Mike O'Hearn

Mr. Universe – Mike O’Hearn “The Titan”

MIKE O'HEARN — Sun, 21 Oct 2018 19:37:22 +0000

What It Takes To be “The Titan”

I set a goal and I made January the deadline. I’m going to get into better shape than any of the times I won Mr. Universe. I’m going to work harder Dig deeper. Passion will push me. I’m doing this for my baby girl Teddy Bear. She gave me 19 incredible years and changed me into a better person And I’m paying tribute to that change. She’s my why.

Here’s the thing…

Finding your why is important, its what pushes you when all else has failed.

Some of you it’s your partner, maybe it’s your child or an animal, whatever it is, it’s usually something you hold close. Often times we find it in the darkest of times, but it’s the best damn motivator out there. Some people would rather be an immovable object, I say forget that, I’d rather be the unstoppable force. Because when I set my sights on something, it isn’t a question of “if” but “when”

Do you want to go with me on this journey?

Because my Titans, it’s not going to be on youtube… I’ll be doing it and sharing my steps down to every detail with my Titans in my private mentor group.

You’re gonna hear everything about my nutrition, if I’m fasting or not, how I’m training, what vitamins and supplements I’m taking, my sleep, it’s all gonna be in there. I’m going to go crazy. If you thought I was intense before, just wait, this will be a whole different level…

So, are you coming with me on this journey? ⇒ Download The FitPlan App Today!

It’s time to focus, time to buckle down and time to beat my younger self.

Don’t Lighten up, TITAN UP!

? ? Mike O’Hearn — The Titan.

The post Mr. Universe – Mike O’Hearn “The Titan” appeared first on Mike O'Hearn.

7 REALLY GOOD Reasons to Exercise

MIKE O'HEARN — Sun, 21 Oct 2018 18:56:20 +0000

Have you thought about starting an exercise program but haven’t done it yet? Here are 7 REALLY GOOD reasons to get started today!

Reason #1: To Melt Fat Away

The most coveted side effect of exercise is, of course, fat burn. The combination of a challenging exercise routine and a balanced meal plan is the best-known way to lose fat. Here’s what losing fat feels like:

Your pants become loose
People around you begin to say that you look great
A glance at yourself in the mirror makes you smile
Your energy levels soar
You feel amazing

Reason #2: To Alleviate Pain

Regular exercise is a great way to alleviate chronic muscle and joint pain. Persistent back pain can be lessened by strengthening your core, and you’ll protect yourself against injury. It amazes people when the chronic pain that they’ve lived with for years begins to fade after starting a regular exercise program.

Reason #3: To Increase Lean Tissue

More muscle is good for many reasons. You see, muscle burns five times more calories each day than fatty tissue. When you exercise your body composition will change to contain more lean tissue, thus resulting in extra calories burned while you sleep. What could be better than that?

Reason #4: To Stay Young

Tim D. Spector, a professor of genetic epidemiology at King’s College in London, led a study on the effects of exercise on aging. The results were astounding. They found that exercise appears to slow the shriveling of the protective tips on bundles of genes inside cells (called telomeres), which means a slowing of the aging process.

Here’s the study in a nutshell:

Telomeres cap the ends of chromosomes and every time a cell divides, the telomeres get shorter.
Once a telomere gets too short, that cell can no longer divide.
Aging occurs as more and more cells reach the end of their telomeres and die. This results in weakened muscles, skin wrinkles, loss of eyesight and hearing, organ failure and slowed metal functioning.
The study analyzed the telomeres from the white bloods cells of twins over a 10-year period. Telomere length was used as a marker for the rate of biological aging.
It was found that the length of telomeres was directly related to that twin’s activity level. “There was a gradient,” Spector said. “As the amount of exercise increased, the telomere length increased.”
People who did 100 minutes of weekly exercise had telomeres that looked like those from someone about 5-6 years younger than those who did 16 minutes of exercise each week.
People who did 3 hours of vigorous exercise each week had telomeres that looked like those from someone about 9 years younger.

Reason #5: To Prevent or Control Type 2 Diabetes

Regular exercise helps to stabilize blood sugar levels. This is something that people with type 2 diabetes, or at risk for type 2 diabetes, gain substantial benefits from.

