heart rate.
4. OR, do cardio right after weight or resistance training when your heart rate is already elevated and your blood sugar is lower. Your body burns blood sugar first during exercise.

Cardio for most people only needs to be performed 3-4 times a week for 20 minutes. The only time I break this rule is when I want to get my bodyfat below 10%. Then I will do more, but only using the rules above.

Hope this saves you a ton of time with your workouts.

Enjoy your holidays!

Joseph

P.S. You can get both books, The Every Other Day Dietplan and 7 Minute Body, for a big-time discount by going here and watching this presentation:

click.here ----- > The Every Other Day Diet


Jag252

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Fat Loss Rebellion: 3 Rebel Fat Loss Tips

Fitness author Jon Benson shared this letter with me and gave me permission to share it with you. ]

You know what?

I like "weird."

I've always been a bit on the fringe side of the fence if you know what I mean.

A bit of a rebel.

So were guys like Einstein, Mozart, and Picasso. Not that I'm putting myself into their category of genius by any stretch... but I love their approach to life.

BE BOLD...OR GO HOME.

Makes sense to me. This life it too darn short for anything less than being bold.

That means taking some risks here and there. That means taking action while the others are content to sit on the couch being the same person they were yesterday.

And the day before...

And the month before...

And the year before.

Do you want to live your years like that? Or do you want to dive into life? Be the greatest "you" possible?

Then be a bit of a rebel.

Here's some "rebel tips" for fatloss I think you'll enjoy...

REBEL TIP 1
Flip The Food Pyramid Upside-down

The USDA's Food Pyramid is an utter joke. It's origins stink up the joint, let me tell you.

First, the grain industry was in a pinch when the Food Pyramid was created. And wouldn't you know it... the grain industry increased their "contributions" (read: bribes) to certain politicians to get placement atop the pyramid... or in this case at the very bottom. The "foundation" if you will.

Just think about this for a moment:

The USDA wants you to eat (gasp) MORE starch than vegetables? More bread than fruits, lean meats, and hormone-producing fats?

Are they NUTS??

Yes... they are nuts. (Which, by the way, are no where near the foundation... nuts, that is.)

You'd be better off flipping the sucker upside-down.

That would look like this:

40% of your cals from healthy fats 30% of your cals from protein 30% of your cals from carbs

Roughly, that is.

Sounds... rebellious, right? Well it is.

Too bad I have the science (and the abs) to back it up.

If you want a system laid out for you, then go here:

Check Out The Fat Loss Rebellion<-- click.

REBEL TIP 2
Cardio Is Not Smart-ee-o

At least the way the so-called "experts" want you to do it.

Look: This isn't rocket science. Just walk into any gym...take a look at the folks who only do cardio work for 45-60 minutes every day.

Do they look any different from year to year?

Let me save you some time: NO. They do not.

Cardio (unless you are into endurance sports) is a waste of energy done this way. First, it increases your carbohydrate cravings. For most people that's not a good thing. Why? Because cardio at this pace burns mostly SUGAR, not bodyfat.

What do you want to burn?

Exactly. Bodyfat.

Finally, cardio is no where near as efficient as resistance training at dissolving bodyfat... and certainly not even CLOSE to resistance training when it comes to shaping lean muscle and getting the look all these cardio bunnies are after.

Now, I 'do' have a rebel cardio trick... and it takes 9-15 minutes 2-3 times a week to perform.

That's it. And you get ALL the benefits heart-wise of long-session cardio.

Combine that with some brisk walking and my overall fitness plan and presto: No more bodyfat.

Here's what is cool: I put my new in-home version of this resistance-based workout online for a few days at a major discount... but it's only for people who pick up this:

The Fat Loss Rebellion<-- click.

This is completely illustrated with photos too... and you do not need anything but resistance bands and perhaps some cheap dumbbells to do this in-home. Or you can use the gym-based workouts (included with videos.)

Train like this just 3-5 days a week and you can kiss long, boring cardio goodbye.

