Eddie Baran's Body Sculpting Blog

11 years ago I got my first job in corporate America as a
web developer for a huge Japanese multinational company.
I was thrilled to have such an opportunity.

So thrilled, in fact, that I was set on learning Japanese. It
wasn't necessary but I figured it was a way to move up in
the ranks and impress the boss.

Every day for a couple hours I studied the language. I was
very motivated and diligent about it. I figured if I continued
at this pace I'd be fluent in no time.

This lasted for all of one week.

After that I just couldn't bear the thought of memorizing
another word of Japanese. I was completely burned out. I
swore off the language, never trying to learn it again until
I went to Japan a decade later. I had completely lost interest.

So what happened? If I was so motivated and disciplined at
the beginning and did put in the time, why did I give up?

The problem was that I had tried doing too much too soon.
I wasn't mentally prepared for this. Of course I'd get burned
out. Who wouldn't. I was force-feeding myself something I
hadn't yet developed a taste for, something that was foreign
to me. I was a beginner and couldn't handle the load.

If I had eased into learning Japanese I no doubt would be
fluent by now. But instead I'm back to square one. What I
should have done was start with 10-15 minutes a day and
worked up from there.

Then I would have been able to handle the load and learned
at a better pace instead of ramming it down my throat.
Something so new, so much and so fast was too much for
me too handle.

I see so many people start their exercise program the way
I tried to lean Japanese. He'll bust his hump at the beginning
for hours a day trying to make up for lost time. Or she'll start
off by jogging 10 miles a day, cramming years of exercise into
a week.

No doubt these people are gung-ho and motivated, and I
admire them for that, but they're not prepared to do so much
so fast so soon.

If you're new to exercise you need to start off slowly to acclimate
yourself. Don't do too much at first, just a few minutes a day
to ease yourself into it. This way your brain and body will adapt
and build a strong and stable foundation.

It's also the best way to get results fastest. Only when you're
more advanced can you then do a long, hardcore, intense workout.

But not when you're a beginner.

Start off easy and do a little bit, then increase gradually.
Your body will then learn to enjoy movement this way.

When my brother Andy and I developed our Gymnastic Abs
program http://www.eddiebaran.com/gymnastic_abs.html it was
specifically designed to take a beginner and progress them
through the exercises. By gradually increasing the level of
difficulty in a series of progressions, you are assured of
success. You'll build a rock-solid foundation and have a
trackable goal to work toward.

This is the same way a gymnast trains. No gymnast starts
at the top. He starts at the bottom and works his way up
through a series of small goals and progressions. Then
one day he finds himself moving his body in amazing ways.

Same goes for everyone else, no matter what the activity.
Start where you start and go up from there one step at a
time. Don't force it or rush it, or it won't happen.

Fitness is a lifetime journey. Build your foundation first by
doing it the proper way. The results will be fast and permanent.

Wishing you the best,

Eddie Baran

P.S. They don't call me Easy E for nothing. I'm an easy-going
guy who likes to ease myself into everything. I teach the
same to others, especially when it comes to exercise. The
fastest way to strength and conditioning is by easy progressions.
Start from the beginning doing easy and short workouts.
Graduate up the scale to more difficult and longer workouts.
Read how it's done here http://www.eddiebaran.com/gymnastic_abs.html

Posted by Eddie Baran at 12:22 PM | Permalink

As you all know, I've been away traveling for the past three
weeks. During this time I didn't workout as much as I would
have liked. In fact, I didn't train much at all. And I wasn't
eating to well either.

I could have worked out in my hotel room., and I could have
eaten well. But I didn't. No reason, really, for when I travel I
still eat and exercise right. But this trip I didn't. Even I have
my moments. I knew in the long run it wouldn't affect me
because I've made eating and exercising part of my life,
and this slight little change wasn't going to make a dent
in my overall health. It's so rare that I knew it wouldn't
matter much.

I guess you could say I fell off the wagon.

But I got right back on. It wasn't a big deal because being
idle and eating poorly are not the norm for me. It's perfectly
okay to fall off the wagon once in a while as long as you're
exercising and eating well most of the time.

