No better way to welcome our new coach Jeff than a classic Yard 20 questions. Jeff is a former competitive hockey, rugby, football, and basketball player. This sports fanatic has a passion for all things Strength & Conditioning.  Let’s get to know our new coach a little better!

1) Hometown?

Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada

2) How did you first hear about Yard?

Through a local friend of mine that I met in Vancouver.

3) What was your first experience with Yard?

Relaxed but impressed. The yard was relatively empty during my interview with Ilan, but I could tell that a lot of care was put into the building and maintenance of The Yard to look and provide what it does to its members. As members would cycle through I also noticed the very welcoming nature that everyone shared as well.

4) Favorite lift?

Deadlift, you against gravity, who will win?

5) Least favourite exercise? 

Not a big burpee guy…

6) How do you stay motivated?

Ambitious goals and a curiosity to see what I can achieve for myself.

7) Best advice you received? 

It does not have to be as hard as you think it does.

8) Worst advice?

Can’t remember, try to forget them….

9) Your favourite part about Yard?

The community of members and trainers! While diverse, everyone is very collaborative and supportive to see one another do well. I think The Yard does an amazing job of pushing people past their limiting beliefs in a very safe and inclusive manner.

10) Top 3 songs in your gym playlist?

Ah, tough one… I’ll go favourite artists instead:

• Linkin Park
• Rise Against
• Billy Talent

11) Go to post-workout meal?

Greek Yogurt, protein powder, seed butter, frozen fruit, honey, and a sprinkle of granola.

12) How did you start your fitness journey?

I fully dislocated my shoulder playing rugby, and my physio suggested that I start resistance training to reduce the likelihood of it happening again and to get stronger.

13) How would you describe the Yard environment? 

Uplifting. There is a sense of intimidation that I can sense from some outside individuals looking in initially, however that intensity is meant to try and elevate the members for their workouts/training in the time they are there. It is there to uplift you!

14) The last book you read?

Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell

15) Advice for someone coming to train with you for the first time?

Be willing to get your hands dirty, have a laugh, and learn some takeaways that you can use beyond our sessions.

16) What are you doing when you’re not at the Yard? 

Intern S&C coach at Simon Fraser University, reading books (self-development, finance, economics, philosophy), watching sports, sharpening my cooking skills, learning about Vancouver and BC.

17) Advice for someone who is starting their fitness journey?

People often OVERESTIMATE what they want to accomplish in the short term (3 months) and UNDERESTIMATE what they can accomplish in a year. Take that into consideration when you start and know that this is something that can help you enhance your life, not just be a fad.

18) What’s in your gym bag?

Lifting straps, lifting belt, wrist wraps, training shoes, oly lifters,  fat gripz, food (fruit or bars), lifting chalk, lacrosse ball.

19) Are you a morning person?

You know it, 4:30 am wake up most days of the week.

20) What’s your morning routine?

Honestly, I don’t really have one… Usually have a coffee brewing, catching up on some sport I missed or reading something before I jet out the door or start my work for the day.

The post 20 QUESTIONS WITH COACH JEFF appeared first on Yard Athletics.

Yard Athletics has some high-level competitive athletes using our gym as a home base to train and hone their craft. We are very excited that Yard can supply a training facility for these competitive athletes. You may have seen them around the gym. Let’s get to know them with a classic Yard “20 Questions”.

First up is Paralympian, Jessye Brockway.

1) Hometown?

I was born in Mill Bay, British Columbia.

2) What sport do you play?

Para-Rowing.

3) When did you begin playing your sport?

I started in 2019 switching from Athletics.

4) At what level do you or have you competed? 

National Championships, Canadian Record Holder for (Discus, Javelin and Shot Put) Junior World Championships (for Discus and Shot put), World Championships and the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics for Rowing.

5) Big milestone you’re working towards in sport?

1. 2024 Paris Paralympics
2. Working on my mental health

6) What was your first experience with Yard?

