About

The Heroic Fitness Experience is a blog intended to address an epidemic that is sweeping our nation. We will provide systematic solutions for prevention, bread 'n butter cures, and thought provoking insights! Symptoms of this malicious disease include obesity, lack of motivation, and procrastination, just to name a few. You can become infected under your radar, and it spreads like gangrene! People most commonly become infected by eating fruits from the trees of self-indulgence and creative excuses. The epidemic being referred to is LAZYASSITITUS...pronounced lazy-ass-i-titus!


If you think you are infected, don't worry; we've all had it. The key to the cure is doing something about it. By sharing with you the Epic Insights and Adventures happening within the Heroic Fitness Experience, we hope to inform, motivate, and inspire you to build healthy habits that will fight off and prevent this epidemic. The Heroic Fitness Experience desires to provide the delightful daily dose of enthusiastic encouragement you might need to get movin' and marchin' toward your physique transformation destination. Please read, follow, and interact with your Heroic Fitness Experience. Have an Epic Day!




Monday, August 29, 2011

Big Fat Lies Series #1


Hi Subscriber, 

BURN THE FAT, FAT FURNACE
"Big Fat Lies" mini course

Brought to you by Kirk Huggins Rogers
and www.heroicfitness.com

This post contains the first part of your
12-part mini-course, BIG FAT LIES.

Please note: This mini course is sent automatically
to you by email every other day, if you go to my website and subscribe to my newsletter.

In this lesson, you will learn the physiological
truth about why very low calorie diets cannot work
long term and why they are only quick fixes
that lead to eventual weight re-gain...

Train smart and expect success,

Kirk Huggins Rogers
Physique Transformation Specialist
Certified Fit to Fight Instructor
Fat Loss Coach


Fat Loss Lie #1:

::: "You have to starve yourself to get a lean body" :::

What if I told you that very low calorie diets will actually
make you fatter in the long term, and that there's an almost
embarrassingly simple way that you can eat more and still burn
more fat?

I know it sounds too good to be true, but you're about to see the
science behind it, and I've got the real-world results to prove
it, so read on.

To get rid of fat, the laws of energy balance and thermodynamics
declare that you have to consume fewer calories than you burn.

Sorry, there’s no way around it. There's no such thing as
"calories don't count." Run for cover the next time you hear
that claim because it's absolutely false and any scientist
will tell you that.

Calories DO count. You must have a "calorie deficit" to
burn fat off your body.

However, the fatal flaw in most popular diet programs is that
the calorie deficit is too aggressive or too extreme.

Have you ever been told that to get a lean body you had to eat
1200 calories a day or 1000 calories a day or even less? Did you
ever just get FED UP with no results and tell yourself, "That's it,
I'm just hardly going to eat anything," because you were desperate
to get the pounds off as fast as possible?

Yeah, sure, it works in the beginning, because there's a HUGE
calorie deficit at first, but there’s also a HUGE irony:

When you cut your calories too far, eventually YOUR BODY ADAPTS.

If you're a Star Trek fan, it's kind of like the BORG, where a
phaser weapon works against the alien BORG creatures once, but then
they adapt, and soon the same phaser blast no longer does anything.

Well, diets are kind of like that, aren't they? It's because
YOUR body adapts too.

You "fire" a low calorie diet at your body and it zaps off some
weight in the beginning. But then your body figures out what's going
on. Your body doesn't care that you want to look good in a swimsuit;
your body thinks you're under attack! Your body thinks you're about
to starve to death!

When you fire something extreme at your body (like hardly eating),
your metabolic rate slows down in order to protect you.

This "defense mechanism" is often called, "the starvation response."

When you go into starvation mode, here are some of the consequences:

1. Your body releases fewer fat-releasing and fat-burning enzymes
such as hormone sensitive lipase and lipoprotein lipase.

