Eddie Baran's Body Sculpting Blog

What do flexibility and ab strength have to do with each
other? A martial artists wants to know if he can do both
at once. Read on:

Hello Eddie,
I was wanting to know if your Gymnastic Abs program
http://www.eddiebaran.com/gymnastic_abs.html has exercises
to assist with flexibility. I've been working on the splits,
gymnastic bridge, handstand for 2 years but haven't got
there yet, along with strengthening the lower abs. I'm a
martial artist of JKD/BJJ and I've just started back training
due to rotator cuff surgery so I was looking to get back to
class with better over all, core, and flexibilty strength.
Thanks,
Larry

Larry,
Yes, most of the exercises in the program do help increase
flexibility in one or more areas - hips, hamstrings, lower back,
shoulders. What's so effective about these exercises is that
they tie the ab strength with the flexibility, so you've got real
functional working strength in these positions.

So, if your body is stretched to it's max, it will still be strong in
this position, be it your legs or shoulders. And your abdominal
strength and awareness connects the body together as one unit.

These are truly multitasking exercises in that they will build
core strength and flexibility at the same time. Why? Well, first
off, they prepare the gymnast's body for the powerful positions
he'll be in; second, a gymnast doesn't have time to segment his
training. Which leads me to this very important point:

Segment, or separate, your training and you have a segmented
body that's not acting as One with all the muscles working in
unison. Your flexibility and strength need to communicate
together as a team.

Martial artists and other athletes need the same speedy,
multi-tasking exercises. If you can get flexibility and core
strength in one shot, then that's what you need to do.

In fact, for my hamstring flexibility, I mostly do certain
ab exercises I feature in the course. That way I get two birds
with one stone. You'll know exactly what I mean until you
experience it for yourself.

Wishing you the best,

Eddie Baran

P.S. The days of segmenting your training and your body
are over. Get flexibility and strength in one shot. Go here
now http://www.eddiebaran.com/gymnastic_abs.html

Posted by Eddie Baran at 02:49 PM | Permalink

You might be asking yourself (or me) how can a program
build strength, sculpt your body and give you a cardio
workout, and all in 15 minutes? Well, it's all in the exercises
and how you do them.

What you've been taught to do either doesn't work or is too
much to do:

- Weight train in the gym for an hour.
- Run or do cardio for another hour.
- Yoga for an hour.

That's a waste of energy and time. Weight training doesn't
give you strength, body toning or cardio that bodyweight
exercises can give you.

Cardio or running won't tone and strengthen your body,
and it won't give you the aerobic benefits that bodyweight
exercises can.

Here's a letter I got from a runner who's been on the program
a short while but sees the beauty of it:

Eddie,
I just wanted to say that a few weeks ago I purchased your
Body Sculpting Bodyweight Exercises for Women program
http://www.eddiebaran.com/body_sculpting_women.html
and it's fantastic. I'm a runner, yet I always felt flabby and
out of shape in certain areas. But after only 3 weeks of doing
these exercises I'm already noticing a difference in my body
tone and posture.

I've also actually enjoyed the exercises... which is very unusual
for me. I like the challenge it brings me and after only 15
minutes of doing these, I feel like I've been for a long run!

Thanks again for a great program.

All the best,
Mila Sidman

Mila, good on you for doing the program. And you're right
on all counts: the the program is fun to do, gives you a
great cardio and tones you up in a jiffy.

If you haven't yet gotten with the program, time to do it now.
Go here and see what it's all about
http://www.eddiebaran.com/body_sculpting_women.html

Wishing you the best,

Eddie Baran

P.S. Want to supplement your body sculpting regimen with
the strongest abs on the planet? Then you need to train like
the athletes who have the strongest abs: gymnasts. Go here now
http://www.eddiebaran.com/gymnastic_abs.html

Posted by Eddie Baran at 06:58 AM | Permalink

Here's a letter from a woman who just turned 55 and is
looking for some answers.