My first impression of Yard was, “Wow, this gym is like the ones you see in movies or on Instagram. Everyone is so friendly, and I immediately felt welcomed”.

7) Current Goals at the gym?

I am learning to do a muscle-up and gain more flexibility/stability.

8) Least favourite exercise? 

Erging….. shhh don’t tell my coaches.

9) How do you stay motivated?

I stay motivated because I show up whether I’m having a bad day or a good one. I committed myself to being better. I show up and work on myself.

10) Best advice you received? 

“Better the Ball” – My first rowing coach ever, Lisa Tschannen, told me this, and it has stuck with me ever since. If you have a bad stroke, improve the next stroke and make it better. That goes with everything I do. If it wasn’t good the first time, learn from it and make the next piece better. Think about what you can actively do to keep improving.

11) How can we follow along with your athletic journey? What’s your Instagram or team Instagram account?

Follow my journey @jessyebrock.

12) Top 3 songs in your gym playlist?

1. Believer – Imagine Dragons
2. I Found You – Cash cash & Andy Grammer
3. Keep It Simple -Matoma, Petey Martin, and Wilder Woods

13) Philosophy on nutrition, any tips?

I believe in investing in my health/nutrition by eating healthy meals, caring about what’s in my food, and finding foods that make my body feel good.

Tips: Drink water when you have a headache; it’s a sign that you’re dehydrated. If you feel bloated, try eating a low Fodmap diet (i.e., foods that don’t cause irritable bowl syndrome). If you have trouble sleeping, try half a teaspoon of nutmeg in one cup of hot milk or milk alternative.

14) Who inspires you (who to follow)?

I inspire myself; I think about my future and the potential I have, and I keep chasing after my goals.

15) The last book you read?

It Takes What It Takes – Trevor Moawad & Russell Wilson.

 16) Advice for someone pursuing their passion for sport?

My advice is to show up and make your goals happen. No one is there to push you. Only YOU can achieve your goals.

17) What are you doing when you’re not training?

I am spending time with my husband finding new places to eat together, backcountry camping and making polymer clay jewelry.

18) What’s in your gym bag?

Yoga block, journal, gymnastics rings, snack bar, water bottle, change of clothes, and a rain jacket.

 19) Are you a morning person?

Yes, I wake up and get excited to go to the gym. I used to be such a night owl, but now I love waking up early.

20) What’s your morning routine?

Wake up 6:30 am -7:30 am, make a good smoothie, shower, get ready, catch the bus/ train, go to the gym and have a good workout at Yard Athletics or at the community centre

The post 20 QUESTIONS WITH JESSYE BROCKWAY appeared first on Yard Athletics.

We love seeing our athletes’ transformations.  Jeremy has been doing our and his before & after photos really show his progress.

Here is what he had to say about our online training program:

“I couldn’t be happier with the results I got from the 12-week athlete development program. Coming from a hockey background I wanted something similar to the training I used to do back in the day, and I found it with that program. It was the perfect starting program for me to get back into the physical shape I had been after.

I would recommend it to anyone, even without a sports background because I am overall looking better and feeling 10x stronger. I believe it would be a great program for anyone, especially an individual looking to get back into the routine

Thank you. Can’t wait to continue to use your programs to keep leveling up!”

Interested in trying out the program yourself? Check it out

The post TRANSFORMATIONS – Jeremy | 12 Week Online Athlete Development Program appeared first on Yard Athletics.

We are back with another 20 questions post. Let’s get to know our newest coach a little bit better!

1) Hometown?

This one is tough to answer since I never lived in one spot for more than a few years at a time. I was born in London, England and grew up in Istanbul, Toronto, and Paducah, Kentucky. 

2) How did you first hear about Yard?

When I first moved to Vancouver, I connected with Reece aka @whiskeymuse on Instagram and she told me about this new, awesome gym. I came in for a class and loved it!

3) What was your first experience with Yard?

