L.A. Fitness Expo

Hey All,
Sorry I am late with my update to the Fitness Expo post. I wanted to give you guys an overall presentation of what I thought of the expo and give you an idea of what you can expect when you attend one in the future.

First, I would like to give a big thank you to my good friend Joey over at From Trials to Triumphs for convincing me to go. I had a really great time with him and Ray. We had a great time on the drive up and the drive back. I look forward to future treks with these two Swoldiers.

Second, I would like to congratulate BodyBuilding.com for a great event and what seemed to be a great turn out with the expo. They did an excellent job with getting the event mostly organized and having a lot of great role models for people to meet and greet.

With the thanks out of the way I would like to give you my impression and review of my experience at the L.A. Fitness Expo. We drove to L.A. on Friday, which ended up being a 6 hour drive due to traffic and an unfamiliar route to the driver. We took the time to find a gym and we did about an 1 1/2 hour workout. We then traveled and stayed with a relative for the night. Our plan was to hit the expo early and get as much in as we could on Saturday and then drive back home. With a semi decent hour or two of sleep we woke and took off toward the expo that was held at the L.A. Convention Center. The expo was scheduled to open the doors at 10:00 am and we arrived around 7:00 am, scouted parking and went for breakfast. After breakfast we headed back found our parking which being close to the Convention Center was $25 for the day.

We proceeded into the convention center and found the areas where the expo was being held. Getting there around 8:00 am we got in line which were short at that time for tickets. At around 8:15 they opened up the ticket booths and I was through in about 8 minutes. Joey and Ray had advanced tickets and it took them closer to 20 minutes to get through a shorter line so I don't know how that was beneficial for them. We then proceeded to stand in line for an hour and a half. This is where I think it could have been better organized because it went from a line to 500 people standing around in a big group waiting for the doors and the rush to enter the expo. All said it moved very quickly in and very smoothly.

The setup of the expo floor was pretty good with markings for booth numbers and rows plainly visible and matching the map that was provided at the ticket booth. We walked around and there were many vendors of supplements and training equipment handing out samples and give demonstrations of their products. Some of these seemed to be a little hokey but that is kind of what you expect of up and coming companies trying to break in to an industry. They events and demonstrations going on Saturday were entertaining and fun to watch they had Crossfit challenges, Strongman, Powerlifting, Jujitsu, and a Bodybuilding competition. They also had some events that every joe schmoe in attendance could join such as a max repetition competition. This was pretty entertaining as I watched the barbell curl max rep event while waiting. They had a announcer who was pretty big and looked like he could curl a small bus, and had some pretty witty commentary. And of course with the major supplement brands and celebrities that were there you waited in long lines.

So I got tired of waiting in lines and I decided to walk and meet people. I would like to say that everyone I met was pretty cool, down to earth, and eager to help people reach for their goals. I mainly wanted to meet 3 people and a 4th that was a nice bonus. These people would be Steve Cook, Lou Ferrigno, Kris Gethin, and Jim Stoppani. The first guy we had experience with was Lou Ferrigno and it didn't go very well. Joey saw him in the lobby while we waited for the doors to open and asked if he could get a quick picture and Lou said to meet him at the appropriate booth and walked off. This wasn't a very good start in our Hulk experience. When we did get in the doors the first place we headed was Lou's booth. This is where the major disappointment came in. I can understand that he makes money off his stardom, but there is apparently no limit to the apparent arrogance. So for sale he had professional photos of him in his prime both natural and as the hulk color or black and white, and a training DVD all for $20.I understand this and was willing to pay for anyone of those items. However, the next item on his list of products was a Picture with Lou from my cell phone/camera. This also was listed at $20. I don't know about you but that seemed pretty darn arrogant and set in my mind to not purchase anything from the Hulk. Sorry big guy. But enough about the one disappointment from the expo.