Exercise improves the body’s use of insulin, and the related weight loss improves insulin sensitivity. Of course patients with type 2 diabetes need to follow guidelines from their doctor before starting an exercise program.

Reason #6: To Lower Blood Pressure and Cholesterol Levels

Exercise has shown to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels for these two reasons:

Weak Heart Muscles pump little blood with lots of effort. By exercising you strengthen your heart muscles and train them to pump more blood with less effort. The stronger your heart is the less pressure will be exerted on your arteries.
Exercise Increases HDL levels in some people—this means a decrease in your risk for heart disease. Other heart disease risk factors such as weight, diabetes and high blood pressure all show improvement with regular exercise.

Reason #7: To Feel Great

The first thing that clients tell me after starting an exercise program is how much better they feel. Most didn’t even realize how bad they felt. It is easy to get used to feeling sluggish, achy and unmotivated. Exercise boosts your energy levels and makes you feel amazing.

The quickest, easiest way to guarantee that you’ll meet your fitness and weight loss goals is to work one-on-one with a qualified fitness professional. You’ll be held accountable with your workouts and you’ll be instructed properly and shown techniques and strategies that will expedite your results.

Call or email today to get started on a program that will take the guesswork out of fitness and to set your results on fire.

What are you waiting for? Lace up your shoes and get moving!

The post 7 REALLY GOOD Reasons to Exercise appeared first on Mike O'Hearn.

Mike Meets a 21 yrs old & 300lb (Fan) NOT-PHOTOSHOPPED

MIKE O'HEARN — Sun, 14 Oct 2018 19:25:32 +0000

Watch Mike Meet with a HUGE FAN!
21 yrs old & 300lb (Fan)
This is NOT-PHOTOSHOPPED!

Filmed at the Chicago Fit Expo

Meet Mike or Schedule One-On-One Training

Check Mike’s Schedule to Meet him at Upcoming Events or Schedule Individual Training at a city near you!

The post Mike Meets a 21 yrs old & 300lb (Fan) NOT-PHOTOSHOPPED appeared first on Mike O'Hearn.

Your Guide to Eating Out Healthy

MIKE O'HEARN — Sun, 14 Oct 2018 18:58:57 +0000

A woman sits at a restaurant studying the menu with furrowed brow. She has begun an exercise routine and knows that her frequent meals out could slow her weight loss results if she wasn’t careful.

When the waiter comes she is still deep in thought over what to order. “What can I get for you?” he asks with a smile. She looks up and frowns, no closer to arriving at a decision. On a whim she blurts out, “I’m trying to eat healthy but I have no idea what to order. What do you think I should eat?”

The young waiter looks startled but quickly rattles off his idea of a healthy meal. “The eggplant and roasted pepper pasta is filled with vegetables. You could get that with a salad.”

The woman smiles. Yes, vegetables do sound healthy. So she orders the veggie pasta with a side salad and a diet soda, then sits back to enjoy a few slices of bread.

That’s a true story. Not surprisingly the woman was unable to lose weight even though she was exercising regularly.

It is said that 80% of your weight loss results are derived from diet, and the remaining 20% from exercise—so you can see how important it is for you to stick with a healthy eating plan.

Here’s Your Guide to Eating Out Healthy…

Appetizers: Appetizers are a great way to start out a leisurely meal, but can also quickly derail your good intentions.

Don’t Order:

Anything fried. Fried foods are a favorite but will do damage that even the most intense workout won’t undo.
Creamy dips. These are filled with fat and usually come with something fried to dip in it.
Bread. It comes smothered in cheese or seeped in butter, and even when it’s plain it fills you up with more carbohydrates than your body needs.

Do Order:

Green salad. Ask for very light dressing and no croutons.
Antipasto. A plate of thinly sliced meats, olives and cheese will start you off with some protein.
Lettuce wraps. These are delicious, protein-filled and low in carbs.

Beverages: Calories in drinks are sneaky because they don’t fill you up. This means that you end up taking in far more calories than you bargained for.

Don’t Order

Regular or diet soda. On one hand you’re drinking corn syrup through a straw, on the other you’re drinking chemicals that cause you to crave sweets. It’s a no-win situation.
Sweet cocktails. Many restaurants are advertising sweet cocktails –resist the urge. Sugar plus alcohol equals loads of unneeded calories.
Sweetened tea. You may feel righteous for ordering iced tea, but if it’s sweetened then you may as well be drinking fully loaded soda.