Eddie,
You say that your bodyweight body sculpting program
http://www.eddiebaran.com/body_sculpting_women.html
is for anyone at any age. I am 55 (today!) years old. I'm not
in good shape. I've lost a little weight but need to lose at
least 60 lbs.

I also wanted to know about your ab program
http://www.eddiebaran.com/gymnastic_abs.html . Is that just for
men? I have actually weighed more in my life but now that
I am at this age, my "middle section" really bothers me and
gets in the way. I think I felt better years ago even when I
weighed more. I didn't have as much proplem in the stomach area.

Thank you for helping me understand.
Denise

Denise,
Happy Birthday. 55 is a great age. Yes, my body sculpting
program is for anyone at any age. How you use the program,
however, will be different than someone already in decent
shape. You'll have to adjust things a bit to match your level,
but this is what we all have to do.

My abs program is for man, woman, child, any level. I taught
these exercises to women your age and ability, as well as 7-17
year old gymnasts. Your stomach muscles have deteriorated as
you've aged due to inactivity. That's why it's bothersome and
you feel worse, even though you weigh less. Without a strong
body, especially a strong tummy, you'll feel weak, unbalanced
and lethargic

Here's what you do:

1. Start off with the program doing only those exercises you
can handle. If this means doing half a rep of one exercise
then that's fine. Keep doing sets of half reps of that once
exercise until you can do 3/4 of a rep. Soon you will be able
to do a full rep, then 2 reps, then 10, then 20. Get the idea?
You've got to start somewhere and build up from there.

2. Follow the eating plan that comes with the program.
This will help shed the pounds and feed your body properly.

3. Walk. Walk a few times a week, at least. Walk instead of
drive, take the stairs instead of the elevator. Get used to
moving your body.

4. Give yourself a break. What I mean is that stop beating
yourself up. If something bothers you, acknowledge it, let it
go, let it roll off you, and just start moving and doing what
needs to be done. Don't overdo it. Do what feels comfortable
and makes you feel good.

You'll get there but you've got to start doing it.

Remember, anyone can do it, as long as they do it.

Wishing you the best,

Eddie Baran

P.S. It's simple, find what works and do it. Here are the links
to what works that you can do

http://www.eddiebaran.com/gymnastic_abs.html

http://www.eddiebaran.com/body_sculpting_women.html

Posted by Eddie Baran at 07:35 AM | Permalink

A little over 6 years ago I walked into my first gymnastics
class. It was an adult class made up entirely of ex-gymnasts
who were in the class just to play around, keep up their chops,
maybe break a sweat. They were graceful and powerful.
Impressive to watch them move.

I, on the other hand, was the only pure beginner - awkward
and clumsy to say the least. It was a rather embarrassing,
and at times humiliating, ordeal. I'm not an natural athlete
by any stretch so it was extremely hard for me - physically,
mentally and emotionally.

But I was there to learn and tried not to let the frustration
or embarrassment bother me. Naturally I wanted to be good
like the other students but I was so far off from that it wasn't
even funny.

It's a natural thing to size yourself up with others - who's got
the better handstand, or back handspring, who was stronger,
more flexible, etc. So comparing myself to the others, i.e.
competing against them, was out of the question. I'd lose that
contest hands down each time.

Once in a while we'd get a newbie like me in the class,
someone with no training or experience at all. Now here
was someone I could compete against, I thought. But these
guys turned out to be naturals, and invariably they'd far
surpass my level. Thus, I lost that competition as well. (Of
course these blokes would ultimately quit in a month or
so because it got too hard.)

So, no one was left to compete against other than myself.
This I had heard, was what you're supposed to do. "Don't
compete against others, rather only against yourself."

Sounded like good advice. This I would do. Here was
competition I could handle. Besides, I should only concern
myself with my own self, and no one else.