The first guy we got to meet was Kris Gethin who is the video/virtual trainer for bodybuilding.com that Joey and Ray are both following. They are doing his 12 week Hardcore workout. I didn't meet him personally but I did get to see the way he interacted with Joey and Ray. He listed to Joey's story and was truly interested in seeing the progress Joey was making. It was a pretty cool thing to see. Joey would probably agree.

Next we went over to the On Nutrition booth where we met Steve Cook. Steve is really down to earth and I got separated from Joey and Ray before getting to him so I only got to see the interactions of the people around me and then my personal experience. He seemed so down to earth and truly a nice guy. I got to talk to him about being a Christian and that what he was doing as being an inspiration. I got my picture taken with him and got my Jan Muscle and Fitness magazine signed.

The last notable guy on my list is Jim Stoppani. As you know by now, Jim is my video/virtual trainer off bodybuilding.com and his website jimstoppani.com. I send Jim questions via twitter and he responds which is pretty cool because I know the guy gets 100's of tweets per day. When I met him I walked up and was ready to give him a brief introduction that I am following his workouts and before I could get past Hey Jim he looks at me and says "I know you." This is pretty cool because they only place he would have know me is through my twitter avatar and a couple pics that have been flown through the twitter space while tweeting with him. But he remembered me and even remembered details about our recent conversations. I think this is where what Joey calls my "Mangasm" started. Jim was so awesome to talk to and talk with about the workouts and the frustrations/progress that I was experiencing at the time. He then proceeded to give me some supplements that he had brought to give out to people. He gave me a pretty cool shaker, a 32 serving MusclePharm Assault, and some BPI Creatine. This was a pretty cool experience for me, but what happened next was much cooler. Joey came over to meet Jim and I got to watch Jim talk to Joey about his past and got to see Jim give on the spot personal advice to Joey to help overcome.

That is a basic overview of what we did and what we experienced. Joey and Ray got to meet more people who were the spokes models for Bodybuilding.com because they waited an hour in line which I didn't want to do by that time. I had enough with lines.

I would recommend going to one of these expos if they have one near you or with in a few hours drive. It is well worth the little inconveniences. I plan on going back next year to the L.A. Fitness Expo if possible.

Let me know what you think

Progress update should be coming up soon. I am starting week 4 of my transformation tomorrow.


God Bless
Travis

Joey with Kris Gethin

Me with Jim Stoppani

Me with Steve Cook

Exciting Weekend Ahead

Hey all,
I just wanted to tell you that I am heading to LA this weekend for the 2013 Fitness Expo. I am pretty stoked about meeting my role models, my personal trainer, and some cool celebrities like Lou Ferigno aka The Original Incredible Hulk. I plan on posting pics and doing a review of the event for you all by the end of Monday.
My fitness program is going well. I was a little disappointed because I wasn't seeing the slightest bit of weight loss. I talked to my personal trainer about caloric intake and it seems I am doing pretty good even though I am a little low on the recommended calorie intake. I decided that I would check to see if there was any other evidence of progress and I have in 11 days lost an 1/2 inch off my waist. So I am pretty excited about that and waiting to see what the final results are going to be.
I am also going to be getting my body fat tested by a professional hopefully on Monday morning. This is a big deal because trying to get an accurate measurement is some times pretty difficult by yourself. I have calculated my body fat to be anywhere from 16% to 36%. This is why I am going to have someone else take the measurements for me.

Thanks for tuning in

God Bless
Travis

Before Pictures and Progress

So I am a little late on sharing my before pictures as I had said I would. l did get them uploaded to the contest on Tuesday as planned, I just didn't get them posted on here. So without further ado here they are.