Do Order

Water. Don’t laugh! Water is the best beverage of all.
Unsweetened iced tea. Don’t ruin it by adding that packet of sugar. Learn to enjoy the natural sweetness to the tea.
Red wine. Stick to one glass, and drink responsibly.

Entrees: This is where the real damage is done. When you order something carb-loaded you leave the restaurant feeling heavy and lethargic—you may not even realize this until you start eating better and experience the light, energetic way you’ll feel after eating a healthy meal.

Don’t Order

Pasta. I don’t care if it comes with red sauce or white sauce, meat or veggies. If you’re trying to lose weight and maintain a lean body then don’t order a plate of pasta.
Pizza. Another dish that has far more carbohydrates than you need. If you’re craving the pizza toppings then simply order those over a salad.
Burgers. If you really want a burger then ditch the bun and the fries, and have your patty wrapped in lettuce.

Do Order:

Lean meat with vegetables. Fish, steak, chicken, take your pick and pair it with green vegetables.
Salad with protein. Ask for very light dressing and make sure you have a nice piece of protein on it.
Soup and salad. Stick with broth-based soups that contain protein and pass on the breadsticks.

If you want to expedite your results then consider working with me on a fitness plan that will turn you into a fat burning machine.

Call or email today—I look forward to hearing from you.

The post Your Guide to Eating Out Healthy appeared first on Mike O'Hearn.

The Many Forms of Strength Training

MIKE O'HEARN — Sun, 16 Sep 2018 19:03:26 +0000

Resistance training is no longer limited to dumbbells and barbells. Each of the following are ways to challenge your body with resistance:

Kettle bells
Medicine Balls
Exercise Bands
Weight Machines
Body Weight Training
Suspension Trainers

Don’t believe it

I’ve got to warn you, there are myths still going around about strength training.

The truth is that strength training is one of the absolute best things you can do for your health and appearance.

If you’ve fallen for these 5 myths then you’re missing out on tremendous potential results.

It’s a Myth…that Muscle Turns Into Fat

Why would anyone want to build muscle if it could morph into fat after a span of disuse? Rest assured that this is a myth of the highest order.

Muscle tissue is muscle tissue. Fat tissue is fat tissue. One will never become the other.

It’s a Myth…that Strength Training Doesn’t Burn Fat

On the contrary, muscle mass is your number one ally against fat gains.

A pound of muscle burns 10-20 calories each day, while you’re just living and breathing. Regular strength training helps you increase your muscle mass as well as preserve existing muscle mass, turning you into a fat burning machine.

It’s a Myth…that Lifting Weights Makes Women Bulk Up

Yes, strength training increases the amount of muscle on your body; so many women take this to mean that their body will become body-builder-esque, which is quite the look you’re going for.

The truth is that the female body simply doesn’t contain high enough levels of testosterone to produce that level of results without a very focused and dedicated effort.

The tighter, toned figure of a recreational female weight lifter is every bit feminine.

It’s a Myth…that Strength Training Is For Young People Only

Ha, that’s a used-up excuse that senior citizens across the globe have shattered.

Assuming that your doctor has given you the OK, you have much to gain from a regular weight lifting routine.

Improved balance and coordination, better strength and flexibility, and a decreased risk of osteoporosis are just the beginning.

It’s a Myth…that Light Weights and High Reps Tone Best

This myth, popularized in the 90’s, that very high repetitions of very light weights would result in a toned physique, has become outdated. These high repetitions will increase your muscular endurance but will not add strength or tone.

We now know that in order to truly challenge your muscles, heavier weights with lower repetitions are a must. Start with an 8-10 repetition range and push your muscles with each set.

Including strength training as a part of your fitness routine is essential for achieving a fit and toned body.

My custom-made fitness programs remove all of the guesswork for you. I know what works, and I make it my mission to see you reach your goals.

Call or email today and we’ll get you started on the program that’s best for you.

The post The Many Forms of Strength Training appeared first on Mike O'Hearn.

Is Diet or Exercise More Important?

MIKE O'HEARN — Sun, 02 Sep 2018 19:08:19 +0000

The Importance of Small Decisions

You become fit and lean by a culmination of small decisions.