2. Your fat cells release less of the hormone leptin, which is
the signal that tells your brain you are well fed and not
starving (it's the "anti-starvation" hormone)

3. Fat burning hormones crash, including your levels of T3 (no, not
the latest Arnold terminator movie, T3 is the active form of thyroid
hormone, the important "metabolism-regulating hormone" that you've
probably heard about before).

4. You lose muscle. Muscle is metabolically-active tissue, which
means it takes a lot of energy just to keep it. When you're "starving,"
 you're in an "energy crisis", so excess muscle is the LAST thing
you need. Muscle becomes expendable, and your body cannibalizes
your own lean tissue.

5. Appetite hormones go ballistic. When you're starving, a part of
your brain called the hypothalamus switches into high gear and flips
the appetite switch, sometimes to the point where you become ravenous
and cannot fight these physiological cravings with willpower.

Bottom line:  It's hormonally, metabolically and physiologically
impossible to achieve permanent fat loss by starving yourself.

And that's the first BIG LIE:

Any program that's extremely low in calories may work in the short
term,
but the "honeymoon" never lasts for long.

In the long run, very low calorie diets can actually make you fatter.
Eventually, they lead to binge eating and weight re-gain and you end
up with less muscle and a slower metabolism than when you started. 

The good news is, you don't have to starve yourself to get
a lean body. In fact, you can eat more and burn more fat.

Here's how:

"BURN THE FAT, FAT FURNACE" ACTION STEPS:

1. Avoid very low calorie diets.

Before going on any diet, look at the recommended calories.
You'll probably discover that in most cases, you are required
to slash your calories to "starvation" levels (1200 or less
for women, 1800 or less for men, and active people need even more
Avoid the temptation of the quick fix.

2. Make sure your calories are customized.

Depending on your activity level, age and gender, your calorie
needs may be much higher or much lower than the average person.
If a diet program recommends the same amount of calories for
everyone, that should be a red flag to stay away. It could be
perfect for someone else, but starvation level for you.

3. Decrease calories just a little below maintenance.

Decrease your calories conservatively - only about 20% below your
daily maintenance level. A mild calorie cut doesn't trigger the
starvation response as much.

For example: If you're female and you maintain your weight on
2150 calories per day, a 20% deficit is 1720 calories per day
(correct). Conventional diets might have you slash to 1000 or 1200
calories per day or less without emphasis on exercise (incorrect)

4. Increase your calorie deficit more by increasing activity

If you only cut calories slightly below maintenance, then
how do you reduce body fat without the process taking forever?
Simple, you BURN more calories and increase your deficit by
increasing your activity. No brainer simple.

First, if you're not doing so already, you should aim for three
days per week of strength training with weights.

Second, you should do at least three days per week of moderate
to vigorous cardiovascular exercise.

Third, if you wish to accelerate fat loss more, or if you need to
break a progress plateau, you bump up your activity even further
by adding additional cardio sessions or increasing the intensity
or duration of your current workouts.

It also helps to get more physical activity in general, or
participate in sports or recreational activities that you enjoy.

Bottom line:

The first secret to permanent fat loss is to BURN THE FAT,
don't STARVE THE FAT

Some exercise physiologists today, such as Dr. John Berardi, refer
to this concept as "energy flux." That's a fancy way of saying,
"Eat more, burn more," and that's what the Burn The Fat, Fat Furnace philosophy
is all about. 

To learn more about the Burn The Fat, Fat Furnace philosophy stay tuned for the next installment
of BIG FAT LIES; there are 11 more on the way!

----------------------------------------------
Heroic Fitness Success Stories 
----------------------------------------------


I had tried every thing to lose weight. I worked out all the time, drank lots of water, ate healthy, and took diet pills but i never saw results. Then I started working out with Kirk, and the weight fell off. It was fun and it wasn't hard. Kirk made it really easy to lose the weight. I started at a size 12 and now I am a size 4. I am so happy happy with my weight loss, it really has changed my life. I recomend Kirk to every one I know. He is truely a genius and really great person. I told him that he should be training celebrities because he is that good at what he does.
--Sarah Frye

I am Britnie Turner, your Miss North Carolina United States 2009 and 2010.   Also, I was a top 5 finalist in the Miss United States 2010 Pageant.  I will be competing in other state and national pageants this year, and I am looking to improve my chances by getting the best bod possible!