A little slip amounts to nothing. It won't derail your progress
in the least.

So don't beat yourself up or think you're doomed because
you're not perfect. No one is. If you fall off, get back on and
continue the ride. Don't try to speed things up by starving
yourself or working out for 8 hours a day to make up for
lost time. This will throw you off the wagon faster than
anything.

Just stay the course, maybe even slow it down until you
can accelerate to a safe speed. This is what I'm doing at
the moment. My first workout back was a bit of a nancy one,
just an easy session to get back into it. You can't start up
the wagon at full speed.

But just make sure you do start it.

Wishing you the best,

Eddie Baran

P.S. Don't forget to eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Even
if you're not yet ready to cut down on the bad stuff, increase
your produce. You'll find that this in itself will do wonders
for your body. Eventually you'll replace the bad with the good.

P.P.S. To learn how to tie in the best exercise and eating ideas,
check out this http://www.eddiebaran.com/gymnastic_abs.html
and this http://www.eddiebaran.com/body_sculpting_women.html

Posted by Eddie Baran at 10:50 AM | Permalink

I've just returned from a long trip to Finland and then New
York. As I told all of you, I was in Finland with some business
associates.

However that trip was unexpectedly cut short when, as many
of you know, my good friend Matthew Furey had to undergo
emergency eye surgery.

We were in a small town in Finland when the vision in his right
eye completely fogged up. Turns out he had a detached retina
and required emergency surgery. Rather than risk his vision at
the hands of Finnish physicians, we high-tailed it back to the
States where he got the best medical care available. I'm happy
to say he's doing great and will recover fully.

There's much more to the story which I will talk about later
in a detailed email to you all.

But for now, let me answer an important and very common
question about vegetables:

Eddie,
You stress the importance of eating lots of fruits and vegetables.
I hate vegetables. Never liked them. I can tolerate them if
they're on pizza or fried. How do I eat them without forcing myself?
Chris

Chris,
I understand that it's not easy to switch gears completely and
eat all the right foods. Some people can go cold turkey and be
perfect. Most can't. I know I couldn't.

I tell people the same thing when they're first learning to
eat right as I do when they're first learning to exercise. Start
off slowly and gradually ease your way into it.

Begin with one serving of a vegetable, preferably fresh, grilled
or steamed. Add some flavor to it. Salsa is always good, as
long as it doesn't contain garbage like corn syrup or excess
salt. Instead of chips and salsa, eat carrots and salsa, or celery.

Add a serving of vegetables every few days to your meals.
Very soon you will develop a taste for them, as this is your
body's natural way of eating. It's hard-coded in you so it
won't be a struggle for you to do once you've built a habit
of it. And in no time you will feel better and look better.

Remember that very few people come out of the shoot with
perfect habits. If you can switch gears and go from flawed to
perfect in a snap, well then, congratulations on that. But most
of us need to ease our way into the right habits. This way is
actually the fastest, easiest and most permanent way to change
behavior.

So don't feel rushed or pressured. Just go about it in your
own natural time and it will happen. No matter what your
pace, though, you do have to start.

Wishing you the best,

Eddie Baran

P.S. For a food program, and for those wanting the strongest
body on the planet, you need to train your abdominal muscles
like the strongest athletes do - the gymnasts. Read more here
http://www.eddiebaran.com/gymnastic_abs.html

Posted by Eddie Baran at 10:37 AM | Permalink

Today I am writing you from beautiful Finland.
I have been traveling for the past week so I
apologize for my neglect in writing you lately
but have lots to report, especially about
Finnish Fitness.

I will be telling you more about my travels
through this great Scandic land but as of the
moment I gotta run.

Anyway, I just wanted to drop you a quick note
and let you know that stay tuned for some
exciting info on health, fitness and nutrition.

I also wanted to say "kiitos paljon" (Finnish
for thank you very much) to all who have purchased
my revolutionary Gymnastic Abs program http://www.eddiebaran.com/gymnastic_abs.html
You will soon discover what training your midsection
in the best way can do for you.