What you eat for breakfast, whether or not you will exercise today, what you eat for lunch, whether you take the elevator or the stairs, what you eat for dinner, and whether or not you’ll eat that dessert.

Each and every small decision that you make throughout your day adds up to the shape and fitness level that you have. If 80+ percent of these small decisions are made with fitness in mind, then your body will show it in the most attractive way.

Is Diet or Exercise More Important?

You want what millions of other people do—to be lean and fit. Whether you want to trim off extra pounds so you’ll feel better, look better, or be better prepared to tackle whatever demands come your way, you probably want to find the most efficient way to do it.

Well, with this email, you can figure out if you should put your emphasis on diet or exercise to get the results you want. I present the contenders for your weight-loss attention…

In the Left Corner: Diet

While fad diets have tried their darnedest to malign the fine name of dieting, proper diet continues to be a vital way to lose weight. In fact, research has shown that if you’re only going to do one thing in your journey to weight loss, it should be dieting.

What does dieting mean exactly? It means taking very careful note of every bite you put in your mouth. But you can’t stop there. Because paying attention to what you eat isn’t going to make you lose an ounce of weight. You’ve got to take note of it and then reduce the number of calories you consume. If you want to lose even more faster, you’ll even want to make sure your calories are good calories. In other words, you can’t eat just Twinkies and Big Macs every day. You’ll want to go with fresh fruits and vegetables, lean protein sources, and lots and lots of water.

In the Right Corner: Exercise

Like diet, there have been all sorts of fad exercise programs that have spanned from dangerous to ridiculously funny. But exercise hasn’t lost its place in the race for weight loss. Why? Because savvy people realize you’ve got to hit the gym if you’re going to maximize your weight loss. The best technique for weight loss is to burn more calories than you take in, and exercise is your golden ticket for shredding calories and building muscle.

There are other reasons exercise rocks in the world of weight loss. It is the best way to ensure that the weight you drop is fat and not muscle. Also, when you exercise, your muscles tone up and grow stronger. With more muscle, your body’s ability to shave off calories increases, making it easier to burn calories even when you’re doing nothing at all. Diet can’t do that!

Who Wins the Battle?

More than likely, you read this hoping that exercise alone would help you lose weight because you hate the idea of watching what you eat. Or maybe you’re just the opposite, and you prefer to watch your diet but absolutely loathe exercise. Well, there’s bad news for you either way. This battle that has been waging on for decades (okay, make that centuries) is ultimately a draw.

If you’re not willing to eat right and exercise, the success you see today will be gone tomorrow. Try as you might, one of these ingredients alone is not enough to help you lose weight, keep it off, and have an overall healthy lifestyle. In fact, you will find that once you become serious about losing weight, you will be careful about what you eat because you don’t want to put all that exercise to waste. At the same time, you’ll push yourself harder in the gym because you realize you could burn even more calories and get closer to your weight goal today.

So stop pitting diet against exercise and do both. Your good health and leaner self await!

I’d love to be your solution for challenging, effective exercise program. Call, text, or email me today to get started!

The post Is Diet or Exercise More Important? appeared first on Mike O'Hearn.

These Foods Have Hidden Sugars

MIKE O'HEARN — Sun, 26 Aug 2018 19:15:13 +0000

So many common foods secretly contain loads of sugar.

This is a problem since eating an excess of sugar derails your fitness progress and quickly leads to an increase in body fat, and recent studies are proving that sugar is even more dangerous than we once thought.

Your risk of heart attack doubles when 20 percent or more of your calories come from sugar, according to a new study published in JAMA International Medicine.

That’s serious! So, with obesity and heart disease on the line, let’s uncover the 7 common foods that you didn’t know contain sugar. Avoiding these items will help lower your overall sugar intake, increase your fitness results and improve your overall health.

1. Fruit Yogurt
Yogurt is packaged and marketed as a diet food for women, which is outrageous. The pretty little packages may be low in fat, but just one serving contains a whopping 19 grams of sugar.

2. Pasta Sauce
This one may come as a surprise, since pasta sauce is considered to be a savory food, but alas, it has loads of sugar hiding in it. For every half a cup of store bought pasta sauce you’re ingesting 12 grams of sugar.

