10 Healthy Snack Ideas

Just came up with a list of 10 healthy snack ideas, and thought I’d share it with you.

These are NOT fancy … but they are simple, require little to zero prep, and will keep you on track with your healthy meal planning!

10 Healthy Snack Ideas

– apple
– orange
– baby carrots
– hard boiled egg
– almonds
– cashews
– turkey jerky
– kale chips
– small can of tuna
– slices of deli meat (watch out for preservatives though!)

Have some healthy snack ideas of your own? Pop over to the FVT Facebook page HERE and let us know!

And be sure like our page while you’re there for more nutrition tips, free workouts, and latest FVT happenings 🙂

Thanks!

Talk soon –

– Forest Vance
Owner, FVT Boot Camp and Personal Training

Proven Rapid Fat Loss Meal Plan (print this out)

salmon45

Everyone knows the keys to losing weight: Eat less and move more.

But in the context of real life and its demands, it’s usually just not that simple.

The big problem with a lot of fat loss meal plans is that they focus on the ‘theory’ and leave it to you to figure out exactly what to eat.

You have to calculate the exact amount of calories you need each day, figure out what to actually eat at each meal, how to properly balance your foods, etc. …

So I’ve come up with a simple solution that’s working great already for me and a small group of my personal training clients. It’s called the FVT Express Meal Builder. It’s a one-page document that enables you to build a healthy meal in less than 30 seconds. And the best part is that it takes all the guesswork out of eating healthy.

Here’s how to use it:

1. Print out the FVT Express Meal Builder where you can post it up or carry it with you for quick reference.

2. For each meal (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner), simply pick one food from each category.

3. Snacks can consist of things like fruit, nuts, plain yogurt, hard boiled eggs (see the short list below the main food categories for more ideas).

4. Also make sure to drink 1/2 of your body weight in ounces of water each day, and to follow this plan for at least 90% of your meals.

Please note: The portions in the meal builder are intended for a ~ 150 pound individual with 15 or 20 pounds to lose. Adjust portions for weight, activity level, and body composition accordingly.

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The FVT Express Meal Builder

First, pick one protein:

•chicken breast (3 oz)
•turkey breast (3 oz)
•salmon (3 oz)
•canned tuna (3 oz)
•beef (3 oz)
•ham (3 oz)
•whole egg (1)
•cottage cheese (½ cup)
•plain yogurt (½ cup)
•protein powder (1 serving)
•protein bar (1)

Then, pick one carbohydrate:

•apple (1)
•orange (1)
•banana (1/2)
•strawberries (1 cup)
•blueberries (½ cup)
•tomato (1 cup)
•spinach (2 cups)
•zuchinni (1 cup)
•green beans (1 cup)
•broccoli (1 cup)
•oatmeal (2/3 cup)
•corn tortillas (2, 6 in)
•flour tortillas (1, 6 in)
•brown rice (6 tbsp)
•black beans (½ cup)
•whole grain bread (1 slice)

Finish with a ‘dash’ of healthy fat:

•peanut butter (1 tsp)
•almonds (~ 6)
•olive oil (2/3 tsp)
•avocado (2 tbsp)
•macadamia nuts (~ 2)

Breakfast – 1/2 cup cottage cheese, 1 apple, ~ 6 almonds
Lunch – spinach salad w/ tomato, black beans, etc., 3 oz chicken breast, 1 tbsp olive oil + vinegar dressing
Dinner – 3 oz salmon, 2 cups broccoli, (cooked in) 2/3 tsp olive oil
Snacks – fruit, nuts, plain yogurt, hard boiled egg, cottage cheese, protein shake, protein bar

Additional notes: Drink ½ body weight in oz. of water/day, follow the ’90% rule.

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The FVT Express Meal Builder is a tool that’ll help you lose fat in record time. Hope that helps, and talk soon –

– Forest

Mustache Man Mud Run Training Program

What the H? You need to get into shape – TM is coming to town in less than two months!

Check out what Mustache Man is doing to prepare (on his 45th birthday, none the less):

And then go sign up for the FVT Mud Run Event Prep program, starting next Monday, April 20th at 6pm:

=> FVT Mud Run Event Prep 2015 (registration closes THIS Friday at midnight)

Train hard, and talk soon –

– Forest Vance
Lead Instructor, FVT Mud Run Event Prep
https://www.forestvancetraining.com/mudrun2015-2

KB/BW Mud Run Workout

Just got back from a great weekend w the fam in Tahoe – so much fun!

forest and alana

We’ll be back up in the Tahoe area in a couple of months for a big Mud Run event … and I couldn’t help but think about and start planning a bit for the training program we are organizing at FVT.