REBEL TIP 3
Do Not Overwork Your Abs

Here's a mistake I see most people make in the gym: They do endless sets of crunches, leg raises, and (gasp again) sit-ups... all geared toward seeing those toned abs they want.

Guess what?

Waste of time.

In fact, it's worse than that... it can literally shut down your recovery ability. You'll slow your progress in the gym (or at home)... and your fat-burning too.

And you may give up your plan entirely because of it.

Here's the brutal truth: Ab 'muscles' are easy to build. It only takes about 3 minutes 2-3 times a week... that's it.

( Note: I included my "3 Minute Abs" in the fitness book I just told you about... it's only for those who get EODD though... )

The muscles are not what make your stomach flatter... it's the nutrition plan folks.

You're just building muscle underneath layers of bodyfat... not good.

I do very little direct ab training. When I do it's usually 3-5 minutes tops 2 days a week. And my abs are... well... good. : )

I rely on resistance training and my special "favorite foods dietplan" to get and stay lean.

More about it all here:

Fat Loss Rebellion<-- click.

So be a rebel.

Thumb your nose at the establishment and step out on your own.

Trust me: You'll be a leader in every sense of the word if you do.

Fat Loss Rebellion<-- click.

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Get A Flat Stomach With Kettlebell Exercises

Get A Flat Stomach With Kettlebell Exercises


For years fitness “experts” have been telling us to do endless crunches and sit ups to get a flat stomach.

Combine that with the latest low fat diet and hours upon hours of slow boring cardio and - BANG! You Instantly get a flat stomach, right?

So then what is the answer to how to get a flat stomach then? Kettlebell Exercises!

It’s amazing how, if you say something over and over and over again, people - even the most well-informed and educated people - will believe it as the truth.

But as Turbulence Training Kettlebell Revolutionists we know better, right?

So when I get asked, almost on a daily basis, how to lose body fat and get a flat stomach, my answer seems to confuse the “general population”…

1. Perform full-body exercises.

2. Train your abs the way they were meant to be trained (by forcing them to stabilize your torso, not move it or rotate it).

3. Use some form of interval training instead of long boring cardio.

AND THE MOST IMPORTANT RULE OF ALL…

4. Eat REAL, clean food focusing on fruits & vegetables, lean protein and healthy fats limiting grains and refined carbs to a minimum.

That about sums it up in a nutshell and it doesn’t get any simpler than that.

When it comes to training with kettlebells, getting that flat stomach is easy if you follow the rules above.

And one of the best kettlebell exercises to get that flat stomach is the Turkish Get-Up or TGU.

Simply put, TGUs involve you laying on the ground holding a Kettlebell vertical with one arm and then performing a series of movements to get you standing upright.

It sounds simple enough, but rest assured, if you use a heavy enough kettlebell and use proper technique, it’s as hard a kettlebell exercise as they come. And it will challenge you like no other Kettlebell exercise out there.

There are 2 variations on how to perform the TGU. Take a look at the video below and see which variation suits your abilities best.


Remember, we train with kettlebells to simplify our lives and to give us an alternative to going to the gym and wasting the precious time it takes for us to drive, park, change, etc, etc. Time that can be spent doing more meaningful and impactful things - like spending time with our families & friends.

The truth about kettlebell training to get 6 pack abs and a low % body fat is that our results aren’t so much dependant on what we do IN THE GYM, but what we do the other 23.5 hours in the day.

Are we getting enough sleep?

Are we able to handle our stress levels? (Notice how I said, “handle” and not “eliminate” stress. Fact is that stress is a part of life and it’s next to impossible to completely eliminate stress. Learning how to properly handle stress is more realistic.)

Are we eating whole, natural foods?

Don’t get me wrong, exercise plays a vital role in getting lean. After all, it’s still just a matter or calories in vs. calories out - of EAT LESS, MOVE MORE.

But if you’re using Kettlebell exercises and training at least 3 times per week, then, from an exercise standpoint, you’re on the right track to get that flat stomach.

