Health

Sep262014

Shortcuts Are for LOSERS

(Note: Apologies, loyal readers, for our absence yesterday. It was supposed to be a food post day and we failed to provide so here’s an extra special and meaningful article brought to you by Hungry, King of Rants… and Motivation.)

Have you ever seen all of those get ripped quick programs? Lose 10 lbs in 10 days? Drink this magic juice that arms your blood cells with swords and shields to destroy all of your fat cells while you sit on the couch? How about machines that burn more calories in 10 minutes than an hour in the gym? You know, the ones that you stand on and they just vibrate!

Well, I’m not here to discredit or review any of those products. Those posts are due to come at a later time. I am here for something far more important, a lesson that someone like myself has learned personally and seen others learn over time. I am here to tell you that you don’t actually care about your results in your fitness journey.

Does that sound crazy or what? Of course you care! You’ve wanted that six-pack for ten years. You’ve wanted to fit in those size 4 jeans ever since you graduated high school. Your trainer or coach told you to set a goal, so you set a goal. And now that you’ve reached the goal, how do you feel? Great, of course!

But something is missing. It’s missing because all you’re doing is looking at your new body in the mirror and telling that body you love it! Still, you know that there’s a bigger player in this game. Emerson said “life is a journey, not a destination.” You’ve probably heard some version of that phrase, right?

Now relate it to that body in the mirror. What does having the six-pack really mean to you now that you have it? It shouldn’t be the most important thing in the room. That six-pack can come and go in a matter of months, even weeks. Slip from your training regiment and start eating poorly and it’s nothing more than a photo of what used to be, but there’s something you never lose.

You NEVER lose that journey. (Unless you actually lose your memory) You NEVER forget what you went through to get to that point. You don’t forget the sweat. There might have even been some blood and tears… some scars to remind you. And once you’ve been through that journey, it’s not so bad to go back. You’re a seasoned veteran. You know your limits and you want to crush them!

So please, before you sign up for any get ripped quick programs or try to take any shortcuts, think about what really matters. Think about what really lasts. Think about YOU! Oh, and stay HUNGRY AND FIT!

BONUS KITTY PIC

Sep242014

Mesothelioma Awareness Day 2014

Awareness. It truly can save lives, especially when that awareness is related to something that is preventable. If everyone knew exactly what poison ivy looked like, do you think the cases of poison ivy would go down? I would say so. What about for something worse… like cancer? If you were aware of how to prevent cancer, would you take the means to do so for yourself? I most certainly would try. And this all brings us back to the title of this post and that one word that might not look so familiar, mesothelioma.

We’ll make this clear, mesothelioma is a very dangerous form of cancer that attacks a similarly named lining of your body cavity. It tries to, usually successfully, hurt a part of the inside of your body… obviously, you don’t want that to happen. What causes it? Exposure to asbestos. What is asbestos? You might know already or at least you’ve heard the word, but asbestos is a mineral that occurs naturally on our planet, and it is a known carcinogen.

Image source

To put that into perspective, aspartame, which has a very negative public opinion due to its presence as an artificial sweetener in so many processed foods, is declared as a non-carcinogen on www.cancer.org. That was even after studies and lab experiments. (I still don’t consume aspartame because I’m not convinced, yet.) What about arsenic… would you ingest it if you had a choice? You shouldn’t. Asbestos, however, is still used in construction projects throughout the world; developing and developed countries use it in homes, schools, industrial, and commercial buildings. So… how do you know if you’ve been exposed; what are the symptoms?

Here is the scariest part. Mesothelioma sits dormant in your body for 20-50 years after initial exposure to asbestos. Every year, nearly 3,000 new cases are diagnosed. Their average time given to live… 10 months. Although, it’s most common in individuals 50-70 years old, there have been of cases for those in younger generations. The three types that have been identified are in the lining of the lunges (80% of all cases), abdominal lining, and heart lining. All crucial parts of the body and all extremely painful, I’m sure.

