Dad Fitness » Home Workout

Interview With Best Selling Fitness Author: Lou Schuler

Sean Barker — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:25:32 +0000

I am really excited to share with you a Dad Fitness exclusive interview with best selling fitness author, Lou Schuler.

As a fitness book worm I personally get every book Lou puts out because they are always top notch and full of the latest information in regards to effective workouts and healthy eating.

Lou has been in the game a long time and seen a lot of the fitness fads come and go.

So I asked him to give me his thoughts on fitness, family and fatherhood…

SB. For people who don’t know, tell us a little about yourself Lou, and how you got started in the fitness industry?

LS. I’m a journalist who’s also a fitness professional. Before I started at Men’s Fitness in 1992, I’d had a fairly conventional journalism career, working at daily and weekly newspapers and regional magazines. I worked at MF for six years, the last three as fitness editor, and then moved to Men’s Health for the next six years, first as fitness editor, then as fitness director.

The Testosterone Advantage Plan, my first book as an author, came out in December 2001. That was followed by Home Workout Bible, Book of Muscle, The New Rules of Lifting, and The New Rules of Lifting for Women. The third book in the New Rules of Lifting series will come out in January 2011.

SB. I hear you are also a busy dad and husband as well. How many kids do you have and what is your favorite part of being a dad?

LS. I have three kids, who are 13, 11, and 9. My favorite part of being a dad is not being anything like my own dad, who was a wreck physically and disengaged emotionally.

SB. Lou, how did your fitness philosophy change once you became a father?

LS. Most of the changes in my approach came about because of the research I was doing for the books I wrote. My diet changed from low-fat to one with balanced macronutrients while writing Testosterone Advantage Plan. I also got my CSCS in 2001, and that coincided with more of an emphasis on training for strength and performance. Coincidentally, I found it was more efficient to train that way.

SB. As a fitness author, what are the 3 biggest mistakes you see busy dads trying to staying fit make with their workouts?

LS. I can’t really say what other guys do or don’t do. I really just see the guys in my own gym, and most of them seem to have pretty solid workout programs. And I also hate to criticize the minority of adults who’re actually making an effort to stay in shape. I could find ways to improve most of the routines I see, but I’m sure at least a few of those guys are thinking the same thing about my workouts.

SB. What do your workouts currently look like?

LS. I do full-body workouts every time in the gym, so if I have to miss a workout because of an unforeseen problem, I don’t have to worry about unbalanced training.

Ninety-nine percent of the time, I’ll start with a lower-body exercise — a squat variation one workout, a deadlift variation the next, and a lunge variation the next. My upper-body work alternates between bilateral and unilateral movements. I like to do almost every exercise from a standing or kneeling position, to keep the core muscles engaged.

I also move pretty quickly from one exercise to the next. I’m not trying to add size — in fact, I’ve lost a few pounds in the past year — so I minimize rest periods and aim for more of a conditioning effect.

SB. What are some of your favorite healthy meals and snacks?

LS. My favorite is one I got from TC Luoma of TMUSCLE: natural peanut butter mixed in a bowl with low-carb chocolate protein powder and low-fat milk. Really hits the spot, and satisfies my hunger for hours.

SB. Why do you think it’s important for us dads to stay fit?

LS. Our kids should see that fitness is a lifelong pursuit. If they see us make time for it, and invest energy in it, they’ll understand that it’s an important part of life.

In our parents’ generation, there wasn’t much of an organized structure for fitness activities. You played outside as a kid, then maybe you played on sports teams through high school or even college, if you were one of the lucky ones. Many of our dads also did physical training in the military, where it was used as a punishment as much as a tool for activity-specific performance. Once you were out of the military, and presumably finished with sports, there wasn’t really any structure in place to encourage lifelong fitness.

But with our kids, everything is structured. There’s almost no such thing as backyard sports, or neighborhood games. If you play something, you play it on a team. If you do pure exercise, it happens in gym class. So it’s important for them to see their parents using those same structures to pursue lifelong fitness, and doing it voluntarily.

We all know as parents how important it is to read to our kids, and to have lots of books around the house. But it’s also important for kids to see their parents reading books for pleasure. That helps them understand that they aren’t just reading because adults say they have to. They’re reading because it’s such an important part of a fulfilling life.

