Get this Week’s Episode:

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Hosts:

Kevin Larrabee (Twitter), Steve Cotter, 

Dr. Jonathan Fass, and Leigh Peele

NEWS

• Interview with Steve Cotter coming up
• John Berardi
• Todd Durkin
• Blog Contest
• Green’s Plus Bar
• Cool stuff in the works

Mailbag

• (For Kevin) Hey everyone, I’m sorta new to the fitcast, still havent caught up on all the past episodes so this question may have been answered. I know it was asked before but not really answered maybe a year ago. A listener wrote in asking whether it was better to lift post or pre run, he was 135 lbs and 5’5″ or something close to that. You all told him to quit running and pick up some weights as he was underweight. Thats all fine and good, but even though I have a similar body size, my goals are slightly different so I thought I would ask again. I am female, 5’5″ 135 lbs and a regular runner. I do a long run on Saturdays, cross training twice a week, and do high intensity interval runs or speedwork runs twice a week. The only time I have to lift is on those weekday running days. Is it better to do so before or after my runs? During racing season I want to increase my speed/distance/efficiency, while during the winter my goal is to lose fat and increase muscle. Is there a benefit in lifting pre or post run or am I completely overthinking this? This seems to be one of those topics where the answer changes every other day, so any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated. Again, love the fitcast, thanks for all the great info!
• Hi Guys and Leah.  Just wondering if there are any foods you could recommend for keeping energy levels up throughout the day.  I work in a very dimly lit office space with little air movement and zero daylight.  I find myself growing extremely lethargic in the afternoons and it’s making it very difficult for me to get any work done.  Any suggestions as to what kind of foods I should be eating or as a last resort what kind of supplements I should be taking to keep energy levels spiked throughout the day?  Thanks in advance, I could add the obligatory “Keep up the great work, I really enjoy the show” but that goes without saying.  (Thanks always for the entertainment and the countless epic fails) -Robert
• Hey Guys,First of all thanks for being awesome! You guys have helped me lose 16 pounds already :). My questions is about plant proteins vs meat proteins. I have been slowly changing my diet towards a vegetarian style rather than conventional meat eating style. I was curious though if plant proteins are a valid source compared to meat. I have heard that plant proteins do not contain all the Essential Amino Acids that meat proteins do. I was curious about your thoughts on this and If a vegetarian diet is a feasible diet for muscle building.
  Thanks again!
  Sincerely,
  Sean
• @Urraca Hemp protein: what’s the real deal?
• One thing that I have to ask deals with diets. Everyone generally know what they SHOULD be eating but no one actually DOES what they’re suposed to…What strategies would you suggest to get clients to be compliant to their meal plans? I murder my personal training clients in the gym only to have them go home and eat the garbage that has them at 30+% body fat.What do you tell your clients to get them to “buy in” to the new lifestyle of eating clean? Thanks. -Kris

Steve Cotter Interview

• How did you get into kettlebell training originally?
• What runs through your head when you see kettlebells being used on The Biggest Loser?
• TGU Progression
• Please describe the differences and similarities between the different kettlebell certifications. -Ruben
• The question I have for Steve Cotter is, what is the difference in muscular development using Kettlebell programs compared to lifting weights. -Roger
• How do you balance your professional life and personal life? I am a successful trainer in Michigan running 6 bootcamps a week and training 55 – 60 additional hours.

  Thanks, love the show!

  Jimi

• what is really the difference between kettlebells and dumbbells, and would you be able to get the same benefits from using DBs instead of KBs for exercises, and why? Is the difference significant? -Clement
• If you could only do three exercises with a client, what would they be? -Ben
• I’m a 26yr old female who has about 5 kilos (11 pounds) to lose, but also want to tone up my arms and mid-section. I am highly active (cardio and weights at the gym 2x week, Dragonboat training 3x week, 30min jog 4 x week) and have also recently purchased some kettlebells – a 4kg (8.8 pound) and 8kg (17.6 pound). I know that tightening up my diet will help me shed the last 10 pounds, as I have already lost 66 pounds over the last few years (and most importantly kept it off).
  My question is – how can I best incorporate Kettlebell training into my routine to help me with toning up my arms and mid-section, and maybe with shifting a bit of the weight? I know that kettlebells also incorporate legs a lot and this is a bonus, but my legs are already quite muscular and I this isn’t really my focus. Can you recommend any good dvds that I can use to train with? I don’t feel that I get as much from reading books and looking at pictures as I do when I am watching someone ‘live’. I also just want to mention that I don’t think kettlebell training has really taken off in Australia like it has in the US, as a) they are not readily available to buy in most sports stores, and b) most of my friends have never even heard of them. Any information you could give me would be appreciated, it’s not often a gal like me would get the opportunity to ask a question of someone as highly regarded as you! -Emma
• My question is for Steve.  A year and a half ago I had arthroscopic surgery to relieve arthritis in my right AC joint.  I am showing the same symptoms in my left AC joint and 2 months of rehab is not working.  I just received a cortisone shot from my orthopedist and we both agreed that I could work out on my own.  I own (1) 25lb, (2) 35lb, and (1) 53lb kettlebell, but I am not opposed to buying lighter ones for rehab purposes.  How can I use kettlebells to safely strengthen my shoulders and also maintain my physique? (Since starting treatment on my AC joint my weight has started to increase). My current routine includes Pullups, dumbell Rows, resistance band exercises for my shoulders, and interval sprinting.  Bench pressing and dips seem to aggravate both shoulders.  The only KB movement I still use is the 2 arm swing, but I am sure there others that would not aggravate my condition.  My therapist has cautioned me not to do overhead pressing and did not like my description of the Turkish Get-up, as he said it would put too much pressure on top of the joint.

  Thanks and keep up the good work!

  Scott

• If one has a piriformis problem (causes sciatic pain), is doing kettlebells going to help or hurt? I really want to learn and I am trying to get to an RKC training to learn proper form but there are none in my area and I will have to travel some distance to attend one, but wanted to make sure I wouldn’t be wasting my time since I have this issue with my piriformis. Thanks  so much!! And youve probably heard this a million times, but that video of you doing the pistol squats on and off the table with the KB’s is one of the most amazing videos I’ve ever seen!! -Missy
• How to stop the back of my wrist getting sore, feels like the KB keeps banging into it 🙁 -Nadine
• Is using the Lebert Equalizer bars or the TRX good ways to build strength for Pistol Squats? (self-spotting using the EQ bars and holding on to the TRX handles while performing the movement) If not, what do you recommend to build our strength up for it? -Billy

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkeWDzUMVZI[/youtube]