Not going to lie, I felt intimidated. I’m used to dropping into new Crossfit gyms when traveling and I’ve been a competitive powerlifting athlete for years but somehow coming into this space was kind of scary! That quickly changed and I felt right at home!

4) Favorite lift?

I tend to favor things I’m good at, so toss-up between deadlift and back squat.

5) Least favorite exercise? 

I avoid things I’m not good at! Rowing, especially as a short person is really difficult for me and I just avoid it!

6) How do you stay motivated?

I lean more towards discipline than motivation. Motivation comes and goes but discipline gives you structure and a reason to show up even when you don’t feel like it. I also set goals for myself that are outside of “be healthy.” Competing is one of them. I don’t want to step out on the platform and embarrass myself so I show up for my training sessions even when I don’t want to. 

7) Best advice you received? 

The first step is always the hardest, just get started. 

8) Worst advice?

Don’t lift too heavy, you’ll look like a man. 

9) Your favorite part about Yard?

The community! It’s more than a gym. The clients and the coaches, all make you feel like a part of the team. 

10) Top 3 songs in your gym playlist?

Left Behind – Slipknot 

Scars- IPrevail 

X Going’ Give it To Ya- DMX  probably the only time I listen to DMX is at the gym 

11) Go to post-workout meal?

Cheeseburger and a beer.

12) How did you start your fitness journey?

I played sports growing up and in grade 11 my high school had a weight lifting class, which I took and fell in love with. Unfortunately, I listened to the worst advice I received and quit lifting weights because I thought I would look like a man. In University, I went to the gym and even got a trainer but I just couldn’t make it a part of my lifestyle. In 2014 I joined a Crossfit gym which then introduced me to the world of Powerlifting and I was hooked. I competed in my first meet in 2015 in San Diego, and qualified and competed in Nationals. 

13) How would you describe the Yard environment? 

It doesn’t matter who you are outside of the gym, you are welcomed at Yard. It feels like a badass community that wants to be the best version of itself. Back to basics training, no crazy movements, just solid training. 

14) The last book you read?

So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo

Currently reading Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway

15) Advice for someone coming to train with you for the first time?

We’re going to have fun but train hard. 

16) What are you doing when you’re not at the Yard? 

Pre-Covid I would take any chance to travel whether it was short road trips or going abroad. Having moved to Vancouver during the pandemic, I’ve been trying to explore within the city and surrounding areas. I love checking out new breweries, hiking, traveling.

17) Advice for someone who is starting out their fitness journey?

Everyone is so focused on themselves, no one is looking at you or judging you. If you can, invest in a personal trainer that will teach you proper technique and push you. 

18) What’s in your gym bag?

Lifting belt, shoes (Metcons & Romaleos) deodorant, dry shampoo, and a snack. Always a snack haha. 

19) Are you a morning person?

I am. I haven’t always been but I do enjoy getting an early start on my day. 

20) What’s your morning routine?

I used to be the person to roll out of bed after snoozing far too many times and feel anxious the whole day. Now I have a pretty set routine that makes me slow down and start the day right. I love taking my cup of coffee back to bed and reading. Then I’ll take my dog Duke out for a walk, come back home do my skincare routine, get dressed, and go on with my day. I have never been a fan of eating breakfast so I’m glad the popularity of intermittent fasting is making that seem less weird now. Eventhough I consider myself a morning person I don’t love working out in the morning, mid-day/early evening works best for me.

The post 20 QUESTIONS WITH COACH MELIS appeared first on Yard Athletics.

by Henry Gould – Oct 25th, 2019

Ragu Bolognese, the slow cooked meat sauce typical of the city of Bologna, served often but not always with tagliatelle egg noodles, is well loved the world over. However, if you want to start a quick argument, try asking four Italian Nonna’s the “correct” way to make it. Questions like this are almost guaranteed to end in shouting, dramatic hand gestures, and hurt feelings.