So, what’s the point of me writing this post? Why exactly is FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26th, 2014 the 10th Annual Mesothelioma Awareness Day? Because your awareness can save your life or someone else’s life. Although the United States Environmental Protection Agency banned the use of asbestos in most products in 1989, by 1991 the US Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned it and most products containing asbestos are still made today. Try to avoid them and try to avoid buildings that were constructed with asbestos.

Image source

My personal input to this is that asbestos is easily a billion (maybe even trillion) dollar industry, and people aren’t willing to let that go. Money has significant control over the government and we know that. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Court of Appeals was bought for that decision to overturn the ban because the money in a few pockets is worth so much more to those individuals than the lives of nearly 10,000 Americans a year who die because of asbestos related diseases.

Become knowledgeable, spread awareness, avoid asbestos, fight the use of asbestos, and save lives. It could be someone you never met, it could be someone you love, it could be you. And stay hungry and fit!

Sep192014

Talk Like a Pirate (Sweat Like One Too!) Workout

Happy Friday! And more importantly…Happy Talk Like a Pirate Day!! Today is the international day where you shouldn’t be judged for talking like a pirate. In fact, it’s encouraged! Today, we got featured on FitFluential, for an epic pirate-themed workout. You can do this workout anywhere, and you certainly don’t want to miss out. Check out the article here. Happy reading! Below is an excerpt:

“On International Talk Like a Pirate Day, why would you ever want to workout like you do every other single day of the year? Whether it’s CrossFit, strength training on machines, or with free weights, doing an endurance workout, or something at home, we all know that you’re going to do the same workout as always. Why? How about this… today, we do something FUN. ARRRRR you interested yet?

Pirates and ninjas… everyone loves them. You do, or your kids do so you do anyway. Pirates, unfortunately, have a bad reputation BUT what you don’t ever think about is… are pirates in good shape? Sure, they drink a lot of rum, but they actually must be really fit. Imagine swimming, rowing, and sword fighting all day. Maybe they didn’t do it all day, but carrying all those barrels of rum around couldn’t have been easy! And if you think about, look at Captain Jack Sparrow and Will Turner in Pirates of the Caribbean. Pretty fit, right? So let’s give this a shot. (No pun intended… pirate’s pistol. Shot. Get it?)

I should have to walk the plank for that bad pun but instead, let’s workout like a PIRATE!”

–FitFluential

And as always…stay hungry and fit!

Sep172014

What’s Different? NEW FORMULA BSN N.O.-XPLODE

For hardcore lifters, skip this first paragraph to find what you need. As for everyone else, when I first started lifting weights in the gym and having these focused hour-long or so strength training sessions, I saw all these crazy colored drinks that all the bigger guys had. Most of those were NOXPLODE by BSN, one of the most prominent supplement companies and a pioneer in the industry. More and more supplement companies have been popping up what seems like every single week, creating an endless supplies of pre, intra, and post workout drinks. Still, BSN maintains its place as arguably the biggest there is. They’ve always said FINISH FIRST, and NOXPLODE is certainly one of those products that can help you do just that.

WHAT’S DIFFERENT: The old formula tasted good, this tastes better. The old formula mixed well, this mixes better. The old formula came in a medium-sized tub, this comes in a much more compact one. As for the effect, as we all know, pre-workout supplements can affect individuals differently. It depends on if your stomach is empty or full, what your tolerance to the ingredients in the blend is, how long and often you’ve been taking similar substances, and if you’re on board or not. The placebo effect of supplements is real, in my opinion, and you must have that mind-muscle connection to push yourself as far as possible. But as for the ingredients, it has nearly everything necessary to promote optimal blood and oxygen flow to allow you to push yourself to the limit.

THE BOTTOM LINE: What I’m saying is that I don’t personally think the new formula is more effective than the old one, in terms of what you feel (tingling, shaking, etc.) BUT it gives you that same amazing result in a better tasting, smoother mixing, and more compact form. That’s a pretty good deal. It’s not like 1MR Vortex, which in my opinion was a FAR INFERIOR product to its predecessor, 1MR.