I would liketo thank Chris Lopez of the Turbulence Training Kettlebell Revolution for this article on how the TGU and kettlebell exercises can help us get a flat stomach and lose that extra body fat.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Strength Conditioning And Health Fat Burning With Trans Fat?




We all know that trans fats are horrible for your health right? But what if I told you that there is a specific type of trans fat that's natural (not man-made) and actually helps you to lose fat faster and build lean muscle?

Well, check out the excerpt from my new program that I co-authored called "The Fat Burning Kitchen" below:

"...Not many people know this fact, but CLA is actually a natural form of trans fat, but it is FAR different than the artificial trans fats from hydrogenated oils that are so deadly and that you hear all of the negative information about. CLA is actually one of the only healthy trans fats in existence.

CLA is a natural form of healthy trans fat that occurs in the fat on the meat, and in the dairy from ruminant animals such as cattle, bison, deer, goats, sheep, kangaroo, etc. CLA in natural form has been shown to help in burning off abdominal fat and also maintaining or even building lean muscle.

Warning: do NOT use CLA supplements as they contain an artificially created form of CLA that is a different CLA isomer compared to the natural CLA isomer that's found in meats and dairy from ruminant animals. The CLA isomer found in CLA supplements can have negative effects in the body and is more similar to an artificial trans fat. The only form of CLA is that going to benefit your health and help you to reduce body fat is the natural CLA isomers from grass-fed beef, bison, venison, etc or from grass-fed raw milk or cheeses.

Also, grass-fed meats and dairy contain 3-5x the CLA of grain fed meats, so avoid your typical grain-fed grocery store meats.

So that is the reason why I focused more on red meats such as grass-fed beef and bison during this 23-day cutting cycle instead of chicken, turkey, or fish -- because the extra CLA can really help in accelerating fat loss and preserving lean muscle..."


There you have it... there actually IS such a thing as a healthy trans fat... bet you didn't know that!

This was an excerpt from my brand new program I just co-authored with an extremely knowledgeable nutrition expert named Catherine Ebeling.

The program is called "The Fat Burning Kitchen".

Because this is our launch week... you can grab the program for half price this week only. The price will double in a few days at the end of the week.

Also, I wanted to really knock your socks off with this program, so if you grab a copy this week, I even decided to throw in a special bonus section that gives you every single nitty gritty detail of how I just went from 10.2% bodyfat down to 6.9% bodyfat in only 23 days while I prepped for a photo shoot recently.

This is advanced stuff for when you might have an event such as a wedding or a beach vacation coming up and you need to knock off some significant bodyfat in only 3-4 weeks time frame. There's nothing unhealthy here... but these techniques are definitely "amped up" from the norm.

When I say nitty gritty details... I'm talking everything, including specific spices, teas, nutrients, exactly what I ate, carb/protein/fat ratios and how I manipulated timing of nutrients to accelerate fat loss.

Seriously, we did the body comp tests and I went from 10.2% BF to 6.9% BF in only 23 days. I'll be sharing the pics on my blog in a week or 2, when I get the finals back from the photographer.

You'll find out all of those details of how I did this in the bonus chapter if you grab a copy this week.

check it out:

The Fat Burning Kitchen


Get your copy today so you don't miss out on the half price special.

Also I have posted from The Fat Burning Kitchen here 2 Fat Loss recipes

Talk soon, Jag252

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Train Like An Athlete To Lose Belly Fat


Train Like An Athlete To Lose Belly Fat

If you want to lose belly fat this year, then you need to forget about long, slow cardio workouts and use a new way to burn fat. One of the best ways to lose belly fat is to start training like an athlete.

Here's the best way to do your fat burning athlete workouts to lose fat in a short amount of time - without a gym membership.

In 2009, you'll see more and more trainers and fitness magazines showing people how to exercise like a power athlete to burn fat (using methods like bodyweight exercises and interval training).

The emphasis will be on training to improve your performance, and by doing that you'll improve your physique. On the other hand, only "dinosaur trainers" will continue to rely on non-athletic, ineffective ways to burn fat and lose belly fat such as long, slow cardio.