I have researched trainers over the past 2 years but have never been able to find one who:

1.) Genuinely cares
2.) Really motivates me to do and be my best
3.) Isn't a creep
4.) Is REAALLY worth the money

When I finally found Kirk Huggins Rogers of Heroic Fitness it was through at least 6 direct testimonies from his clients who have achieved amazing results and couldn't stop praising his work! I had to meet this guy, just to see if what everyone was saying could possibly be true.

Well, I tested him out and long story short he is everything you need to get the results you want! I am looking forward to a great year not only preparing for the competition but continuing my new life where my mind and body are disciplined and healthy. I am very blessed to have found someone that can help me and push me to finally achieve my goals. Thank you Kirk!

--Britnie


I have been working out avidly since my high school years. I had competed in amateur bodybuilding competitions during my teenage years and had always made physical fitness a priority. Unfortunately life had thrown me a curveball which prevented me from continuing with my passion until 2 years ago when I met Kirk Huggins Rogers of Heroic Fitness.

I had been fighting a losing weight loss battle and hit a plateau with my workout routines. As any athlete knows it is always best to have someone review a program and to have them make adjustments to allow the body to continue making progress. It was Kirk Huggins Rogers’ knowledge and expertise on the subject that made it possible for me to loose more than 38lbs taking me from 235lbs to 197lbs and to shed more that 20% body fat from 32% to 11% over the course of a year!!!! Kirk implemented a custom made meal plan program along with a unique workout regime that he revised as I achieved milestones on my fitness pathway.

I attribute my results to Kirk from Heroic Fitness and his power to inspire and motivate which allowed me to make physical fitness apart of my lifestyle!!!!

--Nate





Friday, August 26, 2011

5 Ways to Burn Calories at Work


TGIF Everybody,

Do you sit behind a desk most of the day? If so, you may not be getting enough of a workout to keep you active. For some people, it is easy to burn calories. They may spend their days on their feet, helping customers or even performing physical tasks. In those cases, it is easy to get through the necessary calories. For all others, there are ways to burn more just by making a few changes.

Don’t Do Lunch Just Once

Rather than eating a big meal in the afternoon, plan to consume something smaller every two to three hours. Doing this can greatly increase your overall health, too. How does it help? It gives your body time to digest food and keeps your calorie burn going. Your metabolism is increased. You can lose weight by eating smaller meals more often. All of that contributes to your health.


Park the Car and Walk

Instead of fighting with your coworker over the spot closest to the door, move back. The farther away you park, the more likely you are to get in a bit of exercise. It may not seem like much, but spending a few extra minutes walking farther can have a significant improvement on the number of steps you take in a day. Your goal is to get at least 10,000 steps in each day.


Bike to Work

Another way to get more exercise is simply to take a bike to work. On the other hand, walk to the bus stop and bus to work. It may not seem as glamorous but it does fantastic things for your heart and your overall fitness. Keep in mind that this option also helps the environment (and your pocketbook, too!).


Get Rid of Your Chair

Instead of standing, though, replace your chair with a fitness ball. It makes for an ideal seat. In fact, some of the largest companies in the world are using them. The benefit is easy to see- you have to keep on track and on balance. It also does good things to help you to improve your stability. It can help to improve your posture and keep you moving throughout the day. In addition, every hour or so, you can easily do a few ab crunches to get some added benefits.