Seriously, this is one of the ONLY FRUIT PUNCH pre-workouts that I can tolerate, let alone enjoy. And the container is so cool. Plus, it’s got a great economical value. It’s not as cheap as White Flood or expensive as NO Shotgun, but it gives you a high-end product at a medium price point. That’s a good deal. Look out for deals at Tigerfitness.com and Bodybuilding.com They usually run specials. Plus you can throw a BSN Syntha-6 on there (one of the most delicious proteins on the market, period.)

Oh, and for anyone that isn’t familiar with it, (which I’m sure most of you are) pre-workout supplements like NOXPLODE help provide amplified levels of energy and endurance to help you maximize your performance and make the most out of your training sessions. It can work for bodybuilders, CrossFitters, strongmen/women, athletes, etc. Just make sure you read everything on the label and listen to all that fine print. Do not mix this in a shaker, it will become all fizz and no liquid. You have been warned. And as always, stay hungry and fit!

Sep122014

Blaze New Trails: Mizuno Shoes

And I mean, blaze them. What the heck am I talking about? I’m talking about my new pair of favorite shoes–Mizuno’s Wave Kazan shoes. They are truly wonderful. Some of you may know, some of you may not know, and some of you won’t believe that I’m not a big runner. It’s not easy for me. Sometimes, I really struggle through my runs. I’m not one to get a runner’s “high”– that usually comes when I’m beasting lifts. Why am I sharing this? Because I don’t thrive on running, it’s important for me to have good shoes to keep me safe and give me a leg up. If I got any old shoe, I am setting myself back in a farther position. Even worse, I could hurt myself. When I got the opportunity to try the Wave Kazan shoes, it was love at first run.

Pretty neat video, huh? I was first attracted to the shoe because of what it was designed for. The Wave Kazan is designed after Japanese rock gardens. What does this mean? You can use these on any terrain and they will adapt. Concrete, grass, sand, rocks, trails, and so forth–the design makes it all possible. It is incredibly versatile, which I appreciate. I like to go on trails a lot and slipping or twisting my ankle is not going to help out my progress. The Wave Kazan is designed to fight against that possibility and help you push harder and faster through those obstacles or terrains. And guess what? It only weighs 8 ounces. EIGHT OUNCES! It’s so light, it doesn’t even seem real.

My favorite part of the shoe is the heel. It’s hard to describe to someone who hasn’t experienced it. It was so nicely padded and worked with the rough terrain I was on–it truly felt like walking on a cloud. I felt so supported that I had no worries in trail running. Even though the shoes are so light, they are incredibly supportive and protective. You must try a pair to see what I mean! I think my feet may be having a love affair with these shoes…

I’m not writing this review just for the heck of it–I’ve tried these shoes through many terrains. So far, it’s battled concrete, grass, sand, and a hiking trail. This pair of shoes did wonderfully, especially on the trail! The grooves on the bottom allowed me to grip onto rocks that I could’ve otherwise slipped off of. With the amount of injuries Hungry and I get, it’s nice to have equipment that protects against that. This may sound weird, but these shoes allowed me to better connect with the trail. Instead of wearing my normal thick running shoes or hiking boots, the lightness of the shoes and the grips allowed me to feel the trail, if that makes any sense.

Successfully used the shoes on a trail run with these two

If you can’t tell, I really like these shoes. I’m so happy to review them for Mizuno and FitFluential. Check out the Women’s Wave Kazan here, but also look around–there are other types of shoes and plenty for men as well. Use Mizuno shoes to stay hungry and fit!

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Fitfluential. All opinions are 100% ours (we actually love this shoe dearly).