Now we apply that to sports and fitness. At a certain point, I think kids start to ask themselves if they’re playing sports because they enjoy it, or because their parents expect them to play. If Dad is still playing something in middle age — golf, bowling, slow-pitch softball, or anything else that involves competition and some degree of coordination and focus — it reinforces the idea that sports are something you do for yourself.

If they understand that Dad goes to the gym three times a week because he enjoys it and considers it important, it sends the message that structured exercise isn’t just something you do in gym class because the school says you have to.

SB. Anything you would like to add? Any favorite tips you learned from other experts over the years?

One thing I’ve learned from experience is that you have to place as much importance on your wife’s fitness program as you do on your own. That is, you make sure she has as much opportunity to get to the gym or get outside for a run as you do. You can’t pressure her to train if she doesn’t want to — I think that’s obvious. But you have to make sure there’s equal opportunity within your household. Sometimes that means skipping your own workout when something comes up, rather than forcing her to miss hers.

During those times when you simply need to train more often than she needs or wants to train, you have to negotiate the opportunity to do that, rather than just assuming you deserve it by virtue of the fact you’re more ambitious or disciplined.

The benefits come back to you in two major ways. First, of course, is the health and stability of your relationship. You don’t want your wife resenting your desire to be healthy and fit, or to see it as a wedge you use to shift the priorities of the marriage in your direction. Second, your kids see that fitness isn’t just a priority for one individual in their house, but for everyone. If Mom and Dad have fitness pursuits that make them happier, that’s the most positive message we could possibly send to our kids.

SB. Where can people find out more about you and your books?

Website: www.louschuler.com

New Rules of Lifting Books

http://www.amazon.com/New-Rules-Lifting-Women-Goddess/dp/1583333398/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_b

http://www.amazon.com/New-Rules-Lifting-Maximum-Muscle/dp/158333338X/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_b

SB.Thanks Lou for showing us that as a busy dad and fitness author you also practice what you preach!

LS. My pleasure.

Lou Schuler is an award-winning journalist, certified strength and conditioning specialist, author or coauthor of many popular books about diet and strength training. His books include The New Rules of Lifting for Women (with coauthors Cassandra Forsythe and Alwyn Cosgrove), The New Rules of Lifting (with Alwyn Cosgrove), The Book of Muscle (with Ian King), The Home Workout Bible (with Mike Mejia and many other contributors), and The Testosterone Advantage Plan (with Jeff Volek, Mike Mejia, and Adam Campbell).

Would you like to see more interviews like this? Let me know who you would like to see by leaving a comment below!

5 Tips To Get More Energy

Sean Barker — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:33:09 +0000

September seems to be a busy month for everyone. Back to school, back to work and back to some serious workouts!

After talking with my buddy Craig Ballantyne of Men’s Health magazine I asked him to share his 5 best tips to help you guys get more energy to get through the busy fall season and here is what he had to say.

1) Go to bed and get up at the same time everyday.

2) Get 30-minutes of activity everyday.

3) Eliminate all added sugar from your diet.

4) Eat more fruits and vegetables and drink more water.

5) Drop the mega-caffeine coffee and switch to Green Tea.

Sounds simple eh? But it works!

So use those tips and have more energy….

PS.Craig Ballantyne and my buddy Chris Lopez just released a new Kettlebell Fat Loss home workout program called Kettlebell Revolution. I can’t recommend Kettlebell workouts enough if you want to get bodysculpting results in 10-20 minutes per day.

So don’t miss your chance on these powerful new home workouts – heck, you can even do them at the park.

Get your Kettlebell workouts here:

=> Kettlebell Fat Loss Workouts

Time to fight the fat this fall!

Do you have any other tips you would like to share to get more energy?

Post them by leaving a comment below.

Muscles In Minutes

Sean Barker — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 18:54:17 +0000

15-Minute Bodyweight Workouts For Busy Dads

One of the most common requests I get from busy dads is for short bodyweight workouts that they can do anywhere at anytime.

So I dug into my training “tickle truck” and created Muscles In Minutes, 15 Minute Bodyweight Workouts For Busy Dads.