Below is the version I like to cook, which I think would stand up nicely in any trattoria across Emilia-Romagna, and hopefully not offend too many grandmother’s. I’ve eaten ragu from Parma to Modena and this tastes just as good, if not better, so take that for what it’s worth…

There’s lots of debate around ragu Bolognese (milk, tomato, type of meat(s)). This version uses some milk, a little white wine, 3 different types of meat (sausage, beef, lamb) and a small spoon of tomato paste. If you want to add or subtract any of those, go right ahead.

Buon appetito!

Ragu Bolognese

• 6 Italian fennel sausages, uncased
• 250g ground beef
• 500g boneless stewing lamb, cut into tiny pieces
• 1 bottle dry white wine (Cono Sur Viognier is cheap and good for cooking)
• 500ml 2% milk
• 1/2 can tomato paste
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tsp ground Coriander seeds
• 1 Nutmeg seed
• 1 large white onion, finely diced
• 1 large carrot, finely diced
• 2 sticks celery, finely diced
• 4 cloves of garlic, finely diced
• Sea salt
• Black pepper
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Butter
• Parmigiano Reggiano cheese (for serving)

In a big pot, heat some olive oil and butter to melt, then add the carrot, celery, onion and garlic and begin to cook. Cook for 20 minutes slowly, making sure not to let the vegetables brown.

Add all the meats, season with salt and pepper, and start breaking up with a spatula or wooden spoon. This takes a while, you don’t want any big chunks of meat. Everything should be very finely broken up, so take the time to make sure it’s nice and broken up.

Ragu Bolognese in waiting…

Turn the heat up and continue cooking. Add the bay leaves, coriander, and finely grate in half the Nutmeg seed. Now, this stage takes a while… like an hour. All the water will start releasing from the meat, and following that just the fat will be left, at which point you will keep stirring and cooking the meat until it start to brown. If the bottom of the pan seems too dry, add more butter and olive oil. If there’s not enough fat the meat will scorch to the bottom of the pan, ruining the sauce. Fat is your friend…

After ~1 hour, the meat should be starting to brown nicely. Add the tomato paste and start to fry it in the fat left in the pan. Keep stirring to caramalize all the meat in the tomato paste.

Then, add some white wine to deglaze the pan (~250 – 350ml), scraping everything off the bottom of the pot. Start with about 1/2 bottle of the wine, but use more if it seems too dry. Cook until almost all the wine has evaporated.

Then, add some milk (250 – 500ml) until the sauce looks quite loose, but not too watery. It should be reddy brown, like a brick. Lower the heat, cover with a lid, and allow to cook for an hour. After an hour, check the seasoning. Because you’re probably going to be eating this sauce with some sort of grain (pasta, risotto, polenta) you want it to be richly flavored and well seasoned. Season with salt and pepper.

If serving with pasta, add some of the ragu to a different pan and put on medium heat. Cook your pasta until 1 minute under package instructions, then toss the pasta in the ragu pan and cook for a final minute together. Toss in grated parmigiano reggiano and serve.

The post RECIPE – Ragu Bolognese appeared first on Yard Athletics.

by Henry Gould – Sept 20th, 2019

Positive thinking is more than just a catch phrase. Often times we doubt ourselves and our abilities, and we give up before we’ve really, truly pushed ourselves, or before we’ve exercised all potential options in front of us to achieve a goal. Whether this is at work, at home or at play, having a particular mindset established when you hope to complete a goal is a huge factor in whether you do it or not.

I’ll give a personal example: in the last 12 months I’ve been training every week with Ilan, Shawzo (and occasionally the godfather, Jeremy Martin @ Loaded Athletics) learning the ropes of olympic weightlifting. Outside of my 10+ years playing rugby, olympic weightlifting is the hardest physical activity I’ve ever done. Not only is it physically demanding, it is incredibly mentally demanding. For each lift (i.e. clean and jerk) you are working within a small threshold of the maximum weight you can physically lift, all the while thinking about correct form, posture, and above all else, trying not to drop 100kgs on your head.

