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Vegan Program
The Program for a Vegan
will require the following:
A cardiovascular training
plan accompanied with a good nutritional plan and structured weight
training program. Remember in order to attain and maintain great abs,
your body fat levels will need to be reduced to 10% or lower, one way of
measuring your progress is to invest in some Body Fat Calipers (Standard
or Digital). Let's have a look at what the program will require:
CARDIOVASCULAR EXERCISE
As mentioned in the SixPackNow Program Introduction cardiovascular
exercise burns fat, therefore it is a crucial aspect in the Program. We
all know that working out for some people can be a real drag, especially
when the results just don’t seem to be going the right way. But have you
ever thought why you’re not seeing the results? More than likely it’s
because you’re just not pushing yourself. You should never expect
exercise to be easy, if it is then you’re doing something wrong. So
what’s an effective cardio workout to burn those stubborn fat cells?
HIIT!
HIIT or High Intensity
Interval Training as its known is just a little different than your
typical hour long, ineffective and boring cardio session on the
stationery bike or treadmill. In fact, a HIIT session can be fit into a
30 minute session and burn twice, if not three times the amount of fat
than an hour long low intensity jog would, and it’s been proven in many
studies and tests. HIIT can be performed with or without cardio
machines. HIIT is a form of exercise where you perform a short burst and
then a high burst of intensity, followed by a brief rest period to catch
your breath. Not only will a HIIT session speed up your metabolism, but
it keeps the metabolic rate increased for hours afterwards. But, you
have to push yourself with these workouts, you can do an hour long,
non-exhaustive workout if you prefer, but you won’t reap the benefits
that a HIIT session can offer. Lets take a look at a typical HIIT
session and how it works. Lets take for instance a workout on the
stationery bike (remember you can use a rower, elliptical, treadmill,
skipping rope, or go out on a jog or run). You should start off with two
minutes of low intensity cycling just to warm those legs up and get that
blood circulating. After two minutes have elapsed, its time to crank up
the intensity and push hard for a full minute (85-90% of your maximum
effort), after that minute has elapsed, it’s time to slow things back
down again (55-60% of your maximum) for a minute to catch your breath.
After that minute, it’s time again to switch things up again to full
throttle for another minute. Basically this cycle repeats until 25-30
minutes have elapsed. One minute – low intensity (50-60% of your maximum
heart rate) to warm up, then one minute – maximum intensity (85-90% of
your maximum HR), one minute low intensity, one minute maximum intensity
and so on. If you’re new to cardio, don’t even attempt a thirty minute
session, you won’t even last ten! Just take it easy to begin with,
working up to a good twenty-five to thirty minutes after a few weeks.
Incorporate these HIIT sessions to any form of cardio and try to switch
things around as much as possible with various equipment. Remember these
sessions will be exhaustive and require a great deal of inner strength
to make it work effectively.
The timing of you cardio sessions is vitally important for maximum
results. The best time of all is without doubt first thing in the
morning on an empty stomach. The idea here is to burn body fat, not your
last meal, so it must be stressed that cardio should always be performed
on an empty stomach, which means no carb foods within 1.5 hours of a
session. Scientific research has shown that if you eat right before a
workout, you burn less fat, where as a cardio session performed in the
morning will burn three times as much. Not only does a good morning
session wake you up, but it sets you up for the rest of the day. Once
you make the exercise part of your lifestyle, it will feel more natural
to do, than not to, you just have to push yourself that little bit
further a make a new exciting step forward to a better body. To
stimulate fat loss even further with a HIIT session we suggest
supplementing with a thermogenic fat burner 30 minutes before performing
you workout. The rate at which fat is burned during the workout will be
dramatically increased. For a step by step introduction to HIIT click
here
How much, How Often?
We recommend complete beginners to work their way up over the course of
12 weeks. Begin with 10 minute sessions four times weekly. Adding one
minute to your sessions each week. Intermediate trainees can begin with
15-17 minute sessions, adding one minute to each session over the course
of 12 weeks. Advanced trainees can begin with 20-25 minute sessions
four-five times weekly, increasing to 30 minutes over a period of 6-12
weeks.
HIIT should not be
performed for more than 30 minutes in one session. If results remain
slow after six weeks you can increase the duration of your sessions or
drop your carbs slightly lower. The great thing about HIIT is that you
can mix it up, try three minutes fast, one minute slow, 2 minutes fast,
30 seconds slow or even 30 seconds slow, 30 seconds intense. It does
take a little experimentation, so try it over the course of a few
sessions. You do want to be pleasantly fatigued but not "exhausted" to
point of not being able to complete entire session.
