ASK DARIN — Each Sunday Darin Will Answer 2 of Your Questions
By Darin Steen | February 28
Bodybuilding Can Be Beautiful & Artistic
Will Drinking Lots of Water Help Me Lose Weight?
I’ve tried different things to help me shed those extra pounds. We’ve all heard about the many supposed benefits of drinking eight glasses of water each day, but can water help me meet my weight loss goals?
Darin’s Answer:
YES. Drink water cold and it comes out in urine warm. It takes energy to warm it and this burns calories. Water will also act as an appetite suppressant and help you to stop overeating.
There are many reasons to drink water. Along with the two posted above;
The body is smart. It knows that it is made up of 60-70% water. If you do not take it in, it is going to hold on to it. So when you start to take a lot in, it will let go of a lot of water that is not neccessary. Thus less water bloat.
Drinking water helps the lymph system (the liquid garbage can collection system of your body) release toxins and junk that contribute to cellulite (the dimpling on the skin).
Moral Arguments Aside, is Becoming a Vegetarian Smart?
Vegetarians often boast about the health benefits of ditching meat, and I’ve been thinking about taking the veg pledge myself — mostly to lose weight. But is a vegetarian lifestyle really as healthy as proponents claim, and are there are any health risks that I should be aware of?
Darin’s Answer:
No. Being healthy means feeling strong. In order to feel strong, one must work out. When you work out, not only do you feel physically stronger, but mentally, emotionally, and spiritual strength will increase. If you work out to increase strength, YOU NEED PROTEIN.
Losing weight and losing fat are two different things. You want to lose fat, not just weight.
Another macro-nutrient that vegetarians miss out on to be strong and healthy is fats. Make sure to include coconut oil, KRILL OIL (high end fish oil). Include brazil nuts, almonds, walnuts, pumkin and sunflower seeds.
- When you work out, you tear your muscles down. When you eat, you give your body the nutrients (protein broken down into amino acids) to repair the muscle back. When you follow a vegetarian food plan you are so very limited in the amino acids that you can take in.
I am an advocate of eating only very clean sources of protein (to get the benefits of the vegetarian lifestyle) but to build the muscles back as well.
Some sources of protein that are quality and clean are;
Filets, eggs, hemp protein, whey protein from grass fed cows and cold processing.
Please input the questions that you would like me to answer next Sunday below.
Your Healthy Lifestyle Coach,
Darin L. Steen
darin what do you think about myoplex delux protein? its a good protein?
Post workout nutrition?? Should I consume a post workout carb along with my post workout whey protein shake? Thanks for your help Darin
Darin..I have gout. Anytime I increase my protein intake to add more mass. I tend to have an attack of it. My attack always occur in my left ankle or knee. Anything I can do to get around this. I do take meds but I would like to get off them.
Stan
Darin, what is a good exercise to work the rear deltoids? Thanks.
Chris
Darin, What is the difference between fat and muscle? How can I tell my body to loose fat and, at the same time, grow fat?
Darin, what do u think about a supplement company called prograde? and also what is the best thing to digest after a workout?
Hi Sir! I’m Jaskaran and I,m 16 yr old. I’ve a question to ask u.
I’m doing exercise with dumbbells at home only from nearly 2 months and I’m not seeing any effect on my body yet from this workout. I’m also taking diet told by u after workout but still no effect. plzzz sir help me.I really want to build a good body.
Hi sir! I’m writing my 2nd question.
I want to grow my arms more . Plz tell me the best workout for arms with dumbbells only.plzzzz
Adding to roberto’s question, in your opinion what is the best whey protein on the market without all of the hidden soy and harmful chemicals? Are any of the quality protein powders budget friendly (around $20)? Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge! God Bless my friend and keep up the great work!
Darin
Instead of water can you put milk in the protein shake?
Hi Steighner,
The one I use is http://proteinpowder.mercola.com/Miracle-Whey-Protein.html?aid=cd130
It is of highest quality coming from grass fed cows and hormone free. My good friend and
client Dr. Joe Mercola invented it.
darin
I do not have any experience with Prograde Nutrition. With that being said, some one I respect, Joel Marion, uses them and refers his clients to their products. They are actually hosting a fitness seminar that I am presently at in New York. I will talk to them today, and find out more about their products. darin
Yes Burk,
You should consume a higher amount of starchy (high glycemic) carbs than you normally do. A banana and maybe a piece of bread for you would work good. After an intense work out is a nice window to add more carbs as they will be used to help you recover from the work out. darin
Hi Darin, I am a great believer in what you are doing. I really would like to shed weight from my torso as I find my chest too heavy to perform exercises properly and I am afraid that by doing more weights I will end up with a BIGGER chest. I DO NOT want this. Can you shed some light on this issue if you can please.