Countless times Ilan or Shawzo has loaded the bar with a heavy amount of weight, and I fail. Usually, it’s because there was a creeping sense of doubt in my mind that I couldn’t do it. But, more often than not I will try again, and once I’ve taken a moment to regroup – perhaps also getting some encouraging words – I will eventually make the lift. I didn’t get stronger in between each lift, I just had to focus, think through everything, and trust that I could do it.

The power of positive thinking can transfer to any aspect of life, but is particularly interesting with physical pursuits. After all, professional athletes constantly rely on sports psychologists to help them get in a strong head space before a game or competition. Self doubt can be one of the most negative influences on an athlete, whereas positive thinking and visualization of winning can be the most powerful.

Below is an article about the Canadian World Junior Team, and the sport psychologist who worked with the team the entire tournament enroute to their Gold Medal win.

CBC: “How the mental skills needed to win hockey gold are used for all athletes”

We were also lucky enough to receive a great piece on the Power of Positive Belief (and the inspiration for this blog) by longtime Yard Athletics client and resident psychologist, Dr. Debbie Samsom. Debbie is running a marathon in a few weeks, and felt inspired to pen the below from her longtime hero, Terry Fox, whose annual run we celebrated on Sept 15th, 2019.

“The Terry Fox Run is happening all over the world this Sunday. This run has been an annual event since 1981, the year Terry died. That 1981 run was the first 10K I ever completed. I have been running ever since.

Terry is my hero. Every year as the Terry Fox Run approaches, I reflect upon his incredible fortitude, grit, and indomitable spirit. He ran a marathon a day for 143 days, with a prosthetic leg and in constant pain. He only stopped when cancer spread to his lungs, ultimately resulting in his death. How did he do it?  He achieved this because he believed he could. Simple as that. Belief is the most powerful tool that we have to help us accomplish our goals – physical or otherwise. 

I am running a marathon in a couple of weeks. I know it’s going to hurt (it always does). I know that with about 10K to go, negative thoughts will start entering my brain, telling me to stop running (Who cares if I walk? Why continue to suffer? ) I will fight these thoughts, and Terry will help me. It’s just one measly marathon. If Terry can do 143, I CAN DO THIS.  

So what do you believe you can achieve?  Not because it’s easy, or comes naturally to you, but because you are willing to dig deep and give it everything you’ve got.”  

“I just wish people would realize that anything is possible if you try; dreams are made possible if you try” – Terry Fox

The post The Power Of Belief appeared first on Yard Athletics.

by Yard Athletics – Sept 6th, 2019

Yard Athletics is proud to announce the newest member of the team, Torin Nikiforuk, as Junior Strength & Conditioning Coach!

We couldn’t be happier to bring Torin into the fold, and look forward to him bringing a new energy and motivation to all sessions with the #YARDHARD squad.

Torin is now available on the MindBody app for all different sessions, and for a limited time all 1:1 sessions are 50% off! If you can, log onto the app and book a class with Torin to welcome him into the family.

We figured this would be a great chance to get to know Torin a little better, so we fired a couple questions at him to hear more about his fitness background on philosophy.

Hometown?

Fitness background?

What made you get into personal training?

Favorite sports growing up?

What is your fitness philosophy?

Favorite / worst exercise? 

What can people expect when they train with you at Yard Athletics?

The post Introducing Torin Nikiforuk! appeared first on Yard Athletics.

by Henry Gould – Aug 13th, 2019

Don’t be alarmed! This might sound complicated and hard; it’s really not. It requires a little bit of time, so it’s great for a Friday / Saturday night when you can relax and prepare everything without being in a rush after work. But if you feel like whipping it up on a Tuesday, you do you…!

If you want to make the sauce without meat, you can just omit the lamb and cook everything else the same; it will still be delicious. You could also add chickpeas in place of the lamb.

The sauce recipe is also much more than you need to cook the zucchinis, so consider storing and freezing what you don’t use.

