Guest Blog by Steven Zahurones

Clutch Bodyshop has helped me get back in touch with the younger version of myself that was a dreamer ready to conquer the world. 

Now 26, I was bullied as a kid for being small, non-athletic, a nerd, and just "not cool". Around 16 I fell in love with weight training and the lifestyle that allowed me to get out what I put in. To find a sanctuary from life that didn't judge. 

When I went to college I lost my way. I ballooned up to around 250 pounds. It was walking home from campus one day my senior year that I realized how unhealthy and out of shape I was. I remember that day vividly because once I arrived home my long time girlfriend left.

That's when I discovered Ashley Conrad and Clutch Bodyshop. I was ready to get my life back on track.  I was also ready to rediscover myself, the dreams, ambition, and passion I had seemingly lost along the way. 

I embarked on an intense six month program that culminated in me running 50,000 stairs on my birthday as a present. It was the support and knowledge of the Clutch community that helped me wake up everyday with a sense of gratefulness and confidence.

Last year I decided it was time to do a bigger transformation and document the process by blogging (szahurones.wordpress.com) everyday and sharing updates on Instagram to inspire other members of the Clutch Army. I was determined to make Clutch proud so I went to the gym at 4:30am everyday. I ate clean 100% of the time even when traveling to show others that - yes. You can. I believe in moderation and enjoying life but it was an important step for me to say "I can, I will, and so will you". It was Ashley and Clutch Bodyshop also commenting on my journey along the way that helped me complete that transformation.

The fitness is just one aspect of what Clutch has brought to me. It has connected me to other fans and form real bonds. It has helped me learn how to lead a healthier life through proper training, nutrition, and supplementation. It has helped me rediscover myself. Embrace my weirdness. Forgive the bullies. And most of all - Clutch it everyday.

I sincerely thank you for your mission and passion. Without it, on that day when my life was seemingly in shambles, I may not have gotten through and found myself. God always has His plans, and this was His for me. 

Thank you. I hope to repay you one day for the gift you helped me discover.

Steven Z

Pardon me, but am I the only one that has noticed a shift in focus to a particular “ass-et” within our fitness community? Is pop-culture to blame for this relentless pursuit of the perfect, high, tight, round, gravity-defying butt? To what lengths are people actually going to get these “ass-tronomical” back ends? Can we believe everything put on social media?

See, it’s different here in the fit-world because when Nikki Minaj gets on stage rapping a rendition of “Anaconda”- people don’t care if she squats or not. Nobody minds if she has an augmented-ass because she’s selling albums not fitspo. When the insta-famous fitness inspirations post glute-selfie after glute-selfie and claim that you too can have a butt like that if you just do squats lunges and deadlifts…be tempted to call BS. While some of us invest hours a day, days a week for months on end to achieve this coveted, curvacious apple-bottom result, others are going under the knife. Can you say cheaters? For sure.

GASP.

Yes, I just went there.

It doesn’t sit right with me when people claim that hard work and dedication is the key to attaining the body you want, when the hard work and dedication they used was driving themselves to the doctor’s office, laying face down and waking up with a booty that they didn’t work for – but paid for. Don’t think this is just women. Dudes are buying shoulders, pecs…you name it. I am all about doing what is necessary to feel good in your own skin. I also think if you’re in the limelight, you owe a certain amount of truth the people that are looking to you for advice on how to get results.

Will all the fake butts please stand up?

My point will always come back to this, people lie, they eliminate what they don’t want you to know and show you what they want you to believe. Before you let your fitness dreams come crashing down because you haven’t been able to attain the look of your favorite fitness-star or celebrity, just be real with yourself and remember that authenticity is the one thing that doctors can’t sell. If all else fails, we now know that glutes are up for purchase.

I don't need to call names for you to identify who inspires through transparency and who's all smoke and mirrors. They ALL know who they are and I hope you share this blog so the impostors feel the pressure of change. At Clutch Bodyshop, we like to call it like it is and we don't hold punches when deceit is involved.

Work hard. Be real. That’s clutch.

Fortunately or unfortunately, when you search for help on addictions, most of the search results that come up are in reference to alcohol, tobacco and drugs. These are obviously the most intense battles fought among people worldwide.

