Tag Archives: fitness

Fasted Training with Legion Forge + Squatting Update

Disclosure: I was provided a bottle of their pre-workout Legion Athletics Forge supplement at no charge. I was not compensated in any other way and all opinions are my own.

Remember how I committed to following Cory Gregory’s Squat Every Day Program? I’m still going strong and squatting daily, but had to improvise while out of town at the At-Home Dad Convention. All it took was a little creativity and motivation to use the dumbbells in the hotel gym. Sumo squats, goblet squats, and, my favorite leg killer, rear foot elevated split squats.

Once I returned, I got back on track and am currently nearing completion of the program. Once finished, I’ll have gone for more than the 30 consistent squatting days in the program and will be sure to update you then. I’ve already increased my max on front and back squat by 10 pounds, which is great for me!

Since starting the program, I was fortunate enough to have the awesome folks at Legion Athletics agree to send me a bottle of their pre-work supplement, Forge, to use and review.

Legion Athletics, fat burner, pre-workout, fasted training, supplement
It’s here!!

I’m not a fan of using most supplements since they tend to have a lot of non-functional fillers and most are made from the same place in China then shipped overseas to have a brand label slapped on. But not Legion, they make their high quality supps right here in the U.S.A. with the following standards:

– All ingredients backed by published scientific literature
– All dosages at clinically effective levels
– No artificial sweeteners, dyes, or unnecessary fillers
– No banned substances or analogs of potentially harmful drugs
– Good taste
– Good value per serving

If you have any supplements in your home, go check the bottle and see if you can check off all of these. Don’t feel bad if not, I did the same thing and failed miserably.

Forge is Legion’s pre-workout supplement made specifically for those who train in a fasted state. It has 3 quality ingredients clinically dosed to work together with 3 goals:

  1. To maximize the amount of fat you lose while training on an empty stomach
  2. To minimize the amount of muscle you lose while training in this state
  3. To help you maintain intensity and focus in your workouts, which can wane when “training on empty”

The 3 ingredients are:

  • Calcium Beta-hydroxy-beta-Methylbutyrate (HMB) – a metabolite of Leucine which prevents muscle-breakdown and is thought to be roughly 20 times more potent than Leucine in this regard
  • Citicoline (CDP Choline) – Highly bioavailable source of Choline which provides cognitive benefits.
  • Yohimbine HCL – A potent fat-burning compound which can significantly increase the amount of fat burned during a workout.

What?! A pre-workout fat-burner without caffeine?! Yep, and that means jitter-free workouts that just make it hard for me to hold heavy weights without, well, jittering. Plus, now I can enjoy a cup or five of coffee without worrying about overdosing on the stimulant.

I could geek out on you and dive into the scientific side of Forge even further, but they have all you need to know on their site, so I highly suggest clicking over there (once you’re done here of course) to learn about how and why they created this wonderful supplement.

What I will do is tell you how much I appreciate having Forge as part of my daily regimen. Squatting every day is not easy, mentally or physically, but Forge helps me clear my mind of negative thoughts and just get to work with whatever squat variation I have for the day. Not to mention how well it enables me to regain focus after having to take an unplanned diaper changing break. At least most of the time…

Ummm, Dad, I think I strained too hard.
Ummm, Dad, I think I strained too hard.

While I don’t have a need to lose fat, I have noticed my stomach getting a little more definition as well as my skin feeling tighter all over. I have been taking 4 capsules a day which is right between the “First Use” and “Full Dosage” recommendations with my 160 lb frame.

Again, no jitters or any crazy pump, just better mental clarity and feeling recharged and ready to go the next day. I’ve had plenty of days where I was running severely low and not motivated in the slightest sense, but after a couple weeks of taking Forge, that has not been the case.

Click here to order Forge.

My workouts last anywhere from 45 minutes to a little over an hour (depending a lot on Avery’s mood and need for diaper changing) and I have yet to feel beat up by the end. In fact, once finished, Avery and I go for a 2+ mile walk and/or run most days.

I still have a bit more to go until the bottle is finished, but I’m sure I’ll be ordering more once it’s out. Actually, Legion has a whole line of supplements I’d love to order. It’s hard to find a company that’s passionate about their products, especially supplements, and I simply love that they don’t go overseas to make their supps.

If you’re just getting into training or have been in the game for a while, consider adding a quality supplement from Legion. They have done their homework on what’s actually effective and put it all together at the right dosage to take the guess work out for us. From pre to post workout and everything in between, you’re sure to find something to give your training a big boost.

Thank you, Legion Team, for allowing me the opportunity to review your Forge supplement! If you ever need another active dad’s review for another product, you know where to find me! 🙂

Do you currently use any supplements in your training routine?

Interested in trying if not?

International Babywearing Week: Reap the Benefits

This week is International Babywearing Week, and our City Dads Group has teamed with Baby Bjorn to celebrate all across the U.S. today.

Here in Texas, our Dallas Dads Group will meet at Klyde Warren Park to wear their babies as they proudly get active outdoors. Any longtime reader should know I’m a huge advocate of babywearing and have shared my feelings as to why I wear my baby and the numerous benefits.

Since it happens to be Thursday, I’ll take this Throwback opportunity to share an old pic of me wearing Avery and a few of my past posts.

How to "wear" in style in Texas.