The envy of every Canadian kid growing up: Mr. Dress Up's "Tickle Trunk"

Finally you have no more excuses for skipping workouts and getting in great shape!

With The Dad Fitness Muscles In Minutes workouts you can lose that gut and build rock hard muscle anywhere at anytime.

Whether it’s before work, after work or even during work! (it’s better than coffee and donuts during your break)

You can always find 15 minutes to squeeze in a quick workout so you can start looking better and feeling better.

•   You don’t need an expensive gym membership.
•   You don’t need crappy home workout equipment.
•   You don’t need a lot of time.

Thanks to a marvel of science we call gravity all you need is your bodyweight to get fitter and stronger despite being a time-crunched dad.

Here is a sneak peak at Day 1 of Muscles In Minutes.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Muscles In Minutes is now available and is included for FREE when you get the Dad Fitness System.

Click Here To Get Started TODAY!==>http://www.DadFitness.com

The Dad Fitness Father's Day Fitness Celebration

Sean Barker — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:37:21 +0000

Well, the big day is almost here.

No…not Father’s Day, but the launch of the all NEW DadFitness.com and The Dad Fitness Lifestyle System.

I am celebrating Father’s Day early this year with busy dads around the world with the relaunch of Dad Fitness.

Starting tomorrow at 12 noon, The NEW Dad Fitness System will be available with some cool new bonuses and a limited time offer to get in the best shape you can this summer.

Here is a sneak peak of the NEW bonuses.

Buff and Busy Home Workout
(Retail Value= $29.99)

Busy dads can now build maximum muscle at home in minimum time with The Buff and Busy Workout from Dad Fitness.
You can finally be the buffest dad on the beach this summer with only 3 short home workouts a week! This workout program uses
the most effective muscle building technique called undulating periodization which has been proven to be
more effective in inducing maximum muscle gains when compared to traditional workout programs.

The Truth About Fit Dads Audio Series
(Retail Value= $99.99)

Listen in to these 3 EXCLUSIVE interviews with the busiest and fittest dads in the health and fitness industry today!
Brad Pilon reveals shocking truths about obsessive eating, food recalls and the shady supplement industry.
Mike Roussell gives you the 6 pillars of nutrition, how to lose more than 2lbs a week and the challenges of having baby twins! Zach Even-esh gets real about why us dads need to stay fit despite our busy schedule, why you don’t need a gym and how to balance hectic days and still get in a great workout. Finally you will hear how you can get in great shape despite being a busy dad…

Manley Meals Cookbook
(Retail Value: $39.99)

If your a hungry dad who likes to eat REAL food with your family and still want to get in great shape, you will love this cookbook.
Sean Barker shows you the real recipes he eats on a weekly basis to stay in great shape year round despite working 2 jobs and running a family.
This is fit and fast food recipes for guys who likes all the classics like burgers, pizza, pasta and how to grill the perfect steak.
Plus your kids won’t know they are eating healthy with these tasty wholesome ingredients!

VERY IMPORTANT: When you get your copy of the Dad Fitness System during this special promotion you will also get the 8 other FREE bonuses that has been a part of the Dad Fitness System. BUT, after this special is over all 8 of the other bonuses from other fitness experts will be gone for good!

So, during this Father’s Day special you will get all 11 bonuses for FREE along with the Dad Fitness System.

This is a HUGE package at a tremendous value, which includes workouts, meal plans, recipes and everything you need as a busy dad to build muscle and burn fat in only 3 hours a week.

The greatest gift you can give yourself or even your own dad is the gift of health!

Be ready at 12 noon tomorrow at www.DadFitness.com to get fit for life and be the best damn dad you can for you and your family…

I am looking forward to hearing your success story!

The Cure for the Common Cold

Sean Barker — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 00:41:01 +0000

Well, it looks like I am down for the count.

Yesterday I felt it coming on as I started getting all the dreaded flu symptoms…cough..cough..sniff…sniff..

I thought it might only be a little head cold but last night it hit me from head to toe while watching my Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Detriot Red Wings to force a game 7, GO PENS!

…fever, body aches and chills…wonderful!