But… 

What about sugar?

Caffeine?

Even exercise.

Or, an overly restrictive diet?

Selfies? – I mean for REAL!!

These are all definitely addictions. Ones that may not have a 12-step program to overcome, yet so many people don’t know how to trade them in for something else, maybe something a little better. If you’re struggling in deciphering whether something in your life is a habit or an addiction- be prepared to get brutally honest with yourself because that thing in the back of your mind as you read this is probably the thing you’re addicted to. Even as you skim over it in justification that you could cut it out at anytime- you’re kidding yourself.

The truth about habits and addictions is that they’re not all that different. Brushing your teeth is a habit, but you’re not addicted to it. I’d dare to say that some habitual behavior is waiting to become an addiction however- the culprit? Dopamine. 

So dopamine is released in the brain when you engage in something you love, something that makes you feel powerful or even relax (among other feelings). It’s called the “reward chemical” and once the body experiences it’s release it can become dependent on whatever it is that you are engaging in be it drugs, sex, rock and roll and yes- even exercise. This is my favorite part. Because exercise releases so many incredible hormones and chemicals in the brain, it has actually been PROVEN to help overcome some seemingly impossible addictions and psychological conditions. The key to letting exercise play that role is interrupting your usual routine with a new and improved dopamine release. i.e. if you struggle with drinking alcohol after work to unwind, try switching your workout routine to interrupt your usual wine-thirty ritual. By allowing your body to become accustomed to endorphins instead of alcohol you have a great chance to kick a habit and get in the shape of your life – uh, win win anyone? I think so.

All addictions or “habits” have a root. There’s an originating time in which this “thing” had it’s birth in your life where you grasped onto it in saying “ooooh, I like this”. 6 months down the road you couldn’t imagine your life without it. I’ll just get super real here in saying that some of you need to apply this to people that you cannot seemingly get away from. They too are an addiction that maybe you need to replace…#realtalk

There are undoubtedly specific steps that anyone that is experiencing any sort of imprisonment should go through. Beyond walking through these practical steps, I believe, is a cognitive process in identifying where and why these dependent relationships started.

As an example, I’ll use my dad. He was born second to last into a stringent German family with an incredibly nurturing mother. Because his dad was so frugal with money and a dictator of sorts regarding sugar in the household…my dad’s mom would sneak him sugary treats and slip him a coin on the sly for ice cream as a special surprise to show her love. Sadly, when my dad was just 12 years old his mom passed away from cancer. Suddenly, in his moments of sadness, vulnerability or insecurity he would reach for those sugar-filled treats that reminded him of the love and comfort his mother represented.

Today, over 50 years later, my dad still struggles with sugar. Even after 3 stents inserted into his heart he can’t seem to kick his habit. This isn’t to say anything about his strength as a man- as he has also lived much of his life in some of the most inconvenient circumstances all over Africa and never blinked an eye. This is just a perfect example of the beginnings that some of our oldest and hardest habits can have. Food in so many cases becomes an addiction that is directly linked to emotional trauma.

The power in mindfulness is beyond anything we can comprehend. To be “mindful” basically means that you become fully aware of your emotions in the present moment without allowing any sort of judgment to creep in. If you have something in your life be it a person, a food, a vice or anything that you feel has a hold on you- start to think when it started, begin to think who you were at that time, what you were going through and possibly what that thing could have represented to you in that moment.

As you move forward in life being mindful of the roots of the things you are allowing to continue to function in your life, I hope that you come to some revelations about how different you are today. In small steps, it is completely possible to move closer to habits that are more suiting for who you plan to be in the future. Fitness is a powerful tool beyond what it can make anyone look like. I don’t really care if I sound like a broken record in saying that, the fact that people continue to demote it to just a way to make them happy with their own reflections grosses me out. It is so much more than that!