Ha ha, okay, I’ll show one where you can actually see Avery and not my flying saucer covered head.

Bundled up for a cold walk
Bundled up for a cold walk

This is from my babywearing progression post I did last October. Yeah, she’s changed a little… Here she is just last month while helping me mow with our EGO.

For a little babywearing motivation, check out these great sites.

Don’t just take part for the 7 days, you can and should wear your kids year round to reap the numerous bonding and health benefits both you and the kiddos receive. Speaking of health, you can even turn babywearing into exercise. Here’s a video I put together with Avery a long time ago….

I even turned mowing the lawn into a babywearing sprinting workout with her! The possibilities are endless!

Again, celebrate International Babywearing Week this week and ALL YEAR….and the next to keep your kiddos literally and figuratively close to you.

Make sure to follow these hashtags and give a little retweet/like love if you can:

#IBW2015

#citydads

Do you plan on celebrating by wearing your baby?

Do you already wear your baby or are you interested in starting?

 

Squat Every Day Routine + An Open Garage Door Violation

Both sound crazy, right? Who could/would squat every day, and what’s with getting a violation for having your garage door open?! Well, both are current happenings in the Going household, but only one is actually crazy.

DSC_0059

Yeah, the violation for a freakin open garage door! Our neighborhood Facebook page was filled with comments from so many of our neighbors all fired up from receiving the same waste-of-ink-and-paper violation. One neighbor mentioned how she was just going in and out putting up groceries when they took a picture of her open garage door “violation”.

Seriously, are we paying dues to our HOA to have someone go around and take pictures of our homes and then send them to us in the mail saying an open garage door is wrong? All I know is that I will continue to have our garage door open as I please. The neighborhood is currently plotting how we’ll send our own violation notices to these people for things that actually pose a concern and detract from our neighborly appeal. I’ll let you know more as the plot thickens.

What’s even more irritating is that Avery and I actually were using the garage then. In fact, with the current strength routine I’m following, Cory Gregory’s Squat Every Day, I’ll be using it *gasp* every day. So, to our ever so protective HOA, here’s a calendar for you to see I will, in fact, be using my garage EVERY. DAY.

Squat Every Day Calendar

The day they took the picture, Monday, September 14th, was my first official starting day. If the photographer stuck around a little longer, they would’ve seen a Daddy-Daughter Duo rocking our squats.

Avery Squatting 2

She’s moving up from her body weight squat days and using a wooden rod Olympic barbell now. I had to correct her form a little and let her know to keep a serious face when “going heavy”. She did better on the next set…

Avery Squatting

Just to be clear, I wasn’t actually making her do squats. Like all kids, they absorb everything their parents do and she has taken to many forms of exercise to mimic Mommy and Daddy. Another good one is overhead press.

Avery OH Press

Watch out, boys, this girl can hold her own! So, to all parents, let your kids see you being active and healthy, including cooking in the kitchen, and chances are, they’ll want to do the same. Free tip o’ the day there.

Back to the Squat Every Day program, I’m loving it. I am one of those guys who has to do something active every day or I get irritable. It’s like a drug; one that only I can prescribe and follow. Only a week in, but I know I’m “addicted”.

This doesn’t mean it’s easy, squatting with a heavy barbell every day takes a lot of mental and physical fortitude, but that’s why it’s great. One of my favorite athletes, Dean Karnazes, has an excellent quote that I completely abide by.

 

Who’s guilty of doing this? I was years ago, but now I get out of my comfort zone on a daily basis which, ultimately, keeps me happier. Of course, this mentality is why I am still dealing with a stress fracture in my foot, but refuse to let it get me down.

Yes, I realize there is such thing as an unhealthy addiction to healthy things like exercise, and I can’t deny I’m on the borderline of this diagnosis. I’ve toned down what I do for exercise, though, and instead of high mileage running, I’ve found lifting to be better for me all around.

Over the course of my first week on the program, I PR’d on front squat at 210 lbs for one rep (1-RM). I felt good and could’ve gone for another 5 lbs at least, but figured I’d save it for the next week. My current back squat 1-RM is 280 lbs and I’m hoping to surpass that next week too. As a 160 lb 5’10 male, I’m happy with these numbers, but want more, and so far squatting every day seems like it might get me there.

Next weekend I will be going to the 20th Annual At-Home Dads Convention in Raleigh, NC and am getting pumped about meeting other dad of my kind and obtaining vast amounts of knowledge about being a father/husband from the more experienced dads/husbands out there. Not that I think I’m doing a bad job already. Right, Kelley and Avery? They seem happy enough….

DSC_2735

Well, at least Going Mom does, Avery is too concerned about the outside all day every day (ha, like squatting!).

I’m excited about the trip for the convention, but can’t allow to put off my squatting every day, so hopefully the “free weights” our hotel has includes a squat rack. Otherwise, I’ll be on the lookout for a local gym. Anyone know of one? I will not miss a day!

More on the convention as it gets closer or just when I get back and have stories (all good of course) to tell. For now, we’re continuing our backyard landscaping project along with, you guessed it, squatting this weekend. Oh, and cue Beavis & Butthead singing Breaking the Lawbecause look what we’re doing…

Open Garage Door

Do you have any ridiculous HOA or other violations to share? Did you “comply” or continue to “break code”?

Ever hear of the Squat Every Day Program? Would you try or have you already?