We recommend a cool down period of two minutes at the end of your
session, a slow jog or walk is fine.
In conjunction with the
HIIT cardio it is important to keep as active as possible in your
everyday life. Walking and other outdoor activities will help
considerably in keeping lean, so where possible try to maintain and
active lifestyle. If you have a non active job (desk job) it is
recommended that you add additional cardio (10 minutes, 3 times weekly)
after your weight training sessions.
OTHER GREAT FORMS OF HIIT
· Walking/jogging/treadmill/elliptical
· Cycling/stationery bike · Rowing
· Skipping
· Aerobic classes
As mentioned above the best time to perform your cardio workouts is
first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. Whether you run, jog,
walk, swim or do an aerobic class, this is by far the most effective
time for maximum fat loss. When you wake up first thing in the morning,
you eat breakfast, eat lunch later that day and lets say for instance
you do your cardio late afternoon. All you will be doing is burning
calories from the food you ate. Where as if you perform your cardio
first thing in the morning your body has no food to burn, therefore
burns stored body fat and any stored body fat is fat on your body which
is what we are try to eliminate. You may be unable to get to a gym first
thing in the morning, so a very good investment is to purchase a
treadmill or stationery bike, this way you can wake up and jump straight
on your equipment.
Beginners to the program who have not exercised consistently for the
past 12 months should begin your workouts for a duration of
approximately 10 minutes, adding an additional 2-4 minutes every week
until you average a 20 minute workout. Don't rush into things. We will
customize your HIIT workouts in your Personalized Diet Plan.
BETTER BODY = BETTER ABS
It’s a fact that resistance
placed on all muscle groups such as the biceps, triceps, chest, legs and
shoulders will actually benefit your abdominals. A good balanced
weight-training program will actually burn fat cells, speed up the
metabolic rate and of course create a well-proportioned physique. You
can have great biceps, a chiselled chest and toned legs, but if you
don’t have the abs to compliment them, somehow you will just look
incomplete. Weight training is a great all round body conditioner and is
an integral part of the SixPackNow Program. We strongly encourage all
trainees to incorporate a weight training program atleast three times
weekly. Beginners and Intermediate trainees are encouraged to embark on
our 12 Week Lean Muscle Plan
NUTRITION
Nutrition and supplementation accounts for as much as 70-80% of the
equation when sculpting abdominals, losing fat and creating a leaner
physique. You’ve probably heard the saying “Abs are made in the kitchen,
not in the gym” This couldn’t be more true. Knowing exactly which foods
stimulate the body and those that in effect destroy it is something that
we will help teach you. The importance of correct nutrition is without
doubt the core element of this program and the more you learn about
correct eating and balancing, the greater abdominal definition you will
achieve. The key is basically to know which foods will feed your muscles
and starve the fat. Good eating habits become part of a new lifestyle
and it’s this new lifestyle, which will determine your overall success.
This is certainly not a quick fix nutritional system, this is a plan you
can implement throughout your life. With you being vegan you will of
course be eliminating many of the best forms of protein, however there
are many other alternatives and supplementation available. Let’s take a
look at the key ingredients to form your vegan nutrition program.
THE MAIN NUTRIENTS
There are five main nutrients: Protein, carbohydrates, fats, minerals
and vitamins. None of these can function without water.
Protein
What is protein? In simple
terms protein is the building block for muscle, however, that's not all
it does. Protein builds the entire framework of your body, the muscles,
the organs, the bones and connective tissues. Protein helps your body
digest food effectively. As a hormone, it tells your body when to use
food as energy and when to store it as fat. And finally, Protein
protects you from illness, both viral and bacterial.
Every single meal you
consume from now on should contain some form of quality protein. Finding
protein in foods is not difficult, some of the best sources are of
course meat, fish and poultry, but the alternatives that offer good
protein are Tofu, soy products, beans, nuts, legumes, Low Fat Cottage,
whey protein shakes, soy protein shakes and bars. Protein also contains
essential amino acids, which work together to help you build leaner,
stronger muscles.
Your body can only absorb
protein in limited quantities, therefore a consumption of protein should
be included in every meal of the day (5-6 smaller sized meals). It is
very important for a vegan to consider adding a Whey or Soy Protein
supplement which will provide not only good serving of protein, but all
essential amino acids.