If your exercise habits have gotten out of balance and you fear that maybe you’ve become obsessed with working out- I truly encourage you to examine the seed that was planted to allow it to take over your life. Was it a harsh word from someone else about your weight? If so- that’s a whole lot of power to give away. Gaining that power back is going to require forgiveness on your part and setting yourself free from the opinions of small-minded people. Gain perspective that true power lies in balance. Finding equilibrium in all habits and revealing truth within your addictions will bring you the fulfillment you’ve been seeking. Like any habit, it requires repetition and commitment. You may want to think about someone you trust to fill in on your new journey so they can encourage you along the way and hold you accountable. After all, this is why we have the #clutcharmy. Have a wonderful week ahead and as always if any of you need guidance, we are here.

 AMBER DODZWEIT

I would dare to say there are millions of people desperate to break into the fitness industry. This number continues to grow and brings with it a lot of preconceived notions that I believe should be uncovered. After all, your future requires planning, and planning requires details.

Most of you know that we celebrated the 50^th anniversary of the Mr. Olympia in Las Vegas last week. For those of you that have never been, imagine for me a carnival of sorts- exploding with color and protein samples, tans, six packs, butt cheeks, more samples and thousands of people shuffling through the Las Vegas convention center waiting in lines to see some of their most beloved fitness icons.

Now I’m about to drop some truth on you so if you’re not ready- prepare your heart now. These fitness icons that people wait in line to see – in most cases are not able to sustain themselves with the money they are earning in the fitness industry.

WAIT- WHAT!?

Again- most of the biggest names in the fitness industry have to have a day job to pay their bills. That means that these multi-bajillion dollar companies that build their brands using the faces and personalities of these people do not pay them enough to even begin to think about putting money away for their future.

I don’t know about you- but if I am devoting my entire life to something and someone is getting filthy rick off my image- I’m not really feeling the idea that I’m still forced to go out and hustle to make ends meet.

In my case when I was signed to the biggest supplement company a few years back- I was working 8-5 as an Orthodontist Assistant- meanwhile, I was covers everywhere. People would say “oh well I could look like that if I were paid to stay in shape too” oh- really?? Because most of these people are busting their asses as bartenders, personal trainers, waitresses, you name it- and finding time to workout themselves in between then.

I’ve considered quite a bit how to legitimize the professionals of this industry and somehow allow them to earn higher wages so they can truly be offered what they deserve for building the brands we love. I arrive at the same blockade over and over again- there are too many thirsty people willing to do ANYTHING for a little fame and these people will always undercut those that are our stars today. These days, with enough instagram posts showing just enough skin- fitness sensations are created overnight.

For my last campaign photo shoot with my previous endorsement – I showed up on set to find another fitness model. Nobody had told me that I was going to share my 2-day shoot with someone else and as the day developed I realized exactly what was happening. They had stumbled on this girl as a before an after volunteer, did their checks and balances and realized that she was willing to do all of their ad campaigns for free….and guess what. She did. And guess what…I did not renew my contract that year.

It was that experience that caused me to realize that aesthetics are always and will always be replaceable. What is NOT replaceable is a personality that goes along with the aesthetic or profound abilities that compliment a great look. Today, I choose to put my athleticism on display before my appearance because any other fitness model can have a great body. But not every fitness model can move. Ashley Conrad looks amazing, but it’s her ability to communicate on camera and relay very complicated concepts in an extremely digestible and simple way leaving her impossible to replicate.

I put a quote on my social media the other day that came from Oprah and the gist of it was- if we are all to stay in our own lanes, not looking to the right or to the left to compare ourselves to what others are doing – I believe that we will develop the things inside of us that are destined to set us apart. The more the fitness industry keeps its head on a swivel looking around to see what everyone else is doing- the more we will just recreate the same replaceable person over and over again.

Set yourselves apart with what is unique about you and you will never have to worry about fighting for your place. It will always be yours.

It's no mystery, the fitness industry can be pretty extreme. 

Meanwhile, thousands of people across the nation struggle with unhealthy relationships with food and excessive exercise only to have their habits encouraged by “fitspo” featuring ever so deep quotes such as “nothing tastes as good as skinny feels”, thanks for that one Kate Moss.

One concept in particular that I want to touch on is the notion of “no days off” training. Sometimes I feel that these social media celebrities take the truth- do a 180 and then promote THAT thing. Taking not one day off in the midst of intense training is not only ineffective but counterproductive to making progress. I’ll tell you why.