Sep102014

Bring the Sexy to Your Back Workout

From one person to the next, people want nice backs. Whether you’re male or female, a sexy, strong back is desirable. It’s not hard to get there! All it takes is time, effort, and perseverance. For more than cosmetic purposes, having a strong back is incredibly useful in everyday life. We will outline a great back workout in a gym to get you that back you’ve been wanting. Please ask questions below if you are unsure about a particular exercise. We enjoy this workout because it hits all parts of our back. We also enjoy it because we did this workout together! Find a workout buddy–it keeps up the level of fun and motivation!

Quick Workout Summary

Seated cable rows
Lat pull downs
Pull-ups
T-bar rows
Straight-arm pull down
1-arm row
Rack pulls
Back extensions

1. Seated cable rows. The reps and sets all depend on what you’re going for. I usually do 4 sets of 1-5 reps for strength. If you’re going for muscular endurance, try 12+ reps. This applies for the rest of the workout. Make sure to isolate your back, and just pull with your arms.

2. Lat pull downs. Make sure you’re not using your whole body to pull it down, but instead using your arms to once more isolate your back. And don’t pull it behind your head!

3. Pull-ups or assisted pull-ups. Make sure you go through these with every last bit of juice in you. These are pull-ups, not chin-ups. What’s the difference? Pull-ups have your knuckles facing you, chin-ups having them facing away from you.

4. T-bar rows. Not every gym has this, so we are lucky to be able to use it. It’s a lot of fun! Make sure your body is tight and strong as you row it towards yourself. If you don’t have a T-bar, try using a regular old barbell.

5. Straight-arm pull down. Make sure your arms are straight on this one and you use your back rather than your triceps.

6. 1-arm row. Try to lean against something to give yourself more of a challenge and a way to stabilize your other muscles. Go hard!

7. Rack pulls. For this one–first off–you need to be making a cute face like Hungry is making. Second, make sure the bar in the squat rack is in the right location so that you can do a small pull and then release it slowly back to the bar. It should make some noise and it should be heavy because this is a small movement.

Rack pulls

8. Back extensions. We always like to finish off with back extensions to work our lower back as well as everything else. You can do this with or without weight and make sure you are contracting the proper muscles.

And THAT will bring sexy to your back! This was a really fun workout and it’s even more fun if you get into it and work hard. Get a great playlist ready for yourself and kill it! Each exercise is important in a certain way. It’s important to keep form at tip-top shape and keep isolating your muscles for an effective workout. Remember, we are always here for advice or questions! If you have a question, please comment below! Use this workout to stay hungry and fit!

BONUS PUPPY PIC

Sep032014

Help, I Need a New Workout!

Try It Thursday to the rescue! If you’re ever running out of workout ideas because you’re the kind of person that wants to stay in shape but doesn’t like the monotony of repeating the same exercise routines over and over, Hungry & Fit are here to help. As fitness professionals that have worked with individuals of varying levels, ages, and body types, we have experience innovating and creating new workout programs. Now, we are going to bring these to you… for free of course!

Last week Hungry presented his first Try It Thursday through his Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. (We’re still working on YouTube, Bodyspace, etc.) Since it didn’t get much attention and he liked it so much, we’re going to provide you with the same challenge. However, every week it will change. It might be something you can do once a week, or something that will help you build a workout routine for a whole week. It’s not necessarily a full program for someone with strict goals but it can help everyone try something new and build some new strengths and skills.

We would love to see you perform, capture, and share your Try It Thursday workouts! Use whatever social media you have or write about it in the comment section of the website. Hungry showed his last week and he really wants to see all of yours! Why? Because it’s fun, because it shows you’re trying, and because we love to see what you’re up to. Keep your eyes posted to all of our social media outlets for the Try It Thursday workouts. They will be coming to you on Thursdays for you perform any time throughout the week. Here is a recap of last week’s Try It Thursday.