Amino Acids
Proteins are made up of 22 amino acids which have to be present in
certain combinations for the protein to function properly. If protein is
to build and repair, it must have the right amino acids in proper
quantities. Without the right amino acids in the correct proportions,
almost every physical process in your body will grind to a halt. In some
cases, the amino acids need to combine with certain vitamins and
minerals and if these are lacking, that particular body process will be
impaired.
Also a lack of amino acids
to provide the right protein structure will make your body burn muscle
for energy and store fat. If you find that you are eating and exercising
a great deal and making no apparent progress your problem may lie here.
This is why we strongly recommend a Whey Protein Supplement to use in
conjunction with the program. Without such a supplement your results
will be limited. You can order a Whey Protein Supplement from our
carefully selected range by visiting our
supplements page.
Carbohydrates - Energy provider
Your body must have
carbohydrates in sufficient quantities to be able to assimilate the
protein. If your diet does not contain carbohydrates, your body will
start using proteins for the purpose to provide energy - which means
that protein will not be used to build muscle and tissue. Using protein
for energy is also a slower process than using carbohydrates and you
will be left feeling drained and often depressed and irritable. A low
Carb/High Protein Diet is not the key here, but a carb rotation method,
where you consume more carbs on days you train and less on days you
don't. This method will produce the very best results. More will be
explained in a moment.
Carbohydrates supply
energy. They are broken down to produce glucose (blood sugar) and stored
in the muscle and liver as glycogen.
Simple and Complex Carbs.
Carbohydrates are divided
into two main categories: simple carbohydrates and complex
carbohydrates. Basically, the simple carbs provide quick energy and the
complex carbs sustained energy. This type of Carbohydrate is generally
found in processed foods like breads, pasta, pizza, bagels, candies and
all snack foods.
Note: A predominance of
simple carbohydrates in your diet will cause sharp fluctuations in blood
glucose levels - and when that level suddenly drops - your energy levels
take a dramatic dive. Recovery time after a workout will be longer and
you will feel edgy and worn out. To make it simple avoid simple
carbohydrates. Simple carbs add body fat!!
Complex Carbs - The preferred Choice
The best sources of
carbohydrates are 'Complex Carbs' and come from whole wheat and grain
products, brown rice, fruit, potatoes, vegetables, legumes and beans.
Complex Carbs provide long lasting fuel for work and exercise, they will
give you constant energy throughout the day.
Your pre workout meals should all supply a serving of complex
carbohydrates. Your last meal including carbs should be no later than
8.30 pm, all meals after this time should be protein only. If you
workout late in the evening and don't finish till 9 or 10pm, you may
have a moderate amount of carbs within 45 minutes of finishing your
workout. The very best complex carbs sources are: Whole wheat breads and
products, Brown Rice, Whole wheat pasta, Shredded Wheat and other wheat
based cereals, Grapes, Berries, Carrots, Potatoes, Vegetables and
Lentils.
Carb Rotation Explained
It's a fact that an intake
of too many carbs will make you add body fat and too few will make you
tired. So what is the answer? How can I lose body fat effectively while
holding on to muscle? Answer: Carb Rotation
For years, we were taught
that carbohydrates were the food of choice for high energy and optimum
athletic performance. We were taught that fat made us fat and
carbohydrates made us lean and energized. Then everything seemed to
change. Low carbohydrate diets have been with us for decades, but from
the late nineties into the first few years of the new millennium, there
has been a huge resurgence of interest in the low carbohydrate diet.
Everywhere you look today there are low carbohydrate drinks, low
carbohydrate meal replacements, low carbohydrate frozen dinners – even
low carbohydrate pasta! Low carbohydrate dieting has definitely gone
mainstream. Unfortunately, this has created a torrent of confusion and
controversy. For every “guru” who says low carbohydrates are the
ultimate fat burning diet, there is another “guru” with the opposite
opinion. Who is right? Because of metabolic individuality, no single
diet program is the best for everyone. At certain times, for certain
purposes, a low carbohydrate diet – done with a new approach you are
about to learn - can accelerate fat loss beyond anything you’ve
experienced before. This type of diet is not for everyone and it’s also
not for people who haven’t mastered the nutritional fundamentals first.