What we are doing during intense bouts of exercise essentially is damaging muscle tissue. The repair of this tissue is what causes gains. In order to allow this tissue to repair you must REST. Again, it is during REST that your body is able to experience gains. I’m so sorry to burst your bubble “no days off” promoters- but you’re just simply wrong. Now- having days where your exercise intensity is much lower than normal can still allow for the body to recover, but nothing in comparison like a day of total rest.

There’s something else too- Hormonal implications of the stress we place on our bodies through exercise and just daily life prompts the release of cortisol (this is what is released during your fight or flight response). Stimulant based products trick your body into thinking it’s under attack thus releasing cortisol. This is the surge of energy you feel after you’ve downed a pre-workout or energy drink. It all seems great until you get the memo that the adrenal glands are the size of walnuts and eventually they run out of cortisol to release for your emergency workout stash. Another reason REST is super important. And here we are again at the “no days off” concept just being another method for people to spoon feed you insane philosophies that have no backing of science.

I would dare to say the overtraining is the most common diagnosis within our industry today. But before you think all of this is a PMS inflicted rant- let me prove it. Once cortisol is tapped out in your system you experience what’s called “adrenal fatigue”. This can be described as having “depression like” symptoms. You feel lethargic, unmotivated and extremely tired. In most cases like this- one may double up on their pre-workout, but there will be no adrenaline or cortisol left to release for energy. If this is left unattended what you may have on your hands is permanent metabolic damage, irreversible weight gain, and many other health complications. So before you go and jump on the “no days off” bandwagon- consider that your body is sort of a one time thing and you have to preserve it so its with you for the long haul. Not to mention, want results?? Then rest is required.

I love the truth. I hope you do too. Thank you so much for allowing me to share it with you.

AMBER DODZWEIT

As the fitness industry continues to infiltrate more and more homes throughout the world and leave an imprint on the mainstream marketplace – I believe that the “wild wild west” antics that go on behind the scenes need to begin to not only become exposed but monitored.

Lets take this from the top. A star struck aspiring fitness model attends the Olympia in Las Vegas this coming September. As they stand in line with sweaty palms waiting to take a picture with their favorite fitness personality they rehearse their opening “hello” and envision their pose for the photo. As they near the front of the line and see in the flesh what they’ve only seen on their vision board at home, they are in awe. Every muscle and every vein is on display as they snap the photo with their larger than life fitness celebrity. Our little “fit-fan” has now bought the entire line of supplements from the company that endorses their fitness hero. They kill themselves in the gym everyday, sometimes twice a day and the mirror never…ever…begins to reflect anything close to what they saw that day. They now have two options…Quit or reach for the substances that they know will give them the results they want. The substances that their dream body has been taking all along.  Steriods, GH, off –the-market fat burners, Testosterone, you name it. Our industry isn’t shy about promoting bodies that are science experiments. I mean look at that pump, CLEARLY it’s the pre-workout….#BS

We’re flat out lying to people. It’s not the pre-workout, it’s not the fat burner, it’s not their workouts. More fitness personalities than I want to admit are dipping into black-market type methods to get them results that they then claim are from their endorsed supplements. Meanwhile, our fit-fans are going broke buying anything and everything they can to achieve even a quarter of what they see.

Imagine if there was a list of every fitness celebrity using illegal substances that was available to the public., including plastic surgery “additions”.  Imagine if these personalities were tested at random in order to be held accountable to the example they’re setting for people all over the world. I think maybe the results you hope to achieve would then make a lot more sense. Listen, to each their own- you want to basically take another form of crack-cocaine to stay lean? Go on with your bad-self, but don’t dress like a wolf in lambs pajamas and claim it’s all natural. Own your methods so those that look to you have full disclosure on what it takes to look the way you do.

When runway models back in the earlier 2000s began showing up to walk fashion shows looking emaciated…guess what happened. PEOPLE SPOKE UP. Diane Von Furstenberg refused to let them walk at NY fashion week with out an acceptable BMI, agencies overseas established guidelines the models had to follow, and at the end of the day when they didn’t adhere to the new set of rules…they weren’t used.