Perform a superset of two exercises, which means perform the two exercises back to back. Then rest for two minutes, and continue to perform the two exercises until you have either completed six full sets of each or have performed them for 20 minutes. Remember to warm up before you start this workout for injury prevention. Do not rest in between the first and second exercises, if possible, in order to keep your heart rate elevated. What makes this Try It so much fun? YOU get to choose the exercises!

a. Something you are really good at doing (Reps/duration and weight depend on the exercise!)

b. Something you are really bad at doing (Reps/duration and weight still depend on the exercise…)

It’s that simple. The idea here is that you are stimulating yourself both physically and mentally. Dominating the exercise you already are skilled at will help boost your confidence going into the exercise that needs improvement. Even after you possible lose some of that confidence during the challenging exercise, you will be excited to be going back to something you are so good at! It’s a whole bunch of trickery, my favorite way of training clients and working with athletes. Here is what I did.

a. Swim butterfly (against a rip current) in the ocean, breathing every five strokes (1:05 100 pace until fatigued)

b. Practice handstands on the beach (10-12 attempts)

This was a really fun one because I really need to work on handstands and I love the beach. I also capitalized on the rip currents from Hurricane Marie to use the ocean like an Endless Pool and stay in one spot. That way I can come right back out and do my handstands in the same place.

I hope that everyone who is looking for a new workout keeps an eye on Hungry & Fit all over social media. If you subscribe/follow/like us you will be able to see these every week. Even if you have a serious regiment, it doesn’t hurt to have some extra fun and if you are completely lost and just want to start working out, then these are going to be some really fun free exercises for you!

Use Try It Thursday to stay Hungry & Fit!

Aug292014

Home Upper Body Workout (HIIT!)

You’re not always going to have a gym to go to. In fact, you may not even be subscribed to a gym right now! It’s important to have your own personal arsenal of home workouts and exercises. This is a great workout for everybody and anybody! Some people (women especially) choose to ignore strengthening their upper body. And why? We should keep our whole body strong! For this workout, all you need is a pair of light weights and a resistance band. Let’s do it.

Boxing (with 5lb weights) for 1 min

Jamie, the star of our last guest blog post!

Biceps Curls (with whichever weight you can do) for 1 min
Triceps Extensions (with whichever weight you can do) for 1 min
Boxing for 1 min
Rear Delt Flyes for 1 min
Shoulder Press (with whatever weight you can do) for 1 min
Boxing for 1 min
Push-ups for 1 min

Dips for 1 min
Boxing for 1 min
Face pulls for 1 min
Reverse Curls (with whatever weight you can do) for 1 min

Now take a break for crying out loud! Our next and final “set” is going to be faster pace, shorter time, and increased intensity. Try going with some heavier weights than before since you will be doing it for half the time.

Boxing (same 5lb weight) for 30s
Biceps Curls for 30s
Jumping Jacks for 1 min
Triceps Extensions for 30s
Boxing for 30s
Rear delt flyes for 30s

High knees for 1 min
Shoulder Press for 30s
Boxing for 30s
Push-ups for 30s
Quick toes for 1 min
Dips for 30s

Boxing for 30s
Face Pulls for 30s
Jump Rope for 1min
Reverse Curls for 30s

And that, my friends, is a great upper body workout for your muscles and your heart! Jamie and I were sweating and aching by the end of it. This particular upper body workout took us around 40 minutes in total, but you can trim things down or buff them up how you’d like. Make sure you have a reliable timer nearby to count each segment. Try to push yourself through each part even though your muscles are screaming at you. Fight til the end! Do this upper body home workout to stay hungry and fit!

BONUS KITTY PIC

Silly Sajah

Aug272014

Wake Up with a Salutation to Health

Too often we roll out of bed a few minutes too late only to start rushing here and there–barely remembering to brush our teeth after shoving the last bit of toast down our throats–and run out the door. This does not set up the day very well. This manic morning routine leaves you feeling rushed, anxious, and stressed. It should be the opposite! There are easy ways to make your morning feel calm, enjoyable, and rejuvenating–and they don’t take a day at the spa!