Before you proceed with the
Carb Rotation Method you should be training consistently for a couple of
weeks and you should have your diet in good order. It’s pointless to try
to use these advanced carbohydrate-manipulation strategies unless you’ve
mastered the eight fundamentals of a fat-loss diet:
1. Eating fewer calories
than you burn
2. Properly balancing your macronutrient ratios (Protein, Carbs and
Fats)
3. Eating five or six meals per day, properly timed
4. Eating protein with every meal
5. Eating the right types of carbohydrates and avoiding refined sugars
6. Eating low fat and choosing the right types of fat
7. Drinking plenty of water
8. Eating natural, unrefined foods
A totally new approach to the low carbohydrate diet
There are two secrets to getting all the benefits of low carbohydrate
dieting without all the side effects it might cause such as dramatic
reduction in energy levels, affecting your mood and mental state, muscle
tissue loss etc. The first is carbohydrate tapering, which is the
practice of eating more carbohydrates early in the day and fewer later
in the day. The second is carbohydrate cycling. When combined, the
results of these techniques can increase fat loss beyond your wildest
dreams and expectations! Let’s take a closer look at each one.
1) The carbohydrate
tapering technique for maximum fat loss
If you want to get leaner quickly, a simple way to accelerate fat loss
is to reduce the size of your late day meals (meals 5 & 6). This
technique is known as “calorie tapering” or “carbohydrate tapering.”
Simply cut out the starches in your evening and late afternoon meals,
leaving the green fibrous carbohydrates, lean proteins and essential
fats. Examples of late day fibrous carbohydrate and lean protein meals
include; (1) broccoli or other green veggies/salad with tofu or Quorn
meat, (2) Quorn Burger with a green salad with olive oil & vinegar
dressing, (3) Homemade vegggie sausages with legumes/beans. When you
drop the starchy carbohydrates from your last two meals, your ratios
will automatically shift towards less carbohydrates and higher protein.
It’s an incredibly simple and easy technique to use, yet it can cause
dramatic fat loss.
2) Carbohydrate
“Cycling”
A low to moderate carbohydrate and high protein diet will cause much
faster fat loss than a high carbohydrate diet. However, it may seem like
the disadvantages outweigh the benefits. Fortunately, there’s a solution
to these problems and it’s called “carbohydrate cycling.” or "carb
rotation" as we like to call it at SixPackNow.com. Some people refer to
carbohydrate cycling as “zig zag” dieting, “Hi-low” dieting,
“carbing-up” or carbohydrate “re-feeding.” Regardless of what you name
it, carbohydrate cycling is probably the most powerful fat burning
strategy on the planet. Nothing else even comes close. It is the only
guaranteed way to overcome the body’s starvation response when calories
and carbohydrates are low. Not only do you avoid a negative response,
but you also invoke many positive responses that do not occur when
holding your carbohydrates and calories at the same low level day in and
day out. That’s the main problem with conventional low carbohydrate
diets – they suggest that you drop your carbohydrates and keep them low.
What I am suggesting is that you drop your carbohydrates for a few days,
then increase them again before your body figures out what the heck is
going on! Carbohydrate cycling has been a well-kept secret of
bodybuilders and fitness models for decades, but anyone can use it to
accelerate fat loss or break a plateau. The beauty of this method is
that it allows you to get all the fat loss benefits of low carbohydrate
dieting without the low carbohydrate side effects. Most important, it
keeps your metabolism elevated and prevents you from going into
starvation mode.
Why you shouldn’t stay on
low carbohydrates for more than three days in a row?
After three days in a row
on low carbohydrates (less than 75g), your glycogen levels will be
almost be completely depleted. If you were to continue on low
carbohydrates for a fourth day, fifth day, or beyond, you would notice
your energy and training intensity begin to diminish. You would also
notice that your muscles would “flatten out” and become softer. Your
metabolic rate would begin to slow down and your thyroid gland would
decrease its output of thyroid hormone. Basically, your diet would
become less and less effective the longer you stayed on low
carbohydrates beyond the three day period. Your body is so “smart,” it
simply makes changes in physiology and metabolism to compensate for the
prolonged lack of carbohydrates (which it interprets as starvation).
That’s why you have to keep your body guessing, by throwing in a high
carbohydrate day every fourth day.