Fitness has existed in it’s own niche for years now. Stringer tanks and roid-induced “backne” will never ever disappear (although I wish they would). But with more eyes than ever looking to fitness for direction, we should all be taking more accountability for our messaging both in and out of the public eye. Next time you take your scissors to your favorite fitness magazine to add to your vision board…ask yourself If they’re playing you as the fool.

AMBER DODZWEIT

Bodybuilding.com is a big deal. They have hundreds of millions of unique page views to their website every single month. As the largest online retailer of supplements in the world you would imagine that these sorts of meetings would surround profit margins and quarterly financial reports…yawn. Not only were neither of these things discussed, but the hours of conversation between these masters (and believe it or not…me) were all based on how to motivate, inspire and change the lives of those that come to their site looking for answers. Let me repeat that- not one minute was spent talking about money.

One of the hurdles in our industry that was dissected was the fact that in most cases our “why” is not nearly big enough to keep us motivated. Now what this says to me is “If all you’re looking to get out of a program is abs, there’s one distraction that has the potential to derail you” enter- pizza. Hah, ok maybe not for all of us. In all seriousness though, if your goal is simply to get “abs”, it takes self-discipline made out of steel to stay focused on such a shallow reward over a long period of time, what happens when you get “abs” then what?. So, what if we tilted the focus from these image-focused goals and really allowed people to begin to understand what exercise can truly offer them.

Did you know that current clinical studies are pulling data that support the fact that a consistent exercise program offers the same results in patients with anxiety and depression disorders as prescription drugs?

Yeah- now that’s a “why” that’s worth sticking to a program for.

What if this isn’t a struggle you’re facing. Imagine if your entire life began to improve because of the benefits of consistent workouts. Nobody can tell me their life doesn’t contain at least one thing that they feel they’ve lost control of….now imagine if you had the power to wrangle THAT thing in.

So has the fitness industry just missed it from the beginning? “Wellness” by definition is the quality or state of being healthy in body and mind. It sounds like fitness, in some cases, has lost sight of establishing true wellness by focusing solely on a bodily result in hopes that it brings the mind happiness along with it…definitely a short-lived method. Another thing, the imagery the fitness industry puts out is undoubtedly inspiring but when the hopeful participants at the end of their program don’t see striated delts or washboard abs…isn’t it equally as demoralizing? Maybe the fine print beneath the models should read **5 days water deprived, 14 days carb depleted, spray tanned twice plus baby oil and diuretics**. Juuuust sayin’.

I encourage you all to truly analyze your “why” behind the program you have selected. In our Transform Programs (available at www.clutchbodyshop.com) we have done our best to incorporate life principles to establish this type of thinking but drop off numbers are staggering after the second week in all programs no matter what brand created them.

If you have thoughts about how to establish bigger reasons for people to change not their bodies but their lives through proper nutrition and training we would love to hear them. As always if you are looking for programs and products that are backed by a message of true wellness, we always appreciate you sharing our vision. #Clutcharmy #Clutchrevolution 

AMBER DODZWEIT

When I take a look at images from the porn industry and then I compare those images with those from the fitness industry- I see no difference except muscle. For an athlete that has dedicated their life to the art of exercise, this phenomenon has become an insult. Furthermore, I am embarrassed to claim my career in the “fitness industry” because of it’s raunchy and extreme reputation in the mainstream market. 

I get regular emails from aspiring fitness models wondering how it is that I was “discovered”. These girls are already buying into the notion that taking their clothes off is the only way to being noticed and ultimately sponsored. Without mentioning names, there are a few stars of the social media world that have upwards of millions of followers they have obtained by running a soft porn show on their pages. This is speaking to young athletes that in order to become a “name” and inspire people with their athleticism….get naked.

Early on in my career I was on set with a well-known fitness photographer that wanted to shoot me for a glamour fitness magazine. When I refused a proposition to get undressed and be featured in this publication- I was told “you won’t ever get anywhere in fitness being so modest”. A few months later, I was approached by Playboy and a few years after that Playboy came knocking again to be turned down.