Goat Cheese Stuffed Zucchinis in Spicy Lamb Sauce

• 500g ground lamb
• 1 onion, chopped finely
• 3 garlic cloves, finely minced
• 2 tbsp ground cumin
• 1 tbsp ground coriander
• 1 pinch ground cinnamon
• 1 tbsp smoked paprika
• 1 serrano chile, chopped finely
• 500 ml bottle of pureed tomato
• 4 small zucchinis
• Extra virgin olive oil
• 1 small package goat cheese at room temperature (easier to spread)
• Sea salt
• Black pepper
• 1 bunch fresh mint leaves, chopped

Get the biggest frying / sautee pan you have and put on medium heat. Add some olive oil, then add the ground lamb and begin to cook. Break the lamb up with a spatula into very small pieces. Continue frying over high heat until the lamb starts to brown and fry.

Add the onion, garlic and serrano chili and cook for 5 minutes. Add the cumin, coriander, cinnamon, paprika, as well as a healthy amount of salt and pepper. Continue cooking for a few minutes, then add the tomato puree. Lower the heat and cook for 30 minutes.

Cut the ends off the zucchinis, then slice in half lengthwise to give you two halves. Using a small spoon, scoop out the seeds to leave a nice little channel with which to fill with the goat cheese. Fill each half with goat cheese, using the whole package.

Remove some of the lamb sauce from the pan, leaving 1-2 cups worth. Check the seasoning for salt, then add a little more olive oil and a bit of water (you want it a little more watery to cook the zucchinis).

Turn on the broiler.

Add the zucchinis to the sauce, cheese side up, and allow to simmer on lower heat for a couple minutes. Stick the whole pan under the broiler until the cheese starts to brown.

Served with the chopped mint leaves over top.

The post RECIPE – Goat Cheese Stuffed Zucchinis in Spicy Lamb Sauce appeared first on Yard Athletics.

by Henry Gould – July 29th, 2019

Impossible to resist at happy hour, and until now (!) very hard to recreate at home. Not anymore!

Go the extra mile and make the blue cheese dip at home. It literally takes 30 seconds and tastes way way better than store bought.

Also, chicken wings are full of protein, and they’re not battered, so dare I say this is almost… healthy…?

Homemade Buffalo Wings w/ Blue Cheese Dip

• Chicken wings
• Olive Oil
• Hot Sauce of choice (Frank’s Red Hot Sauce being the classic)
• Butter
• Worcestershire Sauce
• Blue Cheese
• Mayonaise
• Black pepper
• Chives, finely chopped
• 1 lemon
• Plain Yogurt or Sour Cream
• Celery Sticks to serve

To make the wing sauce, melt some butter in a pot then add about 1/2 – 1 cup of hot sauce, depending how many wings you’re making. Add a few shakes of Worcestershire sauce and bring to a simmer, then turn off the heat and set side.

To make the blue cheese dip, crumble some blue cheese into a bowl, along with a little mayonnaise and yogurt. Mash with a fork and stir around until all is combined. Add some cracked black pepper and a squeeze of lemon juice, along with the chopped chives. Taste and adjust to your preferred consistency and seasoning.

Preheat your oven to 500F. Put the wings in a large bowl and coat with a little olive oil all over. The oil will help conduct the heat in the oven and crisp the skin up so they taste like they’ve been deep fried.

Spread the wings on a large baking sheet making sure the wings aren’t touching. If there’s too many, use two baking sheets otherwise they won’t crisp properly.

Stick in the oven and cook for 30 mins, but keep an eye on them. After 30 mins, take them out and have a look. Keep cooking until desired crispyness levels.

Once done, put the cooked wings in a clean bowl and pour over the sauce. Toss around to coat all the wings. Service with the dip and celery sticks.