High Carb days and Low Carb Days
Carbohydrate cycling is based on the concept of rotating low
carbohydrate days with high carbohydrate days instead of keeping
carbohydrates low all the time. Every fourth day your glycogen levels
are restored with a “carb load” or “high carb day”, your energy stays
up, your muscles fill out and tighten and your metabolic rate gets a
dramatic boost. The high day also makes your entire diet easier to stick
with because no matter how difficult it is to get through those three
low days, you have a “high carb day” to look forward to. The “high carb
day” also bypasses all the side effects. You get noticeably leaner with
every three-day low carbohydrate cycle as your body dips deeply into
stored body fat without the carbohydrates readily available for fuel.
Surprisingly, you may even continue to get leaner even on the high
carbohydrate days because of the boost in metabolic rate.
Carbohydrate cycling also
prevents your body from becoming inefficient at using carbohydrates for
energy. When you cut your carbohydrates out for a long time, your body
begins depending on fat for fuel and it learns how to use fat for fuel
more efficiently. You often hear low carbohydrate diet proponents say
that the low carbohydrate diet turns you into a “fat burner” while a
high carbohydrate dieter turns you into a “sugar burner.” This may be
true, but there’s a huge downside to staying on low carbohydrates all
the time and becoming an exclusive “fat burner:” Your body becomes lazy
and inefficient at burning carbohydrates. When you eat them again after
a long absence, your body doesn’t know what to do with them. This is one
of the reasons you will simply blow up overnight and gain weight back
the minute you re-introduce carbohydrates after a long absence. Unless
you plan on never eating a carbohydrate ever again, you’d better think
twice about long-term carbohydrate restriction. Low carbohydrate diets
are not lifestyle programs. What’s the alternative? Carbohydrate load
every fourth day. When you carbohydrate load a depleted muscle, the
carbohydrates are quickly soaked up by the muscle on that fourth day
because the muscles are “hungry” for carbohydrates. By repeated cycles
of depletion and re loading, your muscles become extremely efficient at
storing carbohydrates as muscle glycogen rather than partitioning them
to body fat.
Fine tuning the carbohydrate cycling method
As you get leaner and leaner, you may find that you lose weight too
quickly on the carbohydrate cycling plan. Furthermore, it’s not a wise
idea to lose more than 2.0-3.0 lbs of body weight per week. If you lose
more than two pounds per week, you are much more likely to be losing
Lean body mass with the fat. If you lose lean mass or drop weight too
quickly, you should adjust your high to low day ratio by increasing your
carbohydrates (and calories) overall or by keeping your low days the
same and adding more high days. You can do three low carbohydrate days
followed by two or three high carbohydrate days. You can even throw in a
moderate carb day if you like. Taking two or three high days after three
low days will not only help reduce muscle loss, it may allow you to gain
small amounts of muscle as you lose body fat. A little bit of
experimentation and fine tuning will be necessary to discover what
amount of carbohydrates works best for your high and low days. It’s
absolutely essential for these types of advanced diets to be customized
and we will do this in your Personalized Plan. Here are examples of what
“typical” high-low cycles would look like on a fat loss program for the
average person:
Calories:
1 gram protein = (4 kcals) 1 gram carbs =(4 kcals) 1 gram fat (9 kcals)
Men/1860 calories/3
days low carbs:
Protein 45% = 800 calories = 200 g
Carbs 30% = 700 calories = 175 g
Fats 25% = 360 calories = 40 g
Men/2350 calories/1
day high carbs
Protein 30% = 810 calories = 202 g
Carbs 50% = 1000 calories = 250 g
Fats 20% = 540 calories = 60 g
Women/1400
calories/3 days low carbs
Protein 45% = 630 calories = 157 g
Carbs 50% = 900 calories = 225 g
Fats 20% = 360 calories = 40 g
Women/1800 cal/1 day
high carbs
Protein 30% = 810 calories = 135 g
Carbs 30% = 420 calories = 105 g
Fats 25% = 350 calories = 39 g
These are just averages, as every person is different. The Team will
have advised you or will be advising you in your
Personalized Plan.