I haven’t always had my moral compass on true north and there have been a couple instances where looking back I would have made different choices but throughout my entire career I’ve preached ability above aesthetics. I think that trend is beginning to catch steam not because of my attempts but because peoples stomachs are starting to turn. I believe that most people don’t want asses in their face when their hope is to be inspired to become better versions of themselves. I also know that for as long as we validate these people with “follows” and edifying comments there will be no end to the ever-growing pornographic fitness industry.

Even more concerning is the implication this poses on our youth. I received an email from an 18-year old girl essentially crying out for help because her fitness coach was encouraging her to take photos to put up on sketchy social media sites dedicated to “fitness”. She was confused because the feedback on her posing in a thong in the mirror was so positive and wondered if this was the only way to becoming someone in fitness. I mean am I the only one looking at these situations saying “ARE YOU KIDDING ME??!”

More than anything, this is a call for those who do not believe in the “sexifying “ of fitness to actually take a stand. Nothing will change as long as people are willing to reinforce the fact that nudity=success. If I were a parent, I would fear my child wanting to make a career in fitness. This is heartbreaking considering this should be a place for athletes to come and put their talents on display without being coaxed into a soft porn exposition.

As a brand this is something we are attacking head on. The athletes we sign, the branding we release and the message we put out will not fit in, and this is 100% intentional. Got guts? Let us know your hashtag ideas to create a movement and stop the sexualization of our industry.

AMBER DODZWEIT

 
A sexy six pack ridden fitness model perfectly glistening with their photo shoot ready outfit jumps off a page in a magazine and you are desperate to have their physique. Next to the perfectly sculpted body you are just dying to have, lies the image of the “new and improved formula” of a fat-burner that this fitness god surely has to take.

But…if like the prescription drug industry, supplement companies were forced to spell out the fine print what you would most often see is “Prolonged use of this product may cause Adrenal Fatigue and permanent metabolic damage”. Insert record scratch here….What??!
P-E-R-M-A-N-E-N-T metabolic damage??
 
Let me spell out what is not being said. As someone who in the past has been in those fitness ads next to a crazy fat burner…
 
Ok, so adrenal glands…These little walnut sized suckers sit above your kidneys and their main function inside your body is to release hormones in response to stress. Hormone balance is one of the hugely underestimated keys in attaining fitness goals. Being deemed the “belly fat hormone”, cortisol deserves some attention for us that are battling the mid-section bulge and have yet to crack the code….so pay attention. The adrenal glands also release adrenaline in response to anxiety, exercise or fear, which calls on cortisol to bring everything back in balance.
 
Any fitness focused person during the course of their day may wake up, have a cup of coffee or two, take a stimulant fat-burner before lunch, have another coffee late afternoon for a pick-me up and then head to the gym with their pre-workout in hand. That’s at least 4 accounts in which the body has been prompted to release adrenaline in response to caffeine…we haven’t even factored in the typical stresses of your daily life yet. This may continue on for 6-months, a year, sometimes more. You embark on this rollercoaster ride of forcing your body to release adrenaline, and then forcing a cortisol release in response. Your adrenal glands again…they’re the size of a walnut. Do you think their resources are infinite?? HA! Not a chance. And you got it right, they wear out, they throw in the towel and say “man, I got nothing left”. You then are left with no “fight or flight” responses in the body. You have no get up and go, you feel lethargic, depressed and exhausted. Enter: Adrenal Fatigue.

 
Now if you’re lucky, you have a chance to take yourself off of all stimulants and let your body naturally find it’s hormonal balance. But, if you have taken it too far…sadly you may be faced with permanent metabolic damage.
 
It’s all fun and games to seek the perfect body justifying the end with the means. But what’s not fun and games is tapping out the basic biological functions of your body to look a certain way. This isn’t my attempt to scare you. Wait, no that’s a lie. I do want to scare you…because guess what- before we realized cigarettes basically burn holes in your lungs the most beautiful people were in magazines smoking. Remember that the fitness industry is still very new and long-term effects haven’t even begun to have the opportunity to be researched yet. No matter how beautiful, how young, and how shredded the models look…they are getting paid to endorse products that most of them know nothing about. Be smarter than that #clutcharmy.
 