Of course that turned out to be bad as well. I competed
against myself and lost. I was attacking myself and each
time suffered. I was getting nowhere.

Then one day it hit me. Why not cooperate with myself
instead of competing against myself. This way I would be
working with myself toward a common goal, not fighting
at it. No forcing the issue, just all the parts of me working
together for one goal.

My words to myself would be only positive and encouraging;
I'd be happy training instead of anxious even if I were having
a bad day; I'd be at peace no matter what happened.

This put me in a state of calm and tranquility which only from
there could I progress in the sport. I've done this in other parts
of my life and it's worked wonders.

Would you fight against a teammate or a coworker? No. You
cooperate with them to get the job done. This is imperative
for you to do. This is the problem I see in so many people trying
to get fit. They don't cooperate with themselves. If you're against
yourself then you will lose every time.

Wishing you the best,

Eddie Baran

P.S. In German, the word for cooperation is Zusammenarbeit,
which literally translates as "together work." Exactly. Work
together, with yourself, to get your fittest physique fastest.
Here are your tools:

http://www.eddiebaran.com/gymnastic_abs.html

http://www.eddiebaran.com/body_sculpting_women.html

Posted by Eddie Baran at 06:17 AM | Permalink

When I was in the 9th grade, I was enrolled in algebra class.
The school couneselor figured I was of average intelligence
so she signed me up. Afterall, most students take algebra
while in the 9th grade so it was no big deal.

Well, it turned out to be a very big deal because from day
one it was a huge struggle for me. It was way out of my league.
The teacher might have well been speaking Greek because I
didn't understand a word he said. As you could imagine I was
failing the class miserably right off the bat. I mean, it wasn't
even close.

I was so horrible at algebra that some tests I couldn't answer
a single question. After a while I gave up trying. It was like
trying to dig myself out of quicksand. I was doomed from the
get-go.

Finally, my school counselor put me out of my misery and
transferred me into the class beneath algebra, pre-algebra.
At first I was embarrassed and felt stupid. After all, I was
now behind the rest of the 9th grade in math. My self-esteem
did take a hit. But I was getting nowhere in algebra and had
to drop down a level.

Here I got a chance to review basic mathematical concepts
that I was weak on, concepts that would've saved my hide in
algebra. This class was at a much slower pace, much more
thorough, so I was able to learn the basics. I ended up
getting an A in pre-algebra.

Once I hit 10th grade, I had to take algebra. I was nervous
about failing again, but I had learned the basics of math and
pre-algebra so well, I ended up getting an A in that class too.

In fact, in every math class I took in high school and college
I got an A in, even calculus. I was always one of the best students
in the class, if not the top one. Math had become natural to me
and was always my better subject.

I don't tell you this because I'm trying to brag or come off like
I'm some mathematical genius, because I'm not. Not by a long
shot. I was always weak in math. I ended up getting strong in
math because I went back and learned the basics, built a solid
foundation, and developed an excellent understanding of the
subject that it became very easy to me. By being so strong in
the basics made any new and advanced concept effortless to
learn.

There are a couple important lessons here:

One, no matter how bad you are at something now and
how bad you feel about it, it doesn't mean you're doomed or
always going to be bad at it. It just means you might have to
reassess how you're going about it.

Two, learning the basics is critical for anything we do - math,
language, music, and especially fitness. No matter what your
present level, mastering the fitness basics is the most important
thing you can do or you won't get anywhere. Without a solid
foundation, you're sunk. If you're particularily weak in an area,
then this means you'll have to really spend time on the basics.

So it's really a blessing to be bad or a beginner. It makes you
go back, learn from the start, get the basics, so then you
can't help but get good. If you start out being good, you
might miss valuable lessons.

That's why whenever I coach someone I get them good and
strong in the basics. I start them at the beginning and build
them up so they've got a rock solid foundation.

This is exactly how I designed my new program Gymnastic Abs
http://www.eddiebaran.com/gymnastic_abs.html . Start at the
beginning, get very confident at the easy exercises, and progress
to the top exercises, just like I did in math.