Keep Some Dumbbells in the Office

It is a good idea to give yourself that short, ten minute workout whenever it is possible. That means stopping in the middle of the day and lifting some light weights. Doing this helps to keep your body moving and helps you to burn calories whenever you can. Are you thinking about that project? Do so with a dumbbell in your hand.

There are many simple ways that you can burn more calories while you are at work. The good news is that these things do not take more time or cost you money to do. You can plan for them by leaving items in your office to use. Talk to your boss about making fitness breaks a part of the day,



Committed to your health and fitness goals,
Kirk Huggins Rogers
Physique Transformation Specialist

PS - Have a FANTASTIC, HEALTHY and EPIC Weekend J

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Epic Insights in Individual Health and Fitness


Heroic Fitness News (grill your way lean)
Grill Your Way Lean
Grilling is the most popular pastime of summer.

While outdoor cookouts are a great opportunity to relax and visit with friends and family, did you know that the average barbecue meal exceeds 1500 calories? That's almost an entire day's worth of calories in one meal.

That type of eating will do some serious damage to your waist over the course of the summer.

The good news is that barbecue season doesn't have to be fattening. In fact, with a few small changes to your barbecue menu, you can turn summer into the perfect opportunity for weight loss.

So before you slather on the sunscreen and fire up your grill, read the following tips to grill your way lean this summer.

On the Grill: Believe it or not, grilling is actually a very healthy way to cook meat. Of course the type of meat that you choose will make all of the difference. Burgers and hot dogs are traditional barbecue meats, but they aren't the healthiest. Try the following:

  • Choose lean cuts of beef, pork or poultry
  • Marinade with low fat dressing
  • Make hamburgers with extra-lean ground beef
  • Take the skin off chicken before grilling
  • Replace beef patties with ground turkey patties
  • Grill up salmon or cod
  • Forego the meat and grill veggie burgers
Side Dishes: This is where most people run into trouble. Barbecue side dishes are typically filled with loads of fat. Creamy coleslaw and potato salads can hold as much as 15 grams of fat per serving. Try the following instead:
  • Make veggie kabobs and grill them
  • Grill bok choy (see recipe below)
  • Replace the mayo in your salads with low-fat mayo
  • Serve fresh salad with light vinaigrette
  • Try whole-grain macaroni for your pasta salad
  • Grill up corn on the cob (pass on the butter)
  • Put out a veggie tray with low fat dip
Drinks: Most people don't realize that beverages play a big role in summer weight gain. Margaritas, beer, soda pop and punch all contain lots of empty calories. Try the following:
  • Drink water, it is always your healthiest option
  • Stick with light beer
  • If you have to have a soda pop stick with diet
  • Brew unsweetened ice tea and serve with lemon
Dessert: Yes, there are ways to satisfy your sweet tooth while getting lean. Think outside of the box instead of turning to the typical fattening options like ice cream, pie, cake or cookies. Try the following:
  • Grill mango, banana and pineapple on kabobs
  • Stick with sorbet instead of ice cream
  • Replace peach pie with grilled peach halves
  • Choose light ice cream over regular
Remember, it's ok to splurge every once in a while. Enjoy yourself. Just keep in mind that by taking a few of the above suggestions you can enjoy great food while getting back into great shape.

Want to shape up even more this summer? Call or email today to get started on a fitness program specifically designed to get you into your best shape ever.

Magic Pills
I hate to break it to you, but there's no such thing as magic weight loss pills.
Don't fall for the latest diet pill craze. Have you ever noticed that every weight loss pill specifically states that it works when combined with proper diet and exercise?
Well, they are right—proper diet and exercise will cause you to lose weight—without costly bogus pills.
Grilled Bok Choy
Ready to grill? Throw some bok choy on the BBQ! Bok choy is packed with vitamins A, C and K, as well as beta carotene. This grilled bok choy has tender stems and crispy leaf edges.
Servings: 6

Here's what you need...