If I begin my day like how I pictured above, I’m not going to be in a great mood. It’s important me to start the day out right. I know this can be tough (I have a partner, two cats, a dog, and a snake–imagine kids!), but all it takes is a few minutes to begin your day on a healthy note. Sometimes I meditate–lots of breathing exercises to clear my mind and set my intention for the day.

Other times, I do a sun salutation. This is a yoga routine I try to do in the mornings or when I am feeling stiff. Many of you know my inflexible nature so this yoga routine is important for me to do at least once a day. This yoga routine is a beautiful way to start the day and will spur mental and physical wellness. We often just focus on our physical fitness, but our mental wellness is just as important, too. I’m no yoga master, but I do what I can (my poses aren’t always so pretty).

Let’s go through that routine:

Stand with your feet together and reach high with your hand and tilt slightly backwards

Sweep your arms downwards in a swan dive and reach for your toes
Put your hands on your legs and look forward

Reach back down towards your toes
Plant your hands down and bring your right leg back into a lunge

Bring your left leg back into a plank

Slowly lower, coming up into cobra or upward facing dog

Turn the toes and come into downward facing dog

Put your right foot forward into a lunge, and then your left to meet it
Slowly rise up, one vertebrae at a time, reaching for the sky

This takes 1-3 minutes, depending on how slow or fast you go. Try doing this sun salutation three times in succession. You can do them at different speeds, the same speed–whatever feels right to you that morning. This is a wonderful way to capture that physical and mental wellness spur that will keep you feeling lively and healthy for the rest of the day.

This goes along with my day-to-day routine of drinking Silk Soymilk. I usually go with Vanilla or Plain, but it keeps me healthy and helps my day get started. Silk is all about physical and mental wellness routines. Silk Soymilk has plant-based protein (6g per serving!) which I appreciate and it also helps me to keep fuller longer if I only have time for cereal in the morning (before my sun salutations, of course). They are all about creating products that make you feel better and healthier throughout your busy day.

For me, it makes sense to partner with Silk because we share the same values of natural food (non-GMOs) and leading a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle. If you want to learn more about their products, click here. They also have an awesome Facebook page where you can learn about fantastic giveaways, healthy yummy recipes, and fitness hacks. I hope you begin (or continue) your morning practice of sun salutations or meditation to start a mentally and physically healthy day. As always, stay hungry and fit!

This conversation is sponsored by Silk. The opinions and text are all mine.

Aug222014

The Mecca – Gold’s Venice – Not Just a Bodybuilding Gym?

While the fitness industry is growing at an incredible rate, there has been an unfortunate amount of negative energy between different communities. In the past, athletes got along really well and were considered a clique (in high school, college, etc.) but now people can’t even agree over who is an athlete and what is a sport. Different kinds of athletes (Olympic/sport, martial arts, strongman, powerlifting, endurance, CrossFit, etc.) have all become increasingly hostile and instead of supporting other groups, they put others down in order to lift themselves higher. Since there is no clear competitive comparison of any of the different communities, it all comes down to subjectivity and trash talking. It’s a shame since everyone working towards a healthier lifestyle should continue to motivate one another. While I won’t get into anything in-depth about the can of worms I just opened, I will get back to the topic at hand. Let’s talk about (arguably) the most famous gym in the world.

Gold’s Gym – The MECCA of Bodybuilding – Venice Beach, CA – Since 1965

These are various pictures of me wearing Gold’s apparel…the gym’s in the background are NOT of Gold’s

Ever seen Pumping Iron starring Arnold and Lou Ferrigno? A lot of that footage was shot at Gold’s and Muscle Beach. (Lou was in NYC) Watch Mike O’Hearn‘s YouTube videos? Mostly at Gold’s yet again. Pictures from your favorite bodybuilders on Instagram? Venice! The Mecca has always been the place to be for bodybuilding and it has become even more popular than it was when Pumping Iron came out, despite the rise in competition. (I’ve been to a lot of good gyms across the world and I am sure you have too!) There is no question that the weather, members, posters on the wall, and equipment scream “come here to be a pro bodybuilder” but let me approach this with a different angle. Is Gold’s not just a bodybuilding gym?