If your finess basics aren't strong, then start at the beginning
and solidify your foundation. From there, everything will
become effortless and easy.

Wishing you the best,

Eddie Baran

P.S. No matter what you do, become a good beginner and you
will become a good expert. See how you can become an ab expert
here http://www.eddiebaran.com/gymnastic_abs.html

Posted by Eddie Baran at 07:17 AM | Permalink

The questions keep coming regarding my new abs program

http://www.eddiebaran.com/gymnastic_abs.html

Here are some more:

1. Can you spot reduce your belly?

Depends on what you mean by spot reduce. Can you reduce
the size of your gut just by doing ab exercises? Yes, especially
if they are the right exercises. Much of the bulge you see
protruding from your belly can be corrected by strengthening
the abdominal muscles.

Can you reduce the fat off your belly while keeping the fat on
the rest of your body? Not really, but fat is less likely to go to
areas that are exercised. Will Gymnastic Abs reduce fat all over?
Yes, because when a gymnast train his abs he's training his
entire body. There is no isolation in gymnastic conditioning.

That being said, I'd advise you to incorporate Gymnastic Abs
with your other training programs. A Gymnastic Abs workout
only takes from 4-20 minutes, depending on your level. It's
meant as an additional tool in your fitness toolbox. It is not
intended to replace your current total but rather to improve it
and accelerate its results. Your abs will get incredibly stronger
but so will the rest of your body.

2. What's the difference between Gymnastic Abs and the ab
exercises in you Body Sculpting program?

My Body Sculpting program is a generalized program for the
entire body. The gymnast ab program is specifically for the
core and goes into far more detail, has far more ab exericses,
and starts at an easier level but progresses to a very advanced
level. So it's a much more thorough program for your ab muscles,
which are the most important muscles in your body. But as I said
before, it does train your entire body, not only the abs.

3. Is this program for both men and women?

Yes, this program is for both men and women.

4. Is this program for beginners as well as advanced athletes?

Yes, this program starts you off at a very beginner level and
walks you all the way through to the advanced level.

It's pretty simple. Gymnasts have the best abs and I've developed
a program around that.

Wishing you the best,

Eddie Baran

P.S. Read my twin brother's story here

http://www.eddiebaran.com/gymnastic_abs.html l to see for yourself
why this is such an important program for you to have.

Posted by Eddie Baran at 06:40 AM | Permalink

In yesterday's email I answered how many minutes my new
abs program http://www.eddiebaran.com/gymnastic_abs.html
takes to do. The answer was that it can take as little as 4
minutes a day to the most effective ab workout you've
ever done; 4 minutes to chisel perfect abs.

Why? Here's why:

1. The exercises are extremely effective in and of themselves.
2. The technique I tell you to do the exercises further increases
their effectiveness.
3. The workouts you do with these exercises and technique
makes this program

So you're getting the most benefit in the shortest amount of
time. It's the entire synergism of these three keys that makes
it works so well.

Another common question I'm asked is how is this program
different from my Body Sculpting program.

Good question.

While my Body Sculpting program is phenomenal for strengthening
your abs, my Gymnastic Abs program is solely dedicated to
this purpose.

This allows me to delve into much more detail, devoting
the entire course to your most important muscle group. I
introduce an entire system I used to train gymnasts, my
brother and my clients. The exercises in the abs program
run the gamut of very easy to very difficult, showing you
exactly how to progress.

Does this replace my Body Sculpting program?

The answer is No.

Think of it as another tool in your arsenal for chiseling the
perfect abs and building the stongest body.

Wishing you the best,

Eddie Baran

P.S. Read the page again to see how unique - and important -
this program http://www.eddiebaran.com/gymnastic_abs.html
really is for your body's overall strength and vitality.

Posted by Eddie Baran at 07:39 AM | Permalink