  • 2 lbs bok choy
  • 1 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
  1. Preheat grill and lightly oil the grate.
  2. In a small bowl combine the oil and seasonings. Mix well.
  3. Slice the bottom off the head of bok choy, and wash each stem.
  4. Lay bok choy on prepared grill. Brush with the seasoned oil mixture. Cover grill and cook until stems show grill marks, about 4 minutes. Turn the bok choy, brush with more seasoned oil mixture and grill the other side.
  5. Transfer to platter and serve.
Nutritional Analysis: One serving equals: 36.5 calories, 2.6g fat, 3g carbohydrate, 1g fiber, and 2g protein.

Motivate your friends, family and co-workers! Use the "refer a friend" link below to forward this newsletter and subscribe your friends.

Come Train With Kirk!
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Heroic Fitness Hours of Operation

Carillon Building Fitness Facilities
Monday:  7:00 AM – 9:30 AM, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Wednesday: 7:00 AM – 9:30 AM, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Friday: 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM

Ally Center Fitness Facilities
Monday:  10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Tuesday: 7:00 AM – 9:30 AM, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Thursday: 7:00 AM – 9:30 AM, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM


Client Testimonials

From the novice exerciser to the seasoned exerciser,  Kirk Huggins Rogers of Heroic Fitness has the passion, desire, and ability to help you transcend your goals and transform your workouts into an epic experience.  He is by far the best personal trainer I have ever utilized, and is truly a physique transformation specialist.  I whole-heartedly recommend the Heroic Fitness Experience!
-Sofia Mohammed

  
Kirk, thank you so much for sharing your physical fitness knowledge, your patience, your gentle urgings (which kept me going, even when I didn’t think I could!), and for your constant and consistent belief in my abilities- I’m so grateful you pushed this 50 “ish” year old woman to keep trying!!  You’ve provided me with a terrific foundation – now, I just need to continue to DO it!
-Debi Brause

Email: heroicbod1@heroicfitness.com
Phone: 704-575-1514
Web: www.heroicfitness.com

Friday, June 17, 2011

Epic Insights in Individual Health and Fitness

Heroic Fitness News (5 rewards for you)
5 Rewards of a 5K
Have you ever considered running a 5K? The benefits may surprise you.

A 5K race is 3.1 miles, the perfect distance for beginning runners. It's a realistic, attainable goal that's fun and satisfying to achieve.

Here are 5 rewards you will reap:

1) Tone Your Legs: Runners have awesome legs. Muscular, toned and tan. Training for a 5K will get you on pace for your own set of lean limbs.

  • Calves: Not the easiest muscle to tone in the gym, but these lanky muscles are quickly toned by running. A proper runner's stride has your foot landing in a rolling motion, heel to toe. As you push off with your toe, feel a firm contraction in your calves. Push your calves to the limit by running in sand or gravel. No Thumping! You know your stride is stiff when you hear a thumping sound with each step. When you lightly roll your foot from heel to toe, you take pressure off of your lower back. Remember, thumping feet lead to a sore back.
  • Glutes: Running is a great way to firm up your glutes. To really raise your glutes take your training to the hills or do bleacher runs.
  • Thighs: Who doesn't want slimmer thighs? Running does wonders for shaping and slimming your thighs, right where it counts.
2) Support A Cause

By participating in a 5K you get in shape while supporting a cause. Most 5K races are put on by charities or non-profit organizations. Many times you have the opportunity to raise funds and community awareness through your involvement.

3) Flatten Your Abs

Running burns a massive amount of calories. This means you'll find your body quickly morphing into that of a lean athlete. Don't over-compensate the extra calories burned by eating too many carbs. Manage your portions to reap the most belly shrinking benefits.