I’ve prepared a kettlebell / bodyweight – based mud run workout for you today … this is awesome to help you get ready for your upcoming mud run, or just for a fun, fat burning, lean-muscle-building training session you can do at any time.

Enjoy!

– Forest

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Kettlebells are very effective for developing:

Dynamic/isometric strength
Anaerobic/aerobic conditioning
Quickness and explosive power
Flexibility/mobility
Mental toughness

ALL things you’ll need at a Mud Run event!

So – I’ve put together a Mud Run kettlebell workout for you.

Please note – this is NOT the be-all-end-all of your event prep. You need to be training outside, doing some long runs, preparing physically and mentally for the
events you’ll be facing, etc.

But incorporate this one into your overall routine … and it’ll also get you thinking about how your workouts should be structured leading up to the event.

MUD RUN KETTLEBELL/BODY WEIGHT WORKOUT

Fast run .25 mi
50 Kettlebell swings (divided into as many sets as needed)
Fast run .25 mi
3 Turkish get ups ea side (alternating sides each rep)
Fast run .25 mi
15 pull ups (divided into as many sets as needed)
Fast run .25 mi
20 burpees (divided into as many sets as needed)
Repeat for 2-3 rounds total

Additional workout notes:

Workout is best done on a track/soccer field/etc. where one could do the prescribed reps of an exercise, run the .25 mi and return to same area to complete the next exercise

“Fast” run means fast for you – a good rule of thumb would be about a 7/10 on an intensity level scale, with one being the easiest and 10 the hardest

For the swings, pull ups and burpees – you may divide the total number of reps into as many sets as needed, but you cannot move on to the next interval run before you complete the total number of prescribed reps. For example, to complete 15 total pull ups, you might do one set of six, rest 20 seconds, do a set of five, rest 20 seconds, and do a final set of four.

Make sure to include a SMR/joint mobility/dynamic stretch warm up

 

In conclusion, KB’s are a great implement to use in your training for a mud run event. While this Mud Run kettlebell workout is NOT the be-all-end-all of your event prep, it’s a great place to start – and to get you thinking about how to put together your training sessions.

Thanks for reading, and talk soon –

Forest Vance, Level II Certified Russian Kettlebell Instructor

PS – FVT Mud Run Event Prep training starts Monday, April 20th at 6pm … details and grab your spot HERE

April 2015 Challenge Workout (and results)

PicMonkey Collage

Another FVT monthly Challenge Workout is in the books!

Folks come to us to lose fat, build muscle, and feel great … but they also want fun and challenging workouts to keep them motivated and excited! And that’s what our monthly challenges are all about.

This month, it was the FVT Band Challenge … see the full workout below.

And BIG shout outs to our new band earners – awesome stuff, you earned ’em! 🙂

(Black)

Richanne R
Jeff V

(Grey)

John W
Gina M
Morgan B
Ellen R
Lilia K
Denise P

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FVT Band Challenge Workout

** Complete ALL the “tests” at the grey band level and earn a grey FVT band! (if the workout is done at a boot camp at our facility)
** Complete ALL the “tests” at the black band level and earn a black FVT band! (if the workout is done at a boot camp at our facility)

1 — KB swings – 16k for women, 24k for men

45 sec w perfect form, no break = grey band
90 sec w perfect form, no break = black band

2 — Push ups – knees for women, toes for men

Elbows and upper arm BREAK parallel, no exceptions … body stays in a totally straight line, no hip sag or “A frame” … no adjusting the knees, hands or feet during the test.

Body cannot touch the floor at the bottom of a rep; cannot lock out and rest at the top.

15 for grey
30 for black

3 — Pull ups

Any grip (pull up or chin up)

women – 15 sec hold over bar = grey, 1 rep = black
men – 1 rep = grey, 5 reps = black

4 — Burpees

NO push up at bottom

8 rounds of 20 seconds work / 10 seconds rest

5 each round for grey – must maintain pace
7 each round for black – must maintain pace

3 Tips to Crush Your Next Mud Run

It’s a common problem for the aspiring (or even experienced) mud runner.

For whatever crazy reason, they sign up for a mud run. They’re pumped and excited and tell all their friends/co-workers/etc. But soon enough, reality sets in … and they realize they’re actually going to have to TRAIN for it!

They realize that they’ve never done anything exactly like this. That one of these events requires a unique blend of endurance, functional strength, and mental toughness to complete successfully. And that they need a great plan to get them ready for race day!

*FVT Mud Run Event Prep 2015 Starting Monday, April 20th – learn more HERE

These events are crazy – that’s for sure. But the good news is that preparing ahead of time, both mentally and physically, can help make sure you’re READY come race day.