However, there is a right way and a wrong way to train like an athlete for fat loss. It's sad to see poorly educated trainers having their clients jumping on concrete or doing athletic exercises in the wrong order that could lead to injury. When doing a "Fat Burning Athlete Workout", your program must follow a specific order.

You must start with a total body warm-up with bodyweight exercises, such as bodyweight squats, total body ab exercises, single-leg movements, and bodyweight pushing and pulling. You'll even use dynamic mobility exercises like high knees, butt kicks, and dynamic stretching to prepare your muscles for athletic fat loss.

Here is a Beginner Fat Loss Workout For You



Then the real workout begins with power exercises, such as sprints, jumping, or agility techniques. You might even use kettlebells or medicine balls in these short, burst power exercises. You'll do this after a thorough bodyweight preparation phase, but before you get tired from resistance training (and never do your power exercises after training if you want to improve your athletic performance).

After training to increase speed and athletic power, an athlete's fat loss program will move to resistance training to help build and sculpt muscle and add strength for even more power performance in the future.

But you won't spend a lot of time here, just the basics. This is not a bodybuilding, high-volume, isolation exercise type workout. This isn't the time or place for that. Your fat burning athlete's resistance exercises will be squats, presses, pulls, and single-leg movements.

You can use bodyweight, dumbbells, barbells, or kettlebells to get stronger and sculpt your muscles. Most workouts will consist of supersets and low to moderate reps, but you might do some high-rep strength-endurance work with bodyweight circuits to finish off.

By now, the athlete's fat loss workout is almost over, and you'll finish with short sessions of interval training to burn fat and improve sport-specific and real world fitness.

Research shows you can boost aerobic and sprint performance with intervals, and really, who ever jogs for 45 minutes in the real world? We need sprint fitness to climb three flights of stairs and carry groceries, instead. And that's what you get from resistance workouts and interval training.

There's one more thing you must know. You need to set a goal of hitting one personal best in every fat burning athlete workout you do. For example, if you did 2 chin-ups in your last workout, your goal should be to hit 3 chin-ups in your next workout. Or you might set a goal of doing an extra 5 seconds in the plank or side plank exercise, or running an extra 3 seconds in each interval at the same speed.

You can find hundreds of different "personal bests" to hit in your program, but just focus on achieving one personal best each workout. That's all you need to consistently ensure you'll be burning fat over time. Each time you improve your performance, you'll start burning fat and sculpting your muscle better than last workout.

Working out like an athlete will give you the best looking, and best performing body that you've ever had!

Craig Ballantyne is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist and writes for Men's Health and Oxygen magazines. His trademarked fat burning workouts have helped thousands of men and women with weight loss and fat burning in less than 45 minutes three times per week. Craig's weight loss workouts help you burn fat without long, slow cardio sessions or fancy equipment. Craig's bodyweight workouts help you lose fat without any equipment at all.


Train Like An Athlete To Lose Belly Fat

Friday, August 28, 2009

Get Your FREE Fat Loss Certification Course From Jon Benson


Subject: 2 FREE Fat Loss gifts to say thanks

Today I have not one, but two special gifts for you.

It's not very often that folks on the Internet say "thank you" to their readers. But that's what I want to do today...

.. to say "thanks for reading."

I know your time is valuable, and I appreciate lending some of it to me. I hope to continue to post and email on subjects you find interesting.

Here's a few "thank you" gifts for you.

Fitness pro Jon Benson recently sent this to me to give to you. I can give you freee of charge his 7-Day Personal Fat Loss Certification Course.

Don't let the words "Certification Course" get you too excited... Jon isn't handing out real diplomas! He just came up with a great idea: Each of us should become our OWN personal fatloss "expert". But in order to do that you need to discover how things really work. Jon separates the facts from the nonsense... and trust me, there's a heck of a lot of nonsense out there.