3. Agave Nectar
Many think of agave nectar as a free pass, since it has been so cleverly marketed as a health food, but sadly this sweetener is just as dangerous as white sugar. Agave nectar is 85% fructose.

4. Dried Fruit
Yes, even our fruit isn’t safe anymore. Most companies are adding extra sugar in with their dried fruit, making it as sweet as candy. Just 1/3 of a cup contains 24 grams of sugar.

5. Granola Bars
It may boast wholesome, whole grains on the package, but your favorite granola bar is hiding a sickly sweet secret. The average packaged granola bar contains 12 grams of sugar.

6. Energy Drinks
When you need an afternoon pick-me-up, think twice before reaching for that energy drink. Mega energy drinks contain up to 83 grams of sugar.

7. BBQ Sauce
There’s a reason that those BBQ chicken wings are finger licking good…all that sugar it’s hiding. A 2 Tablespoon serving will set you back 13 grams of sugar.

I encourage you to start eliminating the sugar-packed foods in your diet today. Your body and your heart will both be in better shape for it.

And let’s not forget the place that a challenging, consistent exercise program has in your quest for good health and a fit physique. My programs are specially designed to blast fat and to build muscle in all the right places.

Call or email me today to get started on a fat loss program that really works!

Do You Think You Can?

Henry Ford famously said, “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you are probably right.”

This perfectly applies to your fitness and fat loss goal.

Do you think you can reduce your body fat? Do you think you can learn new, healthier eating habits? Do you think you can become that lean, fit version of yourself?

Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you are probably right.

I personally KNOW you CAN meet all of your fitness goals. That’s what I’ve dedicated my life to – seeing YOU experience results.

Call or email me today and let’s do this!

The post These Foods Have Hidden Sugars appeared first on Mike O'Hearn.

Chest Day | Workout Hard Even Days Out From Stage

MIKE O'HEARN — Wed, 14 Jun 2017 12:01:14 +0000

We get crazy when it comes to chest day!

Shop Clothing at: https://mikeohearn.com/store/apparel/

The post Chest Day | Workout Hard Even Days Out From Stage appeared first on Mike O'Hearn.

I know you cheat…

MIKE O'HEARN — Mon, 22 Aug 2016 12:28:43 +0000

…on your diet.

We live in society where food temptations are everywhere. Walk through a store and you’ll see the unhealthy food items displayed front and center. Turn on the TV and you’ll be assaulted with commercials for fattening foods. Open a magazine and you’ll notice glossy pin-ups of sugary snacks. Go down the street and you’ll have restaurant signs clamoring for your attention.

In addition to the abundance of tempting edibles, you also have deeply ingrained positive associations with indulging. You treat tempting food as a reward. You turn to tempting food for comfort. You rely on tempting food as stress relief. You allow tempting food to become a habit.

It’s Your Turn to Win

Temptation doesn’t need to have the upper hand on you anymore. It’s time to fight back using your most powerful asset: your brain.

Your mind is an amazing thing. Once it is made up about something it is nearly impossible to change it.

A Matter of Perspective

Imagine for a moment that you’re peacefully floating down a river in an inner tube. The sun is out, the birds are chirping, and you are having a wonderful time. You feel great about the river because it is making you feel good.

Now imagine that you are in a plane flying over the river. Your eye is immediately drawn to an enormous rocky waterfall. You look up the river and just around the bend is a person floating in an inner tube, having a wonderful time, headed straight for the treacherous falls.

Do you think that after your plane ride you’d be happy to get an inner tube and float down the river? Of course you wouldn’t. You’ve seen that the river spells disaster.

You now have a negative association (watery death) with the river rather than your initial positive association (relaxing fun).

Overcoming temptation is all about building negative associations in place of existing positive ones. Use the 2 steps below to harness the power of your mind to become stronger than any temptation.

Step One: Create a Strong Negative Association with all the BAD STUFF

If cookies and chips and burgers are put on a pedestal in your mind as your favorite things to eat, then you will always eat unhealthy and will continue to gain weight. What do you dislike about tempting food?

It makes you unhealthy.
It causes weight gain.
It drains your energy.
It kills your confidence.
It degrades your quality of life.
It hurts your love life.

Every time that you encounter tempting food items focus on your list of negatives. It’s time to kick those cookies off the pedestal and to put something healthy in its place.