THE CLUTCH ARSENAL AGAINST ADRENAL FATIGUE:
 
 
CLUTCH PROTEIN POWDER - Featuring 100% whey protein isolate sourced from grass-fed New Zealand cows, Clutch Protein Powder is packed with 25g of the highest grade whey protein on the market making it one of the highest nutrient foods you can give your body.  This pure whey protein isolate is formulated to repair, build and support lean muscle mass.  
 
CLUTCH FAT BURNER - Featuring scientifically proven ingredients like GreenTea Phytosome®, CarniPURE and the seaweed extract Fucoxanthin, Clutch Fat Burner helps convert fat to energy, increases metabolism and supports lean body mass WITHOUT any caffeine or stimulants!*
 
CLUTCH WORKOUT POWDER - Need to get away from your stimulant ridden pre-workout? Some drink mixes can have caffeine in the amount of up to 7 cups of coffee…Clutch Workout Powder uses patented ingredients, amino acids, electrolytes and loads of Vitamin B12 to give you the natural energy surge to burn more calories in your workouts.*

*These statements have not been evaluated by the food and drug administration.  This product is not intended to treat, cure, diagnose or prevent disease.

That 3 letter word we're obsessed with. Over the last 20 years,engaging in a never ending battle to fight it. Does what we’re doing to burn fat even making any sense, though? You decide. 

I’m going to try to make this as simple as possible: 

Carbs=glycogen= your body’s best source of energy (aka allows you to clutch your face off in the best way). Without carbs in our diet we can’t workout to intensity and fat burning suffers. This is because whether you are burning glycogen or fat for energy “fat-burning” is taking place no matter what.

This brings us to our first Clutch Fat Burning Truth:

OPTIMAL FAT BURNING REQUIRES CARBS.  
Particularly post workout the body is grasping for more energy sources so replenishing your glycogen (carb) stores allow fat burning to continue and prevents the body reaching for muscle to burn as energy. 
**Clutch Bodyshop recommends gluten free carb sources.

The next Clutch Fat Burning Truth is: 

CUTTING FAT DOES NOT LEAD TO FAT LOSS. 
Let’s highlight Virgin Coconut Oil as an example, although high in fat, the first rate thermogenic properties of this “fatty” are science’s way of burning fat the right way. For the icing on top let’s mention that as a medium chain fatty acid, Coconut oil is readily used in the body more like carbohydrates which translates to it being burned as pure fury in the gym. #thatsclutch

Side note: fats rich in omega 3,6 and 9 are required for every basic biological process including brain function and stress management. Basically we would be crazy to cut fats…literally.

These two simple principals about burning fat are just the beginning of the truth. Carbs and the right fats are just two allies in the battle to burn off the excess. There are countless natural occurring ingredients that nature has to offer including a seaweed extract called Fucoxanthin that also promotes thermogenesis and fat burning in the body. 

 Science, and the mechanisms of the mind and body have always intrigued me. More so, the science behind behavior. Decoding the language of the brain and it’s interpretations of the things that have shaped us- what messages our neurons are whispering to fabricate the internal plagues of insecurity or self doubt...truth be told, I’ve always been on the pursuit of this knowledge to better understand myself...The epidemic of cancers that we can’t find solutions to, I believe, serve as a mirror to what too many of us are suffering through mentally. Laying quiet for years, silently and secretly tip-toeing about, rearing their ugly head at life’s most inopportune times. Our thoughts are proving to be cancer of the mind, and I wish I could pacify you with a pat on the back and say “it stops there”. It doesn’t. Our conscious and subconscious thoughts have our body on puppet strings, and yours are more than likely not only limiting your progress- but just to pour salt in an open wound- they’re probably also making you fat (we got a lose-lose here folks).  

 As someone who somehow ended up as this fitness ‘model’ (the term ‘model’ actually making me salivate as a precursor to vomit)- I will shamelessly admit that on a daily basis I have to wage war on these ‘cancerous’ thoughts about myself. I have no childhood environmental reasons to attribute this to. In fact, some would argue that I was raised in an enviable household with constant affirmation and unconditional love. Which, I absolutely was. Perfectionism may be to blame...nonetheless, the point being, that to have been blessed with this bodily ‘genetic lottery’ and to receive accolades, praise, and covers of magazines for the love of GOD!- based on the arrangement of my pre-determined genetics- has still not left me immune to intensely negative critiques, and never ending self comparisons to almost everyone around me. I’ll go on record and say that I wouldn’t even blame the industry of visual perfection I have been a part of. I’ll go on another record and say- I believe most of us would never admit to the sorts of things we say about ourselves. And for another record...hah, just kidding.