At the end of the course you get a freee copy of his in-demand book "The Radical Fatloss Blueprint." No cc-nums to enter either.. this is just straight-up freee gift for completing the course.

In that book you'll discover how to burn off up to 21lbs of unwanted bodyweight in just 21 days... safely and without losing muscle. In fact the hundreds of folks who have gone through the program have (all but two!) gained muscle over the 21 days.

It's utterly amazing... and you get the book and the course freee, as my gift to you.

Go here to register now:

FREE Fat Loss Certification Course

Enjoy the course, and thanks again for your readership.

P.S. I may want to add that Jon has to limit the number of people who go through the Course as he responds personally to almost every question you ask on the course Forum. So be sure to sign up freee today while it's fresh on your mind.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Strength Conditioning And Health: How Much Rest Between Sets

How Long To Rest Between Sets



[ Editor's Note: Fitness author Jon Benson shared this letter with me and gave me permission to share it with you. ]

A lot of my readers ask me how long to rest between sets while exercising.

The answer is: It depends on your goals.

If you are training to increase strength, I recommend resting a bit longer - up to two minutes for exercises like squats and heavy dumbbell work. But if you want to burn the most amount of bodyfat and gain lean muscle, I recommend resting for very short periods of time.

"The Iron Guru" Vince Gironda used to recommend leaving your hands on the bar between sets -- now THAT is short rest intervals! He would frequently rest only 15-20 seconds between sets.

This is similar to the strategy I use in 7 Minute Muscle -- very short rest intervals and very intense training. Smart, short, efficient. That's the way to go.

A good place to start is simply reducing your rest intervals by 10 seconds. No matter what workout you're using, decrease your rest by 10 seconds between sets. You may not be as strong on the last few sets (if you are training traditionally... if you use 7 Minute Muscle your rest is "built-in" and not an issue.) Over time you will work your way back up to the same amount of sets and reps but done in far less time.

This means more work output, which means more muscle if your nutrition is good.

This is the best way to train most of the time: Limited rest, intense sets, and short workouts.

They are the ones that produce results.

Go here for more information --

7 minute muscle <--- Short, effective workouts

Monday, August 17, 2009

Training With Weight vs Weight training


Training With Weights vs "Weight Training"



Just a word of warning:

I will be using the term "bodybuilder" or "bodybuilding" to refer to anyone who wants to build lean muscle and burn bodyfat in this article.

That means you.

Yep... you are a "bodybuilder." That does not mean you want to look like a monster on stage and pose in front of thousands of people wearing nothing but your undies.

That means you want more lean muscle and less bodyfat -- that's it.

With that in mind, here's something you have to know:

Bodybuilders do not "lift weights" -- we "train" with weights.

We use weights as a tool like a sculptor uses a hammer and chisel.

The object of the game is not to lift some heavy weight from Point A to Point B and back. That's weight lifting. "Bodybuilding" is about making the muscle you want to change do all the work.

Here's two ways to do it:

1. Lower the weight and focus: Most people are just concerned with the lift itself. "Get this weight off of me!" seems to be the unconscious mantra. This will not get the job done. In fact you may end up looking bulky rather than sleek... or just not change at all. Instead, lower the weight slightly, slow the pace down (especially on the descent of the movement) and picture the muscle in your mind doing ALL of the work. Literally put your mind in the muscle. You will be amazed at how different the same exercise feels with this degree of concentration,.

2. Contract, hold, release: At the top of any movement, contract the muscle hard. Hold that contraction for a second or two, then release it and lower the weight slowly. This will not only cause faster muscle growth (that is a good thing) but also demand that you use less weight to get the job done. This means your joints -- shoulders, knees, elbows -- will last a lifetime. At 45 my joints are in perfect health. Protect yours at all costs.

Just remember: You are not just lifting weights when you train for muscle shape and "tone" -- you are a sculptor. Treat your tools and your body with that degree of care.

I cover many more tips on how to build lean muscle and burn bodyfat faster in my book "7 Minute Muscle".

Read more here:

7 Minute Muscle<--- more muscle in far less time