Step Two: Create a Strong Positive Association with all the GOOD STUFF

Now that your mental pedestal has been cleared, put healthy food items on it. Juicy fresh fruit, crispy vegetables and savory lean meats are a great place to start. What do you love about healthy food?

It makes you healthy.
It causes weight loss.
It boosts your energy.
It builds your confidence.
It improves your quality of life.
It enhances your love life.

Immerse yourself into the world of healthy food. Browse the aisles of a natural food store. Walk through a farmer’s market. Bring healthy snacks to work. Clear your kitchen of anything unhealthy.

Using the technique above, you will soon find that healthy food is your favorite food.

And cheating will become a thing of your past.

The Ripple Effect

When you put time and energy into exercise it makes it easier to eat healthy. And when you eat healthy it makes you more likely to exercise.

It’s the ripple effect. When you make positive strides in one area of your life, other areas will soon follow.

Keep in mind that while nutrition is extremely important for fat loss, lasting results are achieved through a combination of both healthy eating and challenging exercise.

Would you like to get that ripple effect started in your life? Call or email me now to begin one of my fitness programs that will quickly transform your body.

The post I know you cheat… appeared first on Mike O'Hearn.

Get Back on Track After Vaycay

MIKE O'HEARN — Mon, 15 Aug 2016 11:56:19 +0000

So you went away, saw a new part of the world, and now you’re back. You ate, you drank, you relaxed, and then you ate some more.

And now it’s time to face the music.

As you wake up on Monday morning after your week of less-than-healthy eating… Your body is puffy and bloated. Your joints are achy. Your clothes feel tight.

Maybe you are feeling that way right now.

Here are 5 steps to get you back on the fitness fast track after your trip.

Step One: Focus

Your vacation happened. You ate things from the “never eat these” list, you drank more that you should have…but now it’s over.

Draw a line in the sand. You’re back home so the bad eating stops now.

If you’re serious about your fitness goals, then your vacation was the exception, and not the rule. Don’t beat yourself up for letting loose on your trip. Simply get back up, dust yourself off and get focused.

Step Two: Hydrate

While travel days can take on many forms, the end result is most often dehydration and water retention. The only way to restore your balance is to get hydrated.

Your first priority in getting back on track is to drink plenty of water throughout your first few days home. Start with a tall glass of water in the morning, and carry a water bottle with you to sip throughout the day.

Don’t add any artificial sweeteners or stimulants to your water – these will sabotage your hydration efforts. For flavor, add sliced fresh fruit, herbs or vegetables to your water, just like at the spa.

Step Three: Cleanse

For your first few days home I need you to be extra picky about what you eat. Stick with only whole, real foods like fruits, vegetables and lean meats. Whole, real foods will help to restore balance and block out cravings.

Don’t eat any packaged foods for the next few days. This means no snack foods, processed meat slices, dairy, baked goods or alcohol.

Try the recipe for Quick Chicken Stir Fry below – this is a wonderful, whole food dish.

Step Four: Rest

As relaxing as vacation days are, most end with the feeling of exhaustion. Make catching up on sleep a priority over the next few days.

When your body is low on sleep, it becomes easier to make poor eating choices. You’re also less likely to get back into your workouts if you don’t give your body a chance to rest.

Aim for getting a full 8 hours of sleep each night.

Step Five: Exercise

It’s time to sweat out all those vacation indulgences. So lace up your shoes and put on your favorite gym clothes. When you start your first workout, ease in slowly. Take the time to warm up and stretch your muscles before powering up to a solid 30-minute routine.

I have just the exercise plan for you – one that will not only help you recover from your vacation, but will help keep you motivated and going strong in the future.

If you haven’t joined yet, now is the perfect time for you to start. Together we will get you to your goals with my results-driven method.

Simply call or email me today to set up your first workout.

Get Back At It

You may feel tempted to skip your workout the day after you return home from vacation, but be warned that it’s a slippery slope. After all you’re tired, you have unpacking to do and you’re stiff from the ride home. That day slides into the next day and the next day. Before you know it you’ve been home for a week and still haven’t gotten in a workout.

Jump into your workouts immediately once you return home. Sure, you’re going to feel a little rusty on that first day back, but remember that the sooner you get back into the swing of your routine the better. You can do it!

The post Get Back on Track After Vaycay appeared first on Mike O'Hearn.