I managed to get through the day at work and I am hoping to get through tomorrow as well as I am then off for my long weekend.

But if there was anything that could make me feel better last night it was this video below!

For you dads, you will know exactly what I mean when you watch this.

Click here to view the embedded video.

As for me I am downing a hot cup of Neo Citran and heading to bed early.

My next Dad Fitness workout is scheduled for Friday, so I will see how I feel.

PS. If you want to try a cool new home workout program that I am giving away for free

Click Here To Download Your FREE Home Workout

==>FREE HOME WORKOUT

Don't Miss Out On These Workouts!

smbarker — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 11:51:00 +0000

Don’t miss out on this special offer from Dad Fitness!

In case you haven’t heard The Ultimate Workout For Busy Dads has just added 3 new FREE bonuses to the already jam packed fitness system for overweight busy dads.

If you didn’t already know The Dad Fitness System already includes 8 additional bonuses to help you lose that bulging belly in only 3 hours a week!
Check out all the details and get your copy here:

=>www.DadFitness.com

You’ll get 16 weeks of belly busting workouts, easy to follow nutrition programs for real dads, and all the tips and tricks to lose that fat you don’t want to carry around another year PLUS due to the Dad Fitness innovative exercise design it only requires 3 short workouts a week!

Don’t forget for 3 days only in addition to the 8 regular bonuses you get with the Dad Fitness package, you will also receive:

1) No Gym-No Problem, Dad Fitness Home Workouts
(Retail Value = $29.99)

Dad’s Fitness expert Sean Barker releases the Ultimate Home Workout for busy Dads who don’t have time to get to the gym. Full of fat blasting workouts you can do in the comfort of your own home before work of after the kids go to bed.

2) Fat Loss To Go-4 Minute Abs The Apocalypse hd
(Retail Value = $39.99)

You want abs…you got abs! In this book Ed Scow, CPT and super busy dads shows you how to get those rock hard abs you’ve always wanted and the workouts only take 4 minutes! Add them to the end of your workout and you’ve just turned a great workout into a phenomenal workouts!

3) Perfect Posture in 30 Days
(Retail Value= $27.95)

Finally get rid of those nagging back pains and improve your posture so you can play with your kids or do things around the house. You CAN, and now personal trainer Vince Delmonte is here to show you how. Discover how posture can make you healthy and a few simple exercises that can radically improve your posture fast!

Don’t delay, because these new bonuses will NOT be available after Wednesday, January 21st!

Visit this site to get the Ultimate Workout System For Busy Dads and all of your fast action bonuses before time runs out:

=>www.DadFitness.com

Sean Barker, CPT

Learn the “The Truth On Fat Loss, How To Finally Lose That Beer Belly” in this FREE report from Sean Barker at www.dadfitness.com

Something Every Dad Must See!

smbarker — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:24:00 +0000

I got some exciting news to share with you!

Even though the holidays are over I have some gifts to give you and if you are REALLY serious about getting in the best shape of your life this year despite your busy schedule as a time crunched Dad then keep reading…

As an expert fitness trainer to busy dads around the world I have put together the The Ultimate Workout System For Busy Dads – and it is GUARANTEED to help you lose that sagging beer belly that has gotten mysteriously bigger again this year.

For the next 3 days only I am having a New-Year New Dad Giveaway to help you start 2009 off right. Not only will you get the proven Dad Fitness System with the 16 weeks of workouts and nutrition programs, but I am also giving away THREE extra new bonuses to celebrate my New Year-New Dad giveaway.

So in addition to the 8 regular bonuses you get with the Dad Fitness package, you will also receive these 3 new bonuses:

1) No Gym-No Problem, Dad Fitness Home Workouts
(Retail Value = $29.99)

2) Fat Loss To Go-4 Minute Abs
(Retail Value = $39.99)

You want abs…you got abs! In this book Ed Scow, expert trainer and super busy dad shows you how to get those rock hard abs you’ve always wanted and the workouts only take 4 minutes! Add them to the end of your workout and you’ve just turned a great workout into a phenomenal workout!