Now, hold on a  minute before you blow one balloon for a pity party. I am arguably one of the happiest, most fun loving, appreciative and DORKY people known to mankind. Which is precisely the reason I think ‘self talk’ (particularly in fitness) needs to be addressed. Those of us with wonderful, and beautiful dispositions are speaking to ourselves in a way that we would never let anyone speak to those that we love. And frankly...I’m actually sick and tired of it. That’s me being authoritative...rawr.

If all of the emotional ‘be gentle with yourself’ talk is making your stomach turn, like it’s starting to make mine...I’ll rationalize it a little.  Stress in any form, be it mental stress, or physical, prompts our adrenal glands to release the hormone cortisol. Cortisol is a little two-faced. We need it when we face stress and danger in order to regulate our system and prompt immediate responses (think fight or flight). But it also has a dirty little nickname called “the belly-fat hormone”. The not so secret, secret is- that whenever we encounter stress (i.e. even our own internal thoughts) cortisol is released and the end result is our bodies retaining fat. The science behind this is- the fact that the release of cortisol sparks the production of glucose, and in the end- glucose that isn’t utilized by the body for fuel is converted into fat. So yes. What I’ve just broken down essentially is this- no matter the strength of the vault you have kept your negative thoughts about yourself in- you’re stressing yourself the freak out. Worrying about getting to the gym, the soft spot on your lower stomach, the cheat meal you ate last night, how much you wish you looked like so-and-so. Stick and stones will break your bones...and words will never hurt you??’ I think the opposite is true, and maybe the only way to get some of us to create a ‘gentler’ way in which we speak to ourselves is sadly dumbing it down to the fact that it’s making us fat.
        Well i think I’ve done a pretty good job of singling out every single one of us. So what the heck to we do now!? I actually have this magical wand sitting right here and all I have to do is wave it three times in a circle...NOT. What we do is- take half an ounce of the willpower it takes to get us to the gym and DECIDE that when we glove up to give our psyche a beating, we edify who we are instead. Edify...what on earth does that even mean...

ed·i·fy [ed-uh-fahy] verb

to instruct or benefit, especially morally or spiritually; uplift:

So there. I’m looking at the word instruct. This meaning that edification is taught. I personally don’t walk around all day singing my own praises, and learning to uplift myself has been a process that I’m still not even close to perfecting. Here’s what I’ve been doing to call out my negative self- bashing, and replace it.

    - Listen to ‘uplifting’ music without words and begin to see yourself overcoming your obstacles and achieving your goals. This sounds SO incredibly cheesy, but the power of the subconscious mind will actually drive you to fulfilling these visions. I say no lyrics so your mind can actually focus on your own thoughts. Soundtracks are a great way to find this type of music.

    - Encourage someone else (without expecting anything in return). I’ll be writing a completely separate blog on the notion that this industry has pretty much become ‘every man for himself’. We live in a day of self preservation, with a dying era of being ‘others-minded’. It’s really the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.

    - Plan ahead to relax. Life can get so hectic, that if we miss a workout, or haven’t planned to take a day off, we throw ourselves into a mental torture chamber. If you set aside time in your week to have lunch with a friend, go to the park, sit on the couch, paint your toes, ANYTHING that allows you to just take a deep breath...you’ll be so much more able to relish that day, rather than sitting in regret. Over-training will also have a blog of it’s own :)

So whether you’re worried that the way you talk to yourself is making you a chubby bunny, or you just want to become better at the way you treat yourself because you actually feel you DESERVE it (cuz you do, duh)- concealing these little daggers allow them to get deeper than they should. Know that this ‘cancer of the mind’ does have a cure.

You.
#clutchrevolution

AMBER DODZWEIT