 

3 Tips to Crush Your Next Mud Run

1. Practice Carrying Odd Objects

During your event you may have to carry different objects like heavy logs, or even people if there is a partner carry obstacle. A simple and helpful way to prepare for this is by doing an overhead walk. You can use a kettlebell or a dumbbell, just pick a heavy weight that you are able to press overhead. Start by pressing the weight overhead and locking your elbows out. Biceps should stay even with your ears as you practice walking around the room with your weight locked out over your head.

Another exercise you can try is the farmer’s walk. Again you can use kettlebells or dumbbells but the weight should be a little heavier for this one. You’ll be holding a weight in each hand and keeping your arms down by your side. Practice walking for distance with this one, walk around the room several times or around the house or building.

* Don’t forget to check out the FVT Mud Run Event Prep 2015 Starting Monday, April 20th! Learn more HERE

 

2. Do Lots Of Pull Ups

Upper body strength and upper body pulling strength in particular is very helpful in these mud run events. For example if you’re scaling walls, you’re going to need upper body strength and pull ups help with this, especially practicing tactical type pull ups. Tactical pull ups are where you use a thumbless grip with lots of ab activation and use strict form.

Pull ups also help strengthen your grip which you’ll need for obstacles such as monkey bars and rings. If you can’t do a pull up initially, there’s several ways you can work up to it. You can start by doing body rows, partner assisted pull ups, or using resistance bands to boost yourself up.

3. Train For The Elements

If you do all of your workouts inside the comforts of a gym, you won’t be prepared for adverse weather conditions come event day. So as mentioned before, train in the water, train outside in the heat and the cold, run in the rain, etc. Try to forecast what the conditions might be like based on the time of year and location where you’re doing your mud run and try to train in those conditions if possible.

Also, think about what the terrain might be like. If there will be hills, train for them. If you live in a flat area, set the treadmill on a steep incline at the gym.

If there will be rocky conditions, it’s important to train in that type of terrain versus only doing road running.

 

To sum up, prepping for your upcoming mud run should be taken very seriously … it’s a tough event that you need a unique combo of endurance, functional strength and mental toughness to complete successfully. I hope these tips are a great starting point to get you ready for your upcoming race!!

And don’t forget – the FVT Mud Run Event Prep 2015 is starting Monday, April 20th. Click the link below to learn more about it now:

=== >> FVT Mud Run Event Prep 2015

Thanks, and talk soon –

Forest Vance, MS, CPT, FNC, RKC II

Complete Mud Run Event Prep Program

Our upcoming mud run event prep program is all you need to get ready for your upcoming mud run – and this is your official invitation to join in the action!

=> Click here to grab your spot now

When you sign up for this special 8 week training program, here’s what you’ll get:

1) Once per week 45 minute training sessions, initially meeting at the FVT Land Park / Midtown – area studio, and potentially venturing out at different points during the program for runs/activities in surrounding outdoor areas.

2) Special workouts to help you prepare for the race – with things in mind like:

Total body strengthening
Building functional muscle
Increasing flexibility and mobility
Improving cardio endurance
Improving mental toughness
Getting you stronger, faster, and more athletic!

3) Workout activities will include, but not be limited to:

Running
Plyometrics
Kettlebell exercises
Body weight moves
“Stretching” – normal and “exotic” variations
Obstacle-specific exercises/workouts

Workouts will be held on Mondays at 6pm, beginning April 20th and going through June 8th. Here are the currently scheduled training times:

Monday, April 20th @ 6pm
Monday, April 27th @ 6pm
Monday, May 4th @ 6pm
Monday, May 11th @ 6pm
Monday, May 18th @ 6pm
Monday, May 25th @ 6pm
Monday, June 1st @ 6pm
Monday, June 8th @ 6pm

4) In addition to the once per week group workout, you’ll also get access to a special Facebook group where I’ll post workouts from each week, training tips, and much more.

You’ll be able to interact with folks that are participating in the program here outside of regularly scheduled training sessions. Even if you have to miss a training session here or there, you can rest assured you’ll still have workouts to complete on your own.

5) I’m also going to throw in a FREE digital copy of my “20 Tips to Crush Your Next Mud Run” report when you sign up today.

I wrote up this special report after recently completing a mud run myself. This is like “insider information”, and in it, you’ll find tips and tricks like:

Specific drills you need to practice before the event – these aren’t things you’d do every day in your workout program, but they’re key to your success!
Strategies to improve your mental and physical toughness for the event
How to structure your cardio workouts to best simulate and prepare for what you’ll be experiencing in the race
What specific fitness qualities are most important for mud run success
The non-fitness drills you need to practice (odds are you’ve never thought of these!)
And much more …

=> Click here to grab your spot now

Questions? Shoot me a message and let me know! Hope it works out – SUPER pumped for this thing!

Thanks, and talk soon –

– Forest Vance

Owner, FVT Boot Camp and Personal Training