When we moved (back) to L.A. (Santa Monica) recently, I told myself I need to join a new gym because I cancelled my YMCA and 24 Hour Fitness memberships. That gym needed to be 1) open late, 2) have amazing equipment, and 3) be able to motivate me in some way. Well, Gold’s was open until midnight, had dumbbells up to 200 lbs, and was full of extremely hard-working and passionate people. Whether they were big or small, strong or weak, natural or not, these people were giving it their all and I love that drive, since I DO NOT HAVE IT. But we all know one thing… I am NOT a bodybuilder! So the final question was, is this gym good for someone like myself? Someone who does not have any concrete goals but just works out because he/she enjoys it. Someone who has participated in sports and martial arts their whole life, using concepts and exercises from every community to become the best athlete possible. And that is precisely why I ended up a member at Gold’s. Because of the following that make it NOT JUST a bodybuilding gym.

(The following is a random list of things that I love at Gold’s, that a bodybuilding gym does not NEED, but this one has them anyway!)

1. Jacobs Ladder – Not one, but two! These are amazing machines and some of the only cardio equipment that I use. Jack up the speed to work on your eye-hand-foot coordination. It helps you maintain relative strength while you build absolute strength.

2. Plyo-Boxes – One that is actually tall. 48” and A TON of them. Different models with one that is just insanely tall. This is one gym where I don’t have to stack boxes on top of each other dangerously to get those high box jumps.

3. Sleds – Multiple sleds in their outdoor workout area. With a countless number of plates to load onto them. Amazing way to build explosive speed and strength in your lower body, while elevating that heart rate.

4. Endless Rope Machine – There are very few gyms in the world where I have seen one of these. It helps you get a full upper body workout, while working on rope climbing turnover technique, grip strength, and elevating your heart rate. And it’s fun!

5. 200 lb dumbbells – And everything in between. If you are a strongman or powerlifter, heavier weights are necessary for your workouts. You can’t do singles, doubles, and triples with 100 lb dumbbells if you want to make it to the top of the mountain!

6. Cambered Squat Bar – I’m impressed when gyms have 100 olympic barbells. Even more so when they have multiple model hex bars. But when you throw a rackable cambered squat bar into the mix, that makes my day. I love the little things!

7. Olympic Platform – It’s often locked up, but it’s a full Olympic platform with bumper plates, chalk, and no mirror! Olympic lifts are not recommended for bodybuilding so for them to have this platform means this gym is for other athletes too!

8. Kettlebells – Oh, we’re not talking about 12 lb ones. They have 40 kg kettlebells… matching! So you can do your front squats, snatches, and walking lunges with a heavier load! They’re outside too so you can throw up in peace!

9. Punching Bag – Or full body striking bags. Heavy ones. That hang. And 4 of them, at least. These aren’t cheap bags either. Don’t tell anyone but I was testing these out the other night and they took a good beating from my legs.

10. A huge dirty wall – That’s right! A huge dirty wall in back. That way you can do wall assisted handstand push ups without having to take your shoes off, or getting yelled at for taking your shoes off, or getting yelled at for putting your shoes on the wall, etc. You can also do flips off the wall, or use the wall for assisted pullups, etc!

As you can tell, I can go on forever. But I will stop here and tell ALL ATHLETES that visit Los Angeles to stop by Gold’s Venice for a day and get a workout in not just for the equipment but more for the culture. It’s an experience you won’t forget. Plus, you might get to see some real monsters there.

Disclaimer: Chris KING Tucci and Hungry & Fit LLC have NO AFFILIATION, personal, or professional relationship with Gold’s Gym Venice, Gold’s Gym, or any of its employees. This was written because I wanted to write it to get a few points across. As always, stay hungry & fit.