Nahdaan,

Eddie Baran

P.S. I'm getting fantastic feedback on my Gymnastic Abs course -
http://www.eddiebaran.com/gymnastic_abs.html Everyone who has done the course as instructed agrees that it is by far the best abs course they've ever done. They absolutely LOVE the program. Try it for yourself and see what they're experiencing.

Posted by Eddie Baran at 09:12 AM | Permalink

Every once in a while you stumble across something that
can change you for the better. Something that makes you
jump for joy. Or maybe it makes you shout for joy. And if
it's your abs screaming for joy then you know you're onto
something special.

Here's a letter I got from a man in his 40's:

Eddie,
I have never written back after buying anyone's product.
But I have to with you and Andy. I got your Gymnastic Abs
program - http://www.eddiebaran.com/gymnastic_abs.html
yesterday. Words can not express how much I loved it. The
exercises are great. The DVD's are great. And, the book with
pictures along with the programs are so well written and
thought out.

And, the price is a bargain considering what you get. It is
worth every penny.

I can take your manual when I do your exercises and not
only read exactly how to do the exercises, but you even
have pictures to refresh my memory from your DVD to
make sure my form is perfect.

Again, I can not tell you in words what a great job you and
Andy did on this project. I will be buying more from you
knowing the quality and information is second to none. I
did a workout Saturday night and this morning. And, yes my
abs are screaming as I write this and I am starting with your
1st beginner exercises. I look forward to progressing from
level 1 to level 12.

You could not have put it together better with the end user
in mind. You have a breakthrough success.

I should thank Andy for showing the before and after pictures.
That is a strong testimonial. I am in my 40's like Andy and
really related to him.

Thank you,
Bill R.

Bill,
Thanks for your note. I'm really happy that you totally "get"
what we are trying to do with the program. We designed
it the same way I was taught and teach others, the best
way to ensure everyone would succeed. With your attitude
you will no doubt progress to the top level.

Wishing you the best,

Eddie Baran

P.S If you're interested in getting your abs into phenomenal
shape in only 5-20 minutes a few times each week, then you
can't miss this opportunity to do so. Get the abs of a gymnast.
Get over to here now http://www.eddiebaran.com/gymnastic_abs.html

Posted by Eddie Baran at 08:01 AM | Permalink

Well, no, not really. But there is more evidence on how
deadly second-hand fat is to your health.

A year ago I wrote you about how second-hand fat was
more deadly than second-hand smoke. There was an article
in the parodical periodical The Weekly World News warning
us of the dangers of second-hand fat. The claim was that fat
molecules can travel from one person to another, infecting
said victim with obesity. Although the article was a funny joke,
I wrote that there is in fact such a thing as second-hand fat,
which I define as hanging around people with fat behaviors.

Now all the media is reporting this very thing I wrote: If your
friends or family are fat, there's a good chance you're fat or
become fat, too.

It's the whole "Birds of a feather..." thing. If your friends are
all going out to Pizza Hut for dinner everyday, you will too. If
they'resitting at home in front of the TV hours each night, you
might be doing that too in lieu of exercising.

However, if they're exercising each day, you will be more
inclined to do so, too. Peer pressure? No. It's that you tend to
hang around people with like values or similar interests.

I'm not saying get rid of your fat friends. What I am saying
is you and your friends can find healthful activities to do
together. Form a fitness pact and stick to it. You're more likely
to succeed if you have others working with you toward the
same goal.

That way you and your friends not only will support each
other but are also accountable to each other. This way you
will never quit and your body will get into incredible shape.

Wishing you the best,

Eddie Baran

P.S. Form a fitness club with your friends and family. Use my
bodysculpting bodyweight exercise program
http://www.eddiebaran.com/body_sculpting_women.html
and my abs course http://www.eddiebaran.com/gymnastic_abs.html
as your material. Combine that with a good friend to get in
shape with and you are certain to get into great shape.

Posted by Eddie Baran at 06:05 AM | Permalink

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