As you can see I have some fat to burn off but that is what this is all about. Getting myself into better shape and more aesthetically pleasing, for myself.
Today is day 5 of the 1-2-3 Lean program that I am following right now. The workouts are kicking my butt which is good. The program is a constant moving, constant working program. That means from the time I start to the time I finish which is about an hour to an hour and fifteen minutes, I am doing nothing but sweating my butt off while doing cardio and weight lifting. This program has my whole body sore but I know it is for a good thing. It doesn't limit my daily activities just gives me a reminder that I am doing something about my fitness condition.
Exercise is half of the solution to the body fat. The other half is nutrition. You cannot expect to put crap in and get a diamond out. You have to put in quality to get quality results. I have been eating pretty clean and pretty lean. I am only eating whole grain foods which means no processed flours, sugars, or starches. I am eating a lot of fresh vegetables, lean proteins, and like I said whole grains. Sample of my daily diet is as follows:

Breakfast:
3-4 Eggs (omelet)
1/4 shredded fiesta cheese
2 slices turkey bacon
1/4 cup tomatoes
1/4 cup mixed peppers
1 TBSP Salsa
1/2 Cup Plain Quaker Oats

Snack:
1/4 cup Almonds
1/2 cup fresh or frozen fruit

Lunch:
2 Cups Leaf Lettuce
1 Cup Baby Spinach
1/4 Cup Tomato
1/2 Cucumber
1/2 Cup mixed peppers
2 TBSP Fat Free Dressing
6-8oz Grilled Chicken Breast
1-2 slices Whole grain bread

Snack:
1/2 cup frozen/fresh fruit
1/2 cucumber

Dinner:
Similar Salad as lunch normally no dressing

I am also taking Muscle Pharm Combat Protein Powder with Muscle Pharm Assault for pre-workout and Muscle Pharm Combat Protien Powder for post workout.

Right now my diet isn't as balanced as it should be but it is getting closer. I am shooting for 40% Protein, 40% Carbs, and 20% fats. Currently running 40% Protein, 30% Carbs and 30% Fats but I am still eating pretty healthy. The change of the percentages is slowly moving more toward optimal so I am going to keep going and get it done.

God Bless

Travis

2013 The Year of Goal Accomlishment

So it has been a while since I have posted. The good news is I am still hitting the gym at least 5 days per week. I have been seeing great gains strength and definition wise. Weight wise I haven't lost any poundage but I am down between 6 and 8% body fat.
So goals have been set for this year. Since I have spent the past couple months building muscle, my goal is to get shredded and lose the body fat. I am set to steer clear of high fructose corn syrup ie no soda, and only whole grain bread. I don't know what my goal weight is but I do know that I want to be sub 12% body fat.
Motivation right now is pretty high because I am gearing up for a new program that is designed to burn the fat and develop lean muscle. I have seen some pretty awesome before and after photos of other people who have had great success with this program. Another tool that is motivating is that I am entering into Bodybuilding.com's 2013 $100,000 Transformation. This is an 84 day or 12 week competition that they put on where grand prize is $50,000 with supplement prizes, gym membership, all expenses paid trip, and video/photo shoot. The motivation is doing the contest and challenging myself to push past my goals. I also have a couple of friends, that make up our #GoGreen team (see Pic Below), that are also joining the contest. I am getting so much motivation from my friends and family as I keep getting compliments on the progress that I have already made. Thank you all for the support.
So what am I doing different for the next 12 weeks? Well I am starting a program by Jim Stoppani called 1-2-3 Lean which is going to kick my butt and I am looking forward to it. It is only a 6 week program so I am going to follow it up with either Jim's HIIT 100 program or his Six Weeks to Sick Arms. Which one will be determined by where I am after the first six weeks us up. I'm you want to know more about the programs check out Jim's website jimstoppani.com.
Meal wise I am going to be eating very lean with chicken breast, tuna, and lots of vegetables. Also going to be eating slow burning carbs and cutting out all the sugars and "white" carbs. Lower glycemic carbs are healthier and better for fat loss.
So my contest starts on Tuesday and I am really excited to see the results in 12 weeks. I plan on keeping you all updated along the way. If you want to know more about what I am doing either exercise wise or food wise leave a comment and I will expand more in my next post. Come back on Tuesday to see my contest before pictures. I will get them up as soon as I can. I am thinking of maybe doing a video blog in the future. Let me know what you think.

God bless
Travis