PS: as usual great advice and many thanks for your love of your work.
Darin..
I am a night time worker.. I go in at 11pm and get off at 730am. My question is. What do you think is the best time for me to workout and also get my 5-6 small meals in. I normally will go to bed after I get home and wake up about 3pm or 4pm. Should I go workout then. How should I do my meal plan? Also I will lay back down about 7pm or 8pm to take a power nap before work… Can you help me get a regular schedule down… Thanks
Stan
Hey Stan,
Yes, I would work out @ 5 p.m. Eat your first meal at 6:30 p.m. then eat every 3 hours after that. Make sure you combine protein and carbs together and cycle some starchy carbs into the meals on resistance training days. Keep the starchy carbs out on cardio days and inactivity days. But always eat a protein and a non-starchy carb (veggie, grean bean, salad, apple) together.
Your Healthy Lifestyle Coach,
Darin Steen
Hey Chris,
I like dumbell shrugs. Keep the weight light and reall pull the dumbbells high and around to the back (visualize your elbows touching the ceiling).
Also a favorite is hang cleans. Drive the elbow high to the ceiling before you flip the arms down to get under the bar. That phase of the movement should be a quick explosion.
Darin
Hi Stan,
Try avoiding all alcohol and Purine rich proteins (dark meat). Stick with white chicken meat and fish. Also drink more water than normal.
Do these habits for a couple weeks and try to wean yourself off the meds slowly.
darin
What do you think is the optimum way to lose body fat – Maintaining a consistent calorie deficit, or, maintaining a consistent calorie deficit inlcuding carb cycling (every fourth or fifth day eating more calories and carbs to “boost my metabolism”)??? I have heard different theories on both being correct. Keep in mind I am an endomorph.
Please explain. Thanks.
P.S. I’m a huge fan and you have helped me for years. Thanks!
Hi Lee,
Thanks for following my information. I believe that your best bet long term is to create a calorie defecit including carb cycling. I have seen best results with cyclying in good quality starcy carbs a couple days per week on days that you do intense weight training. The carb cycling allows for your body to not shut down your metabolism because it knows that excess calories are coming in a couple times per week. If you do not do this, the body thinks a starvation is coming and your system will run slower, burn less calories, eat into your own muscle (to use the amino acids).
darin
Hey Darin! Thanks for your answer last week. As I said I’m a huge fan, and over the last few years you have really helped me to develop my routines, my nutrition, and my mindset. I keep writing Oprah telling her to get you on her show, because if there is anyone who deserves the success that being on her show brings, it is you.
This week my question is about abdominal training. Lately I have heard a lot of talk about doing less reps, with heavier resistance. As oppose to the old way of working abs when everybody just did as many crunches and leg lifts as they could. I have been following your ab techniques, and working them on a different plain of motion more often (side to side instead of up and down), but I would like to know what you think is the best way to train your abs as far as weight, reps, sets, and frequency?
And what method do you use?
Thanks Again!
Lee
Where are all the video specials you said were coming? Its been weeks since you announced them and we are very anxious to see them! We love your videos! Let us know when they are coming!?
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I have been using Acai supplement and it has worked fantastic for me along with diet and exercise. Are you using a weight loss supplement too?
great site, i found it whilst searching for something else and i am glad that i have. I have bookmarked and will be back.
I’ve bookmarked this because I found it notable. I would be very keen to hear more news on this. Excellent!
I use a mutli vitamin, chlorella, and whey protein. Other than that I use real food.
Darin Steen
Thank you very much, I did really like the response to my thread, and post replies have been really awesome. It could have never been better. Even hiring someone for this could have never met the experience all posters here have, thanks for saving dollars and adding really good information to this post to make things really easy and workable for us. Thanks again and great work.
I have been able to work with weights now that I am in high school, and I want to learn which vitamins and minerals to take. I want to take only natural things and forget anything like steriods. No way am I gonna mess myself up. Anybody have any advice?
Heey Darin.. Thanks for your fatlosslifestyle prog.. just wanted to ask.. how important is the morning cardio? is it really important? should i do it everyday?? and for how many mins?? i have a treadmill in my home so what do you recommend? running or just walking?