The post RECIPE – Buffalo Wings w/ Blue Cheese Dip appeared first on Yard Athletics.

by Yard Athletics – June 21st, 2019

Bad news! We got word through the grapevine that more of those pesky weightlifting myths were piling up in our absence… unacceptable!! There’s nothing worse than bad information, especially when it comes to health and fitness. We at Yard Athletics are very confident in the formula we use (fundamental movement patterns, done correctly and safely) and believe this will get you the results you want, every single time.

Today we hand the reigns over to Sam Shaw; mainstay of Yard Athletics since the early days, and guy who can lift double the weight of a man his size.

What’s todays myth all about? Diet. Let’s get right to it!

Q: Many people say “abs are made in the kitchen”. Is this true?

Sam Shaw: I would say it’s “partially” true. Studies have been carried out comparing the effect of dieting and exercising (or both) on overall weight and body composition that explain things pretty clearly:

• Diet focus alone can achieve more weight loss than strictly exercising and eating whatever you want
• Exercise in combination with diet leads to the most significant changes in body composition
• The combination of resistance training and diet is more effective than endurance training or a combination of endurance and resistance training at altering body composition*

*this conclusion is not based on one simple study but rather over 60 clinical studies that all came to the same conclusion

Essentially what I’m saying is that focusing purely on diet or “the kitchen” can lead to significant weight loss with some body composition change. However, a more balanced approach to dietary restrictions and exercise training will lead to more change in the long run.

First, determine your body composition goals. If your goal is to lose fat and gain more definition, then you’re going to have to eat at a calorie deficit. If your goal is to increase lean body mass and lose fat, then your diet and exercise regimen may look different.

At the end of the day, the most effective exercise/diet plan is one that you will be able to sustain. Once you determine the right approach for yourself, you can make it a lifelong habit. BRING ON THAT SIX PACK

Q: How important is diet to fitness and overall health? What do you eat and what should I be eating?

Exercise and diet are pivotal to determining a persons overall health, and making them both part of your lifestyle can make a dramatic difference in how you look and feel. While I may be a little biased in that my interests/career relate to these fields, a regular dose of dieting and exercise has been proven to lead to a host of benefits including increased energy, happiness, health, and longevity of life.

There are so many avenues of nutrition and fitness that I could go down, but no one wants to read “20 pages by Shawzo”. Let me just list you the main benefits I think about when talking to people about these concepts:

• Disease prevention (I mean… this alone should really be enough??)
• Mood and energy
• Sleep
• Weight

What I eat and what you should be eating might be completely different. Like I mentioned earlier, dieting should be specific to the individual as you will need to find the type and quantity of food (calorie intake, macro/micro nutrient intake) that is most suitable to your goals and lifestyle.

For me personally, I don’t really mess around with household ‘diets’ or energy restrictions because it effects my mood and sleep in a way I don’t really enjoy. That being said, I’m not eating whatever I want at every minute of the day.

My weekday diet mainly consists of a 5:30am smoothie (500cal – fruit, protein, almond milk, unsaturated fats), followed by a post workout meal (Roughly 1000+cal – simple carb, protein, heavy veg) and then a late night dinner as I am usually home between 7 to 9pm (Roughly 1000+cal – complex carb, protein, heavy veg). Throughout the day I will sprinkle in snacks ( fruit, nuts, bars or anything relatively low calorie that gives me enough energy to maintain a smile on my face throughout a 14 hour day :). Weekends are a bit of a write-off depending on what events are scheduled, but I do my best to not go overboard!

I have based my diet on years of learning how my body is impacted by particular macro nutrients. For some reason I respond well to carbohydrates and seem to be resistant to weight gain. This may not be the same for whoever is reading this. There, my advice would be to explore different nutrients or ‘diets’, find out what works best for you and then begin implementing dietary restrictions on a small scale as opposed to large scale change.

Most importantly, try to enjoy what you eat! At the end of the day, drastic dietary change that you hate will not be sustainable!

SHAWZO OUT

The post The Myths Of Weightlifting: PART 5 w/ Sam Shaw appeared first on Yard Athletics.