3) Perfect Posture in 30 Days
buy Terza madre, La (Retail Value= $27.95)

The only catch is that I don’t open the doors on this amazing offer until 12 noon (EST) TODAY, Monday, January 19th. So mark that in your calendar, program it into your Blackberry or IPhone so that you don’t miss your chance at the limited time bonuses!

So be ready at NOON today when I open the doors on the New Year New Dad, Dad Fitness Giveaway.

Here’s the site where you can grab your copy of the Ultimate Workout System For Busy Dads and all the extra new bonuses:

=> www.DadFitness.com

Lets make this the best year ever!

Sean Barker, CPT

Learn the “The Truth On Fat Loss, How To Finally Lose That Beer Belly” in this FREE report from Sean Barker at www.dadfitness.com

Healthy Fish & Chips For Busy Dads

smbarker — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 22:40:00 +0000

I finally headed back to the gym today.

Unfortunately it wasn’t until 12pm this afternoon because my local rec centre has cut back its hours and don’t open til 12 noon.

It’s certainly a little shift in schedule for me but I had a pretty good workout anyway. It was a fairly easy workout as I have been easing myself back since my Christmas break.

I will start my new routine on Friday and start to turn up the intensity as the weeks go on. I am actually a bit sore from my Dad Fitness home workout of chinups and perfect pushups!

For dinner last night I decided to come up with a healthy Dad Fitness version of a classic favorite that is usually one of the worst offenders in terms of unhealthy fat.

Fish & Chips.

Here is the recipe that I used from the shake & bake box. Pretty simple actually. It turned out pretty good and shows you that you can take any unhealthy food and turn it into a more healthy version when you cook it yourself.

Dad Fitness Oven Baked Fish & Chips

Prep Time:

5 min

Total Time:
25 min

Makes:
6

1 pkg. (400g) frozen whitefish (Do not thaw.)I used cod fillets.

1 env. SHAKE’N BAKE Fish Crispy Original Coating Mix

1 sweet potato cut into wedges, tossed in olive oil and spices

PREHEAT oven to 450°F. Lightly moisten block of frozen fish with water. Add to shaker bag with coating mix; close bag and shake until evenly coated.

PLACE on ungreased baking sheet; surround with potatoes.

BAKE 20 min. or until fish flakes easily with fork.

I then took things a step further and created my own tartar sauce.

1/2 cup of plain yogurt
1 tsp of lemon juice
t tsp capers
dash if dill week, salt, pepper
fresh parsley

Mix up in bowl and drop a spoonful over fish

Sean Barker, CPT

Learn the “The Truth On Fat Loss, How To Finally Lose That Beer Belly” in this FREE report from Sean Barker at www.dadfitness.com

The Dad Fitness Home Workout

smbarker — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:53:00 +0000

TGIM.

Yes, Thank-God its Monday!

After working three 12 hour shifts this weekend I am glad to be off for a couple days.

So this morning I got up eager and ready to head back to the gym to start the New Year off right.

After getting up bright and early at 5am and doing 2 hours of work in my home office, I headed out to the gym at 8am.

As I approached the rec centre where I workout I noticed there were no vehicles in the parking lot???

Uh-oh, this didn’t look good.

As I approached the main door I seen the notice stating that due to cutbacks, they won’t be opening until 12pm! Nooooooooooo!

Over the years I always preferred to workout in the mornings as it makes me feel good for the rest of the day and by doing it first I don’t have any chance to skip it when things come up.

Cool Hand Luke psp

So I wiped the frozen tears from face, drove home and did a fast and furious Dad Fitness Home Workout.

Check out the video below of the Dad Fitness Fast and Furious Home Workout.

With this workout you will lose fat faster than I am losing my hair!

I was soaked by the end and finished in less than 30 minutes!

I kept the day going strong with a healthy post-workout meal of 3 omega-3 egg omelet, 2 slices of 100% mulitgrain toast with natural peanut butter and a clementine.

Even if you like going to the gym like I do, make sure to have a back-up plan.

Get your fitness back-up plan here
==>The Dad Fitness System

It’s going to be a good-year!

Sean Barker, CPT

Learn the “The Truth On Fat Loss, How To Finally Lose That Beer Belly” in this FREE report from Sean Barker at www.dadfitness.com