On your low carbohydrate days, eat protein and starchy carbohydrates in
your early day meals (meals one through three), then in your late day
meals (meals three to six) eat protein with only fibrous carbohydrates
like wholewheat products, green vegetables and salads – no starchy
processed carbohydrates! On your high days, you can eat starchy
carbohydrates with your meals (and if you’re going to have a “cheat day”
do it on a high day). So that’s it! These are some very powerful
techniques, but remember; carbohydrate cutting taken to the extreme will
do more harm than good. Never cut your carbohydrates out completely and
never stay on low carbohydrates for a long period of time. It's usually
not wise to go to extremes in anything and this is as true for dieting
as with anything else in life: Moderation is the key. For the Carb
Rotation method to be successful you need to be strict, this doesn't
mean you need to count carbs, gram for gram, definitely not, but you do
need to familiarize yourself with our Carb Lists below. The idea is to
just keep your intake low on non weight training/cardio days and
increase consumption on weights days (days you need the energy). So how
many carbs should I eat?
Low Carb Days - as low
as 0.5g - 0.8g per pound of bodyweight
Moderate Days (light exercise or light activity) – approx 1g
High Carb Days - approx 1-2g per pound of bodyweight
*There are 4 calories in 1g of carbohydrates

and fat?
You should aim not
to consume more than
7g of saturated fat
per meal. Your
intake of
Un-saturated
(healthy fats) can
between 1-5g
Let's take a 150 pound
individual. This is how your daily protein/carb/fat requirements should
be split up:
150 x 1g of protein = 150g
of protein required per day divided between 5 meals = 30g of protein in
each meal.
150 x 0.8g of carbs on low carb days (non training days) = 125g divided
between 4 or five meals = approx 25-30g per meal
150 x 1.5g of carbs on training days = 200g divided between 4 meals =
50g per meal or 40g in five meals
5 meals x 7g of fat = 30g of fat (including intake of healthy fats can
take this figure upto 50-60g)
Note:
You should try to avoid all foods with artificial bleaching, coloring
and preserving agents. Make sure you always read the wrapper or
packaging of any foods before you consume them. You must go easy on
'fast foods' and 'junk foods'. The fat and simple carbohydrates
contained in them will have a devastating effect on your progress. Allow
yourself one treat day a week.
FATS
Fats are a source of long term energy and since they contain vitamins A,
D, E and K are vital for building lean muscle tissue. Fat provides more
than twice as much potential energy as protein and carbohydrates, but if
your intake is high, it will be stored as body fat and not used as
energy since the body will first use carbs and protein to produce energy
first. The body can store as much as 100,000 calories of energy in the
form of fat, compared to 2,000 in the form of carbohydrates. The fat
content of your diet must not exceed 10%
Fats are divided into two categories - saturated and unsaturated.
Saturated fats, in practical terms are fats that will solidify at room
or body temperature. They are present in animal products like lard,
non-skimmed milk products, meat and egg yolks. Fats are dangerous when
they solidify in the blood. This causes cholesterol build-up which the
body cannot properly metabolize and can lead to heart disease later on
on life. These fats are also found in pizzas, hamburgers, snacks,
candies and all other processed foods.
Unsaturated fats are rapidly consumed and are found in fish, vegetable
fats, skimmed milk products like edam cheese, low fat cheese. These fats
are preferred. As a vegan you will need to look at great alternatives
like nuts, seeds and avocadoes.
Don't be fooled into
purchasing products advertised as low fat without checking the calorie
content. To be effective, low fat products should have a low calorie
content.
Regular training on a diet
moderate in carbohydrates, about 45%, with 45% Protein and 10% fats will
give your body a lean, hard appearance with good muscle separation and
definition. Remember your carb intake must be reduced on non weight
training days. Ensure you are not consuming more than 7 grams of
saturated fat per meal.
* We strongly encourage supplementation of Omega 3 oils with this plan.
These can be purchased from all good health stores. Another excellent
source of healthy fats are nuts (peanuts, cashew nuts, pecan nuts,
almonds, brazil nuts, hazelnuts, walnuts & pine nuts).
MINERALS - MULTIVITAMINS
Almost every chemical and physical process in the body requires one or
more of a combination of minerals. They are vital components of the
muscles, blood cells and soft tissues. They are essential in the
production of digestive gastric juices and improve muscle elasticity.
The better known minerals are, calcium, iron, phosphorous, magnesium,
potassium, sodium and iodine. A Multi-vitamin supplement would be
beneficial.
5-6 SMALLER SIZED MEALS/NOT THREE LARGE ONES
If you want to be at the top, get strong, get lean, and look and feel
great, then eating five to six small meals is a nutrition strategy that
you must not overlook. This strategy has been used by athletes for many
years and it's really caught on amongst active lifestyles over the past
decade, especially so among people who simply want to improve their
health. So what are the benefits of this?