While running is an amazing way to transform your body, running alone won't deliver complete results. Resistance training is an equally important part of the equation. With resistance training you get:

  • Raised Metabolism: Resistance training raises your metabolism for an extended period of time, even after the workout is finished. This means more calories burned. Also resistance training adds muscle to your body, which raises your resting metabolism to burn even more calories when you aren't exercising.
  • Upper Body Muscle Tone: While running is great for adding lower body muscle tone, it won't do much for your upper body. With resistance training you target the muscles of your upper body to create a symmetric physique.
  • Muscle Confusion: With resistance training there are endless variations of movements you can do in order to keep your muscles guessing. Never allow your routine to grow stale by doing the same motions over and over again.
4) Make New Friends

Athletic endeavors are a relaxed way to make new friends and form connections within your community. Join a local running group to assist your training or start your own group of 5K hopefuls in your neighborhood. Your group could run the 5K together for support. Who knows, you may make new friends for life.

5) Start A Habit

Although you may find it hard to believe, especially if you haven't yet run your first 5K, racing is addicting. The satisfaction of accomplishing your goal, along with the exciting changes in your body, will likely lead you to another race. It's not farfetched that you'll build your training up to run a marathon.

Running is great, but as we touched on above, resistance training is essential for achieving outstanding results. The best way to get into amazing shape is with a challenging and dynamic exercise routine.

Call or email today to get started on your own exercise program that will lead to more rewards than you ever dreamed of.

5K Success
Here are 3 tips to ensure that your 5K goes great.
  1. Consult your Doctor. You should always check with your doctor before beginning a new exercise routine, and training for a 5K is no exception. Once your doctor gives you the green light then jump in with your training.
  2. Train Smart. Gradually increase your mileage over a few weeks or months. Start by running for 10 to 15 minutes and then slowly increase to a full 5K.
  3. Stay Hydrated. It's always important to keep your body properly hydrated, especially when your activity level has increased. Drink water before and after reach run, and throughout your day.
Smoked Salmon Wrap
Salmon is a rich source of omega 3 as well as protein. Couple that with sprouted grain tortilla and fresh arugula and you've got yourself a healthy, balanced meal that's ready in only 5 minutes.
Servings: 2

Here's what you need:

  • 1 Sprouted grain tortilla
  • 1 Tablespoon low fat cream cheese
  • 4 oz Smoked salmon
  • 1/2 cup Arugula
  • Dash of salt and pepper
  1. Spread the cream cheese evenly over one side of tortilla. Place the salmon in the center of the tortilla. Top with arugula. Add a dash of salt and pepper.
  2. Roll the tortilla and slice in half.
Nutritional Analysis: One serving equals: 175 calories, 6g fat, 12.5g carbohydrate, 3g fiber, and 16.5g protein.

Spread the word. Forward this newsletter to your friends, family and co-workers by using the "refer a friend" link below.

Have an Epic Day :)!!!


Heroic Fitness Hours of Operation

Carillon Building Fitness Facilities
Monday:  7:00 AM – 9:30 AM, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Wednesday: 7:00 AM – 9:30 AM, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Friday: 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM

Ally Center Fitness Facilities
Monday:  10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Tuesday: 7:00 AM – 9:30 AM, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Thursday: 7:00 AM – 9:30 AM, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM


Client Testimonials

From the novice exerciser to the seasoned exerciser,  Kirk Huggins Rogers of Heroic Fitness has the passion, desire, and ability to help you transcend your goals and transform your workouts into an epic experience.  He is by far the best personal trainer I have ever utilized, and is truly a physique transformation specialist.  I whole-heartedly recommend the Heroic Fitness Experience!
-Sofia Mohammed

  
Kirk, thank you so much for sharing your physical fitness knowledge, your patience, your gentle urgings (which kept me going, even when I didn’t think I could!), and for your constant and consistent belief in my abilities- I’m so grateful you pushed this 50 “ish” year old woman to keep trying!!  You’ve provided me with a terrific foundation – now, I just need to continue to DO it!
-Debi Brause

Email: heroicbod1@heroicfitness.com
Phone: 704-575-1514
Web: www.heroicfitness.com