Eating 5-6 small meals a
day boosts your body's basal metabolic rate (BMR). A higher basal
metabolic rate means that your body's resting metabolism allows you to
burn more fat, even while you are not exercising. By boosting your
metabolism (BMR), you can be burning fat while driving your car and even
while sleeping!
Eating 5-6 small meals a
day improves protein utilization and muscle growth.
Eating 5-6 small meals a
day reduces insulin levels. Insulin plays a very important role in fat
metabolism by increasing the uptake of fat from the bloodstream and into
body cells. When insulin levels are low, your body is less likely to
convert calories into body fat.
Surely eating more will
make me add weight/fat? Not necessarily, because you are basically
dividing your traditional three large meals by half; thus, the 5-6 meals
contain the same total amount of food. However you can actually eat more
and still lose body fat, as the increase in your metabolic rate from
eating these smaller meals will still occur.
It should be remembered
that once you pass the age of 30 your metabolism does begin to slow
down, meaning that you cannot get away with eating the kinds of foods
you did when you were 18 and still keep lean. It is essential that you
do as much as possible to elevate your metabolism and this can be done
by the carb rotation method and sticking to the 5-6 smaller sized meals
per day. A slow metabolism causes weight/fat gain, a faster running
metabolism causes fat loss!! worth remembering!
Whey Protein Shakes - The perfect meal Replacement if you
lead a busy schedule.
Eating these smaller more
frequent meals may not be possible for everyone so those who may have
restraints should supplement with a meal replacement or Whey Protein
shake/bar, these will provide you with a small sized meal quickly and
conveniently and are essential if unable to eat whole foods. We
recommend supplementing with a Whey Protein shake mid morning and mid
afternoon, therefore you only need to account for three-four other
meals.
You can purchase nutritional supplements for your program from our
carefully selected
US & UK/Europe Stores.
ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION
We all know that excessive drinking has no positive effects on our body.
Alcohol gets stored easily by the body due to its empty calorie content,
which can be detrimental to any fat loss diet. Our guideline is to avoid
alcohol if you can. Preferred alcoholic beverages are Red and White
Wine, Straight Spirits with Juice or Coke and Lite Bottled Beers or
Non-Alcoholic Beers.
So there we go, these are
the fundamental aspects of the SixPackNow Program, it's time to
summarize the key elements:
AN OVERVIEW OF THE VEGAN PROGRAM
Perform Cardiovascular
training atleast 3 times
per week preferably
first thing in the
morning, increasing to 4
sessions after two
weeks.
Eat 5 or 6 smaller meals
per day
Reduce your carb intake
towards the latter part
of the day
Increase your Protein
intake to approx. 1-1.2
grams of protein per
pound of bodyweight
Eat more fibrous carbs,
like vegetables, salads,
wheat products, brown
rice, legumes and beans.
Supplement with a good
whey protein supplement
Make sure each meal
contains quality
protein, moderate carbs
(according to your
high/low carb days) and
low in fat
Drink plenty of water
throughout the day to
keep you hydrated
Avoid all junk foods and
processed foods/snacks
Eat fresh/whole foods
Avoid table sugar e.g.
adding to hot
drinks/cereals or
desserts
Avoid Sodium/Salt where
possible or foods that
contain high amounts
Look at product
packaging and
nutritional labels
Keep a training log or
fill out the nutrition
planners
Incorporate our
Lean Muscle Plan
(If you goal is to add
muscle work your way
through the entire
program. If you goal is
to tone up your muscles,
follow Week 1 through to
5 of the program)
Remain focused and
committed throughout
Start the day with a
good breakfast
Never miss meals, if you
have a busy schedule
supplement with
nutrition/protein
bars/shakes
KEEP POSITIVE and BROWSE
THE SITE FOR MORE
INFORMATION
So what next?
Now you have the
information on your
cardio and nutrition
program, it's time to
take a look at the
abdominal exercises.
Click here,
you should then begin
planning your program.
We recommend printing of
some
Nutrition Diary
(Right Click and
SAVE AS). As mentioned
above we strongly
recommend incorporating
our
Lean Muscle Plan,
so now would be a good
time to familiarize
yourself with the plan.
Full Member?
if you've not already
done so you should
request your
Personalized Diet Plan.
This will give you more
in depth information on
precisely what you
should be eating as part
of the program.
Click Here
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